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. VIII.

Of Natural Witchcraft or Fascination.

But because I am loth to oppose my self against all the Writers herein, or altogether to discredit their stories, or wholly to deface their reports, touching the effects of Fascination or Witchcraft; I will how set down certain parts thereof, which although I my self cannot admit, without some doubts, difficulties and exceptions, yet will I give free liberty to others to be∣lieve them, if they list; for that they do not directly oppugn my purpose.

Many great and grave Authors write, and many fond Writers also affirm, that there are certain families In Africa,* 1.1 which with their voices bewitch what∣soever they praise, Insomuch as, if they commend either, Plant, Corn, Infant, Horse, or any other Beast, the same presently withereth, decayeth and dyeth. This mystery of Witchraft is not unknown or neglected of out Witchmon∣gers, and superstitious fools here in Europe. But to shew you examples neer home here in England, as though our voyce had the like operation; you shall not hear a Butcher of Horse-courser cheapen a Bullock or a Jade, but if he

buy him not, he saith, God save him; if he do forget it, and the Horse or Bul∣lock chance to dye, the fault is imputed to the chapman. Certainly the sentence is godly, if it do proceed from a faithful and godly mind; but if it be spoken as a superstitious charm, by those words and syllables to compound with the fascina∣tion and misadventure of unfortunate words, the phrase is wicked and superstiti∣ous, though there were farr greater shew of godliness than appeareth therein

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 adorus. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••dinus. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Malef.