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. VI.

Particular Interrogatories used by the Inquisitors against Witches.

I Need not stay to confute such partial and horrible dealings, being so appa∣rently impious, and full of tyranny, which except I should have so manifestly detected, even with their own writings and assertions, few or none would have believed: But for brevities sake I will pass over the same; supposing that the citing of such absurdities may stand for a sufficient confutation thereof. Now therefore I will proceed to a more particular order and manner of examinati∣ons, &c. used by the Inquisitors, and allowed for the most part throughout all Nations.

First, the Witch must be demanded, why she touched such a child,* 1.1 or such a cow, &c. and afterward the same child or cow fell sick or lame, &c.

Item, Why her two Kine give more milk than her neighbours. And the note before mentioned is here again set down, to be specially observed of all men: to wit, that though a Witch cannot weep, yet she may speak with a crying voyce. Which assertion of weeping is false, and contrary to the saying of Seneca,* 1.2 Cato, and many others; which affirm, that a woman weepeth when she meaneth most deceipt; and therefore saith M. Mal. she must be well looked unto,* 1.3 other∣wise she will put spittle privily upon her cheeks, & seem to weep, which rule also

Bodin saith is infallible. But alas that tears should be thought sufficient to excuse or condemn in so great a cause,* 1.4 and so weighty a tryal! I am sure that the worst sort of the children of Israel wept bitterly: yea, if there were any Witches at all in Israel, they wept: For it is written, That all the children of Israel wept. Finally, if there be any Witches in Hell, I am sure they weep; for there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

But, God knoweth, many an honest Matron cannot sometimes in the heavi∣ness of her heart, shed tears; the which oftentimes are more ready and common with crafty queans and strumpets, than with sober women: For we read of two kinds of tears in a womans eye, the one of true grief, the other of deceipt: And it is written,* 1.5 that Dediscere flere foeminium est mendacium: which argueth, that they lye, which say, that wicked women cannot weep. But let these Tormen∣tors take heed, that the tears in this case which run down the widows cheeks, with their cry spoken by Jesus Syrach, be not heard above. But lo what learned, godly,* 1.6 and lawful means these Popish Inquisitors have invented for the trial of true or false tears.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mal. Malef. su∣per. interrog.
• * 1.2

  Seneca in tra∣goed.
• * 1.3

  Mal. Malef. part. 3. quest.
• * 1.4

  Act. 15.10. Numb. 11.4. 1 Sam. 11.4. 2 Sam. 15.23. Mat. 8. & 13. & 22. & 24. & 25. Luke 3. &c.
• * 1.5

  Seneca in tra∣goed.
• * 1.6

  Eccl. 35.15.