Community letter defending two women accused of witchcraft

Transcript

To the honourable and worshipful his Majesty’s Justices of Peace

in the West Riding of the County of York. We whose names are

subscribed [listed], being neighbours to, or inhabitants in the town of

Denby in the said county, do humbly certify, as follows.

That whereas an Information for Witchcraft is commonly reported to be exhibited

before some of his Majesty’s Justices against Susanna Hinchliffe wife of Joseph

Hinchliffe and Anne Shillitoe wife of Thomas Shillitoe and daughter of the said

Joseph, both of Denby aforesaid, by one Mary Moore a girl of about sixteen years

of age. We do humbly testify and affirm, that some of us have well known the

said Susanna, and Anne, by the space of twenty years and upwards. Others of us

fifteen years and upwards. Others of us ten years and upwards. And have by the

said space observed and known the life and conversation of the said Susanna to be

not only very sober, orderly, and unblameable in every respect, but also of good example,

and very helpful and useful in the neighbourhood, according to her poor ability. That

she was a constant frequenter of public ordinances, while she was able, and to the

best of our understanding, made conscience of her ways in more than common sort.

That we never heard, or had the least ground to suspect her, or her said daughter, to

be in any sort guilty of so foul a crime. But do fully believe that the said information

against them both is a most gross and groundless (if not malicious) prosecution.

And this we humbly certify, as our very true apprehensions, as in the sight and

presence of him, who will judge the secrets of all hearts. And as touching

the said girl who now informs, some of us could say too much concerning her, of

a quite different nature, but that we judge recrimination [arguments between people blaming each other] to be but an indirect way

of clearing the innocent.

[List of dozens of signed names in support]