American Scenery, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Land, lake, and river illustrations of transatlantic natureWillis, Nathaniel Parker
General
American Scenery, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Land, lake, and river illustrations of transatlantic nature
Willis, Nathaniel Parker
United States -- Description and travel
“On Lord’s-day, 30th of March, at night, going home with Goodwife
Barton, she separated from her at the freshet next her house. On her
return, between Goodman Evens’s and Robert Davis’s, she heard a rustling
in the woods, which she at first thought was occasioned by swine; and
presently after, there did appear to her a woman, whom she apprehended
to be old Goodwife Walford. She asked me where my consort was; I
answered, I had none. She said, thy consort is at home by this time:
lend me a pound of cotton. I told her I had but two pounds in the house,
and I would not spare any to my mother. She said I had better have done
it; that my sorrow was great already, and it should be greater; for I
was going a great journey, but should never come there. She then left
me; and I was struck _as with a clap of fire_ on the back, and she
vanished towards the water-side, in my apprehension, in the _shape of a
cat_. She had on her head a white linen hood tied under her chin, and
her waistcoat and petticoat were red, with an old green apron, and a
black hat upon her head.”—Taken upon oath, 18th April, 1656.
“Her husband (Oliver) says, she came home in a sad condition. She passed
by me with her child in her arms, laid the child on the bed, sat down on
the chest, and leaned upon her elbow. Three times I asked her how she
did. She could not speak. I took her in my arms and held her up, and
repeated the question. She forced breath, and something stopped in her
throat as if it would have stopped her breath. I unlaced her clothes,
and soon she spake and said, ‘Lord, have mercy upon me, this wicked
woman will kill me.’ I asked her what woman? she said, Goodwife Walford.
I tried to persuade her it was only her weakness. She told me no; and
related as above, that her back was as a flame of fire, and her lower
parts were as it were numb, and without feeling. I pinched her, and she
felt not. She continued that night, and the day and night following,
very ill, and is still bad of her limbs, and complains still daily of
it.
“A witness deposed, June 1656, that he was at Goodman Walford’s, 30th
March, 1656, at the time mentioned by Mrs. Trimmings, and that Goodwife
Walford was at home till quite dark, as well as she ever was in her
life.
“_Nicholas Rowe_ testified that Jane Walford, shortly after she was
accused, came to the deponent in bed in the evening, and put her hand
upon his breast, so that he could not speak, and was in great pain till
the next day. By the light of the fire in the next room it appeared to
be Goody Walford, but she did not speak. She repeated her visit about a
week after, and did as before, but said nothing.
“_Eliza Barton_ deposed that she saw Susannah Trimmings at the time she
was ill, and her face was coloured and spotted with several colours. She
told the deponent the story, who replied, that it was nothing but her
_fantasy_; her eyes looked as if they had been scalded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account