The Arraignment, Conviction, and Execution of one Arthur Bill

of Raunds in the County of Northampton.

This Arthur Bill, a wretched, poor man, both in his circumstances and his mind, lived in a town called Raunds in the county aforesaid. He was begotten and born of parents who were both witches, and he (like a "gracious" child The author uses "gracious" ironically here to suggest that Bill was "dutiful" only in following his parents' evil example.) would not deviate from his nature, nor allow himself to stray from his father’s wicked counsel, but carefully followed the steps that had been devilishly taught to him.

This Arthur Bill was accused of bewitching to death the body of one Martha Aspine, alias James original: "Ieames." The term "alias" was commonly used in legal documents to indicate a person was known by more than one surname., the daughter of Edward Aspine of the same town. But because this matter remained doubtful and could not be clearly proven against him original: "cleerely tryed upon him"—even though he was already strongly suspected of bewitching various...