The discovery of witchcraft proving that the compacts and contracts of witches with devils and all infernal spirits or familiars are but erroneous novelties and imaginary conceptions : also discovering, how far their power extendeth in killing, tormenting, consuming, or curing the bodies of men, women, children, or animals by charms, philtres, periapts, pentacles, curses, and conjurations : wherein likewise the unchristian practices and inhumane dealings of searchers and witch-tryers upon aged, melancholly, and superstitious people, in extorting confessions by terrors and tortures, and in devising false marks and symptoms, are notably detected ... : in sixteen books / by Reginald Scot ... ; whereunto is added an excellent Discourse of the nature and substance of devils and spirits, in two books : the first by the aforesaid author, the second now added in this third edition ... conducing to the compleating of the whole work, with nine chapters at the beginning of the fifteenth [sic] book of The discovery.

CHAP. X.

That neither the Devil nor Samuel was raised, but that it was a meer cosenage, ac∣cording to the guise of our Pythonists.

AGain, if the Devil appeared, and not Samuel, why is it said in Eccl. that he slept? for the Devil neither sleepeth nor dyeth. But in truth we may gather, that it was neither the Devil in person, nor Samuel: but a cir∣cumstance is here described according to the deceived opinion and imagina∣tion of Saul. Howbeit Augustine saith, that both these sides may easily be defen∣ded. But we shall not need to fetch an exposition so far off: for indeed (me thinks) it is Longe petita; nor to descend so low as hell, to fetch up a Devil to expound this place.* 1.1 For it is ridiculous (as Pompanacius saith) to leave ma∣nifest things, and such as by natural reason may be proved, to seek un∣known things, which by no likelihood can be conceived, nor tryed by any rule of reason. But insomuch as we have liberty by S. Augustines rule, in such places of Scripture as seem to contain either contrariety or absurdity, to vary from the letter, and to make a godly construction agreeable to the word; let us confess that Samuel was not raised, for that were repugnant to the word, and see whether this illusion may not be contrived by the art and cunning of the Woman, without any of these supernatural devices; for I could cite a hundred Papistical and cosening practices, as difficult as this, and as cleanly handled. And it is to be surely thought, if it had been a Devil, the text would have noted it in some place of the story,* 1.2 as it doth not: But Bodin helpeth me exceedingly in this point, wherein he forsaketh, he saith, Augustine, Tertullian, and D. Kimchi who say it was the Devil that was raised up; which, saith Bodin, could not be; for that in the same communication between Saul and Samuel, the name of Jehovah is five times repeated, of which name the Devil cannot abide the hearing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pompanacius lib. de incant. cap. 2.
• * 1.2

  J. Bod. lib. de dam. 2. cap. 3.