Chapter II: Part 2

The Information of Joane Jones, the wife of Anthony Jones of Biddiford, husbandman, taken the 18th of July, Anno Dom. 1682. The said informant upon her oath, saith that upon the 18th of July she this informant being present with Susanna Edwards of Biddiford, widow, there came to see the said Susanna one John Dunning, of Great Torrington, which said John Dunning this Informant did hear him to demand of the said Susanna how and by what means she became a witch. Unto which question the said Susanna did answer, that she did never confess afore now, but now she would. And further saith, that she did hear the said Susanna confess unto the said John Dunning that she was on a time out gathering of wood, at which time the said Susanna did see a gentleman to draw nigh unto her: whereupon she was in good hopes to have a piece of money of him. This Informant further saith that the said John Dunning did demand of the said Susanna where she did meet with the said gentleman; she did answer that it was in Parsonage Close. And further saith, that after the said John Dunning was gone, this Informant did hear the said Susanna confess, that on Sunday the 16th inst. she with Mary Trembles and by the help of the Devil, did prick and torment Grace the wife of John Barnes of Biddiford, and this informant further saith that she did hear the said Susanna Edwards and Mary Trembles say and confess that they did this present day torment and prick her the said Grace Barnes: and further saith that she did hear the said Mary Trembles say unto the said Susanna Edwards "O thou Rogue, I will now confess all: for 'tis thou that hast made me to be a witch and thou art one thyself and my conscience must swear it." Unto which the said Susanna replied, "I did not think thou would have been such a Rogue to discover it." And further saith that the said Susanna did confess that the Devil did oftentimes carry about her spirit. And further saith that she did hear the said Susanna say and confess that she did prick and torment Dorcas Coleman the wife of John Coleman of Biddiford, mariner. And further saith that she did hear the said Susanna Edwards to confess that she was suckt in her breast several times by the Devil in the shape of a boy, lying by her in her bed and that it was very cold unto her. And this Informant further saith that her husband observing the said Susanna to gripe and twinkle her hands upon her own body, said unto her, "Thou Devil, thou art now tormenting some person or other." Whereupon the said Susanna was displeased with him, and said, "Well enough I'll fit thee;" and that present time the said Grace Barnes was in great pain with prickings and stabbings in her heart, as she did afterwards affirm. This informant further saith that one of the Constables and her said husband with some others were sent by Mr. Mayor to bring the said Grace Barnes unto the Town Hall of Biddiford aforesaid, which they did accordingly do, and immediately as soon as he with others had led and with much ado brought the said Grace Barnes into the town-hall, the said Susanna Edwards turned about and looked upon her said husband, and forthwith this informant's husband was taken in a very sad condition, as he was leading and supporting the said Grace Barnes up the stairs of the said Town-hall, before the Mayor and Justices; insomuch that he cried out, "Wife I am now bewitched by this Devil" meaning Susanna Edwards; and forthwith leapt and capered like a madman and fell a shaking, quivering and groaning, and lay for the space of half an hour like a dying or dead man. And at length coming to his senses again did declare unto this Informant, that the said Susanna Edwards had bewitched him. And this Informant further saith, that she did never knew her said husband to be taken in any fits or convulsions, but a person of a sound and healthy body ever since he had been this Informant's husband.

The Information of Anthony Jones of Biddiford, Husbandman, taken the 19th of July A.D. 1682. The said informant upon his oath saith, that yesterday whilst the said Susanna Edwards was in the Town-hall of Biddiford concerning the said Grace Barnes he did observe the said Susanna to gripe and twinkle her hands upon her own body, in an unusual manner: whereupon the said Susanna was displeased with this informant, and said, "Well enough I will fit thee." And at that present time the said Grace Barnes was in great pains with prickings and stabbings unto her heart as the said Grace did afterwards affirm. This Informant further saith that one of the constables etc. with some others being sent by order of Mr. Mayor, to bring the said Grace unto the Town-hall of Biddiford, immediately, as soon as they had brought the said Grace unto the Town-hall, the said Susanna turned about and looked upon this informant, and forthwith the Informant was taken in a very sad condition as he was coming up the stairs of the said Town-hall, before the Mayor and Justices, insomuch that he cried out, "Wife, I am now bewitched by this Devil Susanna Edwards."

The Examination of Mary Trembles of Biddiford, single woman, taken July 18th, 1682. The said Examinant being brought before us and accused for practising of witchcraft upon the body of Grace Barnes, wife of George Barnes, of Biddiford, yeoman, was demanded by as how long she had practised witchcraft, said and confessed, that about three years last past, one Susanna Edwards of Biddiford, widow, did inform her, that if she would do as the said Susanna did, that this Examinant should do very well. Whereupon this Examinant did yield unto the said Susanna Edwards, and said that she would do as the said Susanna did; and this Examinant further confesseth that the said Susanna Edwards did promise that this Examinant should neither want for money, drink, nor clothes. And further confesseth that after she had made this bargain with Susanna Edwards, that the Devil in the shape of a Lyon (as she conceived) did come to this Examinant--and that he did suck her, and that his sucking was so hard as to cause her to cry out for the pain thereof. And further confesseth that on Tuesday in Easter week, which was 18th of May last, she, this Examinant did go about the town of Biddiford, to beg some bread, and in her walk, she did meet with the said Susanna Edwards, who asked this Examinant where she had been. Unto whom this Examinant answered, that she had been about the town, and had begged some meat, but could get none. Whereupon this Examinant, together with the said Susanna, did go to the said John Barnes' house, in hope that there they should have some meat. But the said John Barnes not being within his house, they could get no meat or bread, being denied by the said Grace Barnes and her servants, who would not give them any meat. Whereupon the said Susanna Edwards did bid this Examinant to go to the said John Barnes' house again, for a farthing's worth of tobacco. Whereupon this Examinant did go, but could not have any: whereof this Examinant did acquaint the said Susanna, who then said that it should be better for the said Grace if she had let this Examinant have had some tobacco. And further confesseth, that on the 16th of this instant, she the said Susanna, did go to the said John Barnes house, and went into the fore door, invisibly into the room, where they did pinch and prick the said Grace Barnes almost unto death; and that she saw the said John Barnes in bed with his wife, on the inner side of the bed. And saith and confesseth, that on the 16th inst. as she was going towards the common bakehouse, she, with the help of the Devil, would have killed the said Grace Barnes, if that she, this examinant, had not spilt some of the meat she was then carrying to the bakehouse.

The examination of Susanna Edwards, of Biddiford, widow, taken 18th of July A.D. 1682. The said Examinant being brought before us, and accused of practising witchcraft upon the body of Grace Barnes, wife of John Barnes of Biddiford, yeoman, was demanded by us how long she had discourse or familiarity with the Devil; saith, that about two years ago, she did meet with a gentleman in a field called the Parsonage Close, in the town of Biddiford, and saith, that his apparel was all of black. Upon which she did hope to have a piece of money of him. Whereupon the gentleman drawing near unto this examinant, she did make a curchy or courtesy unto him, as used to do to gentlemen. Being demanded what and who the said gentleman, she spake of was, the said examinant answered, that it was the Devil. And confessed that the Devil did ask of her, whether she was a poor woman? Unto whom she answered, that she was a poor woman; and that thereupon the Devil, in the shape of the gentleman, did say unto her, that if this examinant would grant him one request, that she should neither want for meat, drink, nor clothes: whereupon this examinant did say unto the said gentleman (or rather the Devil) "In the name of God, what is it that I shall have?" Upon which the said gentleman vanished clear away from her. And further confesseth, that afterwards there was something in the shape of a little boy, which she thinks to be the Devil, came into her house, and did lie with her and that he did suck at her breast. And confesseth that she did afterwards meet him in a place called Stanbridge Lane, in this parish of Biddiford leading towards Abbotsham (which is the next parish on the west of Biddiford) where he did suck blood out of her breast. And further confesseth that on Sunday the 16th inst., this Examinant together with Mary Trembles, did go unto the house of John Barnes, and that nobody did see them; and that they were in the same room where Grace the wife of the John Barnes was, and that they did prick and pinch the said Grace Barnes with their fingers, and put her to great pain and torment, insomuch that the said Grace was almost dead. And confesseth, that this present day, she did prick and torment the said Grace Barnes again (intimating with her fingers how she did it). And also confesseth that the Devil did entice her to make an end of the said Grace: and that he told her he would come again to her once more. And confesseth, that she can go to any place invisible, and yet her body shall be lying in her bed. And further confesseth, that the Devil hath appeared to her in the shape of a Lyon, as she supposed. Being demanded whether she had done any bodily hurt unto any other person beside the said Grace Barnes, saith and confesseth, that she did prick and torment Dorcas Coleman, wife of John Coleman of Biddiford, mariner. And saith that she gave herself to the Devil, when she did meet him in Stambridge Lane as aforesaid. And saith, that the said Mary Trembles was a servant to her, this examinant, in like manner as she this examinant was a servant to the Devil (whom she called by the appellation of a gentleman).

_Examined with the original whereof this is a true copy._

Thomas Gist. _Mayor._ John Davies. _Alderman._ John Hill. _Town Clerk._

The substance of the last words and confession of Susanna Edwards, Temperance Lloyd, and Mary Trembles, at the time and place of their execution, Aug. 25, 1682, as fully as could be taken in a case liable to be so much noise and confusion as is usual on such occasions.

_Mr. H._ Mary Trembles, what have you to say as to the crime you are to die for?

_Mary._ I have spoken as much as I can speak already, and can speak no more.

_H._ In what shape did the Devil come to you?

_Mary._ The Devil came to me once, I think like a Lyon.

_H._ Did he offer violence to you?

_Mary._ No, not at all: but did frighten me, and did nothing to me; and I cried to God and asked what he would have, and he vanished.

_H._ Did he give thee any gift, or did'st thou make him any promises?

_Mary._ No.

_H._ Did he ever make use of thy body?

_M._ Never in my life.

_H._ Have you a secret teat?

_M._ None. (The grand inquest said it was sworn to them.)

_H._ Mary Trembles, was not the Devil there with Susan, when I was once in prison with you, and under her coats? the other told me he was there, but is now fled; and that the Devil was in the way when I was going to Taunton with my son, who is a Minister? Thou speakest now as a dying woman, and as the Psalmist says, "I will confess my iniquities, and acknowledge all my sins." We find that Mary Magdalene had seven Devils: and she came to Christ and had mercy, and if thou break thy league with the Devil, and make a covenant with God, thou may'st also obtain mercy. If thou hast anything to speak, speak thy mind?

_Mary._ I have spoken the very truth and can speak no more: Mr. H. I would desire that they may come by me, and confess as I have done.

_H._ Temperance Lloyd. Have you made any contract with the Devil?

_T._ No.

_H._ Did he ever take any of thy blood?

_T._ No.

_H._ How did he appear to thee at the first, or where, in the street? In what shape?

_T._ In a wonderful shape.

_H._ Had he ever any carnal knowledge of thee?

_T._ No, never.

_H._ What did he do when he came to thee?

_T._ He caused me to go and do harm.

_H._ And did you go?

_T._ I did hurt a woman sore against my conscience: he carried me up to her door, which was open: The woman's name was Mrs. Grace Thomas.

_H._ What caused you to do harm? What Malice had you against her? and did she do you any harm?

_T._ No, she never did me any harm: but the Devil beat me about the head grievously, because I would not kill her: but I did bruise her after this fashion (laying her two hands to her side).

_H._ Did you bruise her till the blood came out of her nose and mouth?

_T._ No.

_H._ How many did you destroy and hurt?

_T._ None but she.

_H._ Did you know any mariners that you or your associates destroyed by overturning of ships or boats?

_T._ No. I never hurt any ship, bark, or boat in my life.

_H._ Was it you or Susan that did bewitch the children?

_T._ I sold apples, and the child took an apple from me, and the mother took the apple from the child, for which I was very angry; but the child died of small-pox.

_H._ Did you know one Mr. Lutteris about these parts, or any of your confederates? Did you or them bewitch his child?

_T._ No.

_H._ Temperance, how did you come to hurt Mrs. Grace Thomas? Did you pass through the keyhole of the door or was the door open?

_T._ The Devil did lead me up stairs, and the door was open, and this is all the hurt I did.

_H._ How did you know it was the Devil?

_T._ I knew it by his eyes.

_H._ Had you no discourse or treaty with him?

_T._ No. He said I should go along with him to destroy a woman, and I told him I would not. He said he would make me: and then he beat me about the head.

_H._ Why did you not call upon God?

_T._ He would not let me do it.

_H._ You say you never hurt ships or boats; did you never ride over an arm of the sea on a cow?

_T._ No. No, Master: 'twas she (meaning Susan), when Temperance said "'twas she," she said "she lied" and that she was the cause of bringing her to die "for she cried when she was first brought to gaol, if that she was hanged, she would have me hanged too; she reported I should ride on a cow before her, which I never did."

_H._ Susan, did you see the shape of a bullock? At the first time of your examination you said it was like a short black man about the length of your arm?

_Susan._ He was black, Sir.

_H._ Susan, had you any knowledge of the bewitching of Mrs. Lutteris' child, or did you know a place called Trunta Burroughs?

_S._ No.

_H._ Are you willing to have any prayers? Then Mr. H. prayed, whose prayer we could not take, and they sung part of the 40th Psalm at the desire of Susan Edwards. As she mounted the ladder, she said, "The Lord Jesus speed me: though my sins be red as scarlet, the Lord Jesus can make them as white as snow, the Lord help my soul." Then was executed.

Mary Tremble said, "Lord Jesus, receive my soul! Lord Jesus, speed me!" and then was also executed. Temperance Lloyd said, "Jesus Christ, speed me well! Lord, forgive all my sins! Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful to my poor soul."

Mr. Sheriff. You are looked on as the woman that hath debauched the other two. Did you ever lie with the Devil?

_T._ No.

_Sh._ Did you know of their coming to gaol?

_T._ No.

_Sh._ Have you anything to say to satisfy the world?

_T._ I forgive them as I desire the Lord Jesus will forgive me. The greatest thing that I did was Mrs. Grace Thomas; and I desire I may be sensible of it, and that the Lord Jesus Christ may forgive me. The Devil met me in the street and bid me kill her, and because I would not, he beat me about the head and back.

_Sh._ In what shape or colour was he?

_T._ In black like a bullock.

_Sh._ How do you know you did it? how went you in thro' the keyhole or the Door?

_T._ At the Door?

_Sh._ Had you no discourse with the Devil?

_T._ Never but this day six weeks.

_Sh._ You were charged about twelve years since, and did you never see the Devil but about this time?

_T._ Yes, once before. I was going for brooms; and he came to me and said, "This poor woman has a great burthen, and would help ease me of my burthen;" and I said, "The Lord had enabled me to carry it so far, and I hope I shall be able to carry it further."

_Sh._ Did the Devil never promise you any thing?

_T._ No. Never.

_Sh._ Then you have served a very bad master, who gave you nothing. Well, consider you are just departing this world: do you believe there is a God?

_T._ Yes.

_Sh._ Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

_T._ Yes, and I pray Jesus Christ to pardon all my sins. And so was executed.

APPENDIX.--No. II.

Copied from a 4to published Tract in the Library of the British Museum.

THE TRYAL, CONDEMNATION, AND EXECUTION OF THREE WITCHES; VIZ. TEMPERANCE FLOYD, MARY FLOYD, & SUSANNA EDWARDS.

Who were arraigned at Exeter on the 18th of August, 1682, & being proved guilty of witchcraft were condemned to be hanged, which was accordingly Executed in the view of many spectators, whose strange and much to be lamented Impudence is never to be forgotten.

Also how they Confessed what Mischiefs they had done by the assistance of the Devil, who lay with the above named Temperance Floyd nine nights together. Also how they squeezed one Hannah Thomas to death in their arms. How they also caused several ships to be cast away, causing a boy to fall from the top of a main-mast into the sea.

WITH MANY WONDERFULL THINGS WORTH YOUR READING.

Printed for F. Deacon, at the Sign of the Rainbow, a little beyond St. Andrew's Church, in Holborn. 1682.

The Tryal, Condemnation, and Execution of three witches who were Arraigned at Exeter on the 18th of August, 1682.

Let not my assertion seem strange to the Ingenious Reader, who seems to affirm this (by some incredulous) story, concerning the subsequent matter; nor will I trouble you with a long prologue to stir you to believe that which so many letters have verified, concerning the matter in hand, but so it was.

The Assizes being held at Exon (alias) Exeter, on the 18th of August, 1682. It happened that there was three persons Arraigned for witchcraft whose names take as followeth, (viz.) Temperance Floyd, Mary Floyd, and Susannah Edwards, all dwelling in one town, in the aforesaid County of Devon, namely Bideford, by some called Bythford, all three being stricken in years, which might have taught them more grace; but Man's Enemy, Soul's destroyer, and the author of wickedness so prevailed with them that they made an Interchange accepting a Hell for an Heaven, rather willing to please the Devil than the Great Creator whose smiles are more precious than refined Gold, the loss of whose love is no less than Everlasting Destruction. These I say, these poor souls (aiming at nothing but ruin) embrace folly instead of wisdom, present pleasure for eternal pain; take Flames for Crowns, Misery for Happiness, change God for a Devil and a soul for Hell. It is so much to be lamented that these persons should take delight in nothing more than to Converse with Devils, who reason tells seeks nothing but Destruction, God's dishonour, and Man's overthrow, to (if it were possible) empty Heaven and fill Hell. I come now to the particulars. The aforesaid Persons whose names are already inserted came to their Tryal having been sometime before accused of Witchcraft, and for that cause Imprisonment; when they came to the Bar, their indictment was read, and though the Devil had so much power over them, yet they had not Impudence enough to deny what they were accused for: Intemperate Temperance Floyd, who was the eldest of the three, pleaded to the indictment, and owned the accusation, acknowledging she had been in league with the Devil 20 years and upwards, and that in the term of those years she had been guilty of many cruelties, and by Hellish power afflicted both Man and Beast; but now to the other Two who were instructed in that Damnable art of Witchcraft by the above named Temperance Floyd, they acknowledged that they had served five years with her to learn her accursed art, and during the term of those years they saw and were acquainted with many wonderful and unlawful tricks. For they owned that they had not been idle in their Hellish practices, but had served him faithfully, who will reward them gratefully for their Diabolical Indulgence. We have an account of some of their Wicked, Inhuman, Accursed, Damnable, and Preposterous action. But let us chiefly mind the Eldest and worst of these Three, namely Temperance Floyd. Let her be the substance of our matter, who was the introducer and cause of the other two's overthrow. These wicked wretches being all of one mind, at last began to exercise their Devilish Arts, and upon one Mr. Hann, a minister in those parts; a person of good repute and Honest Conversation, who sought his soul's eternal happiness, while they designed their everlasting Ruin. These Hellish agents intended Mischief and misery to the person of Mr. Hann: but the overruling Power prevented them; but because they could not be suffered to exercise their Diabolicism upon his body, they thought they would be some other way Revenged, so witch like, they laid their Diabolical Charms upon his cattle, so that those cows that used to give milk, when they came to be milked they gave blood, to the great astonishment of the milkers; but finding themselves outcast from everlasting happiness, they grew insolent in their Cursed Conceits, resolving to make use of that art which they should so deadly pay for. But I too much insist upon the Old hag whose cruelties are and were sufficiently manifested by her own confession at her Tryal, the other Two witches being somewhat younger than the Old Shape of Prince Lucifer, who acknowledged themselves to have been servants to the Old one for five years to learn the art and mystery of Hellish, Damnable, Accursed and Most to be Lamented Witchcraft; and in the term of these 5 years grew to be as dexterous as their Devilish Tutor, trying their experiments upon Man and Beast to the injury of both, but the Old one confessed plainly that she had caused several Ships at sea to be cast away, with loss of many men's lives and the prejudice of many others. She confessed also that the Devil lay carnally with her for Nine Nights together, and that she had Paps about her an Inch long, which the Devil us'd to suck to Provoke her to Letchery; but the other two seemed to be more Pensive than she, for they confessed that she was the Introducer of their Misery, and that they had served both the Devil and her five years' slavery, to understand the ready way to everlasting Destruction. But Heaven's Vengeance never fails to follow such offenders who do wickedly, presumptuously and prophanely make use of the Devil to satisfy their Impious wills. But to proceed, this old witch whose name was Temperance Floyd, was without doubt perfectly Resolute, not minding what should become of her Immortal soul, but rather Impudently owned at, as well as after her Tryal, so Audacious, that she had done many wicked Exploits by the Power (not virtue) of her Hellish Discipline: She confessed that she had been Instrumental to the Death of several, namely one Hannah Thomas, by pretence of love, Squeezing her in her arms so long till the blood gushed out of her mouth; she confessed that she and the other two had been the death of Two more, besides several others that they had lamed by their Hellish Art; they confessed that they had been the destruction of many cattle, both small and great, and many more things too tedious to relate; being asked at their trial to say the Lord's Prayer, they answered, that they could not except it were backwards; they said the Devil used to be with them on Nights in Several Shapes, sometimes like a Hound, who Hunted before them (but without doubt he hunted for Souls). There were many more accusations laid against them, which they all owned (except one) which was about causing a ship to be sunk, and a boy that fell from the Topmast of another ship and so broke his neck or as some say Drowned in the Sea. It being asked how long they had been in league with the Devil, one of them said twenty years she had been his Familiar Acquaintance, the other two were of lesser standing, but long enough to Ruin their Precious Souls. They also Asserted that the Devil came with them to the Prison Door, and there left them much like what he is, the Author of Lies, the Inventor of Mischief, the Betrayer of Souls, the unsatisfied deceiver and God's Enemy. All these things being Confessed by their own Tongues, it is not strange to think that Judgment past upon them regularly in such cases. But now to proceed. As to the manner of their Deportment going to the place of Execution. It is certainly affirmed the old witch Temperance Floyd went all the way Eating and was seemingly unconcerned, but Mary Floyd was very obstinate, and would not go, but lay down, insomuch that they forc'd to tye her on a horse's back, for she was very loath to receive her deserved Doom. But when they came to the place of Execution, they desired the Minister to pray for them, and that part of the 40th Psalm might be sung; which was accordingly done, and presently after the Executioner did his office.

Thus have you heard of the wicked life and Miserable death of three Gross Offenders, who slighted God's Commandments, despised a Christ and embraced a Devil, lost Heaven to purchase Hell, at the dear rate of their Immortal Souls. Let this then be a caution for all Sinners to forsake Sin and Satan, whose end and design is to ruin Souls, to enslave Mortals, and without doubt, were it possible, to pull God's Almighty Majesty out of his everlasting Throne. 'Tis great pitty that some have so little esteem of their Jewels which Jesus Christ the Son of the Almighty, purchased at so dear a rate, yet vile Sinners never call to mind, or at least very seldom, what Labyrinths of Misery they involve themselves in, how they crush Christ, and how they wound his already wounded side for sinners: But now to conclude, take a poor sinners advice, walk uprightly and justly, and let not the fruition of present enjoyment, cause you to neglect Eternal Happiness, the enjoyments of which is beyond Expression and the loss thereof Eternal Misery, Destruction, and Ruin.