The discoverie of witchcraft ... Being a reprint of the first edition published in 1584 / by Reginald Scot ; Edited with explanatory notes, glossary and introduction by Brinsley Nicholson.

  • Scot Reginald, 1538?-1599.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The discoverie of witchcraft ... Being a reprint of the first edition published in 1584 / by Reginald Scot ; Edited with explanatory notes, glossary and introduction by Brinsley Nicholson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    107/694 (page 9)
    The fift Chapter. A confutation of the commoti conceived opinion of witches and witchcraft, and how detestable a sinne it is to repaire to thetn for counsell or helpe in time of affliction. UT whatsoever is reported or conceived of such maner of witchcrafts, I dare avow to be false and fabulous (coosin- age, dotage, and poisoning excepted:) neither is there any mention made of these kind of witches in the Bible. If Christ had knowne them, he would not have pretermitted to invaie against their presumption, in taking upon them his office : as, to heale and cure diseases ; and to worke such miraculous and supernaturall things, as whereby he himselfe was speciallie knowne, beleeved, and published to be God ; his actions and cures consist- ing (in order and effect) according to the power by our witch- moongers imputed to witches. Howbeit, if there be any in these dales afflicted in such strange sort, as Christs cures and patients are described in the new testament to have beene : we flie from trusting in God to trusting in witches, who doo not onelie in their coosening art take on them the office of Christ in this behalfe ; but use his verie phrase of speech to such idolaters, as com to seeke divine / assistance at their hands, saieng ; Go thy waies, thy Sonne or js. thy daughter, &c. shall doo well, and be whole. It will not suffice to dissuade a witchmonger from his credulitie, that he seeth the sequele and event to fall out manie times contrarie to their assertion ; but in such case (to his greater condemnation) he seeketh further to witches of greater fame. If all faile, he will rather thinke he came an houre too late ; than that he went a mile too far. Trulie I for my part cannot perceive what is to go a whoring after strange gods, if this be not. He that looketh upon his neighbors wife, and lusteth after hir, hath committed adulterie. And truelie, he that in hart and by argument mainteineth the sacrifice of the masse to be propitiatorie for the quicke and the dead, is an idolater ; as also he that alloweth and commendeth creeping to the crosse, and such like idolatrous actions, although he bend not his corporall knees. In like manner I say, he that attributeth to a witch, such divine power, as dulie and onelie apperteineth unto GOD (which all witch- mongers doo) is in hart a blasphemer, an idolater, and full of grosse impietie, although he neither go nor send to hir for assistance. / John. 5 : 6. Mark. 5. 34. To go to witches, &c. is idolatrie. c