THE WITCHES OF HUNTINGDON, Their Examinations and Confessions; exactly taken by his Majesty's Justices of Peace for that County. Whereby will appear how craftily and dangerously the Devil tempteth and seizeth on poor souls. The Reader may make use hereof against Hypocrisy, anger, malice, swearing, Idolatry, Lust, Covetousness, and other grievous sins, which occasioned this their downfall. Profecto res stulta est nequitiae modus. Seneca. LONDON, Printed by W. WILSON, for RICHARD CLUTTERBUCK. 1646. TO The Right Worshipful the justices of the Peace for the County of HUNTINGTON. Gentlemen, IT hath been a common fault of late, to commend things to the Press taken up by hearsay and report, which frequently prove untrue. This common course makes many truths doubted, specially in difficult discoveries. That this ensuing discourse is true, I need no other witnesses than yourselves: your pains was used in the diligent Examination of the Offenders, and the witnesses against them. You were present, and Judges at the Trial and Conviction of them, more full and clear confessions, more satisfactory Evidence, and a clearer Conviction, could not be in a case of this nature. By particular service, I was attendant in most of the Examinations: and waiting on you all at the Trial, know what I assert to be true, and dare presume to make you Patrons hereof. Knowing your integrities most ready to attest truth, and to maintain and countenance herein Your Honourer and humble Servant, JOHN DAVENPORT. THE WITCHES OF HUNTINGDON, Their Examinations and Confessions exactly taken, etc. The Examination of Elizabeth Weed of great Catworth in the County of Huntingdon, Widow, taken upon the last day of March, 1646. before Robert Bernard, and Nicholas Pedley, Esq; two of his Majesty's Justices of the peace for this County. SHe saith, that about one and twenty years since she being saying her Prayers in the evening about bedtime, there did appear unto her three Spirits, one in the likeness of a young man or boy, and ●●e other two of two Puppies, the one white and the other black: and that which was in the shape of a young man did speak unto her, ask her, if she would renounce God and Christ; she answered, she would. And the Devil than offered her, that he would do what mischief she should require him; and said she must covenant with him that he must have her soul at the end of one and twenty years, which she granted. And saith, that he came to her about a week after, about ten of the clock in the night, with a Paper, and asked her whether she were willing to seal the Covenant, she said she was, than he told her it must be done with her blood, and so pricked her under her left arm, and made her bleed in the place: a great lump of flesh did rise, and hath increased ever since, and he scribbled therewith. And being demanded what light was there, she answered, none but the light of the Spirit, and presently he came to bed to her, and had the carnal knowledge of her, and so did divers times after, and saith, the other two Spirits did then, and at other times come into her bed also, and sucked upon other parts of her body where she had Teats. Being demanded the name of the lesser Spirits, she saith the name of the white one was Lily, and the black one Priscill; and that the office of Lily was to hurt man, woman, or coilde; and the office of Priscill was to hurt Cattles when she desired. And the office of the manlike Spirit was to lie with her carnally, when and as often as she desired, and that he did lie with her in that manner very often; and that the Spirit Lily, acchrding to the Covenant, did kill the child of Mr. Henry Bedells of Catworth aforesaid, as she this Examinate desired him to do; and that she wished him to do the same when she was angry; but doth not well remember for what: and saith, that about two or three days before that, she sent the same Lily to the said Henry Bedells commanding him to kill him, who returned and said he had no power: and confesseth she sent her said Spirit another time to do some hurt to Edward Musgrave of Catworth, aforesaid, who likewise returned answer, he had no power: And that she sent her Spirit Priscill to kill two horses of the said Edward Musgraves, and one of John Musgraves, and to kill one Co● of William Musgraves, and one Cow of Thomas Thorp's of the same Town, which was done accordingly. And being demanded when the one and twenty years would be out, she answered about Low-Sunday next, to the best of her remembrance, and being further demanded what was the reason, she did duly resort to Church to Sermons, & also to the Ministers house to repetition, which Mr. Poole the Minister being present did affirm; she saith, she was well pleased with his preaching, and had a desire to be rid of that unhappy burden which was upon her. And further she saith not. Signum Elizabeth Weed. ROB. BERNARD. The Examination of John Winnick of Molseworth in the said County, Labourer, taken upon the 11. day of April, 1646. before Robert Bernard Esquire, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this County. He saith, that about 29. years since, the 29th year ending about Midsummer last passed, he being a Bachelor, lived at Thropston with one Bu●eman, who then kept the Inn at the George, and withal kept Husbandry: this Examinate being a servant to him in his husbandry, did then lose a p●●●e with 7 s. in it, for which he suspected one in the Family. He saith that on a Friday being in the barn, making hay-bottles for his horses about noon, swearing, cursing, raging, and wishing to himself that some wise body (or Wizzard) would help him to his purse and money again: there appeare● unto him a Spirit, black and shaggy, and having paws like a Bear, but in bulk not fully so big as a Coney. The Spirit asked him what he ailed to be so sorrowful, this Examinate answered that he had lost a purse and money, and knew not how to come by it again. The Spirit replied, if you will forsake God and Christ, and fall down & worship me for your God, I will help you to your purse and money again: This Examinate said he would, and thereupon fell down upon his knees and held up his hands. Then the Spirit said, to morrow about this time of the day, you shall find your purse upon the floor where you are now making bottles, I will send it to you, and will also come myself. Whereupon this Examinate told the Spirit he would meet him there, and receive it, & worship him. Whereupon at the time prefixed, this Examinate went unto the place, and found his purse upon the floor and took it up, and looking afterwards into it, he found there all the money that was formerly lost: but before he had looked into it, the same Spirit appears unto him and said, there is your purse and your money in it: and t●en this Examinate fell down upon his knees and said, my Lord and God I thank you. The said Spirit at that time brought with him two other Spirits, for shape, bigness, & colour, the one like a white Cat, the other like a grey Coney: and while this Examinate was upon his knees, the Bear Spirit spoke to him, saying, you must worship these two Spirits as you worship me, and take them for your Gods also: then this Examinate directed his body towards them, and called them his Lords and Gods. Then the Bear Spirit told him that when he died he must have his soul, whereunto this Examinate yielded. He told him then also that they must suck of his body, to which this Examinate also yielded, but they did not suck at that time. The Bear Spirit promised him that he should never want victuals. The Cat Spirit that it would hurt when he would desire it. And the Coney-like Spirit that it would hurt men when he desired. The bear spirit told him that it must have some of his blood wherewith to seal the Covenant, whereunto this Examinate yielded, and then the bear Spirit leapt upon his shoulder, and pricked him on the head, and 〈◊〉 thence took blood: and after thus doing, the said three spirits vanished away. The next day about noon, the said Spirits came to him while he was in the field, and told him they were come to suck of his body, to which he yielded, and they sucked his body at the places where the marks are found, and from that time to this, they have come constantly to him once every 24. hours, sometimes by day, and most commonly by night. And being demanded what mischief he caused any of the said Spirits to do, he answered never any, only he sent his bear Spirit to provoke the Maidservant of Mr. Say of Molmesworth to steal victuals for him out of her Master's house, which she did, and this Examinate received the same. The mark of John Winnicke. ROE. BERNARD. The examination of Francis Moor, taken before Nicholas Pedley Esq; one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace for this County, the ninth day of April. 1646. THis Examinate saith, that about eight years since she received a little black puppy from one Margaret Simson of great Catworth, which dog the said Margaret had in her bed with her, & took it thence when she gave it to the Examinate: The Examinate further saith, that the said Margaret told her, that she must keep that dog all her life time; and if she cursed any Cattles, & set the same dog upon them, they should presently die, and the said Margaret told her that she had named it already, his name was Pretty. And the said Examinate further saith, that about the same time one goodwife Weed gave her a white Cat, telling her, that if she would deny God, and affirm the same by her blood, than whomsoever she cursed and sent that Cat unto, they should die shortly after. Whereupon this said Examinate saith that she did deny God, and in affirmation thereof she pricked her finger with a thorn, whence issued blood, which the Cat presently licked; and the said goood-wife Weed named the Cat Tissy. And the said Examinate further saith, that one William Foster, about sixteen years since, would have hanged two of her children for offering to take a piece of bread; and for that cause about six years since she cursed the said William Foster; whereupon the white Cat went to him, and he immediately fell sick, and lying in great pain for the space of seven or eight days, and then died: but being demanded what the Cat did to him, or what she bid it do, she saith she remembers not. And she further saith, that about five years since, she keeping Cows in the field, a Cow of Edward Hulls went into the grain, she cursed her, and set Pretty on her, and she swelled and died shortly after; and after that a Cow of one Peter Brownes went into the Corn, and she likewise cursed her, and set Pretty on her, and she died within two or three days after: and she further saith, that she killed the said Dog and Cat about a year since; and yet after that the like Dog and Cat haunted her familiarly: and when she was apprehended, they crept under her , and tortured her so that she could not speak, to confess freely, and more she saith not. The Mark of Frances Moor. Ni. Pedley. The Information of Peter Slater of Little Catworth in the said County, Shepheard, taken upon oath, before Robert Bernard Esq; one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace for this County, upon the 7th day of April. 1646. THis Informant saith, That his wife dying about one and twenty years since in Childbed, and one Frances Moor being suspected for a Witch, & in custody: He went to her upon Friday last, and asked her, if she did his wife any harm? she answered she did, by cursing her. And he saith, his wife did of a sudden change and die, after she had lain in a week; and that a little before this Informants wife was brought to bed, the said Frances Moor falling out with her, said, she hoped she should never be untwined, as this Informant hath since called to mind. Signum Peter Slater. ROB. BERNARD. The Information of William Searle of little Catworth, Ye●man taken upon oath the said day and year. THis Informant saith, he was present when Frances Moor did confess herself to be a Witch, and that she had done much harm; and amongst other things, that she sent her Spirit Pretty to this Informants Capons, who did kill them: and he saith, that she coming to bake a loaf at his house about three or four years since, being denied, the Capons did fall a fluttering, and would never eat after. Also saith, that about the said time, she having a Hog in his yard, some of his servants set a Dog on the same; for which she said she would be revenged; and the next day one of his Hogs died. Signum, William Searle. ROB. BERNARD. The Examination of Elizabeth Chandler of Keiston, Widow, taken the seventh day of April, 1646. before Robert Bernard and Nicholas Pedley Esquires, two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this County. She saith that something hath come to her five times within this little space, and that there was about a week's space between their coming to her, and that the last time was upon Saturday seven-night last in a puffing and roaring manner. And she saith that she found her body sore about the bottom of her belly after he was gone from her. She saith she did never willingly invoke or employ the same, but hath prayed to God to deliver her therfrom. Being demanded whether she did heretofore strike a child of Goodwife Darnells of Keiston, named Katherine, or send any Spirit to harm it, she denyeth the same: being asked whether she did heretofore use any means to spoil the Furmity of the said Goodwife Darnell or any other, she answered no; she confesseth that about two years since, having received some hard usage from the said Goodwife Darnell, by causing her to be ducked, she did hearty desire to be revenged of her. And about half a year after, and ever since, she hath been troubled with the said roaring things. Being damanded whether she had not two Imps resorted to her, and that she named the same, calling the one Beelzebub, & the other Trullibub: She denyeth the same, only saith she did call a log of wood Beelzebub, and a stick Trullibub. Signum, Elizabeth Chandler. OB. BERNARD. The Information of Mary Darnell the Wife of William Darnell of Keiston, Blacke-smith; taken upon oath the said seventh day of April, fore the said Justices. SHe saith that about a year since, she had a daughter named Katherine, which was then about the age of nine years, which child was eating Furmity with another child brought up by Elizabeth Chandler at the house of one William Browning in Keiston aforesaid: at which time the said two children fell out as she ●eard. And this Infor●ants child did express when she came home that Goodwise Chandler had given it a box of the Ear, & complained of that ●●●e so long as it lived, which was until that day 3 weeks: and during the time that it did lie ill, it did squeal and shriek out very often, that Goodwife Chandler did come to her and would kill her. And she saith, that about a year since she made some Furmity, and bid some Neighbours to the house: but when the same was taking up, it did continue boiling for an hour after it was taken from the fire, and she could not keep it from running over, although she put it into great bowls, tubs, and other large vessels. And she hath heard Lewis Carmell say that she confessed she did cause it to be spoiled by Beelzebub, because she was not bid to it, nor had any part thereof. Signum, Mary Darnell. ROB. BERNARD. The examination of Ell●n the Wife of William Shepherd of Molesworth in the said County, Labourer, taken the 8th day of April, 1646. before Robert Bernard and Nicholas Pedley, Esquires, two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County. She saith, that about five years since, when she was in her homsted at Molesworth, swearing and cursing about the discords of her children, there appeared unto her a Spirit, somewhat like a Rat, but not fully so big, of an iron-grey colour, and said you must go with me, and she said, I will not, avoid Satan, and thereupon he went away. She saith, that within a short time after, going into the field, cursing, and fretting, and blaspheming, there appeared three Spirits more with the former in the fashion of Rats, of an iron-grey, and said, you must forsake God and Christ, and go with me, and take those spirits for your Gods, and you shall have all happiness, whereunto she consented: And moreover they said unto her, that when she died, they must have her body and soul, and said, they must have blood from her, which she granted, and thereupon they sucked her upon and about her hips, and they have used very often to come to her since. Being demanded whether ever she employed them to hurt any reasonable creature or beast, she saith she did not: And she saith that some of them did torment her this afternoon, since she was brought to Huntingdon to be examined. Being demanded whether she enjoyed any happiness (as they promised) since they frequented her, she saith she did not, but doth intent to leave her former course of cursing and swearing. Signum, Ellen Shepheard. ROB. BERNARD, NIC. PEDLY. The information of Thomas Becke of Bythorn in Com. Hunt. Yeoman, against Anne Desborough, taken upon oath before Nicholas Pedley Esquire, one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace for the said County, the 9th day of April, 1646. THis Informant saith, that Anne Desborough Widow of Bythorn aforesaid, being apprehended upon suspicion of being a witch, on the 8th day of this present April, he in the presence of Master Coysh and others, heard the said Anne Desborough (in answer to questions asked her) freely confess, that about 30. years since, there appeared unto her a thing somewhat bigger than a mouse, of a brown colour, when she lived at Titsmarsh in the County of Northampton, she being in bed and asleep, which nipped her on the breast and awakened her, than it told her that it must have part of her soul: she prayed thsn to God, and it left her at that time, and the said Informant heard the said Anne further say, that about five or six days after, the same mouse appeared again to her with another much like the former, it being a little less than the former, and had a white belly: then the mouse that came first said, we must abide with you, and suck your blood, she said that they should. About three days after both the mice came to her again, and told her that she must forsake God and Christ: and when she died, they must have her soul, to all which she yielded: this Informant saith further, that he heard the said Anne confess that she named one of the mice Tib, which promised her to hurt men, and she named the other Jone, which promised her to hurt Cattles when she wished it: and after the third time they kept not away from her above 24. hours together, but did frequent her, and familiarly suck ●n her body, until she was apprehended. Thomas Becke. NIC: PEDLEY. April the 8. day, Anno 1646. Arm Desborough of Bythorn in the County of Huntingdon, confesseth, that about 30. years since, the first week of Clean Lent, there appeared unto her a thing somewhat bigger than a Mouse, of a brown colour, and of the likeness of a mouse. This was while she lived at Tichmarsh in the County of Northampton: she being there in bed, and in a dream, the said likeness than gave her a nip, and thereby awakened her out of her dream, and then told her (when she was awakened) that it must have part of her soul; whereupon she was in a great fear, and gave him no answer, but prayed to God, and thereupon it vanished away from her. About five days after, the same Mouse appeared to her again, bringing with it another Mouse, about the bigness of an ordinary Mouse, or very little bigger, brown like the former, save only that this latter had some white about the belly, whereas the former was all brown. Then the Mouse that first appeared, said, we must suck of your body. She yielded to them, and said, they should: upon her yielding they went to her, and sucked of her body, where the marks are found. The bigger mouse she called Tib, and the lesser Jone. Tib told her that she must forsake God and Christ, and take them for her Gods: telling her that when she died, they must have her soul, to all which she yielded. Tib promised her to hurt men if she should desire. Joan promised her to hurt Cattles if she should desire. Within two days after they appeared again: and ever after till she was discovered, they appeared once every 24. hours. This the said Desbourough confessed on the first said day in the presence of me Joseph Coysh Minister of the Word. The Examination of Jane Wallis of Keiston in the County of Huntingdon Spinster taken the 16th day of April, 1646. before Sir Robert Osborn Knight, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Huntingdon. THis Examinate saith, as she was making of her bed in her Chamber, there appeared in the shape of a man in black and blackish about six weeks past, and bid her good-morrow, and she asked what his name was, and he said his name was Blackeman, and asked her if she were poor, and she said I; then he told her he would send one Grissel and Greedigut to her, that shall do any thing for her: She looking upon him, saw he had ugly feet, and then she was very fearful of him for that he would seem sometimes to be tall, and sometimes less, and suddenly vanished away. And being demanded whether he lay with her, she said he would have lain with her, but she would not suffer him: and after Blackeman was departed from her, within three or 4. days, Grissel and Greedigut came to her, in the shapes of dogs with great brisles of hog's hair upon their backs, and said to her they were come from Blackeman to do what she would command them, and did ask her if she did want any thing, and they would fetch her any thing: and she said she lacked nothing: then they prayed her to give them some victuals, and she said she wa● poor and had none to give them, and so they departed: Yet the confessed that Blackman, Grissel, and Greedigut divers times cames to her afterwards, and brought her two or three shillings at a time, and more saith not. Signum Jane Willis. April 14. 1646. JOAN WALLIS confessed to me, and John Guylet that she had ●●ree Spirits, she called them Black-man, Griselda, and Gredigul, and that Blackman gave her the other two, and told her they should do any thing for her that she should desire: she said Blackman came first to her, about a twelvemonth since, like a man something ancient, in blackish , out he had ugly feet uncovered. Sometimes she said it was longer since he first came to her, and ever since he appeared in the like shape, but Grissel, and Greedigut did come in several shapes, yet most commonly like hounds with Bristles on their backs. I asked her what use she put them to, and if any of them had the use of her body besides sucking; she said he would have had once, but she denied him: then presently of herself she said, if I would not tell, she would confess, but she hoped I would love her never the worse, and then she said that Blackman had the use of her body once, twice, and sometimes thrice in a week, but the other two only sucked her where her marks are found; she said Blackman never sucked her; she would not confess that she ever sent them to do any harm, but said the filthy rough Blackman would send them; but what hurt they did she confessed not to us. I asked her to what purpose she set Grissel. and Greed. suck her if she made no use of them? she said, they would sometimes bring her money, two or three shillings at a time, and that was all they did for her; and once they told her they robbed a man, and pulled him from his horse, and brought her some money. All this she confessed to me before Dinner, and after Dinner she affirmed it all to be truth, but in the repeating she would seem to forget Grissel. and Greed. names, but always affirmed the same of Blackman; She said, she first would have had them sucked her breasts, but they would not, and chose the place themselves. Edw. Ma. Wingfeild. John Guylatte. The Examination of John Clarke Junior, of Keiston, in the County of Hunt. Labourer, taken before me John-Castell, Esquire, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County, the 2d. day of May. 1646. WHo saith, That true it is that he did overtake one man and three women upon the Sabbath day last was seven-night, between Stanwick and Raunce, being about three miles from Keistone, whither this Examinate was going. But this Examinate denyeth that he ever told or said that he had any marks cut off, or that he had any place of meeting with any Witches, or that he had any consultation, or made any Compact with the Devil, or ever knew what belonged to any such matter. And further saith not. JOHN CASTLE. The Information of John Browne of Raunce in the County of Northampton, Tailor, taken upon oath the second day of May, 1646. before me John Castell, Esq; one of his Majesty's Justices the Peace for the County of Hunt. WHo saith, That upon the Sabbath day last was seven-night, he (this Informant) coming from Higham-Fer●is to Raunce in the County of Northampton aforesaid, where he quartereth, and sitting down by Stanwick Towns end, saw one coming from Artlebroward; who when he came near to this Informant, this Informant said, I have stayed for you a long time; but he answered, I saw you not all the way I came. Then this Informant said to him, from whence came you? who answered, that he came from his Uncles at Artlebrow: Then this Informant asked him who was his Uncle? and he said one Clerk: this Informant asked him, if he were not Clarks son of Keiston, he answered, he was: And then this Informant asked him, What haste he was in? who said he was in haste; for his Father and Mother were accused for Witches, and that he himself had been searched; and this Informant answered, and so have I. Then Clarke asked this Informant, whether any thing were found about him, or not? he (this Informant) answered that they said there were marks: Clarke said again, had you no more wit but to have your marks found? I cut off mine three days before I was searched. And then after some further communication past concerning who searched them, Clark said to this Informant, I do not believe you are a Witch, for I never saw you at our meetings: who answered, that perhaps their meetings were at several places, and so fell out and parted. JOHN CASTLE. Who desires to be resolved in cases of conscience touching Witches and Witchcrafts, let them read that learned discourse of Mr. JOHN GAULS, lately set forth, and Printed for Richard Clutterbuck STATIONER. FINIS.