The Witch-cult in Western Europe: A Study in AnthropologyMurray, Margaret Alice
Religion
The Witch-cult in Western Europe: A Study in Anthropology
Murray, Margaret Alice
Ethnology; Witchcraft -- Great Britain
'the said Elizabeth desired this informant, and the rest that were in
the roome with her, to sit downe, and said, shee would shew this
informant and the rest some of her impes: and within halfe an houre
there appeared a white thing in the likeness of a cat, but not
altogether so big: and being asked, if she would not be afraid of her
impes, the said Elizabeth answered, "What, do yee think I am afraid of
my children?" And that shee called the name of that white impe, Hoult.
And this informant further saith, That presently after there appeared
another white impe, with red spots, as big as a small dog, which shee
then called Jarmara: and that immediately after, there appeared at the
threshold of the doore another impe about the bignesse of the first,
but did presently vanish away. And then the said Elizabeth being
asked, if any more impes would come? she answered, "That Vinegar Tom
would come by and by". And forthwith there appeared another in the
likenesse of a dumb dogge, somewhat bigger than any of the former. And
the said Elizabeth also told this informant, that shee had three impes
from her mother, which were of a browne colour, and two from the old
beldam Weste; and that there had five [? four] impes appeared, but
shee had one more, called Sack and Sugar. And the said Elizabeth
further confessed to this informant, that shee had one impe for which
she would fight up to the knees in bloud, before shee would lose it;
and that her impes did commonly suck on the old beldam Weste, and that
the said beldam's impes did suck on her the said Elizabeth
likewise.—Anne Leech saith, That she had a grey impe sent to her, and
that this examinant, together with the said Elizabeth Clark, and
Elizabeth the wife of Edward Gooding, did about a yeer since, send
their imps to kill a black cowe and a white cowe of Mr. Edwards, which
was done accordingly. And this examinant saith, that she sent her grey
impe, Elizabeth Clark a black imp, and Elizabeth Gooding a white imp.
And this examinant confesseth, that she and the said Elizabeth
Gooding, sent either of them an imp to destroy the childe of the said
Mr. Edwards; this examinant's imp being then a white one, and
Elizabeth Gooding's a black imp; and that about thirty yeers since,
this examinant had the said white imp and two others, a grey and a
black imp of one Anne, the wife of Robert Pearce of Stoak in Suffolk,
being her brother; and that these imps went commonly from one to
another, and did mischief where ever they went; and that when this
examinant did not send and imploy them abroad to do mischief, she had
not her health, but when they were imployed, she was healthfull and
well, and that these imps did usually suck those teats which were
found about the privie parts of her body.—Hellen Clark confesseth,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account