great witch-year.

In a very scarce tract called 'A true and exact relation of the severall
Informations, Examinations, and Confessions of the Late Witches Arraigned
and Executed in the county of Essex, Published by Authoritie, and Printed
by M. S. for Henry Overton and Benj. Allen, and are to be sold at their
shops in Popes-head-alley, 1645,' is an account of these Manningtree
witches. One John Rivet's wife, living in Manningtree, was taken sick and
lame and with violent fits, and John swore before Sir Harbottel Grimston,
one of the justices of the peace, that a cunning woman--wife of one Hovye
at Hadleigh--told him that his wife was cursed by two women, near
neighbours; of whom one was Elizabeth Clarke, _alias_ Bedingfield.
Elizabeth's mother, and others of her kinsfolk, had been hanged for
witchcraft in the bygone years: so it ran in the blood, and it was not to
be wondered at if it broke out afresh now. Sir Harbottel Grimston and Sir
Thomas Bowes, the two Justices before whom this deposition was taken, then
admitted the evidence of Matthew Hopkins of Manningtree, gentleman and
witch-finder, who deposed to having watched Elizabeth Clarke last night,
being the 24th of March, 1645, when he and one Master Sterne, who watched
with him, saw some strange things which he would presently tell their
worships of. Elizabeth told this deponent and his companion that if they
would stay and do her no harm, she would call one of her imps, and play
with it in her lap; which at first they refused, but afterwards
consenting, there appeared to them "an Impe like to a Dog, which was
white, with some sandy spots, and seemed to be very fat and plump, with
very short legges, who forthwith vanished away." This was Jarmara. Then
came Vinegar Tom, in the shape of a greyhound with very long legs; and
then for a moment only came one for Master Sterne, a black imp which
vanished instantly; then one like a polecat, only bigger.[131] Elizabeth
now told them that she had five imps of her own, and two of Beldam West's,
and that they sucked turn and turn about: now she was sucked by Beldam
West's and now Beldam West by hers. She further said that Satan, whom she
knew very much too well as "a proper Gentleman with a laced band, having
the whole proportion of a Man," would never let her have any peace till
she slew the hogs of Mr. Edwards of Manningtree, and Mr. Taylor's horse.
When she had slain them Satan let her be quiet. Then of his own accord,
Mr.