Scot's Discovery of vvitchcraft proving the common opinions of witches contracting with divels, spirits, or familiars ... to be but imaginary, erronious conceptions and novelties : wherein also, the lewde unchristian all written and published in anno 1584, by Reginald Scot, Esquire.

CHAP. XV.

Examples of forreign nations, who in their warres used the assistance of witches; of eybiting witches in Ireland, of two archers that shot with familiars.

IN the warrs between the kings of Denmarke and Sueveland, 1563. the Danes do write, that the king of Sueveland carryed about with him in campe, foure old witches, who with their charmes so qualified the Danes, as they were thereby disabled to annoie their enemies: insomuch as, if they had taken in hand any enterprise, they were so infeebled by those witches, as they could performe nothing. And although this could have no credit at the first, yet in the end, one of these witches was taken pri∣soner, and confessed the whole matter; so as (saith he) the threads, and the line, and the characters were found in the high way and water-plashes.

The Irishmen addict themselves wonderfully to the credit and pra∣ctise hereof; insomuch as they affirme, that not onely their children, but their cattell, are (as they call it) eybitten, when they fall suddenly sick, and ••earme one sort of their witches eybiters; onely in that respect: yea and they will not sticke to affirme, that they ca•• rime either man or beast to death. Also the West-Indians and Muscovits do the like, and the Hunnes (as Gregory Turonensis writeth) used the helpe of witches in time of warre.

I find another story written in M. Mal. repeated by Bodin; that one souldier called Pumher, daily through witchcraft killed with his bowe and arrows three of the enemies, as they stood peeping over the walls of a castle besieged: so as in the end he killed them all quite, saving one. The triall of the archers simister dealing, and a proof thereof expressed, is; for that he never lightly failed when he shot, and for that he killed them; by three a day; and had shot three arrowes into a rod. This was he that shot at a peny on his sonnes head, and made ready another arrow, to have slaine the Duke Remgrave that commanded it. And doubtlesse, because of his singular dexterity in shooting, as he reputed a witch, as doing that which others could not do, nor think to be in the power of man to do: though indeed no miracle, no witch-craft, no impossibility nor difficulty consisted therein.

But this latter story I can requite with a familiar example. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Towne Malling in kent, one of Q. Maries justices, upon the complaint of many wise men, and a few foolish boyes, laid an archer by the heeles; because he shot so neer the white at buts. For he was informed and per∣swaded, that the poor man played with a fly, otherwise called a devill or familiar. And because he was certified that the archer aforesaid shot bet∣ter than the common shooting, which he before had heard of or seen, he conceived it could not be in Gods name, but by inchantment; whereby this archer (as he supposed by abusing the Queenes liege people) gained some one day two or three shillings, to the detriment of the common∣wealth, and to his owne inriching. And therefore the archer was severe∣ly punished, to the great encouragement of archers and to the wise ex∣ample of justice; but specially to the overthrow of witch-craft. And now again to our matter.

Notes

• Witches in warres.
• Eybitting witches.
• Pumher an acher.
• A skillfull archer pu∣nished by an unskillfull justice.