This debate was begun in an evil time.

Capitulo xxij. How Bellyn the Ram and all his lineage were given in the hands of Ysegrym and Bruyn, and how he was slain.

The King said

I will do it gladly

Firapeel the Leopard
went to the prison
and unbound them
he said

ye sires
I bring to you a fast pardon
and my lord's love and friendship
it repents him
and is sorry
he ever has done
spoken or trespassed against you
therefore ye shall have a good appointment
and also amends he shall give you
Bellyn the Ram
and all his lineage
from now forth to doomsday
in suchwise
wheresoever ye find them
in field or in wood
ye may freely bite and eat them
without misdoing
this fair privilege the King will grant you
ever to hold from him
and the King will
that ye swear to him
never to misdo
but do him homage and fealty
I counsel you do this
for ye may do it honourably

thus was the peace made
by Firapeel the Leopard
friendly and well

and that cost Bellyn the Ram
his tabard and also his life
and the Wolf's lineage
hold this privilege of the King
and to this day
they devour and eat Bellyn's lineage
wherever they may find them

this debate was begun
in an evil time
for the peace
could never since be made between them

the King did forthwith his court feast
xij. days for love of the Bear and the Wolf
so glad was he of making peace

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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...

Robert Plot, first Keeper of the Ashmolean, on mysterious circles, from 'The Natural History of Staffordshire' (Oxford, 1686).

And here perchance, by the way, it may be no great digression to enquire into the nature and efficient cause of those rings we find in the grass, which they commonly call fairy circles, whether they are caused by lighning, or are indeed the rendezvouzes of witches , or the dancing places of those little pygmy spirits they call elves or fairies . And the rather because, 1 - a question - perhaps by reason of the difficulty - scarce yet attempted, and 2 - because I met with the largest of their kind - that perchance were ever heard of - in this county; one of them showed me in the grounds between Handsworth Church and the heath being near forty yards diameter, and I was told of another by that ingenious gent. - one of the most cordial encouragers of this work - the Worshipful Sir Henry Gough, Knight, that there was one in his grounds near Pury-Hall but few years since - now indeed plowed up - of a much larger size, he believed near fifty. Whereas,...

Se riza el aire gris.

The field of olives opens and closes like a fan. Above the grove the sky is sunk the rain is dark the stars are cold. A trembling in the rushes and darkness falls on the riverbank. A ripple through the grey air. Olive trees laden with screams. A flock of captive birds move their long, long tails in the shadows. FGL (1931) PSY (Feb. 2025)

Paul Summers Young

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