To be sure, this reasoning from the distribution of trials is a dangerous proceeding. Witch alarms, on they face of things, seem haphazard outbursts of excitement. And such no doubt they are in part; yet one who goes over many cases in order cannot fail to observe that an outbreak in one county was very likely to be followed by one in the next county.[53] This is perfectly intelligible to every one familiar with the essentially contagious character of these scares. The stories spread from village to village as fast as that personified Rumor of the poet Vergil, "than which nothing is fleeter"; nor did they halt with the sheriffs at the county boundaries. We have now traced the growth of James's opinions until they found effect in English law, have seen the practical operation of that law, and have gone over the forms of evidence, as well as some other features of the witch trials of his reign. In the next chapter we shall take up some of the more famous Jacobean cases in detail as examples of witch alarms. We shall seek to find out how they started and what were the real causes at work. [1] I have not attempted to give more than a brief résumé of this story, and have used Thomas Wright, _Narratives of Sorcery and Magic_ (London, 1851), I, 181-190, and Mrs. Lynn Linton, _Witch Stories_, 21-34. The pamphlet about Dr. Fian is a rare one, but may be found in several libraries. It has been reprinted by the _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. XLIX (1779), by the Roxburghe Club (London, 1816), by Robert Pitcairn, in his _Criminal Trials in Scotland_ (Edinburgh, 1829-1833), vol. I, and doubtless in many other places. Pitcairn has also printed a part of the records of his trial. [2] This is all based upon the contemporary accounts mentioned above. [3] _Register of the Privy Council of Scotland_, IV (Edinburgh, 1881), 644-645, note. [4] A fresh edition was brought out at London in 1603. In 1616 it appeared again as a part of the handsome collection of his _Workes_ compiled by the Bishop of Winchester. [5] This story is to be found in the apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. It played a great part in the discussions of the writers on witchcraft. [6] H. C. Lea, _Superstition and Force_ (4th ed., Philadelphia, 1892), 325 ff., gives some facts about the water ordeal on the Continent. A sharp dispute over its use in witch cases was just at this time going on there. [7] He recommended torture in finding out the guilty: "And further experience daily proves how loth they are to confesse without torture, which witnesseth their guiltinesse," _Dæmonologie_, bk. ii, ch. i. [8] Wright, _Narratives of Sorcery and Magic_, I, 197.