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 thrust a Dagger or Bodkin into your Guts very strangely, and to recover immediately.

ANother miracle may be shewed touching counterfeit executions; name∣ly, that with a Bodkin or Dagger you shall seem to kill your self, or at the least make an unrecoverable wound in your Belly: as (in truth) not long since a Juggler caused himself to be killed at a Tavern in Cheapside, from whence he presently went into Pauls-Churchyard and dyed. Which misfortune fell up∣on him through his own folly, as being then drunken, and having forgotten his Plate, which he should have had for his defence. The device is this. * 1.1 You must prepare a Paste-boord to be made according to the fashion of your belly and brest: the same must by a Painter be coloured cunningly, not only like to your flesh, but with paps, navil, hair, &c. so as the same (being handsomely trussed unto you) may shew to be your natural belly. Then next to your true belly you may put a linnen cloth, and thereupon a double plate (which the Jug∣gler that killed himself forgot, or wilfully omitted) over and upon the which you may place the false belly. Provided alwayes, that betwixt the plate and

the false belly you place a gut or bladder of blood, which blood must be of a Calf or of a Sheep; but in no wise of an Ox or a Cow, for that will be too thick. Then thrust,* 1.2 or cause to be thrust into your brest a round Bodkin, or the point of a Dagger, so far as it may peirce through your gut or bladder: which being pulled out again, the said blood will spin or spirt out a good distance from you, especially if you strain your body to swell, and thrust therewith against the plate. You must ever remember to use (with words, countenance and ge∣sture) such a grace, as may give a grace to the action, and move admiration in the beholders.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of a Juggler that failing in the feats of his Art, lost his life.
• * 1.2

  But herein see you be circum∣spect.