The Arraignment and Execution of Agnes Browne, and Joan Vaughan or Varnham her daughter, who were both executed at Northampton on the 22nd of July last.

This Agnes Browne lived her life at Gilsborough in the county of Northampton. She was of poor parentage and poor education; as she was born to no good, for want of grace In this context, "grace" refers to divine favor or moral virtue. she was never in the way to receive any. She was always noted for being of an ill nature and wicked disposition—spiteful and malicious—and for many years before she died, she was both hated and feared among her neighbors. She had long been suspected in the town where she lived of that crime The crime of witchcraft. which afterwards proved true. This Agnes Browne had a daughter whose name was Joan Vaughan or Varnham, a maid original: "maide"; an unmarried woman. (or at least unmarried) as "gracious" The author is being sarcastic here, implying she was as wicked as her mother. as the mother; both of them were as far from grace as Heaven is from hell.

This Joan was so well brought up "under her mother’s elbow" Meaning she was raised closely following her mother's example. that she hanged with her for company "under her mother's nose" An idiomatic way of saying she was executed right alongside her mother.. But to the purpose: this Joan, one day happening into the company