Irish Witchcraft and DemonologySeymour, St. John D. (St. John Drelincourt)
History
Irish Witchcraft and Demonology
Seymour, St. John D. (St. John Drelincourt)
Demonology; Witchcraft -- Ireland
What was the fate of Dame Alice's accomplices, whose names we have given
above, is not specifically recorded, except in one particular instance.
One of them, Petronilla of Meath, was made the scapegoat for her mistress.
The Bishop had her flogged six times, and under the repeated application
of this form of torture she made the required confession of magical
practices. She admitted the denial of her faith and the sacrificing to
Robert, son of Art, and as well that she had caused certain women of her
acquaintance to appear as if they had goats' horns. She also confessed
that at the suggestion of Dame Alice she had frequently consulted demons
and received responses from them, and that she had acted as a "medium"
(mediatrix) between her and the said Robert. She declared that although
she herself was mistress of the Black Art, yet she was as nothing in
comparison with the Dame from whom she had learnt all her knowledge, and
that there was no one in the world more skilful than she. She also stated
that William Outlawe deserved death as much as she, for he was privy to
their sorceries, and for a year and a day had worn the devil's girdle[6]
round his body. When rifling Dame Alice's house there was found "a wafer
of sacramental bread, having the devil's name stamped thereon instead of
Jesus Christ, and a pipe of ointment wherewith she greased a staffe, upon
which she ambled and galloped through thicke and thin, when and in what
manner she listed." Petronilla was accordingly condemned to be burnt
alive, and the execution of this sentence took place with all due
solemnity in Kilkenny on 3rd November 1324, which according to Clyn fell
on a Sunday. This was the first instance of the punishment of death by
fire being inflicted in Ireland for heresy.
Whether or not Petronilla's fellow-prisoners were punished is not clear,
but the words of the anonymous narrator show us that the burning of that
unfortunate wretch was rather the beginning than the end of
persecution--that in fact numerous other suspected persons were followed
up, some of whom shared her terrible fate, while to others milder forms
of punishment were meted out, no doubt in proportion to their guilt. He
says: "With regard to the other heretics and sorcerers who belonged to the
pestilential society of Robin, son of Art, the order of law being
preserved, some of them were publicly burnt to death; others, confessing
their crimes in the presence of all the people, in an upper garment, are
marked back and front with a cross after they had abjured their heresy, as
is the custom; others were solemnly whipped through the town and the
market-place; others were banished from the city and diocese; others who
evaded the jurisdiction of the Church were excommunicated; while others
again fled in fear and were never heard of after. And thus, by the
authority of Holy Mother Church, and by the special grace of God, that
most foul brood was scattered and destroyed."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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