"Who informeth upon oath, (beeinge examined concerninge the greate meetings of the witches) and saith, that upon All-saints day last past, hee, this informer, beeinge with oneHenry Parker, a neare doore neighbor to him inWheatley-lane,[44]desyred the saidParkerto give him leave to get some bulloes,[45]which hee did. In which tyme of gettinge bulloes, hee sawe two greyhounds, viz. a blacke and a browne one, came runninge over the next field towards him, he verily thinkinge the one of them to bee Mr.Nutters,[46]andthe other to bee Mr.Robinsons,[47]the said Mr.Nutterand Mr.Robinsonhavinge then such like. And the said greyhounds came to him and fawned on him, they havinge about theire necks either of them a coller, and to either of which collers was tyed a stringe, which collers as this informer affirmeth did shine like gould, and hee thinkinge that some either of Mr.Nutter'sor Mr.Robinson'sfamily should have followed them: but seeinge noe body to followe them, he tooke the said greyhounds thinkinge to hunt with them, and presently a hare did rise very neare before him, at the sight whereof he cryed, loo, loo, but the dogges would not run. Whereupon beeinge very angry, he tooke them, and with the strings that were at theire collers tyed either of them to a little bush on the next hedge, and with a rod that hee had in his hand, hee bett them. And in stede of the blacke greyhound, oneDickonsonwife stoode up (a neighbr.) whom this informer knoweth, and in steade of the browne greyhound a little boy whom this informer knoweth not. At which sight this informer beeinge affraid indevoured to run away: but beeinge stayed by the woman, viz. byDickonson'swife, shee put her hand into her pocket, and pulled out a peace of silver much like to a faire shillinge, and offered to give him to hould histongue, and not to tell, whiche hee refused, sayinge, nay thou art a witch; Whereupon shee put her hand into her pocket againe, and pulled out a stringe like unto a bridle[48]that gingled, which shee put upon the litle boyes heade that stood up in the browne greyhounds steade; whereupon the said boy stood up a white horse. Then immediately the saidDickonsonwife tooke this informer before her upon the said horse, and carried him to a new house calledHoarestones,[49]beinge about a quarter of a mile off, whither, when they were comme, there were divers persons about the doore, and hee sawe divers others cominge rideinge upon horses of severall colours towards the said house, which tyed theire horses to a hedge neare to the sed house; and which persons went into the sed house, to the number of threescore or thereabouts, as this informer thinketh, where they had a fyer and meate roastinge, and some other meate stirringe in the house, whereof a yonge woman whom hee this informer knoweth not, gave him flesh and breade upon a trencher, and drinke in a glasse, which, after the first taste, hee refused, and would have noe more, and said it was nought. And presently after, seeinge diverse of the company goinge to a barn neare adioyneinge,[50]hee followedafter, and there he sawe sixe of them kneelinge, and pullinge at sixe severall roapes which were fastened or tyed to ye toppe of the house; at or with which pullinge came then in this informers sight flesh smoakeinge, butter in lumps, and milke as it were syleinge[51]from the said roapes, all which fell into basons whiche were placed under the saide roapes. And after that these sixe had done, there came other sixe which did likewise, and duringe all the tyme of theire so pullinge, they made such foule faces that feared[52]this informer, soe as hee was glad to steale out and run home, whom, when they wanted, some of theire company came runninge after him neare to a place in a high way, called Boggard-hole,[53]where this informer met two horsemen, at the sight whereof the sed persons left followinge him, and the foremost of which persons yt followed him, hee knoweth to bee oneLoyndwife, which said wife, together with oneDickonsonwife, and oneJenet Davies[54]he hath seene at severall tymes in a croft or close adioninge to his fathershouse, whiche put him in a greate feare. And further, this informer saith, upon Thursday after New Yeares day last past, he sawe the sedLoyndwife sittinge upon a crosse peece of wood, beeinge within the chimney of his father's dwellinge house, and hee callinge to her, said, come downe thouLoyndwife, and immediately the sedLoyndwife went up out of his sight. And further, this informer saith, yt after hee was comme from ye company aforesed to his father's house, beeinge towards eveninge, his father bad him goe fetch home two kyne to seale,[55]and in the way, in a field called the Ollers, hee chanced to hap upon a boy, who began to quarrell with him, and they fought soe together till this informer had his eares made very bloody by fightinge, and lookinge downe, hee sawe the boy had a cloven foote, at which sight hee was affraid, and ran away from him to seeke the kyne. And in the way hee sawe a light like a lanthorne, towards which he made hast, supposinge it to bee carried by some of Mr.Robinson'speople: But when hee came to the place, hee onley found a woman standinge on a bridge, whom, when hee sawe her, he knewe to beeLoyndwife, and knowinge her, he turned backe againe, and immediatly hee met with ye aforesed boy, from whom he offered to run, which boy gave him a blow on the back which caus'd him to cry. And hee farther saith, yt when hee was in the barne, he sawe three women take three pictures fromoff the beame, in the which pictures many thornes, or such like things sticked, and ytLoyndwife tooke one of the said pictures downe, but thother two women yt tooke thother two pictures downe hee knoweth not.[56]And beeinge further asked, what persons were at ye meeteinge aforesed, hee nominated these persons hereaftermentioned, viz.Dickonsonwife,Henry Priestleywife and her sone,Alice Hargreaveswiddowe,Jennet Davies,Wm.Davies, uxor.Hen. Jacksand her soneJohn,James HargreavesofMarsden,Mileswife ofDicks,Jameswife,Saunderssicut credit,Lawrencewife ofSaunders,Loyndwife,Buyswife ofBarrowford, oneHolgateand hiswife sicut credit,Little Robinwife ofLeonard's, of theWest Cloase.[57]
"Edmund RobinsonofPendle, father of ye sdEdmunde Robinson, the aforesaid informer, upon oath saith, that uponAll Saints' Day, he sent his sone, the aforesed informer, to fetch home two kyne to seale, and saith yt hee thought his sone stayed longer than he should have done, went to seeke him, and in seekinge him, heard him cry very pittifully, and found him soe afraid and distracted, yt hee neither knew his father, nor did know where he was, and so continued very neare a quarter of an hower before he came to himselfe,[58]and he tould this informer, his father, all the particular passages yt are before declared in the saidEdmund Robinson, his sone's information."
The name of Margaret Johnson does not appear in Edmund Robinson's examination. Whether accused or not, the opportunity was too alluring to be lost by a personage full of matter, being like old Mause Headrigg, "as a bottle that lacketh vent," and too desirous of notoriety, to let slip such an occasion. She made, on the 2nd of March following, before the same justices who had taken Robinson's examination, the following confession, which must have been considered a most instructive one by those who were in search of some shortvade mecumof the statistics of witchcraft in Pendle:—
"The Confession of Margaret Johnson.
"That betwixt seaven and eight yeares since, shee beeinge in her owne house inMarsden, in a greate passion of angerand discontent, and withall pressed with some want, there appeared unto her a spirit or devill in ye proportion or similitude of a man, apparrelled in a suite of blacke, tyed about with silk points, who offered yt if shee would give him her soule hee would supply all her wants, and bringe to her whatsoever shee did neede. And at her appointment would in revenge either kill or hurt whom or what shee desyred, weare it man or beast. And saith, yt after a solicitation or two shee contracted and covenanted with ye said devill for her soule. And yt ye said devill or spirit badde her call him by the name ofMamilian. And when shee would have him to doe any thinge for her, call inMamilian, and hee would bee ready to doe her will. And saith, yt in all her talke or conference shee calleth her said devill,Mamilmy God. Shee further saith, yt ye saidMamilian, her devill, (by her consent) did abuse and defile her body by comittinge wicked uncleannesse together. And saith, yt shee was not at the greate meetings atHoarestones, at the forest ofPendle, upon All-Saints Day, where ——. But saith yt shee was at a second meetinge ye Sunday next after All-Saints Day, at the place aforesaid; where there was at yt tyme between 30 and 40 witches, who did all ride to the said meetinge, and the end of theire said meeting was to consult for the killinge and hurtinge of men and beasts. And yt besides theire particular familiars or spirits, there was one greate or grand devill or spirit more eminent than the rest. And if any desyre to have a greate and more wonderfull devill, whereby they may have more power tohurt, they may have one such. And sayth, yt such witches as have sharp bones given them by the devill to pricke them, have no pappes or dugges whereon theire devill may sucke, but theire devill receiveth bloud from the place, pricked with the bone. And they are more grand witches than any yt have marks. Shee allsoe saith, yt if a witch have but one marke, shee hath but one spirit, if two then two spirits, if three yet but two spirits. And saith, yt theire spirits usually have knowledge of theire bodies. And being desyred to name such as shee knewe to be witches, shee named, &c.[59]And if they would torment a man, they bid theire spirit goe and tormt. him in any particular place. And yt Good-Friday is one constant day for a yearely generall meetinge of witches. And yt on Good-Friday last, they had a meetinge nearePendlewater syde. Shee alsoe saith, that men witches usually have women spirits, and women witches men spirits. And theire devill or spirit gives them notice of theire meetinge, and tells them the place where it must bee. And saith, if they desyre to be in any place upon a sodaine, theire devill or spirit will upon a rodde, dogge, or any thinge els, presently convey themthither: yea, into any roome of a man's house. But shee saith it is not the substance of theire bodies, but theire spirit assumeth such form and shape as goe into such roomes. Shee alsoe saith, yt ye devill (after he begins to sucke) will make a pappe or dugge in a short tyme, and the matter which hee sucks is blood. And saith yt theire devills can cause foule weather and storms, and soe did at theire meetings. Shee alsoe saith yt when her devill did come to sucke her pappe, hee usually came to her in ye liknes of a cat, sometymes of one colour and sometymes of an other. And yt since this trouble befell her, her spirit hath left her, and shee never sawe him since."
On the evidence contained in these examinations several persons were committed for trial at Lancaster, and seventeen, on being tried at the ensuing assizes, were found guilty by the jury. The judge before whom the trial took place was, however, more sagacious and enlightened than his predecessors, Bromley and Altham. He respited the execution of the prisoners; and on the case being reported to the king in council, the Bishop of Chester, Dr. Bridgman, was required to investigate the circumstances. The inquiry was instituted at Chester, and four of the convicted witches, namely, Margaret Johnson, Frances Dickonson, Mary Spencer, and the wife of one of the Hargreaves's, were sent to London, and examined, first by the king's physicians and surgeons, and afterwards by Charles the first in person.
"A stranger scene" to quote Dr. Whitaker's concluding paragraph "can scarcely be conceived; and it is not easy toimagine whether the untaught manners, rude dialect, and uncouth appearance of these poor foresters, would more astonish the king; or his dignity of person and manners, together with the splendid scene with which they were surrounded, would overwhelm them. The end, however, of the business was, that strong presumptions appeared of the boy having been suborned to accuse them falsely, and they were accordingly dismissed. The boy afterwards confessed that he was suborned."[60]
In Dr. Whitaker's astonishment that Margaret Johnson should make the confession she appears to have done, in a clear case of imposture, few of his readers will be disposedto participate, who are at all conversant with the trials of reputed witches in this country. Confessions were so common on those occasions, that there is, I believe, not a single instance of any great number of persons being convicted of witchcraft at one time, some of whom did not make a confession of guilt. Nor is there anything extraordinary in that circumstance, when it is remembered that many of them sincerely believed in the existence of the powers attributed to them; and others, aged and of weak understanding, were, in a measure, coerced by the strong persuasion of their guilt, which all around them manifested, into an acquiescence in the truth of the accusation. In many cases the confessions were made in the hope, and no doubt with the promise, seldom performed, that a respite from punishment would be eventually granted. In other instances, there is as little doubt, that they were the final results of irritation, agony, and despair.[61]The confessions are generally composed of "such stuff as dreams are made of," and what they report to have occurred, might either proceed, when there was no intention to fabricate, from intertwining the fantastic threads which sometimes stream upon the waking senses from the land of shadows, or be caused by those ocular hallucinations of which medical science has supplied full and satisfactory solution. There is no argument which so long maintained its ground in support ofwitchcraft as that which was founded on the confessions referred to. It was the last plank clung to by many a witch-believing lawyer and divine. And yet there is none which will less bear critical scrutiny and examination, or the fallacy of which can more easily be shown, if any particular reported confession is taken as a test and subjected to a searching analysis and inquiry.
It is said that we owe to the grave and saturnine Monarch, who extended his pardon to the seventeen convicted in 1633, that happy generalisation of the term, which appropriates honourably to the sex in Lancashire the designation denoting the fancied crime of a few miserable victims of superstition. That gentle sex will never repudiate a title bestowed by one, little given to the playful sports of fancy, whose sorrows and unhappy fate have never wanted their commiseration, and who distinguished himself on this memorable occasion, at a period when
"'twas the time's plagueThat madmen led the blind,"
"'twas the time's plagueThat madmen led the blind,"
—in days when philosophy stumbled and murder arrayed itself in the robes of justice—by an enlightened exercise of the kingly prerogative of mercy. Proceeding from such a fountain of honour, and purified by such an appropriation, the title of witch has long lost its original opprobrium in the County Palatine, and survives only to call forth the gayest and most delightful associations. In process of timeeven the termwitchfindermay lose the stains which have adhered to it from the atrocities of Hopkins, and may be adopted by general usage, as a sort of companion phrase, to signify the fortunate individual, who, by an union with a Lancashire witch, has just asserted his indefeasible title to be considered as the happiest of men.
J.C.
THEW O N D E R F V L LDISCOVERIE OFWITCHES, &c.
THEW O N D E R F V L LD I S C O V E R I E O FWITCHES IN THE COVNTIEOF LANCASTER.
With the Arraignement and Triall ofNineteene notoriousWitches, at the Assizes andgenerall Gaole deliuerie, holden at the Castle ofLancaster,vpon Munday, the seuenteenthof August last,1612.
Before SirI a m e s A l t h a m, andSirEdward Bromley, Knights;Baronsof hisMaiesties Court ofExcheqver: And Iusticesof Assize, OyerandTerminor,and generallGaole deliuerie in the circuit of theNorth Parts.
Together with the Arraignement and Triall ofIennetPreston,at the Assizes holden at the Castle of Yorke,the seuen and twentieth day of Iulie last past,with her Execution for the murtherof MasterListerby Witchcraft.
Published and set forth by commandement of his MaiestiesIustices of Assize in the North Parts.
ByThomas PottsEsquier.
LONDON,Printed byW. StansbyforJohn Barnes, dwelling neareHolborne Conduit.1613.
T O T H E R I G H T H O N O R A B L E,THOMAS, LORD KNYVET, BARON OF ESCRICKin the Countie of Yorke, my very honorablegood Lord and Master.[A1]
AndT O T H E R I G H T H O N O R A B L EAND VERTVOVS LADIE, THELadieElizabeth Knyvethis Wife, myhonorable good Ladie andMistris.
Right Honorable,
L
ET 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 I rather present their 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 vpright carriage of causes, whose zeale to Justice and Honourable curtesie to all men, have 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 do challenge at my handes the vttermost of what euer I 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,Prœmium & Pœnam,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 Atchieuing 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.
V
Pon 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.[A2]
A
Fter he had taken great paines to finish it, I tooke vpon mee to reuise and correct it, that nothing might passe but matter of Fact, apparant against them by record. It 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, I finde vpon examination carefully set forth, and truely reported, and iudge the worke fit and worthie to be published.
Edward Bromley.[A3]
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.
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.
woodcut
A p a r t i c u l a r D e c l a r a t i o n o fthe most barberous and damnable Practises,Murthers, wicked and diuelish Conspiracies, practizedand executed by the most dangerous and malitiousWitchElizabeth SowthernesaliasDemdike,of the Forrest ofPendlein the Countie ofLancasterWiddow, who died in theCastle atLancasterbefore shecame to receiue her tryall.
T
Hough 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 ofLancashire, and other Counties in the North partes thereunto adioyning were bent: And so infinite a multitude came to the Arraignement & tryall of these Witches atLancaster, 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,[Ba]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 it 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 of them that were not found guiltie, and so rest very discontented, and not satisfied. As also for that it is necessary for men to know and vnderstande the meanes whereby they worke their mischiefe, the hidden misteries of their diuelish and wicked Inchauntmentes, Charmes, and Sorceries, the better to preuent and auoyde the danger that may ensue. And lastly, who were the principall authors and actors in this late woefull and lamentableTragedie, wherein so much Blood was spilt.
Therefore I pray you giue me leaue, (with your patience and fauour,) before I proceed to the Indictment, Arraignement, and Tryall of such as were prisoners in the Castle, to lay open the life and death of this damnable and malicious Witch, of so long continuance (oldDemdike) of whom our whole businesse hath such dependence, that without the particular Declaration and Record of her Euidence, with the circumstaunces, wee shall neuer bring any thing to good perfection: for from this Sincke of villanie and mischiefe, haue all the rest proceeded; as you shall haue them in order.
She was a very old woman, about the age of Fourescore[Bb]yeares, and had been a Witch for fiftie yeares. Shee dwelt in the Forrest ofPendle, a vaste place, fitte for her profession: What shee committed in her time, no man knowes.
Thus liued shee securely for many yeares, brought vp her owne Children, instructed her Graund-children, and tooke great care and paines to bring them to be Witches. Shee was a generall agent for the Deuill in all these partes: no man escaped her, or her Furies, that euer gaue them any occasion of offence, or denyed them any thing they stood need of: And certaine it is, no man neere them, was secure or free from danger.
But God, who had in his diuine prouidence prouided to cut them off, and roote them out of the Commonwealth, so disposed aboue, that the Iustices of those partes, vnderstanding by a generall charme and muttering, the great and vniuersall resort toMaulking Tower, the common opinion, with the report of these suspected people, the complaint of the Kinges subiectes for the losse of their Children, Friendes, Goodes, and Cattle, (as there could not be so great Fire without some Smoake,) sent for some of the Countrey, and tooke great paynes to enquire after their proceedinges, and courses of life.
In the end,Roger NowellEsquire,[B2a]one of his Maiesties Iustices in these partes, a very religious honest Gentleman, painefull in the seruice of his Countrey: whose fame for this great seruice to his Countrey, shall liue after him, tooke vpon him to enter into the particular examination of these suspected persons: And to the honour of God, and the great comfort of all his Countrey, made such a discouery of them in order, as the like hath not been heard of: which for your better satisfaction, I haue heere placed in order against her, as they are vpon Record, amongst the Recordes of theCrowneatLancaster, certified by M.Nowell, and others.
T h e v o l u n t a r i e C o n f e s s i o nand Examination ofElizabeth SowthernsaliasDemdike, taken at the Fence in the ForrestofPendlein the CountieofLancaster.The second day of Aprill,Annoq; Regni Regis IacobiAnggliæ, &c. Decimo, et Scotiæ, Quadragesimo quinto;BeforeRoger NowellofReadeEsquire, one of hisMaiesties Iustices of the peace withinthe sayd Countie,Viz.
T
He saidElizabeth Sowthernsconfesseth, and sayth; That about twentie yeares past, as she was comming homeward from begging, there met her this Examinate neere vnto a Stonepit inGouldshey,[B2b1]in the sayd Forrest ofPendle, a Spirit or Deuill in the shape of a Boy, the one halfe of his Coate blacke, and the other browne, who bade this Examinate stay, saying to her, that if she would giue him her Soule, she should haue any thing that she would request. Wherevpon this Examinat demaunded his name? and the Spirit answered, his name wasTibb:[B2b2]and so this Examinate in hope of such gaine as was promised by the sayd Deuill orTibb, was contented to giue her Soule to the said Spirit: And for the space of fiue or sixe yeares next after, the sayd Spirit or Deuill appeared at sundry times vnto her this Examinate aboutDay-lightGate,[B2b3]alwayes bidding her stay, and asking her this Examinate what she would haue or doe? To whom this Examinate replyed, Nay nothing: for she this Examinate said, she wanted nothing yet. And so about the end of the said sixe yeares, vpon a Sabboth day in the morning, this Examinate hauing a litle Child vpon her knee, and she being in a slumber, the sayd Spirit appeared vnto her in the likenes of a browne Dogg, forcing himselfe to her knee, to get blood vnder her left Arme: and she being without any apparrell sauing her Smocke, the said Deuill did get blood vnder her left arme.[B3a1]And this Examinate awaking, sayd,Iesus saue my Child; but had no power, nor could not say,Iesus saue her selfe: wherevpon the Browne Dogge vanished out of this Examinats sight: after which, this Examinate was almost starke madd for the space of eight weekes.
And vpon her examination, she further confesseth, and saith. That a little before Christmas last, this Examinates Daughter hauing been to helpeRichard BaldwynsFolkes at the Mill: This Examinates Daughter did bid her this Examinate goe to the saydBaldwynshouse, and aske him some thing for her helping of his Folkes at the Mill, (as aforesaid:) and in this Examinates going to the saidBaldwynshouse, and neere to the sayd house, she mette with the saidRichard Baldwyn; WhichBaldwynsayd to this Examinate, and the saidAlizon Deuice[B3a3](who at that time ledde this Examinate, being blinde) get out of my ground Whores and Witches, I will burne the one of you, and hang the other.[B3a2]To whom this Examinate answered: I care not for thee, hang thy selfe: Presently wherevpon, at this Examinates going ouer the next hedge, the said Spirit or Diuell calledTibb, appeared vnto this Examinat, and sayd,Reuenge thee of him. To whom, this Examinate sayd againe to the said Spirit.Revenge thee eyther of him, or his.And so the said Spirit vanished out of her sight, and she neuer saw him since.
And further this Examinate confesseth, and sayth, that the speediest way to take a mans life away by Witchcraft, is to make a Picture of Clay,[B3b]like vnto the shape of the person whom they meane to kill, & dry it thorowly: and when they would haue them to be ill in any one place more then an other; then take a Thorne or Pinne, and pricke it in that part of the Picture you would so haue to be ill: and when you would haue any part of the Body to consume away, then take that part of the Picture, and burne it. And when they would haue the whole body to consume away, then take the remnant of the sayd Picture, and burne it: and so therevpon by that meanes, the body shall die.
The Confession and Examinationof Anne WhittlealiasChattox, beingPrisoner atLancaster; taken the 19 day of May,Annoq; Regni Regis Iacobi Angliæ, Decimo:ac Scotie Quadragesimo quinto; BeforeWilliam SandesMaior of the Borroughtowne ofLancaster.Iames AndertonofClayton, one of his Maiesties Iusticesof Peace within the same County, andThomasCowellone of his Maiesties Coroners inthe sayd Countie of Lancaster,Viz.
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Irst, the saydAnne Whittle, aliasChattox, sayth, that about foureteene yeares past she entered, through the wicked perswasions and counsell ofElizabeth Southerns, aliasDemdike, and was seduced to condescend & 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 saydDemdike: and therevpon the saydDemdikeand 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 saydDemdike, 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 saydDemdike, which then did speake vnto her in this Examinates hearing, and sayd, that she should haue Gould, Siluer, and worldly Wealth, at her will.[B4b1]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 calledFancie, and the other Spirit calling himselfeTibbe, 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 Person haue been bewitched to death, and by whom they were so bewitched: She sayth, that oneRobert Nuter, late of theGreene-headinPendle, was bewitched by this Examinate, the saidDemdike, and WiddowLomshawe, (late ofBurneley) now deceased.
And she further sayth, that the saidDemdikeshewed her, that she had bewitched to death,Richard Ashton, Sonne ofRichard AshtonofDownehamEsquire.[B4b2]
T h e E x a m i n a t i o n o f A l i z o nDeuice, of the Forrest of Pendle, in the CountyofLancasterSpinster, taken atReadein the saidCountie ofLancaster, the xiij. day of March,Anno Regni Jacobi Angliæ, &c.Nono: et Scotiæ xlv.BeforeRoger NowellofReadeaforesayd Esquire, one ofhis Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the saydCountie, againstElizabeth Sowtherns, aliasDemdikeher Graund-mother.Viz.
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He saydAlizon Deuicesayth, that about two yeares agon, her Graund-mother (calledElizabeth Sowtherns, alias oldDemdike) 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 oneIohn Nutterof theBulholeinPendleaforesaid, 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[Cb]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, thatRichard BaldwinofWeetheadwithin the Forrest ofPendle, 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 saydRichard Baldwinswas 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 saydBaldwin, shee would pray for the saydBaldwinboth still and loude: and this Examinate heard her cursse the saydBaldwinsundry times.
The Examination ofIames Deuiceof the Forrest ofPendle, in the Countie ofLancasterLabourer, taken the27. day of April,Annoq; Regni Regis Iacobi, Angliæ, &c.Decimo: ac Scotie Quadragesimo quinto: BeforeRoger Nowell and Nicholas Banister, Esq.two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace withinthe sayd Countie.[C2a]
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HE sayd ExaminateIames Deuicesayth, that about a month agoe, as this Examinate was comming towards his Mothers house, and at day-gate of the same night,Euening.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 saydElizabeth Sowthernshouse, 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 lay vpon him very heauily about an houre, and went then from him out of his Chamber window, coloured blacke, and about the bignesse of a Hare or Catte. And he further sayth, that aboutS. Peter'sday last, oneHenry Bullockecame to the saydElizabeth Sowthernshouse, and sayd, that her Graund-childAlizon Deuice, had bewitched a Child of his, and desired her that she would goe with him to his house; which accordingly she did: And therevpon she the saidAlizonfell downe on her knees, & asked the saidBullockeforgiuenes, and confessed to him, that she had bewitched the said child, as this Examinate heard his said sister confesse vnto him this Examinate.
T h e E x a m i n a t i o n o f E l i z a b e t hDeuice, Daughter of old Demdike, takenatReadbeforeRoger NowellEsquire, one ofhis Maiesties Iustices of Peace within theCountie ofLancasterthe xxx. dayof March,Annoq; Regni JacobiDecimo, ac Scotie xlv.
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He saydElizabeth Deuicethe Examinate, sayth, that the saydElizabeth Sowtherns, aliasDemdike, hath had a place on her left side by the space of fourty yeares, in such sort, as was to be seene at this Examinates Examination taking, at this present time.
Heere this worthy Iustice M.Nowell, out of these particular Examinations, or rather Accusations, finding matter to proceed; and hauing now before him oldDemdike, oldChattox,Alizon Deuice, andRedferneboth old and young,Reos confitentes, et Accusantes Inuicem. About the second of Aprill last past, committed and sent them away to the Castle atLancaster, there to remaine vntill the comming of the Kinges Maiesties Iustices of Assise, then to receiue their tryall.
But heere they had not stayed a weeke, when their Children and Friendes being abroad at libertie, laboured a speciall meeting atMalking Towerin the Forrest ofPendle,[C3a]vpon Good-fryday, within a weeke after they were committed, of all the most dangerous, wicked, and damnable Witches in the County farre and neere. Vpon Good-fryday they met, according to solemne appoyntment, solemnized this great Feastiuall day according to their former order, with great cheare, merry company, and much conference.
In the end, in this great Assemblie, it was decreed M.Couellby reason of his Office, shall be slaine before the next Assises: The Castle ofLancasterto be blowen vp, and ayde and assistance to be sent to kill M.Lister, with his old Enemie and wicked NeighbourIennet Preston; with some other such like practices: as vpon their Arraignement and Tryall, are particularly set foorth, and giuen in euidence against them.
This was not so secret, but some notice of it came to M.Nowell, and by his great paines taken in the Examination ofIennet Deuice, al their practises are now made knowen. Their purpose to kill M.Couell, and blow vp the Castle, is preuented. All their Murders, Witchcraftes, Inchauntments, Charmes, & Sorceries, are discouered; and euen in the middest of their consultations, they are all confounded, and arrested by Gods Iustice: brought before M.Nowell, and M.Bannester, vpon their voluntary confessions, Examinations, and other Euidence accused, and so by them committed to the Castle: So as now both old and young, haue taken vp their lodgings with M.Couell, vntill the next Assises, expecting their Tryall and deliuerance, according to the Lawes prouided for such like.
In the meane time, M.Nowellhauing knowledge by this discouery of their meeting atMalkeing Tower, and their resolution to execute mischiefe, takes great paines to apprehend such as were at libertie, and prepared Euidence against all such as were in question for Witches.
Afterwardes sendes some of these Examinations, to the Assises at Yorke, to be giuen in Evidence againstIennet Preston, who for the murder of M.Lister, is condemned and executed.
The Circuite of the North partes being now almost ended.
The 16. of August.
Vpon Sunday in the after noone, my honorable Lords the Iudges of Assise, came fromKendalltoLancaster.
Wherevpon M.Couell, presented vnto their Lordships a Calender, conteyning the Names of the Prisoners committed to his charge, which were to receiue their Tryall at the Assises: Out of which, we are onely to deale with the proceedings against Witches, which were as followeth.
Viz.
The Names of theWitches committed to theCastle ofLancaster.
Anne Whittle, aliasChattox.Elizabeth Deuice, Daughter of oldDemdike.Iames Deuice, Sonne ofElizabeth Deuice.Anne Readfearne, Daughter ofAnne Chattox.Alice Nutter.Katherine Hewytte.Iohn Bulcocke.Iane Bulcocke.Alizon Deuice, Daughter ofElizabeth Deuice.Isabell Robey.Magaret Pearson.
The Witches of Salmesbury.