Product Description

Remarkable 16th-century classic attempted to disprove existence of witches. Rich full account of charges against witches, witch trials, practice of the black arts. Excerpts from Inquisition, interviews with convicted witches, discussions of alchemy, astrology, much more. Indispensable primary source on witchcraft. Introduction by Montague Summers. 17 illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #319012 in Books
• Published on: 1989-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 283 pages

Customer Reviews

A Voice of Reason in the Darkness
This is the reprint of the Montague Summers edition of Reginald Scot's "Discoverie of Witchcraft". Scot's treatise was first published in 1584, just at the height of the European witchcraze, and was one of the few published works that argued vehemently against the belief in witches and demons.

Scot argued that a belief in witches was fallacy and ran counter to the classical Christian view as given in the Canon Episcopi that stated that belief in witches and demonic magic was a delusion and that witches were not working in league with the Devil but were rather deluded persons who needed guidance in the ways of religion rather than death and torture. Scot goes on at length to discuss the illusion of supposed witchcraft and magic and that God alone, not Devils or witches, controls the elements and that he alone dictates the fate of men.

Scot, like his contemporary Johann Weyer, was met with hostility from the learned demonologists and theologians of the day. His work was condemned and ordered burned by King James I of England. Rather than being hailed as a rational and sensible humanist thinker for his valiant atttempt to stem the tide of the burnings of human beings, Scot was accused by some as promoting the heresy of Sadducism (a disbelief in spirits) while others dismissed his arguments and beliefs as being thinly veiled atheism and argued that witches were in fact real and dangerous and that the bonfires of witches must continue. The credulous and eccentric Montague Summers himself argues this viewpoint in his shamelful introduction. Summers even stoops so low as to essentialy accuse Scot and Weyer of Satanism! Nonetheless, Scot's work gave hope that some in the 16th century were not overcome with belief in witches and demonic pacts and was skeptical of the popular fears that devils and demons were lurking around every corner, waiting to inflict evil and death on the unsuspecting populace. Unfortunately, it would be another 200 years before the murderous pyres of the witchhunters were finally snuffed out.

Witch or Not???
This is a classic expose dating back to 1584. Thanks to the author many named witches were spared from being burned at the stake! The author reveals the secrets of so-called witches and explains their supernatural powers as being nothing more than conjuring tricks. If you like magic, or reading about the history of magic then this book is a must have. -Diamond Jim Tyler

good for you, Reg
this excellent book got 4 stars from me only because it is a slightly incomplete edition (1930 Rodker ) which omits the final sections on spirits and "divells" as not being compatible with Scot`s outlook. the publishers would have done better to omit the introduction by Montague Summers, a nasty and spiteful piece of nonsense, only worth reading for the biographical info on Scot. Scot`s 16th century language is great to read, but it doesn`t get in the way of his message. Scot is a more modern man than a lot of "thinkers" alive today. His book should be read by anyone even remotely interested in witchcraft, occultism etc. A humane and rational man, he puts a lot of things in perspective. Reginald Scot was nobody`s fool.