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.

A continuation of the former matter, with a conclusion of the same.

THat which I have declared before, by reasons, examples, and autho∣rities, I will now prosecute and conclude by one other example; to the end that we, as others in former ages, may judge of vain hope ac∣cordingly, and be no less circumspect to avoid the inconveniences thereof, than Ulysses was wary to escape the incantations of Circes that old transforming witch. Which example of mine is drawn from Lewis the French King, the eleventh of that name, who being on a time at Burgundy, fell acquainted by occasion of hunting with one Conon, a clownish but yet an honest and hearty good fellow. For Princes and great men delight much in such plain clubhutchens. The King oftentimes, by means of his game, used the Countrymans house for his refresh∣ing;

and as noble men sometimes take pleasure in homely and course things, so the King did not refuse to eat turneps and rape roots in Conons cottage. Shortly after King Lewes being at his palace, void of troubles and disquietness, Conons wife will'd him to repair to the Court, to shew himself to the King, to put him in minde of the old entertainment which he had at his house, and to present him with some of the fairest and choisest rape roots that she had in store. Conon seemed loth, alledging that he should but lose his labour: for prin∣ces (saith he) have other matters in hand, than to intend to think of such trifling courtesies. But Conons wife overcame him, and perswaded him in the end, choosing a certain number of the best and goodlyest Rape-roots that she had: which when she had given her husband to carry to the Court, he set forward on his journey a good trudging pace. But Conon being tempted by the way, partly with the desire of eating, and partly with the toothsomness of the meat which he bare, that by little and little he devoured up all the roots saving one, which was a very fair and a goodly great one indeed. Now when Conon was come to the Court, it was his luck to stand in such a place, as the King passing by, and spying the man, did well remember him, and commanded that he should be brought in. Conon very cheerily followed his guide hard at the heels, and no sooner saw the King, but bluntly coming to him, reached out his hand, and pre∣sented the gift to his Majesty. The King received it with more cheerfulness than it was offered, and bad one of those that stood next him, to take it, and lay it up among those things which he esteemed most, and had in greatest accompt. Then he bad Conon to dine with him, and after dinner gave the Country-man great thanks for his Rape-root; who made no bones of the matter, but boldly made challenge and claim to the Kings promised courtesie. Whereupon the King commanded, that a thousand Crowns should be given him in recompence for his Root.

The report of this bountifulness was spread in short space over all the Kings houshold: insomuch as one of his Courtiers, in hope of the like or a larger re∣ward, gave the King a very proper Gennet. Whose drift the King perceiving, and judging that his former liberality to the Clown, provoked the Courtier to this covetous attempt, took the Gennet very thankfully: and calling some of his Noble men about him, began to consult with them, what mends he might make his servant for his Horse. Whiles this was a doing, the Courtier conceived passing good hope of some Princely Largess, calculating and casting his Cards in this manner: If his Majesty rewarded a silly Clown so bountifully for a simple Rape-root, what will he do to a jolly Courtier for a gallant Gennet? Whiles the King was debating the matter, and one said this, another that, and the Courtier travelled all the while in vain hope, at last saith the King, even upon the sudden; I have now bethought me what to bestow upon him: and calling one of his Nobles to him, whispered him in the ear, and willed him to fetch a thing, which he should finde in his Chamber wrapped up in silk. The Root is brought wrapped in silk, which the King with his own hands gave to the Courtier, using these words therewithall, that he sped well, insomuch as it was his good hap to have for his Horse a Jewel that cost him a thousand Crowns. The Courtier was a glad man, and at his departing longed to be looking what it was, and his heart danced for joy. In due time therefore he unwrapped the silk (a sort of his fellow-Courtiers flocking about him to testifie his good luck) and having unfolded it, he found therein a dry and withered Rape-root. Which spectacle though it set the standers about in a loud laughter, yet it quailed the Courtiers courage, and cast him into a shrewd fit of pensiveness. Thus was the confidence of this Courtier turned to vanity, who upon hope of good speed was willing to part from his Horse for had I wist.

This story doth teach us, into what folly and madness vain hope may drive undiscreet and unexpert men. And therefore no marvell though Alchymisters dream and dote after double advantage, faring like Aesops dog, who greedily coveting to catch and snatch at the shadow of the flesh which he carried in his

mouth over the water, lost both the one and the other: as they do their in∣crease and their principal. But to break off abruptly from this matter, and to leave these hypocrites (for why may they not be so named, who as Homer, speak∣ing in detestation of such rakehells, saith very divinely and truely;

Odi etenim seu claustra Erebi, quicunque loquuntur Ore aliud, tacitoque aliud sub pectore claudunt:

Englished by Abraham Fleming;

I hate even as the gates of Hell, Those that one thing with tongue do tell, And notwithstanding closely keep Another thing in heart full deep.)

To leave these hypocrites (I say) in the dregs of their dishonesty, I will con∣clude against them peremptorily, that they, with the rabble above rehearsed, and the rout hereafter to be mentioned, are rank Couseners, and consuming Cankers to the Common-wealth, and therefore to be rejected and excommu∣nicated from the fellowship of all honest men. For now their art, which turn∣eth all kind of metals that they can come by into mist and smoak, is no less appa∣rent to the world, than the clear sunny rayes at noonsted; insomuch that I may say with the Poet;

Hos populus ridet, multumque torosa juventus Ingeminat tremulos naso crispante cachinnos:

Englished by Abraham Fleming;

All people laugh them now to scorn, each strong and lusty blood Redoubleth quavering laughters loud with wrinkled nose a good.

So that, if any be so addicted unto the vanity of the art Alchymisticall (as every fool will have his fancy) and that (beside so many experimented examples of divers, whose wealth hath vanished like a vapour, whiles they have been over rash in the practice hereof) this discourse will not move to desist from such extream dotage, I say to him or them, and that aptly,

—dicitque facitque quod ipse Non sani esse hominis non sanus juret Orestes:

Englished by Abraham Fleming;

He saith and doth that every thing, which mad Orestes might With Oath averre became a man bereft of reason right.

Notes

• Erasmus in co∣loq. cui titulus Coavivium fa∣bulosum.
• A hungry belly will not be bridled.
• A Princely Largesse.
• Sic ars deludi∣tur arte.
• The morall of the premisses.
• Homer.
• Aul. Persius, satyr. 3.
• Idem ibid.