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. XX.

Who are Priviledged from Witches; what bodies are aptest to be bewitched, or to be Witches; why women are rather Witches than men, and what they are.

NOw if you will know who and what persons are priviledged from Witches, you must understand, that they be even such as cannot be bewitched. In the number of whom first be the Inquisitors, and such as exercise publick justice upon them. Howbeit, a Justice in Essex, whom for divers respects I have left unnamed, not long since thought he was bewitched, in the very instant whiles he examined the Witch, so as his leg was broken thereby, &c. which either was false, or else this rule untrue, or both rather injurious unto Gods Providence. Secondly, such as observe duly the Rites and Ceremo∣nies of the holy Church, and worship them with reverence, through the sprink∣ling of holy Water, and receiving consecrated Salt, by the lawful use of Candles hallowed on Candlemas-day, and green leaves consecrated on Palm-sunday (which things they say the Church useth for the qualifying of the Devils power) are pre∣served from Witchcraft. Thirdly, some are preserved by their good Angels, which attend and wait upon them.

But I may not omit here the reasons which they bring to prove what bo∣dies. are the more apt and effectual to execute the art of fascination. And that is first they say, the force of celestial bodies, which indifferently communicated their vertues unto Men, Beasts, Trees, Stones, &c. But this gift and natural influence of fascination may be increased in man, according to his af∣fections and perturbations, as through anger, fear, love, hate, &c. For by hate (saith Varius) entereth a fiery inflammation into the eye of man, which being

violently sent out by beams and streams, &c. infect and bewitch those bodies against whom they are opposed. And therefore he saith (in the favour of wo∣men) that is the cause that women are oftner found to be Witches than men. For (saith he) they have an unbridled force of fury and concupiscence naturally, that by no means it is possible for them to temper or moderate the same. So as upon every trifling occasion, they (like brute beast) fix their furious eyes upon the party whom they bewitch. Hereby it cometh to pass, that whereas women ha∣ving a marvellous sickle nature, what grief soever happeneth unto them, imme∣diately all peaceableness of mind departeth; and they are so troubled with evill humours, that outgo their venemous exhalation, ingendered through their ill-favoured dyet; and increased by means of their pernicious excrements which they expel. Women are also (saith he) monethly filled full of superfluous hu∣mors, and with them the melancholike blood boileth; whereof spring vapours, and are carried up, and conveyed through the nostrils and mouth, &c. to the bewitching of whatsoever it meeteth: For they belch up a certain breath, wherewith they bewitch whomsoever they list. And of all other women, lean, hollow-eyed, old, beetle-browed women (saith he) are the most infectious. Marry he saith, that hot, subtil, and thin bodies are most subject to be bewitch∣ed, if they be moist, and all they generally, whose veins, pipes, and passages of their bodies are open. And finally he saith, that all beautiful things whatso∣ever, are soon subject to be bewitched; as namely goodly young men, fair wo∣men, such as are naturally born to be rich, goodly Beasts, fair Horses, rank Corn, beautiful Trees, &c. Yea a friend of his told him, that he saw one with his eye break a precious stone in pieces. And all this he telleth as soberly, as though it were true. And if it were true, honest women may be Witches, in despight of all Inquisitors: neither can any avoid being a Witch, except she lock her∣self up in a chamber.

Notes

• Mal. Malef. part. 2. quaest 1. cap. 1.
• Whereof look more in a little Book set forth in print.
• L. Vair. lib. de fascin. 1. c. 12.
• Much like the Eye-biting Witches, of whom we have elsewhere spoken.
• Who are most likely to be∣witch and to be bewitched.