Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/262

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Organisations of Witches in Great Britain.

2. Eating and drinking in the heathen temple, (a) in ignorance, (b) after being told by the priest that it is sacrilege and the table of devils, (c] as a cult of devils and in honour of idols.

5. Not only celebrating feasts in the abominable places of the heathen and offering food there, but also consuming it.

7. Anyone found serving this hidden idolatry, having relinquished Christ, and given himself up to idolatry.

19. If anyone at the kalends of January goes about as a stag or a bull; that is, making himself into a wild animal, and dressing in the skin of a herd animal, and putting on the heads of beasts; those who in such wise transform themselves into the appearance of a wild animal, penance for three years; because this is devilish.


7th cent. Laws of King Wihtraed.

Fines for offerings to devils.


8th cent. Ecgbert, Archbishop of York, Confessionale.

Against offerings to devils. Witchcraft. Auguries according to the methods of the heathen. Vows paid or loosed or confirmed at wells, stones, and trees. Gathering of herbs with any incantation except Christian prayers.


8th cent. Law of the Northumbrian Priests.

48. If then anyone be found that shall henceforth practise any heathenships, either by sacrifice or by fyrt, or in any way love witchcraft, or worship idols, if he be a king's thane, let him pay x half-marks; half to Christ, half to the king.

67. We are all to love and worship one God, and strictly hold one Christianity, and totally renounce all heathenship.


9th cent. Decree attributed to a Council of Anquira.

Some wicked women, reverting to Satan, and seduced by the illusions and phantasms of demons, believe and profess that they ride at night with Diana on certain beasts, with an innumerable multitude of women, passing over