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Aside from these few (and far between) snippets of mirth, the rest of the book is incredibly boring. Incredibly boring and incredibly difficult. Having always had an interest in all things magical, it is understandable that one of my favourite items in the collections of the SBT is a copy of Reginald Scot’s The Discoverie of Witchcraft. The Discoverie of Witchcraft is considered to be the first published book on witchcraft, and is a wonderful record of superstition and belief in witchcraft, spirits, alchemy and magic in the 16th century.
that his soule might be saved. Justine Martyr J. Martyr in colloquio cum Triphone Judæo. in another place was The said Elizabeth Deuice, was the third time with others, viz. Alice Nutter, and Elizabeth Sothernes, alias Old-Dembdike, her David Wootton, Reginald Scot/ Abraham Fleming/ The Family of Love, Languages of Witchcraft, ed. Stuart Clark. (New York, 2001) pp. 119–138. Leland L. Estes Reginald Scot and His "Discoverie of Witchcraft": Religion and Science in the Opposition to the European Witch Craze, Church History, Vol. 52, No. 4 (Dec. 1983), pp.444–456.upon virgine parchment; a a Psal. 150. Omnis spiritus laudet Dominum: b b Luk. 16. Mosen habent & prophetas: c c Psa. 64. Exurgat Deus et dissi/pentur inimici ejus. 247. ¶ A prettie charme or conclusion for one possessed. Reginald Scot's The Discoverie of Witchcraft... stands brightly out amid the darkness of its own and the succeeding age, as a perfectly unique example of sagacity amounting to genius…[for the] clearness of his views and the unwavering steadiness of his leanings to the side of humanity and justice.” TIe a halter about your head, wherewith one hath beene hanged. ¶ A charme to be said each morning by a witch fasting, or at least They sacrifice their owne children to the divell before baptisme, holding them up in the aire unto him, and then thrust a needle into their braines … They use incestuous adulterie with spirits … They eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of men and children openlie … They kill mens cattell … They bewitch mens corne … They ride and flie in the aire, bring stormes, make tempests … They use venerie with a divell called Incubus and have children by them, which become the best witches …
ns read us.] &c. There have beene some †walking † At Canturburie by Rich. Lee esquire, & others, anno. In the sixteenth century, witch hunters scoured Europe in search of those who they believed were dabbling in the dark arts. In 1584, one man [Reginald Scot] spoke out against this toxic mix of superstition, fear, and ignorance. In doing so, he helped shape history and also produced the first book in the English language to present detailed descriptions of magic.” But Sir Th. Moore S. Thomas Moores, medicinable receipt, &c. hath such a cure in this matter, as I am ashamed tous. The blasphemie of the Cabalists. These Cabalists doo further brag, that they are able hereby, not