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. IIII.

That the power of generation is both outwardly and inwardly impeach∣ed by witches, and of divers that had their genitals taken from the•• by witches, and by the same meanes again restored.

THey also affirme, that the vertue of generation is impeached b•• witches, both inwardly, and outwardly: for intrinsecally they repre•••• the courage, and they stop the passage of the mans seed, so as it may no•• descend to the vessels of generation: also they hurt extrinsecally, wi•••• images, herbs, &c. And to prove this true, you shall heare certaine stories out of M. Mal. worthy to be noted.

A young priest at Mespurge in the diocesse of Constance was bewitched so as he had no power to occupy any other or mo women than one:* 1.1 and to be delivered out of that thraldom, sought to flie into another country▪ where he might use that priestly occupation more freely. But all in vain fo•• evermore he was brought as far backward by night, as he went forward in the day before; some tims by land, sometimes in the air, as though ••e flew. And if this be not true, I am sure that Iames Sprenger doth ly.

For the further confirmation of our beleef in Incubus, M. Mal. citeth a story of a notable matter executed at Ravenspurge, as true and as clean••••

as the rest. A young man lying with a wench in that towne (saith he) was fain to leave his instruments of venery behind him, by meanes of that pre∣stigious art of witch-craft: so as in that place nothing could be seen or felt but his plaine body. This young man was willed by another witch, to go to her whom he suspected, and by fair or fowle meanes to require her helpe: who soon after meeting with her, intreated her faire, but that was in vain; and therefore he caught her by the throat, and with a towel strangled her, saying: Restore me my toole, or thou shalt dy for it: so as she being swolne and blacke in the face, and through his boisterous handling ready to dy, said Let me go, and I will helpe thee. And whilest he was losing the towell, she put her hand into his cod-peece, and touch∣ed the place; saying; Now hast thou thy desire: and even at that instant he felt himselfe restored.

Item,* 1.2 a reverend father, for his life, holinesse, and knowledge noto∣rious, being a frier of the order and company of Spire, reported, that a young man at shrift made lamentable moan unto him for the like losse: but his gravity suffered him not to beleeve lightly any such reports, and therefore made the young man untrusse his codpeece-point, and saw the complaint to be true and just. Whereupon he advised or rather injoyned the youth to go to the witch whom he suspected, and with flattering words to intreat her, to be so good unto him, as to restore him his instrument: which by that meanes he obtained, and soon after returned to shew himselfe thankfull; and told the holy father of his good successe in that behalfe: but he so beleeved him, as he would needs be Oculatus testis, and made him pull down his breeches, and so was satisfied of the truth and certainty thereof.

Another young man being in that very taking,* 1.3 went to a witch for the restitution thereof, who brought him to a tree, where she shewed him a nest, and bad him climbe up and take it. And being in the top of the tree, he took out a mighty great one, and shewed the same to her, asking her if he might not have the same. Nay (quoth she) that is our parish priests tool, but take any other which thou wilt. And it is there affirmed, that some have found 20. and some 30. of them in one nest, being there pre∣served with provender, as it were at the wrack and manger, with this note, wherein there is no contradiction (for all must be true that is written a∣gainst witches) that if a witch deprive one of his privities, it is done onely by prestigious meanes,* 1.4 so as the senses are but illuded. Marry by the devill it is really taken away, and in like sort restored. These are no jestes, for they be written by them that were and are judges upon the lives and deaths of those persons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mal. malef. cap. 6. quae. pa. 2.
• * 1.2

  Ia. Sprenger. in Mal. malef. part. 2. quae.
• * 1.3

  Mal. malef. cap. 7. par. 2. quaest. 1.
• * 1.4

  Note.