THE WITCH-FINDER; OR, The Wisdom of our Ancestors. BY THOMAS GASPEY, 6. THE LOLLARDS," AUTHOR OF 99.66 OTHER TIMES," PREFACE. WHEN the following pages first saw the light they were written but as the exposition of obsolete opinions and extravagances. Recent facts show the wretched delusions which prevailed in England two centuries ago, still survive in various places within its limits; and scenes held to be a satire on the "wisdom of our ancestors" may be almost mistaken for a somewhat exaggerated picture of ourselves. That ferocious piety which pursued to death unfortunates who ought to have been soothed and benevolently assisted has not yet been awakened; but fancies as startling and as strange as those of former ages, have been indulged in regard to communications from the world of darkness, and solemnly vouched for as truths by ministers of religion. Happily, should their conviction that Satan makes his ideas known to men through certain articles of household furniture become that of the whole nation, humanity will be less shocked, and it will be much more easy to baffle and turn the tables upon him, by burning the wooden vehicles pressed into the service of his infernal majesty, than by committing poor aged or deranged women to the flames. |