it and for that Elizabeth Sawyer would be reuenged of her and thus threatned Agnes Ratcleife that it should be a deare blow vnto her which accordingly fell out and suddenly for that euening Agnes Ratcleife fell very sicke and was extraordinarily vexed and in a most strange manner in her sicknesse was tormented Oath whereof was by this Agnes Ratcleifes Husband giuen to the Court the time when shee fell sicke and the time when shee died which was within foure dayes after she fell sicke and further then related that in the time of her sicknesse his wife Agnes Ratcleife lay foaming at the mouth and was extraordinarily distempered which many of his neighbors seeing as well as himselfe bred suspition in them that some mischiefe was done against her and by none else but alone by this Elizabeth Sawyer it was done concerning whom the said Agnes Ratcleife lying on her death-bed these wordes confidently spake namely that if shee did die at that time shee would verily take it on her death that Elizabeth Sawyer her neighbour whose Sowe with a washing-Beetle she had stricken and so for that cause her malice being great was the occasion of her death To proue her innocency she put her selfe to the triall of God and the Countrey and what care was taken both by the honourable Bench and Iury the iudicious standers by can witnesse and God knowes who will reward it The Iury hearing this Euidence giuen vpon oath by the husband of the aboue named Agnes Ratcliefe and his wiues speeches relating to them likewise an oath as she lay on her death-bed to be truth that shee had said vnto her husband Namely that if she dyed at that time shee the said Elizabeth Sawyer was the cause of her death and maliciously did by her Witchery procure the same This made some impression in their mindes and caused due and mature deliberation not trusting their owne iudgements what to doe in a matter of such great import as life they deemed might be conserued The Foreman of the Iury asked of Master Heneage Finch Recorder his direction and aduice to whom hee Christianlike thus replyed namely Doe in it as God shall put in your hearts Master Arthur Robinson a worshipfull Iustice of Peace dwelling at Totnam had often diuers times vpon the complaints of the neighbours against this Elizabeth Sawyer laboriously and carefully examined her and stil his suspition was strengthened against her that doutlesse shee was a Witch An Information was giuen vnto him by some of her Neighbours that this Elizabeth Sawyer had a priuate and strange marke on her body by which their suspition was confirmed against her and hee sitting in the Court at that time of her triall informed the Bench thereof desiring the Bench to send for women to search her presently before the Iury did goe forth to bring in the verdict concerning Elizabeth Sawyer whether that shee was guilty or no to which motion of his they most willingly condescended The Bench commanded officers appointed for those purposes to fetch in three women to search the body of Elizabeth Sawyer to see if they could finde any such vnwonted marke as they were informed of one of the womens names was Margaret Weauer that keepes the Sessions House for the City of London a widdow of an honest reputation and two other graue Matrons brought in by the Officer out of the streete passing by there by chance were ioyned with her in this search of the person named who fearing and perceiuing shee should by that search of theirs be then discouered behaued her selfe most sluttishly and loathsomely towards them intending thereby to preuent their search of her which my pen would forbeare to write these things for modesties sake but I would not vary in what was deliuered to the Bench expresly openly spoken yet neuerthelesse nicenesse they laid aside and according to the request of the Court and to that trust reposed in them by the Bench they all three seuerally searched her and made seuerally their answer vnto the Court being sworne thereunto to deliuer the truth And they all three said that they a little aboue the Fundiment of Elizabeth Sawyer the prisoner there indited before the Bench for a Witch found a thing like a Teate the bignesse of the little finger and the length of halfe a finger which was branched at the top like a teate and seemed as though one had suckt it and that the bottome thereof was blew and the top of it was redde This view of theirs and answere that she had such a thing about her which boldly shee denied gaue some insight to the Iury of her who vpon their consciences returned the said Elizabeth Sawyer to be guilty by dibolicall help of the death of Agnes Ratcliefe onely and acquitted her of the other two Inditements And thus much of the meanes that brought her to her deserued death and destruction I will addresse to informe you of her preparation to death which is alone pertinent to my function and declare vnto you her Confession verbatim out of her owne mouth deliuered to me the Tuseday after her conuiction though with great labour it was extorted from her and the same Confession I read vnto her at the place of her execution and there shee confessed to all people that were there the same to be most true which I shall here relate And because it should not bee thought that from me alone this proceeded I would haue other testimony thereof to stop all contradictions of so palpable a verity that heard her deliuer it from her owne mouth in the Cappel of Newgate the same time In testimony whereof the persons that were then present with mee at her Confession haue hereunto put to their hands and if it be required further to confirme this to be a truth will bee ready at all times to make oath thereof A true Relation of the confession of Elizabeth Sawyer spinster after her conuiction of Witchery taken on Tuesday the 17. day of Aprill Anno 1621. in the Gaole of Newgate where she was prisoner then in the presence and hearing of diuers persons whose names to verifie the same are here subscribed to this ensuyng confession made vnto me Henry Good-cole Minister of the word of God Ordinary and Visiter for the Gaole of Newgate In Dialogue manner are here expressed the persons that she murthered and the cattell that she destroyed by the helpe of the Diuell In this manner was I inforced to speake vnto her because she might vnderstand me and giue vnto me answere according to my demands for she was a very ignorant woman Question BY what meanes came you to haue acquaintance with the Diuell and when was the first time that you saw him and how did you know that it was the Diuell Answere The first time that the Diuell came vnto me was when I was cursing swearing and blaspheming he then rushed in vpon me and neuer before that time did I see him or he me and
The wonderfull discouerie of ELIZABETH SAVVYER a Witch late of Edmonton her conuiction and condemnation and Death Together with the relation of the Diuels accesse to her and their conference together Written by HENRY GOODCOLE Minister of the Word of God and her continuall Visiter in the Gaole of Newgate Published by Authority London Printed for VVilliam Butler and are to be sold at his Shop in Saint Dunstons Church-yard Fleetstreet 1621. The Authors Apologie to the Christian Readers who wisheth to them all health and happinesse THe Publication of this subiect whereof now I write hath bin by importunitie extorted from me who would haue beene content to haue concealed it knowing the diuersitie of opinions concerning things of this nature and that not among the ignorant but among some of the learned For my part I meddle hearewith nothing but matter of fact and to that ende produce the Testimony of the liuing and the dead which I hope shall be Authenticall for the confirmation of this Narration and free mee from all censorious mindes and mouthes It is none of my intent here to discusse or dispute of Witches or Witchcraft but desire most therin to be dispensed with all knowing that in such a little Treatise as this is no matter that can be effectuall therein can pe comprised especially in so short a time of deliberation as three or foure dayes And the rather doe I now publish this to purchase my peace which without it being done I could scarse at any time be at quiet for many who would take no nay but still desired of me written Copies of this insuing Declaration Another reason was to defend the truth of the cause which in some measure hath receiued a wound already by most base and false Ballets which were sung at the time of our returning from the Witches execution In them I was ashamed to see and heare such ridiculous fictions of her bewitching Corne on the ground of a Ferret and an Owle dayly sporting before her of the bewitched woman brayning her selfe of the Spirits attending in the Prison all which I knew to be fitter for an Ale-bench then for a relation of proceeding in Court of Iustice. And thereupon I wonder that such lewde Balletmongers should be suffered to creepe into the Printers presses and peoples eares And so I rest at your opinions and iudgements Your well-wisher in the Lord Iesus HENRY GOODCOLE A true declaration of the manner of proceeding against ELIZABETH SAVVYER late of Edmonton Spinster and the euidence of her Conuiction A Great and long suspition was held of this person to be a witch and the eye of Mr. Arthur Robinson a worthy Iustice of Peace who dweleth at Totnam neere to her was watchfull ouer her and her wayes and that not without iust cause stil hauing his former long suspition of her by the information of her neighbours that dwelt about her from suspitiō to proceed to great presumptions seeing the death of Nurse-children and Cattell strangely and suddenly to happen And to finde out who should bee the author of this mischiefe an old ridiculous custome was vsed which was to plucke the Thatch of her house and to burne it and it being so burnd the author of such mischiefe should presently then come and it was obserued and affirmed to the Court that Elizabeth Sawyer would presently frequent the house of them that burnt the thatch which they pluckt of her house and come without any sending for This triall though it was slight and ridiculous yet it setled a resolution in those whom it concerned to finde out by all meanes they could endeauour her long and close carried Witchery to explaine it to the world and being descried to pay in the ende such a worker of Iniquity her wages and that which shee had deserued namely shame and Death from which the Diuell that had so long deluded her did not come as shee said to shew the least helpe of his vnto her to deliuer her but being descried in his waies and workes immediately he fled leauing her to shift and answere for her selfe with publike and priuate markes on her body as followeth 1 Her face was most pale ghoast-like without any bloud at all and her countenance was still deiected to the ground 2 Her body was crooked and deformed euen bending together which so happened but a little before her apprehension 3 That tongue which by cursing swearing blaspheming and imprecating as afterward she cōfessed was the occasioning cause of the Diuels accesse vnto her euen at that time and to claime her thereby as his owne by it discouered her lying swearing and blaspheming as also euident proofes produced against her to stop her mouth with Truths authority at which hearing she was not able to speake a sensible or ready word for her defense but sends out in the hearing of the Iudge Iury and all good people that stood by many most fearefull imprecations for destruction against her selfe then to happen as heretofore she had wished and indeauoured to happen on diuers of her neighbours the which the righteous Iudge of Heauen whom she thus inuocated to iudge then and discerne her cause did reueale Thus God did wonderfully ouertake her in her owne wickednesse to make her tongue to be the meanes of her owne destruction which had destroyed many before And in this manner namely that out of her false swearing the truth whereof shee little thought should be found but by her swearing and cursing blended it thus farre made against her that both Iudge and Iurie all of them grew more and more suspitious of her and not without great cause for none that had the feare of God or any the least motion of Gods grace left in them would or durst to persume so impudently with execrations and false oathes to affront Iustice. On Saturday being the fourteenth day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1621. this Elizabeth Sawyer late of Edmonton in the County of Middlesex Spinster was arraigned and indited three seuerall times at Iustice Hall in the Old Baily in London in the Parish of Saint Sepulchers in the Ward of Farrington without which Inditements were viz. That shee the said Elizabeth Sawyer not hauing the feare of God before her eyes but moued and seduced by the Diuell by Diabolicall helpe did out of her malicious heart because her neighbours where she dwelt would not buy Broomes of her would therefore thus reuenge her selfe on them in this manner namely witch to death their Nurse Children and Cattell But for breuities sake I here omit formes of Law and Informations She was also indited for that shee the said Elizabeth Sawyer by Diabolicall helpe and out of her malice afore-thought did witch vnto death Agnes Ratcleife a neighbour of hers dwelling in the towne of Edmonton where shee did likewise dwell and the cause that vrged her therevnto was because that Elizabeth Ratcliefe did strike a Sowe of hers in her sight for licking vp a little Soape where shee had laide
when he namely the Diuel came to me the first words that hee spake vnto me were these Oh! haue I now found you cursing swearing and blaspheming now you are mine A wonderfull warning to many whose tongues are too frequent in these abhominable sinnes I pray God that this her terrible example may deter them to leaue and distaste them to put their tongues to a more holy language then the accursed language of hell The tongue of man is the glory of man and it was ordained to glorifie God but worse then brute beasts they are who haue a tongue as well as men that therewith they at once both blesse and curse Question What sayd you to the Diuell when hee came vnto you and spake vnto you were you not afraide of him if you did feare him what sayd the Diuell then vnto you Answere I was in a very greate feare when I saw the Diuell but hee did bid me not to feare him at all for hee would do me no hurt at all but would do for mee whatsoeuer I should require of him and as he promised vnto me he alwayes did such mischiefes as I did bid him to do both on the bodies of Christians and beastes if I did bid him vexe them to death as oftentimes I did so bid him it was then presently by him so done Question Whether would the Diuell bring vnto you word or no what he had done for you at your command and if he did bring you word how long would it bee before he would come vnto you againe to tell you Answere He would alwayes bring vnto me word what he had done for me within the space of a weeke he neuer failed me at that time and would likewise do it to Creatures and beasts two manner of wayes which was by scratching or pinching of them Question Of what Christians and Beastes and how many were the number that you were the cause of their death and what moued you to prosecute them to the death Answere I haue bene by the helpe of the Diuell the meanes of many Christians and beasts death the cause that moued mee to do it was malice and enuy for if any-body had angred me in any manner I would be so reuenged of them and of their cattell And do now further confesse that I was the cause of those two nurse-childrens death for the which I was now indited and acquited by the Iury. Question Whether did you procure the death of Agnes Ratcliefe for which you were found guilty by the Iury Answere No I did not by my meanes procure against her the least hurt Question How long is it since the Diuell and you had acquaintance together how oftentimes in the weeke would hee come and see you and you company with him Answere It is eight yeares since our first acquaintance and three times in the weeke the Diuell would come and see mee after such his acquaintance gotten of me he would come sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the euening Question In what shape would the Diuell come vnto you Answere Alwayes in the shape of a dogge and of two collars sometimes of blacke and sometimes of white Question What talke had the Diuel and you together when that he appeared to you and what did he aske of you and what did you desire of him Answer He asked of me when hee came vnto me how I did and what he should doe for mee and demanded of mee my soule and body threatning then to teare me in peeces if that I did not grant vnto him my soule and my body which he asked of me Question What did you after such the Diuells asking of you to haue your Soule and Body and after this his threatning of you did you for feare grant vnto the Diuell his desire Answer Yes I granted for feare vnto the Diuell his request of my Soule and body and to seale this my promise made vnto him I then gaue him leaue to sucke of my bloud the which hee asked of me Question In what place of your body did the Diuell sucke of your bloud and whether did hee himselfe chuse the place or did you your selfe appoint him the place tell the truth I charge you as your will answere vnto the Almighty God and tell the reason if that you can why he would sucke your bloud Answer The place where the Diuell suckt my bloud was a little aboue my fundiment and that place chosen by himselfe and in that place by continuall drawing there is a thing in the forme of a Teate at which the diuell would sucke mee And I asked the Diuell why hee would sucke my bloud and hee sayd it was to nourish him Question Whether did you pull vp your coates or no when the Diuell came to sucke you Answer No I did not but the Diuell would put his head vnder my coates and I did willingly suffer him to doe what hee would Question How long would the time bee that the Diuill would continue sucking of you and whether did you endure any paine the time that hee was sucking of you Answer He would be suckinge of me the continuance of a quarter of an howre and when hee suckt mee I then felt no paine at all Question What was the meaning that the Diuell when hee came vnto you would sometimes speake and sometimes barke Answer It is thus when the Diuell spake to me then hee was ready to doe for me what I would bid him to doe and when he came barking to mee he then had done the mischiefe that I did bid him to doe for me Quest. By what name did you call the Diuell and what promises did he make to you Answ. I did call the Diuell by the name of Tom and he promised to doe for me whatsoeuer I should require of him Quest. What were those two ferrets that you were feeding on a fourme with white-bread and milke when diuers children came and saw you feeding of them Answ. I neuer did any such thing Quest. What was the white thing that did run through the thatch of your house was it a spirit or Diuell Answ. So farre as I know it was nothing else but a white Ferret Quest. Did any body else know but your selfe alone of the Diuells comming vnto you and of your practises speake the truth and tell the reason why you did not reueale it to your husband or to some other friend Answ. I did not tell any body thereof that the Diuel came vnto me neither I durst not for the Diuell charged me that I should not and said That if I did tell it to any body at his next comming to me he then would teare me in pieces Quest. Did the Diuell at any time find you praying when he came vnto you and did not the Diuell forbid you to pray to Iesus Christ but to him alone and did not he bid you pray to him the Divell as he taught you Answ. Yes he
found me once praying and he asked of me to whom I prayed and I answered him to Iesus Christ and he charged me then to pray no more to Iesus Christ but to him the Diuell and he the Diuell taught me this prayer Santibicetur nomen tuum Amen Quest. Were you euer taught these Latine words before by any person else or did you euer heare it before of any body or can you say any more of it Answ. No I was not taught it by any body else but by the Diuell alone neither doe I vnderstand the meaning of these words nor can speake any more Latine words Quest. Did the Diuell aske of you the next time he came vnto you whether that you vsed to pray vnto him in that manner as he taught you Answ. Yes at his next comming to me hee asked of me if that I did pray vnto him as he had taught me and I answered him againe that sometimes I did and sometimes I did not and the Diuell then thus threatned me It is not good for me to mocke him Quest. How long is it since you saw the Diuell last Answ. It is three weekes since I saw the Diuell Quest. Did the Diuell neuer come vnto you since you were in prison speake the truth as you will answer vnto almighty God Answ. The Diuell neuer came vnto me since I was in prison nor I thanke God I haue no motion of him in my minde since I came to prison neither doe I now feare him at all Quest. How came your eye to be put out Answ. With a sticke which one of my children had in the hand that night my mother did dye it was done for I was stooping by the bed side and I by chance did hit my eye on the sharpe end of the sticke Quest. Did you euer handle the Diuell when he came vnto you Answ. Yes I did stroake him on the backe and then he would becke vnto me and wagge his tayle as being therewith contented Quest. Would the Diuell come vnto you all in one bignesse Answ. No when hee came vnto mee in the blacke shape he then was biggest and in the white the least and when that I was praying hee then would come vnto me in the white colour Quest. Why did you at your triall for sweare all this that you now doe confesse Answ. I did it thereby hoping to auoyd shame Quest. Is all this truth which you haue spoken here vnto me and that I haue now written Answ. Yes it is all truth as I shall make answer vnto almighty God Quest. What moues you now to make this confession did any vrge you to it or bid you doe it is it for any hope of life you doe it Answ. No I doe it to cleere my conscience and now hauing done it I am the more quiet and the better prepared and willing thereby to suffer death for I haue no hope at all of my life although I must confesse I would liue longer if I might A Relation what shee said at the place of Execution which was at Tiborne on Thursday the 19. day of Aprill 1621. ALl this beeing by her thus freely confessed after her conuiction in the Gaole of Newgate on Tuesday the 17. day of Aprill I acquainted Master Recorder of London therewith who thus directed mee to take that her confession with me to the place of Execution and to reade it to her and to aske of her whether that was truth which shee had deliuered to me in the prison on Tuesday last concerning what she said and how shee dyed I will relate vnto you Elizabeth Sawyer you are now come vnto the place of Execution is that all true which you confessed vnto mee on Tuesday last when that you were in prison I haue it here and will now reade it vnto you as you spake it then vnto me out of your owne mouth and if it be true confesse it now to God and to all the people that are here present Answer This confession which is now read vnto me by Master Henry Goodcoale Minister with my owne mouth I spake it to him on Tuesday last at New-gate and I here doe acknowledge to all the people that are here present that it is all truth disiring you all to pray vnto Almightie God to forgiue me my greeuous sinnes Question By what meanes hope you now to bee saued Answer By Iesus Christ alone Question Will you now pray vnto Almightie God to forgiue vnto you all your misdeedes Answer I with all my heart and minde This was confirmed in the hearing of many hundreds at her last breath what formerly shee in prison confessed to me and at that time spake more heartily then the day before of her execution on whose body Law was iustly inflicted but mercy in Gods power reserued to bestow when and where hee pleaseth My labour thus ended concerning her to testifie and auouch to the world and all opposers hereof this to be true those that were present with me in the prison that heard her confession I haue desired here their testimonies which is as followeth We whose names are heere subscribed doe thereby testifie that Elizabeth Sawyer late of Edmonton in the Countie of Midds Spinster did in our hearings confesse on Tuesday the 17. of Aprill in the Gaole of Newgate to Master Henry Goodcoale Minister of the word of God the repeated foule crimes and confirmed it at her death the 19. of Aprill following to be true and if wee be thereunto required will bee ready to make faith of the truth thereof namely that this was her confession being aliue and a litle before her death Conclusion Deare Christians lay this to heart namely the cause and first time that the Diuell came vnto her then euen then when she was cursing swearing and blaspheming The Diuell rageth and mallice reigneth in the hearts of many O let it not doe so for heere you may see the fruites thereof that it is a playne way to bring you to the Diuell nay that it brings the Diuell to you for it seemed that when shee so fearefully did sweare her oathes did so coniure him that hee must leaue then his mansion place and come at this wretches commande and will which was by her imprecations Stand on your guard and watch with sobrietie to resist him the Diuell your aduersary who waiteth on you continually to subuert you that so you that doe detest her abhominable wordes and wayes may neuer taste of the cup nor wages of shame and destruction of which she did in this life from which and from whose power Lord Iesus saue and defend thy little flocke Amen A Gentleman by name Mr. Maddox standing by and hearing of her say the word blaspheming did aske of her three or foure times whether the Diuell sayd haue I found you blaspheming and shee confidently sayd I. I demanded this question of her to confirme the womens search of her concerring that she had such a marke about her which they vpon their oathes informed the court that truth it was she had such a marke This I asked of her very earnestly and shee thus answered me without any studying for an answer I asked this question because she sayd that the Diuell did not alwayes speake to her I asked this of her because that some children of a good bignesse and reasonable vnderstanding informed the Court that they had diuers times seene her feed two white ferrets with white bread milk I asked this questiō of her because her husband testified to the Bench he saw such a white thing runne thorow the thatch of the house and that he catcht at it but could not get it and hee thought it was a white ferret Vpon my generall suspitiō I asked of her this question I doe here relate the selfe-same wordes vpon this question propounded vnto her what prayer the Diuell taught her to say I asked this question because it was rumoured that the diuel came to her since her conuiction and shamelesly printed and openly sung in a ballad to which many giue too much credite The reason why I asked this was because her father and mothers eye one of theirs was out I asked of her this question because some might thinke this was a visible delusion of her sight only