Discovery of Witches Part 19

_The Euidence against_ Margaret Pearson, _Prisoner at the Barre._

_The Examination and Euidence of_ ANNE WHITTLE, _alias_ CHATTOX.

Against

MARGARET PEARSON, _Prisoner at the Barre._

The said _Anne Chattox_ being examined saith, That the wife of one _Pearson_ of Paddiham, is a very euill Woman, and confessed to this Examinate, that shee is a Witch, and hath a Spirit which came to her the first time in likenesse of a Man, and clouen footed, and that shee the said _Pearsons_ wife hath done very much harme to one _Dodgesons_ goods, who came in at a loope-hole into the said _Dodgesons_ Stable, and shee and her Spirit together did sit vpon his Horse or Mare, vntill the said Horse or Mare died. And likewise, that shee the said _Pearsons_ wife did confesse vnto her this Examinate, that shee bewitched vnto death one _Childers_ wife, and her Daughter, and that shee the said _Pearsons_ wife is as ill as shee.

_The Examination of_ IENNET BOOTH, _of Paddiham, in the Countie of Lancaster, the ninth day of August 1612._

Before

NICHOLAS BANNESTER, _Esquire; one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Lancaster._

_Iennet_, the wife of _Iames Booth_, of Paddiham, vpon her oath saith, That the Friday next after, the said _Pearsons_ wife, was committed to the Gaole at Lancaster, this Examinate was carding in the said _Pearsons_ house, hauing a little child with her, and willed the said _Margerie_ to giue her a little Milke, to make her said child a little meat, who fetcht this Examinate some, and put it in a pan; this examinat meaning to set it on the fire, found the said fire very ill, and taking vp a stick that lay by her, and brake it in three or foure peeces, and laid vpon the coales to kindle the same, then set the pan and milke on the fire: and when the milke was boild to this Examinates content, she tooke the pan wherein the milke was, off the said fire, and with all, vnder the bottome of the same, there came a Toade, or a thing very like a Toade, and to this Examinates thinking came out of the fire, together with the said Pan, and vnder the bottome of the same, and that the said _Margerie_ did carrie the said Toade out of the said house in a paire of tonges;[T_a_] But what shee the said _Margerie_ did therewith, this Examinate knoweth not.

After this were diuers witnesses examined against her in open Court, _viua voce_, to proue the death of the Mare, and diuers other vild and odious practises by her committed, who vpon their Examinations made it so apparant to the Iurie as there was no question; But because the fact is of no great importance, in respect her life is not in question by this Indictment, and the Depositions and examinations are many, I leaue to trouble you with any more of them, for being found guiltie of this offence, the penaltie of the Law is as much as her good Neighbours doe require, which is to be deliuered from the companie of such a dangerous, wicked, and malicious Witch.

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THE ARRAIGNMENT _and Triall of_ ISABEL ROBEY _in the Countie of Lancaster, for Witch-craft: vpon Wednesday the nineteenth of August, 1612. At the a.s.sizes and generall Goale-deliuery, holden at Lancaster._

Before

_Sir_ EDWARD BROMLEY, _Knight, one of his Maiesties Iustices of a.s.sizes at Lancaster._

_Isabel Robey._[T2_a_1]

Thus at one time may you behold Witches of all sorts from many places in this Countie of Lancaster which now may lawfully bee said to abound asmuch in Witches of diuers kindes as Seminaries, Iesuites, and Papists.[T2_a_2] Here then is the last that came to act her part in this lamentable and wofull Tragedie, wherein his Maiestie hath lost so many Subjects, Mothers their Children, Fathers their Friends, and Kinsfolkes[T2_a_3] the like whereof hath not beene set forth in any age. What hath the Kings Maiestie written and published in his _Daemonologie_, by way of premonition and preuention, which hath not here by the first or last beene executed, put in practise or discouered? What Witches haue euer vpon their Arraignement and Trial made such open liberall and voluntarie declarations of their liues, and such confessions of their offences: The manner of their attempts and their bloudie practises, their meetings, consultations and what not? Therefore I shall now conclude with this _Isabel Robey_ who is now come to her triall.

This _Isabel Robey_ Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster being brought to the Barre before the great Seat of Iustice was there according to the former order and course Indicted and Arraigned, for that shee Felloniously had practised, exercised and vsed her Deuilish and wicked Artes called _Witchcrafts_, _Inchantments_, _Charmes and Sorceries_.

Vpon her Arraignment to this Indictment she pleaded not guiltie, and for the triall of her life, put her selfe vpon G.o.d and her Countrie.

So as now the Gentlemen of the Iurie of life and death stand charged with her as with others.

_The Euidence against_ Isabel Robey _Prisoner at the Barre._

_The Examination of_ PETER CHADDOCK _of Windle, in the Countie of Lancaster: Taken at Windle aforesaid, the 12. day of Iuly 1612._ Anno Reg.

Regis IACOBI, Angliae, &c. decimo, & Scotiae xlv.

Before

_Sir_ THOMAS GERRARD _Knight, and Barronet. One of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace within the said Countie._

The said Examinate vpon his Oath saith, That before his Marriage hee heard say that the said _Isabel Robey_ was not pleased that hee should marrie his now wife: whereupon this Examinate called the said _Isabel_ Witch, and said that hee did not care for her. Then within two dayes next after this Examinate was sore pained in his bones: And this Examinate hauing occasion to meete Master _Iohn Hawarden_ at Peaseley Crosse, wished one _Thomas Lyon_ to goe thither with him, which they both did so; but as they came home-wards, they both were in euill case. But within a short time after, this Examinate and the said _Thomas Lyon_ were both very well amended.

And this Examinate further saith, that about foure yeares last past, his now wife was angrie with the said _Isabel_, shee then being in his house, and his said Wife thereupon went out of the house, and presently after that the said _Isabel_ went likewise out of the house not well pleased, as this Examinate then did thinke, and presently after vpon the same day, this Examinate with his said wife working in the Hay, a paine and a starknesse fell into the necke of this Examinat which grieued him very sore; wherup[=o] this Examinat sent to one _Iames_ a Glouer, which then dwelt in Windle, and desired him to pray for him, and within foure or fiue dayes next after this Examinate did mend very well. Neuerthelesse this Examinate during the same time was very sore pained, and so thirstie withall, and hot within his body, that hee would haue giuen any thing hee had, to haue slaked his thirst, hauing drinke enough in the house, and yet could not drinke vntill the time that the said _Iames_ the Glouer came to him, and this Examinate then said before the said Glouer, I would to G.o.d that I could drinke, where upon the said Glouer said to this Examinate, take that drinke, and in the name of the _Father_, the _Sonne_, and the _Holy Ghost_, drinke it, saying; The Deuill and Witches are not able to preuaile against G.o.d and his Word, whereupon this Examinate then tooke the gla.s.se of drinke, and did drinke it all, and afterwards mended very well, and so did continue in good health, vntill our Ladie day in Lent was twelue moneth or thereabouts, since which time this Examinate saith, that hee hath beene sore pained with great warch in his bones,[T3_b_] and all his limmes, and so yet continueth, and this Examinate further saith, that his said warch and paine came to him rather by meanes of the said _Isabel Robey_, then otherwise, as he verily thinketh.

_The Examination of_ IANE WILKINSON, _Wife of_ FRANCIS WILKINSON, _of Windle aforesaid: Taken before the said Sir_ THOMAS GERRARD, _Knight and Barronet, the day and place aforesaid.

Against the said_ ISABEL ROBEY.

The said Examinate vpon her oath saith, that vpon a time the said _Isabel Robey_ asked her milke, and shee denied to giue her any: And afterwards shee met the said _Isabel_, whereupon this Examinate waxed afraid of her, and was then presently sick, and so pained that shee could not stand, and the next day after this Examinate going to Warrington, was suddenly pinched on her Thigh as shee thought, with foure fingers & a Thumbe twice together, and thereupon was sicke, in so much as shee could not get home but on horse-backe, yet soone after shee did mend.

_The Examination of_ MARGARET LYON _wife of_ THOMAS LYON _the yonger, of Windle aforesaid: Taken before the said Sir_ THOMAS GERRARD, _Knight and Barronet, the day and place aforesaid.

Against the said_ ISABEL ROBEY.

The said _Margaret Lyon_ vpon her Oath saith, that vpon a time _Isabel Robey_ came into her house and said that _Peter Chaddock_ should neuer mend vntill he had asked her forgiuenesse; and that shee knew hee would neuer doe: whereupon this Examinate said, how doe you know that, for he is a true Christian, and hee would aske all the world forgiuenesse? then the said _Isabel_ said, that is all one, for hee will neuer aske me forgiuenesse, therefore hee shall neuer mend; And this Examinate further saith, that shee being in the house of the said _Peter Chaddock_, the wife of the said _Peter_, who is G.o.d-Daughter of the said _Isabel_, and hath in times past vsed her companie much, did affirme, that the said _Peter_ was now satisfied, that the said _Isabel Robey_ was no Witch, by sending to one _Halseworths_, which they call a wiseman,[T4_b_1] and the wife of the said _Peter_ then said, to abide vpon it,[T4_b_2] I thinke that my Husband will neuer mend vntill hee haue asked her forgiuenesse, choose him whether hee will bee angrie or pleased, for this is my opinion: to which he answered, when he did need to aske her forgiuenesse, he would, but hee thought hee did not need, for any thing hee knew: and yet this Examinate further saith, That the said _Peter Chaddock_ had very often told her, that he was very afraid that the said _Isabel_ had done him much hurt; and that he being fearefull to meete her, he hath turned backe at such time as he did meet her alone, which the said _Isabel_ hath since then affirmed to be true, saying, that hee the said _Peter_ did turne againe when he met her in the Lane.

_The Examination of_ MARGARET PARRE _wife of_ HVGH PARRE _of Windle aforesaid, Taken before the said Sir_ THOMAS GERARD _Knight and Baronet, the day and place aforesaid. Against the said_ ISABEL ROBEY.

The said Examinate vpon her oath saith, that vpon a time, the said _Isabel Robey_ came to her house, and this Examinate asked her how _Peter Chaddock_ did, And the said _Isabel_ answered shee knew not, for shee went not to see, and then this Examinate asked her how _Iane Wilkinson_ did, for that she had beene lately sicke and suspected to haue beene bewitched: then the said _Isabel_ said twice together, I haue bewitched her too: and then this Examinate said that shee trusted shee could blesse her selfe from all Witches and defied them; and then the said _Isabel_ said twice together, would you defie me? & afterwards the said _Isabel_ went away not well pleased.

Here the Gentlemen of the last Iurie of Life and Death hauing taken great paines, the time being farre spent, and the number of the Prisoners great, returned into the Court to deliuer vp their Verdict against them as followeth. _viz._

_The Verdict of Life and Death._

Who vpon their Oathes found the said _Isabel Robey_ guiltie of the Fellonie by Witch-craft, contained in the Indictment against her. And _Margaret Pearson_ guiltie of the offence by Witch-craft, contained in the Indictment against her.

Whereupon Master _Couell_ was commaunded by the Court in the afternoone to bring forth all the Prisoners that stood Conuicted, to receiue their Iudgment of Life and Death.

For his Lords.h.i.+p now intended to proceed to a finall dispatch of the Pleas of the Crowne. And heere endeth the Arraignement and Triall of the Witches at Lancaster.

Thus at the length haue we brought to perfection this intended Discouery of Witches, with the Arraignement and Triall of euery one of them in order, by the helpe of Almightie G.o.d, and this Reuerend Iudge; the Lanterne from whom I haue received light to direct me in this course to the end. And as in the beginning, I presented vnto their view a Kalender containing the names of all the witches: So now I shall present vnto you in the conclusion and end, such as stand conuicted, and come to the Barre to receiue the iudgement of the Law for their offences, and the proceedings of the Court against such as were acquitted, and found not guiltie: with the religious Exhortation of this Honorable Iudge, as eminent in gifts and graces, as in place and preeminence, which I may lawfully affirme without base flattery (the canker of all honest and worthie minds) drew the eyes and reuerend respect of all that great Audience present, to heare their Iudgement, and the end of these proceedings.

_The Prisoners being brought to the Barre._

The Court commanded three solemne Proclamations for silence, vntill Iudgement for Life and Death were giuen.

Whereupon I presented to his Lords.h.i.+p the names of the Prisoners in order, which were now to receiue their Iudgement.