On Popular Eluftons. 6 



o 



cUlous as this may appear, it is to be found 

 among the diredlions for examining witches, in 

 Dalton's Country Juftice. The mark, fuppofed 

 to be fet by the devil on thefe unhappy creatures, 

 was one of the moll certain figns, and induftri- 

 oufly fought for; but Dalton acknowledges that 

 this mark may ftrongly refemble a flea-bice. 

 Another fign confided in by the fame writer, 

 is the appearance of the witch's familiar, that 

 is, the imp devoted to her, in confequence of 

 the demoniacal compadl. Now Glanville, in his 

 colleftions, affords feveral examples of the fa- 

 miliar appearing in Ihape of a _/?)', and Hutchin- 

 fon alTerts, that the witch finders concluded ci- 

 ther a fpider, beetle, or fly, to be the familiar, 

 if the animal was found in the fame room with 

 the witch, and could not be killed by the af- 

 fiftants. 



3. Bodinus acknowledges, that diredl proof is 

 not always to be expefted, in cafes of witchcraft; 

 in which he is followed by Dalton. So zealous 

 was the former, that he thought it jufliifiable to 

 profecute witches on the flighted fufpicions, or 

 common report ; he owned that where nothing 

 could be proved, their lives mufl: not be touched, 

 but punifliment to a certain degree he thought 

 neceflTary. The gentle infliftions of this pious 

 judge, who comprehends fifteen feveral crimes 

 under magic, were public whipping, and con- 

 demnation to the gallies. Thus, it is evident, 



the 



