Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/520

210 London, and in an inn there. To his astonishment also he found himself drunk. While in this state he was arrested and accused of stealing, the work of the other witches. He had no defence, and so he was condemned to death. Led to the scaffold, he was about to meet his end when he remembered the mutch in his pocket. He put it on and wished himself back again. Not only he himself but also the scaffold was immediately transported back to his own abode.

(2) A woman in Waternish told her husband that she was much annoyed by two neighbours, witches, asking her to go with them. Her husband told her he would take her place, which he accordingly did. The witches went to the seashore, and, getting into a sieve, set sail, while he was given a string to hold, which I suppose was attached to the sieve. He let the string go, and the witches were drowned. Going home, he told his wife that she was now free from her persecutors.

(3) An old woman, known by the picturesque name of Lexy of the Moors, was believed to be a witch. I knew this old woman, and she was a sort of Meg Merrilees in appearance. She was supposed to put spells on those who annoyed her. One of these, a carter, fell from his cart and was killed near her cottage. Another, the factor, fell from his horse, but escaped with minor injuries. These, as well as similar occurrences, were quite firmly believed to be the work of Lexy.

An unfortunate young man, a member of a highly esteemed family, became insane and committed suicide. His friends, his sisters among them, refused to take this explanation, and maintained that it was the work of witches. This happened about twelve years ago, and the sisters were well-educated, highly intelligent young women.

A second old woman in the neighbourhood, called as the custom is by her mother's name attached to her own (Kate Bess) was what is known as a "white witch." That is to say, that what knowledge she had and used was for the benefit of her fellow-men, such as curing cows and other domestic animals by means of spells.

(4) A witch had a grand-daughter, and they were believed to charm away the milk of cows. The minister went to inquire