POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS.

WITCHCRAFT, &C.


MACB. How now, you secret, black, and mid-night hags? What is't you do?

WITCHES. A deed without a name.

MACB.

I conjure you by that which you profess,
(Howe'er you come to know it,) answer me;
Though you untie the winds, and let them fight
Against the churches--though the yesty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up--
Though bladed corn be lodg'd, and trees blown down--
Though castles topple on their warder's heads--
Though palaces and pyramids do slope
Their heads to their foundations--though the
treasure
Of nature's germins tumble all together,
Even till destruction sicken, answer me
To what I ask you. SHAKSPEARE.

In our two preceding papers,[1] we have briefly brought before the
attention of the reader, a few of the most prominent and striking
features connected with the history of the first (as the honourable
house hath it in 1602) "of those detestable slaves of the devil,
witches, sorcerers, enchanters and conjurors." And now we proceed to