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.

By what means the common people have been made beleeve in the mi∣raculous workes of witches, a definition of witchcraft, and a descrip∣tion thereof.

THe common people have been so assotted and bewitched, with whatsoe∣ever poets have faigned of witchcraft, either in earnest, in jest, or else in derision; and with whatsoever lowd liers and couseners for their plea∣sures herein have invented, and with whatsoever tales they have heard from old doting women, or from their mothers maids, and with what∣soever the grandfoole their ghostly father, or any other morrow masse priest had informed them; and finally with whatsoever they have swal∣lowed up through tract of time, or through their owne timerous nature or ignorant conceipt, concerning these matters of hags and witches: as they have so setled their opinion and credit thereupon, that they think it herefie to doubt in any part of the matter; specially because they find this word witchcraft expressed in the scriptures; which is as to defend praying to saints, because Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus is written in •••• Deum.

And now to come to the definition of witchcraft, which hitherto I did defer and put off purposely: that you might perceive the true nature there∣of, by the circumstances, and therefore the rather to allow of the same, seeing the variety of other writers. Witchcraft is in truth a cousening art, wherein the name of God is abused, prophaned, and blasphemed, and his power attributed to a vile creature. In estimation of the vulgár people, it is a supernaturall work, contrived between a corporall old wo∣man, and a spirituall divell. The manner thereof is so secret, mysticall,

and strange, that to this day there bath never been any credible witnesse thereof. It is incomprehensible to the wise, learned or faithfull, a pro∣bable matter to children, fools, melancholick persons and papists. The trade is thought to be impious. The effect and end thereof to be some∣times evill, as when thereby man or beast, grasse, trees, or corn, &c. is hur••; sometimes good, as whereby sick folks are healed, theeves bewray∣ed, and true men come to their goods, &c. The matter and instru∣ments wherewith it is accomplished, are words, charmes, signes, images, characters, &c. The which words although any other creature doe pro∣nounce, in manner and form as they doe, leaving out no circumstance requisite or usuall for that action; yet none is said to have the grace or gift to perform the matter, except she be a witch, and so taken, either by her own a consent, or by others imputation.

Notes

• The definition or description of witchcraft.
• The formall cause.
• The finall cause.
• The materiall cause.