DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0290
260 kirby’s wonderful museum,
HISTORY OF THE LIFE, ATROCIOUS IMPOSITIONS, TRIAL
AND EXECUTION OF
MARY BATEMAN,
THE REPUTED WITCH OF LEEDS, YORKSHIRE.
The following history of a woman, who perhaps stands
unequalled in the annals of British atrocities, naturally gives
rise to many serious reflections; but the most important is
the caution which it affords against listening to the deceitful
suggestions of pretenders in skill in the knowledge of future
events, or to a power to alter the dispensations of heaven.
Such pretenders, male or female, can be no other than im-
postors ; and those who apply to them for their advice and
assistance, or give ear to their artful stories, will reap for
their labour disappointment and misery, and perhaps in
the end be untimely precipitated out of time into eter-
nity.
It is true, that the time was, when in England, persons
were burnt by the hand of the common executioner for
witchcraft. An opinion then prevailed, that, by the aid of
some supernatural and evil agency, such a crime might be
committed. This error has long since been exploded in the
minds of well-informed people, but there are those who are
so ignorant as to suppose that such creatures as witches still
exist. It is, however, to be hoped, that if this narrative
should fall into the hands of any who entertain this ridicu-
lous notion, the catalogue of crimes which it exhibits, and
the dreadful consequences of those crimes, both to the de-
ceiver and deceived, will correct their dangerous error. God
has indeed bestowed human powers upon mankind, and left
them to a certain extent to exercise those powers either for
the benefit or injury of themselves or their fellow creatures:
but supernatural powers—those powers to which witches and
HISTORY OF THE LIFE, ATROCIOUS IMPOSITIONS, TRIAL
AND EXECUTION OF
MARY BATEMAN,
THE REPUTED WITCH OF LEEDS, YORKSHIRE.
The following history of a woman, who perhaps stands
unequalled in the annals of British atrocities, naturally gives
rise to many serious reflections; but the most important is
the caution which it affords against listening to the deceitful
suggestions of pretenders in skill in the knowledge of future
events, or to a power to alter the dispensations of heaven.
Such pretenders, male or female, can be no other than im-
postors ; and those who apply to them for their advice and
assistance, or give ear to their artful stories, will reap for
their labour disappointment and misery, and perhaps in
the end be untimely precipitated out of time into eter-
nity.
It is true, that the time was, when in England, persons
were burnt by the hand of the common executioner for
witchcraft. An opinion then prevailed, that, by the aid of
some supernatural and evil agency, such a crime might be
committed. This error has long since been exploded in the
minds of well-informed people, but there are those who are
so ignorant as to suppose that such creatures as witches still
exist. It is, however, to be hoped, that if this narrative
should fall into the hands of any who entertain this ridicu-
lous notion, the catalogue of crimes which it exhibits, and
the dreadful consequences of those crimes, both to the de-
ceiver and deceived, will correct their dangerous error. God
has indeed bestowed human powers upon mankind, and left
them to a certain extent to exercise those powers either for
the benefit or injury of themselves or their fellow creatures:
but supernatural powers—those powers to which witches and