How long shee hath been a Witch, the Deuill and shee knows best.
How long shee hath been a Witch, the Deuill and shee knows best.
The Accusations, Depositions, and particular Examinations vpon Record against her are infinite, and were able to fill a large Volume; But since shee is now only to receiue her Triall for this last offence. I shall proceede against her in order, and set forth what matter we haue vpon Record, to charge her withall.
ThisMargaret Pearson, Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster: Being brought to the Barre before the great Seat of Iustice; was there according to the course and order of the Law Indicted and Arraigned, for that shee had practised, exercised, and vsed her diuellish and wicked Arts, calledWitchcrafts,Inchantments,CharmesandSorceries, and one Mare of the goods and Chattels of oneDodgesonof Padiham, in the Countie of Lancaster, wickedly, maliciously, and voluntarily did kill.Contra formam Statuti, &c. Et Contra pacem dicti Domini Regis. &c.
Vpon her Arraignement to this Indictment, shee pleaded not guiltie; And for the triall of her offence put her selfe vpon God and her Countrie.
So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of her offence and death, stand charged with her as with others.
The Euidence againstMargaret Pearson,Prisoner at the Barre.
The Examination and Euidence ofAnne Whittle,aliasChattox.
Against
Margaret Pearson,Prisoner at the Barre.
THe saidAnne Chattoxbeing examined saith, That the wife of onePearsonof Paddiham, is a very euill Woman, and confessed to this Examinate, that shee is a Witch, and hath a Spirit which came to her the first time in likenesse of a Man, and clouen footed, and that shee the saidPearsonswife hath done very much harme to oneDodgesonsgoods, who came in at a loope-hole into the saidDodgesonsStable, and shee and her Spirit together did sit vpon his Horse or Mare, vntill the said Horse or Mare died. And likewise, that shee the saidPearsonswife did confesse vnto her this Examinate, that shee bewitched vnto death oneChilderswife, and her Daughter, and that shee the saidPearsonswife is as ill as shee.
The Examination ofIennet Booth,of Paddiham, in the Countie of Lancaster, the ninth dayof August 1612.
Before
Nicholas Bannester,Esquire; one of hisMaiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster.
IEnnet, the wife ofIames Booth, of Paddiham, vpon her oath saith, That the Friday next after, the saidPearsonswife, was committed to the Gaole at Lancaster, this Examinate was carding in the saidPearsonshouse, hauing a little child with her, and willed the saidMargerieto 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 saidMargeriedid carrie the said Toade out of the said house in a paire of tonges;[Ta]But what shee the saidMargeriedid therewith, this Examinate knoweth not.
After this were diuers witnesses examined against her in open Court,viua voce, toproue the death of the Mare, and diuers other vild and odious practises by hercommitted, who vpon their Examinations made it so apparant to the Iurie asthere was no question; But because the fact is of no great importance,in respect her life is not in question by this Indictment, and theDepositions and examinations are many, I leaue to troubleyou with any more of them, for being found guiltie ofthis offence, the penaltie of the Law is as much asher good Neighbours doe require, which is tobe deliuered from the companie of such adangerous wicked, andmalicious Witch.* **
THE ARRAIGNMENTand Triall ofIsabel Robeyin the Countie of Lancaster, for Witch-craft: vpon Wednesdaythe nineteenth of August, 1612. At the Assizes and generallGoale-deliuery, holden at Lancaster.
Before
SirEdward Bromley,Knight, one of his MaiestiesIustices of Assizes at Lancaster.
T
Hus 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.[T2a2]Here then is the last that came to act her part in this lamentable and wofull Tragedie, wherein his Maiestie hath lost so many Subjects, Mothers their Children, Fathers their Friends, and Kinsfolkes[T2a3]the like whereof hath not beene set forth in any age. What hath the Kings Maiestie written and published in hisDæmonologie, 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 thisIsabel Robeywho is now come to her triall.
ThisIsabel RobeyPrisoner 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 calledWitchcrafts,Inchantments,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 againstIsabel RobeyPrisoner at the Barre.
The Examination ofPeter Chaddockof Windle, in the Countie of Lancaster: Taken atWindle aforesaid, the 12. day of Iuly 1612.Anno Reg.RegisIacobi, Angliæ, &c. decimo, & Scotiæ xlv.
Before
SirThomas GerrardKnight, and Barronet. Oneof his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the saidCountie.
THe said Examinate vpon his Oath saith, That before his Marriage hee heard say that the saidIsabel Robeywas not pleased that hee should marrie his now wife: whereupon this Examinate called the saidIsabelWitch, 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 MasterIohn Hawardenat Peaseley Crosse, wished oneThomas Lyonto 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 saidThomas Lyonwere both very well amended.
And this Examinate further saith, that about foure yeares last past, his now wife was angrie with the saidIsabel, shee then being in his house, and his said Wife thereupon went out of the house, and presently after that the saidIsabelwent 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 sore; wherupō this Examinat sent to oneIamesa 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 saidIamesthe 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 theFather, theSonne, and theHoly Ghost, drinke it, saying; The Deuill and Witches are not able to preuaile againstGodand 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,[T3b]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 saidIsabel Robey, then otherwise, as he verily thinketh.
The Examination ofIane Wilkinson,Wife ofFrancis Wilkinson,of Windle aforesaid:Taken before the said SirThomas Gerrard,Knight and Barronet, the day and place aforesaid.Against the saidIsabel Robey.
THe said Examinate vpon her oath saith, that vpon a time the saidIsabel Robeyasked her milke, and shee denied to giue her any: And afterwards shee met the saidIsabel, whereupon this Examinate waxed afraid of her, and was then presently sick, and so pained that shee could not stand, and the next day after this Examinate going to Warrington, was suddenly pinched on her Thigh as shee thought, with foure fingers & a Thumbe twice together, and thereupon was sicke, in so much as shee could not get home but on horse-backe, yet soone after shee did mend.
The Examination ofMargaretLyonwife ofThomas Lyonthe yonger, ofWindle aforesaid: Taken before the said SirThomasGerrard,Knight and Barronet, the day and place aforesaid.Against the saidIsabel Robey.
THe saidMargaret Lyonvpon her Oath saith, that vpon a timeIsabel Robeycame into her house and said thatPeter Chaddockshould neuer mend vntill he had asked her forgiuenesse; and that shee knew hee would neuer doe: whereupon this Examinate said, how doe you know that, for he is a true Christian, and hee would aske all the world forgiuenesse? then the saidIsabelsaid, that is all one, for hee will neuer aske me forgiuenesse, therefore hee shall neuer mend; And this Examinate further saith, that shee being in the house of the saidPeter Chaddock, the wife of the saidPeter, who is God-Daughter of the saidIsabel, and hath in times past vsed her companie much, did affirme, that the saidPeterwas now satisfied, that the saidIsabel Robeywas no Witch, by sending to oneHalseworths, which they call a wiseman,[T4b1]and the wife of the saidPeterthen said, to abide vpon it,[T4b2]I thinke that my Husband will neuer mend vntill hee haue asked her forgiuenesse, choose him whether hee will bee angrie or pleased, for this is my opinion: to which he answered, when he did need to aske her forgiuenesse, he would, but hee thought hee did not need, for any thing hee knew: and yet this Examinate further saith, That the saidPeter Chaddockhad very often told her, that he was very afraid that the saidIsabelhad done him much hurt; and that he being fearefull to meete her, he hath turned backe at such time as he did meet her alone, which the saidIsabelhath since then affirmed to be true, saying, that hee the saidPeterdid turne againe when he met her in the Lane.
The Examination ofMargaretParrewife ofHvgh Parreof Windle aforesaid,Taken before the said SirThomas GerardKnight and Baronet, the day and place aforesaid. Againstthe saidIsabel Robey.
THe said Examinate vpon her oath saith, that vpon a time, the saidIsabel Robeycame to her house, and this Examinate asked her howPeter Chaddockdid, And the saidIsabelanswered shee knew not, for shee went not to see, and then this Examinate asked her howIane Wilkinsondid, for that she had beene lately sicke and suspected to haue beene bewitched: then the saidIsabelsaid twice together, I haue bewitched her too: and then this Examinate said that shee trusted shee could blesse her selfe from all Witches and defied them; and then the saidIsabelsaid twice together, would you defie me? & afterwards the saidIsabelwent away not well pleased.
Here the Gentlemen of the last Iurie of Life and Death hauing taken great paines, the time being farre spent, and the number of the Prisoners great, returned into the Court to deliuer vp their Verdict against them as followeth.viz.
WHo vpon their Oathes found the saidIsabel Robeyguiltie of the Fellonie by Witch-craft, contained in the Indictment against her. AndMargaret Pearsonguiltie of the offence by Witch-craft, contained in the Indictment against her.
Whereupon MasterCouellwas commaunded by the Court in the afternoone to bring forth all the Prisoners that stood Conuicted, to receiue their Iudgment of Life and Death.
For his Lordship now intended to proceed to a finall dispatch of the Pleas of the Crowne. And heere endeth the Arraignement and Triall of the Witches at Lancaster.
THus at the length haue we brought to perfection this intended Discouery of Witches, with the Arraignement and Triall of euery one of them in order, by the helpe of Almightie God, and this Reuerend Iudge; the Lanterne from whom I haue received light to direct me in this course to the end. And as in the beginning, I presented vnto their view a Kalender containing the names of all the witches: So now I shall present vnto you in the conclusion and end, such as stand conuicted, and come to the Barre to receiue the iudgement of the Law for their offences, and the proceedings of the Court against such as were acquitted, and found not guiltie: with the religious Exhortation of this Honorable Iudge, as eminent in gifts and graces, as in place and preeminence, which I may lawfully affirme without base flattery (the canker of all honest and worthie minds) drew the eyes and reuerend respect of all that great Audience present, to heare their Iudgement, and the end of these proceedings.
THe Court commanded three solemne Proclamations for silence, vntill Iudgement for Life and Death were giuen.
Whereupon I presented to his Lordship thenames of the Prisoners in order, whichwere now to receiue theirIudgement.* **
¶ The names of the Prisoners at theBarre to receiue their Judgementof Life and Death.
Anne Whittle, aliasChattox.
Elizabeth Deuice.
James Deuice.
Anne Redferne.
Alice Nutter.
Katherine Hewet,
John Bulcock.
Jane Bulcock.
Alizon Deuice.
Isabel Robey.
T H E I V D G E M E N TOF THE RIGHT HONORABLESirEdward Bromley, Knight, oneof his Maiesties Iustices of Assizeat Lancaster vpon the Witches conuicted,as followeth.
T
Here is no man aliue more vnwilling to pronounce this wofull and heauy Iudgement against you, then my selfe: and if it were possible, I would to God this cup might passe from me. But since it is otherwise prouided, that after all proceedings of the Law, there must be a Iudgement; and the Execution of that Iudgement must succeed and follow in due time: I pray you haue patience to receiue that which the Law doth lay vpon you. You of all people haue the least cause to complaine: since in the Triall of your liues there hath beene great care and paines taken, and much time spent: and very few or none of you, but stand conuicted vpon your owne voluntarie confessions and Examinations, Ex ore proprio.Few Witnesses examined against you, but such as were present, and parties in your Assemblies. Nay I may further affirme, What persons of your nature and condition, euer were Arraigned and Tried with more solemnitie, had more libertie giuen to pleade or answere to euerie particular point of Euidence against you? In conclusion such hath beene the generall care of all, that had to deale with you, that you haue neither cause to be offended in the proceedings of the Iustices, that first tooke paines in these businesses, nor with the Court that hath had great care to giue nothing in euidence against you, but matter of fact; Sufficient matter vpon Record, and not to induce or leade the Iurie to finde any one of you guiltie vpon matter of suspition or presumption, nor with the witnesses who haue beene tried, as it were in the fire: Nay, you cannot denie but must confesse what extraordinarie meanes hath beene vsed to make triall of their euidence, and to discouer the least intended practice in any one of them, to touch your liues vniustly.
As you stand simply (your offences and bloudie practises not considered) your fall would rather moue compassion, then exasperate any man. For whom would not the ruine of so many poore creatures at one time, touch, as in apparance simple, and of little vnderstanding?
But the bloud of those innocent children, and others his Maiesties Subiects, whom cruelly and barbarously you haue murdered, and cut off, with all the rest of your offences, hath cryed out vnto the Lord against you, and sollicited for satisfaction and reuenge, and that hath brought this heauie iudgement vpon you at this time.
It is therefore now time no longer wilfully to striue, both against the prouidence of God, and the Iustice of the Land: the more you labour to acquit your selues, the more euident and apparant you make your offences to the World. And vnpossible it is that they shall either prosper or continue in this World, or receiue reward in the next, that are stained with so much innocent bloud.
The worst then I wish to you, standing at the Barre conuicted, to receiue your Iudgement, is, Remorse, and true Repentance, for the safegard of your Soules, and after, an humble, penitent, and heartie acknowledgement of your grieuous sinnes and offences committed both againstGodand Man.
First, yeeld humble and heartie thankes to AlmightieGodfor taking hold of you in your beginning, and making stay of your intended bloudie practises (althoughGodknowes there is too much done alreadie) which would in time have cast so great a weight of Iudgement vpon your Soules.
Then praiseGodthat it pleased him not to surprize or strike you suddenly, euen in the execution of your bloudie Murthers, and in the middest of your wicked practises, but hath giuen you time, and takes you away by a iudiciall course and triall of the Law.
Last of all, craue pardon of the World, and especially of all such as you haue iustly offended, either by tormenting themselues, children, or friends, murder of their kinsfolks, or losse of any their goods.
And for leauing to future times the president of so many barbarous and bloudie murders, with such meetings, practises, consultations, and meanes to execute reuenge, being the greatest part of your comfort in all your actions, which may instruct others to hold the like course, or fall in the like sort:
It only remaines I pronounce the Iudgement of the Court against you by the Kings authoritie, which is;You shall all goe from hence to the Castle, from whence you came; from thence you shall bee carried to the place of Execution for this Countie: where your bodies shall bee hanged vntill you be dead;And God Have Mercie Vpon Yovr Sovles; For your comfort in this world I shall commend a learned and worthie Preacher to instruct you, and prepare you, for an other World: All I can doe for you is to pray for your Repentance in this World, for the satisfaction of many; And forgiuenesse in the next world, for sauing of your Soules. And God graunt you may make good vse of the time you haue in this world, to his glorie and your owne comfort.
THe Iudgement of the Court against you, is, You shall stand vpon the Pillarie in open Market, atClitheroe,Paddiham,Whalley, andLancaster, foure Market dayes, with a Paper vpon your head, in great Letters, declaring your offence, and there you shall confesse your offence, and after to remaine in Prison for one yeare without Baile, and after to be bound with good Sureties, to be of the good behauiour.
To the Prisoners found not guiltieby theIvries.
T
O you that are found not guiltie, and are by the Law to bee acquited, presume no further of your Innocencie then you haue just cause: for although it pleased God out of his Mercie, to spare you at this time, yet without question there are amongst you, that are as deepe in this Action, as any of them that are condemned to die for their offences: The time is now for you to forsake the Deuill: Remember how, and in what sort hee hath dealt with all of you: make good vse of this great mercie and fauour: and pray unto God you fall not againe: For great is your happinesse to haue time in this World, to prepare your selues against the day when you shall appeare before the Great Iudge of all.
Notwithstanding, the iudgement of the Court, is, You shall all enter Recognizances with good sufficient Suerties, to appeare at the next Assizes at Lancaster, and in the meane time to be of the good behauiour. All I can say to you:
is, ThatGodhath deliuered you beyond expectation, I prayGodyou may vse this mercie and fauour well; and take heed you fall not hereafter: And so the Court doth order you shall be deliuered.
What more can bee written or published of the proceedings of this honourable Court: but to conclude with the Execution of the Witches,[Xb]who were executed the next day following at the common place of Execution, neare vnto Lancaster. Yet in the end giue mee leaue to intreate some fauour that haue beene afraid to speake vntill my worke were finished. If I haue omitted any thing materiall, or published any thing imperfect, excuse me for that I haue done: It was a worke imposed vpon me by the Iudges, in respect I was so wel instructed in euery particular. In hast I haue vndertaken to finish it in a busie Tearme amongst my other imploiments.
My charge was to publish the proceedings of Iustice, and matter of Fact, wherein I wanted libertie to write what I would, and am limited to set forth nothing against them, but matter vpon Record, euen in their owne Countrie tearmes, which may seeme strange. And this I hope will giue good satisfaction to such as vnderstand how to iudge of a businesse of this nature. Such as haue no other imploiment but to question other mens Actions, I leaue them to censure what they please, It is no part of my profession to publish any thing in print, neither can I paint in extraordinarie tearmes.[X2a]But if this discouerie may serue for your instruction, I shall thinke my selfe very happie in this Seruice, and so leaue it to your generall censure.
Da veniam Ignoto non displicuisse meretur,Festinat studÿs qui placuisse tibi.
Da veniam Ignoto non displicuisse meretur,Festinat studÿs qui placuisse tibi.
At the Assises and Generall Gaole-Deliuerie holden at the Castle of Yorkein the Countie of Yorke, the xxvij. day ofIuly last past,Anno Regni RegisIacobiAngliæ, &c. Decimo, & Scotiæquadragesimo quinto.
Before
SirI a m e s A l t h a mKnight, oneof the Barons of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer;and SirE d w a r d B r o m l e yKnight, another ofthe Barons of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer;his Maiesties Iustices of Assise, Oyer and Terminer,and generall Gaole-Deliuerie, in the Circuitof the North-parts.
LONDON.
Printed byW. StansbyforIohn Barnes, andare to be sold at his Shoppe neere HolborneConduit. 1612.
THE ARRAIGNMENTand Triall ofIennet Prestonof Gisborne in Crauen, in the Countie of Yorke, atthe Assises and generall Gaole-deliuerie, holden at theCastle of Yorke, in the Countie of Yorke, the seuen andtwentieth day of Iuly last past.Anno Regni Regis IacobiAngliæ &c. Decimo & Scotiæ xlvj.
M
ANY 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 thisIennet Prestonwas, 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 Conviction of her, with her offences for which she was condemned and executed.
And although 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 thisIennet 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 MasterListerand 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 thisIennet Prestonwas for many yeares well thought of and esteemed by MasterListerwho afterwards 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 MasterListernow 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.
ThisIennet 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 MasterListerof Westbie, against whom she practised much mischiefe; for hauing cut offThomas ListerEsquire, father to this gentleman now liuing,[Ya1]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 LordBromley, shee was Indicted and Arraigned for the murder of a Child of oneDodg-sonnes,[Ya2]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 utter 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 atMalking-Towervpon Good-friday last: to praye aide and helpe, for the murder of MasterLister, 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 Ægypt 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 ofGod, to satisfie the Iurie to finde her guiltie of this bloudie murther, committed foure yeares since.
THisIennet Prestonbeing 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 oneThomas Listerof Westby in Crauen, in the Countie of Yorke Esquire, and by force of the same Witchcraft felloniously the saidThomas Listerhad 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 vponGodand her Countrey.
Whereupon my LordAlthamcommaunded 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, MasterHeyber,[Y2a]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 MasterNowel, and certified, might openly bee published against her; which hereafter follow in order,viz.
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 endAnne Robinsonand others were both examined, who vpon their Oathes declared against her, That M.Listerlying in great extremitie, vpon his death bedde, cried out vnto them that stood about him; thatIennet Prestonwas 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.
Being examined further, they both gaue this in euidence against her, That when MasterListerlay vpon his death-bedde, hee cryed out in great extremitie;Iennet Prestonlyes heauie vpon me,Prestonswife lies heauie vpon me; helpe me, helpe me: and so departed, crying out against her.
These, with many other witnesses, were further examined, and deposed, ThatIennet Preston, the Prisoner at the Barre, being brought to M.Listerafter hee was dead, & layd out to be wound vp in his winding-sheet, the saidIennet Prestoncomming to touch the dead corpes, they bled fresh bloud presently,[Y3a]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 MasterNoweland other his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster, to be giuen in euidence against her, vpon her Triall,viz.
The Examination and Euidence ofIames Device,of the Forrest of Pendle, in the Countieof Lancaster, Labourer, taken at the house ofIamesWilsey,of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie ofLancaster, the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill, AnnoReg. RegisIacobiAngliæ, &c. Decimo ac Scotiæquadragesimo quinto.
Before
Roger NowelandNicholas Banester,Esquires, two of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peacewithin 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, whichAlizon 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 sisterAlizon, the saidAnne Chattox, and her daughterRedferne: 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 Gilburne 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 MasterListerof 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 saidPrestonswife had a Spirit with her like unto 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 onePrestonin Gisburne Parish aforesaid, byHenry Hargreiuesof 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 MasterLister: and hauing had full view of her; hee this Examinate confesseth, That shee 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 MasterLister; 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, andPrestonswife was the last; and when she got on horse-backe, they all presently vanished out of this Examinats sight: and before their said parting away, they all appointed to meete at the saidPrestonswifes house that day twelue-month; at which time the saidPrestonswife 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 MasterThomas Listerof Westby to death: and after MasterListershould be made away by Witchcraft, then al the said Witches gaue their consents to ioyne altogether to hancke MasterLeonard Lister,[Za]when he should come to dwell at the Sowgill, and so put him to death.
The Examination ofHenrie Hargreivesof Goldshey-booth, in the Forrest ofPendle, in the Countie of Lancaster Yeoman, taken thefifth day of May, Anno Reg. RegisIacobiAngliæ,&c. Decimo, ac Scociæ quadragesimo quinto.
Before
Roger Nowel,Nicholas Bannester,andRobert Holden,Esquires; three of hisMaiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie.
THis Examinat vpon his oath saith, ThatAnne Whittle, aliasChattox, confessed vnto him, that she knoweth onePrestonswife neere Gisburne, and that the saidPrestonswife should haue beene at the said feast, vpon the said Good-Friday, and that shee was an ill woman, and had done MasterListerof Westby great hurt.
The Examination ofElizabethDevice,mother ofIames Device,taken beforeRoger NowelandNicholas Banester,Esquires, the day and yeare aforesaid, viz.
THe saidElizabeth Deuicevpon 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 whomIames Deuicehath formerly spoken of to be there.
She also confesseth in all things touching the killing of MasterListerof Westby, as the saidIames Deuicehath before confessed.
And the saidElizabeth Deuicealso further saith, That at the said meeting at Malking-Tower, as aforesaid, the saidKatherine HewytandIohn Bulcock, with all the rest then there, gaue their consents, with the saidPrestonswife, for the killing of the said MasterLister. And for the killing of the said MasterLeonard Lister, she this Examinate saith in all things, as the saidIames Deuicehath before confessed in his Examination.
The Examination ofIennet Device,daughter ofElizabethlate wife ofIohnDevice,of the Forrest of Pendle, in the Countie of Lancaster,about the age of nine yeares or thereabouts, takenthe day and yeare aboue-said:
Before
Roger NowelandNicholas Banester,Esquires, two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace inthe 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;[Z2a]first, MasterListerin 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, thatIennet Prestonbeing 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 atMalkin Towerwith the Witches, to intreat and pray for aide of them, to kill MasterLister, 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 hadspent the most part of the day, in consideration ofthe euidence against her, they returned into theCourt and deliuered vp their Verdict ofLife and Death.* **
WHo foundIennet Prestonguiltie of the fellonie and murder by Witch-craft ofThomas 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.
H
Ere was the wonderfull discouerie of thisIennet Preston, who for so many yeares had liued at Gisborne in Crauen, neare MasterLister: 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 LordBromleybeing very suspicious of the accusation ofIennet Deuice, the little Wench, commanded her to looke vpon the Prisoners that were present, and declare which of them were present atMalkin 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 oldPrestonher 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 (asSalomonsayth,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 Gentlemen to prosecute these hellish Furies to their end:[Z3b1]labor to root them out of the Commonwealth, for the common good of your Countrey. The greatest mercie extended to them, is soone forgotten.
Godgraunt vs the long and prosperous cotinuance of these Honorable and Reuerend Iudges, vnder whose Gouernment we liue in these North parts: for we may say, thatGodAlmightie hath singled them out, and set him on his Seat, for the defence of Iustice.
And for this great deliuerance, let vs all pray toGodAlmightie, that the memorie ofthese worthie Iudges may beeblessed to all Posterities.[Z3b2]
[The references are to the alphabetical letters or signatures at the bottom of each page:ais intended for the first andbthe second page, marked with such letter or signature.]