SUPPOSED WITCHCRAFT.
Cole, in his manuscript volume xlvi. p. 340, gives the copy of a paper written at the beginning of the seventeenth century, addressed to some Justices in Quarter Sessions, though of what county is not mentioned:—
"Maye it please your worships to understand what troubles, sicknesse, and losses the Petitioner hath suffered, and in what manner theye happened, and by plaine tokens and lyklyhood, by the meanes of this woman and others; but chiefly by her, as is gathered by all conjectures. And first of all, a Boare which I have, was in such case, that he could not crye nor grunt as beforetyme; neither could he goe, but creepe, until we used some meanes to recover him; but all was to no purpose, untill such tyme as we sent for Nicholas Wesgate, who, when he saw him, said, 'He was madd or bewitched;' and my Wyfe using meanes to give him some Milke, he bit her by the hand, and I fearing he was madd, sent after my wyfe, being toward Norwich, that she might get something at the Apothecaries to prevent the danger we feared: and that Horse which my man did ryde upon after my wife, was taken lame as he returned back again, and suddenly after was swollen lyke a Bladder which is blown, and died within eight dayes. Nexte a Calfe was taken lame, the legg turning upward, which was a strange sight to them whoe did beholde the same. Suddenly after that I had fyve Calves more, which should have sold for xiijs. iiijd. the Calfe, being sound and well in the evening, and the next daye in the morning they were in such case as wee could not endure to come nigh them, by reason of a filthy noisome savour, theyre hayre standinge upright on theyre backes, and theye shakinge in such sorte as I never sawe, nor any other, I suppose, lyveynge. Againe within a short space I had another Calfe, which was taken so strangely, as if the backe were broken, and much swollen, and within the space of three or four dayes it dyed. And within two or three dayes after, another Calfe was taken in such sorte that it turned round about, and did goe as if the backe were broken. Then was I wished to burne it, and I carried the Calfe to burne it, and after it was burned, I was taken with paynes and gripings, and soe continued in such sort, untyll shee came to my House; whereupon I did earnestly chide her, and said I would beate her, and that daye, I prayse God, I was restored to my former health."
H. E.