fewinstancesareuponrecordofanyacquittaltakingplacewhenthechargewaswitchcraft。ThedischargeoffourteenpersonsbytheParliamentofParis，intheyear1589，isalmostasolitaryexampleofareturntoreason。Fourteenpersons，condemnedtodeathforwitchcraft，appealedagainstthejudgmenttotheParliamentofParis，whichforpoliticalreasonshadbeenexiledtoTours。TheParliamentnamedfourcommissioners，PierrePigray，theKing’ssurgeon，andMessieursLeroi，Renard，andFalaiseau，theKing’sphysicians，tovisitandexaminethesewitches，andseewhethertheyhadthemarkofthedeviluponthem。Pigray，whorelatesthecircumstanceinhisworkonSurgery，bookvii，chapterthetenth，saysthevisitwasmadeinpresenceoftwocounsellorsofthecourt。Thewitcheswereallstrippednaked，andthephysiciansexaminedtheirbodiesverydiligently，prickingtheminallthemarkstheycouldfind，toseewhethertheywereinsensibletopain，whichwasalwaysconsideredacertainproofofguilt。Theywere，however，verysensibleofthepricking，andsomeofthemcalledoutverylustilywhenthepinsweredrivenintothem。“Wefoundthem，“continuesPierrePigray，“tobeverypoor，stupidpeople，andsomeoftheminsane；manyofthemwerequiteindifferentaboutlife，andoneortwoofthemdesireddeathasarelieffortheirsufferings。Ouropinionwas，thattheystoodmoreinneedofmedicinethanofpunishment，andsowereportedtotheParliament。Theircasewas，thereupon，takenintofurtherconsideration，andtheParliament，aftermaturecounselamongstallthemembers，orderedthepoorcreaturestobesenttotheirhomes，withoutinflictinganypunishmentuponthem。“
　　SuchwasthedreadfulstateofItaly，Germany，andFrance，duringthesixteenthcentury，whichwasfarfrombeingtheworstcrisisofthepopularmadnesswithregardtowitchcraft。LetusseewhatwasthestateofEnglandduringthesameperiod。TheReformation，whichinitsprogresshadrootedoutsomanyerrors，stoppedshortatthis，thegreatesterrorofall。LutherandCalvinwereasfirmbelieversinwitchcraftasPopeInnocenthimself，andtheirfollowersshowedthemselvesmorezealouspersecutorsthantheRomanists。Dr。
　　Hutchinson，inhisworkonWitchcraft，assertsthatthemaniamanifesteditselflaterinEngland，andragedwithlessvirulencethanontheContinent。Thefirstassertiononlyistrue；butthoughthepersecutionbeganlaterbothinEnglandandScotland，itsprogresswasasfearfulaselsewhere。
　　ItwasnotuntilmorethanfiftyyearsaftertheissuingoftheBullofInnocentVIII。thattheLegislatureofEnglandthoughtfittomakeanymoresevereenactmentsagainstsorcerythanthosealreadyinoperation。Thestatuteof1541wasthefirstthatspecifiedtheparticularcrimeofwitchcraft。Atamuchearlierperiod，manypersonshadsuffereddeathforsorceryinadditiontootheroffences；butnoexecutionstookplaceforattendingthewitches’sabbath，raisingtempests，afflictingcattlewithbarrenness，andallthefantastictrumperyoftheContinent。Twostatuteswerepassedin1551；thefirst，relatingtofalseprophecies，causedmainly，nodoubt，bytheimpositionsofElizabethBarton，theHolyMaidofKent，in1534，andthesecondagainstconjuration，witchcraft，andsorcery。Buteventhisenactmentdidnotconsiderwitchcraftaspenalinitself，andonlycondemnedtodeaththosewhobymeansofspells，incantations，orcontractswiththedevil，attemptedthelivesoftheirneighbours。ThestatuteofElizabeth，in1562，atlastrecognizedwitchcraftasacrimeofthehighestmagnitude，whetherexertedornottotheinjuryofthelives，limbs，andpossessionsofthecommunity。Fromthatdate，thepersecutionmaybefairlysaidtohavecommencedinEngland。Itreacheditsclimaxintheearlypartoftheseventeenthcentury，whichwasthehottestperiodofthemaniaalloverEurope。
　　AfewcasesofwitchpersecutioninthesixteenthcenturywillenablethereadertoformamoreaccurateideaoftheprogressofthisgreaterrorthanifheplungedatonceintothatbusyperiodofitshistorywhenMatthewHopkinsandhiscoadjutorsexercisedtheirinfernalcalling。SeveralinstancesoccurinEnglandduringthelatteryearsofthereignofElizabeth。Atthistimethepublicmindhadbecomeprettyfamiliarwiththedetailsofthecrime。BishopJewell，inhissermonsbeforeHerMajesty，usedconstantlytoconcludethembyaferventprayerthatshemightbepreservedfromwitches。Upononeoccasion，in1598，hiswordswere，“ItmaypleaseyourGracetounderstandthatwitchesandsorcerers，withintheselastfouryears，aremarvellouslyincreasedwithinthisyourGrace’srealm。YourGrace’ssubjectspineawayevenuntothedeath；theircolourfadeth——
　　theirfleshrotteth——theirspeechisbenumbed——theirsensesarebereft！IprayGodtheymayneverpractisefurtherthanuponthesubject！“
　　Bydegrees，anepidemicterrorofwitchcraftspreadintothevillages。InproportionasthedoctrinesofthePuritanstookrootthisdreadincreased，and，ofcourse，broughtpersecutioninitstrain。TheChurchofEnglandhasclaimed，andisentitledtothemerit，ofhavingbeenlessinfluencedinthesemattersthananyothersectofChristians；butstilltheyweretaintedwiththesuperstitionoftheage。OneofthemostflagrantinstancesofcrueltyanddelusionuponrecordwasconsummatedundertheauthorityoftheChurch，andcommemoratedtillaverylateperiodbyanannuallectureattheUniversityofCambridge。
　　ThisisthecelebratedcaseoftheWitchesofWarbois，whowereexecutedaboutthirty-twoyearsafterthepassingofthestatuteofElizabeth。Althoughintheintervalbutfewtrialsarerecorded，thereis，unfortunately，buttoomuchevidencetoshowtheextremelengthtowhichthepopularprejudicewascarried。ManywomenlosttheirlivesineverypartofEnglandwithoutbeingbroughttotrialatall，fromtheinjuriesreceivedatthehandsofthepeople。Thenumberofthesecanneverbeascertained。
　　ThecaseoftheWitchesofWarboismeritstobedetailedatlength，notonlyfromtheimportanceattachedtoitforsomanyyearsbythelearnedoftheUniversity，butfromthesingularabsurdityoftheevidenceuponwhichmen，sensibleinallotherrespects，couldcondemntheirfellow-creaturestothescaffold。
　　TheprincipalactorsinthisstrangedramawerethefamiliesofSirSamuelCromwellandaMr。Throgmorton，bothgentlemenoflandedpropertynearWarbois，inthecountyofHuntingdon。Mr。Throgmortonhadseveraldaughters，theeldestofwhom，MistressJoan，wasanimaginativeandmelancholygirl，whoseheadwasfilledwithstoriesofghostsandwitches。UpononeoccasionshechancedtopassthecottageofoneMrs。or，asshewascalled，MotherSamuel，averyaged，averypoor，andaveryuglywoman。MotherSamuelwassittingatherdoorknitting，withablackcapuponherhead，whenthissillyyoungladypassed，andtakinghereyesfromherworkshelookedsteadfastlyather。MistressJoanimmediatelyfanciedthatshefeltsuddenpainsinallherlimbs，andfromthatdayforth，neverceasedtotellhersisters，andeverybodyabouther，thatMotherSamuelhadbewitchedher。Theotherchildrentookupthecry，andactuallyfrightenedthemselvesintofitswhenevertheypassedwithinsightofthisterribleoldwoman。
　　Mr。andMrs。Throgmorton，notawhirwiserthantheirchildren，believedalltheabsurdtalestheyhadbeentold；andLadyCromwell，agossipofMrs。Throgmorton，madeherselfveryactiveinthebusiness，anddeterminedtobringthewitchtotheordeal。ThesapientSirSamueljoinedinthescheme；andthechildrenthusencouragedgaveloosereinstotheirimaginations，whichseemtohavebeenoftheliveliest。Theysooninventedawholehostofevilspirits，andnamesforthembesides，which，theysaid，weresentbyMotherSamueltotormentthemcontinually。Sevenspiritsespecially，theysaid，wereraisedfromhellbythiswickedwomantothrowthemintofits；andasthechildrenwereactuallysubjecttofits，theirmotherandhercommeresgavethemorecredittothestory。Thenamesofthesespiritswere，“FirstSmack，““SecondSmack，““ThirdSmack，““Blue，““Catch，“
　　“Hardname，“and“Pluck。“
　　Throgmorton，thefather，wassopesteredbytheseidlefancies，andyetsowellinclinedtobelievethem，thathemarchedvaliantlyforthtothehutwhereMotherSamuelresidedwithherhusbandanddaughter，anddraggedherforciblyintohisowngrounds。LadyCromwell，Mrs。Throgmorton，andthegirlswereinwaiting，armedwithlongpinstoprickthewitch，andseeiftheycoulddrawbloodfromher。LadyCromwell，whoseemstohavebeenthemostviolentoftheparty，toretheoldwoman’scapoffherhead，andpluckingoutahandfulofhergreyhair，gaveittoMrs。Throgmortontoburn，asacharmwhichwouldpreservethemallfromherfuturemachinations。Itwasnowonderthatthepoorcreature，subjectedtothisroughusage，shouldgiveventtoaninvoluntarycurseuponhertormentors。Shedidso，andhercursewasneverforgotten。Herhair，however，wassupposedtobeagrandspecific，andshewasallowedtodepart，halfdeadwithterrorandillusage。Formorethanayear，thefamiliesofCromwellandThrogmortoncontinuedtopersecuteher，andtoassertthatherimpsafflictedthemwithpainsandfits，turnedthemilksourintheirpans，andpreventedtheircowsandewesfrombearing。Inthemidstofthesefooleries，LadyCromwellwastakenillanddied。ItwasthenrememberedthatherdeathhadtakenplaceexactlyayearandaquartersinceshewascursedbyMotherSamuel，andthatonseveraloccasionsshehaddreamedofthewitchandablackcat，thelatterbeingofcoursethearch-enemyofmankindhimself。
　　SirSamuelCromwellnowconceivedhimselfboundtotakemoreenergeticmeasuresagainstthesorceress，sincehehadlosthiswifebyhermeans。Theyearandaquarterandtheblackcatwereproofspositive。AlltheneighbourshadtakenupthecryofwitchcraftagainstMotherSamuel；andherpersonalappearance，unfortunatelyforher，theveryidealofwhatawitchoughttobe，increasedthepopularsuspicion。Itwouldappearthatatlastthepoorwomanbelieved，eventoherowndisadvantage，thatshewaswhateverybodyrepresentedhertobe。BeingforciblybroughtintoMr。Throgmorton’shouse，whenhisdaughterJoanwasinoneofhercustomaryfits，shewascommandedbyhimandSirSamuelCromwelltoexpelthedevilfromtheyounglady。
　　Shewastoldtorepeatherexorcism，andtoadd，“asIamawitch，andthecauserofLadyCromwell’sdeath，Ichargethee，fiend，tocomeoutofher！“Shedidaswasrequiredofher，andmoreoverconfessedthatherhusbandanddaughterwereleaguedwithherinwitchcraft，andhad，likeher，soldtheirsoulstothedevil。Thewholefamilywereimmediatelyarrested，andsenttoHuntingdontoprison。
　　ThetrialwasinstitutedshortlyafterwardsbeforeMr。JusticeFenner，whenallthecrazygirlsofMr。Throgmorton’sfamilygaveevidenceagainstMotherSamuelandherfamily。Theywereallthreeputtothetorture。Theoldwomanconfessedinheranguishthatshewasawitch——thatshehadcastherspellsupontheyoungladies，andthatshehadcausedthedeathofLadyCromwell。Thefatheranddaughter，strongerinmindthantheirunfortunatewifeandparent，refusedtoconfessanything，andassertedtheirinnocencetothelast。Theywereallthreecondemnedtobehanged，andtheirbodiesburned。Thedaughter，whowasyoungandgood-looking，excitedthepityofmanypersons，andshewasadvisedtopleadpregnancy，thatshemightgainat]eastarespitefromdeath。Thepoorgirlrefusedproudly，onthegroundthatshewouldnotbeaccountedbothawitchandastrumpet。
　　Herhalf-wittedoldmothercaughtattheideaofafewweeks’longerlife，andassertedthatshewaspregnant。Thecourtwasconvulsedwithlaughter，inwhichthewretchedvictimherselfjoined，andthiswasaccountedanadditionalproofthatshewasawitch。Thewholefamilywereexecutedonthe7thofApril，1593。
　　SirSamuelCromwell，aslordofthemanor，receivedthesumof40
　　poundsoutoftheconfiscatedpropertyoftheSamuels，whichheturnedintoarent-chargeof40shillingsyearly，fortheendowmentofanannualsermonorlectureupontheenormityofwitchcraft，andthiscaseinparticular，tobepreachedbyadoctororbachelorofdivinityofQueen’sCollege，Cambridge。Ihavenotbeenabletoascertaintheexactdateatwhichthisannuallecturewasdiscontinued，butitappearstohavebeenpreachedsolateas1718，whenDr。Hutchinsonpublishedhisworkuponwitchcraft。
　　TocarryoninproperchronologicalorderthehistoryofthewitchdelusionintheBritishisles，itwillbenecessarytoexamineintowhatwastakingplaceinScotlandduringallthatpartofthesixteenthcenturyanteriortotheaccessionofJamesVI。tothecrownofEngland。WenaturallyexpectthattheScotch，——apeoplerenownedfromtheearliesttimesfortheirpowersofimagination，——shouldbemoredeeplyimbuedwiththisgloomysuperstitionthantheirneighhoursoftheSouth。Thenatureoftheirsoilandclimatetendedtoencouragethedreamsofearlyignorance。Ghosts，goblins，wraiths，kelpies，andawholehostofspiritualbeings，werefamiliartothedwellersbythemistyglensoftheHighlandsandtheromanticstreamsoftheLowlands。