The Threat of Witchcraft Destroyed

Clarke said she’d lie with the Devil, The threat of Witchcraft destroyed In the shape of a gentleman, Or, the trial and condemnation of Elizabeth Clarke in the county of Essex, hung at Three times a week for six years, Chelmsford the 29. of July last. He’d say ‘Besse, I must lie with you’ and she volunteered. To the Tune of, Doctor Faustus: or, Fortune my Foe. Clarke flew to witchcraft gatherings at night, In the forest, it was out of sight, They’d feast and dance till the Devil came, Learn his magical arts and swear their allegiance. Twenty-six women Clarke accused of witchcraft, Her housekeeper Helen carried out evil tasks, With the help of Elimanzer, her familiar, She cursed Grace Glascock’s daughter. Clarke blamed Anne West for the death of John Edwards, Said she quarrelled with his mother Susan, Anne was found to have suspicious marks, Richard Edwards owned a shop in In Manningtree,aw a place in Essex, She claimed they were merely birthmarks. Lived an evil, malicious witch, Manningtree, Her name was Elizabeth Clarke, Refused to sell Clarke bread and brie, Clarke was found guilty when she was tried, She worked for Satan; she had three She killed his cattle, muttering charms, Hung whilst the crowd roared and cried, Devil’s marks. Conspired with the Devil to bring about ‘Kill the witch, end our suffering and fear’, these harms. Clarke trembled and wept, shocked by the cheer. Essex had been wrecked by the Civil War, Matthew Hopkins, the witchfinder-general, Now that we know Clarke’s fate, Struck by famine and disease, yet it Arrived in March to interrogate Clarke, I must give you a Hopkins update, swore, With his assistant Stearne and searcher After Clarke, his first suspect, Loyalty to the Roundheads, Philips, Two hundred witches he did inspect. Misery and hardship rapidly spread. He vowed to destroy this wicked witch. John Gaule, a vicar in Great Staughton, Elizabeth was 80 years old, Clarke was subjected to a damp and dirty Condemned Hopkins in pamphlets and sermons, A one-legged widow, she was unkind cell, They circulated and Parliament appeared, and cold, In Colchester Castle, it was windowless and But Hopkins had suddenly disappeared. Dependent on parish relief, smelled, With no friends or family to rectify her She was swum, pricked, sleep deprived, The purpose of this song, grief. Starved and forced to stand, for four days Is to reassure good Christians that witchcraft threats have gone, and nights. Clarke and others have been hung by the neck, Prudence Hart, Clarke’s arch-enemy, Justice and retribution have been met. Affirmed she caused her to miscarry, Finally, Clarke confessed all her sins, John Rive accused Clarke of Admitted to having five familiars, Satan’s plan in Essex has failed, bewitching his wife, Holt, Jarmara, Slack, Sugar and Vinegar His followers have been unveiled, Tom Taylor died in a storm she raised Tom, Suffolk and Norfolk he will move on to, at night. A kitten, spaniel, rabbit, polecat and We must prevent all the damage he can do. greyhound. FINIS. Emily Pratt .

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