The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet, Treatise · Book 3

The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet · Treatise · Book 3

p. 120THE THIRDE BOOKE.

OF CHAP. 1.

How Somers confeſſed his diſſimulation at S. Ioanes in Nottingham as ſoone as he was out of M. Dar. diſpoſition.

Diſcouerer.

Concerning the occaſion of So.pag 1…7. remouing from his father in lawes houſ to S. Ioanes in Nott. (a place where the poore are ſett to worke) Iohn Cooper the keeper there depoſeth thus. Being oft…ntimes with So. in his fits, & dilligently behoulding the courſe of his carriage in them: I grew very ſuſpitious that he did but diſſemble, and there vppon was well content, to hauehave the tuition of him, to make tryall of the matter: the rather, for that the boyes kepers and frendes that were about him, were willing to pleaſ… him in all his humors.

Darrell.

The true occaſion or rather cauſe of Somers remouing, was neyther the former, whereof I hauehave ſpoken, nor yet this latter here mentioned, but firſt and chiefly the mallice of M. Freeman Alderman, becauſe his kinſwoman Allice Freeman was by So. detected for a witch which could not ſtay it ſelfe in accuſing So. vniuſtlly of witchcraft, & impriſoning him, & after vppon bayle byndinge him ouer to anſwer it at the Aſſiſes, but proceeded & neuer gaue ouer vntill So. confeſſed that he had counterfeyted, he hoping therby as it ſhould ſeme to recouer the good name of his kinſwoman, and partly to diſgrace and ſo conſequently to be reuenged of me, whome in regarde of that diſcouery and the counterfeyting he then ſtrove for and I gaynſaid, he hared extreamely, ſo as at the length he could not indure to come to the …hurch, when I exerciſed my miniſtery 2. the mallice of M. Gregory the towne clarke (a popiſh mate) againſt the work of god, that is the diſpoſſeſſion of Somers and this becauſe of his religion, being in hart a papiſt, as is playn, in that for the ſpace of eleuen yeares before he had not receaued the lordes ſupper. Now the papiſts & their adherents (albeit the learneder ſorte of them doe acknowledge a reall poſſeſſion and diſpoſſeſſion of Sathan in and out of the bodyes of men) cannot yet in patience indure that any ſuch worke ſhould be wrought in our church and by our miniſtery by faſting and prayer performed b… vsus. This forſooth the… will hauehave peculiar to their own ſynagogue, t… their own portuſſe, to their owne Te rogamus, mūbled prayers, proceſſions, coniu…ings, & ceremonyes, as elſe-wher hath bene manifeſtly p. 121ſhewed. To theſe came M. Morey an Alderman one alſo reputed to be vmound and popiſh theſe three did draw with them M. Hart Alderman and M. Clarke then Maior a man very eaſy becauſe of his ſimplicity to be …ulled: which 5. aſſembled in the towne hall, ſent for me, ſignifying vntounto me, that they purpoſed to take So. and comit him to the cuſtody of two honneſt men, becauſe they ſuſpected him to counterfeyt, which accordingly they did 3 dayes after: ſaue that the men t…ey prouided to be So. keepers namely Iohn Cooper & Nich. Shepherd were ſcarſely honneſt and of good name as we ſhall heare hereafter.

Diſcouerer.

The day after that So.Pag 178. came to S. Ioanes, he did counterfeyt himſelfe (ſaith Nicholas Shepherd) to be in a fit, becauſe (as I think) certain we… men were come thither vntounto him to ſee him, who did greatly bemoa…e him: where vppon I remouing the ſaid weomen from him, tould him whileſt hee was in his tricks and in Iohn Coopers preſ…nce: that if he would not leaue & riſe vp, I would ſet ſuch a payre of k…p-knaps vponupon him as ſhould make hī to rue it: & there vponupon So. did preſently riſe, and left his ſaid tricks, & had no more fits, whileſt he continued there, being the ſpace almoſt of a monneth. The next day I falling into ſome better acquaintance with him, (be vppon my promiſe that I would be his frend, and procure him fauour from M. Maeior & his brethren) did confeſſe vntounto me, that all he had done in the courſe of his former tricks, were but counterfeyted, and ſaid, that when I woulde. I ſhould ſee all his ſaid tricks, and how he did them. The ſame day I tould Iohn Cooper, what So. had confeſſed vntounto me, and willed him that when they were in bed togither, he ſhould talke with him thereof, ſayinge, that I verily thought, he would confeſſe all vntounto him at large. And accordingly it fell out. For as Iohn Cooper hath depoſed, So. tould him, that all the tricks he had done in his ſaid poſſeſſion and repoſſeſſion were all of them counterfeyted.

Darrell.

It is very true that is ſaid here of a fit that So. had before certaine weomen, and is as true that the ſame day or day before he had an other in the garden before M. Freeman and ſome other: vponupon the ſight whereof, becauſe of his greuous beating of himſelf, with his face groueling and tongue thruſt into the moulds, wallowing, & foming, he the ſaid M. Freeman affirmed, that he had the falling ſickneſſe, and this was preſently bruited throughout Nottingham. If So. were weary of his relapſe or pretending to be repoſſ…ſſed. that is of counterfeyting, & ſaid vntounto Cooper, pag 152. & 178.that his deſire was to be at S. Ioanes, and that ſo at the l…ngth he might be quiet an… giuegive ouer his counterfeyting, as is ſaid in this very page, and in the lea…e before why did he fall to the doinge of his tricks againe after he was at S. Ioanes? It is abſurd to ſay that p. 122he did thus, becauſe the weomen did bemone him for the weomen being remoued or as Cooper depoſeth page 193. put …ut of the houſe, and ſo departed, he was ſt…ll at his tricks: It cannot therefore be that he did at this time his tricks becauſe of the …eomen: neither becauſ be thought men tooke ſome pleaſure to behold him, and for that cauſe himſelf in the a…ti…ge of them. Neither can it be that Shepheard and Cooper did threaē him, that the weomē or any other might ſee, that they could make him leaue his tricks, and all his knauery: ſeeinge the weomen were gone home, and they two alone with Som. in his fit, when they did threaten him. Moreouor, it is confeſſed that So. at S…m Ioanes in a fit, being threatned by Co…per to be whipped, and by Shepheard to be pinched with a paire of knipknaps, pag. 19…. See then good reader … this Diſ…o croſieth & entangleth himſelfe for yf this …ppoſed count…rfeyt. did giuegive oue… his trickes: for th…eates o… feare, how then did he grow we ar… of them, or did volunta…ly reu…e himſelfe to be quiet.did therevpon preſently leaue his tricks, and had no more fits, whileſt he was at S. Ioanes: It cannot therefore be that So. left his counterf…yting, becauſe he grew (a) weary thereof, and did of himſelfe goe to S. Ioanes to be (a) quyet, and that he confeſſed ſomuch to Cooper before he came to S. Ioanes, as the Diſc. affirmeth page 152. and 178. And this is the 11. time the Diſcouerer is conuinced by his Diſcouery.

VVe are beſides to obſerue heere, firſt that this confeſſion of counterfeyting was got, by one Nich. Shepheard, and Iohn Cooper two very diſſolute and infamous men. I remember in a certificate made by one of Nott. to the Arch-biſhop of York, wherevnto many of the chief of Nott. ſubſcribed, there were theſe wordes vſed concerninge theſe honeſt men, that t…ey were two ooand yet … good …uough againſt Darrell.rak…ſhames, the better of them hauing bene twiſe (o) araigned. 2. that theſe were fit inſtrumentes for Sathan to worke by, 3. that Som. confeſſion of counterfeytinge was not voluntary, but extorted & by threats compaſſed.

Diſcouerer

The 26. of February being Sonday, So. was deſir…us to goe to the church, and I tould him that if he ſhould ſo doe, & then fall againe to one of his ould tricks,pag. 193. the people would be much troubled. Wherevpon (quoth So) you know what I hauehave confeſſed vntounto …ou, and I will giuegive you my hande and doe promiſe you …aithfully that I will not then fall into any ſit And ſo I went to the church with him, both in the for…noone and in the afternoone, & he kept his promiſe with me.N…c Sheppearde pag 207.

Darrell

By this depoſition of Sh…h…ards, it is playne that …otwithſtanding S…m. c…n…eſſion and ſhew of c…unter…e…tinge …ettle deponent did not haſtily beleue him, but made … at leaſt at his counterfeyting or elſe why ſhould … vſe th…ſe ſuch like words: if …u ſhould …all … wold be much tr…ubled &c. hence alſo it was, that both … p. 123all the time he was at S. Ioanes, were euer both or one of them at his elbow, giuing their diligent attendance vppon this counterfeyt where ſoeuer he was in church or elſe-where, as is well knowne to the inhabitants of Nott. In that likewiſe the Maior with the Aldermen aforeſaid, and Gregory hired this couple of honneſt men, and gaue them their wages, to wayt at an inch vppon Somers and that not only vntill he had confeſſed he counterfeyted, but after alſo for the ſpace of a monethmonth, all one as if he had denyed that he diſſembled, and ſtood to the truth & preſent poſſeſſion, in which ſtate whoſoeuer is, it is verye requiſite he hauehave a keeper or keepers, becauſe of the danger he is in to be deſtroyed by the diuell: it argueth that they alſo doubted he was no counterfeyt, notwithſtanding his confeſſion ſuſpectinge the truth thereof.

OF CHAP. 2.

How M. Darrell dealt with So. for the reuocation of his ſaide confeſſion that he had diſſembled.

Diſcouerer.

M. Dar.pag 185. pag 186. was charged by her Mateſties Commiſſioners to hauehave ſought many wayes to hauehave withdrawn So. from his ſaid conf…ſſion, & hauehave ſluck vntounto it that he was poſſeſſed. And againe, when M. Dar. perceaued that So. by no pryuate meanes that he could vſe would be drawne &c.

Darrell.

Here is a whole chapter conſumed, and many words vſed about iuſt nothing. I once and only once vſed a few wordes to So. whyles he remayned at S. Iones, and that in the preſence of the Maior & ſom others, reprouing him of the haynous ſinne he had committed, and the great ſcandall he had giuen, in affirming that he counterfeited, his own conſcience accuſing …im thereof: neither is any more …epoſed againſt me. And what herein did I ill beeſeeming me, or that I ought not, and in duty was bound to doe?

I confeſſed being examyned that So. in ſaying he had in the whole courſe of his former fits diſſ…mbled, lyed therein greuouſly againſt his owne c…nſcience,pag 186. to the d…ſhonor of god, and lurt of his church Therevpon ſaith the Diſcouerer, Conſider the gentle zeale of benefiting the church, by his faculty and ſkill in caſting out diuells.

My me…ning …as that the people of god beleeuing and meditating of the worke of god wrought vponupon Somers, woulde no doubt receaue thereby great profit, wherof many though not all, through this lye of his, and curſed confeſſion of counterfevting are depriued an… not only ſo, but thereby drawne to receaue a falſe report and euil nāe againſt the worke of god, and by conſequent againſt the Lorde himſelfe, and to iuſtify the wicked, which is an abomynation before …he p. 124lord. And this tendeth to the diſhonour of god, and hurt of his church … people

OF CHAP. 3.

H…w M. Dar. deuiſed two or three ſhifts, to hauehave auoyded So. confeſſion, that he had diſſ…mbled.

Diſcouerer.

Being examyned I confeſſed, pag 187.that I had ſaid at ſometimes, that So. affirming that he counterfeyted, was a confirmation that he was repoſſeſſed.

Darrell.

M… reaſon is,math. 12. 42. becauſe the ſame, inioyned with his obſtinacy is … certaine argument that he is empty ſwept and garniſhed, and therefore if he were poſſeſſed and diſpoſſeſſed, he is repoſſeſſed.

Diſcouerer.

M. Dar.p…g 188. breathed out his ſecond oracle (which is my ſecond ſhift to auoyd So. confeſſion) ſaying that it was no maruaile though he coulde the his ſits conſidering that he had more deuills in him then before. Hereof M. Dar hath not bene examyned, becauſe it was one of the interogatoryes whervnto he refuſed to anſwer. For true it is that after that he had bene examyned diuer… times about this matter, he found himſelfe ſo perplexed, as that he refuſed to be any further examyned, ſaying that his conſcience was troubled, in that he had anſwered ſomuch already. wherein he is not greatlye to be be blamed. For although a lyar muſt hauehave a good memory, yet by many croſſe queſtions, he may be taken ſhort, as it hath happened to him in many particulers.

Darrell

Heerein appeareth manifeſtly the mallice, craft and peruerſe wreſtinge of this Diſcouerer:, For as I knewe not what the interrogatoryes were I refuſed to anſwer vntounto, ſo did I not therefore refuſe becauſ I was taken ſhort as he would hauehave it, or for that I was not able ſufficiently to anſwer them, neither I thanke god was I therefore in my ſelf perplexed, or my conſcience troubled, but for that hauing yealded to ſomuch before as men with any modeſty or conſcience could require at my hands, yea to more, and hauing anſwered already to no leſſe I thinke then to 190. or 200. interrogatoryes, I perceaued euidently by lamen table experience, tha… my ſaid anſwering albeit it were by oath, did not at all helpe to purge or cleare me as an innocent, and to put an ende to the controuerſy, wherevnto the Lord hath ſanctifyed an oth and which was the thing I expected, and hoped for: …ea that this was not the ſcope and drift of this my examynation and multitude of Interrogator…es (howſoeuer the B. of London did ſo pretend) but to entrap me cunningly, if happely they could, & to make me my owne p. 125appeacher and accvſer, when they were wholly dectitute of other me aues to prove that which they did ſo eagerly and earneſtly ſtryue to boult out againſt me, namely this counterfeiting as now is manifeſt to all men, a thing that neither by the law of god nor man I was bound vntounto, if I had bene guilty, as heauen and earth is my witneſſe I was not. Secondly I refuſed to depo…e any further, becauſe manye of the interrogatoryes were moſt vayne childiſh and ridiculous, as may appeare by the Diſcouery it ſelfe, eſpecially if we conſider, that from thē my guiltyneſſe was in part to be gathered, For this cauſe alſo I confeſſe I was greiued (& as I tak it iuſtly greiued) in my ſoule to anſwer any further vpō my oth, & to call to witneſſe the gloryous & fearfull name of the Lorde, (whereat eueryevery Chriſtian ought in reuerence to tremble) to ſuch baſe, tryflinge, and ridiculous things as were then propounded vntounto me without end or lymitation, (which I per…eiued by former experience) as being not worthy to be cōfirmed by the teſtimony of gods moſt glorious name. But alas I knew not what the articles were vntill I was ſworne: and at the firſt time I was beefore the Biſhop to be examyned, I yealded to anſwer to thoſe thinges which ſhould concerne my dealing with So. or any of the perſons whome I had affirmed were poſſeſſed: which I did for the further confirmation of my innocency, and for auoydinge of that ſuſpition which I feared would hauehave riſen vponupon my denyall to hauehave anſwered. And at the tim of this refuſall to anſwer, I ſpake to this effect to the Biſhop as partly appeareth by the wordes heere mentioned. Now where the Diſc. pretendeth that I am contrary to my ſelfe in many particulars, I demaund of him, why he hath not noted and recorded thoſe my particulars contrarietyes, or at leaſt giuen ſome taſt thereof. It may be he hath referred t…em to his next volume or malitious inuectiue againſt Darrell, becauſe peraduenture there is ſuch a heape of them that they cannot well be contayned in this Diſcouery of his without tediouſneſſe to the Reader: Indeede as the Diſc. orderth the matter there be many contradictions betwixt his deponents and me: But the queſtiou & doubt is firſt, whither he hath produced both their depoſitions and mine truly or no: Secondly, if he hauehave done ſo, then whether I hauehave depoſed truly, or they whoſe depoſitions hauehave bene obteyne …and compaſſed for the moſt part by threates or a lurements as I offer and am…able to prooue to thoſe that are in authority if I may be therevnto admitted: notwithſtanding I finde it not mentioned throughout his whole D…ſc…uery, in what one partic…uler thing I am contrary to my ſelfe, wh…rof to the wi…e and vnpartiall Reader I leaue the c…nſideration, as alſo of the manifould contrariet…es or particuler things wherein the Diſcou…rer is contrary to him…elfe in his Diſ…ouery: in nomber 15. which p. 126in their propper places I hauehave noted, and to iudge him of his owne mouth: deſiring the Diſcouerer in his next treatiſe, to reconcile thoſe places in his Diſcouery: and to ſhew how I hauehave either ignorantly miſtaken him, or malitiouſly peruerted his words or elſe hold his peace altogither, and by his ſylence proclaime to all men the falſhood he hath hitherto maynteyned: for that he will confeſſe the truth, & ſhāe himſelfe to giuegive glory to god, (which for him were a happy thinge) thereof there is little or no hope.

OF CHAP. 4.

How M. Dar. and his frendes to diſcredit So. confeſſion did falſly report, that he was induced therevnto by promiſes threatnings and inchantments

Diſcouerer

Amongſt many wayes whereby men are corrupted, and induced to ſpeake falſly, allurements by fayre promiſes, and threatninges hauehave not the leyſt force: which being very well knowne to M. Dar. and his good frendes, they thought it might carry ſome good probabillity,pag 191. and ſerue for a ſhift, to giuegive it out: that So. was ſo wrought and drawne to affirme, that he had diſſembled. Bvt how vntruly they hauehave charged him herein, the depoſitions following will declare

So.pag 191. (as the Diſc. ſaith) depoſeth, that he was not induced by any promiſes ſo to confeſſe, but did it willingly. And M. Hurt, M. Iackſon, M. Freeman, & M. Gregory teſtify, that he did of his own free will without compulſion anyways. The men that were cheifly ſuſpected to hauehave delt with So.pag 193. as heere it is ſuppoſed, were Iohn Cooper and Nicholas Shepheard: whoſe depoſitions follow. I neuer knew (ſaith Shepheard) of any promiſes made to the boy,pag 192. to confeſſe that he had counterfeyted: but I remember that M. Iack ſon promiſed,pag 193. that if he would declare the truth, he would be good vntounto him and helpe him to a ſeruice in London. Indeed I confeſſe, that in one of the boyes fits at S.pag 192. Ioanes I threatned to hauehave a payre of pincers to pinch him by the toes, if he vſed theſe tricks. And Iohn Cooper thus: I doe not know any that perſwaded So. to confeſſe himſelfe to be a diſſembler. Againe So. (after his comming to S Ioanes) did pretend himſelfe within a day or two to hauehave certayne fits,pag 193. wherevpon the ſaid Cooper, putting at one time ſundry wyues out of the houſe, (at whoſe comming he the ſaid So. did fall into one of the ſaid fits) and then giuing him ſome wordes of correction, viz. threatninge to whi… him, he the ſaid So preſently roſe vp. By neither of theis depoſitions can it be collected, that they threatned the boy to ſay he had diſſembled, or that thereby he was induced ſo to affirme.

Darrell.

And …eere is all the Diſc. proofe of that he ſaith, and diſproofe of that I hauehave affirmed. If So. teſtimony be true (elſe ſure the Diſco. p. 127woulde not rely ſomuch vponupon him, nor produce him as he doth eueri hand while, for the proofe in a manner of eueryevery particular thing, wherewith it pleaſeth him thus falſly and iniuriouſly to charge me) that which he hath teſtifyed concerninge this poynte is to be regarded,auſ. …. which heere followeth. After So. had for the ſpace of a monethmonth, euen during that time he remayned at S. Ioanes, ſaid he counterfeyted, he was brought before the 12. Commiſſioners, affirming the ſame, vntill being caſt into ſundry fits, and vexed anew by ſathan (wherin the deede it ſelfe ſhewed the contrary) he acknowledged to the Commiſſioners, that he did not diſſemble. Thus ſaying (viz. that he diſſembled not) and being tormented by the diuell, he continued 10. days at one Ed. Garlands houſe, in which time he was aſked by Garland and others then preſent why he had counterfeyted, ſeing it was other wiſe? He anſwered, and after ſet it downe with his owne hande writing, (which is yet to be ſeene) thus: Beinge at S. Ioanes there came vntounto me a thing like vntounto a dog, and ſaid vntounto me &c. And Nicholas …he pheard ſaid, and if I were in a fitt againe, he woulde fetch a paire of knypknaps and a rope, and he would make me confeſſe, (meaning that he was a counterfeyt) or elſe hang me, And Iohn Cooper and Shepherd ſaid, and if I would ſay, that I was a counterfeyt, that M. Maior and the Aldermen would giuegive me ten pound, and I ſhould ſet vp any trade that I would, and I had better to ſay that I was a counterfeyt & liue like a man, then to hauehave nothing. For if I ſhould ſay that I was not a counterfeyt, and goe into the cleargyes hands I ſhould hauehave nothing

If this anſwer and hand writing be true (and it is greatly confirmed by Shepheards depoſition and made manifeſt to be true in part) this poynt is cleared and it thereby euident that So. an… ….was induced by promiſ…s and threatnings to ſay he counterfeyted. 2. This appeareth by the aforeſaid depoſitions, for howſoeuer the former depo…ents being… odleſſe men, not fearing an oath, deny the promiſe, which doubtles they from the Maior and ſome of the Aldermen made knowne vntounto him (for as I remember M. Iackſon Alderman acknowledged as …uch in the town hall in the hearing of many, but ſaid they did it in pollic…e, to drawe the boy on) leaſt they ſhould bring ſome diſgrace vponupon the ſaid Maior and Aldermen, yet Shepheard we ſee maketh mention of a promiſe, if he would declare the truth, that is, confeſſe that he had counterfevted: for he had not vntill that day affirmed that he did not c…unterfevt, which if they had accounted for truth, that he had declared vntounto them alreadye, A promiſe then viz, to be good vntounto him &c. was made to So. if he would conf…ſſe a counterfeyting, called …eere the truth. And page 179. Shepheard depoſeth thus: So. vponupon my promiſe that I would be his frend, and procure him fauour from M. Maior … his p. 128brethren did confeſſe vntounto me, that all he had done in the courſe of his former tricks were but counterfeyted, whether now there was any promiſe made to So. by Shepheard and he induced thereby to ſay he counterfeyted. Let the diſcreete Reader iudge, as alſo whether this deponent of the Diſc. and for counterfeyting, be not forſworne.

But that by threatnings he was induced to ſay he diſſembled it is by their depoſitions euident. For So. being in one of his fits, the one of them confeſſeth that he threatned whip him, the other to pinch him with a payre of pincers, if he vſed any more of thoſe trycks that is counterfeit tricks: the learning of which and neuer vſing them afterwards as it is confeſſed he did vponupon theſe threats, carrieth with it in reaſon a ſecret or ſtill confeſſion of counterfeytinge. which I ſay was ſought and aymed at in theſe threats. pag 178.This furtheir appeareth by Shepheardes depoſition mentioned a little before: The day after (ſaith he) that So came to S. Ioans he did counterfeyt himſelfe to be in a fit, wherevpon I tould him whileſt he was in his tricks that if he would not leaue and riſe vp I would ſett ſuch a payre of knipknaps vppon him, as ſhould make him to rue it: and therevpon So. did preſently riſe and leſt his ſaid tricks, and had no more fits, whileſt he continued there, being the ſpace almoſt of a monethmonth Heere we ſee that Shepheard ſweareth that So. counterfeyted, and that beinge ſo perſwaded he threatned him if be would not leaue his counterfeyting, now let eueryevery one iudge, whether it is not likely that with the forſakinge of his counterfeyting he ſought not for a confeſſion of counterfeyting: wee are to obſerue heere that Shepheard threatned So. with a payre of knipknaps if be were in a fit againe according to So. anſwer & writinge, which may well induce vsus to beleeue So. in the reſt he hath vttered with the ſāe breath, and namely that Shepheard ſaid he would make him confeſſe, that he counterfeyted or elſe hang him, with the roape that he threatned to fetch with his paire of knipknaps. 3. Speaking of this his threatning it is ſaid, that therevpon So. left his tricks, and had no more fits. The tīe when So. made this confeſſion is to be marked. It was preſentlye after this threatning and promiſing, and not before. Theſe things conſidered it cannot be denyed but that So. by promiſes & threats was induced to affirm that he had diſſembled: at the leaſt, that in my Apollogy I did not falſly report hereof as the Diſc. in the argument of this Chapter affirmeth but according to the truth: Mv wordes are theſe: For the obteyning of this confeſſion, Cooper and Shepheard (two moſt lewd and euell diſpoſed perſons) threatned him the one to whip him, the other to pinch him with a payr of pincers, as appeareth both by So. confeſſion, and their owne vpp…n theyr oathes before the 12. Commiſſioners: vponupon occaſion of theſe wordes and for the diſprouing whereof this chapter was compiled by the Diſcouerer.

p. 129Diſcouerer.

But by M. Dar. owne rule, in that So. being in a fit heard their ſayd threatning ſpeaches,pag 19… and riſing vp had no more fits, whileſt he was at S Ioanes, it ſeemeth to be apparant that he was a diſſembler.

Darrell

My rule letteth not but that So. being in a fit might heare: for I hould that howſoeuer thoſe in whome are vncleane ſpirits, be in their fi…s ordinarily depriued of their ſences, yet not alwayes, nor at all ties but is then and ſo ort otherwiſe, as the ſpirit ſhall ſee it make for his aduantage, which I affirme of this fit, and eueryevery other that S…. hath had (ſpecially) ſince that time, and hath ſtill I doubt not in ſecret bofore ſome, if it be ſo that in theſe fits he doth heare. But how doth the Diſc. prooue that So. did heare their threatning ſpeaches in the fitt hee men…onetn? ſu…ery not at all. It is to no purpoſe to ſay that he ſemed to heare by that which he did preſently vponupon their threatnings for they that be poſſeſſed …eeme to others to ſee, when they ſee nothing, to go with their feece, to ſtrike with their handes, and to ſpeake, when not they but the diuell performetn theſ things, as hath already bene ſhewed out of the ſcriptures: euen ſo they ſeeme to heare, when they heare not And for the riſing vp, that is the giuing ouer his tricks, hauing no more fits for a monethmonth: we muſt vnderſtand, that he which did theſe trickes (as the Diſc. prophanly calleth the…) could as eaſily put an ende vntounto them, and would readily doe it, when he ſawe it make for his aduantage, that is, the perſwading of the world, that So. had counterfeited what and how greatly the diuell gayneth by this cunning trick of his aboue the reſt …e hath done in So. body, eueryevery one may now ſee, and we that hauehave bene thus long priſoners doe feele.

That which the Diſc. addeth concerning ſorcery, charming and anoynting, of So. is falſe fabulous & ſlaunderous: neither my ſelfe nor any of my frends euer dreamed, that through theſe or any of theſe Som. was euer induced or compelled to ſay that he had diſſembled, as the Diſc. affirmeth, but proueth not nor neuer wilbe able iuſtly to proue:pag 194 only this it was: Some in Nott. ſuſpected leaſt whiles So. remayned at S. Ioanes there were that ſought the caſting of the diuell our of So. that counterfeyted, not by prayer and faſting, but ſometimes by coniuration, at other time by an oyntment wherewith M. Gregory a reputed papiſt cauſed him to be annoynted. It is ſaid by the Diſc and depoſed by his witneſſe Shepheard and Cooper that by M. Gragoryes appointment, this oyntment was giuen him to mak him more nimble to ſhew his tricks: yea but it ſhould ſeeme that it had an other odd quallity in it, for when Shepheard gaue ſome of this oyatment to Mary Cooper, (Som. ſiſter) to annoynt her finger as by his depoſition appeareth, he ſaid that ſhe ſhould p. 130hauehave no more fits, what this oyntment was, and where it was had, whether of M. Gregory himſelfe, or by his appoyntment of the Apothecary, doth not appeare in the depoſitions, in which poynt is to be noted the couert & cloſe carriage of both the deponents.

OF CHAP. 5.

Diſcouerer

Of M. Dar.… 195 ridiculous pretence, that So. was induced by the diuell in forme of a black dogg… and an aſſe, to ſay he had diſſembled.

Darrell.

But heereof we ſhall not neede to doubt, how ridiculous ſoeuer it ſeeme to the Diſc. if we can perſwade our ſelues of the truth of Somers former anſwer and hand-writing wherevpon it relyeth, and is grounded, His wordes be theſe.

Being at S. Ioanes, there came vntounto me a thing like vntounto a (o) dog, & ſaid vntounto me: And if I would conſent vntounto him and ſay that I was a counterfeyt, he would giuegive me a bagg of gould, and if I would not, he wold mak me be hanged, orelſe he wold teare me in peeces. And if I woulde I ſhoulde doe any thing that I would take in hand, and he would come …o mee lyke a mouſe, and would helpe me. And there came to me a thing like anaavſus Somers be a man of that … & h…ste ſtin…ſo … t…n ticall with M. Ha…ſ…tt and the Biſhop againſt M …. why are they not as kiud heere to beleeue him in this poynt, when he …peaketh for the clearinge of D…rrell. yea the cauſe it ſelfe alſo, for which Dar. fuſſe reth. aſſè and ſaid if I would not ſay that I was a counterfeyt, he would caſt me into the well, and ſo went away.

VVe ſhall be the better perſwaded of the truth heereof, if wee firſt remember that which by experience hath bene found true, that it is Sathans vſuall manner to appeare in viſible ſhapes to them he poſſeſſeth, and that So. was now poſſeſſed. 2. that So. in his ſitts beefore the Commiſſioners ſaid (as it were in the throate) a black dogg a dog a dogg a dogg, iterating the ſame very oft and ſpeaking at that time no thinge elſe in his fitts.Thyreus chapt. 6. 5. et cap 7. 6. 3. that three of the Commiſſioners ſaw a black dogg (in appearance) about the boy in a fitt or fitts, buſy about his face, and none other. Now it could not be but had it bene a dogg indeede, ſome others alſo ſhould hauehave ſeene him, there beinge ſo many thronging about him, yea ſurely one or other would hauehave dryuen him away, either for the ſafetye of the boy, or that they might the better hauehave ſeene, whereof eueryevery one was ſo deſirous: and wold neuer hauehave indured him to hauehave chopt at his face, as a water-dogge at a duck, as it was ſaid by ſome of good credit he did. 4. where this thinge like a, blacke dogge that is the diuell, promiſed to helpe Som. in any thinge he would take in hand, mening, to doe thoſe things he formerly had done in him, becauſe So. ſaving he counterfevted (vponupon which condition he made him this promiſe) might the rather be beleeued to counterfeyt, it is manifeſt that therein this writing is true, for that euer ſince he made that confeſſion vntill this day, So. when he wil doth his trick… p. 131ſuch as none can doe, and therefore we may be aſſured this thing like a mouſe doth helpe him, and when he will, he leaueth & putteth an end vntounto them, as though So. had done all, and not this mouſe. S. That the ſecond or latter part of this writing alſo is true, as is before ſhewed. Now theſe fyue things being true, as indeede they are, I ſee not why any ſhould doubt of the truth of this writing: which beinge true it is manifeſt that So. was induced by the diuell in forme of a black dogge and an aſſe, to ſay he had diſſembled: and then is not this Darrells ridiculous pretence?

OF CHAP. 6.

How M. Dar hath falſly affirmed, that So. was induced to ſay he had diſſembled, for feare of hanging: whereas he falling into his fitts before the commiſſioners at Nott. (vponupon a former compact) the feare of hanging was one of the cheifeſt cauſes, that hee then affirmed, that he had not diſſembled.

Diſcouerer.

There is added a ſixt inducement, viz. the feare of hanging: he being ſlandered to hauehave bewitched one Stirland to death.pag 199. For the clearing therfore of this vntruth: So. before hath depoſed, that one cauſe why about the 14. day of Ianuary 1597. he fell againe to thoſe fitts, (wherevpon M. Darrell affirmed that he was repoſſeſſed) was this: viz. The feare of ſu…h daunger, as he otherwiſe might hauehave fallen into, by reaſon of the ſaid accuſation, cō cerniug his bewitching of Stirland to death.

Darrell.

Is not this vntruth like to be well cleared by So. depoſition? But to let that goe, and to deliuer heerein the truth. So. beinge charged with felony and for the ſame impriſoned, as is confeſſed page 149. we all know that at the aſſiſes he was to be arraigned and therefore in danger of hanging. I deſire now to know how So. could be freed frō this danger, by falling into his former fitts. The Diſc. telleth vsus for that th…r by he ſhould be ſure to be defended & vpheld by M. Dar. & his frends ſo far forth as they were able themſelues, or by any other meanes that they could procure on his behalf. why but Dar. & his frends had they bene willing & deſirous, were not able to deliuer him frō the danger he was in, and keepe him from his tryall, ſpecially the matter being in the hands of Dar. and So. greate aduerſaryes: neither yet did I or anve of my frends attempt anye ſuch thinge. as the Maior with the Aldermen and town clarke know full well: whereby it is playne that as we were vnable, ſo we deſired not to keepe him from his tryall: This therefore can be no reaſon of So. returning to his old byas of diſſanulation. Yea I deſire the Diſc. heereafter to ſhew, how poſſible So. falling again into his former ſitts could any way helpe to deliuer him…elfe from the ſuſpition of p. 132witch… … being the thing that brought him within the danger of hanging. I am very ſure it was the onlye way to bring him to be condemned for a witch, and ſo to the gallowes: and there…ore wee may be ſure it was not Somers, but the diuell in So. that being returned and entering into his houſe againe, fell to his olde byas: for thus it was: The aduerſaryes eſpecially M. Freeman and …l. Gregory, hauing contended for counterfeyting about 11. weekes, but not preuayling, it ſo fell out, that one Sterland of Snenton neere Nott. hauing bene one day in the ma…kett at Nott. fell there ſick, whereof he dyed, but before in his ſickneſſe ſaid (a… his wiſe and others affirmed) that So. had trode, vponupon his hee…e, whē he was laſt at the ſaid marke…t, and had certainly bewitched him, as appeareeth by page 149. Herevppon it was bruited throughout Nottingham that S…. was a witch, and not poſſeſſed, and ſo all that he had before done, or ſuffered, came …rom himſelfe, and his familyar ſpirit. This rumour ſpreading it ſelfe, the matter was inquired into, & foūd out that he dyed (as the phiſitian ſaith) of a baſtard pluriſy, in his rauing ſaying as is afore…aid, which is confeſſed page 149. his wife alſo affirming, that ſhe would not for any thing ſay that So. had bewitched her huſband. Heerevppon the aforeſaid rumor ſuddenly vaniſhed and came to naught. But M. Freman and M. Gregory comming from London abont ten dayes after, reu…ued the ſame, and of iu…t nothinge made a haynous matter, and would needes hauehave So. to be a witcn. M. Freeman got to his owne howſe Sterlands wi…e, and ſome of her neighbours, and ſo wrought them that the poore wife & her neighboures ſaid forthwith after openly in the towne hall ſomuch, as wherevppon for the bewitching Sterland her huſband to death, So. was impriſoned and they bound to giuegive euidence againſt him at the next a…ſiſes. And heereof So. was not ignorant, being a matter notoriouſly knowne to the inhabitants of Nott. Thus wee ſee how So. came to be in feare & danger of hanging, and by whoſe meanes or procurement. what was now to be done by Somers or what was the ſafeſt courie for him to take, whereby to free himſelfe from the daunger he was in, & to ſaue his life? Surely to ſay and ſtand to it that he counterfeyted in all that he had done before, for who would then accuſe him of witchcraft, or giuegive eare to ſuch accuſation? If he would affirme that he himſelfe did all by art in diſſe…nulation, no body would beleeue that he had either diuell or ſpirit, or any thing to doe with ſpirit or familiar, this (I ſay) wa… an eaſ… and ſure way to ſaue his life, an… ſo it proued. Agayne, S… might thus thinke with himſelfe M. Freeman and M. Gregory who would fa…ne hauehave me to be a counterfeyt: are they whoe hauehave cauſed me to be accuſe… of witch…a…, and they are able to take that order with M. Maior, and the other Aldermen they ſpecially ioyninge p. 133… matter ſhall … ſtood to the truth, and had neuer acknowledged any counterſe, …, for any …ing man could ſee, he had bene as certaynlye arraigned of …, as …e …as accu…ed and ympriſoned for the ſame, …rlands wiſe an…her neig…bours had giuen euidence againſt him, a… ſuch a lury (… truſt) ca…ed out to hauehave gone on him, as it …, be wold hauehave found … guilty, as well as one at the …ame a…nes, that found … not guilty of murmering or be … to death the childe of … Co…per … to …omers. pag 200.VVhether So now were d…awne to ſay he ha… …ſſembled, for feare o… hanging, as I a…firme, or the care of hangig … as the Diſc. a…irmeth …et the …eader iudge. Put the Diſ…. proceedet… yet a little …urther in … proofe of that …e a…firmeth.

Diſcouerer.

… after that So. vponupon that o…ca…im, and ſ…me others, fell to his … in them about ſix weeks,pag 199. and did … make … knowne, …or all that time, an… his … to … that So. for … againe to … by…s of ….

Darrell.

… only about ten da…es … which the Diſc. m…erieth the …, viz. that … p. 135fell againe to his diſſimulation?

Diſcouerer.

Aſſuredly (quoth the Diſc.) this fellow through his acquaintance with ſathan (as it ſhould ſeeme) is gra…vne to extraordinary & pre…np tuous b…uldn…ſſe:pag 199. not shaming to ſay any thing that may ſerue his turne

Darrell

VVhether this latter parte may be truly ſaid of himſelfe, and he be iudged out of his owne mouth, let him that hath hearde vsus both ſpeake iudge.

Diſcouerer.

So. fell into his ſits b…fore the Commiſſioners at Nott. vppon a former compact.… and for fear …ſhanging (chiefly) then affirmed, that he had not diſſembled. This is by …egrees made manifeſt vntounto you.

Darrell

But how? by So. depoſitions, which are ſtrengthened by the depoſitions of others, theſe latter I will for a ſeaſon ſpare, and wee will heare what So ſaith the principall deponent heere. as alſo throughout the 2. 3. and 4. bookes of the Diſcouery.

Diſcouerer.

Concerning the firſt So. depoſeth thus.pag 200. It being knowne, that I was to appeare before the Commiſſioners, Nich Shepheard, and others moued me, that when I ſhould come before them, I ſhould ſhew ſome of my trickem ſuch manner and forme as I had before done them, & not riſe againe vntill M. Maior ſhould call me, that thereby (ſay they) it may plainly appeare to the Commiſſioners, that whatſoeuer thou haſt done before was done of thine own accord, & meerely counterfeyted, This counſell being agrecable to M. Maiors deſire (as I was informed) I did willingly yeald vntounto it.

Now for the ſecond poynt,pag 201. lett So. proceede, vponupon the aid agreement, I appearing (ſaith So: before the Commiſſioners, and after ſome ſpeaches had with me (by ſome of them) fell downe and playd diuers of my tricks: as I was accuſtomed to d…e…m my pretended fitts. There I continued tumbling & acting my tricks for a long time, ſtill expecting when M. Maior woulde call me whi…eſt I was thus tumb…ng, two did prick me with pynnes: one in the hand, and an other in the legg, which although I felt moſt ſencibly, yet I endured it becauſe I ſtill wayted, that M. Maior ſhould call …ne, but beforgetting … & I being no longer able to continve in that ſort, I did risvp my ſelfe, as I was wont to doe, in the end of other my diſſembled fits.

Darrell.

VVhether there was any comp…ct betwene the Maior and Somers it mattereth not, If there were not, their ſin is at the dore & will one day finde them out that hauehave ſo depoſed. If there were it came doubtleſ…e from the … of the diuell, who hauing for ſundry weekes p. 136beefore lurked in Somer, (that ſo he might the better rayſe vp the euil… name of counterfeyting of the greate worke of god… and beinge by the appoyntment or commaundement of god (as is to be ſuppoſed) at this time to manifeſt himſelfe, thought t…e… by to helpe …mſelfe, and perſwade the world ſtill notwithſtanding this his …c…uery, that So. was a counterfeyt. If any demaund why ſhould the Lord commaound the ſpirit to diſcouer himſelfes? I anſwer, t…at at is a ſecret & …nly knowne to the lorde: yet it may be, becauſe the Lord hauing fore appointed a mighty and wonderfull oppoſition againſt his manifeſt worke, he would hauehave ſolemne witneſſes fu… t…ereof, for the further ſtrengthening of thoſe who ſhould beeleue his worke, and makinge thoſe the more, yea out of meaſure mexcuſable, who ſhould reſiſt & fight againſt it, per…aſe alſo and partlye to ſtrengthen and incourage his ſeruants whome he would eſpecially vſe not only in bearinge witneſſe to the poſſeſſion and diſpoſſeſſion, but alſo to the repoſſeſſion of S…mers, which laſt the worlde would not indure to heare of: and to put them in hope (for their further incouraging therei…) that as then after …athan had withdrawne and hid himſelfe… a time, wherevpon there was greate contention, whether the boy were poſſeſſed or counterfeyted, the Lord did diſcouer the ſpirit to the manifeſtation of the truth, and that beefore ſolemne witneſſes, ſo one day after an other manner of contention, I meane farr greater, and before more ſolemn witneſſes, of greater authority, god would vnca…e that …ul till ſpirit & deceauer of the world, to the full manifeſtation of the truth, and his owne glory, whether then I ſay there was any ſuch co…pac… as is heere mentione… or no, it mattereth not, neither whether … were afrayde of hanging… but the matter indeede to be conſidered by vsus is, whether So did thoſe ſtrange things whereof the Commiſſioners were ey witneſſes, as So. and the Diſc. affirme, or the diuell as we affirme.

The Commiſſioners with ſundry others of account and good credit doe know, that beefore them Som. wallewed to and f…o…n the chamber floar, or ſwiftly rowled with his body ſtretched out to the full length, in very ſtrang and admirable (…ea I ma… truly ſay) … ſupernaturall manner. 2. That he lay before them with his body ſwelle… greatly. 3. His intrall… were ſhort vp and downe along in his body, much like to the ſ…o…ting of aweauers ſ…ittle 4. greate violence was offered vntounto him thereby to make try all i… he had any feelinge, and namely he was pri…ed with p…nns in hand and legg, whereat he ſtirred non…re then a ſtock. 5. being pricked and that deepe, not a drop of bloud if ue…t. This pricking with pynn…s, and the induringe the…eof So. himſlefe we ſee confeſſeth, ſo it may be… did, the not iſſuing of bloud, and the Diſc. thought good to keepe that back: but p. 137… come cure only, yet this I am ſure of, that … was held vp beefore … where he had bene pri…ed, but the … to be there gathered, & … did not … becauſe the ſkyn was … by name, that only pricked … men deepe, (as M. C…ge Sma… (who … of London, as alſo … downe, of purpoſe … would be. Yt now Som. … are to order the matter, that … pynnes, a d…euer ſtirr thereat, nor … his intra…s, then I deny not but … the Commiſſioners: otherwiſe … from the diuell, and ſo he … the Diſc. will put out the eyes, not only … but … many others alſo.

… …hew his own trickes, and … with the Mai… was that therby … Commiſſioners that whatſoeuer he had done … counterfeyted, or as M Fre … and the … them and was aſked be … fell down, did he anſwer that a … and in a worde ſo as by his anſwers it was … he could not, or would not tell of any thing that … had done, or wa… done vntounto him by others … the company of his counterfeyting, wh… … why he then did his prank…, but to induce … contrary. So. is produced by the Diſc. anſwerange this … wordes.

Diſcouerer.

…

… p. 138durſt not ſpeake his mynde therein, & call me, ſeing the reſt of the commiſſioners, and many others ſo confident indeed, that I was repoſſeſſed. Further more I alſo then feared leaſt M. Markhams, and one …aques wordes, with ſundry others, would proue true: who the ſame morning & ouernight …ad could me, that if I were found to be diſſembler, I muſt be hanged: whereas quoth Iaques, if it then appeare that thow art not a diſſembler, ther can no lawe nor Iudge hurt thee. In theſe reſpects I thought it the ſafeſt way for my ſelfe, to yeald for that time to their humors, and to anſwer as before is expreſſed, that I had not diſſembled.

Darrell.

For our better vnderſtanding of the iugling and deceipt heere vſed, we muſt know that euen as So. was facing it out to the Commiſſioners, that he had counterteyted, and yet refuſing to counterfeit ſo againe, he was vyolently caſt downe, the ſpirit then trifling excedingly: ſo framing his countenance, & toying with his armes and leggs as a man in carnall reaſon would hauehave verily thought that he counterfeyted: nothing being done but that might eaſily be done by any. Our helpe was thus, that being pu…led by the eares and hayre of the heade as … they ſhovld hauehave naue bene plucked of, and there withall his head beaten ſo to the floar, at a mercifull man would ſcarſly doe to a dogg yet he ſtirred nor not at all therat, nor at the pricking of him with pinnes, neyther did any bloud iſſue at the places pricked.

This fitt ended, he beinge aſked by the Commiſſioners what hee had done alſo what others had done to him, hee coulde tell of nothinge, one of the commiſſioners aſkinge him, whether he were not pricked of one of his handes with a pynne, he anſwered yes hould inge forth the wronge hand: whereby thoſe that were preſent perceaued, that he would gladly hauehave vttered thoſe things that had in that fitt be fallen him, if poſſibly he could, that ſo ſtill hee might hauehave perſwa…ed men that he had formerly diſſembled. Laſtly beinge demaunded whether he had counterleted, he anſwered with a braten face as before the ſaid fit that he had counterfeyted Forthwith he was carryed away by his keepers and preſently after elſe-where in the towne fearefully tor mented by the diuell, whereof when tydings was brought to the Commiſſioners, viz. that now So. was very fearfully handled, ſome commaunded that he ſhould be brought back againe, which being done accordingly, he no ſooner appeared beefore them, but he was in a fitt, and ſo proceeded from fitt to fitt, till he had had ſundry, the ſpirit in theſe vexing him indeede, and ſhewing his rage & malice againſt man, and not in ſubtilty as he did at the firſt,

VVhere now the Diſc. affirmeth, that So. liinge in the fitt, he had at the firſt, when he was pricked with pynnes, and out of which the p. 139… ſhould hauehave called him, did vponupon good deliberation (for ſooth) change his my…e, and accordinge thereto the fitt beinge ended, ſay to the Commiſſioners that he had not diſſembled it is v…true, for then be affirmed the contrary, that he had diſſembled, as the Commiſſioners … ſundry others can teſtify: And if So. did ſay to the Commiſſioners, that he had not d…ſſembled which I doe not remember, it was after he was ſent for the ſecond time, and vponupon the fearefull vexat…n be then indured thick and threefoulde by Sathan which helpeth … the … at all … notwithſtanding that were ſo, yet this that So. and the Diſc. doe tell vsus, is falſe.

Secondly it is to be obſerued how the Diſcouerer proueth that Somers thus changed his mynde lyinge in his fit… why Somers (o) ſaith ſo, neither can this be otherwiſe prooued. Alſo how he prooueth that Somers at the end of this ſaid fit,… (o) affirmed that he had not diſſembled: Somers depoſeth it: and there is not ſomuch as a falſe witneſſe ſtrengthening it, ſo that the truth hereof reſteth only and barely vpō So. credit, which I thinke is long agoe ſhameruily crackt, and ſhiuered both with wiſe men and with fooles. 3. were So. credit better then, it is, yet the tale which is tould vsus, is ſo vnſauery or rather ſo abſurd, & ſenceleſſe, that me thinketh it is more then ſtrange that any man of wiſdome and iudgment ſhould euer harken vntounto it, or embrace it as a truth.

For marke I pray you: heere is a paltry boy brought in delyberating and conſulting, as if he were a graue man of greate deliberation and aduiſement. And when I pray you and at what inſtant muſt this graue deliberation of his be, forſooth euen then when he was doing of his rare fayts, and others vſing their pleaſure towards him: one violently beating his heade to the floar, and plucking him by the hair and eares full ſoundly, an other pricking him in the hand with a pyn, a third in the leg: & he in danger to be ſo further dealt with, & to hauehave the like hard meaſure offered him: he knew not by how many, mee thinketh that by meanes heereof his thoughts ſhould hauehave bere drawne an other way, partly to the tricks he had in hand, partly to his payne and partly taken vp about the preſent denger and likelihood he was in of induring yet more payne, and by reaſon hereof ſo perplexed and interupted, as that he could hardly hauehave fallen into ſo graue a conſultation with himſelf: and ſo orderlye alſo hauehave proceeded therein from one poynt to an other, from the firſt & weakeſt reaſon that moued him, to the ſecond & ſtronger, and from thence to the third and moſt forcil…e of all.

Of all ſcaſons this ſure muſt needes be the moſt vnfit and vnſeaſonable ſeaſon for Somers to debate deliberate and conſult in: neither p. 140dee I thinke that this …lot and deuice of Som. and the Diſcouer … ſappor witt in it at all, to make this conſultation dete… vnation and re…omtion to be … or du…ing the … pretended fitts. there would be no …auor in this. Ye… had in … more probable if they had ſayd, The fit being en…ed and paſt, o… w…ileſt … ſtco… beefore the commiſſioners, bethinking himſelfe what anſwer to make: but take the ta…e as it is deliuered vsus, viz. whil… he was in his …, and I thinke he is ſcarſly well in his witts that will beleue it.

4. The third and mayn reaſon leading him there vntounto was (forſcoth) the ſcare of hanging, a…ſing of t…s ſpeach, that if he were found to be a diſſembler he muſt be hanged. Be it that theſe we…des were ſpoken muſt So. therefore needes be in ſuch a greate per plexity and feare of hanging, as if the very naming thereof were ſufficient to make him qua…e for feare?

Alas poore ſimple boye, belike he thought that eueryevery worde was blowe. But wherefore doe I call him ſimple, who deliberatinge and diſcuſſinge of matters before he reſolued what to doe ſheweth ſo much witt? where now was all his ingenye and deepe conſultation, that ſcared hanging becauſe of his diſſembling? doth not euerye childe know that for couſenage a man can not by our lawes be hanged,pag 203. but is otherwiſe to be puniſhed?

And if herein he were ignorante, and that none of his frendes of themſelues woulde hauehave toulde him ſo much, yet he might eaſily by enquiry hauehave learned ſo much: But how proueth the Diſcouerer that theſe very wordes of threatning were vſed? By the teſtimony of Somers, and Nich. Shepheard & Iohn Cooper his keepers, three moſt vyle and wicked men.

Secondlye, we may obſerue how the teſtimonye of theſe two witneſſes (for the third is an accuſer and party) doe proue the ſame. If it be proued (quoth M. Markham) that thow art a counterfeyt, thow deſerueſt to be hanged: Thus depoſeth Shepheard and Cooper…t… us M. Markham ſaid to So. that if he were found to be a diſſembler he muſt be hanged. pag 204Againe Shepheard thus: One Iaques ſaid to So. in the hearing of me, and of Iohn Cooper that if he were preued to be a counterfeyt he muſt be hanged And Coper depoſeth after this manner, One Iaques tould the boy, that if he did counterfeyt he would be hanged: Concerning M. Markham his ſpeach, the one depoſeth th…w deſerueſt, the other thow muſt be hanged and the one ſweareth Iaque ſaid he muſt the other he would be hanged: Heereby it appeareth that theſe are falſe witneſſes being ſo variable & diſſonant one from an other: Finally, take Shepheards wordes concerning M. Markham, and Coopers concerning Iaques and there was …n all p. 141ca…ſe why So. ſhould be afrayd of hanginge. and leſſe why the Diſcou. … ea…e … into the…e wordes. This was threatning & terrifying indeede, pag 149.able to hau… ſha… th… c…ancye of a ſtronger man: wherein the Diſc. hath relation to the other feare that So. had of hanging, whereof he ſpeaketh in the beginninge of this chapter, as though …orſooth this reare …ar ſurpa…ſed that. But eueryevery childe may ſee the contrary, & the Diſc. vayne b…aſting: for deedes …arr patle wordes: And I am ve riſure, that had a ſtronger man then So. bene accuſed of felony, & for the ſame bene impriſoned, as So. was, as the Diſc. himſelfe confeſſeth, which cauſed the feare of hanging in So. mentioned before: though neuer ſo innocent, yet ſomtimes he woulde hauehave feared the loſſe of his life and ſo would no man or vnderſtanding in this caſe, though he were guilty of counterfeyting, as So. was not. And thus much for anſwer to this calumniation.

OF CHAP. 7.

Diſcouerer.

How So-was perſwade by threatnings and promiſes,pag 104 to hauehave continued his diſſimu…ation, after he had bene before the Commiſſioners at Nott. vntill M. Dar. might againe diſpoſſeſſe him.

Darrell.

VVhy might not ſome perſwade So. hauing confeſſed the truth therein to continue,what is this to the perſw…ding o… to … and to take heede of (a) returning with the dog to … vo…ntye? And what did they therein ill beſeeming them? The Diſc. muſt remember that he hath not yet prooued So. diſſ…mulation.

As for the threatning and promiſes the Diſc. prateth of, he that will vouch are them the reading, cannot but ſee, that they deſerue rather to be laughed at, then to hauehave any anſwer at all.

Diſcouerer.

The Iudges comminge to Nott. he the ſaid So. being ſent for beefore the L. Anderſo… confeſt… at large,pag 205 how he had diſſembled, and there ſhewinge his tricks before has Lordſhip & diuers others, in ſome extraordinary ſorte, to th…ſe that had not ſee… him beefore, he preſently ſtarted vp, vponupon his Lo. bid…ling him to arriſe, and h…wed himſelfe to be as well as he was before.

Darrell.

I doe in all reuerence counſell & adueiſe my Lord Anderſon and whoſoeuer heereto fore hauehave ſeene, or heereafter ſhall ſee So. doe his tricks, or rather the diuell his tricks in him, to turne away theyre eye from So. falling downe, and arriſinge at a call, to the things acted before them. The which albeit they be eaſy to be counterfeyted in compariſon of the rare effects the ſpirit ſometimes ſent forth in Somers yet p. 142…et them be well exam…ned, and they will be found to be ſuch, as can…o… done …, any humane or naturall ſtrength and agillity, & ther… … come from a ſupernaturall power, which is the diuel. As for So. …ing downe and riſing at the beck of man, that commeth from … of the ſpirit thereby blyndeing the eyes of men, and … taken to thinke, that it is not he, but So. that doth the feyts, for … muſt remember that by the holy ſcripture it is playne, that a … ſpirit poſſening one, as he doth now Somers, hath the ouerru…g or the body and partes thereof, at his pleaſure, as the ſpirit of mā … when therefore the diuell will, (and he will when he ſeeth it to make for his aduantage) he can aſwell and doth as readily caſt down the body of Somers and rayſe it vp againe, as any of vsus can doe by ours Againe he that doth thoſe things I meane the ſupernaturell accidents men beheld in Somers lying on the ground, can as eaſily throw downe Somers and raiſe him vp, or put an ende to his fitts, vponupon the word or command… of a man, that ſo Somers may rayſe vp himſelfe: VVe may heere alſo remember, how ſome of thoſe in Lancaſhire, continued 3. dayes and nights in a tit, in which time it is certaine they did manye thinges at the ſpeaches of others, and yet it was not they but tho dyuell in them.

The Diſcouerer ſaith, that Somers ſhewed his tricks in ſome extraordinary ſort, It is very true: for the ſpirit tryfled and toyed excedingly, which extraordinarilye he had done before, ſpecially exceeded ſo much therein as then he did. 2. It was extraordinary in that none of the ſonnes of Adam can doe the like. But the Diſcouerer ſhold hauehave done well, and to the better ſatiſfyinge of the Reader, if he had tould vsus the particuler tricks he at that time did, as of the ſwellinge he had then in his body,but this would hauehave marred the faſhiou of all the ſuppoſed counterfeiting. though nothinge ſo bigge as in former times, of the exceeding waight of his legg & arme like (a) iron.

Diſcouerer

Since which time (ſayth Somers) I hauehave bene very well,pag 205 I thank god notwithſtanding M. Darrell did then & hath ſince diuers times affyrmed, that I remayne ſtill repoſſeſſed.

Darrell.

He is not, nor ſince hath bene better, then he was for ſundry wekes beefore, after which it appeared that he was not verye well, but was indeede poſſeſſed with the diuell. And ſo I doubt not notwith…andinge this ſuppoſed well, and very well being of his, but that he is ſo ſtill, and that in due time, god will make it manyfeſt to all men.

p. 143OF CHAP. 8.

Of the depoſitiones taken on M. Dar. beehalfe at Nott. and how vponupon the examynation of his owne witneſſes, it falleth out: that the bodily actions of So. in his fitts, were not extraordinary, as they hauehave bene miſreporoed

Diſcouerer.

The commiſſion was procured, & expedited the 20. of March 1597. by theſe Commiſſioners, (if the printed Narration ſaid truly) Iohn Sherwood …ſquier, high Sheri…ſ, Sir Iohn Byron Knight, Iohn Stanhop, Robert Markham,pag 208. Richard Perkins Eſquires, Peter Clarke Mayor of Nottingham, Myles Leigh Officiall, Iohn Ireton, Iohn Browne, Robert Fuington, and Thomas Boulton, miniſters & preachers, men for their ſufficiency, it is true very meete to hauehave dealt in a farr greater matter. The gentlemen are verye well knowne to be fit gouernours,… of what natu… that nether reuer end miniſters of great learning. no… woorthy gentle men, of great wiſdom of ſufficiency all of them, coulde once …each vntounto or were able to Iudge of. and are a greater matter. The gentlemen are verye well knowne to be fit gouernours, and are a greate ſtay in thoſe partes of the country where they dwell. If the examynation of a matter of highe treaſon had bene committed vntounto them, or any other of a lower degree, concerninge the good and peace of their country, they had bene within the compas of their owne element, and would no doubt with all ſufficiency hauehave diſcharged thē ſelues therein. But the hipocriticall ſleights of falſe ſeducers, in matters that concerne religion, they are of another (….) nature.

Darrell.

The Diſc. knowing that the depoſitions taken at this time, doe vtterly ouerthrow So. counterfeyting, and proue it as impoſſible for So. by art to hauehave done thoſe things he muſt hauehave done, if he be a diſſembler, as it is for him to walke vponupon the ſea, or to goe to Roome on a day, and that the ſaid depoſitions doe receaue ſome credit from the ſufficiency and worthyneſſe of the Commiſſioners themſelues by whō they were taken, thought it good pollicy firſt and afore all thines, to caſt a myſt as it were before the eyes of his Reader, and to put ſome ſcruple and doubt in his mynde whether theſe were the very Commiſſioners indeede, as I and my frends doe beare the world in hand, and yet he knoweth full well (and no man better then he) that they were the very ſame: only M. Iohn Walton Archdeacon of Darbyſhire is wanting in this rolle and maketh them vp 12. in nomber. Secondlye, allow theſe to be the men, then forſooth he excepteth againſt them, as well in regard of theire partiallity: branded as before in theſe wordes By their prepoſterous affections th…y held with M. Darrell, as in regard of the inſufficiency of the gentlemen, cloſely implyed & marked in theſe wordes: They held not themſelues within compas of their owne …lemente. Concerning the firſt we muſt know that theſe are only but the words and floriſhes of the Diſc. and that indeede and in truth ther is no ſu… matter, all the chief of them (one only excepted) being meere ſtrangers p. 144vntounto me, and two of the other my great aduerſaryes, nay I may truly ſay, that I did not know any liuing that did more deadlye hate me then M. Walton. As touching their ſvfficiency, albeit in other things the Diſc. we ſee doth ſurely acknowledg it, yet in this preſent caſe of counterfeyting he hath a glaunce and wype at them, as if they did not well know what they did: for why alas poore gentlemen they did not (forſooth) keepe themſelues within the compaſſe of their owne element. Marke heere good Reader: Peter Clarke, Richard Hurt, Anchor Iackſon, Richard Morey, and William Freeman, Aldermen of Nottinghā, Samuell Maſon gent. William Gregory Towne-clarke, and Samuell Harſnett the Diſcouerer: wherof the moſt are tradeſ-men, and ſome verye ſimple men, did not exceede their bounds, went not beyonde theyre compaſſe, but helde themſelues within theire element in the execution of their ſeuerall comiſſions: But the aforeſaid gentlemen that had this matter in examination before (notwithſtandinge the gentlemen be of greate wiſdome and ſufficiency) did by the cenſure of the Diſc. ouerſhoote themſelues and went beyond their element.

A ſtrange thing: But it may be that S. Harſnet, if none if his fellowe Commiſſioners, hath that ſpeciall guift whereof he ſpeaketh page 28. which in his learning he calleth the guift of diſcerning ſpirit… which is a meaſure of gods ſpirit, to diſcerne betwixt counterfeyts, and ſuch as were in deede poſſeſſed: which none of the other hath: vf he hauehave ſo, yett mee thinketh theſe other commiſſioners ſhould at leaſt be able to tell whether So. being prickt with pynnes before their eyes. ſtirred thereat or no… and whether any bloud iſſued out: whether his body ſwelled &c. and this (with ſuch like) in this caſe ſufficed, and is ſure within the cō paſſe of their element.

Diſcouerer.

And conſcerning alſo the witneſſes themſelues, much might be ſaide for their excuſe.pag 209. They hauing conceaued well of M. Darrell, coulde not eaſily ſuſpect any trechery in him.that is as mu…h to ſay, that they did not ſ… weare themſelues more, if S…r…rs counte ſered as the In…. will hauehave it. And to ſay the truth theſe grounds preſuppoſed to be true (which M. Dar. had taught them) viz. that whatſoeuer he did or ſpake in his fitts it was not So but the diuell that did & ſpeak it: it may rather be maruayled, that they depoſed no (a) more, then blamed that they depoſed ſo much.

Darrell.

Marke I pray you the vnconcionable proceeding of this Diſcouerer: Firſt in his preamble to the depoſitions, ſomthing be ſaith to exte…uate the ouerſight of the commiſſioners, then for the excuſe of the wit…ſſes he telleth vsus that the witneſſes alſo conceaued well of me, or were … prepoſterouſlye affected towardes mee and thence alſo it came that they depoſed in this manner as they did: what a thing is this: that p. 145a…moſt all men ſhould thus a…fect and louelove me: whom others ſomuch …eteſt and abhor? The Commiſſioners they through their prepoſcerous affections to me ha… their eye of wiſdome blynded: … 208.ſo as they like vnwi…e men as they were, held with Darrell, beleuing that Som. had not diſſembled whereas the wiſer ſort beleued Somers. The witneſſes (beinge no leſſe then 17.) conceaued ſo well of me as for the affection they bore me (i… the Diſc. ſay true) they purpoſely forſweare themſelues: for it to thoſe things which vponupon their oathes they did avow,pag 207. they did depoſe not for that they ſaw and feit any ſuch rare and impoſſible things in So. as they depoſed: but vponupon ſome partiall and corrupt affection towardes me: then can it not be denyed but that they did ſtatly per…u…e themſelues: which if it were ſo the Diſc. being a miniſter of the goſpell, might hauehave bene better occupyed a great deale to hauehave …iſp…ayed their corruption and agrauated their ſynne, then thus to hauehave pleaded in their defence and excuſe. An other thinge whereby the witneſſes were drouen to depoſe as they did, was (ſaith the Diſc.) a falle & deceiptfull ground they had receaued from M. Darrell viz. that it was not Somers, but the diuell that did & ſpake all in his fits: To this I anſwer that notwithſtanding any ſpeach they heard from me they themſelues could well enough tell what they heard felt or law in Somers: my ſpeach could not (ſure) put out their eyes or depriue them of theire ſences and feeling, whither the things were ſpoken or done by So. or by the diuell, that was nothing to them. Moreouer, almoſt all the witneſſes depoſed to thoſe things which they partly felt, and partly ſawe, beefore they heard my voyce at Nott. as appeareth by the depoſitions … ſpeach then of …ne could either ſo bleare and dazell their eyes or bewitch and …e…um…ne their ſ…nces to make them quite voyd of ſence we… in concluſion the Diſc. do… heerevpon tell vsus that it may rather be maruayled they depoſed no more, then they blamed that they depoſed ſo much. what a …e…cereſie ſpeach is this, and how ill beſeming any that profeſſeth himſelfe to be a chriſtian much more a miniſter of the goſpell. From hence the Diſc, to the end of this Chapter ſetteth downe the retractations of ſundry of the deponents yea he beareth the world in hand, that they hauehave all of them retracted all that before theſe commiſſioners they had former…y depoſed: Mow it is a ſynne and ſhame fo… any to retra…at which he hath beefore abſolutely aduisedly and vp… good groun… affirmed vponupon his oath. But a greater ſyune and ſhame it is to iuſti… … in ſo doing Secondly among theſe retractions there be ſome, (as forthwith will appeare) which hauehave directlye … them… the Diſc. report their depoſitions truely. Now what … ab…m…nation is this, that a Biſhop & his Chaylayne who take vponupon them to be cen…urers and reprouers of mens faults hauehave no p. 146reproofe for the per…ured, nay be …o farr from dealing ſo with often… of … that they rather maruayle that …hey are no more per…ured.

Diſcouerer

But one thing concerning our witneſſes in hand, is worthy of a conſideration. that the moſt of theſe that were examyned, were, but ſymple perſons, & ſuch as had not bene paſt twiſ… or thrice with the … of his trouble.pag … Som (hauing threeſcore ready) would hauehave produced his … if witneſſes firſt, but peraduenture it was thought good po…icy to …ay the burthen vponupon the ſ…mp…er ſort.

Darrell.

A thirde and principall exception againſt our witneſſes is, that they were ſimple me…. I anſwer, ſome of them were gentlemen of wor…mp, others gentlemen by office, 4. preachers. In a word none of the are accounted by ſuch as beſt knowe them, to be more ſimple then other men: yea I dare be bould to ſay not any of the 17. deponents be ſo ſimple as ſome that I could name of the latter Commiſſioners, which is a ſhame forſome, and diſgrace of their commiſſion. The 4. exception is, They had not bene paſt twiſe or thrice with the boy. It is moſt vntrue, for ſundry of them had bene oft with him in his fits, ſome almoſt dayly with him for the ſpace of a monneth beefore, and one was continually in the ſame houſe with him day and night. And where he obiecteth that I hauing 60. ready, it had bene fit I ſhould firſt hauehave produced my cheif witneſſes: we muſt vnderſtand that the commiſſioners ſitting two dayes togither and calling for ſome to prooue nowe this, now that, one while this ympoſſible thinge to be counterfeyted, an other while ſuch other matter as in their wiſdomes they thought good I was conſtrayned to ſend in ſuch as were then at hand. But how knoweth the Diſc. that theſe are not my chief witneſſes? He that adu…edly conſidereth of their depoſitions, will finde that they hauehave depoſed materially againſt counterfeyting, and ſo much as the worlde is not able to anſwer, much leſſe the Diſc. with all the helpe he hath from his miſerable ſhiftings, wreaſtings & reexamynations. Againe if ther were any omytted, which could depoſe more materially and fully againſt this ſuppoſed counterfeyting, then doth this cauſe and worke of God ſuſteyne the more loſſe, and is to the Diſc more aduantage: he might well therefore hauehave helde his peace and contented himſelfe with that which is already depoſed. But in all likelihood he would heere-vponupon pe… ade his reader, that the things depoſed are of no moment at all, but eaſily auoyded and wyped away with a wett finger. But alas this is harder for him then he ymagineth: It is beyond the compaſſe of all his …ca…ning and wit, as may appeare by that which he hath done already: p. 147for hauing heerein labored what he can by ſuch countenance and authority as he could poſſibly procure, yea and preſſed eueryevery thinge … the vttermoſt, yet in the ende after all his ſweating, canuaſing and … he proued iuſt nothing in the acco…nt of any man of wiſd… … and iu…gment: as I truſt will ymed…ad appeare vppon the … nations themſelues. Had he not better then hauehave ſit … and win…ed at theſe depoſitions, or ſmoothly paſſed by the…, as he … by diuers other thin…s, as if he had not ſeene them, then thus to hauehave ſtrygle… and ſtriuen like a birde in the lyme, to the vtter diſgra…e and ouerthrowe of …imſelfe and the pretende… counterfeytinge he ſo earneſtly ſtryueth for. And thus much for anſwer to his coging a…d g…auering preface. Now to proceed to the eamininge of the Diſ. re-examynati…ns. That this may be done the more throughly & exactly, I will firſt ſet downe the firſt depoſitions of thoſe whome the Diſc. hath re-examyned, (where he either hath not donne it at all, or elſe but in part) and ſo comparing theire former and latter depoſitions or re-examynations togither, wee ſhall playnlye ſee what thoſe witneſſes hauehave retracted or qualyfied, and how worthely and ſubſtantially this Diſc. conuinceth the depoſitions of the 17, taken by the aboue named 12. Commiſſioners.

Robart Aldridge clarke viccar of S. Maryes in Nott. ſworne & examyned, ſaith:Narration dep 2 that firſt he comming to W. Somers vponupon thurſday being the 3. of Nouember (as he thinketh) he found him lying vponupon a bed, no beddcloathes lying vponupon him, but only his hoſe: and ſawe a thing runninge vpp his right legg to the quantity of a mouſe, and he calling vntounto god by prayer, ymediatlie it remoued out of the right legg into the left, & laying his hand therevpon, imediatly it remoued into his belly, where it did ſwell to a verye greate quantity, twiſe ſo byg as his body as he thinketh, and from thence in to his breſt, & there it was the bignes of his fiſt, & from thence into his neck & from thence vnderunder his care, where it remayned in the bygnes of a french walnu…t, not changing his former cullor, and ſo remayned there for the ſpace of a quarter of an houre.

And this examynate further ſaith: that he heard in a ſtrange hollowiſh voyce, that he was his, and this examynat anſwering ſaid that he lyed, he was gods: & that he had made a promiſe vntounto god in baptiſme to be his, then the voyce anſwered, that he was god Chriſt & a kinge, & that he made baptiſme, and that he made him his by a new couenant.

This examynate alſo further ſaith, that the ſaid W. So. had ſuch ſtrength, as fiue men had much ad…o to keepe him downe, duringe which time he exceeded in ſwelling, ſkriking roaring & velling very fearefully, gnaſhīg of his teeth, & ſoaminge at his mouth. And alſo ſaith that ſtandinge in the hall he heard a great knocking in the parlor where the boy lay, & ſuddenly p. 148he ruſted in, where he ſound the boy alone in his bed, lying with his face vpwards in his fit, with his mouth drawne awry & his eyes ſtaring, as though they would hauehave ſtarted out of his head. And kneeling downe to praier h…d the k…cking agayne vnderunder his knees as be thought And in the b…dd vnderunder the couerlet he ſawe the forme & ſhape, as it were of fiue kythnges in … to the vi…w of his eye. And agayne this examinate ſawe the b…d… … at the ſecte to ſhake, mooue, & leape as the leaues of an Aſpon tree ſhaken with the wynde.

Now followeth the Diſc. re-examynation of this deponent. Diſcouerer.

M. Aldridge being aſked, why heeretofore he bad affirm…d, that he per ceaued, whileſt S… was acting his tricks, the formes as it w…re of k…things, vnderunder the couerlet that lay vponupon him, the ſaid couerlett being betwixte his eyes & them,M. Aldridg pag 210. rather then the formes of wholpes, of conneyes, of rātts &c. anſwereth, I thi…ke my ſo affirming did proceede of this &c becauſe I hauehave heard beefore, that certayn witches had ſpirits in formes of kithings, & thoſe formes then came to my minde. And agayne I doe not very well know, that a mans ſences may be deceaued. Beſides I was then very greatlye afrayde, which is a great meanes to deceaue a mans ſences: being a mighty paſſyon, th… w…ll procure many ymaginations, & cauſe a man to thinke that which is b…t … to be greate, that which ſtandeth, to moue: & that to be, which is not. Whereby I confeſſe (my great feare conſidered) that I might be deceaued, in affirming many things, concerning the particularities of the ſaid So. fitts: and I verily thinke it may be true, that So. affirmeth, of making certaine motions with his fingers vnderunder the ſaid couerlett, & of his knocking againſt the bedſtock, whileſt I was praying by his bedſide.

Darrell.

M. Aldridge being re-examyned denyeth not, that he ſawe the formes or ſhapes as it were of 5. kitlings in quantity vnderunder the couerlet wher So. lay but only ſheweth, why he rather tearmed or compared the ſaide formes to kitlings, then to other ſuch like liuing creatures, as whelps conneys, ratts &c. occaſyoned therevnto by the interrogatory propounded vntounto him, except we gather the ſame out of the laſt wordes of his depoſition. But be it for feare, or through the cunning of his examyner he was drawne vnawares to retract that he had before concerning this poynt depoſed: was there therefore no ſuch ſupernaturall accident vnderunder the couerlet, as the Diſc. woulde hauehave men he…revppon to collect? why beſides this deponent, there hauehave 4. others depoſed to this rare accident, as hath bene declared beefore, whereof twoe at the leaſt viz M. Th. Gray and Ioane Pye hauehave bene likewiſe re-examyned thereabouts, but we heare neither of retraction, nor yet of qualification thereof, whereof we may reſt aſſured that they itera…ed and p. 149affirmed the ſame againe vponupon their re-examynation. Shall nowe the reſt be per…ured, (as needes they muſt … there were no …vch accide…) beca… of the … of one. … more, doth this prooue that M. A…ridge … or qualified al… that ne …epo…ed at t…e …irſt, as the Diſc. would …ayne neerevppon m…uate, & hauehave the worlde beleue. who …eeth … not to be otherwiſe? …ea …ora…much as in reaſon it cannot be but that he was further re-examyned, and that we heare of no more qualifications, it is thereby euident that he did not ſomuch as qua…ty that he had formerly depoſed, concerning the running, varya… ſwe…ng, & …is ſupernatural ſtrength. Therefore thoſe two impo…ntyes remayne … proued and vnretracted by M. Aldridg oath, and to comequently vnanſwered & vn…uoy…ed by the Diſcouerer

Diſcouerer

Whereas Tho. Hayes depoſeth …efore the L. Arch-Biſhopp of Yorks Commiſſioner… at Nott.pag 212 Tho. Hayes that he ſawe ſome thing runn out of … So. …egg into the …, & thence forthwith into his belly, ſwelling the ſame: inſomuch that the ſame was much bowned vpwards: & when …he ſame departed thence, be ſaw it playnly in his throate, in his tongue, and in his cheeke, neere to his …-…oote, to the quantity of the yolk of an egg, which he taking betwene his fingers, foun… the ſame to be in ſoſtnes like the yolk of an egge. Being reexamyned, he ſaith thus. I ſawe a ſwelling in his cheeke, to the quantitye of the yo…k of an egg, & in his throate of the ſame quantity: further then his throat & his face, I could not nor did ſee it: So. …ying in his cloathes. But I ſawe a …tirring run downe his breſt, & into his legges, without any riſinge or quantity, that I could diſcerne, ſauing in his bel…y, the boy at that time lyeing on his back ſomwhat bended.

This ſwelling and running of ſomthinge in So. body, is one of the chiefe ſup…rnaturall actions or paſſions, (for the Apollogy it ſeemeth knewe not whether to cal… them) that M. Dar. & the Narrator doe inſiſt vponupon, for the proofe that So. was poſſeſſed. But if they were no other, then M. Hayes vponupon his examynation hath depoſed: there was no greate ſtrangenes in them. It is ſuppoſed that M. Dar. will be very angry, to hauehave theſe ſupernaturall runnings ſo extenuated: But he muſt be content, for it is very agreeable to his former ſucceſſe.

Darrell.

See you how this man tryumpheth beefore the victory, yea before his aduerſary once meete him in the feilds. I may very well ſay to him,… 11 as Ahab ſayd to Benhadad: Let not him that girdeth his harneſſe, boaſt himſelfe as he that put-eth it of, To proue that So. hath not counterfeyted, among ſundry other actions or paſſions to the nomber of 20 at the leaſt, eueryevery of which is ſupernaturall, that is ſuch as neither can come from nature, nor art compaſſe, I account the running & variable p. 150ſwelling which So. had, to be one of the che…eſt: So. (ſay I) had a ſwelling betweene his fleſh & ſky…ne of a variable bigneſſe, in ſome part of his body of the bigneſſe of an egge, in ſome other bigger, ſome ſe…e, ſwiftly running vp and downe along his body, ſometimes making a ſtay for a quarter of an howre and ſometimes leſſe, in this or that part of the body. It was ſeene and felt (to let other parts goe) in his foote, and to remoue from toe toe, and in his forehead, & other partes of his face his eare rootes. yea in his very tongue, and which is moſt of all, to thruſt out his eyes extraordinarily bigge a blackneſſe being ſundry times vponupon them for the preſent. Beſides, beinge in the one arme it would be forthwith in the other, and ſo of his legges, and when it made any ſtay in legg or arme, as oft it did, then and duringe that time the ſame member was as heauy and inflexible as if it had ben iron. That ſuch a ſwelling there was I proue by the depoſitions of 11. Two we hauehave hearde already, namelye M. Aldridge, and M. Hayes both preachers: the reſt followe.

W.narration dep … Hynds ſworn & examyned ſaith, that at his comming vntounto the ſaid So. he did ſee a ſwelling in his neck to the bigneſſe of a great wallnutt, and from thence it remoued into the bone of his cheek, and there was to the bigneſſ of a great haſell nut: and from thence it removed into his eye & the ſkyn of his ey waxed black, and becauſe this examynat had heard before that he the ſayd So. did counterfeyt, he did lay his hand vponupon the ſaid ſwelling vponupon the cheek bone, which ſwelling did tremble like an aſpen leaſe in a calm winde, & was very ſoft, but in that place did not charge his naturall cullor.

Tho.narration dep. 4 Weſtfeyld ſworne and examyned ſaith, that vponupon ſunday at night being the 6. of Nouember, he ſaw So: hauing a great ſwelling vnderunder his left ea…e,, to the bigneſſe of a wallnutt, and from thence it remoued into the eye, where it ſemed not ſo greate, but cauſed a great blacknes in his eye and vponupon that this examynat layd his hand and felt a certain mouing and his ey changed into his naturall cullor ymediatly: and ſo changed 8. times betwene 3. and 6. a clock in the morning.

Ioane Py…ſworn and examyned ſaith, that So. being in his fits, ſhe hath ſene a ſwelling in his feet,narration dep. 6 which remoued from toe to toe, and ſo to his legg, and from thence in his body to to the bygne, of a 3. pen…y white loaſ and ſo to his throat to the bignes of a ratt, and vnderunder his ear to the bigneſſe of a walnut, and in his ey… brees like a blacke clocke, and ſo remoued from place to place, which this examinate and others hauehave ſenſible ſeene, and felt.

William Langford ſworne and examined ſaith, that vponupon the 7 of November the ſaid So being extreamly tormented,narration…d and toyled, and his bu…ns therewith opened, he ſawe a riſinge or ſwelling, in the bottome of his b…llie, which to his knowledg… m…ued the clothes: and his breſt and ſ…omak… b…rge p. 152bare be ſaw viſiblie the ſame riſing, or ſwelling in bigneſſe of agooſe egg, or a halpeny white loaſe, aſſ…nd vp to his breſt, and ſo to his throate.

I Sterlley ſworne and examined ſaith,n… dep. 12. that he ſawe a little thinge to move in diuers parts of his body, ſwelling the bodye, and riſinge into ſeueral partes of the face, to the bignes of a crab or walh…t.

Kichard Mee ſworne and examined ſaith, that on ſonday at night being the 6 of Nouember,…att. dep. 13. he came, to the ſaid So. to watch with him about 9 of the cl…e at night, and found with him M. Weſtfield, and others, and betw…ne 3. and 6. a cheke in the morninge heard a voice ſaying that he would hauehave his right eye: and then he would hauehave his left eye, the voyce being as he thinketh contrary to his naturall voyce. And this examinate further ſaith, that a day or two before, and ſundrie other times this examinate did ſee aſwelling in his armes and legs, they being naked to the bignes of a wallnut, and rem…ouing from place to place into his body, and that he felt it in his belly to the bignes of a 6. browne loaſe, and that it was ſo heard that he could not preſſe it downe with his hand which this examinate aſſayed to doe, by putting his hand vnderunder the bed clothes.

I Pare sworne and examined ſaith,na…. dep. 15. that he ſawe W. Som. lie groueling vponupon his face vponupon the bed, and a certaine ſwelling or riſing vnderunder his clothes to the bignes of a mouſe: which remooued from place to place, to diuers partes of his body.

I Clarke ſworne and examined ſaith,nar. d…. 16. that the clothes being taken off W Som. he ſawe in his breaſt being in his ſhirt, aſwelling or riſinge to the bignes of a ratte, which this examinate tooke hold of: and found it as ſoft to his feeling as a downe pillowe, and he thinking to hold it faſt, it preſently avoyded, and then the boy ſaid it was gone downe into his legg. And this examinate ſaith, that he ſawe him at ſundrie times when diuers of his members, as his leggs, armes, and others were inflexible, and exceeding heauie, abou… nature, a…yron.

W. Hunt ſworne and examined ſaith, that he did ſee a thing in W. So fitt to the bignes of a wallnut,nar. dep. 17. running in the fl…ſhe of the ſaid So. about his face, forhead, and eyes, and ſo run about his face to his eare.

That So. then had ſuch a variable ſwelling as I affirme, ſuch as a reaſonable man will thinke, W. So could not counterfeite, or commaund to rune alonge in his body at his pleaſure, eueryevery on may ſee that will not willfu…l be blyndfold himſelfe: neither can it be otherwiſe, except theſe 11. witneſſes be periured, and with them ſome others, who hauehave ſince depoſed the ſame. Now the Diſc. thinketh to wipe all this awaye and to blind the e…es of the world, with producinge the examination of on of the 11. deponents, and boaſteth as though he had anſwered throughlie and paid me home as touching this ſwelling, to my ſhame, and proueth yea as he ſuppoſeth that I will be very angrie, to hauehave theſſuper p. 153naturall ſwellings ſo extenuated. The Diſc. ſure taketh me to be a verye impatient man, or els this thought woulde neuer hauehave entred into his hart. yet he ſhall ſee that I wil anſwere him without any great choller. And firſt I affirme that M. Tho. Hayes being reexamined, hath not retreacted that which before he depoſed, nor yet qualified the ſame, except the Diſc. counteth this a quallification, as I ſuppoſe he doth,anſ. 1. that W. So. did then lye in his clothes, which in truth is a very ſorrie one, or rather non at all ſeeing in his depoſition before he had ſaid that he ſaw was vponupon all ſaints day and it is well knowne that Som. had his clothes on the day time: And this for another, that the boy did at that time lye on his backe, ſomwhat bended. which wordes if they be M. Hayes his. I thinke he was contented to be ſtowe them on the Diſco: and his fellow commiſſioners, ſo to be ridd of them: yet notwithſtanding he depoſeth vponupon his reexamination, that he had a ſwellinge in his belly, but in other words. Indeede I confeſſe theire is ſome difference in words betwene his firſt and laſt examination, and no maruell there paſſing a yeare betwene them and more, and that the commiſſioners at this latter examination thirſted after ſome difference, contrarietie, retractation, or qualification, framing their interrogatories accordinglie, they are the ſame in ſubſtance: ſauing that in the firſt this ſwelling is vrged a little further, he depoſſinge that it was in his cheeke nere the eare root, and in his tongue: and in the latter eare roote, and tongue are omitted: which was through M. Hayes his forgetfulnes, or els the Diſco. hath purpoſly omitteth or conceiled them, as not ſeruing his purpoſe. 2. Let vsus take this examination at the huckſters hand, and as the Diſ. hath produced it,anſ. 2. and we ſhall find theiris ſmale cauſe why he ſhoulde ſo boaſtingly ſay, that ther was no great ſtrangnes in the ſweling. Is it not very ſtrange to ſee no at his owne will and pleaſure, make a ſwelling in his throat to the quantitie of the yelke of an egge, which Tho. Hayes being reexamined depoſeth?anſ. 3. 3. But admit M. Hayes had vponupon his reexamination denyed all that he had before depoſed, ſhal that preiudice the depoſitions of the other 10? or were they therfore periured heerein, becauſe he was periured? It is manifeſt by the Diſcouerie that M. Aldridge Rich. Mee. Ioane Pye, and W. Hunt, who hauehave likewiſe depoſed to this ſupernaturall ſwelling, were alſo reexamined, but we heare not a word what theſe ſaid vponupon theiraanor ſhall not I wa…ante y…w ſo lo go as …ay mak not againſt Darrell. reexamynations to this ſwelling: one may therby imagine that they hauehave neither retracted, nor qualified the ſame. The conſtancie now of theſe 4 witneſſes, doe much more confirme this ſwelling to hauehave bene in So. body, then the retractation of one ſole witneſſe,pag. 213. doth weaken the ſame, if it had bene ſo that he had alltogeather retra…ed that, which he had before depoſed, as he hath not. The Diſc. addeth the depoſition of M. Craven. I demauned p. 154what his ſaid depoſition doth in this chapter of reexaminations: and why he is ſett amonge the reexaminate, ſeeing he was none of the 17. firſt deponentes, nor euer examined before. It ſhould ſeeme by this and ſome other ſuch like depoſitions of his, that he was one readie to helpe the Diſc. at a pinch, when he ſtood in neede of a depoſition for his purpoſe. And here we may note the cunning dealing of the Diſc. who to make Darrell, ſeeme the more odious and to helpe out this pretended counterfeiting, (which cannot ſtand without ſuch flye and filthy ſhifts) amonge his reexaminants foiſteth in this examinante of his owne culling. 2. I anſweare, that his ſaid depoſition is both very… falſe and ridiculous, ſeruing the Diſc. not ſo much to convince or extenuat theſe ſupernaturall runnings, (which he doth forſooth wonderfull ſoundly before) but to make way to a pretty ieſt of his, wherwith he deſiered be like to delight his reader. M. Darrell (quoth he) doe not here ſay, that the deuill ſkipped out of the boyes thigh into his pocket, and turned themſelfe: into a pare of gloues: the diuill may rather be thought to hauehave rune vp and downe in his owne coſening pate, pag 208.then in the boyes bodye. In …ce ſorte and to the end aforeſaid, he bringeth in Iohn Wiggen, who was neuer ſworne and examined before. yet the Diſc. placeth him in the ranke of the reexaminants. Finally, he alledgeth So. authentical teſtimony, which neuer faileth him: and therevpon inſerteth theſe wordes of his owne.

Diſcouerer

Beſides he (meaining So.) Likwiſe ſetteth downe how he did make the ſaid motions that ſemeth to rune in his body,pag 207. in theſe words: I did moue firſt the calſe of my legg, then my knebone, which motion of the knee, will likwiſe make a motion or riſing in the thigh. Alſo by drawing and ſtopping of my wind, my belly would ſtirr and ſhew a kind of ſwelling. The bunch as they tearmed it about my cheſt, was by the thruſting out of my breaſt. Likewiſe my ſecret ſwelling did make the end of my windpipe to mooue, and to ſhew greater then vſuall it is. Again, my moouing of my Iawes one bunch was ea…ly made in the ſide of my cheke neare my eare. And about the middle of of my cheke, with the end of my tonge thruſt againſt it, theſe motions by practiſe I would make a very faſt on after another, ſo as there might eaſilye ſeeme to be a running in my body of ſome thing, from place to place.

Darrell.

I deſire eueryevery on to conſider whethrr any of the children of men, admitt ther had bene no other ſwelling or motions then this beaſt confeſſeth, can mak theſe motions here ſpecified, who can moue the calfe of his legg, without mouing or ſhaking his whole legge? and ſo I might proceed on to ſome other motions, 2. wher pretence is made that ſom ſwellings were made by So. his tongue ſpecially in his face: I anſweere, p. 155that his tongue could not make that ſwelling vnderunder his eare root, much leſſe that which was in his forhead, and leaſt of all thruſt out his eyes. and cauſe, ablacknes of them. But I demaund how he made that ſewlling in his feete, remo vuing from toe, to toe: it was not with his tonge ſure he did that.

Diſcouerer.

The Diſc. procedeth. Furthermore, on Rich. Mee did depoſe before the ſaid Commiſſioners,pag 216. Richard M…. that he had ſene W. Somers ſtand, and turne his face directly backward, not mouing his body, and that his eyes were as great as beaſts eyes, and that his tongue would be thurſt out of his head, to the bignes of a Calves tongue.

But let vsus ſee what the ſaid Mee hath depoſed, vponupon his reexamination. Wheras I hauehave bene conceiued, to ſay and ſware, as is before expreſſed, my meaning was & is (ſaith he) that he the ſaid So. turned his face agood way towards, his ſhoulder, & not otherwiſ: & likewiſ my meaning was, is, that his eyes were ſomwhat gogling out, but otherwiſe no more then ordinary. And thirdly my meaning was, and is, that by reaſon it was candle light when I ſaw his tongue thurſt out, and by reaſon of my conceit of the ſtrangnes of So. troubles, before I ſaw him: his tongue being thruſt out, it ſeemed ſomwhat bigger, then if So. had bene well, I ſhould hauehave thought it to hauehave bene.

Darrell.

Rich. Mee did depoſe to about 11 ſeuerall things, non of which can poſſible be done by art,dep. 13. as appeareth by his depoſition in print: now being reexamined & I truſt of them all, he hath only minſed that he ſaid of the bignes of So. eyes & tongue & turning of his face directly backward: which we regard not at all, as beīg of no ſuch momēt: doth the Diſco. thinke by this trifling of his, that he hath anſweared all that Rich. Mee hath depoſed concerning So.? he hath done nothing leſſe. Mee his reexamination ſheeweth ſome little frailtie, but overthroweth not his firſt depoſition. Yea his relenting no more, (all circumſtances conſidered) doth rather ſtrengthen his former depoſitiō, then his qualification weaken it. And this I ſay of Rich. Mee, is to be vuderſtod likewiſe of Ioane Pye: whoſe depoſition contayning in it 14. impoſſible things to be done by So. or any ſonne of Adam. the Diſc. anſweareth,Ioane Pye. with telling vsus ſhe was reexamined, and of her qualifyng vponupon her reexminatiō one (a) ſole impoſſibility of the 14.pag 216 But he muſt know (as is aforſaide) that beſides theſe hauehave not retracted theire firſt depoſitions, ſundrie others alſo togeather with them hauehave depoſed the ſame thinges: which their retractation, much leſſe theſe ſory qualifications of theirs can not conuince or diſproue. And here we may againe obſerue the deceite of the Diſc. who mentioning ſcarclye the 10. part of Rich. Mee and 20. of Ioane Pies depoſitions, pretendeth to the ignorante p. 156reader, as though he had ſet downe all that they at the firſt time depoſed with their full anſwears at their reexaminations. Beſides the formers,Henry … pa… … & 217. the Diſc. produceth Hen…y Nuſſey Rich. Newton and Wil. Hu… who hauing before depoſed, the two firſt to S…m. ſpeaking with hi… … wh…e open the third with his mouth ſhut cloſe: being reexamined. Henry …uſſ… hath qualified, the other two retracted or denied, that the had before depoſed, if the Diſ…. hauehave ſet downe their reexaminations truly: This periurie of theirs, the Diſc. calleth the qualif…ing of their former depoſitions, & interpretations of their m…ning. pag 211But if men ma… be admitted ſo to expound theire owne wordes, we ſhall neuer hauehave any periured, nor puniſhed for periurie to the end of the world: notwithſtanding I anſweare: Seeing the Commiſſioners that examined, did (as I am informed and doe verilie beleiue) threaten their examinats ſometimes with hauing them before the L… of London, ſomtimes with impriſonment, & before their eyes commaunded Henry Butler by name to priſon it is no maruell though amonge many, ſome fraile men were found, that would rather reſent either in part or in whole, from that which in their conſciences they knew to be true, then hazard and in danger themſelues they knewe not to what puniſhment and trouble. Stronger men then they hauehave done as much in the like caſe: we all know how ſhamfully that notable Apoſtle of our faviour Peter another manner of man then any of our examinats, for feare den…ed that he knew the Lord, and that with an oath, or execration. It is no ſtrange thinge then for our reexaminats (weake and infirme men as they were) to hauehave ſhruncke and relented, had it bene further then this. 2. Let the very enimyes Iudge whether voluntarie oathes, wher no profite or feare of evill in the world was like to come vntounto the deponents theirby, or oathes compaſſed partlie with flaterie and other cuninge dealinge, partlye with terrors and threats (as is notoriouſl…e knowne) be more like to be true 3. Thoſe which hauehave relented are but few,… and can not therfore in any reaſon preiudice that which the reſt being many hauehave depoſe …which is abundandlye ſufficient to cleare the cauſe from counterfeting: and that we diſire may be anſwered: offering to make vp the number of theſe few pety reuolters (2 or 3. excepted,) with a ſupplie and advantage if we may be ſuffered 4 It is to be ſuppoſed that if the reexaminations were (o) ſeene, it would appeare that more is confirmed, then extenuated.

Diſ…ouerer

Theſe were the chiefe poynts, which ſeemed moſt ſtrang in the ſaid depoſitions, taken at Nott whervpon it was thought good to hauehave the ſaid witneſſe,pag 218. examined. And how they qualifie their former words, you ſee it apparant.

p. 157Theſe (ſaith he) were the chief poynts.Darrell. vz.. the runing ſwelling, ſpeaking with has mouth wide open, at other times cloſe ſhut, the turning of his face directly backward, his eyes being as great as beaſt eyes, and tongue of the bignes of a Calues tongue, his body cloubled, his head betwene his leggs: for not on more then theſe hath the Diſc. named. I anſwere, that ther are ſundrie other poynt, beſides, and amonge thoſe ſome not inferiour to them, which the Diſco. doth not once name or touch in this his Chapter of reexaminations, much leſſe returne an anſwer vntounto them: In the ſaid depoſition taken at Nottingham, it was alſo depoſed.

1. That ſomtimes his legges, ſomtimes his armes, were heavie and inflexible like yron. depoſed by Iohn Strelley, artic. 12. Ioane Pye artc. 6.

2. That W. So. had ſuch extraordinarie ſtrength, that ſomtimes 3. 4. 5. 6. or more were ſearſe able to rule him. depoſed by Rob. Aldridg artic. 2. Ioane Pye, art. 6. Iohn Wood, art. 11. Iohn Strelley, art. 12. Richa, d Mee art. 13. William Langford. artic. 9.

3. when 4 or 5. ſturgled with him, (ſometimes for an hower together) ſo as they were throughlie wearied, he did not ſweate, pante, or change colour. depoſed by Wil. Langford art. 9. Richard Mee arti. 13. Iohn Wood artic. 11.

4. He wallowed, gnaſhed with his teeth and foamed at his mouth exceſſiulie depoſed by Robert Aldridge artic. 2. Wil. Aldred art. 5. Iohn Strelley art 12 Rich. Mee art. 13. Will. I ang…rd arti. 9.

5. His face and mouth …earefully diſtorted, one lippe towardes one …are, another towards another: depoſed by VVilliam Aldred arti. 5. Ioane Pye arti. 6. Richard Mee artic. 13.

6. His body plucked round vponupon an heape like a browne loafe: & ſo rowled, he was caſt vp like a ball from the bed 3 or 4 times to geither, halfe a yard hie. depoſed by Ioane Pye, artic. 6.

7. Being caſt into the fire (where he laye with his hand in the fire not burned) ſomtimes againſt the walls & iron barrs of the chimney, with great violence, he receiued no apperance of hurt at all. depoſed by Ioane Pye art. 6. Iohn Strelley art. 12. Rich. Mee art. 13.

8. He told of diuers things done in his abſence, without notice given by any perſon, depoſedd by Elizabeth Milward art. 14. Ioane Pye. artic. 6.

9. In his fits ſtrange ſmelles were in the place where he lay, ſome times like brimſtone, ſomtimes very ſweete. depoſed by Ioane Pye artic. 6 Richard Mee, artic. 13.

10. A ſtrange knocking perciued about his bed, in his fitts both his feete & hands being held vnmoueable. depoſed by R…b Alared art. 2. Ioane Pye art. 6. Eliza Milward art. 14. Iohn Pa… art. 15.

p. 25811. He did crie hideouſly, ſomtimes like a Bull, beare, ſwine, and in aſmale voyce vnpoſſible to be counterfeited: depoſed by Willam Langford arti. 9. Robert Aldrdg arti. 2. Rich. Mee arti. 13.

12. His legge would be crooked with his falles, and could not be ſtrightened, depoſed by Rich. Mee art. 13. Tho. blaies arti. 1.

13. In his fites his pulſes and temples did not beate. depoſed by VVilliam Lang ford, a Chirurgian arti. 9.

14. His eyes was blacke and chaunged colour in his fites, depoſed by VVilliam Hinde arti. 3. Tho. VVeſtfeild arti 4. Rich. Mee art. 13.

15. He lay for an hower as one dead: cold as Ice, his face and handes blacke, no breath being perceiued to come from him. depoſed by Ioane Pye art. 6. Eliza. Milwarde article. 14.

Theſe poynts, are contained in the aforeſaid depoſitions, and ſeemed moſt ſtrang, as well as the former mentioned by the Diſcouerer, and if … uer either the Biſhop or his Chaplaine doe pleade for the diuill againe, the muſt needs returne vsus anſwere vntounto theſe or els they doe but tifle ſay nothing. Secondly, he ſhall doe well to make known to the world, what M. Aldridge, M. Hayes, Rich. Mee, Ioane Pye, and the other reexaminats did ſay beinge reexamined to the other poynts they had before depoſed. In the meane ſeaſon eueryevery child may ſee, that the Diſ. hath not performed that he profeſſeth to doe in the title of this chapter. vz. to make it playne, that vponupon the reexamination of my owne witneſſes (as he calleth them) it falleth out, that the bodily actions of So. in his fitts, were not extraordinarie, ſeeing he hath not ſo much as named ccneither was it wiſdome to name them ſee…ge they muſt needs hauehave marred the faſhion of all the ſuppoſed counterfeiting.15. of them, and if I ſhould graunt him that thoſe bodily actions (or paſſiones) of So. which he mentioneth, were not extraordinary (for which he ſaith very little, and proueth full ſilily) yet ther is enought beſides to make it manifeſt and apparant to the world that it was impoſible for Somers to hauehave counterfeited.

And whereas it pleaſeth him to ſpeake ſo indefinitly, and to ſaye that That ſaide witneſſes were examined, cloſly and cuningly theirby implieing as if they had bene all examined, & ſo it ſeemeth would faine hauehave his reader conceiue and be perſwaded, wherevpon alſo: (doubtles) it cometh to paſſe, that he neuer mentioneth neither the number of the firſt deponents, nor of the reexaminats: we are to vnderſtand, that vponupon the 20. of March 97. before the 12. Commiſſioners mentioned in the begining of this chapter, there were 17. witneſſes examined, whoſe names are confuſedly ſett downe before: with the principall thinges they depoſed. Synce which time there hauehave bene ſundrie of the ſaid deponents by the Diſ. and other of his colleges reexamined: but how many I knowe not, and he himſelfe mentioneth onelyonly but ſeauen with their qualifications: thinkinge by this maſke & p. 159vizar of a reexamination, though he bring in but a few, and of the meaneſt of the thinges depoſed, ſuppreſſing and ſilencing the reſt of the rare accidents depoſed, together with many deponents, to carrie away the cauſe as it were in acloud, and to dazel mens eyes and make them beleeue, that all the depoſitions (wherein I and my fellowes doe ſo greathe trihumph) are fully anſwered, confuted, and ouerthrowne. But we muſt not forgett, that of the 17. tenne of them hauehave either not bene reexamined at all, or els being reexamined hauehave reſiſted all their rem xationes, threats, and allurements, and doe through gods mercy continue ſtedfaſt and vnmouable: vponupon the teſtimonie of which witneſſes (with many more)aafor beſides theſe 17. theire hauehave bene … by the Biſhope & his commiſſioners about 13. more depoſed, which hauehave witneſſed by Somers many thinges vnpoſſible to be counterfeite. this truth, I meaine, the impoſſibilitie of Somers counterfeiting doth re…ye and ſtand ſo ſure, that the world is not able to remoue it. For if in the mouth of 2: or 3. witneſſes a truth by the ordinance of god is to ſtand, and everie controuerſie to be decided: how much more then is this truth to ſtand ſtead faſt, and controuerſie to be ended, even by the Lords owne ordinance, in the mouth of ten times 3. witneſſes or theire abouts

FINIS.