Meat and Drink flowed, there were Plays and Esbatemens.

Capitulo xiij. How the King held his feast, and how Lapreel the Cony complained unto the King about Reynard the Fox.

To this great feast came all manner of beasts
for the King did cry this feast over all that land

there was the most joy and mirth that ever was had among beasts
there was danced mannerly the hovedance to the shawm, trumpet
and all manner of minstrelry

the King did order so much meat
that each and every found their fill
and there was no beast in all his land
so great or small
but there he was
and many fowls and birds also
and all that desired the King's friendship were there
saving Reynard the Fox
the false red pilgrim
which lay in wait to do harm
and thought it was not good for him to be there

meat and drink flowed there
there were plays and esbatemens
the feast was full of melody
one might lust to see such a feast

and right as the feast had lasted viij. days
about midday came in the Cony Lapreel before the King
where he sat at the table with the Queen
and said sorrowfully for all there to hear

my lord
have pity on my complaint
which is of great force
the murder Reynard the Fox
would have done to me yestermorrow
as I came running by his burrow at Maleperduys

he stood before his door without
like a pilgrim
I supposed to have passed by him peaceable
to this feast
and when he saw me come
he came to meet me saying his beads
I saluted him
but he spake not one word
but he reached out and dubbed me in the neck
between mine ears
that I thought I should lose my head
but God be thanked
I was so light I sprang from him
with much pain from his claws
he glowered
angry he no longer held me
though I escaped him
I lost mine one ear
and I had four great holes in my head
of his sharp nails
that the blood sprang out
and that I was nigh all a-swoon
but for the great fear for my life

I sprang and ran so fast from him
that he could not overtake me

see my lord
these great wounds
that he has made in me with his long nails
I pray you have pity on me
and that you will punish this false traitor and murderer
or else shall there no man go and come
over the heath in safety while he haunts it
rules it false and shrewd

Comments

She called the Devil by the Name of Bunne: The Faversham Witches (1645).

The Examination, Confession, Trial and Execution of Joan Williford, Joan Cariden and Jane Holt. Who were executed at Faversham in Kent for being Witches, on Monday the 29. of September, 1645. Being a true copy of their evil lives and wicked deeds, taken by the Mayor of Faversham and jurors for the said inquest. With the examination and confession of Elizabeth Harris, not yet executed. All attested under the hand of Robert Greenstreet, Mayor of Faversham. London, Printed for J.G. October 2. 1645. The Confession of Joan Williford, Septemb. 24. 1656, made before the Mayor, and other jurates. She confessed that the Devil about seven years ago did appear to her in the shape of a little dog, and bid her to forsake God and lean to him. Who replied, that she was loath to forsake him. She confessed also that she had a desire to be revenged upon Thomas Letherland and Mary Woodrofe, now his wife. She further said that the Devil promised her that she shoul...

Who dares affirm that our Collegiates are no Astrologers.

A powder against the biting of mad dogs. Take of the leaves of Vervain, Rue, Sage, Plantain, Polypodium, Common Wormwood, Mint, Mugwort, Bawm, Bettony, St John's Wort, Centaury, of equal parts. Let all be gathered at what time they are in their greatest strength, which is usually about the Full Moon in June*. Then, let them be dried severally in brown papers in such a place where neither Sun** nor rain comes; and when you have dried them, then keep them for the use above said, but upon this condition, that you renew them every year. * Who dares affirm that our Collegiates are no Astrologers. ** Learnedly written. When you have need to use them, beat an equal weight of them into powder. A drachm of this powder is sufficient to take every morning. Pleres Arconticon - Nich. Take of Cinnamon, Cloves, Galaga, wood of Aloes, Indian Spikenard, Nutmeg, Ginger, Spodium, Schoenanthus, Cyperus, Roses*, Violets, of each one drachm; Indian Leaf or Mace, Liquoris,...

Give me thy cake! Signs and Wonders from Heaven (1645).

Signs and Wonders from Heaven, with a true relation of a monster born in Ratcliffe Highway at the sign of the Three Arrows, Mistress Bullock the midwife delivering here thereof. Also, showing how a cat kittened a monster in Lombard Street in London. Likewise, a new discovery of witches in Stepney parish, and how twenty witches more were executed in Suffolk this last assize. Also, how the Devil came to Soffam to a farmer's house in the habit of a gentlewoman on horseback. With divers other strange remarkable passages. Printed at London by I.H. 1645. IT IS a known thing to all Christian people which are capable of understanding how that the sins of the world have in a high degree offended the world's maker, and provoked the Lord to anger, yet has the Devil so blinded the eyes, and hardened the hearts of many men and women, that they cannot or will not see nor take notice of their own iniquities, but rather seem to excuse themselves of those errors which they everyd...

Paul Summers Young

Search This Blog