Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-13
MISCELLANY Y.
LORD HOLT AND THE WITCH.

Ill MS Lives vi the Clllel JUSTICES Ol C4llS-
land, Lord Campbell tells the following an
ecdotes of Lord Holt, an eminent Judge
who hourished in the seventeenth century.
1t seems that in his youth he was a wild
spark. The Biographer says
Having prolonged one of his unlicensed
rambles round the country, in company
with some associates as reckless as him.
self, until their purses were all utterly ex-
hausted, it was determined, after di-
vers consultations how to proceed, that
they should part company, and try to
make their way singly, each by the exer-
else Of his individual wits Holt, pursuing
his separate route, came to little inn Of
struggling village, and, putting the best face
upon the matter, commended his horse to
the attentions of the hostler, and boldly be-
spoke the best supper and bed the house
afforded Strolling into the kitchen, he OBJ
served there the daughter of the landlady
"a girl of about thirteen years of age
shiyering with fit of the ague; and on in
quiring of her mother how long she had been
all, he was told nearly year, and this in
spite of all the assistance that could be had
for her from physicians, at an expense by
which the poor widow declared she had
been half ruined. Shaking his head With
much gravity at the mention of the doctors,
he babe her be under no further concern,
for she might assure herself her daughter
should never have another fit. Then, scrawl-
ing few Greek characters upon scrap of
parchment, and rolling it carefully up, he
directed that it should be bound upon the
girls wrist and remain there till she was
well. BY good luck, or possibly from the
effect of Imagination, the ague returned no
more-at least during week for which
Holt remained their guest. At the end of
that time, having demanded his bill with as
much confidence as if his pockets were lin
ed with locobuses, the delighted hostess in
stead OF asking payment, bewailed her ma
bility 10 pay him as she ought for the WON
derful cure he had achieved, and her ill-for-
tune limo having lighted on him ten months
sooner, which would have saved her an out
Jay Of some forty pounds. Her guest con-
descended, after much entreaty, to set off
against his week entertainment the valua-
bic service he had rendered, and wendell
merrily on his way. The sequel of the story
goes on to relate that, when presiding some
forty Years afterwards at the assizes of the
same county, a wretched, decrepit old woman
was indicted before him for withcraft, and
charged with being in possession of spell
which gave her power to spread diseases
among the cattle, or cure those that were
diseased. The chiefjustice desired that this
formidable implement of sorcery might be
handed up to him; and there, enveloped in
many folds of dirty linen, he found the iden-
teal piece Of parchment with which he had
himself played the wizard before. The
mystery was forthwith expounded to the
Jury it agreed with the story previously
told by the prisoner; the poor creature was
instantly acquitted, and her guests long
standing debt amply discharged"
"Holt having on one occasion committed
religious fanatic called John Atkins, to
take his trial for seditious language, a man
named Lacy, another Of the fraternity, call
ed at the chief Justices house in Bedford
Row, and desired to see him. Serpam.--
My Lord is unwell to day, and cannot see
company Lacy, Gin very solemn tone. }
'AcQuaint your master that must see him,
for bring message to him from the Lord
God The chief justice, having ordered
Lacy in and demanded his business was thus
addressed: come to you prophet from
the Lord God, who has sent me to thee; and
would have thee grant nolie prOsequi for
John Atkins, his servant whom thou has
sent to prison. Holt, G. j, Thou art a
false prophet and lying knave. If the
Lord God had sent thee, it would have been
to the Attorney General, for he knows that
it belongeth not to the chief justice to grant
a nOlie prosequi +; but |, as chief justice, Can
grant warrant to commit thee to bear him
company. This was immediately done
and both prophets were convicted and pun,
ished."