A true and iust recorde, of the information, examination and confession of all the witches, taken at S. Ofes in the countie of Essex whereof some were executed, and other some entreated according to the determination of lawe. Wherein all men may see what a pestilent people witches are, and how vnworthy to lyue in a Christian Commonwealth. Written orderly, as the cases were tryed by euidence, by W. W.

The Examination and confession of Ioane Pechey widdowe, taken before mee Brian Darcie Esquire, the xxv. of February.

This Examinate Ioan Pechey beeing as∣ked how olde shee was, saith, shee is three∣score yeares and vpwardes: And saith that shee hath dwelt in the Towne of S. Oseys aboue xl. yeares: And saith she knew Mother Barnes, and she knewe her to bee no witch, or that she euer heard her to bee accompted, or to haue skill in any witchery. And she being asked whether shee was with her when she lay vpon her death bed, saith that she was not.

This Examinate also denyeth, that she hath or euer had any Puppettes, Spyrites or Mau∣mettes: Or that shee had any Spirites, which she bought, or were conueyed vnto her by Mar∣gerie Barnes, or sent by any other sithence the death of Mother Barnes.

This Examinate also denyeth, that euer shee sayde to any of her neighbours, or to any other person in secrete sorte or meerely, that she knew or could tell what any man in the Towne at a∣any time dyd or sayed, when she her selfe listed, or would know.

This Examinate saith, that she neuer vsed any of those speaches, which Ales Hunte hath enformed against her, As yea art thou so sawsie? art thou so boulde? thou were not best to bee so bould, for if thou beist, thou shalt haue Simonds sauce.

This examinate being asked, what she thought of the sodaine death of Iohnson the Collector, saith, he was a very honest man, and dyed very sodainly: And saith she heard, that one Lurkin shoulde saye, that hee heard Iohnson to saye, that Mother Newman had beewitched him. And beeing asked of whome shee heard it, shee aunswered shee coulde not tell: And sayth that shee her selfe neuer vsed anye harde spea∣ches against the sayde Iohnson.

This Examinate beeing charged to haue willed her Sonne Phillip Barrenger, beeing of the age of xxiii. yeares to lye in hedde with her, denyeth that shee had so doone, other then shee had willed him at some tymes to lye vppon the bedde at her backe.

But the saide Phyllyppe beeing examined, confesseth and saith, that manye times and of late hee hath layne in naked bed with his owne mother, being willed and commaunded so to doe of her.

This Examinate beeing asked, whether she had any Cat in her house, sayth that shee hath a Kyttyn, and a little Dogge. And beeing asked, what coulour the Kyttyn was of, shee this Exa∣minate sayed she could not tell, saying yee maye goe and see.