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. XXXVI.

Certain Conjurations taken out of the Pontifical, and out of the Missal.

BUt see yet a little more of Popish Conjurations, and confer them with the other. In the * 1.1 Pontifical you shall find this Conjuration, which the other Conjurours use as solemnly as they; I conjure thee thou creature of Water, in the Name of the Fa✚ther, of the So✚n, and of the Holy✚Ghost, that thou drive away the Devil from the bounds of the just, that he remain not in the dark corners of this Church and Altar ✚. You shall find in the same title, these words follow∣ing, to be used at the hollowing of Churches. There must a cross of ashes be made upon the pavement, from one end of the Church to the other, one handful broad; and one of the Priests must write on the one side thereof the Greek Al∣phabet, and on the other side the Latin Alphabet. Durandus yieldeth this reason thereof, to wit, It representeth the union in faith of the Jews and Gentiles: And yet well agreeing to himself, he saith even there, That the Cross reaching from the one end to the other; signifieth, that the people, which were in the head, shall be made the tail.

A Conjuration written in the Masse-book. Fol. 1.

I Conjure thee O creature of Salt, by God, by the God ✚ that liveth, by the true ✚ God,* 1.2 by the holy ✚ God, which by Elizacus the Prophet commanded, that thou shouldest be thrown into the Water, that it thereby might be made whole and sound, that thou Salt [here let the Priest look upon the Salt] mayst be conjured for the health of all believers, and that thou be to all that take thee, health both of body and soul: and let all phantasies and wickedness, or Diabolical craft or deceipt, depart from the place whereon it is sprinkled; as also every unclean Spirit, being conjured by him that judgeth both the quick and the dead by fire. Resp. Amen.

Then followeth a Prayer to be said, without Dominus vobiscum; but yet with Oremus: as followeth:

Oremus.

ALmighty and everlasting God,* 1.3 we humbly desire thy clemency [here let the Priest look upon the Salt] that thou wouldest vouchsafe, through thy piety, to bl✚ess and sanc✚tifie this creature of Salt, which thou hast given for the use of man∣kind, that it may be to all that receive it, health of mind and body; so as whatsoever shall be touched thereby, or sprinkled therewith, may be void of all uncleanness, and all resistance of spiritual iniquity, through our Lord. Amen.

What can be made but a Conjuration of these words also, which are written in the Canon, or rather in the Saccaring of Masse? This holy commixtion of the

body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, let it be made to me, and to all the receivers thereof, health of mind and body, and a wholesome preparative for the deserving and re∣ceiving of everlasting life, through our Lord Jesus. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tit. de Eccl. de dicatione.
• * 1.2

  In Missal. fol. 1. The manner of conjuring Salt.
• * 1.3

  A Prayer to be applyed to the former Exor∣cism.