The Examination and Confession of certain Wytches at Chensforde in the County of Essex, before the queens majesties judges, the xxvi. day of july⸫ ANNO. 1566, at the Assize holden there as then, and one of them put to death for the same offence, as their examination declareth more at large.  
  

The Epistle to the Reader.  
GOD which of his singular goodness (as the sage philosopher Hermes hath plainly described) to each of his creatures hath added a reasonable soul, which is the chief and most excellent treasure that any man can be endued withal: Let us then consider gods inerplycable benefits always of his own free will (and not of our deserts) given and bestowed upon us, and sith that the soul of man is of great estimation in his fatherly presence, let us endeavour ourselves to walk, that by continual exercise of virtuous and wholesome documents, I mean not only by hearing of the sincere verity: neither yet by much talking of the same to hear, and not to bear away is altogether frivolous: To babble and prate much of Christ and his gospel (as though we would be counted ghostly gospelers) & to want the chiefest thing, I mean the fruits o● well governed conversation, and to be clean void of integrity, and cleanness of life, in my judgement and as the lacred scripture verifieth, is nothing but folly: (example) A tree that is altogether barren, and at the re●●●●●d time desty●●te of fruit having a trim show of leaves, deserveth to be hewed down and made ●●ete for the fire: so we wanting fruite● required, but having plenty of leaves be of like effect, and for all the outward sh●we that we have, we shall in like ●ase be cut down & thrown into the fire prepared for the devil and his angels, from which (gentle reader) God defend us all, and give us such grace that we may benceforthe walk in our vocation, that god in all our works may be unfeignedly glorified, and by th'admonition of this little book learn in such sort to keep our souls, by fixed and assured faith in Christ, from the stinking puddle of filthy pollution, then shall we escape that horrible place prepared for the ungodly and wicked livers, & as profitable servants be counted apt members to dwell with our Saviour Christ above the clouds in his heavenly kingdom, to the which god for his mercy's sake bring us all. Amen.   

The Preface.  
My trembling hand for fear doth  
●y dolour doth exceed: (quake,  
My joys decrease to tender tears  
my sports are turned in deed.  
The greedy gulfs of grisly grief,  
so gripe my restless heart:  
that my poor pen can scantly show,  
the passions of my sinarte.  
Draw near you patrons with your babes,  
come view this hapless hap:  
In flushing floods of ●ominge tears  
your tender bewtyes lap.  
Ye matrons mild draw near in haste,  
this irksome act behold:  
Then Nature shall her rueful plaints,  
by you her Nymphs unfold.  
Each wight in whom the skilful skill,  
of nature's art is shown:  
Surrender may themselves to me,  
this cruel act to moon.  
The heaps of grief so hugy are,  
that sobb●es must needs abound:  
Yea shrilly shrieks to pass the skies,  
your voices shall redound.  
The dolour now so doubtful is,  
that scant my w●rbling pen:  
Can forth express the sense thereof,  
unto the sons of men.  
Again the blub●●●e tears which glide,  
from my ●oore pincked eyes:  
Besmeared my face that scarce I can,  
my inward gr●efes surprise.  
One while I blush for shame to show,  
these pageants worthy blame:  
Some other time my thoughts me let,  
these bloody fact●●● t● name.  
Thus as I stay in doubt alas,  
my dompes are passing great:  
M● clogged joints benumb with fear,  
have got Dame sorrows seat  
Her massy mace with direful stroke,  
hath struck my members all:  
But these Periphrases I leave,  
and will discourse my thrall.  
Which to conceive each reader will,  
well way I do not doubt:  
Ofiate in Chenceforde town dear friends,  
before the noble rout.  
Of judges just placed in that seat,  
by our most famous Queen:  
judgement to give as justice leads▪  
as daily well is scene.  
The Session's there by order kept,  
offenders to correct:  
Thr● feminine dames attached were,  
whom Satan had infect.  
With ●elials spirit whose sorcery did,  
the simple so moiest:  
That when they would with present death.  
they were full sore oppressed.  
Here a●●er shall succeed the acts,  
that they themselves have wrought:  
〈◊〉 they themselves confessed have,  
to judgement being brought.  
Which thing when thou hast viewed well,  
good Reader do 〈◊〉 pray:  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord that he from us,  
〈◊〉 witches take away.  
〈…〉 ●apinge thou wilt,  
〈…〉 we●● accept:  
〈…〉 when thou hast heard,  
〈…〉  
〈◊〉 Prologue.   

An exbortation to all faithful men willing them to set God's fear before their eyes and Satan's practices utterly to despise annexed to the same, profitable for every Christian man to read and to embrace.  
BEhold these acts & scan them well,  
behold their perverse way:  
these left the lord these did his truth  
which should have been their stay▪  
In them such power sathan had,  
that Christ they did refuse:  
his precious blood ●hed them to save  
to much they did abuse.  
Sin death and hell did spread their flag,  
in them they bore the sway:  
His word was irksome to their hearts,  
they walked far astray.  
What tender heart would god renounce,  
who would his gospel leave:  
What godly one would hate his lord,  
and unto Satan cleave.  
What wight would gods good benefits,  
so lightly now esteem:  
Which sent his Christ into the world,  
from hell us to redeem.  
Who by his might did vanquish sin,  
and laid Satan wa●●e:  
By whose dear death eternal life,  
his flock shall surely taste.  
His love to us his creatures did,  
in a●p●e wise exceed:  
When by the pains of painful death,  
to save us he decreed.  
What durat heart or selly breast,  
could find Christ to repay:  
With such contempt as did these nymphs,  
which here behold ye may.  
What matrons ●arte would hide the skill,  
of Nature that meek dame:  
And toil by such ungodly arts,  
to extmquishe clean the same.  
I mean if God should send increase,  
and multiply her seed:  
Would she frequent it to destroy,  
by wicked means in deed.  
I think no tender heart could find,  
an infant's blood to spill:  
Nor yet no spoused wife I think,  
her husband dear would kill  
Sith that by witchcraft witches use,  
all evils to sequest:  
Let such as fear the living God,  
their practices detest.  
Sith whoredom in the same I say,  
her force doth plainly show:  
Let every wight ●he same abhor,  
and scape infernal wo.  
Sith this art doth such yol contain,  
as swearinges manifold:  
Let faithful hearts forsake the same,  
and fix on Christ their hold.  
Sith by that practice vile ●ere friends,  
man slaughter put in ●re:  
Let v● contemn those godless acts,  
and lead a life most pure.  
Sith Christ the rock of lasting life,  
must clean renounsed be:  
And Satan as the governor,  
must have the dignity.  
What cursed state shall they abide▪  
Which Christ their guide refuse:  
And study still the devils mind,  
by practice still to use.  
Did Christ in vain bestow his blood,  
to save our souls from hell:  
Did Christ in vain prepare the heavens,  
for his elect to dwell.  
Not so I judge, why should we then,  
his law and word contemn:  
The scripture doth rebellious folk,  
everlastingly condemn.  
I mean such as his word detest,  
his law condemneth plain:  
To taste with him whom they do serve,  
in hell eternal pain.  
Such as do in fin delight.  
frequenting mischief still:  
Be Satan's own, for jesus Christ,  
for his deny them will.  
Sith Christ in heaven will them forsake,  
which him in earth deny:  
Let us henceforth learn so to walk,  
his name to magnify.  
Let us that swearers be in deed,  
our swearing clean refrain:  
So shall we scape the greedy gulfs,  
of hell and burning pain.  
Let whoremongers which whoredom use,  
cast clean away the same:  
And pardon crave, for Christ is priest,  
for to forgive the blame.  
Let such men as delight in sin,  
forsake their sinful ways:  
And study now that all your acts,  
may tend the Lord to praise.  
Let filthy swinish drunkards now,  
abhorred in God's slight:  
Leave of their quaffing in excess,  
in modesty delight.  
Then shall God's arms be opened wide,  
us wretch's to embrace:  
And with his saints in his kingdom,  
he will us surely place.  
To which kingdom for Christ's sake,  
vouchsafe thy ●●ocke to bring:  
That we as thy elects dear God,  
to thee may praises sing.  
Finis.  
ꝙ john Phillips   


The examination of them with their confession before Doctor Cole and master Foscue at the same Sise verhatum as near as could be gathered, and first of Elizabeth Francis who said as here followeth.  
When this mother Eve had given her the Cat Satan, than this Elizabeth desired first of the said Cat (calling it Satan) that she might be rich and to have goods, and he promised her she should, asking her what she would have, and she said sheep (●or this Cat spoke to her as she confessed in a strange hollow voice, (but such as she understood by use) & this Cat forthwith brought sheep into her pasture to the number of xviii black and white, which continued with her for a time, but in the end did all wear away she knew not how.  
Item when she had gotten these sheep, she desired to have on Andrew Byles to her husband, which was a man of some wealth, and the cat did promise she should, but that he said she must first consent that t●is Andrew should abuse her, and she so did.  
And after when this Andrew had thus abused her he would not marry her, wherefore she willed Satan to waste his goods, which he forthwith did, and yet not being contented with this, she willed him to touch his body, which he forthwith did whereof he died.  
Item that every time that he did any thing for her, she said that he required a drop of blood, which she gave him by pricking herself, sometime in one place & then in an other, and where she pricked herself there remained a red spot, which was still to be seen.  
Item when this Andrew was dead, she doubting herself with child willed sathan to destroy it, and he bade her take a certain herb and drink it which she did, and destroyed the child forthwith.  
Item when she desired an other husband, he promised her an other, naming this Francis whom she now hath, but said he is not so rich as the other, willing her to consent unto that Francis in fornication which she did, and thereof conceived a daughter that was borne within a quarter of a year after they were married.  
After they were married they lived not so quietly as she desired, being stirred (as she said) to much unquietness and moved to swearing and cursing, wherefore she willed sathan her Cat to kill the child, being about the age of half a year old and he did so, and when she yet found not the quietness that she desired, she willed it to lay a la●enes in the leg of this Francis her husband, and it did in this manner. It came in a morning to this Francis shoe, lying in it like a toad, and when he perceived it putting on his shoe, and had touched it with his foot, he being suddenly amazed asked of her what it was, and she bade him kill it, and he was forthwith taken with a lameness whereof he can not healed.  
After all this when she had kept this Cat, by the space of xu or xvi. year, and as some say (though untruly) being weary of it, she came to one mother Waterhouse her neighbour (a poor woman) when she was going to the oven, and desired her to give her a cake, & she would give her a thing that she should be the better for so long as she lived, & this mother water-house gave her a cake, where upon she brought her this cat in her apron and taught her as she was in struct before by her grandmother Eve, tellig her that she must call him Satan and give him of her blood and bread and milk as before, and at this examination would confess no more.   

¶ Mother water-house of Nat●ylde Peverell of the age of. lxii●●. years being examined the same day confessed as followeth, & the xxix. day suffered.  
first she received this cat of this frances wife in the order as is before said, who willed her to call him sathan, and told her that if she made much of him he would do for her what she would have him to do.  
Then when she had received him the (to try him what he could do) wild him to kill a hog of her own which he did, and she gave him for his labour a chicken, which he first required of her & a drop of her blood. And this she gave him at all times when he did any thing for her, by pricking her hand or face & putting the blood to his mouth which he sucked, & forthwith would lie down in his ●ot again, wherein she kept him, the spots of all the which pr●ks are yet to be seen in her skin.  
Also she saith that another time being offended with one father Kersey she took her cat Satan in her lap and put him in the wood before her door, & willed him to kill three of this father Kersyes hogs, which he did, and returning again told her so, and she rewarded him as before, with a chicken and a drop of her blood, which chicken he eat up clean as he did all the rest, and she could find remaining neither bones nor feathers.  
Also she confessed that falling out with one widow Gooday she willed Satan to drown her cow and he did so, and she rewardid him as before.  
Also she falling out with another of her neighbours, she killed her three geese in the same manner.  
Item, she confessed that because she could have no ●est (which she required) she caused sathan to destroy the brewing at that tyme.  
Also being denied butter of an other, she caused her to lose the curds two. or iii days after.  
Item falling out with an other of her neighbours and his wife, she willed sathan to kill him with a bloody ●i●e, whereof he died, and she rewarded him as before.  
Likewise she confessed, that because she lived somewhat unquietly with her husband she caused ●atha to kill him, and he did so about ix years past, sith which time she hath lived a widow.  
Also she said that when she would will him to do any thing for her, she would say her Pater noster in latin.  
¶ Also she said, that going to Brack stead a little before her apprehentyon, this Satan willed her to high her home, for she should have great trouble, and that she should be either hanged or burned shortly, more at this time she would not confess.   

¶ jone Waterhouse, daughter to th● mother Waterhouse, being of the age of xviii years, and examined, confesseth as followeth.  
first, that her mother this last winter would have learned her this art, but she learned it not, neither yet the name of the thing. She saith she never saw it but once in her mother's hand, and that was in the likeness of a toad, and at that time coming in at a sudden when her mother called it out to work some thing withal, she heard her to call it Satan, for she was not at any time truly taught if, nor did never exercise it before this time as followeth.  
Item she confessed that when her mother was gone to Breakstede, in her absence lacking bread, she went to a girl, a neighbour's child, and desired her to give her a piece of bred and cheese, which when she denied and gave her not, or at the least not so much as would satisfy her, she going home did as she had seen her mother do, calling Satan, which came to her (as she said) she thought out of her mother's show from under the dead, in the likeness of a great dog, demanding what she would have, wherewithal she being a feared, said she would have him to make such a girl afraid naming this girl, than asked he her what she would give him, and she said a red kocke, than said he no, but thou shalt give me thy body and soul, whereby she being sore feared, and desirous to be rid of him, said she would: And herewith he went to this girl in the likeness of an evil ●auou●●d dog with horns on his head, and made her very much afeard, and doth yet haunt her, now can not these witches (as they say) call him in again, because they did not let him out. And more (saith she) she never did, but this her doing was the revealing of all the rest.  
FINIS.    

Imprinted at London by William powel for William pickering dwelling at saint M●gn●s corner and are there for to be sold.  
Auto 1566. the. 13. August.   

The second examination and Confession of mother Agnes Waterhouse & jone her daughter, upon her arainement with the questions & answers of Agnes Browne the child, on whom the spirit haunteth at this present, deliberately declared before justice Southcote and master Gerard the queens attorney, the xxvii day of july Anno. 1566. no less wonderful than most true.  
 

¶ The Confession of Agnes Waterhowse the xxvii day of july in Anno. 1566. at Chelmsforde before justice Southcote and M. E●rard the queens Attorney.  
first being demanded whether that she were guilty or not guilty upon her araynement of the murdering of a man, she confessed that she was guilty, and then upon the evidence given against her daughter jone Waterhouse, she said that she had a White Cat, and willed her cat that he should destroy many of her neighbours cattle, and also that he should kill a man, and so he did, and then after she must go ii or iii mile from her house, and then she took thought how to keep her cat, than she and her cat concluded that he the said cat would become a toad, and then she should keep him in a close house & give him milk, and so he would continue till she came home again, and then being gone forth, her daughter having been at a neighbours house there by, required of one Agnes Browne, of the age of xii. years or more, a piece of bread and cheese, and the said Agnes said that she had none, and that she had not the key of the milkhouse door, and then the said jone went home and was angry with the said Agnes brown and she said that she remembered that her mother was wont to go up and down in her house 〈◊〉 to call Satan Satha●●he said she would prove the like, & then she went up and down the house and called Satan, and then there came a black dog to her and asked her what she would have, and then she said she was afeard and said I would have thee to make one Agnes brown afraid, and then he asked her what she would give him and she said she would give him a red kock, and he said he would have none of that, and she asked him what he would have then, & he said he would have her body and soul, and so upon request and fear together she gave him her body and soul, and then said the queens atturneye, How wilt thou do before god. O my lord, I trust god will have mercy upon me, and then he said, thou saist well, and then he departed from her, and then she said that she heard that he made the said Agnes Browne a feared.  
The said Agnes Brown was then demanded and called for, and then she came in, and being asked what age she was of she said she thought she was, xii. years old, and then the queens attorney asked her what she could say, and then she said that at such a day naming the day certain that she was chirning of butter and there came to her a thing like a black dog with 〈◊〉 face like an ape a short ta●●e a 〈◊〉 and a silver whistle (to her thinking) about his neck, and a peyre of horns on his head, & 〈◊〉 in his mouth she key of the milkhouse door, and then my lord she said, I was a feared, for he skipped and leapt to and fro, and sat●e on the top of a ne●●le, and then I asked 〈◊〉 what he would 〈…〉 he would 〈…〉 and I said I had none 〈◊〉 and then he said he 〈◊〉 ave some or he went, and then he did run to put the key into the lock of the mylkehouse door, and I said he should have none, and he said he would have some, and then he opened the door and went upon the shelf, and there upon anew cheese laid down the key, and being a while within he came out again, and locked the door and said that he had made 〈◊〉 butter for ●ee, and so departed, and then she said see told her 〈◊〉 of it, and then she sent for the priest, and when he came he ●ad her to pray● to god, and ●al on the name of jesus, and so the next day my lord he came again to me with the key of our milkhouse door in his mou●he, and then I said in the name of jesus what hast thou there, and then he laid down the key and said that I spoke evil words in speaking of that name, and then he departed, and so my aunt took up the key for he had kept it from us. two days and a night, & then we went into the milkhouse and there we did see the print of butter upon the cheese, and then within a few days after he came again with a bean pod in his mouth and then the queen's attorney asked what that was, and so the other justices declared, and then she said my lord I said in the name of jesus what hast thou there and so then he laid it down and said I spoke evil words and departed and came again by & by with a piece of bread in his mouth, and I asked him what he would have and he said butter it was that he would have, & so he departed, and my lord I did not see him no more till wenseday last, which was the xxiiii day of july why said the queens attorney was he with the on wenseday last, ye she said, what did he then to thee said he, my lord said she he came with a knife in his mouth and asked me if I were not dead and I said no I thanked god, and then he said if I would not die that he would thrust his knife to my heart but he would make me to die, and then I said in the name of jesus lay down thy knife, and he said he would not depart from his ●●eete dames knife as yet, & then I asked of him who was his dame, and then he nodded & wagged his head to your house mother water house, than the queen's attourneye asked of the said Agnes water-house what she said to it, than she demanded what manner knife that it was, and Agnes Browne said it was a dagger knife, there thou liest said Agnes water-house, why quoth the queens attorney, marry my lord (quoth she) she saith it is a dagger knife, and I have none such in my house, but a great knife, and therein she lieth, yea yea, my lord, quoth jone water-house she lieth in that she saith that it had a face like an ape, for this that came to me was like a dog, well said the queens attorney well, can you make it come before us now, if ye can we will dispatch you out of prison by and by, no faith said Agnes Waterhouse I can not, for in faith if I had let him go as my daughter did I could make him come by and by, but now I have no more power over him, than said the queen's atturneye, Agnes water-house when did thy Cat suck of thy blood never said she, no said he, let me see, and then the jailer lifted up her kercher on her head and there was diverse spots in her face & one on her nose, than said the queens attorney, in good faith Agnes when did he suck of thy blood last, by my faith my lord said she, not this fortnight, and so the jury went toged therefore that matter.    

Imprinted at London by William powel for William pickering dwelling at Saint● Mag●●●s corner and are there for to be sold.  
An●● 1566. the. 13. August.   

¶ The end and last confession of mother Waterhouse at her death, which was the xxix. day of july. Anno. 1566.  

Mother Waterhouse.  first (being redi prepared to receive her death) she confessed earnestly that she had been a witch and used such execrable sorserye the space of xu years, and had done many abominable deed, the which she repented earnestly & unfeignedly, and desired almighty God forgiveness in that she had abused his most holy name by her devilish practises, and trusted to be saved by his most unspeakable mercy. And being demanded of the by standers, she confessed that she ●ent her sathan to one Wardol, a neighbour of hers, being a tailor (with whom she was offended) to hurt and destroy him & his goods. And this her Satan went therabuot for to have done her will, but in the end he returned to her again, and was not able to do this mischief, she asked the cause, and he answered because the said Wardol was so strong in faith that he had no power to hurt him, yet she sent him diverse and sundry time (but all in vain) to have mischevid him. And being demanded whether she was accustomed to go to church to the common prayer or divine service, she said yea & being required what she did there she said 〈◊〉 did as other women do, and prayed right heartily there, and when she was demanded what prayer she said, she answered the lords prayer, the ave Maria, and the belief, & then they demanded whether in latin or in english, and she said in latin, and they demanded why she said it not in engly●●e but in latin, seeing that it was set out by public authority and according to god's word that all men should pray in the engly she & mother tongue that they best understand, and she said that sathan would at no time suffer her to say it in english, but at all times in latin: for these and many other offences which she hath committed, done and confessed she bewailed, repent, and asked mercy of God, and all the world forgiveness, and thus she yielded up her soul, trusting to be in joy with Christ her saviour, which dearly had bought her with his most precious blood.  
Amen.   

Imprinted at London by William powel for William P●ckeringe dwelling at saint M●gn●s corner and are there for to be sold.  
Anno 1566. the. 23. August.