CHAPTER XIX.

The Case of Mary Hill of Beckington—The Confession of Alice Huson—Florence Newton of Youghal—Temperance Lloyd (or Floyd), Mary Trembles, and Susannah Edwards.

But this case of vomiting pins is as nothing compared with the following, which is taken from Baxter’s ‘Certainty of the World of Spirits,’ etc.:

‘Mr.John Humphreysbrought Mr.May Hillto me, with a Bag of Irons, Nails and Brass, vomited by the Girl. I keep some of them to shew: Nails about three or four inches long, double crooked at the end, and pieces of old Brass doubled, about an Inch broad, and two or three Inches long, with crooked edges. I desired him to give me the Case in Writing, which he hath done as followeth. Anyone that is incredulous, may now, atBeckington, receive Satisfaction from him, and from the Maid her self.

‘In the Town ofBeckington, byFroomeinSomersetshire, livethMary Hill, a Maid of about Eighteen years of Age, who, having lived very much in the Neglect of her Duty to God, was some time beforeMichaelmaslast past, was Twelve-Month, taken very ill, and, being seized with violent Fits, began to Vomit up about two hundred crooked Pins. This so Stupendous an Accident, drew a numerous Concourse of People to see her: To whom, when in her Fits, she did constantly affirm, that she saw against the Wall of the Room wherein she lay, an old Woman, namedElizabeth Currier, who, thereupon, being Apprehended by a Warrant from a Justice of Peace, and Convicted by the Oaths of two Persons, was committed to the County Goal.

‘About a Fortnight after, she began to Vomit up Nails, Pieces of Nails, Pieces of Brass, Handles of Spoons, and so continued to do for the space of six Months and upwards. And, in her fits, she said there did appear to her an old Woman, NamedMargaret Coombes, and oneAnn Moore; who, also, by a Warrant from two Justices of the Peace, were Apprehended and brought to the Sessions, held atBrewton, for the County; and, by the Bench, committed to the County Gaol. The former of these dyed as soon as she came into Prison: the other two were tryed atTaunton Assizes, by my Lord Chief JusticeHolt, and for want of Evidence, were acquitted by the Jury. The Persons bound over to give Evidence, wereSusanna Belton, andAnn Holland, who, upon their Oaths, Deposed, that they hookt out of the Navel of the saidMary Hill, as she lay in a dead fit, crooked Pins, small Nails, and small pieces of Brass, which were produced in Court before the Judge; and, from him, handed to the Jury to look upon them. Whereupon Mr.Francis Jesse, and Mr.Christopher Brewerdeclared, that they had seen the saidMary Hill, to Vomit up, at several times, Crooked Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brass, which they, also, produced in open Court; and to the end, they might be ascertained it was no Imposture, they declared they searched her Mouth with their Fingers before she did Vomit.

‘Upon which, the Court thought fit to call for me, who am the Minister of the Parish, to testifie the knowledge of the Matter, which I did to this Effect, That I had seen her, at several times, after having given her a little small Beer, Vomit up Crooked Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brass. That, to prevent the Supposition of a Cheat, I had caused her to be brought to a Window; and, having lookt into her Mouth, I searcht it with my Finger, as I did the Beer before she drank it. This I did, that I might not be wanting in Circumstantial Answers to what my Lord and Court might propose.

‘I well remember a Gentleman, on aSaturday, came to my House (Incognito) to know of me the truth of the Country Report about this Maid, having seen some of the Nails &c. she had Vomited up. I told him it was very true; and, if he would stay in Town till the Morning, he might see it himself, forhis own Satisfaction. Which he did; and, early in the Morning, was called to see her. But, because Beer was not given her when she wanted it, she lay in a very Deplorable Condition, till past two in the Afternoon; when, with much Difficulty, she brought up a piece of Brass, which the said Gentleman took away with him. Though, before the said Piece of Brass came up, he told me he was satisfied of the Truth of the thing, because it was impossible for any Mortal to Counterfeit her miserable Condition. She, sometimes, lying in a dead Fit, with her Tongue swelled out of her Head, and then reviving, she would fall to Vomiting, but nothing came up till about two a Clock in the Afternoon.

‘Nay, so curious was he to Anticipate any Cheat, that he searcht her Mouth himself, gave her the Beer, held her up in his hand, and likewise the Bason into which she Vomited, and continued with her all this time, without eating and drinking, which was about eight hours, that he might be an Eye-Witness of the Truth of it. Nay, further, he found the maid living only with a Brother, and three poor Sisters, all young Persons, and very honest, and the Maid kept at the Charge of the Parish, were sufficient testimonies that they were incapable of making a Cheat of it. The Gentleman I now mentioned, was (as I afterwards learnt) EsquirePlayerofCastle-Cary.

********

‘After the Assizes afore mentioned was ended, and she was turned home, she grew worse than ever, by Vomiting of Nails, pieces of Glass,&c. And, falling, one day, into a Violent Fit, she was swelled to an extraordinary bigness; some Beer being given her, she throws up several Pieces of Bread and Butter, besmeared with a Poysonous matter, which I judged to be white Mercury. This so affrighted the Neighbours, that they would come no more near her, and Compassionating the Deplorableness of her Condition; I, at last, resolved to take her into my own House; where, in some short time, the Vomiting ceased; though, for some space, her Distorting Fits followed her. But, blessed be God, is now, and has been, for a considerable time last past, in very good health, and fit for Service.

‘May Hill,‘Minister of Beckington in the county of Somerset.

‘April 4, 1691.’

Here is one of those extraordinary confessions, for which, nowadays, no one can account, except upon the supposition that the poor woman was insane:

‘THE CONFESSION OF ALICE HUSON, 28 OF APRIL 1664 TO MR. TIM. WELLSET, VICAR OF BURTON AGNES (IN HER OWN WORDS) AS IT WAS GIVEN IN TO THE JUDGES AT YORK ASSIZES.[53]

‘Three Years I have had to do with, and for the Devil: He appeared to me like aBlack Manon a Horse upon the Moor; He told me I should never want, if I would follow his ways: He bid me givemyself to him, and forsake the Lord; and I promised him I would. He did, upon that, give me five Shillings; and another time he gave me seven Shillings: And for six several times he did so; andThom. Ratlehad 20s. of the Mony I had of him. He appeared like aBlack Manupon a Black Horse, with Cloven Feet: and then I fell down, and did Worship upon my Knees, because I promised him I would do so. I have hurt Mrs.Faith Corbetby my Evil Spirit: I did, in my Apprehension, ride her: And, when I was Examined by Mr.Wellset, our Minister, the Devil stood by, and gave me my Answer. I was under the Window like a Cat, when Mrs.Corbetsaid I was; andDoll Bilbyhad a hand in this tormenting Mrs.Corbet.Doll Bilbysaid, Let us make an end of her; and I said it was pity to take away her Life, for we had done her overmuch hurt already. The Devil did appear to me andDoll Bilbyboth together:Doll Bilbyhad of the Devil onThursdayorFriday, some Mony: I had, about a Fortnight ago, ten shillings of the Devil atRatle’sdoor, about Twi-light, or Day-gate: and I gave two Shillings of this Mony for two Pecks of Barly, Pease and Wheat mix’d, toWill. Parkly. He told me, if I would kill Mrs.Alice Corbet, I should never Want: He twitches me at the Heart, as if it were drawn together with Pincers. I have, I confess, a Witch-pap, which is sucked by the Unclean Spirit: This Sucking lasteth from Supper time, till after Cock Crowing. The Devil did bid me deny to Mr.Wellsetthat he was sent by me. I had a purpose to practice Witchcraft when Ibegg’d a piece of Cloth and Black-hood. I confess that I did, by this Evil Spirit, killDick Warren; which was done by my wicked Heart, and wicked Eyes: If I had not employ’d this wicked Spirit, I had not hurt him. I lentLancelot Harrisoneight Shillings of the ten Shillings the Devil gave me. I did forsake God, because I promised the Devil to serve him.’

But most incredible of all were the doings of an Irish witch, one Florence Newton of Youghal, who was tried at the Cork Assizes, 1661. One extract, showing her power, must suffice:[54]

‘John Pynebeing likewise sworn and examin’d, said, That aboutJanuarylast,Mary Longdon, being his Servant, was much troubl’d with little Stones that were thrown at her, wherever she went, and that he hath seen them come, as if they were thrown at her, others, as if they dropp’d on her; and that he hath seen very great quantities of them, and that they would, after they had hit her, fall on the Ground, and then vanish, so that none of them could be found. And farther, That the Maid once caught one of them, and he himself another; and one of them, with a Hole in it, she ty’d to her Purse, but it vanish’d in a little time, but the Knot of the Leather that ty’d it, remain’d unalter’d. That, after the Stones had thus haunted her, she fell into most grievous Fits, wherein she was so violently distracted, that four Men would have very much to do to hold her; and that, in the greatest of her Extremities, she would cry out of GammerNewtonfor hunting and tormenting of her. That sometimes the Maid would be reading in a Bible, and on the sudden he hath seen the Bible struck out of her Hand into the Middle of the Room, and she, immediately, was cast into a violent Fit. That, in the Fits he hath seen two Bibles, laid on her Breasts, and in the Twinkling of an Eye, they would be cast between the two Beds the Maid lay upon; sometimes thrown into the middle of the Room; and thatNicholas Pyneheld the Bible in the Maid’s Hand so fast, that it being suddenly snatch’d away, two of the Leaves were torn. That in many other Fits, the Maid was remov’d strangely, in the Twinkling of an Eye, out of the Bed, sometimes into the Bottom of a Chest with Linnen, and the Linnen not at all disorder’d; sometimes betwixt the two Beds she lay on; sometimes under a Parcell of Wooll, sometimes betwixt his Bed and the Mat of it in another Room; and, once, she was laid on a small Deal Board which lay on the top of an House between two solar[55]Beams, where he was forc’d to rear up Ladders to have her fetch’d down. That, in her Fits she hath often vomited up Wooll, Pins, Horse nails, Stubs, Straw, Needles and Moss, with a kind of white Foam or Spittle, and hath had several Pins stuck into her Arms and Hands, that, sometimes, a Man must pull three or four times before he could pull one of them out, and some have stuck between the Flesh and the Skin, where they might be perfectly seen, but not taken out, nor any Place seen where they were put in.’

The confessions of Temperance Lloyd (or Floyd), Mary Trembles, and Susannah Edwards, who were executed at Exeter, August 25, 1682, are curious, as showing how it is possible for three persons to have similar hallucinations.

‘Temperance Lloyd saith, That about the 30th day ofSeptemberlast past, she met with the Devil in the shape or likeness of a black Man, about the middle of the Afternoon of that day, in a certain Street or Lane in the Town ofBiddifordaforesaid, calledHigher Gunstone Lane: And then and there he did tempt and sollicite her to go with him to the house of the saidThomas Eastchurchto torment the Body of the saidGrace Thomas; which this Examinant, at first, did refuse to do: But, afterwards, by the temptation and perswasion of the Devil in the likeness of a Black Man, as aforesaid, she did go to the house of the saidThomas Eastchurch, and that she went up the stairs after the said black Man; and confesseth that both of them went up into the Chamber where she the saidGrace Thomaswas, and that there they found oneAnne Wakely, the wife ofWilliam WakelyofBiddiford, rubbing and stroaking one of the Arms of the saidGrace Thomas.

‘And the said Examinant doth further confess that she did then and there pinch with the Nails of her Fingers, the saidGrace Thomasin the Shoulders, Arms, Thighs and Legs; and that, afterwards, they came down from the saidGrace Thomasher Chamber, into the Street together; and that there this Examinant did see some thing in the form or shape of a Grey or Braget Cat; and saith that thesaid Cat went into the saidThomas Eastchurch’sshop.

‘The said Examinant, being further demanded whether she went any more unto the said Thomas Eastchurch’s house, saith and confesseth that the day following she came again to the saidThomas Eastchurch’shouse, invisible, and was not seen by any person; but there this Examinant did meet with the Braget Cat as aforesaid, and the said Cat did retire and leap back into the saidThomas Eastchurch’sShop.

‘The said Examinant, being further demanded when she was at the saidThomas Eastchurch’shouse, the last time, saith, that she was at the said Mr.Eastchurch’shouse upon Friday the 30th day ofJunelast past; and that the Devil, in the shape of the said black Man was there with her: And that they went up again into the said Chamber, where she found the saidGrace Thomaslying in her Bed in a very sad condition. Notwithstanding which, she, this Examinant and the said Black Man did torment her again: And saith and confesseth that she, this Examinant had almost drawn her out of her Bed, and that on purpose to put her, the saidGraceout of her Life.

‘And further saith, that the black Man (or rather the Devil) did promise this Examinant that no one should discover her.

‘And further confesseth that the said black Man (or rather the Devil) as aforesaid, did suck her Teats, and that she did kneel down to him in the Street, as she was returning to her own house, andafter that they had tormented the saidGrace Thomasin manner as last above mentioned.

‘Being demanded of what stature the said black Man was, saith, that he was about the length of her Arm: And that his Eyes were very big; and that he hopt or leapt in the way before her, and, afterwards, did suck her again as she was lying down; and that his sucking was with a great pain unto her, and, afterwards vanish’d clear away out of her sight.

‘This Examinant doth further confess, That upon the first day ofJunelast past, whilst the said Mr.Eastchurchand his Wife were absent, that the said Examinant did pinch and prick the saidGrace Thomas(with the aid and help of the black Man) in her Belly, Stomach and Breast; and that they continued so tormenting of her, about the Space of two or three hours, with an intent to have killed her.’

She also confessed to have tortured several others to death.

Mary Trembles said that about three years since Susannah Edwards persuaded her to become a witch, and that the Devil appeared to her in the shape of a lion.

‘Susannah Edwardsbeing brought before us, and accused for practising of Witchcraft upon the Body ofGrace Barnes, the wife ofJohn BarnesofBiddiford, Yeoman, was demanded by us how long since she had Discourse or Familiarity with the Devil; saith, That about two years ago she did meet with a Gentleman in a Field called theParsonage Closein the Town ofBiddiford, and that his Apparel wasall of black. Upon which she did hope to have a Piece of Money of him. Whereupon, the Gentleman drawing near unto this Examinant, she did make a Curchy, or Courtesie unto him, as she did use to do to Gentlemen.

‘Being demanded what and who the Gentleman she spake of, was, the said Examinant answered and said, that it was the Devil.

‘And confessed, that the Devil did ask of her whether she was a Poor woman? unto whom she answered that she was a Poor woman; and that, thereupon, the Devil, in the shape of the Gentleman, did say unto her, that if this Examinant would grant him one request, that she should neither want for Meat, Drink, nor Clothes: Whereupon this Examinant did say unto the said Gentleman, In the Name of God, what is it I shall have? Upon which the said Gentleman vanished clear away from her.

‘And further confesseth, That, afterwards, there was something in the shape of a little Boy, which she thinks to be the Devil, came into her house, and did lie with her, and that he did suck at her breast. And confesseth that she did afterwards meet him in a place call’dStambridge-lanein this Parish ofBiddiford, leading towardsAbbotisham, (which is the next Parish on the west ofBiddifordaforesaid), where he did suck blood out of her breast.

‘And further confesseth, That on Sunday, which was the 16th day ofJulyinstant, she, this Examinant, together withMary Trembles, did go unto the house ofJohn Barnes, and that nobody did seethem: and that they were in the same room whereGrace, the wife of the saidJohn Barneswas, and that there they did prick and pinch the saidGracewith their fingers, and put her to great pain and torment, insomuch that the saidGrace Barneswas nearly dead.

‘And confesseth that this present day, she did prick and torment the saidGraceagain, (intimating with her Fingers how she did it). And also confesseth that the Devil did intice her to make an end of the saidGrace; and that he told her he would come again to her once more before she should go out of Town. And confesseth that she can go into any place invisible, and yet her Body shall be lying in her Bed. And further confesseth that the Devil hath appeared unto her in the shape of a Lyon, as she supposed.

‘Being demanded whether she had done any bodily hurt unto any other person besides the saidGrace Barnes, saith and Confesseth, that she did prick and torment oneDorcas Coleman, the wife ofJohn ColemanofBiddifordMariner. And saith that the saidMary Trembleswas a Servant unto her, in like manner as she was a Servant unto the Devil.’

Elizabeth Horner—Pardons for Witchcraft—A Witch taken in London—Sarah Mordike—An Impostor convicted—Case of Jane Wenham—The Last Witch hanged in England.

Hutchinson gives an account of a very curious case of witchcraft in 1696:

‘Elizabeth Hornerwas tried before the Lord Chief JusticeHoltatExeter. Three Children ofWilliam Bovetwere thought to have been bewitched by her, whereof one was dead. It was deposed that another had her Legs twisted, and yet from her Hands and Knees, she would spring five Foot high. The children vomited Pins, and were bitten (if the Depositions were true) and pricked, and pinched, the Marks appearing. The Children saidBess Horner’sHead would come off from her Body, and go into their Bellies. The Mother of the Children deposed, that one of them walked up a smooth plaistered Wall, till her Feet were nine Foot high, her Head standing off from it. This, she said, she did five or six times, and laughed and said,Bess Hornerheld her up. This poor Woman had something like a Nipple on her Shoulder, which the Children said was sucked by a Toad. Many other odd things were deposed, but the Jury brought her inNot Guiltyand no Inconvenience hath followed from her Acquittal.’

She was lucky, not only inasmuch as the belief in witchcraft was on the wane, as also to have been tried by so enlightened a judge as Sir John Holt, of whom the story is told (of which, however, I can find no authentication) that a witch was once brought before him, and a charm, written on parchment, was adduced against her. This charm, which consisted of a line or two of Greek verse, Sir John recognised as having been written by himself in his student days at Oxford to cure a poor woman’s daughter of the ague.

But although the majority of so-called witches were executed after trial and sentence, all were not, for we find in the Calendars of State Papers several instances of pardons:

1597. 30 Ap. Pardon for Elizabeth Melton, late of Collingham, co. York, condemned for witchcraft.1597. 3 May. Pardon to Alice Brerely of Castleton, co. Lanc., spinster, condemned for killing Jas. Kirshaw and Rob. Scolefield by witchcraft.1604. 16 Ap. Grant to Christian, wife of Thomas Weech, co. Norfolk, of pardon for witchcraft.She was one of the extremely fortunate, for she was again accused of this crime.1610. 3 Ap. Grant to Christian Weech of pardon for the murder of Mary Freeston by witchcraft.1608. 15 Feb. Grant to Simon Reade of pardon for conjuration and invocation of unclean spirits.1611. 7 May. Grant of pardon to Wm. Bate, indicted twenty years since, for practising invocation of spirits for finding treasure, the evidence being found weak, etc.

1597. 30 Ap. Pardon for Elizabeth Melton, late of Collingham, co. York, condemned for witchcraft.

1597. 3 May. Pardon to Alice Brerely of Castleton, co. Lanc., spinster, condemned for killing Jas. Kirshaw and Rob. Scolefield by witchcraft.

1604. 16 Ap. Grant to Christian, wife of Thomas Weech, co. Norfolk, of pardon for witchcraft.She was one of the extremely fortunate, for she was again accused of this crime.

1610. 3 Ap. Grant to Christian Weech of pardon for the murder of Mary Freeston by witchcraft.

1608. 15 Feb. Grant to Simon Reade of pardon for conjuration and invocation of unclean spirits.

1611. 7 May. Grant of pardon to Wm. Bate, indicted twenty years since, for practising invocation of spirits for finding treasure, the evidence being found weak, etc.

With the beginning of the eighteenth century, the belief in witchcraft was dying out rapidly, and very few are the cases narrated. I give the following from a broadsheet; but to my mind it has not the true ring of former cases, and I doubt its authenticity; still, I give it as amongst the few reported cases in this century.

‘A FULL AND TRUE RELATION OF THE DISCOVERING, APPREHENDING, AND TAKING OF A NOTORIOUS WITCH, WHO WAS CARRIED BEFORE JUSTICE BATEMAN IN WELL-CLOSE, ON SUNDAY JULY THE23RD, TOGETHER WITH HER EXAMINATION AND COMMITMENT TO BRIDEWELL, CLERKENWELL.’

‘Sarah Griffithwho Lived in a Garret inRosemary lane, was a long time suspected for a bad Woman, but nothing could be prov’d against her, that the Law might take hold of her: Tho’ some of the Neighbors Children would be strangely affected with unknown Distempers, as Vomiting of Pins, there Bodies turn’d into strang Postures, and such like; many were frighted with strange Apperitions of Cats, which, of a sudden, would vanish away; these, and such like, made those who lived in the Neighbourhood, both suspicious and fearful of her:Till, at last, the Devil (who always betrays those that deal with him) thus brought the Truth to Light. One, Mr. John —— at the Sugarloaf, had a good jolly fellow for his Apprentice: This Old Jade came into his shop to buy a quartern of Sope. The Young fellow happened to Laugh; and the Scales not hanging right, cryed out he thought that they were be-Witched; The Old Woman hearing him say so, fell into a great Passion, judging he said so to ridicule her, ran out of the Shop, and threatened revenge. In the Night was heard a lumbring noise in the Shop, and the Man, coming down to see, found a strang confusion; every thing turn’d topsy turvy; all the goods out of order. But, what was worse, the next day, the poor fellow was troubled with a strange Disease, but [by] the good prayers of some Neighboring Divines, the power of the Devil was restrain’d.

‘Two or three days after, it happened that the Young Man, with two or three more, walking up to the New River Head, who should they see, but MotherGriffithwalking that way. They consulted together to try her; and one of them said, Let us toss her into the River, for I have heard, that if she Swims, ’tis a certain sign of a Witch. In short, they put their design in execution; for, coming up to her, they tossed her in; but, like a Bladder when forc’d under Water, pops up again, so this Witch was no sooner in, but Swam like a Corke; they kept her in some time, and, at last, let her come out again. She was no sooner out, but she smote that Young man on the Arm, and told him he should paydear for what he had done. Immediately, he found a strange pain in his Arm, and, looking on it, found the exact mark of her hand and Fingers as black as a Cole. He went home, where he lay much tormented, and wonderfully affrighted with the Old Woman coming to afflict him; and, at last, died with the pain, and [was] Buried in St.PulchresChurch Yard.

‘Mr. John —— fearing some further mischief, takes a Constable, and goes to her Lodging, where he finds the Old Woman, and charges the Constable with her. She made many attempts to escape, but the Devil, who owed her a shame, had now left her, and she was apprehended. As she was conducted towards the Justice’s house, she tried to leap over the Wall, and had done it, had not the Constable knocked her down. In this manner she was carried before the Justice. There was Evidence that was With him in his Sickness could Witness that he had unaccountable Fits, Vomitted up Old Nails, Pins and such like, his body being turned into strange postures, and, all the while, nothing but crying out of MotherGriffith, that she was come to torment him. His Arm rotted almost off, Gangreen’d, and kill’d him. When she came before the Justice, she pleaded innocence, but the circumstances appeared so plainly, that she was committed toBridewell, where she now remains.

‘24 July, 1704.’

If we needed any evidence to show the decadence of witchcraft, it can be found in the case of Sarah Mordike, who was (luckily for her) tried by LordChief Justice Holt in 1701. Hutchinson gives the best report of this case that I can find.

‘Richard Hathaway, Apprentice toThomas Wellyn, a Blacksmith inSouthwark, had either real Convulsions, or counterfeit Fits; at the time when he was bound first to his Master. When he had served about three Years, he was thought to be so ill, that he was put into the Hospital, and was judged to be a very miserable Spectacle, lying in strange Fits, and going double; and, after seven Weeks was turned out as incurable.

‘In September 1690 (?1700) he said he was bewitched, and vomited great Numbers of Pins, and seemed to be dumb and blind, and was thought to live without Meat for ten Weeks together, tho’ he was put with Keepers into an empty House a great part of the Time, and had a bed bought on purpose, and was watched Day and Night by Persons that were Strangers to him. One of his Watchers deposed, That a Lump of Hair, loose Pins, a Stump of a Nail, half a Nutshel, and two or three pieces of Stone came from him. A second Witness confirmed this, and added, That he stood over him at the Time, with a drawn Sword in his Hand. His Face would be drawn on one side, He foamed at the Mouth, and crooked Pins were found in the Foam. His Head was bent to the Reins of his Back, and he went, sometimes, almost upon his Ankles. He would lie as if he was dead; and, once, was brought to himself by Cupping Glasses. Screeking and other Noises were heard in the Bed, and about the House, and Charms were applied tohim, and were said to do him good. It was also deposed, That he barked like a Dog, and in his Fits burnt like a Flame of Fire.

‘The Person that he accused of the Witchcraft was oneSarah Morduck, of the same Parish. He intimated by Signs, that, if he might scratch her, he should be well. He did scratch her, and then he eat and drank, and had his Sight, and was well for six Weeks together.

‘After that, he seemed to be ill again, and signified that she had bewitched him again, and he must scratch her again. Upon this, the saidSarah Morduckwas assaulted in her own House, and grievously abused; her Hair and Face torn; she, was kicked, thrown to the Ground, stamped on, and threatened to be put into a Horse-Pond, to be tried by Swimming, and very hardly escaped with her Life. In hopes to avoid these Dangers, she removed out ofSouthwark, and lodged inLondon; but, still, she was not suffered to be in safety, but was followed in the Streets, and often thought herself in danger of being pulled in Pieces.

‘AboutEaster, 1701, she was carried before SirThomas Lane, and was stript and searched by his Order, andHathawayscratched her before him, and then he eat and drank, and was thought to be well. SirThomascommitted her, andHathawaycontinued free from his Fits. Near the Time of Tryal, the Prayers of several Churches were desired, and Money was gathered for him: between six and seven Pounds at one Collection; and other Sums at other Times, to bear his Charges to the Assizes.

‘In the latter end ofJuly, atGuildfordAssizes, thisSarah Morduckwas tried before the Right Honourable, the Lord Chief JusticeHolt, and was acquitted, andRichard, himself, was committed as a Cheat and Impostor: But both Judge, and Jury, and Witnesses were slandered, as if they had not done fairly.

‘For several Days after his Commitment to theMarshalsea, he eat, and drank, and slept: but, some time after, he was again as if under the Power of Witchcraft, dumb and fasting.

‘That it might be certain whether he did really live without Meat or not, my Lord Chief Justice put him into the House of Mr.Kensy, a Surgeon, inNovemberfollowing, that he might make Tryal of him.

‘March 25, 1702, thisHathawaywas tried before Lord Chief JusticeHolt, and Mr. BaronHatfell, inSouthwark, the Place in which the Fact was best known, and where any witnesses might appear without Charge.

‘OnHathaway’sside, these things were sworn that I have mentioned already.

‘To convict him of Imposture, it was deposed, That on purpose for an Experiment, Dr.Martin, Minister of the Parish, had contrived that he scratch’d another Woman, when he thought he had scratch’d thisSarah Morduck; and upon that, he opened his Eyes; but, being told he had scratch’d the wrong Woman, he pretended to be blind and dumb again. And the manner of his doing it was such, as showed him a crafty fellow, taking care of himself;for he felt her Arm four times over, before he would scratch her.

‘To prove that his vomiting Pins was by a Trick, it was deposed, That immediately after he had vomited great Numbers in appearance upon the Ground, and was going to vomit more, Care being taken that he should vomit into a Basin, and his Hands being kept down below it, there was not a Pin in the Basin, but a great many crooked ones in his Pockets, in readiness to have play’d his Tricks with.

‘Some of the Noises that were said to be made in the Bed, were shewed to be made by his own Feet scratching the Bed Post.

‘Besides what he got by Gifts and Collections, it was proved that he had tried to make a Gain, by printing a Narrative of his own Case.

‘With respect to his Fasting, it was said by one of his own Witnesses, that there came from him five Times more than he took. After two Days fasting, and refusing to take any thing from Mr.Kensy, for fear he should really starve himself, rather than own his knavery, Mr.Kensycontrived to let him have Meat in a private Way, by this Device. He pretended to fall out with his Maid inHathaway’shearing, and said she gave him Meat; and therefor he gave her Warning to be gone. She carried on the Design, and told him she was as ready to be gone as he was to have her go; and, after this feigned Quarrell, she spake kindly toRichard, and bad him take nothing from her Master; for, while she stay’d she would take Care of him. After this, he tookMeat from her; but a Child being in the Room, he pointed that it might not see him. He eat and drank any Thing she gave him, Ale, Brandy, Fish, Pudding, Mutton, &c. Once he was drunk, and spew’d, and covered his Vomit with Ashes; But if either Mr.Kensy, or anyone else offered him any, he refused to take it; and, when he had eaten heartily, he would shew them his Belly clung up to his Back, as though there had been nothing in it. The Maid saw this openly, Mr.Kensysaw it through a private Hole; and, once, he had four Neighbours with him, that saw it as well as he. He eat in this manner for eleven Days together, and yet pretended to continue his Fast. If they asked him how many Weeks he had fasted before he came to Mr.Kensy’sHouse? he counted Ten upon his Fingers. If they asked him how many Weeks he had fasted since his coming thither? he counted Two, tho’ they had seen him eat eleven Days of the two Weeks.

‘When they had Proof enough, Mr.Kensytold him he was discover’d, and said his Friends were in Custody, and had confess’d the whole Matter. Upon that he cried passionately and said he would tell the Lord Chief Justice the whole Truth, and asked, If his Mother was safe? But, my Lord not being at his Chamber, he, in about an Hour after, recanted, and said again that he was bewitched.

‘These Things were deposed at large by many and substantial Witnesses; insomuch that the Jury, without going from the Bar, returned him Guilty.

‘Some Months after, my Lord Chief JusticeHoltpast Sentence upon him, That he should suffer Imprisonment a Year, and stand in the Pillory three Times.’

The last case of witchcraft in England, where a so-called witch was tried and condemned by judge and jury (although she was not executed), was that of Jane Wenham in 1712. I am aware that another and later case is cited in 1716 of one Mrs. Hicks and her daughter, said to have been executed at Huntingdon, for ‘selling their souls to the devil, making their neighbours vomit pins, and raising a storm by which a certain ship was almost lost’; but as no one yet has been able to find any record of this case, I beg leave to doubt its existence.

But Jane Wenham’s was acause célèbre. She lived at Walkern, a village in Hertfordshire, about four miles from Stevenage. The account of the proceedings at her trial is very long, so that I shall only give two or three of the informations laid against her:

‘Matthew Gilston, of the Parish ofWalkerne, says upon Oath, that, onNew Years Daylast past, he carrying Straw upon a Fork from Mr.Gardiner’sBarn, metJane Wenham, who asked him for some Straw, which he refused to give her; then she said she would take some, and accordingly took some away from this Informant.

‘And farther, this Informant saith, that on the 29th ofJan.last, when this Informant was threshing in the Barn of his Master,John Chapman, an Old Woman in a Riding-hood, or Cloak, he knows not which, came to the Barn Door, and asked him fora Penyworth of Straw; he told her he could give her none, and she went away, Muttering.

‘And this Informant saith, that after the Woman was gone, he was not able to work, but ran out of the Barn, as far as a place calledMunders-Hill, (which is about Three Miles fromWalkerne) and asked at a House there for a Penyworth of Straw, and they, refusing to give him any, he went farther, to some Dung-heaps, and took some Straw from thence, and pull’d off his Shirt, and brought it Home in his Shirt; he knows not what mov’d him to this, but says he was forc’d to it, he knows not how.

‘Susan Aylott, the Wife ofWilliam Aylott, of the Parish ofWalkerne, saith upon Oath, that about 12 Years ago lastChristmas, she, this Informant, was sent for to the Wife ofRichard Harvey, lying very Ill in a strange Condition; and, as soon as she came thither,Jane Wenhamfollowed her, and she, this Informant, wonder’d thatJane Wenhamfollowed her, sinceRichard Harvey’sWife had told her that she, the saidJane Wenhamhad bewitched her: ThenJane Wenhamwent under the Window where the sick Woman lay, and said, Why do they let this Creature lye there? Why don’t they take her and hang her out of the way? At which she, this Informant, had some Words withJane Wenham, saying, Take you, and hang you out of the Way: and thenJane Wenhamanswer’d, Hold you your Tongue, I don’t meddle with you, and that Night, the sick Woman, aforesaid, died.

‘And this Informant farther saith, That, soon after,Jane Wenhamcame to this Informant’s House,and look’d upon a Child which was in her Lap, and stroaked it; and said,Susan, you have a curious Child; you and I had some Words, but I hope we are Friends; and asked this Informant to lend her a Glass to carry some Vinegar in from the Shop; then this Informant sentJane Wenhama Glass, who went away. And this Informant was afraid of her Child, remembering she was thought to have bewitchedRichard Harvey’sWife.

‘This Informant further saith, That onSundayfollowing, she was at her brotherJeremy Harvey’sHouse, with her Child, and that her Child was taken in a grievous Condition, stark Distracted, and so died on the Thursday following; and this Informant saith, she thinksJane Wenhambewitched her Child; and saith also, that Jane Wenham has had the Reputation of a Witch for several Years before.

‘Thomas Adams, Junior, ofWalkerne, maketh Oath, that about Three Weeks, or a month beforeChristmas last, he metJane Wenhamin his Turnip Field, with a few of his Turnips, which she was carrying away; and upon his Threatning her, she threw them down; he, this Informant, told her she might keep them, for she should pay dear for them; then she was very submissive, and begg’d Pardon, saying, she had no Victuals all that day, and had no money to buy any; afterwards, they parted, and he saw her not after; But, onChristmas-DayMorning, One of his best Sheep died without any Signs of Illness found upon the Body after it was open’d, and Nine or Ten Days after, died another Sheep, in an unaccountable Manner; and, shortly after, Twomore Sheep died also, some of them having no Marks of Disease upon ’em, but being sound in all their Parts, as his Shepherd informs him. He also saith that his Shepherd tells him that one other Sheep was taken strangely, skipping and standing upon its Head, but in half an Hour was well, and continues so; and another Sheep was likewise Ill, Two or Three Days, but it is now well again: AndJane Wenhamhaving the Common Fame of a Witch, he does believe that if they were bewitch’d, she did bewitch them.’

All these charges convinced the jury that she was indeed a witch, and the judge had no option but to sentence her; but he got her a reprieve, and she was let out of prison, when she was kindly befriended by Colonel Plummer, of Gilston, who gave her a cottage in which she harmlessly lived the remainder of her days.

But although this was the last capital conviction in England, the belief in witchcraft was far from dead; nay, it is still living in some remote districts, but cannot long exist, as education makes its way.

Scotch Witches—Bessie Dunlop—Alesoun Peirson—Dr. John Fian—The Devil a Preacher—Examination of Agnes Sampson—Confession of Issobel Gowdie.

But Scotland was the real home of the witch. Comparatively speaking, the English hardly knew what a witch was, and the reports of trials are so numerous that space prohibits my making more than a selection of them. Witches were important personages—at least, in the sixteenth century—for we read in the trial of Bessie Dunlop, 1576, how many noble ladies consulted her. ‘And demandit,—To quhom sche applyit the powder in drink? Declarit,—That the Lady Johnstoune the elder, send to hir ane servand of the said ladies, &c. ... Interrogat—Quhair sche gaif the gentile woman the drink? Answerit—In hir awin sisteris hous, the young Ladye Blakhallis.... Demandit—Gif ony uther personnes had bene at hir for the lyke caus? Declarit—That the Lady Kilbowye elder, send for hir &c.... Demandit—Quhat personnes thar wer? Answerit—The Ladye Thridpairt in the barronye of Renfrew, send to hir, and sperit at her, Quha was it that had stollin from hir twa hornis of gold, and are croune of the sone, out of hir pyrse?... The LadyeBlaire sundrie times had spokin with hir, about sum claise that was stollin fra hir.’

Again, in the trial of Alesoun Peirson, May 28, 1588: ‘And in speciall, scho said, that he tauld hir that the Bischop of Sanct Androus[56]had mony seiknessis, as the trimbling fewer,[57]the palp,[58]the rippilis,[59]and the flexus;[60]and baid hir mak ane faw,[61]and rub it on his cheikis, his craig, his breist, stommak and sydis.’

A favourite place of meeting, where they held their Sabbat, was at North Berwick-Kirk. In the trial of Johnne Feane, alias Cwninghame, December 26, 1590, we find: ‘Item. Fylit, ffor being in cumpany with Satan in the Kirk of North Berwick, quhair he apperit to him in the forme of ane blak maun within the pulpett thairof; and efter his out-cuminge of the Kirk, poyntit the graues and stwid aboue thame; quhilkis wer opnit in thre sindrie pairtis, twa within and ane without; quhilk the wemen demembrit the deid corps and bodeis being thairin, with thair galleis;[62]and in contment wes transportit, without wordis.... Item. Fylit. for being in North Berwick Kirk, at ane conventioune with Sathan and utheris witches; quhair Sathan maid ane dewelisch sermon, quhair the said Johnne satt uponne the left syde of the pulppett, narrest him; And the sermon being endit, he came doune and tuke the said Johnne be the hand; and led him widderschinnis[63]about.’

In ‘A True Discourse of the apprehension of Sundrie Witches lately taken in Scotland,’ etc., 1591, is the following ‘Item. The said Agnis Tompson (Sampson) was after brought againe before the Kinges Majestie and his Councell, and beeing examined of the meetings and detestable dealings of those witches, she confessed, that upon the night of Allhollow Even last, shee was accompanied, as well with the persons aforesaide, as also with a great many other witches, to the number of two hundreth, and that all they together went to Sea, each one in a riddle or cive, and went into the same very substantially, with flaggons of wine, making merrie and drinking by the way, in the same riddles or cives, to the Kirk of North Barrick in Lowthian; and that after they had landed, tooke handes on the lande, and daunced this reill or short daunce, singing all with one voice,

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