The apprehension and confession of three notorious witches. Arreigned and by iustice condemned and executed at Chelmes-forde, in the Countye of Essex, the 5. day of Iulye, last past. 1589 With the manner of their diuelish practices and keeping of thier spirits, whose fourmes are heerein truelye proportioned.

The apprehension and confession of three notorious witches. Arreigned and by iustice condemned and executed at Chelmes-forde, in the Countye of Essex, the 5. day of Iulye, last past. 1589 With the manner of their diuelish practices and keeping of thier spirits, whose fourmes are heerein truelye proportioned.

Table of contents

¶ The Apprehension and confession of three notorious Witches.

To the Reader.

The araignement and execution of Ioan Cunny of Stysted in the Countye of Essex widowe, of the age of fourescore yeeres, or ther-abouts, who was brought before Anthony Mildemay Esquire, the last day of March. 1589.

¶ The confession of Ioan Vpney of Dagenham, in the Countye of Essex, who was brought before Sir Henrye Gray Knight, the third of May. 1589.

The examination of Ioan Prentice, one of the women of the Almes house of Hinningham Sibble, within the saide County: beeing taken the 29. of March, in the 31. yeere of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth.

¶ The Apprehension and confession of three notorious Witches.

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Arreigned and by Iustice condemned and executed at Chelmes-forde, in the Countye of Essex, the 5. day of Iulye, last past. 1589.

¶ With the manner of their diuelish practices and keeping of their spirits, whose fourmes are heerein truelye proportioned.

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To the Reader.

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IF we would call to remembrance the manifolde mercies and innumerable benefites which the Almighty hath and daily bestoweth vpon vs, in consideration therof, we are bound to with-draw our filthy affections and naughty dispositions, from the vse of such detestable dealinges, as both are detested of God, whose almighty commaundements forbiddeth them, and vnto man, whose lawes are constituted to punish them as odious before the sight of God, wheron our earthly lawes groundeth and consisteth, and therfore vsed to punish or cut of such lewde or filthye offenders as by breaking the deuine decrees of the Almightie, by the lawes of man descrues to be condemned: But such is the blindenes of our estate, the naughtines of our affections, and the desire of our diuelish appetites, that neither the commaundements of God, the lawes of our Realme, the loue of our neighbours, our owne welfare, or the fall of others can or may moue vs to consider how profitable it were for vs to examine our liues, and to blemish such vices in vs as both the lawes of God and man forbiddeth: For what can be more odious or abhominable vnto God then the depriuation of his diuine power, by yeelding our selues seruiles vnto sathan for a little worldly wealth, or hatred we haue to our neighbours, where we might rest the seruantes, nay the Sonnes of Almighty [Page] God, who sent his only Sonne to redeeme vs from the seruitude of bondage, and to bring vs vnto his blisse and eternall felicitie, which shall euermore remain perfect, which if we would consider, what christian is so blinded with ignorance or ouercome with the illusions of Sathan, but he would tremble to think vpon the iudgments of the Almightie pronounced against such offenders, or the lawes of the Realme, which by iustice decydeth them from their deuilish practises and abhominations? the glory wherof, although it be secretly concealed and vsed, yet can it not long continue, because the Almighty will be no partaker of any such dealinges, nor the hart of any faithfull Christian conceale the secrets therof: which for example I haue heere published vnto you the discourse of such diuelish practises as haue beene vsed by notorious Witches, whose names and actions I haue seuerally touched in the treatise following: with the manner of their accusations, taken and approued before both honorable and woorshipfull her Maiesties Iustices, at the last Assises holden at Chelmesford in the County of Essex, according to the coppies both of the offendours confession by examination: and their accusations regestred.

The araignement and execution of Ioan Cunny of Stysted in the Countye of Essex widowe, of the age of fourescore yeeres, or ther-abouts, who was brought before Anthony Mildemay Esquire, the last day of March. 1589.

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IN primis, This witch had nine Spirits 1. of them were like vnto a black dog, hauing the faces of a Toade. this examinate saith and confesseth, that she hath knowledge and can doo the most detestable Arte of Witchecraft, and that she learned this her knowledge in the same, of one mother Humfrye of Maplested, who told her that she must kneele down vpon her knees, and make a Circle on the ground, and pray vnto Sathan the cheefe of the Deuills, the forme of which praier that she then taught her,These spirits belonging to this witch, did sucke commonly vpon a sore leg which this mother Cunny had. this examinate hath now forgotten, and that then the Spirits would come vnto her, the which she put in practise about twenty yeeres since, in the Feelde of Iohn Wiseman of Stysted Gentleman, called Cowfenne feelde, and there making a Circle as she was taught, and kneeling on her knees, said the praier now forgotten, and inuocating vpon Sathan: Two Sprites did appeere vnto her within the said Circle, in the similitude and likenes of two black Frogges,She had fower principall fpirits. The first was Iack. The second was Iyll. The third was Nicholas. The fourth was Ned. and there demaunded of her what she would haue, beeing readye to doo for her what she would desire, so yt she would promise to giue them her soule for their trauaile, for otherwise: they would doo nothing for her. Wher-upon she did promise them her soule, and then they concluded with her so to doo for her, what she would require, and gaue thēselues seuerall names, that is to say, the one Iack, and ye other Iyll, by the which names she did alwaies after call them. And then taking them vp, she caried [Page] them home in her lap and put them in a Box and gaue them white bread and milke.Iack killed mankinde. Iyll killed womenkinde. Nicholas killed horses. Ned killed Cattell.

And within one moneth after she sent them to milke Hurrelles Beastes, which they did, and they would bring milke for their owne eating and not for her.

And further, she saith that her sprites neuer changed their colour since they first came vnto her, and that they would familiarly talke with her, when she had any thing to say or doo with them in her owne language.Note how Gods spirit confoundeth the impes of wickednes.

And likewise she confesseth that she sent her saide spirits to hurt the wife of Iohn Sparrow the elder, of Stysted, which they did, and also that where Maister Iohn Glascock of Stysted, aforesaide: had a great stack of Logges in his yarde, she by her said Spirits did ouerthrowe them.

And further, faith that she hath hurt diuers persons within this sixteene or twenty yeeres, but how many she now knoweth not.

Furthermore, she confesseth that she sent her sprites vnto William Unglee of Stysted Miller, and because they could not hurt him, she sent them to hurt one Barnabie Griffyn his man, which they did. Likewise she confesseth, that she sent her saide sprites, to hurt Maister Kitchin Minister of the saide towne, and also vnto one George Coe of the saide towne shoomaker, to hurt him likewise: but they could not, and the cause why they could not, as the saide sprites tolde her, was because they had at their comming a strong faith in God, and had inuocated and called vpon him, that they could doo them no harme.

And further she saith, that Margaret Cunny her Daughter, did fall out with Father Hurrill, and gaue [Page] him cucsed speeches, and ther-vpon, she thinketh she sent her spirits to her.

Also she dooth vtteriye denye that she sent her saide spirits to Finches wife, Deuenishes wife, and Renold Ferror or any of them to hurt them.

And beeing further examined, she confesseth that although her said spirits at some time can haue no power to hurt men, yet they may haue power to hurt their Cattell.

This Ioane Cunny, liuing very lewdly, hauing two lewde Daughters, no better then naughty packs, had two Bastard Children: beeing both boyes, these two Children were cheefe witnesses, and gaue in great euidence against their Grandam and Mothers, the eldest being about 10. or 12. yeeres of age.

Against this Mother Cunny the elder Boye gaue in this euideoce which she herselfe after confessed, that she going to Braintye Market, came to one Harry Finches house, to demaund some drink, his wife being busie and a brewing, tolde her she had no leysure to giue her any. Then Ioane Cunnye went away discontented: and at night Finches wife was greeuously taken in her head, and the next day in her side, and so continued in most horrible paine for the space of a week, and then dyed.

Mother Cunnye confessed that she sent her spirite Iill to torment her.

The same boy confessed that he was commaunded by his Grandmother to fetch a burden of wood, which he gathered, but another boye stole it from him, and he came home without: and tolde his Grandam: and she commaunded her sprite to prick the same boy in the foote▪ which was doone▪ and the same boye came to the [Page] barre lame and gaue euidence against her.

Againe the same boy confessed that his Grandam when he had lost his wood, saide she would haue wood enough: and bad him goe into Sir Edward Huddlestones ground beeing high Sheriffe of the Sheere, and to take with him Iack the sprite, and so he did, who went vnseene to any body but to the boy, and when they came to a mighty Oke-tree, the spirit went about it, and presentlye the Tree blew vp by the roots: and no winde at all stirring at this time: which Master high Sheriffe acknowledged to be blown down in a great calme.

¶ The confession of Ioan Vpney of Dagenham, in the Countye of Essex, who was brought before Sir Henrye Gray Knight, the third of May. 1589.

THis examinate saith, that one Fustian Kirtle, otherwise called White-cote, a witch of Barking, came to her house about seauen or eight yeeres agoe, and gaue her a thing like a Moule, and tolde her if she ought any body any ill will, if she did bid it, it would goe clap them.

She saith that Moule taryed not aboue a yeere with her, but it consumed away, and then she gaue her another Moule and a Toad, which she kept a great while, and was neuer without some Toades since till her last going away from her house, when she confesseth she ranne away, because she heard Iohn Harrolde and Richard Foster say she was a witch, and urch other woordes.

She saith that one day she lest a Toade vnder the groundsill at Harrolds house, and it pinched his wife [Page]

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and sucked her til she dyed, but it neuer cāe to her the saide Ioan Upney againe.

She saith, that one day another Toade went ouer her threshold as Richard Fosters wife was coming that way, and it went and pinched her, and neuer returned againe.

Other two Toades she left at home, when she ran away, but they consumed away.

She saith that her eldest Daughter would neuer abide to meddle with her Toades, but her youngest daughter would handle them, and vse them as well as her selfe.

The examination of Ioan Prentice, one of the women of the Almes house of Hinningham Sibble, within the saide County: beeing taken the 29. of March, in the 31. yeere of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth.

IN Primis, this saide examinate saith and confesseth, that about sixe yeeres last past, betweene the feastes of all Saintes, and the birth of our Lord God, the deuill appeered vnto her in the Almes house aforesaide: about ten of the Clock in the night time, beeing in the shape and proportion of a dunnish culloured Ferrit, hauing fiery eyes, and the saide Examinate beeing alone [Page]

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in her Chamber, and sitting vpona low stoole, preparing her selfe to bedward: the Ferrit standing with his hinder legs vpon the ground, and his fore legs setled vpon her lappe, and setling his fiery eyes vpon her eyes, spake and pronounced vnto her these woords following, namelye: Ioan Prentice giue me thy soule, to whome this Examinate being greatly amazed, answered and said: In the name of god what art thou The Ferrit answered, I am satan, feare me not mycomming vnto thee is to doo thee no hurt but to obtaine thy soule, which I must and wil haue before I departe from thee to whome the saide examinate answered and said, that he demaunded that of her which is none of hers to giue, saying: that her soule appertained onely vnto Iesus Christ, by whose precious blood shedding, it was bought and purchased. To whomethe saide Ferret replyed and saide, I must then haue some of thy blood, which she willingly graunting, offered him the forefinger of her left hand, the which the Ferrit tooke into his mouth, and setting his former feete vpon that hand, suckt blood therout, in so much that her finger did smart exceedingye: and the saide examinate demaunding againe of the Ferrit what his name was: It answered Bidd. and then presently the said Ferrit vanished out of her sight sodainly.

[Page]Item, the saide examinate saith further, that about one moneth after, the saide Ferrit came againe vnto her in the night time as she was sitting vpon a little stoole, preparing her selfe to bed-ward, as is aboue saide: Ioan wilt thou goe to bed, to whome she answered yea that I will by Gods grace, then presently the Ferret leapt vp vpon her lap, and from thence vp to her bosome, and laying his former feete vpon her lefte shoulder, sucked blood out of her lefte cheeke, and then he saide vnto her, Ioan if thou will haue me doo any thing for thee, I am and wilbe alwaies ready at thy commaundement, and ther-upon she beeing a little before fallen out with William Adams his wife of Hinningham Sibble aforesaide: willed the Ferret to spoile her drinke which was then in brewing, which he did accordingly.

Item, the saide examinate furthermore saith and confesseth, that the saide Ferret diuers times after appeered vnto her alwaies at the time when she was going to bed, and the last time he appeered vnto her was about seauen weekes last past, at which time she going to bed, the Ferrit leapt vpon her left shoulder, and sucked blood out of her lefte cheeke, and that doone: he demaunded of her what she had for him to doo? To whō she answered, goe vnto Maister Glascocks house, and nippe one of his Children a little, named Sara, but hurt it not, and the next night he resorted vnto her againe, and told her that he had doon as she willed him: namely, that he had nipt Sara Glascock, and that she should dye therof, to whome she answered and saide, thou villaine what hast thou doon, I bid thee to nip it but a little and not to hurt it, and hast thou killed the [Page] childe? which speech beeing vttered, the Ferrit vanished away suddenly, and neuer came to her sithence.

Item, she affirmeth, that the occasion why she did will her Ferret to nippe the saide childe, was for that she beeing the daye before at the house of the saide Maister Glascok, to begge his almes, answere was made to her by one of his maiden seruantes, that both her Maister and Mistres were from home, and therfore desired her to be contented for that time, and therupon the examinate departed greatlye discontented, and that night sent her Ferret to nip the childe as is abouesaide.

Item, she saith and affirmeth, that at what time soeuer she would haue her Ferret doo any thing for her, she vsed these woordes, Bidd, Bidd, Bidd, come Bidd, come bidd, come bidd, come suck, come suck, come suck, and that presently he would appeere as is aforesaide: and suckt blood out of her left cheeke, and thenperfourmed any mischeefe she willed or wished him to doo for her vnto or against any of her neighbours.

Lastly the said examinate saith, and confesseth, that one Elizabeth Whale, the wife of Michaell Whale of Henningham Sibble aforesaide labourer, and Elizabeth Mott, the wife of Iohn Mot of the saide Towne Cobler, are as well acquainted with her Bidd as her selfe is, but knoweth not what hurt they or any of thē haue doone to any of their neighbours.

WHen their inditements were read, and their examinations also, they stoode vpon their tearmes, to prolong life: yet to make the matters more apparant, sundry witnesses were produced to giue euidēce [Page] against them▪ and firste the Iudge of the circuite very wisely with a great foresight, called in the two Basterd Children before mencioned, and contended them greatlye for telling the trueth of that which he should aske them, concerning their Grandam and their mothers, which they did, and hauing saide what they could, together with the depositions of sundrye other witnesses, they hauing confessed sufficient matter to proue the inditements. The Iury found these bad women guiltie and that they had slaine Men, women, and Children, And committed very wicked and horrible actions, diuers and sundrye times, and ther-upon, the Iudge proceeded, and pronounced the sentence of death against them, as worthely they had deserued.

After they had receiued their iudgments, they were conuayed from the Barre backe againe to Prison, where they had not stayed aboue two howers, but the officers prepared them-selues to conduct them to the place of execution: to which place they led them, and being come thether, one Maister Ward a learned deuine, beeing desired by the Iustices, did exhorte these wicked women to repentance, And perswaded them that they would shewe vnto the people the trueth of their wickednes, and to call vpon God for mercy with penitent hartes. And to aske pardon at his hands for the same: some fewe prayers they saide after the precher, but little els: more then this, that they had deserued to dye, in committing those wicked sinnes: and so tooke their deathes patiently.

Note, that Mother Upney being inwardlye pricked and hauing some inward feeling in conscience cryed out saying: that she had greeuously sinned, that the deuill [Page] had deceiued her, the deuill had deceiued her, and that she had twice giuen her soule to the Deuill, yet by the meanes of Gods spirite woorking in her, and the paines which Maister ward tooke with her, she seemed very sorry for ye same, and died very penitent, asking God & the world forgiuenes, euen to ye last gaspe, for her wicked and detestable life.

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Information about this book

Title statement

The apprehension and confession of three notorious witches. Arreigned and by iustice condemned and executed at Chelmes-forde, in the Countye of Essex, the 5. day of Iulye, last past. 1589 With the manner of their diuelish practices and keeping of thier spirits, whose fourmes are heerein truelye proportioned.

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1589

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2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

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A18586

ID [STC]

STC 5114

ID [STC]

ESTC S119280

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99854487

ID [PROQUEST]

99854487

ID [VID]

19911

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A18586)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 19911)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 952:19)

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— The apprehension and confession of three notorious witches. Arreigned and by iustice condemned and executed at Chelmes-forde, in the Countye of Essex, the 5. day of Iulye, last past. 1589 With the manner of their diuelish practices and keeping of thier spirits, whose fourmes are heerein truelye proportioned.,

Extent

[16] p.

E. Allde,. [London :: 1589]. (Imprint from STC.) (Signatures: A-B⁴.) (Imperfect; trimmed affecting imprint.) (Reproduction of the original in the Lambeth Palace Library.)

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