A1r

The
Brideling, Sadling and Ryding, of
a rich Churle in Hampshire, by the subtill practise of one
Judeth Philips, a professed cunning woman, or
Fortune teller.

With a true discourse of her unwomanly using of a Trype wife, a widow,
lately dwelling on the back side of S. Nicholas shambles in London,
whom she with her conferates, likewise cosoned:

For which fact, shee was at the Sessions house without New-gate arraigned
where she confessed the same, and had judgement for her offence,
to be whipped through the Citie, the 1594-02-1414. of February, 1594.

Middle-aged woman (facing front) riding a prostrate, bridled old man (facing right, hat on ground). She holds reins in left hand, and a purse[?] in outstretched right.

Printed at London by T. C. and are to be solde by
William Barley, at his shop in New-gate
Market
, neare Christ-Church. 15951595.

A1v A2r 3

A true discoverie of divers
notable villanies practised by one Judeth Philips
the wife of John Philips, of Crowne Alley in Bishops
gate streete
, the like was never in any age
committed by a woman.

Of all the seven deadly sinnes, there is
none so common in this flourishing
Realme of England, as is the greevous
sin of Covetousnesse, for it is the roote
of all iniquitie, the puddle of perdition,
and the alluring bayt of hell, and that
minde which is once drowned in the
depth of that sin, is sold to eternall damnation, unlesse the
mercy of God raise him up from that filthie and devouring
gulphe: for there is no sin committed under the cope of heaven,
but one braunch of Covetousnesse is therein comprehended.
As Usury, what is it but the desire of gold, and hurding
up of wealth? What is Whoredome and Lecherie,
but lust and desire of the flesh? What is Drunkennesse but
Covetousnesse of wine? And what is Pride, Envy, Fury,
Theft, Murther, but the desires of the wicked minde? yea
every vice is cloaked under the winges of Covetousnesse.
The theefe and robber both by sea and land, ventureth the
hazarding of his life for covetousnesse of wealth: yea all
creatures which beare life, in some sort covet after unlawfull
things. Lucifer that once was an Angel of brightnesse
through his pride coveted to sitte in the bright celestiall
throne of God, for which he was cast from heaven, and A2 made A2v 4
made an Angell of darkenesse. Wee may reade how Jezabell
for coveting poore Nabothes Vineyard, for the which,
by the just judgements of God shee was devoured of filthy
Dogges. Therefore the sinne of Covetousnesse is so hainous
before the face of heaven, that God in his tenth commaundement
strickly doeth charge us to forsake all unlawfull
covetousnesse, by these wordes; “Thou shalt not
covet thy neighbors house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbors
wife, nor his servaunt, nor his mayde, nor his oxe,
nor his asse, nor anie thing that is his.”
Which precept,
if men woulde advisedly and carefully looke into, and
with their true endevoures seeke to follow it, we should
not have in this our Realme of Englande, and especially
in this famous Cittie of London, so many badde and
notorious members yearely cut off by the Queenes majesties
Lawes as wee continually have. Which spectacle,
wee have once everie moneth to see and beholde, to the
great heartes griefe of all her majesties loving subjectes:
but yet men are gracelesse and wilfully minded, and will
not be warned, nor take example by the downfal of others:
some are so idlely brought up, that they can nor will endure
no labour; and some are so haughtie and proud minded,
that they scorne to bende their neckes to the yoake
of others, and live honestly, in taking paines for their livings,
but studie and devise night and day how they may
frawdulently and deceitfully better their estates by the
sweate of other mens browes, for now a dayes, theft, cosonage,
robberies, and unlawfull practises are so common,
that not onely men, but women and children, strive with
studying and busie braines, how to compasse and bring to
passe many cunning sleites and pollicies, to deceive the
world. As by an example here following, is truly described
by a woman, the mirror and mappe of all cosonage and
deceit, whereat all modest women may blush, and everie
true meaning man may smile at the folly of the worlde.

Pardon my penne, you modest Dames and grave Matrons,trons, A3r 5
it shall no way impaire your honourable Sere, but
truly imblazen to the worlde, the cousoning devises of a
shamelesse woman, whose name and conversation hereafter
followeth.

This is to let you understand, that in 1594-01the moneth of January
last past
, in the famous Cittie of London, one Judeth
Philips
the wife of John Philips, by occupation a Gun-maker,
now dwelling in Crown Alley in Bishops gate street,
was brought before her Majesties Justices of peace at the
Sessions house in olde Baily, and there was indited upon
cosonage, where shee confessed the truth of all her practises,
before the honourable Lords of the bench. But know
gentle Reader, before I undertake to explaine the truth
of all her practises done here in London, I will first in most
ample manner, set foorth to the view of the worlde, a notable
villany committed by this cunning and fine witted
woman, in the village of Upsborne in Hampshire, in
distaunce seven myles or thereaboutes from Winchester.

This Judeth Philips before times having another husband
named Pope, being an honest poore man of a good conversation
and well beloved amongst his neighbours, but
this his wife not contented with his poore estate of living,
uppon a certaine time tooke an occasion to goe away from
him, and purposed to seeke some other course for maintenauce
of her living, so travelling along the West parts of
Englande, it was her chaunce to remaine for a certaine
space in the parish of Upsbrne, a Towne scituate and being
in Hampeshire, and there practised many cousoning
sleites and devises to deceive the simpler sort of people in
the Countrey: Onely shee betooke her selfe to the profession
of a cunning woman, a Fortune teller, and those
which shee knew did abounde in wealth, shee daily sought
meanes to bring into a fooles paradice, and by one device or A3 other A3v 6
other, cozen them of some store of Crownes. Not far from
this Towne, there was dwelling a wealthy churle, (whose
name I here omit) that was somewhat fantasticall and given
to beleeve every tale he heard, which Churles wealth
whetted so the desire of this woman, that she devised a subtill
practise to have a share out of his Cofers. First to bring
her purpose to effect, she enquired secretly of his neighbors
of what condition and conversation this myzer and his wife
were of, and in what state the manner of his living lay, likewise
she understood, that this Churle was in sute of lawe
about a péece of ground, with one sir William Kingsman,
a worshipfull knight in Hamshire, which being done, this
Judeth Philips one evening very late went into the backe
side of this mans house, where under a hollow holly tree
she buried an angell of gold, and sixe pence in white mony,
and then returned home to her lodging againe for ý night:
But the next day after, she walked by the Churles house,
and it fortuned that his wife sat at her doore to take the fresh
aire, and so when this cunning witted woman sawe her
time, stood still, and lookt very wishly upon her, which made
the Churles wife to marvell much, that a strange woman
whom she never saw before, should looke upon her so stedfastly,
which caused her to demaunde wherefore she lookt so
earnestly in her face? “O mistresse” said this Judeth Philips,
“you are the fortunates woman I saw this many a day, for
in your browes I see good fortune sit, have you not”
(said she)
“a hollow holly tree standing near unto your house, with certaine
weedes growing about the roote?”
“we have” (answered
the mizers wife) “and what of that?” “O mistresse” said this woman
then, “if I might speake with your husband, and if hee
be like you in the face, you will come to be exceeding rich,
for under that hollow tree there is great store of treasure
hid”
, “come in” (then said she) “and thou shalt see my husband”:
but when this woman came into the place where her husband
was, she likewise lookt him strangely in the face, and
told him that she knew by certaine signes in his forehead, that A4r 7
that he was in sute of lawe with some great man of that
country, and how he should prevaile in his sute. Also she told
him, if he would be at some charge, she would bring him to
great summes of gold and silver, that was hidden about his
grounds, to whom the man being some what covetous said;
“If I might first see something of thy skill, I will be at any
charge thou wilt, but first tell me what thou art, and from
whence thou cammest?”
“I am” said this Judeth, “an English
woman borne, but come now from the Pope, and knowe
more of his mind then any woman in the world”
: to confirm
her words for truth, she tooke her oath upon the Bible how
that she came from the Pope: which was true, for her husbands
name as then was Pope, which being done, she tooke
him by the hand and led him to the roote of the hollow tree,
where she caused him to dig till he found some gold, which
was the angell and the sixe pence, which the night before
she closely hid, this brought the covetous Churle into such
a conceit, that he promised to give her whatsoever she desired,
so that her promise might be performed: then she demaunded
of him for her paines, foureteene pounds, whereat
he grumbled to lose so great a gub at one time, yet at last
the hope of the treasure hidden under the tree made him to
consent, and so with speede gave this woman fourteene
poundes in ready gold and silver. Then said this woman,
“now must I have the largest chamber in your house be hūung
with the finest linnen you can get, so that nothing about
your chamber but white linnen cloth be seen, then must you
set five candelsticks in five severall places in your Chamber,
and under every candelsticke you must put an angel of
gold”
, all which was done as she required: and likewise said
she, “you must also get a saddle and a bridle with two new
girths thereunto”
, all which the covetous churle performed
in hope to attaine to great wealth: then this Judeth caused
him and his wife to go into the yard, where she set the
saddle on his back, and theron girteth it fast with two new
girths, and also put a bridle upon his head, all which being done A4v 8
done, she gat uppon his backe in the saddle, and so rid him
three times betwixt the chamber & the holly tree, then said
this cosoning queane, “you must lye three houres one by an
other groveling on your bellies under this tree, & stir not I
charge you, untill I come backe againe, for I must go into
the Chamber to meete the Queene of Fairies and welcome
her to that holy and unspotted place”
, so this churle and his
wife were left quaking in the colde, casting many a long
looke for the comming of this woman, but she in the meane
time tooke downe all the fine linnen clothes from the wals
of the chamber and wrapt them up close in a bundle, and all
the gold from under the candelsticks, and put them into her
purse, then putting her selfe into a faire white smock, somewhat
disguised, with a thing on her head all white, and a
stick in her hand, she appeared unto him and his wife, using
some dalliance, as old wives say, spirits with night spelles
do, she vanished away, and againe entered the chamber
where her packe laie ready, and so roundly went away, leaving
the churle and his wife in their cold lodging, but whēen
the poore foole sawe the time expired, and his exspected woman
did not return, he got him up and cast off his saddle and
bridle, being halfe-dead with colde, retired into the chamber
where he supposed to have found this cunning woman talking
with the Queene of Fairies, but when he entered his
chamber, and saw both his linnen and his gold convaide away,
fel into such a perplexity of mind, as though he had bin
distraight of his wits: one while greeving for the losse of his
fouretéene pounds, another while, for the abuse of his good
name, likewise for the penance and disgrace she put him and
his wife unto, the base and rediculous maner of his sadling,
his cold lodging and weary time spent under the tree, to his
utter infamy and shame. And lastly, the losse of his pure and
fine linnen, but yet he dissembled his griefe in such order,
that his neighbors had no suspition therof, so in all haste, hée
tooke horse, and road to Winchester, being in distance seaven
miles from the towne where he dwelt, and there certifiedfied B1r 9
a kinsman of his, of all the actions before happened: so
betwixt this Churle and his kinsman, they make hew and
cry after her, by which this deceitfull woman was taken,
and conveyed to prison, where she remained until the great
Assises
came: and for the same was arraigned before the
right honorable my Lord Anderson, the Lord chief Justice
of the Common place under her Majestie by his Office, before
whom, she confessed her selfe guiltie of all these aforesaid
practises, and there received such deserved punishment
as the law would permit. But this shamelesse woman, regarding
neither her publike disgrace, not the punishments
of heaven inflicted upon all such gracelesse livers, putting
off the garment of shamefastnesse, and forgetting her selfe
to have done any such thing, drownde her selfe in the sea of
all vices, and the gulphe of all outragious mischiefes: for
she after this, growing carelesse of her good name, fell into
company of two certaine bad minded men, of the same condition
and quallitie she was on, whose names I here omit:
but the one of them was in his former time, by trade a silkweaver,
but leaving that honest course of living, betooke
himselfe to a very wicked disposition, as to build the state of
his living upon cosonage, and to blind the eies of the world,
goes in the habit of a Lawier all in black, like a civill Gentleman.
The other fine witted companion, in the attire of a
Country Gentleman, I will not say, he dwels at Borden in
Kent, nor his wife is the owner of a fewe Chery-trees, the
onley staie and maintenance of both their livings, but to be
plaine, these two Caterpillers P. and V. like Wolves in
shéepes cloathing, feedes upon the blouds of many innocent
lambes, who knowing a woman, her husband being dead,
and she left a rich widow, and in the way of marriage, wold
never cease pondering in their craftie brains, till they were
throughly acquainted with her, and so by one sly devise or
other, overreach her for som part of hir substance, they made
her beléeve, they could help her to a husband of mightie revenewes
and great wealth, where at last she found them B but B1v 10
but Caterpillers to live upon her labors. As for example,
the notable piece of villany committed betwixt these two
counterfeit gentlemen P. and V. and this cosoning woman
Judeth Philips, of a Trype wife, lately dwelling on the back
side of S. Nicholas shambles in London, as it was truly
noted at the arraignment of the said Judeth Philips, 1594-02-14the 14.
of February last past, 1594
. at the Sessions house in the
old Baily, before my Lord Anderson, and others of her Majesties
Justices, and likewise word by word, as the said Judith
confest it her selfe in the prison of Newgate, where she
now remaineth.

A B2r 11

A discoverie of the Cosoning and ill handling
of the Trype wife, by Judeth Philips and
her confederates.

Middle-aged woman in large hat points her right finger at floor to younger woman on left holding a large scissor-like utensil in her right hand.

There was of late dwelling in London on the back side
of the shambles, a very rich and wealthy man of good
conversation, who dying, left his wife in such good estate of
living, as fewe of the trade of selling Trypes, might well
compare with her. This woman as it was well knowne amongst
her neighbors had many sutors in the way of marriage,
and many of sufficient livings, which womans name
for her wealth, was bruted through every part of the citie,
so that it came at last to the eares of these two cosoning companions,
P. and V. who studied day and night how they
might come acquainted with this rich trype wife so that at
last, this practise they devised.

B2 This B2v 12

This P. being a very comely man of personage, and of
a Gentleman like qualitie, went as a suter among the rest,
unto this widow, wherby he learned the condition and qualitie
of the woman, and what large proffers she had in the
way of marriage, likewise he understood how that a wealthy
Cittizen dwelling upon London Bridge, had received
from her in pledge of love, a Ring with five Diamonds in
it, being in value worth five poundes, which Ring uppon
some disagreement, she received againe: also this P. understood,
that one maister Grace a gentleman, dwelling in Essex,
was her deare friend, and one that was her councellor
in all her actions, and how that she would not do any thing
without his consent, and how that sometimes he lodged in
the widowes house, which things being well considered off
betwixt these two fine witted fellowes, whose heads being
never barraine, devised a present pollicie to deceive this
covetous Trype wife. First they made privy to their practises
this Judeth Philips before named, & told her the state,
condition, and qualitie of this widow, and made her the Instrument
of their intended drift, who was as subtil in performance
therof, as they were craftie in devising, then they
made a counterfeit Letter from maister Grace, being as
then in Essex, and sent as it were from him to this widow of
London, by this Judeth Philips, wherin was conteined, how
that she was a wise woman, and could tel fortunes, and requested
her to welcome her to her house, and to make much
of her, for she might stand her in great stead, which Letter
being in good maner contrived, as best befitting their purposes,
caused this Judeth Philippes to be attired in a russet
gown like a country woman, and to bear this Letter home
to the widowes house behind the shambles, where she was
no sooner come, & the Letter read, but was bid welcome for
M Graces sake, but especially for the secret quallities the
which her friend did commend her in: but now when this
dissembling minion espied her time, she requested to see the
widowes hand, which she vouchsaft to do; “O mistresse” (then said B3r 13
said this woman) “I see by the Art of Palmistrie in your
hand, and by mine owne skill, that you are borne to good
fortune, likewise I know you have had many rich proffers
in the way of marriage”
: “I have had” said the widow “indeed,
Knights fellowes come unto me”
. Then said this deceitfull
woman againe, “a Citizen dwelling upon London Bridge,
hath bin an earnest suter unto you, and hath received a ring
with five Diamonds in pledge of love, but the Ring you
have againe. And so there was another Gentleman loved
you well, which once would have kissed you, and used you
harshly, by that token in striving with him, your hat fell into
the Sowse Tub.”
At which words, said the Trype wife,
“I thinke you know all things”. “I know some what” replied
this woman again, “have you not mistresse about your house
a great rumbling when you are in bed?”
“Sometimes” sayd
the widow “we have”: “Ey that” said this woman again, “your
husband in his life hid about your house great store of treasure,
for which cause there are sprites now that haunt your
house”
: when indeed the noise which she heard, was no other
but this P. and V. that late in the nights would lomber
against her doores and so likewise in the mornings. “But mistresse
if you wil be at some charge, I wil shew you where
this gold and silver is hid.”
“I will good woman, be at any
charge thou wilt with reason, so I may gaine therby.”
Theun
sayd this cosoning Dame, “you must set five Candelstickes,
and five candels burning in them, in five corners of your
house, then must you earnestly pray in every corner a certaine
space”
, which was performed with all all speed. Thus
is Gods word made a cloake for all such divilish practises,
onely to blinde the eyes of the simple and well meaning
people. But God surely in divers places of the scriptures
saith; That whosoever beleeveth in Witches and Sorcerers,
beleeve in the Divel: but yet God doth suffer the Divel
and his Angelles to spread abroad the worlde, to tempt
those that be weake in faith, and like Wolves in sheepes
cloathing, seeke to devour us.

B3 But B3v 14

But now to our purpose again: This craftie creature calling
the Trype wife from her prayers, asked her what shee
saw, and what she heard? to whom she answered, that shee
heard nothing. Then said this minion againe, “you must
fetch as much Gold, Rings, Jewels, and Chaines, to the
value of one hundreth poundes, and put them into a purse”
,
all which was done: then shee tooke the purse with the gold
and wound about it a bottome of woollen yarne, which being
done, she requested the widow to goe a while from hir,
so in the meane space, like a craftie queane shee conveyed
the gold into her pocket, and tooke another bottom of yarne
with two stones in it, in the same likenesse the other was
off, and gave it the woman againe, as though it had bin the
very same: to whom she said, “I pray you mistresse lock this
up very sure, and looke not into it untill I come againe, for
I must goe and converse with a wise man that is acquainted
with the Queen of Fairies, but I request you, that you
will send him by me, a fat Turkey, and a couple of Capons,
onely to get his friendship in the matter, and no doubt but
we shall finde the hid treasure very shortly”
: which woman,
through covetousnesse of this money, went presently and
bought a Turky, & two fat Capons, and sent them with this
cosoning cheater by her mayd servant, into Holbern, but being
come neare unto the place whither she intended to goe,
tooke them from the mayd, & so sent her back againe. Thus
this daintie witted Dame, having cosoned the trype wife,
of all her gold, Jewels, & Chaines, returned joyfully unto
the lodgings of her two schoolemaisters, P. and V who seeing
her come, asked her presently if she had sped? “I have” answered
she, “in som sort for here is a hundred pound to make
us merry with”
, the which they divided into foure parts: she
received two for her paines, and they betwixt them the other
two, and afterwards made merry with the widowes
Turkey, and her couple of Capons, and so went with fiftie
poundes home to her husband Johun Philips, dwelling in
Crowne Alley in Bishoppes gate streete: who noting her long B4r 15
long absence, and divers starts she made from him, asked
where she had bene, and how she came by that money: to
whom shee gave many hard words and bad answeres, insomuch
that in his anger he strooke hir, but yet by no means
he could do, the craftie queane wold reveale where she had
it. But now to returne to the widowes mayd again, who
comming out of Holborne home to her mistresse, tolde her
that she suspected the queane had cosoned her, with that shee
went presently and unwound the bottome of yarne, wherin
shee founde nothing but two stones: the which being
done, shee went to one of her neighbours and discourst to
him all the maner of her cosoning, but he lyke a wise man,
counselled her not to make hue and cry, but watch a time
untill she came againe, and then to apprehend her. Not many
dayes after this, these three aforesayd cosoning companions,
met againe togither, and consulted how they might
get a another bootie of this trype wife, which was platted
downe in this manner. First this Judeth Philips should
repaire unto the widow againe, and tell her that she came
from the Quéene of Fairies, and how that shee gave her in
charge (if shee woulde attaine the hidden treasure) to set
twelve Candelstickes in diverse places of her house, and
under every Candelsticke both golde and silver, and to set
all her plate rounde about the Candles, whereby this subtill
headed woman might the easier deceive her of it: but
comming to the widowes house againe, shee was bidden
welcome as before, and requested to come in, but in the
meane time, the Constable was sent for, and shee apprehended
and so carried to Newgate. Likewise for the same
fact, her husband was arraigned before the bench but found
not guiltie, and so quit by the Jewrie: but the lawe finding
her guiltie therin, was returned to Newgate, where
she did remaine till the Sessions following for judgement:
thēen that time being come, her judgement was, to be whipped
through the citie. Thus have you heard ý notable practises
committed by this woman and her associates. And no
doubt but there are mo such wicked members in this land.

God B4v 16

God I beséech thée roote them from this florishing Realme
of England, and from this thrice renowmed Citie of London:
that all her Majesties true subjects, may live devoyd
of such suspitious thoughts. And swéet countreymen of England,
abhorre that idle and wicked kinde of life, and if Gods
pleasure be not to lende you honest maintenance at home,
follow her Majesties warres abroad, and fighte the honor
of Englands red Crosse, then do you shew your flawed-reproduction1 word unto
God, love unto your Countrey, and service unto
your Quéene: For whose long and quiet raign,
let all true subjects daily pray.

Amen.

Finis.