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
"This Mary Longdon having closed her evidence, Florence Newton peeped
at her as it were betwixt the heads of the bystanders that interposed
between her and the said Mary, and lifting up both her hands together,
as they were manacled, cast them in a violent angry motion (as was
observed by W. Aston) towards the said Mary, as if she intended to
strike at her if she could have reached her, and said, _Now she is
down_. Upon which the Maid fell suddenly down to the ground like a
stone, and fell into a most violent Fit, that all the people that
could come to lay hands on her could scarce hold her, she biting her
own arms and shreeking out in a most hideous manner, to the amazement
of all the Beholders. And continuing so for about a quarter of an hour
(the said Florence Newton sitting by herself all that while pinching
her own hands and arms, as was sworn by some that observed her), the
Maid was ordered to be carried out of Court, and taken into a House.
Whence several Persons after that brought word, that the Maid was in a
Vomiting Fit, and they brought in several crook'd Pins, and Straws,
and Wooll, in white Foam like Spittle, in great proportion. Whereupon
the Court having taken notice that the Maid said she had been very
well when the said Florence was in Bolts, and ill again when out of
them, till they were again put on her, demanded of the Jaylor if she
were in Bolts or no, to which he said she was not, only manacled. Upon
which order was given to put on her Bolts, and upon putting them on
she cried out that she was killed, she was undone, she was spoiled,
why do you torment me thus? and so continued complaining grievously
for half a quarter of an hour. And then came in a messenger from the
Maid, and informed the Court the Maid was well. At which Florence
immediately and cholerickly uttered these words, _She is not well
yet!_ And being demanded, how she knew this, she denied she said so,
though many in Court heard her say the words, and she said, if she
did, she knew not what she said, being old and disquieted, and
distracted with her sufferings. But the Maid being reasonably well
come to herself, was, before the Court knew anything of it, sent out
of Town to Youghall, and so was no further examined.
"The Fit of the Maid being urged by the Court with all the
circumstance of it upon Florence Newton, to have been a continuance of
her devilish practice, she denied it, and likewise the motion of her
hands, and the saying, _Now she is down_, though the Court saw the
first, and the words were sworn to by one Roger Moor. And Thomas
Harrison swore that he had observed the said Florence peep at her, and
use that motion with her hands, and saw the Maid fall immediately
upon that motion, and heard the words, _Now she is down_, uttered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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