Reginald Scot, The Discoverie of Witchcraft (London: William Brome, 1584. Great Britain: John Rodker, 1930) 10.

  
  BOOKE I.                              The Discoverie                               Credulity
  
   
   with witches (through distrust of gaines) that all is seene to be malice, follie, or
   avarice that hath beene practised against them. And whosoever shall search
   into this cause, or read the cheefe writers hereupon, shall find his words true.
An objection       It will be objected, that we here in England are not now directed by the popes
answered.  lawes; and so by consequence our witches not troubled or convented by the
   inquisitors Hæreticæ pravitatis. I answer, that in times past here in England, as in
   other nations, this order of discipline hath beene in force and use; although now
   some part of old rigor be qualified by two severall statutes made in the fift of
   Elizabeth, and xxxiii of Henrie the eight. Nevertheles the estimation of the
   omnipotencie of their words and charmes seemeth in those statutes to be some-
   what mainteined, as a matter hitherto generallie received; and not yet so looked
   into, as that it is refuted and decided. But how wiselie so ever the Parlement
   house hath dealt therin, or how mercifullie soever the prince beholdeth the
   cause: if a poore old woman, supposed to be a witch, be by the civill or canon
   lawe convented; I doubt, some canon will be found in force, not onelie to
   give scope to the tormentor, but also to the hangman, to exercise their offices
   upon hir. And most certaine it is, that in what point soever anie of these
   extremities, which I shall rehearse unto you, be mitigated, it is thorough the
   goodnesse of the Queenes Majestie, and hir excellent magistrates placed among
   us. For as touching the opinion of our writers therein in our age; yea in our
   owne countrie, you shall see it doth not onlie agree with forren crueltie, but
   surmounteth it farre. If you read a foolish pamphlet dedicated to the lord
W. W. his  Darcy by W. W. 1582. you shall see that he affirmeth, that all those tortures are
booke, prin-  farre too light, and their rigor too mild; and that in that respect he impudentlie
ted in Anno  exclameth against our magistrates, who suffer them to be but hanged, when
Dom. 1582.  murtherers, & such malefactors be so used, which deserve not the hundreth
   part of their punishments. But if you will see more follie and lewdnes comprised
   in one lewd booke, I commend you to Ri. Ga. a Windsor man; who being a mad
   man hath written according to his frantike humor: the reading wherof may
   satisfie a wise man, how mad all these witchmoongers dealings be in this behalfe.
   
  
   
   CHAPTER IX.
   
   A conclusion of the first booke, wherein is fore-shewed the tyrannicall crueltie of witch-
   mongers and inquisitors, with a request to the reader to peruse the same.
   
   AND bicause it may appeare unto the world what trecherous and faithlesse
   dealing, what extreame and intollerable tyrannie, what grosse and fond
   absurdities, what unnaturall & uncivil discourtisie, what cancred and
   spitefull malice, what outragious and barbarous crueltie, what lewd and false
   packing, what cunning and craftie intercepting, what bald and peevish inter-
   pretations, what abhominable and divelish inventions, and what flat and plaine
   knaverie is practised against these old women; I will set downe the whole order
   of the inquisition, to the everlasting, inexcusable, and apparent shame of all
   witchmoongers. Neither will I insert anie private or doubtful dealings of theirs;
   or such as they can either denie to be usuall, or justlie cavill at; but such as are
   published and renewed in all ages, since the commensement of poperie estab-
   lished by lawes, practised by inquisitors, privileged by princes, commended by
   doctors, confirmed by popes, councels, decrees, and canons; and finallie be left
   of all witch moongers; to wit, by such as attribute to old women, and such like
   creatures, the power of the Creator. I praie you therefore, though it be tedious
   & intollerable (as you would be heard in your miserable calamities) so heare
   with compassion, their accusations, examinations, matters given in evidence,
   confessions, presumptions, interrogatories, conjurations, cautions, crimes,
   tortures and condemnations, devised and practised usuallie against them.
   
 10