[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 his Chances 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 in A 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 his Displaying of supposed Witchcraft, 1677.