I/O The Book of Cats, 



by a water ordeal, to see if they would sink or 

 swin. He says that he swam many, and watched 

 them for four nights together, keeping them stand- 

 ing or walking till their feet were blistered ; " the 

 reason" as he says, " was to prevent their couching 

 down ; for indeed, when they be suffered to couch, 

 immediately come their familiars in the room, and 

 scareth the watchers, and heartneth (encourageth) 

 the witch." 



This swimming experiment, which was deemed 

 a full proof of guilt if any one subjected to it did 

 not sink, but floated on the surface of the water, 

 was one of the ordeals especially recommended 

 by our king, James I., who, in a work upon the 

 subject, among other things, assigned this some- 

 what ridiculous reason for its pretended infallibi- 

 lity: — " That as such persons had renounced their 

 baptism by water, so the water refuses to receive 

 them." Consequently, those who were accused 

 of diabolical practices, were tied neck and heels 

 together, and tossed into a pond ; if they floated 

 or swam they were guilty, and therefore taken 

 out and hanged or burnt ; if they were innocent, 

 they were drowned. Of this method of trial by 

 water ordeal, Scot observes : " that a woman above 

 the age of fifty years, and being bound both hand 



