A full and impartial account of the discovery of sorcery and witchcraft, : practis'd by Jane Wenham of Walkerne in Hertfordshire, upon the bodies of Anne Thorn, Anne Street, &c. The proceedings against her from her being first apprehended, till she was committed to gaol by Sir Henry Chauncy. Also her tryal at the assizes at Hertford before Mr. Justice Powell, where she was found guilty of felony and witchcraft, and receiv'd sentence of death for the same, March 4. 1711-12.

  • Bragge, Francis, 1664-1728.
Date:
1712
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A full and impartial account of the discovery of sorcery and witchcraft, : practis'd by Jane Wenham of Walkerne in Hertfordshire, upon the bodies of Anne Thorn, Anne Street, &c. The proceedings against her from her being first apprehended, till she was committed to gaol by Sir Henry Chauncy. Also her tryal at the assizes at Hertford before Mr. Justice Powell, where she was found guilty of felony and witchcraft, and receiv'd sentence of death for the same, March 4. 1711-12. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / !• . -- , TV ( O Mafier John Chapman, an Old Woman in a Kiding.bood or Ckakf he knows not which, came to the Barn Door, and asked him fir a Peny worth of Straw; he told her he could give her none, and (be went away Muttering* And this Informant faith, That after the IVoman was gone he was not able to work, hut ran out of the Barn as far as a?lace called Mundcr’s-Hill, [which is above Jhrez Miles from Walkerne,] and asked at a Houfe there for aPenyworth of Straw, and they refufmg to give him any, lye went farther to fome Dung-heaps, and took, fome Straw from thence, and full'd off his Shirt, and brought it Home in his Shirt; he knows not what mov'd him to this, hut Jays he was fired to it, he knows not bow* Thus far this Informant* It was alfo farther obferved by fome Perfons, who met this Matthew Giljion running on his Fool’s Errand, that he went a very great Pace, and when he came to a River he did not go over a Bridge in his Way, but diredly thro* the Water. - This odd Story, and the firange Account the Boy gave of if, made his Ma¬ iler John Chapman fufped that Jane Wenham had play’d this Trick upon his Servant; and Toon alter he meeting her, told her of it, and in Heat of Anger call’d her a Witch and Bitch. ' After the Scolding-bout was oyer, this Jane Wenham ' thought Ihe had got an Advantage over her Neighbour Cbap» man,' and that (he would make him pay for his Words; ac¬ cordingly on the pth of Fek (he applies herfelf to Sir Henry Chauncy for a Warrant againil this Man for calling her a Wttch, expeding no,t only to get fomething out of him, but ta deter other People from calling her fo any more ; betides, this Shew of Innocence might make her the lefs luipedRd for the future. She brought John Chapman on the nth before Sir Henry, who having enquired after her Character, and heard a / very ill one of her, did not think fit to give h r any Dam- mages for being call'd Witch ; but told her he would re¬ fer her Caufe to any one of her Neighbours; (he trained the Reverend Mr. Gardiner, the Minilter of the Town, and John Chapman confenting, they went to him to decide the Controverhe between them i 'h&r.'G'atdiiiCr having heard • her Complaint, advis'd tnem to live more peaceably toge- ther, and ordered Joan Chapman to pay her a Shilling, but would allow jme VVenham no farther Satbfadion ; at this her Anger was greatly kindled againft Mr. Gardiner, and