Reginald Scot
Reginald Scot | |
|---|---|
Portrait of a Gentleman, possibly Reginald Scott, 1581 | |
| Born | c. 1537 |
| Died | 9 October 1599 (aged 61–62) |
| Resting place | St Mary the Virgin's church, Brabourne 51°08′09″N 1°00′20″E / 51.1357°N 1.00549°E |
| Alma mater | Hart Hall, Oxford |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | The Discoverie of Witchcraft |
| Spouses | Jane Cobbe
(m. 1568, died)
|
| Children | with Jane:
|
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Sir Thomas Scott (cousin) |
| Family | Scott |
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."