_Sir_ EDWARD BROMLEY _Knight, one of his Maiesties
Iustices of Assise at Lancaster._
_Elizabeth Deuice._
O Barbarous and inhumane Monster, beyond example; so farre from
sensible vnderstanding of thy owne miserie, as to bring thy owne
naturall children into mischiefe and bondage; and thy selfe to be a
witnesse vpon the Gallowes, to see thy owne children, by thy deuillish
instructions hatcht vp in Villanie and Witchcraft, to suffer with
thee, euen in the beginning of their time, a shamefull and vntimely
Death. Too much (so it be true) cannot be said or written of her. Such
was her life and condition: that euen at the Barre, when shee came to
receiue her Triall (where the least sparke of Grace or modestie would
haue procured fauour, or moued pitie) she was not able to containe her
selfe within the limits of any order or gouernment: but exclaiming, in
very outragious manner crying out against her owne children, and such
as came to prosecute Indictments & Euidence for the Kings Maiestie
against her, for the death of their Children, Friends, and Kinsfolkes,
whome cruelly and bloudily, by her Enchauntments, Charmes, and
Sorceries she had murthered and cut off; sparing no man with fearefull
execrable curses and banning:[F2_b_] Such in generall was the common
opinion of the Countrey where she dwelt, in the Forrest of Pendle (a
place fit for people of such condition) that no man neere her, neither
his wife, children, goods, or cattell should be secure or free from
danger.
This _Elizabeth Deuice_ was the daughter of _Elizabeth Sothernes_, old
_Dembdike_, a malicious, wicked, and dangerous Witch for fiftie
yeares, as appeareth by Record: and how much longer, the Deuill and
shee knew best with whome shee made her couenant.
It is very certaine, that amongst all these Witches there was not a
more dangerous and deuillish Witch to execute mischiefe, hauing old
_Dembdike_, her mother, to assist her; _Iames Deuice_ and _Alizon
Deuice_, her owne naturall children, all prouided with Spirits, vpon
any occasion of offence readie to assist her.
Vpon her Examination, although Master _Nowel_ was very circumspect,
and exceeding carefull in dealing with her, yet she would confesse
nothing, vntill it pleased God to raise vp a yong maid, _Iennet
Deuice_, her owne daughter, about the age of nine yeares (a witnesse
vnexpected) to discouer all their Practises, Meetings, Consultations,
Murthers, Charmes, and Villanies: such, and in such sort, as I may
iustly say of them, as a reuerend and learned Iudge of this Kingdome
speaketh of the greatest Treason that euer was in this Kingdome, _Quis
hæc posteris sic narrare poterit, vt facta non ficta esse videantur?_
That when these things shall be related to Posteritie, they will be
reputed matters fained, not done.
And then knowing, that both _Iennet Deuice_, her daughter, _Iames
Deuice_, her sonne, and _Alizon Deuice_, with others, had accused her
and layed open all things, in their Examinations taken before Master
_Nowel_, and although she were their owne naturall mother, yet they
did not spare to accuse her of euery particular fact, which in her
time she had committed, to their knowledge; she made a very liberall
and voluntarie Confession, as hereafter shall be giuen in euidence
against her, vpon her Arraignment and Triall.
This _Elizabeth Deuice_ being at libertie, after Old _Dembdike_ her
mother, _Alizon Deuice_, her daughter, and old _Chattocks_ were
committed to the Castle of Lancaster for Witchcraft; laboured not a
little to procure a solemne meeting at Malkyn-Tower of the Graund
Witches of the Counties of Lancaster and Yorke, being yet vnsuspected
and vntaken, to consult of some speedie course for the deliuerance of
their friends, the Witches at Lancaster, and for the putting in
execution of some other deuillish practises of Murther and Mischiefe:
as vpon the Arraignement and Triall of _Iames Deuice_, her sonne,
shall hereafter in euery particular point appeare at large against
her.
The first Indictment.
This _Elizabeth Deuice_, late the wife of _Iohn Deuice_, of the
Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of Lancaster Widdow, being indicted,
for that shee felloniously had practized, vsed, and exercised diuers
wicked and deuillish Arts, called _Witch-crafts_, _Inchantments_,
_Charmes_, and _Sorceries_, in, and vpon one _Iohn Robinson_, alias
_Swyer_: and by force of the same felloniously, the said _Iohn
Robinson_, alias _Swyer_, had killed. _Contra pacem, &c._ being at the
Barre was arraigned.