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Notes and Queries, Number 55, November 16, 1850 by Various
page 15 of 61 (24%)

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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