Roger Nowel, and Nicholas Bannester
Esquires; as aforesaid. viz.
BEing examined, the said Elizabeth saith and confesseth, that vpon Good-Friday last there dined at this Examinates house, those which she hath said to be Witches, and doth verily thinke them to bee Witches, and their names are those, whom Iames Deuice hath formerly spoken of to be there.
And shee also confesseth in all things touching the Christning of her Spirit, and the killing of Master Lister of Westby, as the said Iames Deuice confesseth. But denieth that any talke was amongst thē the said Witches, to her now remembrance, at the said meeting together, touching the killing of the Gaoler at Lancaster; blowing vp of the Castle, thereby to deliuer old Dembdike her Mother; Alizon Deuice her Daughter, and other Prisoners, committed to the said Castle for Witchcraft.
After all these things opened, and deliuered in euidence against him; Master Couil, who hath the custodie of the Gaole at Lancaster, hauing taken great paines with him during the time of his imprisonment, to procure him to discouer his practizes, and such other Witches as he knew to bee dangerous: Humbly prayed the fauour of the Court that his voluntarie confession to M. Anderton, M. Sands the Major of Lancaster, M. Couel, and others, might openly bee published and declared in Court.
The voluntarie confession and declaration
of Iames Device, Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster.
Before
William Sands, Maior of Lancaster, Iames
Anderton, Esquire, one of his Maiesties Iustices of
Peace within the Countie of Lancaster: And Thomas
Covel, Gentleman, one of his Maiesties Coroners in the
same Countie. viz.
IAmes Deuice, Prisoner in the Castle at Lancaster, saith, That his said Spirit Dandie, being very earnest with him to giue him his soule, He answered, he would giue him that part thereof that was his owne to giue: and thereupon the said Spirit said, hee was aboue Christ Iesvs, and therefore hee must absolutely giue him his Soule: and that done, hee would giue him power to reuenge himselfe against any whom he disliked.
And he further saith, that the said Spirit did appeare vnto him after sundrie times, in the likenesse of a Dogge, and at euery time most earnestly perswaded him to giue him his Soule absolutely: who answered as before, that he would giue him his owne part and no further. And hee saith, that at the last time that the said Spirit was with him, which was the Tuesday next before his apprehension; when as hee could not preuaile with him to haue his Soule absolutely granted vnto him, as aforesaid; the said Spirit departed from him, then giuing a most fearefull crie and yell, and withall caused a great flash of fire to shew about him: which said Spirit did neuer after trouble this Examinate.