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. XLIII.

Lessons read in all Churches, where the Pope hath authority, on S. Margarets day, translated into English, word for word.

HOly Margaret required of God, that she might have a conflict face to face with her secret enemy the Devil; and rising from prayer, she saw a terrible Dragon, that would have devoured her, but she made the sign of the Cross, and the Dragon burst in the midst.

Afterwards, she saw another man sitting like a Niger, having his hands bound fast to his knees, she taking him by the hair of the head, threw him to the ground, and set her foot on his head; and her prayers being made, a light shined from heaven into the prison where she was, and the Cross of Christ was seen in Heaven, with a Dove sitting thereon, who said, Blessed art thou O Margaret, the gates of Paradise attend thy coming. Then she giving thanks to God, said to the Devil, Declare to me thy name. The Devil said, Take away thy foot from my head, that I may be able to speak, and tell thee: which being done, the Devil said, I am Veltis, one of them whom Solomon shut in the Brazen Vessel, and the Babylonians coming, and supposing there had been gold therein, brake the Vessel, and then we flew out, ever since lying in wait to annoy the just. But seeing I have recited a part other story, you shall also have the end thereof; for at the time of her execution this was her prayer following:

Grant therefore O Father, that whosoever writeth, readeth, or heareth my passion, or maketh memorial of me, may deserve pardon for all his sins: whosoever calleth on me, being at the point of death, deliver him out of the hands of his adversaries. And I also require, O Lord, that whosoever shall build a Church in the honour of me, or ministreth unto me any Candles of his just labour, let him obtain whatsoever he asketh for his health. Deliver all Women in travell that call upon me, from the dan∣ger thereof.

Her prayer ended, there were many great thunder-claps, and a Dove came down from heaven, saying, Blessed art thou O Margaret the Spouse of Christ: Such things as thou hast asked, are granted unto thee; therefore come thou into everlasting rest, &c. Then the hangman (though she did bid him) refused to cut off her head: to whom she said, Except thou do it, thou canst have no part with me; and then lo he did it, &c. But sithence I have been, and must be tedious, I thought good to refresh my Reader with a lamentable story, depending upon the matter precedent, reported by many grave Authors, word for word, in manner and form following.

Notes

• Lect. in die san∣ctissimae Marg. ver. 5.
• Lect. 6.
• Look in the word Iiodoni, pag. 232.
• For the Priests profit, I war∣rant you.
• This is com∣mon (they say) when a Witch or Conjuror dyeth.