turned out
the whole contents of the parish chest." Mr. Serjeantson adds at the
close this extract: "1705 P'd for wood 5/ For taking up the old lead
5/." It goes without saying that Mr. Serjeantson's examination does not
prove that there never was a mention of the faggots bought for burning
witches; but, when all the other evidence is taken into consideration,
this negative evidence does establish a very strong presumption to that
effect. Certainly the supposed passage from the overseers' accounts can
no longer be used to confirm the testimony of the pamphlet. It looks
very much as if the compilers of the _Northamptonshire Handbook_ for
1867 had been careless in their handling of records.

It seems probable, then, that the pamphlet of 1705 dealing with the
execution of Mary Phillips and Elinor Shaw is a purely fictitious
narrative. The matter derives its importance from the fact that, if the
two executions in 1705 be disproved, the last known execution in England
is put back to 1682, ten years before the Salem affair in Massachusetts.
This would of course have some bearing on a recent contention (G. L.
Kittredge, "Notes on Witchcraft," Am. Antiq. Soc., _Proc._, XVIII), that
"convictions and executions for witchcraft occurred in England after
they had come to an end in Massachusetts."

B.--LIST OF PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR WITCHCRAFT DURING THE REIGN
OF JAMES I.

1.--Charged with Causing Death.

1603. Yorkshire.
Mary Pannel.
1606. Hertford.
Johanna Harrison and her daughter.
1612. Northampton.
Helen Jenkinson, Arthur Bill, Mary Barber.
1612. Lancaster.
Chattox, Eliz. Device, James Device, Alice Nutter, Katherine
Hewitt, Anne Redfearne.
1612. York.
Jennet Preston.
1613. Bedford.
Mother Sutton and Mary Sutton.
1616. Middlesex.
Elizabeth Rutter.
1616. Middlesex.
Joan Hunt.
1619. Lincoln.
Margaret and Philippa Flower.
1621. Edmonton.
Elizabeth Sawyer.

2.--Not Charged with Causing Death (so far as shown by records).

1607. Rye, Kent.
Two women entertained spirits, "to gain wealth."
1612. Lancaster.
John and Jane Bulcock, making to waste away. It
was testified against them that at Malking Tower they
consented to murder, but this was apparently not in the
indictment. Acquitted, but later convicted.
Alizon Device, caused to waste