RELATION OF The most Remarkable Proceedings at the late ASSIZES AT Northampton. Containing Truly and Fully, The Trials, Confessions, and Execution Of a Most Mischievous Witch, Of a Notorious High-way-man, Of a Barbarous Murderess. The First being Mary Forster, who by witchcraft destroyed above 30 Sheep belonging to one joseph Weedon, and afterwards burned to the ground his Dwellinghouse, and Two Large-Barns, full of Corn and Hay: To his Damage above 3●0l. With her Confession of the Fact, how, and why she did it: and ask him forgiveness for the same. And a Wonderful Experiment of her Devilish Skill showed in the Goal, after she was Condemned. The Second a High-way-man, who had been 14 times in Goal, and before his Death discovered several others. The Third a Young Wench that Killed her Child, with the Strange Means how the same was Discovered, and her Penitent Behaviour at the Execution. Who all suffered at Northampton aforesaid, Saturday, Aug. 22. 1674.  
Printed for Nathaniel Sav●gds.   

NEWS FROM Northampton Assizes, OF Witchcraft, Robbery on the Highway, and Murder, &c,  
THe Assizes being holden at the Town of Northampton, for that County, on the 18th. of August, Instant, Amongst other Criminals there brought to their several Trials, one Mary Forster was indicted for Witchcraft, and also for Felony, upon the statute against burning of Houses, her case after a long debate, and full hearing of Evidence appeared to be thus.  
This Woman aged somewhat above fifty years, lately lived at a place called Estoat near Fostersbooth in Northamptonshire, being Wife to an Honest poor Man there, by profession a Translator, or mender of Shoes; near unto her lived one Joseph Weedon, a Farmer of good ability or repute, being generally respected and beloved as well as most in the Country. It happened that last Spring this Man keeping a considerable stock of Sheep several of them were drooping, and like to die as 'tis supposed of the rot, but being willing to make what might be of them, he caused them to be killed in time, and several poor people for cheapness were very glad to be his Customers for his Mutton; amongst the rest this Gammer Forster came for a Quarter of it, but would give but Twelvepences for that which he asked Fourteen-pences for, or he would not let her have that part which she desired, so that they did not agree, but she went muttering away, being heard to say these Words. You had been better let me have it, for you shall have more Mutton shortly lie upon your hands then you know what to do with.  
And accordingly the next morning he found no less than seven of the best and soundest Sheep he had lying in a miserable condition, with all their Legs broken to pieces in several places, the next night more were served in the same manner, and the Night after that still more; so that in four or five night's space he had above thirty good Sheep thus strangely destroyed: Whereupon he was advised by some that suspected it to be done by Witchcraft, to take one of these Sheep whose bones were so broken, and shattered whilst it was alive, and burn, for that (according to their tradition) would make the Witch come to the place, that so they might know who was the Author of the Mischief; this is most certain whilst the Sheep was burning, this Gammer Forster (though it is not known or believed she had any business there or that way) came up to the fire, and asked them what they were doing, which the remembrance of her former threatening words, confirming the Farmer in his suspicions of her, he (according to another old observation) endeavoured to draw blood of her by scratching her, but finding his nails not sharp enough for that service, he in his passion cut her over the hand with his knife, and thereby made a small wound, which for want of looking after in few days rankled, and she threatened to sue him for the damage; whereupon he agreed to give her twenty shillings, which she had no sooner received, but she boasted amongst the Neighbourhood, that it was the devil in her shape that received it of Weedon, and that now she had thereby power to do him further mischief, which about two days after she put in Execution, one of his Barns which stood some distance from his House, and was full of Hay, being on a sudden set on fire, although there was no fire known to be near it before, but being timely discovered and the Neighbours called in was for the present quenched, but two days though it were kept watched by several persons, it was no body could imagine how set on fire again and burnt down to the ground.  
Some time after this he had another greater Barn nearer to his house, and full of Corn, set on fire several times, and put out as often, keeping above twenty persons continually to watch it, and fearing that his house might be set on fire suddenly to the danger of their lives, he removed with his Family to another House, and continued out of it above three weeks, during which time there was no firing or disturbance, so that he hoping the danger passed returned, but the fourth day afterwards this great Barn was again set on fire so furiously that there was no stopping of it, but it caught hold of the dwelling house too, and burned them down to the ground, with the most part of his Toe, the poor Man's damage above three hundred pounds, besides his disappointment of an Habitation, etc.  
In the mean time this Woman being violently suspected was several times examined before a Justice of the peace, but would at first confess nothing: however she was ordered to be searched by a Jury of Women, who affirmed that she had five several strange and unusual excrescencies which appeared exactly like a Sow's Teats, and seemed to be usually sucked by something.  
Being carried again before the justice, after a long Examination she did confess, that she fired the aforesaid Barn, and being asked how, she replied that she lighted Touchwood, and the Devil carried her▪ up by the Arms to the top of the Roof, and there with her Touchwood she set fire in the Thatch, she likewise did acknowledge that she destroyed his Sheep, and that she had several Confederates hereabouts, but refused to discover any of them. Hereupon she was committed to Northampton Goal, where Mr. Weedon several times visited her, to whom she acknowledged the injury she had done him, that it was in revenge not only for refusing to let her have the Mutton, but for denying her another thing another time, saying he had none of it, however she desired his forgiveness, etc.  
At her trial she said little, but denied her being a Witch, yet seemed to confess that she had done what she stood charged with▪ whereupon, and on her former confession she was condemned to be hanged, though she most desired to be burnt, alleging that if she were not, there would more prejudice happen to Mr. Weedon, who replied, that he pitied her condition, she must suffer as the Law▪ had ordered, and for his own part he would put his trust in God, whom he hoped would keep him against the malice of Hell.  
After Sentence a Citizen of London being there went out of curiosity to visit her as scarce believing any such thing as Witches in nature, after much discourse he desired her to show him some trick, or experiment of her skill, which at last she condescended, bidding him get a large Basin, but be sure not wet it, he going out wets a basin on purpose, & wiping it dry again, brings it, she gets in it standing upright, & after the muttering a few unknown words, was carried several times round the room, & at last up the chimney, but being about half way up, the basin fell down, and she after it without hurt, but scolded at the Gentleman for wetting it, saying that otherwise she had got clear out of the chimney.  
At the Place of Execution she would not speak a word, save only to desire that her hands might not be Tied, and so she wretchedly finished her life.  
The Second that was executed, was a person that went by several Names, he had several Indictments against him, for Robing on the Highway, on which he was Convicted by evident Proof. He confessed he had been Fourteen times in Goal, and after the Sentence upon Private Examination, 'tis said he discovered several other High-way-men. At his Death he seemed very penitent, and declared that what Confession he had before made in private, was true in all respects.  
The Third was a Young Wench that being new come to a Service, one day as her Dame and she were washing a Buck, complained very much of her being Ill, and the cupon went up into a Chamber to Lie down, where she was delivered of a Bastard Child, which she pretended was still Born, but however, the Law makes it Death in such case, to go about to conceal it, which she did by wraping it up in her Apron, and flinging it up over the Bedsteaster, which was not done so cunningly, but that she left the Apronstrings hanging down, which her Dame afterwards coming up to see her, observing, and thinking it had been a fowl Apron accidentally escaped the Wash▪ pulled it down, and therein, to her great amazement, found the Murdered Infant.  
This Girl seemed seriously to repent her of this abominable Wickedness, but when she came to the place of Execution, was not easily persuaded to forgive one Lolomon that was appointed for the Executioner, alleging a Vow that he had made to her, being before her fellow Prisoner, not to do it: but at last she was prevailed with, and did freely forgie him, and so suffered according to Sentence.  
FINIS.