WITCHCRAFT, the practices of witches; a supernatural power which persons were formerly supposed to ob taro by entering into a compact with the devil. The compact was sometimes ex press, whether oral or written, when the witch abjured God and Christ, and ded icated herself wholly to the evil one or only implied, when she actually en gaged in the service, practiced infernal arts, and renounced the sacraments of the Church. The express compact was sometimes solemnly confirmed at a gen eral meeting, at which the devil pre sided, and sometimes privately made by the witch signing the articles of agree ment with her own blood, or by the devil writing her name in his "black book." The contract was sometimes of indefinite duration, at other times for a certain number of years. The witch was bound to be obedient to the devil in everything, while the other party to the act delivered to the witch an imp, or familiar spirit, to be ready at call and to do whatever was directed. He fur ther engaged that they should want for nothing, and be able to assume what ever shape they pleased to visit and tor ment their enemies and accomplish their infernal ends. The belief in witchcraft is of great antiquity. The punishment for witchcraft was death, generally by burning. The number of people put to death in England has been estimated at about 30,000. Statutes were passed against witchcraft in the reigns of Henry VI., Henry VII. (1541), Eliza beth (1563), and James I. (1604). Dur ing the sitting of the Long Parliament 3,000 persons are said to have been executed on the charge of witchcraft. Judicial convictions were checked chiefly by the firmness of Judge Holt, who in about 10 trials, from 1694 to 1701, charged the juries in such a manner as to cause them to bring in verdicts of ac quittal.
The first law against witchcraft in Scotland was passed in 1563. The last victims in England were Mrs. Hickes and her daughter, nine years of age, executed in 1716, and the last in Scot land suffered in 1722. Prosecution for
witchcraft was abolished both in Eng land and in Scotland by 9 George II. (1736), which made all persons pretend ing to use the name punishable by im prisonment. By a subsequent act passed in the reign of George IV., they were made punishable as rogues and vaga bonds. Witchcraft was first practiced in America in 1692 at Salem, Mass. It broke out in the family of Mr. Parish, a minister. A company of girls had been in the habit of meeting a West Indian slave to study "black art." They sud denly began to act mysteriously, bark like dogs, and scream at something un seen. An old Indian servant was ac cased of bewitching them. The excite • ment spread and impeachments multi ) plied. A special court was formed to • try the accused, and as a result the jails rapidly filled, and many were con . demned to death. It was unsafe to ex press a doubt of a prisoner's guilt. Fifty ' five persons suffered torture, and 20 were executed. Witches were supposed • to be able, with the assistance of the • devil, not only to foretell events, but to produce mice and vermin, to deprive men and animals, by touching them or merely breathing on them, of their natural powers, and to afflict them with diseases, to raise storms, etc., to change them selves into cats and other beasts, etc. General assemblies of witches, called "Witches' Sabbaths," were held yearly, or oftener, at which they appeared en tirely naked, and besmeared with an ointment made from the bodies of un baptized infants. To these meetings they were supposed to ride from great distances on broomsticks, pokers, goats, hogs, or dogs, the devil taking the chair under the form of a goat. Here they did homage to their master, and offered him sacrifices of young children, etc., and practiced all sorts of license till cock-crowing. Neophytes were intro duced to the devil at these meetings, and received his mark on their bodies, in token that they had sold their souls to him. See DEMONOLOGY: DEVIL.