ABSTRACT
In 1602, fourteen-year-old Mary Glover fell violently ill after an encounter with Elizabeth Jackson, an older woman who lived nearby. While Mary was visiting Jackson’s house, the old woman went into in a towering rage and berated the young girl for meddling with her own daughter’s apparel. Three days later, after another encounter with Jackson, this time in her own home, Mary Glover’s throat constricted so badly she could not drink. On hearing the news, Jackson delivered the curse, “I hope the Devil will stop her mouth!” For eighteen days, Mary’s throat and neck were so badly swollen that she was unable to eat or drink and experienced regular fits of hysteria. 1
