Page:A brief history of witchcraft - with especial reference to the witches of Northamptonshire (IA b3056721x).pdf/15

 looking at them; milk was spilt by an unseen hand; pellets of bread were thrown about by an undiscoverable spirit; and divers other tricks were played much more amusing than credible. "At last," says the letter containing the particulars, some that had been long suspected for witches were examined, and one sent to gaol, where, it is said, she still plays her pranks; but that," it is added, "is of doubtful credit." The imprisoning, at least, had the effect of re-assuring Widow Stiff, who heard or saw very little afterwards.

The end of the century is memorable for the great discouragement given to witch prosecutions by Chief Justice Holt, who had a large number of prisoners brought before him on a circuit of assize in the east and south of England, but who so directed the juries that they wore all acquitted. The old trial by swimming, however, continued, and instances occurred in this and some adjoining counties of persons having been drowned in submitting to the ordeal. But by far the most repulsive case of imputed witchcraft of which we have any record in this locality came before the justices of assize in 1705, when the popular feeling was still so strong that the prisoners were not only condemned, but were first half killed by hanging, and then, while their flesh was still quivering with life, were burnt at the stake. The facts would appear incredible if they were not well attested. The prisoners were two women named Ellinor Shaw and Mary Philips, the first born at Cotterstock and the other at Oundle, a "short mile" away. Like the majority of people arraigned on similar charges, they were both poor; and, though working up to the time of womanhood at an honest occupation, they then fell into dissolute habits, and Shaw, at least, became a notoriously bad character. Even the children of the neighbourhood would point at her scoffingly, and greet her with opprobrious epithets. These constant insults "aggravated her passion to such a degree (she being naturally of a chollerick disposition) that she swore she would be revenged on her enemies, tho she pawn'd her soul for the purchase." Her intention was communicated to Phillips, and, as the old tract says, they resolved to go to the devil together for company; but out of a hellish kind of civility he sav'd them that trouble at present; for, understanding they wanted a chapman, he immediately waited upon 'em to obtain his booty on Saturday, the 12th of February, 1704, about 12 o'clock at night (according to their own confessions) appearing in the shape of a black tall man, at whose approach they were very much startled at first; but, taking Elinor Shaw by the band, he spoke thus: says he, Be not afraid of me, for I am one of the creation as well as your selves, having power given me to bestow it on whom I please; and do assure you that, if you will pawn your souls to me for only a year and two months, I will for all that time assist you in whatever you desire; upon which he produced a little piece of parchment, on which by their consents (having prick't their finger ends) he wrote the infernal covenant in their own blood, which they signed with their own hands." The compact was further sealed in a way which we can only distantly refer to, and the devil then pronounced them "as substantral witches as any were in the world, and said they had power, by the assistance of the imps he would send them, to do what mischief they pleased." This was all quite in accordance with the traditional creed, the two unfortunates being evidently well skilled in the folk-lore of their native places. The way in which this long string of fables was elicited is sufficiently indicative of their value. William Boss and John Southwel, constables of Cundle, and witnesses against them, said in their evidence that, having the prisoners in charge, they threatened them with death if they would not confess, and promised to let them go if they would; then, says the record, "after some little whineing and hanging about one anothers necks, they both made a confession," including the above details. No wonder if, under these circumstances, they hatched up a tale, which, alas! was more than sufficient to ensure them the penalty they dreaded. At their trial, however, they altogether repudiated the constables' statement. It is added in the narrative from which we quote that they began their mischievous work immediately on the conclusion of the bargain; in two days they had destroyed two horses and a child, and in nine months fifteen children, eight men, six women, forty hogs, a hundred sheep, eighteen horses, and thirty cows.

In this case we have a much greater development of the traditional machinery of witchcraft than in any other connected with Northamptonshire. A solemnly sworn compact with the Evil One is rarely met with in the prosaic sorcery of England at all, and especially at this late period. But the statements and reputed doings of these two women, as we have said, were quite en règle with the most famous sort of demonology, though not going to the lengths of Continental witchcraft. Widow Peak, another witness, for instance, swears that, while she with two other women were watching the prisoners at night after their apprehension