First published in 1680, A Discovery of the
Impostures of Witches and Astrologers by John Brinley is an important example
and contemporary account of the establishment’s ideas, beliefs and debate
surrounding the practices of witchcraft, magic and divination that lay behind
the approved persecution of witches and other practitioners.
Revealed is an acceptance of the existence of
witches, the reality of the Devil and the position of magic as deeply integral
to everyday life, alongside a denial of the powers possessed by witches and the
abilities claimed by magical practitioners such as the Cunning Folk. Belief in
them is asserted to be the product of superstition, and the efficacy of their
operations is attributed to the delusions and trickery of the Devil or the
deceptions of the charlatan.
With kind permission of the Museum of
Witchcraft, this edition, presented by Troy Books, is transcribed from an
original copy held in the Museum’s research archive. As closely as possible,
the appearance and feel of the original text is carefully reproduced, alongside
photo-plates of selected original pages for reference.
The present edition is issued with foreword by
writer, researcher and assistant curator at the Museum of Witchcraft; Joyce
Froome.
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