Notes and Queries, Number 55, November 16, 1850 by Various
page 15 of 61 (24%)
page 15 of 61 (24%)
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Abingdon, Nov. 1850. _A Test of Witchcraft._--Among the many tests applied for the discovery of witchcraft was the following. It is, I believe, a singular instance, and but little known to the public. It was resorted to as recently as 1759, and may be found in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ of that year. "One _Susannah Hannokes_, an elderly woman of Wingrove, near Ayleshbury, was accused by a neighbour for bewitching her spinning-wheel, so that she could not make it go round, and offered to make oath of it before a majistrate; on which the husband, to justify his wife, insisted upon her being tried by the Church Bible, and that the accuser should be present: accordingly she was conducted to the parish church, where she was stript of all her cloathes to her shift and undercoat, and weighed against the Bible; when, to the no small mortification of her accuser, she outweighed it, and was honorably acquitted of the charge." A.D.N. Abingdon, Nov. 1850. * * * * * {405} MINOR NOTES. _Quin's incoherent Story._--The comic story of Sir Gammer Vans (Vol. ii., p. 280.) reminds me of an anecdote related of Quin, who is said to have betted Foote a wager that he would speak some nonsense which Foote could |
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