ABSTRACT
What would it take to believe news of a dragon? Such is the burden borne in 1614 by the author of a written account of a local dragon residing near Sussex, England. While 17th-century audiences may be more accepting of the supernatural, this writer did fi nd himself compelled to provide a particular form of evidence-news sources: “Three persons, whose names are hereunder printed, have scene this serpent, besides divers others . . . and who can certifi e the truth of all that has been here related” (Stephens, 1988, p. 126). The installation of these named witnesses serves to forestall incredulity from the bulk of readers who themselves, we may assume, have never seen a dragon sauntering past their doorstep. Or more schematically, named sources provide evidence of activities that occur out of sight of the audience. While this example is nearly four centuries old, we fi nd the familiar ploy of shoring up credibility through sources.
