Chapter 3
'The sin of witchcraft.' We read about it, we look on it from
the outside; but we can hardly realize the terror it induced. Every
impulsive or unaccustomed action, every little nervous affection,
every ache or pain was noticed, not merely by those around the
sufferer, but by the person himself, whoever he might be, that was
acting, or being acted upon, in any but the most simple and
ordinary manner. He or she (for it was most frequently a woman or
girl that was the supposed subject) felt a desire for some unusual
kind of food — some unusual motion or rest her hand twitched, her
foot was asleep, or her leg had the cramp; and the dreadful
question immediately suggested itself, 'Is any one possessing an
evil power over me, by the help of Satan?' and perhaps they went on
