[42] Richard Hatheway, a blacksmith’s apprentice, was tried before
chief justice Holt, March 25, 1702, for imposture. He pretended to be
bewitched by Sarah Morduck, and to be restored from his fits only by
drawing blood from her by scratching. She had been tried for witchcraft
by the same court the year before, and acquitted. He pretended to vomit
pins, and to fast for ten weeks. “All the devils in hell,” said the
chief justice, “could not have helped you fast so long.” Pins were
found in his pocket; and being closely watched, it was ascertained that
he partook of food when he assumed to be fasting. Another woman was
brought in while he was in his fits, and by scratching her he recovered
as well as before. He was sentenced to imprisonment for one year, and
to stand in the pillory three times. Rev. Francis Hutchinson states the
case in _Historical Essay concerning Witchcraft_, London 2d edition,
1720, p. 280, and it appears in _Wonders of the Invisible World_, pp.
55 and 60. The case with the evidence and arguments is reported in
Howell’s _State Trials_, vol. xiv. pp. 639-669. Hatheway’s master and
mistress, who sustained the apprentice in these impostures, were next
prosecuted for assault on Sarah Morduck and for riot; and their trial
is reported in the same volume.
Howell’s _State Trials_ contain full reports of other witchcraft
proceedings, viz.: Case of Mary Smith, 1616, vol. ii. p. 1050;
Proceeding against the Essex Witches, 1645, vol. iv. p. 817; and
Proceedings against three Devon Witches, 1682, vol. viii. p. 1018.