Part 16 (1/2)

[52] _The Lawes against Witches and Conjuration ..._ (London, 1645), 4.

J. O. Jones, in his account of Hopkins, _loc. cit._, says that ”many were hanged or burned in Ipswich.” I believe that no authority can be cited for this statement.

[53] The first is in, _A True Relation of the Araignment of eighteene Witches_, 5. We of course do not know that the sentence was carried out.

[54] The master of a s.h.i.+p had been ”sutor” for her grandchild; _The Lawes against Witches_, 8. She was a ”professour of Religion, a constant hearer of the Word for these many years.”

[55] _Ibid._

[56] _I. e., The Lawes against Witches_ (London, 1645). See below, appendix A, -- 4.

[57] N. F. Hele, _Notes or Jottings about Aldeburgh_ (Ipswich, 1890), 43-44.

[58] This was doubtless the fee to the executioner. Mr. Richard Browne and Mr. Newgate, who were either the justices of the peace or the local magistrates, received 4 apiece for their services in trying the witches.

[59] A. G. Hollingsworth, _History of Stowmarket_ (Ipswich, 1844), 170.

[60] For a list of these towns, see below, appendix C, under 1645, Suffolk.

[61] Stearne, 45, two instances.

[62] _Ibid._, 37, 39, 45.

[63] Thomas Ady, _A Candle in the Dark_, 135.

[64] Stearne, 39.

[65] His whole confession reads like the utterance of a tortured man.

[66] He had previously been found with a rope around his neck. This was of course attributed to witchcraft. Stearne, 35.

[67] _Ibid._, 11.

[68] John Wynnick and Joane Wallis made effective confessions. The first, when in the heat of pa.s.sion at the loss of a purse, had signed his soul away (Stearne, 20-21; see also the pamphlet, the dedication of which is signed by John Davenport, ent.i.tled, _The Witches of Huntingdon, their Examinations and Confessions ..._ London, 1646, 3). The latter maintained a troop of imps, among whom Blackeman, Grissell, and Greedigut figured most prominently. The half-witted creature could not recall the names on the repet.i.tion of her confessions, but this failing does not seem to have awakened any doubt of her guilt. Stearne could not avoid noticing that some of those who suffered were very religious. One woman, who had kept an imp for twenty-one years, ”did resort to church and had a desire to be rid of her unhappy burden.”

[69] _I. e._, witches.

[70] This letter is printed by Gaule at the opening of his _Select Cases of Conscience Touching Witches and Witchcrafts_.

[71] Stearne, 11; _cf._ below, appendix C, 1646 (pp. 405-406).

[72] That it was done by the justices of the peace is a probable conclusion from Stearne's language. See his account of Joane Wallis, p.

13, also his account of John Wynnick, pp. 20-21. That the examinations were in March and April (see John Davenport's account, _The Witches of Huntingdon_) and the executions in May is a fact confirmatory of this; see Stearne, 11. But it is more to the point that John Davenport dedicates his pamphlet to the justices of the peace for the county of Huntingdon, and says: ”You were present, and Judges at the Tryall and Conviction of them.”

[73] The swimming ordeal was perhaps unofficial; see Stearne, 19.

Another case was that of Elizabeth Chandler, who was ”duckt”; _Witches of Huntingdon_, 8.

[74] Tilbrooke-bushes, Stearne, 11; Risden, _ibid._, 31.

[75] This may be inferred from Stearne's words: ”but afterward I heard that she made a very large confession,” _ibid._, 31.