ROGER NOWEL _and_ NICHOLAS BANESTER,
_Esquires, two of his Maiesties Iustices of the Peace
within the Countie of Lancaster_, viz.
This Examinate saith, That vpon Good-Friday last about twelue of
the clocke in the day-time, there dined in this Examinates said
mothers house a number of persons, whereof three were men, with this
Examinate, and the rest women: and that they met there for these three
causes following (as this Examinates said mother told this Examinate):
First was for the naming of the Spirit, which _Alizon Deuice_, now
Prisoner at Lancaster, had, but did not name him, because shee was not
there. The second cause was for the deliuery of his said Grand-mother,
this Examinates said sister _Alizon_, the said _Anne Chattox_, and her
daughter _Redferne_: Killing the Gaoler at Lancaster; and before the
next Assizes to blow vp the Castle there; to that end the aforesaid
Prisoners might by that meanes make an escape and get away. All which
this Examinate then heard them conferre of. And the third cause was,
for that there was a woman dwelling in Gilburne Parish, who came into
this Examinates said Grand-mothers house, who there came, and craued
assistance of the rest of them that were then there, for the killing
of Master _Lister_ of Westby: because, as she then said, he had borne
malice vnto her, and had thought to haue put her away at the last
Assizes at Yorke; but could not. And then this Examinat heard the said
woman say, that her power was not strong enough to doe it her selfe,
being now lesse then before time it had beene.
And he also further saith, that the said _Prestons_ wife had a Spirit
with her like unto a white Foale, with a blacke-spot in the forehead.
And further, this Examinat saith, That since the said meeting, as
aforesaid, this Examinate hath beene brought to the wife of one
_Preston_ in Gisburne Parish aforesaid, by _Henry Hargreiues_ of
Goldshey, to see whether shee was the woman that came amongst the said
Witches, on the said last Good-Friday, to craue their aide and
assistance for the killing of the said Master _Lister_: and hauing had
full view of her; hee this Examinate confesseth, That shee was the
selfe-same woman which came amongst the said Witches on the said last
Good-Friday, for their aide for the killing of the said Master
_Lister_; and that brought the Spirit with her, in the shape of a
White Foale, as aforesaid.
And this Examinate further saith, That all the said Witches went out
of the said house in their owne shapes and likenesses, and they all,
by that they were forth of the doores, were gotten on horse-backe like
vnto Foales, some of one colour, some of another, and _Prestons_ wife
was the last; and when she got on horse-backe, they all presently
vanished out of this Examinats sight: and before their said parting
away, they all appointed to meete at the said _Prestons_ wifes house
that day twelue-month; at which time the said _Prestons_ wife
promised to make them a great feast; and if they had occasion to meet
in the meane time, then should warning bee giuen that they all should
meete vpon Romles-Moore. And this Examinate further saith, That at the
said feast at Malking-Tower, this Examinat heard them all giue their
consents to put the said Master _Thomas Lister_ of Westby to death:
and after Master _Lister_ should be made away by Witchcraft, then al
the said Witches gaue their consents to ioyne altogether to hancke
Master _Leonard Lister_,[Z_a_] when he should come to dwell at the
Sowgill, and so put him to death.
* * * * *
_The Examination of_ HENRIE HARGREIVES
_of Goldshey-booth, in the Forrest of
Pendle, in the Countie of Lancaster Yeoman, taken the
fifth day of May_, Anno Reg. Regis IACOBI Angliæ,
&c. Decimo, ac Scociæ quadragesimo quinto.