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.

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    as condemnation or death must insue, without further proofe ; if anie bodie have mistrusted hir, or said before that she was a 2j. witch. / Item, if anie come in, or depart out of the chamber or house, the doores being shut ; it is an apparent and sufficient evidence to a witches condemnation, without further triall: which thing Bodin never sawe. If he can shew me that feat, I will subscribe to his follie. For Christ after his resurrection used the same : not as a ridiculous toie, that everie witch might accomplish ; but as a speciall miracle, to strengthen the faith of the elect. Item, if a woman bewitch anie bodies eies, she is to be executed without further proofe. Item, if anie inchant or bewitch mens beasts, or come, or flie in the aire, or make a dog speake, or cut off anie mans members, and unite them againe to men or childrens bodies ; it is sufficient proofe to con- demnation. Item, presumptions and conjectures are sufficient proofes against 16. witches. / Item, if three witnesses doo but saie, Such a woman is a witch ; then is it a cleere case that she is to be executed with death. Which matter Bodin saith is not onelie certeine by the canon and civill lawes, but by the opinion of pope Innocent, the wisest pope (as he saith) that ever was. Item, the complaint of anie one man of credit is sufficient to bring a poore woman to the racke or pullie. Item, a condemned or infamous persons testimonie is good and allowable in matters of witchcraft. Item, a witch is not to be delivered, though she endure all the tortures, and confesse nothing ; as all other are in anie criminall cases. Item, though in other cases the depositions of mania women at one instant are disabled, as insufficient in lawe ; bicause of the imbecillitie and frailtie of their nature or sex : yet in this matter, one woman, though she be a partie, either accuser or accused, and be also infamous and impudent (for such are Bodins words) yea and alreadie condemned ; she may neverthelesse serve to accuse and condemne a witch. Item, a witnesse uncited, and offering himselfe in this case is to be heard, and in none other. Item, a capitall enimie (if the enimitie be pretended to growe by 34. meanes of witchcraft) may object against a witch ; and none / exception is to be had or made against him. Par. m L. Item, although the proofe of perjurie may put backe a witnesse in Bat .Spineus, /. Bod. de damon, lib. J. cap. 2. Alexander. L. ubi Hume- rus de testibus. I Bod. de da- inon. lib. 2. cap. 2.