The Examination and Confession of certain Witches at Chelmsford in the County of Essex

by Dr. Hermann Beigel, M. D.

The Examination and Confession
of certain Witches
at Chelmsford in the County
of Essex.

COMMUNICATED AND PREFACED

BY

HERMANN BEIGEL, M. D.

Member of the Imperial Leopold.–Carolina Acad. of Naturalists; Licent.
of the Royal Coll. of Physicians in London; Member of the Soc.
of Physicians in Paris; Member of the Imperial Botan.
Zool. Soc. in Vienna; and late Physician
of the German Spaa Reinerz,
Silesia.

PREFACE.

HEN History draws its everlasting marks to picture the life of nations, its aspect becomes gloomier in noting down the instances where people meet to destroy in bloody wars what the blessings of peace have created, instances in which the genii of life lower their torch, in a short space, a thousand and more than a thousand times. But when History paints even such mournful pictures, there is the somewhat reconciling thought that mostly holy principles, powerfully influencing the progress of mankind, were the subject of controversy. But when facts have to be written down, proving that many thousands of lives are sacrificed to the sheer ignorance of a century, to the selfish malice of a certain party, history sleeps its pen in its own heart's blood, and mourns over the gloomy time in which such deeds could happen, and over the men that lived in it.

Such a sad period extends nearly over three centuries, from the fifteenth to the end of the eighteenth. We speak of the time during which the witchcraft trials existed, from their formal establishment by an immoral pope, Innocent VIII, up to their disappearance from the tribunals. These centuries present the darkest side of the history of the world; and it is a gratifying task to pursue the track which was stealthily followed by this priestcraft, in order to regain the ruling power which the Reformation had wrested from their hands. The secret tribunals (Vehmgerichte) and witchcraft trials were invented in order to make those who did not enjoy the favour of the church ascend the funeral pile, or to let them feel the dreadful pains of torture, which a secretly-nurtured revenge would not otherwise dare to do. Men who distinguished themselves by a particular erudition, and amongst them again those who occupied themselves in natural sciences, which are up to this day hated by catholicism, were put on trial and sentenced as sorcerers. How impartially the persecutors acted in this respect is manifested from the fact that after his death they made a sorcerer of Pope Sylvester II. distinguished by his learning. The famous mathematician, Roger Bacon, was obliged to appear twice in Rome for an examination of his instruments. Arnoldus de Villa Nova was in his eightieth year condemned to suffer death by fire, and the Bishop of Regensburg, Albertus Magnus, was suspected of witchcraft, because in winter he gave a banquet to the Roman emperor in his garden, which bore a spring-like appearance. An incautiously uttered word, a boast, led to the torture; the misfortune to have a mole, to have had a dog or cat disliked by a malicious neighbour, paved the way to tortures, ordeal of water, death by fire, in which thousands breathed their last, and all this was done ad majorem Dei gloriam. The world was seized by a disease called forth and propagated by selsifh priests. The path is not yet known which these fearful trials in Europe and on the other side of the ocean took, and the threads entwined round Christianity are yet undiscovered. It is, therefore, our duty to collect materials for the future historian; and the trials carried on in behalf of witchcraft, sorcery, etc. are of the greatest importance.

Entering into careful researches concerning the study of the history of these errors of men, my attention has been called to the "Examinations," through the kindness of Mr. Payne, who has been so good as to put into my hands an Index made by him of early printed books on Witchcraft. I offer these "Examinations" to the Society for the purpose of multiplying them, this copy being the only one in existence. It remains in the Library of Lambeth Palace; and I herewith offer my best thanks to the Rev. William Stubbs, Librarian of the said palace, for the readiness with which he placed this copy in my hands, and kindly assisted me during the time I was occupied in the Library.

The said pamphlet, of which Herbert speaks in the "Typographical Antiquities," vol. iii. p. 1316, and Collins, in vol. i. p. 1610, as contained in the only existing copy of Lambeth Library, is marked in "An Index of such English Books printed before the year M.D.C. as are now in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, by the Rev. S. R. Maitland," by No. 1339, 1340, and 42.

It is found in a volume which contains six different pamphlets of the sixteenth century. The size is duodecimo, bound in brown leather; on each cover the two letters R. B. are printed in gold, being the initials of Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, who died in 1610, and who was the founder of Lambeth Library. Our pamphlet contains twenty-two folios, without pagination. The characters are old English, and, besides three ornamental drawings at the end of each division, the following woodcuts are printed:

1. (On the title-page) The Lord washing the feet of his disciples.
2. Mother Waterhouse, when a child, and her grandmother, who is instructing her in witchcraft.
3. The cat of Mother Waterhouse, called by her "Sathan."
4. The toade into which the cat was changed by Mother Waterhouse.
5. The likeness of Jone—daughter of Mother Waterhouse.
6. The cat "Sathan in the lykeness of the great dogge."
7. Another likeness of "Sathan" as a dog with the face of an ape, as described by Agnes Brown.
8. The same woodcut.
9. The likeness of Mother Waterhouse.

DR. BEIGEL.

London, Woburn Place,
November, 1864.

THE EXAMINA-
tion and confession of cer-
taine Wytches at Chensforde in
the Countie of Essex before
the Ouenes maiesties
Judges, the XXVI
daye of July
Anno 1556

At the Assise holden there
as then, and one of them
put to death for the same
offence, as their examina-
tion declareth more
at large.

THE EPISTLE TO THE
READER.

OD whych of hys singular goodnesse (as the sage philosopher Hermes hath plainly described) to each of his creatures has added a reasonable soule, which is the chiefe and most excellent treasure that any man can be indued withvall: Let vs then consider God's inexplycable benefits, alwaies of his owne free wyll (and not of our desertes) geuen and bestowed upon vs, and sith that the soule of man is of great estimation in his fatherly presence, let vs endeuour ourselues to walke, that by continuall exercise of vertuous and holesome documents, I mean not onely by hearing of the sincere veritie: neither yet by much talkyng of the same to heare, and not to bear awaye is altogether friuolous: To babble and prate much of Christ and hys gospell (as though we would be counted ghostly gospellers) and to wante the chefest thing, I meane the frutes of well-governed conversacion, and to be cleane voyde of integritie, and cleanesse of lyfe, in my judgement and as the sacred Scripture verifieth, is nothynge but folly: (example) A tree that is altogether barren and at the required time destytute of fruyte hauing a trim shewe of leaves, deserueth to be hewed downe and made meet for the fier: so we wantinge fruites required, but hauing plenty of leaues be of lyke effect, and for all the outwarde shewe that we haue, we shall in like case be cut downe and throwen into the fyer prepared for the devill and his aungelles, from which (gentell reader) God defende vs all and geue vs suche grace that we maye henceforthe walke in our vocation, that God in al our workes may be unfeynedly glorified, and by thadmonition of this littel boke learne in such sorte to keepe our soules by fixed and assured faith in Christ, from the stinking puddle of filthy pollution, then shall we escape that horrible place prepared for the vngodly and wycked liuers and as profitable seruants be counted apt members to dwell wyth our Sauiour Christ aboue the cloudes in his heuenly kingdome, to the which God for hys mercies sake bring us all. Amen.

THE PREFACE.

Y tremblinge hande for feare doth
my dolour doth excede: (quake)
My ioyes decrese to tender teares
my sportes are turnd in dede
The gredy gulfs of grysly griefe
so gripe my restles harte:
That my pore pen can scantly shewe
the passions of my smarte.
Drawe nere you patrones with your babes
come viewe this haples happe:
In flushing fluddes of kominge teares
your tender bewtyes lappe:
Ye matrones milde drawe nere in haste
this yrksome acte beholde:
Then Nature shall her rufull playnts
by you her Nimphes unfolde.
Eche wight in whom the skilfull skyll
of natures arte is shown:
Surrender may themselues to me
this cruell acte to mone.
The heapes of griefe so hugie are
that sobbes must nedes abounde.
Yea shrilly shrickes to passe the skies,
your voyces shall redounde.

The dolour nowe so doutfull is,
that skante my warbling penne:
Can forth expresse the sence thereof
unto the sonnes of men.
Agayne the blubringe teares whych glide,
from my poor pincked eyes:
Besmerde my face that scarce I can
my inwarde griefes supprise.
One while I blush for shame to showe
these pageantes worthy blame:
Some other time my thoughtes me let
these bluddy factes to name.
Thus as I stay in doubt alas,
my dompes are passinge great,
My clogged joyntes benomd with feare
have got Dame sorrowes seat
Her massy mace with direful stroke
hath stroke my members all:
But these Periphrases I leaue,
and will discourse my thrall,
Which to conceave each reader wyll
well way I do not doubt:
Of late in Chenceforde towne deare friends
before the noble route
Of Judges just plast in that seate
by our moste famous Queene:
Judgement to give as justice leades,
as daily well is seene.
The sessions there by order kepte
offenders to correct.
Thre feminine dames attached were

whom Sathan had infect
With Belial’s spirite whose sorcery did,
the simple so molest:
That when they woulde with present death,
they were full fore opprest.
Here after shall succede the actes
that they them selues have wrought:
As they them selves confessed haue,
to judgement being brought.
Which thing when thou haste viewed well,
good Reader do thou praye:
To God the Lorde that he from vs
woulde witches take away.
And thus I ende hoping thou wilte
my travell well accept:
And judge the truth when thou haste hearde
of this the full effect.

FINIS PROLOG.

An exhortacion to all faithfull men
wyllinge them to set God’s feare before
their eyes, and Sathan’s practises
utterly to despise annexed to the same,
profitable for euery Christian man to
reade and to imbrace.

EHOLD these acts and scan them well
behold their pervers way:
These left the lord, these did his truth
which shold have ben their stay.
In them such power Sathan had,
that Christ they did refuse
His precious blud shed them to saue
to much they did abuse.
Sin, death and hell did spreade their flagge,
in them they bare the sway:
His worde was yrkesome to their hartes,
they walked farre astray.
What tender harte woulde God renounce,
who woulde his gospell leaue;
What godly one woulde hate his lorde

and vnto Sathan cleaue.
What wight woulde Gods good benefites
so lightly nowe esteme,
Which sent his Christ into the worlde
from hell vs to redeme.
Who by his might did vanquishe sinne
and layed Sathan waste:
By whole dere death eternall lyfe,
his flocke shall surely taste,
His loue to vs his creatures did,
in ample wise excede:
When by the paynes of paynefull death
to saue us he decrede.
What durat harte or selly brest
coulde finde Chrifte to repaye:
With such contempte as did these ymphes
which here beholde ye may.
What matrones harte woulde hyde the skyll,
of Nature that meke dame:
And toyle by such vngodly artes
to extinquishe cleane the same.
I meane if God shoulde sende encrease,
and multiply her sede:
Woulde she frequent it to destroy,
by wicked meanes in dede.
I think no tender harte coulde finde,
an infantes bloude to spill:
Nor yet no spoused wife I thinke,
her husbande dere woulde kyll
Sith that by witchcraft witches vse
all euilles to sequest:

Let such as feare the liuynge God,
their practises detest.
Sith whoredome in the same I saye,
her force doth plainly showe:
Let euery wight the same abhorre,
and scape infernall wo.
Sith this arte doth such yll conteyne,
as swearinges manifolde:
Let faithfull hartes forsake the same,
and fixe on Christ their holde.
Sith by that practise vile dere frendes,
man slaughter put in ure:
Let vs contemne those godles actes
and leade a life most pure.
Sith Christ the rocke of lastinge life,
must cleane renounsed be;
And Sathan as the gouernour
must haue the dignitie.
What cursed state shall they abyde,
which Christ their guide refuse:
And study still the deuilles minde
by practise still to vse.
Did Christ in vayne bestowe his bloude,
to saue our soules from hell:
Did Christ in vaine prepare the heauens,
for his elect to dwell.
Not so I judge, why shoulde we then
his lawe and worde contemne:
The scripture doth rebellious folke,
euerlastingly condemne.
I meane such as his worde detest

his lawe condemneth playne:
To taste with him whom they do serue
in hell eternall payne.
Such as do in sinne delighte,
frequenting mischiefe styll:
Be Sathans owne for Jesus Christe,
for his deny them wyll.
Sith Christ in heauen will them forsake,
which him in earth denye:
Let vs henceforth learne so to walke,
his name to magnifye.
Let vs that swearers be in dede,
our swearinge cleane refrayne:
So shall we scape the gredy gulphes
of hell and burninge payne.
Let whoremongers which whoredome use,
cast cleane away the same:
And pardon craue, for Christ is prest,
for to forgeue the blame.
Let such men as delight in sinne,
forsake their sinfull waies:
And study nowe that all your actes
may tende the Lorde to prayse.
Let filthy swynishe dronkardes nowe,
abhorred in Gods sight:
Leaue off their quaffing in excesse,
in modesty delight.
Then shall Gods armes be opened wide,
vs wretches to embrace,
And with his sainctes in his kingedome,
he will vs surely place.

To whych kingedome for Christes sake,
vouchsafe thy flocke to bringe:
That we as thy electes deare God,
to thee may prayses singe.

Finis et John Phillips.

The examination of them with their
confession before Doctor Cole and master
Foscue at the same Sise verbatum,
as nere as coulde be gathered, and
firste of Elizabeth Frauncis who saide
as here foloweth.

YRST she learned this arte of witchcraft at the age of xii yeres of hyr grandmother whose nam mother Eue of Hatfyelde Peuerell, disseased. Item when shee taughte it her, she counseiled her to renounce God and his worde and to geue of her bloudde to Sathan (as she termed it) whyche she delyuered her in the lykenesse of a whyte spotted Catte, and taughte her to feede the sayde Catte with breade and mylke, and she dyd so, also she taughte her to cal it by the name of Sathan and to kepe it in a basket.

When this mother Eue had geuen her the Cat Sathan, then this Elizabeth desired firste of the sayde Cat (callinge it Sathan) that she might be ryche and to haue goodes, and he promised her she shoulde–askinge her what she would haue, and she sayde shepe (for this Cat spake to her as she confessed in a straunge holowe voice, but suche as she vnderstode by vse) and this Cat forthwith brought shepe into her pasture to the number of xviii, blacke and whyte, whych continued with her for a tyme, but in the ende dyd all weare awaye she knewe not howe.

Item, when she had gotten these shepe, she desired to haue one Andrew Byles to her husband, which was a man of some welth, and the cat dyd promyse she shold, but that he sayde she must fyrste consent that this Andrew shuld abuse her, and she so did.

And after when this Andrew had thus abused her he would not mary her, wherfore she willed Sathan to waste his goodes, which he forthwith did, and yet not beyng contentid with this, she wild him to touch his body whych he forthewith dyd whereof he died.

Item, that euery time that he did any thynge for her, she sayde that he required a drop of bloude, which she gaue him by prycking herselfe, sometime in one place and then in an other, and where she pricked her selfe there remayned a red spot which was styl to be sene.

Item, when this Andrew was dead, she douting her selfe with childe, willed Sathan to destroye it, and he bad her take a certayne herbe and drinke it, whych she did, and destroyed the childe forthwyth.

Item, when she desyred an other husbande he promysed her an other, naminge this Frauncis whom shee nowe hath, but said he is not so rich as the other, willynge her to consent vnto that Frauncis in fornycation which she did, and therof conceaued a daughter that was borne within a quarter of a yere after they were maried.

After they were maryed they liued not so quietly as she desyred, beinge stirred (as she said) to much vnquietnes and moued to swearing and cursinge, wherfore she willed Sathan her Cat to kyll the childe, beinge aboute the age of half a yere olde, and he did so, and when she yet founde not the quietnes that she desyred, she wylled it to lay a lamenes in the leg of thys Frauncis her husbande, and it did in this maner. It came in a morninge to this Frauncis shoe, lying in it lyke a tode, and when he perceived it puttinge on his shoe, and had touched it with his fote, he being sodenly amased asked of her what it was, and she bad him kil it and he was forthwith taken with a lamenes wherof he can not healed.

After all this when shee had kept this Cat by the space of xv or xvi yeare, and as some saye (though vntruly) beinge wery of it, she came to one mother Waterhouse her neyghbour (a pore woman) when she was going to the oven and desired her to geue her a cake, and she wold geue her a thing that she should be the better for so long as she liued, and this mother Waterhouse gaue her a cake, where vpon she brought her this cat in her apron and taught her as she was instructed before by her grandmother Eue, telling her that she must cal him Sathan and geue him of her bloude and bread and milke as before, and at this examination woulde confesse no more.

Mother Waterhouse of Hatfylde peuerell
of the age of lxiiii yeares being
examined the same day confessed as
followeth, and the xxix daye
suffered.

YRST she receyued this cat of this Frances wife in the order as is before sayde, who wild her to cal him Sathan, and told her that yf she made muche of him he would do for her what she wolde haue him to do.

Then when she had receyued him she (to trye him what he coulde do) wyld him to kyll a hog of her owne, which he dyd, and she gaue him for his labour a chicken, which he fyrste required of her and a drop of her blod. And thys she gaue him at all times when he dyd anythynge for her, by pricking her hand or face and puttinge the bloud to hys mouth whyche he sucked, and forthwith wold lye downe in hys pot againe, wherin she kepte him, the spots of all the which priks are yet to be sene in her skin.

Also she saythe that another tyme being offended with one Father Kersye she toke her catte Sathan in her lap and put hym in the wood before her dore, and willed him to kyll three of this father Kersyes hogges, whiche he dyd, and retourning agayne told her so, and she rewarded hym as before, wyth a chicken and a droppe of her bloud, which chicken he eate vp cleane as he didde al the rest, and she cold fynde remaining neyther bones nor fethers.

Also she confessed that fallyng out with one widdow Gooday she wylled Sathan to drowne her cow and he dyd so, and she rewardid hym as before.

Also fhe falling out wyth another of her neyboures, she killed her three geese in the same maner.

Item, fhee confessed that because she could haue no rest (which she required) she caused Sathan to destroye the brewing at that tyme.

Also beyng denyed butter of an other, she caused her to lose the curdes ii or iii dayes after.

Item fallinge out with an other of her neybours and his wife, shee wylled Sathan to kyll hym with a bludye flixe, whereof he dyed, and she rewarded him as before.

Likewyse shee confessed, that because she lyued somwhat vnquietly with her husbande she caused Sathan to kyll him, and he doid so about six yeres past, syth which tyme she hath lyued a widdow.

Also she said that when she wolde wyl him to do any thinge for her, she wolde say her Pater noster in laten.

Item, this mother Waterhouse confessed that she fyrst turned this Cat into a tode by this meanes, she kept the cat a great while in woll in a pot, and at length being moued by pouertie to occupie the woll, she praied in the name of the father and of the sonne, and of the holy ghost that it wold turne into a tode, and forthwith it was turned into a tode, and so kept it in the pot without woll.

Also she said, that going to Brackstede a lyttle before her apprehentyon, this Sathan wylled her to hye her home, for she shulde haue great trouble and that shee shoulde be eyther hanged or burned shortly, more at this tyme she woulde not confesse.

Jone Waterhouse daughter to this
mother Waterhouse, beinge of the
age of xviii yeres, and examined
confesseth as foloweth.

YRST, that her mother this laste wynter woulde haue learned her this arte, but she lerned it not, nether yet the name of the thinge. She saith she neuer saw it but once in her mother’s hand, and that was in the likenes of a tode, and at that time comming in at a sodeyn when her mother called it oute to worke some thynge withall, she herde her to call it Sathan, for shee was not at any time truely taught it, nor did neuer exercise it before this tyme as foloweth:

Item she confessed that when her mother was gone to Breackstede, in her absence lacking breade, she went to a gyrle a neybours chylde, and desired her to geue her a pece of brede and cheese, whiche when denied and gaue her not, or at the least not so muche as wolde satisfye her, shee goinge home dydde as she had seene her mother doe, callynge Sathan, whiche came to her (as she sayd) she thoughte out of her mothers shewe from vnder the bedde, in the lykenes of a great dogge, demaundynge what she wolde haue, wherewithall she beyng a fearde, sayd she wold have him to make such a gyrle a ferd naminge this gyrle, then asked hee her what she wolde geue hym, and she saide a red kocke, then sayde hee no, but thou shalt geue me thy body and sowle, whereby she beinge soore feared, and desyrous to be rydde of hym, sayd she wold: And herewith he went to this gyrle in the lykenes of an euyll fauoured dogge with hornes on his head, and made her very muche afearde, and dothe yet haunt her, nowe can not these witches (as they saye) cal hym in agayn, because they dyd not let hym out. And more (sayth shee) she never dydde, but this her doinge was the reuealyng of all the rest.

FINIS.

 

Imprynted at London by Willyam Powell for
Wyllyam Pickeringe dwelling at Sainte
Magnus Corner, and are there for to be soulde.
Anno 1566, the 13 August.

THE SECOND EXAMINATION
and Confession of mother Agnes
Waterhouse, and Jone her daughter,
vpon her arainement, with the
questions and answeres of Agnes
Browne the childe, on whom
the spirite haunteth at this
present, deliberately
declared

before Justice Southcote and Master
Gerard the quenes atturney,
the xxvii day of July
Anno 1566, no lesse
wonderful then
most true.

The Confession of Agnes Waterhowse
the xxvii daye of July in Anno
1566 at Chelmsforde before Justice
Southcote and M. Gerard the quenes
atturney.

YRST being demaunded whether that shee were gyltye or not gilty vpon her araynement of the murtheringe of a man, she confessed that she was gilty, and then vppon the euidence geuen agaynst her daughter Jone Waterhouse, she sayde that she hadde a white Cat, and wylled her cat that he shuld destroy many of his neyghbours cattell, and also that he shoulde kyll a man, and so he dyd, and then after she must go ii or iii mile from her house, and then she toke thoughte howe to kepe her catte, then she and her catte concluded that he the sayde Catte wolde become a tode, and then she shuld kepe him in a close house and geue hym mylke, and so he wolde continue tyll she came home againe, and then being gone forth, her daughter hauing ben at a neyghbour’s house there by, required of one Agnes Browne, of the age of xii yeres or more, a peece of breade and cheese, and the sayde Agnes saide that shee had none, and that she had not the key of the milkhouse dore, and then the sayde Jone went home and was angry with the said Agnes Broun and she saide that she remembred that her mother was wonte to go vp and downe in her house and to call Sathan Sathan she sayde she wolde proue the like, and then she went vp and downe the house and called Sathan, and then there came a black dogge to her and asked her what she woulde haue, and then she saide she was aferd and sayd, I wold haue thee to make one Agnes browne afrayde, and then he asked her what she wold giue him and she saide she wold geue hym a red kock, and he said he wolde haue none of that, and shee asked him what he wolde haue then, and he sayde he wold haue her body and soule, and so upon requeste and feare together she gaue him her body and soule, and then sayde the quenes atturneye Howe vvylt thou do before God. O my Lord, I trust God wyll haue mercy vpon mee, and then he saide thou saiste vvell, and then he departed from her, and then she saide that she herde that he made the sayde Agnes Browne a fearde.

The said Agnes Brown was then demaunded and called for, and then she came in, and beinge asked what age she was of she sayde she thoughte she was xii yeres old, and then the quenes atturney asked her what shee could say, and then shee saide that at suche a day, naming the daye certayne that shee was chirning of butter and there came to her a thynge lyke a blacke dogge with a face like an ape, a short taile, a cheine, and a syluer whystle (to her thinking) about his neck, and a peyre of homes on his heade, and brought in his mouth the keye of the milkehouse doore, and then my lorde she saide, I was afearde, for he skypped and leaped to and fro, and satte on the toppe of a nettle, and then I asked hym what he wolde haue, and he saide he woulde haue butter, and I saide I had none for him and then he saide he wolde haue some or he went, and then he dyd run to put the keye into the locke of the mylkehouse dore, and I sayde he sholde haue none, and he sayde he wolde haue some, and then he opened the dore and went vppon the shelfe, and there vpon a new chese laid downe the key, and being a whyle within he came out againe, and locked the dore and said that he had made flap butter for mee, and so departed, and then she saide shee tolde her aunte of it, and then she sent for the priest, and when he came he bad her to praye to God, and cal on the name of Jesus, and soo the nexte day my lord he came again to me with the keye of oure milkehouse dore in his mouthe, and then I saide in the name of Jesus what hade thou there, and then he layed downe the key and sayde that I spake euyll woordes in speakyng of that name, and then hee departed, and so my aunte toke up the key, for he had kept it from vs ii dayes and a nyghte, and then we went into the milkhouse and there we dyd se the print of butter vpon the chese, and then within a few daies after hee came againe with a beane pod in his mouth, and then the queenes atturney asked what that was, and so the other Justices declared, and then shee sayde my lorde I saide in the name of Jesus what hast thou there, and so then he laid it downe and saide I spake euil wordes and departed and came agayne by and by with a pece of breade in his mouth, and I asked hym what he wold haue, and he sayde butter it was that he wold haue, and so he departed, and my lord I dyd not see hym noo more tyll wenseday laste, whiche was the xxiiii day of July, why said the quenes atturneye was he with the on Wenseday last, ye she said, what did he then to thee sayde he, my lorde saide shee he came with a knyfe in his mouthe and asked me if I were not dead, and I saide No I thanked God, and then hee sayde if I wolde not dye that hee wold thrust his knife to my harte but he wold make me to dye, and then I sayde in the name of Jesus lay down thy knyfe, and he sayde he wolde not departe from his sweete dames knyfe as yet, and then I asked of hym who was his dame, and then he nodded and wagged his head to your house mother Waterhouse, then the queenes attourneye asked if she sayde Agnes Waterhouse what she saide to it, then she demanded what maner knife that it was, and Agnes Browne said it was a daggar knife, there thou liest saide Agnes Waterhouse, why, quod the quenes atturney, mary my lord (quod she) she saith it is a daggar knife and I haue none such in my house, but a greate knyfe, and therein she lieth, yea yea, my lord quoth Jone Waterhouse she lieth in that she saith it hadde a face like an ape, for this that came to mee was like a dogge, well sayde the quenes attourney, well, can you make it come before us nowe, if ye can we will dyspatche you out of prison by and by, no saith saide Agnes Waterhouse I can not, for in faith if I had let hym go as my daughter did I could make hym come by and by, but now I have no more power ouer him, then said the queenes atturneye, Agnes Waterhouse when dyd thye Cat suck of thy bloud neuer saide she, no saide hee, let me se, and then the jayler lifted up her kercher on her heade, and there was diuerse spottes in her face and one on her nose, then sayde the quenes atturney, in good faith Agnes when dydde he sucke of thy bloud laste, by my fayth my lord sayde she, not this fortnyght, and so the jurye went together for that matter.

Imprynted at London by Willyam Powell for
Wyllyam Pickeringe dwelling at Sainte Magnus
corner and are there for to be soulde.
Anno 1566 the 13 August.

The ende and last confession of mother
Waterhouse at her death, whiche was
the xxix daye of July. Anno 1566.

YRSTE (beinge redi prepared to receiue her death) she confessed earnestly that shee had bene a wytche and vsed suche execrable sorserye the space of xv yeres, and had don many abhominable dede, the which she repented earnestely and unfaynedly,and desyred almighty Gods forgeueness in that she had abused hys most holy name by her deuyllishe practyses, and trusted to be saued by his mod vnspekeable mercy. And being demaunded of the by standers, shee confessed that shee sent her Sathan to one Wardol, a neibour of hers, beinge a tayler (with whom she was offended) to hurte and destroy him and his goodes. And this her Sathan went therabout for to haue done her wyll, but in the ende he returned to her agayne, and was not able to do this myschiefe, she asked the cause, and he aunswered because the said Wardol was so strong in fayth that he hadde no power to hurte hym, yet she sent hym dyuerse and sundry time (but all in vayne) to haue mischeuid hym. And being demaunded whether she was accustomed to go to church to the common prayer or deuine seruice, she saide yea, and being required what she dyd there she saide she did as other women do, and prayed right hartely there, and when she was demanded what praier she saide, she aunswered the Lordes prayer, the Aue Maria, and the belefe, and then they demaunded whether in laten or in englyshe, and shee sayde in laten, and they demaunded why she saide it not in englyshe but in laten, seing that it was set out by publike aucthoritie and according to Goddes word that all men shoulde pray in the englyshe and mother toung that they best vnderstande, and shee sayde that Sathan wolde at no tyme suffer her to fay it in englyshe, but at all tymes in laten: for these and many other offences whiche shee hathe commytted, done and confessed, shee bewayled, repented, and asked mercy of God, and all the worlde forgyuenes and thus she yelded vp her sowle, trusting to be in joye with Christe her Sauiour, which dearely had bought her with his most precious bloudde. Amen.

Imprynted at London by Willyam Powell for
Wyllyam Pickeringe dwellinge at Sainte Magnus
corner and are there for to be soulde.
Anno 1566. the 23 August.