A Detection of damnable drifts, practised by three Witches arraigned at Chelmisforde in Essex, at the last Assizes there holden, which were executed in April. 1579.  
Set forth to discover the Ambushementes of Satan, whereby he would surprise us lulled in security, and hardened with contempt of God's vengeance threatened for our offences.   

To the Reader.  
ACcept this pamphlet (Christian Reader) view, and peruse it with discretion, and hedefulnesse. Not trifles are therein contained worthy to be contemned, nor pernicious fantasies deserving to be condemned. But contrariwise in this pretty plot may wholesome herbs of admonitions for the unwary, and careless, and soot flowers to recreate the wearied senses, be gathered. For on th'one side the clear sight may espy the ambushmentes, which Satan the secret workmaster of wicked drifts, hath placed in most parts of this realm, either by crafty conveyances, to creep into the conceits of the simple, or by apparent treachery to undermine and spoil the states of such as God permitteth him to have power over. And on the other side the eye that is wimpled, may hereby be advertised of the darkness, wherewith his understanding is overcast, and putting of the veil of vanity, may reclaim his concept, and esteem of the impiety of the offenders and villainy of their acts, according to the word of God, and weightiness of the case. And if in time past he hath escaped their Sorceries, let him not the less fear the harms that may hereafter ensue. For the Devil by the sufferance of almighty God, is as well able to plague the person, that most presumeth of safety, as any have been who in this treatise are mentioned. Some with much ado can be awaked out of their drowsy dreams, though they be told that their neighbour's house is on fire. But when their own walls are invaded with like flames, they shall find that it had been better to have come an hour too soon, to quench those foreign fires, then to have risen one minute too late to extinguish the same, creeping into their own chambers. If therefore thou be assured that thy neighbour, either in body, family, or goods is impaired by damnable witchcraft, or perceivest by information, or other wise aught of such devices, intended to be practised, or likely presumption of such devilish deeds contrived, for Charity to thy Christian brother, and tender regard of thine own state, prevent or stop the mischief by all possible means. And for thine own part with prayer, and assured faith in the merits of Christ jesus shield thyself, so shall neither the Devil nor his Angels have power, over thee, or thine.  
Farewell.   

¶ The Confession of Elizabeth Frances, late of Hatfeelde in Essex.  
2 Item this Elizabeth Frances saith further, that she knoweth one Elizabeth Lord awidowe, dwelling in the same parish of Hatfielde and so hath done of long time, of whom she hard, that about seven or eight years paste she brought drink in a crewse, and gave it to one John France's servant to goodman Some of the same parish, shortly after the taking of which drink he sickened, and died.  
3 Item she further confesseth that she likewise knoweth that the same Widow Lord, was said to have bewitched one jone Robertes, servant to old Higham, in a piece of an Apple cake which she gave her, upon the eating whereof she presently sickened, and not long after died.  
4 Item she also confesseth, that she knows one Mother Osborne, a Widow in the same town to be a witch, and that she hath a mark in the end of one of her fingers like a pit, and an other mark upon the outside of her right leg, which she thinketh to be plucked out by her Spirit: and that one Mother Waterhouse her own sister (long since executed for Witch craft) had the self same marks, whithe she termeth (nips) and she saith that this Mother Osborne lying lame, and complaining of her sore leg, she the said Elizabeth Frances came unto her, and required to see her leg, which being showed unto her, she the said Elizabeth bad to pnt it into the bed again, saying: that she herself knew that the same came, by want of well serving of God. And thus much for Elizabeth Frances.   

¶ The Evidence given against Elleine Smithe of Maldon.  
THere was one John Chaundeler dwelling in Maldon, whose wife named Alice Chaundeler, was mother unto this Elleine Smithe, and for Witchcraft was executed long before, after whose execution he went unto his daughter in law Ellein Smithe, and demanded certain money of her, which she had received of her mother his wife, by means of which money they fell out, and in falling out the said Elleine in great rage said unto him, that it had been better for him, he had never fallen out with her, and so it came to pass, for the same John Chaundeler confessed before his death, that after the same hour that she had said so unto him, he never eat any meat that digested in him, but ever it came up again as soon as it was done, by which means he consumed, and wasted away to his death.  
2 The son of the foresaid Ellen Smithe, of the age of thirteen years, or there abouts, came to the house of one John Estwood of Malden, for to beg an almose, who chid the boy away from his door, whereupon he went home and told his mother, and within a while after the said Estwood was taken with very great pain in his body, and the same night following, as he sat by the fire with one of his neighbours, to their thinking they did see a Rat run up the Chimney, and presently it did fall down again in the likeness of a Toad, and taking it up with the tongges, they thrust it into the fire, and so held it in Forcesibly, it made the fire burn as blue as Azure, and the fire was almost out, and at the burning thereof the said Ellen Smithe was in great pain and out of quiet, whereupon dissemblyngly she came to the house of the foresaid John Estwood, and asked how all that were there did, and he said well I thank God, and she said, I thought you had not been well, and therefore I came to see how you did, and so went her way.  
3 Also it was avouched, and by this prisoner confessed, that where as her daughter, and the daughter of one Widow Webbe of Maldon afore said, did fall out and fight, the same Ellein Smithe offended thereat, meeting good wife Webs daughter the next day, gave her a blow on the face, whereupon so soon as the child came home she sickened, and languishing two days, cried continually, away with the Witch, away with the Witch, and so died. And in the morning immediately after the death of the same child, the said good wife Webbe espied (as she thought) a thing like to a black Dog go out at her door, and presently at the sight thereof, she fell distraught of her wits.  
4 Besides the son of this Mother Smith, confessed that his mother did keep three Spirits, whereof the one called by her great Dick, was enclosed in a wicker Bottle: The second named Little Dick, was put into a Leather Bottle: And the third termed Willet, she kept in a wool Pack. And thereupon the house was commanded to be searched. The Bottles and pack were found, but the Spirits were vanished away.   

¶ The effect of the Evidence against Mother Staunton, late of Wimbishe in Essex, who was arraigned, but not executed, for that no manslaughter, or murder was objected against her.  
IMprimis, this Mother Staunton, late of the parish of Wimbishe in Essex, came to the house of one Thomas Prat of Broke Walden, Thou Farrour of Libleburie being present, and one Thomas Swallow, and the said Mother Staunton, being demanded by one of them how she did, she answered, that a knave had beaten her: saying she was a Witch, than said he again, in good faith Mother Staunton, I think you be no Witch, no Master qd she, I am none in deed, although I can tell what belongeth to that practice, of which words, the goodman of the house took witness of the aforenamed parties, and delivered a bill subscribed mith their hands thereof, to Master George Nicolles.  
2 Item, the said Mother Staunton came to his house an other time, and after certain words of anger between him and her, he razed her face with a Needle, what quoth she, have you a Flea there: and the next night after, the said Pratte was so grievously taken with torment of his Limbs, that he never thought to have lived one hour longer, which also was subscribed and sent.  
3 Item, she came the third time by his boar with Grains, and he demanding a few of her, she asked what he would do with them, I will give them, said he, to my Chickens, and snatching a handful from her, did so. But after they had tasted of them, three or four dozen of them died, and only one Chicken escaped of them all.  
4 Item, she came on a time to the house of one Richard Saunder of Brokewalden, and being denied Yeest, which she required of his wife, she went her way murmuring, as offended with her answer, and after her departure, her young child in the Cradle was taken vehemently sick, in a marvelous strange manner, whereupon the mother of the child took it up in her arms to comfort it, which being done, the Cradle rocked of itself, six or seven times, in presence of one of the Earl of Surreis' gentlemen, who seeing it stabbed his dagger three or four times into the Cradle ere it stayed: Merrily jesting and saying, that he would kill the Devil, if he would be rocked there.  
5 Item, the said Mother Staunton, came on a time to the house of one Robart Petty of Brookewalden, and being denied by his wife diverse things, which she demanded at once, and also charged with the stealing of a Knife from thence, she went her way in great anger, and presently after her departure, the little child of the said Petie fell so strangely sick as for the space of a Week, as no body thought it would live.  
6 Item, the said Stauntons' wife, came also to one William Corners house of Brokewalden upon a friday, as she had done often in times passed, and being denied of certain things which she craved, as a piece of Leather etc. she asked the good wife how many children she had, who answered one, which child being then in perfit health, was presently taken with such a sweat and coldness of body, and fell into such shricking and staring, wring and writhing of the body to and fro, that all that saw it, were doubtful of the life of it.  
7 Item, she came on a time to the house of Robart cornel of Suersem, and craved a Bottle of Milk of his wife, but being denied it, she departed for a little while, leaving her own Bottle behind her, and took an other with her, that belonged to the afore said cornel, after three days she came again, and requested her own Bottle, and restored the other, craving Milk as before, the wife of the house always suspecting her to be a Witch denied her request, and barred the doors against her, whereupon she sat down upon her heels before the door, and made a Circle upon the ground with a knife. After that she digged it full of holes with in the compass, in the sight of the said wife, her man, and her maid, who demanding why she did so? She made answer, that she made a shiting house for herself after that sort, and so departed, the next day the wife coming out at the same door, was taken sick, and began to swell from time to time, as if she had been with child, by which swelling she came so great in body, as she feared she should burst: and to this day is not restored to health.  
8 Item, she came often to the house of one John Hopwood of Walden, and had continaally her requests, at the last being denied of a Leathern thong, she went her way offended and the same night his Gelding in the stable, being the day before in very good case, died suddenly, and afterward being burdeined with all, she never denied it.  
Item, she coming to the house of John cornel the younger of Wimbishe, and being denied her demand, she took offence, and immediately after his cattle in steed of sweet Milk, yielded gore stinking blood, and one of his Cows fell into such miserable plight, that for a certain space, he could by no means recover her.  
Item, she came on a time to the vicars house at Wimbishe, and being denied her errand by his wife (he being as then from home) his little son in the Nurse's lap was taken with such vehement sickness, that the beholders supposed no less, but it would strait have died, the said Mother Staunton sitting by, and having touched the child before it grew sick: but within one hour after the vicar came home the child recovered perfectly, and played as before.  
Item, also she came on a time to the house of one Rohart Lathburie, of the same Town, who disliking her dealing, sent her home empty, but presently after her departure, his Hogs fell sick and died, to the number of twenty, and in the end he burned one, whereby as he thinketh, he saved the rest: He also had a Cow strangely cast into a narrow gripe, and being holpen out in the presence of master Henry Mordaunt, notwithstanding the diligent care that was takn of her, she was in few days three times like to be lost in the mite. And thus much for Mother Staunton.   

¶ The effect of the Evidence given in against Mother Nokes late of Lamberd Parish in Essex.  
A Certain Servant to Thomas Spycer of Lamberd End in Essex yeoman, sporting, and passing away the time in play with a great number of youth, chanced to snatch a pair of Gloves out of the pockette of this Mother Nokes Daughter being a young woman of the age of xxviij years, which he protesteth to have done in jest. Her Mother perceiving it, demanded the Gloves of him, but he giving no great ear to her words departed towards the fields to fetch home certain cattle. Immediately upon his departure quoth the same Mother Nokes to her Daughter, let him alone, I will bounce him well enough, at what time he being soudainely taken, and reft of his limbs cell down. There was a boy then in his company by whom he sent the Gloves to Mother Nokes. Notwithstanding his Master was feign to 'cause him to be set home in a Wheel barrow, and to be laid into a bed, where with his legs a cross he lay beddred eight days, and as yet hath not attained to the right use of his limbs.  
Further it was avouched that mother Nokes had said that her husband lay with one Tailors wife of Lamberd End, and with reproachful words reviled her saying at last; thou hast a Nurse child but thou shalt not keep it long, and presently thereupon the Child died.  
Another affirmed, that when he had reproved the said Tailors wife, and Mother Nokes as they were at Church, and willed them to agreed better, the same Mother Nokes in a fume answereth that she cared for none of them all, as long as Tom held on her side, meaning her Fiend.  
The same man having a servant of his at Plough, this Mother Nokes going by, asked the fellow a question but getting no answer of him she went her way. Forthwith one of his horses fell down. At his coming home to dy●●er, he told his Master how the same horse was swollen about the head. His Master at first supposing that it came by a stripe, was greatly offended at the ploughman, but afterwards understanding of Mother Nokes going by, and the circumstance afore mentioned, went to the said Mother Nokes and chid and threatened to have her to her answer, howbeit the Horse died.  
FINIS.