Walter Scott - Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft

Reginald Scot's "Discovery of Witchcraft," book vii. chap. 15.

Dr. Jackson, in his "Treatise on Unbelief," opines for the severe opinion. "Thus are the Fayries, from difference of events ascribed to them, divided into good and bad, when as it is but one and the same malignant fiend that meddles in both; seeking sometimes to be feared, otherwhiles to be loued as God, for the bodily harmes or good turnes supposed to be in his power."—Jackson on Unbelief, p. 178, edit. 1625.

Reginald Scot's "Discovery of Witchcraft," book vii. chap, ii.

Delrio, "De Magia." See the Preface.

Florimond, "Concerning the Antichrist," cap. 7, n. 5, quoted by Delrio, "De Magia," p. 820.

Dr. Hutchinson quotes "H. Institor," 105, 161.

Alciat. "Parerg. Juris," lib. viii. chap. 22.

Bart. de Spina, de Strigilibus.

The reader may sup full on such wild horrors in the causes célèbres .

Translator's preface to Horneck's "Account of what happened in the Kingdom of Sweden." See appendix to Glanville's work.

Hutchison on Witchcraft, p. 162.

Hutchison's "Essay on Witchcraft," p. 166.

Webster on Witchcraft, edition 1677, p. 278.

This reproach is noticed in a very rare tract, which was bought at Mr. Lort's sale, by the celebrated collector Mr. Bindley, and is now in the author's possession. Its full title is, "The Discovery of Witches, in Answer to several Queries lately delivered to the Judge of Assize for the County of Norfolk; and now published by Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder, for the Benefit of the whole Kingdom. Printed for R. Royston, at the Angel, in Inn Lane. 1647."

Of Parliament.

"Hudibras," part ii. canto 3.

See the account of Sir T. Browne in No. XIV. of the "Family Library" ("Lives of British Physicians"), p. 60.

Glanville's "Collection of Relations."

Roger North's "Life of Lord-Keeper Guilford."

"Memoirs of Sir John Reresby," p. 237.

Mather's "Magnalia," book vi. chap. lxxxii. The zealous author, however, regrets the general gaol delivery on the score of sorcery and thinks, had the times been calm, the case might have required a farther investigation, and that, on the whole, the matter was ended too abruptly But, the temper of the times considered, he admits candidly that it is better to act moderately in matters capital, and to let the guilty escape, than run the risk of destroying the innocent.

This word Covine seems to signify a subdivision or squad. The tree near the front of an ancient castle was called the Covine tree , probably because the lord received his company there.

See p. 136.

Pining.

We should read perhaps, "limb and lire."

Stubble.

Mackenzie's "Criminal Law," p. 45.

Sinclair's "Satan's Invisible World Discovered," p. 43.

Fountainhall's "Decisions," vol. i. p. 15.

Or Scottish wandering beggar.

Sinclair's "Satan's Invisible World Discovered," p. 98.

"Satan's Invisible World," by Mr. George Sinclair. The author was Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow, and afterwards minister of Eastwood, in Renfrewshire.

"Lucii Apuleii Metamorphoses," lib. iii.

The music of this witch tune is unhappily lost. But that of another, believed to have been popular on such occasions, is preserved.

I am obliged to the kindness of Mr. Pitcairn for this singular extract. The southern reader must be informed that the jurisdiction or regality of Broughton embraced Holyrood, Canongate, Leith, and other suburban parts of Edinburgh, and bore the same relation to that city as the borough of Southwark to London.

A copy of the record of the trial, which took place in Ayrshire, was sent to me by a friend who withheld his name, so that I can only thank him in this general acknowledgment.

This may remind the reader of Cazotte's "Diable Amoureux."

See Fountainhall's "Decisions," vol. i. p. 15.

Law's "Memorialls," edited by C.K. Sliarpe, Esq.: Prefatory Notice, p. 93.

The precognition is the record of the preliminary evidence on which the public officers charged in Scotland with duties entrusted to a grand jury in England, incur the responsibility of sending an accused person to trial.

Drawing blood, that is, by two cuts in the form of a cross on the witch's forehead, confided in all throughout Scotland as the most powerful counter charm.

See Hone's "Every-Day Book," p. 62.

"Apparition Evidence."