Hell Opened, Narrative 1 – Examination 2
THE NARRATIVE.
ON Munday the 23 day of Auguſt laſt, 1675. Elizabeth, the Wife of Mr. William Weeks of Plymouth Dyer, after many and frequent Vomitings and violent Purgations, departed this life towards the Evening. Her Husband and Daughter were ſeized with the ſame extraordinary motions, accompanied with grievous Pains and Swellings in their Stomacks, with cold Sweats and Faintings, as alſo with a great and unquenchable Drought.
A Phyſitian being called, and conſulted with upon the caſe, giveth in his Judgment that they were Poyſoned. That which induced him the more readily to determine of the nature and manner of their Sickneſs, and her death, was a quantity of Crude Arſenick, preſented him by a Neighbor of theſe Afflicted and Murthered Perſons, which ſhe had found in a Pot of Oatmeal in the Kitchin.
At the ſame time the Child of Miſtris Pengelley (Daughter unto the ſaid Mr. Weeks) was alſo affected with the ſame Symptoms, and Philip Cary her Nurſe, together with her Husband, were found Counterfeiting Sickneſs and Vomitings. Wine and Oyl had been given them, which procured a more eaſie relaxation and diſcharge of their Stomacks, and through the Bleſſing of God, upon the uſe of that and other means contributed, to the recovery of the Child and his Grand-Father. Only his Daughter Miſtris Pengelley, having labored Eight or Ten days under exquiſite torments without any remiſſion, (Phyſick, and Phyſitians being diſabled by Gods Holy wiſe Providence, from affording her any relief or ſuccor,) ſhe alſo yielded up the Ghoſt.
The noiſe of this horrid Accident was ſoon ſpread abroad, and immediately the Nurſe and her Husband, and a Prentice Girle in the Houſe were ſuſpected, and apprehended for it.
The firſt which was brought before the Major of the Town, was Anne Evans Apprentice to the ſaid Miſtris Weeks, a Poor Child, whoſe Mother being dead, had been bound out in the Majoralty of Mr. Peter Schaggel, Anno 1672. by the Church-Wardens and Over-Seers of Charles Pariſh, being then about Twelve or Thirteen years old.
And now making her appearance, ſhe was examined by him, and another Juſtice of his Majeſties Peace; which for the ſatisfaction of my Readers curioſity, and for a further diſcovery of this Crying and Helliſh ſin, I ſhall crave his pardon, if he be troubled with an Authentick Relation thereof, and of the other perſons depoſitions concerning it, as they were tranſcribed from the day Book of the Town.
The Examination and Information of Anne Evans of Plymouth Spinſter, taken before the Right Worſhipful William Weeks Major of Plymouth, and William Jennings Merchant, two of his Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace, within the ſaid Burrough, 25. Auguſt. l675.
THE ſaid Examinant ſaith, that ſhe being ſent on Thurſday laſt by her Maſter, William Weeks Dyer, to buy ſome*Oatmeal. Girts in the Market, ſhe this Examinant accordingly did buy a Pottle of Joan the Wife of George Searle, and brought them home to her Maſters Houſe, and put ſome of the ſame*Oatmeal. Girts into the Pot to make Pottage the Sunday following, and this Informant further ſaith, that at Noon ſhe laded up a Diſh of Pottage to her Maſter, and a Diſh to her Miſtris, Elizabeth Wife to the ſaid William Weeks, and alſo a Diſh of Pottage for her ſelf, and John Pengelley Son of Mary Pengelley; and this Examinant further ſaith, that after her Miſtris had eaten the Pottage, ſhe did complain in her Stomack, Head and Belly, and ſaid that ſhe was very Sick, and then ſhe preſently Vomited very much, and about an hour after ſhe went to Bed, and kept continually Vomiting and Purging till Munday laſt, and in the Evening ſhe died, and her Maſter then alſo Vomited, and Purged, and lieth now a Bed very Sick, and alſo ſaith, that ſhe waſhing ſome of the Girts afterwards, ſhe found ſome Yellow thing in the Girts, and as this Informant was told by ſome people, that it was Poyſon.
The Sign of Anne Evans, A. E.
The Information of Gray Holland Doctor in Phyſick, taken as aforeſaid on Oath.
THe ſaid Informant ſaith, that on Munday laſt, being the three and twentieth day of this inſtant Auguſt, about Nine of the Clock in the Evening, he being ſent for to come to the Houſe of William Weeks of this Town Dyer; This Informant was by the people of the Houſe informed concerning the death of the ſaid Maſter Weeks his Wife, who told him that ſhe was taken with Vomiting, Scouring and Purging, and ſaith, that the ſaid William Weeks Dyer, being a Bed Sick, he asked him how he did, who told him, that he had a great pain in his Stomack, and that he was ſwollen in his Stomack, and whatſoever he did take, he did Vomit it up again; And this Informant further ſaith, that he going into a Chamber to ſee Miſtris Mary Pengelley; who told this informant, that ſhe had a very great pain in her Stomack, and was ſwollen, and that ſhe was taken with violent Purging and Vomiting, and cold Sweats, and Faintings, with great drought; And this Informant being ſo informed, he judged that there was Poyſon in the Caſe, and thereupon deſired to make an inquiry concerning it; And this Informant farther ſaith, that yeſterday in the Morning, one Miſtris Hurd bringing to him ſomething which ſhe had taken out of ſome of the Girts, which was put in the Portage; This Informant judged it to be Poyſon.
Gray Holland
The Information of Mary the Wife of James Hurd of Plymouth Merchant, taken as aforeſaid on Oath.
THe ſaid Informant ſaith, that ſhe was ſent for to come to the Houſe of William Weeks Dyer, on Sunday laſt paſt, and when this Informant came to the ſaid Houſe, ſhe met with Miſtris Pengelley, who told her that ſhe was very Sick, and that her Father and Mother were alſo very Sick, that they were a Bed aſleep. This Informant departed, and came again the next Morning, and this Informant then meeting with the ſaid Miſtris Pengelley, ſhe asked her how her Father and Mother did, who told her that they were very ill, and deſired this Informant to go up in the Chamber and ſee them: And when this Informant came into the Chamber, ſhe found the ſaid Maſter Weeks his Wife very ill, with Vomiting and Purging; and ſhe demanded of them what they had eaten the day before: They ſaid, nothing but Pottage; And this Informant further ſaith, that ſhe coming into the Court of the ſaid Maſter Weekes, ſhe ſaw Vomiting there which the Dog had done, whereupon ſhe deſired them to take ſome Oyl and Sack, which was taken by Maſter Weeks and his Daughter Pengelley, but his Wife did take very little, and that the Nurſe and Child took ſome Sack and Oyl likewiſe. And this Examinant further ſaith, that the ſaid Miſtris Weeks continued ſo bad till about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, and then died: And endeavoring to find out the cauſe, the next day they put a Spoonful of the ſame*Oatmeal. Girts which were in the Pottage, and boyled it in a Pint of Water, and gave the ſame to the Dog. And about half an hour after, the Dog was taken with Vomitings, and looking into the bottom of the Skillet wherein the Water and Girts were boyled, took out ſome Yellow thing, which they underſtood to be Yellow Arſenick; to make a further diſovery, they took the remainder of the*Oatmeal. Girts, and put them in a Bowl of Water, intending to ſee what was therein, to ſtand a little white, and when they came to ſee for it, the*Oatmeal. Girts were taken out, and the Water thrown away by Anne Evans (Apprentice to the ſaid William Weeks Dyer) into the Sink; and ſeeing afterwards into the Sink, they took up ſome more of the Poyſon, and ſhewed it to Doctor Holland, and ſome other Phyſitians, who ſaid it was Yellow Arſenick.
Mary Hurd.
The Information of Hugh Littleworth, taken before the Right Worſhipful William Weeks Major of Plymouth. Auguſt 25. 1675.
THe ſaid Informant faith, that he having ſome diſcourſe with Anne Evans, ſhe ſaid, that there had been a difference between the Nurſe Philip Wife of Richard Cary and her Miſtris Weeks, and the ſaid Philip Cary ſaid, that ſhe would fit her Miſtris, and the ſaid Philip Cary asking of the ſaid Evans where ſhe ſhould have any Rats-bane. Who replied, if ſhe did go to the Apothecary, he would take her name. And alſo the ſaid Evans confeſſed to this Informant, that ſhe gathering of Herbs on Wedneſday or Thurſday laſt in the Garden, ſome Stones were thrown in over the Wall into the Garden, and at laſt a Paper was thrown in, which ſhe took up and carried it in, and put it in a Salt-Sellar, ſhewing it to the ſaid Philip Cary, who told her that ſhe did not know what it was, and then ſhe put it into the Salt-Sellar again, and ſeeking for it on Sabbath day at night, it was gone out of the Salt-Sellar. And this Informant further ſaith, that he was informed by Chriſtopher Scibbow, that the ſaid Philip Cary was packing up her Cloaths to be gon.
Hugh Littleworth.
Elizabeth Crone and Anne Partridge both depoſe the ſame.
The Information of the ſaid Philip Cary taken as aforeſaid.
THe ſaid Informant ſaith, that on Munday was Sevennight, there was a difference between her and her Miſtris concerning the Frying of Pilchards, and amongſt other things, the ſaid Miſtris Weeks called this Informant Whore, and ſaid, that ſhe was her Husbands Whore. And this Informant told the ſaid Miſtris Weeks, that ſhe had made a difference between this Informant and her Husband; but the next Morning the ſaid Miſtris Weeks and this Informant were very good Friends; and this Informant going to call her Husband where he was at Keels, he took up a Bowl in his Hand, and ſaid, that ſhe ſhould go home to Maſter Weeks, for that ſhe was his Whore. And this Informant further ſaith, that this Informant and her Husband being invited to Dinner to the ſaid Maſter Weeks his Houſe on Sabbath day laſt, and when ſhe came, there was a Diſh of Pottage laded up before ſhe came, which ſhe did eat, and her Husband did eat two Diſhes of the ſame Pottage.
And this Informant further ſaith, that Miſtris Pengelley did tell this Informant, that Anne Evans did riſe on Sabbath day by Four of the Clock in the Morning, which ſhe did wonder at, and this Informant further ſaith, that the ſaid Anne Evans told her, that ſhe would go away with the Mountebanks, for ſhe could not indure the hardneſs of her Miſtris.
And this Informant further ſaith, that the Munday following, ſhe Vomited and Purged, and that ſhe had great pains in her Stomack, and Griping in the Guts, and alſo ſaith, that there are no retainers belonging to the Houſe beſides this Informant, and the ſaid Anne Evans, and that no one elſe doth dreſs the Meat.
The Examination of Anne Evans, taken as aforeſaid on Oath the 26th. of Auguſt, 1675.
THe ſaid Examinant ſaith, that about a Fourtnight or Three Weeks ſince, there then being a difference between her Miſtris Elizabeth Weeks, and Nurſe Philip Cary, the ſaid Nurſe ſaid, that ſhe would fit her one way or other. And this Informant further ſaith, that a Tueſday laſt, ſhe going out into the Garden to gather Herbs, amongſt the Mary golds ſhe found a Paper, in which was a yellow Stone, which ſhe thought was Painting, but now ſhe ſuppoſeth it was Rats-bane, ſo this Informant carried it in, and put it in a Salt-Sellar, and a Saturday ſhe ſhewed the ſame to the Nurſe, and asked her what it was, who told her ſhe knew not, and then ſhe put it in the Salt. Sellar again.
And this Examinant further ſaith, that the next day after the ſaid difference, the ſaid Nurſe told this Examinant, ſhe did wiſh the old Gypſon were ſo far as ſhe did wiſh her, and ſaid that ſhe would fit her, and this Examinant asking her how, ſhe anſwered, a little Rats-bane would make work with her by and by. And this Examinant asking her where ſhe would have it, ſhe ſaid that there was enough at the Apothecaries. And this Examinant told her, that he would take her name, and ſhe anſwered, that there was an Apothecary in St. Andrews Street that did not know her.
And this Examinant further ſaith, that on Saturday laſt, this Examinant fetched a Pot of Beer for her Maſter before he went to Plympton, and her Maſter made a Toaſt, and put in Nutmeg and Sugar therein, and did Drink thereof, and her Miſtris, and Miſtris Pengelley, and her Son John, and put the remainder in the Window, and when this Examinant came to ſee for the Drink, there was a great Spider in it, then ſhe took out the Spider with a Spoon, and left in the Window, and a little after ſhe asking the Nurſe whether ſhe had drank the Beer that ſtood in the Window, ſhe ſaid no. Then this Examinant told her that there was a Spider in it, but ſhe had taken it out, and did believe that her Miſtris had drank it; then the Nurſe replied, thou ſhouldeſt have let it alone thou Fool, and not have taken it out, but ſhouldeſt have ſquatted it abroad in the Beer.
The Sign of Anne A.E. Evans.
The Examination of the ſaid Philip Cary, taken as aforeſaid.
THe ſaid Examinant being demanded whether ſhe did ſay that ſhe did wiſh the old Gypſon were ſo far as ſhe did wiſh, and that ſhe would fit her, and whether ſhe did ſay that her Rats-bane would work with her by and by, of words to that effect, ſhe anſwered, no. And being demanded whether ſhe had any diſcourſe with the ſaid Anne Evans touching the Spider on Saturday laſt, which ſhould be taken out of the Beer, ſhe ſaith ſhe had; and being demanded why ſhe ſaid to the ſaid Evans, that ſhe ſhould have let the Spider alone and ſquatted it abroad in the Beer, or uſed any words to that effect, ſhe ſaith, that ſhe had no diſcourſe with her, nor ſpake any ſuch thing; and this Examinant further ſaith, that ſhe did hear the ſaid Anne Evans ſay, that ſhe would make away with her Miſtris, to wit, the ſaid Miſtris Weeks, there being a difference between them on Saturday was Fourtnight, to the beſt of this Examinants remembrance: and being demanded why ſhe did not reveal it, ſhe anſwered, that the ſaid Anne Evans did deſire her that ſhe would not reveal it, for if ſhe did, ſhe ſhould be even killed, and therefore ſhe did forbear to reveal it.
The Sign of the ſaid Philip Cary.