I just love this illustration, by William Faithorne, of 12-year-old Richard Jones being levitated through the (alleged) witchcraft of Jane Brooks and her sister, Alice Coward, of Shepton Mallet, Somerset, in 1657. Coward died while awaiting trial; Brooks was executed.

It comes from the frontispiece of Saducismus Triumphatus by Joseph Glanvill, published posthumously in 1681.

Glanvill, a philosopher, chaplain and author, was a Puritan and great believer in witchcraft (at a time when most everyone else was starting to have their doubts). Indeed, Saducismus’ subtitle runs: Or Full and Plain Evidence concerning Witchcraft and Apparitions. In two parts. The first treating of their possibility. The second of their real existence.

I can’t help wondering whether he ached to end that: So There.