[Footnote 61:  The confession in the “Amber Witch” is a true picture, drawn from the life.  What is there, indeed, unlike truth in that wonderful fiction?]

It is said that we owe to the grave and saturnine Monarch, who extended his pardon to the seventeen convicted in 1633, that happy generalisation of the term, which appropriates honourably to the sex in Lancashire the designation denoting the fancied crime of a few miserable victims of superstition.  That gentle sex will never repudiate a title bestowed by one, little given to the playful sports of fancy, whose sorrows and unhappy fate have never wanted their commiseration, and who distinguished himself on this memorable occasion, at a period when

        “’twas the time’s plague
    That madmen led the blind,”

—­in days when philosophy stumbled and murder arrayed itself in the robes of justice—­by an enlightened exercise of the kingly prerogative of mercy.  Proceeding from such a fountain of honour, and purified by such an appropriation, the title of witch has long lost its original opprobrium in the County Palatine, and survives only to call forth the gayest and most delightful associations.  In process of time even the term witchfinder may lose the stains which have adhered to it from the atrocities of Hopkins, and may be adopted by general usage, as a sort of companion phrase, to signify the fortunate individual, who, by an union with a Lancashire witch, has just asserted his indefeasible title to be considered as the happiest of men.

J.C.

THE
WONDERFVLL
DISCOVERIE OF
WITCHES, &c.

THE
WONDERFVLL
DISCOVERIE OF
WITCHES IN THE COVNTIE
OF LANCASTER.

With the Arraignement and Triall of
Nineteene notorious WITCHES, at the Assizes and
generall Gaole deliuerie, holden at the Castle of
LANCASTER, vpon Munday, the seuenteenth
of August last,
1612.

Before Sir IAMES ALTHAM, and
Sir EDWARD BROMLEY, Knights; BARONS of his
Maiesties Court of EXCHEQVER:  And Iustices
of Assize, Oyer and Terminor, and generall
Gaole deliuerie in the circuit of the
North Parts.

Together with the Arraignement and Triall of IENNET PRESTON, at the Assizes holden at the Castle of Yorke, the seuen and twentieth day of Iulie last past, with her Execution for the murther of Master LISTER by Witchcraft.

Published and set forth by commandement of his Maiesties
Iustices of Assize in the North Parts.

By THOMAS POTTS Esquier.

* * * * *

LONDON,
Printed by W.  Stansby for John Barnes, dwelling neare
Holborne Conduit. 1613.

[Illustration:  decoration]

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE,
THOMAS, LORD
KNYVET, BARON OF ESCRICK[A1]
in the Countie of Yorke, my very honorable
good Lord and Master.