On the 18th August, 1644, as the Elector, John George the First, was travelling in the vicinity of Chemnitz, his people caught in the woods a wild woman, only an ell long. Her face, hands, and feet were quite smooth, but all the rest of the body covered with hair. This woman called out, "I prophesy, and bring prosperity into the country." The Elector ordered his servants to release her, because about twenty-five years before, a man of the same description had been captured and kept in bondage, and tumults and wars were the result. Vide the Annual Chronicle, for the year 1664, by Gottfried Schulzens, who speculates largely whether this was a "spirit from heaven or blast from hell."

Wierus, book II., chap 22, de Præstig., gives us an account of a very wicked and malignant spirit, who was to be met with in a village on the Rhine. This spirit used to work false miracles, and deceive the gaping crowd with many tricks of leger-de-main, they not being able to unravel his cunning, and considering those tricks more as a recreation than otherwise. At first, he did not render himself visible, but afterwards he used to amuse himself with throwing stones at the people and knocking at their doors. He pretended to discover

robberies, first indicating one party and then another as the thief, whereby many innocent people were thrown into prison, and great contention and enmity was caused amongst the villagers. At last, he began to set fire to dwellings, barns, and all kinds of buildings.

But one poor man was the especial object of his persecution. Wherever the man moved, there was the spirit at his side. He burned down his house for him, and excited all his neighbours against him by making them believe that he was the author of all the mischief which he himself produced. The unfortunate fellow, his house being burned down, was obliged to remain in the open air, as all his acquaintance avoided him as a man to whom a curse cleaved, so that no one would receive him under his roof. In order to protect his ife from the fury of his neighbours, the man was obliged to purge himself from the imputations cast upon him, by holding a piece of hot iron in his hand, which he managed to do, thereby clearing himself of the suspicions attached to him. Nevertheless, the accursed spirit would not leave him alone, and set fire to the standing corn. As this persecution increased daily, the man was looked upon as a universal curse; the matter was finally laid

before the Bishop of Mayence, who directed certain priests to sprinkle the fields with holy water and salt; but the spirit cared as little for these things as the imps whom we have previously mentioned. Why do the priests and Roman Catholics continue to pin their faith to these unavailing receipts? At last, they betook themselves to prayer and exorcism, on which the spirit ceased his mischievous pranks, and was never again seen nor heard of in those parts. Dr. Bräuner tells us that it was all the fault of the foolish people themselves that he ever did any mischief at all; for if they had not originally consulted him, he would have had no power; whence we perceive that we ought to be just as cautious what spirits we admit to our intimacy, as we ought to be with reference to human friendships.

CHAPTER XX.

"Therefore, go with me;

I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee;

And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,

Peas' blossom! cobweb! moth! and mustard seed!

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

OF GOBLINS AND HOBGOBLINS.

We are informed by the author that there are various stories afloat amongst the common people respecting these hobgoblins; but that not one in a hundred knows how dangerous it is to their souls to have these goblins in

their service. As, however, the creatures perform a good deal of household work, and demand no wages, that is earthly ones, people are too ready to entertain them.

Wierus in his 1st book, chap. 22nd, § 5, of his work entitled de Præstig. Dæmonium, informs us that hobgoblins are a species of spirits, which frequent houses, stables, &c., especially of those people who lead a godless life. Here they wander about, performing household duties; appear when they are summoned; go down the stairs; open the doors; stir the fire; draw water; lay the table; and perform every sort of household duties; but this is not a universal rule, but holds good only with those wicked landlords, who constrain them to perform these services, as well as to watch their cattle, never considering what infinite damage they are doing their own souls the while.

Georgius Agricola in his work de Animant. Subterran., or Subterraneous Spirits, tells us that there are two kinds of hobgoblins; one of which shew themselves visibly to mankind, either whilst performing a part of their daily work, or whilst tending the cattle; these are termed by the Germans Kutel, or Gutel, because they do good to mankind, and behave in