1. 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.
2. 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.
3. "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.
4. 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.
5. 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."
6. 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.
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.
2. 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.
3. "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.
4. 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.
5. 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."
6. 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.