The Witches of Northamptonshire

Witches Executed

Upon hearing of his mother’s death and that his father had become a witness against him, Arthur Bill was much perplexed in his mind: distressed that his mother was dead, in whom he most trusted, and that his father was living, whom he most feared. Nevertheless, he stubbornly persisted in the denial of everything, pleading nothing but his innocence—despite the fact that he had previously and unwittingly original: "at vnawares" confessed that he had certain spirits at his command which, when employed, would do any mischief to any man, woman, or child whom he would appoint.

It is said that he had three spirits to whom he gave three special names (the Devil himself surely was godfather to them all): the first he called Grissell original: "Grisill." Along with names like Ball and Jack, these were common names for "familiars," spirits believed to serve witches in animal or human form., the second was named Ball, and the last Jack; but in what shapes they appeared to him, I cannot learn. For devils can appear in a bodily shape and use speech and conversation original: "conference" with men. Our Savior says, "A spirit has neither flesh nor bones" original: "Our Sauiour saith, That a Spirit hath neither flesh nor bones." This refers to Luke 24:39. The author uses this to argue that demons are naturally formless.. A spirit has a substance, but one that is invisible. Therefore, it must be granted that devils, in their own nature, have no bodily shape nor visible form. Moreover, it is against the truth and against piety to believe that devils can create or make bodies, or change one body into another, for those things are belonging only to God The author is following standard Protestant demonology of the era, which argued that only God has the power of true creation; the Devil only uses illusions or "counterfeit" bodies..

It follows, therefore, that whenever they appear in a visible form, it is nothing more than an apparition and a counterfeit show of a body, unless a body is at any time lent to them. And when they make one body...