The Discoverie of WitchcraftFolk Magic / White MagicScholarly ReconstructionEarly Modern EnglishShareThe Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.61886 reprint of 1584 edition - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 available1886 reprint of 1584 editionLanguageEnglishEspañol‹The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 1.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 2.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.13The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.14The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.15The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.16The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.17The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.18The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.19The Discoverie of Witchcraft 3.20The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 4.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 5.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 6.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.13The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.14The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.15The Discoverie of Witchcraft 7.16The Discoverie of Witchcraft 8.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 8.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 8.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 8.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 8.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 8.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 9.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 9.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 9.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 9.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 9.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 9.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 9.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 10.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.13The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.14The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.15The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.16The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.17The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.20The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.21The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.22The Discoverie of Witchcraft 11.23The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.13The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.14The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.15The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.16The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.17The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.18The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.19The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.20The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.21The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.22The Discoverie of Witchcraft 12.23The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.13The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.14The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.15The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.16The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.17The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.18The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.19The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.20The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.21The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.22The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.23The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.24The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.25The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.26The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.27The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.28The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.29The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.30The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.31The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.32The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.33The Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.34The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 14.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.13The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.14The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.15The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.16The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.17The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.18The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.19The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.20The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.21The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.22The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.23The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.24The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.25The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.26The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.27The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.28The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.29The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.30The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.31The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.32The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.33The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.34The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.35The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.36The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.37The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.38The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.39The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.40The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.41The Discoverie of Witchcraft 15.42The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.1The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.2The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.3The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.4The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.5The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.6The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.7The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.8The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.9The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.10The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.11The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.12The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.13The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.14The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.15The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.16The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.17The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.18The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.19The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.20The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.21The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.22The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.23The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.24The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.25The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.26The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.27The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.28The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.29The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.30The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.31The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.32The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.33The Discoverie of Witchcraft 16.34›Book 13, Chapter 6: The vertues and qualities of sundrie pretious stones, of cousening Lapidaries, &cThe Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.6ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1The excellent vertues and qualities of stones, found, conceived and tried by this art, is woonderfull. Howbeit many things most false and fabulous are added unto their true effects, wherewith I thought good in part to trie the readers patience and cunning withall. An Aggat (they saie) hath vertue against the biting of scorpions or serpents. It is written (but I will not stand to it) that it maketh a man eloquent, and procureth the favour of princes; yea that the fume thereof dooth turne awaie tempests. Alectorius is a stone about the bignesse of a beane, as cleere as the christall, taken out of a cocks bellie which hath beene gelt or made a capon foure yeares. If it be held in ones mouth, it asswageth thirst, it maketh the husband to love the wife, and the bearer invincible: for heereby Milo was said to overcome his enimies. A crawpocke delivereth from prison. Chelidonius is a stone taken out of a swallowe, which cureth melancholie: howbeit, some authors saie, it is the hearbe wherby the swallowes recover the sight of their yoong, even if their eies be picked out with an instrument. Geranites is taken out of a crane, and Draconites out of a dragon. But it is to be noted, that such stones must be taken out of the bellies of the serpents, beasts, or birds, (wherein they are) whiles they live: 2otherwise, they vanish awaie with the life, and so they reteine the vertues of those starres under which they are. Amethysus maketh a droonken man sober, and refresheth the wit. The corrall preserveth such as beare it from fascination or bewitching, and in this respect they are hanged about childrens necks. But from whence that superstition is derived, and who invented the lie, I knowe not: but I see how readie the people are to give credit thereunto, by the multitude of corrals that waie emploied. I find in good authors, that while it remaineth in the sea, it is an hearbe; and when it is brought thence, into the aire, it hardeneth, and becommeth a stone. 3Heliotropius stancheth bloud, driveth awaie poisons, preserveth health: yea, and some write that it provoketh raine, and darkeneth the sunne, suffering not him that beareth it to be abused. Hyacinthus dooth all that the other dooth, and also preserveth from lightening. Dinothera hanged about the necke, collar, or yoke of any creature, tameth it presentlie. A Topase healeth the lunatike person of his passion of lunacie. Aitites, if it be shaken, soundeth as if there were a little stone in the bellie thereof: it is good for the falling sicknesse, and to prevent untimelie birth. Amethysus aforesaid resisteth droonkenesse, so as the bearers shall be able to drinke freelie, and recover themselves soone being droonke as apes: the same maketh a man wise. Chalcedonius maketh the bearer luckie in lawe, quickeneth the power of the bodie, and is of force also against the illusions of the divell, and phantasticall cogitations arising of melancholie. Corneolus mitigateth the heate of the mind, and qualifieth malice, it stancheth bloudie fluxes, speciallie of women that are troubled with their flowers. Heliotropius aforesaid darkeneth the sunne, raiseth shewers, stancheth bloud, procureth good fame, keepeth the bearer in health, and suffereth him not to be deceived. If this were true, one of them would be deerer than a thousand diamonds. 4Hyacinthus delivereth one from the danger of lightening, driveth awaie poison and pestilent infection, and hath manie other vertues. Iris helpeth a woman to speedie deliverance, and maketh rainebowes to appeere. A Saphire preserveth the members, and maketh them livelie, and helpeth agues and gowts, and suffereth not the bearer to be afraid: it hath vertue against venome, and staieth bleeding at the nose being often put thereto. A Smarag is good for the eiesight, and suffereth not carnall copulation, it maketh one rich and eloquent. A Topase increaseth riches, healeth the lunatike passion, and stancheth bloud. Mephis (as Aaron and Hermes report out of Albertus Magnus) being broken into powder, and droonke with water, maketh insensibilitie of torture. Heereby you may understand, that as God hath bestowed upon these stones, and such other like bodies, most excellent and woonderfull virtues; so according to the abundance of humane superstitions and follies, manie ascribe unto them either more vertues, or others than they have: other boast that they are able to adde new qualities unto them. And heerin consisteth a part of witchcraft and common cousenage used sometimes of the Lapidaries for gaines; sometimes of others for cousening purposes. 5Some part of the vanitie heereof I will heere describe, bicause the place serveth well therefore. And it is not to be forgotten or omitted, that Pharos magicians were like enough to be cunning therein. 6Neverthelesse, I will first give you the opinion of one, who professed himselfe a verie skilfull and well experimented Lapidarie, as appeereth by a booke of his owne penning, published under this title of Dactylotheca, and (as I thinke) to be had among the bookesellers. And thus followeth his assertion: 7Evax rex Arabum fertur scripsisse Neroni, (Qui post Augustum regnavit in orbe secundus) Quot species lapidis, quæ nomina, quíve colores, Quæq́; sit his regio, vel quanta potentia cuiq́;, Ocult as etenim lapidum cognoscere vires, Quorum causa latens effectus dat manifestos, Egregium quiddam volumus rarúmque videri. Scilicet hinc solers medicorum cura juvatur. Auxilio lapidum morbos expellere docta. Nec minùs inde dari cunctarum commoda rerum Autores perhibent, quibus hæc perspecta feruntur. Nec dubium cuiquam debet falsúmque videri, Quin sua sit gemmis divinitùs insita virtus: 8Evax an old Arabian king is named to have writ A treatise, and on Neros Grace to have bestowed it, (Who in the world did second reigne after Augustus time) Of pretious stones the sundrie sorts, their names, and in what clime And countrie they were to be found, their colours and their hue, Their privie power and secret force, the which with knowledge true To understand, their hidden cause most plaine effects declare: And this will we a noble thing have counted be and rare. The skilfull care of leeches learnd is aided in this case, } And hereby holpen, and are taught } with aid of stones to chase } Awaie from men such sicknesses } as have in them a place. } No less precise commodities of althings else therebie Are ministred and given to men, if authors doo not lie, To whome these things are said to bee most manifestlie knowne. It shall no false or doubtfull case appeare to anie one, } But that by heavenlie influence } each pretious pearle and stone, } Hath in his substance fixed force } and vertue largelie sowne. } 9Whereby it is to be concluded, that stones have in them certeine proper vertues, which are given them of a speciall influence of the planets, and a due proportion of the elements, their substance being a verie fine and pure compound, consisting of well tempered matter wherein is no grosse mixture: as appeareth by plaine proofe of India and Aethopia, where the sunne being orient and meridionall, dooth more effectuallie shew his operation, procuring more pretious stones there to be ingendred, than in the countries that are occident and septentrionall. Unto this opinion doo diverse ancients accord; namelie, Alexander Peripateticus, Hermes, Evax, Bocchus Zoroastes, Isaac Judæus, Zacharias Babylonicus, and manie more beside. ‹Previous chapterThe Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.5Next chapterThe Discoverie of Witchcraft 13.7›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the United States via Project Gutenberg