ROGER NOWEL, _and_ NICHOLAS BANNESTER,
_Esquires: two of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace
within the said Countie._
He saith, that vpon Sheare Thursday[H3_a_] was two yeares, his
Grand-Mother _Elizabeth Sothernes_, alias _Dembdike_, did bid him this
Examinate goe to the Church to receiue the Communion (the next day
after being Good Friday) and then not to eate the Bread the Minister
gaue him, but to bring it and deliuer it to such a thing as should
meet him in his way homewards: Notwithstanding her perswasions, this
Examinate did eate the Bread: and so in his comming homeward some
fortie roodes off the said Church, there met him a thing in the shape
of a Hare, who spoke vnto this Examinate, and asked him whether hee
had brought the Bread that his Grand-mother had bidden him, or no?
whereupon this Examinate answered, hee had not: and thereupon the said
thing threatned to pull this Examinate in peeces, and so this
Examinate thereupon marked himselfe to God, and so the said thing
vanished out of this Examinates sight. And within some foure daies
after that, there appeared in this Examinates sight, hard by the new
Church in Pendle, a thing like vnto a browne _Dogge_, who asked this
Examinate to giue him his Soule, and he should be reuenged of any whom
hee would: whereunto this Examinate answered, that his Soule was not
his to giue, but was his _Sauiour Iesus Christs_, but as much as was
in him this Examinate to giue, he was contented he should haue it.
And within two or three daies after, this Examinate went to the
Carre-Hall, and vpon some speeches betwixt Mistris _Towneley_ and this
Examinate; Shee charging this Examinate and his said mother, to haue
stolne some Turues of hers, badde him packe the doores: and withall as
he went forth of the doore, the said Mistris _Towneley_ gaue him a
knock betweene the shoulders: and about a day or two after that, there
appeared vnto this Examinate in his way, a thing like vnto a black
dog, who put this Examinate in minde of the said Mistris _Towneleyes_
falling out with him this Examinate; who bad this Examinate make a
Picture of Clay, like vnto the said Mistris _Towneley_: and that this
Examinate with the helpe of his Spirit (who then euer after bidde this
Examinate to call it _Dandy_) would kill or destroy the said Mistris
_Towneley_: and so the said dogge vanished out of this Examinates
sight. And the next morning after, this Examinate tooke Clay, and made
a Picture of the said Mistris _Towneley_, and dried it the same night
by the fire: and within a day after, hee, this Examinate began to
crumble the said Picture, euery day some, for the space of a weeke:
and within two daies after all was crumbled away; the said Mistris
_Towneley_ died.
And hee further saith, That in Lent last one _Iohn Duckworth_ of the
Lawnde, promised this Examinate an old shirt: and within a fortnight
after, this Examinate went to the said _Duckworthes_ house, and
demanded the said old shirt: but the said _Duckworth_ denied him
thereof. And going out of the said house, the said Spirit _Dandy_
appeared vnto this Examinate, and said, Thou didst touch the said
_Duckworth_; whereunto this Examinate answered, he did not touch him:
yes (said the Spirit againe) thou didst touch him, and therfore I haue
power of him: whereupon this Examinate ioyned with the said Spirit,
and then wished the said Spirit to kill the said _Duckworth_: and
within one weeke, then next after, _Duckworth_ died.
This voluntary Confession and Examination of his owne, containing in
it selfe matter sufficient in Law to charge him, and to proue his
offences, contained in the two seuerall Indictments, was sufficient to
satisfie the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and Death, that he is
guiltie of them, and either of them: yet my Lord _Bromley_ commanded,
for their better satisfaction, that the Witnesses present in Court
against any of the Prisoners, should be examined openly, _viua voce_,
that the Prisoner might both heare and answere to euery particular
point of their Euidence; notwithstanding any of their Examinations
taken before any of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the said
Countie.
Herein do but obserue the wonderfull work of God; to raise vp a young
Infant, the very sister of the Prisoner, _Iennet Deuice_, to discouer,
iustifie and proue these things against him, at the time of his
Arraignement and Triall, as hereafter followeth. _viz._
* * * * *
_The Examination and Euidence of_ IENNET
DEVICE _daughter of_ ELIZABETH DEVICE,
_late wife of_ IOHN DEVICE _of the Forrest of Pendle,
in the Countie of Lancaster._