but by prayer and fasting Yea the Disc himself confesseth the same but the leafe before this page 43. Thus in a word we see his collection and boastinge to be meerely in vayne Yet for our better vnderstanding and further answer we must remember that two kindes of expulsion of sathan are heere spoken of one extraordinary wherein the miraculous faith is required verse 20. and an other by an ordinary meanes viz. praier or prayer and fasting verse 21. and here howsoeuer the iustifyinge faith is to be wished and is best yet the faith temporall or historical may suffice for the expelling of sathan after this manner or by the ordinary meanes which standeth not somuch in the saith of the person therein vsed as in the mercye of god obteyned man vsinge the meanes which to that end he hath ordeyned And as this faith may suffice so it should seeme that it hath or shall for we reade that in the day of the lorde some workers of iniquity shall say for themselus lord haue we not in thy name cast out diuels math 7. 22. why should we vnderstand this of Iudas only and such as he who by a word cast out diuells seing that manner of eiection continued so small a time in the church And not as well of the sonnes of Sceua and such as they who it is probable cast out diuells by the ordinary meanes where-with they had mixed some adiurations where-vpon they were called Exorcistes added thereto in that and former time when all things almoste were corrupted and as it is very likely vpon some imitation of the prophets who had no doubt cast out diuels by adiuring or commaunding the spirits to goe out in the name of the lorde as the papists doe nowe in the ymitation of Christ and his Apostles both of them forgetting that they had not receaued any such power ouer vncleane spirits and therefore should haue refrayned from commuanding or adiuring them True it is that they were far from casting the euill spirit out of the man mentioned Acts 19. the reason I thinke was because they entred upon that where-vnto they were not at all called of god for not contented with that manner of eiection they had formerlye vsed because it shewed no such authority ouer diuells as that perfâ—rmed by the Apostles and by consequent did commend them nothiÌ„g somuch to the people which was the only thing they desired they at tempted to cast euill spirits out of sundry in the name of the lord Iesus nâ— maruaile therefore though they had no better successe therein albeit they percase after an other manner I meane the ordinarye meanes both before after that dispossessed diuers And why doth this â—eme so strange and incredible to some as I known it doth why may not a wicked man be as well an instrument to cast out diuells after the ordinary as the extraordinary manner and out of the body as well as the soule of man seig especially this latter is a far more worthy work If we obiect as I thinke we can obiect nothing else that god heareth not the prayers of such nor regardeth their humiliations that is answered already They powerfull preaching is annexed for a meanes to prayer and fasting Wherevnto may be added the word of God as the story saith which the dâ—â—lls forsooth could not indure to heare pag. 50 but would be gone And so you see them fall into the said popish follies makinge the signes of possession the meanes and causes of dispossession VVee doe not neither euer did affirme that these are the meanes ordeyned of god for the castinge of sathan out of the bodyes of men for we doubt not but that without the vsinge of either of these he may be expelled as it was in the dispossession of Kath. Wright and Darling Yet notwithstanding we thinke that in this said worke theris good and holy vse thereof First because in this case men wrestle not against â—lâ—sh and blâ—ud but against principallityes and powers and against the worldly gouernours the princes of the darknes of this world against spirituall wickednesseâ— which are in the high places â—ph 6. 10. It standeth them therefore vpon to take vnto them the whole armour of god that they may be able to resist so strong an enemy and hauing finished all things staÌ„d fast Now part yea a principall part of this armour is the word of god euen the sword of the spirit math 4. And herein we haue our blessed Sauioure for an example to imitate who when the deuill in an extraordinarye and visible manner appeared vnto him speaking also vnto him he resisted and ouercame him by the word of god Secondly because the reading â— pâ— 5. 9. interpreting applying of the holy scriptures serue to streÌ„gthen our faith whereof there is neede for resist saith S. Peter the diuell stedfast in the saith 3. to stirr vp whatsoeuer guift of prayer is in vs or feruency therein and to worke the true humbling of vs vnder the mighty hand of god But admit we hould readinâ— expoundig of the word of god were meanes of dispossession yet that followeth not there vpon which the Disc from thence collecteth viz. that wee make the signes of possession the meanes causes of dispossession Did weeuer hould the reading and preaching of the word to be signes of posession surely not for these signes are nothing else but the feaâ—efull effects and operations which sathan beinge within the body of man sendeth forth in which nomber to place the worde of god and preaching thereof is a most sottish and impious thinge and simple men though we be yet I trust wee were neuer so absurd which beinge so the Disc collection is not worth a strawe But saith he it is most apparant by M. Mores conceite who thinketh prayer more necessary pag. 50. then the signes of possession mentioned in the scriptures for the true discerning of those who are possessed It appeareth that M. More doth not say altogither so as is here mentioned But be it graunted doth he therâ—ore make prayer a signe of possession â—8 so one the same thing a signe of pâ—ssâ—ssion meanes or cause of dispossâ—ssion Behould how the Disc argueth By prayer a man may discerne of those that are possessed ergo prayer is a signe of possession If this be a good argument then are these also By the guifte called the discerning of spirits the Apostles trulye discerned of those that were possessed as the Disc affirmeth pag. 28. â—rgo that guift is a signe of possession By the knowledge of the signes of sathan possessing one mentioned in the gospell wee may trulye discerne of those that are possessed ergo that knowledge is a signe of possession And so the Apostles were possessed all indued with this said knowledg for where the proper signe of a thing is there is also for certainty the thing signifyed thereby Againe by good skill in phisick one may trulye
chapter the Disc telleth vs of a second or new â—â—senage viz. So. counterfeytinge of a repossession and after what manner I instructed him we heare in the title of the chapter pag. 128. This cosenage the Disc pretendeth to proue by two speaches of mine the one is that I should affirme to my Auditory in the hearing of Som. that for a certainty Sathan would seeke to repossesse the said So. and preuayle against him except he were mightely withstood by faith The other that I affirmed the night he was dispâ—ssessed in the hearing of So. diuers others that sathan returned the same night he was dispossessed out of certaine in Lancashire and that so returning he appeared vnto them in certayne somlitudes Darrell When the Disc hath proued me guilty of the first cosenage I my selfe will yeald the second vntill he haue performed that which yet he hath not none that is wise will regard what he saith concerning this new cosonage as he termeth So repossession 2. All or most of that I haue giuen before in answer to the aforâ—said circumstaunces serueth also for answer vnto this 3. Seeing betwene So. dispossession and repossession which was about thirteene weekes he and I had seâ—ret conâ—erenâ—â— togither diuers times as the Disc telleth vs and that for the instructing of him to disseemble a repossession pagâ— 90. it had bene sufficient to haue in a worde or two at one of these our secret conâ—â—renâ—es to haue bâ—d him fall againe to his former tricks and say with all that the divell did seeke to enter into â—im so that this iâ— structinge of â—im by 〈…〉 in his â—earinge neâ—e not 4. And one woulde think that were there any such new â—â—â—nage I would rather haue giuen him his dire 〈…〉 the same apart then before diuers others 4. So. was then repossesâ—e as now at this 〈◊〉 is The 〈◊〉 at moue me to thinke that 〈…〉 sessed are these 〈…〉 1. because about 12. or 13. â—â—eches aâ—ter 〈…〉 session I among diuers others sawe in him the signes of possession euen all the same I did before and beheld him handled after the very same manner he was the time of his first trouble 2 mark 9. 25. maâ—h 12. 43. and therefore if the possessed he is so now and if euer he was possessed then and for the same cause he is againe possessed 2. The scripture telleth vs that the rnâ—â—ane spirite being gon out of a man doth not only returne and secke to enter into his said house againe but indeede enter and possesse the said party if returning be finde him empty swept and garmshed that is ready and prepared to interteyne his oulde gueast the diuell which is when the party is vncleane and liueth in sinne for an vncleane person is a fitt receptacle for the foule spirit but So. out of whome the diuell was cast â— is and hath bene such as is manifest by his abominable lying in denying the worke of God wrought vpon him his false accusinge of the innocent ioyned with greate obstinacye and ympudencie his periury and other greuous and open svnnes of his It must needes therefore be that So. is repossessed 3. There is somethinge in reason to confirme vs herein pag. 205. in that from time to time So hath bene doing in secrett and offered sometimes openlye to doe his tricks as some call them After he had said the second time that he had counterseyted and was as free from being vexed by sathan and as farr from all appearance of possession as now he is he as is notoriously knowne and the Disc himselfe confesseth showed his tricks before my 〈◊〉 â—â—nderson and diuers others in some extraordinary sort At one of my examinations before the B. of London M. Barker register to the high comission and another gentleman being present So. vppon occaâ—ion of some wordes vttered by me would â—aue bene doinge his tricks and had vndoubtedly but that the Bishop â—ebuked him for it and preâ—ently for feare thereof sent him away It should seeme that the â—â—shâ—p ad seene him doe his tricks before that time yea percase often otherâ— if he would haue bene as glad for the further satiffyinge of himselâ—e to haue seene his fevts as some there present At â—ombeth vppon â—â—itson-eue in open court So. offered to doe his tricks and had not tâ—e B. of London said it was to no purpose because M. Morâ— and I 〈◊〉 sav it was not he but the diuell that did them he had 〈…〉 tion fallen to his worke Neither can we in 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 were bare offers or wordes he not beinge aâ—le to 〈…〉 thing considering to â—myt other timesâ—â—e or 〈…〉 sâ—me oâ— his trickes beefore my 〈…〉 is ready to 〈◊〉 them when 〈…〉 the eye-witnessses the câ—f conâ—eâ—â—e 〈…〉 and the cheife of them that if the boy did not say he counterfeyted and cease to doe the tricks when he is bidden he should verily think that he did them by the diuell may not this well after the premsises confirme vs in his possession whether So. was packt beyond the seas by some that knew he was possessed and feared least that woulde one day appeare or went of his owne accord about some great busynes of his owne let other men iudge as also why it will not be graunted that the meanes may be vsed which the u worde of god directeth vs vnto for the discouery of Sathan whome we are boulde to affirme lurketh in him And where some men can hardly with any patience indure to heareof this repossession Luke 11. 22. because no such thing appeareth they must know that Sathan doth and hath long laboured to obscure the worke of god wrought vppon So. to anninilate it if it were possible that so god might goe without the glory and prayse which would be gyuen him in the acknowledgment thereof and man lose the profit he wolde make of such a rare worke of god To this end and for the better bringing of this to paise the diuell hauing recouered So. and entred into his house the body of So. agayne indeuored by himselfe and his instruments threatning and promising to drawe him to deny the work of God and affirme that he counterfeted and therewithall couenanted with So to helpe him to doe any thing that he would take in hand meaning those thinges that he had in the time of his possession done The case being thus and this being the worke that the diuell hath in had it is not to be ymagined that Sathan beinge in So. shoulde torment him and so make it appeare that he is there for thus he shoulde be against himselfe and ouerturne all he had done and hath in hande Yf the diuell hauing drawne So. after that he was againe entred into him to say he counterfeyted shoulde vexe him and sent forth the same eâ—â—ects he did before he thus affirmed causing a verye greate swelling in his belly an other and much lesse to run along his bodye
the old serpent knoweth full well that the credit good name of men being taken away be the doctrines they teach neuer so true and wholsome the work wherein they were vsed neuer so profitable and to be admired they will not be receaued Neither is he ignorant hereof that let the slander be neuer so manifestly or palpably salfe yet the world will beleue it and runâ—e away with it as currant if once it be raysed vp spread abroad for he knoweth that there is not one wise man of a thowsand who vseth to consider of a thing and heare what can be saide of both sydes pro. 14. 15. before he imbrace it as a truth and that the foolish will beleue euery thinge act 24 5 act 17. 6. Hence it is that in these cases it is his first and chiefe labour to raise vp and spread abroad slanders By this meanes he preuailed aganst Paule stirring vp some to affirme that he was a pestilent fellowe a moouer of sedition that he subuerted the state of the world and was an enemy to the state as we spake now of some a traâ—tor doing against the decree of Caesar Yea of Christ himselfe the diuell by his instruments gaue it out that he was a Deceauer and worse then so a Coniurer castinge out diuels through the prince of diuels By the same meanes that auncient slaunderer matâ— 17. a 3. Râ—tâ—â— 12. 9. and accuser of the bretheren day and night both to god and men who thereby deceaueth all the world hath hitherto mightely prevayled against the workes of god wee speake of spreadinge abroade that Maister More and I especially my selfe are Deceauors Imposters cozoning marchants that I haue taught some I knowe not yet howe many to counterfeyt But as S. Paule notwithstandynge the aforesaide accusations was nither seditious nor traytor but one that practised and taught the contrary and Christ was no Deceauer but one in whose tongue was found uo guile neither caste out deuilles by the prince of diuels but came to destroy the works of the diuell eueÌ„ so we in lik maÌ„ner notwithstanding that we are thus accused to be deceiuers cosoners and I knowe not what and my self to haue taught Somers and others to counterfeyt yet it shall by gods grace appeare by the sequell that we are no such men indeede and that my selfe is not I thanke god guilty of any such abomynation as mine aduersaryes most vniustly lay vpon me where by the way we may learne thus much that it is not inough for one to be accused for then innocency it selfe Christ Iesus I meane should not goe vncondemned Therefore as in all other accusations and euill reportes of our neighbours brought vnto our eares so in this concerning Somers and mee if we desire to auoyde the iustifying of the wicked and condemning of the iust both which are an abomination vnto the Lord we must examine whither the things alleadged to that end by the Discouerer doe throughly proue the same or no otherwise they be but empty words discouering the mallice of the Discouerer To the furtherance wherof this may serue that heere followeth wherevnto we will now by gods grace proceede OF THE EPISTLE This casting out of diuels is saith he now discouered to be but a pure play conteyning two principall parts of a vyce and a diuell one shift deuysed to to helpe this vyce of the stage that he might not be hissed at of all the world is that to cast out a diuel is no such great matter as men make account of beinge but mirandum et non miraculum in the nature of a wonder and not of a miracle Thinkest thou Christian Reader that this Discouerer or rather Masker comminge thus to play his part on the stage meaneth good sooth that behaueth himself so ridiculously in the very entrance of so waighty a matter or that his intent is to bleare thy eyes of vnderstaÌ„ding with his colours of rhetorike fyne quipps multitud of wordes depositions least you should se these works of god to his glory your comfort But to come to the point S. H. is very ignorant if he caÌ„not see a difference betwene mirandum miraculum for by mirandum is ment only athing admiratione dignum worthy admiration or to be admired of which number who knoweth not therbe many works which be not miraculous Ther was smal cause then why he should sport himselfe therewith and call it heere a shift a miserable shift and a little after a slysilly shift August liber 3. de â—â—râ—ta Dâ—neus opus 39 p. 1. c. seinge Augustine and after him Danaeus a man of great learning put an apparant difference betwene mirum miraculum a wonder a miracle According to whose iudgments I may well terme that election of spirits we speake of mirum a wonder and deny it to be miraculum a myracle Now if it so fall out that the Discouerers procedings be answerable to his begining his booke to his epistle his dealing concerning the matter of faâ—t to this in matter of doctrine then may his booke be rightly called a Discouerye not of a pure play but of his owne inward and secret corruption aswell mallice as ignorance which no doubt he greatly desireth shoulde be couered But let vs heare what he saith further against this silly shift of mine What dull conceites saith he had the rulers of the Iewes that they could not see this slysilly shift to depraue the miracles of our Sauiours Christ and to tell the people there was no iust cause they should beleeue pag. 4. that our Sauiour was the sonne of God in doing such mighty miracles among them the cheif one whereof was casting out of diuels by reason that action was but mirandum et non miraculum a strange thing for silly people to wonder at and not a myracle to inforce them to beleue The Discouerer might haue remembred that I doe not affirme that the casting out of diuels performed by Christ was by fasting prayer and so miranda et non miracula but the contrary euen there where I treate hereof to both these in my apologie To cast out diuels say I by aword so as one no sooner commaundeth the spirit to goe out but forthwith he departeth as Christ and his Apostles did is not only a myracle but of them the greatest but by the meanes of prayer and fasting to dryue out Sathan or rather to intreat Christ to whome all power is giuen in heauen and in earth to cast Sathan forth is mirandum non miraculum Had these words of mine bene spoken to the Pharises could those dull conceyted Rulers of the Iewes haue theâ—ce taken occasion to haue depraued our Sauiour his casting out of diuels Sure one wold thinke they serued rather to the magnifying thereof Now if the Discouerer could proue that Christ did cast forth wicked spirits by fastinge and prayer or yet his Apostles then indeede for as much
end of the discouery the Discouerer hath these wordes vnto these notable exployts of Darrells concerning Mary Cowper Katheryn Wright the boy of Burtou and William Somers something might be added of his pretended dispossessing the seauen so often mentioned in Lancashire out of one M. Mores examynation and confessyon touching that matter his sayd examynation is in the Registers office to her Maiesties Comissioners And if any will take the paynes to pervse it he shall finde that M. Darrels and M. Mores course held with those in Lancashire was as vayne ridiculous as with any of the other VVe heare of M. Mores dealing and mine about the pretended dispossessing of 7. Lancashire and in generall termes of the course we held with them therein but from these first words vnto these last we heare not what they for their parts did saue what is intimated by these aforesaid words so as the reader knoweth not well what to mak or thinke of them of whom notwithstandinge there is oft mention made and wither he should account them counterfeyts yea or no. I desire therefore to knowe of the Bishop of London Harsnet what theire iudgments of these seauen whither they counterfeyted a possession or were indeede possessed for one of these sure they did because they were handled so like to those that are possessed both in during the time of their trouble or so fayned and at the time and instant of their deliuerance or dissembled deliuerance euery one of them crying aloud being rent sore and lyinge as dead or seeminge so to be math 12. 43. which are the signes of dispossession Yea after also as wee haue heard in the story either the vnclehne spirits being gone out returned vpon them all seeking to reenter into them againe according to the Scriptures or some such thing they fayned These thinges duly considered it cannot be denyed but that either they were possessed or dissembled a possession Yf possessed it is to be hoped that they are now dispossessed considering the signes of dispossession mentioned in the gospell were heard and seene at the time and instant of their amendment and that since that very time being three yeares past they haue continued free from being vexed by Sathan as before they were one excepted that is repossessed The returne also of the spirits doth confirme their eiection Yf thus it goe haue gon with the 7. in Lancashire then we see men may be possessed in these dayes and dispossessed yea that the greatest part of the persons controuerted were so indeede and did not faigne so to be as is pretended If they counterfeyted why was not M. Starchy and some other about them being so many fetched to London by Purseuants or war rants as well as sundry from Nottingham about Somers diuers out of St affordshire about Thomas Darling And why was there no commission directed to some in Lancashire for the better inquirye into this counterfeyting and sifting of those counterfeyts if such they be being 7. as well as one into Darbyshire an other into Lecestershire 3. or 4. I take it to Nottingham for the finding out of the counter feyting of those foure there Yf these haue counterfeyted with Somers and Darling why were not they or some of them fetched vp and receyued into the Bishop of Londons house and by his Lordship and S. Harsnet deposed and examined about their counterfeyting as well as Somers and Darling their fellowe counterfeyts were for marke what the Discouerer himself saith in the end of this chapter pag. 4. touching all these sauing those in Lancashire examynatioÌ„s haue bene taken as well by the confessions of the parties as by diuers other circumstances it doth playnlye appeare that all which was done betwixt M. Darrell and them was meerly counterfeyted I demaund now why these Lancashire persons were omitted why their examinations were not taken and they tried what confessions they would haue made as well as Somers Darling Kath Wright and M. Couper if these likewise meâ—rely counterfeyted Surely me thinketh that if these 7. were counterfeits the Bishop and Harsnet doe hereby greatly preiudice the cause they haue in hand and them selues for admit one or two of them were obstinate and would not confesse a counterfeytinge yet it may be some of them would There are sundry of them and they are not all sure made of one moulde Some of them also very yong and it is likely they wold tel the truth moreouer it cannot be that the Bishop and Haâ—snet taking such great and long paynes about two yeares day and night to find out 4. counterfeyts would â—â—aue passed by such a number of counterfeytes so greate a pray as 〈◊〉 was if so be they were counterfeyts And much lesse would they â—aue sought out one single counterfeyt Kath. Wright by name haue deposed and examyned her with sundrye others for counterfeyting 14. yeares past and let all these alone with theire counterfeyting about three yeares agoe if these were counterfeyts as well as she is pretended to be Againe if those 7. haue counterfeited so that we haue not 4. but 11. counterfeyts considering I dealt with these 7. as well as the other 4. why is there no mention made not so much as in generalty of my fraudulent practises and procedings concerning the pretended possèssion and dispossession of these 7. nor any word vsed tending therevnto as well as or Will. Somers Thomas Darling the rest euen in particuler and by name Surely the Discouerer did greatly forget himself to mention my pretended dispossessing of 4. only in the tytle of his booke and in the first chapter of the booke wherein he treateth of the number of such persons as are said to haue bene disposessed by my meanes to name 11. Besides if those haue counterfeyted seing then they are the greatest part of the counterfeyts and haue not at all bene dealt with for their counterfeyting it is playne that the Bishop and Harsnet haue but slightly shuffoled and slubbered ouer the matter of counterfeyting wherewith they haue bene wholy taken vp a long time and left their worke vnperfect much like to an vnwise builder who not first sitting downe and casting with himself what his house will cost him falleth of building but perceiuing after he hath builded a while that he is not able to fynish that he began is constrayned to giue ouer his building whervpon all that behold it begin to mock him or that foolish man which vnawares buildeth his house vpon the sands but afterwards perceiuing the same to be no sure foundation ceaseth to build any further for this cause I aduise them either to confesse the truth giue glory to god or els for shame to proceede on in finding out more counterfeyts and add to the 4. they haue already those 7. for all eleuen were handled alike and their condition the same yea somuch is in effect acknowledged by the Bishope and Harsnet in this whole first Chapter of theirs
land against him for that so saying he made them guilty of innocent bloude It is to be remembred that howsoeuer in plaine and expressâ— wordes the Disc doth not affirme that none can in these dayes be dispossessed yet in effect he doth it vnder the name of 〈◊〉 So albeit he doe not saye that none can be now possessed with diuels yet consideringe his couert carriage of him-selfe there-in not once grantinge I warrant you in all his greate volume any such thingâ— and that he will haue all the possessed persons among vs and the Papistes also counterfeits as appeareth by this his first bookes who can coÌ„iecture any other but that he holdeth that none can be as this day possessed In like-sorte I say be doth here by witches not plainly denyinge any such to be but secretly insinuatinge as much to the reader Thus wee see he doth deny but couertly dispossession of diuels 2. possession with diuels 3â— all compact with diuels to the hurt of others â—f he proceede but one stepe further it wil be couertly to the deniel of diuels VVell this I dare be boulde to say of the Disc whosoeuer he be that howsoeuer he professe that he beleueth in god and that there are diuells yet by this very worke of his this Discouerie I meane he denyeth both OF CHAP. 7. OF THE CAVSES PRETENDED WHY MEN ARE POSSESSED Alyce Goodrig of Staphenhill in Darbishire hauinge a spirrit called Minnye in the likenesse of a dogge partie colored red and white did sendâ— the same to torment pag 37. Thomas Darling the seauen in Lancashire were as it semeth possessed by the meanes of one Edmond Hartley pag. 41. and a little after But Thomas Darlinges veniall sinne exceded the rest for he meeting Alice Goodrige in a coppice did let an escape as the book tearmeth it which shee taking to be done in her contempt vsed these wordes Gip with a mischife and fart with a bel I will goe to heauen thou shalt goe to hel And there-vpon her Minme entred into him Howsoeuer the Disc derideth this reported in the booke of Darlinge and no maruell seeinge he is perswaded that there are no witches yet there is in reason how strange and incredible so euer it seeme to carnall reason to perswade vs to receiue it for a trueth for first we haue Alice Goodrige the witch confessinge this of her selfe and that sundrie times 2. the circumstances mentioned in her confession are true vpon such a day sayd she I met Darlinge in such a place or wood called the coppice and the boy leting an escape as the booke termeth it I mistaking the boy for one Sherrats boy who had before broken me a basket of egges vsed these wordes Gip with a mischeife c. and there with-all bad my Minnie goe and torment him who after returninge vnto me said he had done soe Consideringe now that it is very true and knowne so to be to others that this Alice mâ—t Darlinge vpon the daye and in the place named that Darlinge then and their did and Sherrats boy also before as is here specifyed and that she vsed these wordes aforesaid and lastly that the very same night Dâ—â—ling began to be sicke and so continued worse and worse vntill 〈◊〉 as euident as the daylight at noone that he was tormented by the diuell who I say consideriug these things can in reason otherwise â— thinke but that shee saith truly concerning her sending of her Minny to torment Darling As then it is certaine yea so certaine as without blushing it cannot be denyed that Darlinge was tormented by the 〈◊〉 so it is hereby very playne that Alice Goodrige did there abouts confederate with her familiar spirit Moreouer in that we reade the like of others we are thereby to be confirmed herein Alice Samuell a witch of Warboyse confessed as is set downe in the printed booke that shee sent her spirit called Pluck The 〈◊〉 execution of the witches of warboyse to M. Throgmortons children and willed him to goe and torment them And that they were tormented by the diuell euen 5. of his daughters it is notoriously knowne and so generally receaued for truth as the Dis himselfe dareth not deny it though fayne he would as appeareth by his nibling at them If this now were true that Alice Samuell saith of herselfe why shoulde not the like confessed by Alice Goodrige of herself be also true And yf the one of these strengthened especially by sundry circumstances we can all of vs beleiue why should we not credite the other also confirmed by as many yea more and as strong circumstances as the otherâ— But what is it that offendeth the Dis somuch and maketh the confession of Alice Goodrige so incredible yea ridiculous vnto him doth this offend him that shee sent her familiar spirit to goe and torment him or this that she was so malitious and cruell vpon so small occasion or this that her spirit was in the forme of a dogge or this that her spirit had a name 〈◊〉 Mâ—â—y agreed vpon I meane betwixt them or this that the deuill did vsually as it should seeme appear vnto her like a little dogger or rather all these and especially that any man or woman should haue such familiarity entercourse of speach and thus compact or confederate with the diuell Least these should be as stombling blockes in our way as it shoulde seeme they are in the Discouerers let vs add to that is aforesaide these twoe thynges First that his last which is the strangest and indeede all in all is according to the scriptures and that some of these rest haue likewise in the generall though not in the particuler confirmation from the holy scriptures for by them it playnly appeareth that among the sonns and daughters of men there are some which haue familiarity with diuels haue speech and compact with them about this and that action chap. 28. 7. Heerevnto serueth that in the first of Samuell 〈…〉 that Saule repayred vnto is said to haue a familiar spirit And in that the diuell at her call appeared vnto Saule in the likenes of Samuell and had speach with him what should let vs to thinke that if not always yet somtimes and when she would the diuell 〈◊〉 vnto her in this or that forme and had 〈…〉 are said to worke with spirits 〈…〉 and they confederate in the same workes and therefore no doubt Levit 19 31. Lev 20. 6. this phrase or manner of speach is vsed â—â—â—shall not saith Moses â—â—â—gard them that worke with spint◠〈…〉 worke with spirits The second thing to be obserued is that not onlye Alic Samuell but thousands other haue confessed the like as strange and incredible as these of Alice Goodrige and the truth of the same haue bene confirmed by many circumstances wherevpon these kind of people witches I meane haue receaued the punishment due to such malefactors Neither did this Alice Goodrige escape vnpunished but was for
discerne of a feuer therefore skill in phisick is a signe of a feuer Thus to reason doth very ill beeseme a batcheller of artes much more a batcheller and Doctor of diuinity But this much worse professed deuines to charge falsly and that in print a preacher of the gospell to hould that prayer is a signe of possession where-vpon followeth that al which pray are possessed OF CHAP. 9. Of the signes whereby M. Darrell others doe discerne as they say when sathan is expelled M. Darrells ignorance maketh him as it seemeth in this point confident He is peremptory pag. 50. that because it is saide in the scriptures that the spirits of the lunatike when he was cast out of him did cry and rent him sore that bâ— lay as one dead that therefore these three are infallable signes appointed of God to knowe when one is dispossessed Nay rather then fayle hee will be content with one of them as in his dealing with Thomas Darlinge heereafter will appeare VVhere-vpon I houlde these three for signes whereby to knowe when one is dispossessed as signifying the egresse of the spirite I haue before declared it remayneth therefore only that I answer to those obiections the Disc maketh against them The first wherof is this Some lewde knaue may easily counterfeyt these signes ergo c. I answer that none can counterfeyt that is doe the like to any one of them much lesse can any counterfeyt them all For the holy ghost speaketh not of a naturall cry sent forth by mans voyce or power the like wherevnto an other man may vtter and so counterfeyt But of a supernaturall loud cry sent forth by a supernaturall power I meane the diuells for it is said â—â—â—ke 1. 26. the vncleane spirite cryed with a loud voyce and came out of him in like sorte it is said the vncleane spirit tare him nowe one would thinke that both the hand and tongue of man were too short to performe that is done by the diuell It is besides said of the possessed childe mentioned Mark 9. vers 26 that when the spirit was gone out of him he was as one dead in somuch that many said he is dead meaninge that howsoeuer he was not indeede deade but had life remayning in him yet he was in all things like to a deade body without any appearance of life starke and stiff the pulses not beating nor taking breath c. like to a man in a swound in whome although there be life yet no such thing appeareth to be Euen so it was with the dispossessed child where-vpon the people which thronged about him tooke him to be deade Nowe this lewd knaue cannot easily nor yet possibly counterfeyt Howsoeuer then were our 10. dispossessed persons counterfeites as the Disc will haue them there crying renting and fayning to lye as dead an other as lewde might easily counterfeyt yet to say that one may counterfeyt the crying renting sore and lying as deade mentioÌ„ed in the gospell and caused by the diuell is both absurd impious His second obiection is set downe in these wordes M. Darrell confessing that in the Apostles times some spirits were cast out more easily then others might in reason haue thought that those that went out so easily did not so greuously torment the parties at their casting out as the rest did True not so greuously torment at theire going out as the rest did therefore not greuously torment at all â—â—g â—1 and so of the other signes This followeth not as euery childe may se Two malefactors are whipped ymagine for one and the same falt by two seuerall tormentors the one being beaten by the more cruell man hath 40. stripes the other by him that is lesse cruell hath but 20. By this reason now of the Dis this latter was not beaten at all for he was not beaten so greuously as the other was His third obiection followeth And somewhat it is that although there are diuers mentioned in the scriptures â—â—g 51. to haue bene dispossessed by our Sauiour Christ and by his Apostles yet it is said of none but of the lunatick Mark. 9. that when Sathan departed the spirit either cryed or rente him sore or that they lay as dead To make therefore such particularities in one a generall rule to all argueth greatly the weaknes of his iudgment The Disc is greatly deceaued for of an other Mark 1. a man and not a childe as the lunatike was Mark 9. it is said that when he was dispossessed the vncleane spirit tare him and that he tare or rent him sore appeareth by Luke 4. where the same story is set down markâ— 1 â—â— voâ—â—â— Secondly it is written that he cryed with a laude voyce and came out of him And in the 8. of the Acts that the vncleane spirits crying with alâ—de voycâ— came out of many that were possessed And in that this is not saide heere of a particuler person as Mark 1. 9. but of many it is therby playne that it was an vsuall thing with the spirits to send forth or cause loude cryes when they went out of those they possessed Thus hath the Disc in saying that none but the lunatick Mark 9. either cryed or was rent sore vttered vn-awares a manifâ—st vntruth and therein shewed no greate learning or iudgment who vpbraydeth others with ignoranâ—e weaknes and want of iudgment VVe reade not indeeue in euery place where mention is made of casting out diulls of these 3. effeâ—ts that they cryed were rent sore and lay as deade but only in the 9. of Mark nor in any place besides that they in that case were for a season as dead and had the Disc said either of these he had said trulye yet notwithstanding it is very probable that thus it went with the dispossessed generally for in the 17. of Math. and 9. of Luke where the dispossession of the lunatick childe is set downe there is no mention neither of crying * nor renting Implied vers 1â— vers 42. nor lying as dead yet by the 9. of Mark it is cleare that when the diuel went out of him he cryed was rente sore and lay as deade In luke tâ—ere is mention of 〈◊〉 of tearing but that is to be vnderstoode of the time of his poâ—session and not after that lesu◠〈◊〉 the deuill and commâ—â—ded him to goe â—orth so of the acte 〈…〉 In the 4. of Luke we reade of the dispossession of one of Capernaum whome Christ met in the synagogue but we heare no thing of any loude cry that then was sent forth yet by the 1. of Mark verse 26. where the same myracle is recorded it is playne there was such a cry for it is said the vncleane spirit cryed with a lâ—â—ud voyce In that there is then no more mention in the gospell of these I call signes of dispossession it is not because they which were dispossessed did not cry neither were sore rent nor lay for a
season as deade at the going out of the spirit but only the lunaâ—â—dke Marke 9. whereof fewe will doubt the eâ—place compared and considered with that of the Act But for that the holy Fuangelists labouring after breuity doe vsuall 〈◊〉 only the said greate workes with some sewe circumstances as out of whome the diuell was cast vers 15. where and specially by whome in what manner it was done viâ—â— by the word or commaundement of Christ without describing at large the manner of sathans vexing the sayde party either while he held his possession or when he went forth the 9 of Marke only excepted where both these are performedâ— therfore it is that els-where we reade not of all the 3. signes and not because other dispossessed persons did not cry c. when the sprit went out but only he And where the Disc saith that rather then fayle I will be content with anyone of them I answer that howsoeuer I thinke these 3 signes were vsually heard and seene in the egresse of the spirits yet it may be not alwayes but sometimes two or percase one did suffice to signify the same and yet are not the other therefore in vaiÌ„e because the more signes the more we are confirmed in the dispossession of one for why may not this as well be true of the signes of dispossession as of possession where all the signes are not required but some of many may suffice as hath bene shewed before yea what if we should see one bowed togither so as he could not lift vp himself as the * vers 11. for it is very likelye shee was posest possessed woman was Luke 13. might we not well thence gather especially if we perceiued that it was not naturall that he had a spirit causing the infirmity of body and that he was so bound by sathan And yet this is but one effect or operation of sathan so but one signe of possession And why one signe may not suffice to signify the spirits going out of a man as well as this being in the body of maÌ„ I for my part doe not see neither doe I think that the Disc can shew any reason And although be it one or more there is singuler vse of the signe or signes to signifye the egressse as I haue shewed before treating thereof Yet are the signes of dispossession of no such absolut necessity as the signes of possession are as might easilye be shewed And therefore I will not deny but that one may be dispossessed and none of these signes appeare which is more the health and ease of the party from all former vexation by the diuell declaring his deliue rance from the diuell as it is in naturall diseases yet I think it falleth out thus very seldome if euer for the reasons formerly giuen by me Vnderstand me of the eiection of sathan by the finger of God de Doemon cap. 52. sect 20. not of his voluntary egresse as is in the papacy which may well alter the case And so is Thyreus fully answered saying non raro fit vt spiritus de scendant nullis sui discessus post se datis signis It is often seene that sathan departeth leauing no signes of his going which the Disc in the ende of this Chapter obiecteth out of him against me From these signes he proceedeth to certayne other which my selfe haue obserued in experience whereof we haue heard before saith that it may not be omitted of whome I haue learned them euen of Thyreus forsooth But how can this possibly be true seing Thyreus tretise de doemâ—niacis from which by my handes these counterfeyts shold haue receaued their directions concerninge the signes came not to England vntill the yeare 1598. they suffring or doinge the same the one of them I meane Darling 1595. and the other viz. the 7. in Lancashire 1596. How greatly also in this respect did the Disc fâ—rgetâ— himselfe to make almost a whole * I meane the first bodke of the Discoâ—tris booke to this end to perswade the world that I haue learned all my skile forsooth concerning possession of Thyreus the lesuite and in the same booke euery where alleadge him to consute me wheâ—eby appeareth that Thyreus and I dissent in iudgment as much almost as two can dissent about the doctrie in question therefore it is very vnlikely that I haue learned I know not what from him He procedeth to obiect against the signes heard and sene at the dispossession of the parties controuerted as followeth The cheif assurance pag. 53. that M. Dar. and M. More had that sathan had left lane Ashton was her owne wordes viz. when rising from her sit she said he is gone he is gone I am well I thank god And hauing wept in the said fitt shee also saide that then Sathan departed from her So as heere we haue a newe signe of Sathans going out of one viz. the wepinge of the party That M. More hath said no such thing as the truth is so it is probable heerby for that the Disc in the margent hath not noted the article and page as his vsuall manner is in other places which if he could haue done he woulde neuer haue omitted And truly for my owne part god is my witnesse I neuer said so yea it was farr from me much lesse did I depose so as the Disc affirmeth yea what need it seeing besides her most extreame tormentes at that time I with many more sawe her lye as dead for a season which had I forgotten as it is not likely yet thereof the story of the 7. in Lancashire written by M. Dickons one of the coppies whereof I had would haue put me in minde â— heereof also I was neuer deposed nor examyned no nor yet concerning the 7. in Lancashire saue the first time I was befor the Bishope a worde ar two concerning them all in generaall as whether I had not seene them before M. Starchy writ vnto me and whether M. More had not bene there before he went with me VVherby appeareth the corrupt dealing of the Discouerer who in the margent hath Darrell ad art 17 pag. 144. And whereas in the Lancashire story penned by M. Dickons from whence and not from M. More nor me the Disc hath both this and a great deale more in this said chapter and elswhere scattered heere and there there is mention of her increase of torment which as I conceaue is ment by those words Mar. 9. rent sore where-vpon these wordes are vsed Now in this time they were all greeued to see how pittifully she was tormented togither with that he heere mentioneth this viz. she was cast into a traunce and lay as one deade for a while he hath of purpose omitted both these that soe he might weaken that it is saide by me concerninge the signes of dispossession and withall bring the reader ignorant herefo to suspect hâ—r dispossession and togither with hers all the
rest To which purpose he proceedeth to the dispossession of Margares Byrom and the siges thereof wherein he dealeth more playnlie and lesse corruptly I meane especially in that he telleth in the argument from whence 〈◊〉 had the same not from M. Mores deposiuons mine but from the history of the 7. in Lancashire Margaret Byrom saide that at her reuertingâ— after shee had lyen as dead half 〈…〉 her belly towards her brest 〈…〉 thence to her throat c. as followeth the history before It leâ—t behinde it said â—heea 〈◊〉 throat and a filthy 〈◊〉 that a weeke after her meate was vnsauâ—ry Heere wee haue the Iesuite stinche And besides the must infallable mate amongâ—e I. 〈…〉 dipossâ—ssiâ—â— viz. â—ying for dead is heere confuted for this party was 〈…〉 was gone This obiection ariseth onlye of the misplacinge of one worde which the writer of this story M. Dickâ—n 〈…〉 which being placed in his right place the obiection is eaâ—â—y an 〈◊〉 for wheras it is thus set downe This word 〈…〉 â—etto M. 〈…〉 a that at her 〈◊〉 after shee had lyen as dead 〈…〉 c. it shoulde haue bene thus Margaret Byronsay 〈…〉 had lye as dead 〈◊〉 an houre that she felt the spirit come vp c. neither can the firste in any sence or reason be Byron as they must needes it we take the wordes as they are 〈…〉 reported for she knew not how long â—he lay dead no more then a deade body But very 〈◊〉 they belong to the writer of 〈◊〉 as appeareth by the right placing of the word that From Margaret Byroâ—â— he proceedeth to the 〈…〉 and out of the Lancashiâ—â— story setteth downe at large the seuerall thapes that the euill spirits as it shoulde seeme caused presently vpon their egresse from them and presented themselues into theire eyes as if they had gone forâ—â— of them indued with such bodyes and there-vpon plaâ—eth vppon Darlynges mâ—â—wse And all this to make their dispossession odiouâ— or ridiculous if he could whereas indeede it confâ—ometh the same But he saith neuer a word of their most extrame torments for renting sore their cryinge 〈◊〉 their lying all 〈◊〉 they had bene starke deaâ—e which in the 〈…〉 downe with their seuerall circumstaunces Theâ—e thinges he thougt good to omitt 〈…〉 all the signes of dispossession and therein the dispossession of oâ—r Demnia â—k◠〈…〉 confirmed by the signes thereof hee 〈…〉 they may shewe them and yet not 〈…〉 〈◊〉 cap. 〈◊〉 sect 4. I answer 〈◊〉 and graunte that 〈…〉 as the putting out of a câ—â— die the breaking of a quarry in the glasse-windowe and such like ridiculous signes it is most true the signes also which of their owne accord they giue as the sensible and viâ—â—â— as I may say going out in such 〈◊〉 as we heare vomiting c. I doubt not but they may at theire luntâ—â— pleasure omitt but that they may shew them and keepe their possession especially the signes mentioned in the gospell as the â—esuite will haue it and that also after the meanes is vsed arigâ—â—t which god â—â—ath orâ—e neâ— for the casting out of diuells I deny â—or it cannot be that god will suffer the spirites thus to delude mock his people which shall be heereabouts occupied in faith and obedience to his owne ordinance wherein as the wicked spirits would delight exceedingly thus I meane to diâ—â—emble an egresse in handling the persons possessed in such manner as some times they did when they wente out of men and especially at the time we speake of so woulde they vse the same full often yea I trust if it were so left to then pleasure and that the diuells were not in this case ouer ruled brydled by that ouer allrusig had of god all England shold haue heard of it before this Againe were it thus that the spirits might giue these signs tarrie in men or that the spirits might omitt all the signes metioed in the scripture wheÌ„ they goe forth of men we could not know that the possessed were dispossessed as hath bene shewed but must needes stand in doubt therof at least for a time that time wherin we are affected with the works of god it euer whereby it would come to paste that when this wonderfull worke of god sholde at any time be wrought the lord should neither be hattely praysed for the same and receaue that glory that otherwise would be giuen him nor man receaue sound profit therby And it is a wonderfull thing to consider how ready the papists are to affirme that their Exorcisâ—s can doe compell the spirits to giue such signes as they pleaseof their departure and neuer once thinke of gods compellinge them to giue the signes mentioned in his word at their egresse for the aâ—s surance of his people that they are gone out who without the same cannot possible knowe 〈◊〉 much nor of his restrayning them to shewe the said signes wheÌ„ yet they remaine within them OF CHAP. 10. Of M. Dar. and M. Mâ—res conceit that Sathan being cast out of one doth presently after seeke to repâ—ssâ—ss him M. Darrell like a kinde 〈…〉 with the dispossâ—sion of any pag. 53 but for 〈◊〉 Care therein he may be thought to haued 〈◊〉 â—â—mmendation For his perswasion to such 〈…〉 that they should vse all diligence and circumpâ—â—lim that sathan did not againe reenter in to 〈◊〉 Thâ—â— his perswation hath eur bene drawne from a position which he 〈…〉 that Sathan beinge expelled out of man doth seeke prsently after to reenter into him againe pag â— and that it is commonly a very hâ—rd matter to withstand him by reason of his subtâ—tly alluiâ—ng 〈◊〉 by promiseâ— and terrifying of them by threatnings And a little 〈…〉 in the scriptures 〈…〉 saith Christ math 1â—43 is 〈…〉 from where I came and when he is come he 〈…〉 Then he goeth taketh vnto then 〈…〉 and they enter in and dwell there and the end of that man is wisse then the begning Euen so shall all it be with this generation This place of scripture is indeede metapharicall as appeareth by theâ—e wordes euen so it shall be with this wicked generaâ—â— and is vsed by our Sauiour to illustrate and plainly set forth the miserable future estate of the Iewes if they continued in their sinns The metaphore is this As it is with a man which hath an vncleane spirit cast out of him if notwithstandinge that great mercy of god receyued he continue in or returne to his former sinnes whereby it coÌ„e to passe that the diuell returning and seeking to enter into him again doe indeede enter in which he certainly will if he finde his old guest such and that with seauen other spirits worse then himselfe the end of that man shall be worse then his begining miserable therefore and fearefull euen so shall it be with this people of the Iewes who being in their bloud and filthynes Exodus 1925. Deut. 32
betwene the flesh and the skyn depryuing him of all sence so as being prickt deepe with pynnes he woulde not styrr nor bloud issue retorting his tongue into his throate causing him to foame excessiuly to be in appearance of supernaturail strength and knowledge casting him into the fyre without being burnt c. and that daylie what would it aduantage the diuell for So. to say and sweare he counterfeyted when the deede euery houre done by himselfe shewed the contrary and where had bene my teaching to counterfeyt and the imprisoning the innocent how would also the children of men haue bene generally kept from beeleeuing the worke of god and magnifyinge him for it and not only so but insteade there of brought to receaue a false and vile report against his seruant and that which is far wone against the worke it selte Howsoeuer then the diuell is naturally carried to vexe and torment them in whose bodyes he is and to senâ—e forth such effects as we heare and ordinarilye doth so yet we may be assured that when he seeth it is more for his aduantage to refrayne as it is in this our case to draw thousands to synne then to torment one sole body he being in man will not shewe himselfe and make that knowne but lurke and lye cloase as I may sayâ— like a suâ— tie serpont and oulde foxe as he is We haue hearde before in the story that for the space of a fort night or thereabouts sathan did withdrawe himselfe from vexing Iohn Starky and Anne Starky for certaine dayes insomuch as their parents with others did verilye thinke at the first when M. More and I came to Cleworth that they had bene well and no wicked spirites within them yea we haue had experience thereof even in Somers who after he had giuen it forth that he counterfeyted and therewith continued as well and free from all appearance of possession as at this present he doth for the space of 4 or 5. weakes was fearefully tormented by the diuell before the Commissioners and many other witnesses and so continued about 12. dayes in the vew of all that came vnto him vntill the aduersaries hauing gathered hart to themselues did rise vp againe for counterfeyting and tooke him the second time into their custody in whose haÌ„ds he was no sooner but preseÌ„tly he was as they thought well and no diuell forsooth in him and so hath remayned as they thinke vntill this day which suddayne amendment if I may so call it with the cause or occasion thereof might helpe vs to spi out the reason of Sathans not vexing of So. albeit he be in him styll if we were wise Now I desire to know why the diuell may not aswell by the space of some yeares abstayne from tormenting the man he possesseth as for the space of some weekes Thus we see that So. not being vexed by sathan doth not let but that he may be possessed We see also the reason why the diuell thus withdraweth himselfe which well considered we may perceaue that it is not possible it should haue bene or yet be so longe as all things continue as they are that the vncleane spirit entred into So. with seauen worse then himselfe shold vex him at all otherwise then in corners before such and in such maner as he thinketh good and seeth it to make for the vphoulding mainteyning of that euill name of counterfevting which he for the obscuring of the greate worke of god maâ—h 12 2â— Luk 11. 21. hath raysed vp and spread far neate for what saith the scripture when the stronge man armed keepeth the bâ—use the things that be possesseth are in peaâ—câ— This is first to be vnderstood of corporall possession as is playne by the occasion thereof Now did euer the strong armed man possesse a house more â—uâ—e the then he doth 〈…〉 or body when no man resisteth tâ—at vsurper when So. himselfe and some such as are ruâ—ers in the â—â—urch comon wealth yea and too many â—tiâ—ers are for this vniust possessor for 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 no man almost in a zeâ—le of god and his glâ—ry riseth vp against him As then the repossession of So. is according to that 〈◊〉 his foretoulde vs by the holy scriptures euen so in â—â—is is lurlâ—ng of satâ— an 〈◊〉 being at peace with Sâ—mer we see the scripture likewise fulfiled Nitâ—er doe I doubt but that if any zealous for the lâ—orâ—e of hoasts shall procure such order to be taken that the meanes may be vsed for the dispossessinge of this vsurper and so Christ Iesus the stronger â—ane vppon this strong man he shal be spoyled of â—as houâ—e that armoure wherein he trusted taken from him and his spoyles deuided and we therein also see the scripture fulfilled beefore our eyes we desire that a trâ—all heere of may be made that so happely if no other way an end may be put to this controuersie To deny this were very hard and iniurious to the manifestation of the worke and peace of those which contend abut it If I had only knowne Som. possessed and not to haue bene beesides dispossessed I should haue bene lesse confident in this present possession for why I should haue doubted least Sathan peraduenture had leaue from god to possesse him only for a season which time being expired he might remayne there no longer albeit no meanes was vsed for his expulsion and against this I fynde nothing in holy scripture But of the repossession of one I am otherwise perswaded because it is said that of both the Tuangelists which spake of the conditioÌ„ of the repossessed mâ—â—h 12. 45. Lul 11. 26. that the spâ—rite hauinge entred in with seauen worse then himselfe will dwell there and take vp his habitation as hauinge some right and interest in tâ—e house In which respeâ—t it may be it is said that the last stat of that man is woâ—s thâ—n the first meaning that the condition of the man reposessed is worse then it was when he was first possessed For first Christ speaketh in both the â—uangelists in the preâ—ent tense not in the future the last state of that man is worse not shal be worse 2. The antithesis or opposition betwene first and last estate confirmeth this expositioâ— for by first estatâ— we are to vnderstande the condition of the possessed from the time â—athan entreth into man vntill the time of his eiection and by last estatâ— I thinke his like conditioÌ„ of being possessed but after eieâ—tion wherby it may wâ—lbe distiguished froÌ„ the former rightly he called 〈…〉 haung respeâ—t to the other and like estat going befâ—re And this 〈…〉 of one possessed which is that we call repofessiâ—n is saide to be the 〈◊〉 first because into such the same spirit which â—as there beâ—â—re is entred with sâ—auen worse then himselfe 2. because they will dweâ—l there that is though they he cast â—ut 〈…〉 theire possession And truly no nâ—aruaâ—â—e though the estate of the 〈◊〉
â—â—â—led be such as wel caâ—e and 〈…〉 thâ—n on the estate of thâ—â—e persens possessed out of whome the vncleane spirit was neuer cast câ—nsiâ—â—ing theire great vnthankfullnes for so singular and senâ—lie mercy of god bestoweâ— vppon them and that notwithstanding the Lord â—â—uing correâ—ed them for their sinnes by the diuell and after deliuered them out of â—is handes yet they returne to theire sinnes agayne â—â—hout which one cannot be repossessed This I say considered it is 〈◊〉 with god to deliuer thâ—m vpp to the full possession of the diuell or diuells or at least to some further possession and interest in them then beefore As for the B. of Londons obiection that So. hauing remayned a yeare in his house hath gone to the Church all that time and there carryed himselfe as orderly as any other of â—as samely and likewise in his prayers at home aâ— M. Harsuâ— quoth he can witnesse it is easilye answered for we reade in the 1. of Marke that at Capâ—râ—aum there was in tâ—â— Synagoâ—ue a man in whome there was an vncleane spirit and how est the same man had bene there who can tellâ— and quietly no doubt hee carried himselfe there otherwise that had bene no place for him Indeede he cryed out when he sawe Iesus but this all that were posâ—essed did wheresoeuer they met him so that said exâ—lan atien was not because of his being in the Synagogue but because of Christ his being there VVhere I say that So. what 〈◊〉 lo possessed is now possessed I doe not meane that the diuell is for certaâ—nty at the very instant when I so speake in the body of Somers for as he may be there so at that present may hee be without him as I suppose but I mean that Sathan hath leaue from god â—â—emer into that body of his and tâ—rment it which he is denyed to doe bâ— others â—uk 9 39. 〈…〉 â—lâ—p 8 16 4. math 12. 29 44. which letteth not but that he may or doth goe forth sometimes and come in againe at his pleasure And this I câ—nceanue gâ—ne rally of the possessed and Sathan his being within them for it is liâ—e ly that tâ—e diuell doth with those he entreth into as the father of the Luâ—atick saith concerrings his dealinge with his chylde a And â—he quâ—th he a spirit taketh him and sudâ—enly he cryeth and he treareth him tâ—at he sâ—â—ameth and hardly departeth from him when he hath 〈…〉 These are saide in the â—criptures to be b possessed with the diuell meating touching their bodyes which in this case is called his 〈◊〉 for concerning their sâ—â—ules they are no more nor otherwiâ—e possessed theÌ„ others mark 123 now a man is possessed of his house although he remaâ—ne not aâ—â—aâ—es in it Euen so it is I thinke betâ—eene sathan and his house that is the body he possâ—sseâ—h Indeeâ—e 〈…〉 to be pâ—ssâ—sseâ— in whome there 〈…〉 but it folloveth nâ—t therevpon that the spirit is alwayes in the man neuer out of him Yea except now one spirit now an otâ—er shoulde goe into the body of the possessed after the diuen taketh once possession of the body of man which is vulâ—â—â— it must needes be that the spirit goeth out sometimes for other wise it is not possible that the spirit shoulde vtter these thinges he is by experience seene oft to doe by the tongue of the party possessed as the speaches and actions spoken and done else where at or about the same instant they are spoken and done And thus much concerning Som. repossession Discouerer After this So. pag. 134. deuised new tricks vnder a euierlet vp in this occasion Lying vppon his bed with a couâ—rlet cast ouer him he moued by chance he knew 〈◊〉 how some parte of his body when he was supposed to be in a fit and cheresore sencelesse where vpon he the said M Dâ— gaue it out that it was the diuell that made that motion vnder the couerlett which was such an instruction to Som aâ— he ceased not to feede that error Likewise sayth So. lying in my bed I did sometimes knock and fillip with my fingers toes against thâ— had sides and feete and this also waâ— ascribed to M. Dar. as to haue bene loue by the diuell That which St. heere deposeth is confirmed by the depositions of diuers pag 239 The very â—nocking at that time I waâ— there saith M. Hallam was â—ne of his â—es slipping downe from the other when the voyce of 4. or 5. knocks were heard togither in manner of a chyme quoth M. Crauen I founde one of the to be his singer thrust vnder his thigh as he lay uppon his back â—eorge Richardson thus Touching the likenesses of kitlinges mouing in So. bed I haue hearde much wonder thereof at one time when I was there it was thâ— bowes sâ—â—nte Edmun. l. Garland thus Catching on a time at that which I saw moue the â—hathes I gott â—â—ilde of it and offering to cast vp the cloathe tâ—â—se what I had in my hand it slipped from me I bâ—eleâ—ue was thâ— hâ—uae priuymâ—mbâ—rs Againe I hearing a knocking at the bâ—â—â— feete catched the boy by the toes which I perceaued to haue made the former knocking M. Aldred thus the rapping in M. Hallams opinion wâ—â— thing else but the rapping of me of his navles vpon in other M. Par The rapping was the sillipoing of his syngers or â—one motion with his toes VVe heare what So. â—arrell and his witnesses say let vs now hear what was deposed before the 12. Commissioners M. Aldridge This examinas saith that he standing in the hall hearde a greate knocking in the parlour where thâ— bâ—y lay and suddâ—ly he ruâ—â—ed in where he found the bâ—y al me in his bed Nu â—â—on 〈◊〉 2. lying with his face vpward in his sâ—â—t with his in 〈…〉 his in eyes staring at though they would 〈…〉 hâ—ad And kneâ—â—ne downe to prayer he hâ—d the knoke 〈◊〉 againe vnder he knees as he thoughâ—â— and in the bed vnder the câ—uâ—r lett he sawe the forme and shape as it were of fyue kitlings in quantity to the uiew of the eye And againe this examinate sawe the bedcloathes at the seere to shake moue and leape as the leaues of an aspen tree shaken with the wynde dep 6. Loane Pye saith that diuers times shee had heard a clapping in his bed as though it had bene the clapping of 3. handes and that shee hath seene a maton in the bed as though it had bene the creeping of 3. kitlings which shee and diuers others haue inderuored to take houlde of but neuer could for when they attempted the same it hath vanished his handes and feete neuer sturring to their sights and that at other times shee hath heard at his bedds feete a knocking as though it were vnder the bed to their vnderstanding Eâ—izabeth Milward saith dep 14. that shee hearde a thumping or knocking in his bed and shee putting her hand into
hauing fore appointed a mighty and wonderfull opposition against his manifest worke he would haue solemne witnesses fuâ—â— tâ—ereof for the further strengthening of those who should beeleue his worke and makinge those the more yea out of measure mexcusable who should resist fight against it perâ—ase also and partlye to strengthen and incourage his seruants whome he would especially vse not only in bearinge witnesse to the possession and dispossession but also to the repossession of Sâ—mers which last the worlde would not indure to heare of and to put them in hope for their further incouraging thereiâ— that as then after â—athan had withdrawne and hid himselfeâ— a time wherevpon there was greate contention whether the boy were possessed or counterfeyted the Lord did discouer the spirit to the manifestation of the truth and that beefore solemne witnesses so one day after an other manner of contention I meane farr greater and before more solemn witnesses of greater authority god would vncaâ—e that â—ul till spirit deceauer of the world to the full manifestation of the truth and his owne glory whether then I say there was any such coâ—pacâ— as is heere mentioneâ— or no it mattereth not neither whether 〈◊〉 were afrayde of hangingâ— but the matter indeede to be considered by vs is whether So did those strange things whereof the Commissioners were ey witnesses as So. and the Disc affirme or the diuell as we affirme The Commissioners with sundry others of account and good credit doe know that beefore them Som. wallewed to and fâ—oâ—â—n the chamber floar or swiftly rowled with his body stretched out to the full length in very strang and admirable â—ea I maâ— truly say 〈◊〉 supernaturall manner 2. That he lay before them with his body swelleâ— greatly 3. His intrallâ— were short vp and downe along in his body much like to the sâ—â—oâ—ting of aweauers sâ—ittle 4. greate violence was offered vnto him thereby to make try all iâ— he had any feelinge and namely he was priâ—ed with pâ—nns in hand and legg whereat he stirred nonâ—â—re then a stock 5. being pricked and that deepe not a drop of bloud if ueâ—â—â—t This pricking with pynnâ—s and the induringe theâ—eof So. himslefe we see confesseth so it may beâ—â— did the not issuing of bloud and the Disc thought good to keepe that back but 〈…〉 come cure only yet this I am sure of that 〈…〉 was held vp beefore 〈…〉 where he had bene priâ—â—ed but the 〈…〉 to be there gathered 〈…〉 did not 〈◊〉 because the skyn was 〈…〉 by name that only pricked 〈…〉 men deepe as M. Câ—â—ge Smaâ—â— who 〈…〉 of London as also 〈…〉 downe of purpose 〈…〉 would be Yt now Som. 〈…〉 are to order the matter that 〈…〉 pynnes a dâ—euer stirr thereat nor 〈…〉 his intraâ—s then I deny not but 〈…〉 the Commissioners otherwise 〈…〉 from the diuell and so he 〈…〉 the Disc will put out the eyes not only 〈…〉 but 〈◊〉 many others also 〈…〉 â—hew his own trickes and 〈…〉 with the Maiâ—â— was that therby 〈…〉 Commissioners that whatsoeuer he had done 〈…〉 counterfeyted or as M Fre 〈…〉 and the 〈…〉 them and was asked be 〈…〉 fell down did he answer that a 〈…〉 and in a worde so as by his answers it was 〈…〉 he could not or would not tell of any thing that 〈…〉 had done or waâ— done vnto him by others 〈…〉 the company of his counterfeyting whâ—◠〈…〉 why he then did his prankâ— but to induce 〈…〉 contrary So. is produced by the Disc answerange this 〈…〉 wordes Discouerer 〈…〉 〈…〉 durst not speake his mynde therein call me seing the rest of the commissioners and many others so confident indeed that I was repossessed Further more I also then feared least M. Markhams and one â—aques wordes with sundry others would proue true who the same morning ouernight â—ad could me that if I were found to be dissembler I must be hanged whereas quoth Iaques if it then appeare that thow art not a dissembler ther can no lawe nor Iudge hurt thee In these respects I thought it the safest way for my selfe to yeald for that time to their humors and to answer as before is expressed that I had not dissembled Darrell For our better vnderstanding of the iugling and deceipt heere vsed we must know that euen as So. was facing it out to the Commissioners that he had counterteyted and yet refusing to counterfeit so againe he was vyolently cast downe the spirit then trifling excedingly so framing his countenance toying with his armes and leggs as a man in carnall reason would haue verily thought that he counterfeyted nothing being done but that might easily be done by any Our helpe was thus that being puâ—led by the eares and hayre of the heade as 〈◊〉 they shovld haue naue bene plucked of and there withall his head beaten so to the floar at a mercifull man would scarsly doe to a dogg yet he stirred nor not at all therat nor at the pricking of him with pinnes neyther did any bloud issue at the places pricked This fitt ended he beinge asked by the Commissioners what hee had done also what others had done to him hee coulde tell of nothinge one of the commissioners askinge him whether he were not pricked of one of his handes with a pynne he answered yes hould inge forth the wronge hand whereby those that were present perceaued that he would gladly haue vttered those things that had in that fitt be fallen him if possibly he could that so still hee might haue perswaâ—ed men that he had formerly dissembled Lastly beinge demaunded whether he had counterleted he answered with a braten face as before the said fit that he had counterfeyted Forthwith he was carryed away by his keepers and presently after else-where in the towne fearefully tor mented by the diuell whereof when tydings was brought to the Commissioners viz. that now So. was very fearfully handled some commaunded that he should be brought back againe which being done accordingly he no sooner appeared beefore them but he was in a fitt and so proceeded from fitt to fitt till he had had sundry the spirit in these vexing him indeede and shewing his rage malice against man and not in subtilty as he did at the first VVhere now the Disc affirmeth that So. liinge in the fitt he had at the first when he was pricked with pynnes and out of which the 〈◊〉 should haue called him did vpon good deliberation for sooth change his myâ—â—e and accordinge thereto the fitt beinge ended say to the Commissioners that he had not dissembled it is vâ—true for then be affirmed the contrary that he had dissembled as the Commissioners 〈◊〉 sundry others can testify And if So. did say to the Commissioners that he had not dâ—ssembled which I doe not remember it was after he was sent for the second time and vpon the fearefull vexatâ—â—n be then indured thick and threefoulde by Sathan which helpeth 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 at all 〈◊〉
chief witnesses He that aduâ—â—edly considereth of their depositions will finde that they haue deposed materially against counterfeyting and so much as the worlde is not able to answer much lesse the Disc with all the helpe he hath from his miserable shiftings wreastings reexamynations Againe if ther were any omytted which could depose more materially and fully against this supposed counterfeyting then doth this cause and worke of God susteyne the more losse and is to the Disc more aduantage he might well therefore haue helde his peace and contented himselfe with that which is already deposed But in all likelihood he would heere-vpon peâ—â— ade his reader that the things deposed are of no moment at all but easily auoyded and wyped away with a wett finger But alas this is harder for him then he ymagineth It is beyond the compasse of all his â—caâ—ning and wit as may appeare by that which he hath done already for hauing heerein labored what he can by such countenance and authority as he could possibly procure yea and pressed euery thinge 〈◊〉 the vttermost yet in the ende after all his sweating canuasing and 〈…〉 he proued iust nothing in the accoâ—nt of any man of wisdâ—◠〈◊〉 and iuâ—gment as I trust will ymedâ—ad appeare vppon the 〈…〉 nations themselues Had he not better then haue sit 〈◊〉 and winâ—ed at these depositions or smoothly passed by theâ— as he 〈◊〉 by diuers other thinâ—s as if he had not seene them then thus to haue strygleâ— and striuen like a birde in the lyme to the vtter disgraâ—e and ouerthrowe of â—imselfe and the pretendeâ— counterfeytinge he so earnestly stryueth for And thus much for answer to his coging aâ—d gâ—auering preface Now to proceed to the eamininge of the Dis re-examynatiâ—ns That this may be done the more throughly exactly I will first set downe the first depositions of those whome the Disc hath re-examyned where he either hath not donne it at all or else but in part and so comparing theire former and latter depositions or re-examynations togither wee shall playnlye see what those witnesses haue retracted or qualyfied and how worthely and substantially this Disc conuinceth the depositions of the 17 taken by the aboue named 12. Commissioners Robart Aldridge clarke viccar of S. Maryes in Nott. sworne examyned saith Narration dep 2 that first he comming to W. Somers vpon thursday being the 3. of Nouember as he thinketh he found him lying vpon a bed no beddcloathes lying vpon him but only his hose and sawe a thing runninge vpp his right legg to the quantity of a mouse and he calling vnto god by prayer ymediatlie it remoued out of the right legg into the left laying his hand therevpon imediatly it remoued into his belly where it did swell to a verye greate quantity twise so byg as his body as he thinketh and from thence in to his brest there it was the bignes of his fist from thence into his neck from thence vnder his care where it remayned in the bygnes of a french walnuâ—t not changing his former cullor and so remayned there for the space of a quarter of an houre And this examynate further saith that he heard in a strange hollowish voyce that he was his and this examynat answering said that he lyed he was gods that he had made a promise vnto god in baptisme to be his then the voyce answered that he was god Christ a kinge that he made baptisme and that he made him his by a new couenant This examynate also further saith that the said W. So. had such strength as fiue men had much adâ—o to keepe him downe duringe which time he exceeded in swelling skriking roaring velling very fearefully gnashiÌ„g of his teeth soaminge at his mouth And also saith that standinge in the hall he heard a great knocking in the parlor where the boy lay suddenly he rusted in where he sound the boy alone in his bed lying with his face vpwards in his fit with his mouth drawne awry his eyes staring as though they would haue started out of his head And kneeling downe to praier hâ—â—d the kâ—â—cking agayne vnder his knees as be thought And in the bâ—dd vnder the couerlet he sawe the forme shape as it were of fiue kythnges in 〈◊〉 to the viâ—w of his eye And agayne this examinate sawe the bâ—dâ—◠〈◊〉 at the secte to shake mooue leape as the leaues of an Aspon tree shaken with the wynde Now followeth the Disc re-examynation of this deponent Discouerer M. Aldridge being asked why heeretofore he bad affirmâ—d that he per ceaued whilest Sâ— was acting his tricks the formes as it wâ—re of kâ—things vnder the couerlet that lay vpon him the said couerlett being betwixte his eyes them M. Aldridg pag 210. rather then the formes of wholpes of conneyes of raÌ„tts c. answereth I thiâ—ke my so affirming did proceede of this c because I haue heard beefore that certayn witches had spirits in formes of kithings those formes then came to my minde And agayne I doe not very well know that a mans sences may be deceaued Besides I was then very greatlye afrayde which is a great meanes to deceaue a mans sences being a mighty passyon thâ—â— wâ—ll procure many ymaginations cause a man to thinke that which is bâ—t 〈◊〉 to be greate that which standeth to moue that to be which is not Whereby I confesse my great feare considered that I might be deceaued in affirming many things concerning the particularities of the said So. fitts and I verily thinke it may be true that So. affirmeth of making certaine motions with his fingers vnder the said couerlett of his knocking against the bedstock whilest I was praying by his bedside Darrell M. Aldridge being re-examyned denyeth not that he sawe the formes or shapes as it were of 5. kitlings in quantity vnder the couerlet wher So. lay but only sheweth why he rather tearmed or compared the saide formes to kitlings then to other such like liuing creatures as whelps conneys ratts c. occasyoned therevnto by the interrogatory propounded vnto him except we gather the same out of the last wordes of his deposition But be it for feare or through the cunning of his examyner he was drawne vnawares to retract that he had before concerning this poynt deposed was there therefore no such supernaturall accident vnder the couerlet as the Disc woulde haue men heâ—revppon to collect why besides this deponent there haue 4. others deposed to this rare accident as hath bene declared beefore whereof twoe at the least viz M. Th. Gray and Ioane Pye haue bene likewise re-examyned thereabouts but we heare neither of retraction nor yet of qualification thereof whereof we may rest assured that they iteraâ—ed and affirmed the same againe vpon their re-examynation Shall nowe the rest be perâ—ured as needes they must 〈◊〉 there were no â—vch accideâ—â— becaâ—â— of the 〈◊〉 of one 〈◊〉