JustasabsurdandeffectualwasthechargebroughtagainsttheTemplarsin1307，whentheyhadrenderedthemselvesobnoxioustothepotentatesandprelacyofChristendom。Theirwealth，theirpower，theirpride，andtheirinsolencehadraisedupenemiesoneveryside；
andeverysortofaccusationwasmadeagainstthem，butfailedtoworktheiroverthrow，untiltheterriblecryofwitchcraftwasletlooseuponthem。Thiseffecteditsobject，andtheTemplarswereextirpated。
Theywereaccusedofhavingsoldtheirsoulstothedevil，andofcelebratingalltheinfernalmysteriesofthewitches’Sabbath。Itwaspretendedthat，whentheyadmittedanoviceintotheirorder，theyforcedhimtorenouncehissalvationandcurseJesusChrist；thattheythenmadehimsubmittomanyunholyanddisgustingceremonies，andforcedhimtokisstheSuperioronthecheek，thenavel，andthebreech；andspitthreetimesuponacrucifix。Thatallthememberswereforbiddentohaveconnexionwithwomen，butmightgivethemselvesupwithoutrestrainttoeveryspeciesofunmentionabledebauchery。
Thatwhen，byanymischance，aTemplarinfringedthisorder，andachildwasborn，thewholeordermet，andtosseditaboutlikeashuttlecockfromonetotheotheruntilitexpired；thattheythenroasteditbyaslowfire，andwiththefatwhichtrickledfromitanointedthehairandbeardofalargeimageofthedevil。Itwasalsosaidthat，whenoneoftheknightsdied，hisbodywasburntintoapowder，andthenmixedwithwineanddrunkbyeverymemberoftheorder。PhilipIV，who，toexercisehisownimplacablehatred，invented，inallprobability，thegreaterpartofthesecharges，issuedordersfortheimmediatearrestofalltheTemplarsinhisdominions。ThepopeafterwardstookupthecausewithalmostasmuchfervourastheKingofFrance；andineverypartofEurope，theTemplarswerethrownintoprisonandtheirgoodsandestatesconfiscated。Hundredsofthem，whenputtotherack，confessedeventhemostpreposterousofthechargesagainstthem，andbysodoing，increasedthepopularclamourandthehopesoftheirenemies。Itistruethat，whenremovedfromtherack，theydeniedalltheyhadpreviouslyconfessed；butthiscircumstanceonlyincreasedtheoutcry，andwasnumberedasanadditionalcrimeagainstthem。Theywereconsideredinaworselightthanbefore，andcondemnedforthwithtotheflames，asrelapsedheretics。Fifty-nineoftheseunfortunatevictimswereallburnedtogetherbyaslowfireinafieldinthesuburbsofParis，protestingtotheverylastmomentoftheirlives，theirinnocenceofthecrimesimputedtothem，andrefusingtoacceptofpardonuponconditionofacknowledgingthemselvesguilty。Similarsceneswereenactedintheprovinces；andforfouryears，hardlyamonthpassedwithoutwitnessingtheexecutionofoneormoreoftheseunhappymen。Finally，in1313，thelastsceneofthistragedyclosedbytheburningoftheGrand-Master，JacquesdeMolay，andhiscompanion，Guy，theCommanderofNormandy。Anythingmoreatrociousitisimpossibletoconceive；disgracefulaliketothemonarchwhooriginated，thepopewhosupported，andtheagewhichtoleratedthemonstrousiniquity。Thatthemaliceofafewcouldinventsuchacharge，isahumiliatingthoughtfortheloverofhisspecies；butthatmillionsofmankindshouldcreditit，isstillmoreso。
TheexecutionofJoanofArcisthenextmostnotoriousexamplewhichhistoryaffordsus，oftheimputationofwitchcraftagainstapoliticalenemy。Instancesofsimilarpersecution，inwhichthiscrimewasmadethepretextforthegratificationofpoliticalorreligioushatred，mightbemultipliedtoagreatextent。ButitisbettertoproceedatoncetotheconsiderationofthebullofPopeInnocent，thetorchthatsetfiretothelonglaidtrain，andcausedsofearfulanexplosionovertheChristianworld。Itwillbenecessary，however，togobackforsomeyearsanteriortothatevent，thebettertounderstandthemotivesthatinfluencedtheChurchinthepromulgationofthatfearfuldocument。
Towardsthecloseofthefourteenthandbeginningofthefifteenthcentury，manywitcheswereburnedindifferentpartsofEurope。Asanaturalconsequenceoftheseverepersecution，thecrime，orthepretenderstoit，increased。Thosewhofoundthemselvesaccusedandthreatenedwiththepenalties，iftheyhappenedtobepersonsofabadandmaliciousdisposition，wishedtheyhadthepowerimputedtothem，thattheymightberevengedupontheirpersecutors。Numerousinstancesareuponrecordofhalf-crazedpersonsbeingfoundmutteringthespellswhichweresupposedtoraisetheevilone。Whenreligionandlawalikerecognizedthecrime，itisnowonderthattheweakinreasonandthestronginimagination，especiallywhentheywereofanervoustemperament，fanciedthemselvesenduedwiththeterriblepowersofwhichalltheworldwasspeaking。Thebeliefoftheirneighboursdidnotlagbehindtheirown，andexecutionwasthespeedyconsequence。
Asthefearofwitchcraftincreased，theCatholicclergystrovetofixtheimputationofituponthosereligioussects，thepioneersoftheReformation，whobeganaboutthistimetobeformidabletotheChurchofRome。Ifachargeofheresycouldnotensuretheirdestruction，thatofsorceryandwitchcraftneverfailed。Intheyear1459，adevotedcongregationoftheWaldenses，atArras，whousedtorepairatnighttoworshipGodintheirownmannerinsolitaryplaces，fellvictimstoanaccusationofsorcery。ItwasrumoredinArrasthatinthedesertplacestowhichtheyretired，thedevilappearedbeforetheminhumanform，andreadfromalargebookhislawsandordinances，towhichtheyallpromisedobedience；thathethendistributedmoneyandfoodamongthem，tobindthemtohisservice，whichdone，theygavethemselvesuptoeveryspeciesoflewdnessanddebauchery。Upontheserumours，severalcreditablepersonsinArraswereseizedandimprisoned，togetherwithanumberofdecrepitandidioticoldwomen。Therack，thatconvenientinstrumentformakingtheaccusedconfessanything，wasofcourseputinrequisition。
Monstrelet，inhisChronicle，saysthattheyweretortureduntilsomeofthemadmittedthetruthofthewholeaccusations，andsaidbesides，thattheyhadseenandrecognized，intheirnocturnalassemblies，manypersonsofrank；manyprelates，seigneurs，governorsofbailliages，andmayorsofcities，beingsuchnamesastheexaminershadthemselvessuggestedtothevictims。Severalwhohadbeenthusinformedagainst，werethrownintoprison，andsohorriblytortured，thatreasonfled，and，intheirravingsofpain，theyalsoconfessedtheirmidnightmeetingswiththedevil，andtheoathstheyhadtakentoservehim。
Upontheseconfessionsjudgmentwaspronounced:thepooroldwomen，asusualinsuchcases，werehangedandburnedinthemarket-place；themorewealthydelinquentswereallowedtoescape，uponpaymentoflargesums。Itwassoonafteruniversallyrecognizedthatthesetrialshadbeenconductedinthemostodiousmanner，andthatthejudgeshadmotivesofprivatevengeanceagainstmanyofthemoreinfluentialpersonswhohadbeenimplicated。TheParliamentofParisafterwardsdeclaredthesentenceillegal，andthejudgesiniquitous；butitsarretwastoolatetobeofserviceeventothosewhohadpaidthefine，ortopunishtheauthoritieswhohadmisconductedthemselves；
foritwasnotdelivereduntilthirty-twoyearsaftertheexecutionshadtakenplace。
Inthemeantime，accusationsofwitchcraftspreadrapidlyinFrance，Italy，andGermany。Strangetosay，thatalthoughinthefirstinstancechieflydirectedagainstheretics，thelatterwereasfirmbelieversinthecrimeaseventheCatholicsthemselves。InaftertimeswealsofindthattheLutheransandCalvinistsbecamegreaterwitchburnersthanevertheRomanistshadbeen:sodeeplywastheprejudicerooted。Everyotherpointofbeliefwasindispute，butthatwasconsideredbyeverysecttobeaswellestablishedastheauthenticityoftheScriptures，ortheexistenceofaGod。
ButatthisearlyperiodoftheepidemicthepersecutionsweredirectedbytheheadsoftheCatholicChurch。Thespreadofheresybetokened，itwasthought，thecomingofAntichrist。Florimond，inhisworkconcerningtheAntichrist，letsusfullyintothesecretoftheseprosecutions。Hesays，“AllwhohaveaffordedussomesignsoftheapproachofAntichristagreethattheincreaseofsorceryandwitchcraftistodistinguishthemelancholyperiodofhisadvent；andwaseveragesoafflictedasours？Theseatsdestinedforcriminalsinourcourtsofjusticeareblackenedwithpersonsaccusedofthisguilt。Therearenotjudgesenoughtotrythem。Ourdungeonsaregorgedwiththem。Nodaypassesthatwedonotrenderourtribunalsbloodybythedoomswhichwepronounce，orinwhichwedonotreturntoourhomes，discountenantedandterrifiedatthehorribleconfessionswhichwehaveheard。Andthedevilisaccountedsogoodamaster，thatwecannotcommitsogreatanumberofhisslavestotheflames，butwhatthereshallarisefromtheirashesasufficientnumbertosupplytheirplace。“
FlorimondherespokethegeneralopinionoftheChurchofRome；
butitneversuggesteditselftothemindofanypersonengagedinthesetrials，thatifitwereindeedadevil，whoraisedupsomanynewwitchestofilltheplacesofthoseconsumed，itwasnootherthanoneintheirownemploy——thedevilofpersecution。Butsoitwas。
Themoretheyburned，themoretheyfoundtoburn；untilitbecameacommonprayerwithwomeninthehumblerwalksoflife，thattheymightneverlivetogrowold。Itwassufficienttobeaged，poor，andill-tempered，toensuredeathatthestakeorthescaffold。
Intheyear1487therewasaseverestorminSwitzerland，whichlaidwastethecountryforfourmilesaroundConstance。Twowretchedoldwomen，whomthepopularvoicehadlongaccusedofwitchcraft，werearrestedonthepreposterouschargeofhavingraisedthetempest。Therackwasdisplayed，andthetwopoorcreaturesextendeduponit。Inreplytovariousleadingquestionsfromtheirtormentors，theyowned，intheiragony，thattheywereintheconstanthabitofmeetingthedevil，thattheyhadsoldtheirsoulstohim，andthatattheircommandhehadraisedthetempest。Uponthisinsaneandblasphemouschargetheywerecondemnedtodie。InthecriminalregistersofConstancetherestandsagainstthenameofeachthesimplebutsignificantphrase，“convictaetcombusta。“
Thiscaseandhundredsofothersweredulyreportedtotheecclesiasticalpowers。TherehappenedatthattimetobeaPontiffattheheadoftheChurchwhohadgivenmuchofhisattentiontothesubjectofwitchcraft，andwho，withtheintentofrootingoutthecrime，didmoretoincreaseitthananyothermanthateverlived。
JohnBaptistCibo，electedtothePapacyin1485，underthedesignationofInnocentVIII，wassincerelyalarmedatthenumberofwitches，andlaunchedforthhisterriblemanifestoagainstthem。Inhiscelebratedbullof1488，hecalledthenationsofEuropetotherescueofthechurchofChristuponearth，emperilledbytheartsofSatan，andsetforththehorrorsthathadreachedhisears；howthatnumbersofbothsexeshadintercoursewiththeinfernalfiends；howbytheirsorceriestheyafflictedbothmanandbeast；howtheyblightedthemarriagebed，destroyedthebirthsofwomenandtheincreaseofcattle；andhowtheyblastedthecornontheground，thegrapesofthevineyard，thefruitsofthetrees，andtheherbsofthefield。Inorderthatcriminalssoatrociousmightnolongerpollutetheearth，heappointedinquisitorsineverycountry，armedwiththeapostolicpowertoconvictandpunish。
ItwasnowthattheWitchMania，properlysocalled，maybesaidtohavefairlycommenced。ImmediatelyaclassofmensprangupinEurope，whomadeitthesolebusinessoftheirlivestodiscoverandburnthewitches。Sprenger，inGermany，wasthemostcelebratedofthesenationalscourges。Inhisnotoriouswork，the“MalleusMaleficarum，“helaiddownaregularformoftrial，andappointedacourseofexaminationbywhichtheinquisitorsinothercountriesmightbestdiscovertheguilty。Thequestions，whichwerealwaysenforcedbytorture，wereofthemostabsurdanddisgustingnature。