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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 revealing how far their power extends in killing, tormenting,

wasting away original: "consuming", or curing the bodies of men, women, children, or animals,

by charms, potions original: "philtres"; magic potions, often intended to incite love, amulets original: "periapts"; charms worn on the person to ward off evil or disease, talismans original: "pentacles"; symbols or diagrams used in magic, curses, and conjurations.

WHEREIN ALSO

The dishonest swindles original: "knavish cozenages" of conjurers and enchanting deceivers, along with

the impious blasphemy of delusional, doting wizards, are

exposed and revealed.

As also, the unchristian practices and inhumane dealings of

searchers and witch-finders original: "witch-tryers" upon aged, melancholic, and superstitious

people—in extorting confessions by terror and torture,

and in inventing false marks and symptoms—are notably exposed.

And the trickery original: "knavery" of magicians original: "jugglers"; in this period, this referred to sleight-of-hand artists and deceptive performers, conjurers, charmers, fortune-tellers, astrologers original: "figure-casters"; those who cast astrological horoscopes,

interpreters of dreams, alchemists, and potion-makers; with many other things

that have long lain hidden, fully opened and explained.

ALL OF WHICH

Are very necessary to be known for the undeceiving of judges, justices,

and juries before they pass sentence upon poor, miserable, and ignorant people,

who are frequently indicted, condemned, and executed for what they never did.

IN SIXTEEN BOOKS.

By REGINALD SCOT, Esquire.

To which is added,

An excellent Discourse of the Nature and Substance

OF

DEVILS and SPIRITS,

IN TWO BOOKS:

The first by the aforementioned author; the second now

added in this third edition as supplementary original: "succedaneous"; following after or serving as a substitute to the former

and contributing to the completion of the whole work,

with nine chapters at the beginning of the fifteenth book

of the DISCOVERY.

LONDON,

Printed for A. Clark, and are to be sold by Dixy Page at the Turk's-Head

in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1665.