42 On Popular Illuftons. 



to prove the imbecility of the perfons taxed with 

 fupernatural operations, and the infatuation or 

 knavery of their accufers. 



uiEi ?£ 'ssu^al— KatovTO &!XiJ.uai. 



lAIAA. A. 



For a confiderable time after the Inquifition was 

 ereded, the trials of witches (as heretics,) were 

 confined to that tribunal, but the goods of thofe 

 who were condemned being confifcated to the 

 holy office, its minifters were fo aflive in dif- 

 covering forcerers, that the different govern- 

 ments found it neceffary to deprive them of the 

 cognifance of this crime*. On the continent, 

 commifTioners were then appointed for the dif- 

 covery and convi6tion of witches, who, though 

 kfs adlive than the inquifitors, were but too 

 zealous in profecuting their fundlion. In 1494, 

 Sprenger and Inftitor, two perfons employed in 

 this commiflion, publifhed a coUcdion of trials, 

 mofl; of which had come before themfelves, 

 under the t\t\e o( Malleus Malejicarum -, this ferved 

 as a kind of inftitute for their fucceflbrs. Soon 

 afterwards, the appearance of Agrippa's Occult 

 Philofophy ftrengthened the delufion, although 

 that celebrated man did not credit the power of 

 forcerers f. He believed indeed in magic, but 

 it was on the principle generally allowed at that 



* Cardan. f Naude's Apolog. p. 193. 



y time. 



