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. II.

Of bawdy Incubus and Succubus, and whether the action of venery 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be performed between witches and devils, and when witches first yield∣ed to Incubus.

HEreto••ore (they say) Incubus was fain to ravish women against the•••• ••ill, untill Anno. 1400. but now since that time witchesconse•• willing to their desires: Insomuch as some one witch exercised that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of lechery with Incubus twenty or thirty yeares together; as was confe••∣sessed by fourty and eight witches burned at Ravenspurge. But what good••ly fellowes Incubus be getteth upon these witches, is proved by Tho•••• of Aquine, Bodin, M. Mal. Hyperius, &c.

This is proved first by the devill cunning, in discerning the difference of the seed which falleth from men. Secondly, by his understanding o•• the aptnesse of the women for the receipt of such seed. Thirdly by his knowledge of the constellations, which are friendly to such corporall o••••iects. And lastly, by the excellent complexion of such as the dev•••• maketh choice of, to beget such notable personages upon, as are the

causes of the greatnesse and excellency of the child thus begotten.

And to prove that such bawdy doings betwixt the devil and witches is not fained, S. Augustine is alledged, who saith, that All superstitious arts had their beginning of the pestiferous society betwixt the divell and man. Wherein he saith truely; for that in paradise, betwixt the devill and man, all wickednesse was so contrived, that man ever since hath studied wicked arts: yea and the devill will be sure to be at the middle and at both ends of every mischief. But that the devill ingendreth, with a woman, in manner and form as is supposed, and naturally begetteth the wicked, nei∣ther is it true, nor Augustines meaning in this place.

Howbeit M. Mal. proceedeth, affirming that All witches take their be∣ginning from such filthy actions, wherein the devill, in likenesse of a pretty wench, lieth prostitute as Succubus to the man, and retaining his nature and seed, conveyeth it unto the witch, to whom he delivereth it as Incubus. Wherein also is refuted the opinion of them that hold a spi∣rit to be unpalpable, M. Mal. saith, There can be rendred no infallible rule, though a probable distinction may be set down, whether Incubus in the act of venery do alwayes powre seed out of his assumed body. And this is the distinction, Either she is old and barren, or young and preg∣nant. If she be barren, then doth Incubus use her without decision of seed; because such seed should serve for no purpose. And the devill a∣voideth superfluity as much as he may; and yet for her pleasure and con∣demnation together, he goeth to worke with her. But by the way, if the devil were so compendious, what should he need to use such circum∣stances, even in these very actions, as to make these assemblies, conven∣ticles, ceremonies, &c. when he hath already bought their bodies, and bargained for their soules? Or what reason had he, to make them kill so many infants, by whom he rather loseth than gaineth any thing; because they are, so farre as either he or we know, in better case than we, of ri∣per years by reason of their innocency? Well, if she be not past children, then stealeth he feed away (as hath been said) from some wicked man be∣ing about that lecherous businesse, and therewith getteth young witches upon the old.

Ane note, that they affirme that this businesse is better accomplished with seed thus gathered, than that which is shed in dreames, through super∣fluity of humors: because that is gathered from the vertue of the seed ge∣nerative. And if it be said that the seed will wax cold by the way, and so lose his naturall heate, and consequently the vertue: M. Mal. Danaeus and the rest do answere, that the devil can so carry it, as no heat shall go from it, &c.

Furthermore, old witches are sworne to procure as many young virgins for Incubus as they can, whereby in time they grow to be excellent bawds: but in this case the priest playeth Incubus. For you should find, that con∣fession to a priest, and namely this word Benedicit, driveth Incubus away, when Ave Maries, crosses, and all other charmes fail.

Notes

• Nider in fornicario. T. Brabant. in lib. de apib. in sen. dist 4. art. 4. Gen. 6 4.
• Mal. malef. Par. 7. quae. 1. August. de doctrina. Christ.
• Mal. malef. quae. 1. part. 1. Mal. Malef. par. 1. quae. 1.
• Danaeus in dia∣log. de sortiariis. Ia. Sprenger in Mal. malef.