About the author
Reginald Scot or Scott (c. 1537 – 9 October 1599) of Smeeth and Aldington, Kent, was an English politician and author who wrote The Discoverie of Witchcraft, which was published in 1584. It was written against the belief in witches, to show that witchcraft did not exist. Part of its content exposes how (apparently miraculous) feats of magic were done, and the book is deemed the first work, in English, "to present a detailed description of sleight of hand and conjuring." == Life == He was the 1st son of Richard Scott, son of Sir John Scott (d. 1533) of Scots Hall in Smeeth, near Ashford in Kent. His mother was Mary Whetenall (d. 1582), daughter of George Whetenall of Hextall’s Place, East Peckham. His father died before 1544, and his mother remarried Fulk Onslow, clerk of the parliament; dying on 8 October 1582, she was buried in the church of Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Reginald or Reynold (as he signed his name in accordance with contemporary practice) was born about 1537. When about eighteen, Scot entered Hart Hall, Oxford, but left the university without a degree. His writings show some knowledge of law, but he is not known to have joined any inn of court.
📖 Where to start with Reginald Scot
💬 What our editors say about Reginald Scot's books
“While this reprint is valuable for its historical significance, it may not suit readers seeking practical guides to magic or narrative-driven occult fiction. The text is a dense, argumentative treatise rather than an entertaining…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Being a Reprint of the First Edition
“This volume is indispensable for historians of ideas and those studying the intersection of law, religion, and superstition. However, it may not suit readers seeking practical guides on magic or those expecting a narrative-driven…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Discoverie of Witchcraft
“While historically significant, this work demands patience from its audience. Readers seeking straightforward narratives or sympathetic portrayals of witchcraft practices will likely find Scot’s approach dry and overly academic,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Revised) Scot, Reginald
📋 Editions by Reginald Scot in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Being a Reprint of the First Editi | 2022 | Legare Street Press | 682 | 9781015413887 |
| The Discoverie of Witchcraft | 2017 | Hansebooks | 684 | 9783337375232 |
| The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Revised) Scot, Reginald | 1989 | Dover Publications | 320 | 9780486260303 |
| The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Being a Reprint of the First Editi | 2022 | Legare Street Press | 682 | 9781015399365 |
