The voluntarie Confefsion

and Examination of Elizabeth Sowtherns alias
Demdike, taken at the Fence in the For-

reft of Pendle in the Countie

of Lancaster.

The fecond day of Aprill, Annoq; Regni Regis Iacobi Ang-
gliæ, &c. Decimo, et Scotia Quadragefimo quinto;
Before Roger Nowell of Reade Efquire, one of his
Maiefties Iuftices of the peace with-

in the sayd Countie, Viz.

He faid Elizabeth Sowtherns confeffeth, and fayth; That about twentie yeares paft, as fhe was comming homeward from homeward from begging, there met her this Examinate neere vnto a Stonepit in Gould hey, in the fayd Forrest of Pendle, a Spirit or Deuill in the fhape of a Boy, the one halfe of his Coate blacke, and the other browne, who bade this Examinate ftay, faying to her, that if fhe would giue him her Soule, fhe fhould haue any thing that she would request. Wherevpon this Examinat demaunded his name? and the Spirit anfwered, his name was Tibb: and fo this Examinate in hope of fuch gaine as was promised by the fayd Deuill or Tibb, was contented to giue her Soule to the faid Spirit: And for the space of fiue or fixe yeares next after, the fayd Spirit or Deuill appeared at fundry times vnto her this Examinate about Day-light Gate, alwayes bidding her ftay, and asking her this Examinate what she would

haue

haue or doe? To whom this Examinate replyed, Nay nothing for the this Examinate faid, she wanted nothing yet. And fo about the end of the faid fixe yeares, vpon a Sabboth day in the morning, this Examinate hauing a litle Child vpon her knee, and the being in a flumber, the fayd Spirit appeared vnto her in the likenes of a browne Dogg, forcing himselfe to her knee, to get blood vnder her left Arme: and the being without any apparrell fauing her Smocke, the faid Deuill did get blood vnder her left arme. And this Examinate awaking, fayd, Iefus faue my Child; but had no power, nor could not fay, Iefus faue her felfe: wherevpon the Browne Dogge vanifhed out of this Examinats fight after which, this Examinate was almost starke madd for the space of eight weekes.

And vpon her examination, fhe further confeffeth, and faith. That a little before Christmas laft, this Examinates Daughter hauing been to helpe Richard Baldwyns Folkes at the Mill: This Examinates Daughter did bid her this Examinate goe to the fayd Baldwyns house, and aske him fome thing for her helping of his Folkes at the Mill, (as aforesaid:) and in this Examinates going to the faid Baldwyns houfe, and neere to the fayd houfe, fhe mette with the faid Richard Baldwyn; Which Baldwyn fayd to this Examinate, and the faid Alizon Deuice (who at that time ledde this Examinate, being blinde) get out of my ground Whores and Witches, I will burne the one of you, and hang the other. To whom this Examinate anfwered: I care not for thee, hang thy felfe: Prefently wherevpon, at this Examinates going ouer the next hedge, the faid Spirit or Diuell called Tibb, appeared vnto this Examinat, and fayd, Reuenge thee of him. To whom, this Examinate fayd againe to the faid Spirit. Revenge thee eyther of him, or his. And fo the said Spirit vanished out of her fight, and she

neuer faw him fince.

And further this Examinate confeffeth, and fayth, that the speediest way to take a mans life away by VVitchcraft, is to make a Picture of Clay, like vnto the shape of the perfon whom they meane to kill, & dry it thorowly: and when they would haue them to be ill in any one place more then an other; then take a Thorne or Pinne, and pricke it in that part of the Picture you would fo haue to be ill and when you would haue any part of the Body to confume away, then take that part of the Picture, and burne it. And when they would haue the whole body to confume away, then take the remnant of the fayd Picture, and burne it: and fo therevpon by that meanes, the body shall die.

The

The Confefsion and Exami

nation of Anne Whittle alias Chattox, being
Prifoner at Lancafter; taken the 19 day of May,
Annoq; Regni Regis Iacobi Angliæ, Decimo:
ac Scotie Quadragefimo quinto; Before
William Sandes Maior of the Bor-

rough towne of Lancafter.

Iames Anderton of Clayton, one of his Maiefties Iuftices of Peace within the fame County, and Thomas Cowell one of his Maiefties Coroners in

the fayd Countie of Lancafter,

Viz.

Irft, the fayd Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, fayth, that about foureteene yeares paft fhe entered, through the wicked perfwafions and counfell of Elizabeth Southerns, alias Demdike, and was feduced to condefcend & agree to become fubiect vnto that diuelish abhominable profefsion of Witchcraft: Soone after which, the Deuill appeared vnto her in the liknes of a Man, about midnight, at the houfe of the fayd Demdike: and therevpon the sayd Demdike and thee, went foorth of the faid houfe vnto him; wherevpon the faid wicked Spirit mooued this Examinate, that fhe would become his Subiect, and giue her Soule vnto him: the which at firft, fhe refufed to affent vnto; but after, by the great perfwafions made by the fayd Demdike, fhee yeelded to be at his commaundement and appoyntment: wherevpon the fayd wicked Spirit then fayd vnto her, that hee muft haue one part of her body for him to fucke vpon; the which fhee denyed then to graunt vnto him; and withall asked

him, what part of her body hee would haue for that vse; who said, hee would haue a place of her right fide neere to her ribbes, for him to fucke vpon: whereunto fhee affented.

And the further fayth, that at the fame time, there was a thing in the likenes of a spotted Bitch, that came with the fayd Spirit vnto the fayd Demdike, which then did speake vnto her in this Examinates hearing, and fayd, that the should haue Gould, Siluer, and worldly Wealth, at her will. And at the fame time the faith, there was victuals, viz. Flesh, Butter, Cheese, Bread, and Drinke, and bidde them eate enough. And after their eating, the Deuill called Fancie, and the other Spirit calling himselfe Tibbe, carried the remnant away: And she sayeth, that although they did eate, they were neuer the fuller, nor better for the fame; and that at their faid Banquet, the faid Spirits gaue them light to fee what they did, although they neyther had fire nor Candle light; and that they were both fhee Spirites, and Diuels.

And being further examined how many fundry Perfon haue been bewitched to death, and by whom they were fo bewitched: She fayth, that one Robert Nuter, late of the Greene-head in Pendle, was bewitched by this Examinate, the faid Demdike, and Widdow Lomfhawe, (late of Burneley) now deceased.

And the further fayth, that the faid Demdike shewed her, that she had bewitched to death, Richard Ashton, Sonne of Richard Afhton of Downeham Efquire.

The