Discovery of Witches Part 20

-- 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 Bulc.o.c.k._

_Jane Bulc.o.c.k._

_Alizon Deuice._

_Isabel Robey._

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THE IVDGEMENT OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir EDWARD BROMLEY, Knight, one _of his Maiesties Iustices of a.s.size at Lancaster vpon the Witches conuicted_, as followeth.

_There is no man aliue more vnwilling to p.r.o.nounce this wofull and heauy Iudgement against you, then my selfe: and if it were possible, I would to G.o.d this cup might pa.s.se 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 a.s.semblies. Nay I may further affirme, What persons of your nature and condition, euer were Arraigned and Tried with more solemnitie, had more libertie giuen to pleade or answere to euerie particular point of Euidence against you?

In conclusion such hath beene the generall care of all, that had to deale with you, that you haue neither cause to be offended in the proceedings of the Iustices, that first tooke paines in these businesses, nor with the Court that hath had great care to giue nothing in euidence against you, but matter of fact; Sufficient matter vpon Record, and not to induce or leade the Iurie to finde any one of you guiltie vpon matter of suspition or presumption, nor with the witnesses who haue beene tried, as it were in the fire: Nay, you cannot denie but must confesse what extraordinarie meanes hath beene vsed to make triall of their euidence, and to discouer the least intended practice in any one of them, to touch your liues vniustly._

_As you stand simply (your offences and bloudie practises not considered) your fall would rather moue compa.s.sion, then exasperate any man. For whom would not the ruine of so many poore creatures at one time, touch, as in apparance simple, and of little vnderstanding?_

_But the bloud of those innocent children, and others his Maiesties Subiects, whom cruelly and barbarously you haue murdered, and cut off, with all the rest of your offences, hath cryed out vnto the Lord against you, and sollicited for satisfaction and reuenge, and that hath brought this heauie iudgement vpon you at this time._

_It is therefore now time no longer wilfully to striue, both against the prouidence of G.o.d, and the Iustice of the Land: the more you labour to acquit your selues, the more euident and apparant you make your offences to the World. And vnpossible it is that they shall either prosper or continue in this World, or receiue reward in the next, that are stained with so much innocent bloud._

_The worst then I wish to you, standing at the Barre conuicted, to receiue your Iudgement, is, Remorse, and true Repentance, for the safegard of your Soules, and after, an humble, penitent, and heartie acknowledgement of your grieuous sinnes and offences committed both against_ G.o.d _and Man._

_First, yeeld humble and heartie thankes to Almightie_ G.o.d _for taking hold of you in your beginning, and making stay of your intended bloudie practises (although_ G.o.d _knowes there is too much done alreadie) which would in time have cast so great a weight of Iudgement vpon your Soules._

_Then praise_ G.o.d _that it pleased him not to surprize or strike you suddenly, euen in the execution of your bloudie Murthers, and in the middest of your wicked practises, but hath giuen you time, and takes you away by a iudiciall course and triall of the Law._

_Last of all, craue pardon of the World, and especially of all such as you haue iustly offended, either by tormenting themselues, children, or friends, murder of their kinsfolks, or losse of any their goods._

_And for leauing to future times the president of so many barbarous and bloudie murders, with such meetings, practises, consultations, and meanes to execute reuenge, being the greatest part of your comfort in all your actions, which may instruct others to hold the like course, or fall in the like sort:_

_It only remaines I p.r.o.nounce the Iudgement of the Court against you by the Kings authoritie, which is;_ You shall all goe from hence to the Castle, from whence you came; from thence you shall bee carried to the place of Execution for this Countie: where your bodies shall bee hanged vntill you be dead; AND G.o.d HAVE MERCIE VPON YOVR SOVLES; For your comfort in this world I shall commend a learned and worthie Preacher to instruct you, and prepare you, for an other World: All I can doe for you is to pray for your Repentance in this World, for the satisfaction of many; And forgiuenesse in the next world, for sauing of your Soules. And G.o.d graunt you may make good vse of the time you haue in this world, to his glorie and your owne comfort.

_Margaret Pearson._

The Iudgement of the Court against you, is, You shall stand vpon the Pillarie in open Market, at _c.l.i.theroe_, _Paddiham_, _Whalley_, and _Lancaster_, foure Market dayes, with a Paper vpon your head, in great Letters, declaring your offence, and there you shall confesse your offence, and after to remaine in Prison for one yeare without Baile, and after to be bound with good Sureties, to be of the good behauiour.

_To the Prisoners found not guiltie_ by the IVRIES.

_Elizabeth Astley._ _John Ramsden._ _Alice Gray._ _Isabel Sidegraues._ _Lawrence Hay._[X_a_]

_To you that are found not guiltie, and are by the Law to bee acquited, presume no further of your Innocencie then you haue just cause: for although it pleased G.o.d out of his Mercie, to spare you at this time, yet without question there are amongst you, that are as deepe in this Action, as any of them that are condemned to die for their offences: The time is now for you to forsake the Deuill: Remember how, and in what sort hee hath dealt with all of you: make good vse of this great mercie and fauour: and pray unto G.o.d you fall not againe: For great is your happinesse to haue time in this World, to prepare your selues against the day when you shall appeare before the Great Iudge of all._

_Notwithstanding, the iudgement of the Court, is_, You shall all enter Recognizances with good sufficient Suerties, to appeare at the next a.s.sizes at Lancaster, and in the meane time to be of the good behauiour. All I can say to you:

_Jennet Bierley_,

_Ellen Bierley_,

_Jane Southworth_, is, That G.o.d hath deliuered you beyond expectation, I pray G.o.d you may vse this mercie and fauour well; and take heed you fall not hereafter: And so the Court doth order you shall be deliuered.

What more can bee written or published of the proceedings of this honourable Court: but to conclude with the Execution of the Witches,[X_b_] who were executed the next day following at the common place of Execution, neare vnto Lancaster. Yet in the end giue mee leaue to intreate some fauour that haue beene afraid to speake vntill my worke were finished. If I haue omitted any thing materiall, or published any thing imperfect, excuse me for that I haue done: It was a worke imposed vpon me by the Iudges, in respect I was so wel instructed in euery particular. In hast I haue vndertaken to finish it in a busie Tearme amongst my other imploiments.

My charge was to publish the proceedings of Iustice, and matter of Fact, wherein I wanted libertie to write what I would, and am limited to set forth nothing against them, but matter vpon Record, euen in their owne Countrie tearmes, which may seeme strange. And this I hope will giue good satisfaction to such as vnderstand how to iudge of a businesse of this nature. Such as haue no other imploiment but to question other mens Actions, I leaue them to censure what they please, It is no part of my profession to publish any thing in print, neither can I paint in extraordinarie tearmes.[X2_a_] But if this discouerie may serue for your instruction, I shall thinke my selfe very happie in this Seruice, and so leaue it to your generall censure.

_Da veniam Ignoto non displicuisse meretur, Festinat studs qui placuisse tibi._

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_THE_ ARRAIGNEMENT AND TRIALL OF IENNET PRESTON, OF GISBORNE IN CRAVEN, in the Countie of Yorke.

At the a.s.sises and Generall Gaole-_Deliuerie_ _holden at the Castle of Yorke_ in the Countie of Yorke, the xxvij. day of Iuly last past, _Anno Regni Regis_ IACOBI _Angliae, &c. Decimo, & Scotiae quadragesimo quinto._

Before

_Sir_ IAMES ALTHAM _Knight, one_ of the Barons of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer; and Sir EDWARD BROMLEY Knight, another of _the Barons of his Maiesties Court of Exchequer;_ his Maiesties Iustices of a.s.sise, Oyer and Terminer, _and generall Gaole-Deliuerie, in the Circuit of the North-parts._

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LONDON.

Printed by W. STANSBY for IOHN BARNES, and are to be sold at his Shoppe neere Holborne Conduit. 1612.

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THE ARRAIGNMENT _and Triall of_ IENNET PRESTON _of Gisborne in Crauen, in the Countie of Yorke, at the a.s.sises and generall Gaole-deliuerie, holden at the Castle of Yorke, in the Countie of Yorke, the seuen and twentieth day of Iuly last past._ Anno Regni Regis Iacobi Angliae &c. Decimo & Scotiae xlvj.