Hereupon were diuerse Examinations taken and read openly against
her, to induce and satisfie the Gentlemen of the Iurie of Life and
Death, to finde she was a Witch; and many other circumstances for the
death of M. _Lister_. In the end _Anne Robinson_ and others were both
examined, who vpon their Oathes declared against her, That M. _Lister_
lying in great extremitie, vpon his death bedde, cried out vnto them
that stood about him; that _Iennet Preston_ was in the house, looke
where shee is, take hold of her: for Gods sake shut the doores, and
take her, shee cannot escape away. Looke about for her, and lay hold
on her, for shee is in the house: and so cryed very often in his great
paines, to them that came to visit him during his sicknesse.
_Anne Robinson_,
and
_Thomas Lister_,
Being examined further, they both gaue this in euidence against her,
That when Master _Lister_ lay vpon his death-bedde, hee cryed out in
great extremitie; _Iennet Preston_ lyes heauie vpon me, _Prestons_
wife lies heauie vpon me; helpe me, helpe me: and so departed, crying
out against her.
These, with many other witnesses, were further examined, and deposed,
That _Iennet Preston_, the Prisoner at the Barre, being brought to M.
_Lister_ after hee was dead, & layd out to be wound vp in his
winding-sheet, the said _Iennet Preston_ comming to touch the dead
corpes, they bled fresh bloud presently,[Y3_a_] in the presence of all
that were there present: Which hath euer beene held a great argument
to induce a Iurie to hold him guiltie that shall be accused of
Murther, and hath seldome, or neuer, fayled in the Tryall.
But these were not alone: for this wicked and bloud-thirstie Witch was
no sooner deliuered at the Assises holden at Yorke in Lent last past,
being indicted, arraigned, and by the fauor and mercie of the Iurie
found not guiltie, for the murther of a Child by Witch-craft: but vpon
the Friday following, beeing Good-Friday, shee rode in hast to the
great meeting at Malking-Tower, and there prayed aide for the murther
of M. _Thomas Lister:_ as at large shall appeare, by the seuerall
Examinations hereafter following; sent to these Assises from Master
_Nowel_ and other his Maiesties Iustices of Peace in the Countie of
Lancaster, to be giuen in euidence against her, vpon her Triall,
_viz._
* * * * *
_The Examination and Euidence of_
IAMES DEVICE, _of the Forrest of Pendle, in the Countie
of Lancaster, Labourer, taken at the house of_ IAMES
WILSEY, _of the Forrest of Pendle in the Countie of
Lancaster, the seuen and twentieth day of Aprill_, Anno
Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliæ, &c. Decimo ac Scotiæ
quadragesimo quinto.