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. II.

The inconvenience growing by mens Credulity herein, with a reproof of some Church∣men, which are inclined to the common conceived opinion of Witches Omnipotencie, and familiar example thereof.

BUt the world is now so bewitched and over-run with this fond error, that even where a man should seek comfort and counsel, there shall he be sent (in case of necessity) from God to the Devil; and from the Physitian to the cosening Witch, who will not stick to take upon her by words to heal the lame (which was proper only to Christ; and to them whom he assisted with his divine power) yea, with her familiar and charms she will take upon her to cure the blind: though in the tenth of S. John's Go∣spel it be written, that the Devil cannot open the eyes of the blind. And they attain such credit, as I have heard (to my grief) some of the ministery affirm, that they have had in their Parish at one instant, 17 or 18 Witches, meaning such as could work Miracles supernaturally. Whereby they manifested as well their infidelity and ignorance, in conceiving Gods Word; as their negligence and error in instructing their flocks: For they themselves might understand, and also teach their parishioners, that God only worketh great wonders; and that it is he which sendeth such punishments to the wicked, and such trials to the Elect: according to the saying of the Prophet Haggai, I smote you with blasting and mildew, and with hail, in all the labours of your hands; and yet you turned not unto me, saith the Lord. And therefore saith the same Prophet in another place; You have sowen much, and bring in little. And both in Joel and Leviticus, the like phrases and proofs are used and made. But more shall be said of this hereafter.

S. Paul fore-saw the blindness and obstinancy, both of these blind shepherds, and also of their scabbed sheep, when he said, They will not suffer wholesome do∣ctrine, but having their ears itching, shall get them a heap of Teachers after their own lusts; and shall turn their ears from the Truth, and shall be given to fables. And in the latter time some shall depart from the Faith, and shall give heed to Spirits of Errors, and Doctrins of Devils, which speak lies, (as Witches and Conjurers do) but cast thou away such prophane and old wives fables. In which sense Basil saith; Who so giveth heed to Inchanters, harkeneth to a fabulous and frivilous thing. But I will rehearse an example, whereof I my self am not only Oculatus testis, but have examined the cause, and am to justifie the truth of my report: not because I would disgrace the Ministers that are godly, but to confirm my former asserti∣on, that this absurd error is grown into the place, which should be able to ex∣pel all such ridiculous folly and impiety.

At the Assizes holden at Rochester, Anno 1581. one Margaret Simons, the wife of John Simons, of Brenchly in Kent, was arraigned for witchcraft, at the instigati∣on and complaint of divers fond and malicious persons; and specially by the means of one John Ferral Vicar of that Parish: with whom I talked about that matter and found him both fondly assorted in the cause, and enviously bent to∣wards her: and (which is worse) as unable to make a good account of his faith, as she whom he accused. That which he, for his part, laid to the poor womans charge, was this.

His son (being an ungracious boy, and prentise to one Robert Scotchford clo∣thier, dwelling in that Parish of Brenchly) passed on a day by her house; at whom by chance her little Dog barked. Which thing the boy taking in evil part, drew his knife, and pursued him therewith even to her door: whom she rebuked with some such words as the boy disdained, and yet nevertheless would not be perswaded to depart in a long time. At the last he returned to his Masters house, and within five or six days fell sick. Then was called to mind the fray betwixt the Dog and the Boy: insomuch as the Vicar (who thought himself so

priviledged, as he little mistrusted that God would visit his children with sick∣ness) did so calculate; as he found, partly through his own judgement, and part∣ly) as he himself told me) by the relation of other Witches, that his said son was by her bewitched. Yea, he also told me, that this his son (being, as it were, past all cure) received perfect health at the hands of another Witch.

He proceeded yet further against her, affirming, that alwayes in his Parish-Church, when he desired to read most plainly, his voyce so failed him, as he could scant be heard at all; Which he could impute, he said, to nothing else, but to her inchantment. When I advertised the poor woman hereof, as being desirous to hear what she could say for her self; she told me, that in very deed, his voyce did much fail him, specially when he trained himself to speak lowdest. Howbeit, she said that at all times his voyce was hoarse and low, which thing I perceived to be true. But Sir; said she, you shall understand, that this our Vi∣car is diseased with such a kind of hoarseness, as divers of our neighbours in this Parish not long since, doubted that he had the French-Pox; and in that respect utterly refused to communicate with him: until such time as (being thereunto injoyned by M.D. Lewen the ordinary) he had brought from London a certificate, under the hands of two Physitians, that his hoarseness proceeded from a disease in the lungs. Which certificate he published in the Church, in the presence of the whole Congregation: and by this means he was cured, or rather excused of the shame of his disease; And this I know to be true by the relation of di∣vers honest men of that Parish: And truly, if one of the Jury had not been wiser than the other, she had been condemned thereupon, and upon other as ridicu∣lous matters as this. For the name of a Witch is so odious, and her power so feared among the common people, that if the honestest body living chance to be arraigned thereupon. she shall hardly escape condemnation.

Notes

• Joh. 10.21.
• Psal. 72. & 136. Jer. 5.
• Hag. 2.28.
• Idem. cap. 1.
• Joel. 1.
• Levit. 26.
• 2 Tim. 4.3.4.
• 1 Tim. 4.1.
• A story of Margaret Si∣mons, a sup∣posed Witch.