Astoargument，theseeffortsweremetespeciallybyJeanBodininhisfamousbook，theDemonomaniedesSorciers，publishedin1580。ItwasaworkofgreatpowerbyamanjustlyconsideredtheleadingthinkerinFrance，andperhapsinEurope。Allthelearningofthetime，divineandhuman，hemarshalledinsupportoftheprevailingtheory。WithinexorablelogicheshowedthatboththeveracityofsacredScriptureandtheinfallibilityofalonglineofpopesandcouncilsoftheChurchwerepledgedtoit，andinaneloquentpassagethisgreatpublicistwarnedrulersandjudgesagainstanymercytowitches——citingtheexampleofKingAhabcondemnedbytheprophettodieforhavingpardonedamanworthyofdeath，andpointingsignificantlytoKingCharlesIXofFrance，who，havingpardonedasorcerer，diedsoonafterward。[253]
[253]Totheargumentcitedabove，Bodinadds：“Idcertissimamdaemonispraesentiamsignificat；namubicunquedaemonescumhominibusnefariasocietatisfidecopulantur，foedissimumsemperrelinquuntsulphurisodorem，quodsortilegisaepissimeexperiunturetconfitentur。”SeeBodin’sUniversaeNaturaeTheatrum，Frankfort，1597，pp。208-211。ThefirsteditionofthebookbyPomponatius，whichwastheearliestofhiswritings，isexcessivelyrare，butitwasreprintedatVenicejustahalf-
centurylater。ItisinhisDeincantationibus，however，thathespeaksespeciallyofdevils。AstoPomponatius，see，besidesthese，Creighton’sHistoryofthePapacyduringtheReformation，andanexcellentessayinFranck’sMoralistesetPhilosophes。
ForAgrippa，seehisbiographybyProf。HenryMorley，London，1856。ForBodin，seeastatementofhisgenerallineofargumentinLecky，RationalisminEurope，vol。i，chap。1。
Inthelastyearsofthesixteenthcenturythepersecutionsforwitchcraftandmagicwerethereforeespeciallycruel；andinthewesterndistrictsofGermanythemaininstrumentinthemwasBinsfeld，SuffraganBishopofTreves。
AtthattimeCorneliusLooswasaprofessorattheuniversityofthatcity。Hewasadevotedchurchman，andoneofthemostbrilliantopponentsofProtestantism，buthefinallysawthroughtheprevailingbeliefregardingoccultpowers，andinanevilhourforhimselfembodiedhisideainabookentitledTrueandFalseMagic。Thebook，thoughearnest，wastemperate，butthishelpedhimandhiscausenotatall。ThetextsofScriptureclearlysanctioningbeliefinsorceryandmagicstoodagainsthim，andthesehadbeenconfirmedbytheinfallibleteachingsoftheChurchandthepopesfromtimeimmemorial；thebookwasstoppedinthepress，themanuscriptconfiscated，andLoosthrownintoadungeon。
Theinquisitorshavingwroughttheirwilluponhim，inthespringof1593hewasbroughtoutofprison，forcedtorecantonhiskneesbeforetheassembleddignitariesoftheChurch，andthenceforwardkeptconstantlyundersurveillanceandattimesinprison。Eventhiswasconsideredtoolightapunishment，andhisarch-enemy，theJesuitDelrio，declaredthat，butforhisdeathbytheplague，hewouldhavebeenfinallysenttothestake。[254]
[254]WhatremainsofthemanuscriptofLoos，whichuntilrecentlywassupposedtobelost，wasfound，hiddenawayontheshelvesoftheoldJesuitlibraryatTreves，byMr。GeorgeLincolnBurr，nowaprofessoratCornellUniversity；andProf。
Burr’scopyofthemanuscriptisnowinthelibraryofthatinstitution。Forafullaccountofthediscoveryanditssignificance，seetheNewYorkNationforNovember11，1886。Thefactsregardingtheafter-lifeofLooswerediscoveredbyProf。
BurrinmanuscriptrecordsatBrussels。
Thatthisthreatwasnotunmeaninghadbeenseenafewyearsearlierinacaseevenmorenoted，andinthesamecity。Duringthelastdecadesofthesixteenthcentury，DietrichFlade，aneminentjurist，wasrectoroftheUniversityofTreves，andchiefjudgeoftheElectoralCourt，andinthelattercapacityhehadtopassjudgmentuponpersonstriedonthecapitalchargeofmagicandwitchcraft。Foratimeheyieldedtothelonglineofauthorities，ecclesiasticalandjudicial，supportingtherealityofthiscrime；butheatlastseemstohaverealizedthatitwasunreal，andthattheconfessionsinhistorturechamber，ofcompactswithSatan，ridingonbroomstickstothewitch-sabbath，raisingtempests，producingdiseases，andthelike，wereeithertheresultsofmadnessorofwillingnesstoconfessanythingandeverything，andeventodie，inordertoshortenthefearfultorturestowhichtheaccusedwereinallcasessubjecteduntilasatisfactoryconfessionwasobtained。
OnthisconvictionoftheunrealityofmanyatleastofthechargesFladeseemstohaveacted，andheatoncereceivedhisreward。HewasarrestedbytheauthorityofthearchbishopandchargedwithhavingsoldhimselftoSatan——thefactofhishesitationinthepersecutionbeingperhapswhatsuggestedhisguilt。Hewasnow，inhisturn，broughtintothetorturechamberoverwhichhehadoncepresided，wasrackeduntilheconfessedeverythingwhichhistorturerssuggested，andfinally，in1589，wasstrangledandburnt。
OfthattrialarecordexistsinthelibraryofCornellUniversityintheshapeoftheoriginalminutesofthecase，andamongthemthedepositionsofFladewhenundertorture，takendownfromhisownlipsinthetorturechamber。Inthesedepositionsthisreveredandvenerablescholarandjuristacknowledgedthetruthofeveryabsurdchargebroughtagainsthim——anything，everything，whichwouldendthefearfultorture：
comparedwiththat，deathwasnothing。[255]
[255]ForthecaseofFlade，seethecarefulstudybyProf。Burr，TheFateofDietrichFlade，inthePapersoftheAmericanHistoricalAssociation，1891。
Norwasevenapriestsecurewhoventuredtorevealtheunrealityofmagic。WhenFriedrichSpee，theJesuitpoetofwesternGermany，found，intakingtheconfessionsofthoseabouttobeexecutedformagic，thatwithoutexception，justwhenabouttoentereternityandutterlybeyondhopeofpardon，theyallretractedtheirconfessionsmadeundertorture，hissympathiesasamanroseabovehisloyaltytohisorder，andhepublishedhisCautioCriminalisasawarning，statingwithentiremoderationthefactshehadobservedandthenecessityofcare。Buthedidnotdarepublishitunderhisownname，nordidheevendarepublishitinaCatholictown；hegaveittotheworldanonymously，and，inordertopreventanytracingoftheworktohimthroughtheconfessional，hesecretlycausedittobepublishedintheProtestanttownofRinteln。
Norwasthisall。NothingshowssothoroughlytheholdthatthisbeliefinmagichadobtainedastheconductofSpee’spowerfulfriendandcontemporary，JohnPhilipvonSchonborn，latertheElectorandPrinceArchbishopofMayence。
Asayouth，SchonbornhadlovedandadmiredSpee，andhadespeciallynotedhispersistentmelancholyandhishairwhitenedeveninhisyoungmanhood。OnSchonborn’spressinghimforthecause，Speeatlastconfessedthathissadness，whitenedhair，andprematureoldagewereduetohisrecollectionsofthescoresofmenandwomenandchildrenwhomhehadbeenobligedtoseetorturedandsenttothescaffoldandstakeformagicandwitchcraft，whenheastheirfatherconfessorpositivelyknewthemtobeinnocent。Theresultwasthat，whenSchonbornbecameElectorandArchbishopofMayence，hestoppedthewitchpersecutionsinthatprovince，andpreventedthemaslongashelived。Butherewasshownthestrengthoftheologicalandecclesiasticaltraditionsandprecedents。Evenamansostrongbyfamilyconnections，andenjoyingsuchgreattemporalandspiritualpowerasSchonborn，darednotopenlygivehisreasonsforthischangeofpolicy。Sofarasisknown，heneverutteredawordpubliclyagainsttherealityofmagic，andunderhissuccessorintheelectoratewitchtrialswereresumed。
Thegreatupholdersoftheorthodoxviewretainedfullpossessionofthefield。ThevictoriousBishopBinsfeld，ofTreves，wroteabooktoprovethateverythingconfessedbythewitchesundertorture，especiallytheraisingofstormsandthegeneralcontrollingoftheweather，wasworthyofbelief；andthisbookbecamethroughoutEuropeastandardauthority，bothamongCatholicsandProtestants。EvenmoreinflexiblewasRemigius，criminaljudgeinLorraine。Onthetitle-pageofhismanualheboaststhatwithinfifteenyearshehadsentninehundredpersonstodeathforthisimaginarycrime。[256]
[256]ForSpeeandSchonborn，seeSoldanandotherGermanauthorities。TherearecopiesofthefirsteditionsoftheCautioCriminalisinthelibraryofCornellUniversity。
Binsfeld’sbookborethetitleofTractatusdeconfessionibusmaleficorumetsagarum。FirstpublishedatTrevesin1589，itappearedsubsequentlyfourtimesintheoriginalLatin，aswellasintwodistinctGermantranslations，andinaFrenchone。
Remigius’smanualwasentitledDaemonolatreia，andwasfirstprintedatLyonsin1595。
ProtestantismfellintothesuperstitionasfullyasCatholicism。
InthesamecenturyJohnWier，adiscipleofAgrippa，triedtoframeapioustheorywhich，whilesatisfyingorthodoxy，shoulddosomethingtocheckthefrightfulcrueltiesaroundhim。InhisbookDePraestigiisDaemonum，publishedin1563，heproclaimedhisbeliefinwitchcraft，butsuggestedthatthecompactswithSatan，journeysthroughtheaironbroomsticks，bearingchildrentoSatan，raisingstormsandproducingdiseases——towhichsomanywomenandchildrenconfessedundertorture——weredelusionssuggestedandpropagatedbySatanhimself，andthatthepersonschargedwithwitchcraftwerethereforetobeconsidered“aspossessed“——thatis，ratherassinnedagainstthansinning。[257]
[257]ForWier，orWeyer，see，besideshisownworks，theexcellentbiographybyProf。Binz，ofBonn。
ButneitherCatholicsnorProtestantswouldlistenforamomenttoanysuchsuggestion。Wierwasbitterlydenouncedandpersecuted。NordidBekker，aProtestantdivineinHolland，fareanybetterinthefollowingcentury。ForhisWorldBewitched，inwhichheventurednotonlytoquestionthedevil’spowerovertheweather，buttodenyhisbodilyexistencealtogether，hewassolemnlytriedbythesynodofhisChurchandexpelledfromhispulpit，whilehisviewswerecondemnedasheresy，andoverwhelmedwithafloodofrefutationswhosemerecataloguewouldfillpages；andthesecasesweretypicalofmany。
TheReformationhad，indeed，atfirstdeepenedthesuperstition；
thenewChurchbeinganxioustoshowitselfequallyorthodoxandzealouswiththeold。Duringthecenturyfollowingthefirstgreatmovement，theeminentLutheranjuristandtheologianBenedictCarpzov，whoseboastwasthathehadreadtheBiblefifty-threetimes，especiallydistinguishedhimselfbyhisskillindemonstratingtherealityofwitchcraft，andbyhiscrueltyindetectingandpunishingit。Thetorturechambersweresetatworkmorevigorouslythanever，andalonglineoftheologicaljuristsfollowedtomaintainthesystemandtoextendit。
Toargueagainstit，orevendoubtit，wasexceedinglydangerous。
Evenaslateasthebeginningoftheeighteenthcentury，whenChristianThomasius，thegreatestandbravestGermanbetweenLutherandLessing，begantheeffortswhichputanendtoitinProtestantGermany，hedidnotdareatfirst，boldashewas，toattackitinhisownname，butpresentedhisviewsastheuniversitythesisofanirresponsiblestudent。[258]
[258]ForThomasius，seehisvariousbigraphiesbyLudenandothers；alsothetreatisesonwitchcraftbySoldanandothers。
Manuscriptnotesofhislectures，andcopiesofhisearliestbooksonwitchcraftaswellasonotherformsoffolly，aretobefoundinthelibraryofCornellUniversity。
ThesamestubbornresistancetothegradualencroachmentofthescientificspiritupontheorthodoxdoctrineofwitchcraftwasseeninGreatBritain。TypicalastotheattitudebothofScotchandEnglishProtestantswerethetheoryandpracticeofKingJamesI，himselftheauthorofabookonDemonology，andnothingifnotatheologian。Astotheory，histreatiseonDemonologysupportedtheworstfeaturesofthesuperstition；astopractice，heorderedthelearnedandacuteworkofReginaldScot，TheDiscoverieofWitchcraft，oneofthebesttreatiseseverwrittenonthesubject，tobeburnedbythehangman，andheappliedhisownknowledgetoinvestigatingthecausesofthetempestswhichbesethisbrideonhervoyagefromDenmark。
Skilfuluseofunlimitedtorturesoonbroughtthesecausestolight。ADr。Fian，whilehislegswerecrushedinthe“boots“
andwedgesweredrivenunderhisfingernails，confessedthatseveralhundredwitcheshadgonetoseainasievefromtheportofLeith，andhadraisedstormsandtempeststodrivebacktheprincess。
WiththecominginofthePuritansthepersecutionwasevenmorelargely，systematically，andcruellydeveloped。Thegreatwitch-finder，MatthewHopkins，havinggonethroughthecountyofSuffolkandtestedmultitudesofpooroldwomenbypiercingthemwithpinsandneedles，declaredthatcountytobeinfestedwithwitches。ThereuponParliamentissuedacommission，andsenttwoeminentPresbyteriandivinestoaccompanyit，withtheresultthatinthatcountyalonesixtypersonswerehangedforwitchcraftinasingleyear。InScotlandmatterswereevenworse。TheautodafeofSpainwascelebratedinScotlandunderanothername，andwithPresbyterianministersinsteadofRomanCatholicpriestsasthemainattendants。AtLeith，in1664，ninewomenwereburnedtogether。Condemnationsandpunishmentsofwomeninbatcheswerenotuncommon。TorturewasusedfarmorefreelythaninEngland，bothindetectingwitchesandinpunishingthem。Thenaturalargumentdevelopedinhundredsofpulpitswasthis：IftheAllwiseGodpunisheshiscreatureswithtorturesinfiniteincrueltyandduration，whyshouldnothisministers，asfarastheycan，imitatehim？