The Witch-cult in Western Europe | Page 7

reverse.
604. Conversion of the King of the East Saxons, whose successor

lapsed.
627. Conversion of the King of Northumbria.
628. Conversion of the King of East Anglia.
631-651. Aidan's missions.
635. Conversion of the King of Wessex.
653. Conversion of the King of Mercia.
654. Re-conversion of the King of the East Saxons.
681. Conversion of the King of the South Saxons.
An influx of heathenism occurred on two later occasions: in the ninth
century there was an invasion by the heathen Danes under Guthrum;
and in the eleventh century the heathen king Cnut led his hordes to
victory. As in the case of the Saxon kings of the seventh century,
Guthrum and Cnut were converted and the tribes followed their leaders'
example, professed Christianity, and were baptized.
But it cannot be imagined that these wholesale conversions were more
than nominal in most cases, though the king's religion was outwardly
the tribe's religion. If, as happened among the East Saxons, the king
forsook his old gods, returned to them again, and finally forsook them
altogether, the tribe followed his lead, and, in public at least,
worshipped Christ, Odin, or any other deity whom the king favoured
for the moment; but there can be hardly any doubt that in private the
mass of the people adhered to the old religion to which they were
accustomed. This tribal conversion is clearly marked when a heathen
king married a Christian queen, or vice versa; and it must also be noted
that a king never changed his religion without careful consultation with
his chief men.[3] An example of the two religions existing side by side
is found in the account of Redwald, King of the East Saxons, who 'in
the same temple had an altar to sacrifice to Christ, and another small
one to offer victims to devils'.[4]

The continuity of the ancient religion is proved by the references to it
in the classical authors, the ecclesiastical laws, and other legal and
historical records.
1st cent. Strabo, 63 B.C.-A.D. 23.
'In an island close to Britain, Demeter and Persephone are venerated
with rites similar to the orgies of Samothrace.'[5]
4th cent. Dionysius says that in islands near Jersey and Guernsey the
rites of Bacchus were performed by the women, crowned with leaves;
they danced and made an even greater shouting than the Thracians.[6]
7th cent. Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, 668-690.
The Liber Poenitentialis[7] of Theodore contains the earliest
ecclesiastical laws of England. It consists of a list of offences and the
penance due for each offence; one whole section is occupied with
details of the ancient religion and of its rites. Such are:
Sacrifice to devils.
Eating and drinking in a heathen temple, (a) in ignorance, (b) after
being told by the [Christian] priest that it is sacrilege and the table of
devils, (c) as a cult of idols and in honour of idols.
'Not only celebrating feasts in the abominable places of the heathen and
offering food there, but also consuming it. Serving this hidden idolatry,
having relinquished Christ. If anyone at the kalends of January goes
about as a stag or a bull; that is, making himself into a wild animal and
dressing in the skin of a herd animal, and putting on the heads of beasts;
those who in such wise transform themselves into the appearance of a
wild animal, penance for three years because this is devilish.'
The Laws of Wihtraed, King of Kent,[8] 690.
Fines inflicted on those who offer to devils.
8th cent. The Confessionale and Poenitentiale of Ecgberht, first

Archbishop of York,[9] 734-766.
Prohibition of offerings to devils; of witchcraft; of auguries according
to the methods of the heathen; of vows paid, loosed, or confirmed at
wells, stones, or trees; of the gathering of herbs with any incantation
except Christian prayers.
The Law of the Northumbrian priests.[10]
'If then anyone be found that shall henceforth practise any heathenship,
either by sacrifice or by "fyrt", or in any way love witchcraft, or
worship idols, if he be a king's thane, let him pay X half-marks; half to
Christ, half to the king. We are all to love and worship one God, and
strictly hold one Christianity, and totally renounce all heathenship.'
9th cent. Decree attributed to a General Council of Ancyra.[11]
'Certain wicked women, reverting to Satan, and seduced by the
illusions and phantasms of demons, believe and profess that they ride at
night with Diana on certain beasts, with an innumerable multitude of
women, passing over immense distances, obeying her commands as
their mistress, and evoked by her on certain nights.'
10th cent. Laws of Edward and Guthrum.[12] After 901.
'If anyone violate christianity, or reverence heathenism, by word or by
work, let him pay as well wer, as wite or lah-slit, according as the deed
may be.'
Laws