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TheBookofWitches 10001605
TheBookofWitches 10001605
BOOK OF WITC H E S
O L IVE R M A D O X H UE F F ER
Au tfi o r of “
I n d rea d] d Ou t
an j
‘
r
’ °
59 C .
TH E JO H N M c B R I D E c o
N EW Y O R K
1 0
9 9
C ON T E N T S
C H AP T ER I .
A P OSS I B LE REV I VA L °
OF W IT CHC RAF T
C H AP T ER II .
S AB B ATH ~
G E N E RAL
C H AP T ER I I I .
OR I G I N S W IT CH
'
HE OF TH E
C H AP T ER IV .
TH E H A LF -
W AY W O RLD S
C H AP T ER V .
TH E WIT C H S ATTR I B UT E S
’
C o nte n t s
P AGE
C H AP T ER VI .
S O ME RE P RE S EN TATI VE E N G L I S H W IT C H E S
C H AP T ER V II .
TH E W C H OF AN
IT T I! U Y
IT
C H AP T ER V II I .
TH E W IT C H I N GR E C E A ND RO M
E E
C H AP T ER IX .
F RO M P AGA N I S M T O C H R I STI A N I T Y
C H AP TER X .
C H AP T ER XI .
LA E R
T P E RS E C U T I O N S I N E N G LA ND
C H AP T ER XII .
P E R S E C U TI O NS IN SCOT LA ND
C H AP T ER X II I .
O T H E R PE RS E C U T I O N S
Vi
C o n t e nt s
P AG E
C H AP T ER X IV .
P HI LT RE S CHA RM S A ND P O TI O N S
'
‘
C H AP T E R XV .
TH E WI CH N F C ION
T I I T a
.
C H AP T ER XV I .
SO M E WI T C H S D AY
'
i - E OF To -
VIi
FO R E W O R D
O rdnance M ap o f
,
certai n
ly
we cannot spare o ne o f the most time honoured -
x
F o re w o rd
L O ND O N , S efle m b w , 68
19 .
TH E BO O K O F W I TC H E S
C HAP T E R I
ON -
A P OS S I B LE REV I V AL O F W IT CHCRA F T
TO the superficial glance it might seem that he
who would urge a revival o f witchcraft is co n
fronted by a task more H erculean than that o f
—
making dry bones 1ive i n that the bones he seeks
'
—
class which be it remembered includes those
, ,
—
those a waning band who preserving implicit -
—
maintain that witchcraft along with Gardens O f
E den giants and Jewish leaders capable Of i n
, ,
I B
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
extinct in civilised men s minds as is the dodo ; so
’
— —
but a small a ridiculously small item o f the
human race Compared with the whole p o p u l a
.
—
ma n and know him still— a Romney Marsh
J
2
On a P o s s i bl e R e vi v a l o f Wi t chc ra ft
lander who within the last decade has suffered
, , ,
, ,
.
,
—
advertiser in deference to modern convention he
3
The B o o k o f Witch e s
is described as a Professor rather tha n a
sorcerer— further protests his mastery of P hre no
logy G raphology Clairvoyance and P sycho
, , ,
, ,
”
Lady in Waiting we find an example O f the
,
—
ing of the unhappy Princess later Queen
Caroline wife of G eorge IV S he says a s
,
.
,
follows °
—
recorded had recourse no t without success to
,
—
the B lack M ass a s a means towards gaining the
affections Of Louis X IV It is but a few years
.
—
be it remembered the self proclaimed mission of
,
trous than f o r
,
—
instance the world wide adoption
,
6
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
happiness upon his altars as though he were
indeed the G o d he has explained away And .
our ignorance
,
It i s true he c a n perform
.
—
laugh at them individually who may are all alike
outward and visible s igns o f the revolt of man
against being relegated to the i ns ignifi ca nc e o f a
scientific incident And among such troubled
.
8
On a P o s s i bl e R e vi v a l Of W i t chc ra ft
Under the f égzm e o f enlighten
'
ce s s fu l man .
—
horrible conception o f a machine like Certainty ,
, ,
I O
On a P o s s i bl e R e v i va l o f W i t chc ra ft
ferred their grim pre eminence with its sporting -
self co z ened
-
.
—
cause we have killed them with laughter as many
a good and evil cause has been killed H ad we
"
.
11
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
’
it was given in evidence that the complainant s
wife was generally regarded as a witch by the
inhabitants of the Tiptree district Nor as I .
,
,
—
phone and some imperfect flying machines .
—
Those same flying machines provide yet another
argument in the witch s favour Why deny the
’
.
—
a few drugs in a bottle and cures diseases H e .
I
3
The B o o k o f W it ch e s
S ince then wehave had our full complement o f
foggy weather ; but does anyone regard the feat
as incredible !
I n all the long list of witch attainments there -
sion of the fact that the witch did evil and was “
, , ,
16
On a P o s s i bl e R e v iva l o f W i t chc ra ft
enduring marks upon the face Of history to an
Obscure corner o f the nursery and that upon such ,
—
believe and thus prove our belief in human
—
nature that long after the last atheist has de
parted into the n o thi ngne s s he claims a s his birth
‘
of —
her s e x including some Of the most de
s e rv e d l
y famous women t hat ever lived — S hould
allow all this not only to be forgotten but to be ,
,
-
,
.
ful credulity .
C HAP T E R I I
A SABB AT H G E N ERAL
-
night
The witch lives by herself in a dingle a ,
, ,
19 C 2
The Bo o k Of Wi t ch e s
brighter ray than ordinary it does but emphasise ,
, , ,
’
Venture anywhere within the Witch s dingle on
such a night as this The very wind wails among
.
—
There is but one room and that of the barest
-i i n the witch s cottage ’
The village children .
,
—
with garnered pine needles f o r mattress She .
20
A S a bb a t h G e n e ra l -
—
no fear Of the Thing it i s a familiar visitant .
—
D evil s marks u p on her breast and thigh
’
—
calls it To m Vineg ar To m ; and they laugh
together over Ol d exploi ts and present purposes .
th ,
d arkness At last
. with a careless greetin
,
g it ,
—
the path and strikes out into the gorse clad waste
beyond the pasture keeping to it until s he is
,
bosom .
22
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
mumbling below her breath and once when the , ,
way .
’
It flutters straight for the witch s shoulder and
there settles whispering hoarsely in her ear while
, ,
, .
—
power to Carry her s k y high ; o r if she swallow ,
—
Devil her master knows none better that no
, ,
—
such potency I s I n any Ointment but that his o wn ,
2
5
The B o o k Of Wi t ch e s
find her S leeping peacefully upon the bed .
’
The raven having carried their master s messag e
, ,
—
S O for a time a little time for Devil s mes ,
’
26
—
A S a bb a t h G e n e ra l
Hackett c a n scarcely stand against it Whether .
27
The BO O k Of Wi t ch e s
the —
meeting place She falls in with comp a ny bent
,
—
in the distance glows like a newly risen star H e .
28
A S a bb a t h G e ne ra l -
Day .
—
Yet o f those gathere d for this Sabbath General ,
have it
M other Hackett when s he di smounts from her
‘
, ,
’
turning they whisper the tale into their master s
,
” ”
wind o r Co z li ng but never by the names
, ,
master s kingdom
’
Those who have done well
.
—
plump and well favoured being a witch o f ,
—
farmer to her master s allegiance has failed ’
,
34
A S a bb a t h G e ne ra l -
—
have ever since gone cross eyed vomiting needles ,
—
in them he delights most and Of future reward
great promise But he speaks as o ne whose
.
—
thoughts are elsewhere and his eyes which are
,
—
always the eyes o f a lustful goat wander to
where the beauteous Sidonia waits smiling for
her turn S O M other Hackett must hobble back
.
35 D 2
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
ness and disappointment feeling that s he has ,
'
When all the witches have rendered account ,
’
the D evil s throne and stand there curious and , ,
—
open eyed understanding nothing Of what i s
,
,
’
learned O f Holy Writ is but an Old wife s tale ,
—
little white switches for that end Satan promising
that next year if they have deserve d well they
, ,
—
and to receive his mark invented by him in i m
pious mockery Of o u r Saviour s wounds and the ’
3 8
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
is nought but a huge mouth and hops underneath ,
a rioting j esting
-
and playing after such wise a s
, ,
40
A S a bb a t h G e n e ra l -
, ,
, ,
— —
yet see nothing Of them f o r evil doers though ,
Witches Sabbath ’
.
’
Devil s brood break Off and listen fearfully f o r ,
4 2
A S a bb a t h G e ne ra l -
prise them ere they can reach their homes and all
their wickedness be made clear .
44
C HAP T E R I I I
TH E O RI GI N S OF TH E W IT CH
TH E wit ch in the broader sense Of the word may
, ,
45
The B o o k Of Wi tch e s
more grotesque o f her attributes lifting her at
, ,
—
mother gave birth to twin daughters the goddess ,
—
entered again st it reason not only for jo y and
wonder but for respect and gratitude even p er
,
—
haps for worship
Whatever his divinity M an worship s him
.
, self .
+
Whence the first p ri e s te s s fro m whom later
descends the first priest F or who S O apt a t p ro
'
, ,
, ,
49 E
The B o o k o f '
W i tch e s
sister from whom is to be born the devout
,
,
-
—
Consider the other woman the a ncestress of
the witch in the Opprobrious sense
, She knows .
—
faith in her power is tempting s o are the gifts
thus easy to be earned The man believes in her
.
—
be s e t down to their no nf u lfil m e nt There i s a .
—
ju s ti fi e d the expected rain comes Her r eputa .
—
tion i s assured until belief in the supernatural
5 0
The O ri gi n s O f t he W i t ch
shall be n o more H er daughter and her grand
.
,
.
—
though he start later very much a s the boy
i s S lower in development than i s his S ister
— is not content always to remain second in the
race f o r knowledge —
F o r a time perhaps f o r
—
long centuries he ha s been content to leave
things intellectual to his womenfolk But when .
5 1 E 2
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
AS the slow centuries pa s s society been ha s
gradually forming and shaping itself In hi s .
—
him chooses o u t rulers who become hi s gods in
,
an accomplished fact .
5 2
The O ri g i n s Of t he W i t ch
struggles for the mastery the fortunes Of the
witch as Of all exponents Of the supernatural
, ,
protector s expense
’
The realm o f Nature
.
—
dates herself to circumstances the witch defies
them The priestess acknowledging her o wn
.
,
53
The B o o k Of Wi t ch e s
the god to interced e with him o n behalf Of her
,
.
,
—
them in his heart and a heresy threatening the ,
54
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
civil rather than religious grounds gave the icono ,
,
f
without mercy .
sion the
, an witch
— was no t
r
i ong i n
" we
adopting
ha w-
a vg : a
‘
fl
" ' w w
m w m c g
—
than the O l d eas y go i ng g o d s wh o had formerly s
,
5 6
The O ri gi n s o f t he W i t ch
tes tant claiming to hol d direct communication
,
.
,
5 8
The O ri gi n s Of t he W i t ch
frequently misused ; the fact that the possessions
of the accused became forfeit to her j udges when
tried in an ecclesiastical court may seem to the
sce ptic to provide ample reason why the ecclesias
‘
—
name Of the All M erciful .
—
constraint which was no t however regarded as , ,
59
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
enshrined in the nursery lore o f Europe As
.
60
C HAP T E R IV
TH E HAL F W AY W O RLD S
-
, , ,
—
human he pl a ced the semi divine between the ,
,
—
M an Devil God Devil and s o on until the possi
-
, ,
—
E ach ha s his o wn world and the stars cannot
rival them in number ; each world has its cities
61
The B o o k O f Wi t c h e s
and its nations differing i n all things save one
,
, ,
—
be witches demons also unless many grave and ,
—
maids may many a man ha s married a fairy wife
— and it is an open question whether they have
—
corporeally into a wolf o r a cat which brings her
into line with the were wolf j ust a s the cat o r -
c o l l e a gu e s
fi
,
'
—
have been many male witches more particularly -
—
in Scotland as distinguished from wizards .
64
The H a lf wa y W o rl d s
-
—
ever their sub division one and all unite in one
-
p owers to that
,
one conclusion they must come
at last A m d thus and only thus we may know
.
, ,
—
them posthumously .
65 F
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
evolved he soon l eft her far behind ; it is true
,
—
the highest rank in the profession approaching
it from the S Ci e nti fi c standpoint and leav i ng her ,
—
himself master o f the Devil using Satan and all
—
his imps f or hi s own private ends while the less
enterprising witch never rose to be more than the
’
Devil s servant o r at best his humble partner in
,
—
ill doing .
, ,
”
p ri e t o r of let us s a
y
, Dr Parabole s Pellets , is .
’
—
and cure Of certain poisons these were sufficient
stock i n trade to convince her neighbours and
- -
—
short of taking them himself a t least he will
prescribe them to his deare s t friend in absolute
good faith S O with the witch his grandmother
.
, .
67 F 2
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
We thus may briefly state the difference
between the W itch and the magician as that the
one professed powers in which she might hersel f
believe o r not believe inherited o r received by
,
—
his professional hocus pocus devilry cannot be ,
—
other i n that while the two firs t mentioned have -
—
senses than one devils having extremely delicat e
noses and being thus easily soothed a nd entice d
,
68
The H a l f wa y -
W o rl d s
but following the path pointed out for them by
professors of the Art M agical .
69
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
The D i v i ners or p e e re rs into the future form
, ,
—
natural and o ne which numbers very many
practitioners even in o u r own day Naturally .
—
divining thus the Hebrews placed most con
fi d e nc e in Urim and Thummim ; the Greeks were
famous for axinomancy the machinery for which,
—
detection by divination has been and remains
greatly favoured in the East The Hindus i n .
,
7 0
The B o o k Of Wi t ch e s
example) ; O neiromancy ( or divination by dreams ,
”
The dowser or water fi nd e r whose exploits
,
-
, , ,
B lack Arts .
—
science of star reading may be supposed to date
—
from the first nightfall and may thus C laim a
pedigree even older if only by a few months o r
,
7 2
The H a l f wa y
-
W o rl d s
despite its M oorish name has a scarcely less ,
.
—
e xtende d history It owes its birth traditionally ,
—
at any rate to the same Egyptian M an G od who -
p
indeed as the ideal goal Of their researches ,
75
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
he held the chair of Theology at Padua in 1 2 2 2
while still a young man G rown weary of a .
—
of the first class s o at least succeeding genera
, ,
shatter it to pieces .
ru l o u s
’
than Albertus statue it emitted only ,
”
is past Its last dictum having unfortunately f o r
.
,
—
his cherished scheme b y its help to surround
s
—
enemies than are o u r present day ironclads .
77
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
Twenty —one years later Henry V I being as he .
, ,
—
granted a number Of patents to ecclesiastics a s
—
well as laymen fo r seeking after the Philo
sopher s Stone with the declared purpose of
’
appointed .
H is e c-
.
—
time he was employed to counteract the evil
spells contained in it which he did with such ,
Unfortunately for .
7 8
The B o o k o f Wi t c h e s
o fthe divining rod with which he sought for
,
—
a puny sling armed shepherd but against the
, ,
8O
The H a lf wa y -
W o rl d s
tell us and that in terms giving us to understand
,
, ,
Off
, his terror magnified by distance walking ,
existence .
81 G
The B o o k Of W i t ch e s
passed for a symbol if no more had they been
, ,
—
other fi s h beasts that it says rising upon the
, ,
—
every foot mark be outlined with her blood is —
not it better for us to b e lieve that fairy —tale than
to cram o u r weary brains with all the cynical
truths of all the dime museums or schools O f
-
82
The H a lf wa y -
W o rl d s
mermaid the were —wolf is no figment o f the
,
—
by the hundre d in every city street men and
women showing in their faces their kinship with
the horse the d o g cat monkey lion sparrow
, , , , ,
.
—
And not in their faces alone for their features
—
do but reflect the minds within them the man
with the sharp rat like fac e nine times o u t o f ten
,
-
—
were wolf H e exists and to this day despite
.
, ,
—
savages alone o r chiefly H e roams the streets .
—
he lives in the next street to you a prosperous ,
,
—
will it and well who ca n tell us Jack the ,
’
Ripper s antecedents ! And Where i n all the
annals o f lycanthropy can you find a grimmer
83 6 2
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
instance o f the man w olf than Jack the -
Ripper !
With the were wolf we return to closer contact
-
—
tendency wa s inborn the man o r woman was
transformed into the Wolf at each recurrent full
—
moon In France and more particularly in the
.
—
its strongh o lds the liability O f certain indi
v i du a l s especially if they be born illegitimate
, ,
ance .
The Neuri if the Scythians were to be
,
”
Civitate Dei relates how an O l d lady of his
,
—
the way while Apuleius Golden Ass gives
’
85
The B o o k O f W i t ch e s
legends founded upon this phenomenon to the ,
Mr Baring Gould
. He who desires to become .
an o b o ro t ( o b o ro t o ne transformed were =
‘ ’
=
incantation
On h on h o c n on h i l nd on Buj n
t e s ea , t e ea ,
t e s a ,
a ,
O n h m p y p ur gl m h moon on
t e e t ast h ock e ea s t e , an as -
st
lyi ng
I n gr n wood i gloomy v l
a ee ,
n a a e .
But h wolf d i v
t e in o h h d wy v l es no t t t e S a o a e .
C h ck h flig h f bull
e t e blun h h un r kn iv
t O e ts ,
t t e te s
’
es
Br k h h ph rd cudg l
,
’
ea t e s e e s e s ,
Cas t w ild f r u p on l l c l
ea a a tt e
On m on ll c r ping h ing
e n, a ee t s ,
4
86
C HAP T E R V
TH E W IT CH S ATTRI B U T E S
’
”
la D émonomanie des Sorciers the worthy Bodin, ,
—
the limits of such a volume as is this o r o f a
—
h undred like i t One tithe of the great store o f ‘
88
The Wi t ch s A t tri bu t e s
’
Wi tchhs be COm
’ u
D i s co v e ri e of Witchcraft
mo nl y o l d IaIri e b l e are e ie d pale fowle and
’
1
’
, , , , ,
—
papists ( i t is perhaps unnecessary to point o u t
that S cot was o f the Reformed F aith) or such
as know no religion ; in whose d ro u s i e minds the
d e v il l hath goten a fine seat ; so as what mis ,
a re l ea nea nd d e f orme d S h n wm g m e l a hj
nc o
, i e i n h
w
89
The B oo k o f W i t ch es
their faces to the horror o f all that see them .
sc
—
may find the conventional witch figu re to day in —
the lonely hamlet o r in the city Workhouse but , ,
”
patience to o openly Then says Scot
. s he , ,
”
house to the little pig that lieth in the stie .
,
”
attending a gathering of thirteen at table Any .
90
The B o o k o f Wi tch e s
The imp or familiar who attends her may have
the form of a bird or d o g but is far more often the ,
i s —
outfit her broomstick as homely an insignia a s
92
The Wi t ch s At t ri b u t e s
’
—
serve her a s a weapon of o ffence o r defence and
wo e to him who su ffers a beating from the witch s
’
broom handle -
.
,
—
henbane deadly nightshade o r moonshade ,
93
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
The enum eration o f thei r ingredients is u n
pleasantly sugge stive even to the unbeliever , ,
E ye of n wt d t of frog e an oe ,
Li rd l g d h owl t wing
za
’
s e an e
’
s ,
Liv r of bl ph m ing J w
e as e e ,
G ll of go t d lip of y w
a a an s s e ,
,
’
—
session o f a ca t o r other animal h owever harm ,
94
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
signature of the contract with Satan and at the ,
o us l
y explained by the unctuous Pierre de Lancre ,
— —
Pierre is half inclined to believe and as some
of us may be half inclined to agree with him in
-
—
thinking is that the mark ( he com p ares it to a
’
toad s foot) has merely been instituted by Satan
out of his love of importance and display and ,
— —
youth as it no w seems to u S urged her to pray
with such vehemence that Thorp s wife wept ’
97 H
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
coming he did overcome her in such sort that s he
gave him her body and soul and he m ade her ,
98
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
Th y w un o S n d p rom i
e s e a re t a ta ,
an se to br i ng as m nya as
h y un o hi rvic d p
t e ca n t s se e an ro f e s s mn .
Th y i nvo c S n h i r p i
e a te a ta in t e ra e rs ,
a nd s we a re by hi s
nm a e .
Al S or c r r for h mo p r x rc i p oi on d
e e s t e st a t e e se s ,
an to
kill wi h p oi on i f mor h inou h n im pl murd r
t s s ar e e s t a s e e .
Th y k ill m n c l
e e
’
s a tt e .
And l ly h w i ch ( h y h m lv c o n f ) c om
,
as t , t e t es as t e t e se es es s e
m it m ny bom in i on
a a at s a nd fil th e ne s .
1 00
The W i t ch s A t t ri b u t e s
’
10 1
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
barndoor fowl —to mention three out o f many
possible mounts Satan has been known to take
.
—
The ever helpful D e Lancre details four way s
o f getting to the S abbath :
o f E zekiel .
( )
2 O n foot .
10 2
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
the pi e c e al e rés zs mnc e o f the mixture are not
'
—
well considered made o f toads flesh roasted ’
, ,
1 04
The W i t ch s Attri b u t e s
’
—
dislike of its smell and Satan is known to have
—
a very delicate nose o u r modern prej udice
against the onion eater immediately afte r dinner
-
’
woul d seem to be only another proof of man s
natural tendency to evil .
, , ,
o f the n a l e s
y
”
All
. of which g o to S how that s h e
10
5
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
her contemporaries was certainly the Sabbath ,
.
—
Inquisitors o r witches themselves and this quite
apart from the obvious limitations entailed in ,
general publ ic .
—
night On Friday a n arrangement agreeable to
the Church V iew of the Jews and their Sabbath ,
— —
days o r s o De Lancre informs u s the Devil
chose M onday the first day o f the week a s
, ,
10 6
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
—
pious name for Jesus that he had won his case ,
10 8
The W it ch s A t t ri b u t e s
’
—
attendants at the Sabbath a s for instance p oor , ,
—
li ttle Corneille Brolic aged twelve s a w him as a
,
,
’
10 9
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
they may suffer i n detail unite in being the ex ,
I n nom in P rici A e at a ra g u e a c o
P ric
et gor gor !
a ,
a a ,
a a Va lni e t a
Jo u a n d a gour e g i taz
g o u s t i a
Which is to say
.
Au nom d P t i q e a r ue , P e t ri q u e d
’
Arra g o n , a c e t te h ur
e e .
V l nc
a e tou t no t r
e, s e ma l es t p assé .
1 10
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
Were there any room for doubting that Satan
habitually breaks faith with his servants it would ,
the flesh from the great and second toes and half
the third o f his left foot without however hurt , , ,
—
presumably excepted ado re d Satan by kissing
his posterior face Thereafter sixty witches .
_ 1 13
C HAP T E R V I
S O M E RE P RE S EN TATI VE EN G L I SH W IT C H E S
H A V I N G seen how the witch i n general l ived and
‘
—
forcing ground of B lack M agic and although , ,
Wh o ki ll of n h b n r i d
se s te as ee t e .
And v r k p h n m l iv
e e ee er a e a e .
1 16
S o m e R e p re s e n t a t i v e E ngl i s h W i t ch e s
uttered them herself or they were attributed to
her after the event by admiring biographers , ,
Wh n H igh g H ill nd i h m id of L o n do n
e a te s ta s n t e st ,
1 17
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
Yet another o f her perhaps the predictions —
—
most famous indeed may have been verified,
Th e m h ll c om wh n
ti e s of blood
a e e s ea s
Sh ll m ingl wi th gr t r flo d ;
a e a ea e o
G r t noi h ll th n b h rd ;
ea se s a e e ea
Gr t h ou t d c ri
ea s s an es
Th n h ll th r li on figh wi h thr
e s a eed br i ng s t t ee , a n
Th t fi ry y r oon
a e ea as s as o
’
er
P c h ll th n b
ea e s b for ;
a e e as e e
P l n y h ll ev ryw h r b found
e t s a e e e e ,
itness to ,
—
to death did actually come true we may next
,
—
than M other Shipton the M other Redcap re
ferred to above a s havi ng provided a sign for a
1 18
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
together ; Darby was suddenly missed and no ,
J y
i n n e then associated herself with o ne Pitcher ,
i
J y nn e was now a lone woman f o r her former ,
120
S o m e R e pre s e nt a t i ve E ngl i s h W i t ch e s
again escaped harmless After this Ji nne y never .
12 1
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
again ; and that M other Damnable was found
dead o n the f o llowing morning sitting before the ,
12 2
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
cent to ensure her salvation for under the very ,
in due course .
”
my d d e s and made fast with the wyre as well as ,
12 4
S o m e R e p re s e nt a t i v e E n gl i s h W i t ch e s
alleged only as a side issue M ore apt to o u r p ur .
12
5
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
death in 16 2 1 ma y be found in the chap — book
published in that year and entitled The Wo n
,
12 6
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
definite Biblical auth ority for the s i n they were
condemning O rigen who protests against literal
.
,
12 8
The W i t c h o f A nti q u i t y
but following the example of their predecessors ,
Patrimony .
—
that earlier S hu miro Accadian people inhabiting
the reg i on between the lower courses o f the Tigris
12 9 K
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
and the Euphrates whose country they invaded ,
Th y h v u d ll k ind of ch rm n win m wi h
e a e se a s a s to e t e e as t
ro p es ,
By M duk h m r of b wi ch m n
,
ar t e a s te e t e t,
Bo h h m l d h f m l wi ch
t t e a e an t e e a e t ,
1 30
The B o o k o f W it ch e s
ment by means of clay wood or dough figures , , ,
—
was their divine patron and it is significant that é -
13 2
The W i t ch o f A n t i qu i t y
dreams cured demoniacal possession and was
, ,
, ,
—
raiment to be incorporated in the wax of a doll
m odelled and clothed to resemble him o r her .
1 7 00 B C commences
. . O Isis mistress o f s o r
, , ,
c e ri e s
, deliver me set me fr e e from all bad evil, ,
”
( )
red things Red , it may be noted
. w a s the ,
13 3
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
man the qualities necessary for the exercise o f
magic legitimate o r otherwise She s a w and
,
.
”
spouse o r Queen of Pharaoh attained upon her
, , ,
—
disappear beneath the ground a fate which
thereupon befell the invaders also .
—
c ction o f love charms spells and philtres a
o , , ,
e v i l spirits
— the fallen angels and those who were
—
but semi supernatural .These latter were
again divided into the o ffspring o f Eve by
certain male spirits and those descended
from Adam by Lilith the first reall y Jewish
,
'
witch N o r were the J ews slow to test the
.
, ,
,
”
not but also for asking counsel o f one that
,
”
had a familiar spirit to enquire o f it His
, .
I 37
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
cery used enchantments
,
and dealt with them
,
and S e ma nge l o f .
13 8
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
life work to harry o l d women in the name of the
-
14 0
CHAP TE R VI I I
TH E W IT C H I N GREE C E AN I)
‘
RO M E
A L T HO U GH the Christian witch was the direct
descendant of the Jewish there were yet other
,
the gods The divine king will have his offi cers
.
,
14 2
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
O rphic poems and when the
, religion began
’
o ld
to be submerged beneath foreign elements s he ,
144
The W i t ch i n Gre e c e an d Ro me
cross ways enemy o f the light who walkest
-
see her .
, .
44 5 L
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
represented the soldier carried to his logical co n
,
c lu s io n ,
s o H ecate represents the witch c o nce p
—
tion carried to its furthest limits the con e en
tra te d essence o f witchcraft .
—
love sick maiden S ima e tha in the second I dyll
, ,
14 6
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
While the Thessalian witches paid more atten
’
tion to the toxicological aspect o f Hecate s
teaching the pythons exploited one no less
,
—
important the pre diction o f events to come .
—
ance the oracle displaying equal prudence in
the non committal vagueness o f her replies
-
.
answer
S on of h P i h m i d t e tt e a n a ,
To y ur own h rm d f
o t t e te s an a te s
My f h r g i v of m ny
at e es a s t a te s .
Be nx i ou or fr i d
no t a s a a ,
Th bl dd r w i ll
e t f il a e no a to s wim
O n th w v th t c om pe a es a ass h im .
Sf
a e di nc I d i r
at a s ta e es e to s ee .
Far l ik gl w ch ing i h i
e a n ea e at n t e a r,
C on q u r d h ll w p d c on q u ror p r i h h r
e e s a ee ,
an e e s t e e .
— —
That even oracles were and perhaps are open
to human influence may be deduced from Demos
th e n e s irreverent suggestion that the prophetess
’
“
, ,
palmists ,
get rich quickly -
colleges and the
-
15 0
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
sources and with them a very nice understanding
,
, ,
—
knots this last a distinctively Babylonian prae
tice The charm ha s a recurrent refrain o f
.
th i l ur l
s E v n i t c r ck l loudly wh n i t h c ugh
a e . e as a es ,
e as a t
th fl m
e d udd nly i burn d u p
a e, an d w t v n s e s e ,
an e s e e no e e
h du t h r f 1 !
t e v n th u m y th fl h of D l ph i
s t e eo ,
0 e e s a e es e s
w t i th burn ing
as e n e .
E v n I m lfi th i w w i th th god t id
e as p d ily e s ax, e o a , so s ee
m y h by lov b mol t n
a e e e e .
Moon I p k th i p ll B i t w i h
,
s fr i nd h l ing r
ea s s e . e t a e e e s ,
b it wi h
e l m n h t h li m y h
t cl n forg t
a e a t a e es ,
a e as ea e
Ar i dn a e .
young t ll i on nd fl t foo d m r Ah v n
l
th e s a s a ee -
te a es : , e e as
th m y I D l ph i
es e a s ee e s .
sh r d d c t i n to h fl m
e an as t e a e .
Lo I wi ll c ru h
, f d v nomou dr ught t s an e t, an a e s a o !
morrow I wi ll bring th ee .
B t now Th ty l i t k
u h m g ic h rb d c r ly
, es s , a e t es e a e s an se et
15 2
The W i t ch i n Gre e c e a nd R o m e
sm r h ju i c on h j mb of
ea t e h i g — d pi e d t e a s s a te an S t an
wh i p r Ti h bon of D l ph i h I m r
s e ,
’
s t e es e s t at s ea .
Wh n fir I w D l phi I f ll i ck of lov
e s t d c on s a e s e s e, an
sul d v ry wi rd
te e d v ry c ron
e & & za an e e e, c .
,
c .
The o ri s the .
,
”
Lemnian woman as D emosthenes calls her was , ,
”
or interpreter of miracles l et him be put to death , .
15 3
The B o o k f Wi tch e s
‘
materially .
,
-
looked .
He h ll b p un i h d wh o n ch n
s a e s e e a ts the c orn ;
D o ch rm h c orn of o h r
no t a t e t e s ;
Do n ch n
no t e a t,
15 6
The W i t ch i n G re e c e an d Ro m e
Already in the early days of the Laws o f the
Twelve Tables Greek influence o n Roman witch
,
—
craft was noticeable it increased in proportion
as G reek thought extended its sway over the
Roman mind By way of Greece also as well
.
‘
I
S7
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
o wl and witchcraft is still known to its votaries as
,
, ,
’
It may here be noted that Herodias father is
sometime s said to have b e en no other th an
Lucifer She also appears under the name of
.
on earth
Th ou mu go r h b low st to ea t e
T b o ch r un o wom n d m
e a te a e t e an en
And h ou h l b h fir of w i ch
t s a t e t e st t es ,
And h ou h l ch h
t of p o i on i ng
s a t te a t e a rt s ,
And h ou h l ch h ow ru in h c ro p of r ich
t s a t te a to t e s a
p n ea s a t .
H ow b r v ng d u p on p r i
to e e e e a es t .
D oubl h h rm d do i i h n m of D i n
e t e a an t n t e a e a a ,
! u n of W i ch l l
ee t es a .
To c onv r wi h pi r i e se t s ts ,
To find hi dd n r ur i n ci n ru in e t ea s e n a e t s ,
T c onjur
o h p i ri of p ri wh o di d l v ing
e t e s ts es ts e ea
r ur t ea s e,
To und r nd h ef h w i nd
s ta t e v o i ce o t e ,
To ch ng w r in o w in
a e a te t e,
To divin wi h c rd e t a s ,
To how h c r of h h nd
s t e se e ts t e a ,
To c ur d i e s ea s es ,
T o m k h ugly b u iful
a e t e ea t ,
To m wi ld b
ta e e a s ts .
1
5 8
The B o o k o f W i tch e s
unpared —
thumb nail
while brewing her deadly
potion .
y )
ti c u l a r se ason round the tree affected before sun
rise ungirt and barefoot And so on a remedy
, .
,
, ,
16 1
The B o o k . o f Wi t ch e s
Julian the Apostate perhaps not unnatu rally
, ,
—
such as it was worked along i ts o l d lines As
'
—
sudden o r violent change except o f course in , ,
—
individual cases the older ideas were aban
do med in name though only very slowly and
, , ,
mentally imperceptible .
—
in the house of Rimmon o r as the theory and
practice of modern Socialism are time after time
—
directly contrary s o save for martyrs and e n
,
.
164
F ro m Pa ga ni s m to Ch ri s ti a n i ty
thu s i a s ts —
the Tolstoys of their the general age —
public accepted Christianity a s filling up awkward
gaps in their earlier beliefs rather than as super
seding them altogether .
—
Roman witchcraft continually reinforced
from the O rient grew in importance a s faith in
—
—
more severely repressed and wa s accordingl y
destined to more success And it was reserved .
—
indeed praiseworthy that the prominent features
o f paganism shoul d be relegated to the realms of
I f)
5
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
different footing She really existed for o ne
.
,
—
thing in so far as that she was of flesh and blood
—
at any rate and s he exercised more personal
functions than any number of divinities Every .
,
—
lawyer and spiritual dir e ctor and payer off of -
—
your old scores to boot a factor in y o ur life the
loss of which could be compensated by no amount
of religion Also she stood for tradition
. the ,
”
good old times the respectability o f unchanging
,
—
conservatism Christianity novel and icono
.
—
clastic might make head among the inconstant
townsfolk alwa ys ready for some new thing ; the
,
a nopen minded hu s b a n d m a n
-
c o n c e iv e t hat you ~
16 6
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
Apart from the enduring influx o f E aste rn :
16 8
F ro m P a ga ni s m to Ch ri s t ia ni ty
As soon as the last o f hi s o wn persecutors had
laid aside the sword he at once seized it and s e t
,
—
declared the world to be over run with evil spirits ,
”
Augustine in D e Civitate D ei has no doubt
, ,
’
which soothsayers are c ondemned to five years
p enance . In 5 5
2 the Council o f A uxerre p ro
,
’
o n Saint Augustine s authority as aforesaid that , ,
16 9
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
offspring were themselves no less di a bolical .
—
exercise i n the hope of casting out the devil s
inhaled at every bre a th ; and the common sup e r
s ti ti o n concerning sneezing has the same origin .
“
upon the inherent wickedness of humanity and the
almost insuperable dangers which assail the
Christian o n all sides lost something o f their
freshness in time o ne may suppose and were s u c
, ,
,
—
in power many such practices as for example , ,
—
common meal the choral song and s a crifi ce were
,
“
roundly forbidden as witchcraft the uprooting o f ,
17 2
F ro m Pa ga ni s m to Ch ri s t ia ni t y
all other fare s o the publ ic showed itself more
,
I 73
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
doped his horses so successfully that he i n
variably won Itali e ns being pr o hibited from
.
,
, ,
—
hand and needless to say lost the race
, , .
informed .
—
Considering the vast and ever increasing p o p u
lation of witches and demons it seemed an almost ,
—
was likely to be unhappy but in the early day s
o f the faith the priest felt himself capable o f
1
74
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
any time a power vastly greater than those of evil
wa s ready to step in to protect you from the c o n
sequences o f your over rashness Before the -
.
—
but so were the necessary antidotes some o f them
o f the simplest Thus in the story of Hereward
.
,
—
the abatement o f sorcery as in the Capitular o f
8
7 9 , wherein supernatural meteorology is f o r
I
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
as meteorological o ffices Numerous witch oaks
;
-
—
the Slavs is a protection against magic parti ,
fo r witches .
17 8
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
-
a branch of heathendom .
tury moreover
,
— the century of the Crusaders
many new influences were at work To counter .
1 80
F ro m P a ga ni s m to Ch ri s ti a ni ty
—
taken o ff their hat to a priest in their lives how
ever shocking it might seem at bound —
firs t wa s
to give fu riousl y to think .
18 1
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
was a t an end ; many heresie s disturbed the m inds
o f the faithful The revival of Latin literature
.
possible .
Coincidentally with the rise of the
general here sy hunt Europe was overrun by a
,
18 2
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
year by year the attributes of the witch grew
more infernal as the material Dev i l became
’
—
senses tha n one fo r not only could you obtain
notoriety f o r yourself a s does the modern Apache
,
”
c u ti o n took place for v a u d e ri e an omnibus ,
,
’
France and Wat Tyler s insurrection in England
, ,
186
C HAPT E R X
TH E W I CH B ULL AND
T -
I TS E FF E C T S
I HA VE elsewhere in this volume attempted to show
that even in our o wn days there i s nothing p a rti cu
, ,
—
l a rl y incredible about a witch and that the d i s
respect into which s he has fallen is due rather to
our modern lack o f any sense of proportion in o u r
beliefs than to any fault o f her own Ce rta i nl v
,
.
18 8
The Wi t ch -
B u ll an d i t s E ffe c t s
towards the close o f the sixteenth century arguing ,
—
alternative a s well might two modern as
tro n o m e rs in disputing over the whereabouts o f an
undiscovered planet deny the existe nce o f the s u n .
—
text as does the j udicial Bodin though he de
livers a di fferent sermon B odin supporter o f
.
i
,
of —
enthusiasm but zeal has always been
accounted a mark o f grace .
189
The Bo o k o f Wi t ch e s
”
in directness . It has come to o u r ears it ,
commences ,
that great numbers o f both sexes
are not afraid to abuse their o wn bodies Wi th
devils that serve to both sexes And with the ir .
—
making use o f this delegated authority and such
wa s his z eal and so many his opportuniti es o f
a cquiring knowledge that within two years after
”
The very word f oemina he declares in the , ,
—
the sex countless ills have sprung among them
innumerable varieties o f witch O f these thirteen .
,
1 90
The B o o k o f Wit ch e s
the ordinary legal conventions were suspended at
th ese trials Contrary to the usual procedure wit
.
,
—
cation o f h i s magnum opus a t least he devoted
a splendid enthusiasm to the obj ect he had s e t
before him and o n his death bed was able to look
,
—
ing in 148 5 b y the Inquisitor Cu ma nus A .
—
in Piedmont and was perfectly willing to con
ti nu e the good work had not public enthusiasm
,
—
ants recognising that in fa ce o f the recent Bull
it were blasphemous to attribute such a storm
192
The Wi t ch -
B u ll a n d i t s E ff e c t s
to natural causes seize d two o l d women obtaine d
, ,
1 93
The B o o k o f W i t che s
Nor is it to b e supposed that Protestan ts were
in any wa y less attentive to this b ranch of their re
l igi o u s duties than were their Catholic neighbours .
Psalm v 6 .
, I f there were no charms o f sorcery
, ,
1 94
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
fore his agents should not be punished fo r crimes
,
,
e rs
p o m
—
and are all too credulous qualities o f which
Satan takes every advantage Particularly d oes he .
sex .
1 96
The —
Wi t ch B u ll
“
a nd i t s E ffe c t s
Wurtemburg The skins of animals that died by
.
,
—
witch mania a fatal epidemic attributed of ,
—
course to witchcraft broke out among the sheep
, ,
p o ra r
y trials we may agree with him that they
,
‘
—
their crim e s as frequently proved by their own
confession it is to be remembere d were the
,
—
dishonouring of the crucifix and the denial o f
salvation the absconding despite bolts and bars
, , ,
’
to att e nd the D evil s Sabbath and the partaking
in choral dances around the witch tree of rende z -
.
,
, ,
,
-
p o ra r
y ,Holland who writing
, , in 1 59 0 urges tha t ,
B o d i n s hables
’
a conceit that must h ave
-
”
no t, he argues that there are witches or images
, ,
”
n o t to s a y pedantic D ae m o n o l o gi a published ,
201
The B o o k o f Wi tch e s
James needless to s a y saw no need o f apology
, , ,
, ,
, ,
202
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
— a n unwonted concession to t he public taste this ,
2 04
The Wi t ch -
B u ll an d i t s E ffe c t s
by 16 6 1 that Parliament directe d the j udges to
visit D alkeith and M usselburgh two notorious ,
‘
—
witch fi n d e rs o r witch pinchers while the ordinary
-
’
grandfathers time and which were carrie d to
,
205
CHAP T E R X I
TH E L AT ER P ER S E C UTION S IN EN GL AND
TH E law— —
especially in this country gains half
its terrors from its pomp and circumstance An .
—
dered and few Englishmen that have attended
an American court of law but have felt scanda
li s e d by its lack of ceremonious decency even if ,
2 06
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
honest servant who having s tolen his mistre ss
, ,
’
.
, ,
208
The La te r Pe rs e c u t i o ns i n E ngl a nd
sion the instinct of sensationalism and so forth
, ,
—
a nicety and elevated hi s trade to an exact
science Yet curiously enough he only e ntered i t
.
,
2 09 P
The B o o k o f W i t che s
as such regar ded as a malignant by the Puritan
Government and needless to s a y by Mr Hop
, , , .
,
’
tortured after Mr Hopkins recipe and was so .
,
2 10
The Bo o k o f Wit c he s
Your Servant to be Commanded M atthe w ,
.
”
Hopkins .
—
f o r her Imp to come in a t lest it should come in
some less discernible shape They that watch her .
2 12
The L a t e r P e rs ec u t i o n s i n E ngla nd
her which she being startle d at her mother bade
, ,
, , ,
2 13
The B o o k o f Wi tch e s
the requisite confession a further range subtler , ,
—4
could s a y the Lord s Prayer a possible enough ’
, ,
”
us o u r trespasses and th u s c o nv m c e d the j u s t1ce s
,
—
pe ets were ever found to pass this test satis
—
f a c to ri l y a fact the less surprising in that any
blemish birth mark o r even insect bite was
,
-
,
-
”
lucrative profession o f witch pricking The -
, ,
2 14
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
—to say nothing of what wa s probably the first
—
cold bath s he had ever experienced acting upon
her advanced age gave her little chance o f final
,
,
“
2 17
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
whose child was under the care of Rose Cullender .
1 If
p r on or p r on h ll p r c i or
a ny e s ,
e s s , s a us e, a t s e, exer
s pi ri or h ll c on ul c ov n n wi h n r in m p loy
t, s a s t, e a t t , e te t a , e ,
find or r w rd y vi l d wi ck d pi ri
, e a or for y
an e an e s t , to an
i n n or p ur p o
te t or k u p y d d m wom n s e, to ta e an ea a n, a ,
or ch i ld of hi h or h i r gr v or y o h r p l c
o ut s , e r, t e a e, an t e a e
wh r h d d body r h or h k i n bon or y
e e t e ea e s tet ,
t e s ,
e, an
p r of y d d p r on b m p loy d or u d i y
a t an ea e s to e e e se n an
m nn r of wi chc r f orc ry ch rm or n ch n m n or
a e t a t, s e ,
a , e a t e t,
s h ll a p r c i or x rci
us e ,
y w i chc
a r f tn ch n
se, e e se an t a t, e a t
m n ch rm or or c ry wh r by y p r on h ll b
e t, a , s e e e an e s s a e
ki ll d d roy d w d c on um d pi n d or l m d i
e ,
es t e , a s te ,
s e ,
e ,
a e n
hi or h
s body or y p r h r of v ry u ch off nd r i
er , an a t t e e , e e s e e s
p l d un il
ea e t
2 18
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
and returned to the best o f health Which c a n .
—
the scholar a case the more remarkable that the
s i x women accused although tried before two
,
— —
Knaresborough trial i n 16 1 2 twenty witches
were tried at the Assizes and G enerall G aole
Delivery holden at Lancaster before Sir E dward
, ,
”
Bromley and Sir James E ltham They came .
2 20
The La te r Pe rs e c u ti o n s i n Engla nd
extremity of the county and the most p rominent ,
,
.
—
while the remaining seven were acquitted for the
time That so large a pro p ortion shoul d have
.
”
remote country says S cot wa s full o f P opish
, ,
Th r B i r hee te s ast h ou bi n
t t te ,
Th H o i ll e s t, Ey i l l T ongu
e, e ;
22 1
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
Th r B i r h ll b hy b oo
ee t te s a e t te ,
F h r S onn
at e d H ly Gh o e, an o s t,
A God n m 5 a e .
F iv P rno r fi Avi
e a te s te s ,
ve es ,
And c r d a ee e,
For wor h i p of fi w d
s ve o un es
O f our Lo rd .
‘
Whereat he cried Loo Loo Loo but the
, , ,
’
222
The Bo o k o f Wi tch e s
”
homewards They pursued him but he me t
.
,
”
him . The Informer had his ears and face
made very bloody in the fight and looking down ,
— —
found a woman L o i n d s wife standing on a ’
footed Boy again who hit him and made him cry
,
.
”
gotten by shewing them The Bishop o f Chester
.
2 24
The L a te r P e rs e c u t i o n s i n E n gl a nd
held a special examination of the case and the ,
22
5 !
:
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s 1
n i ngs
, o f Hartis in Su ffolk M any things were
,
.
.
,
—
that the prisoner had plainer witch marks than
s he ; while several women who had been on bad
”
garet E lmore was found Not Guilty .
”
her Head standing o ff from it This s he said .
, ,
”
Bess Horner held her up Poor E lizabeth had
.
, .
228
The L a t e r P e rs e c u ti o n s i n E ngl a nd
But the Lord Chief Justice seems to have been
of another opinion f o r he directed the j ury to
,
—
wa s convicted a state o f things which would c e r
t a i n l y have resulted in a q u estion being asked
in Parliament had it happened in our time The .
—
The witch fi n de r wa s called into requisition and ,
( the Vicar of A rd e l
y wa s responsible for this part
o f the performance by the way They turned
),
.
.
”
a F ourth E dition But Jane Wenham wa s for
.
229
”
T he Bo o k o f W i t ch e s
her because a Silly Jury would find her guilty ,
”
a s soon as her sweetheart came and married her .
.
,
2 30
CHAP T E R XI I
P ER S E C U TI O N S IN S CO T L AND
TH E influence longitude upon national ten
o f
d e n ci e s in superstition is far too wide a subj ect to
be here discussed in any detail but speaking ,
— —
a people as their religion are largely a matter
—
of climate milder and more genial in temperate
districts carried to fi e rc e r and more terrible
,
2 32
P e rs e c u t i o n s i n S c o t l a nd
national temperament more clearly typified than
in the island of G reat Britain The Viking .
,
until they had tinged the Chri s t1a n1ty which took
their place with something o f their o wn hopeless
ness and gloom Just as the gods o f Valhalla
.
”
I
"
—
the F ire who found his highest pleasure in the
,
p h e s in
y g your coming death o r ru in When at .
d
'
g , ,
2 34
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
’
—
ing o f his daughter s fate fitted out a w vessel ,
ar
With G od s help ! ’
O n learning that he had
omitted that precaution s he professed herself .
2 36
P e rs e c u t i o ns i n S c o tl a n d
by the wa y than their English colleagues could
,
’
and climbe d a bout the ship s rigging in the shape
o f cats spitting and swearing
, But Captain F o r .
23
7
The Book o f W i t ch e s ,
—
at the hands of the witches the y employing the e
—
old fashioned even in those days but e mine ntl v
, ,
”
dependable waxen image By good luck only .
, ,
'
, ,
repute .
,
'
way .
— —
ance to him received witch marks under his ,
—
tongue and otherwise conformed to the etiquette
o f the lower grade in the profession T hi s seems .
,
—
interest from its obj ect no less a person than
James I and VI This learned and Protestant
. .
2 40
P e rs e c u t i o n s i n S c o tla n d
ev e r prevent the Divinely protected James from
,
-
—
j ourney the plotters tried another plan to raise
a fog whereby the Royal shi p might be driven -
, ,
—
Hill though he withdrew his confession before
the end and die d like a gentleman and a scholar .
mark .
24 1 R
The B o o k o f W i tch e s
and that nae person seek ony help response o r , ,
—
b u rnm g which may i t is at least to be hoped
h ave sometimes moved the economical S cotsman
—
in the direction o f toleration the expense .
For te n lo d of c o l
a s a to burn th m e
For a ta r
-
b rr l a e
F o r t o we s
For h rd n b jum p
a e to e s to t hm
e
For m k i ng of th m
a e
242
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
of Isobel Grierson s p o u s to J ,
Bull wark o hn n e ,
~
burgh i n M arch 16 0 7 ,
Grierson by the way
.
, ,
“
-
’
return to John Bull s wife She was accused .
2 44
P e rs e c u t i on s i n S c o tl a nd
a great and fearful noise Whereat Adam his wife , , ,
’
appeared in poor William s house in the guise of
a nak ed infant child for the space of half a year .
2
45
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
bering this he sought o u t I sobel and satisfied her
,
—
rumours o f her ill doing were abroad caused ,
,
”
crimes Which wa s done accordingly
. .
’
twai n admitted having the D evi l s mark between
,
guilty an d executed .
—
less well favoured witches H e even visited her
.
wa s a m a n o f might
.
. H e caught hol d of her feet ,
2 48
P e rs e c u t i o n s i n S c o t l a nd
so that it was a case o f P ull D evil pull ,
—
Gaoler and the better man which is to say
,
.
—
Mr F leming won and the prisoner was saved ,
P o l i fi cd
—
of the wiLch s a v a m dee d tha t s he m a rd e d
b eg
as b e lpng ing W
fi
rte
p a rm y
b that 1n __ _
-
and fearfully did she pay the penalty S o me .
, ,
—
bullet proof by enchantment and to possess ,
to Satan .
2
5 0
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
weather being —
chilly b ycomposedly warming
her hands at the fire that was to consume her .
2
5 2
C HAP T E R X I I I
OTHER P E R s E c uT I O N s
—
in question this was natural enough se e ing that
all alike drew their inspiration from the same
—
source Innocent V I I I s Bull ; while the P ro
.
’
2
53
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
tury s a w the witch fever rise to i ts most e x tra v a
-
—
them in degree where all alike rose to the highest
—
l eve l o f bloodthirstiness the French may be said
to have excelled their ancient rivals in thorough
ness Thus the direction of the c ampaign was
.
2 54
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
Bordeaux to buy wines and have there assured
,
2
5 6
Ot h e r P e rs e c u ti o n s
with salutary effect in dissipating the increasing
m tc h fever
-
”
were tried before the Chambre Ardente the ,
—
anti sorcery laws were in force until the mid
eighteenth century while a s proof o f the persis
,
to .
c u ti o n s of unprecedente d fi e rc e n e
s s broke o u t in
—
solemn recantation published in book form s ix
years later by Del R i o F ar from curing the
.
— —
creased i t and thus provided its own cure dying
2
5 8
The B o o k o f W it ch e s
The Bamberg persecuti on wa s succeeded by
one at Wurzburg in the following year F o rtu .
”
aught but witches everything
, .
1 7 93 .
2 60
O th e r P e rs e c u t i o n s
six and thirty children that ran the gauntlet and
- -
—
dation in some myth or folk story more or less
popular in all the local nurseries Indeed were we .
,
—
themselves that some hundreds o f them had
26 1
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
been brought under the power o f the D evil by
local witches The whole community took the
.
“
Sabbaths Satan in answering their prayers
.
, ,
2 62
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
the bloodshed at last brought people to
s e c u ti o n s ,
—
their senses perhaps the execu tion of fifteen
children gave their parents pause At all events .
,
—
ing to be ignored those which raged in the New
England Colonies It m ight have been sup
.
26
5
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
Ins tead of the phenomenon being attributed to
the refusal to take an innocent man o n board it ,
—
di fferent places at ever decreasing intervals O ne .
(
o f a no less palpable than stupendous WI T CH
”
)
C RAF T After explaining the godly and
.
266
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
ness that their Jaws went out of j oint ; and anon
they woul d clap together with a force like that
—
!
—
happen to their Shoulder Blades and their ,
— —
images dolls perhaps made o f rags and
,
,
.
26 8
O t h e r P e rs e c u t i o n s
little Images When o ne of the images wa s
.
”
horrible agonies e . says M ather , ,
, ,
27 2
O th e r P e rs e c u ti o n s
of superstitious terror to which the people o f
S alem had arrived that two dogs were put to ,
’
At the examination the cast of Susanna s eye
was supposed to strike the a fflicted people to the
ground whether they s a w it or not .
Ma g i s tra te P a r y wh l h o l !
a t a i s t e s e pe p
. e
Ma rti n I don k ow
t. n
’
.
Ma g B u t . at wh do you h n k l h m !
t i ai s t e
Ma rti n I don d r
t . p nd my judgm n t u p on i
e s i e to s e
’
e t .
Ma g . t D on you h n k h y b w ch d !
t i
’
t e a re e it e
Ma rti n N o I
d o no t t i
. h nk h y
,
t e a re .
Ma rti n N o my h ough
. t , my own wh n th y
t s a re e e a re
in ; b ut
'
Wh n h y e t th y tno h r Th i r
e a re ou e a re a t e
’
s . e
m a s te r
Ma g Th i r M r Wh o do you h in k i h i
. e a s te
!
t s t e r
M as ! te r
M i I f h y b d li ng i h Bl ck A you m y
a rt n . t e e ea n t e a rt , a
k now w ll I as e as .
M g . W ll W h
a h v you don ow rd hi !
e . at a e e t a s t s
273 T
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
o h i ng
Ma rti n N ll . t at a .
I c nno h lp i
M a rt i n . a t e t .
Ma g I s i t y.M t ! H w c om your pp r
no t our as er o es a ea
anc h ur h !
e to t t es e
M ti H ow do I know ! H h t pp r d i h
ar n . e t a a ea e n t e
sh p f S mu l glori fi d S in m y pp r i y
a e o a e ,
a e a t, a a ea n an
on h p
e s
’
s a e .
2 74
The B o o k o f Wi t c he s
2
somewhat bigger than the first but as Black
as a Cole Its motions wer e quicker than
.
”
ti o n e d the M atter to no creature Living .
276
O the r P e rs e c u t i o n s
and it was thought time to cease the persecutions .
2
77
C HAP T E R XIV
P HI L T R E S CHAR M S AND P O TI O N S
,
’
star the burglar s faith in his lump o f coal a s his
,
—
variations upon the one theme humanity s t e ’
2
7 8
The B o o k o f Wit ch e s
a mute protest is but acknowledging the faith he
seeks to outrage .
—
regular recipes and prescriptions the first witch
as m uch as the last With the genius that made .
2 80
Ph i lt res Ch a rm s
,
an d P o ti o n s
which has since accumulated to such v ast pro
portions as make it hopeless to do more than
enumerate a fe w gleane d from various ages and
countries as examples of the rest
“
.
neck
S ri gi l
t es ,
fa l c e s q u e , d nt
e a ta e .
D n i um
e t , do lo re m p e rs a n a te .
281
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
emulate Ashmole the astrologer who wr o te in , ,
16 6 1
'
a wy a .
—
Against mad dog bite there were more co m
K ud r f r
e e e .
Oh ng of Glory J u
p c i h Ch ris t c om
n m of h F h + n m of h S +
,
Ki ,
es s ,
e in ea e n t e
a e m i h t e at er ax n t e a e t e on
m i
ax h n m of h H oly Gh o
n t e p G p
a r M l e t e s t, ra x ,
as a ,
e
chior B l h r p
,
m aGod i m x
t asa ra x ax a
282
The Bo o k o f Wi t c he s
A cure for epilepsy wa s contained in the
“
following words
G pr fr
as a e e t h u M lchi or B l h r urum
m y rrh a m , t s e ,
a t asa a
H c ri
ae t a cui c um p b i nomi n r gum
se o rt a t a e
D y g i v n of G od
a S i n H ub r Gi ll C orn i ll d
e to a t e t, es ,
e e an
e t at et t t a a a ,
n t e a e
,
of h F h r h S
t e at d h H oly Gh o
e ,
Am n
t e ca n an t e st . e .
, ,
”
increase which a virgin has allayed And there .
to be said .
following
Th e i r w a s ng l c m from th E t
t wo a e s a e e as . O ne c rri d
a e
F i r th o th r c rr i d Fro t O t F i r I n Fro
_
e, e e a e s . u e . st .
F th r S on d H oly Gh o t
a e , an s .
Th r w r h r Ang l c m from E
e e e e t ee e s a e a s t a nd W es t ,
O brough F i r d no h r brough Fr
ne t e an a t e t o s t,
28
5
The B o o k f
Wi t ch e s
o
O t Fi r
u I n Fr e . o s t, &c .
,
&c .
+ J u Ch r I pr y
a nd th e n a dd t es e s e is s ie e i
n cl n d ruck J u
+h +h +h + by
i i e st es s Ch ri s t Lo rd es s i st a
+ nm
Th e e by t i s i ro n b y t i s l a nc e b y t i s b lo o d a nd
t ish w r dr w h
a te ,
a o ut t i s i ro n i n t he a e, &c .
,
810 .
J u h
es s B th l h m born d b p t i d w i
t at wa s i n e e e an a ze as n
t he fl m J d
u ent i n t t h w orr t h y m
a ne , a s s
y g e e a te a s co n , so
s in
t t h blood of t h y
te e M N t hy t t h row th s an . s e rv a u n e
v r tu of Thy H oly N m —J
e d of Th y y w t a e es u m
an co s n s e e
P t rno t r i h w
a e s hi p of th fy
e s wn t dy e o rs c e ve o un s .
Another runs
I n nomi n e P a tris et F i l ii et Spi ri u S n c i c r
t s a t ,
a a t, Ca ra ,
s a ri t e , c o n fi rm a c o ns a n a i m a b o l i te .
And another
+ + +Blood c All
+ +
S ep a s ep a
g a s epa g o g a eas e to flo w . is
con umm d N m of
+ + of H oly +
s a te i n th e a e th e F a th e r p o d e n d i a nd
of
+
th e son p a n d e ra a nd th e S p i ri t n d i
p a o r c a
p c w h you Am n
ea e be it . e
D o ck i n, N l e tt e o ut,
N l ie tt e n, D o ck o u t,
D o ck rub ,
N ttl ou ti
e e
2 86
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
’
in the neighbourhood of an adulterer s house or , ,
+ +
use o f it you must draw three rings o n the earth ,
—
+
an d s a
y I n nomine Patris an et F ilii elion
”
e t Spiritus sancti t e d i o n P a te r Noster Then .
2 88
Ph i l t re s Ch a rm s ,
an d P o ti o n s
of John the B aptist in the name of the apostle ,
T u rn ow rd h E m k c ro bov h c ry l
t a s t e as t, a e a ss a e t e s ta
wi h ol iv il d wri h n m of S i n H l n b low
t e o ,
an te t e a e a t e e e
th i c ro Th n young boy f l gi im b i r h mu
s ss . e a o e t a te t s t
ta k h c ry l hi r igh h nd whi l you“ kn l down
e t e s ta ln s t a ,
e ee
b h i nd h i m d y h r e i m d vou ly I p r y you
e an sa t e t es e t ,
a ,
h oly L dy H l n mo h r of K i ng C on n i n wh o h v
. a e e ,
t e s ta t e, a e
n m d f vour of h i v ry h oly d vo i on d i nv n i on
a e an a t s e e t an e t
of h c ro i h n m of hi v ry h oly c ro i f vour
t e ss ; n t e a e t s e ss ; n a
o f h i joy h
t you x p r i n c d w h n you found hi v ry
s t at e e e e e t s e
your K i ng C on
s o n, n i n i h or i h n m of ll s ta t e ; n s t, n t e a e a
Th n h boy will
e t h e ng l i h c ry l d you s ee t e a e n t e s ta ,
an
w i ll k w h you w n
as d h ng l wi ll r p ly Th i
at a t, an t e a e e . s
ri nse .
89
The B o o k o f Wit ch e s
A simpler and more homely means runs
thus
Go runn ing r iv r d t k
to a m ny l ittl p bbl e , an a e as a e e es
as hr t u p c d p op l C rry th m y ur h ou
e e a re s s e te e e . a e to o se
l v th m th r th r d y Th n d ig th m u p wh n th
ea e e e e ee a s . e e e e
s un i up h n p t bowl of w t r i th m iddl f th
s ,
t e u a a e n e e o e
C h r i tu i it sC h ri t u r gn t C h r i t u i m p
s v c ,
s s e a ,
s s e ra t .
Th bowl h v i ng b n
e t d i gn d w i h th c ro
a with ee se an s e t e ss ,
a c onjur i on by th p i on of Ch ri t by hi d t h d
at e ass s ,
s ea an
th e w t r e ch a ei th n m of h u p ct
,
a d o ne n e a e t e s s e s
,
an
w h n you com t th p b b l of th h i f i t w i ll m k
e e o e e e
"
e t e ,
a e
th e w t r boi l a e .
t—
,
nu tr y r old yi ng I
ee a you br n ch of thi
ea , sa , cu t ,
a s
summ r i h n m of hi m wh om I m n t tri k or
e ,
n t e a e ea o s e
mu il t H ving d n h t p t c lo h on th bl
”
+ +
t a e . a o e t a ,
u a t e ta e
sa y g I n
in nom i n t
P i F i l i i p i r i u n c ti e a tr s et et S t s sa .
”
S y th i th r
a im wi h th followi ng E i n c u t d h
s ee t es t e , t e ro c ,
my hrro c th b t u b roch
, e s e n a ro m t , e a ass a a ro .
”
Th n y H ol y Tri n i y p uni h h i m wh o h h rm d m
w y h h rm b y your gr t j ti +
e sa t s as a e . e,
d t k
+m i l g h n trik th cloth
an a e a a t e a ea us ce es o n
eli on e ar s a es a e t e s e e .
2 90
The B o o k o f Wi t che s
s e cra t e d wafer and if it be given them to eat
,
.
be buried in a sepulchre .
2 92
Ph i l tre s Cha rm s a n d P o ti o n s ,
n dl p ri ck d i n to th m mb r wh i ch you would h v
ee e, e e e e a e
avoi d i ng of u p r titi on mi tt d) s e s a re o e .
following
T k w im g
a of w
e td h o o h r of h a es ,
o ne ax an t e t e t e
du of d d m
st P i ron w h i ch c ould c u
a ea h an . ut an , a se t e
d h of m i n o h h nd of
ea t a of h figur
a n, t t e a o ne t e es ,
so
th i m y p i rc h h d of h i m g wh ich r p r n t
at t a e e t e ea t e a e e es e s
th p r on w h o
e d h you d i r
e s se ea t es e .
D is m a s , G t es t D ivi n
as po t t which
,
e a es as , is in the
m i ddl e . Di m s i c ond mn d
as d G tsh e e ,
an es as as fl own to
H vn ea e .
’
S cot s version o f this is
Th r bod i on bough doo h ng
ee es a a ,
Di m s es a nd G e s ta s ,
i n t he mid t s
Th e p ow r ofe t he D iv i ni t i e .
D is m a s i s d mn d b t G
a e ,
u e s ta s l i ft d u p
e
Abov e th e s t rr on hi
a es e .
+ +
a thief who had concealed in his hair a little paper
+ +
on which he had written J esus a u te m tra n ,
s i e ns r medium i l l o ru m i b at os no n c o m
p e
galbat g a l d e s ga l d a t
, o r against
, mad dog -
”
bite , I ri o ni K hiri o ri e ffe ra Kuder fere This .
p form , ,
"
2 96
Phi l tre s Cha rm s
,
an d P o ti o ns
may have been little value f o r thief taking in the
monotonous repetition of a meaningless j ingle it ,
—
the pain is o n the point o f vanishing and but
are not F aith H ealers and Christian Scientists a
power in the land to day S o again if a young
-
.
, ,
—
—
doub t they set u s the example but it d oes not
therefore fo llow that o u r means to an end are
always the more e ffi cacious through being
presumably more sensible .
2
97
CH A P TE R XV
TH E W IT C H IN F I C TI ON
To those who deny the existence of the witch i n
fact any mention of the witch in fiction as a
,
’
down to her chin of Hans Andersen s Tinder
”
box . Indeed this latter ca n scarcely be co n
,
2 98
The B o o k o f Wi tch e s
and beautiful o r o l d and repulsive whether b a g
, ,
3 0 0
The W i t ch i n Fi c ti o n
hovels — unl ess indeed s he had private means
, ,
certainly wa s no witch
M ore realistic and thus all the more misleading
, ,
, ,
3 0 1
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
the quiet seclusion of her hovel adding to her ,
corresponds in every
respect to the historical personages for whom they
stand In real life Queen E li z abeth was probably
.
3 0 2
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
had we no further k no wl e g e of witchd o m we ,
—
the better shown u p nay more his witches are , ,
o r fairy lore
-
It is true that by moments he gives
.
, ,
0
3 4
The Wi t ch i n Fi c ti o n
witches of F aust are at all true to life When .
badly needed .
,
—
hold the fairy story It would seem indeed as
.
, ,
3 0 6
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
her familiars three toads place themselves
, ,
’
a s anointing her stepdaughter s face with walnut
ing 1nqu i s l to r
.
3 0 8
The W i t ch i n F i c ti o n
In seeking for the witch in fairy land we must -
3 9
0
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
occurs in the story o f Prince Hazel and Prince
F a ir With characteristic perversity while pre
. ,
”
the S leeping Beauty for instance her sole , ,
make his w a
y through the surrounding thorn
thickets It may be noted in this connection that
.
—
the every day inhabitants o f fairy land have never
-
3 10
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
M aria S chwe i d l e r deserves a better fate than to
be included as a witch under any heading what
ever seeing that not only was her innocence
,
13
3
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
The unfortunate witch having devoted her
,
3 4
1
The B o o k o f Wi tch e s
methods But this ca n only obscure without
.
,
. .
,
,
-
—
the like at fixed charges and commands the im
3 16
So me f To d a yW i t ch e s o -
tribes a form o f
, swimming prevailed in ,
3 7
1
The Bo o k o f Wi t ch e s
less to say Indian witchcraft had and has all the
,
—
effective in its cure s o that to flog a witch with
such rods is the best possible way of rendering
her harmless There are proper ways of pu nish
.
, ,
o r plague .
3 1 8
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
the belief in witches in our own and other Euro
pean countries F urther examples might be
.
, ,
—
present day witches of the Eternal City showing ,
3 2 0
So me f To da y
Wi t ch e s o -
3 2
2
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
would be the proper person to apply to in such a
diffi culty But I was very soon convinced of my
.
’
accompanied Zita s elder brother Luigi when
he visited F lorence for the purpose and with ,
3 4
2
So Wi tch e s o f To da y
me -
—
example o f the matter o f fact way in which its
-
—
have a spell cast o n your o wn account it is dith
cult to go through life without a quarrel or two
3 2
5
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
and in that case also Emilia B ut I am
b e co m m g 1n di s cre e t .
—
volume is still practised by the American negro
—a fact o f which I was repeatedly assured by
Southern friends I was signally disappointed ;
.
26
3
The B o o k o f Wi t ch e s
once had with a middle aged witch of unpleasing -
—
mysteries of F ate to the cook and scullery maid
by the aid of a very greasy pack o f playing cards -
3 2 8
So me f To d a y
Wi t ch e s o -
3 9
2
The B o o k o f Wi t che s
—
middle aged o f comfortable rotundity and
, ,
, ,
—
sham devotee the greater the faith indeed s o , ,
3 33
B I B L I OGRA P H Y
Th e p r i n ci p l u h r i i m d of i hi volum a a t o t es a e us e n t s e,
an d r f rr d i h x
no t g iv n i h followi ng
e e e to n t e te t , a re e n t e
l i Th d
s t do n c ri ly r f r h or igi n l
e a te s no t e es s a e e to t e a
y r of p ubl ic i on b d i i on m d of
.
ea h at ,
ut to t e e t a e us e
Ad m W H
a s , Wi ch W rlo ck d M g ici n . . t , a an a a .
8 89 1
A i n wor h H Th L nc h i r Wi ch
.
s t e a as e t es
And r n H “n F i ry T l
. .
,
”
e se a s a a es
Augu in C i vi
. .
,
”
st D D ie e ta te e
B umon Tr i on S p i ri
. .
ea t eat s e ts
Bl ck on C omm n r i
. .
a s t e e ta es
Bl u D r L udw ig D “ Z ub rw n
. .
a , l j di h . . as a t u sc e a e es e .
8 98 1
o
5 8 e a e a e es e s 1 0
t ea t s t a
c ry d Wi chc r f , .
,
”
e 7 5 an t a t 1 1
Br d J P o p ul r An i q u i i of G r Bri in
. .
an a t t es ea t ta
,
.
.
9 5 1 0
Budg E “ A E gyp i n M gi c
.
e, t a a
Burr G Th Wi ch P
. . .
i e t e rs e c u t o n s
-
bo M O f C r dul i y
.
,
C
.
asau n, 6 8 ~
e t 1 6
l P O n P“ o p ul r R hym d C h rm
. . .
C a ss e ,
.
89 a es an a s 1 0
D vi T W M g ic d D ivin i n mong h
. .
a es a an at o a t e
br w
.
, .
He8 98 e s 1
F i rf x E D“ m l g i
. .
a a 6 ae o no o a 1 22
Fr r J G Th Gold n Bough
.
, . .
”
a ze e e 1 00
,
9
Gomm G L H“ndb o k of Folklor
. .
. .
”
e, 89 . a o e 1 0
Gould S B ri ng O ld E ngl i h F i ry T l
.
.
. a s a a es
Gould S B ri ng Th Boo k of W r Wolv
.
, .
a e e e es
G r imm D u ch Myth ologi
.
, .
.
. e ts e e .
3 34
The B o o k o f W i t ch e s
P i tc a i rn R Tri a ls in t a “C r1m i na 1 Sco l nd 18 3 3
P la to La ws
. . .
P l i ny N a t ur a l H 1s to ry
. .
P lu ta rch Li v e s
. .
1 8
5 4
Sc o S i W l r d W i chc r f
“D e monology
.
, . .
tt , r a te an t a t
S pp J N O r“i n fi d Occi d n
. .
”
e 9 3 e t n e t 1 0
Sh rp C K H i ory of Wi chc r f i Sc o l nd
. . .
, .
a e, . . s t t a t n t a .
884 1
S in cl i r “G S n I nv i i bl W orld D i pl y d
.
’
a eo a ta s s e s a e
S m i h D“ i c i on ry of h B i bl
,
. .
t t a t e e
Sp r ng r M ll u M l fi m 48 6
. .
e e a e s a e c a ru 1
S l d i n Wi chc r f i Ch ri i n C oun ri
. . .
a a 88 t a t n st a t es 1 2
T r n “l i on B i on d Mo ch u
. . .
Th i
eo cr tu s a s at an s s
Wi d m n n A R l ig i on of h An c i n E gy p i n
fi .
e e a ,
. e t e e t t a s .
W i e ru sJ D P “m ig 6
5 3 e r st ns 1
W r igh Th om N rr i v of S orc ry gi c
. . .
,
t, as a at e e a nd Ma
Al o m ny p m ph l ch p book & &
. .
e ts c hi e fly f
‘
s a a a -
s c c o
v nt n th d igh t n h c n t ur i
. .
, , , ,
the se e ee an e ee t e es .