The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet, Treatise · Book 2 · Chapter 1
OF CHAP. 1.
Diſcouerer.
Of M. Dar. intercourſe with So. by ſt…ts at Aſhby, from abou… the yeare 1592 vntill 1597. for his inſtruction how to diſſemble himſelf to be poſſeſſed.
Darrell
This my ſuppoſed guiltynes is prooued two wayes,pag. 7… firſt by Somers accuſing me to hauehave taught him: Secondly, by circumſtances arguing the ſame: depoſed by diuers witneſſes. In the accuſation we are to obſerue firſt, the accuſer: ſecondly the accuſation it ſelfe, laſtly the circumſtances confirming the ſame (as is pretended) depoſed by others.
The accuſer is William Somers, a yong man about the age of 22. yeares: who firſt is knowne to be a notorious and infamous lyar: for 4. times hath he varyed with that double and falſe tongue of his: ſomtimes affirming, at other times denying all counterfeyting: and eue…y of theſe times openly, and to an infinite nomber of men. 2. By his owne confe…ſion he hath counterfeyted a poſſeſſion: and if that were ſo, prophaned the holy exerciſe of prayer and faſting: and is therfore moſt vile and abominable. 3. Yf he hauehave counterfeyted, he is moſt horrible blaſphemer:Yf that wretched & notorious Blaſpheamous H…ck…t…, were miſtly & worthely condemned & executed, for ſuch like blaſphemie & indignities as this may it not ſeme ſtrange that this lewde per…ned boy ſhould be … cheriſhed and much made of, by the Biſh. & his C…aplen. hauing ſometimes ſaid there is no god: and ſometimes vſed theſe wordes, I am * god: I am Chriſt, as is depoſed. 4 He is a forſworne wretch: for he hath ſworne both wayes, that hee hath counterfeyted, and that he hath not counterfeyted: yea with an execration, betaken himſelfe to the diuell if euer he counterfeyted: he muſt needes therefore be forſworne. In regard heereof I anſwer that foraſmuch as ther is only one witneſſinge againſt me, I ought not therevpon without further proofe, neither by the lawe of god, nor by the ciuill lawe, be held and adiudged as guilty. 2. I hauehave to all the articles framed againſt me out of his accuſation, anſwered negatiuely and me thinketh were I a priuate man, in regarde of my educatyon, yeares, and life, I ſhould be credited rather then Somers: much more being a miniſter of Chriſt Ieſus and preacher of his goſpell. 3. Beſides my owne oath and proteſtation againſt this ſingle accuſer,Anſ. * learned and graue deuines hauehave offered to be my compurgators:… Deut. 19. 15. Iohn, 8. 17. 2 cor. 13. 1. 2 which by the ciuill lawe (according to which I am to be iudged) doth aboundantly ſuffice for my purgation: ſeeing my owne without theires is ſufficient.1 tim. 5. 19, I take exception againſt his teſtimony in regard of his vnworthynes, which appeareth by the premiſes. And becauſe of this I a…irme,M. Iohn I…eton. M Iohn Brown… M. Robert Ev… gton, M. Tho. Boulto… pag. 244. that there is no body teſtifying againſt me the crime layde to my charge: for there is none but Somers (as by that which followeth is made euident,) and he in all lawe is nullus teſtis: no witneſſe.
Diſcouerer.
The Diſc. ſaith of him, that he hath dealt ſince his examynation at London much more ſinceerly in this matter then I.
Darrell.
Admit then Som. were not ſuch and ſo vile as we heare, but as the Diſc. it may be will hauehave it, a yong man of good reporte admitt likewiſe that not only he but others alſo ioyned togither with him in the accuſation, yet notwithſtanding for-aſmuch as the accuſation it ſelf is moſt falſe, as we ſhall heare, all will make nothinge to prooue my guiltynes. And ſo from the accuſer let vsus proceede to the accuſation, and examyne it.
Diſcouerer.
About a quarter of a yeare before my departure (ſaith So.) from …. Tho. Grayes, (with whome I then dwelt at Langl…y. Abb…ym l…y …ſhire) I was ſent one day to Aſhby de la Zouch (being 4. or 5. myles diſtant) vp…nſome occaſion of buſynes. At what time … with other … boyes, going into anaAbout 100. of the cheife of them amonge whom I n…ne liue … hauehave all…eadie (in effect) witne…ſed, that I vſed to goe in to …, as little as other preachers of the goſpell. alchouſe,what theſe boy…s were & there …a n…s it would be knowne. alſo wa…. Al…houſe. ſound there M. Darrell, whome I litlle regarding, butbbuyes vſuallie playe in the ſendes or ſtretes playing the wagg, and ſhrewd boy with my compannion▪ M. Darrell d…parted out of the houſe, and ſtayed at the dore vntit… I came …orth And then he tooke me apart, aſked me my …am…, where I was borne, with whome I dwelt, Alas (quoth he further) thou art a pretty boy, and my countreyman: I knewe thy father, and am ſorrye to ſee th… in …o meane a caſe: for I was ſimply apparrelled, euen as meanly almoſt as could be. Hee alſo promiſed to bring me out of the towne, and to tell me ſomethings, wherin if I would be ruled by him, I ſhould not be driuen to goe ſo dare as I did but be able to mainteyne my ſelfe as long as I liued. When I had diſpatched my busynes, I ret…rned homeward, and found M. Darrell not, …ar… from the place where I left him, talking withc… me… hauehave neither names nor ſurnames, no more then the boyes. But no maruel for they were to …ſtrangers. two or three ſtrangers, about one Katheryne Wright whome he ſaid he had diſpoſſeſſed of an vnclean… ſpiryt. After he had ended his communication with them, he went with me along in the ſtreete in my way homeward and as we were going togither, I hauing ouer-heard ſome of his ſpeaches with the ſaide ſtranger, aſked hym what they ment: he anſwered me with a long ſpeach concerning the poſſeſſiō of K. Wright, and tould me the manner of her fitts &c. as there …oweth: where is ſet downe at large our firſt (pretended meeting) or acquaintance with the occaſion thereof, the allurements I vſed to perſwade him to counterfeyte, and the acting of certayne trickes by my ſelfe for his better inſtruction.
Darrell.
I anſwer before the Lord, and as I ſhall anſwer it at the dreadefull day of iudgment, that I neuer (to my knowledge) ſawe William Somers before the 5.Anſ. 1. of Nouember 97. which was but two dayes before his diſpoſſeſſion, an that was alſo vponupon earneſt intreaty made by the Me…r (then) o… N…ttin…ham and by …undry others: much leſſe then had I for certaine yeares before 97. diuers and ſecret metings with him, and confederated with him, as he accuſeth me.
Secondly, I anſwer, that foraſmuch as Somers was gone from M. Crayes before the ti…e he a…firmeth our firſt meeting or acquaintāce be … it cannot therefore poſſibly be, that this his ſaid accuration is true. About M…d…o…mmer 1598. I being by the B. of London depoſed and examyned, it was articulated againſt me, that about 4. yeares (then) …aſt, as I was talking with two or three ſtrangers in Aſhby cō cerning … came to vsus. and that leauing them, I went with … the way homewards perſwadinge … to counterfe…t a … had done. … and charged againſt me in Michelmas tearme followinge at Lamb…th before my Lord chief Iuſtice and ſome other of her Maieſtyes moſte honorable priuy counſell. And this was done in the preſence of aboue an hundred. Then or at that time (as we ſee) our firſt acquaintance began Anno 1594. now ſixe yeares paſt: but So. accuſation being ſynce by the Diſc. refyned. and caſt into a newe mould, becauſe of an Apologie of mine made after this, he is now ſaid to hauehave bene acquainted with me from ab…ut the yeare 1592. whereby the Diſc. hath gayned two yeares, which ſtandeth him in ſinguler ſteade. for take the accuſation as it was at the firſt, and is in the article, and continued long charged againſt me, as in equity we ought, the Diſc. and Som. are manifeſtly conuinced by the diſcouery it ſelfe. for by pages 94. and 95. it appeareth, that it is now about eight yeares ſince Som. went from Maiſter Grayes, and the accuſations being in his firſt frame, it is little more then ſixe yeares ſince Somers and I were firſt acquainted, as he affirmeth: ſo that Som. ſhould hauehave bene gone from M. Grayes, about 2. oop orre… mend …cem … memo…em.yeares after the Diſc. accompt, before he and I were acquainted, and therefore the accuſation falſe. Blame not then the Diſc. for this alteration of the time, for had he let it goe as it was framed at the firſt, either he muſt hauehave ſet that point of my Apollogie alone, or els hauehave cleane ouerthrowne himſelfe and all: now whether of them ſoeuer he had done, it had bene againſt himſelfe, and the latter ſhamed him for euer. It was wiſdome then (I trow) with a daſh of his pen to preuēt all, which was by writing the figure of 2. inſtead of the figure of 4. & cha…nging 94. into 92. But let vsus take the time of our firſt acquaintance to be, not as So. hath affirmed, but as the Diſc. now reporteth it: (for I ſee no remedy) yet by the diſcouery it ſelfe it will appeare, that the accuſation is falſe herein: for by page 94. it is playn (as forth with we ſhall heare) that So. went from M. Grayes aboue 7. yeares before the diſcouery came forth, and the Diſc. himſelfe confeſſeth. that it was then but 7. yeares ſynce wee were acquaynted, for from 9…. (which is ſaid to be the firſt time of our acquaintance, if we were acquavnted ſo ſoone) vntill 99. are but 7. yeares: and beſides Somers ſaith that we met togither about a quarter of a yeare & pag 80. twelue or thirteene weekes before he went from M. Grayes. By the diſcou…ry it ſelfe therefore it is manifeſt, that he could not come to me at. Aſhby from M. Thomas Grayes at Langley abb…y a quarter of a yeare before his departure thence, as both here and page 82. is by Somers in his accuſation affirmed▪ whereby it is euident that the Diſc. in his diſcouery hath playnly diſcouered my inocency, togeather with So. & his own falſhood and corruption. And this is the ſecond time the Diſc…uerer is conuinced by his diſcouery. And if heere by my innocency and the …a…hood of So. accuſation appeare: How would it ſhine and be cleare if vponupon a commiſſion graunted I ſhould make proofe that it is aboue 10. yeares ſince his departure from …angley abbey, whereof I am very ſure, and how or which way it will forthwith app…e
It will not helpe him to ſay that he doth not dy…e the affirme that we became a…qua…ted 92. but about 92 for this worde about muſt hauehave relation to the time a…ter 92. vi…. 93 and not to the time before, beca…ſe he ſaith in the next wordes followinge, that I became a…qua…nted with …, Aſt by about 5. or 6. yeares pa…, meaninge from 98. which is all one as if he had ſaid from 92. or 93. whereas otherwiſe he ſhould hauehave ſaid, about 6. or 7. yeares paſt.
Diſcouerer.
Againſt this the Diſ…. obie…teth as followeth: Where M. Darrell ſaith (viz. in my Apollogy) that it is 9 yeares or thereabouts ſince …om.pag. …. went from M. Grayes, if that were true, he had ſaid ſomewhat, for the clea ring therefore of this: Firſt M. Gray and Miſtreſſe Gray being interrogated 23. Octob. 1598. how long it was ſince So. left their ſeruice: the one ſaith: more then sixe yeares paſt: and the other about ſixe yeares as they remember. But there is ſome better certainty to bolt out the truth heerein. So. was bound prentiſe (as M. Dar. confeſſeth) with Thomas Porter, about a monneth or ſiue weekes after he was diſcharged of M. Brackenburyes ſeruice: and So. ſaith that be remayned little above a quarter of a yeare (if ſo long) with M. Brackenbury: and it will be confeſſed, that he went from M. Grayes to dwell with M. Brackenbury: ſo as if we can fynde when Som. was bound pretice, it will appeare how long it is ſince be dwelte as M. Grayes, Now the Indenture it ſelfe whereby he was b…unde, beareth date the ſeauenth of May in the 35. yeare of her Maieſty: wherby it is manifeſt the promiſes being true, that it is not yet ſ…auen yeares ſince Som. dwels with M. Gray, which coutr…wl…h M. Dar. nyne yeares.
Darrell.
The pr…miſſ…s being true, that he ſaith is not therby manifeſt for if we add to the date of the Indenture, the monneth or 5. we…kes and quarter of a yeare he ſpeaketh of, it is likely to be full 7. yeares, and as well mo… leſ…e. yea the premiſſes being true, it is manifeſt that his not ye… 7. y…are. (viz. at the time the diſcouery came forth) is falſe for if … then 6. yeares in October 1598. ſince So. departure from M. … muſt it not needes be more then 7. yeares in November 15… which was the time wherein the diſcou…ry firſt ſawe the light? … time the third Diſcouerer is conuiced by his owne … the promiſſes, being true, … 9. … notwithſtanding depoſed truly and ſo did … for the preſent. They thought as it may …, that they would make ſure to ſweare truly, and to keepe them within their boundes, and no maruaile ſeing norwithſtanding that (as I was credibly informed) the B. of … ſaid to M. Gray when he thus depoſed, that he had forſworne himſelfe: offering to lay him a …unched pounds that it was not 6. yeares ſu…ce S le…t his ſer…ice, albert M. Gray being ready to lay with him, he a…ter refu…ed and not only this, but threatned him and Miſtr…ſſe Gray likewiſe to ſend them to priſon, what would he hauehave done, or at leaſt ſaid, if they had gone as far as truly they might? Had they depoſed that it was not 7. yeares, or that it was not eight, or not 9. years paſt, their depoſitions being true, that I ſaid of 9. yeares muſt needes hauehave bene falſe, but we ſee they hauehave depoſed otherwiſe: and I truſt if they ſhould now be depoſed thereof, after they hauehave better conſidered of the matter their depoſitions woulde not controu… but confirme Darrells 9. yeares, But admit it were but 7. yeares. (yea ſomewhat leſſe) from the time of So. departure from M. Grayes, vntill the time I writ my appollogy, which was in October 98. it had bene all one and as much for the clearing of mee, as if it had be…e 9. or 19. yeares from the time he went thence, becauſe thereby it had ben… euident he was gone from …angley Abbey before our pretended meeting ſhould begin: which is ſufficient for me, yea although wee take the time of our firſt acquaintance to begin in the yeare 92. or as the Di…c. after affirmeth, about 5. or 6. yeares paſt from 98. much more if we take it as it was at the firſt layd out in writing againſt me: for if So. were gone from M. Grayes 7. yeares before the yeare 98. which was Anno 91. then was not he there 92. vhereby we may ſee had the Diſc. controuled my 9. yeares: it would not auayle him for the proo…ing of my guiltineſſe. And if the Diſc. will heere in ſaye any thing to the purpoſe, (otherwiſe he may in this poynt be hereafter ſylent) h…e muſt leaue my 9. yeares, and proue that So. was at M. Grayes at lang l…y. Abby in the yeare 92. as he and S…mers affirme: which I thinke he ſhall finde as vmpoſſible for him to doe, a… to prooue So. a count…r feyt. And when he hath performed this (if it proue poſſible) yet is he neuer a whit tl…e nearer my teaching of him,
And where in this account of the Diſc. he ſaith So, was bounde pren…ice as (M: Darrell con…eſſith) with Thomas …, about a monethmonth or ſyue week…s after he was diſcharged of M. Brackenbury…s … obſerue I beſeech you his cunning: for he pretendeth to the … thou…h that …ere graunted by me for a truth whereas … I … is this, that … very placing of my … as much, a… … But to let that goe: the Diſc. and Somers in theſe and the words following before mentioned hauehave vttered 3. vntruthes, euen as many as there be ſeuerall points denuered: For firſt beſides that Som. was about …. weekes with Porter before he was bound, as Porter and his wife are ready to witneſſe, he was (as I offer a…o to proue) after he came from M. Brack…bu…y at his mothers nouſe in Nottingham firſt … for certaine weekes, alter in health before he went to …orter, In the … as I contec…ure by that which followeth, about half a yeare before he was bound prentiſe, 2. (as … we …ha… neare) beinge M B…a…kenbu…yes boy, he remayned at … the County of Wy g…rn frō the feaſt of …entic…ſt in the yeare 91. vntounto the leaſt of Michael the …rchange… & from thence he went to his mante. s…ouſe at …olme not far from Newark vppon Trent: where alſo …e …ema, ne… for a ſeaſon, beſides the time he was M. Brack…eno… yes … before …e came to Bell hall, which as I thinke was about a yeare. … little aboue a quarter, and becauſe he had …, neere en … addeth if ſo long. 3. Somers being taught by M. Gray…s … and not able as it ſhould ſeeme to … was due vntounto him, ran away from M. Grayes … wher likewiſe he continued a ſeaſon, before …, but how long I know not. It will not then …, except it be by Samers and the Diſcouerer (who ſpa… … to … any thinge for truth be it neuer to falſe) that he … (… a ſtrayghte foote) … Ma…ler Grayes to dweil with M. … …bury. we hauehave hear… before, that the Diſc. his premiſſes beyng true, yet that he inferreth vponupon them is falſe, viz. that it is not yet 7. yeares ſince …omers dwelt with M. Gray: how much more then the premiſes being falſe? ſo that both concluſion and premiſſes be falſe and deceitfull, …ke to the authors an… …uentors of them.
Diſcouerer.
And where the Diſcouerer vponupon occaſion of theſe wordes of myne in my … Somers was gone from M. Grays 5. yeares before …, hath theſe wordes: If M. Darrell meane theyr … a palpathle vntruth, to ſay, that Somers was … before that tim… if he vnd…rſtand theire … indeede from M. Grayes ab…ue three yeares before that time, but not ….
Darrell.
He muſt remember, that I vſed thoſe wordes for the conuynci…g of the accuſation then lay de …ut in ſundry articles againſt me, wherein our … was ſaide to be about 6. yeares now paſt, and that I truſt would proue no vntruth, if I ſhould be put to my triall: and not of the accuſation now in prynt, wherein our arquaintace is ſtretched about two yeares further, which is as much the Diſc. as Som. accuſation, and a miſerable compound, as I may ſay… 2. Admit I had bene miſ-informed, it had bene a fault in them from whome I receaued that information, and an other in me to ſpread it abroade, (although with no purpoſe of printing it) yet nothing auayieable to proue me guilty of teaching So. to counterfeyt.
And whereas Somers ſaith in his accuſation, that dwellinge at M. Craye… at Langley abbey, he came from thence to me at Aſhby de la zouch (being ſoure or fyue myles diſtant) vponupon ſome occaſyon, where I taught him to counterfeyt, and that ſundry times as appeareth by page 82. wherevpon it is to be intended that I dwelt then at Aſbby, as I hauehave for diuers yeares: this alſo (it is euident) is falſe, in that he was gone from M. Grayes before I came to dwell at Aſhby. for from thence he went about 10. yeares paſt, and it was but 7. yeares vponupon the feaſte day of S. Mychaell the archaungell laſt (I meane Anno 99.) ſynce I went to Aſhby: ſo he was gone about 3. yeares before I came thither or indeede euer ſawe Aſhby. This vrged by me heeretofore in my Apollogy, the Diſc. ſemeth to conuince in theſe words following.
Diſcouerer.
Somers affirmeth (ſaith Darrell) that when he repayred to me to be taught,pag. 95. he came from one M. Grayes of Langley, with whome he ſaith he then dwelt, to Aſbhy where I then dwelt, as he affirmeth: and in a parke there we met. In which wordes there are f…ure vntruthes. Firſt, Som. doth not ſay that ever he repayred vntounto him to be taught, but that beinge with hun he was taught by him.
Darrell.
VVhether Somers as is pretended came to me at A…bby with an intent to be taught and to that ende, or no, it mattereth not, for the queſtion is, whither euer we met at Aſh…y, S… whither he was taught by me or no. Now and againſt this meeting and teaching at Aſhby, both in my Apolog…e & here I bend my ſelfe, and teaching at Aſhby, both in my Apolog…e & here I bend my ſelfe, and thus I reaſon …e was gone from M. Graye… before I came to …, & whiles I dwelt at Aſhby he remayned not at M. Gray… It cannot therfore be that Som. dwelling with M. Gray came to me dwel…ing ſome foure or fyue myles diſtant at Aſhby as he affirmeth. And where the Diſco trifieth a…ut the ende … ſet before himſelfe in comming vntounto me, ſurel… if there were any ſuch meeting at Aſhby, and teaching there to counterfeyt, as S…mer… and the Diſcou…rer pretend, conſidering it is ſayde, that * after our acquaintance began and agreement about counterfeyting,pag. 8… he met me three or foure times in Aſhby: one woulde thinke that he came to receaue ſome newe inſtruction from me, or to hauehave the ould renewed: for wherefore elſe came he vntounto me? It is not ſaide any where that I went to him, or ſought him out at Langley abbye or elſ-where,pag 80. pa… 82. pag, 83, or yet in Aſhby, but that he * founde me in an alchouſe in Aſhby, and (a) met me three or foure times in Aſhby. And againe (b) I went to Aſhby, and enqu…ring for M. Darrell, found him in a houſe by the ſchoole were the Church-yard. Hauing met with him, he walked with me …. pag 84.And againe (c) I tooke? ſhby in my way of purpoſe to ſee M. Darrell whome I found there: Is it now credible that he ſhoulde come thus of purpoſe to me at Aſhby, being come inquire and ſeeke after me, when he hath found me and we met, I preſently fall of teaching him, and he of learning, and yet he come to no ſuch ende? It he had ſayde thus of our firſt meeting it had bene another matter, but to affirme that he … repayred vntounto me to be taught, had there bene any ſuch repayring and teaching, muſt needes be in the iudgment of all men very vntrue. Yea it is contrary to pag. 84. with 85. Thus is the Diſcouerer conuinced the fourth tyme by his owne diſcouery: and pretending to ſhew my vntruthes is himſelfe fallen into an vntruth, were there any truth in my teaching Somers to counterfeyt, which he contendeth for. But let vsus proceede to his ſecond vntruth.
Diſcouerer.
Secondly the tymes of So repayring to M. Darrell were not whileſt h… dwelt with M.pag. 93. Gray: but afterwardes when he was run away from his maiſter Thomas Porter of Nott. for Somers only layeth to M. Darr. charge that on a time when he dwelt at M. Gray he met him the ſaid Darrell by chance at Aſhby, & was then firſt inſtructed by him.
Darrell.
Contrary to this are theſe wordes page 82. Alſo the ſaide Somer… affirmeth that after … former acquaintance begun with M. Darrell and whileſt he ſhall remayned with M, Gray he met M. Darrell three or foure times in Aſhby And continuing his ſpeach concerning our meetinge at Aſhby, whiles Somers remayned with M. Gray at Langley abbey, h… addeth this ſurthe… at other times alſo the ſaid M. Darrell did kindelye ſalute me: and ſo proceedeth the Diſcouerer (as there appeareth) to mē tion S…mers departure from M. Grayes to M. Brackenburyes, & how ſhortly after he was with him, he fell a counterfeyting and praciſing theſe ſeyts of actiuity, which of me he had learned at. Aſhby, whiles he was at M. Grayes VVhereby it is playne if the Diſcouerer ſay truly page 82. that we met more then one time at Aſhby whileſt Somers dwelt at M. Grayes, which is contrary to that is heere affirmed.
Thus the fift time the Diſcouerer is conſuted by his owne diſcouerye, pag 9….and if he ſpeake the truth page 82. (otherwiſe he is to blame to publiſh a lye for a truth) he ſpeaketh heere vntruly: and ſo in conuvncing me of an vntruth, he himſelfe is found with an other vntruth.
Thirdly Som…rs doth not affirme that M. Darrell dwelt then at Aſhby, when he dwelt at M. pag 93.Grayes and mett him in Aſhby they might meete there togither though M. Da…rell did not dwell there.
Be it that in the article layde out in writing againſt me, it is not expreſly ſaide, that I dwelt then at Aſhby, yet conſidering it is ſayde that he came ſundry times to me at Aſby before he went from M. Grayes, we hauehave heard in reaſon it is to be ſo intended, and the ſame was to be vnderſtood, which is all one as if it had bene expreſſed, for howſoeuer Somers might meete me by chance at Aſhby the firſt time he was (as they ſay) inſtructed by me, (and yet this is very incredible that we ſhould not only ſtumble one vponupon an other in an alehouſe but agree ſo quickly of our match, and fall ſo roundly to our worke euen at the firſt daſh) yet that by chance thus he ſhould meete me after at Aſhby three or foure times and at other times alſo before he wente from M. Grayes, as is aboueſaide, I not dwelling at Aſhby but 20. myles of and aboue, he alſo dwelling foure or fyue myles of, and in ſubiection to an other, is (almoſt) as vnlikely, as that a blynde man ſhoulde catch an hare with a taber, as it is in the prouerbe: for it is not ſayd either by Som. or the Diſc. that I appoynted him to meete me at Aſhby, we dwellinge both of vsus elſwhere: for that had bene as abſurd, conſidering the places of our aboades, as preſently will appeare. VVe may therefore aſſure our ſelues that the reaſon why it is mentioned ſo carefully and purpoſely, firſt in So. accuſation, then in the circumſtances confirming the ſame,pag. 80. & 87. that Langley abbey and Aſhby were foure or fyue myles diſtant, is becauſe men might there-vppon coniecture that I dwelling in Aſhby, and he no further of, might well in ſome probabillity and likelihood meete in Aſhby. and that diuers times, and in the parke which ſtandeth betwene them both: whereas had it bene confeſſed that I dwelt not there but twenty myles from the place, had I ſay the accuſation bene ſo framed, and the place of my dwelling alſo named, it had bene made thereby in all indifferent mēs iudgements not only very vnlikely to be true, but alſo incre-dible, as may appeare by that which heere followeth.
I am able to proue by a multitude of witneſſes that from the time I left the Vniuerſity of Cambridge which is about eightene years paſt, vntill I went to Aſhby, I dwelt either at Ma…ſſe…ld in Sheerw…d, or Bulwell a village three myles diſtant from Nott. ſaue that I was at London a ſtudent of the common lawes of this land, almoſte a yeare, which was about fifteene yeares paſt, now Langley abbey with theſe two townes are north-wardes from Aſhby and the groundes belonging to the Abbey, M. Grayes demeanes lye very neare the …igh way … both the ſayd townes to Aſhby, the wayes meeting thirteene or fourteene myles before you come at Aſhby, ſo that from which of … pla…es ſoeuer of my aboade I went, (as from the one of them I … not at Aſhby) I muſt needes paſſe by M. Grays houſ where … dwelling was, when I was ſhort of Aſhby 4. or 5. myles, which conſidere, who can be ſo groſſe as once to ymagine that we would appoint and that ſondry times, Aſhby to be the place wherein to conſult and doe our tr…cks: a man would thinke, that had So. and I met as he a firmet…, ſome parte of the grounds belonging to Langley abbey (there being eſpecially trees & buſhes, as well as in Aſhby park) had bene ſa…er and more for our caſe: for ſo much laboure beſtowed in vayne might …at leaſt hauehave ſaued. Conſidering alſo it is ſaide that we met in … towne, and ſo in the uſe of others and that often, wherein m…ſt neede; be great daunger leaſt one day it ſhould make to the deſerying of vsus and * b…ing … hanging: Aſhby was the moſt vnmeete place of a thouſand we might hauehave agreed vpō and made choyce of. It is moſt true the Diſc. pag 86.ſaith, that I dwelt not at Aſhby, (but indede at …) wh… S…. dwelt… at M. Grayes, nea…er will any man den…, but that we might … there togither though I did not then …w…ll … but that the accu…ation was thus framed againſt me at the firſt (according to which … my Apology is as falſe, as this is true, what fault then was com … by me herein in my … yet if we will beleue the D…c. when he ſpeaketh vn truly, by his …aying it may be gathered that I did dwel at. Ap…y whē S…n. … at M. Gray for … reckoning page 94. & 95. how ring it was from the time that … went from M. Grayes: hath theſe words: It is not yet 7. yeares ſin…e … dwelt with M. Gray: & reckoning on the otherſid in the pag …, how long I dwelt at Aſhby, he vſeth theſe words which … amount … yeares and a … pag 96.Y… thoſe two ſpeaches or accounts of his be true, (which vnderunder colour of truth he publiſheth to the world) by the diſ. his owne teſtimony when … at M. Grayes, I dwelt at Aſhby, and … let this third vntruth of mine alone. And … conuinced by his diſcouery. Howſoeuer … dwelt th…re or not there (as it greatly mat cre… not) the Diſc. is taken in an other vntruth and contra diction, yea in the verye ſame leafe, as by his diſcou…ry is further diſcouered … and his owne.
Diſ….
Fourthly,pag 9… whereas M. Dar ſa…ſi (if he meane plainlie,) that So. affirmeth their meeting in the parke to hauehave bene whi…e he dwelt at M. Grayes: he is therin greatly deceiued. For there ſaide meeting there was little aboue a yeare before his pretended diſpoſſeſſion at Nottingham.
Darrell.
It is ſaid page 80. that when we were firſt acquaynted and agreeed of this match, which is ſuppoſed to be diuers yeares before the latter meeting nere ſpoken of, I acted his tricks vntounto him. Now this meeting I euer tooke to be ment in Aſhby parke. But ſeeing we mett not there then, as the truth is: and the Diſc. himſelfe con…eſſeth, and yet notwithſtanding met then ſomewhere, as the Diſc. and So. affirme, I deſ…re them both to bethinke them and agree of the place, where I taught and he learned at our firſt acquaintance, and to diſcouer that in the next diſcouery, for the better ſtrengthening of their wreecthed & miſerable accuſation: for in Aſhbyparke we heare it was not, and no other place of our meeting hath hitherto bene named, the Alehouſe and Aſhby ſtreetes excepted, in neither of which places it is cleare by the…e owne wordes page 8. that I acted not his tricks vntounto him.
VVhere I affirme in my apologye, that it is but 6. yeares ſince I went to. Aſhbie, the Diſc. indeuoreth to perſwade the world that when he publiſhed his diſcouerie it was about 10. yeares: and this is an other untruth (forſooth) of mine. His words be theſe:
Diſcouerer.
If the information giuen be true,pag. 96. It … por…d (ſaith he) your owne forg…d d… …ſe at Aſh by (if there were an… ſuch) is vtterlie falſe, yea in the Diſc… own conſcience. It may appeare by that watch thu… followeth. he doth therein forgett himſelfe. For it is reported that he dw…lt in one Perrincs houſe in Aſhby about one yeare Then …u one Iohn Hollandes about 6. yeares, and laſtly in William Swinſons about a yeare and a halfe: which being layd togither, doe amount to aboue eight yeares and a halfe. wherevnto (if M. Darrell doe not ſtill continue his family there, but hath dwelt ſince a yeare or two at Nottingham) that tune alſo ſince he departed thence, may alſo be added.
Darrell.
It is reported (ſaith he) that I dwelt &c. but by whome Sir Diſcouerer is this reported, or is it ſimply your owne forged deuiſe? That the report and information of my dwelling eight yeares & a halfe at Aſh by (if there were any ſuch) is vtterly …, yea in the Diſcouerers own con…cience, it may appeare by that which heere followeth.
I went to dwell at Aſhby (as I can eaſily and ſufficiently proue) vponupon the feaſt day of Saint Mychaell tha… changed 92. and my Apology I made ſince my departure from …ſhby about the ſame time of the yeare 99. How is it then poſſible, that I ſhould dwell there 8. yeares and a halfe and that herein I ſaid truly in my Apology and … himſelfe cannot be ignorant: for page 24. he mal…eth menti…n of a teſtimoniall from N…tting…am (he ſhould hauehave added alſo from Ma…ſ field… and Bulwell, for the inhabitants of theſe three to…nes ioyned to gether in one and the ſelfe ſame teſtimonyall) and of an other from Aſhby, hauing ſome 200. names of the cheif of theſe townes ſubſcrybed, for the witneſſing of my god be…auiour during, the ſpace of my aboade with them,a… which was about 16. years, which with ſundry other writings the B. of London * iniutiouſly tooke away from me, being priſoner in the Ga…houſe, And in the Aſhby teſtimonyall he knoweth are theſe wordes: Wee the Inhabitants of Aſhby de la Zouch &c. …rtify that for the ſpace almoſt of ſixe yeares t…gether, during… which time he hath dwelt heere in Aſ…by, he hath liued among vsus in very good rep…rte, behauing himſelfe eueryevery way as became his profeſſion, and the goſpel of Chriſt. And this they offer (being aboue 30. in non ber) to teſtify further, if it ſhall pleaſe authority to call them therevnto. Nowe if my dwelling in Aſhby (as the Diſc. vponupon a falſe report inſinuateth) had bene eight yeares and a halfe, is it credible, that ſo many honeſt inhabitants, purpoſing to giuegive a true teſtimony all of my behauioure during all the time of myne aboade with them, would hauehave diminiſhed more then two yeares and a halfe of my continuance at Aſhby? ſeing eſpecially they voluntarily offer to teſtify that they hauehave ſubſcribed vntounto, vponupon their corporall oathes and that the thing I deſired (as I can proue) was not a teſtimony all concerning my behauioure, but as touching the time of my aboade with them. Is not this Diſcouerer then (his owne conſcience witneſſing the ſame) a Diſcouerer, a reporter, or an informer of a ſhameleſſe vntruth? for is it not a ſhamleſſe thing that he ſhould publiſh and make ſhewe to the world, that … dwelt at Aſhby at leaſt 8. yeares and a halfe, himſelfe knowinge the ſame to be falſe? Is the information (trow we) where-vponupon he affirmeth this, to be compared for nomber and credit, with the aforeſaide information to the contrary? But I deſire to know of the Diſc from whome he had his information. Surely from none in Aſhby, for the inhabitants generally of that towne know that I neither dwelte ſixe yeares nor ſixe dayes in a houſe of Iohn Hollands: yea that he had no houſe (then) to let and ſpare me, and that I did not dwell halfe ſixe yeares in any one houſe of any one particuler mans in Aſhby. But it may be he had his information from William S…mers, who hath informed him in many other worthy things, and whoſe teſtimony with him is of greate credit, ſuch as he receaueth before the othes of aboue thirty. why ſhould he not then beleiue him herein (if he be the informer) before the report of aboue 30. others? But let vsus heare Somers ſpeake in his owne perſon, and proceede in his accuſation.
Diſcouerer.
Within 12.… or 13. weekes (as I thinke) after my firſt acquaintance with M. Darrell. M. Gray placed me with one M. Anth…ny Brackenburie to keepe certaine ſiluer hayred con…eyes, with whome after I had rema…ned abont 6. or 7. weekes, (as far as I remember) I began to put in practiſe ſundry of theſe inſtructions that M. Darrell had giuen me. I fayned my ſelfe to be ſicke: I foamed at the mouth: I did ſometimes lie ſpeachleſſe as though I had bene dumbe: and ſo by the ſpace almoſte of a monneth I did counterfeyt as well as I could, ſuch fits as M. Darrell had tould me that Katheryne Wright did practiſe. How be it I was not (as it ſeemeth) at that time my crafteſmaiſter. For M. Backenburie and M. Randoll Barton his brother, being verily perſwaded that I was but a counter…eyt, & that I had diſſembled all that I had done, I was turned out of ſeruice, & wente home to Nottingham to my mother: with whome after I had remayned about a monethmonth, I was bound prentiſe for ſeauen yeares, to one Thomas Porter a muſitian in that towne.
Darrell.
Before he hath tould vsus how and what I taught him preſentlye vponupon our firſt greeting, and now he telleth how and where he putt in practiſe ſundry of theſe inſtructions, with the ill ſucceſſe which followed vponupon that his forwardnes, in that he would be doing before he was his crafts maiſter: which made him I warrant you take time enough before he did his feyts the ſecond time. That this is falſe and come out of the ſame ſhop with the former, and from the ſame author, the diuell I meane, the father of lyes, is hereby manifeſt, in that he was gone from M. Crayes in Leyceſter ſhire, and ſeruant with M. Brackenburie in Worceſterſhire, before the time that he and I are ſaide by the Diſcouerer himſelfe to hauehave bene acquainted togither. For we hauehave heard before out of page 78. that we became acquanted abOute the yeare 1592. and out of page 79. about ſiue or ſixe yeares paſt before 98. Now I can by oath proue that from the feaſt of Penticoaſt 1591 William Somers the M. Anthony Brackenburyes boy, remayned at the mannour houſe of Bell hall in the county of Wigorn, vntill the feaſte of S. Mychaell tharchangell, and from thence went to his ſaid maiſter his houſe at a towne called Holme. How long before this time he had bene M. Brackenburies boy I yet know not, but that he ran away frō M. Grays home to Nottingham and there continued a time before he went to M. Brackenbury is certaine. Yf then So was gonne from M. Gray 91. yea I take it in the yeare 90. if not before, which is 9. or 10. yeares paſt, how coulde he poſſibly be M. Grayes boy, and remayning with him in his ſeruice at Langley abbey, come to mee from thence to Aſhby for 12. or 13. weekes 92. and 7. or 8. yeares paſt, except he had retorned to M. Grayes ſeruice againe after he had bene with M. Brackenbury, which is manifeſt he did not by page 83 84. and neither So. nor the Diſcouerer euer affirmed that. And where he ſaith he foamed, I think it paſſeth his ſkill, and that he counterfeyte. & was there…ore turned out of ſeruice, and went home, the truth is, that being ſtrangely handled, vexed indeede by ſathan, and as I verily think then po…ſe…ſed, and thereby a continuall trouble to M. Brackenbury… he was from thence ſent home to his mother on horſback, and that with two or three for his more ſafetye, and with monney alſo from Mi…eſſe Brackenbury to his ſaid mother, and this was the counterfeyting he vſed, and the manner of his turning out of ſeruice. Thus much for a…wer to the firſt part of So…ners accuſation, conteyninge oure firſt a…quayntance and agreement about counterfeyting: wherein as ther be diuers other abſurd things (…hich for breuity ſa…e & partli for that they are vnworthy the anſwering I omyt) … this is one, that mē tioning my teaching of him, and acting of certaine tricks for his better inſtruction, we heare not of any place where this …hould be performed: for the Diſcouerer telleth vsus that our meetinge in Aſhbye parke was not till aboue 3. yeares after this, and other place is neither heere nor elſwhere named. This dealing is much like to his, that accuſing one before the iudgment ſeat of robbery, na…neth not any plac where he ſhould be robbed.pag. 81. But let vsus proceede to our third pretended meeting, for the ſecond meeting which is ſaide to be vppon his firſt running from his maiſter and in his way going to Eſſex, conteinth only a few wordes betwixt vsus concerning counterfeyting, without any teaching and acting on my part, and learning on his, and therefore I will omyt it. VVhere firſt I will ſet downe the Diſcouerer his wordes ſer…ing to make away therevnto, & then So. his owne.
Diſcouerer.
VponUpon his ſ…cond running fr… h… mai…ter, and after he had remayned in …ſſ…x a good part of a yeare, till he was w…ary he re…urning homewards a…aine t…wards Notting ham with better h…pe then before, t… buy out his yeares, th…ught it conuenient in his i…rney homewards to take Aſhby in his way, of purpo…e t… ſee M. Darrell, whome he ſound there as he ſaith, … had d…aling w…th him as followeth.
Vp…n my co…rning at that time to M. Darrell, he aſked me where I had bene wh…ther I was going…, and wh…ther I had attempted to practiſe a… of his in…ructi…ns. To whome I anſwered ac…ordine to his queſtions! that I had no conu…nient time, otherwiſe then when I was alone to doe any of thoſe things: th…n h… tould mee many things of the b…y of Burton. whr… vp…n I ſh…wing my ſ…lfe to hauehave a deſire to goe and ſee him. M. Dar, ſaid I ſh…ud doe well in ſo doing, becauſe that ſeeing of him in his fitts, I might the bett…r l…arn… to d…e them my ſelfe af…rwar l…b…ing thus incouraged, I w…t t… Burt…n, where I ſawe… Da…ling: but …erceyning that a …reate n…b… ſpe…ple came likewiſe to ſee him, and …aring that ſome of them might knowe me, I returned to Aſhby, not ſtaying to ſee Darling in any of his fitts. At my comming back againe to M. Darrell he demaunded of me… whether I had ſeene the boy many of his fitts: & I anſwered that I had no… for th… reaſon laſt mentioned: which M. Darrell not well approuing, ſaid that I might well inough hauehave ſtaid to hauehave ſeene ſome of them, becauſe … was not likely that any there could hauehave knowne me: Then vponupon ſome further occaſion of ſpeaches betwixt vsus, M. Darrell deliuered vntounto me in writing, the particuler fitts, which the ſaid Thomas Darling lately had, and did act the moſt of them himſelfe before me, we two being in the parke together alone, by Aſhby. At that time alſo M. Darrell deliuered vntounto mee in writing, certaine ſignes and geſtures, which were to be vſed, he ſaid, to ſignify ſondry kindes of ſinnes: which geſtures he did likewiſe act himſelfe in the place before mentioned. Then followeth the acting of certayne feates on his part: and after that he thus procedeth. Theſe things thus finiſhed I tould M. Darrell that I ment to returne to ſee if I coulde gett my ſelfe releaſed from my maiſter, and he approuing my purpoſe therin, ſayde that when the time ſerued I might well put all the former things in practiſe there with good effect: and that in ſo doing he doubted not, to procure mee a releaſ from my maiſter. He alſo tould me, that he hauing a ſiſter in law in Not. on Miſtris Wallys I could no ſoner name her whē I ſhould be thought to be poſſeſſed, but that preſētly, & the rather by his ſiſters meāes he ſhould be ſent for to come vntounto me. & ſo we departed. And thus far So. (quoth the Diſ) for the profe of all the former particulers, wherwith Dar. is charged
Darrell.
As in the two former (pretended) meetings, ſo in this thirde, neither Som. nor the Diſc. doe tell vsus in what yeare of the Lorde, or of the Queene we met, which I deſire the Reader to obſerue. They knew not be like what yeare to name, leaſt thereby they ſhould diſaduantage themſelues. Before we heard of no place where I ſhoulde giuegive theſe worthy inſtructions: neither then, nor now doe we heare of the certaine time wherin this ſhould be done: which dealing is like to his that accuſing one to hauehave robbed him, can neither name plac… where he robbed him, nor the time when: which accuſation if it …ho…ld be receaued, as it is far from any Iudge, ſo it woulde peraduenture trouble one were he neuer ſo innocent, to cleare himſelfe thereof. But as before out of the Diſc. and So wordes, vttered elſwhere and to an other ende, I hauehave, will they nill t…ey, founde out aboute what time our firſt pretended meeting and acquaintance ſhoulde begin, though not the iuſt time, and thereby clea…ed my ſelfe, & ſhew…d the falſhood of his accuſation, euen ſo I truſt to doe heere. In the page before, viz. 83. it is ſaide that the ſecond time Some…rs rann from his maiſter, was about a y…are and a hal… before he fell to his practiſes at Nottingham: and heere it is ſaide, that vponupon this his ſecond running and after he had remayned in Eſſex a good part of a yeare, we met in Aſhb… parke in his returne from Eſſex to Nottingham. Now to his ſaid practiſes he fell at. Nott. in October Anno 97 ſo that by So. and the Diſc. ſaying, this our meeting in the parke was in the yeare …. …nd this the Diſc. page 94. (though to an other ende) con…eſſeth, ſaying: There meeting in th… pa…ke was little ab…ue a y…are before his pretended diſpoſſeſſ…n at Nattingham: but this his diſpoſſ…ſſion pr…tended (as he tearmeth it) was vponupon the 7. of Nouember 97. therefore this our meetinge muſt be (if there were any ſuch) by the Diſcouerers owne confeſſyon in or about October 96. which poſſibly cannot be ſo: for that at this ſaide meeting So. ſaith that I tould him many things of the boy of Burton and aduiſed him to goe and ſee him, wherevppon he went to Burton, and ſawe Thomas Darling &c. as is aforeſaide: than I deliuered vntounto him in writing the particuler fitts which the ſaide Darling lately had &c. nowe theſe things cannot poſſibly be true, (and ſo the accuſation is notoriouſly falſe) becauſe Darling was not at that time poſſeſſed, but diſpoſſeſſed, and deliuered from ſathan and his vexation, aboute halfe a yeare before this time, and a yeare and a halfe before Somers diſpoſſeſſion as in the begining of his fift booke is made manifeſt.
On… (ſaith he) Thomas Darling dwelling at Burton,pag. 265. vponupon Trent, beginning to be ſick in February 1595. did afterwards take vponupon him to diſſemble certaine tricks: wherein continuing till the weeke before Whitſontyde following, he was deemed by M Darrell to be poſſ…ſſed, and the next day after (as it is pretended) was diſpoſſ…ſſed. From which time he continued well, by the ſpace of about eight dayes, and then being at the ſchoole he fell againe to certaine tricks and perſeuered in them by ſtarts two dayes whileſt it was pretended that ſathan ſought to repoſſeſſe him. But ſynce he hath left thoſe practiſes. This appeareth alſo by the firſt and ſecond pages of his booke.
If Darling were recouered and well, ſo continuing (or lefte his practiſes) at the time the Diſc. mentioneth, as the truth is, and Som. diſpoſſed vponupon the 7. of Nouember 97. how can that which is heere reported be true? So that the Diſc. hath againe in his Diſcouery diſcouered my innocency, and the falſhood of himſelfe and So accuſation. And this is the ſeauenth tyme the Diſcouerer is conuynced by his owne Diſ…ouery.
Moreouer where the Diſc. and Som. affirme, that …n his returne to Nottin…ham, after his ſecond running from his maiſter, & a little aboue a yeare before his pretended diſpoſſ…ſſion, wee mett in Aſhby parke and that there I taught him: I am able and offer to prooue by ſundrye witneſſes, that So. after his ſecond vagary or running away from his maiſter, was returned againe to Nott. to his ſayd maiſter and there continued with him aboue two yeares and a quarter before his diſpoſſeſſion. How can the premiſſes then or accuſation poſſibly be true.
And whereas he ſaith, that I deliuered unto him in writing the particuler ſitts which Darling (then) had, and againe, that I d…l…uered vntounto h…m in writing certaine ſignes and geſtures, I demaund what is become of this writing, and why myne own hand is not brought forth againſt me. It may be that Som. tare it in peeces after firſt he had written the ſame in a S…ntentiae Pueriles, … 82,as he did by the writing he had at our firſt meeting, and hath loſte this booke alſo with the other. O that theſe things be admodum puerilia, and muſt needes ſmell (& be laughed at) in the iudgment of the wiſe, yea it was well for ſome they wer no worſe.
The Diſc. addeth: And thus far Som. for the proofe of all the former particulars, wherewith M. Darrell is charged. Aworthy proof ſure but ſutable to the reſt. I maruaile that the Diſc. is not aſhamed, to account So. This ar…h adeſperat …teſtimony a proofe, and much more to produce his teſtimony ſo oft, I thinke (a) 40. times at the leaſt, and for the prouinge of ſo many ſeuerall things as he doth: he being a notorious lyar, a periured perſon, in a word as infamous and vile a youth as liueth I thinke this daye vponupon the face of the earth, Notwithſtandinge ſaith the Diſcouere. (u) the confeſſion of Som. pag. 87.is of greate moment. And is it ſo indeed? VVhy So. hath ſaid there is no (r) god, what then? yet why ſhould not his tell… …y … gaiult …& vſed theſe wordes, I am god and (a) Chriſt, as is depoſed: Bluſh then and be aſhamed (O thou man) of thoſe ſpeaches. Beſides, Som. hath ſai and ſworne that …e did not counterfeyt. If his wordes be of ſuch credit with the Diſc. & ſome few others (for with few or none that are wiſe and godly I hope they be not) why ſhould not his wordes ſealed at other tymes with oathes and execrations be of like vallew? And why doth the D…. or any other rather beleeue So. affirming he counterfeyted, then …enying the ſame? ſeing eſpecially he hath as oft denyed, as a…rmed that he counterfeyted, and that he hath alſo varyed ſomuch with that double and falſe tongue of his, euen 4. times, and therefore is not to be beleeued in any thing he ſaith, nor his teſtimo…y to be admitted in any court of record. Yea but ſaith the Diſc. Sem. con…ſſion is … ſo hare as M. Darrell pretendeth, but is ſtrengthened with many …n … (d…poſ…d by many) as d…e argu th…ame…m all … to be irue; yea in any of them togither with the b…y…s oath, are very … part pr…f…s … page 106. And thuſmuch concerning the accuſ… n… now we will proceede to the circumſtances con…yrnange (at is …retended) the ſame.
Diſcouerer.
It it conf…ſſed by M. pag. 17. The fi…ſt circum …Gray and Miſtreſſe Gray, and by M. D… himſelfe, that So. dwelt with M. Gray at Langley, within 4. or 5. miles of …reby de laz…ueh: and did run …n crrands as Mary Houlden ſaith.
2.the 2 ci…cum… c pag. 67. Al. Darre… h…aring So. deſcribe the ſcituation of Aſhby, did thereby w… perc…aue, that he had bene at Aſhhy, So as there is no impediment in that r…ſpect why be might not meete M. Darreel there as is depoſed.
3.the 3 ci…cum… … pag 87. It is alſo confeſſed to he true, that So. going to dwell with M. Brack enbury … certaine bookes at M. Grayes.
Likewiſe that Som.the 4 & 5. circum … pag. 88. was bound a prentiſe with Thom. Porter and that he ranne twiſe from him is acknowledged to be true by M. Dar. himſelfe. and ſo the ſaid So, had ſufficient opportunity to goe to Aſhby, and to talke with M. Dar. at ſuch tunes, as vponupon his oath he hath deliuered,
Darrell.
By theſe and ſuch like circumſtances, had Somers charged any other with teaching him, the ſame perſon might as well (and indeed as truly) be proued guilty thereof as I, For inſtance: Admit So. had accuſed S. Harſnet inſteade of I. Dar. and that the accuſation were thus: About eight yeares paſt I dwelling at Langley Abbey with M. Tho. Gray… and going on errands now to Aſhby a market town there by, now to Loughorrow an other, mett on a time one M. Harſnet at Aſhby, and there the ſaid M. Harſnet perſwaded me to counterfeyte to be poſſeſſed with the diuell, which he ſaid I mig… eaſily learne, & he would teach me: promiſing me that if therein I would be ruled by him he would take me into his owne ſeruice, a… …aintain me while I liued. herevpon we went into Aſhby parke, and …eing there M. Harfuet the better to teach me did act diuers tricks, for gnaſhinge with his teeth, he knocked his own teeth togither diuers times, for fomīg, he rolled his tongue in his mouth, and then put out ſome little ſpittlē betwixt his lippes, and ſaid that I might ſoone learne to doe it better, by rolling a ſtone in my mouth, but ſpecially if I coulde gett a little loape to vſe at ſuch times: (&c. as followeth page 81.) and becauſe we were to depart farr one from an other for my better remembrance he gaue me dire…tions in writing, c…arginge me to make away the writing, which I did after I had writ the ſame in a Sent…ntiae Pueriles, which booke I leſt at …. Grayes. Now about 12. or 13. weekes (as I thinke) after my firſt acquaintance with M. Ha…ſnet: M. Gray placed me with one M. Anthony Brackenbury to keepe certaine ſyluer hayred conves: with whom after I had remayned about ſix or ſeauē weekes, I began to put in pra…iſe ſundry of thoſe inſtructions that M. …a…net had giuen me, &c. as before we hauehave heard out of page 83. Heerevpon being turned out of ſeruice I went home to Nottingham … was bound prentice firſt to Tho. Porter of Nott. and after with a … in London: where beinge I repayred to M. … cha…ber in the B. of Londons hou…e, & made knowne to … my …lſuccene: who tould me that he muſt further inſtru…t …e, and …che he might the more …a…ely and and conueniently doe it, hee ſaid he would procure his Lord to agree with my manter for my yeares, and to receaue me into … houſe, aand after I ſhould be his man, as … had be…ore promi…ed me, and then he woulde teach mee in his …, and accordingly he did ſo.
… S. Ha…ſne: ſhall deny this, and ſay that here is nothinge but …o. beare accu…a…ion: I will out of his mouth returne againſt him. … the a…cuſa…on is n…t ſo bare as he pretendeth, but is ſtrengthened with ſuch …ircumſtances, as the argu… the ſame in all likelihood to be …rue: yea lay le togither with ſome other that mi…, be added, are pregnant proofer thereof: for firſt it is manifeſt that So. …welt with M. Gray, & did ru… on errands as Mary Holden ſaith. 2. Som. hath bene at Aſhby: So as there is no ympediment in this re…pe…t why he might not meete Sa. Harſnet there, as he chargeth him. 3. So. dwelt with M. Brackenbury 4. Som. going to dwell with M. Brackenbury left certaine bookes at M. Grayes. S. So. being at M, Brackenburyes did counterfeyt, & was … …efore turned out of ſeruice, as is ſa…d page 81. 6. So. was bounde prentiſe with The Porter, and did goe after to London, 7. being there he was bound prentice with a barber in Eaſt-Smythſeild. 8. He was from thence receaued b… the B. of London into his houſe, agreeing with his maiſter for his yea, …s, and it may well be this was by S. H. procurement 9. being in the B. houſe So. was often in S. Harſnet his chamber, and they two alone. 10 So. was S. Harſnets man, and had maintenance from him. The ſixe firſt of theſe circumſtances the Diſc. telſeth vsus is true, and the foure laſt he knoweth to be true: and yet the accuſation I truſt he will ſay is falſe. The circumſtances then of an ac…uſation (vayne and tryfling ones I meane as be the…e) may be true, and the accuſati…n very fal…e. Notwithſtanding then the truth o… the Diſc. circumſtances precedent and ſubſeuent, yet the accuſation of my teaching of S. m…rs to counterf…yt, ma… be (and indeede is) moſt no…oriouſly fa…ſe. And heereby is …iſcouered the vanitye and lightueile of the Diſ…ouerers, filly & ſottiſh …u…ſtance…, which may aſ…ell ſerue for the appea…ng of himſelfe or any other, as of me againſt whome they are brought. So t…at I ſhall … neede to ſpend any more time in refuting that which refut…th it ſelf in the iudgment of the wiſe.pag …8. The … ſtance.
D…couer….
6. Soners practiſed at M. …rackenbury…s … as he had aſ … Nottingham, where…on M. Brackenbury did diſcharge him from his ſeruice, as Som hath affirmed.
D…rr…ll.
This is anſwere …before 2. So. fitts at Nott. were not counterfeyted but done by the diuell ergo So. counterfeyted not at M. Bra…burries, but was then poiſeſſed, for it is ſaide, that his ſitts at th…ſe t…o …laces were a…ke.
Diſcouerer.
7.… So in … fitts at N…tt. and before M. Dar. comming thither, did name him the ſaid Dardurteſe tim…s.
Darrell.
I deny not but that be named me, before I was the ſecond time ſent for by the Maters letter: but the Diſc. muſt proue that he named me before the firſt ſending for me, when to one of the letters for my repa…re to Sa. Miſtr…ſſe Wallys my ſiſter in lawe ſubſcribed her name, and that the ſaid naming of me, was the occaſion of my ſending for. otherwiſe this naming me ſtrengtheneth not So. accuſation as is plain by page 86. …n…entioned before in the very laſt words of So. accuſatiō And this as hitherto the Diſc. hath not done, ſo neither ſhall he be able to performe: as may appeare by that I heeretofore hauehave reported concerning the true occaſion of my going to Som, which I can eaſilye proue.
But a…mit it were otherwiſe then I a…rme, yet ſeing it was not Som. but the diuel. by his tongue that na…ed me, it argueth rather the …ub…ety of the diuell at that time la…ing the foundation of that building …e …ince ha… erected, then my teaching him to counterfeyt.
Diſcouerer.
8. ……
Darrell.
… ans, but neither of them in the name of Somers but of the poore: The fir…t of them was at the priuate faſt helde at Som diſpoſſe…ſion. The ſecond at a publique faſt kept at Nott. Theſe collections all me I truſt will alow of. But was the monney at theſe times collected gyuen to S…mers? or not a penny: or yet was all or moſt of it giuen for his rele…fe to Cooper his father in lawe? nothing leſſe. The monney receaued at the firſt colle…ction vas part of it giuen to the poore of Nottingham, and part to Thomas Porter S…. maſter, becauſe of the loſſe he ha… ſu…ered, and the charge he ha… bene at through Somers aff…iction, for the ſpace of aboue a monethmonth before. as M. Aldred M. William …angfo…d with ſome others can witneſſe. That which was giuen at the ſecond and publique faſt was diſtributed by the Mai…r, where of ſome he gaue to the poore of that town, and ſome to Cooper, partly becauſe of the charge and trouble he had bene at whiles S…mers remayned with him, partly for the cloathing of him, who ſcarcly had any to couer his nakednes. And how doth this confirme his accuſation, & proue that I taught him to counterfeyt as the Diſ…. pag. 80. pag. 81.affirmeth? The l…ing boy ſa…th in his accuſation that I promiſed him if he w…uld …e rul…d by mee, h. …ould be able to maintayne him ſelfe as long as …e hau… and again that … neuer want whaleſt he liued. If this were the principall ende of his counterfeyting as is pretended, why (wh…n he had counterſcited and d…ne his ſeates) did neyther he den aunde, nor I giuegive him any thing? But let the Diſc. and Som. ſay what they pleaſe, for there t…ngues are their owne, and they lordes ouer them: the deede ſ…eweth that …e hath liued and … better marytrened. ſa…e be ſaide …e …nterfeyted th…n whiles he did c…unterfe…t, as the D…c tearmeth his poſſeſſion,pag, 89. …c. to 6. … ſo as the diuell may ſeeme to lauel … with him …it…erto al…uing him thus: …ou …ad b…ty … and liue like a man, thou to …aue … to a counterf…yt, and go… into the d…gyes …and … laue nothing.
Diſcouerer.
9.… I bought …ut the yeares of his a…prent … proued …y my own … which is th…y I …aue my word in … 13 … 4. p…nce t…rl a, …him of … which … I did performe.
Darrell.
… maiſter was a fidier, which trade of life we all know is much abuſed.
3. Porter being beſides a weauer, had kept him ſtill in his ſeruice, ſo that he would naue ymployed him only to the trade of weauing. 4. all this was knowne to diuers, and to what ende it was done: whence it came that I paying the aforeſaide 13. s. 4. d. the Maior ſent mee at the next collection for the poore 6. s 8. d. of it, deſiring me to take that vntill the next collection following, and that then I ſhould hauehave the other moytie.pag. 97. 86. And when that came I had of M. William Longſord though not all, yet 3. s. 4. d. the other 3. s. 4. d I went without, for that trouble about Somers grew then vponupon mee. And this is all the buying I vſed. This alſo is ſaid to be the other end of his counterfeyting: To be releaſed (quoth So. from my maiſter according as M. Darell had pr…ſe…me, I did began the courſe that M. Darr. had wiſhed me to …. A likely thing that he who knew ſo ready away, & of the … …ch better, I meane to runne away from his maiſter, woulde to that … end counterfeyt to be poſſeſt with the diuell, 2. It is to be … cred, what I did f…r him in this behalfe, when he had performe … co…dition on his pa…t… euen that …s heere aforeſaide, which ….
Diſc…uerer.
10. M…i…ſſ… Wallys a…cording to M. Darrells former wordes, did ſend for M. Dar. to come vntounto him.
Darrell.
This is anſwered before:pag … where we muſt obſerue that this circumſtance with the 4. next precedent, hauehave b…ne purpoſly inſerted in th… … ther in part tru;, or ſeining ſo to be to the …, the accuſation it ſel…e might therby ſeeme to …, eaue ſony confirmati…n. whereas were all …, the whole as they are n…t, yet … (as t…uching the life of it, I meane my teachinge … be muſt ſa…e, as in deede it is: which but for … here hauehave ma le very playn. And thus much … a…caldged by the D…c. for the … now followe ac other circumſtances generally ….
Diſ…ur…r.
… b…des ſet downe by the Diſc.… Certavne … as firſt that I with …om … Tau…rne int…rteyned him with good.
Darrell.
Be…ng at ſupper with diuers preac…ers at the ſigne of the caſtle, Somers came in, and one of the company, not my ſelfe, willed him to …it downe and to take part with vsus, which accordingly he did. As before the Diſc. would hauehave the reader imagine that I was an alehouſe haunter, ſo here a haunter of tauernes, but he hath two certificats cō c…ng my life and conuerſation, with about 200. handes ſubſcribed, that te…eth him it is otherwiſe, whereby his ſinne herein is made the greater.pag 89. the 2 generall ….
Diſcouerer.
2. When So. was accuſed to hauehave bewitched one, M. Dar. dealt with the Maior of Nott that he might be bayled.
Darrell.
It ſhall be heereafter ſhewed, that this is falſe: But why might I not well hauehave done ſo, had I beene then at Nott. as I was abſent… ſeing it is manifeſt (as in his place will apeare) he was innocent of the murther for which he was impriſoned, and ſo hardlye intreated through t…e mallice of ſome? And how doth that conclud the compact of counterfeyting betwixt vsus two? or what lodgick call you this?
Diſcouerer.
3. Whileſt M. Darrell was at Nottingham he had ſecrett conference with So. diuers times.pag. 90, th 3 general …
Darrell.
I neuer had ſpeach with him in priuate vntill about 9. weekes after his …iſpoſſeſſion, neither is there any thing depoſed to the contrary, (no not by So. himſelfe) and that was to my remembrance only once, as I hauehave depoſed, the occaſion whereof I can ſhew, & vpō his father in lawe Robert Coopers requeſt I did it. But be it, diuers times. why might I not lawfully ſpeake with him apart? I thinke in ſome reſpect better then others both in regard of his former affliction, and the danger he was in aboue others, and that he was one ouer whoſe ſoule I was by my calling to watch. Yf this be a good circumſtaunce againſt me, … will likewiſe be of ſome ſtrength againſt ſome others in Nott. whome I could name, who talked with him apart as well as I, and ofter too, eſpecially meeting with the other circumſtances: as, that they knew him, dwelt in the ſame towne with him, ſo as they might hauehave ſufficient opportunity to meete togither, were o…t with him, with many circumſtances more as ſtrong as theſe obiected againſt me, But I will ſhew wherein this circumſtance is defecliue, whereby the weaknes of it may yet better appeare. Yf they which hauehave depoſed to our ſecret & diu…rs conferences had gone a little further, and ſaid that they harkning heard … commend him for doing ſuch a trick well, and ſuch a feate excellently well ſo as my ſelfe could not hauehave bettered it, or to ſome ſuch purpoſe: then had there bine a circumſtance indeede, euen a … …ed,… & pro…ably … ne notion but that the … take the circu… ſtance as it is, of my … him, and it is of no validity at all.
Diſcouerer.
4. When … him thus:… 90 the 4 … all … them …
Darrell.
The …arr was this, He ſaid that he had counterfeyted: I denyed …nd gainſaide the ſame, Now in this letter …athan by his inſtrument did goe about to perſwade me to ceaſe to contend againſt counterfeyting, that is, for the Lorde and his worke: and thus the truth is, that I hauehave counterfeyted, and it is to your diſcredit that you hauehave bene deceaued by mee, but much m…re diſcredit will it befor you, if you meddle further in it: giuegive ouer therefore your contending againſt my counterfeiting. But ſuppoſe that. So. ment as the Diſc. pretendeth, that there had bene ſome packing betwixt … concerning counterfeyting, and that he had expreſſed his meaninge in playne wordes: the ſame had not made mee guilty of teaching him, except Somers bare accuſation did ſuffice therto, and then had the matter bene long ſince ont of controuerſy, and the Diſc. might well hauehave ſaued a great deale of labour. And heere by the way note the wiſdome of the Diſc. And euidente …gne that the … plentifull in …that will ſtrengthen So. accuſation, by Somers letter, that is (a) Somers by Somers, 2. Let vsus heere obſerue, how that notwithſtandinge the extreame folly hee ſheweth heerein and in the reſt of his circumſtances, yea generally in all that he ſaith throughout all the diſcouery, yet alas many by his lyes and very fables, hauehave bene drawne from beleeuing the workes of god, to giuegive eare to his ſlaunders and foolery, and to iuſtifye the wicked, and condemne the iuſt, which are haynous ſynnes beefore the Lord….
VVell it muſt needes be that offenſes come,… 18. 6 … but wo be to that man (ſayth Chriſt) by whome the offence commeth, it were better for him that a millſtone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the ſea.
The falſhood and vanity of his fift circumſtance of turning my cappy as touching the witch, pag. 9…. ths 5 circu… ſtanc….pretended by me to hauehave ſent her ſpirit into S…m. relying only vppon the Diſc. bare report. I for breuity omit, referring the Reader for his ſatiſfaction therein to the beginning of the ſtory concerning Somers.