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. III. Bodins stuffe concerning the Pythonist

of Endor, with a true story of a counterfeit Dutch-man.

UPon the like tales both Bodin built his doctrin, calling them Atheists that will not believe him, adding to this kind of Witchcraft, the mira∣culous works of divers maidens, that would spue pins, clowts, &c. as one Agnes Brigs, and Rachel Pinder of London did, till the miracles were de∣tected, and they set to open penance. Others he citeth of that sort, the which were bound by Devils with garters, or some such like stuffe to posts, &c. with knots that could not be undone, which is an Aegyptians jugling or cosening feat. And of such foolish lyes joyned with bawdy tales, his whole book con∣sisteth; wherein I warrant you there are no fewer then two hundred fables, and as many impossibilities. And as these two Wenches, with the Maiden of Westwell, were detected of cosenage; so likewise a Dutch-man at Maidstone, long after he had accomplished such knaveries, to the astonishment of a great number of good men, was revealed to be a cosening knave; although his miracles were imprinted and published at London, Anno 1572. with this title before the book, as followeth.

A very wonderful and strange Miracle of God shewed upon a Dutch-man of the age of 23 years, which was possessed of ten Devils, and was by Gods mighty providence dispossessed of them again, the 27 of January last past, 1572.

Unto this the Maior of Maidstone, with divers of his Brethren subscribed, chiefly by the perswasion of Nicasius Vander-Sceure, the Minister of the Dutch-Church there, John Stikelbow, whom (as it is there said) God made the instru∣ment to cast out the Devils, and four other credible persons of the Dutch-Church. The history is so strange, and so cunningly performed, that had not his knavery afterwards brought him into suspicion, he should have gone away unsuspected of this fraud. A great many other such miracles have been lately Printed, whereof divers have been bewrayed; all the residue doubtless, if

tryal had been made, would have been found like unto these. But some are more finely handled then othersome. Some have more advantage by the simplici∣ty of the audience; some by the majesty and countenance of the confede∣rates: as namely, that cosening of the holy Maid of Kent. Some escape utterly unsuspected. Some are prevented by death, so as that way their exa∣mination is untaken. Some are weakly examined: but the most part are so reverenced, as they which suspect them, are rather called to their answers, then the others.

Notes

• J. Bodin lib. de daemon. 3 cap. 2.