Discovery of Witches Part 8

_The Examination of_ ELIZABETH SOTHERNES, alias OLD DEMBDIKE: _taken at the Fence in the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster, the day and yeare aforesaid._

Before,

ROGER NOWEL _Esquire, one of the Kings Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the said Countie, against_ ANNE WHITTLE, alias CHATTOX.

The said _Elizabeth Southernes_ saith vpon her Examination, that about halfe a yeare before _Robert Nutter_ died, as this Examinate thinketh, this Examinate went to the house of _Thomas Redfearne_, which was about Mid-sommer, as this Examinate remembreth it. And there within three yards of the East end of the said house, shee saw the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, and _Anne Redferne_ wife of the said _Thomas Redferne_, and Daughter of the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_: the one on the one side of the Ditch, and the other on the other: and two Pictures of Clay or Marle lying by them: and the third Picture the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, was making: and the said _Anne Redferne_ her said Daughter, wrought her Clay or Marle to make the third picture withall. And this Examinate pa.s.sing by them, the said Spirit, called _Tibb_, in the shape of a black Cat, appeared vnto her this Examinate, and said, turne back 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 she asked whose pictures they were? whereunto the said Spirit said; they are the pictures of _Christopher Nutter_, _Robert Nutter_, and _Marie_, wife of the said _Robert Nutter_: But this Examinate denying to goe back to helpe them to make the Pictures aforesaid; the said Spirit seeming to be angrie, therefore shoue or pushed this Examinate into the ditch, and so shed the Milke which this Examinate had in a Can or Kit: and so thereupon the Spirit at that time vanished out of this Examinates sight: But presently after that, the said Spirit appeared to this Examinate againe in the shape of a Hare, and so went with her about a quarter of a mile, but said nothing to this Examinate, nor shee to it.

_The Examination and euidence of_ IAMES ROBINSON,[E_b_1] _taken the day and yeare aforesaid._

Before

ROGER NOWEL _Esquire aforesaid, against_ ANNE WHITTLE, alias CHATTOX, _Prisoner at the Barre as followeth._ viz.

The said Examinate saith, that about sixe yeares agoe, _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, was hired by this Examinates wife to card wooll;[E_b_2] and so vpon a Friday and Sat.u.r.day, shee came and carded wooll with this Examinates wife, and so the Munday then next after shee came likewise to card: and this Examinates wife hauing newly tunned drinke into Stands, which stood by the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_: and the said _Ann Whittle_ taking a Dish or Cup, and drawing drinke seuerall times: and so neuer after that time, for some eight or nine weekes, they could haue any drinke, but spoiled, and as this Examinate thinketh was by the meanes of the said _Chattox_. And further he saith, that the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, and _Anne Redferne_ her said Daughter, are commonly reputed and reported to bee Witches. And hee also saith, that about some eighteene yeares agoe, he dwelled with one _Robert Nutter_ the elder, of Pendle aforesaid. And that yong _Robert Nutter_, who dwelled with his Grand-father, in the Sommer time, he fell sicke, and in his said sicknesse hee did seuerall times complaine, that hee had harme by them: and this Examinate asking him what hee meant by that word _Them_, He said, that he verily thought that the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, and the said _Redfernes_ wife, had bewitched him: and the said _Robert Nutter_ shortly after, being to goe with his then Master, called Sir _Richard Shattleworth_,[E2_a_] into Wales, this Examinate heard him say before his then going, vnto the said _Thomas Redferne_, that if euer he came againe he would get his Father to put the said _Redferne_ out of his house, or he himselfe would pull it downe; to whom the said _Redferne_ replyed, saying; when you come back againe you will be in a better minde: but he neuer came back againe, but died before Candlemas in Ches.h.i.+re, as he was comming homeward.

Since the voluntarie confession and examination of a Witch, doth exceede all other euidence, I spare to trouble you with a mult.i.tude of Examinations, or Depositions of any other witnesses, by reason this bloudie fact, for the Murder of _Robert Nutter_, vpon so small an occasion, as to threaten to take away his owne land from such as were not worthie to inhabite or dwell vpon it, is now made by that which you haue alreadie heard, so apparant, as no indifferent man will question it, or rest vnsatisfied: I shall now proceede to set forth vnto you the rest of her actions, remaining vpon Record. And how dangerous it was for any man to liue neere these people, to giue them any occasion of offence, I leaue it to your good consideration.

_The Examination and voluntarie Confession of_ ANNE WHITTLE, alias CHATTOX, _taken at the Fence in the Forrest of Pendle, in the Countie of Lancaster, the second day of Aprill_, Anno Regni Regis IACOBI ANGLIae, Franciae, & Hiberniae, decimo & Scotiae xlv.

Before

ROGER NOWEL, _Esquire, one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the Countie of Lancaster._

She the said Examinate saith, That shee was sent for by the wife of _Iohn Moore_, to helpe drinke that was forspoken or bewitched: at which time shee vsed this Prayer for the amending of it, _viz._

_A Charme._[E2_b_]

_Three Biters hast thou bitten, The Hart, ill Eye, ill Tonge: Three bitter shall be thy Boote, Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost a G.o.ds name, Fiue Pater-nosters, fiue Auies, and a Creede, In wors.h.i.+p of fiue wounds of our Lord._

After which time that this Examinate had vsed these prayers, and amended her drinke, the said _Moores_ wife did chide this Examinate, and was grieued at her.

And thereupon this Examinate called for her Deuill _Fancie_, and bad him goe bite a browne Cow of the said _Moores_ by the head, and make the Cow goe madde: and the Deuill then, in the likenesse of a browne Dogge, went to the said Cow, and bit her: which Cow went madde accordingly, and died within six weekes next after, or thereabouts.

Also this Examinate saith, That she perceiuing _Anthonie Nutter_ of Pendle to fauour _Elizabeth Sothernes_, alias _Dembdike_,[E3_a_1] she, this Examinate, called _Fancie_ to her, (who appeared like a man) and bad him goe kill a Cow of the said _Anthonies_; which the said Deuill did, and that Cow died also.

And further this Examinate saith, That the Deuill, or _Fancie_, hath taken most of her sight away from her. And further this Examinate saith, That in Summer last, saue one, the said Deuill, or _Fancie_, came vpon this Examinate in the night time: and at diuerse and sundry times in the likenesse of a Beare, gaping as though he would haue wearied this Examinate.[E3_a_2] And the last time of all shee, this Examinate, saw him, was vpon Thursday last yeare but one, next before Midsummer day, in the euening, like a Beare, and this Examinate would not then speake vnto him, for the which the said Deuill pulled this Examinate downe.

_The Examination of_ IAMES DEVICE,[E3_b_]

_sonne of_ ELIZABETH DEVICE, _taken the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill_, Annoq; Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliae, &c. Decimo ac Scotiae xlv.

Before

ROGER NOWEL and NICHOLAS BANISTER, _Esquires, two of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the said Countie._ viz.

And further saith, That twelue yeares agoe, the said _Anne Chattox_ at a Buriall at the new Church in Pendle, did take three scalpes of people, which had been buried, and then cast out of a graue, as she the said _Chattox_ told this Examinate; and tooke eight teeth out of the said Scalpes, whereof she kept foure to her selfe, and gaue other foure to the said _Demdike_, this Examinates Grand-mother: which foure teeth now shewed to this Examinate, are the foure teeth that the said _Chattox_ gaue to his said Grand-mother, as aforesaid; which said teeth haue euer since beene kept, vntill now found by the said _Henry Hargreiues_ & this Examinate, at the West-end of this Examinates Grand-mothers house, and there buried in the earth, and a Picture of Clay there likewise found by them, about halfe a yard ouer in the earth, where the said teeth lay, which said picture so found was almost withered away, and was the Picture of _Anne_, _Anthony Nutters_ daughter; as this Examinates Grand-mother told him.

_The Examination of_ ALLIZON DEVICE _daughter of_ ELIZABETH DEVICE: _Taken at Reade, in the Countie of Lancaster, the thirtieth day of March_, Annoq; Reg. Regis IACOBI nunc Angliae, &c. Decimo, & Scotiae Quadragesimo quinto.

Before

ROGER NOWEL _of Reade aforesaid, Esquire, one of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace, within the said Countie._

This Examinate saith, that about eleuen yeares agoe, this Examinate and her mother had their firehouse broken,[E4_a_] and all, or the most part of their linnen clothes, & halfe a peck of cut oat-meale, and a quant.i.tie of meale gone, all which was worth twentie s.h.i.+llings, or aboue: and vpon a Sunday then next after, this Examinate did take a band and a coife, parcell of the goods aforesaid, vpon the daughter of _Anne Whittle, alias Chattox_, and claimed them to be parcell of the goods stolne, as aforesaid.

And this Examinate further saith, That her father, called _Iohn Deuice_, being afraid, that the said _Anne Chattox_ should doe him or his goods any hurt by Witchcraft; did couenant with the said _Anne_, that if she would hurt neither of them, she should yearely haue one Aghen-dole of meale;[E4_b_1] which meale was yearely paid, vntill the yeare which her father died in, which was about eleuen yeares since: Her father vpon his then-death-bed, taking it that the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, did bewitch him to death, because the said meale was not paid the last yeare.

And she also saith, That about two yeares agone, this Examinate being in the house of _Anthony Nutter_ of Pendle aforesaid, and being then in company with _Anne Nutter_, daughter of the said _Anthony_: the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, came into the said _Anthony Nutters_ house, and seeing this Examinate, and the said _Anne Nutter_ laughing, and saying, that they laughed at her the said _Chattox_: well said then (sayes _Anne Chattox_) I will be meet with the one of you. And vpon the next day after, she the said _Anne Nutter_ fell sicke, and within three weekes after died. And further, this Examinate saith, That about two yeares agoe, she, this Examinate, hath heard, That the said _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, was suspected for bewitching the drinke of _Iohn Moore_ of Higham Gentleman:[E4_b_2] and not long after, shee this Examinate heard the said _Chattox_ say, that she would meet with the said _Iohn Moore_, or his.[E4_b_3] Whereupon a child of the said _Iohn Moores_, called _Iohn_, fell sick, and languished about halfe a yeare, and then died: during which languis.h.i.+ng, this Examinate saw the said _Chattox_ sitting in her owne garden, and a picture of Clay like vnto a child in her Ap.r.o.n; which this Examinate espying, the said _Anne Chattox_ would haue hidde with her Ap.r.o.n: and this Examinate declaring the same to her mother, her mother thought it was the picture of the said _Iohn Moores_ childe.

And she this Examinate further saith, That about sixe or seuen yeares agoe, the said _Chattox_ did fall out with one _Hugh Moore_ of Pendle, as aforesaid, about certaine cattell of the said _Moores_, which the said _Moore_ did charge the said _Chattox_ to haue bewitched: for which the said _Chattox_ did curse and worry the said _Moore_, and said she would be Reuenged of the said _Moore_: whereupon the said _Moore_ presently fell sicke, and languished about halfe a yeare, and then died. Which _Moore_ vpon his death-bed said, that the said _Chattox_ had bewitched him to death. And she further saith, That about sixe yeares agoe, a daughter of the said _Anne Chattox_, called _Elizabeth_, hauing been at the house of _Iohn Nutter_ of the Bull-hole, to begge or get a dish full of milke, which she had, and brought to her mother, who was about a fields breadth of the said _Nutters_ house, which her said mother _Anne Chattox_ tooke and put into a Kan, and did charne[F_a_1] the same with two stickes acrosse in the same field: whereupon the said _Iohn Nutters_ sonne came vnto her, the said _Chattox_, and misliking her doings, put the said Kan and milke ouer with his foot; and the morning next after, a Cow of the said _Iohn Nutters_ fell sicke, and so languished three or foure dayes, and then died.

In the end being openly charged with all this in open Court; with weeping teares she humbly acknowledged them to be true,[F_a_2] and cried out vnto G.o.d for Mercy and forgiuenesse of her sinnes, and humbly prayed my Lord to be mercifull vnto _Anne Redfearne_ her daughter, of whose life and condition you shall heare more vpon her Arraignement and Triall: whereupon shee being taken away, _Elizabeth Deuice_ comes now to receiue her Triall being the next in order, of whom you shall heare at large.

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THE ARRAIGNMENT _and Triall of_ ELIZABETH DEVICE (_Daughter of_ ELIZABETH SOTHERNES, alias OLD DEMBDIKE) _late wife of_ IO. DEVICE, _of the Forrest of Pendle, in the Countie of Lancaster, widow, for Witchcraft; Vpon Tuesday the eighteenth of August, at the a.s.sises and generall Gaole-Deliuerie holden at Lancaster_

Before

_Sir_ EDWARD BROMLEY _Knight, one of his Maiesties Iustices of a.s.sise at Lancaster._

_Elizabeth Deuice._

O Barbarous and inhumane Monster, beyond example; so farre from sensible vnderstanding of thy owne miserie, as to bring thy owne naturall children into mischiefe and bondage; and thy selfe to be a witnesse vpon the Gallowes, to see thy owne children, by thy deuillish instructions hatcht vp in Villanie and Witchcraft, to suffer with thee, euen in the beginning of their time, a shamefull and vntimely Death. Too much (so it be true) cannot be said or written of her. Such was her life and condition: that euen at the Barre, when shee came to receiue her Triall (where the least sparke of Grace or modestie would haue procured fauour, or moued pitie) she was not able to containe her selfe within the limits of any order or gouernment: but exclaiming, in very outragious manner crying out against her owne children, and such as came to prosecute Indictments & Euidence for the Kings Maiestie against her, for the death of their Children, Friends, and Kinsfolkes, whome cruelly and bloudily, by her Enchauntments, Charmes, and Sorceries she had murthered and cut off; sparing no man with fearefull execrable curses and banning:[F2_b_] Such in generall was the common opinion of the Countrey where she dwelt, in the Forrest of Pendle (a place fit for people of such condition) that no man neere her, neither his wife, children, goods, or cattell should be secure or free from danger.

This _Elizabeth Deuice_ was the daughter of _Elizabeth Sothernes_, old _Dembdike_, a malicious, wicked, and dangerous Witch for fiftie yeares, as appeareth by Record: and how much longer, the Deuill and shee knew best with whome shee made her couenant.

It is very certaine, that amongst all these Witches there was not a more dangerous and deuillish Witch to execute mischiefe, hauing old _Dembdike_, her mother, to a.s.sist her; _Iames Deuice_ and _Alizon Deuice_, her owne naturall children, all prouided with Spirits, vpon any occasion of offence readie to a.s.sist her.

Vpon her Examination, although Master _Nowel_ was very circ.u.mspect, and exceeding carefull in dealing with her, yet she would confesse nothing, vntill it pleased G.o.d to raise vp a yong maid, _Iennet Deuice_, her owne daughter, about the age of nine yeares (a witnesse vnexpected) to discouer all their Practises, Meetings, Consultations, Murthers, Charmes, and Villanies: such, and in such sort, as I may iustly say of them, as a reuerend and learned Iudge of this Kingdome speaketh of the greatest Treason that euer was in this Kingdome, _Quis haec posteris sic narrare poterit, vt facta non ficta esse videantur?_ That when these things shall be related to Posteritie, they will be reputed matters fained, not done.

And then knowing, that both _Iennet Deuice_, her daughter, _Iames Deuice_, her sonne, and _Alizon Deuice_, with others, had accused her and layed open all things, in their Examinations taken before Master _Nowel_, and although she were their owne naturall mother, yet they did not spare to accuse her of euery particular fact, which in her time she had committed, to their knowledge; she made a very liberall and voluntarie Confession, as hereafter shall be giuen in euidence against her, vpon her Arraignment and Triall.

This _Elizabeth Deuice_ being at libertie, after Old _Dembdike_ her mother, _Alizon Deuice_, her daughter, and old _Chattocks_ were committed to the Castle of Lancaster for Witchcraft; laboured not a little to procure a solemne meeting at Malkyn-Tower of the Graund Witches of the Counties of Lancaster and Yorke, being yet vnsuspected and vntaken, to consult of some speedie course for the deliuerance of their friends, the Witches at Lancaster, and for the putting in execution of some other deuillish practises of Murther and Mischiefe: as vpon the Arraignement and Triall of _Iames Deuice_, her sonne, shall hereafter in euery particular point appeare at large against her.

The first Indictment.