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CONFIRMATION 

And  Difcovery  of 

WITCH  CRAFT, 

Containing  thefe  fezerall  particHlm ; 

That  there  are  VVicches  called 

bad  Witches^  and  Witches  untruely  called 

good  or  white  Witches ,  and  what  manner  of 

people  they  be  3  andhow  they  may  bee  kno woe ', 

with  many  particulars  thereunto  tendmg. 

Together  with  the  Confeilionsof  manyof  thofe  executed  fioce 
May  i64'5.  in  the  feverall  Councics  hereafter  mentioned. 
As  alfo  fonie  obje£Uons  Anfwcred. 

By  John  Steame J  now  o(  Lai3:^Jhall  netrc  Btirie 

Saint  Edmonds  in  Suff'olke^  fomctimes  of 

Manningtree  in  Ejjex. 


Paov.iy.i^.  He  that  juflifietb  the  wicked^  and  be  that  conJemnetb  the  jujl^even  they 

both  are  an  abomination  to  the  Lord. 
DevT»  13.  i^.JboupjJ^therefore  inquire  i  and  male  [eard\  and  askf  diligeni'-fy 

whitber  it  be  truth,  and  tU  thing  certaine. 


LONDON^ 
Printed  by  IVilUam  IVjlfon^  dwelling  in  Little  Siint  Bart  ho!  o~ 
njtwes  nctre  Smhb^jidd.      \    C    :  S     — 


Queen's  University 
Libraries       t 


PRESENTED  BY 


a  !' 


Dr.  Gerald  Tulchinsky,  2004 


Kingston,  Ontario,  Canada 


A  CONFIRMATION  AND 

DISCOVERY  OF 

WITCHCRAFT 


by 

JOHN  STEARNE 


Published  by  The  Rota  at  the  University  of  Exeter 
1973 


/kO^H    tfc^ 


6   '^ 


Printed  in  Great  Britain  by 

The  Scolar  Press  Limited 

Mcnston,  Yorkshire,  England 


Bibliographical  Note 

A  confirmation  and  discovery  of  witchcraft  is  the  sole  publication  of  John 
Stearne  (or  Sterne),  close  associate  of  Witch-Finder  General 
Matthew  Hopkins  in  an  intense  campaign  in  East  Anglia  between 
1645  and  1647.  Hopkins  published  his  own  77?^  discovery  of  witches 
(Wing,  Short  title  catalogue,  H2571)  in  Norwich  in  May  1647  as  a 
reply  to  criticisms  of  John  Gaule,  Select  cases  of  conscience  touching 
witches  and  witchcraft  (Wing,  G379,  June  1646),  but  was  dead  before 
Stearne's  contribution  to  the  controversy  came  out  in  1648.  (Accord- 
ing to  legend  and  the  D.N.B.  Hopkins  was  himself  'swome'  as  a 
witch  and  hanged,  but  Stearne  states  that  he  died  'peacably  after 
a  long  sickness  of  consumption'.)  A  confirmation,  inter  alia,  defends 
witchfinders  against  charges  of  hypocrisy  and  chicanery.  Hopkins 
and  Stearne  were  certainly  professionals  not  indifferent  to  profit  and 
notoriety,  but  seem  also  to  have  been  assured  of  performing  a  public 
service.  For  Stearne,  who  has  been  labelled  a  puritan,  it  may  have 
been  a  spiritual  duty.  A  confirmation  pays  close  attention  to  biblical 
texts.  Recent  commentators  have  established  that  existing  fears  of 
witchcraft  were  being  exploited  rather  than  created  and  that  the 
mission  of  discovery,  with  its  numerous  victims,  was  a  popular  one. 
Testimony  was  freely  and  copiously  given  by  neighbours.  Indeed, 
Gaule  complained  that  men  spoke  more  of  'the  infallible  and 
wonderful  power  of  the  witch-finders  than  ...  of  God,  Christ  or  the 
gospel  preached'. 

A  confirmation  offers  valuable  clues,  direct  and  indirect,  to  the 
motives  not  only  of  witch-accusers  but  of  those  who  'became' 
witches  themselves  and  suggests  why  women  in  particular  might  be 
ready  to  make  a  pact  with  the  Devil.  The  pamphlet  has  been  ex- 
tensively used  by  C.  L'Estrange  Ewen  in  his  Witch  hunting  and 
witch  trials  (1929,  reissued  1971)  and  Witchcraft  and  demonianism 
(1933,  reissued  1970),  by  A.  MacFarlane  in  Witchcraft  in  Tudor 
and  Stuart  England  (1970)  and  in  K.  V.  Thomas's  comprehensive 
Religion  and  the  decline  of  magic  (1971).  The  last  two  discuss  the 
activities  of  'white  witches'  whose  existence  Stearne  denies. 

John  Stearne  survived  the  Restoration  and  in  the  1660s  appar- 
ently was  living  once  again  in  Manningtree,  Essex,  a  centre  of  his 
earlier  witchfinding  activities  (Ewen,  Witchcraft  and  demonianism, 
p.  261). 

George  Thomason  seems  to  have  missed  A  confirmation.  The 
British  Museum  copy  (Shelf  mark  C.  54. e. 6.)  from  which  this 
edition — the  first  since  1648 — is  reproduced  (with  the  permission 
of  the  Trustees)  was  acquired  in  the  nineteenth  century.  Wing 
S5364  wrongly  assigns  it  to  1645.  There  is  in  fact  only  one  version 
(WingS5365). 

A  Confirmation  is  reproduced  by  permission  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
British  Museum. 


CONFIRMATION 

And  Difcovery  of 

WITCH  CRAFT, 

Containing  thefe  feverall  farticnlars ; 

That  there  are  VVicches  called 

bad  Witches,  and  Witches  untruely  called 

good  or  white  Witches ,  and  what  manner  s>i 

people  they  be ,  and  how  they  may  bee  knowne*, 

with  many  particulars  thereunto  tending. 

Together  with  the  Confeffionsof  manyof  thofe  executed  fince 
May  1645.  in  the  feverall  Counties  hereafter  mentioned. 
As  alfo  fonie  objed^Ions  Anfwcr ed. 

By  fobn  SteameyViovv  oi Lawjhall  nt^xtBurie 

Saint  Edmonds  in  Suffolke^  fomctimes  of 

Manningtree  in  Ejjex. 


Prov.  17. 1  •; .  He  that  juflifieth  the  wicked^  and  be  that  condcmneth  thejufly  even  they 

both  are  an  abomination  to  the  Lord. 
DevTV  13.  I  ^.  Thou PfMtthereforg  inquire  ,  and  make  fearcb,  and  atk^  diligent! ■'^ 

whether  it  be  truth,  and  tl>e  thing  certaine. 


LONDON^ 


Printed  by  ^?///^w  f^///^»,  dwelling  in  Little  Saint  ^./r/^<?/,?- 
nttwes  nctrc  Smiihfuld,      1   6   .;.  S 


Courteous  R  E  A  D  E  R3 

Othe  end  Imight  fut'iific  the  opinions  of  fuch  as 
dejireto  he  further  fat  is  fied  concerning  the  di.t- 
boli  call  art  ^  or  crying  (in^of  Witch-craft  (ts  I 
mayfo  call  itC)  For  thefinve  of  Witch,  crafty  and 
tht  diaholicslpraSifc  thereof^is  omnium  fcelerum  atrociff  L- 
mum,  atid  infuch  as  have  the  knowledge  ofCod^  the  grcaicfi 
Apojiactc  from  the  faith  5  for  they  renounce  God  and  Chriji^ 
and  give  themf  elves  by  a  covenant  to  the  Dcvill^  the  utter  e- 
nemy  to  God  and  all  mankind ^f or  in  Deut.  1 8. 1  o,  1 1 , 1  l,God 
gdve  command  to  all  the  children  of  Ifrael  that  none  amongfi 
his  fljould    bee  fuch.   For  thofe    abominations    rccrc  the 
children  of  Canaan  driven  out  from  before  thcm^  and  utterly. 
deftroyedandplagiied.As  alfo Manai]cih52  Qvo\\.7^/-.iYhich 
mck^dnef^e  of  his  was  fo  abhorred  of  God^  as  in  h/sdif- 
pleafnre  hee  mentions  it  many ycares  after  by  lertmy^as  caufe 
of  removing  the  lewesfrom  their  land^andjo  leading  them  a^ 
way  captive   into  a  ftrange  land  ^   ler.  15.  4,  5.    idola- 
tcrs  ought  to  dye^  as  in  Exod.  22.20.  and  52.  28,  29.  Nay  in- 
ticcrs  to  idolatric^  Deut.  15.9.  bccaufe  they  worfiip  Devills^ 
Pral.ic6.:^7.  I  Cor.  ic.  2  c.  Revel.  9.  20.  But  Witches  wor- 
f})ip  Devills^  they  invocatc  them^  craze  hdpe  ofthem^  worke 
by  them^  and  doe  them  homage  ^  facrificc  to  them^  and  they 
do  it  not  tofiockes  andftones^and  fo  mediately  to  the  Devi ll^ 
as  other  Idolaters  doe  ,    but  immediately   to  the  Devill 
himfelfe^and therefore  the  great eji  Idolaters  that  can  be\and 

A  2  arc 


To  the  Reader. 

are  not  they  then  more  worthy  of  ckutJp- And  to  convince  oth-rr 
Tpho  are  ^jffich  an  erroncus  opinion  as  to  fay  ^  notivithftu.s  • 
ding  Gods  law  againji  them^  and  the  holy  Scripture  fpcitl^ing 
ofthem^  bcftdes  the  larves  of  Nations^  both  heathen  and  Chri- 
an^Madc  to  phnifj  thcm^  that  there  arc  no  witches^  but  th.it 
there  are  Many  poore filly  ignorant  people  hanged  wrong  fnlly^ 
and  that  thofe  who  have  gone  or  beene  infirnntents  in  finding 
out  or  discovering  thofe  of  late  made  kjtoivne  have  done  Jt  for 
there  owne private  ends^  for  gainc  and  fuch  lil{e,  favouring 
fome  where  they  thought  good  ^  and  unjujily  profec^tingo- 
thcrs-^  I  therefore  (^as  my  leafure  hath  permitted  me  )  have 
given  my  fclfe  to  the  reading  of  fome  approved  relations 
touching  the  arraigncment  and  condemnation  ofPt^itches-^  As 
aij^  treatifes  of  learned  men  concerning  the  devil/fij  art  of 
Witch-craft'-^  adding  wit  hall  fome  few  things  which  otUr^ 
wife  I  have  learned  and  obfervedftnce  the  2  5.<7/March'  1 64s 
as  being  in  par^  an  agent  in  findingout  or  discovering  fome 
of  thofe  Jincc  that  timc^  being  about  two  hundred  in  number^ 
/wElIcx^Suffolkc,  Northamptonfhire,  Huniingtonfhire, 
Rcdforclihirc,  Norfolke ,  Cambridgefhire,  and  the  Ifle  of 
Ely  in  the  Count)  of  CcLmhndgc^  beftdes  other  places^  juji- 
ly  and  d>.fcrvedly  cxecutedupon  their  legall  try  alls.  Now  the 
cccafion  being  thus  offered^  and Mafler  Hopkins  dead^  I  de- 
fire  to  gjze  jo?/ie  fjtjsfa&ion  to  the  worUf   that  it  may  ap^ 
pcarc^what  hath  beenc  done  ^  hath  beene  for  the  good  qfthc 
(nmmm  wealthy  and  we  free  from  thofe  afperfions  caft  upon 
US  J  and  that  I  never  favored  any  ,   or  u>7jufily  profecutcd  0- 
thersj/ut  that  all  that  be  guilty  of  t hi!. ought  to  die-^afwell  the 
g  od  or  white  witches fo  called^as  the  olhrr:  and  that  then  //, 
andhalh  beene  more  favour  fi.^wcd^  or  at  Icafi  Icfc  care  taken 
frr  tl.  e  difccvtry  of  fm  h  a  r  beyutlty^  then  by  the  word  of  Cod 
there  ought,  for  how  many  are  there  now  a  daiei  which  could 
be  a  r tented  to  pafje  by  many  ofthcm^  as  Magicians^  Negro- 
f/.'ancL  rs  and  fuc  h  uk,c  ^    oj  whom  his  Lite  Aiajefty  of  famous 

renowne 


To  the  Reader. 

rfjtownc   in  his  Dcvionolc^ic  ^ivc'J^  .-;  clrcjcIfHll  ccnjurc ^ 
St^io faith  they  are.to  bccle.tit  ivithill^  .is  jv:th  Soccrcrs^.ivde- 
f peer  ally  the  (nrir?giritcJ?  ^  comr/!07ilj  called  the  goodwitch. 
Nay  thcfc  rather  get  credit  and  eft /rVLjt/nyi Jove  and  l/l^!ti:^^as 
did  the  Magicians  and  Sorcerers  ivith  rh^iraoh^  I'^xod.   7.  8. 
tcith  Nahnchadnczer  and  Belfiazz^ar^  Ilj.47.  12.  L/tk.  22. 
As  did  alfoShmonWl^guSivith  the  Sa  ma  litaii^rv/jv  iv.js  held 
tobe  the grcat^^ewtrofGod^  Ads 8.  Ltl{evpije  Elimas7v//A 
Sergius  Paulus,  Afts  1 5.  And  the  Pyrhoneileir///)  her  Ma- 
fier^  Ads  1 6.  And  will  not  jnany  fay^  furcly  they  rvorke  hy 
God^  becoJife  they  nfe  good  prayers  ana  good  words  ^  and  often 
name  God  ^  but  let  thofe  remember  that  the  Devill  hir/ifclfe 
canufe gsodrvords^yhx,  i.  24.  and'>,.  7.  h(ks  17.  that  bee 
can  counterfeit  the  habit  and  words  of  an  holy  man  ,  Sa- 
mueLtSam.  28.13515,17.  that  hee  can  tnrne  himfelfeinto 
an  Angelloflight^  2  Cor.  11.  Therefore  hee  not  teach  his 
fervants  tofeigne  holineffe  andyet  be  thefe  in  many  refpeUs 
warfe  then  the  others^  artd  the  holy  Scripture  exempts  none^ 
but  utterly  forbids  any  going  to  thern^  or  askjngcohnfell  of 
them*  I  J)0pe  this  my  labour  will  exatfe  mce^  and  givefomc 
better  fatisfa&ion  to  thofe  who  are  not  yet  fully  fat isfied 
herein^for  that  Ifjallmaks  it  plainely  appearc^  that  I  neither 
formerly^  in  any  of  my  proceedings  concerning  this  matter^ 
or  in  penning  of  this  ^ay  me  at  mine  owne  private  ends  rather 
■  then  the  publiquegood^  for  that  I  fj.dl  difcovcr^  fofar  forth 
as  I  aid  able ^  or  at  leaft  ^   as  civility  and  piodefiicJJjall 'jiz'c 
way\yct  lam  not  ignorjnt  how  dangerous  it  is  for  me  to  put 
my  jelfc  (ofarre  forth  into  the  Sea  of  c  oKTmon  opinion^  and  t 
cannot  fee  that  hy  reajon  of  the  fl  elves  and  rocl^s  of  injurious 
conceits  whicJ}  are  ready  to  he  found  onev:ry  hand  J  am  hie 
topajfe  any  adv  nture'-^  having  had  experience  already  haw 
forward  7?iany  bee  in  taking  part  with  many  of  thofe  wh.i 
have  been  detelUd  to  promote  themforw  ird  to  take  the  L.ijl 
advantage  byfuit  oflaw^  thereby  to  aquitt  themfclves^  n^l).  n 
as  many  times  it    h.tth  fallen  out-otherwife^  and  been  a 

A  3  m:an^<- 


To  the  Reader. 

mcancs  to  bring  to  their  defcrved  pHrtiflj^mnt^  hut  let  f/ah 
remember  the  Devill  needs  no  provoker.  And  thou(^h 
Ralnck  fentto  Balaam  ^^ p«r/«tJ.  the  people^  yet  iv:  find  i'.'c 
contrary yforfHrelji /did  Balaam,  fA^re  if  no  enchjfitmjnt  /n 
lacob  nor  divination  agjftnft  Ifracl.  And  yet  never thclcp'c 
craving  pardon  if  in  any  thing  herein  I  have  taken  too  much 
upon  mc^  I  have  once  ventured  to  commit  my  felfc  to  thy  fcn^ 
Cure  O'  doubt  Hot  of profperont  acceptance^jfbut  a  charitable 
conjiru&ion  he  had  of  my  true  intent  &  meaning  therein^  a  ? 
fromaplaine  country  man^  who  intend  not  to  pen  any  thing 
but  what  I /Ball  be  able  to  make  appeare  plainely  to  bee  truth  ^ 
and  then  I  ft) all  reckon  it  as  a  fufflcient  recompenccformy 
labour  and  paines.  And  fo  tpitJj  my  due  refpe&s  1  take 
leave, 

John  Stearne. 


CONFIRMATION 

and  Difcovery  of 

WITCHCRAFT 

^An  being  borne  in  flnne,  hath  thereby  iince  the 
Fall  of  our  firft  parents  loft  the  Image  of  God 
in  which  he  was  created,  through  the  tempta- 
tion bf  Satan,  and  is  naturally,  wholy  poJiit- 
ted  with  finneand  corruption,  whereby  he  is 
become  of  very  neere  km  unto  the  Dcvilljevcn 
hisownechild,  1 /oljn3.  lo.  And  that  beeing 
his  child,  hcwilldoetheluftsof  his  Father, 
John  8.  44.  and  that  no  doubt  in  one  thing  as  well  as  in  another,  for 
men  love  daikcnefTc  more  than  Vi^ht^lobn^.  1 9- Yea,  and  naturally 
are  given  to  worke  all  undeanncfTe  even  with  grcvdineHe,  To  capti- 
vated are  they  to  their  lufts,  Ep/;?/.  4. 19.  For  Satan  hath  his  wile?, 
E}/bcf'  1 1,  his  devices^  2  Cor.  2.  1 1.  his  depths  and  policies.  Revel.2. 
24.  his  fnares  to  catch  people  at  unawares,  i  Tiw.3.7.  2T/W.  2.26. 
And  being  thus  fu rnifhedj  hee  dare  fet  upon  any,  yea  upon  our 
Saviour  Chrift  himfelfe,  to  folicit  him,  yea,  and  to  a  moft  execrable 
impiety,  even  to  have  Chrift  to  tall  downe^and  to  worftiip  bim  .1 
Devill,A^f.  4. for  hewatcheth  nppoituniti.s,  he  feckethoccafions 
.Tfid  the  leaft  offer  he  efpieth  and  quickly  takcth  the  fanr,  and  fo 
prcvailcth  often,  not  only  with  the  rude  and  fottifh,  but  with  the 
ureateft  fpiriis  and  fliarpcft  witts  many  time?.  Fot  m.an  beein;^  given ' 
over  to  his  unruly  patlion,  is  violent,  inconiidcrate  and  vehcni.:u- 
ly  greedy  to  have  hisdefireJ  ends,  by  what  niifancs  foever  he  v'an  ai- 
rainethcm;  which  maktth  him  fccke  mcanesofthe  Dcvill  to  be- 
come injoyer  of  his  inordinate  delires,    regarding  more  the  ha- 
ving nf  his  prefent  will  ,   than  refpefting  his  future  Hate  af- 
ter death, and  is  more  taken  up  to  obtajne  what  he  likcth  for  the  bo- 


2  yi Confirnhition  and difcovcry  oflVitch-crttft, 

dy  and  outward  eHatein  this  world,  than  with  the  care  of  his  fpiri- 
m  ill  condition  aiid  eftate before  God  in  the  world  to  come  ,  which 
the  nuurall  man  very  little  ornothing  at  al!  regardeth.  Thisbe- 
iiit^che  condition  of  anatiirallman  who  remaincsflill  unrcgcnccate 
and  iiiven  over  of  God  unto  Satans  temptation  in  this  khidjhow 
lan  they  rclill .«'  Man  is  weake  ,  Satan  is  llrong,and  wichall  fiibtiif 
ro  beguile,  diey  may  cadly  yeeld,  for  that  he  hath  over  metre  nata-* 
rail  men  a  ruling  power,  Efbcf.  2-  2.  who  arc  already  in  his  fnare, 
and  at  his  ownc  will  are  taken  captive,  2  Tim. 2.  26. 

Here  fomc  will  fa y,you  goe  about  to  make  all  fubjeft  to  Witch- 
craft, or  at  leaft  all  unregenerateperfons. 

lanfwer,  it  faidin  lohn  3.6.  That  which  is  borne  of  the  flefh  is 
fioih,  and  that  which  isborneof  thefpirit  is  fpirit :  and  therefore 
VVitch'Craft  being  as  Saint  Paul  faith,  Amongft  the  fruits  of  the 
flclh,  Grt/.5.2o.  onemay  fall  into  this  iitme  afwell  as  into  any  other, 
ifGod  prevent  it  not.  Wherefore  it  behoove*  man(if  he  would  pre- 
vent the  power  of  the  Devill  and  whatfoever  Witches  can  doc)  xo 
labour  to  entertaine  and  uphold  the  preaching  of  the  Gofpell.  Foi; 
where  it  commeth,  downcgoeth  the  power  ot  Witchericj  ^s  8, 
and  13. 

Hiilorie  likewife  tells  us,  where  the  Gofpel  came  among  the  hea- 
then, there  the  hellilh  power  of  Devils  and  fpirFts greatly  dimini- 
Ihed,  and  we  heare  now  by  travellers,that  in  other  Countries  where 
the  Gofpel  is  not  preached,&  where  they  ftill  remaine3(a8 1  may  fay) 
according  to  the  abominations  of  the  Canaanites,  I  meane  in  fuch 
places  where  the  Heathens  ftill  remaine,as  inthe  Indies,  where  they 
by  travellers  relations,  worftiip  the  Sunne,  Moone  andStarrs,  Nay 
1  have  heard  in  fome  places,  the  Devill  himfelfe,  and  where  popery 
and  prophanenelTe  is  ,  with  contempt  of  Preaching  or  vile  negleft 
thereof,  there  Witch-craft  ismoft  rife.  Therefore  it  bchoovesmen 
to  labour  to  bring  forth  fruits  worthy  the  Gofpell  andamendment 
of  life.  P^or  God  hedgeth  the  vcrtuous  man  about,  hb  i.  fo  as  Satan 
cmnotcomeat  him,  without  very  fpcclall  licence  from  God,  and 
that  on'-ly  fora  tryall.  The  Angels  of  God  doe  alfo  pitch  thfir 
tents  about  fuch,  Pfal.  34.  yea,  and  have  charge  over  them  to  keepe 
them  in  their  waics,  Pfai  91.  1 1,12.  And  to  have  religious  duties  in 
our  families ;  and  as  ih:  Apofflefaith,  to  pray  continually,  i  Thef. 
5.  And  a?  Saint /^mrj  telleth  us,  hm.  5.  16.  that  the  prayer  of  a 
riahteous  man  availeth  mtich  ifit  b'j  fcrve;it.  VaviJ  did  not  onejy 

Tervc 


A  Confirmation  ntid  Difcovcry  ef^itcJ)- craft.  ^ 

(erve  God  openly  in  the  Tabernacle,  but  returned  home  to  blede  hi' 
hoiife,  2  Sum.  6.  20.  hnd  Job  every  day  facriticedto  Godjand  fan- 
ftiritd  his  children  and  family./oi  1.5.  And  God  gave  to    n'ratJ  a 
law  to  raniTtine  their  hoiiles.   And    fo  going  ever  well    armed 
againit  thefe  rulers  of  djrkenetre,  devills  and  evjll  ipiiits,  ftirnilhtd 
with  the  heavenly  turniturc  and  Ipirituall  wcipon^ot  which  the  A- 
polilefpeaketh,  Efh.  6.14. 18.  and  being  thus  qnaliried,  and  armed, 
to  trult  in  God  only ,  who  will  kcepe  thee  under  the  (hadow  of  hi>? 
wings,  P(^/.  91.  No  man  lliall  neede  to  fear e  Witches  or  Devills  ; 
knowing  ever  this  ,  that  they  cannot  doe  the  very  lealt  harnie  unto 
any  of  the  leaft  creatures  ot  God  without  leave  from  him:  no,  not  to 
enter  into  the  heard  of  fwine  of  the  very  GardarenSy  for  furely  there 
is  noinchantment  in  fdo^/;,  norsny  Divination  againft  IfraeJ.  ft  is 
the  Lord, let  him  doe  what  feemeth  him  good,  iSam.  i'^.26.   It  is 
the  Lord  that  giveih,  it  is  the  Lord  that  taketh  away,  blefTed  bee  the 
nameof  the  Lord,  Jo^  I,  2  n  And  therefore  many  yeeld  thus  farre  as 
that  Satan  needes  no  provoker  to  fet  him  forward,  as  the  Scriptilrc' 
teJl« us.  For  the  text  faith,  that  he compafTeth  the  world  to,and  fro, 
lob  I.  going  up  and  downe  like  a  roaring  fyon  feeking  whom  hee 
maydevoure,!  Pet.'^.S.  HeisreadyfifGodgive  waiejtobeea  lying 
fpiritin  the  mouth  of  Ahabs  Prophets  to  feducehim,  i  King.22.  and 
to  beguile  j  and  that  the  people  which  brought  the  pofTcfTcd  to  our 
Saviour, complained  only  of  theDevill,  Ma\.  15.2.  Lui\.  9.39.  They 
made  no  mention  of\Vitches,nor(for  ought  we  know)had  any  ful- 
pition  of  them,  for  we  find  that  God  hath  often  fent  theDevill,  as 
the  executioner  of  his  difpleafure  without  any  nieanesof  a  Witch, 
as  amongit  the  Egyptians,  hefent  evill  Angells,  T\al.']%.^(^.  between 
/?')/wr/fri';andthe.V/f6cwzfex, |udg.9.2  3.So  upon  Saul^i  5<jw. 16.15. 
Andfo  we  reade  of  a  Legion  fcntby  Chriftinto  the  heard  of  fwin, 
Mr.:.  5.  !:».  Thuswe  fee  Devills  immediately  fent  from  God  with- 
out any  iniliization  of  Witches.  And  therefore  conclude  thatallis 
ho:n  theDevill  by  Godspermilhon,  and  that  there  are  no  Witches 
atall.B'it  whofoever  thoubeclt  that  art  of  this  opinion, &  although' 
many  have  gone  about  to  prove  that  there  are  no  Witches;  yetbc- 
lides  the  former  rcafon,  the  contrary  tenet  is  undeniable  true,  that 
there  are  Witches. 

Firit,  fronuhe  lawes  that  God  himfelfc  hath  made  againft  them. 
Firfr,  in  forbidding  the  practice  of  Witch-craft,  and  that  none  a- 
mongfr  his  (hould  be  Witches,  Vvizzards,Negromancers  and  fuch 
like,  Z>f;^f.i8.  iO;i  1,12.  Secondly  in  forbiddixig  any  to  go  to  them, 

B  Liviit 


4         ^  Cotjfirmatiort  and'DjJcovcry  of  IV/tch-ircft. 

Levit.  19  20.  l^'a  8.  19.  Thirdly, his  Comnnfuiemcru  to  rut  Wi  ches 
to  deith,  Exod.  22.  18.  Fourthly,  Gods  judgenitnts  againll:  them, 
D(«r  18. 12. which  if  there  vvereno  Witches  what  neetle  thefe  lawcs? 

Secondlyj^fromthehi.'torie  ot  the  Bible,  which  nanicth  to  tisccr- 
taine  Witches,  as  the  Socercrs  of  £^'>pf,  h'xod.y.  hnnes  and  lam- 
brcs^  2  Titn.  3.  8.  Thofein  Batylon  and  Ftrfia,  Dan.  2.5.7,  ^i^-  47 
12.  And"  amonglt  tke  Nations  driven  out  before  the  children 
of  Ifrael,  Pe«[  18.  12,  13.  So  wee  reade  of  other  Witches  which 
V7ere^o{ Balaam  Numb.  22.  lof.  13.22.  Oijfrael,  2  Kinii-  9-  22.  Of 
Manafjes,  2  Chron.  33.6.  Oi Simon  Magus,  Ads  8.9.  l^ndfiimai^A&s 
1 5.8.Secondly5itniaketh  mention  ofthepraftizesof  WitchesjtxoJ. 
7.  2  CoTOT}.  ^S-^-Jf^'VI-9'  Eze.2i  21.  Thirdly,  itfpeik.th  of  feme 
going  to  them,  i  Sam.2^.'j.  and  fending  to  them,  Numb.  22.5.  Jof. 
24.9.  Fourthly,  it  relateth  how  fome  Kings  put  them  to  death, 
1  54^.28.5,9.  and  cut  them  off,  2  K//zg.2 3. 24.  all  thisfhouldbefalfe 
if  there  were  no  Witched. 

Thirdly,  from  fome  Comparifons  or  Similies  fetched  from 
witch-craft,  by -JdtfJKf/j  i  Sam.  15.  and  by  IJ4,  29.  4.  which  were 
abfurd  if  there  were  no  Witches. 

Fourthly, (as before)  Si  Pauls  mentioning  Witch-craft  amongft 
the  workes  of  the  flcfh.  Gal.  5 .  20. 

Fifthly,  Gods  threatning damnation  upon  Socerers,  Rev.  21. 2. 

Sixtly,  the  Lawes  of  Nations  both  Heathen  and  Chriftian  againft 
ihem. 

Seventhly,  the  truth  of  Hiftories,  and  manie  relations  of  their  Ar- 
raignement  and  conviftion. 

Eightly,  experience  amongft  our  felves,  and  in  other  Countries, 
together  with  the  confellion  of  fome  of  thofe  Witches  condemned 
and  executed  fince  May  1645. in  the  fevcral  1  Counties  aforementio- 
ned. Hereafter,  herein  expreflcd,  I  hope  will  give  all  fufficient  fatif- 
fa^lion  th;*t  there  arc  WitcheF. 

Nowhere  fome  may  fay,  this  is  fufficient  to  prove  that  there  arc 
Witches  in  fome  Countries,  or  at  Icaft  have  beenein  formes  tfmes 
with  us  here  in  this  Country  ;  but  how  will  you  makeit  appeare 
that  there  have  been  any  fmce  the  Gofpel  preached  amongfi:  us  .>?  For 
many  arc  of  oppinjon  that  there  are  Witches  in  other  Countries 
where  the  Gofpel  is  not  at  all,  or  very  little  regarded,  but  where  the 
Gofpel  is  faithfully  preached  as  with  us  mEngUnd  and  Scotland^  &c. 
that  there  are  not  any,  no  not  lince  the  comming  of  our  Saviour. 


A  Confirmation  and  D'lfcovcry  of  IVjtchcraft.  5 

I  anfwer  that  if  any  man  can  make  it  appear  that  the  GofpelJ  frce-^ 
us  from  finnc,  more  then  the  Law  did  our  forefathers,  that  ihcn  i^ 
might  be  fo.  But  the  Gofpell  frees  ns  not,  and  therefore  ivc  are 
as  like  to  have  fuch  mifcrcants  amongll  us  as  our  Forefather.'", 
For  we  are  as  linful  as  in  the  time  of  the  law.  And  Satan  Oil  remains 
amongftus.And  we  are  as  impatient,  profane,  and  unconfcionable 
as  ever,  having  dillen)peredpafl;ons,  violent  in  affeftion,  given  to 
ill  company,  and  vain  curiolities,  not  having  refpeft  of  Hcligion, 
by  which  occalions  the  Devill  tiketh  advantage  and  works  to  have 
his  will,  for  he  goeth  thither  where  he  is  eiiher  fure  or  hopcth  well 
for  entertainment.  Mat.  12.  44.  He  therefore  watchcth  the  time 
when  he  may  beft  offer  his  fervice  to  fuch  as  any  way  he  finds  the 
leaff  kindof  preparednefTcin,  as  when  any  fall  into  a  paffionatc 
forrow,  accompanied  with  folitarinefle  for  fome  lofle,  as  husband, 
wife,  children  or  fuch  like,  the  Dcvill  offers  himfelf  to  comfort 
fuch  in  their  forrowfuH  melancholy  mood.  So  in  time  of  dearth 
through  extreme  poverty  it  many  times  caufcth  many  tobedefpf- 
rately  inipatient  ;  or  fo  impatient  through  poverty  when  they 
would  needs  be  rich,  even  againf^  Gods  providence, as  that 
they  be  in  fuch  a  diflonpcrcd  paflion,  as  they  would  have  their 
wants  fatisfied  and  their  deiires  fulfilledj  be  it  by  what  means  it 
poHible  can  be,  (as  I  may  fay  J  right  or  wrong;  or  when  one  is  en- 
raged with  anger,  plotting  revenge,  oris  familiar  with  fuch  as  be 
Witches;  As  likewifc  when  any  are  addifted  to  the  reading  and 
fludieof  dangerous  books,  inticing  to  the  pra(fVice  of  hidden  myfle- 
rics,  of  Magickandlnchanrments.  Thus  by  che/e  and  fiich  other 
like  means  as  may  be  gathered  from  the  confeiTions  of  VVitchcs,they 
prepare  themfelves  for  Satans  temptations  ,to  draw  them  to  Witcb- 
craftjas  I  could  inflancein  thofe  innumerable  examples,  as  you  fhall 
read  hereafter  more  at  large  when  1  come  to  fpcak  of  what  forts  of 
people  are  mofl  addifted  to  Witchcraft;  and  therefore  do  you  not 
conceive  that  tliere  are  ftill  fuch  people  remaining  among^  us  ?  ye  a 
certainly  there  are,  and  VVitches  likewifc. 

But  you  will  ff ill  fay  it  doth  not  yet  plainly  appear  tobefo  fince 
the  Gofpell,  though  all  thefclinnesfiill  remain,  for  thcl>vil  needs 
no  provoker  as  before,  for  he  can,  if  God  peimir.  £j.-early  trouble 
us,  and  can  bereave  one  oF his  witF,  and  make  one  hjmrirk,  rfcaf 
dumb  and  blind,  bow  the  body  together,  fo  th.it  one  (nail  not  bc^- 
blc  tolittup  himfelf,  he  can  even  enter  in  and  poflcfft  any  really 

P'  •-  and 


6  A  ConfrmntioK  dtfclDjfcovcry  of  Witch  Crttft, 

and  make  them  invincibly  ftronj:,  ^nd  woik  ether  ctfc^^.  O."  all 
which  youma/*eadiiiA/jfi/;.9.32.and  12. 22. and  15. 22. and  17- 15- 
hlark:\-2^  and  ^.3,7. and  7  26. and  9.17,18,151520,  22.25,26  chlI  ;n 
I.«l^e  4.:i5.a!id'-. 2.  and  8^20,39  and  1 1.  14.  and  15. 11,  16.  andean 
eiiterinto  children, Lwi-^c  13.16.  young  (o\ks^Marh^-j .  16.  M;  n,  Mi)i\ 
5.1,2,3.  women,  Luke  i3.i6.M<jrf.the  15.22.  Yea  through  the  [vr- 
niHIion  ot  GodjUich  as  be  the  cleft  of  God*  Job  i.  and  2.  A  djii^htt-r 
ut  Ahrahr.my  Lu'c^  1 3. 1 1 .  ^Mary  Ma^daletic^Luke  7.2  .&  can  counter- 
fcicthe  refeiTiblancc  ofan  holy  man,  i  5rtm.28.12.i4. 19. yea  and  tor 
aiongtimejL;<i;t  S.27  .from  a  child  till  one  be  grown  up,Mdri^  '^;.2 1. 
even  eighteen  yeares,LMk  13.16,  andfo  we  rcade  in  Lul^e  7.2.  of 
(evtn  Devills  in  one  at  oncc,and  more  L;<i^e  11.26.  Yea  a  whole  le- 
gion,M.3r\ 5.9,165 14.  and  fomctimes  the  Lord  is  pleafed  to  fend  De- 
villsas  executioners  of  hisdifpleafure,  as  is  before  exprolfed. 

To  this  I  an rwer,and  grant  it  for  truth,and  not  to  be  denyed,  but 
yet  notwiihitanding  all  ^his,  there  are  Witches  !i(iewire,and  yctthc 
Devil!  doth  al!  this,  and  more  if  God  permit,  for  in  Gfn.3.We-may 
Icarne  chere  that  the  Devill  may  enter  into  a  dumb  creature,  &  come 
out  of  the  fame,  utter  a  voice  intelligibk,&  offer  conference  (if  any 
will  hea-^kcn  J  to  deceive  as  our  Witches  now  a  dayes  confcfiTe,  and 
that  hechooleth  the  fubtileft  creature  to  deceive  by,  and  the  weak^ 
erveflell  to  confer  with,    but  by  the  confeffions  of  Witches  now 
lately  detefted,  he  choofeth  fuch  creatures  as  they  themfelves  are 
moft  addiftcd  to,  as  you  fhall  hereafter  find  by  their  confeflions,  by 
the  (cverall  fhapcs  he  appears  in,  but  how  ever  we  may  read  therejtt* 
was  a  powerfuil  perfwalion  to  overcome,  and  yet  work  by  Witch- 
es, \Mzzards,  Necromancers,  Sorcerers,  Southfayers,  and  all  kind 
cf  .MarJtkart,  As  wemay  readein  £xo(].7.ii,  12.  and  8-  7.  Where 
wc  may  fee  that  Pharaoh  called  the  Wifcmen;,  the  Sorcerers,  and  the 
Alagiciansof  Fe^fN  who  did  with  their  incharuments  in  like  man- 
ner as  A/  c;  and  Aaron.  But  1  paffe  by  the  proofs  ou-r  of  the  Old 
Tf  Qamcnt  ft>r  this  becaufc  I  d:lire  to  g've  fuch  fatisfaftion  (as  1  am 
able)  that  it  may  appear  that  there  be  Witches  now  as  in  former  a- 
ges.     And  if  what  hath  been  already  fpoken  will  not  give  fatisfa- 
ftion  herein,  you  may  icad  in  the  ■j.lim.  5  8.  who  they  werc,that 
were  the  opplors  ot  the  truth,  but  hich  ss  Jarjies  and  Jair.LreSy 
who  withlloodMo/ff,  and  then  fearch  who  they  were,  and  you 
fhall  find  they  were  fuch  as  Fharaob  called  to  him,  as  in  the  before 
me ntioued  place.',who  with  their  inchantnicnts  did  the  like  a'iMofes 
had  done.  So 


A Cotijirmation andD'ifcovcry  of  Witchcraft,         7 

So  you  may  readof  E/>r«.jf  the  Sorcerer,  A^.  13.8.  who  refifled 
the  Apoftles  in  the  time  of  the  Corpcll, 

Solikewifc  in  All-  S  p.  you  (liall  read  of  Siwcn  Magus  a  lorcercr, 
to  whom  in  the  loverfcit  isfaid,  ihey  a!!  ^.wc  heed  from  the  Icaic 
to  the  greateft/fayingjiliis  man  is  c  e  i^rcar  ptAver  of  God,  For  in 
the  11.  verfeits  is  faid,  becaufc  that  ot  loni;  time  he  had  bewitch- 
ed them  with  forcerieSjand  in  the  1 3  verfe  wc  read  he  was  baptifed, 
but  read  the  20,  21322,  and  you  fhall  read  what  Ff/erfaid  to  him, 
and  fo  read  no  more  of  him  in  all  the  New  Teftamtnt. 

Alfo  in  the  Kev.2 1  -8.  you  may  read  how  Sorcerers  fliail  wi/h  o- 
therlinners  there  reckoned  up,  have  their  part  in  the  lake' which 
burneth  with  fire  and  brimllone. 

And  fo  likewife  we  read  in  the  Epillle  of  Jude  the  Apoflle  fpcak- 
ing  there  of  falfe  Teachers,  which  were  crept  into  theCIiurch  to 
feducethem,  for  uhofe  damnable  doftrinc  and  manners,  horrible 
judgement  was  prepared,  in  the   11.  verfe  pronounceth  woe  un- 
to them ,  for  they  have  gone  in  the  way  of  O/V?,  and  ranne  grcedijy 
after  the  error  of  Ed/rtflW,  by  which  vve  may  plainly  fee  that  there 
were  Witches  inthetinieot  the  Gofpei,  and  after  the  coming  and 
afcenfionof  ourSavionr,  and  do  any  doubt  then,  whether  there 
beany  now?  do  any  think  that  we  be  free  from  fuch,  wherelinne 
and  ignorance  belidcs  fo  much  abounds  ?  or  do  you  delire  to  have 
proqi  of  Witches  fincethen,  you  fhall   have  enough  of  their  con- 
teflions  to  make  this  evident,  bclides  the  relations  of  learned  men 
writing  concerning  Witchcraft.  But  if  you  would  but  rightly  ob- 
ferve  that  place  in  2.  T/w.3.  i   and  fo  on  to  the  8  you  (hall  find  that 
in  the  jail  dayes  fhall  come  perillous  times,  &c.    And  in  the  8. 
verfe  it  is  faid,  And  as  Jann.s  and  Jamhrcs  withftood  Mofesy  fo  do 
thofe  alfo  refilt  the  truth.     There  you  may  fee  plainly  that  there 
l"hou1d  be  fuch  to  the  latter  end,  befiJcs  in  divers  other  places  fpeak- 
ingtxprcflely  of  Witciicraft  ;  as  i.lim.^.  i.  ^ndjude  18. 

Likewife  of  the  Pythoneffc  which  brought  her  miftris  much  gain 
Ads  16  1  6. Alfo  in  Btv  2i.S.And  fo  I  might  nominatediveis other 
placeSjfor  tho(e  which  remain  doubtfull  either  of  being  bewitched  ' 
or  of  Witches  themfelves,  but  becaufe  their  own  cenfeflions  clear 
this  evidently,  belldes  the  forenamed  places,!  proceed  to  dillinguifh 
between  thofe  called  bad  Witches,and  thofe  called  white  orgood 
Witches,  which  is  cafily  to  be  d"  cerned  and  known. 
But  yet  1  fay  all  Witches  be  bad,  and  ought  to  fuffcr  alike,  being 

B  3  both 


8  A  Confirmtition  and  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft, 

both  in  league  with  the  Devill  ;  for  fo  is  the  good  ,  i^o  /mtruly 
calleJ,  afwellas  the  other,  either  of>cn  or  implicit.  And  therefore 
1  conclude,  all  that  be  in  open  leagu:  with  the  Devili  ought  to^ 
die.  And  the  Scripture  maketh  mention  onely  often  forts,  whick 
fpeakcs  rather  of  thofe  called  the  good,  which  the  world  fo  much 
I  iiancs  aftcrjthen  the  other.  As  we  may  read ;  Firft  in  Deut.  1 8. 
10  2  Kiiii^s  17.1. of  a  Diviner  forefhewing  things  tocorae.Such  the 
jicople  delighted  in  and  confulced  with,  JtT.  27.  9.  £^J^.  21.  22. 
Such  an  one  was  BalaAtrii  lof  13.  22. 

Secondly,  We  read  in  Vcut-  18.  lo.  of  an  Obfervei:  of  times, 
or  Soothfayer,  one  which  by  gaping  on  the  Heavens  could  alfo 
foretell  fomething.  Tothefe  likewife  did  the  people  give  eare, 
Jer.  27.  9. And  fuch  an  one  was  Manajfcs,  2  Chron.^^. 6. knd  what 
was  Elimas  the  Sorcerer  fpoken  of  in  the  Ads  ? 

Thirdly,  we  read  in  Vcu\.  18.  10.  of  an  Obfcrvcr  of  times, 
or  fcarcher  out  i  Oneiwhich  obferved  times  to  know  when  it  was 
beft  to  begin  a  bufinefTe :  as  Hamans  Witches  did  by  c^ftfrig  of 
lots  before  him*  Of  this  Mjnaffet  alfo  was  guilty  ,  2  Cbro.  33  .6. 
To  which  might  be  added  that  in  Hefier.  3.  7.  and  9.  24. 

Fourthly,  wereadinZ)t';<f.  18. 10.  Ifn.^j.  12.  of  a  Magician, 
one  that  could  deceive  the  P^ye-fight  by  making  fomething  to  ap- 
pcareotherwifcthenitis.  Such  F/;dr/jo/;  called  to  him  tooppofe* 
M^'es.    Herein  ,  y^jwwj  and  ^ijmirf/ ,  ofwhom  Saint  P^K/fpeak- 
tth  of,  were  guilty,  and  folikewife  wasMd«d]Jej,  2Chron.33.6. 

Fifthly,  we  read  in  r^«r.  18.  11.  of  an  Inchancer,  or  Con- 
jurer; one'joyned  in  league  with  another  5  as  the  Witch  is  with 
the  Devill,  Such  an  one  ufed  Ctiarmes  to  tame  Serpents,  T[dl.  58. 
<) .     Many  fuch  were  in  Babylon^*  Ifa.  47. 9.  and  Eccl.  10.  11. 

Sixthly,  we  read  in  Dew.  18.  11.  Lev.  20.  Of  one  which  hath  a 
fpirit  in  him  or  her  which  doth  give  anfvvcr  to  fuch  as  come  to  in- 
quire of  them.  Such  an  one  was  the  Witch  oT  EnJor  ,  .^^^.28. 
Such  an  one  was  the  Pythoncfle  which  brought  her  Miftris  much 
gaine,  ^(f// 16.  ln/(,i.  29.  4  called  a  Whifpcrer.  To  fuch 'the 
people  had  reguard.  Lev.  19.  21.  and  incouraged  one  another 
thereunto,  Ifa.  8.  19. 

Seventhly, -wee  read  in  Dewf.  18. 1 1,  ofa  Wizzard  ,  1 -9dW.  28. 
9-  Onealfo  which  could  foretell  feme  things,  and  fo  called  for 
his  or  her  foreknowledge  ;  as  now  we  ternie  them  a  wife  man,  or 
a  wife  woman.  After  this  fort  the  people-  fought  alfo,  Lev.  19. 3  is 
and  20.  6.  Eighthly, 


A  Confirm /it  ion  and  Difcov-^ry  of  JVitchcraft.  9 

Eighth!/,  '.vi  r:ad  in  I):u.    iS.  41.  of  a  Ncgromancer,  on:  ihac 
confukcth  v;iih  the  dead.  7;.;.  S.  •/. 

Ninthly,  we  read  in  7j<7.  1  9.  f;.  cf  a  VV'hlfperer,  wi^h  frcrct 
or  foft  words  5  as  our  white  \Vitchc5  doc,  indtavour'ng  to 
help  man  or  bealf.To  thcfe  (he  ^^■■yptiar:S  Icnqht  nfrcr,a<;  tliey  did 
to  their  Idolls  ,  as  in  the  lalt  tortnifntiuned  place  is  txjrclltd. 
Thefearenow  f  as  I  have  read)  tranflatcd  Charmers. 

Tenthly  ,weread  in  EW.  8.  11.  ofdichzs  PDarno!)  fougJit  to, 
as  we  caJl  them  Juglcrs  ,  deceivers,  beguiling  rh?  eye- light.  Some 
hold  them  tobecalicrs  of  Nativities,  which  tell  people  their  for- 
tune b/ the  time  of  their  birth.  Thefe  areonely  cxprefled  in  the 
Old  Tertamcnt :  But  the  New  fpeakcth  ,  as  1  may  lay,  onely  in 
generall  againft  Witch -craft ,  which  comprehends  all  the  ten  a- 
forementioned.  And  therefore  it  cannot  be  denyed  ,  belides  their 
confclfions  herafter  herein  expreffed,but  that  there  are  fuch  to  this 
timejand  that  they  all  ought  to  fuffcr  alike,  which  have  made  an 
cxpreffe  league  with  the  Devill.  An  art  Co  execrable,  to  renounce 
God,  and  to  betake  themfelves  to  theDevill,  as.  for  this  thing 
onely  they  deferve  death  in  the  higheft  degree  ;  for  the  Law  of 
God  faith  without  exception,  Thou  (halt  not  fufFer  a  Witch  to 
live,  Exod.  22  1 8.  It  a  VVitch  Juflly  convifted,  Death  is  due  to  fuch 
an  one,  Levit.  20.  27.  For,  for  thofe  abominations  the  Lord  ut- 
terly deftroyed  the  Canaanitcs^  and  plagued  Mancfes^  which  wick- 
ne(fe  of  hii>vvas  fo  abhorred  of  God,  as  in  his  difpleafui-e  hcc 
mentioned  it  miny  yeaies  after  ,  as  a  caufe  of  removing  the 
Jftres  from  their  Land,  and  of  Feading  them  away  captive  into  a 
ftiangeL:^nd,  7^.15.4.  And  did  n^'t  good  King  Jo/J^/;  put  fiich 
forts  to  deah  ihr.t  hemight  fi'Ifill  thrLaw?2  F.ings  23.  24.  And 
fodid.'^^w/,  S.,.n.  28.  Nay  ,  hath  i^n  the  Lord  threaincd  g^cr-t 
Jiidiremcnts  in  the  aforcntcriri_r^'|: 'tces '  Ver5,and  doth  hr-  net 
by  the  P.ophctpromifeto  cut  off  V\'irch-cra?b  and  Soothfay- 
crs,  wh'uhe  intends  to blefle  a  Nation  ?A//fJ-  5.  12. 

Now,  who  they  bo  that  make  thi*?  expiclfe  or  open  Ie:'gue,  ?:c 
both  forts.  But  for  the  hui  tmg  and  curling  W'itch  ,  there  i?  but 
one  fort.  All  which  makes  rhiscxprefTe  or  open  league  ;  and  th.'.y 
doe  ii  6nely  for  mifchief,  though  fcverajl  waycs  :  for  ihcy  tp.kc 
their  Familiar.^; ;  Sonie  for  one  miff  hiefjfome  for  another.  VX'hcn 
as  there  be  two  forts  of  the  other  ;  theonein  exprede  and  open 
league,  for  fo  I  tearme  it,  though  made  never  fo  fecret,  bccauie  ic 

is 


10         A  Confirmation  anddifcovery  ofiVitch-craft. 

is  don^by  conference  with  the  Devilli  And  the  other  is  by  im- 
plicit, or  fecret  league,  onely  by  confidence  in  believing,  that  (uch 
orfuchathing  (hall  produce  fuch ,  or  (iich  an  cffeft.  Now  the 
hrftofthefc  two  have  Familiars,  as  well  as  the  other  ,  or  at  leall 
a  brand,  by  which  they  may  be  known  and  discerned  by  ,  as  we  II 
as  the  tirih  Some  tofet  fpells  i  Some  Charmesi  Some  to  cure  dif- 
ealej  feverall  wayes  ,  either  by  words,  or  walhlng  clothes,  or  a- 
anoynting  the  Inftrument  which  gave  the  wound  to  cure  the 
wound  i  ijonie  onely  by  laying  on  ofc  their  hands  ;  Some  by  u- 
fiiig  and  faying  fuperftitious  words,  or  forme  of  prayers ,  ufing 
good  words  to  bad  ends ;  Some  by  both  •-,  Some  by  herbes  ;  Some 
to  know  where  ftolen  goods  be,  cither  by  railing  the  Devill ,  or 
Familiar  Spirits ;  Some  onely  by  words,  andfolikewifethelarae 
for  loft  goods,  or  manorbeal},  and  to  bring  them  againe  5  and 
foby  many  fuch  like  wayes  and  meanes  doe  thefeworke  by  :  Yet 
many  times  theyerre,  all  of  thefe:  For  the  Devill  cannot  per- 
formehis  promifesatall  times.  So  that  it  is  not  to  bec^crettioned, 
but  all  thefe  forts  are  in  league  with  the  Devill.  For  it  is  not  to 
be  doubted,  but  before  any  of  them  can  have  power  to  doe  any 
thing,  againfi,  or  for  any  parry,  or  have  any  delired  ends  cfFc- 
£ked,  the  league  exprelle  or  implicit  is  firft  made  \  bee  it  exprefle 
then  confirmed  i  but  for  the  Confirmation  hereof  their  confefli- 
ons  will  makeitplainely  appearc  ,  andplaineproofesand  reafons 
for  the  other,  that  they  confidently  trult  that  their  delires (iiall 
beffftfted  accordingly  to  their  beliefe ,  as  the  curing  VVitphes 
doe  of  them  which  come  to  them  for  help.  All  which  I  will  make 
p!aine!y  appeare,  wlien  1  come  tofpcakehow  they  may  be  known. 
For  here  fome  moy  firft  demand  of  mec  what  forts  of  people  they 
be  of  either  forts? 

I  anfwer ,  as  for  the  firft  fort  moft  women  ,  and  for  the  other 
moft  men.  And  albeit  there  he  of  both  forts  of  both  :  as  Elimas 
the  Sorcerer,  and  Shnon  A/.-r^w;,  and  fo  likewife  Balaam,  and  the 
Witch  of  EWor,  and  o'^  thc(e  young,  middle,  and  old  jge,  of 
which  inftances  nuy  be  given;  Yet  of  Witches  in  general! ,  there 
be  commonly  more  women  then  men.  This  is  evident. 

Firft,  from  Gods  Law  againft  Witches,  Exod.  22.  In  the  femi- 
nine gender,  ir^fiigiatricc-m  ne  finito  viverc. 

Secondly,  from  Seuls  fpeech,  when  he  faiJ  ,  Sceke  one  out, 
a  woman  tiiat  hath  a  familiar  fpiritj^'^m  28  7.1  Ct)ro?i.io  13,14. 
in  naming  a  woman  and  not  a  man.  Thirdlj^ 


A  Coifirmation  ,tnd  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft,        1 1 

Thirdly,   from  experience  it  is  found  true  here,  and  in  al^ 
Countries,  efpecially  of  hurting  Witches,  that  they  nre  moft  in 
number,  as  appearesby  theirowneconrdllons  ,  with  the  /lories 
jnd   relations  even  from  thefe  in  our  ownc  Kingdome.  As  of 
thofecf  BMrfort-O/J,  where  there  met  above  fourcfcore  at  a  time  ; 
And  at  Tilbrooke  bufhcs  in  Bedfofdjbier,  nctre  adjacent  to  Cciiveortb: 
in  Hunnn'iton(}}eir,  where  there  metabove  twenty  ar  one  time  ,  as 
'John  lV)rucl{  ,and  others  confefled  who  fuffered  at  Uunym^ton  U\\ 
A/iij  was  two  yeares  :  Asalfoby  the  confcllions   ot  lomc  others 
which  fuffered  at  Northampton  not  long  before  ^  So  Jikcwifc  were 
thofe  which  met  at  Manningtree   in    Ejfex^  as  Klizaheth  Clarice, 
and  Anne  Leech  confclfed  ,  and  thofe  which  were  condemned, 
there  being  about  twenty  eight,  at  Cbelmsfcrd^  in  the  fumnier 
1545.  were  (  as  I  remember  )    all  women.    And  thole  at  Bw 
Tie  Saint  Edmunds^  wh^ere  fixrie  eight  were  (  as  1  Hkewife  remem- 
ber )  condemned,  mod  women  ,  All  at  one  Goalc  delivery,  in  the 
fummeri645.  So  I  could  nominate  farrc  more  inftances  in  other 
places,  and  of  about  two  hundred  executed  fince  the  faid  May^ 
1 645.  in  the  feverall  Counties  aforemeniioned,  the  women  farre 
exceeded  the  men  in  number.   And  as  I  have  read  ,  thofe  iu 
Lancajheire,  where  ninteeneafTerablcd,  and  but  two  men,  and  that 
th  ofe  that  bewitched  the  Earle  of  Rutland  were  women  j  and  that 
thofe  of  IVarboyes  were  women,  and  but  one  man.  Women  there- 
fore without  gueftion  exceed  men ,  efpecially  of  the  hurting 
Witches  ;  but  for  the  other,  I  have  knowne  more  mcn^  and  have 
heard  fuch  as  have  gone  to  them  fay  ,almoft  generally  they  be  men, 
and  fo  likcwife  finde  them  to  be  fo  in  Authors ,  which  fpeake  of 
fuch,  and  never  knew  any  women  queflioned  in  that   way  but 
men  ,  and  of  them  as  hitherto  not  many  -,  For  as  before,  men  ra- 
ther uphold  them,  and  fay,  why(bouldany  man  be  qiieftioned 
for  doing  good;  but  1  am  certaine  the  word  of  God  is  con- 
trary. ^  / 

Now,  why  it  fhould  be  that  women  exceed  men  in  this  kiuc^,  I 
will  not  fayjthat  Satans  fetting  upon  thefe  rather  then  man  i?,  or 
like  to  be,  becaufe  of  his  unhappy  onfet  and  prevailing  with  Eve; 
or  their  more  credulous  nature  ,  and  apt  to  bee  mifled  ,  for  that 
tht-y  be  commonly  impatient ,  and  being  dilplcafed  more  malici- 
ous ,  and  fo  more  apt  to  revenge  according  to  their  power,  and 
thereby  nwre  fit  inftruments  for  the  DeviH  i  or  thar^becaufe  they 

C  be* 


ti     A  Confrntation  and  Difccvery  of  Witch- craft. 

be  more  ready  to  be  teachers  of  Witchcraft  to  othert ,  and  to 
leave  it  to  Children,  fervants,  or  to  fome  others  (  but  that  you 
(hall  finde  to  be  a  great  inducement  thereto  by  their  Confcflions^ 
or  lhat,becaufc,  where  they  can  command  they  arc  more  fierce  in 
their  rule,  and  revengefull  in  fettingfuch  on  worke  whom  they 
can  commandjWheretore  the  Devill  labourethmoR  to  make  iheni 
Witches :  for  Satan  is  fubtilljand  feeketh  whom  he  may  devoure, 
and  if  fal(e  teachers. 

But  as  Saint  rd«/ faith.  Witchcraft  being  amongft  the  fruics 
of  the  fle(h,  one  may  fall  into  this  linne  as  well  as  into  any  other 
C  ifGod  prevent  it  not  )  and  therefore  whether  men  or  women, 
Thefc  forts  following  are  the  aptcft,  as  by  experience  plainely  ap- 
peares  amongft  iis  now  a  dayes. 

I  palTe  by  Infidels ,  and  Heathen  people  in  former  times  (  from 
whom  thefe  abonjinations  mentioned  in  Ikut.  i8.  iq,  ii.  came 
into  I[Tael,  and  favage  Nations  now  (amongft  whoftO  ^y  Tra- 
vellers relations.  Witchcraft  is  moft  rife  )  and  wiU  fpcake  onely 
of  fuch  forts  arbe  called  Chriftians,  and  th^e  be , 

Firft,  ignorant  people  whofe  eyes  are  blinded  by  Satan,  2  ^or.4 
4.  and  are  led  captive  by  him,  as  is  faid  in  another  place. 

Thisappeareth  in  thofe  Witches  commonly  detefted  amongft 
us,  filly  ignorant  perfons  many  of  them.  Elizabeth  Veekes  of 
KatlcfdeK,  in  Suffolk^ ,  a  filly  ignorant  young  woman  being  found 
wiihihe  markes,  confcfled  that  fbewas  guilty  ,  and  had  two 
crop  eared  ImpeSjas  (he  faid  ,  which  had  fucked  two  or  three 
times  upon  thofe  markes  found  upon  her  ,  which  Impes  (  fhe 
faid)came  like  Mire ;  the  one  white,  which  (he  called  Birds,  being 
the  ledft,tbc  other  gravjwhich  (he  cal led Teates, which  Impe  asktd 
her  to  deiiye  God  ,and  Chiil>,  and  told  her  if  (be  would  (be  fliould 
never  want,  h\t  (he  faid  (he  then  refufed ;  Wherctjpon  f  (be  fai  1 ) 
her  mother  asked  her  to  give  her  foule  from  God  to  the  Devjll, 
which(  (lie  CaUJ  Ihe  likewife  refufed  :  but  as  fhe  was  ^oing  to  bed, 
cither  upon  a  paire  of  (laircs,  or  ladder,  her  mother-pulled  her 
back  in  much  danger  of  her  life,  and  confelTed  many  ether  things 
then  more  ?.t  large.  But  for  her  ignorance  (lie  was  favfd  at  inrWy, 
when  herm:i  her  fuifcrcd,  yet  atCLrvvard,  notwiLhfrandiMg  this, 
and  her  rcfuling  thofe  taupcations,  Iheconfcired,  (he  did  make  a 
I  eagfieand  C'ovenanr  with  the  Devill,  and  fealed  it  with  her 
bloud,  anJinipIoycJ  rhofelmpts,  to  the  much  prejudice  of  her 

Neighbours 


A  CotifiTmationnnd  DifcovcryoflVitchcrdft.        15 

Neighbours  and  Townfmcij ,  as  (l^c  confeflcd  before  the  Jullicc 
of  Peace.  hlCo  Joanejrallkf  of  Ke)(lon  ,  in ////rjf;;;gfo?/j7/V/r5  a  ve- 
ry ignorant,  Ibtcilh  woman,  conttlfccl  ihe  Dcvill  came  to  her  in 
the  likenellc  of  a  man,  in  blackili  cloithini;; ,  bnt  had  cloven  ^eer, 
which  Hic  called  BlackmanjWho  ufed  to  lie  with  her,  ar)d  liave  the 
•  uiejiSier  body, yet  fix  confeifed  he  was  more  uglier  then  man,  and 
not  as  her  husband,  which  fpeaks  to  her  like  a  man,  but  he  as  he 
had  been  fome  diftance  from  her  when  he  was  with  her,  who  told 
her,  if  fhe  would  be  ruled  by  him  fix  Ihould  never  want  ,  but 
Ihculd  have  what  fhedefired  ,  and  brought  her  two  otirers  the 
third  time  he  came,  which  Cfhe  faid Jflie  called  Grizzel/^  and  Gree- 
digut ,  for  Co  ((he  (aid  )  they  called  thtmfelvcs,  and  thatthoft,  af- 
ter fhec  had  con  Tented  to  the  other  his  demands,  and  confirmed 
the  Covenant  ,  (he  could  and  did  imploy  as  (hee  then  further 
confefled,  both  to  the  Townfenien ,  and  after  to  the  Juftice  of 
Peace,  and  fome  of  the  mifchiefes  fhe  had  done.  Ennumerablcof 
thefe  inftances  I  could  nominate  in  many  of  their  Confetliorrs,  as 
you  (hall  findc  in  fome  of  thofe  following.  But  \  dellre  to  Anfwer 
one  objcftion  before  1  proceed  further  ( that  is  )  fome  fay ,  and 
many  will  and  doc  fay  ;  But  you  watched  them,  and  kept  them 
from  racat,drijikc,or  ref^jand  Co  made  them  fay  what  you  would. 
A  very  unnaturall  part  fo  to  u(e  Chriftians.I  anfwer  fo  it  were.But 
I  never  knew  any  deprived  of  meat,drinke  or  reft,  but  Had  what 
was  fitting  till  they  were  carried  before  fome  JuAiceof  Peace  to  be 
examined ,  and  had  provi(ion  to  re(^  upon,  as  bolfters,  pillowes, 
or  Cufhions,  and  fuch  like,  if  they  were  kept  where  no  beds  were  j 
yet  1  doe  not  deny  butat(irft,  fome  were  kept  two,three,  or  foure 
daycs,  perchance  fomewhatbafer,  but  then  it  hath  been,  either 
when  no  Juftice  of  Peace  was  neere,  or  when  the  witneffes  againft 
them  could  not  goe  fooner,  but  then  they  have  had  beds,  and  for 
other  provifion,  1  never  knew  any  kept ,  of  what  ranke  or  qua- 
lity foe  ver,  but  that  they  had  better  provjllon ,  either  meatc  or 
drinke,then  at  their  own^houfes.'  For  the  watching,it  is  not  to  ti(c 
violence,  or  extremity  to  force  them  to  confeffc  ,  btitonely  the 
keeping  is,  firft,  to  fee  whether  any  of  their  fpii  irs ,  or  familiars 
come  to  or  neere  them  ;  for  1  have  foundjthat  if  che  time  be  come, 
the  fpirit  or  Impefo called  (liould  come,  it  will  be  cither  vilihfe 
or  invilible  ,  if  vifible,  then  it  may  bee  difcerned  by  thofe  in  the 
Pvoomejifinvifible,  then  by  the  pjrty..  Secondly  ,  it  is  for  this 

C  2  end[ 


14       -A  Cprfjirviatiott  nnd  Difcovery  of  Wit(  hcraft. 

emi  alfo,  chat  if  the  parties  which  uacch  them,  be  lo  carduil  th^t 
none  conic  viiible,  nor  ii)viiiblebut  may  be  dilcerncJ  ,  it  th^y 
follow  their  direftions,  then  the  party  prelently  attei  the  tinic 
tluir  FanuliarslhoLJdhave  comfjitthey  faile,  willprcfently  cof;- 
feifc  5  for  tlicn  ihcy  thinke  they  will  either  conie  r-^  m-inv^  />•■  oa* 
Icall  have  forlakfn  tht-in. 

Thirdly,  it  is  alfo  to  the  end,  that  Godly  Divines  and  o- 
thers  might  difcour(e  with  them  ,  and  idle  perfons  be  kept  fron) 
them,  for  if  any  of  their  focietycometothemto  difcourfc  with 
ihem,  they  will  never  confefle  ■■,  This  was  obferved  ^nt,  Bwrj  Saint 
Edmunds  in  Sufolk^,  as)  remember,  when  there  were  eightcene  tu 
bt  executed.;  nioUot-  them  kept  in  a  Barne  together,  thty  made 
a  Covenant  amongft  ihtmfelvcs,  not  to  confefle  a  word  next  day 
at  the  gallowcSj  when  they  were  to  be  hanged ,  notwithftanding 
they  had  formerly  confeded ,   and  Come  of  them  after  they  came 
into  the  Goale,  and  feme  before  the  Bench  and  Country,  hut 
nioft  of  them    ( if  not  all )  before  the  Jufticcs  of  the  P-eacc ,  and 
fo  dyed  next  day  accordingly  very  delperately  ,  except  one  pe- 
nitent woman  which  rcfufed  their  Covenant  or  agreement :  fo 
ftiemadeitknowne,  and  how  they  madeja  fingingof  a  Pfalme 
after  they  had  done  it.    But  if  honeft  godiy  people  difcourfc  with 
them,  laying  the  hainoufnefle  of  their  fins  to  them,  and  in  what 
condition  they  are  in  without  Repentance,  and  teUing  them  the 
fubtiltics  of  the  Devil!  ,  and  the  mercies  of  God  ,  thcfe  wayes 
will  bring  them  to  Confcdlon  without  extremity,  it  will  make 
them  breake  into  Confedion  hoping  for  mercy. 

Now  that  the  Impcs  come  vifible ,  it  is  true  and  apparent,  and 
(o  watching  hath  produced  true  and  lirange  cfFefts,  and  is  a  great 
meanesCunder  God)  to  bring  them  to  confedion,  as  for  exam- 
ple j  Elizabeth  Clark^c  o(  MannirijitTee  in  Effe^^ ,  beingkept  three 
dayes  and  three  nights ,  fhee  confefled  many  things ,  but  how 
ihewas  kept  I  knownoi  wcj],  for  1  came  not  at  her  during  that 
tinrjnotwithftanding  1  lived  then  in  Towne,  and  was  one  which 
caufed  her  to  be  quefiioned  ,  who  did  accufe  fomc  others  which 
lived  in  their  fcverall  Parifhes,  the  Townfemen  dclired  me  to  goe 
withhcrconftfTion  taken  in  writing  byanother,  to  the  Jufiices 
©f  the  Peace  for  a  warrant  for  thofe  (he  accuf'd  ,  the  warrant  was 
made  for  the  fearching  of  fuch  perfons  3«  1  Ihould  nominate, 
whereupon,!  would  firft goe  tQ  her  before  the  Warrant  (hould 

be 


A  Conjirmat  ion  attetDjfcovcry  offViich craft,         1 5 

beferved,  to  knowof  her  who  Hi?  diJ  acciife  ;  Mr.  Hofhjn  be- 
ing with  mee  went  together,  and  when  J  hjd  asked  her  who  ihee 
had  acaifcd  ,  wc  were  agoing  away  ;  bijt  (be  laid  to  us ,  if  you 
will  ftay,  i  will  fhew  you  my  Inipcs,  for  they  bee  ready  to  come. 
Then  faid  Mr.  Hopl^in  .  Bcfc^  will  they  doc  us  no  harnie  ?  no  faid 
(he  J  what?  did  yon  thinke  lam  afraid  of  my  children  ?  you  (hall 
lit  downe,  Co  wee  did,  where  flic  appointed  us.  Then  one  of  the 
company  which  was  appointed  to  be  with  her  that  night,  faid  to 
her,  Belfe,  1  asked  you  a  queliion  of  late,  but  you  aniwercd  not, 
then  (he  faid,  what  is  it  ?  Then  he  replyed  and  faid,  teJl  the  trath, 
if  it  be  the  truth,  fay  fo,  but  if  not  truth,  then  fay  fo  ,  Hath  hoc 
the  Devill  had  the  ufe  of  your  body?  (he  faid,  why   (liouldyou 
aske  fuch  a  queftion  ?  he  anfwerd,  1  delire  to  know  the  truth  and 
no  otherwKe,  then  (he  fetched  a  (igh,  and  faid,  it  is  true,  then  faid 
Mr.  Hopi^/r?,  in  what  manner  and  likcnc(fe  can)e  he  to  you  :*  (lice 
faidjlikea  tall,  proper,  bl^ck  haired  gentleman,  a  propcrer  mm 
then  your  fclfe,  and  being  asked  which  fh:e  had  rather  lie  withaH, 
fhee  faid  the  Devill  ,  and  fo  particulaiized   cver^  thing  ,  arid 
how  heecame  in  ,    and  his  habit,  and  how  he  lay  with  her, 
and   fpoke  to   her  ,  as  (he  then  afhrnud  to  bee  truth,  and  fo 
pre(ently  fell  a  fmacking  with  her  lips  and  called  Lought  t>Ao 
orthree  times,  whichprefently  appeared  to  us  eight  fForthere 
were  fix  which  were  appointed  to  bee  with  her  that  nighL.bcfore 
we  went  )  in  the  likeneflc  of  a  Cat ,  as  (he  had  formerly  tol^  us ; 
for  (he  told  us  before  what  (hapes  they  (hould  come  in,and  fo  that 
prefently  vanirticd  ;  then  (he  called  againeas  before,  Jermarah, 
then  appeared  another,  like  a  red  or  fandic  fpotted  dog,  with  legs 
not  fo  long  asa  Hnger  (to  ourperceivancej  but  his  back  as  broad 
astwodogf,  or  broader,  of  th.u  bigneffe  ,  and  vanifhed,  and  fo 
after  that  called  more,  as  before,  by  their  feverall  name?,  which 
came  in  feverall  (hapes  ,  One  like  a  Greyhound,  with  legs  as  long 
as  a  Stagge ;    Another  like  a  Ferrit  ■■,  And  one  like  a  Rabbit ,  and 
foinfcveralKhapesthey  appeared  to  us,  till  there  were  fome  fe- 
ven  or  eight  fecn  ■■>  Some  by  fome  of  us,  and  others  by  other  fome 
of  us;  then  I  asked  herif  they  werenot  all  come,  fortherewere 
morecome  then  (he  fpoke  of,  (he  anfwered  that  they  came  dou- 
ble in  feveralKhapc  8,  but  faid,  onewasftill  to  come,  which  was 
totearemeeinpeecc?,   then  I  asked  her  why ,  (he  faid,  bccaufel 
would  have  fwomeher,  and  told  me  that  now  (bee  would  bee 

C  3  even 


1 6        A  CortfirMAtion  and  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft. 

even  with  mfc,  and  io  told  in  what  manner  it  fhould  comcjblackj 
and  like  a  Toade,  and  fo  afterward  did  come  ,  as  the  rel>  averred 
that  faw  it ,  and  fo  (he  confeiled  their  meetings,  and  the  manner 
how  ihey  worOiJppcdthc  DevjII  at  their  ineetings ,  and  faid  to 
lis,  they  tTiat  be  found  with  thefe  markcs  that  1  am  found  with- 
all,  arc  without  qiiefiion  VVitchcSj  yetfaid,  that  there  might  be 
Tome  Witches  which  had  not  thofe  markes ;  but  affirmed  it  over 
and  over  again,  that  all  thofe  that  had  thofe  markes  were  Witches, 
and  had  familiar  fpirits  which  fucked  of  then),  and  fo  confcfled 
what  mifchiefe  fbe  had  done  with  her  Impes,  in  a  verj  large  man- 
ner, and  fo  did  next  day,  after  flie  had  llept  •,  for  the  Juftice  gave 
mc  order  that  (he  (hould  fleepe  before  he  examined  her  ,  left  (hee 
had  not  flept  before,  and  fo  I  did  accordingly,  and  yet  (hee  then 
confcded  at  large  before  two  Juftices  ot  the  Peace ,  and  how  fhce 
would  have  been  my  deaths  this  was  the  tirft  accufed ,  and  her 
markes  and  con  fed  j  on,  thebeginning  of  our  knowledge:  Yet  I 
confefTe,  the  markcs  be  difficult  to  finde  from  naturall  roarkes ,  as 
I  thai  1  hereafter  declare.  Rebecca  lVe(i  o(  LamforJ,  in  Ejfex  ^  who 
was  (  as  (he  confcdcd  )  married  to  theDevill,  and  the  manner, 
had  an  Impe  came  to  her  in  the  time  (he  was  kept ,  but  of  her 
confelTion  more  at  large  hereafter. '  Alfo  Elizahetb  Finch  of  Wat" 
[or  in  Suffolke^  confe(Ted,  that  about  twenty  yeares  before  (he€ 
was  found  with  the  markcs,  the  Devill  appearetito  her  in  the 
likencflc  oT  a  fmoaky  coloured  Dog,  which  asked^  her  to  deny 
God  and  Chrift  ,  which  fhe  (aid,  upon  his  promifes  (he  did,  and 
let  him  have  blou  J  to  (eale  ,  or  confirme  the  Covenant  or  agree- 
ment i  and  that  foone  after  that,  there  came  two  more,  black  on 
the  backs  and  reddilh  on  ihebclliis,  which  (ucked  her  two  or 
three  times  a  week,  upon  tho(c  markes  that  were  found  on  her, 
and  that  fometimcs  (he  fetched  bloud  in  other  places  for  them, 
and  gave  it  to  them  ;  flue  alfo  had  her  Impes  came  vifible  ;  For 
(heronfedcd  in  the  timefnce  was  kept,  one  which  was  with  her 
to  lookc  to  her,  faw  one  of  them  ,  and  finn*^  it  into  i|jc  fire, 
which  ffie  affirmed  wa?  one  of  her  Impes  ,  and  iliat  whilcft  they 
were  bulie  about  that,  thinking  to  burnc  it,  (he  confeded  the  o- 
ther  came,  a;id  threw  her  out  of  the  chairc  (he  fate  in^which  hurt 
her  forehead  and  wrell ,  which  was  done  accordingly  ,  and  fo 
further  con fe(red.  (>f  tfeefe  I  could  brin^  diverieinliances,  but  I 
will  procctii     They  come  likcwife  invjiibki  as  one  Bink^es  of  Ha" 

verilf. 


A  ConfirmAtion  and  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft.        i  y 

t^eri/i  had  an  Injpe  fucking  of  hervvhilllfhe  was  talking  with  o- 
thcrs,  and  prefently  confeffed  it    Another  whilcft  I  was  in  the 
roorae  with  her,  at  Huntington  ,  I  perceived  by  her  carriage  that 
(be  was  afucking  her  Inipes, Spirits,  or  Familiais  fo  caUed  ;  I  lay- 
ed  it  to  her  chargejbnt  iiie  denied  it ;  Yet  prefently  atter  fliccon- 
fefled  it  was  truth,  when  (he  was  asked  by  the  jiillice  of  Peace. 
Andas  I  remember  ,  it  was  the  fame  woman  ■■,  but  i  am  furc  of 
Kejjlon  in  HumingtonP^ier^and  (o  was  (he,  that  to  the  thinking  of 
two  which  were  with  her,  Ihe  fate  ftill  in  her  chaire  ,  when  two 
more  in  the  yard  (aw  hergoe  out  into  the  yard,  and  her  going  in 
againc  j  This  woman  confcfled  the  DeviJl  fate  in  herlik^nefle, 
and  (he  went  out,  and  fuckled  her  Impes  in  the  yard,  as  the  other 
two  affirmed.  So  in  the  fame  Towne ,  one  Clark^s  wife  skipped 
out  at  a  hole  in  aftone  wall,  above  halfc  a  foot  thick,  vhich  was 
forae  nine  Inches  long,  and  fome  foure  and  a  halfc  broad,  all  the 
one  fide  head  and  all ,  and  but  little  to  bee  feen  of  her  but  one 
leg  ;  and  the  hole  was  nccre  a  yard  and  halfe  from  the  ground, 
and  yet  one  pulled  her  back  againc,  and  afterward  went  away, 
nobody  knew  how  :  yet  1  fay,  if  thofe  which  looke  to  them  be 
carcfull,  it  is  to  be  difcerned  ,  this  is  apparent  by  that  I  nomina- 
ted at  Huntington.    And  fo  at  Codman  in  Suffolke,  being  told  how 
a  woman  there  carried  her  felfc  ,  1   caufed  her  to  be  fearched  a- 
gaine,  and  there  was  alteration  cfihe  markes,   and  the  woqiau 
presently  confcfled  it,  and  made  a  large  confclljon  j  and  fo  it  hath 
been  common  in  all  our  proceedings,   and  a  great  caufe  for  keep- 
ing them  j  for  thebloud  hath  fonittinics  been  found  on  the  end 
of  the  marke,or  to  be  ftroked  ou'c  when  cliey  be  taken  on  a  fud- 
daine,    As  I  could  inAancc  the  one  halfe  of  their  conffflicns  ;  but 
bccaufe  it  is  fo  apparent,  1  inliancc  no  furuhcr.    But  now  to  ma- 
nifcft  that  good  Council  will  doe  it,  and  fo  likcwifc  v;ithoiit 
keeping  j  fori  hold  they  two  depend  mo(^  upon  one;  Tlicnfay  f, 
that  upon  goodcxhortations  alter  the  niarkts  fc  und  ,   ihcy  n:3y 
be  brought  to  confcllion,  either  by  ktcpinc,  th(.u^h  cvcythhig 
necclTdry  be  afforded  tium  ,  as  I  ntvc  did  rjihcrwifc  ,  but  now 
lately  kcepe  nojie,  or  not  aSove  one  nit^ht  till  we  ^oe  ihetic,  and 
yet  have  their  confellions.  Vv  itncffc  thoie  cxtcuted  at  Elic^  a  jitle 
h°foie  Michaelmas  laCt ,  who  made  large  confcHions.    Alio  c;nc 
at  C';d//fr//7;  there  ;  One  at  AL-rcb  there  ;   And  another  at   U  im- 
tlington  thcreinow  htvly  fuund,  Itill  to  bj  trycdj   who  made  vciy 

large 


i8       AConjirrftation  Attddtfcovery  of  IVjtchcraft. 

large confeflions ,  efpedally  the  firft  two;  Nicholas  Hemp(}ead  of 
Creeting'm  Suffolke,  being  found,  upon  exhortations,  and  laying 
thehainoufnelfeof  thefmne,  and  Gods  Judgements ,  and  Gods 
mcrci<?jand  the  like,  notwichftanding  hee  at  firft  railed  on  me  in 
very  approbious  tearmes ,  yet  prefently  fent  for  me  ,  and  would 
have  asked  mee  forgivenelfc  ,  he  prefently  confefled  Cut  hee  had 
made  a  league  and  Covenant  with  the  Devill ,  and  how  hee  had 
confirmed  it  wifh  his  bloudi  And  thefhapeof  his  Impes,  and  of 
the  Devill  when  they  covenanted ,  and  how  he  killed  a  horfe  of 
oncof  theConlrables,  becaufeheprefledhimfora  fouldier,  and 
fiveof  thebcfthorfes  in  Colonell  Rocbeflers  Troope^' ;  hnd  di- 
vers other  things  he  had  done,  making  a  very  large  confelfion, 
with  a  great  deale  of  penitency  and  forrow,  which  hee  fo  conti- 
nued in  f  as  I  iince  heard  )  to  his  very  execution  without  alte- 
ration. To  thislmighf  adde,  Henry  Carrs  hereafter  mentioned-, 
And  the  boyes  next,  after  the  objeftions  anfwered,  and  diverfe  o- 
thers  which  you  Hiall  here  rinde ;  but  becaafe  it  falleth  out-better, 
whenlfliallfpeakehowtodifcover  them,  I  leave  here,  hoping 
this  isfufticient  for  thatob'jeftion,  if  not,  I  will  anfwer  more  ful- 
lyjasoccnfionfhallfcrve.    But  then  fome  will  fay,  you  fwome 
fotneof  them,  cfpecially  at  the  firOjWas  not  that  extremity  >  I  an- 
fwer, that  hath  been  ufed,  and!  durft  not  goe  about  to  cleerc  my 
felfc  of  it,  becaufe  formerly  1  ufed  it,bnt  it  wasat  fuch  time  of 
theyearc  aswhen  nonetookeany  harmebyit,  neither  did  I  ever 
doe  it  but  upon  their  ovvnc  requell ;  and  were  to  fuch  as  firft  were 
fouivl  with  themnrkes;  but  now  lately,  there  hath  been  no  fuch 
comCt  t-ikoii  thjc  I  know  of.    For  I  am  of  opinion,  that  it  is  one 
w.iy  of  Jiirruftini^  of  God?  providence  ,  putting   confidence  that 
that  (lull  bring  fuch  or  fuch  an  cffeft,  or  event ;  neither  was  ice- 
ver  given  in  or  taken,  that  I  ktiow,is  an  evidence  agaihft  any,nor 
ufed  by  any  of  us  but  the  fii  fl  fummcr,  from  MarchyOr  May  1645. 
to?b  Kit  the  middle  o^  Ai(:u^  n^xt  following  ;  when  Judge  Cor- 
bolt  that  now  is,  forwarncd  it  ■■>  Whc  n  Divines  eave  their  opinion 
of  the  unlav/fuincfTe  thereof,  ic  hith  ever  fincebecn  left,  ind  not 
many  before  fo  ufed  :    Notwithrtanding,  ic  was  then  the  defire  of 
fuch  perfons  thenifclves,  thinking  thereby  to  cleare  themfelves, 
whereas  ic  fell  out  otherwilV.    Yet  tinder  favour,  Let  me  fpeake 
one  thinj  that  I  have  found  in  that  way  i  that  it  is  a  true  rule  in 
one  rclf-e-H:  J  that  the  vv.itcr  ei^.trtth  not  into  any  of  them,  when 


IC 


A  ConfirrHdtJon  and  Dijcovery  of  IVitchcraft.        i  ^ 

it  will  inro  a  iizc  pcrfon,  tho.i<^h  they  fwimoic  both  alike  ;  for 
lo  they  will,  \i  the  water  be  inchanted,  but  the  free  perfon  will 
prcfently  be  choaked,  when  the  other  lye  topling  on  the  Water^ 
llriving  to  get  their  heads,  or  theinfelves  under  the  water,  but 
cannot  ,  neither  can  they  bring  out  water  in    their  mouihes, 
though  they  be  foretold  of  it,  nor  (pit  cleare  watery  for  the  water 
enters  them  not  when  it  will  the  other  Thus  farre  I  have  observed, 
or  turther :  But  becauie  it  is  held  iinlawfull,  1  fhould  be  forry  to 
fpcake  any  thing,  either  to  give  offence  to  any,  or  to  be  a  meanes 
toanimateany  in  fuchcourfes.  For  if  any  did  confefle  ,  rather 
then  to  goe  into  the  water,  or  to  come  out  of  the  water,  or  pre- 
fently  after,  except  they  had  been  (hifted ,  and  refrefhed  every 
way,  andknownc  tobe  in  perfeft  memory ,  it  hath  been  taken 
as  no  evidence  i  and  fo  hath  all  other  forcement  been.     But  there 
is  one,  a  very  remarkable  thing  concerning  this,  that  was  done  at 
Saint  Z\^eo/f;,in  Huntin^tdnfkirei  of  a  woman  that  had  been  fearched 
twoorthree  timeSjandnot  found,  fortheycanhidethcirmark.es 
fometimes,as  you  fhall  heare  after  herein,yet  was  ftjll  in  great  fuf- 
picion  of  many  of  the  Townfmen  to  be  guilty  fthe  brand  is  diffi- 
cult to  finde  if  fhc  had  notice)  and  the  rather,  for  that  (he  fled,  or 
went  away  after  (he  was  fearched  twice ,  for  fonie  are  not  found 
at  Hrfl,yet  be  in  the  end  .-  So  at  her  returne  fome  would  fwim  her, 
and  didjrtie  fwum  apparently, where  they  had  formerly  caft  a  free- 
man in,  tyed  after  the  fame  manner,  (he  was  not  further  med/ed 
with  then.  But  as  I  have  heard,  and  in  part  from  the  man  himfelf, 
where  the  aft  (hould  be  done,  A  Dog  was  fecn  in  his  yard,  which  a 
Maftic  Dog  would  not  fei*zeon,but  his  Ton  ftroke  at  the  L)og,and 
hatt  him  two  or  three  blowes  over  the  back,  up  to  the  fhoulders- 
ward,  prcfently  a  gelt  bitch  feized  on  him  ,  and  bit  him  on  the 
neck,  and  gave  him  fome  fhuckeSj  andthen  theDog  got  away  : 
lb  it  remained,  but  this  woman  not  being  (een  in  the  ftreet  as 
formerly  ,  was  cau(ed  to  be  viewed  ■■,  and  found  bitten  on  the 
neck,  or  brui(cd  on  the  other  parts  in  a  nioft  fearfull  manner. 
Thefeare  fome  fimilitudes,  that  there  is  fomething  in  fwimming 
(  if  lawfull)  but  to  proceed.   This  one  more,  that  ignorant  peo- 
ple are  moft  apt  to  be  VVitche?,  as  afore  faid.  OfaBoyin  Kntlef- 
Jo«  aforefaid  ,  who  was  accufed,  when  he  was  under  nine  ycares 
of  age,  when  all  know  he  could  not  be  of  much  capacity  ,   hee 
without  watching,  or  keeping,  voluntarily  confelTed,  that  hee 

D  fuckled 


fuckled  au  (mpe,  and  had  it  at  ccii.m.Hid  lo  d;;:-  iijalu  Jc,  .'.nd  jio  - 
niinated  (ome  ,  as  the  kilii/ig  of  loiiieCliickinj^s ,  .uui  (omc  (.- 
ther  mifchietes  he  liadthcn  done,  as  he  coiifcHed,  lojicthti'  with 
the  rcalons  he  cnnlcd  Ids  Irnpc  to  kill  the  Cliickeii?,  which 
was,  bccaiife  theman  which  ovv'cd  them  had  chidd'.n  liim  for 
rpoyling  his  grallcj  wlicn,  as  he  iard,  they  did  it,  f"o  ilie  next  time 
he  faw  them  there,  he  did  it.  This  boy  being  young  ,  I  (fuppofc 
the  Jury  had  hopes  of  his  amendment ,  as  1  confcffe  I  then  had) 
he  was  then  releafed,  and  went  to  theTowne  againvAvhene  he 
continued  fome  time,  and  was  fufpecfVed  againe  for  firfther  mif- 
chiefe  ,  and  fo  apprehended  againe,  and  put  into  prifon, where  he 
then  vohir  tarily  coifefled  iikcwife  his  renewing  of  the  league 
andCovenant  with  the  Dcvill ,  and  the  fealing  of  it  with  his 
bloud,  after  his  mother  was  lianged  j  for  fhc  fuffered  for  Witch- 
craft, about  the  M;f/Mc/w<5j  \6\<^.  and  then  was  he  Hrft  quefiio- 
ncd  ,  and  thathe  Had  more  familiar  fpirirs,  or  Impes,  ai.theycall 
them  ,  and  that  the  Devill  appeared  to  him,  in  the  likenefJe  of  a 
black  brovvncMarc,  and  would  carrie  him  whither  hee  defired, 
andcotifeffed  abundance  of  mifchiefe  he  had  done  ,  between  the 
tinie  he  was  releafed,  and  committed  againe.  But  after  hee  was 
in  Buric  Goale,  not  long  before  the  AHizes,  the  hrll:  lince  thefe 
warres  ,  theGoalcr  milling  a  Prifonerin  the  morning,  which  he 
had  ovfr  night,  a  notorious  offender,  whom  he  kept  double 
lliacklcd,  the  Goalerquellioned  this  boy,  and  upon  fomtthreat- 
ning  fpecches,  theboy  confcfTed,  that  he  was  gone  home  on  his 
Mai  cover  the  wal]',  and  (hewed  where,  and  told  him  he  (hould 
Hndc  him  with  his  wife  ;  whereupon,  the  Coaler  fent  forthwith 
rothe  Prifoncrs  houfe  ,  being  at  leafl  twelve  miles ,  and  there 
found  him  at  his  houfc,  as  the  boy  had  faid  ,  having  fhackles  on 
as  he  went  out.  Will  this  with  the  other  give  you  raiisfatTtion' 
but  1  might  adde  to  this,  fiipcrftitious  and  Idolatrous  perfons. 
But  I  paffe,  intending  onely  to  take  the  heads,  agreeing  with 
ihc  conftllionsof  Witches. 

Secondly,  malicion' people  ,  full  cf  revenge,  having  heart:. 
fwolnewhh  rancour,  upon  the  lealt  dil'p'cafure,  with  b-ttcrban- 
nings  and  cuifes  ,  thrcatnlng  rcvenpe  ,  or  rtqniialls  :  this  is 
nianifeft  by  the  natuie  ,  quality,  v.'ords,  and  di-cds  o(  \'iitche> 
conviftcd,  who  have  Ocwed  thtmfclvcs  to  be  fnch,  a<:  ever  foinv.l 
fo  to  bf,   asthe  faid  _7'/;;2  if/;;;>/K/;confe(r  ,  th?t  v\hcn  hcc  Iiv;d 


y>   Lonpr/zfAtionanA  Dijcovcry  of  ll'itchcr.iji.        2i 

j:    'ii}rM%'i  ill  ^\-jiihawftG}.f:cir  3  he  haviii;^  lolchis  piiifc  with 
l^^iiic  ("Lvcn  !hJlH'i_:',s  in  it ,  as  b,c  was  in  a  Baincj  where  ho  lival , 
ifRic  in  un  hme,  as  hcc  was  making  up  of  bottles  ot  liay  ,   hcc 
was  in  a  paliion  iorliisparff  and  money ,   and  in  fiich  a  ra^e  of 
binnini,  and  curling  5   that  he  was  faying  to  liinifeJfc,  would  hcc 
knew  where  he  nfight  goe  to  a  cunning  man  for  it  ,   for  have  it 
hewould,  though  he  wcfK  to  thcDeviiJ  torit  •,  (herewas  npic- 
paicdneflc  ^or  the  Ucvill)  tor  he  con'eHcd5thc  DevDI  appeared  to 
him  imni.'diattly,   in  the  likcnelfc  ota^Beaie,  but  not  above  the 
bigncHe  of  a  flabbit ,  yvhich  told  him  ^  if  hee  would  fall  .downe 
c.nd  worlliip  hi::i,  he  would  help  him  to  his  pui  (e,  and  money  a- 
gaine,  and  that  he  (liould  have  it  where  he  Itood,  next  day  about 
(lie  fame  time  •-,  Co  hedid  fall  downe  and  worlfip  him  •■,  And  next 
day  he  came  againe,  to  fee  for  his  purfe  and  money,  and  found  it 
accordingly,  butcontefled,    that  before  he  could  tell  it ,  the  De- 
vill  in  the  fame  fliape  appeared  to  him  againe,  and  told  him,  hee 
muU  lall  ilownc  and  worfliip  him  againe,  and  then  he  fell  dovync, 
and  faid,  Oh  my  Lord,  my  God  ,   1  thanke  thee,  >'nd  then  hee 
asked  him  to  deny  God,  and  Chrili,  and  tofervehim  as  Lord, 
and  then  he  (bould  neve/-  want  ,   which    he  confe/Ted  he  con- 
feiiied  to,  then  he  demanded bloud,  af»3 he  bade  him  take  it,  fo 
heskippcd  on  his  (boulder,   and  fetched  bloud  with  h'S  claw,  on 
the  fide  of  his  head,  which  markc  was  Ceeu  at  his  TryalJ  ;   Then 
he  confelfed,  there  appeared  two  more,  which  the  rirfl  told  him 
hee  mull  worfhip  alio,  and  take  them  for  his  Gods,  and  they 
ibould  be  at  his  command,  anci  fo  he  faid,  he  did  ;  then  that  like 
a  Brarc  turned  like  a  Pvatt,  and  foihofefucked  on  the  thiee  marks 
i  found  on  him,  after  lo  the  time  he  was  taken,  at  their  times  ap- 
]>'jintcd,  and  were  at  his  command,  as  he  then  confcfTed  more  ac 
large,  before  the  juftices  of  the  Peac,  and  confcfTcd  at  the  Gal- 
iowcs  likewife,  the  laft  worils  he  fpoke.   Alfu  one  Moorcs  wife  of 
Sultony  in  ihcllleof  .K//V,  in  tlie  County  ot  C.iwbriJ-^e^  after  (be 
hail  confelfed  the  leagu:  an  I  Govcnaiit  made,  andfealed  with  her 
bloud,  confelfed,  that  (befcnr  one  of  her  Inipcs  to  kill  a  man,  or 
at  leJit  to  hint  to  him  i  for  that  she  had  bought  a  Pigge  ofhirn^ 
tor  two  shillings  and  two  pence,  ^nd  paid  hinv'two  shillings,  and 
afterward  he  cofnming  by  her  dorc,  asked  her  for  ir,   which  man, 
wasfooneaftei  taken  lick,  and  in  his  lickneife,  cryed  out  of  her, 
laying  !iv  c:i:!d  not  depart  this  life,  uuiill  hee  h.'.d  fpoken  with 

^  ^^  her- 


22        ^  CojfirMiitioti  nKclD/Jccverji  of  Ifitdicrjft. 

her,  foshewasfent  for,  but  she  re  fu  fed  ,  whereupon  (belying 
in  fuch  extremky)  she  was  by  fomeof  his  friend?,  at  his  rcqueft, 
being  fo  delirous  to  fpeake  with  her  in  fuch  extremity,  forced  to 
goetohhn,  and  then  loone  after  he  dyed,  according  as  hee  for- 
merly faidi  So  this  woman  confeifed  divers  other  things,  and 
feeraed  to  be  very  penitent ,  and  forry  for  it ,  for  she  wept  2t  her 
tryall,  and  confelFed  her  felfe  guilty-  before  the  Judge ,  Bench, 
and  Country ;  But  what  she  did  after,  or  at  her  Execution,!  know 
not.    Ihomazine  Katcliffeo(  SbeUieyin  Suffolk^,  confefiTcd,  that  it 
was  malice  that  had  brought  her  to  that  she  was  come  to,  meaning 
Witchcraft ;   for  she  confeflfed,  that  foone  after  her  husbands  de- 
ceale,  above  twenty  yeares   before  her  confelTion  ,  there  came 
one  in  the  likeueflfe  of  a  man ,  into  bed  to  her  ,  which  fpoke 
with  a  hollow,  shrill  voyce,  and  told  her,  he  would  be  a  loving 
husband  to  her,  ifshe  would  content  to  him,  whiclrsheH[aid,  she 
did,  and  then  he  told  her,  he  would  revenge  her  of  all  her  ene- 
mies, and  that  she  should  never  mifle  any  thing ,  in  which^e 
faid,  she  found  him  a  lyer^  but  (aid,  that  Satan  often  tempted 
her  to  banning  ,  fwearing,  and  curling,  which  shee  confefled 
shedidufc  a  longtime,  and  that  many  times    it  fell  out  accord- 
ingly, and  that  she,  falfitigout  with  one  Martins  wife,  who  had 
a  child  drowned  ,  tor  that  she  called  her  Witch,  faying,  she  was 
tljecaufeof  the  childs  drowning,  shebadhergoe  home  and  look 
to  the  red  5  lel^  shclollmore,  and  one  died  fuddcnly  after.    Al(b 
AnneKar.dalioi  Lauenbam  in  Sufolkc^  after  she  had  confefled  the 
('ovenant,  for  ftill  you  inuft  remcmbei^that  is  firfldone,  before 
the  Devil!  ^  or  iheir  Familiars,  or  Inipes,  aft,  or  doe  any  thing, 
ociiSelfcd  that  she  had  two  Impes,  which  w<re  heavieaiid  foft,buc 
ranie  in  the  likencfl^  of  Cat?,  or  Kitlins,  ofa  blew  colour,  cal- 
led Hangman,  and  Jacob:,  ^^"^  that  thofc  fucked  on  the  markes 
were  found  npon  her  body,  feme  thirty  yeares  together  :  fome- 
t  mf.*?oncea  vveeke,  fonieti'.Des  once  a  fortnight,  and  that  shce 
I  nt  her  Impe  Hangman  to  kill  a  horfe   of  one  l/illiam  BaUixinf 
«.)f '7l;&rfr,  fomc  two  miles  trom  l.auenbnm^  for  that  she  aslced 
him  to  bring  her  in  fonie  wood  ,  and  he  bad  her  pay  for  that  she 
h-id  had  hrit ;  and  thshr.peretii.ned,  and  tpld  her  he  had  donQ^ 
he  had  killed  two,  fei  they  were  lanquelled  together,  fohe  killed 
thtmboth,  which  hcrfcs  were  killed  (but  in  fuch  a  tempcll  Jas 
was  fuppoled  by  a  Dcvill  in  Thunder,  untill  she  confefl[cdit  of 

her 


A  Cotifrmatjon  and  Difcovcry  of  Witch  craft,         2 1; 

her  fclfe.  Alfo  she   confeffed ,  that  being  at  Stephen  Humfiies 
in  llborpe  atorefaid,  and  a  begging  for  Alnics,  hce  came  home 
welljand  flic  being  at  the  doore,  he  chid  hcpjor  gave  her  fuch  words 
as  fbe  liked  notLoF;  As ftie  went  over  the  way  from  the  houfe,  her 
Impe  Hangman  appeared  to  her,  and  asked  her  what  he  fhould 
doe  5  and  she  bad  him  goe  and  kill  one  of  his  Hogs,  which  Ihcc 
(aw,  which  (he  faid he  did  before  (he  was  out  of  fight,  which 
Hog  died  accordingly.  Likewife  (he  further  confe/Ted,  that  fl.e 
being  apgiy  with  one  Mr.   ^opf/«^fr  ofLavenham  ,  (he  fent  hci- 
Impe  Jacob  to  carry  away  bufhes,  which  he  had  caufcd  to-be  laid 
to  fence  his  fences,  above  one  load,  here  fome  ,  and  there  fomc, 
all  along  by  the  hedge  (ide,  as  they  were  to  be  hedged  out,  and 
in  one  night  they  were  gone,  no  man  knew  what  way,  untill 
fuch  time  as  (he  confefTed  her  Impe  did  icBut  as  I  have  (ince  heard, 
they  were  knownc  to  be  in  another  mans  ground,  who  confeired, 
they  came  the  fame  nighty  but  how,  be  knew  not  till  then.    Alfo 
a  young  man  of  Tcwford,  in  KoTthatnfuoujhire  ^  who  fufferedlor 
Witchery  lincethefaid  time,  at  A'or/lMWffon  ,Confe(led,  that 
fie  Ont  oncof  hislmpes,  to  ont  Codes  Cattell  ofVenfcrd^  be- 
caufe  he  would  not  let  him  keep  them,  and  the  Cattell  ranne  fo 
violently  away  fomiug>  that  the  owner  had  much  adoe  to  catch 
them  with  a  horfe,  and  more  to  get  them  home  into  his  yard  a- 
gaiue;  an  1  fo  many  other  ihi/igs  he  confe(red,  as  I  could  parti- 
cularly inflance.  And  fo  for  this,    1  hope  it  is  fufficicnt ,  to  give 
a!I  faiisFaftion,  for  all  confcflions  ,  or  moft  of  them  at  leafK, 
tend  to  prove  this   in  fome  pait.      Thofe   that  arc  given  to 
over  much  cniol'ny,  to  (leke  after  vaine  Knowledge,  in  pride 
of  heart  to  goe  beyond  others,'  to  underfland  fecret  and  hidden 
thin.i;.s  to  know  things  to  come.     Such  are  thofe,  as  not  bound- 
ing themfclves  within  the  limits  of  reafon,  nor  of  Gods  reveal- 
ed U'lJl,  f.^1!  fowie  uniwarcs  upon  the  Devil! ,  and  arc  in  great 
danr.ertob:  iritrappedby  him,  and  made  his  (laves  by  his  intice- 
mcnf?;.  Thus  was  Parfon  Low/;  tJ ken,   who  had  been  a  Minillerf 
fas  I  have  heardj  in  one  Parifh  above  forty  yeares  ,  in  Sufolh, 
before  he  was  condemned  ,  but  had  been  indited  for  a  commc>ii 
imbari  iter,  and  for  VVitchcrafr,  above  thirty  ye'ares  before,and  the 
grand  Jury  (  as!  haveheardj  found  rhe  bill  for  a  common  im- 
barritei  ,  who  now,  after  he  was  foimd  with  the  markes  ,  in  his 
coufelilonj  heconfelfed,  thninprideof  heait,  tobe  equal!,  or 

^  $  rather 


:'4       A  CoMfirnttUioti  atiA  Difcovcry  of  WJIchcraft. 

rather  above  God,  the  Devill  tookc  aJvaiitJ^^e  ol"  liHii,  aiid|i?e 
covciunteJ  with  theDevill,  and  fcakd  ic  with  his  bJoiid  ,  and 
had  Lhrce  Familiars  or  fpirks  j  which  fucked  on  ihcu)c»ikis 
tjundupon  hisbcKJy  5  anjdid  muc'i  harme  .,  both  i.^y  Sea  .uiJ 
Landj  especially  by  Sea  ,  for  he  cor.tefled,  th>u  h'.'  h:Sny^  at  Laii- 
carfort  in  Suffulkei  where  he  preached,  as  he  walked  upon  th:  wall, 
or  workes  there,  he  faw  agreat  fai'.^  of  HiipspaHc  by,  and, that 
a- they  were  failing  by,  one  of  his  t!i:ec  Iir.pcs  ,  namJy  his  yei- 
'ov.onc,  foithwitjh  appeared  Xnj  hi.i' ,  ^i;d  a^kt.^j.  hiajvvh;it  Juc 
in  -^uld  doe,  and  hebaJe  ic  go?  OiiJ  |j:ikv'  lli.  h  a  Sriip  ,  ai>d  Ihciv- 
cd  his  Imp:  a  new  Ship,  aniongll  tlic  :i:ii.i)e  ot  Lhere::(asl  rc- 
memberj)  one  that. belonged  to /pjavi/; ,  To  iie  confclltd  iheltnpe 
went  forthwith  away  ,  and  he  ftood  i  ili  ,  r»nd  vicw.cci  die  Shi().s 
on  the  Sea  as  ihey  werea  faylin^,nni  pe;i.e!ved  that  Ship  immedi- 
ately, to  be  in  more  trouble  and  Jani^cr  then  ihcreltj  i^or  hefaid, 
the  water  was  Vcore  boyftrousnc^e  thatdieu  thcrej^Cj  .tuii;bling 
lip  and  downe  with  waves,  as  if  water  had  bcefi  b;>yled  in  n  pot, 
an.l  foone  after  (he  faid)  in  a  fhori  time  ic  (;uikc  dir^dly  downe 
into  the  Sea,  as  he  ftood  and  vicv.-td  it.  wtrn  r.l!  ih:'  rcfc  f.'yled 
away  infafcty ,  theie  he  con'eircd,  ho  tn:cl.-  '.ourrcfn  widdowts 
in  one  quarter  of  an  houre.  Then  Mi-.  IJc]l\in-3  as  he  (bid  nic 
(ft),  hetookehis  Confellion  )  asked  hir.i ,  if  it  did  not  grieve 
him  rofecfonuny  men  cafr  away,  i;i  a  (korr  time,  and  that  he 
lh.)(i!dbethecaufc  o*-'  fo  many  poore  widdowes  on  a  fuddaine^ 
[^uihf  fworeby  his  maker,  no,  he  was  joy  hill  to  fee  wiiat  power 
his  Impc?  had  ,  and  Co  likcwife  c onftiT^d  many  other  mifcliicfes, 
.•.;}d!^ad  acliarmc  tokecp  hiniout  ofGoale,  and  hanging,  as 
he  fiaraphrafed  it  himfelfe,  but  therein  the  Devill  deceived  him  j 
fir  li?  was  handed,  ilut  Micbaelmns  time  164'^.  at  Bur  ie  Saint 
I  (/mw'Jr,  but  he  mjd !  a  very  far.  e  larger  confellion,  which  I  have 
lirard  Iiath  been  printed  •■>  but  if  it  were  fo ,  it  was  neither  of 
/t'r.  il.fnm  doinr'v  normineowne  i  for  we  never  printed  any 
i!-im;unti!lnow.  I  doe  this  (  hebei-ig  dead)  but  mike  no  ufe 
of  any  confeliioi-,- :  :<enby  him,  bu'ouly  this,  forthat  it  fal- 
leth  out  fofit  foi  tb.ispurpofe  :  Yet  1  have  heard,  that  other  con- 
fclllons  have  bcc/i  printed,  and  feme  other  thinas  belides ,  as  if 
it  had  been  of  OMS  oroneof  our  d/!iij.'.s  oiatleaft,  by  one  of 
our  conftnts  -,  \  hen  as  1  know,  he  ir.vci  iv'  I  any  hand  in  any, 
■^n\  ^ov  my  parr  '  -iterly  rcnou.ncc  .-'I!  f  s  i:;ci-.     nlfo  I  may  add.^ 


to 


A Conjir;77.ttion  (UfA D/fcovt^y)  of  U'itihcrjfi.        2  S 

to  this,    one  He  fir)  Carr-:  of  7v.'..*.Vi':;: ,  i:i   ^uffolh^e  ^  who  I  lia\^' 
heard  was  a  Si-holler  lie  for  Cuv.ind.f^    fit  not  a   Cambru\\is 
SchollerJ  and  was  well  edaj.  t:d  i    yit  ttll  int,o  this  grievous 
finne,  and  conLcIIedj  tlwc  he  lud  :uo  Impcs  ,   which  lucked  on 
thofc  niarkcs  I  foor.d  upi^n  I'.ini,  rwo  vccics  together,  and  can. c 
in  the  likeneife  ot-  Mice,  wb.ich  hcrlh  otr,  and  laid  ,  they  wt::- 
hairy  aiKl  heavie,  andlo  Iccmiiigio  Ltv.aile  hisconditioii ,  lai(\ 
that  he  had  forfaken  God,  and  God  him  ,  and  ihcretoie  v\ oiil.t 
confeflfe  no  more,  he  laid'  ur.till  he  catne  on  the  Gallowes  to 
be  hanged  ,  for  he  had  conteiied  enough  for  that,  and  thni  I.e 
would  con  fede  all,  and  make  all  other  knowne  lie  knew  i.\ 
hut  in  themeane  time,   he  uoiild  confcife  no  more,   nor  diij  , 
yet  he  was  much  importuned  to  it,  I iit  that  was  alw.i^cs  his  0.1:- 
fwer  ,  and  was  arraigned ac  the  Barre,  three  or  toiire  tinus ,    msI 
yctbyreafon  of  an  Allarum  ac  CrtWir/J;:,^  the  Goale  delivery  .r 
hurie  Saint  Eduiumh  wa^  adjourned,  for  about  three  \vetki<:,  a\l 
he  died  in  the  Goale  in  th.  t  time  :  So  it  was  cop.ccivc.l  n>  b.- 
pride  of  heart,  which  was  the  firlf  originall  caufc ,  by  re  afon  ft 
his  knowledge;  yet  I  confefH-,  he  fell  into  poverty  before  hi?. 
death  ,  but  as  for  that,  1  thinkc  ic  is  fckiome  or  never  knowne, 
that  any  get  eliates,  or  thrivf,  that  thus  give  thenifclves  over  t(^ 
Satan,  but  rather  confume  th.i:- eibtes,  if  they  have  any   .*   yci 
the  word  of  God  fayes.  The  wi.  ke  1  man  thriveth  as  well   as  tl^.c 
godly  in  this  world  :  But  For  Witches,  I  never  knew  any.    To 
ihefe  likewife  njjght  be  added^  thofe  obfervers  of  timeSjAwf.  iS 
And  fuch  as  profelle  to  cure  difeafes,  by  fu.h  meanes    as  have  no 
reafon,  or  worke  ot  natuie  to  doc  the  Cure  ,  nor  have  by  any 
ordinance  of  God,  from  his  word,  any  fuch  operation  to  healc 
the  inhrmiry.     And  therefore  fuch  remedies  rruft  be  Diabcjlical/^ 
&thc  p.-a^ifcrs  either  Witches  already,  or  by  their  implicit  faith, 
the  next  doore  to  Witchchraft.    Such  be  they  that  ufe  Spcl,'.-, 
Charmc'5,  mdluch  like  i  and  what  be  Joglcrs  and  lcgcrd-.'mrii,i 
Companions  ?  For  that  they  fpoi  t  with  fuch  refemblcnct?,  :n  f 
iltrci- words,  as  the  invocating  of  aSpiiif,  the  reality  wheic'/, 
is  ca! fed  an  abonnnaticn  before  God,  and  as  Saint  Paul  C[  caket's 
Children  of  dirobedicnce.    What  be  the  Fortune  teller^,  and  hwh 
like?  but  apt  to  be  Satans  {laves  in  Witchery,  as  they  be  I- is  o- 
therwife  in  impiety;  For  through  cuiiofity  of  knowledge  ,  it 
reafon"and  Artfaile,  will  it  notniovemen  tofeeke  helpc  f  a  !r  j  i- 

rjr. 


lS       A  Confirmation  anddifcovery  of  IVjtchcraft. 

ric,  who  is  ready  at  hand  to  attend ^  to  draw  them  into  the  pit 
of  Miiglck  J  and  Sorcery,  and  Witchchraft  ?  as  one  Mr.  Cooper 
rpeakeih  of,  in  hisbooke,  called,  Tb^'  Mj(icry  oflf^itchcr^ft^  Whom 
himfelfe  was  delivered  from,  by  Gods  preventing  grace  •,  but  be- 
cauicasyet,  thcfe  have  not  been  fo  commonly  toiind  out  nowa- 
dayes  ,  I  forbcare  further,  though  I  mi^ht  inllin:^  diver.c  exam- 
ples more.  Thoft  who  with  greedincffe  gape  after  worldly  wtalth, 
or  feare  poverty.  ^^Meribcll  Bedford  o['  Katie fdcn  aforcfaid  con- 
feffed,  that  above  fix  yeares  bsfoi'c  ("he  was  found  W'th  th;: 
niarkes,  which  Witches  ufually  have ,  Thcrecanica  bLick  thing 
to  her,  and  called  Meribelti  which  asked  htr  to  denieGod,  and 
Chrill,  and  told  her,  if  ihe  would,  fhc  fliould  never  want ,  but 
fliould  bee  avenged  of  all  her  enemies  ,  which  fhe  confented 
to :  then  fhe  faid,  he  had  bloud  of  one  of  her  little  lingers ,  to 
feafe  the  Covenant,  which  being  done,  (he  faid,  fou.e  more  came. 
One  like  a  Do W5  called  Tib  ;  One  like  a  Miller  called  Tom  ;  One 
like  a  Spider,  or  a  Spinner  called  Jo. vie ;  and  the  otTier  like  a 
Wafpe  called ZVd^itti  Thefe  (he  confefTed  wete  at  her  command, 
to  performe  the  Covenant,  and  did  fuck  upon  thofe  markes 
found  upon  her  body,  two  or  three  times  a  week ,  durinsi;  the 
fild  !ix  yeares,  and  did  much  harme,  as  fhe  freely  con fefTed  with 
mirh  penitcncy.  To  this  Inuyadde,  one  EliZiheth  Hubbard, 
vvidilow,  of  Stow  Nhrl{et  in  Suffoike  ,  who  confefTed  ,  that  above 
thirty  yeares,  (he  had  three  things  came  to  her  in  the  likcncfTe  of 
Children  ,  which  asked  her  whifpering  to  deny  God,  Chrift, 
and  all  his  workes,  and  to  cleave  to  them  ,  and  (he  fhould  want 
nothing  ;  Thefelhe  faid,  as  they  named  themfelves,  were  called , 
Thotn.Ky  Riclxard,  and  Hoi6  ,  and  thit  they  (cratched  her  back, 
and  fetched  bloud  to  fcale  the  Covenant,  and  that  they  ufc  to 
lUck  on  thofe  markes  which  were  found  upon  her,  two  or  three 
times  a  week,  about  breake  of  the  d.iy,  and  that  (he  did  fay  ,  I 
pray  to  God  to  doe  to  hini,as  he  liealt  by  me  (meaning  a  man  of 
thefameTowne)  and  he  lan^uilhed  and  died  ,  and  mifiy  other 
things  (he  faid  fhe  did,  but  was  adiinjed  to  tell  them.  Alice  the 
wife  of  Edmund  JKr/gbr  of  H/fc/Mm  ,  in  Suffolk^  ,  confcfTcd  that 
rhehad"foure  Impes  above  thrcefcore  yeares  ;  two  like  little 
Bjyes  i  onelikeaLarabe,and  the  fourth  like  a  gray  Buzzard,  and 
that  the  biggeft  boy  fpoke  to  her  with  a  great  whorce  voyce,  as 
i  fhe  had  been  geiev'd,  andas'^jed  her  to  goe  into  the  field  ,  and 

(he 


A  Confirmathn  and Difcovcry  of  IVitchcraft.        2  f 

Ite  (hould  h^ve  money^and  fliould  never  miire  or  want  any  thing, 
and  asked  her  to  deny  God,  and  Chrili,  and  to  curie  God  two 
or  three  times,  and  that  (he  tooke  her  elder  brother  with  hcrj.iiid 
went  into  the  held,  but  when  they  came  to  the  place  where  they 
appointed  her  to  goe  ,  they  found  none  ,  and  that  (he  ufes  often 
to  be  in  paineand  trouble,  after  they  had  nipped  or  fucked  her, 
where  her  markes  were  found,  fcmetimes  once  a  week  ,  fonie- 
times  once  a  fortnight,  and  that  ihefekon  them  ,  and  that  they 
werefoftj  and  that  they  came  fometimes  kverally,  fomctimes  al- 
together ,  and  that  they  often  asked  her  to  goe  and  doe  mifchief, 
which  (he  confeflcd,  to  fomcCattcllot  her  Neighbours,  andfaid, 
that  fhe  was  much  troubled  and    tormented  ,  and  in  cxtrcame 
pafne,  which  ihey  have  put  her  to  for  denying  their  demands. 
Furthermore,  Joane  Kuce  ulver  of  Powftead  in  Suffolk^e,  confefTedj 
that  in  the  field  called  Horfecroft  or  Hog-Mardi ,  rhere  appeared 
in  a  bufh  things  like  Chickens,  about  five  or  lix  ,    ind  tluLlhc 
catched  three  of  them  and  the  rell  ranne  away,  and  th^tt  Ihe  car- 
ried three  home  ,  which  foone  after  turned  to  the  likencfle  of 
Mice,  whofe  names  (he  called  Touch,  Pluck,  and  Take,  which 
(poke  to  her  with  a  great  hollow  voyce,  and  asked  her  to  denie 
God,    and  Chrii\,  and  told  her,  if  (he  would,  (he  fhould  never 
want  meat,  dfinke,  or  clotheijormoney,  but  (he  faid  (he  told 
then),  that  if  (he  denied  God  and  Chrilt ,  (Tic  (hould  lofc    her 
(bule,  but  (he  faid,  they  told  her  againe,  they  were  more  able  to 
fave  her  foule  then  God,  and  that  they  would  doe  more  for  her 
then  (he  thought  for,  if  (he  would  confcnt  to  them,  which  then 
(he  confe(rcd  (he  did,and  then  they  demanded  bloud  ,  and  (he  nip- 
ped her  fore-finger,  and  they  pricked  her  finger  with  a  pin  ^  and 
there  dropped  lix  drops  of  bloud  which  they  catcbed  ,  and  Co 
had  it  againe  after  the  fame  manner  thJice,  and  that  fhedid  agree 
to  give   them  her  foule  ;    Then  I  asked    her    whether     they 
brought  her  any  money  or  no,  and  (he  faid,  fonietimes  foure  fliil- 
lings  at  a  time,  and  fometimes  iix  (hillings  at  a  time ,  but  that'is 
but  fcldome,  for  I  never  knew  any  that  had  any  money  before, 
except  of  C/rtri^e/ wifeof  Manningtrec^  who  confe(red  the  fame, 
and  (liewed  fome  which  (he  ("aid  her  Impe  brought  her,  which  was 
perfeft  money  ;  But  this  Kwce,  further  confeirfd  the  fucking  ol 
her  markes ,  and  how  (lie  fent  her  Impe  Touch  to  kill  a  Bullock, 
and  that  he  came  back  againe,  and  told  her  he  had  (luck  it  on  th',; 

K  righc 


i8     A  Ccnprniation  atid  Difccvery  of  H' itch-craft. 

right  lide,  and  it  died  accordingly,  and  ib  many  ether  (hini'?, 
and  faid  (he  was  Hopped  and  could  not  coiiFeire  when  (lie  would, 
but  after  had  eafe.  Here  you  may  obferve  ,  that  if  he  cannot  prc- 
vailefor-want  ,  then  hepromifesto  free  them  of  hell  tortncnts, 
and  (b  delude  them  that  way.  As  he  did  Ellen  the  wife  of  Niibo- 
Us  Greenliefe  o(  Banon  ^  in  Suffolk^ ,  who  confefled  that  three 
things  came  to  her  i  onclike  aKat,  cold  and  ragged  as  the  felt 
onhim;  The  next  like  a  Mole ,  foft  and  cold ;  Tne  third  likea 
Moufe  j  and  that  the  Mole  fpoke  to  her  with  a  great  hollow 
voyce,  and  asked  her  to  give  het  foule  and  body  to  him  ,  for  he 
could  fave  her,  aod  bad  her  not  be  afraid  of  himjfor  he  could  pcr- 
forme  what  he  promifcd,  whereupon  (lie  confcnted,  then  he  told 
her  (he  (hould  never  want,but  be  avenged  of  all  her  cncmieSj  and 
ro(hould  continue  her  life  time,  if  (he  did  not  bewray  him,  for  if 
(he  did  he  would  have  the  upper  hand  of  bcr,  and  confeffed  that 
her  wilhescametopafie ;  as  for  example  :  ihewidied  one  good- 
man  Gdrwe/;4m  might  be  lame,  and  fohewas,  and  .that  Mafter 
Loc^weed  might  have  Lice,  becau(e  he  fornierly  accaled  her  for 
fending,  orcauling him  to  have fome  when  (he  did  it  '.lot,  and 
fo  he  had,  and  that  her  ImpesttTed  to  fijck  her  two  or  t^ree  times 
a  week,  for  nineteene  yeares  together  5  Artd  that  the  Mole  faid  (he 
lhouldbe<^ue(Honed  infome  (hort  time)  butsidvifedher  to  (land 
out  and  not  to  confede,  for  if  Iht  did  he  Would  caufe  her  10 
drowne  her  felfe ,  or  put  her  (el fe  to  deaths  <^nd  then  he  (hould 
have  her  foule,  and  after  when  (he  was  kfept,  before  (he  went  to 
the  Jiiftic^es  cf  Peace,  her  Impe  in  the  (hapc  of  a  Mole  came  to 
her,  wh«n  tho(c  which  were  with  her  faw  it  not ,  and  tore  her 
.IS  (he  confede  ^,  as  if  he  would  have  tonifc  her  in  pieces ,  becau(e 
ihe  had  confc(red.  This  woman  alfoconfeflTed  ,  that  when  (he 
prayed  ihe  prayed  to  the  Dcvill  and  nottoG(»d,  and  that  fhe 
had  hcv  Irnpcs  from  her  mother  in  Law,  who  (he  faid  fpoiled 
f'.er  j  And  further  confelTed  that  the  Devil!  had  theufeof  her 
^^dy,  nnd  iifcd  to  come  to  bed  to  her,  but  Was  fott,/ cold,  and 
heavier,  fo  heavie  as  Oiecould  not  fpeake  ,  And  that  her  hnpc 
like  a  Rat  went  upon  her,  wiQiinp;  to  lame  R.rt/p6  Ko^^arJi  Horfc 
or  Mare,  becaiife  he  faid  he  would  goe  f6r  the  Searchers,  and  fo 
it  was.  Beiidcs  the  former  markes  know  this,  that  it  is  more  call- 
er to  6ni^e  them  on  the  breft  then  in  any  o'her  place,  for  that  the 
brc/lisall  fhrunkeup  ,  and  the  Teate  thereof  extended  longer 

then 


1.) 


A  Confirmation  and  Difcovery  of  lP'/Uhci\:fi. 

then  any  womans  that  gives  fuck,  be  it  on  man  or  woman,  with 
aCirckleroiindaboutitasif  it  were  fucked,  and  infenlible  a:>  a- 
fbrefaid,  and  if  on  a  woman  that  gives  fuck  ,  that  brelt  is  dryc, 
for  where  the  Inipes  fuck  there  will  come  no  milke.  but  the  tcatc 
williUck  out  longer  there  then  the  other  ,  and  is  nothing  but 
skinne,  and  will  be  much  extended  as  aforefaid,  and  catily  to  bee 
difcerned  by  feeling  of  it.  1  (hould  thinkc  this  n.ould  give  all  fa- 
tisfaftion  •,  that  gaine,  Revenge,  fcarc  of  want,  or  poverty  ,  -or 
fearefuluelfe  of  hell  torments,  or  ill  parents,  or  company,  yea 
and  lull  alfo ,  or  any  one  may  bee  a  meanes  to  -draw  one  to 
VVitchchraft. 

As  for  ill  company,  bad  and  wicked  parents^  and  fuch  as  are 
over-much  given  to  luft,  I  will  put  them  together,  and  inllancc 
fome  few  more  examples  ;  Asone£«/fe  of  Barion  aforcfaid  wid- 
dow,  confelTed  that  about  three  weekes  after  her  husbands  de- 
ceale,  being abovp fiteenc  yeares  before  The  was  queltioned,.  the 
Devill  appeared  to  her  in  the  fhape  of  a  young  black  man,  Wind- 
ing, by  her  bed  lide,  which  fpoke  to  her  with  a  hollow  voyce,  and 
came  into  bed  to  her,  and  had  the  ufe  of  her  body  ,  and  asked 
her  to  deny  God  and  Ch rift,  andfervehim,  and  then  (he  (hould 
never  want,  but  (hould  be  avenged  of  all  her  enemies,  which  she 
confcnted  to,  then  she  faid  he  kifled  her  and  asked  her  for  bloud, 
which  he  drew  out  of  her  raouth,  and  it  dropped  on  a  paper, 
and  that  he  usM  to  have  the  ufe  of  her  body  two  or  three  times  a 
wceke,and  then  us'd  to  Jciffe  her,  and  at  no  other  time  but  as  be- 
forefaid,  but  (he  faid  he  was  colder  then  man  ,  and  heavier,  and 
could  not  performe  nature  as  man,  and  thatfoone  after  she  had 
confented  to  the  Covenant  and  given  her  bloud,  there  came  two 
things  more  likcMice,whichu(cd  to  fuck  her  about  twice  a  week 
during  that  time  ,  andconfefled  how  (lie  fent  an  Impc  to  tor- 
ment a  Maiden,  whoshe  thought  was  againft  her  having  reliefe 
at  her  Mafters ,  which  was  done  ,  but  afterward  this  Maiden 
went  to  her  and  fcratchcd  her  till  she  got  blouJ  of  her  ,  aird  then 
she  confeffid  she  had  no  further  power  over  her  (  but  this  is  not 
alwayestrue,  nor  to  be  obferved,  though  it  tooke  effcft  there  ) 
Butsheconfcded  the  killing  of  three  and  twenty  Turkies  ar  one 
time,  andCowes,  and  how  her  Impes  returned  and  told  her  it 
was  done,  and  other  things  then  at  large.  One  more  which  I 
should thinkeshouldbe a  warningto  others,  to  baveacarcto 

E  2  bring 


go       ui  Covfirt)jation  and Difcoverj'  of  IVitchcraft. 

bring    ihcir   Cliildreii    up  in  the  nurture  and   feare  of  Go:i. 
Of  one  Ahnc  Cricl^e  of  Hitcbam  aforefaid  widJow  ,  that  (he  iiad 
three  Iinpes  about  (even  yeares  together  •,  The  one  in  the  like  lelit 
of  a  Spariow  called  Hurrie  y  the  other  two  in  the  likencffL-  of 
reddilhdunneMice,  alUd  Jacl\  and  Jf^ill,  and  they  fucked  her 
twice  a  weeke  feverally  ,  all  in  one  night,  and  the  Devill  fetched 
bloiid  on  her  left  Arme  to  feale  the  Covenant,  which  was  to  de- 
nie  God  and  Chrillj  and  to  ferve  him,  which  she  fa  id  Ihe  pro- 
mifed  faintly,  but  confefTed  the  promife  was firfl  made  by  her,  be- 
fore the  Devill  had  her  bloud  ;  Then  1  asked  her  if  she  did  grieve 
for  it  after  she  had  done  ir,  she  anfwered ,  when  it  "was  done  it 
was  too  late  to  repent  5  then  I  asked  her  why  she  did  it ,  she  faid 
she  was  left  weake,  and  the  Devill  got  the  upper  hand  of  her  for 
want  of  faith ,  through  want  and  otherwife,  she  alfo  confefled 
the  Devill  had  the  ufc  of  her  body,  but  she  faid  she  could  not 
tell  whether  he  performed  nature  or  not,  and  faid  she  could  not 
confelTe  before  much  company  *  but  faid  the  Devill  (poke  in  a 
hollow  voyce,  and  confelltd  the  imployment  of  her'Impcs,  as 
the  fending  of  her  1  mpe  Hdrr^  to  John  Lever ifjes  of  the  fame 
Towne,to  Kill  him  a  Hog,  becaufe  she  was  denyed  Egges  and  fuch 
like  things,  and  they  burnt  his  earcs ,  and  she  could  not  keepe 
from  going;  it  being  asked  her  why  she  went,  she  faid  they  mnft 
needs  goethe  Devill  drives,  and  fo  many  fuch  like  things.    Alfo 
Sufan  Scot  of  Lauenham  aforefaid  ,  complained  of  one  Sweeting!, 
comming  to  her  with  one  GoW/«^,   who  confeffed  the  Devill  us'd 
to  have  the  ufe  of  her  body,  and  fpoke  to  her  with  a  great  eafie 
voyce,  andthat  shehad  twolmpes  like  Cats  and  Dogs,  which 
fucked  on  thofe  markes  found  upon  her ,  and  how  she  was  the 
Death  of  'thomazine^  the  daughter  of  one  Mr.  Coppinger  there, 
and  divcrfe  other  things.  Alfo  one  Richmond,  a  woman  which 
lived  at  Eranipford,  confefled  the  Devill  appeared  to  her  in  thelike- 
ueflTe  of  a  m.in,  called  Daniel  the  Prophet ,  who  bad  her  not  be 
afraid  of  hini,  for  hew.isfo,  and  tooke  her  by  the  hand,  and 
bad  her  truft  in  him  and  he  would  avenge  her  of  all  her  enemies, 
and  heshould  mifle  nothing,forhe  would  curie  her  enemies,  and 
that  she  after  Falling  out  with  her  neighbour,  curfed  her  and  bad 
the  Devill  take  her,  and  she  dyed  after  she  had  lyen  fom;  eight 
weekes,  aslhe  faid,  by  her  meanes  ,  becaufe  the  Devill  promifed 
her  revenge  i  {heconfe/Tcd  her  Covenant  was  to  deny  God,Chrift 

and 


A  Confirmation  and  Difcovery  oflVitchcraft .        31c 

and  his  Minifters,  r.nd  tofcrvc  him^  fne  fiid  the  Devill ,  for  Ih^ 
laid fo  he  was  that  (he called  Vahicl  iht  Pjoj  het ,  nonefliall  iicc^ 
queftion  it  ;  and  (lie  contefled  (he  had  ihiccmore,  One  like  a 
rugg  red  brinded  Dog  with  cloven  feet ,  One  like  a  Hog  called 
Jack,  and  another  like  a  Dog  called  j'r.mes;,  and  confcifed  the 
Devill  defired  her  to  ufe  curflng,  and  whatloevcr  Hie  defired  fhould 
come  to  her,  and  fo  confefled  many  things  fhe  did.  hKo /Jnne 
Coodfellojo  o\  JVoodforJy  inNortbamponjlme  widdow ,  confefled 
that  foone  after  her  Aunts  deceafe,  about  three  yeares  before  fhe 
was  queftioned  ,  the  Devill  in  the  fhapc  of  a  white  Cat  appeared 
to  her,  and  fpoke  to  her  with  a  lowvoyce ,  and  bad  her  not  be 
afraid  of  it,  for  he  was  her  Aunts  fpirit,  and  asked  her  to  deny 
GodjChritland  her  Baptifme,  which  (he  faid  she  didjfor  he  pro- 
mifed  her  that  she  should  be  favcd  ,  and  would  doe  for  her  what 
she  delirtd,  and  then  asked  her  for  blond  to  feale  the  Covenant, 
and  she  further  confeffcd  that  he  bit  heron  the  fecond  linger, 
and  got  bloud  into  fiis  mouth,  but  what  he  did  with  all  she 
knew  not,  but  faid  amongit  other  things  that  shefoundTTlm  a 
Iyer,  for  she  often  wanted  after.  Alfo  £//^/j6e!b  Gurrey  of  Ilif- 
deriyin  EedfordfhiTe  V^iddow ,  confelTed  that  the  Devill  had  the 
ufe  of  her  body,  and  lay  heavie  upon  her  ,  and  that  through  her 
wilfulnefle,  and  poverty,  with  dclire  of  revenge,  she  denitdOod, 
andChrift,  and  fcaled  it  with  her  bloud ,  about  hve  or  fcvtii 
yeares  before  she  was  found  with  the  markes,  and  confeffcd  what 
(he  had  done  to  one  William  Vickem^  and  another  there,  and  the 
niannd  how  ,  but  afterward  1  heard  she  made  a  very  large  con- 
felfion.  yinne  Hammer  necre  Ncedbam  in  Suffolk^  ^  of  Crcetin^ 
there  (  as  I  remember)  confefled  that  foone  after  her  mothers  de- 
ceafe ,  which  was  above  twenty  yeares  before  she  was  queitioned, 
therecame  two  Impes  to  her,  which  she  called  T«w,  FvoA/?/;?,  and 
lorn  like  a  Mole,  and  RobbinVike  a  Dorr ,  which  she  fent  \o 
kill  Mr.  Ctimfe  ^  child,  which  she  faid  did  (very  like  to  be  true,) 
for  Madei  Ccwfc  averied  that  a  Mole  to  their  thinking  was 
fcen  in  the  houfe,  going  towards  the  roome  where  the  chikl  lay, 
and  that  they  had  nuich  adoe  to  ketp  it  out,  nor  could  tell  what 
became  of  if  in  the  end,  and  that  they  u fed  to  fuck  her  twice  a 
fortnight  on  thofe  markes  found  upon  her,  during  that  time,  and 
that  the  Devill  in  thelikcnefleof  a  Calfe  asked  her  todtnic  God, 
andChrift,  andtofcrvehim  as  Lord  ,  and  told  her  that  if  she 

E  5  would. 


32        A  Coftjirmation  and  Difcovery  of  Witcijcraft. 

would  he  would  free  her  of  Iiell  torment?,  and  that  she  should 
never  want  any  thingjbut  be  laved,  and  she  confented  ,  then  he 
told  her  he  would  avenge  her  of  her  enemies,  but  she  (aid  the 
Devil!  never  performed  any  thing  but  revenge,  and  that  th?  De- 
vill  in  the  likencfle  of  a  black  man  us'd  to  come  in  at  the  key 
[lole,  and  to  bed  to  her,  and  have  the  ufy  of  her  body,  but  was 
heavier  and  colder,  and  lay  ail  over  her  as  man^  and  us'd  not  to 
Ipeakebutoncly  coaskete  lie  with  her,  and  as  she  thought  per- 
formed nature  :  But  if  I  should  goe  to  pen  all  of  thefc  fortSjthen 
I  should  have  no  en  J,  or  at  leali:  too  big  a  volume,  and  thereforie 
but  this  one  more  3  ihzt  Anne  horcbamo^  Sudbur):,  in  the  Conn- 
ty  of  Suffolke  widdow  ,  confellt-d  that  as  she  awoke  out  of  a 
di  came  she  faw  uglie  men  (as  she  thought^  a  lighting,  and  asked 
them  why  they  fought ,  who  anfwercd  that  they  would  fight  for 
all  her  5  and  then  one  vanished  away,  and  then  came  to  her  in- 
to bed  and  had  the  ufe  of  her  body,  butfaid  he  was  heavier  and 
colder  theii  nian,  and  lay  onciy  on  part  of  hei  ,  aiid  that  man 
asked  her  todenyGodandChril^,  and  toferve  him,T)iic  she  faid 
she  told  him  she  was  a  poore  widdow,  and  then  he  faid  if  she 
woudferveliimshe should  never  want ,  but  have  herdefire,  and 
then  she  cODiented,  forhe  promifed  her  to  free  her  of  hell  tQr- 
nients ,  yet  she  faid  ihe  told  her  she  mull  goe  to  hell ,  but  should 
not  be  tormented  ('a  fearefull  and  fubtilldelulion  J  for  I  have 
been  with  fome  who  have  confefled  the  fame ,  and  that  he  pro- 
niifed  them  that  they  should  onely  walke  too  and  fro  the  earth 
as  their  Impes  didjand  never  fuffer  or  feele  torments.  Now  (bme 
may  fay,  if  all  the(e'forts  be  Witches,then  moO  part  of  theworld 
bcfo.  lantwerno;  forhoneft  perfons  may  bee  ^iven  to  thele, 
and  yet  free  from  Witchcraft;  But  this  is  onely  to  shew  when 
anyaregiven  tobeextreanieinany  of  thefe  ,  then  is  the  IDevill 
buiie  to  worke  upon  them  ,  for  he  doth  not  upon  all  that  be  gi- 
ven to  thefe  wayes,  but  upori  fuch  as  he  fmdes  (bme  kinde  of 
preparcdnefle  in,  ^s  forexample,  Was'therenot  a  preparednefle 
\n  Eoneham:^  and  Mr.  Parfon  Loiv/i,  and;  fc»  if  you  dofe-but  truly 
obfcrve  little  or  more  in  all  their  cont^^lTiions  ,  as  take  but  this 
laft  when  she  faw  that  ijght  of -fighting  fas  she  thought)  would 
not  a  good  ChriOian  have  had  Her  thoughts  upon  God  ,  catb^r 
then  to  Iiavc  fnffcred  one  to  come  to  bed  to  her,  which  fhe  jijinew 
eould  be  no  kffebut  tti.  Devill,  and  no  man ,  for  the nlie  could 

not 


A  ConfirmAtion  and  Difcovery  of  IVitchcraft.        3  3 

not  have  come  into th«  roome,  for  Sat^n  appeareth  net  toihem 
in  any  (bape  untHl  he  finde  Tome  prcpirednelfe,  and  then  as  you 
have  heard  by  thefe  confeflions  palt  heappe  res  in  feverall  Ihapes, 
and  then  maketh  the  league,  andconfirnies  it  with  bloud,  and 
then  (ends  them  Familiars  more  or  lefTe,  and  fo  proccedesby  de- 
grees :  So  you  may  finde  as  I  faid  before,  extreme  poverty  ^  palii- 
onate  forrow  accompanied  with  folicarincde ,  too  much  iiiragcd 
with  anger  and  deiire  of  revengCj  thole  offuch  parents,  and  all 
that  I  have  formerly  reckoned  5  you  fee  by  their  confeflions,  that 
the  extreame  makes  a  preparednefle ,  and  1  have  heard  of  fomc 
fchollersfor  want  of  Learning,  to  bclearned  havcgrowoe  to  it, 
and  fome  through  overmuch  ,  as  is  inftanced  before.  Likcwife 
Jtbn  Scarf e  of  K'atlefden  aforefaid  ,  confeiTed  that  about  tiiree 
yearesbeforehe  was  acculedto  be  fcarched  ,  there  came  a  thin^; 
into  his  houfeofa  gray  colour,  of  the  bigncffe  K>f  a  great  Rat. 
ofaboutaquarter  of  anelllong,  which  he  cookc tip  and  put  in- 
to a  box,  and  kept  it  fomc  certaine  tiuje  there ,  and  then  toofie 
It  out,  and  laid  itdowne  on  his  belly  ^  and  put  ic  to  therplace 
where  the  m-»rkes  were  found,  where  ht  faid  it  fucked  halfe  an 
hourc  i  (  Did  iie  prepare  him^fe,  or  was  he  defirous  to  be  one  ?  ) 
I  conceive  he  did  defire  to  be  orwj  for  he  was  a  heathenifh  man, 
and  fo  the  agreement  paft ;  but  to  (hew  his  willingnefiTe  to  put  it 
to  the  place,  for  in  his  confdiion  more  at  large,  he  confeffed  that 
Within  a  fortnight  after  there  came  two  more,  of  a  whitifh  dunne 
coloutj  and  klTe  then  the  other,  which  he  called  tom ,  and  JFiUj 
but  thctidl  he  called  H^rrie,  and  fo  proceeded.  Now  1  will  pro- 
ceed to  prove  that  Witches  may  b?  found  out. 

Firft,  from  God  in  the  giving  of  his  Law  againft  Witches.  Fx- 
■cJ.  21.18.  ThoiT  flialt  notfuffera  Witch  to  live  ,  which  implycth 
a  Difcovery  of  them  ,  elfe  it  could  never  be  put  in  execution,  and 
(o  should  be  a  Law  ro  no  purpofe. 

Secondly  froai  the  Hiilotyi  Fiiit  Divine.  For  it  is  iaid  S^ul 
found  out  Witche?,  an!  executed  the  Law  upon  them,  or. put. 
them  to  death,  and  Co  good  King  Jo/jahf  2  King.  3.   14. 

Secondly,  wj  have  Chronicles^  and  many  relations  made  of  the 
evident  difcourfeofW  irchc*. 

Thirdly,  the  many  Tryalls  in  our  owne  Country  at  many  Af- 
fizes :  Soit  iscleercthat  Wjcches  may  bedifcovered  ,  though  it 
cannot  be  dcnyed  but  that  there  is  feme  difficalcy  therein,  bc- 

cauft' 


94       AConfirmAtion  anddifcovery  of  IVitchcraft. 

caiife  the  Cecrelie  o>'  the  grounds  of  Witchcraft  is  fo  cIo(e  and 
liKldeii,  as  being  one  pf  the  greatelt  workes  of  darkne(Te  commit- 
ted this  day  under  thrSunne:  for  that  naturall  caufes  mayarife 
very.  ftrong,and  many  may  cunningly  counterfet  outward  appear- 
ances, and  WitnclFcs  may  feigne  their  accufations  out  of  malice^, 
biing  tran '.'ported  with  rage  and  uncharitablenefle,  anddelire  of 
revenge ,  brcaufc  o^  the  (Irange  imagination  they  have  tfirough 
many  feeming  probabilities  •■,  Some  for  words,  or  deeds,  taken  in 
(hi  woilr  fenfe  ;  Some  upon  fome  fuddaine  light  of  fome  crea- 
ture, and  folikewife  upon  burning  any  thing  of  the  party  fuf- 
peftcd  to  be  bewitched,if  any  (hall  comefthough  peradventureac- 
cidentallyj  and  (o  fometimes  fomcthing  clfe ,  as  thatch  over  the 
lioore  or  fuch  like  of  the  parties  fufpefted  to  be  a  Witch  ,  and  fo 
1  could  reckon  divers  inltances  of  fevwall  wayes ,  which  many 
times  have  produced  ftrange  and  fometimes  true  effefts,  which 
meanes  have^artly  been  the  caufe  of  the  queftiooiflg  of  many, 
who  have  been  found  no  lefle  then  Witches,  and  have  fufFered 
fmce  the  aforementioned  time  .'but  I  forbeareto  fpeake  any  fur- 
ther of  thofc  wayes,  for  1  conceive  them  to  be  unlawful!  altoge- 
ther, and  not  to  be  ufed ,  for  it  cannot  be  conceived  any  Icfle 
then  a  diftruft  in  Gods  providence ,  in  putting  confidence  that 
fuch  meanes  will  make  the  Witch  knowne  ,  and  effeft  their  de- 
lircf5 .  Yet  to  proceed  as  I  have  faid,  I  cannot  deny  but  thofc  may 
be  juft  grounds  of  fufpicion,  and  caufe  of  queftioning  them,  but 
not  al  wayes  certaine,  belides  the  unlawfulnefle  held  by  Divines. 
But  thefe cannot  be  denyed  to  be  juft  grounds  as  aforefaid.  Af 
when  one  (hall  begiven  to  curling  and  banning,  with  imprecati- 
ons upon  (light  occafion  ,  andwithall  ufe  threatnings  to  be  re- 
venged, and  thereupon  evill  to  happen.  As  Cherrie  of  T^hrapftorty 
iii  Nonhamvtoupjirey  a  very  aged  man,  who  upon  a  fmall  occafi- 
on, of  falling  out  with  oneof  his  Neighbours  in  the  field, where 
they  kept  Cattcli,  one  of  the  two  (  I  doe  not  now  well  remem- 
ber which)  (cared  rom:Cattell  off  the  ground,  where  the  Cat- 
tell  the  other  kept  was  to  goe,  with  a  Dog  ■■>  the  faid  Cb^rrie  and 
the  other  fell  at  odds  and  worded ,  whereupon  Cherrie  wifhed 
that  his  tongue  might  rot  out  of  his  head  ,  the  man  was  (bone 
after  ftrangely  taken,  and  his  tongue  did  come  out  of  his  month, 
hanging  onely  bythr  rootes  thereof  Within  his  mouth  ,  but 
could  not  be  kept  all  in  his-mouth,  and  To  continued  to  his  death, 

and 


A  Confirmation  itn J  Difcovcry  of  IVitchcruft.        515 

and  died  in  a  miferable  condition.  This  Cherrie  contcilcA  liimfell, 
and  that  he  was  his  death,  onely  upon  ihct  occalion.  After  wiiicli 
Confdlion,  that  it  came  to  be  known  j  many  of  the  townfnien  of 
Thrapflone  aforcfaid  averred  that  he  (iied  with  his  tongue  ouf, 
and  that  in  a  manner  it  rotted.  A  fearful  thing  to  be  tliought  o^, 
what  a  miferable  condition  the  poor  man  died  in. 

Cherrit  likcwife  confelfed  the  death  of  two  more  3  which  by 
his  confellicn,  and  thofe  that  knew  their  deaths ,  died  in  a  <hange 
and  miff  rable  condition  ,  through  his  wicked  cnrfing  (as  he  con- 
feded  ;  )  andfo  confeflcd  many  other  notorious  fafts  he  had  done. 
And  being  asked  whether  he  did  not  do  Sir  JohnWc^nnji^tony  a 
Knight  which  lived  in  the  fame  town,  any  harm  in  his  catrel  or 
othcrwifc,  for  that  he  had  fuffered  ftrange  loflcs  ,  hcconfefTed  he 
did,  and  particularized  the  death  of  much  cactel  j  faying  ,  when 
he  had'reckoncd  up  as  j^iany  as  he  could  well  remember ,  That  hs 
had  been  the  death  of  fo  many  of  his,  that  he  could  not  r-eekoii 
cheni  all. 

Then  it  was  demanded  of  him ,  Why  he  would  offer  it  to  Sir 
John,  who  had  beenfo  loving  to  him  in  affording  him  relief  con- 
Ib.ntly.  He  anfwercd  j  The  more  he  gave  him  ,  the  more  power 
he  had  over  him  to  do  him  mifchief  4  jFor  he  faid  his  Imps  muft  be 
employed,  elfc  they  would  not  let  him  be  quiet,  but  torment  him. 
This  Cherrie  alfo  confeflTed  divers  other  things  and  harms  he 
had  done  ,  and  the  fealing  of  the  Covenant  with  the  devil  with 
his  blood,  to  deny  God  and  Chrift,  and  tolerve  him  the  devil  for 
revenge,  with  promife  of  freedom  from  hell-torments  ;  and  that 
hislmps,  the laft  time  they  fucked  him,  not  long  before  he  was 
fearched  ,  told  him  they  would  not  fuck  him  any  more  but  that 
time,  becaufe  he  was  an  old  man,  and  had  but  little  blood. 

This  C/jerr/econfefled  prefently  after  he  was  fearchcd,who  died 
at  Northampton  in  the  Goal  there,  the  fame  diyhe  (houldhave 
beed  tried ,  much  about  the  time  the  Grand  Jury  had  found \hc 
Bill  of  Indifthient  againft  \\\m^BiUa  vera^  as  it  was  reported} mise- 
rably. A  juft  judgement  of  God  :  for  it  was  reported, that  a  night 
or  two  before,  his  coat  was  ail  rent  right  down  on  th?  back',  and 
his  mouth  flopped  full :  "and  when  it  was  pulled  out,  he  confefkd 
that  he  had  been  at  a  bridge  going  into  Thrapfton  town,  and  hr.d 
a  cord  found  about  his  neck. 

F  Tv; 


30     A  Cctifrwatiofi  attd  Difi  every  of  IVitcti  -craft. 

To  this!  might  adde  the  aforenamed  T/;o>«rt«m  i^dff//^,  wljo 
upon  fhe  falling  out  with  another  woman  about  the  death  ot  a 
childe,  bade  her  go  home  and  look  to  the  reft ,  lell  Ihe  loir  moi  e. 
And  one  died  fiiddenly  aftefj  as  before  is  cxpreHTed. 

Of  thefe  kindes  Icould  nominate  divers  more,  as  you  may  ob- 
fervein  many  ot  theirConfefllons, and  might  addeimplicite con- 
fedjons ;  As,  when  aqucOion  is  asked  the  fufpeitcd party,  If  he  or 
{he  were  not  the  caufe  of  fuch  or  fuch  a  thing  }  anfweris  made. 
He  or  fhe  might  have  \n  me  alone,  or  not  done  Co  and  fo ;  or  fuch 
like.  As  for  example,  you  may  obferve  in  molt  of-  their  ConfeU]- 
ons,  they  did  it  becaufe  they  had  not.  (uch  things  as  they  defired , 
or  ufed  to  have  ;  as  Anne  Leech  of  Hawford  in  Eflex  confefled  in 
her  ConfefTion,  befides  the  death  of  two  or  three,  the  laming  of  a 
childe of  one  Turner/.  Itbeingasked  her  why  (he  did  it ,  (hean- 
fwered  ,  Her  mother  might  have  paid  her  for  work  (he  had  done. 
Likewife  one  Aine  Pari\er^  being  asked  why  ftie  did  one^Prj'f  r  niif- 
chief;  (lie  anfwered,  He  might  have  given  her  money  upon  a 
Thankfgiving-day,  as  well  as  he  gave  to  others  5  but  would  not 
gfve  her  any,  becaufe  (he  was  not  at  Church  :  whereupon  (lie  fent 
her  fpirix  to  him,  who  did  accordingly.  And  fo  confcfTed  how  the 
devil  in  the  likenefle  of  a  dun  Dog,  had  three  drops  of  blood  un- 
der her  tongue,  to  fcal  the  Covenant ;  and  had  a  piece  of  paper  in 
his  hand,  and  wrote Jier name  thereon  with  herconfent,  andfo 
promifed  her  money,  and  that  (he  (hould  never  want ,  but  (hould 
be  avenged  of  her  enemies,  according  as  is  exprcfled  in  others. 

Hereto  I  might  adde  fuch  as  faid  they  have  fuch  thi«gs  as  Fami- 
liars fuck  on  them,  but  cannot  help  it.  Alexander  Sujfums  of  Mel- 
ford  in  Suffolk,  confefled  that  he  had  things  which  did  draw 
thofe  marks  I  found  apon  him  ,  but  (aid  he  could  not  help  it,  for 
that  all  his  kinred  were  naught.  Then  I  asked  him  how  it  was 
podible  they  could  fuck  without  his  confent.  He  Paid  he  did  con- 
fcnt  to  that.  Then  I  asked  him  again  why  he  (hould  do  it,  when 
as  God  was  fo  merciful  towards  him,  as  1  then  told  hiraof ,  being 
a  man  whom  1  had  been  formerly  acquainted  withal,  as  having 
lived  in  Town.  He  anfwered  a ^ain,  He  could  not  help  it,  for  that 
all  his  generation  was  naught  j  andfo  told  me  his  mother  and 
aunt  were  banged,  his  grandmother  burnt  for  Witchcraft ,  and  fo 
others  of  them  queftioned  and  hanged.  This  man  is  yet  living, 
Tiotwithftandijis  he  coafefTed  the  lucking  of  (uch  things  above 

Dxtcen 


A  Coftfiffftat/ofiaftd  Difcovevy  of  IP'/tchcrdft.        ^f 

Hxteeii  yecrs  together ,  but  was  fufpeAed  fordoing  oF  nuCchUf^ 
yec  never  qaeiUontd,  but  as  he  canicinto  a  houie  accidentally 
wrhere  I  wa?,  and  lb  profercd  hiinfelf  to  be  fearchcd,  and  prefently 
contefTed  thefe  particulars,  and  Co  by  that  means  brought  to  trial, 
but  freed,  and  living,  as  atorefaid. 

Likewile  I  may  addcjVVhen  the  party  fufpef^fd  makes  enquiry 
after  the  party  taken  lick,  or  df  fires  to  viijt  the  party,  or  the  party 
thefufpefted  :  For  m^ny  have  confefled  that  after  they  have  done 
a  thing,  they  are  forryfor  itjbut  cannot  help  it ;  nsKJng  of  Aftori 
in  buifoJk  confefied,  to  a  woman  whom  he  had  bewitched,  in 
the  time  (he  was  in  her  extremity,  long  before  he  was  quellioned  : 
but  this  woman  defired  him  to  undo  what  he  had  done  j  and  he 
told  her  he  could  not  undo  what  he  had  done,  but  told  her  he  was 
forry  for  it,  and  told  her  of  another  that  could,  as  he  faid,  and  as 
(he  affirmed  ,  that  Was  one,  as  we  untruly  call  them,  White  or 
good  Witches,  ancTone  that  was  then  fufpefted,  who  accordingly 
did  it. 

To  confirm  this ,  I  can  tell  you  of  a  very  remarkable  example 
much  tending  to  this  particular,  of  oneatHeddenhamin  the  Ifle 
of  Ely  in  the  County  of  Cambridge,  where  a  childe  fulpcfted  to 
be  bewitched,  was  carried  to  the  Jultice  of  Peace  his  hoafe,  where 
the  party  fufpefted  was  to  be  carried  to  be  examined.  This  childe 
being  very  (ick,  was  fet  in  a  chair,  and  held  in  it  ;  but  as  foon  as 
the  party  who  was  (ufpcfted  came  in,on  a  fudden  it  arofe  of  it  (dft 
and  got  hold  of  her  face  to  fcratch  her ,  'as  its  ftrength  would  af- 
ford, (he  not  ftirring.  Here  you  may  obferve  the  former  Confef- 
(ions,  where  the  Witch  confefTed,  that  after  (he  was  fcratched  ,  (he 
had  no  further  power  over  that  party  i  for  this  woman  (^ood  ftilL- 
and  fo  you  may  perceive  that  many  of  them,  after  they  have  done 
mifchiefs,  are  forry  for  it,  and  cannot  help  it  :  (  This  it  is  to  re- 
nounce God  andChrift)  for  this  woman  prefently  confe(Ied,thac 
it  was  (he  that  had  hurt  the  childe,  through  her  diabolical  praAice 
and  told  him  what  Imp  (he  had  fent  to  hurt  the  childe,  and  the  oc- 
cafion  why  (he  did  it  ■-,  and  how  (he  h  ad  fent  one  of  her  Imps  a  lit- 
tle before  (he  was  acoiTed ,  (for  (he  had  been  fcarched,  and  found 
with  the  marks  )  to  deftroy  orfpoil  a  whole  field  of  corn  in  that 
Parilb ;  and  fo  made  a  very  large  Confcdjon,  with  the  fuckling  of 
her  Imps  upon  thofe  marks  found  upon  her,  and  the  Covenant 
fealcd  with  her  blood,  (as  aforefaid  in  other  Confeflions)  belides 

P  2  other 


58       JCofifirniation-nndDifcovery  of  IVjtchcraft. 

other  mifchiefs  whichfhediJ.May  not  Spell- fetters  and  Charmers 
be  alfo  added  ?  for  I  cannot  conceive  any  Itffe,  when  they  fhall  fay 
that  by  words  they  cin  charm,  fet  Spells ,  and  help  or  cure  mad 
Dogs,  or  any  thing  bitten  by  them  ,  and  fuch-likc  •■,  though  it  be 
by  their  implicite  league,  (as  fome  of  them  do  )  yet  it  is  a  diftrult 
of  Gods  providence,  putting  their  confidence  in  their  words ,  ra- 
ther then  in  the  living  God ,    who  faith  it  is  an  abomination  to 
him.    And  I  haveheard  lomcof  thefe,  not  long  fince ,  boaft  of 
their  doings  therein  3  faying  they  had  it  from  their  parents,  and 
were  not  their  parents  good  Chriftians  ?   and  they  do  but  ufc  the 
words  for  good  ends.  So  likewise  of  thofc  born  of  ill  parent*,  if 
their  carriage  be  not  otherwise  j   as  I  have  in ftanced  enough  of 
thofe,  clfe  1  could  inftancc  more,  as  the  aforenamed  Rebecca  IVefly 
who  was  drawn  to  it  by  her  mother ,  (  as  (lie  confefled  )  after  a 
flrange  manner,  as  fhe  faid  :  for  her  mother  asked  her  to  go  to 
Manningtree  with  her,  which  was  about  a  mile,  and  bade  her 
Work  hard  that  fhe  might  go:  andasthcy  went ,  fhetolcflrer  fhe 
muflnotfay  any  thing  whatfoever  fhe  faw,  but  confent  to  them, 
and  do  as  they  did ,  and  then  fhe  fhouM  be  a  happie  woman  ;  or 
fuch-like  inticements.     But  when  fhe  came  there,  at  the  honfe 
where  her  mother  went ,  there  were  her  confederates  met  ;  then, 
before  fhe  could  be  entertained,  her  mother  was  asked  whether  her 
daughter  was  acquainted  with  the  matter  in  hand  ■■,  who  anfwered 
She  was.    Then  fhe  was  entertained ;  and  as  fhe  confefled,  the  de- 
vil appeared ,  and  hrfl  kifTcd  the  woman  of  the  houfe,  and  fo  one 
after  another,  and  at  laft  her  fclf  j  and  fo  fhe  was  asked  then  if  fhe 
were  willing  to  be  entred  into  their  fociety  ;  who  faid.  She  was. 
Then  appeared  Familiars,  which  fhe  confelFed,  alfo  the  fucking  of 
her  body  on  the  marks  ,  and  the  fealing  of  the  Covenant  with  her 
blood.    This  younfi;  woman  confefTed  the  naming  of  their  Imps, 
a'ld  the  manner^  which  I  am  afhamcd  te  cxprefTe  ;  and  the  initiJi- 
tion  of  a  Wkch,  and  every  particular  thing  at  large  ;    efpccially, 
(he  confefTed  how  ihe  devil  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  the  manner 
and  words  were  uQrd  Gt  her  Marriage,  when  llie  was  married  to  the 
devil  (as  fhe  confefTed  :)  a  fear'ul  thing  to  declare.   But  one  thing 
r-bfcrve,  1  hat  the  devil  imitates  God  in  all  things  as  he  can,  much 
after  the  book  of  Common-  prayer,  then  in  his  outward  Worfhip. 
She  likewife  confefTed  that  her  mother  prayed  conftantly,  (and, as 
the  world  thought,  very  ferioully)  but  Ihc  faid  it  was  to  the  devil, 

uling 


A  Cottfirm/ition  and  Difcovcr)  ofiVjtchcruft.         5  p 

ufingthefe  words,  Oh  my  God^  >ny  G'aI,  meaning  him,  and  not  the 
LORD.  This  1  put  in  the  rather ,  becaufe  you  may  take  notice, 
where  fuch  meetings  be ,  there  are  jiift  grounds  of  fiifpicion  ;  tor 
they  cannot  always  do  their  mifchiefs  according  to  their  delires, 
without  their  meetings,  and  th°  help  one  of  another. 

1  might  adde  the  apparition  of  the  party  fufpeclcd  to  the  party 
fick,  and  could  nominate  fome  inftances  thereof ,  as  in  Northam- 
pton-(hire,  andelfewhere  ;  but  becaufe  apparicions  may  proceed 
from  thephantafie  of  fuch  as  the  party  ufe  to  Fear,  or  at  leaft  fuf- 
peftj  I  forbear,  becaufe  I  would  not  that  any  (hould  be  accu(ed,but 
where  there  are  juft  grounds  of  fufpicion.  Butthofe  called  Wife- 
men,or  Wife- women,caIled your  White  Witches, which  wil]  fliew  , 
the  other  in  glafTes ,  or  undo  what  the  other  have  done,  (if  pro- 
ved") is  it  not  fufficient  ? 

But  I  hope  there  it  none  To  ignorant  or  blinde,  as  to  think  or 
believe  it  is  lawful  for  any  to  go  or  fend  to  fuch,  much  leffe  to  put 
any  confidence  or  truft  in  thenij  who  require  faith  to  belisvc  chfy 
can  cure,  before  they  will  undertake  it ;  (eeing  by.the  Law  of  God 
they  ought  to  die  5  as  well  as  the  other.  And  the  holy  Scripture 
utterly  forbids  any  going  to  them,  Levit.  2.  6.  where  it  is  faid, 
that  he  will  jet  hif  face  againfl  fuch  <w  (hall  feek^nfter  tbofe  that  have  fa- 
miliar fpirits ,  and  vpill  cut  tbtm  of  from  amongfi  his  peofle  j  much 
more  then  fuch  as  fhould  be  guilty  themfelves. 

Then  fome  will  fay,  How  fhall  they  be  known  one  from  ano- 
ther, or  how  (hall  they  be  found  out,  if  thefe  difficulties  be  ?  For 
if  cannot  be  denied  but  that  many  of  thcni  have  made  great  (hews 
of  Religion. 

lanfwer,  Itistruth  ;  as  the  devil  can  transform  himfelf  into 
aji  Angel  of  light, fo  have  many  of  thefe  Witches  made  outward 
Oiews ,  as  if  they  had  been  Saints  on  earth  ,  and  fo  were  taken  by 
fome^as  one  of  Catworth  in  Huntingtonfhire,who  made  as  large  a 
ConfelTion,in  a  m3nner,as  ever  any  did,  &  confcfTed  at  the  gallows 
before  her  death  ,  in  my  hearing.  Likewife  one  Lendall  of  Cinnv 
bridge,  ivho  fuffcrcd  alfo,carried  her  felf  as  if  (he  had  been  no  hd'ei 
and  fo  did  the  mother  of  the  faid  Rebecca  Wefi^  and  many  otheiSj 
which  by  their  carriage  (eemed  to  be  very  religious  people^  and 
would  conftantly  repair  to  all  Sermons  neer  them  :  yet  notwith- 
flanding  all  their  fhews  of  religion,  there  appeared  fome  of  thefe 
probabiliticsjwhereby  they  were  fulbefted,  and  fo  fearchcd,and  Co 

F  3  by. 


40       A  Cofjjjrmation  and  Difcovcry  of  IVitchcraft, 

by  that  means  difcovered  and  made  known,  Forif  you  do  but 
obferve  thele  and  fuch- like  other  reafons  as  maybe  thereby  ga- 
thered, together  with  their  ConfeHlons,  you  fhallfinde  that  they 
prepare  chenifelvcs  in  feme  kinde  or  other,  and  ihat  by  their  out- 
ward carriage,  either  by  ill  company  keeping  ,  nialicioufneflej  re- 
vengeful perfons,  or  fuch  as  be  born  of  fuch  parents ,  or  go  un- 
der a  general  fiilpiclon  of  Witchcraft,  or  one  way  or  other  as 
aforefaid,  there  will  appear  juft  grounds  of  fufpicion  ,  either  by 
words  or  deeds ,  whereby  they  may  be  brought  to  be  queftioncd, 
whereby  it  may  appear  there  is  a  league  made  with  the  devil  :  for 
notwithflanding  all  former  reafons,  to  convift  or  prove  one  guil- 
ty of  Witchcraft ,  is  to  prove  a  League  made  with  the  devil ;  in 
thisonely  aftj  ftandeth  the  very  reality  of  a  Witch  ;  without 
which,  Cnotwithftanding  great  (l.ews  of  probabilities  )  I  know 
not ,  nor  cannot  conceive  how  any  can  be  properly  faid  to  be 
Witches  :  For^ the  devil  Cthrough  Gods  permiflioa.)- may  hurt 
mens  bodies,  and  kill  their  cattel  3  and  ill  haps  may  fall  out  upon 
his  or  her  curfing ,  and  but  grounds  to  make  enquiry  and  (earch, 
which  muft  be  for  this  League  ;  which  though  never  fo  fccredy 
made ,  yet  it  is  to  be  difcertied ,  feeing  it  is  that  which  maketh  a 
Witch  i  and  not  to  fome  of  their  own  fociety  :  For  beiides  the 
former  reafons,  it  is  an  heathenifh  praftice  to  feek  to  (uchj  Ifa.19. 
3.  and  65.4. 2  King  17.  ly.  Now  we  fhould  not  be  like  the  abo- 
minable heathen  in  any  evil ,  much  lede  in  thefe  abominations. 
And  they  which  fcek  to  them,  are  commonly  wicked  andevil  peo- 
ple, haunted  themfelves  by  an  evilfpirit,  who  fuggefteth  this 
courfe  into  them,  as  he  did  into  Saul,  i  Sam.2S.  Yea ,  fijch  as  e- 
fteem  of  thefe,  and  think  they  work  in  Gods  Name ,  and  by  his 
power,  are  bewitched  in  fo  thinking,  A^j  8  9,11.  For  it  is  found 
true  by  daily  experience  amongll  our  felvcs,  that  thofe  which  moft 
ufe  them,  moft  need  them,  as  1  might  inftance  ;  butonely  I  defire 
to  prove  the  League,  which  is  to  be  proved  :  for  they  that  tnake 
this  League,  if  exprede  as  before ,  have  a  familiar  or  fpirit,  inore 
or  lefle  :  For  as  foon  as  the  League  is  made,  the  Spirit  or  Familiar^ 
one  or  more,i8  familiar ,  as  was  before  fufticitntly  proved  by  Saul 
^ndjoftab  in  the  foremen  tionedplacc5,when  Witches  Were  known 
to  have  Familiars  ,  befidcs  the  Confeflions  of  Witches  lately  exe- 
cuted herein  cxprcfTcd  ,  and  fo  they  have  now  adays  j  by  which) 
after  ch?ir  League  made ,  ihey-work  thtir  mifchief,  as  is  likewife 

provecj 


A  Confirm  At  ion  and  Di f cover y  of  Witchcraft.       4 1 

proved  by  their  Confeffions ;  a?  the  faid  Elizabeib  C/^ri^  confefledj 
who  averred  thvit  all  were  Witches  who  had  fuch  mariis  as  (he 
was  found  withal^  and  had  familiar  (piriis  more  (^r  le(le;  and  that 
there  were  forae  which  had  none  ;   u hii  h  I  have  ibimd  true  ;  for 
they  have  onely  the  brand,  or  devils  markj  a?  f  n?ay  Co  call  it :  but 
for  the  otherjyou  may  obferve  iras  a  ucnctal  rule  in  all  iheir  Con- 
fefllons  i  iisjobn  Eyfacl{,  alias  Clcecle  ,  of  VValdingficId   magna  Jn 
the  County  of  SuffoJkjConfeflcdthat  the  devil  came  in  at  his  win- 
dow in  liie  (bapc  of  a  rugged  Tandy- coloured  dog  ,   which  asked 
hira  to  deny  God,  Chrilt,  and  his  Baptifm,  which  he  fpake  with  a 
great  hollow  voice  ;  and  he  confented.  Then  he  faid  Satan  asked 
him  for  blood  to  feal  and  confirm  the  cover  ant  or  agreement;  and 
he  bade  him  take  it ;  and  that  Satan  with  his  confent  had,  in  the 
(hape  of  fuch  a  coloured  dog^  thorow  his  leather  doublet ,  with 
his  daw.    Then  I  asked  him  whcreaway  Satan  had  it  :  and  he 
faidjFrom  his  heart;  arid  that  Satan  promifed  to  free  himof  Jiell-  • 
torments,  and  that  he  would  fend  him  other  things  which  he  muft 
let  fuck  his  blood,  and  they  ftiould  avenge  him  ot  all  his  enemie? . 
All  which  he  faid  he  confented  to,  and  was  willing  withal  ;  and 
then  foon  after  thofe  came,  which  he  called  his  Imps,  and  fucked 
on  thofe  marks  or  teats  which  I  found  on  his  body ,  necr  twenty 
yeers  together ,    fometimes  once  a  week ,  fbmctimes  once  a  fort- 
night, which  he  confelfed  came  in  the  likcnefTe  of  Snails ,  onelv 
they  differed  one  from  another  in  colour  and  bigneffe.     Then  I 
asked  him  how  they  could  fuck  on  that  part  of  his  body  I  found 
the  marks  on  :   and  he  (aid  he  ufed  to  lie  down  on  his  right  fide 
to  let  them  fuck,  and  was  willing  witfial  ;  for  he  confefled  he  of- 
tentimes arofe  out  of  his  bed,  and  made  a  fire,  and  lay  down  by  it 
to  let  them  fuck  his  blood ;  which  rifing  out  of  his  bed  ,  and  fire 
making,  his  wife  averred  to  be  truth  ;  yet  fhe  faid  (he  never  knew 
or  thought  him  to  befiKh  a  mannerof  perfon  ;  for  fhe  (aid  he 
ufed  to  tell  her  he  was  fick,  and  ufed  to  be  troubled  with  a  difeafe 
which  he  could  not  help  himfclf  better  fcr  toeafe  himfelf  of  Kis 
pain  he  ufed  to  be  in,  ihenby  that  means,  and  could  not  endure 
his  bed,  his  pain  was  fo  troublcfome.     But  to  clear  all  fufpicion 
which  after  might  fall  on  her  thereby,  flie  was  fearched,and  found 
clear,  and  no  leffe  thought  to  be  by  her  neighbours  before  and 
fmce,  as  1  have  heard.     He  likewife  confefled  his  Imps  names 
were  Sjdrake^  ^fOs  Peter^  Aykward^  Sacar^  and  Pyman  j  for  he  had 

fix 


42       A  Confirmation  and difcovery  of  WUcherafl, 

Ikby  his  confeflion ,  and  nolefle  by  the  number  of  his  marks. 
The  tirrt  was  to  kill  all  manner  of  fowls,  which  was  the  firll  he 
confelTed  he  employed.  The  (ccond  was  to  kill  fliecp  and  fuch-like 
caccel.  The  third,  hogs,  and  fiich-like.  The  fourth,  Cows ,  and 
riich-likebealh.  The  fifth,  all  manner  of  horles.  Andtheiixth, 
Chriftians :  and  fo  particulari-zed  many  mifchiefs  he  had  done. 

So  they  have  their  FamiliarSjfome  for  one  thing,  and  fome  for 
another ;  fome  to  help  them  at  their  needs,  f  though  many  times 
therein  they  fail  them)  and  others  to  work  their  mifchiefs  and 
revenge,  as  the  aforefaid  lohn  JVynnicks  and  many  others  have  con- 
fcfled.  Butlonelyinftance  their  Con feffions  in  (hort,  and  but  in 
part  onely,  tending  to  that  1  quote  them  for  as  neer  as  I  cam  For 
1  could  adde  divers  more  to  this ,  but  many  of  the  other  in  efteft 
tend  to  prove  this  -,  Co  do  raoft  of  the  Confedions  little  or 
more  depend  one  upon  another :  fo  that  1  do  but  inftance  part 
of  them,and  of  the  effeft  of  them,  and  not  the  third  part  of  thofe 
1  have  ;  for  if  I  mould,  I  have  many  larger  Conffflion*-,— which 
pcichince  might  ^ive  better  fatisfa<5lion  to  fome  :  but  I  onely  aim 
at  the  principal  heads,  and  to  clear  and  make  it  appear,  that  what 
hath  been  done,  hath  been  in  a  legal  way,and  not  unjuiUy,  as  ma- 
dy  have  furmifed,  but  for  the  good  of  the  Common-wealth,  and 
1  doubt  not  but  agreeable  to  the  Word  of  God.  And  that  all  that 
be  thus  in  league  ,  (as  exprefle  or  open  league  as  aforefaid  )  are  to 
be  found  out  and  known  by  thefe  evidences ,  be  they  of  either 
fort,  bad,  or  white  or  good  Witches  Co  called  ;  firfh ,  by  Witches 
marks,  which  are  moll:  commonly  upon  thofe  bafer  forts  called 
the  bad  and  curiing  Witch  ;  and  fo  upon  the  other  called  the  good 
or  white  Witch ,  though  not  fo  ealily  found ,  (iC  but  onely  the 
brand,  ordeals  mark  ,  as  it  may  well  be  termed  )  but  the  other, 
which  the  fpirits  fuck  of,  arceailly  to  bediflinguillicd  and  known 
from  all  the  other  marks ,  but  yet  have  as  before  (iC  an  expreffe 
league.) 

Thisisnnt  tobedjubtedof;  it  is  the  devils  cuftom  to  mark 
his  :  God  will  have  his  mark  for  his ,  Eztb^.  9.  Rev.  7.  the  Beaft 
will  have  his  mark,  Rfi'.i3.  Sothe  devil  himfelf  will  have  his 
mark,  as  you  may  fee  as  well  by  the  relations  and  confeffions  of 
Witches,  as  alfo  the  witnefles  of  many  learned  men  ,  writing  of 
Witches  and  Witchcraft.  Therefore,  where  this  mark  is,  there  is 
a  league  and  familiar  fpirits  more  or  lefTe ;  which  marks  are  to  be 
found  by  fearching.  Now 


A  Confirmation  and Difcovery  of  Witchcraft,       45 

Now  fomc  will  fay ,  How  (hall  they  bedifcerned  from  natural 
marks  ? 

I  anfwer  :  Firft ,  as  for  that  mark  which  comes  by  the  fucking 
or  by  the  drawing  of  the  fpirit  or  familiar,  more  or  lefle,  which 
ismoft  commonly  upon  the  bafer  fcrt  called  the  bad  witch,  and  fo 
many  times  upon  the  other  fo  untruly  called  the  good  or  white 
witchj  for  all  witches  are  bad  indeed,  though  perad venture  for  the 
mod  pare  they  have  not  commonly  fo  many  Familiars  as  theo- 
ther ,  yet  I  fay  molt  of  them  work  by  Farr.iliais  as  well  as  the  o- 
ther,  andfiickle  them  likewifejihough  fiot  commonly  nbove  one. 
They  are  to  be  known  by  ihefc  tokens,  as  by  the  infeniiblenclTc  of 
them,  fornetimcs  like  a  little  teat  or  big  ,  that  is  when  it  remains 
as  the  Imp  or  Familiar  fucks  thereof  :   if  outward,  then  nothing 
to  be  difcerned  but  as  a  little  bit  of  skin,  which  may  be  extended 
and  drawn  out,  and  wrung,  much  like  the  finger  of  a  glove ,  and 
is  very  limber,  and  hath  no  fubltance  in  it,  except  it  be  when  their 
Imps  have  newly  fucked  tnem  ,  and  then  it  may  be  there  may  |)e 
a  little  watrilh  blood  perceived,  but  may  be  known  from  natural 
marks  (everal  ways  •■,  for  it  hath  no  fear,  but  at  the  very  top  a  lit- 
tle h  ole,  where  the  blood  comcth  out.    But  if  it  be  inward ,  then 
it  is  beyond  all  natural  marks,  or  where  no  fuch-iike  ("if  natural) 
could  poflibly  be,and  remains  but  as  a  little  red  fpot,  much  like,  or 
litttle  differing  from  a  flea-bite  ;  onely  it  is  out  of  the  flerti  above 
it,  when  as  the  other  is  flat,  but  this  as  I  fay  \s  out  above  it ,  with 
a  whitilh  end  at  the  top ,  and  may  be  known  both  of  them  by  a 
circle  about  them  ,  much  like  the  circle  of  a  womans  breft  which 
hath  been  fucked,  and  one  may  difcern  the  place  where  the  blood 
comes  out :  and  many  times  it  falleth  out,  if  new  fucked,  the  wa- 
trilh blood  maybe  ftroaked  out,  efpecially  in  the  time  they  be 
kept ,  if  the  watchers  be  careful  to  difcern  when  they  be  in  moft 
trouble  5  though  their  Familiars  come   never  fo  infcnfible  :  and 
therein  (as  before^  watching  hath  done  good  (though  not  depri- 
ved of  any  thing  neceflTary,  as  before.)  And  the  skin  may  be  pul- 
led one  Jide  from  the  other,  and  diHereth  from  the  other  parts  in 
colour,  and  remains  as  if  ir  weic  a  dead  place,  and  fo  ic  is  infcnfi- 
ble of  pricking  and  other  ufage,  if  it  be  done  in  a  d'lrtdc  m:jiner  i 
and  fo  may  be  ealily  difcerned  from  any  natuijl  mark  other- 
wife,  if  this  were  not  futiicient  to  give  fatisfaftion,  which  I  doubc 
not  but  it  will,  as  Icouldotherwifecxpreffc  ,  if  it  were  neither 

G  for 


44     ^  Confirmation  and  Difcovery  of  Witch-craft. 

for  giving  offence  tofomej  nor  a  m^ans  to  give  fome  of  fuch  per- 
fons  inlight  Co  far  ,  as  thereby  they  might  grow  more  experienced 
to  make  away  their  mar  ks ,  for  that  hath  been  too  common  a- 
mongft  them  already  ;  for  which  1  could  inftance  many  examples : 
butyou  findeby  their  Co'nfedions  3  that  all  of  them  tend  toma- 
nifeltsthat  their  Famih'ars  fuck  upon  thofe  marks  which  we  firit 
finde,  which  are  before  exprelfed  ,  and  therefore  I  forbear  to  in- 
ftance  any  to  that  particular. 

Sometimes  they  be  likea  bluefpot ,  that  is,  when  they  make 
them  away  5  and  then  no  more  to  be  difcerned  befides  the  infenli- 
blenefle  thereof ;  but  will  grow  or  be  drawn  again  by  the  Tucking 
of  their  Imps  or  Familiars  more  or  lefTe,  for  they  cannot  hide 
them  always  ;  as  one  Marf?  a  woman  ©f  Bramplbrd  confeflcd, 
who  had  been  fearched  two  or  three  times  one  afte  r  another,  and 
no  oth«r  marks  could  be  found  upon  her  :  at  length,  (he  being  ac- 
cufed  by  another  of  the  fame  town,  was  forthwith  before  fhe  had 
any  knowledge  thereof,  or  thoughts  fas  I  fuppofej  of  being  fetr- 
ched  again,  taken  by  the  Conllables  there  in  the  ftreets,  as  fbcwas 
coming  homeward  to  her  own  houfe,  and  brought  to  be  fearched 
a^ain  ,  upon  the  others  accufation  :  but  as  fhe  came  by  her  own 
houfe,  Ihc  defired  to  go  in,  (as  (he  faid)  to  (hift  her  felf ,  for  that 
fhe  was  very  un  willing  (as  fhe  pretended}  to  go  to  the  women  to 
be  fearched  with  a  foul  Ihift  on  her  back  :  but  the  ConibUe  ha- 
ving had  notice  of  it  formerly,  not  to  fufFer  her  to  go  to  do  it,  it 
being  known  flie  did  it  before  her  former  fearching,  brought  her 
forthwith  away  to  the  place  where  fhe  was  to  be  fearched  ,  and 
when  fhe  was  a  fearching  ,  fhe  wa^  prefently  found  to  have  the 
marks  very  appjrent,  and  had  a  clean  Shift  on  her  back.  But  not 
long  after,  in  her  Confelllon,  amongfl:  other  things ,  (he  confeffed 
that  if  fhe  had  been  let  go  home  to  have  fliiftcd  her  felf,  fhe  had 
not  been  found  with  the  marks ,  for  that  (he  had  a  fhift  fo  dreUed, 
that  her  marks  could  not  have  been  foimd  at  prefenr,  and  that  fhe 
thereby  fo  efraped  by  the  faTjiC  means  the  former  fcarches  •■,  yet  (hx 
W2S  fearched  by  thoCe  which  were  the  hrll  that  ever  to  my  know- 
Ifd^efound  any  of  thofc  ninrks  -,  and  fo  rontj^flcd  that  (lie  had 
made  a  covenant  with  the  devil,  and  fcaled  it  with  her  blood,  and 
fet  around  O  to  the  paper  the  devil  brought  her,  and  confeflcd 
her  P'amiliars,  with  the  fucking  of  them,  and  the  miichief  fhe  had 
done  by  her  Witchcraft,  or  at  IcaJr  part  of  them  ,  as  fh.c  then  fur- 

thcr 


A  Cotifirmation and  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft.       ^^^ 

thcr  conteifed,  and  fuffs,  cd  for  the  fame.  Here  you  may  obfcrve, 
that  the  diligeiunede  of  fearcliing  is  a  great  matter,  atid  one  of 
the  chiefci't  points  of  their  difcovery  :  For  I  have  obferved  this 
one  thing  irrmy  proceedings  heicin,thatifall  their  marksjthough 
in  feveral  places  5  be  not  toiind,  they  will  hardly  confcflc  :  but 
when  all  are  found ,  and  the  jult  number  of  them  more  or  lefle 
laid  to  their  charge,  according  as  they  have,  it  is  a  great  induce- 
ment to  bring  thciii  to  confeliion  ■-,  and  that  hath  made  me  careful 
when  apparent  marks  have  not  been  ^^en  at  fir/1,  that  a  fecond  or 
third  fearch  be  made  :  fur  it  is  a  matter  of  concernment  of  life 
and  death  ;  and  therefore,  as  1  conceive,  it  were  fitting  that  thofc 
which  fearch,  and  thofewith  them,  they  having  fome  intelligence 
of  the  maiks  rirll  given  them,  were  fworn  before  fearching  ,  that 
diligent  fearch  might  be  made  in  all  places  of  fuch  as  be  fufpe^led 
in  fuch  a  cafe  of  life  and  death ,  for  the  deieftion  of  fo  great  a 
height  of  Mm  and  impiety ,  that  none  that  be  guilty  might  efcape 
the  punifhment  due  according  to  their  deferts  here ;  and  fo  "thofc 
likcwlfe  that  wrongfully  go  under  that  afperilon ,  be  freed  there- 
of. To  which  end,it  were  fitting  that  fuch  as  did  it  might  be  fuch 
as  know  what  belongs  to  an  Oath,  and  who  make  confcience  to 
perfornl  the  fame  likewife  ;  and  fuch  as  be  at  the  fearchjng,  able 
people,  of  difcretion  and  good  carriage  ;  for  1  fear  that  money 
hath  fwayed  fome,  and  want  of  knowledge  others. 

Sometimes  the  flefh  is  funk  in  a  hollow,  that  is,  when  they  puU 
them  off,  and  pull  them  out  with  their  nails  ,  or  othcrwife  caufe 
tliem  to  be  pulled  off  ;  as  one  of  Over  in  Cimbridge-fhire  con- 
fefled,  it  being  fo  found  and  laid  to  her  charge,  that  fhe  heard  of 
our  coming  to  town,  and  plucked  her  marks  off  the  night  be- 
fore, becaufe  {he  would  not  have  been  found  ,  as  fheconfeffed  be- 
fore a  Judicc  of  Peace  of  the  fame  town  at  large,  both  of  the 
Covenant  and  her  Imps,  and  the  harms  fhe  did  both  to  him  and 
others  by  her  Imps. 

But  fome  will  fay ,  It  is  (Grange  they  fhould  know  when  they 
fhouldbe  fearched,  if  it  be  kept  private. 

I  anfwer.  Let  it  be  kept  never  fo  private,  it  hath  been  common, 
and  as  common  as  any  other  thing,  as  they  themfelves  have  con- 
feded  :  for  fo  did  they  of  Fenny-Drayton  in  Cambridge- flii re, 
who  made  very  large  ConfcfTions ,  as ,  that  the  devil  told  them 
of  our  coming  to  town  ,    but  withal  told  them  they  fhould  be 

O   2  fearched. 


^6        -A  Cci'fur/iaiicn  nnclDij cover)  of  IViti  hrr.ip. 

(carchedj  but  IlioulJ  not  be  fouiivl  ■■,  wherein  they  Qui  thoy  t'ouiul 
liim  a  lyar  ;  and  lb  they  laid  they  did  in  his  proiniti;!;^  them  they 
ihoiild  never  want,  which  they  did  ;  and  Co  likewiij  that  is  ti:ual 
with  others  i  but  thole  made  very  JargeContcllions. 

Alio  "(omttimcs  there  is  nothing  to  be  difcerned  but  red  fpots, 
ns  if  the  skin  were  perilhed,  (and  lo  it  is  )  for  that  is  when  they 
onely  cdt  them  ofT,  and  apply  no  medicine  at  all  to  it  j  yet  the 
blood  will  appear  all  round  within  thecirdejas  afore  is  exprefTcd. 
And  ot"  thefe  1  have  found  divers  j  but  for  the  mofr  part ,  thofe 
have  been  left  for  a  Iccond  fcarch,  or  a  thirdjas  occafion  or  ground 
futlicient  required.  And  of  thefe  though  F  have  found  divers,  yet 
I  have  but  one  example  by  confellion,  and  that  is  of  one  Clarke  of 
Keyfton  in  Huntington- Ihire ,  a  young  man  ,  who  was  fo  found, 
and  fct  at  liberty  3  cxpefting  to  have  been  (earched  another  time, 
when  he  ll'.ould  not  know  of  it ;  but  he  foon  after  confe/led  he 
had  cut  off  his  marks ,  faying  they  were  fools  that  were  found 
with  the  marks,  for  he  had  made  fure  he  could  not  befounc} with 
them ,  for  he  had  cut  off  his  two  or  three  days  befoi'c  1  fearched 
liim  But  I  perceived  the  blood  ,  and  IheWcd  it  to  the  townfmen, 
and  told  them  that  I  thought  he  was  naught ,  and  guilty  of  that 
lin,  and  doubted  not  thereof,  but  would  not  take  oath  ,  unlcfle 
the  marks  had  been  apparently  Cecn  upon  him. 

Nowfome  will  fay,  notwiihllandingall  this  that  isfaidjThcre 
:my  be  and  are  natural  marks  like  all  thefe  afore  fpoken  of. 

1  anfwcr  ,  For  natural  marks,  as  1  conceive ,  there  be  Wens  of 
divers  forts  ;  but  view  tiicfe  well ,  and  next  adjacent  to  the  flelh 
t!'.ey  arc  vc:y  fmal!,  and  hang  like  a  thred,  but  from  thence  like  a 
tr.:t  or  big  i  but  fccl  of  it^  and  it  is  tiefliie,  and  will  not  extend  as 
thcotlier  will  ilo- 

But  fome  will  fay  ,  It  may  be  a  rent,  and  fo  a  piece  of  skin  may 
hang. 

I  anfwer,  This,  though  it  be  nothing  but  as  a  skin,  yet  it  Com- 
eth firmly  out  of  the  Htlh,and  flicks  out  like  abigorteat,andnot 
liangdown  ,  when  I  conceive  rents  will  either  hang ,  o'rlie  flat  ; 
but  if  hang,  then  I  believe  a  fear  is  to  be  feen  ,  and  feels  flefhlikc 
bcfidts :  but  thefe  have  no  fcai ,  onely  as  it  were  a  little  hole  on 
the  top,  where  the  blood  comes  out,which  is  cafily  to  be  difcern- 
ed,  for  1  have  nipped  blood  out.  And  then  likcwife  they  be  infen- 
(ible,  when  the  other  be  not;  But  IconfelTejif thefe  be  not  pricked 

the 


A  Co)ifirmat7on  and  Difcoverj  ofiVitch  craft .        47 

the  rii^hc  way,  they  will  feel  it  likevvife.  Some  have  Wdrts ;  but  I 
anfwer.  They  be  out  of  the  fitll\  as  well  as  the  other ,  but  they  are 
tljtaiidriell.ifjand  fcnllblcj  aiuiwill  iioc^ny  way  extend  :  but  fo 
far  unlike  the  other,  as!  will  not  hnilicr  (pc.<k  of  them.  Sonic 
have  Monlsrit  is  trtithj  I  believe  nioft  nvn  iiavcj  jhoiigh  iliev  he 
of  fcvcral  colours ;  but  iho(c  be  [\\\.  to  I'u'  [\A\  always ,  whicli  is 
nothing  like  the  other,  nor  will  extend,  but  i<  (tnlibie. 

But  (ome  will  fay,  It  may  be  like  the  brand. 

I  anfwcrj  No  :  for  it  dirtcreth  as  well  in  colour,  as  alfo  it  hath 
no  circle  about  it ,  but  is  as  the  relt  of  the  skin  is  on  the  other 
parts  of  the  body,  oncly  differs  fometimcs  in  colour,  but  not  liia- 
the  other,  and  isleniible  .-  neither  for  the  molt  pait  have  any  of 
the  marks  of  thofe  which  have  fuffered  been  found  ,  where  there 
were  either  VVart«,  Wens,  or  Mouls,  or  commonly  rents,  efpccial- 
iy  of  the  men. 

But  then  fome  will  fiy,  There  are  Eijirod-marks ,  and  pil.s. 

lanfwer,  Tiuc,  but  the  Emrod-marks  are  upon  th»-V£iri?, 
though  they  iffue  out ,  and  are  to  be difcerned  either  bv 'the  co- 
lour, or  by  the  lying  up  of  the  veins  j  but  if' the  veins  brdown, 
ftili,  the  colour  remains  in  part  ,  and  are  to  be  know/)  that  w.iv  : 
But  however ,  they  will  not  extend  to  be  drawn  out  and  tu'i:ic(K 
as  theother  will;  if  arall,l  amfurcnotfo  much  ;  and  if  a  little, 
then  it  is  pain,  and  the  other  none:  for  therein  the  inicnliblenel-e 
elects  this  cxprelly ;  for  it  cannot  be  conceived  th.it  ariy  (hould  be 
Infenlible  upon  their  veins ,  and  the  other  are  meerly  out  of  the 
flefh  i  for  1  conceive  if  they  were  upon  the  veins,  tlicy  would 
bleed  after  they  were  fucked  ,  and  would  not  ealily  be  (kncl^td  a- 
i^ain  \  neither  be  they  fo  inward  as  the  Emrods  marks,  cx."CMt  the 
inward  marks,  which  are  beyond  them  ,  and  where  non.itural 
caufe  can  be  of  that  colour,  and  infenlible.  And  as  for  the  Piles,  I 
think  this  is  a  fufticient  anfwer  for  thatlik'ewife  ;  for  they  be  out 
of  the  veins,  and  are  fenfible  without  qucliion  ,  and  be  flat,  and 
will  not  be  extended  as  the  other  will. 

And  then  fome  others  will  fay  ,  But  women  have  rcn;s  and  o- 
ihermifcarriajics  by  childe-bearing. 

I  anfwei  partly  as  before,  and  grant  it  for  truth  \  but  yet  if  that 
way  will  neither  fear  appear,  nor  will  it  feel  flelhie,  but  will  it  be 
cxten. led  as  the  other ;  admit  all  this  were  truth,  Iwillarfirm  the 
colour  diffcrSjamd  that  there  will  be  no  circle  about  if , nor  twi  ed. 

O  3  "o 


48       A  Cotifirmation  and  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft, 

nor  have  a  hole  as  the  other  have,  and  bemftnfible  likewife ,  and 
otherwire:^  as  I  could  further  explain  more  at  large  j  if  it  were  fit- 
ting :  forj  ^// fbmg/ (as  the  proverb  is)  ought  not  to  be  fpok^n  at  rM 
timcSj  much  Icde  printed. 

Bat  if  any  Ihall  hereafter  make  any  Objedions  ngainfl  me  fas 
1  cxpe*^  they  will  J 1  will  then  explain  my  fclf  (through  permilli  • 
oiO  as  far  as  by  experience  Ihave  found ,  or  by  reading  or  other- 
wife  niy  knowledge  (hall extend  to.  P'or  I  am  confident,  and  n)y 
CO  nfcicncc  tells  me,  that  thofc  who  (hall  be  found  with  thcle 
marks  5  areexprefly  guilty  of  that  diabolical  art  orpraftice  of 
Witchcraftj  Whether  they  have  done  mifchief  or  not ,  but  onely 
fTthat  ihey  have  renounced  God  and  Chrifij  and  betaken  ihem- 
fclvcstothe  devil,  the  utter  enemy  of  God  and  ail  the  world. 
And  I  had  rather  bean  inftrument  (if  any  fuch  thing  ought  to  be) 
to  fave  one  who  (hould  confefle  and  humble  himfelf,  as  MannJJ'j) 
did,  then  any  of  thofewho,  being  found  with  the  marks  upon 
them ,  dial]  deny  :  but  I  (hall  forbear  herein  ,   where  it  -nothing 
concerns  me,  butthofein  authority  ;  for  1  would  not  give  of- 
ftnce  to  any,  onely  defire  to  cleer  my  (elf,  in  giving  (atisfaftion 
to  the  world  that  my  conference  is,  that  none  of  the(e  forts  ought 
to  live  amonglt  us  ■,  for  by  the  Laws  of  God  and  the  Realniv  they 
ought  to  die,  as  it  is  faid  in  the  1 8  of  Deuteronomy.  And  then  re- 
member this  ojie  place,  which  is  in  Micab  5,  where  it  is  faid  ,  that 
when  God  intends  to  bicflc  a  Nation  ,  he  will  cut  off  or  root  out 
all  Wicchcrafcs  andlnchantmcnts  :  which  I  fhoiild  think  (hould 
give  all  fufhcieiic  fatisfaftion,  that  ihofe  which  have  thefe  marks, 
are  in  league  and  covenant  with  the  devil,  and  that  it  is  not  to  be 
d'Hibtcd  but  that  there  are  Witches  ,  and  that  thofe  which  have 
ihc  brdud  be  alfo  guilty  as  afore(aid ,  be  they  of  either  fort  ,  and 
ai  c  to  be  found  as  well  as  the  other,  by  fearchitjg  alfo  ;  yet  1  con- 
Idfe  that  is  very  difficult  to  be  known ,  and  very  fewner  attained 
to  the  difcovery  thereof  :  tut  it  is  to  be  known  by  the  infenlible- 
ne(re  thereof,  and  othei  wi(e,  being  drawn  or  Ibrunk  up  fo  wjth  a 
^circle  about  it,  as  if  the  skin  were  Itretchfd  to  that  place,  or 
ibrunk  up  about  it ;  but  very  little  by  the  colour,  for  that  is  as  if 
ic  wcreo;  had  been  fome  natural  caufe  ,  or  where  forae  iffue  had 
been,  when  as  the  skin  was  never  pcrilhed,  as  may  be  eafily  difccr- 
led;  fHi'ly  it  (hews  in  the  middle  thereof,  for  the  moli  part,  as  if 
a  little  !i:  Ij  had  been  ,  except  it  be  fuch  as  the  places  where  the 

blood 


A  ConfirmAtion  and Dif cover y  of  IVitchcraft.       49 

blood  is  fetched  to  feal  the  Covenant^  which  is  onely  like  a  na:ii  - 
ral  mark,  either  long  or  othcrwife, as  natural  marks  be;  oncIy  it 
Icemcth  to  be  deader  and  harJcT,  and  To  it  ii,  and  not  fo  tender  as 
other  places  be,  or  where  plaiiiers  have  been  ufed  ;  but  the  other 
is  for  the  nioli  part  round,  but  however ,  it  hath  a  little  circle  a- 
bout  it ,  juft  adjacent  to  ic ,  as  IF  it:  Were  (link  in  all  the  circle  a- 
bour,  and  then  within  that,  next  adj.^ent  ro  the  circle,  fbmewhac 
higher  then  the  tiefh,  and  harder  ;  and  in  I'le  middle  thereof,  a  lit- 
tle hole  ot  pitfomewhat  funk.  Thisbrand  or  mark,  if  it  come  to 
be  tried  for  the  infeniiblcnefle,  will  foon  be  fclr,  if  greater  care  be 
not  had  in  pricking  of  it ;  for  though  it  be  infenfiblea  little  way, 
yet  it  is  not  fo  deep  into  the  tiefh  as  the  others  bc,but  (hews  dead- 
like,  much  like  as  if  it  had  been  (eared  with  a  hot-iron  ,  and  is 
firmly  upon  the  body,  and  in  no  fecret  place,  as  the  other  be  ,  bur 
dirfers  a  little  in  colour,a3  a  (eared  place  doth  from  another  ■■,  :{?,  1 
might  fomewhatinIargc,but  I  will  not  prefume  too  farjlcll  others 
(hould  unadvifedly  ana  ralhly  prvx:eed  in  the  difcovery  oLHich 
persons  wrongfully  ,  and  then  fault  me  for  the  iniight  ;  as*  hath 
been  formerly  done  by  fonje,  who  when  they  have  done  that  they 
are  not  able  to  give  an  account  of,  or  render  a  reafon  for^  or  per- 
chance (ay  tho(ebe  guilty  ,  where  they  (inde  fome  other  evidence 
may  be  given  that  they  be  guilty,  or  where  money  will  be  largely 
given  that  they  aie  guilty  ,  when  as  if  they  come  to  be  further 
queftioned ,  they  can  onely  fay  they  be  fuch  marks  as  fuch  a  one 
told  me  ;  and  fo  likewife  can  fay,l  havefeen  fome  have  fuch  marks 
in  the  jail,  of  his  finding  out,  or  fome  who  have  confe(red:when 
as  they  themfelves cannot  diftinguilli  between  natural  marks ,  and 
thofejucither  indeed  know  them  afunder,  but  however,  know  but 
one  fort  of  the  mark?,  and  fo  let  many  cfcape  ,  and  I  fear  wrong- 
fully thereby,  or  for  lucre,  accu(e  5  a  fearful  thing  to  be  conHdered 
o\.  :  And  therefore  I  conceive  it  were  fitting,  that  when  fuch  come 
to  their  trials  in  this  kinde,  it  might  be  done  by  thofe  of  know- 
ledge and  difcrction,  and"upon  good  grounds,  and  not  by  every 
light-carriag^d  houfwife,  w'lo  regards  more  her  own  ends  then 
the  li(e  of  a  Chriftian  ;  who  cin  render  no  other  reafon,  but  i  hat 
they  do  but  what  they  have  learned  fome  infight  in,Si  lo  go  where 
they  are  (ent  for,  or  elfc  they  would  not  do  it  ;  indeed  for  njo- 
ney,  and  not  for  theComnrjn-wcalths  lood,  as  may  be  feen  by 
their  want  of  knowledge  therein  ;  For,  as  1  faid ,  it  had  need  be 

dcr)c 


50        J  ConJirv^Ation  anddifcovery  of  Witchcraft. 

done  by  able,  difcreer,  honeft  perfons,  efpecially  for  thefe  laft  men- 
tioned, and  upon  good  grounds  ,  and  other  deer  evidences  con- 
curring with  them.  Yet  I  affirm  that  all  that  have  theie^  o;  any  of 
thcfc  nnrkSj  are  guilty  of  Witchcratt,  if  plainly  made  appear :  tor 

I  could  haie  fpoken  fomewhat  more  ,  both  ot  wrongfully  accu- 

II  itT,  and  excullng ,  onely  I  know  it  will  then  be  judged  that  1  do 
it  lo  take  off  all  others ,  and  that  none ,  or  but  inch  as  1  like  of, 
weie  fitting  to  do  it,  and  fo  thereby  take  all  upon  my  felf  i  which 
!  know  many  in  the  world  will  be  ready  enough  to  cenfure  of 
nie.:  But  for  my  part,  where  one  hath  the  leaiiinlight  herein  ,  1 
vvilh  there  were  hundreds  in  all  Countries  which  had  the  whole, 
and  more  then  any  now  have  ;  but  onely  that  fuch  as  be  idle,  or 
unconfcionable  of  their  ways  ,  and  careleffe  of  men  and  womens 
lives,  or  at  Icalt  unskilful  in  thefe  ways ,  might  not  be  futiered  to 
meddle  ^in  (uch  a  bulinefle  of  concernment  of  life  and  death  ,  as 
tins  is.  As  for  this,  and  the  lucre  of  money,!  (hall  more  fully  clear 
in  the  laft  Objeftion  in  the  clofe  hereof,  to  acquit  my  felf 
thereof  ' 

Now  for  the  implicite  or  fecret  Leaguejif  it  be  asked  what  thele 
be  which  thus  work  by  Satan  : 

I  anfwer,  in  fume  fort,  by  way  of  fimiiitude,  from  the  direftion 
of  (hat  pbcc  in  Airtr/;9.  58,  40.  andL«/:^f  p.49.  For  Satan  will  be 
Gods  ape  in  nil  things  whatloever  he  can ,  and  therefore  will  he 
alio  imitate  Chrilt  hrreiti.  They  are  ("uch  as  invocate  the  devil  by 
certain  fuperliition?:  forms  of  words,  andprayer^s  believing  that 
thele  means  can  efftft  what  they  have  offered  them  for,  and  do 
withal  earnellly  dclire  to  have  them  effeftual.  Now  the  devil 
herein  confcnteth  ,  and  affordeth  his  power ,  at  the  utterance  of 
ihe  word.fjto  bring  the  thlnjz  to  paffe  which  isdclired.  Herethere- 
toie  is  a  Covenant  and  mutual  confent  on  both  fides  j  for  if  a 
man  or  woman  be  content  to  ufe  fuperltitious  forn':s  of  invocati- 
on for  help  in  time  of  n'^ed,  and  in  uling  them  defireth  in  heart  to 
have  the  thing  effe^ed  j  if  the  cfeyU  work  the  feat,  there  is,a  fecret 
compaft  :  for  they  have  defired,  and  he  hath  confcntfd.  They  are 
fuch  as  do  know ,  that  neither  by  Gods  v;ork  in  nature ,  nor  by 
Gods  ordination  from  his  Word,  the  things  they  do  arc  warrant- 
able, (bjt  rathe:  hear  fuch  things  forbidden)  and  thatthey  alfo  arc 
abfurd  to  common  reafon  ,  and  yet  will  do  them,  becaufe  they 
iinde  an  <  tfeft  anfwerable  to  their  expeftation. 

Hereto 


AConfirmatien  andDifcovery  of  IVjtchcraft.        5^ 

Hereto  1  might  adde  tlie  healing  of  a  wound  by  anointing  the 
inilriimenc  which  gave  the  wound  ,  Spell-fetters,  and  Charmers^ 
and  fuch-like,  who  many  of  them  are  in  expreflTe  league  as  afore- 
faiu  .•  tor  the  devil  contenteth  himfeir  fonietiaics,  to  wit,  theii 
u'herc  he  well  [-^rceivcth  the  party  will  not  be  brouofu  to  the  o 
thcr  5  ant!  lets  thcni  plcafe  themfelves  with  hope  of  Gods  mere/, 
tniployini^  them  ontly  about  feeming-good  things,  for  that  in  (o 
doing  they  fuppole  they  lin  not ,  nor  are  in  danger  ot  the  deviJ, 
nor  imciei  Gods  wrath,  as  the  other  are,  bccaufe  they  fall  not  fo 
foully  into  thtr  pit  of  delhu£lion  by  an  exprt  fie  league  ,  as  the  o- 
thcrs  do;  and  nuke  an  outward  (lew  of  Religion  as  well- as  o- 
thcis. 

Fur  what  cm  be  Paid  of  thofe  who  onely  cure  difeafes  by  laying 
on  their  hands,  and  uling  certain  words  or  forms  of  prayers  ?  Is 
it  not  done  by  this  Iccret  Compaft,  though  ignorantly  they  think 
otherwiCc  ?  For  it  the  remedy  be  not  natural,  then  itis  (uperna- 
tural  ;  if  fupernatural  ,'^then  either  from  God,  and  fo  hath  war- 
rant trom  his  V\  oid,  and  is  ordinary,  not  miraculotis  j  for  ihat 
work  of  God  hath  cealed  long  lines :  or  elfe  is  from  the  devil,  as 
works  wrought  by  Spells  and  Charms,  and  fuch-Jike  ,  forbidden 
by  God.    Yet  thefe  forts  of  perfons,  finding  their  praftices  fuccef- 
ful,  arenotagalnfi  Satan,  nor  can  lightly  fpeak  ill  of  his  working 
power,  bccaulc  of  their  fecret  and  implicite  league  they  have  with 
him,  and  efpecially  becaufe  of  the  profit  they  findecome  to  them 
thereby.    And  herein  alfo  doth  the  devil  imitate  Chrift ,  who  al- 
lowed fome,  which  openly  as  yet  did  not  follow  him  ,  to  have 
powertocafioutdevils,MdrI;^9.  38359-  who  were  not,ashe  faid, 
again!}  him,  nor  could  lightly  fpeak  ill  of  him,nor  of  his  power, 
by  I  calon  of  their  ftciet  and  implicite  faith  ,  and  covenant  with 
Chrilt ;  yet  did  it,  becaufe  they  found  fuccefle  in  it. 

So  likcwife  in  the  Scripture  is  found  the  cutting  off  hair,  and 
burning  it.  Numb. 6.  iS-  the  writing  of  words ,  and  the  blotting 
of  them  out  againj  and  to  give  them  unto  one,  Nwrw^\  5-23.  Al- 
fo the  giving  of  a  portion,  A^«mi.  5.  27.  So  Satan  teacheth  his 
to  cut  off  hair  and  burn  it  j  as  the  White-Witch  will  do  to  fuch 
as  come  to  them  ,  adviling  them  to  cut  hair,  or  fuch-like,  off  the 
beail  they  fufpeft  to  be  bewitched,  and  to  write  a  Charm,  and  to 
blot  it  out,  and  then  give  it  one  ;  alfo  to  ufc  portions  ;  thus 
feeming,  by  thcfc  imitaiionSjto  have  Scripture  for  their  warrant. 

H  And 


52     A  Cctifrmation  and  Difc  every  of  IVitch-cr  Aft, 

And  fo  afccr  this  manner  I  might  reckon  up  fevcral  other  ways  : 
as  ,  the  Lord  had  fome  which  by  curling  and  thi  earning  procured 
evil  upon  others,  n.Kin^s  22^.  /ids  1.3.  To  Sat^n  hath  fuch, 
which  by  curiingand  threats  procure  mifchiefs  upon  others,  as 
you  may  plainly  fee  by  their  Confeflions . 

Alfo  the  Lord  tied  his  to  certain  Pvules  and  Ordinances  in  his 
Si:rvice,  and  fometimes  to  a  certain  number,  Jo^.6. 15. 1  K/nm  17. 
21.  So  Satan  tieih  his  Witches  to  certain  words  and  deeds  in 
going  about  his  fervice  ,  and  to  obferve  numbers ,  and  to  do  a 
thing  fo  and  fo  often,  three  times,  feven  times,  of  (u^h-Iike,  as 
the  VVhite  Witches  do :  and  fo  imitate  Chrift  in  many  things,  as 
his  Aflemblics  and  Sabbaths  j'  Baptifm  and  Covenants  *,  fo  Satan 
hath  all  his,  after  his  manner,  as  Rebecca  JVcfl  and  Elizabeth  CLrl-^e 
confefTed,  as  well  in  thcfe  as  in  other  particulars,  as  you  may  finde 
as  well  by  theirs  and  others  Confeffions ,  as  alfo  by  the  Writings 
of  learned  men^ho  have  writ  concerning  the  fame. 
'>  And  further ,  as  the  Lord  had  (Iich  as  cured  difealesTjy  words, 
by  prayers  ,  and  did  anoint  the  party  infirm  '■,  as  by  fomething 
btought  them  froru  the  fick,  and  carried  to  the  (Ick  zg3in,Jatnes  5 . 
Mark^6.  13.  y^ds  19.  12.  So  hath  Satan  fuch  as  fccm  by  words  to 
cure  ditcafes,  by  forms  of  prayers,  and  by  oilc  •■,  and  alfo  by  bring- 
ing fomething  from  the  fick  party  J  and  carrying  the  fame  back 
again. 

So  the  Lord  by  his  fervants  raifed  fome  from  the  dead,  i  Kings 
17.  21.  Jds  9.  40.  and  likcwife  Satan  makcth  flic w  by  his  fer- 
vants to  raife  up  the  dead,  i  Satn.2S, 

And  as  the  Lord  maketh  fome  to  be  his,  either  by  his  immediate 
infpiration,  and  fpeaking  to  them  ,  or  winneth  them  to  him  by 
his  inlbunicnts  :  fo  Satan  makrth  fome  Witches  by  inward  fug- 
j:'Cnions,  and  his  fpeaking  to  them  ,  or  by  uling  other  W  itches  to 
gain  thtni  to  him  ;asyou  may  finde alfoby  their  Confcdlons. And 
that  as  the  Lord  fpake  by  a  bcaft  unto  a  Witch  ,  Numb. 22.  28.  fo 
5!at3n  fpeaketh  to  Witches ,  fomctim-s  in  one  Ihape  ,  and  fome- 
times in  anothei-. 

Solikewife,  as  the  Lord  ordained  Sacrifices  to  be  offered  to 
him,  Satan  hath  taught  his  to  do  fotoo,  NMmi.23. 

And  as  the  Lord  promifcd  earthly  bltllings,  to  fiir  up  people  to 
iet\fe  him  ;  fo  Satan  ,  as  you  may  finde ,  is  very  large  in  his  pro- 
mifes  to  fuch  as  will  ferve  himj  Matth.^ 

And 


A  Confir/HAtionand  D'ifcovery  of  If'itchcraft,       $^ 

And  fo  it  is  in  many  other  particulars,  as  might  Well  be  obfer- 
vedj  if  you  tlo  but  rightly  obfcrve  their  Confellions ,  with  thefr 
carriagcSj  and  Satans  doings. 

Bu:  he'r>;  fome  will  fay ,  Is  there  no  other  way  to  finde  them 
out,  but  onely  by  fearching  ? 

lanfwer.  That  is  both  the  nioR  ready  and  certain  way  ,  and 
(uch  a  way,  as  that,  if  they  which  undertake  it  be  careftil,  there 
canbc  nomiOake,  cfpecially  in  thofc  who  (hallbe  foand  to  have 
themarks  i  and  for  the  other ,  if  in  expreffe  league/  thf  n  by  the 
brand;  if  implicitc,  then  by  theaforefaidrealbns,  and  by  their 
carriages.  Yet  they  may  be  found  by  Witches  words  alfo  ,  as 
when  he  or  (lie  hath  been  heard  to  call  upon  their  fpirits ,  or  to 
rpeak  to  them  ,  or  talk  of  them  to  any ,  inticing  them  to  receive 
fuch  Familiars.  As  fome  of  thofe  of  Rattlefden  confefled  that 
they  had  their  Familiars  from  old  mother  Otvu  ;  fo  h^dZlizabelb 
Clarke  from  Ame  If^eji ,  and  fo  had  her  daughter  from  her ,  Amc 
Clarke  from  her  mother,  and  her  mother  from  another;  fo  in  ma- 
ny other  particulars.  As  alfojWhen  they  have  been  heard  telling 
of  killing  of  fome  man  or  beaft,  or  of  the  hurting  of  them  ;  or 
when  they  have  i^.ot  onely  threatned  revenge^on  any  or  their 
caitel,  but  have  told  particularly  what  fliall  happen  to  fuch  a  one, 
and  the  fame  found  true  ;  and  their  boafting  afterward  thereof. 
Furthcrrpotre,  if  they  have  been  heard  to  fpeafc  of  their  tranfpor- 
tation  from  home  to  certain  places  of  their  meetings  with  others 
there ,  as  was  at  Manningtree ,  Burton,  Old,  Trilbroofc-bufhes, 
and  other  places. 

Thcfe  and  fuch  like,  as  you  may  finde  by  their  Confeflions, 
prove  a  leagne  and  familiarity  al(b  with  the  devil. 
.  So  alio  by  \A/itches  deeds  ,  as  when  any  have  feen  them  with 
their  fpirits,  or  feen  to  feed  fome  creatures  fccrctly  ;  or  where  the 
Witch  hath  put  fuch ,  which  may  be  known  by  the  fmell  of  the 
place  ;  for  they  willftink  dcteftably  ,  which  we  have  often  f6und 
true  in  the  time  they  have  been  kept ,  if  their  Imps  or  Familiars 
came  to  fuck  in  the  mean  time,  as  you  may  finde  they  often  have. 
Alfo  when  it  can  be  found  that  they  have  made  pi6^ures  ;  as  1 
have  credibly  heard  of  one  of  Yarmouth,  who  llnce  the  afore- 
mentioned time  fiiffered  there,  and  confefled  that  (he  had  made 
a  piftuie  of  wax  or  clay,  1  do  not  \vell  remember  which  ,  of  the 
proportion  of  a  childe  which  (he  was  intended  to  work  her  mif- 

H  2  ciiief 


54       ^  Confirmation  and  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft, 

chief  againfl,  and  had  chruQ  a  nail  in  the  head  thereof,  and  fo  had 
buried  it  in  a  place,which  (he  then  confe0ed  ;  and  that  as  that  coH'^ 
fumed,  fo  Ihculd  the  dhilde,  and  did ,  a  long  time,  as  I  was  told 
by  MaCttr  Hopkins  J  who  was  there,  and  took  her  Confeflioii ,  and 
went  to  look  for  the  pifture  ;  and  that  the chi.'de  (as  1  have 
heard)  did  foon  after  mend,  and  grew  lully  again.  A  helli(h  in^ 
vention. 

And  fo  many  fuch  Witchery^ tiicks,  both  of  this  kinde  and  o- 
ther\yife ,  have  thus  been  lately  found  out  :  as ,  the  giving  any 
thing  to  any  man  or  other  creature ,  which  immediately  caufed 
either  pains  or  death  }  as  was  at  Brampford  and  other  places ,  as 
you  may  alfofinde  by  their  Confeflions.  So  likewife  by  laying 
on  their  hands ,  or  by  forae  one  or  more  fellow-Witches  confef- 
ling  their  own  Witchcraft ,  and  bearing  witnefleagainll  others, 
fo  as  they  can  make  good  the  truth  of  their  witnefle  ,  and  give 
fufficient  proof  thereof,  as ,  that  they  have  fecn  thtni  with  their 
fpirits,  or  that  they  have  received  their  fpkits  from  them,  as  be- 
forefaid  j  or  that  they  can  tell  when  they  ufed  their  Witchery- 
tricks  to  do  harm,  or  joyned  with  them  i  as  thofe  of  Manning- 
tree  and  other  places  at  their  meetings  ufed  to  do  :  or  that  they 
toldthem  what  harm  they  had  done,  or  that  they  can  (hew  the 
mark  upon  them,  orfuch-like  •■,  or  by  the  Witches  confeffing  of 
givingtheir  fouls  to  the  devil^  and  of  the  fpirits  which  they  have, 
and  how  they  come  by  them,  and  the  fuckling  of  them  ,  and  fuch 
other  like  ways,  asyou  maygatherby  their  Confeflions. 

All  which,  notwithftanding,  principally  depends  upon  fearch- 
ing ,  which  is  the  readie(t  way  to  bring  them  to  the(e  Confef- 
lions. 

Alfofbmc  witnefTe  of  God  hinifejf  happening  upon  the  exe- 
crable curfcs  of  Witches  upon  themfelvcs,  praying  God  to  (hew 
fome  token,  if  they  be  guilty  ■-,  who  by  bitter  curfes  upon  them- 
fclves,  think  thereby  to  clear  themfelves  ;  as  one  hinkes  of  Ha- 
verill  in  Suffolk ,  who  confeded  to  me  that  (he  was  guilty  ,  and 
amongd  other  things  told  me  5  that  the  Fly  which  was  Ceen  to 
fiie  about  the  chamber,  was  one  of  her  Imps  ^  but  defired  tofpeak 
with  one  Mailer  Faireclotb  ^  who  lived  not  above  two  miles ,  or 
thereabouts,  from  the  Town ,  being  an  able  Orthodox  Divine  ; 
who  was  immediately  fent  for ,  and  came.  This  woman,  not- 
withftanding  her  confeffing  to  me,  denied  all  to  him,  wifhing 

and 


A  Confirm^tjon  and  Djfcovcry  of  IVitch craft.      5  5 

and  dcfiring  withal,  that  if  fhe  were  fuch  a  manner  of  per- 
fon  ,  that  the  Lord  would  (htw  an  example  upon  hef^  and 
that  if  flie  had  any  Imps,  that  they  would  come  whilft  he  was 
there  :  prefently  after  ,  (he  cries  out ,  A  juft  judgement  of 
God,  they  are  come  indeed,  faid  flie.  This  Imp ,  in  the  fame 
Ihapeitwas  (een  formerly  flying  in  the  room,  was  (een  fatten- 
ed upon  another  place  of  her  body  ,  not  far  froffi  the  other 
mai  ks,  but  not  upon  them ,  and  fo  remained  above  half  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour,  till  feme  women  came  neer  a  quarter  of  a 
mile,  who  faw  it  faliened  on  her  body ,  (he  onely,  crying  out 
to  have  it  pulled  off,  which  at  firft  ihey^were  fearful  to  do,*  but 
at  length  they  wiped  it  off,  as  they  fay,  with  a  cloth  5  and  what 
became  of  it  after  5  they  knew  not  j  but  it  had  drawn  a  new 
mark,  like  the  other. 

Was  this  woman  fitting  to  live,  this  evidence,  with  others, 
being  again  ft  her,  by  credible  witnefles  ?  I  am  fiire  fhe  was  li- 
ving not  long  fince,  and  acquitted  upon  her  trial  :  f^Jrfhe  ne- 
ver confeflrcd"any  more,  bat  denied  what  (lie  had  formerly  con- 
feOed. 

Here  you  may  take  notice,  firfr,  that  if  they  have  their  Fami- 
liars come  to  them  either  before  or  after  cqnfeflion  ,  they  will 
not  confefle  till  another  time,  or  deny,  and  therein  watching 
is  of  fome  coiifequence,  till  they  be  examined  by  a  Juftice  of 
Peace,  or  elfe  they  muft  expeft  but  fcwconfeflion?.  This  was 
ob(erved  as  well  by  thofe  at  Bury  ,  as  indeed  for  the  moil  part 
of  all  thofe  now  lately  detefted.  And  fecondly ,  the  extreme 
pain  they  put  them  to,  efpecially  when  they  firlt  draw  their 
marks,  as  mod  of  them  generally  confeflt: 
.  And  I  have  obfcrved  in  the  time  they  have  been  kept,  that 
if  their  Imps  be  a  fucking. it  is  calie  to  be  difcerned  and  kno\wi-, 
for  then  they  will  either  covet  to  rgck  or  lit  down  upon  the 
ground,  or  will  liefhrinfcingup  all  of  a  heap,  making  fowre 
faces,  as  if  they  were  in  excreme  pain  :  fo  that  they  maj  be 
eaiily  difcerned  by  their  carriage  and  gefhjres ,  whether  any 
thing  come  to  them,  or  not,  while  they  be  kept. 

Alfo  1  have  read  that  a  Witch,  in  fome  cafes,  hath  been 
brought  to  a  dead  party,  who  hath  been  fufpefted  to  have  been 
bewitched  by  that  Witch ,  to  touch  the  dead  corps  j  which 

H  3  wa& 


56     A  Confirm  at  ion  and  Difcovery  of  Witchcraft, 

was  no  fooner  touched  by  the  Witchj  but  the  corps  bled  fiefl: 
blood. 

The(e  and  fuch-1  ike  evidences  may  fometimes ,  though  pci- 
advtnturc  not  always  be  given  from  God,  when  he  is  pleafed  to 
dctc;v1:  fiich  raalcfaiflars  guilty  of  blood ,  as  well  as  in  other  c-- 
fesof  murther. 

And  thus  you  may  plainly  fee  that  Witches  may  be  dirco\er- 
ed  ,  albeit  there  be  Ibme  difficulty  therein  ,  and  may  likewife 
be  brought  to  confefle  their  Witchcraft ;  as  alfo  ,  that  there  be 
Witches  in  thcfe  our  days,  nay  I  rather  thin k,more  frequent 
then  formerly;  for  if  Satan  bcfucha  powerful  deceiver  and 
(educer  ,  who  can  make  an  Eva  in  Paradife  (  being  in  the  ftate 
of  perfeftion)  to  believe  him  3  the  devil,  before  God;  can  he 
not  (educe  now  ?  Yes  certainly,  more  dcfperately,  to  manifeft 
his  bloody  malice  in  thefe  later  times  again(t  mankitide,  and 
therefore  he  hath  now  adays  ftirred  up  fuch  cruel  Witches  as 
be  wholly  fet  upon  revenge,  torraenthig  men  and  Wtmien,  and 
theircattel,  and  making  a  trade  of  killing  and  murdering  :  of 
which  fort  the  Scripture  hardly  gives  an  inftance,  except  it  be  in 
Balaam^  hired  to  curfe  Gods  people. 

Let  us  therefore  learn  to  follow  the  Lord,  and  hate  Witches, 
Wi'zzardsj  Magicians,  Soothfayers,  Fortune-tellers,  Inchanters, 
jugling  companions,  and  all  others  that  deal  in  Sorceiy  and 
Witchcraft,  beholding  in  them  a  fpcftacle  of  mans  mifery  ,  as 
being  left  of  God  unto  the  power  of  the  devil ,  and  fo  be  mo- 
V€d  with  compafllon  towards  them,  and  pray  for  their  conver- 
fions.  Yet  confider,  though  they  be  left  of  God  for  a  time  ,  yet 
not  all  fo  Ieft,nor  fo  dreadfully  catchcd  by  Satan,  but  that  they 
may,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  be  his  fcrvants,  and  convert- 
ed, as  none  can  deny  but  Mjnajfv'o  was  •■,  and  fo  pur  a  difference 
between  their  fearful  Hri  and  their  pcrfons  5  hate  the  one  ,  but 
not  the  other  i  hate  the  one  in  confcicnce  to  Gods  command- 
ment, utterly  forbidding  to  regard  fuch,  Levi'.  1 9.  3 1  ,for  it  is 
fpiritual  whoredom  and  defilement  3  Levit.26.  6.  becaufe  fuch 
as  ufcd  them  were  Heathens,  as^  the  Egyptians,  Cauaanites, 
Philiftincs,  and  Caldeans.  Such  as  in  Ifrael  followed  the  Hca- 
thenifh  cuAoms,  were  wicked  and  ungodly  5  as  Sauly  who  wa« 
amurdrrer,  i  Sam.  22.  aprofane  neglefttrof  Gods  Worfhip, 

1    ChlQTl. 


J  CofifirvjA  tion  and  Difcovcry  of  IVitchcrafL     57 

1  Cbron.  13.  3.  and  one  whom  God  had  forfaken,  and  taken 
his  Spiricfrom,  i  Snyn,  16.  14.  an  evil  (piric  likcwifcwas  up- 
on him  5  neither  did  God  vouchfafc  h;n>  any  an(wer  by  lacitd 
meanSj  i  Snm.  18.  16.  and  therefore  he  ftrlj  to  Witches. 

And  what  was  Mrt^rtjTc/?}  bnt  an  idolater,  and  an  obferver  of 
tinirt,  and  fo  fell  to  Witchery,  arui  to  fiich  as  had  Familiars  ? 
And  the  people  which  delighted  in  ihcfc  ,  were  haters  of  true 
Teachers,  and  believed  falfc Prophets,  Drcan)er$,  and  Diviners, 
Jcnm.2j.$.  and  with  us,  what  arc  they,  but  vain  loofc  li- 
vers ,  fuperiUtious  Neutrals  5  andfuch-like  ?  But  let  them  re- 
member, that  it  xQillbc  but  bitternejfe  in  the  end. 

Let  Saul  3ind  Manajfeb  be  a  warning  to  all  of  this  kindc,  be- 
fides  examples  abroad ,  andin  Hii'rories,  with  thofc  amongH: 
our  felves,  which  may  fervc  to  terrific  all  good  Chriftians 
from  feekiiig  unto  or  regarding  fuch  :  for  it  is  plainly  (aid. 
Toe  Lordfetteth  hU  face  ngainfi  jucb  ,  to  cut  them  Ojf,  Levit.  20.  6. 
Andif  Godbeagainft  them,  what  may  they  look  foj^in  the 
end,  feeing  the  Jeaft  of  thcfe  do  intice  people  from  God  ,  in 
requiring  faith  of  them,  and  do  caulethe  people  to  runs 
whoring  after  them  ?  as  Mo/ex  (peaketh,  Levit.  20.  6. 

Bemg  therefore  in  league  with  Satan  andabomin.ible  idcla- 
tc!s,  inticing  people  fron>  their  faith  in  God  ,  they  arc  there- 
in worthy  to  die,  or  at  leaft  to  receive  punHhment  according 
to  the  Statutes  :  for  many  of  them  are  hurting  Witches  ,  as 
well  as  curing,  and  certainly  to  be  difcovered  and  known, 
with  farlefTedifticuIty  then  the  other  5  forthcyareto  be  dif- 
ccrned  by  their  praftices  here,  working  openly  by  ihcir  cures, 
&c.  when  as  the  other  work  onely  (ecretly  and  in  darkncfle. 
Atid  furely  let  no  man  doubt  but<hatthe  finding  out  of  fuch 
mifcrrants  is  an  acceptable  fervice  before  God  ,  (Ke  why 
fhould  the  Lord  have  given  fuch  command  to  the  children  of 
Ijrae!,  and  to  have  driven  out  the  Nations  from  before  them 
for  thofe  abominations ,  and  to  caufe  his  owne  people  to 
be  led  into  captivity  for  thofe  fins,  threatning  judgcfnents 
upon  them,  and  likcwife  again  (Uhofe  who  fhould  fulTer  any 
fujh  abominations  amongit  them  ;  as  in  divers  places  both 
in  the  Prophecies  of  Jeremiah  and  Jfaiah ,  bcfides  many  other 
places  of  Scripture  both  in  the  Old  and  New  Teftamcnt,  aforc- 

menti- 


58     ji Confirmation  and difcovery of  Witchcraft, 

mentioned.  Nay  ,  there  are  threatnings  aeainft  fuch  as  fliall 
but  reforc  unto  them ,  as  in  Exod.  20.  6-  and  fo  in  divers  other 
places  before  mentioned. 

And  doth  not  the  Lord  by  the  Prophet  Micah  promift  to 
cut  off  Witchcraft  out  of  the  land  ,  and  that  they  (hould  have 
no  more  Soothlayeis  ^  in  the  time  that  he  intended  to  bk/Te  a 
Nation?  Micab  5.12. 

And  in  truth ,  was  there  no  alteration  in  England  at  the 
beginning  and  continu  nee  of  the  fupprellion  of  this  lin,  and 
in  fome  Counties  more  then  others  ?  And  who  are  they 
that  hive  been  againit  the  profccution  of ,  or'beai  partakers 
with  fuch  5  but  onely  fuch  as  (  without  oHence  I  may  fpeak 
it  }  be  enemies  to  the  Church  of  God  ?  I  dare  not  inftance, 
not  onely  for  fear  of  offence,  but  alfo  for  fuits  of  Law. 

For  was  there  not  above  fourtyjn  Effex,  (as  I  take  it)  aH 
in  Tendring-  hundred  j-there  where  fome  were  difcovered ,  il- 
legally outlawed  ,  contrary  to  theLawof  thi^  Rg.alm5.up0n 
a  Writ  of  Confpiracy  (  as  I  have  been  credibly  informed  )  I 
being  one  of  the  number,  as  I  was  likewife  informed  by  fome 
which  were  my  neighbours  when  I  lived  there ,  by  the  means 
of  one  who  is  reported  to  have  been  one  ef  the  g,reateft  a- 
gents  in  Colchefter-bufineffe,  within  the  Town  ;  when  as  there 
was  never  any  notice  given  to  any  upon  the  ProcUmations, 
as  ou^ht,  I  am  fure  ?  This  man ,  with  another  who  is  like- 
wife  reported  to  have  been  fcllow-agent  with  him  in  that 
bufineffe,  and  the  two  chiefeft  in  it ,  was  the  caufe  that  fome 
were  not  queftioncd  in  that  Town  :  but  for  his  part,  I  faw 
him  labour  and  endeavour  all  he  could  to  keep  this  woman, 
whom  he  fo  much  held  withal  from  her  legal  Trial  ,  and 
likewife  heard  him  threaten  both  mc  and  all  tfiac  had  given 
evidence  againft  her ,  or  infornifd  what  manner  of  woman 
{"he  had  been  in  her  life  and  ccnverfaiion  ,  to  their  know- 
ledge, or  as  they  had  heard  :  Yea,  as  1  fince  have  heard,  (he 
was  condemned  at  thct  Allize ,  and  by  his  procurement  re- 
prieved. Since  which  time ,  on  her  behalf,  this  hath  been 
done. 

Was  not  this   an  animation  to  all  fuch  jjeople  in  thofe 
parts  3    when  To  many  Gentlemen  and  Yeomen  thereabouts 

fhould 


AConfirmationand  Difcovery  of  vntchcraft.     59 

Ihouldbe  thus  quellioncd  for  teftifying  their  knowledge  ?  And 
was  it  not  a  tic  objeft  for  the  devil ,  to  work  upon  others  ? 
Let  the  world  judge.  For  I  have  heard  many  of  them  fay,  that 
the  devil  hath  inticed  them  to  Witchcraft  by  Covnt  Sermons 
they  have  heard  preached  5  as  when  Minillers  will  preach  of 
the  power  of  the  devil  J  and  his  tormenting  the  wicked,  and 
fuch-like  :  as  I  have  heard  fome  fay  C  I  will  not  fay  ,  in  the 
place  where  I  now  live)  that  the  devil  will  fit  and  laugh  at  fuch 
andfuch  offenders  when  he  torments  them^,  and  will  jeer  at 
themln  tormenting  them  3  when  he  hath  got  them.  A  Tearful 
thing !  whenas  the  devil  is  tormented  himfelf ,  and  tormcnt- 
eth  none ;  for  it  is  the  wrath  of  God  for  fins  committed ,  and 
the  judgements  of  God  for  his  mercies  ahufed. 

Thefeand  fuch-like  fpeeches,  I  have  heard  them  fay,  the  de- 
vil hath  made  ufe  of  to  perfwade  them  to  Witchery  ;  coming 
to  them,  and  asking  them  ,  How  do  you  think  to  be  fav«d? 
for  your  fins  are  fo  and  fo  ,  (  as  he  can  fet  them  out  large  e- 
nough)  and  you  heard  the  Miniiler  fay  that  I  willtormenc 
you:  Give  me  your  foul  ,  and  agree  with  mc,  and  I  will  hct 
you  of  hell-torments.  Ignorant  people  have  been  thus  fedu- 
ced.  Therefore  it  behoves  all  to  be  careful  in  giving  the  devil 
the  leaft  advantage ,  and  to  put  a  difference  between  their  feat*- 
ful  fin  and  their  perfons ,  hating  the  one ,  but  not  the  other, 
for  that  by  corrupt  nature  we  are  no  lefie  apt  to  be  milled  by 
him  then  they,  walking  in  fins  and  trefpa(?es,  Ephef. 2.1. 

But  in  obedience  to  the  Law  of  God  ,  and  accomplishment 
of  all  things  in  the  Scripture  contained,  fuch  ought  not  to  live 
amongft  us ,  leli:  the  Lord  Chould  deal  with  us  as  he  did  with 
others  for  the  fame  abominations ;  much  lefi^  fhould  any^har- 
bour  fuch  thoughts,  as  that  there  are  not  any  :  for  did  nor  the 
Lord  leave  fome  of  the  nations,  to  try  and  prove  IfracI  ?  Jud'. 
2  and  3.  and  doth  not  S.  Jofew  fay  ,  (Matih.^.y.)  Ogeneraticn 
of  vipers ,  who  hath  warned  you  to  fiee  from  the  wrath  10  come  ?  Do' 
not  they  ,  when  they  covenant  with  the  devil  to  free  them  of 
hell-torraents,  who  cannot  free  himfclfof  them,  flee  (as 
much  as  in  them  lieth)  from  the  wrath  to  come? 

As  for  you  that  are  of  fuch  an  opinion,  furcly,  if  neither 
all  the  thrcatnings  and  judgements  of  Godagainfl  fuch,  bc- 

^  fides 


6o     A  Coftjirt/iation  and  Drfcovery  of  Witchcraft. 

fides  their  own  ConfcfGons,  will  not  prevail  with  you  ,  roe- 
thinks  the  mercies  of  God  (hould,  in  that  fifth  of"  Mkah',  for  ic 
is  undeniably  true ,  that  there  was ,  is,  and  (hall  be  Witches, 
tiirChrilis  conqueil  there  fpoken  oF,  agreeable  with  that  in 
lieveL2o.  1,233.  which  as  yet  cannot  be  :  for  without  doiibt 
the  d^vil  is  bulie  in  decdving  of  Nations  ,  and  that  not  onely 
fiichas  know  notChrift,  but  others  alfo  5  which  could  not 
be,  if  he  were  bound  5  jior  the  Jews  or  other  Nations  ftill  to 
come  :  but  other  places  of  Scripture  would  be  contradifted. 
And  therefore  every  one  nuill  conclude  with  me-,  that  (as  yetj 
of  Witchcraft  there  is  no  end. 

Now  whofoever  thou  bcefi  that  thinkefc  1  ever  made  fuch 
gain  of  the  way,  or  favoured  any,  and  perfecuted  others ,  or 
took  bribes,  I  call  God  to  wirneffe,  thatconfidering  the  charge 
of  going  to  (everal  places  ,  and  Aflizes,  andGeil-ddiverie*, 
and  the  time  I  expended  thereabouts ,  I  never ,  one  time  with 
another,  got  fo  much  as  1  did  by  my  Calling  and  Praftice,  to- 
wards the  maintenance  of  my  family.  And  as  for  taking  any 
money,  or  other  thing,  by  way  of  bribe  or  gift,  1  never  did,  to 
the  value  of  one  peny  ,  neither  one  way  nor  other,  but  what 
I  openly  took  in  the  view  of  the  Townfmen  whtfre  1  came  i 
and  that  in  many  places  I  never  received  peny  as  yet ,  nor  any 
am  like,  notwithlianding  I  have  hands  for  fatisfaftion,  except 
I  (hould  fue  ;  but  many  rather  fall  upon  me  for  what  hath  been 
received  :  but  I  hope  fuch  Suits  will  be  di(annulled  ,  and  that 
where  I  have  been  out  moneys  for  Towns  in  charges  and  other- 
wile,  fuch  cour(e  will  be  taken,  that  1  may  be  fatisfied  and 
paid  with  rcafon.  Andfor  evcracailing  one  wrongfully ,  ray 
confcience  is  cltar  before  the  Almighty  :  and  1  ever  defired 
equal  punifhnient  to  all  that  were  guilty  ,  or  at  leal},if  any  fi- 
vour ,  that  ic  might  be  to  thofe  who  coufeffed  :  bi^t  thofe  ftill 
fufferedj  and  others,  though  never  fo  }  uilty,  efcaped.  The  rea- 
ion  why  I  did  thus ,  was  ,  becaufc  I  defired  fo  to  fatisfie  the 
world  in  this  particular,  that  it  muft  needs  be  a  great  errouF 
to  fave  fuch,  and  not  to  queftion  others  at  all ,  as  before  men- 
tioned, they  being  all  guilty  alike. 

And  in  truth ,  concerning  him  who  is  dead,  who  likewife 

was 


A  Confirmation  and Difcovery  of  IVitchcraft,     6i 

was  an  agf  nc  in  the  bufinefle ,  for  my  part ,  I  never  knew  that 
he  either  unjuftly  favoured  any,  or  received  bribes^  or  ufeif  fu.h 
extremity  a^s  was  reported  of  him  ;  onely  at  firli,  before  he  or 
\  ever  went,  many  Towns  irfed  extremity  of  thcmi'elves,  which 
after  was  laid  on  us.    And  I  do  not  deny  but  at  fiill  he  "might 
watch  fome  ;  but  to  my  knowledge,  hefoon  left  it,  or  at  leaft 
in  fuch  a  way  as  not  to  make  them  unctjpable  :  tut  if  he 
everdidat  firft  5  evidence  was  not  taken  till  after  they  reOed. 
And  for  my  part ,  I  never  watched  any  at  firft ,  lb  as  any  way 
at  all   to  dilUirb-ihem  in  their  brains  ;  but  when  (ome  have 
been  watched  before  !  have  come  to  them  ,  1  have  cauled  them 
to  take  their  rcil ,  before  I  would  ever  queftion  with  them  :  but 
now  lately ,  and  ever  fince  theMicbaelmaf  a^^ter  the  hrit  begin- 
ning, I  never  ufed  any  but  as  aforefaid,  with  confent  ot  the 
jultice?,  and  not  otherwile,  nor  ever  did     But  to  my  know- 
ledge, wc  have  been  both  much  injured  in  vyords,  and  he  lince 
his  death  :  but  I  am  certain  (  notwithfhnding   whatfoever 
hath  been  faid  of  him  )  he  died  peaceably  at  Manningtree,  after 
a  long  lickneiTe  of  a  Confumption ,  as  many  of  his  generati- 
on had  done  before  him ,  without  any  trouble  of  confcience 
for  what  he  had  done ,  as  was  falfly  reported  of  him.    And 
though  many  of  thefe  things  may  feem  very  Orange,  and  hard- 
ly to  be  believed  ,  yet  this  is  the  very  truth  ;  and  that  he  was 
the  Ton  of  a  godly  Minifter,  and  therefore  without  doubt  with- 
in the  Covenant.     Therefore  let  no  man  take  upon  him  either 
to  fpeak  or  write  more  then  he  knoweth  to  be  truth  5   for  this  I 
am  able  to  manifeft  and  prove  to  be  truth. 

And  fo  1  leave  my  felf  to  the  cenfure  of  the  world  ,  yet 
de;ire  it  might  be  left  to  the  Almighty ,  who  knoweth  the  fe- 
crets  of  all  hearts  :  For  ,  blefed  are  tbey  that  do  hit  command- 
mtnis  y  Revel.  22. 14. 


FINIS.