[130] Cowel's book, "The Interpreter," though professedly a mere
explanation of law terms, was believed to contain allusions or
interpretations of law entirely adapted to party feeling.
Cowel was blamed by both parties, and his book declared to
infringe the royal prerogative or the liberties of the
subject. It was made one of the articles against Laud at his
trial, that he had sanctioned a new edition of this work to
countenance King Charles in his measures. Cowel had died long
before this (October, 1611); he had retired again to
collegiate life as soon as he got free of his political
persecutions.--ED.
[131] "The Discoverie of Witchcraft, necessary to be known for the
undeceiving of Judges, Justices, and Juries, and for the
Preservation of Poor People." Third edition, 1665. This was
about the time that, according to Arnot's Scots Trials, the
expenses of burning a witch amounted to ninety-two pounds,
fourteen shillings, Scots. The unfortunate old woman cost two
trees, and employed two men to watch her closely for thirty
days! One ought to recollect the past follies of humanity, to
detect, perhaps, some existing ones.