Great News from the West of England.  
Being a True Account of Two Young Persons lately Bewitched in the Town of Beckenton in Somerset-shire: Showing the sad Condition they are in, by Vomiting, or Throwing out of their Bodies, the Abundance of Pins, Nails, Pewter, Brass, Led, Iron, and Tin, to the Admiration of all Beholders.  
And of the old Witch being carried several Times to a great River; into which, her Legs being tied, she was Thrice thrown in; but each Time, she Swum like a Cork.  
AFTERWARDS,  
By Order from a justice of Peace, she was Searched by a Jury of Women, and such Signs and Marks being found about her, positive Oath was given in against her; so that she is Committed to Jail, until the next Assizes.  
Licenced and Entered according to Order.  
I Know there be Persons in the World, who will not believe there are Witches; that is, such Persons, who, by a League and Confederacy with the Devil, do get him to enter, possess, and torment the Bodies of Children, and others: But whosoever shall read this ensuing Narrative, if he be not an Atheist in his Heart, as well as in his Practice, may be easily Convinced; and see the Necessity of keeping close to GOD, in a constant Performance of his Duty; that GOD may keep close to him in his daily Preservation and Safety.  
IN the Town of Beckenton, about Two Miles from Froom, and Seven from Bath, in Somerset-shire, liveth one William Spicer, a young Man about eighteen Years of Age; as he was wont to pass by the Alms-house (where lived an Old Woman, about Fourscore) he would call her Witch, and tell her of her Buns; which did so enrage the Old Woman, that she threatened him with a Warrant; and accordingly did fetch one from a Neighbouring justice of the Peace; at which he was so frightened, that he humbled himself to her, and promised never to call her so again. Within a few days after this Young Man fell into the strangest Fits that ever Mortal beheld with Eyes, and these, by turns, held him about a Fortnight: When the Fits were upon him, he would often say, That he did see this Old Woman against the Wall in the same Room of the House where he was, and that sometimes she did knock her Fist at him; sometimes grin her Teeth, and sometimes laugh at him in his Fits. He was so strong, that three or four Men could scarce hold him; and when he did▪ call for Small Beer to drink, he would be sure to bring up some Crooked Pins; first and last, to the Number of Thirty, and upwards.  
In the same Town liveth one Marry Hill, about the same Age of this Young Man; who meeting with this Old Woman, demanded the Ring she borrowed of her; and through her Importunity, she prevailed to get the Ring (with this Threatening) from the Old Woman, That she had been better to have let her kept it longer. About a Week before the said Mary was taken with Fits, she met this Old Woman in the Street; who taking her by the hand, desired her to go with her to Froom, to look after some Spinning Work; for none in the Town would suffer her to have any: The said Mary being afraid, refused to go with her: About four days after she met the Old Woman again, who would have begged an Apple of her, having newly bought some, which she refused to give her.  
The Sunday following, she complained of a pricking in her Stomach; but on Monday, as she was Eating her Dinner, something arose in her Throat, which was like to have Choked her; and at the same time fell into Violent Fits, which held her till Nine or Ten a Clock at Night; the Fits were so strong and violent, that Four or Five Persons were scarce able to hold her, and in the midst of them, she would tell how she saw this old Woman against the Wall, grinning at her, and being struck at, would step aside to avoid the blows. The day after, she was taken with the like Fits, and would tell how she did see her as afore, and that she was the Person that had bewitched her.  
The Wednesday following, she began to throw up Crooked Pins, and so continued for the space of a Fortnight: After this, she began to throw up Nails and Pins; and then she ceased for the space of Eight Days: And then she began to throw up Nails again, and Handles of Spoons, both of Pewter and Brass; several pieces of Iron, Led, and Tin, with several clusters of Crooked Pins; some tied with Yarn, and some with Thread, with abundance of Blood between while; and so she continued to do for some considerable time: She threw up in all, above Two Hundred Crooked Pins, besides several clusters of Crooked Pins, Sixteen or Seventeen in a cluster, Seven Pieces of Pewter, Four Pieces of Brass, being Handles of Spoons, Six Pieces of Lead; some whereof were Handles of Spoons, and some, the Lead of a Window, besides one solid Piece of Lead, which weighed full two Ounces; Six long Pieces of Latin, with Wire belonging to them; Five-Pieces of Iron, one whereof was round, but hollow, and very big; and Two and Twenty Nails, some whereof were Board-Nails, above three Inches and a Quarter long.  
The People of the Town seeing the sad and deplorable Condition of the said Mary, and being much concerned for her, did cause this old Woman to be brought near the House where the said Mary Lived, unknown to her; and being gathered together above an Hundred People, the said Mary was brought forth into the open Air, who immediately fell into such strong Fits, that two or three men were scarce able to hold her: And being brought upon the Hill by the Church; and the old Woman brought near her (notwithstanding there were four men to hold the said Mary in a Chair) she mounted up over their Heads into the Air; but the men, and others standing by, caught hold of her Legs, and pulled her down again.  
This Woman was ordered by a justice of the Peace, to be searched by a jury of Women, who found about her several purple Spots, which they pricked with a sharp Needle, but she felt no pain: She had about her other Marks and Tokens of a Witch, of which the Women upon Oath, gave an Account to the justice; and some Swearing positively against her, she was sent to the County jail, where she is remaining to be Tried the next Assizes.  
This old Woman was had to a great River near the Town, to see whether she could sink under Water; her Legs being tied, she was put in, and tho' she did endeavour to the uttermost (by her Hands) to get herself under, yet she could not, but would lie upon her Back, and did Swim like a piece of Cork: There were present above Twenty Persons to Attest the Truth of this, yet could not gain Credit in the minds of People: Therefore, she was had to the Water a second time, and being put in, she swum as at first; and tho' there were present above Two Hundred People to see this Sight, yet it could not be believed by many. At the same time, also, there was put into the Water, a Lusty young Woman, who sunk immediately, and had been drowned, had it not been for the help that was at hand. To satisfy the World, and to leave no Room for doubting, the old Woman was had down to the Water the third time, and being put in as before, she did still Swim. At this Swimming of her, were present, such a Company of People of the Town and Country, and many of them, Persons of Quality, as could not well be Numbered; so that now, there is scarce one Person that doubts of the Truth of this thing.  
It is full Ten Weeks ago (from the Twenty Eight of October last passed) that this young Woman was first seized with these Terrible Fits: And tho' she had been Visited by the Minister of the place, who for sometime Prayed with her Twice a Day; and by a Non-co● 〈…〉 that Lives in the same Parish, that Twice performed the like Office, yet she continues to be often seized with terrible Fits, and to bring up both Nails and Handles of Spoons, and is still remaining an Object of great Pity, and to be remembered at the Throne of Grace daily.  
The Truth of this is be Attested by Us, October, 26th. 1689. 

May Hill, Rector of Beckenton,  


Churchwardens.  
Francis jesse,  
Pollidore Moss,    


Overseers of the Poor.  
Christo. Brewer,  
Francis Francke,    


Constables.  
Will. Minterne,  
Will. Cowherd,       

LONDON, Printed by T. M. in jewen-street, 1689.