Identifier: chroniclesofcrim01pelh (find matches)
Title: The chronicles of crime, or The new Newgate calendar. Being a series of memoirs and anecdotes of notorious characters who have outraged the laws of Great Britain from the earliest period to the present time including a number of curious cases never before published. Embellished with fifty-two engravings, from original drawings by "Phiz" (pseud.)
Year: 1841 (1840s)
Authors: Pelham, Camden, pseud Browne, Hablot Knight, 1815-1882. illus. cn
Subjects: Crime Criminals
Publisher: London, T. Tegg (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh Library System

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A few anecdotes upon the subject of the belief in witchcraft, in former
days, we trust will not prove uninteresting to our readers.
The reign of James the Sixth of Scotland, and First of England, may be
said to have been the witchcraft age of Great Britain. Scotland had
always been a sort of fairy land ; but it remained for that sagacious prince,
at a time when knowledge was beginning to dispel the mists of supersti-
tion, to contribute, by his authority and writings, to resolve a prejudice of
education into an article of religious belief amongst the Scottish people.
He wrote and published a Treatise on Dæmonologie ; the purpose of
which was, to resolve the doubting hearts of many, as to the fearful
abounding of those detestable slaves of the Devil, witches, or enchanters.
The authority of Scripture was perverted, to show, not only the possibility,
but certainty, that such " detestable scenes " do exist; and many most
ridiculous stories of evil enchantment were added, to establish their
" fearful abounding." The treatise, which is in the form of a dialogue,
treats also of the punishment which such crimes deserve; concluding, that
Text Appearing After Image:

MEETING OF WITCHES
P. 468

Landon,Published by Thomas Tegg,Cheapside,Nov^r.1,1840.

THE NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 469

"no sex, age, nor rank, should be excused from the punishment of death,
according to the law of God, the civil and imperial law, and the municipal
law of ail Christian nations. In answer to the question, What to judge
of deathe, I pray you ?" The answer is, "It is commonlie used by fyre,
but there is an indifterent thing to be used in every country, according to
the law or custume thereof."
Such, in fact, was the cruel and barbarous law of James's native country ;
and such became the law also of England, when he succeeded to the sceptre
of Elizabeth. Many hundreds of unfortunate creatures, in both countries,
became its victims, suftering death ignominiously, for an impossible offence:
neither sex, nor age, nor rank, as James had sternly enjoined, was spared;
and it was the most helpless and inoffensive, such as aged and lone women,
who were most exposed to its malignant operation.
There were persons regularly employed in hunting out, and bringing to
punishment, those unfortunate beings suspected of witchcraft.

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