Trials (Witchcraft) -- England -- Devon; Witchcraft -- England -- Devon
The Information of Grace Thomas, of Biddiford in the County aforesaid,
Spinster, taken upon her oath the 3rd day of July, A.D. 1682 before
us. The said informant upon her oath saith, that upon or about the
second day of February which was in the year of our Lord 1680, this
informant was taken with great pains in her head, and all her limbs,
which pains continued on her till near or upon 1st day of August then
following; and then this Informant's pains began to abate, and this
Informant was able to walk abroad to take the air: But in the night
she was in much pain and not able to take her rest. This Informant
further saith, That upon or about the 30th day of September now last
past this informant was going up the High Street of Biddiford, when
this informant met with Temperance Lloyd of Biddiford aforesaid, widow,
and she the said Temperance did then and there fall down on her knees
to this Informant and wept--saying "Mrs. Grace, I am glad to see you
so strong again." Upon which this informant said, "Why dost thou weep
for me?" Unto which the said Temperance replied, "I weep for joy to
see you so well again," as the said Temperance then pretended. This
Informant further saith--That that night she, this informant, was taken
very ill with sticking and pricking pains as tho' pins and awls had
been thrust into her body, from the crown of her head to the soles of
her feet; and this informant lay as though it had been upon a rack.
And saith, that these pricking pains have continued upon her body ever
since; and that her pains are much worse by night than by day. This
informant further saith, That on Thursday 1st of June last in the
night, she the Informant was bound and seemingly chained up with all
her sticking pains in her belly; so that on a sudden her belly was as
big as two bellies, which caused her to cry out, "I shall die;" and in
this sad condition this Informant lay as though she had been dead for
a long space (which those persons that were in the chamber with her,
this informant did compute to be about two hours). And this Informant
further saith, that on Friday night last, being the 30th of June, this
Informant was again pinched and pricked to the heart with such cruel
thrusting pains in her head, shoulders, arms, hands, thighs and legs,
as tho' the flesh would have been then immediately torn from the woman
with a man's fingers and thumbs. And further saith--That she was even
plucked out over her bed, and lay in this condition for the space of
three hours (as she was informed by some of those persons then in the
chamber). This Informant further saith that upon the 1st day of this
instant July, as soon as the aforesaid Temperance Lloyd was apprehended
and put in the prison of Biddiford, she this Informant immediately felt
her pricking and sticking pains to cease and abate. And saith--that
she hath continued so ever since unto this time, but is still in great
weakness of body. And further saith, that she believeth that the said
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