Contemporary Pamphlets Early Modern Witches Notes

Early Modern Witches: Witchcraft Cases in Contemporary Writing Marion Gibson Routledge (2000) The Examination and Confession of Certaine Wytches (1566) (pp. 10-25) Pg. 10 • • • • • • The first witchcraft pamphlet to be published Details the story of 3 accused witches in Hatfield Peverel: Agnes Waterhouse, Jone Waterhouse and Elizabeth Francis Also speaks of their familiar, 'Sathan', which turns from cat, to toad, to dog The women were tried at Chelmsford assizes on 26 July 1566 - Agnes was hanged, Elizabeth imprisoned and Jone found not guilty Probably varied authors, but one of them was the poet John Phillips Pg. 11- the text begins • • Godly introduction: - the soul 'is the chief and most excellent treasure that any man can be indued withall' Advocates 'cleanesse of lyfe', warns against sin Pg. 13 • Preface - 'The feminine dames attached were, whom Sathan had infect. - stressing gender] Pg. 17 Elizabeth Francis • • • • Francis learnt witchcraft at 6 years old 'of hyr grand-mother' - familial connection adds legitimacy 'she [her grandmother] counseiled her to renounce GOD and his worde, and to geve of her bloudde to Sathan' Devil appeared 'in the lykenesse of a whyte spotted Catte' Asking for 'shepe' - worldy wealth Pg. 18 • • Elizabeth asked for a husband, Andrew Byles, but when he refused to marry her 'she wild him [Sathan] to touch his body, whych he forthewith dyd whereof he died' Sathan 'required a drop of bloude, whiche she gave him by prycking herselfe... where she pricked herselfe there remayned a red spot, which was styl to be sene' - Devil's mark

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