ABSTRACT
A great and long suspicion was held of this person to be a witch, and the eye of Mr. Arthur Robinson, a worthy Justice of the Peace, who dwelleth at Tottenham near to her, was watchful over her and her ways, and that not without just cause; still, having his former long suspicion of her, by the information of her neighbours that dwelt about her; from suspicion to proceed to great presumptions, seeing the death of nurse children and cattle strangely and suddenly to happen. And to find out who would be the author of this mischief, an old ridiculous custom was used, which was to pluck the thatch of her house and burn it, and it being burned, the author of such mischief should presently then come. And it was observed and affirmed to the court that Elizabeth Sawyer would presently frequent the house of them that burnt the thatch, which they plucked of her house, and come without any sending for.
