Vpon the Arraignement and triall of these Witches at the last Assizes and Generall Gaole-deliuerie, holden at Lancaster, wee found such apparent matters against them, that we thought it necessarie to publish them to the World, and thereupon imposed the labour of this Worke vpon this Gentleman, by reason of his place, being a Clerke at that time in Court, imploied in the Arraignement and triall of them. _Ja. Altham._ _Edw. Bromley._[A2] * * * * * _After he had taken great paines to finish it, I tooke vpon mee to reuise and correct it, that nothing might passe but matter of Fact, apparant against them by record. It is very little he hath inserted, and that necessarie, to shew what their offences were, what people, and of what condition they were: The whole proceedings and Euidence against them, I finde vpon examination carefully set forth, and truely reported, and iudge the worke fit and worthie to be published._ Edward Bromley.[A3] * * * * * Gentle Reader, although the care of this Gentleman the Author, was great to examine and publish this his worke perfect according to the Honorable testimonie of the Iudges, yet some faults are committed by me in the Printing, and yet not many, being a worke done in such great haste, at the end of a Tearme, which I pray you, with your fauour to excuse. * * * * * [Illustration] [Illustration: decoration] A particular Declaration of the most barberous and damnable Practises, Murthers, wicked and diuelish Conspiracies, practized _and executed by the most dangerous and malitious_ Witch _Elizabeth Sowthernes_ alias _Demdike_, of the Forrest of _Pendle_ in the Countie of _Lancaster_ Widdow, who died in the Castle at _Lancaster_ before she came to receiue her tryall.