| Alexander Amcots | A man from Leicester in the county of Leicestershire, described as a Justice of the Peace. Amcot twice examines Joan Willimott. On February 28, 1618 she confessed to Amcot that she was a cunning woman, that Joane Flower "told her that my Lord of Rutland had dealt badly with her and that they had put away her Daughter," that she had a vision of the Earl of Rutland, Sir Francis Manner, Lord Rosse's son being "striken with a white Spirit," but that she spirit suggested he would "do well," that the previous Friday night, her "Spirit came to her and told her that there was a bad woman at Deeping who had giuen her soule to the Diuell," a piece of information for which it demanded payment, "although it were but a peece of her Girdle," but she refused. On March 2, 1618, she confesses to Amcot how she got her spirit, (form William Berry of Langholme in Rutlandshire who blew it into her mouth), that it was a Fairy "the shape and forme of a Woman," that she did promise it her soul in exchange for services, but that she "neyther did she imploy her Spirit in any thing, but onely to bring word how those did which she had vndertaken to cure." By December 3, 1618, Francis Manners would appoint Alexander Amoct deputy recorder.(13) | The Examination of Ioan Willimot, taken the 28. of February, in the 16. yeare of the raigne of our Soueraigne Lord, IAMES, ouer England King &c. and ouer Scotland the 52. before Alexander Amcotts Esquire, one of his Maiesties Iustices of the peace of the said parts and County.
THis Examinat saith, that Ioane Flower told her that my Lord of Rutland had dealt badly with her and that they had put away her Daughter, and that although she could not haue her will of my Lord himselfe, yet she had spied my Lords Sonne and had stricken him to the heart. And she saiSingle illegible letterh, that my Lords Sonne was striken with a white Spirit, and that shee can cure some that send vnto her, and that some reward her for her paines, and of some she taketh nothing.
She further saith, that vpon Fryday night last, her Spirit came to her and told her that there was a bad woman at Deeping who had giuen her soule to the Diuell: and that her said Spirit did then appeare vnto her in a more vgly forme then it had formerly done, and that it vrged her much to giue it something, although it were but a peece of her Girdle, and told her that it had taken great paines for her, but she saith that she would giue it nothing, and told it that she had sent it to no place but onely to see how my Lord Rosse did, and that her Spirit told her that he should doe well.
The Examination of the said Ioan Willimott, taken the second day of March in the yeare abouesaid, before the said Alexander Amcots.
THis Examinate saith, That shee hath a Spirit which shee calleth Pretty, which was giuen vnto her by William Berry of Langholme in Rutlandshire, whom she serued three yeares; and that her Master when hee gaue it vnto her, willed her to open her mouth, and hee would blow into her a Fairy which should doe her good; and that shee opened her mouth, and he did blow into her mouth; and that presently after his blowing, there came out of her mouth a Spirit, which stood vpon the ground in the the shape and forme of a Woman, which Spirit did aske of her her Soule, which shee then promised vnto it, being willed thereunto by her Master. Shee further confesseth, that shee neuer hurt any body, but did helpe diuers that sent for her,
which were stricken or fore-spoken: and that her Spirit came weekely to her, and would tell her of diuers persons that were stricken and forespoken. And shee saith, that the vse which shee had of the Spirit, was to know how those did which shee had vndertaken to amend; and that shee did helpe them by certaine prayers which she vsed, and not by her owne Spirit; neyther did she imploy her Spirit in any thing, but onely to bring word how those did which she had vndertaken to cure.
And shee further saith, that her Spirit came vnto her this last night (as she thought) in the forme of a woman, mumbling, but she could not vnderstand what it said. And being asked whether shee were not in a dreame or slumber when shee thought shee saw it, shee said no, and that she was as waking as at this present.
* Alexander Amcots.
* Thomas Robinson test.() |