The visitation book shows that it was no uncommon thing to accuse a woman of being a scold in these times and the following written in 1602[1] throws a lurid light on the methods for removing the effects of a witch’s malice.

[Footnote 1:  The original is stuck in Calvert’s MS. Book of Folklore.]

“To cure an ill caste by any Witch putt upon any childe be y^t y^e evil eye, an overglent, spreeking, an ill birth touche or of a spittle boult but do as here given & alle shalle be overcome letting no evil rest upon y^m Take a childe so ill held & strike y^t seven times on y^e face & like upon y^e navel with y^e heart of a blacke cat then roast y^e heart & give of y^t to eat seven nights at bed meale & y^t shalle be well butt y^e cat must be seven years olde & y^e seventh dropped at birth otherwise y^t shalle faile to overcome any Witch spell soever ill worked y^e blood from such an heart laid to any witches dorepost or thrown over nighte upon her dorestep will cause a sore & great paine in her belly.”

In the period which includes the momentous defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) it is fitting to describe the beacons of Pickering and the neighbourhood that must have helped to spread the news to the inhabitants of Yorkshire of the coming of that “Invincible” fleet.  A contemporary manuscript book dated 1580 to 1590, and discovered by Mr J.G.  Constable, tells us how Pickering beacon, which was presumably situated on Beacon Hill opposite the castle, gave light to the neighbouring heights.

[Sidenote:  “Pickering Lythe 7 Beacons]

Pickering beacon giveth light to Setrington beacon, in the East Riding, and to Ampleforth beacon, in Rydall.  Seamer two beacons do give light to Pickering, Susfeld, in Whitby Strand, and Setterington beacon.  Waipnesse beacon, within the liberties of Scarborough, do give light to Muston Beacon, in the East Riding, and to the west of the beacons before named

“Charnell, three beacons, within the town of Scarborough adjoining to the castle, do give light to Waipnesse and Muston beacon.”

[Sidenote:  “Rydal 1 Beacon]

There is a beacon in Rydall called Ampleforthe beacon well repaired.  It taketh light from Pickering beacon.  It giveth light to the Sumclife beacon, in the Wapentake of Birdforth, three miles distant from it westward”

In 1598[1] the streets of Pickering are given as, Easte Gaite and Hallgarthe, Ungate, Birdgate, Borrowgate and Weste Gate.

[Footnote 1:  MS. book of Pickering Records in possession of the Rev. Arthur Hill of Thornton-le-dale.]

Two interesting monuments of this period are to be found in Brompton and Kirby-Moorside Churches.  The first is carved on stone in the north wall of the Church.  It reads:—­

“I.W. 1580.  E.W. 1547.  HEIR LIETH IAMES WESTROP WHO IN WARS TO HIS GREIT CHARGES SARVED OIN KYNG AND TOW QVENES WITH DV_{O}BE_{O}IENS AND WITH OWT RECVMPENS.”

The brass at Kirby-Moorside is to the memory of Lady Brooke and bears this verse as well as the inscription:—­