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. III.

Reasons to prove that words and Characters are but Bables, and that Witches cannot do such things as the multitude supposeth they can; their greatest wonders proved trifles; of a young Gentleman cosened.

THat Words, Characters, Images, and such other trinkets, which are thought so necessary Instruments for Witchcraft (as without the which no such thing can be accomplished) are but bables devised by coseners, to abuse the people withal, I trust I have sufficiently proved. And the same may be further and more plainly perceived by these short and compendious reasons following.

* 1.1First, In that the Turks and Infidels, in their Witchcraft, use both other words, and other characters than our Witches do, and also such as are most contrary. In so much as, if ours be bad, in reason theirs should be good. If their Witches can do any thing, ours can do nothing. For as our Witches are said to renounce Christ, and despise his Sacraments; so do the other forsake Mahomet and his Laws, which is one large stept to Christianity.

It is also to be thought, that all Witches are Coseners; when Mother Bungie,* 1.2 a principal Witch, so reputed, tryed, and condemned of all men, and continuing in that exercise and estimation many years (having cosened and abused the whole Realm, in so much as there came to her, Witchmongers from all the fur∣thest parts of the Land, she being in divers Books set out with authority, regi∣stred and chronicled by the name of the great Witch of Rochester, and reputed among all men for the chief ring-leader of all other Witches) by good proof is found to be a meer cosener; confessing in her death-bed freely, without com∣pulsion or inforcement, that her cunning consisted only in deluding and decei∣ving the people: saving that she had (towards the maintenance of her credit in that cosening trade) some sight in Physick and Surgery, and the assistance of a friend of hers, called Heron, a professor thereof. And this I know, partly of mine own knowledge, and partly by the testimony of her husband, and others of cre∣dit, to whom (I say) in her death-bed, and at sundry other times she protested these things; and also that she never had indeed any material Spirit or Devil (as the voyce went) nor yet knew how to work any supernatural matter, as she in her life time made men believe she had and could do.

The like many be said of one T. of Canterbury, whose name I will not literal∣ly discover, who wonderfully abused many in these parts, making them think he could tell where any thing lost became, with divers other such practices, whereby his fame was farr beyond the others. And yet on his death-bed he confessed, that he knew nothing more then any other, but by sleight and de∣vices, without the assistance of any Devil or Spirit, saving the Spirit of cosenage: and this did he (I say) protest before many of great honesty, credit, and wis∣dom, who can witness the same, and also gave him good commendations for his godly and honest end.

Again, who will maintain, that common Witchcrafts are not Cosenages, when the great and famous Witchcrafts, which had stoln credit not only from all the common people, but from men of great wisdom and authority, are discover∣ed to be beggerly sleights of cosening varlots: Which otherwise might and would have remained a perpetual objection against me. Were there not * 1.3 three im∣ages of late years found in a dunghil, to the terrour and astonishment of many thousands? In so much as great matters were thought to have been pretended to be done by Witchcraft. But if the Lord preserve those person; (whose destruction was doubted to have been intended thereby) from all other the lewd practices and attempts of their enemies, I fear not, but they shall easily withstand these and such like devices, although they should indeed be practised against them. But no doubt, if such bables could have brought those matters of mischief to pass, by the hands of Traitors, Witches, it Papists we should long since have been deprived of the most excellent jewel and comfort that we enjoy in this world. Howbeit, I confess, that the fear, conceit, and doubt of such mis∣chievous pretences may breed inconvenience to them that stand in aw of the same. And I wish, that even for such practices, though they never can or do take effect, the practisers be punished with all extremity; because therein is manifested a traiterous heart to the Queen, and a presumption against God.

But to return to the discovery of the foresaid Knavery and Witchcraft.* 1.4 So it was that one old Cosenor wanting money, devised or rather practised (for it is a stale device) to supply his want, by promising a young Gentleman, whose humor he thought would that way be well served, that for the sum of forty pounds he would not fail by his cunning in that Art of Witchcraft, to procure unto him the love of any three women whom he would name, and of whom he should make choice at his pleasure. The young Gentleman being abused with his cunning de∣vices, and too hastily yielding to that motion, satisfied this cunning mans de∣mand of money. Which, because he had it not presently to disburse, provided for him at the hands of a friend of his. Finally, this Cunning man made the three puppets of Wax. &c. leaving nothing undone that appertained to the cosenage, until he had buried them, as you have heard. But I omit to tell

what ado was made hereof, and also what reports and lies were bruited; as what white Dogs and black Dogs there were seen in the night season passing through the watch, maugre all their force and preparation against them! &c. But the young Gentleman, who for a little space remained in hope mixed with joy and love, now through tract of time hath those his felicities powdred with doubt and despair. For instead of atcheiving his love, he would gladly have obtained his money. But because he could by no means get either the one or the other (his money being in hucksters handling, and his sute in no better forwardness) he re∣vealed the whole matter, hoping by that means to recover his money; which he neither can yet get again, nor hath payed it where he borrowed. But till trial was had of his simplicity, or rather folly herein, he received some trouble him∣self hereabout, though now dismissed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A necessary se∣quel.
• * 1.2

  Probatum est, by Mother Bungies confes∣sion that all Witches are coseners.
• * 1.3

  J. Bodin. in the Preface before his Book of Daemo∣nomania re∣porteth this by a Conju∣ring Priest late curate of Islington: he also sheweth to what end; read the place you that under∣stand Latine.
• * 1.4

  Note this de∣vice of the waxen images found of late neer London.