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. XXIX.

When to talk with Spirits, and to have true answers to find out a Theif.

THe days and hours of ♄ ♂ ☿ and the ☽ is best to do all crafts of Ne∣cromancy, and for to speak with Spirits, and for to find theft,* 1.1 and to have true answer thereof, or of any other such like. And in the days and hours of ☉ ♃ ♀ is best to do all experiments of love, and to purchase grace, and for to be invisible, and to do any operation whatsoever it be, for any thing, the ☽ being in a convenient sign. * As when thou labourest for theft, see the Moon be in an earthy sign, as ♉ ♍ ♑, or of the air, as ♊ ♎ ♒. * And if it be for love, favour or grace, let the ☽ be in a sign of the fire, as ♈ ♌ ♐ and for hatred, in a sign of the water, as ♋ ♏ ♓. For any other experiment, let the ☽ be in ♈. * And if thou findest the ☉ and the ☽ in one sign that is called in even number, then thou mayst write, consecrate, conjure, and make ready all manner of things that thou wilt do, &c.

To speak with Spirits.

CAll these names, Orimoth, Beltmoth, Lymock, and say thus: I con∣jure you up by the names of the Angels Satur and Azimor, that you intend to me in this hour, and send unto me a Spirit caded Sagrigrit, that he do fulfill my commandement and desire, and that also can understand my words for one or two years, or as long as I will.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This is con∣demned for rank folly by the Doctors, as by Chrysost. sup. Matth. Gregor. in homil. sup. E∣piphan. Domini; and others.