The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet, Treatise · Book 5

The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet · Treatise · Book 5

p. 171THE FIFTH BOOKE

OF CHAP. 1.

How M Darrells credite, touchinge his dealing with the boy of Burton, doth relye upon a falſe and fooliſh booke, that was publiſhed of the ſaid boy… pretended poſſ…ſſion, and diſpoſſeſſion.

Diſcouerer

And M. Dar.pag 169. himſelfe confeſſeth that he read, or at the leaſt did heare the ſaid booke read over, before it went to the preſſe: and yet acknowledgeth p. 172vponupon diuers occaſions, as heereafter ſhall appeare, that ſundrie poynte … are vntrue: which beinge conſidered together with the premiſes it may … bethought, that M. Darr. writteth falſly, when he telleth vsus that a greate many would depoſe the ſaide booke to beccone would thinke that this Diſc had neuer gone to ſchoole he reaſoneth ſo childiſhly as if a diſcourſe may not be true in the ſubſtance & yet faultye in ſome circumſtance. true, if they might be called theirunto by authoritie.

Darrell

The Diſc. hauinge vſed many wordes to ſmale purpoſe and not worthy the anſwearing, to proue the printed booke concerninge Darling to be a falſe and fooliſh booke, commeth in the third and laſt place to that which he thinketh to be moſt materiall, namely, my owne confeſſion, in that I acknowledge ſundrie poyntes in it t… be vntrue: and theſe he ſheweth in the chapter followinge to be three. But we muſt vnderſtand they are matters of circumſtance, and that I doe not iuſtifie the booke in every circumſtance, but the hiſtorie to be true in ſubſtance, as appeareth by pag. 266. Now marke good reader how the Diſc. argueth: The booke concerning Darling is vntrue in ſome p…yntes, therfore in all, or ergo the whole booke is falſe. Hath he his ſences thinke you, that gropeth not the groſſnes of this argument? Now, wheras it may ſeeme that I was in fault in that I did not correcte the booke in theſe ſaide poyntes that were a miſſe, ſeeing I read it ouer before it went to the preſe, the very truth is, that in a writinge which I returned togeather with the booke to M. Iohn Deniſon the publiſher theirof, I did ſect downe the ſumme of that I ſpeake to Darling & his frends, deſiering that that beinge the truth might be publiſhed, & that the other lines which were penned (and now printed) wherein theſe ſaid vntruthes are contayned, might be left out. Am I now in fault, becauſe theſe things were not accordingly reformed? Touchinge the other poynt, to witt my affirminge, that many …are readie to depoſe the ſaid booke to be true, though I my ſelfe (forſooth) acknowledg it to be falſe: marke I praye thee (good reader) the deceitfull dealinge of the Diſcouerer: how he purpoſly leaueth out the ſpeciall wordes that ſhould cleare the caſe, vz. for the ſubſtance of it. I ſayd in my Apologie, the booke printed for the ſubſtance of it, hath bene offered to be confirmed by the oathes of a great many: a principall part whereof we ſee he omitteth: without which omiſiion he could neuer hauehave made (as eueryevery child may ſee) this goodly flowriſh, and theirfore it muſt needes be that the ſame was wittingly and aduiſedly done by him, which aggrauate…h his fault theirin: whereas I meant then and doe meane ſtill, that the ſubſtantiall poyntes theirof that make againſt counterfeiting, are true and iuſtifiable For confirmation wherof we muſt know that M. Deniſon whē he came to the B. of London to be examined about the ſame matter, brought in writinge the names of a great many (I thinke about p. 17340.) who offered to depoſe to the ſame effecte, yf they might hauehave bene admitted: neither doubt I but that he made this knowne to the Biſhop.

OF CHAP. 2.

Of M. Darrells raſhnes in affirminge Thomas Darling to be poſſeſſed, and of his cunning inſtructing him, how to behaue himſelfe vponupon the day of his pretended diſpoſſeſſion.

Diſcouerer.

This matt…r of Darlings was ſo acceptable vntounto M. Darrell hauinge bene out of worke from the pretended diſpoſſ…ſſion of Katherine wright,pag 270. vz for about 9. or ten yeares, as that he thruſt himſelfe into it ſomwhat groſly.

Darrell.

This he proueth by the depoſition of Robert Toone, who depoſeth that he relatinge to other preachers and my ſelfe, the manner of the boyes fites. I anſwered, that my opinion was the boy was poſſeſſed. Darrell ſaid he was of opinion &c. ergo. a worthy argument ſure. In the 22 page the Diſc. hath theſe words: The certaintie heereof is that M. Walkeden the boyes granfather hereing how M. Darrell had helped Kath. Wright, procured him to come to Burton, to helpe Darling. If now the Diſc. ſpeake truely as indeed he doth (though he ſeldome fault that way) then every one may ſee that Darrell did not thruſt or intrud himſelfe into this action, muchles ſomewhat groſlye as the Diſc. affirmeth, being theirevnto requeſted and procured by the boyes grandfather M. Walkeden. And thus is the Diſcouerer convinced the 13. time by his owne Diſcouery.

And where he ſaith that the afore…aid preachers vponupon my perſwation,pag. 271. reſolued together with me & diuers other miniſters of a faſt to be had at Burton for Darlings diſpoſſeſſion, and indeuoreth to proue the ſame by Ieſſe Bees depoſition. I anſweare that had we done ſo, we had done nothinge whereof we neede to be aſhamed, but the truth is we had not a word about that, as M. Hilderſham and M. More with the reſt of the miniſters can witnes.

Diſcouerer

Being earneſtſlye intreated (ſaith M. Darrell) for my preſence at the faſt I deaied the ſame,pag 276. and that for theſe two reaſons: vz. for avoyding the note of vaine glorie, and that the people through myne abſence might be kept from aſcribinge any ſpeciall guift to me in caſting out deuils. In which his ſecond reaſon it may be obſerued: firſt his conceite, that the deuill the next daye would be caſt out: then it appeareth that he had vſed great vauntes of the diſpoſſeſſion of Kath Wright, or otherwiſe, why ſhould he hauehave ſuſ…cted any ſuch thing by the people? Againe if this were not a ſhifting reaſon, how came it to paſſe, that he was preſent at the diſpoſſ…ſſinge of the 7. in …ancaſhire: but eſpeciallie of Wil. So. when his name was almoſt at the higheſt?

p. 174Darrell

VVhat my conceite (as the Diſc. tearmeth it) heerein is, and where vponupon grounded, appeareth by that I hauehave ſaid in my Narration, treating of the meanes of d…ſpoſſeſſion. For anſwea… to the ſecond thinge heere obiected againſt me, I on…ly put the chriſtian reader … minde, that the people of the Iewes would hauehave made Chriſt a king, and the people of L…ſtra with theire prieſt would hauehave ſacrificed vntounto the Apoſtles, …nabas and Pau…, as godes come downe vntounto them in the likenes of men: and yet it is certaine that Chriſt and theſe his Apoſtls were farr from ſeekinge or deſiring any ſuch thing. To the third I anſweare, that beinge p…me to the great good I ſometime had receiued in beinge an eye witnes of this notable worke of god, and griued in this reſpecte for my abſence heere ſpoken of, eſpeciallye after the boyes d…poſſeſſion: I their vponupon thought a…d determined with my ſelfe, it like occaſion afterward ſhould be offered of my preſence, not to with draw my ſelfe as I did any more, theirby to …ooſe the benefite of that good which the Lord in mercy might a…foord me by being preſent and an eye witnes at theſe & ſuch like denuerances: a…beit in one two former reſpectes, or for the two reaſon… aforeſaid, I after my ſelfe deſired & could rather hauehave wiſhed to hauehave bene abſent then preſent. And that heerein I ſpeake the truth,pag 277. and …ye not, god is my witnes.

Diſcouerer.

Howbeit, if he had bene ſo carefull to hauehave avoyded the note of vaine gl…rie as he pretendeth, he would neuer hauehave ſuffered the wordes before mentioned of the diuell, touching his praying, as faſt as they did, that were with Darlinge, to hauehave paſſed his handes: for theirby he ſeemeth ſo gre…y of ſome commendatiö, is rather then …aile, he was contented to receiue it from ſatan.

Darrell.

Had I bene the publiſher of that booke the Diſc. might then withAnſweare 1 ſome better coulour hauehave framed this ma…cious colle…tion againſt me 2. thoſe words are not ſo much ſett downe for the matter of the, as for the māner of their deliuerie, vz. with his mouth wide open: which thing impoſſible to be counterfeited, will the ſooner be beleiued, whē it is not onelyonly declared that the boy ſpake with his mouth wyde open, but alſo ſpecified what words he ſo vttered. and in this reſpecte their was good and iuſt cauſe of publiſhinge them. 3. Theire is ſmall cauſe why any ſhould commend me, or conceiue well of me in regard of this ſpeach, ſeeing it was ſpoken by the father of lyes, and therefore g…eatlye to be ſuſpected of falſhode, excepte my ſelfe had publiſhed the booke: for my pervſinge of it was knowne onelyonly to ſome 3. or 4. ….

OF CHAP. 4.

p. 175Of M. Darrells further practiſe with Darling to pretend, that Sathan ſought to reenter into him, and of ſome other his vntrue aſſertions concerning the boyes fittes, and of his cunning dealinge likewiſe with him, that be ſhould neuer confeſſe his diſſimulation.

Darrell.

From pag 285. vntill 290. the Diſc. purſueth his owne ſhadow, labouring with many wordes to convince me of that I neuer affirmed. vz. That Darling in all his fittes was altogether ſenceles: this I hauehave ſhewed before in my anſweare to this generall charge, wherevnto to avoyde tediouſnes and idle repetitions of the ſame thinge, I referre the reader for fyll anſweare to all that heere he obiecteth againſt me.

Diſcouerer

Another thing that the Diſc. troubleth himſelfe much with, and where aboutes he beſtoweth many lines,pag 289. even from the page 289. till page 293. is, that I ſhould affirme, that it was Sathan onelyonly (as I did thinke) that vſed the words in thoſe dialogues mentioned in the ſaid book: he the ſaid Satan tranſforming himſelfe into an angell of light, at ſuch times when he ſeemed to ſpeake godlily. And this he confuteth full ſoundly (I warrant you) firſt by producinge the boy Tho. Darling depoſing, that he doth not beleiue ſo. Then by the depoſition of Ieſſe. Bee a ſadler, who ſaith: that whoſoeuer affirmeth ſo, doth lye in ſo affirming. There reaſon is, becauſe of the godly ſpeaches he vſed mentioned in the dialogues. Then and in the third and laſt place the Diſc. himſelfe telleth vsus, that for the ſame reaſon he thinketh that it can not be that the ſaide dialogues came from the deuill: his wordes be theſe: If any man will take the paynes to pervſe thoſe ſpeaches, which Ieſſe Bee hath fathered vponupon the boy in the ſaid dialoges: he ſhall finde them to be ſuch as will hardly be found againe in any ſtorie that euer was written to be aſcribed to Sathan.

Darrell

If now I can ſhew out of a hiſtory of good credite againſt which theire can no exception be taken, as holy wordes and as vnlikely to come from Sathan, as thoſe mentioned in the dialogues, to hauehave yet neuertheles bene vttered by Sathan, then I hope the Diſ. will yeeld, that the holines of thoſe ſpeaches doth not lett, but that the ſame not with ſtandinge they might proceede from the diuell. VVe read then in the divine ſtorie,mark 5. 9. mark. 1. 24. that the Temptor ſaide vntounto Chriſt, it is written, alleadging ſcripture for his purpoſe, (all the wordes whereof be holy.) And often thus: Ieſus the ſonne of the moſt high god. And againe, I know thee what thou art, even the holy one of god. VVhat wordes I praye you be more holy then theſe? and what wordes more vnlikely to come from Sathan then ſuch as theſe? Sure if the Diſc. had bene liuinge in that age, and preſent at theſe holy and divine ſpeaches, he would not p. 176hauehave thought they came from Sathan. Even ſo likewiſe I muze what the B. and S. Harſnet would hauehave ſayd, if they had bene by, when that teſtimonie and commendation was giuen by the diuell of Paul & Silas, whereof we read in the actes Theſe men (ſaith he) are the ſervantes of the moſt high god, which ſhew vntounto you the way of ſalvation. VVhat wordes almoſt could be deliuered more vnlikely to proceede from the diuill, that aduerſarie of mankinde, then theſe? for being true, a man at the firſt bluſh might imagine, that if the were the ſpeaches of the euill ſpirit, then ſure he was not vnwilling that men ſhould be faued: wheras the old ſerpent ment theirby to hinder, and did mightelye Kinder the ſaluation of men, I meane the inhabitantes of Philippi: for by oft cryinge out in that manner as he did, he moued and occaſioned S. Paul to caſt him forth of her whom he poſſeſſed, and others vponupon that facte of the Apoſtle, to caſt him and Silas a prophet into priſon, & ſo ordered the matter that vponupon their inlargment they departed the citie: which no queſtion wasithe thing Sathan aymed at in the commendation he gaue of Paul and Silas. So that by theſe and ſuch like examples of the holy ſcripture we may ſaflye conclude, that the wicked ſpirit heere ſpoken of, did ayme ſure at ſome evill practiſe & intent, when he vſed thoſe holy words mentioned in the ſayde dialogus howſoeuer the Diſc. happely iudge otherwiſe, and his deponent Ieſſe Bee, becauſe of the godly ſpeaches contained in the dialogues.

Diſcouerer

M. pag 293.Darrell being charged, that ſince the time of the pretended diſpoſſeſſion of Darling, he had cheriſhed, entertained & lodged the boy at his houſe: and that leaſt his owne packing and diſſimulation might happen to be detected is well as the boyes: he did vſe this, or the like perſwaſion in effecte vntounto him: vz. that he ſhould continue conſtant, and not ſuffer himſelfe by any alluerment to be drawen to ſay, that he had diſſembled in his former fittes, and that he was neuer poſſeſſed with any wicked ſpirit. And his anſweare is thus: one night I entertained the ſaid Darlinge in my houſe at Aſhby: and the reſt he denieth: but Darling himſelfe depoſeth it. I hauehave bene with M. Darrell (ſaith he) diuers times, ſometimes at Burton, once at Apleby, once at Packington, at ſeuerall exerciſes: from whence I went hom with M. Darrell to Aſhby, and ſupped that night with M. Hilderſham, M. Dar. two other miniſters, and Miſtris Ireton, at M, Hilderſhames houſe, & did lye that night at M. Darrells. Alſo I confeſſe that M. Darrell hath had ſome communication with me, and hath willed me at ſometimes that I ſhould be conſtant, and ſticke to the truth, meaning, that I ſhould not ſuffer my ſelfe to be drawen to affirme that I was not poſſeſſed: but that I had diſſembled in all my ſayd fittes, and ſo conſequentlye, that God had not deliuered m… from the poſſeſſion of Sathan.

p. 177Heere is great adoe and much prattle about packing, diſſimulation, and I knowe not what, and of the feare forſooth that was on my behalfe leaſt the ſame ſhould be detected: but if the Iudge ſhould call for the evidence to prooue this, then come in nothing but 2. poore & ſilye circumſtances or preſumptions: either of which if the be of force to proue any thing,the 1. circumſtauce muſt needes probablie conclude this ſaid packing. The firſt circumſtance and argument of his is this. Since the preteuded diſpoſſeſſion of Darling, Darrell hath cheriſhed, entertained, and lodged Darling: it is probable theirfore that Darrell taught Darling to counterfeite apoſſeſſion: and that at ſuch time or times ther was ſome packing betweene them about the ſmothering of the ſaid diſſimulation. The antecedent or former parte of his reaſon the Diſco. pretendeth to proue both by my owne depoſition and Darlinges, but he doth not proue it fully: for in it he ſpeaketh of my cheriſhing of Darling, as if he had bene my darling in deede, or as if I had bene ſome foſter father vntounto him, but proueth no ſuch thinge, but onelyonly the bare lodginge of him one night onelyonly: and truely I doe not remember that euer he did eate one crumme of bread in my houſe in his life. But admitte he had ſupped with me as well as lodged with me, and ſtayed with me a longer time, not that night onelyonly, but diuers nightes, what of all that? admittinge the antecedent to be true (as it is falſe) yet how doth the conſequent and it hange together by M. Harſnetes logike? many hauehave both eaten and lodged with me, whom I neuer packed nor conſulted with about diſſemblinge a poſſeſſion. The ſecond circumſtance is, Darrell willed Darling to be conſtant and ſticke to the truth, and not ſuffer himſelfe to be drawne to affirme that he had diſſemled I wold be loth to blot paper or ſtand long in anſwering and refuting ſuch ware as this: And therfore I only deſire the reader to open his eyes and to behold the vanitie of it, and withall the ſhifting pacherie of this diſcouerer who pretendeth forſooth and would faine hauehave the worlde to thinke that theſe wordes of mine were vſed to darlinge at mine owne howſe at Aſhbie and that darling hath ſo depoſed, & therfore I depoſinge the flat contrarie, muſt needes be forſworne. Now this cunninge insinuation of his. is cloſely & darkely but yet malitiouſly ſhut vp in theſe wordes of his: the reſt darrel denieth: implyinge therein as if I ſimplye and abſolutely denyed all the reſt which (to make the caſe plaine and apparant vntounto the good reader) I doe not. I doe not denye that euer I vſed any ſuch ſpeaches to Darlinge at all, But that I vſed any ſuch ſpeaches to him in my houſe at Aſhbte the night I lodged him there, or ſpake any words vntounto him to that effect. This is that which I denyed vponupon my oath, and deny agayne: nay I hauehave vponupon p. 178my oath to the B of London confeſſed, that I ſaid to Darlinge as is here by him depoſed. But where & when? in the Gathouſe after this Darlinge had bene in the Biſhops houſe for ſundry weekes togeher, and ſundry meanes vſed, yea and by your leaue none of the beſt (c) to hauehave drawen him with Sommers (for the ſtrengtheninge of Sommers con…eſſion of counterfeitinge) to ſaye and confeſſe that he had counterfeited: as threatning, and impriſonment in the Biſhops houſe, forging and deliueringe of letters to Darlinge as come from me, and thervpon requiringe and obtaining anſweres from him to the ſame letters, a thinge not denied by the B. of London him ſelfe in open Court. In like forte Darlinge depoſed that I ſaid thus to him (as here is ſpecified) at the Gatehouſe after his departure from the Byſhop, and not at Aſhby: the contrary where vntounto he is redy to depoſe. Now where the Diſc. by his wreſting and writhing, alteringe and keeping backe parte of our depoſitions intimateth, that one of vsus muſt nedes be periured, & that in his chriſtian and charitable intendement muſt nedes be Darrell. The truth is (and ſo it will appeare) that in our depoſitions at large we depoſed one and the ſame thinge in effect, our depoſitions ſtrengthening and confirming one another and not diſſenting or croſſing one another And by theſe kind of ſleights and ſlipperi… dealing: the Diſc. maketh often ſhewes of periurie and contrarieues where none is. If you will hauehave any more circumſtances, they are ſet downe a lyttle before in the Diſcuerye and doe here followe.

Darrell no ſooner ſaw the boye in a fitt,3. cir…umſtanc… pag 172. but preſently he affirmed him to be poſſeſſed.

Darrell tolde them in Darlinges hearing of Katherin wright,4 pag 272. who hauing bene poſſeſed was troubled in ſuch ſort, as Darlyng was.

Dar repeated in the boyes heareing what were the ſigns both of poſſeſſiō & diſpoſſeſſion,5 pag 273. mentioned in the ſcriptures, wherby Darlinge might learne, what he was to act & practis the next day when he was to be diſpoſeſſed.

Darrell mouing the boyes freindes to hauehave a faſt for his pretended diſpoſſeſſion told them that that kinde of ſpirit was not caſt out but by prayand caſting.6

Darrell hauing appoynted the ſayd faſt,7 pag 174 he foretolde to thoſe that were preſent in Darlings hearing, that they ſhould ſee the deuill caſt him into very ſtrange fitts, and that they ſhould heare the deuill ſpeake in him, wherby the ſaied b…ye myght learne whate he was to acte that daye.

Darrell affirmed that Darling was ſenceles in al his fitts.8 pag …35

Darrell affirmed that whatſoeuer Darlinge ſeemed to doe or ſpeake in his …its it wa… nothe,9 pag. 180. but Sathan.

Th…ſe circumſtances are all of them in a manner falſe ſlaunderous, and mali…ious, ſo weakly proued and ſo ſ…tiſh…y and abſurdly applyed, as a p. 179man of wiſdome & conſcience. muſt nedes eyther ſmile or bluſh at them: for anſwere therfore vntounto them moreite and to ſhew how abſurdly they proue my teaching of Darlinge to counterfeyte I refer the reader vntounto my former anſwere to the ſame circumſtauces alleaged againſt me, in Sommers his caſe to proue that I taught him to counterfeit: For the Diſc. being (as it ſhould ſeeme) barraine and deſtitute of proofes, is forced you ſee to flye to his former munition and to borrowe the ſame wepons wherwith he did ſo laye about him in Som hi… caſe. why then ſhould not I giuegive him the repulſe and driue him back with the very ſame rampeire of defence I vſed before. where in his ſucceſſe I hope will be no better then it was. But I would faine knowe and I demaund of the Diſc. if Darling or any other creature did euer affirme that I taughte him the ſaid Darling to counterfeyte ſurely no: For then we ſhould hauehave hearde of it in this Diſcouery. VVhere then the Diſc. pag 296.ſaith: It muſt be euen as the apte ſcholler of M Darrells liſt: And againe. Darling diſſembled by the cunning inſtruction of that impoſtor his maſter, pag 285.meaninge Darrell: eyther theſe circumſtaances foure alleaged doe proue this inſtruction and ſcholing, pag 296.or els if you be leue it, you muſt recieue it of M Diſc. owne word, and then I am ſure you are more credulus, then wiſe.

OF CHAP. 5.

How Darling confeſſeth his owne diſſimulation.

How beit true it is that within a fortnight after he was ſett at libertie,pag 285. and had conferred with M. Darrell in the gathouſe, and with ſome others, he writte a letter to the B. of London affirminge that he had bene drawen on by ſubtilties to make the ſaid confeſſion: and addeth theſe wordes: what is all this to the purpoſe if I of frailtie ſhould ſay,Diſcouerer that all was diſſemblinge, was it therfore ſo? if I ſay that this paper is blacke, is it ſo therfore? Thoſe articles which I was ſworne vntounto before, I will ſtand vntounto them and iuſtifie them. but concerninge the other I will neuer conſent vntounto them.

The maine and in a manner ſole thing,Darrell the Diſc. alleadgeth for proofe of Darlinges counterfeiting, is his owne confeſſion: ſett downe before in this chapter. I anſweare negatiuely Darling neuer made any ſuch confeſſion. Thus it was. S, Ha…ſnet examininge Darling on a time to 3 or 4 articles, he hauing anſweared them, vnaduiſedly and like aboy as he was, beinge then alſo his ſcholer forſooth, put his hand as Harſnet his tutor did bid him at the lower end of the leafe, theire beinge a great ſpace betwene his anſweares, and the place where he ſubſcribed his name. In this ſpace Harſnet did inſert that abſurd and ridiculvs confeſſion mentioned in this chapter, which was of Harſnets fo…ſting & faigning, but neuer confeſſed by Darling, as Darling after depoſed, and iuſtified the ſame before the L. Archbiſhop to Harſnetes p. 180face 2. But admite he had made ſuch a confeſſion: ſeeing it is evident it had bene done of frailtie and humane infirmitie (which yet god be prayſed hed id not) what is this (as the boy himſelfe ſaith) to the purpoſe? If I of fraultie ſhould ſay &c. Heere it muſt not be forg…tten how Darling a yoūg ſtripling of thoſe tēder & vnſettled yeares was dealt with and enſnared. He was for the ſpace of a monethmonth in the B…ſh…ps houſe: duringe which time the Biſhop and his Chapline with all theire fetches and deuiſes weare dayly and howerly in hand with the boy to wringe this confeſſion from him which they beinge not able b… any meanes to obtaine, and diſpairing theirof as it ſhould ſeeme, Har…net his ſcholemaſter vndertooke to doe this feait, when they two were in his chamber together, and did effecte it accordinglye, but in ſuch manner and by …uch a worthy deuiſe as we heare: and then preſently perceiuinge him not to be for there purpoſe as Somers was, they retayning Somers, turned him out of the dores. But before and to the end aforeſaide, I meane the gettinge of a confeſſion of counterfeitinge, (which notwithſtanding they went without) he was kept ſo ſtraight, that none of his frendes, no not his mother, might hauehave any acceſſe vntounto him. ſometimes he was not alittle fawned vponupon: ſomtimes mightily threatened. S. Harſnet they two being in his chamber alone, offered to thrattle him, and threatened to whyp him, if he would not confeſſe Darrells practiſes, ſheewinge of him two roddes. diuers other threatnings I omite. He was impriſoned in the Biſhps houſe: ſundri… letters alſo (as is before mentioned) were framed and deliuered to him as ſent from me, from whom anſweares to them were obtayned, theirby likewiſe to hauehave entangled the boy and to hauehave gotte ſome thing from him if poſſibly the could. Admit now that Darling a boy of 15. yeares of age, beinge thus ſore layde at for a confeſſion, had at length of frayltie, and in a deſire to be at libertie and ridde out of theire handes, yeelded them that ſorie confeſſion that is thus fathered vponupon him: had the thinge confeſſed by him, bene theirfore true? Men ſometimes of greater yeares and riper iudgment, hauehave in ſuch caſe ben too eaſily drawne from the truth to affirme that which is falſ and erronious, How eaſily then might ſuch a weake boy be peruerted and ſeduced? 3. Suppoſe that he had voluntarily and of his owne accord confeſſed that in all thinges he diſſembled, yet the ſame ſuffieed not to proue him a counterfeit, ſeeinge it is evident ſome thinges were done or ſuffered by him which can by no poſſibilitie be counter feited: whence may be drawne an unavovdable argument to craze the credite of him and Somrrs and of the reſt of the ſuppoſed counterfeites: For no man confeſſinge or reportinge an impoſſibilitie of himſelfe ought to be credited: But Somers, Darling, Katherine Wright p. 181and Mary Cooper, confeſſe & report impoſſibilities of themſelues, in ſaying they counterfeited, if ſo be they hauehave ſo ſaid….

Ergo they ought not to be credited.

Now concerning this Darling (to paſe by ſundrie other ſtrange actions or rather paſſions of his,) he oft times in aday in his ſittes, had a great ſwelling in his body, by reaſon whereof diuers times the buttons of his dublett did bruſt off, and his aglet holees breake, albeit they were purpoſly made and ſett on the ſtronger. 2. He beinge but of 13. yeares of age was of that ſtrength that two ſtrong men coulde not hold hi downe or rule him, a thing impoſſible to be coūterfeited: for no man can add to his ſtrength by counterfeiting 3. In his t…āces he vttered ſundrie continued ſpeaches with his mouth wyde open, as appeareth by the booke that is printed of him. 4. his armes & ſhoulder bones were in many of his fites thruſt out of ioynt, ſeene & ſelt ſundrie times by diuers. Now beſide the paine and anguiſh of the ioyntes & ſenowes in this caſe, I would faine knowe for my learning, how it is poſſible for a man to put his bones out of ioynte and in againe at his pleaſure, and then immediatly uſe and occupy his armes in as goōd plight as if no ſuch thinge had happened vntounto him. Yf M. Diſcouerer with his ſweet Iewell W. Somers can with all their nimblenes. packinge, and dexteritie, but deuiſe to counterfeite ſuch prettie trickes as theſe, then indeede the ſay ſomethinge to Darrell, and for Darling… counterfeiting.

Furthermore Alice Goodridge the witch ſundrie times confeſſed, that ſhe miſtaking Tho. Darling for one Sherrat a boy, ſent her familiar or ſpirit in the liknes of a dog (partie coloured redde and white, called Minny) to torment him in his body, and that ſhe had cauſed his vexarion by the diuel. And further at her ſendinge of him, ſhe ſtrained all her bodye, and vomited, bidding her minny to goe and doe the like to the boye, who returning ſaid, that he had done ſo. Now the truth is, that beſides the childe was moſt fearefully tormented, in and through all the partes of his bodye, he was much troubled with von…iting & with often prouocations therevnto,pag 276. as yf he had ſtriuen and ſtiained to vomit and could not. It is alſo to be remembred, that ſhee named the time when, the place where, the occation wherevpon, and the wordes ſhe vſed when ſhe ſente the deuill to torment him, as appeareth in the 26. page of the printed booke. Herevpon Alyce Goodri…g was committed to Darbye gaole, indited and arraigned, and founde guiltie thereof, and by my Lord Andeſon ſentence giuen vponupon her to imprisonmente, where ſince ſhe died. Theſe thin…es conſidered, to ſaie and publiſh thus confidently that Darling …, what is it els, but preſumtuoſly to condemne both Iury and Iudge eyther p. 182of …iuſtice or ſimplicitie, or both. And theſe thinges are ſo notori of y…knowen to an the Cuntrye, that an hundred ſuch ſhame…e…ſe Diſc…u…ryes as …as, are not able once to bringe then. (I meane the impoſſid…ites afore-…ar…e) into doubte or queſtion there. For the further con…rmation where of, we are ready to proue and auerie the ſame by the oathe of many ſu…ficient witne…es, and there-by make it moſt euident and pla…ne to the wor…d, that it is imp…ſſible that Darlinge ſhoulde be a counterfeit. In the meane ſeaſon we may remember that two … of peace and quorum and aboue fortye of the inhabitantes of Burton neyghbours there-vntounto, which were eye wy…neſſes of Darlinges vexations hauehave vnderunder theire han les in twoo ſeuerall teſtimonia…s witneſſed, that his fitts, torments, or betakinges, were ſuch and ſoſu. pernaturall, as they are fully perſwaded no man is poſſiblie able to coun…erfeite and for this and ſome other reaſons are perſwaded and doe verily thinke that Darlinge did not diſſemble: as appeareth by the tenure of their letters teſtimoniall here followinge. The former wher of the Biſhop hath, and a coppie of the latter, as I take it.

To all thoſe to whom it doth or may appertaine, wee whoſe names are vnderunder written, Iuſtices of peace, and quorom within the countes of Staff…r…, and Darby, amongeſt others ſend greeting. whereas we hauehave bine r…queſted and d…ſired to c…tifie our knowledges, concerninge the ſtraunge bandling or b…takeing of one Thomas Darlinge. of late greuouſly handled and tormented, and that in ſuch ſtrang manner as was wonderfully to behould, (whereof we weare eye witneſſes) we therfore for the better ſatiſ…ing of all thoſe that are deſirous to know the truth in that behalfe, hauehave thought good to ſignifie, that we are perſwaded, and doe verily thinke, that the ſaide Thomas Darling, did not diſſemble, or counterfeit in any thoſe his fittes, or ſt…ange betakinges, and the cauſes or reaſons which moue vsus ſo to thinke, is: Firſt for that the manner of thoſe his fittes, torments, or betakeinges, weare ſuch, and ſo ſupernaturall as we are fully perſwaded, no man is poſſible able to counterfeite the like. And alſo for that their was one Alice Good…eridge, the wiſe of one Oliuer Goodderidge, of Stap…nhill, within the coun… of Darby, who long before that time, had bene ſuſpected for a witche, and being for that cauſe brou…ht before vsus, did vponupon her examination before vsus, couſ…ſſe that ſhee did miſtake the ſaid Th…. Darling, and thought it had bin…o…e Sherratte a boy who had done her ſome wronge (as ſhe ſaith) and … we hauehave bine informed by ſome of good creditt to vsus well knowne, that the ſaid Alice Goodderidge did confeſſe that ſhe did call her … (for ſo ſhe tearm…d it) which wa… (…s ſhe ſaid) in liknes of a little dog and called it Minnie, and b…d it goe after the ſaid Darling (thinkinge it had … and … in all the partes of his body, w…ich ſaid … retourned to her agame, and ſould her he has done a… ſhee p. 184bade him, and further ſhee did confeſſe that after that time, ſhe neuer ſawe the ſaid little dogge, but once, that it came to her in the Gayole at Darby, whether ſhee was committed for the ſaid facte, and ſhe being in the ſayde Ga…ie, was brought before the Iuſtices of Aſſiſe and Gaole deliuerie, and their deſiered the ſaid Iuſtices to be good to her and forgiue her, & ſhe would neuer doe ſo any more. In teſtimonie wher of we here vntounto ſeverally ſett our handes and ſeales, dated the Firſt daye of October. 1598.

Humſerye Ferrers. Thomas Greſley.

To all thoſe to whom it doth or may appertaine, we whoſe names are vnderunder written, aſwell reſiantes and inhabitantes of the towne of Burton vponupon Trent in the coun…ie of Stafford, as others greetinge. whereas wee hauehave bene requeſted, and deſired to certifie our knowledges, concernninge the ſtraūg hand…ng or be taking of one Tho. Darling of late grieuouſly handled and tormented, and that in ſuch ſtrange manner as was wonder fully to be bould, (whereof w… weare eye w…tneſſes) we therefore for the better ſatiſfiyng of all thoſe, that are deſierous to know the truth in that behalfe hauehave thought good to ſignifie, that we are perſwaded, and doe verily thinke, that the ſaide Tho. Darling did not diſſemble, or counterfeite in any of thoſe his fi…es, or ſtra…ge betakeinges. And the cauſes or reaſons which moue vsus ſo to th…nke be many, whereof for av…yding of over tedious matter, we will onelyonly her…n alledge ſome few, (as namely) firſt for that we hauehave knowne the ſaid Tho. Darling from his childhood to be of an honeſt and gratious diſpoſition. and both himſelfe and his freads in whoſe keepinge he was duringe his ſaid fittes to be ſuch as we are well aſſured, would hauehave no hand incounterfeit or lew…e practiſes, and alſo the manner of thoſe his fittes, tormentes or betakeings were ſuch, and ſo ſupernaturall as we are fully perſwaded that no man is poſſibile able to counterfeit the like. And alſo for that their was one Alice Gooddridge &c. To the effect in the afore ſaid Teſtimoniall. And their vponupon this Alice. Gooddridge being brought before the Iuſtices of aſſiſe and Gaole deliuery was by dewe courſe of lawe then convicted of the ſame fact, in teſtimony wherof we hauehave herevnto ſeverally ſubſcribed our names, dated at Burton aforeſaide the fifte daye of October. 1598.

Peter Eckerſall miniſter at Burton. I. Grainger. VV. Caldwall VV. Hawes. I. Hawes H. Blackwall R. Turner VV, woodcocke I. Fichit I, Finney E, wrightman V. Palmer R. Moore R. Hyde I. Debanke I. Bridgett E. Hudſonne T, Dutton R. watſon I. Horbyne R. Baker H. Clarke E. Goodcole R. Taylor I. Simpſon T. Haſten the elder, conſtables of Burton. T. Haſten the younger R. Hayes w. Harreſen I. Taylor. R. Shenten. H. wackfeild. R. Tomſon T. Saunders. I. Alſoppe. R. Teale. w. Clarke. T. Stanly. R. Hendlye I. Henworthe I. Butler R. Bradlye Raphe Teate.

Thus we ſee that howſoeuer darlinges vexation by Sathan is not confirmed by the o…thes of men as Somers is: Yet by the teſtemoni… of many witneſſes of good credit, who render 3. forcible reaſons agaynſt counterfeitynge. He nowe that is ſo filthye as to beleiue this Diſcouerer vponupon his bare reporte without any proofe or reaſon of Darlinges counterfeiting, before the teſtimonye of ſo manye alleaging ſuch effectuall reaſons againſt counterfeytinge: let him be fylthye ſtill and yet more filthye. The matter contained in theſe teſtimonials makinge againſt Darlings coounterfeitinge, I hauehave ſufficiently preſſed and vrged before in my Apologie wherevnto the Diſc. teturneth no manner of anſwere at all, and yet beareth the world in hand, that he hath diſpatched and wiped away all. Theſe thinges which make ſo ſtrongly againſt counterfeiting are likewiſe ſett downe in the printed booke of Darling, and are the principall thinges in it to be obſerued to proue his vexation by Sathan: againſt theſe therfore and the reſt of this kynde, the Diſc. ſhoulde hauehave bente his force in that courſe he hath taken, wherevnto he ſaith not a worde: and not hauehave paſſed by theſe as if he ſawe them not, and in ſtede of them cull out ſome petie triflinge thinges that maye eaſely be practiſed, or make a ſhewe of a poſſibillitie to be counterfeited, as namely, the ſpeches vttered by the tongue of Darlinge dialogue wiſe and his apparitiones of a Catt, a Dragon, a Beare Lightnings, Thundring, a Lambe, a Doue, etc. which though I am aſſured that Darling did not counterfeit, yet it is euident that it is no harde matter to counterfeite and diſſemble the ſame and more, if one were ſo lewdly giuen: and the world will eaſilie be drawen to beleiue a practice in ſuch ſmall and ſlighte matters as theſe: when it neither … will nor can beleue theſe thinges here mē tioned to be counterfeited. And thus is laid open and diſcouered the craftie and fraudulent dealing of the Diſcouerer.

Diſcouerer

Laſtly it is to be obſerued,pag 292. than Darlinge after he had continued a while in his firſt pretended fits, many ſuppoſed and gaue it out, that he was buta diſſembler, as it maye appeare by the depoſitions following vz, Ieſſe Bees and Edw. Bakers.

Darrell

This is his other argument to proue Darling a counterfeit. The verye ſame he vſed before to proue Sommers a counterfeite. A worthy one it is ſure and in effect the ſame with this: many ſuppoſed and gaue it out, that Paull was a God: therfore he is a God. Thus we ſee what a blaſphemous concluſion would follow vponupon ſuch an Antecedent, … 14. 11.if it were true. when the Diſc. hath put this argument of his (denyed by me) into moode and figure, and proued the propoſition, vz. whatſoeuer p. 185many ſuppoſe and giuegive out in ſpeech is true, I will then yelde him the concluſion, and reſigne him the conqueſt, and acknowledg both Sommers and Darlinge to be counterfeites. And this maye ſuffice for anſwere to the Diſcouerie concerning Darlinges counterfeytinge, and my teaching of him

OF CHAP. 6.

Diſcouerer

A briefe of Katherin Wrights confeſſion touchinge the beginning of her diſſimulation, and of the reaſons that moued her ſo to doe.

The generall cauſe it ſelfe touching the late attempts of caſtinge out the deuill, is of great importance: otherwiſe it is not vſuall, that matter… ſo long paſt vz. about 13. or, 14. yeares ſhould be ſearched into.

Darrell.

There is a cauſe then wee ſee of our attemtiinge, he meaneth pretendinge to caſt out Deuils, but what this cauſe ſhould be, that is a ſecret forſooth, we ſhall heare more of that another time, for the preſente we muſt contente our ſelues with a generall notize of a genrall cauſe, and that (ſaith he) of a greate importance. It is to be thought therfore and preſumed that he meaneth the ſame cauſe which he ſpeaketh of, Pag. 14. 15, that is, the ſetting vp of the Preſbiteriall couceits, or diſcipline ſo long contended-for by ſome.nehemiah. 6. … VVhere-vntounto we anſwerer (yf he meane ſo) as Nehemiah ſometime did to Sanballat the enemie of the Iew…s: It is not done according to theſe wordes that thou ſaieſt: for thou faineſt them of thine owne harte.

Diſcouerer.

Katherin Wright being examined,pag. 27…. confeſſeth vponupon heroath, that in all the courſe of her pretended poſſeſſion and diſpoſſeſſion, and of her fytts both b… fore and ſince, whatſoeuer ſhee did that ſemed to be extraordinarie, it was all diſſembled.

Darrell

To get this confeſſiōn from this poore & ſimple maide (which is all that the Diſc. hath to proue Katherin Wrights diſſimulation) we… muſt know, that the Commiſſioners (who were ſent downe by the B. of London for the ſame purpoſe the preſident or principal where of for ſooth was S. Harſnet. this Diſc.) kept her with thē two halfe dayes and a nighte, and in the ſaid time threatned to burne her ſete if ſhee would not confeſſe that ſhe had diſſembled: as ſhee affirmed forthwith after ſhee came from the commiſſioners, bewaylinge her ſaide periurie. And herein S. Harſnet a commiſſioner was a principall agent. But be it granted that this her confeſſion was voluntarie, and not extorted, as the contrarye is manifeſt. Yet therein is ſhe not to be beleiued becauſe in ſo affirminge ſhee reporteth thoſe thinges to hauehave bene p. 186done by her ſelfe which ſhe poſſiblye coulde not doe.although aſpirit … be felt … cauſe … ſhu… … down … was … com … For K. Wrighte … …yts did ſwell excedinglie in her body & necke, whence it came to pa…e that the wente daylye with her petitioaie ſlacke laced to the length o… one hande: ſomethinge alſo was ſen…blye felt to ſtir vp & downe in her bodye,, as if it had bene ſome quicke thinge. ſhee was … of extraordinarie and ſupernaturall ſtrength, and of ſuch excedinge wa…gn…, that 5. ſtronge men by reaſon of her waighte (ſhe not ſtr…ing o… …ug…inge at a…) could ſcarcelye carrye her a little waye,… depoſ…ng … est … you …. a…beit … were then but of ſome, 16. or 17. yeares of age. To theſſe I maye add this one pretie toye of the deuill, which I doe not ſee how it could poſſibly be counterfeite. She being at one M. Edwarde Bereſfordes houſe, deſirous to drinke, but could take none: M. Bereſford him ſei…e came and called for drincke, but as they held it to her mouthe, be…olde the drincke ſpirted vp out of the peice to the roofe of the parlour.

Diſcoverer

And this courſe ſhe confeſſeth ſhe hath helde from the time ſhe began it, vnti… the time almoſt of her examination, vzabout 13. or 14, yeares partely becauſe ſhee was by that occaſion much made of, and for that ſhe feared. that if ſhe had ſhewed her ſelfe to hauehave bene perfectly well for any long ſeaſon, her …ather in lawe would hauehave fallen to his former hard vſage of her.

Darrell

Yf K. Wright hauehave counterfeited,pag 208. ſhe hath theirin ſpent the prime of her …, from the age of 17. vntill about 30. theirby depriueing her ſelfe of many, if not of all the comforts of this life, as ſocietie, marriage &c. who can now in any reaſon thinke, that a younge damſell to my remembrance of a comely feature and perſonage. de…irous enough (if not to much) of the pleaſures of this life, would wittingly, and willingly depriue her ſelfe of them all, and that for ſo many yeares together, and to ſuch an end as heere is pretended. I deny not that K. Wright hath depoſed that this was the reaſon of her counterfeitinge, But I truſt S. Harſnet did thervnto by his ſlyghtes and deuiſes draw her & enti…e her. Neuertheles who of vnderſtandinge will beleiue eyther him or her, ſeeing there were more eaſie and honeſt wayes to hauehave avoyded the hard vſage of her father in lawe, (to admit ſuch vſage) then this of …ning to be poſſeſſed with the deuil? as either by going to ſervice, or coup…ing her ſelfe to ſome in honeſt mariage. And truly I can not out …aru…le, that the hath not bene all this while wearie and double wearie of counterfeiting and had her fill their of, ſeeinge ſhee hath continued ſo l…ng in the pra…tiſe of it. It is ſomethinge alſo that in all this time her counterfeiting hath not bene eſpied nor found out, till the D…ſ…ouer… … with his fellow commiſſioners. But this ſurpaſſeth p. 187al the reſt, that after ſo long coumterfeitinge about 14. yeare continuance. ſhe is not yet punniſhed at all for her ſaide counterfeisting, nor M. Sommers neither, nor any of the reſt. Oh ſaith the Diſccouerer concerninge K…. Wright, pag 19….when ſhe was examined ſhe profeſſed, that … ſhe would become a new… wom…n, and leaue al her former d…ſſi…ution. This then belike it ſatiſfaction ſufficiente for all her counterfeiting. As good a ſatiſfaction are the like wordes vttered by a notorious theife, murtherer, or any other malefactors: & yet neuer the…es they are puniſhed by the Chriſtian magiſtrat, & ſo ought to be

CHAP. 7.

Of M Darrelles procedinges with Katherin Wright for her pretended diſpoſſeſſion.

But there was another engine vſed, as Ka. Wrighte. hath depoſed in theſe wordes. One faſhion of M. Darrell in my pretended diſpoſſeſſion at Man…feilde,pag 300. was to …ye vponupon my bellye, ſaying that he woulde by ſo lyinge pr…ſſe the Diuell out of me. When this ſtrange faſhion was obiected to M. Darre…. A… quoth he, I looked for this, and then frāmed his anſwere vntounto it in this, … I hauinge read in the ſcriptures, how Elias and Saint Paul … themſelues alonge on ſome that weare dead, in their recouery to life, and beinge a younge ſtvdent in diuiniti, not paſt foure or 25. yeares of age, I did in a blinde zeale (as I thinke) lie vponupon the ſaied Ka. Wright as it is obiected. Afterwardes this his ſaied anſwere beinge repeated as the me…er is, he did thus amend it viz. I did lie vponupon the ſaied Ka. Wrighte, but … vponupon her …, as I beleue. This quallification beinge alowed of, he deſire… about three dayes after a ſeconde reuiew: and then for the diſcharge of his conſcience as he ſaied in deliuering the truth, he ſet down his minde in this ſorte: Wheras being examined vponupon the ſudden of a fact done twelue yeares paſt, I hauehave ſaied that I did the ſame as there it is expreſſed in a blīd Zeale, meaning a fooliſh and indiſcrete imitation of the Prophet and Apoſtle I doe now proteſt that hauinge called my ſelfe better to minde by conſe…inge with my wife was then preſent, and by better deliberration vponupon the ſame, that I verily beleiue I did not the ſaid facte, to the ende there ſpetified: for that I neuer dreamed at that time of working any miracle, neither did looke for her deliuerance from Sathan, but ſhe being at that time verie vn…ulic I did it to kepe her downe, there being alſo at that time another vponupon ſome part of her, and vponupon me that we might the rather keepe her dow…e. And thus at the length, you hauehave his perfecte anſwere wherein it is to be feared that he hathmade boulde with his oath. For where as at the thirde time he ſaith he was taken vponupon the ſudden, when he made his firſt anſwere, that ſemeth not to be true, for that his ſaide lying vponupon her was no ſooner mentioned vntounto him, but he affirmed that he looked for i…, and had two examples readie for his excuſe therein.

p. 189I deſire thee (good reader) with patience to heare & with wiſdome to conſider of that which is here thus cunning…e & malitiouſly publiſhed againſt me. I am charged thou …eeſt with counterfeiting, and hauehave bene thus long impriſoned, toſſed and turmoile…, examined and reex a…ned for teaching to counterfeit: but the proofe of this fayling, and S. Harſnet and his Maſter both comming ſhort of this their purpoſe & intent, to their greife and not being able for their liues wi…h all there wreaſting, packing, and miſerable ſhifts, to convince me of this ſinne, then they flye to another ſhifte (a ſluttiſh one) thinkinge theirby vtterly to ſhame me, and diſgrace me foreuer vz. To make the world beleiue that I am a vitious and vncleane perſon, their withall cloſly implying and perſwadinge men yf they could: that Darrell who makes no conſcience of ſo foule a ſinne as that of vncleannes, will neuer make bones at ſo ſmale a matter as for glorie to teach men to counterfeit: & heerein …yeth the ſtrength and force of all this foule batterie againſt me, in that one ſinne is apte enough to drawe on another. But if I were ſuch a one indeede as they would ſo faine hauehave me ſeeme to be, vz. either a drunckard or alehouſe haunter with Somers, as before is in ſinuated: or an vncleane perſon of vnchaſt behauior with K. Wright as here is inſinuated, and more playnly by that marginall note, pag. 37. Darrels luſt: I doubt not, but they would hauehave bene able after all their ſearching and inquirie into my former life, to hauehave made ſome better proofe theireof then they hauehave.

Now before I enter into the anſwere of ſuch particulars as are here thus vniuſtlye charged vponupon my head, to wype away all ielouſie and ſuſpition which may happely enter into the conceipte of too many againſt me: I doe here vnfeinedly proteſt in the preſence of God and his Angels, that in all this my dealinge with Kat. Wright, I had not (I thanke God) ſo much as an vncleane thought: neither did I lye on her in ſuch manner as Elias & Paul ſomtimes did in the reſtoringe of two to life, nor yet in imitation of them: all which I directly depoſed before the Biſhop. And that theire was no vncleannes in acte, eueryevery one may be aſſured hereby, in that this ſaid ly…ing were their preſent, and eye witneſſes theirof, my owne wyfe with other weomen, and for that another man alſo, Edward Loades by name lay together with me vponupon her: all or moſt of which witneſſes be yet liveynge, and readie to beare witnes herevnto, if they might be admitted: with one of which at the leaſt, the wife of Henry Croſſe of Manſfeild, S. Harſnet had ſpeach at Manſfeild, as he with his fellow commiſſioners returned from examininge K. Wright, but what ſhee witneſſed we heare not, onelyonly my ſelfe heard that he receiued ſuch anſweare from her, and found her ſo backwarde from affirminge that he would hauehave had her, as he p. 190threatned to hauehave her before the B. of London, and with impriſonmet their. This being ſo, and my conſcience being cleere even coram t…bunali, I may the bolder good reader craue thy patience to heare my further anſweare to the particulars as followeth.

Being by the Biſhop of London examined concerning this Lyinge I ſayd that I did not wel… remember wherefore I did it, and no maruell, being ſo long ſince it was done, about 14 yeares, and a thing not worthy the remembring? notwithſtanding the Biſhop preſſing me to an immediat anſwere, would needes hauehave me ſay ſomething VVhere vponupon to ſatiſfie his importunacy, I tould him that for the preſent I did thinke or imagin that I did it in ſome childiſh, fooliſh, and vn…iſcrete imitaion of the Prophet and Apoſtle: For quoth I vntounto him I was then young and had ſtudied diuinitie bvt a while, and therefore it may be did fall into ſuch an error and childiſh parte. But after my departure entring into a more ſerious conſideraton of the matter & hauing my memorie alſo holpen and releiued by other meanes I returned with al the conuenient ſpeed I could not 3. dayes after as the Diſc. ſaith, but ſooner, and craued that my ſayd anſwere might be corrected, for that I had much miſtaken the matter. VVhere vponupon being depoſed againe, I affirmed as the truth was, that I did not lye on her in imitation of the prophet & Apoſtle, wherof I rendred 3 reſons. Two of them are mentioned by the Diſc. himſelfe, but the third & principal he hath after his vſual manner craftely omitted, leaſt the reader ſhould happely lyght on that might ten… to my clearing. The reaſon was this If I had done ſo as Elias and the Apoſtle did, Then no doubt I ſhould hauehave laied my mouth vponupon her mouth my eyes vponupon her eyes & my handes vponupon her hands. &c. wheras there was no ſuch thing don neither can be imagined to be: for the I wold hauehave layen on herin one of her trances,) ſeeing ſhee had many) and not in a fytt & ſuch a fitt wherein aboue all other ſhe was worſt to be ruled na… it can not in any reaſon be conceiued that I intended any ſuch thinge conſidering Edwarde Loades (a man yet lyuing) ioyned with me in that Lying. This I did ſay vpou my oath, and can preue parte of it by witneſſes. notwithſtanding all this my firſt anſwere was not corrected, wherein (as I am informed) I am dealt with contrary to Lawe equitie and Iuſtice, but yet not contrary to the vſuall dealing of the Biſhop and his Chapline. Albe it then I freely confeſſe that in the … done ſo longe ſince I was very vndiſcreete, and in my anſweare vponupon my examination no leſſe raſh and vnaduiſe…: yet the caſe be…nge no otherwiſe then we heare, their was ſmale cauſe why either it ſhoulde be obiected againſt me before the iudgment ſeate or that …octor Barlow ſhould hauehave it vp as it were vponupon a ſtage, in Cambrige at the commencement, or the Diſc. in this triumphant ſort to publiſh and proclaime p. 191it to the world, therby to make Darrell an odious & infamous perſon: as if he ſhould lye vponupon a woman in beaſtly manner, or els fooliſh…y & preſumptuouſly doe it in imitatiō of Elias or Paul: which as I hauehave prote…ted is moſt falſe. But ſuppoſe this latter weare true: yet ſeeing it was done ſo many yeares ſince, when I was little better then a child in vnderſtandinge, and that now beinge of riper yeares I am as farr from approuing theirof, or practiſinge the like as any man whatſoeuer, it muſt needes be I take it, and cannot be excuſed to be in the higheſt degree of ina…fice, and the hardeſt meaſure of reuenge, in this u…pigh… & opprobrious manner to obiect it againſt me. And yet when they hauehave all done & ſtrained a…d racked this folly or vnd…crete parte of ruine to the vttermoſt, it will be found to weake to proue or convince me of that which they would ſo fayne (yea rather then their liues) find me guiltie off. vz. This teaching the art of notorious counterfeiting. what doth my ſuppoſed lyinge on K. Wright (if it were true, as it is falſe) helpe and further them in this their plea and accuſation againſt me? ſurely not one iote at all, but onelyonly to eaſe their ſtomokes, and wreake their mallice. And this makes me remember a report of the old Earle of Surrie, who being araigned and ca…led before the Comm…ſioners for Hihg Treaſon, it was among other thinges alleadged againſt him by ſome then in authoritie, that he had very diſorderly broken the glaſſe windowes in Cheapſide. whervnto the Earle made anſweare: what? doe you call me hither for High treaſon and doe you alleadge vntounto me the follies of my youth? Even thus (good reader) …areth it with me at this inſtant. I hauehave bene called hither by the High Commiſſion, and hauehave endured thus long trouble and impriſonment, not for any trif…e or triflinge matter if it ſhould be true, but for ſuch avile and ſhamfull practiſe, as deſerueth rather the ſeuere ſcourge or rigour of iuſtice, and my ſelfe to be made… fearefull example and ſpectacle to poſteritie, then to hauehave any booke or any ſuch baulinge diſcourſe as the Diſc. hath written and publiſhed againſt me. And yet we ſee when they come to proue this hainous matter againſt me, then they fall to tell me (…s theſe men did by the Earle) of my breakinge of glaſe w…ndowes I meane of my lying on K. Wright: which fact as I my ſelfe do not approue of but cōdemne as very vndiſcretly done, ſo they for their partes may make much of it, but it will little ava…le them to prone me guiltie of teaching K. Wright to counterfeit a poſſeſſion and diſpoſſ…ſſion of the deuill.

That which pleaſeth the Diſcouerer to tearme my qualification, is nothing leſſe but onelyonly an anſweare to certayne words of the article which at the firſt readinge of the B. (if he read them) I marked not well, containing in it a playne and dire…t anſweare to that which was not anſwered before. wherein yet the Diſc. after his wonte… manner p. 192hath left out parte and the beſt parte on Darrels behalfe, vz. theſe wordes: I did lye vponupon her ſide, ſhe lying on her ſide, and this (as my anſwere to this article will witnes) I depoſed at the ſame time when I ſayd my lying was in imitation of the prophet, This p…rad … would ha… cleared Darrell too much, and theirfore no reaſon for M. Herſne… to ſe… it dowue.as I dul (vz. for the preſent) thinke: wherof as I was not then very ſure, ſo had I aduiſedly conſidered thereof, and better remembered my ſelfe, I had preſently and in the ſame moment corrected that falſe immagination of mine, wherein I ſo much wronged my ſelfe. Now as the Diſc. hath omitted part of my depoſition, ſo (the better to peice vp his patcherie,) hath he added ſomethinge of his owne, vz. as I beleiue: and againe, I verily beleiue, which wor…s becauſe the argue a doubting, the Diſc. hath inſerted, as though I had ſtoode in doubt of thoſe thinges, wherof I am and was very ſure and out of all d…vbt. Neither would I hauehave proteſted ſo conſidentlye as is here confeſſed, and then come in after wards with I beleiue. I verily beleiue.

VVhen I ſayd Ah I looked for this. I did not meane ſuch a fylthy and ridicuius depoſition as is …ere mentioned, or ſuch an article as then was read vntounto me much worſe then the depoſition: but being examined concerninge Ka. Wright, I looked to heare of myſaid lying and to be examined thereof, and that the world ſhould be borne in hande that it was in an vncleane deſire, and thervnto inded inclined the article, The reaſon whereof was becauſe I knew Sathan would bringe to light and ſpread abroade, this raſh and vndiſcret acte of mine, if god did permit him, and that the ſame through the greate folly of man and prones to beleue any thing reported thovgh neuer ſo falſe, eſpetiaily againſt a preacher and miniſter of the word, would tend to my reproach, and not reſt there, but thorough the falſe perſwation thereof, keepe many from beleuing the workes of God wherein the Lord had vſed me as an inſtrument among others This greiuing me inwardly in my ſoule, and in that my greife theſe wordes burſtinge forth, the Diſc. wold faine here vponupon inferr, that I made bolde with my oath, becauſe I ſayd that I was examined vponupon the ſodaine. To this I anſwere and it is true, that I was on the ſodaine examined of this facte, and yet loked for the ſame, after that the Biſhop began to examin me as touching Ka Wright: for before he came to this article, there were diuers other articles propoſed vntounto me concerning this ſaid Katherin, about the which the Biſhop was a good ſpace in examining me. In which interim I looked to heare of that which now the world you ſee (through the charitie of this chaplaine and his good Maiſter) thus infamouſly heareth. As touching this depoſition of Ka. VVrights, he is verie ſimple that knoweth not who taught or perſwaded her ſo to depoſe and that it came not of her ſelfe, if ſo be ſhee hauehave ſo depoſed.

p. 193Diſcouerer

VVe ſee that Ka VVright wa… diſpoſſeſſed, but not by the ordinarie meanes (of prayer and,pag 303. faſting) that Chriſt appoynted: and ſo Darrell muſt be driven to confeſſe that he wrought a miracle.

Darrell

I hauehave ſhewed els where that Deuils are or may be caſt out by prayer, or by prayer a…d faſting, according to the kind of ſpirit wherwith the partie is poſſeſſed: and that this is the ordinance of Chriſt. K VVright then being by prayer diſpoſſeſſed, was healed by the ordinary meanes, as wel as thoſe which be deliuered from Sathan by faſt inge and praier: and therefore not by miracle.

Diſcouerer

It being obiected to M. Darell by her maieſties Commiſſioners, that he knowing the ſaied Katherin VVright to diſſemble in her pr…tended fitet at Manſfield,pag. 303. had priuat conference with her, and taught her how to order her ſelfe in the manner of her counterfeiting, wherby he encouraged her in that her lewd courſe, he doth deny it, but hereof Ka VVright depoſeth thus:Anſ. …. M. Darrell after his coming to me at * Manſfeild, did tell and teach me alone,2 the towne wher I then dwelt to one Edward Loades, to be helped by his father in law: M. Becking…ans. how to uſe and order my ſelfe in my fites.

Darrell

Ka VVright ſaied this for feare leaſt her feete ſhould hauehave bene burned. 2. K. VVright came to Manſfeild bvt two dayes before her diſpoſſeſſion, before which time ſhe had bene for many weekes handled after a ſtrange and greiuous manner, euen after the ſame manner as ſhee was at Manſfeild and after at VVhittington vponupon her repoſſeſſion, as it euident by pag.3 pag. 305. then ſure theire was either counterfeiting, or els …poſſeſſion before. which indede is falſe, neither is the ſame depoſed by the 3 witneſſes, but onelyonly this, that ſhortly aſ… her return from Manſ…lde, ſhe was as cuill as before, … after her wonte … manner … to her former fites which needes muſt be ſo, becauſe ſhe was repo…eſſed. pag 298. 305. where-vponupon ſhee was firſt had to one Arthur a coniuere, to be holpen yf it might be, and after by the appoyntment of the now Ladie Bowes, then Miſtres Fovliam to Cheſterfeild a market towne thereby, whether by her meanes alſo repared ſundrye neighbour miniſters, which ſeing her in diuers fits, ſuſpected her to be poſſeſſed, wherevpon the ſame was bruted in thoſe quarters, and this was before ſhe came to Manſfeilde as the aforeſaid Ladie with many others can witnes. It can not be then (were K. VVright a counterfit that I did teach her at Manſfield ſeing whether ſhe coūterfeited, or was poſſeſſed, it was ſo with her long before ſhe was ſēt by M. Bereſforde to Manſfeild, before which time God he knoweth, I neuer ſaw her, neither doth Ka VVright nor yet the Diſc. ſay any thing to the contrarie. 3. I was ſaith Ka. VVright when I parted from M Darrell in the very ſame caſe that I came to Manſfeild. And for the ſtrēgthening * here of are produced the depoſitons of three, wherevpon the Diſc. (pag 305) concludeth thus: By which conference of the time it appeareth directly that KaWright was not at all in any ſorte releiued by M Darrell. And in another p. 194place thus. And this courſe ſher confeſſeth, ſhe hath held from the time ſhe. began it, vntill the time almoſt of this her examination, vZ. about 13. or 14 yeares. This conſydered I deſire to know of the Diſcouerer, wherefore I did teach Ka. Wright to counterfeit, If to glorye in the diſpoſſeſſion of her, as is to be intended, for the gayne of one peny is not ſayed to my charge how cometh it to paſſe, that Ka Wright fayned not her ſelfe to be diſpoſſeſſed, & ſo continued well euer after that I with others vſed prayer in her behalfe, but not withſtanding the prayers vſe to the end to make ſhew that ſhe was therby diſpoſſeſſed, and a ſecret a grecement theirof betwene vsus, if the Diſc. ſay truly, yet conti… the very ſame, counterfeiting a poſſeſſion after in like manner as before? This tended to the ſhame of me her maſter, and not to my prayſe: all the glorie had bene in the fained diſpoſſeſſion, whervnto the diſſemblinge of a poſſeſſion onelyonly ſerued, (if their had bene any ſuch iniquitie) and theirefore would in no caſe hauehave bene omitted who can be ſo groſſe as once to imagine that I did teach K Wright to counterfeit a poſſeſſion, and giuegive her not inſtruction concerning the diſſembling of a diſpoſſeſſions ſpeciallie ſeeinge I did affirme and beare the world in hand that ſhee was diſpoſſeſſed vponupon the prayers vſed by my ſelfe & others? what in common ſence would K. Wrights ſayninge to be poſſeſſed advantag me? Had K. VVright diſſembled to hauehave had the deuill caſt out of her by me, and then muſt ſhe hauehave remained well, after I pretended to diſpoſſeſſe her, in carnall reaſon ther was ſomthing to hauehave induced me theirvnto, but their was nothing in reaſon to leade me to perſwad and teach her to couterfeite only to bepoſſeſſed with the deuill. and the ſam for many yeares to diſſemble. As this could not procure me in particular the prayſe of men, and to be reputed to hauehave ſome rare and odd gifte in caſting out deuils, but rather the contrary, all things well conſidered: ſo neither in generall could it further the ſetting vp of the Preſbyteriall conceites: pag. 15.ſeeing heere was no deuill caſt cut by a Preſbiter…all man, to commend him, & his conceits to the world. And this is the 14. time the Diſcouerer is convinced and ſhamed by his owne Diſcouery.

4. It is to be remembred,anſ. 4. that K. wright ſetting downe the cauſe of her diſſimulation forſooth, doth not mention any profite or benifite ſhee ſhould receiue from me, or that I did beare her ſo in hand, but mentioneth the hard vſage of her father in lawe Iohn Mekin, in beating & bruſing her very ſor… to deliuer her ſelfe from which ſhe fell of countering: wherevnto the Diſc. addeth,pag …97 1298 & 313. a deſire to liue at ſome caſe, and to he much made of by her parentes. If theſe were the reaſons or cauſes of K Wrights diſſimulation, as K. VVright and the Diſc. tell vsus: then ſhe did not diſſemble for Darrels ſake, not for any profite or benefite ſhe was to receiue from him. And this is the 15. time that the Diſcouerer is convinced p. 195by his Diſcouery: except you will ſay theſe were not the onelyonly cauſes o…ner counterieiting, which we can not in any reaſon thinke, ſeeinge neither K. VVright nor Diſco. (who betwene them I truſt hauehave omitted none) hauehave named any other cauſe.

Hauing anſweared that which is ſaid to proue K. VVright a counterfeite, and my ſelfe to hauehave taught her, the reſt in this chapter beinge of le…e moment …, as not worthy the anſwearinge, and ſo will proceed to Ma…y Cooper the fourth counterfeite.

OF CHAP. 8.

OF M. Darrels proceedings with M. Cooper, the ſiſter of william Somer…

Diſcouerer.

Firſt M. Cooper ſaith thus: many times M. Darrell would call me vntounto him alone, I being in my fathers houſe, and tell me that he doubted, that I would proue in tune to be poſſeſſed,pag 315. & 316 and theirfore bad me looke vntounto it. His particular ſpeaches with her were nothing elſe, but a cunning proiect to put Mary Cooper in mind, that ſhe might counterfeite ſuch a matter, and ſo ſhee tooke it. Hereunto alſo that apoer…aineth, which ſhe depoſeth thus: I often times …xard M. Darell ſay before my pretended euilnes, that it was the deuils cuſtome, when he had poſſeſſed one in a familie, to ſeeke to poſſeſſe more of the ſame familie likew…e. This (as arguinge too plainly his cunning packing) M. Darrell denyeth: but it is ſome what ſtrengthened by Somers depoſition in this behalfe: before time (ſaith he) that I fell againe into this courſe, &c. Further more whiles the ſaide Mary Cooper was meditating as it ſeemeth vponupon M. Darrels former ſpeaches, it fell out that a child of hers died a little before Chriſtinas: which ſhe tooke ſo heavilie, as it made her as ſhee ſaith indeed and truly euill at eaſe, and ſomwhat weake: wherevp in certaine w…omen and others in the towne, comming vntounto me, tould me (ſaith ſhee) that I was worſe, then I knewe my ſelfe to be: and that I would be as evill as my brother william was. Theſe wordes added to M. Darrells former ſpeaches: that he doubted ſhe would proue to be poſſeſſed, and that Sathan was not content with one in familie, together with her experience of the ſignes of poſſeſſion, which ſhe had ſeene in her brother, and often heard of M. Darrell, made her (as ſhee ſaith) to doe that which ſhe neuer thought to hauehave done: that is, (as ſhe addeth) to tomble and toſſe, to talke idely, and to laugh.

Darrell

In this laſt chapter of the Diſcouery, the Diſc. telleth vsus of the counterfeitinge of one Mary Cooper of Nottingham, wife of Robert Cooper the younger, and ſiſter to William Somers, and of my teachinge of her, or cunninge and fradulent practiſes vſed to the ſaid end. And this he proueth by her depoſition, ſtrengthened by Somers depoſition, other proo…e hath he none. She counterfeited a poſſeſſion. And to the end ſhe might be deemed by the world to be poſſeſſed, ſhee did tumble & p. 196toſſe, talke idely, and laugh. Surely theſe thinges are eaſily done, neither need thee to hauehave any helpe to teach her them, or I to hauehave vſed any great cunning theirin, but of her ſelfe without me, ſhe was able to hauehave tumbled &c. And were not they wiſe people trow ye, which vponupon the doinge of thoſe to yes would deeme her to be poſſeſſed? we muſt knowe then (and may in reaſon aſſure our ſelues) that were Mary Cooper a counterfeite, to make ſhew theirof ſhe did ſomething one beſide tumble and toſſe, talke idely and laugh: yea by the words of the Diſc. ſo much may be coniectured, in that he ſaith Mary Coopers experience of the …ignes of poſſeſſion, which ſhe had ſeene in her brother, and often heard of me, made her &c. whence it is to be gathered, that ſhe to be …nought to be poſſeſſed with the deuill as well as her brother was, did … ſome (at leaſt) of the ſignes of poſſeſſion, as W. So…ers her brother had to the ſaid end done before her. Let vsus then (I ſay) con…der what counterfeit trickes ſhe did, and whether they be ſuch as I could teach, and ſhe learne and practiſe.

1 She conſtantly affirmed that vſually in the nightes ſhe was troubled with ſtrange …ights and viſions, and namely of Alice Freman: ſom thinge alſo now and then ſpeaking to her, and by ſome circumſtances this might be made probable.

2 It is certaine that on the daye ſhe was handled after a ſtrange manner by f…tes, and that by courſe or turne with her brother Somers, for …e no ſooner ended his fites, but preſently in the twinkling of an eye, ſhe begane hers, and when ſhe ended, immediatly begane her & thus they did though they were in ſeuerall roomes.

3. In the…e fites ſhe ſpeake very much, wherof ſhe knewe nothing after, and that this is true, it might be made very probable by diuers circumſtances alſo.

4. In ſome of her fites ſhe was of that ſtrength that 4. or 5. coulde ſcarſlye rule her.

5. She was of ſupernaturall k…owledge, tellinge of diuers thinges done a good way of her, and that at the ſame inſtant they were done.

6. In her fites ſhe was in the Iudgment of men without feelinge. As to her brother, ſo to her, a little thinge in appearance was done to make triall theirof, which notwithſtandinge vndoubtedly will ſuffice theirvnto. And that was this: her little finger was bended withall the force of a man inward, ſo as preſently after it ſwelled much, and great payne had ſhe theirof many dayes after: yet their at ſtirred ſhe not at all, no more did Somers.

7. her belly was in the mideſt as it were deuided, and rayſed vp of either ſide.

8. Out of her belly was ſenſibly heard a kinde of whupping, alſo a p. 197noyſe much like to the whurring of… catt.

9 her bellye on the ſudden ſwelled, and was in eſtimation of the b…gnes of a woman ſomewhat more then haife gone with child: and ſo continued beinge litlle or not at all bigger, about a quarter of ayeare. 2. This ſwelling would ſuddenly begone, & after a little while be their againe 3. VponUpon and duringe this ſwelling ſhe felt ſomthinge (as it were quicke) ſtirr within her, whervpon ſhe thought eſpecially at the firſt, that ſhe was with child, and now & then alſo through her great ſimplicitie ſhe ſo hoped a great while after: & yet alwayes from the begininge ſhe ſaid, that that ſtirring was nothing like to that ſhe felt within her when before ſhe was with child. After ſhe had thus cō tinued about 13. or 14. weekes, ſhe fell a traueling, ſo as midwife after midwife and neighbour weomen were called in and ſent for, wherin (as I was credibly informed) it went thus with her. At the begining of her trauile, her belly was about the bignes aforeſaid and ſoft: the next day very bigg, but ſoft: not long after very bigg, and hard as if ſhe had bene indeede with child, and at the poynte of deliuerance: ſometimes alſo ſhe was very gaunt, hauinge her belly leſſe then a womans ordinarily is. Moreover, a ſtirringe or movinge was ſometimes ſeene and felt in very ſtrange and admirable manner, as if theire had bene ſome quicke thinge cauſinge it, but ſo as no ſubſtance could be felt: and this was in ſundrie partes of her body, as about her ſtomake, aboue her breſtes, and in her arme or ſhoulder. And this rare accidēt together with this ſtrange alteration in her belly, from little to great, and from great to little, from ſoft to harde, & from harde to ſoft, was duringe the time of her trauell, which was for 2. or 3. dayes, as I remember. She had the paynes of a woman in trauill: and in danger of death, as many women in trauell: in ſo much as they which were with her deſpayringe of her life, cauſed the bell to be toled for her. In aword, ſhe was in althinges like to a woman in trauell, diſtering onelyonly heerein from others, in that they bring forth ſomethinge, either liuinge & reaſonable creature, or ſome vntimely birth: but ſhe nothinge at all, neither then nor after: trauell after trauell, and nothing but trauelinge, and one would hauehave thought for a childe, for their were all the ſignes and …orrunners of a child, and vet behold no childe was brought forth, nor yet any thing elſe. That iſſued from her, which neuer was knowne or heard of to come from any woman, but where a child was either brought or their to be brought into the world: and yet loe no child. Beſides theſe things which ſhe had in common with other weomen, which weomen can tell it is impoſſible to counterfeit, and a ſhame for men to ſay ſo: ſhe had this in ſpeciall and proper to her…elfe, that lumpes of fleſh came from her, and that which beinge p. 198carried to the Phiſition, he ſaid that if it came from nature, it was not poſſible for her to liue. Heere was a bloudie counterfeitinge, if you knewe all, as the weomen which were at this trauell can tell better then I. VVhiles theſe thinges, and preſently after theſe thinges were done, ſhe notwithſtanding did riſe out of her bed, & go vp & downe the houſe, into the chamber, and neither keept bed nor houſe for all her traueling: which had coſt her it may be her life if this her trauelinge had bene naturall, and not extraordinarie and ſupernaturall. In her breſts alſo ſhe had ſometimes water, and ſometimes milke. It was a prittie peece of cunning to convaye now milke now water, into her breſtes, and ſuch as fewe weomen can doe the like: and yet this we ſe is but the leaſt of a many of her ſaytes. Is not this aſtrange kinde of traueling, and ſtrange childe ſure that this woman went with? It may be it will proue ſo in the end when this woman ſhall come to be deliuered of this childe. After all this trauelinge I hauehave ſeene this woman with her belly of a bignes ſomewhat more then ordinarie, and within halfe a quarter of an hovre and leſſe, ſo bigg to my Iudgment and others, as a woman great with child and readie to be deliuered.

As rhe ſumme of this being examined by the B. of London concerning Mary Cooper, I ſett downe in wrighting, (whereof I read part to the Biſhop he refuſing to heare the reſt) affirminge vponupon my oath ſome of the ſame to be true of my owne knowledg, and that the reſt I was crediblie informed and did beleiue to be true: ſo I offer now to thoſe that be in authoritie to make profe heereof by many witneſſes.pag 317. Yea the Diſc. himſelfe confeſſeth ſhe had a ſwellinge in her body wherby ſhe verily thought her ſelfe to be with child. And a little after he produceth M. Cooper depoſiing thus: whē Miſtres Gray and the reſt of her cō pany (vz. the other weomen deſired to come to her trauell) came about me ſaying and reporting, pag 318.that I ſhould be deliuered of ſome monſtrous thing, Heereby it appeareth not onelyonly that Mary Cooper trauiled, as is afore ſaid, but alſo that in the ſame it went with her very extraordinarilie: wherevpon the weomen their preſent, looked not that the ſayd Mary ſhould hauehave bene deliuered of a childe, but oſ ſome monſter: and trulye no maruell the premiſſes conſidered.

VVe heare what M. Cooper hath counterfeited, & what I hauehave taught her, if a counterfeite ſhe be. But how did I teach her? For ſooth I ſaid vntounto her I doubted ſhe would proue to be poſſ…ſſed: and that Sathan was not content with one in a familie. This latter ſpeach ſaith the Diſcouerer, (which no wiſe man will bel…iue) argueth too playnly his cuning packing. Did euer man reade ſuch ridiculo…s ſtuffe as this? Doth it not deſerue rather to be hiſſed at, then anſwered? Frame the argument S. H. Darrell ſayd to Mary Cooper, he doubted or thought ſhe was poſſeſſed &c. p. 199Theirfore he taught Mary Cooper to counterfeite a poſſeſſion. By the ſame reaſon certaine women and others in Nottingham which goeinge to Ma…y Cooper ſayd, ſhe would be as evill as her brother was, taught her to counterfeit. For heereby they ment ſhe would be poſſeſt as Somers was, which is more then that I affirmed. Heerevpon the Diſc. aſcribeth her counterfeitinge partly to them and this ſpeach of theirs: but how ſottiſhly he doth it, and how abſurdly he reaſoneth here againſt them and me, let every child iudge. A boy may ſee that were we deceiued, and Mary Cooper not poſſeſt, this ſaid ſpeach argueth our ſimplicitie, but no ſuch iniquitie as the Diſc. pretendeth No leſſe groſſe is this, that Mary Cooper and I dwelling in the ſame towne, and I deſiring in my ſelfe that Mary Cooper ſhould counterfeite, and ſhe willinge on her part to performe the ſame, as the Diſc. pretendeth, yet dwellinge in the ſame towne and hauing ſundrie times ſpeach together, neither I nor ſhe euer had word of counterfeiting, but onelyonly vſed ſuch ſpeaches as you heare: which were a cuning protect (forſooth) to put her in mind of counterfeiting. pag 315Heere was an apt ſcholler I trow, that need no further inſtruction in ſo difficult a matter, then to hauehave a few ſorye wordes (ſuch as you heare) caſt forth, which might put her in minde onlye of that ſhee ſhould doe. Her brother was good at learninge his feites, if you will beleiue the Diſcouerer, but ſhe farr ſurpafſeth him. But Mary Cooper in the depoſition proceedeth.

Diſcouerer.

Which laughing, I would ſometimes hauehave reſtrayned, but could not, by reaſon of the peoples fooliſh ſpeaches that were preſent.pag 316 This laughing and fleering ſome would thinke to be but a ſmale matter: but conſider what M. Darrell gathereth of it. I affirmed ſaith he in Mary Coopers hearing, that her laughing and fleeringe countenance was ſuch as I had ſeene in others poſſeſſed. Againe, I hauehave ſayd that her laughter in her fits did proceed from the deuill.

Darrell

Concerning this laughing, and the wordes I ſpake as touchinge the ſame, this we muſt vnderſtand: that for certaine weekes when Mary Cooper was about her aforeſaid trauelling, and Sathan moſt buſie about her, ſhe was giuen ſo to laughing, that ſhee no ſooner looked of any body but ſhee would laugh or ſmile, neither could ſhe abſtaine as ſhe ſaid, and no doubt truly. Now I ſeeing this coūtenance in her ſometimes and hearing of it by others, and perceiuing evidētly at the ſame time the worke of Sathan vponupon her, & calling to mind the ſleeringe countenance and laughing not onelyonly of K. Wright, but alſo of 3 of the 7. in Lancaſhire, and withall conſidering that ſuch an …e might well proceed from the deuill, who by his nature is giuē p. 198to all vanitie, and theirfore might well cauſe ſuch a vaine & light coū tenance: did tell her, that that her laughing or ſm…nge came no doubt from the deuill. And this I ſaide theirby to hauehave drawne her to hauehave turned her eye to god, correcting her for her ſinne, by the miniſteri… of Sathan.

Diſcouerer.

Againe the ſaid Mary Cooper being thus deemed to be troubled with Sathan,pag 317. it ſell out that beſides her ſayd greife and weaknes ſhe had alſo ſome ſwellinge in her body, whereby …he verily thought her ſelfe to be with child. And otherwiſe whatſoeuer ſhe pretended in outward ſhew, ſhe nether had …uffered nor fell as ſhe hath depoſed any thing in the world. Againſt her opinion of being with child, M. Darrell oppoſed himſelfe as much as he could. M. Darrell (ſaith ſhe) laboured to bring me from my perſwa…ion of being with co…ld, by often ſaying, that it was no child, but ſuch a child as go… …ſſe every good body from.

Darrell

I perceiuing this ſimple woman to be euer looking to nature, & aſcribinge in a manner a… to nature, ſaying ſtill ſhe was with childe ſhe … ſhe …oped for all this ſhe was with child. I ſeeinge her to doe this, as is the manner of vsus all almoſt to looke and gaze onelyonly vponupon the …eanes, or ſecond cauſe of our troubles, and to goe no further, and being moſt ſure alſo that heerein ſhe was greatly deceiued: labored to …rawe her …rom that fond, fooliſh, and abſurd conceit of hers, which kept her from profitinge by that affliction: and indeuouringe this, a…ſured her that ſhe was not with child, and that theſe thinges came not from nature, but from a ſupernaturall power, & ſomthing aboue nature, which was the deuil… either inwardly poſſeſſing her, whervnto I rather inclined, yea in a manner wholly: or being without by ſome externall operation of his. And this I therfore did, that I might theirby the better drawe her to looke from earth to heaven: to go… I meane the authour of her affliction, and his extraordinarie hand vponupon her, afflictinge her in her body by the miniſterye of Sathan, as I tould her: that ſo the might be the more throughly affected, & hu… bled vnderunder that Iudgment, and the Lord ſo iudginge her. Yf ſhe had proued with childe and brought forth one not long after, then it had ſhewed ſome ſimplicitie in me, but not argued my teachinge of her to cou…terfeite, if ſuch ſhe were, and then if tho…e wordes had bene caſt in my teeth, I could leſſe hauehave blamed them. But behold more then a yeare & halfe after ſhe felt ſomething ſtirr within …er, & thought ſhe had bene quick with child, as weomē call it, ſhe brought nothīg forth, nether liuing creature, nor yet vntimely birth. VVas I not then (trow ye) to blame to ſay as I did? that ſhe was not with child, it is now manifeſt, p. 199theirin then I ſaid truly, and for that one would thinke I deſerued not to be blamed. Yet …ow ſee I am, which puteth me in mind of the prouerbe we hauehave: truth may be blamed, but it ſhall neuer be ſhamed. And what I ſhould vſe the other ſpeach againe: God bleſſe every good woman from ſuch a childe? I thinke their is neuer a good woman in England, but if I ſhould ſay ſo in her heareinge, would ſay in her …art, Amen to it vnderſtand me you m…ſt conditionally. But this that followeth I deſire the reader carefully to obſerue.

The Diſc. confeſſeth that Mary Cooper had greife and weakenes, alſo a ſwelling in her body, and alittle before it is ſaid, that at her counterfeite trauell ſhe was indeede and truly euill at eaſe, and ſomewhat weake, wherevpon certain… weomen comming vntounto her vz. to her trauel… &c Of Somers (in effect) he confeſſeth,pag 180. pag. 295. that he had a diſeaſe in his bo…y by wading: Of Darling that he felt indeede at the firſt ſome prickings in his legges, and that he v…mitred, and was ſomewhat evill at eaſe and of Kath. Wright, that ſhe growinge to ſome weakenes, began to be troubled with a kinde of ſwelling in her body, occaſioned (as ſince ſhe hath learned) by ſome ſtopping of humours, pag 298.not vnknowne to diuers weomen. Heereby it appeareth that all theſe counterfeites, did not all theire feaites but that ſomof them came from nature ſo that nature & craft may ſeeme to hauehave conſpired and traueled together to bringe forth theſe counterfeites: yea every of them without exception. VVhat, were they all ſicke and euill at eaſe, S. H.? Sure they had not otherwiſe bene fitte perſons to hauehave made counterfeits off: and belike the better to make ſemblance of counterfeiting, they were to hauehave ſome helpe from nature, which they could not hauehave from arte. But what might that be which was naturall, and which they could not doe by arte? a ſwelling in the body why, but William Somers did counterfeit this ſwelling, as appeareth by pag. 181. and 213. where he telleth vsus alſo ful abſurdly how he did the ſame. The other counterfeits then ned not to hauehave run to nature for the doinge of this tricke. But if they were all of them indeed and truly evill at eaſe, as the Diſc. and they themſelues ſay, and that truly: it is ſtrange that they ſhould hauehave any harte to counterfeite: alſo that being ſicke and weake they were able to ſhew forth ſuch ſtrength, and ſuch admirable and manifold faytes, as is manifeſt they or the deuill did. And this is the ſixteneth time the Diſcouerer is convinced by his owne Diſcouery.

Diſcouerer

When Miſtris Graye ſaith Mary Cooper and the reſt of her companye came about me,pag 318. ſayinge and reportinge that I ſhould be deliuered of ſome m…nſtrous thing, I laughed hartely at their folly and this my laughinge they termed my fite, and would cry out now Lord bleſſe her, ſhe is in aſore fitt. The which theire fooliſh wonderinge made me laugh more and more: and tho more I laughed they more they cryed: Lord hauehave mercy vponupon her, ſhe is in a ſtrang fitt, beſides when I had laughed till my harte was … at them, becauſe my ſtrength was ſpent with laugh…ng, then would the wh…le company of weomen, namely Miſtris Gray, and the re…, cry out … her, lord b…ſſe her, Lord I…ſus hauehave mercy vponupon her, now ſhe is in a trau…e.

Darrell

VVe hauehave heard before of Mary Cooper being with child, and that after ſhe had continued ſo many weekes in apperance ſhe …ed … au… ing, wherevpon diuers neighbour weomen (& among them M…ſtres Cray) being firſt requeſte… (accordinge to the cuſt…me) came … ſaid trauel, and how it went with her theirin very extraordinarily, in ſo much as they weomen preſent theirat conceiued ſhe would hauehave bene deliuer…d of ſome monſtrous thing, as is here confe…ed. …he Diſc. now telleth vsus in the perſon and depoſition of Mary Cooper (which I know he would hauehave men beleue to be true) that ſhe did nothing but laugh, and this laughing they termed her fitt: were not theſe wiſe weomen, which ſeeing a woman onelyonly laugh, did theirvpon thinke that ſhe was in trauel, and not onelyonly ſo, but imagin…a that ſhe woul… b… d…iuered of ſome monſter, and theirvpon cried vntounto the lord to hauehave mer…y on her? Againe it is ſay de, that Mary Cooper was … and truly euill at eaſe: It is incredible then that beinge ſicke, ſhe ſhould thus excee…e in laughing Surely if Calphurnius were aliue of whom the Poet ſaith, pleno ridet Calphurnius ore, and ſhould reade this ri…iculous depoſ…u…n, he would not onelyonly laugh with open mouth theirat, but as it is ſaydhere of Mary Cooper, laugh till his har… were ſore. Had not the Diſc. ſolde himſelfe to all impudencie and ſhameles gaynſaying the truth would he euer hauehave affirmed, much leſſe publiſhed to the world, that Mary Cooper did at her traueile whereof we hauehave harde nothinge but laug…? But as the Diſ. doth here extenuate or rather make iuſt nothinge of the rare and greuous effectes, which Sathan wrought vponupon the …ody of Mary Cooper, at the time of her ſuppoſed trau…, … hat… be do…e the like before (to his vttermeſt) throughout his Diſcouery by other as ſtrange and greiuous effectes, which the euil… … in Somers, Darling, and Katherine Wright ſent forth: and this is aboue all thinges to be obſerued by the reader, for heerein principally lyeth …is …eceite. Secondly, as heere he doth this beſides impiouſly, very abſurdly and in ridiculous manner, ſo vſually before. For inſtance Somers … I did foame exceſſiuely:pag 23…. it is true quoth the Diſc and his deponentes, but it was when he had blacke lead in his mouth &c.

Diſcouerer

You heare in this depoſition ſ…me …ention of the Iudge…,pag … whervpon it is p. 200to remember vntounto you, what a very ſtrange and malitious practiſe was vnderunder taken, to hauehave procured the death of apore wom… o…e Alice Freman, vponupon pretence that ſhe was a witch. This A…ce Freeman was one of thoſe whom Somers had named for witches, and is alied to M. Freeman an Alderman and Iuſtice of peace in Nottingham. It is ſaid (but vntruly) by ſome of M. Darrels frendes, that before the detecting of Alice Freeman for a witch, it was not reported in Nottingham, that Somers was a diſſembler, theirby inferring that the offence taken by her detection, was the cauſe that rayſed vp aſlaunder for ſooth of Somers diſſimulation. The practiſe was, to charge the ſayd poore women Alice Fr…eman, to hauehave bewitched to death the child of Mary Cooper: and that ſhe likewiſe was the cauſe of the ſayde Maries trouble and vexation, as haueing bewitched her in like manner. which conceite being thruſt into Mary Coopers head, ſhe was arraigned: M. Darrell was one amongſt diuers that gaue in evidence againſt the woman, grounding himſelfe much vponupon Somers detecting of her for a witch & matters were ſo proſecuted againſt her, as had not the Iudges in their wiſdome diſcerne …omwhat, it is verily thought, the poore woman (being found guiltie by the great enqueſt) had bene condemned to death.

Darrell.

Seeing the Diſc. will iuſtifie Alice Freeman, and together with her kinſman M Freeman hauehave her to be a very innocent, & to hauehave bene without cauſe through the mallice (forſoth) of ſome accu…ed of witch crafte, let vsus therfore ſee what may be ſayd concerning her: not that I will charg her with witchcraft, but that we may ſee, ſhe is not altogether ſo free from all ſuſpition of witchcraft as the Diſco. and her kinſman pretend: and that there was iuſt cauſe of the proceedinges vſed againſt her. In the beginning of December 97. preſently after the diſcouerie of this Alice Freeman among other perſons for a witch, by Somers or rather by the deuill vſinge his tongue, ſhe the ſaid Alice comming into the houſe of Robert Cooper, father in law to Somers and to Mary Cooper his ſiſter, ſome angrie wordes the ſayd Mary gaue her, callinge her a witch The night following (but how it came to paſſe I know not) Mary Cooper felt a ſtiring within her belly, as if their were ſome quicke thinge, her belly ſwelling (which was ſenſible to others) and the other greuous vexations wherof we hauehave heard before growing vponupon her by little and little.pag 3 … To this ſtirring M. Aldridge hath de…ſed afterwards ſhe grue to be indifferently well, and ſo doth continue: onelyonly ſhe complayneth, that ſhe hath a kind of ſtirring in her b…lly, But if Alce Freeman together with her familiar ſpirit cauſed Mary Coopers ſtrange and fearefull vexations, then it was thought that her mallice did not ſta…e it ſelfe there, but reached to her onelyonly child, that ſo ſhee might be further revenged of her and herevpon this ſuſpition di… ariſe p. 201About 10 dayes after the former iarre in a faire mone ſhine euē ninge, Alice Freeman went from her owne houſe to Robert Cooper his houſe. One ſeeinge her: and maruelinge to ſee her trudg ſo faſt, that could ſo ill (beinge avery ougly, old, …ame woman,) doe it, followed whott foote after her, and dogged her. VVhen ſhe was come to the aforeſaid houſe, ſhe did not forthwith knocke at the dore, as the manner of well meaning people is: but peepes firſt at the chinckes of the doore, then went ſhe to the window, and thus ſhe continued playing at bo-peepe a good while, and yet ſhe is no child but a well aged woman. At length ſhe eſpied the honeſt man which had followed after her, and then ſhe full mannerlye and honeſtlie fell a knockinge. Into the houſe ſhe commeth. Mary Cooper had then a litle childe ſtanding at her knee in health and playinge, Alice Freman deſired to light acandle, but Robert Cooper denyed her, and aſked her why ſhe came to that houſe, which of all other was by the Maior forbidden her. Away goeth ſhe without lighting her candle, and as ſhe went ouer the threſhold, the child which even now was ſo well and merry, begane to be ſicke, and fell a ſcrighinge and ſckreaminge, and ſo continued for two dayes and then dyed.

Some queſtions might be heere aſked, which if they were fully anſwered, would remoue ſome ſcruple which remayneth ſtill in many as, wherefore ſhe went ſo ſo haſtilie thether, and being come peeped in after that manner? wherefore to light a candle at that houſe, rather then another? It being the onelyonly houſe which was by the magiſtrate forbidden her: there beinge beſides ſo many houſes, I know not how many betwixt her houſe and Coopers: Coopers houſe alſo ſtandinge out of the ſtreete, a good ſpace into the churchyarde. Moreover, to what end ſhe went, to light a candle, & how that contradiction of hers may be ſalved? To ſome ſhe ſayd, ſhe went with a candle from home, only to light it, and ſo to returne home: and this her anſweare was approued by the magiſtrates of Nottingham, and yet can not be true the promiſſes cōſidered, beſids that which followeth ouerthroweth the ſame. To others that ſhe had loſt pinnes in the churchyard, & would hauehave lighted her candle at Coopers houſe ſtiding in the churchyard to hauehave found ſome of them, for it is oddes ſhe had not found them all, to ſōe other this queſtion being aſked I her, ſhe anſweared ſhe had loſt 2d. in the churchyard, and that ſhe deſired to find. But it may be he that purſued her, found that which ſhe loſt he would be examined therof: but we muſt firſt know, what ſhe loſt: whether mony, or pinnes. It is a queſtion alſo, whether ſhe went of purpoſe and made haſte to loſe ſomthing, that after ſhe might be occupied in ſeeking that ſhe neuer loſt. It would be demaunded alſo, why being denied to light her can p. 202there, ſhe went not to another houſe to light it, that ſo ſhe might hauehave gone about the ſeekinge of that whatſoeuer it was ſhe deſired ſo much to finde. Surely either ſhe had loſt nothing, or elſe ſhe grew careles of that ſhe had cared ſo much for newly before: for ſhe went preſently to another houſe, and a little while after home, without returning to the churchyarde.

I might add here another ſuſpitious matter againſt her, concerning one George Spence, by whoſe meanes in al probabillitie, as I coulde ſhew, but that I haſte to an end he was ſo greiuouſly afflicted, that very many were quicklie gathered about him, and longe after continued troubled in his bodye after a ſtraunge and vnnaturall manner. I can tell alſo of a pretie pranck ſhe playd after both theſe ſhe cam on a time into the houſe of a man in Nottingham whoſe name I hauehave forgotten who carrieth Aquauitae vp and down the cuntrie: his wife welcumed her with ſome ſhreud wordes: for there be few in Notting which louelove not her roome better then her company, ſhee claſped her huſband about the neck or backe, and departed, a ſtrange kinde of ſalution. The ſame daye the man went forth with his bottles on his backe… when he was gone forwarde about a mile or two in a fayre euen grene ſwerde waye, backwarde fell he and brake his bottles, & there laye all the mans Aquavitae. Back he comes for new bottles & more aquavitae: when he came at the very ſame place again, it fel out with him iuſt as before. If this was long of Alice. Fremans imbracinge him, the poore man I dare ſaye had as liue ſhe had ſo kindly imbraced another as him, for the louing ſalutation if I ſay it came from thence, ſcathed him 4. nobles. Home he cometh the ſecond time, & after they two were made freindes he and his bottles eſcaped well. I hauehave heard of more ſuch like ſtories of Alice Freman, as of one which falling out with her as ſhe was at meate, had lyke to hauehave bene choaked, & continued handled in that ſtrange manner in her throate, as I neuer hearde of the like before, and that for the ſpace of 5. howres or there abouts. euen vntill Alice and ſhee were made cater-couſins, and then loe ſhe was as wel as might be and this was as it is ſaide and ſome other of this kinde, before Somers ſaide ſhe had a catt.

Theſe things moued ſome to ſuſpect Alice Freman of witchcraft, and though not all yet parte of this was given ineuidence againſt her: & not Somers detecting of her for awitch, whereof there was no ſpeach before the Iudge and being done by the lying ſpirit was theirfore to be held for falſe & ſlanderous, or at leſt to be ſuſpected, except evidēt proofe thereof might be had from men. And heereof had M. Freman her kinſman well conſidered, he would neue… hauehave laboured ſo much by himſelfe and his frendes, I meane his fellowe Commiſſioners, to p. 203hauehave proued Somers a counterfeite, therby to recouer (as he thought) the good name of his kinſwoman. Seeing the ſuſpition of her witchcrafte relyed not at all of Somers detecting her for a witch, but of matters of fact to be proued againſt her: and that were Somers a counterfeite, which he hath thirſted ſo much after, the ſame woulde not free her from the ſaid ſuſpition. The Diſc. parentheſis vz but vntruly, is vntrue my frendes ſaid very true, if we vnderſtand them of the time after Somers diſpoſſeſſion, as they (no doubt) meant. It is well knowne to the inhabitantes of Nott, that before the detecting of Alice Freman for a witch, Somers was not reported in Not. to be a diſſembler: nether produceth the Diſco any thinge to the contrary: onelyonly himſelfe ſaith the contrary: whoſe teſtimonie I thinke no man will regard. But to returne againe vntounto Mary, Cooper, the Diſc. proceedeth etc.

Diſcouerer.

M. Aldridge depoſeth thus. pag 322.Afterwardes ſhe grew to be indifferently well, and ſo doth continue: onelyonly ſhe complayneth, that ſhe hath a kinde of ſtirring in her belly: (wherevnto the Diſco. addeth) and is not otherwiſe troubled, then it happeneth out vponupon occaſion with other weomen,

Darrell

It is firſt to be obſerued, that parte of M. Aldridge depoſition is wantinge: afterwardes ſhe grew well: theſe wordes muſt needes hauehave relation to ſome before, wherein ſomething was ſaid concerning her evilnes, and for the confirmation of that I hauehave to that end before deliuered: but the Diſc. thought good to ſmother all that, as makeinge not for him, but againſt him: and this is vſuall with him. 2. It is depoſed that ſhe hath a ſ…irring in her belly, (according to that I hauehave before affirmed) and confeſſed that ſhe is troubled as other women are vponupon occaſion: then ſure there was ſomethinge beſides her laughing, which ſo affected the women met at her aforeſaide trauaile.pag 323.

Diſcouerer.

The authour of the Breife Narration writeth in this ſorte: what goodly ſtuffe they (meaninge the Diſcouerer and his fellow Commiſſioners) hauehave returned, time and mallice will make knowne vntounto vsus. The ſtuffe ſuch as it is (vile indeed) his Maiſterſhippe may be pleaſed now to pervſe: and theirby reape ſome profite, if he read it with no greater mallice then it was written.

Darrell.

The Narrator (I dare ſaye) was neither Prophet nor the ſonne of a Prophet, and yet herein he did foretel that which after cam to paſſe The ſtuffe that S. Harſn…t and his fellowe commiſſioners hauehave returned him ſelfe confeſſeth is vile indede and ſure ſo it is, yea as vile I am perſwaded, as euer was returned ſince England was a nation, for what p. 204is that ſtuffe but an heape of falſe, fooliſh, ridiculus, and abſurde thinges witneſſed vponupon the oathes of men, …ome few depontions excepte …. But is this all that doth make this ſtuffe vile? no hereby it is made more vile, in that this vile ſtuffe was compaſſed by the cunning perſwaſions, and threates of the commiſſioners. men for the preſent and this acte in authoritie, and ſuch as …hold rather hauehave done their indeuours to hauehave preſerued then drawen the deponents to periurye. But is here all? no the ſtuffe returned and publyſhed to the worlde is made more vile by the Diſcouerer, his additions, detractions, and alterations: being therby made farr worſe then at the firſt it was delyuered. But is this all that maketh this ſtuffe vile? no no: all this ſtuffe hath bene compaſſed and produced not againſt man, but againſt the Lorde himſelfe: not (indeede) to finde out any counterfeiting and teachinge to counterfeite whereof there is no more queſtion or doubt to be made, then whether it be daye light at noone in the fayreſt ſunſhine daye in ſomer: but to obſcure the workes of god, and to keep his people from beleuing them to be ſuch: becauſe they were brought to paſſe by ſuch as the Diſcouerer deſpiſetn and hatetn, and woulde fame hauehave al men to hate and deſpiſe. And this is it that maketh this ſtuffe out of meaſure vile, execrable, and abominable in the ſight of god, and therefore ought ſo to be reputed of all his people. Yea if we the inhabitantes of England be the lords people or inheritance as we profeſſe: we can not but ſo account hereof, & will therfore by al good meanes accordinge to our places further thire puni…hment: and our vice Godes, which are here on earth in Gods ſteade, will take vengance of theſe traitors & rebels againſt God, for this vnſpeakable diſhonor done to him, and this treaſon or rebellion of theires, in takinge parte with ſathan his enemie, (the God and prince of this worlde, who in ſome extraordinary manner in riſen vp againſt theſe workes of God) againſt the Lorde himſelfe.… Yf it be ſaid by ſome in authoritie, that if it may be made to appeare that theſe thinges are true, they will not endure them, but ſeuerely pvnniſh theſe commiſſioners: I in all humillitie offer to make profe of theſe thinges,I doe not ſ…v o… every …erticula… becauſe it may be ſom… witneſſes will fa…le to witnes that th… know to be true & hauehave formerly confeſſed. and generally of whatſoeuer I hauehave ſet downe in this my Apollogie or defence of the workes of God, and of my ſelfe: and if herein I fayle I refuſe no punniſhment. In the meane ſeaſon it is to be remembred, whereof theſe worthy commiſſioners examined ſuch as were by them depoſed: ſurely for the moſt parte of ſuch thinge; as might ſerue to proue theire fooliſh, abſurd and ridiculus cir…n…ſtances: and to this end vſualy they depoſed them concerning the ſpeaches that I ſhould vtter in the hearing (forſooth) or preſence of S…n. And how long before ſhould I hauehave ſpoken the…e thinges? … a yeare: yea ſome of them about 14. yeares then paſt. were not here good memories that could remember p. 205the very wordes they hearde ſo long before, ſpeciallie the ſame little or nothing concerning them, and being not worthy t…e remembring: yea the iuſt … whe… they were ſpoken,In the maſſe o… depoſitions I thinke we ſcarſly hauehave ſix times th… worde or any … this effect. and that …o perfectly as they nede not to … cauſe ſo … they remember or other to this effect. One would thinke it had bene fitter men ſhould hauehave bene examined concerning the actions of Som… then of my ſpeaches, and o… the ſtrange and extraordinarie thinges they had ſeene in him … happenly they had ſene any, as … commiſſioners did: for thereby only it would be made … out of controuerſie by the … of men, whether Som. …. It is be obiected that here of they did depoſe ſuch as were examined by the 12 Commiſſioners: I anſwere and confeſſe that they did ſo indeed by diuers of them: but the Diſc. hath kept back and buried all that ſome of them affirmed the ſeconde time vponupon their oathes, and in manner all that the reſt then depoſed, as is made manifeſt by my anſwere to the 8. chapter of the 3. booke ſo that the cauſe is not bettered there … the Diſc is made the more ſin…ull.

Concerninge the depoſitions publiſhed to the worlde vnderunder my name, this is it we muſt knowe: that howſoeuer for the ſubſtance of … they …e mine, yet many of them as they be produced by the Diſc. are not mine ſome he hath fathered vponupon me, I hauing depoſed … thinge,whe… I depoſ…d doubtfully with there wordes … or other to … effect, which vſually I did, the Diſcouerer … ſeth p…duceth me … times …ge… m…n depo…nge d…nfully. … as I beleiue. nor yet neuer bene examined thereof: others …e hath corrupted, ſometimes adding, ſometimes omitting or keeping back that which is ver… …ateria…: and by this his corrupt dealinge with my depoſitio…s on the one ſyde and the like with the depo…itions of his owne depo…ts on the other ſyde, he maketh greate ſhewe to the world of … w…ere none is. Now this per…ury he meaneth to me. for why I… but one, and the Diſc. produceth ordinarily 3. or 4. or more depoſing the contrary. And are not diuers to be beleued before one? I anſwer,, not alwayes and in all caſes. Againſt Paul Ana…as the hig… preiſt with the Elders and ſertuilus, and I know not nowe man, …ewes beſides witneſſed before the iudgment ſeate, an I would no doubt hauehave …epoſed, that he was a p…ſtilent …edow, and a …ouer of ſedition, the cōtrary only Paul a pore priſoner affirmed: & yet the truth was with this ſole man.… Euen …o it may be (and I would be ſorrie it were not) in this our preſent caſe. And here it is not to be forgotten that my ſelfe being firſt depoſed, S. Harſnet we…t down with his commiſſion after, his intergatories being framed according to the things I had formerlie depoſed: and there endeuoured by tareats and other wiſe to drawe many of thoſe which came before him and his fellow… commiſſioners to depoſe the contrary to that I had formerly depoſed, that ſo he might make me …atfull to the world, becauſe I was (for p. 206ſooth) ſo notorious a periured perſon) to the great greife (alas) of the poore ſoules and trouble of theire conſciences, the moſt of them not ſo much depoſinge willingly that which they knew to be true, as what the Diſc. againſt their willes would hauehave them to depoſe, & perſwaded to be true, ſaying, I truſt, Darrell himſelfe hath confeſſed it vponupon his oath &c. when I had depoſed otherwiſe, and that the ſame w…re falſe, as my ſelfe doe aſſuredly knowe, and am able and offer to make direct profe theirof by ſome of there depoſitions, and of many of them could by the power of reaſon ſhew the ſame, and would but for breuitie ſake.

The Diſc. telleth vsus, that the reader ſhall reape ſome profit by his Diſcouerer, if heread it with no greater mallice then it was written.

The profit is in ſtead of glorifiyng God for the greate workes he hath wrought, and making that right and holy vſe of his works wherof at large we hauehave heard elſwhere, to receiue an evill name & falſe and vile report of the ſame: and to iuſtifie the wicked, and condemne the righteous, which is an abomination before the Lord. And looke what reward is due to him that ſendeth forth ſuch curſed fruite, that may the Diſcouerer expecte and in iuſtice is to receiue at the handes of the chriſtian Magiſtrate, for all the paynes he hath taken. For doth not nature it ſelfe teach vsus that the labourer is worthy of his hire? and reaſon this, that the hire or reward ſhould be proportionable to the labour or paynes man taketh? VVhether this corrupt and worſe then rotten ſtuffe, and whether S. H. Diſcouery detected now (I truſt) to be a very ſinfull, ſhamfull, ſlaunderous, and lying treatiſe, came from charitie as the Diſcouerer pretēdeth, or from mallice which he denieth, as it belongeth to god the ſearcher of the hartes to iudge, ſo it is no hard thinge for man to coniecture. For as out of the abundance of the hart the mouth ſpeaketh, ſo the hand writeth.

Howbeit peraduenture, when he hath better conſidered the contentes of this treatiſe,Diſcouerer pag 3…4. he wil not be ſo peremtorie. Otherwiſ… he hath here matter ſufficient to ſhew his ſkill in for the iuſtification of it.

Darrell

As in theſe wordes the Diſcouerer very valiantly challengeth the Narrator, ſo pag 58. doth he challeng me likwiſe, ſaying after his ſcoffinge manner, that I will peradventure be better prouided hereafter: and that it were conveniēt alſo that I furniſhed my ſelfe with ſome better profs. This chalenge conſidered there is ſmale cauſe why any ſhould be offended with me for anſwering the Diſcouerie, and producing the beſt proofes I hauehave, for the prouinge that William Somer…, the 7. in La…caſhire, Thomas Darling, and Katherine Wright were indeed poſſeſſed with deuils, and diſpoſſeſſed of them, and did not counterfeit the ſame, as is vntruly p. 207affirmed by the Diſcouerer, & ſome others. And if it be ſo that here in I hauehave deliuered the truth, as I truſt it is manifeſt by this and my other treatiſe, me thinketh no chriſtian ſhould be diſpleaſed therwith, but rather reioyce in this publiſhing & manifeſtation of theſe workes of god, and remouing of the blocke that lyeth im the way, hindering the Lordes people from magnifiyng of him for them, and profitinge by them. Can the child of God be offended with that which tendeth to the prayſe and glorie of God his father? or the louer of the truth, with the contendinge for the truth, and conviction of the falſhood? HaueHave I committed any thinge herein but that which in dewtie I did owe vntounto God, and could not without ſinne hauehave left vnperformed? The Prophet Ieremiah complayneth that the people in his time had no courage for the truth. Ier. 9. ….Jer 9Had not I bene guiltie of this ſinne, and had not this reprofe reached it ſelfe to me, if baſe and vile man publiklye defacing the truth and workes of God, I ſhould not as publikly hauehave maintayned the ſame, and ſhewed ſome courage for the truth, beinge a principall witnes of theſe workes, and called alſo to ſuffer for them? If S. H. had publiſhed a ſlaunderous and reprochfull booke againſt me, meerly concerning my owne perſon, and not againſt the Lord alſo, as this his Diſcouery concerning my teaching to counterfeit is, pro. 22, 1.I could hauehave bene contented in ſilence to hauehave paſſed by it: and yet a good name is a pretious thinge, aboue ſiluer and gould, and ſuch as one would be loth to loſe, or ſuffer to be taken from him: but to ſee S. H. ſlaunder and bringe vp an euill name of the workes of God, and ſpread the ſame farr and neare: and for feare of puniſhment, or deſire of libertie, or other carnall reſpect, not to gaynſay S. H. and to iuſtifie the works of God againſt him and all gainſayers, was apoynt of great cowardlines, and ill beſeeminge the ſouldier of Ieſus Chriſt:2 Tim. 2. 3. R…n. 21. 8.2 Tim 2:3 and indeed to feare man, more then God. Such fearefull ones ſhall hauehave their parte in the take which burneth with fire and brimſton, which is the ſecond death.

The ſcope and drift of all that hath bene ſaide concerninge both the cauſe and my ſelfe is, that the mouthes of all men being ſtopped, and the worke of God beinge: acknowledged: The Lord may hauehave his glorie and prayſe, and man receiue his profite theirby. Secondly, that mine owne innocency and fellow priſonners appearinge, we may not only (being reſtored to our miniſterie and people,) obtayne libertie for our bodyes, but alſo for our tongues: & they which hauehave cauſed all this ſturr in our church, and vniuſt moleſtations vntounto vsus, and in vsus, beinge miniſters to the c…ngregations we …el…erge, and …ayſed vp this vile ſlaunder of the great and rare worke of God, and free ſ…eated to vphold and maintaine it beinge on foot, and theirin ſought againſt God and his glorie, and the good of his people may be inquired p. 208i…uired after: and being found out delt with as the enimies of God … church and receiue theire …u…t recompence or rewarde. The …dnes of … cauſe, the in…onerable in…ur…e done to vsus the ſeruants an… … of the Lord of …, cry a …ou… and ſhir… vntounto the … of men, … meane the honorable and in ni… place and … for a …pea… execution theirof. … …wes and of our land and the authoritie when …rom her moſt excellent Ma…eſtie is deriued to … truſt mem…e and moſt … ſup… our … Gods …s: that they would …ender the cauſe … zea…ous if euer, ye Princes & …ud … and … nor Gods cauſe to be th…s … or men… Remember and forget not thus …aying … I will … they … … then you our … and honorable per… …… right honorable indeed, be you care…ull to author … his.

And thus … conver… my ſpeach to thee … who … and … ſo …e as … onelyonly beloued … one my compa… day and night. If ſhe … or that which is …