 | Francis Grose - English language - 1787 - 380 pages
...kind of popular ordeal generally praclifed : for this, me muft be ftripped naked, and crofs bound, the .right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe : thus prepared,' me is thrown into a pond or river, in which, if guilty, me cannot fink; for having, by her compacl... | |
 | Samuel Bulfinch Emmons - Spiritualism - 1857 - 302 pages
...decisive proof of guilt. But swimming was the most infallible ordeal. They were stripped naked, and bound the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe. Being thus prepared, they were thrown into a pond or river. If guilty, they could not sink ; for having,... | |
 | Encyclopedias and dictionaries - 1816 - 852 pages
...another kind of popular ordeal generally pr.ior fed ; for this fhe was ftripped naked, and croftbotind, the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe. Thus prepared, flic was thrown into a pond or river, in which, if guilty, fhe could not. fink; for having, by her... | |
 | Anecdotes - 1826 - 372 pages
...popular ordeal generally practised. For this, the unhappy individual was stripped naked, and cross bound, the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb...in which, if guilty, she could not sink; for having by her compact with the devil, renounced the benefit of the water of baptism, that element in its turn... | |
 | 1822 - 382 pages
...criminals who acted as spies, had assembled round the pond, the witch was stripped naked, and cross bound, the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb...the right toe. Thus prepared, she was thrown into the water, in which, if guilty, she could not sink, but swim like a cork ; for having, by her compact... | |
 | William Oxberry - 1822 - 430 pages
...kind of popular" ordeal generally practised : for 'this she must be stripped naked, and cross bound /the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe ; thus prepared, she is thrown into a pond or river, in which, if guilty, she cannot sink; for having, by her compact with... | |
 | William Oxberry - English literature - 1824 - 384 pages
...kind of popular ordeal generally practised : for this she must be stripped naked, and cross-bound, the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe ; thus prepared, she is thrown into a pond or river, in which, if guilty, she cannot sink ; for having, by her compact with... | |
 | John Wade - Church - 1824 - 258 pages
...decisive proof of guilt. Swimming them is the most infallible ordeal : strip them naked and cross bound, the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe : thus prepared, throw them into a pond or river, in which, if guilty, they cannot sink ; for having, by their compact... | |
 | Jehoshaphat Aspin - England - 1825 - 330 pages
...reversed. The parties accused were thrown into deep water, with a rope about their waist, and cross bound, the right thumb to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe. If they sank, they were held innocent ; but if they swam, they were, without farther consideration,... | |
 | James Thacher - Quacks and quackery - 1831 - 252 pages
...nourishment, were deemed infallible signs of a witch. She was bound crosswise, the right thumb tied to the left toe, and the left thumb to the right toe ; in this condition she was cast into the water, if guilty she could not .sink, for having in her compact... | |
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... than three tears, and that only out of the left eye. This want of tears was, by the witch-finders, and, even by some judges, considered as a very substantial proof of guilt. 
