In the beginning of the fight, the George Noble of London having received some shot through her by the armadas, fell under the lee of the Revenge, and asked Sir Richard what he would command him, being but one of the victuallers and of small force; Sir Richard bid him save himself, and leave him to his fortune. After the fight had thus, without intermission, continued while the day lasted, and some hours of the night, many of our men were slain and hurt, and one of the great galleons of the Armada, and the Admiral of the Hulks both sunk, and in many other of the Spanish ships great slaughter was made. Some write that Sir Richard was very dangerously hurt almost in the beginning of the fight, and lay speechless

for a time ere he recovered.

The Spanish ships which attempted to board the Revenge, as they were wounded and beaten off, so always others came in their places, she having never less than two mighty galleons by her sides, and aboard her; so that ere the morning, from three of the clock of the day before, there had fifteen several armadas assailed her, and all so ill approved for their entertainment, as they were by the break of day, far more willing to hearken to a composition, than hastily to make any more assaults or entries. But as the day increased, so our men decreased and as the light grew more, by so much more grew our discomforts. For none appeared in sight but enemies, saving one small ship called the Pilgrim, commanded by Jacob Whiddon, who hovered all night to see the success; but in the morning bearing with the Revenge, was hunted like a hare amongst many ravenous hounds, but escaped.

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All the powder of the Revenge, to the last barrel, was now spent, all their pikes broken, forty of her best men slain, and the most part of the rest hurt. In the beginning of the fight she had but one hundred free from sickness, and fourscore and ten sick, laid in hold upon the ballast. A small troop to man such a ship, and a weak garrison to resist so mighty an army. By those hundred all was sustained, the volleys, boardings, and enterings of fifteen ships of war, besides those which beat her at large. On the contrary, the Spanish were always supplied with soldiers brought from every squadron; all manner of arms and powder at will. Unto ours there remained no comfort at all, no hope, no supply either of ships, men, or weapons; the masts all beaten overboard, all her tackle cut asunder, her upper work altogether rased, and in effect evened she was with the water, but the very foundation or bottom of a ship, nothing

being left overhead either for flight or defence. Sir Richard finding himself in this distress, and unable any longer to make resistance, having endured in this fifteen hours' fight, the assault of fifteen several armadas, all by turns aboard him, and by estimation, eight hundred shot of great artillery, besides many assaults and entries; and that himself and the ship must needs be possessed by the enemy, who were now all cast in a ring round about him (the Revenge not able to move one way or other, but as she was moved with the waves and billows of the sea), commanded the master gunner, whom he knew to be a most resolute man, to split and sink the ship, that thereby nothing might remain of glory or victory to the Spaniards: seeing, in so many hours' fight, and with so great a navy, they were not able to take her, having had fifteen hours' time, above ten thousand men, and fifty and three sail of men-of-war to perform it withal; and persuaded the company, or as many as he could induce, to yield themselves unto God, and to the mercy of none else; but as they, like valiant, resolute men, repulsed so many enemies, they should not now shorten the honour of their nation, by prolonging their own lives for a few hours, or a few days.

68. THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES (1612).

The witchcraft delusion is a sad though not a very strange chapter in European history. Its essence was the belief that certain persons could by satanic assistance exercise a malign influence over others, even to the point of causing death. This idea was of universal prevalence and of long duration. One understands its existence in the Middle Ages easily enough, but the extraordinary thing is that it should have survived the Revival of Learning. Prejudices, however, die hard, and many innocent victims were sacrificed to this particular one as late as the seventeenth century. During the reign of James I. accusations were freely brought, and often resulted in a death sentence. One striking fact about the trials is that the prisoners confessed their guilt with alacrity, in the hope that they would receive a milder sentence than if they proved stubborn. How trumpery was the evidence adduced, and how convinced the judges were, may be gathered from the following citations.

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SOURCE.-The Wonderful Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster. Somers' Tracts. Vol. iii., A, p. 150; B, p. 152.

(4) The Examination of Peter Chaddock of Windle, in the County of Lancaster, taken at Windle aforesaid, the 12th day of July, 1612. Anno Reg. Regis, Jacobi, Angliae, etc., Decimo, et Scotiae xlv. Before Sir Thomas Gerrard, Knight and Baronet, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace within the said County.

The said examinate upon his oath saith, That before his marriage, he heard say that the said Isabel Robey was not pleased that he should marry his now wife; whereupon this examinate called the said Isabel witch, and said that he did not care for her. Then within two days next after, this examinate was sore pained in his bones. And this examinate having occasion to meet Master John Hawarden at Peaseley Crosse, wished one Thomas Lyon to go thither with him, which they both did so; but as they came homewards, they both were in evil case. But within a short time after, this examinate and the said Thomas Lyon were both well amended.

And this examinate further saith, That about four years last past, his now wife was angry with the said Isabel, she then being in his house, and his said wife thereupon went out of the house, and presently after that, the said Isabel went likewise out of the house, not well pleased, as this examinate then did think; and presently after, upon the same day, this examinate, with his said wife, working in the hay, a pain and a starkness [rigidity] fell into the neck of this examinate, which grieved him very sore; whereupon this examinate sent to one James a glover, which then dwelt in Windle, and desired him to pray for him, and within four or five days next after, this examinate did mend very well. Nevertheless, this examinate, during the same time, was very sore pained, and so thirsty withal, and hot within his body, that he would have given anything he had, to have slaked his thirst, having drink enough in the house, and yet could not drink until the time the said James, the glover, came to him; and this examinate then said before the said glover, I would to God that I could drink; whereupon the said glover said to this examinate, take that drink, and in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, drink it, saying, the devil and witches are not able to prevail against God and his word; whereupon this examinate then took the glass of drink, and did drink it all, and afterwards mended very well, and so did continue in good health, until our Lady-day in Lent

was twelve month, or thereabouts; since which time, the examinate saith, that he hath been sore pained with great warch [ache] in his bones, and all his limbs, and so yet continueth; and this examinate further saith, that his said warch and pain came to him rather by means of the said Isabel Robey, than otherwise, as he verily thinketh.

(B) The Names of the Prisoners at the Bar to receive their Judgment of Life and Death.

The Judgment of the Right Honourable Sir Edward Bromley, Knight, one of his Majesty's Justices of Assize at Lancaster, upon the Witches convicted as followeth.

There is no man alive more unwilling to pronounce this woeful and heavy judgment against you, than myself and if it were possible, I would to God this cup might pass from me. But since it is otherwise provided, that after all proceedings of the law, there must be a judgment; and the execution of that judgment must succeed and follow in due time: I pray you to have patience to receive that which the law doth lay upon you. You of all people have the least cause to complain: since in the trial of your lives there hath been great care and pains taken, and much time spent: and very few or none of you, but stand convicted upon your own voluntary confessions and examinations, ex ore proprio. Few witnesses examined against you, but such as were present, and parties in your assemblies. Nay, I may further affirm, What persons of your nature and condition, ever were arraigned and tried with more solemnity, had more liberty given to plead or answer to every particular point of evidence against you? In conclusion, such hath been the general care of all that had to deal with you, that you have neither cause to be offended in the proceedings of the justices, that first took pains in these businesses, nor with the court that hath had great care to give nothing in evidence against you but matter of fact; sufficient matter upon record, and not to induce or lead the jury to find any one of you guilty upon matter of suspicion or presumption, nor with the witnesses, who have been tried as it were in the fire: Nay, you cannot deny but must confess, what extraordinary means hath been used to

make trial of their evidence, and to discover the least intended practice in any one of them, to touch your lives unjustly.

As you stand simply (your offences and bloody practices not considered) your fall would rather move compassion, than exasperate any man. For whom would not the ruin of so many poor creatures at one time, touch, as in appearance simple, and of little understanding?

But the blood of those innocent children, and others his majesty's subjects, whom cruelly and barbarously you have murdered, and cut off, with all the rest of your offences, hath cried out unto the Lord against you, and solicited for satisfaction and revenge, and that hath brought this heavy judgment upon you at this time.

It is therefore now time no longer wilfully to strive, both against the providence of God, and the justice of the land: The more you labour to acquit yourselves, the more evident and apparent you make your offences to the world. And impossible it is that they shall either prosper or continue in this world, or receive reward in the next, that are stained with so much innocent blood.

The worst then I wish to you, standing at the bar convicted, to receive your judgment, is remorse and true repentance, for the safeguard of your souls, and after, an humble, penitent and hearty acknowledgment of your grievous sins and offences, committed both against God and man.

First, yield humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God for taking hold of you in your beginning, and making stay of your intended bloody practices (although God knows there is too much done already) which would in time have cast so great a weight of judgment upon your souls.

Then praise God that it pleased Him not to surprise or strike you suddenly, even in the execution of your bloody murders, and in the midst of your wicked practices, but hath given you time, and takes you away by a judicial course and trial of the law.

Last of all, crave pardon of the world, and especially of all such as you have justly offended, either by tormenting themselves, children, or friends, murder of their kinsfolks, or loss of any of their goods.

And for leaving to future times the precedent of so many barbarous and bloody murders, with such meetings, practices, consultations, and means to execute revenge, being the greatest part of your comfort in all your actions, which may instruct others to hold the like course, or fall in the like sort.