Sig. _Vignola_ had private Audience of leave of the Prince and Duke. Ended the Poll for a Member of Parliament for _Bedford_, the numbers were, for: Sir. _Jer Vanaker Sambroke_, Bar. 375 Dr. _Thomas Brown_, 346 29. The court received advice that on the death of the duke of _Parma_, the dutchess his widow had declared herself four months gone with child; that the duke had made a will in favour of _Don Carlos_, declaring him lawful heir to his dominions in failure of male issue to his said dutchess, and that the dutchess has likewise made another will to the same purport; and that 10,000 Imperialists had taken possession of the dutchies of _Parma_ and _Placentia_, on pretence of the dutchess being with child. A justice of the peace, who had challeng’d Mr. _York_, a council against him in a certain affair, came to _Westminster-hall_, and asked pardon in open court, upon which by consent the rule for an information against him was withdrawn. About 3 o’clock this morning a woman of distinction fell in labour at the masquerade, was carried home in her habit, and deliver’d of a son in two hours after. Saturday, _Jan. 30_. This being the anniversary of the martyrdom of K. _Cha._ I. Dr. _Middleton_ preached before the Ld Mayor and Aldermen of this City, at St. _Paul_’s; the Bp. of _Peterborough_, before the Lords at _Westminster Abby_, and Dr. _Littleton_ at St. _Margaret_’s before the Commons. Sunday, _Jan. 31_. His Majesty did not go to chapel, nor dine in publick. Divine service was performed in the new church of St. _George’s Bloomsbury_, for the first time since the consecration, by the Rev. Mr. _Vernon_ in the forenoon, and by the Rev. Mr. _Capper_ in the afternoon. _Domestick Occurences in ~JANUARY, 1731~._ Melancholy Effects of Credulity in Witchcraft. For _Burlington_ in _Pensilvania_ we have an account, that the owners of several Cattle believing them to be bewitch’d, caused some suspected men and women to be taken up, and trials to be made for detecting them. Above 300 people assembled near the governor’s house, and a pair of scales being erected, the suspected persons were each weigh’d against a large Bible; but all of them vastly outweighing it, the accused were then to be tied head and feet together, and put into a river, on supposition that if they swam they must be guilty. This trial they offer’d to undergo, in case as many of their accusers should be served in the like manner; which being done, they all swam very buoyant, to the no small diversion of the spectators, and clearing of the accused.--This has revived a like transaction in _Somersetshire_ in _Sept._ last, and another in _France_.