William Spicer allegedly makes a habit of taunting an old woman, Anonymous 8, whenever he passes the Alms-House where she lives. He would "call her Witch, and tell her of her Buns; which did so enrage the Old Woman, that she threatened him with a Warrant." Anonymous 8 appealed to a Justice of the Peace, which frightened Spicer into humbling himself before her and promising to cease. Spicer nevertheless begins to experience fits a few days later.(1)

William Spicer allegedly suffers from strange and violent fits over the course of a fortnight. During these fits, he claimed to see Anonymous 8 "against the Wall in the same Room of the House where he was, and that sometimes she did knock her Fist at him; sometimes grin her Teeth, and sometimes laugh at him." He displays such strength while afflicted that three or four men are needed to hold him. After he drinks small beer, he frequently vomits pins; over thirty pins are counted by the time his fits cease.(1)

Mary Hill, a young eighteen year old of Beckington, Somerset allegedly throws up 200 crooked pins, after taking very ill "some time before Michaelmas last past was Twelve-Month." She is also seized by violent fits when she vomits. She spent much of her life "very much in the Neglect of her Duty to God." Her vomiting of crooked pins results in "a numerous Concourse of People to see her," whom she admits to being aware of in her fits.(74)

Jane Brooks of Shepton Mallet allegedly bewitches a young boy named Richard.(118-119)

Elizabeth Stile is accused of bewitching a young girl into having fits where she is unable to speak.(132)

Elizabeth Stile of Bayford is searched for witch's marks by Elizabeth Torwood, Catharine White, Mary Day, Mary Bolster, and Bridget Prankard. They find a mark that looks like a "kernel of beef" and decide, as a result, to prick it with a pin. They leave the pin in her mark to show others.(145)

Catherine Green of Brewham allegedly convinces Christian Green to give up her soul to the devil.(156-157)

Mary Hill allegedly has three encounters with an old woman (Anonymous 8) in the days leading up to her first fits. First, Hill demands a ring from Anonymous 8, and threatens her when she refuses. Second, Hill refuses to escort Anonymous 8 to the neighbouring town of Froom to find spinning work. Third, Hill refuses to give Anonymous 8 an apple. Hill's first fit occurs within three days of refusing Anonymous 8 the apple.(1)

Mary Hill allegedly suffers a pricking in her stomach the Sunday after refusing Anonymous 8 an apple. Monday at dinner, "something arose in her Throat, which was like to have Choaked her; and at the same time fell into Violent Fits, which held her till Nine or Ten a Clock at Night." The fits are so severe that four or five people are needed to restrain her. Hill claims to see Anonymous 8 standing against the wall grinning, and is seen to step around as if avoiding blows.(1-2)

Richard Jones hallucinates and sees Jane Brooks on the wall. When he yells this, Gibson who is present (along with Richard Jones's father) stabs the wall. When they later go see Jane Brooks, she is holding her bloody hand and claims to have been scratched by a great pin.(120-121)

An old woman, named Elizabeth Carrier, was "Apprehended by a Warrant from a Justice of Peace," in relation to the the young girl, Mary Hill's alleged fits and vomiting of crooked pins. Elizabeth Carrier is convicted by "the Oaths of two Persons," and is "committed to the County Goal."(74-75)

A fortnight after the old woman Elizabeth Carrier is apprehended, convicted, and committed to "the County Goal," Mary Hill "began to Vomit up Nails, Pieces of Nails, Pieces of Brass, Handles of Spoons." This continued "for the space of six Months and upwards."(75)

During Mary Hill's alleged fits where she vomits up crooked pins, she claims "there did appear to her an old Woman, Named Margery Coombes, and one Ann More." These two women are apprehended "by a Warrant from two Justices of the Peace," (Anonymous 404) and brought to a session "held at Brewton." There, they are "committed to the County Goal."(75)

Upon the apprehension of Elizabeth Carrier, Margery Coombes, and Ann More, all of whom are suspected to be the cause of Mary Hill's alleged fits, during which she vomits crooked pins, Elizabeth Carrier "dyed as soon as she came into Prison." Margery Coombes and Ann More "were Tryed at Tannton Assizes," by the Lord Chief Justice Holt. However, "for want of Evidence," the two old women "were acquitted by the Jury (Anonymous 405)."(75)

Susanna Belton and Ann Howard of Beckington come forth as "persons bound over to give Evidence," of the nature of Mary Hill's alleged fits. The two women attest that "they hookt out of the Navel of the said Mary Hill," and while Mary Hill "lay in a dead fit, crooked Pins, small Nails, and small pieces of Brass." These were produced before the Judge in court, and given to the Jury to examine as well. (75)

The witnesses, Mr. Frances Jesse and Mr. Christopher Brewer, declared, at a trial concerning the nature of the fits of Mary Hill, "that they had seen the said Mary Hill to Vomit up at several times Crooked Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brass." These were produced as evidence to the court. The two men further testified that "it was no imposture," a fact they were assured of as "they had searched her Mouth with their Fingers before she did Vomit."(75-76)

The minister of the parish of Beckington, Mr. John Humphreys, is called forth at the trial regarding the nature of Mary Hill's alleged fits, during which she vomits up close to 200 crooked nails. The minister testifies that "after having given [Mary Hill] a little small Beer," she would "Vomit up Crooked Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brass." Mr. John Humphreys determined that Mary Hill was not a cheat, when he "brought [her] to a Window, and having lookt into her Mouth, [...] searcht it with my Finger, as I did the Beer before she drank it." (76)

The gentleman, Esquire Player of Castle Cary, anonymously visits the minister Mr. John Humphreys in Beckington, inquiring after the maid Mary Hill, and her alleged fits, during which she is rumoured to vomit crooked pins. The gentleman proceeds to visit Mary Hill one morning, "but because beer was not given her when she wanted it, she lay in a very Deplorable condition," until two in the afternoon, some eight hours later. It was after that, "with much Difficulty," she brought up a piece of brass, which the gentleman kept. Her fit was characterized by "her Tongue swelled out of her Head," before vomiting. However, before her vomiting, the gentleman was assured of "the Truth of the thing," for he believed it impossible "for any Mortal to Counterfeit her miserable Condition." Further, the gentleman "searcht her Mouth himself," and held the bason into which she vomited. (76-77)

The minister Mr. John Humphreys suspects that Mary Hill's alleged fits, during which she vomits objects such as crooked nails, "were conveyed into her Body by some Diabolical Power." Mr. John Humphreys suspects that these diabolical powers visit her "in Bed at Night," as she always brought up in the morning, and "scarce did any thing in the Afternoon." Further, Mary Hill allegedly "always slept with her Mouth open," and could not be woken in her sleep. Finally, Mr. John Humphreys observed that if Mary Hill kept her mouth "close shut" at night, "the Vomiting of Nails ceased." Mary Hill further vomits at both a neighbours' house and Mr. Humphreys, not just her own house.(77-79)

Upon visiting the minister, Mr. John Humphreys, Mary Hill became ill in two hours, upon which immediately after "some Beer, she Vomited up a great board Nail," and "a great piece of Brace, which I saw followed with much Blood," causing Mr. Humphreys to advise a Woman (Anonymous 406) to "open her Mouth," and take "out as much Blood, as she could hold in the hollow of her hand." This further confirms Mr. John Humphreys' suspicions that Mary Hill is being plagued by "diabolical powers."(79)

After a trial at the Assizes relating to the nature of Mary Hill's alleged fits, during which she vomited crooked nails, Mary Hill "was turned home." She "grew worse than ever," vomiting not only nails, but "pieces of Glass, &c." This culminates in a violent fit, where "she was swelled to an extraordinary bigness," where being given beer, "she throws up several Pieces of Bread and Butter." The minister Mr. John Humphreys determines these to be "besmeared with a Poysonous matter," identified as "white Mercury."(79)

Mr. John Humphreys comes to pray with Mary Hill upon the culmination of her fits to one "Violent Fit," where she vomited "several Pieces of Bread and Butter, besmeared with a Poysonous matter, [...] judged to be white Mercury." Mr. John Humphreys finds himself "compassionating the Deplorableness of her Condition," and takes her into his own home, "where in some short time, the Vomiting ceased," although her fits continued for "some space." After these passed, Mary Hill "has been for a considerable time last past in very good health."(79)

The man, Mr. Edmund Ansty, a shopkeeper, was returning home from the Woodbery-Hil Fair on "a good Horse," when he was overtaken "by a dark night" about a dozen miles from his home. However, Mr. Edmund Ansty resolved to continue until he reached his house, when suddenly, "his Horse rushed very violently with him against one side of the Bank," all the while "snorting and trembling very much," so that he could not control the horse. They went "nearer to the Bushes," and Mr. Edmund Ansty heard "the Hedges crack with a dismal noise." He perceived the, in front of him, "a large Circle of a duskish light, about the bigness of a very large Wheel, and in it he perfectly saw the proportion of a huge Bear, as if it had been by day-light." This apparition (Anonymous 173) passed by him, looking "gashfully at him, shewing a pair of very large flaming Eyes." The horse then "sprung into the road," and galloped home so quickly, that there was no way to "rein him in," and Mr. Edmund Ansty "had much ado to keep the Saddle."(199-201)

After seen an apparition of a fair of fairies (Anonymous 174) in Blackdown Hills, a man (Anonymous 425) "found himself in pain," and returns to his home in Combe St. Nicholas. When he arrived, "a Lameness seized him, all on one side," which continued until he died, some twenty years later. He would give "an Account to any that inquired of this Accicident" until his death.(209)

Mary Hill allegedly has another day of violent fits following the first, in which she again sees an apparition of Anonymous 8. This time, she recognizes the old woman, and accuses her of being "the Person that had bewitcht her."(1-2)

Mary HIll allegedly begins throwing up strange objects during her fits. It begins with crooked pins, progresses to nails and pins, and within a month her vomiting includes "Nails again, and Handles of Spoons, both of Pewter and Brass; several pieces of Iron, Lead, and Tin, with several clusters of Crooked Pins; some tied with Yarn, and some with Thread, with abundance of Blood between." The final catalog also includes window lead, pieces of lump lead, wire and large board nails.(2)

Mary Hill's afflictions move the townspeople to concern, and they cause Anonymous 8 to be brought near Hill's home without HIll's knowledge. A crowd of 100 gathers outside the house and Hill is brought outside, immediately falling into a series of strong fits in which "two or three men were scarce able to hold her."(2)

Mary Hill is brought up the hill by the church by a crowd of townsfolk while in the throes of a fit and must be held in a chair by four men. Anonymous 8 is brought near her and allegedly "mounted up over their Heads into the Air; but the men, and others standing by, caught hold of her Legs, and pulled her down again."(2)

A Justice of the Peace orders Anonymous 8 be searched by a Jury of Women. The searchers (Anonymous 167) allegedly find several purple marks on her body that, when pricked with a sharp needle, do not cause her pain. The Jury of Women swears under oath that Anonymous 8 also has "other Marks and Tokens of a Witch" on her body. On the strength of their testimony, Anonymous 8 is imprisoned until she can be tried at the next assizes.(2)

Anonymous 8 is thrown in the river near the town with her legs bound to see whether she will sink. She is allegedly seen to "lie upon her Back, and did Swim like a piece of Cork" despite her best efforts to pull herself under the surface. This test is repeated twice more, with increasing numbers of observers, until over 200 have seen it for themselves. A "Lusty young Woman" is also thrown into the water as a contrast and seen to sink immediately; she must be rescued from drowning.(2)

Mary Hill's fits allegedly continue even after Anonymous 8's apprehension. She is visited by ministers who pray over her but cannot improve her condition or stop her from vomiting nails and spoon handles. She remains an object of pity.(2)