A true and exact relation of the severall informations, examinations, and confessions of the late witches, arraigned and executed in the county of Essex.: Who were arraigned and condemned at the late sessions, holden at Chelmesford before the Right Honorable Robert, Earle of Warwicke, and severall of his Majesties justices of peace, the 29 of July, 1645. Wherein the severall murthers, and devillish witchcrafts, committed on the bodies of men, women, and children, and divers cattell, are fully discovered. Published by authoritie.

The Information of Matthew Hopkins, Gent. taken upon oath before the said Justices the 18^th of Aprill. 1645.

THis Informant saith, That being lately at Colchester, he went to the Castle, where the said Rebecca Weste, with the other five,

are secured untill the next Gaole delivery: And this Informant going to Rebeeca Weste, and asking her how shee came first to be a Witch, the said Rebecca told this Informant, that about a yeare fince, or thereabouts, halfe an houre before Sun-set, the said Anne Weste (her mother) carried the said Rebecca Weste towards Man∣nintree, (which is about a small mile from the place where the said Anne dwelt) and the said Rebecca told this Informant, that as her mother and shee walked together, the said Anne told the said Re∣becca, shee must keepe secret whatsoever shee saw, whither they were then going; and the said Rebecca promised so to doe; And the said Rebecca told this Informant, that her mother and shee went to the house of the aforesaid Elizabeth Clarke, where at their comming in they found the aforesaid Anne Leech, widow, Eliza∣beth Gooding, Hellen Clarke, and the house-keeper Elizabeth Clarke, and that forthwith the Devill appeared to them in the shape of a dogge; afterwards in the shape of two Kitlyns; then in the shape of two dogges; and that the said familiars did doe homage in the first place to the said Elizabeth Clarke, and skipped up into her lap, and kissed her; and then went and kissed all that were in the roome, except the said Rebecca: And the said Rebecca told this Informant, that immediately one of their company asked the said Anne her mother, if shee had acquainted her daughter (the said Rebecca) with the businesse; and her mother answered shee had, and told them all, they need not feare her the said Rebecca for re∣vealing any thing: And the said Rebecca told this Informant, that forthwith the said Anne Leech pulled out a booke, and swore the said Rebecca never to reveale any thing shee saw or heard; and if shee should discover any thing, they all told the said Rebecca, shee should endure more torments on earth, then could be in hell: And the said Rebecca told this Informant, that shee promised to keepe all their secrets; And moreover, they all told her, that shee must never confesse any thing, although the Rope were about her necke, and shee ready to be hanged: And that after shee had con∣sented to all these things, the Devill came into her lap, and kissed her, and promised to doe for her what shee could desire; and that within halfe a yeare after the Devill appeared to her the said Rebecca, as shee was going to bed, and told her, he would marry her, and that shee could not deny him; shee said he kissed her,

but was as cold as clay, and married her that night, in this man∣ner; He tooke her by the hand and lead her about the Chamber, and promised to be her loving husband till death, and to avenge her of her enemies; And that then shee promised him to be his obedient wife till death, and to deny God and Christ Jesus; And the said Rebecca told this Informant, that shee sent the De∣vill to kill the sonne of the said Thomas Hart, which he did within one fortnight; and that after that shee tooke him for her God, and thought he could doe as God.