Chapter 11

435.Holdsworth,Hist.i. p. 382.

436.Pollock and Maitland,Hist.i. p. 442, and note 2, ed. of 1898.

437.James Gairdner,The English Church, p. 42. London, 1902.

438.Reeves,Hist. Eng. Law, iii. p. 41.

439.If a clerk were accused, the Crown got his goods till he had completed purgation, after which they were usually returned (Hale,Pleas of the Crown, ii. p. 384). If, however, he was delivered overabsque purgatione, or if he had first pleaded guilty, the king retained them, and had the produce of his lands for the prisoner’s life.—A. T. Carter,History of English Legal Institutions, p. 255. London, 1906.

440.Johnson,Laws and Canons, ii. p. 208.

441.2 Ed. I. c. 2.

442.4 Ed. I. c. 5.

443.Following a Canon of the Council of Lyons,A.D.1274.C. Lugd.c. 6.

444.For other instances of the dislike to remarriage, see Westermarck,Moral Ideas, ii. pp. 450, 451; and E. S. Hartland,Primitive Paternity, i. p. 134.

445.Johnson,Laws and Canons, ii. p. 267.

446.25 Ed. III. c. 4.

447.See, for instance, a law passed in 1378 (1 Ric. II. c. 15) against arresting priests during divine service.

448.Archbishop Islip’sConstitutions,A.D.1351. Johnson,Laws and Canons, ii. p. 414, etc.

449.See, for instance, F. C. Hingeston-Randolph,Register of John de Grandisson, Bishop of Exeter, Part ii. p. 1118. London, 1897.

450.For instance, they could not be accused by disreputable persons;videC. Carthag.A.D.390; Labbé, tom. iii. pp. 694, 870;C. Chalced.c. 21,A.D.451; Labbé, tom. vi. p. 1229;C. Trident.Ses. 13, c. 7,A.D.1551. It was complained that the clergy could not be accused by the laity and would not accuse each other.—Lea,Studies in Church History, pp. 208, 211.

451.For instance, Simon Fish in hisSupplicacyon of Beggars, written about 1529, J. M. Couper’s ed. p. 12. London, 1871.Shakespeare, writing of the fifteenth century, refers to the matter:... You know our kingIs prisoner to the bishop here, at whose handsHe hath good usage and great liberty.Third Part of King Henry VI.iv. 5.See also Hook,Archbishops of Canterbury, ii. p. 398.

451.For instance, Simon Fish in hisSupplicacyon of Beggars, written about 1529, J. M. Couper’s ed. p. 12. London, 1871.

Shakespeare, writing of the fifteenth century, refers to the matter:

... You know our kingIs prisoner to the bishop here, at whose handsHe hath good usage and great liberty.Third Part of King Henry VI.iv. 5.

... You know our kingIs prisoner to the bishop here, at whose handsHe hath good usage and great liberty.

... You know our king

Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands

He hath good usage and great liberty.

Third Part of King Henry VI.iv. 5.

See also Hook,Archbishops of Canterbury, ii. p. 398.

452.J. C. Robertson,Materials, iv. p. 49;Epist. Nicolaus de Monte.

453.Coulton,Chaucer, p. 288.

454.Lea,Studies in Church History, p. 196.

455.Hale,Pleas of the Crown, ii. p. 384.

456.Pollock and Maitland, p. 444, ed. 1898.Ibid.pp. 427, ed. 1895.

456.Pollock and Maitland, p. 444, ed. 1898.

Ibid.pp. 427, ed. 1895.

457.Riley,Chronica Monasterii S. Albani, iii. p. 48. See also Britton, Nichols’ ed. p. 27.

458.4 Hen. IV. c. 3.

459.1 Hen. VII. c. 4.

460.4 Hen. VII. c. 13.

461.J. F. Stephen,Hist. Crim. Law, i. p. 463.

462.Holdsworth,Hist.i. p. 382.

463.12 Hen. VII. c. 7.

464.4 Hen. VIII. c. 2,A.D.1512.

465.T. Rymer,Foedera, tom. xiv. p. 239. London, 1712.

466.Lea,Studies in Church History, p. 189.

467.23 Hen. VIII. c. 11.

468.25 Hen. VIII. c. 3.

469.28 Hen. VIII. c. 1, s. 7.

470.“In 1533 unnatural offences, in 1541 witchcraft, were made felonies. In 1603 bigamy was made a felony.”—Holdsworth,Hist.i. p. 388.

471.18 Eliz. c. 7.

472.Special, and moral, prosecutions were carried out through the Court of Star Chamber (3 Hen. VII. c. 1) (videLingard,Hist.vii. p. 377; Carter,Outlines of English Legal History, p. 101; Hudson,Treatise on the Star Chamber) and by the hated Court of High Commission (1 Eliz. c. 1) (see Hale,Precedents and Proceedings in Criminal Cases, p. 1., andEcc. Courts Comm., 1883, p. xxxviii.), which imposed some enormous fines and inflicted various painful penalties, till they, with the ecclesiastical courts, were overthrown in the year 1640 (16 Car. I. c. 10 and 11).

473.Blackstone, iv. p. 28.

474.Women received certain allowances by 21 Jac. I. c. 6 in 1623.

475.10 & 11 Will. III. c. 23.

476.5 Anne c. 6.

477.Carter,Hist. Eng. Legal Inst.p. 247, ed. 1902.

478.J. F. Stephen,Hist. Crim. Law, i. 463.

479.4 Geo. I. c. 11.

480.Holdsworth,Hist.p. 383.

481.J. F. Stephen,Hist. Crim. Law, p. 463.

482.19 Geo. III. c. 74, s. 3.

483.7 & 8 Geo. IV. c. 28, s. 6,A.D.1827.

484.Yet as Professor Menger expressed it, “Nothing can be so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.”

485.J. F. Stephen,Hist. Crim. Law, iii. p. 27.

486.William Andrews,Old-Time Punishments, p. 153.

487.Dictionary of National Biography.There was an Act of Henry VIII. which has been called the whip with six strings, which may have some reference to the hangman’s usual weapon.

488.On the old convict shipSuccess.

489.See Murray,Dictionary, vol. iv.

490.“Hangman, I charge you to pay particular attention to this lady. Scourge her soundly, man; scourge her till the blood runs down. It is Christmas—a cold time for madam to strip. See that you warm her shoulders thoroughly.”—Mr. Justice Jeffreys, quoted in Andrews,Old-Time Punishments, p. 154.

491.57 Geo. III. c. 75.

492.See Statute of Labourers, 25 Ed. III. c. 2.

493.L. Jewitt, “The Pillory and who they put in it,”The Reliquary, i. p. 210, April 1861.

494.Besant,Tudors, p. 381.

495.Andrews,Old-Time Punishments, p. 68.

496.Jewitt, p. 213.

497.Ibid.p. 221.

498.56 Geo. III. c. 138.

499.7 Will. IV. and 1 Vict. c. 23.

500.Besant,Mediæval London, p. 354.

501.J. A. Rees,The Grocery Trade, p. 57. London, 1910.

502.W. Hudson,Treatise on the Court of Star Chamber, ii. p. 225.

503.Lea,Hist. Inq. Middle Ages, i. p. 441.

504.Hudson,Treatise on the Court of Star Chamber, p. 225.

505.James Gairdner,English Church, p. 53.

506.Pike,Hist.i. p. 237.

507.Barrington,Ancient Statutes, p. 422.

508.Andrews,Old-Time Punishments, p. 152.

509.Ibid.p. 140.

510.Jewitt, “Scolds and how they cured them,”Reliquary, October 1860.

511.Andrews,Old-Time Punishments, p. 45.

512.See Jewitt, “A few Notes on Ducking Stools,”Reliquary, January 1861.

513.Andrews,Old-Time Punishments, etc., etc.

514.Holdsworth,Hist.ii. p. 327.

515.At some of the American lynchings the injured woman applies a match to the wood upon which the offending negro is to be burned to death.

516.“They died alone and unpitied,” says Lecky; “... their very kinsmen shrank from them as tainted and accursed.”—History of Rationalism, p. 149. London, 1865.

517.Meetings of a more or less bacchanalian character really took place in Europe through the middle ages, survivals of old rites and nature-worship. See Professor Karl Pearson’s long and learned account of these inThe Chances of Death. London, 1897.

518.These were often domestic pets or animals about the yard. Even feeding the sparrows on the winter snow would have been dangerous for a suspected person. See kind of evidence sought for by R. Bernard in hisGuide to Grand Jurymen, p. 235. London, 1627, etc. The miserable witches, in the agony of sleeplessness and torment, ultimately doing or saying anything that was already expected of them. See, for instance, F. Hutchinson,An Historical Essay concerning Witchcraft, pp. 37, 57. London, 1718.

519.On the power of suggestion and imagination, see, for instance, G. le Bon,Revue scientifique, March 26 and April 2, 1910.

520.The whole hideous and devilish procedure is given by J. Sprenger and H. Institor in theirMalleus Malificarum, about 1485–89. Frankfort ed., 1580.Paulus Grillandus,De sortilegiis, lib. 4,De questionibus et tortura. Lyons, 1533.J. Bodin,De la démonomanie des sorciers. Paris, 1580.R. Scot,The Discoverie of Witchcraft. London, 1584. B. Nicholson’s edition. London, 1886.H. Boguet,Discours des sorciers. Lyons, 1608.

520.The whole hideous and devilish procedure is given by J. Sprenger and H. Institor in theirMalleus Malificarum, about 1485–89. Frankfort ed., 1580.

Paulus Grillandus,De sortilegiis, lib. 4,De questionibus et tortura. Lyons, 1533.

J. Bodin,De la démonomanie des sorciers. Paris, 1580.

R. Scot,The Discoverie of Witchcraft. London, 1584. B. Nicholson’s edition. London, 1886.

H. Boguet,Discours des sorciers. Lyons, 1608.

521.Esquirol gives this as a symptom in some forms of insanity. See E. K. Hunt’s translation ofMental Maladies, p. 245. Philadelphia, 1845.R. Scot,Descoverie Booke, ii. chaps, v.–viii.Bodin,Démonomanie, p. 170.James I.,Daemonologie, p. 81.H. Boguet, chap. xlvi.

521.Esquirol gives this as a symptom in some forms of insanity. See E. K. Hunt’s translation ofMental Maladies, p. 245. Philadelphia, 1845.

R. Scot,Descoverie Booke, ii. chaps, v.–viii.

Bodin,Démonomanie, p. 170.

James I.,Daemonologie, p. 81.

H. Boguet, chap. xlvi.

522.The Cenci.

523.Historical Essay, p. 139.

524.See J. P. Migne,Encyclopédie théologique, vol. xlix. tome second, p. 72. Paris, 1848.Charles Mackay has observed: “It was no unusual thing then, nor is it now, that in aged persons there should be some spot on the body totally devoid of feeling,” p. 137. In Scotland there were a number of witch-finders who were known as “common prickers,” p. 146.—Popular Delusions, London, 1869.

524.See J. P. Migne,Encyclopédie théologique, vol. xlix. tome second, p. 72. Paris, 1848.

Charles Mackay has observed: “It was no unusual thing then, nor is it now, that in aged persons there should be some spot on the body totally devoid of feeling,” p. 137. In Scotland there were a number of witch-finders who were known as “common prickers,” p. 146.—Popular Delusions, London, 1869.

525.Michael Dalton,The Countrey Justice, p. 242. London, 1618.James I.,Daemonologie, p. 80.Matthew Hopkins quoted, p. 33,ante.Sinistrari of Ameno Demoniality, p. 27. J. Liseux, trans. Paris, 1879.D. Neal,History of New England, p. 137. London, 1747.

525.Michael Dalton,The Countrey Justice, p. 242. London, 1618.

James I.,Daemonologie, p. 80.

Matthew Hopkins quoted, p. 33,ante.

Sinistrari of Ameno Demoniality, p. 27. J. Liseux, trans. Paris, 1879.

D. Neal,History of New England, p. 137. London, 1747.

526.Hutchinson,Essay, p. 138.

527.T. Wright,Dame Alice Kyteler, London, Camden Society, vol. xxiv., 1843.

528.H. L. Stephen,State Trials, vol. i. p. 211. London, 1899.

529.Hutchinson, p. 34.

530.See long and interesting essay on witchcraft in theEncy. Brit.ninth ed.

531.The Act is quoted at length in R. Royston’sAdvertisement to Jurymen of England, in which he criticises del Rio’s and Perkins’ “proofs.”

532.Alluded to by Cotton Mather,The Wonders of the Invisible World. Boston, 1693.

533.James Williams,Ency. Brit.ninth ed. vol. xxiv. p. 622. Kincaid was one of the “common prickers” or professional finders, who in those superstitious times were numerous.

534.For instance, Michael Dalton,The Countrey Justice, p. 242; Richard Bernard,A Guide to Grand Jurymen, p. 240.

535.Whether the story of his immersion is true or not, he undoubtedly died despised and discredited.

536.Hudibras, Part iii. chap. iii.

537.Coming down, may be, from the prehistoric mother cult. See Karl Pearson, Woman as Witch in hisChances of Death.

538.Exorcism, etc. Paul Regnard,Les Maladies épidémiques de l’esprit, is full of engravings of old pictures illustrating the point. Paris, 1887.

539.Although the Popes, such as John XXII., Innocent VIII., Julius II., and Adrian VI., legislated on witches, the Protestants were quite as vindictive. See, for instance, J. Michelet,Life of Luther, bk. v. chap. vi.: “The crazed, the halt, the blind, and the dumb are all possessed with demons. Physicians who treat these infirmities as arising from natural causes are fools who know not the power of the devil.” We shall deal later with the works of Puritan divines in England and America.

540.Chapters xi., xiv., etc.; French edition of 1579.

541.This theory was advanced by George Gifford inA discourse of the subtill practices of Devilles by witches and sorcerers, etc. London, 1587.

542.A dialogue concerning witches and witchcraft. In which is laid open how craftily the Devill deceiveth not only the witches but many others.London, 1603. And by John Webster, who was sceptical of the miraculous in hisDisplaying of supposed Witchcraft, 1677.

543.In 1609 a terrible commission scourged the regions round Bordeaux and Labourt in Western France. See P. de l’Ancre,Tableau de l’inconstance den Mauvais Anges, 1612. Under Louis XIV. the luridChambre Ardentewas set up in 1679, and lasted till 1682. La Reynie, the Lieutenant-General of Police, was an active inquisitor. See F. Funck-Brentano,Princes and Poisoners; G. Maidment, trans. London, 1901.

544.Cautio Criminalis, 1631.

545.Saducisimis Triumphatus, 1681.

546.In Dutch, 1681; French translation,Le Monde enchanté. Amsterdam, 1684.

547.The Certainty of the World of Spirits.London, 1691.

548.The Wonders of the Invisible World: Observations upon the Nature, the Number, and the Operations of the Devils.

549.R. Calef,More Wonders of the Invisible World. London, 1700.

550.D. Neal,History of New England.—“The prisons were hardly able to hold the number of the accused.”

551.As it did as late as 1861, round the little village of Morzines in Savoy; see A Constans,Une Relation sur une épidémie d’hystério-démonopathie. Paris, 1863.Dr. R. Madden gives a long account of various historical outbreaks in hisPhantasmata, chap. x. “Maniacal Epidemics, etc.” London, 1857.E. Pronier,Étude sur la contagion de la Folie.Lausanne, 1892.L. F. Calmeil,De la Folie. Paris, 1845.

551.As it did as late as 1861, round the little village of Morzines in Savoy; see A Constans,Une Relation sur une épidémie d’hystério-démonopathie. Paris, 1863.

Dr. R. Madden gives a long account of various historical outbreaks in hisPhantasmata, chap. x. “Maniacal Epidemics, etc.” London, 1857.

E. Pronier,Étude sur la contagion de la Folie.Lausanne, 1892.

L. F. Calmeil,De la Folie. Paris, 1845.

552.An Historical Essay concerning Witchcraft.

553.Lecky,History of Rationalism.

554.One mediæval writer was said to have estimated the exact number of the various devils, which he stated as 7,405,926; see Jules Garinet,Histoire de la Magie, p. xxviii. Paris, 1818. Another declared that there were six principal genera of demons; R. Madden,Phantasmata, p. 293. Another author puts the devils at 2,665,866,746,664; see P. Carus,History of the Devil, p. 346. London, 1900.

555.“Quae quidam nefandissima opera si non vere fierent, sed delusoria, vane contra ea fuissent promulgatae leges et in legum ipsarum auctores, etiā in ipsum Deum, ista retorqueretur vanitas; quod extrema blasphemia est.”—B. de Spina,Quaestio de strigibus, p. 8. Rome, 1576.

556.Sortilège, p. 599. Paris, 1622.

557.A Tryall of Witches, 10th March 1664, Sir Matthew Hale, Kt. Appendix by C. Clark, p. 20. London, 1838.

558.State Trials, i.

559.Saducismus Triumphatus.

560.The Roman Catholic view of sorcery and evil spirits is treated at length by R. R. Madden,Phantasmata, chap. ix.

561.A. Chalmers,Biographical Dict.art. “Cotton Mather.” London, 1815.

562.“We cannot help lamenting that a sect among us looks upon the abolition of the penal statute against witchcraft not only as an evil but as a sin.... The Seceders published an Act ... in 1743 (reprinted at Glasgow, 1766). In this Act is contained the annual confession of sins.... Among the sins national and personal there confessed are ... (that) the penal statutes against witchcraft have been repealed by Parliament, contrary to the express law of God.”—H. Arnot,Criminal Trials in Scotland, p. 370. Edinburgh, 1785.

563.Lecky,History of Rationalism, p. 134.

564.Arminian Magazine, v. p. 366. London, 1782.

565.Dr. H. More employed the same argument in hisAntidote against Atheism, lib. iii. chap. ii. London, 1653.

566.Lay Sermons.London, 1870.

567.H. L. Stephen,State Trials.

568.History of Rationalism, chap. i.

569.J. Williams,Ency. Brit., ninth ed. art. “Witchcraft.”

570.Mackay,Delusions, pp. 184, 187, etc.

571.History of Rationalism, p. 4, etc.

572.See article on the case by E. F. Benson,Nineteenth Century, vol. xxxvii. June 1895. A somewhat similar case occurred at Tarbes in 1850.—History of Rationalism, p. 4.

573.“What sort of distemper ’tis shall stick the body full of pins?”—Quoted by Calef,More Wonders, p. 5.

574.Scot quotes a ghastly passage from Grillandus, who writeth “that when witches sleepe and feel no paine upon the torture,Domine labia mea aperiesshould be said, and so, saith he, both the torment will be felt and the truth will be uttered.—Discoverie of Witchcraft, p. 17. And we find in del Rio: “Narravit mihi ... anno 1599 captam puellulam strigatricem, quae nec pedum ustulationem saevissimam, nec flagra validissima sentiebat; donec Sacerdos cujusdam monitu illi Agni benedicti ceream imaginem in collum injecere, tum enim vi sacra amuleti daemonis praestigiosa ludibria depulsa et illa vim doloris coepit persentiscere.”—Disquisitionum magicarum, p. 184. Venice, 1616. See also E. Gurney,Phantasms of the Living, p. 181, who considers the insensibility to pain may have been due sometimes to auto-hynotism.

575.Mentioned, for instance, inTwelfth Night.

576.Les sorcières furent les sages-femmes et les sorciers les médecins du moyen âge.—P. Christian,Histoire de la magie, p. 400. Paris, ? 1871.

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