had caused the misfortune.  After this, she performed numerous cures, but would never receive money for them.  From harvest time to Christmas, she was fed by the Fairies, and eat no other victuals but theirs.  The narrator affirms, that, looking one day through the key-hole of the door of her chamber, he saw her eating; and that she gave him a piece of bread, which was the most delicious he ever tasted.  The Fairies always appeared to her in even numbers; never less than two, nor more than eight, at a time.  She had always a sufficient stock of salves and medicines, and yet neither made, nor purchased any; nor did she ever appear to be in want of money.  She, one day, gave a silver cup, containing about a quart, to the daughter of her mistress, a girl about four years old, to carry to her mother, who refused to receive it.  The narrator adds, that he had seen her dancing in the orchard among the trees, and that she informed him she was then dancing with the Fairies.  The report of the strange cures which she performed, soon attracted the attention of both ministers and magistrates.  The ministers endeavoured to persuade her, that the Fairies by which she was haunted, were evil spirits, and that she was under the delusion of the devil.  After they had left her, she was visited by the Fairies, while in great perplexity; who desired her to cause those, who termed them evil spirits, to read that place of scripture, First Epistle of John,, chap. iv. v. 1,—­Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, &c.  Though Anne Jefferies could not read, she produced a Bible folded down at this passage.  By the magistrates she was confined three months, without food, in Bodmin jail, and afterwards for some time in the house of Justice Tregeagle.  Before the constable appeared to apprehend her, she was visited by the Fairies, who informed her what was intended, and advised her to go with him.  When this account was given, on May 1, 1696, she was still alive; but refused to relate any particulars of her connection with the Fairies, or the occasion on which they deserted her, lest she should again fall under the cognizance of the magistrates.

Anne Jefferies’ Fairies were not altogether singular in maintaining their good character, in opposition to the received opinion of the church.  Aubrey and Lily, unquestionably judges in such matters, had a high opinion of these beings, if we may judge from the following succinct and business-like memorandum of a ghost-seer.  “Anno 1670.  Not far from Cirencester was an apparition.  Being demanded whether a good spirit or a bad, returned no answer, but disappeared with a curious perfume, and most melodious twang.  M.W.  Lilly believes it was a Fairie.  So Propertius,

  Omnia finierat; tenues secessit in auras,
  Mansit odor possis scire fuisse Deam!”
      AUBREY’S Miscellanies, p. 80.