The testimony of Sir Thomas Bowes, Knight, which he spake upon the Bench, concerning the aforesaid Anne West, shee being then at the Barre upon her tryall.
THat a very honest man of Mannintree, * whom he knew would not speake an untruth, affirmed unto him, that very early one morning as he passed by the said Anne Wests dore, about foure a clock, it being a moon-light night, and perceiving her dore to be open so early in the morning, looked into the house, and present∣ly there came three or foure little things in the shape of black rab∣bits, leaping and skipping about him, who having a good stick in his hand, struck at them, thinking to kill them, but could not, but Page 36at last caught one of them in his hand, and holding it by the body, of it, he beat the head of it against his stick, intending to beat out the braines of it; but when he could not kill it that way, he tooke the body of it in one hand, and the head of it in another, and in∣deavoured to wring off the head; and as he wrung and stretched the neck of it, it came out between his hands like a lock of wooll; yet he would not give over his intended purpose, but knowing of a Spring not farre off, he went to drowne it; but still as he went he fell downe, and could not goe but downe he fell againe, so that he at last crept upon his hands and knees till he came at the water, and holding it fast in his hand, he put his hand downe into the water up to his elbow, and held it under water a good, space, till he conceived it was drowned, and then letting goe his hand, it sprung out of the water up into the aire, and so vanished away: and then comming backe to the said Anne Wests dore, he saw her standing there in her smock, and asked her why shee did set her Impes to molest and trouble him? to whom shee made an∣swer, that they were not sent to trouble him, but were sent out as Scouts upon another designe.