This Examinate further saith, That vpon Good-friday last, there dined at this examinats house two women of Burneley Parish, whose names the saidRichard Nutterswife,Alice Nutter, now Prisoner at the Barre, doth know.
The Examination ofIames Deviceaforesaid.
Against
The saidAlice Nvtter,the daye and yeare aforesaid.
THE said Examinate vpon his oath saith, That vpon Good-Friday about twelue of the clocke in the day time, there dined in this Examinats said mothers house, a number of persons, whereof three were men, with this Examinate, and the rest women: and that they mette there for these three causes following, as this Examinats said mother told this Examinate.
The first was for the naming of the Spirit, whichAlizon Deuice, now Prisoner at Lancaster, had, but did not name him, because she was not there.
The second cause was, for the deliuerie of his said Grand-mother; this Examinates said sister,Alizon; the saidAnne Chattox, and her daughterRedferne; killing the Gaoler at Lancaster, and before the next Assizes to blow vp the Castle there; to the end that the foresaid Prisoners might by that meanes make an escape, and get away: all which this Examinate then heard them conferre of.
And he also saith, The names of such Witches as were on Good-Friday at this Examinats said Grand-mothers house, and now this Examinates owne mothers, for so many of them as he doth know, were amongst others,Alice Nutter, mother ofMyles Nutter, now Prisoner at the Barre. And this Examinate further saith, That all the said Witches went out of the said house in their owne shapes and likenesses; and they all, by that time they were forth of the doores, were gotten on horse-backe, like vnto Foales, some of one colour, and some of another; andPrestonswife was the last: and when shee got on horse-back, they all presently vanished out of this Examinates sight: and before their said parting away, they all appointed to meete at the saidPrestonswifes house that day twelue month, at which time the saidPrestonswife promised to make them a great feast: and if they had occasion to meete in the meane time, then should warning be giuen to meet upō Romleys Moore.
The Examination and Euidence ofIennet Device,daughter ofElizabethDevice.
Against
Alice Nvtter,Prisoner at the Barre.
THe said Examinate saith, That on Good-Friday last, there was about 20. persons, whereof only two were men (to this Examinates remembrance) at her said Grand-mothers house at Malking-Tower, about twelue of the clock; all which persons, this Examinats said mother tould her, were Witches. And she further saith, she knoweth the names of six of them,viz.the wife ofHugh Hargreiuesvnder Pendle,Christopher Howgateof Pendle, Vncle to this Examinat andElizabethhis wife; andDick Myleswife of the Rough-Lee,Christopher Iacksof Thorniholme, and his wife; and the names of the residue, she this Examinate doth not know.
AFter these Examinations were openly read, his Lordship being very suspitious of the accusation of this yong wenchIennet Deuice, commanded one to take her away into the vpper Hall, intending in the meane time to make Triall of her Euidence, and the Accusation especially against this woman, who is charged to haue beene at Malking-Tower, at this great meeting. MasterCouelwas commanded to set all his prisoners by themselues, and betwixt euery Witch another Prisoner, and some other strange women amongst them, so as no man could iudge the one from the other: and these being set in order before the Court from the prisoners, then was the WenchIennet Deuicecommaunded to be brought into the Court: and being set before my Lord, he tooke great paines to examine her of euery particular Point, What women were at Malking-Tower vpon Good-Friday? How she knew them? What were the names of any of them? And how she knew them to be such as she named?
In the end being examined by my Lord,[P2a1]Whether she knew them that were there by their faces, if she saw them? she told my Lord she should: whereupon in the presence of this great Audience, in open Court, she went and tookeAlice Nutter, this prisoner, by the hand, and accused her to be one: and told her in what place shee sat at the Feast at Malking-Tower, at the great assembly of the Witches, and who sat next her: what conference they had, and all the rest of their proceedings at large, without any manner of contrarietie.
Being demaunded further by his Lordship, Whether she knewIohan a Style?[P2a2]she alledged, she knew no such womā to be there, neither did she euer heare her name.
This could be no forged or false Accusation, but the very Act ofGodto discouer her.
Thus was no meanes left to doe her all indifferent fauour, but it was vsed to saue her life; and to this shee could giue no answere.
But nothing would serue: for oldDembdike, oldChattox, and others, had charged her with innocent bloud, which cries out for Reuenge, and will be satisfied. And therefore AlmightieGod, in his Iustice, hath cut her off.
And here I leaue her, vntill shee come to her Execution, whereyou shall heare shee died very impenitent; insomuch asher owne children were neuer able to moue her toconfesse any particular offence, or declare anything, euen inArticulo Mortis: which wasa very fearefull thing to all that werepresent, who knew sheewas guiltie.* **
THE ARRAIGNMENTand Triall ofKatherine Hewit,Wife ofIohn Hewit,aliasMovld-heeles,[P3a]of Coulne, in the Countie of Lancaster Clothier, forWitchcraft; vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August,at the Assises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie, holden atLancaster,
Before
SirEdward BromleyKnight, one of his MaiestiesIustices of Assise at Lancaster.
W
Ho but Witches can be proofes, and so witnesses of the doings of Witches? since all their Meetings, Conspiracies, Practises, and Murthers, are the workes of Darkenesse: But to discouer this wickedFurie,Godhath not only raised meanes beyond expectation, by the voluntarie Confession and Accusation of all that are gone before, to accuse this Witch (being Witches, and thereby witnesses of her doings) but after they were committed, by meanes of a Child, to discouer her to be one, and a Principall in that wicked assembly at Malking-Tower, to deuise such a damnable course for the deliuerance of their friends at Lancaster, as to kill the Gaoler, and blow vp the Castle, wherein the Deuill did but labour to assemble them together, and so being knowne to send them all one way: And herein I shall commend vnto your good consideration the wonderfull meanes to condemne these parties, that liued in the world, free from suspition of any such offences, as are proued against them: And thereby the more dangerous, that in the successe we may lawfully say, the very Finger of God did point thē out. And she that neuer saw them, but in that meeting, did accuse them, and by their faces discouer them.
ThisKatherine Hewyt, Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster, being brought to the Barre before the great Seate of Iustice, was there according to the former order and course Indicted and Arraigned, for that she felloniously had practized, exercised, and vsed her Deuillish and wicked Arts, calledWitch-crafts,Inchantments,Charmes, andSorceries, in, and vponAnne Foulds; and the sameAnne Foulds, by force of the same witch-craft, felloniously did kill and murder.Contra formam Statuti, &c. Et contra Pacem dicti Domini Regis, &c.
Vpon her Arraignement to this Indictment, shee pleaded not guiltie; And for the triall of her life put her selfe vpon God and her Countrie.
So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of life and death, stand charged with her as with others.
The Euidence againstKatherine Hewyt,Prisoner at the Barre.
The Examination ofIames Device,Sonne ofElizabeth Device,taken the seuen andtwentieth day of Aprill, Anno Reg. RegisIacobi, Angliæ,Franciæ, & Hiberniæ, decimo, et Scotiæ quadragesimoquarto.
Before
Roger Nowel,andNicholas Bannester,Esquires; two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace,in the Countie of Lancaster.
Against
Katherine Hewyt,aliasMovld-heelesof Colne.viz.
THis Examinate saith, that vpon Good-Friday last, about twelue of the Clock in the day time, there dined at this Examinates Mothers house a number of persons: And hee also saith, that they were Witches; and that the names of the said Witches, that were there, for so many of them as he did know, were amongst othersKatherine Hewyt, wife ofIohn Hewyt, aliasMould-heeles, of Colne, in the Countie of Lancaster Clothier; And that the said Witch, calledKatherine Hewyt, aliasMould-heeles, and oneAlice Gray, did confesse amongst the said Witches at their meeting atMalkin-Toweraforesaid, that they had killedFouldswifes child, calledAnne Foulds, of Colne:[P4a1]And also said, that they had then in hanck a child[P4a2]ofMichael Hartleysof Colne.
And this Examinate further saith, that all the said Witches went out of the said house in their own shapes and likenesses, and by that time they were gotten forth of the doores, they were gotten on Horse-back like vnto foales, some of one colour, some of an other, and the saidPrestonswife was the last: And when she got on Horse-back, they all presently vanished out of this Examinates sight. And before their said parting away they all appointed to meete at the saidPrestonswifes house that day twelue Moneths: at which time the saidPrestonswife promised to make them a great feast, and if they had occasion to meete in the meane time, then should warning be giuen that they all should meet vpon Romlesmoore.
The Examination and Euidence ofElizabethDevice,Mother of the saidIamesDevice.
Against
Katherine Hewyt,aliasMovld-heeles,Prisoner at the Barre vpon her Arraignement and Triall,taken the day and yeare aforesaid.viz.
THis Examinate vpon her oath confesseth, that vpon Good-Friday last there dyned at this Examinates house, which she hath said are Witches, and verily thinketh to bee Witches, such as the saidIames Deuicehath formerly spoken of: amongst which wasKatherine Hewyt, aliasMould-heeles, now Prisoner at the Barre: and shee also saith, that at their meeting on Good-Friday atMalkin-Toweraforesaid, the saidKatherine Hewyt, aliasMould-heeles, andAnne Gray, did confesse, they had killed a child ofFouldsof Colne, calledAnne Foulds, and had gotten hold of another.
And shee further saith, the saidKatherine Hewytwith all the rest, there gaue her consent with the saidPrestonswife for the murder of MasterLister.
The Examination and Euidence ofIennet Device,
Against
Katherine Hewyt,aliasMovld-heeles,Prisoner 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, calledMalkin-Toweraforesaid, about twelue of the clock: All which persons this Examinates said mother told her were Witches, and that shee knoweth the names of sixe of the said Witches.
Then was the saidIennet Deuicecommanded by his Lordship, to finde and point out the saidKatherine Hewyt, aliasMould-heeles, amongst all the rest of the said Women, whereupon shee went and tooke the saidKatherine Hewytby the hand: Accused her to bee one, and told her in what place shee sate at the feast atMalkin-Tower, at the great Assembly of the Witches, and who sate next her; what conference they had, and all the rest of their proceedings at large, without any manner of contrarietie: Being demanded further by his Lordship, whetherIoane a Downewere at that Feast, and meeting, or no? shee alleaged shee knew no such woman to be there, neither did shee euer heare her name.
If this were not an Honorable meanes to trie the accusation against them, let all the World vpon due examination giue iudgement of it. And here I leaue her the last of this companie, to the Verdict of the Gentlemen of the Iurie of life and death, as hereafter shall appeare.
Heere the Iurie of Life and Death, hauing spent the most part of the day, in due consideration of their offences, Returned into the Court to deliuer vp their Verdict against them, as followeth.
WHo vpon their Oathes foundIennet Bierley,Ellen Bierley, andIane Southworth, not guiltie of the offence of Witch-craft, conteyned in the Indictment against them.
Anne Redferne, guiltie of the fellonie & murder, conteyned in the Indictment against her.
Alice Nutter, guiltie of the fellonie and murder conteyned in the Indictment against her.
And
Katherine Hewyt, guiltie of the fellonie & murder conteyned in the Indictment against her.
Whereupon MasterCouellwas commanded by the Court to take away the Prisoners Conuicted, and to bring forthIohn Bulcocke,Iane Bulcockehis mother,[Q2a]andAlizon Deuice, Prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster, to receiue their Trialls.
Who were brought to their Arraignement and Triall as hereafter followeth.
THE ARRAIGNMENTand Triall ofIohn Bvlcock,andIane Bvlcockhis mother, wife ofChristopherBvlcock,of the Mosse-end, in the Countieof Lancaster, for Witch-craft: vpon Wednesday in theafter-noone, the nineteenth of August, 1612. At the Assizesand generall Gaole deliuery, holden at Lancaster.
Before
SirEdward Bromley,Knight, one of his MaiestiesIustices of Assizes at Lancaster.
I
F there were nothing to charge these Prisoners withall, whom now you may behold vpon their Arraignement and Triall but their poasting in haste to the great Assembly at Malking-Tower, there to aduise and consult amongst the Witches, what were to bee done to set at liberty the Witches in the Castle at Lancaster: Ioyne withIennet Prestonfor the murder of MasterLister; and such like wicked & diuellish practises: It were sufficient to accuse them for Witches, & to bring their liues to a lawfull Triall. But amongst all the Witches in this company, there is not a more fearefull and diuellish Act committed, and voluntarily confessed by any of them, comparable to this, vnder the degree of Murder: which impudently now (at the Barre hauing formerly confessed;)[Q3a1]they forsweare, swearing they were neuer at the great assembly at Malking Tower; although the very Witches that were present in that action with them, iustifie, maintaine, and sweare the same to be true against them: Crying out in very violent & outragious manner, euen to the gallowes,[Q3a2]where they died impenitent for any thing we know, because they died silent in the particulars. These of all others were the most desperate wretches (void of all feare or grace) in all this Packe; Their offences not much inferiour to Murther: for which you shall heare what matter of Record wee haue against them; and whether they be worthie to continue, we leaue it to the good consideration of the Iury.
The saidIohn Bulcock, andIane Bulcockhis mother, Prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster, being brought to the Barre before the great Seat of Iustice: were there according to the former order and course Indicted and Arraigned, for that they felloniously had practised, exercised and vfed their diuellish & wicked Arts, calledWitchcrafts,Inchantments,CharmesandSorceries, in and vpon the body ofIennet Deane: so as the body of the saidIennet Deane, by force of the said Witchcrafts, wasted and consumed; and after she, the saidIennet, became madde.Contra formam Statuti, &c.Et Contra pacem, &c.
Vpon their Arraignement, to this Indictment they pleaded not guiltie; and for the triall of their liues put themselues vpon God and their Countrey.
So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death stand charged with them as with others.
The Euidence againstIohn Bulcock,andJaneBulcockhis mother, Prisoners at the Barre.
The Examination ofIames Devicetaken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill aforesaid.
Before
Roger NowelandNicholas Banester,Esquires, two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace inthe Countie of Lancaster.
Against
Iohn BvlcockandIane Bvlcockhis mother.
THis Examinate saith, That vpon Good-Friday, about twelue of the clocke in the day time, there dined in this Examinates said Mothers house a 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 whichAllison 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 sisterAllison; the saidAnne Chattox, and her daughterRedferne, 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 ofChristopher Bulcock, of the Mosse end, andIohnher 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, andPrestonswife 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 saidIohn BulcockandIanehis 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 calledIennet, wife ofIohn 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 MasterThomas Listerof Westby[Q4a]to death. And after MasterListershould be made away by Witch-craft, then all the said Witches gaue their consents to ioyne all together, to hanck MasterLeonard Lister, when he should come to dwell at the Cow-gill, and so put him to death.
The Examination ofElizabethDevice,Taken the day and yeare aforesaid,
Before
Roger NowelandNicholas Banester,Esquires, two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace inthe Countie of Lancaster.
Against
Iohn Bvlcock,andIane Bvlcock,hismother.
THis Examinate saith vpon her oath, That she doth verily thinke, that the saidBulcockeswife doth know of some Witches to bee about Padyham and Burnley.[Q4b]
And shee further saith, That at the said meeting at Malking-Tower, as aforesaid,Katherine HewytandIohn Bulcock, with all the rest then there, gaue their consents, with the saidPrestonswife, for the killing of the said MasterLister.
The Examination and Euidence ofIennet Device
Against
Iohn BvlcockeandIanehis mother, prisonersat 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 saidIennet Deuicecommaunded by his Lordship to finde and point out the saidIohn BulcockandIane Bulcockamongst all the rest; whereupon shee went and tookeIane Bulcockby 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 saidIohn Bulcockto turne the Spitt there;[Ra]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 theGreat Assembly and Feast atMalking-Tower,viz.vponGood-Friday last, 1612.[R1b]
Elizabeth Deuice.
Alice Nutter.
Katherine Hewit, aliasMould-heeles.
John Bulcock.
Jane Bulcock.
Alice Graie.
Jennet Hargraues.
Elizabeth Hargraues.
Christopher Howgate.Sonne to oldDembdike.
Christopher Hargraues.
Grace Hay, of Padiham.
Anne Crunckshey, of Marchden.
Elizabeth Howgate.
Jennet Preston, Executed at Yorkefor the Murder of MasterLister,
With many more, which being bound ouer to appeare at the last Assizes, are since that time fled to saue themselues.
THE ARRAIGNMENTand Triall ofAlizon Device,Daughter ofElizabeth Device,within the Forrestof Pendle, in the Countie of Lancaster aforesaid, forWitch-craft.
B
Ehold, 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 oldDembdikeher 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.
ThisAlizon 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, calledWitch-crafts,Inchantments,Charmes, andSorceries, in, and vpon oneIohn 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 nameIohn 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 sonneAbraham Law: My LordGerrard[R3a]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 saidAlizon 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 LordBromleycommanded 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 declaration or confession of her offence: Shee confessed as followeth.viz.
The Confession ofAlizon Device,Prisoner at the Barre: published and declared at timeof her Arraignement and Triall in open Court.
SHe saith, That about two yeares agone, her Grand-mother, calledElizabeth Sothernes, aliasDembdike, 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 oneIohn 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 shee 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 remain 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 fortie 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 agreethverbatimwith her owne Examination taken atReade,in the Countie of Lancaster, the thirtieth day of March, before MasterNowel,when she was apprehended and taken.
Which agreethverbatimwith her owne Examination taken atReade,in the Countie of Lancaster, the thirtieth day of March, before MasterNowel,when she was apprehended and taken.
MY LordBromley, 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 ofIohn Law,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 withAlizon 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 saidAlizon 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 saidAlizon 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 MasterNowelstanding vp, humbly prayed the fauour of the Court, in respect this Fact of Witchcraft was more eminent and apparant than the rest, that for the better satisfaction of the Audience, the Examination ofAbraham Lawmight be read in Court.
The Examination ofAbrahamLaw,of Hallifax, in the Countie of Yorke, Cloth-dier,taken vpon oath the thirtieth day of March, 1612.
Before
Roger Nowel,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,[Sa]and that the same hurt was done vnto him at Colne-field, presently after thatAlizon Deuicehad 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 saidAlizon Deuice, by Witchcraft. And this Examinate further saith, that hee heard his said Father further say, that the saidAlizon Deuicedid lie vpon him and trouble him. And this Examinate seeing his said Father so tormented with the saidAlizonand with one other olde woman, whome this Examinates Father did not know as it seemed: This Examinate made search after the saidAlizon, and hauing found her, brought her to his said Father yesterday being the nine and twenteth of this instant March: whose said Father in the hearing of this Examinate and diuers others did charge the saidAlizonto haue bewitched him, which the saidAlizonconfessing[Sb]did aske this Examinates said Father forgiuenesse vpon her knees for the same; whereupon this Examinates 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 thisIohn Lawthe Pedler, before his vnfortunate meeting with this Witch, was a verie able sufficient stout man of Bodie, and a goodly man of Stature. But by this Deuillish art ofWitch-crafthis head is drawne awrie, his Eyes and face deformed, His speech not well to bee vnderstood; his Thighes and Legges starcke lame: his Armes lame especially the left side, his handes lame and turned out of their course, his Bodie able to indure no trauell: and thus remaineth at this present time.
The Prisoner being examined by the Court whether shee could helpe the poore Pedler to his former strength and health, she answered she could not, and so did many of the rest of the Witches: But shee, with others, affirmed, That if oldDembdikehad liued, shee could and would haue helped him out of that great miserie, which so long he hath endured for so small an offence, as you haue heard.
These things being thus openly published against her, and she knowing her selfe to be guiltie of euery particular, humbly acknowledged the Indictment against her to be true, and that she was guiltie of the offence therein contained, and that she had iustly deserued death for that and many other such like: whereupon she was carried away, vntill she should come to the Barre to receiue her judgement of death.
Oh, who was present at this lamentable spectacle, that was not moued with pitie to behold it!
Hereupon my LordGerard, SirRichard Houghton, and others, who much pitied the poore Pedler, At the entreatie of my LordBromleythe Iudge, promised some present course should be taken for his reliefe and maintenance; being now discharged and sent away.
But here I may not let her passe; for that I find some thing more vpon Record to charge her withall: for although she were but a young Witch, of a yeares standing, and thereunto induced byDembdikeher Grand-mother, as you haue formerly heard, yet she was spotted with innocent bloud among the rest: for in one part of the Examination ofIames Deuice, her brother, he deposeth as followeth,viz.
The Examination ofIames Device,brother to the saidAlizon Device:Takenvpon Oath
Before
Roger NowelEsquire, aforesaid, the thirtieth dayof March, 1612.
IAmes Deuice, of the Forrest of Pendle, in the Countie of Lancaster, Labourer, sworne and examined, sayth, That aboutSaint Petersday last oneHenry Bulcockcame to the house ofElizabeth Sothernes, aliasDembdike, Grand-mother to this Examinate, and said, That the saidAlizon Deuicehad bewitched a Child of his, and desired her, that shee would goe with him to his house: which accordingly shee did: and thereupon shee the saidAlizonfell downe on her knees, and asked the saidBulcockforgiuenesse; and confessed to him, that she had bewitched the said Child, as this Examinate heard his said sister confesse vnto him this Examinate.
And although shee were neuer indicted for this offence, yet being matter vpon Record, I thought it conuenient to joyne it vnto her former Fact.
HEre the Iurie of Life and Death hauing spent the most part of the day in due consideration of their offences, returned into the Court to deliuer up their Verdict against them, as followeth.
WHo vpon their Oathes foundIohn BulcockandIane Bulcockhis mother, not guiltie of the Felonie by Witch-craft, contained in the Indictment against them.
Alizon Deuiceconuicted vpon her owne Confession.
Whereupon MasterCouelwas commaunded by the Court to take away the Prisoners conuicted, and to bring forthMargaret Pearson,[S3b]andIsabell Robey, Prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster, to receiue their Triall.
Who were brought to their Arraignement and Trialls, as hereafter followeth,viz.
THE ARRAIGNMENTand Triall ofMargaret Pearsonof Paddiham, in the Countie of Lancaster, forWitchcraft; the nineteenth of August, 1612. at theAssises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie, holden at Lancaster,
Before
SirEdward BromleyKnight, one of his MaiestiesIustices of Assise at Lancaster.
T
Hus farre haue I proceeded in hope your patience will endure the end of this discourse, which craues time, and were better not begunne at all, then not perfected.
ThisMargaret Pearsonwas the wife ofEdward Pearsonof Paddiham, in the Countie of Lancaster; little inferiour in her wicked and malicious course of life to any that hath gone before her: A very dangerous Witch of long continuance, generally suspected and feared in all parts of the Countrie, and of all good people neare her, and not without great cause: For whosoeuer gaue her any iust occasion of offence, shee tormented with great miserie, or cut off their children, goods, or friends.
This wicked and vngodly Witch reuenged her furie vpon goods, so that euery one neare her sustained great losse. I place her in the end of these notorious Witches, by reason her iudgement is of an other Nature, according to her offence; yet had not the fauour and mercie of the Iurie beene more than her desert, you had found her next to oldDembdike; for this is the third time shee is come to receiue her Triall; one time for murder by Witch-craft; an other time for bewitching a Neighbour; now for goods.