A Rehearsal both strange and true, of heinous and horrible acts committed by Elizabeth Style, Alias Rockingham, Mother Dutten, Mother Devil, Mother Margaret, Four notorious Witches, apprehended at winsore in the County of Barks. and at Abbington arraigned, condemned, and executed, on the 26 day of February last Anno. 1579.  
Imprinted at London for Edward White at the little North-door of Paul's, at the sign of the Gun, and are there to be sold.   

The Reader  
AMong the punishments which the Lord GOD hath laid upon us, for the manifest impiety and careless contempt of his word, abounding in these our desperate days, the swarms of Mitches, and Enchanters are not the last nor the least. For that old Serpent Satan, suffered to be the scourge for our sins, hath of late years, greatly multiplied the broude of them, and much increased their malice. Which practise, he hath the more easily performed for that wholesome remedies, provided for the curing of such cankers, are either never a whit, or not rightly applied: For albeit the justicer be severe in executing of the Laws in that behalf, yet such is the foolish pity, or slackness, or doth of the multitude and under officers that they most commonly are winked at, and so escape unpunished, to the dishonour of God, and imminente danger on her majesties liege people. Nay the fondness and ignorance of many is such, that they secure those devilish Imps, have recourse to them for the health of themselves or others, and for things lost, calling them by the honourable name of wise women. Wherein they know not what honour they do to the devil. For it is Satan, that doth all that plagueth with sickness, that mayneth, Murdereth, and Robbeth, and at his lust restoreth. The Witch beareth the name, but the devil dispatcheth the deeds, without him the Witch can contrive no mischief. He without the Witch can work treason to much, to oft, and to soon. If then by the law of the Lord of life, Witches, and Enchanters, are accounted unworthy to live. If by the law of this Land, they are to be done to death, as Traitors to their Prince, and felons in respect of her highness subjects, whosoever thou be, beware of aiding them, go not with Saul the reprobate to ask counsel of them, neither for Christianity sake, seem to be more slack in a good purpose, than Cicero the Ethnique, who plainly adviseth that Witches Poisoners. etc. are to be rather shut up in prison, and tied with fetters, then moved to amend with counsel, and persuasions, only afterwards suffered to escape whereby they may renew their malicious, and treasonable drifts.   

1579. january the 28. day.  
The true examination and Confession of Elizabeth Stile, alias Rockyngham uttered at the gail of Reading, in the County of Bark▪ immediately after her apprehension in the presence of the persons hereafter mentioned.  
ELiazbeth Style ali. Rockingham, late of Windesore widow, of the age of lxv. years, or there about being apprehended at Windsor afore said, and brought personally before the right worshipful Sir Henry Nevell knight being by him examined, and found by manifest and undeniable proofs of her honest neighbours to be a lewd, malicious, and hurtful woman to the people and inhabitants thereabouts, was thereupon committed to the common gail of Reading, there to remain until the next great Assizes, there to be holden that her offence might be more straightly sifted, and she the offender to receive the guerdon due for her demerits. Wither when she was come, and moved by the Jailer there named Thomas Row to turn herself to God, from whom she had notoriously fallen, and mildly to bear the punishment belonging to her deeds passed, and there withal urged in sign of her repentance, to confess her former follies and facts, she seemed to have some remorse in conscience, and desired to have some talk with the said Thomas row. To whom with one john knight the counsel John Griffeth an Inholder, and one William Printall being all four present she confessed as followeth.  

¶ And first concerning those persons that practise the damnable art of Witchecraft, Sorcery, or enchantment of her own curtain knowledge, and voluntare motion, she uttered to this effect ensuing.  
IN Primis that one father Rosimonde, dwelling in Farneham Parish, being a widower, and also a daughter of his, are both Witches or Enchanters, which Rosimond she saith hath and can transform himself by devilish means, into the shape and likeness of any beast whatsoever he william.  
2 Item, that one Mother Dutten dwelling within one Hoskins in Cleworthe Parish, can tell every one's message, assoon as she seeth them approach near to the place of her abroad, and further, she keepeth a Spirit or Fiend in the likeness of a Toad, and feedeth the same Fiend lying in a border of green Herbs, within her Garden, with blood which she causeth to issue from her own flank.  
3 Item, that one Mother Devil, dwelling nigh the Pond in Windesore aforesaid, being a very poor woman, hath a Spirit in the shape of a Black Cat, and calleth it Gille▪ whereby she is aided in her Witchcraft, and she daily feedeth it with Milk, mingled with her own blood.  
4 Item, that one Mother Margaret dwelling in the Alms house at Windesore, goeth with two Crouches, doth feed a Kitling or Fiend by her named Guinea, with croummes of bread and her own blood.   

¶ And thus far for the touching the persons afore mentioned in general, now resteth her declaration of their detestable drifts, and devices in particular.  
6 Furthermore, she confesseth that when she was apprehended, Mother Margaret came to her and gave her money, charging her in any wise not to detect their secrets, which if she this prisoner did, the said Mother Margarete threatened that she should be hardly entreated.  
7 And moreover, she saith that Father Rosimond, with his daughter, mother Dutten, mother Devil, Mother Margaret, and herself the said Elizabeth Rockingham, did accustom to meet within the backside of Master Dodges in the Pits there, and did in that place conclude upon heinous, and villainous practices, such as by them, or any of them before had been devised, or determined.  
8 Also she saith, and confesseth that they all purposed and agreed, by their Sorceries, and enchantments, to dispatch privily one Lanckforde a farmer, dwelling in Windesore by the Thames side, and that they murdered him accordingly.  
9 They also by their devilish art, killed one Master Gallis, who in times passed, had been Mayor of Windesore.  
10 The like they practised against one of the said Lanckfordes' maids, whom by the m●schevous means above expressed they bereft of life.  
11 Likewise a Butcher named Switcher, escaped not their treachery, but was by their Witchcraft brought to his grave.  
12 Another Butcher named Mastlyn, was by them handled in such sort, that he consumed away.  
13. The manner of their Inchauntement, whereby four of the persons afore named were murdered was thus: Mother Dutten made four pictures of Red Wax, about a span long, and three or four fingers broad for Lanckforde, for his Maid, for Master Gallis, and for Switcher, and the said Mother Dutten, by their counsel and consent, did stick an Hauthorne prick, against the left sides of the breasts of the Images, directly there where they thought the hearts of the persons to be set, whom the same pictures did represent, and thereupon within short space, the said four persons, being suddenly taken, died.  
14 As for Mastlyn the fift man, she confesseth that he was bewitched, but how or whether he died or no she uttreth not.  
15 Further the same Elizabeth saith, that herself did kill one Saddocke with a clap on the shoulder, for not keeping his promiss for an old Cloak, to make her a safeguard, who presently went home and died.  
16 Further she saith, that she and every of them▪ did sure speak one Humphrey Ho●ie and his wife, and one Richard Milles, and one John Mathynglise, that they lay sick in a strange order a long time, but they were recovered again.  
17 Further she saith, that mother Devil did over speak one Wy●●iam Foster a Fisher, and one Willies wife a Baker.  
18 Further she saith, that mother Dutten did give one Picture, but she knoweth not whether it was of a man, or of a woman, and the man that had it of her, she thinketh to be dead, but she knoweth not his name.  
19 Further she saith, that one George Whitting, servant to Matthew Glover of Eton, had one Picture of herself for one Foster, for that the said George and Foster fell out at variance, and the Picture was made in mother Dottens house, and that mother Dutten, Mother Devil, and herself were at the making, and that Mother Devil did say too her Buime, or evil Spirit, Plague him, and spare him not, and she did thrust a Hauthorne prick against the heart of him, and so he lay at the point of death a long time, but Mother Dutten recovered him again.  
20 And in the end, they killed a Cow of his by their Witchcraft.  
21 And further she saith, that they and every of them, if any had angered them, they would go to their Spirits and say, such a one hath angered me, go do them this mischief, and for their hire, would give them a drop of their own blood, and presently the party was plagued by some lamentable casualty.  
22 Elizabeth Style also confesseth, that she herself hath gone to old Windsor, to the bed makers there, to beg a mess of Milk, which she could not have, for that the maid was then Milking, but her Rat had provided for her both Milk and Cream, against her coming home.  
23 Elizabeth Style touched with more remorse saith, that Mother Dutten, & Mother Devil, were her first intisers to folly, and that she and every of them, did meet sometimes in master Dodges Pits, and sometime about a leaven of the Clock in the night at the Pound, and that Mother Dutten, and Mother Devil did persuade her, to do as they had done, in forsaking God and his works, and giving herself to the Devil.  
24 Elizabeth Stile confesseth, herself often times to have gone to Father Rosimond house where she found him sitting in a Wood, not far from thence, under the body of a Tree, sometimes in the shape of an Ape, and otherwhiles like an Horse. She also confesseth herself to have turned a child's hand in Windesor clean backwards, which was returned to the right place by Mother Dutten.  
25 Further she saith, that she will stand unto her death, to all and every Article before rehearsed: and that father Rosimond can transform himself into the likeness of an Ape, or a Horse, and that he can help any man so bewitched to his health again, as well as to bewitch.  
26 Further she saith, that mother Seidre dwelling in the Alms house, was the masters Witch of all the rest, and she is now dead.  
27 Further she saith, that if she had been so disposed, four or five, or more of the best men in Windsor, should not have brought her to the gail, but that she came of her own accord, and by the way as she came with John Brome who brought her to the gail, her Bun or Familiar came to her in the likeness of a black Cat, and would have had her away, but she banished him, hoping for favour.  
Memorandum, that besides the examination, and confession aforesaid, there was given in evidence, viva voce, at the Arraignment of the said Witches, one special matter by an Ostler of Windsor, who affirmed upon his oath that the said Mother Stile using to come to his masters house, had often times relief given her by him. And on a time not long sithence, she coming to his masters house, when there was little left to be given her, for that she came somewhat late, yet he giving her also somewhat at that time, she therewith not contented went her ways in some anger, and as it seemed offended with the said Ostler, for that she had no better Alms, and by the sequel, so it appeared. For not long after, he had a great ache in his limbs, that he was not able to take any rest, nor to do any labour, and having sought many means for remedy thereof, could find none, at the last he went to a Wiseman, named Father Rosimonde, alias Osborne, who told him that he was bewitched, and that there was many ill women in Windsor, and asked him whom he did mistrust, and the said Osteler answered one Mother Style, one of the Witches aforesaid: well said the Wiseman, if you can meet her, and all to scratch her, so that you draw blood of her, you shall presently mend. And the said Osteler upon his oath declared, that he watching her on a time, did all too scratch her by the face, that he made the blood come after, & presently his pain went away, so that he hath been no more grieved sithence.  
Moreover, on a time a man's Son of Windsor, coming to fetch water at a well which was by the door of the said Mother Stile, and by chance hurling a s●one upon her house, she was there withal much grieved and said, she would be even with him, and took his Pitcher which he had brought from him: the boy going home wards, happened to meet with his father, and told him how that Mother Stile had taken away his Pitcher from him, well said his Father, you have done her some unhappiness, come on with me, and I will go speak with her. And so the boy going with his Father towards her house, did suddenly cry out: O my hand my hand, his father there withal looking back, and seeing his Sons' hand to turn, and wend backwards, laid hold thereupon, but he was not able to stay the turning thereof, besides a neighbour of his being in his company at that time, did also lay hold thereon, and notwithstanding both their strengths, the child's hand did turn backwards, and the palm thereof did stand, where the back did, to the grievous torment of the said child, and vexation of his Father: The which hand was turned again to his right place, either by the said father Rosimond, or the said Mother Devil.  
Also this is not to be forgotten, that the said Mother Stile, being at the time of her apprehension▪ so well in health of body and limbs, that she was able, and did go on foot, from Windsor unto Reading unto the gail, which are twelve miles distant. Shortly after that she had made the aforesaid confession, the other Witches were apprehended, and were brought to the said gail, the said Mother Devil did so bewitch her and others (as she confessed unto the jailer) with her enchantments, that the use of all her simmes and senses, were taken quite from her, and her Toes did rot of her feet, and she was laid upon a barrow, as a most ugly creature to behold, and so brought before the judges, at such time as she was arraigned.   
Finis.