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. V.

Of the Infernal Spirits, or Devils, and damned Souls treating, what their Natures, Names, and Powers are, &c.

* 1.11. LEaving the Astral Kingdome, I will now proceed to describe the na∣tures, and distinctions of Infernal Spirits or Devils, and damned Souls, who are to be considered according to their ranks, and orders, exact∣ly correspondent to the Quires, and Hierarchies of the Angels, or Celestial be∣ings, wherein I will insist upon their names, shapes, places, times, orders, pow∣ers, and capacities, proceeding gradually from a general narration, to a particu∣lar Anatomy of every sort of Spirit in its proper place and order.

* 1.22. As for the Locality or Circumscription of the Kingdome of darkness, it is farr otherwise to be considered then the vulgar account it, who esteem the hel∣lish habitation, a distinct Chasma or Gulph in a certain place, above, under, or in the Center of the Earth, where innumerable Devils, and wicked Souls inha∣bit, who are perpetually scorched, and tormented with material flames of fire. This is the opinion which naturally all men are addicted and prone unto. But if we will rightly consider the Kingdome of Heaven and Hell, in respect of one another, we must look upon the similitude of light and darkness in this outward world, who are not circumscribed, nor separate as to Locality from one ano∣ther; for when the sun arises, the darkness of the night disappeareth, not that it removes it self to some other place or Country, but the brightness of the light overpowereth it, and swallows it up, so that though it disappeareth, yet it is as really there as the light is.

* 1.33. This is also to be considered in the description of the Habitations of good, or evill beings, that they are really in one another, yet not comprehended of one another, neither indeed can they be, for the evil Spirits if they should re∣move ten thousand miles, yet are they in the same quality and source, never a∣ble to finde out or discover where the Kingdome of Heaven is to be found, though it be really through, and through with the dark Kingdome, but in another qua∣lity which makes them strangers to one another.

* 1.44. A similitude hereof we have in the faculties of the humane Life, as to the indowments of the Soul considered in the just, and in the wicked; for to be good, pure, and holy, is really present as a quality in potentia with the depraved

soul, although at that instant the Soul be cloathed with Abominations, so that the eye which should behold God or Goodness is put out. Yet if the soul would but come out of it self, and enter into another source or principle, in the cen∣ter it might come to see the Kingdome of Heaven within it self, according to the Scripture, and Moses, The word is nigh thee, in thy Heart, and in thy Mouth.

5. True it is that the Devils and damned Souls cannot sometimes manifest themselvs in this Astral World,* 1.5 because the nature of some of them is more near unto the external quality then of others, so that although properly the very in∣nermost and outermost darkness be their proximate abode, yet they do fre∣quently flourish, live, move, and germinate in the Aery Region, being some of them finite and determinate Creatures.

6. But according to their fiery nature,* 1.6 it is very difficult for them to ap∣pear in this outward world, because there is a whole principle or gulph be∣twixt them, to wit, they are shut up in another quality or existence, so that they can with greater difficulty finde out the being of this World, or come with their presence into the same, then we can remove into the Kingdome of Heaven, or Hell with our intellectual man; for if it were otherwise, and that the Divels had power to appear unto Mortals as they list, how many Towns, Cities, &c. should be destroyed, and burnt to the ground, how many Infants should be kild by their malicious power! yea few or none might then escape in Lives, or Pos∣sessions, and sound minds, whereas now all these enjoyments are free amongst mor∣tals, which proves, that it is exceeding hard for evill Spirits to appear in the third principle of this world, as for a man to live under water, and fishes on the Land. Yet must we grant, that when the imaginations, and earnest desires of some particular Wizards, and envious Creatures have stirr'd up the center of Hell within themselvs, that then the Devil hath sometimes access to this world in their desires, and continues here to vex, and torment so long as the strength of that desire remains which was the first attractive Cause.

7. For the very cause of the paucity of appearances in these dayes,* 1.7 is the ful∣ness of time, and the brightness of Christianity, dispelling such mists, as the sun doth cause the clouds to vanish, not by any violence or compulsion, but from a natural cause; even so the Kingdome of Light as it grows over mans soul, in power and dominion, doth naturally close up the Center of darkness, and scat∣ter the influences of the Devil so that his tricks lye in the dust, and his will at length becomes wholly passive as to man.

8. In the time of the Law, when the wrath and jealousie of the Father,* 1.8 had the dominion in the Kingdom of Nature, all Infernal Spirits had more easie access unto mankind then now they have; for before the Incarnation of Christ, the anger of God had more dominion over the soul of Man, and was more near in nature unto the same; so that the Devils could with more facility spring up in the element of Wrath, to manifest themselves in this outward principle, be∣cause the very Basis and Foundation of Hell beneath, is built and composed of the Wrath of God, which is the channel to convey the Devil into this sublunary World.

9. But when Christ began to be manifest unto the World,* 1.9 the multiplicity of Appearances, and possessed with Devils, began insensibly to decay and vanish. And if any should object, That betwixt the space of his Incarnation and his Suf∣fering, such accidents were rather more frequent than in the times before: To this I answer, That the Devil knowing well that his time was but short; and also knowing, that till the great Sacrifice was offered up, he had leave to range and rove abroad the Kingdom of this World; therefore he imployed all his forces and endeavours to torment those miserable souls and captives to whom Christ came to Preach Deliverance.

10. But after the Partition wall was broken down, and the vail of Moses,* 1.10 and of the anger of God from off the soul in the death of Christ, there was a sensible and visible decay of the Devils prancks amongst mortals, and that little remnant

of Lunaticks and Possessed, which continued after Christ, did the Apostles relieve and set at liberty, through the influence and virtue of the promise of the Son of God (to wit) the Holy Ghost, or the Comforter, which could not come until he went away: And on the day of Pentecost, whilst they waited in humility for the fulfilling of his promise, the very effect of Christs birth and sufferings did first manifest it self, when the Holy Ghost sprung up amongst them, to the de∣struction of Sin and Satan.

* 1.1111. And so long as the purity of Christianity continued in the Primitive Church, there were very few that the Devil could personally or actually lay hold of in the Astral Man, for the space of two hundred years after the death of Christ, until that from Meekness and Abstinence, the Christians began to exalt themselves in Loftiness and Worldly Honours; then the Devil began to exalt his head amongst the Lip-Christians, bewitching them into every Lust; and captivating their inward and outward faculties at his pleasure. As all along in Popery is clearly seen.

* 1.1212. Yet notwithstanding, the coming of Christ hath prevented the Devils force in general. Such Nations as have never embraced the Christian Faith, are still deluded and bewitched by him; because the center hath never been actu∣ally awakened in any of them, so that the Devils power prevails over them mightily, to seduce them to worship things visible, and not the true God: For where the most darkness is in Religion and Worship, or in natural under∣standing, there his power is most predominant; As in Tartary, China, and the East-Indies; also in Lapland, Finland, and the Northern Islands.

* 1.1313. In the West-Indies or America, his access is very facil and freequent to the Inhabitants, so that by custom and continuance they were at the first discovery thereof, become so much substitute and obsequious to his power, that though they knew him to be a power of Darkness, yet they adored him lest he should destroy them and their Children. And unto such a height were they come at the Landing of Cortes, Drake, and Vandernort, that they could familiarly convert themselves into Wolves, Bears, and other furious Beasts; in which Metamor∣phosis their Enthusiasms and Divinations were suggested, and such were held in greatest esteem.

* 1.1414. Till upon the Invasion of the Spaniards, the greater evil drove out the less, and the cruel Murthers of that Antichristian tradition, did both depopu∣late the Islands and most of the Continent; and also by accident, though not through any good intention, extirpate the race of such as addicted themselves to this infamous sort of Divination. In which devastation, and bloody inquisition, their Idols were discovered with their Oracles and Inchantments, far different from the European Conjurers, and any of their Ceremonies.

* 1.1515. But that which is the most remarkable in the Infernal proceedings, is this, That there is not any Nation under the Sun, but the Devil hath introduced him∣self amongst them through their Ceremonies and Worship, though quite oppo∣site to one another: For in the Kingdom of China, by the sacrifice of Blood and Panaak, he is Conjured and Exorcized through the repetitions of several Super∣stitious Invocations to the Sun and Moon. In Tartary the Magicians go quite another way to work, with Offerings to the Ocean, to the Mountains, and the Rivers, fuming Incense, and divers sorts of Feathers; by which means the Devils are compelled to appear. So that we see how this Proteus can dispose himself in the divers Kingdoms of this World; being called by other names in Tartary, China, the East and West-Indies, &c. then amongst the European Con∣jurers. Likewise the Greeks and Romans could Invocate Spirits by Prayers unto the Moon, and divers Sacrifices of Milk, Honey, Vervine, and Blood. And those that are addicted to Conjurations in Christianity, have attained to a more lofty and ample manner of Incantation and Conjuring with Magical Gar∣ments, Fire, Candles, Circles, Astrological Observations, Invocations, and holy Names of God, according to the Kaballa of the Jews.

16. So that every distinct Nation hath conformed its Conjuration unto the Ceremonies of that Religion which it professeth:* 1.16 And it is to be observed, That from a natural cause every Nation hath its Conjurations and Names of Devils, from the Constellation under which the Countrey lyeth, and from the Air or Wind to which such particular Dominations do belong; so that no effect would follow, if one Countrey should traditionally inure themselves to the Forms and Exorcisms that are used by another Nation. And therefore is it that so many attempts are offered in vain amongst professed Christians to raise Spirits, because they have little or nothing from their own Constellation, but make use of what they have borrowed from the Greeks and Romans, or the an∣cient Imbecillity of the Aegyptians Priests; I mean, their simple forms of In∣vocation.

17. But because we are rather upon the discovery of the Infernal Kingdom,* 1.17 as it hath no dependence upon the doings of mortal Men; therefore we will proceed to discover what the Antients have said concerning it: So the next which we fall upon after the description of their Habitations, and the manner of their Appearances, is their Names and Appellations diversly considered. First, from the Creation of the World to the coming of Christ, they retained the Hebrew names, as Belial, Baal, Baalzebub, Lelah, Ador, Abaddon, &c. according to the seculum under which they were Invocated; assuming names according to the present occasion about which they were imployed.

18. Under the Constellation of China,* 1.18 they are Invocated by the Names Ran, Sinoam, Nantam, Bal, Baltal, Sheall, the six Governours or Presi∣dents: Chancangian, the chief of the Devils: Po, Paym, Nalkin, Nebo, the Devils of the four Winds: Tean, Tan, Pan, Adal, the Devils of the four Elements. And according to the nature of their language or words which do all consist of no more then one syllable, so are the Devils named. Yea, as it is conjectured by many learned Magicians, this language of the Chinenses is more Magical and adapted to Conjurations, then all the Oriental Tongues, because of the consonancy and copiousness thereof, together with the numerous and various Characters used by them.

19. In the East-Indies, and in Tartary,* 1.19 the Names are the same with those of China, though the Ceremonies differ. In Persia, Arabia, Natolia, Aegypt, Aethiopia, the Names are the same with the Jewish Rabbins.* 1.20 But the Greeks and Romans have different from the rest, according to their Language and Super∣stitions. The Turks, Muscovites, Russians, Lapponians, and Norwegians,* 1.21 make use of the Sclavonian tongue in all their Conjurations.* 1.22 The West-Indians have very strange and antick Names and Ceremonies of their own, nothing depen∣ding on the Traditions and Practices of the old World; for, as is related before, the Devil is sufficiently capable of introducing himself through the Religious Superstitions of any Nation whomsoever, according to the Constellations, although strangers to the Rites and Ceremonies of others.

20. But though their Names be conformable to the Language and Climate of that Nation where they are raised or called; yet have they divers Names,* 1.23 suppose twenty or thirty to one Devil, according to the several ministrations they have had from the Creation to this day, leaving a several name behinde them at each of their appearances upon the earth; for, according to the testimony of the Devil himself, if credit may be given to Devils, they, as they are abstractively considered in their own Kingdom, have no imposed Names of distinction, but are forced to assume them when they rise up in the external principle of this World: although in some measure it must be granted, that there be some principal Kings and Dukes in the Infernal Hierarchy, that have Names establish'd upon them which cannot be transferr'd or altered.

21. As for the Names that are recorded in this precedent Discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot Esq being a Catalogue of Devils in their Rancks* 1.24

and Hierarchies, they are supposed to be fictitious and totally imaginary, being taken out of Bodin or Wyerus, which they recorded from the mouth of Tradi∣tion, and obscure Manuscrips: And indeed were there any certainty in this List of Devils, it were to be preferred as the most ample and exact delineation that is extant. But it is the rather to be suspected, because of the little cohe∣rence it hath with the former received Names of Devils eitheir in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America.

* 1.2522. But if we would speak of Damned Souls and their Names or Appellations, they are farr otherwise to be considered then the Devils; for such as their im∣posed Names were here on earth, such is the Name they have in the Kingdom of Darkness, after a Magical manner, according to the language of nature in the first principle of Darkness; as the Saints in heaven retain their Names in a Coelestial manner: And also, as the Astral Spirit of a Man deceased, retains its antient Name according to the Astral source in the principle of the one only Element.

* 1.2623. For as the language of Nature is found in the second Principle, it is likewise manifest in the dark Worlds property, according to the first Principle of Wrath; as also the monstrous shapes of Devils and Damned Souls is cor∣respondent to the Magical postures of their Souls whilst they were alive; of which I shall speak more largely when their Shapes are to be described. Ac∣cording unto which, as also according to the rest of their attributes, viz. their Rancks, Numbers, Times, Powers, Places, &c. their Names are fitted and confor∣med according to the uniformity of name and thing in the principles of the eter∣nal and external nature.

* 1.2724. And as all other Nations have their various Appellations for Devils and Damned Souls, like their natural tone or language; so we can mention one Kingdom more admirable then the rest, viz. the Kingdom of Fiacim at the Northern Pole, where all the Counsellors are Magicians; and the Names which they use in Invocations, are Mathematically disposed in a wonderful harmony and efficacy, to the performance of Magical operations. So much of the Places and Names of Infernal Beings; the next to be considered is their Shapes and Likenesses.

* 1.2825. The Shapes of Devils are answerable to the cause of their Fall, and the Dominions to which they belong. Those that belong to the Supreme Hie∣rarchy, when they are called by Magicians, do at first appear in the form of fierce and terrible Lyons, vomiting fire, and roaring hideously about the Circle; from thence they convert themselves into Serpents, Monkies, and other Animals, till the Magician do repeat the form of Constriction or Confine∣ment to a Trine or Triangle, as before is mentioned in the Fifteenth Book of the Discovery.

* 1.2926. After the Conjuration is repeated, they forsake these bestial shapes, and indow the humane form at first like troops of Armed Men; till at last by fre∣quent repetitions of other Ceremonies, they appear as naked Men of gentle countenance and behaviour. Yet is the Magician to take care that they deceive him not by insinuations; for their fraudulency is unspeakable in their appea∣rance and dealings with Mankind; because we may be assured they appear not willingly, but are by forceable Conjurations compelled: so that they will ever minde their own ends in medling with man; that is, to deprave his minde, or subvert the Lives and Estates of others through his means and assistance.

* 1.3027. The rest of the Infernal Dominions have various appearances. The two next Orders affect to represent the beautiful colours of Birds, and Beasts, as Leopards, Tygers, Pecocks, &c. But by Conjurations they may be likewise reduced to a Manlike form, wherein they will readily answer every demand within the compass of their capacity, answerable to the Order unto which they belong: Yet many of them appear in Monstrous forms, and can hardly be conjured to desert them. Though the Exorcist Charm them never so wisely,

they will shew him a pair of Crocodiles jaws, or a Lyons paw, with other dread∣ful menaces, enough to terrifie any Novice from such Damnable Injunctions as the practice of Magick.

28. But more especially, the opinion of the antients is,* 1.31 That according to the division of the clean and unclean Beasts in the Law given unto Moses, the Shapes of Devils are disposed in the Infernal Kingdom: So that the most perverse and potent amongst the Devils represent the most ugly and mischievous amongst the Beasts, according to this following division: viz. such Devils as Astaroth, Lucifer, Bardon, Pownok, who incline men and instigate them to pride and presumptuousness, have the shapes of Horses, Lyons, Tygars, Wolves. Such as instigate to Lust and Covetousness have the forms of Hogs, Serpents, and other filthy reptiles or envious Beasts, as Dogs, Cats, Vultures, Snakes, &c. Such as incline to Murther, have the shapes of every Bird and Beast of prey. Such as Answer Questions humane in Philosophy, or Religion, have more tolerable shapes, almost manly, but with crooked Noses, like Mermaids, or Satyres. And of all the rest it is to be observed, that as not one single Lust or Vice hath dominion without mixture in the evil Spirits, so they are not of a distinct shape lik one single Beast, but compounded into Monsters, with Ser∣pents-tails, four eyes, many feet and horns, &c.

29. And as in general, these are the shapes of Devils,* 1.32 so the particular shapes of Damned Souls are to be considered in the same manner with the rest, only with this difference, that they are more addicted to metamorphose themselves and vary their appearances. Though, for the most part, the Damned Souls re∣tain the humane shape after a Magical manner, so that the greatest part of that numberless number are in their antient shapes, especially when they appear in sleep to their surviving acquaintance. Their aspects are very dismal and me∣lancholy like the Ghosts of the Astral source.

30. Now to speak of the Times and Seasons of their Appearance.* 1.33 The better sort of Magicians do square their times with Astrological hours, especially of Saturn, Luna, and Venus, in the Moons increase, and the middle of the night, or twelve a clock at noon: In which hours they do likewise compose their Gar∣ments, Caps, Candlesticks, Figures, Lamins, Pentacles, and Circles for Con∣juration. As for the Times in respect of their Infernal Courses, the fittest are when they spring up in the Wrath, or when they sink in the Dispair, which is a mystery to the learned Conjurers of Europe.

31. In respect of this exterior World,* 1.34 they can most easily appear in solita∣ry places, when the Sun is down; for they are naturally at enmity with the Sun, because it stands as a type of the Mediator, or Heart and Centre which they lost utterly in their fall, and now are destitute of, like a wheel without an axletree. And indeed, the want of this is the chief cause of all their torment, and of the rising of the gnawing Worm, when they consider of their irrevocable sentence, and irrecoverable loss.

32. In storms of Hail, or Snow, Wind, Tempest, and Lightning,* 1.35 is accoun∣ted amongst Magicians, a time for Conjuring at an easie rate. And they say, That such Ceremonies will prove very effectual, if a Conjurer begin his Exor∣cisms in the hour and day of Luna, in the middest of a furious storm of Light∣ning, Rain, and Thunder, in a low Vault or Celler that is close and retired. Also when the Wind blows high, without Rain, they say, the Devils are more near the Kingdom of this World, and may with great facility be sollicited or raised at such a season, because they delight in all extremities of weather, being themselves the first cause of the disorder of the properties in the Kingdom of Nature.

33. But in some Countries they can more easily appear then in others,* 1.36 ac∣cording to the Constellations, for they delight much in the extremities of the two Poles toward Lapland, Nova Zembla, Greenland, Tartary; and in the South towards the Islands scattered about the confines of Terra Incognita. They are likewise easily Invocated on the shoar amongst lofty Rocks and Precipices, or in

Deserts and Wildernesses far from Towns or Inhabitan••••▪ And it is said, they do much respect the motion of the Seas in their appearance unto such as solicite them in places Maritime or Plagiary.

* 1.3734. As for their Rancks or Orders, there is some difficulty in the true discovery thereof, by reason that we know not certainly of what Orders they were that Fell. The opinion of most men is, That of every Order many fell. But those that better know the nature of the Heavenly Hierarchies, have sufficiently proved, That of any Ranck or Order none can fall unless all do follow. Therefore with more reason may it be judged, That before the Devils fell, the Hierarchy of Heaven did consist of three Rancks or Orders; to wit, the Order of Vriel, of Michael, of Lucifer: That of Lucifer is totally in Hell: The other which is under Michael, is the dominion of Heaven: The last which is Vriels, are more in the dominion of this third prin∣ciple of the Stars, having the Planets in their dominion, with the influences thereof.

* 1.3835. So that the foregoing Catalogue, transcribed by the Author of this Discovery, is utterly feigned and fictitious, because it makes these many sorts of Devils to have Dominion over several Legions in several distinctions of Seraphims, Powers, Thrones, Dominations, Cherubims, &c. Whereas the whole Kingdom of Hell consists but of one only Hierarchy, which is that of Lucifer and his Legions, reduced by their exorbitances into that Lacrymable posture wherein they now are and shall be for ever. Which Doctrine seriously weigh'd will prove the attempts of Conjurers and Magicians to be utterly vain, and their forms of Invocation vanity and falshood.

* 1.3936. Their number may be thought upon more narrowly, if we consider that they consist of one Hierarchy and no more; yet must we confess that the limit is not to be put thereunto, because their nature is to Germinate and Mul∣tiply as they please, contracting and dilating themselves according to the force of their imaginative powers and faculties. But although this be granted, yet there is a setled number of Devils that varyeth not. Though of Damned Souls the number is numberless and unfathomable; yet as to their extent of room or place, it is never the more because of their multitude, they being able to truss a thousand Legions into the carcass of a man. As for the opinions of Au∣thors, they are various; it is believed by some, That the Starrs are answerable to their number; others speak of the Sands upon the Sea-shore: however it be, this is certain, They are even innumerable in respect of humane Capa∣cities.

* 1.4037. Their Natures are now to be considered as they belong to the hellish source or quality. In themselves they rest nor, neither are they capable of the length or shortness of time, nor of the alternate courses of day and night. The wickedness which they committed in this life, are their continual torment, which do Magically gnaw and corrode them, rising and boyling up perpetually within them, all the refrigeration which they have, is by intercourse when the height of Wickedness begins to stirr them in blasphemies against God, and towring up above heaven and goodness, in their adulterated Imaginations, which is unto them as sport and pastime with one another, and lasteth such a space as with us makes up forty minutes. Neither doth this any whit advantage them, but rather adds to their torment;* 1.41 for pain discontinued is the greater: nei∣ther would vexation be vexation, if it had no respite or forbearance; That the contrary might be also manifest, Nam contraria juxta se posita majus elucescunt. Yet is their torment exceedingly different, so that the torment of one, in respect of another, is but a Dream or Phansie; I mean, amongst the Damned Souls, and not the Devils, for the pain and sorrow of the Devils is greater then the greatest of the lost Souls, by many thousand degrees, ac∣cording to the course of nature and reason; for that which falls highest, suffers most, and optima corrupta fiunt pessima.

38. But wonderful and manifold are the torments which all in general of the Infernal troops,* 1.42 do suffer according to the various lusts they reigned in whilst they lived upon the earth. The cruel Murtherers that died in the boyling source of blood and envy, their torment is the greatest, they are con∣tinually Murthering in their imaginations, and seeking, like dreaming men, to do what the want of the Organ will not suffer them; for according to the saying of the wisest upon this Subject, this is the torment and misery of all the Damned, That they are continually wishing and woulding; and in wouldings they generate Ideas and representations, which are the species of their continual aggravati∣ons and deceiving phansies.

39. Those that were buryed in Lust and Gluttony,* 1.43 Drunkenness and Lasci∣viousness, are also in miserable torments, yet much inferiour to the first; they are continually, imagining their former pleasures in the Magia as in a dream, which when they wake, torments them cruelly; they are often hanging, stabbing, and mangling themselves for love, and perpetually sinking down in sorrow and despair, if they were such as died in love, or in the height of their Astral affections, leaving behind them a heap of desires and lusts, which are the only cause of all their torment. And we may well compare the passions of Melancholy persons, or such as in Deserts, Woods, and Mountains, pine away for love of Women, unto their torments; which indeed being the trouble of the mind, are absolutely the greatest and heaviest that the source or property of this World affordeth, I mean, the perturbations of the minde in general.

40. Such souls in whom the boyling source of Anger and Rage,* 1.44 hath had a dwelling or receptacle, if they depart unmortified, do also enter into a most dreadful kind of torment, which continually ariseth as a biting Worm and hungry fire to double and accumulate the excess of despair upon them, if they have much domineered therein whilst they lived in this World. Also these that reigned in Pride and Envy, are ever seeking to pluck God from his Throne, and towring up in their Imaginations, as men that dream, still seeking for the Kingdom of heaven, to insult and boast therein; but the quality there∣of is utterly occult and estranged from them; so that they can never finde, taste, hear, nor see it, though it be through and through with their own peculiar principle. This adds perpetually to their misery, and ariseth at times with horrible pangs and gnawings, like the irksome and vexatious pains and aches subject to Mans body, which cease a while and then begin to shoot and ake by intercourse, as the Gowt, Tooth-ach, Head-ach, Convulsion, Gripings, and the Stone.

41. Thus their torments are in brief described, but indeed the capacity of Man is not able to reach the description of their cruel miseries,* 1.45 and continual pangs which they contracted upon themselves; for every faculty is sufficiently plagued. The Sence of Hearing is disturb'd with harsh and rugged sounds, which are as an antipathy to that Organ; as rough and scraping sounds exter∣nally offend the ears, and set the teeth on edge, by affecting the tender fibres of the same. Their Sight is likewise cruelly offended and affirighted with monstrous appearances and Ideas represented continually to their imaginations. And there is not any loathsome taste in the Kingdome of this World, either Animal, Vegetative, or Mineral, which they are at any time void of, being con∣tinually pestered and suffocated with filthy fumes and smoaks of hellish fruits, as of Sulphurean stinks, and abominations.

42. Neither are the other Sences of the Touch and Smell behind in parti∣cipation of the like Torments,* 1.46 which their own iniquities do perpetually excite and create unto them; besides, they are ever vexing one another; and if any be in the same misery with whom they had acquaintance here on eath, the very Magical knowledge, and perceivance, or remembrance thereof, doth beyond utterance or conception, most miserably afflict and macerate their Souls and all their Sences.

* 1.4743. For the nature of their habitation is such, that their torment is exceed∣ingly aggravated thereby, because the extremity of the four Elements is there converted into a whole Principle of wrath and vexation. The excess of cold and heat, drought and moisture, are continually raging amongst them by intercourse. Neither is there any light or lustre to be seen within their Courts, but that which comes from their fiery Eyes, as a deadly glance or glimmering, being sudden fiery flashes and sparkling, as the enkindling of Gunpowder, or Aurum fulminans for a similitude.

* 1.4844. And as every kinde of Being feeds upon somewhat of its own nature, property, and element, whither it be Plant, Animal, or Metalline kinde; so the Devils are neither destitute of meat, drink, nor cloathing, according to their own Kingdom and quality, having fruits springing and growing before them of hellish, sour and poysonous natures, which are real and palpable unto them, and not imaginary or typical, though to us magical and invisible; neither is this to be wondered at, if we consider the nature of Man's Soul, In Media Natura; for if it feed not upon the internal and substantial Word, which is the very Bread of Life it self, it must of necessity ruminate on something else, viz. the fruits of Iniquity, which it takes in and drinketh up as the Oxe drinks water, so that to the soul the sin becomes palpable, glutting, and satiuting; yea, so substantial unto the Soul, as Dirt or Ink upon fair white Linnen is to our ex∣ternal Eyes; neither can the Soul be freed from these spots till the water above the Firmament wash them away.

* 1.4945. Also in respect of the Astral source they are not destitute of food, when they bring themselves into the same; for the gas of the air and blas of the water is their nourishment, while they stay here, as is before alledged: These influences of the air and water they take into their Limbus, and convert into their own poysonous natures; as of sweet and wholsome herbs the filthy Toads and other venemous Beasts do make their poyson, converting them into a nature like themselves. And on the contrary, the poysonous herbs are converted into good and wholesome nourishment by other cleanly Beasts.

* 1.5046. And as the Infernal Troops are considered in respect of the four Ele∣ments, they have a distinct and peculiar tone or language, which they exercise and speak one amongst one another, as mortals do. But they have utterly lost the dignity of their sounds according to the eternal nature. And are likewise totally corrupted in their pronouncing, or Dialect, since they fell from their first caelestial glory; so that their speech is harsh, doleful, and terrible, like the fruits they feed upon, and the life they dwell in. Which depravation is very apparent in the Kingdom of this World in the divided Languages of every Re∣gion, according to the Constellation under which they are situated: The true and magical Language of nature being hid from all the Countreys of the earth.

* 1.5147. But when they appear in the outward Elements, they do many times ex∣press themselves in Irish, Welch, Latine, or Russian, which are the Languages most affected by them to answer unto Conjurations, or Compacts. So that if any Magician, who is ignorant of these aforesaid Languages do at any time Raise or Exorcise such Spirits, he must be mindful to confine them to his mother tongue; least their gibberish prove altogether unintelligible; for as every thing appears in what it most affecteth, or is addicted to; even so the Spirits have their di∣stinct affections, passions, and postures, both in word, habit, shape, and gesture; so that the Magician must be wary in Exorcizing with them, that he confine them to a different place, posture, shape, and language, to answer their intentions without impediment.

* 1.5248. For they are very variable and unconstant in their dealings with man∣kind, nor will they stand to any thing that hath not bound them by the obliga∣tions of Words, Characters, and Imprecations, except the skill of the Exorcist be such, that he is able to confine them into a Magical Triad, which hath the cer∣tain force of obliging or compelling them to utter truth, and nothing false in

all their Answers, or Informations. But with such miserable men and women as they have made Covenants and Indentures for body, soul, and works; with such I say, they keep no faith, nor are they lyable to their commands; but on the contrary, have them hampered and subjected to their will and power, till they have terminated their lives in their destruction.

49. Yet have not any of the most potent Princes in the Hellish Power,* 1.53 the least ability to destroy the least of the sons of men, without the consent of the mind and senses of the Soul; for until the will of the Soul be opened unto him, his threatnings, sleights and stratagems are without any power or force, as the nerves of a dead man. Although naturally every evil Spirit boasteth, as if all the world were at its command, and every Soul were subject to its authority and beck, with the Goods or Possessions of the external World.

50. When any evil Spirit is raised up by Conjurations, without League,* 1.54 or Compact; these Spirits so raised, are exceeding fraudulent and deceitful, as stubborn servants that do their Masters will by constraint, and not by any na∣tural act of obedience unto his Commands. But with such as they have com∣pacted, they are frequent and officious, imploying them as Agents for the de∣struction of others and their substance: and being marryed unto such, they are even become one with them, being incorporated into them, so that they are nothing different from incarnate Devils, save that the spark of divine Light, which was the gift of God unto repentance, is not totally eradicated until the body fall away.

51. From such as Covenant with these unconstant Spirits,* 1.55 do they daily ob∣tain Fumigations, Odours, and Offerings, or Sacrifices of Blood, Fire, Wine, Ointments, Incense, Fruits, Excrements, Herbs, Gums, Minerals, and other In∣gredients, by which from a Magical cause, they have more influence and autho∣rity over the bewitched party to insinuate into their affection, peircing even through their bones and marrow, till they have so habituated them to their service, that the same becomes their daily bread and sole delight in accom∣plishing every villany and abomination which the malicious and subtle instigati∣on of Satan leads them to.

52. Thus have I Essayed to illustrate the Natures of Infernal Beings,* 1.56 which notwithstanding is a Subject so intricate and copious in it self, that great diffi∣culty accompanies the Explication thereof; by reason of the variety of their na∣tures in the source of darkness, wherein they live, move, eat, breath, and inha∣bit, having qualities, actions, and passions innumerable, to us men-kinde utter∣ly unknown and incomprehensible: So that to attempt an ample demonstration of this present Subject, would require deeper speculation then the matter doth deserve, in regard that there be so many Protei and Changlings in that gloo∣my Kingdom, who do never stay or continue in the same nature, property, and form for an hour together; but may be compared to the swiftness of the Windes, or the likeness and form of swift running Waters, that pass away as a thought; and are no more remembered: so it is with the Spirits of Darkness, whose life is a meer anguish and inconstancy from one sorrow to another unto all E∣ternity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What this Chapter treats of.
• * 1.2

  The place of hell or the ha∣bitation of de∣vils.
• * 1.3

  Illustrated by a similitude.
• * 1.4

  The differe∣rence betwixt heaven and hell.
• * 1.5

  How the Devils can come into this World.
• * 1.6

  The great diffi∣culty of their appearance.
• * 1.7

  The cause of few appearan∣ces now.
• * 1.8

  The Devils power in the time of the Law.
• * 1.9

  His power un∣der Christ in the flesh.
• * 1.10

  Under Chri∣stianity.
• * 1.11

  Under Aposta∣cies.
• * 1.12

  Under Idola∣try.
• * 1.13

  How power in new discovered Lands.
• * 1.14

  His power in America.
• * 1.15

  The variety of Conjurations according to the Countries.
• * 1.16

  Why few are able to raise Spirits.
• * 1.17

  The Names of Devils in the time of the Law.
• * 1.18

  Their Names in China.
• * 1.19

  In the East-Indies.

  Tartaria.
• * 1.20

  Greece.
• * 1.21

  Italy.
• * 1.22

  West Indies.
• * 1.23

  The nature of their Names.
• * 1.24

  The names of of Devils in Scot.
• * 1.25

  The names of Damned souls.
• * 1.26

  Whence the names of De∣vils are.
• * 1.27

  The names of Devils in the Kingdom of Fiacim.
• * 1.28

  The Shapes of Devils.
• * 1.29

  As they appear to Magicians in the highest ranks.
• * 1.30

  In the lower orders.
• * 1.31

  That the De∣vils are answe∣rable to the unclean Beasts.
• * 1.32

  The shapes of Damned Souls.
• * 1.33

  Their times and seasons.
• * 1.34

  Their places of appearance.
• * 1.35

  When Tem∣pests reign.
• * 1.36

  According to the situation of Regions.
• * 1.37

  Their Ranks and Orders.
• * 1.38

  In three distin∣ctions.
• * 1.39

  Their num∣bers.
• * 1.40

  Their natures and properties.
• * 1.41

  Their tor∣ments.
• * 1.42

  The Variety thereof.
• * 1.43

  The Nature thereof.
• * 1.44

  Their torment in the source of Anger.
• * 1.45

  In all the five Senses.
• * 1.46

  By their ac∣quaintance on earth.
• * 1.47

  The Nature of Hell.
• * 1.48

  The food of Devils.
• * 1.49

  Their food in the Astral source.
• * 1.50

  Their Speech.
• * 1.51

  What Lan∣guage they af∣fect.
• * 1.52

  Their uncon∣stancy.
• * 1.53

  Their Power.
• * 1.54

  When they are called up.
• * 1.55

  Fumigations made unto them.
• * 1.56

  The Conclusi∣on.