mackay, ch. - extraordinary popular delusions (vol.2).pdf

8/12/2019 Mackay, Ch. - Extraordinary Popular Delusions (Vol.2).pdf

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popul ar ent husi asm can be car r i ed. Hi st or y i n her sol emn pagei nf orms us, t hat t he cr usaders were but i gnorant and savage men,t hat t hei r mot i ves wer e t hose of bi got r y unmi t i gat ed, and t hat t hei rpat hway was one of bl ood and t ear s. Romance, on t he ot her hand,di l at es upon t hei r pi et y and her oi sm and pour t r ays i n her mostgl owi ng and i mpassi oned hues t hei r vi r t ue and magnani mi t y, t hei mper i shabl e honour t hey acqui r ed f or t hemsel ves, and t he gr eatser vi ces t hey r ender ed t o Chr i st i ani t y. I n t he f ol l owi ng pages weshal l r ansack t he st or es of bot h, t o di scover t he t r ue spi r i t t hatani mat ed t he mot l ey mul t i t ude who t ook up arms i n t he ser vi ce of t heCr oss, l eavi ng hi st or y t o vouch f or f act s, but not di sdai ni ng t heai d of cont emporary poet r y and r omance t o t hr ow l i ght upon f eel i ngs,mot i ves, and opi ni ons.

I n or der t o under st and t hor oughl y t he st at e of publ i c f eel i ngi n Eur ope at t he t i me when Pet er t he Hermi t pr eached the hol y war ,i t wi l l be necessary t o go back f or many year s ant er i or t o thatevent . We must make acquai nt ance wi t h t he pi l gr i ms of t he ei ght h,

ni nt h, and t ent h cent ur i es, and l ear n t he t al es t hey tol d of t hedangers t hey had passed, and t he wonders t hey had seen. Pi l gr i magest o t he Hol y Land seem at f i r st t o have been under t aken by conver t ed J ews, and by Chr i st i an devot ees of l i vel y i magi nat i on, pi ni ng wi t h anat ur al cur i osi t y to vi si t t he scenes whi ch of al l ot her s wer e mosti nt er est i ng i n t hei r eyes. The pi ous and t he i mpi ous al i ke f l ockedt o J er usal em, - - t he one cl ass t o f east t hei r si ght on t he sceneshal l owed by the l i f e and suf f er i ngs of t hei r Lor d, and t he ot her ,because i t soon became a gener al l y recei ved opi ni on, t hat such api l gr i mage was suf f i ci ent t o r ub of f t he l ong scor e of si ns, howeverat r oci ous. Anot her and ver y numer ous cl ass of pi l gr i ms wer e t he i dl e

and r ovi ng, who vi si t ed Pal est i ne t hen as t he moder ns vi si t I t al y orSwi t zer l and now, because i t was t he f ashi on, and because t hey mi ghtpl ease t hei r vani t y by r et ai l i ng, on t hei r r et ur n, t he advent ur est hey had met wi t h. But t he r eal l y pi ous f or med t he gr eat maj or i t y.Ever y year t hei r number s i ncr eased, unt i l at l ast t hey became sonumer ous as t o be cal l ed t he "armi es of t he Lor d. " Ful l ofent husi asm, t hey set t he danger and di f f i cul t y of t he way atdef i ance, and l i nger ed wi t h hol y rapt ur e on ever y scene descr i bed i nt he Evangel i st s. To t hem i t was bl i ss i ndeed t o dr i nk t he cl earwater s of t he J ordan, or be bapt i zed i n t he same st r eam wher e J ohnhad bapt i zed the Savi our . They wandered wi t h awe and pl easur e i n t he

pur l i eus of t he Templ e, on t he sol emn Mount of Ol i ves, or t he awf ulCal var y, wher e a God had bl ed f or si nf ul men. To t hese pi l gr i msever y obj ect was pr eci ous. Rel i cs wer e eager l y sought af t er ; f l agonsof wat er f r om J or dan, or pani er s of moul d f r om t he hi l l of t heCr uci f i xi on, wer e br ought home, and sol d at ext r avagant pr i ces t ochur ches and monast er i es. More apocryphi cal r el i cs, such as t he woodof t he t r ue cr oss, t he t ear s of t he Vi r gi n Mar y, t he hems of hergar ment s, t he t oe- nai l s and hai r of t he Apost l es - - even t he t ent st hat Paul had hel ped t o manuf act ur e - - wer e exhi bi t ed f or sal e by

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t he knavi sh i n Pal est i ne, and br ought back t o Eur ope "wi t h wondr ouscost and car e. " A gr ove of a hundr ed oaks woul d not have f ur ni shedal l t he wood sol d i n l i t t l e mor sel s as r emnant s of t he t r ue cross;and t he t ear s of Mar y, i f col l ect ed t oget her , woul d have f i l l ed aci s tern.

For upwards of t wo hundr ed years t he pi l gr i ms met wi t h noi mpedi ment i n Pal est i ne. The enl i ght ened Haroun Al Reschi d, and hi smore i mmedi at e successors, encour aged t he st r eam whi ch br ought somuch weal t h i nt o Syr i a, and t r eat ed t he wayf arer s wi t h t he ut mostcour t esy. The r ace of Fat emi t e cal i phs, - - who, al t hough i n ot herr espect s as t ol er ant , wer e more di st r essed f or money, or moreunscr upul ous i n obt ai ni ng i t , t han t hei r pr edecessors of t he houseof Abbas, - - i mposed a t ax of a bezant f or each pi l gr i m t hat ent er ed J er usal em. Thi s was a ser i ous hardshi p upon t he poorer sor t , who hadbegged t hei r wear y way across Eur ope, and ar r i ved at t he bour ne ofal l t hei r hopes wi t hout a coi n. A gr eat out cr y was i mmedi at el yr ai sed, but st i l l t he t ax was r i gor ousl y l evi ed. The pi l gr i ms unabl e

t o pay wer e compel l ed t o remai n at t he gat e of t he hol y ci t y unt i lsome r i ch devot ee ar r i vi ng wi t h hi s t r ai n, pai d t he t ax and l et t hemi n. Rober t of Nor mandy, f at her of Wi l l i am t he Conquer or , who, i ncommon wi t h many ot her nobl es of t he hi ghest r ank, under t ook t hepi l gr i mage, f ound on hi s ar r i val scor es of pi l gr i ms at t he gat e,anxi ousl y expect i ng hi s comi ng t o pay t he t ax f or t hem. Upon nooccasi on was such a boon ref used.

The sums drawn f r om t hi s source wer e a mi ne of weal t h t o t heMosl em governors of Pal est i ne, i mposed as t he tax had been at a t i mewhen pi l gr i mages had become mor e numerous t han ever . A st r ange i dea

had t aken possessi on of t he popul ar mi nd at t he cl ose of t he t ent hand commencement of t he el event h cent ur y. I t was uni ver sal l ybel i eved t hat t he end of t he wor l d was at hand; t hat t he thousandyear s of t he Apocal ypse wer e near compl et i on, and t hat J esus Chr i stwoul d descend upon J er usal em t o j udge manki nd. Al l Chr i st endom wasi n commot i on. A pani c t er r or sei zed upon t he weak, t he cr edul ous,and the gui l t y, who i n those days f ormed more t han ni neteent went i et hs of t he popul at i on. For saki ng t hei r homes, ki ndr ed, andoccupat i on, t hey crowded t o J er usal em t o awai t t he comi ng of t heLor d, l i ght ened, as t hey i magi ned, of a l oad of si n by t hei r wear ypi l gr i mage. To i ncr ease t he pani c, t he st ar s wer e obser ved t o f al l

f r om heaven, ear t hquakes t o shake t he l and, and vi ol ent hur r i canest o bl ow down t he f or est s. Al l t hese, and mor e especi al l y t hemet eor i c phenomena, were l ooked upon as t he f orerunner s of t heappr oachi ng j udgment s. Not a meteor shot athwart t he hor i zon t hatdi d not f i l l a di st r i ct wi t h al ar m, and send away t o J er usal em ascor e of pi l gr i ms, wi t h st af f i n hand and wal l et on t hei r back,pr ayi ng as t hey went f or t he remi ssi on of t hei r si ns. Men, women,and even chi l dr en, t r udged i n dr oves t o t he hol y ci t y, i nexpect at i on of t he day when t he heavens woul d open, and t he Son of

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God descend i n hi s gl or y. Thi s ext r aor di nar y del usi on, whi l e i taugment ed t he number s, i ncr eased al so t he hardshi ps of t he pi l gr i ms.Beggar s became so numerous on al l t he hi ghways bet ween t he west ofEur ope and Const ant i nopl e t hat t he monks, t he gr eat al ms- gi ver s upont hese occasi ons, woul d have br ought st ar vat i on wi t hi n si ght of t hei rown door s, i f t hey had not economi zed t hei r r esour ces, and l ef t t hedevot ees t o shi f t f or t hemsel ves as t hey coul d. Hundr eds of t hemwer e gl ad t o subsi st upon t he ber r i es t hat r i pened by t he road, who,bef or e t hi s gr eat f l ux, mi ght have shar ed t he br ead and f l esh of t hemonast er i es.

But t hi s was not t he gr eat est of t hei r di f f i cul t i es. On t hei rar r i val i n J er usal em t hey f ound t hat a ster ner r ace had obt ai nedpossessi on of t he Hol y Land. The cal i phs of Bagdad had beensucceeded by t he harsh Tur ks of t he r ace of Sel j ook, who l ooked upont he pi l gr i ms wi t h cont empt and aver si on. The Tur ks of t he el event hcent ur y wer e more f er oci ous and l ess scr upul ous t han t he Saracens oft he t ent h. They were annoyed at t he i mmense number of pi l gr i ms who

overr an t he count r y, and st i l l more so because t hey showed noi nt ent i on of qui t t i ng i t . The hour l y expect at i on of t he l ast j udgment kept t hem wai t i ng; and t he Turks, appr ehensi ve of bei ng atl ast dr i ven f r om t he soi l by t he swar ms t hat wer e st i l l ar r i vi ng,heaped up di f f i cul t i es i n t hei r way. Per secut i on of ever y ki ndawai t ed t hem. They were pl undered, and beat en wi t h st r i pes, and kepti n suspense f or mont hs at t he gates of J er usal em, unabl e t o pay t hegol den bezant t hat was t o f aci l i t at e t hei r ent r ance.

When the f i r st epi demi c t er r or of t he day of j udgment began t osubsi de, a f ew pi l gr i ms vent ur ed t o r et ur n t o Eur ope, t hei r hear t s

bi g wi t h i ndi gnat i on at t he i nsul t s t hey had suf f er ed. Ever ywher e ast hey passed t hey rel ated t o a sympathi zi ng audi t ory t he wr ongs ofChr i st endom. St r ange t o say, even t hese r eci t al s i ncr eased t he mani af or pi l gr i mage. The gr eater t he danger s of t he way, t he more chancet hat si ns of deep dye woul d be at oned f or . Di f f i cul t y and suf f er i ngonl y hei ght ened the mer i t , and f r esh hor des i ssued f r om ever y t ownand vi l l age, t o wi n f avour i n t he si ght of Heaven by a vi si t t o t hehol y sepul chr e. Thus di d t hi ngs cont i nue dur i ng t he whol e of t heel event h cent ur y.

The t r ai n t hat was t o expl ode so f ear f ul l y was now l ai d, and

t her e want ed but t he hand to appl y t he t orch. At l ast t he manappear ed upon the scene. Li ke al l who have ever achi eved so great anend, Pet er t he her mi t was exact l y sui t ed t o the age; nei t her behi ndi t , nor i n advance of i t ; but acut e enough t o penet r at e i t s myst er yer e i t was di scover ed by any ot her . Ent husi ast i c, chi val r ous,bi got ed, and, i f not i nsane, not f ar r emoved f r om i nsani t y, he wast he ver y pr ot ot ype of t he t i me. Tr ue ent husi asm i s al waysper sever i ng and al ways el oquent , and t hese t wo qual i t i es wer e uni t edi n no common degr ee i n t he person of t hi s ext r aor di nary pr eacher . He

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was a monk of Ami ens, and er e he assumed t he hood had ser ved as asol di er . He i s r epr esent ed as havi ng been i l l f avour ed and l ow i nst at ur e, but wi t h an eye of sur passi ng br i ght ness and i nt el l i gence.Havi ng been sei zed wi t h t he mani a of t he age, he vi si t ed J er usal em,and r emai ned t her e t i l l hi s bl ood boi l ed t o see t he cr uelper secut i on heaped upon t he devot ees. On hi s r et urn home he shookt he wor l d by t he el oquent st or y of t hei r wr ongs.

Bef or e ent er i ng i nt o any f ur t her det ai l s of t he ast oundi ngr esul t s of hi s pr eachi ng, i t wi l l be advi sabl e t o cast a gl ance att he st ate of t he mi nd of Eur ope, t hat we may under st and al l t hebet t er t he causes of hi s success. Fi r st of al l , t her e was t hepr i est hood, whi ch, exer ci si ng as i t di d t he most conspi cuousi nf l uence upon t he f or t unes of soci et y, cl ai ms t he l ar gest shar e ofat t ent i on. Rel i gi on was t he r ul i ng i dea of t hat day, and t he onl yci vi l i ser capabl e of t ami ng such wol ves as t hen const i t ut ed t hef l ock of t he f ai t hf ul . The cl er gy wer e al l i n al l ; and t hough t heykept t he popul ar mi nd i n t he most sl avi sh subj ect i on wi t h r egar d t o

r el i gi ous mat t er s, t hey f ur ni shed i t wi t h t he means of def enceagai nst al l ot her oppr essi on except t hei r own. I n t he eccl esi ast i calr anks wer e concent r at ed al l t he t r ue pi et y, al l t he l ear ni ng, al lt he wi sdom of t he t i me; and, as a nat ur al consequence, a gr eatpor t i on of power , whi ch t hei r ver y wi sdom per pet ual l y i nci t ed t hemt o ext end. The peopl e knew nothi ng of ki ngs and nobl es, except i nt he way of i nj ur i es i nf l i cted. The f i r st r ul ed f or , or mor e pr oper l yspeaki ng agai nst , t he bar ons, and t he bar ons onl y exi st ed t o br avet he power of t he ki ngs, or t o t r ampl e wi t h t hei r i r on heel s upon t heneck of pr ost r at e democr acy. The l at t er had no f r i end but t hecl er gy, and t hese, t hough t hey necessar i l y i nst i l l ed t he

super st i t i on f r om whi ch t hey t hemsel ves wer e not exempt , yet t aughtt he cheer i ng doct r i ne t hat al l men wer e equal i n t he si ght ofheaven. Thus, whi l e Feudal i sm t ol d t hem t hey had no ri ght s i n t hi swor l d, Rel i gi on t ol d t hem t hey had ever y ri ght i n t he next . Wi t ht hi s consol at i on t hey wer e f or t he t i me cont ent , f or pol i t i cal i deashad as yet t aken no root . When the cl er gy, f or ot her r easons,r ecommended t he Cr usade, t he peopl e j oi ned i n i t wi t h ent husi asm. The subj ect of Pal est i ne f i l l ed al l mi nds; t he pi l gr i ms' t al es oft wo cent ur i es warmed ever y i magi nat i on; and when t hei r f r i ends,t hei r gui des, and t hei r i nst r uct or s pr eached a war so much i naccor dance wi t h t hei r own pr ej udi ces and modes of t hi nki ng, t he

ent husi asm r ose i nt o a f r enzy.

But whi l e r el i gi on i nspi r ed t he masses, anot her agent was atwor k upon t he nobi l i t y. These wer e f i er ce and l awl ess; t ai nt ed wi t hevery vi ce, endowed wi t h no vi r t ue, and redeemed by one good qual i t yal one, t hat of cour age. The onl y r el i gi on t hey f el t was t he r el i gi onof f ear . That and t hei r over boi l i ng t ur bul ence al i ke combi ned t ogui de t hem t o t he Hol y Land. Most of t hem had si ns enough to answerf or . They l i ved wi t h t hei r hand agai nst ever y man; and wi t h no l aw

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but t hei r own passi ons. They set at def i ance t he secul ar power oft he cl er gy, but t hei r hear t s quai l ed at t he awf ul denunci at i ons oft he pul pi t wi t h r egar d t o t he l i f e to come. War was t he busi ness andt he del i ght of t hei r exi st ence; and when t hey wer e pr omi sedr emi ssi on of al l t hei r si ns upon t he easy condi t i on of f ol l owi ngt hei r f avour i t e bent , i s i t t o be wonder ed at t hat t hey r ushed wi t hent husi asm t o t he onsl aught , and became as zeal ous i n t he ser vi ce oft he Cr oss as t he gr eat maj or i t y of t he peopl e, who were swayed bymor e pur el y r el i gi ous mot i ves? Fanat i ci sm and t he l ove of bat t l eal i ke i mpel l ed t hem t o t he war , whi l e t he ki ngs and pr i nces ofEur ope had st i l l anot her mot i ve f or encour agi ng t hei r zeal . Pol i cyopened t hei r eyes t o t he gr eat advant ages whi ch woul d accr ue tot hemsel ves, by t he absence of so many rest l ess, i nt r i gui ng, andbl ood- t hi r st y men, whose i nsol ence i t r equi r ed mor e t han t he smal lpower of r oyal t y t o rest r ai n wi t hi n due bounds. Thus ever y mot i vewas f avour abl e t o t he Cr usades. Ever y cl ass of soci et y was al i kei nci t ed t o j oi n or encour age t he war ; ki ngs and t he cl er gy bypol i cy, t he nobl es by t ur bul ence and t he l ove of domi ni on, and t he

peopl e by r el i gi ous zeal and t he concent r at ed ent husi asm of t wocent ur i es, ski l f ul l y di r ect ed by t hei r onl y i nstr uctor s.

I t was i n Pal est i ne i t sel f t hat Pet er t he Her mi t f i r stconcei ved t he gr and i dea of r ousi ng the power s of Chr i st endom t or escue t he Chr i st i ans of t he East f r om t he t hr al dom of t heMussul mans, and t he sepul chr e of J esus f r om t he r ude hands of t hei nf i del . The subj ect engr ossed hi s whol e mi nd. Even i n t he vi si onsof t he ni ght he was f ul l of i t . One dr eam made such an i mpr essi onupon hi m, t hat he devout l y bel i eved t he Savi our of t he wor l d hi msel fappear ed bef or e hi m, and pr omi sed hi m ai d and pr ot ect i on i n hi s hol y

under t aki ng. I f hi s zeal had ever waver ed bef or e, t hi s wassuf f i ci ent t o f i x i t f or ever .

Pet er , af t er he had per f ormed al l t he penances and dut i es ofhi s pi l gr i mage, demanded an i nt er vi ew wi t h Si meon, t he Pat r i ar ch oft he Gr eek Chur ch at J er usal em. Though t he l at t er was a her et i c i nPet er ' s eyes, yet he was st i l l a Chr i st i an, and f el t as acut el y ashi msel f f or t he per secut i ons heaped by t he Tur ks upon the f ol l ower sof J esus. The good pr el at e ent er ed f ul l y i nt o hi s vi ews, and, at hi ssuggest i on, wr ot e l et t er s t o the Pope, and t o the most i nf l uent i almonar chs of Chr i st endom, det ai l i ng t he sor r ows of t he f ai t hf ul , and

ur gi ng t hem t o t ake up ar ms i n thei r def ence. Pet er was not al aggar d i n t he wor k. Taki ng an af f ect i onat e f ar ewel l of t hePat r i ar ch, he r et ur ned i n al l hast e t o I t al y. Pope Ur ban I I .occupi ed t he apost ol i c chai r . I t was at t hat t i me f ar f r om bei ng aneasy seat . Hi s pr edecessor , Gr egory, had bequeathed hi m a host ofdi sput es wi t h the Emper or Henr y I V. of Germany, and he had madePhi l i p I . of France hi s enemy by hi s st r enuous opposi t i on t o anadul t erous connexi on f or med by t hat monar ch. So many dangersencompassed hi m about , t hat t he Vat i can was no secur e abode, and he

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had t aken r ef uge i n Apul i a, under t he pr otect i on of t he r enownedRober t Gui scar d. Thi t her Pet er appears t o have f ol l owed hi m, t houghi n what spot t hei r meet i ng t ook pl ace i s not st at ed wi t h anypr eci si on by anci ent chr oni cl er s or moder n hi st or i ans. Ur banr ecei ved hi m most ki ndl y; r ead, wi t h t ear s i n hi s eyes, t he epi st l ef r om t he Pat r i ar ch Si meon, and l i st ened t o t he el oquent st or y of t heHermi t wi t h an at t ent i on whi ch showed how deepl y he sympat hi sed wi t ht he woes of t he Chr i st i an chur ch. Ent husi asm i s cont agi ous, and t hePope appears t o have caught i t i nst ant l y f r om one whose zeal was sounbounded. Gi vi ng the Her mi t f ul l power s, he sent hi m abr oad topr each t he hol y war t o al l t he nat i ons and pot ent at es ofChr i st endom. The Hermi t preached, and count l ess t housands answeredt o hi s cal l . France, Ger many, and I t al y st ar t ed at hi s voi ce, andpr epar ed f or t he del i ver ance of Zi on. One of t he ear l y hi st or i ans oft he Cr usade, who was hi msel f an eye- wi t ness of t he rapt ur e ofEur ope, [ Gui ber t de Nogent ] descr i bes t he per sonal appearance of t heHer mi t at t hi s t i me. He says, t hat t her e appeared t o be somet hi ng ofdi vi ne i n ever y t hi ng whi ch he sai d or di d. The peopl e so hi ghl y

r ever enced hi m, t hat t hey pl ucked hai r s f r om t he mane of hi s mul e,t hat t hey mi ght keep t hem as r el i cs. Whi l e pr eachi ng, he wor e i ngener al a wool l en t uni c, wi t h a dar k- col our ed mant l e, whi ch f el ldown to hi s heel s. Hi s ar ms and f eet wer e bare, and he at e nei t herf l esh nor br ead, suppor t i ng hi msel f chi ef l y upon f i sh and wi ne. "Heset out , " says t he chr oni cl er , " f r om whence I know not ; but we sawhi m passi ng thr ough t he towns and vi l l ages, pr eachi ng ever y wher e,and t he peopl e sur r oundi ng hi m i n cr owds, l oadi ng hi m wi t hof f er i ngs, and cel ebr at i ng hi s sanct i t y wi t h such gr eat pr ai ses t hatI never r emember t o have seen such honours best owed upon any one. " Thus he went on, unt i r ed, i nf l exi bl e, and f ul l of devot i on,

communi cat i ng hi s own madness t o hi s hear ers, unt i l Eur ope wasst i r r ed f r om i t s ver y dept hs.

Whi l e the Her mi t was appeal i ng wi t h such si gnal success t o thepeopl e, t he Pope appeal ed wi t h as much success t o t hose who were t obecome t he chi ef s and l eader s of t he expedi t i on. Hi s f i r st st ep wast o cal l a counci l at Pl acent i a, i n t he aut umn of t he year 1095.Her e, i n t he assembl y of t he cl er gy, t he Pope debat ed t he gr andscheme, and gave audi ence t o emi ssar i es who had been sent f r omConst ant i nopl e by t he Emper or of t he East t o det ai l t he pr ogr essmade by t he Tur ks i n t hei r desi gn of est abl i shi ng t hemsel ves i n

Eur ope. The cl er gy wer e of cour se unani mous i n support of t heCr usade, and the counci l separ ated, each i ndi vi dual member of i tbei ng empower ed to pr each i t t o hi s peopl e.

But I t al y coul d not be expect ed t o f ur ni sh al l t he ai dr equi r ed; and t he Pope cr ossed t he Al ps t o i nspi r e t he f i er ce andpower f ul nobi l i t y and chi val r ous popul at i on of Gaul . Hi s bol dness i nent er i ng t he t er r i t or y, and pl aci ng hi msel f i n t he power of hi s f oe,Ki ng Phi l i p of Fr ance, i s not t he l east sur pr i si ng f eat ur e of hi s

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mi ssi on. Some have i magi ned that cool pol i cy al one act uated hi m,whi l e ot her s asser t , t hat i t was mer e zeal , as war m and as bl i nd ast hat of Pet er t he Her mi t . The l at t er opi ni on seems t o be t he t r ueone. Soci et y di d not cal cul at e t he consequences of what i t wasdoi ng. Ever y man seemed to act f r om i mpul se onl y; and the Pope, i nt hr owi ng hi msel f i nt o the hear t of France, act ed as much f r omi mpul se as t he thousands who responded t o hi s cal l . A counci l wasevent ual l y summoned t o meet hi m at Cl ermont , i n Auver gne, t oconsi der t he st at e of t he chur ch, r ef or m abuses, and, above al l ,make pr eparat i ons f or t he war . I t was i n t he mi dst of an ext r emel ycol d wi nt er , and t he gr ound was cover ed wi t h snow. Dur i ng seven dayst he counci l sat wi t h cl osed door s, whi l e i mmense cr owds f r om al lpar t s of France f l ocked i nt o the t own, i n expect at i on t hat t he Popehi msel f woul d addr ess t he peopl e. Al l t he towns and vi l l ages f ormi l es around wer e f i l l ed wi t h t he mul t i t ude; even t he f i el ds wer eencumber ed wi t h peopl e, who, unabl e t o pr ocur e l odgi ng, pi t chedt hei r t ent s under t he t r ees and by the way- si de. Al l t henei ghbourhood present ed t he appearance of a vast camp.

Dur i ng t he seven days' del i ber at i on, a sent ence ofexcommuni cat i on was passed upon Ki ng Phi l i p f or adul t er y wi t hBer t r ade de Mont f or t , Count ess of Anj ou, and f or di sobedi ence t o thesupr eme aut hor i t y of t he apost ol i c see. Thi s bol d st ep i mpr essed t hepeopl e wi t h r ever ence f or so st er n a chur ch, whi ch i n t he di schar geof i t s dut y showed i t sel f no r espect er of per sons. Thei r l ove andt hei r f ear wer e al i ke i ncr eased, and t hey wer e pr epar ed t o l i st enwi t h more i nt ense devot i on t o t he pr eachi ng of so r i ght eous andi nf l exi bl e a past or . The gr eat squar e bef or e t he cat hedr al chur ch ofCl ermont became every i nst ant mor e densel y cr owded as t he hour drew

ni gh when t he Pope was t o addr ess t he popul ace. I ssui ng f r om t hechur ch i n hi s f r i l l canoni cal s, sur r ounded by hi s car di nal s andbi shops i n al l t he spl endour of Romi sh eccl esi ast i cal cost ume, t hePope st ood bef or e the popul ace on a hi gh scaf f ol di ng er ect ed f or t heoccasi on, and cover ed wi t h scar l et cl ot h. A br i l l i ant ar r ay ofbi shops and car di nal s surr ounded hi m; and among them, humbl er i nr ank, but mor e i mpor t ant i n t he wor l d' s eye, t he Her mi t Pet er ,dr essed i n hi s si mpl e and aust er e habi l i ment s. Hi st or i ans di f f er ast o whet her or not Pet er addr essed t he crowd, but as al l agr ee t hathe was pr esent , i t seems r easonabl e t o suppose t hat he spoke. But i twas t he orat i on of t he Pope t hat was most i mport ant . As he l i f t ed up

hi s hands t o ensur e at t ent i on, ever y voi ce i mmedi at el y became st i l l .He began by det ai l i ng the mi ser i es endur ed by t hei r br et hr en i n theHol y Land; how t he pl ai ns of Pal est i ne wer e desol at ed by theout r ageous heathen, who wi t h the sword and the f i r ebr and car r i edwai l i ng i nt o t he dwel l i ngs and f l ames i nt o t he possessi ons of t hef ai t hf ul ; how Chr i st i an wi ves and daught er s wer e def i l ed by paganl ust ; how t he al t ar s of t he t r ue God wer e desecr at ed, and t he rel i csof t he sai nt s t r odden under f oot . "You, " cont i nued t he el oquentpont i f f , ( and Ur ban t he Second was one of t he most el oquent men of

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t he day, ) "you, who hear me, and who have recei ved t he t r ue f ai t h,and been endowed by God wi t h power , and st r ength, and gr eat ness ofsoul , - - whose ancest ors have been t he pr op of Chr i st endom, andwhose ki ngs have put a bar r i er agai nst t he pr ogr ess of t he i nf i del ,- - I cal l upon you t o wi pe of f t hese i mpur i t i es f r om t he f ace of t heear t h, and l i f t your oppr essed f el l ow- chr i st i ans f r om t he dept hsi nt o whi ch t hey have been t r ampl ed. The sepul chr e of Chr i st i spossessed by t he heathen, t he sacr ed pl aces di shonour ed by t hei rvi l eness. Oh, br ave kni ght s and f ai t hf ul peopl e! of f spr i ng ofi nvi nci bl e f at her s! ye wi l l not degener at e f r om your anci ent r enown. Ye wi l l not be r est r ai ned f r om embarki ng i n t hi s gr eat cause by t het ender t i es of wi f e or l i t t l e ones, but wi l l r emember t he wor ds oft he Savi our of t he wor l d hi msel f , ' Whosoever l oves f ather and mothermor e t han me i s not wor t hy of me. Whosoever shal l abandon f or myname' s sake hi s house, or hi s br et hr en, or hi s si st er s, or hi sf at her , or hi s mot her , or hi s wi f e, or hi s chi l dr en, or hi s l ands,shal l r ecei ve a hundr edf ol d, and shal l i nher i t et er nal l i f e. ' "

The war mt h of t he pont i f f communi cat ed i t sel f t o t he cr owd, andt he ent husi asm of t he peopl e br oke out sever al t i mes ere heconcl uded hi s addr ess. He went on t o pour t r ay, not onl y thespi r i t ual but t he t empor al advant ages, t hat shoul d accr ue t o t hosewho t ook up arms i n t he servi ce of t he Cr oss. Pal est i ne was, hesai d, a l and f l owi ng wi t h mi l k and honey, and pr eci ous i n t he si ghtof God, as t he scene of t he grand event s whi ch had saved manki nd. That l and, he promi sed, shoul d be di vi ded among t hem. Mor eover , t heyshoul d have f ul l par don f or al l t hei r of f ences, ei t her agai nst Godor man. "Go, t hen, " he added, " i n expi at i on of your si ns; and goassur ed, t hat af t er t hi s wor l d shal l have passed away, i mper i shabl e

gl or y shal l be your s i n t he wor l d whi ch i s t o come. " The ent husi asmwas no l onger t o be r est r ai ned, and l oud shout s i nt er r upt ed t hespeaker ; t he peopl e excl ai mi ng as i f wi t h one voi ce, "Di eu l e veul t !Di eu l e veul t ! " Wi t h gr eat pr esence of mi nd Ur ban t ook advant age oft he out bur st , and as soon as s i l ence was obt ai ned, cont i nued: "Dearbr et hr en, t o- day i s shown f or t h i n you t hat whi ch t he Lor d has sai dby hi s evangel i st , ' When t wo or t hr ee are gather ed t oget her i n myname, t her e wi l l I be i n t he mi dst of t hem t o bl ess t hem. ' I f t heLord God had not been i n your soul s, you woul d not al l havepronounced the same words; or r at her God hi msel f pronounced t hem byyour l i ps, f or i t was He t hat put t hem i n your hear t s. Be t hey,

t hen, your war - cr y i n t he combat , f or t hose wor ds came f or t h f r omGod. Let t he army of t he Lor d when i t r ushes upon Hi s enemi es shoutbut t hat one cry, ' Di eu l e veul t ! Di eu l e veul t ! '

Let whoever i s i ncl i ned t o devot e hi msel f t o thi s hol y causemake i t a sol emn engagement , and bear t he cross of t he Lor d ei t heron hi s br east or hi s br ow t i l l he set out , and l et hi m who i s r eadyt o begi n hi s march pl ace t he hol y embl em on hi s shoul ders, i n memory

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of t hat pr ecept of our Savi our , ' He who does not t ake up hi s cr ossand f ol l ow me i s not wort hy of me. ' "

The news of t hi s counci l spread t o t he r emot est par t s of Eur opei n an i ncredi bl y shor t space of t i me. Long bef or e t he f l eet esthorseman coul d have br ought t he i nt el l i gence i t was known by t hepeopl e i n di st ant pr ovi nces, a f act whi ch was consi der ed as not hi ngl ess t han super nat ur al . But t he subj ect was i n ever ybody' s mout h,and t he mi nds of men wer e pr epared f or t he r esul t . The ent husi ast i conl y asser t ed what t hey wi shed, and t he event t al l i ed wi t h t hei rpr edi ct i on. Thi s was, however , qui t e enough i n t hose days f or ami r acl e, and as a mi r acl e ever y one r egar ded i t .

For sever al mont hs af t er t he counci l of Cl er mont , France andGer many pr esent ed a si ngul ar spect acl e. The pi ous, t he f anat i c, t heneedy, t he di ssol ute, t he young and t he ol d, even women andchi l dr en, and t he hal t and l ame, enr ol l ed t hemsel ves by hundr eds. I never y vi l l age the cl er gy wer e busi ed i n keepi ng up the exci t ement ,

pr omi si ng et ernal r ewards t o t hose who assumed t he red cr oss, andf ul mi nat i ng t he most awf ul denunci at i ons agai nst al l t he wor l dl y-mi nded who r ef used or even hesi t at ed. Ever y debt or who j oi ned t hecr usade was f r eed by t he papal edi ct f r om t he cl ai ms of hi scr edi t ors; out l aws of ever y gr ade wer e made equal wi t h the honestupon t he same condi t i ons. The pr oper t y of t hose who went was pl acedunder t he pr ot ect i on of t he chur ch, and St . Paul and St . Pet ert hemsel ves wer e bel i eved t o descend f r om t hei r hi gh abode, t o watchover t he chat t el s of t he absent pi l gr i ms. Si gns and por t ent s wer eseen i n t he ai r t o i ncr ease t he f er vour of t he mul t i t ude. An aur or a-bor eal i s of unusual br i l l i ancy appear ed, and t housands of t he

cr usader s came out t o gaze upon i t , pr ost r at i ng themsel ves upon t heear t h i n ador at i on. I t was t hought t o be a sur e pr ognost i c of t hei nt er posi t i on of t he Most Hi gh; and a r epr esent at i on of hi s ar mi esf i ght i ng wi t h and over t hr owi ng t he i nf i del s. Repor t s of wonder s wer eever ywher e r i f e. A monk had seen t wo gi gant i c warr i ors on horseback,t he one r epr esent i ng a Chr i st i an and t he ot her a Tur k, f i ght i ng i nt he sky wi t h f l ami ng swor ds, t he Chr i st i an of cour se over comi ng t hePayni m. Myr i ads of st ar s wer e sai d t o have f al l en f r om heaven, eachr epr esent i ng t he f al l of a Pagan f oe. I t was bel i eved at t he samet i me t hat t he Emperor Char l emagne woul d r i se f r om t he gr ave, andl ead on t o vi ct or y t he embat t l ed ar mi es of t he Lor d. A si ngul ar

f eat ur e of t he popul ar madness was t he ent husi asm of t he women.Ever ywher e t hey encour aged t hei r l over s and husbands t o f orsake al lt hi ngs f or t he hol y war . Many of t hem bur ned t he si gn of t he cr ossupon t hei r br east s and arms, and col our ed t he wound wi t h a red dye,as a l ast i ng memor i al of t hei r zeal . Ot her s, st i l l mor e zeal ous,i mpressed t he mar k by the same means upon t he t ender l i mbs of youngchi l dr en and i nf ant s at t he br east .

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Gui ber t de Nogent t el l s of a monk who made a l arge i nci si onupon hi s f orehead i n t he f or m of a cr oss, whi ch he col our ed wi t hsome power f ul i ngr edi ent , t el l i ng the peopl e t hat an angel had donei t when he was asl eep. Thi s monk appears t o have been mor e of ar ogue t han a f ool , f or he cont r i ved t o f are more sumpt uousl y thanany of hi s br ot her pi l gr i ms, upon t he st r engt h of hi s sanct i t y. Thecr usaders everywher e gave hi m present s of f ood and money, and hebecame qui t e f at er e he ar r i ved at J er usal em, not wi t hst andi ng t hef at i gues of t he way. I f he had acknowl edged i n t he f i r st pl ace t hathe had made the wound hi msel f , he woul d not have been t hought mor ehol y than hi s f el l ows; but t he st or y of t he angel was a cl i ncher .

Al l t hose who had pr oper t y of any descr i pt i on rushed t o t hemart t o change i t i nt o hard cash. Lands and houses coul d be had f ora quart er of t hei r val ue, whi l e arms and accout r ement s of war r osei n t he same pr oport i on. Corn, whi ch had been excessi vel y dear i nant i ci pat i on of a year of scar ci t y, suddenl y became pl ent i f ul ; andsuch was t he di mi nut i on i n t he val ue of pr ovi si ons, t hat seven sheep

wer e sol d f or f i ve deni er s. [ Gui ber t de Nogent ] The nobl es mort gagedt hei r est at es f or mer e t r i f l es t o J ews and unbel i ever s, or conf er r edchart er s of i mmuni t y upon t he t owns and communes wi t hi n thei r f i ef s,f or sums whi ch, a f ew years previ ousl y, t hey woul d have r ej ect edwi t h di sdai n. The f ar mer endeavour ed t o sel l hi s pl ough, and t hear t i san hi s t ool s, t o pur chase a swor d f or t he del i ver ance of J er usal em. Women di sposed of t hei r t r i nket s f or t he same pur pose.Dur i ng t he spr i ng and summer of t hi s year ( 1096) t he r oads t eemedwi t h cr usader s, al l hast eni ng t o the t owns and vi l l ages appoi nt ed ast he rendezvous of t he di st r i ct . Some wer e on horseback, some i ncart s, and some came down t he r i ver s i n boat s and r af t s, br i ngi ng

t hei r wi ves and chi l dr en, al l eager t o go t o J er usal em. Ver y f ewknew wher e J er usal em was. Some t hought i t f i f t y t housand mi l es away,whi l e ot her s i magi ned t hat i t was but a mont h' s j our ney, whi l e atsi ght of ever y t own or cast l e, t he chi l dr en excl ai med, "I s t hat J er usal em ? I s t hat t he ci t y ?" [ Gui bert de Nogent ]

Par t i es of kni ght s and nobl es mi ght be seen t r avel l i ngeast ward, and amusi ng themsel ves as t hey went wi t h t he kni ght l ydi ver si on of hawki ng t o l i ght en t he f at i gues of t he way.

Gui ber t de Nogent , who di d not wr i t e f r om hearsay, but f r om

act ual obser vat i on, says, t he ent husi asm was so cont agi ous, t hatwhen any one hear d t he or der s of t he Pont i f f , he went i nst ant l y t osol i ci t hi s nei ghbour s and f r i ends t o j oi n wi t h hi m i n "t he way ofGod, " f or so t hey cal l ed t he pr oposed expedi t i on. The Count sPal at i ne wer e f ul l of t he desi r e t o under t ake t he j our ney, and al lt he i nf er i or kni ght s wer e ani mat ed wi t h t he same zeal . Even t he poorcaught t he f l ame so ar dent l y, t hat no one paused t o t hi nk of t hei nadequacy of hi s means, or t o consi der whet her he ought t o yi el d uphi s house and hi s vi ne and hi s f i el ds. Each one set about sel l i ng

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hi s proper t y, at as l ow a pr i ce as i f he had been hel d i n somehor r i bl e capt i vi t y, and sought t o pay hi s r ansom wi t hout l oss oft i me. Those who had not det ermi ned upon t he j our ney, j oked andl aughed at t hose who wer e t hus di sposi ng of t hei r goods at suchr ui nous pr i ces, pr ophesyi ng t hat t he expedi t i on woul d be mi serabl eand t hei r r et ur n wor se. But t hey hel d t hi s l anguage onl y f or a day. The next , t hey wer e suddenl y sei zed wi t h t he same f r enzy as t her est . Those who had been l oudest i n t hei r j eer s gave up al l t hei rpr oper t y f or a f ew cr owns, and set out wi t h t hose t hey had sol aughed at a f ew hour s bef ore. I n most cases t he l augh was t ur nedagai nst t hem, f or when i t became known t hat a man was hesi t at i ng,hi s mor e zeal ous nei ghbout s sent hi m a pr esent of a kni t t i ng needl eor a di st af f , t o show t hei r cont empt of hi m. Ther e was no resi st i ngt hi s, so t hat t he f ear of r i di cul e cont r i but ed i t s f ai r cont i ngentt o the ar mi es of t he Lor d.

Anot her ef f ect of t he cr usade was, t he r el i gi ous obedi ence wi t hwhi ch i t i nspi r ed t he peopl e and t he nobi l i t y f or t hat si ngul ar

i nst i t ut i on "The Tr uce of God. "

At t he commencement of t he el event h cent ur y, t he cl ergy ofFrance, sympat hi zi ng f or t he woes of t he peopl e, but unabl e t odi mi ni sh t hem, by repr essi ng t he r apaci t y and i nsol ence of t hef eudal chi ef s, endeavour ed t o pr omot e uni ver sal goodwi l l by t hepr omul gat i on of t he f amous " Peace of God. " Al l who conf ormed to i tbound t hemsel ves by oat h not t o t ake r evenge f or any i nj ur y, not t oenj oy t he f r ui t s of pr oper t y usur ped f r om ot her s, nor t o use deadl yweapons; i n rewar d of whi ch t hey woul d recei ve r emi ssi on of al lt hei r si ns. However benevol ent t he i nt ent i on of t hi s "Peace, " i t l ed

t o not hi ng but per j ur y, and vi ol ence r ei gned as uncont r ol l ed asbef ore. I n t he year 1041 anot her at t empt was made t o sof t en t heangr y passi ons of t he semi - bar bar ous chi ef s, and the "Truce of God"was sol emnl y pr ocl ai med. The t r uce l ast ed f r om t he Wednesday eveni ngt o t he Monday morni ng of ever y week, i n whi ch i nt er val i t wasst r i ct l y f or bi dden t o r ecur t o vi ol ence on any pr et ext , or t o seekr evenge f or any i nj ur y. I t was i mpossi bl e t o ci vi l i ze men by t hesemeans; f ew even promi sed t o become peaceabl e f or so unconsci onabl e aper i od as f i ve days a week; or , i f t hey di d, t hey made ampl e amendson t he t wo days l ef t open t o them. The t r uce was af t erwardsshor t ened f r om t he Sat ur day eveni ng t o the Monday morni ng; but

l i t t l e or no di mi nut i on of vi ol ence and bl oodshed was t heconsequence. At t he counci l of Cl er mont , Ur ban I I . agai n sol emnl ypr o- cl ai med t he t r uce. So st r ong was t he r el i gi ous f eel i ng, t hatever y one hast ened to obey. Al l mi nor passi ons di sappeared bef oret he gr and passi on of cr usadi ng; t he nobl e ceased t o oppr ess, t her obber t o pl under , and t he peopl e t o compl ai n; but one i dea was i nal l hear t s, and t her e seemed t o be no room f or any ot her .

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The encampments of t hese heter ogeneous mul t i t udes of f er ed asi ngul ar aspect . Those vassal s who r anged t hemsel ves under t hebanner s of t hei r l or d, er ect ed t ent s ar ound hi s cast l e; whi l e t hosewho undert ook t he war on t hei r own account , const r uct ed boot hs andhut s i n t he nei ghbour hood of t he towns or vi l l ages, pr epar at or y t ot hei r j oi ni ng some popul ar l eader of t he expedi t i on. The meadows ofFr ance wer e cover ed wi t h t ent s. As t he bel l i ger ent s wer e t o haver emi ssi on of al l t hei r si ns on t hei r ar r i val i n Pal est i ne, hundr edsof t hem gave t hemsel ves up t o t he most unbounded l i cent i ousness: t hecour t ezan, wi t h t he r ed cr oss upon her shoul der s, pl i ed hershamel ess t r ade wi t h sensual pi l gr i ms, wi t hout scr upl e on ei t hersi de: t he l over of good cheer gave l oose r ei n t o hi s appet i t e, anddr unkenness and debaucher y f l our i shed. Thei r zeal i n t he servi ce oft he Lor d was t o wi pe out al l f aul t s and f ol l i es, and t hey had t hesame sur et y of sal vat i on as t he r i gi d anchor i t e. Thi s r easoni ng hadcharms f or t he i gnorant , and t he sounds of l ewd r evel r y and t hevoi ce of pr ayer r ose at t he same i nst ant f r om t he camp.

I t i s now t i me t o speak of t he l eader s of t he expedi t i on. Gr eatmul t i t udes r anged themsel ves under t he command of Pet er t he Hermi t ,whom, as t he or i gi nat or , t hey consi der ed the most appr opr i at e l eaderof t he war . Ot her s j oi ned t he banner of a bol d advent ur er , whomhi st or y has di gni f i ed wi t h no other name t han t hat of Gaut i er sansAvoi r , or Wal t er t he Pennyl ess, but who i s r epr esent ed as havi ngbeen of nobl e f ami l y, and wel l ski l l ed i n t he ar t of war . A t hi r dmul t i t ude f r om Germany f l ocked around t he st andar d of a monk, namedGot t schal k, of whom not hi ng i s known, except t hat he was a f anat i cof t he deepest dye. Al l t hese bands, whi ch t oget her ar e sai d t o haveamount ed t o t hree hundred t housand men, women, and chi l dren, were

composed of t he vi l est r ascal i t y of Eur ope. Wi t hout di sci pl i ne,pr i nci pl e, or t r ue cour age, t hey r ushed t hr ough t he nat i ons l i ke apest i l ence, spr eadi ng t er r or and deat h wher ever t hey went . The f i r stmul t i t ude t hat set f or t h was l ed by Wal t er t he Pennyl ess ear l y i nt he spr i ng of 1096, wi t hi n a ver y f ew mont hs af t er t he Counci l ofCl er mont . Each man of t hat i r r egul ar host aspi r ed t o be hi s ownmast er : l i ke t hei r nomi nal l eader , each was poor t o penur y, andt r ust ed f or subsi st ence on hi s j our ney t o the chances of t he r oad.Rol l i ng t hr ough Ger many l i ke a t i de, t hey ent er ed Hungary, wher e, atf i r st , t hey wer e r ecei ved wi t h some degr ee of ki ndness by t hepeopl e. The l at t er had not yet caught suf f i ci ent of t he f i r e of

ent husi asm t o j oi n t he cr usade t hemsel ves, but wer e wi l l i ng enought o f or war d t he cause by ai di ng t hose embar ked i n i t . Unf or t unat el y,t hi s good under st andi ng di d not l ast l ong. The swar m wer e notcont ent ed wi t h f ood f or t hei r necessi t i es, but craved f or l uxur i esal so: t hey at t acked and pl under ed t he dwel l i ngs of t he count r ypeopl e, and thought nothi ng of mur der wher e resi st ance was of f er ed.On t hei r ar r i val bef or e Seml i n, t he out r aged Hungar i ans col l ect ed i nl ar ge number s, and, at t acki ng t he r ear of t he cr usadi ng host , sl ew agr eat many of t he st r aggl er s, and, t aki ng away t hei r arms and

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crosses, af f i xed t hem as t r ophi es t o t he wal l s of t he ci t y. Wal t erappears t o have been i n no mood or condi t i on t o make repr i sal s; f orhi s army, dest r uct i ve as a pl ague of l ocust s when pl under ur ged t hemon, wer e usel ess agai nst any regul ar at t ack f r om a det er mi ned enemy. Thei r r ear cont i nued t o be t hus harassed by t he wr at hf ul Hungar i ansunt i l t hey wer e f ai r l y out of t hei r t er r i t or y. On hi s ent r ance i nt oBul gar i a, Wal t er met wi t h no bet t er f at e; t he ci t i es and t ownsr ef used t o l et hi m pass; t he vi l l ages deni ed hi m pr ovi si ons; and t heci t i zens and count r y peopl e uni t i ng, sl aught er ed hi s f ol l ower s byhundr eds. The pr ogr ess of t he ar my was more l i ke a ret r eat t han anadvance; but as i t was i mpossi bl e t o st and st i l l , Wal t er cont i nuedhi s cour se t i l l he ar r i ved at Const ant i nopl e, wi t h a f or ce whi chf ami ne and t he swor d had di mi ni shed t o one- t hi r d of i t s or i gi nalnumber .

The gr eat er mul t i t ude, l ed by t he enthusi ast i c Her mi t , f ol l owedcl ose upon hi s heel s, wi t h a bul ky t r ai n of baggage, and women andchi l dr en, suf f i ci ent t o f or m a host of t hemsel ves. I f i t wer e

possi bl e t o f i nd a r abbl e mor e vi l e t han t he ar my of Wal t er t hePennyl ess i t was t hat l ed by Pet er t he Her mi t . Bei ng bet t er pr ovi dedwi t h means, t hey wer e not r educed t o t he necessi t y of pi l l age i nt hei r pr ogr ess t hr ough Hungary; and had t hey t aken any ot her r out et han t hat whi ch l ed t hr ough Seml i n, mi ght per haps have t r aver sed t hecount r y wi t hout mol est at i on. On t hei r ar r i val bef or e t hat ci t y,t hei r f ur y was r ai sed at seei ng t he ar ms and r ed cr osses of t hei rpr edecessor s hangi ng as t r ophi es over t he gat es. Thei r pent - upf er oci t y expl oded at t he si ght . The ci t y was t umul t uousl y at t acked,and t he besi eger s ent er i ng, not by di nt of br aver y, but of super i ornumber s, i t was gi ven up t o al l t he horr ors whi ch f ol l ow when

Vi ct or y, Br ut al i t y, and Li cent i ousness ar e l i nked t oget her . Ever yevi l passi on was al l owed t o r evel wi t h i mpuni t y, and r evenge, l ust ,and avar i ce, - - each had i t s hundr ed vi ct i ms i n unhappy Seml i n. Anymani ac can ki ndl e a conf l agr at i on, but i t r equi r es many wi se men t oput i t out . Pet er t he Her mi t had bl own t he popul ar f ur y i nt o af l ame, but t o cool i t agai n was beyond hi s power . Hi s f ol l ower sr i ot ed unr est r ai ned, unt i l t he f ear of r et al i at i on war ned t hem t odesi st . When t he Ki ng of Hungary was i nf ormed of t he di sast er s ofSeml i n, he mar ched wi t h a suf f i ci ent f or ce t o chast i se the Her mi t ,who at t he news broke up hi s camp and r et r eat ed t owards t he Morava,a br oad and r api d st r eam t hat j oi ns t he Danube a f ew mi l es t o t he

east war d of Bel gr ade. Her e a part y of i ndi gnant Bul gar i ans awai t edhi m, and so harassed hi m as t o make the passage of t he r i ver a t askbot h of di f f i cul t y and danger . Gr eat number s of hi s i nf at uat edf ol l ower s per i shed i n t he wat er s, and many f el l under t he swor ds oft he Bul gar i ans. The anci ent chr oni cl es do not ment i on t he amount oft he Her mi t ' s l oss at t hi s passage, but r epr esent i t i n gener al t er msas ver y gr eat .

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At Ni ssa t he Duke of Bul gar i a f or t i f i ed hi msel f , i n f ear of anassaul t ; but Pet er , havi ng l ear ned a l i t t l e wi sdom f r om exper i ence,t hought i t best t o avoi d host i l i t i es. He passed t hr ee ni ght s i nqui et ness under t he wal l s, and t he duke, not wi shi ng to exasper at eunnecessari l y so f i er ce and r apaci ous a host , al l owed t het ownspeopl e t o suppl y t hem wi t h pr ovi si ons. Pet er t ook hi s depar t ur epeaceabl y on t he f ol l owi ng mor ni ng, but some German vagabondsf al l i ng behi nd t he mai n body of t he ar my, set f i r e t o t he mi l l s andhouse of a Bul gar i an, wi t h whom, i t appear s, t hey had had somedi sput e on t he pr evi ous eveni ng. The ci t i zens of Ni ssa, who hadt hr oughout mi st r ust ed t he cr usader s, and wer e pr epared f or t hewor st , sal l i ed out i mmedi at el y, and t ook si gnal vengeance. Thespoi l er s wer e cut t o pi eces, and the t ownspeopl e pur sui ng theHermi t , capt ur ed al l t he women and chi l dr en who had l agged i n ther ear , and a gr eat quant i t y of baggage. Pet er her eupon t ur ned r oundand marched back t o Ni ssa, t o demand expl anat i on of t he Duke ofBul gar i a. The l at t er f ai r l y st at ed t he pr ovocat i on gi ven, and t heHer mi t coul d ur ge not hi ng i n pal l i at i on of so gr oss an out r age. A

negot i at i on was ent er ed i nt o whi ch pr omi sed t o be successf ul , andt he Bul gar i ans were about t o del i ver up t he women and chi l dren whena par t y of undi sci pl i ned cr usader s, act i ng sol el y upon t hei r ownsuggest i on, endeavour ed t o scal e t he wal l s and sei ze upon t he t own.Pet er i n vai n exer t ed hi s aut hor i t y; t he conf usi on became gener al ,and af t er a shor t but desper at e bat t l e, t he crusader s t hr ew downt hei r ar ms and f l ed i n al l di r ect i ons. Thei r vast host wascompl et el y r out ed, t he sl aught er bei ng so gr eat among t hem as t o becount ed, not by hundr eds, but by t housands.

I t i s sai d t hat t he Her mi t f l ed f r om t hi s f at al f i el d t o a

f or est a f ew mi l es f r om Ni ssa, abandoned by ever y human cr eat ur e. I twoul d be cur i ous t o know whet her , af t er so di r e a r ever se,

. . . . . . . . . . "His enpierced breast

Sharp sorrow did in thousand pieces rive,"

or whet her hi s f i er y zeal st i l l r ose super i or t o cal ami t y, andpi ct ur ed t he event ual t r i umph of hi s cause. He, so l at el y t he l eaderof a hundr ed t housand men, was now a sol i t ary skul ker i n t hef or est s, l i abl e at ever y i nst ant t o be di scover ed by some pur sui ngBul gar i an, and cut of f i n mi d car eer . Chance at l ast br ought hi m

wi t hi n si ght of an emi nence where t wo or t hr ee of hi s bravestkni ght s had col l ect ed f i ve hundr ed of t he st r aggl er s. These gl adl yr ecei ved t he Her mi t , and a consul t at i on havi ng t aken pl ace, i t wasr esol ved t o gather t oget her t he scat t er ed r emnant s of t he army.Fi r es wer e l i ght ed on t he hi l l , and scout s sent out i n al ldi r ect i ons f or t he f ugi t i ves. Hor ns wer e sounded at i nt er val s t omake known t hat f r i ends wer e near , and bef ore ni ght f al l t he Her mi tsaw hi msel f at t he head of seven t housand men. Dur i ng t he succeedi ngday he was j oi ned by t went y t housand more, and wi t h t hi s mi ser abl e

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r emnant of hi s f or ce he pur sued hi s r out e towar ds Const ant i nopl e. The bones of t he r est moul dered i n t he f or est s of Bul gar i a.

On hi s ar r i val at Const ant i nopl e, wher e he f ound Wal t er t hePennyl ess awai t i ng hi m, he was hospi t abl y recei ved by t he EmperorAl exi us. I t mi ght have been expect ed t hat t he sad r ever ses t hey hadunder gone woul d have t aught hi s f ol l owers common prudence; but ,unhappi l y f or t hem, t hei r t ur bul ence and l ove of pl under wer e not t obe r est r ai ned. Al t hough t hey wer e sur r ounded by f r i ends, by whom al lt hei r want s wer e l i ber al l y suppl i ed, t hey coul d not r ef r ai n f r omr api ne. I n vai n t he Her mi t exhor t ed t hem t o t r anqui l l i t y; hepossessed no more power over t hem, i n subdui ng t hei r passi ons, t hant he obscur est sol di er of t he host , They set f i r e t o sever al publ i cbui l di ngs i n Const ant i nopl e, out of pur e mi schi ef , and st r i pped t hel ead f r om t he r oof s of t he chur ches, whi ch, t hey af t er war ds sol d f orol d met al i n t he pur l i eus of t he ci t y. From t hi s t i me may be dat edt he aver si on whi ch t he Emper or Al exi us ent er t ai ned f or t hecr usader s, and whi ch was af t er war ds mani f est ed i n al l hi s act i ons,

even when he had t o deal wi t h t he chi val r ous and mor e honour abl earmi es whi ch ar r i ved af t er t he Hermi t . He seems t o have i magi nedt hat t he Tur ks t hemsel ves were enemi es l ess f ormi dabl e t o hi s powert han t hese out pour i ngs of t he r ef use of Eur ope: he soon f ound apr et ext t o hur r y t hem i nt o Asi a Mi nor . Pet er cr ossed t he Bosphor uswi t h Wal t er , hut t he excesses of hi s f ol l ower s wer e such, t hat ,despai r i ng of accompl i shi ng any good end by remai ni ng at t hei r head,he l ef t t hem t o t hemsel ves, and ret ur ned t o Const ant i nopl e, on t hepr etext of maki ng ar r angement s wi t h t he government of Al exi us f or apr oper suppl y of pr ovi si ons. The crusader s, f or get t i ng t hat t heywer e i n t he enemy' s count r y, and t hat uni on, above al l t hi ngs, was

desi r abl e, gave themsel ves up t o di ssensi ons. Vi ol ent di sput es arosebetween the Lombards and Nor mans, commanded by Wal t er t he Pennyl ess ,and the Fr anks and Ger mans, l ed out by Pet er . The l at t er separatedt hemsel ves f r om t he f or mer , and, choosi ng f or t hei r l eader oneRei nal do, or Rei nhol d, mar ched f or war d, and took possessi on of t hef or t r ess of Exor ogor gon. The Sul t an Sol i maun was on t he al er t , wi t ha super i or f or ce. A par t y of cr usader s, whi ch had been det ached f r omt he f or t , and st at i oned at a l i t t l e di st ance as an ambuscade, wer esur pr i sed and cut t o pi eces, and Exor ogor gon i nvest ed on al l si des. The si ege was prot r act ed f or ei ght days, dur i ng whi ch t he Chr i st i anssuf f er ed t he most acut e agony f r om t he want of wat er . I t i s har d t o

say how l ong t he hope of succour or t he energy of despai r woul d haveenabl ed t hem t o hol d out : t hei r t r eacher ous l eader cut t he mat t ershor t by r enounci ng t he Chr i st i an f ai t h, and del i ver i ng up t he f or ti nt o the hands of t he Sul t an. He was f ol l owed by t wo or t hr ee of hi sof f i cer s; al l t he r est , r ef usi ng t o become Mahomet ans, wer er ut hl essl y put t o t he swor d. Thus per i shed the l ast wr et ched remnantof t he vast mul t i t ude whi ch had t r aver sed Eur ope wi t h Pet er t heHer mi t .

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Wal t er t he Pennyl ess and hi s mul t i t ude met as mi serabl e a f ate.On t he news of t he di sast ers of Exor ogorgon, t hey demanded t o be l edi nst ant l y agai nst t he Tur ks. Wal t er , who onl y want ed good sol di er st o have made a good general , was cool er of head, and saw al l t hedanger s of such a st ep. Hi s f or ce was whol l y i nsuf f i ci ent t o makeany deci si ve movement i n a count r y where t he enemy was so muchsuper i or , and wher e, i n case of def eat , he had no secur e posi t i on t of al l back upon; and he t her ef or e expr essed hi s opi ni on agai nstadvanci ng unt i l t he ar r i val of r ei nf or cement s. Thi s pr udent counself ound no f avour : t he ar my l oudl y expr essed t hei r di ssat i sf act i on att hei r chi ef , and pr epar ed t o march f or war d wi t hout hi m. Upon t hi s,t he br ave Wal t er put hi msel f at t hei r head, and r ushed t odest r uct i on. Pr oceedi ng towar ds Ni ce, t he moder n I sni k, he wasi nt er cept ed by t he ar my of t he Sul t an: a f i er ce bat t l e ensued i nwhi ch t he Tur ks made f ear f ul havoc; out of t went y- f i ve t housandChr i st i ans, t went y- t wo t housand wer e sl ai n, and among t hem Gaut i erhi msel f , who f el l pi er ced by seven mort al wounds. The remai ni ngt hr ee t housand ret r eat ed upon Ci vi t ot , wher e t hey i nt r enched

t hemsel ves.

Di sgust ed as was Pet er t he Her mi t at t he excesses of t hemul t i t ude, who, at hi s cal l , had f or saken Eur ope, hi s hear t wasmoved wi t h gr i ef and pi t y at t hei r mi sf or t unes. Al l hi s f or mer zealr evi ved: cast i ng hi msel f at t he f eet of t he Emper or Al exi us, hei mpl or ed hi m, wi t h t ear s i n hi s eyes, t o send r el i ef t o t he f ewsur vi vor s at Ci vi t ot . The Emper or consent ed, and a f or ce was sent ,whi ch ar r i ved j ust i n t i me t o save t hem f r om dest r uct i on. The Tur kshad bel eaguer ed t he pl ace, and t he crusaders were reduced t o t hel ast ext r emi t y. Negot i at i ons wer e ent er ed i nt o, and t he l ast t hr ee

t housand were conduct ed i n saf ety t o Const ant i nopl e. Al exi us hadsuf f er ed t oo much by t hei r f ormer excesses t o be ver y desi r ous ofr et ai ni ng t hem i n hi s capi t al : he t her ef or e caused t hem al l t o bedi sar med, and, f ur ni shi ng each wi t h a sum of money, he sent t hemback t o t hei r own count r y. Whi l e t hese event s wer e t aki ng pl ace,f r esh hor des wer e i ssui ng f r om t he woods and wi l ds of Ger many, al lbent f or t he Hol y Land. They were commanded by a f anat i cal pr i est ,named Got t schal k, who, l i ke Gaut i er and Pet er t he Her mi t , t ook hi sway t hr ough Hungary. Hi st ory i s ext r emel y meagr e i n her det ai l s oft he conduct and f ate of t hi s host , whi ch amount ed t o at l east onehundr ed t housand men. Robber y and murder seem t o have j our neyed wi t h

t hem, and t he poor Hungar i ans were r ender ed al most desperat e byt hei r numbers and r apaci t y. Kar l oman, t he ki ng of t he count r y, madea bol d ef f or t t o get r i d of t hem; f or t he r esent ment of hi s peopl ehad ar r i ved at such a hei ght , t hat not hi ng shor t of t he t ot alexter mi nat i on of t he cr usader s woul d sat i sf y t hem. Got t schal k had t opay the penal t y, not onl y f or t he r avages of hi s own bands, but f ort hose of t he swar ms t hat had come bef or e hi m. He and hi s ar my werei nduced, by some means or ot her , t o l ay down t hei r arms: t he savageHungar i ans, seei ng t hem t hus def encel ess, set upon t hem, and

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sl aught ered t hem i n gr eat numbers. How many escaped t hei r ar r ows, wear e not i nf or med; but not one of t hem r eached Pal est i ne.

Ot her swarms, under namel ess l eader s, i ssued f r om Germany andFr ance, more br ut al and more f r ant i c t han any t hat had pr ecededt hem. Thei r f anat i ci sm sur passed by f ar t he wi l dest f r eaks of t hef ol l ower s of t he Her mi t . I n bands, var yi ng i n number s f r om one t of i ve t housand, t hey t r aver sed t he count r y i n al l di r ect i ons, bentupon pl under and massacr e. They wor e t he symbol of t he cr usade upont hei r shoul der s, but i nvei ghed agai nst t he f ol l y of pr oceedi ng t ot he Hol y Land t o dest r oy t he Tur ks, whi l e they l ef t behi nd t hem somany J ews, t he st i l l mor e i nvet er at e enemi es of Chr i st . They swor ef i er ce vengeance agai nst t hi s unhappy race, and mur der ed al l t heHebr ews t hey coul d l ay t hei r hands on, f i r st subj ect i ng t hem t o t hemost hor r i bl e mut i l at i on. Accor di ng t o t he t est i mony of Al ber tAquensi s, t hey l i ved among each ot her i n t he most shamel esspr of l i gacy, and t hei r vi ce was onl y exceeded by t hei r super st i t i on.Whenever t hey were i n search of J ews, t hey were pr eceded by a goose

and goat , whi ch t hey bel i eved t o be hol y, and ani mat ed wi t h di vi nepower t o di scover t he ret r eat s of t he unbel i ever s. I n Ger many al onet hey sl aught er ed more t han a t housand J ews, notwi t hst andi ng al l t heef f or t s of t he cl er gy to save t hem. So dr eadf ul was t he cr uel t y oft hei r t or ment or s, t hat gr eat number s of J ews commi t t ed sel f -dest r ucti on t o avoi d f al l i ng i nt o t hei r hands.

Agai n i t f el l t o t he l ot of t he Hungar i ans t o del i ver Eur opef r om t hese pest s. When t her e were no more J ews t o murder , t he bandscol l ect ed i n one body, and t ook t he ol d r out e t o the Hol y Land, ar out e st ai ned wi t h t he bl ood of t hr ee hundr ed t housand who had gone

bef or e, and dest i ned al so t o r ecei ve t hei r s. The number of t heseswarms has never been st at ed; but so many of t hem per i shed i nHungar y, t hat cont empor ar y wr i t er s, despai r i ng of gi vi ng anyadequat e i dea of t hei r mul t i t udes, st at e t hat t he f i el ds wer eact ual l y heaped wi t h t hei r cor pses, and t hat f or mi l es i n i t s cour set he water s of t he Danube wer e dyed wi t h t hei r bl ood. I t was atMer sbur g, on t he Danube, t hat t he gr eat est sl aught er t ook pl ace, - -a sl aught er so gr eat as t o amount al most t o ext er mi nat i on. TheHungar i ans f or a whi l e di sput ed t he passage of t he r i ver , but t hecr usader s f or ced t hei r way acr oss, and at t acki ng t he ci t y wi t h t hebl i nd cour age of madness, succeeded i n maki ng a br each i n the wal l s.

At t hi s moment of vi ct ory an unaccount abl e f ear came over t hem. Throwi ng down t hei r ar ms t hey f l ed pani c- st r i cken, no one knew why,and no one knew whi t her . The Hungar i ans f ol l owed, sword i n hand, andcut t hem down wi t hout r emorse, and i n such number s, t hat t he st r eamof t he Danube i s sai d to have been choked up by t hei r unbur i edbodi es.

Thi s was t he wor st paroxysm of t he madness of Eur ope; and t hi spassed, her chi val r y st epped upon t he scene. Men of cool heads,

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matur e pl ans, and i nvi nci bl e cour age st ood f orward t o l ead anddi r ect t he gr and movement of Europe upon Asi a. I t i s upon t hese ment hat r omance has l avi shed her most admi r i ng epi t het s, l eavi ng to t hecondemnat i on of hi st or y t he vi l eness and br ut al i t y of t hose who wentbef or e. Of t hese l eader s t he most di st i ngui shed wer e Godf r ey ofBoui l l on Duke of Lorr ai ne, and Raymond Count of Toul ouse. Four otherchi ef s of t he royal bl ood of Eur ope al so assumed t he Cr oss, and l edeach hi s ar my t o t he Hol y Land: Hugh, Count of Vermandoi s, br ot herof t he Ki ng of Fr ance; Rober t , Duke of Normandy, t he el der br otherof Wi l l i am Ruf us; Rober t Count of Fl ander s, and Boemund Pr i nce of Tar entum, el dest son of t he cel ebrat ed Rober t Gui scar d. These menwer e al l t i nged wi t h t he f anat i ci sm of t he age, but none of t hemact ed ent i r el y f r om r el i gi ous mot i ves. They wer e nei t her ut t er l yr eckl ess l i ke Gaut i er sans Avoi r , crazy l i ke Pet er t he Her mi t , norbr ut al l i ke Got t schal k t he Monk, but possessed each of t hesequal i t i es i n a mi l der f or m; t hei r val our bei ng t emper ed by caut i on,t hei r r el i gi ous zeal by wor l dl y vi ews, and t hei r f er oci t y by t hespi r i t of chi val r y. They saw whi t her l ed t he t or r ent of t he publ i c

wi l l ; and i t bei ng nei t her t hei r wi sh nor t hei r i nt er est t o stem i t ,t hey al l owed t hemsel ves t o be car r i ed wi t h i t , i n t he hope t hat i twoul d l ead t hem at l ast t o a haven of aggr andi zement . Ar ound t hemcongr egat ed many mi nor chi ef s, t he f l ower of t he nobi l i t y of Franceand I t al y, wi t h some f ew f r om Ger many, Engl and, and Spai n. I t waswi sel y conj ect ur ed t hat ar mi es so numer ous woul d f i nd a di f f i cul t yi n pr ocur i ng pr ovi si ons i f t hey al l j our neyed by t he same r oad. They, t heref or e, r esol ved t o separat e, Godf r ey de Boui l l onpr oceedi ng t hr ough Hungary and Bul gar i a, t he Count of Toul ouset hr ough Lombardy and Dal mat i a, and t he ot her l eaders t hr ough Apul i at o Const ant i nopl e, wher e t he sever al di vi si ons wer e to reuni t e. The

f orces under t hese l eader s have been var i ousl y est i mated. ThePr i ncess Anna Comnena t al ks of t hem as havi ng been as numerous ast he sands on t he seashor e, or t he st ar s i n t he f i r mament . Ful cherof Char t r es i s mor e sat i sf act or y, and exagger at es l essmagni f i cent l y, when he st at es, t hat al l t he di vi si ons, when t hey hadsat down bef ore Ni ce i n Bi t hyni a, amount ed t o one hundr ed t housandhorsemen, and si x hundr ed t housand men on f oot , excl usi ve of t hepr i est s, women and chi l dr en. Gi bbon i s of opi ni on t hat t hi s amounti s exagger at ed; but t hi nks t he act ual number s di d not f al l ver y f arshor t of t he cal cul at i on. The Pr i ncess Anna af t er war ds gi ves t henumber of t hose under Godf r ey of Boui l l on as ei ght y t housand f oot

and horse; and supposi ng that each of t he ot her chi ef s l ed an ar myas numer ous, t he tot al woul d be near hal f a mi l l i on. Thi s must beover r ather t han under t he mark, as t he army of Godf r ey of Boui l l onwas conf essedl y t he l ar gest when i t set out , and suf f er ed l ess byt he way t han any ot her .

The Count of Ver mandoi s was t he f i r st who set f oot on t heGr eci an t er r i t or y. On hi s arr i val at Dur azzo he was r ecei ved wi t hevery mark of r espect and cour t esy by t he agent s of t he Emperor , and

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hi s f ol l ower s wer e abundant l y suppl i ed wi t h pr ovi si ons. Suddenl yhowever , and wi t hout cause assi gned, t he Count was ar r est ed by or derof t he Emperor Al exi us, and conveyed a cl ose pr i soner t oConst ant i nopl e. Var i ous mot i ves have been assi gned by di f f er entaut hors as havi ng i nduced t he Emper or t o t hi s t r eacher ous andi mprudent proceedi ng. By ever y wr i t er he has been condemned f or sof l agr ant a br each of hospi t al i t y and j ust i ce. The most pr obabl er eason f or hi s conduct appears t o be t hat suggest ed by Gui ber t ofNogent , who st at es t hat Al exi us, f ear f ul of t he desi gns of t hecr usader s upon hi s t hr one, r esort ed t o t hi s ext r emi t y i n or deraf t er war ds t o f or ce t he Count t o take t he oat h of al l egi ance t o hi m,as t he pr i ce of hi s l i ber at i on. The exampl e of a pr i nce so emi nentas t he br ot her of t he Ki ng of France, woul d, he t hought , be r eadi l yf ol l owed by t he ot her chi ef s of t he Cr usade. I n t he resul t he waswof ul l y di sappoi nted, as ever y man deser ves t o be who commi t sposi t i ve evi l t hat doubt f ul good may ensue. But t hi s l i ne of pol i cyaccor ded wel l enough wi t h the nar r owmi ndedness of t he Emper or , who,i n t he ener vat i ng at mospher e of hi s hi ghl y ci vi l i zed and l uxur i ous

cour t , dr eaded t he i nf l ux of t he har dy and ambi t i ous war r i or s of t heWest , and st r ove t o ni bbl e away by unwor t hy means, t he power whi chhe had not ener gy enough t o conf r ont . I f danger t o hi msel f hadexi st ed f r om t he r esi dence of t he chi ef s i n hi s domi ni ons, he mi ghteasi l y have aver t ed i t , by t he si mpl e means of pl aci ng hi msel f att he head of t he Eur opean movement , and di r ect i ng i t s ener gi es t ot hei r avowed obj ect , t he conquest of t he Hol y Land. But t he Emper or ,i nst ead of bei ng, as he mi ght have been, t he l ord and l eader of t heCr usades, whi ch he had hi msel f ai ded i n no i nconsi der abl e degr ee t osusci t at e by hi s embass i es t o t he Pope, became the sl ave of men whohat ed and despi sed hi m. No doubt t he barbarous excesses of t he

f ol l ower s of Gaut i er and Pet er t he Her mi t made hi m l ook upon t hewhol e body of t hem wi t h di sgust , but i t was t he di sgust of a l i t t l emi nd, whi ch i s gl ad of any excuse t o pal l i at e or j ust i f y i t s owni r r esol ut i on and l ove of ease.

Godf r ey of Boui l l on t r aversed Hungary i n t he most qui et andorder l y manner . On hi s ar r i val at Mer sbur g he f ound t he count r yst r ewed wi t h the mangl ed cor pses of t he J ew- ki l l er s, and demanded oft he Ki ng of Hungary f or what r eason hi s peopl e had set upon t hem. The l at t er detai l ed t he at r oci t i es t hey had commi t t ed, and made i tso evi dent t o Godf r ey t hat t he Hungar i ans had onl y act ed i n sel f -

def ence, t hat t he hi gh- mi nded l eader decl ar ed hi msel f sat i sf i ed andpassed on, wi t hout gi vi ng or r ecei vi ng mol est at i on. On hi s arr i valat Phi l i ppopol i , he was i nf or med f or t he f i r st t i me of t hei mpr i sonment of t he Count of Vermandoi s. He i mmedi at el y sentmessenger s t o the Emper or , demandi ng t he Count ' s r el ease, andt hr eat eni ng, i n case of r ef usal , t o l ay wast e t he count r y wi t h f i r eand sword. Af t er wai t i ng a day at Phi l i ppopol i he marched on t oAdr i anopl e, where he was met by hi s messengers r eturni ng wi t h t heEmper or ' s r ef usal . Godf r ey, t he br avest and most deter mi ned of t he

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i n a r ecent wor k, descri bes i t , on t he aut hor i t y of t he Pr i ncess, i nt he f ol l owi ng manner :

"To avoi d al l occasi on of of f ence t o t he Cr usader s, Al exi uscompl i ed wi t h al l t hei r whi ms, and t hei r ( on many occasi ons)unr easonabl e demands, even at t he expense of gr eat bodi l y exer t i on,at a t i me when he was suf f er i ng sever el y under t he gout , whi chevent ual l y br ought hi m t o hi s grave. No crusader who desi r ed ani nt er vi ew wi t h hi m was r ef used access: he l i st ened wi t h t he ut mostpat i ence t o the l ongwi nded har angues whi ch t hei r l oquaci t y or zealcont i nual l y wear i ed hi m wi t h: he endur ed, wi t hout expr essi ng anyi mpat i ence, t he unbecomi ng and haught y l anguage whi ch t hey permi t t edt hemsel ves t o empl oy t owards hi m, and severel y r epr i manded hi sof f i cer s when t hey under t ook to def end t he di gni t y of t he I mper i alst at i on f r om t hese rude assaul t s; f or he t r embl ed wi t h appr ehensi onat t he sl i ght est di sput es, l est t hey mi ght become t he occasi on ofgr eat er evi l . Though t he Count s of t en appear ed bef ore hi m wi t ht r ai ns al t oget her unsui t abl e t o t hei r di gni t y and t o hi s - -

somet i mes wi t h an ent i r e t r oop, whi ch compl et el y f i l l ed t he Royalapar t ment - - t he Emper or hel d hi s peace. He l i st ened t o t hem at al lhour s; he of t en seat ed hi msel f on hi s t hr one at day- br eak t o at t endt o t hei r wi shes and r equest s, and t he eveni ng t wi l i ght saw hi m st i l li n t he same pl ace. Ver y f r equent l y he coul d not snat ch t i me t or ef r esh hi msel f wi t h meat and dr i nk. Dur i ng many ni ght s he coul d notobt ai n any r epose, and was obl i ged t o i ndul ge i n an unr ef r eshi ngsl eep upon hi s t hr one, wi t h hi s head r est i ng on hi s hands. Even t hi ssl umber was cont i nual l y di st ur bed by t he appear ance and harangues ofsome newl y- ar r i ved r ude kni ght s. When al l t he cour t i er s, wear i ed outby the ef f or t s of t he day and by ni ght - wat chi ng, coul d no l onger

keep themsel ves on t hei r f eet , and sank down exhaust ed - - some uponbenches and ot her s on t he f l oor - - Al exi us st i l l r al l i ed hi sst r engt h t o l i st en wi t h seemi ng at t ent i on t o t he wear i some chat t erof t he Lat i ns, t hat t hey mi ght have no occasi on or pr et ext f ordi scont ent . I n such a st at e of f ear and anxi et y, how coul d Al exi uscomport hi msel f wi t h di gni t y and l i ke an Emper or ?"

Al exi us, however , had hi msel f t o bl ame, i n a gr eat measur e, f ort he i ndi gni t i es he suf f er ed: owi ng t o hi s i nsi ncer i t y, t he crusader smi st r ust ed hi m so much, t hat i t became at l ast a common sayi ng, t hatt he Tur ks and Saracens were not such i nvet erat e f oes t o the West ern

or Lat i n Chr i st i ans as t he Emper or Al exi us and t he Gr eeks. [ Wi l ken]I t woul d be needl ess i n t hi s sketch, whi ch does not pr of ess t o be somuch a hi st ory of t he Cr usades as of t he madness of Eur ope, f r omwhi ch t hey spr ang, t o det ai l t he var i ous act s of br i ber y andi nt i mi dat i on, caj ol er y and host i l i t y, by whi ch Al exi us cont r i ved t omake each of t he l eader s i n successi on, as t hey ar r i ved, t ake t heoat h of al l egi ance t o hi m as t hei r Suzer ai n. One way or anot her heexact ed f r om each t he bar r en homage on whi ch he had set hi s hear t ,and t hey were then al l owed t o pr oceed i nt o Asi a Mi nor . One onl y,

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Raymond de St . Gi l l es, Count of Toul ouse, obst i nat el y r ef used t hehomage.

Thei r r esi dence i n Const ant i nopl e was product i ve of no good t ot he armi es of t he Cr oss. Bi cker i ngs and cont ent i ons on t he one hand,and t he i nf l uence of a depr aved and l uxur i ous cour t on t he ot her ,dest r oyed t he el ast i ci t y of t hei r spi r i t s, and cool ed t he f i r stardour of t hei r ent husi asm. At one t i me t he army of t he Count of Toul ouse was on t he poi nt of di sbandi ng i t sel f ; and, had not t hei rl eader ener get i cal l y removed t hem acr oss t he Bosphorus, t hi s woul dhave been t he r esul t . Once i n Asi a, t hei r spi r i t s i n some degr eer evi ved, and t he pr esence of danger and di f f i cul t y ner ved t hem t ot he work t hey had under t aken. The f i r st oper at i on of t he war was t hesi ege of Ni ce, t o gai n possessi on of whi ch al l t hei r ef f or t s wer edi r ected.

Godf r ey of Boui l l on and t he Count of Ver mandoi s wer e j oi nedunder i t s wal l s by each host i n successi on, as i t l ef t

Const ant i nopl e. Among t he cel ebr ated cr usader s who f ought at t hi ssi ege, we f i nd, besi des t he l eader s al r eady ment i oned, t he br ave andgener ous Tancr ed, whose name and f ame have been i mmor t al i zed i n t heGer usal emme Li ber ata, t he val orous Bi shop of Puy, Bal dwi n,af t er wards Ki ng of J er usal em, and Pet er t he Her mi t , now an al mostsol i t ar y sol di er , shor n of al l t he power and i nf l uence he hadf or mer l y possessed. Ki l i j Asl aun, t he Sul t an of Roum, and chi ef oft he Sel j uki an Tur ks, whose deeds, sur r ounded by t he f al se hal o ofr omance, are f ami l i ar t o t he r eader s of Tasso, under t he name ofSol i man, marched t o def end t hi s ci t y, but was def eated af t er sever alobst i nat e engagement s, i n whi ch t he Chr i st i ans showed a degr ee of

her oi sm t hat qui t e ast oni shed hi m. The Tur ki sh chi ef had expect ed t of i nd a wi l d undi sci pl i ned mul t i t ude, l i ke t hat under Pet er t heHer mi t , wi t hout l eader s capabl e of enf or ci ng obedi ence; i nst ead ofwhi ch he f ound t he most exper i enced l eaders of t he age at t he headof ar mi es t hat had j ust f anat i ci sm enough t o be f er oci ous, but notenough t o r ender t hem ungover nabl e. I n these engagement s, manyhundr eds f el l on bot h si des; and on bot h si des t he most r evol t i ngbar bar i t y was pr act i sed: t he cr usader s cut of f t he heads of t hef al l en Mussul mans, and sent t hem i n pani er s t o Const ant i nopl e, ast r ophi es of t hei r vi ctor y. Af t er t he t empor ar y def eat of Ki l i jAsl aun, t he si ege of Ni ce was car r i ed on wi t h r edoubl ed vi gour . The

Turks def ended t hemsel ves wi t h t he great est obst i nacy, anddi schar ged showers of poi soned ar r ows upon t he cr usaders. When anyunf or t unat e wr et ch was ki l l ed under t he wal l s, t hey l et down i r onhooks f r om above, and dr ew t he body up, whi ch, af t er st r i ppi ng andmut i l at i ng, t hey t hr ew back agai n at t he besi eger s. The l at t er wer ewel l suppl i ed wi t h pr ovi si ons, and f or si x- and- t hi r t y days t he si egecont i nued wi t hout any rel axat i on of t he ef f or t s on ei t her si de. Manyt al es are t ol d of t he al most super human her oi sm of t he Chr i st i anl eaders - - how one man put a t housand t o f l i ght ; and how t he ar r ows

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of t he f ai t hf ul never mi ssed t hei r mar k. One anecdote of Godf r ey ofBoui l l on, r el at ed by Al ber t of Ai x, i s wor t h r ecor di ng, not onl y asshowi ng t he hi gh opi ni on ent er t ai ned of hi s val our , but as showi ngt he cont agi ous credul i t y of t he ar mi es - - a cr edul i t y whi ch as of t enl ed t hem t o t he ver y ver ge of def eat , as i t i nci t ed t hem t o vi ct or y.One Tur k, of gi gant i c st at ur e, t ook hi s st at i on day by day on t hebat t l ement s of Ni ce, and, bear i ng an enormous bow, commi t t ed gr eathavoc among t he Chr i st i an host . Not a shaf t he sped, but bore deathupon i t s poi nt ; and, al t hough t he Cr usader s ai med r epeat edl y at hi sbr east , and he st ood i n t he most exposed posi t i on, t hei r ar r ows f el lharml ess at hi s f eet . He seemed t o be i nvul ner abl e t o at t ack; and ar epor t was soon spr ead abr oad, t hat he was no ot her t han t he Ar chFi end hi msel f , and t hat mor t al hand coul d not pr evai l agai nst hi m.Godf r ey of Boui l l on, who had no f ai t h i n t he super nat ur al char act erof t he Mussul man, det er mi ned, i f possi bl e, t o put an end t o thedi smay whi ch was r api dl y par al yzi ng t he exer t i ons of hi s bestsol di er s. Taki ng a huge cr oss- bow, he st ood f or war d i n f r ont of t hearmy, t o t r y t he st eadi ness of hi s hand agai nst t he much- dr eaded

ar cher : t he shaf t was ai med di r ect l y at hi s hear t , and t ook f at alef f ect . The Mosl em f el l ami d t he gr oans of t he besi eged, and t heshout s of Deus adj uva! Deus adj uva! t he war - cr y of t he besi eger s.

At l ast t he cr usader s i magi ned t hat t hey had over come al lobst acl es, and wer e pr epar i ng t o take possessi on of t he ci t y, whent o t hei r gr eat ast oni shment t hey saw t he f l ag of t he Emper or Al exi usf l yi ng f r om t he bat t l ement s. An emi ssary of t he Emper or , namedFat i ci us or Tat i n, had cont r i ved t o gai n admi ssi on wi t h a body ofGr eek t r oops at a poi nt whi ch t he cr usader s had l ef t unpr ot ect ed,and had per suaded t he Tur ks t o sur r ender t o hi m r at her t han t o t he

cr usadi ng f or ces. The gr eat est i ndi gnat i on pr evai l ed i n t he ar mywhen t hi s st r at agem was di scover ed, and t he sol di er s wer e, wi t h t heut most di f f i cul t y, pr event ed f r om r enewi ng t he at t ack and besi egi ngt he Gr eek emi ssary.

The ar my, however , cont i nued i t s mar ch, and by some means orot her was br oken i nt o t wo di vi si ons; some hi st or i ans sayacci dent al l y, [ Ful cher of Char t r es. - - Gui ber t de Nogent . - - Vi t al . ]

whi l e ot her s af f i r m by mut ual consent , and f or t he conveni enceof obt ai ni ng pr ovi si ons on t he way. [ Wi l l i am of Tyr e. - - Mi l l s. - -

Wi l ken, &c. ] The one di vi si on was composed of t he f orces underBohemund, Tancr ed, and t he Duke of Normandy; whi l e t he ot her , whi cht ook a r out e at some di st ance on the r i ght , was commanded by Godf r eyof Boui l l on and t he ot her chi ef s. The Sul t an of Roum, who, af t er hi sl osses at Ni ce, had been si l ent l y maki ng gr eat ef f or t s t o cr ush t hecr usader s at one bl ow, col l ect ed i n a ver y shor t t i me al l t hemul t i t udi nous t r i bes t hat owed hi m al l egi ance, and wi t h an ar mywhi ch, accordi ng t o a moderat e cal cul at i on, amount ed t o t wo hundr edt housand men, chi ef l y caval r y, he f el l upon t he f i r st di vi si on of

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t he Chr i st i an host i n t he val l ey of Dor yl aeum. I t was ear l y i n t hemor ni ng of t he 1st of J ul y 1097, when t he cr usader s saw t he f i r stcompani es of t he Tur ki sh horsemen pour i ng down upon t hem f r om t hehi l l s. Bohemund had har dl y t i me t o set hi msel f i n order , andt r anspor t hi s s i ck and hel pl ess t o t he rear , when t he over whel mi ngf orce of t he Or i ent al s was upon hi m. The Chr i st i an army, composedpr i nci pal l y of men on f oot , gave way on al l si des, and t he hoof s oft he Tur ki sh st eeds, and t he poi soned ar r ows of t hei r bowmen, mowedt hem down by hundr eds. Af t er havi ng l ost t he f l ower of t hei rchi val r y, t he Chr i st i ans r et r eated upon t hei r baggage, when adr eadf ul sl aught er t ook pl ace. Nei t her women nor chi l dr en, nor t hesi ck, wer e spar ed. J ust as t hey wer e r educed t o the l ast ext r emi t y,Godf r ey of Boui l l on and t he Count of Toul ouse made thei r appear anceon t he f i el d, and t ur ned t he t i de of bat t l e. Af t er an obst i nat eengagement t he Tur ks f l ed, and thei r r i ch camp f el l i nt o t he bandsof t he enemy. The l oss of t he crusaders amount ed t o about f ourt housand men, wi t h sever al chi ef s of r enown, among whom were CountRober t of Par i s and Wi l l i am t he br ot her of Tancred. The l oss of t he

Turks, whi ch di d not exceed t hi s number , t aught t hem t o pur sue adi f f er ent mode of war f ar e. The Sul t an was f ar f r om bei ng def eat ed.Wi t h hi s st i l l gi gant i c ar my, he l ai d wast e al l t he count r y onei t her si de of t he cr usader s. The l at t er , who wer e unawar e of t het act i cs of t he enemy, f ound pl ent y of pr ovi si ons i n t he Tur ki shcamp; but so f ar f r om economi zi ng t hese resour ces, t hey gavet hemsel ves up f or sever al days t o t he most unbounded ext r avagance. They soon pai d dear l y f or t hei r heedl essness. I n t he r avaged count r yof Phr ygi a, t hr ough whi ch t hey advanced t owards Ant i ochet t a, t heysuf f er ed dr eadf ul l y f or want of f ood f or t hemsel ves and past ur e f ort hei r cat t l e. Above t hem was a scor chi ng sun, al most suf f i ci ent of

i t sel f t o dr y up t he f r eshness of t he l and, a t ask whi ch t hef i r ebr ands of t he Sul t an had but t oo sur el y ef f ect ed, and wat er wasnot t o be had af t er t he f i r st day of t hei r mar ch. The pi l gr i ms di edat t he rat e of f i ve hundr ed a- day. The hor ses of t he kni ght sper i shed on t he r oad, and t he baggage whi ch they had ai ded t ot r anspor t , was ei t her pl aced upon dogs, sheep, and swi ne, orabandoned al t oget her . I n some of t he cal ami t i es t hat af t er war dsbef el l t hem, t he Chr i st i ans gave t hemsel ves up t o t he most r eckl esspr of l i gacy; but upon t hi s occasi on, t he di ssensi ons whi ch pr osper i t yhad engender ed, wer e al l f or got t en. Rel i gi on, of t en di sr egar ded,ar ose i n the st er n pr esence of mi sf or t une, and cheer ed them as t hey

di ed by t he pr omi ses of et er nal f el i ci t y.

At l engt h t hey reached Ant i ochet t a, wher e t hey f ound water i nabundance, and past ur es f or t hei r expi r i ng cat t l e. Pl ent y once mor esur r ounded them, and her e they pi t ched t hei r t ent s. Unt aught by t hebi t t er exper i ence of f ami ne, t hey agai n gave t hemsel ves up t o l uxur yand wast e.

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On t he 18t h of Oct ober t hey sat down bef ore t he st r ong ci t y ofAnt i och, t he si ege of whi ch, and t he event s t o whi ch i t gave r i se,ar e among t he most ext r aor di nar y i nci dent s of t he Cr usade. The ci t y,whi ch i s si t uat ed on an emi nence, and washed by the r i ver Or ont es,i s nat ur al l y a ver y st r ong posi t i on, and t he Tur ki sh gar r i son wer ewel l suppl i ed wi t h pr ovi si ons t o endur e a l ong si ege. I n t hi sr espect t he Chr i st i ans wer e al so f or t unat e, but , unl ucki l y f ort hemsel ves, unwi se. Thei r f orce amount ed t o t hr ee hundr ed t housandf i ght i ng men; and we ar e i nf ormed by Raymond d' Ar gi l l es, t hat t heyhad so much pr ovi si on, t hat t hey t hr ew away t he gr eat er part ofever y ani mal t hey ki l l ed, bei ng so dai nt y, t hat t hey woul d onl y eatpar t i cul ar par t s of t he beast . So i nsane was t hei r ext r avagance,t hat i n l ess t han t en days f ami ne began t o st ar e t hem i n t he f ace.Af t er maki ng a f r ui t l ess at t empt t o gai n possessi on of t he ci t y by acoup de mai n, t hey, st arvi ng t hemsel ves, sat down t o st arve out t heenemy. But wi t h want came a cool i ng of ent husi asm. The chi ef s begant o gr ow weary of t he expedi t i on. Bal dwi n had pr evi ousl y det achedhi msel f f r om t he mai n body of t he army, and, pr oceedi ng t o Edessa,

had i nt r i gued hi msel f i nt o t he supr eme power i n t hat l i t t l epr i nci pal i t y. The ot her l eader s wer e ani mat ed wi t h l ess zeal t hanheretof ore. St ephen of Char t r es and Hugh of Vermandoi s began t owaver , unabl e t o endur e t he pr i vat i ons whi ch t hei r own f ol l y andprof usi on had brought upon t hem. Even Pet er t he Hermi t became si ckat hear t ere al l was over . When the f ami ne had become so ur gent t hatt hey wer e r educed t o eat human f l esh i n t he ext r emi t y of t hei rhunger , Bohemund and Robert of Fl anders set f or t h on an expedi t i ont o pr ocur e a suppl y. They wer e i n a sl i ght degr ee successf ul ; butt he rel i ef t hey br ought was not economi zed, and i n t wo days t heywer e as dest i t ut e as bef ore. Fat i ci us, t he Gr eek commander and

r epr esent at i ve of Al exi us, deser t ed wi t h hi s di vi si on under pr et enceof seeki ng f or f ood, and hi s exampl e was f ol l owed by var i ous bodi esof crusader s.

Mi ser y was r i f e among t hose who r emai ned, and they st r ove t oal l evi at e i t by a di l i gent at t ent i on t o si gns and omens. These, wi t hext r aor di nar y vi si ons seen by t he ent husi ast i c, al t er nat el y cheer edand depr essed t hem accor di ng as t hey f oret ol d t he t r i umph orpi ct ur ed t he r ever ses of t he Cr oss. At one t i me a vi ol ent hur r i canear ose, l evel l i ng gr eat t r ees wi t h t he gr ound, and bl owi ng down t het ent s of t he Chr i st i an l eader s. At anot her t i me an ear t hquake shook

t he camp, and was t hought t o pr ognost i cat e some gr eat i mpendi ng evi lt o t he cause of Chr i st endom. But a comet whi ch appear ed shor t l yaf t er war ds, r ai sed t hem f r om t he despondency i nt o whi ch t hey hadf al l en; t hei r l i vel y i magi nat i ons maki ng i t assume t he f or m of af l ami ng cr oss l eadi ng t hem on t o vi ct or y. Fami ne was not t he l eastof t he evi l s t hey endur ed. Unwhol esome f ood, and t he i mpur e ai r f r omt he nei ghbour i ng mar shes, engender ed pest i l ent i al di seases, whi chcar r i ed t hem of f mor e rapi dl y t han t he ar r ows of t he enemy. At housand of t hem di ed i n a day, and i t became at l ast a mat t er of

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ext r eme di f f i cul t y t o af f or d t hem bur i al . To add t o t hei r mi ser y,each man gr ew suspi ci ous of hi s nei ghbour ; f or t he camp was i nf est edby Tur ki sh spi es, who conveyed dai l y t o t he besi eged i nt el l i gence oft he movement s and di st r esses of t he enemy. Wi t h a f er oci t y,engendered by despai r , Bohemund caused two spi es, whom he haddet ect ed, t o be r oast ed al i ve i n pr esence of t he ar my, and wi t hi nsi ght of t he bat t l ement s of Ant i och. But even t hi s exampl e f ai l ed t or educe t hei r number s, and the Tur ks cont i nued to be as wel l i nf ormedas t he Chr i st i ans t hemsel ves of al l t hat was passi ng i n t he camp.

The news of t he ar r i val of a r ei nf or cement of sol di er s f r omEur ope, wi t h an abundant st ock of pr ovi si ons, came to cheer t hemwhen r educed t o t he l ast ext r emi t y. The wel come succour l anded atSt . Si meon, t he por t of Ant i och, and about si x mi l es f r om t hat ci t y. Thi t herwar ds t he f ami shi ng cr usader s proceeded i n t umul t uous bands,f ol l owed by Bohemund and t he Count of Toul ouse, wi t h st r ongdet achment s of t hei r r et ai ner s and vassal s, t o escor t t he suppl i esi n saf et y t o t he camp. The gar r i son of Ant i och, f or ewar ned of t hi s

ar r i val , was on t he al er t , and a cor ps of Tur ki sh ar cher s wasdespat ched to l i e i n ambuscade among t he mountai ns and i nterceptt hei r r et ur n. Bohemund, l aden wi t h pr ovi si ons, was encount er ed i nt he r ocky passes by t he Tur ki sh host . Gr eat number s of hi s f ol l ower swer e sl ai n, and he hi msel f had j ust t i me to escape t o t he camp wi t ht he news of hi s def eat . Godf r ey of Boui l l on, t he Duke of Normandy,and t he other l eader s had heard t he r umour of t hi s bat t l e, and wer eat t hat i nst ant pr epar i ng f or t he r escue. The army was i mmedi atel yi n mot i on, ani mat ed bot h by zeal and by hunger , and marched sor api dl y as t o i nt er cept t he vi ct or i ous Tur ks bef or e t hey had t i me t or each Ant i och wi t h t hei r spoi l . A f i er ce bat t l e ensued, whi ch l ast ed

f r om noon t i l l t he goi ng down of t he sun. The Chr i st i ans gai ned andmai nt ai ned the advant age, each man f i ght i ng as i f upon hi msel f al onehad depended t he f or t une of t he day. Hundr eds of Tur ks per i shed i nt he Or ont es, and more t han t wo t housand were l ef t dead upon t hef i el d of bat t l e. Al l t he pr ovi si on was r ecapt ur ed and br ought i nsaf et y t o t he camp, whi t her t he cr usader s r et ur ned si ngi ngAl l el ul i a! or shout i ng Deus adj uva! Deus adj uva!

Thi s r el i ef l ast ed f or some days, and, had i t been dul yeconomi zed, woul d have l ast ed much l onger ; but t he chi ef s had noaut hor i t y, and wer e unabl e t o exer ci se any cont r ol over i t s

di st r i but i on. Fami ne agai n appr oached wi t h r api d st r i des, andSt ephen Count of Bl oi s, not l i ki ng t he pr ospect , wi t hdr ew f r om t hecamp, wi t h f our t housand of hi s r et ai ner s, and est abl i shed hi msel fat Al exandr et t a. The mor al i nf l uence of t hi s deser t i on was hi ghl yprej udi ci al upon t hose who r emai ned; and Bohemund, t he mosti mpat i ent and ambi t i ous of t he chi ef s, f or esaw t hat , unl ess speedi l ychecked, i t woul d l ead t o t he ut t er f ai l ur e of t he expedi t i on. I twas necessary t o act deci si vel y; t he ar my mur mur ed at t he l engt h oft he si ege, and t he Sul t an was col l ect i ng hi s f or ces t o cr ush t hem.

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whi ch, br eaki ng, pr eci pi t at ed about a dozen of t hem t o t he gr ound,wher e t hey f el l one upon t he ot her , maki ng a gr eat cl at t er wi t ht hei r heavy coats of mai l . For a moment t hey t hought t hat al l wasl ost ; but t he wi nd made so l oud a howl i ng as i t swept i n f i er cegust s t hr ough the mount ai n gorges - - and the Or ont es, swol l en by t her ai n, r ushed so noi si l y al ong - - t hat t he guar ds hear d not hi ng. Thel adder was easi l y r epai r ed, and t he kni ght s ascended two at a t i me,and r eached t he pl at f or m i n saf et y, When si xty of t hem had t husascended, t he t orch of t he comi ng pat r ol was seen t o gl eam at t heangl e of t he wal l . Hi di ng t hemsel ves behi nd a but t r ess, t hey awai t edhi s comi ng i n br eat hl ess si l ence. As soon as he ar r i ved at ar m' sl engt h, he was suddenl y sei zed, and, bef or e he coul d open hi s l i pst o r ai se an al ar m, t he si l ence of deat h cl osed t hem up f or ever . They next descended r api dl y t he spi r al st ai r case of t he t ower , and,openi ng t he por t al , admi t t ed t he whol e of t hei r compani ons. Raymondof Toul ouse, who, cogni zant of t he whol e pl an, had been l ef t behi ndwi t h t he mai n body of t he ar my, hear d at t hi s i nst ant t he si gnalhorn, whi ch announced that an ent r y had been ef f ect ed, and, l eadi ng

on hi s l egi ons, t he t own was at t acked f r om wi t hi n and wi t hout .

I magi nat i on cannot concei ve a scene more dr eadf ul t han t hatpr esent ed by t he devot ed ci t y of Ant i och on t hat ni ght of hor r or . The cr usader s f ought wi t h a bl i nd f ury, whi ch f anat i ci sm andsuf f er i ng al i ke i nci t ed. Men, women, and chi l dr en wer ei ndi scri mi nat el y sl aught er ed t i l l t he st r eet s r an i n gor e. Dar knessi ncr eased t he dest r uct i on, f or when morni ng dawned t he cr usadersf ound t hemsel ves wi t h t hei r swor ds at t he br east s of t hei r f el l ow-sol di er s, whom t hey had mi st aken f or f oes. The Tur ki sh commanderf l ed, f i r st t o t he ci t adel , and t hat becomi ng i nsecur e, t o t he

mount ai ns, whi t her he was pur sued and sl ai n, hi s grey head br oughtback t o Ant i och as a t r ophy. At dayl i ght t he massacre ceased, andt he cr usaders gave t hemsel ves up t o pl under . They f ound gol d, and j ewel s, and si l ks, and vel vet s i n abundance, but , of provi si ons,whi ch wer e of more i mport ance t o t hem, t hey f ound but l i t t l e of anyki nd. Cor n was excessi vel y scarce, and t hey di scover ed t o t hei rsor r ow t hat i n t hi s r espect t he besi eged had been but l i t t l e bet t erof f t han t he besi eger s.

Bef or e they had t i me to i nst al t hemsel ves i n thei r newposi t i on, and t ake t he necessar y measur es f or pr ocur i ng a suppl y,

t he ci t y was i nvest ed by t he Tur ks. The Sul t an of Per si a had r ai sedan i mmense army, whi ch he i nt r ust ed t o t he command of Kerbogha, t heEmi r of Mosul , wi t h i nst r uct i ons t o sweep t he Chr i st i an l ocust s f r omt he f ace of t he l and. The Emi r ef f ect ed j unct i on wi t h Ki l i j Asl aun,and t he t wo armi es sur r ounded t he ci t y. Di scouragement t ook compl etepossessi on of t he Chr i st i an host , and number s of t hem cont r i ved t oel ude t he vi gi l ance of t he besi eger s, and escape t o Count St ephen ofBl ot s at Al exandr et t a, t o whom t hey r el at ed t he most exagger at edt al es of t he mi sery t hey had endur ed, and t he ut t er hopel essness of

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cont i nui ng t he war . St ephen f or t hwi t h br oke up hi s camp andr et r eat ed t owards Const ant i nopl e. On hi s way he was met by t heEmper or Al exi us, at t he head of a consi der abl e f or ce, hast eni ng t ot ake possessi on of t he conquest s made by t he Chr i st i ans i n Asi a. Assoon as he hear d of t hei r woef ul pl i ght , he t ur ned back, andpr oceeded wi t h t he Count of Bl ot s t o Const ant i nopl e, l eavi ng t her emnant of t he cr usader s t o shi f t f or t hemsel ves.

The news of t hi s def ect i on i ncr eased t he di scour agement atAnt i och. Al l t he usel ess hor ses of t he ar my had been sl ai n andeaten, and dogs, cat s, and r at s wer e sol d at enormous pr i ces. Evenver mi n were becomi ng scarce. Wi t h i ncreasi ng f ami ne came apest i l ence, so t hat i n a shor t t i me but si xt y t housand r emai ned oft he t hr ee hundr ed t housand t hat had or i gi nal l y i nvest ed Ant i och. Butt hi s bi t t er ext r emi t y, whi l e i t anni hi l at ed t he ener gy of t he host ,onl y ser ved to kni t t he l eader s more f i r ml y t oget her ; and Bohemund,Godf r ey, and Tancr ed swore never t o deser t t he cause as l ong as l i f el ast ed. The f or mer st r ove i n vai n t o r eani mat e t he cour age of hi s

f ol l owers. They were wear y and si ck at hear t , and hi s menaces andpromi ses were al i ke t hrown away. Some of t hem had shut t hemsel ves upi n t he houses, and r ef used t o come f or t h. Bohemund, t o dr i ve t hem t ot hei r dut y, set f i r e t o t he whol e quar t er , and many of t hem per i shedi n t he f l ames, whi l e the rest of t he ar my l ooked on wi t h t he ut mosti ndi f f er ence. Bohemund, ani mat ed hi msel f by a wor l dl y spi r i t , di dnot know t he t r ue character of t he cr usader s, nor under st and t her el i gi ous madness whi ch had br ought t hem i n such shoal s f r om Eur ope.A pr i est , mor e cl ear - si ght ed, devi sed a scheme whi ch r est or ed al lt hei r conf i dence, and i nspi r ed t hem wi t h a cour age so wonder f ul ast o make t he poor si xt y t housand emaci ated, si ck, and st arvi ng

zeal ot s, put t o f l i ght t he wel l - f ed and si x t i mes as numer ousl egi ons of t he Sul t an of Per si a.

Thi s pr i est , a nat i ve of Pr ovence, was named Pet er Bar t hel emy,and whet her he wer e a knave or an ent husi ast , or both; a pr i nci pal ,or a t ool i n t he hands of ot her s, wi l l ever r emai n a mat t er ofdoubt . Cer t ai n i t i s, however , t hat he was t he means of r ai si ng t hesi ege of Ant i och, and causi ng t he event ual t r i umph of t he ar mi es oft he Cr oss. When t he st r engt h of t he cr usaders was compl etel y br okenby t hei r suf f er i ngs, and hope had f l ed f r om ever y bosom, Pet er camet o Count Raymond of Toul ouse, and demanded an i nt er vi ew on mat t er s

of ser i ous moment . He was i mmedi at el y admi t t ed. He sai d t hat , someweeks pr evi ousl y, at t he t i me t he Chr i st i ans wer e besi egi ng Ant i och,he was r eposi ng al one i n hi s t ent , when he was st ar t l ed by t he shockof t he ear t hquake, whi ch had so al armed t he whol e host . Thr oughvi ol ent t er r or of t he shock he coul d onl y ej acul at e, God hel p me!when t urni ng r ound he saw t wo men st andi ng bef or e hi m, whom he atonce r ecogni zed by t he hal o of gl ory around t hem as bei ngs ofanot her wor l d. One of t hem appear ed t o be an aged man, wi t h reddi shhai r spr i nkl ed wi t h gr ey, bl ack eyes, and a l ong f l owi ng gr ey bear d.

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The ot her was younger , l ar ger , and handsomer , and had somet hi ng mor edi vi ne i n hi s aspect . The el der l y man al one spoke, and i nf or med hi mt hat he was t he Hol y Apost l e St . Andr ew, and desi r ed hi m t o seek outt he Count Raymond, t he Bi shop of Puy, and Raymond of Al t opul t o, andask t hem why t he Bi shop di d not exhort t he peopl e, and si gn t hemwi t h t he cross whi ch he bore. The Apost l e then t ook hi m, naked i nhi s shi r t as he was, and t r anspor t ed hi m t hr ough t he ai r i nt o t hehear t of t he ci t y of Ant i och, wher e he l ed hi m i nt o t he chur ch ofSt . Pet er , at t hat t i me a Saracen mosque. The Apost l e made hi m st opby t he pi l l ar cl ose t o t he st eps by whi ch t hey ascend on t he sout hsi de t o t he al t ar , wher e hung t wo l amps, whi ch gave out a l i ghtbr i ght er t han t hat of t he noonday sun; t he younger man, whom he di dnot at t hat t i me know, st andi ng af ar of f , near t he st eps of t heal t ar . The Apost l e t hen descended i nt o t he gr ound and br ought up al ance, whi ch he gave i nt o hi s hand, t el l i ng hi m t hat i t was t he ver yl ance that had opened t he si de whence had f l owed t he sal vat i on oft he wor l d. Wi t h t ear s of j oy he hel d t he hol y l ance, and i mpl or edt he Apost l e t o al l ow hi m t o t ake i t away and del i ver i t i nt o t he

hands of Count Raymond. The Apost l e ref used, and bur i ed t he l anceagai n i n t he ground, commandi ng hi m, when t he ci t y was won f r om t hei nf i del s, t o go wi t h t wel ve chosen men, and di g i t up agai n i n t hesame pl ace. The Apost l e t hen t r anspor t ed hi m back t o hi s t ent , andt he t wo vani shed f r om hi s si ght . He had negl ect ed, he sai d, t odel i ver t hi s message, af r ai d t hat hi s wonder f ul t al e woul d notobt ai n cr edence f r om men of such hi gh r ank. Af t er some days he agai nsaw t he hol y vi si on, as he was gone out of t he camp to l ook f orf ood. Thi s t i me t he di vi ne eyes of t he younger l ooked r epr oachf ul l yupon hi m. He i mpl or ed t he Apost l e t o choose some one el se mor ef i t t ed f or t he mi ssi on, but t he Apost l e r ef used, and smot e hi m wi t h

a di sorder of t he eyes, as a puni shment f or hi s di sobedi ence. Wi t han obst i nacy unaccount abl e even t o hi msel f , he had st i l l del ayed. At hi r d t i me t he Apost l e and hi s compani on had appear ed t o hi m, as hewas i n a t ent wi t h hi s mast er Wi l l i am at St . Si meon. On t hatoccasi on St . Andr ew t ol d hi m t o bear hi s command to t he Count of Toul ouse not t o bat he i n t he wat er s of t he J or dan when he came t oi t , but t o cross over i n a boat , cl ad i n a shi r t and br eeches ofl i nen, whi ch he shoul d spr i nkl e wi t h t he sacr ed wat er s of t he r i ver . These cl ot hes he was af t er war ds t o preser ve al ong wi t h t he hol yl ance. Hi s mast er Wi l l i am, al t hough he coul d not see t he sai nt ,di st i nct l y hear d t he voi ce gi vi ng or der s t o t hat ef f ect . Agai n he

negl ect ed t o execut e t he commi ss i on, and agai n t he sai nt s appear edt o hi m, when he was at t he por t of Mami st r a, about t o sai l f orCypr us, and St . Andr ew t hr eat ened hi m wi t h et er nal per di t i on i f her ef used l onger . Upon t hi s he made up hi s mi nd t o di vul ge al l t hathad been r eveal ed t o hi m.

The Count of Toul ouse, who, i n al l probabi l i t y, concoct ed t hi spr eci ous t al e wi t h t he pr i est , appear ed st r uck wi t h t he r eci t al , andsent i mmedi at el y f or t he Bi shop of Puy and Raymond of Al t apul t o. The

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Bi shop at once expr essed hi s di sbel i ef of t he whol e st or y, andr ef used t o have anyt hi ng t o do i n t he mat t er . The Count of Toul ouse,on t he cont r ar y, saw abundant mot i ves, i f not f or bel i evi ng, f orpr et endi ng t o bel i eve; and, i n t he end, he so i mpr essed upon t hemi nd of t he Bi shop t he advant age t hat mi ght be der i ved f r om i t , i nworki ng up t he popul ar mi nd t o i t s f ormer exci t ement , t hat t hel at t er r el uct ant l y agr eed t o make sear ch i n due f or m f or t he hol yweapon. The day af t er t he mor r ow was f i xed upon f or t he cer emony,and, i n t he mean t i me, Pet er was consi gned t o t he care of Raymond,t he Count ' s chapl ai n, i n or der t hat no pr of ane cur i osi t y mi ght havean oppor t uni t y of cr oss- exami ni ng hi m, and put t i ng hi m t o a nonpl us.

Twel ve devout men wer e f or t hwi t h chosen f or t he undert aki ng,among whom were t he Count of Toul ouse and hi s chapl ai n. They begandi ggi ng at sunr i se, and cont i nued unwear i ed t i l l near sunset ,wi t hout f i ndi ng t he l ance; - - t hey mi ght have dug t i l l t hi s day wi t hno bet t er success, had not Pet er hi msel f spr ung i nt o t he pi t ,pr ayi ng t o God t o br i ng t he l ance t o l i ght , f or t he st r engt heni ng

and vi ct ory of hi s peopl e. Those who hi de know wher e t o f i nd; and soi t was wi t h Pet er , f or bot h he and t he l ance f ound t hei r way i nt ot he hol e at t he same t i me. On a sudden, he and Raymond, t hechapl ai n, behel d i t s poi nt i n t he ear t h, and Raymond, dr awi ng i tf or t h, ki ssed i t wi t h t ear s of j oy, i n si ght of t he mul t i t ude whi chhad assembl ed i n the chur ch. I t was i mmedi atel y envel oped i n a r i chpur pl e cl ot h, al r eady pr epar ed t o r ecei ve i t , and exhi bi t ed i n t hi sst at e t o t he f ai t hf ul , who made t he bui l di ng r esound wi t h t hei rshout s of gl adness.

Pet er had another vi si on t he same ni ght , and became f r om t hat

day f or t h "dr eamer of dr eams, " i n gener al , t o the army. He st ated ont he f ol l owi ng day, t hat t he Apost l e Andr ew and " t he yout h wi t h t hedi vi ne aspect " appear ed t o hi m agai n, and di r ect ed t hat t he Count of Toul ouse, as a r ewar d f or hi s persever i ng pi et y, shoul d car r y t heHol y Lance at t he head of t he ar my, and that t he day on whi ch i t wasf ound shoul d be observed as a sol emn f est i val t hr oughoutChr i st endom. St . Andr ew showed hi m, at t he same t i me, t he hol es i nt he f eet and hands of hi s beni gn compani on; and he became convi ncedt hat he st ood i n the awf ul presence of THE REDEEMER.

Pet er gai ned so much credi t by hi s vi si ons t hat dr eami ng became

cont agi ous. Ot her monks besi de hi msel f wer e vi si t ed by the sai nt s,who pr omi sed vi ct or y t o t he host i f i t woul d val i ant l y hol d out t ot he l ast , and crowns of et er nal gl or y to t hose who f el l i n t hef i ght . Two deser t er s, wear i ed of t he f at i gues and pr i vat i ons of t hewar , who had st eal t hi l y l ef t t he camp, suddenl y ret ur ned, andseeki ng Bohemund, t ol d hi m t hat t hey had been met by twoappar i t i ons, who, wi t h gr eat anger , had commanded t hem t o ret ur n. The one of t hem sai d, t hat he r ecogni zed hi s brot her , who had beenki l l ed i n bat t l e some mont hs bef or e, and t hat he had a hal o of gl or y

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ar ound hi s head. The ot her , st i l l mor e har dy, asser t ed t hat t heappar i t i on whi ch had spoken t o hi m was t he Savi our hi msel f , who hadpr omi sed et er nal happi ness as hi s r ewar d i f he r et ur ned t o hi s dut y,but t he pai ns of et er nal f i r e i f he r ej ect ed t he cr oss. No onet hought of di sbel i evi ng t hese men. The cour age of t he ar myi mmedi at el y r evi ved; despondency gave way t o hope; every ar m grewst r ong agai n, and t he pangs of hunger wer e f or a t i me di sr egarded. The enthusi asm whi ch had l ed t hem f r om Eur ope bur ned f or t h once mor eas br i ght l y as ever , and t hey demanded, wi t h l oud cr i es, t o be l edagai nst t he enemy. The l eader s wer e not unwi l l i ng. I n a bat t l e l ayt hei r onl y chance of sal vat i on; and al t hough Godf r ey, Bohemund, and Tancr ed r ecei ved t he st or y of t he l ance wi t h much suspi ci on, t heywer e too wi se t o t hr ow di scr edi t upon an i mpost ur e whi ch bade f ai rt o open t he gat es of vi ct or y.

Pet er t he Hermi t was pr evi ousl y sent t o t he camp of Kerbogha t opr opose t hat t he quarr el bet ween t he t wo r el i gi ons shoul d be deci dedby a chosen number of t he br avest sol di ers of each ar my. Kerbogha

t ur ned f r om hi m wi t h a l ook of cont empt , and sai d he coul d agr ee t ono pr oposal s f r om a set of such mi serabl e beggar s and robber s. Wi t ht hi s uncour t eous answer Pet er r et ur ned t o Ant i och. Pr epar at i ons wer ei mmedi at el y commenced f or an at t ack upon the enemy: t he l at t ercont i nued t o be per f ect l y wel l i nf or med of al l t he pr oceedi ngs oft he Chr i st i an camp. The ci t adel of Ant i och, whi ch r emai ned i n t hei rpossessi on, over l ooked t he t own, and t he commander of t he f or t r esscoul d di st i nct l y see al l t hat was passi ng wi t hi n. On t he mor ni ng oft he 28t h of J une 1098 a bl ack f l ag, hoi st ed f r om i t s hi ghest t ower ,announced t o t he besi egi ng ar my t hat t he Chr i st i ans wer e about t osal l y f or t h.

The Mosl em l eader s knew t he sad i nroads t hat f ami ne and di seasehad made upon t he number s of t he f oe: t hey knew t hat not above t wohundr ed of t he kni ght s had hor ses t o r i de upon, and that t he f ootsol di er s were si ck and emaci ated; but t hey di d not know t he al mosti ncredi bl e val our whi ch super st i t i on had i nf used i nt o thei r hear t s. The st or y of t he l ance t hey t r eat ed wi t h t he most supr eme cont empt ,and, secur e of an easy vi ct or y, t hey gave t hemsel ves no t r oubl e i npr epar i ng f or t he onsl aught . I t i s r el at ed t hat Ker bogha was pl ayi nga game at chess, when t he bl ack f l ag on t he ci t adel gave warni ng oft he enemy' s appr oach, and t hat , wi t h t r ue or i ent al cool ness, he

i nsi st ed upon f i ni shi ng t he game er e he best owed any of hi sat t ent i on upon a f oe so unwort hy. The def eat of hi s advanced post oft wo t housand men aroused hi m f r om hi s apathy.

The cr usader s, af t er t hi s f i r st vi ct or y, advanced j oyf ul l yt owards t he mount ai ns, hopi ng t o dr aw t he Tur ks t o a pl ace wheret hei r caval r y woul d be unabl e t o manoeuvr e. Thei r spi r i t s wer e l i ghtand t hei r cour age hi gh, as l ed on by t he Duke of Normandy, CountRober t of Fl ander s, and Hugh of Ver mandoi s, t hey came wi t hi n si ght

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of t he spl endi d camp of t he enemy. Godf r ey of Boui l l on and Adhemar ,Bi shop of Puy, f ol l owed i mmedi at el y af t er t hese l eader s, t he l at t ercl ad i n compl et e armour , and bear i ng t he Hol y Lance wi t hi n si ght oft he whol e army: Bohemund and Tancr ed brought up t he r ear .

Ker bogha, aware at l ast t hat hi s enemy was not so despi cabl e,t ook vi gorous measur es t o remedy hi s mi st ake, and, pr epar i ng hi msel ft o meet t he Chr i st i ans i n f r ont , he despat ched t he Sul t an Sol i man,of Roum, t o at t ack t hem i n t he rear . To conceal t hi s movement , heset f i r e t o t he dr i ed weeds and gr ass wi t h whi ch the gr ound wascover ed, and Sol i man, t aki ng a wi de ci r cui t wi t h hi s caval r y,succeeded, under cover of t he smoke, i n maki ng good hi s posi t i on i nt he r ear . The bat t l e r aged f ur i ousl y i n f r ont ; t he ar r ows of t he Turks f el l t hi ck as hai l , and t hei r wel l - t r ai ned squadrons t r od t hecrusader s under t hei r hoof s l i ke st ubbl e. St i l l t he af f r ay wasdoubt f ul ; f or t he Chr i st i ans had t he advant age of t he gr ound, andwere r api dl y gai ni ng upon t he enemy, when t he over whel mi ng f orces ofSol i man ar r i ved i n t he rear . Godf r ey and Tancr ed f l ew t o t he rescue

of Bohemund, spreadi ng di smay i n t he Tur ki sh r anks by t hei r f i er cei mpet uosi t y. The Bi shop of Puy was l ef t al most al one wi t h t heProvencal s t o oppose t he l egi ons commanded by Kerbogha i n person;but t he presence of t he Hol y Lance made a hero of t he meanestsol di er i n hi s t r ai n. St i l l , however , t he number s of t he enemyseemed i nt ermi nabl e. The Chr i st i ans, at t acked on ever y si de, beganat l ast t o gi ve way, and t he Tur ks made sur e of vi ct or y.

At t hi s moment a cr y was r ai sed i n t he Chr i st i an host t hat t hesai nt s wer e f i ght i ng on t hei r si de. The bat t l e- f i el d was cl ear oft he smoke f r om t he bur ni ng weeds, whi ch had cur l ed away, and hung i n

whi t e cl ouds of f ant ast i c shape on t he br ow of t he di st antmount ai ns. Some i magi nat i ve zeal ot , seei ng t hi s di ml y t hr ough t hedust of t he bat t l e, cal l ed out t o hi s f el l ows, t o l ook at t he ar myof sai nt s, cl ot hed i n whi t e, and r i di ng upon whi t e hor ses, t hat wer epour i ng over t he hi l l s t o t he rescue. Al l eyes wer e i mmedi at el yt ur ned t o t he di st ant smoke; f ai t h was i n ever y heart ; and t he ol dbat t l e- cry, God wi l l s i t ! God wi l l s i t ! r esounded t hr ough t he f i el d,as ever y sol di er , bel i evi ng t hat God was vi si bl y sendi ng Hi s armi est o hi s ai d, f ought wi t h an ener gy unf el t bef or e. A pani c sei zed t hePer si an and Tur ki sh host s, and t hey gave way i n al l di r ect i ons. I nvai n Ker bogha t r i ed t o ral l y t hem. Fear i s mor e cont agi ous t han

ent husi asm, and t hey f l ed over t he mount ai ns l i ke deer pur sued byt he hounds. The t wo l eader s, seei ng t he usel essness of f ur t heref f or t s, f l ed wi t h t he r est ; and t hat i mmense ar my was scat t er edover Pal est i ne, l eavi ng near l y sevent y thousand of i t s dead upon t hef i el d of bat t l e.

Thei r magni f i cent camp f el l i nt o t he hands of t he enemy, wi t hi t s r i ch st or es of cor n, and i t s dr oves of sheep and oxen. J ewel s,gol d, and r i ch vel vet s i n abundance wer e di st r i but ed among the ar my.

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Tancr ed f ol l owed t he f ugi t i ves over t he hi l l s, and r eaped as muchpl under as t hose who had remai ned i n the camp. The way, as t heyf l ed, was cover ed wi t h val uabl es, and hor ses of t he f i nest br eed ofAr abi a became so pl ent i f ul , t hat ever y kni ght of t he Chr i st i ans waspr ovi ded wi t h a st eed. The cr usader s, i n t hi s bat t l e, acknowl edge t ohave l ost near l y t en t housand men.

Thei r r et urn t o Ant i och was one of j oy i ndeed: t he ci t adel wassur r endered at once, and many of t he Tur ki sh gar r i son embr aced theChr i st i an f ai t h, and t he r est wer e suf f er ed t o depar t . A sol emnt hanksgi vi ng was of f er ed up by t he Bi shop of Puy, i n whi ch t he whol ear my j oi ned, and t he Hol y Lance was vi si t ed by ever y sol di er .

The ent husi asm l ast ed f or some days, and t he ar my l oudl ydemanded t o be l ed f or war d t o J er usal em, t he gr and goal of al l t hei rwi shes: but none of t hei r l eaders was anxi ous t o move; - - t he moreprudent among t hem, such as Godf r ey and Tancred, f or r easons ofexpedi ency; and the more ambi t i ous, such as t he Count of Toul ouse

and Bohemund, f or r easons of sel f - i nt er est . Vi ol ent di ssensi onsspr ang up agai n between al l t he chi ef s. Raymond of Toul ouse, who wasl ef t at Ant i och t o guard t he town, had summoned t he ci t adel t osur r ender , as soon as he saw t hat t her e was no f ear of any at t ackupon t he part of t he Per si ans; and t he ot her chi ef s f ound, upont hei r r et ur n, hi s banner wavi ng on i t s wal l s. Thi s had gi ven gr eatof f ence t o Bohemund, who had st i pul at ed t he pr i nci pal i t y of Ant i ochas hi s r ewar d f or wi nni ng t he t own i n t he f i r st i nst ance. Godf r eyand Tancr ed suppor t ed hi s cl ai m, and, af t er a gr eat deal ofbi cker i ng, t he f l ag of Raymond was l ower ed f r om t he t ower , and thatof Bohemund hoi st ed i n i t s st ead, who assumed f r om t hat t i me t he

t i t l e of Pr i nce of Ant i och. Raymond, however , per si st ed i n r et ai ni ngpossessi on of one of t he ci t y gat es and i t s adj acent t ower s, whi chhe hel d f or several mont hs, t o t he great annoyance of Bohemund andt he scandal of t he army. The Count became i n consequence ext r emel yunpopul ar , al t hough hi s ambi t i on was not a whi t more unr easonabl et han t hat of Bohemund hi msel f , nor of Bal dwi n, who had t aken up hi squar t er s at Edessa, wher e he exer ci sed t he f unct i ons of a pet t ysover ei gn.

The f at e of Pet er Bar t hel emy deser ves t o be r ecor ded. Honour sand consi der at i on had come t hi ck upon hi m af t er t he af f ai r of t he

l ance, and he consequent l y f el t bound i n consci ence t o cont i nue t hedreams whi ch had made hi m a per sonage of so much i mpor t ance. Themi schi ef of i t was, t hat l i ke many ot her l i ar s he had a ver y badmemory, and he cont r i ved t o make hi s dr eams cont r adi ct each ot her i nt he most pal pabl e manner . St . J ohn one ni ght appear ed t o hi m, andt ol d one t al e, whi l e, a week af t er , St . Paul t ol d a t ot al l ydi f f er ent st or y, and hel d out hopes qui t e i ncompat i bl e wi t h t hose ofhi s apost ol i c br ot her . The cr edul i t y of t hat age had a wi de maw, andPet er ' s vi si ons must have been absur d and out r ageous i ndeed, when

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t he very men who had bel i eved i n t he l ance r ef used t o swal l ow anymore of hi s wonders. Bohemund at l ast , f or t he pur pose of annoyi ngt he Count of Toul ouse, chal l enged poor Pet er t o pr ove t he t r ut h ofhi s st or y of t he l ance by t he f i er y or deal . Pet er coul d not r ef use at r i al so common i n t hat age, and bei ng besi des encour aged by t heCount and hi s chapl ai n, Raymond, an ear l y day was appoi nt ed f or t hecer emony. The pr evi ous ni ght was spent i n pr ayer and f ast i ng,accor di ng t o cust om, and Pet er came f or t h i n t he morni ng bear i ng t hel ance i n hi s hand, and wal ked bol dl y up t o t he f i r e. The whol e armygat her ed r ound, i mpat i ent f or t he r esul t , many t housands st i l lbel i evi ng t hat t he l ance was genui ne and Pet er a hol y man. Prayer shavi ng been sai d by Raymond d' Agi l l es, Pet er wal ked i nt o t he f l ames,and had got near l y thr ough, when pai n caused hi m t o l ose hi spr esence of mi nd: t he heat t oo af f ect ed hi s eyes, and, i n hi sangui sh, he t ur ned r ound unwi t t i ngl y, and passed t hr ough t he f i r eagai n, i nst ead of st eppi ng out of i t , as he shoul d have done. Ther esul t was, t hat he was bur ned so sever el y, t hat he never r ecover ed,and, af t er l i nger i ng f or some days, he expi r ed i n gr eat agony.

Most of t he sol di er s wer e suf f er i ng ei t her f r om wounds,di sease, or wear i ness, and i t was r esol ved by Godf r ey, - - t het aci t l y acknowl edged chi ef of t he ent er pr i ze, - - t hat t he ar myshoul d have t i me to ref r esh i t sel f er e they advanced upon J er usal em.I t was now J ul y, and he pr oposed t hat t hey shoul d pass t he hotmont hs of August and Sept ember wi t hi n t he wal l s of Ant i och, andmarch f orwar d i n Oct ober wi t h r enewed vi gour , and number s i ncreasedby f r esh ar r i val s f r om Eur ope. Thi s advi ce was f i nal l y adopt ed,al t hough t he ent husi ast s of t he ar my cont i nued t o mur mur at t hedel ay. I n t he mean t i me t he Count of Vermandoi s was sent upon an

embassy t o the Emper or Al exi us at Const ant i nopl e, t o r epr oach hi mf or hi s base desert i on of t he cause, and ur ge hi m t o send t her ei nf or cement s he had pr omi sed. The Count f ai t hf ul l y execut ed hi smi ssi on, ( of whi ch, by t he way, Al exi us t ook no not i ce what ever , )and r emai ned f or some t i me at Const ant i nopl e, t i l l hi s zeal , neverver y vi ol ent , t ot al l y evapor at ed. He t hen r et ur ned t o Fr ance, si ckof t he Cr usade, and det er mi ned to i nt er meddl e wi t h i t no more.

The chi ef s, t hough t hey had deter mi ned t o st ay at Ant i och f ort wo mont hs, coul d not r emai n qui et f or so l ong a t i me. They woul d,i n al l pr obabi l i t y, have f al l en upon each ot her , had t her e been no

Turks i n Pal est i ne upon whom t hey mi ght vent t hei r i mpetuosi t y.Godf r ey pr oceeded t o Edessa, t o ai d hi s br ot her Bal dwi n i n expel l i ngt he Sar acens f r om hi s pr i nci pal i t y, and t he ot her l eader s car r i ed onsepar at e host i l i t i es agai nst t hem as capr i ce or ambi t i on di ct at ed.At l engt h t he i mpat i ence of t he ar my t o be l ed agai nst J er usal embecame so gr eat t hat t he chi ef s coul d no l onger del ay, and Raymond, Tancr ed, and Rober t of Nor mandy mar ched f or war d wi t h t hei rdi vi si ons, and l ai d si ege t o t he smal l but st r ong t own of Mar ah.Wi t h t hei r usual i mpr ovi dence, t hey had not f ood enough t o l ast a

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bel eaguer i ng ar my f or a week. They suf f er ed gr eat pr i vat i ons i nconsequence, t i l l Bohemund came t o t hei r ai d and t ook t he t own byst or m. I n connexi on wi t h t hi s si ege, t he chr oni cl er , Raymondd' Agi l l es, ( t he same Raymond, t he chapl ai n, who f i gur ed i n t heaf f ai r of t he Hol y Lance, ) r el at es a l egend, i n t he t r ut h of whi chhe devout l y bel i eved, and upon whi ch Tasso has f ounded one of t hemost beaut i f ul passages of hi s poem. I t i s wor t h pr eser vi ng, asshowi ng t he spi r i t of t he age and t he sour ce of t he ext r aor di nar ycour age mani f est ed by t he crusader s on occasi ons of ext r emedi f f i cul t y. "One day, " says Raymond, "Ansel me de Ri beaumont behel dyoung Engel r am, t he son of t he Count de St . Paul , who had beenki l l ed at Mar sh, ent er hi s t ent . ' How i s i t , ' sai d Ansel me t o hi m,' t hat you, whom I saw l yi ng dead on t he f i el d of bat t l e, ar e f ul l ofl i f e ?' - - ' You must know, ' r epl i ed Engel r am, ' t hat t hose who f i ghtf or J esus Chr i st never di e. ' - - ' But whence, ' r esumed Ansel me,' comes t hat st r ange br i ght ness t hat sur r ounds you ?' Upon t hi sEngel r am poi nt ed t o t he sky, wher e Ansel me saw a pal ace of di amondand cryst al . ' I t i s t hence, ' sai d he, ' t hat I der i ve t he beaut y

whi ch sur pr i ses you. My dwel l i ng i s t her e; a st i l l f i ner one i spr epar ed f or you, and you shal l soon come t o i nhabi t i t . Far ewel l !we shal l meet agai n t o- morr ow. ' Wi t h t hese words Engel r am r et ur nedt o heaven. Ansel me, st r uck by t he vi si on, sent t he next mor ni ng f ort he pr i est s, r ecei ved t he sacrament ; and al t hough f ul l of heal t h,t ook a l ast f ar ewel l of al l hi s f r i ends, t el l i ng t hem t hat he wasabout t o l eave t hi s wor l d. A f ew hour s af t er wards, t he enemy havi ngmade a sor t i e, Ansel me went out agai nst t hem sword i n hand, and wasst r uck on t he f or ehead by a st one f r om a Tur ki sh sl i ng, whi ch senthi m t o heaven, t o the beaut i f ul pal ace t hat was pr epar ed f or hi m. "

New di sput es arose between t he Pr i nce of Ant i och and t he Countof Toul ouse wi t h r egar d t o t he capt ur e of t hi s t own, whi ch wer e wi t ht he ut most di f f i cul t y appeased by the ot her chi ef s. Del ays al so tookpl ace i n t he pr ogr ess of t he ar my, especi al l y bef or e Ar ches, and t hesol di er y were so exasper ated t hat t hey wer e on t he poi nt of choosi ngnew l eader s t o conduct t hem t o J er usal em. Godf r ey, upon t hi s, setf i r e t o hi s camp at Ar ches, and marched f orward. He was i mmedi at el y j oi ned by hundreds of t he Pr ovencal s of t he Count of Toul ouse. Thel at t er , seei ng t he t ur n af f ai r s wer e t aki ng, hast ened af t er t hem,and t he whol e host pr oceeded t owards t he hol y ci t y, so l ong desi r edami d sor r ow, and suf f er i ng, and danger . At Emmaus t hey were met by a

deput at i on f r om t he Chr i st i ans of Bet hl ehem, pr ayi ng f or i mmedi at eai d agai nst t he oppr essi on of t he i nf i del s. The ver y name ofBet hl ehem, t he bi r t hpl ace of t he Savi our , was musi c t o thei r ear s,and many of t hem wept wi t h j oy t o t hi nk t hey were appr oachi ng a spotso hal l owed. Al ber t of Ai x i nf or ms us t hat t hei r hear t s wer e sot ouched that sl eep was bani shed f r om t he camp, and t hat , i nst ead ofwai t i ng t i l l t he morni ng' s dawn t o recommence t hei r march, t hey setout shor t l y af t er mi dni ght , f ul l of hope and ent husi asm. For upwar dsof f our hour s t he mai l - cl ad l egi ons t r amped st eadf ast l y f or war d i n

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t he dark, and when t he sun arose i n uncl ouded spl endour , t he t owersand pi nnacl es of J er usal em gl eamed upon t hei r si ght . Al l t he t enderf eel i ngs of t hei r nat ur e wer e t ouched; no l onger br ut al f anat i cs,but meek and humbl e pi l gr i ms, t hey knel t down upon t he sod, and wi t ht ear s i n t hei r eyes, excl ai med t o one anot her , "J er usal em ! J er usal em! " Some of t hem ki ssed t he hol y ground, ot hers st r et chedt hemsel ves at f ul l l engt h upon i t , i n or der t hat t hei r bodi es mi ghtcome i n cont act wi t h t he gr eat est possi bl e ext ent of i t , and ot her sprayed al oud. The women and chi l dren who had f ol l owed t he camp f r omEur ope, and shar ed i n al l i t s danger s, f at i gues, and pr i vat i ons,wer e mor e boi st er ous i n t hei r j oy; t he f or mer f r om l ong- nour i shedent husi asm, and t he l at t er f r om mer e i mi t at i on, [ Gui ber t de Nogentr el at es a cur i ous i nst ance of t he i mi t at i veness of t hese j uveni l ecr usader s. He says t hat , dur i ng t he si ege of Ant i och, t he Chr i st i anand Saracen boys used t o i ssue f or t h every eveni ng f r om t he t own andcamp i n gr eat number s under t he command of capt ai ns chosen f r omamong t hemsel ves. Ar med wi t h st i cks i nst ead of swords, and st onesi nst ead of ar r ows, t hey ranged t hemsel ves i n bat t l e or der , and

shout i ng each t he war - cr y of t hei r count r y, f ought wi t h t he ut mostdesper at i on. Some of t hem l ost t hei r eyes, and many became cr i ppl esf or l i f e f r om t he i nj ur i es t hey recei ved on t hese occasi ons. ] andpr ayed, and wept , and l aughed t i l l t hey al most put t he more sober t ot he bl ush.

The f i r st ebul l i t i on of t hei r gl adness havi ng subsi ded, t hearmy marched f orward, and i nvest ed t he ci t y on al l si des. Theassaul t was al most i mmedi atel y begun; but af t er t he Chr i st i ans hadl ost some of t hei r br avest kni ght s, t hat mode of at t ack wasabandoned, and t he army commenced i t s pr eparat i ons f or a regul ar

si ege. Mangonel s, moveabl e t owers, and bat t er i ng r ams, t oget her wi t ha machi ne cal l ed a sow, made of wood, and cover ed wi t h raw hi des,i nsi de of whi ch mi ner s worked t o under mi ne t he wal l s, wer e f or t hwi t hconst r uct ed; and t o r est or e t he cour age and di sci pl i ne of t he ar my,whi ch had suf f er ed f r om t he unwor t hy di ssensi ons of t he chi ef s, t hel at t er hel d out t he hand of f r i endshi p t o each ot her , and Tancr edand t he Count of Toul ouse embraced i n si ght of t he whol e camp. Thecl er gy ai ded t he cause wi t h t hei r power f ul voi ce, and pr eached uni onand goodwi l l t o t he hi ghest and t he l owest . A sol emn pr ocessi on wasal so or der ed r ound t he ci t y, i n whi ch t he ent i r e ar my j oi ned,pr ayer s bei ng of f er ed up at ever y spot whi ch gospel r ecords had

t aught t hem t o consi der as pecul i ar l y sacred.

The Saracens upon t he r ampar t s behel d al l t hese mani f est at i onswi t hout al arm. To i ncense t he Chr i st i ans, whom t hey despi sed, t heyconst r uct ed r ude cr osses, and f i xed t hem upon t he wal l s, and spatupon and pel t ed t hem wi t h di r t and st ones. Thi s i nsul t t o t he symbolof t hei r f ai t h r ai sed t he wr at h of t he crusader s t o t hat hei ght t hatbr avery became f eroci t y and ent husi asm madness. When al l t he engi nesof war were compl et ed t he at t ack was r ecommenced, and ever y sol di er

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of t he Chr i st i an ar my f ought wi t h a vi gour whi ch t he sense ofpr i vat e wr ong i nvar i abl y i nspi r es. Ever y man had been per sonal l yout r aged, and t he kni ght s worked at t he bat t er i ng- r ams wi t h as muchr eadi ness as t he meanest sol di ers. The Saracen arr ows and bal l s off i r e f el l t hi ck and f ast among t hem, but t he t r emendous r ams st i l lheaved agai nst t he wal l s, whi l e the best marksmen of t he host werebusi l y empl oyed i n t he sever al f l oor s of t he moveabl e t ower s i ndeal i ng deat h among t he Tur ks upon t he bat t l ement s. Godf r ey,Raymond, Tancr ed, and Rober t of Normandy, each upon hi s t ower ,f ought f or hour s wi t h unwear i ed ener gy, of t en r epul sed, but everr eady t o renew t he st r uggl e. The Tur ks, no l onger despi si ng t heenemy, def ended t hemsel ves wi t h the ut most ski l l and br aver y t i l ldar kness br ought a cessat i on of host i l i t i es. Shor t was t he sl eept hat ni ght i n t he. Chr i st i an camp. The pr i est s of f er ed up sol emnpr ayer s i n t he mi dst of t he at t ent i ve sol di er y f or t he t r i umph oft he Cr oss i n t hi s l ast gr eat st r uggl e, and as soon as morni ng dawnedever y one was i n readi ness f or t he af f r ay. The women and chi l dr enl ent t hei r ai d, t he l at t er r unni ng unconcer ned t o and f r o whi l e t he

ar r ows f el l f ast ar ound t hem, bear i ng wat er t o t he t hi r st ycombat ant s. The sai nt s wer e bel i eved t o be ai di ng t hei r ef f or t s, andt he ar my, i mpr essed wi t h t hi s i dea, sur mount ed di f f i cul t i es underwhi ch a f or ce t hr i ce as numer ous, but wi t hout t hei r f ai t h, woul dhave quai l ed and been def eat ed. Raymond of Toul ouse at l ast f orcedhi s way i nt o t he ci t y by escal ade, whi l e at t he very same moment Tancr ed and Rober t of Nor mandy succeeded i n bur st i ng open one of t hegat es. The Tur ks f l ew t o repai r t he mi schi ef , and Godf r ey ofBoui l l on, seei ng t he bat t l ement s compar at i vel y deser t ed, l et downt he dr awbr i dge of hi s moveabl e t ower , and sprang f orward, f ol l owedby al l t he kni ght s of hi s t r ai n. I n an i nst ant af t er , t he banner of

t he Cr oss f l oat ed upon t he wal l s of J er usal em. The cr usader s,r ai si ng once mor e t hei r r edoubt abl e war - cr y, r ushed on f r om ever ysi de, and t he ci t y was t aken. The bat t l e r aged i n t he st r eet s f orsever al hour s, and t he Chr i st i ans, r emember i ng t hei r i nsul t ed f ai t h,gave no quart er t o young or ol d, mal e or f emal e, si ck or st r ong. Notone of t he l eader s t hought hi msel f at l i ber t y t o i ssue or der s f orst ayi ng the car nage, and i f he had, he woul d not have been obeyed. The Saracens f l ed i n great numbers t o t he mosque of Sol i man, butt hey had not t i me t o f or t i f y themsel ves wi t hi n i t er e t he Chr i st i answere upon t hem. Ten t housand per sons are sai d t o have per i shed i nt hat bui l di ng al one.

Pet er t he Hermi t , who had r emai ned so l ong under t he vei l ofnegl ect , was r epai d t hat day f or al l hi s zeal and al l hi ssuf f er i ngs. As soon as t he bat t l e was over , t he Chr i st i ans of J er usal em i ssued f or t h f r om t hei r hi di ng- pl aces t o wel come t hei rdel i ver er s. They i nst ant l y recogni zed t he Her mi t as t he pi l gr i m who,years bef ore, had spoken t o t hem so el oquent l y of t he wr ongs andi nsul t s t hey had endur ed, and pr omi sed t o st i r up t he pr i nces andpeopl e of Eur ope i n t hei r behal f . They cl ung t o t he ski r t s of hi s

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garment s i n t he f er vour of t hei r gr at i t ude, and vowed t o r ememberhi m f or ever i n t hei r pr ayer s. Many of t hem shed t ear s about hi sneck, and at t r i but ed t he del i ver ance of J er usal em sol el y t o hi scour age and per sever ance. Pet er af t er war ds hel d some eccl esi ast i calof f i ce i n t he Hol y Ci t y, but what i t was, or what was hi s ul t i mat ef at e, hi st or y has f or got t en t o i nf or m us. Some say t hat he r et ur nedt o France and f ounded a monast ery, but t he st ory does not r est uponsuf f i ci ent aut hor i t y.

The gr and obj ect f or whi ch t he popul ar swar ms of Eur ope hadf or saken t hei r homes was now accompl i shed. The Mosl em mosques of J er usal em wer e conver t ed i nt o chur ches f or a pur er f ai t h, and t hemount of Cal var y and the sepul chr e of Chr i st wer e pr of aned no l ongerby the pr esence or t he power of t he i nf i del . Popul ar f r enzy hadf ul f i l l ed i t s mi ssi on, and, as a nat ur al consequence, i t began t osubsi de f r om t hat t i me f or t h. The news of t he capt ur e of J er usal embr ought number s of pi l gr i ms f r om Eur ope, and, among ot her s, St ephenCount of Chart r es and Hugh of Ver mandoi s, t o at one f or t hei r

desert i on; but not hi ng l i ke t he f or mer ent husi asm exi st ed among t henat i ons.

Thus t hen ends t he hi st or y of t he f i r st Cr usade. For t he bet t erunder st andi ng of t he second, i t wi l l be necessary t o descr i be t hei nt er val bet ween t hem, and t o ent er i nt o a sl i ght sket ch of t hehi st or y of J er usal em under i t s Lat i n ki ngs, t he l ong and f r ui t l esswars t hey cont i nued t o wage wi t h t he unvanqui shed Sar acens, and t hepoor and mi serabl e resul t s whi ch spr ang f r om so vast an expendi t ur eof zeal , and so depl or abl e a wast e of human l i f e.

The necess i t y of havi ng some r ecogni zed chi ef was soon f el t byt he cr usader s, and Godf r ey de Boui l l on, l ess ambi t i ous t hanBohemund, or Raymond of Toul ouse, gave hi s col d consent t o wi el d ascept r e whi ch t he l at t er chi ef s woul d have cl ut ched wi t h eager ness.He was hardl y i nvest ed wi t h the royal mant l e bef ore t he Saracensmenaced hi s capi t al . Wi t h much vi gour and j udgment he exer t edhi msel f t o f ol l ow up t he advant ages he had gai ned, and marchi ng outt o meet t he enemy bef ore t hey had t i me t o besi ege hi m i n J erusal em,he gave t hem bat t l e at Ascal on, and def eat ed t hem wi t h gr eat l oss.He di d not , however , l i ve l ong t o enj oy hi s new di gni t y, bei ngsei zed wi t h a f at al i l l ness when he had onl y rei gned ni ne mont hs. To

hi m succeeded hi s brot her , Bal dwi n of Edessa. The l at t er monar ch di dmuch t o i mpr ove t he condi t i on of J er usal em and t o extend i t st er r i t or y, but was not abl e t o make a f i r m f oot i ng f or hi ssuccessor s. For f i f t y year s, i n whi ch t he hi st or y of J er usal em i sf ul l of i nt er est t o t he hi st or i cal st udent , t he crusader s wer eexposed t o f i er ce and const ant host i l i t i es, of t en gai ni ng bat t l esand t er r i t ory, and as of t en l osi ng t hem, but becomi ng ever y dayweaker and mor e di vi ded, whi l e t he Sar acens became st r onger and mor euni t ed t o har ass and r oot t hem out . The bat t l es of t hi s per i od wer e

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of t he most chi val r ous char acter , and deeds of her oi sm wer e done byt he handf ul of br ave kni ght s t hat r emai ned i n Syr i a, whi ch havehar dl y t hei r par al l el i n t he annal s of war . I n t he cour se of t i me,however , t he Chr i st i ans coul d not avoi d f eel i ng some r espect f or t hecour age, and admi r at i on f or t he pol i shed manners and advancedci vi l i zat i on of t he Sar acens, so much super i or t o t he rudeness andsemi - bar bar i sm of Eur ope at t hat day. Di f f er ence of f ai t h di d notpr event t hem f r om f or mi ng al l i ances wi t h t he dar k- eyed mai dens oft he East . One of t he f i r st t o set t he exampl e of t aki ng a Payni mspouse was Ki ng Bal dwi n hi msel f , and t hese connexi ons i n t i mebecame, not onl y f r equent , but al most uni ver sal , among such of t hekni ght s as had r esol ved t o spend t hei r l i ves i n Pal est i ne. TheseEast er n l adi es wer e obl i ged, however , t o submi t t o t he cer emony ofbapt i sm bef or e t hey coul d be r ecei ved t o t he ar ms of a Chr i st i anl or d. These, and t hei r of f spr i ng, nat ur al l y l ooked upon t he Sar acenswi t h l ess hat r ed t han di d t he zeal ot s who conquer ed J er usal em, andwho t hought i t a si n deservi ng t he wr ath of God t o spare anunbel i ever . We f i nd, i n consequence, t hat t he most obst i nat e bat t l es

waged dur i ng t he rei gns of t he l at er Ki ngs of J er usal em wer e f oughtby t he new and r aw l evi es who f r om t i me t o t i me arr i ved f r om Eur ope,l ur ed by t he hope of gl or y, or spur r ed by f anat i ci sm. The l at t erbr oke wi t hout scr upl e t he t r uces est abl i shed bet ween the or i gi nalset t l er s and t he Saracens, and dr ew down sever e r et al i at i on uponmany t housands of t hei r br et hr en i n t he f ai t h, whose pr udence wasst r onger t han t hei r zeal , and whose chi ef desi r e was t o l i ve i npeace.

Thi ngs r emai ned i n t hi s unsat i sf act or y st at e t i l l t he cl ose oft he year 1145, when Edessa, t he st r ong f r ont i er t own of t he

Chr i st i an ki ngdom, f el l i nt o the bauds of t he Sar acens. The l at t erwere commanded by Zenghi , a power f ul and enterpr i si ng monarch, and,af t er hi s deat h, by hi s son Nour heddi n, as power f ul and ent er pr i si ngas hi s f at her . An unsuccessf ul at t empt was made by t he Count ofEdessa t o r egai n t he f or t r ess, but Nour heddi n, wi t h a l ar ge ar my,came t o t he r escue, and af t er def eat i ng t he Count wi t h gr eatsl aught er , mar ched i nt o Edessa and caused i t s f or t i f i cat i ons t o ber ased t o t he gr ound, t hat t he t own mi ght never more be a bul wark ofdef ence f or t he ki ngdom of J er usal em. The r oad t o t he capi t al wasnow open, and const er nat i on sei zed t he hear t s of t he Chr i st i ans.Nour heddi n, i t was known, was onl y wai t i ng f or a f avour abl e

opport uni t y t o advance upon J er usal em, and t he armi es of t he Cr oss,weakened and di vi ded, were not i n a condi t i on t o make any avai l abl er esi st ance. The cl er gy wer e f i l l ed wi t h gr i ef and al ar m, and wr ot er epeat ed l et t er s t o the Pope and t he sover ei gns of Eur ope, ur gi ngt he expedi ency of a new Cr usade f or t he r el i ef of J er usal em. By f art he gr eat er number of t he pr i est s of Pal est i ne wer e nat i ves ofFrance, and t hese nat ur al l y l ooked f i r st t o t hei r own count r y. Thesol i ci t at i ons t hey sent t o Loui s t he Sevent h wer e ur gent and of tr epeated, and t he chi val r y of Fr ance began t o tal k once more of

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ar mi ng i n t he def ence of t he bi r t hpl ace of J esus. The ki ngs ofEur ope, whose i nt er est i t had not been t o t ake any par t i n t he f i r stCr usade, began t o best i r t hemsel ves i n thi s; and a man appeared,el oquent as Pet er t he Her mi t , t o ar ouse t he peopl e as he had done.

We f i nd, however , t hat t he ent husi asm of t he second di d notequal t hat of t he f i r st Cr usade: i n f act , t he mani a had r eached i t scl i max i n t he t i me of Pet er t he Her mi t , and decr eased r egul ar l y f r omt hat per i od. The t hi r d Cr usade was l ess gener al t han t he second, andt he f our t h t han t he t hi r d, and so on, unt i l t he publ i c ent husi asmwas qui t e ext i nct , and J er usal em r et ur ned at l ast t o t he domi ni on ofi t s ol d mast er s wi t hout a convul si on i n Chr i st endom. Var i ous r easonshave been assi gned f or t hi s; and one ver y gener al l y put f or war d i s,t hat Eur ope was wear i ed wi t h cont i nued st r uggl es, and had becomesi ck of "pr eci pi t at i ng i t sel f upon Asi a. " M. Gui zot , i n hi sadmi r abl e l ect ur es upon Eur opean ci vi l i zat i on, successf ul l y combat st hi s opi ni on, and of f er s one of hi s own, whi ch i s f ar mor esat i sf act or y. He says, i n hi s ei ght h l ect ur e, "I t has been of t en

r epeat ed, t hat Eur ope was t i r ed of cont i nual l y i nvadi ng Asi a. Thi sexpr essi on appear s t o me exceedi ngl y i ncor r ect . I t i s not possi bl et hat human bei ngs can be wear i ed wi t h what t hey have not done - -t hat t he l abour s of t hei r f or ef at her s can f at i gue t hem. Wear i ness i sa per sonal , not an i nher i t ed f eel i ng. The men of t he t hi r t eent hcent ur y wer e not f at i gued by t he Cr usades of t he twel f t h. They wer ei nf l uenced by another cause. A gr eat change had t aken pl ace i ni deas, sent i ment s, and soci al condi t i ons. The same desi r es and t hesame want s were no l onger f el t . The same thi ngs were no l ongerbel i eved. The peopl e ref used t o bel i eve what t hei r ancest or s wer eper suaded of . "

Thi s i s, i n f act , t he secr et of t he change; and i t s t r ut hbecomes mor e apparent as we advance i n t he hi st ory of t he Cr usades,and compar e the st at e of t he publ i c mi nd at t he di f f er ent per i odswhen Godf r ey of Boui l l on, Loui s VI I . and Ri char d I . wer e chi ef s andl eaders of t he movement . The Cr usades t hemsel ves wer e t he means ofoper at i ng a gr eat change i n nat i onal i deas, and advanci ng theci vi l i zat i on of Eur ope. I n t he t i me of Godf r ey, t he nobl es wer e al l -power f ul and al l - oppr essi ve, and equal l y obnoxi ous t o ki ngs andpeopl e. Dur i ng t hei r absence al ong wi t h t hat por t i on of t hecommuni t y t he deepest sunk i n i gnorance and super st i t i on, both ki ngs

and peopl e f or t i f i ed t hemsel ves agai nst t he r enewal of ar i st ocrat i ct yr anny, and i n pr opor t i on as t hey became f r ee, became ci vl i i zed. I twas dur i ng t hi s per i od t hat i n France, t he gr and cent r e of t hecr usadi ng madness , t he communes began t o acqui r e st r ength, and t hemonar ch t o possess a t angi bl e and not a mer el y t heoret i c aut hor i t y.Or der and comf or t began to t ake r oot , and, when the second Cr usadewas pr eached, men were i n consequence much l ess wi l l i ng t o abandont hei r homes t han t hey had been dur i ng t he f i r st . Such pi l gr i ms ashad r etur ned f r om t he Hol y Land came back wi t h mi nds more l i beral

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and expanded t han when they set out . They had come i n cont act wi t h apeopl e more ci vi l i zed t han t hemsel ves; t hey had seen somethi ng moreof t he wor l d, and had l ost some por t i on, however smal l , of t hepr ej udi ce and bi got r y of i gnor ance. The i nst i t ut i on of chi val r y hadal so exer ci sed i t s humani zi ng i nf l uence, and comi ng br i ght and f r esht hr ough t he or deal of t he Cr usades, had sof t ened t he character andi mpr oved t he hear t s of t he ar i st ocr at i c or der . The Tr ouver es and Tr oubadour s, si ngi ng of l ove and war i n st r ai ns pl easi ng t o everycl ass of soci et y, hel ped t o r oot out t he gl oomy super st i t i ons whi ch,at t he f i r st Cr usade, f i l l ed t he mi nds of al l t hose who wer e abl e t ot hi nk. Men became i n consequence l ess excl usi vel y under t he ment alt hr al dom of t he pr i est hood, and l ost much of t he cr edul i t y whi chf or mer l y di st i ngui shed t hem.

The Cr usades appear never t o have exci t ed so much at t ent i on i nEngl and as on t he cont i nent of Eur ope; not because t he peopl e werel ess f anat i cal t han t hei r nei ghbour s, but because t hey wer e occupi edi n mat t er s of gr aver i nt er est . The Engl i sh wer e suf f er i ng t oo

sever el y f r om t he r ecent successf ul i nvasi on of t hei r soi l , t o havemuch sympat hy t o best ow upon t he di st r esses of peopl e so f ar away ast he Chr i st i ans of Pal est i ne; and we f i nd t hat t hey t ook no par t i nt he f i r st Cr usade, and ver y l i t t l e i n t he second. Even t hen t hosewho engaged i n i t wer e chi ef l y Norman kni ght s and t hei r vassal s, andnot t he Saxon f r ankl i ns and popul at i on, who no doubt t hought , i nt hei r sor r ow, as many wi se men have t hought si nce, t hat char i t yshoul d begi n at home.

Germany was product i ve of more zeal i n t he cause, and her r aw,unci vi l i zed hor des cont i nued t o i ssue f or t h under t he banner s of t he

Cr oss i n numbers apparent l y undi mi ni shed, when t he ent husi asm hadl ong been on t he wane i n ot her count r i es. They were sunk at t hatt i me i n a deeper sl ough of bar bar i sm t han t he l i vel i er nat i onsaround t hem, and t ook, i n consequence, a l onger per i od t o f r eet hemsel ves f r om t hei r pr ej udi ces. I n f act , t he second Cr usade dr ewi t s chi ef suppl i es of men f r om t hat quar t er , wher e al one t heexpedi t i on can be sai d t o have r et ai ned any por t i on of popul ar i t y.

Such was t he st at e of t he mi nd of Eur ope when Pope Eugeni us,moved by t he r ei t er at ed ent r eat i es of t he Chr i st i ans of Syr i a,commi ss i oned St . Bernar d t o pr each a new cr usade. St . Bernar d was a

man emi nent l y qual i f i ed f or t he mi ss i on. He was endowed wi t h anel oquence of t he hi ghest or der , coul d move an audi t or y t o tear s, orl aught er , or f ur y, as i t pl eased hi m, and had l ed a l i f e of suchr i gi d and sel f - denyi ng vi r t ue, t hat not even cal umny coul d l i f t herf i nger and poi nt i t at hi m. He had r enounced hi gh pr ospect s i n t hechur ch, and cont ent ed hi msel f wi t h t he si mpl e abbacy of Cl ai r vaux,i n or der t hat he mi ght have t he l ei sur e he desi r ed, t o r ai se hi spowerf ul voi ce agai nst abuses wherever he f ound them. Vi ce met i nhi m an aust ere and uncompr omi si ng repr over ; no man was t oo hi gh f or

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hi s r epr oach, and none t oo l ow f or hi s sympathy. He was j ust as wel lsui t ed f or hi s age as Pet er t he Her mi t had been f or t he agepr ecedi ng. He appeal ed more t o t he reason, hi s pr edecessor t o t hepassi ons; Pet er t he Her mi t col l ect ed a mob, whi l e St . Ber nar dcol l ect ed an army. Bot h were endowed wi t h equal zeal andper sever ance, spr i ngi ng, i n t he one, f r om i mpul se, and i n t he ot herf r om convi ct i on, and a desi r e t o i ncrease t he i nf l uence of t hechur ch, t hat gr eat body of whi ch he was a pi l l ar and an ornament .

One of t he f i r st conver t s he made was i n hi msel f a host . Loui sVI I . was bot h super st i t i ous and t yr anni cal , and, i n a f i t of r emor sef or t he i nf amous sl aught er he had aut hor i sed at t he sacki ng ofVi t r y, he made a vow t o undert ake t he j our ney t o the Hol y Land. [ Thesacki ng of Vi t r y r ef l ect s i ndel i bl e di sgr ace upon Loui s VI I . Hi spr edecessors had been l ong engaged i n r esi st ance to t he out r ageouspowers assumed by t he Popes, and Loui s cont i nued t he same pol i cy. The eccl esi ast i cal chapt er of Bourges, havi ng el ect ed an Ar chbi shopwi t hout hi s consent , he pr ocl ai med t he el ect i on t o be i nval i d, and

t ook sever e and pr ompt measur es agai nst t he r ef r act ory cl er gy. Thi baul t , Count de Champagne, t ook up ar ms i n def ence of t he Papalaut hor i t y, and i nt r enched hi msel f i n t he t own of Vi t r y. Loui s wasi mmedi at el y i n t he f i el d t o chast i se t he rebel , and he besi eged t het own wi t h so much vi gour , t hat t he Count was f orced to sur r ender .Upwar ds of t hi r t een hundr ed of t he i nhabi t ant s, f ul l y one hal f ofwhom were women and chi l dren, t ook r ef uge i n t he chur ch; and, whent he gat es of t he ci t y wer e opened, and al l r esi st ance had ceased,Loui s i nhumanl y gave or der s t o set f i r e t o the chur ch, and at housand per sons per i shed i n t he f l ames. ] He was i n thi s di sposi t i onwhen St . Bernard began t o pr each, and want ed but l i t t l e per suasi on

t o embark i n t he cause. Hi s exampl e had gr eat i nf l uence upon t henobi l i t y, who, i mpover i shed as many of t hem wer e by the sacr i f i cesmade by t hei r f at her s i n t he hol y war s, wer e anxi ous t o repai r t hei rr ui ned f or t unes by conquest s on a f orei gn shor e. These took t hef i el d wi t h such vassal s as t hey coul d command, and, i n a ver y shortt i me, an ar my was r ai sed amount i ng t o t wo hundred t housand men. AtVezel ai t he monar ch r ecei ved t he cr oss f r om t he hands of St .Ber nar d, on a pl at f or m el evat ed i n si ght of al l t he peopl e. Sever alnobl es, t hr ee bi shops, and hi s Queen, El eanor of Aqui t ai ne, wer epr esent at t hi s cer emony, and enr ol l ed t hemsel ves under t he banner sof t he Cr oss, St . Ber nar d cut t i ng up hi s r ed sacer dot al vest ment s,

and maki ng cr osses of t hem, t o be sewn on t he shoul ders of t hepeopl e. An exhor t at i on f r om t he Pope was r ead t o the mul t i t ude,gr ant i ng r emi ssi on of t hei r si ns t o al l who shoul d j oi n t he Cr usade,and di r ect i ng t hat no man on t hat hol y pi l gr i mage shoul d encumberhi msel f wi t h heavy baggage and vai n super f l ui t i es, and t hat t henobl es shoul d not t r avel wi t h dogs or f al cons, t o l ead t hem f r om t hedi r ect r oad, as had happened t o so many dur i ng t he f i r st Cr usade.

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The command of t he ar my was of f er ed t o St . Ber nard; but hewi sel y r ef used t o accept a st at i on f or whi ch hi s habi t s hadunqual i f i ed hi m. Af t er consecrat i ng Loui s wi t h gr eat sol emni t y, atSt . Deni s, as chi ef of t he expedi t i on, he cont i nued hi s cour set hr ough t he count r y, st i r r i ng up t he peopl e wher ever he went . Sohi gh an opi ni on was ent er t ai ned of hi s sanct i t y, t hat he was t houghtt o be ani mated by the spi r i t of pr ophecy, and t o be gi f t ed wi t h t hepower of worki ng mi r acl es. Many women, exci t ed by hi s el oquence, andencour aged by hi s predi ct i ons, f or sook t hei r husbands and chi l dr en,and, cl ot hi ng t hemsel ves i n mal e at t i r e, hast ened t o t he war . St .Ber nar d hi msel f wr ot e a l et t er t o the Pope, det ai l i ng hi s success,and st at i ng, t hat i n sever al t owns t her e di d not r emai n a si ngl emal e i nhabi t ant capabl e of bear i ng arms, and t hat ever ywher e cast l esand t owns were to be seen f i l l ed wi t h women weepi ng f or t hei r absenthusbands. But i n spi t e of t hi s apparent ent husi asm, t he number s whor eal l y t ook up arms wer e i nconsi der abl e, and not t o be compared t ot he swarms of t he f i r st Cr usade. A l evy of no more t han t wo hundr edt housand men, whi ch was t he ut most t he number amount ed t o, coul d

hardl y have depopul ated a count r y l i ke Fr ance t o t he ext entment i oned by St . Ber nar d. Hi s descr i pt i on of t he st at e of t hecount r y appears, t heref ore, t o have been much more poet i cal t hant rue.

Suger , t he abl e mi ni st er of Loui s, endeavour ed t o di ssuade hi mf r om undert aki ng so l ong a j our ney at a t i me when hi s own domi ni onsso much needed hi s presence. But t he ki ng was pr i cked i n hi sconsci ence by t he cr uel t i es of Vi t r y, and was anxi ous t o make t heonl y r epar at i on whi ch t he r el i gi on of t hat day consi der edsuf f i ci ent . He was desi r ous mor eover of t est i f yi ng t o t he wor l d,

t hat t hough he coul d br ave t he t emporal power of t he chur ch when i tencr oached upon hi s prer ogat i ves, he coul d r ender al l due obedi encet o i t s spi r i t ual decrees whenever i t sui t ed hi s i nt er est or t al l i edwi t h hi s pr ej udi ces t o so do. Suger , t her ef or e, i mpl or ed i n vai n,and Loui s r ecei ved t he pi l gr i m' s st af f at St . Deni s, and made al lpr epar at i ons f or hi s pi l gr i mage.

I n the mean t i me St . Bernar d passed i nt o Germany, where si mi l arsuccess at t ended hi s preachi ng. The r enown of hi s sanct i t y had gonebef ore hi m, and he f ound everywher e an admi r i ng audi ence. Thousandsof peopl e, who coul d not under st and a word he sai d, f l ocked ar ound

hi m t o cat ch a gl i mpse of so hol y a man; and t he kni ght s enr ol l edt hemsel ves i n gr eat number s i n t he servi ce of t he Cr oss, eachr ecei vi ng f r om hi s hands t he symbol of t he cause. But t he peopl ewer e not l ed away as i n t he days of Got t schal k. We do not f i nd t hatt hey r ose i n such t r emendous masses of t wo and t hree hundredt housand men, swarmi ng over t he count r y l i ke a pl ague of l ocust s.St i l l t he ent husi asm was ver y gr eat . The ext r aor di nar y t al es t hatwer e t ol d and bel i eved of t he mi r acl es worked by t he pr eacherbr ought t he count r y peopl e f r om f ar and near . Devi l s wer e sai d t o

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vani sh at hi s si ght , and di seases of t he most mal i gnant nat ur e t o becur ed by hi s t ouch. [ Phi l i p, Ar chdeacon of t he cat hedr al of Li ege,wr ot e a det ai l ed account of al l t he mi r acl es per f or med by St .Ber nar d dur i ng t hi r t y- f our days of hi s mi ssi on. They aver aged aboutt en per day. The di sci pl es of St . Ber nar d compl ai ned bi t t er l y t hatt he peopl e f l ocked around t hei r mast er i n such number s, t hat t heycoul d not see hal f t he mi r acl es he per f or med. But t hey wi l l i ngl yt r ust ed t he eyes of ot her s, as f ar as f ai t h i n t he mi r acl es went ,and seemed t o vi e wi t h each ot her whose credul i t y shoul d begr eat est . ] The Emper or Conr ad caught at l ast t he cont agi on f r om hi ssubj ect s, and decl ar ed hi s i nt ent i on t o f ol l ow t he Cr oss.

The pr epar at i ons wer e car r i ed on so vi gorousl y under t he or dersof Conr ad, t hat i n l ess t han t hr ee mont hs he f ound hi msel f at t hehead of an army cont ai ni ng at l east one hundr ed and f i f t y t housandef f ect i ve men, besi des a gr eat number of women who f ol l owed t hei rhusbands and l over s t o the war . One t r oop of t hem r ode i n t heat t i t ude and ar mour of men: t hei r chi ef wor e gi l t spur s and buski ns,

and t hence acqui r ed t he epi t het of t he gol den- f oot ed l ady. Conr adwas r eady t o set out l ong bef ore t he Fr ench Monarch, and i n t hemont h of J une 1147, he ar r i ved bef ore Const ant i nopl e, havi ng passedt hr ough Hungar y and Bul gar i a wi t hout of f ence t o t he i nhabi t ant s.

Manuel Comnenus, t he Gr eek Emper or , successor not onl y t o t het hr one, but t o t he pol i cy of Al exi us, l ooked wi t h al ar m upon t he newl evi es who had come t o eat up hi s capi t al and i mper i l i t st r anqui l l i t y. Too weak t o r ef use t hem a passage t hr ough hi sdomi ni ons, t oo di st r ust f ul of t hem t o make t hem wel come when t heycame, and t oo l i t t l e assur ed of t he advant ages l i kel y to r esul t t o

hi msel f f r om t he war , t o f ei gn a f r i endshi p whi ch he di d not f eel ,t he Gr eek Emper or gave of f ence at t he ver y out set . Hi s subj ect s, i nt he pr i de of super i or ci vi l i zat i on, cal l ed t he Ger mans bar bar i ans,whi l e t he l at t er , who, i f semi - bar bar ous, wer e at l east honest andst r ai ght - f or war d, r et or t ed upon t he Gr eeks by cal l i ng t hem doubl e-f aced knaves and t r ai t or s. Di sput es cont i nual l y ar ose bet ween t hem,and Conr ad, who had pr eser ved so much good or der among hi s f ol l owersdur i ng t hei r passage, was unabl e t o rest r ai n t hei r i ndi gnat i on whent hey ar r i ved at Const ant i nopl e. For some of f ence or ot her whi ch t heGr eeks had gi ven t hem, but whi ch i s r ather hi nt ed at t han st ated byt he scant y hi st or i ans of t he day, t he Ger mans broke i nt o t he

magni f i cent pl easur e garden of t he Emperor , where he had a val uabl ecol l ect i on of t ame ani mal s, f or whi ch t he gr ounds had been l ai d outi n woods, caver ns, gr oves, and st r eams, t hat each mi ght f ol l ow i ncapt i vi t y hi s natur al habi t s. The enr aged Ger mans, mer i t i ng t he nameof barbar i ans t hat had been best owed upon t hem, l ai d wast e t hi spl easant r et r eat , and ki l l ed or l et l oose t he val uabl e ani mal s i tcont ai ned. Manuel , who i s sai d to have behel d t he devast at i on f r omhi s pal ace wi ndows wi t hout power or cour age to pr event i t , wascompl et el y di sgust ed wi t h hi s guest s, and r esol ved, l i ke hi s

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pr edecessor Al exi us, t o get r i d of t hem on t he f i r st oppor t uni t y. Hesent a message t o Conr ad r espect f ul l y desi r i ng an i nt er vi ew, but t heGer man r ef used t o t r ust hi msel f wi t hi n t he wal l s of Const ant i nopl e. The Gr eek Emperor , on hi s par t , t hought i t compat i bl e nei t her wi t hhi s di gni t y nor hi s saf et y to seek t he Ger man, and sever al days wer espent i n i nsi ncer e negot i at i ons. Manuel at l engt h agr eed t o f ur ni sht he cr usadi ng army wi t h gui des t o conduct i t t hr ough Asi a Mi nor ; andConr ad passed over t he Hel l espont wi t h hi s f orces, t he advancedguard bei ng commanded by hi msel f , and t he r ear by t he war l i ke Bi shopof Freysi nghen.

Hi st or i ans are al most unani mous i n t hei r bel i ef t hat t he wi l yGr eek gave i nst r uct i ons t o hi s gui des t o l ead t he ar my of t he Ger manEmper or i nt o danger s and di f f i cul t i es. I t i s cer t ai n, t hat i nst eadof gui di ng t hem t hr ough such di st r i ct s of Asi a Mi nor as af f or dedwat er and pr ovi si ons, t hey l ed t hem i nt o t he wi l ds of Cappadoci a,wher e nei t her was t o be pr ocur ed, and wher e t hey were suddenl yat t acked by t he Sul t aun of t he Sel j uki an Tur ks, at t he head of an

i mmense f or ce. The gui des, whose t r eacher y i s appar ent f r om t hi sf act al one, f l ed at t he f i r st si ght of t he Tur ki sh ar my, and t heChr i st i ans wer e l ef t t o wage unequal war f ar e wi t h t hei r enemy,ent angl ed and bewi l der ed i n deser t wi l ds. Toi l i ng i n t hei r heavymai l , t he Ger mans coul d make but l i t t l e ef f ect i ve r esi st ance t o t heat t acks of t he Tur ki sh l i ght horse, who wer e down upon t hem onei nst ant , and out of si ght t he next . Now i n t he f r ont and now i n t her ear , t he agi l e f oe shower ed hi s ar r ows upon t hem, ent i ci ng t hemi nt o swamps and hol l ows, f r om whi ch t hey coul d onl y ext r i cat et hemsel ves af t er l ong st r uggl es and gr eat l osses. The Ger mans,conf ounded by t hi s mode of war f ar e, l ost al l concept i on of t he

di r ect i on t hey wer e pur sui ng, and went back i nst ead of f or war d.Suf f er i ng at t he same t i me f or want of pr ovi si ons, t hey f el l an easypr ey t o t hei r pur suer s. Count Ber nhar d, one of t he br avest l eader sof t he Ger man expedi t i on, was sur r ounded, wi t h hi s whol e di vi si on,not one of whom escaped t he Tur ki sh ar r ows. The Emper or hi msel f hadnear l y f al l en a vi ct i m, and was t wi ce sever el y wounded. Sopersever i ng was t he enemy, and so l i t t l e abl e were t he Germans t omake even a show of r esi st ance, t hat when Conr ad at l ast r eached t heci t y of Ni ce, he f ound t hat , i nst ead of bei ng at t he head of ani mposi ng f or ce of one hundr ed t housand f oot and sevent y t housandhorse, he had but f i f t y or si xt y thousand men, and t hese i n t he most

worn and wear i ed condi t i on.

Tot al l y i gnor ant of t he t r eachery of t he Gr eek Emperor ,al t hough he had been warned t o beware of i t , Loui s VI I . pr oceeded,at t he head of hi s army, t hr ough Worms and Rat i sbon, t owardsConst ant i nopl e. At Rat i sbon he was met by a deput at i on f r om Manuel ,bear i ng l et t er s so f ul l of hyper bol e and f l at t er y, t hat Loui s i sr epor t ed t o have bl ushed when t hey were read t o hi m by t he Bi shop ofLangr es. The obj ect of t he deput at i on was t o obt ai n f r om t he French

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Ki ng a pr omi se to pass t hr ough t he Gr eci an t er r i t or i es i n apeaceabl e and f r i endl y manner , and t o yi el d t o t he Gr eek Emperor anyconquest he mi ght make i n Asi a Mi nor . The f i r st par t of t hepr oposi t i on was i mmedi atel y acceded to, but no not i ce was t aken oft he second and more unr easonabl e. Loui s marched on, and, pass i ngt hr ough Hungar y, pi t ched hi s t ent s i n t he out ski r t s ofConst ant i nopl e.

On hi s ar r i val , Manuel sent hi m a f r i endl y i nvi t at i on t o ent ert he ci t y, at t he head of a smal l t r ai n. Loui s at once accept ed i t ,and was met by t he Emper or at t he porch of hi s pal ace. The f ai r estpr omi ses were made; ever y ar t t hat f l at t er y coul d suggest wasr esor t ed t o, and ever y ar gument empl oyed, t o i nduce hi m t o yi el d hi sf ut ur e conquest s t o t he Gr eek. Loui s obst i nat el y ref used t o pl edgehi msel f , and ret ur ned to hi s ar my, convi nced that t he Emper or was aman not t o be t r ust ed. Negot i at i ons wer e, however , cont i nued f orsever al days, t o t he gr eat di ssat i sf act i on of t he French ar my. Thenews t hat ar r i ved of a t r eaty ent er ed i nt o bet ween Manuel and t he

Turki sh Sul t an changed t hei r di ssat i sf act i on i nt o f ury, and t hel eader s demanded t o be l ed agai nst Const ant i nopl e, swear i ng t hatt hey woul d r aze t he t r eacher ous ci t y to t he gr ound. Loui s di d notf eel i ncl i ned t o accede t o t hi s pr oposal , and, br eaki ng up hi s camp,he cr ossed over i nt o Asi a.

Her e he hear d, f or t he f i r st t i me, of t he mi shaps of t he Ger manEmper or , whom he f ound i n a woef ul pl i ght under t he wal l s of Ni ce. The t wo monarchs uni t ed t hei r f or ces, and mar ched t oget her al ong t hesea- coast t o Ephesus; but Conr ad, j eal ous, i t woul d appear , of t hesuper i or number s of t he French, and not l i ki ng t o si nk i nt o a

vassal , f or t he t i me bei ng, of hi s r i val , wi t hdr ew abr upt l y wi t h t her emnant of hi s l egi ons, and r et ur ned t o Const ant i nopl e. Manuel wasal l smi l es and cour t esy. He condol ed wi t h the Ger man so f eel i ngl yupon hi s l osses, and cur sed t he st upi di t y or t r eacher y of t he gui deswi t h such appar ent hear t i ness, t hat Conr ad was hal f i ncl i ned t obel i eve i n hi s si ncer i t y.

Loui s, marchi ng onward i n t he di r ect i on of J erusal em, came upwi t h the enemy on t he banks of t he Meander . The Turks cont est ed t hepassage of t he r i ver , but t he Fr ench br i bed a peasant t o poi nt out af or d l ower down: crossi ng t he r i ver wi t hout di f f i cul t y, t hey

at t acked t he Tur ks wi t h much vi gour , and put t hem t o f l i ght . Whet hert he Tur ks wer e r eal l y def eat ed, or mer el y pr et ended t o be so, i sdoubt f ul ; but t he l at t er supposi t i on seems t o be t he t r ue one. I t i spr obabl e t hat i t was par t of a concer t ed pl an t o dr aw t he i nvader sonwards t o more unf avour abl e gr ound, where t hei r dest r uct i on mi ghtbe more cer t ai n. I f such wer e t he scheme, i t succeeded t o t hehear t ' s wi sh of i t s pr oj ect or s. The crusader s, on t he t hi r d dayaf t er t hei r vi ct or y, ar r i ved at a st eep mount ai n- pass, on t he summi tof whi ch t he Tur ki sh host l ay conceal ed so ar t f ul l y, t hat not t he

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sl i ght est vest i ge of t hei r pr esence coul d be per cei ved. "Wi t hl abour i ng st eps and sl ow, " t hey t oi l ed up t he st eep ascent , whensuddenl y a t r emendous f r agment of r ock came boundi ng down t hepr eci pi ces wi t h an awf ul cr ash, bear i ng di smay and deat h bef or e i t .At t he same i nst ant t he Tur ki sh ar cher s st ar t ed f r om t hei r hi di ng-pl aces, and di schar ged a shower of ar r ows upon t he f oot sol di er s,who f el l by hundr eds at a t i me. The ar r ows r ebounded harml essl yagai nst t he i r on mai l of t he kni ght s, whi ch t he Tur ks obser vi ng,t ook ai m at t hei r st eeds, and hor se and r i der f el l down t he st eepi nt o t he rapi d t or r ent whi ch rushed bel ow. Loui s, who commanded t her ear - guar d, r ecei ved t he f i r st i nt i mat i on of t he onsl aught f r om t hesi ght of hi s wounded and f l yi ng sol di er s, and, not knowi ng t henumbers of t he enemy, he pushed vi gorousl y f orward t o st ay, by hi spr esence, t he pani c whi ch had t aken possessi on of hi s army. Al l hi sef f or t s wer e i n vai n. I mmense st ones cont i nued t o be hur l ed upont hem as t hey advanced, bear i ng men and horse bef ore t hem; and thosewho succeeded i n f orci ng t hei r way t o the t op, were met hand- t o- handby t he Tur ks, and cast down headl ong upon t hei r compani ons. Loui s

hi msel f f ought wi t h t he ener gy of desper at i on, but had gr eatdi f f i cul t y t o avoi d f al l i ng i nt o the enemy' s hands. He escaped atl ast under cover of t he ni ght , wi t h t he r emnant of hi s f or ces, andt ook up hi s posi t i on bef or e At t al i a. Her e he r est or ed t he di sci pl i neand t he cour age of hi s di sorgani zed and di shear t ened f ol l ower s, anddebat ed wi t h hi s capt ai ns t he pl an t hat was t o be pur sued. Af t ersuf f er i ng sever el y bot h f r om di sease and f ami ne, i t was r esol vedt hat t hey shoul d mar ch t o Ant i och, whi ch st i l l r emai ned ani ndependent pr i nci pal i t y under t he successors of Bohemund of Tar entum. At t hi s t i me t he sover ei gnt y was vest ed i n t he person ofRaymond, t he uncl e of El eanor of Aqui t ai ne. Thi s Pr i nce, pr esumi ng

upon hi s r el at i onshi p t o t he French Queen, endeavour ed t o wi t hdr awLoui s f r om t he gr and obj ect of t he Cr usade - - t he def ence of t heki ngdom of J er usal em, and secur e hi s co- oper at i on i n extendi ng t hel i mi t s and t he power of hi s pr i nci pal i t y of Ant i och. The Pr i nce of Tr i pol i f or med a si mi l ar desi gn, but Loui s r ej ect ed t he of f er s ofbot h, and marched af t er a shor t del ay t o J erusal em. The EmperorConr ad was t her e bef or e hi m, havi ng l ef t Const ant i nopl e wi t hpr omi ses of assi st ance f r om Manuel Comnenus; assi st ance whi ch neverarr i ved, and was never i nt ended.

A gr eat counci l of t he Chr i st i an pr i nces of Pal est i ne and t he

l eaders of t he Cr usade was t hen summoned, t o di scuss t he f ut ur eoper at i ons of t he war . I t was ul t i mat el y det er mi ned t hat i t woul df ur t her t he cause of t he Cr oss i n a gr eat er degr ee i f t he uni t edar mi es, i nst ead of pr oceedi ng t o Edessa, l ai d si ege t o t he ci t y ofDamascus, and dr ove t he Sar acens f r om t hat st r ong posi t i on. Thi s wasa bol d scheme, and, had i t been bol dl y f ol l owed out , woul d havei nsur ed, i n al l pr obabi l i t y, t he success of t he war . But t heChr i st i an l eader s never l ear ned f r om exper i ence t he necessi t y ofuni on, t hat ver y soul of gr eat ent er pr i ses. Though t hey al l agr eed

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upon t he pol i cy of t he pl an, yet ever y one had hi s own not i ons as t ot he means of execut i ng i t . The Pr i nces of Ant i och and Tr i pol i wer e j eal ous of each ot her , and of t he Ki ng of J er usal em. The EmperorConr ad was j eal ous of t he Ki ng of Fr ance, and the Ki ng of Fr ance wasdi sgust ed wi t h t hem al l . But he had come out t o Pal est i ne i naccor dance wi t h a sol emn vow; hi s r el i gi on, t hough i t may be cal l edbi got r y, was si ncer e; and he det er mi ned t o remai n t o t he ver y l astmoment t hat a chance was l ef t , of ef f ect i ng any good f or t he causehe had set hi s hear t on.

The si ege of Damascus was accor di ngl y commenced, and wi t h somuch abi l i t y and vi gour t hat t he Chr i st i ans gai ned a consi der abl eadvant age at t he ver y out set . For weeks t he si ege was pr essed, t i l lt he shat t er ed f or t i f i cat i ons and di mi ni shi ng r esi st ance of t hebesi eged gave evi dence t hat t he ci t y coul d not hol d out much l onger .At t hat moment t he i nsane j eal ousy of t he l eader s l ed t o di ssensi onst hat soon caused t he ut t er f ai l ur e, not onl y of t he si ege, but oft he Cr usade. A moder n cooker y- book, i n gi vi ng a r eci pe f or cooki ng a

har e, says, "f i r st cat ch your har e, and t hen ki l l i t ; " a maxi m ofi ndi sput abl e wi sdom. The Chr i st i an chi ef s on t hi s occasi on had notso much sagaci t y, f or t hey began a vi ol ent di sput e among t hemsel vesf or t he possessi on of a ci t y whi ch was st i l l unconquer ed. Ther ebei ng al r eady a Pr i nce of Ant i och and a Pr i nce of Tr i pol i , t went ycl ai mant s s t ar t ed f or t he pr i nci pal i t y of Damascus, and a gr andcounci l of t he l eader s was hel d to det er mi ne the i ndi vi dual on whomt he honour shoul d devol ve. Many val uabl e days were wast ed i n t hi sdi scussi on, t he enemy i n t he mean whi l e gai ni ng st r engt h f r om t hei ri nact i vi t y. I t was at l engt h, af t er a st or my del i ber at i on, agr eedt hat Count Rober t of Fl ander s, who had t wi ce vi si t ed t he Hol y Land,

shoul d be i nvest ed wi t h t he di gni t y. The ot her cl ai mant s r ef used t or ecogni se hi m, or t o co- oper at e i n t he si ege, unt i l a mor e equi t abl ear r angement had been made. Suspi ci on f i l l ed t he camp; t he mostsi ni st er r umour s of i nt r i gues and t r eacher y wer e set af l oat ; and t hedi scont ent ed candi dat es wi t hdr ew at l ast t o the ot her si de of t heci t y, and commenced operat i ons on thei r own account , wi t hout apr obabi l i t y of success. They wer e soon j oi ned by t he r est of t hearmy. The consequence was t hat t he weakest si de of t he ci t y, andt hat on whi ch t hey had al r eady made consi derabl e pr ogr ess i n t hework of demol i t i on, was l ef t uncover ed. The enemy was prompt t opr of i t by t he mi st ake, and r ecei ved an abundant suppl y of

pr ovi si ons, and r ef or t i f i ed t he wal l s, bef or e t he cr usader s came t ot hei r senses agai n. When thi s desi r abl e event happened, i t was t ool at e. Saph Eddi n, t he power f ul Emi r of Mousoul , was i n t henei ghbour hood, at t he head of a l arge army, advanci ng by f orcedmar ches t o t he r el i ef of t he ci t y. The si ege was abr upt l y abandoned,and t he f ool i sh cr usader s r et ur ned t o J er usal em, havi ng done not hi ngt o weaken t he enemy, but every t hi ng t o weaken t hemsel ves.

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The f r eshness of enthusi asm had now compl et el y subsi ded; - -even t he meanest sol di er s wer e si ck at heart . Conr ad, f r om whosef i erce zeal at t he out set so much mi ght have been expect ed, waswear i ed wi t h r everses, and r eturned t o Eur ope wi t h t he poor r emnantof hi s host . Loui s l i nger ed a shor t t i me l onger , f or ver y shame, butt he pr essi ng sol i ci t at i ons of hi s mi ni st er Suger i nduced hi m t or et ur n t o Fr ance. Thus ended t he second Cr usade. I t s hi st or y i s buta chr oni cl e of def eat s. I t l ef t t he ki ngdom of J er usal em i n a wor sest at e t han when i t qui t t ed Eur ope, and gai ned not hi ng but di sgr acef or i t s l eader s and di scour agement f or al l concer ned.

St . Ber nar d, who had pr ophesi ed a r esul t so di f f er ent , f el laf t er t hi s i nt o some di sr eput e, and exper i enced, l i ke many ot herpr ophet s, t he f at e of bei ng wi t hout honour i n hi s own count r y. Whatmade t he mat t er wor se, he coul d not obt ai n i t i n any ot her . St i l l ,however , t her e were not want i ng zeal ous advocat es t o st and f orwardi n hi s behal f , and st em t he t i de of i ncredul i t y, whi ch, unopposed,woul d have car r i ed away hi s r eput at i on. The Bi shop of Fr eysi nghen

decl ared t hat pr ophet s wer e not al ways abl e t o pr ophesy, and t hatt he vi ces of t he cr usaders drew down t he wr at h of Heaven upon t hem.But t he most i ngeni ous excuse ever made f or St . Bernard i s t o bef ound i n hi s l i f e by Geof f r oi de Cl ai r vaux, wher e he per t i naci ousl yi nsi st s t hat t he Cr usade was not unf or t unat e. St . Ber nar d, he says,had pr ophesi ed a happy resul t , and t hat r esul t coul d not beconsi der ed ot her t han happy whi ch had peopl ed heaven wi t h sogl or i ous an ar my of mar t yrs. Geof f r oi was a cunni ng pl eader , and, nodoubt , convi nced a f ew of t he zeal ous; but pl ai n peopl e, who wer enot want i ng even i n t hose days, r et ai ned t hei r own opi ni on, or , whatamount s t o t he same t hi ng, "wer e convi nced agai nst t hei r wi l l . "

We now come to t he consi der at i on of t he thi r d Cr usade, and oft he causes whi ch r ender ed i t necessary. The epi demi c f r enzy, whi chhad been cool i ng ever si nce t he i ssue of t he f i r st expedi t i on, wasnow ext i nct , or ver y near l y so, and t he nat i ons of Eur ope l ookedwi t h col d i ndi f f er ence upon t he ar mament s of t hei r pr i nces. Butchi val r y had f l our i shed i n i t s nat ur al el ement of war , and was nowi n al l i t s gl or y. I t cont i nued t o suppl y ar mi es f or t he Hol y Landwhen t he popul ar r anks r ef used t o del i ver up t hei r abl e- bodi edswar ms. Poet r y, whi ch, mor e t han r el i gi on, i nspi r ed t he t hi r dCr usade, was t hen but "cavi ar e t o t he mi l l i on, " who had ot her

mat t er s, of st er ner i mpor t , t o cl ai m al l t hei r at t ent i on. But t hekni ght s and t hei r r et ai ner s l i st ened wi t h del i ght t o t he mar t i al andamat or y st r ai ns of t he mi nst r el s, mi nnesanger s, t r ouver es, andt r oubadour s, and bur ned t o wi n f avour i n l adi es' eyes by showi ngpr owess i n Hol y Land. The thi r d was t r ul y t he romant i c er a of t heCr usades. Men f ought t hen, not so much f or t he sepul chr e of J esus,and t he mai nt enance of a Chr i st i an ki ngdom i n t he East , as t o gai ngl or y f or t hemsel ves i n t he best , and al most onl y f i el d, wher e gl or ycoul d be obt ai ned. They f ought , not as zeal ot s, but as sol di er s; not

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f or r el i gi on, but f or honour ; not f or t he cr own of mar t yr dom, butf or t he f avour of t he l ovel y.

I t i s not necessar y t o ent er i nt o a det ai l of t he event s bywhi ch Sal adi n at t ai ned t he sover ei gnt y of t he East , or how, af t er asuccess i on of engagement s, he pl ant ed t he Mosl em banner once moreupon t he bat t l ement s of J er usal em. The Chr i st i an kni ght s andpopul at i on, i ncl udi ng t he gr and or der s of St . J ohn, t heHospi t al l er s, and t he Templ ar s, wer e sunk i n an abyss of vi ce, andt or n by unwor t hy j eal ousi es and di ssensi ons, wer e unabl e t o r esi stt he wel l - t r ai ned armi es whi ch t he wi se and mi ght y Sal adi n br oughtf or war d t o cr ush t hem. But t he news of t hei r f al l cr eat ed a pai nf ulsensat i on among t he chi val r y of Eur ope, whose nobl est member s werel i nked t o t he dwel l er s i n Pal est i ne by many t i es, bot h of bl ood andf r i endshi p. The news of t he gr eat bat t l e of Ti ber i as, i n whi chSal adi n def eat ed t he Chr i st i an host wi t h t er r i bl e sl aught er , ar r i vedf i r st i n Eur ope, and was f ol l owed i n qui ck successi on by t hat of t hecapt ur e of J er usal em, Ant i och, Tr i pol i , and ot her ci t i es. Di smay

sei zed upon t he cl er gy. The Pope ( Ur ban I I I . ) was so af f ect ed by t henews t hat he pi ned away f or gr i ef , and was scarcel y seen t o smi l eagai n, unt i l he sank i nt o t he sl eep of deat h. [ J ames of Vi t r y - -Wi l l i am de Nangi s. ] Hi s successor , Gr egor y VI I I . f el t t he l oss asacut el y, but had bet t er st r engt h t o bear i t , and i nst r uct ed al l t hecl er gy of t he Chr i st i an wor l d t o st i r up t he peopl e t o ar ms f or t her ecover y of t he Hol y Sepul chr e. Wi l l i am, Ar chbi shop of Tyr e, ahumbl e f ol l ower i n t he pat h of Pet er t he Her mi t , l ef t Pal est i ne t opr each t o t he Ki ngs of Eur ope t he mi ser i es he had wi t nessed, and toi nci t e t hem t o t he r escue. The r enowned Freder i ck Bar bar ossa, t heEmperor of Germany, speedi l y col l ect ed an army, and passi ng over

i nt o Syr i a wi t h l ess del ay t han had ever bef or e awai t ed a cr usadi ngf or ce, def eat ed t he Sar acens, and t ook possessi on of t he ci t y ofI coni um. He was unf or t unat el y cut of f i n t he mi ddl e of hi ssuccessf ul car eer , by i mpr udent l y bat hi ng i n t he Cydnus [ The desi r eof compar i ng two great men has t empt ed many wr i t er s t o drownFreder i ck i n t he r i ver Cydnus, i n whi ch Al exander so i mpr udent l ybat hed ( Q. Cur t . l i b. i i i . c. 4, 5. ) : but , f r om t he mar ch of t heEmper or , I r at her j udge t hat hi s Sal eph i s t he Cal ycadnus, a st r eamof l ess f ame, but of a l onger cour se. - - Gi bbon] whi l e he wasover heat ed, and the Duke of Suabi a t ook t he command of t heexpedi t i on. The l at t er di d not pr ove so abl e a gener al , and met wi t h

nothi ng but r ever ses, al t hough he was enabl ed t o mai nt ai n a f oot i ngat Ant i och unt i l assi st ance ar r i ved f r om Eur ope.

Henr y I I . of Engl and and Phi l i p August us of Fr ance, at t he headof t hei r chi val r y, suppor t ed t he Cr usade wi t h al l t hei r i nf l uence,unt i l war s and di ssensi ons near er home est r anged t hem f r om i t f or at i me. The t wo ki ngs met at Gi sor s i n Normandy i n t he mont h of J anuar y 1188, accompani ed by a br i l l i ant t r ai n of kni ght s andwar r i or s. Wi l l i am of Tyre was present , and expounded t he cause of

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t he Cr oss wi t h consi derabl e el oquence, and the whol e assembl y boundt hemsel ves by oath to pr oceed t o J er usal em. I t was agr eed at t hesame t i me t hat a t ax, cal l ed Sal adi n' s t i t he, and consi st i ng of t het ent h par t of al l possessi ons, whet her l anded or per sonal , shoul d beenf orced over Chr i st endom, upon every one who was ei t her unabl e orunwi l l i ng t o assume t he Cr oss. The l or d of ever y f eof , whet her l ayor eccl esi ast i cal , was char ged t o r ai se t he t i t he wi t hi n hi s own j ur i sdi ct i on; and any one who r ef used t o pay hi s quot a, became byt hat act t he bondsman and absol ut e pr oper t y of hi s l ord. At t he samet i me t he great est i ndul gence was shown t o t hose who assumed t heCr oss; no man was at l i ber t y t o st ay t hem by pr ocess of any ki nd,whet her f or debt , or r obber y, or mur der . The Ki ng of France, at t hebr eaki ng up of t he conf erence, summoned a par l i ament at Par i s, wheret hese resol ut i ons wer e sol emnl y conf i r med, whi l e Henr y I I . di d t hesame f or hi s Norman possessi ons at Rouen, and f or Engl and atGeddi ngt on, i n Nort hampt onshi r e. To use t he words of an anci entchr oni cl er , [ St owe. ] "he hel d a par l i ament about t he voyage i nt o t heHol y Land, and t r oubl ed t he whol e l and wi t h t he payi ng of t i t hes

t owar ds i t . "

But i t was not Engl and onl y t hat was " t r oubl ed" by t he t ax. Thepeopl e of Fr ance al so l ooked upon i t wi t h no pl easant f eel i ngs, andappear f r om t hat t i me f or t h t o have changed t hei r i ndi f f er ence f ort he Cr usade i nt o aver si on. Even the cl er gy, who wer e exceedi ngl ywi l l i ng t hat ot her peopl e shoul d cont r i but e hal f , or even al l t hei rgoods i n f ur t her ance of t hei r f avour i t e scheme, wer e not at al lanxi ous t o cont r i but e a si ngl e sous t hemsel ves. Mi l l ot [ "El emens del ' Hi st oi r e de Fr ance. "] r el at es t hat sever al of t hem cri ed outagai nst t he i mpost . Among t he rest t he cl er gy of Rhei ms wer e cal l ed

upon t o pay t hei r quot a, but sent a deput at i on t o t he Ki ng, beggi nghi m t o be cont ent ed wi t h t he ai d of t hei r pr ayer s, as t hey wer e t oopoor t o cont r i but e i n any ot her shape. Phi l i p August us knew bet t er ,and by way of gi vi ng t hem a l esson, empl oyed t hr ee nobl es of t hevi ci ni t y t o l ay wast e t he chur ch l ands. The cl er gy, i nf or med of t heout r age, appl i ed t o t he Ki ng f or r edr ess. "I wi l l ai d you wi t h mypr ayer s, " sai d t he Monar ch condescendi ngl y, " and wi l l i nt r eat t hosegent l emen t o l et t he chur ch al one. " He di d as he had pr omi sed, buti n such a manner , t hat t he nobl es, who appr eci ated t he j oke,cont i nued t hei r devast at i ons as bef or e. Agai n t he cl er gy appl i ed t ot he Ki ng. "What woul d you have of me?" he repl i ed, i n answer t o

t hei r r emonst r ances: "You gave me your pr ayers i n my necessi t y, andI have gi ven you mi ne i n your s. " The cl ergy underst ood t he argument ,and t hought i t t he wi ser cour se to pay thei r quot a of Sal adi n' st i t he wi t hout f ur t her par l ey.

Thi s anecdot e shows t he unpopul ar i t y of t he Cr usade. I f t hecl er gy di sl i ked t o cont r i but e, i t i s no wonder t hat t he peopl e f el tst i l l gr eat er ant i pat hy. But t he chi val r y of Eur ope was eager f ort he af f r ay: t he t i t he was r i gor ousl y col l ect ed, and ar mi es f r om

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Engl and, Fr ance, Bur gundy, I t al y, Fl ander s, and Ger many, wer e sooni n t he f i el d; The t wo ki ngs who wer e t o have l ed i t , wer e, however ,dr awn i nt o br oi l s by an aggr essi on of Ri char d; Duke of Gui enne,bet t er known as Ri char d Coeur de Li on, upon t he t er r i t or y of t heCount of Toul ouse, and t he pr oposed j our ney t o Pal est i ne wasdel ayed. War cont i nued t o rage bet ween Fr ance and Engl and, and wi t hso l i t t l e pr obabi l i t y of a speedy t er mi nat i on, t hat many of t henobl es, bound t o t he Cr usade, l ef t t he two Monar chs t o set t l e thei rdi f f er ences at t hei r l ei sur e, and pr oceeded t o Pal est i ne wi t houtt hem.

Deat h at l ast st epped i n and r emoved Henr y I I . f r om t hehost i l i t y of hi s f oes, and t he t r eacher y and i ngr at i t ude of hi schi l dr en. Hi s son Ri char d i mmedi at el y concl uded an al l i ance wi t hPhi l i p August us, and t he t wo young, val i ant , and i mpet uous Monarchs,uni t ed al l t hei r ener gi es t o f orwar d t he Cr usade. They met wi t h anumer ous and br i l l i ant r et i nue at Nonancour t i n Normandy, wher e, i nsi ght of t hei r assembl ed chi val r y, t hey embr aced as brot her s, and

swor e t o l i ve as f r i ends and t r ue al l i es, unt i l a per i od of f or t ydays af t er t hei r r et ur n f r om t he Hol y Land. Wi t h a vi ew of pur gi ngt hei r camp f r om t he f ol l i es and vi ces whi ch had pr oved so r ui nous t opr ecedi ng expedi t i ons, t hey dr ew up a code of l aws f or t hegovernment of t he ar my. Gambl i ng had been car r i ed t o a gr eat ext ent ,and had pr oved t he f r ui t f ul sour ce of quar r el s and bl oodshed, andone of t hei r l aws pr ohi bi t ed any per son i n t he army, beneath t hedegr ee of a kni ght , f r om pl ayi ng at any game f or money. [ St r ut t ' s"Sport s and Past i mes. " ] Kni ght s and cl er gymen mi ght pl ay f or money,but no one was per mi t t ed t o l ose or gai n more t han t went y shi l l i ngsi n a day, under a penal t y of one hundr ed shi l l i ngs. The per sonal

at t endant s of t he Monarchs were al so al l owed t o pl ay t o the sameext ent . The penal t y i n t hei r case f or i nf r act i on was t hat t heyshoul d be whi pped naked t hrough t he army f or t he space of t hreedays. Any cr usader , who st r uck anot her and dr ew bl ood, was orderedt o have hi s hand cut of f ; and whoever sl ew a br ot her cr usader wascondemned t o be t i ed al i ve t o t he cor pse of hi s vi ct i m and bur i edwi t h hi m. No young women were al l owed t o f ol l ow t he army, t o t hegreat sor r ow of many vi ci ous and of many vi r t uous dames, who had notcour age to el ude the decr ee by dr essi ng i n mal e at t i r e. But manyhi gh- mi nded and af f ect i onat e mai dens and mat r ons, bear i ng t he swordor t he spear , f ol l owed t hei r husbands and l over s t o t he war i n spi t e

of Ki ng Ri chard, and i n def i ance of danger . The onl y women al l owedt o accompany t he army i n t hei r own habi l i ment s, were washer women, off i f t y year s compl et e, and any ot her s of t he f ai r sex who had reachedt he same age.

These r ul es havi ng been pr omul gat ed, t he t wo monarchs mar chedt oget her t o Lyons, wher e t hey separated, agr eei ng t o meet agai n atMessi na. Phi l i p pr oceeded across t he Al ps t o Genoa, wher e he tookshi p, and was conveyed i n saf et y to t he pl ace of r endezvous. Ri chard

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t ur ned i n t he di r ect i on of Mar sei l l es, wher e he al so t ook shi p f orMessi na. Hi s i mpet uous di sposi t i on hur r i ed hi m i nt o many squabbl esby the way, and hi s kni ght s and f ol l ower s, f or t he most par t asbr ave and as f ool i sh as hi msel f , i mi t at ed hi m ver y zeal ousl y i n t hi spar t i cul ar . At Messi na t he Si ci l i ans char ged t he most exor bi t antpr i ces f or ever y necessar y of l i f e. Ri char d' s ar my i n vai nr emonst r ated. Fr om words t hey came t o bl ows, and, as a l astr esour ce, pl under ed t he Si ci l i ans, si nce t hey coul d not t r ade wi t ht hem. Cont i nual bat t l es wer e t he consequence, i n one of whi chLebr un, t he f avour i t e at t endant of Ri char d, l ost hi s l i f e. Thepeasant r y f r om f ar and near came f l ocki ng t o t he ai d of t het ownspeopl e, and t he bat t l e soon became gener al . Ri char d, i r r i t at edat t he l oss of hi s f avour i t e, and i nci t ed by a r epor t t hat Tancred,t he Ki ng of Si ci l y, was f i ght i ng at t he head of hi s own peopl e, j oi ned t he mel ee wi t h hi s bol dest kni ght s, and, beat i ng back t heSi ci l i ans, at t acked t he ci t y, swor d i n hand, st or med t hebat t l ement s, t or e down t he f l ag of Si ci l y, and pl ant ed hi s own i ni t s st ead. Thi s col l i si on gave gr eat of f ence t o t he Ki ng of France,

who became f r om t hat t i me j eal ous of Ri chard, and appr ehensi ve t hathi s desi gn was not so much t o r e- est abl i sh t he Chr i st i an Ki ngdom of J er usal em, as t o make conquest s f or hi msel f . He, however , exer t edhi s i nf l uence t o r est or e peace bet ween t he Engl i sh and Si ci l i ans,and shor t l y af t er war ds set sai l f or Acre, wi t h di st r ust of hi s al l yger mi nat i ng i n hi s hear t .

Ri char d r emai ned behi nd f or some weeks, i n a st at e ofi nact i vi t y qui t e unaccount abl e i n one of hi s t emper ament . He appearst o have had no mor e squabbl es wi t h t he Si ci l i ans, but t o have l i vedan easy l uxur i ous l i f e, f or get t i ng, i n t he l ap of pl easur e, t he

obj ect s f or whi ch he had qui t t ed hi s own domi ni ons and t he dangerousl axi t y he was i nt r oduci ng i nt o hi s ar my. The super st i t i on of hi ssol di er s r ecal l ed hi m at l engt h t o a sense of hi s dut y: a comet wasseen f or sever al successi ve ni ght s, whi ch was t hought t o menace t hemwi t h t he vengeance of Heaven f or t hei r del ay. Shoot i ng st ars gavet hem si mi l ar war ni ng; and a f anat i c, of t he name of J oachi m, wi t hhi s dr awn swor d i n hi s hand, and hi s l ong hai r st r eami ng wi l dl y overhi s shoul der s, went t hr ough t he camp, howl i ng al l ni ght l ong, andpr edi ct i ng pl ague, f ami ne, and ever y ot her cal ami t y, i f t hey di d notset out i mmedi at el y. Ri char d di d not deem i t pr udent t o negl ect t hei nt i mat i ons; and, af t er doi ng humbl e penance f or hi s r emi ssness, he

set sai l f or Acre.

A vi ol ent st or m di sper sed hi s f l eet , but he ar r i ved saf el y atRhodes wi t h t he pr i nci pal part of t he armament . Her e he l earned t hatt hr ee of hi s shi ps had been st r anded on the rocky coast s of Cypr us,and t hat t he r ul er of t he i sl and, I saac Comnenus, had per mi t t ed hi speopl e t o pi l l age t he unf or t unate cr ews, and had r ef used shel t er t ohi s bet r ot hed br i de, t he Pr i ncess Ber engar i a, and hi s si st er , who,i n one of t he vessel s, had been dr i ven by st r ess of weat her i nt o t he

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port of Li mi sso. The f i er y monarch swore t o be r evenged, and,col l ect i ng al l hi s vessel s, sai l ed back t o Li mi sso. I saac Comnenusr ef used t o apol ogi ze or expl ai n, and Ri char d, i n no mood t o bet r i f l ed wi t h, l anded on t he i sl and, r out ed wi t h gr eat l oss t hef orces sent t o oppose hi m, and l ai d t he whol e count r y undercont r i but i on.

On hi s ar r i val at Acr e, he f ound t he whol e of t he chi val r y ofEur ope t her e bef ore hi m. Guy of Lusi gnan, t he Ki ng of J er usal em, hadl ong bef or e col l ect ed t he bol d Kni ght s of t he Templ e, t he Hospi t al ,and St . J ohn, and had l ai d si ege t o Acr e, whi ch was r esol ut el ydef ended by t he Sul t an Sal adi n, wi t h an army magni f i cent both f ori t s number s and i t s di sci pl i ne. For near l y t wo year s t he cr usader shad pushed t he si ege, and made ef f or t s al most super human t o di sl odget he enemy. Var i ous bat t l es had t aken pl ace i n t he open f i el ds wi t hno deci si ve advant age t o ei t her par t y, and Guy of Lusi gnan had begunt o despai r of t aki ng t hat st r ong posi t i on wi t hout ai d f r om Eur ope.Hi s j oy was ext r eme on t he ar r i val of Phi l i p wi t h al l hi s chi val r y,

and he onl y awai t ed t he comi ng of Coeur de Li on t o make one l astdeci si ve at t ack upon t he t own. When t he f l eet of Engl and was f i r stseen appr oachi ng t he shor es of Syr i a, a uni ver sal shout ar ose f r omt he Chr i st i an camp; and when Ri chard l anded wi t h hi s t r ai n, onel ouder st i l l pi er ced t o t he ver y mount ai ns of t he sout h, wher eSal adi n l ay wi t h al l hi s ar my.

I t may be remar ked as char act er i st i c of t hi s Cr usade, t hat t heChr i st i ans and the Mosl ems no l onger l ooked upon each ot her asbarbar i ans, t o whom mer cy was a cr i me. Each host ent er t ai ned t hehi ghest admi r at i on f or t he br aver y and magnani mi t y of t he other , and

i n t hei r occasi onal t r uces met upon t he most f r i endl y ter ms. TheMosl em war r i or s wer e f ul l of cour t esy t o t he Chr i st i an kni ght s, andhad no ot her r egr et t han t o t hi nk t hat such f i ne f el l ows wer e notMahomedans. The Chr i st i ans, wi t h a f eel i ng pr eci sel y si mi l ar ,extol l ed t o t he ski es t he nobl eness of t he Sar acens, and si ghed t ot hi nk t hat such gener osi t y and val our shoul d be sul l i ed by di sbel i efi n t he Gospel of J esus. But when t he st r i f e began, al l t hesef eel i ngs di sappear ed, and t he st r uggl e became mor t al .

The j eal ousy exci t ed i n t he mi nd of Phi l i p by t he event s ofMessi na st i l l r ankl ed, and t he t wo monar chs r ef used t o act i n

concer t . I nst ead of maki ng a j oi nt at t ack upon t he town, t he Frenchmonarch assai l ed i t al one, and was repul sed. Ri chard di d t he same,and wi t h t he same r esul t . Phi l i p t r i ed t o seduce t he sol di er s ofRi char d f r om t hei r al l egi ance by t he of f er of t hr ee gol d pi eces permont h to ever y kni ght who woul d f orsake the banners of Engl and f ort hose of Fr ance. Ri chard met t he br i be by another , and pr omi sed f ourpi eces t o ever y Fr ench kni ght who shoul d j oi n t he Li on of Engl and.I n t hi s unwor t hy r i val r y t hei r t i me was wast ed, t o t he gr eatdet r i ment of t he di sci pl i ne and ef f i ci ency of t hei r f ol l ower s. Some

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good was nevert hel ess ef f ect ed; f or t he mere pr esence of t wo suchar mi es prevent ed t he besi eged ci t y f r om r ecei vi ng suppl i es, and t hei nhabi t ant s wer e r educed by f ami ne t o the most woef ul st r ai t s.Sal adi n di d not deem i t pr udent t o r i sk a gener al engagement bycomi ng t o t hei r r el i ef , but pr ef er r ed t o wai t t i l l di ssensi on hadweakened hi s enemy, and made hi m an easy prey. Perhaps i f he hadbeen aware of t he r eal ext ent of t he ext r emi t y i n Acr e, he woul dhave changed hi s pl an; but , cut of f f r om t he t own, he di d not knowt hei r mi ser y t i l l i t was t oo l at e. Af t er a shor t t r uce t he ci t ycapi t ul at ed upon t er ms so sever e t hat Sal adi n af t er war ds r ef used t or at i f y t hem. The chi ef condi t i ons wer e, t hat t he pr eci ous wood oft he t r ue cr oss, capt ur ed by the Mosl ems i n J er usal em, shoul d ber est ored; t hat a sum of t wo hundr ed t housand gol d pi eces shoul d bepai d; and t hat al l t he Chr i st i an pr i soner s i n Acre shoul d ber el eased, t oget her wi t h t wo hundr ed kni ght s and a t housand sol di er s,det ai ned i n capt i vi t y by Sal adi n. The east er n monarch, as may bewel l concei ved, di d not set much st ore on t he wood of t he cr oss, butwas never t hel ess anxi ous t o keep i t , as he knew i t s possessi on by

t he Chr i st i ans woul d do mor e t han a vi ct or y t o rest or e t hei rcour age. He r ef used, t her ef or e, t o del i ver i t up, or t o accede t oany of t he condi t i ons; and Ri char d, as he had pr evi ousl y t hr eat ened,bar bar ousl y or der ed al l t he Sar acen pr i soner s i n hi s power t o be putt o deat h.

The possess i on of t he ci t y onl y caused new and unhappydi ssensi ons bet ween t he Chr i st i an l eader s. The Ar chduke of Aust r i aunj ust i f i abl y hoi st ed hi s f l ag on one of t he t ower s of Acre, whi chRi char d no sooner saw t han he t ore i t down wi t h hi s own hands, andt r ampl ed i t under hi s f eet . Phi l i p, t hough he di d not sympat hi se

wi t h t he Ar chduke, was pi qued at t he assumpt i on of Ri char d, and t hebreach bet ween t he t wo monarchs became wi der t han ever . A f ool i shdi spute ar ose at t he same t i me bet ween Guy of Lusi gnan and Conr ad ofMont f er r at f or t he cr own of J er usal em. The i nf er i or kni ght s wer e notsl ow t o i mi t at e t he per ni ci ous exampl e, and j eal ousy, di st r ust , andi l l - wi l l r ei gned i n t he Chr i st i an camp. I n t he mi dst of t hi sconf usi on t he Ki ng of France suddenl y announced hi s i nt ent i on tor et ur n t o hi s own count r y. Ri char d was f i l l ed wi t h i ndi gnat i on, andexcl ai med, "Et er nal shame l i ght on hi m, and on al l France, i f , f orany cause, he l eave t hi s wor k unf i ni shed! " But Phi l i p was not t o best ayed. Hi s heal t h had suf f er ed by hi s r esi dence i n t he East , and,

ambi t i ous of pl ayi ng a f i r st par t , he pr ef er r ed t o pl ay none at al l ,t han t o pl ay second t o Ki ng Ri chard. Leavi ng a smal l det achment ofBur gundi ans behi nd, he r et ur ned t o Fr ance wi t h t he remai nder of hi sar my; and Coeur de Li on, wi t hout f eel i ng, i n t he mul t i t ude of hi sr i val s, t hat he had l ost t he gr eat est , became pai nf ul l y convi ncedt hat t he r i ght ar m of t he ent er pr i ze was l opped of f .

Af t er hi s depar t ur e, Ri char d r e- f or t i f i ed Acre, r est or ed t heChr i st i an wor shi p i n t he chur ches, and, l eavi ng a Chr i st i an gar r i son

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t o pr ot ect i t , mar ched al ong t he sea- coast t owar ds Ascal on. Sal adi nwas on t he al er t , and sent hi s l i ght hor se t o at t ack t he r ear of t heChr i st i an ar my, whi l e he hi msel f , mi scal cul at i ng t hei r weaknesssi nce t he def ect i on of Phi l i p, endeavour ed t o f or ce t hem t o agener al engagement . The r i val armi es met near Azot us. A f i er cebat t l e ensued, i n whi ch Sal adi n was def eat ed and put t o f l i ght , andt he r oad t o J er usal em l ef t f r ee f or t he crusader s.

Agai n di scor d exer t ed i t s bal ef ul i nf l uence, and pr event edRi char d f r om f ol l owi ng up hi s vi ct or y. Hi s opi ni on was const ant l yopposed by t he ot her l eader s, al l j eal ous of hi s br aver y andi nf l uence; and t he ar my, i nst ead of mar chi ng t o J er usal em, or event o Ascal on, as was f i r st i nt ended, pr oceeded t o J af f a, and r emai nedi n i dl eness unt i l Sal adi n was agai n i n a condi t i on t o wage waragai nst t hem.

Many mont hs wer e spent i n f r ui t l ess host i l i t i es and asf r ui t l ess negot i at i ons. Ri char d' s wi sh was t o r ecapt ur e J er usal em;

but t her e wer e di f f i cul t i es i n t he way, whi ch even hi s bol d spi r i tcoul d not conquer . Hi s own i nt ol er abl e pr i de was not t he l east causeof t he evi l ; f or i t est r anged many a gener ous spi r i t , who woul d havebeen wi l l i ng t o co- oper at e wi t h hi m i n al l cor di al i t y. At l engt h i twas agr eed t o march t o t he Hol y Ci t y; but t he progr ess made was sosl ow and pai nf ul , t hat t he sol di er s mur mur ed, and t he l eader smedi t at ed r et r eat . The weat her was hot and dr y, and ther e was l i t t l ewater t o be pr ocur ed. Sal adi n had choked up t he wel l s and ci st er nson t he r out e, and the army had not zeal enough t o push f orward ami dsuch pr i vat i on. At Bet hl ehem a counci l was hel d, t o debat e whet hert hey shoul d ret r eat or advance. Ret r eat was deci ded upon, and

i mmedi at el y commenced. I t i s sai d, t hat Ri char d was f i r st l ed t o ahi l l , whence he coul d obt ai n a si ght of t he t ower s of J er usal em, andt hat he was so af f ect ed at bei ng so near i t , and so unabl e t or el i eve i t , t hat he hi d hi s f ace behi nd hi s shi el d, and sobbedal oud.

The ar my separ at ed i nt o t wo di vi si ons, t he smal l er f al l i ng backupon J af f a, and t he l arger , commanded by Ri char d and t he Duke ofBur gundy, r et ur ni ng to Acr e. Bef ore t he Engl i sh monarch had made al lhi s prepar at i ons f or hi s r et ur n to Eur ope, a messenger r eached Acr ewi t h t he i nt el l i gence t hat J af f a was besi eged by Sal adi n, and t hat ,

unl ess r el i eved i mmedi at el y, t he ci t y woul d be t aken. The French,under t he Duke of Bur gundy, were so wear i ed wi t h the war , t hat t heyr ef used t o ai d t hei r br et hr en i n J af f a. Ri char d, bl ushi ng wi t h shameat t hei r pusi l l ani mi t y, cal l ed hi s Engl i sh t o t he r escue, andar r i ved j ust i n t i me t o save t he ci t y. Hi s ver y name put t heSar acens t o f l i ght , so gr eat was t hei r dr ead of hi s pr owess. Sal adi nr egarded hi m wi t h t he warmest admi r at i on, and when Ri chard, af t erhi s vi ct or y, demanded peace, wi l l i ngl y acceded. A t r uce wasconcl uded f or t hr ee year s and ei ght mont hs, dur i ng whi ch Chr i st i an

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pi l gr i ms wer e t o enj oy t he l i ber t y of vi si t i ng J er usal em wi t houthi ndr ance or payment of any t ax. The crusaders were al l owed t or et ai n t he ci t i es of Tyr e and J af f a, wi t h t he count r y i nt er veni ng.Sal adi n, wi t h a pr i ncel y gener osi t y, i nvi t ed many of t he Chr i st i anst o vi si t J er usal em; and sever al of t he l eader s t ook advant age of hi sof f er t o f east t hei r eyes upon a spot whi ch al l consi der ed sosacred. Many of t hem wer e ent er t ai ned f or days i n t he Sul t an' s ownpal ace, f r om whi ch t hey ret ur ned wi t h t hei r t ongues l aden wi t h t hepr ai ses of t he nobl e i nf i del . Ri char d and Sal adi n never met , t hought he i mpr essi on t hat t hey di d wi l l r emai n on many mi nds, who havebeen dazzl ed by t he gl or i ous f i ct i on of Si r Wal t er Scot t . But eachadmi r ed t he pr owess and nobl eness of soul of hi s r i val , and agr eedt o t er ms f ar l ess oner ous t han ei t her woul d have accept ed, had t hi smut ual admi r at i on not exi st ed. [ Ri char d l ef t a hi gh reput at i on i nPal est i ne. So much ter r or di d hi s name occasi on, t hat t he women ofSyr i a used i t t o f r i ght en t hei r chi l dr en f or ages af t er war ds. Ever ydi sobedi ent br at became st i l l when t ol d t hat Ki ng Ri char d wascomi ng. Even men shared t he pani c t hat hi s name cr eat ed; and a

hundr ed years af t er wards, whenever a horse shi ed at any obj ect i nt he way, hi s r i der woul d excl ai m, "What ! dost t hou t hi nk Ki ngRi char d i s i n t he bush?"]

The Ki ng of Engl and no l onger del ayed hi s depar t ure, f ormessenger s f r om hi s own count r y br ought i mper at i ve news t hat hi spr esence was requi r ed t o def eat t he i nt r i gues t hat wer e f oment i ngagai nst hi s cr own. Hi s l ong i mpr i sonment i n t he Aust r i an domi ni onsand f i nal r ansom are t oo wel l known t o be dwel t upon. And t hus endedt he t hi r d Cr usade, l ess dest r uct i ve of human l i f e t han t he t wof i r st , but qui t e as usel ess.

The f l ame of popul ar enthusi asm now burned pal e i ndeed, and al lt he ef f or t s of popes and pot ent at es wer e i nsuf f i ci ent t o r eki ndl ei t . At l ast , af t er f l i cker i ng unsteadi l y, l i ke a l amp expi r i ng i nt he socket , i t bur ned up br i ght l y f or one f i nal i nst ant , and wasext i ngui shed f or ever .

The f our t h Cr usade, as connect ed wi t h popul ar f eel i ng, r equi r esl i t t l e or no not i ce. At t he deat h of Sal adi n, whi ch happened a yearaf t er t he concl usi on of hi s t r uce wi t h Ri char d of Engl and, hi s vastempi r e f el l t o pi eces. Hi s br ot her Sai f Eddi n, or Saphaddi n, sei zed

upon Syr i a, i n t he possessi on of whi ch he was t r oubl ed by t he sonsof Sal adi n. When t hi s i nt el l i gence r eached Eur ope, t he Pope,Cel est i ne I I I . j udged t he moment f avour abl e f or pr eachi ng a newCr usade. But ever y nat i on i n Eur ope was unwi l l i ng and col d t owardsi t . The peopl e had no ar dour , and Ki ngs were occupi ed wi t h morewei ght y mat t er s at home. The onl y Monar ch of Eur ope who encour agedi t was t he Emper or Henr y of Ger many, under whose auspi ces t he Dukesof Saxony and Bavar i a t ook t he f i el d at t he head of a consi der abl ef orce. They l anded i n Pal est i ne, and f ound anyt hi ng but a wel come

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f r om t he Chr i st i an i nhabi t ant s. Under t he mi l d sway of Sal adi n, t heyhad enj oyed r epose and t ol erat i on, and bot h were endangered by t hear r i val of t he Germans. They l ooked upon t hem i n consequence asover - of f i ci ous i nt r uder s, and gave t hem no encour agement i n t hewarf are agai nst Saphaddi n. The r esul t of t hi s Cr usade was even moredi sast r ous t han t he l ast - - f or t he Ger mans cont r i ved not onl y t oembi t t er t he Sar acens agai nst t he Chr i st i ans of J udea, but t o l oset he st r ong ci t y of J af f a, and cause t he dest r uct i on of ni ne- t ent hsof t he army wi t h whi ch t hey had qui t t ed Eur ope. And so ended t hef our t h Cr usade.

The f i f t h was mor e i mpor t ant , and had a r esul t whi ch i t spr oj ect or s never dr eamed of - - no l ess t han t he sacki ng ofConst ant i nopl e, and t he pl aci ng of a Fr ench dynast y upon t hei mper i al t hr one of t he east er n Caesar s. Each succeedi ng Pope,however much he may have di f f ered f r om hi s pr edecessors on ot herpoi nt s, zeal ousl y agr eed i n one, t hat of mai nt ai ni ng by ever ypossi bl e means t he papal ascendancy. No scheme was so l i kel y t o ai d

i n t hi s endeavour as t he Cr usades. As l ong as t hey coul d per suadet he ki ngs and nobl es of Eur ope to f i ght and di e i n Syr i a, t hei r ownsway was secured over t he mi nds of men at home. Such bei ng t hei robj ect , t hey never i nqui r ed whether a Cr usade was or was not l i kel yt o be successf ul , whet her t he t i me wer e wel l or i l l chosen, orwhet her men and money coul d be procur ed i n suf f i ci ent abundance.Pope I nnocent I I I . woul d have been pr oud i f he coul d have bent t her ef r act ory Monarchs of Engl and and Fr ance i nt o so much submi ss i on.But J ohn and Phi l i p August us were bot h engaged. Bot h had deepl yof f ended t he chur ch, and had been l ai d under her ban, and bot h wereoccupi ed i n i mpor t ant r ef or ms at home; Phi l i p i n best owi ng

i mmuni t i es upon hi s subj ect s, and J ohn i n havi ng t hem f or ced f r omhi m. The emi ssari es of t he Pope t her ef or e pl i ed t hem i n vai n; - - butas i n t he f i r st and second Cr usades, t he el oquence of a power f ulpr eacher i nci t ed t he nobi l i t y, and t hr ough t hem a cer t ai n por t i on oft he peopl e, Foul que, Bi shop of Neui l l y, an ambi t i ous andent er pr i zi ng pr el at e, ent er ed f ul l y i nt o t he vi ews of t he Cour t ofRome, and pr eached t he Cr usade wher ever he coul d f i nd an audi ence.Chance f avour ed hi m t o a degr ee he di d not hi msel f expect , f or hehad i n gener al f ound but f ew pr osel ytes, and t hose f ew but col d i nt he cause. Theobal d, Count of Champagne, had i nst i t ut ed a gr andt our nament , t o whi ch he had i nvi t ed al l t he nobl es f r om f ar and

near . Upwards of t wo t housand kni ght s wer e pr esent wi t h t hei rr et ai ner s, besi des a vast concour se of peopl e t o wi t ness t he spor t s.I n t he mi dst of t he f est i vi t i es Foul que ar r i ved upon t he spot , andconcei vi ng t he opport uni t y to be a f avour abl e one, he addr essed t hemul t i t ude i n el oquent l anguage, and passi onat el y cal l ed upon t hem t oenr ol t hemsel ves f or t he new Cr usade. The Count de Champagne, young,ar dent , and easi l y exci t ed, r ecei ved t he cr oss at hi s hands. Theent husi asm spr ead r api dl y. Char l es Count of Bl oi s f ol l owed t heexampl e, and of t he t wo t housand kni ght s pr esent , scar cel y one

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hundr ed and f i f t y ref used. The popul ar phr ensy seemed on t he poi ntof br eaki ng out as i n t he days of yor e. The Count of Fl ander s, t heCount of Bar , t he Duke of Bur gundy, and t he Marqui s of Mont f er r at ,br ought al l t hei r vassal s t o swel l t he t r ai n, and i n a ver y shor tspace of t i me an ef f ect i ve army was on f oot and ready t o march t oPal est i ne.

The dangers of an over l and j ourney wer e t oo wel l underst ood,and the cr usaders endeavour ed t o make a cont r act wi t h some of t heI t al i an st at es t o convey t hem over i n t hei r vessel s. Dandol o, t heaged Doge of Veni ce, of f er ed t hem t he gal l eys of t he Republ i c; butt he crusader s, on t hei r ar r i val i n t hat ci t y, f ound t hemsel ves t oopoor t o pay even hal f t he sum demanded. Every means was t r i ed t or ai se money; t he cr usader s mel t ed down t hei r pl ate, and l adi es gaveup t hei r t r i nket s. Cont r i but i ons wer e sol i ci t ed f r om t he f ai t hf ul ,but came i n so sl owl y, as t o make i t evi dent t o al l concer ned, t hatt he f ai t hf ul of Eur ope wer e out number ed by the pr udent . As a l astr esour ce, Dandol o of f er ed t o convey t hem t o Pal est i ne at t he expense

of t he Republ i c, i f t hey woul d pr evi ousl y ai d i n t he r ecapt ur e oft he ci t y of Zar a, whi ch had been sei zed f r om t he Venet i ans a shor tt i me pr evi ousl y by t he Ki ng of Hungary. The cr usaders consent ed,much t o t he di spl easur e of t he Pope, who t hreat ened excommuni cat i onupon al l who shoul d be t ur ned asi de f r om t he voyage t o J er usal em.But not wi t hst andi ng t he f ul mi nat i ons of t he chur ch, t he expedi t i onnever r eached Pal est i ne. The si ege of Zara was speedi l y under t aken.Af t er a l ong and br ave def ence, t he ci t y sur r ender ed at di scr et i on,and t he cr usader s wer e f r ee, i f t hey had so chosen i t , t o use t hei rswords agai nst t he Saracens. But t he ambi t i on of t he chi ef s had beendi r ect ed, by unf or eseen ci r cumst ances, el sewher e.

Af t er t he deat h of Manuel Comnenus, t he Gr eek empi r e had f al l ena pr ey t o i nt est i ne di vi si ons. Hi s son Al exi us I I . had succeededhi m, but was mur der ed af t er a ver y short r ei gn by hi s uncl eAndr oni cus, who sei zed upon t he t hr one. Hi s r ei gn al so was but ofshor t dur at i on. I saac Angel us, a member of t he same f ami l y, t ook uparms agai nst t he usurper , and havi ng def eated and capt ur ed hi m i n api t ched bat t l e, had hi m put t o deat h. He al so mount ed t he thr oneonl y t o be cast down f r om i t . Hi s br ot her Al exi us deposed hi m, andt o i ncapaci t at e hi m f r om r ei gni ng, put out hi s eyes, and shut hi m upi n a dungeon. Nei t her was Al exi us I I I . al l owed t o r emai n i n

peaceabl e possessi on of t he t hr one; t he son of t he unhappy I saac,whose name al so was Al exi us, f l ed f r om Const ant i nopl e, and hear i ngt hat t he cr usader s had under t aken t he si ege of Zara, made t hem t hemost magni f i cent of f er s i f t hey woul d af t er war ds ai d hi m i n deposi nghi s uncl e. Hi s of f er s wer e, t hat i f by thei r means he was r e-est abl i shed i n hi s f at her ' s domi ni ons, he woul d pl ace t he Gr eekchur ch under t he aut hor i t y of t he Pope of Rome, l end the whol e f orceof t he Gr eek Empi r e t o t he conquest of Pal est i ne, and di st r i but e t wohundr ed t housand marks of si l ver among the crusadi ng army. The of f er

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was accept ed, wi t h a pr ovi so on t he part of some of t he l eader s,t hat t hey shoul d be f r ee t o abandon t he desi gn, i f i t met wi t h t hedi sappr oval of t he Pope. But t hi s was not t o be f eared. Thesubmi ss i on of t he schi smat i c Gr eeks t o t he See of Rome was a gr eat erbr i be t o t he Pont i f f , t han t he ut t er anni hi l at i on of t he Sar acenpower i n Pal est i ne woul d have been.

The cr usader s wer e soon i n movement f or t he i mper i al ci t y. Thei r oper at i ons wer e ski l f ul l y and cour ageousl y di r ect ed, andspr ead such di smay as t o par al yse t he ef f or t s of t he usur per t or et ai n possessi on of hi s t hr one. Af t er a vai n r esi st ance, heabandoned t he ci t y t o i t s f ate, and f l ed no one knew whi t her . Theaged and bl i nd I saac was t aken f r om hi s dungeon by hi s subj ect s, andpl aced upon t he t hr one er e t he cr usader s wer e appr i zed of t he f l i ghtof hi s r i val . Hi s son Al exi us I V. was af t er war ds associ at ed wi t h hi mi n t he sover ei gnt y.

But t he condi t i ons of t he t r eat y gave of f ence t o t he Gr eci an

peopl e, whose pr el ates r ef used t o pl ace t hemsel ves under t hedomi ni on of t he See of Rome. Al exi us at f i r st endeavour ed t oper suade hi s subj ect s t o submi ss i on, and pr ayed t he cr usader s t or emai n i n Const ant i nopl e unt i l t hey had f or t i f i ed hi m i n t hepossessi on of a thr one whi ch was yet f ar f r om secur e. He soon becameunpopul ar wi t h hi s subj ect s; and br eaki ng f ai t h wi t h r egar d t o t hesubsi di es, he of f ended the crusader s. War was at l engt h decl ar edupon hi m by bot h par t i es; by hi s peopl e f or hi s t yr anny, and by hi sf or mer f r i ends f or hi s t r eacher y. He was sei zed i n hi s pal ace by hi sown guards and t hr own i nt o pr i son, whi l e the crusader s were maki ngr eady t o besi ege hi s capi t al . The Gr eeks i mmedi atel y pr oceeded t o

t he el ect i on of a new Monarch; and l ooki ng about f or a man wi t hcour age, ener gy, and per sever ance, t hey f i xed upon Al exi us Ducas,who, wi t h al most ever y bad qual i t y, was possessed of t he vi r t uest hey needed. He ascended the t hrone under t he name of Murzuphl i s.One of hi s f i r st act s was t o r i d hi msel f of hi s youngest pr edecessor- - a br oken hear t had al r eady removed t he bl i nd ol d I saac - - nol onger a st umbl i ng bl ock i n hi s way - - and t he young Al exi us wassoon af t er put t o deat h i n hi s pr i son.

War t o t he kni f e was now decl ar ed bet ween the Gr eeks and theFranks, and ear l y i n t he spr i ng of t he year 1204, pr epar at i ons wer e

commenced f or an assaul t upon Const ant i nopl e. The French andVenet i ans ent er ed i nt o a t r eat y f or t he di vi si on of t he spoi l s amongt hei r sol di er y, f or so conf i dent wer e t hey of success, t hat f ai l ur enever once ent er ed i nt o t hei r cal cul at i ons. Thi s conf i dence l ed t hemon t o vi ct ory, whi l e t he Gr eeks, cowar dl y as t r eacher ous peopl eal ways ar e, wer e par al ysed by a f or ebodi ng of evi l . I t has been amat t er of ast oni shment t o al l hi st or i ans, t hat Mur zuphl i s, wi t h t her eput at i on f or cour age whi ch he had acqui r ed, and t he i mmenser esour ces at hi s di sposal , t ook no bet t er measur es t o repel t he

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onset of t he cr usaders. Thei r numbers were as a mere handf ul i ncompar i son wi t h t hose whi ch he coul d have brought agai nst t hem; andi f t hey had t he hopes of pl under t o l ead t hem on, t he Gr eeks hadt hei r homes t o f i ght f or , and t hei r ver y exi st ence as a nat i on t opr ot ect . Af t er an i mpet uous assaul t , r epul sed f or one day, butr enewed wi t h doubl e i mpet uosi t y on another , t he crusader s l ashedt hei r vessel s agai nst t he wal l s, sl ew every man who opposed t hem,and, wi t h l i t t l e l oss t o t hemsel ves, ent er ed t he ci t y. Mur zuphl i sf l ed, and Const ant i nopl e was gi ven over t o be pi l l aged by t hevi ct ors. The weal t h they f ound was enormous. I n money al one t herewas suf f i ci ent t o di st r i but e t went y mar ks of si l ver t o each kni ght ,t en t o each squi r e or servant at ar ms, and f i ve t o each ar cher . J ewel s, vel vet s, si l ks, and every l uxur y of at t i r e, wi t h r ar e wi nesand f r ui t s, and val uabl e mer chandi se of ever y descr i pt i on, al so f el li nt o t hei r hands, and wer e bought by the t r adi ng Venet i ans, and t heproceeds di st r i but ed among t he army. Two t housand persons were putt o t he sword; but had t her e been l ess pl under t o t ake up t heat t ent i on of t he vi ct or s, t he sl aught er woul d i n al l pr obabi l i t y

have been much gr eater .

I n many of t he bl oody wars whi ch def i l e t he page of hi st ory, wef i nd t hat sol di er s, ut t er l y r eckl ess of t he wor ks of God, wi l ldest r oy hi s mast er pi ece, man, wi t h unspar i ng br ut al i t y, but l i ngerwi t h r espect ar ound t he beaut i f ul wor ks of ar t . They wi l l sl aught erwomen and chi l dr en, but spar e a pi ct ur e; wi l l hew down t he si ck, t hehel pl ess, and t he hoar y- headed, but r ef r ai n f r om i nj ur i ng a f i nepi ece of scul pt ur e. The Lat i ns, on t hei r ent r ance i nt oConst ant i nopl e, r espect ed nei t her t he works of God nor man, butvent ed t hei r br ut al f er oci t y upon t he one and sat i sf i ed t hei r

avar i ce upon t he ot her . Many beaut i f ul br onze st at ues, above al lpr i ce as wor ks of ar t , wer e br oken i nt o pi eces t o be sol d as ol dmet al . The f i nel y- chi sel l ed mar bl e, whi ch coul d be put t o no suchvi l e uses, was al so dest r oyed, wi t h a r eckl essness; i f possi bl e,st i l l mor e at r oci ous. [ The f ol l owi ng i s a l i st of some of t he wor ksof ar t t hus dest r oyed, f r om Ni cet as, a cont empor ar y Gr eek aut hor : - -1st . A col ossal J uno, f r om t he f or um of Const ant i ne, t he head ofwhi ch was so l ar ge t hat f our hor ses coul d scar cel y dr aw i t f r om t hepl ace wher e i t st ood t o t he pal ace. 2d. The st at ue of Par i spresent i ng t he appl e t o Venus. 3d. An i mmense br onze pyr ami d,cr owned by a f emal e f i gur e, whi ch t ur ned wi t h t he wi nd. 4t h. The

col ossal st atue of Bel l er ophon, i n br onze, whi ch was br oken down andcast i nt o t he f ur nace. Under t he i nner nai l of t he hor se' s hi nd f ooton t he l ef t si de, was f ound a seal wr apped i n a wool l en cl ot h. 5t h.A f i gur e of Her cul es, by Lysi machus, of such vast di mensi ons t hatt he thumb was equal i n ci r cumf erence t o t he wai st of a man. 6t h. TheAss and hi s dr i ver , cast by or der of August us af t er t he bat t l e ofAct i um, i n commemorat i on of hi s havi ng di scover ed t he posi t i on ofAnt ony t hr ough t he means of an ass- dr i ver . 7t h. The Wol f suckl i ngt he t wi ns of Rome. 8t h. The Gl adi at or i n combat wi t h a l i on. 9t h.

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The Hi ppopot amus. 10t h. The Sphi nxes. 11t h. An eagl e f i ght i ng wi t h aser pent . 12t h. A beaut i f ul st at ue of Hel en. 13t h. A gr oup, wi t h amonst er somewhat r esembl i ng a bul l , engaged i n deadl y conf l i ct wi t ha ser pent ; and many ot her works of ar t , t oo numerous t o ment i on. ]

The car nage bei ng over , and t he spoi l di st r i buted, si x personswere chosen f r om among the Franks and si x f r om among the Venet i ans,who were t o meet and el ect an Emperor , pr evi ousl y bi ndi ng t hemsel vesby oat h t o sel ect t he i ndi vi dual best qual i f i ed among t hecandi dates. The choi ce waver ed bet ween Bal dwi n, Count of Fl ander s,and Boni f ace, Mar qui s of Mont f er r at , but f el l event ual l y upon t hef ormer . He was st r ai ght way r obed i n t he i mper i al purpl e, and becamet he f ounder of a new dynast y. He di d not l i ve l ong t o enj oy hi spower , or t o consol i dat e i t f or hi s successor s, who, i n t hei r t ur n,wer e soon swept away. I n l ess t han si xty year s t he rul e of t heFr anks at Const ant i nopl e was br ought t o as sudden and di sast r ous at er mi nat i on as t he r ei gn of Mur zuphl i s: and t hi s was t he gr andr esul t of t he f i f t h Cr usade.

Pope I nnocent I I I , al t hough he had l ooked wi t h no ver yunf avour abl e eye upon t hese pr oceedi ngs, r egr et t ed that nothi ng hadbeen done f or t he r el i ef of t he Hol y Land; st i l l , upon ever yconveni ent occasi on, he enf orced t he necessi t y of a new Cr usade.Unt i l t he year 1213, hi s exhor t at i ons had no ot her ef f ect t han t okeep t he subj ect i n the mi nd of Eur ope. Ever y spr i ng and summer,det achment s of pi l gr i ms cont i nued t o set out f or Pal est i ne t o theai d of t hei r br et hr en, but not i n suf f i ci ent number s t o be of muchservi ce. These per i odi cal passages wer e cal l ed t he passagi uumMar t i i , or t he passage of Mar ch, and t he passagi um J ohanni s, or t he

passage of t he f est i val of St . J ohn. These di d not consi st ent i r el yof sol di er s, ar med agai nst t he Sar acen, but of pi l gr i ms l ed bydevot i on, and i n per f or mance of t hei r vows, bear i ng not hi ng wi t ht hem but t hei r st af f and t hei r wal l et . Ear l y i n t he spr i ng of 1213 amore ext r aor di nary body of cr usader s was r ai sed i n France andGermany. An i mmense number of boys and gi r l s, amount i ng, accor di ngt o some account s, t o thi r t y t housand, wer e i nci t ed by t he per suasi onof t wo monks t o under t ake t he j our ney t o Pal est i ne. They wer e, nodoubt , composed of t he i dl e and deser t ed chi l dr en who gener al l yswar m i n gr eat ci t i es, nur t ur ed i n vi ce and dar i ng, and r eady f oranyt hi ng. The obj ect of t he monks seems t o have been the at r oci ous

one of i nvei gl i ng t hem i nt o sl ave shi ps, on pr et ence of sendi ng t hemt o Syr i a, and sel l i ng t hem f or sl aves on t he coast of Af r i ca. [ See J acob de Vor agi ne and Al ber i cus. ] Gr eat numbers of t hese poorvi ct i ms wer e shi pped at Mar sei l l es; but t he vessel s, wi t h t heexcept i on of t wo or t hr ee, wer e wr ecked on t he shor es of I t al y, andever y soul per i shed. The r emai nder ar r i ved saf el y i n Af r i ca, andwer e bought up as sl aves, and sent of f i nt o t he i nt er i or of t hecount r y. Another det achment arr i ved at Genoa; but t he accompl i ces i nt hi s hor r i d pl ot havi ng t aken no measur es at t hat por t , expect i ng

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t hem al l at Mar sei l l es, t hey wer e i nduced t o r et ur n t o t hei r homesby t he Genoese.

Ful l er , i n hi s quai nt hi st or y of t he "Hol y War r e, " says t hatt hi s Cr usade was done by t he i nst i nct of t he devi l ; and he adds ar eason, whi ch may provoke mi r t h now, but whi ch was put f or t h by t hewor t hy hi st or i an i n al l sober ness and si ncer i t y. He says, "t hedevi l , bei ng cl oyed wi t h t he mur der i ng of men, desi r ed a cor di al ofchi l dr en' s bl ood to comf or t hi s weak st omach; " as epi cur es, whent i r ed of mut t on, r esor t t o l amb f or a change.

I t appear s f r om ot her aut hor s t hat t he pr eachi ng of t he vi l emonks had such an ef f ect upon t hese del uded chi l dr en t hat t hey r anabout t he count r y, excl ai mi ng, "O, Lor d J esus, r est or e t hy cr oss t ous! " and t hat nei t her bol t s nor bar s, t he f ear of f at her s, nor t hel ove of mot her s, was suf f i ci ent t o r est r ai n t hem f r om j our neyi ng t o J er usal em.

The det ai l s of t hese st r ange proceedi ngs ar e exceedi ngl y meagr eand conf used, and none of t he contempor ary wr i t ers who ment i on t hesubj ect have t hought i t wort h whi l e t o st ate t he names of t he monkswho or i gi nated t he scheme, or t he f at e they met f or t hei rwi ckedness. Two merchant s of Marsei l l es, who were t o have shared i nt he pr of i t s, wer e, i t i s sai d, br ought t o j ust i ce f or some ot hercr i me, and suf f ered deat h; but we are not i nf ormed whether t heydi vul ged any ci r cumst ances r el at i ng t o t hi s mat t er .

Pope I nnocent I I I does not seem t o have been aware that t hecauses of t hi s j uveni l e Cr usade wer e such as have been st at ed, f or ,

upon bei ng i nf ormed t hat numbers of t hem had t aken t he Cr oss, andwere marchi ng t o t he Hol y Land, he excl ai med, "These chi l dr en areawake, whi l e we sl eep! " He i magi ned, apparent l y, t hat t he mi nd ofEur ope was st i l l bent on t he r ecover y of Pal est i ne, and t hat t hezeal of t hese chi l dr en i mpl i ed a sor t of r epr oach upon hi s ownl ukewarmness. Ver y soon af t er wards, he best i r r ed hi msel f wi t h moreact i vi t y, and sent an encycl i cal l et t er t o t he cl er gy ofChr i st endom, ur gi ng t hem t o pr each a new Cr usade. As usual , a numberof advent ur ous nobl es, who had not hi ng el se t o do, enr ol l edt hemsel ves wi t h t hei r r et ai ner s. At a counci l of Lat er an, whi ch washel d whi l e these bands wer e col l ect i ng, I nnocent announced t hat he

hi msel f woul d t ake t he Cr oss, and l ead t he ar mi es of Chr i st t o t hedef ence of hi s sepul chr e. I n al l pr obabi l i t y he woul d have done so,f or he was zeal ous enough; but death st epped i n, and dest r oyed hi spr oj ect er e i t was r i pe. Hi s successor encour aged t he Cr usade,t hough he ref used t o accompany i t ; and the armament cont i nued i nFr ance, Engl and, and Ger many. No l eader s of any i mport ance j oi ned i tf r om t he f ormer count r i es. Andr ew, Ki ng of Hungar y, was t he onl ymonar ch who had l ei sur e or i ncl i nat i on t o l eave hi s domi ni ons. TheDukes of Aust r i a and Bavar i a j oi ned hi m wi t h a consi der abl e ar my of

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Ger mans, and marchi ng t o Spal at r o, t ook shi p f or Cypr us, and f r omt hence t o Acr e.

The whol e conduct of t he Ki ng of Hungary was mar ked bypusi l l ani mi t y and i r r esol ut i on. He f ound hi msel f i n t he Hol y Land att he head of a ver y ef f i ci ent army; t he Saracens wer e taken bysurpr i se, and wer e f or some weeks unpr epared t o of f er any resi st ancet o hi s arms. He def eated t he f i r st body sent t o oppose hi m, andmarched t owards Mount Tabor , wi t h t he i nt ent i on of sei zi ng upon ani mpor t ant f or t r ess whi ch t he Saracens had r ecent l y const r uct ed. Hear r i ved wi t hout i mpedi ment at t he Mount , and mi ght have easi l y takeni t ; but a sudden f i t of cowardi ce came over hi m, and he r et ur ned t oAcr e wi t hout st r i ki ng a bl ow. He ver y soon af t er wards abandoned theent er pr i se al t oget her , and r et ur ned t o hi s own count r y.

Tar dy r ei nf or cements ar r i ved at i nt er val s f r om Eur ope; and t heDuke of Aust r i a, now t he chi ef l eader of t he expedi t i on, had st i l lsuf f i ci ent f or ces at hi s command t o t r oubl e t he Sar acens ver y

ser i ousl y. I t was r esol ved by hi m, i n counci l wi t h t he ot her chi ef s,t hat t he whol e energy of t he Cr usade shoul d be di r ect ed upon Egypt ,t he seat of t he Sar acen power i n i t s r el at i onshi p t o Pal est i ne, andf r om whence wer e dr awn the cont i nual l evi es t hat were br oughtagai nst t hem by t he Sul t an. Dami et t a, whi ch commanded t he r i verNi l e, and was one of t he most i mport ant ci t i es of Egypt , was chosenas t he f i r st poi nt of at t ack. The si ege was f or t hwi t h commenced, andcar r i ed on wi t h consi der abl e ener gy, unt i l t he cr usader s gai nedpossessi on of a t ower , whi ch pr oj ect ed i nt o t he mi ddl e of t hest r eam, and was l ooked upon as t he ver y key of t he ci t y.

Whi l e congr atul at i ng t hemsel ves upon t hi s success, and wast i ngi n revel r y t he t i me whi ch shoul d have been empl oyed i n pushi ng theadvant age, t hey recei ved t he news of t he death of t he wi se Sul t anSaphaddi n. Hi s t wo sons, Camhel and Cohr eddi n, di vi ded hi s empi r ebet ween t hem. Syr i a and Pal est i ne f el l t o t he shar e of Cohr eddi n,whi l e Egypt was consi gned t o t he ot her br ot her , who had f or somet i me exer ci sed t he f unct i ons of Li eut enant of t hat count r y. Bei ngunpopul ar among t he Egypt i ans, t hey r evol t ed agai nst hi m, gi vi ng t hecr usader s a f i ner opport uni t y f or maki ng a conquest t han t hey hadever enj oyed bef or e. But , quar r el some and l i cent i ous as t hey hadbeen f r om t i me i mmemor i al , t hey di d not see t hat t he f avour abl e

moment had come; or , seei ng, coul d not pr of i t by i t . Whi l e t hey wer er evel l i ng or f i ght i ng among t hemsel ves, under t he wal l s of Dami et t a,t he revol t was put down, and Camhel f i r ml y est abl i shed on the t hr oneof Egypt . I n conj unct i on wi t h hi s br ot her , Cohr eddi n, hi s next car ewas t o dr i ve t he Chr i st i ans f r om Dami et t a, and, f or upwar ds of t hr eemont hs, t hey bent al l t hei r ef f or t s t o t hr ow i n suppl i es t o t hebesi eged, or dr aw on t he besi egers t o a general engagement . I nnei t her were they successf ul ; and t he f ami ne i n Dami et t a became sodr eadf ul , t hat ver mi n of ever y descr i pt i on wer e t hought l uxur i es,

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and sol d f or exorbi t ant pr i ces. A dead dog became more val uabl e t hana l i ve ox i n t i me of pr osper i t y. Unwhol esome f ood br ought ondi sease, and t he ci t y coul d hol d out no l onger , f or absol ut e want ofmen t o def end t he wal l s.

Cohr eddi n and Camhel wer e al i ke i nt er est ed i n t he pr eservat i onof so i mpor t ant a posi t i on, and, convi nced of t he cer t ai n f at e oft he ci t y, t hey opened a conf er ence wi t h t he cr usadi ng chi ef s,of f er i ng t o yi el d t he whol e of Pal est i ne t o t he Chr i st i ans, upon t hesol e condi t i on of t he evacuat i on of Egypt . Wi t h a bl i ndness andwr ong- headedness al most i ncr edi bl e, t hese advant ageous t erms werer ef used, chi ef l y t hr ough t he per suasi on of Car di nal Pel agi us, ani gnorant and obst i nate f anat i c, who ur ged upon t he Duke of Aust r i aand t he French and Engl i sh l eader s, t hat i nf i del s never kept t hei rwor d; t hat t hei r of f er s wer e decept i ve, and mer el y i nt ended t obet r ay. The conf er ences wer e br ought t o an abr upt t er mi nat i on by t hecr usader s, and a l ast at t ack made upon t he wal l s of Dami et t a. Thebesi eged made but sl i ght r esi st ance, f or t hey had no hope, and t he

Chr i st i ans ent er ed t he ci t y, and f ound, out of sevent y t housandpeopl e, but t hr ee t housand r emai ni ng: so f ear f ul had been t her avages of t he t wi n f i ends, pl ague and f ami ne.

Sever al mont hs wer e spent i n Dami et t a. The cl i mate ei t herweakened t he f r ames or obscured t he under st andi ngs of t heChr i st i ans; f or , af t er t hei r conquest , t hey l ost al l ener gy, andabandoned t hemsel ves more unscr upul ousl y t han ever t o r i ot anddebaucher y. J ohn of Br i enne, who, by r i ght of hi s wi f e, was t henomi nal sover ei gn of J er usal em, was so di sgust ed wi t h t hepusi l l ani mi t y, ar r ogance, and di ssensi ons of t he chi ef s, t hat he

wi t hdr ew ent i r el y f r om t hem, and r et i r ed t o Acr e. Lar ge bodi es al sor et ur ned t o Eur ope, and Car di nal Pel agi us was l ef t at l i ber t y tobl ast t he whol e ent erpr i se whenever i t pl eased hi m. He managed t oconci l i ate J ohn of Br i enne, and marched f orward wi t h t hese combi nedf orces t o at t ack Cai r o. I t was onl y when he had appr oached wi t hi n af ew hour s' mar ch of t hat ci t y, t hat he di scover ed t he i nadequacy ofhi s army. He t ur ned back i mmedi atel y, but t he Ni l e had r i sen si ncehi s depar t ure; t he sl ui ces were opened, and t here was no means ofr eachi ng Dami et t a. I n t hi s st r ai t , he sued f or t he peace he hadf or mer l y spur ned, and, happi l y f or hi msel f , f ound t he gener ousbr ot her s, Camhel and Cohr eddi n, st i l l wi l l i ng t o gr ant i t . Dami et t a

was soon af t er wards gi ven up, and t he Cardi nal r et ur ned t o Eur ope. J ohn of Br i enne r et i r ed t o Acr e, t o mourn t he l oss of hi s ki ngdom,embi t t er ed agai nst t he f ol l y of hi s pr et ended f r i ends, who hadr ui ned where t hey shoul d have ai ded hi m. And t hus ended t he si xt hCr usade.

The sevent h was mor e successf ul . Fr eder i c I I , Emperor ofGermany, had of t en vowed t o l ead hi s ar mi es t o t he def ence ofPal est i ne, but was as of t en det er r ed f r om t he j our ney by mat t er s of

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more pr essi ng i mpor t ance. Cohr eddi n was a mi l d and enl i ght enedmonar ch, and t he Chr i st i ans of Syr i a enj oyed r epose and t ol er at i onunder hi s r ul e: but J ohn of Br i enne was not wi l l i ng t o l ose hi ski ngdom wi t hout an ef f or t ; and t he Popes i n Eur ope wer e ever wi l l i ngt o embr oi l t he nat i ons f or t he sake of ext endi ng t hei r own power . Nomonarch of t hat age was capabl e of r ender i ng more ef f ect i veassi st ance t han Freder i c of Ger many. To i nspi r e hi m wi t h mor e zeal ,i t was pr oposed t hat he shoul d wed t he young Pr i ncess, Vi ol ant e,daught er of J ohn of Br i enne, and hei r ess of t he ki ngdom of J er usal em. Fr eder i c consented wi t h j oy and eager ness. The Pr i ncesswas br ought f r om Acr e to Rome wi t hout del ay, and her marr i agecel ebr at ed on a scal e of gr eat magni f i cence. Her f at her , J ohn ofBr i enne, abdi cat ed al l hi s r i ght s i n f avour of hi s son- i n- l aw, and J er usal em had once mor e a ki ng, who had not onl y t he wi l l , but t hepower , t o enf or ce hi s cl ai ms. Prepar at i ons f or t he new cr usade wer ei mmedi at el y commenced, and i n t he course of si x months t he Emper orwas at t he head of a wel l - di sci pl i ned ar my of si xty t housand men.Mat t hew Par i s i nf orms us, t hat an ar my of t he same amount was

gat hered i n Engl and; and most of t he wr i t ers upon t he Cr usades adopthi s st atement . When J ohn of Br i enne was i n Engl and, bef ore hi sdaught er ' s marr i age wi t h t he Emper or was t hought of , pr ayi ng f or t heai d of Henr y I I I . and hi s nobl es t o r ecover hi s l ost ki ngdom, he di dnot meet wi t h much encour agement . Gr af t on, i n hi s Chr oni cl e, says,"he depar t ed agai n wi t hout any gr eat comf or t . " But when a man ofmore i nf l uence i n Eur opean pol i t i cs appeared upon t he scene, t heEngl i sh nobl es wer e as r eady t o sacr i f i ce t hemsel ves i n t he cause ast hey had been i n t he t i me of Coeur de Li on.

The ar my of Fr eder i c encamped at Br undusi um; but a pest i l ent i al

di sease havi ng made i t s appearance among t hem, t hei r depar t ure wasdel ayed f or sever al mont hs. I n t he mean t i me t he Empr ess Vi ol ant edi ed i n chi l d- bed. J ohn of Br i enne, who had al r eady r epent ed of hi sabdi cat i on, and was besi des i ncensed agai nst Freder i c f or many act sof negl ect and i nsul t , no sooner saw t he onl y t i e whi ch bound t hem,sever ed by t he death of hi s daught er , t han he began t o best i rhi msel f , and make i nt erest wi t h t he Pope t o undo what he had done,and regai n t he honor ary cr own he had r enounced. Pope Gr egory t heNi nt h, a man of a pr oud, unconci l i at i ng, and r evengef ul char act er ,owed t he Emper or a gr udge f or many an act of di sobedi ence t o hi saut hor i t y, and encour aged t he over t ur es of J ohn of Br i enne more t han

he shoul d have done. Fr eder i c, however , despi sed t hem both, and, assoon as hi s army was conval escent , set sai l f or Acr e. He had notbeen many days at sea, when he was hi msel f at t acked wi t h t he mal ady,and obl i ged t o ret ur n t o Ot r ant o, t he near est por t . Gr egor y, who hadby thi s t i me deci ded i n t he i nt er est of J ohn of Br i enne,excommuni cat ed the Emper or f or r et ur ni ng f r om so hol y an expedi t i onon any pr et ext what ever . Freder i c at f i r st t r eat ed t heexcommuni cat i on wi t h supr eme contempt ; but when he got wel l , he gavehi s Hol i ness t o under st and t hat he was not t o be out r aged wi t h

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t housand swor ds st ar t ed f r om t hei r scabbar ds, t o t est i f y t hat t hei rowner s woul d def end t he new monar ch t o t he deat h.

I t was hardl y t o be expect ed t hat he woul d r enounce f or anyl ong per i od t he domi ni on of hi s nat i ve l and f or t he uneasy cr own andbar r en soi l of Pal est i ne. He had seen qui t e enough of hi s newsubj ect s bef or e he was s i x mont hs among t hem, and mor e i mpor t anti nt er est s cal l ed hi m home. J ohn of Br i enne, openl y l eagued wi t h PopeGr egory agai nst hi m, was act ual l y empl oyed i n r avagi ng hi st er r i t or i es at t he head of a papal ar my. Thi s i nt el l i gence deci dedhi s r et urn. As a pr el i mi nar y st ep, he made t hose who had cont emnedhi s aut hor i t y f eel , t o t hei r sor r ow, t hat he was t hei r mast er . Het hen set sai l , l oaded wi t h t he cur ses of Pal est i ne. And t hus endedt he sevent h Cr usade, whi ch, i n spi t e of ever y obst acl e anddi sadvant age, had been pr oduct i ve of more r eal servi ce t o t he Hol yLand t han any that had gone bef or e; a r esul t sol el y at t r i but abl e t ot he br aver y of Freder i c and t he gener osi t y of t he Sul t an Camhel .

Soon af t er t he Emper or ' s depart ur e a new cl ai mant st ar t ed f ort he thr one of J er usal em, i n t he per son of Al i ce, Queen of Cypr us,and hal f - si st er of t he Mar y who, by her mar r i age, had t r ansf er r edher r i ght t o J ohn of Br i enne. The gr and mi l i t ar y or der s, however ,cl ung t o Fr eder i c, and Al i ce was obl i ged t o wi t hdr aw.

So peacef ul a t er mi nat i on t o t he Cr usade di d not gi ve unmi xedpl easur e i n Eur ope. The chi val r y of Fr ance and Engl and wer e unabl et o r est , and l ong bef or e t he concl usi on of t he t r uce, wer ecol l ect i ng t hei r ar mi es f or an ei ght h expedi t i on. I n Pal est i ne,al so, t he cont ent ment was f ar f r om uni ver sal . Many pet t y Mahomedan

st at es i n t he i mmedi at e vi ci ni t y wer e not par t i es t o t he t r uce, andhar assed t he f r ont i er t owns i ncessant l y. The Templ ars, evert ur bul ent , waged bi t t er war wi t h t he Sul t an of Al eppo, and i n t heend were al most ext ermi nat ed. So great was t he sl aught er among themt hat Eur ope resounded wi t h t he sad st ory of t hei r f ate, and many anobl e kni ght t ook ar ms t o pr event t he t ot al dest r uct i on of an or derassoci at ed wi t h so many hi gh and i nspi r i ng remembr ances. Camhel ,seei ng t he pr epar at i ons t hat wer e maki ng, t hought t hat hi sgener osi t y had been suf f i ci ent l y shown, and t he ver y day t he t r ucewas at an end assumed t he of f ensi ve, and marchi ng f orward t o J er usal em t ook possess i on of i t , af t er r out i ng t he scant y f or ces of

t he Chr i st i ans. Bef or e t hi s i nt el l i gence r eached Eur ope a l ar ge bodyof cr usaders was on t he march, headed by t he Ki ng of Navar r e, t heDuke of Bur gundy, t he Count de Br etagne, and ot her l eaders. On t hei rar r i val , t hey l ear ned t hat J er usal em had been t aken, but t hat t heSul t an was dead, and hi s ki ngdom t or n by r i val cl ai mant s t o t hesupr eme power . The di ssensi ons of t hei r f oes ought t o have made t hemuni t ed, but , as i n al l pr evi ous Cr usades, each f eudal chi ef wasmast er of hi s own host , and act ed upon hi s own r esponsi bi l i t y, andwi t hout r ef erence t o any general pl an. The consequence was t hat

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not hi ng coul d be done. A t empor ar y advant age was gai ned by onel eader , who had no means of i mprovi ng i t , whi l e anot her wasdef eat ed, wi t hout means of r et r i evi ng hi msel f . Thus t he war l i nger edt i l l t he bat t l e of Gaza, when t he Ki ng of Navar r e was def eat ed wi t hgr eat l oss, and compel l ed t o save hi msel f f r om t ot al dest r uct i on byent er i ng i nt o a har d and oppr essi ve t r eat y wi t h t he Emi r of Kar ac.

At t hi s cr i si s ai d ar r i ved f r om Engl and, commanded by Ri char dEar l of Cor nwal l , t he namesake of Coeur de Li on, and i nher i t or ofhi s val our . Hi s army was st r ong, and f ul l of hope. They hadconf i dence i n t hemsel ves and i n thei r l eader , and l ooked l i ke menaccust omed t o vi ct or y. Thei r comi ng changed t he aspect of af f ai r s. The new Sul t an of Egypt was at war wi t h t he Sul t an of Damascus, andhad not f or ces t o oppose t wo enemi es so powerf ul . He t heref ore sentmessenger s t o meet t he Engl i sh Ear l , of f er i ng an exchange ofpr i soner s and t he compl et e cessi on of t he Hol y Land. Ri chard, whohad not come t o f i ght f or t he mer e sake of f i ght i ng, agr eed at oncet o t er ms so advant ageous, and became t he del i ver er of Pal est i ne

wi t hout st r i ki ng a bl ow. The Sul t an of Egypt t hen t ur ned hi s whol ef or ce agai nst hi s Mosl em enemi es, and t he Ear l of Cor nwal l r et ur nedt o Eur ope. Thus ended t he ei ght h Cr usade, t he most benef i ci al ofal l . Chr i st endom had no f ur t her pr et ence f or sendi ng her f i er cel evi es t o t he East . To al l appear ance, t he hol y war s wer e at an end:t he Chr i st i ans had ent i r e possessi on of J er usal em, Tr i pol i , Ant i och,Edessa, Acre, J af f a, and, i n f act, of near l y al l J udea; and, coul dt hey have been at peace among t hemsel ves, t hey mi ght have over come,wi t hout gr eat di f f i cul t y, t he j eal ousy and host i l i t y of t hei rnei ghhour s. A ci r cumst ance, as unf or eseen as i t was di sast r ous,bl ast ed t hi s f ai r pr ospect , and r ei l l umed, f or t he l ast t i me, t he

f er vour and f ur y of t he Cr usades.

Gengi s Khan and hi s successors had swept over Asi a l i ke at r opi cal st or m, over t ur ni ng i n t hei r pr ogr ess t he l andmar ks of ages.Ki ngdom af t er ki ngdom was cast down as t hey i ssued, i nnumer abl e,f r om t he f ar r ecesses of t he Nort h and East , and, among ot her s, t heempi r e of Korasmi n was over r un by these al l - conquer i ng hordes. TheKor asmi ns, a f i er ce, unci vi l i zed r ace, t hus dr i ven f r om t hei r homes,spr ead t hemsel ves, i n t hei r t ur n, over t he sout h of Asi a wi t h f i r eand swor d, i n sear ch of a rest i ng pl ace. I n t hei r i mpet uous cour set hey di r ect ed t hemsel ves t owards Egypt , whose Sul t an, unabl e to

wi t hst and t he swar m t hat had cast t hei r l ongi ng eyes on t he f er t i l eval l eys of t he Ni l e, endeavour ed t o t ur n t hem f r om t hei r cour se. Fort hi s pur pose, he sent emi ssari es t o Bar baquan, t hei r l eader ,i nvi t i ng t hem t o set t l e i n Pal est i ne; and t he of f er bei ng accept edby t he wi l d hor de, t hey ent er ed t he count r y bef or e t he Chr i st i ansr ecei ved t he sl i ght est i nt i mat i on of t hei r comi ng. I t was as suddenas i t was over whel mi ng. Onwards, l i ke the si moom, t hey came, bur ni ngand sl ayi ng, and wer e at t he wal l s of J er usal em bef or e t hei nhabi t ant s had t i me t o l ook round t hem. They spar ed nei t her l i f e

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nor pr oper t y; t hey sl ew women and chi l dr en, and pr i est s at t heal t ar , and pr of aned even t he gr aves of t hose who had sl ept f or ages. They t or e down every vest i ge of t he Chr i st i an f ai t h, and commi t t edhor r or s unpar al l el ed i n t he hi st or y of war f ar e. About seven t housandof t he i nhabi t ant s of J er usal em sought saf et y i n r et r eat ; but bef or et hey wer e out of si ght , t he banner of t he Cr oss was hoi st ed upon t hewal l s by t he savage f oe t o decoy t hem back. The ar t i f i ce was but t oosuccessf ul . The poor f ugi t i ves i magi ned t hat hel p had ar r i ved f r omanot her di r ect i on, and t ur ned back t o r egai n t hei r homes. Near l y thewhol e of t hem wer e massacred, and t he st r eet s of J er usal em r an wi t hbl ood.

The Templ ar s, Hospi t al l er s, and Teut oni c kni ghts f or got t hei rl ong and bi t t er ani mosi t i es, and j oi ned hand i n hand t o rout outt hi s desol at i ng f oe. They i nt r enched t hemsel ves i n J af f a wi t h al lt he chi val r y of Pal est i ne that yet r emai ned, and endeavour ed t oengage t he Sul t ans of Emi ssa and Damascus t o assi st t hem agai nst t hecommon enemy. The ai d obtai ned f r om t he Mosl ems amounted at f i r st t o

onl y f our t housand men, but wi t h t hese rei nf orcement s Wal t er ofBr i enne, t he Lor d of J af f a, r esol ved t o gi ve bat t l e t o t heKor asr ai ns. The conf l i ct was as deadl y as despai r on t he one si de,and unmi t i gat ed f er oci t y on t he ot her , coul d make i t . I t l ast ed wi t hvar yi ng f or t une f or t wo days, when t he Sul t an of Emi ssa f l ed t o hi sf or t i f i cat i ons, and Wal t er of Br i enne f el l i nt o t he enemy' s hands. The brave kni ght was suspended by t he ar ms t o a cr oss i n si ght oft he wal l s of J af f a, and t he Kor asmi ni an l eader decl ar ed t hat heshoul d r emai n i n t hat posi t i on unt i l t he ci t y sur r ender ed. Wal t err ai sed hi s f eebl e voi ce, not t o advi se sur r ender , but t o command hi ssol di er s t o hol d out t o t he l ast . But hi s gal l ant r y was unavai l i ng.

So gr eat had been t he sl aught er , t hat out of t he gr and ar r ay ofkni ght s, t her e now r emai ned but si xt een Hospi t al l er s, t hi r t y- t hr ee Templ ar s, and t hree Teut oni c caval i er s. These wi t h t he sad r emnantof t he army f l ed t o Acr e, and t he Korasmi ns were mast ers ofPal est i ne.

The Sul t ans of Syr i a pref er r ed t he Chr i st i ans t o t hi s f i er cehor de f or t hei r nei ghbour s. Even t he Sul t an of Egypt began t o regr ett he ai d he had gi ven t o such barbarous f oes, and uni t ed wi t h t hoseof Emi ssa and Damascus t o r oot t hem f r om t he l and. The Korasmi nsamounted t o but t went y t housand men, and were unabl e t o resi st t he

det er mi ned host i l i t y whi ch encompassed t hem on ever y si de. TheSul t ans def eated t hem i n sever al engagement s, and t he peasant r y roseup i n masses t o t ake vengeance upon t hem. Gr adual l y t hei r number swere di mi ni shed. No mercy was shown t hem i n def eat . Barbaquan, t hei rl eader , was sl ai n, and af t er f i ve year s of desper at e st r uggl es t heywer e f i nal l y ext i r pated, and Pal est i ne became once more t het er r i t or y of t he Mussul mans.

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A shor t t i me pr evi ous t o t hi s devast at i ng i r r upt i on, Loui s I X.f el l si ck i n Par i s, and dr eamed i n t he del i r i um of hi s f ever t hat hesaw t he Chr i st i an and Mosl em host s f i ght i ng bef or e J er usal em, andt he Chr i st i ans def eat ed wi t h gr eat sl aught er . The dr eam made a gr eati mpr essi on on hi s superst i t i ous mi nd, and he made a sol emn vow t hati f ever he r ecover ed hi s heal t h, he woul d t ake a pi l gr i mage t o t heHol y Land. When the news of t he mi sf or t unes of Pal est i ne, and theawf ul massacres at J er usal em and J af f a, ar r i ved i n Eur ope, St . Loui sr emembered hi m of hi s dr eam. More persuaded t han ever , t hat i t wasan i nt i mat i on di r ect f r om Heaven, he pr epar ed t o t ake t he Cr oss att he head of hi s ar mi es, and march t o the del i ver ance of t he Hol ySepul chr e. Fr om t hat moment he dof f ed the royal mant l e of pur pl e ander mi ne, and dr essed i n t he sober serge becomi ng a pi l gr i m. Al l hi st hought s wer e di r ect ed t o t he f ul f i l ment of hi s desi gn, and al t houghhi s ki ngdom coul d but i l l spar e hi m, he made ever y pr epar at i on t ol eave i t . Pope I nnocent I V. appl auded hi s zeal and af f or ded hi mever y assi st ance. He wr ot e t o Henr y I I I . of Engl and t o f or war d t hecause i n hi s domi ni ons, and cal l ed upon t he cl er gy and l ai t y al l

over Eur ope t o cont r i but e t owar ds i t . Wi l l i am Longswor d, t hecel ebr at ed Ear l of Sal i sbur y, t ook t he Cr oss at t he head of a gr eatnumber of val i ant kni ght s and sol di er s. But t he f anat i ci sm of t hepeopl e was not t o be awakened ei t her i n Fr ance or Engl and. Gr eatarmi es were r ai sed, but t he masses no l onger sympat hi zed. Taxat i onhad been t he gr eat cool er of zeal . I t was no l onger a di sgr ace event o a kni ght i f he r ef used t o take t he Cr oss. Rut ebeuf , a Fr enchmi nst r el , who f l our i shed about t hi s t i me ( 1250) , composed a di al oguebet ween a cr usader and a noncr usader , whi ch t he r eader wi l l f i ndt r ansl ated i n "Way' s Fabl i aux. " The cr usader uses ever y argument t oper suade the noncr usader t o t ake up arms, and f orsake ever y t hi ng,

i n t he hol y cause; but i t i s evi dent f r om t he gr eat er f or ce of t heargument s used by the noncr usader , t hat he was t he f avour i t e of t hemi nst r el . To a most ur gent sol i ci t at i on of hi s f r i end, t he crusader ,he r epl i es,

"I read thee right, thou boldest good

To this same land I straight should hie,

And win it back with mickle blood,

Nor gaine one foot of soil thereby.

While here dejected and forlorn,

My wife and babes are left to mourn;

My goodly mansion rudely marred,All trusted to my dogs to guard.

But I, fair comrade, well I wot

An ancient saw, of pregnant wit,

Doth bid us keep what we have got,

And troth I mean to follow it."

Thi s bei ng t he gener al f eel i ng, i t i s not t o be wonder ed att hat Loui s I X. was occupi ed f ul l y t hr ee year s i n or gani zi ng hi s

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f or ces, and i n maki ng t he necessary pr epar at i ons f or hi s depar t ur e.When al l was r eady he set sai l f or Cypr us, accompani ed by hi s Queen,hi s t wo br ot her s, t he Count s d' Anj ou and d' Ar t oi s, and a l ong t r ai nof t he nobl est chi val r y of France. Hi s t hi r d br ot her , t he Count dePoi t i er s, r emai ned behi nd t o col l ect anot her cor ps of cr usader s, andf ol l owed hi m i n a f ew mont hs af t er wards. The army uni t ed at Cypr us,and amount ed t o f i f t y thousand men, excl usi ve of t he Engl i shcrusader s under Wi l l i am Longswor d. Agai n, a pest i l ent i al di seasemade i t s appearance, t o whi ch many hundr eds f el l vi ct i ms. I t was i nconsequence f ound necessary to remai n i n Cypr us unt i l t he spr i ng.Loui s t hen embar ked f or Egypt wi t h hi s whol e host ; but a vi ol entt empest separ at ed hi s f l eet , and he ar r i ved bef or e Dami et t a wi t honl y a f ew t housand men. They were, however , i mpetuous and f ul l ofhope; and al t hough the Sul t an Mel i ck Shah was drawn up on the shorewi t h a f or ce i nf i ni t el y super i or , i t was r esol ved t o at t empt al andi ng wi t hout wai t i ng t he ar r i val of t he r est of t he ar my. Loui shi msel f i n wi l d i mpat i ence spr ang f r om hi s boat , and waded on shor e;whi l e hi s ar my, i nspi r ed by hi s ent husi ast i c br aver y, f ol l owed,

shout i ng t he ol d war - cry of t he f i r st crusader s, Di eu l e veut ! Di eul e veut ! A pani c sei zed t he Tur ks. A body of t hei r caval r y at t empt edt o bear down upon t he cr usader s, but t he kni ght s f i xed t hei r l ar geshi el ds deep i n t he sands of t he shor e. and r est ed t hei r l ances upont hem, so t hat t hey pr oj ect ed above, and f ormed a bar r i er soi mposi ng, t hat t he Tur ks, af r ai d t o br east i t , t ur ned r ound andf ai r l y t ook t o f l i ght . At t he moment of t hi s pani c, a f al se r epor twas spr ead i n t he Saracen host , t hat t he Sul t an had been sl ai n. Theconf usi on i mmedi at el y became general - - t he derout e was compl ete:Dami et t a i t sel f was abandoned, and t he same ni ght t he vi ct or i ouscrusader s f i xed t hei r headquar t er s i n t hat ci t y. The sol di er s who

had been separ at ed f r om t hei r chi ef by the t empest , ar r i ved shor t l yaf t er war ds; and Loui s was i n a posi t i on t o j ust i f y t he hope, notonl y of t he conquest of Pal est i ne, but of Egypt i t sel f .

But t oo much conf i dence proved the bane of hi s ar my. Theyt hought , as t hey had accompl i shed so much, t hat not hi ng morer emai ned t o be done, and gave t hemsel ves up t o ease and l uxury.When, by t he command of Loui s, t hey mar ched t owar ds Cai r o, t hey wereno l onger t he same men; success, i nst ead of i nspi r i ng, had unner vedt hem; debauchery had brought on di sease, and di sease was aggr avat edby t he heat of a cl i mat e to whi ch none of t hem were accust omed.

Thei r progress t owar ds Massoura, on t he r oad t o Cai r o, was checkedby t he Thani si an canal , on t he banks of whi ch t he Sar acens weredr awn up t o di sput e t he passage. Loui s gave order s t hat a br i dgeshoul d be t hrown acr oss; and the operat i ons commenced under cover oft wo cat - cast l es, or hi gh moveabl e tower s. The Saracens soondest r oyed t hem by thr owi ng quant i t i es of Gr eek f i r e, t he ar t i l l er yof t hat day, upon t hem, and Loui s was f orced to t hi nk of some ot hermeans of ef f ect i ng hi s desi gn. A peasant agr eed, f or a consi der abl ebr i be, t o poi nt out a f ord wher e t he ar my mi ght wade acr oss, and t he

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Count d' Ar t oi s was despat ched wi t h f our t een hundr ed men t o at t empti t , whi l e Loui s r emai ned to f ace t he Sar acens wi t h t he mai n body oft he ar my. The Count d' Ar t oi s got saf el y over , and def eat ed t hedetachment t hat had been sent t o oppose hi s l andi ng. Fl ushed wi t ht he vi ct or y, t he br ave Count f or got t he i nf er i or i t y of hi s number s,and pursued t he pani c- st r i cken enemy i nto Massour a. He was nowcompl et el y cut of f f r om t he ai d of hi s br ot her - crusader s, whi ch t heMosl ems per cei vi ng, t ook cour age and r etur ned upon hi m, wi t h a f orceswol l en by t he gar r i son of Massour a, and by rei nf or cement s f r om t hesur r oundi ng di st r i ct s. The bat t l e now became hand t o hand. TheChr i st i ans f ought wi t h t he ener gy of desper ate men, but t hecont i nual l y i ncr easi ng number s of t he f oe sur r ounded t hemcompl et el y, and cut of f al l hope, ei t her of vi ct or y or escape. TheCount d' Ar t oi s was among t he f oremost of t he sl ai n, and when Loui sarr i ved t o t he r escue, t he br ave advance- guard was near l y cut t opi eces. Of t he f our t een hundr ed but t hr ee hundr ed remai ned. The f ur yof t he bat t l e was now i ncr eased t hr eef ol d. The Fr ench Ki ng and hi st r oops per f or med pr odi gi es of val our , and t he Sar acens, under t he

command of t he Emi r Cecci dun, f ought as i f t hey were det ermi ned t oexter mi nat e, i n one l ast deci si ve ef f or t , t he new Eur opean swar mt hat had set t l ed upon t hei r coast . At t he f al l of t he eveni ng dewst he Chr i st i ans wer e mast er s of t he f i el d of Massour a, and f l at t er edt hemsel ves t hat t hey wer e t he vi ct or s. Sel f - l ove woul d not suf f ert hem t o conf ess t hat t he Sar acens had wi t hdr awn, and not r et r eat ed;but t hei r l eader s wer e t oo wof ul l y convi nced t hat t hat f at al f i el dhad compl et ed t he di sorgani zat i on of t he Chr i st i an ar my, and t hatal l hopes of f ut ur e conquest wer e at an end.

I mpr essed wi t h t hi s t r ut h, t he cr usader s sued f or peace. The

Sul t an i nsi st ed upon t he i mmedi ate evacuat i on of Dami et t a, and t hatLoui s hi msel f shoul d be del i ver ed as host age f or t he f ul f i l ment oft he condi t i on. Hi s ar my at once ref used, and t he negot i at i ons wer ebr oken of f . I t was now r esol ved t o at t empt a r et r eat ; but t he agi l eSar acens, now i n t he f r ont and now i n t he rear , r ender ed i t a mat t erof ext r eme di f f i cul t y, and cut of f t he st r aggl er s i n gr eat number s.Hundr eds of t hem were dr owned i n t he Ni l e; and si ckness and f ami neworked sad ravage upon t hose who escaped al l other casual t i es. Loui shi msel f was so weakened by di sease, f at i gue, and di scouragement t hathe was har dl y abl e t o si t upon hi s hor se. I n t he conf usi on of t hef l i ght he was separ at ed f r om hi s at t endant s, and l ef t a t ot al

st r anger upon t he sands of Egypt , si ck, weary, and al mostf r i endl ess. One kni ght , Gef f r y de Ser gi nes, al one at t ended hi m, andl ed hi m t o a mi ser abl e hut i n a smal l vi l l age, wher e f or sever aldays he l ay i n t he hour l y expect at i on of deat h. He was at l astdi scover ed and t aken pr i soner by t he Saracens, who t r eated hi m wi t hal l t he honour due t o hi s r ank and al l t he pi t y due t o hi smi sf or t unes. Under t hei r car e hi s heal t h r api dl y i mpr oved, and t henext consi der at i on was t hat of hi s r ansom.

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The Saracens demanded, besi des money, t he cessi on of Acr e, Tr i pol i , and ot her ci t i es of Pal est i ne. Loui s unhesi t at i ngl yr ef used, and conduct ed hi msel f wi t h so much pr i de and cour age thatt he Sul t an decl ared he was t he pr oudest i nf i del he had ever behel d.Af t er a good deal of haggl i ng, t he Sul t an agr eed t o wai ve t hesecondi t i ons, and a t r eat y was f i nal l y concl uded. The ci t y of Dami et t awas r est ored; a t r uce of t en years agr eed upon, and t en t housandgol den bezant s pai d f or t he r el ease of Loui s and t he l i ber at i on ofal l t he capt i ves. Loui s t hen wi t hdr ew t o J af f a, and spent t wo year si n put t i ng t hat ci t y, and Cesar ea, wi t h t he ot her possessi ons of t heChr i st i ans i n Pal est i ne, i nt o a pr oper st at e of def ence. He t henr et ur ned t o hi s own count r y, wi t h gr eat r eput at i on as a sai nt , butvery l i t t l e as a sol di er .

Mat t hew Par i s i nf or ms us t hat , i n t he year 1250, whi l e Loui swas i n Egypt , " t housands of t he Engl i sh wer e r esol ved t o go t o t hehol y war , had not t he Ki ng st r i ct l y guar ded hi s por t s and kept hi speopl e f r om r unni ng out of door s. " When the news ar r i ved of t he

r ever ses and capt i vi t y of t he French Ki ng, t hei r ar dour cool ed; andt he Cr usade was sung of onl y, but not spoken of .

I n France, a ver y di f f er ent f eel i ng was t he r esul t . The news oft he Ki ng' s capt ur e spr ead const er nat i on t hr ough t he count r y. Af anat i c monk of Ci t eaux suddenl y appear ed i n t he vi l l ages, pr eachi ngt o t he peopl e, and announci ng t hat t he Hol y Vi r gi n, accompani ed by awhol e army of sai nt s and mar t yr s, had appear ed t o hi m, and commandedhi m t o st i r up t he shepher ds and f ar m l abour er s t o t he def ence oft he Cr oss. To t hem onl y was hi s di scour se addr essed, and hi sel oquence was such that t housands f l ocked ar ound hi m, r eady t o

f ol l ow wher ever he shoul d l ead. The past ur es and t he cor n- f i el dswere deser t ed, and t he shepherds, or past our eaux, as t hey weret ermed, became at l ast so numerous as t o amount t o upwards of f i f t yt housand, - - Mi l l ot says one hundr ed t housand men. [ El emens del ' Hi st oi r e de Fr ance. ] The Queen Bl anche, who governed as Regentdur i ng t he absence of t he Ki ng, encour aged at f i r st t he ar mi es oft he past our eaux; but t hey soon gave way t o such vi l e excesses t hatt he peaceabl y di sposed wer e dr i ven t o r esi st ance. Robber y, mur der ,and vi ol at i on mar ked t hei r pat h; and al l good men, assi st ed by t hegover nment , uni t ed i n put t i ng t hem down. They wer e f i nal l ydi sper sed, but not bef ore t hr ee t housand of t hem had been massacred.

Many aut hor s say t hat t he sl aught er was st i l l gr eat er .

The t en years' t r uce concl uded i n 1264, and St . Loui s was urgedby t wo powerf ul mot i ves t o undert ake a second expedi t i on f or t her el i ef of Pal est i ne. These wer e f anat i ci sm on t he one hand, and adesi r e of r et r i evi ng hi s mi l i t ar y f ame on t he ot her , whi ch hadsuf f er ed mor e t han hi s par asi t es l i ked t o r emi nd hi m of . The Pope,of cour se, encour aged hi s desi gn, and once more t he chi val r y ofEur ope began t o best i r t hemsel ves. I n 1268, Edward, t he hei r of t he

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Engl i sh monarchy, announced hi s det er mi nat i on t o j oi n t he Cr usade;and t he Pope (Cl ement I V. ) wr ot e to t he pr el at es and cl er gy t o ai dt he cause by thei r per suasi ons and t hei r r evenues. I n Engl and, t heyagr eed t o cont r i but e a t ent h of t hei r possessi ons; and by apar l i ament ary or der , a t went i et h was t aken f r om t he cor n andmoveabl es of al l t he l ai t y at Mi chael mas.

I n spi t e of t he remonst r ances of t he f ew cl earheaded st atesmenwho sur r ounded hi m, ur gi ng t he r ui n t hat mi ght i n consequence f al lupon hi s t hen pr osperous ki ngdom, Loui s made every pr eparat i on f orhi s depar t ur e. The war l i ke nobi l i t y wer e not hi ng l ot h, and i n t hespr i ng of 1270, t he Ki ng set sai l wi t h an ar my of si xty t housandmen. He was dr i ven by st r ess of weather i nt o Sardi ni a, and whi l et her e, a change i n hi s pl ans t ook pl ace. I nst ead of pr oceedi ng t oAcr e, as he or i gi nal l y i nt ended, he shaped hi s cour se f or Tuni s, ont he Af r i can coast . The Ki ng of Tuni s had some t i me pr evi ousl yexpr essed hi msel f f avour abl y di sposed t owar ds t he Chr i st i ans andt hei r r el i gi on, and Loui s, i t appear s, had hopes of conver t i ng hi m,

and secur i ng hi s ai d agai nst t he Sul t an of Egypt . "What honour woul dbe mi ne, " he used t o say, " i f I coul d become godf at her t o t hi sMussul man Ki ng. " Fi l l ed wi t h t hi s i dea he l anded i n Af r i ca, near t hesi t e of t he ci t y of Car t hage, but f ound t hat he had r eckoned wi t houthi s host . The Ki ng of Tuni s had no thought s of r enounci ng hi sr el i gi on, nor i nt ent i on of ai di ng t he Cr usader s i n any way. On t hecont r ar y, he opposed t hei r l andi ng wi t h al l t he f or ces t hat coul d becol l ect ed on so sudden an emergency. The Fr ench, however , made goodt hei r f i r st posi t i on, and def eat ed t he Mosl ems wi t h consi der abl el oss. They al so gai ned some advant age over t he rei nf orcement s t hatwer e sent t o oppose t hem; but an i nf ect i ous f l ux appeared i n t he

ar my, and put a st op t o al l f ut ur e vi ct or i es. The sol di er s di ed att he r at e of a hundred i n a day. The enemy, at t he same t i me, made asgr eat havoc as t he pl ague. St . Loui s hi msel f was one of t he f i r stat t acked by t he di sease. Hi s const i t ut i on had been weakened byf at i gues, and even bef ore he l ef t Fr ance he was unabl e t o bear t hef ul l wei ght of hi s ar mour . I t was soon evi dent t o hi s sor r owi ngsol di er s t hat t hei r bel oved monar ch coul d not l ong sur vi ve. Hel i nger ed f or some days, and di ed i n Car t hage, i n t he f i f t y- si xt hyear of hi s age, deepl y regr et t ed by hi s army and hi s subj ect s, andl eavi ng behi nd hi m one of t he most si ngul ar r eput at i ons i n hi st or y.He i s t he model - ki ng of eccl esi ast i cal wr i t er s, i n whose eyes hi s

ver y def ect s became vi r t ues, because t hey were mani f est ed i nf ur t her ance of t hei r cause. Mor e unpr ej udi ced hi st or i ans, whi l e t heycondemn hi s f anat i ci sm, admi t t hat he was endowed wi t h many hi gh andr ar e qual i t i es; t hat he was i n no one poi nt behi nd hi s age, and, i nmany, i n advance of i t .

Hi s br ot her , Char l es of Anj ou, i n consequence of a r evol ut i oni n Si ci l y, had become Ki ng of t hat count r y. Bef or e he hear d of t hedeat h of Loui s, he had sai l ed f r om Messi na wi t h l ar ge

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r ei nf orcement s. On hi s l andi ng near Cart hage, he advanced at t hehead of hi s army, ami d t he mar t i al musi c of dr ums and t r umpets. Hewas soon i nf ormed how i nopport une was hi s r ej oi ci ng, and shed t earsbef ore hi s whol e army, such as no war r i or woul d have been ashamed t oshed. A peace was speedi l y agr eed upon wi t h t he Ki ng of Tuni s, andt he ar mi es of France and Si ci l y ret ur ned t o t hei r homes.

So l i t t l e f avour had t he Cr usade f ound i n Engl and, t hat event he exer t i ons of t he hei r t o t he t hr one had onl y col l ect ed a smal lf orce of f i f t een hundr ed men. Wi t h t hese f ew Pr i nce Edward sai l edf r om Dover t o Bour deaux, i n t he expect at i on t hat he woul d f i nd t heFrench Ki ng i n t hat ci t y. St . Loui s, however , had l ef t a f ew weekspr evi ousl y; upon whi ch Edwar d f ol l owed hi m t o Sar di ni a, andaf t er war ds t o Tuni s. Bef or e hi s ar r i val i n Af r i ca, St . Loui s was nomor e, and peace had been concl uded bet ween Fr ance and Tuni s. Hedet er mi ned, however , not t o rel i nqui sh the Cr usade. Ret ur ni ng t oSi ci l y, he passed t he wi nt er i n t hat count r y, and endeavour ed t oaugment hi s l i t t l e ar my. I n t he spr i ng he set sai l f or Pal est i ne,

and ar r i ved i n saf et y at Acr e. The Chr i st i ans wer e t or n, as usual ,by mut ual j eal ousi es and ani mosi t i es. The two gr eat mi l i t ar y or der swer e as vi r ul ent and as i nt r act abl e as ever ; opposed t o each ot her ,and t o al l t he wor l d. The ar r i val of Edwar d had t he ef f ect ofcausi ng t hem t o l ay asi de t hei r unwor t hy cont ent i on, and of uni t i nghear t t o hear t , i n one l ast ef f or t f or t he del i ver ance of t hei radopt ed count r y. A f or ce of si x t housand ef f ect i ve war r i or s was soonf or med t o j oi n t hose of t he Engl i sh pr i nce, and pr epar at i ons wer emade f or t he r enewal of host i l i t i es. The Sul t an, Bi bar s orBendocdar , [ Mi l l s, i n hi s hi st or y, gi ves t he name of t hi s chi ef asAl Mal ek al Dhaker Rokneddi n Abul f et h Bi bar s al Al i al Bundokdar i al

Sal ehi . " ] a f i erce Maml uke, who had been pl aced on t he thr one by abl oody revol ut i on, was at war wi t h al l hi s nei ghbour s, and unabl e,f or t hat r eason, t o concent r at e hi s whol e st r engt h agai nst t hem.Edward took advant age of t hi s; and marchi ng bol dl y f orward toNazaret h, def eat ed t he Tur ks and gai ned possessi on of t hat ci t y. Thi s was t he whol e amount of hi s successes. The hot weat herengender ed di sease among hi s t r oops, and he hi msel f , t he l i f e andsoul of t he expedi t i on, f el l si ck among t he f i r st . He had been i l lf or some t i me, and was sl owl y r ecover i ng, when a messenger desi r edt o speak wi t h hi m on i mport ant mat t er s, and t o del i ver somedespat ches i nt o hi s own hand. Whi l e t he Pr i nce was occupi ed i n

exami ni ng t hem, t he t r ai t orous messenger dr ew a dagger f r om hi sbel t , and st abbed hi m i n t he br east . The wound f or t unat el y was notdeep, and Edward had gai ned a port i on of hi s st r engt h. He st r uggl edwi t h t he assassi n, and put hi m t o deat h wi t h hi s own dagger , at t hesame t i me cal l i ng l oudl y f or assi st ance. [ The r eader wi l l r ecogni set he i nci dent whi ch Si r Wal t er Scot t has i nt r oduced i nt o hi sbeaut i f ul r omance, "The Tal i sman, " and whi ch, wi t h t he l i cencecl ai med by poet s and romancer s, he repr esent s as havi ng bef al l enKi ng Ri char d I . ] Hi s at t endant s came at hi s cal l , and f ound hi m

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bl eedi ng pr of usel y, and ascer t ai ned on i nspect i on t hat t he daggerwas poi soned. Means were i nst ant l y t aken t o pur i f y t he wound; and anant i dot e was sent by t he Gr and Mast er of t he Templ ar s whi ch r emovedal l danger f r om t he ef f ect s of t he poi son. Camden, i n hi s hi st or y,has adopt ed the mor e popul ar , and cer t ai nl y mor e beaut i f ul , ver si onof t hi s st or y, whi ch says t hat t he Pr i ncess El eonor a, i n her l ovef or her gal l ant husband, sucked t he poi son f r om hi s wound at t her i sk of her own l i f e: t o use t he wor ds of ol d Ful l er , "I t i s a pi t yso pr et t y a st ory shoul d not be t r ue; and t hat so sover ei gn a remedyas a woman' s t ongue, anoi nt ed wi t h t he vi r t ue of l ovi ng af f ect i on, "shoul d not have per f ormed t he good deed.

Edward suspect ed, and doubt l ess not wi t hout r eason, t hat t heassassi n was empl oyed by t he Sul t an of Egypt . But i t amount ed t osuspi ci on onl y; and by t he sudden deat h of t he assassi n, t hepr i nci pal cl ue t o t he di scover y of t he t r ut h was l ost f or ever .Edward, on hi s r ecover y, pr epared t o r esume t he of f ensi ve; but t heSul t an, embar r assed by the def ence of i nt er est s whi ch, f or t he t i me

bei ng, he consi dered of more i mpor t ance, made of f ers of peace t o t hecr usaders. Thi s pr oof of weakness on t he par t of t he enemy wascal cul at ed t o render a man of Edward' s t emper ament more anxi ous t opr osecut e t he war ; but he had al so ot her i nt er est s t o def end. Newsar r i ved i n Pal est i ne of t he deat h of hi s f at her , Ki ng Henr y I I I ; andhi s presence bei ng necessary i n Engl and, he agr eed to t he ter ms oft he Sul t an. These wer e, t hat t he Chr i st i ans shoul d be al l owed t or et ai n t hei r possessi ons i n t he Hol y Land, and t hat a t r uce of t enyears shoul d be pr ocl ai med. Edward t hen set sai l f or Engl and; andt hus ended t he l ast Cr usade.

The af t er - f at e of t he Hol y Land may be t ol d i n a f ew wor ds. TheChr i st i ans, unmi ndf ul of t hei r past suf f er i ngs and of t he j eal ousnei ghbour s t hey had t o deal wi t h, f i r st br oke t he t r uce bypl under i ng some Egypt i an t r aders near Margat . The Sul t an i mmedi at el yr evenged t he out r age by t aki ng possessi on of Margat , and war oncemore r aged bet ween t he nat i ons. Margat made a gal l ant def ence, butno r ei nf or cement s ar r i ved f r om Eur ope t o pr event i t s f al l . Tr i pol iwas t he next , and ot her ci t i es i n successi on, unt i l at l ast Acre wast he onl y ci t y of Pal est i ne t hat r emai ned i n possessi on of t heChr i st i ans.

The Gr and Mast er of t he Templ ar s col l ect ed t ogether hi s smal land devot ed band; and wi t h t he t r i f l i ng ai d af f or ded by t he Ki ng ofCypr us, pr epar ed t o def end t o t he deat h t he l ast possessi on of hi sor der . Eur ope was deaf t o hi s cr y f or ai d, t he number s of t he f oewer e over whel mi ng, and devot ed br aver y was of no avai l . I n t hatdi sast r ous si ege t he Chr i st i ans wer e al l but ext er mi nat ed. The Ki ngof Cypr us f l ed when he saw t hat r esi st ance was vai n, and t he Gr andMast er f el l at t he head of hi s kni ght s, pi er ced wi t h a hundr edwounds. Seven Templ ars, and as many Hospi t al l et s, al one escaped f r om

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Spencer's Tears of the Muses.

Countrymen: "Hang her! -- beat her! -- kill her!"

Justice: "How now? Forbear this violence!"

Mother Sawyer: "A crew of villains -- a knot of bloody hangmen!

set to torment me! -- I know not why."

Justice: "Alas! neighbour Banks, are you a ringleader in

mischief? Fie I to abuse an aged woman!"

Banks: "Woman! -- a she hell-cat, a witch! To prove her one, we

no sooner set fire on the thatch of her house, but in she came

running, as if the Devil had sent her in a barrel of

gunpowder."

Ford's Witch of Edmonton.

The bel i ef t hat di sembodi ed spi r i t s may be permi t t ed t o r evi si tt hi s wor l d, has i t s f oundat i on upon t hat subl i me hope ofi mmor t al i t y, whi ch i s at once t he chi ef sol ace and gr eat est t r i umphof our r eason. Even i f r evel at i on di d not t each us, we f eel t hat wehave t hat wi t hi n us whi ch shal l never di e; and al l our exper i ence oft hi s l i f e but makes us cl i ng t he mor e f ondl y t o t hat one r epayi nghope. But i n t he ear l y days of "l i t t l e knowl edge, " t hi s gr and bel i efbecame t he sour ce of a whol e t r ai n of super st i t i ons, whi ch, i n t hei rt ur n, became t he f ount f r om whence f l owed a del uge of bl ood and

hor r or . Eur ope, f or a per i od of t wo cent ur i es and a hal f , br oodedupon t he i dea, not onl y that par t ed spi r i t s wal ked t he ear t h t omeddl e i n t he af f ai r s of men, but t hat men had power t o summon evi lspi r i t s t o t hei r ai d t o wor k woe upon t hei r f el l ows. An epi demi ct er r or sei zed upon the nat i ons; no man thought hi msel f secur e,ei t her i n hi s per son or possessi ons, f r om t he machi nat i ons of t hedevi l and hi s agent s. Ever y cal ami t y t hat bef el l hi m, he at t r i but edt o a wi t ch. I f a st or m ar ose and bl ew down hi s bar n, i t waswi t chcraf t ; i f hi s cat t l e di ed of a mur r ai n- i f di sease f ast ened uponhi s l i mbs, or death ent er ed suddenl y, and snat ched a bel oved f acef r om hi s hear t h - - t hey wer e not vi si t at i ons of Pr ovi dence, but t he

works of some nei ghbour i ng hag, whose wr etchedness or i nsani t ycaused t he i gnor ant t o rai se t hei r f i nger , and poi nt at her as awi t ch. The word was upon ever ybody' s t ongue - - Fr ance, I t aLy,Ger many, Engl and, Scot l and, and the f ar Nort h, successi vel y ran madupon t hi s subj ect , and f or a l ong ser i es of year s, f ur ni shed t hei rt r i bunal s wi t h so many t r i al s f or wi t chcraf t t hat ot her cr i mes wer esel dom or never spoken of . Thousands upon t housands of unhappyper sons f el l vi ct i ms t o t hi s cr uel and absur d del usi on. I n manyci t i es of Ger many, as wi l l be shown mor e f ul l y i n i t s due pl ace

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her eaf t er , t he aver age number of execut i ons f or t hi s pret endedcr i me, was si x hundr ed annual l y, or t wo ever y day, i f we l eave outt he Sundays, when, i t i s t o be supposed, t hat even t hi s madnessr ef r ai ned f r om i t s wor k.

A mi sunderst andi ng of t he f amous t ext of t he Mosai c l aw, "Thoushal t not suf f er a wi t ch t o l i ve, " no doubt l ed many consci ent i ousmen ast r ay, whose super st i t i on, warm enough bef ore, want ed but al i t t l e cor r obor at i on t o bl aze out wi t h desol at i ng f ur y. I n al l agesof t he wor l d men have t r i ed t o hol d conver se wi t h super i or bei ngs;and t o pi er ce, by t hei r means, t he secret s of f ut ur i t y. I n t he t i meof Moses, i t i s evi dent t hat t her e wer e i mpost or s, who t r af f i ckedupon t he credul i t y of manki nd, and i nsul t ed t he supr eme maj est y oft he t r ue God by pr et endi ng t o t he power of di vi nat i on. Hence t he l awwhi ch Moses, by Di vi ne command, pr omul gat ed agai nst t hese cr i mi nal s;but i t di d not f ol l ow, as t he super st i t i ous monomani acs of t hemi ddl e ages i magi ned, t hat t he Bi bl e est abl i shed t he exi st ence oft he power of di vi nat i on by i t s edi ct s agai nst t hose who pr et ended t o

i t . From t he best aut hor i t i es, i t appear s t hat t he Hebr ew wor d,whi ch has been r endered, venef i ca, and wi t ch, means a poi soner anddi vi ner ess - - a dabbl er i n spel l s, or f or t une- t el l er . The moder nwi t ch was a ver y di f f er ent char act er , and j oi ned t o her pr et endedpower of f or et el l i ng f ut ur e event s t hat of wor ki ng evi l upon t hel i f e, l i mbs, and possessi ons of manki nd. Thi s power was onl y to beacqui r ed by an expr ess compact , si gned i n bl ood, wi t h t he devi lhi msel f , by whi ch t he wi zard or wi t ch r enounced bapt i sm, and sol dhi s or her i mmor t al soul t o the evi l one, wi t hout any savi ng cl auseof r edempt i on.

Ther e ar e so many wondr ous appearances i n nat ure, f or whi chsci ence and phi l osophy cannot , even now, account , t hat i t i s notsur pr i si ng t hat , when nat ur al l aws wer e st i l l l ess under st ood, menshoul d have at t r i but ed t o super natur al agency ever y appearance whi cht hey coul d not other wi se expl ai n. The mer est t yro now under st andsvar i ous phenomena whi ch t he wi sest of ol d coul d not f at hom. Theschool boy knows why, upon hi gh mount ai ns, t here shoul d, on cer t ai noccasi ons, appear t hr ee or f our suns i n t he f i r mament at once; andwhy the f i gur e of a t r avel l er upon one emi nence shoul d ber epr oduced, i nver t ed, and of a gi gant i c st at ur e, upon anot her . Weal l know t he st r ange pr anks whi ch i magi nat i on can pl ay i n cer t ai n

di seases - - t hat t he hypochondr i ac can see vi si ons and spect r es, andt hat t her e have been cases i n whi ch men were per f ect l y persuadedt hat t hey wer e t eapot s. Sci ence has l i f t ed up t he vei l , and r ol l edaway al l t he f ant ast i c hor r or s i n whi ch our f or ef at her s shr oudedt hese and si mi l ar cases. The man who now i magi nes hi msel f a wol f , i ssent t o t he hospi t al , i nst ead of t o t he st ake, as i n t he days of t hewi t ch mani a; and eart h, ai r , and sea are unpeopl ed of t he gr otesquespi r i t s t hat wer e once bel i eved t o haunt t hem.

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Bef or e ent er i ng f ur t her i nt o t he hi st or y of Wi t chcraf t , i t maybe as wel l i f we consi der t he absur d i mper sonat i on of t he evi lpr i nci pl e f ormed by t he monks i n t hei r l egends. We must makeacquai nt ance wi t h the pr i mum mobi l e, and under st and what sor t of aper sonage i t was, who gave t he wi t ches, i n exchange f or t hei r soul s,t he power t o tor ment t hei r f el l ow- cr eat ur es. The popul ar not i on oft he devi l was, t hat he was a l ar ge, i l l - f or med, hai r y spr i t e, wi t hhor ns, a l ong t ai l , cl oven f eet , and dr agon' s wi ngs. I n t hi s shapehe was const ant l y br ought on t he st age by t he monks i n t hei r ear l y"mi r acl es" and "myst er i es. " I n t hese repr esent at i ons he was ani mpor t ant per sonage, and answered t he pur pose of t he cl own i n themodern pant omi me. The gr eat f un f or t he peopl e was t o see hi m wel lbel abour ed by the sai nt s wi t h cl ubs or cudgel s, and t o hear hi m howlwi t h pai n as he l i mped of f , mai med by t he bl ow of some vi gorousanchor i t e. St . Dunst an gener al l y ser ved hi m t he gl or i ous t r i ck f orwhi ch he i s r enowned - - cat chi ng hol d of hi s nose wi t h a pai r ofred- hot pi ncers , t i l l

"Rocks and di st ant del l s r esounded wi t h hi s cr i es. "

Some of t he sai nt s spat i n hi s f ace, t o hi s ver y gr eatannoyance; and ot her s chopped pi eces of f hi s t ai l , whi ch, however ,al ways grew on agai n. Thi s was payi ng hi m i n hi s own coi n, andamused t he popul ace mi ght i l y; f or t hey al l r emembered t he scur vyt r i cks he had pl ayed t hem and t hei r f or ef at her s. I t was bel i evedt hat he endeavour ed t o t r i p peopl e up, by l ayi ng hi s l ong i nvi si bl et ai l i n t hei r way, and gi vi ng i t a sudden whi sk when t hei r l egs wer eover i t ; - - t hat he used t o get dr unk, and swear l i ke a t r ooper , andbe so mi schi evous i n hi s cups as t o rai se t empest s and eart hquakes,

t o dest r oy t he f r ui t s of t he ear t h and t he barns and homest eads oft r ue bel i ever s; - - t hat he used t o r un i nvi si bl e spi t s i nt o peopl eby way of amusi ng hi msel f i n t he l ong wi nt er eveni ngs, and t opr oceed t o t aver ns and r egal e hi msel f wi t h t he best , of f er i ng i npayment pi eces of gol d whi ch, on t he dawn of t he f ol l owi ng morni ng,i nvar i abl y t ur ned i nt o sl at es. Somet i mes, di sgui sed as a l ar gedr ake, he used t o l ur k among the bul r ushes, and f r i ght en the wearyt r avel l er out of hi s wi t s by hi s awf ul quack. The r eader wi l lr emember t he l i nes of Bur ns i n hi s addr ess t o t he "De' i l , " whi ch sowel l expr ess t he popul ar not i on on t hi s poi nt - -

"Ae dreary, windy, winter night,The stars shot down wi' sklentin light,

Wi' you, mysel, I got a fright

Ayont the lough;

Ye, like a rash-bush, stood in sight

Wi' waving sough.

"The cudgel in my nieve did shake,

Each bristled hair stood like a stake,

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When wi' an eldritch stour, 'quaick! quaick!'

Among the springs

Awa ye squatter'd, like a drake,

On whistling wings."

I n al l t he st or i es ci r cul at ed and bel i eved about hi m, he wasr epr esent ed as an ugl y, pet t y, mi schi evous spi r i t , who r ej oi ced i npl ayi ng of f al l manner of f ant ast i c t r i cks upon poor humani t y.Mi l t on seems t o have been t he f i r st who succeeded i n gi vi ng any buta l udi cr ous descr i pt i on of hi m. The subl i me pr i de whi ch i s t hequi nt essence of evi l , was unconcei ved bef or e hi s t i me. Al l ot herl i mner s made hi m mer el y gr otesque, but Mi l t on made hi m awf ul . I nt hi s t he monks showed t hemsel ves but mi ser abl e r omancers; f or t hei robj ect undoubt edl y was t o repr esent t he f i end as t er r i bl e aspossi bl e: but t her e was not hi ng gr and about t hei r Sat an; on t hecont r ary, he was a l ow mean devi l , whom i t was easy t o ci r cumventand f i ne f un t o pl ay t r i cks wi t h. But , as i s wel l and el oquent l yr emarked by a modern wr i t er , [ See ar t i cl e on Demonol ogy, i n t he

si xth vol ume of t he "For ei gn Quar t er l y Revi ew. " ] t he subj ect hasal so i t s ser i ous si de. An I ndi an dei t y, wi t h i t s wi l d di st or t edshape and gr otesque at t i t ude, appears mer el y r i di cul ous whenseparated f r om i t s accessor i es and vi ewed by dayl i ght i n a museum;but r est or e i t t o t he dar kness of i t s own hi deous t empl e, br i ng backt o our r ecol l ect i on t he vi ct i ms t hat have bl ed upon i t s al t ar , orbeen cr ushed beneat h i t s ear , and our sense of t he r i di cul oussubsi des i nt o aver si on and hor r or . So, whi l e t he super st i t i ousdr eams of f or mer t i mes ar e regarded as mer e specul at i ve i nsani t i es,we may be f or a moment amused wi t h t he wi l d i ncoher ences of t hepat i ent s; but , when we r ef l ect , t hat out of t hese hi deous

mi sconcept i ons of t he pr i nci pl e of evi l ar ose t he bel i ef i nwi t chcr af t - - t hat t hi s was no dead f ai t h, but one oper at i ng on t hewhol e bei ng of soci et y, ur gi ng on t he wi sest and t he mi l dest t odeeds of mur der , or cr uel t i es scarcel y l ess t han mur der - - t hat t hel earned and t he beaut i f ul , young and ol d, mal e and f emal e, wer edevot ed by i t s i nf l uence t o t he st ake and t he scaf f ol d - - ever yf eel i ng di sappear s, except t hat of ast oni shment t hat such t hi ngscoul d be, and humi l i at i on at t he t hought t hat t he del usi on was asl ast i ng as i t was uni ver sal .

Besi des t hi s chi ef per sonage, t her e was an i nf i ni t e number of

i nf er i or demons, who pl ayed conspi cuous par t s i n the creed ofwi t chcr af t . The pages of Bekker , Lel oyer , Bodi n, Del r i o, and DeLancr e abound wi t h descr i pt i ons of t he qual i t i es of t hese i mps andt he f unct i ons whi ch wer e assi gned t hem. From t hese aut hor s, t hr ee ofwhom wer e commi ssi oner s f or t he t r i al of wi t ches, and who wr ote f r omt he conf essi ons made by t he supposed cr i mi nal s and t he evi dencedel i ver ed agai nst t hem, and f r om t he mor e r ecent work of M. J ul esGar i net , t he f ol l owi ng summary of t he cr eed has been, wi t h gr eatpai ns, ext r act ed. The st udent who i s desi r ous of knowi ng mor e, i s

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r ef er r ed t o t he wor ks i n quest i on; he wi l l f i nd enough i n ever y l eaft o make hi s bl ood cur dl e wi t h shame and horr or : but t he pur i t y oft hese pages shal l not be soi l ed by anyt hi ng so i nef f abl y humi l i at i ngand di sgust i ng as a compl et e exposi t i on of t hem; what i s her e cul l edwi l l be a suf f i ci ent sampl e of t he popul ar bel i ef , and t he r eaderwoul d but l ose t i me who shoul d seek i n t he wr i t i ngs of t heDemonol ogi st s f or more ampl e detai l s. He wi l l gai n nothi ng byl i f t i ng t he vei l whi ch cover s t hei r unut t er abl e obsceni t i es, unl ess,l i ke St er ne, he wi shes t o gather f r esh evi dence of "what a beast mani s. " I n t hat case, he wi l l f i nd pl ent y t her e t o convi nce hi m t hatt he beast woul d be l i bel l ed by t he compar i son.

I t was t hought t hat t he eart h swarmed wi t h mi l l i ons of demonsof bot h sexes, many of whom, l i ke t he human r ace, t r aced t hei rl i neage up t o Adam, who, af t er t he f al l , was l ed ast r ay by devi l s,assumi ng t he f orms of beaut i f ul women t o decei ve hi m. These demons" i ncr eased and mul t i pl i ed, " among themsel ves, wi t h t he mostext r aor di nar y r api di t y. Thei r bodi es wer e of t he t hi n ai r , and t hey

coul d pass t hough t he hardest subst ances wi t h t he gr eatest ease. They had no f i xed r esi dence or abi di ng pl ace, but wer e t ossed t o andf r o i n t he i mmensi t y of space. When t hr own t oget her i n gr eatmul t i t udes, t hey exci t ed whi r l wi nds i n t he ai r and t empest s i n t hewat er s, and t ook del i ght i n dest r oyi ng t he beaut y of nat ur e and t hemonument s of t he i ndust r y of man. Al t hough t hey i ncr eased amongt hemsel ves l i ke or di nar y cr eat ur es, t hei r number s wer e dai l yaugment ed by t he soul s of wi cked men - - of chi l dr en st i l l - bor n - - ofwomen who di ed i n chi l dbed, and of per sons ki l l ed i n duel s. Thewhol e ai r was supposed t o be f ul l of t hem, and many unf or t unat e menand women drew t hem by t housands i nt o t hei r mout hs and nost r i l s at

ever y i nspi r at i on; and t he demons, l odgi ng i n t hei r bowel s or ot herpar t s of t hei r bodi es, t or ment ed t hem wi t h pai ns and di seases ofever y ki nd, and sent t hem f r i ght f ul dr eams. St . Gr egor y of Ni cer el ates a st ory of a nun who f orgot t o say her benedi ci t e, and maket he si gn of t he cr oss, bef or e she sat down t o supper , and who, i nconsequence, swal l owed a demon conceal ed among t he l eaves of al et t uce. Most persons sai d t he number of t hese demons was so gr eatt hat t hey coul d not be count ed, but Wi er us asser t ed t hat t heyamount ed t o no more than seven mi l l i ons, f our hundr ed and f i vet housand, ni ne hundr ed, and t went y- si x; and t hat t hey wer e di vi dedi nt o sevent y- t wo compani es or bat t al i ons, t o each of whi ch t her e was

a pr i nce or capt ai n. They coul d assume any shape they pl eased. Whent hey wer e mal e, t hey wer e cal l ed i ncubi ; and when f emal e, succubi . They somet i mes made t hemsel ves hi deous; and at ot her t i mes, t heyassumed shapes of such t r anscendant l ovel i ness, t hat mort al eyesnever saw beaut y to compete wi t h t hei r s.

Al t hough t he devi l and hi s l egi ons coul d appear t o manki nd atany t i me, i t was gener al l y under st ood t hat he pr ef er r ed t he ni ghtbetween Fr i day and Sat ur day. I f Sat an hi msel f appear ed i n human

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shape, he was never per f ect l y, and i n al l r espect s, l i ke a man. Hewas ei t her t oo bl ack or t oo whi t e - - t oo l ar ge or t oo smal l , or someof hi s l i mbs wer e out of pr opor t i on t o t he r est of hi s body. Mostcommonl y hi s f eet were def ormed; and he was obl i ged t o cur l up andconceal hi s t al l i n some par t of hi s habi l i ment s; f or , t ake whatshape he woul d, he coul d not get r i d of t hat encumbrance. Hesomet i mes changed hi msel f i nt o a t r ee or a r i ver ; and upon oneoccasi on he t r ansf or med hi msel f i nt o a bar r i st er , as we l ear n f r omWi er us, book i v, chapt er i x. I n t he r ei gn of Phi l i ppe l e Bel , heappeared t o a monk i n t he shape of a dark man, r i di ng a t al l bl ackhor se - - t hen as a f r i ar - - af t er war ds as an ass, and f i nal l y as acoach- wheel . I nst ances are not r are i n whi ch both he and hi si nf er i or demons have taken t he f orm of handsome young men; and,successf ul l y conceal i ng t hei r t ai l s, have mar r i ed beaut i f ul youngwomen, who have had chi l dren by t hem. Such chi l dren were easi l yr ecogni zabl e by t hei r cont i nual shr i eki ng - - by t hei r r equi r i ng f i venur ses t o suckl e t hem, and by t hei r never gr owi ng f at .

Al l t hese demons were at t he command of any i ndi vi dual , whowoul d gi ve up hi s i mmor t al soul t o t he pr i nce of evi l f or t hepr i vi l ege of enj oyi ng t hei r ser vi ces f or a st at ed per i od. The wi zar dor wi t ch coul d send t hem t o execut e t he most di f f i cul t mi ssi ons:what ever t he wi t ch commanded was per f or med, except i t was a goodact i on, i n whi ch case t he or der was di sobeyed, and evi l worked uponher sel f i nst ead.

At i nt er val s, accor di ng t o t he pl easur e of Sat an, t her e was ageneral meet i ng of t he demons and al l t he wi t ches. Thi s meet i ng wascal l ed t he Sabbat h, f r om i t s t aki ng pl ace on t he Sat ur day or

i mmedi at el y af t er mi dni ght on Fr i days. These Sabbat hs were somet i meshel d f or one di st r i ct , somet i mes f or anot her , and once at l east ,every year , i t was hel d on t he Br ocken, or among ot her hi ghmount ai ns, as a gener al sabbat h of t he f i ends f or t he whol e ofChr i st endom.

The devi l gener al l y chose a pl ace where f our r oads met , as t hescene of t hi s assembl y, or i f t hat was not conveni ent , t henei ghbour hood of a l ake. Upon t hi s spot nothi ng woul d everaf t er wards gr ow, as t he hot f eet of t he demons and wi t ches bur nt t hepr i nci pl e of f ecundi t y f r om t he ear t h, and r ender ed i t bar r en f or

ever . When orders had been once i ssued f or t he meet i ng of t heSabbat h, al l t he wi zards and wi t ches who f ai l ed t o at t end i t wer el ashed by demons wi t h a r od made of ser pent s or scor pi ons, as apuni shment f or t hei r i nat t ent i on or want of punct ual i t y.

I n Fr ance and Engl and, t he wi t ches wer e supposed t o r i deuni f or ml y upon br oomst i cks; but i n I t al y and Spai n, t he devi lhi msel f , i n t he shape of a goat , used t o t r anspor t t hem on hi s back,whi ch l engt hened or shor t ened accordi ng to t he number of wi t ches he

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was desi r ous of accommodat i ng. No wi t ch, when proceedi ng t o theSabbat h, coul d get out by a door or wi ndow, were she t o t r y ever somuch. Thei r general mode of i ngress was by t he keyhol e, and ofegr ess, by t he chi mney, up whi ch t hey f l ew, br oom and al l , wi t h t hegr eat est ease. To pr event t he absence of t he wi t ches f r om bei ngnot i ced by t hei r nei ghbours, some i nf er i or demon was commanded toassume t hei r shapes and l i e i n t hei r beds, f ei gni ng i l l ness, unt i lt he Sabbat h was over .

When al l t he wi zards and wi t ches had arr i ved at t he pl ace ofr endezvous, t he i nf er nal cer emoni es of t he Sabbath began. Satan,havi ng assumed hi s f avour i t e shape of a l ar ge he- goat , wi t h a f acei n f r ont and anot her i n hi s haunches, t ook hi s seat upon a t hr one;and al l pr esent , i n successi on, pai d t hei r r espect s t o hi m, andki ssed hi m i n hi s f ace behi nd. Thi s done, he appoi nt ed a mast er oft he cer emoni es, i n company wi t h whom he made a per sonal exami nat i onof al l t he wi zards and wi t ches, t o see whet her t hey had t he secr etmark about t hem by whi ch t hey were st amped as t he devi l ' s own. Thi s

mark was al ways i nsensi bl e to pai n. Those who had not yet beenmarked, r ecei ved t he mark f r om t he mast er of t he cer emoni es; t hedevi l at t he same t i me best owi ng ni cknames upon t hem. Thi s done,t hey al l began t o si ng and. dance i n t he most f ur i ous manner , unt i lsome one ar r i ved who was anxi ous t o be admi t t ed i nt o t hei r soci et y. They wer e t hen si l ent f or a whi l e, unt i l t he new- comer had deni edhi s sal vat i on, ki ssed t he devi l , spat upon t he Bi bl e, and swor nobedi ence t o hi m i n al l t hi ngs. They then began danci ng agai n wi t hal l t hei r mi ght , and si ngi ng t hese wor ds,

"Alegremos, Alegremos! Que gente va tenemos!"

I n t he cour se of an hour or t wo, t hey general l y became wear i edof t hi s vi ol ent exer ci se, and t hen t hey al l sat down and r ecount edt he evi l deeds t hey had done si nce t hei r l ast meet i ng. Those who hadnot been mal i ci ous and mi schi evous enough towards t hei r f el l ow-cr eat ur es, r ecei ved per sonal chast i sement f r om Sat an hi msel f , whof l ogged t hem wi t h t hor ns or scor pi ons t i l l t hey wer e cover ed wi t hbl ood, and unabl e t o si t or st and.

When t hi s cer emony was concl uded, t hey were al l amused by adance of t oads. Thousands of t hese creatur es spr ang out of t he

ear t h; and st andi ng on t hei r hi nd- l egs, danced, whi l e t he devi lpl ayed t he bagpi pes or t he t r umpet . These t oads were al l endowedwi t h t he f acul t y of speech, and ent r eat ed t he wi t ches t o rewar d t hemwi t h t he f l esh of unbapt i zed babes f or t hei r exer t i ons t o gi ve t hempl easur e. The wi t ches pr omi sed compl i ance. The devi l bade t hemr emember t o keep thei r word; and then st ampi ng hi s f oot , caused al lt he t oads t o si nk i nt o t he ear t h i n an i nst ant . The pl ace bei ng t huscl ear ed, pr eparat i on was made f or t he banquet , where al l manner ofdi sgust i ng t hi ngs were served up and gr eedi l y devour ed by t he demons

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and wi t ches; al t hough t he l at t er wer e somet i mes r egal ed wi t h choi cemeat s and expensi ve wi nes f r om gol den pl at es and cr yst al gobl et s;but t hey were never t hus f avoured unl ess t hey had done anext r aor di nary number of evi l deeds si nce t he l ast per i od of meet i ng.

Af t er t he f east , t hey began danci ng agai n; but such as had nor el i sh f or any more exerci se i n t hat way, amused t hemsel ves bymocki ng t he hol y sacr ament of bapt i sm. For t hi s pur pose, t he t oadswer e agai n cal l ed up, and spr i nkl ed wi t h f i l t hy wat er ; t he devi lmaki ng t he si gn of t he cross, and al l t he wi t ches cal l i ng out , "I nnomi ne Pat r i ca, Ar agueaco Pet r i ca, agor a! agor a! Val ent i a, j ouandogour e gai t s goust i a! " whi ch meant , " I n t he name of Pat r i ck, Pet r i ckof Ar agon, - - now, now, al l our i l l s ar e over ! "

When t he devi l wi shed t o be par t i cul ar l y amused, he made t hewi t ches st r i p of f t hei r cl ot hes and dance bef or e hi m, each wi t h acat t i ed r ound her neck, and anot her dangl i ng f r om her body i n f or mof a t ai l . When t he cock crew, t hey al l di sappear ed, and t he Sabbat h

was ended.

Thi s i s a summar y of t he bel i ef whi ch prevai l ed f or manycent ur i es near l y al l over Eur ope, and whi ch i s f ar f r om er adi cat edeven at t hi s day. I t was var i ed i n some respect s i n sever alcount r i es, but t he mai n poi nt s were t he same i n Fr ance, Germany,Gr eat Br i t ai n, I t al y, Spai n, and t he f ar Nor t h of Eur ope.

The ear l y annal s of Fr ance abound wi t h st or i es of supposedsorcer y, but i t was not unt i l t he t i me of Char l emagne t hat t he cr i meacqui r ed any gr eat i mpor t ance. "Thi s monar ch, " says M. J ul es

Gar i net , [ "Hi st oi r e de l a Magi e en France. Roi s de l a seconde r ace, "page 29. ] "had sever al t i mes gi ven or der s t hat al l necr omancer s,ast r ol oger s, and wi t ches shoul d be dr i ven f r om hi s st at es; but ast he number of cr i mi nal s augment ed dai l y, he f ound i t necessary atl ast t o r esor t t o sever er measures. I n consequence, he publ i shedsever al edi ct s, whi ch may be f ound at l engt h i n t he ' Capi t ul ai r e deBal use. ' By t hese, ever y sor t of magi c, enchant ment , and wi t chcr af twas f orbi dden; and t he puni shment of deat h decreed agai nst t hose whoi n any way evoked t he devi l - - compounded l ove- phi l t er s - - af f l i ct edei t her man or woman wi t h bar r enness - - t r oubl ed t he at mosphere - -exci t ed t empest s - - dest r oyed t he f r ui t s of t he ear t h - - dr i ed up

t he mi l k of cows, or t or ment ed thei r f el l ow- cr eat ur es wi t h sor es anddi seases. Al l per sons f ound gui l t y of exer ci si ng t hese execrabl eart s, wer e t o be execut ed i mmedi atel y upon convi ct i on, t hat t heear t h mi ght be r i d of t he bur t hen and cur se of t hei r pr esence; andt hose even who consul t ed t hem mi ght al so be puni shed wi t h deat h. [ M.Mi chaud, i n hi s " Hi st or y of t he Cr usades, " M. Gui nguene, i n hi s"Li t er ar y Hi st or y of I t al y, " and some ot her cri t i cs, have obj ect edt o Tasso' s poem, t hat he has at t r i but ed t o the Cr usader s a bel i ef i nmagi c, whi ch di d not exi st at t hat t i me. I f t hese cr i t i cs had

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r ef er r ed t o t he Edi ct s of Char l emagne, t hey woul d have seen t hat Tasso was r i ght , and t hat a di sposi t i on t oo eager t o spy outi mper f ect i ons i n a gr eat wor k was l eadi ng t hemsel ves i nt o er r or . ]

Af t er t hi s t i me, pr osecut i ons f or wi t chcraf t ar e cont i nual l yment i oned, especi al l y by t he French hi st or i ans. I t was a cr i mei mput ed wi t h so much ease, and r epel l ed wi t h so much di f f i cul t y,t hat t he powerf ul , whenever t hey want ed t o rui n t he weak, and coul df i x no other i mput at i on upon t hem, had onl y to accuse t hem ofwi t chcraf t t o ensur e t hei r dest r uct i on. I nst ances, i n whi ch t hi scr i me was made t he pr et ext f or t he most vi ol ent per secut i on, both ofi ndi vi dual s and of communi t i es, whose r eal of f ences wer e pur el ypol i t i cal or r el i gi ous, must be f ami l i ar t o ever y r eader . Theexter mi nat i on of t he St edi nger , i n 1234; of t he Templ ar s, f r om 1307t o 1313; t he execut i on of J oan of Ar c, i n 1429; and the unhappyscenes of Ar r as, i n 1459; ar e t he most pr omi nent . The f i r st of t hesei s per haps t he l east known, but i s not among t he l east r emarkabl e. The f ol l owi ng account , f r om Dr . Kor t um' s i nt er est i ng hi st or y

[ "Ent st ehungsgeschi cht e der f r ei st adl i schen Bunde i m Mi t t el al t er ,von Dr . F. Kor t um. " 1827. ] of t he r epubl i can conf eder aci es of t heMi ddl e Ages, wi l l show t he hor r i bl e conveni ence of i mput at i ons ofwi t chcr af t , when r oyal or pr i est l y wol ves want ed a pr et ext f or aquar r el wi t h the sheep.

The Fr i esl ander s, i nhabi t i ng t he di st r i ct f r om t he Weser t o t heZuyder see, had l ong been cel ebr ated f or t hei r at t achment t o f r eedom,and t hei r successf ul st r uggl es i n i t s def ence. As ear l y as t heel event h cent ur y, t hey had f ormed a gener al conf ederacy agai nst t heencr oachment s of t he Normans and t he Saxons, whi ch was di vi ded i nto

seven seel ands, hol di ng annual l y a di et under a l ar ge oakt r ee atAur i ch, near t he Upst al boom. Here they managed t hei r own af f ai r s,wi t hout t he cont r ol of t he cl er gy and ambi t i ous nobl es whosur r ounded t hem, t o t he gr eat scandal of t he l at t er . They al r eadyhad t r ue not i ons of a r epr esent at i ve gover nment . The deput i es of t hepeopl e l evi ed t he necessary t axes, del i ber at ed on t he af f ai r s of t hecommuni t y, and per f ormed, i n t hei r si mpl e and pat r i archal manner ;near l y al l t he f unct i ons of t he r epr esent at i ve assembl i es of t hepr esent day. Fi nal l y, t he Ar chbi shop of Br emen, t oget her wi t h t heCount of Ol denbur g and ot her nei ghbour i ng pot ent at es, f ormed al eague agai nst t hat sect i on of t he Fr i esl ander s, known by t he name

of t he St edi nger , and succeeded, af t er harassi ng t hem, and sowi ngdi ssensi ons among t hem f or many years, i n br i ngi ng t hem under t heyoke. But t he St edi nger , devot edl y at t ached t o t hei r anci ent l aws,by whi ch t hey had at t ai ned a degr ee of ci vi l and r el i gi ous l i ber t yver y uncommon i n t hat age, di d not submi t wi t hout a vi ol entst r uggl e. They ar ose i n i nsur r ect i on, i n t he year 1204, i n def enceof t he anci ent cust oms of t hei r count r y - - r ef used t o pay taxes t ot he f eudal chi ef s, or t i t hes t o the cl er gy, who had f or cedt hemsel ves i nt o t hei r peacef ul r et r eat s, and dr ove out many of t hei r

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oppr essor s. For a per i od of ei ght - and- t went y year s t he br aveSt edi nger cont i nued t he st r uggl e si ngl e- handed agai nst t he f or ces oft he Ar chbi shops of Br emen and t he Counts of Ol denburg, anddest r oyed, i n t he year 1232, t he st r ong cast l e of Sl ut t er ber g, nearDel menhor st , bui l t by t he l at t er nobl eman as a posi t i on f r om whi chhe coul d send out hi s marauders t o pl under and dest r oy t hepossessi ons of t he peasant r y.

The i nvi nci bl e cour age of t hese poor peopl e pr ovi ng t oo st r ongf or t hei r oppr essor s t o cope wi t h by the or di nar y means of war f ar e,t he Ar chbi shop of Br emen appl i ed t o Pope Gr egory I X. f or hi sspi r i t ual ai d agai nst t hem. That pr el at e ent er ed cor di al l y i nt o t hecause, and l aunchi ng f or t h hi s anathema agai nst t he St edi nger asher et i cs and wi t ches, encour aged al l t r ue bel i ever s t o assi st i nt hei r ext er mi nat i on. A l ar ge body of t hi eves and f anat i cs br oke i nt ot hei r count r y i n t he year 1233, ki l l i ng and bur ni ng wher ever t heywent , and not spar i ng ei t her women or chi l dr en, t he si ck or t heaged, i n t hei r r age. The St edi nger , however , r al l i ed i n gr eat f or ce,

r out ed t hei r i nvader s, and ki l l ed i n bat t l e t hei r l eader , CountBur ckhar dt of Ol denbur g, wi t h many i nf er i or chi ef t ai ns.

Agai n t he pope was appl i ed t o, and a cr usade agai nst t heSt edi nger was pr eached i n al l t hat par t of Germany. The pope wr ot et o al l t he bi shops and l eader s of t he f ai t hf ul an exhor t at i on t oar m, t o root out f r om t he l and those abomi nabl e wi t ches and wi zards."The St edi nger , " sai d hi s Hol i ness, "seduced by the devi l , haveabj ur ed al l t he l aws of God and man; sl ander ed t he Chur ch - -i nsul t ed t he hol y sacrament s - - consul t ed wi t ches t o rai se evi lspi r i t s - - shed bl ood l i ke wat er - - t aken t he l i ves of pr i est s, and

concoct ed an i nf er nal scheme t o pr opagat e t he wor shi p of t he devi l ,whom t hey adore under t he name of Asmodi . The devi l appears t o t hemi n di f f er ent shapes; somet i mes as a goose or a duck, and at other si n t he f i gur e of a pal e, bl ack- eyed yout h, wi t h a mel anchol y aspect ,whose embr ace f i l l s t hei r hear t s wi t h et er nal hat r ed agai nst t hehol y chur ch of Chr i st . Thi s devi l pr esi des at t hei r Sabbat hs, whent hey al l ki ss hi m and dance ar ound hi m. He t hen envel opes t hem i nt ot al dar kness, and t hey al l , mal e and f emal e, gi ve t hemsel ves up t ot he gr ossest and most di sgust i ng debaucher y. "

I n consequence of t hese l et t er s of t he pope, t he Emper or of

Ger many, Fr eder i c I I , al so pr onounced hi s ban agai nst t hem. TheBi shops of Rat zebour g, Lubeck, Osnabr uek, Munst er , and Mi nden t ookup ar ms t o ext ermi nat e t hem, ai ded by t he Duke of Br abant , t heCount s of Hol l and, of Cl oves, of t he Mar k, of Ol denbur g, of Egmond,of Di est , and many ot her power f ul nobl es. An army of f or t y t housandmen was soon col l ect ed, whi ch mar ched, under t he command of t he Dukeof Br abant , i nt o t he count r y of t he St edi nger . The l at t er must er edvi gor ousl y i n def ence of t hei r l i ves and l i ber t i es, but coul d r ai seno gr eater f orce, i ncl udi ng ever y man capabl e of bear i ng arms, t han

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el even thousand men t o cope agai nst t he over whel mi ng number s oft hei r f oe. They f ought wi t h t he ener gy of despai r , but al l i n vai n.Ei ght t housand of t hem wer e sl ai n on t he f i el d of bat t l e; t he whol er ace was ext ermi nat ed; and t he enr aged conqueror s scour ed t hecount r y i n al l di r ect i ons - - sl ew t he women and chi l dr en and ol d men- - dr ove away t he cat t l e - - f i r ed t he woods and cot t ages, and made at ot al wast e of t he l and.

J ust as absur d and ef f ect ual was t he char ge br ought agai nst t he Templ ar s i n 1307, when t hey had r ender ed t hemsel ves obnoxi ous t o t hepot ent at es and pr el acy of Chr i st endom. Thei r weal t h, t hei r power ,t hei r pr i de, and t hei r i nsol ence had r ai sed up enemi es on ever ysi de; and ever y sor t of accusat i on was made agai nst t hem, but f ai l edt o wor k t hei r over t hr ow, unt i l t he t er r i bl e cry of wi t chcraf t wasl et l oose upon t hem. Thi s ef f ect ed i t s obj ect , and t he Templ ar s wer eext i r pat ed. They wer e accused of havi ng sol d t hei r soul s t o t hedevi l , and of cel ebr at i ng al l t he i nf er nal myst er i es of t he wi t ches'Sabbath. I t was pr et ended t hat , when t hey admi t t ed a novi ce i nt o

t hei r or der , t hey f or ced hi m t o r enounce hi s sal vat i on and cur se J esus Chr i st ; t hat t hey t hen made hi m submi t t o many unhol y anddi sgust i ng cer emoni es, and f or ced hi m t o ki ss t he Super i or on t hecheek, t he navel , and t he br eech; and spi t t hr ee t i mes upon acr uci f i x. That al l t he member s wer e f orbi dden t o have connexi on wi t hwomen, but mi ght gi ve t hemsel ves up wi t hout r est r ai nt t o everyspeci es of unment i onabl e debauchery. That when, by any mi schance, a Templ ar i nf r i nged t hi s or der , and a chi l d was born, t he whol e or dermet , and t ossed i t about l i ke a shut t l ecock f r om one t o t he ot herunt i l i t expi r ed; t hat t hey t hen r oast ed i t by a sl ow f i r e, and wi t ht he f at whi ch t r i ckl ed f r om i t anoi nt ed t he hai r and bear d of a

l ar ge i mage of t he devi l . I t was al so sai d t hat , when one of t hekni ght s di ed, hi s body was bur nt i nt o a powder , and t hen mi xed wi t hwi ne and dr unk by ever y member of t he or der . Phi l i p I V, who, t oexer ci se hi s own i mpl acabl e hat r ed, i nvent ed, i n al l pr obabi l i t y,t he gr eat er par t of t hese char ges, i ssued or der s f or t he i mmedi at ear r est of al l t he Templ ar s i n hi s domi ni ons. The pope af t er war dst ook up t he cause wi t h al most as much f ervour as t he Ki ng of Fr ance;and i n ever y part of Eur ope, t he Templ ars wer e t hr own i nt o pr i sonand t hei r goods and est at es conf i scat ed. Hundr eds of t hem, when putt o t he rack, conf essed even the most pr epost er ous of t he chargesagai nst t hem, and by so doi ng, i ncr eased t he popul ar cl amour and t he

hopes of t hei r enemi es. I t i s t r ue t hat , when r emoved f r om t he r ack,t hey deni ed al l t hey had pr evi ousl y conf essed; but t hi s ci r cumst anceonl y i ncr eased t he out cr y, and was numbered as an addi t i onal cr i meagai nst t hem. They wer e consi dered i n a worse l i ght t han bef ore, andcondemned f or t hwi t h t o t he f l ames, as r el apsed her et i cs. Fi f t y- ni neof t hese unf or t unat e vi ct i ms wer e al l bur ned t oget her by a sl ow f i r ei n a f i el d i n t he subur bs of Par i s, pr ot est i ng t o t he ver y l astmoment of t hei r l i ves, t hei r i nnocence of t he cr i mes i mput ed t ot hem, and r ef usi ng t o accept of pardon upon condi t i on of

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acknowl edgi ng t hemsel ves gui l t y. Si mi l ar scenes wer e enacted i n t hepr ovi nces; and f or f our year s, har dl y a mont h passed wi t houtwi t nessi ng t he execut i on of one or more of t hese unhappy men.Fi nal l y, i n 1313, t he l ast scene of t hi s t r agedy cl osed by t hebur ni ng of t he Gr and- Mast er , J acques de Mol ay, and hi s compani on,Guy, t he Commander of Normandy. Anyt hi ng more at r oci ous i t i si mpossi bl e to concei ve; di sgr acef ul al i ke t o the monar ch whoor i gi nated, t he pope who suppor t ed, and t he age whi ch t ol er ated t hemonst r ous i ni qui t y. That t he mal i ce of a f ew coul d i nvent such achar ge, i s a humi l i at i ng t hought f or t he l over of hi s speci es; butt hat mi l l i ons of manki nd shoul d credi t i t , i s st i l l mor e so.

The execut i on of J oan of Ar c i s t he next most not or i ous exampl ewhi ch hi st or y af f or ds us, of t he i mput at i on of wi t chcraf t agai nst apol i t i cal enemy. I nst ances of si mi l ar per secut i on, i n whi ch t hi scr i me was made t he pr et ext f or t he gr at i f i cat i on of pol i t i cal orr el i gi ous hat r ed, mi ght be mul t i pl i ed t o a gr eat ext ent . But i t i sbet t er t o pr oceed at once t o the consi der at i on of t he bul l of Pope

I nnocent , t he t or ch t hat set f i r e t o t he l ongl ai d t r ai n, and causedso f ear f ul an expl osi on over t he Chr i st i an wor l d. I t wi l l benecessary, however , t o go back f or some years ant er i or t o t hatevent , t he bet t er t o under st and t he mot i ves t hat i nf l uenced t heChur ch i n t he pr omul gat i on of t hat f ear f ul document .

Towar ds t he cl ose of t he f our t eent h and begi nni ng of t hef i f t eent h cent ur y, many wi t ches wer e bur ned i n di f f er ent par t s ofEur ope. As a natur al consequence of t he sever e per secut i on, t hecr i me, or t he pr et ender s t o i t , i ncr eased. Those who f oundt hemsel ves accused and t hr eat ened wi t h t he penal t i es, i f t hey

happened t o be per sons of a bad and mal i ci ous di sposi t i on, wi shedt hey had t he power i mput ed t o t hem, t hat t hey mi ght be r evenged upont hei r per secut or s. Numer ous i nst ances are upon r ecor d of hal f - cr azedpersons bei ng f ound mut t er i ng t he spel l s whi ch were supposed t or ai se the evi l one. When r el i gi on and l aw al i ke r ecogni zed t hecr i me, i t i s no wonder t hat t he weak i n r eason and the st r ong i ni magi nat i on, especi al l y when t hey were of a nervous t emperament ,f anci ed t hemsel ves endued wi t h t he t er r i bl e power s of whi ch al l t hewor l d was speaki ng. The bel i ef of t hei r nei ghbour s di d not l agbehi nd t hei r own, and execut i on was t he speedy consequence.

As t he f ear of wi t chcraf t i ncreased, t he Cat hol i c cl er gy st r ovet o f i x t he i mput at i on of i t upon t hose r el i gi ous sect s, t he pi oneer sof t he Ref ormat i on, who began about t hi s t i me to be f ormi dabl e tot he Chur ch of Rome. I f a charge of her esy coul d not ensure t hei rdest r uct i on, t hat of sor cer y and wi t chcraf t never f ai l ed. I n t heyear 1459, a devot ed congr egat i on of t he Wal denses, at Ar r as, whoused t o repai r at ni ght t o worshi p God i n t hei r own manner i nsol i t ar y pl aces, f el l vi ct i ms t o an accusat i on of sor cer y. I t wasr umor ed i n Ar r as t hat i n t he deser t pl aces t o whi ch t hey ret i r ed,

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gr apes of t he vi neyar d, t he f r ui t s of t he t r ees, and t he her bs oft he f i el d. I n or der t hat cr i mi nal s so at r oci ous mi ght no l ongerpol l ut e t he ear t h, he appoi nt ed i nqui si t or s i n ever y count r y, ar medwi t h t he apost ol i c power t o convi ct and puni sh.

I t was now t hat t he Wi t ch Mani a, pr oper l y so cal l ed, may besai d t o have f ai r l y commenced. I mmedi at el y a cl ass of men spr ang upi n Eur ope, who made i t t he sol e busi ness of t hei r l i ves t o di scoverand bur n the wi t ches. Spr enger , i n Germany, was t he most cel ebr at edof t hese nat i onal scour ges. I n hi s not or i ous wor k, t he "Mal l eusMal ef i car um, " he l ai d down a r egul ar f or m of t r i al , and appoi nt ed acour se of exami nat i on by whi ch t he i nqui si t or s i n ot her count r i esmi ght best di scover t he gui l t y. The quest i ons, whi ch wer e al waysenf or ced by t or t ur e, wer e of t he most absur d and di sgust i ng nat ur e. The i nqui si t or s wer e r equi r ed t o ask t he suspect ed whether t hey hadmi dni ght meet i ngs wi t h t he devi l ? whet her t hey at t ended t he wi t ch' ssabbat h on t he Br ocken? whet her t hey had t hei r f ami l i ar spi r i t s?whet her t hey coul d r ai se whi r l wi nds and cal l down t he l i ght ni ng? and

whet her t hey had sexual i nt er cour se wi t h Satan?

St r ai ght way the i nqui si t or s set t o wor k; Cumar i us, i n I t al y,bur ned f or t y- one poor women i n one pr ovi nce al one, and Spr enger , i nGermany, bur ned a number whi ch can never be ascer t ai ned cor r ect l y,but whi ch, i t i s agr eed on al l hands, amount ed t o more t han f i vehundr ed i n a year . The gr eat r esembl ance between t he conf essi ons oft he unhappy vi ct i ms was r egarded as a new pr oof of t he exi st ence oft he cr i me. But t hi s i s not ast oni shi ng. The same quest i ons f r om t he"Mal l eus Mal ef i car um, " wer e put t o t hem al l , and t or t ur e neverf ai l ed t o educe t he answer r equi r ed by the i nqui si t or . Number s of

peopl e whose i magi nat i ons wer e f i l l ed wi t h t hese horr or s, wentf ur t her i n t he way of conf essi on t han even t hei r t orment er sant i ci pat ed, i n t he hope t hat t hey woul d t her eby be saved f r om t her ack, and put out of t hei r mi ser y at once. Some conf essed t hat t heyhad had chi l dr en by t he devi l ; but no one, who had ever been amot her , gave ut t er ance t o such a f r ant i c i magi ni ng, even i n t heext r emi t y of her angui sh. The chi l dl ess onl y conf essed i t , and wer ebur ned i nst ant er as unwor t hy to l i ve.

For f ear t he zeal of t he enemi es of Sat an shoul d cool ,success i ve Popes appoi nt ed new commi ssi ons. One was appoi nt ed by

Al exander VI , i n 1494; another by Leo X, i n 1521, and a t hi r d byAdr i an VI , i n 1522. They were al l armed wi t h the same powers t o huntout and dest r oy, and execut ed t hei r f ear f ul f unct i ons but t oor i gi dl y. I n Geneva al one f i ve hundr ed per sons wer e bur ned i n t heyear s 1515 and 1516, under t he t i t l e of Pr ot est ant wi t ches. I t woul dappear t hat t hei r chi ef cr i me was her esy, and t hei r wi t chcr af tmer el y an aggr avat i on. Bar t ol omeo de Spi na has a l i st st i l l mor ef ear f ul . He i nf or ms us t hat , i n t he year 1524, no l ess t han at housand per sons suf f er ed deat h f or wi t chcraf t i n t he di st r i ct of

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Como, and t hat f or sever al years af t erwards t he average number ofvi ct i ms exceeded a hundr ed annual l y. One i nqui si t or , Remi gi us, t ookgr eat credi t t o hi msel f f or havi ng, dur i ng f i f t een year s, convi ct edand burned ni ne hundr ed.

I n France, about t he year 1520, f i r es f or t he execut i on ofwi t ches bl azed i n al most ever y t own. Danaeus, i n hi s " Di al ogues ofWi t ches, " says t hey were so numerous t hat i t woul d he next t oi mpossi bl e t o t el l t he number of t hem. So deep was t he t hr al dom oft he human mi nd, t hat t he f r i ends and r el at i ves of t he accusedpar t i es l ooked on and appr oved. The wi f e or si st er of a mur der ermi ght sympat hi se i n hi s f ate, but t he wi ves and husbands ofsor cer er s and wi t ches had no pi t y. The t r ut h i s t hat pi t y wasdangerous, f or i t was t hought no one coul d have compassi on on t hesuf f er i ngs of a wi t ch who was not a dabbl er i n t he ar t : t o have weptf or a wi t ch woul d have i nsur ed t he st ake. I n some di st r i ct s,however , t he exasper at i on of t he peopl e br oke out , i n spi t e ofsuper st i t i on. The i nqui si t or of a r ur al t ownshi p i n Pi edmont bur ned

t he vi ct i ms so pl ent i f ul l y, and so f ast , t hat t her e was not a f ami l yi n t he pl ace whi ch di d not l ose a member . The peopl e at l ast arose,and t he i nqui si t or was but t oo happy t o escape f r om t he count r y wi t hwhol e l i mbs. The Ar chbi shop of t he di ocese pr oceeded af t er wards t ot he t r i al of such as t he i nqui si t or had l ef t i n pr i son.

Some of t he charges wer e so ut t er l y pr epost er ous t hat t he poorwr et ches were at once l i ber ated; other s met a harder , but t he usualf ate. Some of t hem wer e accused of havi ng j oi ned t he wi t ches' danceat mi dni ght under a bl ast ed oak, wher e t hey had been seen bycr edi t abl e peopl e. The husbands of sever al of t hese women ( t wo of

whom wer e young and beaut i f ul ) swor e posi t i vel y t hat at t he t i mest at ed t hei r wi ves wer e comf or t abl y asl eep i n t hei r ar ms; but i t wasal l i n vai n. Thei r wor d was t aken, but t he Ar chbi shop t ol d t hem t heyhad been decei ved by t he devi l and thei r own senses. I t was t r uet hey mi ght have had t he sembl ance of t hei r wi ves i n t hei r beds, butt he or i gi nal s wer e f ar away, at t he devi l ' s dance under t he oak. Thehonest f el l ows wer e conf ounded, and t hei r wi ves bur ned f or t hwi t h.

I n t he year 1561, f i ve poor women of Verneui l were accused oft r ansf or mi ng t hemsel ves i nt o cat s, and i n t hat shape at t endi ng t hesabbat h of t he f i ends - - pr owl i ng ar ound Sat an, who pr esi ded over

t hem i n t he f or m of a goat , and danci ng, t o amuse hi m, upon hi sback. They wer e f ound gui l t y, and bur ned. [ Bodi n, page 95. Gar i net ,page 125. "Ant i - demon de Ser cl i er , " page 346. ]

I n 1564, t hr ee wi zards and a wi t ch appeared bef ore t hePresi dent s Sal ver t and D' Avant on: t hey conf essed, when ext ended ont he r ack, t hat t hey anoi nt ed t he sheep- pens wi t h i nf er nal unguent st o ki l l t he sheep - - t hat t hey at t ended t he sabbat h, wher e t hey sawa gr eat bl ack goat , whi ch spoke t o them, and made t hem ki ss hi m,

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each hol di ng a l i ght ed candl e i n hi s hand whi l e he per f ormed t hecer emony. They wer e al l execut ed at Poi t i er s.

I n 1571, t he cel ebr at ed sorcerer , Tr oi s Echel l es, was bur ned i nt he Pl ace de Gr eve, i n Par i s. He conf essed, i n t he pr esence ofChar l es I X, and of t he Marshal s de Mont morency, De Retz, and theSi eur du Mazi l l e, physi ci an t o t he Ki ng, t hat he coul d per f or m t hemost wonder f ul t hi ngs by t he ai d of a devi l t o whom he had sol dhi msel f . He descr i bed at gr eat l engt h t he sat ur nal i a of t he f i ends -- t he sacr i f i ces whi ch t hey of f er ed up - - t he debaucher i es t heycommi t t ed wi t h t he young and handsome wi t ches, and t he var i ous modesof pr epar i ng t he i nf er nal unguent f or bl i ght i ng cat t l e. He sai d hehad upwards of t wel ve hundr ed accompl i ces i n t he cr i me of wi t chcr af ti n var i ous part s of Fr ance, whom he named t o t he Ki ng, and many ofwhom wer e af t er wards arr est ed and suf f er ed execut i on.

At Dol e, t wo year s af t er war ds, Gi l l es Gar ni er , a nat i ve ofLyons, was i ndi ct ed f or bei ng a l oupgar ou, or man- wol f , and f or

pr owl i ng i n t hat shape about t he count r y at ni ght t o devour l i t t l echi l dr en. The i ndi ct ment agai nst hi m, as read by Henr i Camus, doctorof l aws and counsel l or of t he Ki ng, was t o t he ef f ect t hat he,Gi l l es Gar ni er , had sei zed upon a l i t t l e gi r l , t wel ve year s of age,whom he dr ew i nt o a vi neyar d and t her e ki l l ed, par t l y wi t h hi s t eet hand par t l y wi t h hi s hands, seemi ng l i ke wol f ' s paws - - t hat f r omt hence he t r ai l ed her bl eedi ng body al ong t he gr ound wi t h hi s t eet hi nt o t he wood of La Ser r e, wher e he at e the gr eat est por t i on of herat one meal , and carr i ed t he remai nder home to hi s wi f e; t hat , uponanot her occasi on, ei ght days bef or e t he f est i val of Al l Sai nt s, hewas seen t o sei ze another chi l d i n hi s t eet h, and woul d have

devour ed her had she not been rescued by t he count r y- peopl e - - andt hat t he sai d chi l d di ed a f ew days af t er war ds of t he i nj ur i es hehad i nf l i cted; t hat f i f t een days af t er t he same f est i val of Al lSai nt s, bei ng agai n i n t he shape of a wol f , he devour ed a boyt hi r t een year s of age, havi ng pr evi ousl y tor n of f hi s l eg and t hi ghwi t h hi s t eet h, and hi d t hem away f or hi s br eakf ast on t he mor r ow.He was, f ur t her mor e, i ndi ct ed f or gi vi ng way t o t he same di abol i caland unnatur al pr opensi t i es even i n hi s shape of a man, and t hat hehad st r angl ed a boy i n a wood wi t h t he i nt ent i on of eat i ng hi m,whi ch cr i me he woul d have ef f ect ed i f he had not been seen by t henei ghhour s and pr event ed.

Gi l l es Gar ni er was put t o t he r ack, af t er f i f t y wi t nesses haddeposed agai nst hi m: he conf essed ever yt hi ng t hat was l ai d t o hi scharge. He was, t her eupon, br ought back i nt o the pr esence of hi s j udges, when Dr . Camus, i n t he name of t he Par l i ament of Dol e,pr onounced t he f ol l owi ng sent ence: - -

"Seei ng t hat Gi l l es Gar ni er has, by t he t est i mony of cr edi bl ewi t nesses, and by hi s own spont aneous conf essi on, been pr oved gui l t y

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of t he abomi nabl e cr i mes of l ycant hr opy and wi t chcr af t , t hi s cour tcondemns hi m, t he sai d Gi l l es, t o be t hi s day t aken i n a car t f r omt hi s spot t o t he pl ace of execut i on, accompani ed by t he execut i oner( mai t r e execut eur de l a haut e j ust i ce) , wher e he, by t he sai dexecut i oner , shal l be t i ed t o a st ake and bur ned al i ve, and t hat hi sashes be t hen scat t ered t o the wi nds. The Cour t f ur t her condemnshi m, t he sai d Gi l l es, t o t he cost s of t hi s pr osecut i on. "

"Given at Dole, this 18th day of January, 1573."

I n 1578, t he Par l i ament of Par i s was occupi ed f or sever al dayswi t h t he t r i al of a man, named J acques Rol l er . He, al so, was f oundgui l t y of bei ng a l oupgar ou, and i n t hat shape devour i ng a l i t t l eboy. He was bur nt al i ve i n t he Pl ace de Gr eve.

I n 1579, so much al arm was exci t ed i n t he nei ghbour hood ofMel un by t he i ncr ease of wi t ches and l oupgar ous, t hat a counci l washel d t o devi se some measur es t o st ay t he evi l . A decree was passed,

t hat al l wi t ches, and consul t er s wi t h wi t ches, shoul d be puni shedwi t h deat h; and not onl y t hose, but f or t une- t el l er s and conj ur or s ofevery ki nd. The Par l i ament of Rouen t ook up t he same quest i on i n t hef ol l owi ng year , and decr eed t hat t he possessi on of a gr i moi r e, orbook of spel l s, was suf f i ci ent evi dence of wi t chcraf t ; and t hat al lper sons on whom such books were f ound shoul d be bur ned al i ve. Thr eecounci l s wer e hel d i n di f f er ent par t s of France i n t he year 1583,al l i n r el at i on t o t he same subj ect . The Par l i ament of Bour deauxi ssued st r i ct i nj unct i ons t o al l cur at es and cl er gy what ever , t o user edoubl ed ef f or t s t o r oot out t he cr i me of wi t chcraf t . ThePar l i ament of Tour s was equal l y perempt ory, and f ear ed t he j udgment s

of an of f ended God, i f al l t hese deal er s wi t h t he devi l wer e notswept f r om t he f ace of t he l and. The Par l i ament of Rhei ms waspar t i cul ar l y sever e agai nst t he noueur s d' ai gui l l et t e, or "t yer s oft he knot ; " peopl e of bot h sexes, who t ook pl easur e i n pr event i ng t heconsummat i on of mar r i age, t hat t hey mi ght counteract t he command ofGod t o our f i r st par ent s, t o i ncrease and mul t i pl y. Thi s Par l i amenthel d i t t o be si nf ul t o wear amul et s t o pr eser ve f r om wi t chcraf t ;and t hat t hi s pr act i ce mi ght not be cont i nued wi t hi n i t s j ur i sdi ct i on, drew up a f or m of exorci sm, whi ch woul d mor eef f ect ual l y def eat t he agent s of t he devi l , and put t hem t o f l i ght .

A case of wi t chcraf t , whi ch creat ed a gr eat sensat i on i n i t sday, occur r ed i n 1588, at a vi l l age i n t he mount ai ns of Auver gne,about t wo l eagues f r om Apchon. A gent l eman of t hat pl ace bei ng athi s wi ndow, t her e passed a f r i end of hi s who had been out hunt i ng,and who was t hen ret urni ng t o hi s own house. The gent l eman asked hi sf r i end what spor t he had had; upon whi ch t he l at t er i nf ormed hi mt hat he had been at t acked i n t he pl ai n by a l arge and savage wol f ,whi ch he had shot at , wi t hout woundi ng; and t hat he had t hen drawnout hi s hunt i ng- kni f e and cut of f t he ani mal ' s f or e- paw, as i t

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spr ang upon hi s neck t o devour hi m. The hunt sman, upon t hi s, put hi shand i nt o hi s bag t o pul l out t he paw, but was shocked t o f i nd t hati t was a woman' s hand, wi t h a weddi ng- r i ng on the f i nger . Thegent l eman i mmedi at el y r ecogni zed hi s wi f e' s r i ng, "whi ch, " says t hei ndi ct ment agai nst her , "made hi m begi n t o suspect some evi l ofher . " He i mmedi at el y went i n sear ch of her , and f ound her si t t i ng byt he f i r e i n t he ki t chen, wi t h her ar m hi dden under neat h her apr on.He t ore of f her apr on wi t h gr eat vehemence, and f ound t hat she hadno hand, and t hat t he st ump was even t hen bl eedi ng. She was gi veni nt o cust ody, and bur ned at Ri om i n pr esence of some thousands ofspect at or s. [ Tabl i er . See al so Boguet , "Di scour s sur l es Sor ci er s; "and M. J ul es Gar i net , "Hi st oi r e de l a Magi e, " page 150. ]

I n t he mi dst of t hese execut i ons, r ar e wer e t he gl eams ofmer cy; f ew i nst ances are upon r ecor d of any acqui t t al t aki ng pl acewhen the charge was wi t chcr af t . The di schar ge of f our t een per sons byt he Par l i ament of Par i s, i n t he year 1589, i s al most a sol i t ar yexampl e of a r etur n t o r eason. Four t een persons, condemned t o deat h

f or wi t chcr af t , appeal ed agai nst t he j udgment t o t he Par l i ament ofPar i s, whi ch f or pol i t i cal r easons had been exi l ed t o Tour s. ThePar l i ament named f our commi ssi oner s, Pi er r e Pi gr ay, t he Ki ng' ssur geon, and Messi eur s Ler oi , Renar d, and Fal ai seau, t he Ki ng' sphysi ci ans, t o vi si t and exami ne t hese wi t ches, and see whet her t heyhad t he mark of t he devi l upon t hem. Pi gr ay, who rel ates t heci r cumst ance i n hi s wor k on Sur ger y, book vi i , chapt er t he t ent h,says t he vi si t was made i n pr esence of t wo counsel l or s of t he cour t . The wi t ches wer e al l st r i pped naked, and t he physi ci ans exami nedt hei r bodi es ver y di l i gent l y, pr i cki ng t hem i n al l t he mar ks t heycoul d f i nd, t o see whet her t hey wer e i nsensi bl e t o pai n, whi ch was

al ways consi der ed a cer t ai n pr oof of gui l t . They wer e, however , ver ysensi bl e of t he pr i cki ng, and some of t hem cal l ed out ver y l ust i l ywhen t he pi ns were dr i ven i nt o t hem. "We f ound t hem, " cont i nuesPi er r e Pi gr ay, " t o be ver y poor , st upi d peopl e, and some of t hemi nsane; many of t hem wer e qui t e i ndi f f er ent about l i f e, and one ort wo of t hem desi r ed deat h as a rel i ef f or t hei r suf f er i ngs. Ouropi ni on was, t hat t hey st ood more i n need of medi ci ne t han ofpuni shment , and so we report ed t o t he Par l i ament . Thei r case was,t her eupon, t aken i nt o f ur t her consi der at i on, and t he Par l i ament ,af t er mat ur e counsel amongst al l t he members, ordered t he poorcreat ur es t o be sent t o t hei r homes, wi t hout i nf l i ct i ng any

puni shment upon t hem. "

Such was t he dr eadf ul st ate of I t al y, Ger many, and France,dur i ng t he si xt eent h cent ur y, whi ch was f ar f r om bei ng t he wor stcr i si s of t he popul ar madness wi t h r egar d t o wi t chcr af t . Let us seewhat was t he st at e of Engl and dur i ng the same per i od. TheRef or mat i on, whi ch i n i t s progr ess had r oot ed out so many er r or s,st opped shor t at t hi s, t he gr eat est er r or of al l . Lut her and Cal vi nwer e as f i r m bel i ever s i n wi t chcraf t as Pope I nnocent hi msel f , and

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t hei r f ol l ower s showed themsel ves more zeal ous per secut ors t han t heRomani st s. Dr . Hut chi nson, i n hi s wor k on Wi t chcr af t , asser t s t hatt he mani a mani f est ed i t sel f l at er i n Engl and, and r aged wi t h l essvi r ul ence t han on t he Cont i nent . The f i r st asser t i on onl y i s t r ue;but t hough t he per secut i on began l ater both i n Engl and and Scot l and,i t s pr ogr ess was as f ear f ul as el sewher e.

I t was not unt i l mor e t han f i f t y year s af t er t he i ssui ng of t heBul l of I nnocent VI I I . t hat t he Legi sl at ur e of Engl and t hought f i tt o make any more sever e enact ment s agai nst sor cer y t han t hoseal r eady i n oper at i on. The st at ut e of 1541 was t he f i r st t hatspeci f i ed t he par t i cul ar cr i me of wi t chcraf t . At a much ear l i erper i od, many per sons had suf f er ed deat h f or sorcer y i n addi t i on t oot her of f ences; but no execut i ons t ook pl ace f or at t endi ng t hewi t ches' sabbat h, r ai si ng t empest s, af f l i ct i ng cat t l e wi t hbar r enness, and al l t he f ant ast i c t r umper y of t he Cont i nent . Twost at ut es wer e passed i n 1551; t he f i r st , r el at i ng t o f al sepr opheci es, caused mai nl y, no doubt , by t he i mposi t i ons of El i zabet h

Bart on, t he Hol y Mai d of Kent , i n 1534, and t he second agai nstconj ur at i on, wi t chcr af t , and sorcery. But even t hi s enact ment di dnot consi der wi t chcr af t as penal i n i t sel f , and onl y condemned t odeat h t hose who by means of spel l s, i ncant at i ons, or cont r act s wi t ht he devi l , at t empt ed t he l i ves of t hei r nei ghbour s. The st at ut e ofEl i zabet h, i n 1562, at l ast r ecogni zed wi t chcraf t as a cr i me of t hehi ghest magni t ude, whet her exer t ed or not t o the i nj ur y of t hel i ves, l i mbs, and possessi ons of t he communi t y. From t hat dat e, t heper secut i on may be f ai r l y sai d t o have commenced i n Engl and. I tr eached i t s cl i max i n t he ear l y par t of t he sevent eent h cent ur y,whi ch was t he hot t est per i od of t he mani a al l over Eur ope.

A f ew cases of wi t ch per secut i on i n t he si xt eent h cent ur y wi l lenabl e t he reader t o f or m a mor e accur at e i dea of t he pr ogr ess oft hi s gr eat er r or t han i f he pl unged at once i nt o t hat busy per i od ofi t s hi st or y when Mat t hew Hopki ns and hi s coadj ut or s exer ci sed t hei ri nf er nal cal l i ng. Sever al i nst ances occur i n Engl and dur i ng t hel at t er year s of t he r ei gn of El i zabet h. At t hi s t i me t he publ i c mi ndhad become pr et t y f ami l i ar wi t h t he det ai l s of t he cr i me. Bi shop J ewel l , i n hi s ser mons bef or e Her Maj est y, used const ant l y t oconcl ude t hem by a f er vent pr ayer t hat she mi ght be pr eserved f r omwi t ches. Upon one occasi on, i n 1598, hi s words wer e, " I t may pl ease

your Gr ace to under st and t hat wi t ches and sorcer er s, wi t hi n t hesel ast f our year s, ar e mar vel l ousl y i ncreased wi t hi n t hi s your Gr ace' sr eal m. Your Gr ace' s subj ect s pi ne away even unt o t he death; t hei rcol our f adet h - - t hei r f l esh r ot t et h - - t hei r speech i s benumbed- -t hei r senses ar e ber ef t ! I pr ay God t hey may never pr act i se f ur t hert han upon t he subj ect ! "

By degr ees, an epi demi c t er r or of wi t chcr af t spr ead i nt o t hevi l l ages. I n pr opor t i on as t he doct r i nes of t he Pur i t ans t ook root

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t hi s dr ead i ncreased, and, of cour se, br ought per secut i on i n i t st r ai n. The Chur ch of Engl and has cl ai med, and i s ent i t l ed t o themer i t , of havi ng been l ess i nf l uenced i n t hese mat t er s t han anyot her sect of Chr i st i ans; but st i l l t hey wer e t ai nt ed wi t h t hesuper st i t i on of t he age. One of t he most f l agr ant i nst ances ofcr uel t y and del usi on upon r ecor d was consummat ed under t he aut hor i t yof t he Chur ch, and commemorat ed t i l l a very l at e per i od by an annuall ect ur e at t he Uni ver si t y of Cambr i dge.

Thi s i s t he cel ebrat ed case of t he Wi t ches of War boi s, who wer eexecut ed about t hi r t y- t wo year s af t er t he passi ng of t he st at ut e ofEl i zabet h. Al t hough i n t he i nt er val but f ew t r i al s ar e r ecor ded,t her e i s, unf ort unatel y, but t oo much evi dence to show t he ext r emel engt h t o whi ch t he popul ar pr ej udi ce was car r i ed. Many women l ostt hei r l i ves i n ever y par t of Engl and wi t hout bei ng br ought t o t r i alat al l , f r om t he i nj ur i es r ecei ved at t he hands of t he peopl e. Thenumber of t hese can never be ascert ai ned.

The case of t he Wi t ches of War boi s mer i t s t o be detai l ed atl engt h, not onl y f r om t he i mpor t ance at t ached t o i t f or so manyyear s by t he l ear ned of t he Uni ver si t y, but f r om t he si ngul arabsur di t y of t he evi dence upon whi ch men, sensi bl e i n al l ot herr espect s, coul d condemn t hei r f el l ow- creat ur es t o t he scaf f ol d.

The pr i nci pal act or s i n t hi s st r ange drama wer e t he f ami l i es ofSi r Samuel Cr omwel l and a Mr . Thr ogmor t on, bot h gent l emen of l andedpr oper t y near Warboi s, i n the count y of Hunt i ngdon. Mr . Thr ogmort onhad sever al daught er s, t he el dest of whom, Mi st r ess J oan, was ani magi nat i ve and mel anchol y gi r l , whose head was f i l l ed wi t h st or i es

of ghost s and wi t ches. Upon one occasi on she chanced t o pass t hecot t age of one Mr s. or , as she was cal l ed, Mother Samuel , a ver yaged, a very poor , and a very ugl y woman. Mot her Samuel was si t t i ngat her door kni t t i ng, wi t h a bl ack cap upon her head, when t hi ssi l l y young l ady passed, and t aki ng her eyes f r om her wor k shel ooked st eadf ast l y at her . Mi st r ess J oan i mmedi at el y f anci ed t hatshe f el t sudden pai ns i n al l her l i mbs, and f r om t hat day f or t h,never ceased t o t el l her si st er s, and ever ybody about her , t hatMot her Samuel had bewi t ched her . The ot her chi l dr en t ook up t he cr y,and act ual l y f r i ght ened t hemsel ves i nt o f i t s whenever t hey passedwi t hi n si ght of t hi s t er r i bl e ol d woman.

Mr . and Mr s. Thr ogmor t on, not a whi r wi ser t han t hei r chi l dr en,bel i eved al l t he absur d t al es t hey had been t ol d; and Lady Cr omwel l ,a gossi p of Mr s. Thr ogmor t on, made her sel f ver y act i ve i n t hebusi ness, and det er mi ned t o br i ng t he wi t ch t o the or deal . Thesapi ent Si r Samuel j oi ned i n t he scheme; and t he chi l dr en t husencour aged gave l oose r ei ns t o t hei r i magi nat i ons, whi ch seem t ohave been of t he l i vel i est . They soon i nvent ed a whol e host of evi lspi r i t s, and names f or t hem besi des, whi ch, t hey sai d, wer e sent by

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Mot her Samuel t o t or ment t hem cont i nual l y. Seven spi r i t s especi al l y,t hey sai d, wer e rai sed f r om hel l by t hi s wi cked woman t o t hr ow t hemi nt o f i t s; and as t he chi l dr en wer e actual l y subj ect t o f i t s, t hei rmot her and her commeres gave t he mor e cr edi t t o t he st or y. The namesof t hese spi r i t s wer e, "Fi r st Smack, " "Second Smack, " "Thi r d Smack, ""Bl ue, " " Catch, " " Har dname, " and "Pl uck. "

Throgmor t on, t he f at her , was so pest er ed by t hese i dl e f anci es,and yet so wel l i ncl i ned t o bel i eve t hem, t hat he mar ched val i ant l yf or t h t o the hut wher e Mot her Samuel r esi ded wi t h her husband anddaught er , and dr agged her f orci bl y i nt o hi s own gr ounds. LadyCr omwel l , Mr s. Thr ogmort on, and t he gi r l s wer e i n wai t i ng, armedwi t h l ong pi ns t o pr i ck t he wi t ch, and see i f t hey coul d dr aw bl oodf r om her . Lady Cr omwel l , who seems t o have been t he most vi ol ent oft he part y, t ore t he ol d woman' s cap of f her head, and pl ucki ng out ahandf ul of her gr ey hai r , gave i t t o Mr s. Thr ogmor t on t o bur n, as achar m whi ch woul d pr eser ve t hem al l f r om her f ut ur e machi nat i ons. I twas no wonder t hat t he poor cr eat ur e, subj ect ed t o thi s r ough usage,

shoul d gi ve vent t o an i nvol unt ary cur se upon her t orment ors. Shedi d so, and her cur se was never f orgot t en. Her hai r , however , wassupposed t o be a gr and speci f i c, and she was al l owed to depar t , hal fdead wi t h t er r or and i l l usage. For mor e t han a year , t he f ami l i esof Cr omwel l and Thr ogmort on cont i nued t o persecut e her , and toasser t t hat her i mps af f l i ct ed t hem wi t h pai ns and f i t s, t ur ned t hemi l k sour i n t hei r pans, and pr event ed t hei r cows and ewes f r ombear i ng. I n t he mi dst of t hese f ool er i es, Lady Cr omwel l was t akeni l l and di ed. I t was t hen remember ed that her death had t aken pl aceexact l y a year and a quar t er si nce she was cur sed by Mot her Samuel ,and t hat on sever al occasi ons she had dr eamed of t he wi t ch and a

bl ack cat , t he l at t er bei ng of cour se t he ar ch- enemy of manki ndhi msel f .

Si r Samuel Cr omwel l now concei ved hi msel f bound t o t ake moreener get i c measur es agai nst t he sorcer ess, si nce he had l ost hi s wi f eby her means. The year and a quar t er and t he bl ack cat were proof sposi t i ve. Al l t he nei ghbour s had t aken up t he cr y of wi t chcr af tagai nst Mot her Samuel ; and her per sonal appearance, unf ort unatel yf or her , t he ver y i deal of what a wi t ch ought t o be, i ncr eased t hepopul ar suspi ci on. I t woul d appear t hat at l ast t he poor womanbel i eved, even t o her own di sadvant age, t hat she was what everybody

r epr esent ed her t o be. Bei ng f orci bl y br ought i nt o Mr . Thr ogmor t on' shouse, when hi s daught er J oan was i n one of her cust omary f i t s, shewas commanded by hi m and Si r Samuel Cr omwel l t o expel t he devi l f r omt he young l ady. She was t ol d t o repeat her exor ci sm, and t o add, "asI am a wi t ch, and t he causer of Lady Cr omwel l ' s death, I char get hee, f i end, t o come out of her ! " She di d as was r equi r ed of her ,and mor eover conf essed t hat her husband and daught er were l eaguedwi t h her i n wi t chcraf t , and had, l i ke her , sol d t hei r soul s t o t he

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devi l . The whol e f ami l y wer e i mmedi atel y arr est ed, and sent t oHunt i ngdon t o pr i son.

The t r i al was i nst i t ut ed shor t l y af t er war ds bef or e Mr . J ust i ceFenner , when al l t he cr azy gi r l s of Mr . Thr ogmor t on' s f ami l y gaveevi dence agai nst Mother Samuel and her f ami l y. They wer e al l t hr eeput t o t he t or t ur e. The ol d woman conf essed i n her angui sh t hat shewas a wi t ch - - t hat she had cast her spel l s upon t he young l adi es,and t hat she had caused t he deat h of Lady Cr omwel l . The f at her anddaught er , st r onger i n mi nd t han t hei r unf or t unat e wi f e and par ent ,r ef used t o conf ess anythi ng, and asser t ed t hei r i nnocence t o t hel ast . They wer e al l t hr ee condemned to be hanged, and thei r bodi esbur ned. The daught er , who was young and good- l ooki ng, exci t ed t hepi t y of many persons, and she was advi sed t o pl ead pr egnancy, t hatshe mi ght gai n at ] east a r espi t e f r om deat h. The poor gi r l r ef usedpr oudl y, on t he gr ound t hat she woul d not be accounted bot h a wi t chand a st r umpet . Her hal f - wi t t ed ol d mot her caught at t he i dea of af ew weeks' l onger l i f e, and asser t ed that she was pr egnant . The

cour t was convul sed wi t h l aught er , i n whi ch t he wr et ched vi ct i mher sel f j oi ned, and t hi s was account ed an addi t i onal pr oof t hat shewas a wi t ch. The whol e f ami l y wer e execut ed on t he 7t h of Apr i l ,1593.

Si r Samuel Cr omwel l , as l or d of t he manor , r ecei ved t he sum of40 pounds out of t he conf i scat ed pr oper t y of t he Samuel s, whi ch het ur ned i nt o a r ent - char ge of 40 shi l l i ngs year l y, f or t he endowmentof an annual sermon or l ect ur e upon t he enormi t y of wi t chcr af t , andt hi s case i n par t i cul ar , t o be pr eached by a doct or or bachel or ofdi vi ni t y of Queen' s Col l ege, Cambr i dge. I have not been abl e t o

ascer t ai n t he exact dat e at whi ch t hi s annual l ect ur e wasdi scont i nued, but i t appears t o have been pr eached so l ate as 1718,when Dr . Hut chi nson publ i shed hi s work upon wi t chcr af t .

To car r y on i n proper chr onol ogi cal or der t he hi st or y of t hewi t ch del usi on i n t he Br i t i sh i sl es, i t wi l l be necessar y to exami nei nt o what was t aki ng pl ace i n Scot l and dur i ng al l t hat par t of t hesi xt eent h cent ur y ant er i or t o t he accessi on of J ames VI . t o t hecr own of Engl and. We nat ur al l y expect t hat t he Scot ch, - - a peopl er enowned f r om t he ear l i est t i mes f or t hei r power s of i magi nat i on, - -shoul d be more deepl y i mbued wi t h t hi s gl oomy superst i t i on t han

t hei r nei ghhour s of t he Sout h. The nat ur e of t hei r soi l and cl i mat et ended to encour age t he dr eams of ear l y i gnor ance. Ghost s, gobl i ns,wr ai t hs, kel pi es, and a whol e host of spi r i t ual bei ngs, wer ef ami l i ar t o t he dwel l er s by t he mi st y gl ens of t he Hi ghl ands and t her omant i c st r eams of t he Lowl ands. Thei r deeds, whet her of good ori l l , wer e enshr i ned i n song, and t ook a gr eat er hol d upon t hei magi nat i on because "ver se had sanct i f i ed t hem. " But i t was not t i l lt he r el i gi ous r ef or mer s began t he pr act i ce of st r ai ni ng Scr i pt ur e t ot he sever est ext r emes, t hat t he ar m of t he l aw was cal l ed upon t o

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puni sh wi t chcr af t as a cr i me per se. What Pope I nnocent VI I I . haddone f or Germany and Fr ance, t he pr eacher s of t he Ref ormat i on di df or t he Scot t i sh peopl e. Wi t chcr af t , i nst ead of bei ng a mer e ar t i cl eof f ai t h, became enr ol l ed i n t he st at ut e book; and al l good subj ect sand t r ue Chr i st i ans wer e cal l ed upon t o t ake ar ms agai nst i t . Theni nt h Par l i ament of Queen Mary passed an act i n 1563, whi ch decreedt he puni shment of deat h agai nst wi t ches and consul t er s wi t h wi t ches,and i mmedi at el y t he whol e bul k of t he peopl e were smi t t en wi t h anepi demi c f ear of t he devi l and hi s mor t al agent s. Per sons i n t hehi ghest r anks of l i f e shar ed and encour aged t he del usi on of t hevul gar . Many wer e t hemsel ves accused of wi t chcr af t ; and nobl e l adi eswere shown to have dabbl ed i n myst i c ar t s, and pr oved t o t he wor l dt hat , i f t hey wer e not wi t ches, i t was not f or want of t he wi l l .

Among t he dames who became not or i ous f or endeavour i ng t o ef f ectt hei r wi cked ends by t he devi l ' s ai d, may be ment i oned t hecel ebr at ed Lady Buccl eugh, of Br anxhol me, f ami l i ar t o al l t her eader s of Si r Wal t er Scot t ; t he Count ess of Lot hi an, t he Count ess

of Angus, t he Count ess of At hol , Lady Ker r , t he Count ess of Hunt l ey,Euphemi a Macal zean ( t he daught er of Lord Cl i f t onhal l ) , and LadyFowl i s. Among the cel ebr at ed of t he ot her sex who were accused ofwi zzar di sm was Si r Lewi s Bal l ant yne, t he Lor d J ust i ce Cl er k f orScot l and, who, i f we may bel i eve Scot of Scot st ar vet , "deal t bycur i osi t y wi t h a war l ock cal l ed Ri char d Gr ahame, " and pr ayed hi m t or ai se t he devi l . The war l ock consent ed, and r ai sed hi m i n pr opr i aper sona, i n t he yar d of hi s house i n t he Canongat e, "at si ght ofwhom t he Lor d J ust i ce Cl er k was so t er r i f i ed t hat he t ook si cknessand t her eof di ed. " By such i dl e r epor t s as t hese di d t he envi ousr ui n t he r eput at i on of t hose t hey hat ed, t hough i t woul d appear i n

t hi s case t hat Si r Lewi s had been f ool enough to make t he at t empt ofwhi ch he was accused, and t hat t he success of t he exper i ment was t heonl y apocryphal par t of t he st or y.

The enemi es of J ohn Knox i nvent ed a si mi l ar t al e, whi ch f oundr eady cr edence among t he Roman Cat hol i cs; gl ad t o at t ach any st i gmat o t hat gr and scour ge of t he vi ces of t hei r chur ch. I t was r epor t edt hat he and hi s secr et ar y went i nt o t he chur chyar d of St . Andr ew' swi t h t he i nt ent t o r ai se "some sanct es; " but t hat , by a mi st ake i nt hei r conj ur at i ons, t hey r ai sed t he gr eat f i end hi msel f , i nst ead oft he sai nt s t hey wi shed t o consul t . The popul ar r umour added t hat

Knox' s secret ar y was so f r i ght ened at t he gr eat hor ns, goggl e eyes,and l ong t ai l of Sat an, t hat he went mad, and shor t l y af t er war dsdi ed. Knox hi msel f was bui l t of st er ner st uf f , and was not t o bef r i ght ened.

The f i r st name t hat occur s i n t he r ecor ds of t he Hi gh Cour t of J ust i ci ar y of persons t r i ed or execut ed f or wi t chcr af t i s t hat of J anet Bowman, i n 1572, ni ne year s af t er t he passi ng of t he act ofMary. No par t i cul ars of her cr i mes are gi ven, and agai nst her name

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t her e onl y st and t he wor ds, "convi ct and br ynt . " I t i s not , however ,t o be i nf er r ed t hat , i n t hi s i nt er val , no t r i al s or execut i ons t ookpl ace; f or i t appear s on t he aut hor i t y of document s of unquest i onedaut hent i ci t y i n t he Advocat es' Li br ar y at Edi nbur gh, [ For ei gnQuar t er l y Revi ew, vol . vi . page 41. ] t hat t he Pr i vy Counci l made apr act i ce of gr ant i ng commi ssi ons t o r esi dent gent l emen andmi ni st er s, i n ever y par t of Scot l and, t o exami ne, t r y, and execut ewi t ches wi t hi n t hei r own par i shes. No r ecor ds of t hose who suf f er edf r om t he sent ence of t hese t r i bunal s have been pr eser ved; but i fpopul ar t r adi t i on may be bel i eved, even t o t he amount of one- f our t hof i t s asser t i ons, t hei r number was f ear f ul . Af t er t he year 1572,t he ent r i es of execut i ons f or wi t chcraf t i n t he r ecor ds of t he Hi ghCour t become mor e f r equent , but do not aver age mor e t han one perannum; anot her pr oof t hat t r i al s f or t hi s of f ence wer e i n gener alent r ust ed t o t he l ocal magi st r acy. The l at t er appear t o have or der edwi t ches t o t he st ake wi t h as l i t t l e compunct i on, and af t er assummary a mode, as modern j ust i ces of t he peace or der a poacher t ot he st ocks.

As J ames VI . advanced i n manhood, he took gr eat i nt er est i n t hewi t ch t r i al s. One of t hem especi al l y, t hat of Gel l i e Duncan, Dr .Fi an, and t hei r accompl i ces, i n t he year 1591, engr ossed hi s whol eat t ent i on, and no doubt suggest ed i n some degr ee, t he f amous work onDemonol ogy whi ch he wr ot e shor t l y af t erwards. As t hese wi t ches hadmade an at t empt upon hi s own l i f e, i t i s not sur pr i si ng, wi t h hi shabi t s, t hat he shoul d have wat ched the case cl osel y, or becomest r engt hened i n hi s pr ej udi ce and super st i t i on by i t s si ngul ardet ai l s. No ot her t r i al t hat coul d be sel ect ed woul d gi ve so f ai r ani dea of t he del usi ons of t he Scot t i sh peopl e as t hi s. Whet her we

consi der t he number of vi ct i ms, t he absur di t y of t he evi dence, andt he r eal vi l l any of some of t he per sons i mpl i cat ed, i t i s equal l yext r aor di nar y.

Gel l i e Duncan, t he pr i me wi t ch i n t hese pr oceedi ngs, wasser vant t o t he Deput y Bai l i f f of Tr anent , a smal l t own i nHadi ngt onshi r e, about t en mi l es f r om Edi nbur gh. Though nei t her ol dnor ugl y ( as wi t ches usual l y wer e) , but young and good- l ooki ng, hernei ghbour s, f r om some suspi ci ous par t s of her behavi our , had l ongconsi der ed her a wi t ch. She had, i t appear s, some pr et ensi ons t o t heheal i ng art . Some cur es whi ch she ef f ect ed wer e so sudden, t hat t he

wor t hy Bai l i f f , her mast er , who, l i ke hi s nei ghbour s, mi st r ust edher , consi der ed t hem no l ess t han mi r acul ous. I n or der t o di scovert he t r ut h, he put her t o t he t or t ur e; but she obst i nat el y ref used t oconf ess t hat she had deal i ngs wi t h t he devi l . I t was t he popul arbel i ef t hat no wi t ch woul d conf ess as l ong as t he mark whi ch Satanhad put upon her r emai ned undi scover ed upon her body. Somebodypr esent r emi nded t he t or t ur i ng Bai l i e of t hi s f act , and onexami nat i on, t he devi l ' s mark was f ound upon t he t hr oat of poorGel l i e. She was put t o t he t or t ur e agai n, and her f or t i t ude gi vi ng

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t he devi l ' s secr etary, was commanded t o summon al l t he wi t ches t omeet t hei r mast er , each one sai l i ng on a si eve on t he hi gh seas.

On Al l - hal l owmas Eve, t hey assembl ed t o t he number of upwardsof t wo hundred, i ncl udi ng Gel l i e Duncan, Agnes Sampson, Euphemi aMacal zean, one Barbara Napi er , and sever al war l ocks; and eachembar ki ng i n a ri ddl e, or si eve, t hey sai l ed "over t he ocean ver ysubst ant i al l y. " Af t er cr ui si ng about f or some t i me, t hey met wi t ht he f i end, bear i ng i n hi s cl aws a cat , whi ch had been pr evi ousl ydr awn ni ne t i mes t hr ough t he f i r e. Thi s he del i ver ed t o one of t hewar l ocks, t el l i ng hi m t o cast i t i nt o t he sea, and cry "Hol a! " Thi swas done wi t h al l sol emni t y, and i mmedi at el y t he ocean becameconvul sed - - t he water s hi ssed l oudl y, and t he waves r ose mount ai nshi gh,

"Twisting their arms to the dun-coloured heaven."

The wi t ches sai l ed gal l ant l y t hrough t he t empest t hey had

r ai sed, and l andi ng on t he coast of Scot l and, t ook t hei r si eves i nt hei r hands, and marched on i n pr ocessi on t o t he haunt ed ki r k ofNor t h Ber wi ck, wher e t he devi l had resol ved to hol d a pr eachi ng.Gel l i e Duncan, t he musi ci an of t he par t y, t r i pped on bef or e, pl ayi ngon her J ew' s har p, and si ngi ng,

"Cummer, go ye before, Cummer, go ye;

Gif ye will not go before, Cummer, let me!"

Ar r i ved at t he ki r k, t hey paced ar ound i t wi t her shi ns, t hat i s,i n r ever se of t he appar ent mot i on of t he sun. Dr . Fi an t hen bl ew

i nt o the keyhol e of t he door , whi ch opened i mmedi atel y, and al l t hewi t ches ent er ed. As i t was pi t ch dark, Fi an bl ew wi t h hi s mout h upont he candl es, whi ch i mmedi atel y l i ght ed, and t he devi l was seenoccupyi ng t he pul pi t . He was at t i r ed i n a bl ack gown and hat , andt he wi t ches sal ut ed hi m, by cr yi ng, "Al l hai l , mast er ! " Hi s body washar d, l i ke i r on; hi s f ace t er r i bl e; hi s nose, l i ke t he beak of aneagl e; he had gr eat bur ni ng eyes; hi s hands and l egs wer e hai r y; andhe had l ong cl aws upon hi s hands and f eet , and spake wi t h anexceedi ngl y gr uf f voi ce. Bef ore commenci ng hi s ser mon, he cal l edover t he names of hi s congregat i on, demandi ng whet her t hey had beengood ser vant s, and what success had at t ended thei r oper at i ons

agai nst t he l i f e of t he Ki ng and hi s br i de.

Gr ay Mei l l , a cr azy ol d war l ock, who act ed as beadl e ordoor keeper , was si l l y enough t o answer , " t hat not hi ng ai l ed t he Ki ngyet , God be t hanked; " upon whi ch t he devi l , i n a r age, st epped downf r om t he pul pi t , and boxed hi s ear s f or hi m. He t hen remount ed, andcommenced t he pr eachi ng, commandi ng t hem t o be dut i f ul ser vant s t ohi m, and do al l t he evi l t hey coul d. Euphemi a Macal zean and AgnesSampson, bol der t han t he r est , asked hi m whether he had br ought t he

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i mage or pi ct ur e of Ki ng J ames, t hat t hey mi ght , by pr i cki ng i t ,cause pai ns and di seases t o f al l upon hi m. "The f at her of l i es"spoke t r ut h f or once, and conf essed t hat he had f or got t en i t ; uponwhi ch Euphemi a Macal zean upbr ai ded hi m l oudl y f or hi s car el essness. The devi l , however , t ook i t al l i n good par t , al t hough Agnes Sampsonand sever al ot her women l et l oose t hei r t ongues at hi m i mmedi at el y.When t hey had done scol di ng, he i nvi t ed t hem al l t o a gr andent er t ai nment . A newl y bur i ed cor pse was dug up, and di vi ded amongt hem, whi ch was al l t hey had i n t he way of edi bl es. He was morel i ber al i n t he mat t er of dr i nk, and gave t hem so much excel l ent wi net hat t hey soon became j ol l y. Gel l i e Duncan t hen pl ayed t he ol d t uneupon her t r ump, and t he devi l hi msel f l ed of f t he dance wi t hEuphemi a Mac al zean. Thus t hey kept up t he spor t t i l l t he cock cr ew.

Agnes Sampson, t he wi se woman of Kei t h, as she was cal l ed,added some ot her par t i cul ar s i n her conf essi on. She st at ed, t hat ona pr evi ous occasi on, she had r ai sed an awf ul t empest i n t he sea, byt hr owi ng a cat i nt o i t , wi t h f our j oi nt s of men t i ed t o i t s f eet .

She sai d al so, t hat on t hei r gr and at t empt t o dr own Ki ng J ames, t heydi d not meet wi t h t he devi l af t er cr ui si ng about , but t hat he hadaccompani ed t hem f r om t he f i r st , and t hat she had seen hi m di ml y i nt he di st ance, r ol l i ng hi msel f bef or e t hem over t he gr eat waves, i nshape and si ze not unl i ke a huge hayst ack. They met wi t h a f orei gnshi p r i chl y l aden wi t h wi nes and ot her good t hi ngs, whi ch t heyboar ded, and sunk af t er t hey had dr unk al l t he wi ne, and madet hemsel ves qui t e mer r y.

Some of t hese di scl osures were t oo much even f or t he abundantf ai t h of Ki ng J ames, and he more t han once excl ai med, t hat t he

wi t ches wer e l i ke t hei r mast er , "ext r eme l yar s. " But t hey conf essedmany ot her t hi ngs of a l ess pr epost er ous nat ur e, and of whi ch t heywer e, no doubt , r eal l y gui l t y. Agnes Sampson sai d she was t o havet aken t he Ki ng' s l i f e by anoi nt i ng hi s l i nen wi t h a st r ong poi son.Gel l i e Duncan used t o thr eat en her nei ghbour s by sayi ng she woul dsend t he devi l af t er t hem; and many persons of weaker mi nds t hanusual wer e f r i ght ened i nt o f i t s by her , and r ender ed subj ect t o t hemf or t he r emai nder of t hei r l i ves. Dr . Fi nn al so made no scr upl e i nai di ng and abet t i ng murder , and woul d r i d any person of an enemy bymeans of poi son, who coul d pay hi m hi s f ee f or i t . Euphemi aMacal zean al so was f ar f r om bei ng pur e. Ther e i s no doubt t hat she

medi t at ed t he Ki ng' s deat h, and used such means t o compass i t as t hesuper st i t i on of t he age di r ect ed. She was a devot ed par t i zan ofBot hwel l , who was accused by many of t he wi t ches as havi ng consul t edt hem on t he per i od of t he Ki ng' s deat h. They wer e al l f ound gui l t y,and sent enced to be hanged and bur ned. Barbar a Napi er , t hough f oundgui l t y upon other count s, was acqui t t ed upon t he charge of havi ngbeen pr esent at t he gr eat wi t ch- meet i ng i n Ber wi ck ki r k. The Ki ngwas hi ghl y di spl eased, and t hr eat ened t o have the j ur y i ndi ct ed f ora wi l f ul er r or upon an assi ze. They accor di ngl y r econsi der ed t hei r

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ver di ct , and t hr ew t hemsel ves upon t he Ki ng' s mer cy f or t he f aul tt hey had commi t t ed. J ames was sat i sf i ed, and Barbara Napi er washanged al ong wi t h Gel l i e Duncan, Agnes Sampson, Dr . Fi an, and f i ve-and- t went y ot hers. Euphemi a Macal zean met a harder f at e. Herconnexi on wi t h t he bol d and obnoxi ous Bothwel l , and her shar e i npoi soni ng one or t wo i ndi vi dual s who had st ood i n her way, wer et hought deser vi ng of t he sever est puni shment t he l aw coul d i nf l i ct .I nst ead of t he or di nar y sent ence, di r ect i ng t he cri mi nal t o be f i r stst r angl ed and t hen bur ned, t he wr et ched woman was doomed " t o bebound t o a st ake, and bur ned i n ashes, qui ck t o t he deat h. " Thi scr uel sent ence was execut ed on t he 25t h of J une 1591.

These t r i al s had t he most perni ci ous consequences al l overScot l and. The l ai r ds and mi ni st er s i n t hei r di st r i ct s, ar med wi t hdue power f r om t he pr i vy counci l , t r i ed and condemned ol d womenaf t er t he most summar y f ashi on. Those who st i l l cl ung t o t he anci entf ai t h of Rome wer e t he sever est suf f er er s, as i t was t hought , af t ert he di scl osures of t he f i er ce enmi t y bor ne by t he devi l t owar ds a

Pr ot est ant Ki ng and hi s Pr ot est ant wi f e, t hat al l t he Cat hol i cs wer el eagued wi t h t he power s of evi l t o work woe on t he r eal m ofScot l and. Upon a ver y moder at e cal cul at i on, i t i s pr esumed t hat f r omt he passi ng of t he act of Queen Mar y t i l l t he accessi on of J ames t ot he t hr one of Engl and, a per i od of t hi r t y- ni ne year s, t he aver agenumber of execut i ons f or wi t chcr af t i n Scot l and was t wo hundr edannual l y, or upwar ds of sevent een t housand al t oget her . For t he f i r stni ne year s t he number was not one quar t er so great ; but t owards t heyears 1590 t o 1593, t he number must have been mor e t han f ourhundr ed. The case l ast ci t ed was one of an ext r aor di nar y char act er . The gener al aspect of t he t r i al s wi l l be bet t er seen f r om t hat of

I sabel Gowdi e, whi ch, as i t woul d be both wear i some and di sgust i ngt o go t hr ough t hem al l , i s ci t ed as a f ai r speci men, al t hough i tt ook pl ace at a date somewhat l ater t han t he r ei gn of J ames. Thi swoman, wear i ed of her l i f e by t he per secut i ons of her nei ghbour s,vol unt ar i l y gave her sel f up t o j ust i ce, and made a conf essi on,embodyi ng t he whol e wi t chcr eed of t he per i od. She was undoubt edl y amonomani ac of t he most ext r aor di nary ki nd. She sai d t hat shedeserved t o be st r et ched upon an i r on r ack, and t hat her cr i mescoul d never be at oned f or , even i f she were t o be dr awn asunder bywi l d hor ses. She named a l ong l i st of her associ at es, i ncl udi ngnear l y f i f t y women and a f ew war l ocks. They dug up t he gr aves of

unchr i st ened i nf ant s, whose l i mbs wer e ser vi ceabl e i n t hei renchant ment s. When they want ed t o dest r oy t he cr ops of an enemy,t hey yoked toads t o hi s pl ough, and on t he f ol l owi ng ni ght Sat anhi msel f pl oughed t he l and wi t h hi s t eam, and bl ast ed i t f or t heseason. The wi t ches had power t o assume al most any shape; but t heygener al l y chose ei t her t hat of a cat or a har e, of t enest t he l at t er .I sabel sai d, t hat on one occasi on, when she was i n t hi s di sgui se,she was sor e pr essed by a pack of hounds, and had a ver y nar r owescape wi t h her l i f e. She r eached her own door at l ast , f eel i ng t he

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hot br eat h of t he pur sui ng dogs at her haunches. She managed,however , t o hi de her sel f behi nd a chest , and got t i me to pr onouncet he magi c words t hat coul d al one r est ore her t o her pr oper shape. They wer e : - -

"Hare! hare! God send thee care!

I am in a hare's likeness now;

But I shall be a woman e'en now!

Hare! hare!

God send thee care!"

I f wi t ches, when i n t hi s shape, wer e bi t t en by t he dogs, t heyal ways r etai ned t he marks i n thei r human f orm; but she had neverheard t hat any wi t ch had been bi t t en t o death. When t he devi lappoi nt ed any gener al meet i ng of t he wi t ches, t he cust om was t hatt hey shoul d pr oceed t hr ough t he ai r mount ed on br oomst i cks, or oncor n or bean- st r aws, pr onounci ng as t hey went : - -

"Horse and partook, horse and go,Hor se and pel l at s, ho! ho! ho! "

They gener al l y l ef t behi nd t hem a broom, or a t hree- l eggedst ool , whi ch, when pl aced i n t hei r beds and dul y charmed, assumedt he human shape t i l l t hei r r et ur n. Thi s was done t hat t he nei ghhour smi ght not know when t hey were absent .

She added, t hat t he devi l f ur ni shed hi s f avour i t e wi t ches wi t hser vant i mps t o at t end upon t hem. These i mps were cal l ed "TheRoar i ng Li on, " " Thi ef of Hel l , " "Wai t - upon- Her sel f , " " Rant i ng

Roar er , " "Car e- f or - Naught , " &c. and wer e known by t hei r l i ver i es,whi ch wer e gener al l y yel l ow, sad- dun, sea- gr een, pea- gr een, orgr ass- gr een. Sat an never cal l ed t he wi t ches by t he names t hey hadr ecei ved at bapt i sm; nei t her wer e t hey al l owed, i n hi s pr esence, sot o desi gnat e each ot her . Such a br each of t he i nf er nal et i quet t eassur edl y dr ew down hi s most sever e di spl easur e. But as somedesi gnat i on was necessar y, he r e- bapt i zed t hem i n t hei r own bl ood byt he names of "Abl e- and- St out , " " Over - t hedi ke- wi t h- i t , " " Rai se- t he-wi nd, " "Pi ckl e- near est - t hewi nd, " "Bat t er - t hemdown- Maggy, " "Bl ow-Kal e, " and such l i ke. The devi l hi msel f was not ver y par t i cul ar whatname t hey cal l ed hi m so t hat i t was not "Bl ack J ohn. " I f any wi t ch

was unt hi nki ng enough to ut t er t hese words, he woul d rush out uponher , and beat and buf f et her unmer ci f ul l y, or t ear her f l esh wi t h awool - car d. Ot her names he di d not car e about ; and once gavei nst r uct i ons t o a noted war l ock t hat whenever he want ed hi s ai d, hewas t o st r i ke t he gr ound t hr ee t i mes and excl ai m, "Ri se up, f oulthi ef ! "

Upon thi s conf essi on many persons were execut ed. So st r ong wast he popul ar f eel i ng, t hat no one once accused of wi t chcr af t was

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acqui t t ed; at l east , acqui t t al s di d not aver age one i n a hundr edt r i al s. Wi t ch- f i ndi ng, or wi t chpr i cki ng became a t r ade, and a setof mercenar y vagabonds r oamed about t he count r y, provi ded wi t h l ongpi ns t o r un i nt o t he f l esh of supposed cr i mi nal s. I t was no unusualt hi ng t hen, nor i s i t now, t hat i n aged per sons t her e shoul d be somespot on t he body tot al l y devoi d of f eel i ng. I t was t he obj ect of t hewi t chpr i cker t o di scover t hi s spot , and t he unhappy wi ght who di dnot bl eed when pr i cked upon i t , was doomed t o t he death. I f noti mmedi at el y cast i nt o pr i son, her l i f e was r ender ed mi serabl e by t heper secut i on of her nei ghbour s. I t i s r ecorded of many poor women,t hat t he annoyances t hey endur ed i n thi s way wer e so excessi ve, t hatt hey pr ef er r ed deat h. Si r Geor ge Mackenzi e, t he Lor d Advocat e, att he t i me when wi t ch- t r i al s wer e so f r equent , and hi msel f a devoutbel i ever i n t he cri me, r el at es, i n hi s "Cr i mi nal Law, " f i r stpubl i shed i n 1678, some r emar kabl e i nst ances of i t . He says, " Iwent , when I was a j ust i ce- deput e, t o exami ne some women who hadconf essed j udi ci al l y: and one of t hem, who was a si l l y cr eat ur e,t ol d me, under secr ecy, t hat she had not conf essed because she was

gui l t y, but bei ng a poor cr eatur e who wr ought f or her meat , andbei ng def amed f or a wi t ch, she knew she shoul d st arve; f or no per sont her eaf t er woul d ei t her gi ve her meat or l odgi ng, and t hat al l menwoul d beat her and set dogs at her ; and t hat , t her ef or e, she desi r edt o be out of t he wor l d; whereupon she wept most bi t t er l y, and uponher knees cal l ed God t o wi t ness t o what she sai d. " Si r Geor ge,t hough not whol l y el evat ed above t he pr ej udi ces of hi s age upon t hi ssubj ect , was cl ear si ght ed enough t o see t he danger t o soci et y of t heundue encour agement gi ven t o t he wi t chpr osecut i ons. He wasconvi nced t hat t hr ee- f our t hs of t hem wer e unj ust and unf ounded. Hesays, i n t he work al r eady quoted, t hat t he per sons who wer e i n

gener al accused of t hi s cr i me, were poor i gnorant men and women, whodi d not under st and the natur e of t he accusat i on, and who mi st ookt hei r own super st i t i ous f ear s f or wi t chcraf t . One poor wr et ch, aweaver , conf essed t hat he was a war l ock, and, bei ng asked why, her epl i ed, because "he had seen t he devi l danci ng, l i ke a f l y, aboutt he candl e! " A si mpl e woman, who, because she was cal l ed a wi t ch,bel i eved t hat she was, asked the j udge upon t he bench, whether aper son mi ght be a wi t ch and not know i t ? Si r George adds, t hat al lt he supposed cr i mi nal s wer e subj ect ed t o sever e t or t ur e i n pr i sonf r om t hei r gaol er s, who t hought t hey di d God good ser vi ce by vexi ngand t orment i ng t hem; "and I know, " says t hi s humane and enl i ght ened

magi st r at e, "t hat t hi s usage was t he gr ound of al l t hei r conf essi on;and al bei t , t he poor mi scr eant s cannot pr ove t hi s usage, t he act or si n i t bei ng t he onl y wi t nesses, yet t he j udge shoul d be j eal ous ofi t , as that whi ch di d at f i r st el i ci t t he conf essi on, and f or f earof whi ch t hey dar e not r et r act i t . " Anot her aut hor , [ "Sat an' sI nvi si bl e Wor l d di scover ed, " by the Rev. G. Si ncl ai r . ] al so a f i r mbel i ever i n wi t chcraf t , gi ves a st i l l mor e l ament abl e i nst ance of awoman who pr ef err ed execut i on as a wi t ch t o l i ve on under t hei mput at i on. Thi s woman, who knew t hat t hree ot her s were t o be

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st r angl ed and bur ned on an ear l y day, sent f or t he mi ni st er of t hepar i sh, and conf essed t hat she had sol d her soul t o Sat an."Wher eupon bei ng cal l ed bef ore t he j udges, she was condemned to di ewi t h t he r est . Bei ng car r i ed f or t h t o t he pl ace of execut i on, sher emai ned si l ent dur i ng t he f i r st , second, and t hi r d pr ayer , andt hen, per cei vi ng t hat t her e r emai ned no more but t o r i se and go tot he st ake, she l i f t ed up her body, and, wi t h a l oud voi ce, cr i edout , "Now al l you t hat see me t hi s day, know t hat I am now t o di e asa wi t ch, by my own conf essi on, and I f r ee al l men, especi al l y themi ni st er s and magi st r at es, of t he gui l t of my bl ood. I t ake i twhol l y upon mysel f . My bl ood be upon my own head. And, as I mustmake answer t o the God of heaven pr esent l y, I decl are I am as f r eeof wi t chcr af t as any chi l d. But , bei ng del at ed by a mal i ci ous woman,and put i n pr i son under t he name of a wi t ch, di sowned by my husbandand f r i ends, and seei ng no gr ound of hope of ever comi ng out agai n,I made up t hat conf essi on t o dest r oy my own l i f e, bei ng wear y of i t ,and choosi ng r at her t o di e t han t o l i ve. " As a pr oof of t he si ngul arobst i nacy and bl i ndness of t he bel i ever s i n wi t ches, i t may be

st at ed, t hat t he mi ni st er who rel at es t hi s st or y onl y saw i n t hedyi ng speech of t he unhappy woman an addi t i onal proof t hat she was awi t ch. Tr ue i ndeed i s i t , t hat "none ar e so bl i nd as t hose who wi l lnot see. "

I t i s t i me, however , t o r et ur n t o J ames VI , who i s f ai r l yent i t l ed t o shar e wi t h Pope I nnocent , Spr enger , Bodi nus, and Mat t hewHopki ns t he gl or y or t he odi um of bei ng at t he same t i me a chi efenemy and chi ef encour ager of wi t chcr af t . Towards t he cl ose of t hesi xt eent h cent ur y, many l ear ned men, bot h on t he Cont i nent and i nt he i sl es of Br i t ai n, had endeavour ed t o di sabuse t he publ i c mi nd on

t hi s subj ect . The most cel ebr at ed wer e Wi er us i n Germany, Pi et r od' Apone i n I t al y, and Regi nal d Scot i n Engl and. Thei r wor ks exci t edt he at t ent i on of t he zeal ous J ames, who, mi ndf ul of t he i nvol unt ar ycompl i ment whi ch hi s mer i t s had extor t ed f r om t he devi l , wasambi t i ous t o deser ve i t by st i l l cont i nui ng "hi s gr eat est enemi e. "I n t he year 1597 he publ i shed, i n Edi nbur gh, hi s f amous t r eat i se onDemonol ogy. I t s desi gn may be gather ed f r om t he f ol l owi ng passage i nt he i nt r oduct i on. "The f ear f ul aboundi ng, " says t he Ki ng, "at t hi st i me, and i n t hi s count r y, of t hese det est abl e sl aves of t he devi l ,t he wi t ches, or enchant er s, hat h moved me, bel oved reader , t odespat ch i n post t hi s f ol l owi ng t r eat i se of mi ne, not i n any wi se,

as I pr otest , t o serve f or a show of mi ne own l earni ng and i ngene( i ngenui t y) , but onl y (moved of consci ence) t o pr ess t her eby, so f aras I can, t o resol ve t he doubt i ng hear t s of many; bot h t hat suchassaul t s of Sat an ar e most cer t ai nl y pr act i sed, and t hat t hei nst r ument t her eof mer i t s most sever el y t o be puni shed, agai nst t hedamnabl e opi ni ons of t wo, pr i nci pal l y i n our age, wher eof t he one,cal l ed Scot , an Engl i shman, i s not ashamed, i n publ i c pr i nt , t o denyt hat t her e can be such t hi ng as wi t chcr af t , and so mai nt ai ns t he ol der r or of t he Sadducees, i n denyi ng of spi r i t s. The ot her , cal l ed

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per secut i on t o bur st f or t h i n Engl and wi t h a f ur y equal t o that i nScot l and. I t had l angui shed a l i t t l e dur i ng t he l at t er year s of t her ei gn of El i zabet h; but t he ver y f i r st Par l i ament of Ki ng J amesbr ought f or war d t he subj ect . J ames was f l at t er ed by t hei rpr ompt i t ude, and t he act passed i n 1604. On t he second r eadi ng i nt he House of Lor ds, t he bi l l passed i nt o a commi t t ee, i n whi ch wer et wel ve bi shops. By i t was enact ed, "That i f any per son shal l use,pr act i se, or exer ci se any conj ur at i on of any wi cked or evi l spi r i t ,or shal l consul t , covenant wi t h, or f eed any such spi r i t , t he f i r stof f ence t o be i mpr i sonment f or a year and st andi ng i n t he pi l l or yonce a quar t er ; t he second of f ence t o be death. "

The mi nor puni shment seems but r ar el y t o have been i nf l i ct ed.Ever y recor d t hat has been pr eserved, ment i ons t hat t he wi t ches werehanged and bur ned, or bur ned wi t hout t he pr evi ous st r angl i ng, "al i veand qui ck. " Dur i ng t he whol e of J ames' s r ei gn, ami d the ci vi l war sof hi s successor , t he sway of t he Long Par l i ament , t he usur pat i on ofCr omwel l , and t he r ei gn of Char l es I I , t her e was no abatement of t he

per secut i on. I f at any t i me i t r aged wi t h l ess vi r ul ence, i t waswhen Cr omwel l and t he I ndependents were mast ers. Dr . Zachary Gr ey,t he edi t or of an edi t i on of "Hudi br as, " i nf or ms us, i n a not e t ot hat wor k, t hat he hi msel f per used a l i st of t hr ee t housand wi t cheswho were executed i n t he t i me of t he Long Par l i ament al one. Dur i ngt he f i r st ei ght y year s of t he sevent eent h cent ur y, t he numberexecut ed has been est i mat ed at f i ve hundr ed annual l y, maki ng t hef r i ght f ul t ot al of f or t y t housand. Some of t hese cases deser ve t o beci t ed. The gr eat maj or i t y resembl e cl osel y those al r eady ment i oned,but t wo or t hr ee of t hem l et i n a new l i ght upon t he popul arsuper st i t i on.

Ever y one has hear d of t he "Lancashi r e wi t ches, " a phr ase nowused t o compl i ment t he l adi es of t hat count y f or t hei r bewi t chi ngbeaut y; but i t i s not ever y one who has hear d t he st or y i n whi ch i tor i gi nat ed. A vi l l ai nous boy, named Robi nson, was t he chi ef act or i nt he t r agedy. He conf essed, many years af t erwards, t hat he had beensubor ned by hi s f at her and ot her per sons t o gi ve f al se evi denceagai nst t he unhappy wi t ches whom he br ought t o t he st ake. The t i meof t hi s f amous t r i al was about t he year 1634. Thi s boy Robi nson,whose f ather was a wood- cut t er , r esi di ng on t he border s of Pendl eForest , i n Lancashi r e, spr ead abr oad many rumour s agai nst one Mot her

Di ckenson, whom he accused of bei ng a wi t ch. These rumour s comi ng t ot he ear s of t he l ocal magi st r acy, t he boy was sent f or , and st r i ct l yexami ned. He t ol d t he f ol l owi ng ext r aor di nar y st or y, wi t houthesi t at i on or pr evar i cat i on, and appar ent l y i n so open and honest amanner , t hat no one who heard hi m doubt ed t he t r ut h of i t : - - Hesai d, t hat as he was r oami ng about i n one of t he gl ades of t hef or est , amusi ng hi msel f by gat her i ng bl ackber r i es, he saw t wogreyhounds bef ore hi m, whi ch he t hought at t he t i me bel onged to somegent l eman of t he nei ghbour hood. Bei ng f ond of spor t , he pr oposed to

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have a cour se, and a hare bei ng st ar t ed, he i nci t ed t he hounds t or un. Nei t her of t hem woul d st i r . Angr y at t he beast s, he sei zed hol dof a swi t ch, wi t h whi ch he was about t o puni sh t hem, when one oft hem suddenl y st ar t ed up i n t he f or m of a woman, and t he ot her , of al i t t l e boy. He at once recogni sed t he woman t o be t he wi t ch MotherDi ckenson. She of f er ed hi m some money to i nduce hi m t o sel l hi s soult o t he devi l ; but he r ef used. Upon t hi s she t ook a br i dl e out of herpocket , and, shaki ng i t over t he head of t he ot her l i t t l e boy, hewas i nst ant l y t ur ned i nt o a hor se. Mot her Di ckenson t hen sei zed hi mi n her ar ms, spr ang upon t he horse; and, pl aci ng hi m bef or e her ,r ode wi t h t he swi f t ness of t he wi nd over f or est s, f i el ds, bogs, andr i ver s, unt i l t hey came t o a l ar ge bar n. The wi t ch al i ght ed at t hedoor ; and t aki ng hi m by the hand, l ed hi m i nsi de. Ther e he saw sevenol d women, pul l i ng at seven hal t er s whi ch hung f r om t he r oof . Ast hey pul l ed, l ar ge pi eces of meat , l umps of but t er , l oaves of br ead,basi ns of mi l k, hot puddi ngs, bl ack puddi ngs, and ot her r ur aldai nt i es, f el l f r om t he hal t er s on t o t he f l oor . Whi l e engaged i nt hi s char m t hey made such ugl y f aces, and l ooked so f i endi sh, t hat

he was qui t e f r i ght ened. Af t er t hey had pul l ed, i n t hi s mannerenough f or an ampl e f east , t hey set - t o, and showed, what ever mi ghtbe sai d of t he way i n whi ch t hei r supper was pr ocur ed, t hat t hei repi cur i sm was a l i t t l e mor e r ef i ned t han t hat of t he Scot t i shwi t ches, who, accor di ng t o Gel l i e Duncan' s conf essi on, f east ed upondead men' s f l esh i n t he ol d ki r k of Ber wi ck. The boy added, t hat assoon as supper was r eady, many ot her wi t ches came t o par t ake of i t ,sever al of whom he named. I n consequence of t hi s st ory, many personswer e ar r est ed, and the boy Robi nson was l ed about f r om chur ch tochur ch, i n or der t hat he mi ght poi nt out t o t he of f i cer s, by whom hewas accompani ed, t he hags he had seen i n t he barn. Al t ogether about

t went y persons were thr own i nt o pr i son; ei ght of t hem were condemnedt o di e, i ncl udi ng Mot her Di ckenson, upon t hi s evi dence al one, andexecut ed accordi ngl y. Among the wr etches who concoct ed t hi s notabl est or y, not one was ever br ought t o j ust i ce f or hi s per j ur y; andRobi nson, t he f at her , gai ned consi der abl e sums by t hr eat eni ngpersons who were r i ch enough t o buy of f exposur e.

Among t he i l l weeds whi ch f l our i shed ami d t he l ong di ssensi onsof t he ci vi l war , Mat t hew Hopki ns, t he wi t ch- f i nder , st ands emi nenti n hi s spher e. Thi s vul gar f el l ow r esi ded, i n t he year 1644, at t het own of Manni ngt r ee, i n Essex, and made hi msel f ver y conspi cuous i n

di scover i ng t he devi l ' s marks upon sever al unhappy wi t ches. Thecr edi t he gai ned by hi s ski l l i n t hi s i nst ance seems t o havei nspi r ed hi m t o r enewed exer t i ons. I n t he cour se of a ver y shor tt i me, whenever a wi t ch was spoken of i n Essex, Mat t hew Hopki ns wassur e t o be pr esent , ai di ng t he j udges wi t h hi s knowl edge of "suchcat t l e, " as he cal l ed t hem. As hi s r eput at i on i ncr eased, he assumedt he t i t l e of "Wi t chf i nder Gener al , " and t r avel l ed t hr ough t hecount i es of Nor f ol k, Essex, Hunt i ngdon, and Sussex, f or t he sol epur pose of f i ndi ng out wi t ches. I n one year he br ought si xty poor

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cr eat ur es t o t he st ake. The test he commonl y adopt ed was t hat ofswi mmi ng, so hi ghl y r ecommended by Ki ng J ames i n hi s "Demonol ogi e. " The hands and f eet of t he suspect ed persons wer e t i ed t oget hercr osswi se, t he t humb of t he r i ght hand t o t he t oe of t he l ef t f oot ,and vi ce versa. They were t hen wr apped up i n a l arge sheet orbl anket , and l ai d upon t hei r backs i n a pond or r i ver . I f t hey sank,t hei r f r i ends and r el at i ves had t he poor consol at i on of knowi ng t heywer e i nnocent , but t her e was an end of t hem: i f t hey f l oat ed, whi ch,when l ai d caref ul l y on t he water was gener al l y t he case, t her e wasal so an end of t hem; f or t hey wer e deemed gui l t y of wi t chcr af t , andbur ned accor di ngl y.

Another t est was t o make t hem r epeat t he Lor d' s pr ayer andcreed. I t was af f i r med t hat no wi t ch coul d do so cor r ect l y. I f shemi ssed a word, or even pr onounced one i ncoherent l y, whi ch i n hert r epi dat i on, i t was most pr obabl e she woul d, she was account edgui l t y. I t was t hought t hat wi t ches coul d not weep more t han t hr eet ear s, and t hose onl y f r om t he l ef t eye. Thus t he consci ous

i nnocence of many per sons, whi ch gave t hem f ort i t ude t o bearunmer i t ed t or t ur e wi t hout f l i nchi ng, was const r ued by t hei runmer ci f ul t or ment or s i nt o pr oof s of gui l t . I n some di st r i ct s t het est r esor t ed t o was t o wei gh t he cul pr i t agai nst t he chur ch Bi bl e.I f t he suspect ed wi t ch pr oved heavi er t han t he Bi bl e, she was set atl i ber t y. Thi s mode was f ar t oo humane f or t he wi t ch- f i nder s bypr of essi on. Hopki ns al ways mai nt ai ned t hat t he most l egi t i mate modeswere pr i cki ng and swi mmi ng.

Hopki ns used t o t r avel t hr ough hi s count i es l i ke a man ofconsi der at i on, at t ended by hi s t wo assi st ant s, al ways put t i ng up at

t he chi ef i nn of t he pl ace, and al ways at t he cost of t heaut hor i t i es. Hi s char ges wer e t went y shi l l i ngs a t own, hi s expensesof l i vi ng whi l e t her e, and hi s car r i age t hi t her and back. Thi s hecl ai med whether he f ound wi t ches or not . I f he f ound any, he cl ai medt went y shi l l i ngs a head i n addi t i on when t hey wer e br ought t oexecut i on. For about t hr ee year s he car r i ed on t hi s i nf amous t r ade,success maki ng hi m so i nsol ent and r apaci ous, t hat hi gh and l owbecame hi s enemi es. The Rev. Mr . Gaul , a cl ergyman of Hought on, i nHunt i ngdonshi r e, wr ote a pamphl et i mpugni ng hi s pr etensi ons, andaccusi ng hi m of bei ng a common nui sance. Hopki ns r epl i ed i n an angr yl et t er t o t he f unct i onar i es of Hought on, st at i ng hi s i nt ent i on t o

vi si t t hei r t own; but desi r i ng t o know whet her i t af f or ded many suchst i ckl er s f or wi t chcraf t as Mr . Gaul , and whet her t hey wer e wi l l i ngt o r ecei ve and ent er t ai n hi m wi t h t he cust omar y hospi t al i t y, i f heso f ar honour ed t hem. He added, by way of t hr eat , t hat i n case hedi d not r ecei ve a sat i sf act or y repl y, "He woul d wai ve t hei r shi r eal t ogether , and betake hi msel f t o such pl aces where he mi ght do andpuni sh, not onl y wi t hout cont r ol , but wi t h t hanks and r ecompence. " The aut hor i t i es of Hought on wer e not much al ar med at hi s awf ul

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t hr eat of l et t i ng t hem al one. They ver y wi sel y t ook no not i ce ei t herof hi m or hi s l et t er .

Mr . Gaul descr i bes i n hi s pamphl et one of t he modes empl oyed byHopki ns, whi ch was sur e t o swel l hi s r evenues ver y consi der abl y. I twas a pr oof even more at r oci ous t han t he swi mmi ng. He says, t hat t he"Wi t ch- f i nder Gener al " used t o t ake t he suspect ed wi t ch and pl aceher i n t he mi ddl e of a r oom, upon a st ool or t abl e, cr oss- l egged, ori n some ot her uneasy post ur e. I f she r ef used t o si t i n t hi s manner ,she was bound wi t h st r ong cords. Hopki ns t hen pl aced persons t owatch her f or f our - and- t went y hour s, dur i ng whi ch t i me she was t o bekept wi t hout meat or dr i nk. I t was supposed t hat one of her i mpswoul d come dur i ng t hat i nt er val , and suck her bl ood. As t he i mpmi ght come i n t he shape of a wasp, a moth, a f l y, or other i nsect , ahol e was made i n the door or wi ndow t o l et i t ent er . The watcher swer e order ed t o keep a shar p l ook- out , and endeavour t o ki l l anyi nsect t hat appear ed i n t he r oom. I f any f l y escaped, and t hey coul dnot ki l l i t , t he woman was gui l t y; t he f l y was her i mp, and she was

sent enced t o be bur ned, and t went y shi l l i ngs went i nt o t he pocket sof Mast er Hopki ns. I n t hi s manner he made one ol d woman conf ess,because f our f l i es had appeared i n the room, t hat she was at t endedby f our i mps, named "I l emazar , " "Pye- wacket t , " "Peck- i n- t hecr own, "and "Gr i zel - Gr eedi gut . "

I t i s consol i ng t o t hi nk that t hi s i mpost or per i shed i n hi s ownsnar e. Mr . Gaul ' s exposur e and hi s own rapaci t y weakened hi si nf l uence among t he magi st r at es; and t he popul ace, who began t o f i ndt hat not even t he most vi r t uous and i nnocent wer e secur e f r om hi sper secut i on, l ooked upon hi m wi t h undi sgui sed aver si on. He was beset

by a mob, at a vi l l age i n Suf f ol k, and accused of bei ng hi msel f awi zard. An ol d r epr oach was br ought agai nst hi m, t hat he had, bymeans of sor cer y, cheat ed t he devi l out of a cer t ai n memorandum-book, i n whi ch he, Satan, had ent er ed t he names of al l t he wi t chesi n Engl and. "Thus, " sai d t he popul ace, "you f i nd out wi t ches, not byGod' s ai d, but by the devi l ' s. " I n vai n he deni ed hi s gui l t . Thepopul ace l onged t o put hi m t o hi s own t est . He was speedi l yst r i pped, and hi s t humbs and t oes t i ed t oget her . He was t hen pl acedi n a bl anket , and cast i nt o a pond. Some say t hat he f l oat ed; andt hat he was t aken out , t r i ed, and execut ed upon no ot her pr oof ofhi s gui l t . Ot her s asser t t hat he was dr owned. Thi s much i s posi t i ve,

t hat t her e was an end of hi m. As no j udi ci al ent r y of hi s t r i al andexecut i on i s t o be f ound i n any r egi st er , i t appear s most pr obabl et hat he expi r ed by t he hands of t he mob. But l er has i mmort al i zedt hi s scamp i n t he f ol l owi ng l i nes of hi s "Hudi br as: "- -

"Hath not this present Parliament

A lieger to the devil sent,

Fully empower'd to treat about

Finding revolted witches out?

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And has he not within a year

Hang'd threescore of them in one shire?

Some only for not being drown'd,

And some for sitting above ground

Whole days and nights upon their breeches,

And feeling pain, were hang'd for witches;

And some for putting knavish tricks

Upon green geese or turkey chicks;

Or pigs that suddenly deceased

Of griefs unnatural, as he guess'd;

Who proved himself at length a witch,

And made a rod for his own breech."

I n Scot l and al so wi t ch- f i ndi ng became a t r ade. They wer e knownunder t he desi gnat i on of "common pr i cker s, " and, l i ke Hopki ns,r ecei ved a f ee f or each wi t ch t hey di scover ed. At t he t r i al of J anetPeast on, i n 1646, t he magi st r at es of Dal kei t h "caused J ohn Ki ncai d,of Tr anent , t he common pr i cker , t o exer ci se hi s cr af t upon her . He

f ound t wo mar ks of t he devi l ' s maki ng; f or she coul d not f eel t hepi n when i t was put i nt o ei t her of t he sai d mar ks, nor di d t he mar ksbl eed when t he pi n was t aken out agai n. When she was asked where shet hought t he pi ns wer e put i n her , she poi nt ed t o a par t of her bodydi st ant f r om t he r eal pl ace. They wer e pi ns of t hr ee i nches i nl engt h. " [ Pi t cai rn' s "Records of J ust i ci ary. " ]

These common pr i cker s became at l ast so numer ous, t hat t heywer e consi der ed nui sances. The j udges r ef used t o t ake thei revi dence, and i n 1678 t he pr i vy counci l of Scot l and condescended t ohear t he compl ai nt of an honest woman, who had been i ndecent l y

exposed by one of t hem, and expr essed t hei r opi ni on that commonpr i cker s were common cheat s.

But such an opi ni on was not f ormed i n hi gh pl aces bef orehundr eds of i nnocent per sons had f al l en vi ct i ms. The Par l i ament s hadencour aged t he del usi on bot h i n Engl and and Scot l and; and, by ar mi ngt hese f el l ows wi t h a sor t of aut hor i t y, had i n a manner f or ced t hemagi st r at es and mi ni st er s t o recei ve thei r evi dence. The f at e of onepoor ol d gent l eman, who f el l a vi ct i m t o t he ar t s of Hopki ns i n1646, deser ves t o be r ecorded. Mr . Loui s, a vener abl e cl er gyman,upwards of sevent y year s of age, and who had been r ect or of

Fr aml i ngham, i n Suf f ol k, f or f i f t y year s, exci t ed suspi ci on t hat hewas a wi zar d. Bei ng a vi ol ent r oyal i st , he was l i kel y to meet wi t hno sympat hy at t hat t i me; and even hi s own par i shi oners, whom he hadser ved so l ong and so f ai t hf ul l y, t ur ned t hei r backs upon hi m assoon as he was accused. Pl aced under t he hands of Hopki ns, who knewso wel l how t o br i ng t he r ef r act or y t o conf essi on, t he ol d man, t hel i ght of whose i nt el l ect had become somewhat di mmed f r om age,conf essed t hat he was a wi zar d. He sai d he had t wo i mps, t hatcont i nual l y exci t ed hi m t o do evi l ; and t hat one day, when he was

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wal ki ng on t he sea- coast , one of t hem pr ompt ed hi m t o expr ess a wi sht hat a shi p, whose sai l s wer e j ust vi si bl e i n t he di st ance, mi ghtsi nk. He consent ed, and saw t he vessel si nk bef ore hi s eyes. He was,upon t hi s conf essi on, t r i ed and condemned. On hi s t r i al t he f l ame ofr eason bur ned up as br i ght l y as ever . He deni ed al l t hat had beenal l eged agai nst hi m, and cr oss- exami ned Hopki ns wi t h gr eat t act andsever i t y. Af t er hi s condemnat i on, he begged t hat t he f uner al ser vi ceof t he chur ch mi ght be read f or hi m. The request was r ef used, and her epeat ed i t f or hi msel f f r om memor y, as he was l ed t o t he scaf f ol d.

A poor woman i n Scot l and was execut ed upon evi dence even l essst r ong t han t hi s. J ohn Bai n, a common pr i cker , swor e t hat , as hepassed her door , he hear d her t al ki ng t o the devi l . She sai d i ndef ence, t hat i t was a f ool i sh pr act i ce she had of t al ki ng t oher sel f , and sever al of her nei ghbour s cor r obor at ed her st at ement ;but t he evi dence of t he pr i cker was r ecei ved. He swore t hat noneever t al ked t o t hemsel ves who wer e not wi t ches. The devi l ' s markbei ng f ound upon her , t he addi t i onal t est i mony of her gui l t was

deemed concl usi ve, and she was "convi ct and br ynt . "

From t he year 1652 t o 1682, t hese t r i al s di mi ni shed annual l y i nnumber , and acqui t t al s were by no means so r are as t hey had been. Todoubt i n wi t chcr af t was no l onger danger ous. Bef ore count r y j ust i ces, condemnat i ons on t he most absur d evi dence st i l l cont i nued,but when t he j udges of t he l and had t o charge the j ur y, t hey t ook amore humane and phi l osophi cal vi ew. By degr ees, t he educat ed cl asses( compr i sed, i n t hose days, wi t hi n ver y nar r ow l i mi t s) , openl yexpr essed t hei r unbel i ef of moder n wi t chcr af t , al t hough t hey wer enot bol d enough t o deny i t s exi st ence al t oget her . Bet ween t hem and

t he bel i ever s i n t he ol d doct r i ne f i er ce ar gument s ensued, and t hescept i cs were desi gnat ed Sadducees. To convi nce t hem, t he l ear nedand Reverend J oseph Gl anvi l wr ot e hi s wel l - known work, "Sadduci smus Tr i umphat us, " and "The Col l ect i on of Rel at i ons; " t he f i r st par ti nt ended as a phi l osophi cal i nqui r y i nt o wi t chcr af t , and t he powerof t he devi l " t o assume a mor t al shape; " t he l at t er cont ai ni ng whathe consi der ed a mul t i t ude of wel l - aut hent i cat ed moder n i nst ances.

But t hough pr ogr ess was made, i t was sl ow. I n 1664, t hevener abl e Si r Mat t hew Hal e condemned t wo women, named Amy Duny andRose Cul l ender , t o t he st ake at St . Edmondsbur y, upon evi dence t he

most r i di cul ous. These t wo ol d women, whose ugl i ness gave t hei rnei ghbour s t he f i r st i dea t hat t hey wer e wi t ches, went t o a shop t opur chase her r i ngs, and wer e r ef used. I ndi gnant at t he pr ej udi ceagai nst t hem, t hey wer e not spar i ng of t hei r abuse. Shor t l yaf t er war d, t he daught er of t he her r i ng- deal er f el l si ck, and a crywas r ai sed t hat she was bewi t ched by t he ol d women who had beenr ef used t he her r i ngs. Thi s gi r l was subj ect t o epi l ept i c f i t s. Todi scover t he gui l t of Amy Duny and Rose Cul l ender , t he gi r l ' s eyeswere bl i nded cl osel y wi t h a shawl , and t he wi t ches were commanded t o

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t ouch her . They di d so, and she was i mmedi at el y sei zed wi t h a f i t .Upon t hi s evi dence t hey wer e sent t o pr i son. The gi r l was af t er war dst ouched by an i ndi f f er ent per son, and t he f or ce of her i magi nat i onwas so gr eat , t hat , t hi nki ng i t was agai n t he wi t ches, she f el l downi n a vi ol ent f i t as bef or e. Thi s, however , was not r ecei ved i nf avour of t he accused.

The f ol l owi ng ext r act , f r om t he publ i shed r eport s of t he t r i al ,wi l l show t he sor t of evi dence whi ch was r ecei ved: - -

"Samuel Pacey, of Leyst of f , ( a good, sober man, ) bei ng swor n,sai d t hat , on Thur sday t he 10t h of Oct ober l ast , hi s youngerdaught er , Deborah, about ni ne year s ol d, was suddenl y t aken so l amet hat she coul d not st and on her l egs, and so cont i nued t i l l t he 17t hof t he same mont h, when t he chi l d desi r ed t o be car r i ed t o a bank ont he east si de of t he house, l ooki ng t owar ds t he sea; and, whi l e shewas si t t i ng t here, Amy Duny came t o t hi s exami nant ' s house t o buysome her r i ngs, but was deni ed. Then she came t wi ce more, but , bei ng

as of t en deni ed, she went away di scont ent ed and gr umbl i ng. At t hi si nst ant of t i me, t he chi l d was t aken wi t h t er r i bl e f i t s, compl ai ni ngof a pai n i n her st omach, as i f she was pr i cked wi t h pi ns, shr i eki ngout wi t h a voi ce l i ke a whel p, and t hus cont i nued t i l l t he 30t h oft he same mont h. Thi s exami nant f ur t her sai t h, t hat Amy Duny, havi ngl ong had t he r eput at i on of a wi t ch, and hi s chi l d havi ng, i n t hei nt er val s of her f i t s, const ant l y cri ed out on her , as t he cause ofher di sor der , sayi ng, t hat t he sai d Amy di d appear t o her and f r i ghther , he hi msel f di d suspect t he sai d Amy t o be a wi t ch, and chargedher wi t h bei ng t he cause of hi s chi l d' s i l l ness, and set her i n t hest ocks. Two days af t er , hi s daught er El i zabet h was t aken wi t h such

st r ange f i t s, t hat t hey coul d not f or ce open her mout h wi t hout at ap; and t he younger chi l d bei ng i n t he same condi t i on, t hey used t oher t he same r emedy. Bot h chi l dren gr i evousl y compl ai ned t hat AmyDuny and anot her woman, whose habi t and l ooks t hey descr i bed, di dappear t o t hem, and torment t hem, and woul d cry out , ' There st andsAmy Duny! There st ands Rose Cul l ender ! ' t he ot her per son whoaf f l i ct ed t hem. Thei r f i t s wer e not al i ke. Somet i mes t hey wer e l ameon t he r i ght si de; somet i mes on t he l ef t ; and somet i mes so sore,t hat t hey coul d not bear t o be t ouched. Somet i mes t hey wereper f ect l y wel l i n ot her r espect s, but t hey coul d not hear ; at ot hert i mes, t hey coul d not see. Somet i mes t hey l ost t hei r speech f or one,

t wo, and once f or ei ght , days t oget her . At t i mes t hey had swooni ngf i t s, and, when t hey coul d speak, wer e t aken wi t h a f i t of coughi ng,and vomi t ed phl egm and cr ooked pi ns; and once a gr eat t wopenny nai l ,wi t h above f or t y pi ns; whi ch nai l he, t he exami nant , saw vomi t ed up,wi t h many of t he pi ns. The nai l and pi ns wer e pr oduced i n t he cour t . Thus t he chi l dren cont i nued f or t wo mont hs, dur i ng whi ch t i me t heexami nant of t en made t hem r ead i n t he New Test ament , and observed,when t hey came to t he words Lor d J esus, or Chr i st , t hey coul d notpr onounce t hem, but f el l i nt o a f i t . When t hey came t o t he word

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Sat an, or devi l , t hey woul d poi nt , and say, ' Thi s bi t es, but makesme speak r i ght wel l . ' Fi ndi ng hi s chi l dr en t hus t or ment ed wi t houthopes of r ecover y, he sent t hem t o hi s si st er , Mar gar et Ar nol d, at Yar mout h, bei ng wi l l i ng t o t r y whether change of ai r woul d hel pt hem.

"Margaret Ar nol d was t he next wi t ness. Bei ng sworn, she sai d,t hat about t he 30t h of November , El i zabet h and Debor ah Pacey came t oher house, wi t h her br ot her , who t ol d her what had happened, andt hat he thought hi s chi l dr en bewi t ched. She, t hi s exami nant , di d notmuch r egar d i t , supposi ng t he chi l dr en had pl ayed t r i cks, and putt he pi ns i nt o t hei r mout hs t hemsel ves. She, t her ef or e, t ook al l t hepi ns f r om t hei r cl ot hes, sewi ng t hem wi t h t hr ead i nst ead of pi nni ngt hem. But , not wi t hst andi ng, t hey r ai sed, at t i mes, at l east t hi r t ypi ns, i n her pr esence, and had t er r i bl e f i t s; i n whi ch f i t s t heywoul d cr y out upon Amy Duny and Rose Cul l ender , sayi ng, t hat t heysaw t hem and hear d them t hr eat eni ng, as bef or e; t hat t hey sawt hi ngs, l i ke mi ce, r unni ng about t he house; and one of t hem cat ched

one, and t hr ew i t i nt o t he f i r e, whi ch made a noi se, l i ke a r at .Anot her t i me t he younger chi l d, bei ng out of door s, a t hi ng l i ke abee woul d have f or ced i t sel f i nt o her mout h, at whi ch t he chi l d r anscr eami ng i nt o the house, and bef ore t hi s exami nant coul d come ather , f el l i nt o a f i t , and vomi t ed a t wopenny nai l , wi t h a br oadhead. Af t er t hat , t hi s exami nant asked t he chi l d how she came byt hi s nai l , when she answer ed, ' The bee br ought t he nai l , and f or cedi t i nt o my mout h. ' At ot her t i mes, t he el dest chi l d t ol d t hi sexami nant t hat she saw f l i es br i ng her cr ooked pi ns. She woul d t henf al l i nt o a f i t , and vomi t such pi ns. One t i me t he sai d chi l d sai dshe saw a mouse, and cr ept under t he t abl e t o l ook f or i t ; and

af t er wards, t he chi l d seemed t o put somet hi ng i nt o her apr on,sayi ng, ' She had caught i t . ' She t hen r an t o t he f i r e, and t hr ew i ti n, on whi ch ther e di d appear t o t hi s exami nant somet hi ng l i ke af l ash of gunpowder , al t hough she does own she saw not hi ng i n thechi l d' s hand. Once t he chi l d, bei ng speechl ess, but ot her wi se ver ysensi bl e, r an up and down t he house, cr yi ng, ' Hush! hush! ' as i f shehad seen poul t r y; but t hi s exami nant saw not hi ng. At l ast t he chi l dcat ched at somet hi ng, and t hr ew i t i nt o t he f i r e. Af t er war ds, whent he chi l d coul d speak, t hi s exami nant asked her what she saw at t het i me? She answered, t hat she saw a duck. Anot her t i me the youngestchi l d sai d, af t er a f i t , t hat Amy Duny had been wi t h her , and

t empt ed her t o dr own her sel f , or cut her t hr oat , or ot her wi sedest r oy hersel f . Anot her t i me t hey bot h cr i ed out upon Amy Duny andRose Cul l ender , sayi ng, ' Why don' t you come your sel ves? Why do yousend your i mps t o t orment us?' "

The cel ebrat ed Si r Thomas Br own, t he aut hor of "Vul gar Er r or s, "was al so exami ned as a wi t ness upon the t r i al . Bei ng desi r ed to gi vehi s opi ni on of t he t hr ee per sons i n cour t , he sai d, he was cl ear l yof opi ni on t hat t hey wer e bewi t ched. He sai d, t her e had l at el y been

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a di scover y of wi t ches i n Denmar k, who used t he same way oft or ment i ng per sons, by conveyi ng cr ooked pi ns, needl es, and nai l si nt o t hei r bodi es. That he t hought , i n such cases, t he devi l act edupon human bodi es by nat ur al means, namel y, by exci t i ng and st i r r i ngup t he superabundant humour s, he di d af f l i ct t hem i n a moresurpr i si ng manner by t he same di seases t hei r bodi es wer e usual l ysubj ect t o; t hat t hese f i t s mi ght be nat ur al , onl y r ai sed t o a gr eatdegr ee by t he subt l et y of t he devi l , co- oper at i ng wi t h t he mal i ce oft hese wi t ches.

The evi dence bei ng concl uded, Si r Mat t hew Hal e addr essed t he j ury. He sai d, he woul d wai ve r epeat i ng t he evi dence, t o prevent anymi st ake, and t ol d t he j ur y, t her e wer e t wo thi ngs t hey had t oi nqui r e i nt o. Fi r st , Whet her or not t hese chi l dr en wer e bewi t ched;secondl y, Whet her t hese women di d bewi t ch t hem. He sai d, he di d noti n t he l east doubt t her e wer e wi t ches; f i r st , Because t he Scr i pt ur esaf f i r med i t ; secondl y, Because t he wi sdom of al l nat i ons,par t i cul ar l y our own, had pr ovi ded l aws agai nst wi t chcr af t , whi ch

i mpl i ed t hei r bel i ef of such a cri me. He desi r ed t hem st r i ct l y t oobserve t he evi dence, and begged of God t o di r ect t hei r hear t s i nt he wei ght y concern t hey had i n hand, si nce, t o condemn t he i nnocentand l et t he gui l t y go f r ee, ar e bot h an abomi nat i on t o the Lor d.

The j ury t hen r et i r ed, and, i n about hal f an hour , r et urned aver di ct of gui l t y upon al l t he i ndi ct ment s, bei ng t hi r t een i nnumber . The next morni ng the chi l dr en came wi t h thei r f ather t o t hel odgi ngs of Si r Mat t hew Hal e, ver y wel l , and qui t e r est or ed t o t hei rusual heal t h. Mr . Pacey, bei ng asked at what t i me t hei r heal t h begant o i mpr ove, r epl i ed, t hat t hey wer e qui t e wel l i n hal f an hour af t er

t he convi ct i on of t he pr i soner s.

Many at t empt s wer e made t o i nduce t he unf or t unat e women t oconf ess t hei r gui l t ; but i n vai n, and t hey wer e bot h hanged.

El even t r i al s wer e i nst i t ut ed bef or e Chi ef - J ust i ce Hol t f orwi t chcr af t bet ween t he years 1694 and 1701. The evi dence was of t heusual char act er ; but Hol t appeal ed so successf ul l y i n each case t ot he common sense of t he j ur y, t hat t hey were ever y one acqui t t ed. Ageneral f eel i ng seemed t o pervade t he count r y t hat bl ood enough hadbeen shed upon t hese absur d char ges. Now and t hen, t he f l ame of

per secut i on bur nt up i n a remot e di st r i ct ; but t hese i nst ances wer eno l onger l ooked upon as mere mat t ers of cour se. They appear , on t hecont r ar y, t o have exci t ed much at t ent i on; a sur e pr oof , i f no ot herwere to be obt ai ned, t hat t hey were becomi ng unf r equent .

A case of wi t chcr af t was t r i ed i n 1711, bef or e Lor d Chi ef J ust i ce Powel l ; i n whi ch, however , t he j ury persi st ed i n a ver di ctof gui l t y, t hough t he evi dence was of t he usual absurd andcont r adi ct or y char act er , and t he enl i ght ened j udge di d al l i n hi s

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power t o br i ng t hem t o a r i ght concl usi on. The accused per son wasone J ane Wenham, bet t er known as t he Wi t ch of Wal ker ne; and theper sons who wer e al l eged t o have suf f er ed f r om her wi t chcr af t wer et wo young women, named Thorne and St r eet . A wi t ness, named Mr .Ar t hur Chauncy, deposed, t hat he had seen Ann Thorne i n sever al ofher f i t s, and t hat she al ways recover ed upon pr ayer s bei ng sai d, ori f J ane Wenham came t o her . He rel ated, t hat he had pr i cked t hepr i soner sever al t i mes i n t he arms, but coul d never f et ch any bl oodf r om her ; t hat he had seen her vomi t pi ns, when there wer e none i nher cl ot hes or wi t hi n her r each; and t hat he had pr eserved sever alof t hem, whi ch he was r eady to pr oduce. The j udge, however , t ol d hi mt hat was needl ess, as he supposed t hey were crooked pi ns.

Mr . Fr anci s Br agge, anot her wi t ness, deposed, t hat st r ange"cakes" of bewi t ched f eather s havi ng been t aken f r om Ann Thorne' spi l l ow, he was anxi ous t o see t hem. He went i nto a r oom wher e someof t hese f eat hers were, and t ook t wo of t he cakes, and compared t hemt oget her . They wer e bot h of a ci r cul ar f i gur e, somet hi ng l ar ger t han

a cr own pi ece; and he obser ved t hat t he smal l f eat her s were pl acedi n a ni ce and cur i ous or der , at equal di st ances f r om each ot her ,maki ng so many r adi i of t he ci r cl e, i n t he cent r e of whi ch t he qui l lends of t he f eather s met . He count ed t he number of t hese f eather s,and f ound t hem t o be exact l y thi r t y- t wo i n each cake. He af t er war dsendeavour ed to pul l of f t wo or t hr ee of t hem, and observed t hat t heywer e al l f ast ened t oget her by a sor t of vi scous mat t er , whi ch woul dst r et ch seven or ei ght t i mes i n a thr ead bef or e i t br oke. Havi ngt aken of f sever al of t hese f eat her s, he removed t he vi scous mat t erwi t h hi s f i nger s, and f ound under i t , i n t he cent r e, some shor thai r s, bl ack and gr ey, mat t ed t oget her , whi ch he ver i l y bel i eved t o

be cat ' s hai r . He al so sai d, t hat J ane Wenham conf essed t o hi m t hatshe had bewi t ched t he pi l l ow, and had pr act i sed wi t chcr af t f orsi xt een year s.

The j udge i nt er r upt ed t he wi t ness at t hi s st age, and sai d, heshoul d ver y much l i ke t o see an enchanted f eat her , and seemed t owonder when he was t ol d that none of t hese st r ange cakes had beenpr eser ved. Hi s Lor dshi p asked t he wi t ness why he di d not keep one ort wo of t hem, and was i nf ormed t hat t hey had al l been bur nt , i n ordert o r el i eve t he bewi t ched per son of t he pai ns she suf f er ed, whi chcoul d not be so wel l ef f ect ed by any ot her means.

A man, named Thomas I r el and, deposed, t hat hear i ng severalt i mes a gr eat noi se of cat s cr yi ng and scr eami ng about hi s house, hewent out and f r i ght ened t hem away, and t hey al l r an t owards t hecot t age of J ane Wenham. One of t hem he swore posi t i vel y had a f acever y l i ke J ane Wenham' s. Another man, named Bur vi l l e, gave si mi l arevi dence, and swore t hat he had of t en seen a cat wi t h J ane Wenham' sf ace. Upon one occasi on he was i n Ann Thorne' s chamber , when severalcat s came i n, and among t hem t he cat above st ated. Thi s wi t ness

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woul d have f avoured t he cour t wi t h a much l onger st at ement , but wasst opped by t he j udge, who sai d he had heard qui t e enough.

The pr i soner , i n her def ence, sai d not hi ng, but t hat "she was acl ear woman. " The l ear ned j udge t hen summed up, l eavi ng i t t o t he j ury t o det er mi ne whether such evi dence as t hey had hear d wassuf f i ci ent t o t ake away t he pr i soner ' s l i f e upon t he i ndi ct ment .Af t er a l ong del i ber at i on t hey br ought i n t hei r ver di ct , t hat shewas gui l t y upon t he evi dence. The J udge then asked them whether t heyf ound her gui l t y upon t he i ndi ct ment of conver si ng wi t h t he devi l i nt he shape of a cat ? The sapi ent f oreman ver y gr avel y answered, "Wef i nd her gui l t y of t hat . " The l ear ned j udge t hen ver y r el uct ant l ypr oceeded t o pass sent ence of death; but , by hi s persever i ngexert i ons, a pardon was at l ast obt ai ned, and t he wr etched ol d womanwas set at l i ber t y. I n t he year 1716, a woman and her daught er , -t he l at t er onl y ni ne year s of age, - - wer e hanged at Hunt i ngdon f orsel l i ng t hei r soul s t o t he devi l , and r ai si ng a st or m by pul l i ng of ft hei r st ocki ngs and maki ng a l ather of soap. Thi s appear s t o have

been t he l ast j udi ci al execut i on i n Engl and. From t hat t i me t o t heyear 1736, t he popul ace r ai sed at i nt er val s t he ol d cr y, and mor et han once endangered t he l i ves of poor women by draggi ng t hemt hr ough ponds on suspi ci on; but t he phi l osophy of t hose who, f r omt hei r posi t i on, sooner or l at er gi ve t he t one t o t he opi ni ons andmor al s of t he poor , was si l ent l y wor ki ng a cur e f or t he evi l . Thef ear of wi t ches ceased t o be epi demi c, and became i ndi vi dual ,l i nger i ng onl y i n mi nds l et t er ed by i nvet er at e pr ej udi ce orbr ut al i zi ng super st i t i on. I n t he year 1736, t he penal st at ut e of J ames I . was f i nal l y bl ot t ed f r om t he st at ut ebook, and suf f er ed nol onger t o di sgr ace t he advanci ng i nt el l i gence of t he count r y.

Pr et ender s t o wi t chcraf t , f or t une- t el l er s, conj ur or s, and al l t hei rt r ai n, were l i abl e onl y t o the common puni shment of r ogues andi mpost or s - - i mpr i sonment and t he pi l l or y.

I n Scot l and, t he del usi on al so assumed t he same phases, and wasgr adual l y ext i ngui shed i n t he l i ght of ci vi l i zat i on. As i n Engl andt he pr ogr ess of i mpr ovement was sl ow. Up to t he year 1665, l i t t l e orno di mi nut i on of t he mani a was per cept i bl e. I n 1643, t he Gener alAssembl y r ecommended t hat t he Pr i vy Counci l shoul d i nst i t ut e ast andi ng commi ss i on, composed of any "under st andi ng gent l emen ormagi st r at es, " t o t r y t he wi t ches, who wer e st at ed t o have i ncr eased

enormousl y of l ate years. I n 1649, an act was passed, conf i r matoryof t he or i gi nal st at ut e of Queen Mar y, expl ai ni ng some poi nt s of t hel at t er whi ch wer e doubt f ul , and enact i ng sever e penal t i es, not onl yagai nst wi t ches t hemsel ves, but agai nst al l who covenant ed wi t ht hem, or sought by t hei r means t o pr y i nt o t he secr et s of f ut ur i t y,or cause any evi l t o t he l i f e, l ands, or l i mbs of t hei r nei ghbour s.For t he next t en years, t he popul ar madness upon t hi s subj ect wasperhaps more f ur i ous t han ever ; upwards of f our t housand personssuf f er ed f or t he cr i me dur i ng t hat i nt er val . Thi s was t he

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consequence of t he act of par l i ament and t he unpar al l el ed sever i t yof t he magi st r at es; t he l at t er f r equent l y compl ai ned t hat f or t wowi t ches t hey bur ned one day, t her e were t en t o bur n t he next : t heynever t hought t hat t hey t hemsel ves wer e t he cause of t he i ncr ease.I n a si ngl e ci r cui t , hel d at Gl asgow, Ayr , and St i r l i ng, i n 1659,sevent een unhappy cr eatur es wer e bur ned by j udi ci al sent ence f ort r af f i cki ng wi t h Sat an. I n one day, ( November 7, 1661, ) t he Pr i vyCounci l i ssued no l ess t han f our t een commi ssi ons f or t r i al s i n t hepr ovi nces. Next year , t he vi ol ence of t he per secut i on seems t o haveabat ed. Fr om 1662 t o 1668, al t hough "t he underst andi ng gent l emen andmagi st r ates" al r eady ment i oned, cont i nued t o t r y and condemn, t heHi gh Cour t of J ust i ci ar y had but one of f ender of t hi s cl ass t o dealwi t h, and she was acqui t t ed. J ames Wel sh, a common pr i cker , wasor der ed t o be publ i cl y whi pped t hr ough t he st r eet s of Edi nbur gh f orf al sel y accusi ng a woman of wi t chcr af t ; a f act whi ch al one pr ovest hat t he super i or cour t si f t ed t he evi dence i n t hese cases wi t h muchmore car e and sever i t y t han i t had done a f ew years pr evi ousl y. Theenl i ght ened Si r George Mackenzi e, st yl ed by Dr yden " t he nobl e wi t of

Scot l and, " l abour ed har d t o i nt r oduce t hi s r ul e i nt o cour t - - t hatt he conf essi ons of t he wi t ches shoul d be hel d of l i t t l e wor t h, andt hat t he evi dence of t he pr i cker s and ot her i nt er est ed per sonsshoul d be r ecei ved wi t h di st r ust and j eal ousy. Thi s was r ever si ngt he ol d pr act i ce, and saved many i nnocent l i ves. Though a f i r mbel i ever both i n anci ent and moder n wi t chcr af t , he coul d not shuthi s eyes t o t he at r oci t i es dai l y commi t t ed under t he name of j ust i ce. I n hi s wor k on t he Cr i mi nal Law of Scot l and, publ i shed i n1678, he says, "From t he hor r i dness of t hi s cr i me, I do concl udet hat , of al l ot her s, i t r equi r es t he cl ear est r el evancy and mostconvi nci ng pr obatur e; and I condemn, next t o t he wr et ches

t hemsel ves, t hose cruel and t oo f orward j udges who bur n persons byt housands as gui l t y of t hi s cr i me. " I n t he same year , Si r J ohn Cl er kpl umpl y ref used t o ser ve as a commi ssi oner on t r i al s f or wi t chcr af t ,al l egi ng, by way of excuse, " t hat he was not hi msel f good conj ur orenough to be dul y qual i f i ed. " The vi ews ent er t ai ned by Si r Geor geMackenzi e wer e so f avour abl y recei ved by t he Lords of Sessi on t hathe was deputed, i n 1680, t o repor t t o t hem on t he cases of a numberof poor women who wer e t hen i n pr i son awai t i ng t hei r t r i al . Si rGeor ge st at ed t hat t here was no evi dence agai nst t hem what ever butt hei r own conf essi ons, whi ch were absurd and cont r adi ct ory, anddr awn f r om t hem by sever e t or t ur e. They wer e i mmedi atel y di schar ged.

For t he next si xteen year s, t he Lor ds of Sessi on wer eunoccupi ed wi t h t r i al s f or wi t chcr af t ; not one i s ent er ed upon t her ecor d: but i n 1697, a case occur r ed, whi ch equal l ed i n absur di t yany of t hose t hat si gnal i zed t he dar k rei gn of Ki ng J ames. A gi r l ,named Chr i st i ana Shaw, el even years of age, t he daught er of J ohnShaw of Bar gar r an, was subj ect t o f i t s, and bei ng of a spi t ef ult emper , she accused her mai d- ser vant , wi t h whom she had f r equentquar r el s, of bewi t chi ng her . Her st or y, unf or t unat el y, was bel i eved.

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Encour aged t o tel l al l t he per secut i ons of t he devi l whi ch t he mai dhad sent t o t orment her , she i n t he end concoct ed a r omance t hati nvol ved t went y- one per sons. Ther e was no ot her evi dence agai nstt hem but t he f anci es of t hi s l yi ng chi l d, and t he conf essi ons whi chpai n had ext ort ed f r om t hem; but upon t hi s no l ess t han f i ve womenwere condemned, bef ore Lor d Bl ant yre and t he rest of t heCommi ssi oner s, appoi nt ed speci al l y by t he Pr i vy Counci l t o t r y t hi scase. They were bur ned on t he Gr een at Pai sl ey. The war l ock of t hepar t y, one J ohn Reed, who was al so condemned, hanged hi msel f i npr i son. I t was t he gener al bel i ef i n Pai sl ey that t he devi l hadst r angl ed hi m, l est he shoul d have r eveal ed i n hi s l ast moment s t oomany of t he unhol y secret s of wi t chcraf t . Thi s t r i al exci t edconsi der abl e di sgust i n Scot l and. The Rev. Mr . Bel l , a cont empor ar ywr i t er , obser ved t hat , i n t hi s busi ness, "per sons of mor e goodnessand est eem t han most of t hei r cal umni ators wer e def amed f orwi t ches. " He adds, t hat t he per sons chi ef l y t o bl ame wer e "cer t ai nmi ni st ers of t oo much f orwardness and absur d cr edul i t y, and somet oppi ng pr of essor s i n and about Gl asgow. " [ Pr ef ace t o "Law' s

Memor i al s, " edi t ed by Shar pe. ]

Af t er t hi s t r i al , t her e agai n occur s a l apse of seven year s,when t he subj ect was pai nf ul l y f or ced upon publ i c at t ent i on by t hebrutal cr uel t y of t he mob at Pi t t enween. Two women were accused ofhavi ng bewi t ched a st r ol l i ng beggar , who was subj ect t o f i t s, or whopr et ended t o be so, f or t he pur pose of exci t i ng commi serat i on. Theywer e cast i nt o pr i son, and t or t ur ed unt i l t hey conf essed. One oft hem, named J anet Cornf oot , cont r i ved t o escape, but was br oughtback t o Pi t t enween next day by a part y of sol di er s. On her appr oacht o t he town, she was, unf or t unat el y, met by a f ur i ous mob, composed

pr i nci pal l y of f i sher men and t hei r wi ves, who sei zed upon her wi t ht he i nt ent i on of swi mmi ng her . They f orced her away t o t he seashor e, and t yi ng a r ope around her body, secur ed t he end of i t t ot he mast of a f i shi ng- boat l yi ng al ongsi de. I n t hi s manner t heyducked her sever al t i mes. When she was hal f dead, a sai l or i n t heboat cut away t he r ope, and t he mob dragged her t hrough t he sea t ot he beach. Her e, as she l ay qui t e i nsensi bl e, a br awny ruf f i an t ookdown t he door of hi s hut , cl ose by, and pl aced i t on her back. Themob gather ed l arge st ones f r om t he beach, and pi l ed them upon hert i l l t he wr et ched woman was pressed t o deat h. No magi st r at e made thesl i ght est at t empt t o i nt er f er e, and t he sol di er s l ooked on,

del i ght ed spect at or s. A gr eat out cr y was r ai sed agai nst t hi scul pabl e r emi ssness, but no j udi ci al i nqui r y was set on f oot . Thi shappened i n 1704.

The next case we hear of i s t hat of El speth Rul e, f ound gui l t yof wi t chcraf t bef or e Lor d Anst r ut her at t he Dumf r i es ci r cui t , i n1708. She was sent enced to be marked i n t he cheek wi t h a redhoti r on, and bani shed t he r eal m of Scot l and f or l i f e.

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Agai n t her e i s a l ong i nt er val . I n 1718, t he remot e count y ofCai t hness, wher e t he del usi on r emai ned i n al l i t s pr i st i ne vi gourf or year s af t er i t had ceased el sewher e, was st ar t l ed f r om i t spr opr i et y by t he cry of wi t chcraf t . A si l l y f el l ow, named Wi l l i amMont gomer y, a carpent er , had a mort al ant i pathy to cat s, and,somehow or other , t hese ani mal s gener al l y chose hi s back- yar d as t hescene of t hei r cat t er waul i ngs. He puzzl ed hi s br ai ns f or a l ong t i met o know why he, above al l hi s nei ghbour s, shoul d be so pest er ed; atl ast he came t o t he sage concl usi on t hat hi s t orment ors wer e nocat s, but wi t ches. I n t hi s opi ni on he was suppor t ed by hi s mai d-ser vant , who swore a r ound oat h t hat she had of t en hear d theaf or esai d cat s t al ki ng t oget her i n human voi ces. The next t i me t heunl ucky t abbi es assembl ed i n hi s back- yar d, t he val i ant car pent erwas on t he al er t . Ar mi ng hi msel f wi t h an axe, a di r k, and abroadswor d, he r ushed out among t hem: one of t hem he wounded i n t heback, a second i n t he hi p, and t he l eg of a thi r d he mai med wi t h hi saxe; but he coul d not capt ur e any of t hem. A f ew days af t er wards,t wo ol d women of t he par i sh di ed, and i t was sai d t hat , when t hei r

bodi es were l ai d out , t here appeared upon t he back of one t he markas of a recent wound, and a si mi l ar scar upon t he hi p of t he ot her . The car pent er and hi s mai d wer e convi nced t hat t hey wer e t he ver ycat s, and t he whol e count y r epeat ed t he same st ory. Ever y one wasupon t he l ook- out f or pr oof s cor r obor at i ve: a ver y remar kabl e onewas soon di scover ed. Nanny Gi l ber t , a wr et ched ol d cr eatur e ofupwards of sevent y year s of age, was f ound i n bed wi t h her l egbr oken; as she was ugl y enough f or a wi t ch, i t was asser t ed t hatshe, al so, was one of t he cat s t hat had f ar ed so i l l at t he hands oft he car pent er . The l at t er , when i nf or med of t he popul ar suspi ci on,assert ed t hat he di st i nct l y remember ed t o have st r uck one of t he

cat s a bl ow wi t h t he back of hi s broadsword, whi ch ought t o havebr oken her l eg. Nanny was i mmedi at el y dr agged f r om her bed, andt hr own i nt o pr i son. Bef or e she was put t o t he tor t ur e, sheexpl ai ned, i n a ver y nat ur al and i nt el l i gi bl e manner , how she hadbr oken her l i mb; but t hi s account di d not gi ve sat i sf act i on: t hepr of essi onal per suasi ons of t he t or t ur er made her t el l a di f f er entt al e, and she conf essed t hat she was i ndeed a wi t ch, and had beenwounded by Mont gomery on t he ni ght st at ed - t hat t he t wo ol d womenr ecent l y deceased wer e wi t ches al so, besi des about a scor e of ot her swhom she named. The poor cr eature suf f ered so much by t he r emovalf r om her own home, and t he t or t ur es i nf l i ct ed upon her , t hat she

di ed the next day i n pr i son. Happi l y f or t he per sons she had namedi n her conf essi on, Dundas of Ar ni st on, at t hat t i me t he Ki ng' sAdvocat e- gener al , wr ot e t o t he Sher i f f - deput e, one Capt ai n Ross ofLi t t l edean, caut i oni ng hi m not t o pr oceed t o t r i al , t he "t hi ng bei ngof t oo gr eat di f f i cul t y, and beyond t he j ur i sdi cti on of an i nf er i orcour t . " Dundas hi msel f exami ned the pr ecogni t i on wi t h gr eat car e,and was so convi nced of t he ut t er f ol l y of t he whol e case t hat hequashed al l f ur t her pr oceedi ngs.

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work on demonol ogy, ent i t l ed t he "Mal l eus Mal ef i car um, " or "Hammert o knock down Wi t ches, " Henr y I nst i t or a l ear ned j ur i sconsul t , andt he Bi shop of St r asbur gh. Bar nber g, Tr eves, Col ogne, Pader bor n, andWur zbur g, wer e the chi ef seat s of t he commi ssi oner s, who, dur i ngt hei r l i ves al one, condemned t o t he st ake, on a ver y moder atecal cul at i on, upwar ds of t hr ee t housand vi ct i ms. The number ofwi t ches so i ncr eased, t hat new commi ssi oner s wer e cont i nual l yappoi nt ed i n Ger many, Fr ance, and Swi t zer l and. I n Spai n and Por t ugalt he I nqui si t i on al one t ook cogni zance of t he cr i me. I t i s i mpossi bl et o sear ch t he r ecor ds of t hose dar k, but now happi l y nonexi st i ngt r i bunal s; but t he mi nd r ecoi l s wi t h af f r i ght even t o f or m a guessof t he mul t i t udes who per i shed.

The mode of t r i al i n t he ot her count r i es i s mor e easi l yascer t ai ned. Spr enger , i n Ger many, and Bodi nus and Del r i o, i nFrance, have l ef t but t oo ampl e a r ecor d of t he at r oci t i es commi t t edi n t he much- abused names of j ust i ce and r el i gi on. Bodi nus, of gr eatr eput e and aut hor i t y i n t he sevent eent h cent ur y, says, "The t r i al of

t hi s of f ence must not be conduct ed l i ke other cr i mes. Whoeveradher es t o t he or di nar y cour se of j ust i ce per ver t s t he spi r i t of t hel aw, bot h Di vi ne and human. He who i s accused of sor cery shoul dnever be acqui t t ed unl ess t he mal i ce of t he pr osecut or be cl ear ert han t he sun; f or i t i s so di f f i cul t t o br i ng f ul l proof of t hi ssecr et cr i me, t hat out of a mi l l i on of wi t ches not one woul d beconvi ct ed i f t he usual cour se wer e f ol l owed! " Henr i Boguet , a wi t ch-f i nder , who st yl ed hi msel f "The Gr and J udge of Wi t ches f or t he Ter r i t or y of St . Cl aude, " drew up a code f or t he gui dance of al lper sons engaged i n t he wi t ch- t r i al s, consi st i ng of sevent y ar t i cl es,qui t e as cr uel as t he code of Bodi nus. I n t hi s document he af f i r ms,

t hat a mer e suspi ci on of wi t chcr af t j ust i f i es t he i mmedi at e ar r estand t or t ur e of t he suspect ed per son. I f t he pr i soner mut t er ed,l ooked on t he gr ound, and di d not shed any t ears, al l t hese wer epr oof s posi t i ve of gui l t ! I n al l cases of wi t chcraf t , t he evi denceof t he chi l d ought t o be t aken agai nst i t s par ent ; and per sons ofnot or i ousl y bad char act er , al t hough not t o be bel i eved upon t hei roat hs on t he or di nar y occasi ons of di sput e t hat mi ght ar i se bet weenman and man, were t o be bel i eved, i f t hey swore t hat any person hadbewi t ched t hem! Who, when he hear s t hat t hi s di abol i cal doct r i ne wast he uni ver sal l y r ecei ved opi ni on of t he eccl esi ast i cal and ci vi laut hor i t i es, can wonder t hat t housands upon t housands of unhappy

persons shoul d be br ought t o the st ake? t hat Col ogne shoul d f or manyyear s bur n i t s t hr ee hundr ed wi t ches annual l y? t he di st r i ct ofBarnber g i t s f our hundr ed? Nur ember g, Geneva, Par i s, Toul ouse,Lyons, and ot her ci t i es, t hei r t wo hundr ed?

A f ew of t hese t r i al s may be ci t ed, t aki ng t hem i n t he or der ofpr i or i t y, as t hey occur r ed i n di f f er ent par t s of t he Cont i nent . I n1595 an ol d woman r esi di ng i n a vi l l age near Const ance, angr y at notbei ng i nvi t ed t o shar e t he spor t s of t he count r y peopl e on a day of

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publ i c r ej oi ci ng, was hear d t o mut t er somet hi ng t o her sel f , and wasaf t er war ds seen t o pr oceed t hr ough t he f i el ds t owar ds a hi l l , wher eshe was l ost si ght of . A vi ol ent t hunder st or m ar ose about t wo hour saf t er war ds, whi ch wet t he dancer s t o t he ski n, and di d consi der abl edamage t o t he pl ant at i ons. Thi s woman, suspect ed bef ore ofwi t chcr af t , was sei zed and i mpr i soned, and accused of havi ng rai sedt he st or m, by f i l l i ng a hol e wi t h wi ne, and st i r r i ng i t about wi t h ast i ck. She was t or t ur ed t i l l she conf essed, and was bur ned al i ve t henext eveni ng.

About t he same t i me t wo sor cer ers i n Toul ouse were accused ofhavi ng dr agged a cr uci f i x about t he st r eet s at mi dni ght , st oppi ng att i mes t o spi t upon and ki ck i t , and ut t er i ng at i nt er val s anexor ci sm t o r ai se t he devi l . The next day a hai l - st or m di dconsi der abl e damage to t he cr ops, and a gi r l , t he daught er of ashoemaker i n t he t own, r emember ed t o have heard i n t he ni ght t heexecrat i ons of t he wi zar ds. Her st or y l ed t o t hei r ar r est . The usualmeans t o pr oduce conf essi on were resort ed t o. The wi zar ds owned t hat

t hey coul d r ai se t empest s whenever t hey pl eased, and named severalper sons who possessed si mi l ar powers. They were hanged, and thenbur ned i n t he market - pl ace, and seven of t he persons t hey hadment i oned shar ed t he same f at e.

Hoppo and St adl i n, t wo not ed wi zar ds of Germany, were execut edi n 1599. They i mpl i cated t went y or t hi r t y wi t ches, who went aboutcausi ng women t o mi scar r y, br i ngi ng down t he l i ght ni ng of heaven,and maki ng mai dens br i ng f or t h t oads. To t hi s l at t er f act sever algi r l s wer e f ound t o swear most posi t i vel y! St adl i n conf essed t hat hehad ki l l ed seven i nf ant s i n t he womb of one woman.

Bodi nus hi ghl y pr ai ses the exer t i ons of a wi t chf i nder , namedNi der , i n Fr ance, who pr osecut ed so many t hat he coul d not cal cul atet hem. Some of t hese wi t ches coul d, by a si ngl e word, cause peopl e t of al l down dead; ot hers made women go wi t h chi l d thr ee years i nst eadof ni ne mont hs; whi l e ot her s, by cer t ai n i nvocat i ons and cer emoni es,coul d t ur n t he f aces of t hei r enemi es upsi de down, or t wi st t hemr ound to t hei r backs. Al t hough no wi t ness was ever pr ocur ed who sawper sons i n t hi s hor r i bl e st at e, t he wi t ches conf essed t hat t hey hadt he power , and exer ci sed i t . Not hi ng more was want i ng t o i nsure thest ake.

At Amst er dam a cr azy gi r l conf essed t hat she coul d causest er i l i t y i n cat t l e, and bewi t ch pi gs and poul t r y by mer el yr epeat i ng t he magi c words Tur i us und Shur i us I nt ur i us! She washanged and burned. Anot her woman i n the same ci t y, named Kor nel i sVan Pur merund, was ar r est ed i n consequence of some di scl osur es t hef or mer had made. A wi t ness came f or war d and swor e t hat she one dayl ooked t hr ough t he wi ndow of her hut , and saw Kor nel i s si t t i ngbef or e a f i r e mut t er i ng somet hi ng t o the devi l . She was sure i t was

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t o t he devi l , because she hear d hi m answer her . Short l y af t er war dst wel ve bl ack cat s ascended out of t he f l oor , and danced on t hei rhi nd l egs ar ound t he wi t ch f or t he space of about hal f an hour . Theyt hen vani shed wi t h a hor r i d noi se, and l eavi ng a di sagr eeabl e smel lbehi nd t hem. She al so was hanged and bur ned.

At Bamber g, i n Bavar i a, t he execut i ons f r om t he year 1610 t o1640 were at t he r at e of about a hundred annual l y. One woman,suspect ed of wi t chcr af t , was sei zed because, havi ng i mmoder atel ypr ai sed t he beaut y of a chi l d, i t had shor t l y af t er war ds f al l en i l land di ed. She conf essed upon t he rack t hat t he devi l had gi ven hert he power t o work evi l upon t hose she hat ed, by speaki ng words i nt hei r pr ai se. I f she sai d wi t h unwont ed f er vour , "What a st r ongman! " "What a l ovel y woman ! " "What a sweet chi l d! " t he devi lunder st ood her , and af f l i ct ed t hem wi t h di seases i mmedi at el y. I t i squi t e unnecessary t o st at e t he end of t hi s poor cr eat ur e. Many womenwer e execut ed f or causi ng st r ange subst ances t o l odge i n t he bodi esof t hose who of f ended t hem. Bi t s of wood, nai l s, hai r , eggshel l s,

bi t s of gl ass, shr eds of l i nen and wool l en cl ot h, pebbl es, and evenhot ci nder s and kni ves, wer e t he ar t i cl es gener al l y chosen. Thesewer e bel i eved t o r emai n i n t he body t i l l t he wi t ches conf essed orwere execut ed, when t hey were voi ded f r om t he bowel s, or by t hemout h, nost r i l s, or ear s. Moder n physi ci ans have of t en had cases ofa si mi l ar descr i pt i on under t hei r car e, wher e gi r l s have swal l owedneedl es, whi ch have been voi ded on t he ar ms, l egs, and ot her part sof t he body. But t he sci ence of t hat day coul d not account f or t hesephenomena ot her wi se t han by t he power of t he devi l ; and every needl eswal l owed by a ser vant mai d cost an ol d woman her l i f e. Nay, i f nomor e t han one suf f er ed i n consequence, t he di st r i ct mi ght t hi nk

i t sel f f or t unat e. The commi ssi oner s sel dom st opped shor t at onevi ct i m. The r evel at i ons of t he r ack i n most cases i mpl i cat ed hal f ascor e.

Of al l t he r ecor ds of t he wi t ch- t r i al s pr eser ved f or t he wonderof succeedi ng ages, t hat of Wur zbur g, f r om 1627 t o 1629, i s t he mostf r i ght f ul . Hauber , who has pr eser ved t hi s l i st i n hi s "Act a etScri pt a Magi ca, " says, i n a not e at t he end, t hat i t i s f ar f r omcompl ete, and that t here were a gr eat many ot her burni ngs t oonumer ous t o speci f y. Thi s r ecor d, whi ch r el at es t o t he ci t y onl y,and not t o t he pr ovi nce of Wur zbur g, cont ai ns t he names of one

hundr ed and f i f t y- seven per sons, who wer e bur ned i n t wo years i nt went y- ni ne bur ni ngs, aver agi ng f r om f i ve t o si x at a t i me. The l i stcompr i ses t hr ee pl ay- actors, f our i nnkeeper s, t hr ee commoncounci l men of Wur zbur g, f our t een vi car s of t he cat hedr al , t hebur gomast er ' s l ady, an apothecary' s wi f e and daught er , t wochor i st er s of t he cat hedr al , Gobel Babel i n t he pr et t i est gi r l i n t het own, and t he wi f e, t he t wo l i t t l e sons, and t he daught er of t hecounci l l or St ol zenber g. Ri ch and poor , young and ol d, suf f er edal i ke. At t he sevent h of t hese recor ded bur ni ngs, t he vi ct i ms are

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descr i bed as a wander i ng boy, t wel ve years of age, and f our st r angemen and women, f ound sl eepi ng i n t he market - pl ace. Thi r t y- t wo of t hewhol e number appear t o have been vagr ant s, of bot h sexes, who,f ai l i ng t o gi ve a sat i sf act or y account of t hemsel ves, wer e accusedand f ound gui l t y of wi t chcr af t . The number of chi l dr en on t he l i sti s hor r i bl e t o t hi nk upon. The t hi r t eent h and f our t eent h bur ni ngscompr i sed f our per sons, who ar e st ated t o have been a l i t t l e mai denni ne year s of age, a mai den st i l l l ess, her si st er , t hei r mot her ,and t hei r aunt , a pr et t y young woman of t went y- f our . At t heei ght eent h bur ni ng t he vi ct i ms wer e two boys of t wel ve, and a gi r lof f i f t een; at t he ni net eent h, t he young hei r of t he nobl e house ofRot enhahn, aged ni ne, and t wo ot her boys, one aged t en, and t heot her t wel ve. Among ot her ent r i es appear t he names of Baunach, t hef at t est , and St ei nacher , t he r i chest bur gher i n Wur zbur g. Whatt ended t o keep up t he del usi on i n t hi s unhappy ci t y, and i ndeed al lover Eur ope, was t he number of hypochondr i ac and di seased per sonswho came vol unt ar i l y f or war d, and made conf essi on of wi t chcr af t .Sever al of t he vi ct i ms i n t he f or egoi ng l i st , had onl y t hemsel ves t o

bl ame f or t hei r f at e. Many agai n, i ncl udi ng t he apot hecar y' s wi f eand daught er al r eady ment i oned, pr et ended t o sorcer y, and sol dpoi sons, or at t empt ed by means of charms and i ncant at i ons t o rai set he devi l . But t hr oughout al l t hi s f ear f ul per i od t he del usi on oft he cr i mi nal s was as great as t hat of t he j udges. Depr aved per sonswho, i n ordi nary t i mes, woul d have been t hi eves or mur derers, addedt he desi r e of sorcer y t o t hei r depr avi t y, somet i mes wi t h t he hope ofacqui r i ng power over t hei r f el l ows, and somet i mes wi t h t he hope ofsecur i ng i mpuni t y i n t hi s wor l d by t he pr ot ect i on of Sat an. One oft he per sons execut ed at t he f i r st bur ni ng, a pr ost i t ut e, was hear dr epeat i ng t he exorci sm, whi ch was supposed t o have t he power of

r ai si ng t he ar ch enemy i n t he f or m of a goat . Thi s preci ous speci menof human f ol l y has been pr eserved by Horst , i n hi s"Zauber bi bl i ot hek. " I t r an as f ol l ows, and was t o be r epeat edsl owl y, wi t h many cer emoni es and wai vi ngs of t he hand: - -

"Lalle, Bachera, Magotte, Baphia, Dajam,

Vagoth Heneche Ammi Nagaz, Adomator

Raphael Immanuel Christus, Tetragrammaton

Agra Jod Loi. Konig! Konig!"

The t wo l ast wor ds wer e ut t er ed qui ckl y, and wi t h a sor t of

scr eam, and were supposed t o be hi ghl y agreeabl e t o Sat an, who l ovedt o be cal l ed a ki ng. I f he di d not appear i mmedi at el y, i t wasnecessar y t o repeat a f ur t her exor ci sm. The one i n gr eat est r eput ewas as f ol l ows, and was t o be read backwards, wi t h t he except i on oft he l ast t wo words

"Anion, Lalle, Sabolos, Sado, Pater, Aziel

Adonai Sado Vagoth Agra, Jod, Baphra! Komm! Komm!"

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When t he wi t ch want ed t o get r i d of t he devi l , who wassomet i mes i n t he habi t of pr ol ongi ng hi s vi si t s t o an unconsci onabl el engt h, she had onl y t o repeat t he f ol l owi ng, al so backwar ds, whenhe gener al l y di sappear ed, l eavi ng behi nd hi m a suf f ocat i ng smel l : - -

"Zellianelle Heotti Bonus Vagotha

Plisos sother osech unicus Beelzebub

Dax! Komm! Komm!"

Thi s nonsensi cal j ar gon soon became known t o al l t he i dl e andf ool i sh boys of Germany. Many an unhappy ur chi n, who i n a yout hf ulf r ol i c had r epeat ed i t , pai d f or hi s f ol l y t he penal t y of hi s l i f e. Three, whose ages var i ed f r om t en t o f i f t een, wer e bur ned al i ve atWur zbur g f or no ot her of f ence. Of cour se ever y ot her boy i n t he ci t ybecame st i l l more convi nced of t he power of t he charm. One boyconf essed t hat he woul d wi l l i ngl y have sol d hi msel f t o t he devi l , i fhe coul d have rai sed hi m, f or a good di nner and cakes ever y day ofhi s l i f e, and a pony t o r i de upon. Thi s l uxur i ous youngst er , i nst ead

of bei ng horsewhi pped f or hi s f ol l y, was hanged and bur ned.

The smal l di st r i ct of Li ndhei m was, i f possi bl e, even mor enot or i ous t han Wur zbur g f or t he number of i t s wi t ch- bur ni ngs. I n t heyear 1633 a f amous wi t ch, named Pomp Anna, who coul d cause her f oest o f al l si ck by mer el y l ooki ng at t hem, was di scover ed and bur ned,al ong wi t h thr ee of her compani ons. Ever y year i n t hi s par i sh,consi st i ng at most of a t housand persons, t he average number ofexecut i ons was f i ve. Bet ween t he years 1660 and 1664, t he numberconsumed was t hi r t y. I f t he execut i ons al l over Ger many had been i nt hi s f r i ght f ul pr opor t i on, har dl y a f ami l y coul d have escaped l osi ng

one of i t s members.

I n 1627 a bal l ad ent i t l ed the "Dr ut en Zei t ung, " or t he "Wi t chesGazet t e, " was ver y popul ar i n Ger many. I t det ai l ed, accor di ng t o t het i t l epage of a copy pr i nt ed at Smal cal d i n 1627, "an account of t her emarkabl e event s whi ch took pl ace i n Fr anconi a, Bamberg, andWur zbur g, wi t h t hose wr et ches who f r om avar i ce or ambi t i on have sol dt hemsel ves t o t he devi l , and how t hey had t hei r r ewar d at l ast : sett o musi c, and t o be sung t o the tune of Dor ot hea. " The suf f er i ngs oft he wi t ches at t he st ake ar e expl ai ned i n i t wi t h gr eat mi nut eness,t he poet waxi ng ext r emel y wi t t y when he descr i bes t he horr i bl e

cont or t i ons of pai n upon t hei r count enances, and t he shr i eks t hatr ent t he ai r when any one of mor e t han common gui l t was burnedal i ve. A t r i ck r esor t ed t o i n or der t o f or ce one wi t ch t o conf ess,i s t ol d i n t hi s doggr el as an excel l ent j oke. As she obst i nat el yr ef used t o own t hat she was i n l eague wi t h t he powers of evi l , t hecommi ssi oners suggest ed t hat t he hangman shoul d dr ess hi msel f i n abear ' s ski n, wi t h t he hor ns, t ai l , and al l t he et cet er as, and i nt hi s f orm penet r ate i nt o her dungeon. The woman, i n t he darkness ofher cel l , coul d not det ect t he i mpost ur e, ai ded as i t was by her own

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super st i t i ous f ear s. She t hought she was act ual l y i n t he pr esence oft he pr i nce of hel l ; and when she was t ol d t o keep up her cour age,and t hat she shoul d be r el i eved f r om t he power of her enemi es, shef el l on her knees bef or e the supposed devi l , and swor e to dedi cat eher sel f her eaf t er body and soul t o hi s servi ce. Ger many i s, per haps,t he onl y count r y i n Eur ope wher e the del usi on was so gr eat as t ohave made such det est abl e ver ses as t hese t he f avour i t es of t hepeopl e: - -

"Man shickt ein Henkersknecht

Zu ihr in Gefangniss n'unter,

Den man hat kleidet recht,

Mir einer Barnhaute,

Als wenns der Teufel war;

Als ihm die Drut anschaute

Meints ihr Buhl kam daher.

"Sie sprach zu ihm behende,

Wie lasst du mich so lang

In der Obrigkeit Hande?

Hilf mir aus ihren Zwang,

Wie du mir hast verheissen,

Ich bin ja eben dein,

Thu mich aus der Angst entreissen

O liebster Buhle mein ?

[ They sent a hangman' s assi st ant down t o her i n her pr i son;t hey cl ot hed hi m pr oper l y i n a bear ' s ski n, as i f he wer e t he devi l .Hi m, when t he wi t ch saw, she t hought he was her f ami l i ar . She sai d

t o hi m qui ckl y, "Why hast t hou l ef t me so l ong i n t he magi st r at e' shands? Hel p me out of t hei r power , as t hou hast pr omi sed, and I wi l lbe t hi ne al one. Hel p me f r om t hi s angui sh, O t hou dear est devi l ( orl over ) , mi ne?]

Thi s r ar e poet adds, t hat i n maki ng such an appeal t o t hehangman, t he wi t ch never i magi ned t he r oast t hat was t o be made ofher , and put s i n, by way of par ent hesi s, "was not t hat f i ne f un! ""Was das war f ur ei n Spi el ! " As f eat her s t hr own i nt o the ai r showhow t he wi nd bl ows, so t hi s t r umper y bal l ad serves t o show t hecur r ent of popul ar f eel i ng at t he t i me of i t s composi t i on.

Al l r eader s of hi st or y ar e f ami l i ar wi t h t he cel ebr at ed t r i alof t he Marechal e d' Ancr e, who was execut ed i n Par i s i n t he year1617. Al t hough wi t chcr af t was one of t he accusat i ons br ought agai nsther , t he real cr i me f or whi ch she suf f er ed was her ascendency overt he mi nd of Mary of Medi ci s, and the consequent i nf l uence sheexer ci sed i ndi r ect l y over t he unwor t hy Ki ng, Loui s XI I I . Hercoachman gave evi dence t hat she had sacr i f i ced a cock at mi dni ght ,i n one of t he chur ches, and ot her s swore t hey had seen her go

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secret l y i nt o the house of a not ed wi t ch, named I sabel l a. When askedby what means she had acqui r ed so ext r aor di nary an i nf l uence overt he mi nd of t he Queen Mot her , she r epl i ed bol dl y, t hat she exer ci sedno ot her power over her , t han t hat whi ch a st r ong mi nd can al waysexer ci se over t he weak. She di ed wi t h gr eat f i r mness.

I n t wo year s af t er war ds scenes f ar mor e hor r i bl e than any t hathad yet t aken pl ace i n Fr ance wer e enacted at Labour t , at t he f ootof t he Pyrenees. The Par l i ament of Bour deaux, scandal i sed at t henumber of wi t ches who wer e sai d t o i nf est Labour t and i t snei ghbourhood, deput ed one of i t s own member s, t he not ed Pi er r e del ' Ancre, and i t s Pr esi dent , Espai gnel , t o i nqui r e i nt o t he mat t er ,wi t h f ul l power s t o puni sh t he of f ender s. They ar r i ved at Labour t i nMay 1619. De l ' Ancr e wr ot e a book, set t i ng f or t h al l hi s gr eatdeeds, i n t hi s bat t l e agai nst t he power s of evi l . I t i s f ul l ofobsceni t y and absur di t y; but t he f act s may be r el i ed on as f ar ast hey r el at e t o t he number of t r i al s and execut i ons, and t he st r angeconf essi ons whi ch t or t ur e f or ced f r om t he unhappy cr i mi nal s.

De l ' Ancre st at es as a r eason why so many wi t ches were t o bef ound at Labour t , t hat t he count r y was mount ai nous and st er i l e! Hedi scover ed many of t hem f r om t hei r par t i al i t y t o smoki ng t obacco. I tmay be i nf er r ed f r om t hi s, t hat he was of t he opi ni on of Ki ng J ames,t hat t obacco was t he "devi l ' s weed. " When t he commi ssi on f i r st sat ,t he number of per sons brought t o t r i al was about f or t y a day. Theacqui t t al s di d not aver age so many as f i ve per cent . Al l t he wi t chesconf essed t hat t hey had been pr esent at t he gr eat Domdani el , orSabbat h. At t hese sat ur nal i a t he devi l sat upon a l ar ge gi l dedt hr one, somet i mes i n the f orm of a goat ; somet i mes as a gent l eman,

dr essed al l i n bl ack, wi t h boot s, spur s, and swor d; and ver y of t enas a shapel ess mass, r esembl i ng t he t r unk of a bl ast ed t r ee, seeni ndi st i nct l y ami d t he dar kness. They gener al l y pr oceeded t o t heDomdani el , r i di ng on spi t s, pi t chf or ks, or br oomst i cks, and, ont hei r ar r i val , i ndul ged wi t h t he f i ends i n ever y speci es ofdebaucher y. Upon one occasi on t hey had had t he audaci t y t o cel ebr at et hi s f est i val i n t he ver y hear t of t he ci t y of Bour deaux. The t hr oneof t he ar ch f i end was pl aced i n the mi ddl e of t he Pl ace deGal l i enne, and the whol e space was cover ed wi t h the mul t i t ude ofwi t ches and wi zards, who f l ocked t o i t f r om f ar and near ; somear r i vi ng even f r om di st ant Scot l and.

Af t er t wo hundred poor wr et ches had been hanged and burned,t her e seemed no di mi nut i on i n t he number of cr i mi nal s t o be t r i ed.Many of t he l at t er were asked upon t he rack what Sat an had sai d,when he f ound t hat t he commi ss i oners were pr oceedi ng wi t h suchsever i t y? The gener al r epl y was, t hat he di d not seem t o care muchabout i t . Some of t hem asser t ed, t hat t hey had bol dl y r epr oached hi mf or suf f er i ng t he execut i on of t hei r f r i ends, sayi ng, "Out upont hee, f al se , f i end! t hy pr omi se was, t hat t hey shoul d not di e! Look!

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how t hou hast kept t hy wor d! They have been burned, and are a heapof ashes! " Upon t hese occasi ons he was never of f ended. He woul d gi veorder s t hat t he spor t s of t he Domdani el shoul d cease, and pr oduci ngi l l usor y f i r es t hat di d not bur n, he encour aged t hem t o wal kt hr ough, assur i ng t hem t hat t he f i r es l i ght ed by the execut i onergave no mor e pai n t han t hose. They woul d t hen ask hi m, wher e thei rf r i ends wer e, si nce t hey had not suf f er ed; t o whi ch t he "Fat her ofLi es" i nvar i abl y r epl i ed, t hat t hey wer e happy i n a f ar count r y, andcoul d see and hear al l t hat was t hen passi ng; and t hat , i f t heycal l ed by name those they wi shed t o conver se wi t h, t hey mi ght heart hei r voi ces i n r epl y. Sat an t hen i mi t at ed t he voi ces of t he def unctwi t ches so successf ul l y, t hat t hey wer e al l decei ved. Havi nganswer ed al l obj ect i ons, t he or gi es r ecommenced, and l ast ed t i l l t hecock crew.

De l ' Ancr e was al so ver y zeal ous i n t he t r i al of unhappymonomani acs f or t he cr i me of l ycant hr opy. Several who were ar r est edconf essed, wi t hout bei ng t or t ur ed, t hat t hey wer e wei r - wol ves, and

t hat , at ni ght , t hey r ushed out among t he f l ocks and her ds, ki l l i ngand devour i ng. One young man at Besancon, wi t h t he f ul lconsci ousness of t he awf ul f at e t hat awai t ed hi m, vol unt ar i l y gavehi msel f up t o t he commi ssi oner Espai gnel , and conf essed t hat he wast he servant of a st r ong f i end, who was known by t he name of "Lord oft he For est s. " By hi s power , he was t r ansf or med i nt o t he l i keness ofa wol f . The "Lord of t he For est s" assumed t he same shape, but wasmuch l ar ger , f i er cer , and st r onger . They pr owl ed about t he past ur est oget her at mi dni ght , st r angl i ng t he wat ch- dogs t hat def ended t hef ol ds, and ki l l i ng mor e sheep t han t hey coul d devour . He f el t , hesai d, a f i er ce pl easur e i n t hese excur si ons, and howl ed i n excess of

j oy as he t or e wi t h hi s f angs t he war m f l esh of t he sheep asunder . Thi s yout h was not al one i n t hi s hor r i d conf ess i on; many ot hersvol unt ar i l y owned t hat t hey were wei r - wol ves, and many more weref orced by t or t ur e t o make t he same avowal . Such cr i mi nal s weret hought t o be t oo at r oci ous t o be hanged f i r st , and t hen bur ned:t hey wer e gener al l y sent enced t o be bur ned al i ve, and t hei r ashes t obe scat t er ed t o t he wi nds. Gr ave and l ear ned doct or s of di vi ni t yopenl y sust ai ned t he possi bi l i t y of t hese t r ansf or mat i ons, r el yi ngmai nl y upon t he hi st ory of Nebuchadnezzar . They coul d not i magi newhy, i f he had been an ox, modern men coul d not become wol ves, byDi vi ne per mi ssi on and t he power of t he devi l . They al so cont ended

t hat , i f men shoul d conf ess, i t was evi dence enough, i f t her e hadbeen no ot her . Del r i o ment i ons t hat one gent l eman accused ofl ycant hr opy was put t o the t or t ur e no l ess t han t went y t i mes, butst i l l he woul d not conf ess. An i nt oxi cat i ng dr aught was t hen gi venhi m, and under i t s i nf l uence he conf essed t hat he was a wei r - wol f .Del r i o ci t es t hi s t o show t he ext r eme equi t y of t he commi ssi oner s. They never bur ned anybody t i l l he conf essed; and i f one cour se oft or t ur e woul d not suf f i ce, t hei r pat i ence was not exhaust ed, andt hey t r i ed hi m agai n and agai n, even t o t he twent i et h t i me! Wel l may

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we excl ai m, when such at r oci t i es have been commi t t ed i n the name ofrel i gi on,

"Quel lion, quel tigre egale en cruaute,

Une injuste fureur qu'arme la piete?"

The t r i al of t he unhappy Ur bai n Gr andi er , t he cur at e of Loudun,f or bewi t chi ng a number of gi r l s i n t he convent of t he Ur sul i nes i nt hat t own, was, l i ke t hat of t he Mar echal e d' Ancr e, an accusat i onr esor t ed t o by hi s enemi es t o rui n one agai nst whom no ot her chargecoul d be br ought so r eadi l y. Thi s not ed af f ai r , whi ch kept France i ncommot i on f or mont hs, and t he t r ue char act er of whi ch was known evenat t hat t i me, mer i t s no mor e t han a passi ng not i ce i n t hi s pl ace. I tdi d not spr i ng f r om t he epi demi c dr ead of sor cer y t hen so pr eval ent ,but was car r i ed on by wr etched i nt r i guers, who had sworn t o have thel i f e of t hei r f oe. Such a char ge coul d not be r ef ut ed i n 1634: t heaccused coul d not , as Bodi nus expr esses i t , "make t he mal i ce of t hepr osecut ors more cl ear t han t he sun; " and hi s own deni al , however

i nt el l i gi bl e, honest , and st r ai ght f or war d, was hel d as not hi ng i nr ef ut at i on of t he t est i mony of t he crazy women who i magi nedt hemsel ves bewi t ched. The more absurd and cont r adi ct ory t hei rassert i ons, t he st r onger t he ar gument empl oyed by hi s enemi es t hatt he devi l was i n them. He was bur ned al i ve, under ci r cumst ances ofgr eat cr uel t y. [ A ver y gr aphi c account of t he execut i on of t hi sunf ort unate gent l eman i s t o be f ound i n t he excel l ent r omance of M.Al f r ed de Vi gny, ent i t l ed "Ci nq Mar s ; " but i f t he r eader wi shes f ora f ul l and accur at e det ai l of al l t he ci r cumst ances of one of t hemost ext r aor di nar y t r i al s upon r ecor d, he i s r ef er r ed t o a wor kpubl i shed anonymousl y, at Amst er dam, i n 1693, ent i t l ed "Hi st oi r e des

Di abl es de Loudun, ou de l a Possessi on des Rel i gi euses Ur sul i nes, etde l a Condemnat i on et du Suppl i ce d' Ur bai n Gr andi er . " ]

A si ngul ar i nst ance of t he epi demi c f ear of wi t chcr af t occur r edat Li l l e, i n 1639. A pi ous, but not ver y sane l ady, named Ant oi net t eBour i gnon, f ounded a school , or hospi ce, i n t hat ci t y. One day, onent er i ng t he school - r oom, she i magi ned t hat she saw a gr eat numberof l i t t l e bl ack angel s f l yi ng about t he heads of t he chi l dr en. I ngr eat al arm, she t ol d her pupi l s of what she had seen, warni ng t hemt o beware of t he devi l , whose i mps were hover i ng about t hem. Thef ool i sh woman cont i nued dai l y t o repeat t he same st ory, and Satan

and hi s power became t he onl y subj ect of conver sat i on, not onl ybet ween t he gi r l s t hemsel ves, but bet ween t hem and t hei ri nst r uct or s. One of t hem at t hi s t i me r an away f r om t he school . Onbei ng br ought back and i nt er r ogated, she sai d she had not r un away,but had been car r i ed away by t he devi l - - she was a wi t ch, and hadbeen one si nce t he age of seven. Some ot her l i t t l e gi r l s i n t heschool went i nt o f i t s at t hi s announcement , and, on t hei r r ecover y,conf essed t hat t hey al so wer e wi t ches. At l ast , t he whol e of t hem,t o the number of f i f t y, wor ked upon each ot her ' s i magi nat i ons t o

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such a degr ee t hat t hey al so conf essed t hat t hey were wi t ches - -t hat t hey at t ended t he Domdani el , or meet i ng of t he f i ends - - t hatt hey coul d r i de t hr ough t he ai r on br oomst i cks, f east on i nf ant s'f l esh, or cr eep t hr ough a keyhol e.

The ci t i zens of Li l l e wer e ast ounded at t hese di scl osures. Thecl er gy hast ened t o i nvest i gat e the mat t er ; many of t hem, t o thei rcr edi t , openl y expr essed t hei r opi ni on t hat t he whol e af f ai r was ani mpost ur e: not so the maj or i t y - - t hey st r enuousl y i nsi st ed t hat t heconf essi ons of t he chi l dr en wer e val i d, and t hat i t was necessary t omake an exampl e by bur ni ng t hem al l f or wi t ches. The poor parent s,al ar med f or t hei r of f spr i ng, i mpl or ed t he exami ni ng Capuchi ns wi t ht ear s i n t hei r eyes t o save t hei r young l i ves, i nsi st i ng t hat t heywer e bewi t ched, and not bewi t chi ng. Thi s opi ni on al so gai ned gr oundi n t he town. Ant oi net t e Bour i gnon, who had put t hese absurd not i onsi nt o the heads of t he chi l dr en, was accused of wi t chcr af t , andexami ned bef ore t he counci l . The ci r cumst ances of t he case seemed sounf avour abl e t owards her t hat she woul d not st ay f or a second

exami nat i on. Di sgui si ng her sel f as she best coul d, she hast ened outof Li l l e and escaped pur sui t . I f she had r emai ned f our hour s l onger ,she woul d have been bur ned by j udi ci al sent ence, as a wi t ch and aher et i c. I t i s t o be hoped t hat , wher ever she went , she l ear ned t hedanger of t amper i ng wi t h yout hf ul mi nds, and was never agai nent r ust ed wi t h t he management of chi l dr en.

The Duke of Br unswi ck and t he El ect or of Menz wer e st r uck wi t ht he gr eat cr uel t y exer ci sed i n t he t or t ur e of suspect ed per sons, andconvi nced at t he same t i me t hat no r i ght eous j udge woul d consi der aconf essi on ext or t ed by pai n, and cont r adi ct or y i n i t sel f , as

suf f i ci ent evi dence t o j ust i f y t he execut i on of any accused per son.I t i s r el at ed of t he Duke of Br unswi ck that he i nvi t ed t wo l ear ned J esui t s t o hi s house, who wer e known t o enter t ai n st r ong opi ni onsupon t he subj ect of wi t chcr af t , wi t h a vi ew of showi ng t hem t hecr uel t y and absurdi t y of such pr act i ses. A woman l ay i n t he dungeonof t he ci t y accused of wi t chcr af t , and t he Duke, havi ng gi venpr evi ous i nst r uct i ons t o t he of f i ci at i ng t or t ur er s, went wi t h t het wo J esui t s t o hear her conf essi on. By a ser i es of ar t f ul l eadi ngquest i ons, t he poor cr eat ur e, i n t he ext r emi t y of her angui sh, wasi nduced t o conf ess t hat she had of t en at t ended t he sabbath of t hef i ends upon t he Br ocken - - t hat she had seen t wo J esui t s t her e, who

had made themsel ves not or i ous, even among wi t ches, f or t hei rabomi nat i ons - - t hat she had seen t hem assume the f or m of goat s,wol ves, and ot her ani mal s; and t hat many not ed wi t ches had bornet hem f i ve, si x, and seven chi l dr en at a bi r t h, who had heads l i ket oads and l egs l i ke spi der s. Bei ng asked i f t he J esui t s wer e f arf r om her , she r epl i ed t hat t hey wer e i n t he r oom besi de her . TheDuke of Br unswi ck l ed hi s ast ounded f r i ends away, and expl ai ned thest r at agem. Thi s was convi nci ng pr oof t o bot h of t hem t hat t housandsof per sons had suf f er ed unj ust l y; t hey knew t hei r own i nnocence, and

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shudder ed t o t hi nk what t hei r f ate mi ght have been, i f an enemy,i nst ead of a f r i end, had put such a conf essi on i nt o the mout h of acr i mi nal . One of t hese J esui t s was Fr eder i ck Spee, t he aut hor of t he"Caut i o Cr i mi nal i s, " publ i shed i n 1631. Thi s wor k, exposi ng t hehor r or s of t he wi t ch t r i al s, had a most sal ut ar y ef f ect i n Ger many:Schonbr unn, Ar chbi shop and El ect or of Menz, abol i shed the t or t ur eent i r el y wi t hi n hi s domi ni ons, and hi s exampl e was i mi t at ed by t heDuke of Br unswi ck and ot her pot ent at es. The number of supposedwi t ches i mmedi at el y di mi ni shed, and t he vi ol ence of t he mani a begant o subsi de. The El ect or of Br andenbur g i ssued a r escr i pt , i n 1654,wi t h r espect t o t he case of Anna of El l er br ock, a supposed wi t ch,f or bi ddi ng t he use of t or t ur e, and st i gmat i zi ng t he swi mmi ng ofwi t ches as an unj ust , cruel , and decei t f ul t est .

Thi s was t he begi nni ng of t he dawn af t er t he l ong- prot r act eddarkness. The t r i bunal s no l onger condemned wi t ches t o execut i on byhundr eds i n a year . Wur zbur g, t he gr and theat r e of t he bur ni ngs,bur ned but one, wher e, f or t y year s pr evi ousl y, i t had bur ned t hr ee

scor e. From 1660 t o 1670, t he el ect or al chamber s i n al l par t s ofGermany const ant l y commut ed t he sent ence of deat h passed by t hepr ovi nci al t r i bunal s i nt o i mpr i sonment f or l i f e, or bur ni ng on t hecheek.

A t r uer phi l osophy had gr adual l y di sabused t he publ i c mi nd.Lear ned men f r eed t hemsel ves f r om t he t r ammel s of a debasi ngsuper st i t i on, and gover nment s, bot h ci vi l and eccl esi ast i cal ,r epr essed t he popul ar del usi on t hey had so l ong encour aged. ThePar l i ament of Nor mandy condemned a number of women t o deat h, i n t heyear 1670, on the ol d char ge of r i di ng on br oomst i cks t o t he

Domdani el ; but Loui s XI V. commuted t he sent ence i nt o bani shment f orl i f e. The Par l i ament r emonst r at ed, and sent t he Ki ng t he f ol l owi ngr emar kabl e request . The reader wi l l , per haps, be gl ad t o see thi sdocument at l engt h. I t i s of i mpor t ance, as t he l ast ef f or t of al egi sl at i ve assembl y t o uphol d t hi s gr eat er r or ; and t he ar gument st hey used, and t he i nst ances t hey quoted, are i n t he hi ghest degr eecur i ous. I t r ef l ect s honour upon t he memor y of Loui s XI V. t hat hewas not swayed by i t .

"REQUEST OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ROUEN TO THE KING, IN 1670.

"SI RE,

"EMBOLDENED by t he aut hor i t y whi ch your Maj est y has commi t t edi nt o our hands i n t he pr ovi nce of Normandy, t o t r y and puni shof f ences, and mor e par t i cul ar l y t hose of f ences of t he nat ur e ofwi t chcraf t , whi ch t end t o t he dest r uct i on of r el i gi on and t he r ui nof nat i ons, we, your Par l i ament , r emonst r ate humbl y wi t h yourMaj est y upon cer t ai n cases of t hi s ki nd whi ch have been l at el ybr ought bef ore us. We cannot permi t t he l et t er addr essed by your

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Maj est y' s command t o t he At t or ney- Gener al of t hi s di st r i ct , f or t her epr i eve of cer t ai n per sons condemned t o deat h f or wi t chcr af t , andf or t he st ayi ng of pr oceedi ngs i n sever al ot her cases, t o r emai nunnot i ced, and wi t hout r emarki ng upon the consequences whi ch mayensue. Ther e i s al so a l et t er f r om your Secret ar y of St at e,decl ar i ng your Maj est y' s i nt ent i on t o commut e t he puni shment oft hese cr i mi nal s i nt o one of per pet ual bani shment , and t o submi t t ot he opi ni on of t he Pr ocur eur - Gener al , and of t he most l ear nedmember s of t he Par l i ament of Par i s, whet her , i n the mat t er ofwi t chcr af t , t he j ur i spr udence of t he Par l i ament of Rouen i s t o bef ol l owed i n pr ef er ence t o t hat of t he Par l i ament of Par i s, and oft he ot her par l i ament s of t he ki ngdom whi ch j udge di f f er ent l y.

"Al t hough by t he or di nances of t he Ki ngs your pr edecessor s,Par l i ament s have been f or bi dden to pay any at t ent i on t o l et t r es decachet ; we, never t hel ess, f r om t he knowl edge whi ch we have, i ncommon wi t h t he whol e ki ngdom, of t he car e best owed by your Maj est yf or t he good of your subj ect s, and f r om t he submi ssi on and obedi ence

t o your commandments whi ch we have al ways mani f est ed, have st ayedal l pr oceedi ngs, i n conf or mi t y t o your or der s; hopi ng t hat yourMaj est y, consi der i ng t he i mpor t ance of t he cr i me of wi t chcr af t , andt he consequences l i kel y to ensue f r om i t s i mpuni t y, wi l l begr aci ousl y pl eased t o gr ant us once more your per mi ssi on t o cont i nuet he t r i al s, and execut e j udgment upon t hose f ound gui l t y. And as,si nce we r ecei ved t he l et t er of your Secr et ar y of St at e, we haveal so been made acquai nt ed wi t h t he det er mi nat i on of your Maj est y,not onl y t o commute t he sent ence of deat h passed upon t hese wi t chesi nt o one of per pet ual bani shment f r om t he pr ovi nce, but t o re-est abl i sh t hem i n t he possessi on of t hei r goods and chat t el s, and of

t hei r good f ame and char act er , your Par l i ament have t hought i t t hei rdut y, on occasi on of t hese cr i mes, t he gr eatest whi ch men cancommi t , t o make you acquai nt ed wi t h t he gener al and uni f orm f eel i ngsof t he peopl e of t hi s pr ovi nce wi t h r egar d t o t hem; i t bei ng,moreover , a quest i on i n whi ch ar e concerned t he gl ory of God and t her el i ef of your suf f er i ng subj ect s, who gr oan under t hei r f ear s f r omt he t hr eats and menaces of t hi s sor t of per sons, and who f eel t heef f ect s of t hem ever y day i n t he mor t al and ext r aor di nar y mal adi eswhi ch at t ack t hem, and t he surpr i si ng damage and l oss of t hei rpossessi ons.

"Your Maj est y knows wel l t hat t her e i s no cr i me so opposed t ot he commands of God as wi t chcraf t , whi ch dest r oys t he veryf oundat i on of r el i gi on, and dr aws st r ange abomi nat i ons af t er i t . I ti s f or t hi s r eason, Si r e, t hat t he Scr i pt ur es pr onounce t hepuni shment of death agai nst of f ender s, and t hat t he chur ch and t hehol y f at her s have f ul mi nat ed t hei r anat hemas, and t hat canoni caldeci si ons have one and al l decreed t he most sever e puni shment s, t odet er f r om t hi s cr i me; and t hat t he Chur ch of France, ani mat ed byt he pi et y of t he Ki ngs your pr edecessor s, has expr essed so gr eat a

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t he Sabbath, and conf essed, as wel l as t wo of hi s accompl i ces, whodi ed i n pr i son, t hat he had ador ed t he devi l , r enounced hi s bapt i smand hi s f ai t h i n God, danced t he wi t ches' dance, and of f er ed upunhol y sacr i f i ces; t he decr ees of t he 6t h of May 1616, agai nst a mannamed Leger , on a si mi l ar accusat i on; t he pardon gr ant ed by Char l esI X t o Tr oi s Echel l es, upon condi t i on of r eveal i ng hi s accompl i ces,but af t er wards r evoked f or r enewed sor cer y on hi s par t ; t he decr eeof t he Par l i ament of Par i s, ci t ed by Mor nac i n 1595; t he j udgment spassed i n consequence of t he commi ss i on gi ven by Henr y I V t o t heSi eur de Lancr e, counci l l or of t he Par l i ament of Bour deaux; of t he20t h of March 1619, agai nst Et i enne Audi ber t ; t hose passed by t heChamber of Ner ac, on t he 26t h of J une 1620, agai nst sever al wi t ches;t hose passed by t he Par l i ament of Toul ouse i n 1577, as ci t ed byGr egory Tol osanus, agai nst f our hundr ed per sons accused of t hi scr i me, and who wer e al l marked wi t h t he si gn of t he devi l . Besi desal l t hese, we mi ght r ecal l t o your Maj est y' s r ecol l ect i on t hevar i ous decr ees of t he Par l i ament of Pr ovence, especi al l y i n t hecase of Gauf r edy i n 1611; t he decr ees of t he Par l i ament of Di j on,

and t hose of t he Par l i ament of Rennes, f ol l owi ng t he exampl e of t hecondemnat i on of t he Marshal de Rays, who was bur ned i n 1441, f or t hecri me of wi t chcraf t , i n pr esence of t he Duke of Br i t t any; - - al lt hese exampl es, Si r e, pr ove t hat t he accusat i on of wi t chcr af t hasal ways been puni shed wi t h deat h by t he Par l i ament s of your ki ngdom,and j ust i f y t he uni f or mi t y of t hei r pr acti ce.

"These, Si r e, are t he mot i ves upon whi ch your Par l i ament ofNormandy has act ed i n decreei ng t he puni shment of deat h agai nst t heper sons l at el y br ought bef or e i t f or t hi s cr i me. I f i t has happenedt hat , on any occasi on, t hese par l i ament s, and t he Par l i ament of

Normandy among t he r est , have condemned t he gui l t y t o a l esspuni shment t han t hat of deat h, i t was f or t he r eason t hat t hei rgui l t was not of t he deepest dye; your Maj est y, and t he Ki ngs yourpr edecessor s, havi ng l ef t f ul l l i ber t y t o t he var i ous t r i bunal s t owhom t hey del egat ed the admi ni st r at i on of j ust i ce, t o decr ee suchpuni shment as was war r ant ed by the evi dence brought bef ore t hem.

"Af t er so many aut hor i t i es, and puni shment s ordai ned by humanand di vi ne l aws, we humbl y suppl i cat e your Maj est y t o ref l ect oncemore upon t he ext r aor di nary r esul t s whi ch pr oceed f r om t hemal evol ence of t hi s sor t of peopl e - - on t he deat hs f r om unknown

di seases, whi ch are of t en t he consequences of t hei r menaces - - ont he l oss of t he goods and chat t el s of your subj ect s - - on t he pr oof sof gui l t cont i nual l y af f or ded by t he i nsensi bi l i t y of t he mar ks upont he accused - - on t he sudden t r anspor t at i on of bodi es f r om one pl acet o anot her - - on t he sacr i f i ces and noct ur nal assembl i es, and ot herf act s, cor r obor at ed by t he t est i mony of anci ent and moder n aut hor s,and ver i f i ed by so many eye- wi t nesses, composed par t l y ofaccompl i ces, and par t l y of peopl e who had no i nt er est i n t he t r i al sbeyond t he l ove of t r ut h, and conf i r med, moreover , by t he

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conf essi ons of t he accused par t i es t hemsel ves; and t hat , Si r e, wi t hso much agr eement and conf ormi t y between the di f f erent cases, t hatt he most i gnorant per sons convi ct ed of t hi s cr i me have spoken t o thesame ci r cumst ances, and i n near l y t he same words, as t he mostcel ebr ated aut hors who have wr i t t en about i t , al l of whi ch may beeasi l y pr oved t o your Maj est y' s sat i sf act i on by the r ecor ds ofvar i ous t r i al s bef or e your par l i ament s.

"These, Si r e, ar e t r ut hs so i nt i mat el y bound up wi t h t hepr i nci pl es of our r el i gi on, t hat , ext r aor di nar y al t hough t hey be, noper son has been abl e t o t hi s t i me t o cal l t hem i n quest i on. I f somehave ci t ed, i n opposi t i on t o t hese t r ut hs, t he pr et ended canon oft he Counci l of Ancyr e, and a passage f r om St . August i n, i n at r eat i se upon t he ' Spi r i t and t he Soul ' , i t has been wi t houtf oundat i on; and i t woul d be easy t o convi nce your Maj est y t hatnei t her t he one nor t he ot her ought t o be account ed of anyaut hor i t y; and, besi des t hat , t he canon, i n t hi s sense, woul d becont r ar y to the opi ni on of al l succeedi ng counci l s of t he chur ch,

Car di nal Bar oni us, and al l l ear ned comment at or s, agr ee t hat i t i snot t o be f ound i n any ol d edi t i on. I n ef f ect , i n t hose edi t i onswher ei n i t i s f ound, i t i s i n anot her l anguage, and i s i n di r ectcont r adi ct i on t o t he t went y- t hi r d canon of t he same counci l , whi chcondemns sorcer y, accor di ng t o al l pr ecedi ng const i t ut i ons. Evensupposi ng t hat t hi s canon was real l y pr omul gated by the Counci l ofAncyre, we must observe t hat i t was i ssued i n t he second cent ur y,when t he pr i nci pal at t ent i on of t he Chur ch was di r ect ed t o t hedest r uct i on of pagani sm. For t hi s r eason, i t condemns t hat cl ass ofwomen who sai d they coul d pass t hrough t he ai r , and over i mmenser egi ons, wi t h Di ana and Her odi as, and enj oi ns al l pr eacher s t o t each

t he f al sehood of such an opi ni on, i n or der t o det er peopl e f r om t hewor shi p of t hese f al se di vi ni t i es; but i t does not quest i on t hepower of t he devi l over t he human body, whi ch i s, i n f act , pr oved byt he Hol y Gospel of J esus Chr i st hi msel f . And wi t h r egar d, Si r e, t ot he pr et ended passage of St . August i n, ever ybody knows t hat i t wasnot wr i t t en by hi m, because the wr i t er , whoever he was, ci t esBoet i us, who di ed mor e t han ei ght y year s af t er t he t i me of St .August i n. Besi des, t her e i s st i l l mor e convi nci ng pr oof i n t he f act ,t hat t he same f at her est abl i shes t he t r ut h of wi t chcraf t i n al l hi swr i t i ngs, and mor e par t i cul ar l y i n hi s ' Ci t y of God; ' and i n hi sf i r st vol ume, quest i on t he 25t h, wher ei n he st at es t hat sor cer y i s a

communi on bet ween man and t he devi l , whi ch al l good Chr i st i ans oughtt o l ook upon wi t h hor r or .

"Taki ng al l t hese t hi ngs i nt o consi der at i on, Si r e, t he of f i cer sof your Par l i ament hope, f r om t he j ust i ce of your Maj est y, t hat youwi l l be gr aci ousl y pl eased t o r ecei ve t he humbl e r emonst r ances t heyhave t aken t he l i ber t y to make. They ar e compel l ed, f or t heacqui t t al of t hei r own consci ences and i n di schar ge of t hei r dut y,t o make known to your Maj est y, t hat t he decrees t hey passed agai nst

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t he sor cer ers and wi t ches br ought bef ore t hem, wer e passed af t er amat ur e del i ber at i on on t he par t of al l t he j udges pr esent , and t hatnothi ng has been done t her ei n whi ch i s not conf ormabl e t o t heuni ver sal j ur i spr udence of t he ki ngdom, and f or t he gener al wel f ar eof your Maj est y' s subj ect s, of whom t her e i s not one who can sayt hat he i s secur e f r om t he mal evol ence of such cr i mi nal s. Wet her ef or e suppl i cat e your Maj est y t o suf f er us t o car r y i nt o ef f ectt he sent ences we passed, and t o pr oceed wi t h t he t r i al of t he ot herper sons accused of t he same cr i me; and that t he pi ety of yourMaj est y wi l l not suf f er t o be i nt r oduced dur i ng your r ei gn anopi ni on cont r ar y t o t he pr i nci pl es of t hat hol y r el i gi on f or whi chyou have al ways empl oyed so gl or i ousl y bot h your car es and yourarms. "

Loui s, as we have al r eady ment i oned, pai d no at t ent i on t o thi sappeal . The l i ves of t he ol d women wer e spared, and pr osecut i ons f ormer e wi t chcr af t , unconnect ed wi t h ot her of f ences, wer e di scont i nuedt hr oughout Fr ance. I n 1680 an act was passed f or t he puni shment , not

of wi t ches, but of pr et ender s t o wi t chcraf t , f or t une- t el l er s,di vi ner esses, and poi soner s.

Thus t he l i ght broke i n upon Ger many, Fr ance, Engl and, andScot l and about t he same t i me, gr adual l y gr owi ng cl ear er and cl earert i l l t he mi ddl e of t he ei ght eent h cent ur y, when wi t chcr af t wasf i nal l y r eckoned amongst expl oded doct r i nes, and t he bel i ef i n i tconf i ned t o t he ut t er most vul gar . Twi ce, however , di d t he madnessbur st f or t h agai n as f ur i ous, whi l e i t l ast ed, as ever i t had been. The f i r st t i me i n Sweden, i n 1669, and t he second i n Ger many, sol at e as 1749. Bot h t hese i nst ances mer i t par t i cul ar ment i on. The

f i r st i s one of t he most ext r aor di nar y upon r ecor d, and f or at r oci t yand absur di t y i s unsur passed i n t he annal s of any nat i on.

I t havi ng been r epor t ed t o t he Ki ng of Sweden t hat t he l i t t l evi l l age of Mohr a, i n t he pr ovi nce of Dal ecar l i a, was t r oubl edexceedi ngl y wi t h wi t ches, he appoi nt ed a commi ssi on of cl er gy andl aymen t o t r ace t he r umour t o i t s sour ce, wi t h f ul l power s t o puni sht he gui l t y. On the 12t h of August 1669, t he commi ssi oner s ar r i ved i nt he bewi t ched vi l l age, t o t he gr eat j oy of t he cr edul ousi nhabi t ant s. On t he f ol l owi ng day t he whol e popul at i on, amount i ng t ot hree t housand per sons, assembl ed i n t he chur ch. A ser mon was

pr eached, "decl ar i ng t he mi serabl e case of t hose peopl e t hatsuf f er ed t hemsel ves t o be del uded by t he devi l , " and f er vent pr ayerwas of f ered up t hat God woul d r emove t he scourge f r om among t hem.

The whol e assembl y t hen adj ourned t o t he r ect or ' s house,f i l l i ng al l t he st r eet bef or e i t , when t he Ki ng' s commi ssi on wasr ead, chargi ng ever y per son who knew anyt hi ng of t he wi t cher y, t ocome f orward and decl are t he t r ut h. A passi on of t ear s sei zed upont he mul t i t ude; men, women, and chi l dren began t o weep and sob, and

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al l pr omi sed t o di vul ge what t hey had heard or knew. I n t hi s f r ameof mi nd t hey were di smi ssed t o thei r homes. On t he f ol l owi ng dayt hey wer e agai n cal l ed t oget her , when t he deposi t i ons of sever alper sons wer e t aken publ i cl y bef or e t hem al l . The r esul t was t hatsevent y per sons, i ncl udi ng f i f t een chi l dr en, wer e t aken i nt ocust ody. Number s al so wer e ar r est ed i n t he nei ghbour i ng di st r i ct ofEl f dal e. Bei ng put t o t he t or t ur e, t hey al l conf essed t hei r gui l t . They sai d t hey used t o go t o a gravel - pi t t hat l ay hard by t hecr oss- way, where t hey put a vest upon t hei r heads, and danced " r oundand r ound and r ound about . " They t hen went t o t he cr oss- way, andcal l ed t hr ee t i mes upon t he devi l ; t he f i r st t i me i n a l ow st i l lvoi ce; t he second, somewhat l ouder ; and t he t hi r d, ver y l oudl y, wi t ht hese wor ds, "Ant ecessor , come, and car r y us t o Bl ockul a! " Thi si nvocat i on never f ai l ed t o br i ng hi m t o t hei r vi ew. He gener al l yappear ed as a l i t t l e ol d man, i n a gr ey coat , wi t h r ed and bl uest ocki ngs, wi t h exceedi ngl y l ong gar t er s. He had besi des a ver yhi gh- cr owned hat , wi t h bands of many- col our ed l i nen enf ol ded abouti t , and a l ong r ed bear d, t hat hung down t o hi s mi ddl e.

The f i r st quest i on he put t o t hem was, whether t hey woul d ser vehi m soul and body? On t hei r answer i ng i n t he af f i r mat i ve, he t ol dt hem t o make r eady f or t he j our ney to Bl ockul a. I t was necessar y topr ocur e, i n t he f i r st pl ace, "some scrapi ngs of al t ar s and f i l i ngsof chur ch cl ocks. " Ant ecessor t hen gave t hem a horn, wi t h some sal vei n i t , wher ewi t h they anoi nt ed t hemsel ves. These pr epar at i ons ended,he br ought beast s f or t hem t o r i de upon, hor ses, asses, goat s, andmonkeys; and, gi vi ng t hem a saddl e, a hammer , and a nai l , ut t er edt he wor d of command, and away t hey went . Not hi ng st opped t hem. Theyf l ew over chur ches, hi gh wal l s, r ocks, and mount ai ns, unt i l t hey

came t o t he green meadow wher e Bl ockul a was s i t uat ed. Upon t heseoccasi ons t hey car r i ed as many chi l dr en wi t h t hem as they coul d; f ort he devi l , t hey sai d, "di d pl ague and whi p t hem i f t hey di d notpr ocur e hi m chi l dr en, i nsomuch t hat t hey had no peace or qui et f orhi m. "

Many par ent s cor r obor at ed a par t of t hi s evi dence, st at i ng t hatt hei r chi l dr en had r epeat edl y t ol d t hem t hat t hey had been car r i edaway i n t he ni ght t o Bl ockul a, wher e the devi l had beat en t hem bl ackand bl ue. They had seen t he mar ks i n t he morni ng, but t hey soondi sappear ed. One l i t t l e gi r l was exami ned, who swor e posi t i vel y t hat

she was car r i ed thr ough the ai r by t he wi t ches, and when at a gr eathei ght she ut t er ed t he hol y name of J esus. She i mmedi at el y f el l t ot he gr ound, and made a gr eat hol e i n her si de. "The devi l , however ,pi cked her up, heal ed her si de, and car r i ed her away t o Bl ockul a. "She added, and her mother conf i r med her st atement , t hat she had t i l lt hat day "an exceedi ng gr eat pai n i n her si de. " Thi s was a cl encher ,and t he nai l of convi ct i on was dr i ven home to t he hear t s of t he j udges.

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The pl ace cal l ed Bl ockul a, whi t her t hey wer e car r i ed, was al ar ge house, wi t h a gat e t o i t , " i n a del i cat e meadow, wher eof t heycoul d see no end. " Ther e was a ver y l ong t abl e i n i t , at whi ch t hewi t ches sat down; and i n ot her r ooms " t here were ver y l ovel y anddel i cat e beds f or t hem t o sl eep upon. "

Af t er a number of cer emoni es had been per f ormed, by whi ch t heybound t hemsel ves, body and soul , t o t he servi ce of Ant ecessor , t heysat down t o a f east , composed of br ot h, made of col wor t s and bacon,oat meal , br ead and but t er , mi l k and cheese. The devi l al ways t ookt he chai r , and somet i mes pl ayed t o t hem on t he har p or t he f i ddl e,whi l e they wer e eat i ng. Af t er di nner t hey danced i n a r i ng,somet i mes naked, and somet i mes i n t hei r cl othes, cur si ng andswear i ng al l t he t i me. Some of t he women added par t i cul ars t oohor r i bl e and t oo obscene f or r epet i t i on.

Once t he devi l pr etended t o be dead, t hat he mi ght see whetherhi s peopl e regr et t ed hi m. They i nst ant l y set up a l oud wai l , and

wept t hr ee t ears each f or hi m, at whi ch he was so pl eased, t hat he j umped up among t hem, and hugged i n hi s ar ms t hose who had been mostobst r eper ous i n t hei r sor r ow.

Such wer e t he pr i nci pal det ai l s gi ven by the chi l dr en, andcor r obor at ed by t he conf essi ons of t he f ul l - gr own wi t ches. Anyt hi ngmore absurd was never bef ore st ated i n a cour t of j ust i ce. Many oft he accused cont r adi ct ed t hemsel ves most pal pabl y; but t hecommi ssi oners gave no heed t o di scr epanci es. One of t hem, t he parsonof t he di st r i ct, st at ed, i n t he cour se of t he i nqui r y, t hat on apar t i cul ar ni ght , whi ch he ment i oned, he had been af f l i ct ed wi t h a

headach so agoni zi ng, t hat he coul d not account f or i t ot her wi set han by supposi ng he was bewi t ched. I n f act , he thought a scor e ofwi t ches must have been danci ng on t he cr own of hi s head. Thi sannouncement exci t ed great hor r or among t he pi ous dames of t heaudi t or y, who l oudl y expr essed t hei r wonder t hat t he devi l shoul dhave power t o hurt so good a man. One poor wi t ch, who l ay i n t hever y j aws of death, conf essed t hat she knew t oo wel l t he cause oft he mi ni st er ' s headach. The devi l had sent her wi t h a sl edge hammerand a l ar ge nai l , t o dr i ve i nt o the good man' s skul l . She hadhammer ed at i t f or some t i me, but t he skul l was so enormousl y t hi ck,t hat she made no i mpressi on upon i t . Every hand was hel d up i n

ast oni shment . The pi ous mi ni st er bl essed God t hat hi s skul l was sosol i d, and he became renowned f or hi s t hi ck head al l t he days of hi sl i f e. Whet her t he wi t ch i nt ended a j oke does not appear , but she wasl ooked upon as a cr i mi nal more t han usual l y at r oci ous. Sevent ypersons were condemned t o deat h on these so awf ul yet so r i di cul ousconf essi ons. Twent y- t hr ee of t hem wer e bur ned t oget her , i n one f i r e,i n t he vi l l age of Mohr a, i n t he pr esence of t housands of del i ght edspect at or s. On t he f ol l owi ng day f i f t een chi l dr en wer e mur der ed i nt he same manner ; of f er ed up i n sacr i f i ce t o t he bl oody Mol och of

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super st i t i on. The r emai ni ng t hi r t y- t wo wer e execut ed at t henei ghbour i ng t own of Fahl una. Besi des t hese, f i f t y- si x chi l dr en wer ef ound gui l t y of wi t chcr af t i n a mi nor degr ee, and sent enced t ovar i ous puni shment s, such as runni ng t he gaunt l et , i mpr i sonment , andpubl i c whi ppi ng once a week f or a t wel vemont h.

Long af t er t he occur r ence of t hi s case, i t was ci t ed as one oft he most convi nci ng pr oof s upon r ecord of t he pr eval ence ofwi t chcr af t . When men wi sh t o const r uct or support a t heory, how t heyt or t ur e f act s i nt o t hei r ser vi ce! The l yi ng whi msi es of a f ew si ckchi l dr en, encour aged by f ool i sh par ent s, and dr awn out bysuper st i t i ous nei ghbour s, wer e suf f i ci ent t o set a count r y i n af l ame. I f , i nst ead of commi ssi oner s as deepl y sunk i n t he sl ough ofi gnorance as t he peopl e they were sent amongst , t her e had beendeput ed a f ew men f i r m i n cour age and cl ear i n underst andi ng, howdi f f er ent woul d have been t he r esul t ! Some of t he poor chi l dr en whowere bur ned woul d have been sent t o an i nf i r mary; ot hers woul d havebeen wel l f l ogged; t he cr edul i t y of t he parent s woul d have been

l aughed at , and t he l i ves of sevent y per sons spar ed. The bel i ef i nwi t chcr af t r emai ns i n Sweden t o thi s day; but , happi l y, t he annal sof t hat count r y pr esent no more such i nst ances of l ament abl eaber r at i on of i nt el l ect as t he one j ust ci t ed.

I n New Engl and, about t he same t i me, t he col oni st s were scar edby si mi l ar st or i es of t he ant i cs of t he devi l . Al l at once a f earsei zed upon t he mul t i t ude, and supposed cr i mi nal s wer e ar r est ed dayaf t er day i n such number s, t hat t he pr i sons wer e f ound t oo smal l t ocont ai n t hem. A gi r l , named Goodwi n, t he daughter of a mason, whowas hypochondr i ac and subj ect t o f i t s, i magi ned t hat an ol d

I r i shwoman, named Gl over , had bewi t ched her . Her t wo br ot hers, i nwhose const i t ut i ons t her e was appar ent l y a pr edi sposi t i on t o si mi l arf i t s, went of f i n t he same way, cr yi ng out t hat t he devi l and DameGl over wer e t or ment i ng t hem. At t i mes t hei r j oi nt s wer e so st i f ft hat t hey coul d not be moved, whi l e at ot her s, sai d t he nei ghbour s,t hey wer e so f l exi bl e, t hat t he bones appear ed sof t ened i nt o si news. The supposed wi t ch was sei zed, and, as she coul d not r epeat t heLord' s Prayer wi t hout maki ng a mi st ake i n i t , she was condemned andexecut ed.

But t he popul ar exci t ement was not al l ayed. One vi ct i m was not

enough: t he peopl e wai t ed agape f or new di scl osur es. Suddenl y t wohyster i c gi r l s i n anot her f ami l y f el l i nt o f i t s dai l y, and t he cr yof wi t chcr af t r esounded f r om one end of t he col ony to t he ot her . Thef eel i ng of suf f ocat i on i n t he t hr oat , so common i n cases ofhyst er i a, was sai d by the pat i ent s t o be caused by t he devi lhi msel f , who had st uck bal l s i n the wi ndpi pe to choke them. Theyf el t t he pr i cki ng of t hor ns i n ever y par t of t he body, and one oft hem vomi t ed needl es. The case of t hese gi r l s, who wer e t he daught erand ni ece of a Mr . Par r i s, t he mi ni st er of a Cal vi ni st chapel ,

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exci t ed so much at t ent i on, t hat al l t he weak women i n the col onybegan t o f ancy t hemsel ves s i mi l ar l y af f l i ct ed. The mor e they br oodedon i t , t he more convi nced t hey became. The cont agi on of t hi s ment aldi sease was as gr eat as i f i t had been a pest i l ence. One af t er t heot her t he women f ai nt ed away, asser t i ng, on t hei r r ecover y, t hatt hey had seen t he spect r es of wi t ches. Where t here were t hr ee orf our gi r l s i n a f ami l y, t hey so wor ked, each upon t he di seasedi magi nat i on of t he ot her , t hat t hey f el l i nt o f i t s f i ve or si x t i mesi n a day. Some r el ated t hat t he devi l hi msel f appeared t o t hem,bear i ng i n hi s hand a par chment r ol l , and pr omi si ng t hat i f t heywoul d si gn an agr eement t r ansf er r i ng t o hi m t hei r i mmor t al soul s,t hey shoul d be i mmedi at el y r el i eved f r om f i t s and al l t he i l l s oft he f l esh. Ot her s asser t ed t hat t hey saw wi t ches onl y, who made themsi mi l ar pr omi ses, t hr eat eni ng t hat t hey shoul d never be f r ee f r omaches and pai ns t i l l t hey had agr eed t o become the devi l ' s. Whent hey ref used, t he wi t ches pi nched, or bi t , or pr i cked t hem wi t h l ongpi ns and needl es. Mor e t han two hundred per sons named by t hesemi schi evous vi si onar i es, wer e t hr own i nt o pr i son. They wer e of al l

ages and condi t i ons of l i f e, and many of t hem of exempl ar ychar act er . No l ess t han ni net een were condemned and execut ed bef orer eason r et ur ned t o t he mi nds of t he col oni st s. The most hor r i bl epar t of t hi s l ament abl e hi st or y i s, t hat among t he vi ct i ms t her e wasa l i t t l e chi l d onl y f i ve year s ol d. Some women swor e that t hey hadseen i t r epeat edl y i n company wi t h t he devi l , and t hat i t had bi t t ent hem of t en wi t h i t s l i t t l e t eet h, f or r ef usi ng t o si gn a compactwi t h t he Evi l One. I t can har dl y i ncrease our f eel i ngs of di sgustand abhor r ence when we l ear n that t hi s i nsane communi t y act ual l yt r i ed and execut ed a dog f or t he same of f ence!

One man, named Cory, st out l y r ef used t o pl ead t o t hepr epost er ous i ndi ct ment agai nst hi m. As was t he pr act i ce i n sucheases, he was pr essed t o deat h. I t i s t ol d of t he Sher i f f of NewEngl and, who super i ntended t he execut i on, t hat when t hi s unhappy mant hr ust out hi s t ongue i n hi s mort al agony, he sei zed hol d of a cane,and cr ammed i t back agai n i nt o t he mout h. I f ever t here were a f i endi n human f orm, i t was t hi s Sher i f f ; a man, who, i f t he t r ut h wer eknown, perhaps pl umed hi msel f upon hi s pi ety - - t hought he was doi ngGod good ser vi ce, and

"Hoped to merit heaven by making earth a hell!"

Ar gui ng st i l l i n t he f i r m bel i ef of wi t chcraf t , t he ber eavedpeopl e began t o i nqui r e, when t hey saw t hei r dear est f r i endssnat ched away f r om t hem by these wi de- spreadi ng accusat i ons, whet hert he whol e pr oceedi ngs were not car r i ed on by t he agency of t hedevi l . Mi ght not t he gr eat enemy have put f al se t est i mony i nt o t hemout hs of t he wi t nesses, or mi ght not t he wi t nesses be wi t chest hemsel ves? Ever y man who was i n danger of l osi ng hi s wi f e, hi schi l d, or hi s si st er , embr aced t hi s doct r i ne wi t h avi di t y. The

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r evul si on was as sudden as t he f i r st f r enzy. Al l at once, t hecol oni st s wer e convi nced of t hei r er r or . The j udges put a st op t ot he pr osecut i ons, even of t hose who had conf essed t hei r gui l t . Thel at t er wer e no sooner at l i ber t y t han t hey r et r act ed al l t hey hadsai d, and t he great er number har dl y r emember ed t he avowal s whi chagony had ext or t ed f r om t hem. Ei ght persons, who had been t r i ed andcondemned, wer e set f r ee; and gr adual l y gi r l s ceased t o have f i t sand t o tal k of t he per secut i ons of t he devi l . The j udge who hadcondemned t he f i r st cr i mi nal execut ed on t hi s char ge, was so smi t t enwi t h sor r ow and humi l i at i on at hi s f ol l y, t hat he set apar t t heanni ver sar y of t hat day as one of sol emn peni t ence and f ast i ng. Hest i l l cl ung t o t he bel i ef i n wi t chcraf t ; no new l i ght had br oken i nupon hi m on that subj ect , but , happi l y f or t he communi t y, t hedel usi on had t aken a mer ci f ul t ur n. The whol e col ony shared t hef eel i ng; t he j ur or s on t he di f f er ent t r i al s openl y expr essed t hei rpeni t ence i n the chur ches; and t hose who had suf f ered were regardedas t he vi ct i ms, and not t he accompl i ces of Sat an.

I t i s r el at ed t hat t he I ndi an t r i bes i n New Engl and wer e sor el ypuzzl ed at t he i nf at uat i on of t he set t l er s, and t hought t hem ei t hera r ace i nf er i or t o, or mor e si nf ul t han t he French col oni st s i n t hevi ci ni t y, amongst whom, as t hey r emar ked, " t he Gr eat Spi r i t sent nowi t ches. "

Ret ur ni ng agai n t o t he cont i nent of Eur ope, we f i nd t hat , af t ert he year 1680, men became st i l l wi ser upon t hi s subj ect . For t went yyear s t he popul ace wer e l ef t t o t hei r bel i ef , but gover nment s i ngener al gave i t no al i ment i n t he shape of execut i ons. The edi ct ofLoui s XI V. gave a bl ow t o t he super st i t i on, f r om whi ch i t never

r ecover ed. The l ast execut i on i n t he Pr ot est ant cant ons ofSwi t zer l and was at Geneva, i n 1652. The var i ous pot ent ates ofGer many, al t hough t hey coul d not st ay t he t r i al s, i nvar i abl ycommut ed t he sent ence i nt o i mpr i sonment , i n al l cases where t hepr etended wi t ch was accused of pur e wi t chcraf t , unconnect ed wi t h anyot her cr i me. I n t he year 1701, Thomasi us, t he l ear ned pr of essor att he Uni ver si t y of Hal l e, del i ver ed hi s i naugur al t hesi s, "De Cr i mi neMagi ae, " whi ch st r uck anot her bl ow at t he f al l i ng monst er of popul arer r or . But a f ai t h so st r ong as t hat i n wi t chcraf t was not t o beeradi cat ed at once: t he argument s of l ear ned men di d not penet r at et o t he vi l l ages and haml et s, but st i l l t hey achi eved gr eat t hi ngs;

t hey r ender ed the bel i ef an unwor ki ng f ai t h, and pr event ed thesuppl y of vi ct i ms, on whi ch f or so many ages i t had bat t ened andgr own st r ong.

Once more t he del usi on br oke out ; l i ke a wi l d beast wounded t ot he deat h, i t col l ected al l i t s r emai ni ng ener gi es f or t he f i nalconvul si on, whi ch was t o show how mi ght y i t had once been. Germany,whi ch had nur sed t he f r i ght f ul er r or i n i t s cradl e, t ended i t on i t sdeat h- bed, and Wurzburg, t he scene of so many murder s on t he same

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pr et ext , was dest i ned t o be t he scene of t he l ast . That i t mi ghtl ose no por t i on of i t s bad r enown, t he l ast mur der was as at r oci ousas t he f i r st . Thi s case of f er s a gr eat r esembl ance t o t hat of t hewi t ches of Mohr a and New Engl and, except i n t he number of i t svi ct i ms. I t happened so l at e as t he year 1749, t o t he ast oni shmentand di sgust of t he r est of Eur ope.

A number of young women i n a convent at Wurzburg f anci edt hemsel ves bewi t ched; t hey f el t , l i ke al l hyst er i c subj ect s, a senseof suf f ocat i on i n t he t hr oat . They went i nt o f i t s r epeat edl y; andone of t hem, who had swal l owed needl es, evacuat ed t hem at abscesses,whi ch f or med i n di f f er ent par t s of t he body. The cr y of sorcer y wasr ai sed, and a young woman, named Mar i a Renat a Sanger , was ar r est edon t he char ge of havi ng l eagued wi t h t he devi l , t o bewi t ch f i ve oft he young l adi es. I t was swor n on t he t r i al t hat Mar i a had beenf r equent l y seen t o cl amber over t he convent wal l s i n t he shape of api g - - t hat , pr oceedi ng t o t he cel l ar , she used t o dr i nk the bestwi ne t i l l she was i nt oxi cat ed; and t hen st ar t suddenl y up i n her own

f or m. Ot her gi r l s asser t ed t hat she used t o pr owl about t he r oofl i ke a cat , and of t en penet r at e i nt o t hei r chamber , and f r i ght ent hem by her dr eadf ul howl i ngs. I t was al so sai d t hat she had beenseen i n the shape of a hare, mi l ki ng the cows dr y i n the meadowsbel ongi ng t o the convent ; t hat she used t o per f or m as an act r ess ont he boar ds of Dr ur y Lane theat r e i n London, and, on t he very sameni ght , r et ur n upon a br oomst i ck t o Wur zbur g, and af f l i ct t he youngl adi es wi t h pai ns i n al l t hei r l i mbs. Upon t hi s evi dence she wascondemned, and bur ned al i ve i n t he market - pl ace of Wur zbur g.

Her e ends t hi s f r i ght f ul cat al ogue of mur der and super st i t i on.

Si nce t hat day, t he bel i ef i n wi t chcraf t has f l ed f r om t he popul ousabodes of men, and t aken r ef uge i n r emot e vi l l ages and di st r i ct s t oowi l d, r ugged, and i nhospi t abl e t o af f or d a r est i ng- pl ace f or t hef oot of ci vi l i zat i on. Rude f i sher s and uneducat ed l abour er s st i l lat t r i but e ever y phenomenon of natur e whi ch t hey cannot account f or ,t o t he devi l and wi t ches. Cat al epsy, t hat wondr ous di sease, i s st i l lt hought by i gnorant gossi ps t o be t he work of Satan; andhypochondr i acs, uni nf or med by sci ence of t he nat ur e of t hei r mal ady,devout l y bel i eve i n t he r eal i t y of t hei r vi si ons. The r eader woul dhar dl y cr edi t t he ext ent of t he del usi on upon t hi s subj ect i n t hever y heart of Engl and at t hi s day. Many an ol d woman l eads a l i f e of

mi ser y f r om t he unf eel i ng i nsul t s of her nei ghbour s, who r ai se t hescor nf ul f i nger and hoot i ng voi ce at her , because i n her decr epi t udeshe i s ugl y, spi t ef ul , per haps i nsane, and r eal i zes i n her per sonalappear ance the descr i pt i on pr eser ved by t r adi t i on of t he wi t ches ofyor e. Even i n t he nei ghbour hood of gr eat t owns t he t ai nt r emai ns oft hi s once wi del y- spr ead cont agi on. I f no vi ct i ms f al l beneat h i t ,t he enl i ght enment of t he l aw i s al l t hat pr event s a r ecur r ence ofscenes as hor r i d as t hose of t he sevent eet h cent ur y. Hundr eds upon

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hundr eds of wi t nesses coul d be f ound t o swear t o absurdi t i es asgr eat as t hose asser t ed by t he i nf amous Mat t hew Hopki ns.

I n t he Annual Regi st er f or 1760, an i nst ance of t he bel i ef i nwi t chcraf t i s r el at ed, whi ch shows how super st i t i on l i nger s. Adi sput e ar ose i n t he l i t t l e vi l l age of Gl en, i n Lei cester shi r e,bet ween t wo ol d women, each of whom vehement l y accused t he ot her ofwi t chcr af t . The quar r el at l ast r an so hi gh t hat a chal l enge ensued,and they bot h agr eed to be t r i ed by t he or deal of swi mmi ng. Theyaccor di ngl y st r i pped t o thei r shi f t s - - pr ocur ed some men, who t i edt hei r t humbs and gr eat t oes t oget her , cr osswi se, and t hen, wi t h acar t - r ope about t hei r mi ddl e, suf f er ed t hemsel ves t o be t hr own i nt oa pool of wat er . One of t hem sank i mmedi at el y, but t he ot hercont i nued st r uggl i ng a shor t t i me upon t he sur f ace of t he wat er ,whi ch t he mob deemi ng an i nf al l i bl e si gn of her gui l t , pul l ed herout , and i nsi st ed t hat she shoul d i mmedi at el y i mpeach al l heraccompl i ces i n t he craf t . She accor di ngl y t ol d t hem t hat , i n t henei ghbour i ng vi l l age of Bur t on, t her e wer e sever al ol d women as

"much wi t ches as she was. " Happi l y f or her , t hi s negat i vei nf or mat i on was deemed suf f i ci ent , and a st udent i n ast r ol ogy, or"whi t e- wi t ch, " comi ng up at t he t i me, t he mob, by hi s di r ect i on,pr oceeded f or t hwi t h t o Bur t on i n sear ch of al l t he del i nquent s.Af t er a l i t t l e consul t at i on on t hei r ar r i val , t hey went t o t he ol dwoman' s house on whom t hey had f i xed t he st r ongest suspi ci on. Thepoor ol d cr eat ur e on t hei r appr oach l ocked t he out er door , and f r omt he wi ndow of an upst ai r s r oom asked what t hey want ed. They i nf ormedher t hat she was char ged wi t h bei ng gui l t y of wi t chcr af t , and t hatt hey were come to duck her ; r emonst r at i ng wi t h her at t he same t i meupon t he necessi t y of submi ssi on t o the or deal , t hat , i f she wer e

i nnocent , al l t he wor l d mi ght know i t . Upon her per si st i ng i n aposi t i ve r ef usal t o come down, t hey br oke open t he door and carr i edher out by f or ce, t o a deep gr avel - pi t f ul l of wat er . They t i ed hert humbs and t oes t ogether and t hrew her i nt o t he wat er , where t heykept her f or sever al mi nut es, dr awi ng her out and i n t wo or t hr eet i mes by t he rope round her mi ddl e. Not bei ng abl e t o sat i sf yt hemsel ves whet her she wer e a wi t ch or no, t hey at l ast l et her go,or , more pr oper l y speaki ng, t hey l ef t her on t he bank t o wal k homeby her sel f , i f she ever r ecover ed. Next day, t hey t r i ed t he sameexper i ment upon anot her woman, and af t erwards upon a t hi r d; but ,f or t unat el y, nei t her of t he vi ct i ms l ost her l i f e f r om t hi s

br ut al i t y. Many of t he r i ngl eader s i n the out r age wer e appr ehendeddur i ng t he week, and t r i ed bef or e t he j ust i ces at quar t er - sessi ons. Two of t hem wer e sentenced t o st and i n t he pi l l or y and t o bei mpr i soned f or a mont h; and as many as t went y more were f i ned i nsmal l sums f or t he assaul t , and bound over t o keep t he peace f or at wel vemont h.

"So l at e as t he year 1785, " says Ar not , i n hi s col l ect i on andabr i dgment of Cr i mi nal Tr i al s i n Scot l and, " i t was t he cust om among

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t he sect of Seceder s t o r ead f r om t he pul pi t an annual conf essi on ofsi ns, nat i onal and per sonal ; amongst t he f ormer of whi ch waspar t i cul ar l y ment i oned t he ' Repeal by Par l i ament of t he penalst at ut e agai nst wi t ches, cont r ar y t o t he expr ess l aws of God. ' "

Many houses ar e st i l l t o be f ound i n Engl and wi t h t he horse-shoe ( t he gr and pr eser vat i ve agai nst wi t chcr af t ) nai l ed agai nst t het hr eshol d. I f any over - wi se phi l osopher shoul d at t empt t o removet hem, t he chances ar e t hat he woul d have mor e br oken bones t hant hanks f or hi s i nt er f er ence. Let any man wal k i nt o Cr oss- st r eet ,Hat t on- Gar den, and f r om t hence i nt o Bl eedi nghear t Yar d, and l ear nt he t al es st i l l t ol d and bel i eved of one house i n t hatnei ghbour hood, and he wi l l ask hi msel f i n ast oni shment i f sucht hi ngs can be i n t he ni net eent h cent ur y. The wi t chcr af t of LadyHat t on, t he wi f e of t he f amous Si r Chr i st opher , so renowned f or hi sel egant danci ng i n t he days of El i zabet h, i s as devout l y bel i eved ast he Gospel s. The r oom i s t o be seen wher e t he devi l sei zed her af t ert he expi r at i on of t he cont r act he had made wi t h her , and bore her

away bodi l y t o t he pi t of Tophet : t he pump agai nst whi ch he dashedher i s st i l l poi nt ed out , and t he spot wher e her hear t was f ound,af t er he had t or n i t out of her bosom wi t h hi s i r on cl aws, hasr ecei ved t he name of Bl eedi nghear t Yar d, i n conf i r mat i on of t hest or y. Whet her t he hor se- shoe st i l l r emai ns upon t he door of t hehaunt ed house, t o keep away ot her wi t ches, i s uncer t ai n; but t her ei t was, t wel ve or t hi r t een year s ago. The wr i t er r esi ded at t hatt i me i n t he house al l uded t o, and wel l r emembers t hat more t han oneol d woman begged f or admi t t ance r epeatedl y, t o sat i sf y t hemsel vest hat i t was i n i t s pr oper pl ace. One poor cr eat ur e, appar ent l yi nsane, and cl ot hed i n r ags, came t o t he door wi t h a t r emendous

doubl e- knock, as l oud as t hat of a f ashi onabl e f oot man, and wal kedst r ai ght al ong the passage t o t he hor se- shoe. Gr eat was t hewonder ment of t he i nmat es, especi al l y when t he woman spat upon t hehorse- shoe, and expr essed her sor r ow t hat she coul d do no harm whi l ei t r emai ned t her e. Af t er spi t t i ng upon, and ki cki ng i t agai n andagai n, she cool l y t ur ned r ound and l ef t t he house, wi t hout sayi ng aword t o anybody. Thi s poor cr eat ur e per haps i nt ended a j oke, but t hepr obabi l i t y i s t hat she i magi ned her sel f a wi t ch. I n Saf f r on Hi l l ,wher e she resi ded, her i gnor ant nei ghbour s gave her t hat char act er ,and l ooked upon her wi t h no l i t t l e f ear and aver si on.

Mor e than one exampl e of t he popul ar bel i ef i n wi t chcr af toccur r ed i n t he nei ghbour hood of Hast i ngs so l at el y as t he year1830. An aged woman, who r esi ded i n t he Rope- wal k of t hat t own, wasso repul si ve i n her appear ance, t hat she was i nvar i abl y accused ofbei ng a wi t ch by al l t he i gnorant peopl e who knew her . She was bentcompl et el y doubl e; and t hough ver y ol d, her eye was unusual l y br i ghtand mal i gnant . She wore a r ed cl oak, and suppor t ed hersel f on acr ut ch: she was, t o al l out war d appear ance, t he ver y beau i deal of awi t ch. So dear i s power t o the human hear t , t hat t hi s ol d woman

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t he pr ocess, i t appears t o be t he same as t hat empl oyed by Dr . Fi anand Gel l i e Duncan, t o work woe upon Ki ng J ames. He st at ed t hat t henei ghbour s, i nst i gated by a wi t ch, whom he poi nt ed out , t ook somewax, and moul ded i t bef or e t he f i r e i nt o t he f or m of her husband, asnear as t hey coul d repr esent hi m; t hey t hen pi er ced t he i mage wi t hpi ns on al l si des - - r epeat ed t he Lor d' s Prayer backwar ds, andof f er ed pr ayer s t o t he devi l t hat he woul d f i x hi s st i ngs i nt o t heper son whom t hat f i gur e r epr esent ed, i n l i ke manner as t hey pi er cedi t wi t h pi ns. To count er act t he ef f ects of t hi s di abol i cal pr ocess,t he wi t ch- doct or pr escr i bed a cer t ai n medi ci ne, and a char m t o bewor n next t he body, on t hat par t wher e t he di sease pr i nci pal l y l ay. The pat i ent was t o r epeat t he 109t h and 119t h Psal ms every day, ort he cur e woul d not be ef f ect ual . The f ee whi ch he cl ai med f or t hi sadvi ce was a gui nea.

So ef f i caci ous i s f ai t h i n t he cur e of any mal ady, t hat t hepat i ent act ual l y f el t much bet t er af t er a t hr ee weeks' cour se oft hi s prescr i pt i on. The not abl e char m whi ch t he quack had gi ven was

af t erwards opened, and f ound to be a pi ece of parchment , coveredwi t h some cabal i st i c char act er s and si gns of t he pl anet s.

The next - door nei ghbour s wer e i n great al ar m t hat t he wi t ch-doct or woul d, on t he sol i ci t at i on of t he r ecover i ng pat i ent , empl oysome means t o puni sh t hem f or t hei r pr et ended wi t chcr af t . To escapet he i nf l i ct i on, t hey f eed anot her cunni ng man, i n Not t i nghamshi r e,who t ol d t hem of a si mi l ar char m, whi ch woul d pr eser ve t hem f r om al lt he mal i ce of t hei r enemi es. The wr i t er concl udes by sayi ng t hat ,

" t he doct or , not l ong af t er he had been t hus consul t ed, wr ot e t o sayt hat he had di scover ed t hat hi s pat i ent was not af f l i ct ed by Sat an,as he had i magi ned, but by God, and woul d cont i nue, more or l ess, i nt he same st at e t i l l hi s l i f e' s end. "

An i mpost or car r i ed on a si mi l ar t r ade i n t he nei ghbour hood of Tunbr i dge Wel l s, about t he year 1830. He had been i n pract i ce f orsever al years, and char ged enor mous f ees f or hi s advi ce. Thi s f el l owpret ended t o be t he sevent h son of a seventh son, and t o be endowedi n consequence wi t h mi r acul ous power s f or t he cur e of al l di seases,but especi al l y of t hose r esul t i ng f r om wi t chcraf t . I t was not onl y

t he poor who empl oyed hi m, but l adi es who rode i n t hei r carr i ages.He was of t en sent f or f r om a di st ance of si xt y or sevent y mi l es byt hese peopl e, who pai d al l hi s expenses t o and f r o, besi desr ewardi ng hi m handsomel y. He was about ei ght y year s of age, and hi sext r emel y vener abl e appear ance ai ded hi s i mposi t i on i n no sl i ghtdegree. Hi s name was Okey, or Oakl ey.

I n France, t he super st i t i on at t hi s day i s even mor e pr eval entt han i t i s i n Engl and. Gar i net , i n hi s hi st or y of Magi c and Sor cer y

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i n t hat count r y, ci t es upwar ds of t went y i nst ances whi ch occur r edbet ween t he years 1805 and 1818. I n t he l at t er year , no l ess t hant hr ee t r i bunal s wer e occupi ed wi t h t r i al s or i gi nat i ng i n t hi shumi l i at i ng bel i ef : we shal l ci t e onl y one of t hem. J ul i anDesbour des, aged f i f t y- t hr ee, a mason, and i nhabi t ant of t he vi l l ageof Thi l ouze, near Bor deaux, was t aken suddenl y i l l , i n t he mont h of J anuar y 1818. As he di d not know how t o account f or hi s mal ady, hesuspect ed at l ast t hat he was bewi t ched. He communi cat ed t hi ssuspi ci on t o hi s son- i n- l aw, Br i di er , and t hey bot h went t o consul ta sor t of i di ot , named Baudoui n, who passed f or a conj ur or , orwhi t e- wi t ch. Thi s man t ol d t hem t hat Desbour des was cert ai nl ybewi t ched, and of f ered t o accompany t hem t o t he house of an ol d man,named Renard, who, he sai d, was undoubt edl y t he cr i mi nal . On t heni ght of t he 23r d of J anuar y al l t hr ee pr oceeded st eal t hi l y to t hedwel l i ng of Renar d, and accused hi m of af f l i ct i ng per sons wi t hdi seases, by t he ai d of t he devi l . Desbour des f el l on hi s knees, andear nest l y ent r eat ed t o be r est or ed t o hi s f or mer heal t h, pr omi si ngt hat he woul d t ake no measur es agai nst hi m f or t he evi l he had done.

The ol d man deni ed i n t he st r ongest t er ms t hat he was a wi zar d; andwhen Desbour des st i l l pr essed hi m t o r emove t he spel l f r om hi m, hesai d he knew nothi ng about t he spel l , and r ef used t o r emove i t . Thei di ot Baudoui n, t he whi t e- wi t ch, now i nt er f er ed, and t ol d hi scompani ons t hat no rel i ef f or t he mal ady coul d ever be pr ocur edunt i l t he ol d man conf essed hi s gui l t . To f or ce hi m t o conf essi ont hey l i ght ed some st i cks of sul phur , whi ch t hey had br ought wi t ht hem f or t he pur pose, and pl aced t hem under t he ol d man' s nose. I n af ew moment s, he f el l down suf f ocat ed and appar ent l y l i f el ess. Theywer e al l gr eat l y al ar med; and t hi nki ng t hat t hey had ki l l ed t he.man, t hey car r i ed hi m out and t hr ew hi m i nt o a nei ghbour i ng pond,

hopi ng t o make i t appear t hat he had f al l en i n acci dent al l y. Thepond, however , was not ver y deep, and the cool ness of t he wat err evi vi ng t he ol d man, he opened hi s eyes and sat up. Desbourdes andBr i di er , who wer e st i l l wai t i ng on the bank, wer e now more al armedt han bef or e, l est he shoul d r ecover and i nf or m agai nst t hem. They,t her ef or e, waded i nt o t he pond - - sei zed t hei r vi ct i m by t he hai r oft he head - - beat hi m sever el y, and t hen hel d hi m under wat er t i l l hewas drowned.

They wer e al l t hree appr ehended on t he char ge of murder a f ewdays af t er war ds. Desbour des and Br i di er wer e f ound gui l t y of

aggr avat ed mansl aught er onl y, and sent enced t o be bur nt on t he back,and t o wor k i n t he gal l eys f or l i f e. The whi t e- wi t ch Baudoui n wasacqui t t ed, on t he gr ound of i nsani t y.

M. Gar i net f ur t her i nf or ms us t hat France, at t he t i me he wr ot e( 1818) , was overr un by a r ace of f el l ows, who made a t r ade ofcast i ng out devi l s and f i ndi ng out wi t ches. He adds, al so, t hat manyof t he pr i est s i n t he r ur al di st r i ct s encour aged t he super st i t i on oft hei r par i shi oner s, by r esor t i ng f r equent l y t o exor ci sms, whenever

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any f ool i sh per sons t ook i t i nt o t hei r heads t hat a spel l had beent hr own over t hem. He recommended, as a remedy f or t he evi l , t hat al lt hese exor ci st s, whet her l ay or cl er i cal , shoul d be sent t o t hegal l eys, and t hat t he number of wi t ches woul d t hen ver y sensi bl ydi mi ni sh.

Many ot her i nst ances of t hi s l i nger i ng bel i ef mi ght be ci t edbot h i n France and Gr eat Br i t ai n, and i ndeed i n ever y ot her count r yi n Eur ope. So deepl y r oot ed are some er r ors t hat ages cannot r emovet hem. The poi sonous t r ee t hat once overshadowed t he l and, may be cutdown by t he st ur dy ef f or t s of sages and phi l osopher s - - t he sun mayshi ne cl ear l y upon spot s where venemous t hi ngs once nest l ed i nsecur i t y and shade; but st i l l t he ent angl ed r oot s are st r et chedbeneat h the sur f ace, and may be f ound by t hose who di g. Anot herki ng, l i ke J ames I , mi ght make t hem veget ate agai n; and, moremi schi evous st i l l , anot her pope, l i ke I nnocent VI I I , mi ght r ai se t hedecayi ng r oot s t o st r engt h and ver dur e. St i l l , i t i s consol i ng t ot hi nk, t hat t he del i r i um has passed away; t hat t he r agi ng madness

has gi ven pl ace t o a mi l der f ol l y; and t hat we may now count byuni t s t he vot ar i es of a super st i t i on whi ch, i n f or mer ages, number edi t s vi ct i ms by tens of t housands, and i t s vot ar i es by mi l l i ons.

THE SLOW POISONERS.

Pescara. -- The like was never read of.

Stephano. -- In my judgment,

To all that shall but hear it, 't will appearA most impossible fable.

Pescara. -- Troth, I'll tell you,

And briefly as I can, by what degrees

They fell into this madness.

Duke of Milan.

The at r oci ous syst em of poi soni ng, by poi sons so sl ow i n t hei roper at i on, as t o make t he vi ct i m appear , t o or di nar y obser ver s, asi f dyi ng f r om a gr adual decay of nat ur e, has been pr act i sed i n al l

ages. Those who are cur i ous i n t he mat t er may ref er t o Beckmann onSecret Poi sons, i n hi s "Hi st or y of I nvent i ons, " i n whi ch he hascol l ect ed sever al i nst ances of i t f r om t he Gr eek and Roman wr i t er s.Ear l y i n the si xteent h cent ur y t he cr i me seems t o have gr adual l yi ncreased, t i l l , i n t he sevent eent h, i t spr ead over Eur ope l i ke apest i l ence. I t was of t en exer ci sed by pr et ended wi t ches andsor cer er s, and f i nal l y became a br anch of educat i on amongst al l whol ai d any cl ai m t o magi cal and super nat ur al ar t s. I n t he t went y- f i r st

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year of Henr y VI I I . an act was passed, r ender i ng i t hi gh- t r eason:t hose f ound gui l t y of i t , wer e t o be boi l ed t o deat h.

One of t he f i r st i n poi nt of dat e, and har dl y second t o any i npoi nt of at r oci t y, i s t he mur der by thi s means of Si r ThomasOver bur y, whi ch di sgr aced t he cour t of J ames I , i n the year 1613. Asl i ght sket ch of i t wi l l be a f i t t i ng i nt r oduct i on t o t he hi stor y oft he poi soni ng mani a, whi ch was so pr eval ent i n Fr ance and I t al yf i f t y years l at er .

Rober t Ker r , a Scot t i sh yout h, was ear l y t aken not i ce of by J ames I , and l oaded wi t h honours, f or no ot her r eason t hat t he wor l dcoul d ever di scover t han t he beaut y of hi s per son. J ames, even i nhi s own day, was suspect ed of bei ng addi ct ed t o t he most abomi nabl eof al l of f ences, and t he more we exami ne hi s hi st ory now, t hest r onger t he suspi ci on becomes. However t hat may be, t he handsomeKer r , l endi ng hi s smoot h cheek, even i n publ i c, t o t he di sgust i ngki sses of hi s r oyal mast er , r ose r api dl y i n f avour . I n t he year

1613, he was made Lor d Hi gh Treasur er of Scot l and, and cr eat ed anEngl i sh peer , by t he st yl e and t i t l e of Vi scount Rochest er . St i l lf ur t her honour s wer e i n st or e f or hi m.

I n t hi s r api d pr omot i on he had not been wi t hout a f r i end. Si r Thomas Over bur y, t he Ki ng' s secr et ar y- who appears, f r om some t hreat si n hi s own l et t er s, t o have been no bet t er t han a pander t o t hevi ces of t he Ki ng, and pr i vy to hi s danger ous secret s - - exer t ed al lhi s backst ai r i nf l uence t o f or war d t he pr omot i on of Ker r , by whom hewas, doubt l ess, r epai d i n some way or other . Over bur y di d notconf i ne hi s f r i endshi p t o t hi s, i f f r i endshi p ever coul d exi st

bet ween t wo such men, but act ed t he par t of an ent r emet t eur , andassi st ed Rochest er t o car r y on an adul t er ous i nt r i gue wi t h t he LadyFr ances Howard, t he wi f e of t he Ear l of Essex. Thi s woman was aper son of vi ol ent passi ons, and l ost t o al l sense of shame. Herhusband was i n her way, and to be f r eed f r om hi m, she i nst i t ut edproceedi ngs f or a di vorce, on grounds whi ch a woman of any modest yor del i cacy of f eel i ng woul d di e r at her t han avow. Her scandal oussui t was successf ul , and was no sooner deci ded t han pr eparat i ons, ona scal e of t he gr eatest magni f i cence, wer e made f or her marr i agewi t h Lor d Rochest er .

Si r Thomas Over bur y, who had wi l l i ngl y assi st ed hi s pat r on t oi nt r i gue wi t h t he Count ess of Essex, seems t o have i magi ned t hat hi smar r i age wi t h so vi l e a woman mi ght r et ard hi s advancement ; heaccor di ngl y empl oyed al l hi s i nf l uence t o di ssuade hi m f r om i t . ButRochest er was bent on t he mat ch, and hi s passi ons were as vi ol ent ast hose of t he Countess. On one occasi on, when Over bur y and t heVi scount wer e wal ki ng i n t he gal l er y of Whi t ehal l , Over bur y wasoverhear d t o say, "Wel l , my Lor d, i f you do marr y t hat base woman,you wi l l ut t er l y r ui n your honour and your sel f . You shal l never do

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i t wi t h my advi ce or consent ; and, i f you do, you had best l ook t ost and f ast . " Rochest er f l ung f r om hi m i n a r age, excl ai mi ng wi t h anoat h, " I wi l l be even wi t h you f or t hi s. " These wor ds wer e t hedeat h- war r ant of t he unf or t unat e Over bur y. He had mor t al l y woundedt he pr i de of Rochest er i n i nsi nuat i ng t hat by hi s ( Over bur y' s) meanshe mi ght be l owered i n the Ki ng' s f avour ; and he had endeavour ed t ocur b t he bur ni ng passi ons of a hear t l ess, di ssol ut e, and r eckl essman.

Over bur y' s i mpr udent r emonst r ances were repor t ed t o t heCountess; and f r om t hat moment , she al so vowed t he most deadl yvengeance agai nst hi m. Wi t h a f i endi sh hypocr i sy, however , t hey bothconceal ed t hei r i nt ent i ons, and Over bur y, at t he sol i ci t at i on ofRochest er , was appoi nt ed ambassador t o the cour t of Russi a. Thi sappar ent f avour was but t he f i r st st ep i n a deep and deadl y pl ot .Rochest er , pr et endi ng t o be war ml y at t ached t o the i nt er est s ofOver bur y, advi sed hi m t o r ef use t he embassy, whi ch, he sai d, was buta t r i ck t o get hi m out of t he way. He pr omi sed, at t he same t i me, t o

st and bet ween hi m and any evi l consequences whi ch mi ght r esul t f r omhi s r ef usal . Over bur y f el l i nt o t he snar e, and decl i ned t he embassy. J ames, of f ended, i mmedi at el y or dered hi s commi t t al t o t he Tower .

He was now i n saf e cust ody, and hi s enemi es had oppor t uni t y t ocommence t he work of vengeance. The f i r st t hi ng Rochest er di d was t opr ocur e, by hi s i nf l uence at cour t , t he di smi ssal of t he Li eut enantof t he Tower , and t he appoi nt ment of Si r J er vi s El wes, one of hi scr eatur es, t o t he vacant post . Thi s man was but one i nst r ument , andanot her bei ng necessary, was f ound i n Ri char d West on, a f el l ow whohad f ormer l y been shopman t o a dr uggi st . He was i nst al l ed i n the

of f i ce of under - keeper , and as such had t he di r ect cust ody ofOver bur y. So f ar , al l was f avour abl e t o t he desi gns of t heconspi r at or s.

I n the mean t i me, t he i nsi di ous Rochest er wr ot e t he mostf r i endl y l et t er s t o Over bur y, r equest i ng hi m t o bear hi s i l l - f or t unepat i ent l y, and pr omi si ng t hat hi s i mpr i sonment shoul d not be of l ongdur at i on; f or t hat hi s f r i ends wer e exer t i ng t hemsel ves t o sof t ent he Ki ng' s di spl easur e. St i l l pr et endi ng t he ext r eme of sympat hy f orhi m, he f ol l owed up t he l et t er s by pr esent s of past r y and ot herdel i caci es, whi ch coul d not be pr ocur ed i n t he Tower . These ar t i cl es

wer e al l poi soned. Occasi onal l y, pr esent s of a si mi l ar descr i pt i onwer e sent t o Si r J er vi s El wes, wi t h t he under st andi ng t hat t heseart i cl es were not poi soned, when t hey wer e unaccompani ed by l et t er s:of t hese the unf or t unat e pr i soner never t ast ed. A woman, named Turner , who had f or mer l y kept a house of i l l f ame, and who had mor et han once l ent i t t o f ur t her t he gui l t y i nt er cour se of Rochest er andLady Essex, was t he agent empl oyed t o pr ocur e the poi sons. They werepr epared by Dr . For man, a pr et ended f or t une- t el l er of Lambet h,assi st ed by an apot hecar y named Fr ankl i n. Bot h t hese persons knew

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f or what pur poses t he poi sons wer e needed, and empl oyed t hei r ski l li n mi xi ng t hem i n t he past r y and ot her edi bl es, i n such smal lquant i t i es as gr adual l y t o wear out t he const i t ut i on of t hei rvi ct i m. Mr s. Tur ner r egul ar l y f ur ni shed t he poi soned ar t i cl es t o t heunder - keeper , who pl aced them bef or e Over bur y. Not onl y hi s f ood,but hi s dr i nk was poi soned. Ar seni c was mi xed wi t h the sal t he at e,and cant har i des wi t h t he pepper . Al l t hi s t i me, hi s heal t h decl i nedsensi bl y. Every day he gr ew weaker and weaker ; and wi t h a si ckl yappet i t e, cr aved f or sweet s and j el l i es. Rochest er cont i nued t ocondol e wi t h hi m, and ant i ci pat ed al l hi s want s i n t hi s r espect ,sendi ng hi m abundance of past r y, and occasi onal l y par t r i dges andot her game, and young pi gs. Wi t h the sauce f or t he game, Mr s. Tur nermi xed a quant i t y of cant har i des, and poi soned the por k wi t h l unar -caust i c. As st at ed on t he t r i al , Over bur y t ook i n t hi s manner poi sonenough to have poi soned twent y men; but hi s const i t ut i on was st r ong,and he st i l l l i nger ed. Frank] i n, t he apot hecar y, conf essed t hat hepr epar ed wi t h Dr . For man seven di f f er ent sor t s of poi sons; vi z.aquaf or t i s, ar seni c, mer cur y, powder of di amonds, l unar - caust i c,

gr eat spi der s, and cant har i des. Over bur y hel d out so l ong t hatRochest er became i mpat i ent , and i n a l et t er t o Lady Essex, expr essedhi s wonder t hat t hi ngs were not sooner despat ched. Or ders werei mmedi atel y sent by Lady Essex t o t he keeper t o f i ni sh wi t h t hevi ct i m at once. Over bur y had not been al l t hi s t i me wi t houtsuspi ci on of t r eacher y, al t hough he appears t o have had no i dea ofpoi son. He mer el y suspect ed t hat i t was i nt ended t o conf i ne hi m f orl i f e, and t o set t he Ki ng st i l l mor e bi t t er l y agai nst hi m. I n one ofhi s l et t er s, he t hr eat ened Rochest er t hat , unl ess he wer e speedi l yl i ber at ed, he woul d expose hi s vi l l any t o the wor l d. He says, "Youand I , er e i t be l ong, wi l l come t o a publ i c t r i al of anot her

nat ur e. " * * * " Dr i ve me not t o ext r emi t i es, l est I shoul d saysomet hi ng t hat bot h you and I shoul d r epent . " * * * "Whet her I l i veor di e, your shame shal l never di e, but ever r emai n t o t he wor l d, t omake you t he most odi ous man l i vi ng. " * * * " I wonder much youshoul d negl ect hi m t o whom such secr et s of al l ki nds have passed. " ** * "Be t hese t he f r ui t s of common secr et s, common dangers?"

Al l t hese remonst r ances, and hi nt s as t o t he danger ous secr et si n hi s keepi ng, wer e i l l - cal cul at ed t o ser ve hi m wi t h a man sor eckl ess as Lor d Rochest er : t hey wer e mor e l i kel y t o cause hi m t o besacr i f i ced t han t o be saved. Rochest er appear s t o have act ed as i f

he t hought so. He doubt l ess empl oyed t he mur derer ' s r easoni ng t hat"dead men t el l no t al es, " when, af t er r ecei vi ng l et t er s of t hi sdescr i pt i on, he compl ai ned to hi s par amour of t he del ay. West on wasspur r ed on t o consummate t he at r oci t y; and t he pat i ence of al lpar t i es bei ng exhaust ed, a dose of cor r osi ve subl i mat e wasadmi ni st er ed t o hi m, i n Oct ober 1613, whi ch put an end t o hi ssuf f er i ngs, af t er he had been f or si x mont hs i n t hei r hands. On t hever y day of hi s deat h, and bef ore hi s body was col d, he was wr apped

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up car el essl y i n a sheet , and bur i ed wi t hout any f uner al cer emony i na pi t wi t hi n t he pr eci nct s of t he Tower .

Si r Ant hony Wel don, i n hi s " Cour t and Char act er of J ames I , "gi ves a somewhat di f f er ent account of t he cl osi ng scene of t hi st r agedy. He says, "Fr ankl i n and West on came i nt o Over bur y' s chamber ,and f ound hi m i n i nf i ni t e t or ment , wi t h cont ent i on bet ween t hest r engt h of nat ur e and t he wor ki ng of t he poi son; and i t bei ng ver yl i ke t hat nat ur e had got t en t he bet t er i n t hi s cont ent i on, by thet hr ust i ng out of boi l s, bl ot ches, and bl ai ns, t hey, f ear i ng i t mi ghtcome t o l i ght by the j udgment of physi ci ans, t he f oul pl ay that hadbeen of f er ed hi m, consent ed t o st i f l e hi m wi t h t he bedcl ot hes, whi chaccor di ngl y was per f or med; and so ended hi s mi serabl e l i f e, wi t h t heassurance of t he conspi r at or s t hat he di ed by t he poi son; nonet hi nki ng ot her wi se t han t hese t wo mur der er s. "

The sudden deat h - - t he i ndecent hast e of t he f uner al , and t henon- hol di ng of an i nquest upon t he body, st r engt hened t he suspi ci ons

t hat wer e af l oat . Rumour , i nst ead of whi sper i ng, began t o speak out ;and t he r el at i ves of t he deceased openl y expr essed t hei r bel i ef t hatt hei r ki nsman had been mur der ed. But Rochest er was st i l l al lpower f ul at cour t , and no one dar ed t o ut t er a wor d to hi sdi scredi t . Shor t l y af t er war ds, hi s mar r i age wi t h t he Count ess ofEssex was cel ebr ated wi t h t he ut most spl endour , t he Ki ng hi msel fbei ng pr esent at t he ceremony.

I t woul d seem t hat Over bur y' s knowl edge of J ames' s char act erwas deeper t han Rochest er had gi ven hi m cr edi t f or , and t hat he hadbeen a t r ue pr ophet when he pr edi ct ed t hat hi s marr i age woul d

event ual l y est r ange J ames f r om hi s mi ni on. At t hi s t i me, however ,Rochest er st ood hi gher t han ever i n t he r oyal f avour ; but i t di d notl ast l ong - consci ence, t hat busy moni t or , was at wor k. The t ongueof r umour was never st i l l ; and Rochest er , who had l ong been agui l t y, became at l ast a wr et ched man. Hi s cheeks l ost t hei r col our- - hi s eyes gr ew di m; and he became moody, car el ess, and mel anchol y. The Ki ng seei ng hi m t hus, t ook at l engt h no pl easur e i n hi s soci et y,and began t o l ook about f or anot her f avour i t e. Geor ge Vi l l i er s, Dukeof Bucki ngham, was t he man t o hi s mi nd; qui ck- wi t t ed, handsome, andunscrupul ous. The t wo l at t er qual i t i es al one wer e suf f i ci ent t or ecommend hi m t o J ames I . I n pr opor t i on as t he i nf l uence of

Rochest er decl i ned, t hat of Bucki ngham i ncreased. A f al l i ngf avour i t e has no f r i ends; and Rumour wagged her t ongue agai nstRochest er l ouder and mor e per t i naci ousl y t han ever . A new f avour i t e,t oo, gener al l y endeavour s t o hast en by a ki ck t he f al l of t he ol done; and Bucki ngham, anxi ous t o work t he compl ete r ui n of hi sf or er unner i n t he Ki ng' s good gr aces, encour aged t he rel at i ves ofSi r Thomas Over bur y t o pr osecut e thei r i nqui r i es i nt o t he st r angedeat h of t hei r ki nsman.

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puni shment f or cont umacy i nduced hi m, at l engt h, t o pl ead "Notgui l t y, " and t ake hi s t r i al i n due cour se of l aw.

[ The puni shment f or t he contumaci ous was expr essed by the wordsoner e, f r i gor e, et f ame. By the f i r st was meant t hat t he cul pr i tshoul d be ext ended on hi s back on t he gr ound, and wei ght s pl acedover hi s body, gr adual l y i ncr eased, unt i l he expi r ed. Somet i mes t hepuni shment was not ext ended t o t hi s l engt h, and t he vi ct i m, bei ngal l owed t o r ecover , under went t he second por t i on, t he f r i gor e, whi chconsi st ed i n hi s st andi ng naked i n t he open ai r , f or a cer t ai nspace, i n t he si ght of al l t he peopl e. The t hi r d, or f ame, was mor edr eadf ul , t he st at ut e sayi ng, "That he was t o be pr eserved wi t h t hecoar sest br ead t hat coul d be got , and wat er out of t he next si nk orpuddl e, t o t he pl ace of execut i on; and t hat day he had water heshoul d have no bread, and t hat day he had bread, he shoul d have nowat er ; " and i n t hi s t or ment he was t o l i nger as l ong as nat ur e woul dhol d out . ]

Al l t he ci r cumst ances agai nst hi m wer e f ul l y pr oved, and he wasf ound gui l t y and execut ed at Tybur n. Mr s. Tur ner , Frankl i n, and Si r J er vi s El wes wer e al so brought t o t r i al , f ound gui l t y, and execut edbet ween t he 19t h of Oct ober and the 4th of December 1615; but t hegr and t r i al of t he Ear l and Count ess of Somer set di d not t ake pl acet i l l t he mont h of May f ol l owi ng.

On t he t r i al of Si r J er vi s El wes, ci r cumst ances had t r anspi r ed,showi ng a gui l t y knowl edge of t he poi soni ng on t he par t of t he Ear lof Nort hampt on t he uncl e of Lady Somer set , and t he chi ef f al conerSi r Thomas Monson. The f or mer was dead; but Si r Thomas Monson was

ar r est ed, and br ought t o t r i al . I t appear ed, however , t hat he wast oo danger ous a man t o be br ought t o t he scaf f ol d. He knew t oo manyof t he odi ous secret s of J ames I , and hi s dyi ng speech mi ght cont ai ndi scl osur es whi ch woul d compr omi se the Ki ng. To conceal ol d gui l t i twas necessary t o i ncur new: t he t r i al of Si r Thomas Monson wasbr ought t o an abr upt concl usi on, and hi msel f set at l i ber t y!

Al r eady J ames had br oken hi s oat h. He now began t o f ear t hat hehad been r ash i n engagi ng so zeal ousl y t o br i ng t he poi soner s t opuni shment . That Somerset woul d be decl ared gui l t y t here was nodoubt , and t hat he l ooked f or par don and i mpuni t y was equal l y

evi dent t o t he Ki ng. Somer set , whi l e i n t he Tower , asser t edconf i dent l y, t hat J ames woul d not dar e t o br i ng hi m t o t r i al . I nt hi s he was mi st aken; but J ames was i n an agony. What t he secr et wasbetween t hem wi l l now never be known wi t h cer t ai nt y; but i t may besur mi sed. Some have i magi ned i t t o be t he vi ce t o whi ch t he Ki ng wasaddi ct ed; whi l e ot her s have assert ed, t hat i t r el at ed t o t he deat hof Pr i nce Henr y, a vi r t uous young man, who had hel d Somerset i nespeci al abhor r ence. The Pr i nce di ed ear l y, unl ament ed by hi sf at her , and, as publ i c opi ni on whi sper ed at t he t i me, poi soned by

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Somerset . Probabl y, some cr i me or ot her l ay heavy upon t he soul oft he Ki ng; and Somer set , hi s accompl i ce, coul d not be br ought t opubl i c execut i on wi t h saf et y. Hence t he dr eadf ul t or t ur es of J ames,when he di scover ed that hi s f avour i t e was so deepl y i mpl i cat ed i nt he murder of Over bur y. Every means was t aken by t he agoni zed Ki ngt o br i ng t he pr i soner i nt o what was cal l ed a saf e f r ame of mi nd. Hewas secr et l y advi sed t o pl ead gui l t y, and t r ust t o t he cl emency oft he Ki ng. The same advi ce was conveyed to t he Count ess. Bacon wasi nst r uct ed by t he Ki ng t o dr aw up a paper of al l t he poi nt s of"mer cy and f avour " t o Somer set whi ch mi ght r esul t f r om t he evi dence;and Somerset was agai n recommended to pl ead gui l t y, and pr omi sedt hat no evi l shoul d ensue t o hi m.

The Count ess was f i r st t r i ed. She t r embl ed and shed t ear sdur i ng t he readi ng of t he i ndi ct ment , and, i n a l ow voi ce, pl eadedgui l t y. On bei ng asked why sent ence of deat h shoul d not be passedagai nst her , she repl i ed meekl y, " I can much aggr avat e, but not hi ngext enuat e my f aul t . I desi r e mer cy, and t hat t he l or ds wi l l

i nt ercede f or me wi t h t he Ki ng. " Sent ence of deat h was passed uponher .

Next day t he Ear l was br ought t o t r i al . He appears t o havemi st r ust ed t he pr omi ses of J ames, and he pl eaded not gui l t y. Wi t h asel f - possessi on and conf i dence, whi ch he f el t , pr obabl y, f r om hi sknowl edge of t he Ki ng' s char act er , he r i gor ousl y cross- exami ned t hewi t nesses, and made a st ubbor n def ence. Af t er a t r i al whi ch l ast edel even hour s, he was f ound gui l t y, and condemned t o t he f el on' sdeat h.

What ever may have been t he secr et s bet ween t he cr i mi nal and t heKi ng, t he l at t er , not wi t hst andi ng hi s t er r i f i c oat h, was af r ai d t osi gn t he deat h- warr ant . I t mi ght , per chance, have been hi s own. TheEar l and Countess were commi t t ed to t he Tower , wher e t hey r emai nedf or near l y f i ve year s. At t he end of t hi s per i od, t o t he sur pr i seand scandal of t he communi t y, and t he di sgr ace of i t s chi efmagi st r at e, t hey bot h recei ved t he royal par don, but wer e or der ed tor esi de at a di st ance f r om t he cour t . Havi ng been f ound gui l t y off el ony, t he est at es of t he Ear l had become f or f ei t ed; but J amesgr ant ed hi m out of t hei r r evenues an i ncome of 4, 000 pounds perannum! Shamel essness coul d go no f ur t her .

Of t he af t er l i f e of t hese cr i mi nal s not hi ng i s known, exceptt hat t he l ove t hey had f ormer l y borne each ot her was changed i nt oaver si on, and t hat t hey l i ved under t he same r oof f or mont hst oget her wi t hout t he i nt er change of a wor d.

The exposur e of t hei r at r oci t i es di d not put a st op t o t hepr act i ce of poi soni ng. On t he cont r ar y, as we shal l see her eaf t er ,i t engender ed t hat i nsane i mi t at i on whi ch i s so st r ange a f eat ur e of

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t he human character . J ames hi msel f i s supposed, wi t h gr eatpr obabi l i t y, t o have f al l en a vi ct i m t o i t . I n t he not es t o"Har r i s' s Li f e and Wr i t i ngs of J ames I , " t her e i s a good deal ofi nf or mat i on on t he subj ect . The gui l t of Bucki ngham, al t hough notf ul l y est abl i shed, r est s upon ci r cumst ances of suspi ci on st r ongert han have been suf f i ci ent t o l ead hundr eds t o t he scaf f ol d. Hi smot i ves f or commi t t i ng t he cr i me ar e st ated t o have been a desi r e ofr evenge f or t he col dness wi t h whi ch t he Ki ng, i n t he l at t er year s ofhi s r ei gn, began t o r egar d hi m; hi s f ear t hat J ames i nt ended t odegr ade hi m; and hi s hope t hat t he gr eat i nf l uence he possessed overt he mi nd of t he hei r - appar ent woul d l ast t hr ough a new r ei gn, i f t heol d one wer e br ought t o a cl ose.

I n t he second vol ume of t he "Har l ei an Mi scel l any, " t her e i s at r act , ent i t l ed t he "For er unner of Revenge, " wr i t t en by Geor geEgl i sham, doct or of medi ci ne, and one of t he physi ci ans t o Ki ng J ames. Har r i s, i n quot i ng i t , says t hat i t i s f ul l of r ancour andpr ej udi ce. I t i s evi dent l y exagger at ed; but f or ms, never t hel ess, a

l i nk i n t he chai n of evi dence. Egl i sham says: - - "The Ki ng bei ngsi ck of an ague, t he Duke t ook t hi s oppor t uni t y, when al l t he Ki ng' sdoct or s of physi c wer e at di nner , and of f er ed t o hi m a whi t e powdert o t ake, t he whi ch he a l ong t i me r ef used; but , overcome wi t h hi sf l at t er i ng i mpor t uni t y, he t ook i t i n wi ne, and i mmedi at el y becameworse and worse, f al l i ng i nt o many swooni ngs and pai ns, and vi ol entf l uxes of t he bel l y, so t or ment ed, t hat hi s Maj est y cr i ed out al oudof t hi s whi t e powder , ' Woul d t o God I had never t aken i t ?" He t hent el l s us "Of t he Count ess of Bucki ngham ( t he Duke' s mot her ) appl yi ngt he pl ai st er t o t he Ki ng' s hear t and br east , wher eupon he gr ew f ai ntand shor t - br eat hed, and i n agony. That t he physi ci ans excl ai med,

t hat t he Ki ng was poi soned; t hat Bucki ngham commanded t hem out oft he r oom, and commi t t ed one of t hem cl ose pr i soner t o hi s ownchamber , and anot her t o be removed f r om cour t ; and that , af t er hi sMaj est y' s death, hi s body and head swel l ed above measure; hi s hai r ,wi t h t he ski n of hi s head, st uck t o hi s pi l l ow, and hi s nai l s becamel oose on hi s f i nger s and t oes. " Cl arendon, who, by t he way, was apar t i san of t he Duke' s, gi ves a t ot al l y di f f er ent account of J ames' sdeat h. He says, " I t was occasi oned by an ague (af t er a shor ti ndi sposi t i on by t he gout ) whi ch, meet i ng many humour s i n a f atunwi el dy body of f i f t y- ei ght year s ol d, i n f our or f i ve f i t s car r i edhi m out of t he wor l d. Af t er whose deat h many scandal ous and

l i bel l ous di scour ses wer e r ai sed, wi t hout t he l east col our orgr ound; as appeared upon t he st r i ct est and most mal i ci ousexami nat i on t hat coul d be made, l ong af t er , i n a t i me of l i cence,when nobody was af r ai d of of f endi ng maj est y, and when pr osecut i ngt he hi ghest r epr oaches and cont umel i es agai nst t he r oyal f ami l y washel d ver y mer i t or i ous. " Not wi t hst andi ng t hi s conf i dent decl ar at i on,t he wor l d wi l l hardl y be per suaded t hat t her e was not some t r ut h i nt he rumour s t hat wer e abr oad. The i nqui r i es whi ch wer e i nst i t ut edwer e not st r i ct , as he asser t s, and al l t he unconst i t ut i onal

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i nf l uence of t he power f ul f avour i t e was exer t ed t o def eat t hem. I nt he cel ebr ated accusat i ons br ought agai nst Bucki ngham by the Ear l ofBr i st ol , t he poi soni ng of Ki ng J ames was pl aced l ast on t he l i st ,and t he pages of hi st ory bear evi dence of t he summar y mode i n whi cht hey wer e, f or t he t i me, got r i d of .

The man f r om whom Bucki ngham i s sai d t o have procur ed hi spoi sons was one Dr . Lamb, a conj ur or and empi r i c, who, besi desdeal i ng i n poi sons, pr et ended t o be a f or t une- t el l er . The popul arf ur y, whi ch br oke wi t h compar at i ve har ml essness agai nst hi s pat r on,was di r ect ed agai nst t hi s man, unt i l he coul d not appear wi t h saf et yi n t he st r eet s of London. Hi s f ate was mel anchol y. Wal ki ng one dayi n Cheapsi de, di sgui sed, as he t hought , f r om al l obser ver s, he wasr ecogni zed by some i dl e boys, who began t o hoot and pel t hi m wi t hr ubbi sh, cal l i ng out , "The poi soner ! t he poi soner ! Down wi t h t hewi zar d! down wi t h hi m! " A mob ver y soon col l ect ed, and the Doct ort ook t o hi s heel s and r an f or hi s l i f e. He was pur sued and sei zed i nWood St r eet , and f r om t hence dr agged by t he hai r t hr ough the mi r e t o

St . Paul ' s Cr oss; t he mob beat i ng hi m wi t h st i cks and st ones, andcal l i ng out , "Ki l l t he wi zar d! ki l l t he poi soner ! "

Char l es I , on hear i ng of t he r i ot , r ode f r om Whi t ehal l t o quel li t ; but he ar r i ved t oo l at e t o save t he vi ct i m. Ever y bone i n hi sbody was br oken, and he was qui t e dead. Char l es was excessi vel yi ndi gnant , and f i ned t he ci t y si x hundr ed pounds f or i t s i nabi l i t yt o del i ver up t he r i ngl eader s t o j ust i ce.

But i t was i n I t al y t hat poi soni ng was most pr eval ent . From aver y ear l y per i od, i t seems t o have been l ooked upon i n t hat count r y

as a per f ect l y j ust i f i abl e means of get t i ng r i d of an enemy. TheI t al i ans of t he si xt eent h and sevent eent h cent ur i es poi soned t hei ropponent s wi t h as l i t t l e compunct i on as an Engl i shman of t he pr esentday br i ngs an act i on at l aw agai nst any one who has done hi m ani nj ur y. The wr i t i ngs of cont empor ar y aut hor s i nf or m us t hat , when LaSpar a and La Tophani a car r i ed on t hei r i nf er nal t r ade, l adi es putpoi sonbot t l es on t hei r dr essi ng- t abl es as openl y, and used t hem wi t has l i t t l e scr upl e upon ot hers, as modern dames use Eau de Col ogne orl avender - water upon t hemsel ves. So power f ul i s t he i nf l uence off ashi on, i t can even cause mur der t o be r egarded as a veni alpeccadi l l o.

I n the memoi r s of t he l ast Duke of Gui se, who made a Qui xot i cat t empt , i n 1648, t o sei ze upon t he gover nment of Napl es, we f i ndsome cur i ous par t i cul ar s r el at i ve t o the popul ar f eel i ng wi t h r egar dt o poi soni ng. A man, named Gennar o Annese, who, af t er t he shor t andext r aor di nar y car eer of Masani el l o t he f i sher man, had est abl i shedhi msel f as a sor t of capt ai n- gener al of t he popul ace, r ender edhi msel f so obnoxi ous t o the Duke of Gui se t hat t he adher ent s of t hel at t er det ermi ned t o mur der hi m. The capt ai n of t he guard, as t he

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Duke hi msel f ver y cool l y i nf or ms us, was r equest ed t o under t ake t hi sof f i ce. I t was suggest ed t o hi m t hat t he poni ar d woul d be t he mostef f ect ual i nst r ument , but t he man t ur ned up hi s eyes wi t h pi oushorr or at t he pr oposi t i on. He was r eady t o poi son Gennaro Annesewhenever he mi ght be cal l ed upon t o do so; but t o poni ard hi m, hesai d, woul d be di sgr acef ul , and unbecomi ng an of f i cer of t he guar ds!At l ast poi son was agr eed upon, and August i no Mol l a, an at t orney i nt he Duke' s conf i dence, br ought t he bot t l e cont ai ni ng t he l i qui d t oshow i t t o hi s mast er . The f ol l owi ng i s t he Duke' s own account : - -

"August i no came t o me at ni ght , and t ol d me: ' I have br oughtyou somet hi ng whi ch wi l l f r ee you f r om Gennaro. He deserves death,and i t i s no gr eat mat t er af t er what f ashi on j ust i ce i s done uponhi m. Look at t hi s vi al , f ul l of cl ear and beaut i f ul wat er : i n f ourdays' t i me, i t wi l l puni sh al l hi s t r easons. The capt ai n of t heguar d has under t aken t o gi ve i t hi m; and as i t has no t ast e at al l ,Gennar o wi l l suspect not hi ng. ' "

The Duke f ur t her i nf or ms us t hat t he dose was dul yadmi ni st er ed; but t hat Gennar o, f or t unat el y f or hi msel f , at e not hi ngf or di nner t hat day but cabbage dr essed wi t h oi l , whi ch act i ng as anant i dot e, caused hi m t o vomi t pr of usel y, and saved hi s l i f e. He wasexceedi ngl y i l l f or f i ve days, but never suspect ed t hat he had beenpoi soned.

I n pr ocess of t i me, poi son vendi ng became a pr of i t abl e t r ade.El even year s af t er t hi s per i od, i t was carr i ed on at Rome t o such anextent t hat t he sl uggi sh gover nment was r oused t o i nt er f er ence.Beckmann, i n hi s " Hi st or y of I nvent i ons, " and Lebr et , i n hi s

"Magazi n zum Gebr auche der St aat en Ki r che Geschi cht e, " or Magazi neof Mat er i al s f or a Hi st or y of a St at e Chur ch, r el at es t hat , i n t heyear 1659, i t was made known t o Pope Al exander VI I . t hat gr eatnumber s of young women had avowed i n t he conf essi onal t hat t hey hadpoi soned t hei r husbands wi t h sl ow poi sons. The Cat hol i c cl er gy, whoi n gener al hol d t he secr et s of t he conf essi onal so sacr ed, wer eshocked and al armed at t he ext r aor di nary pr eval ence of t he cr i me.Al t hough t hey ref r ai ned f r om r eveal i ng t he names of t he peni t ent s,t hey concei ved t hemsel ves bound to appr i se t he head of t he chur ch oft he enor mi t i es t hat wer e pr act i sed. I t was al so t he subj ect ofgener al conversat i on i n Rome t hat young wi dows were unusual l y

abundant . I t was r emar ked, t oo, t hat i f any coupl e l i ved unhappi l yt oget her , t he husband soon t ook i l l and di ed. The papal aut hor i t i es,when once t hey began t o i nqui r e, soon l earned t hat a soci et y ofyoung wi ves had been f ormed, and met ni ght l y, f or some myst er i ouspur pose, at t he house of an ol d woman named Hi eronyma Spar a. Thi shag was a r eput ed wi t ch and f or t une- t el l er , and act ed as presi dentof t he young vi r agos, sever al of whom, i t was af t er war dsascer t ai ned, bel onged t o the f i r st f ami l i es of Rome.

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I n or der t o have posi t i ve evi dence of t he pr act i ces of t hi sf emal e concl ave, a l ady was empl oyed by t he Gover nment t o seek ani nt er vi ew wi t h them. She dr essed her sel f out i n the most magni f i centst yl e; and havi ng been ampl y pr ovi ded wi t h money, she f ound butl i t t l e di f f i cul t y, when she had st at ed her obj ect , of pr ocur i ng anaudi ence of La Spara and her si st er hood. She pr et ended to be i next r eme di st r ess of mi nd on account of t he i nf i del i t i es and i l l -t r eatment of her husband, and i mpl ored La Spara to f ur ni sh her wi t ha f ew dr ops of t he wonder f ul el i xi r , t he ef f i cacy of whi ch i nsendi ng cr uel husbands t o " t hei r l ast l ong sl eep" was so muchvaunt ed by t he l adi es of Rome. La Spar a f el l i nt o t he snar e, andsol d her some of her "dr ops, " at a pr i ce commensur at e wi t h t hesupposed weal t h of t he pur chaser .

The l i quor t hus obt ai ned was subj ect ed t o an anal ysi s, andf ound t o be, as was suspect ed, a sl ow poi son - cl ear , t ast el ess, andl i mpi d, l i ke t hat spoken of by t he Duke of Gui se. Upon t hi s evi dencet he house was surr ounded by t he pol i ce, and La Spar a and her

compani ons t aken i nt o cust ody. La Spara, who i s descr i bed as havi ngbeen a l i t t l e, ugl y, ol d woman, was put t o t he t or t ur e, butobst i nat el y r ef used t o conf ess her gui l t . Anot her of t he women,named La Gr at i osa, had l ess f i r mness, and l ai d bar e al l t he secr et sof t he i nf er nal si st er hood. Taki ng a conf essi on, extor t ed by angui shon t he r ack, at i t s tr ue val ue ( not hi ng at al l ) , t her e i s st i l lsuf f i ci ent evi dence t o war r ant post er i t y i n t he bel i ef of t hei rgui l t . They wer e f ound gui l t y, and condemned, accor di ng t o thei rdegr ees of cul pabi l i t y, t o var i ous puni shment s. La Spar a, Gr at i osa,and t hree young women, who had poi soned thei r husbands, wer e hangedt oget her at Rome. Upwards of t hi r t y women were whi pped publ i cl y

t hr ough t he st r eet s; and sever al , whose hi gh r ank scr eened t hem f r ommore degr adi ng puni shment , were bani shed f r om t he count r y, andmul ct ed i n heavy f i nes. I n a f ew mont hs af t erwards, ni ne women morewere hanged f or poi soni ng; and anot her bevy, i ncl udi ng many youngand beaut i f ul gi r l s, wer e whi pped hal f naked t hr ough t he st r eet s ofRome.

Thi s sever i t y di d not put a st op t o t he pract i ce, and j eal ouswomen and avar i ci ous men, anxi ous t o st ep i nt o t he i nher i t ance of

f at her s, uncl es, or br ot her s, r esor t ed t o poi son. As i t was qui t ef r ee f r om t ast e, col our , and smel l , i t was admi ni st er ed wi t houtexci t i ng suspi ci on. The ski l f ul vendor s compounded i t of di f f er entdegr ees of st r engt h, so t hat t he poi soner s had onl y t o say whet hert hey want ed t hei r vi ct i ms t o di e i n a week, a mont h, or si x mont hs,and they were sui t ed wi t h cor r espondi ng doses. The vendors werechi ef l y women, of whom t he most cel ebr at ed was a hag, named Tophani a, who was i n t hi s way accessor y t o t he deat h of upwar ds ofsi x hundred per sons. Thi s woman appears t o have been a deal er i n

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poi sons f r om her gi r l hood, and r esi ded f i r st at Pal er mo and t hen atNapl es. That ent er t ai ni ng t r avel l er , Fat her Lebat , has gi ven, i n hi sLet t er s f r om I t al y, many cur i ous par t i cul ar s rel at i ng t o her . Whenhe was at Ci vi t a Vecchi a, i n 1719, t he Vi cer oy of Napl es di scover edt hat poi son was ext ensi vel y sol d i n t he l at t er ci t y, and t hat i twent by t he name of aquet a, or l i t t l e- wat er . On maki ng f ur t heri nqui r y, he ascer t ai ned t hat Tophani a ( who was by t hi s t i me nearsevent y year s of age, and who seems t o have begun her evi l cour sesver y soon af t er t he execut i on of La Spar a) sent l ar ge quant i t i es ofi t t o al l par t s of I t al y i n smal l vi al s, wi t h t he i nscr i pt i on "Mannaof St . Ni chol as of Bar r i . "

The t omb of St . Ni chol as of Bar r i was cel ebrat ed t hroughoutI t al y. A mi r acul ous oi l was sai d t o ooze f r om i t , whi ch cur ed near l yal l t he mal adi es t hat f l esh i s hei r t o, pr ovi ded t he r eci pi ent madeuse of i t wi t h t he due degr ee of f ai t h. La Tophani a ar t f ul l y gavet hi s name t o her poi son t o el ude t he vi gi l ance of t he cust om- houseof f i cer s, who, i n common wi t h ever ybody el se, had a pi ous r espect

f or St . Ni chol as de Bar r i and hi s wonder f ul oi l .

The poi son was si mi l ar t o t hat manuf act ured by La Spar a.Hahnemann t he physi ci an, and f at her of t he homoepat hi c doct r i ne,wr i t i ng upon t hi s subj ect , says i t was compounded of ar seni calneut r al sal t s, occasi oni ng i n t he vi cti m a gr adual l oss of appet i t e,f ai nt ness, gnawi ng pai ns i n t he st omach, l oss of st r engt h, andwast i ng of t he l ungs. The Abbe Gagl i ar di says t hat a f ew dr ops of i twer e gener al l y pour ed i nt o t ea, chocol at e, or soup, and i t s ef f ect swer e sl ow, and al most i mper cept i bl e. Gar el l i , physi ci an t o t heEmper or of Aust r i a, i n a l et t er t o Hof f mann, says i t was

crystal l i zed ar seni c, di ssol ved i n a l ar ge quant i t y of wat er bydecoct i on, wi t h t he addi t i on ( f or some unexpl ai ned pur pose) of t heher b cymbal ar i a. The Neapol i t ans cal l ed i t Aqua Tof f ni na; and i tbecame not or i ous al l over Eur ope under t he name of Aqua Tophani a.

Al t hough t hi s woman car r i ed on her i nf amous t r af f i c soext ensi vel y, i t was ext r emel y di f f i cul t t o meet wi t h her . She l i vedi n cont i nual dr ead of di scover y. She const ant l y changed her name andr esi dence; and pr et endi ng t o be a per son of gr eat godl i ness, r esi dedi n monast er i es f or mont hs t oget her . Whenever she was more t hanusual l y appr ehensi ve of det ect i on, she sought eccl esi ast i cal

pr otect i on. She was soon appr i sed of t he search made f or her by t heVi cer oy of Napl es, and, accor di ng t o her pr act i ce, t ook ref uge i n amonast er y. Ei t her t he sear ch af t er her was not ver y r i gi d, or hermeasur es were exceedi ngl y wel l t aken; f or she cont r i ved t o el ude t hevi gi l ance of t he aut hor i t i es f or sever al year s. What i s st i l l mor eext r aor di nar y, as showi ng t he r ami f i cat i ons of her syst em, her t r adewas st i l l car r i ed on t o as gr eat an ext ent as bef or e. Lebat i nf or msus t hat she had so great a sympat hy f or poor wi ves who hat ed t hei r

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husbands and want ed to get r i d of t hem, but coul d not af f ord to buyher wonder f ul aqua, t hat she made t hem pr esent s of i t .

She was not al l owed, however , t o pl ay at t hi s game f or ever ;she was at l engt h di scover ed i n a nunner y, and her r et r eat cut of f . The Vi cer oy made several r epresentat i ons t o t he super i or t o del i verher up, but wi t hout ef f ect . The abbess, suppor t ed by t he ar chbi shopof t he di ocese, const ant l y r ef used. The publ i c cur i osi t y was i nconsequence so much exci t ed at t he addi t i onal i mpor t ance t hus t hr ustupon t he cr i mi nal , t hat t housands of per sons vi si t ed t he nunner y i nor der t o cat ch a gl i mpse of her .

The pat i ence of t he Vi cer oy appears t o have been exhaust ed byt hese del ays. Bei ng a man of sense, and not a ver y zeal ous Cathol i c,he det er mi ned t hat even t he Chur ch shoul d not shi el d a cr i mi nal soat r oci ous. Set t i ng t he pr i vi l eges of t he nunner y at def i ance, hesent a t r oop of sol di er s, who br oke over t he wal l s and car r i ed heraway vi et ar mi s. The Ar chbi shop, Car di nal Pi gnat el l i , was hi ghl y

i ndi gnant , and t hr eat ened t o excommuni cat e and l ay t he whol e ci t yunder i nt er di ct . Al l t he i nf er i or cl er gy, ani mat ed by t he espr i t ducor ps, t ook up the quest i on, and so wor ked upon the super st i t i ousand bi got ed peopl e, t hat t hey wer e ready t o r i se i n a mass t o st or mt he pal ace of t he Vi cer oy and r escue t he pr i soner .

These wer e ser i ous di f f i cul t i es; but t he Vi cer oy was not a mant o be daunt ed. I ndeed, he seems t o have act ed t hr oughout wi t h a r areuni on of ast ut eness, cool ness, and ener gy. To avoi d t he evi lconsequences of t he t hreat ened excommuni cat i on, he pl aced a guar dr ound t he pal ace of t he Ar chbi shop, j udgi ng t hat t he l at t er woul d

not be so f ool i sh as t o l aunch out an anat hema whi ch woul d cause t heci t y t o be st ar ved, and hi msel f i n i t . The mar ket peopl e woul d nothave dar ed t o come t o the ci t y wi t h pr ovi si ons, so l ong as i tr emai ned under t he ban. There woul d have been t oo much i nconveni encet o hi msel f and hi s ghost l y br et hr en i n such a measure; and, as t heVi cer oy ant i ci pat ed, t he good Car di nal r eser ved hi s t hunder s f orsome ot her occasi on.

St i l l t her e was t he popul ace. To qui et t hei r cl amour and aver tt he i mpendi ng i nsur r ect i on, t he agent s of t he gover nment adr oi t l ymi ngl ed wi t h t he peopl e, and spr ead abr oad a r eport t hat Tophani a

had poi soned al l t he wel l s and f ount ai ns of t he ci t y. Thi s wasenough. The popul ar f eel i ng t ur ned agai nst her i mmedi atel y. Thosewho, but a moment bef ore, had l ooked upon her as a sai nt , nowr evi l ed her as a devi l , and wer e as eager f or her puni shment as t heyhad bef ore been f or her escape. Tophani a was t hen put t o t het ort ur e. She conf essed the l ong cat al ogue of her cr i mes, and namedal l t he persons who had empl oyed her . She was shor t l y af t erwardsst r angl ed, and her cor pse t hr own over t he wal l i nt o t he gar den oft he convent , f r om whence she had been t aken. Thi s appear s t o have

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been done t o conci l i at e t he cl er gy, by al l owi ng t hem, at l east , t hebur i al of one who had t aken r ef uge wi t hi n t hei r pr eci nct s.

Af t er her deat h t he mani a f or poi soni ng seems t o have abat ed;but we have yet t o see what hol d i t t ook upon t he French peopl e at asomewhat ear l i er per i od. So root ed had i t become i n France betweent he years 1670 and 1680, t hat Madame de Sevi gne, i n one of herl et t ers, expr esses her f ear t hat Fr enchman and poi soner woul d becomesynonymous t er ms.

As i n I t al y, t he f i r st not i ce t he gover nment r ecei ved of t hepr eval ence of t hi s cr i me was gi ven by t he cl er gy, t o whom f emal es ofhi gh r ank, and some among t he mi ddl e and l ower cl asses, had avowedi n t he conf essi onal t hat t hey had poi soned t hei r husbands. I nconsequence of t hese di scl osur es, t wo I t al i ans, named Exi l i andGl aser , wer e ar r est ed, and t hr own i nt o the Bast i l l e, on t he char geof compoundi ng and sel l i ng the dr ugs used f or t hese mur der s. Gl aserdi ed i n pr i son, but Exi l i r emai ned wi t hout t r i al f or sever al mont hs;

and t her e, shor t l y af t er wards, he made t he acquai nt ance of anotherpr i soner , named Sai nt e Cr oi x, by whose exampl e the cr i me was st i l lf ur t her di ssemi nat ed among t he Fr ench peopl e.

The most not or i ous of t he poi soner s t hat der i ved t hei rper ni ci ous knowl edge f r om t hi s man was Madame de Br i nvi l l i er s, ayoung woman connect ed bot h by bi r t h and mar r i age wi t h some of t henobl est f ami l i es of France. She seems, f r om her ver y ear l i est year s,t o have been hear t l ess and depraved; and, i f we may bel i eve her ownconf essi on, was st eeped i n wi ckedness er e she had wel l ent er ed hert eens. She was, however , beaut i f ul and accompl i shed; and, i n t he eye

of t he wor l d, seemed exempl ary and ki nd. Guyot de Pi t aval , i n t he"Causes Cel ebr es, " and Madame de Sevi gne, i n her Let t er s, r epr esenther as mi l d and agr eeabl e i n her manner s, and of f er i ng no t r aces onher count enance of t he evi l soul wi t hi n. She was marr i ed i n 1651 t ot he Mar qui s de Br i nvi l l i er s, wi t h whom she l i ved unhappi l y f or someyears. He was a l oose di ss i pat ed char act er , and was t he means ofi nt r oduci ng Sai nt e Cr oi x to hi s wi f e, a man who cast a bl i ght uponher l i f e, and dr agged her on f r om cr i me t o cr i me t i l l her of f encesbecame so gr eat t hat t he mi nd shudders t o dwel l upon t hem. For t hi sman she concei ved a gui l t y passi on, t o gr at i f y whi ch she pl unged atonce i nt o t he gul f of si n. She was dr awn t o i t s most l oat hsome

dept hs er e r et r i but i on over t ook her .

She had as yet shown a f ai r out si de to t he wor l d, and f ound butl i t t l e di f f i cul t y i n ef f ect i ng a l egal separ at i on f r om her husband,who had not t he ar t t o conceal hi s vi ces. The pr oceedi ng gave gr eatof f ence t o her f ami l y. She appear s, af t er t hi s, t o have t hr own of ft he mask compl et el y, and carr i ed on her i nt r i gues so openl y wi t h herl over , Sai nt e Cr oi x, t hat her f at her , M. D' Aubr ay, scandal i sed at

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her conduct , pr ocur ed a l et t r e de cachet , and had hi m i mpr i soned i nt he Bast i l l e f or a t wel vemont h.

Sai nt e Cr oi x, who had been i n I t al y, was a dabbl er i n poi sons.He knew somethi ng of t he secr et s of t he detest abl e La Spara, andi mpr oved hi msel f i n t hem f r om t he i nst r uct i ons of Exi l i , wi t h whomhe speedi l y cont r acted a sor t of f r i endshi p. By hi m he was shown howt o pr epar e, not onl y the l i qui d poi sons empl oyed i n I t al y, but t hatknown as successi on powder , whi ch af t erwards became so cel ebr at ed i nFrance. Li ke hi s mi st r ess, he appear ed ami abl e, wi t t y, andi nt el l i gent , and showed no si gns t o t he wor l d of t he t wo f i er cepassi ons, r evenge and avar i ce, whi ch wer e gnawi ng at hi s heart . Botht hese passi ons wer e t o be sat ed on t he unf ort unate f ami l y ofD' Aubr ay; hi s r evenge, because t hey had i mpr i soned hi m; and hi savar i ce, because t hey wer e r i ch. Reckl ess and ext r avagant , he wasal ways i n want of money, and he had no one t o suppl y hi m but Madamede Br i nvi l l i er s, whose own por t i on was f ar f r om suf f i ci ent t osat i sf y hi s need. Gr oani ng t o t hi nk t hat any i mpedi ment shoul d st and

bet ween hi m and weal t h, he concei ved t he horr i d i dea of poi soni ng M.D' Aubr ay her f at her , and her t wo br ot her s, t hat she mi ght i nher i tt he pr oper t y. Thr ee mur der s wer e not hi ng t o such a vi l l ai n. Hecommuni cated hi s pl an t o Madame de Br i nvi l l i er s; and she, wi t houtt he sl i ght est scr upl e, agr eed t o ai d hi m: he under t ook t o compoundt he poi sons, and she t o admi ni st er t hem. The zeal and al acr i t y wi t hwhi ch she set t o wor k seem har dl y cr edi bl e. Sai nt e Cr oi x f ound heran apt schol ar ; and she soon became as expert as hi msel f i n t hemanuf act ur e of poi sons. To t r y t he st r engt h of t he f i r st doses, sheused t o admi ni st er t hem t o dogs, r abbi t s, and pi geons. Af t er war ds,wi shi ng t o be mor e cer t ai n of t hei r ef f ect s, she went r ound t o t he

hospi t al s, and admi ni st er ed t hem t o t he si ck poor i n t he soups whi chshe br ought i n appar ent char i t y. [ Thi s i s deni ed by Vol t ai r e i n hi s"Age of Loui s XI V; " but he does not st at e f or what r eason. Hi s wor dsar e, "I l est f aux qu' el l e eut essaye ses poi sons dans l es hopi t aux,comme l e di sai t l e peupl e et comme i l est ecr i t dans l es ' CausesCel ebr es, ' ouvr age d' un avocat sans cause et f ai t pour l e peupl e. " ]None of t he poi sons wer e i nt ended t o ki l l at t he f i r st dose; so t hatshe coul d t r y t hem once upon an i ndi vi dual wi t hout f ear of mur der .She t r i ed t he same at r oci ous exper i ment upon t he guest s at herf at her ' s t abl e, by poi soni ng a pi geon- pi e! To be mor e cer t ai n st i l l ,she next poi soned her sel f ! When convi nced by t hi s desper ate essay of

t he pot ency of t he dr aught , she pr ocur ed an ant i dot e f r om Sai nt eCr oi x, and al l doubt s bei ng r emoved, commenced operat i ons upon hergr ey- headed f at her . She admi ni st er ed the f i r st dose wi t h her ownhands, i n hi s chocol ate. The poi son worked wel l . The ol d man wast aken i l l , and hi s daught er , appar ent l y f ul l of t ender ness andanxi ety, wat ched by hi s bedsi de. The next day she gave hi m somebr ot h, whi ch she r ecommended as hi ghl y nour i shi ng. Thi s al so waspoi soned. I n thi s manner she gr adual l y wor e out hi s f r ame, and i n

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l ess t han t en days he was a cor pse! Hi s deat h seemed so much t her esul t of di sease, t hat no suspi ci ons wer e exci t ed.

When t he t wo br ot her s ar r i ved f r om t he pr ovi nces t o render t hel ast sad dut i es t o t hei r si r e, t hey f ound t hei r si st er as gr i eved,t o al l out war d appear ance, as even f i l i al af f ect i on coul d desi r e:but t he young men onl y came t o per i sh. They st ood bet ween Sai nteCr oi x and t he al r eady hal f - cl ut ched gol d, and t hei r doom was seal ed.A man, named La Chaussee, was hi r ed by Sai nte Cr oi x t o ai d i nadmi ni st er i ng t he poi sons; and, i n l ess t han si x weeks' t i me, t heyhad bot h gone t o t hei r l ong home.

Suspi ci on was now exci t ed; but so caut i ousl y had al l been done,t hat i t f ound no one upon whom t o at t ach i t sel f . The Mar qui se had asi st er , and she was ent i t l ed, by the deat h of her r el at i ves, t o hal ft he pr oper t y. Less t han t he whol e woul d not sat i sf y Sai nt e Cr oi x,and he determi ned t hat she shoul d di e t he same deat h as her f at herand br ot her s. She was t oo di st r ust f ul , however ; and, by qui t t i ng

Par i s, she escaped t he dest r uct i on t hat was l ur ki ng f or her .

The Mar qui se had undert aken t hese murders t o pl ease her l over .She was now anxi ous t o perpet r at e anot her on her own account . Shewi shed t o mar r y Sai nt e Cr oi x; but , t hough separ at ed f r om herhusband, she was not di vor ced. She thought i t woul d be easi er t opoi son hi m t han t o appl y t o t he t r i bunal s f or a di vor ce, whi chmi ght , per haps, be r ef used. But Sal ut e Cr oi x had no l onger any l ovef or hi s gui l t y i nst r ument . Bad men do not admi r e ot her s who ar e asbad as t hemsel ves. Though a vi l l ai n hi msel f , he had no desi r e tomar r y one, and was not at al l anxi ous f or t he deat h of t he Mar qui s.

He seemed, however , t o ent er i nt o t he pl ot , and suppl i ed her wi t hpoi son f or her husband: but he t ook care t o pr ovi de a r emedy. LaBr i nvi l l i er s poi soned hi m one day, and Sai nt e Cr oi x gave hi m anant i dote t he next . I n thi s manner he was buf f et t ed about bet weent hem f or some t i me, and f i nal l y escaped wi t h a r ui ned const i t ut i onand a br oken hear t .

But t he day of r et r i but i on was at hand, and a ter r i bl emi schance br ought t he mur der s t o l i ght . The natur e of t he poi sonscompounded by Sal ut e Cr oi x was so deadl y, t hat , when worki ng i n hi sl abor at or y, he was obl i ged t o wear a mask, t o pr eserve hi msel f f r om

suf f ocat i on. One day, t he mask sl i pped of f , and t he mi serabl e wr et chper i shed i n hi s cr i mes. Hi s cor pse was f ound, on t he f ol l owi ngmorni ng, i n t he obscure l odgi ng wher e he had f i t t ed up hi sl abor at or y. As he appear ed t o be wi t hout f r i ends or r el at i ves, t hepol i ce t ook possessi on of hi s ef f ect s. Among ot her t hi ngs was f ounda smal l box, t o whi ch was af f i xed t he f ol l owi ng si ngul ar document : - -

"I humbly beg, that those into whose hands this box may fall,

will do me the favour to deliver it into the hands only of the

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Marchioness de Brinvilliers, who resides in the Rue Neuve St. Paul,

as everything it contains concerns her, and belongs to her alone;

and as, besides, there is nothing in it that can be of use to any

person but her. In case she shall be dead before me, it is my wish

that it be burned, with everything it contains, without opening or

altering anything. In order that no one may plead ignorance, I swear

by the God that I adore, and by all that is held most sacred, that I

assert nothing but the truth: and if my intentions, just and

reasonable as they are, be thwarted in this point by any persons, I

charge their consciences with it, both in this world and that which

is to come, in order that I may unload mine. I protest that this is

my last will. Done at Paris, the 25th of May, 1672.

"(Signed) Sainte Croix."

Thi s earnest sol i ci t at i on, i nst ead of i nsur i ng r espect as wasi nt ended, exci t ed cur i osi t y. The box was opened, and f ound t ocont ai n some paper s, and sever al vi al s and powder s. The l at t er wer e

handed t o a chemi st f or anal ysi s, and t he document s were retai ned byt he pol i ce, and opened. Among t hem was f ound a pr omi ssory not e oft he Mar chi oness de Br i nvi l l i er s, f or t hi r t y t housand f r ancs, t o t heor der of Sai nt e Cr oi x. The ot her paper s wer e of gr eat er i mpor t ance,as t hey i mpl i cated both her and her servant , La Chaussee, i n t her ecent mur der s. As soon as she was i nf ormed of t he deat h of Sai nt eCr oi x, she made an at t empt t o gai n possessi on of hi s papers and t hebox; but , bei ng r ef used, she saw t hat t her e was no t i me t o be l ost ,and i mmedi atel y qui t t ed. Next mor ni ng t he pol i ce wer e on her t r ai l ;but she succeeded i n escapi ng t o Engl and. La Chaussee was not sof or t unat e. Al t oget her i gnor ant of t he f at al mi schance whi ch had

br ought hi s vi l l ani es t o l i ght , he di d not dr eam of danger . He wasar r est ed and br ought t o t r i al : bei ng put t o t he t or t ur e, heconf essed t hat he had admi ni st ered poi son t o the Messi eur s d' Aubr ay,and that he had r ecei ved a hundr ed pi st ol es, and the pr omi se of anannui t y f or l i f e, f r om Sai nt e Cr oi x and Madame de Br i nvi l l i er s, f ort he j ob. He was condemned t o be br oken al i ve on t he wheel , and t heMarchi oness was, by def aul t , sent enced t o be beheaded. He wasexecut ed accor di ngl y, i n March 1673, on t he Pl ace de Gr eve, i nPar i s .

La Br i nvi l l i er s appear s t o have r esi ded f or near l y thr ee year s

i n Engl and. Ear l y i n 1676, t hi nki ng t hat t he r i gour of pur sui t wasover , and t hat she mi ght vent ur e t o ret ur n t o the Cont i nent , shepr oceeded secret l y to Li ege. Notwi t hst andi ng her car e, t he Frenchaut hor i t i es wer e soon appr i sed of her r et ur n; and ar r angement s wer epr ompt l y made wi t h t he muni ci pal i t y of t hat ci t y, t o per mi t t heagent s of t he French pol i ce t o ar r est her wi t hi n t he l i mi t s of t hei r j ur i sdi ct i on. Desgr ai s, an of f i cer of t he mar echaussee, accor di ngl yl ef t Par i s f or t hat pur pose. On hi s ar r i val i n Li ege, he f ound t hatshe had sought shel t er wi t hi n t he wal l s of a convent . Her e t he ar m

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of t he l aw, l ong as i t i s sai d t o be, coul d not r each her : butDesgrai s was not a man t o be baf f l ed, and he resor t ed t o st r atagemt o accompl i sh what f or ce coul d not . Havi ng di sgui sed hi msel f as apr i est , he sought admi ssi on t o t he convent , and obt ai ned ani nt er vi ew wi t h La Br i nvi l l i er s. He sai d, t hat bei ng a Frenchman, andpassi ng t hr ough Li ege, he coul d not l eave t hat ci t y wi t hout payi ng avi si t t o a l ady whose beaut y and mi sf or t unes wer e so cel ebr ated. Hervani t y was f l at t er ed by the compl i ment . Desgrai s saw, t o use avul gar but f or ci bl e expr essi on, " t hat he had got on t he bl i nd si deof her ; " and he adr oi t l y cont i nued t o pour out t he l anguage of l oveand admi r at i on, t i l l t he del uded Marchi oness was t hr own compl et el yof f her guar d. She agr eed, wi t hout much sol i ci t at i on, t o meet hi mout si de t he wal l s of t he convent , wher e t hei r amor ous i nt r i gue mi ghtbe car r i ed on mor e conveni ent l y t han wi t hi n. Fai t hf ul t o herappoi ntment wi t h her supposed new l over , she came, and f oundher sel f , not i n t he embr ace of a gal l ant , but i n t he cust ody of apol i ceman.

Her t r i al was not l ong del ayed. The pr oof s agai nst her wer eabundant . The dyi ng decl arat i on of La Chaussee woul d have been al oneenough to convi ct her ; but besi des t hat , t her e wer e t he myst er i ousdocument at t ached t o t he box of St . Cr oi x; her f l i ght f r om France;and, st r onger and more damni ng pr oof t han al l , a paper , i n her ownhandwr i t i ng, f ound among t he ef f ect s of St . Cr oi x, i n whi ch shedet ai l ed t o hi m t he mi sdeeds of her l i f e, and spoke of t he mur der ofher f at her and br ot her s, i n t er ms t hat l ef t no doubt of her gui l t .Dur i ng t he t r i al , al l Par i s was i n commot i on. La Br i nvi l l i er s wast he onl y subj ect of conver sat i on. Al l t he det ai l s of her cr i mes wer epubl i shed, and gr eedi l y devour ed; and t he i dea of secret poi soni ng

was f i r st put i nt o t he heads of hundr eds, who af t er wards becamegui l t y of i t .

On t he 16t h of J ul y 1676, t he Super i or Cr i mi nal Cour t of Par i spr onounced a ver di ct of gui l t y agai nst her , f or t he mur der of herf at her and br ot her s, and t he at t empt upon t he l i f e of her si st er .She was condemned t o be dr awn on a hur dl e, wi t h her f eet bar e, ar ope about her neck, and a bur ni ng t orch i n her hand, t o the gr eatent r ance of t he cat hedral of Not r e Dame; wher e she was t o make t heamende honor abl e, i n si ght of al l t he peopl e; t o be t aken f r omt hence t o t he Pl ace de Gr eve, and t her e t o be beheaded. Her body was

af t er wards t o be bur ned, and her ashes scat t er ed t o the wi nds.

Af t er her sent ence, she made a f ul l conf essi on of her gui l t .She seems t o have l ooked upon deat h wi t hout f ear ; but i t wasr eckl essness , not cour age, t hat suppor t ed her . Madame de Sevi gnesays, t hat when on t he hur dl e, on her way t o t he scaf f ol d, sheent r eat ed her conf essor t o exer t hi s i nf l uence wi t h t he execut i onert o pl ace hi msel f next t o her , t hat hi s body mi ght hi de f r om her vi ew"t hat scoundr el , Desgrai s, who had ent r apped her . " She al so asked

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t he l adi es, who had been dr awn t o thei r wi ndows t o wi t ness t hepr ocessi on, what t hey wer e l ooki ng at ? addi ng, "a pr et t y si ght youhave come t o see, t r ul y! " She l aughed when on the scaf f ol d, dyi ng asshe had l i ved, i mpeni t ent and heart l ess. On t he morr ow, t he popul acecame i n cr owds t o col l ect her ashes, t o pr eser ve t hem as r el i cs. Shewas r egarded as a mar t yr ed sai nt , and her ashes were supposed t o beendowed, by Di vi ne gr ace, wi t h t he power of cur i ng al l di seases.Popul ar f ol l y has of t en canoni sed per sons whose pr et ensi ons t osanct i t y wer e ext r emel y equi vocal ; but t he di sgust i ng f ol l y of t hemul t i t ude, i n t hi s i nst ance, has never been sur passed.

Bef or e her deat h, pr oceedi ngs wer e i nst i t ut ed agai nst M. dePenaut i er , t r easur er of t he pr ovi nce of Languedoc, and Recei ver -general f or t he cl ergy, who was accused by a l ady, named St .Laur ent , of havi ng poi soned her husband, t he l at e Recei ver - gener al ,i n or der t o obt ai n hi s appoi nt ment . The ci r cumst ances of t hi s casewer e never di vul ged, and t he gr eatest i nf l uence was exer t ed t opr event i t f r om goi ng t o t r i al . He was known t o have been i nt i mat e

wi t h Sai nt e Cr oi x and Madame de Br i nvi l l i er s, and was t hought t ohave pr ocur ed hi s poi sons f r om t hem. The l at t er , however , r ef used t osay anyt hi ng whi ch mi ght i mpl i cat e hi m. The i nqui r y was event ual l yst i f l ed, af t er Penaut i er had been sever al mont hs i n t he Bast i l l e.

The Car di nal de Bonzy was accused by t he gossi ps of t he day ofbei ng an accompl i ce of Penaut i er . The Car di nal ' s est at es wer ebur t hened wi t h t he payment of sever al heavy annui t i es; but , aboutt he t i me t hat poi soni ng became so f ashi onabl e, al l t he annui t ant sdi ed of f , one af t er t he ot her . The Car di nal , i n t al ki ng of t heseannui t ant s, af t er war ds used t o say, "Thanks t o my st ar , I have

out l i ved t hem al l ! " A wi t , seei ng hi m and Penaut i er r i di ng i n t hesame car r i age, cr i ed out , i n al l usi on t o t hi s expr essi on, "Ther e got he Car di nal de Bonzy and hi s st ar ! "

I t was now t hat t he mani a f or poi soni ng began t o t ake hol d oft he popul ar mi nd. From t hi s t i me unt i l t he year 1682, t he pr i sons ofFr ance t eemed wi t h per sons accused of t hi s cr i me; and i t i s ver ysi ngul ar , t hat ot her of f ences decr eased i n a si mi l ar pr opor t i on. Wehave al r eady seen t he ext ent t o whi ch i t was car r i ed i n I t al y. I twas, i f possi bl e, sur passed i n France. The di abol i cal ease wi t hwhi ch t hese mur ders coul d be ef f ect ed, by means of t hese scent l ess

and t ast el ess poi sons, ent i ced t he evi l - mi nded. J eal ousy, r evenge,avar i ce, even pet t y spi t e, al i ke r esor t ed t o them. Those who woul dhave been det er r ed, by f ear of det ect i on, f r om usi ng t he pi st ol ort he dagger , or even st r ong doses of poi son, whi ch ki l l at once,empl oyed sl ow poi sons wi t hout dread. The corr upt Government of t heday, al t hough i t coul d wi nk at t he at r oci t i es of a weal t hy andi nf l uent i al cour t i er , l i ke Penaut i er , was scandal i sed t o see t hecr i me spr eadi ng among t he peopl e. Di sgr ace was, i n f act , ent ai l ed,i n t he eyes of Eur ope, upon t he name of Fr enchman. Loui s XI V, t o put

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a st op t o t he evi l , i nst i t ut ed what was cal l ed t he Chambr e Ar dent e,or Bur ni ng Chamber , wi t h extensi ve power s, f or t he t r i al andpuni shment of t he pr i soner s.

Two women, especi al l y, made t hemsel ves not or i ous at t hi s t i me,and wer e i nst r ument al t o t he deat hs of hundr eds of i ndi vi dual s. Theyboth r esi ded i n Par i s, and wer e named Lavoi si n and Lavi goreux. Li keSpar s and Tophani a, of whom t hey wer e i mi t at or s, t hey chi ef l y sol dt hei r poi sons t o women who want ed to get r i d of t hei r husbands; and,i n some f ew i nst ances, t o husbands who want ed t o get r i d of t hei rwi ves. Thei r ost ensi bl e occupat i on was t hat of mi dwi ves. They al sopr et ended t o be f or t une- t el l er s, and wer e vi si t ed by per sons ofever y cl ass of soci et y. The r i ch and poor t hr onged al i ke t o t hei rmansardes, t o l ear n t he secr et s of t he f ut ur e. Thei r pr opheci es wer epr i nci pal l y of deat h. They f or et ol d t o women t he appr oachi ngdi ssol ut i on of husbands, and t o needy hei r s, t he end of r i chr el at i ves, who had made t hem, as Byron expr esses i t , "wai t t oo, t ool ong al r eady. " They gener al l y t ook car e t o be i nst r ument al i n

f ul f i l l i ng t hei r own pr edi ct i ons. They used t o t el l t hei r wr et chedempl oyers, t hat some si gn of t he appr oachi ng deat h woul d t ake pl acei n t he house, such as t he br eaki ng of gl ass or chi na; and t hey pai dser vant s consi der abl e f ees t o cause a br eakage, as i f by acci dent ,exact l y at t he appoi nt ed t i me. Thei r occupat i on as mi dwi ves madet hem acquai nt ed wi t h t he secr et s of many f ami l i es, whi ch t heyaf t er war ds t ur ned to dr eadf ul account .

I t i s not known how l ong t hey had car r i ed on t hi s awf ul t r adebef or e t hey wer e di scover ed. Det ect i on f i nal l y over t ook t hem at t hecl ose of t he year 1679. They wer e bot h t r i ed, f ound gui l t y, and

bur ned al i ve on t he Pl ace de Gr eve, on t he 22nd of Febr uary, 1680,af t er t hei r hands had been bor ed thr ough wi t h a r ed- hot i r on, andt hen cut of f . Thei r numer ous accompl i ces i n Par i s and i n t hepr ovi nces wer e al so di scover ed and br ought t o t r i al . Accor di ng t osome aut hor s, t hi r t y, and t o ot her s, f i f t y of t hem, chi ef l y women,wer e hanged i n t he pr i nci pal ci t i es.

Lavoi si n kept a l i st of t he vi si t er s who came t o her house t opur chase poi sons. Thi s paper was sei zed by the pol i ce on her ar r est ,and exami ned by t he t r i bunal s. Among the names were f ound t hose oft he Marshal de Luxembourg, t he Countess de Soi ssons, and the Duchess

de Boui l l on. The Marshal seems onl y t o have been gui l t y of a pi eceof di scredi t abl e f ol l y i n vi si t i ng a woman of t hi s descri pt i on, butt he popul ar voi ce at t he t i me i mput ed t o hi m somethi ng more t hanf ol l y. The aut hor of t he "Memoi r s of t he Af f ai r s of Eur ope si nce t hePeace of Ut r echt , " says, "The mi serabl e gang who deal t i n poi son andpr ophecy al l eged t hat he had sol d hi msel f t o t he devi l , and t hat ayoung gi r l of t he name of Dupi n had been poi soned by hi s means.Among ot her st or i es, t hey sai d he had made a cont r act wi t h t hedevi l , i n or der t o mar r y hi s son t o the daught er of t he Mar qui s of

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Louvoi s. To t hi s at r oci ous and absur d accusat i on t he Mar shal , whohad sur r ender ed hi msel f at t he Bast i l l e on t he f i r st accusat i onagai nst hi m, r epl i ed wi t h t he mi ngl ed sent i ment of pr i de andi nnocence, ' When Mat hi eu de Mont morenci , my ancest or , mar r i ed t hewi dow of Loui s l e Gr os, he di d not have r ecour se t o t he devi l , butt o t he St at es- Gener al , i n or der t o obt ai n f or t he mi nor ki ng t hesuppor t of t he house of Mont morenci . ' Thi s br ave man was i mpr i sonedi n a cel l si x f eet and a hal f l ong, and hi s t r i al , whi ch wasi nt er r upt ed f or sever al weeks, l ast ed al t oget her f our t een mont hs. No j udgment was pronounced upon hi m. "

The Count ess of Soi ssons f l ed t o Br ussel s, r at her t han undergot he r i sk of a t r i al ; and was never abl e t o cl ear her sel f f r om t hest i gma t hat at t ached t o her , of havi ng made an at t empt t o poi son t heQueen of Spai n by doses of successi on powder . The Duchess ofBoui l l on was ar r est ed, and t r i ed by t he Chambr e Ar dent e. I t woul dappear , however , t hat she had nothi ng t o do wi t h t he sl ow poi sons,but had mer el y endeavour ed t o pr y i nt o the secr et s of f ut ur i t y, and

gr at i f y her cur i osi t y wi t h a si ght of t he devi l . One of t hepr esi dent s of t he Chambr e, La Reyni e, an ugl y l i t t l e ol d man, ver yser i ousl y asked her whet her she had r eal l y seen t he devi l ; t o whi cht he l ady r epl i ed, l ooki ng hi m f ul l i n t he f ace, "Oh yes! I see hi mnow. He i s i n t he f or m of a l i t t l e ugl y ol d man, exceedi ngl yi l l nat ur ed, and i s dr essed i n t he r obes of a counsel l or of St at e. "M. l a Reyni e pr udent l y ref r ai ned f r om aski ng any more quest i ons of al ady wi t h so sharp and r eady a t ongue. The Duchess was i mpr i sonedf or sever al mont hs i n t he Bast i l e; and not hi ng bei ng pr oved agai nsther , she was r el eased at t he i nt er cessi on of her power f ul f r i ends. The severe puni shment of cr i mi nal s of t hi s not e mi ght have hel ped t o

abat e the f ever of i mi t at i on among t he vul gar ; - - t hei r compar at i vei mpuni t y had a cont r ary t endency. The escape of Penaut i er , and theweal t hy Cardi nal de Bonzy hi s empl oyer , had t he most per ni ci ousef f ect . For t wo year s l onger t he cr i me cont i nued t o rage, and wasnot f i nal l y suppr essed t i l l t he st ake had bl azed, or t he noosedangl ed, f or upwar ds of a hundr ed i ndi vi dual s.

HAUNTED HOUSES.

Here's a knocking indeed! * * * * knock! knock! knock

* * * * * * Who's there, i' the name o' Beelzebub?* * * Who's there, i' the devil's name? Knock! knock!

knock! -- Never at quiet?

Macbeth.

Who has not ei t her seen or heard of some house, shut up anduni nhabi t abl e, f al l en i nt o decay, and l ooki ng dust y and dr ear y, f r omwhi ch, at mi dni ght , st r ange sounds have been heard t o i ssue - -

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aer i al knocki ngs - - t he r at t l i ng of chai ns, and t he gr oani ng ofper t ur bed spi r i t s? - - a house t hat peopl e have t hought i t unsaf e t opass af t er dark, and whi ch has remai ned f or year s wi t hout a t enant ,and whi ch no t enant woul d occupy, even were he pai d t o do so? Thereare hundr eds of such houses i n Engl and at t he pr esent day; hundr edsi n Fr ance, Germany, and al most every count r y of Eur ope, whi ch aremar ked wi t h t he mar k of f ear - - pl aces f or t he t i mi d t o avoi d, andt he pi ous t o bl ess t hemsel ves at , and ask pr ot ect i on f r om, as t heypass - - t he abodes of ghost s and evi l spi r i t s. Ther e ar e many suchhouses i n London; and i f any vai n boast er of t he march of i nt el l ectwoul d but t ake the t r oubl e to f i nd t hem out and count t hem, he woul dbe convi nced t hat i nt el l ect must yet make some enormous s t r i desbef or e such ol d super st i t i ons can be er adi cat ed.

The i dea t hat such houses exi st i s a r emnant of t he wi t chcr eed, whi ch mer i t s separ at e not i ce f r om i t s compar at i veharml essness, and f r om i t s bei ng not so much a madness as a f ol l y oft he peopl e. Unl i ke ot her not i ons t hat spr ang f r om t he bel i ef i n

wi t chcr af t , and whi ch we have al r eady dwel t upon at suf f i ci entl engt h, i t has sent no wr et ches t o t he st ake or t he gi bbet , and buta f ew t o t he pi l l or y onl y.

Many houses have been condemned as haunt ed, and avoi ded by t heweak and cr edul ous, f r om ci r cumst ances t he most t r i f l i ng i nt hemsel ves, and whi ch onl y want ed a vi gorous mi nd t o cl ear up, atonce, and di ssi pat e al l al ar m. A house i n Ai x- l a- Chapel l e, a l ar gedesol at e- l ooki ng bui l di ng, r emai ned uni nhabi t ed f or f i ve year s, onaccount of t he myst er i ous knocki ngs t hat t her e wer e hear d wi t hi n i tat al l hour s of t he day and ni ght . Nobody coul d account f or t he

noi ses; and t he f ear became at l ast so excessi ve, t hat t he per sonswho i nhabi t ed the houses on ei t her si de rel i nqui shed thei r t enancy,and went t o resi de i n other quar t er s of t he town, wher e ther e wasl ess chance of i nt er r upt i on f r om evi l spi r i t s. Fr om bei ng so l ongwi t hout an i nhabi t ant t he house at l ast gr ew so rui nous, so di ngy,and so mi serabl e i n i t s out war d appear ance, and so l i ke t he pl acet hat ghost s mi ght be supposed t o haunt , t hat f ew persons car ed t o gopast i t af t er sunset . The knocki ng t hat was hear d i n one of t heupper r ooms was not ver y l oud, but i t was ver y regul ar . The gossi psof t he nei ghbour hood asser t ed t hat t hey of t en hear d gr oans f r om t hecel l ars, and saw l i ght s moved about f r om one wi ndow t o another

i mmedi at el y af t er t he mi dni ght bel l had t ol l ed. Spect r es i n whi t ehabi l i ment s wer e r eport ed t o have gi bed and chat t er ed f r om t hewi ndows; but al l t hese st or i es coul d bear no i nvest i gat i on. Theknocki ng, however , was a f act whi ch no one coul d di sput e, andsever al i nef f ect ual at t empt s wer e made by t he pr opr i et or t o di scovert he cause. The r ooms wer e spr i nkl ed wi t h hol y wat er - - t he evi lspi r i t s wer e commanded i n due f orm, by a pr i est , t o depart t hence tot he Red Sea; but t he knocki ngs st i l l cont i nued, i n spi t e of al l t hatcoul d be done i n t hat way. Acci dent at l ast di scover ed t he cause,

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and r est or ed t r anqui l l i t y to t he nei ghbour hood. The pr opr i et or , whosuf f er ed not onl y i n hi s mi nd but i n hi s pocket , had sol d t hebui l di ng at a r ui nousl y smal l pr i ce, t o get r i d of al l f ut ur eannoyance. The new pr opr i et or was st andi ng i n a room on t he f i r stf l oor when he hear d t he door dr i ven t o at t he bot t om wi t h aconsi der abl e noi se, and t hen f l y open i mmedi atel y, about t wo i nchesand no more. He st ood st i l l a mi nut e and wat ched, and t he same t hi ngoccur r ed a second and a t hi r d t i me. He exami ned t he doorat t ent i vel y, and al l t he myst er y was unr avel l ed. The l at ch of t hedoor was br oken so t hat i t coul d not be f ast ened, and i t swungchi ef l y upon t he bot t om hi nge. I mmedi atel y opposi t e was a wi ndow, i nwhi ch one pane of gl ass was br oken; and when t he wi nd was i n acer t ai n quar t er , t he dr aught of ai r was so st r ong t hat i t bl ew t hedoor t o wi t h some vi ol ence. There bei ng no l at ch, i t swung openagai n; and when t her e was a f r esh gust , was agai n bl own t o. The newpr opr i et or l ost no t i me i n sendi ng f or a gl azi er , and t he myst er i ousnoi ses ceased f or ever . The house was r epl ast er ed and r epai nt ed, andonce more r egai ned i t s l ost good name. I t was not bef ore t wo or

t hr ee year s, however , t hat i t was t hor oughl y est abl i shed i n popul arf avour ; and many per sons, even t hen, woul d al ways avoi d passi ng i t ,i f t hey coul d r each t hei r dest i nat i on by any ot her st r eet .

A si mi l ar st or y i s nar r at ed by Si r Wal t er Scot t , i n hi s Let t er son Demonol ogy and Wi t chcr af t , t he her o of whi ch was a gent l eman ofbi r t h and di st i nct i on, wel l known i n t he pol i t i cal wor l d. Shor t l yaf t er he succeeded t o hi s t i t l e and est at es, t her e was a r umouramong the servant s concerni ng a st r ange noi se t hat used t o be hear dat ni ght i n the f ami l y mansi on, and t he cause of whi ch no one coul dascer t ai n. The gent l eman r esol ved t o di scover i t hi msel f , and t o

wat ch f or t hat pur pose wi t h a domest i c who had gr own ol d i n t hef ami l y, and who, l i ke t he r est , had whi sper ed st r ange t hi ngs aboutt he knocki ng havi ng begun i mmedi at el y upon t he deat h of hi s ol dmast er . These t wo watched unt i l t he noi se was heard, and at l astt r aced i t t o a smal l st or e- r oom, used as a pl ace f or keepi ngpr ovi si ons of var i ous ki nds f or t he f ami l y, and of whi ch t he ol dbut l er had t he key. They ent er ed t hi s pl ace, and remai ned f or somet i me, wi t hout hear i ng t he noi ses whi ch t hey had t r aced t hi t her . Atl ength t he sound was heard, but much l ower t han i t seemed t o bewhi l e t hey wer e f ur t her of f , and t hei r i magi nat i ons wer e mor eexci t ed. They t hen di scover ed t he cause wi t hout di f f i cul t y. A r at ,

caught i n an ol d- f ashi oned t r ap, had occasi oned t he noi se by i t sef f or t s t o escape, i n whi ch i t was abl e t o r ai se t he t r ap- door ofi t s pr i son t o a cer t ai n hei ght , but was t hen obl i ged t o dr op i t . Thenoi se of t he f al l r esoundi ng t hr ough t he house had occasi oned t hemyst er i ous r umour s, whi ch, but f or t he i nvest i gat i on of t hepr opr i et or , woul d, i n al l pr obabi l i t y, have acqui r ed so bad a namef or t he dwel l i ng t hat no ser vant s woul d have i nhabi t ed i t . Theci r cumst ance was t ol d t o Si r Wal t er Scot t by the gent l eman t o whomi t happened.

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But , i n gener al , houses t hat have acqui r ed t hi s char act er , have

been mor e i ndebt ed f or i t , t o t he r oguer y of l i vi ng men, t han t oacci dent s l i ke t hese. Si x monks pl ayed of f a cl ever t r i ck of t heki nd upon t hat wort hy Ki ng, Loui s, whose pi et y has pr ocur ed hi m, i nt he annal s of hi s own count r y, t he desi gnat i on of " t he Sai nt . "Havi ng heard hi s conf essor speak i n t er ms of warm eul ogy of t hegoodness and l earni ng of t he monks of t he or der of Sai nt Br uno, heexpr essed hi s wi sh t o est abl i sh a communi t y of t hem near Par i s.Ber nar d de l a Tour , t he super i or , sent si x of t he br et hr en, and t heKi ng gave t hem a handsome house to l i ve i n, i n t he vi l l age ofChant i l l y. I t so happened t hat , f r om t hei r wi ndows, t hey had a ver yf i ne vi ew of t he anci ent pal ace of Vauver t , whi ch had been bui l t f ora royal r esi dence by Ki ng Rober t , but deser t ed f or many years. Thewort hy monks t hought t he pal ace woul d j ust sui t t hem, but t hei rmodest y was so excessi ve t hat t hey were ashamed t o ask t he Ki ng f ora gr ant of i t i n due f or m. Thi s di f f i cul t y was not t o be over come,and t he monks set t hei r i ngenui t y t o wor k t o di scover anot her pl an.

The pal ace of Vauver t had never l abour ed under any i mput at i on uponi t s char act er unt i l t hey became i t s nei ghbour s; but , somehow orother , i t al most i mmedi atel y af t er wards began t o acqui r e a bad name.Fr i ght f ul shr i eks wer e hear d t o pr oceed f r om i t at ni ght - - bl ue,r ed, and gr een l i ght s wer e suddenl y observed t o gl i mmer f r om t hewi ndows, and as suddenl y t o di sappear : t he cl anki ng of chai ns washear d, and t he howl i ng as of per sons i n gr eat pai n. Thesedi st ur bances cont i nued f or sever al mont hs, t o t he gr eat t er r or ofal l t he count r y round, and even of t he pi ous Ki ng Loui s, t o whom, atPar i s, al l t he r umour s wer e r egul ar l y car r i ed, wi t h whol e heaps ofaddi t i ons, t hat accumul at ed on the way. At l ast a gr eat spect r e,

cl ot hed al l i n pea- gr een, wi t h a l ong whi t e bear d and a ser pent ' st ai l , t ook hi s st at i on r egul ar l y at mi dni ght i n t he pr i nci pal wi ndowof t he pal ace, and howl ed f ear f ul l y and shook hi s f i st s at t hepassenger s. The si x monks of Chant i l l y, t o whom al l t hese thi ngswer e dul y nar r at ed, wer e exceedi ngl y wr ot h that t he devi l shoul dpl ay such ant i cs r i ght opposi t e t hei r dwel l i ng, and hi nt ed t o t hecommi ssi oner s, sent down by Sai nt Loui s t o i nvest i gat e the mat t er ,t hat , i f t hey wer e al l owed t o i nhabi t t he pal ace, t hey woul d ver ysoon make a cl ear ance of t he evi l spi r i t s. The Ki ng was qui t echar med wi t h t hei r pi et y, and expr essed t o t hem how gr at ef ul he f el tf or t hei r di si nt er est edness. A deed was f or t hwi t h dr awn up - - t he

r oyal si gn- manual was af f i xed t o i t , and t he pal ace of Vauver tbecame t he pr opert y of t he monks of Sai nt Br uno. The deed i s dat edi n 1259. [ Gar i net . Hi st oi r e de l a Magi e en France, page 75. ] Thedi st ur bances ceased i mmedi at el y - - t he l i ght s di sappear ed, and t hegr een ghost ( so sai d t he monks) was l ai d at r est f or ever under t hewaves of t he Red Sea.

I n t he year 1580, one Gi l l es Bl acr e had t aken t he l ease of ahouse i n t he subur bs of Tour s, but r epent i ng hi m of hi s bar gai n wi t h

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t he l andl or d, Pet er Pi quet , he endeavour ed t o pr evai l upon hi m t ocancel t he agr eement . Pet er , however , was sat i sf i ed wi t h hi s t enantand hi s t er ms, and woul d l i st en t o no compr omi se. Ver y short l yaf t er wards, t he r umour was spr ead al l over Tour s t hat t he house ofGi l l es Bl acr e was haunt ed. Gi l l es hi msel f asser t ed t hat he ver i l ybel i eved hi s house t o be t he gener al r endezvous of al l t he wi t chesand evi l spi r i t s of France. The noi se t hey made was awf ul , and qui t epr event ed hi m f r om sl eepi ng. They knocked agai nst t he wal l - - howl edi n t he chi mneys - - br oke hi s wi ndow- gl ass - - scat t er ed hi s pot s andpans al l over hi s ki t chen, and set hi s chai r s and t abl es a danci ngt he whol e ni ght t hr ough. Cr owds of persons assembl ed around t hehouse t o hear t he myst er i ous noi ses; and t he br i cks wer e observed t odet ach t hemsel ves f r om t he wal l and f al l i nt o t he st r eet s upon t heheads of t hose who had not sai d t hei r pat ernost er bef ore t hey cameout i n t he morni ng. These t hi ngs havi ng cont i nued f or some t i me,Gi l l es Bl acr e made hi s compl ai nt t o t he Ci vi l Cour t of Tour s, andPeter Pi quet was summoned to show cause why t he l ease shoul d not beannul l ed. Poor Pet er coul d make no def ence, and the cour t

unani mousl y agr eed t hat no l ease coul d hol d good under suchci r cumst ances, and annul l ed i t accor di ngl y, condemni ng t he unl uckyowner t o al l t he expenses of t he sui t . Pet er appeal ed t o t hePar l i ament of Par i s; and, af t er a l ong exami nat i on, t he Par l i amentconf i r med t he l ease. "Not , " sai d t he j udge, "because i t bas not beenf ul l y and sat i sf act or i l y pr oved t hat t he house i s t r oubl ed by evi lspi r i t s, but t hat t her e was an i nf or mal i t y i n t he pr oceedi ngs bef or et he Ci vi l Cour t of Tour s, t hat r ender ed i t s deci si on nul l and of noef f ect . "

A si mi l ar cause was t r i ed bef or e t he Par l i ament of Bor deaux, i n

t he year 1595, r el at i ve t o a house i n t hat ci t y whi ch was sorel yt r oubl ed by evi l spi r i t s. The Par l i ament appoi nt ed cer t ai neccl esi ast i cs t o exami ne and r epor t t o t hem, and on thei r r epor t i nt he af f i r mat i ve t hat t he house was haunt ed, t he l ease was annul l ed,and t he t enant absol ved f r om al l payment of r ent and t axes.[ Gar i net . Hi st oi r e de l a Magi e en France, page 156. ]

One of t he best st or i es of a haunt ed house i s t hat of t he r oyalpal ace of Woodst ock, i n t he year 1649, when t he commi ssi oners sentf r om London by the Long Par l i ament t o t ake possessi on of i t , andef f ace al l t he embl ems of r oyal t y about i t , wer e f ai r l y dr i ven out

by t hei r f ear of t he devi l and t he annoyances t hey suf f er ed f r om ar ogui sh caval i er , who pl ayed t he i mp t o admi r at i on. Thecommi ssi oner s, dr eadi ng at t hat t i me no devi l , ar r i ved at Woodst ockon t he 13t h of Oct ober , 1649. They t ook up t hei r l odgi ngs i n t hel at e Ki ng' s apar t ment s- t ur ned t he beaut i f ul bedr ooms andwi t hdr awi ng- r ooms i nt o ki t chens and scul l er i es - - t he counci l - hal li nt o a br ew- house, and made the di ni ng- r oom a pl ace t o keep f i r ewoodi n. They pul l ed down al l t he i nsi gni a of r oyal st at e, and t r eat edwi t h t he ut most i ndi gni t y ever yt hi ng t hat r ecal l ed t o t hei r memor y

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t he name or t he maj est y of Char l es St uart . One Gi l es Sharpaccompani ed them i n t he capaci t y of cl er k, and seconded t hei ref f or t s, appar ent l y wi t h t he gr eat est zeal . He ai ded t hem t o upr oota nobl e ol d t r ee, mer el y because i t was cal l ed t he Ki ng' s Oak, andt ossed t he f r agment s i nt o t he di ni ng- r oom t o make cheer f ul f i r es f ort he commi ssi oner s. Dur i ng t he f i r st t wo days, t hey heard somest r ange noi ses about t he house, but t hey pai d no gr eat at t ent i on t ot hem. On the t hi r d, however , t hey began t o suspect t hey had got i nt obad company; f or t hey heard, as t hey t hought , a super natur al dogunder t hei r bed, whi ch gnawed t hei r bedcl othes. On the next day, t hechai r s and t abl es began t o dance, apparent l y of t hei r own accor d. Ont he f i f t h day, somet hi ng came i nto t he bedchamber and wal ked up anddown, and f et chi ng t he warmi ng- pan out of t he wi t hdr awi ng- r oom, madeso much noi se wi t h i t t hat t hey thought f i ve chur ch- bel l s wer er i ngi ng i n t hei r ear s. On t he si xt h day, t he pl at es and di shes wer et hrown up and down t he di ni ng- r oom. On t he sevent h, t hey penet r at edi nt o t he bedr oom i n company wi t h sever al l ogs of wood, and usurpedt he sof t pi l l ows i nt ended f or t he commi ssi oner s. On t he ei ght h and

ni nt h ni ght s, t her e was a cessat i on of host i l i t i es; but on t het ent h, t he br i cks i n t he chi mneys became l ocomot i ve, and r at t l ed anddanced about t he f l oor s, and round the heads of t he commi ssi oner s,al l t he ni ght l ong. On t he el event h, t he demon r an away wi t h t hei rbr eeches, and on t he t wel f t h f i l l ed t hei r beds so f ul l of pewt er -pl at t er s t hat t hey coul d not get i nt o t hem. On t he t hi r t eent h ni ght ,t he gl ass became unaccount abl y sei zed wi t h a f i t of cr acki ng, andf el l i nt o shi ver s i n al l par t s of t he house. On t he f our t eent h,t her e was a noi se as i f f or t y pi eces of ar t i l l er y had been f i r edof f , and a shower of pebbl e- st ones, whi ch so al armed t hecommi ssi oner s t hat , "st r uck wi t h gr eat hor r or , t hey cr i ed out t o one

anot her f or hel p. "

They f i r st of al l t r i ed t he ef f i cacy of prayer s t o dr i ve awayt he evi l spi r i t s; but t hese pr ovi ng unavai l i ng, t hey began ser i ousl yt o ref l ect whet her i t woul d not be much bet t er t o l eave t he pl aceal t oget her t o t he devi l s t hat i nhabi t ed i t . They ul t i mat el yr esol ved, however , t o t r y i t a l i t t l e l onger ; and havi ng cravedf or gi veness of al l t hei r si ns, bet ook t hemsel ves t o bed. That ni ghtt hey sl ept i n t ol er abl e comf or t , but i t was mer el y a t r i ck of t hei rt or ment or t o l ul l t hem i nt o f al se secur i t y. When, on t he succeedi ngni ght , t hey hear d no noi ses, t hey began t o f l at t er t hemsel ves t hat

t he devi l was dr i ven out , and pr epar ed accor di ngl y to t ake up t hei rquart er s f or t he whol e wi nt er i n t he pal ace. These sympt oms on t hei rpar t became t he si gnal f or r enewed upr oar among t he f i ends. On t he1st of November , t hey hear d somet hi ng wal ki ng wi t h a sl ow and sol emnpace up and down t he wi t hdr awi ng- r oom, and i mmedi at el y af t erwards ashower of st ones, br i cks, mor t ar , and br oken gl ass pel t ed aboutt hei r ears. On t he 2nd t he st eps wer e agai n heard i n t hewi t hdr awi ng- r oom, soundi ng t o t hei r f ancy ver y much l i ke t het r eadi ng of an enormous bear , whi ch cont i nued f or about a quart er of

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an hour . Thi s noi se havi ng ceased, a l arge warmi ng- pan was t hr ownvi ol ent l y upon t he t abl e, f ol l owed by a number of st ones and t he j awbone of a horse. Some of t he bol dest wal ked val i ant l y i nt o t hewi t hdr awi ng- r oom, ar med wi t h swor ds, and pi st ol s; but coul d di scovernot hi ng. They wer e af r ai d t hat ni ght t o go to sl eep, and sat up,maki ng f i r es i n ever y r oom, and bur ni ng candl es and l amps i n gr eatabundance; t hi nki ng t hat , as t he f i ends l oved dar kness, t hey woul dnot di st ur b a company sur r ounded wi t h so much l i ght . They weredecei ved, however : bucket s of wat er came down t he chi mneys andext i ngui shed t he f i r es, and t he candl es wer e bl own out , t hey knewnot how. Some of t he servant s who had bet aken t hemsel ves t o bed weredr enched wi t h put r i d di t ch- wat er as t hey l ay, and arose i n gr eatf r i ght , mut t er i ng i ncoher ent pr ayer s, and exposi ng t o t he wonder i ngeyes of t he commi ssi oner s t hei r l i nen al l dr i ppi ng wi t h gr eenmoi st ur e, and thei r knuckl es r ed wi t h the bl ows t hey had at t he samet i me recei ved f r om some i nvi si bl e tor ment or s. Whi l e t hey wer e st i l lspeaki ng, t her e was a noi se l i ke t he l oudest t hunder , or t he f i r i ngof a whol e par k of ar t i l l er y, upon whi ch t hey al l f el l down upon

t hei r knees and i mpl or ed t he pr ot ect i on of t he Al mi ght y. One of t hecommi ssi oner s t hen ar ose, t he ot her s st i l l kneel i ng, and asked i n acour ageous voi ce, and i n t he name of God, who was t her e, and whatt hey had done t hat t hey shoul d be t r oubl ed i n t hat manner . No answerwas r et ur ned, and t he noi ses ceased f or a whi l e. At l engt h, however ,as t he commi ssi oner s sai d, " t he devi l came agai n, and br ought wi t hi t seven devi l s wor se t han i t sel f . " Bei ng agai n i n dar kness, t heyl i ght ed a candl e and pl aced i t i n t he door way, t hat i t mi ght t hr ow al i ght upon t he t wo chamber s at once; but i t was suddenl y bl own out ,and one commi ssi oner sai d that he had "seen the si mi l i t ude of ahor se' s hoof st r i ki ng t he candl e and candl est i ck i nt o t he mi ddl e of

t he chamber , and af t erwards maki ng t hr ee scr apes on t he snuf f t o puti t out . " Upon t hi s, t he same person was so bol d as t o dr aw hi sswor d; but he asser t ed posi t i vel y t hat he had har dl y wi t hdr awn i tf r om t he scabbar d bef or e an i nvi si bl e hand sei zed hol d of i t andt ugged wi t h hi m f or i t , and pr evai l i ng, st r uck hi m so vi ol ent a bl owwi t h the pommel t hat he was qui t e st unned. Then t he noi ses beganagai n; upon whi ch, wi t h one accor d, t hey al l r et i r ed i nt o t hepr esence- chamber , where t hey passed t he ni ght , pr ayi ng and si ngi ngpsal ms.

They wer e by t hi s t i me convi nced t hat i t was usel ess t o

st r uggl e any l onger wi t h t he power s of evi l , t hat seemed det er mi nedt o make Woodst ock t hei r own. These t hi ngs happened on t he Sat urdayni ght ; and, bei ng repeated on t he Sunday, t hey det ermi ned to l eavet he pl ace i mmedi at el y, and return t o London. By Tuesday morni ngear l y, al l t hei r pr epar at i ons wer e compl et ed; and, shaki ng t he dustof f t hei r f eet , and devot i ng Woodst ock and al l i t s i nhabi t ant s t ot he i nf er nal gods, t hey f i nal l y t ook thei r depar t ur e. [ Dr . H. Mor e' sCont i nuat i on of Gl anvi l ' s Col l ect i on of Rel at i ons i n pr oof ofWi t chcr af t . ]

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Many years el apsed bef ore t he t r ue cause of t hese di st ur bances

was di scover ed. I t was ascer t ai ned, at t he Rest or at i on, t hat t hewhol e was t he wor k of Gi l es Sharp, t he t r ust y cl er k of t hecommi ssi oners. Thi s man, whose r eal name was J oseph Col l i ns, was aconceal ed r oyal i st , and had passed hi s ear l y l i f e wi t hi n t he bower sof Woodst ock; so t hat he knew ever y hol e and cor ner of t he pl ace,and t he numerous t r ap- door s and secr et passages t hat abounded i n t hebui l di ng. The commi ssi oner s, never suspect i ng t he t r ue st at e of hi sopi ni ons, but bel i evi ng hi m t o be r evol ut i onar y to the back- bone,pl aced t he ut most r el i ance upon hi m; a conf i dence whi ch he abused i nt he manner above detai l ed, t o hi s own gr eat amusement , and t hat oft he f ew caval i er s whom he l et i nt o the secret .

Qui t e as ext r aor di nary and as cl ever l y managed was t he t r i ckpl ayed of f at Tedwor t h, i n 1661, at t he house of Mr . Mompesson, andwhi ch i s so ci r cumst ant i al l y nar r at ed by t he Rev. J oseph Gl anvi l ,under t he t i t l e of "The Demon of Tedwor t h, " and appended, among

ot her pr oof s of wi t chcr af t , t o hi s not ed wor k, cal l ed "Sadduci smus Tr i umphat us. " About t he mi ddl e of Apr i l , i n t he year abovement i oned, Mr . Mompesson, havi ng r etur ned t o hi s house, at Tedwor t h,f r om a j our ney he had t aken t o London, was i nf ormed by hi s wi f e,t hat dur i ng hi s absence t hey had been t r oubl ed wi t h t he mostext r aor di nary noi ses. Thr ee ni ght s af t er war ds he hear d t he noi sehi msel f ; and i t appear ed t o hi m t o be t hat of "a gr eat knocki ng athi s door s, and on t he out si de of hi s wal l s. " He i mmedi at el y ar ose,dr essed hi msel f , t ook down a pai r of pi st ol s, and wal ked val i ant l yf or t h t o di scover t he di st ur ber , under t he i mpr essi on t hat i t mustbe a r obber : but , as he went , t he noi se seemed t o t r avel bef ore or

behi nd hi m; and, when he ar r i ved at t he door f r om whi ch he t houghti t pr oceeded, he saw not hi ng, but st i l l hear d "a st r ange hol l owsound. " He puzzl ed hi s br ai ns f or a l ong t i me, and sear ched ever ycor ner of t he house; but , di scover i ng not hi ng, he went t o bed agai n.He was no sooner snug under t he cl ot hes, t han t he noi se began agai nmore f ur i ousl y t han ever , soundi ng ver y much l i ke a "t humpi ng anddr ummi ng on t he t op of hi s house, and t hen by degr ees goi ng of f i nt ot he ai r . "

These t hi ngs cont i nued f or several ni ght s, when i t came t o t her ecol l ect i on of Mr . Mompesson t hat some t i me bef ore, he had gi ven

order s f or t he ar r est and i mpr i sonment of a wander i ng drummer , whowent about t he count r y wi t h a l arge dr um, di st ur bi ng qui et peopl eand sol i ci t i ng al ms, and t hat he had det ai ned t he man' s drum, andt hat , pr obabl y, t he dr ummer was a wi zard, and had sent evi l spi r i t st o haunt hi s house, t o be r evenged of hi m. He became st r engt hened i nhi s opi ni on ever y day, especi al l y when t he noi ses assumed, t o hi sf ancy, a r esembl ance t o t he beat i ng of a dr um, " l i ke t hat at t hebr eaki ng up of a guard. " Mr s. Mompesson bei ng br ought t o bed, t hedevi l , or t he dr ummer , ver y ki ndl y and consi der at el y r ef r ai ned f r om

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a repor t of what t hey saw or hear d. Whether t he royal commi ssi onerswere mor e sensi bl e men t han t he nei ghbours of Mr . Mompesson, andr equi r ed more cl ear and posi t i ve evi dence t han t hey, or whet her t hepower s wi t h whi ch t hey wer e armed t o puni sh anybody who mi ght bef ound car r yi ng on t hi s decept i on, f r i ght ened t he evi l - doer s, i s notcer t ai n; but Gl anvi l hi msel f r el uct ant l y conf esses, t hat al l t het i me t hey were i n t he house, t he noi ses ceased, and not hi ng washeard or seen. "However , " says he, "as t o t he qui et of t he housewhen t he cour t i ers were t here, t he i nt ermi ss i on may have beenacci dent al , or per haps t he demon was not wi l l i ng t o gi ve so publ i c at est i mony of t hose t r ansact i ons whi ch mi ght possi bl y convi nce t hosewho, he had r at her , shoul d cont i nue i n unbel i ef of hi s exi st ence. "

As soon as t he royal commi ssi oner s t ook t hei r depar t ur e, t hei nf ernal dr ummer r e- commenced hi s ant i cs, and hundr eds of personswere dai l y pr esent t o hear and wonder . Mr . Mompesson' s servant wasso f or t unat e as not onl y to hear , but t o see t hi s per t i naci ousdemon; f or i t came and st ood at t he f oot of hi s bed. "The exact

shape and pr opor t i on of i t he coul d not di scover ; but he saw a gr eatbody, wi t h two red and gl ar i ng eyes, whi ch, f or some t i me, wer ef i xed st eadi l y on hi m, and at l engt h di sappear ed. " I nnumer abl e wer et he ant i cs i t pl ayed. Once i t pur r ed l i ke a cat ; beat t he chi l dr en' sl egs bl ack and bl ue; put a l ong spi ke i nt o Mr . Mompesson' s bed, anda kni f e i nt o hi s mot her ' s; f i l l ed t he por r enger s wi t h ashes; hi d aBi bl e under t he gr ate; and t ur ned t he money bl ack i n peopl e' spocket s. "One ni ght , " sai d Mr . Mompesson, i n a l et t er t o Mr .Gl anvi l , " t her e wer e seven or ei ght of t hese devi l s i n t he shape ofmen, who, as soon as a gun was f i r ed, woul d shuf f l e away i nt o anarbour ; " a ci r cumst ance whi ch mi ght have convi nced Mr . Mompesson of

t he mor t al nat ur e of hi s per secut or s, i f he had not been of t henumber of t hose worse t han bl i nd, who shut t hei r eyes and ref use t osee.

I n t he mean t i me the drummer , t he supposed cause of al l t hemi schi ef , passed hi s t i me i n Gl oucest er gaol , whi t her he had beencommi t t ed as a r ogue and a vagabond. Bei ng vi si t ed one day by someperson f r om t he nei ghbour hood of Tedwor t h, he asked what was t henews i n Wi l t shi r e, and whet her peopl e di d not t al k a gr eat dealabout a dr ummi ng i n a gent l eman' s house t her e? The vi si t er r epl i ed,t hat he hear d of not hi ng el se; upon whi ch t he dr ummer obser ved, " I

have done i t ; I have t hus pl agued hi m; and he shal l never be qui etunt i l he hat h made me sat i sf act i on f or t aki ng away my dr um. " Nodoubt t he f el l ow, who seems t o have been a gi psy, spoke t he t r ut h,and t hat t he gang of whi ch he was a member knew mor e about t henoi ses at Mr . Mompesson' s house t han anybody el se. Upon t hese words,however , he was br ought t o t r i al at Sal i sbur y, f or wi t chcraf t ; and,bei ng f ound gui l t y, was sent enced t o t r anspor t at i on; a sent encewhi ch, f or i t s l eni ency, exci t ed no l i t t l e wonder i n t hat age, whensuch an accusat i on, whet her pr oved or not , gener al l y i nsur ed t he

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st ake or t he gi bbet . Gl anvi l says, t hat t he noi ses ceasedi mmedi at el y t he drummer was sent beyond t he seas; but t hat , some howor ot her , he managed t o r et ur n f r om t r anspor t at i on; "by r ai si ngst orms and af f r i ght i ng t he seamen, i t was sai d; " when t hedi st ur bances wer e f or t hwi t h r enewed, and cont i nued at i nt er val s f orsever al year s. Cer t ai nl y, i f t he conf eder at es of t hi s r ovi ng gi psywere so per t i naci ous i n t orment i ng poor weak Mr . Mompesson, t hei rper t i naci t y i s a most ext r aor di nar y i nst ance of what r evenge i scapabl e of . I t was bel i eved by many, at t he t i me, t hat Mr . Mompessonhi msel f was pr i vy t o t he whol e mat t er , and permi t t ed and encour agedt hese t r i cks i n hi s house f or t he sake of not or i et y; but i t seemsmor e pr obabl e t hat t he gi psi es wer e t he r eal del i nquent s, and t hatMr . Mompesson was as much al ar med and bewi l der ed as hi s cr edul ousnei ghhour s, whose exci t ed i magi nat i ons conj ur ed up no smal l port i onof t hese st or i es,

"Which rolled, and as they rolled, grew larger every hour."

Many i nst ances, of a si mi l ar ki nd, dur i ng t he sevent eent hcent ur y, mi ght be gl eaned f r om Gl anvi l and ot her wr i t er s of t hatper i od; but t hey do not di f f er suf f i ci ent l y f r om t hese t o j ust i f y adet ai l of t hem. The most f amous of al l haunt ed houses acqui r ed i t snot or i ety much near er our own t i me; and t he ci r cumst ances connect edwi t h i t ar e so cur i ous, and af f or d so f ai r a speci men of t he easycr edul i t y even of wel l - i nf or med and sensi bl e peopl e, as t o mer i t al i t t l e not i ce i n t hi s chapt er . The Cock Lane Ghost , as i t wascal l ed, kept London i n commot i on f or a consi der abl e t i me, and wast he t heme of conver sat i on among t he l ear ned and the i l l i t er at e, andi n ever y ci r cl e, f r om t hat of t he pr i nce t o t hat of t he peasant .

At t he commencement of t he year 1760, t her e r esi ded i n CockLane, near West Smi t hf i el d, i n t he house of one Par sons, t he par i shcl er k of St . Sepul chr e' s, a st ockbr oker , named Kent . The wi f e oft hi s gent l eman had di ed i n chi l d- bed dur i ng t he pr evi ous year , andhi s si st er - i n- l aw, Mi ss Fanny, had ar r i ved f r om Nor f ol k t o keep hi shouse f or hi m. They soon concei ved a mut ual af f ect i on, and each oft hem made a wi l l i n the ot her ' s f avour . They l i ved some mont hs i nt he house of Par sons, who, bei ng a needy man, bor r owed money of hi sl odger . Some di f f er ence ar ose bet wi xt t hem, and Mr . Kent l ef t t hehouse, and i nst i t ut ed l egal pr oceedi ngs agai nst t he par i sh cl er k f or

t he recover y of hi s money.

Whi l e t hi s mat t er was yet pendi ng, Mi ss Fanny was suddenl yt aken i l l of t he smal l - pox; and, not wi t hst andi ng ever y car e andat t ent i on, she di ed i n a f ew days, and was bur i ed i n a vaul t underCl er kenwel l chur ch. Par sons now began t o hi nt t hat t he poor l ady hadcome unf ai r l y by her deat h, and that Mr . Kent was accessor y t o i t ,f r om hi s t oo gr eat eager ness t o ent er i nt o possessi on of t hepr oper t y she had bequeathed hi m. Nothi ng f ur t her was sai d f or near l y

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t wo years; but i t woul d appear t hat Par sons was of so r evengef ul achar act er , t hat he had never f or got t en or f or gi ven hi s di f f er enceswi t h Mr . Kent , and t he i ndi gni t y of havi ng been sued f or t hebor r owed money. The st r ong passi ons of pr i de and avar i ce weresi l ent l y at wor k dur i ng al l t hat i nt er val , hat chi ng schemes ofr evenge, but di smi ssi ng t hem one af t er t he ot her as i mpr act i cabl e,unt i l , at l ast , a not abl e one suggest ed i t sel f . About t he begi nni ngof t he year 1762, t he al ar m was spr ead over al l t he nei ghbour hood ofCock Lane, t hat t he house of Par sons was haunt ed by t he ghost ofpoor Fanny, and t hat t he daught er of Par sons, a gi r l about t wel veyear s of age, had sever al t i mes seen and conver sed wi t h t he spi r i t ,who had, moreover , i nf ormed her , t hat she had not di ed of t hesmal l pox, as was cur r ent l y r eport ed, but of poi son, admi ni st er ed byMr . Kent . Par sons, who or i gi nat ed, t ook good care t o count enancet hese r epor t s; and, i n answer t o numer ous i nqui r i es, sai d hi s housewas ever y ni ght , and had been f or t wo year s, i n f act , ever si nce t hedeath of Fanny, t r oubl ed by a l oud knocki ng at t he door s and i n t hewal l s. Havi ng t hus pr epared t he i gnorant and cr edul ous nei ghhour s t o

bel i eve or exaggerat e f or t hemsel ves what he had t ol d t hem, he sentf or a gent l eman of a hi gher cl ass i n l i f e, t o come and wi t ness t heseext r aor di nary occur r ences. The gent l eman came accor di ngl y, and f oundt he daught er of Par sons, t o whom t he spi r i t al one appeared, and whomal one i t answer ed, i n bed, t r embl i ng vi ol ent l y, havi ng j ust seen t heghost , and been agai n i nf ormed t hat she had di ed f r om poi son. A l oudknocki ng was al so heard f r om ever y part of t he chamber , whi ch somyst i f i ed t he not ver y cl ear under st andi ng of t he vi si t er , t hat hedepart ed, af r ai d t o doubt and ashamed t o bel i eve, but wi t h a pr omi set o br i ng the cl er gyman of t he par i sh and sever al ot her gent l emen ont he f ol l owi ng day, t o r epor t upon t he myst er y.

On t he f ol l owi ng ni ght he r et ur ned, br i ngi ng wi t h hi m t hr eecl er gymen, and about t went y ot her per sons, i ncl udi ng t wo negr oes,when, upon a consul t at i on wi t h Par sons, t hey resol ved t o si t up t hewhol e ni ght , and awai t t he ghost ' s ar r i val . I t was t hen expl ai ned byPar sons, t hat al t hough t he ghost woul d never r ender i t sel f vi si bl et o anybody but hi s daught er , i t had no obj ect i on t o answer t hequest i ons t hat mi ght be put t o i t , by any per son pr esent , and t hati t expr essed an af f i r mat i on by one knock, a negat i ve by t wo, and i t sdi spl easur e by a ki nd of scr at chi ng. The chi l d was t hen put i nt o bedal ong wi t h her si st er , and t he cl ergymen exami ned t he bed and bed-

cl ot hes t o sat i sf y t hemsel ves t hat no t r i ck was pl ayed, by knocki ngupon any subst ance conceal ed among t he cl ot hes. As on t he previ ousni ght , t he bed was observed t o shake vi ol ent l y.

Af t er some hour s, dur i ng whi ch t hey al l wai t ed wi t h exempl arypat i ence, t he myst er i ous knocki ng was heard i n t he wal l , and t hechi l d decl ared t hat she saw t he ghost of poor Fanny. The f ol l owi ngquest i ons were t hen gr avel y put by t he cl ergyman, t hr ough the medi umof one Mar y Frazer , t he ser vant of Par sons, and t o whom i t was sai d

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t he deceased l ady had been much at t ached. The answer s were i n theusual f ashi on, by a knock or knocks: - -

"Do you make this disturbance on account of the ill usage you

received from Mr. Kent ?" -- "Yes."

"Were you brought to an untimely end by poison ?" -- "Yes."

"How was the poison administered, in beer or in purl ?" -- "In

purl."

"How long was that before your death?" -- "About three hours."

"Can your former servant, Carrots, give any information about the

poison?" -- "Yes."

"Are you Kent's wife's sister ?" -- "Yes."

"Were you married to Kent after your sister's death?" -- "No."

"Was anybody else, besides Kent, concerned in your murder?" -- "No."

"Can you, if you like, appear visibly to anyone?" -- "Yes."

"Will you do so?" -- "Yes."

"Can you go out of this house?" -- "Yes."

"Is it your intention to follow this child about everywhere?" --

"Yes."

"Are you pleased in being asked these questions?" -- "Yes."

"Does it case your troubled soul?" -- "Yes."

[Here there was heard a mysterious noise, which some wiseacre

present compared to the fluttering of wings.]

"How long before your death did you tell your servant, Carrots, that

you were poisoned? -- An hour?" -- "Yes."

[Carrots, who was present, was appealed to; but she stated

positively that such was not the fact, as the deceased was quite

speechless an hour before her death. This shook the faith of some of

the spectators, but the examination was allowed to continue.]

"How long did Carrots live with you?" -- "Three or four days."

[Carrots was again appealed to, and said that this was true.]

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"If Mr. Kent is arrested for this murder, will he confess?" --

"Yes."

"Would your soul be at rest if he were hanged for it?" -- "Yes."

"Will he be hanged for it?" -- "Yes."

"How long a time first?" -- "Three years."

"How many clergymen are there in this room?" -- "Three."

"How many negroes?" -- "Two."

"Is this watch (held up by one of the clergymen) white?" -- "No."

"Is it yellow?" -- "No."

"Is it blue?" -- "No."

"Is it black?" -- "Yes."

[The watch was in a black shagreen case.]

"At what time this morning will you take your departure?"

The answer t o t hi s quest i on was f our knocks, ver y di st i nct l yhear d by ever y per son pr esent ; and accor di ngl y, at f our o' cl ockpr eci sel y, t he ghost t ook i t s depar t ur e t o t he Wheat sheaf publ i c-

house, cl ose by, wher e i t f r i ght ened mi ne host and hi s l ady al mostout of t hei r wi t s by knocki ng i n t he cei l i ng r i ght above t hei r bed.

The r umour of t hese occur r ences ver y soon spr ead over London,and every day Cock Lane was r ender ed i mpassabl e by t he cr owds ofpeopl e who assembl ed ar ound the house of t he par i sh cl er k, i nexpect at i on of ei t her seei ng t he ghost or of hear i ng t he myst er i ousknocks. I t was at l ast f ound necessar y, so cl amor ous wer e t hey f oradmi ssi on wi t hi n t he haunt ed pr eci nct s, t o admi t t hose onl y whowoul d pay a cer t ai n f ee, an ar r angement whi ch was very conveni ent t ot he needy and money- l ovi ng Mr . Par sons. I ndeed, t hi ngs had t aken a

t ur n gr eat l y t o hi s sat i sf act i on; he not onl y had hi s r evenge, buthe made a pr of i t out of i t . The ghost , i n consequence, pl ayed i t sant i cs every ni ght , t o t he gr eat amusement of many hundr eds ofpeopl e and t he gr eat per pl exi t y of a st i l l gr eat er number .

Unhappi l y, however , f or t he par i sh cl er k, t he ghost was i nducedt o make some pr omi ses whi ch were t he means of ut t er l y dest r oyi ng i t sr eput at i on. I t pr omi sed, i n answer t o t he quest i ons of t he Rever endMr . Al dr i t ch of Cl er kenwel l , t hat i t woul d not onl y f ol l ow t he

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l i t t l e Mi ss Par sons wher ever she went , but woul d al so at t end hi m, orany ot her gent l eman, i nt o t he vaul t under St . J ohn' s Chur ch, wher et he body of t he murder ed woman was deposi t ed, and woul d t her e gi venot i ce of i t s pr esence by a di st i nct knock upon t he cof f i n. As apr el i mi nar y, t he gi r l was conveyed t o t he house of Mr . Al dr i t ch neart he chur ch, wher e a l arge part y of l adi es and gent l emen, emi nent f ort hei r acqui r ement s, t hei r r ank, or t hei r weal t h, had assembl ed.About t en o' cl ock on t he ni ght of t he 1st of Febr uar y, t he gi r lhavi ng been br ought f r om Cock Lane i n a coach, was put t o bed bysever al l adi es i n t he house of Mr . Al dr i t ch; a st r i ct exami nat i onhavi ng been pr evi ousl y made t hat not hi ng was hi dden i n thebedcl othes. Whi l e t he gent l emen, i n an adj oi ni ng chamber , wer edel i ber at i ng whet her t hey shoul d pr oceed i n a body t o the vaul t ,t hey were summoned i nt o the bedr oom by t he l adi es, who af f i r med, i ngr eat al arm, t hat t he ghost was come, and t hat t hey hear d t he knocksand scr atches. The gent l emen ent er ed accor di ngl y, wi t h adet er mi nat i on t o suf f er no decept i on. The l i t t l e gi r l , on bei ngasked whet her she saw t he ghost , r epl i ed, "No; but she f el t i t on

her back l i ke a mouse. " She was t hen r equi r ed t o put her hands outof bed, and t hey bei ng hel d by some of t he l adi es, t he spi r i t wassummoned i n the usual manner t o answer , i f i t were i n t he r oom. Thequest i on was sever al t i mes put wi t h gr eat sol emni t y; but t hecust omary knock was not heard i n r epl y i n t he wal l s, nei t her wast her e any scrat chi ng. The ghost was t hen asked t o r ender i t sel fvi si bl e, but i t di d not choose t o gr ant t he r equest . I t was nextsol i ci t ed t o gi ve some t oken of i t s pr esence by a sound of any sor t ,or by t ouchi ng t he hand or cheek of any l ady or gent l eman i n t her oom; but even wi t h thi s r equest t he ghost woul d not compl y.

Ther e was now a consi derabl e pause, and one of t he cl er gymenwent downst ai r s t o i nt er r ogat e the f at her of t he gi r l , who waswai t i ng t he r esul t of t he exper i ment . He posi t i vel y deni ed t hatt here was any decept i on, and even went so f ar as t o say t hat hehi msel f , upon one occasi on, had seen and conver sed wi t h t he awf ulghost . Thi s havi ng been communi cat ed t o t he company, i t wasunani mousl y resol ved t o gi ve t he ghost anot her t r i al ; and t hecl er gyman cal l ed out i n a l oud voi ce t o the supposed spi r i t t hat t hegent l eman t o whom i t had pr omi sed t o appear i n t he vaul t , was aboutt o r epai r t o t hat pl ace, wher e he cl ai med t he f ul f i l ment of i t spr omi se. At one hour af t er mi dni ght t hey al l pr oceeded t o t he

chur ch, and t he gent l eman i n quest i on, wi t h another , ent er ed t hevaul t al one, and t ook up t hei r posi t i on al ongsi de of t he cof f i n ofpoor Fanny. The ghost was t hen summoned t o appear , but i t appear ednot ; i t was summoned t o knock, but i t knocked not ; i t was summonedt o scrat ch, but i t scrat ched not ; and t he t wo r et i r ed f r om t hevaul t , wi t h t he f i r m bel i ef t hat t he whol e busi ness was a decept i onpr act i sed by Parsons and hi s daught er . Ther e wer e ot her s, however ,who di d not wi sh t o j ump so hast i l y t o a concl usi on, and whosuggest ed t hat t hey wer e, per haps, t r i f l i ng wi t h t hi s awf ul and

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super nat ur al bei ng, whi ch, bei ng of f ended wi t h t hem f or t hei rpr esumpt i on, woul d not condescend t o answer t hem. Agai n, af t er aser i ous consul t at i on, i t was agr eed on al l hands t hat , i f t he ghostanswer ed anybody at al l , i t woul d answer Mr . Kent , t he supposedmur derer ; and he was accordi ngl y r equest ed t o go down i nt o t hevaul t . He went wi t h several ot her s, and summoned t he ghost t o answerwhet her he had i ndeed poi soned her . There bei ng no answer , t hequest i on was put by Mr . Al dr i t ch, who conj ur ed i t , i f i t wer e i ndeeda spi r i t , t o end t hei r doubt s- make a si gn of i t s pr esence, and poi ntout t he gui l t y per son. Ther e bei ng st i l l no answer f or t he space ofhal f an hour , dur i ng whi ch t i me al l t hese boobi es wai t ed wi t h t hemost pr ai sewort hy per sever ance, t hey ret ur ned t o t he house of Mr .Al dr i t ch, and or der ed t he gi r l t o get up and dr ess her sel f . She wasst r i ct l y exami ned, but per si st ed i n her st at ement t hat she used nodecept i on, and t hat t he ghost had r eal l y appear ed t o her .

So many per sons had, by t hei r openl y expr essed bel i ef of t her eal i t y of t he vi si t at i on, i dent i f i ed t hemsel ves wi t h i t , t hat

Par sons and hi s f ami l y wer e f ar f r om bei ng t he onl y per sonsi nt er est ed i n t he cont i nuance of t he del usi on. The resul t of t heexper i ment convi nced most peopl e; but t hese were not t o be convi ncedby any evi dence, however posi t i ve, and t hey, t her ef or e, spr eadabr oad the rumour , t hat t he ghost had not appeared i n the vaul tbecause Mr . Kent had t aken care bef orehand t o have the cof f i nr emoved. That gent l eman, whose posi t i on was a ver y pai nf ul one,i mmedi at el y procur ed competent wi t nesses, i n whose pr esence t hevaul t was ent er ed and t he cof f i n of poor Fanny opened. Thei rdeposi t i on was t hen publ i shed; and Mr . Kent i ndi ct ed Par sons and hi swi f e, hi s daught er , Mar y Fr azer t he ser vant , t he Rever end Mr . Moor ,

and a t r adesman, t wo of t he most pr omi nent pat r ons of t he decept i on,f or a conspi r acy. The t r i al came on i n t he Cour t of Ki ng' s Bench, ont he 10t h of J ul y, bef or e Lor d Chi ef - J ust i ce Mansf i el d, when, af t eran i nvest i gat i on whi ch l ast ed t wel ve hour s, t he whol e of t heconspi r at or s wer e f ound gui l t y. The Rever end Mr . Moor and hi s f r i endwere sever el y r epr i manded i n open cour t , and r ecommended t o makesome pecuni ary compensat i on t o t he pr osecut or f or t he asper si onst hey had been i nst r ument al i n t hr owi ng upon hi s character . Par sonswas sent enced t o st and t hr ee t i mes i n t he pi l l or y, and t o bei mpr i soned f or t wo year s: hi s wi f e t o one year ' s, and hi s servant t osi x mont hs' i mpr i sonment i n t he Br i dewel l . A pr i nt er , who had been

empl oyed by t hem t o publ i sh an account of t he pr oceedi ngs f or t hei rpr of i t , was al so f i ned f i f t y pounds, and di schar ged.

The pr eci se manner i n whi ch t he decept i on was car r i ed on hasnever been expl ai ned. The knocki ng i n t he wal l appear s t o have beent he wor k of Par sons' wi f e, whi l e t he scr at chi ng par t of t he busi nesswas l ef t t o t he l i t t l e gi r l . That any cont r i vance so cl umsy coul dhave decei ved anybody, cannot f ai l t o exci t e our wonder . But t hus i tal ways i s. I f t wo or t hr ee per sons can onl y be f ound t o t ake t he

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l ead i n any absur di t y, however gr eat , t her e i s sur e t o be pl ent y ofi mi t at or s. Li ke sheep i n a f i el d, i f one cl ear s the st i l e, t he r estwi l l f ol l ow.

About t en years af t erwards, London was agai n al armed by t hest or y of a haunt ed house. St ockwel l , near Vauxhal l , t he scene of t heant i cs of t hi s new ghost , became al most as cel ebr at ed i n t he annal sof super st i t i on as Cock Lane. Mr s. Gol di ng, an el der l y l ady, whor esi ded al one wi t h her servant , Anne Robi nson, was sor el y sur pr i sedon t he eveni ng of Twel f t h- Day, 1772, t o observe a most ext r aor di narycommot i on among her cr ockery. Cups and saucer s r at t l ed down t hechi mney - - pot s and pans wer e whi r l ed down st ai r s, or t hr ough t hewi ndows; and hams, cheeses, and l oaves of br ead di sport ed t hemsel vesupon t he f l oor as i f t he devi l wer e i n t hem. Thi s, at l east , was t heconcl usi on t hat Mr s. Gol di ng came t o; and bei ng gr eat l y al armed, shei nvi t ed some of her nei ghbour s t o st ay wi t h her , and pr ot ect herf r om t he evi l one. Thei r pr esence, however , di d not put a st op t ot he i nsur r ect i on of chi na, and ever y r oom i n t he house was i n a

shor t t i me st r ewed wi t h t he f r agment s. The chai r s and t abl es j oi ned,at l ast , i n t he t umul t s, and t hi ngs l ooked al t oget her so ser i ous andi nexpl i cabl e, t hat t he nei ghbour s, dr eadi ng t hat t he house i t sel fwoul d next be sei zed wi t h a f i t of mot i on, and t umbl e about t hei rear s, l ef t poor Mr s. Gol di ng t o bear t he br unt of i t by her sel f . Theghost i n t hi s case was sol emnl y r emonst r ated wi t h, and ur ged t o t akei t s depar t ur e; but t he demol i t i on cont i nui ng as gr eat as bef or e,Mr s. Gol di ng f i nal l y made up her mi nd t o qui t t he house al t oget her .She t ook r ef uge wi t h Anne Robi nson i n t he house of a nei ghbour ; buthi s gl ass and crocker y bei ng i mmedi atel y subj ect ed t o t he sameper secut i on, he was r el uct ant l y compel l ed t o gi ve her not i ce t o

qui t . The ol d l ady t hus f orced back t o her own house, endur ed t hedi st ur bance f or some days l onger , when suspect i ng t hat Anne Robi nsonwas t he cause of al l t he mi schi ef , she di smi ssed her f r om herser vi ce. The ext r aor di nary appear ances i mmedi at el y ceased, and werenever af t er war ds r enewed; a f act whi ch i s of i t sel f suf f i ci ent t opoi nt out t he r eal di st ur ber . A l ong t i me af t er war ds, Anne Robi nsonconf essed t he whol e mat t er t o t he Rever end Mr . Br ay f i el d. Thi sgent l eman conf i ded t he st ory t o Mr . Hone, who has publ i shed anexpl anat i on of t he myst er y. Anne, i t appears, was anxi ous t o have acl ear house, t o car r y on an i nt r i gue wi t h her l over , and r esor t ed t ot hi s t r i ck to ef f ect her pur pose. She pl aced t he chi na on t he

shel ves i n such a manner t hat i t f el l on t he sl i ght est mot i on, andat t ached hor se- hai r s t o ot her ar t i cl es, so t hat she coul d j er k t hemdown f r om an adj oi ni ng r oom wi t hout bei ng per cei ved by any one. Shewas exceedi ngl y dext er ous at t hi s sort of work, and woul d havepr oved a f or mi dabl e r i val t o many a j uggl er by pr of essi on. A f ul lexpl anat i on of t he whol e af f ai r may be f ound i n the "Ever y- dayBook. "

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The l at est i nst ance of t he popul ar pani c occasi oned by a housesupposed t o be haunt ed, occur r ed i n Scot l and, i n t he wi nt er of t heyear 1838. On t he 5t h of December , t he i nmat es of t he f arm- house ofBal dar r och, i n t he di st r i ct of Banchor y, Aber deenshi r e, wer e al ar medby observi ng a gr eat number of st i cks, pebbl e- st ones, and cl ods ofear t h f l yi ng about t hei r yar d and pr emi ses. They endeavour ed, but i nvai n, t o di scover who was t he del i nquent ; and t he shower of st onescont i nui ng f or f i ve days i n successi on, t hey came at l ast t o t heconcl usi on t hat t he devi l and hi s i mps wer e al one t he cause of i t . The r umour soon spread over al l t hat par t of t he count r y, andhundr eds of per sons came f r om f ar and near t o wi t ness t he ant i cs oft he devi l s of Bal dar r och. Af t er t he f i f t h day, t he shower of cl odsand st ones ceased on t he out si de of t he pr emi ses, and t he sceneshi f t ed t o t he i nt er i or . Spoons, kni ves, pl at es, must ar d- pot s,r ol l i ng- pi ns, and f l at - i r ons appear ed suddenl y endued wi t h the powerof sel f - mot i on, and wer e whi r l ed f r om r oom t o r oom, and r at t l ed downt he chi mneys i n a manner whi ch nobody coul d account f or . The l i d ofa must ar d- pot was put i nt o a cupboar d by t he servant - gi r l i n t he

pr esence of scor es of peopl e, and i n a f ew mi nut es af t erwards camebounci ng down t he chi mney t o t he const ernat i on of everybody. Therewas al so a t r emendous knocki ng at t he door s and on t he roof , andpi eces of st i ck and pebbl e- st ones r at t l ed agai nst t he wi ndows andbroke t hem. The whol e nei ghbourhood was a scene of al ar m; and notonl y the vul gar , but per sons of educat i on, r espect abl e f ar mer s,wi t hi n a ci r cl e of t went y mi l es, expr essed t hei r bel i ef i n t hesuper nat ur al char act er of t hese event s, and of f er ed up devoutpr ayer s t o be pr eserved f r om t he machi nat i ons of t he Evi l One. Thenot e of f ear bei ng once sounded, t he vi si t er s, as i s gener al l y t hecase i n al l t al es of wonder , st r ove wi t h each ot her who shoul d

wi t ness t he most ext r aor di nar y occur r ences; and wi t hi n a week, i twas gener al l y bel i eved i n t he par i shes of Banchory- Ter nan, Dr umoak,Dur r i s, Ki ncar di ne- O' Nei l , and al l t he ci r cumj acent di st r i cts ofMearns and Aber deenshi r e, t hat t he devi l had been seen i n t he act ofhammer i ng upon t he house- t op of Bal dar r och. One ol d man asser t edposi t i vel y t hat , one ni ght , af t er havi ng been t o see t he st r angegambol s of t he kni ves and must ard- pot s, he met t he phant om of agr eat bl ack man, "who wheel ed r ound hi s head wi t h a whi zzi ng noi se,maki ng a wi nd about hi s ear s t hat al most bl ew hi s bonnet of f , " andt hat he was haunt ed by hi m i n t hi s manner f or t hr ee mi l es. I t wasal so af f i r med and bel i eved, t hat al l hor ses and dogs t hat appr oached

t hi s enchant ed gr ound, wer e i mmedi at el y af f ect ed - - t hat agent l eman, sl ow of f ai t h, had been cur ed of hi s i ncr edul i t y bymeet i ng the but t er - chur n j umpi ng i n at t he door as he hi msel f wasgoi ng out - - t hat t he r oof s of houses had been t or n of f , and t hatsever al r i cks i n t he cor n- yar d had danced a quadr i l l e t oget her , t ot he sound of t he devi l ' s bagpi pes r e- echoi ng f r om t he mount ai n- t ops. The women i n t he f ami l y of t he persecut ed f ar mer of Bal dar r och al sokept t hei r t ongues i n per pet ual mot i on; swel l i ng wi t h t hei r st r angest or i es t he t i de of popul ar wonder . The good wi f e her sel f , and al l

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her servant s, sai d t hat , whenever t hey went t o bed, t hey wer eat t acked wi t h st ones and ot her mi ss i l es, some of whi ch came bel owt he bl anket s and gent l y tapped t hei r t oes. One eveni ng, a shoesuddenl y dar t ed across a garr et wher e some l abour er s wer e si t t i ng,and one of t he men, who at t empt ed t o catch i t , swore posi t i vel y thati t was so hot and heavy he was unabl e t o hol d i t . I t was al so sai dt hat t he bear beat er ( a sor t of mor t ar used t o br ui se bar l ey i n) - -an obj ect of such wei ght t hat i t r equi r es sever al men t o move i t - -spont aneousl y l ef t t he bar n and f l ew over t he house- t op, al i ght i ngat t he f eet of one of t he ser vant mai ds, and hi t t i ng her , butwi t hout hur t i ng her i n t he l east , or even causi ng her any al ar m; i tbei ng a f act wel l known t o her , t hat al l obj ect s t hus t hr own aboutby the devi l l ost t hei r speci f i c gr avi t y, and coul d har m nobody,even t hough t hey f el l upon a person' s head.

Among t he per sons dr awn t o Bal dar r och by t hese occurr ences weret he her i t or , t he mi ni st er , and al l t he el der s of t he Ki r k, underwhose super i ntendence an i nvest i gat i on was i mmedi at el y commenced.

Thei r proceedi ngs wer e not promul gat ed f or some days; and, i n t hemean t i me, r umour cont i nued to t r avel t hr ough al l t he Hi ghl ands,magni f yi ng each myst er i ous i nci dent t he f ur t her i t got f r om home. I twas sai d, t hat when t he goodwi f e put her pot at o- pot on t he f i r e,each pot at o, as t he wat er boi l ed, changed i nt o a demon, and gr i nnedhor r i bl y at her as she l i f t ed t he l i d; t hat not onl y chai r s andt abl es, but car r ot s and t ur ni ps, ski pped al ong t he f l oor i n t hemer r i est manner i magi nabl e; t hat shoes and boot s went t hr ough al lt he evol ut i ons of t he Hi ghl and f l i ng wi t hout any vi si bl e wear er sdi r ect i ng t hei r mot i ons; and t hat a pi ece of meat det ached i t sel ff r om t he hook on whi ch i t hung i n t he pant r y, and pl aced i t sel f

bef or e t he f i r e, whence al l t he ef f or t s of t he peopl e of t he housewer e unabl e t o r emove i t unt i l i t was t hor oughl y roast ed; and t hati t t hen f l ew up t he chi mney wi t h a t r emendous bang. At Bal dar r ochi t sel f t he bel i ef was not qui t e so ext r avagant ; but t he f ar mer wasso convi nced t hat t he devi l and hi s i mps wer e al one t he cause of al lt he di st ur bance, t hat he t r avel l ed a di st ance of f or t y mi l es t o anol d conj ur or , named Wi l l i e Foreman, t o i nduce hi m, f or a handsomef ee, t o r emove t he enchant ment f r om hi s pr oper t y. Ther e wer e, ofcour se, some sensi bl e and educat ed peopl e, who, af t er st r i ppi ng t hest or i es ci r cul at ed of t hei r exagger at i on, at t r i but ed al l t he r est t oone or ot her of t wo causes; f i r st , t hat some gi psi es, or st r ol l i ng

mendi cant s, hi dden i n t he nei ghbour i ng pl ant at i on, wer e amusi ngt hemsel ves by wor ki ng on t he cr edul i t y of t he count r y peopl e; or ,secondl y, t hat t he i nmat es of Bal dar r och car r i ed on t hi s decept i ont hemsel ves, f or some r eason or other , whi ch was not ver y cl ear t oanybody. The l ast opi ni on gai ned but f ew bel i ever s, as t he f ar merand hi s f ami l y were much r espect ed; and so many persons had, i n themost open manner , expr essed t hei r bel i ef i n t he super natur al agency,t hat t hey di d not l i ke t o st ul t i f y t hemsel ves by conf essi ng t hatt hey had been decei ved.

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At l ast , af t er a f or t ni ght ' s cont i nuance of t he noi ses, t hewhol e t r i ck was di scover ed. The t wo ser vant l asses wer e st r i ct l yexami ned, and t hen commi t t ed t o pr i son. I t appear ed t hat t hey wereal one at t he bot t om of t he whol e af f ai r , and t hat t he ext r aor di nar yal ar m and credul i t y of t hei r mast er and mi st r ess, i n t he f i r sti nst ance, and of t he nei ghbour s and count r y peopl e af t er wards, madet hei r t ask compar at i vel y easy. A l i t t l e common dext er i t y was al lt hey had used; and, bei ng t hemsel ves unsuspect ed, t hey swel l ed t heal ar m by t he wonder f ul st or i es t hey i nvent ed. I t was t hey whol oosened t he br i cks i n t he chi mneys, and pl aced t he di shes i n such amanner on t he shel ves, t hat t hey f el l on t he sl i ght est mot i on. I nshor t , t hey pl ayed t he same t r i cks as t hose used by the servant gi r lat St ockwel l , wi t h t he same r esul t s, and f or t he same pur pose - - t hegr at i f i cat i on of a l ove of mi schi ef . They wer e no sooner secur ed i nt he count y gaol t han t he noi ses ceased, and most peopl e wereconvi nced t hat human agency al one had wor ked al l t he wonder . Somef ew of t he most devout l y super st i t i ous st i l l hel d out i n t hei r f i r st

bel i ef and r ef used t o l i st en t o any expl anat i on

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