The witches of Northampton-shire Agnes Browne. Ioane Vaughan. Arthur Bill. Hellen Ienkenson. Mary Barber. Witches. Who were all executed at Northampton the 22. of Iuly last. 1612.

The Arraignement and Execution of Agnes Browne, and Ioane Vaughan or Varnham his daughter, who were both executed at Northampton the 22. of Iuly last.

THis Agnes Browne led her life at Gilsborough in the county of Northampton, of poore parentage and poorer education, one that as shée was borne to no good, was for want of grace neuer in the way to receiue any, euer noted to bee of an ill nature and wicked 〈◊〉〈◊〉 position, spightfull and malitious, and ma∣ny yeeres before shee died both hated, and feared a∣mong her neighbours: Beeing long suspected in the Towne where she dwelt of that crime, which after∣wards proued true. This Agnes Browne had a daughter whose name was Ioane Vaughan or Varnham a maide (or at least vnmaried) as grati∣ous as the mother, and both of them as farre from grace as Heauen from hell.

This Ioane was so well brought vp vnder her mothers elbow▪ that shee hangd with her for com∣pany vnder her mothers nose. But to the purpose. This Ioane one day happening into the company

of one Mistris Belcher, a vertuous and godly Gen∣tlewoman of the same towne of Gilsborough. This Ioane Vaughan, whether of purpose to giue occa∣sion of anger to the said Mistris Belcher, or but to continue her vilde, and ordinary custome of beha∣uiour, committed something either in spéech, or ge∣sture, so vnfitting, and vnséeming the nature of wo∣man-hood, that it displeased the most that were there present: But especially it touched the modesty of this Gentlewoman, who was so much mooued with her bold, and impudent demeanor, that shée could not containe her selfe, but sodainely rase vp and strooke her, howbeit hurt her not, but forced her to auoide the company: which this Chicken of her Dammes hatching, taking disdainefully and béeing also enraged (as they that in this kind hauing power to harme, haue neuer patience to beare) at her go∣ing out told the Gentlewoman that shee would re∣member this iniury, and reuenge it: To whom Mistris Belcher answered, that shée neither seared her nor her mother: but bad her doe her worst.

This trull holding her selfe much disgraced, hies home in all hast to her mother, and telles her the wrong, which shée suggested Mistris Belcher had done vnto her: Now was the fire, and the tow met, all was enflamed: Nothing but rage and destructi∣on: Had they had an hundred Spirits at com∣mand, the worst, and the most hurtfull had béene called to this counsell, and imployed about this businesse. Howbeit vpon aduise (if such a sinne may take or giue aduise) they staied thrée or foure daies before they practised any thing, to auoide

suspition, whether the mother aduised the daugh∣ter, or the daughter the mother I know not, but I am sure the deuill neuer giues aduise to any man or woman in any act to be wary.

The matter thus sléeping (but rage and reuenge doe neuer rest) within a while was awaked, which Mistris Belcher to her intollerable paine too soone felt: For being alone in her house, she was sodainely taken with such a griping, and gnawing in her bo∣dy, that shée cried out, and could scarce bee held by such as came vnto her, And being carried to her bed her face was many times so disfigured by béeing drawne awrie that it bred both feare, and asto∣nishment to all the beholders, and euer as shee had breath, she cried, Heere comes Ioane Uaughan, away with Ioane Uaughan.

This Gentlewoman béeing a long time thus strangely handled, to the great griese of her friends, it happened that her brother one Master Auery, hearing of his Sisters sicknesse and extremity came to sée her, and béeing a sorrowfull beholder, of that which before hée had heard, was much moo∣ued in his minde at his Sisters pittifull condition, and the rather for that as hée knew not the nature of her disease, so hée was vtterly ignorant of any direct way to minister cure or helpe to the same. Hée often heard her cry out against Ioane Vaug∣han alias Varnham, and her mother, and heard by report of the neighbours that which before had happened betwixt his Sister, and the said Ioane: In so much as hauing confirmed his suspition that it was nothing else but Witch-craft that thus

tormented his Sister, following Rage rather then Reason, ranne sodainly towards the house of the said Agnes Browne with purpose to draw both the mo∣ther and the daughter to his Sister for her to draw bl•…•…ud on: But still as hee came neere the house, hee was sodainely stopped, and could not enter, whether it was an astonishment thorough his feare, or that the Spirits had that power to stay him I cannot iudge, but hee reported at his comming backe that hee was forcibly staied, and could not for his life goe any further forward, and they •…•…e∣port in the Country that hee is a Gentleman of a stoute courage: Hee tried twice or thrice after to goe to the house, but in the same place where hee was staied at first, hee was still staied: Belike the deuill stood there Centinell, kept his station well.

Upon this Master Auery béeing sory and much ag ieued that hee could not helpe his Sister in this tormenting distresse, and finding also that no phy∣sicke could doe her any good or easement, tooke a sor∣rowfull leaue and heauily departed home to his owne house.

The Impe of this Damme, and both Impes of the Deuill, beeing glad that they were both out of his reach, shewed presently that they had lon∣ger armes then he, for he felt within a short time af∣ter his comming home that hee was not out of their reach, beeing by the deuillish practises of these two hel-hounds sodenly & grieuously tormented in the like kind & with the like fits of his sister, which continued vntill these two witches either by the procurement of

Maister Auery and his friends (or for some other Diuillish practise they had committed in the countrey) were appr•…•…hended, and brought to Northampton Gaole by Sir William Saunders or Co•…•…esbrooke knight.

To which place the Brother and the Sister were brought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 del•…•…ous to scratch the Whiches. Which Art whether it be but superstitiously 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by some, or that expertence hath •…•…ound any power for helpe in this kind of Action by others, I list not to enqu•…•…e, onely this I vnderstand that many haue attempted the practising thereof, how successiuely I know not. But this Gentleman and his Sister beeing brought to the g•…•…ole where theoe Witches were detained, ha∣uing once gotten sight of them, in their fits the Wit∣ches being held, by scratching they drew blood of them, and were sodainely deliueted of their paine. Howbe∣it they were no sooner out of fight, but they fell a∣gaine into their old traunces, and were more vio∣lently tormented then before: for when Mischiefe is once a foote, she growes in short time so heaost•…•…ong, that she is hardly curbed.

Not long after Maister Auery and his Sister ha∣uing beene both in Northampton and hauing drawne blood of the Witches, Ryding both homewards in one Coach, there appeared to their view a man and a woman ryding both vpon a blacke horse, M. Aue∣ry hauing spyed them a farre off, and noting many strange gestures from them, sodainely spake to them that were by, and (as it were Prophetically) cryed but in these words▪ That either they or their Horses should presently miscarcy, And imediately the hor•…•…s

fell downe dead. Wherevpon Maister Auery rose vp praysing y^• grace and mercies of God, that he had so powerfully deliuered them, and had not suffered the foule spirits to worke the vttermost of their mis∣chiefe vpon men made after his image, but had tur∣ned their fury against Beasts. Upon this, they both hyed them home, still praysing God for their escape, and were neuer troubled after.

I had almost forgotten to tell you before, that M. Auery was by the Iudges themselues in y^• Castle yard of Northampton, séene in the middest of his fits, and that he strangely continued in them vntill this Ioane Vaughan was brought vnto him.

But now to draw néere vnto their ends, this Ag∣nes Browne and her daughter Ioane Vaughan, or Varneham béeing brought to their Arraignement, were there indighted for that they had bewitched the bodies of Maister Auery and his sister Mistris Bel∣cher in manner and forme aforesayd, Together with the body of a young Child to the death (the true rela∣tion whereof came not to my hands) To all which they pleaded not guilty, and putting themselues vpon the couutrey were found guilty. And when they were asked what they could say for themselues, why y^• sen∣tence of death should not be pronounced against them, they stood stiffely vpon their Innocence. Wherevpon Iudgement béeing giuen, they were carried backe vn∣to the Gaole, where they were neuer heard to pray, or to call vppon God, but with bitter curses and exe∣crations spent that little time they had to liue, vntill the day of their Execution, when neuer asking pardon for their offences either of God, or the world, in this

their daungerous, and desperate resolution, dyed.

It was credthly reported that some fort-night before their apprehension, this Agnes Browne, one Ratherine Gardiner, and one Ioane Lucas, all birds of a winge, and all abyding in the Towne of Gilsborough did ride one night to a place (not aboue a mile off) called Rauenstrop, all vpon a Sowes backe, to sée one mother Rhoades, an old Witch that dwelt there, but before they came to her house the old Witch died, and in her last cast cried out, that there were three of her old friends com∣ming to sée her, but they came too late, Howbeit shee would méete with them in another place within a month after. And thus much con∣cerning Agnes Browne, and her daughter Ioane Varn∣ham.