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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    varie in their tales, and are at such contrarietie :) and to the reproch of the beleevers of such absurd hes. For the beginning of the credit hereof, resteth upon the confession Upon what of a baggage yoong fellow condemned to be burnt for witchcraft; SaMeague who said to the inquisitors, of likelihood to prolong his life, (if at ''^s^ t° . . AO 7 V growe in leastwise the stone be true, which is taken out of Nider j) If I wist credit, (quoth he) that I might obteine pardon, 1 would discover all that I knowe of witchcraft. The which condition being accepted, and pardon promised (partlie in hope thereof, and partlie to be rid of his wife) he said as followeth. The novice or yoong disciple goeth to some church, togither with the mistresse of that profession, upon a sundaie morning, before the conjuration of holie water, &^ there the said novice renounceth the faith, promiseth obedience in observing, or rather omitting of ceremonies in meetings, and such other follies; and finallie, that they doo homage to their yoong maister the divell, as they covenanted. But this is notable in that storie, that this yoong witch, doubting that his wives examination would bewraie his knaverie, told the inquisitor; that in truth his wife was guiltie as well as he, but she will never, I am sure (quoth he) though she should be burned a thousand times, confesse any of these circumstances. And this is in no wise to be forgotten, that notwithstanding his contrition, his confession, and his accusation of his owne wife (con- trarie to the inquisitors / promise and oth) he and his wife were both 39- burned at a stake, being the first discoverers of this notable league, whereupon the fable of witchcraft is mainteined; and whereby such other confessions have beene from the like persons, since that time, extorted and augmented. / The fift Chapter. Of the private league, a notable tale of Bodins concerning a French ladie, with a confutation. I HE maner of their private league is said to be, when the divell invisible, and sometimes visible, in the middest of the people talketh with them privatelie; promising, that if they will followe his counsell, he will supplie all their necessities, and make all their endevors prosperous : and so beginneth with small matters : whereunto they consent privilie, and come not into the fairies assemblie. And in this case (mee thinks) the divell sometimes, in such externall or corporall shape, should meete with some that would not consent to his motions (except you will sale he knoweth their cogitations) and so 46. The maner of witches private league with the divell.