c.1370, William Langland, Piers Plowman, 13.330–341
Ther is no lif that I lovye lastynge any while;
For tales that I telle no man trusteth to me.
And whan I may noght have the maistrie, swich malencolie I take
That I cacche the crampe, the cardiacle som tyme,
Or an ague in swich an angre, and som tyme a fevere
That taketh me al a twelvemonthe, til that I despise
Lechecraft of Oure Lord and leve on a wicche,
And seye that no clerc ne kan - ne Crist, as I leve -
To the Soutere of Southwerk, or of Shordych Dame Emme,
And seye that [God ne] Goddes word gaf me nevere boute,
But thorugh a charme hadde I chaunce and my chief heele.
1584, Reginald Scot, The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Retrieved 2008-05-14 from etymonline.com for "witch"
"At this day it is indifferent to say in the English tongue, 'she is a witch,' or 'she is a wise woman.'"
1995, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Darker Jewels: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain, Macmillan (→ISBN), page 160:
The senior witch lifted his head from his hands. “Czar, if we implore our gods again, they may be angry.” “Nonetheless, you will do it,” said Ivan, accepting no dispute. “You will do it, and I will hear what you say again.”
