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. XII.

The opinion of Ferrarius touchings Charms, Periapts, Appenssions, Amulets, &c. Of Ho∣merical Medicines, of constant Opinion, and the Effects thereof.

* 1.1ARgerius Ferrarius, a Physician in these days of great account, doth say, that for so much as by no dyet nor Physick any disease can be so taken away or extinguished,* 1.2 but that certain dregs and reliques will remain: therefore Physicians use Physical Alligations, Appensions, Periapes, Amulets, Charms, Characters, &c. which he supposeth may do good; but harm he is sure they can do none: urging that it is necessary and expedient for a Physitian to leave nothing undone that may be devised for his Patients recovery; and that by such means many great cures are done. He citeth a great number of experiments out of Alexander Trallianus, Aetius, Octavianus, Marcellus, Philodotus, Archigenes, Philostratus,* 1.3 Pliny, and Dioscorides; and would make men believe that Galen (who in truth despised and derided all those vanities) recanted in his latter dayes his former opinion, and all his invectives tending against these magical cures. writing also a book intituled De Homerica Medicatione, which no man could ever see, but one Alexander Trallianus, who saith he saw it: and further

affirmeth, that it is an honest mans part to cure the sick, by hook or by crook, or by any means whatsoever. Yea, he saith that Galen (who indeed wrote and taught that Incantamenta sunt muliercularum figmenta, and be the only cloaks of bad Physitians) affirmeth, that there is vertue and great force in Incantations. As for example, (saith Trallian) Galen being now reconciled to this opinion, holdeth and writeth, that the bones which stick in ones throat, are avoided and cast out with the violence of Charms and Inchanting words; yea and that there∣by the Stone, the Collick, the Falling-sickness, and all Feavers, Gowts, Fluxes, Fistula's, issues of blood, and finally whatsoever care (even beyond the skill of himself, or any other foolish Physitian) is cured and perfectly healed by words of Inchantment. Marry M. Ferrarius (although he allowed and practised this kind of Physick) yet he protesteth that he thinketh it none otherwise effectual, than by the way of constant opinion: so as he affirmeth, that neither the Chara∣cter, nor the Charm, nor the Witch, nor the Devil accomplish the cure; as (saith he) the experiment of the Tooch-ach will manifestly declare, wherein the cure is wrought by the confidence or diffidence as well of the Patient, as of the Agent, according to the Poets saying:

Nos habitat non Tartara, sed nec sidera caeli, Spiritus in nobis qui viget illa facit.

Englished by Abraham Fleming:

Not hellish furies dwell in us, Nor Stars with influence heavenlys The spirit that lives and rules in us, Doth every thing ingeniously.

This (saith he) cometh to the unlearned, through the opinion which they conceive of the Characters and holy words: but the learned that know the force of the mind and imagination, work miracles by means thereof; so as the unlearned must have external helps, to do that which the learned can do with a word only. He saith that this is called Homerica medicatio, because Homer discovered the blood suppressed by words, and the infections healed by or in mysteries.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Arg. Fer. lib. de medendi me∣thode. 2. cap. 11.
• * 1.2

  De Homerica medicatione.
• * 1.3

  This would be examined, to see if Galen be not slandered.