Note 485 — SCENE II.

There, take this unbaptised brat, &c.] Here, and in the next three speeches of Hecate, Middleton follows Reginald Scot, using sometimes the very words of that curious writer. In the Discouerie of Witchcraft, Scot gives from “John Bapt. Neap.” i. e. Porta, the following receipts for the miraculous transportation of witches: “℞. The fat of yoong children, and seeth it with water in a brasen vessell, reseruing the thickest of that which remaineth boiled in the bottome, which they laie vp and keepe, vntill occasion serueth to vse it. They put herevnto Eleoselinum, Aconitum, frondes populeas, and soote.” “℞. Sium, acarum vulgare, pentaphyllon, the bloud of a flitter-mouse, solanum somniferum et oleum. They stampe all these togither, and then they rubbe all parts of their bodies exceedinglie, till they looke red and be verie hot, so as the pores may be opened and their flesh soluble and loose. They ioine herewithall either fat or oile in steed thereof, that the force of the ointment maie the rather pearse inwardly, and so be more effectual. By this means (saith he) in a moone light night they seeme to be carried in the aire, to feasting, singing, dansing, kissing, culling, and other acts of venerie, with such youthes as they loue and desire most,” &c. B. x. c. viii. p. 184, ed. 1584.—See the original of this in Porta’s Magiæ Naturalis, sive De Miraculis Rerum Naturalium Libri iiii., 1561, 12mo. p. 180. Porta omitted the passage in (at least some) later and enlarged editions of his work.