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Witchcraft discovered and punished.
Or, the Tryals and Condemnation of three Notorious Witches, who were Tryed
the last Assizes, holden at the Castle of Exeter, in the County of Devon: where they received Sentance
for Death, for bewitching several Persons, destroying Ships at Sea, and Cattel by Land, etc.
To the Tune of, Doctor Faustus: or, Fortune my Foe.
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| NOw listen to my Song good People all, |
| And I shall tell what lately did befall, |
| At Exeter, a place in Devonshire, |
| The like whereof of late you nere did hear. |
| At the last Assizes held at Exeter, |
| Three Aged Women that Imprisoned were |
| For Witches, and that many had destroyd; |
| Were thither brought in order to be tryd. |
| For Witchcraft, that Old Wicked Sin, |
| Which they for long time had continued in: |
| And joynd with Satan, to destroy the good, |
| Hurt Innocents, and shed their harmless blood. |
| But now it most apparent does appear, |
| That they will now for such their deeds pay dear: |
| For Satan having lulld their Souls asleep, |
| Refuses Company with them to keep. |
| A known deceiver he long time has been, |
| To help Poor Mortals into dangerous Sin; |
| Thereby to cut them off, that so they may, |
| Be plungd in Hell, and there be made his Prey. |
| So these Malicious Women at the last, |
| Having done mischiefs, were by Justice cast: |
| For it appeard they Children had destroyd, |
| Lamed Cattel, and the Aged much annoyd. |
| Having Familiars always at their beck, |
| Their Wicked Rage on Mortals for to wreck: |
| It being provd they used Wicked Charms, |
| To Murther Men, and bring about sad harms. |
| And that they had about their Bodys strange |
| And Proper Tokens of their Wicked Change: |
| As Pledges that to have their cruel will, |
| Their Souls they gave unto the Prince of Hell. |
| The Country round where they did live came in, |
| And all at once their sad complaints begin: |
| One lost a Child, the other lost a Kine, |
| This his brave Horses, that his hopeful Swine. |
| One had his Wife bewitched, the other his Friend, |
| Because in some things they the Witch offend: |
| For which they labour under cruel pain, |
| In vain seek remedy, but none can gain. |
| But Roar in cruel sort, and loudly cry, |
| Destroy the Witch, and end our misery: |
| Some used Charms by Mountabanks set down, |
| Those cheating Quacks, that swarm in every Town. |
| But alls in vain, no rest at all they find, |
| For why? all Witches to cruelty are enclind: |
| And do delight to hear sad dying groans, |
| And such laments, as woud pierre Marble Stones. |
| But now the Hand of Heaven has found them out, |
| And they to Justice must pay Lives, past doubt: |
| One of these Wicked Wretches did confess, |
| She Four Score Years of Age was, and no less. |
| And that she had deserved long before, |
| To be sent packing to the Stigian shore: |
| For the great mischiefs she so oft had done, |
| And wondered that her Life so long had run. |
| She said the Devil came with her along, |
| Through Crouds of People, and bid her be strong: |
| And she no hand should have, but like a Lyer, |
| At the Prison Door he fled, and nere came nigh her. |
| The rest aloud, cravd Mercy for their Sins, |
| Or else the great deceiver her Soul gains; |
| For they had been lewd Livers many a day, |
| And therefore did desire that all would Pray |
| To God, to Pardon them, while thus they lie |
| Condemned for their Wicked Deeds to Die: |
| Which may each Christian do, that they may find |
| Rest for their Souls, though Wicked once inclind. |
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