MATTHEW HOPKINS, 
 
 OF MANNINGTREE, ESSEX, 
 
 THE CELEBRATED WITCH -FINDER. 
 
 TROM A VERY RARE PRINT IN THE PEPYSIAN IIBRARY, AT 
 MAGDALENE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. 
 
A 
 
 anU tract IJltlatioti, 
 
 OF THE 8EVERALL 
 
 JNFOBM^TIONS, EXAMINATIONS, 
 AND CONFESSIONS 
 
 OF THE LATE 
 
 WITCHES, 
 
 ARRAIGNED AND EXECUTED IN 
 
 THE COUNTY OF ESSEX. 
 
 WHO WERE ARRAIGNED AND CONDEMNED AT THE LAT« 
 
 SESSIONS, HOLDEN AT CHELMESFORD 
 
 BEFORE 
 
 The Right Honorable Robert, Earle of JEarwicke, 
 and severall of hie Majeetiee Justices of P cace^ 
 the 29 of July, 1645, 
 
 WHEREIN THE SEVERALL MURTHERS, AND DEVILLISH WITCRt 
 CRAFTS, COMMITTED ON THE BODIES OF MEN, WOMEN» 
 and children, and divers CATTELL, ARB 
 
 FULLY DISCOVERED, 
 
 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITIE, 
 
 REPRINTED VERBATIM 
 
 FROM THE ORIGINAL EDITION OF 1645, 
 
 ONLY 200 COPIES PRINTED. 
 
 PRINTED AT CHARLES CLARK’S PRIVATE PRESS, 
 GREAT TOTHAM, ESSEX. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 LONGMAN AND Co., PATERNOSTER -ROW. 
 
 1837. 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 INGENUOUS reader; 
 
 THOU hast here presented to thee a sad Emblem 
 of the strange sleights and cunning subtilties, whereby 
 Satan labours daily to insnare soules, and at last to 
 bring them to utter ruine ; who being that grand im- 
 postor, soone began this worke, even in the morning oi 
 the Creation, in the body of a Serpent miraculously, to 
 reason, dispute, speake, and conferre with Evah ; and 
 never ceased till he had laid the honour ot those glori- 
 ous creatures in the dust : and therefore is called that 
 old Serpent, that deceiveth all the world, by whose de- 
 ceitfull promises and subtill devices (for his own end, 
 and desire of their destruction,) hath insnared and 
 drawne these poore silly creatures, into these horrid and 
 detestable practises, of renouncing God and Christ, 
 and entring into a solemne league and contract with the 
 Devill the thought whereof is sufficient to cause a 
 man to be tilled with horror and astonishment. The Law 
 and expresse command of God doth allow of no fami- 
 liarity or inquiry of any other spirit, but from himselfe; 
 as Isa. 8 . 19 . And when they ^hall say unto you, seeke 
 unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto Wizards, 
 that peep and that mutter, should not a people seeke 
 unto their God, Vnder this interrogative is under- 
 stood this affirmative, A people should inquire of no 
 other spirit, but of their God onely. By which also it is 
 evident, that all spirits that doe suffer themselves to be 
 inquired at, are evill spirits, and therefore Devills. And 
 though these devillish practises were frequent and com- 
 mon amongst heathens and infidells, who usually held 
 familiarity with these spirits, and many inquired of them 
 in their Oracles; and therefore called those spirits that 
 gave answer by them. Daemons, of their skill and know- 
 ledge in foretelling things to come : yet now when the 
 light of the Gospel shineth so gloriously, that such a 
 generation of poore deluded soules (and to such a num- 
 ber as hath of late been discovered) should be found 
 
 * As one of them witnessed in open Court, Rebecca West. 
 
11 
 
 amongst us, is much more matter of admiration and 
 astonishment. I doubt not but these things may seeme 
 as incredible unto some, as they are matter of admira- 
 tion unto others. Nolle nimis eapere^ saith the Poet, It 
 is true wisdome not to be too wise, that is, not to know 
 nor desire to know more then is allowed or needfull, 
 needfull not in our desires, hut in Gods decree : Here 
 then let reasonable men be perswaded not too much 
 (as is usuall) to swell with indignation, or to be puffed 
 with impatience, where God doth not apertly reveale 
 and plainly (as they desire and thinke needfull) the 
 subtile Engines and mysticall craft of the Devill in the 
 machinations of Witches and Sorcerers ; hut soberly, 
 modestly, and discreetly, so far forth be contented to 
 pursue the triall and just way of their discoverie, as with 
 sense, with reason, with Religion, is just and righteous; 
 knowing, that whatsoever is beyond these lists, is rea- 
 sonlesse, senslesse and impious. The greatest doubt and 
 question will be, whether it be in the power of the De- 
 vill to perform such asportation and locall translation of 
 the bodies of Witches ; it seemeth in reason a thing 
 whereunto the Devill is unable : And whether these su- 
 pernaturall works, which are above the power of man to 
 do, and proper only to Spirits, whether they are reall, 
 or only imaginary and fained. In answer to which, it is 
 very probable that the Devill hath power to dispose and 
 transport the bodies of men and women, where God him- 
 self doth not countermand or prohibit: as instance, when 
 hee tooke the body of our Saviour and set it upon a 
 pinacle of the Temple; and these supernaturall acts may 
 appear to the outward sense, as Histories, and many 
 other true reports and Records of other wonderfull 
 works and supernaturall feats, all alike offered to the 
 outward sense. It is true, that a Spirit, and a spirituall 
 work simply in it self, in the own nature and substance 
 cannot be seen by any bodily eye, or be deprehended by 
 any outward sense, notwithstanding, as they do mix 
 themselves with bodily substances, are certainly tried 
 and subject to the sense; For illustration hereof, instance 
 may be given in the holy Scripture, as the Sorcerers of 
 Egypt, where water was turned into blood, the rod into 
 a Serpent, &c. By a spirituall power their eyes did 
 manifestly see the water, and as apparently after see the 
 blood, and the rod turned into a Serpent, the eye being 
 
Ill 
 
 a true and undeceived witnesse of both: Things imagined 
 and fancied, are easily discerned from those things that 
 are reall and true objects. But it may be demanded, 
 whether a Spirit or Devill can cause such a transmuta-» 
 tion of the bodies of Witches into those severall shapes 
 and forms of Cats, Dogges, Birds, and other creatures, 
 as is often reported, where Witches and Sorcerers have 
 lived. The answer is, that it is impossible in nature, and 
 in the ordinary unchangeable course of all things cre-« 
 ated by God, that one individual! and continued sub-^ 
 stance or entire thing should be wholly divided from it 
 self, and yet be it self, for there can be no reall or true 
 transmutation of one substance, or nature into another, 
 but either by creation or generation. Now creation is 
 the worke of an infinite power, and therefore of God 
 alone. The Devill then cannot create, neither can he do 
 it by any course of true generation, because a true and 
 reall generation hath many precedent alterations, and 
 by little and little, in space of time growes unto the 
 perfection of that kind unto which it doth tend, or is 
 begotten ; therefore they are but seeming and jugling 
 transmutations of the Devill : And here that saying of 
 Augustine may be alledged, De civit.Dei, lib, 18. cap, 
 18. [Nee san^ Dmmones naturas creant^ sed specie 
 tenuSj ques d Deo creata sunt commutant, ut videantur 
 esse qu(B non sunt) that is. Devils cannot create any 
 nature or substance, but in juggling shew, or seemingly 
 only, whereby with false shadowes covering those things 
 which are created of God to cause them to seem that 
 which they are not indeed. Take one instance of the 
 jugglings and illusions of the Devill above all the rest, 
 which doth most palpably detect him herein, is a History 
 related by Johannes Baptista Porta, in his second book, 
 de Magia naturali ; bee there witnesseth, that upon the 
 Devils suggestion, a Witch believed firmly and per- 
 swaded her self, that all the night shee had rid in the 
 aire, over divers great mountaines, and met in conven- 
 ticles with other Witches, when the same night, the 
 mentioned Author himself, with others that watched her 
 and saw her all that imagined time of her transvection 
 in the aire, to be within her chamber profoundly sleep- 
 ing; yea, had smitten her, made her flesh blew with 
 strokes, and could not awake her, nor perswade her af^ 
 terward when she was awaked that they had so used 
 
her, or at all had scene or beheld her ; thus prevalent 
 was the juggling power of the Devill. 
 
 Many other like instances of like nature might be 
 added, only what here is published and communicated 
 unto the world, may sufficiently discover those strong 
 delusions which these poor soules were given up unto, 
 who now according to their demerits, and according to 
 the Lawes of God and this kingdome established, have 
 received their just reward. 
 
 H, F, 
 
A 
 
 Iflelatton, 
 
 Etue antr e^:act 
 
 ^c. 
 
 THE Information of John Rivet of Mannintree^ 
 TayleVy taken before Sir Harbottell Grimston^ 
 Knight and Baronet^ one of the Members of the 
 Honourable House of Commons : And Sir Thomas 
 Bowes ^ Knight y another of his Majesties Justices 
 of Becwe for this County y the 21.5^ of March. 1645. 
 
 THIS Informant saith, That about Christmas last, 
 his wife was taken sicke, and lame, with such violent 
 fits, that this Informant verily conceived her sicknesse 
 was something more then meerly naturall ; Whereupon 
 this Informant about a fortnight since went to a Cun- 
 ning Woman, the wife of one Hovye at Hadleigh in 
 Suffolke, who told this Informant, that his wife was 
 cursed by two women who were neere neighbours to 
 this Informant, the one dwelling a little above his house, 
 and the other beneath his house, this Informants house 
 standing on the side of an Hill ; Whereupon he beleeved 
 his said wife was bewitched by one Elizabeth Clarke, 
 alias Bedingfield, that dwelt above this Informants 
 house, for that the said Elizabeths mother and some 
 other of her kinsfolke did suffer death for Witchcraft 
 and murther. 
 
 The Information of Matthew Hopkins, of Man^ 
 nintrccy Gent, taken upon Oath before us the 2,bth 
 day of March. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith. That the said Elizabeth 
 Clarke (suspected for a Witch as aforesaid) being by 
 the appointment of the said Justices watched certaine 
 nights, for the better discovery of her wicked Practises, 
 this Informant came into the roome where the said Eli- 
 zabeth was watched, as aforesaid, the last night, being 
 the 24th of this instant March, but intended not to 
 have stayed long there. But the said Elizabeth forth- 
 with told this Informant and one Master Sterne there 
 

 2 
 
 present, if they would stay and do the said Elizabeth 
 no hurt, shee would call one of her white Impes, and 
 play with it in her lap ; but this Informant told her, 
 they would not allow of it ; And that staying there a 
 while longer, the said Elizabeth confessed shee had 
 
 had c 11 c n with the Devill six or seven 
 
 yeares ; and that he would appeare to her three or foure 
 times in a weeke at her bed side, and goe to b — d to 
 her, and 1 — e with her halfe a night together in the 
 shape of a proper Gentleman, with a laced band, having 
 the whole proportion of a man, and would say to her, 
 Besse I must I — e with you, and shee did never deny 
 him ; And within a quarter of an houre after there ap- 
 peared an Impe like to a Dog, which was white, with 
 some sandy spots, and seemed to be very fat and 
 plumpe, with very short legges, who forthwith vanished 
 away : And the said Elizabeth said the name of that 
 Impe was, Jarmara : And immediately there appeared 
 another Impe, which shee called Vinegar Tom, in the 
 shape of a Greyhound with long legges *. And the said 
 Elizabeth then said that the next Impe should be a 
 black Impe, and should come for the said Master Sterne, 
 which appeared, but presently vanished : And the last 
 that appeared was in the shape of a Polcat, but the 
 head somewhat bigger. And the said Elizabeth then 
 told this Informant that shee had five Impes of her 
 owne, and two of the Impes of the old Beldam Weste 
 (meaning one Anne Weste, widow) who is now also 
 suspected to be guilty of Witchcraft: And said some- 
 times the Impes of the old Beldam sucked on the said 
 Elizabeth, and sometimes her Impes sucked on the old 
 Beldam Weste. And the said Elizabeth further told 
 this Informant, that Satan would never let her rest, or 
 be quiet, untill shee did consent to the killing of the 
 Hogges of one Mr. Edwards of Mannintree aforesaid, 
 and the Horse of one Robert Tayler of the same Towne: 
 And this Informant further saith. That going from the 
 House of the said Mr. Edwards to his own House about 
 nine or ten of the Clock that night, with his Greyhound 
 with him, he saw the Greyhound suddenly give a jumpe, 
 and ran as shee had been in a full course after an Hare ; 
 And that when this Informant made haste to see what 
 his Greyhound so eagerly pursued ; He espied a white 
 thing about the bignesse of a Kitlyn, and the Greyhound 
 
3 
 
 
 standing aloofe from it ; and that by and by the said 
 white Impe or Kitlyn daunced about the said Grey- 
 hound, and by all likelihood bit olf a piece of the flesh 
 of the shoulder of the Greyhound ; for the (ireyhound 
 came shrieking and crying to this Informant with a piece 
 of flesh tome from her shoulder. And this Informant 
 further saith, That comming into his own Yard that 
 night, he espied a black thing, proportioned like a Cat, 
 onely it was thrice as big, sitting on a strawberry-hed, 
 and fixing the eyes on this Informant ; and when he 
 went towards it, it leaped over the pale towards this 
 Informant, as he thought, hut ran quite through the 
 Yard, with his Greyhound after it to a great Gate, 
 which was underset with a paire of Tumbrell Strings, 
 and did throw the said Gate wide open, and then va- 
 nished ; And the said Greyhound returned againe to 
 this Informant, shaking and trembling exceedingly. 
 
 The Information of John Sterne, Gent, taken upon 
 Oath before us the 26th day of March. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, That watching with Eliza- 
 beth Clarke, (suspected for Witchcraft, as aforesaid) 
 
 shee confessed that the Devill had had c 11 c n 
 
 with her in the likenesse of a man ; and that the said 
 Elizabeth desired this Informant, and the rest that were 
 in the roome with her to sit downc, and said, shee 
 would shew this Informant and the rest some of her 
 Impes: And vvithin halfe an houre there appeared a 
 white thing in the likeness of a Cat, but not altogether 
 so big : And being asked if she would not be afraid of 
 her Impes ; the said Elizabeth answered ; fVhat doe 
 yee thinke I am afraid of my children'^ And that shee 
 called the name of that white Impe, Hoult. And this 
 Informant further saith. That presently after there ap- 
 peared another white Impe, with red spots, as big as a 
 small dog, which shee then called Jarmara : And that 
 immediately after, there appeared at the threshold of 
 the doore another Impe about the bignesse of the first, 
 but did presently vanish away. And then the said Eli- 
 zabeth being asked if any more Impes would come ; shee 
 answered. That Vinegar Tom would come by and by. 
 And forthwith there appeared another in the likenesse 
 of a dumb Dogge, somewhat bigger then any of the for- 
 mer : And the said Elizabeth also told this Informant, 
 That shee had three Impes from her mother, which were 
 
4 
 
 of a browne colour, and two from the old Beldam Weste: 
 And that there had five Impes appeared ; But shee had 
 one more called Sack and Sugar, which had been hard 
 at worke, and it would he long before it came, hut it 
 should teare this Informant. And a while after the said 
 Elizabeth said. That it was well for this Informant he 
 was so quick, otherwise the said Impe had sooiie skip- 
 ped upon his face, and perchance had got into his 
 throate, and then there would have been a feast of 
 Toades in this Informants belly. And the said Eliza- 
 beth further confessed to this Informant, that shee had 
 one Impe for which shee would fight up to the knees in 
 hloud, before shee would lose it. And that her Impes 
 did commonly suck on the old Beldam Weste ; and 
 that the said old Beldams Impes, did suck on her the 
 said Elizabeth likewise. 
 
 The Information of Frances Milles, Grace Nor- 
 man, Mary Phillips, and Mary Parsley, taken 
 upon oath before the said Justices the 26th of 
 March. An. Dom,. 1645. 
 
 These Informants say joyntly, That watching with 
 the said Elizabeth Clarke, suspected as aforesaid, about 
 twelve of the Clock last night, the said Elizabeth 
 smacked with her mouth, and beckned with her hand, 
 and instantly there appeared a white thing about the 
 bignesse of a Cat ; and that these Informants saw five 
 Impes more, which the said Elizabeth named as afore- 
 said. And that the said Elizabeth told these Informants, 
 That the old Beldam (meaning the said Anne Weste) 
 did by Witchcraft kill the wife of one Robert Oakes 
 of Law ford in the County aforesaid ; and was the death 
 of a Clothiers childe of Dedham in the said County of 
 Essex : both which dyed as these Informants very well 
 know about a weeke since. And the said Elizabeth told 
 these Informants, that the said old Beldam Weste had 
 the wife of one William Cole of Mannintree aforesaid 
 in handling, who dyed not long since of a pining and 
 languis*hing disease. 
 
 The Information of George Turner taken upon oath 
 the 26th day of March. 1645. before the said Justices. 
 
 This Informant saith. That going to the said Eli- 
 zabeth Clarke, alias Bedingfeild, after shee was appre- 
 
bended, and asking her whether shee had any hand in 
 the drowning of one Thomas Turner, this Informants 
 Brother, who was cast away at Sea about thirty moneths 
 since ; the said Elizabeth answered, That the old Bel- 
 dam Weste raised that winde that sunke his Hoy: And 
 that she the said Elizabeth had no hand in that businesse. 
 
 The Information of John Bankes of Mannintree 
 taken upon oath before the said Justices the 2,^th 
 of March, 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, That watching with the said 
 Elizabeth, he doth informe and confirme all the partir 
 culars expressed and set downe in the Information of 
 the said Mr. Sterne. 
 
 The Information of Edward Parsley of Mannin- 
 tree, taken upon oath before the said Justices the 
 25th of March. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith. That watching with the said 
 Elizabeth Clarke, alias Bedingfeild, the last night, he 
 asked the said Elizabeth if he should continue still in 
 the roome with her ; And the said Elizabeth desired he 
 should, if he would fight for her with the Devills, for 
 they would come this night, and that which shee called 
 Hoult would come first, and then that which shee cal-r 
 led Jarmara ; which did appeare in the likenesse of a 
 white Dogge, with red spots ; and presently after there 
 appeared that Impe which shee called Vinegar Tom; 
 and then that which shee called Sack and Sugar : And 
 the said Elizabeth then told this Informant, that the 
 Devill had had possession of her six or seven yeares. 
 And that he had oftentimes knocked at her dore in the 
 night time ; and that shee did arise, open the dore and 
 let him in ; and that he went to b — d to her three or 
 
 foure times in a weeke, and had the c 11 knowledge 
 
 of her as a man. 
 
 The Examination of the said Elizabeth Clarke, 
 alias Bedingfeild,* taken before the said Justices 
 the 25th of March, 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith. That about six moneths 
 since shee met with the said Anne Weste, widow, (who 
 
 * Executed at Chelmesford. 
 
is now likewise apprehended) in a field neere the house 
 of the said Elizabeth, where the said Elizabeth was 
 picking up a few sticks ; The said Anne Weste seemed 
 much to pitie this Examinant for her lamcnesse ( having 
 hut one leg) and her poverty; And said to this Exami- 
 nant, That there was wayes and meanes for her to live 
 much better then now shec did: And said, that shee 
 would send to this Examinant a thing like a little Kit- 
 lyn, which would fetch home some victualls for this 
 Examinant ; and that it should doe her no hurt. And 
 this Examinant saith, that within two or three nights 
 after there came a white thing to her in the night, and 
 the night after a gray one, which spake to this Exami- 
 nant, and told her they would doe her no hurt, hut 
 would helpe her to an Husband, who should maintaine 
 her ever after : And that these two things came into 
 this Examinants bed every night, or every other night, 
 and sucked upon the lower parts of her body. 
 
 The Information of Robert Tayler of Mannintree^ 
 taken upon oath before the said Justices the 2^th 
 day of Aprill. 1645 . 
 
 This Informant saith, That about nine weekes 
 since, Elizabeth, the wife of Edward Gooding (who is 
 accused by the said Elizabeth Clarke to be a confede- 
 rate with her) came to the Shop of this Informant, and 
 desired to be trusted for half a pound of Cheese, which 
 being denycd, shee went away, muttering and mumbling 
 to her self, and within a few houres came again with 
 money, and bought a pound of Cheese of this Informant, 
 and the same night this Informant having an Horse 
 standing in his stable, the said Horse was taken in a 
 strange manner sick and lame ; whereupon this Infor- 
 mant sent for four Farriers to have their best advice, 
 who could not discover the cause of the disease ; but 
 the said Horse about four dayes after died : And this 
 Informant also saith, that it was observed by himself, 
 and divers others, who often went to see the said Horse, 
 that still upon their coming into the stable, he lay quiet, 
 and looked cheerfully, hut as soon as the door was shut, 
 and the Horse alone, bee did violently beat himself, and 
 that the belly of the said Horse would rumble and 
 make a noyse, as a foule chimney set on fire : And this 
 Informant further saith, that hee is induced to believe. 
 
that the said Elizabeth Gooding was the cause of the 
 death of his said Horse ; for that this Informant hath 
 heard, that Elizabeth Clark, and Anne Leech widow, 
 (who stand both accused for Witchcraft, and have con- 
 fessed themselves guilty) have impeached the said Eli-^ 
 zabeth Gooding for killing of this said Horse, and that 
 the said Elizabeth Gooding is a lewd woman, and to this 
 Informants knowledge, hath kept company with the said 
 Elizabeth Clark, Anne Leech, and Anne West, which 
 Anne West hath been suspected for a Witch many yeers 
 since, and suffered imprisonment for the same. 
 
 The Examination of Elizabeth Gooding,* taken he- 
 fore the said Justices the Wth of April, 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that shee is not guilty of 
 any one particular charged upon her in the Information 
 of the said Robert Tailer. 
 
 The Information of Richard Edwards of Mannin- 
 tree aforesaid, taken before the said Justices the 
 23 day of April, 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith. That about twelve moneths 
 since, upon a Sabbath day, after the afternoon Sermon, 
 driving his Cowes home by the house of Anne Leech of 
 Misley widow, about forty yards from her said house, 
 a black Cowe of this Informants, (being very well to 
 his thinking) fell down, and within two dayes after died. 
 And the very next day driving his Cowes from the same 
 pasture, this Informant had a white Cowe that fell down 
 within a Rod of the same place, where the other Cowe 
 fell, (being also, as this Informant conceived, sound and 
 well ) and within a weak after dyed ; and hee further 
 saith, that hee caused both the said Cowes to be opened, 
 and that there could be no disease discovered, which 
 might occasion their death : And this Informant like- 
 wise saith, that about August last, hee had a childe 
 nursed by one Goodwife Wyles, dwelling neer the houses 
 of the said Elizabeth Clark and Elizabeth Gooding, and 
 that his said childe was taken sick, and had very strange 
 fits, extending the limbs, and rowling the eyes, and 
 within two dayes after dyed : And this Informant doth 
 verily believe, that Anne Leech, and the said Elizabeth 
 
 * Executed at Chelmesford. 
 

 
 
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8 
 
 Gooding, were the death of his said child, as is confessed 
 hy the said Anne Leech in her own Confession and 
 Examination. 
 
 The EfVamination of Anne Leech* of Misley in the 
 County aforesaid y widow y taken before the said 
 Justices, April 14. 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, That she had a grey Impe 
 sent to her, and that this Examinant, together with the 
 said Elizabeth Clark, and Elizabeth, the wife of Ed- 
 ward Gooding, did about a yeer since, send their Imps 
 to kill a black Cowe and a white Cowe of Mr. Edwards, 
 which was done accordingly ; And this Examinant saith, 
 that she sent her gray Imp, Elizabeth Clark a black 
 Imp, and Elizabeth Gooding a white Imp; And this 
 Examinant saith, that about thirty yeeres since, shee 
 sent a gray Imp to kill two Horses of one Mr. Bragge 
 of Misley, which were killed accordingly ; and that the 
 occasion of her malice was, because Mistresse Bragge 
 had told this Examinant, that shee suspected her to be 
 a naughty woman ; and this Examinant confesseth, that 
 she and the said Eliz. Gooding, sent either of them an 
 Imp to destroy the childe of the said Mr. Edwards; 
 this Examinants Imp being then a white one, and Eli- 
 zabeth Goodings a black Imp ; and that about thirty 
 yeers since, this Examinant had the said white Imp, and 
 two others, a gray, and a black Imp of one Anne, the 
 wife of Robert Pearce of Stoak in Suffolk, being her 
 brother ; and that these Imps went commonly from one 
 to another, and did mischief where ever they went ; and 
 that when this Examinant did not send and imploy them 
 abroad to do mischief, she had not her health, but when 
 they were imployed, she was healthfull and well, and 
 that these Imps did usually suck those teats which were 
 found about the privie parts of her body ; and that the 
 said Imps did often speak to this Examinant, and told 
 her, she should never feele hell torments, and that they 
 spake to her in an hollow voyce, which she plainly un- 
 derstood : And this Examinant also confesseth, that she 
 sent her gray Imp to Elizabeth, the daughter of Robert 
 Kirk of Mannyntree, about three yeers since, to destroy 
 her ; and upon the sending of the said Imp, the said 
 
 * Executed at Chelmosford, 
 
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Elizabeth languished by the space of one whole yeer, 
 untill shee dyed, and that the occasion of offence this 
 Examinant took against her the said Elizabeth was, for 
 that she had asked a Coife of the said Elizabeth, which 
 shee refused to give to this Examinant. And further, 
 this Examinant saith, that long since, hut the exact time 
 she cannot remember, she sent her gray Imp to kill the 
 daughter of the widow Rawlyns of Misley aforesaid ; 
 and the reason was, because this Examinant was put out 
 of her Farm, and the said widow Rawlyns put in, where 
 shee dwelleth at this present. And moreover, this Ex- 
 aminant confesseth, that she was acquainted with the 
 sending of an Imp by the aforesaid Elizabeth Gooding, 
 to vex and torment Mary the wife of John Tayler of 
 Mannyntree aforesaid about three yeers since ; and this 
 Examinant being asked why she did not discover it to 
 the said Mary, she said, the Devill would not suffer her, 
 and that the cause of the said Elizabeth Goodings ma- 
 lice against the said Mary was, because the said Mary 
 refused to give to the said Elizabeth some Beeregood. 
 And lastly, this Examinant saith, that about eight weeks 
 since, this Examinant, the said Elizabeth Gooding, and 
 one Anne West of Eawford widow, met together at the 
 house of the said Elizabeth Clark, where there was a 
 book read, wherein shee thinks there was no goodnesse. 
 
 The Information of Grace the wife of Richard 
 Glascock of Mannyntree, taken upon oath before 
 the said Justices the Wth day of April, 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that there being some falling 
 out between Mary the wife of Edward Parsley of Man- 
 nyntree, and one Hellen Clark, the wife of Thomas 
 Clark (which said Hellen is the daughter of the said 
 Anne Leech, whose confession doth immediately pre- 
 cede) this Informant heard the said Hellen to say, as the 
 said Hellen passed by this Informants door in the street, 
 that Mary the daughter of the said Edward and Mary 
 Parsley should rue for all, whereupon, presently the 
 said Mary the daughter, fell sick, and died within six 
 weeks after. 
 
 The Information of Edward Parsley of Mannyn- 
 tree, taken upon oath before the said Justices, 
 April 11. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that his said daughter sick* 
 
10 
 
 ned very suddenly, as the said Grace Glascock hath he-^ 
 fore informed, and died about six weeks since ; and 
 this Informant doth verily believe, the said Hellen 
 Clark was the death of his said daughter. 
 
 The Examination of Hellen Clark,* taken before 
 the said Justices the Wth of April, 1645. 
 
 This Examinant confesseth, that about six weeks 
 since, the Devill appeared to her in her house, in the 
 likenesse of a white Dog, and that she calleth that Fa- 
 miliar Elimanzer; and that this Examinant hath often 
 fed him with milk-pottage ; and that the said Familiar 
 spake to this Examinant audibly, and bade her deny 
 Christ, and shee should never want, which shee did 
 then assent unto, hut doth altogether deny the killing 
 of the daughter of the said Edward Parsley. 
 
 The Information of Prudence Hart, the wife of 
 Thomas Hart of Lawford, taken upon oath before 
 us the 23. of Aprill, 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that about eight week since, 
 being at her Parish Church, on the Sabbath day, half 
 a mile distant from her house, and being about twenty 
 weeks gone with childe, and to her thinking, very well 
 and healthfull, upon the sudden shee was taken with 
 great pains, and miscarried before shee could he got 
 home ; and this Examinant saith, that about two moneths 
 since, being in her bed, in the night, something fell 
 down upon her right side, but being dark, she cannot tell 
 in what shape it was ; And that presently shee was ta- 
 ken lame on that side, with extraordinary pains and 
 burning, but recovered again within a few dayes after : 
 And this Informant further saith, that she verily be- 
 lieveth, that Rebecca West, and Anne West her mother, 
 were the cause of her pains ; for that the said Rebecca 
 hath in part of her Confession expressed, that shee had 
 much maliced this Informant, because the said Rebecca 
 West ever thought this Informant to be her greatest 
 enemy. 
 
 The Information of John Edes, Clerke, taken upon 
 oath before the said Justices the 2,Hth day of Aprilh 
 1645. 
 
 * Executed at Manny ntree. 
 
11 
 
 This Informant saith, That Rebecca West confessed 
 unto him, that about seven yeares since, shee began to 
 have familiaritie with the Devill, by the instigation of 
 her mother Anne Weste ; who hath appeared unto the 
 said Rebecca at severall times, in diverse shapes: At one 
 time in the likenesse of a proper young man, who de- 
 sired of her, that he might have the same familiaritie 
 with her, that others that appeared unto her before had 
 had : Promising that if shee would, he would then doe 
 for the said Rebecca what she desired, and avenge her 
 on her enemies ; but required further, that shee would 
 deny God, and relie upon him. Now there was one Tho- 
 mas Hart of Lawford, where the said Rebecca lived, 
 with her said mother, Anne West, and the said Rebecca 
 told this Informant, that shee required of him, that bee 
 would avenge her on the said Hart by killing his son, 
 who not long after was taken sick, and dyed, where- 
 upon the said Rebecca told this Informant, that shee 
 conceived hee could do as God ; after which time shee 
 gave entertainment to him, who 1 — y with her as a man; 
 and the said Rebecca further confessed to this Infor- 
 mant, that whitest she lived at Rivenall in the said 
 County of Essex, the said Anne her mother, came to the 
 said Rebecca, and told her the Barley corn was picked 
 up (meaning one George Frances, the only son of one 
 George Frances, one of the chief Inhabitants of that 
 town, where the said Anne West dwelt) and that his 
 father thought the said George his son was bewitched to 
 death ; and the said Anne then said unto the said Re-f 
 becca. Be it unto him (wcording to his faith. 
 
 The Confession q/ R ebecca West,* taken before the 
 said Justices at Mannyntree^ the Ti, of March ^ 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that about a moneth since, 
 the aforesaid Anne Leech, Elizabeth Gooding, Hellen 
 Clark, Anne West, and this Examinant, met all together 
 at the house of the aforesaid Elizabeth Clark in Man- 
 nyntree, where they together spent some time in praying 
 unto their Familiars, and every one in order went to 
 prayers ; afterwards some of them read in a book, the 
 book being Elizabeth Clarks ; and this Examinant saith, 
 that forthwith their Familiars appeared, and every one 
 of them made their severall Propositions to those Fa- 
 
 * Found by the grand Jury, but acquitted by the Jury of life 
 and death. 
 
 
 / 
 
miliars, what every one of them desired to have effected : 
 And this Examinant saith, that first of all the said Eli- 
 zabeth Clark desired of her Spirit, that Mr. Edwards 
 might be met withall about the middle bridge, as hee 
 should come riding from Eastberyhoult in Suffolk 5 that 
 his Horse might be scared, and he thrown down, and 
 never rise again: And this Examinant saith, that the 
 said Elizabeth Gooding desired of her Spirit, that shee 
 might be avenged on Robert Taylers Horse, for that the 
 said Robert suspected the said Elizabeth Gooding for 
 the killing of an Horse of the said Robert formerly: 
 And this examinant saith, that the said Hellen Clark de- 
 sired of her Spirit, that shee might be revenged on two 
 Hogs in Misley street, (being the place where the said 
 Hellen lived) one of the Hogs to die presently, and the 
 other to be taken lame ; and this Examinant further 
 saith, that Anne Leech desired of her Spirit, that a Cowe 
 might be taken lame of a mans living in Mannyntree, 
 but the name of the man this Examinant cannot remem- 
 her: And this examinant further saith, that the said 
 Anne West,* this Examinants mother, desired of her 
 Spirit, that shee might be freed from all her enemies, and 
 have no trouble : And this Examinant saith, that shee 
 desired of her Spirit, that shee might be revenged on 
 Prudence the wife of Thomas Hart, and that the said 
 Prudence might be taken lame on her right side. And 
 lastly this Examinant saith, that having thus done, this 
 Examinant, and the other five, did appoint the next 
 meeting to be at the said Elizabeth Goodings house, 
 and so departed all to their owne houses. 
 
 The Information of Richard Edwards of Mannin- 
 tree^ Gent, taken upon oath before the said Justices 
 the 23//i of Aprill, 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith. That not long since, about 
 three moneths to his best remembrance, as he was 
 coming from Eastheryholt in Suffolke, halfe an houre 
 within evening ; within ten score of the middle bridge 
 (according to the desire of the said Elizabeth Clarke, as 
 is declared in the confession of the said Rebecca Weste) 
 this Informants horse started with him, and greatly en- 
 dangered him ; and he heard something about his horse 
 
 * This Anne West was executed at Mannyntree the first of 
 August. 1645. 
 
cry, Ally ah ; much like the shriekc of a Polcat. And 
 this Informant saith, That with much difl&culty he saved 
 himselfe from being thrown off his horse. All which, 
 this Informant reported to his wife and neighbours as 
 soone as he came home. 
 
 The Information Matthew Hopkins, Gent, taken 
 upon oath before the said Justices the \Sth of 
 AprilL 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, That being lately at Col- 
 chester, he went to the Castle, where the said Rebecca 
 Weste, with the other five, are secured untill the next 
 Gaole delivery ; And this Informant going to Rebecca 
 Weste, and asking her how shee came first to be a 
 Witch, the said Rebecca told this Informant, that about 
 a yeare since, or thereabouts, halfe an houre before 
 Sun-set, the said Anne Weste (her mother) carried the 
 said Rebecca Weste towards Mannintree, (which is 
 about a small mile from the place where the said Anne 
 dwelt) and the said Rebecca told this Informant, that 
 as her mother and shee walked together, the said Anne 
 told the said Rebecca, shee must keepe secret whatso-f 
 ever shee saw, whither they were then going ; and the 
 said Rebecca promised so to doe ; And the said Rebec-» 
 ca told this Informant, that her mother and shee went 
 to the house of the aforesaid Elizabeth Clarke, where 
 at their comming in they found the aforesaid Anne 
 Leech, widow, Elizabeth Gooding, Hellen Clarke, and 
 the house-keeper Elizabeth Clarke, and that forthwith 
 the Devill appeared to them in the shape of a dogge ; 
 afterwards in the shape of two Kitlyns ; then in the 
 shape of two dogges ; and that the said familiars did 
 doe homage in the first place to the said Elizabeth 
 Clarke, and skipped up into her lap, and kissed her ; and 
 then went and kissed all that were in the roome, except 
 the said Rebecca: And the said Rebecca told this In- 
 formant, that immediately one of their company asked 
 the said Anne her mother, if shee had acquainted her 
 daughter (the said Rebecca) with the businesse ; and 
 her mother answered shee had, and told them all, they 
 need not feare her the said Rebecca for revealing any 
 thing : And the said Rebecca told this Informant, that 
 forthwith the said Anne Leech pulled out a booke, and 
 swore the said Rebecca never to reveale any thing shee 
 
saw or heard ; and if shee should discover any things 
 they all told the said Rebecca, shee should endure more 
 torments on earth, then could be in hell : And the said 
 Rebecca told this Informant, that shee promised to 
 keepe all their secrets; And moreover, they all told her, 
 that shoe must never coiifessc any thing, although the 
 Rope were about her necke, and shee ready to be 
 hanged : And that after shee had consented to all these 
 things, the Devill came into her lap, and kissed her, 
 and promised to doe for her what shee could desire ; and 
 that within halfe a yeare after the Devill appeared to 
 her the said Rebecca, as shee was going to bed, and 
 told her, he would marry her, and that shee could not 
 deny him ; shee said he kissed her, but was as cold aa 
 clay, and married her that night, in this manner ; He 
 tooke her by the hand and lead her about the Chamber, 
 and promised to be her loving husband till death, and 
 to avenge her of her enemies ; And that then shee pro- 
 mised him to be his obedient wife till death, and to de- 
 ny God and Christ Jesus ; And the said Rebecca told 
 this Informant, that shee sent the Devill to kill the sonne 
 of the said Thomas Hart, which he did within one 
 fortnight ; and that after that shee tooke him for her 
 God, and thought he could doe as God. 
 
 The Information 0/ Susan Sparrow, taken upon oath 
 before the said Justices the ^bth day of Aprills 
 An. Dom. 1645. at Little Bentley. 
 
 This Informant saith. That about thirty yeares 
 since, living under the same roofe with Mary Greenleif 
 of Alresford, either of them had a Daughter of about 
 thirteen or fourteen yeares of age, and being one night 
 in bed with their children, this Informant heard the 
 childe of the said Mary Greenleif to cry out in a fearefull 
 manner ; Oh Mother, now it comes, it comes, oh helpe 
 mother, it hurts me, it hurts me : Whereupon this In- 
 formant called to the said Mary, and said. Good-wife 
 Greenleife, Good-wife Greenleife, if your childe be 
 asleepe, awaken it, for if any body comes by, and heare 
 it make such moane (you having an ill name already) 
 they will say. You are suckling your Impes upon it: 
 Whereupon the said Mary rcplyed ; I doe so indeed, and 
 I will fee with them (meaning her said Impes,) that 
 they shall suck my daughter one night, and thine ano- 
 
ther : And this Informant saith, that the very next night, 
 her childe cryed out in the same manner, and clasped 
 her armes about this Informants necke, being much af- 
 frighted, sweating, and shrieking in a terrible manner, 
 complaining that shee was nipped and pinched on her 
 thigh ; and that the next morning searching what the 
 cause should be, shee found above the right knee of her 
 childe, a black and blew spot, as broad and long as her 
 hand : And this Informant saith, that her childe did 
 complaine on that leg, at least a moneth after. And this 
 Informant saith, that the house where this Informant 
 and the said Mary did dwell together, was haunted with 
 a Leveret, which did usually sit before the dore : And 
 this Informant knowing that one Anthony Sharlock had 
 an excellent Greyhound that had killed many Hares ; 
 and having heard that a childe of the said Anthony was 
 much haunted and troubled, and that the mother of the 
 childe suspected the said Mary to be the cause of it: 
 This Informant went to the said Anthony Sharlock and 
 acquainted him, that a Leveret did usually come and 
 sit before the dore, where this Informant and the said 
 Mary Greenleife lived, and desired the said Anthony to 
 bring downe his Greyhound to see if he could kill the 
 said Leveret ; and the next day the said Anthony did 
 accordingly bring his Greyhound, and coursed it, but 
 whether the dog killed it this Informant knows not ; 
 But being a little before coursed by Good-man Merrills 
 dog, the dog ran at it, but the Leveret never stirred, 
 and just when the dog came at it, he skipped over it, and 
 turned about and stood still, and looked on it, and 
 shortly after that dog languished and dyed. But whe- 
 ther this was an Impe in the shape of a Leveret, or had 
 any relation to the said Mary, this Informant knows not, 
 but does confesse shee wondered very much to see a 
 Leveret, wilde by nature, to come so frequently and sit 
 openly before the dore in such a familiar way. 
 
 The Information of Elizabeth Hunt and Priscilla 
 Brigs, taken upon oath before the said Justices 
 the 2bth day of AprilL 1645. 
 
 These Informants say, That being by the said 
 Justices imployed to search the said Mary Greenleife, 
 upon suspect for being a Witch, these Informants found 
 that the said Mary had bigges or teates in her secret 
 

16 
 
 parts, not like Emerods, nor in those places where wo- 
 men use to be troubled with them ; and that they verily 
 beleeve, these teates are sucked by her Impes ; for that 
 these Informants have been formerly imployed to search 
 other women suspected for Witchcraft, who have had 
 the like bigges, and have afterwards confessed them- 
 selves to be Witches. 
 
 The Examination of Mary Greenleife taken before 
 the said Justices^ April 25. 1645. 
 
 This Examinant being asked how she came by those 
 teats which were discovered in her secret parts. She 
 saith she knows not unlesse she were born with them ; 
 but she never knew she had any such untill this time, 
 they were found in those parts upon the said search ; 
 And she does deny that ever she had any Impe sucked 
 on these teats : But she does confesse she hath seen a 
 Leveret once sitting before her doore within a yard of 
 the threshold ; and that she wondered much at it, being 
 about noon time as she remembreth. And further saith, 
 she is not guilty of any accusation charged upon her 
 this Examinant. 
 
 The Information of Elizabeth Otley of Wyr^enhoe 
 taken upon oath before the said Justices, April 25. 
 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that Alice Dixon (who now 
 stands committed for a suspected Witch ) did in the pre- 
 sence of Mary Johnson of the same Town, charge and 
 accuse the said Mary Johnson to be the death of this 
 Informants child, saying, that the said Mary Johnson 
 did carry an Impe in her pocket to this Informants 
 house, and put the said Impe into the house, at an hole in 
 the doore, bidding it go rock the Cradle, and do the 
 businesse she sent it about, and return to her again : 
 And this Informant saith, that upon a Munday before 
 Michaelmas last, the said Mary Johnson came to the 
 house of this Informant, and gave her child an apple, and 
 kissed it ; And within a short time after the said child 
 sickned and died : And the said Alice Dixon did also 
 affirm, that the Impe which the said Mary Johnson sent 
 to this Informants house, was in shape somewhat like a 
 Rat, but without tayl and eares. And this Informant 
 saith, that the said Mary Johnsons answer was, that if 
 
she did it, she did it, she could but receive punishment 
 for it. And at the same time the said Mary Johnson said, 
 the said Alice Dixon did the mischief to this Informants 
 child her self. And this Informant further saith, that 
 after the said Alice Dixon had made this discovery, 
 she, this Informant, was taken with extreme pains in 
 her body, and that during the time of her extremity, the 
 said Mary Johnson did many times come to this Infor- 
 mants house, perswading her, that she was not the death 
 of this Informants child : But this Informant could not 
 be satisfied iintill she had gotten the blood of the said 
 Mary Johnson ; And meeting with her after long scuf- 
 fling, this Informant made the said Mary Johnsons teeth 
 to bleed, and immediately after, this Informants extra- 
 ordinary pains left her, and her stomack came to her, 
 having eat little or nothing a fortnight before, and slept 
 very well the night following, having been restlesse by 
 reason of her extreme pains all the time aforesaid. And 
 this Informant further saith, that the next day after 
 the said Mary Johnson had given this Informants child 
 the Apple, the child was taken with very violent fits, 
 and in the fits (although the Child was but two yeers 
 old) yet this Informant could very hardly with all her 
 strength hold it down in the Cradle, and so continued 
 untill it died. 
 
 The Examination of Mary Johnson taken before the 
 said Justices the 25. of Aprils 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that she is not guilty of any 
 one particular charged upon her in the Information of 
 the said Elizabeth Otley touching the killing of the 
 child of the said Elizabeth. 
 
 The Information of Ioseph Long Minister of Clacton 
 in the County of Essex ^ taken before the said Just: 
 April 29. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that Anne the wife of John 
 Cooper* of Clacton aforesaid, being accused for a Witch: 
 Confessed unto this Informant, that she the said Anne 
 was guilty of the sin of Witchcraft ; and that she hath 
 had three black Impes suckled on the lower parts of 
 her body : called by the names of JVynowe, Jeso, and 
 Panu: And this Informant saith, that the said Anne told 
 
 * Executed at Maunintree the 1. of August. 
 
18 
 
 him, that once she cursed a Colt of one William Cottin- 
 gams of Clacton aforesaid, and the said Colt broke his 
 neck presently after going out of a gate : And the said 
 Anne further confessed unto this Informant, that she 
 the said Anne offered to give unto her daughter Sarah 
 Cooper an Tmpe in the likenes of a gray Kite, to suck on 
 the said Sarah : which Impes name the said Anne called 
 Tom boy : and told the said Sarah, there was a Cat for 
 her; And this Informant saith, that the said Anne con^ 
 fessed unto him, that she the said Anne about ten yeers 
 since falling out with Johan the wife of Gregory Rous 
 of Clacton aforesaid ; the said Anne Cooper sent one of 
 her Impes to kill the daughter of the said Gregory and 
 Johan named Mary: And this Informant saith, that to 
 his own knowledge about the same time the said child 
 was strangely taken sick, and languishing, within a 
 short time died. 
 
 The Information of Roger Hempson taken upon oath 
 before the said Justices, April 29. 1645. 
 
 This Informant doth confirm the Information of the 
 said Joseph Longc, and concurs in every particular. 
 
 The Information o/* Roger Hempson taken upon oath 
 before the said Justices, April 29. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that Mr. Lorige telling Eli- 
 zabeth Hare,* that she was accused by one Mary Smith, 
 for giving of her the said Mary two Impes : And that 
 the said Elizabeth Hare, praying to God with her hands 
 upward, that if she were guilty of any such thing, He 
 would shew some example upon her: And this Infor-^ 
 mant saith, that presently after she shaked and qui^ 
 vered, and fell down to the ground backward, and tum- 
 bled up and down upon the ground, and hath continued 
 sick ever since. 
 
 The Information of Anaball the wife of George 
 Durrant taken upon oath before the said Justices, 
 April 29. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that about ten moneths since, 
 going from Wivenhoe towards Fingeringhoe, in the 
 County of Essex, by the way Mary Johnson the wife of 
 J^icholas Johnson met with this Informant, whom this 
 
 * Condemned, but reprieved. 
 
Informant never saw before to her knowledge ; And this 
 Informant leading her Child upon her hand, being about 
 two yeers old, and perfectly well: the said Mary John- 
 son took occasion of her own accord to commend the 
 said Child, saying, it was a pretty child; and stroaked 
 it upon the face, and gave it a peece of bread and but- 
 ter, and so left this Informant. And this Informants 
 child did eat a peece of the said bread and butter ; and 
 within half a quarter of an houre after, her said child 
 shrieked and cried out it was lame ; And this Informant 
 carried her child home, and had the advice of one Mr. 
 Dawber a Chirurgeon, who could find no naturall cause 
 of its lamenesse ; and so the said child continued for the 
 space of eight dayes shrieking and tearing it self, and 
 then died. — And further, this Informant saith, that im- 
 mediately after the death of her child, she was taken 
 with extreme pains in her body, sometimes every day or 
 at least every third day, for the space of seven or eight 
 moneths together as if she had been to be delivered of 
 a child, but was not with child ; And this Informant 
 saith, that setting up of broome in an out-house pre- 
 sently after her child was dead, she had the perfect re- 
 presentation of a shape, to her thinking, like the said 
 Mary Johnson, and was struck with a lamenesse in her 
 Arms, and such a stiffnesse that three or foure that 
 came to help her, were not able to bow her Arms : and 
 this Informant continued speechlesse all that day and 
 the night following, and had such a weaknesse in the 
 rest of her limbes, that she was carried into her house by 
 some of her friends, and continued by the space of a 
 fortnight, being before untill this present (as she con- 
 ceived) in perfect health and strength : And further this 
 Informant saith, that she being charged by the Consta- 
 ble by vertue of a Warrant to give this her Information 
 before the said Justices against the said Mary Johnson 
 this day : this Informants husband called her up in the 
 morning, wishing her to make her ready to go before 
 the said Justices; And presently after he gave a great 
 shriek, and said the said Mary Johnson would be his 
 death, and had a great swelling risen up in his breast, 
 and now lies sweating, and in great extremity. And at 
 this very instant a noise was heard in the Roome where 
 her husband lay like an Hornet, and thereupon her hus- 
 band cried out. It comes, it comes. Now good wife John- 
 
20 
 
 sons Impe is come, Now she hath my life; And forthwith 
 a great part of the wall in the said roome fell down. 
 And this Informant saith, that she doth verily beleeve 
 the said Mary Johnson was the cause of her childs 
 death : And that she is now the cause of her husbands 
 extremity. 
 
 The Information of Ric. Carter and Henry Corn- 
 wall of Thorp, taken upon oath before the said 
 
 Justices, April 29. 1645. 
 
 These Informants say, that being appointed to watch 
 Margaret Moone, after she was accused and appre- 
 hended for a Witch, the said Margaret going about the 
 Roome, these Informants did see a thing drop from un- 
 der her coats (as they thought) in the likenesse of a 
 Rat for bignesse and shape, but of a grayer colour ; And 
 presently there was such an extreame offensive stink in 
 the Roome, that these Informants were scarce able to 
 endure to stay in it ; And these Informants asking the 
 said Margaret what it was that dropped from her, she 
 bid them coop it up and catch it if they could. And this 
 Informant Henry Cornwall saith, that the said Margaret 
 did confesse to him that she had twelve Impes, and 
 called them by their names ; of which he remembers 
 onely these following: Jesus, Jockey, Sandy, Mrs, 
 Elizabeth, and Collyn. 
 
 The Information o/Will. Dammon, Hen. Cornwall, 
 Bevis Vincent, and Tho. Burles, taken upon oath 
 before the said Justices, April 29. 1645. 
 
 These Informants say, that upon the 21. day of 
 April last past, they heard Margaret Moone confesse, 
 that she was a Witch, and that she had twelve Impes, 
 that she had killed a Cow of Stephen Cookers, and had 
 two Cowes more of the said Stephen in handling ; that 
 she had killed a Cow and a Sow of Henry Robertsons. 
 That she was partner with the aforesaid Eliz: Clark of 
 Mannintree, in killing of a Child of one Mr. Edwards of 
 Mannintree aforesaid, and spoiling of 3 Brewings of 
 beere of the said Mr. Edwards. That she the said Mar- 
 garet Moon spoiled a batch of bread of one Philip Ber- 
 rimans ; that she was the cause that one Philip Daniels 
 horse broke his neck going down an hill in his W aggon. 
 And the said Informant saith, that the said M ; Moone 
 
21 
 
 did freely and voluntarily confesse unto him, without any 
 question being asked, that she was the cause of the 
 death of Johan Cornwall this Informants daughter. And 
 this Informant saith, that the said Margaret Moone he-r 
 fore his child fell sick, sent for this Informant to do 
 some work for her, and then she desired to buy an Hooke 
 which he carried with him in his hand ; And they agreed 
 she should have the said Hooke for half a peck of Ap-* 
 pies : And as this Informant went home he did eat one 
 of the said Apples, and was presently taken sick with 
 an extreme shaking and pain in all parts of his body; 
 And this Informants wife knowing the said Margaret 
 Moone to be a woman of a very had fame and suspected 
 for a Witch, and had formerly been questioned at an 
 Assize for the same, she Hung away the Aples. And this 
 Informant saith, that he continued in great extremity 
 for the space of twelve weeks, and most part of that 
 time deprived of his senses. And at the same time his 
 wife was taken in the same manner, and is not yet per- 
 fectly recovered. And lastly this Informant saith, that 
 the next day after he had been at the said Margarets 
 house as aforesaid, that his child (which the said Mar-r 
 garet confessed she was the death of) was taken sick 
 with strange fits, and shrickings out, and so continued 
 languishing for a moneth, and died. 
 
 The Information of Richard Caley of Thorpe taken 
 upon oath before the said Justices, April 29. 1646. 
 
 This Informant saith, that being called into the 
 house where Bevis Vincent, and Henry Cornwall were 
 appointed by the neighbours of Thorpe aforesaid to 
 watch Margaret Moone, the said Margaret did confesse 
 before this Informant, that she had by Witchcraft kil-? 
 led a Cow and a Sow of one Henry Robinsons. And that 
 one Henry Dorr being then called to write what she 
 should confesse, the said Margaret refused to make any 
 further discovery, before this Informant ; but fell upon 
 other discourse, saying, that she had been told fourty 
 times, that this Informant thought in his conscience she 
 was no Witch : And that this Informant knew that one 
 William Caley his brother let the said Margaret an 
 House about twenty yeers since, and afterwards warned 
 her out of the said house ; and that then she went into 
 an house that was built for her by one Thomas Turner^ 
 and being also turned out of Turners house, that one 
 
Rawbood and his wife gave ten shillings more for the said 
 house, then the said Margaret, and came and dwelt in 
 the said house: But the said Margaret said, they (mean- 
 ing the said Rawbood and his wife) had as good they 
 had not medled with the house, for they did never thrive 
 after. And this Informant saith, that after the said 
 Rawbood had taken the said house, he and his wife were 
 alwayes lame or sick untill they died : and that the wife 
 of the said Rawbood being a very tydy and cleanly wo- 
 man, sitting upon a block after dinner with another 
 Neighbour a little before it was time to go to Church 
 (and as he remembers) upon an Easter day, the said 
 Rawboods wife was on the sudden so filled with Lice, 
 that they might have been swept off her cloaths with a 
 stick ; And this Informant saith he did see them, and that 
 they were long, and lean, and not like other Lice. And 
 this Informant being asked, whether the said Margaret 
 were at this time sensible, he saith that she spake very 
 plainly and very intelligently, discoursing of some things 
 done long before, her memory serving her very exactly. 
 
 The Information Francis Milles taken upon oath 
 before the said Justices, April 29. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that being imployed by the 
 Neighbours of Thorpe aforesaid, to search Margaret 
 Moone, who was suspected for a Witch, she found three 
 long teats or bigges in her secret parts, which seemed 
 to have been lately sucked ; and that they were not like 
 Pyles, for this Informant knows well what they are, 
 having been troubled with them her self. And this Infor- 
 mant saith, that she asking the said Margaret for her 
 Impes, which sucked those teats : she said, if she might 
 have some bread and beere, she would call her said 
 Impes ; which being given unto her, she put the bread in- 
 to the beere, and set it against an hole in the wall, and 
 made a circle round about the pot, and then cried. Come 
 Christ, come Christ, come Mounsier, come Mounsier : 
 And no Impe appearing, she cried out and said, she had 
 Devillish Daughters which had carried her Impes away 
 in a white bagge, and wished they might be searched, 
 for they were naught ; And upon the searching of her 
 Daughters, this Informant found that two of them had 
 biggs in their privy parts as the said Margaret their 
 mother had. 
 
23 
 
 The Information o/Mary Philips, Elizabeth Har-^ 
 Ris, widow, Susan Burles, and Philip Tumnor 
 taken upon oath before the said Justices, April 29. 
 1645. 
 
 These Informants do all and every of them concur 
 with Frances Milles in her said Information, in that par- 
 ticular concerning the teats of the said Margaret Moone, 
 and her two daughters ; And the said Mary Philips doth 
 also confirm and concur with that part of the Informa- 
 tion of the said Frances Milles, touching the pot, the 
 circle, and the calling of the Impcs hy the said Marga- 
 ret Moone. — And this Informant Mary Philips doth also 
 say, that being sent for to search the said Margaret 
 Moone, as she was coming towards Thorp aforesaid, 
 and going over a broad foot Bridge, this Informant sen- 
 sibly felt a great blow on her head, which strook her 
 into a ditch up to the neck. And this Informant and 
 the said Francis Mylles, doe both of them say, That as 
 soon as they came into the room where the said Marga- 
 ret Moon was, she called these two Informants, Man- 
 nintree Rogues (they both dwelling at a Town so called,) 
 and said. Who -a Devill sent for you? But I hope I have 
 met with some of you. 
 
 The Examination ©y* M argaret Moon,* taken before 
 the said Justices, the 29. day of May, 1645. 
 
 This Examinant being examined to all the particu- 
 lars charged upon her, in all the aforesaid severall in- 
 formations, denies every particular. 
 
 The Examination Judith Moone, daughter of the 
 said Margaret Moone, taken before the said Justices 
 the 29th day of Aprill. 1645. 
 
 This Examinant (being a single woman and having 
 such marks of a Witch, as aforesaid) saith, that about 
 a fortnight before her Mother was apprehended for a 
 Witch, the said Margaret hid this Examinant goe and 
 fetch a bundle of wood, and this Examinant told her 
 mother shec would not fetch any wood : Whereupon the 
 said Margaret threatned this Examinant, and told her 
 shee had as good have gone for some wood ; And that 
 the next night as this Examinant lay in her bed, she felt 
 something come into the bed, about her legges, being 
 * Condemned and dyed by the way to execution. 
 
at that time broad awake, and that shee searched to see 
 what it should be, but could not finde any thing. 
 
 The Information of Bridget Reynolds, the wife of 
 Edmond Reynolds of Ramsey in the said County of 
 Essex, taken upon oath before the said Justices the 
 Zd of May. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, That she with some other 
 women, were required to search Sarah Hating, the wife 
 of William Hating, Elizabeth Harvy, widow, and Ma- 
 rian Hocket, widow, who are all suspected for witch- 
 craft, and upon her said search (being a Midwife) found 
 such Marks, or Bigges in their privy parts, that she 
 never saw in other women : for Sarah Hating had foure 
 Teats, or Bigges in those parts, almost an inch long, and 
 as higge as this Informants little finger: That the said 
 Elizabeth Harvy had three such Bigges, and about the 
 said scantling: And that the said Slarian Hocket had 
 no such Bigges, but was found in the same parts not like 
 other honest women. And this Informant further saith. 
 That the said Elizabeth Harvy said (since she was 
 found with the said suspitious marks) unto this Infor- 
 mant, That if she were a Witch, she was so made by the 
 said Marian Hocket ; for that the said Marian brought 
 unto her the said Elizabeth Harvy, three things about 
 the bignesse of Mouses, and willed the said Elizabeth 
 to make much of them, for they were pretty things ; 
 which the said Elizabeth received : And the said Eliza- 
 beth told this Informant, that ever since she received 
 those three things which the said Marian delivered unto 
 her, she hath been much torn and troubled in her privy 
 parts, where the said Bigges were found. And that the 
 said three things were delivered to her the said Eliza- 
 beth about six or seven years since. 
 
 The Information q/* Elizabeth Durden, the loife of 
 Edward Durden and Marv' Philips, taken upon 
 oath before the said Justices the 3. day of May, 1645. 
 
 These Informants do conciirre in every particular 
 with the said Briget Reynolds in her Information touch- 
 ing the search of the said Sarah Hating, Elizabeth Har- 
 vie, and Marian Hocket: And this Informant Elizabeth 
 Durden further saith, that the said Elizabeth Harvie 
 told her, that if shee were a Witch, shee was so made 
 by the said Marian Hocket. 
 
25 
 
 
 The Information of Francis Stock and John Ba^ 
 TILLY 9 tahen upon oath^ before the eaid Justices^ 
 May 3. 1645. 
 
 These Informants say, that the said Elizabeth Har- 
 vie confessed to them with many teares, that shee had 
 three marks, two before and one behinde (as is already 
 informed by Bridget Reynolds and others,) And that 
 the said Marian Hocket made her have the said marks 
 or bigs, by bringing of three things to her the said Eli- 
 zabeth, and telling her, if shee would receive them, shee 
 should never want so long as she lived ; which three 
 things have since made the said marks in her privie 
 parts, and the said Elizabeth told these Informants, that 
 the said three things were of a reddish color, and that 
 since, the said Marian, and the said Elizabeth falling 
 out, she the said Elizabeth would have put away & sent 
 home the three things which the said Marian brought 
 to her, and that ever since the said things have tor- 
 mented her in her bed, in the places aforesaid, as if 
 they had pulled her in pieces. 
 
 The second Information of Francis Stock, taken he^ 
 fore the said Justices upon oathy May 3 . 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that about five yeers since, 
 being one of the Constables of Ramsey aforesaid, hee 
 impressed William Hating, husband to the aforesaid 
 Sarah Hating for a souldier, whereupon the said William 
 threatened this Informant very much, and not long after, 
 this Informants wife told him, shee espied a Snake ly- 
 ing upon a shelf in this Informants house, about three 
 yards high from the ground, which falling down into the 
 house, shee endeavoured to kill with a Spade ; and 
 striking at it, the Snake suddenly vanished away, and 
 could no where be found: And this Informant saith, that 
 presently after his said wife was taken sick with extra- 
 ordinary fits, pains and burnings all over her body, and 
 within one week dyed : And further this Informant saith, 
 that within two or three dayes, after the death of his 
 said wife, hee had a daughter taken sick after a very 
 strange manner, who in all the time of her sicknesse, 
 cryed out much on the said Sarah, the wife of the said 
 William Hating, saying, that the said Sarah was the 
 cause of her death, and dyed presently after ; and that 
 within two or three dayes after the death of his said 
 
26 
 
 ehilde, this Informant had another childe taken sick in 
 the same manner, and within a few dayes dyed also: And 
 lastly, this Informant saith, that about three quarters of 
 a yeer after, he had a man-servant, that for some ill 
 language given to him by John Hating, one of the sons 
 of the said William and Sarah Hating, his said servant 
 did heat the said John, and the very next day hee was 
 taken sick, and so continued in a pining and languishing 
 condition, crying out often of the said Sarah, that she 
 had bewitched him, and was the cause of his death, 
 which soon after ensued. 
 
 The Information of Francis Stock, and John Fel- 
 GATE, taken upon oath he fore the said Justices y 
 May 3. 1645. 
 
 This Informant John Felgate saith, that speaking 
 with one Sarah Barton, the sister of the said Marian 
 Hocket (which said Sarah is now imprisoned in the Gaole 
 at Harwich upon suspition of Witchcraft) who told this 
 Informant, that the said Marian had cut otF her bigs, 
 whereby she might have been the more suspected to 
 have been a Witch, and laid plaisters to those places: 
 And the said Francis and John say, that the said Sarah 
 Barton, told them, that the said Marian had given and 
 delivered unto her the said Sarah three Imps, and that 
 the said Marian called them by the names of Little^ 
 many Pretty^many and Dainty, 
 
 The Docamination of Marian Hocket, Sarah Ha- 
 ting, and Elizabeth Harvie of Ramsey within 
 the County aforesaid y taken before the said Justices y 
 May 3. 1645. 
 
 This Examinant, Marian Hocket* saith, that shee 
 is not guilty of any of the particulars charged upon her, 
 touching Witchcraft, notwithstanding the severall ac- 
 cusations against her. 
 
 This Examinant, Sarah Hatingt saith, that shee is 
 not guilty of any particular wherewith shee stands 
 charged in the Information of Francis Stock and others. 
 
 This Examinant, Elizabeth Harvie J saith, that 
 about halfe a yeer since, the said Marian Hocket brought 
 
 * Executed at Manojntree, Aug. 1. 1645. f Executed at 
 Ghelmesford. ^ Executed at Chelmetford. 
 
27 
 
 three things to her house, two of them being smaller then 
 Mouses, and the other somewhat bigger and longer; and 
 that the said Marian told this examinant they were 
 pretty things, and would do her and this Examinant 
 good, if shee this Examinant would keep them ; and 
 that afterwards shee was very much pained in those 
 parts of her body where the said teats or bigs were dis- 
 covered by the said searchers, as aforesaid. 
 
 The Information 0/ Robert Turner of St. Oaith 
 Carpenter, taken upon oath before the said Justices, 
 May 6. 1645. 
 
 This Informant saith, that about eight dayes since, 
 his servant was taken sick, shaking and shrieking, and 
 crying out of Rose Hallybread, that shee had bewitched 
 him : And this Informant saith, that sometimes his said 
 servant, since hee was taken sick, as aforesaid, hath 
 crowed perfectly as a Cock ; sometimes barked like a 
 Dog ; sometimes violently groaned beyond the ordinary 
 course of nature ; and strugling with such strength (be- 
 ing but a youth) that four or five strong men were not 
 able to hold him down in his bed ; and sometimes sung 
 divers and sundry perfect tunes : And that this Infor- 
 mant could not perceive his mouth to open, or so much 
 as his lips to stir all the time of his singing. 
 
 The Examination of Rose Hallybread,* taken before 
 the said Justices, the Qth of May, 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that about fifteen or sixteen ' 
 yeers since, there was an Imp brought to her house by 
 one Goodwife Hagtree, which Imp this Examinant en- 
 tertained, fed it with oatmeale, and suckled it on her 
 body, for the space of a yeer and a halfe, or therea- 
 bouts, and then lost it : And this Examinant further 
 saith, that about half a yeer since, one Joyce Boanes 
 (who is now also accused for Witchcraft) brought to 
 this Examinants house another Imp, in the likenesse of a 
 small Gray bird, which this Examinant received, and 
 carryed it to the house of one Thomas Toakley of St. 
 Osyth, and put the said Imp into a cranny of the doore 
 of the said Toakely^s house, after which time the son of 
 the said Thomas languished, and dyed, crying out of 
 this Examinant, that shee was his death : And this Ex- 
 
 * Died in the Gaole. 
 
28 
 
 aminant further saith, that about eight dayes since, 
 Susan Cock, Margaret Landish, and Joyce Boanes, (all 
 which stand now suspected for Witchcraft) brought to 
 this Examinants house each of them an Imp, (in all 
 three) to which this Examinant added one of her own 
 Imps ; and then the said Joyce Boanes carryed the said 
 four Inips to the house of one Robert Turner, to tor- 
 ment his servant, because hee had refused to give unto 
 her this Examinant, the said Susan Cocks, Margaret 
 Landish and Joyce Boanes a few chips : And this Ex- 
 aminant further saith, that the said Robert Turners 
 servant forthwith fell sick, and oftentimes barked like a 
 Dog : And this Examinant saith, that shee believeth 
 that the said four Imps were the cause of his barking 
 and sicknesse. 
 
 The Examination of Joyce the wife of William 
 Boanes,* takenbeforethesaid Justices, May 6. 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that about thirteen yeers 
 since, shee had two Imps which came into the bed to her 
 in the likenesse of Mouses, and that they sucked on this 
 Examinants body ; and that afterwards this Examinant 
 employed and sent the said Imps to a Farm house in St. 
 Osyth, called Cocket-wick, where one Richard Welch 
 then lived, where the said Imps killed ten or twelve 
 Lambs of the said Richards : And this Examinant saith 
 further, that a little while after, shee sent her said two 
 Imps to the house of one Thomas Clynch, where they 
 killed a Calf, a Sheep and a Lamb: And this Examinant 
 also saith, that shee carried one of her said Imps, cal- 
 led Rug, to the house of the said Rose Hallybread ; and 
 that her said Imp Rug, with three Imps of the said Rose 
 Hallybread, Susan Cock, and Margaret Landish, each 
 of them sending one, were carried hy this Examinant 
 from the house of the said Rose Hallybread, to the house 
 of the said Robert Turner to kill the servant of the said 
 Robert; whereupon his said servant hath oftentimes 
 crowed like a Cock, barked like a Dogge, sung tunes, 
 and groaned : And this Examinant saith, that her said 
 Imp made the servant to barke like a Dog ; the Imp of 
 the said Rose Hallybread inforced him to sing sundry 
 tunes in his great extremity of paines ; the Imp of the 
 said Susan Cock, compelled him to crow like a Cock ; 
 
 * Executed at Chelmesford. 
 
and the Imp of Margaret Landish made him groan in 
 such an extraordinary manner. * 
 
 The Emmination of Sdsax Cock,* taken before the 
 said Justices the 6. day of May ^ 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that about three or four 
 yeeres since, one Margery Stoakes, this Examinants 
 mother, lying upon her death-bed, and this Examinant 
 comming to visit her, shee the said Margery desired this 
 Examinant privately, to give entertainment to two of her 
 Imps, and withall told this Examinant, they w'otild do 
 this Examinant good ; And this Examinant saith, that 
 the same night her said mother dyed, the said two Imps 
 came to her accordingly, and sucked on her body : And 
 this Examinant saith, that one of the said Imps was like 
 a mouse, and the name of that was Susan ; that the 
 other was of a yellow colour, about the bignesse of a 
 
 Cat; and that the name of that Imp was Besse: And 
 11 j saith, that she employed her said Imp 
 
 ^1 ed together with the Imps of the said Rose 
 
 Hallybread, Joyce Boanes, and Margaret Landish, each 
 ot them one, to the house of one John Spall, where the 
 said Imps killed ten or twelve Sheep of the said John 
 Spalls ; and that the cause of this Examinants malice 
 was because she being with childe, desired to have some 
 curds of the said Spalls wife, which she refused, either 
 to give or sell to this Examinant: And further, this Ex- 
 aminant saith, that about a week since, she, together 
 with Joyce Boanes, Rose Hallybread, and Margaret 
 Landish sent four Imps to the house of one Robert Tur- 
 ner (by the said Joyce Boanes) to torment his servant 
 for that the said servant of the said Robert Turner re- 
 fused to give to this Examinant a sack full of chips • 
 And this Examinant further saith, that she, together 
 with the said Margaret Landish, sent her Impe to the 
 house of one Thomas Mannock in St. Osyth aforesaid 
 where their said Impes killed six or seven shoots or 
 hogges of the said Mr. Mannock ; and that the occasion 
 of offence was, because the wife of the said Mr. Man- 
 nock refused to give to this Examinant such reliefe as 
 shee desired, telling this Examinant, that shee was a 
 young woman, and able to worke for her living. 
 
 * Executed at Chelmesford, 
 
30 
 
 Examination of Margaret Landishe,* taken 
 before the said Justices the &th day of May. 1645 . 
 
 This Examinant saith. That about eight or nine 
 weekes since lying sicke by the fire side in her owne 
 house, something came up to her body, and sucked on 
 her pnvie parts, and much pained and tormented her • 
 And this Examinant saith, that if it were an Impe that 
 came and sucked her as aforesaid, that the said Susan 
 Cock sent it to her : And this Examinant denieth, that 
 ever shee joyned with the said Joyce Boanes, Rose Hal- 
 libread, and Susan Cock, in the tormenting of the ser- 
 vant of the said Robert Turner, & doth utterly deny the 
 sending of any Impe to destroy or kill the hogges of the 
 said Mr.Mannock, as the said Susan Cock hath charged 
 her withall in the Examination of the said Susan. 
 
 The Examination of Rebecca JoNEst of St. Osyth, 
 taken before the said Justices the 9/A of May. 1645! 
 
 This Examinant saith. That about 24 . or 25 yeares 
 since, dwelling with one John Bishop, of Much-Clacton 
 in the County of Essex as his servant, there came one 
 morning one to the doore of the said John Bishop and 
 knocked, and that this Examinant going to the dore, 
 shee saw there a very handsome young man (as shee then 
 thought) but now shee thinkes it was the Devill; who 
 asked this Examinant how shee did, and desired to see 
 her left Wrist, which shee shewed unto him: and that 
 he then tooke a pin from this Examinants owne sleeve 
 and pricked her wrist twice, and there came out a drop 
 of bloud, which he took off with the top of his finger 
 and so departed. And this Examinant saith, that about 
 a quarter of a yeare after, as shee was going to St. 
 Osyth, (where this Examinant doth now dwell) to sell 
 her said Masters butter, a man met with her, being in 
 a ragged sute, and having such great eyes, that this Ex- 
 aminant was much afraid of him ; who came to this Ex- 
 aminant, and gave her three things like to Monies, ha- 
 ving foure feete apiece, but without tayles, and’of a 
 blacke colour, and bid this Examinant nurse the said 
 three things, until! he did desire them againe ; And this 
 Examinant asked the said man, what she should give 
 them to eate, and he told this Examinant milke, and 
 
 • Executed at Chelmesford. f Executed at Chelmeaford, and 
 the first that was arraigned. 
 
31 
 
 that they would not hurt her, and wished her not to be 
 
 fw ‘his Examinant, 
 
 that those three things which he gave her, would avenge 
 her on her enemies, and bid her murther some, hut not 
 too many, and he would forgive her; and then went away 
 troin this Examinant; And this Examinant saith, that 
 the hi st time shee imployed any of the said things, shee 
 ‘hem to kill a Sowe of one Benjamin Howes 
 ot Luttle-Clacton in the County aforesaid; and the said 
 oowe was killed by the said Impe accordingly: And this 
 ^aminant saith, that the names of her three Impes were 
 Margaret, Amie, and Susan : And that a while after 
 this Examinant and one Joyce Boanes (now in prison) 
 did send each of them an Impe to kill one Thomas Bum- 
 stead of St. Osyth aforesaid, who died about three 
 weekes after. And this Examinant saith, that shee be- 
 tceveth that the said two Impes did kill the said Tho- 
 mas Bumstead; and the Impes name which this Exami- 
 nant sent to destroy the said Bumstead was Margaret- 
 And that the Impe which the said Joyce Boanes sent 
 was a dund one like unto a Mouse. And this Examinant 
 saith, that shee did send another of her Impes called 
 Amte, to the said Bumsteads house, which did kill the 
 wife of the said Bumstead within a short time after; 
 And this Examinant confesseth, that the cause of offence 
 shee tooke so to destroy and kill the said Bumstead and 
 his wife, was because the said Thomas Bumstead did 
 beate the sonne of this Examinant for eating up of some 
 honey which he found about the house of the said Tho- 
 naas Bumstead. And this Examinant further confesseth 
 that shee did send her other third Impe called Susan, 
 to afflict the childe of one Mistris Darcy of St. Osyth 
 aforesaid : But did withall bid the said Impe it should 
 not hurt the said child too much, and come away againe: 
 And this Examinant saith, that the said Imp is come 
 againe from the said Mistris Darcies childe. 
 
 The Examination of Johan Cooper, widow,* taken 
 before the said Justices, May 9. 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that she hath been a witch 
 about twenty yeers, and hath three Familiars, two like 
 Mouses, and the third like a Frog : The names of the 
 two like Mouses, are Jack, and the other Prickeare, 
 
 * Died in the Gaole. 
 
32 
 
 and the name of the third like a Frog, is Frog: And 
 this Examinant saith, that she sent one of her said Imps 
 to kill a child of one Thomas Woodward, which her said 
 Imp did kill within a fortnight after: And this Exami- 
 nant saith, that shee did send her said Imp called Frogy 
 to kill two of John Cartwrights children, of Much-Hol- 
 land in the County of Essex aforesaid, which said Imp 
 did kill the said two children within a fortnight or three 
 weeks after; And this Examinant saith further, that at 
 another time shee sent her said Imp Frog, to destroy 
 the wife of one George Parby of Much-Holland afore- 
 said, which did kill her within three dayes after. 
 
 The Fxamination of Anne Cate,«//«^ Maidenhead,* 
 of Much- Holland, in the County aforesaid y taken 
 before the said Justices the 0th day of Mayy 1645. 
 
 This Examinant saith, that she hath four Familiars, 
 which shee had from her mother, about two and twenty 
 yeeres since ; and that the names of the said Imps are 
 James y PrickearSy Robyn y and Sparrow; and that three 
 of these Imps are like Mouses, and the fourth like a 
 Sparrow, which she called Sparrow : And this Exami- 
 nant saith, that to whomsoever shee sent the said Imp 
 called Sparrow y it killed them presently ; and that first 
 of all shee sent one of her three Imps like mouses, to 
 nip the knee of one Robert Freeman, of Little-Clacton, 
 in the County of Essex aforesaid, whom the said Imp 
 did so lame, that the said Robert dyed on that lame- 
 nesse within half a yeere after : And this Examinant 
 saith, that she sent her said Imp Prickeare to kill the 
 daughter of John Rawlins of Much-Holland aforesaid, 
 which died accordingly within a short time after ; and 
 that shee sent her said Imp Prickeare to the house of 
 one John Tillet, which did suddenly kill the said Tillet: 
 And this Examinant saith, that shee sent her said Imp 
 Sparrow y to kill the childe of one George Parby of 
 Much-Holland aforesaid, which child the said Imp did 
 presently kill ; and that the offence this Examinant took 
 against the said George Parby to kill his said childe, 
 was, because the wife of the said Parby denyed to give 
 this Examinant a pint of Milke : And this Examinant 
 further saith, that shee sent her said Imp Sparrow to 
 
 * Executed at Chelmesford. 
 
33 
 
 the house of Samuel Ray, which in a very short time did 
 kill the wife of the said Samuel ; and that the cause of 
 this Examinants malice against the said woman was 
 because shee refused to pay to this Examinant two pence 
 which she challenged to he due to her; And that after- 
 wards her said Imp Sparrow killed the said childe of 
 the said Samuel Ray ; And this Examinant confesseth, 
 that as soon as shee had received the said four Imps 
 from her said mother, the said Imps spake to this Ex- 
 aminant, and told her, shee must deny God and Christ 
 which this Examinant did then assent unto. 
 
 The testimony of Sir Thomas Bowes, Knight^ which 
 he spake upon the Bench, concerning the aforesaid 
 Anne fr ?st, shee being then at the Barre upon her 
 tryalL 
 
 That a very honest man of Mannintree,* whom he 
 knew would not speake an untruth, affirmed unto him, 
 that very early one morning as he passed by the said 
 Anne W^ests dore, about foure a clock, it being a moon- 
 light night, and perceiving her dore to be open so early 
 in the morning, looked into the house, and presently 
 there came three or foure little things in the shape of 
 black rabbits, leaping and skipping about him, who ha- 
 ving a good stick in his hand, struck at them, thinking 
 to kill them, but could not, but at last caught one of 
 them in his hand, and holding it by the body of it, he 
 beat the head of it against his stick, intending to beat 
 out the braines of it; but when he could not kill it that 
 way, he tooke the body of it in one hand, and the head 
 of it in another, and indeavoured to wring off the head • 
 and as he wrung and stretched the neck of it, it came 
 out between his hands like a lock of wooll ; yet he would 
 not give over his intended purpose, but knowing of a 
 Spring not farre off, he went to drowne it ; but still as 
 he went he fell downe, and could not goe but downe he 
 fell againe, so that he at last crept upon his hands and 
 knees till he came at the water, and holding it fast in 
 his hand, he put his hand downe into the water up to 
 his elbow, and held it under water a good space, till he 
 conceived it was drowned, and then letting goe his hand 
 it sprung out of the water up into the aire, and so va-^ 
 
 * One Goff of Mannintree, a Glover. 
 
34 
 
 nished away: and then comming backe to the said Anne 
 Wests dore, he saw her standing there in her smock, 
 and asked her why shee did set her Impes to molest and 
 trouble him ? to whom shee made answer, that they were 
 not sent to trouble him, hut were sent out as Scouts 
 upon another designe. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 GREAT TOTHAM : PRINTED AT CHARLES CLARK’s PRIVATE PRESS. 
 
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