The Examination and confession of certaine wytches at Chensforde in the countie of Essex : before the Quenes Maiesties judges, the xxvi daye of July, anno 1566, at the assise holden there as then, and one of them put to death for the same offence, as their examination declareth more at large.

The Examination and Confession of certaine Wytches at Chensforde in the Countie of Essex , before the Quenes maiesties Iudges , the xxvi . daye of Iuly⸫ ANNO. 1566 , at the Assise holden there as then , and one of them put to death for the same offence , as their examination declareth more at large .

The Epistle to the Reader .

GOD whych of hys singuler goodnesse ( as the sage philosopher Hermes hath plainly discribed ) to each of his creatures hath added a reasonable soule , which is the chiefe and most excellent treasure that any man can be indued withall : Let vs then consider gods inerplycable benefits alwaies of his owne free wyll ( and not of our desertes ) geuen and bestowed vpon vs , and sith that the soule of man is of great estimation in his fatherly presence , let vs endeuour our selues to walke , that by continuall exercise of vertuous and holesome documents , I meane not onely by hearing of the sincere veritie : neither yet by much talkyng of the same to heare , and not to bear awaye is altogether friuolous : To babble and prate much of Christ and hys gospell ( as though we would be counted ghostly gospellers ) & to wante the chefest thing , I meane the frutes o● well gouerned conuersacion , and to be cleane voyde of integritie , and cleanesse of lyfe , in my iudgement and as the lacred scripture verifieth , is nothynge but folly : ( example ) A tree that is altogether barren , and at the re●●●●●d time desty●●te of fruyte hauing a trim shewe of leaues , deserueth to be hewed downe and made ●●ete for the fier : so we wantinge fruite● required , but hauing plenty of leaues be of lyke effect , and for all the outwarde sh●we that we haue , we shall in like ●ase be cut downe & throwen into the fyer prepared for the deuill and his aungelles , from which ( gentell reader ) God defende vs all , and geue vs suche grace that we maye benceforthe walke in our vocation , that god in al our workes may be vnfeynedly glorified , and by th admonitiō of this littel boke learne in such sorte to keepe our soules , by fixed and assured faith in Christ , from the stinking puddle of filthy p●llution , then shal we escape that hor●●ble place prepared for the vngodly and wy●ked liuers , & as profitable seruants be counted apt members to dwell wyth our Sauiour Christ aboue the cloudes in his heuenly kingdome , to the which god for hys me●cies sake bring vs all . Amen .

The Preface . My tremblinge hande for feare doth ●y dolour doth excede : ( quake , My ioyes decrese to tender teares my sportes are turnd in dede . The gredy gu●fs of gry●ly griefe , so gripe my restles harte : that my pore pen can scantly shewe , the passions of my sinarte . Drawe nere you patrones with your babes , come viewe this haples happe : In flushing fluddes of ●ominge teares your tender bewtyes lappe . Ye matrones milde drawe nere in haste , this yrksome acte beholde : Then Nature shall her rufull playnts , by you her Nimphes vnfolde . Eche wight in whom the skilfull skyll , of natures arte is shown : Surrender may them selues to me , this cruell acte to mone . The heapes of griefe so hugie are , that sobb●es must nedes abounde : Yea shrilly shrickes to passe the skies , your v●●ce● shall redounde . The dolour nowe so doutfull is , that skante my w●rbling penne : Can forth expresse the sence thereof , vnto the sonnes of men . Agayne the blub●●●e teares whych glide , from my ●oore pincked eyes : Besmerde my face that scarce I can , my inwarde gr●efes sup●rise . One while I ●lu●he for shame to showe , these pageantes worthy blame : Some other time my though●es me let , these bluddy fact●●● t● name . Thus as I stay in doubt alas , my dompes are passinge great : M● clogged ioyntes benom● with feare , haue got Dame ●orowes seat Her massy mace with direful stroke , hath stroke my members all : But these Periphrases I leaue , and will discourse my thrall . Which to conceaue each reader wyll , well way I do not doubt : Ofiate in Chenceforde towne deare friendes , before the noble route . Of Iudges iust plast in that seate , by our moste famous Queene : Iudgement to giue as iustice leades ▪ as daily well is scene . The Sess●o●s there by order kepte , offenders to correct : Thr● feminine dames attached were , whom Sathan had infect . With ●elials sprite whose ●orcery did , the simple so moiest : That when they woulde with present death . they were full sore opp●est . Here a●●er shall succede the actes , that they them selues haue wrought : 〈◊〉 they them selues confessed haue , to iudgement being brought . Which thing when thou haste viewed well , good Reader do 〈◊〉 praye : 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lorde that he from vs , 〈◊〉 witches take away . 〈…〉 ●apinge thou wilte , 〈…〉 we●● accept : 〈…〉 when thou haste hearde , 〈…〉〈◊〉 Prolog .

An exbortacion to all faithfull men wyllinge them to set Gods feare before their eyes and Sathans practises vtterly to despise annexed to the same , profitable for euery Christian man to reade and to imbrace . BEhold these acts & scan them well , behold their peruers way : these left the lord these did his truth which shold haue ben their stay ▪ In them such power sathan had , that Christ they did refuse : his precious blud ●hed them to saue to much they did abuse . Sin death and hell did spreade their flagge , in them they bare the sway : His worde was yrkesome to their hartes , they walked ●arre astray . What tender harte woulde god renounce , who woulde his gospell leaue : What godly one woulde hate his lorde , and vnto Sathan cleaue . What wight woulde gods good benefites , so lightly nowe esteme : Which sent his Christ into the worlde , from hell vs to redeme . W●o by his might did vanquishe sinne , and layed Sathan wa●●e : By whose dere death eternall lyfe , his flocke shall surely taste . His loue to vs his creatures did , in a●p●e wise excede : When by the paynes of paynefull death , to saue vs he decrede . What durat harte or selly brest , coulde finde Christe to repaye : With such cont●mpte as did these ymphes , which here beholde ye may . What matrones ●arte woulde hyde the skyll , of Nature that meke dame : And toyle by such vngodly artes , to extmquishe cleane the same . I meane if God shoulde sende encrease , and multiply her sede : Woulde she frequent it to destroy , by wicked meanes in dede . I thinke no tender harte coulde finde , an infantes bloude to spill : Nor yet no spoused wife I thinke , her husbande dere woulde kyll Sith that by witchcraft witches vse , all euilles to sequest : Let such as feare the liuynge God , their practises detest . Sith whoredome in the same I saye , her force doth plainly showe : Let euery wight ●he same abhorre , and scape infernall wo. Sith this arte doth such y●l conteyne , as swearinges manifolde : Let faithfull hartes forsake the same , and fixe on Christ their holde . Sith by that practise vile ●ere frendes , man slaughter put in ●re : Let v● contemne those godles actes , and leade a life most pure . Sith Christ the rocke of lastinge life , must cleane renounsed be : And Sathan as the gouernour , must haue the dignitie . What cursed state shall they abyde ▪ Which Christ their guide refuse : And study still the deuilles minde , by practise still to vse . Did Christ in vayne bestowe his bloude , to saue our soules from hell : Did Christ in vaine prepare the heauens , for his elect to dwell . Not so I iudge , why shoulde we then , his lawe and worde contemne : The scripture doth rebellious folke , euerlastingly condemne . I meane such as his worde detest , his lawe condemneth playne : To taste with him whom they do serue , in hell eternall payne . Such as do in finne delighte . frequenting mischiefe styll : Be Sathans owne , for Iesus Christe , for his deny them wyll . Sith Christ in heauen will them forsake , which him in earth denye : Let vs henceforth learne so to walke , his name to magnifye . Let vs that swearers be in dede , our swearinge cleane refrayne : So shall we scape the gredy gulphes , of hell and burninge payne . Let whoremongers which whoredome vse , cast cleane away the same : And pardon craue , for Christ is prest , for to forgeue the blame . Let such men as delight in sinne , forsake their sinfull waies : And study nowe that all your actes , may tende the Lorde to prayse . Let filthy swyntsthe dronkardes nowe , abhorred in Gods slight : Leaue of their quaffing in excesse , in modesty delight . Then shall Gods armes be opened wide , vs wr●tches to embrace : And with his sainctes in his kingedome , he will vs surely place . To whych kingedome for Christes sake , vouchsafe thy ●●ocke to bringe : That we as thy electes deare God , to thee may prayses singe . Finis . ꝙ Iohn Phillips

The examination of them with their confession before Doctor Cole and master Foscue at the same Sise verhatum as nere as coulde be gathered , and firste of Elizabeth Frauncis who saide as here foloweth .

When this mother Eue had geuen her the Cat Sathan , then this Elizabeth desired firste of the sayde Cat ( callinge it Sathan ) that she might be ryche and to haue goodes , and he promised her she shoulde , askinge her what she would haue , and she sayde shepe ( ●or this Cat spake to her as she confessed in a straunge holowe voice , ( but suche as she vnderstode by vse ) & this Cat forthwith brought shepe into her pasture to the number of .xviii blacke and whyte , whych continued wyth her for a tyme , but in the ende dyd all weare awaye she knewe not howe .

Item when she had gotten these shepe , she desired to haue on Andrew Byles to her husband , which was a man of some welth , and the cat dyd promyse she shold , but that he sayde she must fyrste consent that t●is Andrew shuld abuse her , and she so did .

And after when this Andrew had thus abused her he would not mary her , wherfore she willed Sathan to waste his goodes , which he forthwith did , and yet not beyng contentid with this , she wild him to touch his body , whych he forthewith dyd whereof he died .

Item that euery tyme that he did any thynge for her , she sayde that he required a drop of bloude , which she gaue him by prycking herselfe , sometime in one place & then in an other , and where she pricked her selfe there remayned a red spot , which was styl to be sene .

Item when this Andrew was dead , she douting her selfe with childe willed sathan to destroye it , and he bad her take a certayne herbe and drinke it whych she did , and destroyed the childe forthwyth .

Item when she desyred an other husbande , he promysed her an other , naminge this Frauncis whom shee nowe hath , but said he is not so rich as the other , willynge her to consent vnto that Frauncis in fornycation which she did , and therof conceaued a daughter that was borne within a quarter of a yere after they were maried .

After they were maryed they liued not so quietly as she desyred , beinge stirred ( as she said ) to much vnquietnes and moued to swearing and cursinge , wherfore she willed sathan her Cat to kyll the childe , beinge aboute the age of half a yere olde and he did so , and when she yet founde not the quietnes that she desyred , she wylled it to lay a la●enes in the leg of thys Frauncis her husbande , and it did in this maner . It came in a morninge to this Frauncis shoe , lying in it lyke a tode , and when he perceiued it puttinge on his shoe , and had touched it with his fote , he being sodenly amased asked of her what it was , and she bad him kil it , and he was forthwith taken with a lamenes wherof he can not healed .

After all this when shee had kept this Cat , by the space of .xv. or xvi . yeare , and as some saye ( though vntruly ) beinge wery of it , she came to one mother Waterhouse her neyghbour ( a pore woman ) when she was going to the ouen , and desired her to geue her a cake , & she wold geue her a thing that she should be the better for so long as she liued , & this mother waterhouse gaue her a cake , where vpon she brought her this cat in her apron and taught her as she was in structed before by her grandmother Eue , tellig her that she must cal him Sathan and geue him of her bloude and bread and milke as before , and at this examination woulde confesse no more .

¶ Mother waterhouse of Nat●ylde peuerell of the age of . lxii●● . yeares being examined the same day confessed as followeth , & the xxix . daye suffered .

Fyrst she receyued this cat of this frances wife in the order as is before sayde , who wild her to cal him sathan , and told her that yf she made muche of him he would do for her what she wolde haue him to do .

Then when she had receyued him the ( to trye him what he coulde do ) wyld hym to kyll a hog of her owne which he dyd , and she gaue him for his labour a chicken , which he fyrste required of her & a drop of her blod . And thys she gaue him at all times when he dyd any thynge for her , by prick●ng her hand or face & puttinge the bloud to hys mouth whyche he sucked , & forthwith wold lye downe in hys ●ot againe , wherin she kepte him , the spots of all the which pr●ks are yet to be sene in her skin .

Also she saythe that another tyme being offended with one father Kersye she toke her catte Sathan in her lap and put hym in the wood before her dore , & willed him to kyll three of this father Kersyes hogges , whiche he dyd , and retourning agayne told her so , and she rewarded hym as before , wyth a chicken and a droppe of her bloud , which chicken he eate vp cleane as he didde al the rest , and she cold fynde remaining neyther bones nor fethers .

Also she confessed that fallyng out with one widdow Gooday she wylled Sathan to drowne her cow and he dyd so , and she rewardid hym as before .

Also she falling out wyth another of her neyboures , she killed her three geese in the same maner .

Item , shee confessed that because she could haue no ●est ( which she required ) she caused sathan to destroye the brewing at that tyme .

Also beyng denyed butter of an other , she caused her to lose the curdes ii . or .iii. dayes after .

Item fallinge out with an other of her neybours and his wife , shee wylled sathan to kyll hym with a bluddye ●i●e , whereof he dyed , and shee rewarded him as before .

Likewyse shee confessed , that because she lyued somwhat vnquietly with her husbande she caused ●atha to kyll hym , and he did so about .ix. yeres past , syth which tyme she hath lyued a widdow .

Also she said that when she wolde wyl him to do any thinge for her , she wolde say her Pater noster in laten .

¶ Also she said , that going to Brack stede a lyttle before her apprehentyon , this Sathan wylled her to hye her home , for she shulde haue great trouble , and that shee shoulde be eyther hanged or burned shortly , more at this tyme she wolde not confesse .

¶ Ione Waterhouse , daughter to th● mother Waterhouse , beinge of the age of .xviii. yeres , and examined , confesseth as foloweth .

FYrst , that her mother this laste wynter would haue learned her this arte , but she lerned it not , nether yet the name of the thinge . She saith she neuer saw it but once in her mothers hand , and that was in the likenes of a tode , and at that time comming in at a sodeyn when her mother called it oute to worke some thynge withall , she herde her to call it Sathan , for shee was not at any tyme truely taught if , nor did neuer exercise it before this time as foloweth .

Item she confessed that when her mother was gone to Breakstede , in her absence lacking breade , she went to a gyrle , a neighbours childe , and desired her to geue her a pece of bred and cheese , whiche when she denied and gaue her not , or at the least not so muche as wolde satisfye her , shee goinge home dydde as she had seene her mother doe , callynge Sathan , whiche came to her ( as she sayd ) she thoughte out of her mothers shewe frome vnder the dedde , in the lykenes of a great dogge , demaundynge

what she wolde haue , wherewithall she beyng a fearde , sayd she wold haue him to make such a gyrle aferd naminge this gyrle , then asked hee her what she wolde geue hym , and she saide a red kocke , then sayde hee no , but thou shalt geue me thy body and sowle , whereby she beinge soore feared , and desyrous to be rydde of hym , sayd she wold : And herewith he went to this gyrle in the lykenes of an euyll ●auou●●d dogge with hornes on his head , and made her very muche afearde , and dothe yet haunt her , nowe can not these witches ( as they saye ) cal hym in agayn , because they dyd not let hym out . And more ( sayth shee ) she neuer dydde , but this her doinge was the reuealyng of all the rest .

FINIS .

Imprynted at London by Willyam Powell for Wyllyam Pickeringe dwelling at Sainte M●gn●s corner and are there for to be soulde .

Au●o 1566. the. 13. August .

The second examination and Confession of mother Agnes Waterhouse & Ione her daughter , vpon her arainement with the questions & answeres of Agnes Browne the childe , on whom the spirite haunteth at this present , deliberately declared before Iustice Southcote and master Gerard the quenes atturney , the .xxvii. day of Iuly Anno. 1566. no lesse wonderfull then most true .

¶ The Confession of Agnes Waterhowse the .xxvii. daye of Iuly in Anno. 1566. at Chelmsforde before Iustice Southcote and M. E●rard the quenes Atturney .

FYrst being demaunded whether that shee were gyltye or not gilty vpon her araynement of the murtheringe of a man , she confessed that she was gilty , and then vppon the euidence geuen agaynst her daughter Ione Waterhouse , she sayde that she hadde a White Cat , and wylled her cat that he shuld destroy many of her neyghbours cattell , and also that he shoulde kyll a man , and so he dyd , and then after she must go .ii. or .iii. mile from her house , and then she toke thoughte howe to kepe her catte , then she and her catte concluded that he the sayde catte wolde become a tode , and then she shuld kepe him in a close house & geue hym mylke , and so he wolde continue tyll she came home againe , and then being gone forth , her daughter hauing ben at a neyghbours house there by , required of one Agnes Browne , of the age of xii . yeres or more , a peece of breade and cheese , and the sayde Agnes saide that shee had none , and that she had not the key of the milkhouse dore , and then the said Ione went home and was angry with the said Agnes broun and she said that she remembred that her mother was wonte to go vp and downe in her house 〈◊〉 to call Sathan Satha●●he sayde she wolde proue the like , & then she went vp and downe the house and called Sathan , and then there came a black dogge to her and asked her what she woulde haue , and then she saide she was aferd and sayd I wold haue thee to make one Agnes browne afrayde , and then he asked her what she wold giue him and she saide she wolde geue hym a red kock , and he said he wolde haue none of that , and shee asked him what he wolde haue then , & he sayde he wold haue her body and soule , and so vpon requeste and feare together she gaue him her body and soule , and then sayde the quenes atturneye , Howe wylt thou do before god . O my lord , I trust god wyll haue mercy vpon mee , and then he saide , thou saiste well , and then he departed from her , and then she saide that she herde that he made the sayde Agnes Browne a fearde .

The said Agnes Brown was then demaunded and called for , and then she came in , and beinge asked what age she was of she sayde she thoughte she was , xii . yeres old , and then the quenes atturney asked her what shee could say , and then she saide that at suche a day naming the daye certayne that shee

was chirning of butter and there came to her a thynge lyke a blacke dogge with 〈◊〉 face like an ape a short ta●●e a 〈◊〉 and a syluer whystle ( to her thinking ) about his neck , and a peyre of hornes on his heade , & 〈◊〉 in his mouth she keye of the milkehouse doore , and then my lorde she saide , I was a fearde , for he skypped and leaped to and fro , and sat●e on the toppe of a ne●●le , and then I asked 〈◊〉 what he wolde 〈…〉 he woulde 〈…〉 and I said I had none 〈◊〉 and then he saide he 〈◊〉 aue some or he went , and then he dyd run to put the keye into the locke of the mylkehouse dore , and I sayde he should haue none , and he sayde he wolde haue some , and then he opened the dore and went vppon the shelfe , and there vpon anew chese laid downe the key , and being a whyle within he came out againe , and locked the dore and said that he had made 〈◊〉 butter for ●ee , and so departed , and then she saide see tolde her 〈◊〉 of it , and then she sent for the priest , and when he came he ●ad her to pray● to god , and ●al on the name of Iesus , and soo the nexte day my lord he came again to me with the keye of oure milkehouse dore in his mou●he , and then I saide in the name of Iesus what haste thou there , and then he layed downe the key and sayde that I spake euyll woordes in speakynge of that name , and then hee departed , and so my aunte toke vp the key for he had kept it from vs . ii dayes and a nyghte , & then we went into the milkhouse and there we did se the print of butter vpon the chese , and then within a few daies after hee came againe with a beane pod in his mouth and then the queenes attourney asked what that was , and so the other Iustices declared , and then shee sayde my lorde I saide in the name of Iesus what hast thou there and so then he laid it downe and saide I spake euil wordes and departed and came agayne by & by with a pece of breade in his mouth , and I asked hym what he wold haue and he sayde butter it was that he wolde haue , & so he departed , and my lord I dyd not se hym noo more tyll wenseday laste , whiche was the .xxiiii. day of Iuly why said the quenes atturney was he with the on wenseday last , ye she said , what did he then to thee sayde he , my lorde saide shee he came with a knyfe in his mouthe and asked me if I were not dead and I said no I thanked god , and then hee sayde if I wolde not dye that hee wold thrust his knife to my harte but he wold make me to dye , and then I sayde in the name of iesus lay down thy knyfe , and hee sayde he wolde not departe from his ●●eete dames knyfe as yet , & then I asked of hym who was his dame , and then he nodded & wagged his head to your house mother water house , then the queenes attourneye asked of the sayde Agnes waterhouse what she saide to it , then she demanded what maner knife that it was , and Agnes Browne said it was a daggar knife , there thou liest saide Agnes waterhouse , why quod the quenes atturney , mary my lord ( quod she ) she saith it is a daggar knif , and I haue none suche in my house , but a greate knyfe , and therein she lieth , yea yea , my lorde , quoth Ione waterhouse she lieth in that she saith that it hadde a face like an ape , for this that came to mee was like a dogge , well sayde the quenes attourney well , can you make it come before vs nowe , if ye can we will dyspatche you out of pryson by and by , no faith said Agnes Waterhouse I can not , for in faith if I had let hym go as my daughter did I could make hym come by and by , but now I haue no more power ouer him , then said the queenes atturneye , Agnes waterhouse when dyd thye Cat suck of thy bloud neuer saide she , no saide hee , let me se , and then the iayler lifted vp her kercher on her heade and there was diuerse spottes in her face & one on her nose , then sayde the quenes atturney , in good faith Agnes when dydde he sucke of thy bloud laste , by my fayth my lorde sayde she , not this fortnyght , and so the iurye went toge● therfor that matter .

Imprynted at London by Willyam Powell for Wyllyam Pickeringe dwelling at Saint● Mag●●●s corner and are there for to be soulde .

An●● 1566. the. 13. August .

¶ The ende and last confession of mother Waterhouse at her death , whiche was the xxix . daye of Iuly . Anno. 1566.

Mother Waterhouse . FYrste ( beinge redi prepared to receiue her death ) she confessed earnestly that shee had bene a wytche and vsed suche execrable sorserye the space of .xv. yeres , and had don many abhominable dede , the which she repented earnestely & vnfaynedly , and desyred almyghty God forgeuenes in that she had abused hys most holy name by her deuyllishe practyses , and trusted to be saued by his most vnspekeable mercy . And being demaunded of the by standers , shee confe●sed that shee ●ent her sathan to one Wardol , a neibour of hers , beinge a tayler ( with whom she was offen●ed ) to hurte and destroy him & his goodes . And this

her Sathan went therabuot for to haue done her wyll , but in the ende he r●turned to her agayne , and was not able to do this myschiefe , she asked the cause , and he aunswered because the said Wardol was so strong in fayth that he hadde no power to hurt hym , yet she sent hym dyuerse and sundry time ( but all in vayne ) to haue mischeuid hym . And being demaunded whether she was accustomed to go to church to the common prayer or deuine seruice , she saide yea & being required what she dyd there she saide 〈◊〉 did as other women do , and prayed right hartely there , and when she was demanded what praier she saide , she aunswered the Lordes prayer , the Aue Maria , and the belefe , & then they demaunded whether in laten or in englyshe , and shee sayde in laten , and they demaunded why she saide it not in engly●●e but in laten , seing that it was set out by publike aucthoritie and according to goddes worde that all men shoulde pray in the engly she & mother toung that they best vnderstande , and shee sayde that sathan wolde at no tyme suffer her to say it in englyshe , but at all tymes in laten : for these and many other offences whiche shee hathe commytted , done and confessed shee bewayled , repented , and asked mercy of God , and all the worlde forgyuenes , and thus she yelded vp her sowle , trusting to be in ioye with Christe her sauiour , whiche dearely had bought her with his most precious bloudde .

Amen .

Imprynted at London by Willyam Powell for Wyllyam P●ckeringe dwelling at Sainte M●gn●s corner and are there for to be soulde .

Anno 1566. the. 23. August .