TEmperance Floyd, the most notorious of thes [...] Three Witches, being a poor Woman and earning her living by the Sweat of her Brows, the cunin [...] Old Serpent takes hold of her poverty as an opportunity of laying his bait, for tis a Maxaim in th [...] Devils politicks allwaies to Fish in troubled waters which course he commonly takes to erect his Trophie upon the Destruction of such Miserable Creatures.

The first time the Devil tempted her was in an A [...] ternoon, when the poor Woman labouring unde [...] an almost▪ Insupportable Burden of Broome; a [...] costed her in the Shape of a comly Black Man: Wit [...] (as it were) a civil offer of Friendly assistance, b [...] she viewing him discerned his Feet to resemble tho [...] of an Oxe, and thereupon returnig him an answ [...] in which she used the Name of GOD: (For I ha [...] not charity enough to think she had Grace to speak in th [...] Sacred Name, otherwise then prophanely) the Temp [...] immediately transformed himself into a Flame, so [...] appeared. The Woman walks on with her Burd [...] until she arrives at her own poor Habitation, whe [...] [Page] going along the Entery she saw (in appearance) a Black Dogg, which as she thought grew still bigger, and bigger, but that Vanishing she presently saw the same Black Gentleman, who but a little before met her in the Broome-Field, who being now grown a little wiser then he was before, proceeded with those Suttile In sinuations that he prevailed with her to consent to his compact (Drawn up in writeing, wherein he bound himself for a time, and her his forever) which she Signed with her own Blood, which the Devil (as an ingenious Chyrugion) drew from her with little or no pain.

Now has this poor wretch Struck Hands with the Devil, and is become his Bon-slave; for indeed you may observe (as in this, so in all cases of the like Nature) that where the Devil once becomes a familiar there he always makes himself an insulting Master; for no sooner was the Instrument Signed, but he immediately issues out his commands; the First of which was for her to goe to one Madam Thomas, the Wife of a worthy Gentleman of Biddiford in the County of Devon, and hurt her, which she could not have done without the asistance of her Patron who conveyed her In­visible into the Room where the Gentleman and his Lady were asleep in Bed, and there did this Devilized crea­ture bruise the Side of the said Madam Thomas in a most cruel manner and then left her.

I spppose this Witch (Woman I shall no more call ge [...]) might have been taken in the Room if the De­vil had been Knave enough to have left her there, but it seems he was to honest to break covenant; Yet certain it is, he is not only Knave enough, but the original Source of all Knavery and Vice, and it is not for any respect to breach of Covenant, or other good motive that makes him for a time true to his Proselytes, but to make them further and greater Instruments of Hell, and Mischief, as his next essay makes appear.

When she had performed his first command he then Enjoynes her upon a 2d. and more pernicious enterprize (viz.) to Kill the Gentlewoman, but she was not yet become Devil enough, and there­fore refuses: Whereupon the Devil struck her a slap on the Face, where he left the print of his Fist But however, he prevailed with her so far as to be come a Thirteen Years Tormentor, to this poo [...] Gentlewoman, who dureing all that time was afflicted with some supernatural affliction or other; th [...] cause of all which was hidden from Physicians, no [...] could she obtain from them any remedy; sometime she would be seized with Fitts of raveing, some times of laughing, but alwaies of pain.

The Minister of the Parish, observing her Fit of laughter and by his Reading, knowing somethin [...] [Page] more than those Countrey Physicians, had a strong presumption that they must be the Effects of Sor­cery, and therefore desired that in those Fitts, the bottoms of her Feet might be held, and covered with Hands, which Project had good successe for it alwayes stayd her laughter, and proved consequent­ly more effectual then the magical charme by which she was inchanted.

From hence I offer the Learned, (for this is cer­tain Truth) whether or no it may not be thought, that Witches do torment in Effigie, (as surely this did by Tickling) and if they do whether there may not be infallible countercharmes, successfully and laudably applyed, as we find this was, and if so whether or no it will not be highly beneficial to the Publick, (especially to those of Scotland,) to publish something to that end efectual.

The Minister abovesaid caused this Witch to be apprehended, and committed to Exeter Goale; where she remained a Month before she would confess anything, but at last she made a free confession of all that is abovesaid, with many more exploits too long here to incert, as that the Devil assumeing a cold Body had frequent carnal knowledge of her, that she used often to put to sea (in an Egg-shell as she affirmed) where she has been the destruction of many Ships: But that of which she said she most [Page] repented was that [...] once [...] overboard a Pret­ty Youth whose shape and Beauty; she spoke of with great commendation.

She also impeached one Mary Floyd and one Su­sanna Edwards both which had been too long and great actors in such sort of Devilising, but because my Paper will not Permit, I shall give you no trou­ble with them.

By the report spread abroad came many from all parts, to see this grand Witch, and among the rest the Minister of her own Parish, at the Sight of whom she seemed Extraordinary Joyful, and de­sired to Touch his Hands; which the Minister re­fused not, and having him by the Hand she told him she knew not but that his advice and prayers might do her good: She also put him in mind of his once Rideing between Banton and Taunton where­in the midst of the Water, his Horse would neither go forward nor backward untill he used these, or words to this effect, Well Satan thou hast not long time to continue a Torment to human Nature before thou shalt be chained up &c. at which words the Devi [...] fled away in the Shape of a Bull, and roaring most ter­ribly: And told him that then she was there though in­visible.

This Minister gave them all 3 good and whole [Page 7] some advice, and desired them to say the Lords Pray­er; of which the last could not repeat one word, but Temperance Floyd said all, with these alterations; when she should have said Lead us not into Temp­tation, she said Lead us into Temptation, and in­stead of Deliver us from evil, said deliver us to evil; and protested she could say no otherwaise: This Witch was 70 Years old, and had been the Devils Slave 30 Years of that time.

At the Assizes being brought upon their Tryal, they all three pleaded Guilty: Thereupon the Judg ordered the Goaler to Secure the Prisoners, but in his charge to the Jury, gave his Opinion that these three poor VVomen (as he supposed) were weary of their Lives, and that he thought it proper for them to be carryed to the Parish from whence thoy came, and that the Parish should be charged with their Maintain­ance; for that he thought their oppressing Poverty had constrained them to wish for Death: Whereupon seve­ral Neighbours, who had been great Sufferers by their diabolical Practices, moved that if these VVitches went home in peace, none of them could promise themselves a minutes Security, either of their Per­sons or Estates, and one of the Evidence offering to prove one act of their VVitchery and alledging a door to be shut, one of the Three cryed out, that is false, for the door was open; which tacitly im­plyed that she was then an Actor, and consequent­ly [Page 8] convinced both Judg and Jury that she was guilty, and so of the other two.

At the place of Execution, Temperance Floyd made a full Confession of all that is aforesaid, with ma­ny more Particulars, too tedious here to incert: She desired all the Spectators to take warning by her and then requesting of the Minister that the 40th Psalm might be Sung, begged the Prayers of all there present; and she her self uttered this short Prayer.