number of persons whereof three were men with this Examinate and the rest women and that they met there for these three causes following as this Examinates said mother told this Examinate The first was for the naming of the Spirit which Allison Deuice now prisoner at Lancaster had but did not name him because shee was not there The second cause was for the deliuerie of his said Grand-mother this Examinates said sister Allison the said Anne Chattox and her daughter Redferne killing the Gaoler at Lancaster and before the next Assises to blow vp the Castle there to that end the aforesaid prisoners might by that meanes make an escape and get away All which this Examinate then heard them conferre of And he also sayth That the names of such said Witches as were on Good-Friday at this Examinates said Grand-mothers house and now this Examinates owne mothers for so many of them as hee did know were these viz. Iane Bulcock wife of Christopher Bulcock of the Mosse end and Iohn her sonne amongst others c. And this Examinate further saith That all the said Witches went out of the said house in their own shapes and likenesses and they all by that they were forth of the dores 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-backe they all presently vanished out of this Examinates sight And further he saith That the said Iohn Bulcock and Iane his said Mother did confesse vpon Good-Friday last at the said Malking-Tower in the hearing of this Examinate That they had bewitched at the new-field Edge in Yorkeshire a woman called Iennet wife of Iohn Deyne besides her Reason and the said Womans name so bewitched he did not heare them speake of And this Examinate further saith That at the said Feast at Malking-Tower this Examinate heard them all giue their consents to put the said Master Thomas Lister of Westby to death And after Master Lister should be made away by Witch-craft then all the said Witches gaue their consents to ioyne all together to hanck Master Leonard Lister when he should come to dwell at the Cow-gill and so put him to death The Examination of ELIZABETH DEVICE Taken the day and yeare 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 vpon her oath That she doth verily thinke that the said Bulcockes wife doth know of some Witches to bee about Padyham and Burnley And shee further saith That at the said meeting at Malking-Tower as aforesaid Katherine Hewit and Iohn Bulcock with all the rest then there gaue their consents with the said Prestons wife for the killing of the said Master Lister The Examination and Euidence of IENNET DEVICE Against IOHN BVLCOCKE and IANE his mother prisoners at the Barre THe said Examinate saith That vpon Good-Friday last there was about twentie persons whereof two were men to this Examinates remembrance at her said Grand-mothers house called Malking-Tower aforesaid all which persons this Examinates said mother told her were Witches and that she knoweth the names of sixe of the said Witches Then was the said Iennet Deuice commaunded by his Lordship to finde and point out the said Iohn Bulcock and Iane Bulcock amongst all the rest whereupon shee went and tooke Iane Bulcock by the hand 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 and accused the said Iohn Bulcock to turne the Spitt there what conference they had and all the rest of their proceedings at large without any manner of contrarietie Shee further told his Lordship there was a woman that came out of Craven to that Great Feast at Malking-Tower but shee could not finde her out amongst all those women ¶ The names of the Witches at the Great Assembly and Feast at Malking-Tower viz. vpon Good-Friday last 1612. Elizabeth Deuice Alice Nutter Katherine Hewit alias Mould-heeles John Bulcock Jane Bulcock Alice Graie Jennet Hargraues Elizabeth Hargraues Christopher Howgate Sonne to old Dembdike Christopher Hargraues Grace Hay of Padiham Anne Crunckshey of Marchden Elizabeth Howgate Jennet Preston Executed at Yorke for the Murder of Master Lister With many more which being bound ouer to appeare at the last Assizes are since that time fled to saue themselues THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of ALIZON DEVICE Daughter of ELIZABETH DEVICE within the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster aforesaid for Witch-craft Alizon Deuice BEhold aboue all the rest this lamentable spectacle of a poore distressed Pedler how miserably hee was tormented and what punishment hee endured for a small offence by the wicked and damnable practise of this odious Witch first instructed therein by old Dembdike her Grand-mother of whose life and death with her good conditions I haue written at large before in the beginning of this worke out of her owne Examinations and other Records now remayning with the Clarke of the Crowne at Lancaster And by her Mother brought vp in this detestable course of life wherein I pray you obserue but the manner and course of it in order euen to the last period at her Execution for this horrible fact able to terrifie and astonish any man liuing This Alizon Deuice Prisoner in the Castle of 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 Deuillish and wicked Arts called Witch-crafâ—s Inchantments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon one Iohn Law a Petti-chapman and him had lamed so that his bodie wasted and consumed c. Contra formam Statuti c. Et contra pacem dicti Domini Regis Coronam Dignitatem c. Vpon the Arraignement The poore Pedler by name Iohn Law being in the Castle about the Moot-hall attending to be called not well able to goe or stand being led thether by his poore sonne Abraham Law My Lord Gerrard moued the Court to call the poore Pedler who was there readie and had attended all the Assizes to giue euidence for the Kings Majestie against the said Alizon Deuice Prisoner at the Barre euen now vpon her Triall The Prisoner being at the Barre now beholding the Pedler deformed by her Witch-craft and transformed beyond the course of Nature appeared to giue euidence against her hauing not yet pleaded to her Indictment saw it was in vaine to denie it or stand vpon her justification Shee humbly vpon her knees at the Barre with weeping teares prayed the Court to heare her Whereupon my Lord Bromley commanded shee should bee brought out from the Prisoners neare vnto the Court and there on her knees shee humbly asked forgiuenesse for her offence And being required to make an open
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
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
others the Prisoners vpon their liues and deaths who were afterwards sworne according to the forme and order of the Court the prisoner being admitted to her lawfull challenge Which being done and the Prisoner at the Barre to receiue her Tryall Master Heyber one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the same County hauing taken great paines in the proceedings against her and being best instructed of any man of all the particular points of Euidence against her humbly prayed the witnesses hereafter following might be examined against her and the seuerall Examinations taken before Master Nowel and certified might openly bee published against her which hereafter follow in order viz. The Euidence for the Kings Maiestie Against IENNET PRESTON Prisoner at the Barre HEreupon were diuerse Examinations taken and read openly against her to induce and satisfie the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death to finde she was a Witch and many other circumstances for the death of M. Lister In the end Anne Robinson and others were both examined who vpon their Oathes declared against her That M. Lister lying in great extremitie vpon his death-bedde cried out vnto them that stood about him that Iennet Preston was in the house looke where shee is take hold of her for Gods sake shut the doores and take her shee cannot escape away Looke about for her and lay hold on her for shee is in the house and so cryed very often in his great paines to them that came to visit him during his sicknesse Anne Robinson and Thomas Lister Being examined further they both gaue this in euidence against her That when Master Lister lay vpon his death-bedde hee cryed out in great extremitie Iennet Preston lyes heauie vpon me Prestons wife lyes heauie vpon me helpe me helpe me and so departed crying out against her These with many other witnesses were further examined and deposed That Iennet Preston the Prisoner at the Barre being brought to M. Lister after hee was dead layd out to be wound vp in his winding-sheet the said Iennet Preston comming to touch the dead corpes they bled fresh bloud presently in the presence of all that were there present Which hath euer beene held a great argument to induce a Iurie to hold him guiltie that shall be accused of Murther and hath seldome or neuer fayled in the Tryall But these were not alone for this wicked and bloud-thirstie Witch was no sooner deliuered at the Assises holden at Yorke in Lent last past being indicted arraigned and by the fauor and mercie of the Iurie found not guiltie for the murther of a Child by Witch-craft but vpon the Friday following beeing Good-Friday shee rode in hast to the great meeting at Malking-Tower and there prayed aide for the murther of M. Thomas Lister as at large shall appeare by the seuerall Examinations hereafter following sent to these Assises from Master Nowel and other his Majesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster to be giuen in euidence against her vpon her Triall viz. The Examination and Euidence of IAMES DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Labourer taken at the house of IAMES WILSEY of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. Decimo ac Scotiae quadragesimo quinto Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the Countie of Lancaster viz. THis Examinate saith That vpon Good-Friday last about twelue of the clocke in the day-time there dined in this Examinates said mothers house a number of persons whereof three were men with this Examinate and the rest women and that they met there for these three causes following as this Examinates said mother told this Examinate 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 cause was for the deliuery 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 that end the aforesaid Prisoners might by that meanes make an escape and get away All which this Examinate then heard them conferre of And the third cause was for that there was a woman dwelling in Gisburne Parish who came into this Examinates said Grand-mothers house who there came and craued assistance of the rest of them that were then there for the killing of Master Lister of Westby because as she then said he had borne malice vnto her and had thought to haue put her away at the last Assizes at Yorke but could not And then this Examinat heard the said woman say that her power was not strong enough to doe it her selfe being now lesse then before-time it had beene And he also further saith That the said Prestons wife had a Spirit with her like vnto a white Foale with a blacke-spot in the forehead And further this Examinat saith That since the said meeting as aforesaid this Examinate hath beene brought to the wife of one Preston in Gisburne Parish aforesaid by Henry Hargreiues of Goldshey to see whether shee was the woman that came amongst the said Witches on the said last Good-Friday to craue their aide and assistance for the killing of the said Master Lister and hauing had full view of her hee this Examinate confesseth That she was the selfe-same woman which came amongst the said Witches on the said last Good-Friday for their aide for the killing of the said Master Lister and that brought the Spirit with her in the shape of a White Foale as aforesaid 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 doores were gotten on horse-backe like vnto Foales some of one colour some of another and Prestons wife was the last and when she got on horsebacke they all presently vanished out of this Examinats 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 meet in the meane time then should warning bee giuen that they all should meete vpon Romles-Moore And this Examinate further saith That at the said feast at Malking-Tower this Examinat heard them all giue their consents to put the said Master Thomas Lister of Westby to death and after Master Lister should be made away by Witchcraft then al the said Witches gaue their consents to ioyne altogether to hancke Master Leonard Lister when he should come to dwell at the Sowgill and so put him to death The Examination of HENRIE HARGREIVES of Goldshey-booth in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Yeoman taken the fifth
〈…〉 â—â—Sâ—â—VERIE OF Wâ—â—â—â—â—â— IN THE COVNTIE OF LANCASTER VVith the Arraignement and Triall 〈…〉 notorious WITCHES at the Assiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 generall Gaole deliuerie holden at the Castle of LANCASTER vpon Munday the seuenteenth of August last 1612. Before Sir IAMES ALTHAM 〈◊〉 Sir EDWARD BROMLEY Knights BARONS 〈…〉 Court of 〈◊〉 And Iustiâ—â—◠〈…〉 Together with the 〈◊〉 and Triall of IENNET PRESTON at the Assizes 〈◊〉 at the Castle of York◠〈…〉 Published and set forth by commandement of his 〈…〉 LONDON 〈…〉 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THOMAS LORD KNYVET BARON OF ESCRICK in the Countie of Yorke my very honorable good Lord and Master AND TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND VERTVOVS LADIE THE Ladie ELIZABETH KNYVET his Wife my honorable good Ladie and MISTRIS RIGHT HONORABLE LET it stand I beseech you with your fauours whom profession of the same true Religion towards God and so great loue hath vnited together in one Jointly to accept the Protection and Patronage of these my labours which not their owne worth hath encouraged but your Worthinesse hath enforced me to consecrate vnto your Honours To you Right Honourable my very good Lord of Right doe they belong for to whom shall J rather present the first fruits of my learning then to your Lordship who nourished then both mee and them when there was scarce any being to mee or them And whose iust and vprght carriage of causes whose zeale to Justice and Honourable curtesie to all men haue purchased you a Reuerend and worthie Respect of all men in all partes of this Kingdome where you are knowne And to your good Ladiship they doe of great right belong likewise Whose Religion Iustice and Honourable admittance of my Vnworthie Seruice to your Ladiship doe challenge at my handes the vttermost of what euer J may bee able to performe Here is nothing of my own act worthie to bee commended to your Honours it is the worke of those Reuerend Magistrates His Maiesties Iustices of Assizes in the North partes and no more then a Particular Declaration of the proceedings of Iustice in those partes Here shall you behold the Iustice of this Land truely administred Proemium Poenam Mercie and Iudgement freely and indifferently bestowed and inflicted And aboue all thinges to bee remembred the excellent care of these Iudges in the Triall of offendors It hath pleased them out of their respect to mee to impose this worke vpon mee and according to my vnderstanding I haue taken paines to finish and now confirmed by their Iudgement to publish the same for the benefit of my Countrie That the example of these conuicted vpon their owne Examinations Confessions and Euidence at the Barre may worke good in others Rather by with-holding them from then imboldening them to the Atcheiuing such desperate actes as these or the like These are some part of the fruits of my time spent in the Seruice of my Countrie Since by your Graue and Reuerend Counsell my Good Lord I reduced my wauering and wandring thoughts to a more quiet harbour of repose If it please your Honours to giue them your Honourable respect the world may iudge them the more worthie of acceptance to whose various censures they are now exposed God of Heauen whose eies are on them that feare him to bee their Protector and guide behold your Honours with the eye of fauor be euermore your strong hold and your great reward and blesse you with blessings in this life Externall and Internall Temporall and Spirituall and with Eternall happines in the World to come to which I commend your Honours And rest both now and euer From my Lodging in Chancerie Lane the sixteenth of Nouember 1612. Your Honours humbly deuoted Seruant Thomas Potts VPon the Arraignement and triall of these Witches at the last Assizes and Generall Gaole-deliuerie holden at Lancaster wee found such apparent matters against them that we thought it necessarie to publish them to the World and thereupon imposed the labour of this Worke vpon this Gentleman by reason of his place being a Clerke at that time in Court imploied in the Arraignement and triall of them Ja. Altham Edw. Bromley AFter he had taken great paines to finish it J tooke vpon mee to reuise and correct it that nothing might passe but matter of Fact apparant against them by record Jt is very little he hath inserted and that necessarie to shew what their offences were what people and of what condition they were The whole proceedings and Euidence against them J finde vpon examination carefully set forth and truely reported and iudge the worke fit and worthie to be published Edward Bromley Faults escaped in the Printing Page C 3 M. Banester for Bannester brough for brought Page E 2 This people for these Page H Here they parted for there page K 2 these for this hellish page S 3 In the Verdict of Life and Death Not guiltie for guiltie page S 3 one Horse or Mare for one Mare in the Indictment page eadem for the Triall of her life reade for the triall of her offence page T their view for your view Gentle Reader although the care of this Gentleman the Author was great to examine and publish this his worke perfect according to the Honorable testimonie of the Iudges yet some faults are committed by me in the Printing and yet not many being a worke done in such great haste at the end of a Tearme which I pray you with your fauour to excuse A particular Declaration of the most barberous and damnable Practises Murthers wicked and diuelish Conspiracies practized and executed by the most dangerous and malitious Witch Elizabeth Sowthernes alias Demdike of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Widdow who died in the Castle at Lancaster before she came to receiue her tryall THough publique Iustice hath passed at these Assises vpon the Capitall offendours and after the Arraignement tryall of them Iudgement being giuen due and timely Execution succeeded which doth import and giue the greatest satisfaction that can be to all men yet because vpon the caryage and euent of this businesse the Eyes of all the partes of Lancashire and other Counties in the North partes thereunto adioyning were bent And so infinite a multitude came to the Arraignement tryall of these Witches at Lancaster the number of them being knowen to exceed all others at any time heretofore at one time to be indicted arraigned and receiue their tryall especially for so many Murders Conspiracies Charmes Meetinges hellish and damnable practises so apparant vpon their owne examinations confessions These my honourable worthy Lords the Iudges of Assise vpon great consideration thought to necessarie profitable to publish to the whole world their most barbarous and damnable practises with the direct proceedinges of the Court against them aswell for that there doe passe diuers vncertaine reportes and relations of such Euidences as was publiquely giuen against them at their Arraignement As for that diuers came to prosecute against many
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
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
declaration or confession of her offence Shee confessed as followeth viz. The Confession of ALIZON DEVICE Prisoner at the Barre published and declared at time of her Arraignement and Triall in open Court SHe saith That about two yeares agone her Grand-mother called Elizabeth Sothernes alias Dembdike did sundry times in going or walking together as they went begging perswade and aduise this Examinate to let a Diuell or a Familiar appeare to her and that shee this Examinate would let him suck at some part of her and she might haue and doe what shee would And so not long after these perswasions this Examinate being walking towards the Rough-Lee in a Close of one Iohn Robinsons there appeared vnto her a thing like vnto a Blacke Dogge speaking vnto her this Examinate and desiring her to giue him her Soule and he would giue her power to doe any thing she would whereupon this Examinate being therewithall inticed and setting her downe the said Blacke-Dogge did with his mouth as this Examinate then thought sucke at her breast a little below her Paps which place did remaine blew halfe a yeare next after which said Blacke-Dogge did not appeare to this Examinate vntill the eighteenth day of March last at which time this Examinate met with a Pedler on the high-way called Colne-field neere vnto Colne and this Examinate demanded of the said Pedler to buy some pinnes of him but the said Pedler sturdily answered this Examinate that he would not loose his Packe and so this Examinate parting with him presently there appeared to this Examinate the Blacke-Dogge which appeared vnto her as before which Black Dogge spake vnto this Examinate in English saying What wouldst thou haue me to do vnto yonder man to whom this Examinate said What canst thou do at him and the Dogge answered againe I can lame him whereupon this Examinat answered and said to the said Black Dogge Lame him and before the Pedler was gone fortic Roddes further he fell downe Lame and this Examinate then went after the said Pedler and in a house about the distance aforesaid he was lying Lame and so this Examinate went begging in Trawden Forrest that day and came home at night and about fiue daies next after the said Black-Dogge did appeare to this Examinate as she was going a begging in a Cloase neere the New-Church in Pendle and spake againe to her saying Stay and speake with me but this Examinate would not Sithence which time this Examinat neuer saw him Which agreeth verbatim with her owne Examination taken at Reade in the Countie of Lancaster the thirtieth day of March before Master Nowel when she was apprehended and taken MY Lord Bromley and all the whole Court not a little wondering as they had good cause at this liberall and voluntarie confession of the Witch which is not ordinary with people of their condition and qualitie and beholding also the poore distressed Pedler standing by commanded him vpon his oath to declare the manner how and in what sort he was handled how he came to be lame and so to be deformed who deposed vpon his oath as followeth The Euidence of IOHN LAVV Pettie Chapman vpon his oath Against ALIZON DEVICE Prisoner at the Barre HE deposeth and saith That about the eighteenth of March last past hee being a Pedler went with his Packe of wares at his backe thorow Colne-field where vnluckily he met with Alizon Deuice now Prisoner at the Barre who was very earnest with him for pinnes but he would giue her none whereupon she seemed to be very angry and when hee was past her hee fell downe lame in great extremitie and afterwards by meanes got into an Ale-house in Colne neere vnto the place where hee was first bewitched and as hee lay there in great paine not able to stirre either hand or foote he saw a great Black-Dogge stand by him with very fearefull firie eyes great teeth and a terrible countenance looking him in the face whereat he was very sore afraid and immediately after came in the said Alizon Deuice who staid not long there but looked on him and went away After which time hee was tormented both day and night with the said Alizon Deuice and so continued lame not able to trauell or take paines euer since that time which with weeping teares in great passion turned to the Prisoner in the hearing of all the Court hee said to her This thou knowest to be too true and thereupon she humblie acknowledged the same and cried out to God to forgiue her and vpon her knees with weeping teares humbly prayed him to forgiue her that wicked offence which he very freely and voluntarily did Hereupon Master Nowel standing vp humbly prayed the fauour of the Court in respect this Fact of Witchcraft was more eminent and apparant then the rest that for the better satisfaction of the Audience the Examination of Abraham Law might be read in Court The Examination of ABRAHAM LAVV of Hallifax in the Countie of Yorke Cloth-dier taken vpon oath the thirtieth day of March 1612. Before ROGER NOVVEL Esquire aforesaid BEing sworne and examined saith That vpon Saturday last saue one being the one and twentieth day of this instant March he this Examinate was sent for by a letter that came from his father that he should come to his father Iohn Law who then lay in Colne speechlesse and had the left-side lamed all saue his eye and when this Examinate came to his father his said father had something recouered his speech and did complaine that hee was pricked with Kniues Elsons and Sickles and that the same hurt was done vnto him at Colne-field presently after that Alizon Deuice had offered to buy some pinnes of him and she had no money to pay for them withall but as this Examinates father told this Examinate he gaue her some pinnes And this Examinate further saith That he heard his said father say that the hurt he had in his lamenesse was done vnto him by the said Alizon Deuice by Witchcraft And this Examinate further saith that hee heard his said Father further say that the said Alizon Deuice did lie vpon him and trouble him And this Examinate seeing his said Father so tormented with the said Alizon and with one other olde woman whome this Examinates Father did not know as it seemed This Examinate made search after the said Alizon and hauing found her brought her to his said Father yesterday being the nine twenteth of this instant March whose said Father in the hearing of this Examinate and diuers others did charge the said Alizon to haue bewitched him which the said Alizon confessing did aske this Examinates said Father forgiuenesse vpon her knees for the same whereupon this Examinaes Father accordingly did forgiue her Which Examination in open Court vpon his oath hee iustified to be true Whereupon it was there affirmed to the Court that this Iohn Law the Pedler before his vnfortunate meeting with this Witch was a verie able sufficient stout
day of May Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. Decimo ac Scociae quadragesimo quinto Before ROGER NOVVEL NICHOLAS BANNESTER and ROBERT HOLDEN Esquires three of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie THis Examinat vpon his oath saith That Anne Whittle alias Chattox confessed vnto him that she knoweth one Prestons wife neere Gisburne and that the said Prestons wife should haue beene at the said feast vpon the said Good-Friday and that shee was an ill woman and had done Master Lister of Westby great hurt The Examination of ELIZABETH DEVICE mother of IAMES DEVICE taken before ROGER NOVVELL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires the day and yeare aforesaid viz. THe said Elizabeth Deuice vpon her Examination confesseth That vpon Good-Friday last there dined at this Examinats house which she hath said are Witches and doth verily thinke them to be Witches and their names are those whom Iames Deuice hath formerly spoken of to be there She also confesseth in all things touching the killing of Master Lister of Westby as the said Iames Deuice hath before confessed And the said Elizabeth Deuice also further saith That at the said meeting at Malking-Tower as aforesaid the said Katherine Hewyt and Iohn Bulcock with all the rest then there gaue their consents with the said Prestons wife for the killing of the said Master Lister And for the killing of the said Master Leonard Lister she this Examinate saith in all things as the said Iames Deuice hath before confessed in his Examination The Examination of IENNET DEVICE daughter of ELIZABETH late wife of IOHN DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster about the age of nine yeares or thereabouts taken the day and yeare aboue-said Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster THe said Examinate vpon her Examination saith that vpon Good-friday last there was about twenty persons whereof only two were men to this Examinats remembrance at her said Grand mothers house called Malking-Tower aforesaid about twelue of the clocke all which persons this Examinates said mother told her were Witches and that she knoweth the names of diuers of the said Witches AFter all these Examinations Confessions and Euidence deliuered in open Court against her His Lordship commanded the Iurie to obserue the particular circumstances first Master Lister in his great extremitie to complaine hee saw her and requested them that were by him to lay hold on her After he cried out shee lay heauie vpon him euen at the time of his death But the Conclusion is of more consequence then all the rest that Iennet Preston being brought to the dead corps they bled freshly And after her deliuerance in Lent it is proued shee rode vpon a white Foale and was present in the great assembly at Malkin Tower with the Witches to intreat and pray for aide of them to kill Master Lister now liuing for that he had prosequuted against her And against these people you may not expect such direct euidence since all their workes are the workes of darkenesse no witnesses are present to accuse them therefore I pray God direct your consciences After the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death had spent the most part of the day in consideration of the euidence against her they returned into the Court and deliuered vp their Verdict of Life and Death ⸫ The Verdict of Life and Death WHo found Iennet Preston guiltie of the fellonie and murder by Witch-craft of Thomas Lister Esquire conteyned in the Indictment against her c. Afterwards according to the course and order of the Lawes his Lordship pronounced Iudgement against her to bee hanged for her offence And so the Court arose HEre was the wonderfull discouerie of this Iennet Preston who for so many yeares had liued at Gisborne in Crauen neare Master Lister one thing more I shall adde to all these particular Examinations and euidence of witnesses which I saw and was present in the Court at Lancaster when it was done at the Assizes holden in August following My Lord Bromley being very suspicious of the accusation of Iennet Deuice the little Wench commanded her to looke vpon the Prisoners that were present and declare which of them were present at Malkin Tower at the great assembly of Witches vpon Good-Friday last shee looked vpon and tooke many by the handes and accused them to be there and when shee had accused all that were there present shee told his Lordship there was a Woman that came out of Crauen that was amongst the Witches at that Feast but shee saw her not amongst the Prisoners at the Barre What a singular note was this of a Child amongst many to misse her that before that time was hanged for her offence which shee would neuer confesse or declare at her death here was present old Preston her husband who then cried out and went away being fully satisfied his wife had Iustice and was worthie of death To conclude then this present discourse I heartilie desire you my louing Friends and Countrie-men for whose particular instructions this is added to the former of the wonderfull discouerie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster And for whose particular satisfaction this is published Awake in time and suffer not your selues to be thus assaulted Consider how barbarously this Gentleman hath been dealt withall and especially you that hereafter shall passe vpon any Iuries of Life and Death let not your conniuence or rather foolish pittie spare such as these to exequute farther mischiefe Remember that shee was no sooner set at libertie but shee plotted the ruine and ouerthrow of this Gentleman and his whole Familie Expect not as this reuerend and learned Iudge saith such apparent proofe against them as against others since all their workes are the workes of darkenesse and vnlesse it please Almightie God to raise witnesses to accuse them who is able to condemne them Forget not the bloud that cries out vnto God for reuenge bring it not vpon your owne heads Neither doe I vrge this any farther then with this that I would alwaies intreat you to remember that it is as great a crime as Salomon sayth Prov. 17 to condemne the innocent as to let the guiltie escape free Looke not vpon things strangely alledged but iudiciously consider what is justly proued against them And that as well all you that were witnesses present at the Arraignement and Triall of her as all other strangers to whome this Discourse shall come may take example by this Gentleman to prosecute these hellish Furies to their end labor to root them out of the Commonwealth for the common good of your Countrey The greatest mercie extended to them is soone forgotten GOD graunt vs the long and prosperous continuance of these Honorable and Reuerend Iudges vnder whose Gouernment we liue in these North parts for we may say that GOD Almightie hath singled them out and set them on his Seat for the defence of Iustice And for this great deliuerance let vs all pray to GOD Almightie that the memorie of these worthie Iudges may bee blessed to all Posterities FINIS Euening Her owne examination Her Spirit Executed at Yorke the last Assises Dandy Anne Redferne the Witch Alice Nutter the Prisoner