ow
and vnderstande the meanes whereby they worke their mischiefe, the
hidden misteries of their diuelish and wicked Inchauntmentes, Charmes,
and Sorceries, the better to preuent and auoyde the danger that may
ensue. And lastly, who were the principall authors and actors in this
late woefull and lamentable _Tragedie_, wherein so much Blood was
spilt.

Therefore I pray you giue me leaue, (with your patience and fauour,)
before I proceed to the Indictment, Arraignement, and Tryall of such
as were prisoners in the Castle, to lay open the life and death of
this damnable and malicious Witch, of so long continuance (old
_Demdike_) of whom our whole businesse hath such dependence, that
without the particular Declaration and Record of her Euidence, with
the circumstaunces, wee shall neuer bring any thing to good
perfection: for from this Sincke of villanie and mischiefe, haue all
the rest proceeded; as you shall haue them in order.

She was a very old woman, about the age of Fourescore[B_b_] yeares,
and had been a Witch for fiftie yeares. Shee dwelt in the Forrest of
_Pendle_, a vaste place, fitte for her profession: What shee committed
in her time, no man knowes.

Thus liued shee securely for many yeares, brought vp her owne
Children, instructed her Graund-children, and tooke great care and
paines to bring them to be Witches. Shee was a generall agent for the
Deuill in all these partes: no man escaped her, or her Furies, that
euer gaue them any occasion of offence, or denyed them any thing they
stood need of: And certaine it is, no man neere them, was secure or
free from danger.

But God, who had in his diuine prouidence prouided to cut them off,
and roote them out of the Commonwealth, so disposed aboue, that the
Iustices of those partes, vnderstanding by a generall charme and
muttering, the great and vniuersall resort to _Maulking Tower_, the
common opinion, with the report of these suspected people, the
complaint of the Kinges subiectes for the losse of their Children,
Friendes, Goodes, and Cattle, (as there could not be so great Fire
without some Smoake,) sent for some of the Countrey, and tooke great
paynes to enquire after their proceedinges, and courses of life.

In the end, _Roger Nowell_ Esquire,[B2_a_] one of his Maiesties
Iustices in these partes, a very religious honest Gentleman, painefull
in the seruice of his Countrey: whose fame for this great seruice to
his Countrey, shall liue after him, tooke vpon him t