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. XII.

A Confutation of Witches Confessions, especially concerning their League.

* 1.1BUt it is objected, that Witches confess they renounce the faith, and as their confession must be true, or else they would not make it, so must their fault be worthy of death, or else they should not be executed. Whereunto I answer as before; that their confessions are extorted, or else pro∣ceed from an unsound mind.* 1.2 Yea, I say further, that we our selves, which are sound of mind, and yet seek any other way of salvation than Christ Jesus, or break his Commandements, or walk not in his steps with a lively faith, &c. do not only renounce the faith, but God himself: and therefore they, in confessing that they forsake God, and imbrace Satan, do that which we all should do. As touching that horrible part of their confession, in the league which tendeth to the killing of their own and others children, the seething of them, and the making of their potion or pottage, and the effects thereof; their good fridayes meeting, being the day of their deliverance, their incests, their return at the end of nine moneths, when commonly women be neither able to go that journey, nor to return, &c. it is so horrible, unnatural, unlikely, and unpossible; that if I

should behold such things with mine eyes, I should rather think my self dream∣ing, drunken, or some way deprived of my senses; than give credit to so horrible and filthy matters.

How hath the Oyl or Pottage of a sodden child such vertue,* 1.3 as that a staffe anointed therewith, can carry folk in the air? Their potable liquor, which, they say, maketh Masters of that faculty, Is it not ridiculous? And is it not, by the opinion of all Philosophers, Physitians, and Divines, void of such vertue, as is imputed thereunto?

Their not fasting on fridayes, and their fasting on sundays, their spitting at the time of elevation, their refusal of Holy-water, their despising of superstitious Crosses, &c. which are all good steps to true Christianity, help me to confute the residue of their confessions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An objection.
• * 1.2

  The resoluti∣on.
• * 1.3

  A forged miracle.