Below are the notes by Sir Francis Windebank on the hearing in the Court of the Star Chamber on 13th November 1635 of the accusation by John Prowting of conspiracy by John, Elizabeth and Anne Waldron of Lambourn in West Berkshire. For a detailed review of this case see A Witchcraft Accusation in 17th Century West Berkshire

Sir Francis Windebank was Secretary for King Charles I. The official records for 1635 for this court are lost so this is the only source for this case. The document begins with an overview of the case followed by notes on depositions by various witnesses.

This transcript was made by Dr J. Dils from Francis Windebank, ‘State Papers, Domestic Series, Charles I, April-Dec 1635, Vol. 8: April-Dec 1635: 13 Nov 1635 Notes on Star Chamber Cases’ (November 1635), SP 16/301 f.157-8, National Archives. The spelling, numbering, punctuation and so on is as in the original. Thank you to Dr. Dils for permission to publish this here.

13 Nov 1635 John Prowting & Mary  ag: Waldron & Eliz his wife &Anne Waldron for enditeing Mary Prowting for a witch

Anne Waldron visited with a sickness both of body & mynde: the prisoners agreed it was no naturall disease

[in margin] Tumbling E….t sounding

Anne Clincle suspected to be a witch accused Mary Prowting to have been cause of Waldrones sicknes

Anne Waldron charged to be an imposter & John & Elizabeth her father and mother of this combinacion

When she cam to Sir fr: Seymor she cold not live without sustenance at last she did confesse she was in inposter

The combinacion is that it was impossible she shold fast so long & then she must be fed by her father & Mother

Sir fran: Seymor

19 saith that Anne Waldron was brought to Marlborough & lodged in mr Prophetes house the minister there

20 after she was taken out of the coach she remained and presently after in a  fitt & all the while she was in the Coach her color good her pulse beate: & consenely? she was

21 the dep[onent] the ; 2 or 3: night after she came to Marleb: caused some to hold her that she cold do no trickes: a little after Mr Prophet came to the dep[onent] & told him she wold dye but Seymor chiding her she grewe better

23 He caused her to be putt into a trucklebed where she cold not _esse & after she had _ _ _  2 or 3 trickes she was wary & did them not with that agility that before

24 Tobacco blowe in her face & pricke her finger wherat she started & then blisst

25 Linkes lighted & fier  cried & all run down & he verily believeth that upon the cry he saw her open her eyes & partly shut them again, which she after confessed

30 He caused her be brought to his house & a pallet prepared & caused pare of lynen breeches to be ready & her clothes taken away, & it plainly apererid she turned? her body with her hands her revalacion failed her

35  she did speak of many thinges concerning Mary Prowting: that Prowting had a long Tell? About her: this she did upon a whispering

36 Dr Steward & the dep; & Prophet Lincke & White being

37 present were all satisfied that Anne Waldron was a mere counterfeit & moved her to confesse her faultes; wheruppon she forgot her …………… trick which followed her tumbling trick

The dep: told her she shold lye & starve to make her confesse

The dep: went away & his wife heard Anne Waldron say Lord comfort me or words to that effect: she charged her with these words which she with sign.. denied

48 after the confession made before her father she made a

49 confession of all her impostures &v wronges don to Mary Prouteing the confession subscribed by Anne Waldron & sworn by her to be true

After confession:   that Hall had told her her fortune was to be

Linch, ?Rose Prouting & Edith  bewitched

Dr Steward

35 for the better discovery of the Imposture it was thought fit by Sir fra: that som falsehood shold be invented which was that witches shold be searched, whereupon the dep: heard Waldron say search search or to that purpose: w

69 Anne Waldron pretending generally? no sense in her, fethers thrust  into her nose & the dep: coming to her after her confession she confessed she was a counterfeit & had been so a long time: a quart & halfe of posset drink in a day

Aymer  Linch Clerk

69   12 daies after Waldron had made her confession it being reported she had denied her confession the dep: sent by Sir fra: Seymor to know it. she answered what she had confessed was true & she wold justify it

Nicholas Prophet

49 she did acknowledge her exam[ination] to be true before ?many?

Lady Seymor

48 Anne Waldron did make a particular relacion of all the impostures to dep: husband, and of all the wronges she had done Prowting & she was in her perfect understanding; & acknowledges the confession under her hand

53 she was much troubled at the crye of fier

55 she cold not go fro her confession for she had sworn it

57 the dep: heard walldron say she desired Prouting to forgive her

John Seymor  : 2   ?Defences

Constable of Lamborn

John Davis 2:3:4

George Widley prisoner Clerkhe saw her have convulsions in her bowels