Note 28 — Chapter II · The Worship of the Witch

The Camisards were agreeably satirized by D’Urfey in his comedy The Modern Prophets; or, New Wit for a Husband, produced at Drury Lane, 5 May, 1709, (Tatler, 11), and printed quarto, 1709, (no date). One of the principal characters is “Marrogn, A Knavish French Camizar and Priest,” created by Bowen. This is a portrait of Elie Marion. In his preface D’Urfey speaks of “the abominable Impostures of those craz’d Enthusiasts” whom he lashes. The play had been composed in 1708, but production was postponed owing to the death of the Prince Consort, 28 October of that year. Swift, Predictions for the Year 1708, has: “June. This month will be distinguished at home, by the utter dispersing of those ridiculous deluded enthusiasts, commonly called the prophets; occasioned chiefly by seeing the time come, when many of their prophecies should be fulfilled, and then finding themselves deceived by contrary events.”