Confession of Thomas Paman

Transcript

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Newmarket The 28 of February 1629

Thomas Paman says

That having long since, some two years gone, some displeasure that he could

not have such means from his father, as he thought he lacked, paying commonly

freely when he was in any company, and having often times threatened upon

any discontent between his parents and himself, that he would not

stay with them, be gone to the low countries or the like (upon the

persuasion of some other fellows) he found himself somewhat ill

in his body, Thursday last was a month, and being not open in his body

thirteen days, his brother went to the physician Mr Ayers in

Bury St Edmonds, the day before Candlemas day. But with all his

ill disposition of his body, his minds being not better disposed, resolved

to deceive his father, and to fain himself Frantic [ill with anxiety], in hope

his father should allow him better maintenance or portion for his

marriage, which he intended with one Elizabeth Waller at

Putnam in Suffolk. To whom he was going, when he

found himself ill (promise being past betwixt them both)

for which match his father was not forward. And being

thus visited in his fained [pretend] disease by divers some whereof did say they

did think he was bewitched, by name one William Owens and

Ambrose Evered, Roger Mountagne and the wife of William Owens

(the first day of his fainting) thereby he took occasion to

change his first project, and to keep them in their opinion to be

bewitched, and having continued so till about Tuesday next after

Candlemas day [Christian holiday on February 2 to mark presentation of child Jesus into the temple] till faining to be dumb, he heard his brother and

divers others say, It would be good, the Justices of peace should

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be acquainted with all, he thereupon did write the letter to Sir Martin

And after counterfeited [pretended] to be not able to write anymore some

48 hours. As before he counterfeited to be dumb unless when some

fits were upon him, then he spoke and barked like a dog. The which

when he saw and heard the people to marvel at, he was much pleased

with all. Amongst them the wench that watched him (Anne

Coward) told him, that she was once High Whirled [spun] into a ditch of

water by the spirit. Whereby he took occasion to go the strong on

in that faining &c. Now upon Thursday last was seven-

night, about ten of the clock in the night he let himself

fall out of his bed, to make them that did think and say he

was bewitched (for others were that said he did but counterfeit)

the more assured in their opinions. And Friday the next

day after Alice Read (before called Alice Bird) came in

by the means of Sir Martin Stoutville, to see what he then

would do. Some of the standers by saying, the witch was come,

and the wench that help him, wishing she might not come at him,

for she could kill him, his brother and others saying, it was

her pleasure she should come to him, and many others

saying, that he would tear her and the like speeches. He

thereby induced, came out of his bed and laid hold on her, pulling

her down and pulled off her headgear, and so was taken from

her and laid a bed again. Now being seen for to come

hither, he fell sore afraid, but those that were about him

persuaded him to fear nothing, but to stand to it, to the truth, to

his own and then the two women, Elizabeth Bird and her

daughter, and the old woman’s mother and grandmother

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were suspected to be witches (those that said so are John

Parmen & his eldest son John Parman, and others) he came hither

this morning in his bed, without his clothes finding himself weary

and sore, and his keeper saying that he could not suffer his clothes

which his father would have had him put on. And this (he sayeth)

is the plain truth, for the doing whereof he heartily craves

pardon of God and the King promising never to do the like again

but heartily repairing to become a new man. In witness

here of he himself adds this much. That he will

for ever confess that before written, and I do promise

to use the best means that I can to the uttermost of my

poor power to make her recompense for this wrong

By me

Thomas Paman