Authors: Celia Rees
Witch Child (19 page)
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Testimony
These pages, written in a different hand, were found in the borders of the quilt
I am an unlettered woman, but I feel beholden to keep faith with her and finish her story (what I know of it).
She wanted to stay, but had no choice but for to go. They came straight from the Meeting House, guessing rightly that she would run like a vixen to her own home cover. We did what we could for her by way of food and clothing that would be fitting, for the nights were getting bitter cold and she was heading for wilderness parts.
They came in deputation, Reverend Johnson, Elias Cornwell, along with Nathaniel Clench and the constables and a crowd of others. John Rivers and Tobias stood ready with musket and sword, but Sarah forbade them to fight.
She and John told them that Mary has been and gone.
John and Sarah are well-respected, Sarah is well-connected to several leading families, and never a stain to her name. John likewise. The constables stood all undecided, looking to Nathaniel Clench at the head of them, and Sarah is related. Under his direction they would have gone away. But Reverend Johnson steps forward and orders them to search the place.
‘Search all you like,’ Sarah says to Johnson. ‘She’s not here.’
They
did
search, both houses, from eaves to root cellar. All except the borning room. They found nothing. So they come back again, demanding to enter where no man should be.
‘You’ll not pass.’ I stepped forward. ‘Not with him at any rate.’ They had a stranger with them. A withered stick of a man, coughing and spluttering blood in his kerchief. The mark of death is upon him. He ain’t long for this world. ‘He has the coughing sickness, like as not consumption. Would you have him breathe infection on another newborn? Go your ways, masters. There’s work to do here. Women’s work. When the babe is born, you can search all you want.’
I stood before them, hands bloodied. Behind me Rebekah was screaming in pain in good and earnest. The men flinched back, as well they might. Tobias steps up, John with him. They stood before the door, shoulder to shoulder. To get in, the men would have to go through them.
They went away, warning that they would be back.
Tobias stood guard until morning. By then the baby had come, and Mary was gone. John Rivers offered her his horse but she refused it, saying that where she was going a horse would be next to useless. He did what he could, seeing her safe out of the village and into the forest. From there she went on alone.
Rebekah’s had a girl child. She names her Mary Sarah, but the child will not be baptised here.
We are leaving, as soon as may be. Now the crying out has started, it will not stop. Cheated of one, they will go for others. Me and Jonah, like as not. I don’t reckon much on our chances, what with him a stranger and me a healer, and Jonah is inclined to agree. They might stay off John and Sarah, for a while at least, because of their standing, but there’s never any telling. Many a woman of wealth and position has swung from the gallows tree. Jonah is packing the wagon, we will go as soon as he has finished.
Sarah and John will come on with Rebekah and Tobias, as soon as Rebekah is well enough to travel. I counsel
no delay.
She showed me where her writings were hid, as I scribe this, I sew it in with the rest. When we leave, I will take her box and this quilt in it. One day, mayhap, she will find us and she can take back her story. Until that day comes, I will keep all safe. Then she will know how I kept faith.
We depart for Salem, no one stopping us, but think to go south from there. Jonah has heard of places where folk are freer to follow their own conscience, which is one of the reasons we crossed over the ocean in the first place. We will leave word for her, each place we go.
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Afterword
Since the discovery of these diaries work has been continuing to trace Mary Newbury and the other people in the account.
If you have any information regarding any of the individuals and families mentioned, please contact our website or e-mail Alison Ellman at [email protected].
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Celia Rees
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Celia Rees is one of Britain’s foremost writers for teenagers and her titles for Bloomsbury have enjoyed huge success.
Witch Child
is required reading in secondary schools up and down the country, and has been translated into over 25 languages. A former English teacher, Celia also has a degree in history, a strong interest in which is evident in her brilliantly researched books.
Sorceress
,
Pirates!
and
Sovay
have all met similar critical acclaim and are loved for their strong characters and skilfully plotted adventures. Her most recent book for Bloomsbury is
Sovay
, which was longlisted for the Carnegie Prize 2009. Celia Rees lives in Leamington Spa, with her husband and has a grown daughter.
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