6. Exam. William Parsons Rector of Stoke Trister, Examined Feb. 7. 1664. before Rob. Hunt Esq; concerning Elizabeth Styles's confession, saith, That he heard Style before the Justice of Peace, at the time of her Examination confess, as she hath done also to the Examinant several times since, that she was in Covenant with the Devil, that she had signed it with her Blood, that she had been with the Devil at several meetings in the night, that at one time of those meetings, there was brought a Picture in blackish Wax, which the Devil in the shape of a Man in blackish Clothes, did Baptize by the name of Eliz. Hill, that she did stick in one Thorn into the Hand-Wrists of the Picture, that Alice Duke stuck Thorns into the same and that Anne Bishop and Mary Penny were present at that meeting with the Devil.
Taken upon Oath before me
Robert Hunt.
Subscribed,
William Parsons Rector of Stoke Trister.
This Confession of Styles was free and unforced, with out any torturing or watching drawn from her by a gentle Examination meeting with the Convictions of a guilty Conscience. She confesseth that she desired the Devil to torment Eliz. Hill, by thrusting Thorns into her Flesh, which he promised, and said he had done it, That a Picture was Baptized for her the said Elizabeth, and that she, the Familiar and Alice Duke stuck Thorns into several places of the Neck, Hand-Wrists, Fingers and other parts thereof, which exactly agrees with the strange Effects related, concerning the torments the Child suffer'd, and this mischief she confesseth she did, because her Father said she was a Witch. She confessed she gave two Apples to Vinings Wife, one of which she had from the Devil, who said it would do the business, which sutes also with the Testimony of Vining concerning his Wife.
She confesseth farther, That the Devil useth to suck her in the Poll, about four a Clock in the Morning, in the Form of a Fly like a Millar, concerning which, let us hear Testimony (the other particulars of her Confession we shall consider as occasion offers)
