|
[?]isbury Assizes.
[?]ard of Witchcraft.
Being a true Relation of one Mistris Bodnan living in Fisherton, next
house but one to the Gallowes, who being a Witch seduced a Maid,
called by name, Anne Stiles, to the s[a]me abominab[le] and de-
tested action of Witchcraft; which Witch for that
action was executed the 19 day of March 1653.
To ehe tune of Bragandary,
|
| WHen men and Women leave the way |
| of God, and goodnesse quite, |
| They practice mischief every day |
| and therein take delight |
| The Divel then is nye at hand |
| When these things he doth understand, |
| You that will goe, |
| High or low |
| Resolve upon this doubt. |
| As by the Story you shall heare |
| if you will list a while |
| The Divell lately did appeare; |
| and a Woman did beguile |
| But she did make the way before, |
| And in her heart did him adore |
| You that will goe, etc. |
| In Fisherton this dame did dwell |
| of conversation bad |
| She did converse with the Divell of Hell, |
| which made her friends all sad, |
| Unto the Divell she gave her soule |
| Sealed in a bloudy scroule, |
| You that will goe, etc. |
| Mistris Bodnam was her name, |
| who daily undertooke |
| To helpe men to stolne goods againe, |
| even with her cunjuring booke |
| A looking glasse she had likewise, |
| To shew the Theeves before their eyes |
| You that will goe, etc. |
| Amonge the rest a Maid then went, |
| her name was Annis Stiles |
| About stolne goods in discontent |
| but the Divill her beguiles |
| The Divill did the Witch perswade |
| For to seduce this silly maid |
| You that will goe, etc, |
| She gave the Maid a Looking glasse |
| on which she looked on |
| But at the length it came to pas |
| she was to soone undone, |
| For want of wisdome and true grce, |
| She was undone in little space, |
| You that will goe, etc. |
| Sweetheart quoth she if that you please, |
| I will teach you my art, |
| So you may live in wealth and ease |
| according to your heart |
| If you your Soule the Divell will give |
| In health and wealth you then may live, |
| You that will goe, etc. |
| To soone alas she did consent |
| and seald it with her blood, |
| Which made her afterwards repent, |
| when as she understood |
| That she must loose the joyes of heaven |
| For some Toyes unto her given |
| You that will goe, |
| High or low, |
| Resolve upon this doubt. |
|
| |
|
|
|
[The secon]d part to the same tune.
|
| AT length it came for to be known, |
| how she had simply run |
| Then to the Witch she made her mone. |
| and said she was undone |
| She said to London she would flye, |
| For feare least both of them should dye, |
| You that will goe |
| High or low, |
| Resolve upon this doubt. |
| The Witch was willing thereunto, |
| and bid her fly with speed |
| She was at Stockbridge taken though, |
| for that notorious deed, |
| The Divill cast her to and froe |
| As all the company did know |
| You that will goe, etc, |
| When in the chamber she came in, |
| the Divell tost her about |
| She askt the divell where heed bin |
| to give her such a floute, |
| Then all the standers by amaz'd, |
| Upon each other then they gaz'd, |
| You that will goe, etc, |
| A Gentleman great paines did take, |
| with her the people say, |
| And she to him her minde did breake |
| and for her he did pray, |
| She told him the old witch was cause |
| That she had broke Gods holy lawes |
| You that will goe, etc. |
| Foure dayes together she was vext |
| tormented grievously |
| And in her mind was sore perplex[t] |
| that some thought she would d[?] |
| The Divell like a Snake apeard |
| Which all the country people feard |
| You that will goe, etc, |
| But when the old Witch came in sight, |
| then did she take her rest, |
| And she did sleepe well all that night |
| as plainly is exprest, |
| She said when as she walkt againe, |
| She praised God she felt no paine |
| You that will goe, etc. |
| She told the Gentleman that she |
| would tell him all her art |
| And that he should inriched be |
| by what she should impart |
| She told him that she knew full well, |
| She should be a great Lady in hel. |
| You that will goe,etc. |
| The old Witch executed was, |
| this moneth the 19. day. |
| She ever had a face of Bras |
| as all the people say, |
| Insteed of pensivenesse and prayer |
| She did nought but curse and sware, |
| You that will goe, etc, |
| God nothing had to do with her |
| she said most desperately |
| She swore and curst and kept a stur |
| and desperately did dye |
| Let all good people therefore say |
| [?]their hearts with me and pray, |
| [You that w]ill goe |
| High or low, |
| Resolve upon this doubt. |
|
|
|
Execution Ballads
English Ballads
Transcript: Salisbury Assizes 