The case of the Hertfordshire witchcraft consider'd. : Being an examination of a book entitl'd A full and impartial account of the discovery of sorcery and witchcraft practis'd by Jane Wenham of Walkern, upon the bodies of Anne Thorne, Anne Street, &c.

Date:
MDCCXII
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The case of the Hertfordshire witchcraft consider'd. : Being an examination of a book entitl'd A full and impartial account of the discovery of sorcery and witchcraft practis'd by Jane Wenham of Walkern, upon the bodies of Anne Thorne, Anne Street, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/110
    Chance it may be to be concerned as Jury-men in fuch Cafes as thefe, way fee, how hard (I had almofi faid iwpojfible) it is to convitt a Witch ; and thereby be ad- mini[bed, how cautious and circumfpelt they ought to be^ left at any time they jhould incur the Guilt of con¬ demning innocent Blood. If thefe rude Strokes which I have drawn way he an Encouragement to thofe who have greater abilities to handle \this Subject with wore Bxattnefs, I prefume it would be an Attempt not wholly unferviceable. For it is a very melanchoily thing to confder, what odd Mo¬ tions the generality of Mankind have concerning things of this Mature ; and with how little Judgment they dif- charge them]elves when they are called to give their Verdills concerning them. Age, Poverty, and a Perverfe Temper of Mind, are the three principal ingredients which enter into the Comppfition of a Mo¬ dern Witch. One under thefe Circumfances fills the whole Farijh where Jhe lives with a t.houfand extrava¬ gant Fancies and terrifying Dreams. If any ones Cat¬ tle happen to dye Qas they call it) ftrangely ; if any one chances to be fick of fome uncommon Dijlemper ; in a Word\ if any thing falls out which they cannot give a good account of, presently there is Witchcraft in the Cafe, and they are for hanging or burning the port Wretch who has the misfortune to be ffpetted. This flows, I think, hrw necefary it is, as well, that Peo¬ ple fhould be letter informed, as that they ought ne¬ ver to he encouraged in thefe Extravagancies ; for it is hard to fay where the Mifchief will end, if this Humour be once indulged, and how many will daily be apprehended and brought to Tryal, upon fufpicion of Sorcery* (b) : As