WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

WITCH,

WARLOCK,
MAGICIAN
^

AND

UMstorical

Sfectcbcs

of /IDaoic ant" Witchcraft

in ]"n0lant" ant" Scotland

BY

XV.

H.

DAVENPORT

ADAMS

Dreams

and

the

lightimaginings

of

'

men

SHELLEV

J.
706
"

W.
1152 NEW

BOUT
BROADWAY YORK

ON

1889

A*

"

PREFACE.

THE

following
towards

pages
*

may

be of

regarded
Human

as

tion contribu'

that

History
Mr.
have
to

Error

which I fear

was

undertaken many minds

by
will

Augustine
to

Caxton.
all their
to

that
to

devote

energies
;

the

work,

if it is it would adds may

ever

be

brought
be

completion
that

and,

indeed,

plausibly
be
an

argued
since

its

completion generation
'

impossibility,
to

every
"

something
parva remains here

the

melancholy
However said
on

record this

pulveris exigui
little
more

munera/
to

may

be,
which
a

be

the

subjects
of

I have

considered incredulous how

"

from

the observer.

standpoint

sympathetic

though

Alchemy,
have been

Magic,

Witchcraft
will drawn been and
seem

exhaustively they
from for the
c

investigated
which I have have

appear up

the

list

of

authorities

reader's
and

convenience.

They
as

studied
as

by

adepts/
;

by

critics,
the last

realities would
not to

delusions
to

and said

almost

word

have of

been the

by
who

Science
still
to

"

though

on

the of

side the

adepts,

tinue con-

dream in write

Hermetic

philosophy,
and

lose

themselves
and
to

fanciful about the

pictures, theurgic mysteries

of

occult,
with
a

magic

257437

VI

PREFACE.

simplicity
bound
to

of

faith

which

we

may

wonder

at, but

are

respect.
not

It has
to

been
a

my

purpose, of

in

the

present
and

volume,
or

attempt
scientific

general history
into
to

magic

alchemy,

inquiry

their
a

psychological aspects.
of the the their lives first progress of
our

I in

have

confined and

myself
to
a

sketch of

England,

narrative This
to
an

cipal prinThe

magicians.
second in is devoted

occupies
historical
an

part.

review

of witchcraft into the

most

Great

Britain, ajid

examination in which I have

remarkable
to

Witch-Trials,
out

endeavoured much
so-

bring
the

their

peculiar features, presenting

and the the in
some cases

of

evidence confessions

adduced,
of

the

called

victims,

in

the

original

language.
the reticence and

I believe

that

details, notwithstanding
me

imposed decorum,

upon will admit

by

considerations the

of and

delicacy
that he

surprise
the and

reader,

will
to

readily
them,

profound

interest I

attaching
have added I

morally
on

intellectually.
of and
a

chapter
is
an

the

'

Literature

Witchcraft,'
now

which,
the

hope,
as

tolerably exhaustive,
eifort
to

offer and

whole

present,
of careful years.

in and

popular
conscientious

readable

form,

the
over

result many

study extending

W.

H.

D.

A.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.
PA UK

PROGRESS

OF

ALCHEMY

IN

EUROPE

BOOK

I.

THE
CHAPTER

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

I.

ROGER

BACON

THE

TRUE

AND

THE

LEGENDARY

27 59
-

II.

THE

STORY

OF

DR.

JOHN

DEE

III.

DR.

DEE'S
AND

DIARY

93
A

IV.

MAGIC

IMPOSTURE

COUPLE

OF

KNAVES

102
-

V.

THE

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS

WILLIAM

LILLY
-

128 181

VI.

ENGLISH

ROSICRUCIANS
-

BOOK

II.

WITCHES

AND

WITCHCRAFT.

/
n.

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT

IN

ENGLAND

203

WITCHCRAFT

IN

ENGLAND

IN

THE

SEVENTEENTH

CENTURY

244
-

IM.

THE

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT

IN

ENGLAND

292 303 378

IV.

THE

WITCHES

OF

SCOTLAND

V.

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

INTRODUCTION.

PROGRESS

OF

ALCHEMY

IN

EUROPE.

THE word Lexicon the

word
'

^n/mua

from
"

which
occurs,

we

derive
it who is

our

English
in the in
:

chemistry
of

'
"

first
a

said,

Suidas,
century.
is the
were

Greek
Here

writer is his

flourished
of it

eleventh

definition

Chemistry
it

art

of

preparing gold
out

and

silver.

The
on

books
account

concerning
of the
new

sought

and

burnt him

by Diocletian, by
the his

plots directed
them with
the

against
great

Egyptians.
search
to

He the

behaved treatises them

towards
written

cruelty in
his
purpose

after

by

ancients,

being
this be

prevent

from

growing by measureless

rich

by

knowledge they
should

of

art,

lest,
to

boldened em-

wealth,

induced

resist

the

Eoman

supremacy.'
authorities

Some

assert, however,
of
;

that

this

art,

or

pretended
Suidas
knew

art,

is of

much

greater

antiquity
to
a

than

and

Scaliger
of the

refers

Greek
which and may
set
an

manuscript
is entitled Divine
assume
'

by
A

Zozomen,
Faithful

fifth of

century,
the

Description
Gold
mankind and

Secret
We
to

Art that

of
as

Making
soon as

Silver.'
had and

begun
had

artificial

value

upon

these

metals,

acquired
1

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

some

to

tions their combinaknowledge of chemical elements, and permutations, they would entertain a desire in measureless multiply them quantities. Dr.

ancient eighty-nine scattered through the European libraries, manuscripts, the chemical all occupiedwith which art/ or are Shaw

speaks of

no

fewer

than

holy art,'or, stone philosopher's

be that
c

the

as
'

it is
a

sometimes

called,
seems

'

the
to

; and

fair conclusion

between

the fifth

in the Constantinople and called of making gold and silver/ the possibility the supposedprocess, or processes, chemistry. The delusion was taken up by the Arabians when, under their Abasside Khalifs, they entered upon the cultivation of scientific knowledge. The Arabians veyed contendom Chrisit into Spain, whence its diffusion over if gradual. a was simplework of time,sure From
was

century and the taking of the Greeks believed in fifteenth,

the
more

eleventh
or

to

the sixteenth

century,alchemy
of the

studied by the scholars eagerly Germany, Italy, France, and England ; and less volumes in which

they recorded both their learning and the their ignorance, and the little they knew more a considerable they did not know, compose quite One hundred and twenty-two are enumerated library. in the Bibliotheca of Mangetus, a Chemica Curiosa,' kind of compilation, in two huge volumes, dry-as-dust
'

printed at
has time
a

Geneva

in

1702.

and

patienceto

Any individual who cannot expend ad libitum,

than the 'Bibliotheca.' research the and

desire

fairer field of exercise

natural

One

very

result of all this vain

a

was profitless inquiry

keen

anxietyon

part of

INTRODUCTION.

for their their labours by claiming dignify and mysvenerable a so-called/ sciences, falsely terious asserted that the origin. They accordingly whom Hermes founder creator was or Trismegistus, with Chanaan, the of them professed to identify some Mizraim and first occupied of Ham, whose son son peopled Egypt. Now, it is clear that any person devote his nightsand days to the might legitimately of a science invented, or originally taught, pursuit Hermes ancient than less illustrious an by no of a Trismegistus. But to clothe it with the awe stillgreaterantiquity, theyaffirmed that its principles acters, had been discovered,engraved in Phoenician charvictims
i

to

on

an

emerald from is

tablet the

which

Alexander

the

Great

exhumed
as

tomb. philosopher's

fortunately Un-

alwaysthe case, the tablet was lost ; but we are expected to believe that two Latin versions of the inscription had happily been preserved.One of these may hereinunder : be Englished as is frivolous things, but only what 1. I speak no
true

and

most

certain.
resembles that which that of which all is is

2. What and
to

is below is above

above, below,

what

resembles
one

accomplishthe
3. And of the
as

thing

things most

wonderful.

from 4.

this Its

one

tion thingsproceededfrom the meditaOne God, so were all things generated of Nature. thing by the disposition
all is

father

Sol,

its mother

Luna;

it

was

engenderedin
the earth. me

the womb

and by the air,

nourished

by

1"2

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

5. It is the

cause

of all the world.

of things perfection

throughout the
it be reduced 7.

whole

6. It arrives at the

of highestperfection

powers

if

into earth. earth from the the fire, subtle from

the Separate

with great caution. acting earth with the highestwisdom from 8. Ascend thence descend to heaven, and again to earth,and bind and of things superior together the powers the gloryof thingsinferior. So shall you compass the whole world, and divest yourself of the abjectness of humanity. 9. This since itself,

the gross,

thing has
it will

more

fortitude

than

fortitude and

overcome

everythingsubtle
contains
was

solid. penetrate everything

10. 11. wise All that the world created which

by it.
in this

Hence

proceedthingswonderful
this
reason

were

established. the upon

name

12.

For

of because

Hermes
I
am

Trismaster

megistus was
of three 13. This

bestowed

me,

of the whole parts of the philosophy is what process oracular enthusiast I had
to

world.
most

say

the concerning
art.
so

admirable
These that
an

of the chemical
utterances
are

vague

and

obscure
ing mean-

may

read into them

seems a
'

almost

any

he chooses

; but there

generalconsensus
universal

of
'

opinion that they refer

of the earlier alchemists. since

to

the

medicine
is of
no

This, however,
it is certain

great importance,
invented fifteenth

they
late
as

were

by

some

century.

ingenioushand as Another of a forgery

the kind

similar

INTRODUCTION.

is the

Lapidis PhysiciSecretis,' Hermes also attributed to to describe ; it professes of making this the process universal medicine/or the formulary is thus stone/ and philosopher's
'
(

'

Tractatus

Aureus

de

translated
*

by

Thomson
an

Take

of moisture

ounce
sun
"

and
a

that

is,the

soul of the sage

;

half ; of meridional redness fourth part, that is,half an ounce

a

"

of

yellow
an

likewise

half

an

ounce

; and

of

auripigmentum

half

ounce

making

in all three ounces.'

Such

recipedoes
student

not

seem

to

help forward
extent.

an

enthusiastic

to any

material

THE

EARLIER

ALCHEMISTS.

It is in the

erudite
"

writingsof

the

great Arabian

that is,Abu Gebir Moussah surDjafar, physician, Al The Wise named that the science of or Soft, cal), identialchemy,or chemistry (at first the two were
"

first in the

assumes

definite

shape.

Gebir flourished

early part of the eighthcentury, and wrote, it is said,upwards of five hundred treatises on the stone and the elixir of life. In reference philosopher's
to

the latter

wonderful those who

which mysteriouspotion, possessedthe of conferring immortal youth on power drank of it, that it was remark one may

the necessary for what would

complement of
be the
use

the
an

philosopher's stone,
unlimited of faculty

of

making gold and silver unless one could be sure of to an immortalityin which enjoy its exercise ? Gebir's principal Summae Perfections/ work, the instructions for students in search of the containing
'

two

great secrets,has

been

translated

into

several

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

an European languages English version, by ; and Eichard publishedin Russell,the alchemist,was

1686. that all primary principle, metals are compounds of mercury and sulphur. They which is all labour under disease, he says, except gold, health. the one metal gifted with perfect a Therefore, flesh is of it would preparation dispel every ill which of plants. We heir to, as well as the maladies may

Gebir

lays down,

as

excuse

his

extravagances, however, in consideration

to

of the services he rendered of corrosive oxide nitrate of of

science oxide

by

his

discovery
white and from

sublimate,red
of which

of mercury, of copper,

arsenic,nitric acid, oxide

all silver,

issued originally

laboratory. the hypothesis assumed by the Briefly speaking, alchemists was this : all the metals are compounds,
and the baser contain the
same

Gebir's

elements

contaminated,indeed, with
when these have capable, all its properties and which
was

various

gold, but impurities,

as

been

purgedaway,
The

of

ing assum-

characters.

substance

purifyingprocess they called the philosopher's stone (lapis philosophorum), of fact,it is always described though, as a matter as a powder a powder red-coloured,and smelling strongly. Few of the alchemists, however, venture that they had discovered or distinct statement on a
to
"

effect

this

this substance. possessed Paracelsus makes the assertion, The arch-quack of course part of his stock; unblushingmendacitywas in-trade ; and he pretends to define the methods even

INTRODUCTION.

to by which it may be realized. Unfortunately, is absolutely ^oinordinarymortals his description Others there are who affirm that they intelligible. had seen it in operation, it, and seen transmuting and other of the inferior metals into lead,quicksilver,

ruddy gold.
share in
a

One

wonders which

that

they did
such

not

claim

process

involved

boundless

of wealth! potentialities the physician, Helvetius, though no magical art, tells the followingwild
'

believer in the

story

in

his

Vitulus

Aureus

'

On

December after

26, 1666,

strangercalled

upon

him,

and,
which

universal

the supposed properties of the discussing him a medicine, showed yellow powder,

and also five large lapis, of gold,which, he said, the productof its were plates action. Naturallyenough, Helvetius begged for a few grainsof this marvellous powder, or that the

he declared to

be the

stranger would
presence. would and He

at

least exhibit

its

potency
his

in

his he

refused, however, but promisedthat

in six weeks.

return

He

kept
a

then, after
"

much

entreaty,gave
as so

promise, Helvetius a pinch

rape- seed.
a

of the

powder about as much his fe.ar that physician expressed

would
not convert
as

The

minute

quantity
lead
;

much

as

four

grains of
than first
a

whereupon
declared for the that

the

stranger

broke
was

off
more

one-half,and
sufficient

the remainder

purpose. had

During
to

their

conference,
little of the

Helvetius

contrived

conceal

powder beneath
some

his thumb-nail. it
was

This he

droppedinto
exhaled
in

molten

lead,but

nearlyall

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

smoke,
On

and

the

residue

was

simply
to

of

vitreous

character.
this circumstance mentioning that the powder should explained in
to
wax

his

he visitor,

have the from

been

enclosed

before

it

was

thrown

into

molten

lead,

prevent the fumes

added him that how he
to

of the lead
come

it. affecting

He show

would make

back

next

day, and
as

the

; but projection

he

failed to appear, and

as

Helvetius. in the presence

of lead into
a

of his wife

son,
soon

put six drachms

as

and crucible, it the

the

lead

was

melted, flung into

to

atoms

of

powder given
the end transmuted of

him up

by
in
an

his
a

mysterious
he found

visitor, having first rolled them

wax.

little ball of

At lead

quarter of

hour

(so he avers)into gold. Its colour at first was a deep green; but the mixture, blood -red, turned when poured into a conical vessel, the true tint of gold. A and, after cooling, acquired examined it pronounced it to be goldsmith who genuine. Helvetius requestedPurelius, the keeper
the of the Dutch after

Mint,

to

test

its value

and

two

were being exposed to aquafortis, found to have increased a couple in weight of scruples increase doubtlessly which still an owing to the silver, remained in the gold, the action of despite enveloped
"

drachms,

the

aquafortis.
that this narrative the is
a

It is obvious and mystification,

complete
was a a

that
was

either the

stranger
of

myth
The

or

Helvetius

victim

tion. decepthose,

that recipes

the

alchemists

formulate

"

INTRODUCTION.

professto have discovered the stone, known to have or somebody who enjoyed so rare a fortune are or always unintelligible impracticable. for example, of the followis to be understood, ing What
that
"

is, who

elaborate
are

process,

or

series of processes, in
'

which the

recorded
4

by

Man

getus,
?

his

prefaceto

ponderous
has
1.

Bibliotheca

Chemica

(towhich

reference

been made) already

of wine, so free Prepare a quantityof spirits and be wholly combustible, from water to so as will evaporate volatile that a drop of it,if let fall, before it reaches the

ground.

This

constitutes

the

first menstruum. 2. Take

manner

pure

mercury,
;

revived

in
a

the

usual

from
common

cinnabar salt when fresh

put

it into

with

and the

distilled

glass vessel vinegar; shake

black,pour
it

and violently,

vinegar turns

off,and
the

add

these mercury mercury

tinue vinegar. Shake again,and conrepeated shakings and additions until no longer turns the vinegar black ;

the

will

then

be

quite pure

and

very

brilliant. 3. Take mercury of this mercury four

"

parts ; of sublimed

meteor esati (mercurii probably corrosive hands, eight sublimate), prepared with your own mortar parts ; triturate them togetherin a wooden with a wooden till all the grains of running pestle, disappear.(Thisprocess is trulydescribed mercury tedious and rather difficult.') as thus prepared is to be put into a 4. The mixture and exposed to a sublimingheat, which sand-bath,
'

10

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

is to be

increased gradually the sublimed

until the whole

sublimes.

Collect

matter,
a

put it again into the

time
; this

and sand-bath,
must sweet

sublime

second The

process
a

be

repeatedfive
wise

times.

product is

very

crystallized sublimate,constitutingthe
men's salt

sal

or sapientum,

and calomel), (probably wonderful possessing properties. it in a wooden 5. Grind mortar, reducingit to powder ; put this powder into a glass retort, and it the spirit of wine (seeNo. 1) till it pour upon stands about three finger-breadths above the powder. Seal the retort hermetically, and expose it to a very heat for seventy-four gentle hours,shakingit several times a day ; then distil with a gentle heat,and the of wine will pass over, together of with spirit spirit in a well-stoppered Keep this liquid bottle, mercury. lest it should be

evaporate.
the residual
as off,

More

of spirit

wine

is to

poured upon
be

and salt,

after this

must must

be distilled

before ; and

digestion operation

until all the salt is dissolved and repeated of wine. A great work given off with the spirit ! For the mercury, will then have been accomplished been rendered will extent volatile, having to some become fit to receive the tincture of gold gradually and silver.

Now

return

thanks

to

God,
with

who

has

hitherto

crowned

your

wonderful work

work

success.

Nor

is this wonderful

enveloped in
the sun, with

Cimmerian

darkness writers

; it is clearer than

though preceding
us

soughtto impose upon and enigmas. fables, hieroglyphs,

6. Take this mercurial

have

parables,

which spirit,

contains

our

INTRODUCTION.

11

magicalsteel
retort,to

in its
a

and put (sic), belly receiver

must

it into well
a

glass
fully care-

which

be

and very

off the spirit adjusted by ; draw of the retort heat, and in the bottom the quintessence soul of mercury. or sublimed by applying a stronger heat that it may
:
*

gentle
remain is to be
retort

will This
to

the

become

as volatile,

all the

philosophers

affirm

Si fixum

solvas

Et volucrum

volare solutum, faciesque faciet te vivere tutum.' figas

This is
and
'

our

luna,our
'

in fountain,

the

queen

may

bathe.
which

of mercury, quintessence
in
a

king Preserve this precious is exceedingly volatile,

use.

which

'

the

'

well-closed
us now we

vessel for further

to proceed

8. Let

gold, which

shall

of common production and communicate clearly the

tinctly, dis-

in order or obscurity, digression that from obtain our this common gold we may we philosophical just as from common gold, mercury have obtained, by the foregoingprocesses, philosophical of God, then,take In the name mercury. in the usual way by antimony, common gold,purified without be must grains,which washed with salt and vinegar until they are quite Take one pure. part of this gold, and pour on it three parts of the quintessence of mercury : as sophers philo-

and

reduce

it into

small

reckon reckon
our

from
as

seven

to

ten,

so

do

we

also

number
one.

three and husband

Let

and begin with philosophical, like them be married together, of their

own

and you

wife,to produce children

will
see

kind, and

the

common

gold

sink

and

12

WITCH,

WARLOCK, Now

AND

MAGICIAN.

plainlydissolve.
;

the

marriage

is

mated consum-

converted into one. things are Thus the philosophical sulphur is at hand, as the the The sulphur being dissolved, philosophers say : of God, is at hand.' Take stone then,in the name the our vessel,in which philosophical king and
two
'

and

queen

embrace

each

other

as

in

bedchamber,
into and the

and

leave it till the water peace then is concluded the

to

is converted the water

earth ; then fire

"

between
no

elements each other

"

longer possess anything the elements because,when

to

trary conare

converted

into

earth, they cease

are see

for in earth all elements

*

at rest.

say

When

you

shall

the water

antagonistic ; The philosophers believe coagulate,

be tions opera-

that your
are

knowledge
but

is true, and

that all your

Our gold is no trulyphilosophical.'

longer
'
'

common,

philosophical, through the processes it has undergone: at first, it was exceedingly fixed volatile ; and ceedingly (Jixwii) again,exexceedingly ; then depends upon the The gold, at first a metal, change of the elements. is now a capableof converting all metals sulphur, into its own sulphur. And our tincture is wholly which the energy converted into sulphur, possesses universal of curing every disease ; this is our ills of the medicine againstall the most deplorable human body. Therefore, return infinite thanks to Almighty God for all the good thingswhich He hath
:

fixed

the entire science

bestowed
9. In

upon this

us.

great work
and

of

ours,

two

methods

of

fermentation

are projection

wanting,

without

INTRODUCTION.

13

which

the uninitiated The mode

will

not

follow readily
:

out

our

process.

of fermentation
one

described already three In the

a

take very

part, and

sulphur projectit upon

furnace.
force of

Of the

parts
moment

of

pure
see

you

will

gold fused in a the gold,by the

a

sulphur, converted

inferior

qualityto
this, and

the

sulphur of an primary sulphur. Take one

three be

into

red

part of

gold ; the sulphur or

with three

it upon project will again whole fixable

mass

parts of fused
into
a

converted
one

mixing

part of this
a

parts of gold, you

metal. If you

will have

malleable

and extensible

find it so, it is well ; if

and it will againpass into a state sulphur, be fermented, of sulphur. Now our sulphurwill sufficiently medicine broughtinto a metallic nature. or our of projection method of is this : Take 10. The it upon the fermented sulphur one part,and project

not, add

more

two

parts of
a

mercury,

heated

in

crucible,and

you

will have

metal ; if its colour be not ciently suffiperfect fermented deep,fuse it again,and add more and thus it will gain colour. If it become sulphur, add a sufficient quantity of mercury, and it frangible, will be perfect. have a Thus, friend,you descriptionof the universal

only for curing diseases and but also for transmutingall metals prolonginglife, into to gold. Give thanks, therefore, Almighty hath at calamities, God, who, takingpityon human
medicine,not
last revealed known for the this inestimable
common

treasure, and

made

it

benefit of all. with which

Such

is the

jargon

these

so-called

14

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

philosophers imposed upon their dupes,and, to some Dr. Thomson themselves. As extent perhaps, upon stone points out, the philosopher's prepared by this elaborate could hardly have been anything process else than an amalgam of gold. Chloride of gold it
could
not

have of

contained, because

such

tion, prepara-

instead

would acting medicinally,

have

proved a most virulent poison. Of course, amalgam of gold, if projectedinto melted lead or tin, and afterwards would leave a portion of gold cupellated, that is, which existed previously exactlythe amount in the amalgam. Impostors may, therefore,have
"

availed that it

themselves
was

of

it to

persuade the

credulous

the philosopher's the stone really ; but who alchemists have prepared the amalgam must that it contained known gold.* It is well known that
"

the

mediae val

magicians,
name

necromancers,

conjurers

call them

by what

you

will

"

who

of imposition, adopted alchemy as an instrument and by no means in the spirit of philosophical which had

inquiryand research resorted predecessors,

order
to

characterized

their in

to various

devices ingenious
upon their

maintain

their made
use

hold of

victims. false

Sometimes
bottoms of oxide
"

they
of

crucibles

with
a

at the real bottom

they concealed
covered with adhesive
was

portion
little

gold
had
or

or

silver been

powdered by
a

which sulphur, gummed water false bottom

*
*

rendered When

wax.

heat the
'

melted

away,

and

oxide

appliedthe of gold or
Philoso-

Chimise/ cap. De Cf. Stahl, Fundamenta Subterraneus.' phorum '; and Kircher, Mundus
'

Lapide

INTRODUCTION.

15

eventuallyappeared as the product of the of the crucible. times Someoperationat the bottom they made a hole in a lump of charcoal,and oxide of gold or silver, it with stopped up filling the orifice with wax they soaked charcoal in ; or
silver
a

solution of these metals

hollow

or

in the crucible with

they stirred the mixture rods, containingoxide of

A the
not

closed up at the bottom with wax. gold or silver, of the stratagems to which faithful representation that his dupes might resorted, pseudo-alchemist
recover

too

soon

from

their

delusion,is
'

furnished

by

comedy of The Alchemist,'and his of Mercury vindicated from the Alchemists/ masque with the The dramatist was thoroughlyconversant
Ben

Jonson

in his

'

technicalities

and also with pretendedscience, he the deceptions of its professors. In the masque of Mercury an indignant protest: puts into the mouth of the
suming knows, above the conof coals and drawing of usquebagh ; howsoever they may of Gebir, Arnold, Lully,or pretend,under the specious names of Hohenheim, to commit miracles in art, and treason Bombast that creature of againstnature ! As if the title of philosopher,
1

The

mischief

secret

any

of them

were glory,

to be fetched

out

of

furnace

!' too to

But
to

while

the world

is full of

it is fools,

much prey

expect there
them !

shall be any

lack of knaves

upon

IN

THE

MIDDLE

AGES.

The
to

first of the

great European alchemists

Albertus Albertus Teutonicus
as Grotus,

I take

have been Albertus

Magnus

or

(Frater

Albertus de Colonia and

he is also

16

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

of remarkable intellectual energy and a man called), force of character,who has sometimes, ^exceptional of and not without been termed the founder justice, the Schoolmen. Neither the placenor the date of his birth is authentically still in his known, but he was manhood when, about 1222, he was appointed young
to

the

chair

of

theology at Padua,
Dominican

and did

became
not

member

of the

Order.

He

long

from Padua, and, departing professorship, in Ratisbon,Koln, S trasstaught with great success burg,and Paris, residingin the last-named cityfor his illustrious disciple, three years, together with Thomas Aquinas. In 1260 he was appointedto the held See of Ratisbon, though he had not previously the but soon on resigned, any ecclesiastical dignity,

retain the

ground
studies.

that its duties interfered

he Twenty years of his perdied, leavingbehind him, as monuments sistent one-andindustryand intellectual subtlety, include commentaries which twenty ponderousfolios, and on Dionysius the the Scriptures, on on Aristotle, a treatise Areopagite.Among his minor works occurs
/ /"6n

with vexatiously at a ripe old age, later,

his

alchemy, which
From the

seems

to

show

that

he

was

devout

believer in the science. marvellous have

come a

stories of his down

to
us,

thaumaturgic
we

which exploits that he had

may

infer

attained

considerable

amount

of skill in

experimental chemistry. The brazen statue which he of which offensive was so animated, and the garrulity that Thomas Aquinas one day seized a hammer, and, provoked beyond all endurance, smashed it to pieces,

INTRODUCTION.

17

may And

be

reminiscence

of his powers hint at

:

as an

ventriloquist.
William
of

the

following story may

of the
camera

effective manipulation

obscura

Count

happening to pass King of the Romans throughKoln, Albertus invited him and his courtiers It was to his house to partakeof refreshment. winter middence resiat the philosopher's arriving ; but on they found the tables spread in the open garden,where snowdrifts lay several feet in depth. the at so frugal a reception, on Indignant they were of leaving, and by his when Albertus appeared, point courtesies induced them to remain. the Immediately scene was a lighted up with the sunshine of summer, and balmy air stole through the whispering warm the frost and snow vanished,the melodies of boughs, the lark droppedfrom the sky like goldenrain. But
as soon as

Holland

and

the birds

feast

came

to

an

end

the

sunshine

faded,the

ceased

their song,

clouds

gathered

the firmament,an over darkling icy blast shrieked fell in branches,and the snow throughthe gibbering showers, so that the philosopher's blinding guests were gladto fold their cloaks about them and retreat into the kitchen to grow warm before its blazing fire. Was this some clever scenic deception, is the or whole A
a

fiction ? of the Elixir Vitce was de I' Isle, or Alanus of de

i^

knowledge of the secret is said) possessed (it by Main

Insulis ; but either he did not
failed to

avail himself of quantity

or it,

compound

sufficient the

the

for potion, in

he died under the advanced

sacred

roof of

magic Citeaux,

1298, at

age of 110.
2

18

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

Arnold

de

who Villeneuve,
some

attained, in
as
a

the

teenth thir-

century,
astronomer,
an

distinction
an

an physician,
"

and astrologer, of

alchemist science

and
was

was

a capableman really

science,as
an

then

understood

"

formulates

elaborate

for rejuverecipe nating does

not case,
was as seem

one's have been

self, which, however,

successful 70.
as

to

very
was

in his

own

since

he

died before he with the

Perhaps he

disgusted

compound
was

(in the
there

well-known

epitaph)
"

the infant it not, and forfeit

'

with

this mundane
are

sphere
many it.

he

liked

died.'

I think

who

would

rather longevity
or

than week

partakeof
you
must

Twice

thrice

anoint
;

your every your

with the manna body thoroughly night,before going to bed, you heart a plaster, composed of a for rather, uncertain,
are never

of cassia
must

and

placeover

certain

definite and

(or, quantity precise proportions

of Oriental saffron, red roseparticularized) and amber, liquefied in oil leaves, sandal-wood, aloes, of
roses

and be in
a

the

best
a

white leaden the

wax.

During
You is sweet
are

the

day
next

this must pen up

kept in

casket.
water

must

court, where

and

the

air pure,

sixteen
;

chickens,if
Of these

you

of

sanguine

temperament
if melancholic. after have will

if phlegmatic twenty-five, ; you

are

and
one

to
a

eat

thirty, a day,
as

they have
absorbed
ensure

been into

fattened in such
their

manner

to

which system the qualities

for which longevity; they purpose first to be kept without food until almost starved, are and then gorged with a broth of serpents and vinegar, thickened and with wheat beans, for at least two your

INTRODUCTION.

19

they are served of will drink a moderate quantity to assist digestion.'

months.

When

at

your

table you
or

white wine

claret

I should

think the He

it would

be needed
must

! included

Among

alchemists
was an

be

Pietro

but, being physician; accused of heresy, thrown into prisonand died was His ecclesiastical persecutors, there. however,burned his bones rather than be entirely of their disappointed of the mediaeval physicians, he auto da fe. Like most in alchemical and astrological speculations indulged ; but theyprovedto Pietro d'Apono neither pleasurable It was nor reputed of him that he had profitable. their summoned number of evil spirits a ; and, on had shut them crystal obeyinghis call, up in seven

d'Apono.

eminent

vases,

where

he detained

them

until he

had

occasion he
seems

for their services.

to have

In his selection

of them

a displayed commendably catholic taste and love of knowledge; for one was an expert in poetry, another in painting, a third in philosophy, a fourth in sixth in music, and a a fifth in astrology, a physic, seventh in alchemy. So that when he required struction inin either of these arts or sciences, he simply and laid on a spirit. vase tapped the proper crystal

The various

story seems

to

be

fanciful allusion

to

the

time to

tended d'Apono; but if inat first as a kind of allegory, in due it came be accepted literally.
on

of acquirements

Pietro

great Spanishalchemist and ma who was inferior cian, or Lulli, Raymond Lully, scarcely
2"2

I pass

to the

20

WITCH,

WAELOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

in

fame, or

the

which qualities

merited

fame,

even

to

Magnus. He was a man, not onlyof wide,but of accurate the two or three hundred scholarship : and treatises which proceededfrom his pen traversed the entire circle of the learningof his age, dealing with almost conceivable to subjectfrom medicine every and from alchemy morals, from astronomy to theology,
to

Albertus

civil and

canon

law.

His

life had

its romantic invested with

was

aspects,and

his death

(in 1315
at

of something of the glory

to preaching

?) was martyrdom ;
Bona,

for while he

the Moslems
storm

the mob

fell upon
was

him

with

of stones, and

though he
died of the
a

still

alive when

rescued board

by

some

Genoese

merchants, and

conveyedon
he had

their

he vessel, in
to
on

injuries
Lulli of

received
seems

before it arrived little

reason

Spanishport.
that invitation
'

There
visited

believe the
on

Edward

England about 1312, II. Dickenson,in his

of the established
"

work

The

essences Quinthis

Philosophers/asserts
in Westminster that
some

that

was laboratory

Abbey"
after his

that
return
was

is,in
found

the cloisters

and
a

time

to the

Continent

in the

cell he

of gold-dust large quantity had occupied. Langlet du tion through the intervenof Westminster,a persevering

Fresnoy contends that it was of John Cremer, Abbot

seeker after the

that he lapis p/iilosophorum, to England, Cremer came having described him to of extraordinary as a man King Edward powers. Robert in his Nomenclator Constantine, Scriptorum discovered Medicorum have to (1515), professes that Lulli resided for some time in London, and
'
'

INTRODUCTION.

21

goldin the Tower, and that he had seen some gold known in England of his making, which were pieces But the the nobles of Raymond, or rose-nobles. as statements to these very precise rests great objections facts pointed out two on by Mr. Waite, that the rosenoble, so called because a rose was stamped on each first coined in 1465, in the reign of side of it, was
made Edward

IV., and

that

there

never

was

an

Abbot

Cremer

of Westminster.

Jean

poem much

the alchemists Meung is also included among in his glorious to posterity ; but he bequeathed de la Rose Roman of the something very de
*

'

been have any preciousthan would deed inhe was formula for making gold. In one sense of the the secret an alchemist,and possessed his genius has universal medicine ; for in his poem of popular transmuted into purest gold the base ore traditions and legends. Some of the stories which Langletdu Fresnoy tells
more

of Nicholas his
most

Fiamel
else

were we

probablyinvented
should have
to

long after
him
as a tives narra-

death,or
audacious

brand

knave.
he

One

of those for
a

amazing

pretends that
an

bought

coupleof
"

florins three

old and
seven

curious

volume, the
from the

leaves of which

times number seventh

(thissounds
were

better than

in twenty-one) of trees.
"

"

made
an

bark

Each

leaf bore
a

presenting picture the first reallegorical serpent swallowing rods, the second a

cross

with in

serpent crucified upon

a

it,and the third

fountain

surrounded desert,

by creeping serpents.

22

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

Who,
volume the

think ?

you,

was

the

author
a

of this than

mysterious
Abraham

No

less illustrious

person

priest, patriarch, Hebrew, prince,philosopher, written in Latin, and magian, who, as it was Levite,
have

must

acquiredhis foreknowledge miraculously A existence. of a tongue which,in his time, had no that Flamel perusal of its mystic pages convinced he had had the good fortune to discover a complete
manual which
on

the

art

of

transmutation vessels But the the

were

of

metals, in
serious
as a

all the

necessary

and indicated,
was one

the

processes

described.
be
overcome:

there book

to difficulty matter

assumed,
was

of

course,

that

student

already in

of possession

tion, all-important agent of transmutathe philosopher's stone. Careful study led Flamel to the conclusion that the hidden in certain allegorical secret of the stone was drawingson the fourth and fifth leaves ; but, then,to
was

that

decipherthese
them

beyond
of

his

powers. and

He

mitted sub-

to all the

learned savants
:

alchemical

they proved to be no of them wiser than himself, while some actually as posthumous publication laughed at Abraham's worthless gibberish.Flamel,however, clung fast to value of his his conviction of the inestimable find,' adeptshe
could

get hold

'

and

daily ponderedover
may thus leaf

the two
:

illustrations, cryptic
On
the first page
a

which

be

described

of

the fourth which

Mercurywas
Saturn
on

contendingwith
or

figure,

might be either he carried as latter,

and hour-glass,

Time

"

the probably emblematical

his

head

the

in his hand

the not

less emblematical

INTRODUCTION.

23

scythe. On
with stalk, pure

the second

stage a flower upon

combination
and

tain-top mouna

the presented red and

unusual white

of

blue of

blossoms,

leaves

gold. The wind appeared to blow it about very of dragons and harshly,and a gruesome company encompassed it. griffins Upon the study of these provokingly obscure designsFlamel fruitlessly expended the leisure time of thrice seven the advice of years : after which, on his wife, he repaired to Spain to seek the assistance of
some

erudite

Jewish

rabbi.

He

had

been

wandering

from

met,
named

he placeto placefor a couple of years, when somewhere in Leon, a learned Hebrew physician,

Canches, who
and
was

agreed to
examine

return

with

him

to

Paris,
Canches

there

Abraham's

volume.

deeply versed in all the lore of the the words Cabala,and Flamel hung with delight on of wisdom that dropped from his eloquent lips. But Canches taken ill with a malady of at Orleans was which he died, and Flamel found his way home, a He resumed his study sadder,if not a wiser,man.
of the
to

book,

but

for two

more

years

could

get no

clue

some recalling deliverance of his departed he perthe rabbi, friend, ceived that all his experiments had hitherto proceeded He them principles. repeated upon erroneous upon and in a few months a different basis, brought them On January 13, 1382, he conto a successful issue. verted into silver, and on April 25 into mercury gold. Well might he cry in triumph, Eureka !' The great secret,the sublime his : he was magistery

its

meaning.

In

the

third

year,

'

24

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

had

discovered
and

the

art

of

transmuting
as

metals it

into

gold
had

silver,
his

and,

so

long
the

he

kept
of

to

himself,

at

command

source

inexhaustible

wealth.
At this time Nicholas old. the elixir the His

Flamel,
admirers immortal

it

is

said,

was

about he he also

eighty
discovered
in

years

assert

that

of

life

but,
116,
of

as

died

1419,
been

at

age with its

(it

is

alleged)
merest

of

he

must

have did

content

the

sip
for the

it

Why
benefit he

he

not

reveal

ingredients
? and His

general

of

our

afflicted

humanity
churches

immense thus

wealth

bequeathed
better his
use

to

hospitals,
than he had

making
of it

of

it

after

death

made

in

lifetime.
that is his

For

it

is

said

that

Flamel

was

usurer,

and It

philosopher's
that he

stone

was

cent

per and

cent.'

true

enough
made

dabbled

in

alchemy,

bably proin

he

his

alchemical

experiments
transactions.

useful

connection

with

his

usurious

BOOK

I.

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS

CHAP.

I.

"I

ROGER

BACON.

27

CHAPTER

I.

ROGER

BACON:

THE

TRUE

AND

THE

LEGENDARY.

early years of the fourteenth century sciences of alchemy and astrology, that the two pseudothe supposititious and astronomy, sisters of chemistry made their way into England. At first their progress
IT
was

in the

by no Continent; for
was

educated
work scholar of

rapidas it had been on the in England, as no yet, there was class preparedto give their leisure to the experimental investigation. A solitary
means so

his torch at the altarlighted fire which the Continental philosophers kept burning and and much with was so diligence curiosity, enthusiasm rewarded for his heterodox by generally of and the prejudice of the Church the persecution sciences increased the vulgar. But by degreesthe new here and there the number active intellects of of their the

adherents,and
embraced fascinated

the the the

a

more

time
were

theory
sion delusecret

of astral of furnace flames

and influences, the

stone. philosopher's blazed day and night

were

by Many
the

with

charmed
into their in

which

to

resolve

the

metals

elements, and original

place the

pale

student

28

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN,

[BOOK
'

I.

possessionof
medicine.'
At

the

coveted

or magisterium,

universal

ciently length the alchemists became a suffiand numerous important body to draw the attention of the Government, which regarded their with fear that the from a proceedings suspicion, result might injuriously affect the coinage. In 1434 the Legislature enacted that the making of gold or silver should
was

be treated

as a

felony. But
different

ment the Parliamotive from

influenced

by

very

that of the

King
to

and

his

fears Council,its patriotic

being
new resources

awakened

lest the increase

Executive,enabled
limit be the should rendered

by

the

science of of

without

pecuniary
pendent inde-

the

Crown,

control. Parliamentary In the course of a few years, however, broader and views it came to more enlightened prevailed ; and be acknowledged that scientific research ought to be relieved from In 1455 interference. legislative Henry VI. issued four patents in succession to certain knights,London citizens, chemists, monks, massand others,granting them leave and license priests, the discovery of the philosopher's to undertake stone, to the great benefit of the realm, and the enabling the King to pay all the debts of the Crown in real
4

gold and

silver.' On
issued

the remarkable
as

fact that well

as

these

laymen, Prynne afterwards remarked, with true theological that they were included because so acridity, they bread such good artists in transubstantiating were and wine the in the Eucharist, and were, therefore, of to be able to effect the transmutation more likely
patents were
'

to ecclesiastics

CHAP.

I.]
metals into

ROGER

BACON.

29 of

base

better.'

Nothing

came

the

common-sense patents. The practical never

took

very

and

Chaucer
which
were,

with
there knaves
were on

kindly to the describes the contempt very faithfully it was regarded. Enthusiasts generally
doubt,who
made

Englishmen alchemical delusion,

of

no

who

preyedupon through the

seems

believed in it, and firmly of it, and dupes who out a profit by the knaves ; and so it languished and have seventeenth amused
at

sixteenth time
to

centuries.

It

at

one

the shrewd
to

intellect of

Queen Elizabeth, and

volatile

another

have

Duke fancyof the second Villiers, of Buckingham. But alchemy was, in the main, the modus postors vivendi of quacks and cheats, of such imin his Jonson has drawn so as Ben powerfully a Face, and a Doll Common, great comedy a Subtle,

caught the

"

who,
their

in the Sir

EpicureMammons

of the

time,found

These victims. creatures appropriate played of their dupes with sucthe greed and credulity on cessful and excited their imaginationsby audacity, extravagant promises.Thus, Ben Jon son's hero runs riot with glowing anticipations of what the alchemical
can magisterium
*

effect.
you,

Do
He

you

think I fable with you 1 I assure that has once the flower of the sun,

The

perfect ruby, which we call Elixir, Not only can do that,but, by its virtue, Can confer honour, love, respect,long life; Give safety, valour, yes, and victory,
To

whom

he will.
an

In

eight-and-twenty days
a

I'llmake

old

man

of fourscore

child.
. . .

'Tis the secret

Of nature

naturized

all infections, 'gainst

30

WITCH,
Cures
A

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

coiningof all causes ; in a day, a year'sin twelve, month's grief

of what age
soever

all diseases

And

in

month.'

The

however, English alchemists,

with

few

ceptions, ex-

'

their on chiefly and even sale of magic charms, love-philters, more casting,and dangerous potions,and on horoscope-

depended

for

livelihood

for tune
i

-telling by

the hand
a

or

by

cards.

They acted,
unlawful

as also, agents

in many

dark

and intrigue

of the highest at the disposal being generally project, from any crime. bidder,and seldom shrinking The

earliestname

of note and
KOGEK

on

the roll of the alchemists

English

necromancers magicians,

is that of

BACON.

This father who

great
of

man

has

some

claim

to be considered

the he

since experimentalphilosophy, the

it

was

first laid down

principles upon

which

of

should be conducted. investigation he says, in language far in advance science,

c

physical Speaking
of his

knowing by argument and by experiment. Argument winds up a but does not lead us to acquiesce question, in,or feel certain of, the contemplation of truth, unless the truth be proved and confirmed by experience.'To Science he ascribed three differentiating Experimental characters : First,she tests by experimentthe grand of all other sciences. Next, she discovers, conclusions
:

times

There

are

two

modes

of

"

with

reference

to

the

ideas

connected which
to

with these

other

sciences,splendid truths, to
without assistance
are

sciences third

unable

attain. the other

Her

is, that,unaided prerogative

by

sciences,

CHAP.

I.]
of

ROGER

BACON.

31

and

she herself,

can

the investigate

secrets

of

nature/

These

truths, now

self-evident, ranked, in
and He born
at

acceptedas trite and Roger Bacon's day, as novel

importantdiscoveries.
was

in 1214. in Somersetshire, Ilchester, and he

Of
know

his

lineage, parentage,
that
to

early education
must

we

nothing,except
when
he
went
was

have he

been took

very

young

Oxford, for

orders

there before he

twenty.

Joiningthe

Franciscan

applied himself to the study of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic ; but his genius the pursuit of the natural inclined towards chiefly
brotherhood,
he in sciences, his which he obtained
to

such him

mastery that
the His

accorded contemporaries
'

flattering
lectures

title of

The

Admirable him
a

Doctor/
of

gatheredround
until the

crowd

boldness

of their

admiringdisciples ; aroused the speculations

of the ecclesiasticalauthorities, and in 1257 suspicion prohibited by the General of his Order. they were Then him Pope Innocent IV. interfered, interdicting of his writings, from the publication and placing him under close supervision.He remained in this state of tutelage until Clement of more liberal IV., a man

views, assumed
him from
a

his

who not only released tiara, triple irksome but desired him to restraints,
on

the

compose

treatise
'

the sciences.
'

This

was
'

the
i

origin

of Bacon's

and Opus Majus,' Opus Minus Opus which he completed in a year and a half, and Tertius,' In 1267 he was allowed to despatchedto Rome. return he wrote his to Oxford,where Compendium Studii Philosophise.' His vigorous advocacyof new
'

32

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

methods

of scientific

investigation, or, perhaps, his

of the ignoranceand vices of the unsparing exposure and the clergy, monks againbrought down upon him of the ecclesiastical tyranny. His the heavy arm condemned works were by the General of his Order, of Nicholas and in 1278, during the pontificate III., where he was detained for into prison, thrown he was

several years.

It is said

that he

he

was

not

released

until 1292, the year the production, Two In his years many
'

in which

Compendium
he died.
was

his latest published Studii Theologiae.'

afterwards

respects Bacon
his

but contemporaries,

real and up
a

importantservices
upon
to

of in advance greatly his general repute ignores and builds to philosophy, mechanical discoveries
cannot

fabric glittering

and

inventions claim. As
a

which, it

Professor method
to

describes
not
so as

lay Adamson he certainly puts it, of constructing but a telescope,

is to be

he feared,

the conclusion that he himself justify of that instrument. The invention in possession was the attributed of gunpowder has been to him on of a passage of his works, which, if in one strength of the pretension at once interpreted, disposes fairly ; it was known to the Arabs. besides, already Burningin common' use proof glasseswere ; and there is no that he made although he was spectacles, probably

acquaintedwith
It is not treatise
*

the

of principle

their

construction.

to be
'

denied,however, that in his interesting

Secrets of Nature
and

on

The

Art,'* he

ex-

Fratris RogeriiBaconis de Secretis Operibus Artis Epistola Naturae et de Nullitate Magiae.

et

CHAP.

I.]

ROGER

BACON.

33

hibits every

signof

and

foreshadows

the

and lively far-seeing intelligence, of our great of some possibility

modern of the

inventions. Middle

But, like

so

many

master-minds

unable wholly to resist Ages, he was He believed the fascinations of alchemyand astrology. that various partsof the human body were influenced by the stars, and that the mind was thus stimulated ruption interto particular or acts, without any relaxation His Mirror of Alchemy,'of of free will. into French executed which was a translation by a lutely in 1507, absoof Dauphine/ and printed Gentleman
'
'

bristles with for

crude and

unfounded the formation

theories

"

as,

that Nature, in instance,

of metallic

veins, tends

of gold, but to the production constantly accidents, and in this way is impeded by various metals in which creates impurities mingle with the substances. The main and

fundamental
are

elements,he says,
from these he
a

and quicksilver and

as

sulphur;
are

all

metals

minerals
a

compounded. Gold metal, produced from perfect

red

scribes de-

pure,

and fixed, clear, also pure,

quicksilver ; and red, not

and

from

sulphur
and
alloyed. un-

fixed,and
Iron

incandescent

because imperfect, which is impure, too engenderedof a quicksilver much white and red, incandescent, congealed, earthy, and of a similar variety of sulphur. The stone/ or of the impersubstance, by which the transmutation fect into the perfect metals was be to be effected must of sulphurand mercury. made, in the main, he said, It is not easy to determine how soon an atmosphere of legend of 'the Admirable around the figure gathered
'

is unclean

34

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
much

I.

Doctor in his

but undoubtedly it originated quiteas ;'

in his scientific experiments. as errors astrological tional Some of the myths of which he is the tradiearlier period, hero belong to a very much as, for of his Brazen of
'

that instance, old the

'

Head, which
and

appears well

in the
as

romance

Valentine

Orson,'as
Brazen It
was

in his

of Albertus Magnus. history Confessio Amantis,'relates how

Gower, too, in
a

Head

was

fabricated
in

by Bishop days
to
a

Grosseteste.

customary
to
men

those

ascribe all kinds

of marvels

who

obtained

and repute for exceptionallearning, Brazen Head This

was as

Bishop
fiction

Grosseteste's

purely a
account
:

as

Roger
'

Bacon's.

is Gower's

For of the grete clerk Grostest I rede how busy that he was
head of brass an Upon the clergie To forge; and make it fortelle Of suche thingesas befelle. And He
seven

yeres

besinesse

laide,but
a

for the lachesse* of

an

Of half
He

minute

hour
. .

loste all that he hadde

do.'

Stow Oxford

tells in the

story of

Head

of

Clay,made
at
'

at
an

reign

of the

Edward

II., which,
elevabuntur

appointed time, spoke

decidetur
"

words, Caput mysterious

Pedes supra

caput elevabitur.
to

vention, Roger Bacon's supposed infind an we ingenious though improbable Browne, in his explanation suggested by Sir Thomas Vulgar Errors :

caput.' Returning

'

'

Every one,'he
made
a

says,

'

is filledwith
to

the story of Friar Bacon,

"

that

Brazen

Head
*

speak these words,

Time

is."

Laches,oversight.

CHAP.

I.]

ROGER

BACON.

35

is surely too relations, but a mystical fable concerning the was philosopher's great work, wherein he eminently laboured : implying than the the vessel wherein no more it was head, by copper wrought ; and by the words it spake,than the opportunityto be watched, about the tempus ortus,or birth of the magicalchild, or of the of Lullius. the "terra foliata" philosophical rising King" the of Arnoldus when earth, sufficiently impregnated with the ; riot observed, the water, ascendeth white and splendent. Which work is irrecoverably lost. Now slip the critical letting opportunity,he missed the intended treasure : which had he the tradition of making a out obtained,he might have made brazen wall about England : that is, the most powerful defence or
went not
"
.

Which, though there received,and literally

the

like

strongestfortificationwhich An

gold could

have

effected.'

of the popularmyth which is interpretation about as ingenious and far-fetched as Lord Bacon's of the Fables of the Ancients,'of which expositions be said that theypossess every merit but that it may of probability !
'

Bacon's

Brazen

Head, however,
It survived
in
our

took

hold

of the the

popular fancy.
allusions
numerous.

for

centuries, and
are

to

it

literature

Cob, in
in his the Brazen

Ben

Jonson's
exclaims now! And
we
:

Man
were

Humour,'
Head

'

sufficiently comedy of Every Oh, an my house

'

it 'Faith,

would

e'en
*

speak Mo fools yet /' Quoque :

'

read in Greene's

Tu

'

Look

to

sir ; yourself,

The

brazen head

has

and spoke,

I must

have
'

you.'

Lord

Bacon when Essex

used it

in happily would

his

Queen/
Earl
'

Elizabeth for his

have

Apology to the punished the

in

of

misconduct
end
me

Ireland
divert

"

Whereunto

I said if you

(tothe

"

Madam,

will have

to utterly speak to

her),
this

you
3"2

in

36

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

argument, I

must

speak to
first, Time
'

you

as

Friar Bacon's
'

head

spake,that
and is
c

said would

and then, Time is,'

"

was]
hath

Time

never

be' for

I) "it certainly (said

is

now

far too much

'

late ; the

matter

cold, and
not

taken too
'

wind."
'

Butler
"

introduces head's

it in his made of

Hudibras

"

Quoth he,
'

My
Bacon

as brass,
4

Friar

Bacon's

noddle
:
"

was."

And trembled

Pope, in
for gave of
our
'

The

Dunciad,' writes
head.'
some

his
to

brazen the

William
verse,

Terite,in 1604,
c

world

entitled

Piece in

Friar
own

Bacon's

Brazen-head's

Prophecie.'And,
Praed has

time, William
Chaunt
of the

Blackworth Brazen
person

written in his

The

Head,' which,
of Friar of his

prose

motto, he
'

(in the

as

the brazen

companion
HISTORIE

Bacon) addresses hours.' solitary

FRIAR

'THE

FAMOUS

OF

BACON.'

Towards various

the

end

of

the

sixteenth

century,

the

which had taken Friar Bacon their as legends central figure were brought togetherin a connected form, and wrought, alongwith other stories of magic and became Famous sorcer}^ into
a

continuous It
was
:

narrative, which

immensely popular.
Historic of Friar

entitled, The
'

Bacon

Conteyningthe
and Deaths of

Wonderful Manner
the Two been

Thingesthat
of his Death

he Did

in his Life ; also the

; with

the Lives

and has Conjurers, Bungye and Vandermast,' reprinted by Mr. Thorns,in his EarlyEnglish
'

Romances.'
'

"

According to
'

this

was

born

in

the

the entertaining authority, West part of England, and

Friar
was

CHAP.

I.]
to
a

HISTOEY

OF

FKIAR

BACON.

37

sonne

who wealthyfarmer, of the towne should

put him
he
was

to the

schoole
; not

to

the

parson

where
turne

borne

with but

intent that hee

to

get
the

so

much

fryer(as hee did), that he might understanding,

hee
was

manage But

better Bacon
not

the wealth took his

to leave

him.
the him

young

so learning

that fast, made

could priest

teach that

him

any

more,

which

desire his master

to

he would that had

put

him

to

Oxford,
he

little

learningthat
follow had
no

speake to his father he might not lose that The father gained.
. . .

aifected to doubt still to student with

some

his son's
same

the

and designed him capacity, himself ; but the as calling

to drive fat
oxen or

inclination

consort

unlettered

hinds, and
miles

stole away the

to

"a

cloister"

twenty
him.

off,where

Continuingthe with great avidity, he attained to such repute that the invited him to repair authorities of Oxford University
thither. excellent He

welcomed

cordially of knowledge pursuit

monks

acceptedthe
secrets

and invitation, and

grew

so

in the

of Art

Nature, that
him.'
made he cell,

not

England only,but
There,
Brazen in the
on

all

Christendom,admired
of his
rests

seclusion which

the

Head

his

fame. legendary
of

'Heading one day of bethought himselfe how

like conquests, and
well
so

the he make

many

conquests
famous

England,
from
to
no

he

might keepe
himselfe

it hereafter

the
all way

hereafter

This, after great study,hee found could be posterities.

so

done

as

one

; which to

was

to make

head

of brasse,and
it

if

he could make then

this head be able

speake,and
all

heare

it when about

speakes,
brasse.*

might
This

hee

to wall

England
seem

with

sentiment patriotic
or

would

to

show

that the book

was

written

about published

the time

of the

SpanishArmada.

38

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

To
a

this purpose he got great scholar and a

Bacon
:

one

Fryer
head

these

two

Fryer Bungey to assist him, who was magician, but not to bee compared to with great study and paines so framed a
the

of

that brasse,
as

in

inward
man's

parts thereof
head. This

there

was

all

being done, they farre from perfection of the worke before? were as as they were for they knew not how to give those parts that they had made it was motion, without which impossible that it should speake : bookes they read, but yet coulde not finde out any hope of many what they sought,that at the last they concluded to raise a spirit, and that which to know of him they coulde not attaine to by their owne To do this they prepared all things ready, studies. and went one monies cerethereby,and after many evening to a wood the used, they spake the words of conjuration ; which Devill straightobeyed, and appeared unto them, asking what that wee have made Know," said Fryer Bacon, they would 1 have artificiallhead of brasse,which to speake,to would an we the furtherance of which have raised thee ; and being raised, wee will here keepe thee, unlesse thou tell to us the way and wee this head to speake." The Devill told him how to make manner that he had not that power said of himselfe. "Beginner of lyes," that thou dost dissemble, and therefore Fryer Bacon, I know tell it us will here bind thee to remaine quickly, or else wee during our sented pleasures." At these threateningsthe Devill confume of and told them, that with a continual to doe it, month the six hottest simples it should have motion, and in one or day hee knew not : also space speak ; the time of the moneth hee told them, that if they heard it not before it had done speaking, all their labour should be lost. They being satisfied, licensed the spirit for to depart. 'Then these two learned fryers home went againe,and prepared the fume, and with continuall the simples ready, and made watching attended when this Brazen Head would speake. Thus watched they for three weekes without any rest,so that they were and sleepy that they could not any longer refraine from so weary Then called Fryer Bacon his man rest. Miles,and told him that it was him what unknown not to paines Fryer Bungey and himselfe had taken for three weekes and to space, onely to make heare the Brazen Head speake,which if they did not, then had they lost all their labour, and all England had a great losse watch thereby ; therefore hee intreated Miles that he would
in
a
"

things like

naturall

"

"

CHAP.

I.]
that

HISTORY

OF

FRIAR

BACON.

39

Fear if the head speake. and call them they slept, but harken and said Miles, I will not sleepe, not, good master," to speake,I will call attend upon the head, and if it doe chance whilst
" "

watching great charge the second time, Fryer Bungey and he went to Head. lefte alone to watch the Brazen sleepe,and Miles was Miles, to keepe him from sleeping, got a tabor and pipe,and musicke with his owne kept from sleeping being merry disposed, the head After some at last. spake these two words, noyse "TiME IS." Miles, hearing it to speake no more, thought his
master

you for

; therefore I pray

alone take you both your rests and let mee After this head." Fryer Bacon had given him a

would

be

angry

if hee waked

him

for that,and therefore

began to mocke the head in this tooke all master Thou brazen-faced Head, hath my manner : him with two dost thou requite these painesabout thee, and now with hee watched a lawyer so long as words, TIME is? Had and have he would hee hath watched with thee, givenhim more
he
let them
"

both

and sleepe,

better words

than

thou

hast

yet.

If thou

canst

speakeno
I know

wisers
Time

they shal sleepetilldoomes day for me : TIME is ! Brazen-face. is,and that you shall heare,Goodman
* "

Time

is for

some
some

to

eate,
to

Time
Time

is for
some

sleepe,

is for

to
some

laugh,
to weepe.

Time
' "

is for

Time

is for

some some

to

sing,
to pray,

Time Time
That
' "

is for

is for

some

to creepe,

have

drunken

all the

day.
IS

Do

you

tell us,
our

copper-nose,
to

when

TIME

hope
to

we

schollers
our

know

times, when
to

drink
and

drunke, when
when
to pay

kiss that

when hostess,
comes

goe

on

her

score,
an

it
"

time
Head WAS."

seldome."

After

halfe

houre
were

had

passed,the
these, "TiME former,
Head
as

did

speake againe,two words, which Miles respected these words as littleas

not

he did the

and would
that it had
master
:

wake
no

them,
better

but

still scoffed at the Brazen

have
:

learned
in
*

words, and

such

tutor

his

and
"

scorne
was

of it sung

this song

Time
wert

when

thou, a kettle,
matter ;

filled with better

But

Fryer Bacon
he

did thee

spoyle

when

thy

sides did batter.

40

WITCH,
' "

WARLOCK,
when
of when

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

Time
with

was men was

conscience

dwelled

Time
so
' "

occupation;; lawyers did not thrive

vexation.

well
was one was

by men's
when
poore when it
a

Time of Time

kings and beggars

being ; office kept no knaves worth was seeing.
of water stuff had
"

that time
' "

Time
did

was

bowle

give the face reflection ;

was

Time

when
now

which
*

paint, they call complexion.

women no

knew

"

TIME

WAS

! was,

I know
and

without that, brazen-face, what

your

telling ;
Time
for
was

I know
was

Time

I know

things there
master

was

when

; and

if you

speake no
talked

wiser, no
and sung

shall be waked halfe-houre

"

mee." gone
PAST
:

Thus then

Miles

till another

the Brazen therewith

Head

spake again these words,

and
that Miles

TIME

is
a

;" and

fell downe,

presently followed
was

terrible noyse, with strange flashes of fire, so with At this the dead feare. two noyse wondred
to
see

halfe

Fryers awaked,
smoake
;

and
that

the whole

roome

so

full of

but

being vanished, they might perceive the Brazen Head broken and called and lying on the ground. At this sightthey grieved, this came. Miles to know how Miles, halfe dead with feare,
said that it fell doune that followed he
was

and of itselfe,

that with the noyse

and

fire

frightedout of his wits. Fryer Bacon asked him if hee did not speake 1 "Yes," quoth Miles,"it spake, but to no have a parret speake better in that time : He purpose that you have been teaching this Brazen Head." Out on thee,villaine !" said Fryer Bacon ; thou hast undone
almost
' " "

us

both

hadst

thou

but called
about
were

us

when

had

been

walled

round What

with

all England speake, brasse,to its glory and our

it did it

eternal fames. said

"

the words

spake

?"

"

Very few,"

of the wisest that I have heard none Miles, and those were neither. First he said, TIME is.' Hadst thou called us then," had said Fryer Bacon, been made for ever." we Then," said WAS.' and said, TIME Miles, half-an-hour after it spake againe, "Alas!'' thou "And wouldst call us then?" not said Bungey. said Miles, I thought hee would have told me some long tale,
'

"

"

"

"

"

'

"

"

and

then I

purposed to

have

called you

then

half-an-houre

after

CHAP.

I.]
'

HISTORY

OF

FRIAR

BACON.

41

he

cried, TIME
you
a

is

PAST,'and made
thinkes." have hee
:

such
At

noyse

that hee hath

was

waked

himselfe,mee
that

this

Fryer Bacon
man,

in
was

such

rage

would but

beaten

his

but

he

restrained with Thus

by Bungey
struck

for his punishment, he neverthelesse,

his art

him

dumbe

for

one

whole

month's

space.

the greate worke

of these
this

learned

was fryers

overthrown, to

their great grief es,

by

simple fellow.'
on

The
Friar
a

historian Bacon's which

success.

goes

to

relate many

instances

of

town

thaumaturgical powers. the king had besieged for

He

He

captures

three months

without

puts

to

shame he

German

juror con-

named in love affairs his his

Vandermast,
;

and

performs wonders
to to
one

but

at

lengtha

fatal result
to

of

induces magical exploits wonderful

him

glass and doff his of the deaths Then, receiving intelligence

and Friar that for three

pieces robe. conjurer's

mast of Vander-

break

so

Bungey, he falls into a deep grief, of food, days he refuses to partake

and
1

keepshis
In the time

chamber.

that
;

Fryer Bacon
sometimes

kept

divers

meditations

Chamber, hee fell into and into the vanity of Arts

his

Sciences j then would those thingsthat were and would would hee
say, That

he
so

condemne

himselfe
to
a

for

studying of

contrary
made

his
man

Order
a

magicke
on

soules health ; Devill : sometimes

would hee cry out upon divinity ; then himselfe for neglecting the study of it, and for studying magicke : sometime would he meditate on the shortnesse of mans then life, would he had he condemne done his
: so

meditate

himselfe for would

spendinga
from
one

time

so

short,so illas

he goe

thing to another, and trulyhe did repent

his

in all condemne
1

his former
the world caused

studies.'

And

that

should
to

know
a

how

wicked
many

he life,
of his

be made

and friends,schollers,
:

great fire ; and sending for others,he spake to them after

fellow
my Art
:

this

manner

My

unknown that

to

you,

good friends and how that through

men ever living

students,it is
I

not to

have

attained

that few credit,

had

of the wonders

that I

42

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
and and

I.

have have
see

done, all England

unlocked those
rare

can

speak,both
of Art
and

King

Commons

the

secrets

Nature,
studies I have
so

let the world of

that

thingsthat have layen hid and profound philosopher :

Starres
;

since the my

death have made

Hermes,*
found the do my of

secrets
serve

of the for

the bookes
our

that

of them

precedentsto
been therein. and

greatest Doctors,
I likewise have their

excellent hath
out
uses

judgment

found

the
;

secrets

Trees, Plants,

Stones, with

several

yet all this

that I wish that I were so lightly, knowledge of mine I esteeme ignorantand knew nothing,for the knowledge of these things (as I have trulyfound) serveth not to better a man in goodnesse,but onely to make him proude and thinke too well of himselfe. What hath all my knowledge of Nature's secrets gained me 1 Onely this,the losse of a better knowledge, the losse of Divine Studies, which makes the immortal (hissoule)blessed. I have part of man found that my knowledge has beene a heavy burden, and has kept

downe
these

my

good thoughts ; but

which I doe

I will

remove

the

cause,

which

are

Bookes,
those

They
were

all intreated him

purpose to spare the

here before

you

all to burne.

things that
not

bookes,because in them there after-ages might receive great benefit by.

them,
but threw them all into

He

would

hearken
flame

unto

the

and fire,
Then

in

that

burnt all his

the greatest learningin the world.

did he

of dispose
some
:

goods ;

some

part

he gave

to

poor

and schollers, for himselfe

he gave to other poore folkes : nothing then caused hee to be made in the Church-Wall
locked himselfe

left he
a

Cell, where
Death.

he

in,

and

there

remained
such

till his Divine the

His time hee spent in prayer, and did seeke by all means exercises,

meditation, and
to
some

perswade
two

men

from

study of Magicke.
*

Thus

lived hee

years

space

in that

fabulous Chaldean a Trismegistus ('thrice great'), reference. I have The philosopher,to whom already made were numerous composed by really writingswhich bear his name the Egyptian Platonists ; but the mediaeval alchemists pretendto of their art. Gower, in his Conrecognisein him the founder fessio Amantis,'says : Hermes
'

'

Of whom Hermes To
whom
was

if I the
was one

names

the

calle, first of alle,

this Art
chosen

is most

applied.'
of the

The

name

of Hermes

because

supposedmagical

powers

of the

god

of the caduceus.

CHAP.

I.]

HISTORY

OF

FRIAR

BACON.

43

and drink he received in at never Cell, comming forth : his meat he had discourse with those that at that window a window, and his owne and was to him ; his grave he digged with came nayles, of this he dyed. Thus the Life and Death there layed when was famous Fryer, who lived most part of his life a Magician, and dyed a true Penitent Sinner and Anchorite.'

Upon
of the his

this

popularromance
Elizabethan
*

Greene,

one

of the best

second-class

dramatists, founded

comedy, entitled The Historyeof Fryer rattling Bacon and written, it was Fryer Bungay,' which
would
seem,

in

1589,
He

first acted does

not
an

about

1592,

and
the his

publishedin
old
own,

1594.

but story-book, in which

introduces the

follow servilely of under-plot of Prince

is shown
'

love of

Edward

for the his

the Margaret, Prince

Fair

Maid

whom Fressingfield/

she loves, surrenders to the man finally favourite and friend, Lacy, Earl of Lincoln.

GREENE'S
In in

COMEDY.

Scene

I.,which
find

takes Prince

Suffolk, we
on

placenear Framlingham, Edward eloquently tiating expaMaid

to
an

the charms

of the Fair of whom

audience

f his prove

courtiers, one
successful

advises

him, if he would
assistance
'can

in his 'brave

to suit,

seek the

of

Friar
women

Bacon,
of

necromancer,1 who

make
coster-

devils, and
The

juggle
acts
us

cats

into

mongers/*
Scene

Prince

upon
to

this advice.

II. introduces

Friar

Bacon's

cell at

Oxford (an obvious anachronism, College, until long after Bacon's the college not founded was as his poor and scholar, Miles, time). Enter Bacon Brasenose
*

That

is,costard,or apple, mongers.

44

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
doctors

I.

with

books
:

under

his

arm

also

three

of

Oxford
BACON. MILES.
most

Burden, Mason, and

where Miles,
Hie
sum,
are

Clement.

you?
Doctor.

doctissime et reverendissime

(Here I

am,

learned

and

reverend

Doctor.)
librosmeos
de necromantia ?

BACON.

Attulisti nostros books Ecce

(Hast thou

brought my
MILES.
unum

of necromancy bonum and

et

1)
quam

quam

books

(See how good together!)

Now,
masters

how

jucundum habitare libros in pleasant it is to dwell among

state

BACON. That Whose

of

our

academic
your

rule in

Oxford, viceroys in
contain time thus maps in
to

place,

heads

of the liberal arts,

Spending your
Why
A

flock you

depths of learned skill, Bacon's secret cell,

make

friar

newly

stalled in Brazen-nose1?

Say
That In

what's your mind, that I may BURDEN. Bacon, we hear that

thou
art read

reply.
have

long we
:

suspect,

in

Magic'smystery
flames and
"

pyromancy,* by To tell by hydromancy, ebbs

to divine

tides ;

By
To

aeromancy

to discover

doubts,

as plainout questions, Apollo did. BACON. Well, Master Burden, what of all this 1 MILES. Marry, sir,he doth but fulfil, by rehearsing of these

names,

the
us

fable of the

'

Fox
us.

and

the

Grapes

'

that

which

is

above

pertainsnothing to
the

BURD.

I tell thee, Bacon, Oxford

makes

report,

Nay, England,and Thou'rt making of

Henry says Head a Brazen by art, shall unfold strange doubts and aphorisms, Which And read a lecture in philosophy : And, by the help of devils and ghastlyfiends, Thou mean'st, ere many years or days be past, To compass England with a wall of brass.
BACON. MILES. for he
And what of of this ?

Court

of

What

this,master

why, he doth speak mystically ;

make
a

knows,

if your

skill fail to

Brazen

Head,

yet

See

Appendix

to

the present

chapter, p.

58.

CHAP,

i.]
Waters'
nose.
. .

GREENE'S
strong ale
.

COMEDY.

45

Master copper

will

fit his

time

to

make

him

have

BACON.
Resolve

Seeing you
you,

come

as can

friends unto

the

friar,

doctors,Bacon
to

by books
from his cave,

Make And The

storming Boreas thunder

dim fair Luna
a

dark

eclipse.

potentate of hell, great arch-ruler, when Bacon bids him, or his fiends Tumbles
Bow
to the force of

his

pentageron.*.
a

I have

contrived

and

framed

head

of brass

out the stuff), Belcephon And that by art shall read philosophy : And I will strengthen England by my skill, in Rome, That if ten Caesars lived and reigned With all the legions Europe doth contain, They should not touch a grass of English ground : The work that Ninus reared at Babylon, The brazen walls framed by Semiramis, Carved out like to the portalof the sun, Shall not be such as ringsthe English strand From Dover to the market-placeof Rye.

(I made

hammer

In this reader

resolution patriotic the influence

a

of the of the years

potent
before
the

friar the siasm enthu-

will trace

national

awakened, only

few

Greene's
of

comedy was written the SpanishArmada.

It is unnecessary
scene,

and

produced, by

menace

to

quote the remainder

proves his

of this
at

in

which of

Bacon the

magical skill
Scene

the

expense
at

jealous

Burden.
introduces

III.

passes of
*

Harleston

Fair,and
a

Lacy, Earl
the

as Lincoln, disguised

rustic,and
is
a

comely

The

pentageron,
one

or

pentagramma,
a

by prolongingthe sides of
intersect

mystic figure produced till they regularpentagon

without
a

another.

It

can

be

drawn

break

in

the

from five sides, exhibits the form of the drawing, and, viewed of the fifth propositionin the figure letter A (pent-alpha), or

Euclid's First Book.

46

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

Margaret.In
receives Elinor

Scene IV.,at
of

Hampton Court,Henry III. who is betrothed to his son, Castile,

arranges with her the father,

Prince

Edward,

and

Emperor, a competitionbetween the great German magician, JaquesVandermast, and Friar Bacon, England's only flower/ In Scene Y. we pass on to
'

Oxford,
Prince
in

where

some

comic

incidents

occur

between

Edward VI.
to

and (in disguise) Friar in his

his courtiers ; and the friar

Scene

Bacon's
'

where cell,

shows

the Prince

mirror, the figuresof

Earl the
"

or glassprospective,' magic Margaret, Friar Bungay, and

then into
we

Lacy, and reveals the progress of Lacy's suit to rustic beauty. Bacon ford summons Bungay to Oxdevil's back and the scene on a straddling changes to the Regent-house,and degenerates the rudest farce. At Fressingfield, in Scene VIIL,
"

to slayEarl Lacy threatening unless he givesup to him the Fair Maid of Fressingfield his better nature prevails, ; but, after a struggle, he retires from and his suit, leavingMargaret to

find Prince

Edward

become
us

the
to

Countess

of Lincoln.

Scene

IX. carries

back
a

Oxford, where
have the

the Emperor, Henry III., assembled

to

and

goodly company
skill between
"

witness

the

trial of

magicians
record!
"

the

first

English and the German international competition on

course,

in

which, of
Scene
to

Vandermast

is

put

to

ridicule.

Passingover
in Scene is

X.

as

we unimportant,

return,

XL,
the

Bacon's

where cell,
a

the great wand in

a one

magician hand, a

lying on
in

his

bed, with

white

book

other, and

beside

him

lightedlamp.

CHAP,

i.]
Brazen
over

GREENE'S
Head it. is

COMEDY.

47

The watch

with Miles, armed, keeping there,

Here

the old
once

story. The twice, and

follows closely friar falls asleep ; the head speaks

the dramatist Miles
'

and

fails to A

wake

his master.

It and

speaksthe
a

third time.

flashes forth, lightning down the head

over

hand

appears Bacon and

that breaks awakes

to

with ruin

hammer.' his

lament

the

of

work,

load the careless Miles with But the whole

scene

unavailing

reproaches.

is

characteristic

enough to

merit

: transcription

SCENE FRIAR BACON

XI.

"

Friar

Bacon's Cell.

lyingon a bed, with a white and a lamp lighted stick in one hand, a book in the other, beside him; and the BRAZEN HEAD, and MILES with
is discovered weapons

by him.
are

BACON.
MILES. BACON.

Miles,where
Here, sir.
How chance you

you

you

tarry

so

long ?

MILES.
no

Think

that

the you,

furniture ? devils

I warrant
come,

watching of the Brazen Head craves I have so armed sir, myself that if
fear them
an

all your BACON. Thou

And

1 will not

inch.

Miles,
that I have

know'st

dived into

hell,
;

sought the darkest

with my left his

palacesof fiends
kneeled
rent at my

That Hath The

And

magic spells great Belcephon

lodgeand
Luna

cell ;

rafters of the earth

from

the

poles,
looks,

three-form'd

hid

her silver

Tumbling
When
With
seven

upon her concave Bacon read upon his

continent,

magic book.

Poring upon
I have

necromantic charms, years' tossing dark Hecat's principles,

out
a

framed
the

monstrous

head

of

brass,

That, by
And

forces enchanting

of the

Shall tell out

strange and

uncouth

devil, aphorisms,

girtfair England with a wall of brass. Bungay and I have watch'd these threescore days,

48

WITCH,

WARLOCK,
crave spirits

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

And

now

our

vital

some

rest

If

Argus lived and had his hundred eyes, Phobetor's* night. They could not over-watch Now, Miles,in thee rests Friar Bacon's weal :
The honour
in the I and
renown

of all his life of this Brazen Head

;

Hangs
That
This

watching

Therefore
holds

chargethee by
the souls of
men

the immortal within his

God

fist,

night thou watch ; for ere the morning star Sends out his glorious the north on glister The Head will speak. Then, Miles, upon thy life work Wake me ; for then by magic art I'll
To

years'task with excellence. If that a wink but shut thy watchful eye, Then farewell Bacon's glory and his fame ! for thy life, Miles : now, Draw close the curtains,
end my
seven

Be

watchful,and
MILES.

asleep.) (Falls yourselfasleep anon ; the days,and he on the nights, on this is the night, and fifty days : now
would talk

So ; I

and

'tis no

thought you marvel, for Bungay

.have watched and 'tis my

justthese
task,and

ten
no a

more. nose

Now,
!

Jesus

bless me,
autem

what

goodly head it is ! and here's a nose Jicare ; but

weapons
:

You

talk of Nos^
may

gloriautem

that I warrant

be called Nos

for the peopleof the populare

now,

I will sir,

set

parish. Well, I am furnished with down me by a post, and make it as

me,

to good as a watchman Head, thought, Goodman

wake I would

if I chance
out

to

slumber.

call you my

of your

Passion

o'

God,
to

I have

almost

broke your

pate!

memento.^ (A great noise.)

in your

Up, Miles,
here's
THE
some

your

task ; take

brown-bill

hand

of your master's hobgoblins abroad. Time is. HEAD BRAZEN (speaks). Time
and is !

MILES.

Why,

Master with

Brazen-Head,
'

you

have

such

capitalnose,
my is '?
*

answer

you

master's

cunning, to
may

Time is "? syllables, years'study about spend seven

we

Is this

'Time
orations

Well, sir,it
From the

be

shall

have

some

better

fear ; "f"6(3qrpa, bugbears. ""o/3o", the stage before the on were evidentlycommon t Bad puns days of Victorian burlesque. as : 'I make J So Shakespeare, 1 Hen. IV.,'iii. Falstaffsays doth of a death's head, or a memento good use of it as many a man

Greek

'

house.'

CHAP,

i.]
anon
:

GREENE'S

COMEDY.

49

well,I'll watch you as narrowly as ever you were with the glowwatched, and I'llplay with you as the nightingale worm breast.* Now rest there, ; I'll set a prick againstmy Miles. Lord have mercy me, I have almost killed myself. upon Up, Miles ; list how they rumble. (A greatnoise.)
of it THE BRAZEN
HEAD

Time (loquitur).

was.

Well, Friar Bacon, you have spent your seven years' that can make Head study well, speak but two words at your Time was.' a Yea, marry, time was when my master was once, wise man; the Brazen before he began to make but that was shall lie while you Head. You ache, an your head speak no
'

MILES.

better.

Well, I

will
a

watch, and

walk

up

and

down, and

be

and peripatetianf

of Aristotle's stamp. philosopher (A great noise in fresh Miles. Take ? a What, hand, thy pistols noise.) and a Hand (A lightning flashes forth, appears that breaks down the HEAD with a hammer.) Master,master, up ! Hell's broken loose ! Your Head speaks ; and there's such a thunder and lightning, that I warrant all Oxford Out of your bed, and is up in arms. take a brownbill in your hand ; the latter day is come. BACON. and comes forward. Miles, I come. (Rises ) O, passingwarily watched ! Bacon

will make

thee next Head

1

himself

in love.

When

spake the
When

MILES.

spake
at
a

the

Head

Did

you

not

say

that he

should tell strange principles of

but
two

? philosophy

it speaks Why, sir,

words

time.
it

BACON. MILES.
times

hath Why, villain,

spoken oft ?
thrice it, words.
; but

Oft ! ay, marry it hath uttered but As how

?

hath
seven

in all those

three

BACON. MILES.

if Fabius the firsttime he said, Time is,' as Marry, sir, Commentator^ should have pronounced a sentence ; then he said,
'

So in the

'

Passionate
1

Save the Leaned

': Pilgrim alone nightingale

as

She, poor bird,

t A

all

her breast

forlorn, a thorn.' uptill

Observe the facetiousor peripatetic, walkingphilosopher. in Aristotle's stamp.' Aristotle was the founder of the ness Peripatetics. the Delayer,so called from the policy of or t Fabius Cunctator, of Hannibal. movements delaywhich he opposed to the vigorous
'

50
'

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

as ;'and the third time, with thunder and lightning, is past.' he said,'Time in great choler, 'Tis past,indeed. BACON. Ah, villain ! Time is past ; all past. are My life, my fame, my glory,

Time

was

Bacon,
The
turrets
seven

Thy Thy
That What

Brazen

thy hope are ruined down, study lieth in the dust : years' Head lies broken through a slave
of and

watched,

would

not

when

the Head

did will.

said the Head

first ?

MILES. BACON.
If thou

'Time is.' Even, sir, if thou hadst called Villain,

hadst

to Bacon

then,

watched, and waked

had uttered
been

The And But

Brazen

Head

sleepyfriar, aphorisms,
with brass
:

the

England had

circled round ruler of the

proud Asmenoth,* And Demogorgon,! master Grudge that a mortal man

Hell trembled Fiends Bacon But One
now

North,
much.

of the Fates,
should work
so

at my to
see

deep-commandingspells,
a man

frowned

their over-match
a man

might
the

boast

more

than

might
an

boast ;

braves^
suppose

of Bacon

have

end, here, such

as

would

that the humour

a
'

it

is,would
of the

to hardly be perceptible
*

theatrical audience.
the titleof Faustbuch,'
"

In
'

the is

old German

Prince

North

givento

Beelzebub.

f Demogorgon,or

Demiourgos
"

the

creative

of principle

evil
"

in literature. He is first mentioned by Lactantius, largely figures Gieruin the fourth century ; then by Boccaccio, Boiardo, Tasso (' Orlando l^urioso Liberata '), and Ariosto (' salemme '). Marlowe in Tamburlaine,' of 'Gorgon, prince of Hell.' Spenser, speaks, The Faery Queen,'refers to in Great Gorgon, princeof darkness and dead night, At which Cocytus quakes,and Styx is put to flight.' of the dreaded name Milton, in Paradise Lost,' alludes to the moon arises,and Demogorgon.' Dryden says : When
*

'

"

'

'

'

'

Demogorgon
persons

walks

his round.'
'

And

he

is

one
'

of the

dramatis
a

of

tremendous

': Demogorgon, Unbound Shelley's Prometheus the seat A mighty Darkness,filling gloom.
...

of

power.'
I
Boasts.

So

in Peele's 'Edward braves.'

I': 'As

thou

to

England

thy Scottish brought'st

CHAP,

i.]

GREENE'S

COMEDY.

5J

Europe'sconceit of Bacon hath an end, His seven sorteth to illend practice years' sith my glory hath an end, And, villain, I will appointthee to some fatal end.*
avoid Villain, !
roam

get thee from

and range

Bacon's about

! sight

Vagrant, go,
And

the

world,
?

earth ! as a vagabond on perish MILES. Why, then, sir, you forbid me your service BACON. with a fatal curse, My service, villain,

^0^

That

direful

and plagues
no

mischief fall
am

on

thee.

MILES.
c

Tis

matter, I
but
a

against you with the old proverb,

better he fares.' God be with
gown
can

The

more

the fox is cursed,the I'lltake

a

you,
on

sir

book

in my
on

hand,
my

wide-sleeved
see

my

back, and
Some

crowned

capf

head, and

if I

merit

promotion.
fiend
or

ghost haunt on thy weary Until they do transportthee quick to Hell ! For Bacon shall have never any day.
To

BACON.

steps,

lose the fame and

honour

of his Head.

[Exeunt.

King Henry'sCourt,and the royal consent is given to Earl Lacy's marriagewith the Fair Maid, which is fixed to take place on the to the Princess same day as Prince Edward's marriage In Scene XIII. we Elinor. againgo back to Bacon's cell. The friar is bewailing the destruction of his Brazen Head to Friar Bungay,when two young gentlemen, named Lambert and Sealsby, enter, in order to look into the and see how their glassprospective,' fathers are faring. Unhappily, at this very moment, the elder Lambert and Sealsby, are havingquarrelled, and stab engaged in combat hard by Fressingfield,' each other to the death,whereupon their sons imme' ' *

Scene XII. passes

in

This

reiteration of the
in

same

final

word, for the sake of

is found emphasis,

t A

corner

or

Shakespeare, college cap.

4"2

52

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

come diately

to

blows, with

like fatal result.

Bacon,

has breaks the magic crystalwhich deeply affected, sad a catastrophe, of so the unwitting cause been expresses his

regret that he
announces

ever

dabbled
to

in the

holy un-

and science,

his resolve

spend

the

remainder
At arrival from

of his life 'in pure

devotion.'

in Fressingfield, of

Scene

XIV.,

the

opportune

Lacy

and

his

friends

prevents Margaret

to the carryingout her intention of retiring readiness at Framlingham,and with obliging nunnery

she consents

to

marry
a

the Earl. devil the

Scene

XV.

shifts to

Bacon's
hath the

where cell, from

raised him world for

complainsthat the friar darkest deep to search about

man,

Miles,his
his

and orders. and

ears

torment

him

in

punishment for
Miles makes

of neglect

his appearance,
to

after

some

comic

intended dialogue,
mounts to

tickle the

of the and

lings, groundgoes
to

astride the demon's In Scene

back,

off the the

XVI.,

and
a

last, we

return

Court, where
two

makes royalty the Princess

show, and splendid

and the

brides
"

"

Elinor

Countess
course

their Margaret display

rival charms. in

Of
his

the

redoubtable

friar is

present, and

concluding
a

a couple of centuries to make speech leapsover which seems glowingcomplimentto Queen Elizabeth, worth quotation :
'

of mine art, by deep prescience Which I tempered in my secret cell, once That here where Brute did build his Troynovant,* allusion to the old

I find

An

legend that Brut,

New

or

Brutus,great-

grandson of
London.

^Eneas, founded

Troy (Troynovant),or

CHAP.

L]
From
Shall forth

GREENE'S
the

COMEDY.

53

royal garden of
so

King
a

flourish out

rich and

fair

bud,

Whose And

shall deface proud Phrebus' flower, brightness overshadow Albion

with

her leaves.
of the
war

Till then Mars But The

shall be master

field,
cease :

then the stormy threats of

as

shall

horse shall stamp shall be turned Drums With

careless of the of

pike,

to timbrels

delight ;
to see,

wealthy
peace from

favours

Plenty shall enrich

shall harbour in these leaves

The And
That

strand that

gladdedwanderingBrute
heaven

beautifythis matchless flower : then shall stoop, Apollo's heliotropian* And Venus' hyacinthf shall vail her top ; Juno shall shut her gilliflowers up, And Pallas' bay shall 'bash her brightest green in consort Ceres' carnation, with those,
gorgeous

Shall stoop and

wonder

at Diana's

rose.
'

So

much

for Greene's
'
"

Friar
work.

Bungay

comedy of Friar Bacon and the whole, a bad not, on pieceof

English alchemists I may next in chronological name, canon order,George Ripley, of Bridlington, ward who, in 1471, dedicated to King EdIII. his once celebrated Compound of Alchemy ; Gates leading to the Discovery of the or, The Twelve Stone.' These 'gates,' each of which Philosopher's
'

Among

the

earlier

he describes in detail, but with

the uninitiated
;
*

littleenlightenment to tion Calcination;2. Solu5.

are: reader,

"

1.

3.

Separation ;
classic writers

4.

Conjunction ;

Putrefac-

Probably the

reference is to the sunflower.

t The

usually identifythe

hyacinth with
"

Apollo.
t The
Elizabeth.
scene

rose,

In

VirginQueen an English Diana Shakespeare'sMidsummer Night'sDream' (Activ.,

"

that is,of the

'

1) we

read of

'

Diana's

bud.'

54

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

Sublimation ; Congelation ; 7. Cibation ; 8. 9. Fermentation; 10. Exaltation; 11. Multiplication; and 12. Projection. In his old age Ripley learned tion ; 6. that he had wasted acknowledged frankly his life upon an empty pursuit. He requested all if they met with men, any of the five-and-twenty treatises of which he was the author, to consign them to the flames as absolutely vain and worthless. Yet there is a wild story that he actually discovered and was the magisterium,' therebyenabled to send a of "100,000 to the Knights of St. John, to assist gift

wisdom,

and

'

them

in their defence

of Rhodes

the against

Turks.

Thomas Ordinall of
He whom and

wTas Norton, of Bristol,

the author

of

The

in London in 1652). (printed is said to have been a pupil of Ripley,under (at the age of 28) he studied for forty days, in that short time ledge acquireda thorough knowof the perfection of chemistry.'Ripley, ever, how-

Alchemy

'

'

refused
master-secret

to

instruct the

so

young

man

in

the

of
'

and great science, the red his

the that

process Norton

from
was

'

the white

to

powder/ so
own

industry. Twice in his labours a sad disappointment overtook him. On one occasion he had almost completedthe when the servant whom he employed to tincture, look after the furnace decamped with it, supposing
that it
was

compelledto relyon

skill and

fit for

use.

On

another

it

was

stolen

by

the wife of William

Canning,Mayor
into immense for his

of

who Bristol,
as some

immediately sprang
amends, I
suppose,

wealth,and

gains,built ill-gotten

the

CHAP.

I.]

THOMAS

D ALTON.

55

beautiful "the

of steeple

the

church

of St.

Mary,

Redcliffe

church

afterwards
As for

connected

with
seems

the sad
to have

story
lived

of Chatterton. in

Norton, he
'

poverty
The
'

and

died in

poverty (1477).
is
a a

Ordinall of

Alchemy
and

tedious

panegyric
deal the of the

of the vague

with science, interspersed talk about white red

c

good
and
'

stones

sophical philo-

magnesia in
To Norton who

which

the

adepts delighted.

we

owe

our

scanty knowledge of Thomas

about had the
was

Dalton,
devout Debois

flourished

the

middle

of

the

"fifteenth century.

He

of being a reputation accused of

Churchman
of

until he

the powder possessing

by a certain Debois projection.

roundlyasserted that Norton had made him a thousand pounds of gold(luckyman !)in less than twelve hours. sworn.' Whereupon Dalton simply said, Sir,you are forHis that he had received explanationwas the powder from a canon of Lichfield, on undertaking
'

not

to

use

it until been

after the
so

canon's

death;

and

that

since he had that he had

a

troubled

by

his

of it, possession

it. One Thomas bert, Hersecretly destroyed nate squireof King Edward, waylaid the unfortuand shut him up upon in the castle of him would
to

man,

Gloucester,
the coveted could
not

putting heavy pressure

tincture. do ; and ordered

make and

But
after him
to

this Dalton
a

not

captivityof
be

four

years,

Herbert in his

brought out and executed He obeyed the harsh summons with presence. delight, exclaiming,Blessed art Thou, Lord
'

great
Jesus science !

I have

been

too

long absent

from

Thee.

The

56

WITCH,

WARLOCK, I have

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

abusingit ; I have found heir ; wherefore, fit to be my one no to Thee sweet Lord, I will restore Thy gift again.7 devout Then, after some prayer, with a smiling he desired the executioner to proceed. countenance
Thou

gavest

me

kept without

ever

'

Tears

gushed
him
so

from

the

eyes
to

of

Herbert and
saw

when that He

he
no

beheld

willing
wrest

die,

could ingenuity orders

his secret His

from

him.

gave ened threat-

for his release. execution

were

imprisonment and
without the

contrived

King's

knowledge to intimidate him into compliance. The Herbert did not dare devices having failed, iniquitous
to

take
a

away

his life.

Dalton

rose

from

the

block

heavy countenance, and returned to his abbey, much grieved at the further prolongationof his died earthly sojourn. Herbert shortly after this
atrocious
act

with

of

tyranny, and
His

Debois

also

came

to

an

untimelyend.
at

father,Sir John

Debois,was
1471
; and

slain
two

the

battle

of

Tewkesbury,May 4,

in Stow's "Annales," he himself as recorded days after, (James Debois)was taken, with several others of the

Lancastrian
for

party, from
was

church

where
on

they had

fled

sanctuary,and

beheaded

the

spot/

APPENDIX The ancient

TO

CHAPTER

I.

magic included various kinds of divination, of which the principal here be catalogued: may Aeromancy, or divination from the air. If the wind blew from the east, it signified the not good fortune (which is certainly the south,calamity generalopinion !) ; from the west, evil ; from ; from the north, disclosure of what was all quarters secret ; from
hail simultaneously (!), and rain.

CHAP.

I.]

APPENDIX

TO

CHAPTER

I.

57

for the particularly Axinomancy, practisedby the Greeks, more of discovering criminals. An axe poised upon a stake, or purpose to an supposed by its movement agate on a red-hot axe, was indicate the offender. Or the names of suspected persons were called out, and understood
to

the movement

of the

axe

at

name particular

was

certify guilt.
use

in Belomancy,
arrows,

among shot

the

Arabs, was

by practised

means

of

which

were

with written labels attached off,

to

them;

and

first pickedup was as the arrow on accepted inscription prophetic. to a of the Bible, survived Bibliomancy, diviningby means comparativelyrecent period. The passage which first caught the cate Bible being opened haphazard, a was supposed to indieye, on the future. This was identical with the Sortes Tirgiliance,

the

only difference being that place of the Bible. Everybody

Sortes the story of Charles I. and

the

in

the

latter,Virgil took
in

the the

knows

connection

with

Lord of
now.

Falkland.

Botanomancy, diviningby means hardly be said to be extinct even

Gretchen seeks
to

plants and
In
returns

flowers, can

Goethe's her

'Faust,'
affection

discover whether

Faust

after another, the petalsof a star-flower (sternone by plucking, the alternate while she utters blume, perhaps the china-aster), she plucks the not !' as refrains,He loves me !' He loves me last petal, exclaimingrapturously, He loves me !' According to the Greeks used the poppy-flowerfor this purpose. Theocritus, in two divination by smoke, the ancients practised Capnomancy, in the fire, watching ways : they threw seeds of jasmine or poppy the motion and they emitted, or they density of the smoke
'

'

'

observed up in
a

the sacrificial smoke.

If the

smoke

was

thin, and shot

line,it was a good omen. straight worked divination by the hand, was Cheiromancy(or Palmistry), elaborate system by Paracelsus, Cardan, and others. up into an It has long been practised by the gipsies, by itinerant fortune-tellers, to and other cheats ; and recently an attempt has been made give it a fashionable character. of a sieve and a pair of Coscinomancywas practisedby means
shears
or

forceps.

The

forcepsor

shears

were

used to

suspend a

which moved the axe in axinomancy) when the name sieve, (like mentioned. of a guiltyperson was of a crystal mirror, or globe, Crystattomancy, diviningby means the great Dr. Dee was beryl. Of this science of prediction,

58

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
remember

I.

English
story
of

professor
the Earl

but

the

reader and his

will fair

doubtless
'

the

of

Surrey

Geraldine.'
on

Geomancy, Hydromancy,
the into Marcus
in the

divination divination
an

by casting pebbles by water,

'

the the

ground.
diviner
the

in In

which
this you
to

showed

figure
water;

of

absent

person.
are

conjure

spirits
as

there

they

constrained he
to

show
he

themselves,
had
seen a

Varro

testifieth,
who

when

writeth
in
a

how hundred

boy

the
end

water,
of the

announced

him

and

fiftyverses

Mithridatic divination
sexes.

war.'

Oneiromancy,
women

by

dreams,

is

still
as

credited
it

by
found

old
lievers be-

of in

both

Absurdly
among attached
men

baseless
of
so

is, it
and

the

old

time

culture much in
a

intellectual
to

force. dreams Lord

was

Archbishop
that Bacon he
seems

Laud

importance
his

his
even

frequently
to

recorded

them that

diary

and

have
in

thought
them. divination

prophetic

meaning

occasionally Onychomancy,
or

concealed

Onymancy,

by

means

of

the

nails

of

an

unpolluted

boy.
divination

Pyromancy,
when,
forth

by

fire.

'

The
saw

wife
a

of flame

Cicero

is

said, leap
her
of
was a

after from
for of
omen

performing
the the

sacrifice, she
to

suddenly
to

ashes,
same

have

prophesied
Others with
a

the

consulship
to

husband
torch

year.'
was

resorted certain
;

the

blaze It it

pitch, which
if the

painted
ran

colours. when

good
A

flame

into

point
;

bad

divided.

thin-tongued
;

flame

announced

glory

if it went

out, it

signified

danger

if it

hissed, misfortune.
divination
use

fiabdomancy,
Ezekiel.
or

by

the

rod
to

or

wand,
the of

is

mentioned
of

by
water

The
a seam

of

hazel-rod
seems
:

trace

existence
this

of

of

coal

survival

practice.

But

enough
'

of

these

follies

Necro-,
With

pyro-,

geo-, and

hydro-, cheiro-, coscinomancy,

other

vain

superstitious sciences.'
Tomkis,
'

Albumazar,'

ii. 3.

CHAP.

II.]

THE

STORY

OF

DR.

JOHN

DEE.

59

CHAPTER
THE

II.
DK. JOHN DEE.

STOKY

OF

THE
exact

world
moment

must

always feel
when its it is

carious
men

to

know

the the
be

great

first drew

breath

of life ; and the

to therefore, satisfactory,

able to state,on

of Dr. Thomas weightyauthority Smith, that Dr. John Dee, the famous magician and born at fortyminutes was 'philosopher/ past four o'clock on the morning of July 13, 1527. ing Accordof latter-day to the picturesque practice biographers, here I ought to describe a glorious summer sunrise, the goldenlight hill and pasture,the over spreading bland warm air stealing into the chamber where lay the mother and her infant ; but I

forbear, as,

for all I

know,

particular July morning may have been of John, the son cloudy, cold, and wet ; besides, like want Rowland From Dee, was born in London.
of information I refrain from
comments
on

this

Master it is
ported re-

Dee's

and early bringing-up that he gave proof of

a

education.
so

But

and

of such
was

love
sent

he fifteen,

studythe

classics

a capacity, exceptional of letters, that,at the early age of to of Cambridge, to the University and the old scholastic philosophy.

60

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

There,for
says,
on

three years, he

the

hours eighteen for his meals

vehementlybent, he of learning, that he spent acquisition his books, reserving two a day on only and four for sleep an and recreation,
was so
"

probably overhim to stimulated his cerebral system and predisposed of the imagination.Having delusions and caprices taken his degree of B.A., he crossed the seas in 1547 with certain learned men, chiefly to speak and confer mathematicians, such as Gemma Frisius,Gerardus Mercator, Gaspar a Morica, and Antonius Gogara ; of whom the only one remembered is Mercator, as now
4
'

unhealthy division

of

time, which

the

inventor

of

in charts, graphical intersect each

some

other

laying down hydrothe parallels and meridians which at rightangles. After spending
method

of

months

in the Low him made 'the

Countries

he returned

home,

bringingwith
brass that
two
was

first astronomer's Frisius'

staff of

of Gemma

great globes of Gerardus

Mercator'

the devising, making, and Frisius had

the astronomer's

ring of

brass

(asGemma
of

newly framed it)/ Returningto the

to

classic shades of
'

Granta, he began
:'and
I suppose

record

his observations

the

heavenlyinfluences

in this elemental it
was

portionof

the world

in

of recognition

his scientific

Henry VIII. appointedhim to a Greek latter and under-reader. In the College, he superintended, in 1548, the performance capacity of the 'Eipnvrj of Aristophanes, introducing among
'

that scholarship at Trinity fellowship

the

effects
a man

'

an

artificial his wallet

which scarabasus, of
on provisions

ascended,
its

with

and

back,

CHAP.

II.]

THE

STORY

OF

DR.

JOHN

DEE.

61

to

palace. This ingeniousbit of mechanism Jupiter's of the the spectators, but, after the manner delighted
ascribed
to

time, was
convenient

and Dee's occultism,

he found

it

to retire to the

Continent

(1548), residing
to hermetic

for awhile at

Louvain, and devotinghimself

afterwards
at

and researches, delivered audiences.

s

scientific lectures to
'

My

auditoryin

he where (1580), and distinguished large he Rhemes Colledge,' Paris

says,

was

so

great, and the

most

part older than my

could
not

that selfe, them the

the mathematicall
were

schooles

hold

; for many

faine,without
and

the schooles, at

windowes,

to

be auditors

as spectators,

they

helpthemselves thereto. I did also dictate beside the first exposition. upon every proposition, And definitions representby the first foure principall ing the eyes to (which by imaginationonely are wonder to be conceived), a greater arose exactly among
the

best could

beholders,than
up
to the

of my

mounting
The mountebank wonderful

top of

Scarabseus Aristophanes in Cambridge.' Trinity-hall

this

accomplishments of

brilliant scientific
over

beingnoised
story reached
offered
a

abroad the

all

Europe,the
of up the his take per

remote

Court

Muscovite, who
residence
at

him, if he would
of "2,000 stipend
to

Moscow,
be

annum,

his diet also to

allowed

him

free out
be

of

the

Emperor'sown
his

kitchen, and
Was

his

place to
scholar

ranked of

sort of the nobility and there, amongst the highest

privycouncillors/
or

ever

so

tempted
Court
in
as

before
seems

since ? have
as

In held

those times,the Russian

savants

to esteem

and holds

scholars

much

nowadays it

and prima-donnas

62

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

advantageous proposals from four successive Emperors of Germany (Charles V., II. and Rudolph II.), but the Ferdinand, Maximilian
,

ballerines.

Dee

also received

Muscovite's
heart

outbade had

them
no

all.

residence

in

the

of Russia

attraction,however, for the 1551, returned

to

England with a halo of fame playing round his head (tospeak Dee himself loved to as figuratively, do), which him recommended to the celebrated Greek professor Cheke. Cheke introduced at Cambridge, Sir John him to Mr. Secretary well as to Edward VI. as Cecil,
,

Oxford

scholar,who,

in

who
annum

bestowed

upon

him

pension of

100

crowns

per

in 1553, for the Rectory (speedily exchanged, of Upton-uponSevern). At first he met with favour from he Queen Mary ; but the close correspondence maintained with the

Princess

Elizabeth, who

preciated ap-

his multifarious
to

and he was suspicion, the Queen's life by divers and

scholarship, exposed him accused of practising against

enchantments.
Arrested

he was (atHampton Court), subjected imprisoned to rigorous examinations,and as no charge of treason could be proved against him, was remitted to Bishop Bonner
as a

heretic. possible

But

his enemies in 1555

failed

againin
his

their malicious

and intent,

he received

had not liberty.Imprisonment and suffering of temper, and almost diately immequenched his activity upon
to
a

his release he solicited the

Queen's assent

of plan for the restoration and preservation certain preciousmanuscripts of classical antiquity. He solicited in vain.

When

Elizabeth

came

to

the

throne, Dee,

as

CHAP.

II.]

THE

STORY

OF

DR.

JOHN

DEE.

63

in proficient

the occult arts, was

consulted
to

by Dudley
most

Earl of Leicester) as (afterwards and auspicious day for her testified to her
own

the

able suit-

coronation.

She

belief in his skill

by employing

him, when
Lincoln's
But
more

her Inn owed his his

had been discovered in image in wax the evil charm. to counteract Fields, her

he
to to

favour, we

may

assume,

much

than

which was extensive, really learning, He tells us supposedmagical powers. her

that, shortlybefore
him and
to

coronation,she
c

summoned

Whitehall, remarking to his patrons, Dudley

Earl
a

the

of

Pembroke,
I will

Where him

my
a

brother noble.'
to

hath

given him
was

crown,

give

She
of

more certainly

liberal to
were

Dee
more

than

many

her

servants

who

much

deserving. In
the reversion of

December, 1564,
the

she

granted him
Not
him

Deanery

of

Gloucester.

his friends recommended Eton but

College.
he
never

'

Favourable the

received

long afterwards for the Provostship of answers were returned, tained Provostship. He ob'

however, to hold for ten years the permission, rectories of Upton and Later two Long Ledenham. in her reign (July,1583),when two great nobles with him, he was invited themselves to dine pelled comto decline

the honour

on

account

of his

The
him upon

of this being apprised of gold. We a present of forty angels of her generosity. other proofs

Queen, on

poverty. sent incident,

shall
come

in 1571, and the Continent on travelling seized with a his way on through Lorraine was dangerous sickness ; whereupon the Queen not only Dee
was

64

WITCH,
'

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
'

I.

sent

and carefully also tend

with the
on

great speed
honourable

two

of

her

but physicians,
4

Lord
'to

Sidney
how her from

in

manner

to

him,'and
to

discern

his

health

bettered, and
divers very divers

comfort

him

Majestywith
and also with health and when

and gracious, pithyspeeches

rarities to

eat, to
men

increase of

his

and strength.' Philosophers

are

letters,

they
is

meet ailing,

with the

no

such

pleasant

attentions bounties

nowadays !
not
saw as

But

list of

Elizabeth's

yet ended.
almost
as

The
much

much-travelling
of cities and
men

who scholar, and

manners

Odysseus himself, had wandered into the farthest parts of the kingdom of Bohemia ; evil might come his comand that no to him, or panion, their families, she sent them her most or After princelyand royal letters of safe-conduct. his return home, a little before Christmas, 1589,
that hearing
as

he

was

unable

to

keep house

became

his with

positionand
the

repute, she

giftof a hundred twice repeatedthe promise on his coming once or into her presence. Fifty pounds he did receive, with which to keep his Christmas but what merrily, of the other able to became never moiety he was A malignant influence posed, interdiscover. frequently
it would
in intention seem,

assist him

liberally promised to pounds, and

as

between

the

Queen's benevolence
action
; and

and doctor

her
was

in charity

the

fortunate un-

sometimes

tantalized be

with

of good thingswhich promises

failed to think he

realized. much

On
to

the

whole, however,
and

I do not

had

complain of;

the

reproachof parsimony so

CHAP.

II.]

THE

STORY

OF

DR.

JOHN

DEE.

65

often

levelled

at

great Gloriana would

of Dr. Dee. with him

not certainly

applyto
where

her treatment

She honoured
he and surrounded had
a a

several visits at close

Mortlake,
the side, river"

house pleasant the westward green

by

little to

of the

church

by gardensand
the from

with fields,

bright

prospects of
came

shiningriver.
Whitehall
on

Elizabeth

always

down

horseback,attended

by a brave retinue of courtiers ; and as she passed stood at their doors,or along, her loyalsubjects the lined bows and roadside, making respectful the Queen !' One curtseys,and crying, God save of these royalvisits was made March on 10, 1675, the Queen desiringto see the doctor's famous that he had buried his wife library learning ; but only four hours before,she refused to enter the house. Dee, however, submitted to her inspection black stone/ and exhibited his magic crystal, or of its marvellous for some properties ; her Majesty, of the same, beingtaken down the better examination her horse from by the Earl of Leicester, by the
i ' '

Church She
1580. "

wall of Mortlack.'
was

at

Dr.

Dee's
she
came

again on
from

September 17,
in her

This

time

Richmond

cumbrous coach, a wonderfully six horses ; in the there the

a
'

and

when the

she

was
'

drawn vehicle, by againstmy garden

her staide Majestie
street at

fielde/ says

doctor,
then
came

and good while,

into the

her Majestie great gate of the field,where and dutifull at my dore, making reverent me espied

obeysanceunto

her,and

with

her

hand

her

Majestie
1

66

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
came

I.

beckoned coach off her

to

for

me

to

come

to

her, and
very hand her

to

her

side ; her

then Majestie gave

me

pulled speedily
to
me

glove,and
short, her
to to

kiss ; and
to resort

be

oftener

Chamber
came

Majestiewished her Court, and by some to wete give her Majestie

of

her

Privy
when I

(know)
10,

there/
Another

The

placeon to my Queenes Majestie

visit took

October

1580

:"

great

comfort

(hord

with her train from the Court, and at came quinta) dore graciously unto me her,on horseback calling my exhorted take mother's to death me briefly my and withal told that the Lord patiently ; me, Treasurer had greatly commended my doings for her which title royall, he had to examine. The which rolls of velome title in two parchment his Honour had some houres before brought home, and delivered
to

Mr.

Hudson

for

me

to receive at

at

my

my

mother's
also

buriall

church.
at

Her
wives
me

coming from membered reMajestie

buriall it
was

then, how
to

my

her fortune

likewise

call upon

at my

house, as

before is noted.'

Dee's

library
"

as

libraries

went

then

"

was

not

unworthy computed
to

of it

Its proud possessor royalinspection. be worth to "2,000, which, at the of money, would of be about I equal, suppose,

present value

"10,000.
and four

It consisted
a

4,000 volumes,
He in

bound

unbound,
'

fourth books

part being MSS.

'
"

Greek,two in French,and one in High Dutch as having cost him "533, and inquires triumphantlywhat must
one
"

speaks of

written

CHAP.

II.]
been

THE

STORY

OF

DR.

JOHN

DEE.

67 best of the ? in

have

the value

of

some

hundred

of the

all the other written of autograplda He adds that

books, some

of which

were

excellent and he

seldom-heard-of

authors

spent upwards of fortyyears

divers much research and labour

this libraryfrom collecting the

seas,

placesbeyond
in

and

with

England.
Of the
not
c

books precious

'

thus

Dee collected,

does
rare
'

mention

the titles ; but he has

'

recorded

the

made instruments mathematical exquisitely which belongedto him : An excellent, strong,and fair quadrant, first made by that famous Richard who Chancellor boldlycarried his discovery-ships them in the White past the Icy Cape,and anchored

and

Sea.

There

was

also feet in

an

excellent

radius

astro-

nomicus, of

the staff and cross length, divided into equal parts,after Richard very curiously Chancellor's quadrantmanner. Item,two globesof Mercator's best making : on the celestial sphereDee,
ten

with their

his

own

hand,

had

set

down

divers

comets,

and motions, according to his individual places observation. Item, divers other instruments,as theorie of
an

the

the horizon

eighth sphere,the
and meridian Dr. Dee.

ninth

and

tenth,with

of copper, made

by

Mercator
of

for specially kinds.

Item, sea-

passes com-

Item, a magnet- stone, commonly called a loadstone, of great virtue. Also an excellent watch-clock, made by one Dibbley, the notable workman, long since dead/ by which a
different
'

time
an

be measured might sensibly hour that is,not to fail the

"

in the 360th

seconds

of
an

part of
5"2

68

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN,

[BOOK

I.

hour.

We

need

not

dwell and

upon

his

store

of documents of

to relating

Irish

Welsh my

estates, and

ancient is

seals of

arms

; but

I confess, curiosity, reference

to
'

somewhat

stirred about

by
four

his

great
a

bladder/with
sweetish

pounds weight

of

'

very

doctor

like a brownish in it, artificially thing,' gum, times purifying, which the by thirty prepared valued at upwards of a hundred crowns.

While

engaged
with those

in

learned
men,

studies Dee

and

spondence corre-

learned wild

found

time

to

indulge in
visions mediaeval
stone
'

semithe

transcendental mystical,

which

engaged
The into

imaginationof
of
'

so

many

students. him

led

philosopher's fascinating regions of speculation,

secret

the

and with the

the ecstasies of Rosicrucianism idea of of the

dazzled with far he

him the
was

holding
other

communication How far he

inhabitants sincere them

to
a

world.

in these

how pursuits,

of charlatanry, I think spirit

imparted into it is impossible

to

determine.
to
some

Perhaps
small
extent
a

one an

may

venture

say
to

if that,
a

he impostor, that
;

was,

much

larger extent,
also

dupe ;
himself

if he
nor

deceived

others, he

deceived

is

he,

as

the only striking biographyteaches, example of the credulous who enthusiast siasm, mingles with his enthuleaven of a unconsciously, in the hypocrisy. As earlyas 1571 he complains, to his preface English Euclid,'that he is jeered at it is by the populaceas a conjurer. By degrees, evident, he begins to feel a pride in his magical
more
or
'

less

CHAP.

II.]

THE

STORY

OF

DR.

JOHN

DEE.

69

attainments.
his remarkable

He

records

with

the

utmost to
on

gravity
read the

dreams, and
He hears method into the
a

endeavours

future noises

by
a

them.
he

insists,moreover,
in his of chamber.

strange
In
those

which

days
was

favourite

summoning
stone

the which his

"

spirits
had

to

been under

bringthem prepared for

the date of
"

glass or
;

purpose

and he

in

diary,
for the

May 25, 1581,

held

records

first time with

that he had

intercourse

in this way

supra-mundanebeings. Combining with his hermetico-magical speculations thus enexercises of great fervour, he was gaged, religious one day in November, 1582, when suddenly
upon
west

his startled vision window

a

of his

angel Uriel at the him and presented laboratory,'

rose

the

'

with

translucent

stone,

or

of crystal,

the possessing
owner

wonderful

property of
at

shape, its introducing

convex

to the

closest

communication possible
was

with that

the this

world

of

It spirits. mirror

necessary be turned
secure

times

so-called

should

in different

tions posi;

before the observer

and then the

could

the

focus right

spirits appearedon its surface,or in different parts of the room of its action. by reason Dee calls the skryer, Further,only one person, whom
or

seer, could

discover

the

hear or spirits,
can

and

pret inter-

their I

voices, just as
a

there

be but

one

medium,

at believe,

But, of
was

course,

absorbed be at
to

of the present day. seance spiritualistic it was while the medium requisite that, in his all-important task,some person

should

hand

to

describe
to

what

he

saw,

or

fessed pro-

see, and

commit

paper

what

he

heard,or

70

WITCH,

to professed

hear ; and

seer

with go

imagination lively
far in both
served re-

and

fluent This

tongue could

very

directions.

Dee humbler,secondaryposition

for himself. fertile for sufficiently

was

Probably his
the

invention

was or

not

part of
to

medium,
him for His

else he

too

much

in earnest the

an practise

intentional

deception. As
himself
or sympathetic,

showed crystal looked about

nothing,he
more

said so, and

someone

less conscientious. named Barnabas

choice he

fell at

first

on

man

Saul, and

records

in his

'was diaryhow, on October 9, 1581, this man night.' about midtroubled creature strangely by a spiritual In a MS. in the British Museum, preserved he took relates some practices which place on December with this statement 2, beginning his account I willed the skryer, named : Saul,to looke into had sent his holy if God great crystalline globe, my angel Azrael,or no.' But Saul was a fellow of small
'

account, with March

very
was

limited

inventive

and faculty,

on

to confess 'that he neither obliged heard nor Dee creature saw any spiritual any more.' and his inefficient, then quarrelled, skryer unintelligent

6,158 2,he

and

the latter

was

dismissed, leavingbehind

him

an

unsavoury

reputation.
EDWARD
KELLY.

Soon
of in every
a

afterwards

our

certain Edward way

ance magicianmade the acquaintKelly (or Talbot),who was

role. He
was a

fitted for the mediumistic

clever,plausible, impudent, unscrupulous,and

most

accomplished

liar.

native

of

Worcester,

CHAP.

II.]
he
to
was one as an a

EDWARD

KELLY.

71

where

born

in

1555, he
as a

was

bred

ing up, accord-

account,

druggist, accordingto
agree that he

another became

lawyer;

but all accounts

adept in every kind of knavery. He was and lost his ears pilloried, (or at least was condemned for the offence of coming, to lose them) at Lancaster, for forgery retired to Wales, assumed or ; afterwards
name

the

of A

and Kelly,

as practised

conjurerand
illustrates the

alchemist.
man's

story is told of him which

unhesitating audacity, or, at all events, the of his character: that he carried with him notoriety one night into the park of Walton-le-Dale,near
Preston, a
man

who

thirsted

after

knowledge
had
up
a

of the
pleted, com-

future, and, when

caused his

certain incantations
servants to

been

dig
he

corpse,

terred in-

that only the day before,

answer

might compel it to
I do
to
not

his he
;

questions.
got
introduced I
am

How
to

to

Dr.

Dee

profess
in
so

know

but

disinclined certainly which that

accept the

wronderful

narrative

Mr.

Waite

renders

a agreeable sojourn,was an landlord,

style
"

Kelly, during his Welsh "his shown old manuscript which an under had obtained peculiar innkeeper,
'

circumstances. of
a

It had

been

discovered

in the tomb

bishop who had been buried in a neighbouring church,and whose tomb had been sacrilegiously upin the hope of securingthe torn fanatics/ by some treasures reportedto be concealed within it. They found nothing, however, but the aforesaid manuscript, and two small ivorybottles, a containing respectively
ponderous
white and red

powder.

'

These

pearls

72

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
of

I.

beyond pricewere
one

rejected by
shattered
contents

the
on

pigs
the

apostasy :
its The

of

them

was

spot, and

ruddy,celestine

for the most the

part lost.

remainingbottle and the unintelligible disposedof manuscript,were speedily to the innkeeper in exchange for a skinful of wine.' The innkeeper, in his turn, partedwith them for one lieving Master Edward to pound sterling Kelly, who, bewith remnant, together he had
to

obtained
submit it

hermetic Dr. Dee.

treasure, hastened

London This

to

to

accomplishedand daring knave

doctor with
as

was

by
"50

the credulous per annum,

his

'board
were

at a skryer, and and lodging,' ; but

engaged of salary
all
penses ex-

paid. These
admitted
that

liberal terms

it must

be

the Now, indeed, Kelly earned them. its reputation ! crystalbegan to justify Spirits
as

came as

thick of

as

and blackberries, !

voices

as

numerous

of amazing fertility Kelly's failed his employer, dence confiwhose fancynever upon he established an extraordinary ously hold,by judiciof the work hintingdoubts as to the propriety
rumour

those

he had

undertaken.

How he

could

man

be other than

trustworthy, when

picions frankly expressed his susof the mala fides who of the spirits responded of the crystal It was ? to the summons impossible the doctor so argued that so candid a medium could be an impostor, the impuand while resenting tations the he came cast upon to creatures,' spiritual
" "

believe

all

the

more

slandered
of course,

them.
to
an

The

who stronglyin the man difference of opinion gave rise,

occasional

quarrel. On

one

occasion

CHAP.

II.]

EDWARD

KELLY.

73

ployer provoked his em(in April,1582) Kelly specially were by roundly assertingthat the spirits and demons to their destruction; to lure them sent

by complainingthat he was confined in Dee's house and that it would be better for him to in a prison, as he might walk abroad Cotsall Plain,where be near without danger. Lord that is, Some time in 1583 a certain Lasky,' Albert Laski or Alasco, prince waiwode of Siradia or in Poland, and a guest at Elizabeth's Court, made visits to Dee's house,and was admitted to frequent the spirit exhibitions of the crystal.It has been suggested
c

that which

ambitious Kelly had conceived some jects, prohe hoped to realize through the agency

of this Polish

noble,
upon

and

that

he

made

use

of the

crystalto
the

work

his

imagination.

forward Thence-

were spirits continually hintingat great and uttering European revolutions, vague predictions

of

some

extraordinary good
for Alasco.

fortune

which Dee

was

in preparation

Kelly the were sittingin the doctor's study,discussing when affairs, prince's suddenlyappeared perhapsit trick of the ingenious Kelly was an a optical nine or spiritual creature, like a pretty girlof seven
28
"

On

May

and

'

"

years up
a

of age, attired

on

her

head, with
very and

her hair rowled

and hanging before, gown

;

down

long behind, with

red, and
and with seemed
a

of soy, she

train
to

changeable green seemed to play up and

out

down,

go
as

in and she
to

behind
ever

my go

books, lyingin heaps;

them, the books

and

should

between

seemed

one give placesufficiently, dividing

heap

74 from And which

"

WITCH,

WARLOCK, while she

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

the
so

other I

passed
heard the

between diverse

them.

and considered,
unto
are

reports
the

E. K. made maiden
"

this

pretty maid, and I said,

Here follows
versation' con-

Whose

you

?"

inane

and of

deemed doctor
:

worthy

enough, and yet purposeless preservationby the credulous

DOCTOR

DEE'S

CONVERSATION

WITH

THE

SPIRITUAL

CREATURE.

SHE. DEE.

Whose
I
am

man

are

you

God, also (I hope) by His adoption.

servant

the

of

both

by

my

bound

duty, and

VOICE.
Am

You
not

shall be beaten
I
a

if you 1

tell.
leave and
to

SHE.

fine maiden told

me

give me
come

play

in your

house ; my

mother

she would

dwell

here.

(She went up and down with most lively of a young gestures and divers times another spake girlplaying by herself, to her from the corner of my studyby a greatperspective but none beside herself.) was seen glasse,
SHE. Shall 1 1
I my

will.

foresaid corner of to (Speaking me in

DEE. SHE.
you

(Now she study.)I pray

are.

seemed you

to
me

answer

me a

in the

let

tarry

little1

the foresaid corner.) you let me

Tell

me

what
you

I pray who I am.

play with

you

and little,

I will tell

DEE. SHE. maiden

In the
I

name

of Jesus
name
one

rejoicein the
am

then, tell me. of Jesus, and

of my

am

poor

little

; I

the last but

mother's

children ; I have

littlebaby children at home. DEE. SHE. DEE. love

the

Where I dare
You

is your
not

home

tell you where I dwell,I shall be beaten. shall not be beaten for telling the truth to them
; to

that

truth

the

Eternal

Truth

all creatures

must

be

obedient. SHE.
must

I warrant
come

you dwell

will be

obedient ; my

sisters say

they

all

DEE.
and

with you. I desire that they who love God

and

should dwell

with me,

I with

them.
now

SHE,

I love you

you

talk of God.

CHAP.

II.]
Your

EDWARD

KELLY.

75

DEE. SHE. DEE. KELLY. maiden. SHE.

eldest sister
"

her short

name as

is Esimeli. you

My sister is 0, 1 cry you

She

not

so

make

her.

mercy smileth ;

\ she is to be
one

pronounced Esimlli ! calls her, saying, Come away,

first ; my
master

I will read
me

over

my

gentlewomen

Dee

will teach

if I say
over

amiss.

gentlewomen, as it pleaseth you. SHE. I have gentlemen and gentlewomen ; look you here. KELLY. She bringeth a little book of her pocket. She out pointethto a picturein the book.
your

DEE.

Eead

SHE. DEE. SHE. hath Duke

a

Is not

this

pretty man
name

What

is his

? his
name

My
crown

(mother) saith
upon

is Edward

look

you,
man

he
was

his head ; my

mother

saith that this

of York.

And

so

on.

The
of

Was questionhere suggests itself,

Dr.

this passage And has I do he

not

nonsense

Dee's
the

own

invention

compiled it for
believe it. in

of posterity ? deception firm

"

It is my faith

conviction I
own

that he recorded my

opinion is the exto his intelligence not travagant very complimentary rigmaroledictated to him by the archadded knave Kelly, to his many who, very possibly,
perfect good though
"

some ingenuities

skill in the
amount

of practices artifice
can

quist. the ventrilohave been

a

No necessary

great
for

of

subjectfor

deceivingso successfully deception as the credulous

Dee may sometimes have may that

admirable
Dee.

It is

probablethat
was was

he suspected be he
sure

being imposed upon ; but we and very unwillingto admit it,

to

he his
picion. suscon-

did
a

best

banish As for

from

his mind
seems

so

unwelcome

it Kelly,

clear that he had

76

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

widely ambitious and daring scheme, he hoped to carry out which, as I have said, through the instrumentality he interest of Alasco, whose and endeavoured his vanity, to stimulate by flattering of the spiritual in possession creature as representing the old which from traced his descent a pedigree Norman familyof the Lacys.
some

ceived

With
credit
to

an

easy invention

which

would

have he

done

the

most

of romancists, prolific

daily

developedthe characters of his pretendedvisions.* the crystal to June on Consulting 2, he professed in the garb of a husbandman, and this see a spirit in mysticallanguage about spiritrhodomontaded the great work Alasco was to accomplish predestined
in the conversion and of regeneration the world.

Before this invisible fictionist retired into his former Dee obscurity,
behalf of
a woman

him petitioned who had

to

use

his influence

on

committed of
a

and suicide, hidden the

course

of another cellar. which

who

had

dreamed

treasure

in

Other
much of

interviews
more was

in succeeded, the

of

said about it
was

cation coming purifithat

a new

humanity,and
and

announced

code
*
'

of

laws, moral
viro
et

would religious,
errore

be entrusted
sui

Adeo

prae

credulo

jam
summse

factus horrendis

impos

et

mente

captus,

Daemones,
et

quo
vanae

arctius

hisce Sacris

adhserescent

illius ambition!

in Patria potestatis

solius expectatione lene euntis ilium non deinde Polonise sed alterius quoque id est primo Polonise, regni, viz. Moldavise Kegem fore, universi et sub quo alterius, magnse mundi mutationes et ab illo incepturas esse, Judseos convertendos, Sarsemos vexillo crucis et Ethnicos superandos, facili ludifi-

adipiscendse spe

carentur.'
"

Dr.

Thomas

Smith,

'

Vitse Eruditissimorum
*

ac

lllus-

trium

Virorum,'London, 1707.

Vita Joannis

Dee,'p.

25.

CHAP.

II.]
Dee
was

EDWARD

KELLY.

77

to

and

his
never

companions.
Galerah,
bore
was

What
A her

pity that
third

this

code maiden whose

! forthcoming made

a spirit,

named revelations

appearance, the

all

upon

Alasco, and
'

ness great-

for which
name

he

reserved of Life.

I say unto
sun

thee, his
passe shall world.

is in the Book
course

The

shall not counsel

his

before

he

be

king.
of him

His

breed

alteration of his wouldst thou

State, yea, of the whole

?'
answered

What
'

know

If his

kingdom
land

shall be of

Poland/

Dee,

'

in what
'

else ?'

Of two
Which The

kingdoms/ answered
? I beseech

Galerah.

'

seeketh
'

you.' thou hast repeated, and one his right.' as

grant him/
exclaimed all the

the

other

he

God

'

sufficient direction to do of highest his

thingsso

pious doctor, as may please

the
*

calling.'
no

He

shall want

direction/replied Galerah,'in

anything he
Whether
whether his it

desireth.'

Kelly'sinvention
was a

began

to

fail

him,

or

desire to increase
not

his influence
at

over

dupe,
his

will

decide ; but

this time

he

revived

pretended conscientious
whom spirits, of he

scruplesagainst
his intention

with dealing
to

declared calumniously

be ministers

Satan, and intimated

the unhallowed could
not

of

from departing But

a

lake.

the doctor who skryer

of Mortprecincts bear with equanimity such valuable

the loss of and

rendered

service,

watched It
was

his movements towards the

with end of

the

of vigilance

alarm.

June, the month

78

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

made

memorable

by

such

importantrevelations,that

Kelly announced, one day, his design of riding from Mortlake to on some Islington, privatebusiness. The doctor's fears were at once awakened, and he fell
into
a

condition
was
'

of

nervous

excitement, which,

no

doubt,
ride

exactlywhat Kelly had hoped to provoke. asked him,' says Dee, why he so hasted to
;

and thither,

said if it go thither I had

were

to

ride be

to

Mr.

Henry Lee, I would with him, seeing now

eased told but of the book

to also,
so

acquainted good leisure,being

he Duke that said,
one

writing.

Then the

him, the other

flatter

day,that
told
me.

him,
Duke

and and

him

other

(Alasco)did things, both

for the Duke

againstthe
and

I answered

and also said that if the forty pounds' myself, annuity which Mr. Lee did offer him was the chief of his minde to cause setting that way (contrary of his former promises to me), that then I many and would of fifty him would assure pounds yearly, of my do my best,by following suit,to bring it to

could, and thereupon did possibly make him promise upon the Bible. Then Edward Bible did sweare unto me Kelly again upon the same and constant to forsake never me friendship, ; and,
pass
as soon as

moreover,

said that have gone

unless

this had the

seas,

so

fallen out, he

would

beyond

taking ship
so we

at

Newcastle
our

within each

faith upon

eightdays next. to other, taking

And each

other

hand

these

and pointsof brotherly I

plight by the friendly

God
the

during life,which covenant fidelity to turn to His honour, glory,and

beseech

and service,

CHAP.

II.]
of
our

EDWARD

KELLY.

79

comfort

brethren

here (His children)

on

earth/
This

however, concordat,
seems

was

of brief duration.

who Kelly, threatened

to have

been

in fear of arrest.* still

quit Dee's service ; and by adroit pressure of this kind, and by unlimited promises to his two confederates Alasco,succeeded in persuading and seek an to leave England clandestinely, asylum
to
on

Alasco's Polish

estates.

Dee
to

took whom

with

him

his been

second married

wife,Jane Fromond,
in

he had

Arthur February,1578, his son (then about four years old), and his children by his first wife. also accompanied by his wife and Kellywas family. On the night of September21, 1583, in a storm of rain and wind, they left Mortlake by water, and dropped down the river to a point four or five miles below Gravesend, wrhere they embarked on which board a Danish ship, theyhad hired to take But the violence of the galewas them to Holland. such that they were after gladto transfer themselves, from to some narrow a shipwreck, fishingescape in the smacks,which landed them at Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey, in safety.There theyremained until to the gale abated,and then crossed the Channel Brill on the 30th. Proceeding through Holland and and Bremen, they thence made Friesland to Embden in Pomerania, arrivingon their way to Stettin, Christmas Day, and remaininguntil the middle of January.
*

He

was was

declares he

suspectedof coiningfalse innocent. (June,1583.)

money,

bufc Dr.

Dee

80

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
intermit

I.

Meanwhile, Kelly was

revelations from the

careful not

to

those

which crystal kept alive the flame of credulous of his two hope in the bosom careful to stimulate the dupes,and he was especially ambition of Alasco, whose impoverished finances ill bear the burden could imposed upon them of They reached supportingso considerable a company. Siradia on February 3, 1584, and there the spirits suddenlychanged the tone of their communications ; for Kelly, having unexpectedly discovered that Alasco's
was resources were on

the

brink

of

exhaustion,

out accordingly prepared to flinghim aside withThe first spiritual communication remorse.
to
no

was

the

effect

that, on

account

of

his

sins,he

would

of longerbe chargedwith the regeneration the world, but he was promised possessionof the The order to next was an Kingdom of Moldavia. Dee and his companions to leave Siradia, and repair to Cracow, where Kellyhoped,no doubt,to get rid of the Polish prince more easily.Then the spirits began to speak at shorter intervals,their messages varying greatlyin tone and purport, according,I suppose, diminished
as

Alasco's
;

but
want

increased or pecuniary supplies all had when suffered eventually, of money, for it would
seem

from severely their tinctures

that

powders never yieldedthem as much of gold, the spirits as ounce an summarily dismissed the unfortunate Alasco, ordered Dee and Dee with a to Prague, and entrusted Kelly to repair Divine communication to Rudolph II.,the Emperor of Germany.

and

CHAP.

II.]
often

EDWARD

KELLY.

81

Quarrels

occurred

between

the these his

two

during

the

Cracow

the invariably alwaysthe same

man

period. prime mover,

:

In and

adepts Kelly was objectwas

over

to

confirm

his influence

the

duped. At Prague,Dee egregiously received by the Imperial Court with the distinction was due his well-known to no scholarship ; but credence was given to his mission from the spirits, and his pretensions a as politely magician were he assisted with any pecuniary ignored. Nor was benevolences ; and the man who through his crystal and his skryer had apparently unlimited control over the inhabitants of the spiritual world could not count with any degree of certainty his daily bread. upon
he had
so

He with

failed, moreover,
the

to

obtain

second

interview

he at the palace, attending informed that the Emperor had his to was gone country seat, or else that he had just ridden forth to of the chase,or that his imperfect enjoythe pleasures with the Latin tongue prevented him acquaintance from conferring with Dee personally ; and eventually, of the Papalnuncio,Dee was ordered at the instigation from the Imperial territories (May, 1586). to depart The discredited magician then betook himself to

Emperor.

On

Erfurt, and
have visited

afterwards

to

Cassel.
he

He

would

fain

a 'cordial anticipated welcome Courts which at those patronizedletters and the arts, but he was warned that at privately of heresy and magic had been accusation Rome an preferred againsthim, and he had no desire to fall In the autumn into the fangs of the Inquisition.

where Italy,

82

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

having apparently Imperialprohibition been withdrawn, he followed Kelly into Bohemia ; find both and in the following of them year we installed as guests of a wealthy nobleman, named Here Rosenberg, at his castle of Trebona. they renewed their intercourse with the spirit world, and in the transmutation their of metals. operations
Dee records

of 1586, the

how,

on

December

9, he

reached of
a

the brass

! Cuttinga piece out pointof projection

warming-pan,he
in the

converted

it
"

fire,and
"

pouring on
a

by merelyheatingit it a few drops of the

oil, accordingto
And
some

magicalelixir
authorities
goes
an
"

kind

of red

into

solid,shining silver.

there the her

idle

pieceof
own

story that he sent both the pan and silver to Queen Elizabeth, so that,with
she the

eyes, that !

might
the

see

how

exactly they tallied,

cut out

and pan

piecehad
same

reallybeen
time,
it is

of the
two
"

About

said, the

into a profuse expenditure, magicians launched of his maid -servants on one Kelly, gettingmarried, givingaway gold ringsto the value of "4,000. Yet, meanwhile, Dee and Kelly were engaged in sharp because fulfilled none the spirits of the contentions, who, his invention by the latter, promises made

(I suppose) being exhausted, resolved,in 1587, to resign his office of skryer/ and
'

April,
young in his

Arthur

Dee

then

made

an

attempt

to

act

stead.
The the that conclusion and
were

I have characters

arrived of
our

at, after
two

studying
other's

careers

worthies, is
each

they

wholly

unfitted

for

CHAP.

II.]

EDWARD

KELLY.

83
'

rose incompatibility straitly between Dee them. in earnest was ; Kelly was Dee sham. a practising pursued a shadow which he believed to be a substance ; Kellyknew that the shadow than a shadow. Dee was was nothingmore of rare and considerable intellectual a man scholarship though of a credulous and superstitious power, and ignorant, temper ; Kelly was superficial but clever, and by no means astute, and ingenious, The last experiment to fall into delusions. prone which he made Dee's simple-mindedness on stamps

society ; a

barrier of

'

the

man

as

the

rogue

and

knave

he

was

; while

it

illustrates the truth of the there is

preacher's complaintthat
The doctrine enthusiasts Edward

of free
was a

nothingnew under the sun. marriagepropoundedby American

from the ethical

remanet

system

of Mr.

Kelly. Kellyhad
and had

long

been
a

on

bad

terms

with

his

wife,

towards attachment passionate in and charming,graceful Mrs. Dee, who was young his To gratify person, and attractive in manner. desires, he resorted to his old machinery of the
conceived and crystal that it should the
was

and spirits, the Divine

soon

obtained
and

tion revelaDr. Dee

he pleasure

exchange partners. Demoralized and abased Dee had become as through his intercourse with he shrank at firstfrom a proposal so contrary Kelly, he proof the religion the teachingand to tenor fessed, and suggestedthat the revelation could than that theyought to live on mean nothingmore
6"2

84

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
the their with

I.

footingof
on a

cordial

friendship.

But

spirits
mand. com-

insisted

Dee unction
to

of interpretation yielded, comparing himself

literal

much Divine

Abraham,
to the not

who, in obedience
sacrifice of Isaac.

to the

consented will,

The

parallel,
saved his

however,did
son,

hold Dee

good,for

Abraham

whereas
was

Dr. then he

lost his wife !

a

It

and morality, could

servants not

Kelly'sturn to affect that earnestly protested

from

superior the spirits

but
were

be

messengers

heaven,

Whereupon theythen declared that he was no longerworthy to act as their interpreter. But why dwell longer this unpleasant farce ? on By various of cajolery and trickery, means trived Kelly conhis design. to accomplish
This communistic

of Satan.

arrangement, however, did

"

not

long work
were

at least, so satisfactorily
;

far

as

the

ladies

concerned Dee would

and

one

can

Mrs.

object to

understand that easily the inferior position she

this may be, However as Kelly's occupied paramour. Dee and Kellypartedcompany in January, 1589 ; the to his own former,according account, delivering up to the latter the mysteriouselixir and other substances which of they had made use of in the transmutation metals. Dee had begun to turn his eyes wistfully towards his native

country, and

welcomed

with

feigned un-

beth, from Queen Elizaa gracious delight message assuring him of a friendly reception. In the from Trebona ; and it springhe took his departure is said

that he

travelled with
an

pomp

and

stance circumdifficult

worthy of

ambassador, though it is

CHAP.

II.]
reconcile this

EDWARD

KELLY.

85

to

statement

with

his

constant

plaints com-

of

poverty.
four

Perhaps, after all,his

to

three
or

coaches,with
three and whose enemies waggons his hired

horses

each

coach, his

two

loaded
escort

with

of six
was

baggage and stores, to twenty-four soldiers,

protect him
from

business he

it

to

the

supposed to be lying in wait for him, existed only, like the philosopher's stone, in the landed ! He ber Decemat Gravesend on imagination
2,
a was or

day
was

kindlyreceived by and two afterwards,

once
'

the

Queen

at Richmond

before the year in his

had
'

run near

out

more

settled quietly Mortlake.

house

the riverside

at

the Kelly, whom knighted and created

a on

Emperor
Marshal

Maximilian
of

II. had
so

Bohemia,
he

strong

conviction the

of his hermetic

abilities had

Imperialmind,

remained
was

plausible ingenious, rogue in order that rigid restraint,

adequate quantity
of the of

the

impressed in Germany. But kept under such might

one

he

prepare
stone

an or deavoured en-

transmuting
it, and
the

powder,
bed,
lower But he

that
to

he

wearied

night
which

escape. them

Tearing up
into
a

sheets

of his
to

twisted

rope, where

with he
was

himself he
was a

from
man

the tower of
some

confined. gave way

bulk

; the

rope

beneath

his such

weight, and
severe

received

the to falling that in a injuries

ground, he few days he

expired(1593).
Dee's
in

later life was,

and

as

Godwin He

remarks, 'bound
had forfeited the

shallows

miseries.'

86

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

respect of serious-minded
with
an

men

by

his

unworthy
of in

federacy con-

Queen

still treated

unscrupulous adventurer. with him some degree

she had lost all faith him
sent occasionally
never

The
sideration, con-

though
magical powers,
The the unfortunate of repetition and
man

his

assistance. her with

ceased

to weary

his trials and he had been

and strongly troubles,

complained that
of his
two
on

small

benefices

deprivedof during his

He related

the six

income

years'
tale

residence of the
an

the Continent. of which his his

the

sad

destruction

and library broken

apparatus by
into his house

ignorant mob,

had

immediatelyafter by the rumours

He
enumerated

from cited England, exdeparture of his strange magical practices. expenses of his homeward

the

it had been undertaken as by journey,arguingthat, him. the Queen's command, she ought to reimburse members At last (in1592) the Queen appointed two of her of his

Privy Council to inquireinto the particulars he accordingly allegations.These particulars

a

put togetherin

curious
:

narrative,which

bore

the

long-windedtitle of
'

The

Compendious Rehearsall
Proof of the Course
and

of John Race

cion and the

Dee, his dutiful Declara" of his Studious Lyfe, for

Space of Half e an Hundred Yeares, now (by God's Favour and Damages, and Helpe) fullyspent, and of the very great Injuries, Years he hath in England which for those last nyne Indignities, sustained (contrary to Her Majesties very graciousWill and missioners, ComHonourable Commandment), made unto the Two express
by Her according to
said the

Most

intent
to

John, exhibited

Majesty thereto assigned, of the of the most humble Supplication Gracious Her Most at Hampton Majestic
Excellent
9.'

Court, Anno

1592, November

CHAP.

II.]
been
'

EDWARD

KELLY.

87
'

It has

remarked

that neither

in this
to

Compendious
the wonderful

Eehearsal
with its

he

alludes

his
to

magic crystal,
He
founds his his

nor spiritualistic properties, or

powder
claim
to

elixir of transmutation. the

Queen's patronage solelyupon

and
to

intellectual eminence
Nor does
so

acknowledged scholarship.
his
to

he far

allude
as

Continental
his homeward

except
But

relates

experiences, journey.

he is careful to

the encomiastic

all his services, and recapitulate notices they had drawn from various he details his losses with the
most

quarters, while
elaborate lamentable conclusion.
every of his
*

minuteness.
and
most

The

fervent
shown of

quaintestpart of his is,however, its petition

that he has tried and for the
hausted ex-

Having
means

raising money
:

support

he family,

concludes

the blinded lady,Fortune, doth Therefore,seeing

in this

commonwealth,

and butjustitia

governe that and in better prudentia,

not

order than inTullie's

or "Republica,"

bookes

forth to be followed and

in (yea,
seaven

performed, most

offices, they are laied and earnestly reverently

my

of

manner

with

and in all) do this children, day make our petitionunto your Honors, that upon all godly, and just respects had of all that,which this day you charitable, have seene, heard, and perceived, such you will make report unto her Most Excellent Majestie(with humble request for speedy

I and bloody teares of heart), servants of us our (seaventeene

wife, our

that reliefes) becometh

to doe
or

we

be not

constrained

to do

or

suffer otherwise

than

and true, and Christians, suffer ; and all for want

faithfull, and obedient

subjects

of due

mainteynance.'
was

The of

main

objectDee

had

in view

the

ship master-

St. Cross's

which Hospital, This he

was

Elizabeth
never

had
;

formerlypromised him. but in December, 1594,

he

received

appointed to

the

88

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AXD

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

of St. Paul's Cathedral, which in the Chancellorship following year he exchanged for the wardenship of He the Collegeat Manchester. still continued his researches into supernaturalmysteries,employing several persons in succession as skryers ; but he found no one fertile in invention and the so as Kelly,
'
'

crystaluttered nothing
to

more

oracular

than

answers

about questions

lovers'
the
common or

hidden quarrels,

treasures,
of the his

and

petty thefts
In

"

stock-in-trade he retired

conjurer.
Manchester
seclusion
'

1602

1604,

from

and appointment, of his favourite

'

sought the quietand

His
"

Mortlake.

renown a

as

magician
seem,

had

increased greatly for

not

it little,

would
we

to his annoyance;

on

June

5, 1604,

I. at to James a petition presented his royalprotection Greenwich, soliciting againstthe done him as to him by enemies who mocked wrong of devils/ and invocator a or or caller, conjurer, find that he
*

that solemnlyasserting the very

of all the

great
or

number

of

strange
told
were

and of

frivolous him

fables have

histories of his
ment treat-

reported and

(as to

been the

doing) none
Dee

true.'

It is said

that

the primary at this time was experienced of the Act cause passed againstpersonalslander wisdom which drew (1604) a proof of legislative from versified expression of gratitude in Dee a is of the gratitude which, let us hope, the sincerity
" "

not

to

be measured
to
'

by
the

the

of quality

the

verse.

It is of the is
a

addressed

Honorable

Members

Commons

in the

Present will

Parliament/and
show

here

which specimen of it,

that, though Dee's

CHAP.

II.]
summon
:

EDWAKD

KELLY.

89

might crystal
over

the

it spirits,

had

no

control

the Muses

The

honour, due
reverence,

unto

you

all,
each
one

And

to you

I do first yieldmost

spe-ci-all ;
mone.

Grant
'

me

this time to heare my

you

Now

full well (if you will)

sclaundrous

Fowle And
In

tongues
a

may for ever

some

tame

helpethe

truth to beare

sway

just defence of
Dee sinks
were

good
into

name.'

Thenceforward
His tribulation

almost

total in of

scurity. ob-

last years the

man

probablyspent
who had dreamed into It have
was

great
verting, con-

; and

all he Midas-like,
to

touched bread.

have

wanted which

quently freseems gold, a melancholy

both useful mental

endingto a career if and brilliant,

energy had
not

might

been

his various

and scholarship
a

been

expended upon
with

delusion.

fortunate Un-

for wanted gifts, His

himself, Dee,

all his excellent sound

that

of all, a gift greatest credulous

judgment.
him

excitable

fancyand
own

temper made
the eventually

the
of
a

dupe
knave

of his

wishes,and

tool

far inferior to himself

in intellectual power,

of will, in force of him in strength surpassing Both character,in audacity and inventiveness. of their lives. but sorry work knave and dupe made Kelly,as we have seen, broke his neck in attempting in Dee expired and to escape from a German prison, but
want

and

dishonour, without
Mortlake
in

friend

to

receive

his

last

sigh.
died
at

He

1608,

and

was

buried

in

90

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

1.

the

chancel

of Mortlake the

Church, where, long

wards, after-

shown was antiquary, gossiping slab as belonging old marble to his tomb. an His son to the Arthur, after actingas physician Czar of Russia and to our Charles L, established own died. himself he in practiceat Norwich, where

Aubrey,

solemnlyrecords that this Arthur, in his boyhood, had frequently played with quoits of gold,which his father had cast at Prague by means must of his How often Dee stone philosophical.' have longedfor some of those quoits in his last sad he sold his books, one by days at Mortlake,when
Anthony
*

Wood

'

'

one,

keep himself from After Dee's death, his

to
an

starvation!

fame

as

magician

went under-

revival;and in 1659, when extraordinary the country was looking forward to the immediate of its Stuart line of kings, the learned restoration Casaubon in Dr. Meric thought proper to publish,
a

formidable of his
"

folio
or

volume, the doctor's elaborate

"

port re-

Kelly's supposed conferences with the spiritsa notable book, as being the initial In in English literature. product of spiritualism his preface Casaubon remarks that, though Dee's in certain respects seemed of to layin works carriage tendered by him to kings and darkness,yet all was
"

rather

and princes, listened to for

some

by
a

all

(England
while with embraced fame

alone

good
that
'

excepted)was and by good respect,

and

for he

long

time the

entertained.'
the and
.

And bestir

adds

of it made learned

Pope
learned, un-

himself, and
with

filled all, both

and

great wonder

astonishment.
. .

CHAP.

II.]
a

EDWARD

KELLY.

91

As

whole, it
in any

is

its kind

undoubtedlynot age or country.'

NOTE.

to

be

in paralleled

In the curious form

most

'Apologia'publishedby Dee,

in
'

1595,

in the

and and
a

a Archbishop of Canterbury, containing with a plaine Demonstration briefe Discourse Apologeticall, formal Protestation, for the lawfull,sincere,very faithfull a

of

letter to the

Christian

course

of the

studies Philosophical!

and exercises of

Gentleman, an ancient Servant to her most excellent Maiesty Koyall,' he furnishes a list of 'sundry Bookes
certaine

studious

and Treatises his

'

of which

he

was

the author.

The

best

known

of

Mathematice, printed works is the 'Monas Hieroglyphica, Anagogice que explicata (1564), dedicated to the Emperor Maximilian. Then there are ;' Aphoristica 'Propse deumata The British Monarchy,' otherwise called the Petty Navy for the Koyall: wealth, and the politique security,abundant triumphantstate of this kingdom (withGod's favour) procuring (1576); and 'Paralaticae Commentationis, Praxcosque Nucleus quidam (1573). His unpublishedmanuscriptsrange over a wide field of astronomical, and logical inquiry. The philosophical, most and to be The first great volume of famous important seem rich Discoveries/containing about a good deal of speculation
'

'

'

'

'

Solomon

and his

Ophirian

voyage

'

Prester

John, and
'

the first of

great Cham;'
'

'The

Brytish Complement

of the

perfect Art

in English Navigation ;' The Art of Logicke, ;'and De Hominis totius Philo et Anima Corpore, Spiritu, : sive Microcosmicum Naturalis Compendium.' sophise The character drawn Dr. of Dr. Dee by his learned biographer, Thomas confirms the traditional notion of Smith, by no means

him

It is, in the Black Art. practiser the contrary,the portrait of a justand uprightman, on grave in his demeanour, modest in his manners, in his habits ; abstemious
as a

craftyand

credulous

man

in

held and benevolent temper ; a man disposition such high esteem called upon to that he was by his neighbours
of studious any

arbitrate when

differences

arose

between

them

fervent
in

attentive Christian, the defence Here

to all the officesof the

Church, and zealous

of her faith.
'

Si mores : original exterioremque vitae cultum in probrum et ignominium verti non contemplemur, quicquam ipsi
is the

92

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

possit; moribus, simus,

quorum

ut

pote
ab omni

sobrius,
luxu

probus,
et

affectibus

sedatis, justi
et

compositisque sequi
et

gulzi

liber,
vicinis

studiosis-

erga

pauperes

beneficus, partibus

facilis ad
et

benignus,
tanquam
solebat articulorum
strenuus
:

lites,

atrisque
arbitrum

contendentium moderari

ilium

ad
in

sapientum publicis

appellantibus,
et

desidere

sacris

coetibus in

in

orationibus Orthodoxi Ecclesia B. Marise licet

frequens, conveniunt,
damnatas,
ante

Christianse

fidei,
zelo
in

quibus
a

omnes

assertor,

hsereses,

primitiva

flagrans,
Christ! inter adeo

inqui
in

Peccorum,
vocavit,
et

qui

virginitatem
accerime

partum
controversiis

dubium

invectus
circa

de

Eomanenses

Keformatos

reliqua
in

doctrinse
et

capita

non

semperose

solicitus,
Missae

quin

sibi interesse

Polonia
et

Bohemia,
licere Ecclesise Dr. Smith's

ubi

religio

ista in

dominatur, Anglia,
uti

communicare omnibus that

putaverit,

antea,

post
It
must
'

redditum,
be
to

Anglicanae
Latin is

ritibus
not

conformis.'

admitted Ciceronian

exactly

'

conformed

the

model.

CHAP.

III.]

DR.

DEE'S

DIARY.

93

CHAPTER DEE'S

III.

DR.

DIARY.

AM

not

that

Dr.

character
that has

preparedto say, Dee's Diary* sets in its true light more

yet
a

with the

its modern scholar

editor,

than clearly

magician's anything

been

reveals in

very

features peculiar and his credulity,

printed;but I concede that it the and interesting manner striking his superstitious of his character
"

combination
as

of

shrewdness

and I shall in

simplicityas
"

well
a

his

habits. interesting
to

therefore extract

few

passages
a man

assist the reader

was

forming
many

his

opinionof

who

in certainly

respects remarkable.
the entries for 1577:
The
my The

(i.)I begin with

'

1577, January 16th."

to Dyer,f etc.,came 1577, January 22nd.
"

Erie of house

Mr. Philip Sidney, Leicester,

Mr.
1

(atMortlake).
came

Erie of Bedford

to my

house.

nuckel bone, hora, My fall uppon my right 9 fere mane, wyth oyle of Hypericon (Hypericum,or St. John's Wort) in twenty-four howers eased above all hope : God be for such His goodness of (to1) His creatures. thanked

'1577, March

llth.

"

'The Private

Diary

of Dr. John

Dee,' edited by J. 0. Halliwell

for (Phillipps)

the Camden Sir Edward

1842. Society,

f This
remembered

was

by his

'

poem

Dyer, the friend of Spenserand Sidney, My Mind to me a Kingdom is.'

94

WITCH,

WARLOCK,
Alexander

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

'1577, March
me,

24th.

"

Simon, the Ninevite, came

from

to

promised me '1577, May 1st."

'

and

his service into Persia.

I

received
"

Mr.

William

Harbut

of

St. Gillian his notes

uppon
"

my

Monas."*
of my
one

1577, May

2nd.

I understode

Vincent

Murfryn his
Besbich

abbominable told
me

misusing me
one

his father is

back ; Mr. Thomas of the cokes of the Court.

behinde

hyred the barber of Cheswik, Walter Hooper, to kepe my hedges and knots in as good order as he saw them then, and that to be done with twice cutting in the yere at and drink. and he to have yerelyfive shillings, meat the least, Elen Lyne gave me a quarter's '1577, June 26th. warning. 19. The Hexameron '1577, August Brytanicum put to
'1577, May
"

20th."

"

"

"

printing.(Publishedin
Rare
'

1577

with

the

title of
of

"

General

and

Memorials

Art pertayningto the perfect 3rd.

"

Navigation. ")

1577, November
clok in the

William
his

the

morning, cut
6th.
"

Rogers of Mortlak about 7 of own throte,by the fiendehis

Gilbertt
cam

instigator. 1577, November

'

Sir

Umfrey

to

me

to

Mortlak.
'

1577, November 1577, November

with Mr.

22nd. 25th.
"

"

I rod to Windsor I

spoke
4

spake Secretary Walsingham.J

with

the

Q. Majestic. Quene hora quinta;

I

to the

declared

to

the

Quene her title to Greenland, Estotiland,and Friesland. 1st. I spoke with Sir Christopher Hatton 1577, December made Knight that day. he was
"

'

1577, December

-th.

"

I went
"

from

the

Courte

at

Wyndsore.
de
:

'1577, December Edwardo,

30th.

Inexplissima ilia calumnia

R.
ante

aliqua ex parte in me denunciebatur iniquissima innocentem.' sua diro,sed me sapientia aliquoselapsos

. . .

cannot

ascertain

of been

what accused

calumny
; but

against
to

Edward

VI.

Dee
his

had wish

it is that

be
was

hoped that of acquitted

I
*

was

and fulfilled,

he

it before

many

days had elapsed.

items

have
The

omitted

some

relatingto
heroic death
is

moneys

'Monas

Hieroglyphica.'
whose navigator,
to Dr.
one

t The
worthiest

celebrated traditions, and

of

our

'jA

warm

steady friend

Dee.

CHAP.

III.]
It is

DR.

DEE'S

DIARY.

95

borrowed.
never

intended

however, that plain, sufficiently his Diary for the curious eyes of

Dee
the

and that it mainlyconsists of such memoranda public, and personal as a man jotsdown for his private use. of these would have been renever corded Assuredly, many if Dee had known
or

conjecturedthat
three centuries

an

some inquisitive antiquarian,

later,
in world's that body's every-

would

exhume

the confidential pages, expose rather should them upon have

printthem
to

imperishable type, and

cold his gaze. It
seems

the

hard

Dr. Dee become

privateaffairs

thus

man

after all, the best thinga property! Perhaps, do who can keeps a diaryis to commit it to the lest coil,
some

flames before he shuffles off his mortal laborious editor should

and it to publish
as

the

eventually lay hands with all its sins housetops

the offence has been from readers

upon upon

it,
it !

But

in Dr. Dee's debar

case

committed,
it.

I will not

my

profiting by

1578-1581. (ii.)
1

1578, June
of

30th."

I told Mr.

Daniel

the Middle both

Temple being by, that

Mr. Hackluyt of Rogers, Kyng Arthur and King Maty,

called Friseland, which them, did conquer Gelindia, lately he so noted presently in his written copy of Mon thensis (?), for he had no printed boke thereof.'
. . .

What
for

pityDr.

Dee

has

not

recorded

his

authority
The

King Arthur's Northern is Hackluyt here mentioned

Dee Occasionally
relates
c

conquests !
the industrious

Mr.

compiler

of the well-known

collection of his

early voyages.
dreams,
as on

tember Sep-

My dream of being naked, and kinde rny skyn all overwroughtwith work, like some of tuft mockado, with crosses blue and red ; and on
10,
1579
:

96

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
word

I.

my

left arme,
"

about nihil he

the arme,

in

wreath, this
characters

I red

sine

me

e.' facer potestis

to

Sometimes

resorts
:

Greek

while

usingEnglishwords
*

1579, December
"

9th.

"

0/; viyr (i.i vvi"p dp"^ibdar

ovs

xa/a

ro

'sp

'ip, rowxjib vog ffuivy, Miffrpeg Ass, you up xovxsivzd o"pp"/X5, (Avffr (3" Zay^ccpiag ; (3eop job %"ps, s ffa/. 80 vvzX a$ dig dod !"
avB
*

va/as

1579, December

28th.

"

reveled

to
ovs

Roger
VKKOV a

Coke

the

gret

secret of the elixir of the salt op ax"r"g,

wdped.'
or

Other

entries who
at
seems one

refer to
to have

this been

Mr. Dee's

Eoger Coke,

Cooke,

and

time

to

have

or apprenpupil tice, enjoyed his confidence.

in seriously They quarrelled M581,

from and

1581.
who had

September

5th.

"

Eoger Cook,
a

byn with
the
me

me

his 14 years

of age

till 28, of

melancholik
to

nature,
on

pycking

devising occasions of just cause

4 of the

depart
us

suddayn,

about

clok in the afternone

rose

requested of
between

wheruppon depart,
with himself

whott he

words
the

; and

lycenseto he, imagining

my

that

had,

12 of

July,deserved

great

and finding himself barred from view of my displeasure, philodealing with Mr. Henrik, thought that he was sophicall utterly
recast

from

intended
his

Roger Cook
himself
sone as

goodness toward him. Notwithstanding I unseamely dealing, promised him, if he used

now

toward of my

me own

in

his absens,

one

hundred
spare
so

pounds
much and

as

clene

habilityI myght

; and

moreover,

if he

used

himself

well in life toward

God

the

some world, I promised him pretty alchimicall experiments, whereuppon he might honestlylive.' for altogether from 1581, September 7th. Eoger Cook went
1
"

me.'

In made

February, 1601,
up.

however,

this

quarrel was

Of the learned doctor's colossal credulity the (iii.) curious proofs some : Diary supplies
'

1581, March

8th.

"

It

was

the 8
in my

day, being Wensday, hora

chamber of

noctis 10-11, the strange noyse

knocking ;

and

CHAP.

III.]
ten

DR.

DEE'S

DIARY.

97

the voyce,

bat

more

somewhat like the shriek of repeted, it were as softly, longly drawn, and more
3rd. All the

times

an

owle,
in my

chamber.

'1581, August

"

night very strange knockingand

this
...

rapping in
was

night likewise. '1581, October 9th." Barnabas Saul, lyingin the hall, about mydnight. trubled by a spirituall creature strangely Gardinerus lactum 1582, May 20th. Robertus Salopiensis
my
'
"

chamber.

August 4th, and

mihi

attulit minimum

de materia

divinitus lapidis,

sibi revelatus

de qua.
*

1582, May 23rd.

"

Robert

Gardiner

declared unto he had

me

hora

4J
a

secret, as certeyn great philosophicall

termed
to

it,of
me

this day willed to come spirituall creature, and was which declare it, was done, and with common solemnly
'

and

prayer.

1590, August 22nd.

a
:

"

Ann,
this

my

nurse,

had

long been
how be

tempted
she
was

wycked by of him. possessed

and deliverer !
'

spirit but
God Amen.
"

was day hath and shall is, byn,

it

evident

her protector

1590, August 25th.

and

Anne

Frank

was

sorowful,well

forted, com-

stayedin God's
"

'

1590, August 26th.

her Jesus)
'

brest with the

"

1590, August 30th.

acknowledging. anoynted (in the name holy oyle. In the morning she requiredto
mercyes

At

night I

of

be

anoynted,and
virtue and

I did very devoutlyprepare myself,and pray for his of the oyle to the expulsion blessing powr, and Christ

of the did rest

a

wycked, and then twyce anoynted,the wycked

while.'

one

however, proved of no effect. The holy oil, On September insane. 8 she made was poor creature but was prevented. On an attempt to drown herself,
The the 29th
cut

she eluded

the

of dexterity

her

and keeper,

her throat.
we Occasionally (iv.)

meet

with

references

to

historic
are
*

events
:

and

names,

but, unfortunately, they

few

1581, February 23rd. Bodonius, in the Chamber

ambassador

"

I made

acquayntance with
at

Joannes

of Presence Monsieur.'

Westminster, the
7

being by

from

98

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

Bodonius,
upon

or

Bodin,

was

the

well-known

writer

witchcraft.
23rd. At

Hugh Smyth, and Vaygatz. who had returned from Magellan strayghts The Erie of Leicester fell fowly out with '1581, July 12th. each other trayter, the Erie of Sussex, Lord Chamberlayn, calling at commanded to kepe theyr chamber whereuppon both were
'1581, March
"

Mortlak

came

to

me

"

Greenwich, wher This

was

the court

was.'

the historic made such

of quarrel, effective
use

which in

Sir Walter
his
'

Scott has worth.'

Kenil-

Sonday, the stage at Paris Garden fell down all at once, being full of people beholdingthe bearhurt, and all amased. bayting. Many being killed thereby,more The godly expownd it as a due plage of God for the wickedness ther used, and the Sabath day so profanely spent.'
"

'1583, January 13th.

On

This

popular
crops up

Sabbatarian
even

argument,
our

which

sionally occa-

in

own

days,had

been

half a century before, humorously anticipated, by Sir Thomas More, in his 'Dyalogue' (1529):'At Beverley

late, much
the church

of fell

the

people being
at

at

bear-baiting,

and evening-time, overwhelmed that were in it. A good fellow some that after heard the tale told So," quoth he, now what it is to be at evening prayers when see you may !" you should be at the bear-baiting
" "
"

suddenlydown

The

Paris

Garden

Theatre

at

Bankside
of

had

been

erected
The penny penny

expresslyfor charge for admission

at the

exhibitions
was a

bear-baiting.
at

penny
or

the

gate, a
a

entry of
cruel

the

scaffold

and platform, the

for this

'

quiet standing.'During
sport was

wealth Commonit
was

but prohibited;

CHAP.

III.]

DR.

DEE'S

DIARY.

99

and not revived at the Kestoration, until 1835.

finally suppressed

Mr. Secretary 1583, January 23rd." The Ryght Honorable luk he found Mr. to my howse, where by good Walsingham came
1

(ofthe famous Devonshire familyof seamen),and talk was so discovery. begonne of North West Straights The went to Quene lyingat Richmond 1583, February llth. Mr. SecretaryWalsingham to dinner ; she coming by my dore, called me to her, and so I went as by her horse side, graciously far as where dwelt. Mr. Hudson Ep pcuitiri a%tS pi o(3vffxup"\i o"p arars (Siffdavarog : di^s spir. /Aovvffizvpis
Adrian

Gilbert

"

'1583, March
Davis

6th.

"

I, and

Mr.

Adrian
mete

Gilbert with Mr.

and

John

(the Arctic
voyage.

did discoverer),

Alderman

Barnes, Mr.
K
'

Tounson, Mr. Young and

"

Mr.

Hudson, about the

Richmond toward

W.

1583,

April18th.

The

Quene

went

from

going on horsbak, beingnew up, she called his putting her in Rawly (SirWalter Raleigh) and gave me mynde, and she sayd, quod defertur non aufertur," hand to kiss. her right The 18th. two 1590, May gentlemen, the unckle Mr. famous and his nephew, the most Richard Candish (Cavendish), round about the world,did Mr. Thomas Candish,who had sayled Greenwich,and for me by Mr.
"
4
"

at her

visit me
1

at Mortlake.

1590, December

my Est say

called for me at Quene's Majestic dore,circa 3J a meridie as she passedby, and I met her at Shene gate,where she graciously, puttingdown her mask, did with mery chere, I thank never thee, Dee ; there wus
"

4th.

The

"

made, promisse

but it

was

broken hundred

or

kept."

I understode

her

angels she promised to have told Mr. Richard this day, as she yesternight Candish. sent me 1595, October 9th. I dyned with Sir Walter Rawlegh at Majesty
4

to

mean

of the

"

Durham

House.'

(v.) Some
with '1583,
March

of the entries which Lasco and

refer to

Dee's

nection con-

: Kellyare interesting

18th." Mr.
he
came

North
to
me.

from

Poland,

after he

had

byn
'

with

the Quene

I received

salutation from

Alaski,Palatine
1583, May

in Poland.
"

13th.

I became

with acquaynted

Albertus

Laski

7"2

100

WITCH,
at

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
in the

I.

at

7J

night,in the Erie

18th. The
two

of Leicester

his

chamber,
Laski
at
came

court

at Greenwich.

'1583, May Mortlake,

*

"

Prince
men. sone

Albertus He
came

to

me

at

with

onely
and
15th.

afternone,
the

and

tarryed supper,
1583,
June

after
"

set. 5

About

of

the

clok

cum

Polonian

from Lord Albert Bisham, where he had prince, Lasky, down lodged the night before, being returned from Oxford, whither he wher he was had the universityes, of purpose to see very gon his Lord in He had honorably used and enterteyned. company rowed Sir Philip Sydney, and other gentlemen : he was Eussell, by the Quene's men, he had the barge covered with the Quene's of purpose He came to do cloth, the Quene's trumpeters, etc.
me
'

honour,
Albert

for which

God
21st.
"

be We

praysed !
went

1583, September

from

Mortlake, and

so

the

Lord

familie, we

Lasky, I, Mr. E. Kelly, our wives, my children and toward our went two or ships attending for us, seven
below

eightmyle
'

Gravesende.
"

1586, September 14th.

18th.
"

Trebonam

venimus.
a

'1586, October
curru
'

E. K. recessit

Trebona

versus

Pragam
Edouardo mi hi

delatus j mansit hie per tres hebdomadas. Domino Ad 19th. 1586, December gratificandam
"

Garlando,
missus
erat

et

Francisco

suo

fratri, qui Edouardus

nuncius

Imperatore Moschoriae ut ad ilium venirem, E. K. unius fecit proleolem (?) lapidisin proportione gravi arense et J et producta est optime auri oz. fere : oz. super quod vulgaris quod aurum post distribuimus a crucibolo una dedimus Edouardo. 1587, January 18th." Eediit E. K. a Praga. E. K. brought with him from the Lord Rosenberg to my wyfe a chayne and juellestemed at 300 duckettes ; 200 the juellstones, and 100 the gold. Ed. Kelley '1587, September 28th." I delivered to Mr. (earnestly requiringit as his part) the half of all the animall which It is to weigh 20 oz. ; he wayed it himself in made. was chamber : he bowght his waights purposely for it. My lord my had Mr. before but for some, Kelly had not spoken to me spoken. 1587, October 28th and 29th." John Carp did begyn to make
ab
.

'

'

furnaces the yron

over

the
was

gate, and
contented

he
now

used
to

of my
use

rownd the

bricks,and

for
to

pot

lesser bricks,60

make

furnace.

CHAP,

m.]

DR.

DEE'S

'1587, November
etc., hora
1

8th.
a

"

E, K.

terribilis

expostulatio, accusatio,
Mr. Ed.
to
was

tertia

meridie. 12th.
"

1587,

December

Afternone

somewhat,
wyne

Kelly
nere,
wont

[did] his lamp overthrow,

and
to

the

spiritof
with

long spent
it,as
it

the
be
;

glas being
and the
same

not

stayed glass
so

buks

about
one

on flitting was on

side, the
table where

spiritwas
it

spilled out, and lynnen

"Alkanor"

burnt

all that

the bok of

stode,
the

and

written that

bokes,"

as

the
of

Zacharias, with
for
some

I translated
not
"

out

French,
his

by
of

[boy?]
waters

spirituall cowld philosophicall ; pictures

the
man

Kowlaschy,"
called
the
*c

third

boke

the

boke from

Angelicum
to

Opus ;"
end
; the

all
copy

in of of

of

the
of

work
Bad 40

beginning
"

the

wise leaves

"Conclusions
in

for

the

Transmution

Metalls which and from

the

;" and
he

4to., entitled
and
was

Extractiones

Dunstat,"
his bed

himself
very

extracted of Dunstan

noted
but

out cast

of
on

Dunstan

boke, by

boke

the

hard

the

table.'

This
which

so-called

'

Book

of have

St.

Dunstan from

'

was

one

Kelly professedto
it
was

bought

Welsh

innkeeper, who,
the
4

had alleged,

found

it among

ruins

of

Glastonbury.
"

1588, February 8th.

for
me

Mr.

E.
over

K.,

at nine

of the clok,
to
see

afternone,
distilled
me

sent

to

his

laboratory
as

the

gate
of

how
heard

he

sericon, according
of
*

in

tyme

past and
to

late

he

of
!

out

Bipley.
1588,

God

lend

his
"

heart Vidi mei

all

charity and
aquam

virtue

August

24th.
et

divinam

demonstratione Kelii

magnifici domini
ante
'

amici

incomparabilis Dfomini] Ed. ppsvdwTr -Trpopiffid "pop

{tavt, avd

meridiem

tertia hora. 7th.

"

1588, December
(pop 6s

ypsar

ruuo

divy.'*
written in
was a

This

Diary,
of old

very

small

and

hand illegible Mr.

on

the
in

margins
the

almanacs,

discovered

by

W.

H.

Black

Ashmolean

Library

at

Oxford.

WITCH,

; WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

i.

CHAPTER

IV.
KNAVES.

MAGIC

AND

IMPOSTURE

"

COUPLE

OF

THE

secrecy, the

mystery, and
with them of

the

supernatural pretensions
occult the sciences and of knave If
some

associated

the so-called
to

recommended necessarily
the cheat
as

instruments

imposition.

of Hermeticism, the first seekers professors after the philosophical sincere in their stone, were convictions,and actuated by pure and lofty motives, it is certain that their
successors

the earlier

adventurers,bent

upon

honest mostly disturning to their

were

personaladvantage the
fellow- creatures.
was

credulous
some

weakness

of their

With
may

of these the chief craved

object
and

money

; others ; others

have

distinction

influence

sought the gratification of passions more than avarice or degrading even ambition. At all events, alchemy became a synonym for fraud : a magicianwas acceptedas, by right of his vocation,an impostor ; and the poet and the
may

have

pursued him with the whips of satire, and while the law invective, ridicule, preparedfor him the penalties usuallyinflicted upon criminals. it is true, he very These penalties, confrequently

dramatist

CHAP.

IV.]

MAGIC

AND

IMPOSTURE.

103

trived to elude ; in many craft and

instances, by others, by
he the had

the exercise of of protection rendered tionable questhe

so

cunning

; in

powerful personages,
agent
of the law

to whom

services ; and did not

because again in others,

care

to

hunt

him

down

of long as he forbore to bring upon himself the glare Thus it came after to pass that generation publicity. the alchemist still practising his unsaw wholesome generation and probably he retained a good deal trade, down late a date as the of his old notoriety to as be beginning of the eighteenth century. It must admitted, however, that his alchemical pursuits and that it was sank into obscurity, more gradually in the character of an astrologer, and turer manufacas a of love-potions and of charms and philtres, waxen images not to say as a pimp and a bawd that he looked for infor clients. In the Spectator, stance, that admirable mirror of Englishsocial life in the early part of the eighteenth century,you will find reference to alchemy or the alchemist no ; but in the Guardian Addison's light humour enough plays readily round the delusions of the astrologer. or deceptions
" "

The

reader

will remember

the

letter which

Addison

received with great satisfaction from to have pretends in Moornelds. And in contemporary an astrologer literature generally, it will be found that the august of nature, who into the secrets aimed at the inquirer of metals mortal transmutation and of imthe possession youth,had by this time been succeeded by an and vulgar cheat,who obscure the ignorant beguiled and weak and bodies, by his jargon about planetary

104

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

his

a cheap stock-in-trade of a wig and a gown, wand, a horoscopeor two, and a few coloured vials.

This

'

modern

a magician is, indeed,

'

common

acter char-

in But
a

eighteenth -century
century earlier the
the
'

fiction.

magician

retained
'

some

little of

pomp
was

and

circumstance confidant of

of

the

old

magic, and nobles,and

of be

still the seldom the

princes and
State secrets
of much
men

not

of depository the honour

and involvingthe reputation

women

and this

the

highest position.So
asserted dark of and

as

may

truly
in the

Simon
criminal

Foraian, who

flourished

reignof
were Italy

James

when I.,

the foul

period of the of mediaeval practices

last time
at
to
an a

transferred

for the first and

Forman born was English Court. near Wilton, in Wilts, in village known received of his
a

Quidham,
Little
to

1552.
seems

is

early years good education

afterwards that ancient

but
at

he

have

the been

Sarum

Grammar
a

School, and

to have

to apprenticed

druggistin
made his way

city.
an was

Endowed ambitious entered

means

with

siderable con-

natural
to

giftsand

temper, he
at
was

Oxford,and
for
more

lene Magdaunable To

but owing College,

to

to lack

of

remain

as

student

than

two

years.

improve his knowledge of astrology, astronomy, and the Low medicine,he visited Portugal, Countries,
and the East. his return he
as began to practise a

On
in

physician

Philpot Lane. London ; but, as he held no four times imprisoned and fined as a diploma,was himself he found quack. Eventually compelled to

CHAP.

IV.]
the

MAGIC

AND

IMPOSTUKE.

105

take

degree of
which

M.D.

at

1603) ; after
on

he settled

Cambridge (June 27, in Lambeth, and carried

the twofold his

In

of physician and astrologer. profession comedy of The Silent Woman/ Ben Jonson
'

makes hadst
more we

one

of his characters best

'

say the

I would

say thou could do

the than

philtrein
Medea
or

world, and Forman/

Madam

Doctor he

whence

compounded were kind or approved by the faculty. not of the orthodox Lovers resorted him for potions which should to soften obdurate hearts ; beauties for powders and washes which might preserve their waning charms ; married for drugs to relieve them of the women who desired to corrupt reproach of sterility ; rakes and impatient heirs who virtue, longedfor immediate of their fortunes, for compounds which possession
may should

infer that the medicines

enfeeble, or
Forman's

even

kill.
'

Such

was

the character

of Doctor who

sought his
Countess
her

Among those practice.' the infamous unscrupulousassistance was died of Essex, though Forman
schemes reached the

sinister

before

nefarious

stage

of

fruition.
His

death,which
1611,
was

took

placeon

the

12th

of

tember, Sep'

attended The
at

able (it is said)by remark-

circumstances.
wife she he and he

being

Sunday night previous, his in their garden-house, supper

him
man

told being pleasant, could resolve

she

had
or

been wife

informed should you die

or

whether shall

first. "Whether
no

I," quoth she, "bury

so

"

Oh, Truais,"for
but thou

he called

her,

"

thou
"

shalt

bury

me,

wilt much

repent it."

Yea, but

106

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
"

I.

how

I long first ?" night." Monday

"

shall
came

die," said he,

; all
was

on

day Thurs-

well.

Tuesday

came,
was

twit
was

still he and Wednesday came, wife did much well, with which his impertinent him in his teeth. and dinner Thursday came,
not

he

sick.

ended, he very well

and took
a

; he
oars

went to go

down
to
some

to the

side, water-

pairof
with in

buildings

he

was

in hand of the
"

middle

saying,
most

An

sad storm
seems as

Being in the fell down, only Thames, he presently impost, an impost," and so died. A of wind immediately following.'
if these upon
men

Puddle

Dock.

It

could earth
a

never

die without

or grievousstorm The preceding story, however, partakes tempest ! of the marvellous too much to be very easily accepted. renowned this According to Anthony Wood, that in horary questions, 'a magician was person and fortunate theft, was especially very judicious and (inother words, he was well served by his spies
'

down bringing

the

was also, in sickness, which instruments) so, ; in indeed his masterpiece had good success ; and resolving questions about marriage,and in other to his wife questionsvery intricate. He professed
'

that

there would
of

be

much

trouble the
to

about

Sir Robert

Carr, Earl
wife, who
company he

Somerset, and

resorted frequently would sometimes He

Lady Frances, his him, and from whose

lock himself in his

study one
upon the

whole desire

day.
of Mrs.

had

compounded things
Turner,
ad
;

Anne

to

make

the

said Sir Robert Earl of Essex

Carr

calid quo ad hanc

hanc, and
that

Robert,
his wife

frigid quo

his,to

CHAP.

IV.]

CAUSE

CELEBRE.

107

the

Lady Frances,
be wedded

who

had

mind

to

get rid
He

of him also and

and

to the
wax,
cause

said Sir Robert.

had

certain the with said

picturesin

Sir representing
a

Robert
each

Lady, to
such

love

between

other,

other

like

things.'
CAUSE CELEBRE.

Lady
Earl
to

Frances

Howard,

second
at
was

daughter of
the age of

the

of

Suffolk, was
of

married,

thirteen,

Robert,Earl
alliance had
was

Essex,

The
and
not

dictated recommended the

been

only a year older. considerations, by political by the King, who did

who

fail to

attend

gorgeous

festivities that
As

brated celewas

the occasion desirable for awhile

to travel

(January 5th,1606).
should boy-bridegroom the young child-wife, he did be

it

that the from

on

separated
was

his

Earl
not

sent to

the

and Continent, husband he the

most

return

claim

rightsas a Christmas, 1609, when

his

until had

shortlyafter just passed his

his wife had

eighteenthbirthday. In of the into one developed

one

interval

tunately, beautiful, and, unfor-

of

the

most

dissolute, women

in
scrupulous, un-

and England. Naturallyimpetuous,self-willed, she had wise advice

at

received hands James's of

neither
a coarse a

firm

nor guidance

the
was

and

avaricious the tivation cul-

mother.

Nor of the

Court

for place and

virtues of

modesty

self-restraint. control upon

The her

young

no Countess,therefore, placed

and passions,

had

of disregard
esteem
as

those

become already which obligations At

one

notorious her
sex

for her

sacred.

time

she

usually with intrigued

108

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

Prince
at

Henry, but
numerous

he

dismissed

her in angry she Finally,

disgust
crossed

her

infidelities.

the

Sir Robert favourite, path of the King'shandsome them. Carr, and a guiltypassionsprang up between It is painfulto record that it was encouragedby her

Lord great-uncle,

Northampton,who
to

hoped through
Court
; and

Carr's influence
it
was

better

his

at position

probablyat
framed the

his mansion I
am

in the about

Strand

that the

plot was
But took
man

of which

to tell the issue.

meetings between
the house

the two of
one

lovers of Carr's

sometimes

place at
named

agents, a

Coppinger.
Essex him

At

first,when
to

returned,the
; but

Countess

fused re-

live with
to

her her

parents ultimately

her compelled
to

treat to

him his

as

husband,
seat at

and

even

accompany

him

country

Chartley.
with with
an

There

she remained

for three

years, wretched animated she

inconceivable dreams
paramour

wretchedness,and
from the husband

wild
to

of escape

hated

the

she loved. this purpose she widow

For Anne and had

a

sought the
of
a

assistance

of Mrs.

Turner, the
woman

of considerable the mistress introduced

was

respectable physician, personal charms, who

become Turner
an

of Sir Arthur her made

the

Mainwaring.*
Simon
Forman
of fashion

Mrs.
and
*

to

Dr.
that

Forman,
should
as

agreement
woman

This of

has

place in

records

ducer introruffs Justice her the

the

which Coke

were

the novelty of yellow-starching then When Lord generally worn. her to death

extensive

Chief

sentenced

share in the
person

who

(as we shall hereafter see)for murder of Overbury,he ordered that as she was had brought yellow-starched ruffs into vogue,
'

she

CHAP.

IV.]
his

CAUSE

CELEBRE.

109

tions magicalpowers to fix young Carr's affecThe intercourse irrevocably upon the Countess. and the astrologer the ladies became between very frequent,and the former exercised all his skill to later period, Mrs. their desires. At out a carry exercise

Forman
husband for three learned The

deposedin
would
or

court

'

that Mrs. be locked

Turner

and

her

sometimes hours him

up in his the

study

four

and together/
as

Countess

to

speak of

her

'

sweet

father/
most

Countess

next

conceived

the

flagitious
to carry

designsagainsther husband's them out, again sought the

made
waxen

health ; assistance

and,
of

her

scrupulous un-

quack, who accordinglyset to work, images, invented new charms, supplied

be administered his linen did the in
was

drugs
washes

to

the
to

Earl's
be

drinks,and
These

in which

steeped.
at

measures,

however,
addressed
and
as ever

not

prove

and effectual, this

f

letters Mrs.

by
he

Countess

time

to

Turner well

Dr. Forman

is very

complainthat my lord the sad was,'while reiterating

him,
In and the her

story of her hatred

be rid of him
at

towards

design to
of the who in

all hazards. sudden death

midst

came intrigue seems

the

of Dr.
to

Forman,

to

have
one
'

felt no

little anxiety as
as

his share

it, and, on
to his wife

occasion,

we

have much

seen,

professed
about

that there would

be

trouble who

Carr

and

the

Countess

of

Essex,
whose

frequently
he would
in shame

resorted
should be and

unto

him, and
in that As the that

from

company
same

hanged

that the dress,

might end

detestation.'

it is no ruffs,

wonder

hangman was also adorned with yellow Coke's prediction was amply fulfilled.

110

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
a

I.

sometimes Mrs.

lock

himself
at

in
a

his

study

whole

day.'
in

Forman, when,

later

date, examined

to her house deposed'that Mrs. Turner came mand immediately after her husband's death, and did dewhich in her husband's certain pictures were in wax, namely, one picture study, very mysteriously in silk and satin ; as also another made in apparelled of a naked and laying the form spreading woman, Mrs. Turner which did conforth her hair in a glass, fidently

court,

aifirm to be in

box,

and

she

knew

in what

part of the
learn that

room

in the in

study they were.'

the he

We

also
proaches, re-

Forman,
that

averred had The her

or no

reply to the devil, as

person
was

Countess's
was

informed,
of Essex. from

power

over

the

of the Earl
to

Countess,however, and, after object,

three other

not

be

diverted

Forman's
"

conjurers

one

death,employed two Gresham, and a Doctor

and shameful I. The stain

mentioned. or Savory,being specially Lavoire,

What
on

followed has left

record of the

dark

King behalf of his favourite, interfered on and personally to surrender resolved that Essex should be compelled
the his wife.
to

reign of

James

For

this

purpose

the
a

Countess

was

structed in-

charge of conjugal of right reverend preincapacity lates ; and a Commission under the presidency one and learned lawyers, bury, blushes to write it of Abbot, Archbishop of Canterthe loathsome was appointedto investigate mine A jury of matrons was details. empanelledto deterof Lady Essex, and, as a pure the virginity
" "

him bring against

young

was girl

substituted in her

their place,

verdict

CHAP.

IV.]
of course, it

CAUSE

CELEBRE.

Ill

was,

in the affirmative !

As

for the
a

mission, Com-

decided, after long debates, by

that five,
"

majority
entitled

of
to

seven a

to

the

Lady

Frances

was

majoritybeing obtained, however, ence influonly by the King'sactive exercise of his personal 1613). The ladyhaving thus been (September, her vows set free from by a most shameless intrigue, her and hurried his James a on marriage between brated celeand St. Stephen'sDay it was on favourite, with great splendour. In the interval Carr
divorce the had been raised his
to

the

rank had

and

title of

Earl

of

Somerset, and
Viscountess A had
strenuous

wife

been previously

made

Rochester.

opponent
in the
man

of these unhallowed person of Sir Thomas

nuptials
Overstood that

been

found young Somerset stood with

bury, a
towards

of in

brilliant the

parts, who
same

much the

relation the
outset

Somerset
had with looked

towards
no

King.
on

At

he

disfavour had
to

Lady Frances, but

which
not went
reasons

patron's intrigue actuallycomposed the

his in the

love-letters

her

Earl's

name

;
a

but, for

understood,he clearly
the

assumed

hostile attitude when

was proposed. As marriage he had acquired which would a knowledge of secrets him a dangerous have made witness before the Divorce felt the necessity of getting Commission, the intriguers the King pressed him out of the way. Accordingly, him a diplomatic appointment on the Continent, upon

and

when

this There

was

refused

committed
some

him in

to

the

Tower. health

he dose

for lingered of

months his

until

poison terminated

failing sufferings

112

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

than three months September13, 1613, rather more of the marriage he had scriven before the completion This poisonwas to prevent. ably unquestionineffectually of Lady Essex, administered at the instigation
on

though
be who fatal that

under

what The
most

circumstances

it is not

easy

to to

determine.
an

seems probablesupposition

assistant

of L

a obeli,

French
to

apothecary
the

attended

Overbury,was
years the murder

bribed

administer

drug.
two

For
remained

thus
summer was

committed foully of

unknown,
and of

but in the

1615, when

James's
and
a new

affection for Somerset

more

rapidly declining,

the person crime

was

splendidfavourite had risen in information of the some George Yilliers,

the

conveyed to
How Winwood
; but

King by
obtained may,

his

secretary,

Winwood. is still that he

a

this information

mystery
received

we

it from

the

conjecture perhaps, boy, who, apothecary's

being
relieve

taken his

have Flushing, may A conscience by confession. ill at the

sought
few the

to

weeks

afterwards, Helwys,
under
an

Lieutenant
the whole

of
matter

Tower,
been

impressionthat
to

had

discovered, acknowledged that frequent attempts had

been made

poison Overbury in
in

his

food, but

that

he had

succeeded

boy eluded
he had the did
not

until the apothethem defeating cary's his vigilance.Who sent the poison The

know.

only person
with it
was

whose

name

he

heard

in connection
to

Mrs. Turner, and

it was,
servant

agent employed
Richard who had been

convey
a

he

said, a
of Mrs.
as
a

certain

Weston,

former

Turner,

admitted

into

the

Tower

CHAP.

IV.

CAUSE

CELEBRE.

113

and keeper,

entrusted

with

the

immediate

charge of

Overbnry. On being examined, Western at first denied all he confessed knowledge of the affair ; but eventually that,havingbeen rebuked by Helwys,he had thrown
away the
;

medicaments and
next

with he

which

he

had

been

trusted en-

accused
to

him instigating which Then would

one

to

administer
to

of Lady Somerset Overbury a poison, for that purpose.

be

forwarded
servant

him

Rawlins,a
that he had

of the

Earl,gave

mation infor-

similarly employed. As Somerset heard that he was he soon as implicated, his innocence,and declaring wrote to the King protesting had been hatched that a conspiracy against him. But covered, suspicious particulars being dismany the custody of Sir committed he was to October 23, was Oliver St. John ; while Weston, on of Overbury, and put on his trial for the murder found guilty, though no evidence was adduced against have satisfied a modern him which would jury. On 7 Mrs. Turner November was brought before the Court. Her trial excited the most profound crowded Hall was and Westminster by an curiosity, with shuddered superstitious eager multitude,who when the instruments emotion employed by Forman It would rites were in his magical exposedto view.*
*

been

Arthur

Wilson,
'

in his

of the

in practices

which The
one

Memoirs/ furnishes a strange account jurer Lady Essex, Mrs. Turner, and the con'

took part. her

of finds designs,

Countess of her

of
own

he Essex,'

says,

'

to

strengthen
had

out

stamp, Mrs. Turner, a doctor

and prodigality make
her looseness

whom widow, a woman physic's brought low ; yet her pridewould

rather flyany pitch,

114

WITCH, that her

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

seem

Mrs.
maid

Turner,
to

when

sent
than

Forman's
of Want.

arrested, immediately widow, to urge her to

two

fall into the

jaws

These

counsel affection

togetherhow
towards
his

they might stop the

wife, and
make
a one

current

of the Earl's

effect which,

in his place. To clear passage for the Viscount Dr. Forman, a reputed conjurer (livingat the
women

Lambeth) is found out;

he

declare to him
to
amuse

their

grievances;
many little

promises sudden
brass and he must

help,and,
wax
"

them,

frames

of pictures
whom whom

some

like the Viscount

and

Countess,
of

unite and

others like strengthen,

the Earl with

Essex,

he

must

debilitate such

and

weaken upon

; and

then

philtrous

powders, and what practise

loved

drugs,he works
arts

effects his

would

And their persons. to produce, Mrs. Turner, that

Manwaring (a gentleman then attending the him of the to her, gave and willing some to keep him Prince), powder, which wrought so violentlywith him, that through a dark night he rode fifteen miles one of rain and thunder storm
Sir Arthur
to

her

house,

scarce

knowing where
mad
rage

he

was

till he

was

there.
art

Such and
'

is the

devilish and

of

lust, heightened with

this

fancy.
These

matured things,
assurance

and

ripened by

jugglerForman,

gave

happy hopes. Her courtlyincitements, the Viscount drew that observe her, she imputed to the to operationof those drugs he had tasted ; and that harshness and stubborn comportment she expressed to her husband, making him (weary of such entertainments) to absent himself,she thought potionsand powders proceeded from the effects of those unknown So apt is the imaginationto take administered to him. that were to believe. impressionsof those thingswe are willing his wife nurseled in the Court, and seeing The good Earl,finding from the tillshe were to reduce her to reason no estranged possibility his conshe sucked in there, made relish and taste of the delights dition to her father. The old man, being troubled with againknown his daughter's embittered her, being near him, with disobedience, the sweets continued her from and wearisome to wean chidings,
them
'

of

she doted
But how

upon, harsh

and
was

with the

much

ado forced
sent

her

into

the

country.

being parting,
Yet
and

where

she grew
behind her

and
:

flourished !

the place from away she left all her engines and

imps
must

the old doctor

his

Mrs. Turner, confederate,

to them

be her two

supporters. She blazons all her miseries

CHAP.

IV.]
"

CAUSE

C^LEBRE.

115

burn house

before
"

the

Privy

Council

sent

to

search

her

any

of her husband's

papers
on

that the

dangerous secrets.
overlooked
a

She acted
of

tain might conbut advice,

few

documents

cluding ingreat importance,

coupleof
and

letters written Forman. house The

by Lady
various

Essex

to

Mrs.

Turner

articles
not to

seized in the murder

Forman's
of

however, referred,
to

but Overbury, Earls in

the

employed conjurations

againstthe
1

of

Somerset
a

and

Essex.

There
'

was

shewed

Court,'says
a man

contemporary
a woman

of report, certaine pictures in

were

and

made

lead,and
cast,
a

also blacke

moulde

of brasse

wherein

they
'

scarfe alsoe full of white had other in her

crosses,

which chanted

Mrs. Turner
paps and

besides incustody/ There was also a pictures.' charms and

of parcel
'

Forman's of those who

written

incantations.
ticular par-

In

some

parchments the
were

devill had
torment

names,

conjuredto

the lord

Somersett
at
was

and

Sir Arthur
moistens

if Mannering,

theire loves

her
an

depart,and
hundred

miles from

the way with her tears. Chartley her happiness ; and a littletime thus
came

lost is her

she eternity. When pleasantest part of the summer,

thither, though
shut herself up
peep upon

in

the

she

in her her dark

chamber,

not

a suffering

beam

of

to light

thoughts. If she stirred out of her chamber, it was in the dead when of the night, of all others but sleephad taken possession her. In this implacable, those about sad, and discontented humour, she continued some months, always murmuring against, civil the least but never giving respectto, her husband, which the suffered patiently, of his good man being loth to be the divulger own misery ; yet, having a manly courage, he would sometimes break into a littlepassion to see himself slighted and neglected ; found better from her,it was but having never the easier to bear
with her.'

8"2

116

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

should other haunted the

not
to

contynue, the
Turner.7

one

to

the of
a

the Countesse,

Mrs.

Visions

dingy

room

came

the

from by demons, who had been summoned lated stimuinfernal depths by Forman's potent spells, until they of the excited crowd the imagination there in to believe that the fiends were actually in wrath to the exposure of their Court, listening ! in the very heat and
was
i

agents ; and, behold

this in
one

flush

of

a sudden extravagant credulity,

crack

heard
a

of the

or scaffolds, platforms causing

great
if the his
own a

fear, tumult,and
and devil had been

commotion
one

amongst

the

spectators
have his

through the hall, every

known

hurt,as fearing
angry
as were

present and grown

to not
was

workmanship
scholars.'
note

by

such adds

The in

narrator

that

there

also

showed
on

Court, made
the Lord

by

Dr.

Forman,

and

written what

what parchment, signifying

ladies loved would

not
a

lords ; but

Chief
'

Justice

suffer it to be read of diary and

a

the

or book, was openly. This note,' doctor's dealings with the persons named

scandalous
not

tradition affirms that the Lord have it read because his eye his wife's he

Chief
name

Justice would
was

the first which

caught

when

glanced
of

at the contents.

Mrs.
course

Turner's upon that and

conviction

followed
was

as
no

matter

Weston's. she had

There been had

in difficulty in
a

proving

concerned committed

his crime

ceedings, proshe

that if he

was

with
were

criminis. Both she and Weston died particeps an acknowledgment on their lips that they justly punished. Her end, accordingto all

CHAP.

IV.]
was

CAUSE

CELEBRE.

117

accounts,

Mr.

man edifying. Bishop Goodsufficiently one eye-witness, quotes the narrative of an tion read that, if detestaJohn in which we Castle, of painted pride,lust, malice, powdered hair,
'

yellow bands, and

vanities ; if

the rest

of the wardrobe

of Court

tions deep sighs,tears, confessions, ejaculaof of all sorts of the soul, admonitions people to make God and an unspotted conscience of faith and always our friends ; if the protestation Saviour and the like hope to be washed by the same strations demonbe signs and mercies that Magdalene was,
of that this
a

blessed broken

then penitent,
woman

I will
a

tell you
cruce

poor
now

went

ad

and gloriam,

enjoysthe presence of her and our Redeemer. Her by her body being taken down in a to the Prince, was brother,one Norton, servant coach conveyed to St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, where,
the
a

in and

evening of
decent

the

same

day, she
sad fate

had
seems

an

honest
to to

burial.'

Her

have have follies

appealedstronglyto publicsympathy, and

drawn of her
a

veil of

oblivion

over

the

sins

and

misspent life. A contemporary versifier speaksof her in languageworthy of a Lucretia :

'

0 how Her Had

That

the cruel cord did misbecome

! and

comely neck
been used in

yet by Law's just doom

Those like golden thread, locks,

her death.

youth

to enshrine ; and

Hung
Her

careless down

that

head, globe-like limb, delightful

her trim

snow-white
tresses

nimble
up,
same
now

Those
And

hand, that used to did tear spitefully

did she
more now

rend

the

nor

forbear

To

beat that breast of sometime

was

than

lily-white,

Which

the bed of sweet

delight.

118

WITCH,
From

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

dwell, springswhere joy did whilom fell.' Grief's pearlydrops upon her pale cheek
those two next to

The

suffer the

was

Franklin, from
'

whom

apothecary named poison had been procured.

an

Before

he

was

executed, he
of
a

threw

out

wild

hints

of

the existence which induce he knew

were was

that plot far exceeding in villainy of

in

course

investigation.He
him
to

tried to that

all who of
a

would

listen to which
not

believe

in conspiracy
; and

many

great lords
late Prince but that

concerned

that

only the
unfair
means,

[Henry] had a plan had

Palatine
was

been been her

removed made
to

by

get rid of the

Electress

and

husband.

As, however, all this

only dictated by a hope of escapingthe evidently allowed share with the others a he was to gallows, deserved.' fate which he richly
After months
was

the execution

of these

smaller
as

some culprits,

elapsed before
to

Bacon,

Attorney-General,
It
was

directed until

proceed againstthe greater.

24, 1616,
upon her that the

not

May
was

Countess
the

of

Somerset Steward's

put

trial before Hall.

High

Court

in

Westminster

porary Contem-

as testimonydiffers strangely

to her behaviour.

One

authoritysays that, whilst

turned
was

the

indictment

was

beingread, she
Weston's
her fan.
name

pale and
mentioned
'

trembled, and when

hid her
won

face behind

Another

remarks

She

sober
'

demeanour,
more

which, in my
and confident

pity by her he adds, opinion,'

than
was

was

curious such

fit for show

lady in

distress, yet

she

shed, or

made

of

CHAP.

IV.]
tears, divers

CAUSE

CELEBRE.

119

some was

When say

againsther and she pleadedguilty. too strong to be confuted, the judge asked her if she had anything to in in arrest of judgment, she replied, low,
times.'
The inaudible

evidence

almost her the

tones, that she could

not

extenuate

fault. lords

She
would

implored
intercede
was

mercy, with

and the

begged King on

that her

behalf.

Sentence
back

then

sent prisoner

to the

pronounced, and the Tower, to await the King's

Earl
was

decision. On
the

following day
as

the

tried.

Bacon

again acted
he said that

prosecutor, and
the evidence
to

in his be

opening speech

brought forward by the Government would four points 1. That : prove Somerset bore malice againstOverbury before the latter's imprisonment ; 2. That he devised the plan by which that imprisonment was effected ; 3. That he actually sent poisons to the Tower ; 4. That he had made efforts to conceal the proofs strenuous added that he himself would of his guilt. He
undertake
two

the

management

of the

case

on

the

first and

leaving his subordinates, Montague points,

to deal with

Crew,
task.

the third and for himself

fourth.
a

Bacon

had The

chosen

comparatively easy
existed between

that ill-feeling

had

Overbury and his patron was beyond doubt ; while puted, it was shown, and, indeed, hardly disconclusively that Somerset had had hand in Overbury's a and in the appointment of Helwys imprisonment, his custodians. and Weston as Passages from Lord Northampton'sletters to the Earl proved the exist-

] 20

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
up,

I.

ence

of

plot in
had

which

both

were

mixed

and

that

Helwys

expressed an

opinion that

Over-

termination of bury's death would be a satisfactory the imbroglio. But he might probably have based this opinionon the fact that Overbury was seriously

ill,and
When

his recovery Bacon had

more

than

doubtful. his part of the

case,

concluded

presided, urged Somerset to confess his guilt. No, my lord/ said the Earl calmly, I came hither with a resolution to defend myself.' that to demonstrate Montague then endeavoured tered the poison of which Overbury died had been adminiswith Somerset's knowledge. But he could
Ellesmere, who
'

get

no

further

than

this

that

Somerset
well
as

had
tarts

been and
not

in the habit of

sending powders,as
but he
were

to Overbury ; jellies,

did

not, and

could

prove

that

the

Crew Serjeant pointreached assumption of

had

poisonous. Nor was the case able to advance beyond the by Bacon ; he could argue only on the which Somerset's guilt, his colleagues powders
case

failed to establish.

In
the
must

day it would be held that the had completely broken down prosecution
our own

for I
no

; and

add

my

conviction

that

Somerset
He
was a

was

in

way
to

murder. privy to Overbury's his

had weary

assented of his

imprisonment, because
but and he
was

he

importunity ;
towards serious it
was

still retained

kindly feeling
the
matter

him,
nature not

evidentlygrieved at
illness. that that As
a

of his

of died

fact,
of

proved even poison,though I admit

Overbury
this is

put beyond

CHAP.

IV,]

CAUSE

CELEBRE.

121

doubt

by

collateral circumstances.
before

Somerset's
were more
or

tion, posiless

however,

judges who

with the agents of the Crown bent disposed, hostilely and he himself without on obtaininghis conviction, both difficult and dangerous. He was advisers, legal of keeping back embarrassed was by the necessity

part of his
truth about

case.

He

was

unable

to

tell the whole

Overbury's imprisonment. He could all that had known not make passed between Lady himself before marriage,or Essex and that Overto the Tower to prevent bury had been committed him from givingevidence which would have certainly quashed Lady Essex's proceedingsfor a divorce. to tell And, in truth, if he mustered up courage this tale of shame, he could not hope that the peers,
most to

of whom
or it,

were

his

would enemies,

givecredence
refrain

that,if they believed

adverse he bore the himself with

it, they would

from Yet

an delivering

verdict.
courage and

when, by
had gone

flickering lightof torches,for his defence. down, he rose to make

that he had consented that of his he
to

ability, the day

knowledgin Ac-

s Overbury'

imprisonment
obstacles in

in

order way

the

no might throw marriage with Lady

Essex, he firmlydenied
of
were was unaware

that he had The kind

to

known
tarts

anything
had
sent

attempts

poison him. wholesome, and of a

to

he

which

Overbury
he
was

; if partial

any The

had

been

tampered with,
he
had them
was

of it.

powders

received
on

from
;

Sir Eobert

and Killigrew,

simplysent
a

and

Overburyhad admitted,in

letter which

before

122

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK I.
no

the
Here

Court,
Crew

that

they

had

done The

him

mischief. from

: interrupted

three

powders

for ; but there had been duly accounted Killigrew was a fourth powder, which had not been accounted assumed) contained poison. for, and had (it was

Now,

it

was

powder sent to it was a Overbury two years before,and, besides, that mere assumptionon the part of the prosecution Somerset's this fourth poison. But powder was made the most this point was to meet of, inability and gave the peers a sufficient pretext for declaring
him the

the

improbable that the of every exact history

Earl

could

member re-

guilty.
composure

The he

Earl had

received exhibited had shown

his

sentence

with the

throughout
how
a

arduous enervated up

day, which by luxury

nature

and

indulgence can
the

be braced self himwould

by

the chill air of

and adversity,

contented

with intercede I have celebrated

expressinga hope that with the King for mercy. dwelt at some lengthon
trial because which up with for it is the
men

Court

the

details of this

last
women

(in English
of rank the of

in jurisprudence) have been mixed

and

the secret
reasons,

of practices it is
one

magician; though,
very unusual may I recital, when
state
was

other In

interest. that
over,

the trial
to

concluding the briefly relieved James was greatly that nothing and he found
been in of

damaging
certain dark dreaded

himself

had
was

disclosed.

It
some

is

that

Somerset

possessionof
which
was

secret, the

revelation
;
so

much
even

by

the

King

that

had precautions

CHAP.

IV.]

DR.

LAMBE.

123

been him

taken,
from

or

at

all events

meditated,
upon the

to

remove

the Court
to

if he entered the been from

dangerous
He The

and topic, would

continue

trial in silenced

his absence.

probably have
could

by

force.

Earl,however,
and James

refrained breathe

hazardous

disclosures,

in peace.

On
who The

July 13, the King pardoned Lady Somerset, of all concerned. the guiltiest was certainly Earl was of death left in prison, with sentence
him for several years, A in

suspended over
doubt,
before himself
to

order, no
months satisfied the

him terrify

into

silence.
to

few have

his

death, James
had

appears
to

that he release

nothing
restored

and fear, Had

to

ordered he

Earl's
would

(January, 1622).
him

lived,he
former fluence in-

probablyhave
and favour.*

his

DE.

LAMBE.

A Dr.

worthy Lambe,

successor or

to

Simon
in

Forman
the
an

appeared in
Stuart

Lamb, who,
a

first two

attained reigns, a quack doctor.

and astrologer A curious story respecting his pretended magicalpowers is related by Richard Baxter in his of the World of Spirits (1691). Certainty Meeting two acquaintances in the street, who desired some evidently experienceof his skill in the
as celebrity
" '

wide

occult
*

art, he
'

invited
Trials

them

home
Carew
*

with

him,

and

See

The

State

;'

'

The

Letters ;' Spedding, The Grand

'

Life and

Letters

;' and Poisoning

1607-1616.

Oyer of S. K. Gardiner, History of England,' vol. iv.,

*

of Lord

Bacon

;' Amos,

124

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

ushered

them
a

into
tree

an

inner up

chamber. before

There, to
their eyes

their

amazement,
middle of

sprang

in the

they had ceased to three diminutive men wonder at this sightsurprising, in their hands, and, nimbly entered,with tiny axes felled the tree. The doctor settingto work, soon
the floor. then dismissed that
or

Before

his he

guests, who
was as

went
a

away
necromancer

with

a as

conviction

potent

Roger
That

Bacon
same

Cornelius

night a
of
one

Agrippa. tremendous gale arose,

visitors with ruins.
not
a

so

that and

the house

of Lambe's

rocked

to

to toppleover fro,threatening

crash,and bury
In great terror
at

the his

man

and

his wife
'

in the

wife

inquired,
The you

Were

you

Dr.

Lambe's

to-day?'
1

husband

And

did when

acknowledgedthat it was so. bring anything away from his house ?'
dwarfs felled the

Yes: foolish

the

tree, he had

been

of the chips, and put enough to pick up some them in his pocket. Here was of the hurrithe cause cane all speed he got rid of the chips; the ! With storm subsided,and the remainder of the immediately night was spent in undisturbed repose. Lambe
was

notorious habits.

for the But his

lewdness

of his life

and
success

his
as

evil

consulted with of

supposed skill and led to his being frequently a soothsayer Duke of Buckingham, by George Villiers, helped to swell the volume Puritans were unpopularity. The
Duke's
resort to
a man

the result that each other's the

the

angered at
character the tool and

of Lambe's

and

calling ; the populace hated

instrument
of the Duke. In

Lambe
1628

as

the

CHAP.

IV.]

DR.

LAMBE.

125

brilliant favourite
man

of Charles every of

I.

was

the
was

best-hated
hurled
at

in that

England, and
the
resources

slander

political animositycould an indisputably supply. The ballads of the time of public opinion inveighed barometer satisfactory his luxuriousness, and even against furiously bitterly his vanity,his immorality, and his his love of dress, He proved incompetence as soldier and statesman. of having poisoned Lords accused was Hamilton, I. himJames self. Lennox, Southampton, Oxford, even had He in his boat,out of the reach of sat while his soldiers perished under the guns of danger, the chastest women He had corrupted in England Ee. of the love-philtre which Dr. Lambe cocted conby means In a word, the air was for him. full of the
him
"
"

darkest

and

dreadest connection

accusations. with the Duke

Lambe's

brought

on

a or

which catastrophe

his

magical

art failed
summer

to foresee
"

prevent.
was

He
13
was
"

was

one returning,

June he

from

when

play at by a recognised
a

the

the

evening it Fortune Theatre,

of

company for the

London

prentices. With
crowded round

fine scent

game,

they

and hooted magician, the Duke's at him as devil, hustlinghim to and fro, and treatinghim with cruel roughness. To save himself
to escort

the unfortunate

from him

further
to
a

violence, he hired
in

some

sailors

tavern

where Moorgate Street, found door ; them make that

he

supped.
of his

many

going forth again, he about the lingered persecutors

a

On

and,
with them

burstinginto
his vengeance,

violent and told

rage, he threatened them

'

he would

126

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK I.
he sailors, his

dance hurried

naked/

Still with

guarded by
the mob

his

homeward,
and both he in

close at

heels,

shouting
minute

and gesticulating, numbers

to

and them

increasingevery fury. In the Old

his

Jewry

turned

face of

with

protectors;
into
one

but this movement stimulated defiance,

construed defence, of passions

a

of
an

the

the rush

to populace at

ungovernable pitch ; they made

which he took

him,
tavern.

from
A

refuge in

the

Windmill

volleyof stones smashed against pane and door with shouts,screams, and yells, they demanded
he should be and
to

; and

that
man

given

up.

But would the

the
not

a landlord,

of poor the

courage wretch

humanity,
to the

throw

the throws

his pursuers

as

huntsman

fox captured him for

some

fangs of
would

his hounds. he

He

detained with The

a

time, and then

he

providedhim
to

before disguise precautionwas the

man was

suffer him hate

leave.

for useless,

is keen

of vision:

resumed, recognised ; the pursuitwas hunted and he was through the streets, pale and with terror, his dress disordered and soiled, trembling of this until he again sought an asylum. The master
a

house, however, fell into

dismissed him But with hastily, could

paroxysm

of

alarm, and
as

four constables

guard. body-

what

these avail
"

hundreds? against

They
stones

were

swept
blows

aside

the the him

doctor, bleeding and

sticks and
no was

exhausted, was
rained
to

flungto
upon

ground,and
until he
was

longer
beaten

able
out

ask for mercy.

One
when and

of his eyes he
was

of its socket ; and

a

rescued

by

posse

of constables

and soldiers,

length conveyedto
at

CHAP.

IV.]

DR.

LAMBE.

127

the borne

Compter

prison,

it

was

dying

man

who

was

unconscious
was

across

its threshold.

Such Charles
for he

the
was

miserable affected
was a

ending
when

of he

Dr. heard

Lambe. of of it ; the The Duke

worse

I.
saw

much it

that

terrible

indication
s

popular
murderers had been would

hostility
had there have
not

against

Lambe'
to

patron.
if the him that

scrupled
would

say

that

they

have his
a

handled
so

;
one

they
of

minced have had

flesh,

every
to

them

might
the them in

piece.
and offenders

Summoning
Aldermen,
;

his

presence bade failed

a

Lord
discover

Mayor
the
an

the

King they

and

when
he

what fine upon

was

impossible City.
of the for
on

task,

imposed

heavy
The

the

ballad fate
an

-writers occasion

day

found

in

the

cian's magi:

attacking
his

Buckingham
contempt
defiance

one

of

them,

commenting
puts
the

supposed
arrogant

for into

Parliament,
his mouth:

following

'

Meddle To th'

with House him

common

matters,
Commons that
that best the
common

common

wrongs,

of the
to
oar

things
how doth
and
at

belong.
row

Leave
And

knows best

to

State

him be them

State

know.
.
.

Though
I'll smile

Lambe
at

dead,
that
can

/'//

stand,
bark

you

shall

see

but

me.'

1 28

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

CHAPTER

Y.

THE

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH
LILLY.

MAGICIANS

WILLIAM

of his Lillywas a prominent, and, in the opinion of many in the most eventful a very contemporaries, important personage a principal actor in the period of English history. He was which diversified the bloody tragedy of civil war farcical scenes ; and while the King and the Parliament for mastery were striving he was in the field, deciding their destinies in the closet. The of both the credulous weak and partieswho sought to be dark counsels," flocked to consult the instructed in destiny's meted out who, with exemplary impartiality, wily Archimagus," of to the extent victoryand good fortune to his clients, according
'
" "

"

profane his name of their malignant the burthen Cavaliers might make the saints might scrupulousamong rhymes a few of the more "keep aloof in sanctified abhorrence of the Stygiansophister and reverential but the great majorityof the people lent a willing and prognostications. to his prophecies ear Nothing was too high for the grasp of his too low, too mighty or too insignificant, or communicative the were as on genius. The stars,his informants, trivial as on the most most important subjects. If a scheme was the King, or to retrieve a stray trinket ; to foot to rescue set on to make the royal authority, honest restore or a frail damsel an the nation of anarchy, or a lap-dog of a surfeit woman ; to cure the oracle to be consulted. His almanacks William Lillywas in the tavern, and quoted in the Senate ; they over were spelled of the soldier, and rounded nerved the arm the period of the The fashionable beauty,dashing alongin her calash from orator.
purses.
"

their

faith

and

the

weight

of

their

few

"

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGTCIANS.

129

St. James's Street

or

Mall,and the prim starched dame from Watling in a plush jerkin, with a staid foot-boy, Bucklersbury,
or

the

ploddingbehind
about

her

"

the

toast reigning

among

"

the

men

of wit
"

town," and the leadinggroaner in a tabernacle concert into the study of the trusty wizard, and poured glidedalternately
into his attentive
The
ear

strange tales
one

of

love,or trade,or
the

treason.
was

Roundhead

stalked in at

door,whilst

Cavalier

hurried out
'

at the other.
a man so

The

confessions of
with

consulted and trusted, variously

a

if written

the candour The

"

of

Cardan

or

Rousseau, would

indeed

be invaluable.

Memoirs
contain and

of William
a

Lilly, though

deficient in this

particular, yet
of himself
or

anecdotes interesting when the

varietyof curious and his contemporaries, which,

cerned, con-

vanity of the writer

be received with

the truth of his art is not

may
'

credence. implicit

and apparent candour of his narrative might simplicity induce a hasty reader of this book to believe him a well-meaning but somewhat silly speculations personage, the dupe of his own
"

The

the

deceiver of himself of the events

as

well
of his

as

of others.
as

But

an

attentive

by himself, will not warrant favourable an interpretation. His systematic so and successful attention to his own his dexterityin interest, keeping on "the windy side of the law," his perfectpolitical and his presence of mind and fertility of resources pliability, when entangledin difficulties, indicate an accomplishedimpostor, not a crazy enthusiast. It is very possible and probable that,at
the outset lawfulness
to

examination

even life,

recorded

of his career,

he

was

real

believer

in the

truth and inclination

. .

of his art, and

so

that he

afterwards

felt no

Of his a delusion. pleasantand so profitable in deception, the presentnarrative exhibits abundant success proofs. of his dupes was The number ate, not confined to the vulgarand illiterof hostile but included individuals of real worth and learning, his and respected and sects,who courted his acquaintance parties His proceedings of sufficientimportdeemed were ance predictions. the to be twice made subjectof a Parliamentaryinquiry; if after the Restoration when a littlemore and even scepticism, find him not more wisdom, might have been expected we of the House of Commons examined respecting by a Committee

part with

"

"

his

of foreknowledge it
"

the
more

Great
move

Fire of London.
our

We
our

know
"

not
see

whether
our

should

anger
"

or

mirth

to

assemblage of

British

Senators

the

contemporaries of
9

130

WITCH,
and

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
in
an

I.

Hampden
which

Falkland, of
into

Milton many

and

Clarendon,
such

age
"

moved

action

so

and

mighty energies

the cause of a great national gravely engaged in ascertaining and fortune-teller, calamity from the prescienceof a knavish to interpretthe symbolicalflames which puzzling their wisdoms of his oracular publications. blazed in the misshapen woodcuts the be mentioned 'As a set-off against these honours may virulent and unceasing attacks of almost all the party scribblers with he shared of the d"y ; but in common their abuse men whose talents
'
"

and

virtues

have

outlived

the malice of their

temporaries. con-

Review. Retrospective

WILLIAM
on

LILLY

was

born

at

Diseworth, in
came

shire, Leicesterand
putable re-

May 1, 1602. family of the

one

He yeoman of

of

an

old

class,and
of
was was

his fatherfrom

was causes

at

time

man

substance, though,
a

he unexplained, William

fell into from age

state

great
sent

poverishm im-

the first of eleven

intended
to

to

be

and scholar,

at the
at

the made

grammar-school
a

Ashby -de-la- Zouch,

to

where In in

he his his

fair progress year he

in his classical studies. be much of future troubled

sixteenth dreams felt

a

began

welfare of his spiritual parents. He frequently spent the night in weeping and praying, and in an agony of fear lest his sins should offend .God.
was

his regarding large concern

chances for the

and salvation,

That

in this exhibition his

career

of

early

pietyhe

already preparingfor

of self-

I will not hypocrisy and deception, enough to assert ; but in after-life his much certainly himself about
was

be

censorious
was

conscience

less

and sensitive,

he ceased

to trouble

the souls of any

of his kith and

kin.

of his the collapse eighteenwhen father's circumstances compelled him to leave school.

He

about

CHAP.

V.]
had

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

131

He

used

his time

he had
on

gainedthe
form.

well that so opportunities form, and the highest highest place

and

that

He could of

spoke

Latin

as

as readily

his

native theme
"

tongue:
all kinds

improvise verses upon any verses, hexameter, pentameter,

"

iambic,sapphic so that if any ingenious phalenciac, putations, from remote schools to hold publicdisyouth came Lillywas alwaysselected as the Ashby-dela-Zouch invariably champion,and in that capacity
won

distinction.
'

'

If any

minister

came

to

examine
nor

he said, I us,' would which I argue I found

was

him, brought forth against

him could unless in the well Latin

with few

tongue,

speakwithout breaking Priscian's head; which, if once they did, I would complain to my master, Non bene intelliget linguare In the derivation of Latinam, nee prorsus loquitur. words, I found most of them defective; nor, indeed, were any of them good grammarians. All and every
of those
went

scholars
to

who

were

of my

form

and

ing stand-

and proved excellent divines ; Cambridge, not so Lilly,was only I, poor William happy; fortune then frowning dition, upon my father's presentconhe not in any capacity to maintain at the me University.' The res angustce domi heavilyupon the pressing and active young he fellow, ingenious, quick-witted, have done Dick Whittingtons set forth as so many
"

before

and His
a

since purse
new

"

to

make

his fortune

in

London chased purthe

City.
like

held
"

suit
a

only 20s.,with which he hose, doublets,trunk, and

from his friends of
9"2

"

and

with

donation

he 10s.,

132

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

took debt in

leave of his father

on ') April 4th,and

(ithen in Leicester gaol for tramping his way to London,

the

company
on

with

'

Bradshaw he had

carrier/ arrived
carrier
7s.

there and

the 9th.

When

the gratified reduced his

as

his servants, his

a

was capital on

to

6d.

in money, three The

suit of clothes

back, two
many

shirts,

bands, one
master to

pairof shoes, and

whom he had

stockings.
"

been
"

recommended
a

Leicestershire

born, like himself

him

certain

Gilbert

Wright, received
"

kindly,purchasingfor him a cloak addition welcome new to a Lilly'sscanty wardrobe; and Lilly then settled down, contentedly enough, to his laborious duties,though they were the tastes of an earnest hardly of a kind to gratify scholar. My work,*he says, was to go before my
' 4

master went street

water

to

church
; to

to

attend clean bucks

my his when

master

when
;

he

abroad
;

make

shoes he

sweep

the

help to
in
a

drive

washed

; fetch

(I have helped to tubs of water in one morning); weed carry eighteen the garden ; all manner I willingly of drudgeries performed etc. ; scrape trenchers/
tub from the Thames

In
the

1624

his mistress he
"

and breast,

came a

I suppose of legacy, contained to her, which

Among
some

others,several
of
;

in (he says) died of cancer into possession by way of small scarlet bag belonging and curious things. some rare amulets, or charms : sigils,
"

Jupiter in trine, others

some

of

the
"

nature

of

Venus

of

iron, and
a

gold,of

the

of bigness

gold pure angel pieceof King thirty -shilling

one

of

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

133

James's
was

coinage.
within
on

In

the

on circumference,

one

side,
In the

engraven,

Vicit Leo
the

de

tribu Judce
a

Tetragram-

maton, and

middle

holy lamb.
were

circumference
three
et

the obverse

side

+++,and

in the

centre, Sanctus

Amraphel and Petrus Alpha

under the

Omega.
framed

this sigil was Accordingto Lilly, circumstances : following

'

His mistress's former

an

husband
to

to

lodge in
his
own

inn, and
throat. for many
"

lie in

into Sussex, happened travelling wherein, not a chamber thereof, in the

many
cut

months

before,a country grazierhad lain,and

After
years, this

night
petually, per-

lodging night's by
a

he

was

and and

followed

which spirit,

vocally

articulately provoked him to cut his throat. He was used and to spit at the I defy thee, I defy thee," frequentlyto say, followed him many body spirit. This spirit years, he not making anytented, disconand he it acquaintedwith ; at last grew melancholy which observed by his wife, she many being carefully him to times hearing him "I defy thee," desired pronounce, acquaint her with
the
cause

of his

distemper,which

he then did.

Away
and

she

went

to Dr. Simon

Forman, who

lived then in

Lambeth,

and having framed this sigil, until he died, hanged it about his neck, he wearing it continually for molested was never more by the spirit.I sold the sigil but transcribed the words verbatim as I have thirty-two shillings,

acquaints him

with

it ; who

related.'

Lilly continued
of Master
out
was

Gilbert
in

longerin the service the plague broke Wright. When

some

time

in

London

1625,
his

he,

with

fellow -servant,

left in have
sorrow

charge of
and

to

taken

He seems house. employer's enough, notwithstanding thingseasily him

a on

the

every

side.

sufferingthat surrounded he hired Purchasing a bass-viol,

in

master

to instruct

him in

playingit
Inn

; the

intervals he Wat

spent
the

in

bowling

Lincoln's

Fields,with

134

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

Cobbler,
six four drink and in

Dick
c

the have

Blacksmith,
sometimes and
so

and been

such -like
at
our

panions. com-

We

work

at
or or

the

morning,
while.

continued times

till three bread

to
was

in the

afternoon, many
funeral
At

without I went there

all that heard

Sometimes

church then

sermons,

of which times I
went
was

great plenty.

other

earlyto
every the
ing morn-

St.

Antholin's,in London, where

a sermon.

there able

The
were were

most

people of
; if any

whole

cityand
it
were

suburbs such
;
no as

out

of town

remained,

remain

habit

of

engaged by parishofficers to a tinued congentleman or woman calamity of

the open that year
was

the

woeful

grievous, peopledying in
streets.

fields and

in open

At

in August, the last,

that increased,

survivingthe
great bill
odd
came

so mortality few people had thoughts of very contagion. The Sunday before the was

bills of

which forth,
was

of five thousand
sacrament

and
at

hundreds, there
well remember

appointed a
the thirteen minister

Clement
do very

Danes'; during
we

whereof distributing

sang

parts of the

11 9th

Psalm.

One

Jacob, our

three that

so was day,the communion he was as givingthe sacrament, went home, and was buried of the plaguethe Thursday following/ Having been led by various circumstances to apply

had we (for fell sick great),

he sought a guide study of astrology, and teacher in the Master Evans, whom person of one he describes as boastful, drunken, and poor, ignorant, knavish ; he had a character, or however, reputation, for erecting future a figure predicting (orhoroscope)

himself

to the

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

135

stolen goods, secrets, restoring discovering and even for raising when it so pleased him. spirits, Of this crafty cheat he relates an extraordinary story. with him, Some time before Lillybecame acquainted Lord and Sir Kenelm Bothwell Digby visited him at his lodgings in the Minories, in order that they might enjoywhat is nowadays called a spiritualistic seance.' The magician drew the mysterious circle, and placed himself and his visitors within it. He

events,

began his caught up

not

invocations from the

but

and others,

suddenly Evans he transferred,

the Thames. him

was

knew

how,

to
a

Battersea Fields, near

Next

morning

countryman

discovered

there, fast

and, having roused him, informed him, in asleep, Evans where he was. in the to his inquiries, answer afternoon sent to his wife,to acquaint a messenger
and dispel the apprehensions she safety, Just as the messenger entertain. might reasonably naturally arrived, Sir Kenelm Digby also arrived, not uncurious to learn the issue of the preceding told This monstrous day's adventure. story Evans and to Lilly, who, I suppose, affected to believe it, asked his him how such
an

her with

his

issue the

chanced knave

to

attend

on

experiment. Because,
the invocation necessary had spirit the the

omitted omission that the

in perreplied, forming rites, he had carelessly and this at suffumigation, offence. It is evident with due

taken
on

insist spirits

being

treated

regardto etiquette. quaint biographical Lilly, by the way, records some of his time ; respectingthe astrologers particulars

136

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
elevate
our

I.

they
that
unseen

are

not

of

nature,

however,
would the

to

ideas of the free

profession. One
with had
manners

almost

suppose of
on

intercourse
an

inhabitants effect

the the

world and

bad exceptionally of the have mortals had

a

morals
or

else the

must spirits

enjoyed it ; penchant for low

who

Poole, who society. Lilly speaks of one William at astrological was a nibbler and, in addition, science, of lime, a plasdrawer an a a terer, gardener, apparitor, he bragged of knowing no a bricklayer ; in fact, fewer than seventeen the versatility trades such was
"

of his

genius !
to

It is

to pleasant

know

that this
to
'

derfully won-

clever fellow could

and
even

condescend

writing poetry (heavensave of which has in his desire to astonish posterity, Lilly, ever, preserveda specimen. Master Poole's rhymes,howmuch to be transferred too offensively are coarse
to

drolling,' the mark!),

these pages. This

man

1652,

at
a

quotes
'

died about 1651 or callings St. Mary Overy's, in South wark, and Lilly : portionof his last will and testament many

of

Item. I
own,

give
worth

to

Dr. Arder
one

all my
of

books, and

one

manuscript
I

Introduction. Lilly's Item. If Dr. Arder gives my wife anything that is mine, 1 may wish the D fetch him body and soul.'
'
"

of my

hundred

Terrified
doctor and
over

at

this
over

uncompromising malediction, the

all the deceased in in books conjurer's handed Poole's them
curse

handed
to

goods
to

who Lilly,
; and

his turn this way

the widow

was

eluded,and
The
true
name

his widow of this

got her
Dr.

rights.
seems,
was

Arder, it

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

137

"

as an practised Delahay. He had originally into poverty, and being driven attorney; but falling bury, from his Derbyshire home by the Countess of Shrewsand looked he turned and physic, to astrology round about him for patients, though with no very

Richard

great success.

He

had

at

one
'

time who
'
"

known used modern

Charles

Sledd, a
and
was

friend
a

of Dr.

Dee,

the

had
a

very

perfect sight
declared

in

crystal, parlance, angel

a

good
Arder
one

medium. often occasion

to

Dr. had
on

Lilly that
a

an

offered him
some

lease of life for

thousand

years, but for the

declined
the of

valuable

unexplainedreasons freehold. However, he dying

at

he
lived out-

Psalmist's

span,

the

ripe old

age

eighty.
A much
more

famous and

magicianwas
in eclipse
out

John

Booker,

who, in
his

1632

1633, gained a great notoriety by

a

of prediction

solar

the

nineteenth de

etc., Reges et Principes/ both the King of Bohemia and Gustavus, King of Sweden, dying during the effects of that eclipse.' John Booker born at Manchester, of good was In his youth he attained a very parentage, in 1601.
' '

of Aries,1633, taken degree Conjunctionibus,' namely,

of

'

Leuitius

Magnis

considerable his
to

in proficiency
we

the

Latin

tongue.
he
was

From

early years
become
an

may

take
"

it that

destined

so great a astrologerhe showed old inexplicable !) for poring over fancy(otherwise In almanacks. his teens he was despatchedto

London

to

serve

his

to apprenticeship

haberdasher

138

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
contracted

I.

in

Lawrence

Lane.

But

whether lacked the

he

to start capital his own on it on account, he abandoned reaching at Hadley, manhood, and started as a writing-master in Middlesex. It is said that he wrote singularly and Roman.' Later in life he well, both Secretary officiated as clerk to Sir Christopher man AlderClithero, of London, and Justice of the Peace, and also to Sir Hugh Hammersley, Alderman, and in these to many responsible positionsbecame well known
i

distaste for the trade, or

citizens

who,

like

Cowper's John
Booker
was

were Gilpin,

'

of

credit and

renown/
a

In star-craft this John His

verses

past

master

upon

the

months, framed

to according
t

their

being blessed astrological significations, made with success, according him to his predictions/ known all over of great England. He was a man honesty,' abhorring any deceit in the art he loved and studied. So says Lilly ; but it is certain that if an deceive himself, if be in earnest, he must astrologer
'

different

he do

not

deceive in

others.

This

Booker

had

much

and was not less an thefts, detecting His knowledge of adept in resolving love-questions. limited ; he understood by no means astronomy was a a good deal of physic great advocate of the ; was

good

fortune

antimonial

cup,

whose

were properties

first

covered dis-

try, by Basil Valentine ; not unskilled in chemisdied in the it. He though he did not practise in 1667, leaving odour of a good reputation sweet behind him a tolerable library (which was purchased a widow, four by Elias Ashmole, the antiquary),

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

139

and children,

the the

MSS.

of his

annual

tions. prognostica-

During
his
l

as

very his he

Long Parliament period he published which is described Bellum Hibernicale,7 sober and judicious book,'and, not long
a

before wherein

death,

small

treatise

on

Easter

Day,

a displayed

laudable

erudition.

something to say about a Master Nicholas who of a came Fiske, licentiate in physic, and was born near good old family, Framlingham, in He was for the University, educated but Suffolk. preferred stayingat home, and studying astrology and medicine, chester, which he afterwards at Colpractised Lilly has
also and
'He
was a

at several
person very

in places

London.

studious,laborious,of good apprehension, and had by his own in industryobtained both astrology, physic, arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, and algebra, singular resolve horary questionsvery judgment : he would in astrology abilities. He was quisitely exsoundly,but was ever diffident of his own
skilful in the art of directions
a

upon

and nativities,

had

happy performing judgment very unthat he had no he was for genius in teaching his scholars, he never His own hath often told Matthew son perfected any. his father did teach any scholars in his time, they that when me would He had Scorpio learn of him. and \ principally ascending (/), envious to those he thought had was more secretly parts than himself. However, I must be ingenuous,and do affirm that by which the to know frequentconversation with him I came were best authors, in the and much to enlargemy judgment, especially art of directions : he visited me after I became most days once his most doubtful acquaintedwith him, and would communicate questionsunto me, and accept of my judgment therein rather

.good genius in

thereupon ; but

than

his own.'

Resuming his own importantpurchase

life-story, Lilly records

which he made
in

an

1634

"

the

140

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

Ars Notaria,'a large the treatise, astrological and parchment volume, enriched with the names of those angelswhich lieved are pictures thought and beinstruct in all the to teach and by wise men

great

'

several liberal sciences

"

as

if heaven

were

scientific

academy,with the angels givinglectures as professors of astrology, medicine,mathematics, and the like ! sought to extend his fame a as magician by attemptingthe discoveryof a of treasure quantity allegedto have been concealed in the cloister of Westminster Abbey ; and having obtained from he repaired the authorities, permission winter one thither, night, accompanied by several a supposed expert gentlemen,and by one John Scott,
how he in the
use

Next

he

describes

of the
were

Mosaical

or

diviningrods.
about
over

The

hazel rods and

on

duly playedround
side turned
one

the the

cloister,

the

west

other,a

proof that the treasure lay there. The labourers, after digging to a depth of six feet, a came upon coffin ; but as it was refrained from not heavy, Lilly omission which he afterwards regretted. an openingit, From the cloister they proceeded to the Abbey Church, where, upon a sudden, so fierce, so high,so and loud wind burst forth, that they a blustering
feared them. the
west

end rods

of the would

church
not one,
move were

would
at

fall upon all ; the

Their

candles and
or

torches,all but
very

extinguished,

partner, dimly. John Scott, Lilly's and knew to think not what was amazed, turned pale, the dismiss command to or do, until Lilly gave This beingdone, all was and the demons. quiet again,

burned

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

141

party returned
since be
*

home

about

midnight.
Master any

I could

never

induced/ says

with Lilly, in such-like

sublime actions.
'

impertinence,to join with

The
true
reason
O

miscarriage of the business,'he adds,

'

was

by

of

so

many
were

operation ; for there

others
so deriding,

peoplebeing present at the about thirty, some laughing,

if we had not dismissed the demons, I believe most part of the Abbey Church had and intelligent been blown down f Secrecy operators,' and knowledge of he adds, with a strong confidence best for this work/ what are they are doing, They and collusion. are, at all events, for conspiracy In reading a narrative like this,one finds it not
'

that

easy to

one's satisfy how

self how far it is

far it has been

written

in

or good faith,

compounded of credulity of conscious or deception how far the writer has imposed upon himself, or is knowingly unwittingly imposingupon the reader. That Lillyshould gravely if aware such that it transmit to posterity a record, audacious invention, seems was an hardlycredible ;
"

and and

yet it is
and

still less credible should believe

that

man

so

shrewd

keen-witted

in the

a blast of directing because the Abbey Church they resented his search for a hidden treasure,to which theyat least could have claim ! As great wit to madness no nearlyis allied, between is there a dangerous proximity so credulity who beginsby being a and imposture,and the man Perhaps dupe often ends by becoming a knave.

demons,

in their

of operations wind against

there

are

times

when

the axiom

should

be reversed.
to have

astrological pursuits Lilly's appear

affected

142

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

his health much

he

grew

lean

and
so

haggard,and
effects of
to

suffered

from
to

hypochondria ;
try
the curative

that,at length,he
country air, Hersham, a

resolved and

removed, in the spring of 1636,

quiet and
Thames.

picturesquehamlet,
He did
not

near

Walton-on-theLondon

give

up

his

house,
he

however, until
settled finally and
a

thirtyyears
at
no

later
as a

(1665), when

Hersham small

country gentleman,

person

of

consideration. in his rural

Having
our

recovered

his health
to

quarters,

great magicianreturned

London, and practised

openly his favourite art. But a secret intelligence him that he was not an adept, sufficiently apprising into he the he again withdrew country, where for a coupleof years, immersed, I suppose, remained
in occult
on

studies.
a

We

may

take

it that

he

really

entered
'

in 1644, when career a professional him the first to bring out happy thought inspired Merlinus issue of his prophetical almanac, or yearly jointed In his usual abrupt and disAnglicus Junior.'
'

'

of style he gives the followingaccount I had his publication : given, one day, the copy thereof the then Mr. unto [afterwardsSir Buistrode]Whitlocke, who by accident was reading thereof in the House of Commons. Ere the Speaker
'

took and

the

chair,one

looked

upon

and it, when

so

did I

many,

got copies thereof; which,

John
Booker licenser of all mathematical
at

heard, I

myself to applied
he
was

to license

it,for then
He
...

books.

wondered

the

book, make
many

many

terations, impertinentobliit
was

formed

swore objections,

not

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

143

betwixt to distinguish King and Parliament possible ing [0 shrewd John Booker !]; at last licensed it accordto his own fancy. I delivered it unto the printer, had five of the who being an arch Presbyterian, to inspect it,who could make nothingof it, ministry for in that I but said that it might be printed, The first impression meddled not with their Dagon.
was some

sold in less than

to [copies]

one

week. of

the

members the

presented I comParliament, plained

had
to

When

of John my
as

Booker,
me me

who licenser, forthwith if any I

defaced

book I

they gave
and let

order know

it reprint resist fit : it.'

me so

would,

durst

in the

or reprinting

adding what
forth
as

thought
have
'

the second In

time

it

came

I would

June, 1644, Lillypublishedhis

also three issued
'

Supernatural

and Sight,'

which,
sold.

in He

King's Prophecy,'of days,eighteenhundred copieswere

the second he volume made
use

The

White

of

his

'

phetical Pro-

in Merlin,' and nativity,

which

of the

King's

was discoveringthat his ascendant about June, approachingto the quadratureof Mars

1645, delivered
as

himself

of

this

oracular fell from

utterance,
the

ambiguous as any that the Pythian priestess :

'

every

lipsof

If

now

we

stealeth a victory fight, to be

'

upon

us

"

which

he afterwards boasted

clear

of prediction would

the defeat of Charles I. at

Naseby,and,of
have
'

course,

equallywell have served to victory. Whitlocke, in his

his
own

explaineda royal
of Affairs in in astrologer the

Memorials
met

Times/

states

that he

144

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

the

spring of 1645, and jestingly asking him what events to take place, were likely Lillyrepeatedthis that in 1648 prophecy of a victory. He remarks of Lilly'sprognosticationsfell out some very his to the King'sfall from as particularly strangely,
'

horse

about
a

this
man

time/
so as

But

it would of

have

been

strange if
and
so

well

informed

public affairs,

been Lilly,had never And in his forecasts. a lucky coincidence will right in credit for a long time, his set an astrologer up failures beingforgotten. numerous memorable and eventful year he pubIn this same lished with an his StarryMessenger,' interpretation mock which had been of three or parhelia, suns, the 29th of May, 1644, King in London on seen Charles II. 's birthday. Complaintwas immediately of ExaminaCommittee made tion to the Parliamentary

shrewd,

William

'

that
matter.

it

contained

treasonable before upon

"

and the and it,

scandalous

Lillywas

summoned
were

Committee,
voted the
"

but

several of his friends

him chargesagainst
so

frivolous his usual

as,

indeed,theywere
came

that he met

with

good fortune,and
the old school

off with All

to

colours. flying of the Englishastrologers been startled and

seem

have

confounded

by

the

vations inno-

dashing young magician,with his and political and selfpredictions yearlyalmanacks Mr. certain William a advertisement, especially didly Wolverhampton, and canHodges, who lived near did more than confessed that Lilly by astrology he himself could do by the crystal, though he under-

of this

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

145

stood its
a

use

as

well

as

any

man never

in

he could strong royalist, for the

England. Though strike out any good

fortune

King's party the stars in their Charles Stuart. The angels courses foughtagainst of the crystal he interviewed whom were by means and Ariel ; but his life was Gabriel, wanting Raphael, and holiness which ought to have been in the purity who was cations in a man favoured by communiconspicuous from such high celestial sources. A proof of his skill is related by Lillyon the of Lilly's authority partner,John Scott. Scott had some knowledge of surgery and physic ; Will Hodges,who had had at one time been a so business schoolmaster. Wolverat Having some hampton, Scott stayedfor a few weeks with Hodges, and assisted him in dressing wounds, letting blood, and other chirurgical When the point matters. on of returning to London, he asked Hodges to show him the face and figure of the woman he should his Hodges carried him into a "field near marry. bade Scott set his foot house, pulledout his crystal, and, after a pause, desired him to look againsthis, into the crystal, and describe what he saw there. I see,' saith Scott, a ruddy-complexioried wench, in a red waistcoat,drawinga can of beer.' She will be your wife/ cried Hodges. You Scott. 'So soon are mistaken,sir,' rejoined I come to London, I am as engaged to marry a tall gentlewoman in the Old Bailey.' the red gentlewoman,' will marry You replied assurance. Hodges,with an air of imperturbable
"

'

'

'

10

146

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
his

I.

On

returning to
and taken

London,
that
to

Scott, to
tall another of inn

great
had

astonishment, found
him, jilted
Two years

his

gentlewoman

herself the

husband.
a

in afterwards, refreshed

course

Kentish

journey,he
; ;

himself its

at

an

in

bury Canter-

fell in love with

maid barruddy-complexioned

and,

when

he

married

her, remembered
Mr.

her
'

red

waistcoat, her

avocation, and

Hodges

his

crystal/ An amusing story is told of this man Hodges. had A neighbour of his, who lost his horse,recovered the animal by acting upon the astrologer's Some years afterwards he unluckily conceived advice. the idea of playingupon the wise man a practical joke, the co-operation of one of his friends. and obtained recovered his horse, he said,in the He had certainly him, but it was Hodges had shown purely a way chance, and would not happen again. So come, let
'

us

play him
the
on

trick. end and

I will leave my

some

boy
we

or

other

at

town's

with

horse, and
to

will then

call

Hodges
was was

put him
would

the test.'
said it
was

This horse
'

done, and
and lost, what

Hodges
never

true

the

be recovered.

thought
end.'

fine skill you is

had/ laughed the

a

gentleman;
town's

my

horse

walking in
an was

lane

at

the

Whereupon
habit,asserted
owner

Hodges, with
that the
never see

oath, as
gone,

was

his evil that his

horse him

and

would
man

wise and

without
to

mercy,

the again. Ridiculing the gentleman departed,

hastened

the

town's

end,

and

there, at

the

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

147 the

the appointed place,

boy lay
!

stretched

upon

with ground, fast asleep, but the horse Back

to
was

the bridle round

his arm,

gone

Hodges hurried the chap-fallen squire, of his incredulity, ashamed and eagerlyseeking But no ; the conjurer assistance. swore freely Be
'
"

gone

"

be gone

about He
went

your and

business he

; go

and

look for

your and

horse.'
north and

looked,east
saw never

and

west,

south, but his horse

more.

Let Dr.

us

next

hear

what of

tapper,the
He

parson

Lillyhas to tell Great Lindford, in

of which

us

of

inghamshire, Buck-

the advowson
to him.
to

sprang of

from

good

old

parish belonged stock, according

the witness

Eobert brother,
was

to

be

made

King James himself. For when his Napper,an opulent Turkey merchant, baronet in James's reign, a some
he could
more
'

arose dispute

whether
or

prove

himself

tleman gen-

for three exclaimed the

descents.

King,

I will

he is of above
; family

three hundred

all of
was

them, by my
title of

'By my soul,' for tapper, that certify years' standingin his soul,gentlemen!' The
of arts ;
seems

parson

arid truly master legitimately

to

his claim

the

doctor,however,

to

have been dubious.

he
never

one Miscarrying

day in

the

pulpit,

after ventured his house

some a

into

it,but

all his lifetime

to

keptin
for

excellent

scholar

officiate

good salary. Lillyspeaks cine, of life and knowledgeof medihighlyof his sanctity sickness by that he cured the falling and avers and other diseases by amulets. constellated rings,
10"2

him, allowinghim

148

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

The the for

a

parents of

maid

who

suffered
on

from severely
one

sickness falling
cure.

to him, applied

occasion,

He

fashioned of which

for her she

constellated

ring,

upon Her

wearing

completely recovered.
known the
cure

parents chanced
done
'

to make

to

some

who scrupulous divines, it

was

immediatelyprotestedthat the ring/ Cast away by enchantment.

'

theysaid
you
a

it's diabolical ! it

God

cannot

bless you,

if

do not

cast

away.'
maid
was

The

well, and
time.

the

epilepsy, enduring the

weary be At

old

ringwas thrown into again afflicted with her pain and misery for a
the well to the maid Thus

last the

parents caused
from

emptied, and
use

regained the ring,which

of,and recovered
year she
or

again made

her fits.

for a went on things divines, hearingthat with her

two, until the Puritan

resumed the the sisted ring,in-

had

parents until theythrew

the

ring away
with such

altogether ; whereupon
violence that

fits returned

told theybetook themselves to the doctor, their story, acknowledgedtheir fault, and once more besought his assistance. But he could not be persuaded that those who despised to render it, observing God's mercies not were capable or not worthy of them. enjoying We do not dismiss this story as entirely apocryphal, or knowing that,in the cure mitigationof nervous fluence. indiseases, the imaginationexercises a wonderful There
4

are

well-authenticated
a

instances

of

faith

healing
It would

'

not

whit

less

extraordinarythan

this

case

described be

ring.

the and by Lillyof the maiden trivial, perhaps,to hint that a

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

149

good

many

maidens

have

been
a

cured

of

some,

at

of least,

their ailments

by

ring.

Lilly printed a collection of prophecies, with the explanationand verification of Aquila ; or, The White King'sProphecy/ as also the nativities of ArchbishopLaud and and the Earl of Strafford, a
'

In 1646

learned

speech,which
'

the

latter

intended

to

have

spoken on the scaffold. In the followingyear he unto Astrology/ or completed his Introduction Christian Astrology/ and was summoned, along with John Booker, to the head-quartersof Fairfax,
'

at

Windsor.
and

They
in

were

conveyed thither
with
a

in and

great
four

pomp

circumstance,
where

coach

horses,welcomed
a

garden

hearty fashion, and feasted in Fairfax General lodged. In the

with the

course

of their interview
:

generalhe

said to

them
*

That

God

had

blessed
was

the

and

yet their work

not

along with them but themselves,

and both and

until

His

the welfare

signalvictories, finished. He hoped God would go work done. was They sought not of the good people and tranquillity
army many

with

whole

resolved to sacrifice nation ; and, for that end, were fortunes. their lives and their own As for the art that Lilly

Booker Word

studied,he hoped
:

it

was

lawful

and

agreeableto
not

God's

he himself understood

it not, but doubted

a

they
both.'

both feared God, and

: Lillyreplied

therefore had

good opinion of

them

Certainly, My lord, I am glad to see you here at this time. both the people of God, and all others of this nation, are very and favour unto them, in directing sensible of God's mercy, love,
'

the Parliament
a

to nominate

and

elect you

General

of their armies,

person

so

valiant. so religious,

150

WITCH,
The

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
your

I.

'

several conduct

unexpected
will eternize

victories obtained the

same

under

lency's Excel-

unto

all posterity.
with you you and your is

'We
army

are

confident

of God's

going along
He
be the will

until the

great work,
we

for which

ordained

both,
and
a

which fullyperfected,
of your and settlement and
t

hope
over

conquering
; and unto

version sub-

and firm

the Parliament's
peace

enemies nation

all the

quiet God's glory,

we Christians,

then

full satisfaction of tender

consciences.
trust

Sir,as

for

we ourselves,

in God

and,

as

believe in Him. and

we

We
to

consonant

study any art but what is lawful which the Scriptures, Fathers,and antiquity,
do
not to believe.'

humbly desire

you

paid a visit to Hugh Peters,the had lodgings in the Puritan who famous ecclesiastic, Castle. They found him reading an idle pamphlet,' London that morning. which he had received from Are not you he exclaimed. thou art herein,' Lilly, there also ?' Yes, that I am,' he answered. follows : The stanza relating to Lillyran as They
afterwards
'
1

'

'

From The
And

Sibylsso silly, curst Lilly, Dr. Sibbald's Shoe-Lane Philly,

of William predictions

th' oracles of the

Good

Lord, deliver with

me.'

After
some

much

conference

Hugh

Peters,
c

and be
to

the two discourse betwixt not to private and Master Lilly returned divulged/ they parted, London. In
1

1647

he

published The
Ambrose Elias of

World's Merlin
'

Catastrophe/ (both or
*

The

of Prophecies

which

were

translated

by

of the

Government
'
"

Ashmole), and Trithemius the World, by the Presiding

volume.
to
a

all three tracts in one Angels his services Notwithstanding retained Lilly secretly cause,

the

Parliamentary
attachment

strong

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

151

towards

Charles
a

L,

and

he

was

consulted

by

Mrs.

lady who enjoyedthe royalconfidence, of the King, to the best placefor the concealment as After the he escaped from when Hampton Court. been had usual sham of 'erecting a figure' gone through,Lillyadvised that a safe asylum might be
Whorwood,
found
1

in

Essex, about
my of

twenty

miles

from

London.

She

liked

being herself
in Essex

judgment very well/ he says, and a place sharpjudgment, remembered

that where distance, for his
was an

about

excellent

house,and
either

all conveniences
an

guided by
went

irresistible

reception.But, misled or destiny, by

been sometimes

Ashburnham,

whose

good
in
to

faith has the

doubted,he
and Isle of

away himself

surrendered

westward, night-time Colonel Hammond, in the

Wight.
another unfortunate also

With

episode in
connected.

later career,

Lillywas

the at Carisbrooke King'sconfinement in considerable in arms, numbers, rose with Lord time many of the Goring ; at the same best ships behalf of the and a movement on revolted, the citizens of London. King was begun among of His Majestythen laid his design to escape out prison by sawing the iron bar of his chamber window and anchored ship was provided, ; a small the Castle, far from into Sussex ; not to bring him horses were providedready to carry him through
1

King's During the Kentishmen, and joined

the

Sussex
the army

into in
to

Kent,

so

that he

might
thence

be
to

at the

head

of

Kent,

and where

from

march would

diately immehave

London,

thousands

then

152

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

armed the make also

for him.'

Lillywas
a

with brought acquainted in the Bow iron Lane

to

and employed plot,

a

locksmith

saw

for

cutting asunder
aqua

bar, and
body every-

procured a supply of
knows, the King
was

fortis.
to

But, as
force his

unable
even

body

through the
of the When Island
to

narrow

casement,

after the removal

bar,and
the

the

plotfailed.
sent

Parliament

Commissioners

into the

with Charles the terms of a concordat, negotiate of whom Lord Saye was one, Lady Whorwood and advice. After assistance again sought Lilly's he told her the Commissioners perusinghis figure/
'

wTould

arrive in the Island hour when the

on

such

date

elected

day
these

and

were

missioners King would receive the Comand their propositions soon as as ; and read,advised the King to signthem, and in
the Commissioners
to London.

all haste to accompany

from the capital, being then far removed mentary and the citizens stoutly enraged againstthe Parliado so. Charles promised he would leaders, Lord suade he allowed But, unfortunately, Saye to dis-

The

army

him
assurance

House would

of
see

the on signing the propositions, that he had a powerfulparty both in the of Commons, who Lords the House and from that
was

he

obtained lost and

more

favourable his last

tions. condiof his

Thus his retaining enemies.

almost

chance

crown,

the designs of baffling

days,was at Windsor occasion,when he was on one Castle, taking the air Wharton's he looked through Captain upon the leads,
Whilst
the

King, in

his last

CHAP.

V.J

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

153

'Almanack.'
to

'My book/
A

saith

he, 'speaks well Allen, who

as

the weather/

Master

William

was

saith his antagonist, 'What standingby, inquired, his remarked Mr. Lilly ?' I do not care for Lilly,' me/ infusing Majesty,'he has always been against bitterness into his expressions. Sir/ observed some and writes but is an honest man, Allen, 'the man
'
'

what

his
'

art

informs that in

him/

'

believe

it/

said

his

Majesty,
well
as

and
man

any

Lillyunderstands Europe.'
of State

as astrology

In 1648
services
a

year,

acknowledgedLilly's with a grant of "50, and a pensionof "100 which, however, he received for two years

the Council

only. following January,while the King lay at St. James's House, Lillybegan his observations, he tells us, in the following oracular fashion : I am I beg and expect justice serious, ; either fear shame or beginsto questionoffenders. The loftycedars begin to divine a thundering
'
'

In

the

hurricane

is at

hand

God

elevates

man

ible. contemptdislike in the

Our

demigods
very

are

sensible,we
in London

begin to
"

their

actions

much

more

country.
'

Blessed them His

be

God,

who

encourages of undaunted
a

His

servants,
go
on

makes with

and valiant,
:

to spirit

decrees
men

upon

sudden, great expectations

a

arise,and
time draws

believe generally nigh.'

quiet and

calm

154

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
seems

I.

Our

who garrulous and egotistical conjurer, have believed the

course

to really

that he exercised of events,

considerable his

influence upon
was no more

though

tion posi-

important than
to

that of the
connect

flyupon
monplaces com-

the

wished wheel, evidently with the execution

these

of Charles
'

I.

In Christmas

of

Groby, and
with

House,

he writes, the Lord holidays,' Gray Hugh Peters, sent for me to Somersetdirections to bring them two of my
so. we

almanacks.

I did
"

Peters
are

and

he read and

January's
knaves,"

observations.
saith

If

not

fools

Then justice." theywhispered. / understood not their meaning until his Majesty was beheaded. They appliedwhat I wrote of justiceto of his Majesty, which was be understood contrary to the first day of January, intention ; for Jupiter, my became direct; and Libra is a sign signifying justice. had such I implored for justice as generally upon cheated in their places, beingtreasurers and such-like

he,

"

we

shall do

officers.

I had

not

then

heard

the least intimation

of

and yet the first day bringingthe King unto trial, thereof I was it beingupon a Saturday. there, casually For Saturday in the going to Westminster every I casually met afternoon,in these times, at Whitehall wilt thou Peters. Come, Lilly, go hear the King said I. tried?" "When?" "Now just now; go I did so, and was with me." permittedby the guard of soldiers to pass up to the King'sBench. Within the judges ; presently one quarter of an hour came his Majesty, who well,and majestically, spoke excellently without he impediment in the least when
"
"

CHAP.

V.]
I

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

155

spoke.
worth his you
;

saw

the silver

top of his staff unexpectedly

was

fall to the and

ground,which
then
"

took

up the

by

Mr.

Rush-

I heard

Bradshaw,
of which words

Sir,instead : Majesty their power, interrogate

condition.''
These

judge,say to answering the Court,

becomes
not
one

in your and

heart pierced my prehend soul,to hear a subjectthus audaciouslyto rewith and anon who ever his Sovereign, replied and

great magnanimity

prudence.' of Colchester he tells us that during the siege Lilly sent for,to Booker, were and his fellow-astrologer, and in the soldiers by their vaticinations, encourage them the town this they succeeded, as they assured the which was would be surrendered soon actually
"

case.

Our

however, prophet,
all his

if he

could have

have

tained ob-

leave to enter his and sympathies,

the town, would

carried all
tion condi-

knowledge
army,

of the
to

of affairs in the Parliament's

Sir Charles

had He a narrow RoyalistGovernor. of escape with his life during his sojournin the camp the besiegers. A coupleof guns had been placedso St. Mary's Church, and had done to command as

Lucas,

the

to it. great injury

One

afternoon

he

was

in standing when

the the

redoubt

and

talking with
for

the

cannoneer,

everybodyto look to himself, he could see as through his glass that there was a piecein the Castle loaded and directed againsthis in hot ran work, and readyto be discharged.Lilly old ash-tree, haste under and an immediatelythe their heads. cannon-shot No came hissingover but begone, for there dangernow/ said the gunner,
' '

latter cried out

156

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
was.

I.

are

five

more

!' loading
cannon

And
were

so

it

Two

hours

later those
cannoneer

and fired,

unluckily

killed the

who

had

given Lillya timely

have
to

warning.
The
a acquired In 1651 he expended "1,030 in considerable fortune. the purchaseof fee-farm rents, equalin value to "120 And in the followingyear he bought per annum. his house at Hersham, with some lands and buildings, In the same for "950. Annus his year he published Tenebrosus/a title which he chose not because of the
'
'

of astrology must practice for Lilly is known lucrative,

been

ingly exceed-

have

of great obscurity
'

the solar and

but eclipse/

in allusion held

to

those

underhand

clandestine

counsels

in

of which he would England by the soldiery, never, giveinformation to any Parliament except in generals, man/ Unfortunately, Lilly's knowledge was always embodied in generals/and the misty vagueness of his vaticinations renders it impossible for the reader down definite meaning. You to pin them to any Their to none. or apply them to all events may elastic indications of things good and be evil may
'
"

made almost

to
as

suit the well

as

events

of the

nineteenth

century
be owned that allof

those Mr.

of the seventeenth. William

must Lilly

Many
to have

characters

with great success. represented

one
"

But

essential
our an

if

we

desire to the
was

secure

the confidence
"

and contemporaries, honest

man,

respect of posterityof
never

I fear he the

able to he

personate
could
at

Of successfully. times displayhe

craft and
a

cunning

records

strikingillustration"

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

157

evidentlywith never apparently

entire

satisfaction it

to

himself,and
not

that suspecting

might

be

so

favourablyregarded by others, and especially by those plain, commonplace people who make no pretensions to hermetic learningor occult knowledge, ideas as to the laws but have certain unsophisticated of morality and fair dealing.
In his 1651 stood the it
"

'

Almanack

'

he

asserted

that the Parliament that

upon

foundations, and tottering

and soldiery
a

conclusion

commonalty would combine against onlooker at which every intelligent

*

must

by that time have arrived,without the starryheavens. figure or consulting This previous the attempt at forecasting
'

a erecting

future

'

lay

for

whole much

week,' says

its

author,
the

'

in the Parliament

House,

criticised

by
the

Presbyterians ; one
that, and
a a

this disliking the

sentence, another
In end

others
was

liking dismade

whole. be

motion

that it should

examined
to

by

Committee

of the

House,
errors.
'

with

instructions

report concerning its

messenger

attached

me

by

warrant
ere

from

that

Committee.
came,

I had hasted

privatenotice
Mr.

the

messenger

ever SpeakerLenthall, my He was friend. exceeding glad to see me, told me what was done, called for Anglicus,"marked the tormented the Presbyterians so highly. passages which for Mr. I presently sent Warren, the printer, an

and

unto

"

obliterated what assured cavalier,

was

most

offensive,

put in other
to

more

have

six

words, and desired only significant amended againstnext morning, which

158

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
my
own

I.

very
was

he brought me. honestly found to deny the book six books. I told him

I told him fault

design only
be all

with, to
he

the

I doubted said

would
are

examined. rogues.

"Hang
I'll swear

them!"

he; "they

myself to the devil ere they shall oath." have an advantageagainst you, by my I appeared before the Committee. The day after, and the true At first they showed me Anglicus," and printed it.' asked if I wrote Lilly,after pretending to inspect it, denied all that it must been have knowledge of it, asserting do view him with to written a injury by some time producing malicious at the same Presbyterian,
1 "

the six amended of the

were

to copies,

the great

Committee.
to

The
to

and persurprise plexity majority,however,

some

inclined

send

him

and prison,

had
one

proposedNewgate, others
Brown, of Sussex, who
remarked Lilly,
House
were

the

Gate

House, when

had

been
to

influenced
nor

to favour

that neither

Newgate

the Gate send their

the Parliament

accustomed

to

and convenient suggested that the most prisoners, would be for the Sergeant-atand legitimate course Arms into custody. to take this Mr. Lilly
'

Mr.

who Strickland, ambassador

had
or

for many

years

been

the

Parliament's
he
'

agent in Holland,when
:

saw
"

how I
came

they inclined, spokethus

into purposely
man

the Committee in those you

to

this

day
is

to

see

the
so

who

is

so

famous I I
us,

parts where
his him be
name

I have famous A book

long
all is

continued.

assure

over

Europe.

come

do

justice.
his ; he

produced by

and

said to

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

159

denies him. will with

it ;

we

have this is

not

Truly
write
our

proved it,yet will commit It is likely he great injustice.

next

year, and
so

acquaintthe
well he
to

whole It
ere

world is my he be

and injustice,
to

may. be his

first opinion, committed."

i

prove

the book

Another
"

old friend of mine do

not

spokethus
many these many

You done many

unto

know

the

services

this

man or

hath how

for the

Parliament
our

years,

times, in
him,
he he
never

on greatest distresses,

plying ap-

hath

refreshed
us

our

languishing
in
our

expectations ;
most

failed
I

of comfort you of the many his

have honest

unhappy kept up
men

distresses. the

assure

both spirits

writings the soldiery,

of
us

peopleof
; and

this
at

nation,and
a

ment Parlia-

for last,

to his),

be thus

violent

of his pen (if it were slip againsthim, I must tell you,

I fear prove him

the

consequence

urged
It is my wary,

out

of the
to

book

will

true. effectually

counsel and

admonish

hereafter to be him."

more

for the

present to

dismiss
1

Notwithstandinganything
I behalf,
was

that

was

spoken
to

on

my

ordered The

to

stand

committed

the my

Sergeant-at-Arms.
person
me

messenger he

attached
was

said I he

was was

his

prisoner. As
to

away,

called

bring

me

carrying again. Oliver

army,

Cromwell, Lieutenant-General
never seen

me,

caused

me me

to

he
went

beheld steadfastly with the

for

messenger; asks

having be produced again, when then I a good space, and but a instantly young
the messenger what he

of the

clerk of that

Committee

160

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
Until that

I.

did with

me.

Where
cannot

is the warrant? seize Mr.

is

shall [not]. or Lilly, Will you have an action of false imprisonment against but next So I escaped that night, you? day stayed That the warrant. went to night Oliver Cromwell

signed

you

Mr. R
to take

rriy friend,and

said

"

What,
be

never

man

cause Lilly's

in hand

but

? yourself

None

to

take his

part but
but

you?

He

shall not

long
to

there." mittee, Comin

Hugh

Peters

spoke much they

were

in my resolved

behalf
to

the
me

lodge

the

drunken a Sergeant'scustody. One Millington, much and so was Cawley member, was enemy, my I had whom and Chichester, unto a deformed fellow, done
'

several courtesies. First thirteen

days I

was

and prisoner,

though

every
to

I had a petition day of the Committee's sitting churlish still deliver, Presbyterians yet so many could
not

I appeared of the
unto

get it accepted. The

was

last

day

Mr. Joseph Ash thirteen,

my said I desired
to
cause

made

chairman,

whom and

tion, being related, he took my petishould be bailed in despite of them

procure
as

but all, could

I would

many

friends

as

be

there. person

Sir Arthur
of excellent

a Galloway,

Haselrigand Major parts,appearedfor me,

came

and

many

more

of my

old friends

in.

After two

whole

arguingof my cause by Sir Arthur and and other friends, the matter came Major Galloway, and a Committee be bailed, to this point : I should the printer. The order of the nominated to examine who Committee him to being brought afterwards should be Chairman, he sent me word, do what I
hours'

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

161

would,
would
'

he

would

see

all the

knaves

hanged,or

he

examine

the

printer.This

is the truth

of the

story.
anxious he may be to however Lilly's biographer, his and imitate whitewash biographersgenerally, of his life the great hero,feels that in this episode fell miserably below the heroic standard, and seer well as unveracious was as guiltyof pusillanimous and dishonourable conduct. Yet Lillyis evidently of the unfavourable unaware lightin which he has shown and ambles himself, along in an easy and well- satisfied mood, as if to the sound of universal applause. lost his second On February26, 1654, Lilly wife,
and with I

regret to

say he

seems

to

have

borne

the

loss

well astonishing equanimity. On April 20 Cromfrom the House our astrologer's expelled great and therebywon his enemies, the Parliament men,
most

cordial

burst
some

German
him

applause. He breaks out, indeed, into a of devotional praise Gloria Patri as if for A specialand never-to-be-forgotten mercy. then resident in London, sent to physician,
" "

the

following epigram:
G-eneroso Domino
:

StropheAlcaica:

Gulielmo Lillio

de Astrologo,

dissolutosuper Parliamento
'

Quod calculasti Sydere prsevio, Miles peregit numine conscio ;

Gentis videmus Marti togaque
nunc

Senatum

gravileviatum.'
ever wore

His
soon

widower's

weeds, if he

them,
in
11

he

discarded, marrying his

third wife

October,

162

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

eightmonths
his latest he nativity,
to

after the

decease

of his second.

This,
his

partner and helpmate,was

says,
a

in signified

have wife

been also.

by Jupiterin Libra, which seems great comfort to him, and perhaps to

*

his

Jupiterin
the

Libra

'

sounds

as

well,

indeed, as 'that blessed word, Mesopotamia.'

In reference
to

restoration
an

of

Charles

II.,in
to

1660, Lilly unearths

Ambrose before.
'

old

prophecy attributed
says, 990

Merlin, and
calls

written, he
the Lion
was

years

He

King

James

of

Righteousness,
would I.
was

and

saith, when

he

died, or

dead, there
this

reign a noble The prophet

up and calls him says copy
'

White
discovers his

King

Charles

all his

his flying troubles, his

down,
'

imprisonment,
What
concerns our

death, and
II.

Aquila.

Charles

is,'

of Lilly,the subject it is thus

:

discourse

; in the

Latin

Deinde

ab Austro

veniet

cum

Sole super

et super

spumantem inundationem

ligneos equos, Pullus Aquilce maris,

domum

in Britanniam. navigans Et applicans statim tune et cito aliam sitiet. sitiens,

'

altam

Aquilce
rupe vivet.1

in summa Aquilce nidificabit adsenem totiusBritannice : necjuvenis nee occidet, This, in an old copy, is Englishedthus : shall come After then through the south
(

'

Deinde

Pullus

with of the

the sun,
sea, the

on

horse

of tree, and of the

upon

all

waves

Chicken

into Britain, Eagle,sailing house of the

and show

anon arriving to fellowship

to the

Eagle,he

shall

these beasts.

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

163 nestle in the

'

After,the Chicken
he

of the
:

Eagle shall
nay,
come

rock highest slain young

of all Britain
; nay,

he shall

nought

be

nought

old/

Master
or,
as

William he calls

an Lillythen supplies

tion, explanaable venerown

of a it, verification, shall

these

predictions. We
words
i

give
Low

it in

his

His

Majestybeing in
sent

the

Countries

when

the Lord -General had the him Parliament for

restored the secluded

members,
to

part of the royal navy

bring

England, which they did in May, 1660. with the Holland is east from England,so he came at Dover, a port in the south sun ; but he landed horses are the English part of England. Wooden ships. Tune nidificabit in summo rupium.
'
'

The

Lord-

General, and
him in

most

of

the

gentry

in

England, met
London, then
'

Kent, and

brought him

unto

to White-hall.

Here, by the highestRooch London,

is intended

being

the

(some write Rock) of all metropolis

England. day,I write this and long may he in England, story,he hath reigned December do hereafter.' (Written on 20, 1667.) in 1588, in Greek printed Lilly quotes a prophecy, he says, the which exactly deciphered, characters, long troubles the Englishnation endured from 1641
4

Since which

time,unto

this very

to

1660, but
was

he omits

to

tell

us

where in

he the

saw

it, or

who

its author.
:

It ended

following

fashion mysterious

11"2

164

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
dead
man,

I.

'

And with

after that him

a

shall

come

dreadful
gamma,

and

royal
in

'

(itis
the

F, in the the

Greek, intending C
letter in the he the

the
'

Latin, being
best and

third
in the

alphabet), of
shall have the and

blood

world, and

crown,

shall set

England in
To and
a man

rightway,
could
events

put

out

all heresies.' of the stars, of

who the

read of

the secrets

divine

the

future, there
obscure

was,

course,

nothing mysteriousor meaning

he had
no

in these

lines,

and

their

in difficulty

ing. determin-

Monkery having been extinguished above eightyor ninetyyears, and the Lord-General's name be clear than that he must being Monk, what more the And dead man ? for the royalF, or C, who as
i '

came

of the he

best blood
be
no

of the

world, it
Charles
the

was

evident The
nor

that

could

other has

than

II. ?
stars

unlearned the

reader, who
assist that

neither

to crystal

him, will,nevertheless,arrive
if

at

the conclusion in
even

this liberal him But from

be interpreted can prophecies fashion, there is nothing to prevent ! assuming the role of an interpreter
to that, according
our

let it be noted
*

brilliant

not magicians, these two prophecieswere given but by inspection of the crystal vocallyby the angels, in types and the circular or figures, by apparition,

way,

where,

at

some

distance, the

and representing by forms, shapes,

angelsappear, motions,what is
in
our

demanded.
for any

It

is very

rare,

operator or

master

articulately ; when
much in the throat.1

they do

days, the angelsspeak to have it is like the Irish, speak,

yea,
even

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

165

In

June,

1660,

Lilly was
House

summoned
to

before
answer

Committee
an

of the

of Commons executioner is his

to

inquiryconcerning the
Charles
:

employed
account

to

behead

I.

Here

of

the

examination
4

God's

providenceappearedvery

much

for

me

that

Hall, Mr. Richard day, for walking in Westminster William old friend, Mr. to Pennington, son my of my the cause met inquiring Pennington, me, and but walked said no being there, more, up and down
the

Hall, and

related my
men

kindness

to

his father

unto

very many

Parliament

of Cheshire and

Lancashire, counties,

Yorkshire, Cumberland, and those northern

who and

numerously came
bade
me

up

into the comfort three

chamber, Speaker's
; at

be
one

of

good

last he meets others my

were

Mr. Weston, Mr.

was

of the

[the two
unto

Prinn

and

Colonel

King]

whom

matter

referred for that he

came

examination, who

told Mr.

ton Penning-

to punish me, and would purposely be bitter against me namely, ; but hearingit related, of old Mr. singular kindness and preservation my Pennington's estate, to the value of "6,000 or "7,000, "I will do him all the good I can," says he. I thought he had never done any good ; let me see him, and let him stand behind me where I sit." I
lt

did

so.

At

my

first appearance,
me

many

of the

young

members

several and demanded highly, held scurrilous a questions. Mr. Weston paper before his mouth me answer nobody but Mr. ; bade and saved Prinn ; I obeyed his command, myself trouble thereby; and when Mr. Prinn put any much affronted

166

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
Mr.
At Weston

I.

difficult

or me

doubtful with
a

query fit

unto
answer.

me,

prompted
almost what head
one

last,after
heard fully

hour's say

tugging,I
as

desired to be who
cut

I could off.

to the person

Charles I.'s

Libertybeing given me to speak,I related viz. : what follows, That the next Sunday but one after Charles I. tenant-Gener Lieuunto beheaded, Robert was Spavin,Secretary
'

Cromwell
to

at that

time,invited
dinner:
was

himself and

dine with

me,

and

brought Anthony
him
to

Peirson

several

others

along with
the
;

that their it the others Robert

me
:

discourse principal
was common

all dinner-time

only who
it
was

that

beheaded

hangman
were soon as

King. One another, Hugh

none was

said

Peters ;

also

nominated, but
dinner
me

concluded.

so Spavin, hand, and

"

done, took
window
not

by
saith

the

carried all did

was

to

the south

he,
the

These

are

mistaken,they have
fact:
room

named

man

that I

the

it

was

Lieu tenant-

Colonel
for

Joyce.
the

in the

when him

he fitted himself he There did is

work,
went

stood in

behind

when him.

it; when
no man

done,
knows

again
my

with

worth saith often

missary namely, Cromwell, ComMr. Rushand myself." Doth not Ireton, know it?" said I. No, he doth not know it," Spavin. The same thing Spavin since had

this but

master,

"

"

related

unto

me

when

we

were

alone.

Mr.

make a report hereof civility, in the House; yet Norfolk,the Serjeant, after my discharge, kept me two days longer in arrest, purposely He had six pounds,and of me. to get money

Prinn

did,with

much

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

167

attached forty shillings ; and yet I was but upon Sunday, examined on Tuesday, and then detained me discharged, Serjeant though the covetous until Thursday. By means I cried quitof a friend, tance his messenger with
at salary

Norfolk, which

friend

was

to

pay

him

his

that

time, and abated Norfolk

penny
at
one

three

pounds,

which

he

spent every
wretched the

dinner,without
in the
were

the inviting

Serjeant ;

but

latter end

of the year, when

at

King's Judges

arraigned

to me attend, Bailey,Norfolk warned I could give information Hugh believing concerning Peters. At the Sessions I attended tinuance, during its con-

the

Old

but I heard

was

never

called

or

examined.

There

Harrison, Scott, Clement, Peters,Harker,

others of the

Scroop, and
the say, I did and

who Solicitor, hear what

King's Judges,and Cook defended himself; I excellently they could

sentence

say for

themselves,
nounced pro-

after heard

the

of

condemnation

by the incomparablymodest and learned Lord Keeper of Judge Bridgman, now the Great Seal of England.' In spiteof Spavin'scircumstantial statement, as recorded established it is now by Lilly, conclusively
that the executioner the
common

against them

of

Charles

I.

was

Richard
had

Brandon,
he the

who executioner, of Strafford.

ously previfor

beheaded
was

the Earl

It is said that

afterwards died

seized with

poignant remorse
amid the execrations

act, and
was

in great mental

suffering. His
of

body
an

carried to the grave and

our

excited

angry

Though

populace. we as astrologer,

have

seen,

was

at

168

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
the

I.

heart

his Royalist,
cause were

services

towards

mentary Parlia-

him

after

the

pose conspicuous to exsufficiently Restoration to a good deal of

persecution ; and pardon

takes He all the
to

he found

it advisable

to

sue

out

his he

under
to

the

Great

Seal,which
6s. 8d.

cost

him, as

care

tell us, "13

to

claimed

have

foreseen flowed
'

the
"

and Restoration,
or were

good things which

flowed
"

expected
In

have
111

from
'

that

auspiciousevent.'

page

of his

in Merlin/ published Prophetical three sextile aspects of Saturn

'

1644, dwelling upon

and

made in 1659 and 1660, he says: This, Jupiter comforts in England : their friendly us salutation, his own man now vineyard ; our every possesses young
men

youth

grow

up

unto

man's
our

estate,and
and

our

old

live their full years ;

nobles years

gentlemen
merchant
; the
a new

rest
now

again;
take
out

our

yeomanry, their

many

disconsolated,
The

in pleasure

husbandry.
prosperous here Now

sends

ships,and
hath

hath

returns

mechanic world
;

quick trading ;
laws,
new no

is almost any

new

lords.
more

county

of

England
and

shall shed many

tears, but

with rejoice affords her

in the

God blessings

gives or
Sir Edward

annually/
He also

wrote, he

says, to

Walker,
the in

Garter

King-at-Arms in 1659, when, by

of Charles

the way,

restoration the
near

II.
was

was

an

event

that loomed

of anticipated by every man : Tu, Dominusque vester sagacity ordinary political videbitis Angliam, infra duos annis (Youkand your Lord shall see England within two years). For and future,
'
' '

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

169

in

1662,' adds

the
'

arch

impostor, in
moon came

his

strange
to

astrological jargon, his the body of the sun.'

'

by

direction

But he

came

in upon

the ascendant

directed unto

the

trine

of Sol- and
doubt
our

antiscion
Who

of Jupiter.'
would

No

he did.

presume

to

dict contra-

English Merlin
and
1664

? he served
as

In

1663

churchwarden
filled that

"

the surely

first and office

"

last

who astrologer

spectable re-

of the

well
upon An

as

he could
own

as Walton-upon-Thames,settling distracted parish affairs of that

'

'

his

charges.
was once more

absurdly frivolous accusation He was him in the year 1666. against

before because in
a

brought
moned sum-

Committee

of the House

of No

Commons,

his

book,

Monarchy

or

Monarchy,'

sixteen plates, in 1651, he had introduced published of which the eighth represented digging persons of mortality, graves, with coffins and other emblems and the thirteenth
a

cityin
have had

flames.

Hence

it

was

inferred that he must the Great Fire which if riot with The into
:

London,

it. depopulated his coming on him

'

something to do with had destroyed so a part of large had almost the Plague,which chairman, Sir Robert Burke,
the

Committee's

presence,

dressed ad-

thus

Mr.
to

this Lilly, appear

Committee
them

you
can

before

thoughtfit to this day,to know

summon

if you

say

whether
are

of the late Fire, or anything as to the cause You there might be any design therein. rather

called the

hither, because

in

book

of

170

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
some

I.

long thingby one

yours,

since of

printed,you hinted your hieroglyphics.'

such

with a firm assumption replied, Lilly of superior wisdom and oracular knowledge: ing Honours, After the beheadMay it please your of the late King, considering that in the three subsequentyears the Parliament acted nothing which
*
"

Whereto

Mr.

concerned

the settlement the

of the nation

in peace ; and

the people dissatisfied, citizens of London the soldiery discontented, prone to desirous, accordingto the best mutiny, I was knowledge God had given me, to make inquiryby the art I studied, what might from that time happen

seeing

of generality

unto

the Parliament satisfied

and

nation

in

general.

At

last,

myself as well as I could,and perfected I thought it most venient conjudgment therein, my and intentions to conceptions signify my thereof in Forms, Shapes, etc., Types,Hieroglyphics, without any commentary, that so my judgment might be concealed from the vulgar, and made manifest only having
unto

the
wise

wise.

I herein

the examples of imitating

many
'

Sir

who had done the philosophers saith one, is yet sub Robert,' Lilly
'

like.' vestibulo.'
'

continued Having found, sir,' Lilly, that the cityof London should be sadlyafflicted with a great and not long after with an exorbitant Fire, I plague,

framed

those which you

book,
4

Did

in as hieroglyphics represented in effect have proved very true.' foresee the year ?' inquired a member
two

the

of

the Committee.
'

I did

not,'said Lilly, nor

'

was

desirous ; of that

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

171

made

no

'whether

scrutiny. Now, sir,'he proceeded, there was design of burning the any

deal or city, any employed to that purpose, I must I have with ingenuously you, that since the Fire, taken much not pains in the search thereof,but cantion could not give myself any the least satisfacor therein. I conclude,that it was the only finger of God; but what instruments he used thereunto,I
am

ignorant.
In

left London, and Lillyfinally settling down at Hersham, applied himself to the study of he arrived at so medicine,in which competent a observation degreeof knowledge,assisted by diligent and experiment,that,in October, 1670, on monial testia from two physicians of the College in London, he obtained from the Archbishop of Canterbury a license to practise.In his new this clever, profession fellow was, of course, successful. plausible Every Saturday he rode to Kingston,whither the poorer
1665
sort

flocked

to

him

from

all the

dispensedhis advice and without charge. From he now and then position
half
never a

and he countryside, prescriptions freelyand in

a a

those took

better

social
times some-

and shilling, him

crown,
a

if it fee.
seems

were

offered to

; but

he

demanded the poor

And, indeed, his charity

to

towards

have

been

real in

and
sidering con-

unaffected. and

He

the greatest care displayed weighing their particular cases, remedies for their infirmities deserved
"

and
a

in line

applying proper
of conduct which

gainedhim

popularity.

172

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

Gifted with
health serious far
on

robust

he enjoyedgood constitution, He
seems

into old age. he

was

to

have

had

no

illness until from

past his seventy-second

attack he he
was

birthday,and
In
a severe

this

recovered less
to
a

pletely. com-

November, 1675,
of fever and
was

fortunate,
condition sight eye-

attack

reducing him
so

of

weakness, great physical

that thenceforward he services of

his affecting

compelledto employ
in

the

an

amanuensis

drawing
an

up

his of

annual

budget. After astrological in the spring of 1681, he dysentery,

blind ;
a

attack

became

few weeks

later he

was

seized with
'

totally paralysis ;

and

on

June

of trouble

He
chancel month
cost

was

without passed away, any show or pangs.' in the buried, on the following evening,
9

he

of Walton

Church,

where

Elias

Ashmole,
which ('

later, placeda
him the
:

slab of fair black four

marble

six

pounds

and shillings honour of Urna Fatis

with

in epitaph, following
'

'), sixpence his departed

GULIELMI

friend

Ne

Oblivione

conteretur

Peritissimi Qui LILLII,Astrologi

Quinto cessit,
Hoc

Idus
ill!

Junii,

Anno

Christ!

Juliano,MDCLXXXI,
ELIAS flavour about

posuit
'

amoris

Monumentum is
a

ASHMOLE,
the

Armiger/ phrases Qui

church. There
our are

There Fatis

pagan
'

and cessit,'

Quinto Idus Junii/ and

the walls of
a

they read oddly enough within

two

tian Chris-

sides to

every

the last of the astrologer, held a position of influence, let us first take verse side,as presentedin the eulogistic

regards Englishmagicianswho
the silver of

shield.

As

Master

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

173 Thus

scholar George Smalridge, it is that he

'

at

Westminster. hero's

describes

his

capacityand
exclaims in

potentiality.Our tones lugubrious

"

gone,'he prophet's
1

No

longer may

our

ears

Be Let
To

charmed
sun

with
moon

musick

and

spheres: withdraw, leave gloomy night

fate,who
gave
more

of th' harmonious

show th'
sun

their Nuncio's

light

To Of

erringworld, than all the feeble rays those days or moon ; taught us to know
moon,

Bright Titan makes ; followed the hasty sun Through all his circuits ; knew the unconstant And constant more ebbings of the flood ;
And
what is most

uncertain, th'

factious

brood,
could date

Flowing in
The

civil broils :
reflux

by

the

heavens

flux and
saw saw

of

our

dubious

state.

He He

the
;

of sun, and change of moon eclipse but seeingwould not shun his own

bright, Eclipsedhe was, that he might shine more fuller And light. only changed to give a train the He having viewed sky, and glorious Of gildedstars,scorned longer to remain love he a village In earthlyprisons : could
Whom

the twelve

houses

waited

for above V

The

other

side of the
'

shield

is turned

towards

us

with paints Lilly by Butler, who, in his Hudibras,' wit could all the dark enduringcolours which a keen prejudice.When place at the disposalof political solve 'the problems of his is unable to Hudibras advises him fate,' Ralpho,his squire, famous
to

apply to

the

thaumaturgist.
'

He

says

Not

far from
man,

hence

doth

dwell

hight Sidrophel, dark counsels, That deals in Destiny's sells; And sage opinionsof the Moon far arid near, all people, To whom
A

cunning

On

: deep importancesrepair

174

WITCH,
When And When

WARLOCK,
and

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

brass

pewter hap

to

stray,
;

linen slinks out geese and

o' the way

pullen are seduced, And of sucking pigs are choused ; sows cattle feel indisposition, When And need th' opinion of physician ; murrain reignsin hogs or sheep, When And chickens languishof the pip ;
When
And

yeast and
have
no

outward

means

do fail, ale ;

pow'r to work

on

When
And

does refuse to come, love proves cross and humoursome

butter with and questions, with for disco v'ryflock, or

To

him

urine,

They

curing.'

After this humorous

as pretensions an

reductio ad absurdum satirist

the astrologer,

Tally's proceeds to

of

allude to his
'

with dealings
not
our

the Puritan
use
news

party :

Do
This To And

great Reformers
forebode of victories next

Sidrophelto

write

year,

castles taken, yet i' th' air ?

Of battles

fought at
years

sea, and

ships

Sunk, The exposure

'

two

V hence, the last eclipse

satirist then of
He

devotes

himself

to

minute

: Lilly's pretensions

long t'wards mathematics, and statics ; philosophy, Optics, Magic, horoscopy,astrology, old dog at physiology And was ; But as a dog that turns the spit his feet Bestirs himself,and plies
had
been

To
His

climb the wheel, but all in vain,

own

again, And stillhe's in the self-same place out he was Where at his setting ;
So in the circle of the arts he advance

weight bringshim

down

Did

his nat'ral parts

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIAN'S.

175

Whate'er
His

he laboured

to appear,

stillwas clear ; understanding Yet none a deeperknowledge boasted, Since old Hodge Bacon and Bob Grosted.'

(Eobert Grostete, Bishop of Lincoln whose Henry III.], learningprocured him

the
'

[temp.
among

the reputation of being a conjurer.) ignorant

He The
And

had

read Dee's

before prefaces o'er and

o'er ;

Dev'l and
all th'

Euclid

'twixt him intrigues Lascus, and th' Emperor, would But

and

Kelly,

tell ye ;

with
e'er

the
was

moon

was

more

familiar

Than
Her

almanack understood

secrets
some

That Knew For

believed he she
was
or

well-wilier; so clear, had been there;

.'

when

in fittest mood

cuttingcorns
his

blood letting

Continuing
various he
can
"

enumeration

of

the

conjurer's
poet
says

and

versatile

achievements,the
corns

'

Cure

warts

and

Of med'cines

Frightagues
With

application to th' imagination ; into dogs,and scare

;

with

rhymes the toothache and catarrh Chase evil spirits by dint away Of sickle, hollow flint; horse-shoe, Spit fire out of a walnut-shell,
Which
And

made
fire
a

the Roman in China

slaves rebel here

mine

sympatheticgunpowder. whats'ever's to be known, He knew

But much many
more

With

than

he knew

would

own

How

diffrent

specieses
cheese ; of kin to those
nose

Of maggots breed
And which
are

in rotten

next
a

Engendered in
Or those
That
not

chandler's
but

seen,

understood,
wood .'

live in

vinegar and

176 In

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
takes

I.

the

course

of the and
a

that long dialogue the

place
trives con-

between
to

Hudibras
introduce

Butler astrologer, and trenchant

clever

exposure

of

the

follies and

absurdities,the
of

impositionsand
With reference to
that
"

of assumptions, the

the art

magic.

of astrologers, he pretensions
*

observes
a

There's but
Between A
a

the
man

of twinkling
of peace

star

and
and

war,

thief and

fool justice,

knave,

A
A A A A As

officer and a slave, huffing craftylawyer and pick-pocket, and great philosopher
a

blockhead,

preacher and a player, learn'd physicianand man-slayer ;

formal
if
men

from

the

stars

did suck

Old

age,

and diseases,

ill-luck,
;

Wit, folly, honour, virtue,vice, and dice Trade, travel,women, claps,

And

draw,
not

with

the first air

they breathe,

Battle and
Are To And For Like

murder, sudden
the

death.

these

fine commodities

be

imported from
here

skies,
the

vended

among

rabble,

staple goods and warrantable ? by the Druids borrowed money

to be restored.'

In th' other world

The and As

character

of

is Lilly
one

to

some

extent
or

problem,
draw

I confess it is not
I have

of easy

direct solution.

hinted,it is always difficult to already

conscious when
a man

the line between

"

and

unconscious who has

imposture
upon
was

to

determine

imposed
But

himself

begins to impose
?

upon he

others.

self-deceived Lilly
a

Or

was

fraud

and

cheat ?

For

openlyand knowingly myself I cannot answer

I do not think he

either

in question

the affirmative.

CHAP.

V.]

LAST

OF

THE

ENGLISH

MAGICIANS.

177

but I also believe innocent of deception, entirely I think he had a that he was not whollya rogue. of his horoscopes, confidence in the reality lingering his stellar prophecies his figures, ; though at the the credulity time he did not scruple to trade on same of his contemporaries by assumingto himself a power and a capacity which he did not possess, and knew that he did not Despitehis vocation,he possess. lived decently, and in good repute. to have seems The activity of his enemies failed to bring him against and we know that he enjoyed any serious charges, the support of men of lightand leading, who would have stood aloof from a common charlatan or a vulgar
was

knave.

He

was,

it is

a certain,

very

shrewd

and the

with a keen eye quick observer, times,and a wide knowledge of his

success

for the human

signsof

nature; and

craft was due to peculiar largely this alertness of vision, and this practical knowledge, and readiness with which he made to the ingenuity
use

in

his

of all the

resources

at his command.

NOTE."
Horace

DR.

DEE'S

MAGIC

CRYSTAL.

of Kelly'sfamous amusing account and of the useful part it played in a burglary committed crystal, Street in the springof 1771. At the at his house in Arlington Tednear time,he was takinghis ease at his StrawberryHill villa, when courier him of had occurred. what a news dington, brought his Sir to Horace friend, Mann, March 22, he says : Writing
'

Walpole gives an

was

good quarter
care

of

an

hour

before

I recollected that it
not
to
no care

was

very
one

becoming
does
I

to have

philosophyenough
upper
no
a

about

what in

for ; if you

don't care, there is

philosophy
than left in

bearing it.
as

despatched my
made lost if he had

fed servant, breakfasted,

more

the bantams Cincinnatus

usual, and

would

hurry to town basket of turnips. I

12

178

WITCH,
drawers
mention "270 all my

WARLOCK,
of bank

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

my
to

bills and

three hundred

guineas,not

miniatures, a

inestimable gold and silver coins, some and a good deal of furniture, under no little plate,
maidens.
. . .

guard
'

but that of two

I

When

arrived,my
of china of

surprise
open,

was

by

no

means

diminished.

found
a

in three different chambers wide

three cabinets,a the locks not

to

glasscase
should
miracle

largechest,and picked,but forced,

will wonder it. that

and this the

the doors

them

broken
when
not

pieces.
been

You

surpriseme,
was

I had

preparedfor

Oh,
there

that

I did

find,nor
of

to this time

have medals

found,

the least
were,

thing missing !
so

In the cabinet

of modern

right English coins,with downJohn Trot guineas,half-guineas, shillings, sixpences,and removed. Not a singlepiecewas every kind of current money. Just so in the Roman and Greek cabinet,though in the latter and of papers, which drawers were some they had tumbled scattered about the floor. A great exchequer desk, that belonged

and

there

are

still, a series

to my

father,was

in the

same

room.

Not that
or as

lock,the philosophers (forthieves

title much
more

being able to force steal nothing deserve

the the

than

Cincinnatus

I) had
to set

wrenched

great
seven

flapper of brass with such violence pieces. The trunk contained a new
tapestry, two
screens,

break

it into

of chairs

of French

and a suit of silver stuff prints, that I had made turned for the King'swedding. All was turvy, topsyand nothing stolen. The glasscase and cabinet of shells had been handled as roughly by these impotent gallants. Another little table with drawers,in which, by the way, the key was left, had been opened too, and a metal standish, that they ought to have taken and that stood silver hand-candlestick for silver, a
rolls of upon my

it, were
linen

untouched.

Some

plate in

the

pantry,

and

all

from the wash, had no more for them charms just come than gold or silver. In short, I could not help laughing, especially the only two movables another little table with as neglectedwere

drawers both
in

and the

the
same

money,
room

and

with writing-box

the bank-notes,
first havoc. of the area, In

where
out
a

short, they had

unbarred and

broken

they made the panel in the door

gone
out at the

and

unbolted open
at

it,and
alarmed

which street-door,
A

they left wide

had into

five o'clock in the

morning.
one

passenger
ran

found

it so, and

the maids,
waked
was

of whom Lord

naked who
at

the street, and

by her cries
poor creature

my

Romney,

lives

opposite. The

in fits for two

days, but

CHAP.

V.

NOTE.

179

first, finding my
him
to

coachmaker's
who

Mr.

before he of which

Con way, how knew

in the street,had sent apprentice immediately despatchedhim to me I had

little damage

received, the
locks of my

whole

consists in

the repairing

doors

and

cabinets

and coffers.
'

All London

is

reasoningon
a

this marvellous
some

adventure,and

not

one

argument presents itself that

talisman.
Ye
re

other does not

must

contradict.

I insist that I have

You
to

know

that last winter,

being asked
Germaine's
"

by Lord

assist in

Lady Betty settling

of her collection auction,I found in an old catalogue this article, The Black Stone into which Dr. Dee used to call his
a spirits" Dr. Dee, you must know, was great conjurerin the days of Queen Elizabeth,and has written a folio of the dialogues he held with his imps. I asked eagerlyfor this stone; Lord Yere of no but if found, it should certainly said he knew such thing,

be at my

service.

Alas, the
him the

stone

was

gone

This winter
I
am an

was

again employed by Lord

auctioneer,to do
Duke
of

Frederick
same

Campbell,for
service

absolute

about other

his father's

(the

collection. Argyll's) round of

Among

odd
in

things, he
a

produced a
case as

piece of shining black marble

crown a

leathern

big as the
I

hat, and asked

"

me am

what that the

possibly
in
"

could be 1

screamed

out,
.

Oh, Lord
.

!I

only man

England that can tell you ! It certainly is; Lady Betty had
.

It is Dr. Dee's

'Black

Stone.'

formerly given
thousand
years

time out of mind, for she

the

was

sold, or away old, that part of

Peterborough collection which

Stone
still
on

contained wandered The

natural into
an

philosophy.
auction,for

So, or since,the Black

the

had

lotted paper

was

it.

Duke

bought everything, bought it. Lord Frederick it to me if it was not this magical stone, which ; and in truth coal,that preserved chattels, high-polished my
guess what did.'* At the great Strawberry Hill

Argyll,who [Campbell] gave

is

of

only of

I cannot

in 1842, which dispersed the sale, described it was in the catalogue Walpole Collection, as 'a singularly a nd curious relic of the superstition of our ancestors interesting the celebrated Speculum of Kennel in a Coal, highlypolished, It is remarkable leathern case. for having been used to deceive the mob in the reign (!) by the celebrated Dr. Dee, the conjurer, of Queen Elizabeth,' etc.
"

Horace

of Orford), v. 290, et 'Letters,' Walpole(Earl 12"2

seq.

180

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

I.

The the It

authorities
of

of

the

British
ancestors

Museum
'

purchased
the
it
sum

this twelve

'

relic

of

superstition
is neither
more

our

for

of been

guineas.
a

nor

less

than and

what thus

has

described,
the allusion

polished
Butler's
'

piece
Hudibras

of

cannel-eoal,
'

explains

in

'

Kelly
The

did devil's

all

his

feats

upon
a

looking-glass

stone.'

"

CHAP.

VI.]

ENGLISH

EOSICRUCIANS.

181

CHAPTER

VI.

ENGLISH

ROSICRUCIANS.

IT is not
cian

very

easy

to trace

the

Brotherhood.
derivation

It is not of the
name

of the Rosicruorigin easy, indeed,to get at

'

the true

Rosicrucian.'

Some of

authorities refer it to that of the ostensible founder

the

the mysterious Christian Rosenkreuse, but society,

can

who

prove borrow

that such it from and

an

individual word
l

ever

existed and

Others
crux,
a

the Latin

ros,

cross,

explainit
esteemed
*

thus
the

dew, Dew/ of

all

natural solvent

bodies, was
of

most

powerful
a cross

gold ;
same
4

and

the

cross/ in
the

the old chemical of figure

because language, signified light,

exhibits the
at the

time

the three letters which

lux is

form

word

lux.

Now,

called

the

seed,or

menstruum,

dragon; or, in other words, that gross and corporeal which, when properly light, digestedand modified, produces gold/ So that, who is one to this derivation, a Rosicrucian according
the intervention
'
'
"

of the red

by
for
an

and

assistance

of the

'

dew

'

seeks

too

the philosopher's But such stone. light that is, and assumes too fanciful, etymology is evidently much and we to be readily accepted, try a third

182

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
;

I.

derivation, namely, from

of which may be adduced of the derschafft
1

rosa

and the

crux

in

support
c

oldest

official documents

Fratres
is
'

Broeit the style des Eoosen Rose- Crucians, Creutzes,' or or Rosatae Crucis ;' while the symbol of the

brotherhood,which

order the

red

rose a a

on

cross.'

Both

the

rose

and

cross

possess

their

choice

by

beliefs and
means

fancies

difficult to

and copiousemblematic history, which clothed its secret society, in allegorical language,is by no understand. The rose,' says
'

EliphasLevi,in
from and
manner

his

time

immemorial love and

of life,

Magie,' which has been the symbol of beauty in a mystical pleasure, expressed

Histoire

de la

It of the Renaissance. protestations the flesh revolting of the was againstthe oppression Nature herself to be, like spirit;it was declaring to Grace,the daughterof God ; it was Love refusing be stifled by celibacy Life desiring to be no ; it was to a natural longer barren ; it was Humanity aspiring full of love and reason, founded the revelation on religion, all the of the harmonies
was

of existence

of which

the
.

rose

for initiates the reunion of the

and bloomingsymbol. living

rose

The

and

the

cross-

"

such

was

the

and,in effect, problem proposedby supreme initiation, occult philosophy, being the universal synthesis, should take into account all the phenomena of Being. It may be doubted, however, whether this ingenious symbolism has anything at all to do with Rosicrucianism and the
; but
cross

it is not
were

the

less

fact that

the

rose

chosen

because

they were
the
rose

nised recog-

emblems.

And

probablybecause

typi-

CHAP.

VI.]

ENGLISH

IIOSICRUCIANS.

183

fied secrecy, while

the

cross

was

the protestagainst

tyranny
We

and

hear

of the Papacy. superstition nothing of Rosicrucianism the seventeenth

until The

the

beginningof
alchemists and The

century.
its dabble
was
'

earlier
;

knew

nothing of
between the

doctrines theosophic in

the earlier Rosicrucians connection

;

did not the two

alchemy.
a
'

established at

later date
'

when

quest of the
'

elixir of life and the

the mysticism grafted upon had which taken the ancient teachingof the up of Alexandrian Platonists, combining with it much the allegorical jargon of Paracelsus, and something of the theology of Luther and the German Reformers. The claimed for the brotherhood in the antiquity
was
'

stone philosopher's

Fama

Fraternitatis

own

part, I
he

must not

purely a myth. regard as its virtual

have been its actual

'

is

For founder

my
"

though
the wide

may

initiator

"

celebrated Johann
and and

Valentine

Andreas, who
a

with

profoundlearningunited
was, moreover,
a man

of

tion, imaginalively lofty pure and

in the he

purpose. of the the dark

The

of humanity,the extirpation regeneration and follies which mediaeval it is had sprung

was

vices

up

shadow

of the

Church,
doubt

dream

of his life ; and

to

beyond

that

hoped
for the and

realize it by secret
of

societies bound morals

together
of the age

purpose

reformingthe

'

This is with a love of wisdom. men inspiring proved by three of his acknowledgedworks, namely, Turris Descriptio,' Christianapolitana3 Reipublicae
4

de Babel, sive Judiciorum Crucis Chaos/ and 'Christiana

Fraternitate

Rosaceae

Societatis

Idea'; and

184

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
will not
was
c

I.

I venture it so, that author

to

think,though
author

Mr.

Waite
works
as

have

the

of these
as

also the

of the
'

'Fama,'
and the
l

well

of the

Confessio

Fraternitatis

gathered up bearing on
form and

NupteeChymicae/in which he dreams all the floating and traditions and gave his subject, to them certain a
them
a

order, infusing into

'

fascinating
O

and inspiring them poetical colouring, idealistic speculations.

4

with

his

own

Akin

to

the school
'

of the ancient of the

as

Fire-Believers,'
a

says

Ennemoser,
the

and

magnetistsof
those

later

period,of
searchers the
same

same

cast

into the

of mysteries the

and speculators Nature,drawing from the sixteenth

well,are

of theosophists These

and

seventeenth

centuries.

practised chemistry,

they asserted they could explore the proAs theystrove, above all foundest secrets of Nature. knowledge,after the Divine, and sought the earthly Divine can lightand fire,through which all men called the Fireacquirethe true wisdom, they were (philosophi Philosophers ignem).' They were per and in the books of identical with the Rosicrucians, by
which the later Rosicrucians
and
we

meet

with

the

same

ticism mys-

transcendental
we

Whether
founder
must

of the

in theirs. as philosophy the as agree in acceptingAndreas order, or as simplyits hierophant, we dates from
'

admit

that the rise of Rosicrucianism

'
'

Fama of the and the publication Fraternitatis.' They producedan immense and were passed through several editions,

the

Confessio

sensation,
devoured
at library

by

multitudes

of eager

readers.

'

In

the

CHAP.

VI.]

ENGLISH

ROSICRUCIANS.

185

from Professor Gottingen,' says De Quincey(adapting Buhle),'there is a body of letters addressed to the order of Father Rosy Cross, from 1614 to imaginary themselves members. as 1617, by persons offering As certificates of their qualifications, of most the candidates have enclosed specimens of their skill in alchemy and cabalism. Many other literary forbore to write there were at that day who persons letters to the society, but threw out small pamphlets of the order, and of its place their opinions containing
. . . .

of residence.'

It is not

my

however, to business,
I have
desired

write

history

of Eosicrucianism. much my about

account

simplyto say so will serve its origin to as a as preface of the principal of the Englishmembers
The reader who

brotherhood.
about its

would

know

more

origin and
consult and

its pretensions and extension,

professors, may
of all of

Hecket horn's

'

Secret Societies
'

Ages

Ennemoser's Countries,'
'

History
'

Magic/ Thomas de Quincey's essay on and Freemasons/ and Arthur Edward Historyof the Rosicrucians.' *
The of the

Rosicrucians Real

Waite's

and greatest English Rosicrucian,

most

tinguished dis-

of Paracelsus, Robert was disciples Fludd of singular (orFlood, or De Fluctibus), a man of great though misdirected capacity, and erudition, of a vivid and fertile imagination. The of War
*

second
to

son

of Sir Thomas
was

Flood, Treasurer
born
et

he Queen Elizabeth,
'

at

Milgate
of Professor

See

also Louis

Figuier's L'Alchimie
; and

les

a Alchimistes,'

popular and
Buhle.

agreeable survey

the

more

erudite work

] 86

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
in the

I.

House,
1574.

in the At the

parish of Bersted, Kent,

age of seventeen he
was

year of

entered

His father had originally Oxford. College, but findingthat his him for a military intended life, ship, inclinations led him into the peaceful pathsof scholar-

St. John's

youth entered drew him, which study of medicine, upon a particular no doubt,into a pursuitof alchemy and chemistry. he Having graduatedboth in the arts and sciences, went abroad, and for six years travelled over France, and Spain, Germany, Italy, making the acquaintance of the principal well as of the Continental scholars, as school of enthusiasts who belonged to the theosophic
he forbore
to oppose

them, and

the

the divine the secrets

and Paracelsus, of the

a

Cabala.
member

1605, he

became

who dabbled in adepts Keturning to England in of the College of Physicians,

the

and settled down

to

in Coleman practise
was

London, Street,

where, about
German
His active of the
to revealing

1616, he

visited Maier.

by

the

celebrated

Michael alchemist,

imaginationstimulated
Rosicrucian his

by

his

ledge knowon

he doctrines, the true

a

resolved

countrymen
He

lightof
believer

science in the

and

wisdom.

had

as already,

theory of magnetism,
celebrated the severest
to the
'

introduced
'

weapon wound

salve

of

England the healed which Paracelsus,

into
"

wound had

by sympathy not but to the weapon itself,

it. The

being applied
or

instrument

that

formulated as by recipe, Paracelsus,would hardly be approved by modern Take of moss : practitioners growing on the head of of has been hanged and left in the air, a thief who caused
'

CHAP.

VI.]

ENGLISH

ROSICRUCIANS.

187

real mummy, each

; of human

of human

blood
ounces

still warm,
; of

one

ounce

suet, two
Armenian

pentine, turlinseed-oil,
two

and

bole, of
a

each

drachms.

Mix

in togetherthoroughly
a narrow

mortar, and

keep
success

the

salve in
some

oblong urn/
Fludd and and
no

This, or,
tried with
; for

I presume, in

similar
cases,

compound,

several
was

wonder

while wound process

the
was

sword well
has the

anointed and

put away,
"

the
a own

washed been

carefully bandaged
to succeed

which

known

in

our

day without
! Fludd

intervention that every

of any disease

salve whatever

contended

might be cured by the magnet if it were had, properlyapplied ; but that as every man like the earth, a north poleand a south,magnetism could be produced only when his body occupieda boreal position. The salve, into at all events, grew instant favour. Among other believers in its virtues Sir Kenelm was Digby, who, however, converted the salve into a powder, which he named the powder of sympathy.' But it had its incredulous opponents, of whom the most strenuous was a certain Pastor Foster, who publishedan invective entitled Hyplocrisma Spongus ; or, A Sponge to Wipe Away the Weapon bad as witchcraft Salve/and affirmed that it was as
4 '

to

use

or

recommend

such

an

unguent, that
the with

ventor, its inclaim

the every he person

devil,would
who had

at

Last
it.
'

Day
The

meddled

devil,'

said,'gave it to Paracelsus, Paracelsus to the the courtier to Emperor, the Emperor to a courtier, Porta to Doctor Porta, and Baptista Fludd, Baptista
a

doctor

of

physic, yet livingand

in practising

the

188

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
tooth
met

I.

famous

cityof London,
and and the

who nail

now

stands

and

nail for it.' Tooth

Dr. Fludd

versary, his ad-

amused were by the infinitely public of his style vehemence in his pamphlet, The Spunging of Parson Foster's Spunge ; wherein the Spungetowards carrier's immodest and Behaviour Carriage
'

his

Brethren

is detected

; the

bitter

Flames

of his

by the sharp Vinegar of Truth, corrected and quiteextinguished ; and, lastly, the Virtuous Validity of his Spunge in wiping away the Weapon Salve,is crushed out and clean abolished.' In all the dreams of the mediaeval philosophy in in the philosopher's and the stone stone philosophic, the universal alkahest,in the magical elixir vitae Reports
are,
"

Slanderous

'

'

"

Dr.

Fludd

was

serious

believer.

It

was

favourite

of his that all things depended on two hypothesis and the boreal principle, or principlescondensation, The human the southern austral. or rarefaction, of body, he averred, was governed by a number
"

demons,
its

whom

he he

distributed

over

rhomboidal disease had

figure. Further,
own

taught that

every

could demon

demon, the evil influence of particular be neutralized only by the assistance placed oppositeto it in the rhomboid.
brotherhood

which of the The

doctrines of the Rosicrucian

with
a

he defended

they had charming enthusiasm, and when and others, he set them been attacked by Libavius in his forth in what he conceived to be their true light Roseade Apologia Compendiaria Fraternitatem Cruce suspicionis etc. et infamise Maculis Aspersam,'
'

at Leyden in 1616) (published

"

work

which

entitles

CHAP.

VI.]
to be

ENGLISH

ROSICRUCIANS.

189

him

of their mysteries. high-priest It was criticised, however, by contemporary severely of science, men as (in his by Kepler,Gassendus whose searching Exercitatio '), and Mersenne, Epistolica of the pretensions of the fraternity analysis voked profrom Fludd elaborate reply, entitled Suman mum Bonum, quod est Magiee,Cabalae,Alchemiae,

regardedas

the

'

Fratrum
senium

Roseae-Crucis Calumniatorem.'*
to

verorum,

et

adversus

Mer-

In addition :he world

1.
'

the

works, Fludd foregoing

gave

to

et Minoris,Technica Cosmi, Majoris Utriusque 2 vols., Historia,' Oppenheim, 1616; 2. Tracfolio, tatus IntegritatemSocietatis de RoseaApologeticus Oruce Defendens,' Ley den, 1617 ; 3. Monochordon
' '

Mundi

Symphoniacum, seu

ad Apologiam Replicatio

Johannis

Frankfort, 1620; 4. 'Anatomise Kepleri,' fort, FrankAmphitheatrum effigie triplici Designatum,' Sacra et vere Christiana, 1623; 5. Philosophia seu MeteorologicaCosmica,' Frankfort, 1626; 6. Medicina Catholica, seu Mysterium Artis Medicandi Morborum 1631 ; 7. 'Integrum Sacrarium/Frankfort, 1631 ; 8. cClavis Philosophise Mysterium/ Frankfort, et Alchymiaj,'Frankfort, 1633; 9. 'Philosophia
i
*

Mosaica/ Goudac, niaca,' Goudac,

The
*

1638

and

10.

'

DsemoPathologia

1640.
were

last two

treatises

posthumous publications.
to Joachim

This is sometimes
that of

doubt defence
cum
4

Moria

but no one can Fritz, it is Fludd's, who virtually accompanied it with a his general philosophical entitled 'Sophise teaching, But whose was Certamen.' the Wisdom,' and whose
*

ascribed

the

Folly

'

190

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
buried

I.

Fludd Bersted

died

in

London

in
an

1637,

and

was

in petuates per-

Church, where
his memory.

imposing monument
represents him
the Just below

It from

with seated, which his

his hand head has

on

book,

perusal of
are

justbeen
'

lifted.

two

volumes

in marble, inscribed eight originally) (therewere and PhiloMysterium Cabalisticum respectively, viii. follows : as sophia Sacra.' The epitaph runs
'

'

Die

Mensis

vii. A"

M.D.C.XXXVII. Dni,
nee

Odoribvs

vana

vaporat crypta tegitcineres

mortale vivent minvs tibi. Te tvi hie monvmenti

speciosatros qvod
vnvm

committimvs
nam

ingenii

tibi
tota

moritvrqve sepvlchrvm pro

facit. in-coram charissimi Hoc
monvmentvm

qvi similis scribit eternvm posteritate

Flood

Thomas

Gore

Courti

apud Cantianos armiger infoelicissimum in erexit die Mensis patrvi svi memoriam
B.C.
xxx

Avgvsti,M.
I any shall of
are

vn.' of analysis elaborately mystical productions. as anythingcan be, and no power

an

not

weary
s

the

reader

wTith

Fludd'
as

They
life.

dead

that I know But

so

of could I may
to

breathe
a

into them

the breath
or an

of

quote

few

specimen

sample
idea of

sentences,
their
1

which speak,
tone
are
:

will afford

and style

but universal fallible, frequently Occult philosophy never. lays bare Nature in her dom nakedness,and alone contemplatesthe wiscomplete tomed Accusof universals by the eyes of intelligence. flow from the to partakeof the rivers which of Life,it is unacquainted with Fountain grossness

Particulars

and

with

clouded

waters/

CHAP.

VI.]

ENGLISH

KUSICKUCIANS.

191 says stands

to

In reference to
same

Music, which
arithmetic
as

he

in the natural

relation

to

medicine

he revives the Pythagoreanidea of the philosophy, What is this music (of harmony of the universe : men) compared with that deep and true music of the of natural thingsare wise, whereby the proportions concord and the qualities the harmonical investigated,
'

of the whole

world

are

revealed,by which

also

nected con-

thingsare bound together, peace established between elements, and whereby each star conflicting is perpetually placeby its suspendedin its appointed and by the harmony of its weight and strength,
herent

spirit.' Light. Nothing

*
"

in

this

world
or

can

be
act

plished accom-

without

the mediation
most

of

Magic. That physics, by

'
"

occult the

which
are

light.' and secret department of mystical properties

term

divine

of

natural

substances The wise

extracted, we
who

Natural
new

Magic.
from the

kings

(ledby

the

star

sought the infant Christ,are called east) Magi, because they had attained a perfect knowledge of natural things, This celestial or sublunar. whether branch of the Magi also includes Solomon, since he versed in the arcane of virtues and was properties
all

substances, and
of every

is said

to

have

understood
to

the

nature

Magicians who
division their dove
construct

from the cedar plant, in the are proficient marvellous machines

the

hyssop.
of

mathematical

by

means

Bacon

geometrical knowledge; such of Archytas,and the brazen and Albertus Magnus, which

were

the of

heads
are

flying Roger
have

said to

192

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
with

I.

spoken.
it in is,

Venefic
with

magic
included

is familiar

potions,
division,

and philtres,
a a

the various

of poisons; preparations in the natural

measure,

of natural knowledge of the properties its results. Necromantic to produce thingsis requisite and theurgic. maleficent, magic is divided into Goetic, because The first consists in diabolical
commerce

with

clean un-

songs

in illicit in rites of criminal curiosity, spirits, of the and invocations, and in the invocation dead. the be The virtue second of Divine is the
names.

souls of the the devils

of adjuration The third

by

pretends to

governed by good angels and the most Divine are will, but its wonders frequently of who the names assume performed by evil spirits, God and of the angels. This department of necromancy by natural powers, can, however, be performed definite rites and ceremonies, whereby celestial and
Divine ancient virtues
are

reconciled

and

drawn

to

us

the

Magi

formulated

in their secret The last

books

many is

rules of this doctrine. the

of magic species

phenomena ; by illusory begetting thaumaturgic, this art the Magi producedtheir phantasms and other
The says

marvels/ Creation.
Mr.
c
"

Accordingto
whole
an

Fludd's
was

philosophy/
fashioned existed of
or

Waite,

'

the

universe

after the

patternof

in the Divine in
a

world archetypal framed and was ideality, The Eternal

which
out

unity

threefold any

manner.

Monad

Unity,

without

His own from central proregression fundity, complicity the three cosmical compasses If we dimensions, namely, root, square, and cube.

CHAP.

VI.]

ENGLISH

KOSICRUCIANS.

193

it will produce multiplyunity as a root, in itself, plied only unity for its square, which being again multiwith forth a cube, which is one in itself, brings
root

and

square.

Thus

we

have

three

branches

in formal unity in progression, yet one differing and that after a which all thingsremain potentially, world The abstruse manner. most was archetypal of one of one, and by the made out by the egression itself b}r emitted into of that one, so regression "emanation. According to this ideal image, or universe was world, our subsequently archetypal fashioned true type and exemplar of the Divine as a Pattern ; for out of unityin His abstract existence, hidden in the dark chaos, or potential viz.,as it was flame of all formal being did shine bright forth, and the spiritof wisdom, proceeding from them both, conjoined the formal with the emanation matter, so that by the union of the divine potential of light, emanation and the substantial darkness,
mass,

the

which

was

water, the heavens world.'*

THOMAS

were

made

of old, and

the whole

VAUGHAN.

Another
must

Yaughan, who in of classical appellation the more his writings assumes and in his Eugenius Philalethes ('truth-lover'),
travels Doctor
1612
;
was

English be made briefly

Rosicrucian
is Thomas

to

whom

allusion

known in

as

Carnobius
He

in
was

Holland,
born

and

Zheil
.was
*

America.
at

about

educated
'

Oxford

; wandered

afterwards
385.

Waite, History of the

Rosicrucian

s,' p.

18

194

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK I.

of the delusions countries ; embraced through many alchemyand the Kosy Cross ; accreted round his personality
a

number

of wild and

and extravagant stories;

into such complete oblivion that finally disappeared the time and place of his death are alike unknown. AnthroThe writingsattributed to him 1. : are posophia Magica ; or, A Discourse of the Nature of
i

Man

and

his

State

after A

Death Discourse

'

and of the

'

Anima

Magica

Abscondita

; or,

sal! Univer'

2. Spiritof Nature/ London, 1650. Adamica of Magic,' same Antiquities ; or, The and
a
4

date.

3.

'

The

Man-Mouse

taken

in

Magia place Trap ;*

had criticised his reply to Henry More, who de Lumine Magica.' 4. Lumen ; Anthroposophia cated Magicall Light discovered and communior, A New The Second to the World/ London, 1651. 5. Moor Wash Once Scoured More, being a ; or, The
'
'

charitable Cure for the Distractions

of Abazonomastix
6.

'

[Henry More], London, 1651. Confession of the Fraternity of

annexed

'The

Fame
a

and

R.

C.,with
7.

Preface
of their

thereto, and
of the

short 1652.

declaration

work/ London, physicall

The that

'Euphrates;or,
Discourse
from and of flows

Waters Great

East, being a Short

whose beams
A
'

Fountain

water

Fire,

and

carries in it the 1656. And 8.

'

of the

Sun

Moon/

London,

Brief

Natural

1669.
surn

9.

Introitus

don, History/LonApertus ad Occlu-

Philalethse Tractatus Tres : Regis Palatium. i. Metallorum Metamorphosis ; ii. Brevis Manductio ad Rubrium Coelestem ; iii.Fons ChymicaeYeritatis/ London, 1678.

CHAP.

VI.]
seems

THOMAS

VAUGHAN.

195

Yaughan
to

to
'

have

led

and wandering life,

have

fallen

often
mere

into

and great perplexities

that he possessed suspicion I should say, secrets.' The suspicion, extraordinary since he made was abundantly justified, gold at will, and elixir ! knew the composition of the wonderful On one occasion, he tells us, he went to a goldsmith,

dangers from

the

to desiring gold ; but

sell him the

never

twelve

hundred
at

marks'

worth

of

goldsmith
come

first

sight pronounced
mine,
was

that it had

out

of any that it

but
not

was

the the

production of art, seeing

standard that he
was

of

of any
so

known

kingdom.
at

confounded have

this

Yaughan adds statement though,

" "

expectedit that he at once But the departed,leaving the gold behind him. is,that a writer in 1749 strangest part of his history old speaks of him as living then,at the respectable
surely,he
must

age of 137. in
a

person

of

great credit
conversed it is further

at

Nuremberg,
him but that

Germany, affirms
year
or

that he

with

two

ago.

Nay,

asserted the

this very in

individual

is the

of president

inated Illum-

Europe,and that he sits as such in all their annual at them meetings.' Mayhap he is sitting still ! not only the secret Only if he have discovered, of the transmutation finite of metals, but that of the indeof life, is it not cruellyselfish of prolongation
him
at to

withhold

it
"

we

will not

say from

the world

deserves be punished for its to large,which and the members but from scepticism incredulity,
own

of his

? fraternity 13"2

196

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK I.

JOHN

HEYDON.

ran EnglishRosicrucians are few in number and when I have added John in vasto nantes gurgite Heydon to Vaughan arid Fludd, I shall have named the author of the most Heydon was distinguished. The Wise Man's Crown Glory of the Rosie ; or, The Cross' (1664); The Holy Guide,leadingthe Way Art and Nature,with the Rosie Cross Uncovered to Unite

The

"

"

'

A New Method of Rosicrucian (1662) ; and Physic; by John Heydon, the Servant of God and the Secretary of Nature (1658). In the last-named he describes himself as an attorney who will not pity his clients, if he had any ? at Westminster practising Hall all term and in the times as long as he lived, crucian vacations devoting himself to alchemical and RosiAn Apologue His introduction speculation. ('
'
" "

'

'

for

an as

Epilogue ') is
to

full of

such

outrageous
the

sense non-

suggest suspicionof his

Ezekiel Its but
as

sanity.

He

speaksof Moses, Elias,and

and founders he says, may be few in

prophets

of Rosicrucianism.

present believers,
their is position

number,

glorious. They are the eyes and ears incomparably of the great King of the universe, seeing all things ated illuminand hearing all things seraphically ; theyare of emthe bodied ; they belong to holy company souls and immortal angels; they can assume of working and possess the power any shape at will, miracles. They can walk in the air,banish epidemics from stricken cities, pacifythe most violent storms, into gold. heal every and all metals turn disease,

CHAP.

VI.

JOHN

HEYDON.

197

He

had

known,
Williams

he and
a

says,

two

illustrious had
seen

brethren,
them him form pereither
to tell

named

Walford,and
which 'I desired my

miracles
as a

"

statement

brands
one

knave he

or

a
'

dupe.
whether

of them

complexionwere capable of my good genius. I see you of the society When when said he (which was he pleased to come again," for I knew where to me, not to go to him), I will I saw When him tell you." afterwards, he said:
says,
"
" "

me/

You

should
no

pray

to

God
or

for

can

offer than

greater

more

good and holy man acceptableservice to

a
"

God

the oblation the

of himself

his soul."

Pie said of

that also,

good geniiwere
fro in the

the

benign eyes
with

God,
and

running to
and

and

world, and
endeavours

love

pitybeholding the

innocent

of harmless

ever single-hearted ready to do them good men, and to help them.' without his precepts Heydon advocated, enforcing could by example, the Rosicrucian dogma, that men live without that all eating and drinking, affirming

singular the source of the people dwelling near Ganges, described by his namesake, Sir Christopher Heydon* who had (but certainly no by no other traveller), mouths, and therefore could not eat, but lived by the breath of their nostrils except when they went on a far journey, and then, to recuperate their strength, they
us

of

could

exist in the

same

manner

as

the

"

inhaled the scent

of flowers.

He

dilated

on

the air
"

'

fine the

fatness' which foreign

*

characterized
of Judiciall

really pure

Author

of

'A

Defence

printed at Astrologie,'

Cambridgein 1603.

1CJ8

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK I.
"

air

with beingimpregnated that it should

it

by

the sunbeams

and of

affirmed the

suffice for the He gross it to

was

nourishment
not

majorityof mankind. however, that peoplewith animal food, but declared

them, and that
be to
use
a

unwilling, should eat appetites

be unnecessary for would

much

more

efficacious mode

the meat,

pit of

the stomach.

the on cooked,as a plaster nicely this external treatment, By adopting

incur risk of introducing no they would as diseases, they did by the broad and open gate of the mouth, as anyone might see by the example of drink ; for so long as a man sat in water, he knew He had been acquainted so he declared thirst. no Eosicrucians with many who, by using wine as a bath, had fasted from solid food for several years. one And, as a matter of fact, might fast all one's life, though prolongedfor 300 years, if one ate no meat, and so avoided all risk of infection by disease. Growing confidential in reference to his imaginary he states that its chiefs always carried fraternity, about with them their symbol, the R.C., an ebony
"

"

cross,
cross

flourished

and

decked

with

roses

of

gold ;

the

Christ's suffering for the sins of mankind, typifying and the goldenroses the glory and beautyof His Eesurrection. This symbol was carried in succession Mount to Mecca, Mount Sinai,Haran, and Calvary, I cannot which three other places, pretendto identify Casele, Apamia, and Chaulateau Yiciosa Caunuch :
"

these
i

of the brotherhood. meeting-places The Rosie Crucian Physick or Medicines,' says this bravely-mendacious gentleman, I happilyand
were
'

the

CHAP.

VI.]

JOHN

HEYDON.

199

unexpectedlylight
prove with and
a

upon

in
to

Arabia,
all that

which
are

will

restoration of health which diseases. the

we

afflicted

sickness all other

call natural, ordinarily These

men

have

no

small

body : Walford, Williams, and others of the Fraternity now living, may bear up in the same likely equipagewith those noble Divine their Predecessors ; though the unskilfulness Spirits in men of supernatural more commonly acknowledges assistance in hot, unsettled fancies, and perplexed than in the calm and distinct use of melancholy, insightinto
reason;

yet, for mine

Crucians
than any above that

own

part,I look
men

upon

these

Rosie
more

and trulyinspired, this themselves so professed all I

am

sixteen hundred

years, and and

ravished

with

ration admi-

of their miracles for inventions, world. them the with I with may, the

trans cendant

mechanical of the

the solving

Phenomenon

without

offence, therefore, compare

Aholiab,those skilful workers of Bezaliel, filled who, as Moses testifies, were Tabernacle,
the of God, Spirit and therefore find
out
were

of
manner

an

cellent ex-

to understanding

all

of

curious The

work/
"

fact is that Hey don's books are fictions plain purelyimaginative work, based on some rough and ready knowledge of the old alchemy and the new such and mystical, a as magic ; partlyallegorical the under conceive quick invention might readily borrowed influence of theosophic study,and partly from Henry More, and other writers of the same which stamp. The island inhabited by Rosicrucians, he describes in the introduction to The Holy Guide/
c

200

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK I

More's evidentlysuggestedby Sir Thomas New and Bacon's be Atlantis.' It would Utopia,' elsewhere. easy to pointout his obligations I may add, in bringing this chapter that to a close, Dr. Edmund Dickenson, one of Charles II.'s physicians, of the brotherhood, to be a member professed and book of their supposed wrote a one upon
was
' '

doctrines,entitled
which phoruni,'
was

'

De

Quinta

Essentia

Philoso-

at printed

Oxford

in 1686.

opinionof Eosicrucianism, believers and adepts which, I believe, stillfinds some in this country, we ture must acknowledge that the literamay
our

Whatever

be

of

and poetry, The

fiction is indebted

to

it considerably.

'

The

machinery of Pope's exquisite poem, celsus Rape of the Lock,'was borrowed from Paraand Jacob

Bohmen

"

not

it directly,

is true,

but

de Yillars' of the Abbe through the medium Le Comte de Gabalis.' ing Accordsparkling romance, to those gentlemen,' says Pope, the four elements inhabited which are by spirits, they call sylphs, nymphs, and salamanders.' gnomes, La Motte The Rosicrucian water-nymph supplied and Fouque with the idea of that graceful lovely and Sir Walter Scott has invested Undine,' creation, his White Lady of Avenel with some of her attributes.
'

'

'

'

'

'

William

Godwin's

romance

of

'

St. Leon

'

turns

on

the Rosicrucian

Lytton's Zanoni
i

fancyof immortal life; while Lord is practically Rosicrucian fiction. a

'

The

influence of the Rosicrucian in the

same

writers is also apparent

author's

'

StrangeStory.'

II. BOOK

WITCHCRAFT.
WITCHES AND

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

203

CHAPTER
EARLY OF WITCHCRAFT

I.
IN

HISTORY

ENGLAND.

To
the the

and easily causes conspicuous intelligible various witch and the

warlock, like
their power eager
tear

the

necromancer

and

owed astrologer, there was the First,

with

the

multitude.

desire which

feels unnaturally
obtain
some so

to

aside the
that Other

humanity not and veil of Isis,

World
which is

knowledge of

be taken from it. Next must completely into account man's greed for temporal advantages, his anxiety to direct the course his of events to his his malice against personalbenefit; a^fcl, lastly, fellows. Thus that the influence enjoyedby see we the sorcerer in the and the magician had its origin unlawful the passionsof humanity, in whose history that treat of witches and witchcraft are painful pages j and To

hidden

humiliating reading.
define the limit between the is functions special somewhat of

the
more

magician

and

the

witch

difficult,

the position of the witch gradually as especially decreased in reputation and importance. There is a great gulf between the witch of Endor, or the witch of classical antiquity, the witch of the Norse Sagas, or

204

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

or

the

witch

of

the

Saxons,
sixteenth

and and

the

English or
turies. cenan was

Scottish witch
The of
creature

of the former

seventeenth with latter

were

surrounded
;

sphere atmo-

dread

and

mystery

the

the

vulgar and commonplace traditions. In the witch, like the magithe earlyage of witchcraft, cian, covered from the vasty deep, dissummoned spirits of concealed the treasures, hiding-places covered beasts by her spells, struck down or or men
of the heavens with and the wither clouds and let loose Both the winds of destruction desolation. could the

promise
while and the

of

harvest, baffle
the health

blightthe plans of their

But

enemies,or

of their victims.

of ability man a magician was frequently and belonged to the cultured classes, learning,
was

Vthe witch

almost

always a

woman

of the

lower

orders, ignorantand uneducated, though occasionally have been ladies of high rank, and even ecclesiastics,
accused of withcraffo practising witchcraft
was a

[While
witch,or

power

in

the

land,

the

supposedto be the popularly of the direct instrument, and, indeed, the bond-slave, his behests in virtue of a comEvil One, fulfilling pact,
warlock,was
written made
over

in letters of soul
to

blood, by which
Infernal Power

the witch in return

a

her

the

for the fixed the

enjoyment

of

for supernatural prerogatives

period.
was or

This
a

treaty having been

mark
on some

concluded,

witch

received

part of
of he

which

thenceforward

insensible which
or

body, pain the

"

the

stigma
own

devil's
A

mark, by

again.

familiar

imp

might know his to was assigned spirit

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

205

in her, generally

the

form

of

an

animal, and

more

Round in that of a black cat or dog.^ particularly idea were this general gathereda iiumbef~of horrible it will not and unclean conceptions, happily, onjvhich, The it was be necessary to enlarge.,' said, devil, sorted .reto

carnal

communication succubus when

on

with the
was

his

servants,
was

being
a was

denominated

when,
a

favourite chosen. the

female, and

incubus that

male

It

too, alleged, his

certain

occasions

devil,

with and in
-

and the great company familiars, whose of souls in he had

some

of witches

warlocks the dead

bought,assembled
remote

night
hold

and

savage of the

wilderness, to
Witches'
in

Sabbat
the

carnival frightful Goethe has depicted so jwhich

that

fully powerhuman

second
not

part of

'

Faust.'

^The

imaginationhas
more

scene invented,I thinlcT^my or degrading, more

more horrible,

bestial.
conceived in any

We

may any

suppose,

however,
it

that it

was

not

singlemind, or but that generation,

details from it
was

even

people,or

by single

different

graduallytook up additional at different times,until nations,

the terrible whole
!

into developed writers. and

presentedby
the

the medieval This because wild

awful

revel

was

called

Sabbat
that

it took the Jewish

placeafter midnight on
Sabbath
"

Friday;

is,on
the The with

curious

illustration of

againstthe popularantipathy
spot where
flower
or

Jews.
bloomed

it

was

held

never

again

herb ; the
ever.

burning feet

of the demons

it for blighted Witch

or

warlock

who

failed to obey the J

summons

206

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.
rods made of his
or

of the master

was

lashed

by

devils with

of her

scorpionsor

serpents,in chastisement

contumacy.!
The
to thither, according guests repaired

the belief

entertained
;

in in

France

and and the

but

Spain

the them

devil
on

in himself, his

back, which
number her
or

sticks England, upon broomItalyit was thought that shape of a goat, conveyed he contracted or elongated he carried. The

accordingto the when on starting

her house

witch,
not
on

aerial window

would journey,
;

quit
her

by
made

door

but

astride

broomstick

her exit the

absence, to prevent
from semblance
to tenjding

by the chimney. During her of her neighbours suspicions

inferior demon and assumed her the

being aroused,an
of her be ill or

person,

lay
be named

in

bed, preIn

asleep.
here introduced.
was Gaurifidi,

[A
V \
\s

curious
a

story may

1611, April,
accused the
course

Provencal cure,
trial much demons.

of sorcery of the

before the Parliament

was

of Aix.

In
the

said

in

proof of
a

power that

of

Several

witnesses

asserted

after rubbing himself with Gaurifidi, afterwards to the Sabbat,and oil, repaired his chamber down the

magic

returned

chimney. One day,when this sort of thingwas the imagination of the exciting noise was heard in the judges,an extraordinary chimney of the hall,terminatingsuddenly in the of a tall black man, who shook his head apparition vigorously. The judges,thinking the devil had
to
come

in

person

to

the the

rescue

of his servant, took

one

to

their

heels,with

exception of

Thorm,

the

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

207

who reporter,
was

was move.

so

hemmed

in

by

his desk

that he

unable with

to

Terror-stricken at the

before sight

body all of a tremble,and his eyes from his head,he made of the starting repeated signs alarmed, equally cross, until the supposed fiend was
him,
his since he could
not

understand

the

cause

of

the

On evident perturbation. reporter's

his
was on

from recovering
known
"

embarrassment
a

he had

made been

himself

he

sweep, roof the

the

mistaken himself The

'

on a chimney operating above,but, when ready to return, had intruded entrance, and thus unwillingly

who

into the chamber unclean

of the Parliament. of the

~j
Sabbat

ceremonies
'

Witches'

were

who, in his favourite inaugurated by Satan, ~| no assumption of a huge he-goat (a suggestion, face in front, with one doubt, from Biblical imagery), between his haunches, took his place another and his throne. After all present had done homage upon he appointed him on the posterior face, a by kissing of the ceremonies,and, attended by him, mad master of any guest to ascertain if I examination a personal indicated his right if she bore the stigma, which or found without it received ownership. Any who were
the mark while the
at
once

from

the master
on

of the ceremonie
,

devil
all

bestowed
to

them and

nickname with wild

Thereafter

began

dance

sing

extravagance"
'

There When

is
one

no

rest

for to-night

dance

ends another

: anyone is begun

'
"

until into

some

neophyte arrived,and
circle of the

sought
Silence

admission

the

initiated.

prevailed

208

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.

through the usual formjif thejiewcomer^went spitting denyingher salvation, upon the Bible^kissing and jwearmg^obedience the devil, to him jn^jjjjjmigs^ and a hoarse chorus The dancingthen renewed its fury,
while
went

up

of

"

Alegremos, alegremos, !' Que gente va tenemos

spent with jown, and, like the

When the evil those

they sat Ae__yiolenj^jexercise,

witches^jn/ Macbeth/
had done since the last been related

thingseach
had
not

who

chastised in blood.

by
A

Satan
dance sprang

himself

Sabbat^ active being sufficiently until they were drenched

was

of toads up
out

the next

ment. entertain-

by thousands, and danced their hind-legs while Satan played on on the bagpipes or the trumpet, after which theysolicited them for their exertions the witches to reward by them with the flesh babes. Was of unbaptized feeding They
there and
ever a more

of the earth

curious At
a

mixture

of the the

grotesque

the

horrible?

stamp from

devil's foot

they returned to the earth whence they came, and a banquetwas served up, the nature of which the reader be left to imagine! Dancing was afterwards may for the resumed, while those who had no partiality in burlesquing the sacrament pastimefound amusement of baptism, the toads being again summoned and sprinkled with holy water, while the devil made the sign of the cross, and the witches cried out in In chorus : nomine Patrica, Aragueaco Patrica, !' jurando gome guitogoustia agora, agora! Yalentia, Patrick of Aragon that is, In the name of Patrick,
4
'

now,

now,

all

our

ills are

over!'

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

209

Sometimes

the

devil would dance

cat

cause

the him her

witches in

to

strip themselves, and nakedness,each with a

another

before

their

tied round

neck, and

suspended from her body like a tail. At vanished. the whole phantasmagoria cockcrow One cannot help wondering who first conceived the idea of these horrid saturnalia. Did it spring of some half-mad monk, from the diseased imagination brooding in the solitude of his silent cell,who and grim images and gathered up all these unclean into so ghastlya picture? They are them worked partlyheathen, partly Christian ; partly classical, a pound, compartlyTeutonic strange and unwholesome thick and slab as the hell-broth mixed as by the hags on the blasted heath ! In these pages I am concerned only with our own into which the superstition tightlittle island,' was introduced most certainly by the northern invaders. It would derive strengthand from the consistency teaching of the Old Testament, which distinctly the existence of witchcraft. 'Let not a recognises
"

'

'

'

'

'

given in Exodus similar threats against (chapter xxii.) witches, ; and wizards and the like frequently in the books occur of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Says Sir William To deny the possibility, the actual Blackstone : nay, existence of witchcraft and sorcery, is at once flatly
'

witch

live !' is

the

command

to

contradict

the revealed

Word New
which

of God

in vario.us the the

passages

of the
a

Old
truth

and
to

and Testaments, every nation in

thing itself is
world

hath, in its turn, borne

either by testimony,
14

WITCH,

WABLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.

well attested, or example seemingly by prohibitory least suppose the possibility of a at laws, which The Church with evil spirits.' at a very commerce earlyperiod admitted its existence,and fulminated it. The fourth canon all who practised of the against Council of Auxerre, in 525, stringently all prohibited to sorcerers, diviners, resort augurs, and the like. A
canon

of the
to

Council

condemned

Berkhampsteadin mulcted or punishment, corporal

at

held

696

in

fine,every
was on

person the

who
name

made of
a

sacrifices to

the

evil

spirits.Under
treated the first

as eventually

occasion, the

the offence sortilegium, kind of heresy, for which, if penitent, was offender,

punished by the Ecclesiastical Courts ; but if there after abjuration, she were no or a abjuration, relapse
was

handed

over

to

the secular power

to

be executed
At
a

of the by authority later date, statutes by Parliament,and

writ de heretico comburendo.

againstwitchcraft
the offence
was

were

enacted tried and

were

both

punished by passed in
James I. the

the

civil power.

Such

statutes

and reignsof Henry YIIL, Elizabeth, derives its chief support from Legislation and these
statutes
are
a

publicopinion ;

proofthat believed in. the existence of witchcraft was generally iFor centuries in this country,' says Mr. Inderwick,
1"
" ..

strangeas
of such confession

it may

now

appear, agency

denial
was

of the existence

demoniacal of

deemed
a

equalto
did Lord

atheism, and

to

disbelief in the

Not themselves. Holy Scriptures Lord benches Chancellors, Keepers, Parliament after Parliament
attest

only
of

and Bishops, the

the truth and

CHAP.

I.J

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

211

existence
as

of

but Addison, writingas witchcraft, of the

late

1711, in the pages

himself sides of there the

after describing Spectator, as by the arguments on both hardlypressed belief that this question, expresses his own has

and is,

been, witchcraft
is

in the

land.'
that and

At

same

time,it

have almost

to remember pleasant alwaysbeen a few minds, bolder

there
more

than enlightened which fostered led to

a

the rest,to of the

a credulity protestagainst

acts

greatest inhumanity,and

grotesque and dangerous superstition. "It is in the twelfth century that we first obtain,in
of the
nature
o

England, any distinct indications and it is then we this superstition,

the written The

first meet

with

compact

between
woman

the devil and of

his victim

with which Berkeley, is everybody familiar, Southey'sballad has made the authority of Malniesbury, related by William on of a friend who professed to have been an eye-witness

story of the old

of the facts. the witch

When

the
term

we devil,

read, announced compact had

to

that the

of her
to

nearly
of

she expired, the

summoned

her presence

the monks

fessed conneighbouring monastery and her children, her sins,acknowledgedher criminal compact, and curious anxiety lest Satan should a displayed Sew me in a her body as well as her soul. secure in a stone stag's hide/ she said, and, placingme
' '

shut coffin, with

a

me

in with stone, and Let

lead fasten

and down

iron.

Load

this with

heavy

the whole

three iron chains. and of be masses fifty the demons, and

fifty psalmsbe sung by night, said by day, to baffle the power if you can thus protect my body
14"2

212

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

for three

the fourth day you may on safely nights, though bury it in the ground.' These precautions, observed,proved ineffectual. On the first religiously bravely resisted the efforts of the night the monks fiends, who, however, on the second night,renewed the the attack with increased vehemence, burst open

gates of the monastery, and

chains which held down
was

rent

asunder

two

of the third the

the the

coffin.

On

the

night, so
monastery
stricken

terrible shook
to

that hurly-burly, the

its

and foundations,

terror-

in priests aghast, paused, Then the

a

the midst

of their into and

ministrations. the sacred shoulders

doors

flew who

apart, and
rose

placestalked
above his

demon,

head the

fellows.

Stoppingat
the
was

coffin,
rise. the

he, in
The

terrible

commanded voice, that she

dead bound

to

woman
:

answered

by

third chain the coffin,

whereupon the demon put his foot on the chain snapped like a thread,the coffin-lid
arose, and
was

fell off, the witch

hurried
a

to the church-

door, where
swung away while his

the

demon, mounting
on

huge

black

horse,

victim

to

the

crupper,

and of

galloped
an

into the darkness

with

the swiftness

arrow,

her shrieks resounded

are

through the
in the

air. monastic

There chronicles

many

allusions

old

which

illustrate the

developmentof public

in reference to witches and their craft. Thus, opinion John of Salisbury describes the nocturnal assemblies of the witches, the presence of Satan, the banquet,

and

the

punishment
or

or

reward
of
on

of the guests their zeal. the

according
of
to

to the failure

abundance
us

William
Rome

Malmesbury

tells

that

highroad

CHAP.

I.]
a

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

213

dwelt

coupleof beldams, of
transformed
"

ill

repute, who
into

enticed

the weary their

traveller into their wretched him

hovel,and by
a

incantations
some we

horse, a
that this this way

dog,or
animal

other animal read of sold in

to

similar

tions to the transforma"

Oriental
the

tales

and in

they

first comer,

picking up a tolerable livelihood.; One day, a or lodging, mountebank, asked for a night's jongleur, and when he disclosed his vocation to the two hags,

they informed him that theyhad an ass of remarkable but speak, could do everything which, indeed, capacity, asked The sum and that they were to sell it. willing telligenc insuch wonderful but the ass was large, displayed parted, dethat the jongleurgladlypaid it. and taking with him the ass and a pieceof advice
from the old
water.
women
"

not

to

let the

ass

go

near

ning runass

For immense

some

time

all went

well,the

became

an

and attraction, in
one

the

was jongleur

growing passing rich,when,

he fits,
to

of his

drunken

allowed
nearest

the animal to escape.

Running directly

plunged in, and immediately resumed its original shape as a handsome man, young who explained that he had been transformed by the of the two crones. spells The first trial for witchcraft in England occurred
stream, it
in the tenth the
'

the

year

Abbreviatio

King John, when, as Placitorum,' Agnes,wife

one

of

recorded
of Ado
;

in the he

merchant, accused

Gideon

of the ordeal

crime

but

proved
The

his innocence

by

the

of Ted-hot

iron. any 1324.

first trial which

has

been

reportedwith
to

belongs degree of particularity

the

year

214

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
appear,

II.

Some

citizens

of

Coventry, it

would

had

had of the prior, who at the hands severely in his exactions by the two been supported Despensers, In revenge, they II.'s unworthy favourites. Edward the favourites, and the the death of the prior, plotted King. For this purpose they sought the assistance Master of a famous magician of Coventry,named suffered

Nottingham,and his man, Robert Marshall revealed The of Leicester. was by the conspiracy said Robert Marshall, probably because his pecuniary
John of

reward

that John and he averred unsatisfactory, of Nottingham and himself, having agreed to carry the latter, the desire of the citizens, out on Sunday, of the stipulated March 13, brought an instalment
was seven

fee, together with

pounds
with this

of
wax

wax

and he and

two

yards
master

of

canvas seven

that

his

made

the

King (with his his caterer, and prior,

de
as

representing images, respectively the two the crown), Despensers,

his

steward,and

one

Richard

Lowe
a

"

the

last named which

on lay-figure

being introduced merely of the to test the efficacy

to
an

charm. The
two

wizards

retired

old

ruined

house

at

Park, about half a leaguefrom Coventry, Shorteley for several days, and at work where they remained the Friday followingHoly Cross about midnight on

Day, the said Master John gave to the said Robert a him to leaden branch,and commanded sharp-pointed inches deep in the forehead of the two insert it about this being de Lowe, Richard image representing
intended
as an

experiment.

It

was

done, and

next

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

215

morning
house
to

Master

John

sent

his

servant

to

Lowe's
him his
tinued con-

after inquire

his

condition,who
He

found had lost

screamingand
memory, and until when

crying 'Harrow!'
knew
no on

one,

and

in this state he before

dawn

the

Sunday
the thrust the

Ascension,
from the the

Master

John

withdrew and

branch
it into

forehead

of the

image

heart.

Wednesday, following when the unfortunate man expired.Such was Robert told before the judges; but apMarshall's fable, as parently and the trial, after it met with little credence, several adjournments, fell to the ground. told by the later chroniclers stories are Wonderful of a certain Eudo de Stella, who had acquiredgreat of Newbury says William as a sorcerer. notoriety
until that his of
'

There

it remained

diabolical

charms

'

collected

pany largecom-

from whom he carried with him disciples, wherever he place to place, adding to their number stopped. At times he encamped in the heart of a wood, where sumptuous tables were^suddenly spread with all kinds of dainty dishes and fragrant wines, and every wish

breathed

by the

meanest

guest was

mediately im-

fulfilled. Some confided

want

of Eudo's

followers, however,

that
never

that there was a strange authority of solidity in these magically viands,and -supplied they were though they ate of them continually,
to
our

satisfied.

But

it appears
or

that

whoever from

once

tasted of the sorcerer's meats,

received among

him

gift, thereby became

And

enrolled

his followers.

the chronicler
his

knightof

this irrefutable proof:A supplies paid a visit to the wizard, acquaintance

216

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.

and When
a

endeavoured he

to turn

him

from

his evil

practices.

Eudo departed,

presentedhis squire with

the

knight,observing, Not the squire:he advised him to cast so away. rejoicedin his high-mettledbird ; but they had scarcely got out of sight of the wizard's camp before hawk's talons and the more gripped him more and at last it flew away with him, and he was closely,
handsome

hawk,

which

never

more

heard

of. Dame the Alicia

seas, but
or Kyteler,

The

trial of
us across

Le
too

Poer,
many

takes

it furnishes

interesting particularsto be entirelyignored. informs Hutchinson us that, in 1324, Bishop de

.

in Ledrede,of Ossory, his

the

course

of

visitation

of

diocese,came
there had various

to

learn

that,in
resided

the

city of
that

kenny, Kil-

long
kinds

certain

persons the

addicted chief

to

of witchcraft ; and them

woman was
a

offender

among

Dame

Alicia

a Kyteler. As she was wealth, which might prove zeal Church, the episcopal

of

considerable
to

of great blazed up

benefit

the

and strongly,
to be

she and

her

were accomplices

ordered

put upon

their trial.

The
seven

accusation distinct heads

:

againstthem
:

was

divided

into

giveeffect to their sorcery, to deny the faith of Christ they were wont altogether and of the Church for a year or month, according as the object that to be attained was so greater or less, during this longeror shorter periodthey believed in and abstained from nothing that the Church believed,
That, in
order
to

First

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

217

worshippingChrist's body, from enteringa church, in the from hearing Mass, and from participating the That Sacrament Second: they propitiated demons with sacrifices of livinganimals,which they
tore limb

from

limb, and
a

them offered, by scattering

in

to cross-roads,

certain
'

demon,
of the

Robert poorer

Artisson class of

who (filius Artis), hell/

was

one

Third:
and the

That oracles

by

their

sorceries

they sought
Fourth
:

responses

from

demons. of the

That their

they

used

ceremonies

Church
with

in

nocturnal candles

meetings, pronouncing,
of wax,
sentence

lighted
even

of excommunication
own

against the

persons

of their from
at

husbands, naming
foot to

expressly every member, the top of the head,and

candles with That the with

the sole of the

the lengthextinguishing
*

exclamation,
the
to the

Fi ! fi! fi! Amen and

!'

Fifth:

intestines

other
'

inner certain
men,

parts of cocks sacrificed

horrible the

demons, with
who

worms/

various

herbs, the nails of dead

had

and hair,brains,

clothes of children

died

and other things too disgusting to unbaptized, mention,boiled in the skull of a certain robber who had been beheaded, on of oak-sticks, fire made a

they had
candles

invented

powders
in the

and said

ointments,and

also

of fat boiled

skull,with

certain in
citing ex-

charms, which
love bodies unlawful
or

thingswere
hatred,and

to

be instrumental

of faithful purposes. the

the or torturing killing other for various and Christians, in Sixth: That the
sons same

and

daughtersof
Alice had

four husbands their

of the the

Dame

made

complaintto

that Bishop,

218

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICFAN.

[BOOK II.
of her

she,by such sorcery, had procured the death husbands, and had so beguiledand infatuated
that
^on

them,
her the

they had given all their property to her and to [by her first husband, William Outlawe],

of their own and heirs : sons impoverishment perpetual insomuch that her present [and fourth] husband, Sir John Le of

Poer, was

reduced

to

most

miserable

dition con-

body by her ointments, powders,and other magical preparations;but, being warned by her
maidservant,he
had taken forcibly wrhich he from found his wife the
a

keys
with he

of her the
'

house, in
'

bag
That

filled

detestable
to

articles above

mentioned, which
there

had

sent
an

the

Bishop.
called
to
a a

Seventh:

existed Alice

unholy connection
the demon

between

the said

Lady
a

and

Robert
in the

Artisson, who
form of

sometimes sometimes others in

appeared
in the that form black of

her

cat,
at

black black

shaggy dog,
man,

and

of
as

with

two

tall his

companions as
hand
a

each carrying in himself,

rod

of iron. this the

Some

of the

old

chroniclers

embroider her nine

upon

charge the
demon
was

fanciful details that nine red

to offering

cocks' and
a a

were peacocks' paid on eyes, which stone bridgeat a cross-road ; that she had a ointment,* wrhich she rubbed upon
*

certain

magical
or

coulter

So in read of

Duclerq's Memoires
*

'

('Collect, du Pantheon
the
sorcerers were

'), p. 141,
accused of leur

we

a an

case

at Arras,in which

using such
avoit

ointment:

'D'ung oignement

que

le diable

ils oindoient de bois bien petite, et leurs bailie, une vergue celle virguelte leurs entre palmes et leurs mains, puis mectoient jambes, et tantost ils s'en volvient ou ils voullvient estre, pur-

desseures
au

bonnes

bois villes,

et

cams;

et

les

portoit le diable

lieu

ou

ils debvoient

faire leur assemblee.'

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

219

plough handle, in
carry wished her and
to go ; that

order

that

the

said

coulter

might

her

companions whithersoever
in her the the house
name was

they
a crated conse-

found
written

wafer,with
and

devil's
streets

upon

it ;

that,sweeping
the doors

of

Kilkenny between
up all the ordure

complin and
towards

she twilight, of her

raked son,

William

Outlawe,

sayingto

herself:
'

To Hie

the house

of William of

my

son,

all the wealth

Kilkenny town.'

in powerful friends and lady, rejoicing She defied the Bishop and all his works. advisers, summoned to was excommunicated, and her son appear before the Bishop for the offence of harbouring The

Alice's friends reher ; but Dame taliated concealing by throwing the Bishop into prison for several days. He revenged himself by placingthe and again summonwhole diocese under an interdict, ing Outlawe to appear on a certain day ; but William before the day arrived, cited before he in his turn was for having imposed an the Lord to answer Justice, and to defend himself against interdict on his diocese,
and accusations submitted

by

the

seneschal.
to

The

Bishop
the further

that it was unsafe for him pleaded and,to save pleawas not allowed, he molestation, The

travel ; but

himself from

recalled the interdict.

On the quarrelwas not yet fought out. the octave of Easter, the seneschal, Monday following Arnold de la Poer, held his judicial in the court Assize Hall at Kilkenny. Thither repairedthe he forced his and, though refused admission, Bishop,

220

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.

in his hand pontificals, carrying the Host in attended by a numerous pyx of gold,and received with train of friars and clergy. But he was which of insults and reproaches, a storm compelled way

in, robed

in full

him and his his

to

retire.

Upon

his of

repeated protests,however,
some

at the intercession return

was

influential personages, ordered

to

permitted. Being
the criminal's been

take that He

stand had
at

at

bar,
so

he

exclaimed

Christ
stood called persons his

never

treated

before,since
he the
arrest

the bar before Pontius the seneschal

to

Pilate ; and
order

loudly
of the into

upon

accused

of sorcery, and the of the

their deliverance

hands.

When
book
a

seneschal

he Sir
and
we

opened the Arnold,

that you
are

abruptlyrefused, and saith, You, decretals,

'

are

knight, and
not

instructed
excuse

in

letters,

may

have

the

of

ignorance,

preparedto

prove bound

by

these decretals that you

and

obey our order in this matter, under heavy penalties.' Go to the church with your decretals,' the replied of us here will seneschal, and preach there,for none listen to you.' In the Bishop's character there must have been a
your
to
*

officials are

'

fine strain of perseverance,

to

for all these rebuffs

failed

after a succession succeeded, actually of of disappointments renewal and a constant in obtainingpermissionto bring the difficulties, allegedoffenders to trial. Most of them suffered Alice escapedhim, being imprisonment; but Dame secretly conveyed to England. Of all concerned in the affair, was punished Petronella of only one

baffle

him, and

he

CHAP.

T.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

221

Meath,
because

who she

was

selected
neither

as

scapegoat, probably
nor means

had

friends

of

fence. de-

By

order

of the the

Bishop she
tortured declared

was

six times made

a own

flogged,
sion, confes-

after which

poor she

victim
not

in which but that of

only her
the all
one

guilt,
had

whom everybodyagainst proceeded. She affirmed that in indeed, in the whole world,was no in
was

Bishop
more

Britain,nay,
skilled

than magical practices

Dame
"

Alice

broughtto
must

admit known

the truth

Kyteler. She though in her heart

falsehood* she
" "

she the been she

have

its absolute

of had that the that

indictment,and episcopal present at

had assisted the in

that pretended the Evil

sacrifices to

One

unsavoury with upon for these

materials

making the unguents already mentioned,

different
"

with and

unguents
persons

effects of

were

produced ladies,
goats
;

different

the
to

faces

certain like

instance, beingmade
had been with her

appear

horned

that sbe

present at

the nocturnal

revelries,

and,

had mistress's assistance, of excommunication all due Alice

pronouncedsentence own husband, with

had the attended Dame

frequently her against

magical rites ; that she in her assignations with

had
not
seen

demon, Robert
foul

Artisson,and
that I dare

acts to

of

an

so immorality

allude

it pass

That

Robert

to the Evil One, of meeting the demon is,of sacrificing Artisson, and so on ; though it is quite possiblethat
were

strange unguents
and that Dame
Some

made

and administered

to different

persons,

Alice and her

companions
we

played at
see,

of the

so-called witches, as
account

shall it gave

being sorcerers. encouraged the

deceptionon

of the influence

them.

222

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.
and tortured

between into the this poor

them.

Having amazingly wild

was

been and

coerced

fictitious

confession,
sion delu-

woman

declared

and sentenced, guilty, of the witchcraft

burned

the alive,

first victim

in Ireland.

It is

worthy

of observation

that

the mind

of the

roused much to of a public was stronger feeling than hostilityagainst witchcraft against magic. and fortune-tellers, Alchemists, astrologers, diviners, and sometimes the like, might incur suspicion, ment punishthe whole, they were treated with ; but, on with For distinction. this tolerance,and even of inequality themselves. feature natural
was

treatment

two

or

three

reasons

suggest
the and central it
was

In the
men

the

crime

of witchcraft the
an

compact
should

with
resent

demon,
act

that

which

entailed

the eternal loss of the soul.

more

much Again, witchcraft,

than the instrument of magic,was frequently and was directed more personal ill-feeling, generally The magicianseldom used the lower classes. against his power paid by an employer; except when liberally exercised her skill for the the witch,it was thought, of her gratification of be, an imputation
own

malice.

However

this may the fifteenth

or

witchcraft

became,in

century,
ruin
was

formidable
unfortunate There
was

affair, ensuring the death

individual
no

of the made.

againstwhom

it

little

one's self;and
its victim like
a

in

truth,once

ing in defenddifficulty made, it clung to with

a

Nessus's

and shirt,

result

as

deadly.

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

223

shown in the was move political persecutionof the Knights Templars, and, in our in Cardinal Beaufort's "Intrigue own history, against who Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, land governedEngof Henry YI. Protector duringthe minority as struck The the Duke Cardinal at through his In July,1441, two beautiful wife, Eleanor Cobham.
as a

Its value

'

'

and ecclesiastics, Roger Bolingbroke,

a on a canon

Thomas

well, Southarrested said that the that the

of St. of

were Stephen's Chapel,

'

charge

the said Master

high treason Roger should

way should the which

for it
to

was

labour

consume

King's person by
said Master instruments should
was a use

of necromancy say
masses

; and

Thomas with

upon

certain

his said craft of

Roger necromancy.'Bolingbroke
natural
:

the

said

Master

scholar,an
student him of
as

adept in
astronomy
one

science,and
famous clerks

an

ardent

William
most

of Worcester of

describes the world.

of the

Sunday, he was examination, rigorous

Cross, where
all men's
sermon

One

after

he

was

mounted Paul's

heads

in

endured,holding a
a

having undergone conveyed to St. Paul's a high stage above on Churchyard, whiles the in his right hand sword
'

and

sceptre in his left,arrayed in

he
was

marvellous he

array, wherein his

wont

to

sit when

wrought

necromancy/
Duchess her ruin of
was

The that

Gloucester, meanwhile, perceiving intended, fled to sanctuary at

the

Westminster.
was

Before

King's

brought
at the

to

confess

magicaltrade

Duchess's

Bolingbroke that he had pliedhis to know instigation,

'

Council

224

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.
she should

what come.'
a

should In

fall of other

her, and

to

what

estate

words, he

had

cast

her

proceedingcommon
had
no

enough

in those

horoscope, days,and one

Cardinal's

which

treasonable

complexion. The

party, however, seized upon

and
was

made

such

use

of it before

Bolingbroke's confession, that the unfortunate lady

an

cited to of

appear

ecclesiastical tribunal

Archbishop of Canterbury, Chicheley, Cardinal Beaufort,Bishop of Winchester, Cardinal Kemp, Archbishop of York, and Ayscongh, Bishop of Salisbury, to divers articles on July 2, to answer of necromancy, of witchcraft or sorcery, of heresy, and of treason.' Bolingbrokewas brought forward as a 'first stirred witness,and repeatedthat the Duchess him to labour in his necromancy.' After this, he and Southwell indicted as prinwere cipals composed
'

of

treason, and

the

Duchess

as

accessory,

though, if his story were

have named been reversed. At

true, their
the
same

should positions

time,

a
'

woman

Margery Goodman, and known as the Witch of Eye,' was in former burned because at Srriithfield to Eleanor days she had given potionsand philtres ter's the Duke of GloucesCobham, to enable her to secure affections. Roger Bolingbroke was hung, drawn, of and quartered, according to the barbarous custom the age ; Southwell escaped a similar fate by dying before the day appointed for his trial. in the Tower The charge of high treason brought against them
the allegation on that,at the Duchess's entirely waxen a image to resemble request, they had made had placed it before a fire,that, as the King, and rested

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

225

melted,so gradually and die. languish away

sentenced
to

it

might
As which

the

King gradually
Duchess, she
fulfilled
'

for the

was

do

penance, the
more

she

right

meekly,so
in

that

had her part of the people

on 13, Monday, November compassion,' with a lighted 1441, walking barefoot, taper in her she hand, from Temple Bar to St. Paul's, where offered the taper at the high altar. the She repeated the Wednesday and on Friday following, penance walking to St. Paul's by different routes,and on each occasion was accompaniedby the Lord Mayor, the and the various guilds, and by a multitude sheriffs, the repute of her beauty and her whom of people,

great

sorrows a

had

so attracted,

that

what

was

intended

for

humiliation

afterwards

a really triumph. She was in Chester Castle, and thence imprisoned

became

transferred to the Isle of Man.

chargeof sorcery which Richard III. brought Lord Hastings, him of havingwasted against accusing his left arm, though from his birth it had been fleshless, dry, and withered,is made the basis of an effective in Shakespeare's Richard His brother's III/ scene
The
i

widow, Queen Elizabeth Woodville, was

the and charge, This Jane

included
as

in

Shore

was

named

her

plice. accom-

and Council,
and

beauty was accused of having

of the Protector witchcraft
*

frail

brought
"

before

the

endeavoured in several

the ruin

destruction

by particularly
and with him.' The

had

and ways,' decayed his body,

to
sinate assassus-

the Lord

Hastingshad contrived indictment, however,was

not

15

226

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
that

II.

and tained,

her

offence

was

reduced

to

of lewd
to

handed over living. Whereupon she was for to do publicpenance Bishop of London on Sunday morning in St. Paul's Cathedral

the sin

her

church.

Clothed

in

a
a

white
cross

sheet,with
borne before

wax

taper in her
was

hand,
where moral

and

her,she
the of her
seems

led

in

from procession she made

the

to palace episcopal

cathedral,
The
been have

open

confession

fault.

effect of this exhibition

to

marred by the beauty of the penitent, considerably which an impression produced upon the multitude of Phryne the bared bosom similar to that which producedupon her judgesin the days of old.
joining Pope Innocent VIII. issued a Bull enand punishment(by burning) the detection, trial, This was the first formal recognition of witches. In England of witchcraft by the head of the Church. levelled at it was the first Act of Parliament passed

I In

1480

in

1541.

Ten

years

later

two

more

statutes

were

enacted,one
other to
no one

false prophecies, and to relating witchcraft and sorcery. But conjuration,

was

the in

of these
;

witchcraft

condemned

qua

craft witchmeans

they were
the

directed

those who, by against

of

incantations,or spells,
lives and
'

compacts

with

the

devil,

neighbours. When, in 1561, Sir Edward one Waldegrave, of Mary Stuart's councillors, arrested by order of was Cecil as 'a mass-monger/ the Bishop of Secretary he was London, to whom remitted,felt no disposition to inflict a heavy penaltyfor hearing or saying of mass he discovered that the inquiry, ; but, on

threatened

of properties

their

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

227

had officiating priest

been concerned

in

concoctinga
'

and he then decided that sorcery would love-philtre/ fore, thereafford a safer ground for process. He applied, to Chief Justice Catlin, to learn what might be the
was

law

in such
no

cases, and

was

astonished

when

he

for had been made provision legal them. Church the before Previously they came Courts ; but these had been deprived of their powers he could by the Reformation,and the only precedent find for moving in the matter to the reign belonged of Edward
'

told that

and III.,
fut

was

thus entered
Southwark
avec avec

on

the roll:
ung
son

Ung

homme

prinseen
morte

visaigedung homme
male
nulle
et fut amesn6
en

barike du
vers

lyvre ung Roy devant Knyvet

teste et ung de sorcerie en

mais Justice,

qui les clerkes luy fierement jurement quo jamais ne feroit sorcerie en apres, et fut delyvoti furent arses del prison, et le teste et les lyvres a Totehylla les taken in Southwark, was (That is : A man costages du prisonnier.'
lui, por
with
a was

indictment

fut

dead

man's

skull
at
was

and

and wallet,

brought up
indictment
swear

the

of sorcery King's Bench before

a

book

in

his

Knyvet
the sorcery,

Justice ; but no him clerks made and

laid

against him,
no more

for that with

he would
were

meddle
burnt
^

the head

and

the books

at

Tothill Fields at the

prisoner's charge.)
i

passedan which witchcraft Act denned crime, a as capital whether it was not exerted to the injuryof the or was forward of the lieges. Thencelimbs,and possessions lives, its place of witches took the persecution Englishinstitutions. During the latter years among several instances occurred. of Elizabeth's reign Thus, on July 25,1589, three witches were burnt at Chelmsfamiliarized ford. The popularmind was gradually
with the idea of and witchcraft, led to concentrate
15"2

But

in

the

following year

Parliament

its

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

attention which among

were

on

the

individual

marks,
its belief

or

characteristics,
its existence

supposed to higher

indicate
a

Even professors. in

the very

classes

became

and it is startling to find a man general, like the learned and pious Bishop Jewell, in a sermon It may before Queen Elizabeth, saying: please your
'

Grace

to understand

that witches
are

and

sorcerers

within

these last four years

this your away
even

Grace's
unto

realm.

increased within marvellously Your Grace's subjects pine

; their colour

the death

fadeth
; their

; their
senses

flesh rotteth ; their

are

speechis

benumbed

bereft ! I pray upon the

than

theymay never !' (1598). subject

in
'

God

further practise

\The
who
met

witches
at

Macbeth

'
"

those

weird

sisters

midnightupon the blasted heath,and in their caldron brewed so deadlya hell-broth take parof the dignityof the poet's genius,and belong ideal wo'rld of his imagination.' No such to the vast
' '
"

midnighthags
The
town

crossed

the

Elizabethan and

witch, who

pathsof ordinarymortals. scared her neighbours in

on

and village,

flourished

their

combined in
'

ignoranceand superstition, appears, however,

The scribes dea

Merry
quean,
not

Wives
"

of fat

Windsor,' where
woman

Master
' '

Ford
a
'

the old

of Brentford !' She

;

as

witch,

an

cozeningquean
my
are

He
comes we

adds

Have

forbid she ?

her

house

of do

errands,
know

does what's

We

simple men
pass works under

not

brought to
She
and

the

of profession

tune-telli for-

the

figure ;

such

by by charms, by spells, daubery as this is beyond our

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

229

element.'

Most

of Master
'

Ford's

I contemporaries,

fear, were,

were more

sons simple men.' (Even perand refinement, of rank and learning, of position and credulous their poorer, more as as ignorant, vulgarneighbours ; were justas ready to believe in this matter,
an crone untaught village

that with

had

made

compact

the

devil,and
a

bartered broom
or

her soul for the

rightof
a

across straddling

changingherself into

black

cat !\

Near
two

in 1593, lived Warboise, in Huntingdonshire,

estate
"

gentlemenof good
Cromwell.

Mr.

Throgmorton
had five

and

daughters, of whom the eldest, with a lively Joan, was possessed which busied itselfconstantly with ghosts imagination, and witches. she passed the On one when occasion,
cottageof
an

Sir Samuel

The

former

old and

infirm woman,
a

known cap
on

as

Mother

Samuel,the good dame, with

was

black

her

head,
claimed ex-

at sitting

her
was

door
a

knitting. Mistress
that
course,

Joan
went

that she and convulsions,

witch,hurried home,
Mother
her

into had

declared In due

Samuel

bewitched
her
on

her.

sisters followed of their fits

example,and they too

Mother the

laid the blame

Samuel.

The

parents,not

less infatuated

than and of

lent ready ears to their wild tales, children, carried them to Lady Cromwell, who, as a friend

Throgmorton, took and resolved that earnestly,

should
no means

Mrs.

the the

matter

up

right
witch

supposed
was

be

put

to

the

ordeal.

by

this

unwilling;and the let loose prompt credulity,

by children,encouraged
their fertile inven-

Sir Samuel

230

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
sent

II.

tions.

They

declared

that

Mother

Samuel

them to torment incessantly. legionof evil spirits their had made known Strangeto say, these spirits which, though grotesque, had nothing of a names, demoniac First them character about Smack,7 Second Smack,' 'Third Smack,' 'Blue,' Catch/ of course, names invented, Hardname/ and Pluck
'
"

'

'

'

"

by

themselves. people At length the aggrievedThrogmorton,summoning all his courage, repaired Samuel's humble to Mother residence,seized upon the unhappy old crone, and where well dragged her into his own grounds, Lady Cromand

the young

Mrs.

long pins into

blood.
tore out

Throgmorton and her body to see

unmeasured cap

her children if

thrust

With

the old woman's

a

they could draw violence, Lady Cromwell from her head,and plucked
hair,which
a

handful

of her
to

gray

she

gave

to

Mrs.

Throgmorton
these

burn, as
evil poor old
curse

charm

that

wrould

protect her from

under of
curse

all further

Smarting practices.
woman,

the injuries,
a

in

moment
"

passion,invoked
afterwards she her
was

upon

her

torturers

remembered allowed made

to

againsther, though

at

the time
a

year

life was

inflicted upon persecution families, who, on their part, declared that her demons ills, brought upon them all kinds of physical vented preand turned their ewes and cows from bearing, the milk in the dairy-pans. It so happened sour that

than depart. For more miserable by the incessant hostile her by the two

Lady

Cromwell
she

was

seized with

sudden

illness,

of which

and died,

though

some

fifteen months

CHAP.

I.]

EAKLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

231

had

elapsedsince
Samuel

the utterance

of the curse,

on

poor

Mother Samuel

Sir placed the responsibility. felt called upon to punish Cromwell,therefore,

was

her for her illdoing. ing throughlistenpartly of the charges to the incessant repetition against from a weak in the her,and partly, perhaps, delight she had attained, had come to believe, to or notoriety think she believed, that she was reallythe witch everybody declared her to be -just as a young

By

this time

the old woman,

"

versifier his

is sometimes

deluded

into

conviction

of

poeticgenius through unwisely creditingthe of an admiringcircle of friends and relatives. eulogies On one she was occasion, conveyedinto Mrs. forcibly of her in one Throgmorton'shouse when Joan was
and fits, frequently-recurring ordered
to

exorcise

the
:

demon
4

that I
am a

was

the maid, with troubling the

causer come

the formula

As

witch,and
did

of

Lady

Cromwell's
The

to death,I chargethee,fiend,

out

of her!'

poor

creature

as

she

was

told, and
her that all three

confessed,
her sold

that besides,

her husband

and

daughter were
had

associates in witchcraft, and

their souls to the devil.

On

this confession
to

the whole

familywere
Soon

arrested, and

sent

Huntingdon
before Mr.

Gaol.

afterwards

they were
the old her
"

tried

Justice

Fenner, and put

In that her
was

to the torture.
woman

agony

confessed
was a

anything
had

requiredof
the of

she

witch, she
caused

bewitched death

Throgmortons, she

had

the
her their

and Her husband Lady Cromwell. asserted daughter, stronger-minded, resolutely

232

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
not

II.

innocence. its victims and

was

however, would Ignorance,

; all three
were

be denied be

sentenced

to

to have

their bodies burned.

and

The

hanged, who daughter,

regarded compassionately and advised to gain at least a by many persons, She respiteby pleading pregnancy. indignantly refused sacrifice her good name. to They might call her a witch, she exclaimed, but falsely they should not be able to say that she had acknowledged
young

comely,was

herself

to

be

harlot.

Her

old

mother, however,
that loud three she
was

caught
with in which

at the

and idea,

the child, she

on

openlyasserted court breakingout into joined. The fatuously

laughter,
victims

suffered

April7, 1595.
property of the Samuels,Sir
of the
manor,
an as

Out Samuel
sum

of the confiscated

Cromwell, "40,
which

lord

received
annual

of

he converted

into of
an

rent-

chargeof
or

40s. for the endowment

on

annual

sermon

of witchcraft, to be delivered iniquity Cambridge. by a D.D. or B.D. of Queen's College, This strange memorial and of a shameful ignorant in the eighteenth discontinued was superstition early lecture the

century.
In from

1594, Ferdinando, Earl

the firm conviction he had
no

though
who had
so

Derby, died in and witched, that he was mortally beknowledge of the person
of

bewitched time

him. there lived in obscure

About
of the

the

same

an

part
of

Lancashire,not
names

far from and

Pendle, two

families

of Dundike

Chattox

who respectively,

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

233

both

and privileges, pretendedto enjoy supernatural if they had therefore as bitterly as were antagonistic Their neighfactions. bours, belongedto different political to have believed in the superior however, seem Mother claims of the head of the Dundike family, Dundike, who pretendedthat she had enjoyed her unhallowed which powers for half
a

century.
I
am

The
to

year

in

occurred
so

the incidents

about

describe

was,

to

her jubilee. speak, Dundike

we

Mother

must

have form

been

woman

of from

lively
her

if imagination, graphicaccount

may

conclusions

of the

circumstances of
a
'

her attending

initiation into the

great army

the devil's own.'

One

she begging expedition, accosted by a boy,dressed in a parti-coloured was ment garof black and white,who proved to be a demon, for the evil spirit, and promisedher that, in return or of her soul, she should have anythingand everygift thing she desired. On inquiring she was his name, told it was that the note Tib; and here I may and potentates of the nether world seem to princes have had a great predilection for monosyllabic names,

day, when

from returning

'

'

and The
woman

names

of

vulgar and

commonplace character.
between
on

upshot
was

of the conversation the surrender

Tib

and

the

of her soul

the

liberal

conditions

and for the next five or six years promised, the said devil frequently appearedunto her about what she asked and (nearevening), daylight-gate
'
'

would

have
'

or

do.

With

wonderful

unselfishness

she

of the end replied,Nothing.' Towards a quiet Sabbath morning, while year, on

the sixth
she

lay

234

WITCH,

WARLOCK, in the

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

Tib asleep, himself

to

came

shape of
as

brown
no

dog, forced
other ment gar-

her
a

knee,and,
smock,

she

wore

than

succeeded

Awaking suddenly,she
child !' but had
not

drawing blood. exclaimed, Jesu, save my

in
'

the power

to say,

Jesu, save
for
a

mef
space

Whereupon the brown of eightweeks she was

The matter-of-fact confession her

and dog vanished,

4

almost

stark mad.' Mother distinguishes in the statements all

which style may

Dundike's
of

also be traced and

children

who grandchildren,
an

and everydayreality, if evil spirits in various common to went as disguises and fro in the land with edifying Let us regularity.

speak as

if witchcraft

were

turn

to

the

evidence, if such
about

it may thirteen

be
or

called,of
fourteen

Alison years

Device, a girl of
of age.

her grandmother without Incriminating she declared that when scruple, they were on the frequently persuaded her to tramp, the old woman allow
a

devil

or

familiar

'

to

suck

at

some

part of her
do she what
nor

body, after which she might have and would though,strange to say, neither
"

she one anyto

else

ever

availed

themselves

of their powers

in on improve their material condition,but lingered poverty and privation. James Device,one of Mother Dundike's grandsons, said that on Shrove Tuesday she bade him go
to to church eat to receive

the sacrament"

not, however,
at bring

the deliver

consecrated it to
'

bread, but
a

to
as

away,
meet

and
on

such

Thing'
But bread. from

should

him

his way

homeward.
ate

obeyed he dis-

the his way

and injunction, when

the sacred

On
the

home,

about

fifty yards

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

235

church, he hare/ which

bread answered threatened

was

met

by
him his

Thing

in the had

shape

of

asked

whether

he

brought the
He
the

to according

directions. grandmother's

that

he

had him

riot; and
in

therefore he

Thing

to rend

but pieces,

got

rid of it

God. by calling upon hard by the new Some few days later, like to a to him Pendle,a Thing appeared asked him for his soul, and promised in
he should be

church
brown
return

in

dog,
that

The virtuous avenged on his enemies. that his soul somewhat equivocatingly, youth replied, but belonged to his Saviour Jesus not his to give, was his to give, Christ ; as much however, he was as was of. three days later Two contented to dispose or

James
a

Device

had

occasion

to go

to

Cave
of

Hall, where

Mrs.

accused Towneley angrily and turf, the

"

him from

having stolen
her
"

some

of her

drove devil

him
next

door

with

violence.

When

appeared
Device

this time

like

black
for
an a

dog

he found

James

in the

right

temper
to make

deed

of wickedness. of

He

was

instructed
; which

image
dried

claylike
same

Mrs.

Towneley
the said

he

did,and

it the

night by
the

and fire,

for a week crumbled daily two days after it was all In the following Lent, one

away gone John

Mrs.

image,and Towneley died !

of the young

Duckworth,

Launde, promisedhim
Device
and then touch
went to sent

an

old shirt ; but when for the he gift,

was
c

his house with

denied,
'

contumely. The spiritDandy appearedto him, and exclaimed : Thou didst the man Duckworth/ which he, James Device,
away
'

denied ; but

the

: spirit persisted

Yes

; thou

didst

236

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

touch then

him,

and

therefore he is in my the demon the

same

power.'
Mrs.

Device

agreedwith
meet

that the said Duckworth fate he died.

as

should and

with

Towneley,

in the

week following

It is
head

curious

fact that the old

woman

Chattox,the

of the rival faction of Mother

accused the ranks

or

Dundike

in witchcraft, practitioners of having inveigled her into This

was

of the devil's servants. To

about

1597
"

1598.

Mrs. Chattox
too

the Evil One of her

sex
"

he has of
a

appearedto

many

appeared as in the shape

man.

dike's
her

Time, midnight; place,Elizabeth Dunfor tumble-down cottage. He asked,as usual,

she at first refused, but advice and the

which soul,

afterwards, at

Mother

Dundike's
'

solicitation, agreed to
said wicked
one

part with.
said unto

Whereupon her,that he must

suck him he
a

have

then spirit part of her body denied then

to

for him

to

upon
; and

; the which

she

grant
her

unto

withal have her

asked

him, what
use

part of said,he
her ribs,
And
was a

body

would

for that

; who to

would for him she

have

placeof
upon
;

near rightside,

to suck

whereunto
the
a

she assented.

further

said

that,at
of

same

time, there

that came spottedbitch, with the said spirit the said Dundike, which did unto then speak unto her in Anne and Chattox' s hearing, and worldly said,that she should have gold,silver, wealth there and
at
was

Thing

in the

likeness

her will ; and

at

the

same

time

she

saith

viz.,flesh, victuals, butter,cheese,bread,

bid them called
eat

and drink,

the eating,

devil

enough. Fancy, and

And the

after their other

spirit

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

237

himself calling she the said

Tib

carried

the remnant

away.

And
never

that although they did eat, they were saith, fuller

nor

better

for the

same

; and

that at their

lightto see banquet the said spirits gave them what they did, although they had neither fire nor and and that there be both she-spirits candle-light; (he-)devils.' occasion In a later chapter I shall have to refer of the various the confessions to cated implipersons in this Great What Oyer of witchcraft.
' '

comes

out

very

stronglyin
the

them

is the and

hostility
the Dun-

which

existed

between

Chattoxes

dikes, and
Forest
there

their
were

adherents. respective
two evidently

In

Pendle

distinct

one parties,

of which

sought
of Mother in

the

favour

and

sustained other

the

tensions preless
to

Dundike, the
Mother
clear it is

beingnot
As

steadfast these
two

to allegiance

Chattox.

enough that they resorted to many encouragedthe popular credulity, expedientsfor the purpose of supporting ingenious
beldams,
their and influence,

influence in

unscrupulously employed that aims. furtherance of their personal They

a

knowingly played at
the and devil, their their

sham

game

of

commerce

with

enjoyed the fear and awe with which It flattered neighbours looked up to them. vanity;and perhaps they played the game so
to deceive
to
a

long as

themselves.

'

Human

are passions

degree infectious. Perceiving the hatred of their neighbours, they began to think that they were worthy objects of detestation and that their imprecations had a real effect, and terror,

always

certain

238

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
of the

II.

their
were

curses

killed.
to

The

brown

horrors

forest almost in the

favourable that To

and they sometimes visions,

met

believed

they

the

foe of

mankind

night.'
when
means

the delusions

of the

imagination, ally especi-

of

there are no by prideand vanity, suggested that puttinga limit ; and it is quitepossible
women saw

in time

these

gave
a or

credence demon brown

or

to their

own

absurd

inventions, and
every

familiar that

hare

or

black

dog

in spirit accidentally

crossed For the

their awhile

path.
the witches But the up
so

created

reign of

terror

in

forest.

animosities interlacing its inhabitants

were

which the

gradually sprang
fertile
source

between much

of

disorder

a that,at length,

county

than magistrate of more Roger No well, Esq.,described as

ordinary energy,
a

very idea

honest

and pressing sup-

gentleman,conceived religious
them,
he should

the

that,by

do the the

State

good

service. arid

Accordinglyhe
Chattox, Alison
in the

ordered

arrest

of Dundike

Device, and

Anne

Redfern,and each,
made
a

hope

of

having saving her life,

committed
to

full

he confession,
on

them take

to

Lancaster

Castle,
the
next

April 2, 1612,
No

their trials at

assizes.

attempt
This

was

made, however, to

search

Malkin

ruin was with superregarded lonely stitious dread by the peasantry, who durst never of the strange unearthly approach it, on account Tower. noises and
recesses.

the weird

creatures

that

haunted

its wild

James

Device, when
about

examined
a

afterwards
before his

by Nowell, deposed that

month

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

239

arrest, as
the

he

was

going towards
met
a

his mother's

house
from

in

of an disguise he three nights after, evil spirit. About two or of children heard a shriekingand great number in the same neighbourhood crying pitifully ; uncanny shocked by a loud and at a later date his ears were brown

he twilight, and, of course, a

brown

dog coming
was

it,

dog

the

yelling,like
'

unto
same

great
sounds

number

of

cats.'

We

have

heard

the

at night,in ourselves,

! It is which did not profess to be haunted places that Dame Dundike, who was obviously very possible with much old wToman, a crafty knowledge of human nature, had something to do with these noises and appearances, the eerie for it
was

to

her

interest and

to

maintain the

reputationof
of
was

the

Tower,

prevent
all her
c

intrusion

visitors. inquisitive natural

With

little

secrets,it

enough

she should

say,

Procul

while este,profanij

opportunityof authority. the general Tower It was belief that the Malkin the place the witches where was annuallykept their Sabbath Good on Friday,and in 1612, after Dame there as usual, in excepDundike' s arrest, they met tionally largenumbers, and, after the usual feasting,
conferred
on together
4

seize every necessarily extending and strengtheningher

she would

the situation

'
"

to

use

slang
sided, pre-

phraseof
and of

the

present day.
their advice

Elizabeth
as

Device best

asked

to the

method
have
;

There must her mother's release. obtaining been some those old women daring spirits among for it was the record to proposed so runs
" "

kill

240

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

Lovel,
man
4

the

gaolerof
name

Lancaster

and Castle,

another informal

of the

of

Lister,accomplish an

and blow up the prison! Even with gaol-delivery/ the helpof their familiars, theywould have found this and we do not a difficult and dangerous enterprise, wonder that the proposalmet with generaldisfavour. without meet Seldom, if ever, do conspirators a traitor in
was a

their

midst

and

on

this occasion in the

there of

traitor in

Malkin

Tower

person of

Janet

Device,

the

youngest

daughter

Alison

of the unfortunate old grand-daughter who woman was lying ill and weak in Lancaster Gaol. A girlof only nine years of age, she was an experiencedliar and thoroughlyunscrupulous ; and having been bribed by Justice Nowell, she informed against the persons present at this meeting, and secured Lancaster Elizabeth their
was

Device, and

arrest.

The
to

number

of

prisonersat
whom
were

increased
son

twelve,among

Device,her

James, and

Alice

Nutter,of

Rough Lea, a lady of good familyand fair estate. There is good reason to believe that the last-named in the doings of the soin no way implicated was
called Device

witches, but
to

that she

was

introduced
some

by

Janet
"

the greed of gratify

event

of her relatives inherit

who, in the

of her

death, would

her

of Justice Nowell, ill-feeling she had worsted whom in a dispute about the The lands. charges boundary of their respective and amounted to no more trivial, against her were

property
"

and

the

than

that she had

been

present at

the

Malkin Dundike

Tower and

and convention,

had

joinedwith

Mother

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

241

Elizabeth named

Device

in

bewitchingto

death

an

old

man were was

Mitton.
and

The

Janet

Elizabeth

only witnesses againsther Device,neither of whom

Dundike

worthy
Blind

of credence. old Mother

escaped the terrible law by dying in prison penaltyof an unrighteous have been before the day of trial. But justice must
well among satisfied with them
was

its tale of

victims.

Foremost head of the

Mother
i
"

Chattox, the
very

anti-Dundike and

faction

old, withered, spent,

whose almost gone, creature/ sightwas decrepit chattered with the meaningless and whose babble lips of senility. When judgment was pronounced upon her,she uttered a wild, incoherent prayer for Divine and besought the judge to have pity upon mercy, Anne Eedfern, her daughter. The next person for Elizabeth trial was Device, who is described as with a preposterousmark in having been branded
'

nature,

even

from

her than

which birth, the other ;

;
so

was

her
one

left eye

standinglower
down,
the other that the best

the

looking

lookingup
were

deformed strangely

that

present in that honourable

did affirm this
woman was

assemblyand great audience

often
seen

they had
her
curses a

not

the like.'

When

discovered
own

that the she child,

witness principal broke

out

her against such

a

into

storm

of
to

and sudden
court
to

reproachesthat
stop, and
before her
she

the had

came proceedings

to

be

removed
summon

from up
or

the

daughter could
fictions
was,

courage

repeat the
The
woman

she

had

learned found

concocted.
were

of course,

as guilty,

16

242

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

also James

and

Alison

Device,Alice
John and

Nutter,
Jane

Anne

Kedfern,Katherine
all of Pendle. whom and

Hewit,
Isabel

Balcock,
of

Roby,

of Win

die, most

asserted their innocence to the last. strenuously On August 13, the day after their trial, they were burnt to at the common place of execution, near of the ignorance, Lancaster the unhappy victims and barbarity of the age. superstition, Janet Device, as King's evidence,obtained a pardon,
'
'
"

the

though she acknowledgedto of her parents, and practices

from her mother the other
two to

have

taken

part in

confessed to
one

having
cure

learned

prayers,

to

the

and bewitched, which is

get

drink.

The

former,
Eoman
runs as

Catholic follows
:
'

of the old obviouslya pasticcio hymns and traditional rhymes,

Upon Good
Our
Lord

Friday,I
owne messe

Untill I heare them Lord's

in His

will fast while I may knell

bell.

With What

His twelve hath He

Apostlesgood,
hand
?
:

in His

Ligh
What

in leath wand

hath

He

in His

other hand

Heaven's

door

key.
door

Open,

open,

Heaven's

keys

Stark, stark,hell door.

Let Criznen Goe What Thine
He

child mild ; that crests

to its mother

is

yonder
sore

so farrndly1 light

owne

deare Sonne

that's nailed

to the

Tree.

is naild

by

the

heart and hand,

And Well That

holy harne
is that
man

panne.

Fryday spell can,

His child to learne ;

CHAP.

I.]

EARLY

HISTORY

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

243

A
As

crosse

of blew Lord
was

and another of
to the Roode.

red,

good

Gabriel laid him

downe
of

to

sleepe
;

Upon
Good

the

ground
came

Lord

holy weepe walking by.

thou,wak'st thou, Gabriel Sleep'st No, Lord,

That
Rise I
can

am

sted with

sticks and stake

wake
me,
:

neither

nor sleepe

up,

and Gabriel,
nor

goe with

The

stick

the stake shall

never

dure thee.

Sweet

Jesus, our prayer

Lord,

Amen

The
: phrase

other
l

consisted hoc

Crucifixus

only of signurn vitam

the

Latin

aeternam.

Amen/*
*

Thomas of

Pott's 'Wonderful Lancashire'

Discoverie

of

Witches the

in

the

Countie

(1615),reprintedby

Chetham

1845. Society,

16"2

244

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

CHAPTER

II.

WITCHCEAFT

IN

ENGLAND

IN

THE

17TH

CENTURY.

iTnE
and gave

accession
an a

of James

a professed demonologist, I.,

expert in all
*

matters

great impulse to
Poor old

the

England.
were

women

to witchcraft, relating of witches in persecution of tender age and girls

walked,

swum,

shaved, and
the fires blazed/ economic
was

tortured

the

gallowscreaked
with
creates
as

and

In

accordance

the well-known the

law, that the demand

it supply,
tortures

found

that,in proportion
did in the number

trials and

so increased,

of

witches,until

have then

England supposed themselves,or were supposed by others, to made Legislation compacts with the devil. and Parliament,in compliance augmented its severity,
hags
with the wishes sorcery benefit of the and of
new

half the

old

King, passed an
were

Act

by

which

witchcraft

made

without felony, the

country
of

was

think innocent under

the

clergy. For some years and it is appalling to witch-ridden, hundreds of hapless,ignorant,and

who
were

creatures

done cruelly

to

death
\

the influence

of this

mania. extraordinary

CHAP.

II.]WITCHCRAFT
remarkable
case

IN

THE

17TH

CENTURY.

245

A is

tried at
'

King's Lynn
Mr. Inderwick.

in

1606

in reported

Ho well's

State Trials/

I avail

myself

of the summary

furnished of

by

Henry Smith, grocer, confessed, under that,being indignantwith some examination, of her neighbours because they prospered in their trade more than she did,she oftentimes cursed them ;
and that once, while she of
a was

Marie,

wife

thus

the engaged, and willed and

see

devil that

appearedin
she should

the form continue

black

man,

in her

malice, envy,
he would she whom

hatred,
that she evil.

banning
was

and

and cursing,

then

revenged upon
was,

all to
a

wished

There

of course,
renounce

she should

compact insisted upon : that the devil and God, and embrace
this he
as a

all his works.

once as a

After

appearedfrequently
"

mist, once
in
no

ball of
a

and fire,

twice

he

visited her her to make The follows John cursed

prison with
of the

pairof horns,advising but to relyupon him. confession,

acts

evidence
:

of

witchcraft

was

as

Oakton, a sailor, having struck her boy, she him roundly,and hoped his fingers would rot
took it place,
was

off,which

said,two

years

wards. after-

She

quarrelledwith
denied

Elizabeth

Hancock

about

that Elizabeth had stolen it. hen, alleging said Elizabeth theshe theft, bade that

When
her
same

the doors, in-

go

for she would Elizabeth had up

repent it ; and
over

night
her hour bed
or was

painsall
down then

her

body, and
of
an

jumped
more.

and

for the consulted

space her

Elizabeth

and father,

246

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
who

II.

taken

by

him

to

wizard
a

named

Drake,

taught
nastiest

her how

to

concoct

witch-cake
to

writh all the with apply it, afflicted

some

and imaginable, ingredients words and

to conjurations,
was

certain

the

parts. For
time
one

the time

Elizabeth when she

cured been
to

; but

wards, after-

had

married go about

to

James

Scott,a great cat began

her thrust

house, and
it
to

having through
he
smote
not

done with

some

harm,
As all his it

Scott

twice

his sword.

it still ran upon

and

fro,

it with kill

might

its

head, but
a

could and and and And

for it,

upwards leaped
Even when moved

almost

then

crept down.
the
next
same

put into
and
to

yard, a bag,
found.
sat
on

draggedto
the this

muck-hill,it
was

stirred,

morning
cat, it
was

nowhere afterwards

be

sworn,

the chest

and nearly suffocated her, Cicely Balye, with the witch about her because she had quarrelled of sweeping before her door; and the said manner called the said Cicely a fat-tailed sow,'and witch be abated, as, indeed, said her fatness would shortly
'

of

it

was.

Edmund with face various with

Newton

swore

that had

he had been he She

a

been

afflicted in the

and sicknesses,

banged
had

dirty cloths,because
in Dutch cheeses. clothed in russet, with

undersold
to him

Marie
a

Smith

also sent little bush

person
a

beard

and
a

cloven

with foot, together of his servants it made before it

her

imps, a toad, and

the toad and

crab.

One
the

took
a was

put
for
a

it into

when fire,
an

groaning noise
'

quarter of
which time

hour

consumed, during
did it, endure

Marie

Smith, who

sent

(as

CHAP.

II.] WITCHCRAFT

IN

THE

17TH

CENTURY.

247

was

the grief reported) pains, testifying torturing she felt by the outcries she then made.' and upon her such as it was Upon this evidence
" "

own

Marie confession,
to death.

Smith

was

convicted

and

tenced sen-

ledged humbly acknowthat God her sins, prayed earnestly might her the wrongs she had done her neighbours, forgive and asked that a hymn of her own choosing Lord,

On

the scaffold she

'

"

turn

not

she died

Thy face calmly. It is,no

away be
"

'
"

might
doubt, a

be

sung.

Then
fact
"

curious is

if,
of

it indeed,

but fact, she

the evidence confessed made

a

by

no

means

that satisfactory and witchcraft, devil ; but

our even

to

various

acts

to

having

compact
cannot

with

the

this
we

confession alleged reflect

on

receive

credence

when

the inherent affair.

absurdity

and

of the impossibility

whole

In

1619, Joan

Flower

and

her

two

daughters,

and Philippa, at Belvoir servants Margaretta formerly tried before Judges Hobart and Bromley, Castle, were to death two on a charge of having bewitched sons of the sixth Earl of Rutland, and found guilty. The mother died in prison; the two daughters were executed
at

Lincoln.

THE

LANCASHIRE

WITCHES.

My
famous

chronological survey
case

next

brings me

to

the

of the Lancashire

witches.

I have the

In

and told the story of the Dundikes already Chattoxes,and their exploitsin Pendle Forest. the same two-and-twenty years later, locality,

248

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
whom

II.

lived

man

of the that the

to

name

of

Robinson, to

it

occurred

might
In this years

be turned

prevalent belief in witchcraft account againsthis neighbours.

his
son
"

design he
old
"

made

lad

about had

eleven been

his

instrument.
was

After

he

he properlytrained,

instructed go before
two

by

his

father,on
the

February 10, 1633,

peace, and make the

to

of justices

declaration : following That, on All Saints' Day, while gatheringwild plums in Wheatley Lane, he saw a black greyhound and up
a

brown him

scamper

across

the fields.

They

came

discovered and he then familiarly, collar shininglike gold. As each wore no a that they accompanied them, he concluded
to

that
one

had that

broken
moment

loose
a

from

their

kennels

and paces hunt

as

at

hare he

started up would
set

only a
them

few
to

from but it, he took

him,
his the

he

thought
were

efforts

all in vain ; and

in his wrath

tied both to a stringsthat hung from their collars, little bush, and then whipped them. Whereupon, in the of
a a

placeof
man

the black

greyhound,started
young but he
was

up

the wife

named

Dickinson, and in that of the brown

In his amazement, have
run

little boy. would said)

Robinson

he

away,

Mistress Dickinson, who

of piece it to silver much like

pulledout of her and untoafine shilling/

be silent. But he

(so stayed by pocket a

'

offered

him, if he promisedto
*

refused,

: Nay, thou art a witch !' Whereupon, exclaiming and drew forth she again put her hand in her pocket, the which she put over like a jingling a string bridle, turned head of the small boy, and, behold, he was

CHAP.

II.]
a

THE

LANCASHIRE

WITCHES.

249

into
a

white in
a

horse,with

change

as

quickas

that of the rode

at

scene

woman

pantomime. Upon placed, by force,young

as

this white

horse

Robinson, and
"

with which divers

were

him the

far

as

the

Hoar-Stones

house
"

witches stood

congregatedtogether
about the

where others

persons

door,

while

towards it on horses of different colours. riding These dismounted,and, having tied up their horses, all went into the house, accompanied by their friends, of threescore. At a blazing fire some to the number
meat
was

and roasting, bread upon

young
a

woman

gave

son Robinin
a

flesh and

trencher, and

drink

glass,which,
would have
no

after the
more,

first taste, he

refused,and

saying it

was

nought.

sently, Pre-

paired reobservingthat certain of the company six and saw to an barn, he followed, adjoining of them their knees, pulling at six several ropes on which were fastened to the top of the house,with the result that joints of meat smoking hot, lumps of

and butter,

milk

'

from or straining syleing,' underneath placed

came

the said When

ropes, fell into basins these six

were

them.

weary,

other

six, and

pulled

rightlustily ; and
made such

lad, so
home. No of the
a

they theywere pulling foul faces that they frightened the peeping that he was glad to steal out and run
was

all the time

sooner

his escape

discovered

than

party

Dickinson's witches, including named

the wife,

wife of

man

Loynds, and
over

Janet
scaur

Device, took up the

hurried

and pursuit,

field and
at
a

him nearlyovertaking

spot called

headlong, Boggard Hole,

250

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

IL

when

the

opportune appearance
them
was was

of

coupleof
quarry.

men horseBut In

induced young the home Robinson

to

abandon
not

their
'

yet

out

of the wood.7 his father to in

a

evening he
the

by despatched
on

bring

and cattle, fell in and

the way,
a

field called the

he Oilers, with flowed he

saw

him,
from

boy who picked a quarrel they fought togetheruntil the blood

when, happeningto
cloven look

with

his ears,

down,

that his

had antagonist

and, much feet,

set off at full speedto execute his commission. affrighted, he Perceiving a light like that of a lantern, hastened towards in the belief it was carried by a it, at the placeof its shining neighbour arriving ; but on he found there a woman whom he recognised the as wife of Loynds,and immediately turned back. Falling in again with the cloven-footed boy, he thought it prudent to take to his heels,but not before he had received a blow on the back which painedhim sorely.

In

support of this extraordinary story,the

elder
son

Robinson
to

deposed that
the kine gone
a

bring in
had in

sent his certainly he was that, thinking away

he

had

too

long, he
him neither for very
to

in

search

of

him, and
that and
so

discovered he knew

such

distracted
nor

condition he was, of
an

his father

where

continued he
came

nearlya quarter

hour

before

himself. The persons the

implicated by immediately arrested, and

Castle.
and
in

boy
told

Robinson in

were

confined

Lancaster

Some
each

of them introduced but he

"

for he
newr

various
"

stories,
did
not

characters
on

he

know

by

name,

that protested

them seeing

CHAP.

IL]

THE

LANCASHIRE

WITCHES.

251

lie should
was

recognisethem,
examine thus the

and

for this purpose in the

he

carried about

to the churches

surrounding
method
'

district to

congregations. The

to by Webster : It came brought into the church pass that this said boy was of Kildwick, a largeparishchurch, where I (being then curate there)was preaching in the afternoon, and was set upon ten or a stall (he being but about eleven years old) to look about him, which moved little disturbance in the congregation for awhile. some what the matter And, after prayers, I inquiring was, the people told me it was the boy that discovered I went which he where to the house witches, upon

adopted is

described

was

to

where stay all night, that

I found did

him

and him
some

two

very manage

unlikelypersons
his business. with the

conduct
to

and
course dis-

I desired in

have

boy
in

private,but
presence
me

they utterly
a

refused. I people,
tell
me

Then,
took the

the
near

of

great many
"

boy

and

said:

Good

boy,

and in earnest, didst thou see and hear truly, such strange thingsof the meeting of witches is as did not or reportedby many that thou dost relate,
some

person ?"

teach the two

thee
men,

to not

say

such

things of thyself
leave to been had and I

But
did

givingthe boy

answer,

examined did
never

pluckhim from me, and said he of the peace, by two able justices ask him such a question ; to whom
accused therefore had the
more

they

the persons

In all, some
the

charge was probablyless

married eighteen women, made generally againstwomen, and more capableof self-defence,

replied, wrong.' and single

"

as

im-

252

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

than pressionable Assizes. them but the

men

"

were
was

brought to
no really

trial at Lancaster

There

evidence
to

against
it his

boy Robinson's,
were

and

sustain

unfortunate
or

victims

examined

which, devil-marks,
two most
as

of course,
a

quantity. Against seventeen

returned, one
confessions whole
case,
"

stigmata, found in ample were verdict of guilty was

on

for the

or

being

convicted

their

own

the for

these who

perplexing incident in the confessions were ably unquestionthem

false, they
away their
own

made

By what diseased craving for or vanity, mental ? were delusion, they inspired
lives.
came

reallylying impulse of morbid or notoriety, strange

were

And

whence the

the

wild

and

even

foul

ideas which ? How

formed

stapleof
become

their delirious

narratives Lancashire

did these

quiet, stolid,unlettered
of possessed of German

peasant-women
the

inventions

worthy of
; but

grimmest
the witch

tales of diablerie ?
to
answer

It is easier to ask these when

questionsthan
mania
was once

them in
a

it seems, neighbourhood like a pestilential stricken with to have atmosphere, disease every mind that was to the receppredisposed tion of unwholesome impressions. The confession of Margaret Johnson, made on kindled

March

9, 1613, has
a

strong
here. made

but before, printed interest that I cannot psychological be taken of

as
a

been

it has omit

so

it

It may

type

of the confessions similar

by

the
:

victims

under credulity

cumstance cir-

'

Betweene Marsden

seven

at

in

eightyeares since,shee being in her house and greate passion and anger, and discontented,
or

CHAP.

II.]

THE

LANCASHIRE

WITCHES.

253

withall

oppressed
a

with

some

want, there
and about

spiritor

devill in

the

similitude

in apparelled

suite of

black, tied

give him her all her wantes, and shee wanted or bring to her whatsoever kill and her would her to and at helpe needed, appointment
offered her, yffshee
would revenge after
a

appeared unto her a proportion of a man, with silke pointes, whoe soule,hee would supply

her

either of
or

men

or

beastes,or
her soule.

what and

she desired ; and, condicioned

the said when saith with

solicitation
or

two, shee contracted

the
her

said devill call him

for spiritt
name

And

devill bad shee

called

hee would
her

by the bee ready

of

Memiilion, and
And she called the that shee

to

doe her will.

shee saith
at

that in all her the

talke and
'And

conference

said Memiilion
was

god.
greate

shee
the

further witches

not

at

meetinge of
on

Hare-stones saith

in

the forest of Pendle

was

All

Saintes

Day at the place aforesaid, where there was at that time betweene thirtyand fortywitches, thead of the said did all ride to the same which meetinge. And and meetinge was to consult for the killingand hunting of men that was devill or spiritt that there was beastes ; and one more greate and grand devill than the rest, and yff anie witch desired to kill or hurt one to have such an one, they might have such an meetinge the
anie

Day Sunday

last

past, but

shee

at

second

after All Saintes

body.
are

And

she further

saith,that

such witches

as

have

sharpe

for the devill to prick them with which have no generally nor duggs,but raiseth blood from the placeprickedwith the papps greateand grand witches than theywhich boane,which witches are more shee being further asked what have papps or dugs (/). And and at their last meetinge, she named one were Carpnell persons and his wife, Pickhamer and his wife,Duffy and his wife, Kason
boanes his
most
can

wife, and

one

Jane

Carbonell,whereof

Pickhamer's

wife is the

greate,grand,and an orcyent witch; and that one witch alone devill to goe and kill a beast,and yf they bid their spiritt or
hurt And anie that shee
women

prickeor
doe

it.

hee presently will particular place, have their spiritts usuallyknowledge of their
man

in anie

bodies.

And

further

saith

the have

men men

witches

have

women

and spiritts,

witches

spiritts ; that

Good

generallmeetinge, Pendle and that on Good a meetinge neere Friday last they where water-side ; and saith that their spiritdoeth tell them their meetinge must bee, and in what place; and saith that if a witch desire to be in anie placeupon a soddaine,that,on a dogg,

Friday is

one

of their constant

daies

of their

had

254

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

or

tod,

or

catt, their
room

will presently convey spiritt

them

thither,or
'

into anie saith anie

in anie man's the

house.
of their bodies that

But

shee goe

it is not such

substance
but their

doeth
such after

into

roomes,

that spiritts the in

assume

And shee further saith that shape and forme. hee begins to sucke, will make a papp or a dug the
matter
can

devill,
a

short
saith

time, and
at their
came

hee

sucketh

is blood. and

And

further
soe

that the devill

raise foule wether

stormes, and
that when

hee did

meetinges.
her
one

And

shee he
came

further saiih
to her

the devill
a

to suck

pappe,

in the likeness of And

never

catt,
since
saw

sometimes this him

and sometimes of another. collour, trouble befell her,her spirit hath left her, and shee

of

since.'

Happily, the judge who presidedat the trial of these deluded and persecuted unfortunates satisfied diswas with the evidence, and them until reprieved with the Privy Council, he had time to communicate by whose orders Bridgman, Bishop of Chester, ceeded prothe and and
cases. principal however, had died supposed criminals,

to

examine

into the

Three of

of

before suffering
a

the work

of

anxiety investigation began,

The cases beyond recovery. those of Margaret into which the Bishop inquired were Dicconson, or Dickinson, Mary Johnson, Frances and Mrs. Hargrave. MargaretJohnson the Spencer, who was good Bishop describes as a widow of sixty, she said, sin to sin. penitent. I will not add,' deeply I have already done enough, yea, too much, and will
was
'

fourth

sick

'

not

increase

it.

I pray

God
had and

may

repent/

This
a

victim

of hallucination
we
'

confessed
was

herself to be

witch, as

have
more

seen,

characterized the

by

the

Bishop

as

often

in faulting

of particulars

her actions.'

Frances

Dicconson, however, and

the truth of the

Mary

denied Spencer,absolutely

accusa-

CHAP.

II.]

THE

LANCASHIRE

WITCHES.

255

tions

to Frances, according brought againstthem. the boy Robinson, had changed herself into a dog ; with the but it transpired that she had had a quarrel of elder Kobinson. woman a Mary Spencer, young much cherished ill-feeling twenty, said that Robinson

craft her parents,who had been convicted of witchagainst She since died. and had at the last assizes, Creed, repeatedthe Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' and declared A that she defied been her
as

the

devil

and

all his used

to

works. call her that in she

story had
follow

set afloat that she

to pail

she

ran.

The

truth

was

often
come

trundled

it

and down-hill, if she

called to it

jestto
have the

after her

it. outstripped in

She

could
4

explainedevery
was so

circumstance and the

court,

but

wind

loud

throng so great,

that she could not hear

her.' against This last touch, as Mr. S. R. Gardiner remarks, the tragedy of the situation. as completes History,' he says, occupiesitself perforce mainly with the of the educated whose sorrows own classes, peers
'

the evidence

have

left the

records the
mass

of of

their the

wrongs.

Into

the

people, except when they have been lashed by long-continued injustice it is hard to gain a glimpse. For once into frenzy, the veil is lifted, and we flash, see, as by a lightning the forlorn and unfriended the inhuman to whom girl,
laws of her baffled

of sufferings

country denied

the services of

an

advocate,

by the noisy babble around her in her efforts behalf of her innocence. The to speak a word on her was under the influence very Bishop who examined of the legalsuperstition that every accused

256

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAUICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

King. He had heard, he said,that the father of the boy Robinson had for forty shillings, his charge to withdraw offered, Frances Dicconson, but such evidence being, against the King," he the lawyersspeak, as against thought
person
was

the enemy

of the

"

"

it

not

meet

The

to examine." authority Bishop, however, like the judge, was

without

further

satisfied dis-

with
were

the

evidence; and

the accused

persons

to London, where sent up eventually they were examined the Bishops, the by the King'sphysicians, and by King Charles himself. Some Privy Council,

medical

men was a

and

midwives in her

reportedthat Margaret
idea her of the
was

Johnson
her

deceived

that

she

bore had

on

body

sign

or

mark

that

blood

been

sucked.

Doubts

as

to the truth

boy

Robinson's

he entertained, story being freely his

to

from separated invention

and father, the

he

then

revealed

the whole

He had heard stories told King'scoachman. and out of these had of witches and their doings, himself a whipconcocted his ghastlyfiction to save ping for having neglected his mother's to bringhome His father, how much at once cows. perceiving might be made
out

of the
as

took it up and expanded it ; tale,

to
serve

manipulatedit so
and avarice, and then

his

of feelings
to

revenge

or larged en-

taught the boy how

It
was

repeatthe
a

improved version.
end. The

all he

lie
"

from

to beginning

day on

which

pretendedto
at

have

been

carried to the Witches'

was

Sabbath

the Hoarin
a

he Stones, farmer's
to

mile The

distant, gatheringplums
accused and
were

orchard.

then that

admitted their lives

the

King'spresence,

assured

CHAP.

II.]
safe. unable

THE

LANCASHIRE

WITCHES.

"257

were

Further

than
as were

this Charles late

as

seems

to

have

been and

to go ; for

1636

these innocent Lancaster that both into

ill-treated persons It is

still

lying in
were

Castle.
the

to state,however, satisfactory

boy prison.
Fresh

Robinson

and

his father

thrown

cases

of witchcraft

sprang four

up
more

in the
women

Pendle
were

and district, condemned

earlyin
to death
was

1636

at the Lancaster

Assizes.
to

Bishop

Bridgman,who
found the that
two

againdirected
had had that been of
a

make

inquiries,
that of
a on

of them

died in

and gaol,

two

others,one
and evidence,

convicted
woman

man's mad-

of

ill

fame;

while

the other was only proof alleged against of the size of a hazel-nut that a fleshy excrescence beingbloody, ear, and the end of it, grew on her right was supposed to have been sucked by a familiar The two women to have been pardoned seem spirit. ; but, as in the former case, publicopinionset too them to admit of their beingreleased. strongly against the

THE

WITCHES

OF

SALMESBURY.

circumstances connected with the singular supposed outbreak of witchcraft in Pendle Forest

The

have, to

great extent, obscured

of

the

strange case

of

the witches

Salmesbury, though it presentsseveral features worthy of consideration. Three persons were accused Jennet Bierley, Ellen and Jane Southworth and their supposed Bierley, victim was In the language Grace Sowerbutts. one
" "

17

258

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
into
error

II.

of
1

Mr.

Thomas

Potts,they
this

were

led
a

by

subtle

of and conspiracy practice

seminarypriest,
hath

or

Jesuit,whereof

county of Lancaster
of the

good

store, who

by

reason

general entertainment

they find, and great maintenance they have, resort fore, hither, and, therebeing far from the eye of Justice, At their trial, which took procula fulmine.'' place before Mr. Justice Bromley at Lancaster, on .Wednesday,August 19, the evidence of Grace Sowerbutts was effect : to the following That for the space of some years past (atthe time of the trial she was only fourteen)she had been haunted and vexed namely, Jennet by four women, her grandmother, Ellen Bierley, Bierley,wife to Jane Southworth, and a certain Old Henry Bierley, drew her by the Dorwife. these four women Lately, the top of a hayhair of her head, and laid her on mow barn. Not long in the said Henry Bierley's her near her house, first Jennet met after, Bierley and after that as a likeness, appearingin her own black dog, and when she, Grace Sowerbutts,went she picked her off. However, she was a over stile, she continued to her not hurt, and, springing feet, That her way to her aunt's at Osbaldeston. evening On Saturday, she told her father what had occurred. April4,going towards SalmesburyButt to meet her mother, she fell in, at a placecalled the Two Briggs, wards with Jennet Bierley, first in her own shape,and afterin the likeness of a two-leggedblack dog ; and this dog kept close by her side until they came to a to pool of water, when it spake, and endeavoured

CHAP.

II.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SALMESBURY.

259

persuade her
was
a

to

drown
an

herself death.
one

therein,saying

it

fair and
came

easy
to

Whereupon,
a

she

thought there
carried of time both but the fields,

her the

in

white

sheet,and

her away

from

the white

and in a short space pool, parted; thing and the black dog dehad crossed
two
or

after Grace

three

and conveyed her appeared, into Hugh Walshman's barn close at hand, laid her the floor, covered her body her with straw on upon and hay on her head,and lay down the top of the on for how unable straw to long a time Grace was determine ; because, she said, her speechand senses

black

dog

re-

"

were

taken

from she

her.
was

When

she
a

recovered bed

her

sciousness, con-

lying on
in the barn

in Walshman's

house, having been removed

who her had found her

thither within

by
a

some

friends of

few hours

Monday having been taken there. As it was been in to her senses, she had nightwhen she came her trance her marvellous to or according swoon, for about forty hours. -eight story, On the following her parents fetched day,Tuesday, her home BriggsJennet and Ellen ; but at the Two and she fell Bierley appearedin their own shapes, in another trance, remaining unable to speakor down walk until the following Friday. remarkable All this was enough, but Grace Sowerbutts
not
"

or

the person

who

had tutored her

"

felt it was

much make to sufficiently grim or gruesome accustomed in witch a Lancashire on jury, impression trials to much more harrowing details. She proceeded, incident of a more recall an to therefore,
17"2

260

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

IT.

attractive character.
trance

business

before the good while,she said, occurred,she accompanied her aunt,

A

Ellen the and open, and made

and Bierley, of
one

her

to grandmother,Jennet Bierley,

house

Thomas
were

Walshman. but asleep, visitors

It

was

night,
flew

all the household and Ellen her the

the doors

unexpected
to

entered. while

Grace
Jennet

Bierley remained
way the

below,

sleeping-roomof Thomas and thence brought a little Walshman and his wife, have been in must which, as Grace supposed, child, bed with its father and mother. Having thrust a nail into its navel, she afterwards inserted a quill, and sucked for a good while (!) the replaced ; then
child roused it
was

with from thus

its

parents, who, of

course,

had

never

their

sleep.

The

child did not

cry when

and languished, died. And afterwards the night after its on soon and Ellen the said Jennet burial, Bierley, taking with them, went Sowerbutts Grace to Salmesbury the body, and carried took it to churchyard, up boiled in a Jennet's house, where a portion of it was

abused, but

thenceforth

pot, and

portionbroiled
Ellen in the

on

the

coals.

Of

both

Jennet and portions had Grace jointhem refused.

bones said in
a

and would have partook, ghoul-like repast,but she and Ellen

came

Afterwards

Jennet with

seethed from that into

the them

pot, and

the fat that their

they would might sometimes shapes.

The
next
coarse

anoint

bodies, so

they
other

change

themselves

story told by this abandoned

for these pages, and
we

girlis
on

too

foul and

pass

to the

CHAP.

II.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SALMESBURY.

261

conclusion she door

of

her

evidence.

On

certain
met

occasion,
at

said,Jane

Southworth, a widow, house,carried

floor, where
her she the

her

the

of her father's upon

to the
was

and loft,

laid her her father till the

found

by

unconscious,and

unconscious

she remained

then Southworth day. The widow her visited her again, took her out of bed, and placed the top of a hayrick, three or four yards from upon the ground. She was discovered in this position by a wife,and laid in her bed again,but neighbour's and senseless as before for two remained or speechless three days. A week after her recovery, Jane so or took Southworth her away paid her a third visit,
next

from with

her

home,
face she

and

laid her in

ditch The and

near

the

house,
process but for

her

downwards.
discovered
"

usual

followed: continued
a

was

put

to

bed,

unconscious
a

this

time, however, only

the

day
her

and

on night. And, further,

before the
to

the trial,

said Jane

Southworth
her and

Tuesday came again

her into of
was a

father's

house, took

carried
'

the

barn, and thrust her head amongst

'

company she

boards
soon

which

were

standing there, where

old fit until the

afterwards

found,and, being again placed in

in her

bed, remained

Thursday night
her

following.
After Thomas

Grace

Sowerbutts
was

had

finished

evidence,
his disease been

Walshman

who called,
a

proved that
of what had

child died when he knew

about

year

old,but

not; and

that

Grace

Sowerbutts
afterwards

found his

in his father's she

barn,and

carried into
t

house, where

lay till the Monday night

as

if

262

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

she

had

been

dead.7 taken:

Then That

one

John had often

Singleton's
heard his

was deposition

he

old master, widow evil her

woman

Sir John

Southworth,
she was, that

say,
as

touching the thought,an

sorry for believed

Southworth,that
and who
a

he he
was

witch, and
was

husband,

his And

kinsman,
that the

for he

she would

kill him.

said

Sir John, in

house coming or going between Preston and his own at Salmesbury, mostly avoided passing the old wife's the nearest residence,though it was entirely way, out offear of the said wife. (Brave Sir John !) This evidence, it is clear, failed to prove against the prisoners direct act of witchcraft ; but so a single credulous of this were judge and jury in matters the vague and suspicious kind, that,notwithstanding character of the testimony brought forward,it would have gone hard with the

accused,but

for

an

dental acci-

questionwhich
Grace
had Sowerbutts,

disclosed been

the fact that the

girl,

herent prompted in her incoher fits of narrative,and taught to sham named or unconsciousness, Jesuit, priest by a Roman actuated was Thompson or Southworth, who by of fanaticism. well
'

motives
4

How

this away

exclaims project,' the lives of these

the

indignant
poor young

Potts,
creatures

to take

innocent
a

scholar

and villainy, to induce by practice her own to commit to accuse perjury,

mother, grandtitle of should

a

aunt, etc.. agrees

Jesuit rather
or

either with

the

the

duty

of

Priest,who religious

and professsincerity this

was

innocency than

practise
heretics

treachery.But

lawful, for they are

CHAP.

II.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

S .\LMESBURY.

263

of priests, to frequent accursed, to leave the company and profess churches, hear the word of God preached, The religionsincerely.' his from other
4

horrors

which

he

taught
of the

promising pupil,Thompson
the pages of Bodin and

probably gathered
some
:

Delrio, or
continues these
women

demonologists.Potts
did
not

Who

condemn them But

upon
so

this

evidence, and
horrible murder

hold ?

guilty of

this

foul and
in

Almighty God,

who

His

for their deliverance, had provided means providence although the priest, by the help of the Devil, had them ; yet God provided false witnesses to accuse had an prepared and placed in the seat of justice uprightjudge to sit in judgment upon their lives, heard all the evidence at who after he had large demanded the prisoners for the King'sMajesty, against of them what answer They humbly they could make. upon their

knees, with
cause or

weeping
Grace
means

tears, desired

him

for God's
set

to

examine whose

Sowerbutts,who
came

her

on,

by

this accusation

againstthem.'
The
countenance
a

of Grace

Sowerbutts
the

immediately began
The

underwent
to
some

great change,and
accuse one

witnesses

quarrel and
make obvious

another.

judge put
life of her,

questionsto
no

the

who, girl,
or

for the

could with
to

direct

intelligible answer,
she
was

saying,
a

that hesitation, he had told her

put

to

master

nothingof this. But continues care here,' Potts, as his lordship's and pains was of those great to discover the practices odious of the Forest witches of Pendle, and other
4 '

but learn,

WITCH,
now places,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

IL

upon
to

their discover
women

tribunal this and

before damnable

him;
their

so

was

he
accuse

desirous
these

practiceto
lives in

poor

bring
it upon
:

and thereby to deliver danger, And he openly delivered as the hearingof a great audience
'

the innocent. the if

a

bench, in
Priest
or

That of

Jesuit appear of it.

had
to

hand

in

one

end

it,there

would end

be

And

in the knavery and practice that it might better appear to Thomas his

other

the whole

world,
Master
denied
c

examined

Sowerbutts

what

[the]
he

taught
all.

daughter: in generalterms,
nothing
to

The

wench

had

say, but

her

Master

that were nothingof this. In the end, some and the prisoners the truth, present told his lordship told her informed him how she
went
to

learn

with

one

Thompson, a Seminary Priest,who had instructed and taught her this accusation against them, because and now obstinate Papists, to came once they were
Church. his whole
more,
were
1

Here

is the

of discovery

this

Priest,and of
more

practice. Still this

one

fire increased

and

and

witness
at

accusinganother,all things
away Mr. the

laid open In the end

large.
took lordship her
to

his

girlfrom
very of

her

and father,

committed

Leigh,a

and Mr. Chisnal, two religious preacher, the Peace, to be carefully examined/ The
'

Justices

examination

was

as

follows

whether the accusation she laid Being demanded Ellen Bierley, Bierley, upon her grandmother, Jennet and Jane Southworth, of witchcraft, namely,of the

CHAP.

II.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SALMKSBURY.

265

of killing in the

the child of Thomas

Walshman

with

nail

and navel, the boiling, eating, themselves into the

same

to transform

divers
: or

oiling, thereby true ; was shapes,

ever

she doth any

'

utterly deny
further

that

she

saw

such

done by practices

them.
one

She

saith, that
to

Master

which

she
to

taketh whom

be
was

Master
sent

Thompson, SouthChristopher
learn her
prayers, deal
as

worth,
did

she

to

persuade,counsel,and
been said and

advise

her, to
said

hath formerly

her against wife.

Grandmother,
saith, that
any she

Aunt,
'

Southworth's
she
or

And did

further

confesseth
saw

and

never

know,

any her

Devils,nor
hath been

other

as Visions,

formerlyby
confesseth upon

allegedand
she
was

informed.
'

Also

she
or

and the

that saith, hen-ruff up upon and the

not

thrown the

cast

hay-mow
Mow

in

barn,but
1

that she went

herself

by
the

the wall- side.

Being
to go

farther demanded
she

whether
was

she

ever

was

at

Church,

she saith,

to the

Church, and
were

The

three accused

also

after promisedherethat very willingly.' examined,and declared

not, but

their belief that

Grace
accuse

Sowerbutts
them of from

had

been

trained

by the priestto they would not

'

witchcraft,because
the Church/

be dissuaded

'

These

examinations

beingtaken, theywere
there

brought

openly in the presence of this great audience publishedand declared to the jury of life and death ; and thereupon the gentlemen of their jury requiredto consider of them. For

into

the

Court,and

266

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
matter

II.

althoughthey stood
fact of like nature: appear them
to

upon

their and

for Trial, much

more

of

murther, witchcraft, yet

be
to

of the did of

in

respect all their accusations

now

practice, they were acquit them.

to
were

consider these

and

Thus

poor this

innocent honourable

creatures, by the great care

and

painsof

Judge, delivered from the danger of this of the Priest laid this bloody practice conspiracy; si ego fact I may lawfully say, Etiam open : of whose clamabunt tacuero lapides.
'

These

are

but

no

respectof
to

with Priests and Jesuits ordinary move can blood,kindred, or friendship their he had

them

conspiracies ; for when laboured and convert to seduce treacherously and good, then devised yet could do no
means.
1

forbear

them,
he this

God

of His

great mercy

deliver

us

all from

them

and

when : and conspiracies any of his free and innocent as these, shall so subjects, Majesty's in question, honourable come as a trial, grant them reverend and and

their damnable

as

worthy

judge
as

to

sit in

judgment
seen

upon
'

them,
And

in the end

speedya
of read of

deliverance.
with

for that which taken

to

I have heard

them,

my

eyes, and

painsto
God

them, my

humble

prayer
ne

shall be Aut

pereant.
I pass

Almighty, Vt convertantur noceant.'* ne confundantur

trial for witchcraft in which

on

to

remarkable

took
*

placeat
*

Taunton

Assizes

August, 1626, one

in the Countie

Potts, Wonderful

Discoverie

of Witches

of

Lancaster'

(1613).

'

CHAP.

II.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

TAUNTON.

267

Edward

Ball

and

Joan
a

Greedie

being charged with

Dinham.

having practised upon

It
seems

certain Edward

the under when complainant, possessedno fewer than three voices witch-spell, artificial natural voice, and two namely, his own the shrill and was voices,of which one pleasant, other deadlyand hollow. These two voices belonged that the
"

the to respectively good and him. alternately prevailedover movement they spoke without any

evil As

which spirits it is said of the that

lips or
quist, ventrilolives of
tained enter-

tongue, it is probablethe
and Ball and
a

man

was

natural

made

use

of his

the to imperil gift he

gave

Greedie,againstwhom
hostile of the and
How He

may

have

feeling.
his
comes

He

the

following
took

specimen
between
GOOD
BAD

conversation
: spirits

which

place
1

him
SPIRIT.

this

man

to be thus

tormented

SPIRIT. Who That Aske

is bewitched. it 1

GOOD. BAD. GOOD. DINHAM. BAD.

A

hath done
I may
not

tell.

him

agayne.
come,

Come,
woman a

tell me prithee, cloathes

who
and
a

hath bewitched black

me a

in greene
man are

hatt, with

largepoll; and
GOOD. BAD. But She

in

gray

with blue suite,

stockings.
in Yeohall

where is at

her

they 1 house, and

their
names

hee

is at

taverne

in [Youghal]

Ireland. what
are

GOOD.
BAD.

But

Nay,
Then The

that I will not

tell half is

tell.
names.

GOOD. BAD. GOOD. BAD. GOOD. DINHAM. BAD.

of their

one

Johan, and
not.

the other Edward.

Nowe
That

tell me
I may him

the other

half.

Aske

agayne.
come,

Come,
one

tell prithee, and

me

the other half. Ball.

The

is

Greedie,

the other

268

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
messenger

II.

This information
is sent is
to
a

having been obtained,a

house,where

certain

the unfortunate

Joan

The arrested. conversation,if this straightway absurd afterwards was rigmarole can be so called, resumed, the man going into one of his conveniently 'fits
'

for the purpose:

But
are

GOOD. BAD.

these witches ?

Yes ; that GOOD. Howe came BAD. GOOD. BAD. mother GOOD. BAD. GOOD. BAD. GOOD. BAD. thereof.

they are. they to bee by discent ? grandmother

aree

soe

By discent.
But ho From
we

the

to

the

mother,

and

from

the

to the children.

But

howe
aree mee

they

soe

1
wee

They
Lett

bound
see

to us, and

to them.

the bond.

Thou Lett Thou

shalt not.
mee

see

it,and if I like
thou

I will scale alsoe.

shalt, if

wilt

not

reveale

the

contentes

GOOD.

I will not.

Spirit gets its way, and the bond is produced,drawing from the Good an Spirit Alas ! oh, pittifull, of anguish: exclamation pitti? eight seales, bloody seales" ! What full, pittifull four dead,and four alive ? Ah, miserable !'
As

usual, the Good

'

DINHAM.
me?

Come,

come,

tell prithee,

me,

Why

did

they bewitch

BAD.

Because

thou

didst call Johane

a

Greedie
1

witche.

DINHAM. BAD.

Why,

is shee not

witche

Yes ; but thou shouldest not have said GOOD. But why did Ball bewitche him ? BAD. Because Greedie
was

soe.

not

stronge enough. after Ball the

;

messenger his

is

now

sent

but poor

on man

ing reachhas

he hiding-place,

finds that

CHAP.

II.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

TATJNTON.

269

and justescaped, his

he meets and

with his

who people then that

had

seen a

flight. Dinham
which Dinham

voices

join in
before

discourse,from
bewitched
'

it appears had been

they

guiltyof various and had compassed the death of,at evil practices,' Six days afterwards of their victims. least, one
they
Dinham has another
to
'

fit/and
and

second

unsuccessful

effort is made with the this Evil

track

the Good failure, in Spirit his

Disgusted strenuously Spirit opposes

arrest to
secure

Ball.

resolve

Dinham's

soul:
BAD.
more.

I will have

him,
not

or

else I will torment

him

eight tymes
shalt

GOOD.
torment

Thou
him

shalt

have

thy will

in all thinges ; thou

but

four times

more.

BAD.

I will have If thou

thy soule.
answer me

GOOD.
goe with

wilt

three

I will questions,

seale and

thee. I will. Who God. Who God. Wherefore I'le no

more
was

BAD. GOOD.
BAD.

made

the world

GOOD.
BAD.

created

mankynde

GOOD. BAD.

Christ Jesus His

blood shed precious

of that.

Here

the

was patient

seized with the

the and

most

violent

convulsions, foaming at
with clenched hands and off
a

mouth,

struggling
in

contorted few
a

limbs.

Another this Dinham

fit came
was

exposedto
give me
my

and days afterwards, double temptation :

will

BAD.

If thou

wilt

thy soule,I fingers.

give thee gold

enough.
GOOD.

Thy gold will scald

270

WITCH,
If thou wilt

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

BAD. thou

give me
somes

thy soule,I
of treasure

will

shalt winne If thou Dinham

infinite
canst

give thee dice,and by play.

GOOD. book
which

make

held

every letter in this booke in his hand] a die,I will.

[a Prayer-

BAD. GOOD. BAD.

That

I cannott. !

Laudes, laudes,laudes
Thou

shalt have

ladies

enough

"

ladies ! ladies, ladies,

a

GOOD.

If thou canst

make

every letter in this book

an

I will. ladie,

Here the and

4

the

Bad

made Spirit
a

attempt to
his

cast

away

book, but, after

then the

violent

was struggle,

defeated ;

Good

celebrated Spirit that

ever was

victoryin
tually Evendeclared

the

sweetest

niusicke
was

heard.'
then him.
no

Ball that his and Ball

'

and captured, voices both

'

Dinham

two
were

ceased

to trouble

Greedie
record

committed

for trial,but
we

exists of their
were

execution,and

may

hope

that

they

of charges supported by acquitted fallacious evidence.

such

absurd

and

Edward refined and

"

Fairfax,a
melodious six

man

of

and ability

culture

"

the

translator of his

of Tasso's

Christian
at

epic prosecuted
Assizes, in
children.

neighbours

York

1622,
The the

them,
the

and

judge,who
the

witchcraft his on practising grand jury found a true bill against accused were brought to trial. But had been furnished with a privately
'

for

certificate of their influence The

sober
to

behaviour,'contrived
a

so

to

jury

as

obtain

verdict

of

acquittal.
defence

poet afterwards
conduct.
since
even

published an folly may

men as

elaborate be

of his

His such
a

excused, perhaps,
Bacon and the

Raleigh and
witchcraft of his
;

inclined

towards

belief it

in
one

judiciousEvelyn makes

cornprincipal

CHAP.

II.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

TAUNTON.

271

plaints against
Hobbes,
think in his
'

solitude

that

it

created

witches.
a more

Leviathan/ takes, however,

'As for

enlightened view:
not

witches/
is any

he

says,

'I

that their witchcraft

real power

; but

yet
with

that

they

are

they

have

that

punished for the false belief justly do such mischief, joined they can
to

their purpose

do it if

they can.'
did
not

Even

the stir and

tumult

of the Civil War

a

degradedsuperstition. In 1644 eight witches of Manningtree,in accused of holding witches' Essex, were meetings searched for teats and Friday night; were every devils' marks, convicted, and, with twenty-nine of their fellows,hung. In the following there year
were score more

of suspend the persecuting activity

hangings in
suffered.

Essex
In

and
a
'

in

Norfolk
was

of witches
at the

1650

woman was

hung
to

Old

have

under
are

Baileyas a witch. her armpits those

to

She

found which

marks their of

by

witches

discovered

entertain

familiars/

In
was

the April,1652, Jean Peterson,

witch

Wapping,
same

hung
In 1653

at

six witches

Tyburn ; perishedat

and

in

July of
a

the

year

Maidstone. domestic Justice

Alice

Bodenham,

servant,

was

tried

at

before Salisbury It is not

Chief

Wilde,
she

and
was

convicted. executed. In 1658

certain, however, that

executed for

Jane
on a

Brooks

was

witchcraft
at

Chard, in
for

named boy of twelve, in 1663 Somersetshire;

a

practising Henry James, Julian Cox, at

Taunton,

similor offence.

272

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

^\ 4? N*
T

THE

WITCH-FINDEK

MATTHEW

HOPKINS.

The

severe

legislation againstwitchcraft
which

had

thus

the effect
"

it

becomes it

offence

attends legislation when invariably unduly repressive of increasingthe had been designed to exterminate. (_Jt was
"

attended, also,by
common
"

another

which result,
a

is

equally
it to

to bringing cost

the front

number

of informers

who,
their
most

at the

of many

innocent

turned lives,

personal advantage.
notorious
was

Of these witch-finders, the

Matthew
he

Hopkins,of Manninghis infamous

seem success

tree, in Essex.

When

first started

trade,I
to

cannot

but his ascertain, immediate. His

would

have

been
own

earliest victims his

he

found

in his grew,

he
; and

neighbourhood. But, as extended his operations over

in
a

tion reputaof

the whole
case

of Essex

very

short

time, if any

supposedwitchcraft occurred,the neighbourssent for Matthew Hopkins as an acknowledged expert, whose detect the guilty skill would infalliby person.
His of first appearance when
at the assizes
an was

in the old

spring
against
in
a

1645^

he accused

unfortunate

woman,

named

Elizabeth watched
s

Clarke.
her

To

collect evidence in she

a was room

her, he
Mr.

by night
in which

Edwards'
At

house,

detained.

her trial he had

that, on
refused

the third her

to

the

night of of society
over

his
one or

illegally the audacity to affirm after he had watching, of her imps, she confessed
seven

him

that,some

six
to the

years

she before,

had

given herself
of
'

devil,who
a

visited her in hazel beard/

the form

proper

gentleman,with

CHAP.

II.J
after

MATTHEW

HOPKINS.

273

Soon

this, he said,a little dog

came

in

"

fat,

the and with sandy spots besprinkled on short-legged, he white ground-colour of its tub-like body. When who preventedit from approachingthe woman declared it was Jacmara, one of her imps it straightway which she Next vanished. a came greyhound, called VinegarTom a polecat.Improving ; and next in fluent and fertile mendacity, Hopkins went on to home that night, about ten assert that, on returning of the clock, he accompaniedby his own greyhound, his dog give a leap and a saw bound, and hark him, he away as if hunting a hare ; and on following espied a little white animal, about the size of a and observed that his greyhound stood aloof kitten, from it in fright by-and-bythis imp or kitten ; and bit a piece danced about the dog,and, as he supposed, from its shoulder, for the greyhound came to him and shrieking crying,and bleedingfrom a great wound. Hopkins further stated that,going into his he saw a Black yard that same night, Thing,shaped in a strawberry like a cat,but thrice as big, -bed, sitting with its eyes fixed upon him. he approached When the pale towards it,the Thing leapedover him, as he thought, ran but, on the contrary, quite through the yard, with his greyhound after it, to a great gate, underset which was with a pair of tumbril strings,' threw it wide open, and then vanished, while his dog and trembling returned to him, shaking exceedingly. of his, In these unholy vigils panied Hopkins was accomJohn of Manningtree, Sterne, gentleman,' by one who, as a matter of course, confirmed all his
" "

'

'

18

274

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

statements, and
third

added
called

the

detail interesting

that the
two

imp

was

Sack-andinto

Sugar.
from

The

wretches
woman,

forced

their way Rebecca that

at

the house

of another whom she he

saw

named
a

West,

they
the be cruel
must

extracted
he devil,

confession
to

the first time her her !

came

her

her

husband,
to
were

and

told night, married finally and

so

The

tortures

which

these

many

other

unhappy

undoubtedlyhave told on of their nervous systems, producing a condition with hallucinations, their minds and filling hysteria, have been suggestedby the which, perhaps, partly may leadingquestions of the witch-finders themselves.
females

exposedmust

'

'

It is to

be

observed

that

their

confessions
names

wore

and striking similarity, the so-called

that all the familiars

mentioned of
a

of

imps
as

or

were

ludicrous and

character,such

Prick

ear,

Frog, Robin, by
that witnesses

Sparrow.
so

Then
on

the excitement the

caused

these trials
were

wrought

public mind
"

in good found to testify apparently easily the evil things done by the accused, and
swear man

faith
even

"

to to
one

that

they had

seen

their familiars.

Thus

declared
a

at daybreak by the house that, passing

of

certain Anne open.

West, he

was

to surprised

find her
or

door

Looking in, he
black

descried of which but

three
ran

four

like Things3, He

rabbits, one

after him. the

seized and seemed

tried to kill
a mere

him,

in his hands

pieceof wool, which extended without lengthwise any apparent injury. Full speed he tried he made in which for a neighbouring spring,
Thing
to drown

him,

but

as

soon

as

he

put the Thing in the

CHAP.

II.]

MATTHEW

HOPKIXS.

sight. Returningto the house,he saw Anne West standingat the door in her smock,' and asked her why she sent her imp
water, he vanished
from his
'

to trouble

him,

but received

no

answer.

His
took

experimentshavingproved successful, Hopkins which one as a vocation, up witch-finding vided prohim with the
means

of

comfortable

livelihood,
him the

while
terror

it

his gratified and

ambition

by making
of more,

investing him with justthat kind of power which is delightful and commonplace mind. to a ^narrow Assuming the and takingwith him title of Witch -finder-General/
'

of many

the admiration

John
to

Sterne,and

woman,

whose

business devil's

it

was

examine

accused

females

for the

marks,

through the counties of Essex, Norfolk, Huntingdon, and Sussex. He was in August, 1645, and at Bury, in Suffolk, witches there, on the 27th, no fewer than eighteen executed at once were through his instrumentality.
he travelled A hundred the and

twenty

more

were

to

have

been

tried,

approach of the royal troops led to the sale adjournment of the Assize. In one year this wholemurderer caused the death of sixty poor creatures. The he generally test ming,' adoptedwas that of swimbut
'
' '

which unction in his

James

I. recommends

with

much

'Demonologie.'The hands and feet of tied together the accused were the thumb of crosswise, the righthand to the big toe of the left foot,and vice then wrapped up in a large She was sheet or versa. blanket,and laid upon her back in a pond or river.
If she

sank,

she

was

innocent,but

established
18"2

her

276

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

innocence
was

at

the cost

of her life; if she

case,
as was

which floated, afforded

a

the generally

her

clothes

temporary
Another

support, she
all
'
'

hanged with

and pronounced guilty, expedition. possible

was

test

the

of repetition
no

the

Lord's could

Prayer, which, accomplish. Woe

in her nervousness,
at
a

it

was

believed,
the

witch
creature

to

unfortunate
a

who,

faltered over

or syllable

stumbled

Again she was forced into some awkward and painful bound with cords, and keptfoodattitude, less and sleepless for four-and -twenty hours. Or she walked was a an continuously room, up and down attendant holdingeach arm, until she dropped with she was fatigue. Sometimes weighed againstthe her deliverance if she proved church Bible, obtaining
be

word

to

heavier.
for the

But

this

last-named

test

was

too

lenient the

"Witch-finder- General,who
ordeal.
at

preferred man, clergywas fession con-

swimming
named

One

of his victims

Bury
had

was

venerable
Vicar
'

Lowes,

who

been

of Brandes-

ton,
found

near

After he Framlingham,for fifty years. with the marks/ says Sterne, in his when made, to whom, or under what
i
'
"

cumstance cirthat

we

are

not

informed

'
"

he

confessed above

in

pride of
the

heart to

be

or equal,

rather and his

God,
had

the devil with those found

took

advantageof him,
sealed it with
or

he covenanted

devil,and

blood,and
on

familiars
on

which spirits

sucked

the marks

both by sea harm body, and did much and land,especially by sea ; for he confessed that he, being at Lungar Fort [Landguard Fort],in Suffolk, his

CHAP.

II.]
he

MATTHEW

HOPKINS.

277

where
works

as preached, saw a

he

walked

upon

the

wall

or

he there,

great sail of shipspass by, and

sailing by, one of his three imps, namely,his yellow one, forthwith appearedto him, and asked him what he should do,and he bade him go and sink such a ship, and showed his imp a new ship the middle of the rest (as I remember), one among that belongedto Ipswich he confessed the imp ; so
as that, they were

went

forthwith
on ships

away,
sea as

and

he

stood
a-

still and

viewed
ceived per-

the

that and
more

they were to shipimmediately

near

the

and sailing, in
more

be

trouble
water
was

danger than
boisterous
down with
soon

the rest ; for he said the that than

as

the

rest,tumbling up
had
a as

and
a

waves,

if water

been

boiled in

pot, and

after

in (he said), the

sea

short
he

time, it
and

sunk viewed then

down directly

into

stood
in

it,when
he

all the

rest

sailed down

safety ;
in he
one

confessed
an

he made Then

fourteen Mr.

widows

quarter of
me

hour. his
to
see

he (for

took

Hopkins,as asked him confession),

so

told

if it did in
a so

not

grievehim
time, and
poor he
so a

many

men

cast

away

short many

that
on

lie should
a

be

the

[causeof
he
swore

widows
was

sudden
see

; but

his Maker had and

:

to joyful

what

power other

his

by imps

and

likewise confessed many

charm
to

mischiefs,

keep him out of the jailand it himself;but therein hanging, as he paraphrased mas the devil deceived him, for he was hanged that MichaelPoor old time, 1645, at Bury St. Edmunds.'
man

had

This

so-called

confession
as

has

very

dubious

air about it, and reads

if it had

been

invented

by

278 Matthew

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

ledges, Hopkins, who, as Sterne naivelyacknowtook the confessions,' apparentlywithout any witness or reporter beingpresent. his expediwhen The on Witch-finder-General, tions
c

of fortune.

inquiry,assumed
He

the
at

style of
the best

man

of

put up

always
when

inns, and
he
a

lived in the most well afford

to
on a

luxurious

which fashion, invited

to

could

do, as, payment

fee of

visit

town,
and he

he insisted

of his expenses

for board
sum

and lodging, claimed in under

This twenty shillings.

ifhe succeeded any circumstances; but

another fee of he demanded detecting any witches, for each one brought to execution. twenty shillings without admitted Generallyhis pretensionswere demur he encountered a occasionally sturdy ; but opponent, like the Rev. Mr. Gaul, of Great Staughton, him who attacked in a brisklyin Huntingdonshire, written pamphletas an intolerable nuisance. Hopkins replied by an angry letter to one of the magistrates of the

town,

in

which

he and

said

'

am

to to

come one

to

Kimbolton will
come

this
to

week,

it shall be ten first ; but

town

but I

your

town

I would

certainly
sticklers

know

afore whether cattle

us

your

affords many

for such

and other
shire

afford where

to give or [i.e. witches], [is] willing and entertainment, as good welcome

have

been, else I shall waive

your

(notas yet beginningin any part of it myself), and betake me to such placeswhere I do and may but with thanks and recomwithout pense/ control, persist
Neither Mr. Gaul
nor

the

of magistrates

Great

CHAP.

II.]

MATTHEW

HOPKINS.

279 the witchto

Staughtonshowed
finder's threat. the On

any the

in regardto anxiety

contrary,Mr. Gaul returned

i

chargein

of Conscience

which, while
he
was

not
"

country

he

persons

entitled Select Cases pamphlet, touching Witches and Witchcraft/ in the existence of witches for admitting the superstition of his age and above attacked ing vigorously Hopkins for accusinsufficient evidence, and denounced on
a
"

second

the atrocious
were

cruelties of which

he

and

his associates

guilty. I have no doubt that this manly languagehelpedto bring about a wholesome change of publicopinion. In the eastern counties so bitter a of resentment it feeling arose, that Hopkins found
advisable to seek fresh woods
the of spring
were

1647

he

was

at

pastures new. Worcester, where four

on

and

In
fortunates un-

condemned
But

the evidence

of himself

indignation againsthim returned to deepened and extended,and he hastily his native life. town, trembling for his wretched There he printed defence of his conduct,under the a The title of to Discovery of Witches, in answer several queries delivered to the Judge of Assize lately for the county of Norfolk ; publishedby Matthew Hopkins, witch-finder, for the benefit of the whole kingdom.' His death occurred shortlyafterwards. he died the death of a righteous Accordingto Sterne,
'

and

his associates.

the

man,

having no trouble of conscience for what had done, as was for him/ But falsely reported is an instance more accepted account generally satisfied which 'poeticaljustice' of Nemesis heartily hope is authentic. It is said that he
i
" "

he the of

I
was

280

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

surrounded
of

by a
himself

mob
a

in

Suffolk

being

wizard, and

and accused village, of having,by his of

names a dum-book, memoran-

tricks of sorcery, cheated in which witches

'

the devil out entered

'

were

the cried

of all the

in

England.
out

Thus,'

the

you

find

witches, not

the devil's.' He determined that

by God's name, denied the charge; but his accusers should be he subjected to his
was

populace, but by

favourite test.
were

He

tied into

together ;
a

he

and toes stripped ; his thumbs was wrapped in a blanket,and he up,

not
was

cast

pond.

Whether
taken do

drowned,

or

whether
and agree realm

he

floated,was

tried, sentenced,
agree; the but

executed, authorities
that
as a

they
of the

he

never

more

disturbed

peace

witch-finder.
has found his
'

Butler
other

niche

for this
'

knave, among

knaves, in
'

Hudibras

Hath
A

not

this present Parliament the Devil

"

to lieger

sent,

Fully empowered

to set about

Findingrevolted
And

witches out 1 within

a

has he not

year in
one

Hanged
Some
And
some

threescore of them
not

shire ?

only for
for

being drowned,

above ground sitting

nights upon their breeches, And, feeling pain,were hanged for witches. Who proved himself at lengtha witch, days
and
.

Whole

And

made

rod

for his

own

breech

'
"

the
no

hoist with his engineer mode means infrequent

the Sterne, witch-finder's

own

petard happilya by
"

of retribution.

shared

in the

not unnaturally colleague, and in defence of himdisfavour, public

CHAP.

II.]
his

GAOL-DELI

V KEY.

281

self and
1

deceased and

partner

gave

to

the

world which

Confirmation

in Discovery of Witchcraft,' have

he

to acknowledges

been concerned
of
some

tion in the detecin the

and counties

condemnation of

200

witches

Essex,Suffolk, Northampton,Huntingdon, Bedford,Norfolk arid Cambridge,and the Isle of Ely.

He
as

adds

that

'

in many

placesI

never

received have many

penny bonds rather

yet, nor

any

I like, notwithstanding
; but

for

satisfaction, except I should sin

me

fall upon such

for what

hath

been

but received, that when

hope

suits will be of moneys

and disannulled, for towns in

I have

been out such

and otherwise, charges

course

will be taken that

I may

be satisfied and

paid with
the brazen

reason.'

One

can

hardly admire
! appeal

sufficiently

of effrontery

this

The

number
grew

of persons
so as large

imprisonedon
to excite

of suspicion
of the
to

witchcraft

the alarm

Government,

who

issued

orders stringent commit this for

the

to country magistrates

trial persons

brought
them
a

before
exercise
was

them

on

to

summary

givento Lord at Chelmsford. others,to hold a gaol-delivery Warwick, who had done good service to the State as Lord High Admiral, was sagaciousand fair-minded. But with him went Dr. Edmund Calamy,the eminent Puritan divine, that no done to to see was injustice the parties accused. This proved an unfortunate before the choice; for Calamy, who, in his sermon
had enlargedon judges, the

commission

charge,and forbade jurisdiction. Eventually the Earl of Warwick, and

enormity of

the

sin of

282

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

sat witchcraft,

on

the bench

with

them, and unhappily

in the direction of

influenced

their
a

deliberations

severity.As
at

Yarmouth,
various

sixteen persons were result, hanged fifteen at Chelmsford, besides some in places

sixtyat

Suffolk.

Whitlocke,
'

in

his

'

Memorials/ speaks of
upon of
a

many

having been put Newcastle,through the agency

witches
as

'

their
man

trial at he

whom

calls

'

the Witch-finder.'

Another

of the imitators of
to

Hopkins, a Mr. Shaw, parson of Eusock, came some condignhumiliation (1660). Having instigated
bucolic barbarians the
to

put

an

old woman,
swam

named

Joan

Bibb, to
in the

she water-ordeal,

vigorously right
her assailants
so

pool,and

struggled with
action

that strenuously she brought an the

she effected her escape.

Afterwards
for instigating

againstthe
obtained

parson

outrage,and

"20

damages.

In

1664, Elizabeth
was

convicted

died in

prisonbefore
that she

It is said
without

of Bayford,Somersetshire, Styles, and sentenced to death, but the day fixed for her execution. made a voluntaryconfession"
or

inducement

torture

"

in

the
"

presence

of

and several divines another case magistrates (ifit be true)of the morbid self-delusion which in times of popularexcitement makes victims. so many

the

of speaking with some necessity the credulity of the degreeof moderation respecting when finds so one ignorantand uneducated classes,

One

feels the

CHAP.

II.]
a

AT

BUEY

ST.

EDMUNDS.

283

sound

lawyer and
Hale
is to

so

admirable

Christian No
and other

as

Sir

Matthew I suppose,
and and
no

infected

by

the mania.
on

blot,
;

be found have

his fame

character

that

he should
so

incurred

this indelible
a

stain,

fallen into
means

an pitiable

error, is

problem by

easy

of solution. in 1664, at Bury Assize, Rose him The the

At
two

the Lent

St. Edmunds,
and

named aged women, Duny were brought before

seven

Cullender
on a

charge of

Amy having

bewitched
on

persons. founded

nature

of the evidence

which the

it

was

reader will

appreciate

following examples: of good repute Samuel Pacey.of Lowestoft, a man for sobriety and other homely virtues,having been his said : That on Thursday,October 10 last, sworn, daughterDeborah, about nine years old,fell younger suddenly so and so feet,
to

from

lame

that

she

could

not

stand

on

her

continued
a

till the which

17th, when

she asked the sea, and

be carried to

bank

overlooked

to the there, sitting Amy Duny came witness's house to buy some denied. but was herrings, Twice more she called, but beingalways denied, went At this instant grumbling and discontented. away

while

she

was

of time

the child of
a

was

seized

with
as
'

terrible fits; if she

were

plained com-

pain in

her stomach,

being

with a voice like a out pins, shrieking This whelp/ and thus continuing until the 30th. witness added that Amy as a Duny, being known witch, and his child having,in the intervals of her of exclaimed againsther as the cause fits, constantly her sufferings, saying that the said Amy did appear

pricked with

284

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

to

her and and

Amy,

child,and

her, he began to suspect the said frighten of injuring his accused her in plain terms Two set in the stocks.' days got her
'

afterwards,his daughter Elizabeth

similar fits; and
that
town

was

seized

with

both

she

and

her

sister

complained
in the

they were
of bad

tormented

by

various
more

persons

character,but
and

Amy

Duny,

by

another

by particularly reputed witch, Rose

she had heard the

Cullender.
Another
two

witness

deposed that
these against increase
'

children cry out

to

persons,

who, they
tenfold if

threatened said,

their torments
some

theytold
would
see

tales of them.

At and

times

the children in the

Things run
of

up and

down
of

the house them

appearance

mice;

one

suddenly
fire,

snapped one
and younger
to take
a

with

the tongs, and

like
a

threw

it in the

it screeched

out

bat.

At

another
out

time, the
of doors

went child, beingout of her fits, and presently little fresh air, a

little Thing
have gone

like
into

bee

flew upon

her

and face,

would
ran

her

mouth, whereupon
to

the child

in all haste

to the door

get into
manner

the house
;

in

most

terrible
come

out shrieking again, whereupon this deponent

made

haste to

to

her,but
her

before

she could

reach

her,the
with much nail with raised up

child fell into

and, at last, swooning fit,

up
a

vomited painand straining,

a

twopenny

broad

head

; and

after that the child had

the nail she

came

by this being demanded that this nail, she answered

and

and understanding, by deponent how she came

to her

the

bee

brought this

nail

forced it into her mouth.'

CHAP.

II.]

AT

BURY

ST.

EDMUNDS.

285

Such

evidence

as

this

to failing

Serjeant satisfy

who and several magistrates were present, Keeling, resolved to resort it was of the guiltof the accused, witched to demonstration by experiment. The persons bewere brought into court to touch the two old women; and it was observed (saysHutchinson) that when and
sense manner

the

former

were

in the

midst

of their

fits,

to all

and
as

of all wholly deprived apprehension their fists in such a understanding, closing

men's

that

the
at
"

strongest man
the least touch

could of
one name

not

force of
"

them

open,

yet,

the

supposed
would which

witches

Eose
shriek

Cullender,by
out,
not

suddenly
accident
i

would

touch. And lest person's when they were touched by the said Eose Cullender, blinded with their own they were aprons, and the effect as before. There was touching took the same there might be a ingeniousperson that objected in this experiment, and there ought not great fallacy this to convict the parties, stress put upon to be any for the children temper, might counterfeit this their diswrhat was done to them, they and, perceiving might in such manner suddenly alter the erection and to induce gesture of their bodies,on purpose believe that they were to not natural,but persons by the touch of the prisoners. wrought strangely it was Wherefore, to avoid this scruple, privately desired by the judge that the Lord Sir Cornwallis, Edmund and some Bacon, and Mr. Serjeant Keeling, other gentleman then in court, would attend one of
an

opening their happen at any other see they might privately

they hands,

286

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

the

distempered persons
she
was

in the

farthest part of the

then
to

hall whilst
one

in her
to

and fits, what

send

for

of the

witches

try

would

then

they did accordingly Amy ; and brought from the bar, and conveyed to They then put an apron before her eyes
which
one

happen, Duny was

the maid. then

; and

other
same

person effect
as

touched

her

hand,

which

produced
did in the

the

the touch the

of the witch

court.

Whereupon
was a

gentlemen returned, openly

believe the whole transaction in

that they did protesting of the business it

was. mere

imposture.'As,
Sir Matthew
the

truth,
still

It is remarkable

that invited

Hale

was

unconvinced.

He
man

opinionof

Sir Thomas

Browne,
author famous

of
'

great learning and

admitted them
'

ability the
"

of

the
"

Eeligio Medici,' and

who that

other the

justly
were

works

fits

but thought natural, with co-operating instance he did

the malice the

heightened by the devil of the witches, at whose

Sir Matthew
then he
two said,
or

villanies/
were,

chargedthe jury.
to

There
:

questions
not

be

considered
were

First, whether
? been

these

children the them did

bewitched

And, second, whether

of bewitching guilty
as

at prisoners

the bar had

were

?
not

That

there

such

creatures

he witches,

appealed to the Scriptures, had affirmed so much, and also to the wisdom which had enacted laws againstsuch which of all nations, had been the judgment Such, too, he said, persons. of Parliament of this kingdom, as appearedby that Act which had providedpunishment proportionable

doubt; and

he

CHAP.

II.]
the

AT

BURY

ST.

EDMUNDS.

287

to

of quality

the

offence.

He

desired

them

to

pay

strict attention to the evidence, and

of
matter

imploredthe
hearts in
so

great God

heaven

to

direct condemn
'

their the

weighty a
set

; for to

innocent,and
to

free

the

was guilty,

an

abomination

the

Lord.' the jury charge of this description, broughtin a verdict of Guilty.' Sentence naturally of death was pronounced; and the two poor old suffered to the last their innocence, protesting women, will not regret the part played the gallows. Who on murder It is ? by Sir Matthew Hale in this judicial After
a
'

no

excuse

to

say that he did

but share in the

a man

popular

belief.

One

expects of

such

that

he will rise

of ordinaryminds to the errors superior ; that he and will be guided by broader more enlightened humane and views by more sympathies. generous Instead of attempting an apologywhich no act can it is better to admit, with render Sir satisfactory, that 'this great and good man Michael Foster, was
"

the rectitude of his intentions, betrayed, notwithstanding into a great mistake, under the strong bias of prejudices.' early however, a disbelief in witchcraft grew Gradually, widened mind, as intellectual inquiry up in the public its scope, World educated
more came

and
to

the

relations of
better old

man

to

the

Unseen
the

be
the

understood.

Among

classes

superstition expired much

than among the poorer ; and so we find rapidly that though convictions became rarer, committals and trials continued until the closing tolerably frequent

288

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

years of

of the

eighteenth century.

To

the

roll ghastly
to

victims, however, additions

in

continued

be

made.

Thus

August, 1682, three women, Lloyd, Susannah Edwards, and

tried at Exeter before Lord

named

ance Temper-

Mary Trembles,
of various
acts

were

Chief Justice North

and of

Mr. Justice
and witchcraft,

Eaymond,
sentenced

convicted
to

death.

Before

their

trial the
as

interviews with they had confessed to frequent in the shapeof a black man who devil, appeared long (or as short)as a man's arm ; and one of

acknowledged to have caused the death of four persons by witchcraft. Some portion of these fictions theyrecanted under the gallows; monstrous in the brink of the grave they persisted but even on claiming the character of witches,and in asserting that they had had personal intercourse with the
them devil. In

March, 1684,
Baron

Alicia
at

Welland

was

tried before

Chief

Montague
the
extent

Exeter, convicted,and
to

executed* To estimate which the

belief in

witchcraft, during the

Mr.
Inderwick has

latter

part of the seventeenth

lives of the the
to

century, operated against the

searched
1670

accused,
of the

records

Western

from Circuit, that out various of

1712

and inclusive,

ascertained

periodon
were
'

and convicted, occurred

went
on on

What

-two fifty persons tried in that only seven chargesof witchcraft, of these seven was one reprieved. the Western/ he remarks, probably
'

at

each
was

of

the

several
; and

circuits into
one

which

the

country

then divided

cannot

CHAP.

II.]
that in

SOME

ACQUITTALS.

289

doubt and the than

Norfolk,Suffolk, Essex, Huntingdon,

the witches
were

where Lancashire,

mostlyabounded,
far
more numerous

chargesand
in the West.

convictions The

judges appear, however,not taken the line of Sir Matthew to have Hale, but,as far as have to prevented convictions. possible, Indeed, Lord Jeffreys who, when not engaged on at least as business, was political good a judge as and Chief Justice Herbert, any of his contemporaries tried and obtained of witches in 1685 and acquittals 1686 at the very time that they were engaged on the the participators in Bloody Assize in slaughtering
" "

Monrnouth's
from that,

rebellion.
1686
to

It is also

remarkable

fact

1712, when

chargesof

witchcraft

ceased, chargesand convictions of malicious gradually and barns, injuryto property in burning haystacks, and to to houses, and malicious injuries persons increased enormously, these being the sort of cattle, accusations made freely againstthe witches before
this date.' I think there
can

be

little doubt
themselves

that of the

many

evil-

prevalent belief in witchcraft as a cover for their depredations the property of their neighbours, on picion susdiverting from themselves to the poor wretches who, through accidental circumstances,had acquired It would also the devil's accomplices. as notoriety that not a few of the reputedwitches seem probable their bad reputation.It turned to account similarly is not impossible, that there may be a certain indeed, degree of truth in the tales told of the witches'
19

disposedpersons

availed

290

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

the rural neighbourhoods and that in some meetings, of being witches individuals occasionally suspected consult to assembled at an appointed rendezvous and their line of operations. their position upon The not at these gatherings always practices may have been kept within the limits of decency and decorum which
; and

in this way
account

the

loathsome witches'

details with

every

of the had
a

meetings

are

embellished

may

have

real foundation.

That

the

judges

at

to length began persistently

convictions discourage action of Lord Assize

for witchcraft

is
at

seen

in the

Chief

Justice
An

Holt

the

Bury
known

St.
as

Edmunds
Mother before

in 1694. of

old woman,

Munnings, him, and

"

was Harks, in Suffolk,

brought

the witnesses that her

talk' village

how
out

againsther retailed the Thomas Purnel, landlord,

she had rented from
'

who,

to

get her
removed lie

of the house the

him, had
nose

was street-door,

told that
'

his

upward in Saturday; and following

on

should

the how

churchyard
that he
was

before the taken ill

Monday, died on the Tuesday,and was buried that she had the Thursday. How familiar in on a the shape of a polecat, that a neighbour, and how one peeping in at her window night,saw her take out of her basket a coupleof imps the one black,
the
"

the

other

white.

And

how

that

woman,

named

Sarah stricken brushed

sense

Wager, having quarrelledwith

dumb aside and in his lame. All

her,

was was

this tittle-tattle

of the

chargeby the strong commonjudge; and the jury,under his direction,

CHAP.

II.]
a
'

THOSE

ACQUITTALS.
'

291

returned
remarks
near

verdict of

Not

guilty/
are

Dr. Hutchinson
several in
or a

of Upon particular inquiry

most

the town, I find

satisfied that

it is

rightjudgment. She lived about two years without harm to anybody, after, doing any known and died declaring her innocence. Her landlord was and the words not exactly a consumptive-spent man, as them, and the whole thing seventeen they swore The white imp is believed to have years before. of her basket lock of wool, taken been to out a the black was spin; and its shadow, it is supposed,
very
. .

one/

(1694) a woman, tried at Ipswich; in was MargaretElniore, Mary Gay at Launceston; and in 1696 one
same

In

the

year

named 1695
one

Elizabeth the

Hume

at

Exeter

but

in

each

case,

under

direction of Chief Justice

was

Holt, a verdict of acquittal

seventeenth

declared.
in
an

Thus

the

century

went

its way

unaccustomed

atmosphereof justice

and

humanity.

19"2

292

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

IT.

CHAPTER

III.

THE

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT

IN

ENGLAND.

[THE honour

craft for witchprosecutions discouraging belongs in the first place to France, which abolished them as as 1672, and for some early years had refrained from sendingany victims to previously the scaffold
was

of

England,the same humour to the cynical due,perhaps, partly

or

the stake.

In

effect of the

Court

of Charles

where II.,

many,

who

before ventured

only to doubt,no
with

ridicule;
of

'

longerhesitated to treat the subject Although/ says Mr. Wright, works

'

like those

Baxter
many

and

Glanvil
in

had the

still their

weight
which of the

with
now

people,yet
on

controversy

was

carried those

press,

who

throughthe instrumentality wrote against the popular

argument.
it Still, and character that the books the belief
to

creed had

the certainly

best of the

happened from
written sorcery
more

their form the

to
were

expose

absurdityof
in their

in the

restricted

circulation

educated

while populartracts in defence classes, and collections of

cases were

of witchcraft

printedin
The

cheaperform,and widelydistributed
in where society the belief
was

among

that class

most

rooted. firmly

CHAP.

III.]

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

4293

effect of these
some

press,

has continued in popularpublications the districts down to the present day. Thus the natural tendency of which was to enlighten
was

mankind,
to the

made

to increase

by pandering ignorance

of the multitude.' credulity I have spoken of the seventeenth century as going and humanity. But out in an atmosphereof justice ancient superstition dies hard,and the eighteenth an it dawned upon the found earth, in the

century, when
Even

belief in witchcraft stillwidelyextended

men

England.

wholly surrender Addiread with surprise their adhesion to it. We son's opinionin The Spectator, that the arguments both sides,' and see him on balancing press equally himself between the two aspects of the subjectin a
not
'

of education

could

curious

state

of mental
are

indecision. from all

'When
the

I hear the

relations that
*

made forbear
commerce

parts of
evil

world/ he
an

says,

I cannot and

thinkingthat
with

there is such
as spirits,

intercourse which when

we

that

of witchcraft. But by the name he adds, 'that the ignorantand consider,' express

credulous

parts of the world

that the in such

abound among infernal

most
us commerce

in who

these
are are

and relations,

persons
an

supposedto peopleof a
and

engage weak the

and understanding
same

crazed

tion, imaginathe that many have

at

time

reflect upon
nature to

imposturesand
been detected

delusions

of this

in all ages, I endeavour

more

suspendniy
any

belief tillI hear have

comes

certain accounts my

than

which

yet
to

come a

then he knowledge.' And conclusion, haltingand unsatisfactory

to

294

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

which

will

seem

almost

grotesque

to the reader

of the

precedingpages, with their details of succubi and black cats,pole-cats, incubi, imps and familiars, goats, I consider the In short, when and the like : tion, ques'

whether
we

there

are

such mind

persons

in the world between

as

call witches, my

is divided

two

opinions, (tospeak my thoughts opposite or, rather I believe in general that there is, and has freely), but, at the same been, such a thingas witchcraft, time,
instance of it.' particular Addison of a witch of goes on to draw the picture the period, Moll White,' who lived in the neighbourhood of Sir Roger de Coverley, a wrinkled hag,with
can

give no

credit to any

'

'

age grown of observed switch believe

1

double.' witch
to be

This
over

old the

woman

had

the

tion reputa-

all

were country; her lips

alwaysin motion,
which her her several

and

there

was

not

about had

her house carried

to

neighbours did
hundreds

not

of miles. sticks

If she chanced
straws

stumble,they always found

the of figure
at
a cross

or

that

lay in

before her. cried Amen

If she made
in
a

any

mistake

church,and

failed to conclude that they never place, she was There was saying her prayers backwards. that would in the parish not a maid take a pin of her, though she should offer a bag of money with it. wrong
...

If the
so soon

maid dairyas

does

not

make

her

butter

to

come

she

would

have If upon from

a

Moll it,

White

is at the

bottom

of the churn. has been

horse sweats If

in the
a

stable,

Moll White
an

his back. the

hare makes

unexpected escape
Moll

hounds, the

huntsman

curses

White.

CHAP,

ill.]
I have

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

295

'

been
'

the

more

in particular I know
not
a

this is

account,'
scarce a

says

Addison,
old

because

there

in England village

that has

Moll

White

in it. grow

When

an

woman

begins

to

dote, and

turned into a she is generally to a parish, chargeable witch,and fills the whole country with extravagant dreams. and terrifying fancies, imaginarydistempers,
In the

meantime, the
of
so

poor

wretch

that is the innocent be

at frighted

occasion

many

evils

beginsto
secret

and herself,

sometimes

confesses

commerces

and

forms in a delirious imagination the from old age. This frequently off charity cuts and inspires people greatest objectsof compassion, with a malevolence towards those poor decrepit parts of our human is defaced by in whom nature species and dotage.'1 infirmity

familiarities that her

On
to

March

2,1703,one Eichard Hathaway,apprentice

Thomas

Wiling,a

blacksmith

in
at the

Southwark, was

tried before Chief Justice Holt

as a

cheat been

had

SurreyAssizes, that he and an impostor, having pretended bewitched by Sarah Morduck, wife of a
so

Thames
or

waterman,
for the

that he had of ten

been

unable

to eat

together;had suffered various pains; had constantly vomited nails and crooked pins; had at times been deprivedof and all through the wicked speechand sight, cunning from time to that he was of Sarah Morduck ; further, the said time relieved of his ailments by scratching Sarah,and drawingblood from her. On these charges
drink space

weeks

Sarah had been

committed

and by the magistrates,

was

296 tried 1701.

WITCH,

WARLOCK,
at the

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
in

II.

as

witch
was

Guildford

Assizes

February,

proved in her defence that Dr. Martin, minister, of the parishof Southwark, and method of obtaining s troubles hearingof Hathaway'
then had relief, resolved
to

It

put the

matter

to

fair his the the it in

of to Hathaway' in one s room, repairing semi-conscious and whollyblind intervals, had, in witnesses, pretended to give to presence of many supposed sufferer the arm of Sarah Morduck, when
was

test; and

that really the street. upon

of

woman

whom

he

had

called

from

Hathaway, in ignoranceof
scratched the wrong

the trick
arm,

played

him,

and

his sightand senses. to recover immediately professed On finding his deception discovered, Hathaway looked defence or excuse, no greatlyashamed, and attempted when The when Dr. Martin him for his conduct. severely reproached and however, remained unconvinced, populace, Dr. Martin and his friends had departed, accompanied Hathaway to the house of Sarah Morduck,

whom

ill-treated. They they savagely

woman was

then
a

declared

that the

who also

had
a

lent herself

as

for subject her with

experiment

witch,

and

loaded

while her husband contumely, gave her a beating. It further appeared occasion,when Hathaway one on that, he had been vomitingcrooked pinsand nails, alleged he had been and hundreds of packetsof searched, and on his hands pins and nails found in his pockets,

vomiting immediately ceased. duck, Eventuallythe jury acquittedSarah Morand branded Hathaway as a cheat and an however, received the impostor. The lower classes, being
him,

tied

behind

the

CHAP.

III.]
with
a

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

297

verdict raised many

contempt, mobbed

Dr.
as

Martin,
for
a man

and of

collection for

Hathaway

virtues whom

fortune had ill-treated.

trate, magismoned sum-

Sir Thomas Sarah

been her and

Lane, who

sided with

the

mob,

Morduck

before

him, and

after she had ordered

women

scratched
to
a

by Hathaway Though
so none

in his presence,

be

examined

for devil-marks could

by
be

two

doctor.

his detected, her

as a

was prejudice

extreme

that he committed

witch to the Wood

extent

Street

of "500.
to
on

again came
released The the
the and

her

bail to the Compter, refusing Dr. Martin, with other gentlemen, and ultimately she was assistance,

reasonable
now

surety.

thought it time to support the verdict of of justice, out cause and, carrying Guildford jury,indicted Hathaway as a cheat,
himself and

Government

Sarah assaulting Morduck. In addition the evidence to previously shown adduced, it was that, being in bad health, he had been placed in the custodyof a Dr. Kenny, a to test the truth of his fasting, surgeon, who, desiring his
friends for wall of his compartment, partition and watched his proceedings for about a fortnight, while pretending he was to fast, during which period, observed the food conveyed to to feed heartily on him, and once, having received an extra allowance of whisky,he got tipsy, playeda tune on the tongs, and

made

holes in the

danced
was

before the fire. the than

At

the

trial

Dr. Hamilton

called for
rather

defence; but, Balaam-like,he

for having affirmed blessed, that

banned

the man's

was fasting

the chief evidence

of

witchcraft,

298

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
you think it

'

Doctor,' said

the

Chief

Justice,

do

for a man to fast a fortnight?''I think possible not/ he replied. Can all the devils in hell help a to fast so man long?' 'No, my lord/ said the
c

doctor

'

I think

not.'

These

answers

were

clusive; con-

the box, the jury found leaving and he was sentenced Hathaway guilty, by Chief hundred Justice Holt to pay a fine of one marks, to
and stand hours in the
at

without

the following on pillory Sunday for two the Tuesday at the on Southwark, the same
same on

Royal Exchange, the Temple Bar, the next

House with Two of hard labour

the be

day

to

and afterwards Correction, for six months.

Wednesday at whipped at the to be imprisoned

and reputed witches,Eleanor Shaw Mary executed at Northampton on March were 17, Phillips, 1705 ; and on July 22, 1712, five Northamptonshire A witches, Bill, Agnes Brown, Helen Jenkinson, suffered at the same Joan Vaughan, and Mary Barber,

place.
\ It is generallybelieved
that

the

last

time
a

an case

Englishjury brought in
of witchcraft
was

verdict of
a

in guilty

in

1712, when
Jane

poor

Hertfordshire
was

peasant
before three evidence

woman,

named

Wenham,

tried

Mr. Justice

Powell, sixteen
and frivolous

including witnesses, accusation.

;

the clergymen,supporting
was

The

absurd

of but, in spite

and the poor woman's absurdity, fervent protestations of innocence, and the judge's strong summing-up in her favour, a Hertfordshire jury convicted her. The judge was compelled by the its frivolousness and

CHAP.

III.]
to

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

299

law time

pronounce

sentence

of

death,but
a

he

lost

no

in

from obtaining
woman.

the

Queen
on

unfortunate

But,
treated
to
save

pardon for emerging from

mob

the
her

prison,she was and, ferocity ;

in which she

by
her

the from

with

savage

Colonel Plumer, of

took Gilson, for many

her

being lynched, into his service, earning and

witchcraft,
her.
for

continued
esteem
a

years, knew

the preserving

of all who of
an

But
that of

there is

record

execution

in taking place Mary Hicks and her daughter, 1716 (July 28) ; and though it is not indubitably well I do not think its authenticity can established,

be doubted.' In

January, 1736,
to

an

old

woman

of

Frome,

puted re-

dragged from her sick-bed, for and kept in a mill-pond put astride on a saddle, nearlyan hour, in the presence of upwards of 200 like a cork, people. The story goes that she swam
be
a

witch, was

but

on

being taken
A

out

of the water

coroner's
were

inquestwas
committed

diately. expiredimmeheld on the body, for trial for

slaughter man-

and

three

persons
; but

in

that theyescaped ment, punishprobable to appear to have been willing as nobody seems the witness-box them. against was Among the vulgar,indeed, the superstition it is
to
man

hard poor about

kill. and

In
his

the

middle the

of the
name

last

century,a
fordshire. Hertshe

wife,of

of
at

Osborne,each

seventy years
On
one

of age, lived

Tring,in

Mother occasion,

Osborne, as

was

went to a dairyman,appropricommonly called, ately butternamed and asked for some Butterfield,

300

WITCH,
; but

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

milk had with this

was

and informed that he repulsed, harshly replied enough for his hogs. The woman scarcely in the '45 that that the Pretender was (it asperity have him and his hogs. It would took place) soon
was

customary
in

then

to connect

the Pretender

and

the

devil

one's

thoughts and

aspirations ; and
Osborne
of up the

the

afterwards, when ignorantrustics soon declared that Mother calves sickened,

bewitched

Butterfield's had devil.

them,
to

with

the

assistance had

Later,when
and taken

who Butterfield,
an

given
much
to to

his farm from the

suffered ale-house,
was was

fits,
cause

Mother

Osborne he

again declared
advised
a

be

(1751),and
for
an

to

send

shire Northamptoncourse,

old

woman,

white

witch, to baffle her

spells. The
the

white

witch

came,

confirmed,of

and advised that six men, armed popularprejudice, with staves and pitchforks, should watch Butterfield's house by day and night. The affair would here,perhaps, have ended ; but some thought they persons could
turn

it

to

made accordingly, would be

ducked

pecuniaryadvantage,and, public notification that a witch on April 22. On the appointed

their the
scene

day hundreds flocked to The parish officers had

for
to safety

of entertainment.

removed
; and

the two

Osbornes
in revenge,

the

church

the

mob,

seized the governor

a

of the

workhouse, and, collecting

to

heap

of

straw, threatened

drown

him, and
up. In

set
a

fire to

the town, unless

fear the

they were

given

panic of
poor

creatures

thumbs

tied

officers gave way, and the two parish naked, their were stripped immediately to their toes, and, each being wrapped

CHAP.

III.]
coarse

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

301

in

and dragged a coupleof miles, then flung into a muddy stream. a chimneyColley, sweep, did not sink, observingthat the woman several and turned her over stepped into the pool,
a were sheet,

times

with

a was

stick,until the sheet fell off,and

her
"

nakedness exhausted half choked bank

; and
"

with

exposed. In this fatigueand terror,

mud
"

miserable sick with

state

shame,

with her

she
"

was

persecutors alas
and beat under her

flung upon the for the cruelty of

until she died. ment. maltreatthe

ignorance! kicked
Her husband It is
worst

also sank

his barbarous know that trial

on

to satisfactory

as Colley, a

offender,was murder, found

The

brought to

wilful

hanged.

and most guilty, crowd, however, who him

as a

chargeof righteously
his

witnessed

execution, lamented

martyr, unjustly
from
one

punishedfor having
Satan's servants, and
the sheriff whose
were

delivered

the world with

see

of

overwhelmed
to

execrations the behests

duty it was
carried out.

that

of the law [n

Hannaker, of February. 1759, Susannah ordeal of the "mgrove, Wilts, was put to for herself outweighed weighing, but fortunately
the In church

Bible, againstwhich
at

she

was

tested.

June, 1760,

Leicester; in
in for

June,

1785,

at

Northampton;
persons Similar
were cases

and tried

April,1829, at Monmouth, ducking supposed witches.

in
our own

have

occurred

time.

On

died of Frenchman September 4, 1863, a paralytic illness induced an by his having been ducked as a wizard in a pond at Castle Hedingham, in Essex.

302

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

And

an

aged
a

woman,

named

Anne

Turner,

reputed
insane,
on

to

be the

witch,
of

was

killed

by

man,

partially
Warwickshire,
needs
no

at

village
17,

Long

Compton,
But the

in

September
illustrations terrible uneducated. with his

1875. the of The his

reader of human

further the

of

longevity prejudice,

error,

or

vitality

especially
or

among
necromancer,

the

thaumaturgist
magic
circle,
ago,

wand,

his

alembics

and

crucibles,

disappeared pointed
out,

long
his

because,

as

have

already
class of

support

depended
was

upon

society
by
;

whose

intelligence
influences and

rapidly
literature
the

developed
and science

the

healthy
the in sham obscure the

of

but

astrologer
corners,

pseudothey

witch find

linger
their prey

still

because
and the

among
we

credulous

ignorant.

The the

more

widely certainly
forms of

extend shall

the

bounds the

of

knowledge,

more

we

prevent
and

recrudescence of delusion

of in

such

imposture
pages I have

aspects

as

the

preceding

attempted

to

describe,

CHAP.

IV.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SCOTLAND.

303

CHAPTER
WITCHES OF

IV.

THE

SCOTLAND.

serious-minded a more peopleof Scotland, and than the English,the superimaginativerace stition of witchcraft was deeply rooted at an early period. Its development was encouraged not only of the national but character, by the idiosyncrasies also by the nature of the country and the climate in which they lived. The loftymountains, with their
AMONG their deep shadowy ravines obscure glens were homes of the wildest the fitting the eeriest legends;and the storm fancies, crashing and the surf beating the rocky on through the forests, shore, suggested to the ear of the peasant or the
" "

the

misty

summits

and

fisherman dread

the

voices

of

unseen

creatures

"

of
men

the who

of spirits in

the waters

and

the and
was

air. the

To

believed
a

and kelpie and

wraith

second

sight,

belief in witch
was

warlock

it

not

until

the

Calvinist
and

into

Scotland

their austere

enough. And reformers imported rigidcreed,with its

easy

literal

until

of Biblical imagery, craft that witchinterpretation It was crime. not to be regarded as came a of Scotland passeda 1563 that the Parliament

304

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

statute

constituting witchcraft
'
'

and

dealing with
that persons
"

witches accused the

offence. capital had

It is true

of witchcraft of

Earl

Mar,

brother

suffered death already of James who III., witches and

sorcerers

as was

with suspectedof intriguing order

to

in

compass

his

brother's
a cases

death, and
similar it
was

Glamis,in 1532, charged with

James
which V.
was
"

Lady plot against

the treason

but

in both

these

punishedrather
Scottish criminal
death for the in and

than

the sorcery. the first person

In who
a

the

records

suffered

Janet
are

Bowman, given ;

offence

of witchcraft was practice No 1572. of her particulars written are againsther name
'

words, only the significant

A remarkable
case, that
was

convict

and

byrnt.'

of Bessie
an

to 1576.*

She Jack.
one

the wife of

Dunlop,belongs Ayrshire peasant,

statement, she
to

Andrew
was

going

Accordingto her own day from her house

cows

the

yard

of

Monkcastle, driving her

"

to

the had

pasture,and
a

her troubles over greeting nigh sick to death,and her and she herself had lyingill,

for she husband but

met

milch-cow child
were

and

risen recently and her,

from

childbed
with

"

when

a
c

strangeman
Gude

saluted her

day,Bessie !' She answered him and, in replyto his questions, acquainted civilly, her that with her anxieties ; whereupon he informed but and her child would her cow, her two sheep, die,
the

words,

that

her

gude

man

would

recover.
l

She
an

described

this stranger in
*
*

graphic languageas
i. 49-58. Trials,'

honest,welechapter is mainly

Pitcairn, Criminal
on

This

founded

the reports in Pitcairn.

CHAP.

IV.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SCOTLAND.

305

elderlie man,
with gray

gray

and bairdit,

had

ane

gray
ane

coat

Lumbart
brekis
ane

slevis of the auld and

fassoun ;

pairof

knee;
and

black

quhyte schankis, gartaurt above the his heid,cloise behind bonnet on

throw his the

with silkin laissis drawin planebefore, in thairof;and ane quhyte wand lippis

hand/

He
that

told he

Bessie that his

had been

name

was

Thomas
Battle

Reid, and
of Pinkie.

killed

at

the

this information, it did not as was Extraordinary seem improbable to her when she noted the manner of his disappearance throughthe yard of Monkcastle : hoill of the I thocht he gaitin at ane narroware erdlie man culd haif gaun nor dyke [wall], ony throw; and swa I was sumthingfleit [terrified].' filled. Thomas Reid's sinister predictions were duly fuland Soon afterwards, he again met Bessie, invited her to deny her religion, and the faith boldly in which she was in return for certain christened, refused. worldly advantages. But Bessie steadfastly
'

This ordinance

visitor which

of is

hers

was

under

no

fear of

the

supposed to limit the mundane of excursions the hours creatures to spiritual between and cockcrow ; for he generally made sunset his appearance at mid -day. It is not less singular that he made no objection to the presence of humanity. On one occasion he called at her house,where she sat and three tailors, conversingwith her husband and, invisible to them, pluckedher by the apron, and led her to the door, and thence up the hill-end, where he bade her stand,and be silent, whatever she might And hear or see. suddenly she beheld twelve
i
'

20

306

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
men

II.

persons,
in

and four eightwomen and the gentlemen'sclothing, about among

l

men women

; the

clad

with

plaids

round
was

them,
them.

very

seemlyto look at. Thomas They bade her sit down, and
; wilt thou

said she among

Welcome, Bessie
no

go with
some

us

But

made

answer,

and

after

conversation
a

in themselves,they disappeared

hideous

whirlwind.
When persons dwell Thomas she had he returned,
seen were

informed
'

her

that

the

the

who good wights,' he

in the Court
to

of

Faery,and
them much

brought
"

her

an

invitation which he

accompany

thither

an

invitation

repeated with
true

earnestness.
'

She
saw no

answered, with
to profit

Scotch
kind of

caution

She

gang

that

gates, unless
c

she

knew

wherefore.'
'

Seest thou

not

me,' he rejoined,worth
not

meat

and

worth The she with

to

and good enough clothes, prospect,however, could firm and in her

like in person

?'
; and

her beguile
to
no

continued her husband

simple resolve
she had
a

dwell wish
;

whom bairns, Thomas recovered himself in

abandon. before
his
'

Off went

storm

of anger and

but

long
at

he

his

temper,
'

resumed and with carry the

visits, showing
her due
to

request, and
a

fetch to willing her always treating and mother. The

deference

wife this

only benefit
said,the
stolen

she derived of

means

she friendship was, curing diseases and recovering her witchcraft There
was was no

from

property, so
and devil,

that

of

the

innocentest simplest, with the it

kind.

compact

nobody injured
"

except doctors

CHAP.

IV.]
thieves.

THE

WITCHES

OF

SCOTLAND.

307

and the

Yet
a

for

product of

suspect,
was
'

by

much and

to this hallucination yielding vivid imagination, we stimulated, Bessie reverie Dunlop solitary
" "

convyct

byrnt.' Mayhap,
may gone have with Thomas

as

she

was

led

to

the

she death-fire, better to of have

dreamecl

that she had Reid

to

done

the

Court

Faery !
of the

fairyfolklore with the gloomierinventions of witchcraft occurs againin the of Alison Pierson (1588). There was certain case a and William Simpson, a great scholar and physician, native of Stirling.While but a child,he was a taken away of Egypt, a from his parents by a man who led him away to Egypt with him, where giant,' he remained by the space of twelve years before he home came again.' On his return, he made the of Alison, and who was relative, acquaintance a near cured her of certain ailments ; but soon afterwards, less fortunate in treating he died. Some himself, had months passed when, one day as Alison was she was lying on her bed, sick and alone, suddenly addressed in green clothes, who told her by a man he would do her good. that,if she would be faithful, In her first alarm, she cried for help, but no one ing, hearThe
combination
'

'

she visitor

called

upon

the

Divine

Name,

when

her

immediatelydisappeared. Before long, he her again, attended to and came men by many her to accompany women them, they ; and compelling set off in a gay to Lothian, where procession they found puncheons of wine, with and drinking-cups,
20"2

308

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

enjoyed themselves
she
was on even

right heartily.
with

Thenceforward
'

the friendliest terms

the

bours/ good neighher

was

the Fairy Queen visiting her

own

at

court,
made

where, accordingto
much and

account,
'

she

of,was
allowed

treated,indeed, as
to
see

one

of themselves/

compounding wonderful salves in miniature tiny fires. healingpans over had acquired It would that this woman a considerable seem and that knowledge of herbs and simples/
them
l

the medicines No value doubt it

she made
was

up the

effected remarkable purpose of

cures.

for

of her

concoctions

that from

she

enhancing the professedto have

So

obtained
was

the secret of them

the fairies. the in

'

great

her

repute for medicinal

that skill, advice

Archbishop

of St. Andrews

sought her
her

illness, and, by
and
at two

ate directions,
a

dangerous sodden food/

a

draughtsabsorbed
she had

quart of good claret

wine,

which

medicated,greatly previously

benefiting thereby.
Alison told had
a

fertile

fancyand
It does

fluent

tongue, and
did that she

stories of the

fairies and

their

doings which
appear her

credit to her

invention.

not

injuredanybody, except, perhaps, by

then, even
Bessie burned.
cases

drugs,but,

do that! sometimes But, like faculty and Dunlop, she was convicted of witchcraft, The surprising thingabout this and similar the the poor
woman

is,that
own

should

have

assisted

in

such extraordinary by devising A prisoner What the use of them ? fictions. on was a terrible her, meant which, if proved against a charge death, what objectdid she expect to gain ? Was it condemnation

her

CHAP.

IV.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SCOTLAND.

309 and surprise she

all done

for the her of

an

sake

of the

temporary

astonishment the heroine

tale hour

created ? that ?
"

might
know,
Pier

be

Men

have, we
were

their

strange ambitions, but if this

it
was one

Alison

son's,

of the very

strangest.
I shall upon wife

In Dame Dame

the

next

case come

bring forward, that

the chief of the

of

Fowlis, we

the trail of actual crime. of clan

Fowlis, second
was

by birth a Roise or Ross, of Balnagown. of her own To effect the aggrandisement she family, the death of Robert, her husband's eldest son, plotted
Munro,
in order

wealthywidow to her brother, George Roise or Ross, laird of Balnagown ; but as it was he, too, was married, necessary to get rid of his wife also. For this double event/she employed, with
to

marry

his

'

littleattempt at

concealment,three

'

notorious

witches'

"Agnes
Mac

Ro}^,Christian Roy, alias Loskie Loncart Allister,

"

and

Marjory Nayre
one

besides

William

MacGillivordam, and

several other persons

of dubious

reputation. About
was

Midsummer,
The result

1576, Agnes Roy

Loncart
into Darne
was

to bring Loskie despatched

Fowlis7
soon

presence.

of this interview
two to
a

apparent.
were

individuals

Clay images of the made, and exposed

MacGillivordam
which the cook

doomed the usual

sorceries ; while

obtained
was

supplyof
bribed
to

poison from Aberdeen,

put into
table.
a

dish

intended
not

for the

It did

prove

afflicted the illness.

unfortunate

lady of Balnagown' s but mortal, as anticipated, lady with a long and severe
felt
no

Dame

Fowlis,however,

remorse,

but

310

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

continued

her

widening gradually plots,

to

their scope children

until she resolved his first her

own.

kill all her husband's

to
secure

by
for

wife, in
In

order

the

inheritance

May, 1577, she instructed Macgillivordam to procure a largequantity of poison. He made privy to the refused, unless his brother was this was I suppose transaction. done, as the poison
was

and proved to obtained, persons

"

be

so

that two

woman

and it.

deadlyin its nature killed a boy were

"

of tasting by accidentally

Foiled in her scheme, Dame

Fowlis

resorted to the

of witchcraft, and bought,in June, for five practices elf arrow-head that is, a rude flint an shillings, On belonging to the neolithic age. implement met togetherin July 2, she and her accomplices secret conclave an image of butter ; and having made the Robert to resemble Munro, they placedit against wall; and then, with the elf arrow-head, Loskie
' '
" "

Loncart

shot at it for
a

times,but eight
the
not

each

out time with-

success,

proof that
could time

familiars

of the hit the

devil,
mark.

like

their master,
a

always
same

Meeting
made
an

second

for the

purpose,

they

shot twelve Loskie at which image of clay, times in succession, missing,to the great invariably The failure was of all concerned. disappointment ascribed to the elf arrow-head, and in August another also made, for of clay was were procured; two figures Robert Munro and for Lady Balnagown,respectively ; Fowlis shot twice, and at the latter Dame at the former Loskie Loncart shot thrice ; but the shooting and the two better than before, was no images being

CHAP.

IV.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SCOTLAND.

311

broken, the charm was accidentally destroyed. It was proposed to try poison again,but by this time
the authorities and had

going on,

gained information of what was towards the end of November, Christian

had been

Roy, who
arrested.

presentat

the third

was meeting,

Being put to the torture, and, togetherwith some everything,

was

she of

confessed
her
federates, con-

convicted

of

witchcraft

and

burnt.

Dame
person,

Fowlis, who

escaped to
In in the and

the least guilty not was assuredly Caithness, but, after remainingin

concealment her home.

for nine

months,
her

was

allowed

to return

to
was

1588,

husband

died, and Munro,

succeeded revived

his

estates

by

Robert

who

charge
obtained of her

of
a

witchcraft

his stepagainst mother, for her tion examina-

commission

survivingaccomplices. Dame Fowlis was put on her trial on July 22, 1590 ; but she had money and contrived to obtain a verand friends, dict of acquittal.
and that

It is

one

of the most
case
a

remarkable
soon as

features of this
was acquittal

markable re-

as that,

her

nounced, pro-

in which the defendant opened, her other stepson,Hector was Munro,* who had been, her. the principal witness against only an hour before, The allegations him were: that, duringthe first, against
new

trial was

sore

sickness of his consulted

in brother,
'

the

summer

of and

1588, he
common

had

with

three best

notorious
means

witches'

the respecting

of

curing him,

and

had sheltered them his father

to
*

for several them

until compelled by days, their

send

about

business; and,
285.

Pitcaini,ut ante, i. 192, 202,

312

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

ill himself, in January,1559, he second, that falling had

most
to

caused

certain Marion and

to

Maclngaruch,
who,
that
'

one

of the

notorious

rank

witches and
out

in the whole after

realm/
she of

be

brought
with

him,
water

administering
which chance

three

draughts of lay in

of three stones his the sole

carried recovery

her, declared
the

sacrifice of

his blood.'

After

due

this vicarious
-

sufferer

man principal consultation, they decided be George Munro. must son

of
that his

step brother, the

eldest

of

Dame

Fowlis.
of him. five

Messengerswere

Apprehending no arrived days afterwards Munro. Following the

Hector left received and

sent accordingly he obeyed evil, at

in search the house of

and call, of the

the

Hector

directions in

witch,
his

his brother

silence, givinghim

taking him by the right hand, and word of greetinguntil he had no spoken. uttering George,astounded by the dullness of his reception,
hand,
which he could
not

but

contrast

with

the warmth

of
an

the hour he

remained invitations, without

i

in his brother's sick-room last he asked you

was

speaking. At
The better that then

Hector
to

how visit

felt.

have

come

for so againsilent, the witch had ordained. after midnight hour An ants; appeared Marion Maclngaruch, with several assistwith spades, paired and, arming themselves they re-

me,' replied Hector,and

to

nook

of

ground

at

the

situated sea-side, of the

a

between

the

boundaries

of the

estates

two

and there, lairds, they dug removing the turf, of the size of the invalid. Marion returned
to the

grave

house, and

gave

directions

"CHAP.

IV.]

THE

WITCHES

OF

SCOTLAND.

313

to

her confederates

as

to

the

parts they were

was

to

play

in the It
was

scene startling

which
her

yet
if

to

be

enacted.

to represented would suddenlysuspicions dangerousto all concerned

George died with a result be aroused, took she thereuponunder; and

that

that

he

should
was

be

thereafter.
of

Hector

spareduntil April 17 next then wrapped up in a couple

to

and blankets, he
was

carried

the

grave

in silence. the turf

In

silence

in it,and deposited

laid upon side. His

him, while Marion one foster-mother,

took
a

lightly stationed herself by his Christiana Neill Daythe

then zell,

young

lad

by

hand,

and

ran

the

breadth
witch
answer,
'

brother
thrice from

afterwards inquiringof the ridges, for who might be her choice/ and receiving and his That Hector was her choice to live, was George to die for him.' This ceremony of nine
i

and repeated, the grave, and

the

sick

man

was

then
most

taken

carried

home, the
bitter

absolute

silence still beingmaintained.

Such

an

experience on

might well have but, strange to

proved
say,

fatal to

January night the subjectof it ;

recovered
"
-

Hector

Munro

of rites probablyfrom the effect on his imagination and impressive so peculiar ; whereas, in the month "of April, seized with a grievous George Munro was

followingJune, he died. Grateful for the cure she had effected, Hector received the witch Marion into high favour, her at installing his uncle's house of Kildrummadyis, her entertaining
*

illness,of which, in the

as

if she

had

been the

his spouse,

and
none

giving her
durst

such

pre-eminencein

county

that

offend

314

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

her.'

But

it is the
to

nature

of such
or

unhallowed

federacies con-

surrender,sooner

their darkr later,

dread

secrets.

Whispers spread abroad, gradually

into
a

shaping
invited

themselves

connected
warrant

story
was

which issued

A judicial investigation. of Marion Munro

for the arrest time Dame

was

Maclngurach ;
to

but

for

some

Hector
Fowlis

contrived and

conceal
known

her, until
that she
"

discovered house full

made

lyingin the and, making a

sentenced
to
was

at Fowlis.

She
of her

was

arrested

confession and

actions, was
Munro. his

death,
more

burnt.

Hector

however,

fortunate, and

obtained

acquittal.
JAMES
I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

These, and
mania

other

cases

of witchcraft in various of

which,

as

the

extended, occurred
the

parts of the

King James, and made him. a profoundimpression Taking up upon the study of the subject with enthusiasm, he inquired into the demonology of France and Germany, where
country, attracted
attention it had been matured he into
a

science; and
as

this

so

thoroughly that
expert, and
was

became,

alreadystated,an
pronounce tative authori-

entitled really His

to

astrous example,however, had a disand deepeningthe popular effect, confirming to such an that the common extent credulity people, for a time,might have been divided into two great

decisions.

classes
"

witches

and

witch-finders.
acts

That

in be the

such petrated perde-

circumstances
was

many

of

crueltyshould complete was

inevitable.

So

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

315

that moralization,
was peculiarity

the most
an

trivial

or physical

mental

held to be old
were

indubitable
to

witch-mark,
stake like

and

young

and

hurried

the

sheepto the slaughter. In August, 1589, King

proxy,
to

James

was

married, by
;

Princess
was

Anne

of Denmark

and

the

patient im-

awaiting the arrival of eagerly the unwelcome his bride from Copenhagen, when reached him that the vessels conveying intelligence her and her suite had been overtaken by a storm, had put destruction, and, after a narrow escape from
monarch into the of in Norway, with the intention port of Upsal,

remainingthere until the followingspring. The summoning up all his courage eager bridegroom,
"

he had

no

love for the

sea

"

resolved
found the

to

go

in search her

of his queen,
to her
new

and, having
At husband

her, to
wife then

conduct

home.
; and

Upsal
and

marriage was
the winter.

solemnized

duly voyaged to
The the until

Copenhagen,where
homeward

they spent
was

voyage

not

undertaken
on

following spring ;
that James
and the of experience for it. The which minds

and

it

was

May Day, 1590,

at

his
sea

Queen
which

landed

Leith,after
James's

an

confirmed

taste dis-

disorder political
the of
new

of the

country, and
obtained

the hold upon the

had superstition

people, encouragedthe circulation of dark the with in connection mysteriousrumours King'sunfavourable passage ; and a generalbelief
the
soon came

to

be had

established
so

that

the

tempestuous
it
was

weather

which

affected seriously

due

to

316

WITCH,

WARLOCK, of

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

the

intervention of

human the Earl

to

at the supernatural powers, fixed treachery.Suspicion

stigation inat

lengthupon
and

of

Bothwell, who
but in conceal

was

arrested
trived con-

committed
to make

prison;
the

June, 1591,
himself

his escape, and of curious

a

in the

remote

recesses some

wards, Highlands. Not long aftercertain circumstances attending

"

cures

which
"

Duncan

had

girl Geillis,or Gillies, led to her being suspected performed,

servant ; and

of witchcraft of

this

opened up suspicion

series

which revealed the existence of an investigations, againstthe King'slife. extraordinary conspiracy Geillis Duncan in the employment of David was of Tranent, -bailiff of the small town Seton, deputy of English in Haddingtonshire. Unlike the witch rural she life, and
was

plexioned ;
of wonderful sick and well

the
was

comely, and only ground on which

young,

fair-comthe
was

idea the
some

witchcraft

associated which

with she

her had

quicknesswith
diseased persons,

cured

When
once

beingthat she was with the healingproperties of herbs. acquainted her master her, she at interrogated severely denied of the all knowledge of the mysteries
the fact
art.

black

He

then,
; she
was
a

without

leave

or

license, put protest her

that
no on

her to the torture

still continued

to

innocence.
witch her
to

It

would

confess

so

popular long as
the

conviction the

devil-mark
was

body
an

remained

undiscovered.
"

She

subjected
found

indecent

examination

stigma was
was

(saidthe examiners)on subjectedto the torture.

her The

throat; she

again

fortioutragedgirl's

CHAP.

IV.]
then

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

317 her

tude

gave

way

; she to

acknowledgedwhatever
Yes, she
with his of the
was a

persecutors wished
She
cures new

learn.

witch t

had had

made been in

compact

devil ; all her

"

effected the

by

assistance

quite a
has
not

feature

character

Satan, who

of any compassionate been suspected feeling generally towards sufferinghumanity. That she had done good instead of harm availed the unfortunate Geillis committed to prison; and the nothing. She was made fuller torture a being a third time applied, she named in which her accomplices or confession, some confederates, forty in number, residing in different

parts of
disclosed

Lothian.
the

Their

arrest
one

and of

amination ex-

of particulars

the

ever strangest intrigues

concocted. Dr.
John

a a

in it were principal parties as wizard,also known reputed grave

The

Fian, or Frain,

matron,

named

Cunningham ; Agnes Sampson ; Euphemia

Lord

Macalzean, daughter
Barbara

of

Cliftonhall ;

and

Napier. Fian, or of Tranent, and schoolmaster

education vendor of
; but

a Cunningham, was of ability and a man

his
"

life had

been

evil

"

he

was

poisons and, though innocent

crimes

of the dabbled

posterous prein
a

him, had alleged against

the bound so-called round sorcery. his

the

of practices cord
was

When

twisted he would

confess

nothing ;
boots/

burstingtemples, and, exasperatedby his

to

the fortitude,
torture

authorities

him subjected

the terrible endured in relief then

of

'

the

Even
nature

this
came

he
to

until silence, with

an

exhausted

his
was

interval of unconsciousness.

He

318

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
while

II.

released ; restoratives hovered

to
on
'

were

applied ; and,
he was sensibility,

he

the

border

of

induced

to his Being remanded he contrived,two to escape; prison, days afterwards, and but was brought before the High recaptured, Court of himself Justiciary, King James being present. Fian strenuouslyrepudiatedthe so-called

sign

full confession/

confession
swoon,

which

had

been his

foisted

upon

him been

in his

that declaring fraud. he

had signature

obtained
at

by
what

Whereupon King James, enraged

to

conceived him

be the man's the

stubborn His

wilful-

ness,

ordered
were

again to
out

torture.

nails fingerneedles made

to

torn

with but

and pincers, the courageous

long
man more so

thrust
no

into the He

quick ;
was

sign.

then

subjectedonce
he

the

barbarous and

'boots/
so

in which

continued that small

'

endured
and

many

blows,

his
as

crushed and and the

beaten and

togetheras
flesh
so

long, legs were might be,

the blood

bones

that bruised, in

marrow

spouted
made

forth

great

abundance, Fian, ture imposhoods false-

whereby they were

As his confession and shows

unserviceable from the

for ever/

extorted ultimately
a

unfortunate
mixture of of the

remarkable
"

a patchwork self-deception

he believed

and

those he invented.

Singularly
to

grotesque is his
devil:
one

account

of his introduction the

the of

He

was

lodging at Tranent, in
Trumbill,
' '

house him

Thomas

who

had

offended

by
as

to neglecting

sparge

or

whitewash

his chamber,

he

had

tating promised; and, while lyingin his bed, medihow he might be revenged of the said Thomas,

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

319

the and and

clothed devil,
said
'

in white ye be

raiment,suddenlyappeared,
my

Will

servant, and
ye shall poor
never

adore

me

all my
want

servants, and
! The Fian
'

want?' dominie
at

Never
was once

bribe could

to

Scotch

immense;
of

not

withstand

it,and
As

enlisted among he service, Trumbill's another had

the Devil's Own/ the

his first

act

Master

house.
and visit,

of burning down pleasure The next night Beelzebub

paid him
with
a

put
was

his

mark

upon

him his
was

rod. in in
a

Thereafter

he

found

lying in
said,he

chamber carried

trance, during which, he

over mountains, and spirit many aerial circumnavigation of the globe. an accomplished In the future he attended all the nightly conferences playing of witches and fiends held throughout Lothian, disso

the

much

energy his
'

him appointed The assembled

to be

that the devil capacity and secretary/ registrar

at

and

first convention in the

which

he

was

present

parishchurch picturesque breezy, seaportat the

about sixteen
the

of North mouth

Berwick,
Satan

of the

Forth,
pied occu-

miles

from

Preston

Pans.

of doubtful and delivered 'a sermon pulpit, His speeches/designed for their encouragement should never want, and should ail servants, he said, nothing,so long as their hairs were they leton, and
no

tears to

fall from

their eyes. advised

He

bade
to

them

spare

not

do

and evil,

them

eat, drink, and

be

merry:
to
O

after which him

discourse edifying indecent

manner.

they

did
'

homage
as

in the usual
an

Fian,
and

I have

was said,

evil-living man,
devil
to

needed

ho

exhortation

from

the

do

wicked

things.

320

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

In the

course

of his

the frequently the witchcraft, instance miles revel

on
:

he invented, as was testimony of persons accused strange practice

most

so

of for

extravagant

fictions

"

as,

One

from

few a night he supped at the miller's, late when the Tranent; and as it was of the miller's To
men on

ended, one

carried him their way

home

horseback. of
ears,

lightthem
raised
on

through
on

the dark horse's

Fian night, and

one

up

four candles his

the

the

staff which the

man

guide

made carried; their great brightness appear terrified

as

midnight
was so

noonday ; but the miller's his on by the phenomenon that,

next
'

return

home,

he fell dead.

Let

us

turn

to

the

confession

of

Agnes

Sampson, the wise wife of Keith,' as she was She was popularly called. charged with having done grave who had incurred to persons her injury but she seems, when all fictitious details displeasure; thrust aside,to have been simply a shrewd and are force of sagacious old Scotchwoman, with much who made decent living a a herb-doctor. as character,
describes Archbishop Spottiswoode in appearance, she
was

her

as

matronly
and adds
were

and

grave in

of

demeanour,
answers.

that
those

composed
the

her and

Yet

extraordinary utterances and, if they be trulyrecorded, imaginable, failing they convict her of unscrupulousaudacityand uningenuity. She affirmed that her service to the devil began after her husband's death,when he appearedto her
answers

wildest

most

in mortal

and likeness,

commanded

her

to

renounce

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

321

and obey him Christ, the riches he

as

her master.

For

the sake of

promisedto
; and

herself and
came

her in the

children,

guiseof she asked questions, a dog,of which alwaysreceiving On one occasion,having been appropriate replies. summoned by the Lady Edmaston, who was lyingand into the garden at night, out sick,she went alias called the devil by his terrestrial or mundane
she consented

thereafter he

of

Elva.

He
a

bounded

over

the

stone

wall

in the

likeness of

her so close that approached she was and chargedhim by the law he frightened, She then asked believed in to keep his distance. him if the lady would recover ; he repliedin the where the gentlewomen, negative. In his turn he inquired and her daughters, being informed were; said that that they were her in the garden, to meet Not should of them be his leman. one so,' the devil exclaimed the wise wife undauntedly ; and like a whipped schoolboy, then went away howling, The and hid himself in the well until after supper. gentlewomen coming into the bloom and perfumes young seized the of the garden, he suddenly emerged, and attempted to drag her into the Lady Torsenye, and well; but Agnes gripped him firmly, by her superiorstrength delivered her from his clutches. he disappeared. Then, with a terrible yell, Yet another story: Agnes, with GreillisDuncan the and other witches, desiring be revenged on to the bridgeat Fowlistruther, met on deputy bailiff, and dropped a cord into the river, Agnes Sampson Holloa!' 'Hail! Immediately they felt the crying,

dog, and

"

'

21

322

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

end and it ! and

of the
on

cord

dragged
it up, up

down
came

by
the

great weight;

drawing
them
; but

devil

along with
servants,
and his

He gave

if they had inquired

a

all been

good
Seton

charm

to

blight

property
and

it was

diverted accidentally
"

in its operation, of realism

fell upon
of Defoe !

another person

touch

worthy

Euphemia Macalzean, a ladyof high social position, daughter and heiress of Lord Cliftonhall (who was
eminent have
as

lawyer,statesman,
involved in this

and

seems scholar),

to

been

welter

of

spiracy, conintrigue,

and

Bothwell's
communion. unveracious made
a

deception,through her adherence and her devotion Koman to the faction,

Her
as

to

confession

was

as

grotesque and
She
of
was an

that of any

of her associates. the agency

to

witch

(she said)through
a

Irishwoman
in the in her
1

'with

fallen

nose/ and,
'

self herperfect resided

'

had paid another craft,

witch,who

St. Mnian's
with 'the

Row, Edinburgh, for

girthof
and accused her

ane

inaugurating it gret bikar/ revolving

ofttimes round her

oft round

her head
was

neck, and
of

head.'
to

She

havingadministered
some

poison
other

her

husband,
; and

and father-in-law, may be

persons of
seems

whatever and been

thought of

sorcery have

witchcraft,this
well-founded.

to

allegations heavier charge Euphemia said

the

Agnes Sampson began she applied to her with her first accouchement, when and she did so by transferring her pains, to mitigate them to a dog. At her second accouchement,Agnes
that her

with acquaintance

transferred them

to

cat.

CHAP.

IV.]
a

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

323

As Satan

determined inimical

enemy
to

of the

Protestant

was

King

James's

religion, marriagewith a

and to break up an alliance which princess, would greatly for evil, he determined limit his power to sink the shipthat carried the newly-married couple
on

Protestant

their homeward

voyage.

His

first device

was

to

hang over the sea a very dense mist,in the royal ship would miss her course, When this some dangerous rock.
Dr. Fian
meet
was

the
and

hope that
strike
on

device

failed,
to

ordered
master at

to

summon

all the witches kirk of

their

the

haunted

North

Berwick.

on Accordingly,

All-Hallow-mass
of two

Eve,
;

they assembled
and each
over one

there to the number

hundred

embarkingin
the
'

sailed
with

ocean

flagons of and drinking by the way.' After sailing about for some time, they met with their master, bearingin had his claws a cat, which been drawn previously nine times through the fire. Handing it to one of he bade him the warlocks, cast it into the sea, and
them
'

or riddle/ sieve,* they carrying very substantially,' wine, and making merry, a

'

became vulsed, conwhereupon the ocean and the waters and the billows rose seethed, like heaving mountains. On through the storm sailed this eerie company until they reached the Scottish coast, where they landed, and,joininghands, danced in procession to the kirk of North Berwick, Geillis Duncan going before them, playing a reel or a favourite formerly trump upon her Jew's-harp,
'
"

shout

Hola

!'

So the witch in

'

Macbeth
a

'

sc. (Act I., 3) says

'In

sieve I'llthither sail.'

21"2

324

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
"

II.

musical

instrument

with

the

Scotch

peasantry

and

: singing
*

Cummer,
Gif

go ye before ; cummer, go

go ye ; let
me

ye will not

before,cummer,

!'

Having
round it
'

arrived

at

their
'
"

rendezvous, they is, in

Dr. which
reverse

danced of the blew

withershins

that
sun.

apparent
into the

motion

of the the

Fian

then

keyhole of
and all the

door,

opened

mediately, im-

witches

and

warlocks

entered

in.

Fian lightedthe tapers pitch-dark ; but by merelyblowing on them, and their sudden blaze the devil in the pulpit, revealed attired in a black and hat. The description given of the fiend gown reveals the stern imagination of the North, and is
was

It

characteristic who

of

the

'

weird

sisters
so

'

of

Scotland,
a trast con-

form,
to
i

as

Dr. Burton

remarks,
hard
an was

grand

the

witches vulgar grovelling parochial

of face

England/
with terrible,

His
a

body
nose

was

as

iron ; his

like

glared like
the east wind

fire ; his voice

; his hands

and feet

beak ; his eyes eagle's gruff as the sound of covered with legs were
were

hair, and
claws. with
one

his hands

and

armed and

with

On

beholding him,
'

witches

long warlocks,
He of then them

accord,cried
over

All

master hail,

!'

called

their

names,

and been of

demanded

whether severally

they had
measure

good King
to

and

faithful attended and !

as

servants, and what

their his

success

had

the against operations

"

lives of

James

bride

which

surely he ought

have

known

Gray Malkin, a foolish old warlock,who beadle or janitor, answered, heedlessly

officiated That

nothing

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

325

ailed the in devil,

smote

King yet,God be thanked ! At which the and a fury,leapedfrom the pulpit, lustily
on

him

the

ears.

He

then

resumed

his

and his delivered position, commanding sermon, them to act faithfully in their service, and do all the evil they could. and Euphemia Macalzean Agnes Sampson summoned enough to ask him up courage of the brought an image or picture King, that, by prickingit with pins,they might inflict upon its living pattern all kinds of pain and whether he had

acknowledgethat he had forgotten and was it, soundly rated by Euphemia for his carelessness, several Agnes Sampson and other women the opportunity him to load seizing their respective with reproaches accounts. on On another occasion, to Agnes Sampson, according named she,Dr. Fian, and a wizard of some energy, Kobert with several others,left Grierson's Grierson,
was

disease.

The

devil

fain to

house
to
4

at
a

Preston

Pans

in

boat,and

went

out

to

sea

tryst.'Embarking on board a ship, they drank of good wine and ale,after which copiously they sank the ship and her crew, and returned home. from North Berwick And in a boat like sailing again, a chimney, they saw the devil in shape and size the great over resemblinga huge hayrick rolling board in front of them. on a waves They went vessel called The Grace of God, where theyenjoyed, abundance other good of wine and an as before, neath undercheer.' On leavingit, the devil, who was raised an evil wind, and it perished. the ship, of these stories proved to be too Some highly
" "

'

326

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
James
;

II.

coloured he

even

for the

of King credulity that the

and

enough rightly
that
a

exclaimed

witches

were,

like their master,

however,
to

Sampson, in
himself such and

liars.' It is said, 'extraordinary he changed his opinion after Agnes privateconference which he accorded
a

her, related the details of

the

conversation taken

between

Queen
as a

that
to

had

place under
secrecy.

circumstances that
"

ensure

inviolable

It is curious

very
our

similar

story is told of
burned
as a

Jeanne
"

Dare

whom

ancestors

witch

King Charles VI. of France. of the devil and the Despite the machinations witches, King James and Queen Anne, as we know, and reached Leith in safety. The escaped every peril, devil sourly remarked that James of was a man inclined to let him alone God/ and was evidently
and
'

the Preston Pans stigated, inseverely ; but conspirators, by some powerful personages who perhaps, kept prudently in the background, resolved on another life. On attempt againsttheir sovereign's Lammas Eve (July 31, 1590), nine of the ringleaders, including Dr. Fian, Agnes Sampson, with some Euphemia Macalzean, and Barbara Napier, the New at Haven, thirtyconfederates,assembled between Musselburgh and Preston Pans, at a spot called the Fairy Holes, where met they were by the devil
*

in

the
most

shape
meet

of
to

black the

man,
turn

which for the

at
once

was

thought they were

that

do

which posed pro-

convened.'

Agnes Sampson
make
a

they

should

final effort for the

an

King'sdestruction.

The

devil took

unfavourable

CHAP.

IV.]
of

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

327 but

view

the

prospects of
a waxen a

their

schemes

he

promised them
to
"

hang
mixed
on

up

and

roast

image, and directed them toad,and to lay its drippings

an a

with the

strong wash,
forehead
to

adder's skin,and
new-

the in

thing
James's

of

foaled

foal

9
"

suspend it in such a position that it might drip upon his body. This precious injunctionwas duly obeyed,and the toad hung up the fall upon where the King, dripping would being at the Brig of Dee, the during his Majesty's
path, or
1

day

before

the should

common

bell rang, entered

for fear the

Earl

Bothwell

have

devil's missed

was foreboding

their
route

aim,
to

the that

different

Edinburgh/ But the and the conspirators fulfilled, King happening to take a pected. by which he had been exmore

It is useless

to

repeat

of

these

wild

and

into their too to inquire or desperate stories, closely origin. Fact and fiction are so mixed up in them, and and the embellishments so bold, are so many that it is difficultto aside setting
seem

get

at the nucleus
or

of truth ;

but,

the
to

witch

element, we supernatural
that these persons had

driven

the conclusion

nefarious together for some purpose. Whether they intended to compass the King's death of the credulity which by the superstitious practices these the age supposed to be effective, whether or for surer intended as a cover were practices means, be determined. Nor cannot now we can pretendto all who were in the plot by implicated say whether the confession of Geillis Duncan were really guilty.

combined

328

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

Dr.

Fian,at
and

all events, with

his protested

innocence

to the

last ;

evidence

adduced

and others, the regard to him was inadequate. But painfully and sentenced
to

they were
the
case

all convicted of Barbara

death.

In

the majority of the jury Napier, the principal her on at first acquitted charges; but the King was and threatened them highlyindignant, with avoid
a

trial for the

'

wilful

error

upon

an

assize.'

To

they threw themselves upon the King'smercy, and were benevolentlypardoned.' Poor Barbara Dr. hanged. So was Napier was Fian, on Castle Hill,Edinburgh (inJanuary,1592), and burned afterwards. So were Agnes Sampson, federates. Agnes Thomson, and their real or supposed conThe punishment of Euphemia Macalzean
consequences,
'

Instead of the ordinary severe. exceptionally the criminal to be first strangled sentence, directing and then burnt,it was ordered that she should be 'bound and burned in ashes,quickto the to a stake,
was

death/ It
that
was

This
an

fate befell her

on

June

25,

1591. trial he

unhappy

result

of this remarkable in his

it confirmed

King

James

belief that

for the detection of witches a rare possessed faculty and the discovery of witchcraft. vestigati Continuinghis inof the subject with fanatical zeal, he in Edinburgh,in 1597, the outcome ot his published researches in elaborate his an Daemonologie written in the form of a dialogue, the spirit treatise,
4 '
"

of which

may
:

be inferred
'

from

its author's

prefatory
4

observations this time

The in

fearful this

he abounding,' of these

says,

at

and

country,

detestable

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

329

slaves moved

of the
me

the devil,

witches

or

enchanters,hath

to despatchin post this reader) (beloved wise (as I in any treatise of mine, not following of mine for a show own to serve learning protest) to press and ingene, but only (moved of conscience)

so thereby,

far

as

can,

to

resolve

the

doubting
are

hearts of many,
most

both

that

such

assaults of Satan that be the

and practised, certainly thereof merits most to severely

instrument

against punished, in our the damnable opinions of two, principally called Scot,an the one Englishman,is age ; whereof ashamed in publicprint to deny that there can not the maintains and be such thing as witchcraft, so old error of the Sadducees in denying of spirits. The other, called Wierus, a German sets physician, by whereout a apologyfor all these crafts-folks, public he plainly procuring for them impunity, betrays himself to have been one of that profession.' of the Not only is King James fullyconvinced existence of witchcraft, but he is determined to treat it as a capital he affirms, crime. 'Witches,' 'oughtto of God, the be put to death,according to the laws civil and imperial law, and the municipallaw of all
Christian
strike whom
so

nations

yea,

to

spare

the

and life,

not

God
a

bids

odious

treason

and so severely punish strike, God, is not only unlawful, against sin in the
as magistrate was

but, doubtless, as great a

Saul's

sparingAgag.' Conscious that the evidence victims was the unfortunate generally broughtagainst that of the weakest character,he contends possible evidence in because the crime is generally abominable,

330

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

proof of

which would be refused accepted in other offences ; as, for example, that of young children who are ignorant of the nature of an oath, and that of persons of notoriously And ill-repute. the sole chance of escape which
'

it may

be

he

offers

to

the

accused
f

is that may and

of the ordeal. the

one

Two

says,

be used: the

is the

good helps/he findingof their

marks,
other

is their

tryingthe insensibleness thereof;the the water, for, in a secret on as floating

carcase

murther, if the dead

handled
as

be at any will

time
out

thereafter of

by

the

murtherer, it

gush

blood,

if the blood

were

of the

murtherer

ragingto the Heaven, for revenge (God having appointedthat secret

supernatural sign for trial of that secret unnatural crime), so that it appears that God hath appointed (for a supernatural sign of the monstrous impiety of witches), that the water shall refuse to receive
them sacred benefit able
to

in her
water

bosom of

that

have

shaken

off them

the the
are

baptism,and
not
so

refused wilfully
as

thereof shed

; no, at

much

their eyes

tears

every

although it were God not crocodiles, permittingthem

their in obstinacy
so

will ; yea,

occasion when they light dissembling like the

to

dissemble

horrible

crime.'

of their and teaching Encouraged by the practice pomorphism whom the peopleof Scotland, the anthrosovereign, of their religious creed naturally disposed preof the to believe in the personal appearances those illundertook a regular devil, campaign against their fated individuals whom malice or ignorance, or

CHAP.

IV.]
mental

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

331

own

other causes, or peculiarities, physical and accomplices. branded as his bond-slaves Religious factor in stimulating was a powerful animosity, moreover, the Scotch and the mania ; and sustaining when Calvinist enjoyed a double some gratification
or

poor Roman

old

woman

was

burned

both

as

witch

and

Catholic.

It has been

calculated

in that,

the
of

of thirty-nine period years, between the Statute of Queen Mary and the to the Englishthrone,the average executed for witchcraft
was

the enactment accession number

of James of persons
an

200

annually, making
the but and the latterly 500.

8,000. For aggregate of nearly

about 30
or

first nine years annual

at

40 suffered mounted alarmed up

at

yearly ;
to

death-roll last grew

400

James

the

of prevalence
to

witchcraft
no

in his

kingdom, and portion of his time

it. In 1591 the

seems

have
to

devoted detect

small
terminate ex-

to

attempts

and

Earl

of Bothwell

was

imprisoned for by
sorcery, in Richie

having conspiredthe King's death conjunctionwith a warlock named

Graham
was was

Graham.
Bothwell

burned
to

on

March

8, 1592.

not

brought
an

trial until bore

when

several

witches

August 10, 1593, testimonyagainsthim,

women were

but he obtained

acquittal.
12, four
tried

In 1597,
the

on

November

by

in Edinburgh, on various High Court of Justiciary, recorded as Their names are charges of witchcraft. Janet Christina Livingstone, Stewart, Bessie Aikin, Their trials, and Christina Sadler. however, present
no

features special

of interest.

332

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
to

IL

Passingover
of the restoration of

half

century,
II.

we

come

the

descence recruon

witch-mania, which
Mr. E.

followed Burns

the

Charles
for

edited recently Scotland and

a

the

Society of
witch the

Begg has Antiquaries of

Forfar that trations illusyears of

report

of various

trials in

in Kincardineshire,

opening

monarch's

reign,which
of the
meet

suppliessome
strange word
'

further

characteristics with the

of Scottish witchcraft.
'

Here
6

we
'

Covin

'

or
'

connected with Covenant or (apparently as or Convention') appliedto an organization guild In 1662 of witches. the Judge-General-Depute for tried thirteen had been Scotland Coviners,'who

Coven

'

detected the

by

the

efforts of and the

committee of

of consisting the

ministers

schoolmasters 'Laird victims the of

district,
Of
a

togetherwith
thirteen All
were

Tullibole.'
was

these
man.

unfortunate found Eleven of

guilty by

only one jury,and

one was

sentenced

to

death. the

suffered at the stake ;

one

died before
account

day

and execution, The and

not

on respited was

of her

pregnancy.

evidence the less

of the
fc

usual
'

extraordinary tenor,
of the
cases.

so-called

confessions

well

Crook band

puzzlingthan in other In Mr. Begg's opinion, which to me seems around the in and founded, there really was of Devon a local Covin, or organized regularly
were

accused

of so-called of
a

witches whom
at this

who

acted under

the direction be Satan.

person

He

suggests that
who others,

they believed to period there would

their

be many

wild and
and

disbanded unscrupulouscharacters, found

soldiers,
'

profitin

the

blinded

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

333

of allegiance*

the
was

witches
this

and

warlocks.

The

culty diffi-

is,what
seem

to
are

There and

The witches do not ? profit in kind. have or paid anything in money allusions which pointto acts of immorality, instances
were one can

in

several

understand
on

that whole

personalenmities
the trouble. denounced that the And

gratified ; but
scant
was

the

personatorsof Satan had

how any

reward

for all their

were never was never

it that their victims

they
?

by

of

How

it

which vigilance

detected

the witches
we

are trippedup their master ? How of Satan's appearances ? the diversity bonnie lad ;'at another, an ane was
i

to
one

explain
time he
man,

At
'

unco-like bonnet

in black-coloured

clothes

and

ane man

blue

;' at

another, a
4

'

black in

iron-hard

;' and

yet again,

ane

little man

rough

gray

clothes.'

Occasionally

and the witches danced broughtwith him a piper, and the ground under them all firewas together, and Andrew had his usual staff in Watson flaughts, his hand, and although he is a blind man, yet danced he
as

he

nimbly as

any

of the

company, old

and

made
;

also

great merriment
Isabel

by singing his

ballads
'

and

did sing her song called Tinkletum, Shyrrie Tankletum.' mitted Alas,that no obliging pen has trans! One to posterity Tinkletum, Tankletum could point to a good many the world songs which could have better spared. Tinkletum, Tankletum there is something amazingly suggestivein the of humour, perhaps of satire ; words ; possibilities satire which and humour might have secured for Scottish poetesses, Isabel Shyrrie a place among
' '

'

'

"

334

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
more a

II.

whereas

now

she

comes

before of
a

us

in

no

tive attracor

character

than

that

Coviner

"

deluded

selfdeluding witch. Let and

1

us

next

betake

ourselves

to

the

East

Coast,

make

the
'

of acquaintance
are

Isabel
most

Gowdie, whose

confessions

among
met

the with
even

extraordinary
the records
o

documents

to

be

in

Scottish
overrate

witchcraft. their

It

is

I think, impossible, The first

to

interest. psychological
most

is,
or

the perhaps, condensation

curious;
do reader of
on

and

as

no

summary I details,
no

would
the that

to justice

its

shall other

place it
alteration
was

before than

in extenso, with

Englishing the spelling. It

April13, 1662, in presence the sheriff-depute of Nairn, of the parishminister, and nine lairds and farmers of good position : farmsteadAs I was going betwixt the towns (i.e.,
made
at Auldearn
'

of ings)

Drumdeevin there

and covenanted
meet

The

Heads, I
in
a manner

met

with with

the
;

Devil, and
and
Kirk I

him

promisedto
of that

in the him, in the night-time,

Auldearn,^

which

I did.
denied
to

And my

the first

thing
did

I did there

night,I
hands the
to

baptism,and
of my

put
and

the the

one

of my

the of
two

crown

head,
then
to

other

sole my

my

foot, and
over

renounced

all betwixt

hands

the

It is

as circumstance, singular

Pitcairn

remarks, that in
Scottish

almost

all the confessions

of

witches,or
many

at least of the

and witches, their initiation, have taken

and

place within
a

said to are meetings, and consecrated churches,churchyards,

or imitation,

of their

ground ;
forms

certain ritual,in

mockery, of the
gone

of the Church, is

uniformly said

to have

been

through.

CHAP.

IV.]
He

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

335 black book

Devil.

was

in the Reader's

desk,and

in his hand. up
me

to the

in Auldearn,held me Margaret Brodie, Devil to be baptized by him, and he marked and shoulder, sucked
out

in the

my

blood

at

that

mark, and
on name

my

it spoutedit in his hand, and, sprinkling thee,Janet,in my own head,said, I baptize

u

!"
time of

And that

within I
met
.

awhile

we

all removed.
was a

The New

next

with He
. .

him
was

in

the

Wards

Inshoch.

mickle, black,
I found
his

man, rough [hirsute] nature

very
me

cold; and
as

all

cold
he

within

wall- water.* springsometimes shoes

on

Sometimes
his

had

boots, and
with Janet

feet;but stillhis feet are

be

forked and
us

cloven.
or a

He
roe.

would John

sometimes
and
. .

like

deer his

Taylor Belmakeith,
.

Breadhead,
I raised
at

wife, in
in the

Douglas,and
and
we

met myself,
an

kirkyard of Nairn,
child out

unchristened
of

of its grave

; and

the

end

to cornfielcftand, just opposite

the Mill of
our

Bradley's Nairn, we
of kail

took the

said

with child,
sorts

the nails of of them

a

and fingers blades

of all toes, pickles

and grain, all very

and hacked [colewort], did put and together;

small,mixed
among the

part thereof

muck-heaps, and therebytook away the fruit of his of our it among Covins. two parted corns, etc.,and we take but about at Lammas, take corns we When we
two

when sheaves,
or

the

corns

are

full ;

or

two

stalks of the it

Tkail,
*

and that gives us the fruit of thereby, where And corn-land or kail-yard, they grew.

In the Forfarshire reports,alluded to on p. 332, the witches alwaysspeak of the devil's body and kiss as deadlycold.

336

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

may

be, we

will

keep

it until Yule
us.

or

Pasche,and

then divide it

amongst
that

There
Covin.

are

thirteen persons

[theusual number]
'

in my
our

The

last time
were

Covin

met, we, and another

dancing at the Hill of Earlseat ; and before that, betwixt Moynes and Bowgholl; and before that we were beyond the Mickle-burn ; and the from other Covin being at the Downie-hills, went we and went beside them, to the beyond the Mickle-burn,
Covin,
houses while
we

at went

the

Wood-End
to
our

of

Inshoch

; and

within

home

houses. there

Before
we

Candlemas

went

be-east

Kinloss,and

paddocks[frogs]. The Devil held did drive John Young, in Mebestown, our Officer, did draw the plough as oxen the plough. Paddocks ; served for traces] sowmes wor [dog-grass ; a quickens and a pieceof a [ram's]horn was a coulter, riglon's
of horn riglon's
was
a

yoked a plough the plough, and

sock. of the

We

went

two went

several times
still up Devil briars and

about;
down

and

all the

we

Covin

with

plough,praying to

the

for the

fruit of that grow

'

land, and

that thistles and

might
and
....

there. When
; and
we we we

go

to

any

house,
in

we

take
our own

meat

drink

fillup

the barrels with

our

again;
the Earl

and

put besoms
return

beds We

with
were we

our

husbands, till we
of

again to them. Moray's house in Darnaway,

did
us.

in

and

got

enough there,and brought part with

I had
a

eat

and

drink in

of the
at

best,and
and

We

went

the windows. "Horse

we

little

horse, and
name

would

say, And

Hattock, in

the Devil's

!"

then

would

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

337 would where

flyaway,
upon
a

where

we

would, like
We
and will

as

straws straws

fly
we

highway.
straws
we

like fly

please ; wild
us,
"

corn-straws

will be horses
our

to

and

put them
these

betwixt

feet
name

and

say, And do

Horse

and
see

Hattock, in the Devil's

straws

!"

when
not

any

in

whirlwind, and

themselves, we may shoot them dead at sanctify our pleasure. Any that are shot by us, their souls will go to Heaven, but their bodies remain with us, and will flyas horses to us, as small as straws.* I was in the Downie and got meat there from Hills, the Queen of Fairy, I could eat. than The more clothed in white linen, and Queen of Fairyis heavily in white and lemon the King of etc. ; and clothes, Fairyis a brave man, well favoured,and broad -faced, There were etc. elf-bulls, routingand skirling up
'

and
4

down

and theyaffrighted there, me.

we

When

take

away

any

cow's milk, we
the wrong

pullthe
in the in

and tail, Devil's betwixt

twine
name;

it and and
we

it plait draw

way,

the tedder
out

(somade)
betwixt

the cow's

and hinder-feet,

the

cow's fore-feet, in the Devil's name,

take thereby with us milk even the cow's milk. We take sheep's so [inthe same manner]. The way to take or give back the milk again, When is to cut that tedder. we and give take away the strengthof any person's ale, and
*

Pitcairn

perhaps,in
have been had
a

that the above details are, justice, all respectsthe most in the history of extraordinary

remarks,with
or

witchcraft of this
a woman

of any with a

other country. Isabel Gowdie must who, powerfuland rank imagination,

she lived in the

have present day, might, perhaps,

produced

work

of fiction of the school of Zola.

22

338

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.
of each
in

it to barrel

another,we
or

take of

little

quantity out
it in with
a our

stand

ale,and
in

put

stoop
own

the

Devil's

name,

and

his

name,

hands,

and give her the strength put it amongst another's ale, and And
over

substance
to

and

"

heall

"

of

her
we

ale. neighbour's have

no

keep the
to

ale from

us, that

power

is it, the

it sanctify

well.
we

We seek

get all this power

it from

from

Devil; and
to be
"

when

him,

we

will him
1

our

Lord."

Taylor,and Janet Bread head, his wife,in Bessie Wilson in Aulderne,and Margaret Belmakeith, Wilson, spouse to Donald Callam in Aulderne, and I, of clay, to destroythe Laird of Park's made a picture John male children. Taylor brought home the clay of his plaid] in his plaidnook ; his wife [the corner
John
broke it very

small,like meal,

and

sifted it with

sieve, and
name,

and made

it, in the Devil's poured in water among about [a stirwrought it very sure, like rye-bout of of it a picture of rye-flour] ; and made
sons.
as

the laird's

It had

all the

parts and
mark of

marks

of

child,such
and little the hands

head,

eyes, nose,
no

hands, feet,mouth,
a

lips.

It wanted

and child,

by its sides. It was like a pow [lump of dough],or a flayed egrya [a suckingpig,which has been scalded and scraped]. We laid till it strakned the face of it to the fire, [shrivelled],
of it folded down and coal. each
a

clear fire round After other

about would would of

tillit was it,

roast

red and

like

that,we

it
a

now

then ;

day
The

there

be

piece o^

w^ll
children
as

roasted.

Laird

Park's
not
r

wh^je male

by

it

are

to

if suffer,

it be

and brokin,

CHAP.

IV.]
as

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

339

well

those that

are

born
out

and dead
of the
a a

already. It

was

still put in and

name.

taken

fire in the

Devil's

John it.

hung up house,and Taylor's

was

It

upon it has

crock.

It is yet in
about clay

cradle of

Taylor and his wife,Janet Breadhead, Bessie and Margaret Wilson in Aulderne,and Margaret Brodie, these, and I, were only at the of making of it. All the multitude of our number of all the Covins, kent [kenned, witches, knew] all of And the at our next it, meeting after it was made. Only
John witches and both.
6

yet that
powers But
now

are

overtaken
we no

have

their
we

own were

powers,

our

which I have

had

before
at

taken,
other

power
....

all.
one

in Margaret Kyllie,
:

is
to

of

the

Covin

Meslie

Hirdall, spouse

Alexander

Ross, in

Loanhead, is one of them ; her skin is fiery. Isabel Covin. is one of my Alexander Nicol,in Lochley, and Janet Finlay, his spouse, are Elder,in Earlseat,
of my

MargaretHaslum, in Moynes, is one ; MargaretBrodie,in Aulderne, Bessie and Margaret and Jane Martin Wilson there, there,and Elspet Mshie, spouse to John Mathew there,are of my
Covin. Covin.
our
1

Covin.

The John

said Jane

Martin
in

is the

Maiden

of

our

Young,

Mebestown,

is Officer to

Covin.

ElspetChisholm, and Isabel More, in Aulderne, and into Alexander I, went Maggie Brodie in Aulderne. I Cumling's litt-house [dye-house], went in,in the likeness of a ken [jackdaw] ; the said ElspetChisholm was in the shape of a cat. Isabel More was a hare,and Maggie Brodie a cat, and
....

....

22"2

340

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
that
was

II.

We the and

took said

thread

of each

colour

of yarn

on

Alexander

vat] Cumling'slitt-fatt [dyeing,

did cast three knots and

in

on

each

thread,in the Devil's

in the vat, withersones
name, vat

name,

did

put the threads

in

about took could

the vat whole

the

Devil's the

and away,

thereby
that it

the litt

strength of

[dye]nothing but only black, accordingto

of the

the colour the

Devil, in whose
colours right

name

we were

took

away

of strength

the

that

in the vat.'

The

second
not
.

made confession, less remarkable

at

Aulderne, on
the

1662, is
'
. . .

than

May 3, : foregoing
meet

After that time there would

a

but
more,

times sometimes some-

Covin

sometimes [i.e., thirteen],

a

less ; but

Grand

Meeting would
one

be about

the

end of each Quarter. There

is thirteen persons
to Sprite

in each
us,

Covin;
when the
we

and

each of

us

has

wait upon
not

to please Sprites' names,

call upon

him.
one

I remember called

all

but there is

Swin,which
; he

waits upon is still

the said

MargaretWilson
in
a

in Aulderne
; and

[ever] clothed has Margaret Wilson

the wind." waits upon in The Bessie who

grass-green

the
u

said

nickname,

called
"

Pickle

nearest

next

is called Rosie," Sprite Wilson, in Aulderne; he is her nickname third is Sprite is

"

stillclothed the

yellow;and
The
. . .

Through
"

corny ard."

called

The
in
;

Roaring Lion," who Lochlors [he is ; and

her nickname
*

waits still

upon

Isabel

Mcol,
sea-green

clothed*]in
The

is "Bessie
mutilations
are

Rule."
in the

fourth

is Sprite
the

There

are

manuscript,and original

bracketed

words

conjectural.

CHAP.

IV.]
"

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

341

called

Mak

Hector,"

who

Martin,daughter to
Martin

the said

[waits upon MargaretWilson

Covin
that I
am

Jane*]
; he

is a

young-likedevil,clothed

still in grass-green.
the the

[Jane
of; and

is*] Maiden
is
"

to

her nickname Devil

time from
.

we

because the dyke with it," [always takes the*] Maiden in his hand nix damn ;" and when he would leap Gillatrypes the dyke with .* he and she will say, "Over

Over

"

it!"

the Spriteis "Robert [Rule,"and he is still clothed in*]sad-dun, and seems of the rest of the Sprites to be a Commander ; and he waits upon [The Margaret Brodie, in Aulderne. The
name

of

the

fifth

name

of upon

the

wait Bessie

Sprite]is Herself;" and he

saxt

called
waits

"

Thief
on

of Hell the

also

said

Wilson.
"

The Read

name

of the

seventh

is [Sprite
own

called]
that The

The
on

Reiver;" and
"

he is my

Spirit,
in black.

waits

myself, and

is still clothed

[is called] Robert the Jackis,"still eighthSpirit is a be aged. He clothed in dun, and seems to
! glaiked, glowked Spirit that he waits
on

is "Able The ninth nickname

Bessie
and

Hay.]
woman's Bold"
"

[nickname] and Stout !" [This was is called Laing," Spirit

The
"

woman's

the

that

he

waits tenth

upon

is

"Bessie

Nishie]. The [Elspet

a

is Spirit

named
other he is

Thomas

etc. Fiarie,"

There

will be many

Devils, waiting upon bigger

and
more

[our] Master
than the him.

Devil; but
rest

awful
reverence

of the ken

Devils, and
*

they

all

I will

There

are

mutilations
are

in

the

and manuscript, original

the

bracketed

words

conjectural.

342

WITCH,
one all, a man. we

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

them like
4

by

one,

from

when others,

they appear
rag of

When
wet

raise the

wind,
we

we

take
a

cloth,
knock

and

it in water
on
a

; and
we

take

beetle and
over:

the rag

stone, and

say thrice

"

I knock

To

this rag upon this stane, raise the wind, in the Devil's name lie until I

It shall not

pleaseagain !"
we

When
say
' "

we

would

lay the wind,

dry the

rag, and

(thriceover):
We

lay the wind

in the Devil's name, while

we

[Itshall not]rise
And if the wind

[orI] like to
lie

raise it

again !"
say

will
our

not

we instantly [after

we this],
'

call upon

and Spirit, wind, and

we

say to him
cause

"Thief

! Thief ! conjure the

no

it to

? [lie

.]"

We when

have
we was

power

of

rain,but
made him.
us

will raise the wind

please. He
no

believe

.] that

there
4

God

beside

As

for Elf his

own

arrow-heads,the
hand
"

Devil

shapes them
"

with
to

who Elf-boys, with

trims]them but [when

and

was

[and afterwards delivers them ?] and whyttisand dightis [shapes a sharp thing like a packing-needle ; them in Elf-land ?] I saw whytting
When very
. .

dighting them. houses, they will have dighting ;

so

I
.

was

in

the

Elves'

them

whytting and
each of
us

and when

the Devil
. . .

givesthem
that

to us,

many,

Those

dightis them
When

are

little ones,

hollow, and boss-backed

[humped-backed].
the

They speak gowstie [roughly] like. Devil gives them to us, he says :

CHAP.

IV.]
" '

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

343

Shoot
And

these in my

name,

they shall
these

not

go heall hame

!"

And
" *

when

we

shoot

arrows

(we say) :

I shoot you

man

in the Devil's name,

He And

shall not

win

heall hame

! ;
on

this shall be shall not

be

always true
one

There

bit of him

lieiw

"

alive]. [onlife,
spang

We

have from
;

no

bow nails if

to

shoot
our

with,but
thumbs.

[jerk]
we

them

the but

of

Sometimes
it
a

will miss
man,
coat
or

they twitch
them.

be [touch],

beast,or

woman,

it will upon

tho' they had kill, When

over
:

jack [a
in the

of

armour]
a

we

go

shape of
' "

hare, we

say thrice
a

I shall go into

hare, such, and mickle

care

With
And

sorrow,

and

Ay,
And

I shall go in the Devil's name, until I come home !]." [again

we instantly

start

in

hare.

And
:

when

we

would
' "

be out
Hare
I
am

of that
! God

we shape,

will say
care

! hare in
a

send thee

hare's likeness
a

just now,
likeness
even

But

I shall be in

woman's

[now]."
a

When
thrice

we over

would
:

go

in the

likeness

of

cat, we

say

"

I shall go

tillane [in
and

cat],
such,and
a

[With
And

sorrow,

black]shot

Ay,
And
over:

I shall go in the Devil's name, until I come home again !"

if

we

[would

go

in

crow,

then] we

say thrice

344

WITCH,
1 "

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

I shall go intill

crow,

With
And

sorrow,

and

such, and
home

I shall go in the Devil's I

come

[thraw ! name,]

black

Ay, until
And
' "

again !"
of these
send thee
we shapes,

when

we

would

be out

say

Cat, cat [orcrow,

thraw
I
was

crow],God

black shot

[orblack

!]
a

cat

[orcrow] just now,

But

I shall be

[ina

woman's

likeness

even

now].

Cat, cat" [assupra]. If

any
we

go other

in

shape of a cat, a etc., to any of likeness,

will say
go
:

the

crow,
our

hare,

or

neighbours'

houses, being witches,we

' "

thee [I(orwe) conjure]

with

us

[orme]

"

And

presently they
and etc., would
we

become go

as

we

are,

either
we

cats,

hares,crows,

[with us
take

whither

would.
or our

When]
and feet,

ride,we

windle- straws, them betwixt

been-stakes

and put [bean-stalks],

:

say thrice
* "

Horse Horse

and and

Hattock, horse

and

go,

ho ! ho !" pellatris,

And and
we

immediatelywe
lest
our

flyaway
should
or

wherever rniss
us

we

would;
our

husbands
a

out

of

beds,

put

in

besom,

a
:

stool, beside three-legged

them,
* "

and

say thrice

over

lay down

this besom

Let it not

stir till I

come

in the Devil's [orstool] home again!"

name,

And

it immediately

seems

woman,

by

the side of

our

husband.

CHAP.

IV,]
We

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

345

cannot

turn

in [to]the likeness my husband sold head

dove
a

?]

When

[a lamb beef,I used

of

or

to

put

swallow's

feather in the

of the

beast,and

[saythrice],
' "

[I]put
That

out

this beef in the Devil's name, silver and

mickle

good pricecome

hame

!"

1 did

nolt be

[wheneverI put] forth either horse, webs or [cattle], [of cloth], any other thing to
even so

sold, and
words

still

put in this feather, and

to
over cause

said

the

[same
sell

thrice] over,
thrice
....

the

commodities

well,and
' "

"

Our

Lord

to

gone] huntinghe [is

marble

stone,
."
. .

He

sent

word

to Saint

Knitt

'

When

we

would
over
....

heal any

sore

or

broken

limb,

we

say thrice
He The Our

'

"

put

the blood

to the

blood,tillall
all took

up

stood ; her tooth and her

lith to the

Till lith,

Lady

charmed

her

dearly

nith ; Son, With

tongue,
And her ten
name

fingers
"

In the

of the

Father,the Son, and the Holy Ghost

say thrice
over,

!"

And

this

we

stroking the
For the

sore,

and

it becomes

whole.

2ndlie.

Bean- Shaw

the sciatica], or i.e., [bone-shaw, pain in the haunch: We are here three Maidens charming for the beanblew beaver, landof the Midle-earth, shaw; the man the Lord fever,maneris of stooris, (terrified) fleigged
"

the Fiend There she

with

his

holy candles
here

and

yard foot-stone
! Let her
never

and sits,

she is gone

346

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

come

here
over,

again !"
"

3rdli. the

For

the

we fevers,

say
sea-

thrice

forbid

the quaking-fevers, all the of the fevers that

and fevers,the land-fevers,

out ordained,

God

of the the the

head, out
the

heart,out knees, out

the
to

of the of nibs the of

back, out

of

sides,out

of the

from thighs,

pointsof

fingersto
go,

the toes; net

some

fall the

fevers
to

[some]
stone,

the
to

hill,
the all

to

the In

heep, some
Heaven.
of the

the

some

stock. the the took

to
we over

St. Peter's name,

In

St. Paul's
the
name

name,

and

Saints of

of the And

Father,
we

Son,
the

and

Holy
the boat

Ghost

!" the

when

the fruit of the shore before

on

fishes from

we fishers, come

went

would

to

it; and
times

would
:

say,

the

three shore-side,

several

4 "

The And

fishers

are

gone

to the sea,

they

will

bring home
home

fish to

me

They will bringthem But they shall get of them

intillthe
but

boat,
sort !"

the smaller

So

we

either steal them

we

fish,or

buy
or

or fish, get more.

fish with

irom that

[fornaught], one
all the

And

have

fruit of the whole

fishes in the themselves will

boat, and the fishes that the fishermen

have
1

etc. will be but froth,

The

first voyage
was

that

ever

I went

with

the rest of
we

our a man

Covins

betwixt

[to]Ploughlands; and and the plough-stilts,

his
me nose

there he

shot

presently
; and
me

fell to the then shoot the

a

ground, upon
Devil gave in that

and
arrow,

his mouth and I

an

caused

woman

field;which

did,and

she fell

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

347

down

dead.*

In

winter
at

of

1660, when

Mr.

Harry

Forbes,Minister

and toes, the fingers liver of a hare,and bits of clouts. We all steeped this together, all nightamong water, all hacked (or minced up) throughother. And when we did put it the nails of among the water, Satan
was

bag of the of barley, parings

made we a was sick, Aulderne, of and guts of toads, flesh, pickles galls,

with

us, and
over.

learned

us are

the words thus

*

to following,

say thrice

They

1st.

"

He

is

in lying

Let him
more
1

sick and his bed ; he is lying lie intillhis bed two months and

sore

days [three]

2nd.

"

Let him
sore

lie intillhis bed ; let him

lie intillit sick and and three

Let him
more
4

lie intillhis bed

!

months

two

days

3rd.

"

He

He

shall lieintill his bed, he shall liein it sick and sore; shall lie intillhis bed two months and three days
more

!"

'

When

we

had

learned all these words

fell all down
over our our

from
our

the

Devil,as
with
our our

said

we is,

upon

knees,

hair down

shoulders and eyes, and eyes thrice

hands

liftedup, and

[upon]the Devil,
over

and

said the foresaid words

to the

Devil,

"

against [the recovery of] Master Harry strictly, Forbes [from his sickness]. In the nighttime we in to Mr. Harry Forbes's chamber, where he came with our hands all smeared of the bag,to out lay, when he was sick in his swing it upon Mr. Harry,
*

I
means

These, it is needless

to say,

were

pure

and by inventions,

no

amusingones.

348

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

daytime [one of our] number, who familiar and intimate with him, to wring or most was swing the bag [upon the said Mr. Harry, as we in the night time against him, could] not prevail done. which was in comes Any of accordingly to your houses, or are set to do you evil, theywill look uncouth like,thrown hurly like,and their Maiden The of our clothes Covin, standing out. Jane Martin, was We] do no great matter [.
in the
....
-

bed ; and

....

without 'And

our

Maiden.
a

if

child be

the cradle
....

take we [bewitched], forespoken through it thrice,and then a dog

through it; and then shake the belt above the fire the ground,till a and then cast it]down on [. it,that the sickness may come dog or cat go over [. upon the dog or cat].'
. . . . . .

the reader will quotations and in concluding account probablybe satisfied, my of Isabel Gowdie, I must now adopt a process of condensation.

With

these

extended

Among
stretched

other

freaks

and

fancies that

of

disordered
to

Isabel imagination, upon wild

measure a

declared
of

she

merited that

be
to not

rack

iron,and

if torn would

pieces by
exceed the

horses,the
of her

punishment by
the

These iniquities.

iniquities
had from

comprehended
of the time been
to

every act attributed

the
servants

superstition

of the

devil, which

gatheredup by carefully
witch-tradition.
so

this monomaniac The cruellest

contemporary
was,

thing

that she involved

a large

number

of innocent

CHAP.

IV.]

JAMES

I.

AND

THE

WITCHES.

349

persons

in the

into peril

which

she

herself had
and

lessly reckI forget

women, fifty naming nearly plunged,

how

many

men,

as

her associates up from

or

accomplices.
the

She affirmed
bodies of

that

they dug
of the

their graves

and having dismembered infants, unbaptized

use

them,
That

made when

limbs
to

in

their

incantations.

they wished
toads
to his

they yoked
into the

an enemy'scrops, destroy plough; and on the following

with night the devil,

this blasted

strange team, drove

it

furrows

The devil, effectually. it would so pied occuwas long and so incessantly seem, with high affairs in Scotland, that surelythe have escaped meanwhile the must rest of the world evils of his interference ! Witches, added Isabel, were

land, and

able choice

to
was

assume

almost of
a

any

shape, but

their

usual

There perhapsa cat. it haprisk in either assumption. Once was some pened of a hare,was in her disguise that Isabel, hotly pursued by a pack of hounds, and narrowlyescaped her cottage-door she reached her life. When with
that

hare, or

she could haunches found could

;

feel the hot

breath

of her pursuers
a

on

her

behind to slip but, contriving

to

chest,she
alone

time
restore

speak

the

her to her

magic words which natural shape, namely :

! God

"

Hare
I
am

! hare

send thee

care

in

hare's likeness now;

a woman

But

I shall be

e'en thee

now.
care

Hare

! hare ! God

send

!"

If witches,while
were

bitten

wearingthe shape of by the dogs,they always

hare

or

cat,
the

retained

350

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
the

II.

marks called

on a

their

human

bodies.

When

devil

convention the air

"

of his like the

through
other

countries be
on a

"

astride
or

might
went

corn
:

bean

proceeded of Lapland and witches broomstick a on [or it straw], repeatingas they

servants, each

the

rhyme
'

Horse

and and

paddock, horse and go,

ho ! pellatris,

Horse

ho !'

They usuallyleft
bed, assumed
returned, and

behind

them

broom,
and

or

three-

charmed which, properly legged stool,

a

placed in
until

likeness

to

themselves

they

to preventedsuspicion. This seems the been have practice of witches everywhere. favoured Witches by their master were specially vided prowith a couple of imps as attendants, who boasted such very mundane The Roaring names as Lion,' Thief of Hell/ Ranting Roarer/ and Care for
f
' *

Nought
as

'
"

a worn

great improvement

on

the
"

syllables vulgar mono-

by the Englishimps and were dressed, liveries : seain distinguishing alreadydescribed,

pea-green,
were

green, The

grass-green,
never

sad-dun, and
"

yellow.
in the

witches

allowed

at

not least,
one

infernal

presence"

to call

themselves,or
but
on were

another,
use re-

by
the

their

baptismal names, bestowed appellations

such
as

requiredto
devil when the and he

the

them, baptized
'

'Blue

Kail,''Raise
and
'

Wind/
Stout.'

Batter-them-down
reader

Maggie/
nonsense

Able

The
more a

will find in the

reports of the trial much

"

of this

grotesque

the

of vapourings took it

distemperedbrain.

The

judges,however,

CHAP.

IV.]

CASE

OF

JANET

WISHART.

351

and seriously, her

Isabel

Gowdie,

or

and Gilbert,

many

of

were presumed accomplices, burned 1662). (inApril,

and duly strangled

CASE

OF

JANET

WISHART.

The carries
some

case us

of

Janet

wife Wisharfc,

of John It

Leyis,
presents

away

to the North

of Scotland.

features, and therefore I shall put it peculiar before the reader, with no more abridgmentthan is needful. It is of much earlier date than absolutely the preceding.* of April, 'i. In the month thereabout,in 1591, or in the "gricking" of the day, [that is,in the dawn,]
Janet

Wishart, on
Fattie, where
the

her way she had

back been

from

the blockhouse

and
with

holdingconference
Thomson, mariner,
between
ran ship,

devil, pursuedAlexander
forth of Aberdeen
to

coming
him and

his

Alexander

under Fidler,

the
arrow

Castle Hill,as
could be shot and said

it appearedto him, as an swift, forth of a bow, going betwixt

cast

him

and

the sun,

her

"

in cantrips" Thomson
was

his way. took forced

an

Whereupon, the
immediate
hasten
"

Alexander

fear and take

to
so

and trembling," his that

to

home,
of
one a

bed, and
none

lie there he

for the space would live ; if he

"

month,

believed his
an

half of the

day burning in
in
an

body, as
extreme

had

been

roasting
"

oven,

with

feverish

thirst,
other
an

so

that

he could the

never

be satisfied of his And

the drink,"

half of
ordinarily extra-

day melting away

cold
sweat. of the
From

body
of

with

Thomson, knowing

she

the

'

Records
1841.

Burgh

Aberdeen/ printedfor the

Club, Spalding

352

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

had

cast

this kind

of witchcraft

upon
at

him,
once

sent

his

wife to threaten

her, that,unless she

see

relieved And

him, he

would

that
accuse

she

was

burnt.

she,

lest fearing
women
a

he should

her, sent him

and
some

by

the two

certain kind which

of beer Thomson

other

drugs
covered re-

to

drink, after
It is be

mended

and daily,

his former
to

health.' that
on

noted Thomson

Janet any

denied flatly such errand.

the

coming
'

of Mrs.

ii. Seven Andrew

a

years

on before,

St. Bartholomew's
in [weaver], the his

Day, play,

when took

Ardes,

webster

linen

towel, and put

it about

said Janet's

neck,not fearing any evil be oifended, Janet, "in a

from

her, or that she would

devilish
"

fury and
teasest to

wodnes"
me

[madness], exclaimed,
Thou shalt die! I this towmound bide
a

Why
give

thou my

shall

bread

bairns
not

but [twelvemonth], with thine the

to

thou

shalt

month

give them
Andre w's

bread/'

And

after immediately

said

departurefrom
of

her, he took
the in
one a

to

his bed

for the space

eight days : body

vehement
as

half of the

day roastingin
the other
so

his whole with

a

furnace, and

half

sweat

melting away;
the witchcraft,

that, by her cruel murther

Andrew Ardes died within

and

said

the day after his departure, his eight days. And took to her a high displeasure," widow, contracting
"

bed, and
bairns This spouse
are

within
now

month

deceased meat.'
true

so

that

all their

begging their
testified to be

was

by Elspeth Ewin,
was

to

James

Mar, mariner, but

denied

by

the accused.

CHAP.

IV.]

CASE

OF

JANET

WISHART.

353

iii. Twenty-four years she dwelt

was on

ago, in the month

of
to

May,
Adam the

when

the

School

Hill,next
Andrew

Mair's, she
younger,

descried

by

Brabner

John

Leslie, of the

Robert Gallowgate,
one

Sanders, wright, Andrew

Simson, tailor,and

forth stealing schoolboys, from the said Adam Mair's yard, in the mornat two ing, "greyn growand bear"; and instantly, being pointedout by the said scholars to the wife of the said Adam, she, in her fury,burst forth upon the

Johnson, who

were

then

scholars gar
ere

"

Well

have

ye

schemed

me,

but

I shall

the best four

of you

repent!" And
see

she

added
as

that,
many
same

in the
at them

she would afternoon,

as

make

wonder

should and

them.

Upon

the

day,between two scholars passed to

wash

three in the

afternoon,the said
Links
to

the Old

themselves; and
the into

Watergang in the after they had done

Johnson

so, and
a

the said John dried, beside

Leslie and

took

race

Watergang, and
the midst
of

threw desperately the Watergang, and which

selves themwere

drowned, through the

cast

witchcraft

Janet

had

upon

them. them.'

And

thus,as

she had

she promised,

did murder This

was

testified
was

by

Eobert

Sanders

and

Andrew

Simson, but
'

iv. Sixteen Malcolm

and and be

by the accused. she [the or thereby, accused] years since, Carr's wife, having fallen at variance
that the latter should
a a

denied

discord,she openlyvowed
confined
not to

her

bed

for

year

and

a
:

day, and
ately immediwife

should

make

for herself

cake single

after which

discord, the said

Malcolm's
23

354

WITCH,
to her

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.

went
a

own

house, sought

her

bed, and
Janet
one

lay half
had
cast

year

bed -stricken

by

the

witchcraft

upon

her, accordingto her promise ;

her whole

half of the

day burningup
the other half

body
her

as

in

furnace, fiery

melting away
also

sweat, with
v.

She
a

was

ordinary body with an extracoldness.1 a congealed of lending to Meryann accused

Nasmith she knew

pairof

head-sheets
:

in

childbed, into which

soon as

put her witchcraft

which

sheets,as

she

they had taken immediatelyshe went before she [Janet] was

went
out

heat and well

about took
out

the woman's them from

head,

her ; and

of the
was

house,

ann Meryand

of her

mind,

and

bound

hand

foot for three vi. Three

days.
years
a

since,or

James thereby,

Ailhows,
desired
{

having
him where

been

long time
with

in her service, Janet

on
'

to continue

her, and

his

Gang refusing,

she said, I will see that you do please,' cake of bread for a year and a day.' not earn a single her service, And he quitted he was seized as soon as with an extremely heavy sickness and (wodnes) delirium, with a continual burning heat and cold to sweating,and lay bedfast half a year, according her promise, through the devilish witchcraft she had him. So that he was cast upon compelledto send to you

Benia
him
water
:

for another who

came

witch
to

to

take the
and

witchcraft washed

from in

this town

him

and running south,

some

put him
that and

through a girth,
she her used. And he

with

other
seventeen

ceremonies

paid her
health

marks,

by

help

recovered

again.

CHAP.

IV.]

CASE

OF

JANET

WISH

ART.

355

vii. For

twenty
eleven

years

after nightly,
servants

past she when o'clock,

their

and continually her husband and

beds,put on a great fire, and kept it up all night, and sat before it using of wellwitchcraft, altogether contraryto the nature And those nights when she did on living persons.
to not

had! gone

make

up the all

she fire,

went

out

of the

house, and

stayedaway
viii. She

night where
.

she then

pleased.
in her and service, take old

caused
.
.

.,

latelyshepherd to
certain

Mr.

Alexander made

Fraser,to
as

drugs of
cast

witchcraft them

by her,such

and shoon, her

in the fire of John

Club, stabler,
craft, witch-

neighbour ;

since which

time,throughher
become

the said John

Club

has

poverished imcompletely

ix. She variance

1

and

Janet

Patton

having
that
a

fallen

into

and

Janet discord,
she

Patton

called the witch she would

to whom Karling,' giveher to understand

answered
was

if she And

try her skill upon

Janet
Patton

her.

witch,and would afterwards, immediately

[like everybodyelse concerned in these mysterious doings]took to her bed, with a vehement, and extraordinary for one half the day, sickness, great, from her middle up, burning as in a fieryfurnace, with an insatiable drought, which she could not slake ; the other half-day, melting away with sweat, and from down cold as ice, her middle that throughthe as so
witchcraft cast upon
x.

her she died within of the

month. of James
to
was

The

given particulars
almost the
on

case

are Lowe, stabler,

same.

He
same

refused

lend

his kill and

barn, and

the

day he
23"2

356

WITCH, with this

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK II.
"

seized

remarkable half
a

sickness ice-cold. of

half

day
of her

burning hot,and
he his his accused

day
"

On

bed his deathcause

Janet

Wishart
That wald

being the
had bene
ane

misfortune, saying, kill and kilbarn, he

His wife and and disease,

if he haf died

lent

to

lewand kind
more

man." of

only son

of the

same

his whole

gear,

amounting

to

than
so

"3,000, was
was

wracked altogether

and thrown of the said gear.

as

away,

that there

left

no

memory

James,
victim.
case,

succession xi. John

of his

body, nor of their is named Pyet,stabler,

is
an

another

xii. There that of John

air of

about novelty

the next
s

Janet Allan,cutler,
his

Wishart'
c
'

son-in-law.
'

upon dang her, whereMistress Allan complainedto her mother, who betook herself to her son-in-law's house, immediately

with Quarrelling

wife, he

bostit he
or

'

him,
saw or

and

ever

promised to gar him repent that kent her. either afterwards, Shortly
a

she

the devil her master, in the likeness of

brown

tyke, came nightly for five or six weeks to his window, forced it open, leapedupon the said John, dang and buffeted him, while always sparinghis
wife,who
became

lay in
half-wod

bed and

with

him,

so

that

the

said John

furious.

And

this

persecution

until continued, and kirk -session.

next

he threatened

to inform

the

ministry

given verbatim,it is so an : striking example of ignorant prejudice Four years since, she carne in to Walter or thereby, in the Castlegate of Aberdeen, Healing's dwelling-house, to buy wool, which they refused to sell. Therecase

xiii. The

must

be

'

CHAP.

IV.]
came

CASE

OF

JANET

WISHART.

357
on bairn,sitting

she after,

to

the

said Walter's the This said is

a

her mother's her.

And

knee,and
she
" said,

played with fine a comely child,

would
not

Walter

child,"without
"

any

further And her

words, and
before she

say

God

save

her!"

reached
presence

the of

the bairn, stair-foot, by both her her father and colour like

in witchcraft,
"

mother,
and

cast

her
as

gall," changed
weak
as

dead,

became

"ane

and melted continually with an pairof glwffis," away which extraordinary sweatingand extreme drought, that same hour, she came day eightdays,at the same in and first, then command she directed,
to
"

the bairn
of the would

departed. And
said
not

for

no

request nor
whom the and mother murdered xiv. he house divers

Walter, nor
come

others

in

again to
was

visie

"

the

bairn, althoughshe

oft and

times

sent

for, both
so

by
her

the

father

of the

bairn, and Eve,

in

by

witchcraft

she

the bairn/

On

Yule

'94,at

three in the

morning,
in the

Janet, remaining in Gilbert Mackay's stair

Bessie Schives, Broadgate, perceived spouse of house Blinschell, going forth of her own of James dwelling-house who in travail. was wife, and
cast

Robert
to

the his

Davidson, notary, to
She
came

down

the

stair,
and

her

and cantrips

witchcraft

in her way, of in

the said
as

Bessie
and
went
ever

health being in perfect merry

out
as ever

blithe she

she
same

was

body, and her days,

Davidson's
a

when

of

the win

James
her
own

house,or
her

she could

up

took stair,

great fear and

up
own

that she might scarcely win trembling and stair, immediatelyafter her up-

358

WITCH,
to

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

coming, went
the space of

her

naked

for bed, lay continually

drought, and the other half-day that she could not be slaked, kind of sweating, and in an extraordinary melting, consuming her body, as a white burning candle, kind of sickness is a special craft; which point of witchan

by Janet with furnace, fiery

weeks fast bed- sick,bewitched eighteen Wishart, the one half-day roastingas in kind extraordinary of

and but

the

said

Bessie
is holden

Schives
and

saw

none

other
common

Janet

only,who
Midsummer

reputeda
or

witch.
xv.

At

was

year

thereby, Elspeth
her house
at

came Eeid, her daughter-in-law,

into her

three in the naked old

as

morning, and
was

found the

mother sitting, another her said

she

born, at
their she

and fireside,

wife

siclike mother

between naked, sitting whom cantrips, the

shoulders

[!],making Elspeth seeing,after

went out

said 'God
;

immediately speed,' the

same

of the

house

thereafter, on

and asked of her, what she was day,returned again, she answered, doing with that old wife ? To whom that she was charming her. And as soon as the said forth again from Janet Wishart' s house, went Elspeth she took an extraordinary kind of sickness, immediately and became like a dead senseless fool,' and so
'

continued xvi. desired

....

for half

year. her Violet Leyis, daughter,

to

She

[Janet]and
her twelve the
woman

go

with

her

said

at daughter,

o'clock dead
man

at

and take

cut
a

down

part of all his members

to the gallows, night, hanging thereon,and from him, and burn

CHAP.

IV.J
corpse,

CASE

OF

JANET

WISHART.

359

the

which
was

her

servant

would

not

do, and,

sent away. instantly xvii. The is, however, the following deposition of all : most singular Twelve Janet came into or thereby, years since, Katherine behind the Tolbooth,and while Eattray's, she was drinking in the said Katherine's cellar, Katherine reproved her for drinkingin her house, she was a witch. because,she said, Whereupon, she and cast it in her face, took a cup full of ale, and said

she therefore,

that

if she have

were

indeed

witch, the

said

Katherine

proof of it ; and immediatelyafter she the barm of the said Katherine's had quitted the cellar, and no had abaid ale all sank to the bottom of the stand, [a bead] thereon during the space of sixteen weeks. And the said Katherine finding herself skaithit,' Katherine Ewin, who complainedto her daughter, with Janet,that she then in close acquaintance was
should
'

had

bewitched the
'

her

mother's

ale;
Ewin

and

thereafter and

said Katherine

immediately called on Janet,

said, Why
to

bewitched

you my
same

mother's ale ?' and

requestedher
if promised,
to
. ...

helpthe

Katherine

Ewin

again. Which Janet obeyed her instructions

the
sun,

rise

earlybefore
to

without

mending com-

herself herself suining go, Eat wash

nor

God,
son

or

speaking,and
said any

neither

still without

suckingon the to speaking,

and
not enter to
cross

her

her breast ; to

Katherine

tray'shouse,
her hands

water,

nor

; and

into

the

said Katherine her

servant

house, where she would Eattray's brewing,and say to her thrice, I

'

find
to

God, and

thou

360

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
barm where
on

II.

to
was

the devil!' and

to restore to

the up

same

it the

again;
end

'

and

take

thrie

dwattis

southt
ane

of the

peice of
blew, and
in the

and thair scho suld find gauttreyis, fowr newikit,with greyn, red, claithe, thrie
corss

and
same

of clewir

and girss,

cast

the

fyir;quhilk beand cassin in,her barm suld be restorit to hir againe, lyik as it was restorit Katherine in effect.' And the said Ewin, when
with cracking[gossiping] could learn them
a

her she

said neighbours, had

she

charm the

gotten from

Janet

Wishart,which
to do
on

when

latter

heard, she promised

ing son, suckfirst browst,or

her

an

evil

her turn, and immediately And

at her

her

died. breast,

the whole wort brewing,thereafter, beingplayed and and the keys at her put in 4lumes,'the doors fast, the whole taken wort own was belt, away, and the haill lumes fundin dry, and the floor dry, and she could
never

get trial where

herself and

it yirdto.

And

when

the

said Katherine and

to complained

the said Janet

man

Wishart,
her wort

dang
to

her

good

both,for injuries

done

her

by takingof

her son's life and

to have [which Katherine seems thought of about she promised that all should be well, equal value], the said And giving her her draff for payment. with her husband Ambrose Katherine, Gordon, being

in their be the

beds,could
a

not

for the space of

twenty days
Ambrose's up

quit of

in their bed, between cat,lyingnightly of

taking a great bite out and when testifies, arm, as yet the place the draff, the cat went away.
Some fourteen
more

two, and

they gave

chargeswere

brought against

CHAP.

IV.]
She
was

CASE

OF

JANET

WISH

ART.

361

her.

tried

on

February 17, 1596,

Aberdeen,
and of

before

the

Provost
upon
sorcerer.

and

Baillies of

found

guilty
and recorded

counts eighteen

being a

common

witch

Sentence

of death she

by burningwas
on

against her, and

another of of

suffered

the

same

day

as

The expenses witch,Isabel Cocker. reputed their execution are preservedin the account-books that the Dean of Guild, 1596-1597, and prove

witch-

burningwas

within luxury scarcely

the reach

of the many.
JANETT
Item. For WISCHART loades AND ISSBEL
burne

COCKER.

twentie

of peattes to

thame Item. For Item. For Item. For

Item. For
ane

xM.
Boile of Coillis

xxiiiisft. xxvish. viiid. xvish. \iiid.

... ...

four Tar

barrellis

fyr and Iron barrellis a staik and dressingof it

xvish. Towis
.

Item. For four fudoms Item. For

?]of [fathoms

mish.
. .

and the peittis, coillis, careing

... ... ...

barrellis viiis^.iiii^.
...

to the Hill

Item. To

on

Justice for their execution

xiiish.uiid.

clivshillings.

On
the

several

occasions favour

commissions
Provost the

were

issued
some

by

King, in
the

of the

and

of the

Baillies of the
for

burgh, and
of
'

Sheriff of the county,

Justice

purpose and

haul

ding
These

Courtis

on

Witches
warrants

Sorceraris.'
to

commissioners and

gave

in their turn

the minister examine

'

elders of

each of

parishin the shire,to and to frame witchcraft,

persons. It
was

a an

suspected parties dittay or indictment

'

such against

inevitable result that

362 all the

WITCH,

WABLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
was

II.

scandalous

gossip of

the

community

had collected ; while any individual who assiduously become, from whatsoever cause, an objectof jealousy overwhelmed dislike to her neighbours, was or by a fictitious evidence, and by the of hearsayor mass of ignorance, conscious or unconscious exaggerations malice. or credulity, As an example of the kind of stuff stirred up by I shall take the return this parochialinquisition, furnished to the commissioners by Mr. John Ross, minister
'

Lumphanan : in Wartheil,is indicted to i. Elspet Strathauchim, have charmed Maggie Clarke, spouse to Patrick this last year, with ane sleipth Bunny, for the fevers,
"

of

and

ane

thrum

"

[asleeve
e'en,to

and

this last Hallow house

a

She is indicted, thread]. have brought forth of the

the
same

burning coal,and

buried

in her

own

Adam yard. She is indicted to have bewitched of his Gordon, in Wark, and to have been the cause death,and that because,she coming out of his service of her gear, which he detained some without his leave, she promised to do ; and after his death wanted [to have him.
at

it

that believed]

she had

gotten

"

She is indicted to have

Burn of

said to
none

assythment of Marcus Gillam,

of his bairns her ; which

"

the

Camphil, that
he would
not

should is
come

because live,
to

marry
are

pass, for two

of them have

dead.
to

She

is

indicted Baine

to continually

resorted

Margaret
to

her company. Forbes.

"

'ii. Isabel

She

is

indicted

have
a

bewitched

Gilbert

Makim,

in Glen

Mallock, with

CHAP.

IV.]
"

PAROCHIAL

INQUISITION.

363

a spindle,

rok,"and

"foil

;" as

Isabel Ritchie

wise like-

testified.
'

iii. James

Og

is indicted

to

have

passedon
his uavine

Rud-

day, five
corn,

years

since, through Alexander

taken
cast

Cobain's

and

have

nine
on

stones

from

rig

"

and [corn-rick], and from He the

to

the

said

Alexander's

"rig,"
meal
own.

have

taken

nine

"lokis"
"

of [handfuls]
cast
cow on

the said Alexander's is indicted said

to

and rig,"
a

his

have

bewitched
he

to belonging

Alexander, which
of Cloak milk from

Burnet,
received

bought from though his ; this cow, and her the first night,
no

Kristane wife the had

ing morn-

thereafter, gave
died within half years
a

milk

from He

that time is indicted

forth, but
to

year.

have

passed, five
the said

since,on
corn,

Alexander's
struck
so

Lammas-Day, through and having gaine nyne

"

span/'to have white wand,

"

the

corn

with grew

nine

strokes year

of

that

nothing
to

that

but

fichakis."

He

is indicted

in that,

the year

aforesaid fire them his

or

thereabouts,having corn
his took
"

from

dry,he borrowed of his avine neighbour, haiffing

a

presently ; and
back,
"

brine times that

"

of the
"

corn

on
"

and

cast

it three supra,
to

woodersonis
to

[or
the

ut withersonis,"

is,west

east, in the

direction
"

contrary
He is

the

sun's

above course] years

kill."

indicted

that, three

since,
Laird
ing, morn-

Alexander of

Cobaine
"

Cors, his
at

being in Leith, with the he came wittual," up earlyone

of the said Alexander's in his
to

the

back

yard,with
cast

dish full of water in the

hand, and

to have

the

water

gate

the

said Alexander's

door,and

364

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

then said

that perceiving Alexander, was

David

to Duguid, servant beholding him, to have

the fled

suddenly; which the 4iv. Agnes Frew.

"

said David

also testifies.
to

She
own

is indicted cow's

have

taken
cut

three hairs out the

same

of her

and tail,

to have

in small

and pieces,

to have

put

them

in her the

cow's

throat,which

thereafter

gave

milk,
her

and

none. neighbours' took] William

Also,
Browne's
as,

she

is indicted in took

that

[she
and

calf

axter,

charmed from and

same

the same,

she also,
a

the clins
"

forefeitt aff it,with caused

; which

piece of
wife wife

the

said William's

to

[hoofs] euerry bing," yeird the

" "

the said William's

manner.

albeit confessed, up Alexander and calved,

not

in this

Also,
about

she took

Tailzier's calf, after it was lately [directly]

carried
seen

it three times

the

cow.

Also, she

was

a horse's fosser on a cow. casting She is indicted to have bidden her v. Isabel Eoby. gudeman, when he went to St. Fergus to buy cattle, that ifhe bought any before his home-coming,he should
'
"

go

three times
"

"

woodersonis
"

"

about

them, and

then

take three
to her.
a

poor he

but

and fetch home dry hillock, in at Ardmair, there came Also,that dwelling she offered milk, man cravingalms, to whom refused it, because, as he then presently said,

ruggis

off

she had wrhen

three folks' milk

and

her

own

in the pan ; and

wondered at it, ElspetMackay, then present, he said, Marvel not, for she has thy farrow kye's milk also in her pan." Also, she is commonly seen in the form of a hare, passing through the town, for she appears.' out of sight, as soon as the hare vanishes
"

CHAP.

IV.]
vi.

PAROCHIAL

INQUISITION.

365

in Margaret Riancli, of the

Green

Cottis, was
Stevens
house

seen

in

the
every who

dawn nook

day by

James

embracing
three

of John

Donaldson's
was

times,
at
a

thereafter continually

and diseased, he took

last

died.

She

said to John

when Ritchie, the Green

tack

[a pieceof ground] in
from
it in
came a

that Cottis,

his gear
so

that

day

forth

should

decay,and continually
cast
a

to

pass.

Also, she
she

number

of stones
was seen

tub, amongst
When

water, which

thereafter

dancing.
bowl

clipsher sheep, she

times in their mouth. her

turns

the

of the shears

three

Also,

James
"

Stevens
"

saw

meeting

John
burn

Donaldson's
of the

a year [sheep old]in the out Cottis,and casting the water backward, in the sheep's face, and

hoggs

Green
feet

between
so

her

they all
of

died.

Also and

she

confessed

to

Patrick

Gordon,

Kincragie,

James

the bed
and
to

Gordon,of Drumgase, that the devil was in her and William between her harlot, Ritchie,
upon them

he

was

both, and
he
was

that if she

happened
also

die for

that witchcraft,
was are a

should [Ritchie]
too.

die,

for if she

he devil,
of

ElspeetStrathauchim, James tions Og, and Agnes Frew, whose accusathe Presbytery of Kincardine, within whose
three

'There

these persons,

they dwell,counted insufficient, having duly considered the whole circumstances, always remitted
them
to

bounds

the trial of

an

if assize,

the

judges thought it

expedient.
'

[Signed]

MR.
'

JHONE Minister

Ros,
at

Lumphanan.'

366

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

It would

not

be easy to find

more

tion exhibipainful

of clerical many
are

ignorance and practiceof

incapacity.Probably
Mr. John
charms Ross
was

of the

which allegations the

records
common

true,

as

and the peasantry both of Scotland enough among England, and is even yet not wholly extinct ; but, the taken altogether, to witchcraft, they did not amount very and
essence

of which
one

was

compact with
is such

the
a

devil,
of the

in

no

of the And
one

cases preceding

compact

mentioned. gross

must

take the existence

here is credulitywhich disclosed to be irrefutable testimony that,as a pastor Ross Mr. John and teacher, was a signalfailure at

and superstition

Lumphanan.
I have alluded already in which and the
to those

self-delusion
own

instances of pathetic reputedwitch has been her

the evidence confession
"

enemy,

furnished
own

needed
a never

for her of
;

condemnation
acts

in her she must

a

confession occurred

which

have

known of

had

buildingup
beneath these its

strange fabric

and fiction,
seern as

perishing
if
some

weight.
women

It would
came

of

unfortunate because

to

believe

in themselves in

they

found that

that

others

believed

them,

they reallypossessed the of witchcraft because their neighboursinsisted powers Nor that it was will this be thought such an so. when it is remembered that improbable explanation historyaffords
and founders of of devotion
more new

and

assumed

than

one

example
the has

of

prophets
into

whom religions followers

enthusiastic
a

their

persuaded

CHAP.

IV.]
the

PAROCHIAL

INQUISITION.

367 which

belief in

of authenticity had

the

credentials

they themselves

and the truth forged, originally of the revelations which they had invented. From this point of view a profound interest attaches to the official dittay or accusation against
'
'

one

Helen in

Fraser,who

was

convicted

and

sentenced

to

April,1597, since it shows that she was she the evidence which condemned principally upon herself supplied : i. John Ramsay, in Newburght, being sick of a sent to her house,in Aikinshill, consuming disease,
death
'

to

and seek relief,

was

told

by

her that she would recovery she

do

what but

lay in
bade the

her power

for the

of his health ;

him

keep
world

secret
was

whatever and evil,

spake

or

did,
of
to

because such rise

spoke no
the
"

good
"

mediciners.

She

commanded

said John

sourrakis about in the morning, to eat early while the dew was stillupon them ; also to eat sunrise, kale and soup. Moreulavrie and to make over, valcars,"
"
"

to

sit down
to

in

door,before
he

the fowls flew to their the fowls flew the very wind of

roost, and
to

open
over

his him his

that when breast,

the

roost

might

receive
was

their

wings about
to loose his

breast,for that

able profit-

which closed. But were heart-pipes, him sit down, from her,she made before his departure and said an orison thrice upon on a stool, bare-headed, his

head, in
"

which The her of

she named said

the Devil.

cii. Item.

Foverne,
common

after abuser

sustain

herself and

confessed in publicly that she was a apprehension, the people; and that,further, to her bairns, she pretended know-

Helen

368

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
to do

II.

ledgewhich
which
was

she had
not.

not, and
This minister
was

undertook

things
she

she could accused the

her answer,

when

by

the

of

Foverne,for

that she

he inquired and when the cause of people, her evil report throughout the whole country. This of Foverne,before the the green she confessed upon laird,the minister, and reader of Foverne, Patrick abused

Findlay
New

in

Newburght,
Janet the time

and

James

Menzies

at

the

Mills of Foverne.
"

'iii. Item.

Ingram,
at the

wife

to

Adam

Finnie,

dwellingfor
she herself
sent

West

burn,in Balhelueis,
to be

and being sick,

was

herself affirming esteemed

for bewitched,
a

by

all

men

to be
cure

witch, she
The
said

for the said Helen

came,

Frazer

to

her.

Helen and

and
at

tarried with her

her

till her

departure enough.
was

and burial,
a

coming
she

assured would

the said Janet be well

that within But

short

time

the sickness into she

a

of the said Janet

and increased,

turned that

horrible and

always

fury and madness, in such sort blasphemed, and incessantly

climb up the wall after the After wall with her hands.

pressedat
"

all times

to

heillis" and she had

the scraped been

vexed for the space of grievously two days from the coming of Helen Frazer, her this life. Being dead, mediciner,to her, she departed to convey to chargehis neighbours went her husband the coming of but before his returning, her burial, or of the corpse, the said to the carrying any neighbour with two or three daughtersof Helen Frazer, together to wit, Malye the said Janet (whereof one yet living, is counted a Finnie, in the Blairtoun of Balhelueis, that

CHAP.

IV.]

PAROCHIAL

INQUISITION.

369

had taken up the corpse, and had carried her, witch), until they alone,the half of the distance to the kirk, the said of Cowhill ; when to the Moor they came Adam and others his neighbours to them, and at came their coming the said Helen fled away through the
moss

to

and Aikinshill,

went

no

further

towards

the

kirk.
4

iv. Item.

"

horse of Duncan

in Alexander, Helen
a

New-

the burcht, being bewitched, the the sickness from

;

said
to

translated
cow was man

the

horse
cow

young

of
cast

said Duncan

which

died,and
for
no

into the burn

eat her.

of the

Newburcht,
Helen

would

4v. Item.

"

-The

said

made

compact
at the

with

certain laxis fishers of the

Newburcht,

kirk of

Foverne, in Mallie Skryne'shouse, and

cause

promisedto
of

them
a

to

fish

and well,

to that effect received

them

for pieceof salmon to handle at her pleasure she the matter. Upon the morrow accomplishing the to came Newburcht, to the house of John laxis
cuts

a Ferguson,

and fisher,

delivered
a

unto
;

him

in

closet four she

of salmon
out

with
own

penny

after that the bade

pany com-

called him
that
was

of his

house, from

there in the

put the
have pass.
4

same

with him, and drinking and horn of his coble,

;

him

he should
came

dozen

of fish at the first shot

which

to

vi. Item.

"

The

said
son

Gilbert

Davidson,
of

enticed Helen, by witchcraft, William to Davidson, in

Lytoune

Strauthachin

Meanye, to love and marry Margaret directly (in the Hill of Balgrescho)
24

370

WITCH,

WAKLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
utter

II.

the against

will

of his

parents, to the
desire of the

wreck

of the said Gilbert. 'vii. Item.

"

At

the

said

Margaret
made

the Strauthachin, by witchcraft, wife to William Catherine Fetchil, because the the she
was

said

Helen

Davidson,furious,
took from said her ; in

against the
her and feebleness

marriage, and
arm

strengthof
which

left side and

fury

the

Catherine

died.
'

viii. Item.

"

The

said

Helen,at

the

desire of the

William Margaret Strauthachin, bewitched Hill, dwellingfor the time at the Hill of Balgrescho, he died in a fury [i.e., fit of a through which delirium]. the said Helen ix. Moreover,at the desire foresaid, foresaid
'

by

witchcraft

slew

an

ox

belongingto
to

the said William

for while herd twelve and

to

Patrick his

Hill,son
said Helen

the

said

William,and
at fold,

called father,

in the cattle to the

was

the o'clock,

in sitting

the

yeite,

after the outcoming of the cattle out immediately the best ox of the whole herd instantly of the fold, died.
'

x.

Item

"

The

said

Helen

counselled

Christane

Henderson, vulgarly called

one

mickle

hand

to the

crown

of her
so

to put Christane, head, and the other to

the

sole of her her

and foot,

surrender
want

whatever

was

between she could

'

hands, and
or

she should

nothingthat

wish
"

desire. said

xi. Item. in

The

Christane
young

Henderson, being
died thick bade the
; for

henwife

Foverne, the
take all the

fowls Helen
or

remedy
Christane

whereof, the

said

said

chickens

young

fowls,and

CHAP.

IV.]
them

A.

PAROCHIAL

INQUISITION.

37 1

draw the

through the link of the crook, and take which thing and slaywith a fiery stick, hindmost,
died thereafter that year. the said Helen
came was
a

none being practised,

'

xii. Item.

"

When
of
a

in dwelling hare

the Moorhill and sucked

Foverne,there
milch
cow

betimes,

at the Mill of the Findlay, afornent the said Helen's house, on the was directly other side of the Burn of Foverne,wherethrough the cow pined away, and gave blood instead of milk. This mischief was attributed to the said by all men Helen, and she herself cannot deny but she was after her commonly evil spokenof for it,and affirmed, slandered. at Foverne, that she was so apprehension When Alexander xiii. Item. Hardy,in Aikinshill, it grievedand troubled his conscience departed this life,
'
"

William to pertaining Newburght,whose house

very said

that mickle,

he had

been

defender

of the

that he, accompanied with especially Malcolm their conscience, Forbes,travailed, against with sundry of the assessors when she suffered an with the Chancellor of the assize,and especially in her favour, he knowing evidently her to be Assize, of death. guilty xiv. Item. The said Helen being a domestic in the said Alexander Hardy's house, disagreedwith
'
"

Helen, and

one

of the said Alexander's

servants, named

Andrew

to Skene,and intending

bewitch

the said servant, the

evil fell upon

4

Alexander,and
"

he died thereof.

xv.

Item.

When

Robert

Goudyne,
Blairtoun Elizabeth of

now

in

was Balgrescho, a luies,

dwellingin
fell out betwixt

Balhe-

discord

Dempster,

24"2

372

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

nurse

to

the

said

Robert

for the

time, and

Chris tane
her

Henderson, one
own

of the

said

Helen's

as familiars,

confession

aforesaid

purports, and
which

the

country
said evil said

well

knows.

Upon

the

discord,the
with
an

Christane

threatened
to the to

the said

Elizabeth

turn, and
Helen her
to

thereof, performing brought the

the said Robert's thereto.

Frazer

house, and

caused

oft repair

After what and

ately time, immedi-

both

the said Elizabeth

the infant to whom the said

she gave
into also the
a

suck, by

the

of devilry

Helen,fell
died. And

whereof consuming sickness,

both

ElspetCheyne,spouse to the said Robert,fellinto selfsame sickness, and was diseased thereby heavily
of two years before the recovery of his

for the space health.

'

xvi. Item. withdrew

"

By

witchcraft

the said Helen

abstracted Tilli-

and

the love and

affection of Andrew

duff of

from Rainstoune,

his spouse
so

Margaret Neilson,arid
that
remove

Cheyne,to mightilybewitched him,

with his

Isabel

he

could

never

be

reconciled

wife,or
when said the

his affection from said

the said harlot ; and

the

Helen fact.
'

Margaret was begotten with conveyed her away to Cromar

Wherever
many

the child,
to

obscure

xvii. Item.

"

the said Helen years

is known, has
or

or

has and be

there repaired is
a

bygone,she
estate

been,
sex, to

of reportedby all, and

same

whatsoever

common

abominable of the late with

witch, and

to

have

learned the late

the

Cowper Watson,
said Helen

Maly Skene, spouse to time, whom, during her lifesociety.

The

the

had

continual

CHAP.

IV.]

PAROCHIAL

INQUISITION.

373

said

Maly

was

bruited

to

be

rank
same

witch,and
crime.

her

said husband
'

suffered death
"

for the

xviii. Item.

When

Kobert

Merchant, in
the

the Newhouse

brucht, had
for the space

contracted of
two

and marriage, years him

to

holden

with
to pass

late Christane

White, it happened to corn Foverne,to sow

relict of the

to the

Moorhill

of

the

late Isabel

Bruce, the
said

late Alexander familiar and

Frazer,the

Helen
in the

Frazer
house

being

resident actually
was

coming : time forth the said Robert found his from the which and extraordinarily drawn affection violently away from the said Christane to the said Isabel, a great love being betwixt him and the said Christane always theretofore, and no break of love,or discord, out or falling either of their parts, which intervening thing upon the country supposedand spake to be broughtabout by the unlawful travails of the said Helen.
'

of the said

she Isabel,

there at his

[Signed] THOMAS TILIDEFF, at Fovern, with Minister,

c
"

my

hand.

Item.

common

witch

by

open

voice

and

mon com-

fame.'

I have that

given this
no

'

summary the

from dittay in full, would do justice to evidence which

'

tion convic-

its terrible

Upon simplicity.
Helen
Frazer
was

it the

afforded,
Court
of

brought
on

before

in Aberdeen, Justiciary, found

guiltyin sorcery.'

'fourteen

April 21, 1597, pointsof witchcraft

and and

374 The

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

burning of

witches

went
were

the authorities of Aberdeen

an

stock adequate under be

of fuel. the date

We of

merrilyon, so that compelled to get in note in the municipal

10, that
in be there him in laid

accounts,
'

March

was

bocht

the the

comptar, and

the

seller in of

chalder

Chappell of the with coillis, pricethairof,

Castel
the

ane hill,

mettingof the same, xvi/$. of these case, the frequency first the publicappetite for
fed of
a on.

iiiisA.' As

bieingand the is usually

whetted
at

sad exhibitions them

; it grew

by

what

it

One

of the items

of expense

in the execution for of carrying of the pepill,

witch

named

Margaret Clerk,is
withstand
twa

'four

to sparris,
was

thair quhairof Among the

the press broken,viiis. viiid.'

committed of
4

victims

to

the

flames

in

Fergus and Issobel Richie, [Sculdr], MargaretOg, Helene Rodger, ElspetHendersoun,Katherine Gerard,Christin Reid, Helene Katherine Jenet Grant,Helene Frasser, Ferrers, Gray, Agnes Yobster,Jonat Douglas,Agnes Smelie, Katherine other witche, callit Alshensur, and ane prisonment .' seventeen That in all. during their imtreated with barbarous rigour, they were
1596-97,
we

read the

names

Katherine

"

may

be inferred from
Alexander

the

entries following

Eeid, smyth, for twa pair of xxxiisA. schecMUs to the Witches in the Stepill Item. To John Justice, for burning vpon the cheik of four seurerall personissuspect of witchcraft
. . .

Item. To

and

baneschit
to

xxvisA. vin^. Alexander Home

Item. Givin

and lockis to joggis, stapillis,

macking of the witches, during

for
xlvish. viiid.
... ...
...

the haill tynie forsaid Expense on Witches

...

iiiidf. xlii/i.xviis/i. aucht-score,

CHAP,

iv.]

WITCH

MANIA

IN

ABERDEEN.

375

On
and shown

September 21, 1597,

Council
of Aberdeen William his

the

Provost, Baillies
the faithfulness of

considered
the Dean

by

Dun,
'

Guild, in

the

of discharge

ordinarily duty, and, besides this, his extratalcing pains in the burningof the great

number

of

the witches burnt

this year, and

on

the

four

and pirates,

bigging of

the

port

on

the

of the Grey Friars kirk and repairing and therebyhas been abstracted from his trade of since he was elected in the merchandise, continually in recompense of his extrasaid office. Therefore, ordinary pains,and in satisfaction thereof (not to induce of Guild to crave to Deans a any preparative but others to to hereafter), recompense encourage travail as diligently in the discharge of their office, of forty-seven grantedand assignedto him the sum and fourpence, pounds three shillings owing by him of the of the rest of his compt of the unlawis [fines] for slayingof black fish, and charged disconvict persons him thereof by their presentsfor ever.' reaction took place;the At length a wholesome of the number of executions, and, public grew weary encouraged by this changes of sentiment, person and accused of witchcraft boldly rebutted the charge, laid complaints for defamation againsttheir accusers In official circles, of character. it is true, a belief in the alleged crime lingered long. As late as 1669,
4

Brig of Dee, thereof, steeple

the

new

and

old that

Councils
many

takinginto
malefices
were

their serious committed

are

consideration and mala done

by several persons in this town, who fama, and suspectedguiltyof witchcraft

upon

376

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
several

II.

many and in who

of the inhabitants that

of this town, for

ways, like

it will be necessary

the suppressing

time

coming, and
and

shall be found conclude

punishingthe said persons ously guilty ; therefore theydo unanimfor ordain that any such be person, seized be who upon,
sent

is

suspect of the like malefices, may

and

put
be

for for, may

and prisoun, puttingof them in executed upon No

that
to

Commission

that condignjustice trial, of the them, as the nature

offence does sacrificed ; witchcraft

merit.'
nor

more

however,were victims,
that any
accusation of

does it appear

was

preferred.
Sir Walter Scotland
as

According to
as a

Scott, a
late
as

woman

was

burnt

witch

in

1722, by Captain
;

of Sutherland Ross, sheriff-depute

but

this

was,

and for some an happily, exceptional barbarity, years the pastime of witch-burning had practically previously been extinct.
as

It is a curious

fact that educated

men, Scotch-

noted, retained their superalready stition long after the common peoplehad abandoned it. In 1730, Professor Forbes, of Glasgow, published his Institutes of the Law of Scotland,' in which he spokeof witchcraft as that black art whereby strange
' '

I have

and from
me

wonderful
the than that

thingsare wrought by power derived and added: to devil,' Nothing seems plainer
'

that there may

be and

have

been

witches,

and

perhaps such are now existing.' actually Six years the Seceders from the Church of later, who to be the true representatives Scotland, professed
condemned the repeal of the teaching, strongly against witchcraft, as contrary,' they said,'to
'

of its

laws

CHAP.

IV.]

DECLINE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

377

the

express

letter
behind

of

the

law

of

God/

But

they
as

were

hopelessly
result
of

the

time;

public
had

opinion,
numbered
and

the

increased
the

intelligence, superstitions
that its of

craft witch-

among

the

past,
is

we

may

confidently

predict

revival

impossible.

378

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOQK

II.

CHAPTER
THE

V.
OF

LITERATURE

WITCHCRAFT.

when find a belief in we humility and witchcraft demonology entertained not only by and unintelligent the uneducated but also by classes, the of light and men leading,the scholar,the the legislator, who philosopher, might have been expectedto have risen above so degradinga superstition. It would be manifestly unfair to direct our of the multitude at the credulous reproaches prejudices Francis when of the experiBacon, the great apostle mental philosophy, accepts the crude teachingof his discusses royalmaster's Demonologie/ and actually the ingredients of the celebrated witches' ointment, opining that they should all be of a soporiferous character, such as henbane, hemlock, moonshade, ness mandrake, opium, tobacco, and saffron. The weakteach
us
'
'

IT should

'

of Sir Matthew made in

a

Hale, to
know who had

which

reference has been very shared

an

we previous chapter,

cannot

strongly

condemn,
Thomas
errors

when

we

that
so

it

was

by
for fine

Sir
the and

Browne,
of the
common

keen

eye

people,and
so

whose

liberal

genius throws

a light over genial

the pages

CHAP.

V.]
the
'

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

379

of

ReligioMedici.'
consummate

In

his

'

History of
the

the

World,'that
Sir
Walter

statesman,

poet,and scholar,

Raleigh, gravely supports

which

vulgar

Board School nowadays every the Even would alumnus reject with disdain. of of Malmeshury, the sagaciousauthor philosopher infected by 'The Leviathan/ Thomas Hobbes, was Dr. Cudworth, to whom delusion. we the prevalent Moral the acute owe reasoning of the treatises on The True Intellectual System Good and Evil/ and of the Universe/ firmlyholds that the guilt of a

opinions

'

'

by her inability reputedwitch might be determined or Prayer. unwillingnessto repeat the Lord's Strangestof it all is it to find the pure and lofty of the school of of Henry More, the founder spirit
the general superto yielding English Platonists, stition. With large additions of his own, he republishedthe Rev. Joseph Glanvill's notorious work, Sadducismus example of Triumphatus'"a pitiful
'

the

extent

to

which

fine

intellect it the

may
most

be

led

astray, though Mr.

defence sober his and of

Lecky

thinks
ever

ful power-

witchcraft

fair-minded

Robert

the published. And in the midst of Boyle, time

to

scientific

found researches,
'

listen, with
at

breathless and devils

to interest,
at

stories of witches

Oxford,

Muston.'

Among
the
are,

the

Continental
who may

authorities be

on

witchcraft,

chief Martin

of those

called its advocates

Antonio

Delrio

who (1551-1608), of the sixteenth Libri

lished, pub-

in the his
i

closing years

Magicarum Disquisitionarum

century, Sex/ a for-

380

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

midable which
was

brimful folio, translated

of into

credulityand
French

ingenuity,

in by Duchesne from 1611, and has been industriously pilfered by Delrio has no later writers. numerous pretensions the most monstrous to critical judgment ; he swallows inventions with astoundingfacility. Eeference also be made must to the writings of

Kemigius, included Novissimus/ and

and

in Fez'
to

Thesaurus

Anecdotorum

the

Sprenger, Malleus Basin, Molitor (' Dialogus de

authors,
to

J.

'

great work by H. Institor Maleficarum/ as well as to

Lamiis

'),and
of Frankfort.

other 'Mallei

be

found

in the

1582

edition

at quorundam Maleficarum/ published

On

the

same

side

we

find John

the great

lawyer and
author of

historian the
'

Bodin

philosophical the (1530-1596),

'

facilem
manie witches

and the Kepublicse,' Historiarum Cognitionem.' In Sorcius wizards far

to
'

Methodus his
*

ad

Demonoof

des and

he with

recommends
an

the

burning

earnestness

which

should

have
other

gone

compensate

for his

heterodoxyon
informs
us

pointsof
his familiar he

belief and

practice. He

that from

by

thirty-seventh year he had been demon, which touched or spirit

was

attended his
ear

whenever conscience the

about

to

do

anythingof

which

his

he quotes passages from disapproved ; and that spirits to prove Psalms, Job, and Isaiah, their presence
to
men

indicate

by touchingand even pullingtheir ears, and not onlyby vocal utterances. Erastus (1524-1583), Also, Thomas physicianand who took controversialist, so busy a part in the dissensions of his time. he In 1577 theological

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

381

a tract ('De Lamiis')on the lawfulness of published It is strange that he should witches to death. putting craft, have been mastered by the gross imposture of witch-

when

he could

expose

with

trenchant

force the Rosi-

and pretensions of alchemists, astrologers,

crucians.

Happily,the
was

cause

not

without
to

The

earliest I take in

Wierus, who,
at

his

ance humanity, truth and tolerdefenders. its eager and capable have been the Dutch physician, De treatise lished pubPraestigiis/ of
'

Basel in had

attacked 1564, vigorously doomed did not,

so

the cruel
creatures

that prejudice
to

many

unhappy
for

the stake.

He

however, deny
mercy

the existence those who

of

but witchcraft,
on

demanded

it practised

the his

ground
servants.

that

they were
he

the devil's should have

victims,
been

not

That

been would have credulity could than more one rightlyhave expected of a of Cornelius Agrippa. disciple

wholly

devoid

of

stronger and
of Sir John

much

more

successful

assailant younger

appeared in Reginald Scot (died 1599), a

son

Scot, of Scot's Hall,near

celebrated
'

Smeeth, who
'

his published 1584

"

Discoverie

of Witchcraft have of

in

book

which,
sweet

in any

age, would

been

remarkable and

for its of

humanity, breadth
as

view,

moderation

tone, wonders

well where

as

for its

literary

excellencies.

One

this

quietKentish

gentleman,whose chief occupationsappear to have his eruaccumulated dition, been gardening and planting, of and how, in the face of the superstitions such he arrived at his contemporaries, large and

382

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

liberal conclusions.
indicated of and in its

The

scope

of his
c

great work

is

lengthy

title:

The

Discoverie Witches

wherein Witchcraft,

the lewd

dealingof

the knaverie Witchmongersis notablie detected, of conjurers, of enchanters,the follie of the impietie the impudent falsehood of couseners, sooth saiers, the infidelitieof atheists, the pestilent of Pythopractices nists,the curiositie of figure-casters [horoscopeart makers],the vanitie of dreamers, the beggarlie of Alcumystrie, the abhomination of idolatrie, the horrible art of poisoning, of the vertue and power naturall magike,and all the conveyances of Legierdeand juggling other main : and are deciphered many which have long lain hidden,howbeit things opened, verie necessarie to be knowne. treatise upon the Nature and Heerevnto is added
a

and Spirits Devils, etc. : all latelie written by Reginald Scot, Believe not e verie spirit, Esquire. 1 John iv. 1 : whether but trie the spirits, they are of God; for false prophets are gone out into the world." many

Substance

of

"

From

book

so

well

known

"

new

edition

has
;

recently appeared
"

it is needless

to

make

extracts

but I transcribe

brief passage

in illustration of the

and manliness of the writer : vivacity do only desire I, therefore (atthis time),
'

you

to

consider

of my

the evidence report concerning you

not

that is

commonly brought before

whether the the evidence be

them. against and frivolous,

See first
whether

proofsbrought againstthem be not incredible, of guesses, presumptions,and consisting bilities impossiand nature. See contrary to reason, Scripture, also what persons complainupon them, whether they

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

383

and the most the unwisest, less faithbasest, kind of people. Also, may it please you, to weigh what accusations and crimes theylayto their charge, she would have namely: She was at my house of late, be
not

of the

had had

in a chafe because pot of milk, she departed she cursed, she mumbled it not, she railed, said she would be my

she and
even

she and, finally, whispered; with

or me
:

and

soon

after my
was

child, my

cow,

sow,

my

died,or pullet
wise

please your
with
a

taken. it Nay (if strangely Worship),I have further proof:I was

woman,

and

she

told

me

I had

an

ill

and that she would house ere to my come neighbour, it was and so did she ; and that she had a mark long, about her waist,and so had she: God forgive me, stomach hath againsther a great while. gone my Her been drawn mother before her
was

counted

witch

; she hath
was

beaten and
upon

scratched

by

the

face till blood been

were

her,because
some

she hath persons

and suspected, said to amend.

afterwards
These
are

of those

the certainties that I hear in their evidences.

'Note, also, how

confess power
cause

that which of
man

easily they may be brought to did,nor lieth in the they never

do ; and then
see

to
as

whether shall

I have
see

to write

I do.

if you Further,

that

other manifest heresies infidelity, popery, and many and shouldered, be backed and their professors mated aniand heartened,by yielding such to creatures infinite power is wrested of God's hand, and out as attributed to witches: if you shall perceive finally, and truly delivered and that I have faithfully set down of the the condition and
state

of the confuted

witch,and

also and

witchmonger,and

have

by

reason

384

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

law, and by the

and objections
countenance

Word

of God
;

all mine adversary's itself, then that let

me

arguments

have

your

against them
me. against

maliciously oppose

themselves
'

My greatest adversaries are young ignorance and old custom. For what folly tract of time hath soever it is so superstitiously fostered, pursued of some, as could be acquainted with custom. though no error But if the law of nations would join with such of ignorance and to the custom, to the maintenance
suppressing of knowledge, the
the world would
soon

civilest country in barbarous.

doth

become

For

as

knowledge and time disco vereth errors, so and ignorance in time breed them.'
In another
'

stition super-

fine passage knoweth my in book this

Scot says
my heart shall

God
that

that read

is

witness, and
that my drift
to

you and these

see,

purpose

enterprisetendeth

only
power be

respects. First,that the

be not the
so

glory and

of

God
into

hand

abridgedand abused, as to or lip of a lewd old woman,

should
be that Secondly, the

thrust

whereby
to

the work power the of

of the Creator
a

attributed

the

creature.

of religion

Gospelmay be seen to stand without such peevish that lawful favour and Christian trumpery. Thirdly, compassionbe rather used towards these poor souls than rigour and extremity. Because they which are commonly accused of witchcraft are the least sufficient of all other persons to speakfor themselves, as having of all others ; the the most education base and simple extremityof their age givingthem leave to dote,their

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

385

poverty

to

beg,their
of any

wrongs other

to

chide of

and

threaten

their revenge), humour from melancholical to be full of imaginations, whence the vanity of their confessions, chiefly proceedeth and themselves transform that they can as others into apes, owls, asses, dogs, cats, etc. ; that they can flyin the air,kill children with charms, hinder the coming of butter,etc. And for so much the mighty helpthemselves as and the poor widow's together, cry, though it reach I thought heard here upon earth, to heaven, is scarce cession, interto make to my good (according poor ability) that some rigour and some part of common For pointsof hastyjudgment may be advised upon. in a most the world is now at that stay (asBrentius, that even, as godly sermon, in these words affirmeth), when the heathen the Christians, if any persecuted accused to believe in Christ,the common were people

(as being void

way

'

cried A d leonem
so

so

now,

of any of

woman,

be she

never

honest, be she accused

witchcraft, they cry Ad

ignem.'
Scot's attack
strenuous

much

fruit at

of his contempocredulity raries, and capableas it was, did not bear the time ; while it exposed him to upon and

the

charges of
James

Atheism
were

Sadduceeism
the

from

several

who small critics,

supported by

of authority

and, at a later date,of Dr. Meric Casaubon. I., He found a fellow-labourer, however, in his work of of Maldon, humanity,in the Rev. GeorgeGifford,

Essex, who

in 1593

'A published

Dialogueconcern25

386

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

in which is layed open ing Witches and Witchcraft, how the Divell deceiveth not only the Witches craftily but Many other, and so leadeth them awaie into
'

Manie

Great Errours.'
does
not

It will be

seen

from

the title

that the writer line of

adopt
but There

the

uncompromising
rather
to
a

Reginald Scot,
Wierus. in ability

inclines

the

standpointof
deal of

is, however,
of the

good

question ; and of the account by the Percy some Dialogue' reprinted I think,to the in 1842, should be interesting, Society
his treatment
'

reader. The interlocutors named

are

Samuel, Daniel,
the

Samuel's
wife R. The former
1

and wife,M. B., a schoolmaster,

good-

dialogue opens
of whom is
a

with

Samuel

and

Daniel,the
in
'

fanatical

believer says,

witches.

These

evil-favoured He

old

he witches,'
rumour

do trouble there
one
'

me.'

repeatsthe
or

common

that

is
or

a town scarcely

two

witches
to

in it.
as

in the shire but has village In good sooth,' he adds,

'

I may into

tell it my

you
am

to

my

friend,when
I
see now

I go and

but
a

I closes, my

for afraid,

then

hare,
some

which

conscience

givethme
so

is
me.

witch,or
And

witch's
I is
see a an

she spirit,

stareth
run

upon

sometime there I

ugly weasel
cat

throughmy
in my

yard;and

foul,great
no

sometimes

barn, which

have who his

unto.' liking

is less credulous

Having introduced his friend, his wife and than himself, to

home, he promotes an argument between him and this qucestio M. B., a schoolmaster, another on friend,
vexata.

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITER

A.TURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

387

M. B. starts with
'

good deal
show be

of fervour

The

word

of God

doth

that plainly

and

commandeth many

they should
what harms

pat
we

to

taught too
to minister

they do.

witches, death. Experiencehath if any have the gift And

there be

them, shall help against

some

refuse it V

But

after

discussion the first that

he

agrees,
a

at

Daniel's

instance, to consider

in subject

argument;
'

and

the

of sober spirit questionthey take up is:

Are

there

witches then
so

work

by

the
:

Devil ?'

The

conversation
DANIEL.
It is

as proceeds

follows

and in all experience, by the Scriptures, that there be witches which work by the devil,or rather,I may by them, that such as go about to prove say, the devil worketh evident
the contrary, do show

themselves
agree
to ; some
on

but cavillers. that

M.

B. I

am

glad we
say you

point; I hope
the witches
as

we

shall in

the rest.

What

this ? hath

That
more,

have

their

spirits.Some
five. Some in

hath
one

one

two, three,four,or
like cats,

likeness and

some

in

another, as

or mice, whom they nourish with milk or with a weasels, toads, and then a drop of blood, them suck now chicken, or by letting whom they call if they be offended with any, and send them to

hurt

them

in their

bodies, yea,

to

kill

them, and

to

kill their

cattle.
DANIEL.

Here
the

is

great deceit, and

many

great illusion ;
foul errors,

here which

the he

Devil leadeth draweth

M. and B. them

people into ignorant

by

headlong into

say denly, of good wealth, and sudthese five years where there was a man within ten days'space, he had three kine died, his gelding,
...

Nay, then, I see you are they be but illusions.

grievoussins. these things, awry, if you deny within I did dwell in a village

worth

ten

pounds,fell lame, he
back, and a child of she at E. H., and
that there
man one

was seven

himself
years
was

taken

with He
a

great
to

painin
the
woman

his

old died.

sent

said he

plagued by
witches

witch,
in that
most to

adding,moreover,
town, and

were

three

women

witch, willinghim
an

to

look and

whom

he her

suspected.He
carried before
at
a

suspected
of justice

old

woman,

caused With
"

be

peace

and

examined.
was

much

ado

the last she confessed

which all,

this in effect

that she

25"2

388
had like which

WITCH,
three
a one spirits,

WARLOCK,
like she

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

cat,which

she called
the

Lightfoot ; another
like
a

toad,

which

called Lunch;

third

weasel,
Mother

she called

she said,one Makeshift. This Lightfoot,

above sixteen years do her ago, for an service ; if she
cat
was

Bailey,of W.,
and

sold her

oven-

cake,
but
a

told her the cat would

her and

good
This
came

would, she
her

might send her of while,but the weasel

The would she
cat would

errands.
the toad

with

and would

offered their service. kill

kill
men

kine, the weasel

in their bodies.
man.

horses,the toad
all three
to

plague

She She

sent
was

them

(as
the

confessed) against this

committed

and there she died prison,

before

the assizes.

Daniel then
on

strikes into the conversation,

'

of devils Scriptural description full of rage and power terrible spirits, and powers, the rulers principalities the of this world awful such and
"

as

enlarging mighty and

'cruelty

and

of the darkness if
so spirits

and

that insisting forcibly these assumed

as potential
as

the

shapes of
weasels,
hide the
over

vermin paltry be
out

and cats, mice, toads,

cover

it must

of and

to subtilty

and

mighty tyranny
the hearts

power

which And

they exercise
he argues that

of the wicked.

such

would never deign to be a witch's servant or spirits to do her bidding. M. B. contends, however, that, her to serve although he be lord,yet is he content he says, that they call turn ; and the witches confess, forth their

demons, and
hire them

send
to

them hurt

on

what

errands and

and they please, their

in their bodies

they cherish angry and revengeful feelings. I am sorry,' says Daniel mildly, you are so far awry ; it is a pityany man that hath should be in such error, especially a man
' '

cattle those

againstwhom

and learning, After

some

should further

teach

knowledge.' M. B. is brought to disputation,

others

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

389

admit seduce

that God

giveththe
of man's

devils power

to

plague and
he asks
not

because
a

wickedness;
man or woman

but may the

whether

godly,faithful
We him
see,

be had

bewitched.
power will
not

he

says,
as a over case

that Job. in

devil But

given
admit said

of

old,

Daniel

that this is the devil

is not the

that

dealt

because it point, with Job through

agency

of witches.

Thereupon Samuel, perceiving

to

the drift of his argument

no

be
so

that the
mean

devil has and

even mand com-

need

to

act

by

instruments
never assuredly

and degraded,
;

would

be at their

that,

because
:

be no there can witchcraft, consequently, poses there is no for it,suddenly internecessity

'

With

your

leave,M. B., I would

was

ask two

or

three
at W.

questionsof
H.,
one

my

friend.
man was

There
of

but

seven

miles

hence,

M.

his good wealth,and well accounted of among neighbours. He pined away with sickness half a year, and at last died. After he was She dead, his wife suspectedill-dealing. went to a cunning man, died of who told her that her husband and witchery,
was one woman

the

asked

her

if she did not

not

suspect
Mother
two

any.

Yes, there
husband

she did

like,one

W.

; her

and

she fell out, and He

he fell sick within her the

woman

recovered.
see one

showed

another, and taught her how confess. Well, she followed his counsel,went home, caused her to be apprehended and carried before a justiceof peace. He examined her so wisely that in the end she confessed she killed the man. She was she was sent to prison, condemned, arraigned, and and executed \ the ladder she seemed upon very penitent, all the world in her. She said she had a spirit to forgive desiring the likeness of a yellow dun cat. This cat came unto her, as she fallen out with she was a said, as she sat by the fire,when of God might neighbour of hers, and wished that the vengeance and her be him his. The bade not cat afraid;she light upon
would do

and never days after, as plain in a glassas we she might bring her to

her

no

harm.

She

had

served

dame

five years

in

390

WITCH,
that
"

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
would
man

II.

Kent
servant.

was

now

dead, and,
wilt I will

if she the

would,
"

she
a

be

her used misShe

man,

And

whereas," said

cat,

such

hath

plague him in sent the cat ; she killed three hogs and one her burnt a pig alive, and, as she said, suspecting,
thee,
if thou go
sent

his
cow.

cattle."
The

cat

would
that M.

never

thither any
her

more.

Afterward

she

fell out

with

She
he you the
cat not

cat, who
recover

told
;

her that she had

given him
man

that which

should
not
woman

never

and, indeed,the
the truth

died.

Now,
not

do

think

the

woman

accuse

herself
servant

spoke falselyat her death

not

in all this ? ? Did

Would
the she

become

her

*? Did
man

she

send What

her ? should

Did
a man

plague and
of this ?

kill both

and

beast ?

think

DANIEL.
examine
came

propound a particular example, and let You everything in it touching the witch. say the
You her

us

cat

to

when did

she

was

in

great

rage

with

one

of

her

neighbours,and
upon him and

curse,

wishing

the vengeance

of God

to fall

his.
said so, indeed. I heard

SAM. I
was

She

her with

my

own

ears,

for

at the execution.

DAN.
curse

Then

tell

me

who

set her

in such

devilish rage, of God

so

to

and

ban, as
and

to wish

that
not

the

vengeance

might light

upon

him

his 1
think

Did

the cat 1

SAM. DAN.
this

Truly I

that

the devil
you It
see,

wrought
the
cat

that is the

in her.

Very well. play.

Call you
it
a

Then, play 1

beginning of

SAM. DAN.

was

no

play to
better

some.

Indeed, the witch at last than been at her play. But I mean
for doth him he
to

had

Satan

wrought hard did play the juggler;

have
move

he not

offer his service

man

1
me,

Doth

lie not
so

her to send
to

plague the
be
sent
even am

Tell

is she

forward

send, as

is to

heart,and
SAM. DAN.
I

Or do you not take it that he wholly directeth it to this matter 1

1 ruleth her

ruleth in her

fullypersuaded he
was

heart.
he her servant.
were

drudge, and not needeth not to be hired and entreated; for send him anywhere, unto such as he knoweth
seeth

Then

she his

He
to

if her heart he
cannot

hurt, nor
he
can

how

to

make

any

show

that

he
cat

hurteth

them,
and

quickly turn
man, certain

her from

that.
a cow.

Well, the
How

goeth

killeth the

the
cat

hogs,and

could she tell that

did it ?

CHAP.

V.]
How

THE

LITER

AT

UHE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

391

SAM.
saw

could

she

tell?

Why,
would

he

told her, man,

1 for

and

she

and heard DAN. The

that he lost his cattle.

cat

would

lie

"

she not

they

say

such

cats

are

liars.
I do
not trust

SAM.
out
so.

the cat's

words, but because the thing fell

cow

DAN. did
you

Because
?
men

the

hogs and
beasts

the
not
are

died,are
some

you

sure

the cat
as

kill them
see

Might they
and

die of

natural

causes,

both

well, and

die

suddenly 1

with a good deal proceeds, dialogue and some of ingenuity degreeof dramatic spirit ; and is not without its fallacies, yet though the reasoning clear and forcible, the whole, as a it is sufficiently on and tolerance. protest on the side of liberality The branch of the subjecttaken up for connext sideration is the help and remedy that is sought for the hands of cunning men at ;' against witches In this way the
'
'

Daniel render

contending that, if
any it assistance,
must

the be

cunning men through the

can

devil's

Christian men not and, therefore, are instrumentality, in availing themselves of it. The justified alleged cures performed by witches, Daniel refers to the

imagination ; and in this category he tells an in a amusing story. There was person with the magician Fento. London,' he say, acquainted he called Now, this Fento had a black dog, whom
'
'

influence

of the

Bomelius. Bomelius him.

one was

This
a

party afterwards

had he

conceit

that

devil,and
in

that

felt him his

within
moan

He of his him bade

was

and heaviness, had

made
a

to

who acquaintances, he had

a

merry

head, and
Bomelius.

told He him.

friend
a

could

remove

him

prepare this
was

and breakfast,
cure
:

Then

the

he

bring made (the friend)

he would

392 him be

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

and and stand by a good fire, naked stripped basted him all though he were fat enough of himself, him the fire, and made with butter against wear a over and the man sleek-stone next his skin under his belly, had immediate and relief, gave him afterwards

great

thanks/
does much,' continues or conceit, imagination, Daniel, even when there is no apparent disease. A
' '

The

man

feareth of his

he

is

bewitched;
and that in

it troubleth

all the

powers

mind,
when

making great griefs. Now,

same,
are

alterations

his body, distempereth and bringethsundry it, is freed from from such the

his mind

his bodily which imaginations, griefs, eased. And

a

flew

multitude

of Satan's is of

the

same

character.'
conversation
next turns

The

upon is

the

danger of

from inseparable the execution of alleged witches ; while juries, says become Daniel, must guilty of shedding innocent blood by condemning as guilty, and that upon their solemn oath, such as be suspected upon vain surmises, and and illusions, imaginations, rising from blindness and infidelity, and fear of Satan which is in the ignorantsort.
M. B. If you take it that this is one to be guiltyof innocent blood,and is horrible,what
when

shedding innocent

blood, which

craft of Satan to
even

bringmany

upon

their

oaths, which

they

are

you have the judges and to be witches 1 arraignedof suspicion would I have them do 1 I would be but
not

would

juriesto do,
them
to be

DAN.
most

What

wish

and that circumspect wary blood. And that is,to condemn

they
none

infallibleproof; because them before

upon shall not warrant presumptions be shed.

guiltyof innocent sure ground, and

or

excuse

God,

if

blood guiltless

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

393

Replying

to

observations continues
reasons :

made

by

the

master, school-

Daniel
'You

bring
and thieves

two

to

prove

that
to

in

convictingwitches
more

likelihoods
about
secret

presumptions ought
murderers.

be

of force
their

than

or

The

because first,

dealing is
confess.

; the men,

other, because
have

the devil will not

witches do work

let them

Indeed,
burn and is
a

imagining that
them

strange mischiefs,

in desire to

then, upon
very

hanged, as hoping then to be free ; such persuasions mention, they suppose it as you

good work to put to death all which are suspected. take heed how But, touching thieves and murderers, let men they deal upon presumptions,unless they be very strong ; for we which do condemn such as be guiltless, that juries sometimes see in And is a hard thing, as especially they are upon their oath. witches,above all other,the people had need to be strong, because
into death of Satan to pursue there is greater sleight the guiltless than in the other. and wisdom Here is special to be used. care

And

so

likewise for their

their confession

confessing. Satan doth gainmore than by their denial,and therefore rather

forceth

by
be-

wrayeth
than
unto

them

himself,and

them

unto

confession

oftener

denial.'
at

Samuel

first is reluctant

to

accept

this

ment. state-

much
matters

always been his witches angered when

; and
as some one

It has

belief that the devil is confess of this and

betray
at

in

confirmation for had

or belief, an

least

excuse woman

it,he

relates

anecdote.

another to be a suspected witch. She prevailed a gentleman to send for upon the suspected her in his person, and having accused presence, and
to

Of course,

left him

to admonish
to
was renounce

her with

due

severity,
all his
was

persuadeher
While
he

the devil and

works.

thus

engaged, and

she

stoutly denying the

a
'

accusation

brought againsther,
'

weasel

or

lobster the

Look/

said

its appearance. suddenly made gentleman, yonder is thy spirit.'

394

WITCH,

WARLOCK,
'

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

replied,that is a vermin ; there be many of them everywhere/ Well, as they went towards out of sight it vanished appeared, it, ; by-and-by it resaid the and looked upon them. Surely,' but she still denied, gentleman, 4it is thy spirit;'
4

Ah,

master

!' she

and

with

that

her mouth

was

drawn

awry. all.

Then

he
fessed con-

and pressedher further, she had hurt and

she confessed killed

She

The
to go

by sending her spirit. her allowed gentleman,not being a magistrate, home, and then disclosed the affair to a justice.
she said
:

When and Thou

reached
'

home thou

another

witch hast

accosted
thou

her,
?

Ah,

beast, what

done

all. What us remedy now ?' said betrayed What she. remedy ?' said the other ; send thy her spirit, and of a and touch him.' She sent spirit sudden the gentleman had, as it were, a flash of fire hast
' '

about hurt. hurt

him The

he lifted up

his heart to and

God,
he

and

felt no
not

spiritreturned,
he hath
a
'

said

could

him, because

had
he

faith.

'What

then,'said

the other touch ?'

witch,
i

'

He

hath

nothing that thou mayest said the other. Send child,'

*

said she, and thy spirit,' her spirit ; the child was The witches
were
an

touch in

the child.'

She

sent

great pain,and

died.

Daniel, by
absurd
to

hanged,and confessed. dismisses soon analysis, ingenious

he stories, and craft, has laid
no

this takes proof dis-

story, which, like all such

further
at

be

evidence the
'

of Satan's

all of

argument

he

down.

'

Then,' says Samuel,

was woman

I will tell you

of another

thing
and of

which
4

done

of late.

suspectedof being

witch,

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

395

examined the cattle, was having done harm among and brought to confess that she had a spirit, which resided in a hollow tree, and spoke to her out of a hole with in the any trunk. she And
went

whenever
to

she
tree
was

was

offended
sent

persons

that

and

her

to spirit

kill their faults

cattle.

She
to

persuaded to

promise that she would forsake such ungodly ways : after she utterly had made this open confession, the spirit unto came Ah !" said he, "thou hast confessed her, beingalone. and betrayedall. I could turn it to rend thee in :" with that she was and went afraid, pieces away,
confess her and openi}',
"

and

got

her into company.

out

Within

some

few

weeks

into anger against one man. greatly Towards the tree she goeth, and before she came at thou ? "wherefore Oh !" said the spirit, it comest hath angered thee ?" Who Such a man," said the
"
"

after she fell

"

witch. said the

"

And

what

wouldest

thou

have

me

do ?" horses

spirit. "He
that

hath,"saith she, "two

one

going yonder ; touch them, or

think other that Now had
tree
even

of them."

Well, I
the

night one
not

of the horses

died,and
evil that
to

was one

little better. which

was

Indeed,they recovered dead,but plain:

he
was

again
case.

in very angry she

came

methinketh

it is And

she
the

betrayedall.
he let go all is much

yet when
went
as

and displeasure
common-sense,

readily.7
should
on days nowa-

There

we

call

it, in
wild

Daniel's

comments

this

ordinarily extra-

story.
k

'

Do

you

think/ he is represented

as

saying,

that
so

Satan

lodgethin
idle ?

hollow he

tree

Is he

become

lazy and

Hath

396

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

left off to be devour

nature

as

whom roaringlion, seeking he

he may and cruel

no

? of but

Hath the when

or man a

put off the

bloody
he
entreats
so

fierydragon,so
an

that

mindeth him

harm kill age

a

angry ?

woman

to go

cow

horse shall

Is he become his craft

"

doting with
be found

that

espy

yea,

craftier than And

'

he is ?' for the

to

now

winding-up of
be wished that

Parson all the and

Gifford's
parsons

Dialogue.'Tis
had

of his time
M.

been

sensible equally
to

courageous.
matters
;

B. I could be content

hear

more

in these
must

see

how
we

fondlyI
shall meet I
am

have
here bound

erred.

But

seeingyou

SAM.
when
at my

other time. again at some to give you great thanks. you

come

be gone, God keep you

hope
!

And,
Let

I pray
us see

you, you

occasion

serveth,that

this way.

house.
B. I

M.

thought there
so

had
as

not

been

such
men

subtle
into.

of practices carried

the devil,nor SAM.

away, It and is

great sins

he leadeth how that many

are

strange to see deceived,yea, many

devil is too
God's

thousands
very wise
men.

are

M. the

B. The

craftyfor the wisest,unless

cometh the

they have

lightof

Word.

SAMUEL'S SAM.

WIFE.

Husband, yonder
come sooner.

goodwifeE.
?
; here

I wish

she had E.

GOODWIFE SAMUEL'S
was one even

Ho,

who

is

within,by
you

your
a

leave

WIFE.
now

I would that

had
were

come
a

little sooner

GOODWIFE
but

Was

said you there one

witch.
am a

said I

witch?

You

do

jest.
WIFE.
E. I

SAMUEL'S GOODWIFE
he be and M.
a

Nay,
a

promise you he witch ? I defy him

I

was

in

good
were

earnest.

that

saith

it, though

lord.

I would

all the witches

in the

land

hanged,
hanged

their

spirits by them.
you
to

B. Would

not
a

be gown

were glad, if their spirits

up with

them,

have Out

furred with
There say that

some were

of their skins ?
few
!

GOODWIFE SAM.
witch 1

E.

Wife, why
He did not

upon didst say

so.

them. thou

the

goodwife E,

is

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

397
well

SAMUEL'S

WIFE.
a

Husband,
not

I did mark

his words

enough ;
she is
a

he said she is SAM.

witch ?

witch. know

He

doth

her,and how though

could

he

say

SAMUEL'S
not

WIFE.
she

What

he did not that

know the

her ?

Did

he

say that thrust

played
cream

the witch

heated

spitred hot,
not
come
was or

and

it into her

when

the butter

would

?
a

He said that Indeed, wife, thou sayest true. thing taught by the devil,as also the burning of a hen, and all such like devices. hog alive, GOODWIFE
told you
so.

SAM.

of

R.

Is that witchcraft ? the devil

Did
it my

R. H.
than

taught
all those B. Who

husband
men

Scripture
do
you

M.

think

Scriptureman teach it 1 Nay, the good woman doth more : she good in one will do so long as they live. taught it the cunning woman
God hath

Some

hath
at

year

at

E.H.1
GOODWIFE think the
M. B.

It is

gift which

given

her.

of Holy Spirit

God

doth teach

her.

You

do not R.

think, then, that

should hear
I think the that

the devil doth teach her? that

GOODWIFE her?
? thing

How
ever

the devil
teach

doth
any

teach

Did

you

devil did

good

M.

B. Do

you R.

know

that it not

was a

good thing?

GOODWIFE
out

Was

good thing to drive the evil spirit

was

of any man ? M. B. Do you think GOODWIFE

the devil he
was

afraid of your and

? spit
we

R.
ever

I know

driven away,

have

been

rid of him

since.
a

M.

B.

Can

spithurt
sure
:

him

GOODWIFE of them, I
him him
come come am no no

R. It doth hurt

him,

or no

it hurteth
more.

the witch

one

for he cometh because

Either
:

she

can

get

more, more,

it hurteth it hurteth

him

or

else she will let

because that

her.
be

M.

B.

It

is certain
:

spiritual weapons
devil.
was

therefore it hurt

cannot spirits your spit cannot

hurt

but hurt think

with

fray nor
did not

the she

And

how

can

the witch

You

in your

GOODWIFE

cream, did you 1 think R. Some in the

she is there, and

*

therefore when

they thrust thine eye.'

M. B.

spit they say

in your

If thou

beest

here,have
was

at

If she

were

cream,

your

butter

not

very

cleanly.

398

WITCH,
R.

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
I know
me.

II.

GOODWIFE
are am

of my
sure

M. B. merrilydisposed, mind, though you put these questions to

are

You

you For I

none

hath

counselled

more

to

go

to

the

cunning folk
for I
see

than

you.

M.

B. I

was

of your
I
am

mind,
sorry
unto

but

am

not

now,
so

how
to

foolish I
counsel

was.

that

I offended

grievouslyas
you than

any

for to seek

devils.

GOODWIFE I
am sure

R.
you
were

Why,

M.

B.,

who

hath
no

schooled

to-day?
day. yesteris
or

of another

mind

longer agone
my

SAMUEL'S turned
also
:

WIFE.
here

Truly, goodwife R., I think hath been one reasoningwith

Is your

husband
three

them

four hours. GOODWIFE R. husband

one

turned, too?
another,
ducks
come

would

you

might
she

lose

all your
set

hens

after your you

can

and

then

I would

would

her
one

spirit upon
alive. Will

and

your

geese, ?
.

and
. .

leave you not M. B. You

man

to defend

witches lame

think the devil

at

kill men's think

and cattle,
if the

both

and and

beast

his

pleasure:you

witch him

entreat

him

will not
drive him

send him, he will go, and And think meddle. you

away with
a

if she will not

have
come,
a

go, he
can or a

when
with

he

doth

you

hot

or spit,

burning
so,

live hen

PigGOODWIFE
R.
; and

Never

tell me
say

I think what

for you

yourselfhave

thought
men

so

let them
shall
never

in the world

they can, all the Scripture persuade me otherwise.

much
at your

M.
that I

B.
was

I do
ever

wonder,
of the

not
same

so

ignorance as
are, and

at not

this,
see

mind

that you

could

folly. wise you are become R. Folly ! how of a sudden ! that their spirits I know lie lurking, for they foster them ; and when anybody hath angered them, then they call them forth and And look what send them. they bid them do, or hire them to will ask she is angry, the spirit do, that shall be done : as when
own

mine

GOODWIFE

her,
she ;

'

What
'

shall I do V
'

'

Such

man

hath

misused

me,' saith
it. of say,
'

by-and-by he goeth and doeth kill such a woman's hens some ; down go they. And content to do these lesser harms not are ; but they will
cow

go, kill his

Go, Go,
are

'

them
'

make

such

man

lame,
will do

kill

him,

or

kill his child.' I think

Then

they ready, and

that
can

anything ; and
away.

they be happy

learn to drive them

CHAP.

V.]
B.

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

399

M. you
cannot

If I should
see
nor

reason

with

you

out

of the
you

words
say.
as a

of

God,
devil
hen. be

should kill

that hurt

which all this is false,

The
poor

anything ;
can a

no,

not

so

much Would
a

If he had
sent
or

power,

who

escape
woman

him ? He

1 is

he

tarry to
up
unto

entreated and

by
What

stirrer

all

harms

mischiefs.

GOODWIFE
not

R.

will you

tell

me

of God's
do ?
not

word
you

Doth

God's word

say there 1 people with

be witches ? and

think

God

doth suffer bad

will
no

Are

you

turncoat

Fare you also.

well ; I

longertalk
B. She

M.

you. is wilful indeed. you for your

I will leave

you

SAMUEL.

I thank

good

company.

About

the

same

time

that

Gifford
a

was

ing endeavourway of

to teach

his

countrymen

more

excellent

with dealing
a witchcraft,

the vexed Dutch

questionsof demonology and ized Bekker, scandalminister,named

the whatsoever witches and His the

'

orthodox
to

by

frank

denial

of

all power the

the

to devil,arid, consequently,

and
same

warlocks time

who

were

his servants
'

supposedto be at one and yet his employers.

in

Monde

Enchante

written (originally

Dutch)
for certain

consists

of four

and prolixity of argument. originality

ponderous volumes, well as as repetition,

There
was

remarkable for
no a

justground,

throwing imputations the author's religious on sincerity.He shared, however, the opprobrium that attaches to all who the orthodox from deviate in theology path; and it be admitted in that his Scriptural must explanations
however,
as

Hallam

remarks,

for

the

case

of

the

demoniacs

and

the

like

are

more

than satisfactory. ingenious A

was

violent blown

trumpet-note on

the

side of intolerance in his famous

by King

James

I. in 1597

400

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

Daemonologia.' It is written in the form of a about and numbers eighty closelyprinted dialogue, James, as the reader has seen, had had ample pages. experienceof witches and their cantrips/ personal and had 'got up' the subjectwith a commendable divides witches into of thoroughness. He amount who work their evil designs eight classes, severally he subdivides into white and ; then against mankind
'

'

black

witches, of
and former

whom

the into
'

former acted
'

are

the
*

more
'

dangerous ;
the witches, their

again

and

pacted
on a

depending for their power and the latter having made supernatural gifts,
with
art

compact

Satan contrary to
or

all rules and demons

orders have
a

of nature,

grace.' Further,the
own

classification of their of the demon

on

; some

of the down

higher ranks

archy looking
of the

contemptuously

enough
of
4 c

those

the damned souls offices

"

damned

'

who consist grades, These souls of departed conjurers.' and discharge all kinds of mean

inferior

bringing fire from heaven for the of their employers convenience ; conveying bodies field into from one through the air; conjuringcorn of life to dead bodies ; another ; imparting a show
servile and

raisingthe

wind
"

for who

witches received

to

sell to

their

nautical customers
rope,

of pieces
a

knotted

and,untyingthe
second violent

first knot, secured

a

favourable for the

breeze, for the

third
a

moderate

wind, and

After

gale. the describing

a

rites in

vogue and

on

the

clusion con-

of James

compact between
other

witch

devil,King

enlargeson

points of ceremonial,such

CHAP.

V.]
the

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

401

as

making
of

of

various

magic
crosses

circles

"

sometimes

round, sometimes
the
use

sometimes triangular, and

quadrangular ;
of
some

holy water
adds

in ridicule of the

papists ;
animal.

and He

the offer to the demons that the

great witches'
:

living meetings
says that

took placein frequently the witches

mutter

churches

and

he

mumble through hurriedly their conjurationslike a priest ing hunta despatching masse ; and that if they step out of a circle in a assumed sudden alarm at the horrible appearance by the demon, he fliesoff with them body and soul. The royalexpert proceeds to indicate the means There two are by which you may detect a witch. good helpes that may be used for their trials ; the of their marke is the finding and the trying the one thereof. The other is their fleeting on insensibility
i
;

and

'

the

water

for
at

as

in

secret

murther, blood,as
for

if the

dead the

carkasse

be

any

time

thereafter of

handled if the

by
of

it murtherer,
were

will
to

gush out
the

blood
the

crying

heaven

revenge
secret

murtherer,God having appoynted that

naturale

super-

signe for
it appears

triale of that

that hath

secret

unnaturale

crime,

so

God
the

signe of supernaturale that the water witches)

in her bosome
water

a appoynted (for monstrous impietieof

shall refuse to receive shaken off them the the

are

them sacred

that

have

of

Baptism and
no, not
so

refused willingly
as

benefit able
to

thereof: shed while

much

their eies them

as

teares

and torture (threaten first they repent (God not their obstinacie in
so

you

please)
to

them permitting horrible

a

dissemble

crime),

26

402

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

albeit the womenkind

"be able other waies especially occasion when to shed teares at every light they will, like the crocodiles.' dissemblingly yea altho' it were our Incidentally, witch-hunting King offers an doubt, our which, no explanationof a peculiarity readers the have alreadynoted great numerical The warlocks. of witches reason over superiority
"

'

is
man

he easie,'
so is,

says ; 'for

as

that

sex

is frailer than

snares

true

in the grosse intrapped of the devil, as was well prooved to be over by the serpentedeceivingof Eva at the beginning,
"

is it easier to

be

which sensine

makes

him

the

homelier

with

that

sex

[ever since]/ of witches, he As regardsthe external appearance remarks that they are not generallymelancholic ; fat rich and worldly wise, some but some are are
4

and

and corpulent, the loth

most

part

are

given over
without

unto

the

of pleasures proves which how

flesh ; and

further

experiencedaily
torture,
concludes the

they are
their

to confess

witnesseth
'

He guiltinesse.' that replies

by asking,

only safe person is the magistrate, when employed assiduously in bringing witches to justice. One Reginald of brewer Scot, Esq., however, hop-grower and disbeliever in and Smeeth, in Kent, a persistent
ridiculer of lances with who witchcraft, the had the courage
to break

Who

is safe ?' and

King and the bench of Bishopsin and is called by the King contemporary pamphlets, an Englishman of damnable opiniones,' irreverently this questionby saying that the only safe answered the King himself,as his sex was prevented person
4

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

403

his
was

being taken

for

satisfied that he

witch,and the whole was no conjurer.

kingdom

In

1616, John

Gotta,a Northampton physician,

attack The
on

written a published forcibly under delusion, which 1624. reached the title of
a was
'

the

vulgar
in

Trial of

Witchcraft,'
fierce blast

second

edition (and enlarged) author

Cotta

also the
'

of

Discovery of the Dangers of against quacks ignorant Practisers of Physick in England/ 1612;
"

and

of

not

less vehement

attack

on
'

the

aurum

of potabile

the
or

chemists, entitled, Cotta

Ant.

contra

Antonium,
There the Word is

An

Anthony/

1623.

at
"

work by John lively Great Haughton,

'

of Gaul, preacher in the

county
is

of

Huntingdon
Witches and

Select Cases

of Conscience which and

touching
worth

Witchcraft/ 1646,
Gaul
was
a

lookinginto.

opponent of the
The

persevering Hopkins. great witch-finder,

courageous

found a unhappy victims of popular prejudice strenuous champion also in Sir Robert Filmer,who, in 1653, published his Advertisement to the Jurymen of England, touchingWitches, together with a Difference between Witch.' an English and Hebrew Filmer is best known to students by his Patriarcha/ an apology for the paternal government of kings, does violence to all constitutional principles, which merit of obvious sincerity but has at least the negative It is somewhat the part of its writer. on surprising like Filmer's, fettered as it was to find a mind by so
' "

26"2

404

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
to

II.

many

and prejudices

slavish

adherence

tion, prescrip-

of tolerance and openly urging the cause and vigorously demolishing the sham enlightenment, in witchcraft believers the by which arguments endeavoured
to

support their grotesque theories.

later followed the side

Three certain

years Thomas

on

same

Ady, M.A., who, with considerable fulminated againstthe witch-mongersand vivacity,

witch-torturers Dark
; or,

in

his

tractate,

'

Candle
the

in

the of

Treatise
Witchcraft of the

concerning
:

Nature
to

Witches

and

being

Advice

Justices Sheriffs, what

to do

Peace,and
sentence

Grand
on

Judges, Jurymen,
as are

before

they pass
as ran as

such The

for arraigned worded

'

their lives

Witches.'
:

quaintly
-

dedication the Prince

follows

To

of the

the

manner

of men,
to
some

It is Kings of the Earth. heavenly King, to dedicate

men,

their books works

great

to thereby

have

their

and countenanced them ; but protected among Thou only art able by Thy Holy Spiritof Truth, to defend Thy Truth, and to make it take impression in the heart and Unto Thee understandingof men. alone do I dedicate this work, entreating Thy Most shall open this High Majestyto grant that,whoever standing book, Thy Holy Spirit so may possess their underthat the Spirit of error as departfrom may them, and that they may read and try Thy Truth by the touchstone of Thy Truth, the Holy Scriptures ; and findingthat Truth, may embrace it and forsake their darksome inventions of Anti- Christ, that have

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

405

deluded
ages. the
now

and

defiled the

nations

now

and
art

in former

Enlightenthe world, Thou World, and let darkness be no

or as

the

Light of
world,

more

in the all
;

in any children

future

age ; but

make
ever

walk

of the

lightfor
the

peopleto and destroy

save

Anti- Christ that hath

us

deceived

nations,and
let not

the
more

residue

by Thyselfalone
us,

; and

Satan

any

delude

for the Truth

is thine for ever.'

Wagstaffepublished The Question of Witchcraft Debated.' According to Wood, he was London the son of John citizen ; was a Wagstaffe, of Oriel born in Cheapside commoner as a ; entered the end of 1649 ; took the Oxford, towards College, in Arts, and applied himself to the study of degrees and other learning. At lengthbeing raised politics
'
'

In 1669

John

from

an

academical death of
an

life to the inheritance

of Hasland without

by
He

the

uncle, who
life afterwards

died in

male

issue,he spent
died in
man,

his

estate/ single
as
(

1677. and of

Wood
a

describes

him

little

crooked

laughedat by the they said,he himself

His book of sympathies has and
'

He was despicable presence. because, as boys of this University

looked like
a

little wizard.' generous tion perora4

is illuminated
a

throughoutby the
liberal mind.
not

and large

His

been

and described, when

as unjustly,

lofty
noble

'

memorable,' and,
'

animated

by
'

earnestness, the

writer's

eloquence. I cannot trembling and horror on the

that in

language rises into positive he says, without think,'

vast

numbers

of

people
been

several ages

and

several countries

have

406

WITCH,
unto

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

IF.

sacrificed

this upon
not

cold

are thousands,

opinion. Thousands, ten and record to have been slain, simple deaths,but
yet, how
the ?
a

many

of them

with And

horrid,
there whom the
unto

tortures. exquisite
more we

many

are

who have
no

have

undergone
extant

same

fate,of

memorial witchcraft

Since
mere

therefore

opinion

of

is

stranger

and wholly alien from true religion Scripture, ; since fables and impossibilities it is ridiculous by asserting ; since it appears, when duly considered,to be all the unto bloody and full of dangerous consequence I hope that with this my of men; lives and safety discourse, error, opposing an absurd and pernicious I cannot
at

all

if he especially himself from

a

disoblige person, any sober,unbiased be of such ingenuity to have freed as those prejuslavish subjection unto dicial
custom

which opinions
too
'

and

education

do

with

much If the
a

tyranny impose.
doctrine of witchcraft the hands

should

be carried up it should be and

sequences con-

to

and height, in
men, unto

after inquisition of

entrusted malicious

the

ambitious, covetous,
of far
more

it would the

prove

fatal

lives and

that
unto

ancient idol

heathenish

than of mankind safety of sacrificing custom men that

we as

gods, insomuch
from from human

stand the

in need former in

of

another the

Heracles

who, Liberator,
country
to

freed like his

world

should, sacrifice,

manner,

travel

country, and

by

all-commanding base custom and witches,

this evil and free it from authority of torturing peopleto confess themselves burning them after extorted confessions.

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

407

Surely the
nor name
so

blood

of

men

ought

not

to

be

so

cheap,

to be shed easily by those who, under the of God, do gratifyexorbitant passionsand ;

selfish ends

for without is

under question, sacred all

as

this

side

heaven,there
for of the

nothing so
all laws

the life of man, forms

most

whereof preservation and

government,

and policies magistratesare

I presume ordained. Wherefore that this especially discourse the vanity of mine, attemptingto prove and impossibility of witchcraft, far from is so any deserved
censure

and and

blame, that it rather

deserves
measure

commendation contribute
to

the

if I can in the least praise, savingof the lives of men.

'

and learning less abundant not superstition, attempteda reply to in his treatise Of Credulity and Incredulity Wagstaffe in Things Divine and Spiritual' (1670).

Meric

Casaubon,

man

of abundant

'

At
was

Thornton, in the parishof Gas wold, Yorkshire,

born, on

the

3rd

of

February,1610,
of the

one

of the of the

ablest and witchhe

was

most

successful

adversaries

maniacs, John
educated
career

Webster.

It is
but

supposed that
the first
event

at

Cambridge ;
we

in his is his

of which
to

have

any

certain in the

knowledge
Church
of In in Free

admission Dr.

holy

orders

England by
1634
we

find him nine

Bishop of curate as officiating

years
at
a

Morton,

Durham.
at Kildwick

Craven, and
Grammar
to have

later

as

Master He
seems

of the

School
held for

Clitheroe.
a

afterwards
to

time

then military chaplaincy,

408

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

have taken
new

withdrawn

from
some

the form

Church

of

England, and
In his
1653
'

refuge in

of Dissent.

his

views found religious Guide,'and in 1654, in Books

expressionin
The of

Saints'
the had

'

Judgment
sermons

Set and
he

Opened,'a series preachedat All originally

Street.
occurred which It
was

which Church the

Hallows' this

bard in Lomincident of

in

church
'

Wood
William

has recorded

On
John

the 12th

October,1653,
sometime
a

Erbury, with

Webster,

endeavoured to knock Cambridge scholar, down and the ministry both togetherin a learning that they then had against ministers two disputation in a church in Lombard Street,London. Erbury then

declared that the wisest ministers

were

and

the

purest

churches defiled

at that
reason

time

befooled, confounded, and

he while learning. Another said that the ministrywere monsters, beasts,asses, and that they are the greedy dogs, false prophets,

by

of

Beast
person the

with also

seven

heads
out

and and

ten

horns. that that

The

same

spoke
in her

said

Babylon
the

is

Church

ministers,and
in end her

Great
that

Whore
with and him

is the

Church
was an

worship, etc.,so
and

there

of ministers

churches

ordinations
to

babbled

and

While these thingswere altogether. fro,the multitude, being of various

to cry

opinions, began to mutter, and many it came to a meeting or immediately which you please), the women wherein
but bell, lost
some

out, and it (call away the the

tumult bore

of them
was

their kerchiefs ; and

more

dispute being hot, there

down the church than

the

danger of pulling ministry.'

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

409

In 1654,
not

our

iconoclastic

enthusiast

strongly
"

but

without

good
'

reason

"

assailed the Oxford

and

educational
in

system then
his

in vogue

at

Cambridge
which

treatise, Academiarurn
sensation in
'

Examen/

created

quite a
dove-cots

the fluttering politecircles,' Universities.

of the rulers of the two

are

Very
to

curious,however,
the old

its

sympatheticreferences

Rosicrucianism, and mysteries, and to the fanciful abstractions dreamy astrology, of Paracelsus, Van Helinont,Fludd, and speculations
Hermetic
Dr. Dee.

One

cannot

but

wonder have of

that allowed the

so

acute

and

vigorousan

intellect should delusions the works

itself to be sciences.

entangledin the But his study of

was,
no

occult old

of the

philosophers
laborious

doubt,
which

the

motive original in his

'

of the

research A

resulted

; or, Metallographia

Historyof Metals' (1671). In this learned and of Ores comprehensivetreatise are declared the signs and Minerals,both before and after Digging, the
'

their kinds, generations, of sundry sorts, and differences ; with the description new Metals,or Semi- Metals,and many other things ling to Mineral Knowledge. As also the handpertaining cussion and showing of their Vegetability, and the disto of the most difficult Questions belonging Gold, MysticalChymistry,as of the Philosopher's their Mercury,the Liquor Alkahest, Aurum potabile, and such like. Gathered forth of the most approved that have written in Greek,Latin,or Authors High
causes

and

manner

of their

Dutch,
Author

with

some

Observations

and

Discoveries

of the in

Himself.

By

John

Webster,

Practitioner

410

WITCH,

WARLOCK,
"

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

naturalia Physick and Chirurgery. Qui principia in seipso hie jam multum remotus est ab ignoraverit,
arte

nostra,
in ten

quam

quoniam non habet radiam tionem suamfundit. Geber,

' '

veram

super Perfect. ,

Sum.

lib. L, p. 2i:
In souls

1677, Webster, who

for that
to to

had

abandoned

the work

cure

of

of

bodies, produced the

mention of the fashion
a

which pages.
was

entitles him

honourable

in these

According
almost
as

the
as

day, its

title

long

table

of contents.

I transcribe

it here in extenso
6

The

Wherein Displayingof supposed Witchcraft, that there And

are

is affirmed

many

sorts

of Deceivers under
a

and

Impostors.
Delusion of

Divers

persons

passive

Melancholyand Fancy. But that there is a Corporeal League made betwixt the Devil and the Witch, Or that he sucks on the Witches Body, has Carnal Copulation, turned into that Witches or are
Cats
is utterly Dogs, raise Tempests or the like, denied and disproved. Wherein the also is handled Existence of Angels and Spirits, the Truth of Apparitions, the Nature of Astral and the Sidereal Spirits,
or

Force

of Charms

and

Philters ; with

other in

Abstruse

Matters.
"

By

John

Webster, Practitioner

Physic.

Falsce etenim

Hominum opiniones

non prceoccupantes,

solumsurdos

ita ut videre nequeant, utccecosfaciunt, de quce aliis perspicuaapparent." Galen, lib. viii., London. Printed by I. M., and are to Comp. Med.

sed

by the Booksellers in London, 1677.' who of restless and W^ebster, was a man evidently and inquiring intellect, independent judgment,died

be sold

CHAP.

V.]
June

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

411

on

18, 1682, and

was

buried may been

in

St.

Margaret's,
seen.

where Clitheroe,

his monument

stillbe devised

Its
some

have must singular inscription : astrological sympathizer

by

Qui hanc figuramintelligunt Me etiam intellexisse, intelligent.

Here several follows

circles and

mysteriousfigureof the sun, with which much lettering, astrological

to

it is unnecessary
:

reproduce. The

tinues coninscription

Hie

jacetignotusmundo
mens

mersus

que sequa

tumultus

Invidise, semper
Multa Ac tandem

tamen

fecit,

tulit veterum

ut sciret secreta

sophorum

vires noverit

ignis aquae.

Johannes
In villa

Hyphantes sive Webster. Spinosa supermontana, in

in agro silvse cuculatse, natus Eboracensi, 1610, Feb. 3.

Parochia

Ergastulum animse deposuit 1682, Junii 18. Annoq. setatis suse 72 currente. huic valedicens, moriens mundo Sicq.peroravit Aurea requiesseterna sepultis. pax vivis,
In

1728,

Andrew

Millar, at
'

the

sign

of

The in

Buchanan's
the

Head, against St.

A the Black it

Clement's

Church
:

Strand,published

History of
of

System of Magick Art,'by Daniel Defoe ;

or, A

book

which, though
one renown

throws middle

is its title, justifies by no means than passing interest,partlyfrom the more it of its author, and partlyfrom the light the English of magic among the popularity on classes in the earlier years of the eighteenth

412

WITCH, As and

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
the

II.

century.

it has not is
not

been very

reprintedfor

last

fifty years, of glimpses

the curious In his
on

the stuff it is made reader.*

known, some generally of may be acceptable to

Defoe preface

lavishes

good

deal

of

tempt con-

to the character of contemporary pretenders

who magician,

imposed on a by sham magicalpractices and therefore credulous. publicignorant, Magicians,

he says, in the first ages ages, madmen
men. were

wise

men

; in the middle

; in these

latter ages,

they are cunning

honest
; in the

In the earliest times

they were
last
; then
or

middle first and In

time, rogues

in these
nature

times, fools.
with the

At

they
now,

dealt
not

with

devil ; either.

with

the

devil

with

nature

the

first ages

the

magicianswere
age the wickeder

wiser than both the

than

the

people;
and wickeder

in the second

people;
and other

in this later age than the

people are
of Defoe's that had

worse

magicians.
one

Like is

many
more

this generalizations, than

true ; and not

it is evident have who

the

pointed so-called magicians

been
an

could

flourished

there not

class ignorant Defoe's

as

account

acceptedtheir pretensions. readily of the originof magic is so vague

he knew
'

to

suggest
was

that

very I have

little of the traced any

ject sub-

he
'

writingabout.
as

he says, it,'
to

as

far back it

gives us antiquity

clue

cover disthe the

was

its beginningin to have by : it seems of the darkest ignorance and curiosity ages of and miracle something wonderful world, when
*

Some

authorities doubt
seems

the

authorship;
claim made

but

the
as

internal

evidence

to

me

to

the justify

for it

Defoe's.

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

413

expected
when the
want

to

confirm
men,

every

advanced

notion

and
to

the wise

having racked
and those

their invention

utmost, called in the devil

of better

to their assistance

for into

help;
so

that did themselves upon

not

run

Satan's

measures,

and

give
and
to

up very

to

the

infernal, yet trod

of

near,

the

verge

between the distinguish magician and the devil, and thus they have gone between since : so that almost all the dispute on ever and the magiciansis that they say they converse us and we with good spirits, any say if they deal with

Hell, that

it

was

hard

it is spirits, Here into his the

with

the devil.' his theme stimulates

greatness of
that

Defoe
from

poetry, which
prose,
so

differs very
a

little, however,

brief

specimen will

content

everybody:
*

Hail !
Which

called sublime, dangerous science, falsely

treads upon

the very brink of crime. of state, Hell's mimic, Satan's mountebank

more

Deals with
The To

devils than

Heaven Heaven

did e'er create.

infernal

by juggling-box,
which
to Eve

designed, played,

put the grand parade upon

devil's first game
he

mankind.
he in Eden

The When

harangued

in

masquerade.'

Dividinghis
the the introduction

treatise into two

to

parts,our
the

author,in

Part

L,

discusses

meaning

of

in magical lore ; who, and what terms principal the meankind of people, the magicians ing were ; and magic and given to the words originally
'
'

'magician.'As
to
was

matter

of course,
a man

he

strays back

the

old Chaldean

days,when

simplya mathematician,a

he says, magician, of science, who,

414

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
a

II.

stored

with

knowledge

and other

was learning,

kind

of

to walking dictionary rest

the people,instructing which

of

mankind

on

subjectsof
in fact, who dreams face of

they
the and

were

ignorant; a wise man, ill signs, tokens,and

of the

interpreted omens, signs

the When

; understood

times, the
of the

the

heavens,
there. and

influences

luminaries superior became much

more

all this wisdom had communicated

common,

the

magi
the

of their

knowledge

to

still aspiring to a peopleat large,their successors, above,and apart from, the rest of the world, position were compelled to push their studies farther, to into nature, to view the aspectof the heavens, inquire
to

calculate
to

the motions dwell upon

of the stars,and their influences science of

more

ticularly parhuman

in

affairs
"

thus

the creating

these

men or

neither

had,

nor

astrology.But pretended to have, any

the devil
or

compact
any of

correspondencewith

with

of thought,or, if They were men of deeper men thinkingthan the ordinary you please, the sciences, sort ; they studied inquired into the of nature works and providence, studied the meaning and events, and conand end of things,the causes sequently
were course

his works.

able to
causes

see

further

into

the

ordinary
and

and

both than

of

things about
men.

them,

thingsabove them,
Such
were

other

the the

world's elder

gray

the forefathers,
was were

magicians
*

of

time,

in whom There
a

found others"

an

excellent

of spirit
"

wisdom.'

not

less learned
; who

whose

studies took the

structure

different direction and

into inquired

organiza-

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

415

tion of the human the progress, both and in

body ;
the
men

who

the origin, investigated of diseases

;

causes

and

tempers, dis-

sought out medicinal virtues of drugs and plants the physical or ; discoveries in and as by these means they made daily the world, until then, was nature, of which ignorant, and by which cheyperformed astonishing cures, they and of the reverence naturallygained the esteem people. Sir Walter Ealeigh contends that only the word magic,'and not the magical art, is derived from Simon Magus. He adds that Simon's name not was Magus, a magician,but Gors, a person familiar with
women
'

and

who

that he usurped the title of Simon spirits ; and then a good and the Magiciansimplybecause it was honourable title. Defoe avails himself of Raleigh's opinion,that there is authorityto sustain his own evil
a

manifest

difference between

which magic,

is wisdom

supernatural knowledge,and the witchcraft and understand which we now by the word. conjuring In his second chapterDefoe classifiesthe magic of under three heads : i. Natural, which the ancients
and included of the the

knowledge of
is to

the

stars, of the motions revolutions and

bodies,and planetary
astronomy the

their

influences ; that and philosophy, in which

was

say, the
;

study of nature, of ii. Artificial or Rational,

all

judicial and the the casting or calculating nativities, astrology, charms and figures of diseases cure (1 ) by particular
"

included

knowledge of

in placed
at

this

or

this

or

that

position ; (2) by herbs gathered crisis of time ; (3) by saying particular

that

416

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

such and and of

and such such

such

words

over

the

patient ; (4) b}'such

such-like disease

the flesh in such gestures ; (5) by striking

a

manner,

and
not

innumerable upon the

pieces

mimicry, working
the

but itself,

of the patient, and so affecting imagination the cure by the power of nature, though that nature set in operation were by the weakest and simplest which methods was ; and, iii. Diabolical, imaginable of the devil, wrought by and with the concurrence carried on by a correspondencewith evil spirits assistance with their help, and presence, and personal chiefly by their priests. Defoe argues that practised the ancients at first were acquaintedonly with the sorcery and purer form of magic, and that,therefore, of much later development. The witchcraft were of this development he traces in his and motive cause and Occasion which Of the Reason third chapter(' original brought the ancient honest Magi, whose upon
" "

study was
nature,
with the
to

philosophy, astronomy,
turn
sorcerers

and

the works and

of deal

and

wizards,

Devil, and

how

their Conversation

began5).

comments Egyptologistswill find Defoe's upon simple and unhistorical, Egyptian magic refreshingly and his identifications of the Pyramids with magical

and is wildlyvague Of the hypothetical. practices really taught and practised magic which was among the ancient peopleof Egypt, Defoe, of course, knows

nothing.
it from when and that

He

tells us, He goes

however, that
on

the Jews

learned

them.

to

as speculate

to the time

close intercourse
on

began

between

the devil of

his servants

earth which

is the foundation

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

417 that his

the later

or

diabolical

magic,and
on

concludes

first visible appearance

as

this mundane

stage

was

the

enemy

of Job.

Thence

he is led to

inquire,

shapesthe devil assumed and others, his first appearances to the magicians on he is in the dawn of the world's history, and whether has been allowed to assume or a human shapeor no. And he suggests that his earliest acquaintance with mankind made was through dreams,and that by this
what chapter, method he contrived
to

in his fourth

infuse

into men's

minds

an

infinite variety of and abhorrent

wicked corrupt imaginations, and absurd

desires,
some same

conclusions

with resolutions,

and foolish, ridiculous, time.

thingsat

the

to tell an Oriental story, proceeds which, is his own invention : doubtlessly, Ali Albrahazen, Persian wizard,had. it is said, a

Defoe then

this kind

of intercourse

with

the

devil.

He

was

and had obtained a wonderful by birth, tion reputafor his witchcraft, sent for by the so that he was such as King of Persia upon extraordinary occasions, the interpretation of a dream, or of an apparition, like that of Belshazzar's handwriting, of some meteor or and he never failed to give the King satisfaction. or eclipse, For he false,
terms

Sabean

whether them

his utterances

were

true

or

couched

always in
what his he

such

that

something of
deduced he had
so

ambiguous predicted might

so seem

be certainly

from

words, and

to

import that
had This

revealed it, whether effectually

or

he

really done

not.

Ali, wandering alone

in

the

desert,and
27

418

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

musing much upon which, to the great

in the heavens
to

the
terror

appearance of the

of

meteor, fiery
flamed

country, had
what
so,

every

a month, sought night for nearly

and apprehend its significance,

to the world ;

it should he sat
a

tend por-

to do but, failing

down,

weary

and

disheartened,in the shade

himself other
a

of

spreading
that

palm.
some

Breathingto from the spirit

he remarkable,

strong desire
would

world

assist him
so

to arrive at the true

fell

meaning of asleep. And,

the dream tall
man

generously a phenomenon
lo ! in his
was

sleephe
that
a

dreamed
man

a came

dream, and
to

this and

tall

him, a

of sage upon
name,

venerable
countenance

aspect, with a pleasingsmile him by his ; and, addressing

was

his told

him

and his questions, to answer prepared the signification of the great and to him to explain terrible fire in the air which all Arabia was terrifying that he and Persia.
an

proved to be of explanation These character. fieryappearances, collections of vapour exhaled by the

sun

His

astronomical he

said, were
of the

influence

from

earth

or was

sea.

As

to

their

importance to

human

simplythis : that sometimes by the earth,and their propinquity their power of to of aqueous or attraction, by their dissipation vapours, they insupportable heats ; while,at other times,they distilled heavy and unusual in an rains, by condensing, extraordinary the vapours And he they had absorbed. manner, added : Go thou and warn thy nation that this fiery meteor portendsan excessive droughtand famine ; for
'

it affairs,

occasioned

great droughts and

CHAP.

V.]
that

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

419

know the
to

by

the

strong exhalation

of the vapours
nearness

of

occasioned earth, the necessary it,

by the

meteor's unusual

rains will be

withheld,and

to

famine and of course, long drought,as a matter ing succeed. of corn Thus, by judging accordscarcity to the rules of natural causes, thou shalt predict shalt obtain what shall certainly to pass, and come the reputation thou so ardentlydesirest of being a wise man and a great magician.' all very well as This prediction,' said Ali, was Arabia ; but would it applyalso to Persia ?' regarded the devil ; for Ali's interlocutor was no No,'replied from less distinguished a fierymeteors personage sometimes the same causes produced contrary events ; and he might repair to the Persian Court,and predict which the advent of excessive rains and floods, and occawould the fruits of the earth, sion injure greatly and want scarcity. Thus, if either of these thou shalt assuredly succeed,as it is most probable,
4
'

"

'

be received in the

as

sage

in magician both of

one

country, if
thou

not

other ;
a

also,to

them

mayest

that the consequence probability only, the people, be a plague or infection among may which is ordinarily the effect as well of excessive If this happens, thou shalt wet as of excessive heat. thou desirest ; and if not, seeing gainthe reputation foretell it,thou shalt not thou didst not positively incur the ignominy of a false prediction.' and for the devil's assistance, Ali was very grateful failed not to ask how, at need, he might againsecure and told to come it. He was againto the palm-tree,

suggest, as

27"2

420

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
thrice

II.

to

go
name

around each

it fifteen time
:

him times,calling the end

by
by
his

his

at

of the fifteenth cirhimself overtaken with

cumambulation drowsiness face to him

name

he would

find

the

whereupon he should lie down receive a south,and he would

;

visit from the

in vision.

The

devil further

told him him.

magic
and
a stant con-

The

by which he was to summon were magician'spredictions

Thenceforward with the he communication

duly

made

duly fulfilled.
say,
return
seems

maintained

devil,who, strange to
in

not

to have

exacted

for his

but valuable,

anything from him assistance. hazardous,

chaptercontains a further account of the devil's conduct in imitatingdivine inspirations ; describes the difference between the genuine and the false ; and dwells upon signs and wonders, fictitious
as

Defoe's

fifth

well

as

real. first

In

chapter the

sixth and it

our

author

treats
as

of the diabolical the

of magic practices

witchcraft
was

art, and

explainshow

handed

it was by whom Egyptiansand Phoenicians, amusing remarks openlyencouraged. He offers some the methods for summoning on adopted by magicians
on

to

the

who devil, In of

seems

to be

at

once

their

servant

and

master.

parts of India they go

up, he says, to the

summit him wives beat

mountain, where they call particular with little kettledrum, a just as the good old in England hive their bees,except that they Then it on the wrong side. they pronounce
some

certain words appears It is

which

they call charms,' and

'

the devil

without
not

fail.
to

easy

discover

in

historywhat

words

CHAP.

V.J
used

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

421

were

for It and

charms

many

ages.
;

countries

magicians acted
we mean

Egypt and Arabia for so is certain they differed in different the it is certain they differed as Nor are together or individually.
in what any the devil could words The used
"

less at

loss to understand

such words, or by suffering charm, summon, alarm,or arouse

at

to all,

him.
was

Greeks

have

left us, he

says,

word

which

by

the

magiciansof antiquity prettyfrequently that trine or triangular : word, Abracadabra

ABRACADABRA ABRACADABR ABRACADAB ABRACADA
A A A A A A A B B B B B B R R R R R A A A A C C A A D

famous

'

There

is abundance
to

of learned the

puzzleamong

the word
:

ancients the

find

out

of this signification

subtle

reverence

every

way,

position of the letters gave a kind of to them, because they read it as it were and upwards and downwards, backwards
many will have it still that the devil
to think
: nay, together they begin at last and whenever Legion's surname,

forwards, and
put them
was

it

old

he

was

called

by

that
reason

name,

he the

used
women

to

come

for which
corners over

old

in of

afraid horribly for if they should together,

would

be

readily ; their chimneysaying it often

very it
a

say

certain

422

WITCH, of

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

number

times, they had

notion

it would

certainly

raise the devil. invented They say, on the contrary, that it was Greek ; that it contained a learned by one Basilides, of the Divinity the great and awful name ; and that it was for the opposing the used for many years of the spells and charms Pagans ; that is, the diabolical of the spellsand charms cians.' magipagan
'

In the seventh progress diabolical of

we chapter

read of the
now

and practice

magic, as
it

art ; how

explainedto be a spreaditself in the world, and

up
to

it is

by

what

degreesit

grew

the

heightwhich

it

has since attained.

The work
*

introduction is devoted
to

to
an

the

second

part

of

Defoe's
Art

as

it

is/ and really

of the exposition sets forth why there

c

Black
are

several

of it in the several parts of the practices differing what is are world, and what those practices ; as, also, contained in it in general.' He defines it as 'a new generalterm for all the branches of that correspondence which mankind has maintained, or does, or
can

carry on, between and the infernal

as
:

himself world.'

and

the

devil,between
he
enumerates

this these

And

branches

or Divining,

serving ObSoothsaying ;

of Times; Using Enchantment; Witchcraft; with Familiar Charming,or Setting of Spells ; Dealing
or Spirits Sorcery ; Wizardising, ; and Necromancy. The first chaptertreats of Modern Magic, or the Black Art in its present practice and perfection.

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

423

In the second

the chapter first with his

scene

is

changed :
Art
to

as

the

devil acted
so magicians,

at

Black
now

without carry

the
it
on

the

magicians seem
This
'

without

the

devil.

is written

in

Defoe's

best

The magicians/ he says, style of sober irony. were they formerlythe devil's servants, but now that it is his masters, and that to such a degree, are but drawing a circle, a few muttering figures, casting the devil, as as a little Arabic, and readily up comes sir ? or like the drawer at a tavern, with a D'ye call,
'

Scotch

caude

with [caddie?],
as

What's
in
as

your
art

honour's say,

wullj sir?
must

Nay,
of

the

learned
:

the
to

he

come,
out

he can't

help it

then I

he tempting, the

is

quite

doors.
the

And

think, as
may
manner as

Old
him

Parliament

did In
a

by

we bishops,

e'en vote

useless.
for him desire
:

word,

there
as some

is

no

of occasion he
can

mankind

are

froward

wish

and

tell us we cunning men sin faster than the devil can keep pace with us : as wicked witness the late witty and moderately Lady of them
; nay,

who
. . .

blest
to

her

stars

that he

the

devil

never

.,

tempted him,
her.' Defoe
and

her she that

anything;
well

understood
to

himself

for better,

knew

it would

enough how be losing his

sin without
to talk to

time

furnishes with
a

an

account entertaining

of been

his
to
a

conversation

countryman,
Whether
many

who
true
or

had

magician at
narrative

Oundle.
that

the fictitious, tricks time

shows

of the in

favourite
our own

seances performed at spiritualistic were

well known

in Defoe's

424

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK

II.

COUNTRYMAN.
two
a one

saw

my
some

old

gentleman in
the

more

in chairs

at

distance,and
upon wand

great chair,and three great candles,and

a

great sheet
of them

of white had
a

paper

floor between

them

; every

long white
sheet

in their

hands,

the lower

end

of which

touched
And

the

of paper.

DEFOE. C. D.
you.

were

the candles upon

the

ground
about

too

Yes, all of
There
was

them.
a

great deal of
not

ceremony

you,

assure

C. I think

so,

too, but it is
if it
was

done

yet

immediately I heard
away I

the little door stir, as

opening, and

skipped as

I could tread, and got into my chair again, and sat there as softly stirred out of it. I was no sooner as gravely as if I had never out set, but the door opened indeed, and the old gentleman came don't ye stir ;' and at as before,and turning to me, said, Sit still,
'

that word
out

the

other
one

two

that

were

with

him

in the

room

walked

after him,

after

another,across
I
came

at the other
room

door where

in ; but

if to go out the room, as at the further end of the

one

and they stopped, it

was some

turned

their faces to

another,

and

talked ; but understand D. C. And

devil's languageof their own, nothingof it.

now

for I could

I suppose

you

were

in frighted

earnest

Ay, so I was ; but it was worse yet, for they had not stood but the great elbow-chair, which the old gentleman long together, sat in at the littletable justby me, began to stir of itself; at which the old gentleman, knowing I should be afraid, and to me, came all will be well ; you shall have no don't you stir, said, Sit still, harm and saith, ;' at which he gave his chair a kick with his foot, other words, and other language Go !' with some ; and away went the ground,and the other the obedient chair sliding, two of its legs on two off, as ifsomebodyhad dragged it by that part. D. And doubt, they did,though you could not see it. so, no
' ' ,

C. And

as

soon

as

the chair

was

dragged or

moved

to

the end

where the three, I know of the room, to call 'em, were, not what other chairs did the like from the other side of the room, and two

together a good while ; at last the door at that end of the room opened too, and they all were without risingout of their chairs ; for I am gone in a moment, sure they did not rise to go out, as other folks do. when the chair stir did you think of yourself D. What you saw
so

they

all sat

down, and

talked

so

near

you

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

425

C. Think

! nay,

I did not

think

; I

was

dead, to
be

be

sure

was

dead,
would

with

the

and fright,
next

expectedI
Then

should it was,

carried

away,

chair and

the all,

moment.

have

lifted off my

hat, -if it had

I say, that my hair it been on, I am sure

would.

Well, but when again,I suppose 1

C. To D. C. his
man

D.

they were

all gone, you

I
not

came

to

yourself

tell you go
on,

the let
a

truth,master,
me

am

come

to

myselfyet.
again,called
down
at the

But

know

how

it ended. old
man came

Why,

after

littlewhile, my chairs to

in him

to set the

and then rights,

sat

and to me, asked me table, spoke cheerfully which I refused,though I was a-dry indeed.

if I would I believe the

drink,

fright

had the

made

me

dry ;

but

as

never

had

been

used to drink with

I didn't know devil,

what

to think

of it,so I let it alone.

Of the present pretences of chapter(' the Magicians they defend themselves ; and ; how some examples of their practice ')Defoe has a lively of a contemporary magician, account a Dr. Bowman,
of

In his third

Kent,
is

who

seems

to

have

been

firm
was a

believer in green old

what
man,

now

called
went

He Spiritualism.

who
a

about
a a

and

cap,
'

with

long long beard,

a

in

black and

velvet his He upper

gown

trimmed

with

kind of

of muschato.'

lip strongly
much

repudiated any
with the devil from assistance

kind
;

or correspondence

intercourse

but the

hinted

that

he

derived

invisible world.
and learned, the

which peoplethe good spirits After dwellingon the follies of the this of the ignorant, superstitions
:

lordly conjurersaid
art, who
the
errors

'You the

see

how

that

we,

men

of

have of

studied
common

sacred
;

suffer by sciences, take

us

fame

they
and

all for

damned devil-mongers,

rogues,

conjurers/
the doctrine of

The

fourth

chapter discusses

426

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
how

II.

as spirits

it is understood

by
may

the be any

magicians;
an

far with the the

it may

be

supposed there

intercourse

superiorbeings, apart from devil or the spirits of evil

present times.
And
so

with familiarity
a

; with

transition

to

much Defoe.

for the

"

Art

of

Magic

'

as

expounded

by

Daniel

appearedBishop Hutchinson's 'Historical Essay concerningWitchcraft/ a book written in a liberal and tolerant spirit, and. at the same most time, that with so much and exactitude, comprehensiveness
In 1718 later
stores.

writers

have

availed

themselves

of freely

its

Reference

may

also be made
'

to

"

Beaumont, Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, and other MagicalPractices/ 1705. Witchcrafts,

John

(of Manchester), Magic,Witchcraft, Animal Magnetism, Hypnotism,and Electro- Biology' craft, witchthere is very little about (1852),in which
James
'

Braid

but

good

deal

about

the

influence

of

the

imagination.

Colquhoun, History of Magic, Witchcraft, and Animal Magnetism/ 1851. Rev. Joseph G-lanvill, Sadducismus Triumphatus ;
'

J. C.

"

or, A

full and

plainEvidence
Scott,
1831.
'
'

Witches concerning

and

Apparitions/1670.
Sir Walter
Letters
on

Demonology

and

Witchcraft/
Howard
1865.

Williams,

The

of Superstitions

craft/ Witch-

CHAP.

V.]

THE

LITERATURE

OF

WITCHCRAFT.

427 if I indicate

It may
some

be the

convenience

to the reader

foreign authorities on this principal and Institor subject. Such as Sprenger'sgreat Maleficarum work, 'Malleus (Nuremberg, 1494); The monk Heisterbach's Dialogus Mi(Caesarius) raculorum (ed. by Strange),1851 ; Cannaert's Proces des Sorcieres en Belgique/ 1848 ; Dr. W. G. Soldan's Geschichte der Hexenprocesse (1843) ; G. C. Horst's oder die Zauberei, Zauber-Bibliothek, Theurgie und Mantik, Zauberei, Hexen und Hexen
of
"

'

'

'

processen,

Damonen,
6

in scheinungen/ exhaustive

Gespenster und 1821 most a vols.,

"

Geistererlearned and de

work, brimful
i

of recondite

lore; Collin

UniRepertoire versel des Etres, des Livres, et des Choses qui tiennent la Magie,' aux aux a etc., Apparitions, Divinations,

Plancy's

Dictionnaire

Infernal ;

ou

1844

Michelet's
written
;

'

La

Sorciere
'

'

is,of
'

course,
au

liantly brilxvie.

R.

Reuss's
;

La

Sorcellerie
Del

et

xviie.

Siecle/1872
delle
ou

Tartarotti's

Congresso
'De-

Notturno

Lamie/
Traite

1749;
des

F.

Perreaud's
et

monologie,
1655;
H.

Demons

Sorciers,'
of the

des Boguet's 'Discours Cotton Mather's (veryrare) ; and Invisible World/ 1695 monument a
"

Sorciers/ 1610
'

Wonders
of

credulity,

and bigotry. prejudice,

BOOKS

ON

MAGIC.

It may
a

also be convenient

to the reader if I enumerate

authorities on the historyof principal and Alchemy. A very exhaustive Magic, Sorcery, few of the in the
*

list will be found

Bibliotheca Majrica et Pneu-

428

WITCH,

WARLOCK,

AND

MAGICIAN.

[BOOK
'

II.

matica/ by Graessel,1843

and

an

Alphabetical

Hermetic on Philosophy and Catalogue of Works Alchemy is appended to the Lives of Alchemystical For Waite, 1888. Philosophers/ by Arthur Edward will be found cient suffiordinarypurposes the following sophic : Langlet du Fresnoy, Histoire de la PhiloHermetique/1742 ; Gabriel Naude, Apologie
; ' '

pour

les Grands
1625
;

Hommes

faussement Antoine

soupqonnes
'

de

Magie/
tionum
'

Martin

Delrio,

Disquisi-

Magicarum, libri sex/ 1599 ; L. F. Alfred dans TAntiquite et Maury, La Magie et 1'Astrologie au Moyen Age/ etc.. 1860 ; Eus. Salverte,Sciences lation, Occultes/ed. by Littre,1856 (seethe English transPhilosophyof Magic/ with Notes by Dr. A. Todd Thomson, 1846); Abbe de Villars,'Entretiens du Comte de Gabalis (' tome Voyages Imaginaires/ 34),
' '
'

Englishedas The History of the

*

Count

de Gabalis

beinga
of

ing divert-

Rosicrucian

Doctrine Theatrum
'

Spirits/

etc., 1714;
Britannicum 1597
;

Elias

Ashmole,
'

'

Chemicum
of

;' Roger Bacon,

Arthur

Mirror
de

Alchemy/
et

Louis

Figuier, Histoire

1'Alchimie

les

Alchimistes/ 1865;
Real

Edward

Waite, 'The

History of the Rosicrucians/1887 ; Hargrave edit. ; William Jennings, The Rosicrucians/new Godwin, Lives of the Necromancers/ 1834 ; Dr. T. Thomson, 'Historyof Chemistry/ 1831; 'Encyclopaedia
'
*

Britannica/ in locis ; Dr.

der Chemie

;'G. Rodwell,
de la

"

Birth

Kopp, Geschichte 1874 of Chemistry/

'

Haerfor, 'Histoire

Chimie/ etc., etc.

BILLING

AND

SONS,

PRINTERS,

GUILDFORD.