Addison, Joseph: Remarks on several parts of Italy: &c. in the years 1701, 1702, 1703 (London: Tonson, 1718)

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e indeed
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craft reigns very much in this Country-
I have often been tired with Accounts
of this Nature from very sensible Men,
that are molt of them furnish’d with
ters of Fa& which have happened,
as they pretend, within the compals of
their own Knowledge, It is certain
there have been many Executions on this
Account, as in the Canton of -Smnhere
were some put to Death during my
Stay at Gene-va. The People are so u-
niversally infatuated with the Notion,
that if a Cow falls lick, it is Ten to
One but an Old Woman is clapt up in
Prison for it, and if the poor Creature
chance to think her self a Witch, the
whole Country is for hanging her up
without Mercy. One finds indeed the
same Humour prevail in most of the
rocky Barren Parts of Europe. Whe-
ther it be that Poverty and Ignorance,
which are generally the Products of
these Countries, may really engage a
Wretch in such dark Practices, or whe-
ther or no the same Principles may not
render the People too credulous, and
perhaps too easy to get rid of some of
their unprofitable Members.
A great Affair that employs the Swift
Politicks at present is the Prince of Con^
ti's Succession to the Dutchess of Ne-
S 4 moun