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Author: Scot, Reginald, 1538?-1599.
Title: The discovery of witchcraft proving that the compacts and contracts of witches with devils and all infernal spirits or familiars are but erroneous novelties and imaginary conceptions : also discovering, how far their power extendeth in killing, tormenting, consuming, or curing the bodies of men, women, children, or animals by charms, philtres, periapts, pentacles, curses, and conjurations : wherein likewise the unchristian practices and inhumane dealings of searchers and witch-tryers upon aged, melancholly, and superstitious people, in extorting confessions by terrors and tortures, and in devising false marks and symptoms, are notably detected ... : in sixteen books / by Reginald Scot ... ; whereunto is added an excellent Discourse of the nature and substance of devils and spirits, in two books : the first by the aforesaid author, the second now added in this third edition ... conducing to the compleating of the whole work, with nine chapters at the beginning of the fifteenth [sic] book of The discovery.
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Print source: The discovery of witchcraft proving that the compacts and contracts of witches with devils and all infernal spirits or familiars are but erroneous novelties and imaginary conceptions : also discovering, how far their power extendeth in killing, tormenting, consuming, or curing the bodies of men, women, children, or animals by charms, philtres, periapts, pentacles, curses, and conjurations : wherein likewise the unchristian practices and inhumane dealings of searchers and witch-tryers upon aged, melancholly, and superstitious people, in extorting confessions by terrors and tortures, and in devising false marks and symptoms, are notably detected ... : in sixteen books / by Reginald Scot ... ; whereunto is added an excellent Discourse of the nature and substance of devils and spirits, in two books : the first by the aforesaid author, the second now added in this third edition ... conducing to the compleating of the whole work, with nine chapters at the beginning of the fifteenth [sic] book of The discovery.
Scot, Reginald, 1538?-1599., Scot, Reginald, 1538?-1599. Discourse concerning the nature and substance of devils and spirits.
London: Printed for Andrew Clark ..., 1665.
Alternate titles: Discoverie of witchcraft
Subject terms:
Witchcraft.
Magic.
Demonology.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A62397.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
To the Honorable, mine especial good Lord, Sir ROGER MANWOOD Knight, Lord Chief Baron of Her MAJESTIES Court of the Exchequer.
To the Right Worshipful, Sir THOMAS SCOT Knight, &c.
To the Right Worshipful his loving Friends, Master Doctor Coldwell Dean of Rochester; AND Master Doctor Readman Archdeacon of Canterbury, &c.
To the READERS.
A Catologue of AUTHORS used in this Book.
Forain Authors.
English Authors.
THE DISCOVERY OF Witchcraft. BOOK I.
CHHP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
BOOK II.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
BOOK III.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XX.
BOOK IV.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHHP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
BOOK V.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
BOOK VI.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
BOOK VII.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III. Bodins stuffe concerning the Pythonist
A very wonderful and strange Miracle of God shewed upon a Dutch-man of the age of 23 years, which was possessed of ten Devils, and was by Gods mighty providence dispossessed of them again, the 27 of January last past, 1572.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XVI.
BOOK VIII.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
Chap. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
BOOK IX.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
BOOK X.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
BOOK XI.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XX.
CHAP. XXI.
CHAP. XXII.
CHAP. XXIII.
BOOK XII.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
A Charm against Shot, or Wastecoat of Proof.
Against the Falling-Evill.
A Popish Periapt or Charm, which must never be said, but carried about one, against Theeves.
Another Amulet.
A Papistical Charm.
A Charm found in the Canon of the Mass.
Other Papistical Charms.
A Charm of the Holy-Cross.
A Charm taken out of the Primer.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
For the Falling-Evill.
Against the biting of a Mad-Dog.
Against the biting of a Scorpion.
Against the Tooth-ach.
A Charm to release a Woman in Travel.
To heal the Kings or Queens Evil, or any other soreness in the Throat.
A Charm in the Romish Church, upon Saint Blazes day, that will fetch a Thorn out of any place of ones body, a bone out of the Throat, &c. Lect. 3.
A charm for the Head-ach.
A Charm to be said each morning by a Witch fasting, or at least before she go abroad.
Another Charm that Witches use at the gathering of their Medicinable Herbs.
An old Womans Charm, wherewith she did much good in the Countrey, and grew famous thereby.
Another like Charm.
A Charm to open Locks.
A Charm to drive away Spirits that haunt any House.
A pretty Charm or Conclusion for one Possessed.
Another for the same purpose.
Another to the same effect.
Another Charm or Witchcraft for the same.
A Charm for the Bots in a Horse.
A Charm against Vinegar.
CHAP. XV. The Inchanting Serpents and Snakes; Objections answered concerning the same; fond reasons why Charms take effect therein. Mahomets Pigeon. Miracles wrought by an Ass at Memphis in Aegypt.
CHAP. XVI.
A Charm teaching how to hurt whom you list with Images of Wax, &c.
CHAP. XVII.
Counter-charms against these and all other Witchcrafts, in the saying also whereof Witches are vexed, &c.
A Charm for the chin Cough.
For corporal or spiritual Rest.
Charms to find out a Thief.
Another way to find out a Thief that hath stoln any thing from you.
To put out the Thiefs eye.
Another way to find out a Thief.
A Charm to find out or spoil a Thief.
Saint Adelberts Curse or Charm against Thieves.
Another Inchantment.
CHAP. XVIII.
To spoil a Thief, a Witch, or any other Enemy, and to be delivered from the evil.
A notable Charm or Medicine to pull out an Arrow-head, or any such thing that stick∣eth in the flesh or bones, and cannot otherwise be had out.
Charms against a quotidian Ague.
For all manner of Agues intermittent.
Periapts, Characters, &c. for Agues, and to cure all Diseases, and to deliver from all evil.
More Charms for Agues.
For a bloody Flux, or rather an Issue of blood.
Cures commenced and finished by Witchcraft.
Another Witchcraft or Knavery practised by the same Chirurgion.
Another Experiment for one bewitched.
Otherwise.
A Knack to know whether you be Bewitched or no, &c.
CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XX.
CHAP. XXI.
A Charm to find her that bewitched your Kine.
Another, for all that have bewitched any kind of Cattel.
A special Charm to preserve all Cattel from Witchcraft.
CHAP. XXII.
The Charm of Charms.
Otherwise.
CHAP. XXIII.
BOOK XIII.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XX.
CHAP. XXI.
CHAP. XXII.
CHAP. XXIII.
To make a little Ball swell in your hand till it he very great.
To consume (or rather to convey) one or many Bals into nothing.
How to rap a wag on the Knuckles.
CHAP. XXIV.
To Convey Money out of one of your hands into the other by Legierdemain.
To convert or transubstantiate Money into Counters, or Counters into Money.
To put one Testor into one hand, and another into another hand, and with words to bring them together.
To put one Testor into a strangers hand, and another into your own, and to convey both in∣to the strangers hand with words.
How to do the same or the like feat otherwise.
To throw a piece of Money away, and to find it again where you list.
With words to make a Groat or a Testor to leap out of a Pot, or to run alongst up∣on a Table.
To make a Groat or a Testor to sink through a Table, and to vanish out of a Hand∣kercher very strangely.
A notable trick to transform a Counter to a Groat.
CHAP. XXV.
To convey a Testor out of ones Hand that holdeth it fast.
To throw a piece of Money into a deep Pond, and to fetch it again from whence you list.
To convey one Shilling being in one hand into another, holding your hands abroad like a Rood.
How to Rap a Wag on the Knuckles.
CHAP. XXVI.
CHAP. XXVII.
How to deliver out four Aces, and to convert them into four Knaves.
How to tell one what Card he seeth in the bottom, when the same Card is suffled into the stock.
Another way to do the same, having your self indeed never seen the Card.
To tell one without confederacy what Card he thinketh.
CHAP. XXVIII.
CHAP. XXIX.
A notable Feat of Fast and Loose; namely, to pull three Bead stones from off a Cord, while you hold fast the ends thereef, without removing of your hand.
CHAP. XXX.
To make a shoal of Goslings draw a Timber-log.
To make a Pot or any such thing standing fast on the Cupboard, to fall down thencs by vertue of words.
To make one dance naked.
To transform or alter the Colour of ones Cap or Hat.
How to tell where a stollen Horse is become.
CHAP. XXXI.
How to convey (with words or Charme) the Corn contained in one Box into another.
Of another Box to convert Wheat into Flower with words, &c.
Of divert petty Juggling Knacks.
CHAP. XXXII.
To cut a Lace asunder in the midst, and to make it whole again.
How to pull Laces innumerable out of your mouth, of what colour or length you list, and never any thing seen to be therein.
CHAP. XXXIII.
Chap. XXXIV.
To Eat a Knife, and to fetch it out of any other place.
To thrust a Bodkin into your Head without hurt.
To thrust a Bodkin through your Tongue, and a Knife through your Arm; a pitiful sight, without hurt or danger.
To thrust a piece of Lead into one Eye, and to drive it about (with a stick) between the skin and flesh of the fore-head, until it be brought to the other Eye, and there thrust out.
To cut half your Nose asunder, and to heal it again presently without any Salve.
To put a Ring through your Cheek.
To cut off ones Head, and to lay it in a Platter, &c, which the Jugglers call the decolla∣tion of John Baptist.
To thrust a Dagger or Bodkin into your Guts very strangely, and to recover immediately.
To draw a Cord through your Nose, Mouth, or Hand, so sensible as is wonderful to see.
The Conclusion, wherein the Reader is referred to certain Patterns of Instruments where∣with divers Feats here specified are to be executed.
Here follow patterns of certain Instruments to be used in the former juggling knacks.
illustration
To thrust a Bodkin into your Head, and through your Tongue, &c.
To thrust a Knife through your Arm, and to cut half your Nose asunder, &c.
To Cut off ones Head, and to lay it in a Platter, which the Jugglers call the decollation of John Baptist.
BOOK XIV.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
BOOK XV.
CHAP. I.
How to consecrate an imaginary Circle.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
An Exorcism for the fire.
At the putting on the Garments,
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XV.
How the Day is divided or distinguished.
Hereafter followeth a Table shewing how the day and the night is divided by hours, and reduced to the regiment of the Planets.
CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XIX.
This is the way to go invisible by these three Sisters of Fairies.
CHAP. XX.
CHAP. XXI.
CHAP. XXII.
CHAP. XXIII.
A License for the Spirit to depart.
CHAP. XXIV.
To the Water say as followeth.
Then take the Salt in thy hand, and say putting it it into the Water, making in the manner of a Cross.
Then sprinkle upon any thing, and say as followeth.
CHAP. XXV.
CHAP. XXVI.
Now the Pater noster, Ave, and Credo must be said, and then the Prayer immedi∣ately following.
CHAP. XXVII.
CHAP. XXVIII.
Then being appeared, say these words following.
A Licence to Depart.
CHAP. XXIX.
To speak with Spirits.
CHAP. XXX.
CHAP. XXXI.
CHAP. XXXII.
CHAP. XXXIII.
CHAP. XXXIV.
CHAP. XXXV.
CHAP. XXXVI.
A Conjuration written in the Masse-book. Fol. 1.
Oremus.
CHAP. XXXVII.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
CHAP. XXXIX.
CHAP. XL.
CHAP. XLI.
CHAP. XLII.
CHAP. XLIII.
CHAP. XLIV.
CHAP. XLV.
CHAP. XLVI.
CHAP. XLVII.
CHAP. XLVIII.
CHAP. XLIX. Cardanus
CHAP. L.
CHAP. LI.
BOOK XVI.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
The Contents of the Chapters in the Sixteen Fore-going BOOKS.
BOOK I.
BOOK II.
BOOK III.
BOOK IV.
BOOK V.
BOOK VI.
BOOK VII.
BOOK VIII.
BOOK IX.
BOOK X.
BOOK. XI.
BOOK XII.
BOOK. XIII.
BOOK XIV.
BOOK XV.
BOOK XVI.
title page
A DISCOURSE CONCERNING Devils and Spirits. BOOK I.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
CHAP. VIII.
CHAP. IX.
CHAP. X.
CHAP. XI.
CHAP. XII.
CHAP. XIII.
CHAP. XIV.
CHAP. XV.
CHAP. XVI.
CHAP. XVII.
CHAP. XVIII.
CHAP. XIX.
CHAP. XX.
CHAP. XXI.
CHAP. XXII.
CHAP. XXIII.
CHAP. XXIV.
CHAP. XXV.
CHAP. XXVI.
CHAP. XXVII.
CHAP. XXVIII.
CHAP. XXIX.
CHAP. XXX.
CHAP. XXXI.
CHAP. XXXII.
CHAP. XXXIII.
CHAP. XXXIV.
BOOK II.
CHAP. I.
CHAP. II.
Chap. III.
CHAP. IV.
CHAP. V.
CHAP. VI.
CHAP. VII.
The Contents of the Chapters in The Discourse concerning Devils and Spirits.
BOOK I.
BOOK II.