Discouerie of Witchcraft, Reginald Scot, Chapters 1-3

Here one will find the first three chapters of Reginald Scot's "Discouerie of Witchcraft." Kelsey Rhodes, the Spring 2022 Kit Marlowe Project Intern transcribed and encoded Chapter 1, and served as Editor for all three chapters. Chapters 2 and 3 were encoded by Caroline Hawkes (Framingham State University '25) and Gwendolyn Carpenter (Framingham State University '24) respectively as final projects for Kristen Abbott Bennett's Fall 2021 DGHM 110X, Introduction to Digital Humanities class. These mini-editions were transcribed primarily from the digitized facsimile (photograph) copy held at The Boston Public Library, available on archive.org, and were cross-referenced with the facsimile copy available on Early English Books Online; Printed by Henry Denham for William Brome, 1584, STC, 21864. The full title of this work is: The discouerie of witchcraft, vvherein the lewde dealing of witches and witchmongers is notablie detected, the knauerie of coniurors, the impietie of inchantors, the follie of soothsaiers, the impudent falshood of cousenors, the infidelitie of atheists, the pestilent practises of pythonists, the curiositie of figurecasters, the vanitie of dreamers, the beggerlie art of alcumystrie, the abhomination of idolatrie, the horrible art of poisoning, the vertue and power of naturall magike, and all the conueiances of legierdemaine and iuggling are deciphered: and many other things opened, which have long lien hidden, howbeit verie necessarie to be knowne. Heerevnto is added a treatise vpon the nature and substance of spirits and diuels, &c: all latelie written by Reginald Scot Esquire.

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<!--Page C1r transcribed and coded by Kelsey Rhodes under supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett-->
         <div type="part">
            <head type="sub"><hi style="text-align:center;"><hi style="font-size:200%;">The diſcouerie of</hi></hi><lb/>
               <hi style="font-size:175%;"><hi style="text-align:center;">Witchcraft.</hi></hi></head><lb/>
               
            <p style="text-align:center; font-size:150%"><hi style="text-style:italic;">¶The first Booke.</hi></p><lb/>
            <p style="text-align:center;">An impeachment of Witches power in me-<lb/>
                  teors and elementarie bodies, tending to the re-<lb/>
                  buke of ſuch as attribute too much vnto them.</p><lb/>      
            <p style="text-align:center; font-size:125%">The firſt Chapter.<lb/></p>
                  
            <p style="font-style;blackletter;,">
               <seg style="decorInit;float:left;font-size:1400%;padding:0.5rem;margin:0.2rem 1rem 0;">T</seg>HE fables of<lb/>
               Witchcraft haue ta-<lb/>
               ken ſo faſt hold and<lb/>
                dæpe root in the heart<lb/>
               of man,that fewe or<lb/>
               none can (nowadaies)<lb/>
               with patience indure<lb/>
               the hand and correcti-<lb/>
               on of <persName type="lit">God</persName>. For if any<lb/>
               aduerſitie, gréefe, ſick-<lb/>
               neſſe, loſſe of children,<lb/>
               corne, cattell, or liber-<lb/>
               tie happen vnto them;<lb/>
               by &amp; by they exclaime<lb/>
               vppon witches. As<lb/>
               though there were no <persName type="lit">God</persName> in <placeName>Iſrael</placeName> that ordereth all things ac-
               <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Job">Iob.5.</quote></note><lb/>
               cording to his will; puniſhing both iuft and vniuft with gréefs,<lb/>
               plagues, and afflictions in maner and forme as he thinketh good:<lb/>
               but that certeine old women héere on earth, called witches,<lb/>
               muſt néeds be the contriuers of all mens calamities, and as<lb/>
               though they themſelues were innocents, and had deferued no<lb/>
               ſuch puniſhments. Inſomuch as they ſticke not to ride and go<lb/> 
               to ſuch, as either are iniuriouſlie tearmed witches, or elſe are<lb/>
               willing ſo to be accounted, ſéeking at their hands comfort and<lb/>
               remedie in time of their tribulation, contrarie to <persName type="lit">Gods</persName> will and<lb/>
               commandement in that behalfe, who bids us reſort to him in all            
                     <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Matthew">Matth.11.</quote></note><lb/></p>
            
            <fw type="signature"><hi style="font-style;blackletter;"><hi style="text-align:center;">C.j.<supplied reason="omitted-in-original">r</supplied></hi></hi></fw>   
            <fw type="catchword" style="text-align:right;"><hi style="font-style;blackletter;">our</hi></fw>
         <pb/> 
         
        <!--Page C1v transcribed and coded by Kelsey Rhodes under supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett-->         
            <fw type="pageNum" style="font-size:125%"><hi style="text-align: left;">2</hi></fw>
            <fw type="header" style="font-size:125%"><hi style="text-align: center;">I.Booke.</hi></fw>
            <fw type="header" style="font-size:125%"><hi style="text-align: center;">The diſcouerie</hi></fw>
            <fw type="header" style="font-size:125%"><hi style="font-style:italic; text-align: right;">Credulitie.</hi></fw>
            
            <p><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">our neceſſities.</hi><lb/></p>            
            
            <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">Such faithleſſe (I ſaie) are alſo perſuaded, that neither<lb/>
            haile nor ſnowe, thunder nor lightening, raine nor tempeſtuous<lb/>
            winds come from heauens at the commandement of God:<lb/>
            but are raiſed by the cunning and power of witches and coniu-<lb/>
            rers; inſomuch as a clap of thunder, or a gale of wind is no ſoo-<lb/>
            ner heard, but either they run to ring bels, or crie out to burne<lb/>
            witches; or elſe burne conſecrated things, hoping by the ſmoke<lb/>
            thereof, to driue the diuell out of the aire, as though ſpirits could<lb/>
            be fraied awaie with ſuch externall toies: howbeit, theſe are<lb/>
               right inchantments, as </hi><persName type="hist">Brentius</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> affirmeth.</hi><lb/></p>
           
            <p style="text-indent:1em; blackletter;">       
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><hi style="font-style:italic;">In concione.</hi></note>   
                  <hi style="text-indent: 2em;">But certeinlie, it is neither a witch, nor diuell, but a glori-</hi><lb/>
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Psalm"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͣ </hi>Pſal.25.</quote></note>            
                  ous <hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͣ </hi><persName type="lit"> God</persName> that maketh the thunder. I haue read in the ſcrip-<lb/>
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Psalm"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᵇ</hi>Pſal.83.</quote></note>
                  tures, that God <hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ᵇ </hi> maketh the bluſtering tempeſts and whirle-<lb/>
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Ecclesiastes"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͨ </hi>Eccleſ.43.</quote></note>
                  winds: and I find that it is <hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ͨ  </hi> the <persName type="lit">Lord</persName> that altogither dealeth<lb/>
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Luke"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͩ </hi>Luke.8.</quote></note>  <note type="authorial" place="margin-left"><quote source="Bible:Matthew">Matth.8.</quote></note> 
                  with them, and that they <hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ͩ  </hi> blowe according to his will. But let<lb/>
                  me ſée anie of them all <hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ͤ  </hi> rebuke and ſtill the ſea in time of tem-<lb/>
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Mark"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͤ </hi>Mark.4,41</quote></note><note type="authorial" place="margin-left"><quote source="Bible:Luke">Luk.8,14.</quote></note>
                  peſt, as <persName type="hist">Chriſt</persName> did; or raiſe the ſtormie wind, as <hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᶠ</hi> <persName type="lit">God</persName> did with<lb/>
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Psalm"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᶠ</hi>Pſal.170.</quote></note>
            his word; and I will beléeue in them. Hath anie witch or coniu-<lb/>
            rer, or anie creature entred into the <hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᵍ</hi> treaſures of the ſnowe; or<lb/>
                  <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Job"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᵍ</hi>Iob.38,22.</quote></note>         
            ſéene the ſecret places of the haile, which <persName type="lit">GOD</persName> hath prepared a-<lb/>
            gainſt the daie of trouble, battell, and warre. I for my part al-<lb/>
                  <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Ecclesiastes">Eccleſ.43.</quote></note>    
            ſo thinke with <persName type="hist">Jeſus Sirach</persName>, that as <persName type="lit">Gods</persName> onelie commande-<lb/>
            ment the ſnowe falleth; and that the wind bloweth according to<lb/>
                  <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Leviticus"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">h</hi>Leuiti.26.</quote></note> <note type="authorial" place="margin-left"><quote source="Bible:verse">verſe.3.4.</quote></note> <!-- what part of the Bible -->
            his will, who onelie maketh all ſtormes to ceaſe; and <hi style="font-style:superscript;">h</hi> who (if<lb/>
            we kéepe his ordinances) will ſend us raine in due ſeaſon, and<lb/>
            make the land to bring forth hir increaſe, and the trées of the field<lb/>
            to giue their fruit.<lb/></p>
          <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="blackletter;"><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Psalm"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">i</hi>Pſal.78,23.</quote>
                     </note>But little thinke our witchmongers, that the <hi style="font-style:superscript;">i</hi><persName type="lit">Lord</persName> com-<lb/>
            mandeth the clouds aboue, or openeth the doores of heauen, as<lb/>
            </hi><persName type="hist">Dauid</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> affirmeth; or that the <persName type="lit">Lord</persName> goeth forth in the tempeſts and<lb/>
            <note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="Bible:Nahum"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">k</hi><persName type="hist">Nahum</persName>.1.</quote></note>
                     ſtormes, as the Prophet <hi style="font-style:superscript;">k</hi></hi><persName type="hist">Nahum</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> reporteth: but rather that wit-<lb/>
            ches and coniurers are then about their buſineſſe.</hi><lb/></p>  
          <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="blackletter;">The</hi><persName type="hist">Martioniſts</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">acknowledged one <persName type="lit">God</persName> the authour of good<lb/>
            things, and another the ordeiner of euill: but theſe make the di-<lb/>
            uell a whole god, to create things of nothing, to knowe mens co-<lb/>
            gitations, and to doo that which <persName type="lit">God</persName> neuer did; as, to tranſub-<lb/>
            ſtantiate men into beaſts, &amp;c. Which thing if diuels could doo,</hi><lb/></p>
         
         <fw type="signature"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"><hi style="text-align:center;"><supplied reason="omitted-in-original">C.i.v</supplied></hi></hi></fw>
         <fw type="catchword" style="text-align:right;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">yet</hi></fw>
            <pb/>
         
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            <fw type="header" style="text-align: left; font-size:125%;"><hi style="font-style:italic;">Credulitie.</hi></fw>
            <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems;font-size:125%;">ofWitchcraft.</fw>
            <fw type="header" style="text-align: 4ems; font-size:125%;">Cap.1.</fw>
            <fw type="pageNum" style="text-align: right; font-size:125%;">3</fw>
            
            <p style="front-style;blackletter;">yet followeth it not, that witches haue ſuch power. But if all<lb/>
            the diuels in hell were dead, and all the witches in <placeName>England</placeName><lb/>
            burnt or hanged; I warrant you we ſhould not faile to haue<lb/>
            raine, haile and tempeſts, as now we haue: according to the ap-<lb/>
            pointment and will of <persName type="lit">God</persName>, and according to the conſtitution of<lb/>
            the elements, and the courſe of the planets, wherein <persName type="lit">God</persName> hath ſet<lb/>
            a perfect and perpetuall order.<lb/></p>
            
            <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">I am alſo well aſſured, that if all the old women in the world<lb/>
               were witches; and all the prieſts, coniurers: we ſhould not haue<lb/>
               a drop of raine, nor a blaſt of wind the more or the leſſe for them.<lb/>
               For <hi style="font-style:superscript;">l</hi> the <persName type="lit"
                     >Lord</persName> hath bound the waters in the clouds, and hath ſet
                     <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Iob"><hi style="font-style:superscript;"
                     >l</hi>Iob.26,8.</quote></note><lb/>
               bounds about the waters, untill the daie and night come to an<note
                     type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Iob">Iob.37.</quote></note><lb/>
               end: yea it is <persName type="lit">God</persName> that raiſeth the winds
                     and ſtilleth them: and <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Psalm">Pſalme.135.</quote></note><lb/>
               he ſaith to the raine and ſnowe; Be upon the earth, and it
                     falleth.<note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Ier">Ier.10 &amp; 15.</quote></note><lb/>
               The <hi style="font-style:superscript;">m</hi> wind of the
                     <persName type="lit">Lord</persName>, and not the wind of witches, ſhall
                     de-<note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Osee"><hi style="font-style:superscript;"
                     >m</hi>Oſe.13.</quote></note><lb/>
               ſtroie the treaſures of their pleſant veſſels, and drie up the foun-<lb/>
               taines; ſaith</hi><persName type="lit">Oſeas</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">. Let vs
                     alſo learne and confeſſe with the<lb/> 
               Prophet</hi><persName type="hist">Dauid</persName>,<hi style="front-style;blackletter;">that we <hi
                     style="font-style:superscript;">n</hi> our ſelues are the cauſes of our
                     afflicti-<note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Pſalm"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">n</hi>Pſa.39,
                     &amp;amp;c.</quote></note><lb/>
               ons; and not exclaime vpon witches, when we ſhould call vpon<lb/> 
                     God for mercie.<lb/></hi></p>
            
            <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">
               <hi style="text-indent:2em">The Imperiall lawe (ſaith </hi><persName type="hist"
                     >Bentius</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">) condemneth them to</hi>
                     <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><hi style="font-style:italic;">In
                     epist.ad</hi></note><lb/>
               death that trouble and infect the aire: but I affirme (ſaith he) that
                     <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><hi
                     style="font-style:italic;">Io.Wierum.</hi></note><lb/>
              it is neither in the power of witch nor diuell ſo to doo, but in <persName type="lit">God</persName><lb/>
              onelie. Though (beſides </hi><persName type="hist">Bodin</persName><hi
                     style="front-style;blackletter;">, and all the popiſh writers in<lb/> 
              generall) it pleaſe </hi><persName type="hist">Danæus</persName>, <persName type="hist"
                     >Hyperius</persName>, <persName type="hist">Hemingius</persName>, <persName
                     type="hist">Eraſtus</persName>,<hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> &amp;c. to<lb/> 
              conclude otherwiſe. The clouds <hi style="font-style:superscript;">o</hi>
                     are called the pillers of Gods<note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Exodus"><hi style="font-style:superscript;"
                        >o</hi>Exod.13.</quote></note><lb/>
              tents, Gods chariots, and his pauillions. And if it be ſo, what<note
                     type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                     <quote source="Bible:Pſalm">Pſ.18,11.19.</quote></note><lb/>
              witch or diuell can make maiſteries therof. S.</hi><persName type="hist">Auguſtine</persName>
                     <hi style="front-style;blackletter;">ſaith,</hi><note type="authorial"
                     place="margin-right"><hi style="font-style:italic;">*Auguſt.3.de.</hi></note><lb/>
              <hi style="font-style:italic;">Non est putandum istis tranſgreſſoribus angelis
                     ſeruire hanc rerum viſi-<note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><hi
                     style="font-style:italic;">ſancta Trinit.</hi></note><lb/>
              bilium materiem, ſed ſoli Deo</hi><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">: We muſt not thinke that theſe viſible<lb/>
              things are at the commandement of the angels that fell, but are<lb/> 
              obedient to the onelie <persName type="lit">God</persName>.</hi><lb/></p>
            
            <p style="blackletter;"><hi style="text-indent: 2ems;">Finallie, if witches
                  could accompliſh theſe things; what</hi><lb/>
             <hi style="text-indent: 3ems;">néeded it ſéeme ſo ſtrange to the people, when
                  <persName type="hist">Chriſt</persName></hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;">
                  <quote source="Bible:Mar"><hi style="font-style:superscript;"
                  >p</hi>Mar.4.41.</quote></note><lb/>
             <hi style="text-indent: 4ems;">by miracle <hi style="font-style:superscript;">p</hi>
                  commanded both ſeas and winds,</hi><lb/>
             <hi style="text-indent: 6ems;">&amp;c. For it is written; Who is this: for</hi><lb/>
             <hi style="text-indent: 11ems;">both wind and ſea</hi><lb/>
             <hi style="text-indent: 13ems;">obeie him.</hi><lb/></p>
            
            <fw type="signature"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"><hi style="text-align:center;">C.ii.<supplied reason="omitted-in-original">r</supplied></hi></hi></fw>   
            <fw type="catchword" style="text-align:right;">The</fw><lb/>
           <pb/>
         </div>
        
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        <div type="part">
           <fw type="pageNum" style="text-align: left; font-size:125%;">4</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">I.Booke.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">The diſcouerie</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="font-size:125%;"><hi style="font-style:italic; text-align: right;">Credulitie.</hi></fw>
           
          <p style="text-align:center"><hi style= "font-size:125%;">The inconuenience growing by mens credulitie here-</hi><lb/>
               in, with a reproofe of ſome churchmen, which are inclined<lb/>
               to the common conceiued opinion of witches omnipo-<lb/>
               tencie, and a familiar example thereof.<lb/></p>
           
           <p style="text-align:center; font-size:125%">The ſecond Chapter.<lb/></p>
           
           <p><hi style="blackletter;"><hi style="decorInit;float: left; font-size: 800%; padding: 0.5rem; margin: 0.2rem 1rem 0;">B</hi><hi style="font-size:125%;">Ut the world is now ſo bewit-</hi><lb/>
              ched and ouer-run with this fond error,<lb/>
              that euen where a man ſhuld ſéeke com-<lb/>
              fort and counſell, there ſhall hée be ſent<lb/>
              (in caſe of neceſſitie) from <persName type="lit">God</persName> to the<lb/>
              diuell; and from the Phyſician, to the <lb/>
              cooſening witch, who will not ſticke to<lb/>
              take vpon hir, by wordes to heale the<lb/>
              lame (which was proper onelie to <persName type="hist">Chriſt</persName>; and to them whom he<lb/>
              aſſiſted with his diuine power) yea, with hir familiar &amp; charmes<lb/>
           </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:John"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͣ </hi> Ioh.10,21.</quote></note><hi style="font-style;blackletter;">ſhe will take vpon hir to cure the blind: through in the <hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ͣ  </hi> tenth of<lb/>
              S. </hi><persName type="hist">Iohns</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> Goſpell it be written, that the diuell cannot open the<lb/>
                 eies of the blind. And they attaine ſuch credit, as I haue heard<lb/>
                 (to my gréefe) ſome of the miniſterie affirme, that they haue had<lb/>
                 in their pariſh at one inſtant, rvij. or rviij. witches: meaning<lb/>
                 ſuch as could worke miracles ſupernaturallie. Whereby they<lb/>
                 manifeſted as well their infidelitie and ignorance, in concei-<lb/>
                 uing <persName type="lit">Gods</persName> word; as their negligence and error in inſtructing<lb/>
                 their flocks. For they themſelues might underſtand, and alſo<lb/>
              </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Pſal"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᵇ</hi>Pſal.72,&amp; 136.</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> teach their pariſhoners, that <hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᵇ</hi> <persName type="lit">God</persName> onelie worketh great woon-<lb/>
                 ders; and that it is he which ſendeth ſuch puniſhments to the <lb/>
              </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Jeremiah"></quote>Ieremie,5.</note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> wicked, and ſuch trials to the elect: according to the ſaieng of<lb/>
              </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Haggai"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͨ  </hi> Hag.2, 28.</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> the Prophet </hi><persName type="hist">Haggai</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">, <hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ͨ  </hi>I ſmote you with blaſting and mildeaw, <lb/>
                 and with haile, in all the labours of your hands; and yet you<lb/>
              </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Idem"><hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ͩ </hi> Idem.ca.1 6.</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> turned not vnto me, ſaith the Lord. And therefore ſaith the ſame<lb/>
              </hi><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">Prophet in another place; <hi style="font-style:superscript;"> ͩ  </hi> You haue ſoluen much, and bring<lb/>
              </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Joel"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͤ </hi> Ioel 1.</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> in little. And both in <hi style="font-style:superscript;">ͤ </hi></hi><persName type="hist">Ioel</persName><hi style="font-style;blackletter;"> and <hi style="font-style:superscript;" >ᶠ </hi></hi><persName type="hist">Leuiticus</persName><hi style="font-style;blackletter;">, the like phraſes and<lb/>
              </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-left" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Leviticus"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᶠ</hi>Leuiti.26.</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> proofes are vſed and made. But more ſhal be ſaid of this herafter.<lb/></hi></p>
           
           <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">S.</hi><persName type="hist">Paule </persName>fore-ſawe the blindneſſe and obſtinacie, both of theſe<lb/>
              blind ſhepheards, and alſo of their ſcabbed ſhéepe, when he ſaid;<lb/></p>
           
           <fw type="signature" style="text-align;center;"><supplied reason="omitted-in-original">C.ii.v</supplied></fw>
           <fw type="catchword" style="text-align;right;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">They</hi></fw>
           <pb/>
           
           <!--Page C3r transcribed and coded by Caroline Hawkes under supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett-->
           <fw type="header" style="text-align: left; font-style:italic; font-size:125%;">Credulitie.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">of Witchcraft.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">Cap.2.</fw>
           <fw type="pageNum" style="text-align: right; font-size:125%;">5</fw>
           
           
           <p><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᵍ</hi> They will not ſuffer wholſome doctrine, but hauing their eares </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Timothy"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">ᵍ</hi> 2. Tim.4.</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"><lb/>
              itching, ſhall get them a heape of teachers after their own luſts; </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Timothy">34.</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"><lb/>
                 and ſhall turne their eares from the truth, and ſhall be giuen to<lb/>
                 fables. And <hi style="font-style:superscript;">h</hi> in the latter time ſome ſhall depart from the faith, </hi><note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><quote source="biblical:Timothy"><hi style="font-style:superscript;">h</hi> 1.Tim.4.1</quote></note><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"><lb/>
                    and ſhall giue héed to ſpirits of errors, and doctrines of diuels,<lb/>
                    which ſpeake lies (as witches and coniurers doo) but caſt thou<lb/>
                    awaie ſuch prophane and old wiues fables. In which ſenſe </hi><persName type="hist">Ba-<lb/>
                       ſil</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">ſaith; Who ſo giueth héed to inchanters, hearkeneth to a fa-<lb/>
                          bulous and friuolous thing. But I will rehearſe an example<lb/>
                          whereof I my ſelfe am not onelie </hi><hi style="font-style:italic;"><foreign xml:lang="la">Oculatus testis</foreign></hi><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">, but haue exami-<lb/>
                             ned the cauſe, and am to iuſtifie the truth of my report: not bi-<lb/>
                             cauſe I would diſgrace the miniſters that are godlie, but to con-<lb/>
                             firme my former aſſertion, that this abſurd error is growne in-<lb/>
                             to the place, which ſhould be able to expell all ſuch ridiculous fol-<lb/>
                             lie and impietie. </hi><lb/></p>
           
           <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="font-style;blackletter;"> At the aſſiſes holden at </hi><placeName> Rocheſter</placeName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">, Anno </hi>1581<hi style="front-style;blackletter;">. one</hi><persName type="hist">Margaret 
                  <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><quote>A ſtorie of Margaret Simons, a ſuppoſed witch.</quote></note><lb/>
              Simons</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">, the wife of </hi><persName type="hist">Iohn Simons</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">, of </hi><placeName>Brenchlie</placeName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> in </hi><placeName>Kent</placeName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">, was<lb/>
              arainged for witchcraft, as the inſtigation and complaint of di-<lb/>
              uers fond and malicious perſons; and ſpeciallie by the meanes<lb/>
              of one</hi><persName type="hist">Iohn Ferrall</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> vicar of that pariſh: with whom I talked a-<lb/>
              bout that matter, and found him both fondlie aſſotted in the <lb/>
              cauſe, and enuiouſlie bent towards hir: and (which is worſe) as<lb/>
              unable to make a good account of his faith, as ſhée whom he ac-<lb/>
              cuſed. That which he, for his part, laid to the poore womans<lb/>
              charge, was this.</hi><lb/></p>
           <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> His ſonne (being an vngratious boie, and prentiſe to one </hi><persName type="hist">Ro-<lb/>
              bert Scotchford</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> clothier, dwelling in that pariſh of </hi><placeName>Brenchlie</placeName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">)<lb/>
                 paſſed on a daie by hir houſe; at whome by chance hir little dog<lb/>
                 barked. Which thing the boie taking in euill part, drewe his<lb/>
                 knife &amp; purſued him there with euen to hir doore: whom ſhe rebu-<lb/>
                 ked with ſome ſuch words as the boie diſdained, &amp; yet neuerthe-<lb/>
                 leſſe would not be perſuaded to depart in a long time. At the <lb/>
                 laſt he returned to his maiſters houſe, and within fiue or ſixe<lb/>
                 daies fell ſicke. Then was called to mind the fraie betwixt the <lb/>
                 dog and the boie: inſomuch as the vicar (who thought himſelfe<lb/>
                 ſo priuileged, as he little miſtruſted that God would viſit his <lb/>
                 children with ſicknes) did ſo calculate; as he found, partlie<lb/>
                 through his owne iudgement, and partlie (as he himſelfe told)</hi><lb/></p>
           
           <fw type="signature" style="text-align:center;">C.iij.<supplied reason="omitted-in-original">r</supplied></fw>
           <fw type="catchword" style="text-align:right;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> me)</hi></fw><lb/>
           <pb/>
           
           <!--Page C3v transcribed and coded by Caroline Hawkes under supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett-->
           <fw type="pageNum" style="text-align: left; font-size:125%;">6</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">I.Booke.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">The diſcouerie</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-align: right; font-style:italic; font-size:125%;">Credulitie.</fw>
              
           <p><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> me) by the relation of other witches, that his ſaid ſonne was by <lb/>
              hir bewitched. Yea, he alſo told me, that his ſonne (being<lb/>
              as it were paſt all cure) receiued perfect health at the hands of a-<lb/>
              nother witch.</hi><lb/></p>
           
            <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="front-style;blackletter;">He procéeded yet further againſt hir, affirming, that alwaies</hi><lb/>
           <hi style="front-style;blackletter;">in his pariſh church, when he deſired to read moſt plainelie, his<lb/>
              voice ſo failed him, as he could ſcant be heard at all. Which hée
              could impute, he ſaid, to nothing elſe, but to hir inchantment. <lb/>
              When I aduertiſed the poore woman hereof, as being deſirous to<lb/>
              heare what ſhe could ſaie for hir ſelfe; ſhe told me, that in verie<lb/>
              déed his voice did much faile him, ſpeciallie when he ſtrained him-<lb/>
              ſelfe to ſpeake lowdeſt. Howbeit, ſhe ſaid that all times his <lb/>
              voice was hoarſe and lowe: which thing I perceiued to be true.<lb/>
              But ſir, ſaid ſhe, you ſhall vnderſtand, that this our vicar is diſ-<lb/>
              eaſed with ſuch a kind of hoarſeneſſe, as diuers of our neighbors<lb/>
              in this pariſh, not long ſince, doubted that he had the French pox;<lb/>
              &amp; in that reſpect vtterly refuſed to communicate with him: vntill<lb/>
              ſuch time as (being thervnto inioined by M. D. </hi><persName type="hist">Lewen</persName><hi style="front-style;blackletter;"> the Dr-<lb/>
                 dinarie) he had brought frõ </hi><placeName>London</placeName><hi style="font-style;blackletter;"> a certificat, vnder the hands<lb/>
                    of two phyſicians, that his hoarſenes procéeded from a diſeaſe in<lb/>
                    the lungs. Which certificat he publiſhed in the church, in the pre-<lb/>
                    fence of the whole congregation: and by this meanes hée was<lb/>
                    cured, or rather excuſed of the ſhame of his diſeaſe. And this I<lb/>
                    knowe to be true by the relation of diuers honeſt men of that pa-<lb/>
                    riſh. And truelie, if one of the Iurie had not béene wiſer than<lb/>
                    the other, ſhe had béene condemned therevpon, and vpon other<lb/>
                    <hi style="text-indent:1ems;">as ridiculous matters as this. For the name of a witch is</hi><lb/>
                    <hi style="text-indent:2ems;">ſo odious, and hir power ſo feared among the common</hi><lb/>
                    <hi style="text-indent:3ems;">people, that if the honeſteſt bodie liuing chance to</hi><lb/>
                    <hi style="text-indent:6ems;">be arraigned thervpon, ſhe ſhall hard-</hi><lb/>
                    <hi style="text-indent:10ems;">lie eſcape condem-</hi><lb/>
                    <hi style="text-indent:13ems;">nation.</hi></hi><lb/></p>
           
           <fw type="signature" style="text-align;center;"><supplied reason="omitted-in-original">C.iij.v</supplied></fw>
           <fw type="catchword" style="text-align;right;">Who</fw>
           <pb/>
        </div>
        
        <!--Page C4r transcribed and coded by Gwendolyn Carpenter under supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett-->
        <div type="part">
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;"><hi style="font-style:italic">Credulitie.</hi></fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">of Witchcraft.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-align: right; font-size:125%;">Cap.3.</fw>
           <fw type="pageNum" style="text-align: right; font-size:125%;">7</fw>
           
           <p style="text-align:center;">Who they be that are called witches, with a manifeſt<lb/>
              <hi style="font-size: 75%;">declaration of the cauſe that mooueth men ſo commonlie<lb/>
              to thinke, and witches themſelves to beleeue that they can<lb/>
              hurt children, cattell, &amp;c. with words and imaginations:<lb/>
              and of cooſening witches.</hi><lb/></p>
           
           <p style="text-align:center; font-size:125%;">The third Chapter.</p>
           
           <p><hi style="blackletter;"><hi style="decorInit;float: left; font-size: 700%; padding: 0.5rem; margin: 0.2rem 1rem 0;">O</hi><hi style="font-size:125%;"> Ne ſort of ſuch as are ſaid to bee</hi><lb/>
              witches, are women which be commonly<lb/>
              old, lame, bleare-eied, pale, fowle, and<lb/>
              full of wrinkles; poore, ſullen, ſuperſtiti-<lb/>
              ous, and <orgName type="historical">papiſts</orgName>; or ſuch as knowe no re-<lb/>
              ligion: in whoſe drouſie minds the diuell<lb/>
              hath gotten a fine ſeat; ſo as, what miſ-<lb/>
              chéefe, miſchance, calamitie, or ſlaughter<lb/>
              is brought to paſſe, they are eaſilie perſuaded the ſame is doone<lb/>
              by themſelues; imprinting in their minds an earneſt and con-<lb/>
              ſtant imagination thereof. They are leane and deformed, ſhew-</hi>
                  <note type="authorial" place="margin-right" style="font-size:75%;"><persName type="hist">Cardan</persName> de var. rerum.</note><lb/>
              <hi style="blackletter;">ing melancholie in their faces, to the horror of all that ſée them.<lb/>	 
                 They are doting, ſcolds, mad, diueliſh; and not much differing<lb/>
                 from them that are thought to be poſſeſſed with ſpirits; ſo firme<lb/>
                 and ſtedfaſt in their opinions, as whoſoeuer ſhall onelie haue re-<lb/>
                 ſpect to the conſtancie of their words vttered, would eaſilie be-<lb/>
                 léeue they were true indéed.</hi><lb/></p>
           
           <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="blackletter;"> Theſe miſerable wretches are ſo odious vnto all their neigh-<lb/>
              bors, and ſo feared, as few dare offend them, or denie them anie<lb/>
              thing they aſke: whereby they take vpon them: yea, and ſome<lb/>
              times thinke, that they can doo ſuch things as are beyond the abi-<lb/>
              litie of humane nature. Theſe go from houſe to houſe, and from<lb/>
              doore to doore for a pot full of milke, yeſt, drinke, pottage, or ſome-<lb/>
              ſuch reléefe; without the which they could hardlie liue: neither ob-<lb/>
              taining for their ſeruice and paines, nor by their art, nor yet at<lb/>
              the diuels hands (with whome they are ſaid to make a perfect and<lb/>
              viſible bargaine) either beautie, monie, promotion, welth, wor-<lb/>
              ſhip, pleaſure, honor, knowledge, learning, or anie other bene-<lb/>
              fit whatſoeuer.</hi><lb/></p>
           
           <fw type="signature" style="text-align:center">C.iiij.<supplied reason="omitted-in-original">r</supplied></fw>
           <fw type="catchword" style="text-align:right">It</fw>
           <pb/>
           
           <!--Page C4v transcribed and coded by Gwendolyn Carpenter under supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett-->
           <fw type="pageNum" style="text-align: left; font-size:125%;">8</fw> 
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">I.Booke.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">The diſcouerie</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-align: right; font-style:italic; font-size:125%;">Credulitie.</fw>
           
           <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="blackletter;"> It falleth out many times, that neither their neceſſities, nor<lb/>
              their expectation is anſwered or ſerued, in thoſe places where<lb/>
              they beg or borrowe; but rather their lewdneſſe is by their neigh-<lb/>
              bors reprooued. And further, in tract of time the witch wareth o-<lb/>
              dious and tedious to hir neighbors; and they againe are deſpiſed<lb/>
              and deſpited of hir: ſo as ſometimes the curſſeth one, and ſome-<lb/>
              times another; and that from the maiſter of the houſe, his wife,<lb/>
              children, cattell, &amp;c. to the little pig that lieth in the ſtie. Thus in<lb/>
              proceſſe of time they haue all diſpleaſed hir, and the hath wiſhed<lb/>
              euill lucke vnto them all; perhaps with curſſes and imprecati-<lb/>
              ons made in forme. Doubtleſſe (at length) ſome if hir neigh-<lb/>
              bours die, or fall ſicke; or ſome of their children are viſited<lb/>
              with diſeaſes that vex them ſtrangelie: as apoplexies epilep-<lb/>
              ſies conuulſions, hot feuers, wormes, &amp;c. Which by ignorant pa-<lb/>
              rents are ſuppoſed to be the vengeance of witches. Yea and their <lb/>
              opinions and conceits are confirmed and maintained by unſkil-<lb/>
               full phyſicians: according to the common ſaieng;</hi><foreign xml:lang="la"><hi style="font-style:italic;">Inſcitiæ pallium<lb/>
                 maleficium &amp; incantatio,</hi></foreign><hi style="blackletter;">Witchcraft and inchantment is the cloke<lb/>
                    of ignorance: whereas indéed euill humors, &amp; not ſtrange words,<lb/>
                    witches, or ſpirits are the cauſes of ſuch diſeaſes. Alſo ſome of<lb/>
                    their cattell periſh, either by diſeaſe or miſchance. Then they, up-<lb/>
                    on whom ſuch aduerſities fall, weighing the fame that goeth up-<lb/>
                    on this woman (hir words, diſpleaſure, and curſſes, méeting ſo<lb/>
                    iuſtlie with their miſfortune) doo not onelie conceiue, but alſo are<lb/>
                    reſolued, that all their miſhaps are brought to paſſe by hir one-<lb/>
                    lie meanes.</hi><lb/></p>
           
           <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="blackletter;">The witch on the other ſide exſpecting hir neighbours miſchan-<lb/>
              ces, and ſéeing things ſometimes come to paſſe according to hir <lb/>
              <note type="authorial" place="margin-left"><hi style="font style: italic; font-size:0.5;"></hi>1.<persName type="hist">Bodin.</persName>li.2. de demono: cap.8.</note>wiſhes, curſſes, and incantations (for</hi><persName type="hist">Bodin</persName><hi style="blackletter;"> himſelfe confeſſeth,<lb/>
                 that not aboue two in a hundred of their witchings or wiſhings<lb/>
                 take effect) being called before a Juſtice, by due examination of<lb/>
                 the circumſtances is driuen to ſée hir imprecations and deſires,<lb/>
                 and hir neighbors harmes and loſſes to concurre, and as it were<lb/>
                 to take effect: and ſo confeſſeth that the (as a goddes) hath brought<lb/>
                  ſuche things to paſſe. Wherein, not onelie ſhe, but the accuſer, and<lb/>
                 alſo the Juſtice are fowlie deceiued and abuſed; as being tho-<lb/>
                 rough hir confeſſion and other circumſtances perſuaded (to the<lb/>
                  iniurie of <persName type="lit">Gods</persName> glorie) that ſhe hath doone, or can doo that which</hi><lb/></p>
           
           
           <fw type="signature" style="text-align:right"><supplied reason="omitted-in-original">C.iiij.v</supplied></fw>
           <fw type="catchword" style="text-align:right">is</fw>
           <pb/>
           
           <!--Page C5r transcribed and coded by Gwendolyn Carpenter under supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett-->           
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-style:italic; font-size:125%;">Miracles.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-indent: 4ems; font-size:125%;">of Witchcraft.</fw>
           <fw type="header" style="text-align: right; font-size:125%;">Cap.4.</fw>
           <fw type="pageNum" style="text-align: right; font-size:125%;">9</fw> 
           
           <!-- Para continued from previous page -->
           <p style="blackletter;">is proper onelie to <persName type="lit">God</persName> himſelfe.<lb/></p>
           
           <p style="text-indent:1em;"><hi style="blackletter;"></hi>Another ſort of witches there are, which be abſolutelie cooſe-<lb/>
              ners. Theſe take vpon them, either for glorie, fame, or gaine, to<lb/>
              doo anie thing, which <persName type= "lit">God</persName> or the diuell can doo: either for foretel-<lb/>
              ling of things to come, bewraieng of ſecrets, curing of maladies,<lb/>
              or working of miracles. But of theſe I will talke more at large<lb/>
              héereafter.<lb/></p>
           <pb/>
           <!-- Chapter 4 continues on this page -->
        </div>
     </body>
    </text>
  </TEI>
Scot_Witches_master_DH_A2r_to_B1r General Editor Kristen Abbott Bennett Assistant Editor Kelsey L. Rhodes Transcriber and encoder Gwendolyn Carpenter Transcriber and encoder Caroline M. Hawkes

Printed by Publication Information

STC 21864

TEI P5
The diſcouerie of Witchcraft.

¶The first Booke.

An impeachment of Witches power in me- teors and elementarie bodies, tending to the re- buke of ſuch as attribute too much vnto them.

The firſt Chapter.

THE fables of Witchcraft haue ta- ken ſo faſt hold and dæpe root in the heart of man,that fewe or none can (nowadaies) with patience indure the hand and correcti- on of God. For if any aduerſitie, gréefe, ſick- neſſe, loſſe of children, corne, cattell, or liber- tie happen vnto them; by & by they exclaime vppon witches. As though there were no God in Iſrael that ordereth all things ac- 01 Iob.5. cording to his will; puniſhing both iuft and vniuft with gréefs, plagues, and afflictions in maner and forme as he thinketh good: but that certeine old women héere on earth, called witches, muſt néeds be the contriuers of all mens calamities, and as though they themſelues were innocents, and had deferued no ſuch puniſhments. Inſomuch as they ſticke not to ride and go to ſuch, as either are iniuriouſlie tearmed witches, or elſe are willing ſo to be accounted, ſéeking at their hands comfort and remedie in time of their tribulation, contrarie to Gods will and commandement in that behalfe, who bids us reſort to him in all 02 Matth.11.

C.j.r our 2 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

our neceſſities.

Such faithleſſe (I ſaie) are alſo perſuaded, that neither haile nor ſnowe, thunder nor lightening, raine nor tempeſtuous winds come from heauens at the commandement of God: but are raiſed by the cunning and power of witches and coniu- rers; inſomuch as a clap of thunder, or a gale of wind is no ſoo- ner heard, but either they run to ring bels, or crie out to burne witches; or elſe burne conſecrated things, hoping by the ſmoke thereof, to driue the diuell out of the aire, as though ſpirits could be fraied awaie with ſuch externall toies: howbeit, theſe are right inchantments, as Brentius affirmeth.

03 In concione. But certeinlie, it is neither a witch, nor diuell, but a glori- 04 ͣ Pſal.25. ous ͣ God that maketh the thunder. I haue read in the ſcrip- 05 ᵇPſal.83. tures, that God ᵇ maketh the bluſtering tempeſts and whirle- 06 ͨ Eccleſ.43. winds: and I find that it is ͨ the Lord that altogither dealeth 07 ͩ Luke.8. 08 Matth.8. with them, and that they ͩ blowe according to his will. But let me ſée anie of them all ͤ rebuke and ſtill the ſea in time of tem- 09 ͤ Mark.4,41 10 Luk.8,14. peſt, as Chriſt did; or raiſe the ſtormie wind, as ᶠ God did with 11 ᶠPſal.170. his word; and I will beléeue in them. Hath anie witch or coniu- rer, or anie creature entred into the ᵍ treaſures of the ſnowe; or 12 ᵍIob.38,22. ſéene the ſecret places of the haile, which GOD hath prepared a- gainſt the daie of trouble, battell, and warre. I for my part al- 13 Eccleſ.43. ſo thinke with Jeſus Sirach, that as Gods onelie commande- ment the ſnowe falleth; and that the wind bloweth according to 14 hLeuiti.26. 15 verſe.3.4. his will, who onelie maketh all ſtormes to ceaſe; and h who (if we kéepe his ordinances) will ſend us raine in due ſeaſon, and make the land to bring forth hir increaſe, and the trées of the field to giue their fruit.

16 iPſal.78,23. But little thinke our witchmongers, that the i Lord com- mandeth the clouds aboue, or openeth the doores of heauen, as Dauid affirmeth; or that the Lord goeth forth in the tempeſts and 17 k Nahum.1. ſtormes, as the Prophet k Nahum reporteth: but rather that wit- ches and coniurers are then about their buſineſſe.

The Martioniſts acknowledged one God the authour of good things, and another the ordeiner of euill: but theſe make the di- uell a whole god, to create things of nothing, to knowe mens co- gitations, and to doo that which God neuer did; as, to tranſub- ſtantiate men into beaſts, &c. Which thing if diuels could doo,

C.i.v yet Credulitie. ofWitchcraft. Cap.1. 3

yet followeth it not, that witches haue ſuch power. But if all the diuels in hell were dead, and all the witches in England burnt or hanged; I warrant you we ſhould not faile to haue raine, haile and tempeſts, as now we haue: according to the ap- pointment and will of God, and according to the conſtitution of the elements, and the courſe of the planets, wherein God hath ſet a perfect and perpetuall order.

I am alſo well aſſured, that if all the old women in the world were witches; and all the prieſts, coniurers: we ſhould not haue a drop of raine, nor a blaſt of wind the more or the leſſe for them. For l the Lord hath bound the waters in the clouds, and hath ſet 18 lIob.26,8. bounds about the waters, untill the daie and night come to an19 Iob.37. end: yea it is God that raiſeth the winds and ſtilleth them: and 20 Pſalme.135. he ſaith to the raine and ſnowe; Be upon the earth, and it falleth.21 Ier.10 & 15. The m wind of the Lord, and not the wind of witches, ſhall de-22 mOſe.13. ſtroie the treaſures of their pleſant veſſels, and drie up the foun- taines; ſaith Oſeas . Let vs alſo learne and confeſſe with the Prophet Dauid,that we n our ſelues are the cauſes of our afflicti-23 nPſa.39, &amp;c. ons; and not exclaime vpon witches, when we ſhould call vpon God for mercie.

The Imperiall lawe (ſaith Bentius ) condemneth them to 24 In epist.ad death that trouble and infect the aire: but I affirme (ſaith he) that 25 Io.Wierum. it is neither in the power of witch nor diuell ſo to doo, but in God onelie. Though (beſides Bodin , and all the popiſh writers in generall) it pleaſe Danæus, Hyperius, Hemingius, Eraſtus, &c. to conclude otherwiſe. The clouds o are called the pillers of Gods26 oExod.13. tents, Gods chariots, and his pauillions. And if it be ſo, what27 Pſ.18,11.19. witch or diuell can make maiſteries therof. S. Auguſtine ſaith,28 *Auguſt.3.de. Non est putandum istis tranſgreſſoribus angelis ſeruire hanc rerum viſi-29 ſancta Trinit. bilium materiem, ſed ſoli Deo : We muſt not thinke that theſe viſible things are at the commandement of the angels that fell, but are obedient to the onelie God.

Finallie, if witches could accompliſh theſe things; what néeded it ſéeme ſo ſtrange to the people, when Chriſt 30 pMar.4.41. by miracle p commanded both ſeas and winds, &c. For it is written; Who is this: for both wind and ſea obeie him.

C.ii.r The
4 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

The inconuenience growing by mens credulitie here- in, with a reproofe of ſome churchmen, which are inclined to the common conceiued opinion of witches omnipo- tencie, and a familiar example thereof.

The ſecond Chapter.

B Ut the world is now ſo bewit- ched and ouer-run with this fond error, that euen where a man ſhuld ſéeke com- fort and counſell, there ſhall hée be ſent (in caſe of neceſſitie) from God to the diuell; and from the Phyſician, to the cooſening witch, who will not ſticke to take vpon hir, by wordes to heale the lame (which was proper onelie to Chriſt; and to them whom he aſſiſted with his diuine power) yea, with hir familiar & charmes 31 ͣ Ioh.10,21. ſhe will take vpon hir to cure the blind: through in the ͣ tenth of S. Iohns Goſpell it be written, that the diuell cannot open the eies of the blind. And they attaine ſuch credit, as I haue heard (to my gréefe) ſome of the miniſterie affirme, that they haue had in their pariſh at one inſtant, rvij. or rviij. witches: meaning ſuch as could worke miracles ſupernaturallie. Whereby they manifeſted as well their infidelitie and ignorance, in concei- uing Gods word; as their negligence and error in inſtructing their flocks. For they themſelues might underſtand, and alſo 32 ᵇPſal.72,& 136. teach their pariſhoners, that ᵇ God onelie worketh great woon- ders; and that it is he which ſendeth ſuch puniſhments to the 33 Ieremie,5. wicked, and ſuch trials to the elect: according to the ſaieng of 34 ͨ Hag.2, 28. the Prophet Haggai , ͨ I ſmote you with blaſting and mildeaw, and with haile, in all the labours of your hands; and yet you 35 ͩ Idem.ca.1 6. turned not vnto me, ſaith the Lord. And therefore ſaith the ſame Prophet in another place; ͩ You haue ſoluen much, and bring 36 ͤ Ioel 1. in little. And both in ͤ Ioel and ᶠ Leuiticus , the like phraſes and 37 ᶠLeuiti.26. proofes are vſed and made. But more ſhal be ſaid of this herafter.

S. Paule fore-ſawe the blindneſſe and obſtinacie, both of theſe blind ſhepheards, and alſo of their ſcabbed ſhéepe, when he ſaid;

C.ii.v They Credulitie. of Witchcraft. Cap.2. 5

ᵍ They will not ſuffer wholſome doctrine, but hauing their eares 38 ᵍ 2. Tim.4. itching, ſhall get them a heape of teachers after their own luſts; 39 34. and ſhall turne their eares from the truth, and ſhall be giuen to fables. And h in the latter time ſome ſhall depart from the faith, 40 h 1.Tim.4.1 and ſhall giue héed to ſpirits of errors, and doctrines of diuels, which ſpeake lies (as witches and coniurers doo) but caſt thou awaie ſuch prophane and old wiues fables. In which ſenſe Ba- ſil ſaith; Who ſo giueth héed to inchanters, hearkeneth to a fa- bulous and friuolous thing. But I will rehearſe an example whereof I my ſelfe am not onelie Oculatus testis , but haue exami- ned the cauſe, and am to iuſtifie the truth of my report: not bi- cauſe I would diſgrace the miniſters that are godlie, but to con- firme my former aſſertion, that this abſurd error is growne in- to the place, which ſhould be able to expell all ſuch ridiculous fol- lie and impietie.

At the aſſiſes holden at Rocheſter , Anno 1581. one Margaret 41 A ſtorie of Margaret Simons, a ſuppoſed witch. Simons , the wife of Iohn Simons , of Brenchlie in Kent , was arainged for witchcraft, as the inſtigation and complaint of di- uers fond and malicious perſons; and ſpeciallie by the meanes of one Iohn Ferrall vicar of that pariſh: with whom I talked a- bout that matter, and found him both fondlie aſſotted in the cauſe, and enuiouſlie bent towards hir: and (which is worſe) as unable to make a good account of his faith, as ſhée whom he ac- cuſed. That which he, for his part, laid to the poore womans charge, was this.

His ſonne (being an vngratious boie, and prentiſe to one Ro- bert Scotchford clothier, dwelling in that pariſh of Brenchlie ) paſſed on a daie by hir houſe; at whome by chance hir little dog barked. Which thing the boie taking in euill part, drewe his knife & purſued him there with euen to hir doore: whom ſhe rebu- ked with ſome ſuch words as the boie diſdained, & yet neuerthe- leſſe would not be perſuaded to depart in a long time. At the laſt he returned to his maiſters houſe, and within fiue or ſixe daies fell ſicke. Then was called to mind the fraie betwixt the dog and the boie: inſomuch as the vicar (who thought himſelfe ſo priuileged, as he little miſtruſted that God would viſit his children with ſicknes) did ſo calculate; as he found, partlie through his owne iudgement, and partlie (as he himſelfe told)

C.iij.r me) 6 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

me) by the relation of other witches, that his ſaid ſonne was by hir bewitched. Yea, he alſo told me, that his ſonne (being as it were paſt all cure) receiued perfect health at the hands of a- nother witch.

He procéeded yet further againſt hir, affirming, that alwaies in his pariſh church, when he deſired to read moſt plainelie, his voice ſo failed him, as he could ſcant be heard at all. Which hée could impute, he ſaid, to nothing elſe, but to hir inchantment. When I aduertiſed the poore woman hereof, as being deſirous to heare what ſhe could ſaie for hir ſelfe; ſhe told me, that in verie déed his voice did much faile him, ſpeciallie when he ſtrained him- ſelfe to ſpeake lowdeſt. Howbeit, ſhe ſaid that all times his voice was hoarſe and lowe: which thing I perceiued to be true. But ſir, ſaid ſhe, you ſhall vnderſtand, that this our vicar is diſ- eaſed with ſuch a kind of hoarſeneſſe, as diuers of our neighbors in this pariſh, not long ſince, doubted that he had the French pox; & in that reſpect vtterly refuſed to communicate with him: vntill ſuch time as (being thervnto inioined by M. D. Lewen the Dr- dinarie) he had brought frõ London a certificat, vnder the hands of two phyſicians, that his hoarſenes procéeded from a diſeaſe in the lungs. Which certificat he publiſhed in the church, in the pre- fence of the whole congregation: and by this meanes hée was cured, or rather excuſed of the ſhame of his diſeaſe. And this I knowe to be true by the relation of diuers honeſt men of that pa- riſh. And truelie, if one of the Iurie had not béene wiſer than the other, ſhe had béene condemned therevpon, and vpon other as ridiculous matters as this. For the name of a witch is ſo odious, and hir power ſo feared among the common people, that if the honeſteſt bodie liuing chance to be arraigned thervpon, ſhe ſhall hard- lie eſcape condem- nation.

C.iij.v Who
Credulitie. of Witchcraft. Cap.3. 7

Who they be that are called witches, with a manifeſt declaration of the cauſe that mooueth men ſo commonlie to thinke, and witches themſelves to beleeue that they can hurt children, cattell, &c. with words and imaginations: and of cooſening witches.

The third Chapter.

O Ne ſort of ſuch as are ſaid to bee witches, are women which be commonly old, lame, bleare-eied, pale, fowle, and full of wrinkles; poore, ſullen, ſuperſtiti- ous, and papiſts; or ſuch as knowe no re- ligion: in whoſe drouſie minds the diuell hath gotten a fine ſeat; ſo as, what miſ- chéefe, miſchance, calamitie, or ſlaughter is brought to paſſe, they are eaſilie perſuaded the ſame is doone by themſelues; imprinting in their minds an earneſt and con- ſtant imagination thereof. They are leane and deformed, ſhew- 42 Cardan de var. rerum. ing melancholie in their faces, to the horror of all that ſée them. They are doting, ſcolds, mad, diueliſh; and not much differing from them that are thought to be poſſeſſed with ſpirits; ſo firme and ſtedfaſt in their opinions, as whoſoeuer ſhall onelie haue re- ſpect to the conſtancie of their words vttered, would eaſilie be- léeue they were true indéed.

Theſe miſerable wretches are ſo odious vnto all their neigh- bors, and ſo feared, as few dare offend them, or denie them anie thing they aſke: whereby they take vpon them: yea, and ſome times thinke, that they can doo ſuch things as are beyond the abi- litie of humane nature. Theſe go from houſe to houſe, and from doore to doore for a pot full of milke, yeſt, drinke, pottage, or ſome- ſuch reléefe; without the which they could hardlie liue: neither ob- taining for their ſeruice and paines, nor by their art, nor yet at the diuels hands (with whome they are ſaid to make a perfect and viſible bargaine) either beautie, monie, promotion, welth, wor- ſhip, pleaſure, honor, knowledge, learning, or anie other bene- fit whatſoeuer.

C.iiij.r It 8 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

It falleth out many times, that neither their neceſſities, nor their expectation is anſwered or ſerued, in thoſe places where they beg or borrowe; but rather their lewdneſſe is by their neigh- bors reprooued. And further, in tract of time the witch wareth o- dious and tedious to hir neighbors; and they againe are deſpiſed and deſpited of hir: ſo as ſometimes the curſſeth one, and ſome- times another; and that from the maiſter of the houſe, his wife, children, cattell, &c. to the little pig that lieth in the ſtie. Thus in proceſſe of time they haue all diſpleaſed hir, and the hath wiſhed euill lucke vnto them all; perhaps with curſſes and imprecati- ons made in forme. Doubtleſſe (at length) ſome if hir neigh- bours die, or fall ſicke; or ſome of their children are viſited with diſeaſes that vex them ſtrangelie: as apoplexies epilep- ſies conuulſions, hot feuers, wormes, &c. Which by ignorant pa- rents are ſuppoſed to be the vengeance of witches. Yea and their opinions and conceits are confirmed and maintained by unſkil- full phyſicians: according to the common ſaieng; Inſcitiæ pallium maleficium & incantatio, Witchcraft and inchantment is the cloke of ignorance: whereas indéed euill humors, & not ſtrange words, witches, or ſpirits are the cauſes of ſuch diſeaſes. Alſo ſome of their cattell periſh, either by diſeaſe or miſchance. Then they, up- on whom ſuch aduerſities fall, weighing the fame that goeth up- on this woman (hir words, diſpleaſure, and curſſes, méeting ſo iuſtlie with their miſfortune) doo not onelie conceiue, but alſo are reſolued, that all their miſhaps are brought to paſſe by hir one- lie meanes.

The witch on the other ſide exſpecting hir neighbours miſchan- ces, and ſéeing things ſometimes come to paſſe according to hir 43 1.Bodin.li.2. de demono: cap.8.wiſhes, curſſes, and incantations (for Bodin himſelfe confeſſeth, that not aboue two in a hundred of their witchings or wiſhings take effect) being called before a Juſtice, by due examination of the circumſtances is driuen to ſée hir imprecations and deſires, and hir neighbors harmes and loſſes to concurre, and as it were to take effect: and ſo confeſſeth that the (as a goddes) hath brought ſuche things to paſſe. Wherein, not onelie ſhe, but the accuſer, and alſo the Juſtice are fowlie deceiued and abuſed; as being tho- rough hir confeſſion and other circumſtances perſuaded (to the iniurie of Gods glorie) that ſhe hath doone, or can doo that which

C.iiij.v is Miracles. of Witchcraft. Cap.4. 9

is proper onelie to God himſelfe.

Another ſort of witches there are, which be abſolutelie cooſe- ners. Theſe take vpon them, either for glorie, fame, or gaine, to doo anie thing, which God or the diuell can doo: either for foretel- ling of things to come, bewraieng of ſecrets, curing of maladies, or working of miracles. But of theſe I will talke more at large héereafter.

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Scot_Witches_master_DH_A2r_to_B1r General Editor Kristen Abbott Bennett Assistant Editor Kelsey L. Rhodes Transcriber and encoder Gwendolyn Carpenter Transcriber and encoder Caroline M. Hawkes

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The diſcouerie of Witchcraft.

¶The first Booke.

An impeachment of Witches power in me- teors and elementarie bodies, tending to the re- buke of ſuch as attribute too much vnto them.

The firſt Chapter.

THE fables of Witchcraft haue ta- ken ſo faſt hold and dæpe root in the heart of man,that fewe or none can (nowadaies) with patience indure the hand and correcti- on of God. For if any aduerſitie, gréefe, ſick- neſſe, loſſe of children, corne, cattell, or liber- tie happen vnto them; by & by they exclaime vppon witches. As though there were no God in Iſrael that ordereth all things ac- Iob.5. cording to his will; puniſhing both iuft and vniuft with gréefs, plagues, and afflictions in maner and forme as he thinketh good: but that certeine old women héere on earth, called witches, muſt néeds be the contriuers of all mens calamities, and as though they themſelues were innocents, and had deferued no ſuch puniſhments. Inſomuch as they ſticke not to ride and go to ſuch, as either are iniuriouſlie tearmed witches, or elſe are willing ſo to be accounted, ſéeking at their hands comfort and remedie in time of their tribulation, contrarie to Gods will and commandement in that behalfe, who bids us reſort to him in all Matth.11.

C.j.r our 2 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

our neceſſities.

Such faithleſſe (I ſaie) are alſo perſuaded, that neither haile nor ſnowe, thunder nor lightening, raine nor tempeſtuous winds come from heauens at the commandement of God: but are raiſed by the cunning and power of witches and coniu- rers; inſomuch as a clap of thunder, or a gale of wind is no ſoo- ner heard, but either they run to ring bels, or crie out to burne witches; or elſe burne conſecrated things, hoping by the ſmoke thereof, to driue the diuell out of the aire, as though ſpirits could be fraied awaie with ſuch externall toies: howbeit, theſe are right inchantments, as Brentius affirmeth.

In concione. But certeinlie, it is neither a witch, nor diuell, but a glori- ͣ Pſal.25. ous ͣ God that maketh the thunder. I haue read in the ſcrip- ᵇPſal.83. tures, that God ᵇ maketh the bluſtering tempeſts and whirle- ͨ Eccleſ.43. winds: and I find that it is ͨ the Lord that altogither dealeth ͩ Luke.8. Matth.8. with them, and that they ͩ blowe according to his will. But let me ſée anie of them all ͤ rebuke and ſtill the ſea in time of tem- ͤ Mark.4,41 Luk.8,14. peſt, as Chriſt did; or raiſe the ſtormie wind, as ᶠ God did with ᶠPſal.170. his word; and I will beléeue in them. Hath anie witch or coniu- rer, or anie creature entred into the ᵍ treaſures of the ſnowe; or ᵍIob.38,22. ſéene the ſecret places of the haile, which GOD hath prepared a- gainſt the daie of trouble, battell, and warre. I for my part al- Eccleſ.43. ſo thinke with Jeſus Sirach, that as Gods onelie commande- ment the ſnowe falleth; and that the wind bloweth according to hLeuiti.26. verſe.3.4. his will, who onelie maketh all ſtormes to ceaſe; and h who (if we kéepe his ordinances) will ſend us raine in due ſeaſon, and make the land to bring forth hir increaſe, and the trées of the field to giue their fruit.

iPſal.78,23. But little thinke our witchmongers, that the i Lord com- mandeth the clouds aboue, or openeth the doores of heauen, as Dauid affirmeth; or that the Lord goeth forth in the tempeſts and k Nahum.1. ſtormes, as the Prophet k Nahum reporteth: but rather that wit- ches and coniurers are then about their buſineſſe.

The Martioniſts acknowledged one God the authour of good things, and another the ordeiner of euill: but theſe make the di- uell a whole god, to create things of nothing, to knowe mens co- gitations, and to doo that which God neuer did; as, to tranſub- ſtantiate men into beaſts, &c. Which thing if diuels could doo,

C.i.v yet Credulitie. ofWitchcraft. Cap.1. 3

yet followeth it not, that witches haue ſuch power. But if all the diuels in hell were dead, and all the witches in England burnt or hanged; I warrant you we ſhould not faile to haue raine, haile and tempeſts, as now we haue: according to the ap- pointment and will of God, and according to the conſtitution of the elements, and the courſe of the planets, wherein God hath ſet a perfect and perpetuall order.

I am alſo well aſſured, that if all the old women in the world were witches; and all the prieſts, coniurers: we ſhould not haue a drop of raine, nor a blaſt of wind the more or the leſſe for them. For l the Lord hath bound the waters in the clouds, and hath ſet lIob.26,8. bounds about the waters, untill the daie and night come to an Iob.37. end: yea it is God that raiſeth the winds and ſtilleth them: and Pſalme.135. he ſaith to the raine and ſnowe; Be upon the earth, and it falleth. Ier.10 & 15. The m wind of the Lord, and not the wind of witches, ſhall de- mOſe.13. ſtroie the treaſures of their pleſant veſſels, and drie up the foun- taines; ſaith Oſeas . Let vs alſo learne and confeſſe with the Prophet Dauid,that we n our ſelues are the cauſes of our afflicti- nPſa.39, &amp;c. ons; and not exclaime vpon witches, when we ſhould call vpon God for mercie.

The Imperiall lawe (ſaith Bentius ) condemneth them to In epist.ad death that trouble and infect the aire: but I affirme (ſaith he) that Io.Wierum. it is neither in the power of witch nor diuell ſo to doo, but in God onelie. Though (beſides Bodin , and all the popiſh writers in generall) it pleaſe Danæus, Hyperius, Hemingius, Eraſtus, &c. to conclude otherwiſe. The clouds o are called the pillers of Gods oExod.13. tents, Gods chariots, and his pauillions. And if it be ſo, what Pſ.18,11.19. witch or diuell can make maiſteries therof. S. Auguſtine ſaith, *Auguſt.3.de. Non est putandum istis tranſgreſſoribus angelis ſeruire hanc rerum viſi- ſancta Trinit. bilium materiem, ſed ſoli Deo : We muſt not thinke that theſe viſible things are at the commandement of the angels that fell, but are obedient to the onelie God.

Finallie, if witches could accompliſh theſe things; what néeded it ſéeme ſo ſtrange to the people, when Chriſt pMar.4.41. by miracle p commanded both ſeas and winds, &c. For it is written; Who is this: for both wind and ſea obeie him.

C.ii.r The
4 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

The inconuenience growing by mens credulitie here- in, with a reproofe of ſome churchmen, which are inclined to the common conceiued opinion of witches omnipo- tencie, and a familiar example thereof.

The ſecond Chapter.

B Ut the world is now ſo bewit- ched and ouer-run with this fond error, that euen where a man ſhuld ſéeke com- fort and counſell, there ſhall hée be ſent (in caſe of neceſſitie) from God to the diuell; and from the Phyſician, to the cooſening witch, who will not ſticke to take vpon hir, by wordes to heale the lame (which was proper onelie to Chriſt; and to them whom he aſſiſted with his diuine power) yea, with hir familiar & charmes ͣ Ioh.10,21. ſhe will take vpon hir to cure the blind: through in the ͣ tenth of S. Iohns Goſpell it be written, that the diuell cannot open the eies of the blind. And they attaine ſuch credit, as I haue heard (to my gréefe) ſome of the miniſterie affirme, that they haue had in their pariſh at one inſtant, rvij. or rviij. witches: meaning ſuch as could worke miracles ſupernaturallie. Whereby they manifeſted as well their infidelitie and ignorance, in concei- uing Gods word; as their negligence and error in inſtructing their flocks. For they themſelues might underſtand, and alſo ᵇPſal.72,& 136. teach their pariſhoners, that ᵇ God onelie worketh great woon- ders; and that it is he which ſendeth ſuch puniſhments to the Ieremie,5. wicked, and ſuch trials to the elect: according to the ſaieng of ͨ Hag.2, 28. the Prophet Haggai , ͨ I ſmote you with blaſting and mildeaw, and with haile, in all the labours of your hands; and yet you ͩ Idem.ca.1 6. turned not vnto me, ſaith the Lord. And therefore ſaith the ſame Prophet in another place; ͩ You haue ſoluen much, and bring ͤ Ioel 1. in little. And both in ͤ Ioel and ᶠ Leuiticus , the like phraſes and ᶠLeuiti.26. proofes are vſed and made. But more ſhal be ſaid of this herafter.

S. Paule fore-ſawe the blindneſſe and obſtinacie, both of theſe blind ſhepheards, and alſo of their ſcabbed ſhéepe, when he ſaid;

C.ii.v They Credulitie. of Witchcraft. Cap.2. 5

ᵍ They will not ſuffer wholſome doctrine, but hauing their eares ᵍ 2. Tim.4. itching, ſhall get them a heape of teachers after their own luſts; 34. and ſhall turne their eares from the truth, and ſhall be giuen to fables. And h in the latter time ſome ſhall depart from the faith, h 1.Tim.4.1 and ſhall giue héed to ſpirits of errors, and doctrines of diuels, which ſpeake lies (as witches and coniurers doo) but caſt thou awaie ſuch prophane and old wiues fables. In which ſenſe Ba- ſil ſaith; Who ſo giueth héed to inchanters, hearkeneth to a fa- bulous and friuolous thing. But I will rehearſe an example whereof I my ſelfe am not onelie Oculatus testis , but haue exami- ned the cauſe, and am to iuſtifie the truth of my report: not bi- cauſe I would diſgrace the miniſters that are godlie, but to con- firme my former aſſertion, that this abſurd error is growne in- to the place, which ſhould be able to expell all ſuch ridiculous fol- lie and impietie.

At the aſſiſes holden at Rocheſter , Anno 1581. one Margaret A ſtorie of Margaret Simons, a ſuppoſed witch. Simons , the wife of Iohn Simons , of Brenchlie in Kent , was arainged for witchcraft, as the inſtigation and complaint of di- uers fond and malicious perſons; and ſpeciallie by the meanes of one Iohn Ferrall vicar of that pariſh: with whom I talked a- bout that matter, and found him both fondlie aſſotted in the cauſe, and enuiouſlie bent towards hir: and (which is worſe) as unable to make a good account of his faith, as ſhée whom he ac- cuſed. That which he, for his part, laid to the poore womans charge, was this.

His ſonne (being an vngratious boie, and prentiſe to one Ro- bert Scotchford clothier, dwelling in that pariſh of Brenchlie ) paſſed on a daie by hir houſe; at whome by chance hir little dog barked. Which thing the boie taking in euill part, drewe his knife & purſued him there with euen to hir doore: whom ſhe rebu- ked with ſome ſuch words as the boie diſdained, & yet neuerthe- leſſe would not be perſuaded to depart in a long time. At the laſt he returned to his maiſters houſe, and within fiue or ſixe daies fell ſicke. Then was called to mind the fraie betwixt the dog and the boie: inſomuch as the vicar (who thought himſelfe ſo priuileged, as he little miſtruſted that God would viſit his children with ſicknes) did ſo calculate; as he found, partlie through his owne iudgement, and partlie (as he himſelfe told)

C.iij.r me) 6 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

me) by the relation of other witches, that his ſaid ſonne was by hir bewitched. Yea, he alſo told me, that his ſonne (being as it were paſt all cure) receiued perfect health at the hands of a- nother witch.

He procéeded yet further againſt hir, affirming, that alwaies in his pariſh church, when he deſired to read moſt plainelie, his voice ſo failed him, as he could ſcant be heard at all. Which hée could impute, he ſaid, to nothing elſe, but to hir inchantment. When I aduertiſed the poore woman hereof, as being deſirous to heare what ſhe could ſaie for hir ſelfe; ſhe told me, that in verie déed his voice did much faile him, ſpeciallie when he ſtrained him- ſelfe to ſpeake lowdeſt. Howbeit, ſhe ſaid that all times his voice was hoarſe and lowe: which thing I perceiued to be true. But ſir, ſaid ſhe, you ſhall vnderſtand, that this our vicar is diſ- eaſed with ſuch a kind of hoarſeneſſe, as diuers of our neighbors in this pariſh, not long ſince, doubted that he had the French pox; & in that reſpect vtterly refuſed to communicate with him: vntill ſuch time as (being thervnto inioined by M. D. Lewen the Dr- dinarie) he had brought frõ London a certificat, vnder the hands of two phyſicians, that his hoarſenes procéeded from a diſeaſe in the lungs. Which certificat he publiſhed in the church, in the pre- fence of the whole congregation: and by this meanes hée was cured, or rather excuſed of the ſhame of his diſeaſe. And this I knowe to be true by the relation of diuers honeſt men of that pa- riſh. And truelie, if one of the Iurie had not béene wiſer than the other, ſhe had béene condemned therevpon, and vpon other as ridiculous matters as this. For the name of a witch is ſo odious, and hir power ſo feared among the common people, that if the honeſteſt bodie liuing chance to be arraigned thervpon, ſhe ſhall hard- lie eſcape condem- nation.

C.iij.v Who
Credulitie. of Witchcraft. Cap.3. 7

Who they be that are called witches, with a manifeſt declaration of the cauſe that mooueth men ſo commonlie to thinke, and witches themſelves to beleeue that they can hurt children, cattell, &c. with words and imaginations: and of cooſening witches.

The third Chapter.

O Ne ſort of ſuch as are ſaid to bee witches, are women which be commonly old, lame, bleare-eied, pale, fowle, and full of wrinkles; poore, ſullen, ſuperſtiti- ous, and papiſts; or ſuch as knowe no re- ligion: in whoſe drouſie minds the diuell hath gotten a fine ſeat; ſo as, what miſ- chéefe, miſchance, calamitie, or ſlaughter is brought to paſſe, they are eaſilie perſuaded the ſame is doone by themſelues; imprinting in their minds an earneſt and con- ſtant imagination thereof. They are leane and deformed, ſhew- Cardan de var. rerum. ing melancholie in their faces, to the horror of all that ſée them. They are doting, ſcolds, mad, diueliſh; and not much differing from them that are thought to be poſſeſſed with ſpirits; ſo firme and ſtedfaſt in their opinions, as whoſoeuer ſhall onelie haue re- ſpect to the conſtancie of their words vttered, would eaſilie be- léeue they were true indéed.

Theſe miſerable wretches are ſo odious vnto all their neigh- bors, and ſo feared, as few dare offend them, or denie them anie thing they aſke: whereby they take vpon them: yea, and ſome times thinke, that they can doo ſuch things as are beyond the abi- litie of humane nature. Theſe go from houſe to houſe, and from doore to doore for a pot full of milke, yeſt, drinke, pottage, or ſome- ſuch reléefe; without the which they could hardlie liue: neither ob- taining for their ſeruice and paines, nor by their art, nor yet at the diuels hands (with whome they are ſaid to make a perfect and viſible bargaine) either beautie, monie, promotion, welth, wor- ſhip, pleaſure, honor, knowledge, learning, or anie other bene- fit whatſoeuer.

C.iiij.r It 8 I.Booke. The diſcouerie Credulitie.

It falleth out many times, that neither their neceſſities, nor their expectation is anſwered or ſerued, in thoſe places where they beg or borrowe; but rather their lewdneſſe is by their neigh- bors reprooued. And further, in tract of time the witch wareth o- dious and tedious to hir neighbors; and they againe are deſpiſed and deſpited of hir: ſo as ſometimes the curſſeth one, and ſome- times another; and that from the maiſter of the houſe, his wife, children, cattell, &c. to the little pig that lieth in the ſtie. Thus in proceſſe of time they haue all diſpleaſed hir, and the hath wiſhed euill lucke vnto them all; perhaps with curſſes and imprecati- ons made in forme. Doubtleſſe (at length) ſome if hir neigh- bours die, or fall ſicke; or ſome of their children are viſited with diſeaſes that vex them ſtrangelie: as apoplexies epilep- ſies conuulſions, hot feuers, wormes, &c. Which by ignorant pa- rents are ſuppoſed to be the vengeance of witches. Yea and their opinions and conceits are confirmed and maintained by unſkil- full phyſicians: according to the common ſaieng; Inſcitiæ pallium maleficium & incantatio, Witchcraft and inchantment is the cloke of ignorance: whereas indéed euill humors, & not ſtrange words, witches, or ſpirits are the cauſes of ſuch diſeaſes. Alſo ſome of their cattell periſh, either by diſeaſe or miſchance. Then they, up- on whom ſuch aduerſities fall, weighing the fame that goeth up- on this woman (hir words, diſpleaſure, and curſſes, méeting ſo iuſtlie with their miſfortune) doo not onelie conceiue, but alſo are reſolued, that all their miſhaps are brought to paſſe by hir one- lie meanes.

The witch on the other ſide exſpecting hir neighbours miſchan- ces, and ſéeing things ſometimes come to paſſe according to hir 1.Bodin.li.2. de demono: cap.8.wiſhes, curſſes, and incantations (for Bodin himſelfe confeſſeth, that not aboue two in a hundred of their witchings or wiſhings take effect) being called before a Juſtice, by due examination of the circumſtances is driuen to ſée hir imprecations and deſires, and hir neighbors harmes and loſſes to concurre, and as it were to take effect: and ſo confeſſeth that the (as a goddes) hath brought ſuche things to paſſe. Wherein, not onelie ſhe, but the accuſer, and alſo the Juſtice are fowlie deceiued and abuſed; as being tho- rough hir confeſſion and other circumſtances perſuaded (to the iniurie of Gods glorie) that ſhe hath doone, or can doo that which

C.iiij.v is Miracles. of Witchcraft. Cap.4. 9

is proper onelie to God himſelfe.

Another ſort of witches there are, which be abſolutelie cooſe- ners. Theſe take vpon them, either for glorie, fame, or gaine, to doo anie thing, which God or the diuell can doo: either for foretel- ling of things to come, bewraieng of ſecrets, curing of maladies, or working of miracles. But of theſe I will talke more at large héereafter.