Trials (Witchcraft) -- England -- Devon; Witchcraft -- England -- Devon
that she was suckt in her breast several times by the Devil in the
shape of a boy, lying by her in her bed and that it was very cold unto
her. And this Informant further saith that her husband observing the
said Susanna to gripe and twinkle her hands upon her own body, said
unto her, "Thou Devil, thou art now tormenting some person or other."
Whereupon the said Susanna was displeased with him, and said, "Well
enough I'll fit thee;" and that present time the said Grace Barnes
was in great pain with prickings and stabbings in her heart, as she
did afterwards affirm. This informant further saith that one of the
Constables and her said husband with some others were sent by Mr.
Mayor to bring the said Grace Barnes unto the Town Hall of Biddiford
aforesaid, which they did accordingly do, and immediately as soon as
he with others had led and with much ado brought the said Grace Barnes
into the town-hall, the said Susanna Edwards turned about and looked
upon her said husband, and forthwith this informant's husband was taken
in a very sad condition, as he was leading and supporting the said
Grace Barnes up the stairs of the said Town-hall, before the Mayor and
Justices; insomuch that he cried out, "Wife I am now bewitched by this
Devil" meaning Susanna Edwards; and forthwith leapt and capered like
a madman and fell a shaking, quivering and groaning, and lay for the
space of half an hour like a dying or dead man. And at length coming to
his senses again did declare unto this Informant, that the said Susanna
Edwards had bewitched him. And this Informant further saith, that she
did never knew her said husband to be taken in any fits or convulsions,
but a person of a sound and healthy body ever since he had been this
Informant's husband.
The Information of Anthony Jones of Biddiford, Husbandman, taken the
19th of July A.D. 1682. The said informant upon his oath saith, that
yesterday whilst the said Susanna Edwards was in the Town-hall of
Biddiford concerning the said Grace Barnes he did observe the said
Susanna to gripe and twinkle her hands upon her own body, in an unusual
manner: whereupon the said Susanna was displeased with this informant,
and said, "Well enough I will fit thee." And at that present time the
said Grace Barnes was in great pains with prickings and stabbings unto
her heart as the said Grace did afterwards affirm. This Informant
further saith that one of the constables etc. with some others being
sent by order of Mr. Mayor, to bring the said Grace unto the Town-hall
of Biddiford, immediately, as soon as they had brought the said Grace
unto the Town-hall, the said Susanna turned about and looked upon
this informant, and forthwith the Informant was taken in a very sad
condition as he was coming up the stairs of the said Town-hall, before
the Mayor and Justices, insomuch that he cried out, "Wife, I am now
bewitched by this Devil Susanna Edwards."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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