Theirdeeds，whetherofgoodorill，wereenshrinedinsong，andtookagreaterholdupontheimaginationbecause“versehadsanctifiedthem。“ButitwasnottillthereligiousreformersbeganthepracticeofstrainingScripturetotheseverestextremes，thatthearmofthelawwascalledupontopunishwitchcraftasacrimeperse。WhatPopeInnocentVIII。haddoneforGermanyandFrance，thepreachersoftheReformationdidfortheScottishpeople。Witchcraft，insteadofbeingamerearticleoffaith，becameenrolledinthestatutebook；andallgoodsubjectsandtrueChristianswerecalledupontotakearmsagainstit。TheninthParliamentofQueenMarypassedanactin1563，whichdecreedthepunishmentofdeathagainstwitchesandconsulterswithwitches，andimmediatelythewholebulkofthepeopleweresmittenwithanepidemicfearofthedevilandhismortalagents。
Personsinthehighestranksoflifesharedandencouragedthedelusionofthevulgar。Manywerethemselvesaccusedofwitchcraft；
andnobleladieswereshowntohavedabbledinmysticarts，andprovedtotheworldthat，iftheywerenotwitches，itwasnotforwantofthewill。
Amongthedameswhobecamenotoriousforendeavouringtoeffecttheirwickedendsbythedevil’said，maybementionedthecelebratedLadyBuccleugh，ofBranxholme，familiartoallthereadersofSirWalterScott；theCountessofLothian，theCountessofAngus，theCountessofAthol，LadyKerr，theCountessofHuntley，EuphemiaMacalzeanthedaughterofLordCliftonhall，andLadyFowlis。AmongthecelebratedoftheothersexwhowereaccusedofwizzardismwasSirLewisBallantyne，theLordJusticeClerkforScotland，who，ifwemaybelieveScotofScotstarvet，“dealtbycuriositywithawarlockcalledRichardGrahame，“andprayedhimtoraisethedevil。Thewarlockconsented，andraisedhiminpropriapersona，intheyardofhishouseintheCanongate，“atsightofwhomtheLordJusticeClerkwassoterrifiedthathetooksicknessandthereofdied。“Bysuchidlereportsasthesedidtheenviousruinthereputationofthosetheyhated，thoughitwouldappearinthiscasethatSirLewishadbeenfoolenoughtomaketheattemptofwhichhewasaccused，andthatthesuccessoftheexperimentwastheonlyapocryphalpartofthestory。
TheenemiesofJohnKnoxinventedasimilartale，whichfoundreadycredenceamongtheRomanCatholics；gladtoattachanystigmatothatgrandscourgeofthevicesoftheirchurch。ItwasreportedthatheandhissecretarywentintothechurchyardofSt。Andrew’swiththeintenttoraise“somesanctes；“butthat，byamistakeintheirconjurations，theyraisedthegreatfiendhimself，insteadofthesaintstheywishedtoconsult。ThepopularrumouraddedthatKnox’ssecretarywassofrightenedatthegreathorns，goggleeyes，andlongtailofSatan，thathewentmad，andshortlyafterwardsdied。Knoxhimselfwasbuiltofsternerstuff，andwasnottobefrightened。