The Discovery of Witchcraft

...[that you would weigh] all my adversaries' objections and arguments; then let me have your support against those who maliciously oppose me.

John 5. Proverbs 15:1.

My greatest adversaries are young ignorance and old custom. For whatever folly the passage of time has fostered is so superstitiously followed by some, as if no error could ever be associated with long-standing custom. But if the law of nations were to join with such custom to maintain ignorance and suppress knowledge, the most civilized country in the world would soon become barbaric. For just as knowledge and time reveal errors, so do superstition and ignorance breed them over time. Regarding the opinions of those who wish that ignorance should be maintained rather than knowledge diligently searched for (because knowledge might cause offense), I answer that we are commanded by Christ himself to search for knowledge: for, it is the king's honor (as Solomon says) to search out a matter.

Acts 3. Proverbs 9.

Aristotle said to Alexander that a well-educated mind was more beautiful than a body dressed in rich clothing. What can be more hateful to man, or offensive to God, than ignorance? For through ignorance, the Jews put Christ to death. Whoever abandons this ignorance is promised life everlasting; therefore, among Christians, it should be hated above all other things. For just as when we wrestle in the dark, we fall into the mud, so when we do not see the truth, we wallow in errors. A blind man may search for a long time in the rushes rushes: stems of plants used as floor coverings in the 16th century, which often hid small objects like needles before he finds a needle; and a doubt is just as easily resolved by ignorance. Finally, truth is no more likely to be found in ignorance than a sweet scent original: "favor" is found in a dunghill. And if they allow men to have knowledge but give them no permission to use it, men would be much better off without it than having it: for that is like having a talent A reference to the Biblical Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), where a servant is punished for burying his money rather than investing it and hiding it in the earth, or putting Matthew 25. Matthew 5. Luke 8. a candle under a basket original: "bushel," a unit of dry measure or the container holding it; or like having a ship and letting it sit always in the dock. I can say from experience how "profitable" that is.

But I need say no more about this, for every man sees that no one can be happy who does not know what true happiness means. For what good does it do to have riches and not have the use of them? Truly, the Pagans original: "Heathen" deserved more praise in this regard than many Christians, for they spared no pain, cost, nor travel to attain knowledge. Pythagoras traveled from Samos original: "Thamus," likely referring to the philosopher's birthplace, Samos to Egypt, and afterwards into Crete and Sparta original: "Lacedæmonia"; and Plato went from Athens into Italy and Egypt, all to find out hidden secrets and knowledge. When a man possesses such knowledge, he seems to transcend mortality. For precious stones and all other creatures, of whatever value, are but counterfeits compared to this jewel; they are mortal, corruptible, and inconstant, while this is immortal, pure, and certain. Therefore, if I have searched and found any good thing that ignorance and time have smothered, I commend that same discovery to you. Although I owe you everything I have, I am bold enough to let others share in this poor gift alongside you.

Reginald Scot.