] _Farington Papers_ (Chetham Soc, no. 39, 1856), 27.

[27] _Hist. MSS. Comm. Reports_, XII, 2, p. 77.

[28] _Ibid._, p. 80.

[29] Baines, _Lancaster_, ed. of 1868-1870, II, 12. Utley, who was a
professed conjurer, was alleged to have bewitched to death one Assheton.

[30] _Travels in Holland, the United Provinces, England, Scotland and
Ireland, 1634-1635, by Sir William Brereton, Bart._ (Chetham Soc., no.
1. 1844), 33.

[31] (London, 1635.) As to Heywood see also chapter X.

[32] The correspondent who sent a copy of the MS. to the _Gentleman's
Magazine_ signs himself "B. C. T." I have been unable to identify him.
For his account of the MS. and for its contents see _Gentleman's
Magazine_, 1832, pt. I, 405-410, 489-492.

[33] John Aubrey, _Letters written by Eminent Persons_ (London, 1813),
II, 379, says that Harvey "had made dissections of froggs, toads and a
number of other animals, and had curious observations on them." This
fits in well with the story, and in some measure goes to confirm it.

[34] For example, in 1637 the Bishop of Bath and Wells sent Joice
Hunniman to Lord Wrottesley to examine her and exonerate her. He did so,
and the bishop wrote thanking him and abusing "certain apparitors who go
about frightening the people." See _Hist. MSS. Comm. Reports_, II, app.,
p. 48. For a case of the acquittal of a witch and the exposure of the
pretended convulsions of her accuser, see _Cal. St. P., Dom., 1635_,
477. For example of suits for slander see North Riding Rec. Soc, IV,
182, session July 9, 1640.

[35] A solitary pamphlet of this period must be mentioned. It was
entitled: _Fearefull Newes from Coventry, or A true Relation and
Lamentable Story of one Thomas Holt of Coventry a Musitian who through
Covetousnesse and immoderate love of money, sold himselfe to the Devill,
with whom he had made a contract for certaine yeares--And also of his
Lamentable end and death, on the 16 day of February 1641_ (London,
1642). The "sad subject of this little treatise" was a musician with
nineteen children. Fearing that he would not be able to provide for
them, he is alleged to have made a contract with the Devil, who finally
broke his neck.

CHAPTER VIII.

MATTHEW HOPKINS.

In the annals of English witchcraft Matthew Hopkins occupies a place by
himself. For more than two years he was the arch-instigator in
prosecutions which, at least in the numbers of those executed, mark the
high tide of the delusion. His