The wonderful discouerie of the vvitchcrafts of Margaret and Phillip Flower, daughters of Ioan Flower neere Beuer Castle: executed at Lincolne, March 11. 1618 Who were specially arraigned and condemned before Sir Henry Hobart, and Sir Edward Bromley, iudges of assise, for confessing themselues actors in the destruction of Henry L. Rosse, with their damnable practises against others the children of the Right Honourable Francis Earle of Rutland. Together with the seuerall examinations and confessions of Anne Baker, Ioan Willimot, and Ellen Greene, witches in Leicestershire.

THE WONDERFVLL DISCOVERIE OF THE Witch-craftes of Margraet and Phillip Flower▪ Daughters of Ioan Flower, by BEAVER CASTLE, and ex∣ecuted at LINCOLNE the 11. of March. 1618.

MY meaning is not to make any contentious Argu∣ments about the discour∣ses, distinction or de∣finition of Witchcraft, the power of Diuells, the nature of Spirits, the force of Charmes, the secrets of Incantation, and such like; because the Scriptures are full of prohibitions to this purpose, and pro∣claimes death to the presumptuous attemp∣ters

of the same: Besides both Princes (yea our owne learned and most iudicious King) Philosophers, Poets, Chronologers, Histo∣riographers, and many worthy Writers, haue concurred and concluded in this; that diuers impious and facinorous mischiefes haue beene effectuated through the instru∣ments of the Diuell, by permission of God, so that the actors of the same haue carried away the opinion of the world, to doe that which they did by Witchcraft, or at least to be esteemed Witches, for bringing such and such things to passe: For howsoeuer the learned haue charactred delinquents in this kinde by titles of sundry sortes, and most significant attributes; as Pythonissae dealing with artificiall Charmes; Magi anciently re∣puted so, for extraordinary wisedome and knowledge in the secrets of simples and hearbes; Chaldei, famous for Astronomy and Astrology; Necromancers for practising to raise dead bodies, and by them to foretell e∣uents of the earth; Geomantici, for conuer∣sing with Spirits, and vsing Inchantations;

Genethliaci, for presuming on the calculating of Natiuities, or if you will, assuming the credit of Figure-casting; Ventriloqui, for speaking with hollow voyces as if they were possessed with Diuells; Venefici, for dealing with Poyson, and either killing or curing that way: For you must vnderstand howe∣uer the Professors aforesaid practise mur∣ther and mischiefe, yet many times they Pre∣tend cures and preseruation; with many o∣thers, carrying the shew of great learning and admired knowledge; yet haue they all but one familier tearme with vs in English called Witches. As for the conceit of wise-men or wise woemen, they are all meerely coseners and deceiuers; so that if they make you beleeue that by their meanes you shall heare of things lost or stolne, it is either done by Confederacy, or put off by protraction to deceiue you of your money.

Only (as I said before) there bee certaine men and women growne in yeares, and ouer-growne with Melancholly and A∣theisme, who out of a malicious dispositi∣on

against their betters, or others thriuing by them; but most times from a heart-bur∣ning desire of reuenge, hauing entertained some impression of displeasure, and vnkind∣nesse, study nothing but mischiefe and exo∣ticke practises of loathsome Artes and Sci∣ences: yet I must needes say, that sometimes the fained reputation of wisedome, cunning, and to be reputed a dangerous and skilfull person, hath so preuailed with diuers, that they haue taken vpon them indeed to know more then God euer afforded any creature, & to performe no lesse then the Creator both of Heauen & earth; making you beleeue with Medea, that they can raise tempests, turne the Sunne into blood, pull the Moone out of her Spheare, and saile ouer the Sea in a coc∣kle shell, according to the Poet.

Flectere si nequeam Superos, Acheronta mouebo.

If Art doe faile to moue the Gods consent vnto my minde: I will the Diuells raise, to doe what they can in their kinde.

But howsoeuer speciall persons are trans∣ported with an opinion of their owne worth, and preuailing in this kinde, yet by lamenta∣ble experience we know too well, what mon∣strous effects haue bene produced, euen to the horror of the hearers, and damnation of their owne soules by such kinde of people: For as it is in the tale of the enuious man, that put out one of his eyes to haue his companion loose both; so fareth it with them and worse, to giue away their soules to bee reuenged of their aduersaries bodies, wherein the monstrous subtilty of the Di∣uell is so apparant, that it is wonderfull one way to relate, and lamentable another way to obserue the same. For no sooner shall such motiues poyson the inward con∣ceite or apprehension of such damnable Caitiffes: But then steppeth forth the Di∣uell, and not onely sheweth them the way, but prescribeth the manner of effecting the same, with facility and easinesse, assu∣ring that hee himselfe will attend them in some familiar shape of Rat, Cat, Toad,

Bird, Cricket, &c: yea effectuate whatsoeuer they shall demaund or desire, and for their better assurance and corroboration of their credulity, they shall haue palpable and forci∣ble touches of sucking, pinching, kissing, clo∣sing, colling and such like: wherevpon, with∣out any feare of God or Man, knowledge of Christ, hope of redemption, confidence of mercy, or true beleefe that there is any other thing to bee looked after but this present World; according to that Athiesticall posi∣tion of Epicurus.

Ede, bibe, lude, post mortem nulla voluptas.

Eat, drink, sport, play and take thy pleasures rest: For after death, who knowes what shall be best.

They admit of those execrable conditions of commutation of soules for the entertai∣ning of the spirits, and so fall to their abho∣minable practises, continuing in the same till God laugh them to scorne, and will by no meanes suffer them to abuse his holy name nor deceiue others by their prophane liues

any longer: Witnesse for the generall those infinite Treatises of many of them conuin∣ced by Law, and condemned to death, to the fearefull example of all carnall and hypo∣criticall Christians: but more especially you may ouer-looke (if you please) that learned Discourse of Daemonologie, composed in forme of a Dialogue, by the High and mighty Prince, IAMES by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, &c. and printed (as I take it) accor∣ding to the coppy of Edenburgh, 1603. As also a Treatise of Witch-craft made by that learned Mr. Alexander Roberts Preacher at Kings-Line in Norfolke, 1615. vpon the discouery of the Witch-crafts of Mary Smith, wife of Henry Smith Glouer, with her vocall contract betweene the Diuell and her selfe, in sollemne tearmes, and such like impostu∣ring filthinesse: with many hurts and mis∣chiefes which thereby she procured: As al∣so a certaine discouery 1611. made by Iohn Cotta Doctor of Phisicke in Northampton of Empericks, woemen about sicke persons:

Quacksaluers, and fugitiues, which seeme to worke iuggling wonders, Surgeons, Apothe∣caries, practisers by spells, the true discouery of Witch-craft, especially in the sicke with many instances in that kind, Wisards, and seruants, of Phisitions, who may bee called ministring helpers: To this hee hath added the Methodian learned deceiuer, or hereticke Phisition, Astrologers, Ephemerides-maisters, Coniecters by vrine, Trauellers, and last of all, the true Artist his right description and election. As also a Dialogue concerning Witches and Witchcraft, composed by George Gifford, Minister of Gods word in Maldon, 1603. Wherein the cunning of the Diuell is discouered, both concerning the deceiuing of witches, and seducing of o∣thers into many great errors: As also an an∣cient discourse of the fearefull practises of foure notorious French Witches, with the manner of their strange execution. As also the seuerall and damnable practises of Mo∣ther Sutton of Milton Miles in the County of Bedford, and Mary Sutton her Daughter,

who were arraigned, condemned, and execu∣ted for the same: As also 1612. the wonder∣full discouery of Witches in Lancashire, be∣ing 19. in number, notorious for many infa∣med actions, and conuicted before Sr. Iames Altham, and S. Edward Bromley, Barons of the Exchequer, together with the arraign∣ment and triall of Iennet Preston, at Yorke, with her fearefull execution for the murthe∣ring of Mr. Lisker by Witch-craft; with infi∣nite other relations concerning the generall conuiction of Witches, and their practises, and condemnation of the particular opinion of some men, who suppose there bee none at all, or at least that they doe not personally or truely effect such things as are imputed vnto them, and which out of some dangerous im∣pression of melancholly, vaineglory, or some other diseased operation, they assume to themselues by reason of a former contract with the Diuell. And so much for the certain∣ty of Story, and fearefulnesse of the truth con∣cerning the damnable practises of Witches and cunning of the Diuell to deceiue them.

But yet because the mind of man may be carried away with many idle coniectures, ei∣ther that woemen confessed these things by extreami••y of torture, or that ancient exam∣ples are by this time forgotten (although the particulars are vpon record, for the benefit of all posteritie:) Or that they were besides themselues, or subiect to some weake deuise or other, rather to bring in question the in∣tegrity of Iustice; then to make odious the liues of such horrible offendors. I haue pre∣sumed to present on the Stage of verity for the good of my Country & the loue of truth, the late wofull Tragedy of the destruction of the Right Honourable the Earle of Rutlands Children, who to his eternall praise procee∣ded yet both religiously and charitably a∣gainst the offenders, leauing their prosecuti∣on to the law and submitting himselfe, and deplorable case to the prouidence of God, who afflicteth his best seruants with punish∣ments, and many times, sendeth extraordi∣nary vengeance as well on the innocent, as the bad deseruer, to manifest his glory:

Therefore by way of Caution I aduise thee (gentle Reader) whosoeuer thou art, to take heede how thou doest either despise the power of God in his Creatures, or vilipend the subtilty and fury of the Diuell, as Gods instrument of vengeance, considering that truth in despight of gaine sayers will pre∣uaile, according to that principle: Magna est veritas & preualebit.

The Story followes.

AFter the Right Honourable S^r. Francis Manners succeeded his Brother in the Earledome of Rutland: and so not onely tooke possession of Beauer Castle, but of all other his demeanes, Lordships, Townes, Mannors, Lands, and Reuennues appropri∣ate to the same Earledome: hee proceeded so honourably in the course of his life, as neither displacing Tenants, dischar∣ging seruants, denying the accesse of the poore, welcoming of strangers, and per∣forming all the duties of a noble Lord, that

hee fastened as it were vnto himselfe the loue and good opinion of the Countrey wherein he walked the more cheerefully and remark∣able, because his honourable Countesse mar∣ched arme in arme with him in the same race; so that Beauer Castle was a continuall Pallace of entertainment, and a daily recep∣tacle for all sorts both rich and poore, especi∣ally such auncient people as neighboured the same; amongst whom one Ioane Flower, with her Daughters Margaret and Phillp were not onely relieued at the first from thence, but quickly entertained as Chair-women, and Margaret admitted as a continuall dweller in the Castle, looking both to the poultrey a∣broad and the wash-house within dores: In which life they continued with equall cor∣respondency, till something was discouered to the noble Lady, which concerned the misdemeanour of these women. And al∣though such honourable persons shall not want of all sorts of people, either to bring thē newes, tales, reports, or to serue their turne in all offices whatsoeuer; so that it may well

bee said of them, as it is of great Kings and Princes, that they haue large hands, wide eares, and piercing sights to discouer the vn∣swept corners of their remotest confines, to reach euen to their furthest borders, and to vnderstand the secrets of their meanest sub∣iects: yet in this matter, neither were they busie-bodies, flatterers, malicious politi∣ans, vnderminers, nor supplanters one of anothers good fortune; but went simply to worke, as regarding the honor of the Earle and his Lady, and so by degrees gaue light to their vnderstanding to apprehend their com∣plaints. First, that Ioane Flower the Mother was a monstrous malicious woman, full of oathes, curses, and imprecations irreligious, and for any thing they saw by her, a plaine Atheist; besides of late dayes her very coun∣tenance was estranged, her eyes were fiery and hollow, her speech fell and enuious, her de••eanour strange and exoticke, and her conuersation sequestred; so that the whole course of her life gaue great suspition that she was a notorious Witch, yea some of her

neighbours dared to affirme that shee dealt with familiar spirits, and terrified them all with curses and threatning of reuenge, if there were neuer so little cause of displeasure and vnkindnesse. Concerning Margaret, that shee often resorted from the Castle to her Mother, bringing such prouision as they thought was vnbefitting for a seruant to pur∣loyne, and comming at such vnseasonable houres, that they could not but coniecture some mischiefe between them, and that their extraordinary ryot & expences, tended both to rob the Lady, & to maintaine certaine de∣boist and base company which frequented this Ioane Flowers house the mother, & espe∣cially her youngest Daughter. Concerning Phillip, that she was lewdly transported with the loue of one Th: Simpson, who presumed to say, that shee had bewitched him: for hee had no power to leaue her, and was as hee supposed maruellously altred both in m••••de and body, since her acquainted company: these complaints began many yeares be∣fore either their conuiction, or publique

apprehension: Notwithstanding such was the honour of this Earle and his Lady; such was the cunning of this monstrous wo∣man in obseruation towards them; such was the subtilty of the Diuell to bring his purposes to passe; such was the pleasure of God to make tryall of his seruants; and such was the effect of a damnable womans wit and malitious enuy, that all things were carried away in the smooth Channell of li∣king and good entertainment on euery side, vntill the Earle by degrees conceiued some mislike against her; and so, peraduenture estranged himselfe from that familiaritie and accustomed conferrences hee was wont to haue with her: vntill one Peate offered her some wrong; against whom shee com∣plained, but found that my Lord did not affect her clamours, and malicious infor∣mation, vntill one M^r. Vauasor abando∣ned her company, as either suspicious of her lewd life, or distasted with his owne misliking of such base and poore Crea∣tures, whom no body loued but the Earles

houshold; vntill the Countesse misconcei∣uing of her daughter Margaret, and discoue∣ring some vndecencies both in her life and neglect of her businesse, discharged her from lying any more in the Castle, yet gaue her 40. ^s. a bolster, & a mattresse of wooll: com∣manding her to go home, vntil the slacknesse of her repayring to the Castle, as shee was wont, did turne her loue and liking toward this honourable Earle and his family into hate and rancor: wherevpon despighted to bee so neglected, and exprobrated by her neighbours for her Daughters casting out of dores, and other conceiued displeasures, she grew past all shame and Woman-hood, and many times cursed them all that were the cause of this discontentment, and made her so loathsome to her former familiar friends, and beneficiall acquaintance.

When the Diuell perceiued the inficious disposition of this wretch, and that she and her Daughters might easily bee made instru∣ments to enlarge his Kingdome, and bee as it were the executioners of his vengeance;

not caring whether it lighted vpon inno∣cents or no, he came more neerer vnto them, and in plaine tearmes to come quickly to the purpose, offered them his seruice, and that in such a manner, as they might easily com∣mand what they pleased: For hee would at∣tend you in such prety formes of dog, cat, or Rat, that they should neither be terrified, nor any body else suspicious of the matter. Vpon this they agree, and (as it should seeme) giue away their soules for the seruice of such spi∣rits, as he had promised them; which filthy conditions were ratified with abhominable kisses, and an odious sacrifice of blood, not leauing out certaine charmes and coniurati∣ons with which the Diuell deceiued them, as though nothing could bee done without ceremony, and a solemnity of orderly rati∣fication. By this time doth Sathan triumph, and goeth away satisfied to haue caught such fish in the net of his illusions: By this time are these women Diuels incarnate, and grow proud againe in their cunning and artificiall power, to doe what mischiefe they listed▪ By

this time they haue learnt the manner of in∣chantations, Spells and Charmes: By this time they kill what Cattle they list, and vn∣der the couert of flattery and familiar enter∣tainment, keepe hidden the stinging ser∣pent of mallice, and a venomous incli∣nation to mischiefe: By this time is the Earle and his familie threatened, and must feele the burthen of a terrible tempest, which from these womens Diuellish deuises fell vppon him, hee neither suspecting nor vn∣derstanding the same: By this time both himselfe and his honourable Countesse, are many times subiect to sicknesse and extra∣ordinary conuulsions, which they taking as gentle corrections from the hand of God, submit with quietnesse to his mercy, and study nothing more, then to glorifie their Creator in heauen, and beare his crosses on earth.

At last, as mallice increased in these damnable Women; so his family felt the smart of their reuenge and inficious dis∣position. For his eldest Sonne Henry Lord

Rosse sickened very strangely, and after a while died: his next named Francis Lord Rosse accordingly, was seuerely tormented by them, and most barbarously and inhumane∣ly tortured by a strange sicknesse; not long after the Lady Katherine was set vpon by their dangerous and diuellish practises, and many times in great danger of life, through extreame maladies and vnusuall fits, nay (as it should seeme, and they afterwards confes∣sed) both the Earle and his Countesse were brought into their snares as they imagined, and indeed determined to keepe them from hauing any more children. Oh vnheard of wickednesse and mischieuous damnation? Notwithstanding all this did the noble Earle attend his Maiesty, both at New-market be∣fore Christmas, and at Christmas at White∣hall; bearing the losse of his Children most nobly, and little suspecting that they had miscarried by Witch-craft, or such like in∣uentions of the Diuell, vntill it pleased God to discouer the villanous practises of these Woemen, and to command the Diuell

from executing any further vengeance on innocents, but leaue them to their shames, and the handes of Iustice, that they might not onely be confounded for their villanous practises, but remaine as a notorious example to all ages of his iudgement and fury. Thus were they apprehended about Christmas, and carried to Lincolne Iayle, after due exa∣mination, before sufficient Iustices of the Peace, and discreete Maiestrates, who won∣dred at their audacious wickednes, but Ioane Flow••r the Mother before conuiction, (as they say) called for Bread and Butter, and wished it might neuer goe through her if she were guilty of that wherevpon shee was ex∣amined; so mumbling it in her mouth, ne∣uer spake more wordes after, but fell downe and dyed as shee was carryed to Lincolne Goale, with a horrible excruciation of soule and body, and was buried at Ancaster.

When the Earle heard of their apprehensi∣on, hee hasted downe with his brother S^r. George, and somtimes examining them him∣selfe, and sometimes sending them to others;

at last left them to the triall of Law, before the Iudges of assise at Lincolne; and so they were conuicted of murther and executed accor∣dingly, about the 11. of March, to the terror of all the beholders, and example of such dis∣solute and abhominable Creatures, and be∣cause you shall haue both cause to glorifie God for this discouery, and occasion to ap∣prehend the strangenesse of their liues, and truth of their proceedings: I thought it both meete and conuenient to lay open their own Examinations and Euidences against one another, with such apparrant circumstan∣ces, as doe not onely shew the cause of their mislike and distasting against the Earle and his family; but the manner of their procee∣dings and reuenges, with other particulars belonging to the true and plaine discouery of their villany and Witch-craft.