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. VIII.

The Sympathy and Antipathy of Natural and Elementary Bodies declared by divers Examples of Beasts, Birds, Plants, &c.

* 1.1IF I should write of the strange effects of Sympathia and Antipathia, I should take great pains to make you wonder, and yet you would scarce believe me. And if I should publish such conclusions as are common and known, you would not regard them. And yet Empedocles thought all things were wrought hereby. It is almost incredible, that the grunting or the wheeking of a little Pig, or the sight of a simple Sheep should terrifie a mighty Elephant; and yet by that means the Romans did put to flight Pyrrhus and all his Hoast. A man would hardly believe, that his Cocks comb or his crowing should abash a pu∣issant Lion; but the experience hereof hath satisfied the whole world. Who would think that a Serpent should abandon the shadow of an Ash? &c. But it seemeth not strange, because it is common, that some man otherwise hardy and stout enough, should not dare to abide or endure the sight of a Cat. Or that a draught of drink should so overthrow a man, that never a part or member of his body should be able to perform his duty and office; and should also so cor∣rupt and alter his senses, understanding, memory, and judgement, that he should in every thing, saving in shape, become a very Beast. And herein the Poets ex∣periment of Liquor is verified, in these words following.

—sunt qui non corpora tantum, Verum animas etiam valeant mutare liquores.

Englished by Abrabam Fleming:

Some Waters have so powerful been, As could not only bodies change, But even the very minds of men, Their operation is so strange.

The friendly society betwixt a Fox and a Serpent is almost incredible:* 1.2 how loving the Lizzard is to a man, we may read though we cannot see. Yet some affirm that our Newt is not only like to the Lizzard in shape, but also in conditi∣on. From the which affection towards a man, a spaniel doth not much differ, whereof I could cite incredible Stories. The Amity betwixt a Castrel and a Pigeon is much noted among Writers; and specially how the Castrel defendeth her from her enemy the Sparrow-hawk; whereof they say the Dove is not igno∣rant. Besides, the wonderful operation and vertue of herbs, which to repeat were infinite; and therefore I will only refer you to Matthoelus his Herbal, or to Dodonaeus. There is among them such natural accord and discord, as some prosper much the better for the others company, and some wither away being planted near unto the other. The Lilly and the Rose rejoyce in each others neigh∣bour-hood. The Flag and the Fernbush abhorr each other so much, that the one can hardly live besides the other. The Cucumber loveth water, and hateth oyl to the death. And because you shall not say that herbs have no vertue, for that in this place I cite none, I am content to discover two or three small quali∣ties and vertues, which are affirmed to be in herbs; marry as simple as they be, Jannes and Jambres might have done much with them, if they had had them. If you prick out a young Swallows eyes, the old Swallow restoreth again their sight, with the application (they say) of a little Celandine.* 1.3 Zanthus the Author of Histories reporteth, that a young Dragon being dead was revived by her Dath, with an herb called called Balim. And Juba saith, that a man in Arabiae being dead was revived by the vertue of another herb.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Agreement and disagree∣ment in suffe∣rance.
• * 1.2

  Read a little tract of Eras∣mus intituled De amicitia, where enough is said touching this point.
• * 1.3

  Zanthus in hist. prima.

  Jub. lib. 25. cap. 2.