University of Virginia Library

4. A WARNING VOICE AGAINST FASCINATION.

“The young men Barnabas Ware, Boaz Daniels, and
Walk-meekly Smith, severally testify that pris'ner hath fascinated
them at sundry times and in diuers manners. Saied
Barnabas saieth, last Sunday two weeks ago, he couldn't
keep his eyes off pris'ner all meetin time. Said Boaz saieth,
for several months he hath been constrained, in spite of all
he could do, when he went into meetin to look for pris'ner,
and that alwaies a look from her went thorow him, and filled
him with very dredful tremulation. That the fascination was
painefull, but, natheless full of delight. Witness saith it was
like the prickin of pins all over him, but when he searched,
there was none to be seen. Walk-meekly Smith saieth that
he went to home with pris'ner from singin schoole two weekes
agoe. That he did so because he was thereto fascinated,
and she moued him by her behauior so to do, having sat by
his side in schoole and singin out of his booke, and that he
had neuer done the like before, being a youth, aged only
nineteene yeares, and subject to his father. That there was
nothing in pris'ner's walk and maner that night, which
might show forth the presence of the deuil; only the cunninge
puttinge on of modestie, and lookin strange sorts of
earnest looks thorow her eye-lashes bent down, and, as it were,
resting on her cheeks, which were seemingly all in a glow

of deuilish fire. But next day and euer since witness hath
been sore distressed with losse of appetite, and melancholie,
and constant desire to be in companie with pris'ner, but is
afraid to touch her. And he swears, before God, she hath
bewitched him.”