the Lord by his almightie power opened his mouth and he boldly sayd I charge thee Sathan in the name of the Father and of the Sonne At which word his mouth was fast closed againe yet was it not long before the Lorde by his power opened it againe So he proceeded saying I charge thee tell mee what is thy mistres name Saist thou thou wilt not and doost thou say thou wilt torment me ten times more No sooner wer these words spoken but he was tormented aboue measure Next day betwixt ten and one of the clock he had two ordinarie fits and at the loose of those one extraordinarie in the which beeing ouerthrowne vppon his back with his accustomed torments he vttred these words Wouldll thou haue me worship thee thou liar thou wicked wretch thou art the father of all lies I charge thee get from me away away These words he vttred disdainfully shaking his hands at him And after he had paused a while he said Dost thou promise me all my desire If I will worship thee Ah wicked tempter I charge shee in the name of the Father c. to tell me thy Mistres name These words he vttred with an interrupted voyce but repeated them presently verie couragiously saying also And dost thou say thy Mistres hath giuen thee a draught of her blood I am glad of it for then shall I knowe her shortly And dost thou say thou wilt torment me twice more At these words he was cast into two sore fits so that sathan kept promise with him His torments caused him skreame verie lowd and groane pittifully slinging out his hands as though he fought with sathan and stamping fiercely as if he trode him vnder foote This combat ended he lay stil about a quarter of an houre then hauing been a while tormented lying on his backe he said Dost thou say because I vex thy mistres thou wilt torment mee more Which words being spoke he was cast into such torments as wer grieuous to the beholders And hauing ouercome the extremitie of the same he spake with his eyes shut saying What doost thou saye I shall worship thee thou hast no faith sathan I will fight with thee with the word of the euerliuing god Auoid auoid I charge thee in gods name to get thee hence Again after more fits he said what dost thou say thou wilt make mee as strong as a Giant and as rich as the greatest Potentate in y e world if I will worship thee the Lord my God can make me strong giue mee all good things Hauing paused a litle be spake again saying dost thou say if I wil not worship thee thou wilt make me a four-footed beast that lieth not in thy power since God hath made me a reasonable creature my faith sathan is strong And doost thou say thou wilt torment mee grieuously for thy mistres sake Forthwith he was grieuously tormented crying out A beare a beare his mouth was stretched out and he rored fiercely like a beare crying out he teareth me he teareth me These torments ended he lay amazedly with the sweat running downe his face Being againe tormented hee spake saying wilt thou giue mee a land full of all frutes if I will worship thee the Lord in heauen hath goods enough for me thou didst send a be are thy helhound to torment me thou didst tell mee I should heare newes within 2. or 3. daies dost thou say thy mistres hath commanded thee not to be an hower from tormenting me because I vex her is that thy newes At these words he was presently cast into grieuous torments starting amazedly and crying out Flames of fire flames of consuming fire he threw away all things he could finde by groping for his eyes were shut and wownd himselfe close in the bed clothes Scarcely had these torments an end but others began wherein being grieuously afflicted he cryed out A fierie dragon a fierie dragon These torments continuing hee said now thou foule fiend now thou shewest thy self in thy likenes Presently he strooke both his hands vpon his face shriking and crying fearfully A flye a flye Being asked what he had seene in these conflicts hee answered manie fearfull things but remembred them not neither could tell he spake thogh he cald to minde a thing spake to him The 24 day about 11 of the clock he fell in to an extreame fit which sâ—ooke him pittiâ—ully in all parts of his bodie making him to are like a beare Being asked after the fit what he had seene he answered a great beare came roaring vpon him Foure fits more he had before 4. of the clocke at which time Ma. Edw Cockin came into the house and finding him well bade him read the 12. of Iohn which he did till he came to the 15. verse I am glad for your sakes that c and then was he cast into a fit presently Upon this there came in another disiring to see the like triall so the Boy read till he came to the 25 ve I am the resurrection c. at which words he was againe ouerthrowne This desire that manie had to haue the boy read that they might see him in his fits sauouâ—d but of a tempting curiositie and is not warrantable But to goe on The Boyes torments continuing Rob Toone being altogether without hope of his recouerie both because the Witch confessed nothing and the man that promised help failed whereat he greeued exceedingly Manie perswaded him to send to diuers Witches which he refused but hys wife purposed to attempt it and sent for a messenger who had before been imployed by others in the like busines He found the Boy in a fit when hee came and thereupon vttered these words who would suffer him to lye thus not seeke anie helpe hee could get Whereuntoo an honest man not acquainted with their purpose answered To seeke helpe at a Witch is wicked and dangerous The messenger was pricked in conscience with his speech and would not goe Ro Toone was not a litle glad they were stopped in so vnlawfull an enterprise This day also another had been with widdow Worthington the Witch of Hoppers vnknowen to the Boyes Frends and brought this aunswere that vnlesse the Boye and his Frends beleeued her she could do him no good which thing they detested The sixe and twentieth of Aprill after nine fittes in the morning about one of the clocke he was ouerthrowne into a verie sore Fitte and in the same was greeuouslye vexed and tormented At the last hee spake thus What doost thou saye if I will worship thee thou wilt make me a God but if I will not thou wilt make me a toad It lieth not in thy power sathan to make me what thou wilt but in the power of my Creator And doost thou say thou wilt torment me twice do thy worst the Lord is my trust and I know he can and wil deliuer me Being then sodainly tormented he did struggle most fiercely roaring fearfully like a beare
he did and when he came to the 4. verse of the 1. chapter of S. Iohns gospel in these words In it was life and the life was the light of the world the boy was ouerthrowne into a fit About the end of which it was said that the witch was come whome before they had sent for so that she was presently brought in and stript by certaine women that they might see her suspected place whilest they stripped her she cursed the daie of her birth making great outcries and vsing bitter speeches against all that offered to accuse her And being asked who brought her to Burton she said the diuell being asked diuers questions she liked not she would answere she did not heare Much adoo they had to get her to come neare the boy or to looke on him and it had bin good for him if shee had neuer come at him for so soone as she kneeled downe by him and cast her eies vpon him he was sodainely taken with such a vehement fit as before he had vpon the like occasion This was more greeuous than manie other he lay vppon his backe altogether depriued of the vse both of his members and senses except his eies for they stoode wide open very fearefull to the beholders and all the partes of his bodie did quake and shake like Aspen leaues Whilest shee was vpon her knees at her diuellish praiers the child was greeuously tormented therefore they thrust her out of the doores Which being done he recouered himselfe and his fit ended he said The Lord be praised Mistris Dethicke also of New-hall came in to beholde with others these strange sights at whose request when Iesse Bee read the first chapter of the gospel after S. Iohn and came to the 4. verse the boy was cast into a fit like to those which before he had vpon the like occasion In these his sittes as also in those that he had after hee could neither conceale what he said or what Sathan saide to him The next morning he had two fits betwixt 8. and 12. of the clocke at which time Maister Graisly came againe to see the child and whilest he was there there came in two men of Stapen hil neere neighbors to Alice Gooderige who said they came from Darbie and were intreted by her to tel Robert Toone that if he would be good to her she would reueale the whole trueth of the matter and further they offred him their company thither on munday which was agreed vpon by the aduise of M Graisly But newes came that there was one which being skilful in discerning of witches had bin with Alice Gooderidge at Darbie and affirmed flatly that she was a witch offering to make open triall of it and to cure the boy This offer Rob. Toone accepting of very willingly a time was appointed for this mans comming thither But to returne to the boy about xi of the clocke he had a sore fit with the increase of torments groaning very greeuously and skreeking very pitifully and being cast vpon his backe with his legs throwne out as commonly he was at the last hee vetered these words Dost thou say that I am thy Champion I wil be none of thy champion I am the seruant of the Lord of hosts What offerest thou me a bag of mony if I wil worship thee Auoyde Sathan I wil none of thy mony the Lord in heauen hath mony enough in store for me And dost thou say thou wilt torment me twice more grieuously than before Do thy worst Sathan my trust is in the Lord God Dost thou say thy Mistris will haue it so I charge thee in the name of the father c. to tel me what thy mistris name is Dost thou say thou wilt not reueale thy mistris with that Sathan tormented him againe the which going away with a vomit his mother began to cōfort him exhorting him to put his trust in God to whome he said My whole trust is in him for the Lord hath my enemy in a chaine and keepeth him in a compasse which he shall not passe And hauing remained well about halfe an houre he was againe pittifully tormented and at the last spake these wordes Doost thou say thou wilt giue mee whatsoeuer I will aske thee if I will be thy Champion I defie thee and all that thou offerest me I will be none of thy champion I charge thee in the name of the liuing God to tell mee what thy Mistresse name is Saiest thou that thy Mistris hath giuen thee a drop of her bloud to thy dinner and that therefore thou wilt tel no tales of her And doost thou say my faith is but weake Sathan it is too strong for thee to ouerthrowe Doost thou saie thou wilt torment me worse than euer thou hast done Do thou thy worst my trust is in the Lord my God Forthwith he was pittifully tormented after which being asked what he saw he answered the greene Cat as he vsually told them asking angerly did not you see her Oh quoth hee this hath beene a greeuous torment to me This ended he desired being hot and faint with the extremitie of his torments to be carried to the window to take the aire where whilest he sate there came in one whose name Ile passe ouer in silence and being a stranger beganne to examine the boy concerning poeticall and other schoole points the boy was wearie of his companie and conference as indeed he had great reason being vnfit for such an occasion and desired to be carried into another chamber the which was immediately done But this supposed friend followed him and renued his former speeches vttering also an oth that grieued the boy exceedingly The mother vnderstanding it came and asked what the stranger said to him that so troubled him for he wept pitifully The partie himselfe answered before the boy I spake no hurt to him No quod the child you bade me I should not dissemble saying that there was no witches also you asked of me if I thought there were a god God blesse me fro such cōforters I pray you al pray for me that the Lord would deliuer mee from this temptation at which wordes speaking hee was ouerthrowne into a cruell fit which beeing ended that man which thought there was no witches departed But maister Eccarshall the Pastor of Burton being present staies still comforting the boy and his sorrowfull mother perswading him that if Sathan spake to him again he should not answer him because he was a liar and indeuoured by his wordes to make the boy beleeue him these things ended about two of the clocke hee remained well till foure then was he ouerthrowne into foure seuerall fits one presently after another the last wherof was most intolerable tossing and tormenting him very pittifully it seemed by his lookes and gestures that the euill spirit spake but because of maister Eccarsalles aduise he kept a discontented silence as he told afterward to his mother but she aduised him that if it
a quiet traunce saying Dost thou say if I wil worship thee thou wilt make me vnderstand the secrets of all mens hearts Anoyd Sathan it is hid from thee the Lord onely is the searcher of the hearts and reynes Then did he read againe and foorthwith was cast into a traunce saying What faire woman is this that is so gorgeously apparailed Dost thou say thou wilt giue her mee if I wil worship thee Auyod Sathan I neither care for her nor thee the Lord is my comfort and him onely will I worship the Lamb and the Doue desire not to be worshipped but thou alwaie desirest worship Againe he read fell in a trance saying Doost thou saye if I will sweare an oath thou wilt giue me a hundred pounds Auoyd sathan wouldst thou haue me take Gods name in vaine I wyll not He read againe aud at the third word was snatched into his trance saying wouldst thou giue me a bag full of gold and siluer if I will neuer read nor pray vnto God anie more Auoyd sathan I neither regard thy gold nor siluer the Lord and his Word is better to mee than all the gold and siluer in the world They offered him the booke againe and he falles presently into a traunce saying wouldst thou haue mee teare the booke I will not teare it doe what thou caust wilt thou teare him in peeces that continueth reading he meant Richard Teate who read forward when the boy was interrupted Sathan thou canst not touch him the Lorde will not suffer thee to hurt a haire of his head Hee was strait after these wordes snatched into his trance and said Dost thou bid me open my mouth what if I do open my mouth dost thou say thou wilt enter into me Auoyde sathan thou canst not enter into me except the Lorde giue thee leaue and I trust hee will not Againe after this hee falleth into a traunce saying come maister Hildersham let vs sixe goe to heauen at which time there were iust six in the parlour Then fell he againe before hee could reade two wordes into a trance and said what Sathan wouldst thou haue me become a traitor God defend These words proceeded from him with great vehemencie and earnestnesse of spirite Then pawsing a while he saieth againe Doost thou say that when I am asleepe thou wilt plucke out my throat I care not for thee thou canst not touch a haire of my head except God giue thee leaue Againe being in a traunce hee saide doost thou say thou wilt set the house on fire and burne vs all do thy worst Sathan thou canst not touch our soules Then he read againe and at the second word started amazedly saying looke where the Beare commeth looke looke do you not see how he commeth against vs with open mouth harke how he roareth then saide he Auoyde Sathan and get thee hence yea I charge thee in the name of the euerliuing God to get thee hence They offer him the booke againe and he read not three wordes but he was ouertaken with a quiet traunce wherein lying a while hee saide Oh I see a milke white Doue the Doue saith Feare not you shall haue better newes Againe he beganne to reade and againe hee was snatched into his trance and saide Dost thou say the Lord hath giuen thee leaue to enter into mee Auoyde Sathan thou art a liar I know he will not suffer thee to enter into me Againe after he offered to reade he was cast into a trance and lying very quietly he saieth hearke ho looke what a faire Doue is there the Doue saith the diuell vseth enemies towards me hearke hearke what the Doue saith thou hast an enemie heere vpon earth that saith thou art a dissembler he shall frie in hell torments thine eies shall see his iudgements for his sinnes doe smoake vp into the elements and do pierce the heauens Then pawzing againe a while he saith harke what the Doue saith whersoeuer the glorie of God is shewed there is alwayes some enemies to resist it He beganne to reade againe but at the third word fell into a traunce saying what doost thou say thou wilt torment me doost thou say thou wilt carry me into a wood and cast me out at the window My Redeemer liueth the Lorde of hostes is his name I feare thee not remember that Sathan and pawzing a while he saith M. Hildersham see see how the world passeth away yea it must passe away it hasteth on apace Then beginnes he to reade againe and at the third word is cast into a trance at length he saith See what a little of Gods word doth how it chaseth him away see see how Sathan flieth away Againe being about to reade he started sodainely and said this booke is a flame of fire and presently hee fell into a trance saying Wouldst thou haue me teare the Booke Auoyde Sathan I will not teare it Then lying stil and pawzing a while he saide at length Looke where the doue commeth harke what the doue saith The Lord thy God hath tied thy enimy Sathan fast in a chaine vnles thou fall againe he shall neuer tempt thee hold fast and forget not the childe continued his speech saying O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world thy name be praised thy name be magnified and extolled for euermore Forthwith he opened his eies and taking the Booke he read very cheerefully a good space Then did hee aud all the companie ioyning with him humble themselues before the Lord God glorifying and praising his holy name for his comfortable presence gracious assistance in this myraculous worke and so hauing continued in prayer a good while the boy at last arose finding the doues words true and himselfe very well both in mind and bodie and so thankes be to God he hath remained euer since which the Lord continue to his owne glorie the ioy of the godly and the childes comforte Amen Now the Witch is dead had she liued she should haue bin executed FINIS Shortly you shall haue the true storie come foorth of those seuen in Lancashire that were possessed with vncleane spirites and all seuen deliuered at one time by this man LABORE ET CONSTANTIA Printed at London for Iohn Oxenbridge dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Parrot 1597.
it is to be receaued amongst the witchcrafts whereof there bee great store vsed in our Land to the great dishonor of God But to our matter When Robert Toone the Boyes Uncle and his Schoolmaster saw that mistres Walkeden could nothing preuaile with this bad woman they took her aside to whom after many questions she granted that she was in the Wood that Saturday which the Boy spake of and that she saw no boy but Sherrats boye Further they demanded of her when she receiued the Communion She sayd a twelue month agoe And asking what she receiued She answered her damnation They asked her whether she knew what she said She answered againe what shuld I receiue but my damnation They caused her to say the Lords Praier and the Creed which she huddled vp wyth much adoo but when she came to these words in y e Lords Praier And lead vs not into temptation and in the Creed either to Iesus Christ The Holy Ghost or The Catholicke Church she would not say anie of those words After these examinations she departed to her owne house The next day he had manie sore fits in the which because he would clap his hands on his face and shrike pittifully they asked him the reason thereof at the end of his fit He answered that the greene Cat which hee saw had eyes like flames of fire and that caused him thus fearfully to hide his eyes that his paine which he indured was very greeuous like the pricking with daggers or stinging of Bees which caused his crying As this his vexatioÌ„ moued many that came to see him to shed teares so did it not a little greeue hys Uncle Toone who seeing these fits to increase thought it good that the Witch were brought before a Iustice and so went with Iesse Bee the 10. of Aprill before M. Tho Graysley Esquire and Iustice of Peace crauing his Precept to that purpose which he granted directed it to the Constable of Stapen-hill to bring both this Alice Gooderidge which was almost 60. yeres of age and old Elizabeth Wright also mother to this Alice who had bin 4 or 5. times before him on suspition of many such crimes The Precept thus graunted forth they were brought before Ma Graysley to whom shee would confesse nothing saue that she met a Boy which she thought to be Sherats boy who had broken her a basket full of egges in Abels Cloase and sayd shee if my wordes did him anie hurt I am sorry but that word Bell shee did not remember that she vsed The next morning when the Boy should rise his shirt was knit on diuers knots betwixt his legs and beeing asked how that came He said be could not tell All that day he continued in senseles fits with grieuous groaning and fearfull skreaming crying out looke where the Witch standeth with three warts vpon her face The next morning being Saturday about six of the Clocke at which time his Keepers thinking not the hower of his sits to be come tooke no great care of looking to him he was vpon the sodaine throwne vnder the bedde crying fearfully Flames of fire flames of fire Forthwith he got vpon the bed being fearfull and amazed in his countenance About foure of the clocke at which tyme his fittes were wont to leaue him they did now take him in wonderfull fierce manner till midnight with greater extremitie than at anie time before hauing sildome more intermission than to vomit and saye as it was his vsuall manner in most extreamities The Lord bee praysed In these fits he shriked pittifully and fearfully desiring them to take away the blacke Cat. Both now and most times be made signes of prayer with folded hands striking vpon his breast The 14. of April Sir Humphrey Ferrers and Master Graysley met at Robert Toones who caused thether to bee brought Elizabeth Wright and Alice Gooderidge together with her husband and daughter Master Graysley after some questions concerning his fits commanded that the Bible should be deliuered into the boyes handes who began to read the first Chap. of S. Iohns Gospel till he came to the 4. verse at which place when he read hee was ouerthrowne into a most cruell Fit Presently after which the old woman Eliza. Wright came into Robert Toones house which so soone as M. Graysley vnderstood he caused her to be broght into the parlor where the Child was but she was verie vnwilling to come in crying Alas that euer I was borne what shall I doo M. Graysley spake loud to her asking if she could do the boy anye good She answered that her daughter had that at home that she should doo good with He caused her with much adoo to looke vpon the boy which as soone as euer shee did he fell into a strange and cruell fit Lying vppon hys backe his eyes standing staring open in fearfull manner his teeth set in his head his armes clapped close to his sides and all the parts of his bodie quaking verie fearfully M. Graysley bad her kneele downe and pray for him which shee did but so as no bodie could vnderstand what she sayd Whilest she prayed the fit continued and therefore they thrust her out of doores which beeing done the boyes fit ended presently S. Humphrey and M. Graysley agreed that certaine women should search the mother the daughter seuerally to see if they could finde any such marks on them as are vsually found on witches The old woman they stript found behind her right sholder a thing much like the vdder of an ewe that giueth sucke with two teates like vnto two great wartes the one behinde vnder her armehâ—le the other a handfull off towardes the top of her shoulder which when they had found they put on her cloths againe leauing the place bare that it might be seen both of sir Humfrey maister Graisley and diuers others of good worth as indeede it was They bade her say the Lords prayer which she hudled vp after her manner leauing out these wordes still vnsaide And leade vs not into temptation being then demanded how long she had those teates she aunswered she was borne so Then did they search Alice Gooderige and found vpon her belly a hole of the bignesse of two pence fresh and bloudy as though some great wart had beene cut off the place The Iustices examined her concerning the bewitching of the Boy but she would confesse nothing Then sir Humfrey tooke her to the boy and asked him whether this were shee that thus bewitched him he answered that it was surely shee then did sir Humfrey did him scratch her which when the boy offered to do his hand was presently benummed and pluckt to his side and he tormented in euery part foure seuerall times he assaied to do this but stil with like succes he was bidden to lay his hand on the standers by which he did without difficultie Then proceeded they in examining her concerning her hurt she said that she went to fetch
alittle meale on Easter euen foorth of the chamber and comming downe a ladder her foote slipped and she hauing a knife in her hand thrust herselfe into the bellie they asked the iudgement of a Surgeon whose aunswere was that it was like to haue beene so a long time for it was not festered and seemed to be sucken Sir Humfrey charged her with Witchcraft about one Michaels Cow which Cow when shee brake all thinges that they tied her in ranne to this Alice Gooderige her house scraping at the walls and windowes to haue come in her olde mother Elizabeth Wright tooke vpon her to help vpon condition that she might haue a peny to bestow vpon her god and so she came to the mans house kneeled downe before the Cow crossed her with a sticke in the forehead and prayed to her god since which time the Cow continued wel With this she was vrged by the Iustices and with the hurt vppon her bellie howe it coulde be so and her cloâ—hes not cutte whereto she made shifting answers to no purpose Then put they her aside and examined Oliuer Gooderidge her husband and her daughter also who were found to disagree in their tales concerning that matter whereupon sir Humfrey committed her to Darbie Gaole but dismissed her mother The next day the boy had a very greeuous fit in which lying still a while hee beganne to throw vp both his feete sodainely beating them against the ground with great vehemencie and at length being in a traunce he spake saying Doost thou say thou art my god and that I am thy sonne Auoyde Sathan there is no God saue the Lord of hosts Pawzing a while at last he said againe And wouldest thou haue me worship a moulten calfe I will worship nothing but the Lord God and him only wil I serue Againe being silent awhile he saide Wilt thou giue mee three townes if I will worship thee Auoyde Sathan it is written I shall worship the Lord God onely And dost thou say that if I wil not worship thee thou wilt torment me three times more if thou torment me three hundred times yet canst thou not touch my soule After this hee was tormented three seuerall times ouer euery part of his body which being ended he desired to go to the windowe to refresh himselfe being hote and faint there he praysed God for his mercies telling them that stoode by If Sathan came againe hee would aske him many questions and charge him with many things for he remembred what he had spoken aswel as any that was present hauing thus rested about a quarter of an houre hee was throwne into two seuerall fittes matchable with the former in crueltie and at the last spake saying I charge thee by the liuing God to tell me who sent thee Doost thou tell me thy mistris sent thee What is thy mistris name Doost thou say thou wilt not tell mee before to morrow And why I pray thee wilt thou not Dost thou say thou wilt torment me twice more Do thy woorst my hope is in the liuing God and he will deliuer me out of thy hands hauing spoken these words he was cast into two seuerall fittes like to the former which being ended he desired the standers by to ioyne with him in humble and heartie prayer and so fell vpon his knees praising God for that he had somewhat reuealed his enemie Sathan vnto him and beseeching him to continue his goodnesse in manifesting him more plainly The standers by askt him what he heard saw in these sharp conflicts for they neither saw nor heard any thing but him replying answering he told them that the great Cat tossed him vp and downe in a string and that a thing spake to him with a voice small and shrill The next daie about nine of the clocke he was cast into a greeuous fitte and being cast vpon his backe was bereft of al vse of anie part of his bodie and at the length spake saying Doost thou say I am thy sonne I am none of thine I am the poore seruant of the Lord of hostes and pauzing a while he said Dost thou offer me a kingdome if I will worship thee I will none of thy kingdome for it is but earthly The Lord hath reserued for me a kingdome in heauen I charge thee thou diuell In the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy ghost to tel me what is thy name Dost thou tell me that thy name is Wrythe I charge thee tell me what is thy mistresse name Dost thou say anone thou hast alwayes bene a liar and the father of lies and doost thou say that vnlesse I will â—â—â—ship thee thou wilt torment mee three times more than thou diddest before if thou torment me 3000. times more my faith is so strong that I will worship none but the liuing God These wordes being finished he was cast into three seuerall fittes with all the former torments drawing together his ioynts and sinews and writhing him with tossing and turning him very round most pittifully these fits and speeches continued about halfe an houre After this hee was cast into another fit his eies closed vp his legges lifted vp as stiffe as stakes and al his senses taken from him which fit ceasing he was well till twelue of the clocke at noone and then was cast into another fit lying flat vppon his backe and lifting his feete vp at last he saide Doost thou say thou wilt giue me a pallace aud make me a king if I will worship thee Auoyde Sathan I will worship the Lord onely Doost thou say thou wilt mittigate my torments if I will worship thee Auoyde Sathan I will worship none saue onely the Lord God my Sauiour my sanctister and redeemer Doost thou say that if I will not worship thee thou wilt torment me thrice Do thy worst Sathan my faith standeth sure with my God at whose hands I looke for succour Hauing vttered these and some other such wordes hee was cast into three seuerall cruell fittes after the which he had rest till two of the clocke at which time there came diuers worshipfull personages of purpose to behold the maner of the childes so strange vexing they caused him to reade vpon the bible which caused Sathan to rage so that he was cast into a fit terribly tormented and vexed as that it did much humble the beholders and mooue them to commiseration and pittie for the childes so distressed estate While these things hapned it was reported that the old witch Elizabeth Wright was in the towne a thing somewhat rare for it is thought that except at the time of her former examination shee was not so farre in halfe a yere before presently they sent for her In the meane season came in maister Bagot the yonger of Blithfield wishing to be an eie witnes of these strange reports requesting the boy to take the Bible and reade he being unwilling to reade himselfe wished Iesse Bee to do so much which
should speake againe he should not feare or forbeare to answer it About this time some meate was prepared for him but before he could take it he was ouerthrowne into a crueil fit wherein after that Sathan had shewed a while his rage he spake saying Dost thou saie that I shall worship thee I wil worship the Lord of hosts onlie I charge thee In the name of the father of the sonne c. to tell me what thy name is Doost thou say thou wile not tel me before to morrow Thou art a liar I haue euer found thee so and I will not beleeue thee Dost thou saie thou wilt torment me far more grieuously than euer thou hast done I care not for al that thou caust do vnto me In the Lord is my trust who will deliuer mee when his good pleasure is presently Sathan tormented him according to his wonted maner After that fit was ended and he had a while bin quiet Iesse Bee persuaded him to be coragious to take vnto him the shield of faith and to offer Sathan the combate The childe finding himselfe strong in the Lord whose assistance he had before obtained in his former conflicts condiscended to his motion so Iesse read the first chapt according to S. Iohn till he came to the 9. ver That light was the true light c. at which words he was ouerthrowne into a meruailous sore Fit which vexed and tormented him in euerie part of his bodie which being ended Iesle asked him if he should read agaiue The boy answered cherefully read on in Gods name so he read til he came to the 13. verse Which were borne not of blood c. At these words he was throwne into grieuous torments like to the former which ended Iesse asked if he should read still The boy answered proceed in the name of God Then read he the 14 ver The same Word became flesh c. At which words he was tormented the third time yet not so vehemently as before He proceeding forward read till be came to the 17 ver The law was giuen by Moses grace and truth came by Iesus Christ Foorthwith he fell into the fourth fit the feeblest of anie he yet had sathan no doubt finding his force quatling and his fierie darts quenched So Ieste read on the Child cheerfully attentiuely hearkening till he had finished the chapter without anie trouble to him The next day among other fits he had one much more vehement than the rest his torments being increased and his strength so great that two strong men were not able to rule him After this fit Iesse Bee said Come Thomas shall we prouoke him to battell To whom the child answered yes verie willingly So they looked for the Bible but the boyes Uncle had taken it to the Church Then did the Boy desire Iesse to resolue him in this doubt whether it were hurtfull for one to eate or drinke before hee receiue the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Being satisfied concerning this Point and casting downe his head to call to remembrance some thing else wherof doubted doubted he was on the sodaine ouerthrowne into a grieuous fit groaning and skreaming most pittifully turning as round on all foure as a pigge on a spit and sodainly doe what the keepers could he leaped vp to the top of the bed catching hold on the testern with his hands hanging by his armes notwithstanding his eyes were cloased vp being in this case he said dost than say I shall hear newes within these 2. or 3. dayes I pray God it be good newes He was at last cast into a traunce vttering diuers such comfortable speeches as in other his traunces he did This day there came one to them hauing been of her owne accord wyth widdow Worthington the good Witch of Hoppers as they call her and told them she said the Boy was bewitched yet help him she could not except his mother or some of his neerest frends came vnto her The same answer was giuen by a Witch about Couentrey to another looking for some helpe in the boyes behalfe But the mother of the Childe detesting the diuells helpe thanked those two for their kindnes towards hir but sharply reprooued them for attempting a thing so vnlawfull After these fits he rested reasonable quiet til the next day when as about one a clock seeming verie well he rceiued some meate But Sathan shewed himselfe to be a right sathan euen a sore enemie to the Childe enuying the good of his bodie when he saw himselfe vnable to hurt his soule did let his digesting of it as manie times hee did by casting him presently into diuers fits which as vsually all his fits did lasting about halfe a quarter of an hower ended with a vomit Manie that were Beholders of the Childes torments little hoped that euer he could haue liued or recouered But God be praised that Sathans power is limitted by him who is Lord both of life and death When these Conflicts were ended Iesse Bee said vnto him Thomas shall wee take the Sword with two edges and bid Sathan the Battayle The Boye beeing well acquaynted with the phrase answered If you will read I will gladly heare So he read the first Chapter of S. Iohns Gospell which whilest he was reading the childe was ouerthrowne into three Fittes After these Fits he was verie cheerfull and desirous to haue the Booke that hee might read himselfe which hee did And when hee came at the fifth verse of the first Chapter of the Reuelation for that Chapter he read he was ouerthrowne into a cruell Fitte which beeing ended hee gaue the Booke to Iesse Bee intreating him carnestly to read on forward So Iesse Bee finished the Chapter and read also the second and was neuer in reading them with anye more of the Boies fits interrupted Upon the one aud twentieth of Aprill though betwixt nine of the Clocke in the Morning and two in the Afternoone hee had tenne Fittes yet the last of them was most extreame in the middest of it hee would open his eyes amazedly and presently clap both his hands vppon them beeing ouerthrowne into most violent torments throughout all the parts of his bodie and beeing cast vppon hys backe he threwe foorth his legges fiercely beating them against the ground vehemently and after that lying in a quiet traunce hee opened his mouth saying Dost thou saye that thou wilt giue mee a Crowne if I will worship thee I regard thee not nor thy Crowne for the Lorde hath reserued a Crowne of righteousnesse for mee in Heauen Then pausing awhile hee spake again saying Dost thou saye thou wilt giue mee Townes and Countreyes if I will worship thee Away Sathan away thou art a lyar and the Father of lyes I will not beleeue thee away Foorthwith his mouth was cloased vp and hys teeth set fast in his head insomuch that hee laboured to haue opened them with his owne hands but he could not yet when hee had remayned awhile thus
saide Looke where my brother Iob is Then opened he his eies but his mouth was fast shut he would haue opened it with his handes but could not Then pawzing a little he said no no I will not The Lord hath flatly forbidden it in his word so lying a while he saide heauen openeth heauen openeth I must goe thether then clapping his hands for ioy he said I see Christ Iesus my Sauiour his face shineth as the Sunne in his strength I will goe salute him and indeede he did rise going apace with such strength that his keepers could scarsly stay him presently he fell a trembling and stamping crying a dog a dog for Gods sake take away this dog away with this filthy dog that came out of hell and after a pittifull skreaming he saide Oh Maister Hildersham I thought he would haue torne me in peeces preach iudgment against all sinners flames of fire flames of fire See Maister Hildersham preach and teach Oh fast and pray night and day After these speeches he clapt his handes looking cheerefully though his eies were closed saying Christ Iesus my Sauior commeth clothed in purple then seemed he by his gestures to imbrace him saying Holy is thy name thy name Lorde Iesus is to be exalted for euermore I haue seene such sights O Lord Iesus blesse me from them Presently he was ouertaken againe with feare saying Doost thou say this is the bottomlesse pitte where the damned be Maister Hildersham we had need to pray O preach and pray strait after he looked cheerefully euen with admiration saying Thy name O Lorde Iesus is to be exalted aboue all things thy name is to bee blessed for euer Lying a while in a trance he clapped his handes saying Oh oh Christ Iesus my sauior and his Apostles Then seemed hee to embrace the Apostles and worship our Sauiour saying O Lorde Iesus thou sufferedst for my sake thy name be praised yea I say from my heart thy name be praised By and by turning his head he pointed saying Looke where Iudas is frying in torments After this he fell againe into a traunce and lay as hee had bin dead but spake fearefully thus Ah looke in this place of torments where drunkards are hanged by the throats swearers and filthie talkers by their tongues and hauing spoken of other torments for other sins he saide O great iudgements great iudgements which wordes he vttered so wofully as if he had beene in the iawes of hell and on the contrary so comfortably as if he had beene in heauen After this falling into a traunce hee started sodainely and saide Yonder comes mother Redde Cap looke how they beate her braines out see what it is to be a witch see how the toades gnaw the flesh from her bones O pray pray looke what wailing and weeping and gnashing of teeth yonder is Lord shew vs thy mercie take me by the hand Maister Hildersham and let vs goe to heauen thus this fit ended after halfe an houre being asked what he had bin doing he answered he had beene sleeping for he remembred nothing Hauing beene well about a quarter of an houre be fell into a quiet traunce and at length saide O Maister Hildersham looke where Gods chariot is come to fetch you and me see how God loueth vs by and by he beganne to quake and cried Lo lo the greene Cat comes out of hell then falling into a quiet trance he saide looke where the 7 churches be and presently he skritched saying Lo lo 7 vgly diuells looke they goe downe to the bottomlesse pit Pauzing againe he faith See see how many kings and rich men go to hel euen they that were so braue and fared so daintily and were so stowt After this hee fell into a trance saying come M. Hildersham the Lord bids vs come let vs go and so he went on and could hardly be staid but straitway his ioy turnd into heauines for he seemed to haue bodily combats with his spirituall enemie These fits ended he remained well a quarter of an houre then falling into a sodaine trance he said with trembling Ha ha ha I tolde you of this before that after ioy commēth sorrow Looke you how I am tormented O that I could see my sauiour Christ Iesus Foorthwith hee arose clapping his hands with great ioy and saide Looke where he commeth thy name be praised thy name be praised Anone he had a comfortable vision of the day of iudgement crying alowd The trumpets sound see fee the graues open the dead arise and al men come to iudgement harke how the Angells cry Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabaoth Then pauzing a little he saide Looke looke how the wicked slie away like a flocke of doues yet see a flame of fire ouertaketh them After much varietie of fits he cried a fierie Dragon a fierie Dragon teareth me in peeces oh hee teares me he teares me and with these torments did this fit end betweene twelue and one About three hee fell into a trance and torments like the former for after he had spoken fearefully of the torments of the damned he burst into pittifull speeches quaking saide Looke where seuen diuels are looke where a roaring lion is Then he fel into a quiet trance and foorth with clapped his hands saying I see a milke white doue flying towards me see where my Sauior commeth his face shineth as the Sunne These wordes vttered he was againe terrified and so with some more torments and trances this fit ended The two daies following he had many fits and some trances vttering the like speeches as before The xii of Maie he was remoued from his vncle M. Saunders house at Caldwall being 3. miles distant where he had sixe fits From the 13. to the 23. he was handled after his accustomed maner The 23 of Maie he was cast into eighteene fits worse than the former for his shoulder bones were thrust out of ioynt his mouth drawne awrie and amongst other complaints hee cried out of his legs saying they thrust pinnes into them And this is worthie the obseruation that commonly vppon the Sabboth when the boy was remembred by praier in godly Assemblies Sathan did shewe his extremest crueltie The 24. and 25. he was tormented much like the day before The 26. he was assaulted more fiercely both in respect of the number and qualitie of his fits torments in which he did oftentimes crie out saying Looke where sathan commeth from vnder the bed oftentimes Thunder thunder Lightening lightening Flames of fire flames of consuming fire A beare a beare A dragon a dragon looke where sathan comes downe y e chunney looke looke for Gods sake take me from him And thus in these terrible fits this daye passed The next daye there came one Iohn Dorell a faithfull Preacher of the Word to him who seeing him in diuers of his fits assured his Frends and him he was possessed with an vnclean spirit telling him out of S. Iames 4 chapt vers 7. that the onely
way for his deliuerance was to resist sathan in which if he failed he shuld sin against God because it was a breach of a Commandement Resist the diuell c. That for his further incouragement he had a promise of victorie in that it is said he will or shall flee That by the diuel is not to be vnderstood onely the temptations of the diuel but euen sathans verie person And proceeding to confirme the Childes faith in this Resistance he afterwards exhorted his Parents and the whole Familie to prepare themselues against the next day to that holy exercise of Prayer and Fasting alledging to put by all doubts the words of Christ This kinde goeth not out but by Praier Fasting Wheretoo they being verie willing importuned Iohn Dorell for his presence and assistance To which he aunswered his assistaunce in Praier and Fasting they should haue but not his presence as well to auoide note of vaine-glorie as also for he saw no such necessitie by reason of the Childes strme faith neuertheles giuing them order for their Exercise and appointing them the helpe of a Booke called The Enemie of Securitie putting them in good comfort he foretold them what interruptions were likely to follow by the Euemies rage and saith he when you shall see these things come to passe which indeede fell out accordingly then know ye for certaintie as he is possessed which his Frendes at Cawdwall stoode in doubt of so looke that deliuerance is at the doore and therefore fame not in the mid-way Thus he departed The next day the Family with some others in the feare of God being together the holy Exercise of Praier and Fasting was taken in hand and after some Praier vsed for the assistaunce of Gods Spirite and praying for the remission of sinnes he was verie grieuously and often tormented by meanes of his fits and torments much interrupted therein spending much time about the same A Praier against the temptations of Sathan was vsed and in the beginning thereof he was presently taken with a dumb fit and comming to himselfe he began to pray againe and his fits came again and againe so oft as he came to anie substantial Poynt After a while he fell into a trance and at length a small voite came from him saying Brother Glassap we cannot preuaile his faith is so strong and they fast and pray and a Preacher prayeth as fast as they After these words he fell into a fit and so into a trance a voyce beeing heard frō him big hollow saying Brother Radulphus I wil goe vnto my master Belzebub and he shall dubble their tungs Then beginning againe to pray hee fell into a fit and after into a trance afterward comming to himself he poynted towards the chimney saying Loe where Belzebub standeth the witch by him I charge thee in y e name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost to tell mee whether this hee shee that did be witch mee or no Doost thou say it was shee Now the Lord I beseech him forgiue her I forgiue her Further he said I charge thee in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost to get thee from me come no more at me for it is written Resist the diuell and hee will flye from thee and presently he sayd He is gone he is gone Then prayed he againe and at the third word was throwne into a fit and a Traunce whērein a voyce was heard from him hys mouth being wyde op̄en as still it was when these voyces were vttered saying Radulphus Belzebub can doo no good his head is stroken off with a word but I wyll goe fetch the flying Eagle and his flock Presently after these words he fell into another fit and a traunce and lying so sayd I see an Angell in the windowe like a milke white Doue sent from the Lord to bee with mee to comfort and assist vs but that is nothing in respect of the Lord himselfe Then beginning to pray againe he fell into a Fitte and a Traunce in the which one of the olde voyces was heard from him saying We cannot preuayle let vs goe out of him and enter into some of these heere This voyce came twice and it made the Standers by afrayde Then reading againe bee fell into a Traunce and the former voyce was heard from him speaking verie hollowly as both those vnnaturall voyces not vttered by hymselfe were and saying I would they were all gone but one that is among them and then wee should doo well inough Then hee read againe and beeing cast into a trauce one of those voyces was heard saying There is a Woman earnest at prayer get her away One in the Companie called Iohn Alsop aunswered alowd and sayde Wee cannot spare her yet did none of them all that were there know that shee was praying till looking backe they saw her earnestly at prayer in a corner being behynde them Beginning againe to read hee was sodainly cast into a traunce and a voyce was heard which sayd He shall bee tormented till to morow at night do God you what you can but Sathan was prooued a liar Recouering reading againe he was againe snatched into his traunce the voyce beeing heard againe saying Wee cannot preuaile wee cannot preuaile their Church increaseth at which time came in two to ioyne in Praier with y t Companie After this reading againe he fell into a traunce and a voyce was heard from him saying Here commeth one of my people with that they looked back and were ware of a man of bad life comming into the parlor and albeit the Boy was in his fit yet he made signes with his hand to the Companie to get him away which one of them perceiuing did for Presently he awaked and read and was interrupted by a trance wherein a voyce said Teare the booke teare the booke and with that although his eyes were closed he snatched at the Booke which one had in his hand and tare foorth one leafe of it which thing also from that time till two of the clocke he attempted in euerie of his fits being restrained by reason that one held the Booke and another his hands hee would bite strike and spurne them with his feete at the beginning of his fits wherein he was farre stronger than he was wont and his torments more exceeding in greatnes number Betweene 8 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon his countenance was strangely disfigured his mouth set wide open sometime drawne awrie his face turned backward and his armes and sholders thrust out of ioynt in which time he had one fitt and trance wherein a voyce sayd Wee cannot preuaile for they will not be holpen with Witches Brother Radulphus we cannot preuaile let vs goe to our mistres and torment her I haue had a draught of her blood to day Forthwith it ceased and straight waies he was in a trance againe and a small voyce was heard saying
I will stop thy mouth I will stop thy mouth at which instaut hee was so stopped in his throate that the Companie thought he had been strangled In another fit a voyce said Your praiers preuaile not they are not heard Wherunto M. Rampam Schoolmaster of Burton replied Thou art a liar sathan for it is written Wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the middest of them c. About two of the clocke hee had a meruailous strange fit tormenting him most pittifully in the ende whereof he strained to cast with great vehemencie and got vp some fleame and choller at which time if he were possessed with two spirites as it is probable he was one of them went out of him So from 2. till 4. his fits continued but decreasing in strength and beeing without speeches About 3. the Companie perceiuing him to bee faint perswaded him to eate somewhat to refresh him which he did hauing touched neither meate nor drinke of all the whole day before but before after his meate he said the Lords Praier and other Praiets in the Booke which hee before had assaied to read and could not without anie interruption About 6 a clocke being carried on his Keepers back for he had no vse of his legs of three months before his fit came vpon him verie sodainly he cried out like a beare The standers by betooke themselues to Praier During this fit hee had manie miserable torments causing him to roare and shrike extreamly Many such senslesse trances on this daye of his deliueraunce he had as yeelded no signe of life saue that his heart might be discerned to pant a little At last being laid vpon his bed anone hee began to heaue and lift vehemently at his stomacke and getting vp some fleame and choller poynting with his finger and following with his eyes hee said Looke looke see you not the Mouse that is gone out of my mouth and so poynted after it vnto the furthest part of the parlor Then hee fell into a quiet trance which ended he was well till 7. a clocke at which time he and 2. or 3. more went to supper and as he sate at the table he fell into a trance and was thence caried to bed as he lay there a Uoice was heard saying My Son arise vp and walke the euill spirit is gone from thee arise and walke Upon this accident his Keeper said let vs see if he can goe betwixt vs. But he answered no I can goe of my selfe I thanke God and so standing on his feete went presently forward without anie difficultie And considering with himselfe this blessed change of his miserable estate of his owne accord he fell flat vppon the ground giuing God thankes for his wonderfull deliueraunce and that in such excellent manner as was to bee admired in a childe But no doubt the same Spirite which armed hym with faith and patience in the time of his torments instructed him how to giue thankes and pray Being thus fully recouered he went presently into the towne that it might appeare what Iesus had done for him to the praise of his glorie and admitation of those that had been acquainted with his meruailous visitation The next morning Robert Toone went to the Gaole and demanded of the Witch how she did O master quoth she neuer worse i for I haue had such an Ague this night that I had thought my ioints would haue been torn in sunder They that dwelt by the prison could not sleepe for the noyse that was there that night so that it is like the diuell was as good as his word when he said he would torment her After he was thus meruailously deliuered he stayd the next day at Cawdwall from thence went to his grandfathers M. Walkedens at Clifton whether the aforesaid Iohn Dorell repaired vnto him and counselled him to be now most heedfull least the vncleane spirit returning and his heart emptie of faith bring 7 worse than himself with him as our Sauior expresseth assuring himselfe Sathan would striue to repossesse him Iohn Dorell departing the Boy abode at Clifton till the 5. of Iune which day he returned to Burton There the 6. day beeing the Sabaoth and the 7. hee spent in religious excrecise The 8 the went to Schoole from whence sathan had long kept him In the afternoone sitting at his book he said vnto his fellowes if you will goe with me into the Church-yard I will show you a strange thing Wherevpon they went into the Schoole Porch which their Master disliked not because they had their Bookes in theyr hands where after he had walked a while hee sate downe and said he was wearie and presently complained of one of his legs euen crying out which his Master hearing came to him and remembring his former trialls prayed moouing the Childe to say after him O Lord for Iesus Christes sake haue mercie vpon me But he most cried O my legs my legs Here is to bee noted that how euer sathan greeuously assaulted him yet did he not once torment him because he was not as before in him which also some of the Boyes words confirmed Being brought home to his Uncles manie following and flocking after him hee groaned pittifully crying also Daggers daggers and at length he said with a fearfull countenance I am afraid of Sathan The companie did incourage and comfort him against such temptations perswading him to prayer which thing he perfourmed wyth great difficultie crying as before O my legs O my legs They being instant vpon him to pray he poynted with his finger saying What woman is that which standeth there Still they vrged him with praier and while they expected it he said what a thundring is here I cannot abide this thundring Then fell he into a trance and hauing layne a while a voyce was heard from him saying He fel a little and I caught him By and by awaking hee rose vp amazedly and said Where am I I was euen now in the schoole but they told him what had happened so he came down from his bed and feeling himselfe well he prayed read a chapter quietly and so remained well all that night The next morning the Boyes Uncle thought it verie conuenient to labor by Praier to remooue this heauie displeasure of God and the danger of these temptations wherewith the Boy began agains to be assaulted to that end sent for two of his neighbors spent an houre in praier reading the Scriptures At last as the Boy was reading be stopt saying what woman is that which stands there They perswaded him to goe on and not regard the illusions of sathan So he read on and was presently cast into a trance and after he had laine a while said Behold I see a Lambe hearke what the Lambe saith Thou didst fall he caught thee feare not the Lord is thy buckler and defender After this hee read on and within a little space fell againe into