THE devil's delusions OR A faithful relation of John Palmer and Elizabeth Knott two notorious witches lately condemned at the Sessions of Oyer and Terminer in St. Albans.  
Together with the Confession of the aforesaid John Palmer and Elizabeth-Knott, executed July 16.  
Also their accusations of several witches in Hitchen, Norton, and other places in the County of Hartford.  
LONDON, Printed for Richard William's Stationer at St. Albans, Anno Dom. 1649.   

A Letter sent from S. Albans to a friend in the Country concerning the trial, condemning and execution of J. Palmer & Elizabeth Knott, two notorious Witches.  
SIR,  
ACcording to your earnest desire, I have taken the best care I could to satisfy you, concerning the Witches lately tried, condemned, and executed at St. Albans: It had been very difficult to convince me of that which I find true, concerning the wiles of that old Serpent the devil, for the supporting of his dark dominions, which appears in the subtle trade he drives for the enlarging of his territories; by strengthening of himself upon the weakness of his subjects, relapsed men and women.  
I shall the more clearly give you to understand what you desire concerning these two, by name, John Palmer and Elizabeth Knott of Norton, within the Liberty of St. Albans, if you please to pardon the method whereunto I shall reduce the several kinds of Witches.  
First I find that man at his best estate was created with excellent beauty of knowledge in his mind, which his own unhappy mutability together with the devil's suggestion, hath folded up in darkness and obscurity; whereupon being impatient to be cooped up within the narrow scantling of his own intellectuals, I see him very busy with the devil; and rather than keep his station, he will make trial what the devil can do for his advancement in knowledge: I find those that dealt with curious arts in Acts 19 19 fitly comprehended under this kind: I know not whether to reduce Marsh of Dunstable, whom Palmer confesseth to be the head of the whole college of Witches, that he knows in the world: This Palmer hath been a Witch these 60 years, (by his own confession) long enough to know and give in the total sum of all the Conjuring conclave, and the society of Witches in England. This Marsh hath so long gratified the Country people with his Conjurations, that time and ignorance styles him a good Witch, or a white Witch; I suppose you easily grant that the devil is never blacker, and more to be abhorred then when he transforms himself into an Angel of Light. Sr. I easily believe that if Marsh was brought to his trial, he might confess as much of his brother lily, as Palmer hath of him, that impudent Prognosticator, and bold Balaam.  
This I conceive to be one occasion to the god of this world, in tempting and deluding those who are led captive by him, namely an inordinate desire to know more than his maker hath thought fit for him to know.  
Secondly I find an other occasion whereupon the devil offers his service so officiously, which is envy, who seeing a predominancy in the irascible faculty, he is never behindhand in the proffering his service for the attempting what ever he temp● them to▪ I find Manasses the King, by the piously learned to be reckoned under this kind, concerning whom 'tis said, 2 Chron. 33. 6. That he used enchantments, and de●●●t with a familiar spirit, and not long after we find that he made Jerusalem to run down with blood from one end to another, as an effect of his envious disposition: Yet vers. 12, 13. The father of mercies was entreated of him, upon his humiliation and repentance.  
By the plain confession of Palmer it may certainly be guessed that the devil took advantage of him i● this breach, and brought him into ● upon this ground; in as much as he was (as he said) of a fretful and revengeful nature, and not being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himself to aveng himself of his adversaries he 〈◊〉 joined himself to the devil, and wrought 〈…〉 in the eyes of the Lord: upon his 〈…〉 with the devil, he received a 〈…〉 side, which gave suck to two familiars 〈…〉 form of a dog▪ which he called George, and the oth●r in the likeness of a woman called Jezabell, when the Devil first made this mark he drew his blood and caused him to write his mark upon the ground with his own hand therewith; his trading in this horrid and abominable practice of Witchcraft was (as he confessed) betwixt the space of 50 and 60 years, the hurt which from time to time he had done was very much▪ and this I account his prime prank that he notoriously seduced Elizabeth Knott his kinswoman, to consort with him in his villainy who hath assented to him more especially in the death of one Goodwife Pearls of Norton, whom Palmer said he would do nothing to occasion her death unless this Elizabeth Knott would assent: whereupon they presently agreed to frame the picture of the woman (Pearls) in clay, which was forthwith laid upon the fire, and duly raked up in the embers; while it was consuming and mouldering away the woman lay in miserable torments, when it was quite consumed the woman immediately died: and this he confessed to be done by him, and his kinswoman out of revenge which he ought her, for hanging a lock upon his door, for the not paying of his rent: At another time to satisfy his revengeful humour he killed an horse of Mr. Cleavers by sending his familiar: and this Elizabeth Knott bewitched a Cow of John Lamans▪ by sending an evil spirit unto her, which was in the likeness of a cat, but had no hand in the death of any thing, save the death of Goodwife Pearls. The familiar which she entertained came to her about three weeks before the said Cow was bewitched at twelve of the Clock in the night, and the familiar promised her, that she should have her desire in any thing she would desire, except money: and the reason why she bewitched the Cow of William Laman was, because she demanded money which was due to her, from the said Lamans' wife, and it was denied her. We understand also from this Elizabeth Knott that when she was cast upon the water her familiar sucked upon her breast, but after she came out of the water she never saw it any more.  
It would be tedious to reckon up the multifarious exploits of this old Witch Palmer▪ for Knott his kinswoman was but a novice, in comparison of him, and as I conceive had made no direct Covenant with the devil, as Palmer had.  
A little before his execution he confessed to Samson Clark, the Keeper of the Prison, that falling out with a young man, he transformed himself into a Toad, and lying in the way where the young man came, he kicked it, immediately Palmer complained of a sore shin, whereupon he bewitched the young man for many years to his great woe and torment.  
That you may further understand what society he had on your side the country, with such as were inbond to the devil, I shall signify to you what he confessed before his execution: In Hitchin, he reckons two, Mary bychance and widow Palmer: In Norton John Salmon senior. Joseph Salmon, and Judeth his wife. John Lamen senior and Mary his wife, John Lamen junior. Mary the daughter of John Lamen senior Joan Lamen the daughter of the aforesaid John Lamen: and the wife of one May's in Weston. And at the place of execution he confessed two more, Sarah Smith and Anne Smith servants, the one to Mr. Beaumont, the other to Mr. Reynolds.  
There is a third ground whereupon the devil takes advantage by his delusions to beguile men and women, and that is by a diligent observation of their concupiscible faculty, whereby they are inordinate in their desires after money and gain, which the God of this world is very free to promise, but as one of his slaves confessed, she never wanted, (that is) any misery or affliction, after she had contracted with him.  
I am in haste but rest, yours▪ B. gihen 〈…〉.  
FINIS.