The Case of the Miscast Curse by Anna Castle

Author:Anna Castle [Castle, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945382567
Google: Kd4xEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Anna Castle
Published: 2021-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

Sir William banged his gavel on the wide arm of his chair. “Undersheriff Samuel Wragg will now testify as to Goodie Whiting’s means of support.”

Jane reached for her father’s hand. This could go either way. Samuel Wragg, a fervent Presbyterian, despised most popular beliefs. He disdained them as idle superstitions or worse — vestiges of paganism to be rooted out. He proclaimed his views on every opportunity, launching into a sermon at the drop of a hat. He would not credit a charge of witchcraft. He wouldn’t think much of Dorcas with her charms and potions either.

He rose from the Guildhall bench and bowed from the waist. Then he half turned toward the rest of the hall and spoke in his ringing tones. “Goodie Whiting presents herself as a cunning woman or a healer. She gathers herbs in her woods, trading some at the local apothecary for other ingredients. She makes ointments for sore joints, washes for sore eyes, and tisanes for sore heads. She sometimes assists the midwife. She tends the poorest residents of this and surrounding parishes, those who cannot afford the fees of the other cunning folk hereabouts.”

Sir William’s gaze rested on Jane for a moment. His expression showed nothing, but she could sense his curiosity. He couldn’t approve of his only son courting a lowly tradesman’s daughter, but he couldn’t order him to drop her without stirring up conflict within his home. If his son left the manor, he’d take the grandchildren with him. John had not said anything about it, but Jane assumed that Sir William believed the infatuation would run its course in good time.

Murmurs sounded here and there in the hall, largely in Dorcas’s favor, from the snatches Jane could hear. The undersheriff’s stern gaze moved from one mumbler to the other. Soon they all fell silent.

Wragg continued, “The defendant has never been a burden on the parish. That said, her household has never contributed to the poll tax. She claims to have no money, bartering her simples and services for food and other necessities. I must also point out that remedies are not her only source of income. She is known throughout the region for making allegedly magical charms and amulets. She claims these can ward off bad luck, attract good luck, or engage the affections of some desired person.” His tone conveyed his contempt for such deceptions, as he saw them.

Sir William sighed. “A fool and his money, eh, Undersheriff? Anything else? No? Then you may be seated, with our thanks.”

Jane grumbled under her breath. If Wragg thought so little of charms and amulets, why did he bother to mention them?

Sir William spoke to his clerk. “Let the record state that the defendant practices a useful trade and has never been a burden on the parish.” He surveyed the hall, his gaze shifting from row to row as if counting the people in attendance. “Is there anyone here present who wishes to testify as to the character of the accused? Please restrict yourself to words and deeds you have personally witnessed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.