Witchcraft in Wiltshire. 



159 



and who laughed at him for having doubted it. He had no doubt at all that 

 the germs of superstition were still existing amongst the people of this country, 

 especially in the modern form connected with Theosophy and nervous forms of 

 belief, and hp was sometimes afraid they would see a recrudescence of the old 

 miserable business.] 



WITCHCRAFT IN WILTSHIRE 



It seems worth while to print as an Appendix to Dr. Straton's 

 paper the following " Anecdotes of Witchcraft in Wiltshire,'" 

 contributed to the Gentleman 1 s Magazine for May and June, 1832, 

 by " B. C. T.," of Malmesbnry. The original MS., in the form of 

 a letter, dated Ash Wednesday, 1685-6, was apparently written by 

 the justice who arrived late. He does not give his name. After 

 some preliminary observations on witchcraft he proceeds as follows : 



" It is not possible as yet for me to set out all the Charges against the persons 

 I mention now who have suffered on the accompt of Witches, there having been 

 many convicted formerly before my time, and some since, of whom I onely can 

 now give the names ; such was John Barlowes wife, convicted of and executed 

 for Witchcraft about 55 years since. Alice Elger, widow, dwelling in Westport, 

 became so audaciously noxious to the good inhabitance, there being none but 

 martial law then, it was about 1643 ; Malmesbury then being in the hands of 

 the Armys ranged against the King ; that the Soldiers and some of the lowest 

 of the people did in the mercat place use her very roughly, moved by an instant 

 emergent, so that shee, perhaps to avoyd the like, went home and poysoned 

 herselfe, as was then beleeved, and was buried in a cross way as a felon of herself. 



"Orchard, widow, was beleeved to be a Witch universally, and was very con- 

 versant with Alice Elgar, and thought to bee her Confederate about 27 years 

 since ; shee came to the house of Hugh Bartholomew, of Malmesbury, brewer, 

 and finding his daughter Mary, since wife to Robert Web, not long since Alderman 

 of Malmesbury, now deceased, about the doore, Orchard asked her for some barme 

 or yeast. The sayd Mary, apprehending harme from her, if she should give her any, 

 refused her, and sayd there was none to spare. Orchard told her there were 40 

 hogsheads or barrels then working, but was told by the sayd Mary, there was none 

 for her. She rejoyned, ' Then you will give me none ? 'twere better for you you 

 had ; and went away muttering to herself.' Immediately after shee was gone, a 

 great cipress chest in which Mr.Bartholomew kept his money, being in the chamber 

 over the roome where he and his company were, was lifted up and let fall, so 

 that it shook the whole house ; immediately afterwards they heard great cracks, 

 and the gingling of money, of which there was above 200/. as they thought, and 

 as in truth it was. Mr. Bartholomew beleeved his chest had been broken, and 

 his money or part of it lost, went not upp into the chamber, but followed Orchard 



