Yesterday I rested. Today, walking in the village, everyone gave me strange looks. The innkeeper, Gilbert Blexham, told me in a whisper that the village no longer believes me.

The village has had no problem with the Stones in two hundred years. More than one person told Gilbert “If the Vicar went up the hill and tried to kick a dog in its own house, the Vicar should expect the dog to bite back.”

I had made mistakes. First, calling out the girl Sussana Beckworth on false testimony. I was too hasty in accepting the other girl’s testimony. Second, I never expected there to be a demon in the stones. I thought it was just superstition. Had that affected the exorcism? Finally, claiming that the demon of the stones would have attacked me if it could. I had been too obviously frightened when I got back to the village for that to be believed.

Think. Think. I need to reestablish my authority here. But how?

I have heard rumours that the village council will try to make peace with the demon if I have angered it.

You do not make peace with demons. Making a pact with Satan is an offence against the Witchcraft Act on penalty of death. I cannot allow such an attempt by the village council. Making a charge against them without evidence would be serious, but letting it go forward even further undermines my position.

To head this off, I have sent a letter to the Bishop, both demanding an exorcist to deal with the demon and charging the village council with trying to make a pact with Satan.

A messenger arrived from the Bishop today. I’ve been summoned to Carlisle to explain myself. Apparently, the village council had sent a complaint to the Bishop before he received my letter. I don’t know the basis of the complaint at this point, but the messenger is insistent that I pack and leave immediately.

I asked the messenger to get Gilbert Blexham, the innkeeper. He might be able to tell me what was in the complaint. The messenger returned without the publican, but with an answer.

The council has formally stated that they think I have lost my mind. To this end, they claim:

• That I made baseless accusations about witchcraft against young women in the village that have been proven false simply to expand my authority as vicar;
• That I have falsely claimed there is a demon in the stones that tried to attack me. Everyone knows the standing stones up in the hills are just stones from the false religions of barbarian tribes of long ago, with no evidence of witchcraft;
• That in the hundreds of years of the village’s existence there have never been any instances of dealing with Satan, either in the village or at the stones;
• Finally, that I am making baseless accusations against the council itself to try to expand my authority in the village, claiming the council is making a pact with a demon in the stones. There is no demon, and everyone in the village will testify that the members of the council have not left the village in the last three weeks.

The bald faced lies made me apoplectic. I’m afraid I screamed at the messenger. That won’t help my case with the Bishop.

I’ve been told I must leave tomorrow.

Next - July 24, 1642 - Clarice Malison

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