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. I.

The Hebrew word Kasam expounded, and how far a Christian may conjecture of things to come.

KAsam (as John Wierius upon his own knowledge affir∣meth, and upon the word of Andraeas Masius repor∣teth) differeth little in signification from the former word Ob; betokening Viticinari, which is, To Pro∣phesie, and is most commonly taken in evill part, as in Deut. 18. Jerem. 27. &c. howbeit, sometime in good part, as in Isa. 3.2. To foretell things to come upon probable conjectures, so as therein we reach no further then becometh humane capacity, is not (in mine opinion) unlawful, but rather a commendable manifestation of Wisdome and Judgement, the good gifts and noble blessings of GOD, for the which we ought to be thankful; as also to yield due honour and prayse unto him, for the noble order which he hath appointed in na∣ture: praying him to lighten our hearts with the beams of his wisdome, that we may more and more profit in the true knowledge of the work∣manship of his hands. But some are so nice, that they condemn generally all sorts of Divinations, denying those things that in nature have manifest causes, and are so framed, as they foreshew things to come, and in that shew admonish us of things after to insue, exhibiting signs of unknown and future mat∣ters to be judged upon, by the order, law, and course of nature proposed unto us by God.

And some on the other side are so bewitched with folly, as they attribute to creatures that estimation, which rightly and truly appertaineth to God the Creator of all things; affirming, That the publick and private desti∣nies of all humane matters, and whatsoever a man would know of things come or gone, is manifested to us in the heavens; so as by the Stars and Planets all things might be known. These would also, that nothing should be taken in hand or gone about, without the favourable aspect of the Planets. By which, and other the like devices they deprave and prophane the ancient and commendable observations of our fore-fathers, as did Colebrasus, who taught, That all mans life was governed by the seven Planets; and yet a Christian, and condemned for Heresie. But let us so far forth embrace and allow this Philosophy and Prophesying, as the Word of God giveth us leave, and com∣mendeth the same unto us.

Notes

• J. Wier. lib. de praest. daemon.
• All Divinati∣ons are not condemnable.
• Colebrasus er∣roneous and impious opini∣on.