Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/167

Rh the said Sara, is worse; for, quoth she, there was a man went in Cotton Wood to seek his kyne and heard a noise ther, and there was present she, the said Sara, and her mayd, casting of ckies through a ridle of all kindes of coloures, as fast as oates, whereunto this examinate's wife betweene ther conference said, * Lord, how can this be?' to whome the said Jane replied and said, that she the said Sara Hatherwick, was a witche—then and ther being presente this examinate, &c.

(Signed) James Cowle."

"Dorothy Cowle, wife of James Cowle, of the parish of Morpeth, aged 30 years, a witness, &c., has known Sarah Hatherwick for 4 years and Jane Urwen for the same time.

"She saith that two yeares agoe, a more certaine tyme she remembreth not, the said Jane Urwen came unto this examinate's husband's house, then situate in Morpethe, and after divers speeches, amongest them she the said Jane Urwen told this examinate and her husband, &c. that ther was an honest man told her that he wanted his kyne, and beinge seekinge them in Cotton Wood, he heard a great noyse ther in a hollinge bushe, where he did see Sara Heatherick and her maid servant sittinge with a ridle betwixt them, and castinge clues as fast as oates; which this examinate much wonderinge att, asked how that could be, whereunto she, the said Jane, replied and said that she the said Sara was a witche: and this examinate askeing where she learned the same, the said Jane replied that she learned it of the Lady Pauncheforde articulate" (Book of Depositions from 1626 to 1631). — Vol. ii. pp. 279-280.

Edward Peacock.

An Ancient Highland Superstition.— The following weird story appears in the Scotsman of Jan. 20, 1887:—An occurrence took place in Ullapool on Saturday which illustrates the strong hold that old superstitions still retain among the people of the Highlands. A woman of weak intellect, named Ann Macrae, about 70 years of age, and who resided with a sister and nephew at Moss Cottages, scarcely half a mile from the village, committed suicide by drowning herself in the Ullapool river close by her home. No one, however, seemed to care to have the body recovered until the police got notice of the affair, and two constables were despatched to the place.