Page:History of the four kings of Canterbury, Colchester, Cornwall, & Cumberland (2).pdf/3

The Hiſtory of the four Kings. 3 T A L E I. ONCE upon a time, when geeſe were ſwine, and birds built neſts old men's beards, as hereafter they ay do in mine, there was a Queen of this realm, whoſe name was Elizabeth; and, by reaſon that the famous wn of Lancaſter was ſtrangely peſtered with witches, the queen ſent ſome ges down to arraign and try them, in order to bring them to juſtice. Now the news of this court being be kept in Lancaſter, ſpread thro the country, ſo that a huſband- in living near forty miles from that place, hearing of this news, and bering they were come to tell the folks whether they were witches or not, re-ved to go to be ſatisfied in himſelf,  he was poſſeſſed with a fear, that was a witch, becauſe he had a wart w on his neck, which he imagined e a dug.

His wife, who had a friend in a cor- and was therefore glad of his ab-e, did not only give her conſent, alſo  in his beſt leathern and hat.-So taking