68 On Popular Bluftons. 



for the populace would ftone a magiftrate •whcr 

 inclined to fhew them mercy*. 



The folemn meetings of witches are fuppofed 

 to be put beyond all doubt, by the numerous 

 confeflions of criminals, who have defcribed 

 their ceremonies, named the times and places 

 of meeting, and the pe.rfons prefent, and who 

 have agreed in their relations, though feparately 

 delivered (n). But I would obferve, firft, that 

 the circumftances told of thofe feftivals are 

 ridiculous and incredible in themfelves ; for 

 they are reprefented as gloomy and horrible, 

 yet with a mixture of childifh and extravagant 

 fancies, more likely to difgufl: and alienate than 

 to conciliate the minds of the guefts. They 

 have every appearance of uneafy dreams j Ibme- 

 times the devil and his ivMytdi^ Jay mafsy fome- 

 times he preaches to them, more commonly he 

 was ktn in form of a black goat, furrounded 

 by imps in a thoufand frightful fhapesj but none 

 of thefe forms are newy they all refemble known 

 quadrupeds or reptiles. Secondly, I obferve, that 

 there is direfl proof furnifhed even by demo- 

 nologiftsf, that all thefe fuppofed journies and 

 entertainments are nothing more than dreams. 

 Perfons accufed of witchcraft have been repeat- 

 edly watched, about the time which they had 

 fixed foi the meeting j they have been feen to 



• Demonom. p. 317. f- Hoffman in particular. 



anoint 



