¶ The Apprehension and confession of three notorious Witches.  
arraigned and by justice condemned and executed at Chelmes-forde, in the county of Essex, the 5. day of july, last passed. 1589.  
¶ With the manner of their devilish practices and keeping of their spirits, whose forms are herein truly proportioned.   

To the Reader.  
IF we would call to remembrance the manifold mercies and innumerable benefits which the Almighty hath and daily bestoweth upon us, in consideration thereof, we are bound to withdraw our filthy affections and naughty dispositions, from the use of such detestable dealings, as both are detested of God, whose almighty commandments forbiddeth them, and unto man, whose laws are constituted to punish them as odious before the sight of God, whereon our earthly laws groundeth and consisteth, and therefore used to punish or cut of such lewd or filthy offenders as by breaking the divine decrees of the Almighty, by the laws of man deserves to be condemned: But such is the blindness of our estate, the naughtiness of our affections, and the desire of our devilish appetites, that neither the commandments of God, the laws of our Realm, the love of our neighbours, our own welfare, or the fall of others can or may move us to consider how profitable it were for us to examine our lives, and to blemish such vices in us as both the laws of God and man forbiddeth: For what can be more odious or abominable unto God than the deprivation of his divine power, by yielding ourselves seruiles unto sathan for a little worldly wealth, or hatred we have to our neighbours, where we might rest the servants, nay the Sons of Almighty God, who sent his only Son to redeem us from the servitude of bondage, and to bring us unto his bliss and eternal felicity, which shall evermore remain perfect, which if we would consider, what christian is so blinded with ignorance or overcome with the illusions of Satan, but he would tremble to think upon the judgements of the Almighty pronounced against such offenders, or the laws of the Realm, which by justice decideth them from their devilish practices and abominations? the glory whereof, although it be secretly concealed and used, yet can it not long continue, because the Almighty will be no partaker of any such dealings, nor the heart of any faithful Christian conceal the secrets thereof: which for example I have here published unto you the discourse of such devilish practices as have been used by notorious Witches, whose names and actions I have severally touched in the treatise following: with the manner of their accusations, taken and approved before both honourable and worshipful her majesties justices, at the last Assizes holden at Chelmesford in the County of Essex, according to the copies both of the offenders confession by examination: and their accusations registered.   

The arraignment and execution of joan Coney of Stysted in the county of Essex widow, of the age of fourscore years, or thereabouts, who was brought before Anthony Mildemay Esquire, the last day of March. 1589.  
IN primis, 
This witch had nine Spirits 1. of them were like unto a black dog, having the faces of a Toad.  this examinate saith and confesseth, that she hath knowledge and can do the most detestable Art of Witchecraft, and that she learned this her knowledge in the same, of one mother Humfrye of Maplested, who told her that she must kneel down upon her knees, and make a Circle on the ground, and pray unto Satan the chief of the Devils, the form of which prayer that she then taught her, 
These spirits belonging to this witch, did suck commonly upon a sore leg which this mother Cunney had.  this examinate hath now forgotten, and that then the Spirits would come unto her, the which she put in practice about twenty years since, in the Field of john Wiseman of Stysted Gentleman, called Cowfenne field, and there making a Circle as she was taught, and kneeling on her knees, said the prayer now forgotten, and invocating upon Satan: Two Spirits did appear unto her within the said Circle, in the similitude and likeness of two black Frogs, 
She had four principal fpirits. The first was jack. The second was Iyll. The third was Nicholas. The fourth was Ned.  and there demanded of her what she would have, being ready to do for her what she would desire, so that she would promise to give them her soul for their travail, for otherwise: they would do nothing for her. Whereupon she did promise them her soul, and then they concluded with her so to do for her, what she would require, and gave themselves several names, that is to say, the one jack, and the other jill, by the which names she did always after call them. And then taking them up, she carried them home in her lap and put them in a Box and gave them white bread and milk. 
jack killed mankind. Iyll killed womenkind. Nicholas killed horses. Ned killed cattle.   
And within one month after she sent them to milk Hurrelles Beasts, which they did, and they would bring milk for their own eating and not for her.  
And further, she saith that her spirits never changed their colour since they first came unto her, and that they would familiarly talk with her, when she had any thing to say or do with them in her own language. 
Note how God's spirit confoundeth the imps of wickedness.   
And likewise she confesseth that she sent her said spirits to hurt the wife of john Sparrow the elder, of Stysted, which they did, and also that where Master john Glascock of Stysted, aforesaid: had a great stack of Logs in his yard, she by her said Spirits did overthrow them.  
And further, faith that she hath hurt divers persons within this sixteen or twenty years, but how many she now knoweth not.  
Furthermore, she confesseth that she sent her spirits unto William Unglee of Stysted Miller, and because they could not hurt him, she sent them to hurt one Barnaby Griffyn his man, which they did. Likewise she confesseth, that she sent her said spirits, to hurt Master Kitchen Minister of the said town, and also unto one George Coe of the said town shoemaker, to hurt him likewise: but they could not, and the cause why they could not, as the said spirits told her, was because they had at their coming a strong faith in God, and had invocated and called upon him, that they could do them no harm.  
And further she saith, that Margaret Coney her Daughter, did fall out with Father Hurrill, and gave him cucsed speeches, and thereupon, she thinketh she sent her spirits to her.  
Also she doth utteriye deny that she sent her said spirits to Finches wife, Devenishes wife, and Renold Ferror or any of them to hurt them.  
And being further examined, she confesseth that although her said spirits at some time can have no power to hurt men, yet they may have power to hurt their cattle.  
This joane Coney, living very lewdly, having two lewd Daughters, no better then naughty packs, had two Bastard Children: being both boys, these two Children were chief witnesses, and gave in great evidence against their Grandam and Mothers, the eldest being about 10. or 12. years of age.  
Against this Mother Cunney the elder Boy gave in this evideoce which she herself after confessed, that she going to Braintye Market, came to one Harry Finches house, to demand some drink, his wife being busy and a brewing, told her she had no leisure to give her any. Then joane Cunnye went away discontented: and at night Finches wife was grievously taken in her head, and the next day in her side, and so continued in most horrible pain for the space of a week, and then died.  
Mother Cunnye confessed that she sent her spirit jill to torment her.  
The same boy confessed that he was commanded by his Grandmother to fetch a burden of wood, which he gathered, but another boy stole it from him, and he came home without: and told his Grandam: and she commanded her spirit to prick the same boy in the foot▪ which was done▪ and the same boy came to the bar lame and gave evidence against her.  
Again the same boy confessed that his Grandam when he had lost his wood, said she would have wood enough: and bade him go into Sir Edward Huddlestones ground being high Sheriff of the sheer, and to take with him jack the spirit, and so he did, who went unseen to any body but to the boy, and when they came to a mighty Oke-tree, the spirit went about it, and presently the Tree blew up by the roots: and no wind at all stirring at this time: which Master high Sheriff acknowledged to be blown down in a great calm.   

¶ The confession of joan Vpney of Dagenham, in the county of Essex, who was brought before Sir henry Grace Knight, the third of May. 1589.  
THis examinate saith, that one Fustian Kirtle, otherwise called White-cote, a witch of Barking, came to her house about seven or eight years ago, and gave her a thing like a Moule, and told her if she ought any body any ill will, if she did bid it, it would go clap them.  
She saith that Moule tarried not above a year with her, but it consumed away, and then she gave her another Moule and a Toad, which she kept a great while, and was never without some Toads since till her last going away from her house, when she confesseth she ran away, because she heard john Harrolde and Richard Foster say she was a witch, and urch other words.  
She saith, that one day another Toad went over her threshold as Richard Foster's wife was coming that way, and it went and pinched her, and never returned again.  
Other two Toads she left at home, when she ran away, but they consumed away.  
She saith that her eldest Daughter would never abide to meddle with her Toads, but her youngest daughter would handle them, and use them as well as herself.   

The examination of joan Apprentice, one of the women of the Alms house of Hinningham Sibble, within the said County: being taken the 29. of March, in the 31. year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth.  
Item, the said examinate saith further, that about one month after, the said Ferret came again unto her in the night time as she was sitting upon a little stool, preparing herself to bedward, as is above said: joan wilt thou go to bed, to whom she answered yea that I will by God's grace, then presently the Ferret leapt up upon her lap, and from thence up to her bosom, and laying his former feet upon her left shoulder, sucked blood out of her left cheek, and then he said unto her, joan if thou will have me do any thing for thee, I am and willbe always ready at thy commandment, and thereupon she being a little before fallen out with William adam's his wife of Hinningham Sibble aforesaid: willed the Ferret to spoil her drink which was then in brewing, which he did accordingly.  
Item, the said examinate furthermore saith and confesseth, that the said Ferret divers times after appeared unto her always at the time when she was going to bed, and the last time he appeared unto her was about seven weeks last passed, at which time she going to bed, the Ferret leapt upon her left shoulder, and sucked blood out of her left cheek, and that done: he demanded of her what she had for him to do? To whom she answered, go unto Master Glascocks' house, and nip one of his Children a little, named Sara, but hurt it not, and the next night he resorted unto her again, and told her that he had done as she willed him: namely, that he had nipped Sara Glascock, and that she should die thereof, to whom she answered and said, thou villain what hast thou done, I bid thee to nip it but a little and not to hurt it, and hast thou killed the child? which speech being uttered, the Ferret vanished away suddenly, and never came to her sithence.  
Item, she affirmeth, that the occasion why she did will her Ferret to nip the said child, was for that she being the day before at the house of the said Master Glascok, to beg his alms, answer was made to her by one of his maiden servants, that both her Master and Mistress were from home, and therefore desired her to be contented for that time, and thereupon the examinate departed greatly discontented, and that night sent her Ferret to nip the child as is abovesaid.  
Item, she saith and affirmeth, that at what time soever she would have her Ferret do any thing for her, she used these words, Bid, Bid, Bid, come Bid, come bid, come bid, come suck, come suck, come suck, and that presently he would appear as is aforesaid: and sucked blood out of her left cheek, and thenperfourmed any mischief she willed or wished him to do for her unto or against any of her neighbours.  
Lastly the said examinate saith, and confesseth, that one Elizabeth Whale, the wife of Michael Whale of Henningham Sibble aforesaid labourer, and Elizabeth Mott, the wife of john Mot of the said Town Cobbler, are as well acquainted with her Bid as herself is, but knoweth not what hurt they or any of them have done to any of their neighbours.  
WHen their inditements were read, and their examinations also, they stood upon their terms, to prolong life: yet to make the matters more apparent, sundry witnesses were produced to give evidence against them▪ and first the judge of the circuit very wisely with a great foresight, called in the two Bastard Children before mentioned, and contended them greatly for telling the truth of that which he should ask them, concerning their Grandam and their mothers, which they did, and having said what they could, together with the depositions of sundry other witnesses, they having confessed sufficient matter to prove the inditements. The jury found these bad women guilty and that they had slain Men, women, and Children, And committed very wicked and horrible actions, divers and sundry times, and thereupon, the judge proceeded, and pronounced the sentence of death against them, as worthily they had deserved.  
After they had received their judgements, they were conveyed from the Bar back again to Prison, where they had not stayed above two hours, but the officers prepared themselves to conduct them to the place of execution: to which place they led them, and being come thither, one Master Ward a learned divine, being desired by the justices, did exhort these wicked women to repentance, And persuaded them that they would show unto the people the truth of their wickedness, and to call upon God for mercy with penitent hearts. And to ask pardon at his hands for the same: some few prayers they said after the preacher, but little else: more than this, that they had deserved to die, in committing those wicked sins: and so took their deaths patiently.  
Note, that Mother Upney being inwardly pricked and having some inward feeling in conscience cried out saying: that she had grievously sinned, that the devil had deceived her, the devil had deceived her, and that she had twice given her soul to the Devil, yet by the means of God's spirit working in her, and the pains which Master ward took with her, she seemed very sorry for the same, and died very penitent, ask God & the world forgiveness, even to the last gasp, for her wicked and detestable life.  
FSNIS.