Devil; Witchcraft -- Great Britain; Witchcraft -- United States
‘In the Town of _Beckington_, by _Froome_ in _Somersetshire_, liveth _Mary
Hill_, a Maid of about Eighteen years of Age, who, having lived very much
in the Neglect of her Duty to God, was some time before _Michaelmas_ last
past, was Twelve-Month, taken very ill, and, being seized with violent
Fits, began to Vomit up about two hundred crooked Pins. This so Stupendous
an Accident, drew a numerous Concourse of People to see her: To whom, when
in her Fits, she did constantly affirm, that she saw against the Wall of
the Room wherein she lay, an old Woman, named _Elizabeth Currier_, who,
thereupon, being Apprehended by a Warrant from a Justice of Peace, and
Convicted by the Oaths of two Persons, was committed to the County Goal.
‘About a Fortnight after, she began to Vomit up Nails, Pieces of Nails,
Pieces of Brass, Handles of Spoons, and so continued to do for the space
of six Months and upwards. And, in her fits, she said there did appear to
her an old Woman, Named _Margaret Coombes_, and one _Ann Moore_; who,
also, by a Warrant from two Justices of the Peace, were Apprehended and
brought to the Sessions, held at _Brewton_, for the County; and, by the
Bench, committed to the County Gaol. The former of these dyed as soon as
she came into Prison: the other two were tryed at _Taunton Assizes_, by my
Lord Chief Justice _Holt_, and for want of Evidence, were acquitted by the
Jury. The Persons bound over to give Evidence, were _Susanna Belton_, and
_Ann Holland_, who, upon their Oaths, Deposed, that they hookt out of the
Navel of the said _Mary Hill_, as she lay in a dead fit, crooked Pins,
small Nails, and small pieces of Brass, which were produced in Court
before the Judge; and, from him, handed to the Jury to look upon them.
Whereupon Mr. _Francis Jesse_, and Mr. _Christopher Brewer_ declared, that
they had seen the said _Mary Hill_, to Vomit up, at several times, Crooked
Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brass, which they, also, produced in open
Court; and to the end, they might be ascertained it was no Imposture, they
declared they searched her Mouth with their Fingers before she did Vomit.
‘Upon which, the Court thought fit to call for me, who am the Minister of
the Parish, to testifie the knowledge of the Matter, which I did to this
Effect, That I had seen her, at several times, after having given her a
little small Beer, Vomit up Crooked Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brass.
That, to prevent the Supposition of a Cheat, I had caused her to be
brought to a Window; and, having lookt into her Mouth, I searcht it with
my Finger, as I did the Beer before she drank it. This I did, that I might
not be wanting in Circumstantial Answers to what my Lord and Court might
propose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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