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. XIX.

That such Devils as are mentioned in the Scriptures, have in their names their na∣ture and qualities expressed, with instances thereof.

SUch Devils are mentioned in the Scriptures by name, have in their names their nature and qualities expressed, being for the most part the idols of certain Nations idolatrously erected, in stead, or rather in spight of God. For Beelzebub which signifieth, The Lord of the Flies, because he taketh every simple thing in his web, was an Idol or Oracle erected at Ekron, to whom Aha∣ziah sent to know whether he should recover his disease: as though there had been no God in Israel. This Devil Beelzebub was among the Jews reputed the prin∣cipal Devil. The Grecians called him Pluto, the Latins, Sumanus, quasi sum∣mum deorum manium, the chief ghost or spirit of the dead whom they supposed

to walk by night: although they absurdly believed also that the soul died with the body. So as they did put a difference between the ghost of a man and the soul of a man; and so do our Papists; howbeit, none otherwise but that the soul is a ghost, when it walketh on the earth, after the dissolution of the body, or ap∣peareth to any man, either out of Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory, and not other∣wise. a Nisroch signifieth a delicate tentation, and was worshipped by Senacha∣rib in Assyria. b Tartak is in English, fettered, and was the Devil or Idol of the Hevites. c Baal-peor, otherwise called Priapus, the gaping or naked god, was worshipped among the Moabites. d Adramelech, that is, the cloke or power of the King, was an Idol at Sepharvais, which was a City of the Assyrians. e Chem••sh, that is, feeling, or departing, was worshipped among the Moabites. f Dagon, that is, corn or grief, was the Idol of the Philistines. g Astarte, that is, a fold or flock, is the name of a she idol at Sydonia, whom Solomon worshipped; some think it was Venus. h Malcham that is, a King, was an Idol or Devil, which the sons of Ammon worshipped.

Sometimes also we find in the Scriptures, that Devils and Spirits take their names of wicked men, or of the houses or states of abominable persons: as Astaroth, which (as Josephus saith) was the Idol of the Philistines, whom the Jews took from them at Solomons commandment, and was also worshipped of Solomon. Which though it signifie riches, flocks, &c. yet it was once a City belonging to Og the the King of Basan, where they say the Giants dwelt. In these respects Astaroth is one of the special Devils named in Solomon's Conjuration, and great∣ly imployed by the Conjurors. I have sufficiently proved in these quotations, that these Idols are Dii gentium, the gods of the Gentiles; and then the Prophet David may satisfie you, that they are Devils, who saith Dii Gentium daemonia sunt, The gods of the Gentiles are Devils. What a Devil was the Rood of Grace to be thought, but such a one as before is mentioned and described, who took his name of his curteous and gracious behaviour toward his worshippers, or rather those that offered unto him? The idolatrous knavery whereof being now be∣wrayed, it is among the godly reputed a Devil rather than a God; and so are di∣vers others of the same stamp.

Notes

• 2 King. 1.2.
• Mat. 9.34. & 12.24.

  Mark. 3.22. Luk. 11.15.
• a

  2 King. 19.37.
• b

  2 King. 17.31.
• c

  Hos. 9.10. Numb. 25.3. Deut. 4.3.
• d

  2 King. 19.37.
• e

  Numb. 21.29.

  1 King. 11.33.
• f

  Judg. 16.23.
• g

  1 King. 11.33.
• h

  1 King. 11.7. 2 King. 23.10. Jer. 32.35. Joseph. lib. de antiquit. Judaeor. 6. cap. 14.
• 1 Sam. 7. 2 King. 23. Psal. 96.5.