A true and just Recorde, of the Information, Examination and Confession of all the Witches, taken at S. Oses in the countie of Essex: whereof some were executed, and other some entreated according to the determination of lawe.

Wherein all men may see what a pestilent people Witches are, and how unworthy to lyve in a Christian Commonwealth.

Written orderly, as the cases were tryed by evidence, by W.W.

Imprinted in London at the three Cranes in the Vinetree by Thomas Dawson 1582.

To the right honourable and his singular good Lorde, the Lord Darcey, W.W. wisheth a prosperous continuaunce in this lyfe to the glory of God, and a dayly preservation in Gods feare to his endlesse joye.

If There Hath Bin at any time ( Right Honorable ) any meanes used, to appease the wrath of God, to obtaine his blessing, to terrifie secreete offenders by open transgressors punishments, to withdraw honest natures from the corruption of evil company, to diminish the great multitude of wicked people, to increase the small number of virtuous persons, and to reforme all the detestable abuses, which the perverse witte and will of man doth dayly devise, this doubtlesse is no lesse necessarye then the best, that Sorcerers, Wizzardes, or rather Dizzardes, Witches, Wisewomen ( for so they will be named ) are rygorously punished. Rygorously sayd I? Why it is too milde and gentle a tearme for such a mercilesse generation: I should rather have sayd most cruelly executed: for that no punishment can bee thought upon, be it in never so high a degree of torment, which may be deemed sufficient for such a divelishe & damnable practise. And why? Because al the imaginations, al the consultations, al the conferences, al the experimentes, finally all the attthen is to be wished ) strangleth with a rope. An ordinary fellon, and a murtherer, offending [In the margin by the last three lines is written: Bodinns in confutatione] against the morrall lawe of justice, is throtled: a Sorcerer, a Witch ( whome a learned Phisitian is not ashamed to avoche innocent, and the Judges that denounce [In the margin: futilis opinionis Wiert; Lamias, lamiarumq; Veneficia astruentis.] sentence of death against them no better than hangmen ) defying the Lorde God to his face, and trampling the pretious blood of that immaculate lambe Jesus Christ most despitfully under feete, is stiffted: the one dyeth on the gallowes, and so doth the other: wherein doubtlesse there is a great inequalitie of justice, considering the inequalitie of the trespasse, which deserveth a death so much the more horrible, by how much the honour of God is eclipsed, and the glorye due to his inviolable name most abhominably defaced, even to the uttermost villanie that they can put in practise.

This I speake ( Right Honorable ) upon a late viewe of tryall, taken against certaine Witches in the countie of Essex; the orderly processe in whose examinations, together with other accidents, I dillygently observing and considering their trecheries to be horable: undertooke briefly to knit up in a fewe leaves of paper, their manifolde abuses: and obtaining the meanes to have them published in print, for that a number of memorable matters are here touched, to present the same unto your Lordship, of whose gentle acceptation though I dooe not doubt, yet will I not be over bolde thereupon to presume: but rather refer the same to your honours judgement and patronage, by way of humilyation, that going abrode undercoverte of your honourable name, the discourse maye seeme the more incredible, your lordship knowing the grounds of this whole booke to be true and justifiable; and therefore the further off from feare of impugning. But supposing I have beene too tedious, and sparing to trouble your Lordship with multitude of words, I buyld upon hope, & so put forth my booke, praying the Lord here to blesse your Honour, and all about you with the increase of his grace in his life, and with the presence of his divinitie in the lyfe to come, Amen.

Your Honours to commaund, W.W.

The xix.day of February the xxiiii yeere of the raigne of our Soveraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth.

The information of Grace Thurlowe, the wife of John Thurlowe, taken before mee Brian Darcey, the day and yeere above saide, against Ursley Kempe alias Grey, as followeth.

The saide grace sayeth, that about xii. monethes past, or neere there abouts, her sonne Davye Thurlowe, beeing strangely taken and greatly tormented, Ursley Kempe alias Grey came unto the said Grace to see how the childe did: At which time the childe lying upon a bed in the chimney corner, shee the said Ursley tooke it by the hande, saying, A good childe howe art thou laden and so went thrise out of the doores, and every time when shee came in shee tooke the childe by the hande, and saide, A good childe how art thou laden: And so at her departure, the saide Grace prayed the saide Ursley to come againe unto her at night to helpe her. And thereupon she the saide Ursley replied, and saide, I warrant thee tiny Childe shall doe well enough, and at night it fell to rest, the which it did not of a long time before. And the next day the said Grace going to mille warde meeting the said Ursley, shee asked her howe her childe did, and shee said it tooke good rest this night God be thanked, I saide the said Ursley, I warrant thee it shall doe well. Note, that the palmes of the childes handes were turned where the backes shoulde bee, and the backe in the place of the palmes.

The said Grace saith also, that about three quarters of a yeere ago she was delivered of a woman childe, and saide, that shortly after the birth thereof the said Ursley fell out with her, for that shee woulde not suffer her to have the nursing of that childe, at suche times as she the said Grace continued in woorke at the Lorde Exircies place: And saith, that shee the saide Grace nursing the said childe, within some short time after that falling out, the childe lying in the Cradle, and not above a quarter olde, fell out of the saide Cradle, and brake her neck and dyed. The which the saide Ursley hearing(?) to bade happened, made answere it maketh no matter. For shee might have suffered mee to have the nursing and keeping of it.

And the saide Grace saith, that when shee lay in, the saide Ursley came unto her, and seemed to bee very angrie for that shee had not the keeping in of the saide Grace, for that she answered unto her that shee was provided: And thereupon they entered further into talke, the saide Grace saying, that if shee should continue lame as shee had doone before, shee woulde find the meanes to knowe howe it came, and y shee woulde creepe upon her knees to complaine of them to have justice done upon them. And to that shee the saide Ursley saide, it were a good turne. Take heed ( said Grace ) Ursley, thou hast a naughtie name. And to that Ursley made answere, though shee coulde unwitche shee coulde not witche, and so promised the saide Grace, that if shee did sende for her privily, and sende her keeper away, that then shee woulde shew the saide Grace, how shee shoulde unwitche herselfe or any other at any time.

And the said Grace further saith, that about halfe a yeere past she bagan to have a lamenesse in her bones, a specially in her legges, at which time y said Ursley came unto her unsent for and without requests. And said, she woulde helpe her of her lamenes, if the said Grace would give her xii.pence, y which the said Grace, speaking her fayre, promised her to doe, and thereupon for the space of v.weekes after, she was wel & in good case as shee was before. And then the said Ursley came unto the saide Grace, and asked her y money she promised to her. Wherupon the saide Grace made answere, that shee was a poore and a needie woman, and had no money: & then the said Ursley requested of her cheese for it: but she said she had none. And shee the said Ursley, seeing nothing to be had of the saide Grace, fell out with her, and saide, that she woulde bee even with her: and thereupon shee was taken lame, and from that day to this day hath so continued.

And she saith, that when she is any thing well or beginneth to amend, then her childe is tormented, and so continueth for a time in a very strange case, and when he beginneth to amend: Then shee the saide Grace becommeth so lame, as without helpe shee is not able arise, or to turne her in her bed.

The information of Annis Letherdall, wife of Richard Letherdall, taken by mee Brian Darcey Esquire, against Ursley Kempe, alias Grey the xix,day of February.

The said Annis saith, that before Michaelmas last, she the said Ursley sent her sonne to the said Letherdals house, to have scouring sand, and sent word by the said boy, that his mother would give her the dying of a payre of womens hose for the sand: But the said Annis knowing her to be a naughtie beast sent her none. And after she the said Ursley, seeing her gyrle to carry some to one of her neighbours houses, murmured as the said childe said, that presently after her childe was taken as it lay very bigge, with a great swelling in the bottome of the belly, and other privie partes. And the saide Annis saith, that about the tenth day of Februarie last shee went unto the said Ursley, and tolde her that shee had been foorth with a cunning body, which saide, that she the saide Ursley had bewitched her childe: To this the said Ursley answered, that shee knew shee had not so been, and so talking further she said, that she would lay her life that she the said Annis had not been with any: whereupon shee requested a woman being in the house a spinning with the said Ursley, to beare witnesse what shee had said. And the next day the childe was in most piteous case to beholde, whereby shee thought it good to Carry the same unto mother Ratcliffe, for that shee had some experience after skill, The which when the said mother Ratcliffe did see, shee saide to the saide Annis that shee doubted shee shoulde doe it any good, yet shee ministred unto it, there.

The enformation of Thomas Rabbet, of the age of viii.yeres or there abouts, base sonne to the said Ursley Kempe alias Grey, taken before me Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices, the xxv.day of February, against his said mother.

The saide Thomas Rabbet saith, that his said mother Ursley Kempe alias Grey hath foure severall spirites, the one called Tyffin, the other Tittey, the third Pigine, & the fourth Jacke: & being asked of what colours they were, saith, that Tyttey is like a little grey Cat, Tyffin is like a white lambe, Pygine is black like a Toad, and Jacke is black like a Cat. And hee saith, hee hath seen his mother at times to give them beere to drinke, and of a white Lofe or Cake to eate, and saied that in the night time the said spirites will come to his mother, and sucke blood of her upon her armes and other places of her body.

This Examinat being asked, whether hee had seene Newmans wife to come unto his mother, saith, that one morning he being in the chamber with his mother, his Godmother Newman came unto her, and saith, that then hee heard her and his mother to chide, and to fall out: But saith before they parted they were friends: and that then his mother delivered an earthen pot unto her, in the which he thinketh her spirites were, the which she carried away with her under her aperne.

And this examinat saith, that within a fewe daies after the said Newmans wife came unto his mother, and that he heard her to tel his mother that she had sent a spirite to plague Johnson to his death, and an other to plague his wife.

The enformation of Ales Hunt, taken before me Brian Darcey Esquire, the xxiiii. day of February, against Joan Pechey widdow.

This examinat Ales Hunt saith, that shee dwelleth in the next house unto the saide Joan Pechey, & that she the said Joan two or three daies before Christmas last, went to the house of Johnson the Collector appointed for the poore, whereas she the said Joan received beefe & bread, the which this Examinat saith, shee hearde to bee of the gift of the said Brian Darcey. And this examinat saith that the said Joan going homewardes, murmured & found great fault at Johnson, saying, he might have given that to a gyrle or another, and not to her, saying, the bread was to hard baked for her, and that shee then seemed to bee in a great anger therewithall. This examinat saith, shee was at that present in the house of the wydow Hunt, and that there was but a wall betweene them, The saide Joan comming to her house did unlocke her dore, the which this examinat did see her doe: And after shee was entred into her house, this examinat saith, she hard the said Joan to say, yea are you so fainsie: are yee so bolde: you were not best to bee so bolde with mee: for if you will not bee ruled, you shall have Symonds savse, yea saide the saide Joan, I perceive if I doe give you an inch, you you will take an ell: and saith shee is assured that there was no christian creature with her at that time, but that she used those speeches unto her Imps.

And this examinat saith, that she hath heard her mother say, that she the said Joan was skilfull and cunning in witcherie, and could do as much as the said mother Barnes, this examinats mother, or any other in this town of S. Osees. And further saith, she hath hard her mother to say, that the said Joan did know what was saide & done in any mans house in this towne.

The information of Margerie Sammon, sister to the saide Ales Hunt, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the xxv. day of Februarie against the said Joan Pechey as followeth.

The said Margerie sayth, that she hath hard the widowe Hunt to say, that the sayde Joan Pechey shoulde say that shee coulde tellwhat any man saide or did at any time in their houses, when & as often as shee listed: and sayth, that the saide widowe Hunt did tell her that sheehath harde the saide Joan Pechey, being in her house, verie often to chide and vehemently speaking as though there had been some bodye present with her: And sayth, that shee went into see to whome the saide Joan should speake, but shee founde no bodie but her selfe all alone: And sayeth, that shee the sayd Joan Pechey was with this examinates mother, mother Barnes, the day before shee departed, where this examinate left them together while shee went home to her mistris house to doe her businesse and worke.

The enformation of John Tendering of Saine Osees, taken before me Brian Darcey esquire, the xxvi. of Februarie 1582.

The said John sayth, that William Byette finding occasion to come to this examinate, sayeth, that after they had conferred and talked, hee the saide William Byet did declare to this examinate, That, that morning he did tell him that he had a Cow which had lien two dayes or longer in a strange case, and had eaten nothing, and was not likly to live, & that he and his servants severall times had lifted at the saide cowe to raise her upon her feet, but they could not make her to arise or stand: whereupon he told this examinat, that he had caused his said servants to fetch straw, and so lay the same round about her: And that he him selfe tooke an Axe, minding to knocke her upon the head, and so to burne her: And said that the fire being kindled, the said Cowe of her selfe stand up, and ran her way until it came to a wood stack, and there stood still, and fell a byting of stickes, bigger than any mans finger, and after lived and did well.

The enformation of Febey Hunt, daughter in lawe to Ales Hunt, of the age viii. yeeres or thereabouts, taken before mee Brian Darcey esquire, the xxv. day of Februarie agaynst Ales Hunt her mother.

The sayd Febey Hunt sayth, that shee hath seen her mother to have two little thinges like horses, the one white, the other blacke, the which shee kept in a litle lowe earthen pot with woll, colour white and blacke: and that they stoode in her chamber by her bed side, and saith, that shee hath seene her mother to feede them with milke out of a blacke trening dishe, and this examinat being caried after this confessid by the Counstables to her fathers house, shee shewed them the place were they stood and the borde that covered them: And this examinat chose out the dishe, out of which they were fedde, from amongst many other dishes. She this examinat did also confessed that her mother had charged her not to tell any thing, what shee had seene : And if shee did those thinges woulde take her, and this examinate saith, that her mother did send them to Dayward of Frowicke, but to what end shee can not tell, & shee being asked howe she knew the same, saieth, that shee hard her mother bid them to go.

The enformation of William Hooke Painter, taken before me Brian Darcey esquire, the xxiii. day of Februarie, against Ales Newman.

This examinate William Hooke sayth, that he dwelleth in the next house unto Ales Newman, & saith, that he hath hard William Newman her husband to say unto the said Ales his wife, that she was the cause of her husbands great miserie and wretched state, and sayeth, that when the saide Ales doeth give her husband any meate to eate, then presently he the saide William saith to his wife, doest thou not see? doest thou see? whereon to this examinate sayth, that he hath hearde the saide Ales to say, if thou seest any thing, give it some of thy meat. And saith further, that he hath hearde the saide William Newman bid the said Ales his wife to beate it away.

The enformation of Elizabeth Bennet, taken by me Brian Darcey esquire, the xxiiii. day of Februarie 1582. against Ales Newman.

The sayde Elizabeth saith, that shee never sent any spirite to plague Johnson or his wife, neither knew shee mother Newman to have sent any of her spirites to plague him or his wife, shee this examinate for her part sayth, shee was greatly beholding to the sayde Johnson and his wife. But denieth that ever shee sent any spirit to hurt him and his wife: or that she knewe mother Newman to have hurt them. But this examinat saith, that shee being at Johnsons to have wool to spinne, he being a clothmaker, of whom shee had many times worke, At that present mother Newman being come thither, shee this examinate saith she hard the sayd mother Newman to desire Johnson to give her xii. d. saying: her husbande lay sicke, whereunto shee heard him answere that hee woulde gladly helpe her husbande: but that hee had laid out a greate deale more than he had received, saying, he was a pore man, and hee, his wife and familie, might not want for the helping of her husband, saying that hee coulde not helpe her with any, untill he had collected more money, whereupon shee departed, and used some harde speeches unto him, and seemed to be much angrie.

The examination and confession of Ursley Kemp alias Gray, taken at S. Osees, and brought before me Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of the peace, the xx. day of Februarie 1582.

Condemned. The saide Ursley Kempe sayeth, that about tenne or eleven yeeres paste, shee this examinate was troubles with a lamenes in her bones, and for ease thereof, went to one Cockes wife of Weley, nowe deceased, who telled this examinate that shee was bewitched, and at her entretie taught her to unwitche her selfe: And bag her take hogges dunge and charvett, and put them together and holde them in her left hand, and to take in the other hande a knife, and to pricke the medecine three times, and then to rast the same into the fire, and to take the said knife & to make three pricks under a table, and to let the knife sticke there: & after that to take three leves of sage, and as much of herbe John ( alias herbe grace ) and put them into ales and drinke it last at night and first in the morning, & that shee taking the same, had ease of her lamenesse.

The sayde examinate sayth, that one Pages wife, and one Grayes wife, beeing eyther of them lame and bewitched: shee beeing requested and sent for to come unto them, went unto them: And saieth, that shee knewe them to bee bewitched, and at their desires did minister unto them the foresaid medicine, whereupon they had speedie amendement.

The saide Brian Darcey then promising to the saide Ursley, that if shee would deale plainely and confesse the trueth, that shee should have favour: & so by giving her faire speeches shee confessed as followeth.

The saide Ursley bursting out with weeping, fel upon her knees, and confessed that shee had foure spirites, whereof two of them were hees, and the other two were shees: the two hee spirites were to punishe and kill unto death, and the other two shees were to punishe with lamenes, and other diseases of bodyly harm: and also to destroy cattell.

And she this examinate, being asked by what name or names shee called the sayde spirits, and what maner of thinges, or colour they were of: confesseth and saith, that the one is called Tittey, being a hee, and is like a gray Cat, the seconde called Jacke, also a hee, and is like a blacke Cat, the thirde is called Piggin, being a she, and is like a blacke Toade, the fourth is called Tyffin, being a shee, and is like a white lambe.

This examinate being further asked, which of the saide spirites shee sent to punishe Thorlowes wife and Letherdalls childe, confessed and sayed, that shee sent Tyttey to punishe Thorlowes wife, and Pigen Letherdalls Childe.

And this examinate, without any asking of her owne free will at that present, confessed and saide, that shee was the death of her brother Kemps wife, and that she sent the spirite Jacke to plague her, for that her sister had called her whore and witche.

And this examinate further confessed, that upon the falling out betweene Thurlowes wife and her shee sent Tyffin, the spirite unto her childe, which lay in the Cradle, and willed the same to turne the Cradle over, so as the childe might fall out thereof, and breake the necke of it.

These foresaide, last recited matters, being confessed by the saide Ursley privately to me the sayde Brian Darcey, were afterwardes ( supper being ended, and shee called agayne before mee, the saide Brian ) recited and particularlie named unto her all which shee confessed, as before in the presence of us, whose names bee here under subscribed.

Also after this examinates aforesaide confession, the saide Thurlowes wife, and Letherdalles wife being then in my house, and shee the saide Letherdalls wife having her chylde there also, were brought in my presence before this examinate: who, immediatly after some speeches had past betweene them, shee this examinate burst out in teares and fell upon her knees, and asked foregivenesse of the sayde Letherdalls wife, and likewise of Thurlowes wife, and confessed that shee caused Newmans wife to sende a spirite to plague the childe, asking the saide Letherdalls wife if shee were not afraide that night that the spirite came unto the childe, and telled her about the same houre, and said that shee her selfe by reason thereof was in a great swett. And this examinate confesseth, that shee caused the saide Newmans wife, to send a spirite to Thurlowes wife, to plague her where that thought good , etc.

The said Letherdals childe ( being a woman childe ) at the time of this examination, appeared to bee in most pitious sort consumed, and the privie and hinder partes thereof, to be in most strange and wonderfull case, as it seemed to berye honest women of good judgement, and not likely to live and continue any long time.

Note also that it is specially to be considered, that the saide childe beeing an infante and not a yeere olde, the mother thereof carrying it in her armes, to one mother Ratcliffes a neighbour of hers, to have her to minister unto it, was to passe by Ursley this examinates house, and passing by the wyndowe, the Infante cryed to the mother, wo, wo, and poynted with the finger to the wyndowe wardes: And likewise the chyld used used the like as shee passed homewards by the said window, at which the confessed her conscience moved her, so as shee went shortly after and talked with the said Ursley, whereupon shee used suche speeches as mooved her to complaine.

The seconde confession and examination of Ursley Kemp, taken the xxi. day of Februarie.

The said Ursley, being committed to the ward & keeping of the Constable that night, upon some speeches that shee had passed, said, that shee had forgotten to tell M. Darcey one thing, whereupon the next day she was brought before Brian Darcey, & the second time examined, who confessed and said.

That about a quarter of a yeere last past, one Ales Newman, her nere neighbour came unto this examinates house and fel out with her, and said shee was a witche, and that shee woulde take away her witcherie, and carrie the same unto M. Darcey: But this examinate saieth, shee thought shee did not meane it, but after they had chidden they became friendes, and so shee departed carying away with her, her spirites in a pot, as this examinate sayth.

And shee further sayth, that about Christamas last, shee went to the said Ales Newman, and declared to her that Thurlowes wife and shee were fallen out, and prayed the saide Newmans wife, to sende the spirite called Tittey, unto her to plague the sayde Thurlowes wife, where that thought good: The which this examinate saith, shee did, and at the return of the saide spirite it tolde this examinate, that it had punished Thurlowes wife upon her knee, And then it had a reward by sucking blood of this examinate, and so returned as shee saith to the said Ales Newman.

This examinate saith, that about three monethes past, shee and one John Stratton fel out, and the saide John called her whore & gave her other evill speeches, whereupon this examinate sayth, that shortly after she sent her Boy for spirites unto the wife of the said John: But shee sayeth, shee sent her none, whereupon this examinate sayeth, shee went unto the said Newmans wife, and tolde her of the falling out between Stratton and her, and requested the saide Newmans wife, to sende Jacke the spirite unto Strattons wife to plague her, the which the said Ales Newman promised this examinate to doe the nexte night, as this examinate saith shee did: And the spirite tolde this examinate when it returned, that it had plagued her in the backe even unto death: and the spirite did sucke of this examinate upon the left thigh, the which when she rubbeth ( shee saith ) it will at all times bleede.

And shee sayeth that then the spirite did returne to the sayde Newmans wife agayne, and had the like rewarde of her as shee thynketh.

This examinate sayeth, that about Friday was sevennight being the nienth of Februarie, shee went unto the said Ales Newman, and did shewe her that one Letherdalls wife and shee were fallen out, and sayth, that shee prayed her to sende one of the spirites unto her younge chylde: whereunto shee the sayd Ales answered well, she would: and this examinate saith, that at that time shee coulde have no longer talke with her, for that her husband was then present in the house: and this examinat saith, that the said Ales sent the spirite Pigin, to plague the said child where that thought good, and after that it had sucked of this examinate, shee saith it returned to the saide Newmans wife, and more at that time the saide examinate confessed not.

The thirde examination and confession of Ursley Kempe alias Gray, taken before me Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of the peace, the xxiiii. day of Februarie.

This examinate, being asked how she knew the said Elizabeth Bennet to have two spirites, saith, that about a quarter of a yere past, she went unto mother Bennets house for a messe of milke, the which shee had promised her: But at her comming this examinate saith shee knocked at her dore, and no bodie made her any answere, whereupon shee went to her chamber windowe and looked in thereat, saying; ho, ho, mother Bennet are you at home: And casting her eyes aside, shee saw a spirit lift up a clothe lying over a pot, looking much lik a Ferret. And it beeing asked of this examinate why the spirite did looke upon her, shee said it was hungrie.

This examinate, beeing asked howe shee knewe the names of mother Bennets spirites, sayth, that Tyffin her spirite did tell this examinate that shee had two spirites, the one of them like a blacke Dogge, and the other redde like a Lyon, and that their names were Suckin and Lyerd , and sayeth that Suckin did plague Byettes wife unto death, and the other plagued three of his Beastes whereof two of them dyed, and the third leyer fire or drooping, & not likly to live: Byette caused his folkes to make a fire about her: The Cowe feeling the heate of the fire, starte up and ranne her way, and by that occasion was saved.

This examinate saieth, that about the foureteene or fifteene day of Januarie last, shee went to the house of William Hunt to see howe his wife did, and shee beeing from home, shee called at her chamber window and looked in, and then espied a spirite to looke out of a potcharde from under a clothe, the nose thereof beeing browne like unto a Ferret. And sayeth, that the same night shee asked Tyffin her white spirite, what Hunts wives spirite had done: And then it told this examinate, that it had killed Heywarde of Frowicke sixe beastes which were lately dressed of the gargette. And sayeth, that her sayde spirite tolde her, that Huntes wives spirite had a droppe of her blood for a rewarde: but shee sayeth, that shee asked not her spirite upon what place of her body it was.

This examinate sayeth, that one Michell a shoomaker of Saint Osees did tell her, that he thought that Glascockes wife had bewitched his Chylde, whereof it dyed: Whereupon shee this examinate sayeth, that shee went home, and asked Tyffin her white spirite, whether the same were so: whiche tolde this examinate, that shee had bewitched the sayde chylde, and sent one of her spirites to plague it to the death.

And sayeth also, that the sayde Glascockes wife did bewitche the Base childe that Page and his wife have in keeping, and that her sayde spirite telled her so. And being demaunded, howe many spirites Glascockes wife had, and by what names shee called them, this examinate sayeth, that shee asked not her spirite Tyffin any such questions.

This examinat sayeth, that the sayde Elizabeth Bennette did sende her spirite Suckin to plague one Willingall, whereof hee languished and died: beeyng sicke of an impostume.

This examinate sayeth also, that the sayde Elizabeth sente the sayde spirite to William Willes his wife to plague her, whereof shee languished many yeeres and dyed.

This examinate sayeth, that the sayde Elizabeth (not above three weekes sithence) sent her spirite Lyerd to plague Fortunes wife and his chylde.

This examinate sayeth, that the sayde Elizabeth did sende her spirite Lyerd to Bonners wife to plague her, the whiche her sayde spirite, tolde this examinate to bee done upon the knee.

This examinate saith further, that Ales Newman went unto Johnson beeing Collectour for the poore, and did require him to give her xii.d. for her husbande whiche was sicke. But hee aunswering her that he had disbursed more money than hee had collected, saying, therefore hee coulde not then helpe her with any: The sayde Newemans wife fell out with him very angerly, and the next day after sent one of the spirites that shee had from this examinate to plague the saide Johnson and his wife unto the death: And that her spirite called Tyffin did tell the same unto her, and shee being asked what woordes the sayde Newemans wife used to Johnson upon the falling out, sayth, that shee asked not her said spirite.

This examinate sayeth, that Newmans wife beeing at Butlers, and asking a peece of meate, was denyed thereof: whereat shee went a way mourmuring, And then shortely after sent one of her spirites to punishe him upon the backe: The whiche Tyffin her sayde spirite telleth this examinate was done, whereof hee languisheth and is greatly payned.

This examinate being asked, whether her white spirit called Tyffin did ever at any time tel her any untruths, or whether she had found it at any time to tell any thing contrary to truth, saith, that the saide spirite did ever tell her true in any matter shee required of it, and saith, that shee never knewe it to tell her otherwise than truth.

This Exam. being asked, whether she sent any of her spirits to plague or punishe John Strattons childe, confesseth and saith, that the spirite which plagued Strattons wife to the death, did also punishe the saide Strattons childe, saying , that the saide childe shoulde not complaine thereof untill the mother were departed.

Note, it is to bee considered, that the saide Ursley Kempe in this her confession hath uttered many thinges well approved and confessed to bee most true: And that shee was brought thereunto by hope of favour.

The Examination and confession of Ales Newman, taken before mee Brian Darcie Esquire, the xxi. of Februarie.

Condemned. This examinat saith, that shee went unto the house where the saide Ursley Kempe alias Grey dwelt, and entered into communication with her, and that they fell out greatly: and confesseth that shee saide unto the saide Ursley [p. ] that she knew her to be a witche, but denieth the res(?)ove of the speeches alleadges by the said Ursley against this Examinat.

The said Brian Darcey finding this examinat to bee obstinate, and that shee coulde bee brought to confesse nothing, said to this Examinat, that hee woulde sever and part her and her spirites a sunder, nay sayth shee this examinat, that shal ye not, for I will carry them with me, and hold being taken of her wordes, after some distance she added ( if she had any. )

The enformation of William Bonner, taken before me Brian Darcey Esquire, the xxiiii. day of February.

The said William Bonner saith, that the said Elizabeth Bennet and his wife were lovers and familiar friendes, and did accompanie much together: and saith that since Candlemas last his wife hath complained of a lamenesse in her knee, and that sithence also shee hath been much troubled. And saith also that not ten daies past the saide Elizabeth Bennet being with his wife, shee beeing sickely and sore troubled, the saide Elizabeth used speeches unto her, saying, a good woman how thou art loden, & then clasped her in her armes, and kissed her: Wherupon presently after her upper Lippe swelled & was very bigge, and her eyes much sunked into her head, and shee hath ben(?) sithence in a very strange case.

Upon the saide enformation made by Ursley Kempe alias Grey, against Elizabeth Bennet, I Brian Darcey directed my warrant for her apprehension, wherupon she was brought before me the said Brian, whose confession being taken the 22 .day of February.

Condemned. The said Elizabeth Bennet being charged with the foresaid information, denieth the same in generall, & after many and sundrie demands being asked, whether she had not a pot or pitcher of earth standing under a paire of staires in her house & wool in the same, in the which usually the said two spirites did lie, denied the same with many others, saying, that she was wel assured that she had none such, wherupon it was said to her, if it be proved to your face, what will you say to al the other matters you have bin charged with, are they true: To that she made answere & said yea: Then was the pot brought before her, the which she then confessed to be her pot, but denied that the wool therin was any of hers, then I calling her unto mee, saide, Elizabeth as thou wilt have favour confesse the truth. For so it is, there is a man of great cunning and knoweledge come over lately unto our Queenes Majestie which hath advertised her what a companie and number of Witches be within Englande: whereupon I and other of her Justices have received Commission for the apprehending of as many as are within these limites, and they which doe confesse the truth of their doeings, they shall have much favour: but the other they shall bee burnt and hanged. At which speeches shee the saide Elizabeth falling upon her knees distilling teares confessed as heereafter followeth.

Saying, that one William Byet dwelt in the next house unto her three yeres, saying, that the first yeere they did agree reasonably well, but ere the seconde yeere passed they fell out sundry and oftentimes, both with this examinat & her husbande, Bye calling her oftentimes olde trot and olde witche, and did banne and curse this examinat and her Cattell, to which this examinat saith, the shee called him knave saying, winde it up Byet, for it will light upon your selfe: and after this falling out this examinat saith, that Byet had three beastes dyed, whereof hee seeing one of them somewhat to droupe, hee did beat the saide Cowe in such sorte, as this Examinate saith, that shee thought the said Cow did die thereof.

This examinat saith further, that Byets wife did beat her swine severall times with greate Gybets, and did at an other time thrust a pitchforke through the side of one of this examinats swine, the which Durrant a Butcher did biue, and for that when hee had dressed it, it proved A messell, this Examinat saith, shee had nothing for it but received it againe, etc.

This examinat saith also, that above two yeeres past there came unto her two spirits, one called Suckin, being blacke like a Dogge, the other called Lierd, beeing red like a Lion, Suckin this examinat saith is a hee, and the other a shee. And saith, on a time as this examinat was comming from mill, the spirite called Suckin came unto her and did take her by the coate, and helde her that shee coulde not goe forwarde nor remoove by the space of two houres, at the which (this examinat saith) she was much amased, and shee saith, that the spirite did aske her if she this examinat woulde goe with it: Whereat shee this examinat saide, In the name of God, what art thou: Thou wilt not hurt mee, at the which speeche it said no, & this Examinat saith, that shee then prayed devoutly to Almightie God to deliver her from it: at which time the spirite did depart from her untill shee had gone a good way, and being come within xxx. or xl. rodes of her house, this examinat saith, that the said spirite came againe unto her and tooke her by the coates behind, & held her fast, whereat this examinat saith, that she desired God to deliver her from that evill spirite, and then that did depart to the Wel. And this examinat saith, that within one houre after, the same same spirite came againe unto her she being a sifting of her meale, & saith, the same remained with her untill she had laied her leaven, and then departed.

The saide examinat saith, that the next day shee being a kneading of her bread, the said spirite came againe unto her, and brought the other spirite with it called Lierd, and that one of them did aske her why she was so snappish yesterday, to that this examinat saith, that shee made answere, I trust I am in the faith of God, and you shall have no power over mee, at whcih wordes this Examinat saith, the saide spirites departed.

Then shee this examinat saith, that shee beeing a making of a fire in her Oven, the said spirits came againe unto her, and tooke her by the legge, this examinat feeling it to take her by the leg saith she said, God and the holy Ghost deliver me from the evill spirites, at which words this examinat saith, that the said spirites did depart to her thinking.

But this examinate saith, that within halfe an houre after she having a fier fork in her hand, and beeing a stirring of the fire in the Oven, the spirit ( called Suckin ) came unto her & tooke this examinat by the hippes, and saide, seeing thou wilt not be ruled, thou shalt have a cause, & would have thrust this examinat into the burning Oven, & so had ( as this examinat saith ) but for the foresaide forke, but this examinat striving and dooing what shee coulde to her uttermost, the saide spirite burnt her arme, the which burning is apparaunt and evidently to bee seene, and when it had thus doone it did depart.

And this Examinat saith, that about a moneth after or more, shee beeing a walking in a croft neere unto a Barne called Heywoods Barne, the spirite called Suckin came and followed this examinat, she spying the same as she looked backe, at the sight thereof this examinat saith, that her eies wer like to start out of her head: then she saith that she did beseech God to governe and guide her from the evill spirites, whereupon shee saith they did depart,

But the same evening she this examinat being set a milking a red Cowe with a white face, saith, that Suckin and Lired came againe unto her, and saith that Suckin appeared at that time in the likenesse of a blacke dogge, and Lired in the likenesse of a Hare, the one sitting on the one side of her, the other on the other side of her within lesse then two yardes: And saith, that the Cowe shee was then a milking of, snorted and ranne away, and brake her paile and spilt al her milke, neither coulde she get the said Cow any more that night to stand still, and saith, that for the losse thereof her husband did much chide her, but shee woulde not tell him what was the cause: and she praying to the father, the sonne, & the holy ghoste, saith that they did depart, and that shee sawe them not a quarter of a yeere after, nor above three times since Midsommer last.

The said exam. saith, that about that time they appeared againe unto her, and saith that a little before there was a falling out betweene her and the saide Byet, whereupon and for that Byet had oftentimes misused her this examinat and her Cattell, shee saith, that shee caused Lyard in the likenes of a Lion to goe & to plague the saide Byets beastes unto death, and the spirite returning tolde this examinat that it had plagued two of his beastes, the one a red Cow, the other a blacke. And saith that the spirite tolde her , that hee plagued the blacke Cowe in the backe , and the read Cowe in the head.

This Examinate saieth further, that aboute Whitsontyde last past, the spirit called, Suckin, did come againe at that tyme unto her, sayeing to this Examinate, that hee had mette Byettes wife two severall tymes, tellyng this Examynate, that it mette her once in this Examinates yarde, and the next day after it sayde, that it met her at the style, going into her grounde: And saieth it tolde this Examinate, it had plagued the said Byets wife to the death. She this Examinate saying it was done by the spirite, but not by the sending of this Examinate. The sayde spirite sayeing, I knowe that Byet and his wife have wronged thee greatly, and doone thee severall hurtes, and beaten thy swyne, and thrust a pytchforke in one of them, the which the spirite sayde to have doone, to winne credit with this Examinate.

And this Examinate saieth further, that aboute Lammas last past, : For that the sayde William Byet abused her, in calling her olde trot, olde whore, and other lewde speaches, shee this Examinate, caused the spirite, called Suckin, to goe and plague the sayde Willyam Byette where that woulde: The which the sayd spyrite did, and at the retourne of it, it tolde this Examinate, that it met Byet in the barne yarde, and that it had plagued him in the hippes, even unto death: And saith she gave it a rewarde of mylke: and saith, that many tymes they drinke of her milke bowle. And being asked how shee came by the sayde spirites, she confessed and sayde, that one Mother Turner did sende them unto her to her house ( as shee thinketh ) for that she had denyed the sayde Mother Turner of mylke: And when, and as often as they did drinke of the mylke: This Examynate saith they went into the sayd earthen pot, and lay in the wooll.

The Examynation and Confession of Annis Glascocke, wife of John Glascocke, lawyer, taken before me Bryan Darcey Esquyre, the xxiiii, of February.

This Examinate beeing charged by Mychel the shoomaker, that a woman, sometimes fellowe with her in the house, shoulde reporte her to bee a naughtie woman, and a dealer in witchcrafte, denyeth that she knewe anye such woman, or that any such speaches were used unto her.

This Examinat being charged that one sparrowe being lodged in her house, shoulde hear a straunge noise or rumbling since Christmas last , saith, that she made a noyse by removing of boards one night for that she woulde have him to lye in an other chamber.

This Examinate saith also, that long sithence she dwelt by the space of one quarter or more with her brother Edward Wood, and that at several tymes in that time certain ladden weights and great stones were cast into the house, and divers straunge noyses of rumblinges heard: the which weights & stones came alwayes neerest one Arnoldes head, being then a boorder in that house, and saith that Arnoldes wife was accompted a witch: And was suspected to cause the same stones to be cast, to the intent to dryve her husband from boording there being in Iclosie of this Examinate : She being at that tyme not above the age of xx. yeares.

This Examinate saith, that by many yeares past she was much troubles with straung aches in her bones, and otherwise: whereof she consumed by the space of two or three yeares: And saith, that she was told, that about Sudbery there dwelt one Herring ( named to bee a Cawker ) to whome she went, who declared to this Examinate, that she was habited with a witch (naming Arnolds wife ) And that she should not escape death without she had some remedy, wherupon this Examinat saith, that she praied the said Herring to helpe her, And hee then delivered unto her a little lynnen bagge of the breadth of a groate, full of small thinges like seedes, and willed her to put the same where her payne was most, the which she proved by sewing it uppon her garmente, neare the place where her greefe was: And after a while this Examinate saieth, she recovered, and was well.

This Examinate denyeth that ever she hurt the base Childe, which Pages his wife kept, or that there was anye falling out betweene this Examinate and her: And sayeth, that shee knoweth not, whether the sayde Childe bee a base Childe or not.

This Examinate beeing charged, that shee sent a spirite to plague Michell, the shoomakers Childe, or that shee had bewitched the said Childe, denyed that shee had doone eyther of both. And she being asked, whether she ever fell out with one Fortune or his wife, or whether she hurt any of their children, saieth, that there was no falling out betweene them, or that shee hurt any of his Children.

Annys Letherdall and Margaret Sympson women appoynted, to see and view the body of this Examinate: sayde, and affyrme upon their credites, that upon the left side of the thighe of this Examinate, there be some spots, and upon the left shoulder likewise one or two: Which spottes bee like the sucked spots, that Ursley Kempe hath uppon her bodie.

This Examinate and the sayde Ursley Kempe alias Greye, being brought begfore mee face to face, the sayde Ursley then charged this Examinate to have plagued and punyshed Mychelles Childe, whereof it dyed: And also Fortunes wives Childe, whereof it lanuyshed. At which speaches this Examinat used outragious wordes, calling the sayde Ursley whore, saying, shee would scratch her: for shee was a Witch, and that shee was sure shee had bewitched her: For that shee coulde not nowe weepe.

The Confession and Examynation of Ales Hunt, the Wife of Willyam Hunt, taken before me Bryan Darcey Esquyre, the xxiiii. of February.

The sayd Ales Hunt beeing asked, whether there was anye falling out beetwene this Examinate, and Haywarde of Frowycke, or his Wyfe: saieth, there was none: But that after shee had cause to be beeholding unto them: saying, that Haywardes wife did christen her a Childe. And she being charged to have a spirit in a potsharde, which Ursley Kempe had seene, denyed that shee had anye such, or that shee had plagued Haywardes Cattell with that or with any other spirite.

This Examinate being asked, if she never did feede her spirits with mylke out of a lyttle trenyng dishe, sayde no: the which dyshe was brought by the Constable from her house, and then shewed to this Examynate, the which shee denyed to bee her dyshe, or that she had any such in her house.

This Examinates warrant beeing made, and to her read, and shee committed to the Counstable to be carryed to the Jaile, desired to speake alone with mee the saide Bryan Darcey: whereupon I wente into my Garden, and this Examinate followed mee, shee then falling uppon her knees with weeping teares, confessed and sayde, that shee had within vi. dayes before this examination, two spirits, like unto little Coltes, the one blacke, and the other white: And saith she called them by the names of Jacke and Robbin : And that they tolde her, that the sayde Ursleye Kempe woulde bewray her this Examinate, and willed her therefore to shift for her selfe. And so they went from her, and sithence this Examinate saith shee sawe them not.

This Examinate saith, that her sister ( named Margerie Sammon ) hath also two spirites like Toades, the one called Tom, and the other Robbye: And saith further, her sayde Syster and shee had the sayd spyrites of their Mother, Mother Barnes: who departed out of this world within xii. dayes before the taking of this examination.

The Examination and confession of Margery Sammon, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the xxv. of February.

The sayde Margerie Sammon, sister to the sayde Ales Hunt, daughter to one mother Barnes lately deceased, (which mother Barns was accompted to bee a notoriuos Witche ) saith, that shee remayned at home with her mother by the space of half a yeare, and saith shee was with her mother several times, when shee laye sicke, and also at the houre of her death: But denyeth the having of any spirites of her sayd Mother, or that her mother had any to her knowledge.

The said Margery that night being committed to the ward and keeping of the counstable, and the nexte daye brought before mee the saide Bryan in the presence of her sister Ales Hunte, And beeing charged by her sayde Syster to have two spirites like toades, given her by her mother at her death, utterlye denyed the same saying, I defie thee, though thou art my sister, saying she never sawe anye such: At which speaches her sister taking her aside by the arme, whyspered her in the eare: And then presentlye after this Examinate with great submission and many teares, confessed that she had two spirites delyvered her by her mother, the same day shee departed. And that shee this Examinate carryed them awaye with her in the evening, they beeing in a wicker basket, more than half full of white and blacke wooll: And that she asking her mother what shee should doe with them, she bad her keepe them and feede them: This Examinate asking wherewithall: her mother answered, if thou doest not give them mylke, they will sucke of thy blood: And sayeth, she called them by the names of Tom and Robbin. And this Examinate being asked how often she had given them meate sithence shee had them , saieth and confesseth, that she fed them twise out of a dyshe with mylke: And beeing asked when shee fed them last, this Examinate sayde, uppon Twesday last past before this examination, and that with mylke.

This Examinate sayeth also, that when shee tooke them of her mother, shee sayde unto her , if thou wilte not keepe the said spirites, then send them to mother Pechey, for I know she is a Witch, and will be glad of them. And saith further, that shee hearing , that Ursleye Kempe was apprehended, and fearing that shee shoulde bee called in question, saieth thereupon shee tooke the saide spirites beeing in a basket, and in the evening went into the grounde of her Master, and so into Reads grounde, and bad them goe to the sayde mother Pechey: At which wordes they skypped out of the said basket, and wente before this Examinate, shee this Examinate sayeing, all evill goe with you, and the Lorde in heaven blesse mee from yee: And sayeth, shee myghte see the sayde spyrites goeing towarde a barred style, goeing over into Howe lane: And when they came at the style, shee saieth, they skypped over the same style and wente the readye waye to mother Pecheyes house: And saieth shee verilye thinketh the sayde mother Pechey hath them.

The Examination and confession of Margery Sammon, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the xxv. of February.

The sayde Margerie Sammon, sister to the sayde Ales Hunt, daughter to one mother Barnes lately deceased, (which mother Barns was accompted to bee a notoriuos Witche ) saith, that shee remayned at home with her mother by the space of half a yeare, and saith shee was with her mother several times, when shee laye sicke, and also at the houre of her death: But denyeth the having of any spirites of her sayd Mother, or that her mother had any to her knowledge.

The said Margery that night being committed to the ward and keeping of the counstable, and the nexte daye brought before mee the saide Bryan in the presence of her sister Ales Hunte, And beeing charged by her sayde Syster to have two spirites like toades, given her by her mother at her death, utterlye denyed the same saying, I defie thee, though thou art my sister, saying she never sawe anye such: At which speaches her sister taking her aside by the arme, whyspered her in the eare: And then presentlye after this Examinate with great submission and many teares, confessed that she had two spirites delyvered her by her mother, the same day shee departed. And that shee this Examinate carryed them awaye with her in the evening, they beeing in a wicker basket, more than half full of white and blacke wooll: And that she asking her mother what shee should doe with them, she bad her keepe them and feede them: This Examinate asking wherewithall: her mother answered, if thou doest not give them mylke, they will sucke of thy blood: And sayeth, she called them by the names of Tom and Robbin. And this Examinate being asked how often she had given them meate sithence shee had them , saieth and confesseth, that she fed them twise out of a dyshe with mylke: And beeing asked when shee fed them last, this Examinate sayde, uppon Twesday last past before this examination, and that with mylke.

This Examinate sayeth also, that when shee tooke them of her mother, shee sayde unto her, if thou wilte not keepe the said spirites, then send them to mother Pechey, for I know she is a Witch, and will be glad of them. And saith further, that shee hearing , that Ursleye Kempe was apprehended, and fearing that shee shoulde bee called in question, saieth thereupon shee tooke the saide spirites beeing in a basket, and in the evening went into the grounde of her Master, and so into Reads grounde, and bad them goe to the sayde mother Pechey: At which wordes they skypped out of the said basket, and wente before this Examinate, shee this Examinate sayeing, all evill goe with you, and the Lorde in heaven blesse mee from yee: And sayeth, shee myghte see the sayde spyrites goeing towarde a barred style, goeing over into Howe lane: And when they came at the style, shee saieth, they skypped over the same style and wente the readye waye to mother Pecheyes house: And saieth shee verilye thinketh the sayde mother Pechey hath them.

The Examination and confession of Joane Pechey widdowe, taken before mee Brian Darcie Esquire, the xxv. of February.

This Examinate Joan Pechey beeing asked how olde shee was, saith, shee is threescore yeares and upwardes: And saith that shee hath dwelt in the Towne of S. Oseys above xl. yeares: And saith she knew Mother Barnes, and she knewe her to bee no witch, or that she ever heard her to bee accompted, or to have skill in any witchery. And she being asked whether shee was with her when she lay upon her death bed, saith that she was not.

This Examinate also denyeth, that she hath or ever had any Puppettes, Spyrites or Maumattes: Or that shee had any Spirites, which she bought, or were conveyed unto her by Margerie Barnes, or sent by any other sithence the death of Mother Barnes.

This Examinate also denyeth, that ever shee sayde to any of her neighbours , or to any other person in secrete sorte or meerely, that she knew or could tell what any man in the Towne at any time dyd or sayed, when she her selfe listed, or would know.

This Examinate saith, that she never used any of those speaches, which Ales Hunte hath enformed against her, As yea art thou so sawsie’: art thou so boulde’: thou were not best to bee so bould, for if thou beist, thou shalt have Simonds sauce.

This examinate being asked, what she thought of the sodaine death of Johnson the Collector, saith, he was a very honest man, and dyed very sodainly: And saith she heard, that one Lurkin shoulde saye, that hee hearde Johnson to saye, that Mother Newman had beewitched him. And beeing asked of whome shee heard it, shee aunswered shee coulde not tell: And sayth that shee her selfe never used anye harde speaches against the sayde Johnson.

This Examinate beeing charged to have willed her Sonne Phillip Barrenger, beeing of the age of xxiii. yeares to lye in bedde with her, denyeth that shee had so doone, other then shee had willed him at some tymes to lye uppon the bedde at her backe.

But the saide Phyllyppe beeing examined, confesseth and saith, that manye times and of late hee hath layne in naked bed with his owne mother, being willed and commaunded so to doe of her.

This Examinate beeing asked, whether she had any Cat in her house, sayth that shee hath a Kyttyn, and a little Dogge. And beeing asked, what colour the Kyttyn was of, shee this Examinate sayed she could not tell, saying yee maye goe and see.

The Information of John Sayer one of the Constables of Thorpe, taken before mee Bryan Darcey Esquyre, one of her majesties Justices against Als Manfielde, the xiii. daye of March.

The saide John saieth, that above one yeare sithence hee had a Thetcher, which was a thetching of a barne of his, neere Mother Manfieldes house, and that then shee the sayde Ales came unto the Thetcher, and woulde have had him to thetche over an oven of hers, wherunto this Thetcher made aunswer and sayde, hee woulde doe it, if his mayster woulde let him, but els hee woulde not doe it, whereunto shee sayde, hee had beene as good as to have willed you to doe it. For I will bee even with him. And hee saieth, that within a while after, hee had occasion to come by the house of the sayde Ales Manfielde with his carte, well neere three quarters loaden, and beeing before her doore uppon the harde grounde: saieth, his carte stoode, that hee coulde not make it goe forwarde or backwarde, by the space of one howre or more: The which he saieth, hee thought to bee doone by some witcherie , which the sayde Ales Manfielde then did.

The Information of Robert Sannevet, taken before me Brian Darcey Esquire, one of her M. Justices the xiiii. of March.

The sayde Robert saieth, that aboute xd. yeeres past, ther dwelt with him the daughter of Elizabeth Ewstace, and that for some lewde dealynges, and behaviour by her doone, hee saieth, hee used some threatening speeches unto her, beeing his servaunt: And that shortlye after shee went home to her sayde mother, and telled her of her maysters using of her: And the nexte daye hee saieth, as hee was a sitting by his fire side, his mouth was drawne awrye, well neere uppe to the upper parte of his cheeke: whereuppon hee saieth, hee sent presentlye to one of skill to come unto him, who came unto him, And that hee seeing him in that case, tooke a lynnen cloath, and covered his eyes, and stroake him on the same side with a stronge blowe, and then his mouth came into the right course: And hee sayeth that hee willed this Examinate to put awaye his servaunt, and that out of hand: the which he saieth he did.

This Examinate saith, that iii. yeres sithence his mother Crosse was taken verye sickly, and at tymes was without any remembrance, & that he sent for this Examinat, & when he came unto him, hee tolde him that Margaret Ewstace had bewitched him, and brought him into that weak state hee then was at: Wherto this Examinate saith, that if that bee so, hee then wished a spyt red hotte and in her buttocks, which speaches of his, hee sayth was carryed by one then in the house unto the saide Mother Ewstace, and this Examinate saith, that shee seeing a neighbour of his going towardes this Examinates house, asked her whether shee was going, and she answered unto this Examinates house: Whereunto she the sayd Mother Ewstace should say, naye goe not thyther, for he saith I am a witch: And sayed, his wife is with Childe and lustie, but it will bee otherwise with her then hee looketh for: Whereuppon this Examinate saith, that his wife had a most straunge sicknes, and was delivered of childe, which within short time after dyed.

This Examinate saith, that the Sommer after he milked vii. milche beastes, and that al that sommer many and very often tymes, his sayde beasts did give downe blood in steede of milke and that hee had little, or no profit by them: And hee saith that about iiii. monethes after many of his hogges did skippe and leape about the yarde in a straunge sorte: And some of them dyed.

The Information of Ursley Kemp alias Grey, taken at Colchester by Thomas Tey and Brian Darcey Esquires, two of her M. Justices the ix. of March.

This Examinate beeing charged that shee shoulde reporte to severall persons that have comen unto her, sithence her imprysonment, that Ales Newman shoulde send a spirit to plague the late Lord Darcey, whereof hee dyed: And shee being asked, whether shee saied so, saith shee sayed, that Tyffin her white spirit tolde her that Ales Newman had sent a spyrite to plague a noble man, of whome we ( meaning the poore ) had all reliefe: The which the saith she tooke to be the said Lord Darcey, And other wise she sayed not.

The Information of Rychard Rosse of little Clapton, taken before mee Bryan Darcey Esquyre, agaynst Henry Cilles and Cysley his wife, the i. day of March.

The sayd Richard saith, that about vi. yeares past, the sayd henry Cilles wrought with this Examinate in husbandry many and several times, & saith that at one time he the said Henry being at plough in the said Richardes ground with his plowgh of horses, they being as well and as likely to any mans judgement, as any mens horse myght be when they beganne to worke: yet before they had gone twise or thrise aboute the lande, two of his lykest horses fell downe in most straunge wise, and dyed.

This Examinate sayeth, that a little before he had denyed the sayde Cillys of two bushels of maulte, which she would have had for three shillings, but he helde it at tenne groates. And sayeth further, that within a whyle after the sayde Cysleye Cyllis did come unto this examinates wife, brynging with her a poke, and desired to buye a bushell, or a bushell and a halfe of maulte of her, or as much as her bag would houlde: But for that shee the sayd Cysley would not give her her price, shee departed without having anye, using many harde speaches at that time: whereupon they fell out.

This Examinate saieth also, that his wife finding Cylles his cattell in his grounde, did hunt them out thereof, which Cylles his wife seeing, was thereat in a great anger, and gave her lewd speeches, & saith that presently after, many of his beaste were in a most straung taking: the which he doth say, to be wrought by some witchcraft, or sorcery by the said Henry or Cisly his wife.

This Examinate saieth, that about xii. months & more past, a barn of his standing in his ground, a good way from his dwelling house with much corne therein, was in a most sodeine sorte fired and burnt: But (hee saieth) hee cannot charge the said Henry or Cysley his wife, to bee the doers thereof, other then the youngest sonne of the saide Henrie and Cisley, should say heere is a goodly deale of corne, and a man unknowen shoulde answere there was the divel store.

The enformation of Henrie Sellys, sonne of the saide Henrie, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the saide day and yeere.

The saide Henrie saith, that hee is of the age of ix. yeeres, and that sithence Candlemas last, one night about midnight, there came to his brother John a spirite, and tooke him by the left legge, and also by the litle Toe, which was like his sister, but that it was al blacke: at ehich time his brother cryed out and said, Father, Father, come helpe mee, there is a blacke thing that hath me by the legge, as big as my sister: whereat his father said to his mother, why thou whore cannot you keepe your impes from my children: whereat shee presently called it away from her sonne, saying, come away, come away, At which speech it did depart.

This examinat saith, that the next day hee tolde his mother hee was so afraid of the thing that had his brother by the legge that he swett for feare, and that he coulde scarse get his shirt from his backe: his mother answering thou lyest, thou lyest whoresonne. This Examinat being asked, wherewith hee had seene his mother to feede her Impes and wherein, hee saith, that she fed them out of a blacke dish, ech other day with milke: and saith, that he hath seene her to carry it unto a heape of wood and brome standing under a crab tree by the house, and being asked what their names were, he saith, that one of them is called by two names which is Herculus, sothe hons, or Jacke, & that is a blacke one, & is a hee, and the other is called Mercurie, and is white, and is a shee: and that their eyes bee like unto goose eyes, and saith, that he hath seen his mother to remoove foure Brome fagots, and so to creepe into the crabtree roote, whereas they stand and lye upon a fleese of wooll. And this Examinant saith further, that the same night Rosse his maide was taken: when his father came home, his mother tolde him her husbande, that she had sent Herculus to Rosse his maide: and he answered, yee are a trim foole. This examinat saith, that as hee and his mother were comming ( they being in Rosse his Bromefield ) she said unto him, take heed ye say nothing.

The information of John Selles the youngest sonne of Henry and Cysley, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the third day of March.

The said John Selles saith, that he is about the age of vi. yeeres iii. quarters, & saith, that one night there was a blacke thing like his sister, that tooke him by the legge and that hee cried out, saying, father, father, come helpe me and defende mee, for there is a blacke thing that hath me by the legge: at which he saith, his father said to his mother, ye stinking whore what meane yee’: can yee not keepe your imps from my children’: & beeing asked what colour they were of, & what they were called, he saith, that one is black, & another is white, & that he hath hard his mother to call them Imps, and that they have eyes as big as himselfe: and he saith, that his father and his mother put them away or els kill them. And saith , that a while sithence his mother delivered them to one of Colchester ( he thinketh his name is Wedon or Glascocke ) and saith that Wedons wife had a cap to dresse of his mothers, and saith, that they were carried away in a basket at that time. And beeing asked , whether his father or mother bade him that hee shoulde saye nothinge, hee saieth, that his mother said unto him that hee should goe before: a gentleman, and willed him to take heed he telled no tales nor lyes.

He saith, that his father called one of them, which is the blacke one, John, which he said his father mocked him because his name was so: And his mother called the white one an Impe. He saith he hath seene his father to feede them out of a blacke dish with a woodden spone, and that he knoweth the same dishe, & the last time he fed them it was behinde the Bromestacke at the crabtree. And hee saith, that the man which carried them away gave his mother a pennie, and that when she should goe to him she should have another pennie, hee saith at that time his brother was from home at one Gardeners house.

And being asked, whether ever hee sawe his mother to feede them, he saith, that he hath seene his mother to feed them twise, and that out of a dish with a spone with thinne milke.

Note also, it is to be considered, that there is a fearre to bee seene of this examinats legge where it was taken, and also the naile of his little Toe is yet unperfect.

The information of Joan Smith wife of Robert Smith, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the said day and yeere.

The said Joan saith, that one holy day in the after noone sithence Michaelmas last, shee had made her selfe readie to goe to Church, and tooke in her armes her young childe & opening her dore, her mother (grandmother to the child) one redworths wife, and Selles his wife were at the said dore readie to draw the latch, shee this examinat telling her mother she was comming out of dores to Churchward: whereat the grand mother to the child, tooke it up by the hand & shoke it, saying, a mother pugs art thou comming to Church’: And Redworthes wife loking on it, said, here is a jolie & likely childe God blesse it’: after which speeches, Selles his wife saide, shee hath never the more children for that, but a little babe to play withall for a time. And she saith within short time after her said childe sickned and died: But she saith that her conscience wil not serve her, to charge the said Cysley or her husband to be the causers of any suche matter, but prayeth God to forgive them if they have dealt in any such sort. etc.

The examination and confession of Henrie Selles and Cysley his wife, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the first day of Marche.

The said Henry saith, that he hath wrought in husbandry by some ong time past with Richard Rosse of little Clapton, and that one time he being at plough, two of his horses upon a sodaine fell downe and were in most strange taking, but what the occasion should be thereof (he saith ) he knew not. And saith , that he doth not remember that he would have had any mault of the saide Rosse at his price, or that there was any falling out betweene them: and denieth that his childe cried out unto him, saying, father come helpe me , or that he called his wife stinking whore: and denieth all the residue of the matters in general enformed against him, etc.

Condemned. The said Cysley his wife saith, that she doth not remember that Rosse his wife did at any tyme hunt her catell being in her ground, or that shee used any hard speeches to his wife thereupon, or that shee fel out for that she could not have any mault at her price: but she saith at one time she met Rosse his wife, & that there was some talke betweene them, the which shee doeth not remember more then that the saide Rosses wife saide, I shall see at your ende what you are. And being asked if shee knewe not mother Tredsall, shee saith shee knew her, but she denieth, that she saide if she were a witche, she learned the same of the saide mother Tredsall: and denieth that her childe cryed out in the night to his father, and all the residue of the matters in general enformed against her.

Ales Gilney, Joan Smith, and Margaret Simson women of credite, appointed by mee Brian Darcey, to view and see the body of the saide Cysley, say, that shee hath upon her body many spots very suspitious, and the said Margaret saith, that they bee much like the sucked spots, that shee hath seene upon the body of Ursley Kempe and severall other.

The enformation of Ales Baxster servant with Richarde Rosse, taken by mee Brian Darcey Esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of the peace, the xix. day of Marche.

The saide Ales saith, that about Hallamas last past about foure of the clocke in the after noone, she went a milking into her masters grounde two closes of from the house, and that she had eight or niene beastes to milke, and saith that after she had milked all but one, and as shee was a milking of that one, before shee had halfe done, the Cow start and stroke downe her paile, and that shee saw all the rest to make a staring and a looking about: And shee saith as shee was a making an ende of milking of that Cowe, shee felt a thing to pricke her under the right side, as if she had been stricken with ones hande, and she saith that after, as shee was going homewardes with the milke neere the style in the same closse, there came a thinge all white like a Cat, and stroke her at the hart, in such sort as shee could not stand, goe, nor speake, and so she remained untill her said master & two of his workmen did carry her home in a chaire: she saith, she saw the said thing to go into a bush by the style, & that she knew not her master when he came unto her.

Robert Smith saith, that about Hallamas last past he wrought with Richard Rosse, and that about v. a clocke was called by the said Rosse to helpe him to fetch home his maid, & going then with him they found the said Ales his maide sitting leaning against the stile, & in that case as she could not stand, go, nor speake, and that he and one other with their masters helpe tooke her up and brought her home in a chaire.

The information of Henrie Durrant, taken by mee Brian Darcey Esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of peace, the 26. day of March, against Ales Hunt.

The said Henry Durrant saith, that about the second day of this present month, he went to Colchester to appeare before the Justices there to bee bounde from killing of fleshe, and after that hee had so done he saith, that he went with several of his neighbours unto the Castle, to see the witches that were committed thyther, at which time he saith, he talked with Ursley Kemp alias Gray, who then tolde him after some demaunds which hee used unto her, that Ales Hunt and her mother ( the widow Barnes ) had bewitched his daughter, whereof she dyed, saying, that because they were denied of a peece of Porke at suche time as they came for it, therefore they were offended with you: and saieth further, that hee doeth remember that they came unto him and woulde have had a peece of Porke, the which for that it was newly dressed, and somewhat whot, he made them answere that he woulde not cut it out.

The examination and confession of Ales Manfield, taken at Thorpe, and brought before me Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices, the xiii. day of Marche.

Condemned. The saide Ales Manfielde saieth, that shee is of the age of three score and three yeeres or there aboutes, and about xii. yeeres sithence one margaret Grevell came unto this examinat and saide, that shee shoulde goe out of her house that shee dwelt in unto another house in the towne: And then telled her that she had foure Impes or spirites the whiche shee woulde not carrie with her to that house, for feare they shoulde be espied or seene, and prayed her this examinat that shee woulde keepe them, and also telled her what they woulde doe for her ( saying that shee should have them upon condition that shee the sayde Margaret might have them at her pleasure, otherwise shee should not have them ) and with what, and howe shee shoulde feede them, and at her desire and request shee sayth that shee was contented to keepe them: And thereupon shee sayeth it was concluded and agreed betweene her and this examinate, that shee the sayde Margaret should have them as often and as many times as shee would at her pleasure, and that then shee received them.

This examinate being asked, what names they were called by, and of what likenes, saieth that one of them was called Robin, an other Jacke, the thirde William, the fourth Puppet alias Mamet, & that two of them were hees and the other two were shees, & were like unto blacke Cats, and sayth that she kept them in a boxe with wolle therein: And that they did stand upon a shelfe by her bed where she lay. This examinate saith also, that the said Margaret Gravel hath commen unto her many & often times sithence the saide agreement betweene them made, & according to the said condition hath received of this examinat the said imps or spirits: shee this examinat being telled of her some times wherfore she would have them, & that some times she knew by asking the said imps or spirits where they had bin, & what they had done when they returned againe unto her. And being asked how often and when to her remembrance, she this examinat saith, about 7. yeres since the said mother Gravel came unto this examinate & told her that Chestons wife & she were fallen out, & had chidden very much: & that she gave her evill speeches, whereupon shee requested to have the spirite Robin to go to plague his beasts: & then sent it, which said when it returned, that Cheston being at plow & leaving worke, that it had plagued a bullocke of his that was well liking & lustie, wherof it should pine and die.

This examinate saith, that the saide Margaret Grevell, well neere two yeres after, sent her spirite Jacke to goe to plague Cheston, upon the great Toe unto the death. This Examinate saieth, that when it returned it tolde her that it had plagued the saide Cheston upon the Toe even unto death, and that it had sucked blood of the saide Margarettes bodie, and that besides it had of her Beere and Breade for the labour: and saith, that shee this examinate gave it Beare and Breed then also for telling of her.

This examinate saith also, that five yeeres past or there aboutes, her spirit Robin tolde her that Margarette Grevell had sent the saide spirite unto her husband to plague him, whereof he pined above halfe a yeere or more, having by that meanes many and severall straunge sores, and thereof died. And this Examinate saith that, that hee woulde eate as much or more then two men woulde doe, and that it sucked blood upon the bodye of the saide Margaret for the labour: she this examinate being asked upon what place , saith the saide spirite did not tell her.

This examinat saith, that upon a time she went to the house of Joan Cheston widow, and desired of her to give her some Curdes: but shee sayeth shee gave her none, whereupon shee saith, that shee sent her Impe Puppet alias Mamet to plague her Beastes, where that woulde, and so it did: And that when the saide Impe returned, it tolde this examinate that it had plagued foure of the Beastes with lamenesse, and that it did sucke blood upon this Examinates body for a rewarde.

This examinate sayth, that about two yeres past, one John Sayer did fetch doung out of an Orchard, from a pittes banke, neere this examinates house, and did by reason thereof, gulle a greene place before her doore, whereupon shee saieth, shee sent her Impe called Puppet alias Mamet to stay the Carte being before the dore, the which it dyd, and shee saieth that shee sawe him and others to lift at the wheeles, and to set his hauser rope and other of his horse harnesse burst a sunder, and shee saieth, shee gave her said Impe Beere for the labour.

This examinate saieth, that litle before Michaelmas last, her saide foure Impes saide unto her, saying, I pray you Dame give us leave to goe unto little Clapton to Celles, saying, woulde burne Barnes, and also kill Cattell, and shee saith, that after their returne they tolde her that they had burnt a barne of Rosses with corne, and also tolde her that Celles his wife knewe of it, and all they foure were fedde at Cels house by her all the time they were away from this examinate, which shee sayeth was about a sevennight: And that Puppet sucked upon this examinates left shoulder at their returne unto her: And the rest had beere.

This examinate saith, that William, one of her Impes not above a sevennight before her apprehension, tolde her that shee shoulde be called in question, and bad her shift for her selfe: saying, they woulde nowe depart from her and goe unto saint Osees unto mother Gray, mother Torner, or mother Barnes two daughters, but to which of them it was that they woulde goe shee doth not nowe remember: but they told her that they to whom they went had hurt men & women to death, & several mens cattel and other thinges.

This examinat saith, that about a quarter of a yere since, she went unto the house of mother Ewstace to speake with her, at which time she saith, shee saw three imps which she had standing in a earthen pot in the one side of her house next the heath, & saith that one of them was white, the other gray, & the third blacke, & saith they were like cats. This examinat saith also, that her white spirit told her, that mother Ewstace their dame, sent her impes to hurt a childe, whereof it shoulde pine and become lame, but whose childe shee remembreth not.

Also this examinate saith, that upon some conference between mother Ewstace & her, shee this examinate told mother Ewstace, that mother Grevel did plague her husband, wherof he died, which was done by her spirit Robin: & she saith that she also told mother Ewstace, that mother Grevel sent her spirite Jacke to plague Cheston to the death: but what answere she the said mother Ewstace them made, shee nowe remembreth not.

This examinate saith, that about a yere since the said mother Gravel told her , that she had caused her impes to destroy severall brewinges of beere, & batches of bread, being asked where, she saith a brewen at Reades, a brewen at Carters, and a brewen of three or foure bushelles of malte at Brewses.

The said confession being made by the saide Ales in maner and forme aforesaid, I the saide Brian in the presence of they constables & other the Townesmen of Thorpe, sayde as I had severall tymes before unto the sayde Ales, what a danger it was, and howe highly shee should offende God if shee shoulde charge any person with any thing untrue, and also telled her that her saide confession should bee read agayne unto her, willing her that if shee hearde any thinge read that she knew was not true, that she should speake, and it shoulde be amended, the which being done, shee sayde her confession was true, and the sayde Margaret and Elizabeth beeing then also called before mee, shee affirmed her confession to their faces.

The enformation of Thomas Death & Marie his daughter, taken before me Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices, the xv. day of March.

The sayde Thomas Death saith, that about two yeeres sithence, there was a great falling out betweene this examinates wife and the sayde Cisly Celles, for that one George Battell having put a child of his to the nursing and keeping of the saide Cisly, and after he taking the saide childe away from her, and put the same to this examinates wife to be nursed & kept, whereupon at the next meeting of the sayde wives, the saide Celles his wife chid and rayles at her, and saide, thou shalt loose more by the having of it, then thou shalt have for the keeping of it, & within one moneth after ( as he now remembreth ) he saith that a child of his, of the age of foure yeres, being in good liking and well, went but out of the doores into the yarde, who presently fell downe dead, and after by helpe being brought to life, the saide childe as in a pitious case, and so died presently.

This examinate saith, that hee had presently after severall Swine the which did skippe and leape about the yarde, in a most straunge sorte, and then died. And he saith that over night he had a Cowe which was very fatt, and the next morning he found the same dead.

This examinate saith, that hee having bin at sea and newely arrived at Ipeswitch, a messenger which was newely come from his wife, by chaunce mette him, who told this examinate that his daughter Marie was taken very strangly, and lay in a most pitious case, saying he had brought her water to carry unto a Phisition to have his opinion thereof: Whereupon this examinate saieth, that hee and the messenger went therewith unto one Berte dwelling in that Towne, and shewed him the same, hee sayeth, he asked him if that his daughter were not bewitched: But hee saide that hee woulde not deale so farre to tell him, whereupon hee not satisfied to his minde, met after with an aquaintaunce of his, and asked him where hee might goe to a cunning man, telling him in what case his daughter lay in: who then sent him to a man whome he knewe not, nor his name he nowe remembreth not, with whome after hee had conferred and shewed his daughters saide water: This examinate sayeth, hee tolde hym if hee had not commen with some great haste to seeke helpe, hee had come too late: And this examinate sayeth, that hee toulde hym that within two nyghtes after the parties that had hurte his daughter shoulde appeare unto her, and remedie her: And hee sayeth, that hee him selfe did not then come home, but went to sea: But hee sayeth hee sent his messenger home with thinges that were to be ministred unto his said daughter.

This examinate sayeth, that when he came home, his wife tolde him that the next nyght after his daughetr had receyved the thinges ministred unto her, that shee hearde a noyse like a groning, and that shee did arise and went unto her daughter, and asked her howe shee did: whereupon her daughter made answere and sayed , ah mother that you had commen a little sooner, you shoulde have seene Celles wife and Barkers wife here standing before mee.

Marie Death, daughter of the sayd Thomas Death, sayeth, that about two yeeres sithence upon a Sunday, shee was taken with an ache or numnes from her necke down her backe all over: And shee sayeth, that after her mother had ministred thinges unto her sente from a Phisition: The nexte nyght after shee sayeth shee hearde a voyce, saying unto her, looke pu, at which shee saieth shee lifted up her eyes, and then did see Celles wife and Barkers wife standing before her in the same apparell that they did usually weare. And shee this examinat sayeth, shee thought they saide unto her bee not afraide, and that they vanished away, as shee thinketh it was about midnight, And the nexte day after, this examinate saieth, shee amended, and was in case to arise without help, where afore two or three coulde scarce turne her in her bed as shee lay.

The enformation of Joan Cheston widowe, John Carter and other the inhabitantes of the Towne of Thorpe, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of the peace, the xiii. day of March, against Ales Manfielde.

The sayde Joan saieth, that in sommer last, mother Manfielde came unto her house and requested her to give her Curdes, shee saith that answere was made that there was none, and so shee departed. And within a while after some of her cattell were taken lame & could not travell to gather their meat, so that her servants were constrained to mow down grasse for them by the space of eyght bayes, shee sayeth, that afterwardes the saide mother Manfielde came agayne unto her, and demaunded Curdes, and shee sayeth, that shee then telled the saide mother Manfielde, that shee had bewitched her Cattell, and that shee then sayde unto her, that if her cattell did not amend and become well, shee would burne her: whereupon shee sayeth, that her cattell did amende, and within a very shorte while after were as well as before.

Lyndes wife sayeth, that the sayde Mother Manfielde came unto her, and asked her a meale of Mylke, who answered that shee had but a little, not so much as woulde suckle her calfe, whereat shee departed: and shee sayeth, that that nyght her Calfe dyed, being verye lustie, and xx. dayes olde.

The enformation of John Carter and others of Thorpe, taken by mee Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices, the xx. day of March, agaynst Margarette Grevell.

Continued in prison. The saide John sayeth, that on a tyme Margaret Grevell came unto this examinates house, desiring her to have Godesgood, whiche was denied her, and sayeth that within a fewe dayes after his folkes went in hande with brewing: But of two brewinges after they coulde make no beere, but was fayne to put the same to the swill. Tobbe, which was halfe a Seame at a brewing, & sayth, that the third tyme they went to Brewing with the like quantitie, and that his sonne beeing a tall and lustie man, of the age of xxxvi. yeeres, was wished to take his Bowe and an arrowe, and to shoote to make his shaft or arrowe to sticke in the Brewing Fatte, and that he shotte twise and coulde not make the same to sticke, but at the thirde time that hee shotte, hee made the same to sticke in the brewinge Fatte, and after hee sayth they coulde brewe as well as before.

Nicholas Sticklande Butcher, sayeth, that Margaret Grevell sent her sonne unto him for a Racke of Mutton, hee having newely killed a Mutton, saying, the same was whot and that he coulde not cutte it out, and sayeth, that hee bad him come agayne in the after noone, and the Munday after his wife seething Mylke for the breakefaste of his woorkfolkes, the same stancke and was bytter: And sayeth within fewe dayes after his wife went to chearne her Creame that she had gathered, and that shee was from the morning untill tenne of the clocke in the night at Chearning, and coulde have no butter: the whiche this examinate seeing, hee sayeth hee caused his wife to powre the said Creame into a Kettle, and to set it upon the fire, the whiche was done: And making a great fire under it, this examinate sayeth, they coulde not make it to seeth over: Then this Examinate sayeth, that hee seeing it woulde not doe, hee sayeth hee tooke the kettell off the fire, and powred the one halfe thereof into the fire, and the other halfe hee let stande in the Kettle, the whiche hee sayeth stancke in suche exceeding sorte, as they coulde not abyde in the house. And this examinate sayeth, that the seconde time that his wife went to chearne her Creame, shee continued a chearning and coulde have no butter, but that it was as the other, the which hee sayeth, his wife was constrayned to put it into the swil Tub. And after that this Examinate saith, that the head and master Cowe of five beastes did also cast her Calfe, and presentlye after fell a hauleynge(?), the whiche hee fearyng that it woulde have dyed, saying, that he fed it and killed it.

The enformation of Felice Okey widowe, taken by mee Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of the peace, the xx. day of March, against Elizabeth Ewstace.

The saide Felice sayeth, that shee was the late wife of Thomas Crosse, and that shee on a time finding the geese of Elizabeth Ewstace in her grounde, did drive them out, and that by mischaunce one of her geese was hurt: whereat the sayde Elizabeth fell out exceedinglye with this Examinate, and gave her harde speeches , saying, that thy husbande shall not have his health, nor that whiche hee hath shall not prosper so well as it hath done, and that shee also sayde, thou haste not had so good lucke with thy gooslings, but thou shalt have as badde: And shee sayeth that never after that shee coulde have any of them geese whiche shee her selfe kept: and also the same night shee sayeth, that one of her Kine gave downe blood in steede of mylke, and after for the space of viii. dayes.

This examinate saith, that her late husbande T. Crosse, was taken in a strange sort, & therof pined , and sayeth, that on a time as her said husbande was a walking in his grounde, hee was cast among the Bushes, and was in that case that hee coulde neyther see, heare, nor speake, and his face all to bee scratched: and shee sayeth, that hee beeing in that stange case, when hee came to his memorie, hee woulde alwayes crye out upon the sayde Elizabeth even unto his dying day, and would say that sithence shee the sayd Elizabeth had threatened him hee was consumed, and that shee had bewitched him.

The examination of Lawrence Kempe taken before mee Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices, the xx. day of Marche, against Ursley Kempe.

The sayde Lawrence sayeth, that his late wife was taken in her backe, and in the privie partes of her bodye, in a very extreame and most straunge sorte, and so continued about three quarters of a yeere, and then died: and hee sayeth, that his said wife did tell him severall times that Ursley Kempe his sister, had forspoke her, and that shee was the onely cause of that her sicknesse.

This examinat saith, that his saide wife did tell him that two yeeres before shee mette the said Ursley his sister upon Elliots heath, & that shee fell uppon her, & then tooke up her clothes and did beat her upon the hippes, and otherwise in wordes did misuse her greatly.

This examinat saith, that when his wife lay a drawing home, and continued so a day and a night, all the partes of her body were colde like a dead creatures, and yet at her mouth did appeare her breath to goe and come: and that she so continued in that case, until the said Ursley came unto her without sending for, and then lifted by the clothes and tooke her by the arme, the which shee had not so soone doone, but presently after she gasped, and never after drew her breath and so dyed.

The examination and confession of Margaret Grevell, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, one of her Majesties justices of the peace , the 24 day of March.

Continued in prison. This examinat saith, that she is of the age of iv. yeeres or there abouts, & being charged with the foresaide enformation and confession made by the said Ales Manfield against her, denieth the same in generall, and saith, that shee her selfe hath lost severall bruings, and takings of bread, and also swine, but shee never did complaine thereof: saying, that shee wished her yere were at a day, and then shee cared not whether shee were hanged or burnt, or what did become of her.

This examinat being asked, what falling out was or hath beene betweene Cheston & her, saith, on a time shee went to the saide Joan Cheston to bute a penniworth of Riemeale, but shee woulde let her have none, and saith, she said that it was pitie to doe her any good, saying, that she this examinat had told master Barnish that shrifes dogge did kil a Doe of his by the park pale, and saith, that there was none other falling out as shee remembreth.

This examinat beeing viewed and seene by women, say, that they cannot judge her to have any sucked spots upon her body.

This examinat and the saide Ales Manfield beeing brought before Brian Darcey, the saide Ales did affirm her confession made by her to her face to be true.

The Examination and confession of Elizabeth Eustace, taken before mee Brian Darcey Esquire, the xiii. day of marche.

Continued in prison. The saide Elizabeth Eustace saith, she is of the age of liii. yeeres or thereabouts, and denyeth the enformation and confession made by the sayd Ales Manfield ingenerall: Or that ever shee had any Impes or Mamettes saying, out upon her hath shee tolde anye thing of mee: and shee beeing asked, what conference had been betweene her & the sayde Ales Manfield saith, that there was none to her remembrance, other than once she met unto her, and carried her ointment to annoynt her lamenesse that shee was troubled with, and that then there was no conference which she remembreth.

The saide Ales Manfielde in my presence did affirm her confession made against the said Elizabeth to and before her face to face.

The enformation of John Wadde, Thomas Cartwrite, Richard Harrison with several others the parishioners of little Okeley, taken by mee Brian Darcey Esquire one of her Majesties Justices the 16. day of March.

John Wade saith, that about two moneth sithence Annis Heard saide unto him, that shee was presented into the spirituall Courte for a witch, and prayed him to be a meanes to helpe her, that she might answere the same when the dayes were longer: whereunto he said, that hee told her that the Register dwelt at Colchester, saying, it must be hee that therein may pleasure thee: whereto she saide, that shee woulde goe to John Aldust of Ramsey to speake unto him, for that he goeth to Colchester that hee might speak to the officers for her, and so she departed: this examinat saith, that since that time hee drove fortie sheepe and thirtie lambes to a pasture that hee had at Tendring, beeing thereof neere fourescore Acres, the which he had spared by some long time, and knew the same to be a good sheepes pasture, and saith, that after they had bin there viii. or ix. dayes, hee went to see them ( having neverthelesse appointed one to looke to them ) : And at his comming hee found one to bee dead, another to bee lame, another to sit drowping, and a lambe in the same case by it, whiche all died, and he founde one other with the necke awry, which is in that case to this day, and one other whiche was so weake that it coulde not arise, & this examinat saith, that sithence he with others presented her, and sithence shee the [p. ] saide Annis talked with him he hath had not so fewe as twentie sheepe and lambes that have died, and be lame and like to die: & hee saith, that hee hath lost of his beasts & other cattell, which have dyed in a strange sort.

Thomas Cartwrite saith, that after a great winde & snowe wel neere three yeeres sithence, there was an arme or boughe of a tree of his that was blowen downe, whereof Annis Herd had removed a piece and laid the same over a wet or durtie place to goe over, which being to this examinat unkowen, hee tooke the same & the rest and carried it home: the which the saide Annis knowing , that hee had carried the same away, she saide, that the churle ( meaning this examinat ) to a neighbour of hers had carried away the peece of the bough that shee had laied to go over, saying, that shee woulde bee even with him for it. After which this Examinat saith, within three nights after, there then beeing a snowe two of his beasts went from all the rest, where as they lay as he might well perceive by the snowe, and the head Cowe fell over a great bancke into a ditch on the other side, and there lay with the necke double under her, and the head under the shoulder, but a live, and he saith, he gate it home by good helpe and laied it in his barne, and saith, that it lay fourteene dayes in a [p. ] groning and piteous sort, but of all that time woulde eate nothing: whereupon hee saith he tooke an axe & knocked it on the head. And also the other Cowe that was with the said Cow being a calving in a most strange sorte died, the which this examinat saith, that that hee verily thinketh to be done by some some witchery by the saide Annis Herd.

Bennet Lane wife of William Lane, saith, that when she was a widow, Annis Herd beeing at her house she gave her a pint of milke & also lent her a dish to beare it home, the whiche dishe she kept a fortnight or 3. weekes , & then the girle of the said Annis Herds came to her house on a message: & she asked the girle for the dish, & said though I gave thy mother milke to make her a posset(?) I gave her not my dish, she this examinat being then a spinning: & so the girle went home, & as it seemed told her mother, who by her sent her dish home to her the which girle having done her arrand, & being but a while gone: shee this examinat saith, she could no longer spin nor make a thread to hold, whereat she was so greeved that she could not spin, she saith, she tooke her spindle and went to the grindstone therewith once or twise, & ground it as smoth as she coulde, thinking it might be by some ruggednesse of that spindle that did cause her thread to breake, and so [p. ] when she had ground it as wel as she could, she went againe to worke therewith, thinking that then it would have done, but it would not doe no better then it had done before: then she saith, that she remembred her selfe and tooke her spindle and put it into the fire, & made it red hot, & then cooled it gaine and went to worke, and then it wrought as well as ever it did at any time before.

This examinate saith, that an other time the saide Annis Herd owed her two pence, and the time came that shee shoulde pay the Lordes rent, and she beeing a poore woman was constrained to aske her the two pence, and to borow besides (as she said): whereto she the saide Annis answered, that shee had paied eight or nine shillings that weeke, and shee had it not nowe: saying she should have it the next week, whereto shee this Examinat saide, you must needes helpe me with it now, for this day I must pay the Lordes rent, then shee said shee must goe borrowe it, and so went and fetched it, saying, there is your money, whereunto shee this examinat answered, and said, now I owe you a pint of milke, come for it when you will & you shall have it: the which she came for the next day, & had it with the better, this examinat saith, that the next day she would have fleet her milk bowle, but it wold not abide the fleeting, but would rop & role as it were [p. ] the white of an egge, also the milk being on the fier it did not so soone seath but it would quaile, burne by & smelte, the which shee saide shee thought might be long of the feeding of her beasts, or els that her vessels were not sweete, whereupon she saith, she scalded her vessels, and scoured them with salt, thinking that might helpe, but it was never the better but as before: then she saith, shee was full of care, that shee shoulde loose both milke and creame, then shee saith it came into her minde to approove another way, which was, shee tooke a horse shue and made it redde hote, and put it into the milke in the vessels, and so into her creame: and then shee saith, shee coulde seath her milke, fleete her creame, and make her butter in good sort as she had before.

Andrewe West and Anne saith, that on a time the said Annis Herd came unto his house, saying, she had been at mill, and that shee coulde get neither meale nor breade, at which speeches bee knowing her neede, saith, hee caused his wife to give her a peece of a lofe: and that then hee said unto her Annis, thou art ill thought of for witchcraft, the which she then utterly denyed that she coulde or did any such thing: whereunto hee saith, his wife saide wee have a sort of pigges I wote not what we shall doe with them, saying, I woulde some body have one or two of them, to that the said Annis said that if a poore body should have of them and bellow cost, & that then if they shoulde die it woulde halfe undoe them, and said if her Landlord would give her leave to keepe one, she then wished that shee would give her one of them, whereunto this examinat said, shee should have one: But for that shee came not for it, this examinat saith, that he did think that she cared not for it, and after a while one of her neighbours bought two of them, and within ii. or iii. days after the said Annis came for one: to whome this examinat said, for that they had not hard no more of her, that he thought she would have none, and told her that he had sold two of them, and so the said Annis departed and went home.

This examinat saith, that his wife the next day sent unto the said Annis a pound of wooll to be spun: and that she said to the boy that brought it, saying, can shee not have her weeders to spin the same: and that she then said to that boy, your Aunt might as well give me one of her pigges, as to Penly. and this examinat saith, that within two houres after, one of the best pigs that he had fel upon a crying as they stood all together before the dore in the yarde, and the rest of the pigs went away from it: at the length the pig that cried followed stackering as though it were lame in the hinder partes, and that then he called his weeders to see in what strange case the pig was in, and asked them what was best to doe therewith, to which some of them said, burne it, other said, cut of the eares & burn them, and so they did, & then the pig amended by & by. and within two daies after this examinates wife met with the said Annis Herd, and shee then burdened her with that she had said to her boy: To the which the saide Annis made answere, that she did say so: and then this examinats wife told the said Annis in what case her pig was, saying, thou saidest the other day thou hadst no skill in witcherie, his saide wife then said, I will say thou hast an unhappie tongue. After which, this examinats wife could not brewe or have any drinke that was good, so as she was full of care, saying, that sometimes shee put one thinge into her brewing fat, sometimes an other thing to see if it coulde doe any good, but shee saith, it did none: then she saith one gave her counsell to put a hot iron into her mesh fat, the which she did, and then shee could brewe as well as she did before.

Edmond Osborne and Godlife his wife, said that a litle before Christmas last past, he bought at Manitree mault, and brought it home, and said to his wife, good wife, let us have good drinke made of it. And the next day shee went in hand to brew the same, and when she had meshed her first worte and did let it goe, that did verye well : Then his said wife having occasion to send her lad to their ground, she bade the lad call at Annis Herds for iii. d. the whiche shee owed her for a pecke of Aples, andthat the lad so did: And she answered him very short, and saide, shee bad it not now, saying, she shold have it as soone as the Wooll man came: and the lad came home, & tolde his dame what she had said. And at that time, she this examinat was readie to meshe the seconde time, & when she had done, her mesh fat wrought up as the fat doth when it was set a worke with good beere, and bare up a hand breadth above the fat, and as they thrust in a sticke or any other thing, it would blow up and then sinked againe, then she saith, that she did heat an yron redde hot, and put the same into it, & it rose up no more. And then she let goe, and then she did seath the wort, and when it was sodden it stancke in suche sorte, as that they were compelled to put the same in the swill tubbe.

Richard Harrison Clerk, person of Beamond saith, that he and his late wife did dwell at little Okely, in a house of his said wife, & that hee the said Richard Harrison had also the personage of Okeley in farme, and about Sommer was twelvemonth, he being at London his wife had a Ducke sitting on certaine egges under a Cherrie tree in a hedge, and when the saide ducke had hatched, his said wife did suspect one Annis Herd a light woman, and a common harlot to have stolen her duckelins, & that his said wife went unto the said Annis Herd & rated her and all to chid her, but she could get no knowledge of her ducklins, and so came home & was very angry against the said Annis, & within a short time after, the said Richard Harrison went into a chamber, and there did reade on his bookes for the space of 2. or 3. houres bidding his said wife to goe to bed with the children, and that he would come to her, and so she did: and being a while laid downe in her bed, his wife did crie out: Oh Lord Lorde, helpe me & keepe me, and he running to her, asked her what she ailed: and she said, Oh Lord I am sore afraid, and have bin divers times, but that I would not tell you, and said, I am in doubt husband, that yonder wicked harlot Annis Herd doth bewtich me, and the said Richard, said to his wife, I pray you be content and thinke not so, but trust in God and put your trust in him onely, and he will defend you from her, and from the Divell himselfe also: and said moreover, what will the people say, that I beeing a Preacher shoulde have my wife so weake in faith.

This examinat saith, that within two moneths after his said wife said unto him, I pray you as ever there was love betweene us, (as I hope there hath been for I have v. pretie children by you I thanke God) seeke som remedie for me against yonder wicked beast (meaning the said Annis Herd). And if you will not I will complaine to my father, and I thinke he will see som remedie for me, for (said she) if I have no remedie, she will utterly consume me, whereupon this examinat did exhort his said wife as hee had before, & desired her to pray to God, and that he wold hang her the said Annis Herd if he could prove any such matter, and after he went to the personage, and there he saith he gathered plummes: and the said Annis Herd then came to the hedge side and Anwicks wife with her, and said unto him, I pray you give me som plummes sir: and this examinat said unto her, I am glad you are here you vield strumpet, saying, I do think you have bewitched my wife, and as truly as God doth live, if I can perceive that she be troubled any more as she hath been, I will not leave a whole bone about thee, & besides I will seeke to have thee hanged: and saith, he saide unto her that his wife would make her father priute(?) unto it, and that then I warrant thee he will have you hanged, for he will make good friends, & is a stout man of himselfe , and saith, that then he did rehearse divers things to her that were thought she had bewitched, as Geese & Dogges, & as he was comming downe out of the tree, shee the said Annis did drinke, she saith, sometimes water & sometimes beere, such drinke as they drunke.

She this examinat saith, that her brother sometimes seeing them the Avices and black birdes, to come about him saith, that he saith they keepe a twitling and tetling, and that then hee taketh them and put them into the boxes.

She being asked if she sawe them sucke upon her mother, saith, that the Avices & blackbirdes have sucked upon her hands, and upon her brothers legges: being willed to shew the place, she said, here sucked Aves ,& here sucked Aves, and here sucked Blckbird. And being asked howe one spot on the backe of her hande came so somewhat like the other, she saith the same was burnt.

The examination and confession of Annis Herd of little Okeley, taken by me Brian Darcey Esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of the peace, the xvii. day of March.

Continued in Prison. The said Annis Herd saith, that she told one of her neighbors that the churle (meaning Cartwrite) had carried away a bough which she had laid over a slowe in the high way, and saide that she was faine to goe up to the anckle every steppe, and that shee said hee had beene as good hee had not caried it away, for she would fetch as much wood out of his fieldes as that doeth come unto. And she saith also that she remembreth she came unto goodman Wad, & telled him that she was presented into the spirituall court for a witch, & that then she desired that she might answere the same when the dayes were longer.

Also she confesseth that Lannes wife gave her a pinte of milk & lent her a dishe to carie it home in, & that she kept the dishe a fortnight or longer, & then sent it home by her girle, & also that Lannes wife came to her for ii. d. which shee ought her.

Also she confesseth that she came to the house of her neighbour West, & telled him that she had bin at mille, but she could get no meale, nor yet no bread, & that he gave her a piece of a loaf: and she confesseth the speeches that then were of the pigs: And that shee said to that boy that brought woll, that his Aunt might as well have let her have one as Penley. She saith also, that she remembreth that she came to goodwife Osborne, & bought of her 3. peckes of aples, & confesseth that shee ought unto her iii. d. but denieth that the boye or ladde came to her for any money.

Also she remembreth that mistres Harison charged her to have stollen her ducklings, & that she called her a harlot & witch, & confesseth that she came unto M. Harison, he being at the parsonage a gathering plums, & that shee prayed him to give her some plums, : But denieth that she hath any imps Aveses or blacke birds, or any kine called Crowe or Donne: And all & every other thing in generall, or that shee is a witch or have any skill therein.

The enformation of Edward Upcher, Thomas Rice, and several others of the inhabitants of Walton, taken by me Brian Darcey esquire, the xxv. day of Marche.

The said Edward saith, that he & wife being at Colchester, this last weeke, they went together unto the Jaile, to speake with Ursley Kemp, & then entering into talke with her, saieth, he asked her if she could tell what sicknes or diseases his wife had , whereunot the said Ursley then told him, that his wife was forspoken or bewitched, he then asked her by whom, she told him it was by a woman that dwelt in their town, saying, that that party hath one of her eares lesse than the other, & hath also a moole under one of her armes, and hath also in her yard a great woodstacke.

Ales Miles saith, that she went to the house of Joan Robinson for a pound of sope, at which time shee the said Joan was gone from home, And saith that her maide JOan Hewet told her, that her Dame made her nose bleed, and then called her Catte to eate the same, saying she did marvell why her dame shoulde call the Catte to eate her blood.

Thomas Rice saith, that about xiii. dayes past, Joan Robinson came unto the house of this examinate, and desired to borrowe a Hayer, the which his wife denyed her, saying, that she was to vie it her selfe, whereat shee departed, and presently after there arose a great winde, whiche was like to have blowen downe their house. And the next day after one of his Kine could not calve without helpe, it being drawen from her, died, and the Cowe was in danger and did hardly escape.

And sayeth also, that his wife hath a broode Goose a sitting, that hath been as good for the bringing foorth of her broode as any goose in Walton, and sayeth, that sithence the said Joan was denied the hayer, the goose in the night will goe from her neste, and will not suffer his wife nor none of his folk to come neare her, but shee will flie away, so as shee hath lost two of her egges.

And sayeth also, that he thinketh the same to be done by the said Joan by some witchcraft.

Margery Carter saith that about ten yeeres past, the husbande of the sayde Joan came unto this Examinates house, and requested this Examinates husbande to hyre a pasture for a Cowe, the whiche shee sayeth was denied him, with aunswere that hee coulde not forbeare it for feare hee might want for his owne beastes. And that presently after two of his best & likliest beasts in a strange sort brake their neckes, & saith also that presently after this mischance Joans husband came unto this examinats husband W. Carter, and said, God restore you your losse, nowe you may pastor me a cowe, the which then he did, and then his beasts left breaking of their necks. And saith also, that about 2. yeeres since, the said Joans husband would have bought a house and an acre of ground of W. Carter her husband, the which hee would not sell unto him, for that he would not have him his neighbour. And the next day he had a faire ambling mare, for the which he might have had 5. li, often times: The which mare of her selfe came into the stable, & presently was in great sweat, & did hold her tongue out of her head, & shooke & quaked in a strange sort, & presently died, the which when it was fleed, a neighbors dog came & fed of it, and thereof presently died.

Also she saith, not about 14. daies past, the said Joan Robinson came unto this examinate, & requested to borrow a Heyer, to whom she made answere that she had nowed not to lend the same: And saith, that within 3. daies after, shee had one of her best beasts drowned in a ditche where there was but a litle water.

Ales Walter saith, that well neere 4 yeeres past, the said Joan came unto her, & requested to bie a pig of her: whereto she saith she woulde lende her one, but sell her any she would not: whereto the said Joan said that she would have none except she did bye it, & so they parted. And presently after the sowe would not let her pigs sucke, but did bite and flye at them, as though shee had bin madde, when they had sucked above 7. dayes very well: & shee saith that she sold of the pigs, the which Joan Robinson hearing, came unto her, and requested to bie one of them: which she had for 3.d, and telled her that her sowe did the like, & bad her give them milke as it came from the Cowe and they woulde drinke, which shee approved, and they dranke.

This examinate saith, that two yeeres since, she going to the house of Joan Robinson, found her and her husband sitting by the fire, with whom after she had talked, Joan Robinson required to bye two pigs of her sowe that then was to pige: whereto shee said shee woulde see first what shee should have her selfe, and would not then promise her any. And the same night her Sowe piged two piges in the cote where shee lay, and for the more safetie of them, she tooke a broome faggot and laid it close over wharte the dore, because the pigs should not come out, & saith the same night all the farey of pigs being ten, came out over the broome sheafe, and stoode one before an other in a tract place lieke horses in a teem, beinge al dead to the number of nine, & the tenth was drowned by the pond side being about a rod from the cote.

Allen Ducke saith, that about five or sixe yeeres past the saide Joan came unto this examinate, and requested to bye a Cheese of his wife, but shee made her answere, that shee coulde sell none, yet neverthelesse shee was very desirous to have one, the whiche shee sayeth, shee denyed her, and that shee went away in a great anger. And this examinate sayeth, that the next day he went with his Cart & foure horses therein to fetch a lode of corne, & that his wife & two of her children rid in the Cart. And saith, that as he went towardes the fielde he watered his horses at a ware called the Vicarage ware, whiche horses when they had drunke, he could not gette them out of the water, but was faine to wade to the forhorse head, it beeing about a yarde deepe, and to take him by the head and to lead him out. This examinate saith, that the said Joan came unto this examinates wife at two severall times to bie two pigges, whereof hee saith she was denied, & presently after he had two pigs that died. And saith, that he assuredly thinketh that the said pigs died of some witchcraft which shee the said Joan used, and the like for the staying of his horses being in the water.

John Brayser saith, that about two yeres since the said Joan Robinson came unto this examinates house, and requested to bie a sowepigge to weane, the which was a moneth ago, whereunto he told her he ment to weane it him selfe, and that hee woulde not let her have it, the which being a fat and well liking pigge above all the rest, the next day it died.

Also this examinate saith, that sithence Christmas last past, this examinates wife went unto the sayde Joan Robinson, to pay her money shee ought unto her for wares which shee had beeing due upon scores: And for that she his wife would not pay her her owne reckoning, shee fell out with his wife: And presently after he had a cow that was drowned in a ditche not a foote deepe with water: Al which he supposeth was done by some witchcraft by the said Joan.

The enformation and confession of Joan Robinson, taken by me Brian Darcey esquire, one of her Majesties Justices of peace, the xxv.day of March.

The saide Joan saith, shee went to the house of T. Rice to borrowe a Heyer two dayes before a flawe of winde which was denied her: but denieth that she hath any impes or caused his calfe to die, or that she hurt her brood goose. Also shee remembreth that her husband went to W. Carter to bie a house & an acre of ground, & to hire a cow pastor, & to borrow a Hayer, of goodwife Carter. But denieth that she sent any impes to hurt any of his beasts, or his ambling mare, or caused any cow of his to be drowned.

Also this examinate saith, that shee went to bye a pigge of Ales Walter, but denieth that she required to bye any that was not pigged of her or of any other at any time, & denieth that shee sent any Impes or spirites to kill any of her pigges, and all the other matters against her enformed shee denieth in generall.

Imprinted in London at the tree Cranes in the Vinetree, by Thomas Dawson. 1582.


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