Part II: a choice collection of modern relations, part 4 of 12

RELAT. IV. Which is the Examination and Confession of Alice Duke, alias Manning another Witch of Styles Knot) of Wincaunton, in the County of Somerset Widdow, taken Jan. 27. and Feb. 2. 7. 10. 21. An. 1664. before Robert Hunt Esq.

THe Examinant saith, That when she lived with Anne Bishop of Wincaunton, about Eleven or Twelve years ago, Anne Bishop perswaded her to go with her into the Church-yard in the night-time, and being come thither, to go backward round the Church, which they did three times. In their first round, they met a Man in black Clothes, who went round the second time with them, and then they met a thing in the shape of a great black Toad, which leapt up against the Examinants Apron. In their third round they met somewhat in the shape of a Rat, which vanished away. After this the Examinant and Anne Bishop went home, but before Anne Bishop went off, the Man in black said somewhat to her softly, which the Informant could not hear.

A few days after, Anne Bishop speaking about their going round the Church, told the Examinant, that now she might have her desire, and what she would wish for. And shortly after, the Devil appeared to her in the shape of a Man, promising that she should want nothing, and that if she cursed any thing with A Pox take it, she should have her purpose, in case she would give her Soul to him, suffer him to suck her Blood, keep his Secrets, and be his instrument to do such mischief as he would set her about. All which, upon his second appearing to her, she yielded to, and the Devil having prickt the fourth finger of her right hand between the middle and upper joynt (where the mark is yet to be seen) gave her a Pen, with which she made a cross or mark with her Blood on Paper or Parchment, that the Devil offered her for the confirmation of the Agreement, which was done in the presence of Anne Bishop. And as soon as the Examinant had signed it, the Devil gave her Sixpence, and went away with the Paper or Parchment.

Further she confesseth, That she hath been at several meetings in Lie Common, and other places in the night, and that her Forehead being first anointed with a Feather dipt in Oyl, she hath been suddenly carried to the place of their meeting. That about five or six Weeks since (or more) she met in the said Common in the night; where were present Anne Bishop, Mary Penny of Wincaunton, Elizabeth Style of Bayford, and a Man in black Clothes with a little Band, whom she supposeth to have been the Devil. At the meeting there was a Picture in Wax, which the Man in black took in his Arms, and having anointed its Forehead with a little greenish Oyl, and using a few words, Baptized it by the name of Elizabeth or Bess Hill, for the Daughter of Richard Hill. Then the Devil, this Examinant, Anne Bishop, and Elizabeth Style stuck Thorns in the Neck, Head, Hand-wrists, Fingers and other parts of the Picture, Saying, A Pex on thee, I'le spite thee. This done, all sate down, a white Cloth being spread on the ground, and did drink Wine, and eat Cakes and Meat. After all was ended, the Man in black vanished, leaving an ugly smell at parting. The rest were on a sudden conveighed to their homes.

On Monday night after Christmas day last, she met the same Company again, near about the same place, and then Anne Bishop (who was there in a green Apron, a French Wastcoat and a red Petticoat) brought in her Apron a Picture in blackish Wax, which the Devil Baptized as before, by the name of John Newman, for the Son of Rob. Newman of Wincaunton, and then the Devil first, after Anne Bishop and this Examinant thrust in Thorns into the Picture, Anne Bishop sticking in two Thorns into the Arms of it. The Picture Anne Bishop carried away with her. They were all there present in their Clothes, and the Devil in the shape of a Man in black.

About Five years and a half since, the same persons were at the Baptizing of another Image, by the name of Peter Newman, another Son of Robert Newman, both which are since dead, and then Anne Bishop desired the Examinant to joyn with her in bewitching of Peter and John Newman.

At another time she was carried to a meeting in the night, to a green place near Marnhull as she was then told, where were present Anne Bishop, Eliz. Style, Mary Penny, and some unknown to her. Then also an Image in Wax was Baptized by the Devil, in the fore-related manner, by the name of Anne or Rachel Hatcher one of Marnhull, as she was then informed. After the Ceremony was ended, they had Wine, Cakes, &c.

She likewise confesseth, that she was at another such meeting, where twelve persons were present, many of whom were unknown to her, but she took notice of one lame Man in blackish Hair among them, and of the Devil as before.

She saith that after their meetings, they all make very low obeysances to the Devil, who appears in black Clothes and a little Band. He bids them welcome at their coming, and brings Wine or Beer, Cakes, Meat, or the like. He sits at the higher end, and usually Anne Bishop sits next him. They eat, drink, dance, and have Musick. At their parting they use to say, Merry meet merry part, and that before they are carried to their meetings, their Foreheads are anointed with greenish Oyl that they have from the Spirit which smells raw. They for the most part are carried in the Air. As they pass, they say, Thout, tout a tout, tout, throughout and about. Passing back they say, Rentum Tormentum, and another word which she doth not remember.

She consesseth that her Familiar doth commonly suck her right Breast about seven at night, in the shape of a little Cat of a dunnish colour, which is as smooth as a Want, and when she is suckt, she is in a kind of a Trance.

That she hurt Thomas Garret's Cowes, because he refused to write a Petition for her.

That she hurt Thomas Conway, by putting a Dish into his Hand, which Dish she had from the Devil, she gave it him to give his Daughter for good hansel.

That she hurt Dorothy the Wife of George Vining, by giving an Iron slate to put into her steeling Box.

That being angry with Edith Watts, the Daughter of Edmond Watts for treading on her Foot, she cursed Edith with a Pox on you, and after touched her, which hath done the said Edith much harm, for which she is sorry.

That being provoked by Swanton's first Wife, she did before her death curse her, with a Pox on you, believes she did thereby hurt her, but denies she did bewitch Mr. Swanton's Cattle.

She saith, That when the Devil doth any thing for her, she calls for him by the name of Robin, upon which he appears, and when in the shape of a Man, she can hear him speak, but his voice is very low. He promised her when she made her contract with him, that she should want nothing, but ever since she hath wanted all things.

Taken before me

Rob. Hunt.

1. Exam. Thomas Conway of Wincaunton, in the County of Somerset, Examined Feb. 12. 1664. before Robert Hunt Esquire, concerning Alice Duke, informeth, That about Twelve Months since Alice Duke alias Manning, brought a little Pewter Dish to this Informant, and told him it was good hansel for his Daughter. The Examinant willed the said Alice to carry it to her, she being within by the fire, but she forced the Dish into his hand and went away. Shortly after he was taken extreamly ill in all his Limbs. Of which illness the Physicians, whom he applied himself to, could give no account. When she went from him, she was very angry and muttered much, because he would not sign a Petition on her behalf. She hath confessed to him since that she had the Dish from the Devil, and gave it to him on purpose to hurt him. He hath been, and is since in great torment, and much weakned and wasted in his Body, which he imputes to the evil practices of Alice Duke.

Taken upon Oath before me

Rob. Hunt.

2. Exam. Mary the Wife of Tho. Conway, Examined March 6. 1664. before Rob. Hunt Esq concerning Alice Duke, saith, That her Husband Tho. Conway about a year ago delivered her a little Pewter Dish, telling her he had it from Alice Duke for good hansel for his Daughter, who had lately lain in. In this Dish she warmed a little Deer-sewet and Rose-water, anointing her Daughters Nipples with it, which put her to extream pain. Upon which suspecting harm from the dish, she put it into the fire, which then presently vanished and nothing of it could afterwards be found. After, when she anointed her Daughters Nipples with the same Deer-sewet and Rose-water, warmed in a spoon, she complained not of any pain. She further saith, That her Husband after he had received the dish from the hands of Alice Duke, was taken ill in all his Limbs, and held for a long time in a very strange manner.

Taken upon Oath before me

Rob. Hunt.

3. Exam. Edward Watts of Wincaunton, in the County of Somerset, Examined Mar. 6. 1664: before Robert Hunt, Esq concerning Alice Duke, saith, That he hath a Child called Edith, about Ten years of Age, who for the space of half a year hath languished and pined away, and that she told him that treading one day on the Toe of Alice Duke, she in great anger cursed her with a Pox on thee, and that from that time the Child began to be ill and to pine away, which she hath done ever since.

Taken upon Oath before me

Rob. Hunt.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Besides the plain agreement betwixt the Witnesses, and the Witches own Confession, it may be worth the taking notice here, how well her confession of having her Familiar such her in the shape of a Cat, agrees with Eliz. Style's Confession, that she had seen Alice Dukes Familiar suck her in that shape. As also how the bewitching of Edward Watts's Child by Alice Duke her saying, a Pox on her, agrees with the promise of the Devil to her, which is expresly, That if she cursed any thing with a Pox take it, she should have her purpose. She also testifying of the Baptizing the Image of Eliz. Hill, and of those forms of words, Thout, tout a tout, and Rentum Tormentum at their going to their meetings and departing, plainly shews that these things are not transacted in dreams but in reality. The Devil also as in other stories leaving an ill smell behind him, seems to imply the reality of the business, those ascititious particles he held together in his visible vehicle, being loosened at his vanishing, and so offending the nostrils by their floating and diffusing themselves in the open Air.

RELAT. V. Which is the Examination and Consession of Christian Green, Aged about thirty three years, Wife of Rob. Green of Brewham, in the County of Somerset, taken before Rob. Hunt, Esq March 2. 1664.

THis Examinant saith, That about a year and a half since (she being in great poverty) one Catharine Green of Brewham, told her, that if she would she might be in a better condition, and then perswaded her to make a Covenant with the Devil. Being afterwards together in one Mr. Hussey's Ground in Brewham Forrest about Noon, Catharine called for the Devil, who appeared in the shape of a Man in blackish Clothes, and said somewhat to Catharine which Christian could not hear. After which the Devil (as she conceived him) told the Examinant that she should want neither Clothes, Victuals, nor Money, if she would give her Body and Soul to him, keep his secrets, and suffer him to suck her once in twenty four hours, which at last upon his and Catharine Greens perswasion she yielded to; then the Man in black prickt the fourth finger of her Right-hand between the middle and upper joints, where the sign yet remains, and took two drops of her blood on his finger, giving her fourpence halfpenny, with which she after bought Bread in Brewham. Then he spake again in private with Catharine and vanished, leaving a smell of Brimstone behind.

Since that time the Devil (she saith) hath and doth usually su[…]k her left Brest about five of the Clock in the Morning in the likeness of an Hedg-hog, bending, and did so on Wednesday Morning last. She saith it is painful to her, and that she is usually in a trance when she is suckt.

She saith also, that Catharine Green, and Margaret Agar of Brewham, have told her that they are in Covenant with the Devil, and confesseth that she hath been at several meetings in the Night in Brewham Common, and in a Ground of Mr. Hussey's, that she hath there met with Catharine Green and Margaret Agar, and three or four times with Mary Warberton of Brewham, That in all those meetings the Devil hath been present in the shape of a Man in black Clothes. At their first coming he bids them welcome, but always speaks very low.

That at a meeting about three weeks or a Month since at or near the former place, Margaret Agar brought thither an Image in Wax, for Elizabeth the Wife of Andrew Cornish of Brewham, and the Devil in the shape of a Man in black Clothes did Baptize it, and after stuck a Thorn into its Head; that Agar stuck one into its Stomach, and Catharine Green one into its side. She further saith, that before this time, Agar said to her this Examinant, that she would hurt Eliz. Cornish, who since the Baptizing of the Picture hath been taken and continues very ill.

She saith, that three or four days before Jos. Talbot of Brewham dyed, Margaret Agar told her that she would rid him out of the World, because being Overseer of the Poor he made her Children go to Service, and refused to give them such good Clothes as she desired. And since the Death of Talbot, she confessed to the Examinant, that she had bewitcht him to Death. He dyed about a year since, was taken ill on Friday, and dyed about Wednesday after.

That her Mother-in-Law Catharine Green, about five or six years ago was taken in a strange manner. One day one Eye and Cheek did swell, another day another, and so she continued in great pain, till she dyed. Upon her Death she several times said in the hearing of the Examinant, that her Sister-in-Law Catharine Green had bewitched her, and the Examinant believes that she bewitcht her to Death.

That a little before Michaelmas last, the said Catharine cursed the Horses of Rob. Walter of Brewham, saying, A Murrain on them Horses to Death. Upon which the Horses being three, all dyed.

Taken before me Rob. Hunt.

RELAT. VI. Containing further Testimonies of the villainous feats of that rampant hagg Margaret Agar of Brewham, in the County of Somerset.

1. Exam. ELizabeth Talbot of Brewham, Examined March 7. 1664. before Rob. Hunt, Esq saith, That about three weeks before her Father Jos. Talbot dyed, Margaret Agar fell out with him, because he being Overseer for the Poor, did require Agar's Daughter to go to Service, and said to him, that he was proud of his living, but swore by the blood of the Lord, that he should not long enjoy it. Within three weeks of which he was suddainly taken in his body as if he had been stabb'd with Daggers, and so continued four or five days in great pain and then dyed.

Rob. Hunt.

2. Exam. Jos. Smith of Brewham, Husbandman, Examined March 15. 1664. before Rob, Hunt, Esq saith, That some few days before Jos. Talbot dyed, he heard Margaret Agar rail very much at him, because he had caused her Daughter to go to Service, and said, that he should not keep his living but be drawn out upon four Mens shoulders. That she should tread upon his jaws, and see the grass grow over his head, which she swore by the blood of the Lord.

Taken upon Oath before

Rob. Hunt.

3. Exam. Mary the Wife of William Smith of Brewham, Examined March 8. 1664. before Rob. Hunt, Esq saith, That about two years since Margaret Agar came to her and called her Whore, adding, A Plague take you for an old Whore, I shall live to see thee rot on the Earth before I die, and thy Cows shall fall and die at my feet. A short time after which, she had three Cows that died very strangely, and two of them at the door of Margaret Agar. And ever since the Examinant hath consumed and pined away, her Body and her Bowels rotting, and she verily believes that her Cattle and her self were bewitcht by Agar.

Taken upon Oath before

Rob. Hunt.

4. Exam. Catharine Green alias Cornish of Brewham, Widow, Examined May 16. 1665. before Rob. Hunt, Esq saith, That on Friday in the Evening, in the beginning of March last, Margaret Agar came to her, and was earnest she should go with her to a Ground called Husseys-knap, which she did, and being come thither they saw a little Man in black Clothes with a little band. As soon as they came to him Margaret Agar took out of her lap a little Picture in blackish Wax, which she delivered to the Man in black, who stuck a Thorn into the Crown of the Picture, and then delivered it back to Agar. Upon which she stuck a Thorn towards the heart of the Picture, Cursing and saying, a Plague on you; which she told the Examinant was done to hurt Eliz. Cornish, who as she hath been told hath been very ill ever since that time.

That a little above a year since Jos. Talbot late of Brewham, being Overseer for the Poor, did cause two of Agar's Children to go to Service. Upon which she was very angry and said in the Examinants hearing a few days before he fell sick and died, that she had trod upon the jaws of three of her Enemies, and that she should shortly see Talbot rot and tread on his jaws. And when this Examinant desired her not to hurt Talbot, she swore by the blood of the Lord, she would confound him if she could. The day before he dyed, she said to the Examinant, Gods wounds I'le go and see him, for I shall never see him more; and the next day Talbot dyed.

That she heard Margaret Agar curse Mary Smith, and say, she should live to see her and her Cattle fall and rot before her face.

Taken upon Oath before

Rob. Hunt.

5. Exam. Mary Green of Brewham, single Woman, Examined June 3. 1665. before Rob. Hunt, Esq saith, That about a Month before Jos. Talbot late of Brewham dyed, Margaret Agar fell out with him about the putting out of her Child to Service. After that she saw a Picture in Clay or Wax in the hands of Agar, which she said was for Talbot, the Picture she saw her deliver in Redmore, to the Fiend in the shape of a Man in black about an hour in the Night, who stuck a Thorn in or near the Heart of it, Agar stuck another in the Breast, and Catharine Green, Alice Green, Mary Warberton, Henry Walter and Christian Green, all of Brewham, were then and there present, and did all stick Thorns into the Picture.

At that time Catharine Green spake to Agar not to hurt Talbot, because she received somewhat from him often times, but Agar replied, by the Lords blood she would confound him, or words to that purpose.

That a little before Talbot was taken sick; Agar being in the house where the Examinant lived, swore that she should e're long tread upon his jaws. And that if Talbot made her Daughter go to Service for a year, yet if she came home in a quarter it would be time enough to see him carried out upon four Mens shoulders and to tread upon his jaws.

That on the day Talbot dyed, she heard Agar swear that she had now plagued Talbot; and that being in company with her some time before, and seeing a dead Horse of Talbot's drawn along by another of his Horses, she swore that that Horse should be also drawn out to morrow, and the next day she saw the well Horse also drawn out dead.

That above a Month before Margaret Agar was sent to Gaol, she saw her, Henry Walter, Catharine Green, Jone Syms, Christian Green, Mary Warberton and others, meet at a place called Husseys-knap in the Forrest in the Night time, where met them the Fiend in the shape of a little Man in black Clothes with a littleband, to him all made obeysances, and at that time a Picture in Wax or Clay was delivered by Agar to the Man in black, who stuck a Thorn into the Crown of it, Margaret Agar one towards the Breast, Catharine Green in the side; after which Agar threw down the Picture and said, there is Cornishes Picture with a Murrain to it, or Plague on it. And that at both the meetings there was a noisom smell of Brimstone.

That about two years since in the Night there met in the same place Agar, Henry Walter, Catharine Green, Jone Syms, Alice Green and Mary Warberton. Then also Margaret Agar delivered to the little Man in black a Picture in Wax, into which he and Agar stuck Thorns, and Henry Walter thrust his Thumb into the side of it. Then they threw it down and said, there is Dick Greens Picture with a Pox in't. A short time after which Rich. Green was taken ill and dyed.

Further he saith, That on Thursday Night before Whitsunday last, about the same place met Catharine Green, Alice Green, Jone Syms, Mary Warberton, Dinah and Dorothy Warberton and Henry Walter, and being met they called out Robin. Upon which instantly appeared a little Man in black Clothes to whom all made obeysance, and the little Man put his hand to his Hat, saying, How do ye? speaking low but big. Then all made low obeysances to him again. That she hath seen Margaret Clark twice at the meetings, but since Margaret Agar was sent to Prison she never saw her there.

Taken before me

Rob. Hunt.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Before we pass to other Relations, it will not be amiss further to remark upon these taken out of the Examinations of Mr. Hunt: From the poisoned Apples that Jane Brooks gave to Rich. Jones, and Eliz. Style to Agnes Vining, and the poisoned Pewter-dish that Alice Duke put into the hands of Thomas Conway, (which dish and apples they had from the Devil) we may observe in what a peculiar sense Witches and Wizzards are called [non-Latin script], Venefici and Veneficoe, Poysoners. Not that they mischieve People ordinarily by natural Poisons, as Arsenick and the like, but rather by some hellish malignancy infused into things by the art and malice of the Devil, or by the steams of their own Body which the Devil sucks. For the hand of Jane Brooks stroaking down Rich. Jones his side impressed a pain thereon.

We may observe also what an eximious Example of Moses his Mecassephah (the word which he uses in that Law, Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live) Margaret Agar is, and how fitly some interpreters render Mecassephim, Malefici, from the great mischief they do and delight in. And what a great credit this Agar is to J. Webster, and the rest of the Hagg-advocates, which would make them to be meer couzening Queans or Melancholick Fopps that had nothing to do with the Devil. As if the Man in black and a little band were but such another as J. Webster, or any other Haggadvocate that in waggery acted the part of the Devil in Husseys Knap, or any such like place of a Forrest, and so after all quickly and suddainly recoiling behind a bush and letting sly into the wind, the deluded Haggs took it for the vanishing of the very Fiend and his perfuming the Air with the smell of Brimstone. One that can resolve all the feats of the Hartummim of Egypt into tricks of Legerdemain, cannot […]e easily delude the company with such a feat as this, the old Wives being thick of hearing and carrying their spectacles not on their noses but in their pockets?

And lastly srom the Devils covenanting with the Witches for their Souls, it may be observed that the old Haggs dealing bonâ fidde, and thinking they have Souls surviving their bodies, are better Philosophers than the huffy Wits of our Age that deny distinction of Soul and Body. But if they have not (as these Huffers would have it) and the Haggs think so themselves, it is a pretty Paradox that these old Fopps should be able to outwit the very Devil; who does not in bartering for their Bodies and Souls buy a Pig in a poke, as the Proverb is, but a poke without a Pig. But I rather believe that these huffing Wits, as high as they are, may learn one true point of Philosophy from these Haggs and their Familiars; these evil Spirits certainly making their bargains wisely enough in covenanting for the Witches Soul. Which clause if it were not exprest, the Soul were free from the Familiars jurisdiction after death. Wherefore it is no contemptible argument these evil Spirits covenanting for the Soul of the Witch, that they know the Soul survives the Body, and therefore make their bargain sure for the possession of it as their Peculium after death. Otherwise if the Soul were mortal they would tell the Wit[…]es so, the more easily to precipitate them into […] wickedness, and make them more eager by their ministry to enjoy this present life. But this Doctrine is inconsistent with the form of his Covenant, whereby they are assured to him after death.