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med Infant. The Midwife said also, that it had no hair, and that the did not beleeve that ever it had life. Besides, her fellow-servants do testifie, that shee had certain Issues for about a month before shee miscarried, which were of that nature (Phyicians say) as are not consistent with the vitality of a child: the eruption of which Issues came on her after shee had violently labour'd in skreening of malt. Lastly, it is not likely that the Child was vital, the mischance happening not above 17. weekes after the time of her conception.
For the 2. that shee might not know certainly that she was with childe, it is not improbable: for shee was not 10. weeks without the usual Courses of women, before she had those continual Issues which lasted for a Moneth together: which long and great Evacuation might make her judge, that it was nothing else but a flux of those humors which for ten weeks before had been suppressed; and that the childe which then fell from her unawares, was nothing but a lump of the same matter coagulated. As for the pain, it must needs be different in such cases from that which accompanies the timely fruit of the wonmb: and by reason of those Issues coming from her, for so long continued a time before she could not have those throwes and passions at the time of her abortion, as women in travel are subject unto.
Adde to all this, that at her Tryall she ingeniously confessed as much as was alledged by the witnesses: and continued in the same assertions, not only before, but at her Execution, the last supposed minute of her life; and the very first words, after she came to her self again (which certainly were not spoken with design, or purpose to deceive) confirmed the same.
There is yet one thing more which hath been taken notice of by somę, as to the Maid's defence; That her Grand Prosecutor Sir Thomas Read died within three daies after her Execution; even almost as soon as the probability of her reviving could be well confirmed to him. But because hee was an old man, and such Events are not too rashly to be commented on, I shall not make use of that observation.
It may perhaps be expected by some (and 'tis pity I can give them no better satisfaction) that I should here relate some story (like those of Orpheus or Æneas in the Poëts) of what fine visions this maid saw in the other world; what cœlestial musick, or hellish howling she heard; what spirits she conversed with; and what Revelations she brought back with her, concerning the Present Times, or the Events of things to come. But for such matters the Ballad-makers must rest contented: since shee (as you have heard) was so far from
