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 Examination of Rebecca Jones of S^t Osyth, taken before the said Justices the 9^th of May. 1645.

THis Examinant saith, That about 24. or 25 yeares since, dwel∣ling with one John Bishop, of Much-Clacton in the County of Essex as his servant, there came one morning one to the doore of the said John Bishop and knocked, and that this Examinant go∣ing to the dore, shee saw there a very handsome young man (as shee then thought) but now shee thinkes it was the Devill; who asked this Examinant how shee did, and desired to see her left Wrist, which shee shewed unto him: and that he then tooke a pin

from this Examinants owne sleeve, and pricked her wrist twice, and there came out a drop of bloud, which he took off with the top of his finger, and so departed. And this Examinant saith, that about a quarter of a yeare after, as shee was going to S^t Osyth, (where this Examinant doth now dwell) to sell her said Masters butter, a man met with her, being in a ragged sute, and having such great eyes, that this Examinant was much afraid of him; who came to this Examinant, and gave her three things like to Mouses, having foure feete apiece, but without tayles, and of a blacke colour, and bid this Examinant nurse the said three things, untill he did desire them againe; And this Examinant asked the said man, what she should give them to eate, and he told this Exa∣minant milke, and that they would not hurt her, and wished her not to be afraid of them; And the said man told this Examinant, that those three things which he gave her, would avenge her on her enemies, and bid her murther some, but not too many, and he would forgive her; and then went away from this Examinant: And this Examinant saith, that the first time shee imployed any of the said things, shee sent one of them to kill a Sowe of one Benja∣min Howes of Little-Clacton in the County aforesaid; and the said Sowe was killed by the said Impe accordingly: And this Exami∣nant saith, that the names of her three Impes were Margaret, A∣mie, and Susan: And that a while after, this Examinant and one Joyce Boanes (now in prison) did send each of them an Impe to kill one Thomas Bumstead of S^t Osyth aforesaid, who died about three weekes after. And this Examinant saith, that shee beleeveth that the said two Impes did kill the said Thomas Bumstead; and the Impes name which this Examinant sent to destroy the said Bum∣stead was Margaret: And that the Impe which the said Joyce Boanes sent was a dund one like unto a Mouse. And this Examinant saith, that shee did send another of her Impes called Amie, to the said Bumsteads house, which did kill the wife of the said Bumstead with∣in a short time after: And this Examinant confesseth, that the cause of offence shee tooke so to destroy and kill the said Bumstead and his wife, was because the said Thomas Bumstead did beate the sonne of this Examinant for eating up of some honey which he found about the house of the said Thomas Bumstead. And this Exa∣minant further confesseth, that shee did send her other third Impe

called Susan, to afflict the childe of one Mistris Darcy of S^t Osyth a∣foresaid: But did withall bid the said Impe it should not hurt the said child too much, and come away againe: And this Examinant saith, that the said Imp is come againe from the said Mistris Dar∣cies childe.

Notes

• Executed at Chelmesford, and the first that was ar∣raigned.