A HERTFORDSHIRE WITCH; OR, THE STORY OF JANE WENHAM, THE "WISE WOMAN" OF WALKERN. BY W. B. GERISH. I T has frequently puzzled the writer why it is reserved for the other sex, with but few exceptions, to possess the power of contracting with the Evil One. This fact has no doubt bewildered others, for Richard Barnard, a Somersetshire divine, in 1627 accounts for this singular monopoly in his "Guide to Grand Jurymen about the Trial of Witches." He tells us: There are more women witches than men, and it may be for these reasons: First, Satan tries setting upon these rather than on men, since his unhappie outset and prevailing with Eve. Secondly, their more credulous Nature, and apt to be misled and deceived. Thirdly, for that they are commonlie more impatient and more superstitious; and being displeased more malicious, and so more apt to bitter cursing; and far more revengeful, according to their power, than men, and so herein more fit instruments for the devill. Fourthly, they are more tongue-ripe, and less able to hide what they know from others; and, therefore, in this respect, are more ready to be teachers of witchcraft to others, and to leave it to children, servants, or to some others, than men. Fifthly and lastly, because, where they think they can command, they are more proud in their rule, and more busy in setting suche on worke whom they may command, than men, and therefore the devill laboureth most to make them witches, because they, upon every light displeasure, will set him to worke, which is that which he desireth, and is sore displeased if he be not set on worke, which women will be ready enough to doe. This is not the place to attempt to trace the origin of the belief in witchcraft, but to those who are interested in the subject the article upon the "Witch Mania," by Charles Mackay, in vol. ii. of "Extraordinary Popular Delusions," 1852, is worthy of perusal. According to this writer, the mania for persecuting witches arose in the latter part of the fifteenth century and lasted until the end of the seventeenth century. Pope Innocent VIII., in 1488, launched his celebrated Bull against witches, calling upon the nations of Europe to the rescue of the Church of Christ upon earth, imperilled by the arts of Satan, setting forth the horrors that had reached his ears; how that numbers of both sexes had intercourse with the |