confessed that her wishes came to passe as for example she wished one goodman Garneham might be lame and so he was and that Master Lockweed might have Lice because he formerly accused her for sending or causing him to have some when she did it not and so he had and that her Impes used to suck her two or three times a week for nineteene yeares together And that the Mole said she should be questioned in some short time but advised her to stand out and not to confesse for if she did he would cause her to drowne her selfe or put her selfe to death and then he should have her soule and after when she was kept before she went to the Justices of Peace her Impe in the shape of a Mole came to her when those which were with her saw it not and tore her as she confessed as if he would have torne her in pieces because she had confessed This woman also confessed that when she prayed she prayed to the Devill and not to God and that she had her Impes from her mother in Law who she said spoiled her And further confessed that the Devill had the use of her body and used to come to bed to her but was soft cold and heavier so heavie as she could not speake And that her Impe like a Rat went upon her wishing to lame Ralph Roggards Horse or Mare because he said he would goe for the Searchers and so it was Besides the former markes know this that it is more easier to finde them on the brest then in any other place for that the brest is all shrunke up and the Teate thereof extended longer then any womans that gives suck be it on man or woman with a Circkle round about it as if it were sucked and insensible as aforesaid and if on a woman that gives suck that brest is drye for where the Impes suck there will come no milke but the teate will stick out longer there then the other and is nothing but skinne and will be much extended as aforesaid and easily to bee discerned by feeling of it I should thinke this should give all satisfaction that gaine Revenge feare of want or poverty or fearefulnesse of hell torments or ill parents or company yea and lust also or any one may bee a meanes to draw one to Witchchraft As for ill company bad and wicked parents and such as are over-much given to lust I will put them together and instance some few more examples As one Bush of Barton aforesaid widdow confessed that about three weekes after her husbands decease being above fiteene yeares before she was questioned the Devill appeared to her in the shape of a young black man standing by her bed side which spoke to her with a hollow voyce and came into bed to her and had the use of her body and asked her to deny God and Christ and serve him and then she should never want but should be avenged of all her enemies which she consented to then she said he kissed her and asked her for bloud which he drew out of her mouth and it dropped on a paper and that he us'd to have the use of her body two or three times a weeke and then us'd to kisse her and at no other time but as beforesaid but she said he was colder then man and heavier and could not performe nature as man and that soone after she had consented to the Covenant and given her bloud there came two things more like Mice which used to suck her about twice a week during that time and confessed how she sent an Impe to torment a Maiden who she thought was against her having reliefe at her Masters which was done but afterward this Maiden went to her and scratched her till she got bloud of her and then she confessed she had no further power over her but this is not alwayes true nor to be observed though it tooke effect there But she confessed the killing of three and twenty Turkies at one time and Cowes and how her Impes returned and told her it was done and other things then at large One more which I should thinke should be a warning to others to have a care to bring their Children up in the nurture and feare of God Of one Anne Cricke of Hitcham aforesaid widdow that she had three Impes about seven yeares together The one in the likenesse of a Sparrow called Harrie the other two in the likenesse of reddish dunne Mice called Iack and Will and they sucked her twice a weeke severally all in one night and the Devill fetched bloud on her left Arme to seale the Covenant which was to denie God and Christ and to serve him which she said she promised faintly but confessed the promise was first made by her before the Devill had her bloud Then I asked her if she did grieve for it after she had done it she answered when it was done it was too late to repent then I asked her why she did it she said she was left weake and the Devill got the upper hand of her for want of faith through want and otherwise she also confessed the Devill had the use of her body but she said she could not tell whether he performed nature or not and said she could not confesse before much company but said the Devill spoke in a hollow voyce and confessed the imployment of her Impes as the sending of her Impe Harry to Iohn Leverishes of the same Towne to kill him a Hog because she was denyed Egges and such like things and they burnt his eares and she could not keepe from going it being asked her why she went she said they must needs goe the Devill drives and so many such like things Also Susan Scot of Lauenham aforesaid complained of one Sweeting comming to her with one Golding who confessed the Devill us'd to have the use of her body and spoke to her with a great easie voyce and that she had two Impes like Cats and Dogs which sucked on those markes found upon her and how she was the Death of Thomazine the daughter of one Mr. Coppinger there and diverse other things Also one Richmond a woman which lived at Brampford confessed the Devill appeared to her in the likenesse of a man called Daniel the Prophet who bad her not be afraid of him for he was so and tooke her by the hand and bad her trust in him and he would avenge her of all her enemies and he should misse nothing for he would curse her enemies and that she after falling out with her neighbour cursed her and bad the Devill take her and she dyed after she had lyen some eight weekes as she said by her meanes because the Devill promised her revenge she confessed her Covenant was to deny God Christ and his Ministers and to serve him she said the Devill for she said so he was that she called Daniel the Prophet none shall need question it and she confessed she had
as Pharaoh sought to as we call them Iuglers deceivers beguiling the eye-sight Some hold them to be casters of Nativities which tell people their fortune by the time of their birth These are onely expressed in the Old Testament But the New speaketh as I may say onely in generall against VVitch-craft which comprehends all the ten aforementioned And therefore it cannot be denyed besides their confessions herafter herein expressed but that there are such to this time and that they all ought to suffer alike which have made an expresse league with the Devill An art so execrable to renounce God and to betake themselves to the Devill as for this thing onely they deserve death in the highest degree for the Law of God saith without exception Thou shalt not suffer a VVitch to live Exod. 22. 18. If a Witch justly convicted Death is due to such an one Levit. 20. 27. For for those abominations the Lord utterly destroyed the Canaanites and plagued Manasses which wicknesse of his was so abhorred of God as in his displeasure hee mentioned it many yeares after as a cause of removing the Iewes from their Land and of leading them away captive into a strange Land Ier. 15. 4. And did not good King Iosiah put such sorts to death that he might fulfill the Law 2 Kings 23. 24. And so did Saul Sam. 28. Nay hath not the Lord threatned great Judgements in the aforementioned places Yea and doth he not by the Prophet promise to cut off VVitch-crafts and Soothsayers when he intends to blesse a Nation Mich. 5. 12. Now who they be that make this expresse or open league are both sorts But for the hurting and cursing VVitch there is but one sort All which makes this expresse or open league and they doe it onely for mischief though severall wayes for they take their Familiars Some for one mischief some for another VVhen as there be two sorts of the other the one in expresse and open league for so I tearme it though made never so secret because it is done by conference with the Devill And the other is by implicit or secret league onely by confidence in believing that such or such a thing shall produce such or such an effect Now the first of these two have Familiars as well as the other or at least a brand by which they may be known and discerned by as well as the first Some to set spells Some Charmes Some to cure diseases severall wayes either by words or washing clothes or aanoynting the Instrument which gave the wound to cure the wound Some onely by laying on oft their hands Some by using and saying superstitious words or forme of prayers using good words to bad ends Some by both Some by herbes Some to know where stolen goods be either by raising the Devill or Familiar Spirits Some onely by words and so likewise the same for lost goods or man or beast and to bring them againe and so by many such like wayes and meanes doe these worke by Yet many times they erre all of these For the Devill cannot performe his promises at all times So that it is not to be questioned but all these sorts are in league with the Devill For it is not to be doubted but before any of them can have power to doe any thing against or for any parry or have any desired ends effected the league expresse or implicit is first made bee it expresse then confirmed but for the Confirmation hereof their confessions will make it plainely appeare and plaine proofes and reasons for the other that they confidently trust that their desires shall be effected accordingly to their beliefe as the curing Witches doe of them which come to them for help All which I will make plainely appeare when I come to speake how they may be known For here some may first demand of mee what sorts of people they be of either sorts I answer as for the first sort most women and for the other most men And albeit there be of both sorts of both as Elimas the Sorcerer and Simon Magus and so likewise Balaam and the Witch of Endor and of these young middle and old age of which instances may be given Yet of Witches in generall there be commonly more women then men This is evident First from Gods Law against Witches Exod. 22. In the feminine gender praestigiatricem ne sinito vivere Secondly from Sauls speech when he said Seeke one out a woman that hath a familiar spirit Sam. 28 7. 1 Chron. 10 13 14. in naming a woman and not a man Thirdly from experience it is found true here and in all Countries especially of hurting Witches that they are most in number as appeares by their owne confessions with the stories and relations even from these in our owne Kingdome As of those of Burton-Old where there met above fourescore at a time And at Tilbrooke bushes in Bedfordshier neere adjacent to Catworth in Huntingtonsheir where there met above twenty at one time as Iohn Wynick and others confessed who suffered at Huntington last May was two yeares As also by the confessions of some others which suffered at Northampton not long before So likewise were those which met at Manningtree in Essex as Elizabeth Clarke and Anne Leech confessed and those which were condemned there being about twenty eight at Chelmsford in the summer 1645. were as I remember all women And those at Burie Saint Edmunds where sixtie eight were as I likewise remember condemned most women All at one Goale delivery in the summer 1645. So I could nominate farre more instances in other places and of about two hundred executed since the said May 1645. in the severall Counties aforementioned the women farre exceeded the men in number And as I have read those in Lancasheire where ninteene assembled and but two men and that those that bewitched the Earle of Rutland were women and that those of Warboyes were women and but one man Women therefore without question exceed men especially of the hurting Witches but for the other I have knowne more men and have heard such as have gone to them say almost generally they be men and so likewise finde them to be so in Authors which speake of such and never knew any women questioned in that way but men and of them as hitherto not many For as before men rather uphold them and say why should any man be questioned for doing good but I am certaine the word of God is contrary Now why it should be that women exceed men in this kind I will not say that Satans setting upon these rather then man is or like to be because of his unhappy onset and prevailing with Eve or their more credulous nature and apt to bee misled for that they be commonly impatient and being displeased more malicious and so more apt to revenge according to their power and thereby more fit instruments for the Devill or that because they be more ready to
her during that time notwithstanding I lived then in Towne and was one which caused her to be questioned who did accuse some others which lived in their severall Parishes the Townsemen desired me to goe with her confession taken in writing by another to the Justices of the Peace for a warrant for those she accused the warrant was made for the searching of such persons as I should nominate whereupon I would first goe to her before the Warrant should be served to know of her who she did accuse Mr. Hopkin being with mee went together and when I had asked her who shee had accused we were agoing away but she said to us if you will stay I will shew you my Impes for they bee ready to come Then said Mr. Hopkin Besse will they doe us no harme no said she what did you thinke I am afraid of my children you shall sit downe so wee did where she appointed us Then one of the company which was appointed to be with her that night said to her Besse I asked you a question of late but you answered not then she said what is it Then he replyed and said tell the truth if it be the truth say so but if not truth then say so Hath not the Devill had the use of your body she said why should you aske such a question he answerd I desire to know the truth and no otherwise then she fetched a sigh and said it is true then said Mr. Hopkin in what manner and likenesse came he to you shee said like a tall proper black haired gentleman a properer man then your selfe and being asked which she had rather lie withall shee said the Devill and so particularized every thing and how hee came in and his habit and how he lay with her and spoke to her as she then affirmed to bee truth and so presently fell a smacking with her lips and called Lought two or three times which presently appeared to us eight For there were six which were appointed to bee with her that night before we went in the likenesse of a Cat as she had formerly told us for she told us before what shapes they should come in and so that presently vanished then she called againe as before Jermarah then appeared another like a red or sandie spotted dog with legs not so long as a finger to our perceivance but his back as broad as two dogs or broader of that bignesse and vanished and so after that called more as before by their severall names which came in severall shapes One like a Greyhound with legs as long as a Stagge Another like a Ferrit And one like a Rabbit and so in severall shapes they appeared to us till there were some seven or eight seen Some by some of us and others by other some of us then I asked her if they were not all come for there were more come then she spoke of she answered that they came double in severall shapes but said one was still to come which was to teare mee in peeces then I asked her why she said because I would have swome her and told me that now shee would bee even with mee and so told in what manner it should come black and like a Toade and so afterward did come as the rest averred that saw it and so she confessed their meetings and the manner how they worshipped the Devill at their meetings and said to us they that be found with these markes that I am found withall are without question Witches yet said that there might be some Witches which had not those markes but affirmed it over and over again that all those that had those markes were Witches and had familiar spirits which sucked of them and so confessed what mischiefe she had done with her Impes in a very large manner and so did next day after she had slept for the Justice gave me order that she should sleepe before he examined her lest shee had not slept before and so I did accordingly and yet shee then confessed at large before two Justices of the Peace and how shee would have been my death this was the first accused and her markes and confession the beginning of our knowledge Yet I confesse the markes be difficult to finde from naturall markes as I shall hereafter declare Rebecca West of Lamford in Essex who was as she confessed married to the Devill and the manner had an Impe came to her in the time she was kept but of her confession more at large hereafter Also Elizabeth Finch of Watson in Suffolke confessed that about twenty yeares before shee was found with the markes the Devill appeared to her in the likenesse of a smoaky coloured Dog which asked her to deny God and Christ which she said upon his promises she did and let him have bloud to seale or confirme the Covenant or agreement and that soone after that there came two more black on the backs and reddish on the bellies which sucked her two or three times a week upon those markes that were found on her and that sometimes she fetched bloud in other places for them and gave it to them shee also had her Impes came visible For she confessed in the time shee was kept one which was with her to looke to her saw one of them and flung it into the fire which she affirmed was one of her Impes and that whilest they were busie about that thinking to burne it she confessed the other came and threw her out of the chaire she sate in which hurt her forehead and wrest which was done accordingly and so further confessed Of these I could bring diverse instances but I will proceed They come likewise invisible as one Binkes of Haverill had an Impe sucking of her whilst she was talking with others and presently confessed it Another whilest I was in the roome with her at Huntington I perceived by her carriage that she was asucking her Impes Spirits or Familiars so called I layed it to her charge but she denied it Yet presently after she confessed it was truth when she was asked by the Justice of Peace And as I remember it was the same woman but I am sure of Keyston in Huntingtonshier and so was she that to the thinking of two which were with her she sate still in her chaire when two more in the yard saw her goe out into the yard and her going in againe This woman confessed the Devill sate in her likenesse and she went out and suckled her Impes in the yard as the other two affirmed So in the same Towne one Clarkes wife skipped out at a hole in a stone wall above halfe a foot thick which was some nine Inches long and some foure and a halfe broad all the one side head and all and but little to bee seen of her but one leg and the hole was neere a yard and halfe from the ground and yet one pulled her back againe and afterward went away no body knew how yet I
her he had done he had killed two for they were lanquelled together so he killed them both which horses were killed but in such a tempest as was supposed by a Devill in Thunder untill she confessed it of her selfe Also she confessed that being at Stephen Humfries in Thorpe aforesaid and a begging for Almes hee came home well and she being at the doore he chid her or gave her such words as she liked not of As she went over the way from the house her Impe Hangman appeared to her and asked her what he should doe and she bad him goe and kill one of his Hogs which shee saw which she said he did before she was out of fight which Hog died accordingly Likewise she further confessed that she being angry with one Mr. Coppinger of Lavenham she sent her Impe Iacob to carry away bushes which he had caused to be laid to fence his fences above one load here some and there some all along by the hedge side as they were to be hedged out and in one night they were gone no man knew what way untill such time as she confessed her Impe did it But as I have since heard they were knowne to be in another mans ground who confessed they came the same night but how he knew not till then Also a young man of Denford in Northampuonshire who suffered for Witchery since the said time at Northampton Confessed that he sent one of his Impes to one Cockes Cattell of Denford because he would not let him keep them and the Cattell ranne so violently away foming that the owner had much adoe to catch them with a horse and more to get them home into his yard againe and so many other things he confessed as I could particularly instance And so for this I hope it is sufficient to give all satisfaction for all confessions or most of them at least tend to prove this in some part Those that are given to over much curiosity to seeke after vaine Knowledge in pride of heart to goe beyond others to understand secret and hidden things to know things to come Such are those as not bounding themselves within the limits of reason nor of Gods revealed will fall fowle unawares upon the Devill and are in great danger to be intrapped by him and made his slaves by his inticements Thus was Parson Lowis taken who had been a Minister as I have heard in one Parish above forty yeares in Suffolke before he was condemned but had been indited for a common imbarriter and for Witchcraft above thirty yeares before and the grand Jury as I have heard found the bill for a common imbarriter who now after he was found with the markes in his confession he confessed that in pride of heart to be equall or rather above God the Devill tooke advantage of him and hee covenanted with the Devill and sealed it with his bloud and had three Familiars or spirits which sucked on the markes found upon his body and did much harme both by Sea and Land especially by Sea for he confessed that he being at Langarfort in Suffolke where he preached as he walked upon the wall or workes there he saw a great saile of Ships passe by and that as they were sailing by one of his three Impes namely his yellow one forthwith appeared to him and asked him what hee should doe and he bade it goe and sinke such a Ship and shewed his Impe a new Ship amongst the middle of the rest as I remember one that belonged to Ipswich so he confessed the Impe went forthwith away and he stood still and viewed the Ships on the Sea as they were a sayling and perceived that Ship immediately to be in more trouble and danger then the rest for he said the water was more boystrous neere that then the rest tumbling up and downe with waves as if water had been boyled in a pot and soone after he said in a short time it sanke directly downe into the Sea as he stood and viewed it when all the rest sayled away in safety there he confessed he made fourteen widdowes in one quarter of an houre Then Mr. Hopkin as he told me for he tooke his Confession asked him if it did not grieve him to see so many men cast away in a short time and that he should be the cause of so many poore widdowes on a suddaine but he swore by his maker no he was joyfull to see what power his Impes had and so likewise confessed many other mischiefes and had a charme to keep him out of Goale and hanging as he paraphrased it himselfe but therein the Devill deceived him for he was hanged that Michaelmas time 1645. at Burie Saint Edmunds but he made a very farre larger confession which I have heard hath been printed but if it were so it was neither of Mr. Hopkins doing nor mine owne for we never printed any thing untill now I doe this he being dead but make no use of any confessions taken by him but only this for that it falleth out so fit for this purpose Yet I have heard that other confessions have been printed and some other things besides as if it had been of ours or one of our doings or at least by one of our consents when as I know he never had any hand in any and for my part I utterly renounce all former Also I may adde to this one Henry Carre of Ratlesden in Suffolke who I have heard was a Scholler fit for Cambridge if not a Cambridge Scholler and was well educated yet fell into this grievous sinne and confessed that he had two Impes which sucked on those markes I found upon him two yeeres together and came in the likenesse of Mice which he felt oft and said they were hairy and heavie and so seeming to bewaile his condition said that he had forsaken God and God him and therefore would confesse no more he said untill he came on the Gallowes to be hanged for he had confessed enough for that and then he would confesse all and make all other knowne he knew of but in the meane time he would confesse no more nor did yet he was much importuned to it but that was alwayes his answer and was arraigned at the Barre three or foure times and yet by reason of an Allarum at Cambridge the Goale delivery at Burie Saint Edmunds was adjourned for about three weekes and he died in the Goale in that time So it was conceived to be pride of heart which was the first originall cause by reason of his knowledge yet I confesse he fell into poverty before his death but as for that I thinke it is seldome or never knowne that any get estates or thrive that thus give themselves over to Satan but rather consume their estates if they have any yet the word of God sayes The wicked man thriveth as well as the godly in this world But for Witches I never knew any To these likewise might be added those observers
Witch to live which implyeth a Discovery of them else it could never be put in execution and so should be a Law to no purpose Secondly from the History First Divine For it is said Saul found out Witches and executed the Law upon them or put them to death and so good King Iosiah 2 King 3. 14. Secondly we have Chronicles and many relations made of the evident discourse of Witches Thirdly the many Tryalls in our owne Country at many Assizes So it is cleere that Witches may be discovered though it cannot be denyed but that there is some difficulty therein because the secresie of the grounds of Witchcraft is so close and hidden as being one of the greatest workes of darknesse committed this day under the Sunne for that naturall causes may arise very strong and many may cunningly counterset outward appearances and Witnesses may feigne their accusations out of malice being transported with rage and uncharitablenesse and desire of revenge because of the strange imagination they have through many seeming probabilities Some for words or deeds taken in the worst sense Some upon some suddaine sight of some creature and so likewise upon burning any thing of the party suspected to be bewitched if any shall come though peradventure accidentally and so sometimes something else as thatch over the doore or such like of the parties suspected to be a Witch and so I could reckon divers instances of severall wayes which many times have produced strange and sometimes true effects which meanes have partly been the cause of the questioning of many who have been found no lesse then Witches and have suffered since the aforementioned time but I forbeare to speake any further of those wayes for I conceive them to be unlawfull altogether and not to be used for it cannot be conceived any lesse then a distrust in Gods providence in putting confidence that such meanes will make the Witch knowne and effect their desires Yet to proceed as I have said I cannot deny but those may be just grounds of suspicion and cause of questioning them but not alwayes certaine besides the unlawfulnesse held by Divines But these cannot be denyed to be just grounds as aforesaid As when one shall be given to cursing and banning with imprecations upon slight occasion and withall use threatnings to be revenged and thereupon evill to happen As Cherrie of Thrapston in Northamptonshire a very aged man who upon a small occasion of falling out with one of his Neighbours in the field where they kept Cattell one of the two I doe not now well remember which scared some Cattell off the ground where the Cattell the other kept was to goe with a Dog the said Cherrie and the other fell at odds and worded whereupon Cherrie wished that his tongue might rot out of his head the man was soone after strangely taken and his tongue did come out of his mouth hanging onely by the rootes thereof within his mouth but could not be kept all in his mouth and so continued to his death and died in a miserable condition This Cherrie confessed himself and that he was his death onely upon that occasion After which Confession that it came to be known many of the townsmen of Thrapstone aforesaid averred that he died with his tongue out and that in a manner it rotted A fearful thing to be thought of what a miserable condition the poor man died in Cherrie likewise confessed the death of two more which by his confession and those that knew their deaths died in a strange and miserable condition through his wicked cursing as he confessed and so confessed many other notorious facts he had done And being asked whether he did not do Sir Iohn Washington a Knight which lived in the same town any harm in his cattel or otherwise for that he had suffered strange losses he confessed he did and particularized the death of much cattel saying when he had reckoned up as many as he could well remember That he had been the death of so many of his that he could not reckon them all Then it was demanded of him Why he would offer it to Sir Iohn who had been so loving to him in affording him relief constantly He answered The more he gave him the more power he had over him to do him mischief for he said his Imps must be employed else they would not let him be quiet but torment him This Cherrie also confessed divers other things and harms he had done and the sealing of the Covenant with the devil with his blood to deny God and Christ and to serve him the devil for revenge with promise of freedom from hell-torments and that his Imps the last time they sucked him not long before he was searched told him they would not suck him any more but that time because he was an old man and had but little blood This Cherrie confessed presently after he was searched who died at Northampton in the Goal there the same day he should have beed tried much about the time the Grand Jury had found the Bill of Indictment against him Billa vera as it was reported miserably A just judgement of God for it was reported that a night or two before his coat was all rent right down on the back and his mouth stopped full and when it was pulled out he confessed that he had been at a bridge going into Thrapston town and had a cord found about his neck To this I might adde the aforenamed Thomazin Ratcliff who upon the falling out with another woman about the death of a childe bade her go home and look to the rest lest she lost more And one died suddenly after as before is expressed Of these kindes I could nominate divers more as you may observe in many of their Confessions and might adde implicite confessions As when a question is asked the suspected party If he or she were not the cause of such or such a thing answer is made He or she might have let me alone or not done so and so or such like As for example you may observe in most of their Confessions they did it because they had not such things as they desired or used to have as Anne Leech of Hawford in Essex confessed in her Confession besides the death of two or three the laming of a childe of one Turners It being asked her why she did it she answered Her mother might have paid her for work she had done Likewise one Anne Parker being asked why she did one Pryer mischief she answered He might have given her money upon a Thanksgiving-day as well as he gave to others but would not give her any because she was not at Church whereupon she sent her spirit to him who did accordingly And so confessed how the devil in the likenesse of a dun Dog had three drops of blood under her tongue to seal the Covenant and had a piece of paper in his hand and wrote her name thereon with her consent
other in glasses or undo what the other have done if proved is it not sufficient But I hope there it none so ignorant or blinde as to think or believe it is lawful for any to go or send to such much lesse to put any confidence or trust in them who require faith to believe they can cure before they will undertake it seeing by the Law of God they ought to die as well as the other And the holy Scripture utterly forbids any going to them Levit. 2. 6. where it is said that he will set his face against such as shall seek after those that have familiar spirits and will cut them off from amongst his people much more then such as should be guilty themselves Then some will say How shall they be known one from another or how shall they be found out if these difficulties be For it cannot be denied but that many of them have made great shews of Religion I answer It is truth as the devil can transform himself into an Angel of light so have many of these Witches made outward shews as if they had been Saints on earth and so were taken by some as one of Catworth in Huntingtonshire who made as large a Confession in a manner as ever any did confessed at the gallows before her death in my hearing Likewise one Lendall of Cambridge who suffered also carried her self as if she had been no lesse and so did the mother of the said Rehecca West and many others which by their carriage seemed to be very religious people and would constantly repair to all Sermons neer them yet notwithstanding all their shews of religion there appeared some of these probabilities whereby they were suspected and so searched and so by that means discovered and made known For if you do but observe these and such-like other reasons as may be thereby gathered together with their Confessions you shall finde that they prepare themselves in some kinde or other and that by their outward carriage either by ill company keeping maliciousnesse revengeful persons or such as be born of such parents or go under a general suspicion of Witchcraft or one way or other as aforesaid there will appear just grounds of suspicion either by words or deeds whereby they may be brought to be questioned whereby it may appear there is a league made with the devil for notwithstanding all former reasons to convict or prove one guilty of Witchcraft is to prove a League made with the devil in this onely act standeth the very reality of a Witch without which notwithstanding great shews of probabilities I know not nor cannot conceive how any can be properly said to be Witches For the devil through Gods permission may hurt mens bodies and kill their cattel and ill haps may fall out upon his or her cursing and but grounds to make enquiry and search which must be for this League which though never so secretly made yet it is to be discerned seeing it is that which maketh a Witch and not to some of their own society For besides the former reasons it is an heathenish practice to seek to such Isa. 19. 3. and 65. 4. 2 King 17. 17. Now we should not be like the abominable heathen in any evil much lesse in these abominations And they which seek to them are commonly wicked and evil people haunted themselves by an evil spirit who suggesteth this course into them as he did into Saul 1 Sam. 28. Yea such as esteem of these and think they work in Gods Name and by his power are bewitched in so thinking Acts 8. 9 11. For it is found true by daily experience amongst our selves that those which most use them most need them as I might instance but onely I desire to prove the League which is to be proved for they that make this League if expresse as before have a familiar or spirit more or lesse For as soon as the League is made the Spirit or Familiar one or more is familiar as was before sufficiently proved by Saul and Iosiah in the forementioned places when Witches were known to have Familiars besides the Confessions of Witches lately executed herein expressed and so they have now adays by which after their League made they work their mischief as is likewise proved by their Confessions as the said Elizabeth Clark confessed who averred that all were Witches who had such marks as she was found withal and had familiar spirits more or lesse and that there were some which had none which I have found true for they have onely the brand or devils mark as I may so call it but for the other you may observe it as a genetal rule in all their Confessions as Iohn Bysack alias Gleede of Waldingfield magna in the County of Suffolk confessed that the devil came in at his window in the shape of a rugged sandy-coloured dog which asked him to deny God Christ and his Baptism which he spake with a great hollow voice and he consented Then he said Satan asked him for blood to seal and confirm the covenant or agreement and he bade him take it and that Satan with his consent had in the shape of such a coloured dog thorow his leather doublet with his claw Then I asked him where away Satan had it and he said From his heart and that Satan promised to free him of hell-torments and that he would send him other things which he must let suck his blood and they should avenge him of all his enemies All which he said he consented to and was willing withal and then soon after those came which he called his Imps and sucked on those marks or teats which I found on his body neer twenty yeers together sometimes once a week sometimes once a fortnight which he confessed came in the likenesse of Snails onely they differed one from another in colour and bignesse Then I asked him how they could suck on that part of his body I found the marks on and he said he used to lie down on his right side to let them suck and was willing withal for he confessed he oftentimes arose out of his bed and made a fire and lay down by it to let them suck his blood which rising out of his bed and fire making his wife averred to be truth yet she said she never knew or thought him to be such a manner of person for she said he used to tell her he was sick and used to be troubled with a disease which he could not help himself better for to ease himself of his pain he used to be in then by that means and could not endure his bed his pain was so troublesome But to clear all suspicion which after might fall on her thereby she was searched and found clear and no lesse thought to be by her neighbours before and since as I have heard He likewise confessed his Imps names were Sydrake Ieffry Peter Ayleward Sacar and Pyman for he had six by his
apparent and had a clean Shift on her back But not long after in her Confession amongst other things she confessed that if she had been let go home to have shifted her self she had not been found with the marks for that she had a shift so dressed that her marks could not have been found at present and that she thereby so escaped by the same means the former searches yet she was searched by those which were the first that ever to my knowledge found any of those marks and so confessed that she had made a covenant with the devil and sealed it with her blood and set a round O to the paper the devil brought her and confessed her Familiars with the sucking of them and the mischief she had done by her Witchcraft or at least part of them as she then further confessed and suffered for the same Here you may observe that the diligentnesse of searching is a great matter and one of the chiefest points of their discovery For I have observed this one thing in my proceedings herein that if all their marks though in several places be not found they will hardly confesse but when all are found and the just number of them more or lesse laid to their charge according as they have it is a great inducement to bring them to confession and that hath made me careful when apparent marks have not been seen at first that a second or third search be made for it is a matter of concernment of life and death and therefore as I conceive it were fitting that those which search and those with them they having some intelligence of the marks first given them were sworn before searching that diligent search might be made in all places of such as be suspected in such a case of life and death for the detection of so great a height of sin and implety that none that be guilty might escape the punishment due according to their deserts here and so those likewise that wrongfully go under that aspersion be freed thereof To which end it were fitting that such as did it might be such as know what belongs to an Oath and who make conscience to perform the same likewise and such as be at the searching able people of discretion and good carriage for I fear that money hath swayed some and want of knowledge others Sometimes the flesh is sunk in a hollow that is when they pull them off and pull them out with their nails or otherwise cause them to be pulled off as one of Over in Cambridge-shire confessed it being so found and laid to her charge that she heard of our coming to town and plucked her marks off the night before because she would not have been found as she confessed before a Justice of Peace of the same town at large both of the Covenant and her Imps and the harms she did both to him and others by her Imps. But some will say It is strange they should know when they should be searched if it be kept private I answer Let it be kept never so private it hath been common and as common as any other thing as they themselves have confessed for so did they of Fenny-Drayton in Cambridge-shire who made very large Confessions as that the devil told them of our coming to town but withal told them they should be searched but should not be found wherein they said they found him a lyar and so they said they did in his promising them they should never want which they did and so likewise that is usual with others but those made very large Confessions Also sometimes there is nothing to be discerned but red spots as if the skin were perished and so it is for that is when they onely cut them off and apply no medicine at all to it yet the blood will appear all round within the circle as afore is expressed And of these I have found divers but for the most part those have been left for a second search or a third as occasion or ground sufficient required And of these though I have found divers yet I have but one example by confession and that is of one Clarke of Keyston in Huntington-shire a young man who was so found and set at liberty expecting to have been searched another time when he should not know of it but he soon after confessed he had cut off his marks saying they were fools that were found with the marks for he had made sure he could not be found with them for he had cut off his two or three days before I searched him But I perceived the blood and shewed it to the townsmen and told them that I thought he was naught and guilty of that sin and doubted not thereof but would not take oath unlesse the marks had been apparently seen upon him Now some will say notwithstanding all this that is said There may be and are natural marks like all these afore spoken of I answer For natural marks as I conceive there be Wens of divers sorts but view these well and next adjacent to the flesh they are very small and hang like a thred but from thence like a teat or big but feel of it and it is fleshie and will not extend as the other will do But some will say It may be a rent and so a piece of skin may hang I answer This though it be nothing but as a skin yet it cometh firmly out of the flesh and sticks out like a big or teat and not hang down when I conceive rents will either hang or lie flat but if hang then I believe a scar is to be seen and feels fleshlike besides but these have no scar onely as it were a little hole on the top where the blood comes out which is easily to be discerned for I have nipped blood out And then likewise they be insensible when the other be not But I confesse if these be not pricked the right way they will feel it likewise Some have Warts but I answer They be out of the flesh as well as the other but they are flat and fleshie and sensible and will not any way extend but so far unlike the other as I will not further speak of them Some have Mouls it is truth I believe most men have though they be of several colours but those be flat to the flesh always which is nothing like the other nor will extend but is sensible But some will say It may be like the brand I answer No for it differeth as well in colour as also it hath no circle about it but it as the rest of the skin is on the other parts of the body onely differs sometimes in colour but not like the other and is sensible neither for the most part have any of the marks of those which have suffered been found where there were either Warts Wens or Mouls or commonly rents especially of the men But then some will say There are Emrod-marks and piles