other
cases in his _Criminal Law_, 1678, relates that of a condemned
witch who had confessed judicially to him and afterwards 'told me
under secrecy, that she had not confessed because she was guilty;
but being a poor creature who wrought for her meat, and being
defamed for a witch she knew she should starve, for no person
thereafter would either give her meat or lodging, and that all
men would beat her and set dogs at her, and that therefore she
desired to be out of the world. Whereupon she wept most bitterly,
and upon her knees called God to witness to what she said.
Another told me that she was afraid the devil would challenge a
right to her after she was said to be his servant, and would
haunt her, as the minister said when he was desiring her to
confess, and therefore she desired to die. And really,' admits
the learned judge, 'ministers are oft-times indiscreet in their
zeal to have poor creatures to confess in this; and I recommend
to judges that the wisest ministers should be sent to them; and
that those who are sent should be cautious in this particular.'
Another confession at the supreme moment of the same sort, as
recorded by the Rev. G. Sinclair in 'Satan's Invisible World
Discovered' is equally significant and genuine. What impression
it left upon the pious clergyman will be seen in his concluding
inference. The witch, 'being carried forth to the place of
execution, remained silent during the first, second, and third
prayer, and then, perceiving there remained no more but to rise
up and go to the stake, she lifted up her body and with a loud
voice cried out, "Now all you that see me this day know that I am
now to die as a witch by my own confession, and I free all men,
especially the ministers and magistrates, of the guilt of my
blood. I take it wholly upon myself--my blood be upon my own
head; and as I must make answer to the God of heaven presently, I
declare I am as free of witchcraft as any child. But being
delated by a malicious woman, and put in prison under the name of
a witch; disowned by my husband and friends, and seeing no ground
of hope of my coming out of prison or ever coming in credit
again, through the temptation of the devil I made up that
confession on purpose to destroy my own life, being weary of it,
and choosing rather to die than live"--and so died; which
lamentable story as it did then astonish all the spectators, none
of which could restrain themselves from tears, so it may be to