A MOST WICKED work of a wretched Witch,( the like whereof none can record these many yeeres in England.)  
Wrought on the Person of one Richard Burt, Seruant to master Edling of Woodhall in the parish of Pinner in the county of Myddlesex, a mile beyond Harrow.  
lately committed in March last, An. 1592 and newly recognized according to the truth▪  
by G. B. master of Arts.  
 depiction of a jester (?)  
Printed by R. B. for William Barley, and are to be sold at his shop in gracious street.   

Hexasticon.  
Of wrathful witches this same pamphlet tells,  
How most of all on simplo folk they work.  
What wonders to they may achieve by spells,  
God weed them out in every cell they lurk,  
God weeds them out, but satan stil doth hatch,  
fresh imps, whereby of al sorts he may catch.  Leuit. 20.6. If any turn after such as work with spirits, and after soothsaiers, to go a whoring after them, then will I set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.  

A most wicked work of a wretched Witch, wrought on the Person of one Richard Burt.  
SO long( right Gentle and courteous Reader) as wee live here in this wretched vale of misery, and miserable estate of our Probationership, we are all even the best of us all, to account no better of ourselves, then that we live in a perpetual warfare, and most dangerous and deadly combat.  
Our enemies that we are to fight against are in number three: The world, the Flesh, and the devil: 
The three dedlie enemies of mankind.  two whereof notwithstanding( such is our blind perseverance) the most parte esteem their entire friends, whereas indeed they are the hande-mynisters of our Archenimie, all under colourable friendship deceiving their familiars, and seeking their death both of body and soul.  
Our grand foeman satan Architect of all mischief, in scripture hath many proper names, 
revel. 9.11.  to explain his malicious nature: Of his cruelty he is called Abaddon, a destroyer, because that not like a common enemy he is contented with the death and downfall of our bodies, but imagineth utter destruction of the soul also, and intolerable torments jointly to them both: 
John. 12.6.  Of his craft he is termed a thief, because he inventeth by what means he may slilie and vnwittinglie set vpon the godly. 
job. 1.10. and 2.5.  Of his malice he is called Diabolus, an accuser, because evermore day and night he is busy, accusing the consciences of the righteous.  
He is name a Dragon of his policy, because that since the time of Adam, among so many thousands, in so many yeares, there hath been found none so wise or wary, that could withstand his stratagems, but he hath wounded and poisoned them well nigh unto death.  
He hight a Lion also of his power, because that as the solid body of the Lion is powerful: so especially consisteth great strength and power in his tail.  
We doubt not but this adversary, or Apollyon of ours of himself is mighty, puissant,& strong enough against such faintie cowards, and wilful slo-backs as we are, yet to make his victory more sure, and not to fail of his purpose, he useth also the force of his tail: that is, his inthraled bondslaves, whom he hath sealed to execute his will and pleasure upon the harmless, which is performed many times diuers and sundry ways: neither doth he so usually show his policy, pvissance and power by any his oficers, as he doth by subtle seedemen of false doctrine, and enchanting sorcerers: the one in stead of instruments to inveigle the mind and soul, the other to assail the mortal body, and beguile and entrap the sences.  
I speak nothing of those pseudosedmen, but I purpose( God willing) to treat of damnable witches, of their spite and spelles, odious in the sight of God, detested of the good, and most hurtful to themselves, manifesting what power and preminence through Gods permission, that Father of sin satan hath over sinful worldlings.  
About shrovetide last, one Richard Burt, seruant to a Gentleman, name M. Edling, dwelling at Woodhall in the parish of Pinner in Middlesex, a mile beyond Harrow on the Hill, going to his masters barn, standing at the towns end, accompanied with a great mastiue dog, suddenly espied an Hare start before him, and thinking to haue set his dog at her, missed of his purpose: for the dog not onely refused to follow, but in stead of following began to faint, and run round about his master, and to whine pitifully, as who should say that kind of game was not for them: The man taking hearty grace himself, followed so nigh, that he saw her take in at one Mother Atkyns house, whom before that time he knew to be a notorious witch: whereupon blessing himself,& mindful of the name of God, he boldly said, avant witch.  
This was the first occasion( namely the terming of hir a with) of al poor Richard Burts future tragedy: 
unspeakable is the malice of a wicked woman.  but to go forward. It happened the said Richard Burt a month after, meeting hir near to his maisters barn, and giuing hir the time of the day, like a perverse woman, like a perilous wasp, like a pestiferous witch, incensed with hate at the sight of him held down hir head, not daigning to speak.  
The next day which was on wednesday the 8. of march going again to his maisters barn to thrash,& serve certain beasts, because he would not trudge too and fro for letting his work, carried his dinner with him, which was bread, butter, cheese and applepy,& a bottle of the best beer: being come to the barn he laid his provision, and settled close to his business, labouring hard till twelve of the clock, at which time hunger assailing and custom prevailing, he went to dinner, wherein he had not long continued, but ther was opposite to his view a monstrous black Cat among the straw, which began to shake the straw, and to make a wad thereof. The fellow being aghast start up with his applepie in his hand( for it had been pity a poor hungry thresher should haue lost so good a repast) suddenly hearing a voice that commanded him, come away: Away quod he, whither shal I come? The spirit answering again, said: Come and leave thy victuals behind thee and thy knife also. poor simplicity keeping his applepy stil in his hand, came to the barn door, where suddenly he was hoist up into the air, and carried over many fields, by the way espyeng his may. plow a ploughing, but not able to call unto them, although he seemed to haue his memory most perfect: thence passing over to Harrow, where on the side of the hill there is a great pond was drawn through it,& ther left his hat which was a token of that torture) because he could stay in no place, but was violently rapt up the hiil, and over the tops of the trees at Harrow Church, so far he absolutely remembreth, but being haled further, he was taken( as he seemeth) into a place which was all fire, where was heard such lamentable howling and doleful crying, as if all the damned fiends of hell had been tortured, and tormenten in that Limbo.  
You hear into how strange and passionate a place this Richard Burt was translated, now it remaineth to show with what Symtomes the place was furnished.  
First therefore( he affirmeth) it was exceeding hot, replenished with more than Cymmerian darkness, plentiful in filthy odours and stinches, full of noise and clamours, insomuch that he seemed to hear infinite millions of discrepant noises, but saw nothing save only the fire which caused such an unquenchable drought in his stomach, that presently minding a penny he had in his purse: looked round about for an Alehouse where he might spend it.  
Hearing therefore these foresaid voices, and thinking some of them had spake unto him, he answered saying, heer is no work for me to do: immediately it was reanswered, cost away with him, but with this proviso thou passest, that thou be secret, and say nothing when thou commost home: but he replied, and said, my master will ask me where I haue been: with that he was not suffered to speak any further, but his tongue was doubled in his mouth, his legs burnt, hands and arms scorched, his coat pinched of his back, and thrown into the fire, immediately soaring over hedges and ditches, soused in mire and dirt, scratched with thorns and briars, so singed and disfigured, that it is both lamentable and terrible to behold him.  
Being brought again to Pinner where his master doth dwell, he first repaired to a ditch to drink, and afterwards in this pickle visited one of his acquaintance, who sometime served M. Edling also: but whether he sorted thither for that his friends house was nighest, or would not go home for shane that he had been absent four whole daies together, I cannot show you: only this, being sunday morning his master chanced( as his custom was to pass by that way to Church at the same instant, who not knowing poor Richard Burt his lost sheep, demanded of his quondam seruant if he had gotten him a man: a man sir quod he, why it is your man Richard: my man quoth the Gentlenian, that cannot bee, and therewithal being half amazed made a pause and earnestly beheld him, at length willing him in the name of God to tel where he had been though he could not speak, yet having memory made signs and evermore pointed toward the house where mother Atkins did dwell, looking so grisly and fiercelie that way, that he tore and rent al that came in his hands.  
In the mean while it was thought requisite, 
The duty of a good minister.  that the person of the town name M. Smith, and may. Burbridge of Pinner park gentleman should be sent for, who coming to the dumb man and pittieng his plight, the person charitably and like himself laboured about him, wrinched open his teeth got open his mouth, indented his finger under his tongue, and with much ado got it unfolded, the first words he spake were these: Woe worth mother Atkins, woe worth mother Atkins, for she hath bewitched me: whereupon he would not be quiet, but ever requested that he might speak with hir.  
master Burbidge and M. Smith caused hir to bee sent for, who being present, he never ceased till he had scratched and drawn blood on hir, persuading himself that was a remedy sufficient under God, that would make him well: neither was it or is it any Capital error, experience testyfies: for since that he hath mended reasonably, and now goeth to the Church.  
Thus haue you heard briefly the cares and crosses, that poor Richard Burt sustained( as they say) in summo gradu, the eighth, the ninth, tenth and eleventh daies of march last past, what time he was absent from his master the foresaid whole daies, and used( as ye haue heard) after the foresaid manner.  
Thus then leave we Richard Burt, but with mother Atkins we must prosecute a little further.  
It is credibly reported in Pinner, that the said mother Atkins on a time resorting to the house of M. Burbidge for milk( at what time the maids were busy at the dairy and not obtaining hir desire, immediately vpon hir departure out of doors, the cream began to swell and rise in the cherne, 
Witches ar the most unprofitable erraturs in the world.  that it burst open the top of the Cherne, and run about the kitchen and forth at the sinke-hole, and all their huswiferie for that day went to wrack, that al was quiter lost, and nothing could possibly be well ordered. O rebels towards God: enemies to mankind: caterpillars of a common wealth, the fire is too good to consume them.  
Many and sundry like actions of extreme rage and cruelty are imputed to her, only we will conclude, and shut up these clauses, with this that followeth.  
Not long since the forenamed witch entering the ground of one gregory Coulson, to crave some relief( for she liveth of alms, and good peoples charity) she found him busily employed about some country affairs, Radling his lambs( I think it was) and framing hir petition to him, because he did not strait way leave al and accomplish it she flung forth in a fume: But it was not long after her departure, but he had finished his labour also, and letting forth two Lambs into a yard, suddenly they began so nimbly to skip and frisk to and fro, that they never ceased after till they died.   
FINIS.