Discovery of Witches Part 6

Vpon the Arraignement and triall of these Witches at the last a.s.sizes 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]

_After he had taken great paines to finish it, I tooke vpon mee to reuise and correct it, that nothing might pa.s.se 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.

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A particular Declaration of the most barberous and d.a.m.nable Practises, Murthers, wicked and diuelish Conspiracies, practized _and executed by the most dangerous and malitious_ Witch _Elizabeth Sowthernes_ alias _Demdike_, of the Forrest of _Pendle_ in the Countie of _Lancaster_ Widdow, who died in the Castle at _Lancaster_ before she came to receiue her tryall.

Though publique iustice hath pa.s.sed at these a.s.sises vpon the Capitall offendours, and after the Arraignement & tryall of them, Iudgement being giuen, due and timely Execution succeeded; which doth import and giue the greatest satisfaction that can be, to all men; yet because vpon the caryage, and euent of this businesse, the Eyes of all the partes of _Lancashire_, and other Counties in the North partes thereunto adioyning were bent: And so infinite a mult.i.tude came to the Arraignement & tryall of these Witches at _Lancaster_, the number of them being knowen to exceed all others at any time heretofore, at one time to be indicted, arraigned, and receiue their tryall,[B_a_]

especially for so many Murders, Conspiracies, Charmes, Meetinges, h.e.l.lish and d.a.m.nable practises, so apparant vpon their owne examinations & confessions. These my honourable & worthy Lords, the Iudges of a.s.sise, vpon great consideration, thought it necessarie & profitable, to publish to the whole world, their most barbarous and d.a.m.nable practises, with the direct proceedinges of the Court against them, aswell for that there doe pa.s.se 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 princ.i.p.all authors and actors in this late woefull and lamentable _Tragedie_, 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 d.a.m.nable and malicious Witch, of so long continuance (old _Demdike_) of whom our whole businesse hath such dependence, that without the particular Declaration and Record of her Euidence, with the circ.u.mstaunces, 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[B_b_] yeares, and had been a Witch for fiftie yeares. Shee dwelt in the Forrest of _Pendle_, 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 G.o.d, 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 to _Maulking 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 Nowell_ Esquire,[B2_a_] 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 G.o.d, 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 the _Crowne_ at _Lancaster_, certified by M. _Nowell_, and others.

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The voluntarie Confession and Examination of _Elizabeth Sowtherns_ alias _Demdike_, taken at the Fence in the Forrest of _Pendle_ in the Countie of _Lancaster._

The second day of Aprill, _Annoq; Regni Regis Iacobi Anggliae, &c. Decimo, et Scotiae, Quadragesimo quinto;_ Before _Roger Nowell_ of _Reade_ Esquire, one of his Maiesties Iustices of the peace within the sayd Countie, _Viz._

The said _Elizabeth Sowtherns_ confesseth, and sayth; That about twentie yeares past, as she was comming homeward from begging, there met her this Examinate neere vnto a Stonepit in _Gouldshey_,[B2_b_1]

in the sayd Forrest of _Pendle_, 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 was _Tibb_:[B2_b_2] and so this Examinate in hope of such gaine as was promised by the sayd Deuill or _Tibb_, was contented to giue her Soule to the said Spirit: And for the s.p.a.ce of fiue or sixe yeares next after, the sayd Spirit or Deuill appeared at sundry times vnto her this Examinate about _Day-light_ Gate,[B2_b_3] 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.[B3_a_1] 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 s.p.a.ce of eight weekes.

And vpon her examination, she further confesseth, and saith. That a little before Christmas last, this Examinates Daughter hauing been to helpe _Richard Baldwyns_ Folkes at the Mill: This Examinates Daughter did bid her this Examinate goe to the sayd _Baldwyns_ house, and aske him some thing for her helping of his Folkes at the Mill, (as aforesaid:) and in this Examinates going to the said _Baldwyns_ house, and neere to the sayd house, she mette with the said _Richard Baldwyn_; Which _Baldwyn_ sayd to this Examinate, and the said _Alizon Deuice_[B3_a_3] (who at that time ledde this Examinate, being blinde) get out of my ground Wh.o.r.es and Witches, I will burne the one of you, and hang the other.[B3_a_2] 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 called _Tibb_, 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,[B3_b_] 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 p.r.i.c.ke 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 Examination of Anne Whittle _alias_ Chattox, being Prisoner at _Lancaster_; taken the 19 day of May, _Annoq; Regni Regis Iacobi Angliae, Decimo: ac Scotie Quadragesimo quinto_; Before _William Sandes_ Maior of the Borrough towne of _Lancaster._

_Iames Anderton_ of _Clayton_, one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the same County, and _Thomas Cowell_ one of his Maiesties Coroners in the sayd Countie of Lancaster, _Viz._

First, the sayd _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, sayth, that about foureteene yeares past she entered, through the wicked perswasions and counsell of _Elizabeth Southerns_, alias _Demdike_, and was seduced to 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 sayd _Demdike_: and therevpon the sayd _Demdike_ and shee, went foorth of the said house vnto him; wherevpon the said wicked Spirit mooued this Examinate, that she would become his Subiect, and giue her Soule vnto him: the which at first, she refused to a.s.sent vnto; but after, by the great perswasions made by the sayd _Demdike_, shee yeelded to be at his commaundement and appoyntment: wherevpon the sayd wicked Spirit then sayd vnto her, that hee must haue one part of her body for him to sucke vpon; the which shee denyed then to graunt vnto him; and withall asked him, what part of her body hee would haue for that vse; who said, hee would haue a place of her right side neere to her ribbes, for him to sucke vpon: whereunto shee a.s.sented.

And she further sayth, that at the same time, there was a thing in the likenes of a spotted b.i.t.c.h, that came with the sayd Spirit vnto the sayd _Demdike_, which then did speake vnto her in this Examinates hearing, and sayd, that she should haue Gould, Siluer, and worldly Wealth, at her will.[B4_b_1] And at the same time she saith, there was victuals, _viz._ Flesh, b.u.t.ter, Cheese, Bread, and Drinke, and bidde them eate enough. And after their eating, the Deuill called _Fancie_, and the other Spirit calling himselfe _Tibbe_, carried the remnant away: And she sayeth, that although they did eate, they were neuer the fuller, nor better for the same; and that at their said Banquet, the said Spirits gaue them light to see what they did, although they neyther had fire nor Candle light; and that they were both shee Spirites, and Diuels.

And being further examined how many sundry Person haue been bewitched to death, and by whom they were so bewitched: She sayth, that one _Robert Nuter_, late of the _Greene-head_ in _Pendle_, was bewitched by this Examinate, the said _Demdike_, and Widdow _Lomshawe_, (late of _Burneley_) now deceased.

And she further sayth, that the said _Demdike_ shewed her, that she had bewitched to death, _Richard Ashton_, Sonne of _Richard Ashton_ of _Downeham_ Esquire.[B4_b_2]

The Examination of Alizon Deuice, of the Forrest of Pendle, in the County of _Lancaster_ Spinster, taken at _Reade_ in the said Countie of _Lancaster_, the xiij. day of March, _Anno Regni Jacobi Angliae, &c._ _Nono: et Scotiae xlv._

Before _Roger Nowell_ of _Reade_ aforesayd Esquire, one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the sayd Countie, against _Elizabeth Sowtherns_, alias _Demdike_ her Graund-mother.

_Viz._

The sayd _Alizon Deuice_ sayth, that about two yeares agon, her Graund-mother (called _Elizabeth Sowtherns_, alias old _Demdike_) did sundry times in going or walking togeather as they went begging, perswade and aduise this Examinate to let a Deuill or Familiar appeare vnto her; and that shee this Examinate, would let him sucke at some part of her, and shee might haue, and doe what shee would.

And she further sayth, that one _Iohn Nutter_ of the _Bulhole_ in _Pendle_ aforesaid, had a Cow which was sicke, & requested this examinats Grand-mother to amend the said Cow; and her said Graund-mother said she would, and so her said Graund-mother about ten of the clocke in the night, desired this examinate to lead her foorth; which this Examinate did, being then blind: and her Graund-mother did remaine about halfe an houre foorth: and this Examinates sister did fetch her in againe; but what she did when she was so foorth, this Examinate cannot tell. But the next morning this Examinate heard that the sayd Cow was dead. And this Examinate verily thinketh, that her sayd Graund-mother did bewitch the sayd Cow to death.

And further, this Examinate sayth, that about two yeares agon, this Examinate hauing gotten a Piggin full[C_b_] 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 b.u.t.ter to the quant.i.ty of a quarterne of a pound in the said milke, and the quant.i.tie of the said milke still remayning; and her Graund-mother had no b.u.t.ter in the house when this Examinate went foorth: duering which time, this Examinates Graund-mother still lay in her bed.

And further this Examinate sayth, that _Richard Baldwin_ of _Weethead_ within the Forrest of _Pendle_, about 2. yeeres agoe, fell out with this Examinates Graund-mother, & so would not let her come vpon his Land: and about foure or fiue dayes then next after, her said Graund-mother did request this Examinate to lead her foorth about ten of the clocke in the night: which this Examinate accordingly did, and she stayed foorth then about an houre, and this Examinates sister fetched her in againe. And this Examinate heard the next morning, that a woman Child of the sayd _Richard Baldwins_ was fallen sicke; and as this Examinate did then heare, the sayd Child did languish afterwards by the s.p.a.ce of a yeare, or thereaboutes, and dyed: And this Examinate verily thinketh, that her said Graund-mother did bewitch the sayd Child to death.

And further, this Examinate sayth, that she heard her sayd Graund-mother say presently after her falling out with the sayd _Baldwin_, shee would pray for the sayd _Baldwin_ both still and loude: and this Examinate heard her cursse the sayd _Baldwin_ sundry times.

The Examination of _Iames Deuice_ of the Forrest of _Pendle_, in the Countie of _Lancaster_ Labourer, taken the 27. day of April, _Annoq; Regni Regis Iacobi, Angliae, &c._ _Decimo: ac Scotie Quadragesimo quinto_: Before _Roger Nowell and Nicholas Banister, Esq._[C2_a_]

two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the sayd Countie.

The sayd Examinate _Iames Deuice_ sayth, that about a month agoe, as this Examinate was comming towards his Mothers house, and at day-gate of the same night, [Sidenote: _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 sayd _Elizabeth Sowtherns_ house, he heard a foule yelling like vnto a great number of Cattes: but what they were, this Examinate cannot tell. And he further sayth, that about three nights after that, about midnight of the same, there came a thing, and 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 about _S. Peter's_ day last, one _Henry Bullocke_ came to the sayd _Elizabeth Sowtherns_ house, and sayd, that her Graund-child _Alizon 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 said _Alizon_ fell downe on her knees, & asked the said _Bullocke_ forgiuenes, and confessed to him, that she had bewitched the said child, as this Examinate heard his said sister confesse vnto him this Examinate.

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The Examination of Elizabeth Deuice, Daughter of old Demdike, taken at _Read_ before _Roger Nowell_ Esquire, one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the Countie of _Lancaster_ the x.x.x. day of March, _Annoq; Regni Jacobi_ _Decimo, ac Scotie xlv._

The sayd _Elizabeth Deuice_ the Examinate, sayth, that the sayd _Elizabeth Sowtherns_, alias _Demdike_, hath had a place on her left side by the s.p.a.ce 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 old _Demdike_, old _Chattox_, _Alizon Deuice_, and _Redferne_ both old and young, _Reos confitentes, et Accusantes Inuicem_. About the second of Aprill last past, committed and sent them away to the Castle at _Lancaster_, there to remaine vntill the comming of the Kinges Maiesties Iustices of a.s.sise, then to receiue their tryall.