Part II: a choice collection of modern relations, part 5 of 12

RELAT. VII. Touching Florence Newton an Irish Witch of Youghal, taken out of her Trial at the Assizes held for the Country of Corke, Sept. 11. Ann. 1661.

THis Florence Newton was committed to Youghall Prison, by the Major of the Town, March 24. 1661. for bewitching Mary Longdon, who gave evidence against her at Cork Assizes, as follows. Mary Longdon being sworn and examined what she could say against the said Florence Newton for any practice of Witchcraft upon her self, and being bidden to look on the Prisoner, her countenance changed pale, and she was very fearful to look towards her, but at last she did. And being askt whether she knew her, she said she did, and wisht she never had. Being askt how long she had known her, she said for three or four years. And that at Christmas last the said Florence came to the Deponent, at the House of John Pyne in Youghall, where the Deponent was a Servant. And askt the Deponent to give her a piece of Beef out of the Powdering-Tub. And the Deponent answering her, that she could not give away her Masters Beef, she said Florence seemed to be very angry, and said, thou hadst as good have given it me, and so went away grumbling.

That about a week after, the Deponent being going to the Water with a Pail of Cloth on her head, she met the said Florence Newton, who came full in her face, and threw the Pail off her Head, and violently kist her, and said, Mary, I pray thee, let thee and I be friends, for I bear thee no ill will, and I pray thee do thou bear me none. And that she the Deponent went afterwards home, and that within a few days after, she saw a Woman with a Vail over her face, stand by her Bed-side, and one standing by her like a little Old Man in silk Clothes, and that this Man which she took to be a Spirit, drew the Vail from off the Womans Face, and then she knew it to be Goody Newton, and that the Spirit spake to the Deponent, and would have had her promise him to follow his advice, and she should have all things after her own heart, to which she says, she answered, that she would have nothing to say to him, for her trust was in the Lord.

That within a Month after the said Florence had kist her, she this Deponent fell very ill of Fits or Trances, which would take her on the sudden, in that violence that three or four Men could not hold her. And in her Fits she would often be taken with Vomitings, and would Vomit up Needles, Pins, Horse-nails, Stubbs, Wooll and Straw, and that very often. And being asked whether she perceived at these times what she Vomited? she said she did. For then she was not in so great distraction as in other parts of her fits she was. And that a little before the first beginning of her fits, several (and very many) smallstones would fall upon her as she went up and down, and would […]llow her from place to place, and from one room to another, and would hit her on the head, shoulders, and arms, and fall to the ground and vanish away. And that she and several others would see them both […]ll upon her, and on the ground, but could never take them, save onely some few, which she and her Master caught in their hands. Amongst which one that had a hole in it she tied (as she was advised) with a Leather thong to her Purse, but it was vanisht immediately though the Leather continued tied on a fast Knot.

That in her fits she often saw this Florence Newton, and cryed out against her for tormenting of her, for she says that she would several times stick Pins into her Arms, and some of them so fast that a Man must pluck three or four times to get out the Pin, and they were stuck betwixt the skin and the flesh. That sometimes she should be removed out of her bed into another room, sometimes she should be carried to the top of the house laid on a board betwixt two Sollar Beams, sometimes put into a Chest, sometimes under a parcel of wool, sometimes betwixt two Feather-beds on which she used to lie, and sometimes betwixt the Bed and the Mat in her Masters Chamber in the day time. And being asked how she knew she was thus carried about and disposed of, seeing in her fits she was in a violent distraction? she answered, she never knew where she was till they of the Family and the Neighbours with them would be taking her out of the places whither she was so carried and removed. And being asked the reason wherefore she cryed out so much against the said Florence Newton in her fits? she answered, because she saw her and felt her torturing.

And being asked how she could think it was Florence Newton that did her this prejudice? she said, first because she threatned her, then because after she had kist her she sell into these fits, and that she both saw and felt her tormenting. And lastly, that when the People of the Family by advice of the Neighbours and consent of the Major, had sent for Florence Newton to come to the Deponent, she was always worse when she was brought unto her, and her fits more violent than at another time. And that after the said Florence was committed at Youghall, the Deponent was not troubled, but was very well till a little while after the said Florence was removed to Corke, and then the Deponent was as ill as ever before. And the Major of Youghall one Mr. Mayre, then sent to know whether the said Florence were bolted (as the Deponent was told) and finding she was not, order was given to put the bolts on her, which being done the Deponent saith she was well again, and so hath continued ever since. And being asked whether she had such like fits before the said Florence gave her the kiss, she saith she never had any, but believes that with that kiss she bewitcht her, and the rather because she hath heard from Nicholas Pyne and others, that the said Florence had confessed as much

This Mary Longdon having closed up her Evidence, Florence Newton peep'd at her as it were betwixt the heads of the bystanders that interposed betwixt her and the said Mary, and lifting up both her hands together as they were manacled cast them in an angry violent kind of motion (as was seen and observed by W. Aston,) towards the said Mary, as if she intended to strike at her if she could have reacht her, and said Now she is down. Upon which the maid fell suddainly down to the ground like a stone, and fell into a most violent fit, that all the People that could come to lay hands on her could scarce hold her, she biting her own Arms and shreeking out in a most hideous manner to the amazement of all the beholders. And continuing so for about a quarter of an hour (the said Florence Newton sitting by her self all that while pinching her own Hands and Arms as was sworn by some that observed her) the maid was ordered to be carried out of Court and taken into a house. Whence several Persons after that, brought word that the Maid was in a Vomiting fit, and they brought in several crooked Pins and Straws and Wool, in white foam like spittle in great proportions. Whereupon the Court having taken notice that the Maid had said she had been very well when the said Florence was in bolts, and ill again when out of them, till they were again put on her, demanded of the Gaoler if she were in bolts or no, to which he said she was not, but onely manacled. Upon which order was given to put on her bolts, and upon putting them on she cryed out, she was killed, she was undone, she was spoiled, why do you torment me thus? and so continued complaining grievously for half a quarter of an hour. And then came in a Messenger from the Maid and informed the Court the Maid was well. At which Florence immediately and cholerickly uttered these words, She is not well yet. And being demanded how she knew she was not well yet? she denied she said so, though many in Court heard her say the words, and she said, if she did, she knew not what she said, being old and disquieted and distracted with her sufferings. But the Maid being reasonably well come to her self, was, before the Court knew any thing of it, sent out of Town to Youghall, and so was no further Examined by the Court.

The fit of the Maid being urged by the Court with all the Circumstances of it upon Florence, to have been a continuance of her Devilish practice, she denied it, and likewise the motion of her hands, or the saying, Now she is down, though the Court saw the first, and the words were sworn by one Roger Moor. And Thomas Harrison swore that he had observed the said Florence peep at her and use that motion with her hands, and saw the Maid fall immediately upon that motion, and heard the words, Now she is down, uttered.

Nicholas Stout was next produced by Mr. Attorney General, who being sworn and Examined said, That he had oft tried her, having heard say that Witches could not say the Lords Prayer, whether she could say that Prayer or no, and sound she could not. Whereupon she said she could say it, and had oft said it. And the C[…]rt being desired by her to hear her lay it, gave her leave. And four times together after these words [give us this day our daily bread] she continually said as we forgive them, leaving always out the words [and forgive us our trespasses] upon which the Court appointed one near her to teach her these words she so left out. But she either could not or would not say them, using only these or the like words when these were repeated, Ay Ay trespasses, that's the words. And being oft pressed to utter the words as they were repeated to her, she did not. And being asked the reason, she said she was old and had a bad memory; and being asked how her memory served her so well for other parts of the Prayer, and only fail her for that, she said she knew not, neither could she help it.

John Pyne being likewise sworn and Examined, said that about January last the said Mary Longdon being his Servant was much troubled with little Stones that were thrown at her where ever she went, and that he hath seen them come as if they were thrown at her, others as if they dropped on her, and that he hath seen very great quantities of them, and that they would, after they had hit her, fall on the ground, and then vanish, so that none of them could be found. And further, that the Maid once caught one of them, and he himself another, and one of them with a hole in it, she tyed to her purse, but it vanished in a little time, but the knot of the Leather that tyed it remained unaltered. That after the stones had thus haunted her, she fell into most grievous fits, wherein she was so violently distracted, that sour Men would have very much ado to hold her, and that in the highest extremity of her fits, she would cry out against Gammer Newton for hurting and tormenting of her. That sometimes the Maid would be reading in a Bible, and on a sudden he hath seen the Bible struck out of her Hand into the middle of the Room, and she immediately cast into a violent fit. That in the fits he hath seen two Bibles laid on her Breast, and in the twinkling of an Eye they would be cast betwixt the two Beds the Maid lay upon, sometime thrown into the middle of the Room, and that Nicholas Pyne held the Bible in the Maids Hand so fast, that it being suddainly snatcht away two of the leaves were Torn. That in many other fits the Maid was removed strangely, in the twinkling of an Eye, out of the bed, sometimes into the bottom of a Chest with Linnen, under all the Linnen, and the Linnen not at all disordered, sometimes betwixt the two Beds she lay on, some[…]imes under a parcel of Wool, sometimes betwixt his Bed and the Mat of it in another Room, and once she was laid on a small deal Board, which lay on the top of the House betwixt two Sollar Beams, where he was forced to rear up Ladders to have her fetcht down. That in her fits she hath often Vomited up Wool, Pins, Horse-Nails, Stubs, Straw, Needles and Moss, with a kind of white Foam or Spittle, and hath had several Pins stuck into her Arms and Hands, that sometimes a Man must pull three or four times before he could pull one of them out, and some have been stuck between the flesh and the Skin, where they might be perfectly seen, but not taken […]ut, nor any place seen where they were put in. That when the Witch was brought into the Room, where she was, she would be in more violent and longer lasting fits than at other times. That all the time the Witch was at liberty, the Maid was ill, and as soon as she was committed and bolted, she recovered and was well, and that when the Witch was removed to Corke, the Maid fell ill. And thereupon the Major of Youghall sent to see if she were bolted or no, and to acquaint them the Maid was ill, and desire them if the Witch were not bolted, they would bolt her. That she immediately mended and was as well as ever she was: and when the Messenger came from Corke, and told them when the Witch was bolted, it fell out to be the very time the Maid amended at Youghall.

Nicholas Pyne being sworn, saith, That the second night after that the Witch was in Prison, being 24 of March last, he and Joseph Thompson, Roger Hawkins, and some others went to speak with her concerning the Maid, and told her that it was the general Opinion of the Town that she had bewitched her, and desired her to deal freely with them, whether she had bewitched her or no. She said she had not bewitched her, but it may be she had over-looked her, and that there was a great difference betwixt bewitching and over-looking, and that she could not have done her any harm if she had not toucht her, and that therefore she had kist her. And she said that what mischief she thought of at that time she kist her, that would fall upon her, and that she would not but confess she had wronged the Maid, and thereupon fell down upon her Knees, and prayed God to forgive her for wronging the poor Wench. They wisht that she might not be wholly destroyed by her; to which she said, it must be another that must help her, and not they that did the harm. And then she said, there were others, as Goody Halfpenny, and Goody Dod in Town, that could do these things as well as she, and that it might be one of them that had done the Maid wrong.

That towards Evening, the Door of the Prison shook, and she arose up hastily and said, What makest thou here this time a night? and there was a very great noise, as if some body with Bolts and Chains had been running up and down the Room, and they asked her what it was she spoke to, and what it was made the noise; and she said she saw nothing, neither did she speak, and if she did, it was she knew not what. But the next day she confest it was a Spirit, and her Familiar in the shape of a Grey-hound.

He saith further, That he and Mr. Edward Perry and others, for Trial of her took a Tyle off the Prison, next to the place where the Witch lay, and carried it to the House where the Maid lived, and put it into the fire till it was red hot, and then dropt some of the Maids Water upon it, and the Witch was then grievously tormented, and when the Water was consumed, she was well again.

And as to the stones falling on and cast at the Maid, as to the Maids fits, her removal into the Chest under the Wool, betwixt the Feather-beds, on the top of the deal Board betwixt two Sollar beams, concerning the Bibles and their remove, his holding one of them in the Maids hands till two Leaves were torn, concerning the Maids Vomiting, and her calling out against the Witch, he agreeth perfectly throughout with John Pyne as before.

Edward Perry being likewise sworn deposeth, That he, Mr. Greatrix and Mr. Blackwall went to the maid, and M. Greatrix and he had read of a way to discover a Witch, which he would put in practice. And so they sent for the Witch, and set her on a Stool, and a Shoemaker with a strong Awl endeavored to stick it in the Stool, but could not till the third time. And then they bad her come off the Stool, but she said she was very weary and could not stir. Then two of them pulled her off, and the Man went to pull out his Awl, and it dropt into his hand with half an Inch broke off the blade of it, and they all looked to have found where it had been stuck, but could find no place where any entry had been made by it. Then they took another Awl and put it into the Maids hand, and one of them took the Maids hand, and ran violently at the Witches hand with it, but could not enter it, though the Awl was so bent that none of them could put it streight again. Then Mr. Blackwall took a Launce and launc't one of her hands an Inch and a half long, and a quarter of an Inch deep, but it bled not at all. Then he launc't the other […]nd, and then they bled.

He further saith, That after she was in Prison, he went with Roger Hawkins and others to discourse with the Witch about the Maid, and they askt what it was she spake to the day before, and after some denyal, she said it was a Greyhound which was her Familiar, and went out at the Window, and then she said if I have done the Maid hurt, I am sorry for it. And being then asked whether she had done her any hurt, she said she never did bewitch her, but confessed she had overlooked her that time she kist her, but that she could not now help her, for none could help that did the mischief, but others. And further the Deponent saith, That after at the Assize at Cashal, he meeting with one William Lap, and discoursing about these passages with him, the said Lap told the Deponent, that if he would but take a Tyle off the House near the place where the Witch lay, and heat it red hot in the fire, and then take some of the Maids Water and drop upon it, that so long as this was doing, he should find the Witch most grievously tormented: That afterwards he, Edward Perry, Nicholas Pyne and others put this in practice, and found that the Witch was extreamly tormented and vexed, and when the experiment was over, she came to her self, and then they askt her how she came to hurt the Maid? and she said, that what evil she thought against the Maid that time she kist her, that would fall upon her, and that she could not have hurt her except she had toucht her, and then she fell on her knees and confest she had wronged the Maid, and desired God to forgive her. And then they put her upon saying the Lord Prayer, but she could not say the words, and forgive us our trespasses.

Mr. Wood a Minister being likewise sworn, and Examined deposeth, That having heard of the stones dropt and thrown at the Maid, and of her fits, and meeting with the Maids Brother, he went along with him to the Maid, and found her in her fit crying out against Gammer Newton, that she prickt her and hurt her. And when she came to her self he asked her what had troubled her, and she said Gammer Newton. And the Deponent said, why, she was not there. Yes, said she, I saw her by my bed side. The Deponent then asked her the original of all, which she related from the time of her begging the Beef, and after Kissing and so to that time. That then they caused the Maid to be got up and sent for Florence Newton, but she refused to come, pretending she was sick, though indeed it appeared she was well. Then the Major of Youghall came in and spoke with the Maid, and then sent again and caused Florence Newton to be brought in, and immediately the Maid fell into her fit far more violent, and three times as long as at any other time, and all the time the Witch was in the Chamber the Maid cryed out continually of being hurt here and there, but never named the Witch; but as soon as she was removed, then she cryed out against her by the name of Gammer Newton, and this for several times. And still when the Witch was out of the Chamber the Maid would desire to go to Prayers, and he found good affections in her in time of Prayer. but when the Witch was brought in again, though never so privately, although she could not possibly, as the Deponent conceives, see her, she would be immediately sensless and like to be strangled, and so would continue till the Witch were taken out, and then though never so privately carried away she would come again to her senses. That afterwards Mr. Greatrix, Mr. Blackwall and some others, who would need satisfy themselves in the influence of the Witches presence, tried it and found it several times. Although he did it with all possible privacy, and so as none could think it possible for the Maid to know either of the Witches coming in or going out.

Richard Mayre Major of Youghall, being likewise sworn saith, That about the 24th of March last, he sent for Florence Newton, and Examined her about the Maid, and she at first denied it, and accused Goodwife Halspenny and Goodwife Dod, but at length when he had caused a Boat to be provided, and had thought to have tried the Water Experiment on them all three, then Florence Newton consessed she had overlooked the Maid and done her wrong with a kiss. For which she was heartily sorry and desired God to forgive her. That then he likewise Examined the other two Women Halspenny and Dod, but they utterly deny'd, it and were content to abide any Trial. Whereupon he caused both Florence, Halspenny, and Dod, to be carried to the Maid. And he told her these two Women, or one of them were said by Gammer Newton to have done her hurt, but she answered No no, they are honest Women, but it is Gammer Newton that hurts me, and I believe she is not far off. That then they afterwards brought in Newton privately, and then she fell into a most violent fit, ready to be strangled, till the Witch was removed, and then she was well again, and this for three several times. He further deposeth, that there were three Aldermen in Youghall, whose Children she had kist as he had heard them affirm, and all the Children died presently after. And as to the sending to Cork to have the bolts put on, swears as is formerly deposed.

Joseph Thomson being likewise sworn said, That he went in March last with Roger Hawkins, Nicholas Pyne, and others to the Prison to confer with Florence Newton about the Maid. But she would confess nothing that time. But towards Night there was a noise at the Prison door as if something had shak't the door, and Florence started up and said, What aileth thee to be here at this time of the Night? and there was much noise. And they asked her what she spoke to, and what made the great noise? But she denied that she spake or that she knew of any noise, and said, if I spoke I said I knew not what. And they went their ways at that time and went to her again the next Night, and asked her very seriously about the last Nights passage and the noise. And then she confessed to them that it was a Grayhound that came to her, and that she had seen it formerly, and that it went out at the Window. And then she confest she had done the Maid wrong, for which she was sorry and desired God to forgive her.

Hitherto we have heard the most considerable Evidence touching Florence Newton's Witchcraft upon Mary Longdon, for which she was committed to Youghall Prison, March 24. 1661. But April following she bewitcht one David Jones to death, by kissing his hand thr[…]ugh the grate of the Prison, for which she was indicted at Corke Assizes, and the Evidence is as follows.

Elenor Jones Relict of the said David Jones, being sworn and Examined in open Court what she knew concerning any practice of Witchcraft by the said Florence Newton upon the said David her Husband? gave in the Evidence That in April last, the said David her late Husband having been out all the Night, came home early in the Morning, and said to the said Elenor his Wife, where dost thou think I have been all Night? To which she answered she knew not. Whereupon he replied, I and Frank Beseley have been standing Centinel over the Witch all Night. To which she the said Elenor said why what hurt is that? Hurt, quoth he? marry, I doubt it's never a jot the better for me. For she hath kist my hand through the grate, and ever since she kist my hand, I have had a great pain in that Arm, and I verily believe she hath bewitched me if ever she bewitched any Man. To which she answered, the Lord forbid. That all the Night and continually from that time he was restless and ill, complaining exceedingly of a great pain in his Arm for seven days together, and at the seven days end he complained that the pain was come from his Arm to his Heart, and then kept his Bed Night and Day grievously afflicted and crying out against Florence Newton, and about fourteen Days after he dyed.

Francis Beseley, being sworn and Examined said, That about the time aforementioned meeting with the said David Jones, and discoursing with him of the several reports then stirring concerning this Florence Newton (who was then in Prison at Youghall for bewitching Mary Longdon) viz. that she had several Familiars resorting to her in sundry shapes, the said David Jones told him th[…] said Francis Beseley, that he had a great mind to watch her the said Florence Newton one Night to see whether he could observe any Cats or other Creatures resort to her through the grate, as 'twas suspected they did, and desired the said Francis to go with him, which he did. And that when they came thither David Jones called to Florence, and told her that he heard she could not say the Lords Prayer: To which she answered she could. He then desired her to say it: But she excused her self by the decay of Memory through old Age. Then David Jones began to teach her, but she could not or would not say it, though often taught it.

Upon which the said David Jones and Beseley being withdrawn a little from her, and discoursing of her, not being able to learn this Prayer, she called out to David Jones, and said, David! David! come hither, I can say the Lords Prayer now. Upon which David went towards her, and the said Deponent would have pluckt him back, and perswaded him not to have gone to her. But he would not be perswaded, but went to the Grate to her, and she began to say the Lords Prayer, but could not say, [Forgive us our Trespasses]. So that David again taught her. Which she seemed to take very thankfully, and told him she had a great mind to have kist him, but that the Grate hindred, but desired she might kiss his hand. Whereupon he gave her his hand through the Grate, and she kist it, and towards break of day, they went away and parted, and soon after the Deponent heard that David Jones was ill.

Whereupon he went to visit him, and found him about two or three days after very ill of a pain in the Arm. Which he exceedingly complained of, and told the Deponent that ever since he parted with him he had been seized on with that pain, and that the Old Hag had bewitched him when she kist his hand, and that she had him now by the hand, and was pulling off his Arm. And he said, Do you not see the Old Hag how she pulls me? Well, I lay my Death on her, she has bewitcht me. And several times after would complain, that she had tormented him, and had bewitched him, and that he laid his Death on her. And after fourteen days languishing, he the said David Jones dyed.