accusing an other all things were laid open at large In the end his Lordship tooke away the Girle from her Father and committed her to M. Leigh a very religious Preacher and M. Chisnal two Iustices of the Peace to be carefully examined Who tooke great paines to examine her of euery particular point In the end they came into the Court and there deliuered this Examination as followeth ⸫ The Examination of GRACE SOWERBVTS of Salmesburie in the Countie of Lancaster Spinster Taken vpon Wednesday the 19. of August 1612. Annoque Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Fidei Defensoris c. decimo Scotiae xlvi Before WILLIAM LEICH and EDWARD CHISNAL Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the same Countie At the Assizes and generall Gaole deliuerie holden at Lancaster By Direction of Sir EDWARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assize at Lancaster BEing demanded whether the accusation shee laid vppon her Grand-mother Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierley and Iane Southworth of Witchcraft viz. of the killing of the child of Thomas Walshman with a naile in the Nauell the boyling eating and oyling thereby to transforme themselues into diuers shapes was true shee doth vtterly denie the same or that euer shee saw any such practises done by them Shee further saith that one Master Thompson which she taketh to be Master Christopher Southworth to whom shee was sent to learne her prayers did perswade counsell and aduise her to deale as formerly hath beene said against her said Grand-mother Aunt and Southworths wife And further shee confesseth and saith that shee neuer did know or saw any Deuils nor any other Visions as formerly by her hath beene alleaged and informed Also shee confesseth and saith That shee was not throwne or cast vpon the Henne-ruffe and Hay-mow in the Barne but that shee went vp vpon the Mow her selfe by the wall side Being further demanded whether shee euer was at the Church shee saith shee was not but promised her after to goe to the Church and that very willingly Signum ✚ Grace Sowerbuts William Leigh Edward Chisnal The Examination of IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHWORTH of Salmesburie in the Countie of Lancaster Taken vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August 1612. Annoque Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Fidei Defensoris c. decimo Scotiae xlvi Before WILLIAM LEIGH and EDWARD CHISNAL Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the same Countie At the Assizes and generall Gaole deliuerie holden at Lancaster By Direction of Sir EDWARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assize at Lancaster IEnnet Bierley being demanded what shee knoweth or hath heard how Grace Sowerbuts was brought to Christopher Southworth Priest shee answereth that shee was brought to M. Singletons house by her owne Mother where the said Priest was and that shee further heard her said Mother say after her Daughter had been in her fit that shee should be brought vnto her Master meaning the said Priest And shee further saith that shee thinketh it was by and through the Counsell of the said M. Thomson alias Southworth Priest That Grace Sowerbuts her Grandchild accused her of Witchcraft and of such practises as shee is accused of And thinketh further the cause why the said Thompson alias Southworth Priest should practise with the Wench to doe it was for that shee went to the Church Iane Southworth saith shee saw Master Thompson alias Southworth the Priest a month or sixe weekes before she was committed to the Gaole and had conference with him in a place called Barne-hey-lane where and when shee challenged him for slandering her to bee a Witch wherunto he answered that what he had heard thereof he heard from her mother and her Aunt yet she this Examinate thinketh in her heart it was by his procurement and is moued so to thinke for that shee would not be disswaded from the Church Ellen Bierley saith Shee saw Master Thompson alias Southworth sixe or eight weeks before she was committed and thinketh the said Priest was the practiser with Grace Sowerbutts to accuse her of Witchcraft and knoweth no cause why he should so doe but because she goeth to the Church Signum ✚ Iennet Bierley Signum £ Iane Southworth Signum Θ Ellen Bierley William Leigh Edward Chisnall These Examinations being taken they were brought into the Court and there openly in the presence of this great Audience published and declared to the Iurie of Life and Death and thereupon the Gentlemen of their Iury required to consider of them For although they stood vpon their Triall for matter of Fact of Witchcraft Murther and much more of the like nature yet in respect all their Accusations did appeare to bee practise they were now to consider of them and to acquit them Thus were these poore Innocent creatures by the great care and paines of this honorable Iudge deliuered from the danger of this conspiracie this bloudie practise of the Priest laid open of whose fact I may lawfully say Etiam si ego tacuero clamabunt lapides These are but ordinary with Priests and Iesuites no respect of Bloud kindred or friendship can moue them to forbeare their Conspiracies for when he had laboured treacherously to seduce and conuert them and yet could doe no good then deuised he this meanes God of his great mercie deliuer vs all from them and their damnable conspiracies and when any of his Maiesties subiects so free and innocent as these shall come in question grant them as honorable a Triall as Reuerend and worthy a Iudge to sit in Iudgement vpon them and in the end as speedie a deliuerance And for that which I haue heard of them seene with my eyes and taken paines to Reade of them My humble prayer shall be to God Almightie Vt Conuertantur ne pereant Aut consundantur ne noceant To conclude because the discourse of these three women of Salmesbury hath beene long and troublesome to you it is heere placed amongst the Witches by special order and commandement to set forth to the World the practise and conspiracie of this bloudy Butcher And because I haue presented to your view a Kalender in the Frontispice of this Booke of twentie notorious Witches I shall shew you their deliuerance in order as they came to their Arraignement and Triall euery day and as the Gentlemen of euery Iury for life and death stood charged with them THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of ANNE REDFERNE Daughter of ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster for Witchcraft vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August at the Assises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assise at Lancaster Anne Redferne SVch is the horror of Murther and the crying sinne of Bloud that it will neuer bee satisfied but with Bloud So fell it out with this miserable creature Anne Redferne the daughter of
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
or Fancie hath taken most of her sight away from her And further this Examinate saith That in Summer last saue one the said Deuill or Fancie came vpon this Examinate in the night time and at diuerse and sundry times in the likenesse of a Beare gaping as though he would haue wearied this Examinate And the last time of all shee this Examinate saw him was vpon Thursday last yeare but one next before Midsummer day in the euening like a Beare and this Examinate would not then speake vnto him for the which the said Deuill pulled this Examinate downe The Examination of IAMES DEVICE sonne of ELIZABETH DEVICE taken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill Annoque Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. Decimo ac Scotiae xlv Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANISTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the said Countie viz. ANd further saith That twelue yeares agoe the said Anne Chattox at a Buriall at the new Church in Pendle did take three scalpes of people which had been buried and then cast out of a graue as she the said Chattox told this Examinate and tooke eight teeth out of the said Scalpes whereof she kept foure to her selfe and gaue other foure to the said Demdike this Examinates Grand-mother which foureteeth now shewed to this Examinate are the foureteeth that the said Chattox gaue to his said Grand-mother as aforesaid which said teeth haue euer since beene kept vntill now found by the said Henry Hargreiues this Examinate at the West-end of this Examinates Grand-mothers house and there buried in the earth and a Picture of Clay there likewise found by them about halfe a yard ouer in the earth where the said teeth lay which said picture so found was almost withered away and was the Picture of Anne Anthony Nutters daughter as this Examinates Grand-mother told him The Examination of ALLIZON DEVICE daughter of ELIZABETH DEVICE Taken at Reade in the Countie of Lancaster the thirtieth day of March Annoque Reg. Regis IACOBI nunc Angliae c. Decimo Scotiae Quadragesimo quinto Before ROGER NOVVEL of Reade aforesaid Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the said Countie THis Examinate saith That about eleuen yeares agoe this Examinate and her mother had their fire-house broken and all or the most part of their linnen clothes halfe a peck of cut oat-meale and a quantitie of meale gone all which was worth twentie shillings or aboue and vpon a Sunday then next after this Examinate did take a band and a coife parcell of the goods aforesaid vpon the daughter of Anne Whittle alias Chattox and claimed them to be parcell of the goods stolne as aforesaid And this Examinate further saith That her father called Iohn Deuice being afraid that the said Anne Chattox should doe him or his goods any hurt by Witchcraft did couenant with the said Anne that if she would hurt neither of them she should yearely haue one Aghen-dole of meale which meale was yearely paid vntill the yeare which her father died in which was about eleuen yeares since Her father vpon his then-death-bed taking it that the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox did bewitch him to death because the said meale was not paid the last yeare And she also saith That about two yeares agone this Examinate being in the house of Anthony Nutter of Pendle aforesaid and being then in company with Anne Nutter daughter of the said Anthony the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox came into the said Anthony Nutters house and seeing this Examinate and the said Anne Nutter laughing and saying that they laughed at her the said Chattox well said then sayes Anne Chattox I will be meet with the one of you And vpon the next day after she the said Anne Nutter fell sicke and within three weekes after died And further this Examinate saith That about two yeares agoe she this Examinate hath heard That the said Anne Whittle alias Chattox was suspected for bewitching the drinke of Iohn Moore of Higham Gentleman and not long after shee this Examinate heard the said Chattox say that she would meet with the said Iohn Moore or his Whereupon a child of the said Iohn Moores called Iohn fell sick and languished about halfe a yeare and then died during which languishing this Examinate saw the said Chattox sitting in her owne garden and a picture of Clay like vnto a child in her Apron which this Examinate espying the said Anne Chattox would haue hidde with her Apron and this Examinate declaring the same to her mother her mother thought it was the picture of the said Iohn Moores childe And she this Examinate further saith That about sixe or seuen yeares agoe the said Chattox did fall out with one Hugh Moore of Pendle as aforesaid about certaine cattell of the said Moores which the said Moore did charge the said Chattox to haue bewitched for which the said Chattox did curse and worry the said Moore and said she would be Reuenged of the said Moore whereupon the said Moore presently fell sicke and languished about halfe a yeare and then died Which Moore vpon his death-bed said that the said Chattox had bewitched him to death And she further saith That about sixe yeares agoe a daughter of the said Anne Chattox called Elizabeth hauing been at the house of Iohn Nutter of the Bull-hole to begge or get a dish full of milke which she had and brought to her mother who was about a fields breadth of the said Nutters house which her said mother Anne Chattox tooke and put into a Kan and did charne the same with two stickes acrosse in the same field whereupon the said Iohn Nutters sonne came vnto her the said Chattox and misliking her doings put the said Kan and milke ouer with his foot and the morning next after a Cow of the said Iohn Nutters fell sicke and so languished three or foure dayes and then died In the end being openly charged with all this in open Court with weeping teares she humbly acknowledged them to be true and cried out vnto God for Mercy and forgiuenesse of her sinnes and humbly prayed my Lord to be mercifull vnto Anne Redfearne her daughter of whose life and condition you shall heare more vpon her Arraignement and Triall whereupon shee being taken away Elizabeth Deuice comes now to receiue her Triall being the next in order of whom you shall heare at large THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of ELIZABETH DEVICE Daughter of ELIZABETH SOTHERNES alias OLD DEMBDIKE late wife of Io. DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster widow for Witchcraft Vpon Tuesday the eighteenth of August at the Assises and generall Gaole-Deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assise at Lancaster Elizabeth Deuice O Barbarous and inhumane Monster beyond example so farre from sensible vnderstanding of thy owne miserie as to bring thy owne naturall children into mischiefe and bondage
also at her said mothers house at the day and time aforesaid two women of Burneley Parish whose names the wife of Richard Nutter doth know And there was likewise there one Anne Crouckshey of Marsden And shee also confesseth in all things touching the Christening of the Spirit and the killing of Master Lister of Westbie as the said Iames Deuice hath before confessed but denieth of any talke was amongst them the said Witches to her now remembrance at the said meeting together touching the killing of the Galoer or the blowing vp of Lancaster Castle The Examination and Euidence of IENNET DEVICE daughter of the said ELIZABETH DEVICE late wife of IOHN DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Against ELIZABETH DEVICE her Mother prisoner at the Barre vpon her Arraignement and Triall viz. THe said Iennet Deuice saith That vpon Good Friday last there was about twentie persons whereof onely two were men to this Examinates remembrance at her said Grandmothers house called Malking-Tower aforesaid about twelue of the clocke all which persons this Examinates said mother told her were Witches and that they came to giue a name to Alizon Deuice Spirit or Familiar sister to this Examinate and now prisoner at Lancaster And also this Examinate saith That the persons aforesaid had to their dinners Beefe Bacon and roasted Mutton which Mutton as this Examinates said brother said was of a Wether of Christopher Swyers of Barley which Wether was brought in the night before into this Examinates mothers house by the said Iames Deuice this Examinates said brother and in this Examinates sight killed and eaten as aforesaid And shee further saith That shee knoweth the names of sixe of the said Witches viz. the wife of Hugh Hargraues vnder Pendle Christopher Howgate of Pendle vnckle to this Examinate and Elizabeth his wife and Dicke Miles his wife of the Rough-Lee Christopher Iackes of Thorny-holme and his wife and the names of the residue shee this Examinate doth not know sauing that this Examinates mother and brother were both there And lastly she this Examinate confesseth and saith That her mother hath taught her two prayers the one to cure the bewitched and the other to get drinke both which particularly appeare The Examination and Euidence of IAMES DEVICE sonne of the said ELIZABETH DEVICE late wife of IOHN DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Against ELIZABETH DEVICE his Mother prisoner at the Barre vpon her Arraignement and Triall viz. THe said Iames Deuice saith That on Good-Friday last about twelue of the clocke in the day time there dined in this Examinates said mothers house at Malking-Tower a number of persons whereof three were men with this Examinate and the rest women and that they met there for three causes following as this Examinates 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 shee was not there The second was for the deliuerie of his said Grandmother olde Dembdike this Examinates said sister Allizon the said Anne Chattox and her daughter Redferne killing the Gaoler at Lancaster and before the next Assises to blow vp the Castle there and to that end the aforesaid prisoners might by that time make an escape and get away All which this Examinate then heard them conferre of And he also sayth That the names of the said Witches as were on Good-Friday at this Examinates said Grandmothers house and now this Examinates owne mothers for so many of them as hee did know were these viz. The wife of Hugh Hargreiues of Burley the wife of Christopher Bulcock of the Mosse end and Iohn her sonne the mother of Myles Nutter Elizabeth the wife of Christopher Hargreiues of Thurniholme Christopher Howgate and Elizabeth his wife Alice Graye of Coulne and one Mould-heeles wife of the same and this Examinate and his Mother And this Examinate further sayth That all the Witches went out of the said House in their owne shapes and likenesses And they all by that they were forth of the dores gotten on Horsebacke like vnto Foales some of one colour some of another and Prestons wife was the last and when shee got on Horsebacke they all presently vanished out of this Examinates sight And before their said parting away they all appointed to meete at the said Prestons wiues 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 meete vpon Romleyes Moore And here they parted with resolution to execute their deuillish and bloudie practices for the deliuerance of their friends vntill they came to meete here where their power and strength was gone And now finding her Meanes was gone shee cryed out for Mercie Whereupon shee being taken away the next in order was her sonne Iames Deuice whom shee and her Mother old Dembdike brought to act his part in this wofull Tragedie THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of IAMES DEVICE Sonne of ELIZABETH DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle within the Countie of Lancaster aforesaid Laborer for Witchcraft Vpon Tuesday the eighteenth of August at the Assises and generall Gaole-Deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assise at Lancaster James Deuice THis wicked and miserable Wretch whether by practise or meanes to bring himselfe to some vntimely death and thereby to auoide his Tryall by his Countrey and iust iudgement of the Law or ashamed to bee openly charged with so many deuillish practises and so much innocent bloud as hee had spilt or by reason of his Imprisonment so long time before his Tryall which was with more fauour commiseration and reliefe then hee deserued I know not But being brought forth to the Barre to receiue his Triall before this worthie Iudge and so Honourable and Worshipfull an Assembly of Iustices for this seruice was so insensible weake and vnable in all thinges as he could neither speake heare or stand but was holden vp when hee was brought to the place of his Arraignement to receiue his triall This Iames Deuice of the Forrest of Pendle being brought to the Barre was there according to the forme order and course Indicted and Arraigned for that hee Felloniously had practised vsed and exercised diuers wicked and deuillish Arts called Witch-crafts Inchauntments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon one Anne Towneley wife of Henrie Towneley of the Carre in the Countie of Lancaster Gentleman and her by force of the same felloniously had killed Contra pacem c. The said Iames Deuice was the second time Indicted and Arraigned in the same manner and forme for the death of Iohn Duckworth by witch-craft Contra pacem c. To these two seuerall Indictments vpon his Arraignment he pleaded not guiltie and for the triall of his life put himselfe vpon God and
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
to make them a great feast and if they had occasion to meete in the meane time then should warning be giuen to meet vpō Romleys Moore The Examination and Euidence of IENNET DEVICE daughter of ELIZABETH DEVICE Against ALICE NVTTER Prisoner at the Barre THe said Examinate saith That on Good-Friday last there was about 20. persons whereof only two were men to this Examinates remembrance at her said Grand-mothers house at Malking-Tower about twelue of the clock all which persons this Examinats said mother tould her were Witches And she further saith she knoweth the names of six of them viz. the wife of Hugh Hargreiues vnder Pendle Christopher Howgate of Pendle Vncle to this Examinat and Elizabeth his wife and Dick Myles wife of the Rough-Lee Christopher Iacks of Thorniholme and his wife and the names of the residue she this Examinate doth not know AFter these Examinations were openly read his Lordship being very suspitious of the accusation of this yong wench Iennet Deuice commanded one to take her away into the vpper Hall intending in the meane time to make Triall of her Euidence and the Accusation especially against this woman who is charged to haue beene at Malking-Tower at this great meeting Master Couel was commanded to set all his Prisoners by themselues and betwixt euery Witch another Prisoner and some other strange women amongst them so as no man could iudge the one from the other and these being set in order before the Court from the prisoners then was the Wench Iennet Deuice commaunded to be brought into the Court and being set before my Lord he tooke great paines to examine her of euery particular Point What women were at Malking-Tower vpon Good-Friday How she knew them What were the names of any of them And how she knew them to be such as she named In the end being examined by my Lord Whether she knew them that were there by their faces if she saw them she told my Lord she should whereupon in the presence of this great Audience in open Court she went and tooke Alice Nutter this prisoner by the hand and accused her to be one and told her in what place shee sat at the Feast at Malking-Tower at the great assembly of the Witches and who sat next her what conference they had and all the rest of their proceedings at large without any manner of contrarietie Being demaunded further by his Lordship Whether she knew Iohan a Style she alledged she knew no such womā to be there neither did she euer heare her name This could be no forged or false Accusation but the very Act of GOD to discouer her Thus was no meanes left to doe her all indifferent fauour but it was vsed to saue her life and to this shee could giue no answere But nothing would serue for old Dembdike old Chattox and others had charged her with innocent bloud which cries out for Reuenge and will be satisfied And therefore Almightie GOD in his Iustice hath cut her off And here I leaue her vntill shee come to her Execution where you shall heare shee died very impenitent insomuch as her owne children were neuer able to moue her to confesse any particular offence or declare anything euen in Articulo Mortis which was a very fearefull thing to all that were present who knew shee was guiltie THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of KATHERINE HEVVIT Wife of IOHN HEVVIT alias MOVLD-HEELES of Coulne in the Countie of Lancaster Clothier for Witchcraft vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August at the Assises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assise at Lancaster Katherine Hewit WHo but Witches can be proofes and so witnesses of the doings of Witches since all their Meetings Conspiracies Practises and Murthers are the workes of Darkenesse But to discouer this wicked Furie GOD hath not onely raised meanes beyond expectation by the voluntarie Confession and Accusation of all that are gone before to accuse this Witch being Witches and thereby witnesses of her doings but after they were committed by meanes of a Child to discouer her to be one and a Principall in that wicked assembly at Malking-Tower to deuise such a damnable course for the deliuerance of their friends at Lancaster as to kill the Gaoler and blow vp the Castle wherein the Deuill did but labour to assemble them together and so being knowne to send them all one way And herein I shall commend vnto your good consideration the wonderfull meanes to condemne these parties that liued in the world free from suspition of any such offences as are proued against them And thereby the more dangerous that in the successe wee may lawfully say the very Finger of God did point thē out And she that neuer saw them but in that meeting did accuse them and by their faces discouer them This Katherine Hewyt Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster being brought to the Barre before the great Seate of Iustice was there according to the former order and course Indicted and Arraigned for that she felloniously had practized exercised and vsed her Deuillish and wicked Arts called Witch-crafts Inchantments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon Anne Foulds and the same Anne Foulds by force of the same witch-craft felloniously did kill and murder 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 life and death stand charged with her as with others The Euidence against Katherine Hewyt 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 decimo Scotiae quadragesimo quarto Before ROGER NOWEL and NICHOLAS BANNESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster Against KATHERINE HEWYT alias MOVLD-HEELES of Colne viz. THis Examinate saith that vpon Good-Friday last about twelue of the Clock in the day time there dined at this Examinates Mothers house a number of persons And hee also saith that they were Witches and that the names of the said Witches that were there for so many of them as he did know were amongst others Katherine Hewyt wife of Iohn Hewyt alias Mould-heeles of Colne in the Countie of Lancaster Clothier And that the said Witch called Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles and one Alice Gray did confesse amongst the said Witches at their meeting at Malkin-Tower aforesaid that they had killed Foulds wifes child called Anne Foulds of Colne And also said that they had then in hanck a child of Michael Hartleys of Colne And this Examinate further saith that all the said Witches went out of the said house in their own shapes and likenesses and by that time they were gotten forth of the doores they
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
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
Da ueniam Ignoto non displicuisse meretur Festinat studijs qui placuisse tibi THE ARRAIGNEMENT AND TRIALL OF IENNET PRESTON OF GISBORNE IN CRAVEN in the Countie of Yorke At the Assises and Generall Gaole Deliuerie holden at the Castle of Yorke in the Countie of Yorke the xxvij day of Iuly last past Anno Regni Regis IACOBI Angliae c. Decimo Scotiae quadragesimo quinto Before Sir IAMES ALTHAM Knight one of the Barons of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer and Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight another of the Barons of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer his Maiesties Iustices of Assise Oyer and Terminer and generall Gaole-Deliuerie in the Circuit of the North-parts LONDON Printed by W. STANSBY for IOHN BARNES and are to be sold at his Shoppe neere Holborne Conduit 1612. THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of IENNET PRESTON of Gisborne in Crauen in the Countie of Yorke at the Assises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie holden at the Castle of Yorke in the Countie of Yorke the seuen and twentieth day of Iuly last past Anno Regni Regis Iacobi Angliae c. Decimo Scotiae xlvj Jennet Preston MANY haue vndertaken to write great discourses of Witches and many more dispute and speake of them And it were not much if as many wrote of them as could write at al to set forth to the world the particular Rites and Secrets of their vnlawfull Artes with their infinite and wonderfull practises which many men little feare till they seaze vpon them As by this late wonderfull discouerie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster may appeare wherein I find such apparant matter to satisfie the World how dangerous and malitious a Witch this Iennet Preston was How vnfit to liue hauing once so great mercie extended to her And againe to reuiue her practises and returne to her former course of life that I thinke it necessarie not to let the memorie of her life and death die with her But to place her next to her fellowes and to set forth the Arraignement Triall and Conuiction of her with her offences for which she was condemned and executed And a though shee died for her offence before the rest I yet can afford her no better place then in the end of this Booke in respect the proceedings was in an other Countie You that were husband to this Iennet Preston her friends and kinsfolkes who haue not beene sparing to deuise so scandalous a slander out of the malice of your hearts as that shee was maliciously prosecuted by Master Lister and others Her life vniustly taken away by practise and that euen at the Gallowes where shee died impenitent and void of all feare or grace she died an Innocent woman because she would confesse nothing You I say may not hold it strange though at this time being not only moued in conscience but directed for example sake with that which I haue to report of her I suffer you not to wander any further but with this short discourse oppose your idle conceipts able to seduce others And by Charmes of Imputations and slander laid vpon the Iustice of the Land to cleare her that was iustly condemned and executed for her offence That this Iennet Preston was for many yeares well thought of and esteemed by Master Lister who afterwardes died for it Had free accesse to his house kind respect and entertainment nothing denied her she stood in need of Which of you that dwelleth neare them in Crauen but can and will witnesse it which might haue incouraged a Woman of any good condition to haue runne a better course The fauour and goodnesse of this Gentleman Master Lister now liuing at his first entrance after the death of his Father extended towards her and the reliefe she had at all times with many other fauours that succeeded from time to time are so palpable and euident to all men as no man can denie them These were sufficient motiues to haue perswaded her from the murder of so good a friend But such was her execrable Ingratitude as euen this grace and goodnesse was the cause of his miserable and vntimely death And euen in the beginning of his greatest fauours extended to her began shee to worke this mischiefe according to the course of all Witches This Iennet Preston whose Arraignment and Triall with the particular Euidence against her I am now to set forth vnto you one that liued at Gisborne in Crauen in the Countie of Yorke neare Master Lister of Westbie against whom she practised much mischiefe for hauing cut off Thomas Lister Esquire father to this gentleman now liuing shee reuenged her selfe vpon his sonne who in short time receiued great losse in his goods and cattell by her meanes These things in time did beget suspition and at the Assizes and Generall Gaole deliuerie holden at the Castle of Yorke in Lent last past before my Lord Bromley shee was Indicted and Arraigned for the murder of a Child of one Dodg-sonnes but by the fauour and mercifull consideration of the Iurie thereof acquited But this fauour and mercie was no sooner extended towardes her and shee set at libertie But shee began to practise the vtter ruine and ouerthrow of the name and bloud of this Gentleman And the better to execute her mischiefe and wicked intent within foure dayes after her deliuerance out of the Castle at Yorke went to the great Assembly of Witches at Malking-Tower vpon Good-friday last to pray aide and helpe for the murder of Master Lister in respect he had prosecuted against her at the same Assizes Which it pleased God in his mercie to discouer and in the end howsoeuer he had blinded her as he did the King of Aegypt and his Instruments for the brighter euidence of his own powerfull glory Yet by a Iudiciall course and triall of the Law cut her off and so deliuered his people from the danger of her Deuilish and wicked practises which you shall heare against her at her Arraignement and Triall which I shall now set forth to you in order as it was performed with the wonderfull signes and tokens of GOD to satisfie the Iurie to finde her guiltie of this bloudie murther committed foure yeares since Indictment THis Iennet Preston being Prisoner in the Castle at Yorke and indicted for that shee felloniously had practised vsed and exercised diuerse wicked and deuillish Arts called Witchcrafts Inchauntments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon one Thomas Lister of Westby in Crauen in the Countie of Yorke Esquire and by force of the same Witchcraft felloniously the said Thomas Lister had killed Contra Pacem c. beeing at the Barre was arraigned To this Indictment vpon her Arraignement shee pleaded not guiltie and for the Triall of her life put her selfe vpon GOD and her Countrey Whereupon my Lord Altham commaunded Master Sheriffe of the Countie of Yorke in open Court to returne a Iurie of sufficient Gentlemen of vnderstanding to passe betweene our Soueraigne Lord the Kings Majestie and her and
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
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
forhead And he also saith That the names of the said Witches as were on Good-Friday at this Examinates said Grandmothers house now this Examinates owne mothers for so many of them as he did know were these viz. the wife of Hugh Hargreiues of Barley the wife of Christopher Bulcock of the Mosse end and Iohn her sonne the mother of Myles Nutter Elizabeth the wife of Christopher Hargreiues of Thurniholme Christopher Howgate and Elizabeth his wife Alice Graye of Coulne and one Mould-heeles wife of the same and this Examinate and his Mother 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 they were forth of the dores were gotten on Horsebacke like vnto Foales some of one colour some of another and Prestons wife was the last and when shee got on Horsebacke they all presently vanished out of this Examinates sight And before their said parting away they all appointed to meete at the said Prestons wiues 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 meete vpon Romleyes Moore The Examination and Euidence of IENNET DEVICE Against IAMES DEVICE her said Brother Prisoner at the Barre vpon his Arraignement and Triall Taken before ROGER NOWEL and NICHOLAS BANNESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie viz. SHee saith that vpon Good-Friday last there was about twentie persons whereof only two were men to this Examinates remembrance at her said Grandmothers house called Malking-Tower aforesaid about twelue of the clock all which persons this Examinates said Mother told her were Witches and that they came to giue a name to Alizon Deuice Spirit or Familiar Sister to this Examinate and now Prisoner in the Castle of Lancaster And also this Examinate saith that the persons aforesaid had to their Dinnors Beefe Bacon and rosted Mutton which Mutton as this Examinates said brother said was of a Weather of Robinsons of Barley which Weather was brought in the night before into this Examinates mothers house by the said Iames Deuice this Examinates said brother and in this Examinates sight killed and eaten as aforesaid And shee further saith that shee knoweth the names of sixe of the said Witches viz. the wife of the said Hugh Hargreiues vnder Pendle Christopher Howget of Pendle Vncle to this Examinate and Dick Miles wife of the Rough-Lee Christopher Iacks of Thorne-holme and his Wife and the names of the residue shee this Examinate doth not know sauing that this Examinates Mother and Brother were both there The Examination of ELIZABETH DEVICE Mother of the said IAMES DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle taken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill aforesaid Before ROGER NOWEL and NICHOLAS BANNESTER Esquires as aforesaid viz. BEing examined the said Elizabeth saith and confesseth that vpon Good-Friday last there dined at this Examinates house those which she hath said to be Witches and doth verily thinke them to bee Witches and their names are those whom Iames Deuice hath formerly spoken of to be there And shee also confesseth in all things touching the Christning of her Spirit and the killing of Master Lister of Westby as the said Iames 〈◊〉 confesseth But denieth that any talke was amongst 〈◊〉 the said Witches to her now remembrance at the said meeting together touching the killing of the Gaoler at Lancaster blowing vp of the Castle thereby to deliuer old Dembdike her Mother Alizon Deuice her Daughter and other Prisoners committed to the said Castle for Witchcraft After all these things opened and deliuered in euidence against him Master Couil who hath the custodie of the Gaole at Lancaster hauing taken great paines with him during the time of his imprisonment to procure him to discouer his practizes and such other Witches as he knew to bee dangerous Humbly prayed the fauour of the Court that this voluntarie confession to M. Anderton M. Sands the Major of Lancaster M. Couel and others might openly bee published and declared in Court The voluntarie confession and declaration of IAMES DEVICE Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster Before WILLIAM SANDS Maior of Lancaster IAMES ANDERTON Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the Countie of Lancaster And THOMAS COVEL Gentleman one of his Maiesties Coroners in the same Countie viz. IAMES Deuice Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster saith That his said Spirit Dandie being very earnest with him to giue him his soule He answered he would giue him that part thereof that was his owne to giue and thereupon the said Spirit said hee was aboue CHRIST IESVS and therefore hee must absolutely giue him his Soule and that done hee would giue him power to reuenge himselfe against any whom he disliked And he further saith that the said Spirit did appeare vnto him after sundrie times in the likenesse of a Dogge and at euery time most earnestly perswaded him to giue him his Soule absolutely who answered as before that he would giue him his owne part and no further And hee saith that at the last time that the said Spirit was with him which was the Tuesday next before his apprehension when as hee could not preuaile with him to haue his Soule absolutely granted vnto him as aforesaid the said Spirit departed from him then giuing a most fearefull crie and yell and withall caused a great flash of fire to shew about him which said Spirit did neuer after trouble this Examinate William Sands James Anderton Tho. Couel Coroner The said Iennet Deuice his Sister in the very end of her Examination against the said Iames Deuice confesseth and saith that her Mother taught her two Prayers the one to get drinke which was this viz. Crucifixus hoc signum vitam Eternam Amen And shee further saith That her Brother Iames Deuice the Prisoner at the Barre hath confessed to her this Examinate that he by this Prayer hath gotten drinke and that within an houre after the saying the said Prayer drinke hath come into the house after a very strange manner And the other Prayer the said Iames Deuice affirmed would cure one bewitched which shee recited as followeth viz. A Charme Vpon Good-Friday I will fast while I may Vntill I heare them knell Our Lords owne Bell Lord in his messe With his twelue Apostles good What hath he in his hand Ligh in leath wand What hath he in his other hand Heauens doore key Open open Heauen doore keyes Steck steck hell doore Let Crizum child Goe to it Mother mild What is yonder that casts a light so farrandly Mine owne deare Sonne that 's naild to the Tree He is naild sore by the heart and hand And holy barne Panne Well is that man That Fryday spell can His Childe to learne A Crosse of Blew and another of Red As good Lord was to the Roode Gabriel
laid him downe to sleepe Vpon the ground of holy weepe Good Lord came walking by Sleep'st thou wak'st thou Gabriel No Lord I am sted with sticke and stake That I can neither sleepe nor wake Rise vp Gabriel and goe with me The stick nor the stake shall neuer deere thee Sweete Iesus our Lord Amen Iames Deuice What can be said more of this painfull Steward that was so carefull to prouide Mutton against this Feast and solemne meeting at Malking-Tower of these hellish and diuellish band of Witches the like whereof hath not been heard of then hath been openly published and declared against him at the Barre vpon his Arraignement and Triall wherein it pleased God to raise vp Witnesses beyond expectation to conuince him besides his owne particular Examinations which being shewed and read vnto him he acknowledged to be iust and true And what I promised to set forth against him in the beginning of his Arraignment and Triall I doubt nor but therein I haue satisfied your expectation at large wherein I haue beene very sparing to charge him with anything but with sufficient matter of Record and Euidence able to satisfie the consciences of the Gentlemen of the Iury of Life and Death to whose good consideration I leaue him with the perpetuall Badge and Brand of as dangerous and malicious a Witch as euer liued in these parts of Lancashire of his time and spotted with as much Innocent bloud as euer any Witch of his yeares After all these proceedings by direction of his Lordship were their seuerall Examinations subscribed by euery one of them in particular shewed vnto them at the time of their Triall acknowledged by thē to be true deliuered to the gentlemen of the Iury of Life Death for the better satisfaction of their consciences after due consideration of which said seuerall examinations confessions and voluntary declarations as well of themselues as of their children friends and confederates The Gentlemen deliuered vp their Verdict against the Prisoners as followeth viz. The Verdict of Life and Death WHo found Anne Whittle alias Chattox Elizabeth Deuice and Iames Deuice guiltie of the seuerall murthers by Witchcraft contained in the Indictments against them and euery of them THE WITCHES OF SALMESBVRY The Arraignement and Triall of IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHVVORTH of Salmesbury in the County of Lancaster for Witchcraft vpon the bodie of GRACE SOVVER BVTTS vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August At the Assises and generall Gaole-deliuery holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiestices Iustices of Assize at Lancaster as hereafter followeth viz. Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierley Iane Southworth THus haue we for a time left the Graund Witches of the Forrest of Pendle to the good consideration of a verie sufficient Iury of worthy Gentlemen of their Coūtrey We are now come to the famous Witches of Salmesbury as the Countrey called them who by such a subtill practise and conspiracie of a Seminarie Priest or as the best in this Honorable Assembly thinke a Iesuite whereof this Countie of Lancaster hath good store who by reason of the generall entertainement they find and great maintenance they haue resort hither being farre from the Eye of Iustice and therefore Procul a fulmine are now brought to the Barre to receiue their Triall and such a young witnesse prepared and instructed to giue Euidence against them that it must be the Act of GOD that must be the means to discouer their Practises and Murthers and by an infant but how and in what sort Almightie GOD deliuered them from the stroake of Death when the Axe was layd to the Tree and made frustrate the practise of this bloudie Butcher it shall appeare vnto you vpon their Arraignement and Triall whereunto they are now come Master Thomas Couel who hath the charge of the prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster was commaunded to bring forth the said Jennet Bierley Ellen Bierley Jane Southworth to the Barre to receiue their Triall Indictment THe said Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierly and Iane Southworth of Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster being indicted for that they and euery of them felloniously had practised exercised and vsed diuerse deuillish and wicked Arts called Witchcrafts Inchauntments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon one Grace Sowerbuts so that by meanes thereof her bodie wasted and consumed Contra formam Statuti c. Et Contra Pacem dicti Domini Regis Coronam dignitatem c. To this Indictment vpon their Arraignement they pleaded Not-Guiltie and for the Triall of their liues put themselues vpon GOD and their Countrey Whereupon Master Sheriffe of the Countie of Lancaster by direction of the Court made returne of a very sufficient Iurie to passe betweene the Kings Maiestie and them vpon their liues and deaths with such others as follow in order The Prisoners being now at the Barre vpon their Triall Grace Sowerbutts the daughter of Thomas Sowerbutts about the age of foureteene yeares was produced to giue Euidence for the Kings Maiestie against them who standing vp she was commaunded to point out the Prisoners which shee did and said as followeth viz. * ⎠* The Examination and Euidence of GRACE SOVVERBVTTS daughter of THOMAS SOVVERBVTTS of Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster Husband-man vpon her Oath Against IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHVVORTH prisoners at the Barre vpon their Arraignement and Triall viz. THe said Grace Sowerbutts vpon her oath saith That for the space of some yeares now last past shee hath beene haunted and vexed with some women who haue vsed to come to her which women shee sayth were Iennet Bierley this Informers Grand-mother Ellen Bierley wife to Henry Bierley Iane Southworth late the wife of Iohn Southworth and one Old Doewife all of Salmesburie aforesaid And shee saith That now lately those foure women did violently draw her by the haire of the head and layd her on the toppe of a Hay-mowe in the said Henry Bierleyes Barne And shee saith further That not long after the said Iennet Bierley did meete this Examinate neere vnto the place where shee dwelleth and first appeared in her owne likenesse and after that in the likenesse of a blacke Dogge and as this Examinate did goe ouer a Style shee picked her off howbeit shee saith shee had no hurt then but rose againe and went to her Aunts in Osbaldeston and returned backe againe to her Fathers house the same night being fetched home by her father And she saith That in her way home-wards shee did then tell her Father how shee had beene dealt withall both then and at sundry times before that and before that time she neuer told any bodie thereof and being examined why she did not she sayth she could not speake thereof though she desired so to doe And she further sayth That vpon Saterday being the fourth of this instant Aprill shee this Examinate going towards Salmesbury bote to meete her mother comming from Preston shee saw the
saith shee came somewhat to her selfe and then the said Widow Southworth came againe to this Examinate to her bed-side and tooke her out of bed and said to this Examinate that shee did her no harme the other time in respect of that shee now would after doe to her and thereupon put her vpon a hey-stack standing some three or foure yards high from the earth where shee was found after great search made by a neighbours Wife neare dwelling and then laid in her bed againe where she remained speechlesse and senselesse as before by the space of two or three daies And being recouered within a weeke after shee saith that the said Iane Southworth did come againe to this Examinate at her fathers house and did take her away and laid her in a ditch neare to the house vpon her face and left her there where shee was found shortly after and laid vpon a bedde but had not her senses againe of a day a night or thereabouts And shee further saith that vpon Tuesday last before the taking of this her Examination the said Iane Southworth came to this Examinates Fathers house and finding this Examinate without the doore tooke her and carried her into the Barne and thrust her head amongst a companie of boords that were there standing where shee was shortly after found and laid in a bedde and remained in her old fit till the Thursday at night following And being further examined touching her being at Red-bancke shee saith That the three women by her before named were carried backe againe ouer Ribble by the same blacke things that carried them thither and saith that at their said meeting in the Red-bancke there did come also diuers other women and did meete them there some old some young which this Examinate thinketh did dwell vpon the North-side of Ribble because she saw them not come ouer the Water but this Examinate knew none of them neither did she see them eat or dance or doe any thing else that the rest did sauing that they were there and looked on These particular points of Euidence being thus vrged against the Prisoners the father of this Grace Sowerbutts prayed that Thomas Walshman whose childe they are charged to murther might be examined as a witnes vpon his oath for the Kings Maiestie against the Prisoners at the Barre who vpon this strange deuised accusation deliuered by this impudent wench were in opinion of many of that great Audience guilty of this bloudie murther and more worthy to die then any of these Witches The Examination and Euidence of THOMAS WALSHMAN of Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster Yeoman Against IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHVVORTH Prisoners at the Barre vpon their Arraignement and Triall as followeth viz. THe said Examinate Thomas Walshman vpon his oath saith That hee had a childe died about Lent was twelue-month who had beene sicke by the space of a fortnight or three weekes and was afterwards buried in Salmesburie Church which childe when it died was about a yeare old But how it came to the death of it this Examinate knoweth not And he further saith that about the fifteenth of Aprill last or thereabouts the said Grace Sowerbutts was found in this Examinates fathers Barne laid vnder a little hay and straw and from thence was carried into this Examinates house and there laid till the Monday at night following during which time shee did not speak but lay as if she had beene dead The Examination of IOHN SINGLETON Taken at Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster the seuenth day of August Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Fidei Defensor c. Decimo Scotiae xlvj Before ROBERT HOVLDEN Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the County of Lancaster Against IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHVVORTH which hereafter followeth THe said Examinate vpon his oath saith That hee hath often heard his old Master Sir Iohn Southworth Knight now deceased say touching the late wife of Iohn Southworth now in the Gaole for suspition of Witchcraft That the said wife was as he thought an euill woman and a Witch and he said that he was sorry for her husband that was his kinsman for he thought she would kill him And this Examinate further saith That the said Sir Iohn Southworth in his comming or going betweene his owne house at Salmesbury and the Towne of Preston did for the most part forbeare to passe by the house where the said wife dwelled though it was his nearest and best way and rode another way only for feare of the said wife as this Examinate verily thinketh The Examination of WILLIAM ALKER of Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster Yeoman Taken the fifteenth day of Aprill Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Decimo Scotiae quadragesimo quinto Before ROBERT HOVLDEN one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the County of Lancaster Against IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE BIERLEY which hereafter followeth viz. THe said Examinate vpon his oath saith That hee hath seene the said Sir Iohn Southworth shunne to meet the said wife of Iohn Southworth now Prisoner in the Gaole when he came neere where she was And hath heard the said Sir Iohn Southworth say that he liked her not and that he doubted she would bewitch him Here was likewise Thomas Sowerbutts father of Grace Sowerbutts examined vpon his oath and many other witnesses to little purpose who being examined by the Court could depose little against them But the finding of the wench vpon the hay in her counterfeit fits wherfore I leaue to trouble you with the particular declaration of their Euidence against the Prisoners In respect there was not any one witnes able to charge them with one direct matter of Withcraft nor proue any thing for the murther of the childe Herein before we come to the particular declaration of that wicked and damnable practise of this Iesuite or Seminary I shall commend vnto your examination and iudgement some points of her Euidence wherein you shal see what impossibilities are in this accusatiō brought to this perfection by the great care and paines of this officious Doctor Master Tompson or Southworth who commonly worketh vpon the Feminine disposition being more Passiue then Actiue The particular points of the Euidence of GRACE SOVVERBVTTS viz. Euidence THat for the space of some yeares she hath been haunted and vexed with some women who haue vsed to come to her The Iesuite forgot to instruct his Scholler how long it is since she was tormented it seemes it is long since he read the old Badge of a Lyer Oportet mendacem esse memorem He knowes not how long it is since they came to church after which time they began to practise Witchcraft It is a likely thing the Torment and Panges of Witchcraft can be forgotten and therefore no time can be set downe Shee saith that now lately these foure women did violently draw her
Anne Whittle alias Chattox who as shee was her Mother and brought her into the World so was she the meanes to bring her into this danger and in the end to her Execution for much Bloud spilt and many other mischiefes done For vpon Tuesday night although you heare little of her at the Arraignement and Triall of old Chattox her Mother yet was shee arraigned for the murther of Robert Nutter and others and by the fauour and mercifull consideration of the Iurie the Euidence being not very pregnant against her she was acquited and found Not guiltie Such was her condition and course of life as had she liued she would haue beene very dangerous for in making pictures of Clay she was more cunning then any But the innocent bloud yet vnsatisfied and crying out vnto GOD for satisfaction and reuenge the crie of his people to deliuer them from the danger of such horrible and bloudie executioners and from her wicked and damnable practises hath now againe brought her to a second Triall where you shall heare what wee haue vpon Record against her This Anne Redferne 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 deuillish and wicked Arts called Witchcrafts Inchauntments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon one Christopher Nutter and him the said Christopher Nutter 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 she 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 Iurie of Life and Death stand charged with her as with others The Euidence against Anne Redferne Prisoner at the Barre The Examination of ELIZABETH SOTHERNES alias OLD DEMBDIKE taken at the Fence in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster the second day of Aprill Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. decimo Scotiae xlv Against ANNE REDFERNE the daughter of ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX Prisoner at the Barre Before ROGER NOVVEL of Reade Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie THis Examinate saith That about halfe a yeare before Robert Nutter died as this Examinate thinketh this Examinate went to the house of Thomas Redferne which was about Midsummer as shee this Examinate now remembreth it and there within three yards of the East end of the said house shee saw the said Anne Whittle and Anne Redferne wife of the said Thomas Redferne and daughter of the said Anne Whittle the one on the one side of a Ditch and the other on the other side and two pictures of Clay or Marle lying by them and the third picture the said Anne Whittle 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 a Spirit called Tibbe in the shape of a blacke Cat appeared vnto her this Examinate and said Turne backe 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 shee asked whose pictures they were whereunto the said Spirit said They are the pictures of Christopher Nutter Robert Nutter and Mary wife of the said Robert Nutter But this Examinate denying to goe backe to helpe them to make the pictures aforesaid the said Spirit seeming to be angrie therefore shot or pushed this Examinate into the Ditch and so shedde the milke which this Examinate had in a Kanne or Kitt and so thereupon the Spirit at that time vanished out of this Examinates sight But presently after that the said Spirit appeared vnto this Examinate again in the shape of a Hare and so went with her about a quarter of a myle but said nothing vnto her this Examinate nor shee to it The Examination of MARGARET CROOKE Against the said ANNE REDFERNE Taken the day and yeare aforesaid Before ROGER NOVVEL aforesaid Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace in the Countie of Lancaster THis Examinate sworne examined vpon her oath sayth That about eighteene or nineteene yeares agoe this Examinates brother called Robert Nutter about Whitsontide the same yeare meeting with the said Anne Redferne vpon some speeches betweene them they fell out as this Examinats said brother told this Examinat and within some weeke or fort-night then next after this Examinats said brother fell sicke and so languished vntill about Candlemas then next after and then died In which time of his sicknesse he did a hundred times at the least say That the said Anne Redferne and her associates had bewitched him to death And this Examinate further saith That this Examinates Father called Christopher Nutter about Maudlintâ—de next after following fell sicke and so languished vntill Michaelmas then next after and then died during which time of his sicknesse hee did sundry times say That hee was bewitched but named no bodie that should doe the same The Examination of IOHN NVTTER of Higham Booth in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster yeoman Against the said ANNE REDFERNE Taken the day and yeare aforesaid Before ROGER NOVVEL Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster THis Examinate sworne examined vpon his oath sayth That in or about Christmas some eighteene or nineteene yeares agoe this Examinat comming from Burnley with Christopher Nutter and Robert Nutter this Examinates Father and Brother this Examinate heard his said Brother then say vnto his said Father these words or to this effect Father I am sure I am bewitched by the Chattox Anne Chattox and Anne Redferne her daughter I pray you cause them to bee layed in Lancaster Castle Whereunto this Examinates Father answered Thou art a foolish Ladde it is not so it is thy miscarriage Then this Examinates Brother weeping said nay I am sure that I am bewitched by them and if euer I come againe for hee was readie to goe to Sir Richard Shuttleworths then his Master I will procure them to bee laid where they shall be glad to bite Lice in two with their teeth Hereupon Anne Whittle alias Chattox her Mother was brought forth to bee examined who confessed the making of the pictures of Clay and in the end cried out very heartily to God to forgiue her sinnes and vpon her knees intreated for this Redferne her daughter Here was likewise many witnesses examined vpon oth Viua voce who charged her with many strange practises and declared the death of the parties all in such sort and about the time in the Examinations formerly mentioned All men that knew her affirmed shee was more dangerous then her Mother for shee made all or most of the Pictures of Clay that were made or found at