also was Robin Hood, not long since, even in
"N. & Q."! I wonder how Apolodorus would have looked, if he had heard
Orion or Polyphemus called a ~mythos~!

Do I then expect the people of England to surrender their glorious
privilege of going wrong without let or hindrance, in matters of grammar
and etymology? Far from me be such folly and presumption. All I venture
to expect is, that men of learning and good sense will, when they are
speaking or writing about those venerable fictions which once commanded
the assent of polished nations, use the more dignified term _m[=y]the_,
and the adjective _mythic_, instead of the hybrid _mythical_, leaving
the poor unhappy little _m[)y]th_ to be bandied about at the popular
will and pleasure.

THOS. KEIGHTLEY.

* * * * *

WITCHCRAFT IN 1638.

I inclose you an extract from an old document in my possession, which
appears to be the examination of two witnesses against one Mary Shepherd
for witchcraft. The nature of the offence is not {327} specified.
Perhaps it may be interesting to some of your readers.

_The Exa[=m] of Jone Coward of Wareham, taken upon Oath the 28
March, 1638._

Who sayth, y't about Midsomer last past one Mary Sheapheard of
Wareham did pull of one of this Ex[=mt]'s stockings, and
within 2 howers after this Ex[=nt] was taken in all her limbs
that she could not stur hand or foot, where upon this Ex[=nt]
considered that the fors'd Mary Sheapheard had done her that
hurt, and forth w'th cryed out upon the sayd Mary Shep.
(though the sayd M. Shep. was not present), where upon this
Ex[=mt]'s mother went unto the house of M. Shep. to perswaed
her to come downe to this Ex[=nt]; but the sayd M. Shep. would
not. Whereupon this Ex[=nt]'s mother went unto the Mayor of
the Town, who co[=m]anded the s'd M. Shep. to goe to this
Exa[=nt]. At length the s'd Ma. Shep. accordingly did (and
being co[=e]), she did wring this Ex[=nt] by the hande, and
p'esently this Ex[=nt] recouered. Ffurther, the Ex[=nt]
sayth, y't about ye 24 of July _next followinge_, this
Ex[=nt] was taken in ye like manner ye second time, w'th
her hands and feet wrested about, and so sent for the s'd M.
Shep., who instantly pulled the Ex[=nt] by the hands, and
p'esently the Ex[=nt] recovered again.

JONE COWARD.

Joane Coward de Warh[=a], spinster Lxx,