In Reginald Scot’s ‘Discovery of Witchcraft,’ 1665, is given a charm whereby ‘to go invisible by these three sisters of the fairies,’ Milita, Achilia, and Sibylia. You are ‘first to go to a fair parlour, or chamber, and on even ground, and in no loft, and from people nine dayes, for it is better; and let all thy cloathing be clean and sweet. Then make a candle of virgin wax and light it, and make a fair fire of charcoles in a fair place in the middle of the parlour or chamber; then take fair clean water that runneth against the East, and set it upon the fire, and if thou warm thyself say these words, going about the fire three times holding the candle in thy right hand.’ The incantation is too profane to be repeated. The following is the effect produced: ‘and if they come not the first night, then do the same the second night, and so the third night, until they do come, _for doubtless they will so come_; and lie thou in thy bed in the same parlour or chamber, and lay thy right hand out of the bed, and look thou have a fair silken kerchief bound about thy head, and be not afraid, they will do thee no harm; for there will come before thee three fair women, and all in white cloathing, _and one of them will put a ring upon thy finger wherewith thou shalt go invisible_. Then with speed bind her with the bond aforesaid. When thou hast this ring on thy finger, look in a glass and thou shalt not see thyself. And when thou wilt go invisible, put it on thy finger, the same finger that they did put it on, and every new moon renew it again,’ &c. _The Cruel Knight and the Fortunate Farmer’s Daughter._ P. 99. ‘The Fish and the Ring, or the Cruel Knight, and the Fortunate Farmer’s Daughter’ (a reprint for William Robinson, Esq., 1843). In famous York city a farmer did dwell, Who was belov’d by his neighbours well; He had a wife that was virtuous and fair, And by her he had a young child every year. In seven years six children he had, Which made their parents’ hearts full glad; But in a short time, as we did hear say, The farmer in wealth and stock did decay. Though once he had riches in store, In a little time he grew very poor; He strove all he could, but, alas! could not thrive, He hardly could keep his children alive. The children came faster than silver or gold, For his wife conceiv’d again, we are told, And when the time came in labour she fell; But if you would mind an odd story I’ll tell: A noble rich Knight by chance did ride by, And hearing this woman did shriek and cry, He being well learned in the planets and signs, Did look in the book which puzzled his mind. The more he did look the more he did read, And found that the fate of the child had decreed, Who was born in that house the same tide, He found it was she who must be his bride; But judge how the Knight was disturb’d in mind, When he in that book his fortune did find.