How did you do? Compare your transcription with the answer below.
Many thanks to Caroline Adams for her help. Her excellent palaeography workshops begin in January. Join in for more practice.
Presumptions against witches
They are moste comonly weeke wemen
They are such as are of malitious dispositions
They are those that vehemently seeke Revenge
The devill begins with them after much cursing
They use A kynde of Vehement Imprecation
They are most commonly pooer and very myserable
They are altogether Idle and will take noe paines
They are moste comonly deformed and evill favored
They are seldome without some strange marke
They use unaccustomed fashions in all their actions
They will alwaies have about them some toye
They use to carry stones, heirbes, clouts or knottes
They use to wreath and lapp up rages in strang sortes [tie up bundles of rags]
They wilbe in desolate places, seeking of strange hearbes
They have some extraordinary dogg or catt etc
They will deny and forswere moste mainfest matters
They are of Giltie conscience therefore doubtfull alwaies
Ther examynacons shall varie as often as they are examyned
They thinke every thinge prouffe against them
They will therfor deny trewthes not materiall
They Flatter most where they meane harme
They have noe power over them selves
They bewitche they knowe not when nor how
The use to meitt together and know not why
They are sumtymes marked where the devill hath bloud
They live in hatred of ther neabors
They are muche feared of the Common people
They feare Wonderfully the shedding of ther bloud
They will beg things seymyng not worth Askinge
They wilbe offended yf they be denied any thinge
They wilbe as Imperiti [ignorant] in Phisick with few medicines to heal all desases
They are never merry but alwaies discontented
They come into ther neabors company with dislike
They frequent seldome any pastymes or sportes
They go to churche and seyme hollie
They name god often but with apparant hipocracy
Ther countenance manifestes ther inwarde dissimulations
They will pray when they are bidden but with mumblinge wordes
They can seldome say the lordes prayere and beleife trewly
They shew assuredly ther prayers are without zeale
