belief in witchcraft:--

"In 1879 extraordinary stories were current among the
populace of Caergwrle. Mrs. Braithwaite supplied a
Mrs. Williams with milk, but afterwards refused to
serve her, and the cause was as follows: Mrs.
Braithwaite had up to that time been very successful
in churning her butter, but about a month ago the
butter would not come. She tried every known agency;
she washed and dried her bats, but all to no purpose.
The milk would not yield an ounce of butter. Under the
circumstances she said Mrs. Williams had witched her.
The neighbours believed it, and Mrs. Williams was
generally called a witch. Hearing these reports, Mrs.
Williams went to Mrs. Braithwaite to expostulate with
her, when Mrs. Braithwaite said, 'Out, witch! If you
don't leave here, I'll shoot you.' Mrs. Williams
thereupon applied to the Caergwrle bench of
magistrates for a protection order against Mrs.
Braithwaite. She assured the Bench she was in danger,
as every one believed she was a witch. The Clerk: What
do they say is the reason? Applicant: Because she
cannot churn the milk. Mr. Kryke: Do they see you
riding a broomstick? Applicant (seriously): No, sir.
The Bench instructed the police officer to caution
Mrs. Braithwaite against repeating the threats."[280]

The next example is from Lancashire:--

"At the East Dereham Petty Sessions, William Bulwer,
of Etling Green, was charged with assaulting
Christiana Martins, a young girl, who resided near the
Etling Green toll-bar. Complainant deposed that she
was 18 years of age, and on Wednesday, the 2nd inst.,
the defendant came to her and abused her. The
complainant, who looks scarce more than a child,
repeated, despite the efforts of the magistrates'
clerk to stop her, and without being in the least
abashed, some of the worst language it was possible to
conceive--conversation of the most gross description,
alleged to have taken place between herself and the
defendant. They appeared to have got from words to
blows and, while trying to fasten the gate, the
defendant hit her across the hand with a stick. She
alleged that there was no cause for the abuse and the
assault, so far as she knew, and in reply to rigid
cross-examination as to t