Q 4 b. “The said Bulcockes wife doth know of some Witches to bee about Padyham and Burnley.”] Precious evidence this to put the lives of two poor creatures into jeopardy.

R a. “Accused the said Iohn Bulcock to turne the Spitt there.”] What a fact this would have been for De Lancre.  With all his accurate statistics on the subject of the witches’ Sabbath, he was not aware that a turnspit was a necessary officer on such occasions, as well as a master of ceremonies.  This artful and well instructed jade, Jennet Device, must have borne especial malice against John Bulcock.

R 1 b. “The names of the Witches at the Great Assembly and Feast at Malking-Tower, viz. vpon Good-Friday last, 1612.”] In this list of fourteen individuals, Master Potts has omitted “the painful steward so careful to provide mutton,” James Device, who made up the number to fifteen.  Of these persons seven were not indicted:  Jennet Hargraves, the wife of Hugh Hargraves, of Barley under Pendle; Elizabeth Hargraves, the wife of Christopher Hargraves; Christopher Howgate, the son of Old Demdike; Christopher Hargraves, who is described as of Thurniholme, or Thornholme, and as Christopher o’ Jacks, and was husband of Elizabeth Hargraves; Grace Hay, of Padiham; Anne Crunkshey, of Marchden, or more properly, Cronkshaw of Marsden; and Elizabeth Howgate, the wife of Christopher Howgate.  The two Howgates were, it may be, the “one Holgate and his wife,” mentioned in Robinson’s deposition in 1633.  Alice Graie, or Gray, included in the list, was indicted, though no copy of the indictment is afforded by Potts, and, singular as it may seem, acquitted.  Richard Miles’ wife, of the Rough Lee, stated to have been present in some of the depositions, (G 3 b,) was, beyond doubt, Alice Nutter, so called as the wife of Richard and mother of Miles Nutter.

It may afford matter for speculation, whether any real meeting took place of any of the persons above enumerated, which gave occasion for the monstrous versions of the witnesses at this trial.  It is far from unlikely, that on the apprehension and commitment of Old Demdike, Old Chattox, Alizon Device, and Anne Redfern to Lancaster, a meeting would take place of their near relations, and others who might attend from curiosity, or from its being rumoured that they were themselves implicated by the confessions of those apprehended, and who by such attendance sealed their dooms.  In all similar fabrications there is generally some slight foundation of fact, some scintilla of homely truth, from which, like the inverted apex of a pyramid, the disproportioned fabric expands.  It is possible that, from the simple occurrence of an unusual attendance at Malking Tower on Good Friday, not unnatural under the circumstances, some of the witnesses, ignorant and easily persuaded, might be afterwards led to believe in the existence of those monstrous superadditions with which the convention was afterwards clothed.