The name of Margaret Johnson does not appear in Edmund Robinson’s examination.  Whether accused or not, the opportunity was too alluring to be lost by a personage full of matter, being like old Mause Headrigg, “as a bottle that lacketh vent,” and too desirous of notoriety, to let slip such an occasion.  She made, on the 2nd of March following, before the same justices who had taken Robinson’s examination, the following confession, which must have been considered a most instructive one by those who were in search of some short vade mecum of the statistics of witchcraft in Pendle:—­

“THE CONFESSION OF MARGARET JOHNSON.

“That betwixt seaven and eight yeares since, shee beeinge in her owne house in Marsden, in a greate passion of anger and discontent, and withall pressed with some want, there appeared unto her a spirit or devill in ye proportion or similitude of a man, apparrelled in a suite of blacke, tyed about with silk points, who offered yt if shee would give him her soule hee would supply all her wants, and bringe to her whatsoever shee did neede.  And at her appointment would in revenge either kill or hurt whom or what shee desyred, weare it man or beast.  And saith, yt after a solicitation or two shee contracted and covenanted with ye said devill for her soule.  And yt ye said devill or spirit badde her call him by the name of Mamilian.  And when shee would have him to doe any thinge for her, call in Mamilian, and hee would bee ready to doe her will.  And saith, yt in all her talke or conference shee calleth her said devill, Mamil my God.  Shee further saith, yt ye said Mamilian, her devill, (by her consent) did abuse and defile her body by comittinge wicked uncleannesse together.  And saith, yt shee was not at the greate meetings at Hoarestones, at the forest of Pendle, upon All-Saints Day, where ——.  But saith yt shee was at a second meetinge ye Sunday next after All-Saints Day, at the place aforesaid; where there was at yt tyme between 30 and 40 witches, who did all ride to the said meetinge, and the end of theire said meeting was to consult for the killinge and hurtinge of men and beasts.  And yt besides theire particular familiars or spirits, there was one greate or grand devill or spirit more eminent than the rest.  And if any desyre to have a greate and more wonderfull devill, whereby they may have more power to hurt, they may have one such.  And sayth, yt such witches as have sharp bones given them by the devill to pricke them, have no pappes or dugges whereon theire devill may sucke, but theire devill receiveth bloud from the place, pricked with the bone.  And they are more grand witches than any yt have marks.  Shee allsoe saith, yt if a witch have but one marke, shee hath but one spirit, if two then two spirits, if three yet but two spirits.  And saith, yt theire spirits usually have knowledge of theire bodies.  And being desyred to name such as shee knewe to be witches, shee