After which, the Court being set, M. Sherieffe was commaunded to present his Prisoners before his Lordship, and prepare a sufficient Iurie of Gentlemen for life and death. But heere we want old _Demdike_, who dyed in the Castle before she came to her tryall.[C4_b_]
Heere you may not expect the exact order of the Assises, with the Proclamations, and other solemnities belonging to so great a Court of Iustice; but the proceedinges against the Witches, who are now vpon their deliuerance here in order as they came to the Barre, with the particular poyntes of Euidence against them: which is the labour and worke we now intend (by Gods grace) to performe as we may, to your generall contentment.
Wherevpon, the first of all these, _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_,[D_b_] was brought to the Barre: against whom wee are now ready to proceed.
The Arraignement and Tryall of Anne Whittle, _alias_ Chattox, of the Forrest of _Pendle_, in the Countie of _Lancaster_, Widdow; about the age of Fourescore yeares, or thereaboutes.
If in this damnable course of life, and offences, more horrible and odious, then any man is able to expresse: any man lyuing could lament the estate of any such like vpon earth: The example of this poore creature, would haue moued pittie, in respect of her great contrition and repentance, after she was committed to the Castle at _Lancaster_, vntill the comming of his Maiesties Iudges of Assise. But such was the nature of her offences, & the multitude of her crying sinnes, as it tooke away all sense of humanity. And the repetition of her hellish practises, and Reuenge; being the chiefest thinges wherein she alwayes tooke great delight, togeather with a particular declaration of the Murders shee had committed, layde open to the world, and giuen in Euidence against her at the time of her Arraignement and Tryall; as certainely it did beget contempt in the Audience, and such as she neuer offended.
This _Anne Whittle_, alias _Chattox_, was a very old withered spent and decreped creature, her sight almost gone: A dangerous Witch, of very long continuance; alwayes opposite to old _Demdike_: For whom the one fauoured, the other hated deadly: [Sidenote: _Her owne examination_] and how they enuie and accuse one an other, in their Examinations, may appeare.