st error
of all. Luther and Calvin were as firm believers in witchcraft as Pope
Innocent himself; and their followers shewed themselves more zealous
persecutors than the Romanists. Dr. Hutchinson, in his work on Witchcraft,
asserts that the mania manifested itself later in England, and raged with
less virulence than on the continent. The first assertion only is true;
for though the persecution began later both in England and Scotland, its
progress was as fearful as elsewhere.

It was not until more than fifty years after the issuing of the bull of
Innocent VIII. that the legislature of England thought fit to make any
more severe enactments against sorcery than those already in operation.
The statute of 1541 was the first that specified the particular crime of
witchcraft. At a much earlier period many persons had suffered death for
sorcery, in addition to other offences; but no executions took place for
attending the witches' sabbath, raising tempests, afflicting cattle with
barrenness, and all the fantastic trumpery of the continent. Two statutes
were passed in 1551: the first relating to false prophecies, caused
mainly, no doubt, by the impositions of Elizabeth Barton, the holy maid of
Kent, in 1534; and the second against conjuration, witchcraft, and
sorcery. But even this enactment did not consider witchcraft as penal in
itself, and only condemned to death those who, by means of spells,
incantations, or contracts with the devil, attempted the lives of their
neighbours. The statute of Elizabeth, in 1562, at last recognised
witchcraft as a crime of the highest magnitude, whether exerted or not to
the injury of the lives, limbs, and possessions of the community. From
that date the persecution may be fairly said to have commenced in England.
It reached its climax in the early part of the seventeenth century, which
was the hottest period of the mania all over Europe.

A few cases of witch persecution in the sixteenth century will enable the
reader to form a more accurate idea of the progress of this great error
than if he plunged at once into that busy period of its history when
Matthew Hopkins and his coadjutors exercised their infernal calling.
Several instances occur in England during the latter years of the reign of
Elizabeth. At this time the public mind had become pretty familiar with
the details of the crime. Bishop Jewell, in his sermons before her
majesty, used constantly to conclude them by a fervent prayer that