Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original SourcesAshton, John
History
Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original Sources
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
'_Sarah Griffith_ who Lived in a Garret in _Rosemary lane_ was a long
time suspected for a bad Woman, but nothing could be prov'd against
her that the Law might take hold of her. Tho' some of the Neighbours'
Children would be strangely effected with unknown Distempers, as
Vomiting of Pins, their Bodies turn'd into strange Postures and such
like, many were frighted with strange Apperitions of Cats, which of a
sudden would vanish away, these and such like made those who lived in
the Neighbourhood, both suspicious and fearful of her: Till at last
the _Devil_ (who always betrays those that deal with him) thus brought
the Truth to Light. One Mr. _John_ ---- at the _Sugar loaf_ had a good
jolly fellow for his Apprentice: This Old _Jade_ came into his Shop to
buy a quartern of Sope, the young fellow happened to Laugh, and the
Scales not hanging right, cryed out he thought that they were be
Witch'd; The Old Woman hearing him say so, fell into a great Passion,
judging he said so to Ridicule her, ran out of the Shop and threatned
Revenge. In the Night was heard a lumbring noise in the Shop, and the
Man coming down to see, found a strange Confusion, every thing turn'd
topsy turvy, all the goods out of order; but what was worse, the next
day the poor fellow was troubled with a strange Disease, but (by) the
good Prayers of some Neighbouring Divines the power of the _Devil_ was
restrain'd.
'Two or three days after it happened, that the Young Man with two or
three more walking up to the New River Head, who should they see but
Mother _Griffith_ walking that way. They consulted together to try
her, and one of them said let us toss her into the River, for I have
heard that if she Swims 'tis a certain sign of a Witch; in short they
put their design in Execution, for coming up to her, they tossed her
in; but like a Bladder when forc'd under Water pops up again, so this
Witch was no sooner in but Swam like a Corke; they kept her in some
time, and at last let her come out again; she was no sooner out but
she smote that Young Man on the Arm, and told him he should pay dear
for what he had done. Immediately he found a strange pain on his Arm,
and looking on it found the exact mark of her Hand and Fingers as
black as a Cole; he went home where he lay much Lamented and
wonderfully affrighted with the Old Woman coming to afflict him, and
at last died with the pain, and (was) Buried in St. _Pulchers_ Church
Yard.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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