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
amongst thirty whom they brought in to see if they could deceive her
either in the name or description of the accused person. All this was
sworn to by persons that were present, as having heard it from the
Afflicted as she recovered from her several fits."
Between the 3rd and the 24th of March depositions relative to various
aspects of the case were sworn to by several people, and the Mayor of
Carrigfergus issued a warrant for the arrest of all suspected persons.
Seven women were arrested; their names were:
Janet Mean, of Braid Island.
Jane Latimer, of Irish quarter, Carrigfergus.
Margaret Mitchell, of Kilroot.
Catherine M'Calmont, of Island Magee.
Janet Liston, _alias_ Sellar, of same.
Elizabeth Sellar, of same.
Janet Carson, of same.
Her worst tormentors seem to have been taken into custody at an early
stage in the proceedings, for Miss Dunbar stated in her deposition, made
on the 12th of March, that since their arrest she received no annoyance,
except from "Mrs. Ann, and another woman blind of an eye, who told her
when Mr. Robb, the curate, was going to pray with and for her, that she
should be little the better for his prayers, for they would hinder her
from hearing them, which they accordingly did." In one of her attacks Miss
Dunbar was informed by this "Mrs. Ann" that she should never be discovered
by her name, as the rest had been, but she seems to have overlooked the
fact that her victim was quite capable of giving an accurate _description_
of her, which she accordingly did, and thus was the means of bringing
about the apprehension of one Margaret Mitchell, upon which she became
free from all annoyance, except that she felt something strange in her
stomach which she would be glad to get rid of--and did, as we shall see
presently.
With regard to the woman blind in one eye, we learn from another deponent
that three women thus disfigured were brought to her, but she declared
that they never troubled her. "One Jane Miller, of Carrigfergus, blind of
an eye, being sent for, as soon as she drew near the house the said Mary,
who did not know of her coming, became very much afraid, faintish, and
sweat, and as soon as she came into the room the said Mary fell into such
a violent fit of pains that three men were scarce able to hold her, and
cryed out, 'For Christ's sake, take the Devil out of the room.' And being
asked, said the third woman, for she was the woman that did torment her."
Yet Jane Miller does not seem to have been arrested.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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