The said Informant upon his oath saith, that upon the 17th of July inst. this informant did hear Susanna Edwards confess, that the Devil had carnal knowledge of her body; and that he had suck'd her in her breast. And further saith that he did hear the said Susanna to say, that she and one Mary Trembles of Biddiford did appear hand in hand invisible in John Barnes' house of Biddiford, where Grace the wife of the said John Barnes did lie in a very sad condition. And further saith that he did then also hear the said Susanna to say, that she and the said Mary Trembles were at that time come to make an end of the said Grace Barnes.
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.