Discovery of Witches: The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of LancasterPotts, Thomas, active 1612-1618
History
Discovery of Witches: The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster
Potts, Thomas, active 1612-1618
Preston, Jennet, -1612; Witchcraft -- England -- Lancashire
Z 3 _b_ 2. "_Posterities._"] Master Potts, of the particulars of whose
life nothing is known, made, as far as can be discovered, no further
attempt to acquire fame in the character of an author. No subject so
interesting probably again occurred, as that which had diversified his
legal pursuits "in his lodgings in Chancery-lane," from the pleasing
recollections associated with his Summer Circuit of 1612. He was not,
however, the only person of the name of Pott, or Potts, who
distinguished himself in the field of Witchcraft. The author of the
following tract, in my possession, might have garnished it with
various flowers from the work now reprinted, if he had been aware of
such a repository: "Pott (Joh. Henr.) De nefando Lamiarum cum Diabolo
coitu." 4to. Lond. 1689. The other celebrated cases of supposed
witchcraft occurring in the county of Lancaster, besides those
connected with the foregoing republication, are, the extraordinary one
of Ferdinand, Earl of Derby, who died at Latham in 1594, for which the
reader is referred to Camden's _Annals of Elizabeth_, years 1593,
1594; Kennet, 2. 574, 580; or Pennant's _Tour from Downing to Alston
Moor_, p. 29;--the case of Edmund Hartley, hanged at Lancaster in
1597, for bewitching some members of the family of Mr. Starkie, of
Cleworth, which will be fully considered in the proposed republication
of the Chetham Society, which gives the history of that event;--and
lastly, that of a person of the name of Utley, (Whitaker, p. 528;
Baines, vol. i. p. 604,) who was hanged at Lancaster about 1630, for
having bewitched to death Richard, the son of Ralph Assheton, Esq.,
Lord of Middleton, of whose trial, unfortunately, no report is in
existence. Webster also mentions two supposed witches as having been
put to death at Lancaster, within eighteen years before his
_Displaying of supposed Witchcraft_ was published; and which
occurrence, not referred to by any other historian, must therefore
have taken place about the year 1654.
Manchester:
Printed by Charles Simms and Co.
* * * * *
Chetham Society
[Illustration]
FOR THE PUBLICATION OF
HISTORICAL AND LITERARY REMAINS
CONNECTED WITH THE PALATINE COUNTIES OF
LANCASTER & CHESTER.
* * * * *
Patrons.
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