| Cruttenden (Wife) | A woman from Brightling in the county of Sussex, who is, along with her husband, the victim of witchcraft. An old woman predicts that Joseph Cruttenden and his wife will have many "sad Calamaties," including that "their House should be Fired, and many other troubles befal them." Their troubles begin one night, when lying in bed with her husband, "Dirt, and Dust, &c. was thrown at them, but they could not tell whence it came." Joseph Cruttenden's wife and himself rise to pray, which abates the "trouble," but when they went to bed again, they found "the same trouble." At night, "a part of one end of their House Fired," and "flashed somewhat like Gunpowder." This fire was seemingly unnatural: as soon as it stopped in one place, "it began in another place, and thence to another," until the entire house was burned down, although the fire itself "flamed not." Some of the household of Joseph Cruttenden claimed to see a black bull in association with the fire. When Joseph Cruttenden and his wife relocate to a house offered to them by Colonel Busbridge, and their goods are transferred into it, the same misfortune before the house, and it was "fireth." Nothing could put out the fire, until the Goods were taken out, which made the fire "cease with little or no help." After this, no one would let Joseph Cruttenden and his wife into their houses, and the couple "abide under a Hut," wherein their goods are seemingly bewitched and "thrown upside down," including "Peuter-dishes, Knives, Brickbrats," which also strike their owners and two ministers who come to pray, although not during the length of prayers. One of these goods rises up and hits a passing thief as well. After these events, one of Joseph Cruttenden's servant girls comes to his wife, and tells her "the former story of the Womans Discourse," leading to the apprehension, examination, and searching of the old Woman (Anonymous 398), who was "formerly suspected to be a Witch." Once four ministers, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Weller, Mr. Bradshaw, and Mr. Gold "kept a Fast," Joseph Cruttenden's wife experiences "not of any trouble."(55) | The 55 same Night, as the Man and Woman lay in Bed, Dirt, and Dust, &c. was thrown at them, but they could not tell whence it came: They rise and Pray, during which that Disturbance ceases; some say they went to Bed again, but finding the same trouble they are forced to rise Tuesday about Noon, Dust, Dirt, and several things are thrown at them again() |