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
The said _Elizabeth Sowtherns_ confesseth, and sayth; That about
twentie yeares past, as she was comming homeward from begging, there
met her this Examinate neere vnto a Stonepit in _Gouldshey_,[B2_b_1]
in the sayd Forrest of _Pendle_, a Spirit or Deuill in the shape of a
Boy, the one halfe of his Coate blacke, and the other browne, who bade
this Examinate stay, saying to her, that if she would giue him her
Soule, she should haue any thing that she would request. Wherevpon
this Examinat demaunded his name? and the Spirit answered, his name
was _Tibb_:[B2_b_2] and so this Examinate in hope of such gaine as was
promised by the sayd Deuill or _Tibb_, was contented to giue her Soule
to the said Spirit: And for the space of fiue or sixe yeares next
after, the sayd Spirit or Deuill appeared at sundry times vnto her
this Examinate about _Day-light_ Gate,[B2_b_3] alwayes bidding her
stay, and asking her this Examinate what she would haue or doe? To
whom this Examinate replyed, Nay nothing: for she this Examinate said,
she wanted nothing yet. And so about the end of the said sixe yeares,
vpon a Sabboth day in the morning, this Examinate hauing a litle Child
vpon her knee, and she being in a slumber, the sayd Spirit appeared
vnto her in the likenes of a browne Dogg, forcing himselfe to her
knee, to get blood vnder her left Arme: and she being without any
apparrell sauing her Smocke, the said Deuill did get blood vnder her
left arme.[B3_a_1] And this Examinate awaking, sayd, _Iesus saue my
Child_; but had no power, nor could not say, _Iesus saue her selfe_:
wherevpon the Browne Dogge vanished out of this Examinats sight: after
which, this Examinate was almost starke madd for the space of eight
weekes.
And vpon her examination, she further confesseth, and saith. That a
little before Christmas last, this Examinates Daughter hauing been to
helpe _Richard Baldwyns_ Folkes at the Mill: This Examinates Daughter
did bid her this Examinate goe to the sayd _Baldwyns_ house, and aske
him some thing for her helping of his Folkes at the Mill, (as
aforesaid:) and in this Examinates going to the said _Baldwyns_ house,
and neere to the sayd house, she mette with the said _Richard
Baldwyn_; Which _Baldwyn_ sayd to this Examinate, and the said _Alizon
Deuice_[B3_a_3] (who at that time ledde this Examinate, being blinde)
get out of my ground Whores and Witches, I will burne the one of you,
and hang the other.[B3_a_2] To whom this Examinate answered: I care
not for thee, hang thy selfe: Presently wherevpon, at this Examinates
going ouer the next hedge, the said Spirit or Diuell called _Tibb_,
appeared vnto this Examinat, and sayd, _Reuenge thee of him_. To whom,
this Examinate sayd againe to the said Spirit. _Revenge thee eyther of
him, or his._ And so the said Spirit vanished out of her sight, and
she neuer saw him since.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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