The confession of Alizon Device as recorded by Thomas Potts, the clerk of the court at the trial of the Pendle Witches Alizon Device was hanged for witchcraft at Lancaster gaol in 1612. Her voluntary confession to bewitching the pedlar John Law first brought to the attention of the authorites, the alledged activities of witches in the Forest of Pendle. Alizon lived at Malkin Tower with her mother Elizabeth Device, her grandmother Elizabeth Southerns, alias Demdike, her brother James and sister Jennet. Elizabeth and James were hanged for witchcraft at Lancaster and Demdike died in gaol awaiting trial. Note: Alizon is referred to throughout as 'the examinate' Alizon tells how her grandmother Demdike persuaded her to let a familiar spirit suck her blood

The said alizon device sayth, that about two years ago, her grandmother, (called elizabeth southerns, alias old demdike) did sundry times in going or walking together as they went begging persuade and advise this examinate to let a devil or a familiar appear to her; and that she, this examinate would let him suck at some part of her; and she might have and do what she would. And so not long after these perswasions, this examinate being walking towards the rough-lee, in a close of one john robinsons, there appeared unto her a thing like unto a blacke dogge: speaking unto her, this examinate, and desiring her to give him her soule, and he would give her power to do any thing she would: whereupon this examinate being therewithall inticed, and setting her downe; the said blacke-dogge did with his mouth (as this examinate then thought) sucke at her breast, a little below her paps, which place did remaine blew halfe a yeare next after: which said blacke-dogge did not appeare to this examinate, untill the eighteenth day of march last:

Alizon tells how her familiar suggested to her laming the pedlar John Law after he refused to sell her some pins

At which time this examinate met with a pedler on the high-way, called colne-field, neere unto colne: and this examinate demanded of the said pedler to buy some pinnes of him; but the said pedler sturdily answered this examinate that he would not loose his packe; and so this examinate parting with him: presently there appeared to this examinate the blackedogge, which appeared unto her as before: which black dogge spake unto this examinate in english, saying; what wouldst thou have me to do unto yonder man? To whom this examinate said,what canst thou do at him? And the dogge answered againe, I can lame him: whereupon this examinat answered, and said to the said black dogge, lame him: and before the pedler was gone fortie roddes further, he fell downe lame: and this examinate then went after the said pedler, and in a house about the distance aforesaid, he was lying lame: and so this examinate went begging in trawden forrest that day, and came home at night: and about five dayes next after, the said black-dogge did appeare to this examinate, as she was going a begging, in a cloase neere the new-church in pendle, and spake againe to her, saying; stay and speake with me, but this examinate would not: sithence which time this examinat never saw him.

Alizon incriminates Demdike

Alizon gave important evidence that lead to the arrest of her grandmother Demdike, who was believed to have murdered three people.

Alizon tells how Demdike bewitched to death a cow belonging to John Nutter

And she further sayth, that one john nutter of the bulhole in pendle aforesaid, had a cow which was sicke, & requested this examinats grand-mother to amend the said cow; and her said graund-mother said she would, and so her said graund-mother about ten of the clocke in the night, desired this examinate to lead her forth; which this examinate did, being then blind: and her graund-mother did remaine about halfe an houre forth: and this examinates sister did fetch her in againe; but what she did when she was so forth, this examinate cannot tell. But the next morning, this examinate heard that the sayd cow was dead. And this examinate verily thinketh, that her sayd graund-mother did bewitch the sayd cow to death.

Alizon tells how Demdike changed milk into to butter using witchcraft

And further, this examinate sayth, that about two yeares agon, this examinate having gotten a piggin full of blew milke by begging, brought it into the house of her graund-mother, where (this examinate going forth presently, and staying about halfe an houre) there was butter to the quantity of a quarterne of a pound in the said milke, and the quantitie of the said milke still remayning; and her graund-mother had no butter in the house when this examinate went forth: during which time, this examinates graund-mother still lay in her bed.

Alizon tells how Demdike bewitched to death the daughter of Richard Baldwin

And further this examinate sayth, that richard baldwin of weethead within the forrest of pendle, about 2 yeeres agoe, fell out with this examinates graund-mother, & so would not let her come upon his land: and about foure or five dayes then next after, her said graund-mother did request this examinate to lead her forth about ten of the clocke in the night: which this examinate accordingly did, and she stayed forth then about an houre, and this examinates sister fetched her in againe. And this examinate heard the next morning, that a woman child of the sayd richard baldwins was fallen sicke; and as this examinate did then heare, the sayd child did languish afterwards by the space of a yeare, or thereaboutes, and dyed: and this examinate verily thinketh, that her said graundmother did bewitch the sayd child to death. And further, this examinate sayth, that she heard her sayd graund-mother say presently after her falling out with the sayd baldwin, shee would pray for the sayd baldwin both still and loude: and this examinate heard her curse the sayd baldwin sundry times.

Alizon incriminates Chattox

Alizon gave important evidence against Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, who was believed to have murdered five people, including Alizon's father.

Alizon tells how she believed Chattox's family had burgled her home

This examinate saith, that about eleven yeares agoe, this exarninate and her mother had their fire-house broken, and all, or the most part of their linnen clothes, & halfe a peck of cut oat-meale, and a quantitie of meale gone, all which was worth twentie shillings or above: and upon a sunday then next after, this examinate did take a band and a coife, parcell of the goods aforesaid, upon the daughter of anne whittle, alias chattox, and claimed them to be parcell of the goods stolen, as aforesaid.

Alizon tells how Chattox bewitched to death her father after he failed to pay for protection

And this examinate further saith, that her father, called john device, being afraid, that the said anne chattox should do him or his goods any hurt by witchcraft; did covenant with the said anne, that if she would hurt neither of them, she should yearely have one aghen-dole of meale; which meale was yearely paid, untill the yeare which her father died in, which was about eleven yeares since: her father upon his then-death-bed, taking it that the said anne whittle, alias chattox, did bewitch him to death, because the said meale was not paid the last yeare.

Alizon tells how Chattox bewitched to death her friend Anne Nutter after she laughed at Chattox

And she also saith, that about two yeares agone, this examinate being in the house of anthony nutter of pendle aforesaid, and being then in company with anne nutter, daughter of the said anthony: the said anne whittle, alias chattox, came into the said anthony nutters house, and seeing this examinate, and the said anne nutter laughing, and saying, that they laughed at her the said chattox: well said then (sayes anne chattox) i will be meet with the one of you. And upon the next day after, she the said anne nutter fell sicke, and within three weekes after died.

Alizon tells how Chattox bewitched to death the child of John Moore after he accused her of bewitching his beer

And further, this examinate saith, that about two yeares agoe, she, this examinate, hath heard, that the said anne whittle, alias chattox, was suspected for bewitching the drinke of john moore of higham gentleman: and not long after, shee this examinate heard the said chattox say, that she would meet with the said john moore, or his. Whereupon a child of the said john moores, called john, fell sicke, and languished about halfe a yeare, and then died: during which languishing, this examinate saw the said chattox sitting in her owne garden, and a picture of clay like unto a child in her apron; which this examinate spying, the said anne chattox would have hidde with her apron: and this examinate declaring the same to her mother, her mother thought it was the picture of the said john moores childe.

Alizon tells how Chattox bewitched to death Hugh Moore, after he accused Chattox of bewitching his cattle

And she this examinate further saith, that about sixe or seven yeares agoe, the said chattox did fall out with one hugh moore of pendle, as aforesaid, about certaine cattle of the said moores, which the said moore did charge the said chattox to have bewitched: for which the said chattox did curse and worry the said moore, and said she would be revenged of the said moore: whereupon the said moore presently fell sicke, and languished about halfe a yeare, and then died. Which moore upon his death-bed said, that the said chattox had bewitched him to death.

Alizon tells how Chattox charmed milk and bewitched to death a cow belonging to John Nutter

And she further saith, that about sixe yeares agoe, a daughter of the said anne chattox, called elizabeth, having been at the house of john nutter of the bull-hole, to begge or get a dish full of milke, which she had, and brought to her mother, who was about a fields breadth of the said nutters house, which her said mother anne chattox tooke and put into a kan, and did charne the same with two stickes acrosse in the same field: whereupon the said john nutters sonne came unto her, the said chattox, and misliking her doings, put the said kan and milke over with his foot; and the morning next after, a cow of the said john nutters fell sicke, and so languished three or foure dayes, and then died.