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. IV.

A certain King abused by an Alchymist, and of the Kings Fool, a pretty jest.

* 1.1THe second example is of another Alchymist that came to a certain King, promising to work by his art many great things, as well in compound∣ing and transubstantiating of metals, as in executing of other exploits of no less admiration. But before he began, he found the means to receive by vertue of the Kings Warrant, a great sum of money in prest, assuring the King and his Councell, that he would shortly return, and accomplish his promise, &c. Soon after, the Kings Fool among other jests, fell into a discourse and discovery of fools, and handled that common place so pleasantly, that the King began to take delight therein, and to like his merry vein. Whereupon he would needs have the fool deliver unto him a schedule or scroll, containing the names of all the most excellent Fools in the land.

So he caused the Kings name to be first set down, and next him all the names of his Privy Council. The King seeing him so sawcy and malapert, meant to have had him punished: but some of his Council, knowing him to be a fellow pleasantly conceited, besought his Majesty rather to demand of him a reason of his Libell, &c. than to proceed in extremity against him. Then the fool being asked why he so sawcily accused the King and his Council of principal folly, answered; Because he saw one foolish knave beguile them all, and to cousen them of so great a mass of Money, and finally to be gone out of their reach. Why (said one of the Council) he may return and perform his promise, &c. Then (quoth the fool) I can help all the matter easily.* 1.2 How (said the King) canst thou do that? Marry Sir, (said he) then I will blot out your name, and put in his, as the most fool in the world. Many other practises of the like nature might be hereunto annexed, for the detection of their knavery and de∣ceits whereupon this art dependeth, whereby the Readers may be more de∣lighted in reading, than the practisers benefited in simply using the same. For it is an art consisting wholly of subtlety and deceit, whereby the ignorant and plain-minded man through his too much credulity is circumvented, and the humour of the other slye cosener satisfied.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A King cou∣sened by Al∣chymistry.
• * 1.2

  A wise fool.