Witchcraft
the practices of witches; a supernatural power which persons were formerly supposed to ob- WITCHCRAFT tain by entering into a compact with the devil. The compact was sometimes express, whether oral or written, when the arts, and renounced the sacraments of gaged in the service, practiced infernal or only implied, when she actually enicated herself wholly to the evil one; or only implied, when she actually eneral meeting, at which the devil pre- sometimes solemnly confirmed at a gen- the Church. The express compact was arts, and renounced the sacraments of the Church. The express compact was the witch signing the articles of agree- sided, and sometimes privately made by eral meeting, at which the devil presided, and sometimes privately made by the witch signing the articles of agreement with her own blood, or by the devil writing her name in his "black book." The contract was sometimes of indefinite duration, at other times for a certain number of years. The witch was bound to be obedient to the devil in everything, while the other party to the act delivered to the witch an imp, or familiar spirit, to be ready at call and to do whatever was directed. He further engaged that they should want for nothing, and be able to assume whatever shape they pleased to visit and torment their enemies and accomplish their is of great antiquity. The punishment for witchcraft was death, generally by burning. The number of people put to death in England has been estimated at about 30,000. against witchcraft in the reigns of Statutes were passed Henry VI., Henry VII. (1541), Elizaing the sitting of the Long Parliament beth (1563), and James I. (1604). Dur- Henry VI., Henry VII. (1541), Elizaing the sitting of the Long Parliament 3,000 persons are said to have been executed on the charge of witchcraft.
Judicial convictions were checked chiefly by the firmness of Judge Holt, who in about 10 trials, from 1694 to 1701, charged the juries in such a manner as about 10 trials, from 1694 to 1701, to cause them to bring in verdicts of acquittal.
The first law against witchcraft in Scotland was passed in 1563. The last and her daughter, nine years of age, executed in 1716, and the last in Scotland suffered in 1722. Prosecution for witchcraft was abolished both in Engwitchcraft was abolished both in Eng- (1736), which made all persons pretending to use the name punishable by imland and in Scotland by 9 George II. (1736), which made all persons pretendin the reign of George IV., they were ing to use the name punishable by imbonds. Witchcraft was first practiced in America in 1692 at Salem, Mass. It broke out in the family of Mr. Parish, a minister. A company of girls had been in the habit of meeting a West Indian slave to study "black art." They sudbroke out in the family of Mr. Parish, a like dogs, and scream at something un- An old Indian servant was acseen. like dogs, and scream at something un- WITHERSPOON cused of bewitching them. The excite ment spread and impeachments műltiplied. A special court was formed to try the accused, and as a result the jails rapidly filled, and many were conpress a doubt of a prisoner's guilt. Fiftyfive persons suffered torture, and 20 were executed. Witches were supposed demned to death. It was unsafe to exto be able, with the assistance of the devil, not only to foretell events, but to produce mice and vermin, to deprive men and animals, by touching them or merely breathing on them, of their natural powers, and to afflict them with diseases, to raise storms, etc., to change themselves into cats and other beasts, etc. General assemblies of witches, called selves into cats and other beasts, etc. to raise storms, etc., to change them- "Witches' Sabbaths," were held yearly, or oftener, at which they appeared enointment made from the bodies of unbaptized infants. To these meetings they were supposed to ride from great tirely naked, and besmeared with an or oftener, at which they appeared enthey were supposed to ride from great baptized infants. To these meetings hogs, or dogs, the devil taking the chair under the form of a goat. Here they did homage to their master, and offered him sacrifices of young children, etc., and practiced all sorts of license till cock-crowing. Neophytes were introduced to the devil at these meetings, and token that they had sold their souls to received his mark on their bodies, in him. See DEMONOLOGY: DEVIL.
Anglo-Saxons the great national or genreceived his mark on their bodies, in oftener, whenever the king kept his MOTE, in English history, among the eral assembly which met annually or nobles, the large landowners, the prineral assembly which met annually or Anglo-Saxons the great national or genon public business. It was composed of highest court of judicature in the kingthe athelings, or princes, ealdormen, or dom, and their concurrence was necesnobles, the large landowners, the principal ecclesiastics , etc. They formed the ties with foreign states. They had even bas passed to the heir of the late king, the power to elect the king, and if the throne new sovereign had to be recognized ties with foreign states. They had even sary to give validity to laws, and treaing assembled for the purpose. passed to the heir of the late king, the power to elect the king, and if the throne new sovereign had to be recognized came president of Princeton College in