[?]isbury Assizes.
[?]ard of Witchcraft.
Being a true Relation of one Mistris Bodnan living in Fisherton, next
house but one to the Gallowes, who being a Witch seduced a Maid,
called by name, Anne Stiles, to the s[a]me abominab[le] and de-
tested action of Witchcraft; which Witch for that
action was executed the 19 day of March 1653.
To ehe tune of Bragandary,
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WHen men and Women leave the way
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of God, and goodnesse quite,
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They practice mischief every day
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and therein take delight
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The Divel then is nye at hand
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When these things he doth understand,
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You that will goe,
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High or low
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Resolve upon this doubt.
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As by the Story you shall heare
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if you will list a while
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The Divell lately did appeare;
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and a Woman did beguile
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But she did make the way before,
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And in her heart did him adore
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You that will goe, etc.
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In Fisherton this dame did dwell
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of conversation bad
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She did converse with the Divell of Hell,
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which made her friends all sad,
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Unto the Divell she gave her soule
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Sealed in a bloudy scroule,
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You that will goe, etc.
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Mistris Bodnam was her name,
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who daily undertooke
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To helpe men to stolne goods againe,
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even with her cunjuring booke
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A looking glasse she had likewise,
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To shew the Theeves before their eyes
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You that will goe, etc.
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Amonge the rest a Maid then went,
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her name was Annis Stiles
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About stolne goods in discontent
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but the Divill her beguiles
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The Divill did the Witch perswade
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For to seduce this silly maid
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You that will goe, etc,
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She gave the Maid a Looking glasse
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on which she looked on
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But at the length it came to pas
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she was to soone undone,
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For want of wisdome and true grce,
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She was undone in little space,
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You that will goe, etc.
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Sweetheart quoth she if that you please,
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I will teach you my art,
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So you may live in wealth and ease
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according to your heart
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If you your Soule the Divell will give
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In health and wealth you then may live,
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You that will goe, etc.
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To soone alas she did consent
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and seald it with her blood,
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Which made her afterwards repent,
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when as she understood
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That she must loose the joyes of heaven
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For some Toyes unto her given
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You that will goe,
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High or low,
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Resolve upon this doubt.
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[The secon]d part to the same tune.
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AT length it came for to be known,
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how she had simply run
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Then to the Witch she made her mone.
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and said she was undone
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She said to London she would flye,
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For feare least both of them should dye,
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You that will goe
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High or low,
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Resolve upon this doubt.
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The Witch was willing thereunto,
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and bid her fly with speed
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She was at Stockbridge taken though,
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for that notorious deed,
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The Divill cast her to and froe
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As all the company did know
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You that will goe, etc,
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When in the chamber she came in,
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the Divell tost her about
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She askt the divell where heed bin
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to give her such a floute,
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Then all the standers by amaz'd,
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Upon each other then they gaz'd,
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You that will goe, etc,
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A Gentleman great paines did take,
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with her the people say,
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And she to him her minde did breake
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and for her he did pray,
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She told him the old witch was cause
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That she had broke Gods holy lawes
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You that will goe, etc.
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Foure dayes together she was vext
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tormented grievously
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And in her mind was sore perplex[t]
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that some thought she would d[?]
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The Divell like a Snake apeard
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Which all the country people feard
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You that will goe, etc,
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But when the old Witch came in sight,
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then did she take her rest,
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And she did sleepe well all that night
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as plainly is exprest,
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She said when as she walkt againe,
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She praised God she felt no paine
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You that will goe, etc.
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She told the Gentleman that she
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would tell him all her art
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And that he should inriched be
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by what she should impart
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She told him that she knew full well,
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She should be a great Lady in hel.
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You that will goe,etc.
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The old Witch executed was,
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this moneth the 19. day.
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She ever had a face of Bras
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as all the people say,
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Insteed of pensivenesse and prayer
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She did nought but curse and sware,
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You that will goe, etc,
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God nothing had to do with her
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she said most desperately
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She swore and curst and kept a stur
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and desperately did dye
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Let all good people therefore say
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[?]their hearts with me and pray,
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[You that w]ill goe
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High or low,
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Resolve upon this doubt.
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