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. XLVIII.

Of Visions, Noises, Apparitions, and imagined Sounds, and of other Illusions of wander∣ing Souls, with a confutation thereof.

MAny through Melancholy do imagine, that they see or hear Visions, Spirits, Ghosts, strange Noises, &c. as I have already proved before, at large. Many again through fear proceeding from a cowardly na∣ture and complexion, or from an effeminate and fond bringing up, are timerous and afraid of Spirits, and bugs, &c. Some through imperfection of sight also are afraid of their own shadows, and (as Aristotle saith) see themselves sometime as it were in a Glass. And some through weakness of body have such imperfect imaginations. Drunken men also sometimes suppose they see trees walk, &c. ac∣cording to that which Solomon saith to the drunkards, Thine eyes shall see strange visions, and marvellous appearances.

* 1.1In all ages Monks and Priests have abused and bewitched the world with counterfeit Visions; which proceeded through idleness, and restraint of marri∣age, whereby they grew hot and lecherous, and therefore devised such means to compass and obtain their loves. And the simple people being then so super∣stitious, would never seem to mistrust, that such holy men would make them Cuckholds, but forsook their beds in that case, and gave room to the Clergy. Item, little children have been so scared with their mothers maids, that they could never after endure to be in the dark alone, for fear of bugs. Many are deceived by Glasses through Art Perspective. Many hearkening unto false re∣ports, conceive and believe that which is nothing so. Many give credit to that which they read in Authors. But how many Stories and Books are written of walking Spirits and Souls of men, contrary to the Word of God, a reasonable vo∣lum cannot contain. How common an opinion was it among the Papists, that all souls walked on the earth, after they departed from their bodies? In so much as it was in the time of Popery a usual matter, to desire sick people on their death∣beds, to appear to them after their death, and to reveal their estate. The Fa∣thers and ancient Doctors of the Church were too credulous herein, &c. Therefore no marvel though the common simple sort of men, and least of all, that women be deceived herein. God in times past did send down visible Angels and Appearances to men; but now he doth not so. Through ignorance of late in Religion, it was thought that every Church-yard swarmed with souls and

Spirits: but now the Word of God being more free, open, and known, those conceits and illusions are made more manifest and apparent; &c.

The Doctors, Councels, and Popes, which (they say) cannot err, have con∣firmed the walking, appearing, and raising of Souls. But where find they in Scri∣ptures any such doctrine; And who certified them, that those appearances were true? Truly all they cannot bring to pass, that the lyes which have been spread abroad herein, should now begin to be true, though the Pope himself sub∣scribe, seal, and swear thereunto never so much. Where are the souls that swarmed in times past? Where are the Spirits? Who heareth their noises? Who seeth their Visions? Where are the Souls that made such moan for Tren∣tals, whereby to be eased of the pains in Purgatory? Are they all gone into Ita∣ly, because Masses are grown dear here in England? Mark well this illusion, and see how contrary it is unto the Word of God. Consider how all Papists be∣lieve this illusion to be true, and how all Protestants are driven to say it is and was Popish illusion. Where be the Spirits that wandered to have burial for their bodies? For many of those walking Souls went about their business.* 1.2 Do you not think, that the Papists shew not themselves godly Divines, to preach and teach the people such doctrine; and to insert into their Divine Service such fa∣bles as are read in the Romish Church, all Scripture giving place thereto for the time? You shall see in the lessons read there upon S. Stevens day, that Ga∣maliel Nicodemus his kinsman, and Abdias his son, with his friend S. Steven, appeared to a certain Priest, called Sir Lucian, requesting him to remove their bodies, and to bury them, in some better place (for they had lien from the time of their death, until then, being in the reign of Honorius the Emperor; to wit, four hundred years buryed in the field of Gamaliel) who in that respect said to Sir Lucian; Non mei solummodo causa solicitus sum, sed potius pro illis qui mecum sunt; that is, I am not only careful for my self, but chiefly for those my friends that are with me. Whereby the whole course may be perceived to be a false practice, and a counterfeit vision, or rather a lewd invention. For in Heaven mens souls remain not in sorrow and care; neither study they there how to compass and get a worshipful burial here in earth. If they did, they would not have foreslowed it so long; Now therefore let us not suf∣fer our selves to be abused any longer, either with Conjuring Priests, or Me∣lancholical Witches; but be thankful to God that he hath delivered us from such blindness and error.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Against the counterfeit vi∣sions of Popish Priests, and o∣ther cosening devices.
• * 1.2

  This doctrine was not only preached, but also proved; note the parti∣cular instances following.