AnumberofyoungwomeninaconventatWurzburgfanciedthemselvesbewitched；theyfelt，likeallhystericsubjects，asenseofsuffocationinthethroat。Theywentintofitsrepeatedly；andoneofthem，whohadswallowedneedles，evacuatedthematabscesses，whichformedindifferentpartsofthebody。Thecryofsorcerywasraised，andayoungwoman，namedMariaRenataSanger，wasarrestedonthechargeofhavingleaguedwiththedevil，tobewitchfiveoftheyoungladies。ItwasswornonthetrialthatMariahadbeenfrequentlyseentoclamberovertheconventwallsintheshapeofapig——that，proceedingtothecellar，sheusedtodrinkthebestwinetillshewasintoxicated；andthenstartsuddenlyupinherownform。Othergirlsassertedthatsheusedtoprowlabouttherooflikeacat，andoftenpenetrateintotheirchamber，andfrightenthembyherdreadfulhowlings。Itwasalsosaidthatshehadbeenseenintheshapeofahare，milkingthecowsdryinthemeadowsbelongingtotheconvent；
　　thatsheusedtoperformasanactressontheboardsofDruryLanetheatreinLondon，and，ontheverysamenight，returnuponabroomsticktoWurzburg，andafflicttheyoungladieswithpainsinalltheirlimbs。Uponthisevidenceshewascondemned，andburnedaliveinthemarket-placeofWurzburg。
　　Hereendsthisfrightfulcatalogueofmurderandsuperstition。
　　Sincethatday，thebeliefinwitchcrafthasfledfromthepopulousabodesofmen，andtakenrefugeinremotevillagesanddistrictstoowild，rugged，andinhospitabletoaffordaresting-placeforthefootofcivilization。Rudefishersanduneducatedlabourersstillattributeeveryphenomenonofnaturewhichtheycannotaccountfor，tothedevilandwitches。Catalepsy，thatwondrousdisease，isstillthoughtbyignorantgossipstobetheworkofSatan；andhypochondriacs，uninformedbyscienceofthenatureoftheirmalady，devoutlybelieveintherealityoftheirvisions。ThereaderwouldhardlycredittheextentofthedelusionuponthissubjectintheveryheartofEnglandatthisday。Manyanoldwomanleadsalifeofmiseryfromtheunfeelinginsultsofherneighbours，whoraisethescornfulfingerandhootingvoiceather，becauseinherdecrepitudesheisugly，spiteful，perhapsinsane，andrealizesinherpersonalappearancethedescriptionpreservedbytraditionofthewitchesofyore。Evenintheneighbourhoodofgreattownsthetaintremainsofthisoncewidely-spreadcontagion。Ifnovictimsfallbeneathit，theenlightenmentofthelawisallthatpreventsarecurrenceofscenesashorridasthoseoftheseventeethcentury。HundredsuponhundredsofwitnessescouldbefoundtosweartoabsurditiesasgreatasthoseassertedbytheinfamousMatthewHopkins。
　　IntheAnnualRegisterfor1760，aninstanceofthebeliefinwitchcraftisrelated，whichshowshowsuperstitionlingers。AdisputearoseinthelittlevillageofGlen，inLeicestershire，betweentwooldwomen，eachofwhomvehementlyaccusedtheotherofwitchcraft。
　　Thequarrelatlastransohighthatachallengeensued，andtheybothagreedtobetriedbytheordealofswimming。Theyaccordinglystrippedtotheirshifts——procuredsomemen，whotiedtheirthumbsandgreattoestogether，cross-wise，andthen，withacart-ropeabouttheirmiddle，sufferedthemselvestobethrownintoapoolofwater。
　　Oneofthemsankimmediately，buttheothercontinuedstrugglingashorttimeuponthesurfaceofthewater，whichthemobdeeminganinfalliblesignofherguilt，pulledherout，andinsistedthatsheshouldimmediatelyimpeachallheraccomplicesinthecraft。Sheaccordinglytoldthemthat，intheneighbouringvillageofBurton，therewereseveraloldwomenas“muchwitchesasshewas。“Happilyforher，thisnegativeinformationwasdeemedsufficient，andastudentinastrology，or“white-witch，“comingupatthetime，themob，byhisdirection，proceededforthwithtoBurtoninsearchofallthedelinquents。Afteralittleconsultationontheirarrival，theywenttotheoldwoman’shouseonwhomtheyhadfixedthestrongestsuspicion。Thepooroldcreatureontheirapproachlockedtheouterdoor，andfromthewindowofanupstairsroomaskedwhattheywanted。
　　Theyinformedherthatshewaschargedwithbeingguiltyofwitchcraft，andthattheywerecometoduckher；remonstratingwithheratthesametimeuponthenecessityofsubmissiontotheordeal，that，ifshewereinnocent，alltheworldmightknowit。Uponherpersistinginapositiverefusaltocomedown，theybrokeopenthedoorandcarriedheroutbyforce，toadeepgravel-pitfullofwater。
　　Theytiedherthumbsandtoestogetherandthrewherintothewater，wheretheykeptherforseveralminutes，drawingheroutandintwoorthreetimesbytheroperoundhermiddle。Notbeingabletosatisfythemselveswhethershewereawitchorno，theyatlastlethergo，or，moreproperlyspeaking，theyleftheronthebanktowalkhomebyherself，ifsheeverrecovered。Nextday，theytriedthesameexperimentuponanotherwoman，andafterwardsuponathird；but，fortunately，neitherofthevictimslostherlifefromthisbrutality。
　　Manyoftheringleadersintheoutragewereapprehendedduringtheweek，andtriedbeforethejusticesatquarter-sessions。Twoofthemweresentencedtostandinthepilloryandtobeimprisonedforamonth；andasmanyastwentymorewerefinedinsmallsumsfortheassault，andboundovertokeepthepeaceforatwelvemonth。
　　“Solateastheyear1785，“saysArnot，inhiscollectionandabridgmentofCriminalTrialsinScotland，“itwasthecustomamongthesectofSecederstoreadfromthepulpitanannualconfessionofsins，nationalandpersonal；amongsttheformerofwhichwasparticularlymentionedthe’RepealbyParliamentofthepenalstatuteagainstwitches，contrarytotheexpresslawsofGod。’“
　　ManyhousesarestilltobefoundinEnglandwiththehorse-shoethegrandpreservativeagainstwitchcraftnailedagainstthethreshold。Ifanyover-wisephilosophershouldattempttoremovethem，thechancesarethathewouldhavemorebrokenbonesthanthanksforhisinterference。LetanymanwalkintoCross-street，Hatton-Garden，andfromthenceintoBleeding-heartYard，andlearnthetalesstilltoldandbelievedofonehouseinthatneighbourhood，andhewillaskhimselfinastonishmentifsuchthingscanbeinthenineteenthcentury。ThewitchcraftofLadyHatton，thewifeofthefamousSirChristopher，sorenownedforhiselegantdancinginthedaysofElizabeth，isasdevoutlybelievedastheGospels。Theroomistobeseenwherethedevilseizedheraftertheexpirationofthecontracthehadmadewithher，andboreherawaybodilytothepitofTophet:
　　thepumpagainstwhichhedashedherisstillpointedout，andthespotwhereherheartwasfound，afterhehadtornitoutofherbosomwithhisironclaws，hasreceivedthenameofBleeding-heartYard，inconfirmationofthestory。Whetherthehorse-shoestillremainsuponthedoorofthehauntedhouse，tokeepawayotherwitches，isuncertain；butthereitwas，twelveorthirteenyearsago。Thewriterresidedatthattimeinthehousealludedto，andwellremembersthatmorethanoneoldwomanbeggedforadmittancerepeatedly，tosatisfythemselvesthatitwasinitsproperplace。Onepoorcreature，apparentlyinsane，andclothedinrags，cametothedoorwithatremendousdouble-knock，asloudasthatofafashionablefootman，andwalkedstraightalongthepassagetothehorse-shoe。Greatwasthewondermentoftheinmates，especiallywhenthewomanspatuponthehorse-shoe，andexpressedhersorrowthatshecoulddonoharmwhileitremainedthere。Afterspittingupon，andkickingitagainandagain，shecoollyturnedroundandleftthehouse，withoutsayingawordtoanybody。Thispoorcreatureperhapsintendedajoke，buttheprobabilityisthatsheimaginedherselfawitch。InSaffronHill，wheresheresided，herignorantneighboursgaveherthatcharacter，andlookeduponherwithnolittlefearandaversion。
　　MorethanoneexampleofthepopularbeliefinwitchcraftoccurredintheneighbourhoodofHastingssolatelyastheyear1830。Anagedwoman，whoresidedintheRope-walkofthattown，wassorepulsiveinherappearance，thatshewasinvariablyaccusedofbeingawitchbyalltheignorantpeoplewhoknewher。Shewasbentcompletelydouble；
　　andthoughveryold，hereyewasunusuallybrightandmalignant。Sheworearedcloak，andsupportedherselfonacrutch:shewas，toalloutwardappearance，theverybeauidealofawitch。Sodearispowertothehumanheart，thatthisoldwomanactuallyencouragedthepopularsuperstition:shetooknopainstoremovetheillimpression，butseemedtodelightthatshe，oldandmiserableasshewas，couldkeepinawesomanyhappierandstrongerfellow-creatures。Timidgirlscrouchedwithfearwhentheymether，andmanywouldgoamileoutoftheirwaytoavoidher。Likethewitchesoftheoldentime，shewasnotsparingofhercursesagainstthosewhooffendedher。Thechildofawomanwhoresidedwithintwodoorsofher，wasafflictedwithlameness，andthemotherconstantlyassertedthattheoldwomanhadbewitchedher。Alltheneighbourscreditedthetale。Itwasbelieved，too，thatshecouldassumetheformofacat。Manyaharmlesspusshasbeenhuntedalmosttothedeathbymobsofmenandboys，uponthesuppositionthattheanimalwouldstartupbeforetheminthetrueshapeofMother*****。
　　Inthesametownthereresidedafisherman，——whois，probably，stillalive，andwhosename，forthatreason，weforbeartomention，——whowastheobjectofunceasingpersecution，becauseitwassaidthathehadsoldhimselftothedevil。Itwascurrentlyreportedthathecouldcreepthroughakeyhole，andthathehadmadeawitchofhisdaughter，inorderthathemighthavethemorepoweroverhisfellows。
　　Itwasalsobelievedthathecouldsitonthepointsofpinsandneedles，andfeelnopain。Hisbrother-fishermenputhimtothistestwhenevertheyhadanopportunity。Inthealehouseswhichhefrequented，theyoftenplacedlongneedlesinthecushionsofthechairs，insuchamannerthathecouldnotfailtopiercehimselfwhenhesatdown。Theresultoftheseexperimentstendedtoconfirmtheirfaithinhissupernaturalpowers。Itwasassertedthatheneverflinched。SuchwasthepopularfeelinginthefashionabletownofHastingsonlysevenyearsago；veryprobablyitisthesamenow。
　　InthenorthofEngland，thesuperstitionlingerstoanalmostinconceivableextent。Lancashireaboundswithwitch-doctors，asetofquacks，whopretendtocurediseasesinflictedbythedevil。Thepracticesoftheseworthiesmaybejudgedofbythefollowingcase，reportedinthe“HertfordReformer，“ofthe23rdofJune，1838。Thewitch-doctoralludedtoisbetterknownbythenameofthecunningman，andhasalargepracticeinthecountiesofLincolnandNottingham。Accordingtothewriterin“TheReformer，“thedupe，whosenameisnotmentioned，hadbeenforabouttwoyearsafflictedwithapainfulabscess，andhadbeenprescribedforwithoutreliefbymorethanonemedicalgentleman。Hewasurgedbysomeofhisfriends，notonlyinhisownvillage，butinneighbouringones，toconsultthewitch-doctor，astheywereconvincedhewasundersomeevilinfluence。
　　Heagreed，andsenthiswifetothecunningman，wholivedinNewSaintSwithin’s，inLincoln。Shewasinformedbythisignorantimpostorthatherhusband’sdisorderwasaninflictionofthedevil，occasionedbyhisnext-doorneighbours，whohadmadeuseofcertaincharmsforthatpurpose。Fromthedescriptionhegaveoftheprocess，itappearstobethesameasthatemployedbyDr。FianandGellieDuncan，toworkwoeuponKingJames。Hestatedthattheneighbours，instigatedbyawitch，whomhepointedout，tooksomewax，andmouldeditbeforethefireintotheformofherhusband，asnearastheycouldrepresenthim；theythenpiercedtheimagewithpinsonallsides——
　　repeatedtheLord’sPrayerbackwards，andofferedprayerstothedevilthathewouldfixhisstingsintothepersonwhomthatfigurerepresented，inlikemannerastheypierceditwithpins。Tocounteracttheeffectsofthisdiabolicalprocess，thewitch-doctorprescribedacertainmedicine，andacharmtobewornnextthebody，onthatpartwherethediseaseprincipallylay。Thepatientwastorepeatthe109thand119thPsalmseveryday，orthecurewouldnotbeeffectual。Thefeewhichheclaimedforthisadvicewasaguinea。