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
Sometimes they were Deaf, sometimes Dumb, and
sometimes Blind, and often all this at once. Their tongues would be
drawn down their throats, and then pull'd out upon their Chins, to a
prodigious Length. Their Mouths were forc'd open to such a Wideness,
that their Jaws were out of Joint; and anon clap together again, with
a Force like a Spring-lock: and the like would happen to their
Shoulder-blades, their Elbows and Hand-wrists, and several of their
Joints.... Their Necks would be broken, so that their Neck-bone would
seem dissolv'd unto them that felt after it, and yet on the sudden it
would become again so stiff, that there was no stirring of their
Heads; yea, their Heads would be twisted almost round. And if the main
Force of their Friends at any time obstructed a dangerous Motion
which they seemed upon, they would roar exceedingly.
"But the Magistrates being awakened by the Noise of these Grievous and
Horrid Occurrences, examin'd the Person who was under the suspicion of
having employ'd these Troublesome Dæmons, and she gave such a Wretched
Account of herself that she was committed unto the Gaoler's Custody.
[Goodwin had no proof that could have done her any hurt; but the hag
had not power to deny her interest in the enchantment of the children;
and when she was asked, Whether she believed there was a God? her
answer was too blasphemous and horrible for any pen of mine to
mention. Upon the commitment of this extraordinary woman all the
children had some present ease, until one related to her, accidentally
meeting one or two of them, entertain'd them with her blessing, that
is railing, upon which three of them fell ill again.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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