MACBETH Readings
Reginald Scot
The Discovery of Witchcraft
Everything at this time of witches is blamed on witches, and not assumed as a punishment by God, “I have read in the scriptures that God maketh the blustering tempests and whirlwinds.”Most times witches are looked upon as the old, wrinkly women of the community, with no husbands or ties to religion. They are displeased with the ways of the world, so they give in to these “witch-like” attributes. There are different types of witches, each looked down upon by society, but also feared. These include: the witches who are displeased with life so much so that they impose harm and evil incantations on others, the witches who feel as if by their incantations harm has come, and freely confess of their misdeeds, and finally the witches who are “absolutely cozeners”, deceitful and all the same helpful.
King James I of England
News from Scotland [1591]
God, with his all powerful omnipotence, has frowned upon witchcraft and ceased many ill-intended practices. In this, there is a given example of a maidservant in the house of David Seaton, who was said to have done things by “some extraordinary and unlawful means.” In response, Seaton interrogated this young girl, oftentimes by “grievous torture”, forcing her into a confession of having a hand in “wicked allurements and enticements of the Devil.” From this came the accusation of numerous other “witches”, who were all apprehended and punished accordingly, with one of particular importance, Agnes Sampson. It is now believed that the King is “the child and servant of God”, while witches and those of evil trickery are vessels of the Devil.
Daemonology [1597]
This is a dialogue of two characters, Pilomathes and Epistemon, written by King James I against Reginald Scot and Johann Weyer. The purpose of this dialogue is to introduce and prove the witchcraft was indeed real and came from the influence of Satan. The dialogue between the two characters discusses the two actions of witches, services performed, and a debate upon whether or not God will allow such actions to occur. Through this dialogue it is intended to be seen that witches come from the doings of the Devil, and God will only permit the doings of witches against “three kinds of folks…the wicked for their horrible sins…the godly in faith…and even some of the best.”
