Devil; Witchcraft -- Great Britain; Witchcraft -- United States
‘This _Ioane_ was so well brought up under her mother’s elbow, that shee
hangd with her for company under her mother’s nose. But to the purpose.
This _Ioane_ one day happening into the company of one Mistris _Belcher_,
a vertuous and godly Gentlewoman of the same towne of _Gilsborough_, this
_Ioane Vaughan_, whether of purpose to giue occasion of anger to the said
Mistris _Belcher_, or but continue her vile and ordinary custome of
behauiour, committed something either in speech or gesture, so unfitting
and unseeming the nature of womanhood, that it displeased the most that
were there present: But especially it touched the modesty of this
Gentlewoman, who was much mooued with her bold and impudent demeanor, that
she could not contain herselfe, but sodainely rose up and strooke her;
howbeit hurt her not, but forced her to auoid the Company: which this
Chicken of the Damme’s hatching, taking disdainfully, and beeing also
enraged (as they that in this kind having power to harme, have neuer
patience to beare) at her going out, told the Gentlewoman that shee would
remember this iniury, and revenge it: To whom Mistris _Belcher_ answered,
that shee neither feared her, nor her mother; but bad her doe her worst.
‘This trull holding herselfe much disgraced, hies home in all hast to her
mother; and telles her the wrong which shee suggested Mistris _Belcher_
had done unto her: Now was the fire and the tow all enflamed: Nothing but
rage and destruction: Had they had an hundred Spirits at command, the
worst and the most hurtfull had been called to this counsell, and imployed
about this businesse. Howbeit upon advise (if such a sinne may take or
give aduise) they staied three or foure daies before they practised
anything, to aduoid suspition, whether the mother aduised the daughter, or
the daughter the mother, I know not, but I am sure the deuill neuer giues
advise to any man or any woman in any act to be wary.
‘The matter thus sleeping (but rage and reuenge doe neuer rest) within a
while was awaked, which Mistris _Belcher_, to her intollerable paine too
soone felt: For being alone in her house, she was sodainely taken with
such a griping and gnawing in her body, that shee cried out, and could
scarce bee held by such as came unto her. And being carried to her bed,
her face was many times so disfigured by beeing drawn awrie, that it both
bred feare, and astonishment to all the beholders; and euer as shee had
breath she cried, _Here comes Ioane Vaughan, away with Ioane Vaughan_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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