Trials (Witchcraft) -- England -- Devon; Witchcraft -- England -- Devon
Hann: but the overruling Power
prevented them; but because they could not be suffered to exercise
their Diabolicism upon his body, they thought they would be some other
way Revenged, so witch like, they laid their Diabolical Charms upon his
cattle, so that those cows that used to give milk, when they came to
be milked they gave blood, to the great astonishment of the milkers;
but finding themselves outcast from everlasting happiness, they grew
insolent in their Cursed Conceits, resolving to make use of that art
which they should so deadly pay for. But I too much insist upon the Old
hag whose cruelties are and were sufficiently manifested by her own
confession at her Tryal, the other Two witches being somewhat younger
than the Old Shape of Prince Lucifer, who acknowledged themselves to
have been servants to the Old one for five years to learn the art
and mystery of Hellish, Damnable, Accursed and Most to be Lamented
Witchcraft; and in the term of these 5 years grew to be as dexterous
as their Devilish Tutor, trying their experiments upon Man and Beast
to the injury of both, but the Old one confessed plainly that she had
caused several Ships at sea to be cast away, with loss of many men's
lives and the prejudice of many others. She confessed also that the
Devil lay carnally with her for Nine Nights together, and that she had
Paps about her an Inch long, which the Devil us'd to suck to Provoke
her to Letchery; but the other two seemed to be more Pensive than
she, for they confessed that she was the Introducer of their Misery,
and that they had served both the Devil and her five years' slavery,
to understand the ready way to everlasting Destruction. But Heaven's
Vengeance never fails to follow such offenders who do wickedly,
presumptuously and prophanely make use of the Devil to satisfy their
Impious wills. But to proceed, this old witch whose name was Temperance
Floyd, was without doubt perfectly Resolute, not minding what should
become of her Immortal soul, but rather Impudently owned at, as well as
after her Tryal, so Audacious, that she had done many wicked Exploits
by the Power (not virtue) of her Hellish Discipline: She confessed that
she had been Instrumental to the Death of several, namely one Hannah
Thomas, by pretence of love, Squeezing her in her arms so long till the
blood gushed out of her mouth; she confessed that she and the other
two had been the death of Two more, besides several others that they
had lamed by their Hellish Art; they confessed that they had been the
destruction of many cattle, both small and great, and many more things
too tedious to relate; being asked at their trial to say the Lord's
Prayer, they answered, that they could not except it were backwards;
they said the Devil used to be with them on Nights in Several Shapes,
sometimes like a Hound, who Hunted before them (but without doubt he
hunted for Souls). There were many more accusations laid against them,
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account