Susanna Martin

Susanna Martin was a witch who dwelt in Amesbury,
with brilliant eye and saucy tongue she worked her sorcery
and when into the judges court the sheriffs brought her hither,
the lilacs drooped as she passed by
and then were seen to wither.
A witch she was, though trim and neat with comely head held high,
it did not seem that one as she with Satan so would vie
and when in court when the afflicted ones proclaimed her evil ways
she laughed aloud and boldly then,
met Cotton Mathers gaze.
"Who hath bewitched these maids" he asked and strong was her reply
"If they be dealing in black arts ye know as well as I"
and then the stricken ones made moan as she approached near,
they saw her shaped upon the beam so none could doubt 'twas there.
The neighbors 'round swore to the truth of her Satanic powers,
that she could fly o'er land and stream and come dry shod through showers,
at night 'twas said she had appeared a cat of fearsome mien,
"avoid she-devil" they had cried
to keep their spirits clean.
The spectral evidence was weighed then stern the parson spoke
"thou shalt not suffer a witch to live 'tis written in the Book"
Susanna Martin so accused spoke with flaming eyes
"I scorn these things for they are naught but filthy gossips lies."
Now those bewitched they cried her out and loud their voice did ring,
they saw a bird above her head an evil yellow thing
and so beneath a summer sky Susanna Martin died
and still in scorn she faced the rope,
her comely head held high.