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
man told this examinant, that those three things which he gave her,
would avenge her on her enemies, and bid her murther some, but not too
many, and he would forgive her; and then went away from this
examinant. And this examinant saith, that the names of her three imps
were Margaret, Amie, and Susan. And that a while after, this examinant
and one Joyce Boanes, now in prison, did send each of them an impe to
kill one Thomas Bumstead of St. Osyth: And that the impe which the
said Joyce Boanes sent was a dund one like unto a mouse.—Johan Cooper
saith, That she hath been a witch about twenty yeers, and hath three
familiars, two like mouses, and the third like a frog; the names of
the two like mouses are Jack, and the other Prickeare, and the name of
the third, like a frog, is Frog.—Anne Cate saith, That she hath four
familiars, which shee had from her mother, about two and twenty yeeres
since, and that the names of the said imps are James, Prickeare,
Robyn, and Sparrow: and that three of these imps are like mouses, and
the fourth like a sparrow, which she called Sparrow.'[852]
In 1646 the Huntingdonshire witches were tried. Elizabeth Weed of Great
Catworth confessed that—
'about one and twenty yeares since she being saying her Prayers in the
evening about bedtime, there did appeare unto her three Spirits, one
in the likeness of a young man or boy, and the other two of two
Puppies, the one white and the other black. Being demanded the name of
the lesser Spirits, shee saith the name of the white one was Lilly,
and the blacke one Priscill; and that the office of Lilly was to hurt
man, woman, or childe; and the office of Priscill was to hurt Cattell
when she desired.—Francis Moore saith, that about eight yeares since
she received a little blacke puppy from one Margaret Simson of great
Catworth, which dog the said Margaret had in her bed with her, and
took it thence when she gave it to the Examinate: The Examinate
further saith, that the said Margaret told her, that she must keep
that dogge all her life time; and if she cursed any Cattell, and set
the same dog upon them, they should presently dye, and the said
Margaret told her that she had named it already, his name was Pretty.
And the said Examinate further saith, that about the same time one
goodwife Weed gave her a white Cat, telling her, that if she would
deny God, and affirme the same by her bloud, then whomsoever she
cursed and sent that Cat unto, they should dye shortly after.
Whereupon the said Examinate saith that shee did deny God, and in
affirmation thereof shee pricked her finger with a thorne, whence
issued bloud, which the Cat presently licked, and the said gooodwife
(_sic_) Weed named the Cat _Tissy_. And she further saith, that she
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