thank the said priests she hath by Gods goodnes recouered her health againe without any of the priests helps wherby she now perswadeth her selfe in her hart that she was then greatly deluded by them She further saith that she wel remembreth that Ma Trayford one night did seeme so be greatly troubled and afterwards did pretend to be sodainly wel Ma Dibdale the priest hauing catched him in his armes but she vtterly denieth that she euer saw any Mouse offering to come out of his mouth or after going out at his care or that the Priests mouth did hinder the deuill from comming out at Ma Trayfords mouth These things she saith are all fained and false and farther addeth that she wel remembreth when she was with them they would tel many things of her which she knew to be false but durst not say any thing against them for offending of them Where it is said that one deuill perswaded Ma Trayford to haue hanged himselfe and that another moued this exam to goe out at Masse time and that she thereby hindered Ma Trayfords vngracious purpose Iesus haue mercy vpon me quoth this exam what wickednes is this God is my Iudge that it is most false Also she saith that it is a shameful vntruth where it is reported of her that she by crying vpon God and her blessed Lady and by casting holy water vpon Ma Trayford made the deuill to leaue his hold hauing as the book saith in the likenes of a Toad catched him by the leg Touching the child George Peckham she confesseth that one time the priests holding of her hands he did beate this Examinate with one of their Stoles pittifully about the face in such sort as she did not loue him euer since For though the Stole could giue no great blow yet it made her face to smart exceedingly But this she saith was at Denham and denieth that for ought shee knoweth or remembreth he euer kept the deuill from her at Vxbridge eyther with holy water or holy candell Thus much also of Hobberdidaunce as it is in the booke she wel remembreth and saith that her Mistres as they were at worke had told them a merry tale of Hobberdidaunce that vsed his cunning to make a Lady laugh which tale she this examinate doth very wel yet remember therfore is fully perswaded that when the priests did pretend that the spirit was gone out of her and vrged her to tel what name it had she affirmed it to be called Hobberdidaunce There being reade to this examinate out of the same booke the pretended names of diuers spirits which the priests gaue out that they cast out of her and that the said priests deliuered whilst they were in her as Lustie Dick Killico Hob Cornercap Puffe Purre Frateretto Fliberdigibet Haberdicut Cocobatto Maho Kellicocam Wilkin Smolkin Nur Lustie iolly Ienkin Portericho Pudding of Thame Pour-dieu Boniour Motubizanto Bernon Delicate this exam sayth that there were very strange names written vpon the wals at Sir George Peckhams house vnder the hangings which they said were names of spirits And addeth that she perceauing stil that when they said it was the deuil that spake in her that they would needes haue her from time to time to giue it some name she to content them did alwayes deuise one name or other and verily thinketh that shee came neere some-times to some of the names which were written vpon the wall because she had often heard them and saith that they runne then in her head And she further thinketh that the priests themselues did set them downe in better order then she did vtter them But amongst the rest she saith that the name of Maho came into her minde for that she had heard before her vncle reade the same out of a booke there being a tale therein of Maho. The tale of Lusty Dick mentioned in the said book shee saith is set downe falsly euen as he that made the book list The Amice therin mentioned was a cloath that the priest had put ouer his head when he went to Masse which did signifie the cloath where-with the Iewes did blindfold Christ and saith it is likely that if they did lay it ouer her mouth she might blow it vp least it should stop her wind And for the other speeches she saith it may be that when they vrged her to aunswer those questions she aunswered as it came in her minde accordingly And for the stinke of brimstone she verily thinketh it may be true for that the chamber did stil stinke of it they vsed it so much That which is reported of her in the said booke of three Captaine deuils that should goe out of her eares hauing euery one of them 300 with them which this exam should haue felt in diuers parts of her body She saith it is an abhominable vntruth and that she meruaileth what they that so haue reported of her should meane in that manner to abuse her a poore wretch that neuer meant them any harme Touching that which is written of the pretended spirit named Puffe as that he should say vpon S. Hughs day he would goe ring for the Queene She verily beleeueth that eyther those words haue beene deuised by the writer of the booke or else that if she this exam vttered them it was because she heard them speaking of ringing that day in honour of the Queene and knew that thereby she should please them For as partly before hath beene touched she alwayes framed her selfe to vse such words as she thought would content the Priests And where there is mention made that she should say that spirits haue been raysed vp by a Coniurer to keepe money She confesseth it may be she might vse such speeches because she had heard talke that there had beene coniuring about the house for money As touching that tale of the xviij of Nouember how Purre was cast out of her how she was bound fast in a chayre and how the Crosse being layd vpon her head did so burne the deuill as that shee thought it would haue burnt out that part of her head which it touched She aunswereth that all of it almost is eyther falsly deuised as she perceaueth a number of things are in the said booke or else that it may be that she her selfe did then pretend something of it to be true But shee doth not now remember it For she saith there were so many things done and so long since as she thinketh she cannot remember a great part of them onely she addeth that she cannot forget her binding in a chayre manie times The manner whereof was as followeth When the priests were purposed to make the wicked spirit to shew himselfe in this exam and to expel him as they said they would cause her to be bound fast in a chayre and then giue vnto her a certaine drinke which as she remembreth was a hallowed drinke consisting of Oyle Sack Rue and some other
and that her mother growing into some earnestnesse and hard speech with the Exorcists because she could not be permitted to see her daughters the priests did shake her of with angry words saying that shee had as much neede to be exorcised as her daughters had A man would now verily perswade himselfe that there game was sure set and needed no more watching and yet yee shall see a nayle or two driuen in more to riuet the frame more sure After her new christendome Fris in her examination saith that before she should come to receiue the sacrament they told her that shee must first vow and promise by the vertue of that holy sacrament that shee would euer afterwards hold the religion of the Church of Rome and neuer goe againe to any of the Protestants Churches nor neuer reade the English seruice or the English Bible or any other English bookes written by the Protestants in matters of religion And this vow as shee saith is ordinarily made by all that are reconciled CHAP. 8. ¶ Their meanes and manner of instructing theyr schollers WHen they haue brought in theyr Conies and made them as sure as flesh and blood can make them haue enchaunted them with their compassionate deuotion haue engaged them vnto their ghostlie Fathers haue fascinated them with their solemne incantation haue initiated them into theyr Church by their new mock-Christendome haue confirmed them with their sacraments and haue bound them by vow neuer to forsake theyr ghostly communion then begin they to reade them Lectures by rote in their schoole of legerdemaine and to acquaint them with their parts they haue in hand to play Wherein the good cōceit of their scholler to apprehend her lesson well to carry in minde what her Master hath said ouer to apply it to her owne case and to put it handsomly in vre is a little required First they omit no occasion at all times in all places when they be together their schollers by their sweet side to talke of the strangenesse of possession of the wonders they haue seene in possession of the many maruelous possessions they haue been at and the Echo in all meetings is still possession Then they tell ouer and ouer how wonderous strangely the parties possessed whom they haue dealt withall haue been affected and they say ouer very treatably particularly and distinctly the whole Catalogue of the actions motions passions perturbations agitations gestures tumblings discortions deformations howlings skrikings visions apparitions changes alterations speeches railings that the parties possessed haue vsed and practised in theyr seuerall fits Heare Sara Williams theyr scholler report her owne lesson in these words It was the ordinary custome of the Priestes to be talking of such as had been possessed beyond the seas and to tell the manner of theyr fits and what they spake in them also what vglie sights they saw somtimes and at other times what ioyfull sights and how when reliques were applyed vnto them the parties would roare how they could not abide holy water nor the sight of the sacrament nor the annointed Priests of the Catholique church nor any good thing how they would greatly commend hereticks how the deuills would complaine when the Priests touched the parties that they burnt them and put them into an extreame heate how sometimes they could smell the Priests Heere is her lesson read ouer and marke the scholler how well she conned it and made application thereof By the said tales said shee shee well perceiued how shee might please them and did frame herselfe accordingly at such times as she well perceiued it was theyr intent that she should so doe Heare Friswood Saras sister repeate her lesson by hart that her good Maisters had said ouer to her when shee came first to schoole Her words are thus That the priests would be often talking in her hearing of certaine vvomen that were possessed beyond the seas how the deuill in them could not abide the holy potion nor the burning of hallowed brimstone nor the applying vnto thē of holy reliques nor the presence or touching of Cath priests nor holy water nor the holy candle nor the blessed sacrament but would start at it and say they burned rage and raile against the Priestes commend vpon euery occasion those that were the Protestants See how in time she could her lesson by hart and profited in this godly schoole By this meanes she learned as she saith what to say and doe when the priests had her in hand that is to start sometimes when they brought reliques vnto her to pretend that she could not endure the presence of the sacrament Marrie Friswood beeing a scholler not of the quickest apprehension did not con her lesson by hart the first day which cost her the setting on in the holy chaire for her dulnesse but it was some six or seauen weekes ere she found their meaning and then quoth shee I began to find theyr iugling and how that my selfe saying this or that spake nothing but what I had learned of the Priests Heare Anne Smith report how shee learned her eue to come into her fits These are her words She had been told by diuers as she confesseth how others had been troubled viz how in theyr fits they were greatly tormented how they could not endure the priestes to come neere them how when a Priest did lay his hand vppon any part of them the said partie would be so hote as though it would burne thē to the bone how the deuill in them would raile vpon the Catholiques and greatly commend the Protestants and many other such things Heare Ma. Maynie theyr chiefe scholler relate how by degrees hee grew to his perfection in the iugling schoole First saith he beeing at my L. Vaux his house at Hackney at dinner in the dinner time there was much communication of the late possession and dispossession of one Marwood by certaine Priests and chiefely if I do not forget my selfe by Ma. Edmunds the tales which were told of that matter seemed strange vnto mee as what extraordinary strength he had in his fits how he roared like a Bull many other such things After this beeing at Denham the women of the house came vnto me and reported vnto me the manner of the fits of the two possessed in the house describing them in such sort as I was much amazed therewith Then they permitted me to haue accesse vnto Sara Wil whē she was in her fits and enformed mee likewise of the manner how she and others had been troubled and when I had learned theyr humour and perceiued as well by the rest as by mine owne experience what would content them I framed my selfe accordingly Loe here the Captaine of this holy schoole of legerdemaine tells you what was the highest point to be learned in this schoole and what was the perfection of a scholler of the highest forme to wit to frame themselues iumpe and fit vnto the Priests humors to mop mow iest raile
at other times if for griefe to consider how she was dealt withall she sometimes wept as oft she did they would ordinarily when they thought good say it was the deuil that did so smile or weepe which put this examinate almost to her wits end desiring nothing more then to be rid from them Shee also further saith that she well remembreth how one time walking in the garden with one of the priests who led her by the arme because she was weake she beganne to complaine vnto him of her hard vsage and told him that shee verilie thought they did her iniury and that she was not troubled with any wicked spirits in her more thē they were Whereupon he cast his head aside and looking fullie vpon her face vnder her hat What quoth he is this Sara or the deuill that speaketh these words No no it is not Sara but the deuil And thē this examinate perceiuing she could haue no other reliefe at his hands fell a weeping which weeping also he said was the weeping of the euill spirit By hearing of that which is written of her shee saith she remembreth these stories which shee thinketh she should not otherwise haue thought of As touching the report that Maho should bid her pray vnto him as to a Saint and tell her that it was but madnes to become religious or to vse penance towards her body also that the priest said nought in Masse and that shee this examinate must pray as the Parson taught her at her mothers Deerely beloued brethren the scripture mooueth vs in sundry places God saue the Queene her Ministers that shee must not pray in Latine because God had not commaunded her so to pray She this examinate saith that shee doth not remember that euer she vsed those words but rather thinketh they are deuised by him that writ the booke Howbeit she confesseth it may well be that she did vse them vppon such occasions as they gaue her by theyr owne speeches shee beeing alwaies ready as shee hath said before to speake doe as she thought might please them Furthermore cōcerning the pretended vision of things like puppets at the end of a gallery she saith that she verily belieueth it is all fained by the writer of the booke or by some that gaue him directions so to write For she saith she dooth not remember any one part of it but yet dare not vppon her oath affirme that shee told the priest no such thing for it might be that shee dreamed of such a matter and that she told the priests of the said dreame who haue made such a matter of it Againe that which is written to haue been spoken by her vpon the Thursday as though she vnderstood some Latine words shee well remembreth that at one time the priests were talking of some such things to those that were present as though this examinate vnderstood Latine which they said was the euill spirit in her but she then knew that therein they said vntruly and saith that shee perceiued they made what they list of any thing For the word Saffron-bag it may be she confesseth that shee vsed it but she doth not remember it Likewise where it is said that she oft threatned to raise the towne and country against the priests and to cause theyr heads to be set on London bridge and threatned the Exorcist to cōplaine on him to the Queene shee saith that they who haue so written of her may say what they list She doth not thinke although she was oft angry with the priests that she durst vse so hard words of them as to threaten them with hanging And touching her roaring it may be if they meane that she cryed when they had her in a chayre or gaue her the holy potion and burnt brimstone vnder her nose that they say truly but for roaring like a Bull she saith it is false As concerning that which is pretended to haue hapned vnto her vpon S. Barbaraes day she verily belieueth that the Priests might wish that all the Protestants in England did know the power of the Catholicke Church but she doth not remember that she said so herselfe And touching her coate that was pulled off she well remembreth that it was a new gowne which her mother had giuen her being laced vpon the sleeues which being a good prety faire gowne the Priests did pretend that she was proud of it and therefore took it from her and putting vpon her an old gowne she knoweth not where they had it bestowed hers shee knoweth not where but she could neuer see it after But that she should say her gowne was naught and full of spirits she beleeueth it is vntrue or that if they put any of their consecrated attire vpon her that she should crie I burne I burne shee beleeueth that she did it onely to please them knowing that she felt no more burning by any of their consecrated things then she did by the rest of her owne apparell Likewise as touching those things which are reported to haue beene vttered and done by this exam vpon the xviij of Nouember she saith that she doth not remember any one part of the pretended vision of a Ladie accompanied with Gentlemen all booted that should offer her to be a Lady if she would goe with them nor of the dogge of two colours that should terrifie this exam from yeelding to her motion but she remembreth that they would oftentimes bring the Pix with the sacrament in it for her to kisse which she did alwayes very willingly and confesseth that she beleeued the Host in the Pix to be the bodie of Christ and that it is therefore very likely if any of the priests did aske her what she did kisse that she aunswered it was the body of Christ. But she meruaileth why they write that the deuill should say it was the body of Christ and thinketh that the priests would neuer haue caused her to kisse it if they had thought that it had been the deuil that then had kissed it and not this examinate She remembreth that she did feare the corne-chamber that the booke speaketh of in Sir George Peckhams house because the report amongst them was that there had beene coniuring there for money And as touching the rest of that long discourse which was read vnto her how she should say that all the Court were her friends that the Earle of Bedfords soule was in hell that the English Ministers had power to cast out deuils she saith she doth not remember any part of it But acknowledgeth that for as much as it is said in the said booke that she was constrained to take the holy potion which shee so much detested and other their slibber-sawces and that they burnt brimstone vnder her nose she verily thinketh she might vtter much tittle-tattle that now she cannot call to minde And amongst the rest meruaileth that any priest would write or say that euer he caused the deuill
and that as she had heard of them that those parties did that thereby shee might please them Concerning the reports in the said booke that this exam should see vpon Christmas euen at night after twelue of the clocke when Masses doe begin viz great beames of lightning to proceede from the Sacrament as it had beene some beames shining out of a cloude that vpon Newyeares day she should see fire to flash in at the window and a browne dogge as big as a Bullock that the Sonday after the Sacrament being reserued and lying vpon the patten she could not see it for a great brightnes and that at the same time the Priest seemed to be cloathed in siluer that stoode by the patten She this exam aunswereth that she is perswaded in her conscience they be all vntrue reports of her For she saith she doubteth not but that otherwise she should haue remembred some of them as wel as she hath done other things in the said booke Onely she confesseth that she hath heard such things reported of Richard Maynie that he should haue such sights but sure she is she neuer saw them Concerning the report of her that she should say that the blessed Sacrament was but bread that there was no Purgatorie that the seruice in England being in English was as good as the other in Latine and that she should commend some Ministers She saith that it may wel be that she hath asked some questions touching the Sacrament Purgatorie and the English seruice and that she hath spoken wel of some Ministers but she is fully perswaded that when she demaunded such questions she did it of her selfe to be instructed and that it was not the deuil that spake so in her Also she saith that when she commended some Ministers she said therein truly and that she thinketh there are of them as there are of the priests some good and some bad Where it is reported of this exam that vpon the third day of Ianuarie she should see Christ in proper forme when she receaued the Sacrament that she found ease of the paine in her stomack by the application of a holy relique and that she flung away her beades saying to the Priests fie on you She saith that she wel remembreth that one offending her she threw her beades at the party but she denieth that euer she receaued any ease by applying of any holy reliques vnto her for ought that she perceaued how so euer the priests haue reported or that she euer saw any such thing when she receaued the Sacrament but thinketh that the Author of the booke hath deuised it of himselfe marrie she saith it is not vnlike that she might wel enough say Fie vpon some of the priests both because there were of them that vsed her hardly and for that she knew wel that they disliked not such words because they would take occasion therby to shew to those that were present that the deuil could not endure a Catholique priest That which is reported of her of the fourth of Ianuarie as touching the booke of Exorcisme she saith that she knew that booke very wel from any other both by the Letter it selfe because she can reade and by the great number of crosses which are in many places a great number of them together And no other knowledge she had of any such booke although it be giuen out that she knew the booke of Exorcisme being lapt vp in a paper before otherwise she saw it Where it is said that this exam should affirme there were foure scourges of deuils viz the booke of Exorcismes holy water the holy candell and hallowed Frankinsence she doth not remember that she termed them scourges but saith it is like enough that she said that the deuil could abide none of them because the priests had told her so As touching that which is written of this exam of the fifth of Ianuary that being exorcised shee vsed many idle words that she prated and scoffed cursed and sung called for a piper when the Priest bad the deuill tell him his name he should make aunswer in her Pudding of Thame all which is said to haue beene spoken by the spirit in her she saith that she might speake such words when her head was so troubled but she doth not remember them And for the Pudding of Thame she saith she hath oft heard it spoken of iestingly when she was a child And where it is said that she should affirme that the deuil could not tarry in her legge or foote as he was cōmaunded because of her hose which had beene worne by a vertuous and godly priest she confesseth that indeede she ware a payre of Ma Dibdales netherstocks and thinketh it not to be vnlikely that when vpon occasion she said that the hose she ware had beene Ma Dibdales but that further hearing some of the priests say that was the cause that the deuil would not remaine in her legge or foote she did say as much her selfe Concerning that which is written of this examinate of the 6. of Ianuary that after consecration shee saw in the Challice a little head as it were of a child that shee should call for dyce to play with that shee should see two at either corner of the Altar glistering like siluer that shee should tell a tale of a Mummery that came into the chamber where shee lay that shee scoffed at the Sacrament that a propper man in a short blacke garment girt about him hauing the rest of his apparrell also blacke and long haire turned vp also great ruffes starched with blew starch that shee complained that the priests hand burned her that his breath tormented her shee saith shee remembreth no part of all these What she might speake when her head was troubled with their drinks she knoweth not but she dooth not remember that euer she said that she saw such a little head in a chalice or that if she had seene it she should euer haue forgot it Whereas also it is said of her that there appeared vnto her in a fit the said 6. of Ianuary a Mummery cōming in at the doore with a bright eye before them a drumme sounding and sixe in number with motly vizards which daunced once about her and so departed She aunswereth that she belieueth that it is but a made tale by some of the priests or that if she told any such her selfe it was but a dreame or some such thing as shee had before heard of amongst them it beeing Christmas Also as touching the report of her that shee knew a peece of the holy Crosse by the smell that a priest put his finger into her mouth and bad the deuill bite it if hee durst and that the deuill in this examinate should aunswer hee durst not bite it because it had touched the Lord shee saith shee well remembreth that she heard them talke that they had a peece of the holy Crosse but shee dooth not
belieue that shee knew it by the smell vnlesse it had beene sweetly kept and that she might smell the sauour thereof when it came neere her And further saith that it is not vnlike but that she refused to bite the priests finger for if it had beene Maister Dibdales finger she knew he was very likely to haue giuen her a box on the eare if shee had bitten it And it might be also that shee said she would not bite it because it had touched the Lord shee being then wel acquainted with those things but whether she did so or no she doth not now remember Whereas it is said that in one of her fits she was sencelesse the same day vntill the blessed Sacrament was applyed vnto one of her eares and that then she felt a cold wind to come in at one and a hote ayre to goe out at the other shee answereth that she remembreth no such thing as neither another report of a vision she should haue that night of a whole bench of deuils Although she confesseth that as her manner was the most mornings shee would tell thē one tale or other or els as she saith how should they haue had writing worke but she remembreth not whether she told them this tale or no. That which is reported to haue been done by her the seauenth of Ianuary as that she should as she thought let her beades fall downe to the ground because they seemed to burne her hand whereas the deuill threw them directly vpon the Altar and strooke downe the corner of the Chalice this exam remembreth no such thing but meruaileth that the deuil durst meddle with her beades because they were hallowed Where it is said that the same day this examinate or as they pretended the deuill in her was vnwilling to adore the blessed sacrament because of the brightnes of it that at the second eleuation she should say I will not be blessed At Pax domini sit semper vobiscum I will none of that At Agnus Dei qui tollis peccati mundi miserere nobis vpon thee and not vppon mee At the offering of the Pax to kisse it stinketh when the priest said Domine non sum dignus and betweene the receiuing of both kinds I will not receiue This exam saith that the priests had taught her the English of the Latine words before mentioned so as she verily thinketh that shee was not vnlike to say as it is reported of her when she heard those Latine words But she thinketh those things false that are reported of her to haue beene done by her the 8 of Ianuary as that shee should talke to the Exorcist in French whereas shee knoweth very few words in French but such as shee heard amongst them as Boniour or two or three more As touching the long reports of this exam how she was handled the ninth and tenth dayes of Ianuary viz amongst many other things how the deuill was remooued out of her hands by the putting on of the Exorcists gloues how Maho the chiefe deuill that was pretended to be in her who had two thousand deuils at his commaundement had beene in England euer since king Henry the eyghts time how the said Maho should tell Exorcist that if he would cut the sacrament with his knife hee should see it bleed and that he the sayd Maho could not choose but be tormented at the offering of it how Maho did first sweare vpon the blessed sacrament and kissed it and then vppon the booke of exorcismes and then kist that likewise how this examinate was vexed when the priests laboured with theyr holy hands and by touching of her with sacred relique till they had brought Maho into her belly she aunswereth with many teares God forgiue them that thus did abuse me there was neuer I thinke poore soule so dealt with And afterwards for further aunswer she saith that it appeareth by the booke that the said tenth day of Ianuary they gaue her the holy potion and burnt brimstone and Frankinsence vnder her nose which did so trouble her as shee thinketh that she might speake she knew not what and they likewise write and report of her as they thought good and as shee perceiued they had done by the rest she had heard read vnto her out of that booke She further saith that beeing at the L. Vaux his house at Hackney the priests a little before as she remembreth that shee was exorcised in the chayre cause a woman to squirt somthing by her priuie parts into her body which made her very sick She was so vsed once or twice more at Hackney and once at Denham whereby she knoweth as she saith that she sustained very great hurt Furthermore she saith that the last time that shee was exorcised at Hackney the priests gaue it out that the deuill departed out of her by her priuiest part And vpon her marriage some of them told her husband that shee would neuer bring him any children because as they affirmed the deuill had torne those parts in such sort as that she could not conceiue which shee thanketh God proueth to be false for shee hath had as shee saith fiue children But shee saith by hearing the booke read that is written of her shee hath called many things to mind and doth perceiue that shee hath beene very badly dealt with And further shee saith that after shee once came to be vnder their hands they vsed the matter so with her as that she neuer durst doe any thing but what she thought did please them so as the longer she continued with them the more they wrought vpon her because she had learned what words did best like them as her rayling against priests and commending of Protestants and speaking of many vaine and foolish words whereof they would make what they list Likewise she could tel how to feed them with visions saying she had seene this and that when she had seene no such matter but onely spake to content them Besides in Christmas time there was gaming and mumming at the L. Vaux his house and as she saith she saw the mummers dressed with their vizards whereby she learned to talke of such things when they said the spirit began to ascend out of her foote that is when he began from time to time as they say to trouble her Againe as before she saith that whilst she was at Denham she told Ma Dibdale that she verily thought she was no more possessed then any of them were meaning the rest of the priests And likewise as she perceaued three or foure yeeres after by Ma Yaxleyes words and shaking of his head when she complained vnto him how she had been dealt with that he himselfe did think no otherwise of her so she this exam as wel at other times whilst she was at Denham as afterwards manie times stil thought but now as she saith by hearing of the booke they haue written of her read she is not onlie fully perswaded that she
them alone and said it was the deuil that tempted her to touch them The custome of the priests was as this exam saith to appoint a set time when they meant to haue any solemne Exorcismes and then this exam was one when she was in their hands that for the most part must goe to the chayre After that the said needles had beene in this exam legge from the fore-noone the one day vntil eleuen of the clocke the next day she was brought vp into a gallerie the Sermon being finished and a great number there present At her comming in and complaining of the sorenes of her legge the priests bad her be of good cheere and said they would see if they could helpe her Where-vpon Ma. Dibdale as she remembreth said vnto her Goe Frauncis sit downe and put downe thy hose which she did and then Ma. Stamp another priest when her hose was put downe came vnto her very reuerently and with diuers ceremonies vntyed the reliques which were about her legge which being taken away he looked vpon the sore place and handled it gently and in the end thrusting downe with his fingers the skin and flesh where one needle stuck so as the same appeared he called vnto him those that were present and said vnto them See what the deuil had done and so pulled it out Then feeling her legge a little while longer and vsing his fingers as is before mentioned he also disclosed the second needle which the people that were present beholding were in a great maze especially to heare what Ma. Dibdale and Ma. Stamp made of the matter how they said it was the deuils doing and much other speech to that effect As soone as the needles were taken forth this exam was caried downe againe out of the gallerie and feeling her leg very wel eased it began to amend euery day more and more which they said was by reason of the holy water where-with they washed her legge when they pulled out the needles She further saith that the priests had a custome to thrust certaine things into the mouthes of such as they said were possessed vnder pretence of reliques And she wel remembreth that at one time when she began to be troubled with her drink and brimstone they thrust into her mouth some of the said reliques Whereof this exam complained and said why doe you put these filthie things in my mouth Ah quoth they hark how the deuil cannot endure these holy things Afterwards when this exam put them out of her mouth then they asked her what reliques they were and she told them This is a peece of such a man and this of another And at one time they put into her mouth a peece of Campions thumbe or his finger she remembreth not whether When this exam at this time and so likewise both she and others at other times did name these reliques and shewed their dislike to haue thē put into their mouthes the priests would bidde the people that were present marke how the deuil knew all holy reliques of vvhat Martyrs they were and how hee could not abide them whereas this deponent saith that both she and the rest that were dealt with as shee was did know all these reliques that the priests had there hauing the sight of thē almost euerie day and hearing the priests tell of whom they were So that as soone as this exanimate saw any of them she could name them very readily and say This is such a peece of Father Campian this of Ma. Sherwin this of maister Brian this of maister Cottam this of mistris Clithero and so of a great number more which she hath now forgotten At another time also this examinate wel remembreth that the priests filling her mouth with reliques they cōueyed in with them a big rustie naile as she is verily perswaded in her conscience so as when they pulled out the reliques she was almost choked with the nayle and much ado they had to get it out They made her mouth there-with to bleed and affirmed to the people that it came out of her stomacke by vertue of the said reliques Againe she saith that beeing in speech once with maister Dibdale concerning maister Richard Mainy he told her diuers things of him what wonderful sights he saw about the Altar and the sacrament at Masse time And further said vnto her that if shee would say when shee was to be exorcised in the chaire at the bringing of the Pix vnto her as the manner was that shee saw the bodie of Christ there in a great brightnesse shee should by that meanes greatly glorifie God And therevppon as she confesseth she said as he aduised her at her next exorcising and a great wonder was made of it Shee further saith that beeing brought vp with her mother shee had learned to sing by hart certaine Geneua Psalmes that being vnder the priests hands when now and then forgetting her selfe she sung any of them as she sate at work the priests so others in the house when they heard her would earnestly blame her for it and say one to another Doe you not heare how sweetly the deuil singeth these Geneua psalmes Also she saith that when the priests had drawne her to be of their Church as is before mentioned and that shee should come to receaue the Sacrament they told her she must first vow and promise by the vertue of that holy Sacrament that shee would euer afterwards hold the Religion of the Church of Rome and neuer goe againe to any of the Protestants Churches nor euer reade the English Seruice or the English Byble or any other English books written by the Protestants in matters of Religion And this vow she saith is ordinarily made by all that are reconciled She also saith that she hath often times heard some of the priests affirme that it was an ordinary thing with the deuil which was in Ma Maynie that when they the said priests haue demaunded of the deuil pretended to be in him why he troubled the Catholiques with imprisonment and many daungers whilest the Protestants liued in pleasure his aunswer was that the Protestants were his already and that he troubled the Catholiques because he would draw them to himselfe and make thē Protestants if he could adding that he would neuer haue troubled Iob as he did if he had thought he could not haue made him to curse God This exam also saith that she her selfe hath heard som of the priests and as she thinketh Ma Edmunds aske Mainy that question and he the said Mainy so to haue aunswered them Also she saith that the priests in talking of Protestants haue affirmed of them in her hearing that the greatest share of them were possessed and that when England should be againe as it had beene the deuils would then shew themselues in them and they should haue theyr hands ful of chaire-worke meaning their exorcisings to cast them out At one time she saith she wel remembreth that Ma Greene comming
so neere the order of the Primitiue Church yet they are not able either to discerne who are possessed amongst them nor how to giue thē remedy The third part is handled more largely to the great aduauncement power of Reliques As for holy water that S. Macarius thereby cured a woman who by Magicall enchauntment seemed to be turned into a Mare Likewise how S. Peter hallowed bread against the assault of certaine deuils which were sent by Simon Magus in the likenes of dogges to deuoure him For the power of priesthood there is an example alledged of S. Martin how he putting his fingers into the mouth of a Daemoniacke the deuill durst not bite him though he bad him to bite him if he had any power so to doe There is also mention made of the vertue of the blessed sacrament of holy oyle and of the bones of Saints The vse of all those things was very frequent in the exorcising of the parties possessed Insomuch as wee omitted not the reliques and bones of Ma. Campian Ma. Sherwin Ma. Brian and Ma. Cottam to haue some little testimonie by implication from the deuill to prooue them holy Matyrs If I be not deceiued Ma. Edmunds alias Weston was the Author of this booke and the examples by him alledged were brought of purpose to giue the more credit to his and our proceedings with the said parties before mentioned And indeed he was not therein deceiued for wee that were priests were thereby greatlie magnified by Catholiques schismaticks and weak protestants the two former beeing confirmed in the Romane Catholicke faith and the third sort therevnto reconciled as hath beene before mentioned And that cannot be denied but that in the course which wee held with the said pretended Daemoniacks many occasions were giuen and aptly taken to scorne and deride the orders seruice now established by her Maiesties lawes in the Church of England Likewise I must confesse that the course we held was so pleasing to such as saw it or were informed of it by those that they trusted as it prooued very gainfull vnto vs all that were priests wee had out of question procured vnto our selues very great fauour credit and reputation so as it was no meruaile if some young Gentlemen as Ma. Babington the rest were allured to those strange attempts which they tooke in hand by maister Ballard who was an Agent amongst vs. They saw as they supposed for both maister Babington and diuers of his company were oftentimes at the exorcisings that we had a great commandement ouer deuils which preuailed greatly with them as I think It would haue been a very strange thing I am perswaded that wee could not haue wrought men at that time to attempt which was prudently foreseene by Fa. Edmunds of purpose as I am resolued in my conscience to prepare the harts minds of Catholiques by those practises that when such forces as were intended should haue come into England they might haue been more readily drawn by him and vs to haue ioyned theyr forces with them And this is that I can say concerning the occasions or inducements that such matters were taken in hand at the time articulated Now as touching the substance of the generall interrogatory it selfe I haue perused the seuerall examinations and confessions of Sara Williams and Friswood her sister of Anne Smith and of Richard Mainy gentleman and am fully perswaded that they haue deposed the truth in such poynts whereof they were examined belonging to theyr pretended possession dispossessiō The effect wherof is that they were drawn by our cunning carriage of matters to seeme as though they had beene possessed when as in truth they were not neither were there any of the priests ignorant in my cōscience of their dissimulation nor the parties themselues as now it appeareth of our dissembled proceeding with them After I had beene my selfe first at one of theyr exorcisings it was my chaunce to he that night with maister Thomson a priest and a great Actor in those matters at his chamber by the Spittle and falling into some conference about it I vsed some such words as though I doubted whether the party were actually and really possessed For I my selfe being not acquainted with anie plot deuised by Fa Edmunds or any other spake my minde some-what more plainely then I perceaued Ma Thomson wel liked of His aunswer vnto me was in effect that he being my friend did earnestly wish me to cast forth no such speeches whatsoeuer I did thinke For quoth he the matter is iudged to be so by Fa Edmunds and some others that are Priests Besides such Catholiques as haue beene present at such fits haue receaued it for a truth that the parties are possessed And although I for my part will not make it an article of my Creede yet I thinke that godlie credulitie doth much good for the furthering of the Catholique cause and for the defacing of our common enemies and their proceedings or to this effect Not long after also talking with Ma Stamp at the Lo. Vaux his house in Hackney concerning these matters and demaunding of him seriously his opinion what he thought of them his aunswer was that they were things of such importance as would further the Catholique cause more then all the bookes that had beene written of late yeeres about the controuersies in Religion with the Protestants with which aunswer I seemed to rest contented because I saw thereby he was not willing to enter into any playner course with me I would not haue this my confession further extended then my meaning is I doe not take vpon me either directly or indirecty to oppose my selfe to the three poynts of the Treatise before mentioned which are strengthened with some authorities both of the Scriptures and of the auncient Fathers and Writers How be it as I account it presumption to denie all those Histories as touching the casting out of deuils in the Primitiue Church since the Apostles times so to beleeue all that is written thereof I hold it a point of great madnes and I doubt not but the soundest Catholiques in Europe are of my opinion For be it true that is alledged in the said treatise of S. Ambrose that he neuer heard of any that could counterfeit himselfe to be a Daemoniack yet later experience hath taught vs the contrary And indeede the artificiall skil considered where-vnto priests haue attained it is a very easie matter to bring a young girle or a youth to doe and speake those things which the Exorcists can readily colour and interpret as if it were both done and spoken by deuils that did possesse them But yet this I wil say and giue it for a rule to all Catholiques heereafter that wil not purposely suffer themselues to be deluded let them but mark diligently when they are present at any such actions what the parties pretended to be possessed doe eyther act or speak and then they shal perceaue nothing but may very well