Excerpts of: Potts, T. (1613) The Wonderful Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster.
She was a very old woman, about the age of four-score years, and had been a witch for fifty years.
She dwelt in the Forest of Pendle, a vast place, fit for her profession: What she committed in her time, no man knows.
Thus lived she securely for many years, brought up her own children, instructed her grand-children, and took great care and pains to bring them up to be witches.
She was a general agent for the Devil in all these parts: no man escaped her, or her furies, that ever gave them any occasion of offence, or denied them anything they stood need of: And certain it is, no man near them, was secure or free from danger.
This Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, was a very old withered spent and decrepit creature, her sight almost gone: A dangerous witch, of very long continuance; always opposite to old Demdike: For whom the one favoured, the other hated deadly: and how they envy and accuse one another, in their examinations, may appear.
In her witchcraft, always more ready to do mischief to mens goods, than themselves.
Her lips ever chattering and walking: but no man knew what.
She lived in the Forest of Pendle, amongst this wicked company of dangerous witches.
During the sixteenth century whole districts in some parts of Lancashire seemed contaminated with the presence of witches; men and beasts were supposed to languish under their charm, and the delusion which preyed alike on the learned and the vulgar did not allow any family to suppose that they were beyond the reach of the witch's power.
Was the family visited by sickness? It was believed to be the work of an invisible agency, which in secret wasted an image made in clay before the fire, or crumbled its various parts into dust.
Did the cattle sicken and die? The witch and the wizard were the authors of the calamity.
Did the yeast refuse to ferment, either in the bread or the beer? It was the consequence of a 'bad wish'.
Did the butter refuse to come? The 'familiar' was in the churn.
Did the ship founder at sea? The gale or hurricane was blown by the lungless hag who had scarcely sufficient breath to cool her own pottage.
Did the river Ribble overflow its banks? The floods descended from the congregated sisterhood at Malkin Tower.
The blight of the season, which consigned the crops of the farmer to destruction, was the saliva of the enchantress, or distillations from the blear-eyed dame who flew by night over the field on mischief bent.
Excerpts from: Baines, T. (1867) History of Lancashire.
The said Alison Device sayth, that about two years ago, her grandmother, (called Elizabeth Southerns, alias old Demdike) did sundry times in going or walking together as they went begging persuade and advise her to let a devil or a familiar appear to her; and that she would let him suck at some part of her; and she might have and do what she would.
The Black Dog
And so not long after these persuasions, she being walking towards the Roughlee, in a close of one John Robinson's, there appeared unto her a thing like unto a black dog: speaking unto her and desiring her to give him her soul, and he would give her power to do any thing she would: whereupon she being therewithal enticed, and setting her down; the said black dog did with his mouth (as she then thought) suck at her breast, a little below her paps, which place did remain blue half a year next after: which said black-dog did not appear to her, until the eighteenth day of march last:
Laming the Peddler John Law
At which time she met with a peddler on the high-way, called Colne-field, near unto Colne: and she demanded of the said peddler to buy some pins of him; but the said peddler sturdily answered her that he would not loose his pack; and so she parting with him: presently there appeared to her the black dog, which appeared unto her as before: which black dog spoke unto her in English, saying; 'what wouldst thou have me to do unto yonder man?'
To whom this she said, 'what canst thou do at him?' And the dog answered again, 'I can lame him': Whereupon she answered, and said to the said black dog, 'lame him': And before the peddler was gone forty roodes [about 300 yards] further, he fell down lame: and she then went after the said peddler, and in a house about the distance aforesaid, he was lying lame:
And so she went begging in Trawden forest that day, and came home at night: and about five days next after, the said black dog did appear to her, as she was going a begging, in a close near Newchurch in Pendle, and spoke again to her, saying; 'stay and speak with me', but this she would not: since which time she never saw him.
A Cow Killed by Demdike
And she further sayth, that one John Nutter of the Bulhole in Pendle, had a cow which was sick, and requested her grandmother [Demdike] to amend the said cow; and her said grandmother said she would, and so her said grandmother about ten of the clock in the night, desired her to lead her forth; which this she did, [her grandmother] being then blind: and her grandmother did remain about half an hour forth: and her sister [Jennet] did fetch her in again; but what she did when she was so forth, she cannot tell.
But the next morning, she heard that the said cow was dead. And she verily thinketh, that her said grandmother did bewitch the said cow to death.
Charming Milk into Butter
And further she sayth, that about two years ago, she having gotten a piggin full of blue milk by begging, brought it into the house of her grandmother, where (she [Alison Device] going forth presently, and staying about half an hour) there was butter to the quantity of a quarter of a pound in the said milk, and the quantity of the said milke still remaining; and her grandmother had no butter in the house when she went forth: during which time, her grandmother still lay in her bed.
Killing a child of Richard Baldwin
And further she sayth, that Richard Baldwin of Wheathead within the Forest of Pendle, about 2 years ago, fell out with her grandmother, and so would not let her come upon his land: and about four or five days then next after, her said grandmother did request her to lead her forth about ten of the clock in the night: which she accordingly did, and she stayed forth then about an hour, and her sister [Jennet] fetched her in again.
And she heard the next morning, that a woman child of the said Richard Baldwin was fallen sick; and as she did then hear, the said child did languish afterwards by the space of a year, or thereabouts, and died: and she verily thinketh, that her said grandmother did bewitch the said child to death.
And further, she sayth, that she heard her said grandmother say presently after her falling out with the said Baldwin, she would pray for the said Baldwin both still and loud: and she heard her curse the said Baldwin sundry times.
Killing of John Device
Alison Device sayth, that about eleven years ago, she and her mother had their fire-house broken, and all, or the most part of their linen clothes, and half a peck of cut oat-meal, and a quantity of meal gone, all which was worth twenty shillings or above: and upon a Sunday then next after, she did take a band and a coife [scarf], parcel of the goods aforesaid, upon the daughter of Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, and claimed them to be parcel of the goods stolen, as aforesaid.
She further sayth, that her father, called John Device, being afraid, that the said Anne Chattox should do him or his goods any hurt by witchcraft; did covenant with the said Anne, that if she would hurt neither of them, she should yearly have one aghen-dole of [oat]meal; which meal was yearly paid, until the year which her father died in, which was about eleven years since: her father upon his then-death-bed, taking it that the said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, did bewitch him to death, because the said meal was not paid the last year.
Killing of Anne Nutter
And she also sayth, that about two years ago, she being in the house of Anthony Nutter of Pendle, and being then in company with Anne Nutter, daughter of the said Anthony: the said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, came into the said Anthony Nutter's house, and seeing her, and the said Anne Nutter laughing, and saying, that they laughed at her the said Chattox: well said then (sayes Anne Chattox) "I will be meet with the one of you."
And upon the next day after, she the said Anne Nutter fell sick, and within three weeks after died.
Killing a Child of John Moore
And further, she sayth, that about two years ago, she hath heard, that the said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, was suspected for bewitching the drink of John Moore of Higham: and not long after, she heard the said Chattox say, that she would meet with the said John Moore, or his.
Whereupon a child of the said John Moore's, called john, fell sick, and languished about half a year, and then died: during which languishing, shesaw the said Chattox sitting in her own garden, and a picture of clay like unto a child in her apron; which she spying, the said Anne Chattox would have hid with her apron: and she declaring the same to her mother [Elizabeth Device], her mother thought it was the picture of the said John Moore's child.
Killing of Hugh Moore
And she further sayth, that about six or seven years ago, the said Chattox did fall out with one Hugh Moore of Pendle about certain cattle of the said Moore's, which the said Moore did charge the said Chattox to have bewitched: for which the said Chattox did curse and worry the said Moore, and said she would be revenged of the said Moore: whereupon the said Moore presently fell sick, and languished about half a year, and then died. Which Moore upon his death-bed said, that the said Chattox had bewitched him to death.
A Cow Killed by Chattox
And she further sayth, that about sixe years ago, a daughter of the said Anne Chattox, called Elizabeth, having been at the house of John Nutter of the Bullhole, to beg or get a dish full of milk, which she had, and brought to her mother, who was about a fields breadth of the said Nutter's house, which her said mother Anne Chattox took and put into a can, and did charm the same with two sticks across in the same field: whereupon the said John Nutter's son came unto her, the said Chattox, and misliking her doings, put the said can and milk over with his foot; and the morning next after, a cow of the said John Nutter's fell sick, and so languished three or four days, and then died.
The said Elizabeth Southerns [alias Demdike] confesseth, and sayth; that about twenty years past, as she was coming homeward from begging, there met her near unto a stonepit in Gouldshey, in the said Forrest of Pendle, a spirit or devil in the shape of a boy, the one half of his coat black, and the other brown, who bade her stay, saying to her, that if she would give him her soul, she should have any thing that she would request.
Demdike's Familiar called 'Tibb'
Whereupon this examinate demanded his name? And the spirit answered, his name was Tibb: and so she in hope of such gain as was promised by the said devil or Tibb, was contented to give her soul to the said spirit: and for the space of five or six years next after, the said spirit or devil appeared at sundry times unto her about day-light gate [dawn], always bidding her stay, and asking her what she would have or do. To whom she replied, nay nothing: for she said, she wanted nothing yet.
And so about the end of the said six years, upon a Sabbath day in the morning, she having a little child upon her knee, and she being in a slumber, the said spirit appeared unto her in the likeness of a brown dog, forcing himself to her knee, to get blood under her left arm: and she being without any apparel saving her smock, the said devil did get blood under her left arm. And she awaking, said, 'Jesus save my child'; but had no power, nor could not say, 'Jesus save her self': whereupon the brown dog vanished out of her sight: after which, she was almost stark mad for the space of eight weeks.
Revenge against Richard Baldwin
And upon her examination, she further confesseth, and sayth. That a little before Christmas last, her [Elizabeth Device] daughter having been to help Richard Baldwin's folks at the mill: her daughter did bid her go to the said baldwin's house, and ask him some thing for her helping of his folks at the mill, and in her going to the said Baldwin's house, and near to the said house, she met with the said Richard Baldwin; which Baldwin said to her, and the said Alison Device (who at that time led her [Demdike], being blind) 'get out of my ground whores and witches, I will burn the one of you, and hang the other'.
To whom she answered: 'I care not for thee, hang thyself: presently whereupon, at going over the next hedge, the said spirit or devil called Tibb, appeared unto her, and said, revenge thee of him. To whom, she said again to the said spirit. Revenge thee either of him, or his. And so the said spirit vanished out of her sight, and she never saw him since.
And further she confesseth, and sayth, the speediest way to take a mans life away by witchcraft, is to make a picture of clay, like unto the shape of the person whom they mean to kill, and dry it thoroughly. And when they would have them to be ill in any one place more then an other; then take a thorn or pin, and prick it in that part of the picture you would so have to be ill. And when you would have any part of the body to consume away, then take that part of the picture, and burn it.
And when they would have the whole body to consume away, then take the remnant of the said picture, and burn it: and so there-upon by that means, the body shall die.
Making 'Pictures of Clay'
The said Elizabeth Southerns [alias Demdike] sayth upon her examination, that about half a year before Robert Nutter died, as she thinketh, she went to the house of Thomas Redfearne, which was about mid-summer, as she remembreth it. And there within three yards of the east end of the said house, she saw the said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, and Anne Redferne wife of the said Thomas Redferne, and daughter of the said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox: the one on the one side of the ditch, and the other on the other: and two pictures of clay or marle lying by them: and the third picture the said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, was making: and the said Anne Redferne her said daughter, wrought her clay or marle to make the third picture withal.
And she passing by them, the said spirit, called Tibb, in the shape of a black cat, appeared unto her, and said, turn back again, and do as they do: to whom she said, what are they doing? Whereunto the said spirit said; they are making three pictures: whereupon she asked whose pictures they were? Whereunto the said spirit said: they are the pictures of Christopher Nutter, Robert Nutter, and Marie, wife of the said Robert Nutter:
But she denying to go back to help them to make the pictures aforesaid; the said spirit seeming to be angry, therefore shove or pushed her into the ditch, and so shed the milk which she had in a can or kit: and so thereupon the spirit at that time vanished out of her sight: but presently after that, the said spirit appeared to her again in the shape of a hare, and so went with her about a quarter of a mile, but said nothing to her, nor she to it.
The said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, upon her examination, voluntarily confesseth, and sayth, that about fourteen or fifteen years ago, a thing like a Christian man for four years together, did sundry times come to her, and requested her to give him her soul: and in the end, this she was contented to give him her said soul, she being then in her own house, in the Forest of Pendle; whereupon the devil then in the shape of a man, said to her: 'thou shalt want nothing; and be revenged of whom thou list'.
And the devil then further commanded her, to call him by the name of Fancy; and when she wanted any thing, or would be revenged of any, call on Fancy, and he would be ready.
And the said spirit or devil, did appear unto her not long after, in mans likeness, and would have had her to have consented, that he might hurt the wife of Richard Baldwin of Pendle; but she would not then consent unto him: for which cause, the said devil would then have bitten her by the arm; and so vanished away, for that time.
Killing of Robert Nutter
And she further sayth, that Robert Nutter did desire her daughter one Redfearne's wife, to have his pleasure of her, being then in Redfearne's house: but the said Redfearne's wife denied the said Robert; whereupon the said Robert seeming to be greatly displeased therewith, in a great anger took his horse, and went away, saying in a great rage, that if ever the ground came to him, she should never dwell upon his land.
Whereupon she [Chattox] called Fancy to her; who came to her in the likeness of a man in a parcel of ground called, the Laund; asking her, 'what she would have him to do?'
And this she bade him go revenge her of the said Robert Nutter. After which time, the said Robert Nutter lived about a quarter of a year, and then died.
And she further sayth, that Elizabeth Nutter, wife to old Robert Nutter, did request this her, and Loomeshaw's wife of Burley, and one Jane Boothman, of the same, who are now both dead, (which time of request, was before that Robert Nutter desired the company of Redfearn's wife) to get young Robert Nutter his death, if they could; all being together then at that time, to that end, that if Robert were dead, then the women their cousins might have the land: by whose persuasion, they all consented unto it.
After which time, her son in law Thomas Redfearne, did persuade her, not to kill or hurt the said Robert Nutter; for which persuasion, the said Loomeshaw's wife, had like to have killed the said Redfearne, but that one Mr. Baldwin (the late school master at Colne) did by his learning, stay the said Loomeshaw's wife, and therefore had a capon [chicken] from Redfearne.
And she further sayth, that she thinketh the said Loomeshaw's wife, and Jane Boothman, did what they could to kill the said Robert Nutter, as well as she did.
She Chattox sayth, that she was sent for by the wife of John Moore, to help drink that was forespoken or bewitched: at which time she used this prayer for the amending of it, viz.
A Charm
Three biters hast thou bitten,
The heart, ill eye, ill tongue:
Three bitter shall be thy boote,
Father, son, and holy ghost a gods name.
Five pater-nosters,
Five avies and a creede,
In worship of five wounds of our lord.
After which time that she had used these prayers, and amended her drink, the said Moore's wife did chide her, and was grieved at her.
And thereupon she called for her devil Fancy, and bad him go bite a brown cow of the said Moore's by the head, and make the cow go mad: and the devil then, in the likeness of a brown dog, went to the said cow, and bit her: which cow went mad accordingly, and died within six weeks next after, or thereabouts.
And further she sayth, that the devil, or Fancy, hath taken most of her sight away from her. And further she sayth, that in summer last, save one, the said devil, or Fancy, came upon her in the night time: and at diverse and sundry times in the likeness of a bear, gaping as though he would have wearied her.
And the last time of all she saw him, was upon Thursday last year but one, next before midsummer day, in the evening, like a bear, and she would not then speak unto him, for the which the said Devil pulled this examinate down.
Killing of Anthony Nutter
Also she sayth, that she perceiving Anthony Nutter of Pendle to favour Elizabeth Southerns, alias Demdike, she called Fancy to her, (who appeared like a man) and bad him go kill a cow of the said Anthony; which the said devil did, and that cow died also.
Bewitching a Horse
The said Anne Chattox being examined sayth, that the wife of one person of Padiham, is a very evil woman, and confessed to her, that she is a witch, and hath a spirit which came to her the first time in likenesses of a man, and cloven footed, and that she the said persons wife hath done very much harm to one Dodgeson's goods, who came in at a loop-hole into the said Dodgeson's stable, and she and her spirit together did sit upon his horse or mare, until the said horse or mare died.
And likewise, that she the said Pearson's wife did confess unto her, that she bewitched unto death one Childer's wife, and her daughter, and that she the said Pearson's wife is as ill as she.
Chattox incriminates Demdike
First, the said Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, sayth, that about foureteen years past she entered, through the wicked persuasions and counsel of Elizabeth Southerns, alias Demdike, and was seduced to condescend and agree to become subject unto that devilish abominable profession of witchcraft:
Soon after which, the devil appeared unto her in the likeness of a man, about midnight, at the house of the said Demdike: and thereupon the said Demdike and she, went fourth of the said house unto him; Whereupon the said wicked spirit moved her, that she would become his subject, and give her soul unto him: the which at first, she refused to assent unto; but after, by the great persuasions made by the said Demdike, she yielded to be at his commandment and appointment:
Whereupon the said wicked spirit then said unto her, that he must have one part of her body for him to suck upon; the which she denied then to grant unto him; and withal asked him, what part of her body he would have for that use; who said, he would have a place of her right side near to her ribs, for him to suck upon: whereunto she assented.
And she further sayth, that at the same time, there was a thing in the likeness of a spotted bitch, that came with the said spirit unto the said Demdike, which then did speak unto her in her [Chattox's] hearing, and said, that she should have gold, silver, and worldly wealth, at her will.
And at the same time she sayth, there was victuals, vis. Flesh, butter, cheese, bread, and drink, and bid them eat enough. And after their eating, the devil called Fancy, and the other spirit calling himself Tibb, carried the remnant away: and she sayth, that although they did eat, they were never the fuller, nor better for the same; and that at their said banquet, the said spirits gave them light to see what they did, although they neither had fire nor candle light; and that they were both she spirits, and devils.
Killing of John Nutter
And being further examined how many sundry persons have been bewitched to death, and by whom they were so bewitched: she sayth, that one Robert Nutter, late of the Greenhead in Pendle, was bewitched her [Chattox], the said Demdike, and Widdow Lomshawe, (late of Burnley) now deceased.
Killing of Richard Assheton
And she further sayth, that the said Demdike showed her, that she had bewitched to death, Richard Assheton, son of Richard Assheton of Downham esquire.
He sayth, that upon Sheare [Maundy] Thursday was two years, his grand-mother Elizabeth Southerns, alias Demdike, did bid him go to the church to receive the communion (the next day after being Good Friday) and then not to eat the bread the minister gave him, but to bring it and deliver it to such a thing as should meet him in his way homewards: notwithstanding her persuasions, he did eat the bread: and so in his coming homeward some forty roodes [about 300 yards] off the said church, there met he, and asked him whether he had brought the bread that his grand-mother had bidden him, or no?
Whereupon he answered, he had not: and thereupon the said thing threatened to pull him in pieces, and so he thereupon marked himself to god, and so the said thing vanished out of this his sight.
James' Familiar named 'Dandy'
And within some four days after that, there appeared in his sight, hard by the Newchurch in Pendle, a thing like unto a brown dog, who asked him to give him his soul, and he should be revenged of any whom he would: whereunto he answered, that his soul was not his to give, but was his saviour Jesus Christ's, but as much as was in him to give, he was contented he should have it.
And within two or three days after, he went to the Carr Hall, and upon some speeches betwixt Mistress Towneley and he; she charging him and his said mother [Elizabeth Device], to have stolen some turves [turf] of hers, bade him pack the doors: and withal as he went forth of the door, the said Mistress Towneley gave him a knock between the shoulders:
And about a day or two after that, there appeared unto him in his way, a thing like unto a black dog, who put him in mind of the said Mistress Towneley's falling out with him; who bad him make a picture of clay, like unto the said Mistress Towneley: and that he with the help of his spirit (who then ever after bid him to call it Dandy) would kill or destroy the said Mistress Towneley: and so the said dog vanished out of his sight.
Killing of Elizabeth Towneley
And the next morning after, he took clay, and made a picture of the said Mistress Towneley, and dried it the same night by the fire: and within a day after, he began to crumble the said picture, every day some, for the space of a week: and within two days after all was crumbled away; the said Mistress Towneley died.
Killing of John Duckworth
And he further sayth, that in lent last one John Duckworth of the Laund, promised him an old shirt: and within a fortnight after, he went to the said Duckworth's house, and demanded the said old shirt; but the said Duckworth denied him thereof.
And going out of the said house, the said spirit Dandy appeared unto him, and said, thou didst touch the said Duckworth, whereunto he answered, 'he did not touch him': 'yes' (said the spirit again) 'thou didst touch him', and therefore I have power of him: whereupon he joined with the said spirit, and then wished the said spirit to kill the said Duckworth: and within one week, then next after, Duckuworth died.
Strange Occurrences at Malkin Tower
The said James Device sayth, that about a month ago, as he was coming towards his mother's house, and at day-gate [dawn] of the same night, he met a brown dog coming from his grand-mothers house, about ten roodes [about 80 yards] distant from the same house: and about two or three nights after, that he heard a voice of a great number of children screiking and crying pitifully, about day-light gate; and likewise, about ten roodes distant of his said grand-mothers house.
And about five nights then next following, presently after daylight, within twenty roodes [about 150 yards] of the said Elizabeth Southern's house, he heard a foul yelling like unto a great number of cats: but what they were, he cannot tell.
And he further sayth, that about three nights after that about midnight of the same, there came a thing, and lay upon him very heavily about an hour, and went then from him out of his chamber window, coloured; black, and about the bigness of a hare or cat.
Bewitching a Child of Henry Bullcock
And he further sayth [James Device], that about St. Peter's day last, one Henry Bullock came to the said Elizabeth Southerns house, and said, that her grand-child Alison Device, had bewitched a child of his, and desired her that she would go with him to his house; which accordingly she did: and there upon she the said Alison fell down on her knees, and asked the said Bullock forgiveness, and confessed to him, that she had bewitched the said child, as he heard his said sister confess unto him.
Stealing of Skulls by Chattox
And further sayth, that twelve years ago, the said Anne Chattox at a burial at Newchurch in Pendle, did take three scalpes [skulls] of people, which had been buried, and then cast out of a grave, as she the said Chattox told him; and took eight teeth out of the said scalpes, whereof she kept four to her self, and gave other four to the said Demdike, his grand-mother: which four teeth now showed to him, are the four teeth that the said Chattox gave to his said grand-mother, as aforesaid;
Killing of Henry Mitton
The said James Device sayth upon his oath, that he heard his grand-mother say, about a year ago, that his mother, called Elizabeth Device, and his grand-mother, and the wife of Richard Nutter (Alice Nutter), of the Roughlee aforesaid, had killed one Henry Mitton, of the Roughlee aforesaid, by witchcraft.
The reason wherefore he was so killed, was for that his said grandmother had asked the said Mitton a penny: and he denying her thereof; thereupon she procured his death as aforesaid.
Elizabeth Device's Familiar named 'Ball'
And he, James Device also sayth, that about three years ago, he being in his grand-mothers house, with his said mother [Elizabeth Device]; there came a thing in shape of a brown dog, which his mother called Ball, who spake to his mother, in the sight and hearing of him, and bad her make a picture of clay like unto John Robinson, alias Swyer, and dried it hard, and then crumble it by little and little; and as the said picture should crumble or mull away, so should the said John Robinson alias Swyer his body decay and wear away.
Killing of John Robinson
And within two or three days after, the picture shall so all be wasted, and mulled away; so then the said John Robinson should die presently.
Upon the agreement betwixt the said dog and his mother; the said dog suddenly vanished out of his sight. And the next day, he saw his said mother take clay at the west-end of her said house, and make a picture of it after the said Robinson, and brought into her house, and dried it some two days: and about two days after the drying thereof, his said mother fell on crumbling the said picture of clay, every day some, for some three weeks together; and within two days after all was crumbled or mulled away, the said John Robinson died.
James Device upon his oath sayth, that about two years ago, he saw three pictures of clay, of half a yard long, at the end of Redferne's house, which Redferne had one of the pictures in his hand, Marie his daughter had another in her hand, and the said Redferne's wife (Anne Redferne the witch), now prisoner at Lancaster, had an other picture in her hand, which picture she the said Redferne's wife, was then crumbling, but whose pictures they were, he cannot tell.
A Hare Spitting Fire
And at his returning back again, some ten roods off them there appeared unto him a thing like a hare, which spit fire at him.
The Meeting of Witches at Malkin Tower
And being examined, James Device further sayth, that upon Sheare [Maundy] Thursday last, in the evening, he stole a wether [sheep] from John Robinson of Barley, and brought it to his grand-mothers house, old Demdike, and there killed it: and that upon the day following, being Good Friday, about twelve of the clock in the day time, there dined in his mothers house a number of persons, whereof three were men, and the rest women; and that they met there for three causes following:
I. The first was, for the naming of the spirit which Alison Device, now prisoner at Lancaster, had, but did not name him, because she was not there.
II. The second cause was, for the delivery of his said grand-mother; his said sister Alison; the said Anne Chattox, and her daughter Redferne; killing the gaoler at Lancaster; and before the next assizes to blow up the castle there, to the end the aforesaid persons might by that means make an escape and get away: all which he then heard them confer of.
III. And the third cause was, for that there was a woman dwelling in Gisburn parish, who came into his said grandmothers house, who there came and craved assistance of the rest of them that were then there, for the killing of master Lister of Westby, because (as she then said) he had borne malice unto her, and had thought to have put her away at the last assizes at York, but could not: and he heard the said woman say, that her power was not strong enough to do it herself, being now less then before time it had been. And also, that the said Jennet Preston had a spirit with her like unto a white foal, with a black spot in the forehead.
And he also sayth, that the names of the said witches as were on Good Friday at his said grandmothers house, and now his own mother's, for so many of them as he did know, were these, viz.
The wife of Hugh Hargreaves of Barley; The wife of Christopher Bulcock of the Moss End, and John her son; the mother of Myles Nutter; Elizabeth, the wife of Christopher Hargreaves, of Thurniholme; Christopher Howgate, and Eizabeth his wife; Alice Gray of Colne, and one Mould-heels wife, of the same: and him, and his mother.
Killing of Ann Folds
And he also sayth, that they were witches; and that the names of the said witches, that were there, for so many of them as he did know, were amongst others Katherine Hewitt, wife of John Hewitt, alias Mould-heels, of Colne, in the county of Lancaster clothier; and that the said witch, called Katherine Hewitt, alias Mould-heels, and one Alice Gray, did confess amongst the said witches at their meeting at Malkin Tower aforesaid, that they had killed Folds wife's child, called Ann Folds, of Colne: and also said, that they had then in hanck a child of Michael Hartley's of Colne.
Bewitching of Jennet Deyne
And further he sayth, that the said John Bulcock and Jane his said mother, did confess upon Good Friday last, at the said Malkin Tower, in the hearing of him, that they had bewitched, at the new-field edge in Yorkshire, a woman called Jennet, wife of John Deyne, besides, her reason; and the said woman's name so bewitched, he did not hear them speak of.
And he also sayth, that the names of the said witches as were on Good Friday at his said grandmothers house, and now his own mother's, for so many of them as he did know, were these, viz. The wife of Hugh Hargreaves of Barley; the wife of Christopher Bulcock of the Moss End, and John her son; the mother of Myles Nutter; Elizabeth, the wife of Christopher Hargreaves, of Thurniholme; Christopher Howgate, and Elizabeth his wife; Alice Gray of Colne, and one Mould-heels wife, of the same: and himself, and his mother.
And James Device further sayth, that all the said witches went out of the said house in their own shapes and likenesses. And they all, by that they were forth of the doors, were gotten on horseback, like unto foals, some of one colour, some of another; and [Jennet] Preston's wife was the last: and when she got on horseback, they all presently vanished out of his sight.
And before their said parting away, they all appointed to meet at the said Preston's wives house that day twelve months; at which time the said Preston's wife promised to make them a great feast. And if they had occasion to meet in the mean time, then should warning be given, that they all should meet upon Romleyes moor.