A vvorld of vvonders. A masse of murthers. A couie of cosonages Containing many of the moste notablest wonders, horrible murthers and detestable cosonages that haue beene within this land. Not imagined falso to delight vaine heads ociose, not practised trans mare to breed trueth cum ambiguitate, but commited euen at home re vera, and may be prooued cum honestate. A matter moste fit to be knowen, well wayed and considered of all men.

A VVORLD OF VVonders.

IT is recorded in auntient monuments that what time Rinaldo ruled this land it raiyned blood thrée dayes, and after that fol∣lowed a tempest of venemous beastes which slew many people.

All this was a forewarning of great punishment to light vpon the Inhabitants in this land that liued not penitently as ensued the next yeare: when so great a mortalitie hapned that this land was almost in desolation. Whatsoeuer therefore (gentle Rea∣der) thou findest in this booke assure thy self that it is written as a memoriall or day-booke for all and euerie of vs dayly and hourely to looke into for the better and speedier amendment of our sinfull liues.

Bladud sometime gouerned this land who cunning in Nigro∣mancie and trusting therto decked himself with feathers and pre¦suming to flye ouer the towne of Bathe broke his neck by falling vpon the Temple which he there had built. A fit rewarde for all such as as vse Nigromancie or any such vnlawfull acts.

At what time Norindus ruled this land a wonderfull monster came out off the irish seas & deuoured much people against which the King him self Neides fought, and was of the same monster cleane deuoured. Beware of fooles hardnes.

Archigallo was twise king of this land and Elidurus his bro¦ther twise disposed, so that he was thrise ruler heerof.

Catillus who ruled this land ten yeares, caused all Extortio∣ners and oppressors of the poore to be hanged, to giue examples to other. I would to God they were so vsed now a dayes: I suppose there would be a great number of vsurers, brokers & sergiaunts.

About thréescore yeares after the birth of Christ, it is supposed that Christianitie came into this land: but diuers write diuersly, for some as Necephorus and Dowthemus say that Simon Zelo∣tes first preached Christ heere. Some say Phillip the Apostle:

Some say Ioseph of Armathia that buryed our Lord.

King Arthur conquered thirtie kingtomes such as were in those dayes wherin he liued.

In the raigne of Careticus and Ethelfridus was such ciuil and deadly warres that the most part of this land was buryed & de∣stroyed, and the people that were left faine to flye into Wales, the faithfull of Christ was then almost extinguished, the Brittaines indispaire and in subuersion to the Saxons.

But what is the cause or this prouoking of Gods anger? euen couetousnes, whordome and extortion: Looke vp England, looke vp and repent: those sinnes were then but euen in the budde, now behol••e and repent, for now are they in the fulnes of their flower, and stay but for the frute. Woe are wée whose doyes are so dan∣gerous: But Lord awake in mercie and take pittie on vs.

Then couerend Beda wrote 78. bookes and in his time renou∣med throughout the whole worlde.

When Bytiricus ruled this land it rained blood yea that fel on peoples clothes appeared like crosses.

When this land was stored with Wooules, the Princes of VVales payed 300. Wooules euerie yeare to the King of Eng∣land for at that time might scarce two be found vntill the yeare 994. neither feuer nor flix nor murren of Cattle were knowen in this land.

In the time of king VVilliam the Conquerour was scarcitie and dearth that men did eat horsses, cats, dogges yea and mans flesh.

Anno 1093, was such a famine that therof sprang such and so great a mortalitie that the quick were scant able the dead.

Also in the yeare 1099. we read that blood sprang out of y^e earth at Finchamstead in Barkshire.

Much about this time the water of the riuer of Trent at Not∣tingham was dryed vp from one of the clock till thrée.

The like defection of water did the Theames at Londen bridg suffer about foure yeares after.

The 24. of February at Tewxbury being then their Faire, such number of flyes and kyttles dammed Seuern that for the length of a Buts shot were in mens iudgement estéemed abooue a hundred quarters.

A wunder of wunders befel in England throughout 1133. for there was great darknes throughout all the land and the Sunne appeared no otherwise then as the Moone when she is in her last quarter.

Giraldus Cambrencis in his booke of the discription of Wales telleth that in the Cuntrey Kemanies, yea in his time a young man named Se••••illus borne in those parts, was so tormented w^t toades as though all the toades in the Cuntrey had beene gathe∣red together to vex him, and when as innumerable numbers of them were killed by those that kept him, & by others of his friends and kinsmen, yet came they still increasing in greater numbers then before, insomuch that when his acquaintance perceiued no help, after many assayes they loped all the boughes and leaues of a very high trée and closed him in a coffin made for the purpose so hoisted vp into the said high trée, but notwithstanding poore S••i∣sillies was still molested with them. for they créeping vp wun∣derfull heapes left him not til they had eaten him vy to bare bones and so dyed.

About Orford in Suffolk certaine fishers tooke in their nettes a fish in all pointes shaped like a man, which fish was half a yeare kept in Orford Castle for a wunder. Hée would eat all man∣ner meat but most gréedily raw fish, he was shewed in no kinde of worship. Aftermen had wundred at him, hée was little e∣stéemed of and so not béeing looked vnto stole away and was neuer heard of. 1188.

In the yeare 1230. a suddain darknesse chaunced in Poules-Church euen at seruice time so oue could scantly sée an other: Also bout thrée or foure yeare afterward, fiue sunnes to be séene in the ayre as also two great dragons flyingand fighting together du∣ring a whole day, the one day chased the other to the déepe sea.

After all these followed great warres and troubles in England Wales. &c.

Beholde all Cornehourders a wunderfull example not fained but by sufficient testimonies to be approued done euen at home.

In the yeare 1234 was a dearth in England as true histories recorde (euen as now also there is) so that many dyed for want of victualls. The richmen as now a dayes were dwelled with co∣uetousnes, so that they would not releiue them that were in ne∣cessite

Amongst whome (a thing worthy noting) was one Wal∣ter Gray Arch-bishop of Yorke, whose corne béeing fiue yeares olde, doubted that the vermine would destroy it, and therfore cōmaunded to deliuer it to husband men, that dwelt in his manours vppon condicion as much new corne after the next haruest, and would distribute none of it to the poore for Gods sake.

Now it fortuned that when the men came to a great stacke of corne that stoode néere to the towne of Rippon belonging to the said Archbishop and had opened the corne, there appeared in the sheaues the heds of wormes and of toades, and horrible serpents, yea and a voice was heard out of the mowe saying lay no handes one that corne for the Archbishop and all that he hath is the diuels.

This being heard, the left it, and the bayliffes of the Towne were faine to build an high wall round about the corne, and then to set it one fire least the venemous venime should haue gonne out to haue poysned the corne in other places.

Beholde this true example and repent thou couetous richman and doe good while time is offered thée, and God will blesse thée the better,

A sea-bull was taken passinge the thames as far as Mortlake to the 25. yeare of the reigne of King Richard the 3.

It is most aproued that in the sayd Kings raigne ther dwelled in the Dioces of Lincolne a woman of noble birth, both well fa∣uored and beautifull who being married to a rich man in that cur¦try beare to her husband many children and yet not with stāding (wonderfull to tell) the sayd woman got another gētle with child and begate of her thrée sonnes one after an other or euer the ma••er came to light the woman were named Hauissia and Lucia.

In King Edward the 2 raigne flesh of beasts was so corrupted that men durst not eate therof, such murraine of beasts and cattell was then that men and women stole Cattes and did eate their owne children, some fatte dogges, horses & such like. Prisoners, plucked in peeces such as came newly to them as prisoners & eate them haule a liue so greeuous a mortalitie of people folloged that vneth the quicke were able to bury the deade. Lord deliuer vs from the like.

About Chippyngnorton in Oxfordshire in the yeare 1344, was found a monsterous serpent, hauing two heads and two fa∣ces

like women one face attired of the new fashion of attyres then sprung vp, and the other face atired after the olde ci••ll fa∣shion and like a bat or ••••••n••er mouse.

And shall wee not say those were tokens of Gods wrath sent to mooue vs to repentance and leauing of our new deuised pride of apparrell.

But what then may be sayd of the straunge birds or fowles ta∣ken by Richard Waller, and Richard Preston, within the Pa∣rish of Crowell in Lincolne shire, euen euen the other day in ••••r memories in the yeare 1586 which birds w••••ed enter••••••t ••••l∣lors hauing fethers vpon then heads or fronts growing & stand∣ing out very like the frisled and curled haire of most men and wo∣men in these dayes, yea hauing also great feathers / about their neckes growing and standing very high, very euen and in the very forme of our greatest set of ruffes, being diuersly coullored held vp with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quilles resembling the wyers commonly cal∣led supporters, which woord (in my iudgment) right fitteth the matter for that in very trueth they are the supporters of sinne and of many iniquities.

If wee further consider how these foules beeing taken would walke thrée and thrée togeither in most stately forme, and after∣wards turning bill to bill stood as it were consulting, it might be imagined they did but resemble the most ••proude, stately, and scornefull footesteps of women in these our dayes as also their go∣ssops talks and inuentions of new••••nd tayles and behauiour.

But gentlewomen consider what you are and whereto you must turne: A apainted wall is but a deceite to the buyer, and a paynted body is but a deceiuing of the soule.

Consider that a simple soule surpasseth thousands of the moste gorgious attired bodies of this world: Leaue off the pride of the Pecock and take the humility of the Doeue, for when age draw¦eth vpon you you your selues will repent your former pride, and acknowledge it méere vanitie.

Vppon Christmas day in the the 25. yeare of the raigne of L. Richard the second a Dolphin came out of the sea euento London bridge showing himselfe playing but after there followed great tempests.

The posterne gate of London néere the Towre in King Hen∣ry

the sixt dayes sunck more then seuen foote into the earth at the same season.

Wonderfull and straunge it is to tell how in the 1594, the bodie of one Alce Hackney which had béene buried in the Church of Saint Mary-hill in London by the space of one hundred thrée score and fiftéene yeares was taken out of the ground by a graue maker, bothe whole of skinne and also her ioynts plyable, not de¦minished.

This body being also so taken vp, is reported that after so long time lying in the earth to lye foure dayes abooue ground to the vein of all commers, not smelling nor anoying of any, and then buryed againe,

This (as it séemeth to mée) veryfieth the saying of reueend Bede our Cuntreyman, who affirmeth that there be thrée dayes in a yeare wherein whosoeuer is borne the bodies shall not con∣sume vntill the day of Iudgement.

In the yeare 1552 at Middleton eleuen myles from Oxford, a woman brought foorth a Childe with two bodies from the na∣uill in such sorte that when they lay at length the one body & hed lay as it were east-ward, and the other hed and body lay west west-ward, the legs for y^e bodies grew out at the midst wheras the bodies ioyned and they had but one issue for both the bodies.

These were women children and liued eightéene dayes,

About that time when the Gray-f••yers was made an hospitall, ten great Dolphins were taken and brought to London the least wherof, was bigger then a horse.

Straunge it is to consider how God sundry times in most mi∣raculous sorte prouideth for the poore, as may be read in the dayes of Quéene Mary.

The twentie six of Nouember 1575. a Poulters wise in Christ Church parish within Newgate was deliuered and brought to bed of foure daugghters all aliue.

A place by the seaside all of hardstone and pebles commonly called a shelf, lying betwéene Oxford and Alborough in Suffolk, wheras neuer was knowen to be either grasse or earth, but al∣waies bare and barren, suddainly by Gods appointment sprang out of the fame without labour or till age such great abundaunce of peason that the poore Inhabitaunts there gathered (as it was

then iudged) aboue one hundred, quarters and yet notwithstan∣ding there still remained pease some rype some gréene and some in the blossome, euen in as a great a quantitie as they were before they were gathered.

About the same time also a great fish was taken threescore féet in length very swéet and pleasant to be eaten.

In the yeare 1557. before haruest was such a dearth, that wheat was solde for foure marks the quarter, mault for fortie foure shillings, pease at fortie six shillings the quarter, but it plea¦sed God to send such a haruest, to ensue presently vpon that dearth that wheat was solde for fiue shillings a quarter, mault for an no∣ble, Rye for ten grotes, and all this so solde at London, in the cuntry it was better cheape.

Let vs repent vs of our wickednes and begine to loue one an other as we ought, and doubt we not but God will euen now doe the like for vs in this our dearth although in mans iudgement it presumptio••s may be made to the contrary.

More monsterous births befell in the yeare 1562 then in ma∣ny yeares before.

A Mare brought foorth a foale with one body and two heads and a thing like a tayle growing sut betweene the heads.

Also a Sow farrowed a pigge with foure legs like to thearmes of a man childe, with hands and figers.

Also there was an other Sow which farrowed a pigge with two bodyes, eight féete and but one head.

Diuers children and beastes were brought into the world in monsterous formes but most to be noted, is how many had resem∣blances of ruffs growing about their necks and this without fa∣ble.

The xvij, of February 1570. at a place called Kinnaston néer Marclech hill in Herefordshire, a straunge thing was séene that was the ground to open. and the ground with certaine rocks to remooue, and went forward for the space of foure or thrée dayes to wit satterday, sunday and munday, and in fiue and twentée houre it remooued fortie paces euerie pace fiue foote carrying both trees and shéepecoates yea shéepe and all in them, some trees fall∣ing into the chinkes others remaning firme as before others that to fore stood east stand now west: et sic econtra.

Kinaston Chapell was ouerthrowne with it, and two high wayes laned with hedges and trées are remooued trées and all an hundred yards from their acc••ustomed places, where ••••llage ground was, there it was pasture left in place therof, and wher∣as pas••ure ground lay there tillage ground hath gone vpon it, the ground as it was mooued draue the earth before it, and at the lower part euer whelmed the ground so that it is nowe great hil highted abooue twelue fadome: it brake out at first in depth thir∣tie foote, the breadth of the earth béeing eightscore yardes, and the ground in all being twentie six Acres.

The like also hapned within these two yeares, beeing a wun∣derfull example and worthy the marking.

The 9 of Iuly 1274, in the Ile of T••net a monsterous whale was taken, who wanting water dyed with such roaring that he was heard a mile off. His length was two and twentie yardes one of his eyes beeing taken out was more then six horsses could draw in a cart▪ a man might stand vpright in the place, wherout his eye was taken: between his eyes was twelue foote in length, three men might stand vpright in his mouth: his ribbes being six∣téene foote long, his liuer was two cart load, and any man might créep into his nos••rels, which was wunderfull.

A wounderfull and a notable Example for such as vse swea∣ring and forswearing them selues.

Anne Auery comming into the house of one Williamson in Woodstreat in London to buy six poundes of Towe or hardesse, hauing had the towe and béeing demaunded money after many vaine spéeches and filthy oathes desired of God that shée might sinck where shée steed if shée did not pay for it. God who is iust, sent his iust iudgement vpon her so as forthwith shée sunck down vnto the ground, not able to stand, the vse of that her blasphe∣mous tongue being taken away, and shee remaining speachlesse cast vp at her mouth (that vessell of sinne) the filth and ordure of her body in great quantitie and with horrible shucking, which by natures course should haue béen voided downeward, and in it is sorte continued which was not long till she dyed.

I might héere also put you in minde of the like periured called father Lea, dwelling about Foster lane, but to the wise this may be a warning: as for such as are commonly called knights of the

I c••n in conscience think no otherwise but that they are euen re∣probates hated of God and beloued of the diuell. God for his Christes sake giue them grace to repent and amend.

Euen as before is saide as concerning periury, so in a manner may bee sayde of other enormities, as of whordome, hardnes of hart to the poore, vnmercifulnes of bretheren and such like, in which extremitie, God neuer leaueth such as trust in him, as may well be séene by the peason growing in the rock before mentioned as also by one William Lumley a poore man dwelling in Elme∣ton in the countie of Worcester who being cast into prison & there continuing. within thrée dayes after his imprisonmēt had a mare which foalded vnto him a mare foale, which immediatly after had such an vdder of milk that shee gaue for a long time together euerie day thrée pyntes of milke to the great comfort of his poore wise and children. A wunderfull prouidence of God and wor∣thy to be noted especially of such as hauing superfluitie yet euen for the smallest debts care not to what trouble and hard imprison¦ment they put their poore bretheren that God suffers to want for their further indgement and condempnation I feare except they repent and be mercifull as Christ him selfe is and hath commaun¦ded vs to be so likewise.

Marke héer an notable example of such as practice any vnlaw∣full artes.

The 17 of Ianuary, 1577, Simon Penbrooke dwelling in Saint Georges Parish in Southwarck suspected for a Coniurer, and therefore summoned to appeare before the Ordinarie, at S, Sauiours Church, standing by his proctor, when euen as the Iudge came in hée fell downe ratling in the throate, and neuer spoke woord but dyed presently: in whose clothes were found fiue diuelish bookes of coniuration and a picture of a man made of tyn, hauing thrée dice in his hand with this writing: chance dice for∣tunately. A fit rewarde for such vile varlets as make lawfull artes ill spoken of, and detested by their vngodly vses and practise of diuelish deuises.

But sith I am now rehearsing of wounders and woundrous shapes, I will héere declare as straunge a matter as euer was heard of.

In the yeare 1588, was a widdow named Margaret Owen,

aged thréescore yeares who had an horne foure inches long moste miraculously growing out of her forehed downe to her nose, and there crooked towardes her right eye, and was then growing so fast that shée was faine to cut it, least it should blemish her sight.

The woman was to be séene aswell in London as in other pla¦ces of this Realme, neither can any naturall cause bee knowen thereof, but a wounder that God hath sent.

Many are the reportes, but whether they be true or no I leaue to your iudgments: for some affirme that in her youth shée was not so loyall to her husband as dutie ought, and that diuers times there hath béene spéeches tending to that purpose betwéene her husband and her, wherupon hée suspscting flying fame to be true, that shée was light of behauiour. & charging her with it in these tearmes, that she had giuen him the horne, it is said, that shée not only denyed it, but wished of God that if shee had giuen her hus∣band the horne, that shée might haue one horne growing out of her owne forehead as a witnesse against her to the wounder of the world: (God only knoweth whether it were so or not) if it were, I counsaile all other aswell men as women to looke to them selues and not to commit sinne vpon sinne: first, in committing such an horrible offence and adultrie: and secondly to cloake the same, to call vengeance on their heds. Remember the woman that for∣sware her self for a small summe of money: the olde saying is: It may be spoke in such an houre, as God may say Amen.

This woman inhabited in Wales in the Tawneand parish of Llhau Gaduaine in the Countie of Moungomrye and at the roote of this horne beganne, an other hard knot euen as the other beganne which shée vsed to cut of least it should prooue also an o∣therhorne.

The mercifull and louing kindnesse of god vnto sinfull people hath and is so greate that he longe time suffereth vs before he pu∣nisheth nay he seldom punisheth except he vse some maruelous operation before hand to moue to repetance to forwarne vs of the anger depending our heads, as fatherly admonitions, as may well be perceiued, by this that followeth.

About the yeare 1579 or there abouts, in Aberwick in the parrish of Agglingham in the county of Northumberland, dwelled one Iohn Vrine a piper, vnto whome it pleased God to

send by his wife Elianor a daughter, and by reporte a goodly childe.

The wife being deliuered and each thing (as in such causes re∣quireth) ordered the midwife glad of the womans saftie. called the sayd Iohn Vrine to his wife, and tolde him that it had plea∣sed God to send him a goodly daughter.

A daughter quoth he with a sterne and angery countenance, if it be a daughter the diuell take my parte for me, for it is none of myne: and so departed murmuring, withont any thankes-gi∣uing to God for her saffe deliuerance but rather tempting God, as most of vs doe, God be mercifull vnto vs, but marke the se∣quell.

A yeare or two after about the yeare 1580 which is not long since that it may be forgoten, or fained as a lie, it pleased God to send his wife to be with childe againe, and to be deliuered of a monster, a male according to his desier, hauing the shape of two Children, from the shoulders vpward it had two heads, ha∣uing naturall proportions, sauing that the one eare of each head was shapened like an horse eare, aud the other like a swine. The body greater then vsuall, ha••ing two féete, and two armes, proportionable, and was borne dead.

Loe here God his iudgment sent vpon him that murmured a∣gainst his creator, what would he haue sayd if it had pleased God to haue sent him this, when he sent him the daughter? But he séeing this wonderfull worke, as it is reported, accknowledged his offence, and cryed to god for mercy: which God graunt vn∣to vs all, he that shed his bloud vpon the trée for vs. Anen

A memoriall of certaine most notorious witches, and of their dealings

THere dwelled not so long since, but shat of some it may be re∣membred. In Barking in Essex seuen miles distraunt from London a Witch named mother white-coate alias mother Ar∣uold alias mother Glassenbury who committed many execrable factes, as may appeare.

There was dwelling in Barking one Thomas Clark a fisher who hauing angred this witch, went foorth in mackerel

time to catch flounders, and he and two boyes sayling downe al∣most as farre as Lée where they cast out his nets, in the same place was such an neddy that he could by no meanes woork, nei∣ther his nets come in order, as they should do, but vpon a sodaine this Clarke cryed out and sayd that he sawe mother Arnolde the witch walking in the water, and withall cryed the spirit en∣tred into him and mooued him to kill him selfe so that hee tooke a hatchet, a hooke and a knife and threw them ouerbourd and af∣ter tyed he himselfe about the middle with a rope and so fell mad, so that the boyes cryed vnto other fishermen, who séeking to help him, there was a whirlepoole that had almost cast them a∣way so that none durst come neer them, atlength a boat of Green wich perceiuing the whirle poole threw a roape vnto them and so plucked him into his boate and so brought him home to Barking where he remained mad, and lying still bound cryed out of mo∣ther Arnold, and in the end dyed thus tormented.

The said mother Arnold going in precession with other her neighbours in gangwéek and William Daulbie seeing her very liuely came vnawares behinde her and strooke vp her heeles gi∣uing her a fall, and after thrust him self into the prease of the peo∣ple to the intent she might not know who did it, but she arysing came immediatly to him taking him by the hand thanked him for her fall, and sayd she would be euen with him.

They went to one Malles house a mile and a half from Bark∣ing where she complained of the young man and after some victu¦alls giuen her by the good wise went homeward againe.

Malles wise and Daulbie going to Barking togither a good pace but could set no eye of her, till they came by Barking, where she sat a praying vnder a trée, and so passed by her, and so went home, where béeing not a quarter of an houre, but Daulbie was so miserably vexed, that he sought to kill himself, thrust his hedde into the swilling tub full of swines meat, where he had smothered him self if help had not preuented it.

Then would he haue runne into an hotte ouen to the burning fire brands with his téeth that hée burned his mouth and lippes very sore: when night came his friends had him to bed, but his vexation growing wursie and wursse and he féeling his bowels burne within him (as a pot séething on the fire) could not indure

the bed but lay for the most part all the night out of a windowe which hée so byted with his téeth that it may be perceiued still, so long as the window endureth, and in these miserable cases conti∣nued. At last helped by an other witch, was at the Asssses bound to appeare at Burnt wood where hée gaue evidence against mo∣ther Arnold in the hearing ofher owne daughter, who after came to him and saide you haue giuen shrode euidence against my mother but you will be little better for it. And the next night following, rysing to make water was stroken in the neck that hee fell sick and was faine to be brought from Burnt wood to Rainford in a Cart, and so from thence home, béeing pitiously vexed till he gaue vp the ghost.

WHen Master Clement Sisley Esquire had examined this witch and tolde her shée should goe to prsson the wiech desired that shée might not goe to prison, for the spirit would be reuenged as it hapned when hée tooke paper in his hand to make his war∣rant suddainly both his féete were taken from him by reason wherof, he fell on a plaine pauement of frée stone in his owne house at Tastburyhall and strook out the huckle bone of his thigh out of the ioynt, so that for thrée wéekes space he could not goe, nor stand along time after her erecution but vsed stiles for necessi¦ties sake.

But before he committed her to the Iaiole, he caused her to be searched by honest wiues who betwéene her kercheif and her hat found wrapped in a linnen cloth swines dung, the herb cherwell dill, red fenell and saint Iohns woort, the right hand or forefoote of a Moulewarp, which vpon the opening so stanck that no per∣son could abyde it.

After the finding of this shee knéeled downe vppon her knées, desiring them if she might not haue the whole, yet to let her haue some part therof, but the same by the commaundement of the Iu∣stice was burned.

IF I should write at full the manifold mischeifes of this most detestable practicioner, they would fill a great volume, as how she lamed Newman of Stratforde a tanner, how shée stole

an handchercher from his wife and after fiue dayes kéeping it sent it backe againe by one of her neighbours▪ who deliuering it, faire, and white, to Newmans mayd, presently there fell thrée dropps of bloud vpon it one after another, and the mayd amazed giuing it to her mistris it became all ouer red as bloud most won¦derfull.

Also how shee vexed one Harison béeing a Dutch man méeting him at Mile-end and stroke him so lame that he was faine to hire a horse, to carry him home, and bewitched him dumbe, that he could not speake: and made his horse to shake, aud dance, for the space of one whole yeare.

Also how she threatned George Male at the Grayhound at Barking that for so much as he thrust her and her daughter out of his doores and would giue them nothing, this witch threatned that shée would set a Bée in his tayle the next time. Yea and that a stinger sayd the daughter. So not long after he determining to ride, put on a new payre of hose with a double rugge in them prysed fortie shillings, the first day of his riding he was so tickled in the buttocke, that he scratched through all, both hose and ly∣nings and such a hole in his slesh, that it was not whole a m••∣neth after.

Many other mischeifs might be héere numbred, but I meane not to stand long vppon these detestable actions only this to be noted, that béeing often examined, when she was to answere sud∣dainly there rose in her throate a swelling as bigge as a mans fist, black as pitch, and then she seemed to haue the hitchcough, as though she would speake but could not, and in this case the ex∣aminers would strike her on the brest but she required them not to doe so: And when she was executed such a stincking vapour issued foorth of her mouth that the behoulders were scantlye able to endure it. All which is moste wounderfull.

I might héere noate the cruell deuises of mother Bumby the witch of Rochester: the tirannie of the witches of VVarboys. and many other, but for breuities sake I omit thē, putting them in memorie of one the moste straunge of all other, committed in March 1592. néer Harrow on the bill.

One Master Edling hauing a barne at the townes end, his seruant Richard Bucte going thether with a mastiue dogge af∣ter

him, suddainly espied an haire to fiart before him and set his dogge at her, but the mastiue refusing the chase ran round about the fellow whyning pittiefully, but the fellow left not till he saw the hare take in at one mother Atkins house, knowen to be a no∣torious witch.

The fellow perceiuing this, blessed him self and bad auaunt witch, which turned to his woe for a moneth after or there about he going to his masters barne againe met this mother Atkins and bad her good morrow, but the witch would not answere.

The next day hee went to the barne againe and carryed with him his dinner and going to his victualls about noone hee sawe a monsterous black cat, among the strawe shaking it, wherat Ri∣chard rising vp from whence he sat, heard avoice commaunding him to come away.

Come away thought he whether shall I come? the voice sayde againe come away and leaue thy victualls behinde thée and thy knife also: the fellow amazed went with his victualls in his hand to the barne doore and there was hoisted vppe suddainly into the ayre and carryed ouer many feilds by the way espying his ma∣sters plough plowing but not able to call to them from thence he was hoistedouer to Harrow ouer that side of the hill, whereon there is a great pond of water through which was drawne moste piteously that there he lost his hat and then was violently rapt vp the hill, and ouer the toppes of the trees by Harrow church but béeing haled further, he was taken into a place which was al fire wherin was such lamentable crying and howling as all the dam∣ned ••oules had béene there, such stuicks, such darknes, s••ch noise and such heat that it made him so thristie that he knew not what to doe: where vpon he hauing but one peny in his pursse remem∣bred it, and looked round about for an alehouse where hee might spend it. But perceiuing no such matters but hearing varietie of voices supposing some had spoken vnto him he replyed saying, heere is no woorke for me to doe, it was reanswered againe, coast away with him with this pro••iso, that thou bee seceret when then commest home: whereuppon Richard sayd my ma∣ster wi••l a••ke mee where I haue béen and with that his tounge was doubled in his mouth that he could not speake, his legges burned, his armes and hands scorched, his coate pinched of his

back and throne into the fire and immediatly was again coasted ouer hedges and ditches seu••ed in myre and durt scratched with thornes and bryers and finally to beddawbed, singed and diffigu∣••ed that it was moste lamentable to beholde him.

Thus being brought againe to his wouted place or dwelling he went to a ditch to drink and after to a freind of his being now absent foure dayes & as then able to speake, his master not know∣ing him at the first, but afterwards with much a doe his tounge being vnfoulded he tolde all the storie as you haue heard & would not be quieted till hee had drawne blood of mother Atkins since which time hée is amended.

Thús haue you heard the mostnotorious fact that euer witch¦craft hatched, omitting many other, from all which our good God deliuer vs. Amen.