Part 30 (2/2)
Hutchinson, _Historical Essay on Witchcraft_, and George Sinclar, _Satan's Invisible World Discovered_ (Edinburgh, 1685), had seen an account by the Rev. Lewis Hughes (in his _Certaine Grievances_) of the case of Mother Jackson, who was accused of bewitching Mary Glover.
Although Hughes's tale was not here published until 1641-2, the events with which it deals must all have taken place in 1602 or 1603. Sir John Crook is mentioned as recorder of London and Sir Edmund Anderson as chief justice. ”R. B.,” in _The Kingdom of Darkness_ (London, 1688), gives the story in detail, although misled, like Hutchinson, into a.s.signing it to 1642.
It remains to mention certain exorcist pamphlets of which we possess only the t.i.tles:
_A history of the case of Catherine Wright._ No date; written presumably by Darrel and given by him to Mrs. Foljambe, afterwards Lady Bowes. See C. H. and T. Cooper, _Athenae Cantabrigienses_ (Cambridge, 1858-1861), II, 381.
Darrel says that there was a book printed about ”Margaret Harrison of Burnham-Ulpe in Norfolk and her vexation by Sathan.” See _Detection of that sinnfull ... discours of Samuel Harshnet_, 36, and _Survey of Certaine Dialogical Discourses_, 54.
_The strange Newes out of Sommersets.h.i.+re, Anno 1584, tearmed, a dreadfull discourse of the dispossessing of one Margaret Cooper at Ditchet, from a devill in the likenes of a headlesse beare._ Referred to by Harsnett, _Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel_, 17.
A ballad seems to have been written about the Somers case. Extracts from it are given by Harsnett, _ibid._, 34, 120.
-- 3.--James I and Witchcraft and Notable Jacobean Cases (see chs. V, VI).
_The Most Cruell and b.l.o.o.d.y Murther committed by an Innkeepers Wife called Annis Dell, and her Sonne George Dell, Foure Yeares since....
With the severall Witch-crafts and most d.a.m.nable practices of one Iohane Harrison and her Daughter, upon several persons men and women at Royston, who were all executed at Hartford the 4 of August last past 1606._ So far as the writer knows, there is no contemporary reference to confirm the executions mentioned in this pamphlet. The story itself is a rather curious one with a certain literary flavor. This, however, need not weigh against it. It seems possible rather than probable that the narrative is a fabrication.
_The severall notorious and lewd Cosenages of Iohn West and Alice West, falsely called the King and Queene of Fayries ... convicted ... 1613_, London, 1613. This might pa.s.s in catalogues as a witch pamphlet. It is an account of two clever swindlers and of their punishment.
_The Witches of Northamptons.h.i.+re._
_Agnes Browne_ } _Arthur Bill_ } _Joane Vaughan_} _h.e.l.len Jenkenson_} _Witches._ _Mary Barber_ }
_Who were all executed at Northampton the 22. of July last. 1612._
Concerning this same affair there is an account in MS., ”A briefe abstract of the arraignment of nine witches at Northampton, July 21, 1621” (Brit. Mus., Sloane, 972). This narrative has, in common with the printed narrative, the story of Mistress Belcher's and Master Avery's sufferings from witchcraft. It mentions also Agnes Brown and Joan Brown (or Vaughan) who, according to the other account, were hanged. All the other names are different. But it is nevertheless not hard to reconcile the two accounts. The ”briefe abstract” deals with the testimony taken before the justices of the peace on two charges; the _Witches of Northamptons.h.i.+re_ with the final outcome at the a.s.sizes. Three of those finally hanged were not concerned in the first accusations and were brought in from outlying districts. On the other hand, most of those who were first accused by Belcher and Avery seem not to have been indicted.
_The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the countie of Lancaster. With the Arraignement and Triall of Nineteene notorious Witches, at the a.s.sizes and generall Gaole deliverie, holden at the Castle of Lancaster, upon Munday, the seventeenth of August last, 1612. Before Sir James Altham, and Sir Edward Bromley.... Together with the Arraignement and Triall of Jennet Preston, at the a.s.sizes holden at the Castle of Yorke, the seven and twentieth day of Julie last past.... Published and set forth by commandement of his Majesties Justices of a.s.size in the North Parts. By Thomas Potts, Esq._ London, 1613. Reprinted by the Chetham Soc, J. Crossley, ed., 1845. Thomas Potts has given us in this book the fullest of all English witch accounts. No other narrative offers such an opportunity to examine the character of evidence as well as the court procedure. Potts was very superst.i.tious, but his account is in good faith.
_Witches Apprehended, Examined and Executed, for notable villanies by them committed both by Land and Water. With a strange and most true trial how to know whether a woman be a Witch or not._ London, 1613.
Bodleian.
_A Booke of the Wytches Lately condemned and executed at Bedford, 1612-1613._ I have seen no copy of this pamphlet, the t.i.tle of which is given by Edward Arber, _Transcript of the Registers of the Company of Stationers of London, 1554-1640_ (London, 1875-1894), III, 234b.... The story is without doubt the same as that told in the preceding pamphlet.
We have no absolutely contemporary reference to this case. Edward Fairfax, who wrote in 1622, had heard of the case--probably, however, from the pamphlet itself. But we can be quite certain that the narrative was based on an actual trial and conviction. Some of the incidental details given are such as no fabricator would insert.
In the MS., ”How to discover a witch,” Brit. Mus., Add. MSS., 36,674, f.
148, there is a reference to a detail of Mother Sutton's ordeal not given in the pamphlet I have used.
_A Treatise of Witchcraft.... With a true Narration of the Witchcrafts which Mary Smith, wife of Henry Smith, Glover, did practise ... and lastly, of her death and execution ... By Alexander Roberts, B. D. and Preacher of G.o.ds Word at Kings-Linne in Norffolke._ London, 1616. The case of Mary Smith is taken up at p. 45. This account was dedicated to the ”Maior” and aldermen, etc., of ”Kings Linne” and was no doubt semi-official. It is reprinted in Howell, _State Trials_, II.
_The Wonderful Discoverie of the Witchcrafts of Margaret and Phillip Flower, daughters of Joan Flower neere Bever Castle: executed at Lincolne, March 11, 1618. Who were specially arraigned and condemned before Sir Henry Hobart and Sir Edward Bromley, Judges of a.s.size, for confessing themselves actors in the destruction of Henry, Lord Rosse, with their d.a.m.nable practises against others the Children of the Right Honourable Francis Earle of Rutland. Together with the severall Examinations and Confessions of Anne Baker, Joan Willimot, and Ellen Greene, Witches in Leicesters.h.i.+re_, London, 1619. For confirmation of the Rutlands.h.i.+re witchcraft see _Cal. St. P., Dom., 1619-1623_, 129; _Hist. MSS. Comm. Reports, Rutland_, IV, 514. See also _Gentleman's Magazine_, LXXIV, pt. ii, 909: ”On the monument of Francis, sixth earl of Rutland, in Bottesford church, Leicesters.h.i.+re, it is recorded that by his second lady he had 'two Sons, both which died in their infancy by wicked practices and sorcery.'”
Another pamphlet seems to have been issued about the affair: _Strange and wonderfull Witchcrafts, discovering the d.a.m.nable Practises of seven Witches against the Lives of certain n.o.ble Personages and others of this Kingdom; with an approved Triall how to find out either Witch or any Apprentise to Witchcraft, 1621._ Another edition in 1635; see Lowndes.
_The Wonderfull discoverie of Elizabeth Sawyer ... late of Edmonton, her conviction, condemnation and Death.... Written by Henry Goodcole, Minister of the word of G.o.d, and her continuall Visiter in the Gaole of Newgate.... 1621._ The Reverend Mr. Goodcole wrote a plain, unimaginative story, the main facts of which we cannot doubt. They are supported moreover by Dekker and Ford's play, _The Witch of Edmonton_, which appeared within a year. Goodcole refers to the ”ballets” written about this case.
_The Boy of Bilson: or A True Discovery of the Late Notorious Impostures of Certaine Romish Priests in their pretended Exorcisme, or expulsion of the Divell out of a young Boy, named William Perry...._ London, 1622.
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