Trials (Witchcraft) -- England -- Devon; Witchcraft -- England -- Devon
Now, when Temperance was locked up in gaol, she evidently found it
lonely, and so made sufficient observations to her attendants as to
necessitate the arrest of her old cronies, Susanna Edwards and Mary
Trembles. One remark was to the effect that if she was to be hanged,
that Susanna should join her, and at the same time dropping hints about
riding on a red cow, and so on.
On July 18th the same magistrates set to work on Susanna Edwards
and Mary Trembles. A certain Grace Barnes had been taken ill in a
mysterious manner, and to the alarm of her husband and friends. Whilst
the attack lasted, one Agnes Whitfield, who was present, heard some
one at the door, which opening, she found Mary Trembles pretending to
be going to the bakehouse with a white pot in her hands. Grace Barnes
being told who was at the door, cried out that Mary Trembles was one of
them who did torment her; the other was Susanna Edwards, because she
was always coming to her house on some foolish pretence or other. Then
a blacksmith called William Edwards reports a conversation of Susanna
Edwards, showing that she and Mary Trembles had been trying their
art on Grace Barnes. One of the informants was Joane Jones, who was
probably the female watcher at the prison, because she gives evidence
of conversations overheard between Mary Trembles and Susanna Edwards
while in prison.
A curious scene took place before the magistrates on this occasion.
Anthony Jones, husband of the last witness, was standing by the side
of Susanna Edwards, and seeing her to twist her fingers about, said,
"Thou devil, thou art tormenting some person or other!" This enraged
the old woman, who looked at him and said, "Well enough I'll fit thee."
The evidence of Grace Barnes being required, a constable and the man
Jones are sent to fetch her; and as they are bringing her with much
ado into the court, Susanna catches the eye of the officious Mr.
Jones, who forthwith falls down in a fit, and is described as having
"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." Then follows the examination of Mary Trembles, who pleads guilty
to everything and anything. She had been enlisted to the cause of
witchcraft by Susanna Edwards, and had been promised by her "never to
want for money, drink, or clothes;" that the devil had appeared to
her like a Lyon, and that she and Susanna had bewitched Grace Barnes
because the latter had refused them some bread.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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