Part 5 (1/2)

[12] For another see _Discoverie of Witchcraft_, 132-133.

[13] In his prefatory epistle ”to the Readers.”

[14] An incidental reference to Weyer in ”W. W.'s” account of the _Witches taken at St. Oses_ is interesting: ”... whom a learned Phisitian is not ashamed to avouche innocent, and the Judges that denounce sentence of death against them no better than hangmen.”

[15] _E. g., Discoverie of Witchcraft_, 5.

[16] _Ibid._, 466-469.

[17] _Ibid._, 5-6.

[18] _Ibid._, 15: ”Howbeit you shall understand that few or none are throughlie persuaded, resolved, or satisfied, that witches can indeed accomplish all these impossibilities; but some one is bewitched in one point, and some is coosened in another, untill in fine, all these impossibilities, and manie mo, are by severall persons affirmed to be true.”

[19] _Discoverie_, 472.

[20] _Ibid._, 7-8.

[21] _Ibid._, 8.

[22] It was one of the points made by ”witchmongers” that the existence of laws against witches proved there were witches. This argument was used by Sir Matthew Hale as late as 1664. Scot says on that point: ”Yet I confesse, the customes and lawes almost of all nations doo declare, that all these miraculous works ... were attributed to the power of witches. The which lawes, with the executions and judicials thereupon, and the witches confessions, have beguiled almost the whole world.”

_Ibid._, 220.

[23] _Discoverie_, 471, 472.

[24] _Ibid._, 512.

[25] _Ibid._, 303.

[26] Thomas Nash in his _Four Letters Confuted_ (London, 1593) refers to it in a non-committal way as a work treating of ”the diverse natures and properties of Divels and Spirits.” Gabriel Harvey's _Pierces Supererogation_ (London, 1593), has the following mention of it: ”Scottes discoovery of Witchcraft dismasketh sundry egregious impostures, and in certaine princ.i.p.all chapters, and special pa.s.sages, hitteth the nayle on the head with a witnesse; howsoever I could have wished he had either dealt somewhat more curteously with Monsieur Bodine, or confuted him somewhat more effectually.” Professor Burr informs me that there is in the British Museum (Harleian MSS. 2302) an incomplete and unpublished reply to Scot. Its handwriting shows it contemporary or nearly so. It is a series of ”Reasons” why witches should be believed in--the MS. in its present state beginning with the ”5th Reason” and breaking off in the midst of the 108th.

[27] See Nicholson's opinion on this, pp. x.x.xvii-x.x.xix of his introduction to Scot's book.

[28] George Gifford was a Church of England clergyman whose Puritan sympathies at length compelled him to identify himself publicly with the non-conformist movement in 1584. For two years previous to that time he had held the living of Maldon in Ess.e.x.

[29] A second edition of this book appeared in 1603. It was reprinted for the Percy Society in 1842.

[30] _Dialogue_, ed. of 1603, prefatory letter and L-M 2 verso.

[31] _Discourse_, D 3 verso, G 4 verso; _Dialogue_, ed. of 1603, K 2-K 2 verso, L-L 2. See also _ibid._, K 4-K 4 verso: ”As not long since a rugged water spaniell having a chaine, came to a mans doore that had a saut b.i.t.c.h, and some espied him in the darke, and said it was a thing as bigge as a colt, and had eyes as great as saucers. Hereupon some came to charge to him, and did charge him in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost, to tell what he was. The dogge at the last told them, for he spake in his language, and said, bowgh, and thereby they did know what he was.”

[32] _Discourse_, in the prefatory letter.

[33] _Ibid._, F 4 verso, F 5.

[34] _Dialogue_, ed of 1603, K 2 verso.

[35] _Ibid._, D 3 verso; _Discourse_, G 3 verso, H 3 verso.

[36] _Ibid._, D 2 verso.

[37] Gifford grew very forceful when he described the progress of a case against a witch: ”Some woman doth fal out bitterly with her neighbour: there followeth some great hurt.... There is a suspicion conceived.