DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9697#0255
WITCHES.
191
she came, she would not owne any such thing as that she
could raise the devil, but she would tell us many charms
and tricks : one was, this Signor Caboga some few dayes
before had lost some money, and suspected one of his
servants for it. She comes with an Old Testament in
Heb[rew], and, tying a key in it at the 51st psalme, hang'd
it upon her finger on one side, and upon the finger of
another old hag (her camerade) on the other side. Then
he began to think of one whom he suspected, and immedi-
ately he reads that psalm in any other language which he
understand (as he did it in Latine); if the person be guilty,
the Bible turnes and drops downe whilst he reads ; if he be
innocent, it hangs immoveable to the end of the psalme ;
then he thinks of another, and so begin again. This so
possest him as would needs have them shew it us, affirm-
ing that when he thought of one person (whome he there-
fore concluded guilty) it never fail'd. To work go the
old hags; he reads; down drops the book. We laught
and desir'd we two might hold it upon our fingers (for I
perceived the juggle most clearly: it falls with pressing
the finger a little stronger then ordinary) ; he consented,
and though he thought of the same person, the book
hang'd cleverly to the end in despite of Mother Mumpus.1
I bad him think of any other person in his mind, as
myself, or friend, or the old woman, etc., and before he had
gone half way I turned it with as much dexterity as if
Mephistophilus himself had been in my Elbo. My gentle-
man was amazed, but these cunning Jades put a neat
conceit in his head. He told us this trick would not do
unlesse we were both of us clean; for, said he, it would not
do with me at first, for, to tell you the truth, I had been
1 The term "mumpus" is derived from "mump", Dutch mo7npen,
" to cheat". " I am resolved to mump your proud players." (Duke of
Buckingham, The Rehearsal, p. 23.)
191
she came, she would not owne any such thing as that she
could raise the devil, but she would tell us many charms
and tricks : one was, this Signor Caboga some few dayes
before had lost some money, and suspected one of his
servants for it. She comes with an Old Testament in
Heb[rew], and, tying a key in it at the 51st psalme, hang'd
it upon her finger on one side, and upon the finger of
another old hag (her camerade) on the other side. Then
he began to think of one whom he suspected, and immedi-
ately he reads that psalm in any other language which he
understand (as he did it in Latine); if the person be guilty,
the Bible turnes and drops downe whilst he reads ; if he be
innocent, it hangs immoveable to the end of the psalme ;
then he thinks of another, and so begin again. This so
possest him as would needs have them shew it us, affirm-
ing that when he thought of one person (whome he there-
fore concluded guilty) it never fail'd. To work go the
old hags; he reads; down drops the book. We laught
and desir'd we two might hold it upon our fingers (for I
perceived the juggle most clearly: it falls with pressing
the finger a little stronger then ordinary) ; he consented,
and though he thought of the same person, the book
hang'd cleverly to the end in despite of Mother Mumpus.1
I bad him think of any other person in his mind, as
myself, or friend, or the old woman, etc., and before he had
gone half way I turned it with as much dexterity as if
Mephistophilus himself had been in my Elbo. My gentle-
man was amazed, but these cunning Jades put a neat
conceit in his head. He told us this trick would not do
unlesse we were both of us clean; for, said he, it would not
do with me at first, for, to tell you the truth, I had been
1 The term "mumpus" is derived from "mump", Dutch mo7npen,
" to cheat". " I am resolved to mump your proud players." (Duke of
Buckingham, The Rehearsal, p. 23.)