Notes and Queries, No. 179. Saturday, April 2, 1853. | Page 3

generally adopted, that it seems likely ere long to become a mere slang term. It is used for every kind of fiction whatever; indeed, I have seen it employed where the proper word would be hoax. Nay, to make matters worse, it is actually used of persons. Mrs. Harris, for instance, has been termed a myth, as also was Robin Hood, not long since, even in "N. & Q."! I wonder how Apolodorus would have looked, if he had heard Orion or Polyphemus called a ~mythos~!
Do I then expect the people of England to surrender their glorious privilege of going wrong without let or hindrance, in matters of grammar and etymology? Far from me be such folly and presumption. All I venture to expect is, that men of learning and good sense will, when they are speaking or writing about those venerable fictions which once commanded the assent of polished nations, use the more dignified term m[=y]the, and the adjective mythic, instead of the hybrid mythical, leaving the poor unhappy little m[)y]th to be bandied about at the popular will and pleasure.
THOS. KEIGHTLEY.
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WITCHCRAFT IN 1638.
I inclose you an extract from an old document in my possession, which appears to be the examination of two witnesses against one Mary Shepherd for witchcraft. The nature of the offence is not {327} specified. Perhaps it may be interesting to some of your readers.
The Exa[=m] of Jone Coward of Wareham, taken upon Oath the 28 March, 1638.
Who sayth, y't about Midsomer last past one Mary Sheapheard of Wareham did pull of one of this Ex[=mt]'s stockings, and within 2 howers after this Ex[=nt] was taken in all her limbs that she could not stur hand or foot, where upon this Ex[=nt] considered that the fors'd Mary Sheapheard had done her that hurt, and forth w'th cryed out upon the sayd Mary Shep. (though the sayd M. Shep. was not present), where upon this Ex[=mt]'s mother went unto the house of M. Shep. to perswaed her to come downe to this Ex[=nt]; but the sayd M. Shep. would not. Whereupon this Ex[=nt]'s mother went unto the Mayor of the Town, who co[=m]anded the s'd M. Shep. to goe to this Exa[=nt]. At length the s'd Ma. Shep. accordingly did (and being co[=e]), she did wring this Ex[=nt] by the hande, and p'esently this Ex[=nt] recouered. Ffurther, the Ex[=nt] sayth, y't about ye 24 of July next followinge, this Ex[=nt] was taken in ye like manner ye second time, w'th her hands and feet wrested about, and so sent for the s'd M. Shep., who instantly pulled the Ex[=nt] by the hands, and p'esently the Ex[=nt] recovered again.
JONE COWARD.
Joane Coward de Warh[=a], spinster ￡xx,
To appear and give evidence at the next assizes ag[=nt] Ma. Sheapheard.
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The Ex[=am] of Ann Trew, single woman, of Wareham, taken upon Oath as afors'd.
Who sayth, y't on ye 16th of March last past she saw Mary Shep. come into ye house of Joh. Gillingame, and likewise saw Ed. Gillingame come down bare-footed very well, without any lamnesse or sickness at all, and p'esently after ye sayd Mary Shep. had pulled on the legginge upon the legge of ye s'd Ed. Gill., he fell instantly both lame and sick. Further, the Ex[=nt] asked the s'd Ed. Gill. (in the time of his sickness) what Ma. Shep. did unto him, who answered, she did put her hand upon his thigh.
ANN TREW.
Anne Trew de Warh[=a], spinster ￡xx,
To appear and give evidence at next assizes ag[=nt] M. Shepheard.
I should like to know if the effect of her supposed sorcery could be attributed to mesmerism. The document in my possession appears to be original, as Jone Coward's signature is in a different hand to that of the examination.
J. C. M.
Spetisbury.
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ST. AUGUSTIN AND BAXTER.
I am not aware that any author has pointed out a remarkable coincidence in the Confessions of St. Augustin and of Baxter:
"Divers sins I was addicted to, and oft committed against my conscience, which, for the warning of others, I will here confess to my shame. I was much addicted to the excessive and gluttonous eating of apples and pears, which, I think, laid the foundation of the imbecility and flatulency of my stomach.... To this end, and to concur with naughty boys that gloried in evil, I have oft gone into other men's orchards and stolen the fruit, when I had enough at home.... These were my sins in my childhood, as to which conscience troubled me for a great while before they were overcome."
Sir W. Scott cites the above passages in his Life of Dryden, with sharp comments on the rigid scruples of the Puritans:
"How is it possible," he says, "to forgive Baxter for the affectation with which he records the