An ornamental headpiece consisting of two rows of decorative fleurons. The top row features repeating floral or leaf-like motifs with curved stems. The bottom row mirrors these with additional circular elements and inverted leaf patterns.

To the Right Worshipful,

Sir THOMAS SCOT Knight, etc.

I see among other criminals original: "Malefactors", many poor old women summoned before you for the working of miracles, otherwise called witchcraft; and therefore I thought you also a suitable person to whom I might recommend my book. And here I have occasion to speak of your sincere administration of justice, and of your skill, discretion, and the expense and labor original: "travel," here meaning travail or hard work employed on that behalf, of which I am an eyewitness original Latin: oculatus testis. However, I would rather refer the reader to public reputation, and their own eyes and ears, to be satisfied, than to send them to a bookseller’s shop, where many times lies are for sale original: "vendible" and truth is despised. For since I am of your household, of your name, and of your blood—my foot being under your table, my hand in your dish, or rather in your purse—I might be thought to flatter you in that which (I know) would rather offend you than please you. And why should I try to seek favor with my most reliable friend? And if I should only publish those virtues (though they are many) which give me special reason to present this my labor to you, I would be like a painter who describes only the foot of a notable person and leaves all the best features of his body untouched.

I therefore (at this time) only desire you to consider my report concerning the evidence that is commonly brought before you against them. See first whether the evidence is not frivolous, and whether the proofs brought against them are not incredible, consisting of guesses, presumptions, and impossibilities contrary to reason, scripture, and nature. See also what kind of people complain about them—whether they are not of the lowliest, the most foolish, and the most faithless kind of people. Also, may it please you to weigh what accusations and crimes they lay to their charge: namely, "She was at my house recently; she wanted a pot of milk, and she left in a rage because she didn’t get it; she ranted, she cursed, she mumbled and whispered; and finally, she said, 'I’ll get even with you.' And soon after, my child, my cow, my sow, or my chicken died, or was strangely afflicted. No (if it please your Worship), I have further proof; I went to a 'wise woman' term: a folk healer or fortune teller often consulted to identify "witches", and she told me I had an evil neighbor, and that she would come to my house before long—and so she did. And she told me the woman had a mark on her waist—and so she had. And God forgive me, I have had a bad feeling about her original: "my stomach hath gone against her" for a long time. Her mother before her was considered a witch; she has been beaten and scratched on the face until blood was drawn A common folk belief held that "scratching" a witch so that she bled would break her spell over the victim because she was suspected, and afterwards some of those people were said to recover." These are the "certainties" that I hear in their evidence.

Note also how easily they may be brought to confess that which they never did, nor lies in the power of man to do; and then see whether I have cause to write as I do. Further, if you shall see that a lack of faith, Catholicism original: "Popery", and many other manifest heresies are supported and encouraged—and those who believe them emboldened—by granting to created beings such infinite power as is snatched out of God’s hand and attributed to witches. Finally, if you shall perceive that I have faithfully and truly described the condition and state of the witch, and also of the witchmonger term: Scot’s word for those who zealously hunt witches or promote the fear of them, and have disproved them by reason, by law, and by the Word of God itself...