The Discoverie of Witchcraft

Reginald Scot, first edition, 1584

Second year · Witchcraft and folk magic

Book 1, Chap. 1: An impeachment of Witches power in meteors and elementarie bodies tending to the rebuke of such as attribute too much unto them. p. 1
Book 1, Chap. 2: The inconvenience growing by mens credulitie herein, with a reproofe of some churchmen, which are inclined to the common conceived opinion of witches omnipotencie, and a familiar example thereof. p. 4
Book 1, Chap. 3: Who they be that are called witches, with a manifest declaration of the cause that mooveth men so commonlie to thinke, and witches themselves to beleeve that they can hurt children, cattell, &c. with words and imaginations: and of coosening witches. p. 7
Book 1, Chap. 4: What miraculous actions are imputed to witches by witchmongers, papists, and poets. p. 9
Book 1, Chap. 5: A confutation of the common conceived opinion of witches and witchcraft, and how detestable a sinne it is to repaire to them for counsell or helpe in time of affliction. p. 11
Book 1, Chap. 6: A further confutation of witches miraculous and omnipotent power, by invincible reasons and authorities, with dissuasions from such fond credulitie. p. 12
Book 1, Chap. 7: By what meanes the name of witches becommeth so famous, and how diverslie people be opinioned concerning them and their actions. p. 14
Book 1, Chap. 8: Causes that moove as well witches themselves as others to thinke that they can worke impossibilities, with answers to certeine objections: where also their punishment by lawe is touched. p. 16
Book 1, Chap. 9: A conclusion of the first booke, wherein is fore-shewed the tyrannicall crueltie of witchmongers and inquisitors, with a request to the reader to peruse the same. p. 17
Book 2, Chap. 1: What testimonies and witnesses are allowed to give evidence against reputed witches, by the report & allowance of the inquisitors themselves, and such as are speciall writers heerein. p. 19
Book 2, Chap. 2: The order of examination of witches by the inquistors. p. 20
Book 2, Chap. 3: Matters of evidence against witches. p. 22
Book 2, Chap. 4: Confessions of witches, whereby they are condemned. p. 24
Book 2, Chap. 5: Presumptions, whereby witches are condemned. p. 25
Book 2, Chap. 6: Particular Interogatories used by the inquisitors against witches. p. 27
Book 2, Chap. 7: The inquisitors triall of weeping by conjuration. p. 29
Book 2, Chap. 8: Certaine cautions against witches, and of their tortures to procure confession. p. 29
Book 2, Chap. 9: The fifteene crimes laid to the charge of witches, by witchmongers; speciallie by Bodin, in Dæmonomania. p. 32
Book 2, Chap. 10: A refutation of the former surmised crimes patched togither by Bodin, and the onelie waie to escape the inquisitors hands. p. 34
Book 2, Chap. 11: The opinion of Cornelius Agrippa concerning witches, of his pleading for a poore woman accused of witchcraft, and how he convinced the inquisitors. p. 35
Book 2, Chap. 12: What the feare of death and feeling of torments may force one to doo, and that it is no marvell though witches condemne themselves by their owne confessions so tyrannicallie extorted. p. 37
Book 3, Chap. 1: The witches bargaine with the divell, according to M. Mal. Bodin, Nider, Danæus, Psellus, Erastus, Hemingius, Cumanus, Aquinas, Bartholomæus Spineus, &c. p. 40
Book 3, Chap. 2: The order of the witches homage done (as it is written by lewd inquisitors and peevish witchmoongers) to the divell in person; of their songs and danses, and namelie of La volta, and of other ceremonies, also of their excourses. p. 41
Book 3, Chap. 3: How witches are summoned to appeere before the divell, of their riding in the aire, of their accompts, of their conference with the divell, of his supplies, and their conference, of their farewell and sacrifices: according to Danæus, Psellus, &c. p. 43
Book 3, Chap. 4: That there can no reall league be made with the divell the first author of the league, and the weake proofes of the adversaries for the same. p. 44
Book 3, Chap. 5: Of the private league, a notable tale of Bodins concerning a French ladie, with a confutation. p. 46
Book 3, Chap. 6: A disproofe of their assemblies, and of their bargaine. p. 47
Book 3, Chap. 7: A confutation of the objection concerning witches confessions. p. 49
Book 3, Chap. 8: What follie it were for witches to enter into such desperate perill, and to endure such intollerable tortures for no gaine or commoditie, and how it comes to passe that witches are overthrowne by their confessions. p. 51
Book 3, Chap. 9: How melancholie abuseth old women, and of the effects thereof by sundrie examples. p. 52
Book 3, Chap. 10: That voluntarie confessions may be untrulie made, to the undooing of the confessors, and of the strange operation of melancholie, prooved by a familiar and late example. p. 55
Book 3, Chap. 11: The strange and divers effects of melancholie, and how the same humor abounding in witches, or rather old women, filleth them full of mervellous imaginations, and that their confessions are not to be credited. p. 57
Book 3, Chap. 12: A confutation of witches confessions, especiallie concerning their league. p. 59
Book 3, Chap. 13: A confutation of witches confessions, concerning making of tempests and raine: of the naturall cause of raine, and that witches or divels have no power to doo such things. p. 60
Book 3, Chap. 14: What would ensue, if witches confessions or wi[t]chmongers opinions were true, concerning the effects of witchcraft, inchantments, &c. p. 62
Book 3, Chap. 15: Examples of forren nations, who in their warres used the assistance of witches; of eybiting witches in Ireland, of two archers that shot with familiars. p. 64
Book 3, Chap. 16: Authorities condemning the fantasticall confessions of witches, and how a popish doctor taketh upon him to disproove the same. p. 65
Book 3, Chap. 17: Witchmongers reasons, to proove that witches can worke wonders, Bodins tale of a Friseland preest transported, that imaginations, proceeding of melancholie doo cause illusions. p. 67
Book 3, Chap. 18: That the confession of witches is insufficient in civill and common lawe to take awaie life. What the sounder divines, and decrees of councels determine in this case. p. 68
Book 3, Chap. 19: Of foure capitall crimes objected against witches, all fullie answered and confuted as frivolous. p. 70
Book 3, Chap. 20: A request to such readers as loath to heare or read filthie and bawdie matters (which of necessitie are heere to be inserted) to passe over eight chapters. p. 72
Book 4, Chap. 1: Of witchmongers opinions concerning evill spirits, how they frame themselves in more excellent sort than God made us. p. 73
Book 4, Chap. 2: Of bawdie Incubus and Succubus, and whether the action of venerie may be performed betweene witches and divels, and when witches first yeelded to Incubus. p. 74
Book 4, Chap. 3: Of the divels visible & invisible dealing with witches in the waie of lecherie. p. 76
Book 4, Chap. 4: That the power of generation is both outwardlie and inwardlie impeached by witches, and of divers that had their genitals taken from them by witches, and by the same meanes againe restored. p. 77
Book 4, Chap. 5: Of bishop Sylvanus his leacherie opened and covered againe, how maides having yellow haire are most combred with Incubus, how maried men are bewitched to use other mens wives, and to refuse their own. p. 79
Book 4, Chap. 6: How to procure the dissolving of bewitched love, also to enforce a man (how proper so ever he be) to love an old hag: and of a bawdie tricke of a priest in Gelderland. p. 80
Book 4, Chap. 7: Of divers saincts and holie persons, which were exceeding bawdie and lecherous, and by certeine miraculous meanes became chaste. p. 81
Book 4, Chap. 8: Certeine popish and magicall cures, for them that are bewitched in their privities. p. 82
Book 4, Chap. 9: A strange cure doone to one that was molested with Incubus. p. 83
Book 4, Chap. 10: A confutation of all the former follies touching Incubus, which by examples and proofes of like stuffe is shewed to be flat knaverie, wherein the carnall copulation with spirits is overthrowne. p. 85
Book 4, Chap. 11: That Incubus is a naturall disease, with remedies for the same, besides magicall cures herewithall expressed. p. 86
Book 4, Chap. 12: The censure of G. Chaucer, upon the knaverie of Incubus. p. 88
Book 5, Chap. 1: Of transformations, ridiculous examples brought by the adversaries for the confirmation of their foolish doctrine. p. 89
Book 5, Chap. 2: Absurd reasons brought by Bodin, and such others, for confirmation of transformations. p. 93
Book 5, Chap. 3: Of a man turned into an asse, and returned againe into a man by one of Bodins witches: S. Augustines opinion thereof. p. 94
Book 5, Chap. 4: A summarie of the former fable, with a refutation thereof, after due examination of the same. p. 97
Book 5, Chap. 5: That the bodie of a man cannot be turned into the bodie of a beast by a witch, is prooved by strong reasons, scriptures, and authorities. p. 99
Book 5, Chap. 6: The witchmongers objections, concerning Nabuchadnez-zar answered, and their errour concerning Lycanthropia confuted. p. 101
Book 5, Chap. 7: A speciall objection answered concerning transportations, with the consent of diverse writers thereupon. p. 103
Book 5, Chap. 8: The witchmongers objection concerning the historie of Job answered. p. 105
Book 5, Chap. 9: What severall sorts of witches are mentioned in the scriptures, and how the word witch is there applied. p. 109
Book 6, Chap. 1: The exposition of this Hebrue word Chasaph, wherein is answered the objection conteined in Exodus 22. to wit: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, and of Simon Magus. Acts. 8. p. 111
Book 6, Chap. 2: The place of Deuteronomie expounded, wherin are recited all kind of witches; also their opinions confuted, which hold that they can worke such miracles as are imputed unto them. p. 113
Book 6, Chap. 3: That women have used poisoning in all ages more than men, and of the inconvenience of poisoning. p. 116
Book 6, Chap. 4: Of divers poisoning practises, otherwise called veneficia, committed in Italie, Genua, Millen, Wittenberge, also how they were discovered and executed. p. 119
Book 6, Chap. 5: A great objection answered concerning this kind of witchcraft called Veneficium. p. 120
Book 6, Chap. 6: In what kind of confections that witchcraft, which is called Venificium, consisteth: of love cups, and the same confuted by poets. p. 121
Book 6, Chap. 7: It is proved by more credible writers, that love cups rather ingender death through venome, than love by art: and with what toies they destroie cattell, and procure love. p. 123
Book 6, Chap. 8: John Bodin triumphing against John Wier is overtaken with false Greeke & false interpretation thereof. p. 125
Book 7, Chap. 1: Of the Hebrue word Ob, what it signifieth where it is found, of Pythonisses called Ventriloquæ, who they be, and what their practises are, experience and examples thereof shewed. p. 126
Book 7, Chap. 2: How the lewd practise of the Pythonist of Westwell came to light, and by whome she was examined; and that all hir diabolicall speach was but ventriloquie and plaine cousenage, which is prooved by hir owne confession. p. 130
Book 7, Chap. 3: Bodins stuffe concerning the Pythonist of Endor, with a true storie of a counterfeit Dutchman. p. 132
Book 7, Chap. 4: Of the great oracle of Apollo the Pythonist, and how men of all sorts have been deceived, and that even the apostles have mistaken the nature of spirits, with an unanswerable argument, that spirits can take no shapes. p. 133
Book 7, Chap. 5: Why Apollo was called Pytho whereof those witches were called Pythonists: Gregorie his letter to the divell. p. 136
Book 7, Chap. 6: Apollo, who was called Pytho, compared to the Rood of grace: Gregories letter to the divell confuted. p. 137
Book 7, Chap. 7: How diverse great clarkes and good authors have beene abused in this matter of spirits through false reports, and by meanes of their credulitie have published lies, which are confuted by Aristotle and the scriptures. p. 138
Book 7, Chap. 8: Of the witch of Endor, and whether she accomplished the raising of Samuel truelie, or by deceipt: the opinion of some divines hereupon. p. 139
Book 7, Chap. 9: That Samuel was not raised indeed, and how Bodin and all papists dote herein, and that soules cannot be raised by witchcraft. p. 140
Book 7, Chap. 10: That neither the divell nor Samuell was raised, but that it was a meere cousenage, according to the guise of our Pythonists. p. 142
Book 7, Chap. 11: The objection of the witchmongers concerning this place fullie answered, and what circumstances are to be considered for the understanding of this storie, which is plainelie opened from the beginning of the 28. chap. of the 1. Samuel, to the 12. verse. p. 143
Book 7, Chap. 12: The 12. 13. & 14. verses of 1. Samuel 28. expounded: wherin is shewed that Saule was cousened and abused by the witch, and that Samuel was not raised, is prooved by the witches owne talke. p. 146
Book 7, Chap. 13: The residue of 1. Sam. 28. expounded: wherin is declared how cunninglie this witch brought Saule resolutelie to beleeve that she raised Samuel, what words are used to colour the cousenage, and how all might also be wrought by ventriloquie. p. 148
Book 7, Chap. 14: Opinions of some learned men, that Samuel was indeed raised, not by the witches art or power, but by the speciall miracle of God, that there are no such visions in these our daies, & that our witches cannot doo the like. p. 151
Book 7, Chap. 15: Of vaine apparitions, how people have beene brought to feare bugges, which is partlie reformed by preaching of the gospell, the true effect of Christes miracles. p. 152
Book 7, Chap. 16: Witches miracles compared to Christs, that God is the creator of all things, of Apollo, and of his names and portraiture. p. 154
Book 8, Chap. 1: That miracles are ceased. p. 156
Book 8, Chap. 2: That the gift of prophesie is ceased. p. 158
Book 8, Chap. 3: That Oracles are ceased. p. 160
Book 8, Chap. 4: A tale written by manie grave authors, and beleeved by manie wise men of the divels death. An other storie written by papists, and beleeved of all catholikes, approoving the divels honestie, conscience, and courtesie. p. 162
Book 8, Chap. 5: The judgments of the ancient fathers touching oracles, and their abolishment, and that they be now transferred from Delphos to Rome. p. 164
Book 8, Chap. 6: Where and wherein couseners, witches, and preests were woont to give oracles, and to worke their feats. p. 165
Book 9, Chap. 1: The Hebrue word Kasam expounded, and how farre a Christian may conjecture of things to come. p. 167
Book 9, Chap. 2: Proofes by the old and new testament, that certaine observations of the weather are lawfull. p. 168
Book 9, Chap. 3: That certeine observations are indifferent, certeine ridiculous, and certeine impious, whence that cunning is derived of Apollo, and of Aruspices. p. 169
Book 9, Chap. 4: The predictions of soothsaiers and lewd priests, the prognostications of astronomers and physicians allowable, divine prophesies holie and good. p. 171
Book 9, Chap. 5: The diversitie of true prophets, of Urim, and of the propheticall use of the twelve precious stones conteined therein, of the divine voice called Eccho. p. 172
Book 9, Chap. 6: Of prophesies conditionall: whereof the prophesies in the old testament doo intreate, and by whom they were published; witchmongers aunswers to the objections against witches supernaturall actions. p. 173
Book 9, Chap. 7: What were the miracles expressed in the old testament, and what are they in the new testament: and that we are not now to looke for anie more miracles. p. 175
Book 10, Chap. 1: The interpretation of this Hebrue word Onen, of the vanitie of dreames, and divinations thereupon. p. 177
Book 10, Chap. 2: Of divine, naturall, and casuall dreames, with their differing causes and effects. p. 178
Book 10, Chap. 3: The opinion of divers old writers touching dreames, and how they varie in noting the causes thereof. p. 179
Book 10, Chap. 4: Against interpreters of dreames, of the ordinarie cause of dreames, Hemingius his opinion of diabolicall dreames, the interpretation of dreames ceased. p. 180
Book 10, Chap. 5: That neither witches, nor anie other, can either by words or hearbs, thrust into the mind of a sleeping man, what cogitations or dreames they list; and whence magicall dreames come. p. 181
Book 10, Chap. 6: How men have beene bewitched, cousened or abused by dreames to dig and search for monie. p. 182
Book 10, Chap. 7: The art and order to be used in digging for monie, revealed by dreames, how to procure pleasant dreames, of morning and midnight dreames. p. 183
Book 10, Chap. 8: Sundrie receipts and ointments, made and used for the transportation of witches, and other miraculous effects: an instance therof reported and credited by some that are learned. p. 184
Book 10, Chap. 9: A confutation of the former follies, as well concerning ointments, dreames, &c. as also of the assemblie of witches, and of their consultations and bankets at sundrie places, and all in dreames. p. 185
Book 10, Chap. 10: That most part of prophesies in the old testament were revealed in dreames, that we are not now to looke for such revelations, of some who have drempt of that which hath come to passe, that dreames proove contrarie, Nabuchadnez-zars rule to knowe a true expositor of dreames. p. 187
Book 11, Chap. 1: The Hebrue word Nahas expounded, of the art of augurie, who invented it, how slovenlie a science it is: the multitude of sacrifices and sacrificers of the heathen, and the causes therof. p. 189
Book 11, Chap. 2: Of the Jewes sacrifice to Moloch, a discourse thereupon, and of Purgatorie. p. 190
Book 11, Chap. 3: The Canibals crueltie, of popish sacrifices exceeding in tyrannie the Jewes or Gentiles. p. 191
Book 11, Chap. 4: The superstition of the heathen about the element of fier, and how it grew in such reverence among them, of their corruptions, and that they had some inkling of the godlie fathers dooings in that behalfe. p. 191
Book 11, Chap. 5: Of the Romane sacrifices: of the estimation they had of augurie, of the lawe of the twelve tables. p. 192
Book 11, Chap. 6: Colleges of augurors, their office, their number, the signification of augurie, that the practisers of that art were couseners, their profession, their places of exercise, their apparrell, their superstition. p. 193
Book 11, Chap. 7: The times and seasons to exercise augurie, the maner and order thereof, of the ceremonies thereunto belonging. p. 195
Book 11, Chap. 8: Upon what signes and tokens augurors did prognosticate, observations touching the inward and outward parts of beasts, with notes of beasts behaviour in the slaughterhouse. p. 196
Book 11, Chap. 9: A confutation of augurie, Plato his reverend opinion thereof, of contrarie events, and false predictions. p. 196
Book 11, Chap. 10: The cousening art of sortilege or lotarie, practised especiallie by Aegyptian vagabonds, of allowed lots, of Pythagoras his lot, &c. p. 197
Book 11, Chap. 11: Of the Cabalisticall art, consisting of traditions and unwritten verities learned without booke, and of the division thereof. p. 198
Book 11, Chap. 12: When, how, and in what sort sacrifices were first ordained, and how they were prophaned, and how the pope corrupteth the sacraments of Christ. p. 200
Book 11, Chap. 13: Of the objects whereupon the augurors used to prognosticate, with certeine cautions and notes. p. 201
Book 11, Chap. 14: The division of augurie, persons admittable into the colleges of augurie, of their superstition. p. 202
Book 11, Chap. 15: Of the common peoples fond and superstitious collections and observations. p. 203
Book 11, Chap. 16: How old writers varie about the matter, the maner and the meanes, whereby things augurificall are mooved. p. 205
Book 11, Chap. 17: How ridiculous an art augurie is, how Cato mocked it, Aristotles reason against it, fond collections of augurors, who allowed, and who disallowed it. p. 206
Book 11, Chap. 18: Fond distinctions of the heathen writers, concerning augurie. p. 208
Book 11, Chap. 19: Of naturall and casuall augurie, the one allowed, and the other disallowed. p. 208
Book 11, Chap. 20: A confutation of casuall augurie which is meere witchcraft, and upon what uncertaintie those divinations are grounded. p. 209
Book 11, Chap. 21: That figure-casters are witches, the uncerteintie of their art, and of their contradictions, Cornelius Agrippas sentence against judiciall astrologie. p. 210
Book 11, Chap. 22: The subtiltie of astrologers to mainteine the credit of their art, why they remaine in credit, certeine impieties conteined in astrologers assertions. p. 212
Book 11, Chap. 23: Who have power to drive awaie divels with their onelie presence, who shall receive of God whatsoever they aske in praier, who shall obteine everlasting life by meanes of constellations, as nativitie-casters affirme. p. 214
Book 12, Chap. 1: The Hebrue word Habar expounded, where also the supposed secret force of charmes and inchantments is shewed, and the efficacie of words is diverse waies declared. p. 216
Book 12, Chap. 2: What is forbidden in scriptures concerning witchcraft, of the operation of words, the superstition of the Cabalists and papists, who createth substances, to imitate God in some cases is presumption, words of sanctification. p. 217
Book 12, Chap. 3: What effect and offense witches charmes bring, how unapt witches are, and how unlikelie to worke those things which they are thought to doo, what would followe if those things were true which are laid to their charge. p. 218
Book 12, Chap. 4: Why God forbad the practise of witchcraft, the absurditie of the lawe of the twelve tables, whereupon their estimation in miraculous actions is grounded, of their woonderous works. p. 220
Book 12, Chap. 5: An instance of one arreigned upon the lawe of the twelve tables, whereby the said lawe is proved ridiculous, of two witches that could doo woonders. p. 221
Book 12, Chap. 6: Lawes provided for the punishment of such witches as worke miracles, whereof some are mentioned, and of certeine popish lawes published against them. p. 222
Book 12, Chap. 7: Poetical authorities commonlie alleaged by witchmongers, for the proofe of witches miraculous actions, and for confirmation of their supernaturall power. p. 223
Book 12, Chap. 8: Poetrie and poperie compared in inchantments, popish witchmongers have more advantage herein than protestants. p. 229
Book 12, Chap. 9: Popish periapts, amulets and charmes, agnus Dei, a wastcote of proofe, a charme for the falling evill, a writing brought to S. Leo from heaven by an angell, the vertues of S. Saviors epistle, a charme against theeves, a writing found in Christs wounds, of the crosse, &c. p. 230
Book 12, Chap. 10: How to make holie water, and the vertues therof. S. Rufins charme, of the wearing and bearing of the name of Jesus, that the sacrament of confession and the eucharist is of as much efficacie as other charmes, & magnified by L. Vairus. p. 237
Book 12, Chap. 11: Of the noble balme used by Moses, apishlie counterfeited in the church of Rome. p. 238
Book 12, Chap. 12: The opinion of Ferrarius touching charmes, periapts, appensions, amulets, &c. Of Homericall medicines, of constant opinion, and the effects thereof. p. 239
Book 12, Chap. 13: Of the effects of amulets, the drift of Argerius Ferrarius in the commendation of charmes, &c: foure sorts of Homericall medicines, & the choice thereof; of imagination. p. 241
Book 12, Chap. 14: Choice of Charmes against the falling evill, the biting of a mad dog, the stinging of a scorpion, the toothach, for a woman in travell, for the Kings evill, to get a thorne out of any member, or a bone out of ones throte, charmes to be said fasting, or at the gathering of hearbs, for sore eies, to open locks, against spirits, for the bots in a horsse, and speciallie for the Duke of Albas horsse, for sowre wines, &c. p. 242
Book 12, Chap. 15: The inchanting of serpents and snakes, objections aunswered concerning the same; fond reasons whie charmes take effect therin, Mahomets pigeon, miracles wrought by an Asse at Memphis in Aegypt, popish charmes against serpents, of miracle workers, the tameing of snakes, Bodins lie of snakes. p. 249
Book 12, Chap. 16: Charmes to carrie water in a sive, to know what is spoken of us behind our backs, for bleare eies, to make seeds to growe well, of images made of wax, to be rid of a witch, to hang hir up, notable authorities against waxen images, a storie bewraieng the knaverie of waxen images. p. 256
Book 12, Chap. 17: Sundrie sorts of charmes tending to diverse purposes, and first, certeine charmes to make taciturnitie in tortures. p. 259
Book 12, Chap. 18 p. 266
Book 12, Chap. 19: That one witchcraft maie lawfullie meete with another. p. 277
Book 12, Chap. 20: Who are privileged from witches, what bodies are aptest to be bewitched, or to be witches, why women are rather witches than men, and what they are. p. 277
Book 12, Chap. 21: What miracles witchmongers report to have beene done by witches words, &c: contradictions of witchmongers among themselves, how beasts are cured herby, of bewitched butter, a charme against witches, and a counter charme, the effect of charmes and words proved by L. Vairus to be woonderfull. p. 279
Book 12, Chap. 22: Lawfull charmes, or rather medicinable cures for diseased cattell. The charme of charmes, and the power thereof. p. 283
Book 12, Chap. 23: A confutation of the force and vertue falselie ascribed to charmes and amulets, by the authorities of ancient writers, both divines and physicians. p. 285
Book 13, Chap. 1: The signification of the Hebrue word Hartumim, where it is found written in the scriptures, and how it is diverslie translated: whereby the objection of Pharaos magicians is afterward answered in this booke; also of naturall magicke not evill in it selfe. p. 287
Book 13, Chap. 2: How the philosophers in times past travelled for the knowledge of naturall magicke, of Salomons knowledge therein, who is to be called a naturall magician, a distinction thereof, and why it is condemned for witchcraft. p. 288
Book 13, Chap. 3: What secrets do lie hidden, and what is taught in naturall magicke, how Gods glorie is magnified therein, and that it is nothing but the worke of nature. p. 290
Book 13, Chap. 4: What strange things are brought to passe by naturall magicke. p. 291
Book 13, Chap. 5: The incredible operation of waters, both standing and running; of wels, lakes, rivers, and of their woonderfull effects. p. 292
Book 13, Chap. 6: The vertues and qualities of sundrie pretious stones, of cousening Lapidaries, &c. p. 293
Book 13, Chap. 7: Whence the pretious stones receive their operations, how curious Magicians use them, and of their seales. p. 297
Book 13, Chap. 8: The sympathie and antipathie of naturall and elementarie bodies declared by diverse examples of beasts, birds, plants, &c. p. 301
Book 13, Chap. 9: The former matter prooved by manie examples of the living and the dead. p. 303
Book 13, Chap. 10: The bewitching venome conteined in the bodie of an harlot, how hir eie, hir toong, hir beautie and behavior bewitcheth some men: of bones and hornes yeelding great vertue. p. 304
Book 13, Chap. 11: Two notorious woonders and yet not marvelled at. p. 305
Book 13, Chap. 12: Of illusions, confederacies, and legierdemaine, and how they may be well or ill used. p. 307
Book 13, Chap. 13: Of private confederacie, and of Brandons pigeon. p. 308
Book 13, Chap. 14: Of publike confederacie, and whereof it consisteth. p. 309
Book 13, Chap. 15: How men have beene abused with words of equivocation, with sundrie examples thereof. p. 309
Book 13, Chap. 16: How some are abused with naturall magike, and sundrie examples thereof when illusion is added thereunto, of Jacobs pied sheepe, and of a blacke Moore. p. 311
Book 13, Chap. 17: The opinion of witchmongers, that divels can create bodies, and of Pharaos magicians. p. 312
Book 13, Chap. 18: How to produce or make monsters by art magike, and why Pharaos magicians could not make lice. p. 313
Book 13, Chap. 19: That great matters may be wrought by this art, when princes esteeme and mainteine it: of divers woonderfull experiments, and of strange conclusions in glasses, of the art perspective, &c. p. 315
Book 13, Chap. 20: A comparison betwixt Pharaos magicians and our witches, and how their cunning consisted in juggling knacks. p. 317
Book 13, Chap. 21: That the serpents and frogs were trulie presented, and the water poisoned indeed by Jannes and Jambres, of false prophets, and of their miracles, of Balams asse. p. 318
Book 13, Chap. 22: The art of juggling discovered, and in what points it dooth principallie consist. p. 321
Book 13, Chap. 23: Of the ball, and the manner of legierdemaine therewith, also notable feats with one or diverse balles. p. 322
Book 13, Chap. 24: Of conveiance of monie. p. 324
Book 13, Chap. 25: An excellent feat, to make a two penie peece lie plaine in the palme of your hand, and to be passed from thence when you list. p. 329
Book 13, Chap. 26: To transforme anie one small thing into anie other forme by folding of paper. p. 331
Book 13, Chap. 27: Of cards, with good cautions how to avoid cousenage therein: speciall rules to conveie and handle the cards, and the maner and order how to accomplish all difficult and strange things wrought with cards. p. 331
Book 13, Chap. 28: How to tell what card anie man thinketh, how to conveie the same into a kernell of a nut or cheristone, &c: and the same againe into ones pocket: how to make one drawe the same or anie card you list, and all under one devise. p. 335
Book 13, Chap. 29: Of fast or loose, how to knit a hard knot upon a handkercher, and to undoo the same with words. p. 336
Book 13, Chap. 30: Juggling knacks by confederacie, and how to know whether one cast crosse or pile by the ringing. p. 338
Book 13, Chap. 31: Boxes to alter one graine into another, or to consume the graine or corne to nothing. p. 340
Book 13, Chap. 32: To burne a thred, and to make it whole againe with the ashes thereof. p. 341
Book 13, Chap. 33: How to make a booke, wherein you shall shew everie leafe therein to be white, blacke, blew, red, yellow, greene, &c. p. 343
Book 13, Chap. 34: Desperate or dangerous juggling knacks, wherein the simple are made to thinke, that a seelie juggler with words can hurt and helpe, kill and revive anie creature at his pleasure: and first to kill anie kind of pullen, and to give it life againe. p. 346
Book 14, Chap. 1: Of the art of Alcumystrie, of their woords of art and devises to bleare mens eies, and to procure credit to their profession. p. 353
Book 14, Chap. 2: The Alcumysters drift, the Chanons yeomans tale, of alcumysticall stones and waters. p. 355
Book 14, Chap. 3: Of a yeoman of the countrie cousened by an Alcumyst. p. 357
Book 14, Chap. 4: A certeine king abused by an Alcumyst, and of the kings foole a pretie jest. p. 360
Book 14, Chap. 5: A notable storie written by Erasmus of two Alcumysts, also of longation and curtation. p. 361
Book 14, Chap. 6: The opinion of diverse learned men touching the follie of Alcumystrie. p. 368
Book 14, Chap. 7: That vaine and deceitfull hope is a great cause why men are seduced by this alluring art, and that there labours therein are bootelesse, &c. p. 371
Book 14, Chap. 8: A continuation of the former matter, with a conclusion of the same. p. 372
Book 15, Chap. 1: The exposition of Iidoni, and where it is found, whereby the whole art of conjuration is deciphered. p. 376
Book 15, Chap. 2: An inventarie of the names, shapes, powers, governement, and effects of divels and spirits, of their severall segniories and degrees: a strange discourse woorth the reading. p. 377
Book 15, Chap. 3: The houres wherin principall divels may be bound, to wit, raised and restrained from dooing of hurt. p. 393
Book 15, Chap. 4: The forme of adjuring or citing of the spirits aforesaid to arise and appeare. p. 393
Book 15, Chap. 5: A confutation of the manifold vanities conteined in the precedent chapters, speciallie of commanding of divels. p. 396
Book 15, Chap. 6: The names of the planets, their characters, togither with the twelve signes of the zodiake, their dispositions, aspects, and government, with other observations. p. 397
Book 15, Chap. 7: The characters of the angels of the seaven daies, with their names: of figures, seales and periapts. p. 400
Book 15, Chap. 8: An experiment of the dead. p. 401
Book 15, Chap. 9: A licence for Sibylia to go and come by at all times. p. 407
Book 15, Chap. 10: To know of treasure hidden in the earth. p. 408
Book 15, Chap. 11: An experiment following, of Citrael, &c:* *angeli* *diei dominici*. p. 410
Book 15, Chap. 12: How to enclose a spirit in a christall stone. p. 411
Book 15, Chap. 13: An experiment of Bealphares. p. 415
Book 15, Chap. 14: To bind the spirit Bealphares, and to lose him againe. p. 418
Book 15, Chap. 15: The making of the holie water. p. 421
Book 15, Chap. 16: To make a spirit to appeare in a christall. p. 422
Book 15, Chap. 17: An experiment of the dead. p. 423
Book 15, Chap. 18: A bond to bind him to thee, and to thy N. as followeth. p. 425
Book 15, Chap. 19: This bond as followeth, is to call him into your christall stone, or glasse, &c. p. 428
Book 15, Chap. 20: When to talke with spirits, and to have true answers to find out a theefe. p. 430
Book 15, Chap. 21: A confutation of conjuration, especiallie of the raising, binding and dismissing of the divell, of going invisible, and other lewd practises. p. 430
Book 15, Chap. 22: A comparison betweene popish exorcists and other conjurors, a popish conjuration published by a great doctor of the Romish church, his rules and cautions. p. 433
Book 15, Chap. 23: A late experiment, or cousening conjuration practised at Orleance by the Franciscane Friers, how it was detected, and the judgement against the authors of that comedie. p. 435
Book 15, Chap. 24: Who may be conjurors in the Romish church besides priests, a ridiculous definition of superstition, what words are to be used and not used in exorcismes, rebaptisme allowed, it is lawfull to conjure any thing, differences betweene holie water and conjuration. p. 438
Book 15, Chap. 25: The seven reasons why some are not rid of the divell with all their popish conjurations, why there were no conjurors in the primitive church, and why the divell is not so soone cast out of the bewitched as of the possessed. p. 441
Book 15, Chap. 26: Other grosse absurdities of witchmongers in this matter of conjurations. p. 443
Book 15, Chap. 27: Certaine conjurations taken out of the pontificall and out of the missall. p. 444
Book 15, Chap. 28: That popish priests leave nothing unconjured, a forme of exorcisme for incense. p. 446
Book 15, Chap. 29: The rules and lawes of popish Exorcists and other conjurors all one, with a confutation of their whole power, how S. Martine conjured the divell p. 447
Book 15, Chap. 30: That it is a shame for papists to beleeve other conjurors dooings, their owne being of so litle force, Hipocrates his opinion herein. p. 450
Book 15, Chap. 31: How conjurors have beguiled witches, what bookes they carie about to procure credit to their art, wicked assertions against Moses and Joseph. p. 451
Book 15, Chap. 32: All magicall arts confuted by an argument concerning Nero, what Cornelius Agrippa and Carolus Gallus have left written thereof, and prooved by experience. p. 452
Book 15, Chap. 33: Of Salomons conjurations, and of the opinion conceived of his cunning and practise therein. p. 454
Book 15, Chap. 34: Lessons read in all churches, where the pope hath authoritie, on S. Margarets daie, translated into English word for word. p. 455
Book 15, Chap. 35: A delicate storie of a Lombard, who by S. Margarets example would needs fight with a reall divell. p. 457
Book 15, Chap. 36: The storie of Saint Margaret prooved to be both ridiculous and impious in everie point. p. 459
Book 15, Chap. 37: A pleasant miracle wrought by a popish preest. p. 460
Book 15, Chap. 38: The former miracle confuted, with a strange storie of saint Lucie. p. 461
Book 15, Chap. 39: Of visions, noises, apparitions, and imagined sounds, and of other illusions, of wandering soules: with a confutation thereof. p. 461
Book 15, Chap. 40: Cardanus opinion of strange noises, how counterfet visions grow to be credited, of popish appeerances, of pope Boniface. p. 464
Book 15, Chap. 41: Of the noise or sound of eccho, of one that narrowlie escaped drowning thereby, &c. p. 465
Book 15, Chap. 42: Of Theurgie, with a confutation thereof, a letter sent to me concerning these matters. p. 466
Book 16, Chap. 1: A conclusion, in maner of an epilog, repeating manie of the former absurdities of witchmongers conceipts, confutations thereof, and of the authoritie of James Sprenger and Henrie Institor inquisitors and compilers of M. Mal. p. 470
Book 16, Chap. 2: By what meanes the common people have beene made beleeve in the miraculous works of witches, a definition of witchcraft, and a description thereof. p. 471
Book 16, Chap. 3: Reasons to proove that words and characters are but bables, & that witches cannot doo such things as the multitude supposeth they can, their greatest woonders prooved trifles, of a yoong gentleman cousened. p. 473
Book 16, Chap. 4: Of one that was so bewitched that he could read no scriptures but canonicall, of a divel that could speake no Latine, a proofe that witchcraft is flat cousenage. p. 476
Book 16, Chap. 5: Of the divination by the sive and sheeres, and by the booke and key, Hemingius his opinion thereof confuted, a bable to know what is a clocke, of certeine jugling knacks, manifold reasons for the overthrowe of witches and conjurors, and their cousenages, of the divels transformations, of Ferrum candens,* *&c. p. 477
Book 16, Chap. 6: How the divell preached good doctrine in the shape of a preest, how he was discovered, and that it is a shame (after confutation of the greater witchcrafts) for anie man to give credit to the lesser points thereof. p. 481
Book 16, Chap. 7: A conclusion against witchcraft, in maner and forme of an Induction. p. 483
Book 16, Chap. 8: Of naturall witchcraft or fascination. p. 484
Book 16, Chap. 9: Of inchanting or bewitching eies. p. 485
Book 16, Chap. 10: Of naturall witchcraft for love, &c. p. 487
Discourse, Chap. 1: A Discourse upon divels and spirits, and first of philosophers opinions, also the maner of their reasoning hereupon; and the same confuted p. 488
Discourse, Chap. 2: Mine owne opinion concerning this argument, to the disproofe of some writers hereupon. p. 491
Discourse, Chap. 3: The opinion of Psellus touching spirits, of their severall orders, and a confutation of his errors therein. p. 492
Discourse, Chap. 4: More absurd assertions of Psellus and such others, concerning the actions and passions of spirits, his definition of them, and of his experience therein. p. 495
Discourse, Chap. 5: The opinion of Fascius Cardanus touching spirits, and of his familiar divell. p. 497
Discourse, Chap. 6: The opinion of Plato concerning spirits, divels and angels, what sacrifices they like best, what they feare, and of Socrates his familiar divell. p. 498
Discourse, Chap. 7: Platos nine orders of spirits and angels, Dionysius his division thereof not much differing from the same, all disprooved by learned divines. p. 500
Discourse, Chap. 8: The commensement of divels fondlie gathered out of the 14. of Isaie, of Lucifer and of his fall, the Cabalists the Thalmudists and Schoolemens opinions of the creation of angels. p. 501
Discourse, Chap. 9: Of the contention betweene the Greeke and Latine church touching the fall of angels, the variance among papists themselves herein, a conflict betweene Michael and Lucifer. p. 503
Discourse, Chap. 10: Where the battell betweene Michael and Lucifer was fought, how long it continued, and of their power, how fondlie papists and infidels write of them, and how reverentlie Christians ought to thinke of them. p. 504
Discourse, Chap. 11: Whether they became divels which being angels kept not their vocation, in Jude and Peter; of the fond opinions of the Rabbins touching spirits and bugs, with a confutation thereof. p. 506
Discourse, Chap. 12: That the divels assaults are spirituall and not temporall, and how grosselie some understand those parts of the scripture. p. 508
Discourse, Chap. 13: The equivocation of this word spirit, how diverslie it is taken in the scriptures, where (by the waie) is taught that the scripture is not alwaies literallie to be interpreted, nor yet allegoricallie to be understood. p. 509
Discourse, Chap. 14: That it pleased God to manifest the power of his sonne and not of witches by miracles. p. 512
Discourse, Chap. 15: Of the possessed with divels. p. 513
Discourse, Chap. 16: That we being not throughlie informed of the nature of divels and spirits, must satisfie our selves with that which is delivered us in the scriptures touching the same, how this word divell is to be understood both in the singular and plurall number, of the spirit of God and the spirit of the divell, of tame spirits, of Ahab. p. 514
Discourse, Chap. 17: Whether spirits and soules can assume bodies, and of their creation and substance, wherein writers doo extreamelie contend and varie. p. 516
Discourse, Chap. 18: Certeine popish reasons concerning spirits made of aier, of daie divels and night divels, and why the divell loveth no salt in his meate. p. 517
Discourse, Chap. 19: That such divels as are mentioned in the scriptures, have in their names their nature and qualities expressed, with instancies thereof. p. 518
Discourse, Chap. 20: Diverse names of the divell, whereby his nature and disposition is manifested. p. 520
Discourse, Chap. 21: That the idols or gods of the Gentiles are divels, their diverse names, and in what affaires their labours and authorities are emploied, wherein also the blind superstition of the heathen people is discovered. p. 521
Discourse, Chap. 22: Of the Romanes cheefe gods called Dii selecti, and of other heathen gods, their names and offices. p. 523
Discourse, Chap. 23: Of diverse gods in diverse countries. p. 525
Discourse, Chap. 24: Of popish provinciall gods, a comparison betweene them and heathen gods, of physicall gods, and of what occupation everie popish god is. p. 526
Discourse, Chap. 25: A comparison betweene the heathen and papists, touching their excuses for idolatrie. p. 529
Discourse, Chap. 26: The conceipt of the heathen and the papists all one in idolatrie, of the councell of Trent, a notable storie of a hangman arraigned after he was dead and buried, &c. p. 530
Discourse, Chap. 27: A confutation of the fable of the hangman, of manie other feined and ridiculous tales and apparitions, with a reproofe thereof. p. 532
Discourse, Chap. 28: A confutation of Johannes Laurentius, and of manie others, mainteining these fained and ridiculous tales and apparitions, and what driveth them awaie: of Moses and Helias appearance in mount Thabor. p. 534
Discourse, Chap. 29: A confutation of assuming of bodies, and of the serpent that seduced Eve. p. 536
Discourse, Chap. 30: The objection concerning the divels assuming of the serpents bodie answered. p. 537
Discourse, Chap. 31: Of the cursse rehearsed Gen. 3. and that place rightlie expounded, John Calvines opinion of the divell. p. 539
Discourse, Chap. 32: Mine owne opinion and resolution of the nature of spirits, and of the divell, with his properties. p. 540
Discourse, Chap. 33: Against fond witchmongers, and their opinions concerning corporall divels. p. 542
Discourse, Chap. 34: A conclusion wherein the Spirit of spirits is described, by the illumination of which spirit all spirits are to be tried: with a confutation of the Pneumatomachi flatlie denieng the divinitie of this Spirit. p. 543

About this book and its scans

Published in London in 1584; Nicholson's reprint in 1886. The Wellcome scan carries a Public Domain Mark.

b30337367: The 1584 edition (London: William Brome), the Wellcome Library's copy, Public Domain Mark. Pages link to it and the woodcuts are cropped from it.
Project Gutenberg #60766: The text: Project Gutenberg's transcription of Brinsley Nicholson's reprint of the first edition (London: Elliot Stock, 1886), which keeps its spelling and marks its pages; Nicholson's own matter left out.

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