perswade this Examinate not to kill or hurt the sayd Robert Nutter for which perswasion the sayd Loomeshaws Wife had like to haue killed the sayd Redfearne but that one M. Baldwyn the late Schoole-maister at Coulne did by his learning stay the sayd Loomeshaws wife and therefore had a Capon from Redfearne And this Examinate further sayth that she thinketh the sayd Loomeshaws wife and lane Boothman did what they could to kill the sayd Robert Nutter as well as this Examinate did The Examination of ELIZABETH SOTHERNES alias OLD DEMBDIKE taken at the Fence in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster the day and yeare aforesaid Before ROGER NOWEL Esquire one of the Kings Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the said Countie against ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX THe said Elizabeth Southernes saith vpon her Examination that about halfe a yeare before Robert Nutter died as this Examinate thinketh this Examinate went to the house of Thomas Redfearne which was about Mid-sommer as this Examinate remembreth it And there within three yards of the East end of the said house shee saw the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox and Anne Redferne wife of the said Thomas Redferne and Daughter of the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox the one on the one side of the Ditch and the other on the other and two Pictures of Clay or Marle lying by them and the third Picture the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox was making and the said Anne Redferne her said Daughter wrought her Clay or Marle to make the third picture withall And this Examinate passing by them the said Spirit called Tibb in the shape of a black Cat appeared vnto her this Examinate and said turne back againe and doe as they doe To whom this Examinate said what are they doing whereunto the said Spirit said they are making three Pictures whereupon she asked whose pictures they were whereunto the said Spirit said they are the pictures of Christopher Nutter Robert Nutter and Marie wife of the said Robert Nutter But this Examinate denying to goe back to helpe them to make the Pictures aforesaid the said Spirit seeming to be angrie therefore shoue or pushed this Examinate into the ditch and so shed the Milke which this Examinate had in a Can or Kit and so thereupon the Spirit at that time vanished out of this Examinates sight But presently after that the said Spirit appeared to this Examinate againe in the shape of a Hare and so went with her about a quarter of a mile but said nothing to this Examinate nor shee to it The Examination and euidence of IAMES ROBINSON taken the day and yeare aforesaid Before ROGER NOWEL Esquire aforesaid against ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX Prisoner at the Barre as followeth viz. THe said Examinate saith that about sixe yeares agoe Anne Whittle alias Chattox was hired by this Examinates wife to card wooll and so vpon a Friday and Saturday shee came and carded wooll with this Examinates wife and so the Munday then next after shee came likewise to card and this Examinates wife hauing newly tunned drinke into Stands which stood by the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox and the said Anne Whittle taking a Dish or Cup and drawing drinke seuerall times and so neuer after that time for some eight or nine weekes they could haue any drinke but spoiled and as this Examinate thinketh was by the meanes of the said Chattox And further he saith that the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox and Anne Redferne her said Daughter are commonly reputed and reported to bee Witches And hee also saith that about some eighteene yeares agoe he dwelled with one Robert Nutter the elder of Pendle aforesaid And that yong Robert Nutter who dwelled with his Grand-father in the Sommer time he fell sicke and in his said sicknesse hee did seuerall times complaine that hee had harme by them and this Examinate asking him what hee meant by that word Them He said that he verily thought that the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox and the said Redfernes wife had bewitched him and the said Robert Nutter shortly after being to goe with his then Master called Sir Richard Shattleworth into Wales this Examinate heard him say before his then going vnto the said Thomas Redferne that if euer he came againe he would get his Father to put the said Redferne out of his house or he himselfe would pull it downe to whom the said Redferne replyed saying when you come back againe you will be in a better minde but he neuer came back againe but died before Candlemas in Cheshire as he was comming homeward Since the voluntarie confession and examination of a Witch doth exceede all other euidence I spare to trouble you with a multitude of Examinations or Depositions of any other witnesses by reason this bloudie fact for the Murder of Robert Nutter vpon so small an occasion as to threaten to take away his owne land from such as were not worthie to inhabite or dwell vpon it is now made by that which you haue alreadie heard so apparant as no indifferent man will question it or rest vnsatisfied I shall now proceede to set forth vnto you the rest of her actions remaining vpon Record And how dangerous it was for any man to liue neere this people to giue them any occasion of offence I leaue it to your good consideration The Examination and voluntarie Confession of ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX taken at the Fence in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster the second day of Aprill Anno Regni Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae decimo Scotiae xlv Before ROGER NOVVEL Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the Countie of Lancaster SHe the said Examinate saith That shee was sent for by the wife of Iohn Moore to helpe drinke that was forspoken or bewitched at which time shee vsed this Prayer for the amending of it viz. A Charme Three Biters hast thou bitten The Hart ill Eye ill Tonge Three bitter shall be thy Boote Father Sonne and Holy Ghost a Gods name Fiue Pater-nosters fiue Auies and a Creede In worship of fiue wounds of our Lord. After which time that this Examinate had vsed these prayers and amended her drinke the said Moeres wife did chide this Examinate and was grieued at her And thereupon this Examinate called for her Deuill Fancie and bad him goe bite a browne Cow of the said Moores by the head and make the Cow goe madde and the Deuill then in the likenesse of a browne Dogge went to the said Cow and bit her which Cow went madde accordingly and died within six weekes next after or thereabouts Also this Examinate saith That shee perceiuing Anthonie Nutter of Pendle to fauour Elizabeth Sothernes alias Dembdike she this Examinate called Fancie to her who appeared like a man and bad him goe kill a Cow of the said Anthonies which the said Deuill did and that Cow died also And further this Examinate saith That the Deuill
that shee bewitched vnto death one Childers wife and her Daughter and that shee the said Pearsons wife is as ill as shee The Examination of IENNET BOOTH of Paddiham in the Countie of Lancaster the ninth day of August 1612. Before NICHOLAS BANNESTER Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster IEnnet the wife of Iames Booth of Paddiham vpon her oath saith That the Friday next after the said Pearsons wife was committed to the Gaole at Lancaster this Examinate was carding in the said Pearsons house hauing a little child with her and willed the said Margerie to giue her a little Milke to make her said child a little meat who fetcht this Examinate some and put it in a pan this examinat meaning to set it on the fire found the said fire very ill and taking vp a stick that lay by her and brake it in three or foure peeces and laid vpon the coales to kindle the same then set the pan and milke on the fire and when the milke was boild to this Examinates content she tooke the pan wherein the milke was off the said fire and with all vnder the bottome of the same there came a Toade or a thing very like a Toade and to this Examinates thinking came out of the fire together with the said Pan and vnder the bottome of the same and that the said Margerie did carrie the said Toade out of the said house in a paire of tonges But what shee the said Margerie did therewith this Examinate knoweth not After this were diuers witnesses examined against her in open Court viua voce to proue the death of the Mare and diuers other vild and odious practises by her committed who vpon their Examinations made it so apparant to the Iurie as there was no question But because the fact is of no great importance in respect her life is not in question by this Indictment and the Depositions and examinations are many I leaue to trouble you with any more of them for being found guiltie of this offence the penaltie of the Law is as much as her good Neighbours doe require which is to be deliuered from the companie of such a dangerous wicked and malicious Witch ⸫ THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of ISABEL ROBEY in the Countie of Lancaster for Witch-craft vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August 1612. At the Assizes and generall Gaole-deliuery holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assizes at Lancaster Isabel Robey THus at one time may you behold Witches of all sorts from many places in this Countie of Lancaster which now may lawfully bee said to abound asmuch in Witches of diuers kindes as Seminaries Iesuites and Papists Here then is the last that came to act her part in this lamentable and wofull Tragedie wherein in his Maiestie hath lost somany Subjects Mothers their Children Fathers their Friends and Kinsfolkes the like whereof of hath not beene set forth in any age What hath the Kings Maiestie written and published in his Daemonologie by way of premonition and preuention which hath not here by the first or last beene executed put in practise or discouered What Witches haue euer vpon their Arraignement and Trial made such open liberall and voluntarie declarations of their liues and such confessions of their offences The manner of their attempts and their bloudie practises their meetings consultations and what not Therefore I shall now conclude with this Isabel Robey who is now come to her triall This Isabel Robey Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster being brought to the Barre before the great Seat of Iustice was there according to the former order and course Indicted and Arraigned for that shee Felloniously had practised exercised and vsed her Deuilish and wicked Artes called Witchcrafts Inchantmnnts Charmes and Sorceries Vpon her Arraignment to this Indictment she pleaded not guiltie and for the triall of her life put her selfe vpon God and her Countrie So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of life and death stand charged with her as with others The Euidence against Isabel Robey Prisoner at the Barre The Examination of PETER CHADDOCK of Windle in the Countie of Lancaster Taken at Windle aforesaid the 12. day of Iuly 1612. Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. decimo Scotiae xlv Before Sir THOMAS GERRARD Knight and Barronet One of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the said Countie THe said Examinate vpon his Oath saith That before his Marriage hee heard say that the said Isabel Robey was not pleased that hee should marrie his now wife whereupon this Examinate called the said Isabel Witch and said that hee did not care for her Then within two dayes next after this Examinate was sore pained in his bones And this Examinate hauing occasion to meete Master Iohn Hawarden at Peaseley Crosse wished one Thomas Lyon to goe thither with him which they both did so but as they came home-wards they both were in euill case But within a short time after this Examinate and the said Thomas Lyon were both very well amended And this Examinate further saith that about foure yeares last past his now wife was angrie with the said Isabel shee then being in his house and his said Wife thereupon went out of the house and presently after that the said Isabel went likewise out of the house not well pleased as this Examinate then did thinke and presently after vpon the same day this Examinate with his said wife working in the Hay a paine and a starknesse fell into the necke of this Examinat which grieued him very whereupon this Examinate sent to one Iames a Glouer which then dwelt in Windle and desired him to pray for him and within foure or fiue dayes next after this Examinate did mend very well Neuerthelesse this Examinate during the same time was very sore pained and so thirstie withall and hot within his body that hee would haue giuen any thing hee had to haue slaked his thirst hauing drinke enough in the house and yet could not drinke vntill the time that the said Iames the Glouer came to him and this Examinate then said before the said Glouer I would to God that I could drinke where upon the said Glouer said to this Examinate take that drinke and in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost drinke it saying The Deuill and Witches are not able to preuaile against GOD and his Word whereupon this Examinate then tooke the glasse of drinke and did drinke it all and afterwards mended very well and so did continue in good health vntill our Ladie day in Lent was twelue moneth or thereabouts since which time this Examinate saith that hee hath beene sore pained with great warch in his bones and all his limmes and so yet continueth and this Examinate further saith that his said warch and paine came to him rather by meanes of the said Isabel Robey then otherwise as he verily thinketh
were gotten on Horse-back like vnto foales some of one colour some of an other and the said Prestons wife was the last And when shee got on Horse-back they all presently vanished out of this Examinates sight And before their said parting away they all appointed to meete at the said Prestons wifes house that day twelue Moneths at which time the said Prestons wife promised to make them a great feast and if they had occasion to meete in the meane time then should warning be giuen that they all should meet vpon Romlesmoore The Examination and Euidence of ELIZABETH DEVICE Mother of the said IAMES DEVICE Against KATHERINE HEWYT alias MOVLD-HEELES Prisoner at the Barre vpon her Arraignement and Triall taken the day and yeare aforesaid viz. THis Examinate vpon her oath confesseth that vpon Good-Friday last there dyned at this Examinates house which she hath said are Witches and verily thinketh to bee Witches such as the said Iames Deuice hath formerly spoken of amongst which was Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles now Prisoner at the Barre and shee also saith that at their meeting on Good-Friday at Malkin-Tower aforesaid the said Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles and Alice Gray did confesse they had killed a child of Foulds of Colne called Anne Foulds and had gotten hold of an other And shee further saith the said Katherine Hewyt with all the rest there gaue her consent with the said Prestons wife for the murder of Master Lister The Examination and Euidence of IENNET DEVICE Against KATHERINE HEWYT alias MOVLD-HEELES Prisoner at the Barre THe said Examinate saith That vpon Good-Friday last there was about twentie persons where of two were men to this Examinates remembrance at her said Grand-mothers house called Malkin-Tower aforesaid about twelue of the clock All which persons this Examinates said mother told her were Witches and that shee knoweth the names of sixe of the said Witches Then was the said Iennet Deuice commanded by his Lordship to finde and point out the said Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles amongst all the rest of the said Women whereupon shee went and tooke the said Katherine Hewyt by the hand Accused her to bee one and told her in what place shee sate at the feast at Malkin-Tower at the great Assembly of the Witches and who sate next her what conference they had and all the rest of their proceedings at large without any manner of contrarietie Being demanded further by his Lordship whether Ioane a Downe were at that Feast and meeting or no shee alleaged shee knew no such woman to be there neither did shee euer heare her name If this were not an Honorable meanes to trie the accusation against them let all the World vpon due examination giue iudgement of it And here I leaue her the last of this companie to the Verdict of the Gentlemen of the Iurie of life and death as hereafter shall appeare Heere the Iurie of Life and Death hauing spent the most part of the day in due consideration of their offences Returned into the Court to deliuer vp their Verdict against them as followeth The Verdict of Life and Death WHo vpon their Oathes found Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierley and Iane Southworth not guiltie of the offence of Witch-craft conteyned in the Indictment against them Anne Redferne guiltie of the fellonie murder conteyned in the Indictment against her Alice Nutter guiltie of the fellonie and murder conteyned in the Indictment against her And Katherine Hewyt guiltie of the fellonie murder conteyned in the Indictment against her Whereupon Master Couell was commanded by the Court to take away the Prisoners Conuicted and to bring forth Iohn Bulcocke Iane Bulcocke his mother and Alizon Deuice Prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster to receiue their Trialls Who were brought to their Arraignement and Triall as hereafter followeth THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of IOHN BVLCOCK and IANE BVLCOCK his mother wife of Câ—â—ISTOPHER BVLCOCK of the Mosse-end in the Countie of Lancaster for Witch-craft vpon Wednesday in the after-noone the nineteenth of August 1612. At the Assizes and generall Gaole deliuery holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assizes at Lancaster John Bulcock and Jane Bulcock his mother IF there were nothing to charge these Prisoners withall whom now you may behold vpon their Arraignement and Triall but their poasting in haste to the great Assembly at Malking-Tower there to aduise and consult amongst the Witches what were to bee done to set at liberty the Witches in the Castle at Lancaster Ioyne with Iennet Preston for the murder of Master Lister and such like wicked diuellish practises It were sufficient to accuse them for Witches to bring their liues to a lawfull Triall But amongst all the Witches in this company there is not a more fearefull and diuellish Act committed and voluntarily confessed by any of them comparable to this vnder the degree of Murder which impudently now at the Barre hauing formerly confessed they forsweare swearing they were neuer at the great assembly at Malking Tower although the very Witches that were present in that action with them iustifie maintaine and sweare the same to be true against them Crying out in very violent outragious manner euen to the gallowes where they died impenitent for any thing we know because they died silent in the particulars These of all others were the most desperate wretches void of all feare or grace in all this Packe Their offences not much inferiour to Murther for which you shall heare what matter of Record wee haue against them and whether they be worthie to continue we leaue it to the good consideration of the Iury. The said Iohn Bulcock and Iane Bulcock his mother Prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster being brought to the Barre before the great Seat of Iustice were there according to the former order and course Indicted and Arraigned for that they felloniously had practised exercised and vsed their diuellish wicked Arts called Witchcrafts Inchantments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon the body of Iennet Deane so as the body of the said Iennet Deane by force of the said Witchcrafts wasted and consumed and after she the said Iennet became madde Contra formam Statuti c. Et Contra Pacem c. Vpon their Arraignement to this Indictment they pleaded not guiltie and for the triall of their liues put themselues vpon God and their Countrey So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death stand charged with them as with others The Euidence against Iohn Bulcock and Iane Bulcock his mother Prisoners at the Barre The Examination of IAMES DEVICE taken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill aforesaid Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster Against IOHN BVLCOCK and IANE BVLCOCK his mother THis Examinate saith That vpon Good-Friday about twelue of the clocke in the day time there dined in this Examinates said Mothers house a
Regni Regis Iacobi Angliae Decimo ac Scotie Quadragesimo quinto Before William Sandes Maior of the Borrough towne of Lancaster Iames Anderton of Clayton one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the same County and Thomas Cowell one of his Maiesties Coroners in the sayd Countie of Lancaster Viz. FIrst the sayd Anne Whittle alias Chattox sayth that about foureteene yeares past she entered through the wicked perswasions and counsell of Elizabeth Southerns alias Demdike and was seduced to condescent agree to become subiect vnto that diuelish abhominable profession of Witchcraft Soone after which the Deuill appeared vnto her in the liknes of a Man about midnight at the house of the sayd Demdike and therevpon the sayd Demdike and shee went foorth of the said house vnto him wherevpon the said wicked Spirit mooued this Examinate that she would become his Subiect and giue her Soule vnto him the which at first she refused to assent vnto but after by the great perswasions made by the sayd Demdike shee yeelded to be at his commaundement and appoyntment wherevpon the sayd wicked Spirit then sayd vnto her that hee must haue one part of her body for him to sucke vpon the which shee denyed then to graunt vnto him and withall asked him what part of her body hee would haue for that vse who said hee would haue a place of her right side neere to her ribbes for him to sucke vpon whereunto shee assented And she further sayth that at the same time there was a thing in the likenes of a spotted Bitch that came with the sayd Spirit vnto the sayd Demdike which then did speake vnto her in this Examinates hearing and sayd that she should haue Gould Siluer and worldly Wealth at her will And at the same time she saith there was victuals viz. Flesh Butter Cheese Bread and Drinke and bidde them eate enough And after their eating the Deuill called Fancie and the other Spirit calling himselfe Tibbe carried the remnant away And she sayeth that although they did eate they were neuer the fuller nor better for the same and that at their said Banquet the said Spirits gaue them light to see what they did although they neyther had fire nor Candle light and that they were both shee Spirites and Diuels And being further examined how many sundry Persons haue been bewitched to death and by whom they were so bewitched She sayth that one Robert Nuter late of the Greene-head in Pendle was bewitched by this Examinate the said Demdike and Widdow Lomshawe late of Burneley now deceased And she further sayth that the said Demdike shewed her that she had bewitched to death Richard Ashton Sonne of Richard Ashton of Downeham Esquire The Examination of Alizon Deuice of the Forrest of Pendle in the County of Lancaster Spinster taken at Reade in the said Countie of Lancaster the xiij day of March Anno Regni Jacobi Angliae c. Nono et Scotiae xlv Before Roger Nowell of Reade aforesayd Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the sayd Countie against Elizabeth Sowtherns alias Demdike her Graund-mother Viz. THe sayd Alizon Deuice sayth that about two yeares agon her Graund-mother called Elizabeth Sowtherns alias old Demdike did sundry times in going or walking togeather as they went begging perswade and aduise this Examinate to let a Deuill or Familiar appeare vnto her and that shee this Examinate would let him sucke at some part of her and shee might haue and doe what shee would And she further sayth that one Iohn Nutter of the Bulhole in Pendle aforesaid had a Cow which was sicke requested this examinats Grand-mother to amend the said Cow and her said Graund-mother said she would and so her said Graund-mother about ten of the clocke in the night desired this examinate to lead her foorth which this Examinate did being then blind and her Graund-mother did remaine about halfe an houre foorth and this Examinates sister did fetch her in againe but what she did when she was so foorth this Examinate cannot tell But the next morning this Examinate heard that the sayd Cow was dead And this Examinate verily thinketh that her sayd Graund-mother did bewitch the sayd Cow to death And further this Examinate sayth that about two yeares agon this Examinate hauing gotten a Piggin full of blew Milke by begging brought it into the house of her Graund-mother where this Examinate going foorth presently and staying about halfe an houre there was Butter to the quantity of a quarterne of a pound in the said milke and the quantitie of the said milke still remayning and her Graund-mother had no Butter in the house when this Examinate went foorth duering which time this Examinates Graund-mother still lay in her bed And further this Examinate sayth that Richord Baldwin of Weethead within the Forrest of Pendle about 2. yeeres agoe fell out with this Examinates Graund-mother so would not let her come vpon his Land and about foure or fiue dayes then next after her said Graund-mother did request this Examinate to lead her foorth about ten of the clocke in the night which this Examinate accordingly did and she stayed foorth then about an houre and this Examinates sister fetched her in againe And this Examinate heard the next morning that a woman Child of the sayd Richard Baldwins was fallen sicke and as this Examinate did then heare the sayd Child did languish afterwards by the space of a yeare or thereaboutes and dyed And this Examinate verily thinketh that her said Graund-mother did bewitch the sayd Child to death And further this Examinate sayth that she heard her sayd Graund-mother say presently after her falling out with the sayd Baldwin shee would pray for the sayd Baldwin both still and loude and this Examinate heard her cursse the sayd Baldwin sundry times The Examination of Iames Deuice of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Labourer taken the 27. day of April Annoque Regni Regis Iacobi Anglia c. Decimo ac Scotie Quadragesimo quinto Before Roger Nowell and Nicholas Banister Esq two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the sayd Countie THE sayd Examinate Iames Deuice sayth that about a month agoe as this Examinate was comming towards his Mothers house and at day-gate of the same night this Examinate mette a browne Dogge comming from his Graund-mothers house about tenne Roodes distant from the same house and about two or three nights after that this Examinate heard a voyce of a great number of Children screiking and crying pittifully about day-light gate and likewise about ten Roodes distant of this Examinates sayd Graund-mothers house And about fiue nights then next following presently after daylight within 20. Roodes of the sayd Elizabeth Sowtherns house he heard a foule yelling like vnto a great number of Cattes but what they were this Examinate cannot tell And he further sayth that about three nights after that about midnight of the same there came a thing and
said Iennet Bierley who met this Examinate at a place called the Two Brigges first in her owne shape and afterwards in the likenesse of a blacke Dogge with two legges which Dogge went close by the left side of this Examinate till they came to a Pitte of Water and then the said Dogge spake and persuaded this Examinate to drowne her selfe there saying it was a faire and an easie death Whereupon this Examinate thought there came one to her in a white sheete and carried her away from the said Pitte vpon the comming whereof the said blacke Dogge departed away and shortly after the said white thing departed also And after this Examinate had gone further on her way about the length of two or three Fields the said blacke Dogge did meete her againe and going on her left side as aforesaid did carrie her into a Barne of one Hugh Walshmans neere there by and layed her vpon the Barne-floore and couered this Examinate with Straw on her bodie and Haye on her head and the Dogge it selfe lay on the toppe of the said Straw but how long the said Dogge lay there this Examinate cannot tell nor how long her selfe lay there for shee sayth That vpon her lying downe there as aforesaid her Speech and Senses were taken from her and the first time shee knew where shee was shee was layed vpon a bedde in the said Walshmans house which as shee hath since beene told was vpon the Monday at night following and shee was also told That shee was found and taken from the place where shee first lay by some of her friends and carried into the said Walshmans house within a few houres after shee was layed in the Barne as aforesaid And shee further sayth That vpon the day following being Tuesday neere night of the same day shee this Examinate was fetched by her Father and Mother from the said Walshmans house to her Fathers house And shee saith That at the place before specified called the Two Brigges the said Iennet Bierley and Ellen Bierley did appeare vnto her in their owne shapes whereupon this Examinate fell downe and after that was not able to speake or goe till the Friday following during which time as she lay in her Fathers house the said Iennet Bierley and Ellen Bierley did once appeare vnto her in their owne shapes but they did nothing vnto her then neither did shee euer see them since And shee further sayth That a good while before all this this Examinate did goe with the said Iennet Bierley her Grand-mother and the said Ellen Bierley her Aunt at the bidding of her said Grand-mother to the house of one Thomas Walshman in Salmesbury aforesaid And comming thither in the night when all the house-hold was abed the doores being shut the said Iennet Bierley did open them but this Examinate knoweth not how and beeing come into the said house this Examinate and the said Ellen Bierley stayed there and the said Iennet Bierley went into the Chamber where the said Walshman and his wife lay from thence brought a little child which this Examinate thinketh was in bed with it Father and Mother and after the said Iennet Bierley had set her downe by the fire with the said child shee did thrust a naile into the nauell of the said child and afterwards did take a pen and put it in at the said place and did suck there a good space and afterwards laid the child in bed againe and then the said Iennet and the said Ellen returned to their owne houses and this Examinate with them And shee thinketh that neither the said Thomas Walshman nor his wife knew that the said child was taken out of the bed from them And shee saith also that the said child did not crie when it was hurt as aforesaid But she saith that shee thinketh that the said child did thenceforth languish and not long after dyed And after the death of the said child the next night after the buriall thereof the said Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierley taking this Examinate with them went to Salmesburie Church and there did take vp the said child and the said Iennet did carrie it out of the Church-yard in her armes and then did put it in her lap and carryed it home to her owne house and hauing it there did boile some therof in a Pot and some did broile on the coales of both which the said Iennet and Ellen did eate and would haue had this Examinate and one Grace Bierley Daughter of the said Ellen to haue eaten with them but they refused so to doe And afterwards the said Iennet Ellen did seethe the bones of the said child in a pot with the Fat that came out of the said bones they said they would annoint themselues that thereby they might sometimes change themselues into other shapes And after all this being done they said they would lay the bones againe in the graue the next night following but whether they did so or not this Examinate knoweth not Neither doth shee know how they got it out of the graue at the first taking of it vp And being further sworne and examined she deposeth saith that about halfe a yeare agoe the said Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierley Iane Southworth and this Examinate who went by the appointment of the said Iennet her Grand mother did meete at a place called Red banck vpon the North-side of the water of Ribble euery Thursday and Sonday at night by the space of a fortnight and at the water side there came vnto them as they went thether foure black things going vpright and yet not like men in the face which â—oure did carrie the said three women and this Examinate ouer the Water and when they came to the said Red Banck they found some thing there which they did eate But this Examinate saith shee neuer saw such meate and therefore shee durst not eate thereof although her said Grand mother did bidde her eate And after they had eaten the said three Women and this Examinate danced euery one of them with one of the black things aforesaid and after their dancing the said black things did pull downe the said three Women and did abuse their bodies as this Examinate thinketh for shee saith that the black thing that was with her did abuse her bodie The said Examinate further saith vpon her Oth That about ten dayes after her Examination taken at Blackborne shee this Examinate being then come to her Fathers house againe after shee had beene certaine dayes at her Vnckles house in Houghton Iane Southworth widow did meet this Examinate at her Fathers house dore and did carrie her into the loft and there did lay her vpon the floore where shee was shortly found by her Father and brought downe and laid in a bed as afterwards shee was told for shee saith that from the first meeting of the said Iane Southworth shee this Examinate had her speech and senses taken from her But the next day shee
any time Wherefore I leaue her to make good vse of the little time she hath to repent in but no meanes could moue her to repentance for as shee liued so shee dyed The Examination of IAMES DEVICE taken the day and yeare afore-said Before ROGER NOWEL and NICHOLAS BANNESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie of Lancaster viz. THe said Examinate vpon his oath saith That about two yeares agoe hee this Examinate saw three Pictures of Clay of halfe a yard long at the end of Redfernes house which Redferne had one of the Pictures in his hand Marie his Daughter had another in her hand and the said Redfernes wife now prisoner at Lancaster had an other Picture in her hand which Picture she the said Redfernes wife was then crumbling but whose Pictures they were this Examinate cannot tell And at his returning back againe some ten Roods off them there appeared vnto him this Examinate a thing like a Hare which spit fire at him this Examinate THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of ALICE NVTTER of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster for Witch-craft vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August at the Assizes and generall Gaole deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDWARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assize at Lancaster Alice Nutter THe two degrees of persons which chiefly practise Witch-craft are such as are in great miserie and pouertie for such the Deuil allures to follow him by promising great riches and worldly commoditie Others though rich yet burne in a desperate desire of Reuenge Hee allures them by promises to get their turne satisfied to their hearts contentment as in the whole proceedings against old Chattox the examinations of old Dembdike and her children there was not one of them but haue declared the like when the Deuill first assaulted them But to attempt this woman in that sort the Diuel had small meanes For it is certaine she was a rich woman had a great estate and children of good hope in the common opinion of the world of good temper free from enuy or malice yet whether by the meanes of the rest of the Witches or some vnfortunate occasion shee was drawne to fall to this wicked course of life I know not but hither shee is now come to receiue her Triall both for Murder and many other vilde and damnable practises Great was the care and paines of his Lordship to make triall of the Innocencie of this woman as shall appeare vnto you vpon the Examination of Iennet Deuice in open Court at the time of her Arraignement and Triall by an extraordinary meanes of Triall to marke her out from the rest It is very certaine she was of the Grand-counsell at Malking-Tower vpon Good-Friday and was there present which was a very great argument to condemne her This Alice Nutter Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster Being brought to the Barre before the Great Seat of Iustice was there according to the former order and course Indicted and Arraigned for that she felloniously had practised exercised and vsed her diuellish and wicked Arts called Witchcrafts Inchantments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon Henry Mitton and him the said Henry Mitton by force of the same Witchcrafts felloniously did kill and murther Contra formam Statuti c. Et Contra Pacem c. Vpon her Arraignement to this Indictment shee pleaded not guiltie and for the triall of her life put her selfe vpon God and the Countrey So as now the Gentlemen of the Iury of life and death stand charged with her as with others The Euidence against Alice Nutter Prisoner at the Barre The Examination of IAMES DEVICE sonne of ELIZABETH DEVICE Taken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Fidei Defensor c. Decimo Scotiae xlvj Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANESTER two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster Against Alice Nutter THe said Examinate saith vpon his oath That hee heard his Grand-mother say about a yeare ago that his mother called Elizabeth Deuice and his Grand-mother and the wife of Richard Nutter of the Rough-Lee aforesaid had killed one Henry Mitton of the Rough-Lee aforesaid by Witchcraft The reason wherefore he was so killed was for that this Examinats said Grand-mother had asked the said Mitton a penny and hee denying her thereof thereupon shee procured his death as aforesaid The Examination of ELIZABETH DEVICE mother of the said IAMES DEVICE Against ALICE NVTTER wife of RICHARD NVTTER Prisoner at the Barre vpon her Arraignement and Triall Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANETER Esquires the day and yeare aforesaid THis Examinate vpon her oath confesseth and saith That she with the wife of Richard Nutter called Alice Nutter Prisoner at the Barre and this Examinates said mother Elizabeth Sotherne alias Old Demdike ioyned altogether and bewitched the said Henry Mitton to death This Examinate further saith That vpon Good-friday last there dined at this examinats house two women of Burneley Parish whose names the said Richard Nutters wife Alice Nutter now Prisoner at the Barre doth know The Examination of IAMES DEVICE aforesaid Against The said ALICE NVTTER the day and yeare aforesaid THe said Examinate vpon his oath saith That vpon Good-Friday about twelue of the clocke in the day time there dined in this Examinats said mothers house a number of persons whereof three were men with this Examinate and the rest women and that they mette there for these three causes following as this Examinats said mother told this Examinate The first was for the naming of the Spirit which Alizon Deuice now Prisoner at Lancaster had but did not name him because she was not there The second cause was for the deliuerie of his said Grand-mother this Examinates said sister Alizon the said Anne Chattox and her daughter Redferne killing the Gaoler at Lancaster and before the next Assizes to blow vp the Castle there to the end that the foresaid Prisoners might by that meanes make an escape and get away all which this Examinate then heard them conferre of And he also saith The names of such Witches as were on Good-Friday at this Examinats said Grand mothers house and now this Examinates owne mothers for so many of them as he doth know were amongst others Alice Nutter mother of Myles Nutter now Prisoner at the Barre And this Examinate further saith That all the said Witches went out of the said house in their owne shapes and likenesses and they all by that time they were forth of the doores were gotten on horse-backe like vnto Foales some of one colour and some of another and Prestons wife was the last and when shee got on horse-back they all presently vanished out of this Examinates sight and before their said parting away they all appointed to meete at the said Prestons wifes house that day twelue month at which time the said Prestons wife promised
declaration or confession of her offence Shee confessed as followeth viz. The Confession of ALIZON DEVICE Prisoner at the Barre published and declared at time of her Arraignement and Triall in open Court SHe saith That about two yeares agone her Grand-mother called Elizabeth Sothernes alias Dembdike did sundry times in going or walking together as they went begging perswade and aduise this Examinate to let a Diuell or a Familiar appeare to her and that shee this Examinate would let him suck at some part of her and she might haue and doe what shee would And so not long after these perswasions this Examinate being walking towards the Rough-Lee in a Close of one Iohn Robinsons there appeared vnto her a thing like vnto a Blacke Dogge speaking vnto her this Examinate and desiring her to giue him her Soule and he would giue her power to doe any thing she would whereupon this Examinate being therewithall inticed and setting her downe the said Blacke-Dogge did with his mouth as this Examinate then thought sucke at her breast a little below her Paps which place did remaine blew halfe a yeare next after which said Blacke-Dogge did not appeare to this Examinate vntill the eighteenth day of March last at which time this Examinate met with a Pedler on the high-way called Colne-field neere vnto Colne and this Examinate demanded of the said Pedler to buy some pinnes of him but the said Pedler sturdily answered this Examinate that he would not loose his Packe and so this Examinate parting with him presently there appeared to this Examinate the Blacke-Dogge which appeared vnto her as before which Black Dogge spake vnto this Examinate in English saying What wouldst thou haue me to do vnto yonder man to whom this Examinate said What canst thou do at him and the Dogge answered againe I can lame him whereupon this Examinat answered and said to the said Black Dogge Lame him and before the Pedler was gone fortic Roddes further he fell downe Lame and this Examinate then went after the said Pedler and in a house about the distance aforesaid he was lying Lame and so this Examinate went begging in Trawden Forrest that day and came home at night and about fiue daies next after the said Black-Dogge did appeare to this Examinate as she was going a begging in a Cloase neere the New-Church in Pendle and spake againe to her saying Stay and speake with me but this Examinate would not Sithence which time this Examinat neuer saw him Which agreeth verbatim with her owne Examination taken at Reade in the Countie of Lancaster the thirtieth day of March before Master Nowel when she was apprehended and taken MY Lord Bromley and all the whole Court not a little wondering as they had good cause at this liberall and voluntarie confession of the Witch which is not ordinary with people of their condition and qualitie and beholding also the poore distressed Pedler standing by commanded him vpon his oath to declare the manner how and in what sort he was handled how he came to be lame and so to be deformed who deposed vpon his oath as followeth The Euidence of IOHN LAVV Pettie Chapman vpon his oath Against ALIZON DEVICE Prisoner at the Barre HE deposeth and saith That about the eighteenth of March last past hee being a Pedler went with his Packe of wares at his backe thorow Colne-field where vnluckily he met with Alizon Deuice now Prisoner at the Barre who was very earnest with him for pinnes but he would giue her none whereupon she seemed to be very angry and when hee was past her hee fell downe lame in great extremitie and afterwards by meanes got into an Ale-house in Colne neere vnto the place where hee was first bewitched and as hee lay there in great paine not able to stirre either hand or foote he saw a great Black-Dogge stand by him with very fearefull firie eyes great teeth and a terrible countenance looking him in the face whereat he was very sore afraid and immediately after came in the said Alizon Deuice who staid not long there but looked on him and went away After which time hee was tormented both day and night with the said Alizon Deuice and so continued lame not able to trauell or take paines euer since that time which with weeping teares in great passion turned to the Prisoner in the hearing of all the Court hee said to her This thou knowest to be too true and thereupon she humblie acknowledged the same and cried out to God to forgiue her and vpon her knees with weeping teares humbly prayed him to forgiue her that wicked offence which he very freely and voluntarily did Hereupon Master Nowel standing vp humbly prayed the fauour of the Court in respect this Fact of Witchcraft was more eminent and apparant then the rest that for the better satisfaction of the Audience the Examination of Abraham Law might be read in Court The Examination of ABRAHAM LAVV of Hallifax in the Countie of Yorke Cloth-dier taken vpon oath the thirtieth day of March 1612. Before ROGER NOVVEL Esquire aforesaid BEing sworne and examined saith That vpon Saturday last saue one being the one and twentieth day of this instant March he this Examinate was sent for by a letter that came from his father that he should come to his father Iohn Law who then lay in Colne speechlesse and had the left-side lamed all saue his eye and when this Examinate came to his father his said father had something recouered his speech and did complaine that hee was pricked with Kniues Elsons and Sickles and that the same hurt was done vnto him at Colne-field presently after that Alizon Deuice had offered to buy some pinnes of him and she had no money to pay for them withall but as this Examinates father told this Examinate he gaue her some pinnes And this Examinate further saith That he heard his said father say that the hurt he had in his lamenesse was done vnto him by the said Alizon Deuice by Witchcraft And this Examinate further saith that hee heard his said Father further say that the said Alizon Deuice did lie vpon him and trouble him And this Examinate seeing his said Father so tormented with the said Alizon and with one other olde woman whome this Examinates Father did not know as it seemed This Examinate made search after the said Alizon and hauing found her brought her to his said Father yesterday being the nine twenteth of this instant March whose said Father in the hearing of this Examinate and diuers others did charge the said Alizon to haue bewitched him which the said Alizon confessing did aske this Examinates said Father forgiuenesse vpon her knees for the same whereupon this Examinaes Father accordingly did forgiue her Which Examination in open Court vpon his oath hee iustified to be true Whereupon it was there affirmed to the Court that this Iohn Law the Pedler before his vnfortunate meeting with this Witch was a verie able sufficient stout
man of Bodie and a goodly man of Stature But by this Deuilish art of Witch-craft his head is drawne awrie his Eyes and face deformed His speech not well to bee vnderstood his Thighes and Legges starcke lame his Armes lame especially the left side his handes lame and turned out of their course his Bodie able to indure no trauell and thus remaineth at this present time The Prisoner being examined by the Court whether shee could helpe the poore Pedler to his former strength and health she answered she could not and so did many of the rest of the Witches But shee with others affirmed That if old Dembdike had liued shee could and would haue helped him out of that great miserie which so long he hath endured for so small an offence as you haue heard These things being thus openly published against her and she knowing her selfe to be guiltie of euery particular humbly acknowledged the Indictment against her to be true and that she was guiltie of the offence therein contained and that she had iustly deserued death for that and many other such like whereupon she was carried away vntill she should come to the Barre to receiue her judgement of death Oh who was present at this lamentable spectacle that was not moued with pitie to behold it Hereupon my Lord Gerard Sir Richard Houghton and others who much pitied the poore Pedler At the entreatie of my Lord Bromley the Iudge promised some present course should be taken for his reliefe and maintenance being now discharged and sent away But here I may not let her passe for that I find something more vpon Record to charge her withall for although she were but a young Witch of a yeares standing and thereunto induced by Dembdike her Grand-mother as you haue formerly heard yet she was spotted with innocent bloud among the rest for in one part of the Examination of Iames Deuice her brother he deposeth as followeth viz. The Examination of IAMES DEVICE brother to the said ALIZON DEVICE Taken vpon Oath Before ROGER NOVVEL Esquire aforesaid the thirtieth day of March 1612. IAmes Deuice of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Labourer sworne and examined sayth That about Saint Peters day last one Henry Bulcock came to the house of Elizabeth Sothernes alias Dembdike Grand-mother to this Examinate and said That the said Alizon Deuice had bewitched a Child of his and desired her that shee would goe with him to his house which accordingly shee did and thereupon shee the said Alizon fell downe on her knees and asked the said Bulcock forgiuenesse and confessed to him that she had bewitched the said Child as this Examinate heard his said sister confesse vnto him this Examinate And although shee were neuer indicted for this offence yet being matter vpon Record I thought it conuenient to joyne it vnto her former Fact HEre the Iurie of Life and Death hauing spent the most part of the day in due consideration of their offences returned into the Court to deliuer vp their Verdict against them as followeth The Verdict of Life and Death WHo vpon their Oathes found Iohn Bulcock and Iane Bulcock his mother not guiltie of the Felonie by Witch-craft contained in the Indictment against them Alizon Deuice conuicted vpon her owne Confession Whereupon Master Couel was commaunded by the Court to take away the Prisoners conuicted and to bring forth Margaret Pearson and Isabell Robey Prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster to receiue their Triall Who were brought to their Arraignement and Trialls as hereafter followeth viz. THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of MARGARET PEARSON of Paddiham in the Countie of Lancaster for Witchcraft the nineteenth of August 1612 at the Assises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assise at Lancaster Margaret Pearson THus farre haue I proceeded in hope your patience will endure the end of this discourse which craues time and were better not begunne at all then not perfected This Margaret Pearson was the wife of Edward Pearson of Paddiham in the Countie of Lancaster little inferiour in her wicked and malicious course of life to any that hath gone before her A very dangerous Witch of long continuance generally suspected and feared in all parts of the Countrie and of all good people neare her and not without great cause For whosoeuer gaue her any iust occasion of offence shee tormented with great miserie or cut off their children goods or friends This wicked and vngodly Witch reuenged her furie vpon goods so that euery one neare her sustained great losse I place her in the end of these notorious Witches by reason her iudgement is of an other Nature according to her offence yet had not the fauour and mercie of the Iurie beene more then her desert you had found her next to old Dembdike for this is the third time shee is come to receiue her Triall one time for murder by Witch-craft an other time for bewitching a Neighbour now for goods How long shee hath beene a Witch the Deuill and shee knowes best The Accusations Depositions and particular Examinations vpon Record against her are infinite and were able to fill a large Volume But since shee is now only to receiue her Triall for this last offence I shall proceede against her in order and set forth what matter we haue vpon Record to charge her withall This Margaret Pearson Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster Being brought to the Barre before the great Seat of Iustice was there according to the course and order of the Law Indicted and Arraigned for that shee had practised exercised and vsed her diuellish and wicked Arts called Witchcrafts Inchantments Charmes and Sorceries and one Horse or Mare of the goods and Chattels of one Dodgeson of Padiham in the Countie of Lancaster wickedly maliciously and voluntarily did kill Contra formam Statuti c. Et contra Pacem dicti Domini Regis c. Vpon her Arraignement to this Indictment shee pleaded not guiltie And for the triall of her life put her selfe vpon God and her Countrie So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of her offence and death stand charged with her as with others The Euidence against Margaret Pearson Prisoner at the Barre The Examination and Euidence of ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX Against MARGARET PEARSON Prisoner at the Barre THe said Anne Chattox being examined saith That the wife of one Pearson of Paddiham is a very euill Woman and confessed to this Examinate that shee is a Witch and hath a Spirit which came to her the first time in likenesse of a Man and clouen footed and that shee the said Pearsons wife hath done very much harme to one Dodgesons goods who came in at a loope-hole into the said Dodgesons Stable and shee and her Spirit together did sit vpon his Horse or Mare vntill the said Horse or Mare died And likewise that shee the said Pearsons wife did confesse vnto her this Examinate
The Examination of IANE WILKINSON Wife of FRANCIS WILKINSON of Windle aforesaid Taken before the said Sir THOMAS GERRARD Knight and Barronet the day and place aforesaid Against the said ISABEL ROBEY THe said Examinate vpon her oath saith that vpon a time the said Isabel Robey asked her milke and shee denied to giue her any And afterwards shee met the said Isabel whereupon this Examinate waxed afraid of her and was then presently sick and so pained that shee could not stand and the next day after this Examinate going to Warrington was suddenly pinched on her Thigh as shee thought with foure fingers a Thumbe twice together and thereupon was sicke in so much as shee could not get home but on horse-backe yet soone after shee did mend The Examination of MARGARET LYON wife of THOMAS LYON the yonger of Windle aforesaid Taken before the said Sir THOMAS GERRARD Knight and Barronet the day and place aforesaid Against the said ISABEL ROBEY THe said Margaret Lyon vpon her Oath saith that vpon a time Isabel Robey came into her house and said that Peter Chaddock should neuer mend vntill he had asked her forgiuenesse and that shee knew hee would neuer doe whereupon this Examinate said how doe you know that for he is a true Christian and hee would aske all the world forgiuenesse then the said Isabel said that is all one for hee will neuer aske me forgiuenesse therefore hee shall neuer mend And this Examinate further saith that shee being in the house of the said Peter Chaddock the wife of the said Peter who is God-Daughter of the said Isabel and hath in times past vsed her companie much did affirme that the said Peter was now satisfied that the said Isabel Robey was no Witch by sending to one Halseworths which they call a wiseman and the wife of the said Peter then said to abide vpon it I thinke that my Husband will neuer mend vntill hee haue asked her forgiuenesse choose him whether hee will bee angrie or pleased for this is my opinion to which he answered when he did need to aske her forgiuenesse he would but hee thought hee did not need for any thing hee knew and yet this Examinate further saith That the said Peter Chaddock had very often told her that he was very afraid that the said Isabel had done him much hurt and that he being fearefull to meete her he hath turned backe at such time as he did meet her alone which the said Isabel hath since then affirmed to be true saying that hee the said Peter did turne againe when he met her in the Lane The Examination of MARGARET PARRE wife of HVGH PARRE of Windle aforesaid Taken before the said Sir THOMAS GERARD Knight and Baronet the day and place aforesaid Against the said ISABEL ROBEY THE said Examinate vpon her oath saith that vpon a time the said Isabel Robey came to her house and this Examinate asked her how Peter Chaddock did And the said Isabel answered shee knew not for shee went not to see and then this Examinate asked her how Iane Wilkinson did for that she had beene lately sicke and suspected to haue beene bewitched then the said Isabel said twice together I haue bewitched her too and then this Examinate said that shee trusted shee could blesse her selfe from all Witches and defied them and then the said Isabel said twice together would you defie me afterwards the said Isabel went away not well pleased Here the Gentlemen of the last Iurie of Life and Death hauing taken great paines the time being farre spent and the number of the Prisoners great returned into the Court to deliuer vp their Verdict against them as followeth viz. The Verdict of Life and Death WHo vpon their Oathes found the said Isabel Robey guiltie of the Fellonie by Witch-craft contained in the Indictment against her And Margaret Pearson guiltie of the offence by Witch-craft contained in the Indictment against her Whereupon Master Couell was commaunded by the Court in the afternoone to bring forth all the Prisoners that stood Conuicted to receiue their Iudgment of Life and Death For his Lordship now intended to proceed to a finall dispatch of the Pleas of the Crowne And heere endeth the Arraignement and Triall of the Witches at Lancaster THus at the length haue we brought to perfection this intended Discouery of Witches with the Arraignement and Triall of euery one of them in order by the helpe of Almightie God and this Reuerend Iudge the Lanterne from whom I haue receiued light to direct me in this course to the end And as in the beginning I presented vnto their view a Kalender containing the names of all the witches So now I shall present vnto you in the conclusion and end such as stand conuicted and come to the Barre to receiue the iudgement of the Law for their offences and the proceedings of the Court against such as were acquitted and found not guiltie with the religious Exhortation of this Honorable Iudge as eminent in gifts and graces as in place and preeminence which I may lawfully affirme without base flattery the canker of all honest and worthie minds drew the eyes and reuerend respect of all that great Audience present to heare their Iudgement and the end of these proceedings The Prisoners being brought to the Barre THe Court commanded three solemne Proclamations for silence vntill Iudgement for Life and Death were giuen Whereupon I presented to his Lordship the names of the Prisoners in order which were now to receiue their Iudgement * ⎠* ¶ The names of the Prisoners at the Barre to receiue their Judgement of Life and Death Anne Whittle alias Chattox Elizabeth Deuice James Deuice Anne Redferne Alice Nutter Katherine Hewet John Bulcock Jane Bulcock Alizon Deuice Isabel Robey THE IVDGEMENT OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assize at Lancaster vpon the Witches conuicted as followeth THere is no man aliue more vnwilling to pronounce this wofull and heauy Iudgement against you then my selfe and if it were possible I would to God this cup might passe from me But since it is otherwise prouided that after all proceedings of the Law there must be a Iudgement and the Execution of that Iudgement must succeed and follow in due time I pray you haue patience to receiue that which the Law doth lay vpon you You of all people haue the least cause to complaine since in the Triall of your liues there hath beene great care and paines taken and much time spent and very few or none of you but stand conuicted vpon your owne voluntarie confessions and Examinations Ex ore proprio Few Witnesses examined against you but such as were present and parties in your Assemblies Nay I may further affirme What persons of your nature and condition euer were Arraigned and Tried with more solemnitie had more libertie giuen to pleade or answere to euerie particular point of Euidence against you In conclusion such hath
day of May Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. Decimo ac Scociae quadragesimo quinto Before ROGER NOVVEL NICHOLAS BANNESTER and ROBERT HOLDEN Esquires three of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie THis Examinat vpon his oath saith That Anne Whittle alias Chattox confessed vnto him that she knoweth one Prestons wife neere Gisburne and that the said Prestons wife should haue beene at the said feast vpon the said Good-Friday and that shee was an ill woman and had done Master Lister of Westby great hurt The Examination of ELIZABETH DEVICE mother of IAMES DEVICE taken before ROGER NOVVELL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires the day and yeare aforesaid viz. THe said Elizabeth Deuice vpon her Examination confesseth That vpon Good-Friday last there dined at this Examinats house which she hath said are Witches and doth verily thinke them to be Witches and their names are those whom Iames Deuice hath formerly spoken of to be there She also confesseth in all things touching the killing of Master Lister of Westby as the said Iames Deuice hath before confessed And the said Elizabeth Deuice also further saith That at the said meeting at Malking-Tower as aforesaid the said Katherine Hewyt and Iohn Bulcock with all the rest then there gaue their consents with the said Prestons wife for the killing of the said Master Lister And for the killing of the said Master Leonard Lister she this Examinate saith in all things as the said Iames Deuice hath before confessed in his Examination The Examination of IENNET DEVICE daughter of ELIZABETH late wife of IOHN DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster about the age of nine yeares or thereabouts taken the day and yeare aboue-said Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster THe said Examinate vpon her Examination saith that vpon Good-friday last there was about twenty persons whereof only two were men to this Examinats remembrance at her said Grand mothers house called Malking-Tower aforesaid about twelue of the clocke all which persons this Examinates said mother told her were Witches and that she knoweth the names of diuers of the said Witches AFter all these Examinations Confessions and Euidence deliuered in open Court against her His Lordship commanded the Iurie to obserue the particular circumstances first Master Lister in his great extremitie to complaine hee saw her and requested them that were by him to lay hold on her After he cried out shee lay heauie vpon him euen at the time of his death But the Conclusion is of more consequence then all the rest that Iennet Preston being brought to the dead corps they bled freshly And after her deliuerance in Lent it is proued shee rode vpon a white Foale and was present in the great assembly at Malkin Tower with the Witches to intreat and pray for aide of them to kill Master Lister now liuing for that he had prosequuted against her And against these people you may not expect such direct euidence since all their workes are the workes of darkenesse no witnesses are present to accuse them therefore I pray God direct your consciences After the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death had spent the most part of the day in consideration of the euidence against her they returned into the Court and deliuered vp their Verdict of Life and Death ⸫ The Verdict of Life and Death WHo found Iennet Preston guiltie of the fellonie and murder by Witch-craft of Thomas Lister Esquire conteyned in the Indictment against her c. Afterwards according to the course and order of the Lawes his Lordship pronounced Iudgement against her to bee hanged for her offence And so the Court arose HEre was the wonderfull discouerie of this Iennet Preston who for so many yeares had liued at Gisborne in Crauen neare Master Lister one thing more I shall adde to all these particular Examinations and euidence of witnesses which I saw and was present in the Court at Lancaster when it was done at the Assizes holden in August following My Lord Bromley being very suspicious of the accusation of Iennet Deuice the little Wench commanded her to looke vpon the Prisoners that were present and declare which of them were present at Malkin Tower at the great assembly of Witches vpon Good-Friday last shee looked vpon and tooke many by the handes and accused them to be there and when shee had accused all that were there present shee told his Lordship there was a Woman that came out of Crauen that was amongst the Witches at that Feast but shee saw her not amongst the Prisoners at the Barre What a singular note was this of a Child amongst many to misse her that before that time was hanged for her offence which shee would neuer confesse or declare at her death here was present old Preston her husband who then cried out and went away being fully satisfied his wife had Iustice and was worthie of death To conclude then this present discourse I heartilie desire you my louing Friends and Countrie-men for whose particular instructions this is added to the former of the wonderfull discouerie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster And for whose particular satisfaction this is published Awake in time and suffer not your selues to be thus assaulted Consider how barbarously this Gentleman hath been dealt withall and especially you that hereafter shall passe vpon any Iuries of Life and Death let not your conniuence or rather foolish pittie spare such as these to exequute farther mischiefe Remember that shee was no sooner set at libertie but shee plotted the ruine and ouerthrow of this Gentleman and his whole Familie Expect not as this reuerend and learned Iudge saith such apparent proofe against them as against others since all their workes are the workes of darkenesse and vnlesse it please Almightie God to raise witnesses to accuse them who is able to condemne them Forget not the bloud that cries out vnto God for reuenge bring it not vpon your owne heads Neither doe I vrge this any farther then with this that I would alwaies intreat you to remember that it is as great a crime as Salomon sayth Prov. 17 to condemne the innocent as to let the guiltie escape free Looke not vpon things strangely alledged but iudiciously consider what is justly proued against them And that as well all you that were witnesses present at the Arraignement and Triall of her as all other strangers to whome this Discourse shall come may take example by this Gentleman to prosecute these hellish Furies to their end labor to root them out of the Commonwealth for the common good of your Countrey The greatest mercie extended to them is soone forgotten GOD graunt vs the long and prosperous continuance of these Honorable and Reuerend Iudges vnder whose Gouernment we liue in these North parts for we may say that GOD Almightie hath singled them out and set them on his Seat for the defence of Iustice And for this great deliuerance let vs all pray to GOD Almightie that the memorie of these worthie Iudges may bee blessed to all Posterities FINIS Euening Her owne examination Her Spirit Executed at Yorke the last Assises Dandy Anne Redferne the Witch Alice Nutter the Prisoner
of them that were not found guiltie and so rest very discontented and not satisfied As also for that it is necessary for men to know and vnderstande the meanes whereby they worke their mischiefe the hidden misteries of their diuelish and wicked Inchauntmentes Charmes and Sorceries the better to preuent and auoyde the danger that may ensue And lastly who were the principall authors and actors in this late woefull and lamentable Tragedie wherein so much Blood was spilt Therefore I pray you giue me leaue with your patience and fauour before I proceed to the Indictment Arraignement and Tryall of such as were Prisoners in the Castle to lay open the life and death of this damnable and malicious Witch of so long continuance old Demdike of whom our whole businesse hath such dependence that without the particular Declaration and Record of her Euidence with the circumstaunces wee shall neuer bring any thing to good perfection for from this Sincke of villanie and mischiefe haue all the rest proceeded as you shall haue them in order She was a very old woman about the age of Foure-score yeares and had been a Witch for fiftie yeares Shee dwelt in the Forrest of Pendle a vaste place fitte for her profession What shee committed in her time no man knowes Thus liued shee securely for many yeares brought vp her owne Children instructed her Graund-children and tooke great care and paines to bring them to be Witches Shee was a generall agent for the Deuill in all these partes no man escaped her or her Furies that euer gaue them any occasion of offence or denyed them any thing they stood need of And certaine it is no man neere them was secure or free from danger But God who had in his diuine prouidence prouided to cut them off and roote them out of the Common-wealth so disposed aboue that the Iustices of those partes vnderstanding by a generall charme and muttering the great and vniuersall resort to Maulking Tower the common opinion with the report of these suspected people the complaint of the Kinges subiectes for the losse of their Children Friendes Goodes and Cattle as there could not be so great Fire without some Smoake sent for some of the Countrey and tooke great paynes to enquire after their proceedinges and courses of life In the end Roger Nowell Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices in these partes a very religious honest Gentleman painefull in the seruice of his Countrey whose fame for this great seruice to his Countrey shall liue after him tooke vpon him to enter into the particular examination of these suspected persons And to the honour of God and the great comfort of all his Countrey made such a discouery of them in order as the like hath not been heard of which for your better satisfaction I haue heere placed in order against her as they are vpon Record amongst the Recordes of the Crowne at Lancaster certified by M. Nowell and others The voluntarie Confession and Examination of Elizabeth Sowtherns alias Demdike taken at the Fence in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster The second day of Aprill Annoque Regni Regis Iacobi Angliae c. Decimo et Scotiae Quadragesimo quinto Before Roger Nowell of Reade Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of the peace within the sayd Countie Viz. THe said Elizabeth Sowtherns confesseth and sayth That about twentie yeares past as she was comming homeward from begging there met her this Examinate neere vnto a Stonepit in Gouldshey in the sayd Forrest of Pendle a Spirit or Deuill in the shape of a Boy the one halfe of his Coate blacke and the other browne who bade this Examinate stay saying to her that if she would giue him her Soule she should haue any thing that she would request Wherevpon this Examinat demaunded his name and the Spirit answered his name was Tibb and so this Examinate in hope of such gaine as was promised by the sayd Deuill or Tibb was contented to giue her Soule to the said Spirit And for the space of fiue of sixe yeares next after the sayd Spirit or Deuill appeared at sundry times vnto her this Examinate about Day-light Gate alwayes bidding her stay and asking her this Examinate what she would haue or doe To whom this Examinate replyed Nay nothing for she this Examinate said she wanted nothing yet And so about the end of the said sixe yeares vpon a Sabboth day in the morning this Examinate hauing a litle Child vpon her knee and she being in a slumber the sayd Spirit appeared vnto her in the likenes of a browne Dogg forcing himselfe to her knee to get blood vnder her left Arme and she being without any apparrell sauing her Smocke the said Deuill did get blood vnder her left arme And this Examinate awaking sayd Iesus saue my Child but had no power nor could not say Iesus saue her selfe wherevpon the Browne Dogge vanished out of this Examinats sight after which this Examinate was almost starke madd for the space of eight weekes And vpon her examination she further confesseth and saith That a little before Christmas last this Examinates Daughter hauing been to helpe Richard Baldwyns Folkes at the Mill This Examinates Daughter did bid her this Examinate goe to the said Baldwyns house and aske him something for her helping of his Folkes at the Mill as aforesaid and in this Examinates going to the said Baldwyns house and neere to the said house she mette with the said Richard Baldwyn Which Baldwyn sayd to this Examinate and the said Alizon Deuice who at that time ledde this Examinate being blinde get out of my ground Whores and Witches I will burne the one of you and hang the other To whom this Examinate answered I care not for thee hang thy selfe Presently wherevpon at this Examinates going ouer the next hedge the said Spirit or Diuell called Tibb appeared vnto this Examinat and sayd Reuenge thee of him To whom this Examinate sayd againe to the said Spirit Reuenge thee eyther of him or his And so the said Spirit vanished out of her sight and she neuer saw him since And further this Examinate confesseth and sayth that the speediest way to take a mans life away by VVitchcraft is to make a Picture of Clay like vnto the shape of the person whom they meane to kill dry it thorowly and when they would haue them to be ill in any one place more then an other then take a Thorne or Pinne and pricke it in that part of the Picture you would so haue to be ill and when they would haue any part of the Body to consume away then take that part of the Picture and burne it And when they would haue the whole body to consume away then take the remnant of the sayd Picture and burne it and so therevpon by that meanes the body shall die The Confession and Examination of Anne Whittle alias Chattox being Prisoner at Lancaster taken the 19. day of May Annoque