Elizabeth Horner--Pardons for Witchcraft--A Witch taken in
London--Sarah Mordike--An Impostor convicted--Case of Jane Wenham--The
Last Witch hanged in England.
Hutchinson gives an account of a very curious case of witchcraft in 1696:
‘_Elizabeth Horner_ was tried before the Lord Chief Justice _Holt_ at
_Exeter_. Three Children of _William Bovet_ were thought to have been
bewitched by her, whereof one was dead. It was deposed that another had
her Legs twisted, and yet from her Hands and Knees, she would spring five
Foot high. The children vomited Pins, and were bitten (if the Depositions
were true) and pricked, and pinched, the Marks appearing. The Children
said _Bess Horner’s_ Head would come off from her Body, and go into their
Bellies. The Mother of the Children deposed, that one of them walked up a
smooth plaistered Wall, till her Feet were nine Foot high, her Head
standing off from it. This, she said, she did five or six times, and
laughed and said, _Bess Horner_ held her up. This poor Woman had something
like a Nipple on her Shoulder, which the Children said was sucked by a
Toad. Many other odd things were deposed, but the Jury brought her in _Not
Guilty_ and no Inconvenience hath followed from her Acquittal.’
She was lucky, not only inasmuch as the belief in witchcraft was on the
wane, as also to have been tried by so enlightened a judge as Sir John
Holt, of whom the story is told (of which, however, I can find no
authentication) that a witch was once brought before him, and a charm,
written on parchment, was adduced against her. This charm, which consisted
of a line or two of Greek verse, Sir John recognised as having been
written by himself in his student days at Oxford to cure a poor woman’s
daughter of the ague.
But although the majority of so-called witches were executed after trial
and sentence, all were not, for we find in the Calendars of State Papers
several instances of pardons:
1597. 30 Ap. Pardon for Elizabeth Melton, late of Collingham, co.
York, condemned for witchcraft.
1597. 3 May. Pardon to Alice Brerely of Castleton, co. Lanc.,
spinster, condemned for killing Jas. Kirshaw and Rob. Scolefield by
witchcraft.
1604. 16 Ap. Grant to Christian, wife of Thomas Weech, co. Norfolk, of
pardon for witchcraft.
She was one of the extremely fortunate, for she was again accused of
this crime.
1610. 3 Ap. Grant to Christian Weech of pardon for the murder of Mary
Freeston by witchcraft.
1608. 15 Feb. Grant to Simon Reade of pardon for conjuration and
invocation of unclean spirits.
1611. 7 May. Grant of pardon to Wm. Bate, indicted twenty years since,
for practising invocation of spirits for finding treasure, the
evidence being found weak, etc.
With the beginning of the eighteenth century, the belief in witchcraft was
dying out rapidly, and very few are the cases narrated. I give the
following from a broadsheet; but to my mind it has not the true ring of
former cases, and I doubt its authenticity; still, I give it as amongst
the few reported cases in this century.
‘A FULL AND TRUE RELATION OF THE DISCOVERING, APPREHENDING, AND TAKING OF
A NOTORIOUS WITCH, WHO WAS CARRIED BEFORE JUSTICE BATEMAN IN WELL-CLOSE,
ON SUNDAY JULY THE 23RD, TOGETHER WITH HER EXAMINATION AND COMMITMENT TO
BRIDEWELL, CLERKENWELL.’
‘_Sarah Griffith_ who Lived in a Garret in _Rosemary lane_, was a long
time suspected for a bad Woman, but nothing could be prov’d against her,
that the Law might take hold of her: Tho’ some of the Neighbors Children
would be strangely affected with unknown Distempers, as Vomiting of Pins,
there Bodies turn’d into strang Postures, and such like; many were
frighted with strange Apperitions of Cats, which, of a sudden, would
vanish away; these, and such like, made those who lived in the
Neighbourhood, both suspicious and fearful of her: Till, at last, the
Devil (who always betrays those that deal with him) thus brought the Truth
to Light. One, Mr. John ---- at the Sugarloaf, had a good jolly fellow for
his Apprentice: This Old Jade came into his shop to buy a quartern of
Sope. The Young fellow happened to Laugh; and the Scales not hanging
right, cryed out he thought that they were be-Witched; The Old Woman
hearing him say so, fell into a great Passion, judging he said so to
ridicule her, ran out of the Shop, and threatened revenge. In the Night
was heard a lumbring noise in the Shop, and the Man, coming down to see,
found a strang confusion; every thing turn’d topsy turvy; all the goods
out of order. But, what was worse, the next day, the poor fellow was
troubled with a strange Disease, but [by] the good prayers of some
Neighboring Divines, the power of the Devil was restrain’d.
‘Two or three days after, it happened that the Young Man, with two or
three more, walking up to the New River Head, who should they see, but
Mother _Griffith_ walking that way. They consulted together to try her;
and one of them said, Let us toss her into the River, for I have heard,
that if she Swims, ’tis a certain sign of a Witch. In short, they put
their design in execution; for, coming up to her, they tossed her in; but,
like a Bladder when forc’d under Water, pops up again, so this Witch was
no sooner in, but Swam like a Corke; they kept her in some time, and, at
last, let her come out again. She was no sooner out, but she smote that
Young man on the Arm, and told him he should pay dear for what he had
done. Immediately, he found a strange pain in his Arm, and, looking on it,
found the exact mark of her hand and Fingers as black as a Cole. He went
home, where he lay much tormented, and wonderfully affrighted with the Old
Woman coming to afflict him; and, at last, died with the pain, and [was]
Buried in St. _Pulchres_ Church Yard.
‘Mr. John ---- fearing some further mischief, takes a Constable, and goes
to her Lodging, where he finds the Old Woman, and charges the Constable
with her. She made many attempts to escape, but the Devil, who owed her a
shame, had now left her, and she was apprehended. As she was conducted
towards the Justice’s house, she tried to leap over the Wall, and had done
it, had not the Constable knocked her down. In this manner she was carried
before the Justice. There was Evidence that was With him in his Sickness
could Witness that he had unaccountable Fits, Vomitted up Old Nails, Pins
and such like, his body being turned into strange postures, and, all the
while, nothing but crying out of Mother _Griffith_, that she was come to
torment him. His Arm rotted almost off, Gangreen’d, and kill’d him. When
she came before the Justice, she pleaded innocence, but the circumstances
appeared so plainly, that she was committed to _Bridewell_, where she now
remains.
‘24 July, 1704.’
If we needed any evidence to show the decadence of witchcraft, it can be
found in the case of Sarah Mordike, who was (luckily for her) tried by
Lord Chief Justice Holt in 1701. Hutchinson gives the best report of this
case that I can find.
‘_Richard Hathaway_, Apprentice to _Thomas Wellyn_, a Blacksmith in
_Southwark_, had either real Convulsions, or counterfeit Fits; at the time
when he was bound first to his Master. When he had served about three
Years, he was thought to be so ill, that he was put into the Hospital, and
was judged to be a very miserable Spectacle, lying in strange Fits, and
going double; and, after seven Weeks was turned out as incurable.
‘In September 1690 (?1700) he said he was bewitched, and vomited great
Numbers of Pins, and seemed to be dumb and blind, and was thought to live
without Meat for ten Weeks together, tho’ he was put with Keepers into an
empty House a great part of the Time, and had a bed bought on purpose, and
was watched Day and Night by Persons that were Strangers to him. One of
his Watchers deposed, That a Lump of Hair, loose Pins, a Stump of a Nail,
half a Nutshel, and two or three pieces of Stone came from him. A second
Witness confirmed this, and added, That he stood over him at the Time,
with a drawn Sword in his Hand. His Face would be drawn on one side, He
foamed at the Mouth, and crooked Pins were found in the Foam. His Head was
bent to the Reins of his Back, and he went, sometimes, almost upon his
Ankles. He would lie as if he was dead; and, once, was brought to himself
by Cupping Glasses. Screeking and other Noises were heard in the Bed, and
about the House, and Charms were applied to him, and were said to do him
good. It was also deposed, That he barked like a Dog, and in his Fits
burnt like a Flame of Fire.
‘The Person that he accused of the Witchcraft was one _Sarah Morduck_, of
the same Parish. He intimated by Signs, that, if he might scratch her, he
should be well. He did scratch her, and then he eat and drank, and had his
Sight, and was well for six Weeks together.
‘After that, he seemed to be ill again, and signified that she had
bewitched him again, and he must scratch her again. Upon this, the said
_Sarah Morduck_ was assaulted in her own House, and grievously abused; her
Hair and Face torn; she, was kicked, thrown to the Ground, stamped on, and
threatened to be put into a Horse-Pond, to be tried by Swimming, and very
hardly escaped with her Life. In hopes to avoid these Dangers, she removed
out of _Southwark_, and lodged in _London_; but, still, she was not
suffered to be in safety, but was followed in the Streets, and often
thought herself in danger of being pulled in Pieces.
‘About _Easter_, 1701, she was carried before Sir _Thomas Lane_, and was
stript and searched by his Order, and _Hathaway_ scratched her before him,
and then he eat and drank, and was thought to be well. Sir _Thomas_
committed her, and _Hathaway_ continued free from his Fits. Near the Time
of Tryal, the Prayers of several Churches were desired, and Money was
gathered for him: between six and seven Pounds at one Collection; and
other Sums at other Times, to bear his Charges to the Assizes.
‘In the latter end of _July_, at _Guildford_ Assizes, this _Sarah Morduck_
was tried before the Right Honourable, the Lord Chief Justice _Holt_, and
was acquitted, and _Richard_, himself, was committed as a Cheat and
Impostor: But both Judge, and Jury, and Witnesses were slandered, as if
they had not done fairly.
‘For several Days after his Commitment to the _Marshalsea_, he eat, and
drank, and slept: but, some time after, he was again as if under the Power
of Witchcraft, dumb and fasting.
‘That it might be certain whether he did really live without Meat or not,
my Lord Chief Justice put him into the House of Mr. _Kensy_, a Surgeon, in
_November_ following, that he might make Tryal of him.
‘_March 25, 1702_, this _Hathaway_ was tried before Lord Chief Justice
_Holt_, and Mr. Baron _Hatfell_, in _Southwark_, the Place in which the
Fact was best known, and where any witnesses might appear without Charge.
‘On _Hathaway’s_ side, these things were sworn that I have mentioned
already.
‘To convict him of Imposture, it was deposed, That on purpose for an
Experiment, Dr. _Martin_, Minister of the Parish, had contrived that he
scratch’d another Woman, when he thought he had scratch’d this _Sarah
Morduck_; and upon that, he opened his Eyes; but, being told he had
scratch’d the wrong Woman, he pretended to be blind and dumb again. And
the manner of his doing it was such, as showed him a crafty fellow, taking
care of himself; for he felt her Arm four times over, before he would
scratch her.
‘To prove that his vomiting Pins was by a Trick, it was deposed, That
immediately after he had vomited great Numbers in appearance upon the
Ground, and was going to vomit more, Care being taken that he should vomit
into a Basin, and his Hands being kept down below it, there was not a Pin
in the Basin, but a great many crooked ones in his Pockets, in readiness
to have play’d his Tricks with.
‘Some of the Noises that were said to be made in the Bed, were shewed to
be made by his own Feet scratching the Bed Post.
‘Besides what he got by Gifts and Collections, it was proved that he had
tried to make a Gain, by printing a Narrative of his own Case.
‘With respect to his Fasting, it was said by one of his own Witnesses,
that there came from him five Times more than he took. After two Days
fasting, and refusing to take any thing from Mr. _Kensy_, for fear he
should really starve himself, rather than own his knavery, Mr. _Kensy_
contrived to let him have Meat in a private Way, by this Device. He
pretended to fall out with his Maid in _Hathaway’s_ hearing, and said she
gave him Meat; and therefor he gave her Warning to be gone. She carried on
the Design, and told him she was as ready to be gone as he was to have her
go; and, after this feigned Quarrell, she spake kindly to _Richard_, and
bad him take nothing from her Master; for, while she stay’d she would take
Care of him. After this, he took Meat from her; but a Child being in the
Room, he pointed that it might not see him. He eat and drank any Thing she
gave him, Ale, Brandy, Fish, Pudding, Mutton, &c. Once he was drunk, and
spew’d, and covered his Vomit with Ashes; But if either Mr. _Kensy_, or
anyone else offered him any, he refused to take it; and, when he had eaten
heartily, he would shew them his Belly clung up to his Back, as though
there had been nothing in it. The Maid saw this openly, Mr. _Kensy_ saw it
through a private Hole; and, once, he had four Neighbours with him, that
saw it as well as he. He eat in this manner for eleven Days together, and
yet pretended to continue his Fast. If they asked him how many Weeks he
had fasted before he came to Mr. _Kensy’s_ House? he counted Ten upon his
Fingers. If they asked him how many Weeks he had fasted since his coming
thither? he counted Two, tho’ they had seen him eat eleven Days of the two
Weeks.
‘When they had Proof enough, Mr. _Kensy_ told him he was discover’d, and
said his Friends were in Custody, and had confess’d the whole Matter. Upon
that he cried passionately and said he would tell the Lord Chief Justice
the whole Truth, and asked, If his Mother was safe? But, my Lord not being
at his Chamber, he, in about an Hour after, recanted, and said again that
he was bewitched.
‘These Things were deposed at large by many and substantial Witnesses;
insomuch that the Jury, without going from the Bar, returned him Guilty.
‘Some Months after, my Lord Chief Justice _Holt_ past Sentence upon him,
That he should suffer Imprisonment a Year, and stand in the Pillory three
Times.’
The last case of witchcraft in England, where a so-called witch was tried
and condemned by judge and jury (although she was not executed), was that
of Jane Wenham in 1712. I am aware that another and later case is cited in
1716 of one Mrs. Hicks and her daughter, said to have been executed at
Huntingdon, for ‘selling their souls to the devil, making their neighbours
vomit pins, and raising a storm by which a certain ship was almost lost’;
but as no one yet has been able to find any record of this case, I beg
leave to doubt its existence.
But Jane Wenham’s was a _cause célèbre_. She lived at Walkern, a village
in Hertfordshire, about four miles from Stevenage. The account of the
proceedings at her trial is very long, so that I shall only give two or
three of the informations laid against her:
‘_Matthew Gilston_, of the Parish of _Walkerne_, says upon Oath, that, on
_New Years Day_ last past, he carrying Straw upon a Fork from Mr.
_Gardiner’s_ Barn, met _Jane Wenham_, who asked him for some Straw, which
he refused to give her; then she said she would take some, and accordingly
took some away from this Informant.
‘And farther, this Informant saith, that on the 29th of _Jan._ last, when
this Informant was threshing in the Barn of his Master, _John Chapman_, an
Old Woman in a Riding-hood, or Cloak, he knows not which, came to the Barn
Door, and asked him for a Penyworth of Straw; he told her he could give
her none, and she went away, Muttering.
‘And this Informant saith, that after the Woman was gone, he was not able
to work, but ran out of the Barn, as far as a place called _Munders-Hill_,
(which is about Three Miles from _Walkerne_) and asked at a House there
for a Penyworth of Straw, and they, refusing to give him any, he went
farther, to some Dung-heaps, and took some Straw from thence, and pull’d
off his Shirt, and brought it Home in his Shirt; he knows not what mov’d
him to this, but says he was forc’d to it, he knows not how.
‘_Susan Aylott_, the Wife of _William Aylott_, of the Parish of
_Walkerne_, saith upon Oath, that about 12 Years ago last _Christmas_,
she, this Informant, was sent for to the Wife of _Richard Harvey_, lying
very Ill in a strange Condition; and, as soon as she came thither, _Jane
Wenham_ followed her, and she, this Informant, wonder’d that _Jane Wenham_
followed her, since _Richard Harvey’s_ Wife had told her that she, the
said _Jane Wenham_ had bewitched her: Then _Jane Wenham_ went under the
Window where the sick Woman lay, and said, Why do they let this Creature
lye there? Why don’t they take her and hang her out of the way? At which
she, this Informant, had some Words with _Jane Wenham_, saying, Take you,
and hang you out of the Way: and then _Jane Wenham_ answer’d, Hold you
your Tongue, I don’t meddle with you, and that Night, the sick Woman,
aforesaid, died.
‘And this Informant farther saith, That, soon after, _Jane Wenham_ came to
this Informant’s House, and look’d upon a Child which was in her Lap, and
stroaked it; and said, _Susan_, you have a curious Child; you and I had
some Words, but I hope we are Friends; and asked this Informant to lend
her a Glass to carry some Vinegar in from the Shop; then this Informant
sent _Jane Wenham_ a Glass, who went away. And this Informant was afraid
of her Child, remembering she was thought to have bewitched _Richard
Harvey’s_ Wife.
‘This Informant further saith, That on _Sunday_ following, she was at her
brother _Jeremy Harvey’s_ House, with her Child, and that her Child was
taken in a grievous Condition, stark Distracted, and so died on the
Thursday following; and this Informant saith, she thinks _Jane Wenham_
bewitched her Child; and saith also, that Jane Wenham has had the
Reputation of a Witch for several Years before.
‘_Thomas Adams_, Junior, of _Walkerne_, maketh Oath, that about Three
Weeks, or a month before _Christmas last_, he met _Jane Wenham_ in his
Turnip Field, with a few of his Turnips, which she was carrying away; and
upon his Threatning her, she threw them down; he, this Informant, told her
she might keep them, for she should pay dear for them; then she was very
submissive, and begg’d Pardon, saying, she had no Victuals all that day,
and had no money to buy any; afterwards, they parted, and he saw her not
after; But, on _Christmas-Day_ Morning, One of his best Sheep died without
any Signs of Illness found upon the Body after it was open’d, and Nine or
Ten Days after, died another Sheep, in an unaccountable Manner; and,
shortly after, Two more Sheep died also, some of them having no Marks of
Disease upon ’em, but being sound in all their Parts, as his Shepherd
informs him. He also saith that his Shepherd tells him that one other
Sheep was taken strangely, skipping and standing upon its Head, but in
half an Hour was well, and continues so; and another Sheep was likewise
Ill, Two or Three Days, but it is now well again: And _Jane Wenham_ having
the Common Fame of a Witch, he does believe that if they were bewitch’d,
she did bewitch them.’
All these charges convinced the jury that she was indeed a witch, and the
judge had no option but to sentence her; but he got her a reprieve, and
she was let out of prison, when she was kindly befriended by Colonel
Plummer, of Gilston, who gave her a cottage in which she harmlessly lived
the remainder of her days.
But although this was the last capital conviction in England, the belief
in witchcraft was far from dead; nay, it is still living in some remote
districts, but cannot long exist, as education makes its way.