Part 28 (1/2)

[30] Jane Wenham (broadside); see also _A Full and Impartial Account_, 14.

[31] _Ibid._, 14.

[32] It was suggested by some who did not believe Jane guilty, that she confessed from unhappiness and a desire to be out of the world, _Witchcraft Farther Display'd. Containing (I) An Account of the Witchcraft practis'd by Jane Wenham, ... An Answer to ... Objections against the Being and Power of Witches ..._ (London, 1712), 37.

[33] _A Full and Impartial Account_, 24.

[34] _An Account of the Tryal, Examination and Condemnation of Jane Wenham._

[35] _A Full and Impartial Account_, 27.

[36] _A Full and Impartial Account_, 26.

[37] _Ibid._, 25.

[38] For this story I have found no contemporary testimony. The earliest source that I can find is Alexander Chalmers's _Biographical Dictionary_ (London, 1812-1827), XXV, 248 (_s. v._ Powell).

[39] After her release she was taken under the protection of Colonel Plummer of Gilston, who had followed the trial. Hutchinson, _Historical Essay on Witchcraft_, 130. On his death she was supported by the Earl and Countess of Cowper, and lived until 1730. Robert Clutterbuck, _History and Antiquities of the County of Hertford_ (London, 1815-1827), II, 461, note.

[40] _Witchcraft Farther Displayed_, introduction.

[41] See the dedication to Justice Powell in _The Case of the Hertfords.h.i.+re Witchcraft Consider'd_ (London, 1712).

[42] _A Full Confutation of Witchcraft: More particularly of the Depositions against Jane Wenham.... In a Letter from a Physician in Hertfords.h.i.+re, to his Friend in London_ (London, 1712).

[43] _The Case of the Hertfords.h.i.+re Witchcraft Consider'd._ For more as to these discussions see below, ch. XIV.

[44] It seems, however, that the efforts of Lady Frances ---- to bring about Jane's execution in spite of the judge were feared by Jane's friends. See _The Impossibility of Witchcraft, ... In which the Depositions against Jane Wenham ... are Confuted ..._ (London, 1712), 2d ed. (in the Bodleian), 36.

[45] See Brit. Mus., Add. MSS., 35,838, f. 404.

[46] They could ”get no blood of them by Scratching so they used great pins and such Instruments for that purpose.”

[47] See _Hist. MSS. Comm. Reports, Various_, I, 160; see also C. J.

Bilson, _County Folk Lore, Leicesters.h.i.+re and Rutland_ (Folk Lore Soc., 1895), 51-52.

[48] _The Case of Witchcraft at Coggeshall, Ess.e.x, in the year 1699.

Being the narrative of the Rev. J. Boys ..._ (London, 1901).

[49] By some Parker is given the credit. I cannot find the original authority.

[50] Inderwick, _Sidelights on the Stuarts_, 174, 175.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE CLOSE OF THE LITERARY CONTROVERSY.

In the last chapter we mentioned the controversy over Jane Wenham. In attempting in this chapter to show the currents and cross-currents of opinion during the last period of witch history in England, we cannot omit some account of the pamphlet war over the Hertfords.h.i.+re witch. It will not be worth while, however, to take up in detail the arguments of the upholders of the superst.i.tion. The Rev. Mr. Bragge was clearly on the defensive. There were, he admitted sadly, ”several gentlemen who would not believe that there are any witches since the time of our Saviour Jesus Christ.” He struck the same note when he spoke of those who disbelieved ”on the prejudices of education only.” With great satisfaction the clergyman quoted the decision of Sir Matthew Hale in 1664.[1]