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.
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Title
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.
Author
Scot, Reginald, 1538?-1599.
Publication
London :: Printed for Andrew Clark ...,
1665.
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Subject terms
Witchcraft.
Magic.
Demonology.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62397.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62397.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 6, 2024.
Pages
CHAP. XIV.
The division of Augury; persons admittable into the Colledges of Augury; of their Su∣perstition.
THe latter Diviners in these mysteries,* 1.1 have divided their soothsayings into twelve Superstitions, as Augustinus Niphus termeth them. The first is prosperity; the second, ill luck, as when one goeth out of his house, and seeth an unlucky beast lying on the right side of his way; the third is destinie; the fourth is fortune; the fifth is ill hap, as when an infortunate beast feedeth on the right side of your way; the sixt is utility; the seventh is hurt; the eight is called a cautel, as when a beast followeth one, and stayeth at any side, not passing beyond him, which is a sign of good luck; the ninth is infelici∣ty, and that is contrary to the eight, as when the beast passeth before one; the tenth is perfection; the eleventh is imperfection; the twelft is confusion. Thus farre he.
Among the Romans none could be received into the Colledge of Augurers that had a bile, or had been bitten with a Dog,* 1.2&c. and at the times of their exer∣cise, even at noon-days, they lighted Candles. From whence the Papists con∣vey unto their Church those points of infidelity. Finally, their observations were so infinite and ridiculous, that there flew not a sparkle out of the fire, but it betokened somewhat.