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justice_n	john_n	majesty_n	sir_n	7,792	5	7.0896	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09875	The vvonderfull discouerie of witches in the countie of Lancaster VVith the arraignement and triall of nineteene notorious witches, at the assizes and general gaole deliuerie, holden at the castle of Lancaster, vpon Munday, the seuenteenth of August last, 1612. Before Sir Iames Altham, and Sir Edward Bromley, Knights; barons of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer: and iustices of assize, oyer and terminor, and generall gaole deliuerie in the circuit of the north parts. Together with the arraignement and triall of Iennet Preston, at the assizes holden at the castle of Yorke, the seuen and twentieth day of Iulie last past, with her execution for the murther of Master Lister by witchcraft. Published and set forth by commandement of his Maiesties iustices of assize in the north parts. By Thomas Potts Esquier.	Potts, Thomas, fl. 1612-1618.; Bromley, Edward, Sir.	1613 (1613)	STC 20138; ESTC S114979	74,814	196

saith shee came somewhat to her selfe and then the said Widow Southworth came againe to this Examinate to her bed-side and tooke her out of bed and said to this Examinate that shee did her no harme the other time in respect of that shee now would after doe to her and thereupon put her vpon a hey-stack standing some three or foure yards high from the earth where shee was found after great search made by a neighbours Wife neare dwelling and then laid in her bed againe where she remained speechlesse and senselesse as before by the space of two or three daies And being recouered within a weeke after shee saith that the said Iane Southworth did come againe to this Examinate at her fathers house and did take her away and laid her in a ditch neare to the house vpon her face and left her there where shee was found shortly after and laid vpon a bedde but had not her senses againe of a day a night or thereabouts And shee further saith that vpon Tuesday last before the taking of this her Examination the said Iane Southworth came to this Examinates Fathers house and finding this Examinate without the doore tooke her and carried her into the Barne and thrust her head amongst a companie of boords that were there standing where shee was shortly after found and laid in a bedde and remained in her old fit till the Thursday at night following And being further examined touching her being at Red-bancke shee saith That the three women by her before named were carried backe againe ouer Ribble by the same blacke things that carried them thither and saith that at their said meeting in the Red-bancke there did come also diuers other women and did meete them there some old some young which this Examinate thinketh did dwell vpon the North-side of Ribble because she saw them not come ouer the Water but this Examinate knew none of them neither did she see them eat or dance or doe any thing else that the rest did sauing that they were there and looked on These particular points of Euidence being thus vrged against the Prisoners the father of this Grace Sowerbutts prayed that Thomas Walshman whose childe they are charged to murther might be examined as a witnes vpon his oath for the Kings Maiestie against the Prisoners at the Barre who vpon this strange deuised accusation deliuered by this impudent wench were in opinion of many of that great Audience guilty of this bloudie murther and more worthy to die then any of these Witches The Examination and Euidence of THOMAS WALSHMAN of Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster Yeoman Against IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHVVORTH Prisoners at the Barre vpon their Arraignement and Triall as followeth viz. THe said Examinate Thomas Walshman vpon his oath saith That hee had a childe died about Lent was twelue-month who had beene sicke by the space of a fortnight or three weekes and was afterwards buried in Salmesburie Church which childe when it died was about a yeare old But how it came to the death of it this Examinate knoweth not And he further saith that about the fifteenth of Aprill last or thereabouts the said Grace Sowerbutts was found in this Examinates fathers Barne laid vnder a little hay and straw and from thence was carried into this Examinates house and there laid till the Monday at night following during which time shee did not speak but lay as if she had beene dead The Examination of IOHN SINGLETON Taken at Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster the seuenth day of August Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Fidei Defensor c. Decimo Scotiae xlvj Before ROBERT HOVLDEN Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the County of Lancaster Against IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHVVORTH which hereafter followeth THe said Examinate vpon his oath saith That hee hath often heard his old Master Sir Iohn Southworth Knight now deceased say touching the late wife of Iohn Southworth now in the Gaole for suspition of Witchcraft That the said wife was as he thought an euill woman and a Witch and he said that he was sorry for her husband that was his kinsman for he thought she would kill him And this Examinate further saith That the said Sir Iohn Southworth in his comming or going betweene his owne house at Salmesbury and the Towne of Preston did for the most part forbeare to passe by the house where the said wife dwelled though it was his nearest and best way and rode another way only for feare of the said wife as this Examinate verily thinketh The Examination of WILLIAM ALKER of Salmesbury in the Countie of Lancaster Yeoman Taken the fifteenth day of Aprill Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Decimo Scotiae quadragesimo quinto Before ROBERT HOVLDEN one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the County of Lancaster Against IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE BIERLEY which hereafter followeth viz. THe said Examinate vpon his oath saith That hee hath seene the said Sir Iohn Southworth shunne to meet the said wife of Iohn Southworth now Prisoner in the Gaole when he came neere where she was And hath heard the said Sir Iohn Southworth say that he liked her not and that he doubted she would bewitch him Here was likewise Thomas Sowerbutts father of Grace Sowerbutts examined vpon his oath and many other witnesses to little purpose who being examined by the Court could depose little against them But the finding of the wench vpon the hay in her counterfeit fits wherfore I leaue to trouble you with the particular declaration of their Euidence against the Prisoners In respect there was not any one witnes able to charge them with one direct matter of Withcraft nor proue any thing for the murther of the childe Herein before we come to the particular declaration of that wicked and damnable practise of this Iesuite or Seminary I shall commend vnto your examination and iudgement some points of her Euidence wherein you shal see what impossibilities are in this accusatiō brought to this perfection by the great care and paines of this officious Doctor Master Tompson or Southworth who commonly worketh vpon the Feminine disposition being more Passiue then Actiue The particular points of the Euidence of GRACE SOVVERBVTTS viz. Euidence THat for the space of some yeares she hath been haunted and vexed with some women who haue vsed to come to her The Iesuite forgot to instruct his Scholler how long it is since she was tormented it seemes it is long since he read the old Badge of a Lyer Oportet mendacem esse memorem He knowes not how long it is since they came to church after which time they began to practise Witchcraft It is a likely thing the Torment and Panges of Witchcraft can be forgotten and therefore no time can be set downe Shee saith that now lately these foure women did violently draw her

to make them a great feast and if they had occasion to meete in the meane time then should warning be giuen to meet vpō Romleys Moore The Examination and Euidence of IENNET DEVICE daughter of ELIZABETH DEVICE 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 of Hugh Hargreiues vnder Pendle Christopher Howgate of Pendle Vncle to this Examinat and Elizabeth his wife and Dick Myles wife of the Rough-Lee Christopher Iacks of 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 wench Iennet 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 Master Couel was 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 Wench Iennet Deuice commaunded 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 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 tooke Alice 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 knew Iohan a Style 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 of GOD to 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 old Dembdike old Chattox and others had charged her with innocent bloud which cries out for Reuenge and will be satisfied And therefore Almightie GOD in his Iustice hath cut her off And here I leaue her vntill shee come to her Execution where you shall heare shee died very impenitent insomuch as her owne children were neuer able to moue her to confesse any particular offence or declare anything euen in Articulo Mortis which was a very fearefull thing to all that were present who knew shee was guiltie THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of KATHERINE HEVVIT Wife of IOHN HEVVIT alias MOVLD-HEELES of Coulne in the Countie of Lancaster Clothier for Witchcraft vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August at the Assises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assise at Lancaster Katherine Hewit WHo 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 wicked Furie GOD hath not onely 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 wee 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 This Katherine 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 called Witch-crafts Inchantments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon Anne Foulds and the same Anne 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 against Katherine Hewyt Prisoner at the Barre The Examination of IAMES DEVICE Sonne of ELIZABETH DEVICE taken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae decimo Scotiae quadragesimo quarto Before ROGER NOWEL and NICHOLAS BANNESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster Against KATHERINE HEWYT alias MOVLD-HEELES of 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 others Katherine Hewyt wife of Iohn Hewyt alias Mould-heeles of Colne in the Countie of Lancaster Clothier And that the said Witch called Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles and one Alice Gray did confesse amongst the said Witches at their meeting at Malkin-Tower aforesaid that they had killed Foulds wifes child called Anne Foulds of Colne And also said that they had then in hanck a child of Michael Hartleys of 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 said Prestons wife 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 said Prestons wifes house that day twelue Moneths at which time the said Prestons wife 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 of ELIZABETH DEVICE Mother of the said IAMES DEVICE Against KATHERINE HEWYT alias MOVLD-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 said Iames Deuice hath formerly spoken of amongst which was Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles now Prisoner at the Barre and shee also saith that at their meeting on Good-Friday at Malkin-Tower aforesaid the said Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles and Alice Gray did confesse they had killed a child of Foulds of Colne called Anne Foulds and had gotten hold of an other And shee further saith the said Katherine Hewyt with all the rest there gaue her consent with the said Prestons wife for the murder of Master Lister The Examination and Euidence of IENNET DEVICE Against KATHERINE HEWYT alias MOVLD-HEELES Prisoner at the Barre THe said Examinate saith That vpon Good-Friday last there was about twentie persons where of two were men to this Examinates remembrance at her said Grand-mothers house called Malkin-Tower aforesaid 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 said Iennet Deuice commanded by his Lordship to finde and point out the said Katherine Hewyt alias Mould-heeles amongst all the rest of the said Women whereupon shee went and tooke the said Katherine Hewyt by the hand Accused her to bee one and told her in what place shee sate at the feast at Malkin-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 whether Ioane a Downe were 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 The Verdict of Life and Death WHo vpon their Oathes found Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierley and Iane 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 Master Couell was commanded by the Court to take away the Prisoners Conuicted and to bring forth Iohn Bulcocke Iane Bulcocke his mother and Alizon Deuice Prisoners in the Castle at Lancaster to receiue their Trialls Who were brought to their Arraignement and Triall as hereafter followeth THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of IOHN BVLCOCK and IANE BVLCOCK his mother wife of C●●ISTOPHER BVLCOCK of the Mosse-end in the Countie of Lancaster for Witch-craft vpon Wednesday in the after-noone the nineteenth of August 1612. At the Assizes and generall Gaole deliuery holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assizes at Lancaster John Bulcock and Jane Bulcock his mother IF 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 with Iennet Preston for the murder of Master Lister 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 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 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 said Iohn Bulcock and Iane Bulcock his 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 vsed their diuellish wicked Arts called Witchcrafts Inchantments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon the body of Iennet Deane so as the body of the said Iennet Deane by force of the said Witchcrafts wasted and consumed and after she the said Iennet 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 against Iohn Bulcock and Iane Bulcock his mother Prisoners at the Barre The Examination of IAMES DEVICE taken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill aforesaid Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster Against IOHN BVLCOCK and IANE BVLCOCK his mother THis Examinate saith That vpon Good-Friday about twelue of the clocke in the day time there dined in this Examinates said Mothers house a

The Examination of IANE WILKINSON Wife of FRANCIS WILKINSON of Windle aforesaid Taken before the said Sir THOMAS GERRARD Knight and Barronet the day and place aforesaid Against the said ISABEL ROBEY THe said Examinate vpon her oath saith that vpon a time the said Isabel Robey asked her milke and shee denied to giue her any And afterwards shee met the said Isabel 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 of MARGARET LYON wife of THOMAS LYON the yonger of Windle aforesaid Taken before the said Sir THOMAS GERRARD Knight and Barronet the day and place aforesaid Against the said ISABEL ROBEY THe said Margaret Lyon vpon her Oath saith that vpon a time Isabel Robey came into her house and said that Peter Chaddock should 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 said Isabel said 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 said Peter Chaddock the wife of the said Peter who is God-Daughter of the said Isabel and hath in times past vsed her companie much did affirme that the said Peter was now satisfied that the said Isabel Robey was no Witch by sending to one Halseworths which they call a wiseman and the wife of the said Peter then said to abide vpon it 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 said Peter Chaddock had very often told her that he was very afraid that the said Isabel had 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 said Isabel hath since then affirmed to be true saying that hee the said Peter did turne againe when he met her in the Lane The Examination of MARGARET PARRE wife of HVGH PARRE of Windle aforesaid Taken before the said Sir THOMAS GERARD Knight and Baronet the day and place aforesaid Against the said ISABEL ROBEY THE said Examinate vpon her oath saith that vpon a time the said Isabel Robey came to her house and this Examinate asked her how Peter Chaddock did And the said Isabel answered shee knew not for shee went not to see and then this Examinate asked her how Iane Wilkinson did for that she had beene lately sicke and suspected to haue beene bewitched then the said Isabel said 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 said Isabel said twice together would you defie me afterwards the said Isabel went 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. The Verdict of Life and Death WHo vpon their Oathes found the said Isabel Robey guiltie of the Fellonie by Witch-craft contained in the Indictment against her And Margaret Pearson guiltie of the offence by Witch-craft contained in the Indictment against her Whereupon Master Couell was 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 receiued 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 Prisoners being brought to the Barre THe Court commanded three solemne Proclamations for silence vntill Iudgement for Life and Death were giuen Whereupon I presented to his Lordship the names of the Prisoners in order which were now to receiue their Iudgement * ⁎ * ¶ The names of the Prisoners at the Barre to receiue their Judgement of Life and Death Anne Whittle alias Chattox Elizabeth Deuice James Deuice Anne Redferne Alice Nutter Katherine Hewet John Bulcock Jane Bulcock Alizon Deuice Isabel Robey THE IVDGEMENT OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assize at Lancaster vpon the Witches conuicted as followeth THere 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

accusing an other all things were laid open at large In the end his Lordship tooke away the Girle from her Father and committed her to M. Leigh a very religious Preacher and M. Chisnal two Iustices of the Peace to be carefully examined Who tooke great paines to examine her of euery particular point In the end they came into the Court and there deliuered this Examination as followeth ⸫ The Examination of GRACE SOWERBVTS of Salmesburie in the Countie of Lancaster Spinster Taken vpon Wednesday the 19. of August 1612. Annoque Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Fidei Defensoris c. decimo Scotiae xlvi Before WILLIAM LEICH and EDWARD CHISNAL Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the same Countie At the Assizes and generall Gaole deliuerie holden at Lancaster By Direction of Sir EDWARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assize at Lancaster BEing demanded whether the accusation shee laid vppon her Grand-mother Iennet Bierley Ellen Bierley and Iane Southworth of Witchcraft viz. of the killing of the child of Thomas Walshman with a naile in the Nauell the boyling eating and oyling thereby to transforme themselues into diuers shapes was true shee doth vtterly denie the same or that euer shee saw any such practises done by them Shee further saith that one Master Thompson which she taketh to be Master Christopher Southworth to whom shee was sent to learne her prayers did perswade counsell and aduise her to deale as formerly hath beene said against her said Grand-mother Aunt and Southworths wife And further shee confesseth and saith that shee neuer did know or saw any Deuils nor any other Visions as formerly by her hath beene alleaged and informed Also shee confesseth and saith That shee was not throwne or cast vpon the Henne-ruffe and Hay-mow in the Barne but that shee went vp vpon the Mow her selfe by the wall side Being further demanded whether shee euer was at the Church shee saith shee was not but promised her after to goe to the Church and that very willingly Signum ✚ Grace Sowerbuts William Leigh Edward Chisnal The Examination of IENNET BIERLEY ELLEN BIERLEY and IANE SOVTHWORTH of Salmesburie in the Countie of Lancaster Taken vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August 1612. Annoque Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Fidei Defensoris c. decimo Scotiae xlvi Before WILLIAM LEIGH and EDWARD CHISNAL Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the same Countie At the Assizes and generall Gaole deliuerie holden at Lancaster By Direction of Sir EDWARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assize at Lancaster IEnnet Bierley being demanded what shee knoweth or hath heard how Grace Sowerbuts was brought to Christopher Southworth Priest shee answereth that shee was brought to M. Singletons house by her owne Mother where the said Priest was and that shee further heard her said Mother say after her Daughter had been in her fit that shee should be brought vnto her Master meaning the said Priest And shee further saith that shee thinketh it was by and through the Counsell of the said M. Thomson alias Southworth Priest That Grace Sowerbuts her Grandchild accused her of Witchcraft and of such practises as shee is accused of And thinketh further the cause why the said Thompson alias Southworth Priest should practise with the Wench to doe it was for that shee went to the Church Iane Southworth saith shee saw Master Thompson alias Southworth the Priest a month or sixe weekes before she was committed to the Gaole and had conference with him in a place called Barne-hey-lane where and when shee challenged him for slandering her to bee a Witch wherunto he answered that what he had heard thereof he heard from her mother and her Aunt yet she this Examinate thinketh in her heart it was by his procurement and is moued so to thinke for that shee would not be disswaded from the Church Ellen Bierley saith Shee saw Master Thompson alias Southworth sixe or eight weeks before she was committed and thinketh the said Priest was the practiser with Grace Sowerbutts to accuse her of Witchcraft and knoweth no cause why he should so doe but because she goeth to the Church Signum ✚ Iennet Bierley Signum £ Iane Southworth Signum Θ Ellen Bierley William Leigh Edward Chisnall These Examinations being taken they were brought into the Court and there openly in the presence of this great Audience published and declared to the Iurie of Life and Death and thereupon the Gentlemen of their Iury required to consider of them For although they stood vpon their Triall for matter of Fact of Witchcraft Murther and much more of the like nature yet in respect all their Accusations did appeare to bee practise they were now to consider of them and to acquit them Thus were these poore Innocent creatures by the great care and paines of this honorable Iudge deliuered from the danger of this conspiracie this bloudie practise of the Priest laid open of whose fact I may lawfully say Etiam si ego tacuero clamabunt lapides These are but ordinary with Priests and Iesuites no respect of Bloud kindred or friendship can moue them to forbeare their Conspiracies for when he had laboured treacherously to seduce and conuert them and yet could doe no good then deuised he this meanes God of his great mercie deliuer vs all from them and their damnable conspiracies and when any of his Maiesties subiects so free and innocent as these shall come in question grant them as honorable a Triall as Reuerend and worthy a Iudge to sit in Iudgement vpon them and in the end as speedie a deliuerance And for that which I haue heard of them seene with my eyes and taken paines to Reade of them My humble prayer shall be to God Almightie Vt Conuertantur ne pereant Aut consundantur ne noceant To conclude because the discourse of these three women of Salmesbury hath beene long and troublesome to you it is heere placed amongst the Witches by special order and commandement to set forth to the World the practise and conspiracie of this bloudy Butcher And because I haue presented to your view a Kalender in the Frontispice of this Booke of twentie notorious Witches I shall shew you their deliuerance in order as they came to their Arraignement and Triall euery day and as the Gentlemen of euery Iury for life and death stood charged with them THE ARRAIGNMENT and Triall of ANNE REDFERNE Daughter of ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster for Witchcraft vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August at the Assises and Generall Gaole-deliuerie holden at Lancaster Before Sir EDVVARD BROMLEY Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of Assise at Lancaster Anne Redferne SVch is the horror of Murther and the crying sinne of Bloud that it will neuer bee satisfied but with Bloud So fell it out with this miserable creature Anne Redferne the daughter of

Anne Whittle alias Chattox who as shee was her Mother and brought her into the World so was she the meanes to bring her into this danger and in the end to her Execution for much Bloud spilt and many other mischiefes done For vpon Tuesday night although you heare little of her at the Arraignement and Triall of old Chattox her Mother yet was shee arraigned for the murther of Robert Nutter and others and by the fauour and mercifull consideration of the Iurie the Euidence being not very pregnant against her she was acquited and found Not guiltie Such was her condition and course of life as had she liued she would haue beene very dangerous for in making pictures of Clay she was more cunning then any But the innocent bloud yet vnsatisfied and crying out vnto GOD for satisfaction and reuenge the crie of his people to deliuer them from the danger of such horrible and bloudie executioners and from her wicked and damnable practises hath now againe brought her to a second Triall where you shall heare what wee haue vpon Record against her This Anne Redferne prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster being brought to the Barre before the great Seat of Iustice was there according to the former order and course indicted and arraigned for that she felloniously had practised exercised and vsed her deuillish and wicked Arts called Witchcrafts Inchauntments Charmes and Sorceries in and vpon one Christopher Nutter and him the said Christopher Nutter by force of the same Witchcrafts felloniously did kill and murther Contra formam Statuti c. Et Contra Pacem c. Vpon her Arraignement to this Indictment she pleaded Not-Guiltie and for the triall of her life put her selfe vpon GOD and the Countrey So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death stand charged with her as with others The Euidence against Anne Redferne Prisoner at the Barre The Examination of ELIZABETH SOTHERNES alias OLD DEMBDIKE taken at the Fence in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster the second day of Aprill Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. decimo Scotiae xlv Against ANNE REDFERNE the daughter of ANNE WHITTLE alias CHATTOX Prisoner at the Barre Before ROGER NOVVEL of Reade Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie THis Examinate saith That about halfe a yeare before Robert Nutter died as this Examinate thinketh this Examinate went to the house of Thomas Redferne which was about Midsummer as shee this Examinate now remembreth it and there within three yards of the East end of the said house shee saw the said Anne Whittle and Anne Redferne wife of the said Thomas Redferne and daughter of the said Anne Whittle the one on the one side of a Ditch and the other on the other side and two pictures of Clay or Marle lying by them and the third picture the said Anne Whittle was making And the said Anne Redferne her said daughter wrought her Clay or Marle to make the third picture withall And this Examinate passing by them a Spirit called Tibbe in the shape of a blacke Cat appeared vnto her this Examinate and said Turne backe againe and doe as they doe To whom this Examinate said What are they doing Whereunto the said Spirit said They are making three pictures whereupon shee asked whose pictures they were whereunto the said Spirit said They are the pictures of Christopher Nutter Robert Nutter and Mary wife of the said Robert Nutter But this Examinate denying to goe backe to helpe them to make the pictures aforesaid the said Spirit seeming to be angrie therefore shot or pushed this Examinate into the Ditch and so shedde the milke which this Examinate had in a Kanne or Kitt and so thereupon the Spirit at that time vanished out of this Examinates sight But presently after that the said Spirit appeared vnto this Examinate again in the shape of a Hare and so went with her about a quarter of a myle but said nothing vnto her this Examinate nor shee to it The Examination of MARGARET CROOKE Against the said ANNE REDFERNE Taken the day and yeare aforesaid Before ROGER NOVVEL aforesaid Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace in the Countie of Lancaster THis Examinate sworne examined vpon her oath sayth That about eighteene or nineteene yeares agoe this Examinates brother called Robert Nutter about Whitsontide the same yeare meeting with the said Anne Redferne vpon some speeches betweene them they fell out as this Examinats said brother told this Examinat and within some weeke or fort-night then next after this Examinats said brother fell sicke and so languished vntill about Candlemas then next after and then died In which time of his sicknesse he did a hundred times at the least say That the said Anne Redferne and her associates had bewitched him to death And this Examinate further saith That this Examinates Father called Christopher Nutter about Maudlint●de next after following fell sicke and so languished vntill Michaelmas then next after and then died during which time of his sicknesse hee did sundry times say That hee was bewitched but named no bodie that should doe the same The Examination of IOHN NVTTER of Higham Booth in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster yeoman Against the said ANNE REDFERNE Taken the day and yeare aforesaid Before ROGER NOVVEL Esquire one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster THis Examinate sworne examined vpon his oath sayth That in or about Christmas some eighteene or nineteene yeares agoe this Examinat comming from Burnley with Christopher Nutter and Robert Nutter this Examinates Father and Brother this Examinate heard his said Brother then say vnto his said Father these words or to this effect Father I am sure I am bewitched by the Chattox Anne Chattox and Anne Redferne her daughter I pray you cause them to bee layed in Lancaster Castle Whereunto this Examinates Father answered Thou art a foolish Ladde it is not so it is thy miscarriage Then this Examinates Brother weeping said nay I am sure that I am bewitched by them and if euer I come againe for hee was readie to goe to Sir Richard Shuttleworths then his Master I will procure them to bee laid where they shall be glad to bite Lice in two with their teeth Hereupon Anne Whittle alias Chattox her Mother was brought forth to bee examined who confessed the making of the pictures of Clay and in the end cried out very heartily to God to forgiue her sinnes and vpon her knees intreated for this Redferne her daughter Here was likewise many witnesses examined vpon oth Viua voce who charged her with many strange practises and declared the death of the parties all in such sort and about the time in the Examinations formerly mentioned All men that knew her affirmed shee was more dangerous then her Mother for shee made all or most of the Pictures of Clay that were made or found at

day of May Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae c. Decimo ac Scociae quadragesimo quinto Before ROGER NOVVEL NICHOLAS BANNESTER and ROBERT HOLDEN Esquires three of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said Countie THis Examinat vpon his oath saith That Anne Whittle alias Chattox confessed vnto him that she knoweth one Prestons wife neere Gisburne and that the said Prestons wife should haue beene at the said feast vpon the said Good-Friday and that shee was an ill woman and had done Master Lister of Westby great hurt The Examination of ELIZABETH DEVICE mother of IAMES DEVICE taken before ROGER NOVVELL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires the day and yeare aforesaid viz. THe said Elizabeth Deuice vpon her Examination confesseth That vpon Good-Friday last there dined at this Examinats house which she hath said are Witches and doth verily thinke them to be Witches and their names are those whom Iames Deuice hath formerly spoken of to be there She also confesseth in all things touching the killing of Master Lister of Westby as the said Iames Deuice hath before confessed And the said Elizabeth Deuice also further saith That at the said meeting at Malking-Tower as aforesaid the said Katherine Hewyt and Iohn Bulcock with all the rest then there gaue their consents with the said Prestons wife for the killing of the said Master Lister And for the killing of the said Master Leonard Lister she this Examinate saith in all things as the said Iames Deuice hath before confessed in his Examination The Examination of IENNET DEVICE daughter of ELIZABETH late wife of IOHN DEVICE of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster about the age of nine yeares or thereabouts taken the day and yeare aboue-said Before ROGER NOVVEL and NICHOLAS BANESTER Esquires two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster THe said Examinate vpon her Examination saith that vpon Good-friday last there was about twenty persons whereof only two were men to this Examinats remembrance at her said Grand mothers house called Malking-Tower aforesaid about twelue of the clocke all which persons this Examinates said mother told her were Witches and that she knoweth the names of diuers of the said Witches AFter all these Examinations Confessions and Euidence deliuered in open Court against her His Lordship commanded the Iurie to obserue the particular circumstances first Master Lister in his great extremitie to complaine hee saw her and requested them that were by him to lay hold on her After he cried out shee lay heauie vpon him euen at the time of his death But the Conclusion is of more consequence then all the rest that Iennet Preston being brought to the dead corps they bled freshly And after her deliuerance in Lent it is proued shee rode vpon a white Foale and was present in the great assembly at Malkin Tower with the Witches to intreat and pray for aide of them to kill Master Lister now liuing for that he had prosequuted against her And against these people you may not expect such direct euidence since all their workes are the workes of darkenesse no witnesses are present to accuse them therefore I pray God direct your consciences After the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death had spent the most part of the day in consideration of the euidence against her they returned into the Court and deliuered vp their Verdict of Life and Death ⸫ The Verdict of Life and Death WHo found Iennet Preston guiltie of the fellonie and murder by Witch-craft of Thomas Lister Esquire conteyned in the Indictment against her c. Afterwards according to the course and order of the Lawes his Lordship pronounced Iudgement against her to bee hanged for her offence And so the Court arose HEre was the wonderfull discouerie of this Iennet Preston who for so many yeares had liued at Gisborne in Crauen neare Master Lister one thing more I shall adde to all these particular Examinations and euidence of witnesses which I saw and was present in the Court at Lancaster when it was done at the Assizes holden in August following My Lord Bromley being very suspicious of the accusation of Iennet Deuice the little Wench commanded her to looke vpon the Prisoners that were present and declare which of them were present at Malkin Tower at the great assembly of Witches vpon Good-Friday last shee looked vpon and tooke many by the handes and accused them to be there and when shee had accused all that were there present shee told his Lordship there was a Woman that came out of Crauen that was amongst the Witches at that Feast but shee saw her not amongst the Prisoners at the Barre What a singular note was this of a Child amongst many to misse her that before that time was hanged for her offence which shee would neuer confesse or declare at her death here was present old Preston her husband who then cried out and went away being fully satisfied his wife had Iustice and was worthie of death To conclude then this present discourse I heartilie desire you my louing Friends and Countrie-men for whose particular instructions this is added to the former of the wonderfull discouerie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster And for whose particular satisfaction this is published Awake in time and suffer not your selues to be thus assaulted Consider how barbarously this Gentleman hath been dealt withall and especially you that hereafter shall passe vpon any Iuries of Life and Death let not your conniuence or rather foolish pittie spare such as these to exequute farther mischiefe Remember that shee was no sooner set at libertie but shee plotted the ruine and ouerthrow of this Gentleman and his whole Familie Expect not as this reuerend and learned Iudge saith such apparent proofe against them as against others since all their workes are the workes of darkenesse and vnlesse it please Almightie God to raise witnesses to accuse them who is able to condemne them Forget not the bloud that cries out vnto God for reuenge bring it not vpon your owne heads Neither doe I vrge this any farther then with this that I would alwaies intreat you to remember that it is as great a crime as Salomon sayth Prov. 17 to condemne the innocent as to let the guiltie escape free Looke not vpon things strangely alledged but iudiciously consider what is justly proued against them And that as well all you that were witnesses present at the Arraignement and Triall of her as all other strangers to whome this Discourse shall come may take example by this Gentleman to prosecute these hellish Furies to their end labor to root them out of the Commonwealth for the common good of your Countrey The greatest mercie extended to them is soone forgotten GOD graunt vs the long and prosperous continuance of these Honorable and Reuerend Iudges vnder whose Gouernment we liue in these North parts for we may say that GOD Almightie hath singled them out and set them on his Seat for the defence of Iustice And for this great deliuerance let vs all pray to GOD Almightie that the memorie of these worthie Iudges may bee blessed to all Posterities FINIS Euening Her owne examination Her Spirit Executed at Yorke the last Assises Dandy Anne Redferne the Witch Alice Nutter the Prisoner