1 66 The Book of Cats. 



or placed so that they cannot easily accomplish it, 

 for they will certainly tear it to pieces. Near 

 Bristol there is a field that goes by the appellation 

 of the * Field of Cats,' from a large number of 

 these animals being drawn together there by this 

 contrivance." 



One of the frauds of witchcraft was the witch 

 pretending to transform herself into a Cat, and 

 this led to the Cat being tormented by the ignorant 

 vulgar. 



In 1618, Margaret and Philip Flower were exe- 

 cuted at Lincoln ; their mother was also accused, 

 dying in goal before (probably of fright, added to 

 old age and infirmity). It was asserted that they 

 had procured the death of the Lord Henry Mosse, 

 eldest son of the Earl of Rutland, by procuring 

 his right-hand glove, which, after being rubbed on 

 the back of their imp, named " Rutterkin," and 

 which lived with them in the form of a Cat, was 

 plunged into boiling water, pricked with a knife, 

 and buried in a dung-hill, so that, as that rotted, 

 the liver of the young man might rot also, which 

 was affirmed to have come to pass. 



Those were dreadful times for the ill-looking old 

 ladies, and the more so if they were unfortunate 

 enough to have an affection for the feline race. 



