The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet, Treatise · Book 1 · Chapter 2
OF THF 2. CHAPTER,
The occaſion why M. Darrells dealing with Somers was called into queſtyon at Lambeth.
M. pag. 9Darrell by vertue of her Maieſties Commiſſion for cauſes eccleſiaſticall being ſent for, appeared before the L. Archbiſhop of Canterbury and others at Lambeth: from whence he was committed to priſon, by reſon of his abſurd and vntrue (but yet very confident) aſſertions: giuing therby iuſt occaſiō to ſuſpect, that he was but a coūterfeyt: & order was taken for the further examination of that cauſe, according to the vſuall courſe by the lawes of the Realme, in ſuch caſes prouided. The iſſue whereof was, that vponupon the hearing of M. Darrell, and the depoſitions againſt him in open court, before the L. Archbiſhop of Canterbury, the L. Biſhop of London, &c. he the ſaid M, Darrell was by the full agreement of the whole court, condemned for a counterfeyt: and together with M. More (his companyon) who tooke vponupon him to iuſtefy the ſaid Darrell, had otherwiſe greatly miſbehaued himſelf) they were both of them depoſed from the miniſtery, and comitted to cloſe priſon, there to remayne vntill order were taken for theire further puniſhment.
All I affirmed at my commitment was, that Somers had not counterfited: Let men nowe iudge, whether that be abſurd & falce 2. whether ſo to affirme be heriſy: for I was commited to priſon for hereſy, & other hereſy (I then vttered not) & not for teaching Som. to counter feit: which fact was not thē in queſtiō, no not vntil a month after I had bene in priſon: yea by the diſcouerers owne words, (which be that I was committed to priſon by reaſon of (or for) my abſurd and vntrue aſſertions: it appeareth that I was not ſent to priſon: for the ſame cauſe I hauehave bene ſo long deteyned in priſon viz. teaching to counterfeyte. 3 Let men iudge, whither for this confident aſſertion I deſerued to be committed to priſon. what order was taken and agreed vponupon by ſome in ſecret, & whither the ſelfe ſame that after was put in executiō I knowe not: but that in the examination of this cauſe there was a proceding according to the vſuall courſe of this Realme in ſuch caſes prouided howſoeuer the Diſcouerer in generall termes affirmeth it, yet he maketh not the ſame to appeare in the particulers. Sir Diſcouerer you affirm indeede that I was iudicially proceeded againſt by due courſe of lawe and ordinary practiſe of the high commiſſion court, according to the lawes in that behalf prouided. I pray you therefore anſwer mee.
Firſt whether doe you knowe, that it is the vſuall courſe and or dinary practiſe of that court to deny the coppy of articles, or anſwers to men convented into that court, whenas vponupon their oathes they hauehave fully & directly anſwered vntounto all ſuch interrogatoryes, as hauehave bene objected againſt them? And if this be the due courſe & ordinary practiſe of that court: whether doe you knowe the ſame, to be according to the lawes in that behalf prouided?
Item whether doe you knowe, that it is the vſuall courſe, and ordinary practiſe of that court, touching the examination of any witneſſes againſt a Defendant, to ſend forth commiſſioners into the country, and to authoriſe any other perſons to be commiſſioners, then ſuch only, as hir Maieſty by her letters patents vnderunder the Great ſeale of England, hath appoynted high commiſſioners? And if this be the due courſe & ordinary practiſe of that court, whether do you know the ſame to be according to the laws in that behalfe prouided?
Item whither doe you know, that it is the vſuall courſe and ordinary practiſe of that court, that the Commiſſioners, or other deputed by them, ſhould menace witneſſes called before them (as you your ſelfe Sir Diſcouerer did) with impriſonment, bringing vp to London, burning of their feete, or with ſome other kinde of vyolences in caſe they depoſe not to their humour and contentment: And if it be ſoe whether doe you know the ſame to be according to the laws in that behalf prouided?
Item whither doe you knowe, that it is the vſuall courſe & ordinary practiſe of that court, to examine witneſſes againſt the defendant, without giuing him notice of the time and place of their production, and ſo to hauehave them ſworne in abſentia partis reae? And if this be the vſuall courſe and ordinary practiſe of that court, whether do you knowe the ſame to be according to the lawes in that beehalfe prouided?
Item whether doe you knowe, that it is the vſuall courſe & ordinary practiſe in that court, for ſuch to examine witneſſes againſt the defendant, as hauehave no authority to take depoſitions as you Sir Diſcouerer did at London) And if it be ſo then whether doe you knowe the ſame to be according to the lawes in that behalf prouided?
Item whether doe you knowe, that it is the vſuall courſe & ordinary practiſe of that court, not to ſuffer the defendant to miniſter Interrogatoryes againſt the witneſſes produced againſt him: And if it be ſo. then whether doe you knowe the ſame to be according to the lawes in that behalf prouided?
Item whither doe you knowe &c. that the defendant, whether he be an adulterer, an inceſtuous perſon, or periured perſon &c. for the clearing of his innocency touchinge the cryme obiected, be not ſuffered to produce witneſſes, and to hauehave them examyned on his behalfe? And if this be the ordinary practiſe of that court, whether doe you knowe the ſame to be accordinge to the lawes in that behalfe provided?
Item whether doe you know, that it is etc. To denye ſuch as are accuſed of adulterie, inceſt, periurye, etc. to hauehave theyre proctors & Aduocates to pleade and defende their cauſe? And if it be ſo, then whether doe you knowe that the ſame is accordinge to the lawes in that behalfe prouided?
Item whether doe you know, that it is etc. to condemne any perſon as guiltie of any offence, obiected againſt him, vnderunder the mouth of two witneſſes at the leaſt, and them alſo to be ſuch againſt whom by the eccleſiaſtical lawes no exception maye be taken? And if this be the courſe of that court, whether doe you know the ſame to be accordinge to the lawes in that behalfe prouided?
Item whether doe you know, that it is ect. that ſocius criminis, be admitted for a witneſſe againſt him, whom none but himſelfe can accuſe? And if it be the ordinary practiſe of that court, then alſo whether his teſtimony of neceſſitie muſt be inſtar duorum teſtimoniorum omni exceptione maiorum? And whether this be according to the eccleſiaſticall lawes in that behalfe prouided?
Item whether doe you know, that it is etc. to deny vntounto the deſendant the ſight of the depoſitions of ſuch witneſſes, as are produced & examined againſt him? And if it be, whether is the ſame accordinge to the lawes in that behalfe prouided.
Item whether &c. to commit a miniſter of the goſpell, or any other man to priſon without bayle or mainpriſe, only for abſurd and vntrue, though confident aſſertions? and if it be, whether do you know the ſame to be according to the laws in that behalf prouided?
Item whether doe you knowe, that it is the vſuall courſe & ordinary practiſe of that court, to proceede againſt offendors in cauſes temporall? And if it be, whether doe you knowe the ſame to be acording to the lawes in that behalf prouided?
Item, whether &c. to proceede to the condemnation of anye offendor, by any other proofes, then ſuch only as are warranted by the eccleſiaſticall lawes of her Maieſties kingdome? And if it be, whether doe you knowe the ſame to be according to the lawes in that behalf prouided?
Item whether doe you knowe, that it is the vſuall courſe, & ordinary practiſe of that court, to pronounce any finall ſentence, or de finitiue iudgment of condemnation for any offence to be committed by the defendant: otherwiſe then by publique reading of the ſame ſē tence in writing by one of the Commiſſioners themſelues, the other his aſſociats by their conſents approuing the ſame: And if it be ſoe: whether doe you knowe the ſame to bee accordinge to the lawes in that behalfe prouided?
And where the Diſcouerer addeth, that the iſſue thereof was, that vponupon the hearinge of me, and the depoſitions againſt me in open court, I was by the full agrement of the open court condemned for a counterfeytte: and together with M. More depoſed from the miniſtery, and committed to cloſe pryſon, there to remaine vntill order were taken for our further punniſhment:
I demaund of him who was preſent at this hearing: firſte whether I vſed any continued ſpeach then, ſaue one: and whether in the ſame I was not cut of. 2. whether being charged to teach Somers and M. Cooper his ſiſter, Kath: Wright and Tho. Darling, I ſpake any thing in my owne defence concerning the 3, laſt, one word or two excepted, concerning Kath: Wright, which rayſed vp collor in this Diſcouerer. 3. whether Th: Darling being in the court by the Biſhop of L. commaundement, was heard to ſay any thing touching my teachinge of him, or his own counterfeyting, or not counterfeyting: yea whether euer he or any other affirmed that I taught him to counterfeyte. 4. whereas the depoſitions againſt mee were heard then to ſpeak their their fill, ſo the depoſitions (of the 17. taken by the 12. Comiſſioners) which are for mee, were heard to ſpeake at all, either then or at any other time before, though I hauehave oft and inſtantly deſired the ſame. 5. whether euer any one of my witneſſes, (who hauehave hundredes to cleare me) were heard to ſpeake either in court, or countre before commiſſioners. 6. whether if it be as I ſeme to intimate by theſe my demaunds, this hearing he ſpeaketh of was likewiſe according to the vſuall courſe by the lawes of the Realme in ſuch caſes prouided yea or not 7. where he ſaith we are r…ſerued for further puniſhment, I aſke of him whether this be according to the lawes of the Realme, that we the acceſſaries (if there were any counterfeyting) ſhall thus hauehave puniſhment vponupon puniſhment, and the counterfeyts (if ſuch they were) nor any of them, be puniſhed at all: as if all the iniquity were in teachinge to counterfeyt, and none in learning and practiſing the ſame: otherwiſe (ſure) they ſhould be puniſhed as well as we, and not all the ſtrypes laid vponupon M. Mores back and myne. And where it is ſaide, that I was by the full agreement of the open court condemned for a counterfeyt, it is vntrue. Neither was that or any other definitiue ſentence giuen of me. In the end we being commaunded to ſtand aſide (as the manner is) were forthwith after in the open court ſuſpended, and commaunded to cloſe priſon there to remayne till we ſhould be are further from thē And ſo hauehave we done (ſaue that we hauehave not bene all this while cloſe priſoners) wayting when we ſhall be heard according to the Queens lawes, and be either acquited or condemned. More then this was not done, nor word ſaide.
They that ymagine Somers was not poſſeſſed, but did counterfeyt (ſaith the preface) doe by …onſequence deny the the ſoueraignty of our Sauiour in that action.pa…. 1…. And one of the written pamphlets: to deny the work of the diuels and God in the diſpoſſeſſion of So: may ſeeme to be after a ſorte to deny them in the goſpell. Then followeth his confutation, Indeede if M. Darrells credit were as good in ſaying, that So: was poſſeſſed, & that by his and his fellowes meanes he was diſpoſſeſſed: as the Euangeliſts and Apoſtles ought to be, when they tell vsus of diuers that were poſſeſſed in Chriſts time, then their ſaid collections were pertinent. Otherwiſe manye falſe knaues from time to time, hauing deluded the people with hipocriſy, and pretence of caſting forth diuels, it is a ſuggeſtion of Sathan for any to colect that thereby the ſaid actions of our Sauiour: and his Apoſtles, are in any ſort blemiſhed: but let them rayleon.
If Somers were poſſeſſed and diſpoſſeſſed (as I truſt is made manifeſt) then are theſe their collections very pertinent though Darrels credit nor his fellowes, be any way to be compared with the Euangeliſts and Apoſtles: neither are the ſaid actions of our Sauiour and his Apoſtles in any ſort blemiſhed by theſe wordes, as this man ſuggeſteth, no man ſo collecting: but a man would thinke rather that they be ble…dyſhed, which will not receaue the poſſeſſiou and diſpoſſeſſion contended for notwithſtanding it hath ſo great confirmation from the goſpell But let them (ſaith he) rayle on. Is not heere very perylous rayling? well. If there be not heere, yet elſwhere there is, whereby they ſhew of what ſpirit they are. And this he doth by ſetting downe many rayling ſentences (ſo termed by him) which are ſcattered here and ther through out the Naration and Praeface to my Apollogye: Some of which I will repeate, but of the ſhorteſt for breuity ſake.
M. Darrell hitherto could not obteyne ſomuch as patient audience or any iudicyall courſe of proceeding.pag. 21. Agayne, their proceedings hauehave bene indirect, contrary to the royall commaundement of her Maieſty, her lawes and lawfull liberties of her loyall ſubiects, and agayne his iudges became parties, pleaders, and accuſers: agayne M. Darrell and M. More are now impriſoned for giuing teſtimony to the truth. agayne let men beware in creditiug falſe rumours againſt thoſe holy men of god, who doe nowe or ſhall hereafter ſuffer in this holy cauſe. Agayne I would aduiſe them that ſlaunder this worke, and perſecute the ſeruants of god without cauſe to tak heede, leaſt they be found euen fighters againſt god.
Thus we ſee what rayling the frends of this cauſe doe vſe: let vsus now conſider, what rayling and ſcoffing (to let others goe) this mā an aduerſary to the cauſe, and great frend to counterfeiting doth vſe: that ſo comparing the rayling togither, we may the better diſcerne of it, and of theſe raylers.
This caſting out of diuels is diſcouered to be but a pure play,A Patorne of Harſhents and his Lord, and Maſters ſobriety contayninge two principall parts of a vyce and a diuell, let them with all their iuglyngs driue out a melancholike ſpirit, out of any poore ſoule in Bedlam. Thus much for a taſte of diuel driuers legerdemayne: open the curtaine and ſee the puppets play. M. Darrell is thought by ſome to be ſuch a one that if hee met with the diuell, he was able to curb him. Iſ M. Darrell will be a right Exorciſt after the currant faſhion among the Ieſuits: if he want the faith of doing myracles, he may caſt his capp at them meaning diuels. when Somers was diſpoſſeſſed, the deuill was ſhroudly dreſſed, he was forſooth ſo extreamly tormented by the faſting, prayers, and preaching of M. Darrell and the reſt, as he had no leaſure to ſay what he muſt doe, or what he would do, but rudely without taking any leaue of them departed. The diuell was trick… with their conceaued prayers. One diuell would hauehave bene mad at the name of Preſbyter, an other at the ſight of a miniſter that will not ſubſcribe, an other to hauehave ſeene men ſit or ſtand at the communion. And whoe knoweth whether in time, the naming of a preſbitery would not hauehave had the vertue of a popiſh relique, as well to caſt out a diuell, as to diſcloſe him If their ſchollers be of the new cut: they cry, they wallowe, they foame, and ſhew the ſignes mentioned in the Scriptures.Open thine eyes then good …eder a…d let thy conſience be Iudge who is the Rayler. There Exorciſts for want of worke are driuen to their ſhifts, and like Tinkers walke vp and downe from place to place, ſeeking to be ymployed. Two points ſerued his turne inſtead of iugling ſlicks, heere is faſt and looſe as the Egyptian liſteth. If the reſemblances of Darrells practiſes to Pedlers be not fit: then as you remember Somers and Darrell colluding together, thinke vponupon the pretty feates betwixt Bankes and his horſe. So ſkilfull a catt is Darrell in hunting Darlings mouſe▪ here vntounto add that he calleth vsus diuel flingers, Impoſters, iuglers, abſurde mates coſoning marchants, falſe knaues, &c.
A great deale more there is of this ſtampe: yea the whole boke from the firſt leafe to the laſt, is written in ſuch ſcoffing and raylinge characters, that it might ſeme rather to hauehave bene compiled by Naſh Paſquil, or ſome Interlude-maker, then any other of ſobriety & iudgment. But the ſtile is ſutable to the matter. And ſo to returne vntounto the former rayling, vſed by ſuch as contend againſt counterfeyting, and for Som: poſſeſſion: Let vsus ſee what he inferreth & concludeth thervpon. Firſt, that my frends in ſo doing ſhew themſelues to be but children, which it is a ſhame for growne men to be: and that in theſe wordes Theſe are children iudeede… to what rypenes in rayling thinke you they will growe, by the time they be men? To be perrilous children euē the children of the diuell: and this he doth out of Iames It is true (ſaith he) There is a wiſdome whoſe children by their outward appearance they may be well accounted. pag. 12.Of which wiſdome S. Iames ſpeaking ſaith. If yee hauehave bitter enuying and ſtrife in your hartes reioyce not, neither be lyars againſt the truth, for this wiſdome deſcendeth not from aboue, but is earthly ſenſuall, and diueliſh.
I anſwer him, and vponupon occaſion of his owne rayling and ſcoffing, retort this ſcripture vponupon him thus. If it be a truth (as it is moſt true) that Som. Kath: Wright, and Darling were poſſeſſed and diſpoſſeſſed, that neither they nor Mary Couper hauehave counterfeyted,Pro. 13. 23. Iere. 13. 2 cor. 13. 8. that my ſelfe hauehave taught them no ſuch thing: which this Diſcouerer auoucheth and contendeth for as a matter of truth, then for-aſmuch as he hath bitter enuying and ſtrife in his harte for the falſhood (whereof S. Iames ſpeaketh, as the wordes following doe ſhewe: for contentiō for the truth is lawfull and commendable) as appeareth by his tongue and pen, and is a lyar againſt the truth: It muſt of neceſſitye therefore be, euen by the teſtimony of the ſpirit of god, that this Diſcoverer and ſuch as he, are the children of this earthly, ſenſuall, and diueliſh wiſdome: out of his owne mouth then let this man be iudged.