CORRESPONDENCE.
Eggs in Witchcraft.
The following extract from the Parish Register of Wells, in Norfolk, for the year 1583, was contributed to The Genilei/ian's Magazine for 1792, Part II., p. 904, by a correspondent who used the signature J. H. I, however, quote from Mr. Gomme's reprint in The Gentlemafi's Magazine Library — English Topography, Part VIII., p. 113. I am quite ignorant of the way in which these eggs were treated. Can any student of folklore enlighten me ? It would seem that the crime was regarded as proved. Has any record of the trial come down to our time from which we might gather what was the nature of the evidence which satisfied the jury ?
" Misled uppo' ye West Coaste coming fronv Spain ; whose deathes were brought to pas by the detestable woorking of an execrable witch of Kings Lynn, whose name was Mother Gabley ; by boyling, or rather labouring of certeyne eggs in a payle full of colde water : afterwards approved sufficiently at the arraignment of the said witch.
Richard Waller. ^
Christopher Dodde. John Bunting. William Craven. Gregory Baxter. Christopher Baxter. Thomas Ayre.
V
Henry Gouldsmith. Walter Marshall. Robert Butler. Oliver Cobb. William Barret. Richard Dye."
Edward Peacock, F.S.A.
[The extract from the Wells Parish Register which Mr. Peacock quotes is also given in Genfkman's Magazine Library {^Popular Superstitions), p. 235. The rite was evidently one of sympathetic magic, raising a storm at sea by simulating one in a pail. Egg- shells are referred to as witches' boats in Beaumont and Fletcher's Women Pleased, quoted in Ellis's Brand, \., 19, and in Choice Notes from N. and Q. {Folklore), p. 7, locality Holland.— Ed.]
