r twenty-four hours; but nothing seems to have
come of it this time. The girl "thought" she was "like" the same woman as
had spoken to her, yet declined to swear positively. But the old woman had
a bad name. She had been suspected as a witch before, "and been had to
Maidstone to clear herself," which it seems she had done, for she got off,
and had been living near Brightling ever since. She had a narrow escape
now, for the country people were much excited against her, and naturally
did not wish the presence of one who could haunt their houses with fire
and dirt, and a big black bull tumbling about at his will. Had the maid
had one grain less of conscience, this nameless wretch would have closed
her earthly career a few years too soon; as it was she got off, and
"lived miserably about Burwast ever since." It was a small sign of grace
in that young jade that she would not swear away the life of an innocent
woman to conceal her own childish tricks. It was not often that the
accusing witnesses showed even this scant mercy to their victims, for the
excitement of the game seemed to be in the largest amount of cruelty that
could be perpetrated within the rules.

THE STRINGY MEAT.[140]

"Kent, the first Christian, last conquered, and one of the most
flourishing and fruitful Provinces of England, is the Scene, and the
beautiful Town of Maidstone, the Stage, whereon this Tragicall Story was
publicly acted at Maidstone Assizes, last past."

In this Christian province and most beautiful country, Anne Ashby, Anne
Martyn, Mary Browne, Mildred Wright, and Anne Wilson, all of Cranbrooke,
and Mary Reade, of Lenham, were brought before Sir Peter Warburton,
charged with "the Execrable and Diabolicall crime of Witchcraft." Anne
Ashby, "who was the chiefe Actresse, and who had the greatest part in this
Tragedy," and Anne Martyn were "confessing" witches; but their confessions
did not amount to much, compared with the more highly spiced accounts of
other witches. That they had both known the devil as a man, and in
dishonesty and sin, was of course one of the chief items of their
confession, as it was of most witches; but Anne Ashby further informed the
Bench that the devil had given them each a piece of flesh, which,
whensoever they should touch, would give them their desires; and that this
piece of flesh was hid somewhere among the grass. As was proved: for upon
search it was found. Of a sinewy substance and scorched was this
redoubtabl