Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/301

 the prison locks flew open, and they made their escape; and many, when they had been cast into the water for a trial, have swam like a cork. One of them boasted she could go over the sea in an egg shell. It is held on all hands that they adore the devil, and become his bond-slaves, to have for a term of years their pleasure and revenge. And indeed many of them are more mischievous than others in laming and destropng of cattle, and in drowning ships at sea, by raising storms. But the Lancashire Witches we see, chiefly divert themselves in merriment, and are therefore found to be more sociable than the rest.

A short description of the famous Lapland Witches. Lapland witches, they tell us, can send wind to sailors, and take delight in nothing more than raising of storms and tempests, which they effect by repeating certain charms, and throwing up sand into the air. The best way to avoid their power is to, who will not suffer them to hurt us; for here they are held to be restrained. As many mistake their children and relations to be bewitched when they die of distempers somewhat strange to the unskilful, so one poor woman or other is falsely accused of things which they are entirely ignorant of. So it has often happened. This may suffice as to what comically or really happened, or related to witches; or such as are imagined to be possessed with evil and familiar spirits.