of all he
had said. He had been robbing an orchard of bullees (plums) more than a
mile off the barn at the day and hour named; and, counselled by his
father, had made up those wicked lies to screen himself. And then, finding
the game profitable--for in a short time they made so good a thing by it
that the father bought a couple of cows--he flew further a-field, and
attacked every one within reach. Fortunately for his victims, the judge
was a man of sense and independent judgment; so the judiciary records of
England are stained with one crime the less, and the neighbours lost the
excitement of an execution.

THE WITCH ON A PLANK.[129]

"Many are in a belief that this silly sex of women can by no means attaine
to that so vile and damned a practise of Sorcery and Witchcraft, in regard
of their illiteratenesse and want of learning, which many men have by
great learning done;" nevertheless the Earl of Essex and his army,
marching through Newberry, saw a feat done by a woman which not the most
learned man of them all could have accomplished by natural means. Two
soldiers were loitering behind the main body, gathering nuts,
blackberries, and the like, when one climbed up a tree for sport, and the
other followed him, jesting. From their vantage place, looking on the
river, they there espied a "tall, lean, slender woman treading of the
water with her feet with as much ease and firmnesse as if one should walk
or trample on the earth." The soldier called to his companion, and he to
the rest; and soon they all--captains, privates, and commanders alike--saw
this marvellous lean woman, who now they perceived was standing on a thin
plank, "which she pushed this way and that at her pleasure, making it a
pastime to her, little perceiving who was on her tracks." Then she crossed
the river, and the army after her; but there they lost her for a time, and
when they found her all were too cowardly to seize her. At last one
dare-devil went up and boldly caught her, demanding what she was. The poor
wretch was dumb--perhaps with terror--and spoke nothing; so they dragged
her before the commanders, "to whom, though she was mightily urged, she
did reply as little." As they could bethink themselves of nothing better
to do with her, they set her upright against a mud bank or wall, and two
of the soldiers, at their captain's command, made ready and fired. "But
with a deriding and loud laughter at them, she caught their bullets in her
hands and c