Hell Opened, Confession 2
The Ingenious and true Confeſſion of Anne Evans, concerning the horrid and cruel Murder of Elizabeth Weeks, and Mary Pengelley.
ENvy being once at the height, it put in Execution with a Witneſs. This Nurſe having by ſome means cauſed her Husband to receive words from her Miſtris, he was pleaſed to be very angry with his Wiſe for the ſame, and withal threatens her to leave her. And departed for a Fortnights time; whereupon began an hatching of this Barbarous action by the ſaid Nurſe, ſaying ſhe would fit her for it; for ſhe her Miſtris was the cauſe of her Husbands going from her, (as ſhe ſaid) and endeavored to put it in practiſe with perſwading the ſaid Anne Evans to go to Maſter Mathews the Apothecary for Ratsbane, telling her ſhe ſhould ask it for the poyſoning of Rats and Mice, ſaying, it will do her work in as ſhort a time as one might go to the Gate and back again, and then they ſhould live as merry as the days were long, when the old Devil was gone. Saying, ſhe knew one who was poyſoned in as little time with it and ſome Cream.
Whereupon like a true and Faithful Servant, the ſaid Anne Evans refuſeth and rejects the ſaid ſayings, and would by no means do it.
Here we muſt ſtop a while, and give you to underſtand how much this poor Creature lived in fear of the Nurſe, and by that means neglected the diſcovery of it to the deſtroying of her Body, …ut … hot … the deſtroying of her Soul. For there is mercy with the Lord, that he may be Feared.
Now the Devil having once got hold on her Heart, neglects no opportunities, but puts her on it with great ſubtilties and invention: The Nurſe laying, as it is ſuppoſed by all circumſtances, a clean Paper twiſted at both ends with Poyſon in it in the path of the Garden; knowing that this Anne Evans was to go forth to gather Herbs to put into the Pot, (according to her Miſtreſſes command,) ſhe finds the Paper lying in her way, which ſhe took up, and brought in, and ſhews it to this Nurſe again, asking her what it was, who pretended ſhe knew not, and with all bidding her put it out of her hand, the Nurſe eyed her where ſhe lay'd it, which was in the Kitchin on a ſhelf.
Going afterward to the Conduit for Water, at her return it came into her mind, to look on that thing once more, which ſhe had taken up in the Garden, and it was gone off from the ſhelf; which no body elſe could take but the ſaid Nurſe, for it was at Eight of the Clock at night, and no body there but ſhe.
Then the ſaid Anne Evans ſaw her grinding it on the Harth with Two Tiles, and demanding her what ſhe was doing, ſhe cryed Peace! we ſhall have brave sport, if you will but put this into the old Womans Diſh. She through her enticements and ſtrong perſwaſions, not knowing what it was, or that the end of it would be death, being not willing to have her displeaſure. For ſhe lived in great fear of offending the Nurſe, becauſe ſhe was in great favor with the young Miſtreſs, thinking that if ſhe did not conſent to her requeſt ſhe ſhould fare the worſe for it.
And further the ſaid Anne Evans doth teſtifie that the ſame Sunday ſhe was ſent for ſome drink, which ſhe brought to the Nurſe, and the Nurſe did Warm it, and put a bit of Bread into it, and drank up a good draught of it, and filled it up again afterward with other drink, in which ſhe had ſteeped ſome of that Powder all night, and gave it to the old Miſtriſs to drink.
Here is a Conſeſſion Harmonical with that ſhe made formerly, ſhe varied nothing from firſt to laſt in it. So that as the Serpent drew in Eve, in like manner did this wicked Nurſe beguile this poor Maid into the tranſgreſſion.