husbandman, taken the 18th of July, Anno Dom. 1682. The said informant
upon her oath, saith that upon the 18th of July she this informant
being present with Susanna Edwards of Biddiford, widow, there came to
see the said Susanna one John Dunning, of Great Torrington, which said
John Dunning this Informant did hear him to demand of the said Susanna
how and by what means she became a witch. Unto which question the said
Susanna did answer, that she did never confess afore now, but now she
would. And further saith, that she did hear the said Susanna confess
unto the said John Dunning that she was on a time out gathering of
wood, at which time the said Susanna did see a gentleman to draw nigh
unto her: whereupon she was in good hopes to have a piece of money
of him. This Informant further saith that the said John Dunning did
demand of the said Susanna where she did meet with the said gentleman;
she did answer that it was in Parsonage Close. And further saith, that
after the said John Dunning was gone, this Informant did hear the said
Susanna confess, that on Sunday the 16th inst. she with Mary Trembles
and by the help of the Devil, did prick and torment Grace the wife of
John Barnes of Biddiford, and this informant further saith that she
did hear the said Susanna Edwards and Mary Trembles say and confess
that they did this present day torment and prick her the said Grace
Barnes: and further saith that she did hear the said Mary Trembles say
unto the said Susanna Edwards "O thou Rogue, I will now confess all:
for 'tis thou that hast made me to be a witch and thou art one thyself
and my conscience must swear it." Unto which the said Susanna replied,
"I did not think thou would have been such a Rogue to discover it."
And further saith that the said Susanna did confess that the Devil
did oftentimes carry about her spirit. And further saith that she did
hear the said Susanna say and confess that she did prick and torment
Dorcas Coleman the wife of John Coleman of Biddiford, mariner. And
further saith that she did hear the said Susanna Edwards to confess
that she was suckt in her breast several times by the Devil in the
shape of a boy, lying by her in her bed and that it was very cold unto
her. And this Informant further saith that her husband observing the
said Susanna to gripe and twinkle her hands upon her own body, said
unto her, "Thou Devil, thou art now tormenting some person or other."
Whereupon the said Susanna was displeased with him, and said, "Well
enough I'll fit thee;" and that present time the said Grace Barnes
was in great pain with prickings and stabbings in her heart, as she
did afterwards affirm. This informant further saith that one of the
Constables and her said husband with some others were sent by Mr.
Mayor to bring the said Grace Barnes unto the Town Hall of Biddiford
aforesaid, which they did accordingly do, and immediately as soon as
he with others had led and with much ado brought the said Grace Barnes
into the town-hall, the said Susanna Edwards turned about and looked
upon her said husband, and forthwith this informant's husband was taken
in a very sad condition, as he was leading and supporting the said
Grace Barnes up the stairs of the said Town-hall, before the Mayor and
Justices; insomuch that he cried out, "Wife I am now bewitched by this
Devil" meaning Susanna Edwards; and forthwith leapt and capered like
a madman and fell a shaking, quivering and groaning, and lay for the
space of half an hour like a dying or dead man. And at length coming to
his senses again did declare unto this Informant, that the said Susanna
Edwards had bewitched him. And this Informant further saith, that she
did never knew her said husband to be taken in any fits or convulsions,
but a person of a sound and healthy body ever since he had been this
Informant's husband.
The Information of Anthony Jones of Biddiford, Husbandman, taken the
19th of July A.D. 1682. The said informant upon his oath saith, that
yesterday whilst the said Susanna Edwards was in the Town-hall of
Biddiford concerning the said Grace Barnes he did observe the said
Susanna to gripe and twinkle her hands upon her own body, in an unusual
manner: whereupon the said Susanna was displeased with this informant,
and said, "Well enough I will fit thee." And at that present time the
said Grace Barnes was in great pains with prickings and stabbings unto
her heart as the said Grace did afterwards affirm. This Informant
further saith that one of the constables etc. with some others being
sent by order of Mr. Mayor, to bring the said Grace unto the Town-hall
of Biddiford, immediately, as soon as they had brought the said Grace
unto the Town-hall, the said Susanna turned about and looked upon
this informant, and forthwith the Informant was taken in a very sad
condition as he was coming up the stairs of the said Town-hall, before
the Mayor and Justices, insomuch that he cried out, "Wife, I am now
bewitched by this Devil Susanna Edwards."
The Examination of Mary Trembles of Biddiford, single woman, taken July
18th, 1682. The said Examinant being brought before us and accused
for practising of witchcraft upon the body of Grace Barnes, wife of
George Barnes, of Biddiford, yeoman, was demanded by as how long she
had practised witchcraft, said and confessed, that about three years
last past, one Susanna Edwards of Biddiford, widow, did inform her,
that if she would do as the said Susanna did, that this Examinant
should do very well. Whereupon this Examinant did yield unto the said
Susanna Edwards, and said that she would do as the said Susanna did;
and this Examinant further confesseth that the said Susanna Edwards did
promise that this Examinant should neither want for money, drink, nor
clothes. And further confesseth that after she had made this bargain
with Susanna Edwards, that the Devil in the shape of a Lyon (as she
conceived) did come to this Examinant--and that he did suck her, and
that his sucking was so hard as to cause her to cry out for the pain
thereof. And further confesseth that on Tuesday in Easter week, which
was 18th of May last, she, this Examinant did go about the town of
Biddiford, to beg some bread, and in her walk, she did meet with the
said Susanna Edwards, who asked this Examinant where she had been. Unto
whom this Examinant answered, that she had been about the town, and
had begged some meat, but could get none. Whereupon this Examinant,
together with the said Susanna, did go to the said John Barnes' house,
in hope that there they should have some meat. But the said John
Barnes not being within his house, they could get no meat or bread,
being denied by the said Grace Barnes and her servants, who would not
give them any meat. Whereupon the said Susanna Edwards did bid this
Examinant to go to the said John Barnes' house again, for a farthing's
worth of tobacco. Whereupon this Examinant did go, but could not have
any: whereof this Examinant did acquaint the said Susanna, who then
said that it should be better for the said Grace if she had let this
Examinant have had some tobacco. And further confesseth, that on the
16th of this instant, she the said Susanna, did go to the said John
Barnes house, and went into the fore door, invisibly into the room,
where they did pinch and prick the said Grace Barnes almost unto death;
and that she saw the said John Barnes in bed with his wife, on the
inner side of the bed. And saith and confesseth, that on the 16th inst.
as she was going towards the common bakehouse, she, with the help of
the Devil, would have killed the said Grace Barnes, if that she, this
examinant, had not spilt some of the meat she was then carrying to the
bakehouse.
The examination of Susanna Edwards, of Biddiford, widow, taken 18th
of July A.D. 1682. The said Examinant being brought before us, and
accused of practising witchcraft upon the body of Grace Barnes, wife of
John Barnes of Biddiford, yeoman, was demanded by us how long she had
discourse or familiarity with the Devil; saith, that about two years
ago, she did meet with a gentleman in a field called the Parsonage
Close, in the town of Biddiford, and saith, that his apparel was all
of black. Upon which she did hope to have a piece of money of him.
Whereupon the gentleman drawing near unto this examinant, she did
make a curchy or courtesy unto him, as used to do to gentlemen. Being
demanded what and who the said gentleman, she spake of was, the said
examinant answered, that it was the Devil. And confessed that the Devil
did ask of her, whether she was a poor woman? Unto whom she answered,
that she was a poor woman; and that thereupon the Devil, in the shape
of the gentleman, did say unto her, that if this examinant would grant
him one request, that she should neither want for meat, drink, nor
clothes: whereupon this examinant did say unto the said gentleman (or
rather the Devil) "In the name of God, what is it that I shall have?"
Upon which the said gentleman vanished clear away from her. And further
confesseth, that afterwards there was something in the shape of a
little boy, which she thinks to be the Devil, came into her house, and
did lie with her and that he did suck at her breast. And confesseth
that she did afterwards meet him in a place called Stanbridge Lane,
in this parish of Biddiford leading towards Abbotsham (which is the
next parish on the west of Biddiford) where he did suck blood out of
her breast. And further confesseth that on Sunday the 16th inst., this
Examinant together with Mary Trembles, did go unto the house of John
Barnes, and that nobody did see them; and that they were in the same
room where Grace the wife of the John Barnes was, and that they did
prick and pinch the said Grace Barnes with their fingers, and put her
to great pain and torment, insomuch that the said Grace was almost
dead. And confesseth, that this present day, she did prick and torment
the said Grace Barnes again (intimating with her fingers how she did
it). And also confesseth that the Devil did entice her to make an end
of the said Grace: and that he told her he would come again to her once
more. And confesseth, that she can go to any place invisible, and yet
her body shall be lying in her bed. And further confesseth, that the
Devil hath appeared to her in the shape of a Lyon, as she supposed.
Being demanded whether she had done any bodily hurt unto any other
person beside the said Grace Barnes, saith and confesseth, that she did
prick and torment Dorcas Coleman, wife of John Coleman of Biddiford,
mariner. And saith that she gave herself to the Devil, when she did
meet him in Stambridge Lane as aforesaid. And saith, that the said
Mary Trembles was a servant to her, this examinant, in like manner as
she this examinant was a servant to the Devil (whom she called by the
appellation of a gentleman).
_Examined with the original whereof this is a true copy._
Thomas Gist. _Mayor._
John Davies. _Alderman._
John Hill. _Town Clerk._
The substance of the last words and confession of Susanna Edwards,
Temperance Lloyd, and Mary Trembles, at the time and place of their
execution, Aug. 25, 1682, as fully as could be taken in a case liable
to be so much noise and confusion as is usual on such occasions.
_Mr. H._ Mary Trembles, what have you to say as to the crime you are to
die for?
_Mary._ I have spoken as much as I can speak already, and can speak no
more.
_H._ In what shape did the Devil come to you?
_Mary._ The Devil came to me once, I think like a Lyon.
_H._ Did he offer violence to you?
_Mary._ No, not at all: but did frighten me, and did nothing to me; and
I cried to God and asked what he would have, and he vanished.
_H._ Did he give thee any gift, or did'st thou make him any promises?
_Mary._ No.
_H._ Did he ever make use of thy body?
_M._ Never in my life.
_H._ Have you a secret teat?
_M._ None. (The grand inquest said it was sworn to them.)
_H._ Mary Trembles, was not the Devil there with Susan, when I was
once in prison with you, and under her coats? the other told me he was
there, but is now fled; and that the Devil was in the way when I was
going to Taunton with my son, who is a Minister? Thou speakest now as a
dying woman, and as the Psalmist says, "I will confess my iniquities,
and acknowledge all my sins." We find that Mary Magdalene had seven
Devils: and she came to Christ and had mercy, and if thou break thy
league with the Devil, and make a covenant with God, thou may'st also
obtain mercy. If thou hast anything to speak, speak thy mind?
_Mary._ I have spoken the very truth and can speak no more: Mr. H. I
would desire that they may come by me, and confess as I have done.
_H._ Temperance Lloyd. Have you made any contract with the Devil?
_T._ No.
_H._ Did he ever take any of thy blood?
_T._ No.
_H._ How did he appear to thee at the first, or where, in the street?
In what shape?
_T._ In a wonderful shape.
_H._ Had he ever any carnal knowledge of thee?
_T._ No, never.
_H._ What did he do when he came to thee?
_T._ He caused me to go and do harm.
_H._ And did you go?
_T._ I did hurt a woman sore against my conscience: he carried me up to
her door, which was open: The woman's name was Mrs. Grace Thomas.
_H._ What caused you to do harm? What Malice had you against her? and
did she do you any harm?
_T._ No, she never did me any harm: but the Devil beat me about the
head grievously, because I would not kill her: but I did bruise her
after this fashion (laying her two hands to her side).
_H._ Did you bruise her till the blood came out of her nose and mouth?
_T._ No.
_H._ How many did you destroy and hurt?
_T._ None but she.
_H._ Did you know any mariners that you or your associates destroyed by
overturning of ships or boats?
_T._ No. I never hurt any ship, bark, or boat in my life.
_H._ Was it you or Susan that did bewitch the children?
_T._ I sold apples, and the child took an apple from me, and the
mother took the apple from the child, for which I was very angry; but
the child died of small-pox.
_H._ Did you know one Mr. Lutteris about these parts, or any of your
confederates? Did you or them bewitch his child?
_T._ No.
_H._ Temperance, how did you come to hurt Mrs. Grace Thomas? Did you
pass through the keyhole of the door or was the door open?
_T._ The Devil did lead me up stairs, and the door was open, and this
is all the hurt I did.
_H._ How did you know it was the Devil?
_T._ I knew it by his eyes.
_H._ Had you no discourse or treaty with him?
_T._ No. He said I should go along with him to destroy a woman, and I
told him I would not. He said he would make me: and then he beat me
about the head.
_H._ Why did you not call upon God?
_T._ He would not let me do it.
_H._ You say you never hurt ships or boats; did you never ride over an
arm of the sea on a cow?
_T._ No. No, Master: 'twas she (meaning Susan), when Temperance said
"'twas she," she said "she lied" and that she was the cause of bringing
her to die "for she cried when she was first brought to gaol, if that
she was hanged, she would have me hanged too; she reported I should
ride on a cow before her, which I never did."
_H._ Susan, did you see the shape of a bullock? At the first time of
your examination you said it was like a short black man about the
length of your arm?
_Susan._ He was black, Sir.
_H._ Susan, had you any knowledge of the bewitching of Mrs. Lutteris'
child, or did you know a place called Trunta Burroughs?
_S._ No.
_H._ Are you willing to have any prayers? Then Mr. H. prayed, whose
prayer we could not take, and they sung part of the 40th Psalm at the
desire of Susan Edwards. As she mounted the ladder, she said, "The Lord
Jesus speed me: though my sins be red as scarlet, the Lord Jesus can
make them as white as snow, the Lord help my soul." Then was executed.
Mary Tremble said, "Lord Jesus, receive my soul! Lord Jesus, speed me!"
and then was also executed. Temperance Lloyd said, "Jesus Christ, speed
me well! Lord, forgive all my sins! Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful to
my poor soul."
Mr. Sheriff. You are looked on as the woman that hath debauched the
other two. Did you ever lie with the Devil?
_T._ No.
_Sh._ Did you know of their coming to gaol?
_T._ No.
_Sh._ Have you anything to say to satisfy the world?
_T._ I forgive them as I desire the Lord Jesus will forgive me. The
greatest thing that I did was Mrs. Grace Thomas; and I desire I may
be sensible of it, and that the Lord Jesus Christ may forgive me. The
Devil met me in the street and bid me kill her, and because I would
not, he beat me about the head and back.
_Sh._ In what shape or colour was he?
_T._ In black like a bullock.
_Sh._ How do you know you did it? how went you in thro' the keyhole or
the Door?
_T._ At the Door?
_Sh._ Had you no discourse with the Devil?
_T._ Never but this day six weeks.
_Sh._ You were charged about twelve years since, and did you never see
the Devil but about this time?
_T._ Yes, once before. I was going for brooms; and he came to me and
said, "This poor woman has a great burthen, and would help ease me of
my burthen;" and I said, "The Lord had enabled me to carry it so far,
and I hope I shall be able to carry it further."
_Sh._ Did the Devil never promise you any thing?
_T._ No. Never.
_Sh._ Then you have served a very bad master, who gave you nothing.
Well, consider you are just departing this world: do you believe there
is a God?
_T._ Yes.
_Sh._ Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
_T._ Yes, and I pray Jesus Christ to pardon all my sins. And so was
executed.
APPENDIX.--No. II.
Copied from a 4to published Tract in the Library of the British Museum.
THE TRYAL, CONDEMNATION, AND EXECUTION OF THREE WITCHES; VIZ.
TEMPERANCE FLOYD, MARY FLOYD, & SUSANNA EDWARDS.
Who were arraigned at Exeter on the 18th of August, 1682, & being
proved guilty of witchcraft were condemned to be hanged, which was
accordingly Executed in the view of many spectators, whose strange and
much to be lamented Impudence is never to be forgotten.
Also how they Confessed what Mischiefs they had done by the assistance
of the Devil, who lay with the above named Temperance Floyd nine
nights together. Also how they squeezed one Hannah Thomas to death
in their arms. How they also caused several ships to be cast away,
causing a boy to fall from the top of a main-mast into the sea.
WITH MANY WONDERFULL THINGS WORTH YOUR READING.
Printed for F. Deacon, at the Sign of the Rainbow, a little beyond St.
Andrew's Church, in Holborn. 1682.
The Tryal, Condemnation, and Execution of three witches who were
Arraigned at Exeter on the 18th of August, 1682.
Let not my assertion seem strange to the Ingenious Reader, who seems
to affirm this (by some incredulous) story, concerning the subsequent
matter; nor will I trouble you with a long prologue to stir you to
believe that which so many letters have verified, concerning the matter
in hand, but so it was.
The Assizes being held at Exon (alias) Exeter, on the 18th of August,
1682. It happened that there was three persons Arraigned for witchcraft
whose names take as followeth, (viz.) Temperance Floyd, Mary Floyd,
and Susannah Edwards, all dwelling in one town, in the aforesaid
County of Devon, namely Bideford, by some called Bythford, all three
being stricken in years, which might have taught them more grace;
but Man's Enemy, Soul's destroyer, and the author of wickedness so
prevailed with them that they made an Interchange accepting a Hell for
an Heaven, rather willing to please the Devil than the Great Creator
whose smiles are more precious than refined Gold, the loss of whose
love is no less than Everlasting Destruction. These I say, these poor
souls (aiming at nothing but ruin) embrace folly instead of wisdom,
present pleasure for eternal pain; take Flames for Crowns, Misery for
Happiness, change God for a Devil and a soul for Hell. It is so much
to be lamented that these persons should take delight in nothing
more than to Converse with Devils, who reason tells seeks nothing but
Destruction, God's dishonour, and Man's overthrow, to (if it were
possible) empty Heaven and fill Hell. I come now to the particulars.
The aforesaid Persons whose names are already inserted came to their
Tryal having been sometime before accused of Witchcraft, and for that
cause Imprisonment; when they came to the Bar, their indictment was
read, and though the Devil had so much power over them, yet they had
not Impudence enough to deny what they were accused for: Intemperate
Temperance Floyd, who was the eldest of the three, pleaded to the
indictment, and owned the accusation, acknowledging she had been in
league with the Devil 20 years and upwards, and that in the term of
those years she had been guilty of many cruelties, and by Hellish
power afflicted both Man and Beast; but now to the other Two who were
instructed in that Damnable art of Witchcraft by the above named
Temperance Floyd, they acknowledged that they had served five years
with her to learn her accursed art, and during the term of those years
they saw and were acquainted with many wonderful and unlawful tricks.
For they owned that they had not been idle in their Hellish practices,
but had served him faithfully, who will reward them gratefully for
their Diabolical Indulgence. We have an account of some of their
Wicked, Inhuman, Accursed, Damnable, and Preposterous action. But let
us chiefly mind the Eldest and worst of these Three, namely Temperance
Floyd. Let her be the substance of our matter, who was the introducer
and cause of the other two's overthrow. These wicked wretches being all
of one mind, at last began to exercise their Devilish Arts, and upon
one Mr. Hann, a minister in those parts; a person of good repute and
Honest Conversation, who sought his soul's eternal happiness, while
they designed their everlasting Ruin. These Hellish agents intended
Mischief and misery to the person of Mr. Hann: but the overruling Power
prevented them; but because they could not be suffered to exercise
their Diabolicism upon his body, they thought they would be some other
way Revenged, so witch like, they laid their Diabolical Charms upon his
cattle, so that those cows that used to give milk, when they came to
be milked they gave blood, to the great astonishment of the milkers;
but finding themselves outcast from everlasting happiness, they grew
insolent in their Cursed Conceits, resolving to make use of that art
which they should so deadly pay for. But I too much insist upon the Old
hag whose cruelties are and were sufficiently manifested by her own
confession at her Tryal, the other Two witches being somewhat younger
than the Old Shape of Prince Lucifer, who acknowledged themselves to
have been servants to the Old one for five years to learn the art
and mystery of Hellish, Damnable, Accursed and Most to be Lamented
Witchcraft; and in the term of these 5 years grew to be as dexterous
as their Devilish Tutor, trying their experiments upon Man and Beast
to the injury of both, but the Old one confessed plainly that she had
caused several Ships at sea to be cast away, with loss of many men's
lives and the prejudice of many others. She confessed also that the
Devil lay carnally with her for Nine Nights together, and that she had
Paps about her an Inch long, which the Devil us'd to suck to Provoke
her to Letchery; but the other two seemed to be more Pensive than
she, for they confessed that she was the Introducer of their Misery,
and that they had served both the Devil and her five years' slavery,
to understand the ready way to everlasting Destruction. But Heaven's
Vengeance never fails to follow such offenders who do wickedly,
presumptuously and prophanely make use of the Devil to satisfy their
Impious wills. But to proceed, this old witch whose name was Temperance
Floyd, was without doubt perfectly Resolute, not minding what should
become of her Immortal soul, but rather Impudently owned at, as well as
after her Tryal, so Audacious, that she had done many wicked Exploits
by the Power (not virtue) of her Hellish Discipline: She confessed that
she had been Instrumental to the Death of several, namely one Hannah
Thomas, by pretence of love, Squeezing her in her arms so long till the
blood gushed out of her mouth; she confessed that she and the other
two had been the death of Two more, besides several others that they
had lamed by their Hellish Art; they confessed that they had been the
destruction of many cattle, both small and great, and many more things
too tedious to relate; being asked at their trial to say the Lord's
Prayer, they answered, that they could not except it were backwards;
they said the Devil used to be with them on Nights in Several Shapes,
sometimes like a Hound, who Hunted before them (but without doubt he
hunted for Souls). There were many more accusations laid against them,
which they all owned (except one) which was about causing a ship to
be sunk, and a boy that fell from the Topmast of another ship and so
broke his neck or as some say Drowned in the Sea. It being asked how
long they had been in league with the Devil, one of them said twenty
years she had been his Familiar Acquaintance, the other two were of
lesser standing, but long enough to Ruin their Precious Souls. They
also Asserted that the Devil came with them to the Prison Door, and
there left them much like what he is, the Author of Lies, the Inventor
of Mischief, the Betrayer of Souls, the unsatisfied deceiver and God's
Enemy. All these things being Confessed by their own Tongues, it is not
strange to think that Judgment past upon them regularly in such cases.
But now to proceed. As to the manner of their Deportment going to the
place of Execution. It is certainly affirmed the old witch Temperance
Floyd went all the way Eating and was seemingly unconcerned, but Mary
Floyd was very obstinate, and would not go, but lay down, insomuch
that they forc'd to tye her on a horse's back, for she was very loath
to receive her deserved Doom. But when they came to the place of
Execution, they desired the Minister to pray for them, and that part of
the 40th Psalm might be sung; which was accordingly done, and presently
after the Executioner did his office.