Discovery of Witches: The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of LancasterPotts, Thomas, active 1612-1618
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Discovery of Witches: The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster
Potts, Thomas, active 1612-1618
Preston, Jennet, -1612; Witchcraft -- England -- Lancashire
both places he doth add, that the business was then under
trial, and not yet perfectly known. I do not trust my
memory: I know my age and my infirmities. Cambden, I am
sure, I have read; and read again; but neither in him, nor
in Bishop Carleton's "Thankful Remembrancer," do I remember
any such thing. Others may, perchance. Yet, in the year
1576, I read in both of some pictures, representing some
that would have kill'd that glorious queen with a motto,
_Quorsum haec, alio properantibus!_ which pictures were made
by some of the conspiracy for their incouragement; but
intercepted, and showed, they say, to the queen. Did the
time agree, it is possible these pictures might be the
ground of those mistaken, if mistaken, waxen images, which I
desire to be taught by others who can give a better
account.--_Casaubon's (M.) Treatise, proving Spirits,
Witches, and Supernatural Operations_, 1672. 12mo., p. 92.
In Scotland this practice was in high favour with witches, both in
ancient and modern times. The lamentable story of poor King Duff, as
related by Hector Boethius, a story which has blanched the cheek and
spoiled the rest of many a youthful reader, is too well known to need
extracting. Even so late as 1676, Sir George Maxwell, of Pollock, (See
Scott's _Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft_, p. 323,) apparently a
man of melancholy and valetudinarian habits, believed himself
bewitched to death by six witches, one man and five women, who were
leagued for the purpose of tormenting a clay image in his likeness.
Five of the accused were executed, and the sixth only escaped on
account of extreme youth.
Isabel Gowdie, the famous Scotch witch before referred to, in her
confessions gives a very particular account of the mode in which these
images were manufactured. It is curious, and worth quoting:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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