Reference
HSA1667/W/51
Title
Deposition.
Date free text
3 Apr 1666
Production date
From: 1666 To: 1667
Scope and Content
Isabel Chapman, wife of John Chapman, Dunstable, tailor. 3 Apr. 1666 and Thomas Cooke, Dunstable. husbandman 1666 Eliz. Pratt said that Mary Poole, Ursula Clark and Mary Hudson bewitched child of Thomas Heywood; she was with them when they bewitched eldest child. Had 2 meetings about it, one at the three knolls and the other lower on the Downs.
Eliz. Tailor and Mary Short of Dunstable. -- On 2 Apr. were present at searching of Eliz.Pratt; she has witches marks.
Eliz. Pratt : Mary Poole, Ursula Clark & Mary Hudson made son & daughter of Thomas Heywood sick. Devil appeared to her in form of cat and commanded her to go to these persons to seek destroying of the two children, but she refused. Devil also appeared to her in form of a man and wished her to curse cattle of William Metcalfe, because he called her witch - she did so and the curse prevailed, so that the horses died.
Mary wife of Robert Poole: -- Never met Mary Hudson, Ursula Clarke or ELiz Pratt at the Downs or elsewhere, nor desired Eliz.Pratt. to go with her.
Ursula Clarke -- Said nothing which Richard Short averred;only wished that God might do by Mr. Platt and William Metcalfe as they did by her.
Mary Hudson -- Never wished that Richard Crawley might break his neck; never met U.C., M.P. or E.P.; never wished ill to children of T.H. never in house of T.H. till week last Saturday.
The Information of Isabell Chapman wife of John Chapman of Dunstable in the County of Beds. tailor and Thomas Cooke of Dunstable, husbandman taken upon oath before John Vaux and John Rotherham Esquires two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace of the County of Bedford.
These Informants say, That this morneing they went into a chamber where Elizabeth Pratt of Dunstable aforesaid lodged, being in the dwelling house of John Chapman in Dunstable aforesaid, and the said Elizabeth Pratt then said to these informants that Mary the wife of Robert Poole, Ursula the wife of William Clarke, and Mary the wife of Daniel Hudson all of Dunstable aforesaid did bewitch the childe of Thomas Heyward of the said town of Dunstable Whereupon these informants asked the said widdow Pratt how she knew it, and whether she was with them when they bewitched the said childe; whereunto the said widdow Pratt answered that she had nothing to doe with the first childe of the said Heyward but she said she was with them when they met to bewitch the eldest childe of the said Heyward, which is now sick, and that they had two meetings about it, whereof one was at the three knolls upon Dunstable downs and the other a little lower upon the said downs but that she did not joyne with them in the bewitching the saide childe, nor ever had done any such thinge though the said Mary Poole, Ursula Clarke and Mary Hudson would have had her to joyne with them and further they say nott.
The Information of Elizabeth Taylor widdow and Mary the wife of Richard Shortt both of Dunstable aforesaid taken as abovesaid. These Informants say that on the second day of this instant April they were present at the searching of Elizabeth Pratt of Dunstable,widdow and that, the said widdow Pratt is not as other women are, but hath a peece of flesh which growes upon her privities and that the said peece of flesh appeared bigger a small time after than it was before, and further they say not.
The Examination of Elizabeth Pratt of Dunstable in the County of Beds, widow taken upon the day abovesaid before John Vaux and John Rotherham Esquires, two of his majesties justices of the peace.
This examinant sayth that Mary Hudson wife of Daniell Hudson, Mary the wife of Robert Poole and Ursula wife of William Clarke all of Dunstable aforesaid have made the son and daughter of Thomas Heyward of Dunstable aforesaid to be sick and this examinant further sayth that the devil appeared to her about a fortnight since in the forme of a catt, and commanded this examinant to goe to those three persons aforesaid to seeke the destroying of the two children aforesaid, but that this examinate sayth she would not then go but had before gonn with them to Dunstable downes when they mett at the three knolls, and that the said Mary Hudson, Mary Poole and Ursula Clarke would have had this examinant to joyne with them in the afflicting of the children of the said Thomas Heyward, but she saith that she would not joyne with them but did refuse it; and this examinate further sayth that the devill appeared to her in the likeness of a man when the said three persons perswaded her to goe with them and wished her to curse the cattle of William Metcalfe of Dunstable aforesaid yeoman because he called her witch, and this examinate sayth that she did curse the cattle of the said William Metcalfe and wished they might never prosper and that the said curse prevailed, and that she thinkes upon her cursing as aforesaid the horses of the said Metcalfe dyed, and that the devil said to this examinant that she should never want if she would curse the said cattle and further syath not.
The Examination of Mary wife of Robert Poole of Dunstable aforesaid taken the tenth day of April 1666 before John Vaux and John Rotherham Esquires two of his Majesties Justices of the peace.
This examinate sayth that she never mett Mary Hudson, nor Ursula Clarke nor Elizabeth Pratt widow at the downes or any other place, nor ever desired the said Elizabteh Pratt to gow ith her to Dunstable downes or any other place and further sayth not.
The Examination of Ursula Clarke wife of William Clarke of Dunstable taken as aforesaid.
This Examinate sayth that she never said any thinge which Richard Shortt in his examination hereto annexed mentioned, but only that she wished that god might doe by Mr. Platt and William Metcalfe as they did by her, and further sayth not.
The Examination of Mary Hudson wife of Daniel Hudson of Dunstable aforesaid taken as abovesaid.
This examinate sayth that she never wished Richard Crawley might breake his necke nor confessed any such thinge nor never mett with Ursula Clarke Mary Poole nor Elizabthe Pratt nor never wished ill to any of the children of Thomas Heyward and that she never was in the house of the said Thomas Heyward till satterday was sennight as she remembers. and further she sayth not.
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