Page:Entertaining history of John Cheap the Chapman (1).pdf/8

8 he frae? All the way from Italy, where the Pope of Rome dwells, says he. A sweet be wi‘ us, quoth she, for the fouks there awa is a’ witches and warlocks, deils, brownies, and fairies. Well I wat that’s true, said I, and that thou shalt know, thou hard hearted wretch, who would have people to starve, or provoke them to steal. With that I rose, lifts twa or three long straws, and casting knots on them, into the byre I went, and throws a knotted straw on every cow’s stake, saying, thy days shall not be long. The wife followed, wringing her hands, carnestlyearnestly [sic] praying for herself and all that was hers. I thcnthen [sic] came out the door, and lifted a stone, and threw it over the house, muttering some words, which I knew not myself, and concluded with thescthese [sic] words; thou monstcrmonster [sic], Diable, brother to Beelzebub, god of Ekron, take this wife’s kirn, butter, and milk, sap and substance, without and within, so that she may die in misery, as she would have others to livclive [sic].'

The wife hearing the aforesaid sentence, clapt her hands; and called out another old woman as foolish as herself, who came crying after us to come back; back we went, where she made us eat heartily of butter and cheese; and earnestly pleaded with me to go and lift my cantrips, which I did, upon her promising never to deny a hungry traveller meat nor drink, whether they had