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.

To Eat a Knife, and to fetch it out of any other place.

TAke a Knife, and contain the same within your two hands, so as no part be seen there of but a little of the point, which you must so bite at the first, as noise may be made therewith. Then seem to put a great part thereof in∣to your mouth, and letting your hand slip down, there will appear to have been more in your mouth then is possible to be contained therein. Then send for drink,* 1.1 or use some other delay, until you have let the said Knife slip into your lap, holding both your fists close together as before, and then raise them so from the edge of the Table where you sit (for from thence the Knife may most privily slip down into your lap) and instead of biting the Knife, knable a little upon your nail, and then seem to thrust the Knife into your mouth, opening the hand next unto it, and thrust up the other, so as it may appear to the stand∣ers by, that you have delivered your hands thereof, and trust it into your mouth; then call for drink, after countenance made of pricking and danger, &c. Lastly, put your hand into your lap, and taking that Knife in your hand, you

may seem to bring it out from behind you, or from whence you list. * But if you have another like Knife and a Confederate, you may do twenty notable wonders hereby; as to send a stander by into some Garden or Orchard, describing to him some tree or herb, under which it sticketh; or else some strangers sheath or pocket, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It must be cleanly con∣veyed in any case.