Trials (Witchcraft) -- England -- Devon; Witchcraft -- England -- Devon
as she was returning to her own house and after that they had tormented
the said Grace Thomas in manner as last above mentioned. Being demanded
of what stature the said Black man was, said, that he was about the
length of her arm and that his eyes were very big, and that he hopt or
leapt in the way before her; and afterwards did suck her again as she
was lying down, and that his sucking was with great pain unto her,
and afterwards vanished clear away out of her sight. This Examinant
does further confess that upon the first of June last, whilst the said
Mr. Eastchurch and his wife were absent, that she did pinch and prick
the said Grace Thomas with the aid and help of the Black man in her
belly, stomach, and breast, etc., and that they continued so tormenting
of her, about the space of two or three hours, with an intent to have
killed her. And further saith that at the same time she did see the
said Anne Wakely, rubbing and chafing of several parts of the said
Grace Thomas, her body; although the said Anne being present at the
taking of this examination doth affirm that she did not see the said
examinant.
Whereas the said Temperance Lloyd hath made such an ample confession
and declaration concerning the said Grace Thomas, we the said Mayor and
Justice were induced to demand of her some other questions concerning
other Witcheries which she had practiced upon the bodies of several
other persons within this Town; viz.--
She the said examinant did confess that about the 14th of March, in
the year 1670, she was accused, indicted, and arraigned for practising
Witchcraft upon the body of William Herbert, late of Biddiford,
husbandman; and that altho' at the trial of her life at the Castle
of Exeter, she was there acquitted by the Judge and Jury then; yet
this Examinant does now confess that she is guilty thereof, by the
persuasion of the Black man and that she did prick the same William
Herbert unto death.
And whereas upon or about the 15th of May, in the year 1679, she was
accused before the then Mayor and Justices of the town of Biddiford
aforesaid, for practising witchcraft upon the body of Anne Fellow, the
daughter of Edward Fellow of Biddiford, gent, and although her body was
then searched by four women of the town of Biddiford, and the proofs
then against her not so clear and conspicuous the said Mr. Fellow did
not further prosecute against her--yet this examinant doth now confess,
that the said Black man or Devil with her, this examinant did do some
bodily hurt to the said Anne Fellow, and that thereupon the said Anne
did shortly die and depart this life.
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