THE SUFFOLK WITCHES. 481 



one of aforesaid little things, and threw it into the fire, 

 where it did screech. 



Once the younger child, being out of her fits, went out 

 of the door to take fresh air, and did open her mouth, when 

 a little thing like to a bee did fly in her face and would 

 have gone into her mouth. Then did the child run in all 

 haste to the door to get into the house, i skreeking' in a most 

 terrible manner. Then followed swoundings ; and then came 

 up the inevitable twopenny-nail. 



i How did she come by the aforesaid nail T 



The bee brought it, and forced it into her mouth. Often 

 bees did come bearing pins, nails, and such-like things be- 

 tween their teeth /' 



Thus goes on the evidence to farther lengths than space 

 permits me to record, or than circumstances make necessary. 

 Sir Matthew Hale has been stigmatised for the part he took 

 in the trial and condemnation of these Suffolk witches ; stig- 

 matised would it not seem unjustly ? A judge has not to 

 make laws, but to administer laws as he finds them. If in 

 Sir Matthew Hale's time there existed an act of parliament 

 against witches, as there did so exist, then, as presiding judge 

 on the occasion referred to, he would really have had no 

 option. 



Considering this great judge's private opinion in respect 

 to witches, the confession, I Yhink, must be made that witch- 

 craft, in respect to the amount of credulity which belief in 

 it imposes, does not draw so deeply on the fountains of faith 

 as do certain beliefs in spirits and the doings of spirits which 

 even now prevail. Authority, powerful authority, favoured 

 the belief in wizards and witches; ay, for that matter, the 

 authority exists to this very time, never having been re- 

 voked. 



' I would have no compassion on these witches,' Luther 

 could say; 'I would burn them all.' Then does Luther 

 expatiate with fervour on the burning of witches, informing 



II 



