Reginald Scot was an Englishman who wrote a book entitled "The Discoverie of Witchcraft" in 1584. This book was one of the first serious attempts to challenge the widespread belief in witchcraft during the Renaissance period. In his book, Scot aimed to debunk the superstitions surrounding witchcraft and expose the fraudulent practices used by self-proclaimed witch-hunters. Scot's work was revolutionary for its time, as it challenged the prevailing cultural and religious attitudes towards witchcraft. He argued that many of the alleged feats performed by witches, such as flying on broomsticks or transforming into animals, were simply illusions or deceptions. He also dismissed the idea of witches making pacts with the devil and engaging in demonic practices.
They sacrifice their owne children to the divell before baptisme, holding them up in the aire unto him, and then thrust a needle into their braines . They use incestuous adulterie with spirits . They eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of men and children openlie . They kill mens cattell . They bewitch mens corne . They ride and flie in the aire, bring stormes, make tempests . They use venerie with a divell called Incubus and have children by them, which become the best witches .
In 1584, when there were few who would even defend witches against these charges, Reginald Scot went one step further. He actually set out to prove that witches did not and could not exist King James later found Scot's opinion so heretical that he ordered all copies of his book to be burned. But so rich and full of data on the charges against witches, on witch trials and on the actual practice of the black arts was Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft that it remained a much-used source throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and is still one of the few primary sources for the study of witchcraft today.
At the heart of Scot's book are stories and charges pulled from the writers of the Inquisition about the supposed nature of witches. Scot believed that the utter absurdity of the facts would be enough to stop belief in witchcraft forever. But he also goes on to give opinions of medical authorities, interviews with those convicted of witchcraft, and details about the two-faced practices of those in charge of the inquisitions to show even further why the charges of witchcraft were simply not true. In later chapters Scot details the other side of the question through a study of the black arts that are not purely imaginary. He discusses poisoners, jugglers, conjurers, charmers, soothsayers, figure-casters, dreamers, alchemists, and astrologers and, in turn, sets down the actual practices of each group and shows how the acts depend not upon the devil but upon either trickery or skill. In the process, many of the magician's secrets and much other folk and professional lore of the time is made available to the reader of today.
Shortly after the Spanish Inquisition, directly in the wake of Sprenger and Kramer's Malleus Maleficarum, during the great upsurge of witch trials in Britain, Scot was a direct witness to the witchmonger in one of witch-hunting's bloodiest eras. Whatever your interest in witchcraft -- either historical, psychological, or sympathetic -- Scot, in his disproof, tells you much more about the subject than the many, many contemporary writers on the other side of the question.
Sewing binding for longer life, where the book block is actually sewn smythe sewn section sewn with thread before binding which results in a more durable type of binding. Whatever your interest in witchcraft -- either historical, psychological, or sympathetic -- Scot, in his disproof, tells you much more about the subject than the many, many contemporary writers on the other side of the question.
He also dismissed the idea of witches making pacts with the devil and engaging in demonic practices. "The Discoverie of Witchcraft" provided a detailed account of various tricks and illusions that were commonly attributed to witches. Scot argued that these tricks were often used by charlatans and fraudsters to exploit people's fears and superstitions.
The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Dover Occult) (Paperback)
They sacrifice their owne children to the divell before baptisme, holding them up in the aire unto him, and then thrust a needle into their braines . They use incestuous adulterie with spirits . They eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of men and children openlie . They kill mens cattell . They bewitch mens corne . They ride and flie in the aire, bring stormes, make tempests . They use venerie with a divell called Incubus and have children by them, which become the best witches .
In 1584, when there were few who would even defend witches against these charges, Reginald Scot went one step further. He actually set out to prove that witches did not and could not exist King James later found Scot's opinion so heretical that he ordered all copies of his book to be burned. But so rich and full of data on the charges against witches, on witch trials and on the actual practice of the black arts was Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft that it remained a much-used source throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and is still one of the few primary sources for the study of witchcraft today.
At the heart of Scot's book are stories and charges pulled from the writers of the Inquisition about the supposed nature of witches. Scot believed that the utter absurdity of the facts would be enough to stop belief in witchcraft forever. But he also goes on to give opinions of medical authorities, interviews with those convicted of witchcraft, and details about the two-faced practices of those in charge of the inquisitions to show even further why the charges of witchcraft were simply not true. In later chapters Scot details the other side of the question through a study of the black arts that are not purely imaginary. He discusses poisoners, jugglers, conjurers, charmers, soothsayers, figure-casters, dreamers, alchemists, and astrologers and, in turn, sets down the actual practices of each group and shows how the acts depend not upon the devil but upon either trickery or skill. In the process, many of the magician's secrets and much other folk and professional lore of the time is made available to the reader of today.
Shortly after the Spanish Inquisition, directly in the wake of Sprenger and Kramer's Malleus Maleficarum, during the great upsurge of witch trials in Britain, Scot was a direct witness to the witchmonger in one of witch-hunting's bloodiest eras. Whatever your interest in witchcraft -- either historical, psychological, or sympathetic -- Scot, in his disproof, tells you much more about the subject than the many, many contemporary writers on the other side of the question.
- Witchcraft (See Also Religion - Wicca)
- Modern - 16th Century
- Occultism
- Hardcover (October 26th, 2022): $43.95
- Paperback (November 1st, 2017): $60.90
- Paperback (October 26th, 2022): $31.95
- Paperback (November 13th, 2009): $47.75
- Hardcover$24.95
He believed that the occurrence of witchcraft was rare and that most accused individuals were innocent victims of misunderstanding or delusion. Scot's book was met with significant opposition and controversy. The prevailing belief in witchcraft was deeply ingrained in society, and many people found it difficult to accept Scot's rational and skeptical approach. As a result, his work was largely dismissed by the religious and political authorities of the time. Despite the backlash, "The Discoverie of Witchcraft" had a lasting impact. It inspired later writers and thinkers to challenge the belief in witchcraft and paved the way for a more rational and scientific understanding of the world. Scot's work played a significant role in the gradual decline of witch trials and the eventual abandonment of the belief in witchcraft in Western society. In conclusion, Reginald Scot's "The Discoverie of Witchcraft" was a groundbreaking work that sought to debunk the prevailing superstitions surrounding witchcraft. While it faced significant opposition during its time, its influence on the subsequent understanding of witchcraft cannot be overstated. Scot helped pave the way for a more rational and skeptical approach to the topic, ultimately contributing to the decline of witch trials and the abandonment of the belief in witchcraft..
Reviews for "From Witch Trials to Witchcraft Persecution: Reginald Scot's 'The Discoverie of Witchcraft' and the Changing Landscape of Witchcraft Accusations"
1. John Smith - 2 stars - I found "The Discoverie of Witchcaft" by Reginald Scot to be a rather unconvincing and poorly argued piece of work. The author's attempt to debunk witchcraft and prove it as mere superstition fell flat for me. The evidence presented was unconvincing and lacked credibility. Furthermore, I felt that Scot's writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it a tedious read. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to those seeking a thorough analysis of witchcraft.
2. Jane Johnson - 1 star - I couldn't get through "The Discoverie of Witchcaft" by Reginald Scot. The author's insistence on debunking witchcraft felt unnecessary and dismissive of a belief system that held great significance for many people during that time. Scot's arguments lacked depth and seemed to rely more on ridicule than on solid evidence. It felt like a missed opportunity to explore the cultural and historical aspects of witchcraft in a more nuanced manner. I would not recommend this book if you are looking for a comprehensive understanding of witchcraft.
3. Michael Thompson - 2 stars - While "The Discoverie of Witchcaft" by Reginald Scot may have been groundbreaking during its time, I found it to be quite outdated and irrelevant today. The author's attempts to rationalize and debunk witchcraft seemed repetitive and shallow. The book lacked a cohesive structure, and the arguments presented felt disjointed. Additionally, the language used was archaic and difficult to follow. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it to modern readers interested in the topic of witchcraft.
4. Sarah Davis - 1 star - I found "The Discoverie of Witchcaft" by Reginald Scot to be a frustrating read. The author's skepticism towards witchcraft came across as biased and dismissive of significant cultural beliefs. The arguments presented lacked depth and seemed to be driven more by personal opinion than by credible evidence. The book failed to engage me and left me feeling unsatisfied. I would suggest looking for more balanced and comprehensive works on the subject of witchcraft, as this one falls short.