| The Pendle Witches: The confession of Chattox | | As recorded by Thomas Potts, the clerk of the court at the trial of the Pendle Witches | Chattox, whose real name was Anne Whittle, was hanged for withcraft at Lancaster goal. She was believed to have been responsible for the murder of five people and confessed to bewitching to death Robert Nutter.
Chattox lived with her daughter Anne Redferne on land beloging to the Nutter family in the Forest of Pendle. Anne Redferne was also found guilty of witchcraft and hanged. | | Note: Chattox is referred to throughout as 'the examinate' | | Chattox tells how she sold her soul to a spirit named 'Fancie' in return for powers of revenge | | The sayd anne whittle, alias chattox, upon her examination, voluntarily confesseth, and sayth, that about foureteene or fifteene yeares agoe, a thing like a christian man for foure yeares togeather, did sundry times come to this examinate, and requested this examinate to give him her soule: and in the end, this examinate was contented to give him her sayd soule, shee being then in her owne house, in the forrest of pendle; whereupon the devill then in the shape of a man, sayd to this examinate: thou shalt want nothing; and be revenged of whom thou list. And the devill then further commanded this examinate, to call him by the name of fancie; and when she wanted any thing, or would be revenged of any, call on fancie, and he would be ready. | | Chattox tells how 'Fancie' asked her to hurt the wife of Richard Baldwin of Pendle | | And the sayd spirit or devill, did appeare unto her not long after, in mans likenesse, and would have had this examinate to have consented, that he might hurt the wife of richard baldwin of pendle; but this examinate would not then consent unto him: for which cause, the sayd devill would then have bitten her by the arme; and so vanished away, for that time. | | Chattox tells how she asked 'Fancie' to avenge Robert Nutter after he tried to seduce her daughter | | And this examinate further sayth, that robert nutter did desire her daughter one redfearns wife, to have his pleasure of her, being then in redfearns house: but the sayd redfearns wife denyed the sayd robert; wherevpon the sayd robert seeming to be greatly displeased therewith, in a great anger tooke his horse, and went away, saying in a great rage, that if ever the ground came to him, shee should never dwell upon his land. Whereupon this examinate called fancie to her; who came to her in the likenesse of a man in a parcell of ground called, the laund; asking this examinate, what shee would have him to do? And this examinate bade him go revenge her of the sayd robert nutter. After which time, the sayd robert nutter lived about a quarter of a yeare, and then dyed. | | Chattox tells how previously she and two other women where asked by Elizabeth Nutter to kill her grandson, the same Robert Nutter | | And this examinate further sayth, that elizabeth nutter, wife to old robert nutter, did request this examinate, and loomeshaws wife of burley, and one jane boothman, of the same, who are now both dead, (which time of request, was before that robert nutter desired the company of redfearns wife) to get young robert nutter his death, if they could; all being togeather then at that time, to that end, that if robert were dead, then the women their cousins might have the land: by whose perswasion, they all consented unto it. After which time, this examinates sonne in law thomas redfearne, did perswade this examinate, not to kill or hurt the sayd robert nutter; for which perswasion, the sayd loomeshaws wife, had like to have killed the sayd redfearne, but that one m. Baldwyn (the late school master at colne) did by his learning, stay the sayd loomeshaws wife, and therefore had a capon from redfearne. And this examinate further sayth, that she thinketh the sayd loomeshaws wife, and jane boothman, did what they could to kill the sayd robert nutter, as well as this examinate did. | | Chattox tells how she used a charm to mend bewitched ale belonging to John Moore | She the said examinate saith, that shee was sent for by the wife of john moore, to helpe drinke that was forspoken or bewitched: at which time shee used this prayer for the amending of it, viz.
A charme
Three biters hast thou bitten,
The hart, ill eye, ill tonge:
Three bitter shall be thy boote,
Father, sonne, and holy ghost A gods name.
Fine pater-nosters, fine avies And a creede,
In worship of five wounds
Of our lord.
After which time that this examinate had used these prayers, and amended her drinke, the said moores wife did chide this examinate, and was grieved at her. | | Chattox tells how she called on 'Fancie' to kill a cow belonging to the same John Moore | | And thereupon this examinate called for her devill fancie, and bad him goe bite a browne cow of the said moores by the head, and make the cow goe madde: and the devill then, in the likenesse of a browne dogge, went to the said cow, and bit her: which cow went madde accordingly, and died within six weekes next after, or thereabouts. | | Chattox tells how 'Fancie' last appeared to her in the shape of a bear | | And further this examinate saith, that the devill, or fancie, hath taken most of her sight away from her. And further this examinate saith, that in summer last, save one, the said devill, or fancie, came upon this examinate in the night time: and at diverse and sundry times in the likenesse of a beare, gaping as though he would have wearied this examinate. And the last time of all shee, this examinate, saw him, was upon thursday last yeare but one, next before midsummer day, in the evening, like a beare, and this examinate would not then speake unto him, for the which the said devill pulled this examinate downe. | | Chattox tells how she called on 'Fancie' to kill a cow belonging to Anthony Nutter | | Also this examinate saith, that shee perceiving anthonie nutter of pendle to favour elizabeth sothernes, alias demdike, she, this examinate, called fancie to her, (who appeared like a man) and bad him goe kill a cow of the said anthonies; which the said devill did, and that cow died also. | Chattox incriminates Magaret Pearson | | Chattox gave evidence that lead to the conviction of Margaret Pearson, who was found guilty of witchcraft, but not murder, and gaoled for a year. | | Chattox tells how she and Magaret Pearson bewitched to death a mare belonging to the Dodgeson family | | The said anne chattox being examined saith, that the wife of one pearson of paddiham, is a very evill woman, and confessed to this examinate, that shee is a witch, and hath a spirit which came to her the first time in likenesse of a man, and cloven footed, and that shee the said pearsons wife hath done very much harme to one dodgesons goods, who came in at a loope-hole into the said dodgesons stable, and shee and her spirit together did sit upon his horse or mare, untill the said horse or mare died. | | Chattox tells how Magaret Pearson confessed to bewitching to death the wife and daughter of the Childers family | | And likewise, that shee the said pearsons wife did confesse unto her this examinate, that shee bewitched unto death one childers wife, and her daughter, and that shee the said pearsons wife is as ill as shee. | Chattox incriminates Demdike | | Chattox changed her story about becoming a witch to incriminate her rival Elizabeth Southerns, alias Demdike. Demdike died in gaol awaiting trail, but was nevertheless believed to have murdered three people using witchcraft. | | Chattox tells how Demdike persuaded her to become a witch | | First, the sayd anne whittle, alias chattox, sayth, that about foureteene yeares past she entered, through the wicked perswasions and counsell of elizabeth sotherns, alias demdike, and was seduced to condiscend & agree to become subject unto that devilish abhominable profession of witchcraft: soone after which, the devill appeared unto her in the liknes of a man, about midnight, at the house of the sayd demdike: and thereupon the sayd demdike and shee, went foorth of the said house unto him; whereupon the said wicked spirit mooved this examinate, that she would become his subject, and give her soule unto him: the which at first, she refused to assent unto; but after, by the great perswasions made by the sayd demdike, shee yeelded to be at his cormmandement and appointment: whereupon the sayd wicked spirit then sayd unto her, that hee must have one part of her body for him to sucke upon; the which shee denyed then to grant unto him; and withall asked him, what part of her body hee would have for that use; who said, hee would have a place of her right side neere to her ribbes, for him to sucke upon: whereunto shee assented. And she further sayth, that at the same time, there was a thing in the likenes of a spotted bitch, that came with the sayd spirit unto the sayd demdike, which then did speake unto her in this examinates hearing, and sayd, that she should have gold, silver, and worldly wealth, at her will. | | Chattox describes a supernatural feast at Malkin Tower, the home of Demdike | | And at the same time she saith, there was victuals, vis. Flesh, butter, cheese, bread, and drinke, and bidde them eate enough. And after their eating, the devill called fancie, and the other spirit calling himselfe tibbe, carried the remnant away: and she sayeth, that although they did eate, they were never the fuller, nor better forthe same; and that at their said banquet, the said spirits gave them light to see what they did, although they neyther had fire nor candle light; and that they were both shee spirites, and devils. | | Chattox tells how Demdike helped her to murder Robert Nutter and how she confessed to killing Richard Ashton | | And being further examined how many sundry persons have been bewitched to death, and by whom they were so bewitched: she sayth, that one robert nutter, late of the greene-head in pendle, was bewitched by this examinate, the said demdike, and widdow lomshawe, (late of burnley) now deceased. And she further sayth, that the said demdike shewed her, that she had bewitched to death, richard ashton, sonne of richard ashton of downeham esquire. | http://www.pendlewitches.co.uk/content.php?page=chronology | | |
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