her, and to assert that her imps
afflicted them with pains and fits, turned the milk sour in their pans,
and prevented their cows and ewes from bearing. In the midst of these
fooleries, Lady Cromwell was taken ill and died. It was then remembered
that her death had taken place exactly a year and a quarter since she was
cursed by Mother Samuel, and that on several occasions she had dreamed of
the witch and a black cat, the latter being of course the arch-enemy of
mankind himself.

Sir Samuel Cromwell now conceived himself bound to take more energetic
measures against the sorceress, since he had lost his wife by her means.
The year and a quarter and the black cat were proofs positive. All the
neighbours had taken up the cry of witchcraft against Mother Samuel; and
her personal appearance, unfortunately for her, the very ideal of what a
witch ought to be, increased the popular suspicion. It would appear that
at last the poor woman believed, even to her own disadvantage, that she
was what every body represented her to be. Being forcibly brought into Mr.
Throgmorton's house, when his daughter Joan was in one of her customary
fits, she was commanded by him and Sir Samuel Cromwell to expel the devil
from the young lady. She was told to repeat her exorcism, and to add, "as
I am a witch, and the causer of Lady Cromwell's death, I charge thee,
fiend, to come out of her!" She did as was required of her; and moreover
confessed that her husband and daughter were leagued with her in
witchcraft, and had, like her, sold their souls to the devil. The whole
family were immediately arrested, and sent to Huntingdon to prison.

The trial was instituted shortly afterwards before Mr. Justice Fenner,
when all the crazy girls of Mr. Throgmorton's family gave evidence against
Mother Samuel and her family. They were all three put to the torture. The
old woman confessed in her anguish that she was a witch; that she had cast
her spells upon the young ladies; and that she had caused the death of
Lady Cromwell. The father and daughter, stronger in mind than their
unfortunate wife and parent, refused to confess any thing, and asserted
their innocence to the last. They were all three condemned to be hanged,
and their bodies burned. The daughter, who was young and good-looking,
excited the pity of many persons, and she was advised to plead pregnancy,
that she might gain at least a respite from death. The poor girl refused
proudly, on the ground that she