The Witches of Huntingdon, Part 1 – Part 13
The Examination of Elizabeth Weed of great Catworth in the County of Huntingdon, Widow, taken upon the laſt day of March, 1646. before Robert Bernard, and Nicholas Pedley, Eſq; two of his Majeſties Juſtices of the peace for this County.
SHe ſaith, that about one and twenty yeares ſince ſhe being ſaying her Prayers in the evening about bedtime, there did appeare unto her three Spirits, one in the likeneſſe of a young man or boy, and …e other two of two Puppies, the one white and the other black: and that which was in the ſhape of a young man did ſpeak unto her, asking her, if ſhee would renounce God and Chriſt; ſhee anſwered, ſhee would. And the Devill then offer'd her, that hee would doe what miſchiefe ſhe ſhould require him; and ſaid ſhe muſt covenant with him that he muſt have her ſoule at the end of one and twenty years, which ſhe granted. And ſaith, that he came to her about a week after, about ten of the clock in the night, with a Paper, and asked her whether ſhe were willing to ſeale the Covenant, ſhee ſaid ſhe was, then he told her it muſt be done with her bloud, and ſo pricked her under her left arme, and made her bleed in the place: a great lumpe of fleſh did riſe, and hath encreaſed ever ſince, and he ſcribled therewith. And being demanded what light was there, ſhe anſwered, none but the light of the Spirit, and preſently he came to bed to her, and had the carnall knowledge of her, and ſo did divers times after, and ſaith, the other two Spirits did then, and at other times come into her bed alſo, and ſuckt upon other parts of her body where ſhee had Teats. Being demanded the name of the leſſer Spirits, ſhee ſaith the name of the white one was Lilly, and the blacke one Priſcill; and that the office of Lilly was to hurt man, woman, or coilde; and the office of Priſcill was to hurt Cattell when ſhe deſired. And the office of the man-like Spirit was to lye with her carnally, when and as often as ſhe deſired, and that hee did lye with her in that manner very often; and that the Spirit Lilly, acchrding to the Covenant, did kill the childe of Mr. Henry Bedells of Catworth aforeſaid, as ſhee this Examinate deſired him to do; and that ſhe wiſht him to doe the ſame when ſhe was angrie; but doth not well remember for what: and ſaith, that about two or three dayes before that, ſhee ſent the ſame Lilly to the ſaid Henry Bedells commanding him to kill him, who returned and ſaid hee had no power: and confeſſeth ſhee ſent her ſaid Spirit another time to doe ſome hurt to Edward Muſgrave of Catworth, aforeſaid, who likewiſe returned anſwer, he had no power: And that ſhe ſent her Spirit Priſcill to kill two horſes of the ſaid Edward Muſgraves, and one of John Muſgraves, and to kil one Co… of William Muſgraves, and one Cow of Thomas Th…rps of the ſame Towne, which was done accordingly. And being demanded when the one and twenty yeares would be out, ſhe anſwered about Low-Sunday next, to the beſt of her remembrance, and being further demanded what was the reaſon, ſhe did duly reſort to Church to Sermons, & alſo to the Miniſters houſe to repetition, which Mr. Poole the Miniſter being preſent did affirme; ſhee ſaith, ſhe was well pleaſed with his preaching, and had a deſire to be rid of that unhappy burthen which was upon her. And further ſhe ſaith not.
Signum
Elizabeth Weed.
ROB. BERNARD.
The Examination of John Winnick of Molſeworth in the ſaid County, Labourer, taken upon the 11. day of Aprill, 1646. before Robert Bernard Eſquire, one of His Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for this County.
HEe ſaith, that about 29. yeares ſince, the 29th yeare ending about Midſommer laſt paſt, he being a Batchellour, lived at Thropſton with one Bu…eman, who then kept the Inne at the George, and withall kept Husbandry: this Examinate being a ſervant to him in his husbandry, did then looſe a p…e with 7 s. in it, for which he ſuſpected one in the Family. He ſaith that on a Friday being in the barne, making hay-bottles for his horſes about noon, ſwearing, curſing, raging, and wiſhing to himſelfe that ſome wiſe body (or Wizzard) would helpe him to his purſe and money again: there appeare… unto him a Spirit, blacke and ſhaggy, and having pawes like a Beare, but in bulk not fully ſo big as a Coney. The Spirit asked him what he ailed to be ſo ſorrowfull, this Examinate anſwered that he had loſt a purſe and money, and knew not how to come by it againe. The Spirit replied, if you will forſake God and Chriſt, and fall down & worſhip me for your God, I will help you to your purſe and mony againe: This Examinate ſaid he would, and thereupon fell down upon his knees and held up his hands. Then the Spirit ſaid, to morrow about this time of the day, you ſhall find your purſe upon the floor where you are now making bottles, I will ſend it to you, and will alſo come my ſelfe. Whereupon this Examinate told the Spirit he would meete him there, and receive it, & worſhip him. Whereupon at the time prefixed, this Examinate went unto the place, and found his purſe upon the floore and tooke it up, and looking afterwards into it, he found there all the money that was formerly loſt: but before he had looked into it, the ſame Spirit appears unto him and ſaid, there is your purſe and your money in it: and t…en this Examinate fell downe upon his knees and ſaid, my Lord and God I thanke you. The ſaid Spirit at that time brought with him two other Spirits, for ſhape, bigneſſe, & colour, the one like a white Cat, the other like a grey Coney: and while this Examinate was upon his knees, the Beare Spirit ſpake to him, ſaying, you muſt worſhip theſe two Spirits as you worſhip me, and take them for your Gods alſo: then this Examinate directed his bodie towards them, and call'd them his Lords and Gods. Then the Beare Spirit told him that when he dyed he muſt have his ſoule, whereunto this Examinate yielded. Hee told him then alſo that they muſt ſuck of his body, to which this Examinate alſo yielded, but they did not ſucke at that time. The Beare Spirit promiſed him that he ſhould never want victualls. The Cat Spirit that it would hurt cattel when he would deſire it. And the Coney-like Spirit that it would hurt men when he deſired. The bear ſpirit told him that it muſt have ſome of his blood wherewith to ſeale the Covenant, whereunto this Examinate yeelded, and then the beare Spirit leapt upon his ſhoulder, and prickt him on the head, and … thence tooke blood: and after thus doing, the ſaid three ſpirits vaniſht away. The next day about noone, the ſaid Spirits came to him while hee was in the field, and told him they were come to ſuck of his body, to which he yielded, and they ſuckt his body at the places where the marks are found, and from that time to this, they have come conſtantly to him once every 24. hours, ſometimes by day, and moſt commonly by night. And being demanded what miſchiefe he cauſed any of the ſaid Spirits to do, he anſwered never any, onelyonly hee ſent his beare Spirit to provoke the Maid-ſervant of Mr. Say of Molmeſworth to ſteale victualls for him out of her Maſters houſe, which ſhe did, and this Examinate received the ſame.
The marke of
John Winnicke.
ROE. BERNARD.
The examination of Francis Moore, taken before Nicholas Pedley Eſq; one of his Majeſties Juſtices of Peace for this County, the ninth day of April. 1646.
THis Examinate ſaith, that about eight yeares ſince ſhe received a little blacke puppy from one Margaret Simſon of great Catworth, which dog the ſaid Margaret had in her bed with her, & took it thence when ſhe gave it to the Examinate: The Examinate further ſaith, that the ſaid Margaret told her, that ſhe muſt keep that dogge all her life time; and if ſhe curſed any Cattell, & ſet the ſame dog upon them, they ſhould preſently dye, and the ſaid Margaret told her that ſhe had named it already, his name was Pretty.
And the ſaid Examinate further ſaith, that about the ſame time one goodwife Weed gave her a white Cat, telling her, that if ſhe would deny God, and affirme the ſame by her bloud, then whomſoever ſhe curſed and ſent that Cat unto, they ſhould dye ſhortly after. Whereupon this ſaid Examinate ſaith that ſhee did deny God, and in affirmation thereof ſhee pricked her finger with a thorne, whence iſſued bloud, which the Cat preſently licked; and the ſaid goood-wife Weed named the Cat Tiſſy. And the ſaid Examinate further ſaith, that one William Foſter, about ſixteen yeares ſince, would have hanged two of her children for offering to take a piece of bread; and for that cauſe about ſixe yeares ſince ſhe curſed the ſaid William Foſter; whereupon the white Cat went to him, and he immediately fell ſick, and lying in great paine for the ſpace of ſeven or eight dayes, and then dyed: but being demanded what the Cat did to him, or what ſhee bid it doe, ſhe ſaith ſhe remembers not. And ſhee further ſaith, that about five yeares ſince, ſhee keeping Cowes in the field, a Cow of Edward Hulls went into the graine, ſhe curſed her, and ſet Pretty on her, and ſhe ſwelled and dyed ſhortly after; and after that a Cow of one Peter Brownes went into the Corne, and ſhee likewiſe curſed her, and ſet Pretty on her, and ſhe dyed within two or three dayes after: and ſhe further ſaith, that ſhe killed the ſaid Dog and Cat about a yeare ſince; and yet after that the like Dog and Cat haunted her familiarly: and when ſhe was apprehended, they crept under her cloathes, and tortured her ſo that ſhe could not ſpeake, to confeſſe freely, and more ſhe ſaith not.
The Marke of
Frances Moore.
Ni. Pedley.
The Information of Peter Slater of Little Catworth in the ſaid County, Shepheard, taken upon oath, before Robert Bernard Eſq; one of his Majeſties Juſtices of Peace for this County, upon the 7th day of April. 1646.
THis Informant ſaith, That his wife dying about one and twenty yeares ſince in Child-bed, and one Frances Moore being ſuſpected for a Witch, & in cuſtody: He went to her upon Friday laſt, and asked her, if ſhe did his wife any harme? ſhe anſwered ſhe did, by curſing her. And he ſaith, his wife did of a ſudden change and dye, after ſhe had lain in a week; and that a little before this Informants wife was brought to bed, the ſaid Frances Moore falling out with her, ſaid, ſhe hoped ſhee ſhould never be untwin'd, as this Informant hath ſince called to minde.
Signum
Peter Slater.
ROB. BERNARD.
The Information of William Searle of little Catworth, Ye…man taken upon oath the ſaid day and yeare.
THis Informant ſaith, he was preſent when Frances Moore did confeſſe her ſelfe to be a Witch, and that ſhee had done much harme; and amongſt other things, that ſhe ſent her Spirit Pretty to this Informants Capons, who did kill them: and hee ſaith, that ſhe comming to bake a loafe at his houſe about three or four yeares ſince, being denyed, the Capons did fall a fluttering, and would never eate after. Alſo ſaith, that about the ſaid time, ſhe having a Hogge in his yard, ſome of his ſervants ſet a Dog on the ſame; for which ſhe ſaid ſhe would bee revenged; and the next day one of his Hogs dyed.
Signum,
William Searle.
ROB. BERNARD.
The Examination of Elizabeth Chandler of Keiſton, Widow, taken the ſeventh day of Aprill, 1646. before Robert Bernard and Nicholas Pedley Eſquires, two of his Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for this County.
SHee ſaith that ſomething hath come to her five times within this little ſpace, and that there was about a weekes ſpace between their comming to her, and that the laſt time was upon Satterday ſeven-night laſt in a puffing and roaring manner. And ſhe ſaith that ſhe found her body ſore about the bottome of her belly after he was gone from her. She ſaith ſhe did never willingly invoke or imploy the ſame, but hath prayed to God to deliver her therfrom. Being demanded whether ſhe did heretofore ſtrike a childe of Goodwife Darnells of Keiſton, named Katherine, or ſend any Spirit to harm it, ſhe denyeth the ſame: being asked whether ſhe did heretofore uſe any means to ſpoile the Furmity of the ſaid Goodwife Darnell or any other, ſhe anſwered no; ſhe confeſſeth that about two years ſince, having received ſome hard uſage from the ſaid Goodwife Darnell, by cauſing her to be duckt, ſhee did heartily deſire to be revenged of her. And about halfe a yeare after, and ever ſince, ſhe hath been troubled with the ſaid roaring things. Being damanded whether ſhe had not two Imps reſorted to her, and that ſhe named the ſame, calling the one Beelzebub, & the other Trullibub: She denyeth the ſame, only ſaith ſhe did call a logg of wood Beelzebub, and a ſticke Trullibub.
Signum,
Elizabeth Chandler.
OB. BERNARD.
The Information of Mary Darnell the Wife of William Darnell of Keiſton, Blacke-ſmith; taken upon oath the ſaid ſeventh day of April, fore the ſaid Juſtices.
SHe ſaith that about a year ſince, ſhe had a daughter named Katherine, which was then about the age of nine yeares, which …hilde was eating Furmity with another childe brought up by Elizabeth Chandler at the houſe of one William Browning in Keiſton aforeſaid: at which time the ſaid two children fell out as ſhe …eard. And this Infor…ants child did expres when ſhe came home that Goodwiſe Chandler had given it a boxe of the Eare, & complayned of that …e ſo long as it lived, which was untill that day 3 weeks: and during the time that it did lye ill, it did ſqueal and ſhreek out very often, that Goodwife Chandler did come to her and would kill her. And ſhe ſaith, that about a yeare ſince ſhe made ſome Furmity, and bid ſome Neighbours to the houſe: but when the ſame was taking up, it did continue boyling for an houre after it was taken from the fire, and ſhe could not keepe it from running over, although ſhe put it into great bowles, tubs, and other large veſſells. And ſhe hath heard Lewis Carmell ſay that ſhe confeſſed ſhe did cauſe it to be ſpoiled by Beelzebub, becauſe ſhe was not bid to it, nor had any part thereof.
Signum,
Mary Darnell.
ROB. BERNARD.
The examination of Ell…n the Wife of William Shepheard of Moleſworth in the ſaid County, Labourer, taken the 8th day of Aprill, 1646. before Robert Bernard and Nicholas Pedley, Eſquires, two of His Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for the ſaid County.
SHee ſaith, that about five yeares ſince, when ſhee was in her homſted at Moleſworth, ſwearing and curſing about the diſcords of her children, there appeared unto her a Spirit, ſomewhat like a Rat, but not fully ſo big, of an iron-grey colour, and ſaid you muſt goe with me, and ſhe ſaid, I will not, avoid Satan, and thereupon he went away. Shee ſaith, that within a ſhort time after, going into the field, curſing, and fretting, and blaſpheming, there appeared three Spirits more with the former in the faſhion of Rats, of an iron-grey, and ſaid, you muſt forſake God and Chriſt, and goe with me, and take thoſe ſpirits for your Gods, and you ſhall have all happineſſe, whereunto ſhe conſented: And moreover they ſaid unto her, that when ſhe dyed, they muſt have her body and ſoule, and ſaid, they muſt have blood from her, which ſhe granted, and thereupon they ſucked her upon and about her hippes, and they have uſed very often to come to her ſince. Being demanded whether ever ſhe imployed them to hurt any reaſonable creature or beaſt, ſhe ſaith ſhe did not: And ſhee ſaith that ſome of them did torment her this afternoon, ſince ſhe was brought to Huntington to be examined. Being demanded whether ſhe enjoyed any happineſſe (as they promiſed) ſince they frequented her, ſhe ſaith ſhe did not, but doth intend to leave her former courſe of curſing and ſwearing.
Signum,
Ellen Shepheard.
ROB. BERNARD,
NIC. PEDLY.
The information of Thomas Becke of Bythorn in Com. Hunt. Yeoman, againſt Anne Desborough, taken upon oath before Nicholas Pedley Eſquire, one of his Majeſties Juſtices of Peace for the ſaid County, the 9th day of April, 1646.
THis Informant ſaith, that Anne Deſborough Widow of Bythorn aforeſaid, being apprehended upon ſuſpition of being a witch, on the 8th day of this preſent April, he in the preſence of Maſter Coyſh and others, heard the ſaid Anne Deſborough (in anſwer to queſtions asked her) freely confeſſe, that about 30. yeares ſince, there appeared unto her a thing ſomewhat bigger then a mouſe, of a browne colour, when ſhe lived at Titſmarſh in the County of Northampton, ſhe being in bed and aſleep, which nipped her on the breaſt and awakened her, then it told her that it muſt have part of her ſoule: ſhe prayed thsn to God, and it left her at that time, and the ſaid Informant heard the ſaid Anne further ſay, that about five or ſixe dayes after, the ſame mouſe appeared againe to her with another much like the former, it being a little leſſe then the former, and had a white bellie: then the mouſe that came firſt ſaid, we muſt abide with you, and ſucke your bloud, ſhe ſaid that they ſhould. About three dayes after both the mice came to her againe, and told her that ſhe muſt forſake God and Chriſt: and when ſhe dyed, they muſt have her ſoule, to all which ſhe yielded: this Informant ſaith further, that he heard the ſaid Anne confeſſe that ſhe named one of the mice Tib, which promiſed her to hurt men, and ſhe named the other Jone, which promiſed her to hurt Cattell when ſhe wiſhed it: and after the third time they kept not away from her above 24. houres together, but did frequent her, and familiarly ſuck …n her bodie, untill ſhe was apprehended.
Thomas Becke.
NIC: PEDLEY.
April the 8. day, Anno 1646.
ANne Deſborough of Bythorn in the County of Huntington, confeſſeth, that about 30. yeares ſince, the firſt weeke of Cleane Lent, there appeared unto her a thing ſome-what bigger then a Mouſe, of a brown colour, and of the likeneſſe of a mouſe. This was while ſhee lived at Tichmarſh in the County of Northampton: ſhe being there in bed, and in a dreame, the ſaid likeneſſe then gave her a nip, and thereby awakened her out of her dreame, and then told her (when ſhe was awakened) that it muſt have part of her ſoule; whereupon ſhe was in a great feare, and gave him no anſwer, but prayed to God, and thereupon it vaniſhed away from her. About five dayes after, the ſame Mouſe appeared to her againe, bringing with it another Mouſe, about the bigneſſe of an ordinary Mouſe, or very little bigger, browne like the former, ſave only that this latter had ſome white about the belly, whereas the former was all browne. Then the Mouſe that firſt appeared, ſaid, we muſt ſucke of your body. Shee yielded to them, and ſaid, they ſhould: upon her yie…ding they went to her, and ſucked of her bodie, where the markes are found. The bigger mouſe ſhe called Tib, and the leſſer Jone. Tib told her that ſhe muſt forſake God and Chriſt, and take them for her Gods: telling her that when ſhe dyed, they muſt have her ſoule, to all which ſhe yielded. Tib promiſed her to hurt men if ſhee ſhould deſire. Jone promiſed her to hurt Cattell if ſhee should deſire. Within two dayes after they appeared again: and ever after till ſhee was diſcovered, they appeared once every 24. houres.
This the ſaid Deſbourough confeſſed on the firſt ſaid day in the preſence of me
Joſeph Coysh Miniſter of the Word.
The Examination of Jane Wallis of Keiſton in the County of Huntington Spinſter taken the 16th day of Aprill, 1646. before Sir Robert Osborn Knight, one of his Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for the County of Huntington.
THis Examinate ſaith, as ſhe was making of her bedde in her Chamber, there appeared in the shape of a man in blacke cloaths and blackish cloaths about ſixe weeks paſt, and bid her good-morrow, and shee asked what his name was, and he ſaid his name was Blackeman, and asked her if she were poore, and she ſaid I; then he told her he would ſend one Griſſell and Greedigut to her, that shall do any thing for her: Shee looking upon him, ſaw hee had ugly feete, and then she was very fearfull of him for that he would ſeem ſometimes to be tall, and ſometimes leſſe, and ſuddenly vanished away.
And being demanded whether he lay with her, shee ſaid hee would have lain with her, but shee would not ſuffer him: and after Blackeman was departed from her, within three or 4. dayes, Griſſell and Greedigut came to her, in the shapes of dogges with great briſles of hogges haire upon their backs, and ſaid to her they were come from Blackeman to do what she would command them, and did aske her if shee did want any thing, and they would fetch her any thing: and shee ſaid shee lacked nothing: then they prayed her to give them ſome victuals, and she ſaid she wa… poore and had none to give them, and ſo they departed: Yet the confeſſed that Blackman, Griſſell, and Greedigut divers times cames to her afterwards, and brought her two or three shillings at a time, and more ſaith not.
Signum Jane Willis.
April 14. 1646.
IOANE WALLIS confeſſed to me, and John Guylet that ſhee had …ree Spirits, ſhe called them Black-man, Griſſel, and Gredigul, and that Blackman gave her the other two, and told her they ſhould doe any thing for her that ſhe ſhould deſire: ſhe ſaid Blackman came firſt to her, about a twelve-monethmonth ſince, like a man ſomething ancient, in blackish cloathes, out he had ugly feet uncovered. Sometimes she ſaid it was longer ſince he firſt came to her, and ever ſince he appeared in the like shape, but Griſſell, and Greedigut did come in ſeverall shapes, yet moſt commonly like hounds with Briſſells on their backes. I asked her what uſe she put them to, and if any of them had the uſe of her body beſides ſucking; she ſaid he would have had once, but shee denyed him: then preſently of her ſelfe shee ſaid, if I would not tell, shee would confeſſe, but she hoped I would love her never the worſe, and then shee ſaid that Blackman had the uſe of her body once, twice, and ſometimes thrice in a week, but the other two onelyonly ſucked her where her marks are found; she ſaid Blackman never ſucked her; she would not confeſſe that she ever ſent them to doe any harme, but ſaid the filthy rough Blackman would ſend them; but what hurt they did she confeſſed not to us. I asked her to what purpoſe she ſet Griſ. and Greed. ſuck her if she made no uſe of them? she ſaid, they would ſometimes bring her money, two or three shillings at a time, and that was all they did for her; and once they told her they robb'd a man, and pulled him from his horſe, and brought her ſome money.
All this she confeſſed to me before Dinner, and after Dinner she affirmed it all to be truth, but in the repeating she would ſeem to forget Griſ. and Greed. names, but alwayes affirmed the ſame of Blackman; She ſaid, she firſt would have had them ſucked her breaſts, but they would not, and choſe the place themſelves.
Edw. Ma. Wingfeild.
John Guylatte.
The Examination of John Clarke Junior, of Keiſton, in the County of Hunt. Labourer, taken before me John-Caſtell, Eſquire, one of his Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for the ſaid County, the 2d. day of May. 1646.
WHo ſaith, That true it is that hee did overtake one man and three women upon the Sabbath day laſt was ſeven-night, between Stanwick and Raunce, being about three miles from Keiſtone, whither this Examinate was going. But this Examinate denyeth that he ever told or ſaid that he had any marks cut off, or that he had any place of meeting with any Witches, or that he had any conſultation, or made any Compact with the Devill, or ever knew what belonged to any ſuch matter. And further ſaith not.
JOHN CASTELL.