Susanna Martin
Susanna Martin was a witch who dwell in Amesbury
With brilliant eye and salty tongue she worked her sorcery
And when into judges' court the sheriffs brought her hither
The lilacs drooped as she passed by
And then were seen to wither.
A witch she was though trig and neat with comely head held high
It did not seem that one as she with Satan so would vie
And when in court the afflicted ones proclaimed her evil ways
She laughed alaoud and boldly then
Met Cotton Master's gaze.
"Who hath bewitched these maids?" he asked, and strong was her reply
"If the be dealing in black arts, ye know as well as I."
And then the stricken ones made moan as she approached near
They saw her shape upon the beam
So none could doubt 'twas there.
The neighbours 'round swore to the truth of her Satanic powers
That she could fly o'er land and stream and come dry-shod through showers
At night 'twas said she had appeared a cat of fearsome mien
"Avoid, She-Devil!" they had cried
To keep their spirits clean
The spectral evidence was weighed, then stern the parson spoke
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, 'tis written in the book."
Susanna Martin, so accused, spoke with flaming eyes
"I scorn these things, for they are nought
But filthy gossips' lies."
Now those bewitched, they cried her out, and loud their voice did ring
They saw a bird above her head, an evil yellow thing
And so, beneath a summer sky, Susanna Martin died
And still in scorn, she faced the rope
Her comely head up high.
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