The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet, Treatise · Book 2 · Chapter 4
OF CHAP. 4.
Diſcouerer.
Of M. Dar. cunning inſ…ructing Somers, by ſpeaking to others in his hearing… of Sathans ſecking to repoſſ…ſſe him:pag 127. and of the acting of certayne trick… under a couerlet.
In the former parte of this chapter the Diſc. telleth vsus of a ſecond or new …ſenage, viz. So. counterfeytinge of a repoſſeſſion: and after what manner I inſtructed him we heare in the title of the chapter. pag. 128.This coſenage the Diſc. pretendeth to proue by two ſpeaches of mine the one is that I ſhould affirme to my Auditory in the hearing of Som. that for a certainty Sathan would ſeeke to repoſſeſſe the ſaid So. and preuayle againſt him except he were mightely withſtood by faith The other that I affirmed the night he was diſp…ſſeſſed in the hearing of So. & diuers others, that ſathan returned the ſame night he was diſpoſſeſſed out of certaine in Lancaſhire, and that ſo returning he appeared vntounto them in certayne ſomlitudes.
Darrell.
When the Diſc. hath proued me guilty of the firſt coſenage, I my ſelfe will yeald the ſecond: & vntill he hauehave performed that which yet he hath not, none that is wiſe, will regard what he ſaith, concerning this new coſonage, as he termeth So repoſſeſſion. 2. All or moſt of that I hauehave giuen before in anſwer to the afor…ſaid circumſtaunces, ſerueth alſo for anſwer vntounto this. 3. Seeing betwene So. diſpoſſeſſion and repoſſeſſion (which was about thirteene weekes) he and I had ſe…ret con…eren… togither diuers times, as the Diſc. telleth vsus, and that for the inſtructing of him to diſſeemble a repoſſeſſion,pag… 90. it had bene ſufficient, to hauehave in a worde or two at one of theſe our ſecret con…ren…es. to hauehave b…d him fall againe to his former tricks, and ſay with all that the divell did ſeeke to enter into …im: ſo that this i… ſtructinge of …im by … in his …earinge ne…e not.4. And one woulde think, that were there any ſuch new …nage, I would rather hauehave giuen him his dire … the ſame apart, then before diuers others. 4. So. was then repoſſeſ…e as now at this … is.
The … at moue me to thinke that … ſeſſed are theſe.… 1. becauſe about 12. or 13. …eches a…ter … ſeſſion, I (among diuers others) ſawe in him the ſignes of poſſeſſion, euen all the ſame I did before, and beheld him handled after the very ſame manner he was the time of his firſt trouble:2 mark. 9. 25. ma…h. 12. 43. and therefore if the poſſeſſed, he is ſo now, and if euer he was poſſeſſed, then and for the ſame cauſe he is againe poſſeſſed. 2. The ſcripture telleth vsus, that the rn…ane ſpirite being gon out of a man, doth not only returne and ſecke to enter into his ſaid houſe againe, but indeede enter and poſſeſſe the ſaid party, if returning be finde him empty, ſwept, and garmſhed, that is ready and prepared to interteyne his oulde gueaſt the diuell, which is when the party is vncleane and liueth in ſinne, for an vncleane perſon is a fitt receptacle for the foule ſpirit: but So. out of whome the diuell was caſt,… is and hath bene ſuch, as is manifeſt by his abominable lying in denying the worke of God wrought vponupon him, his falſe accuſinge of the innocent, ioyned with greate obſtinacye and ympudencie, his periury, and other greuous and open ſvnnes of his: It muſt needes therefore be that So. is repoſſeſſed. 3. There is ſomethinge in reaſon to confirme vsus herein:pag. 205. in that from time to time So hath bene doing in ſecrett, and offered ſometimes openlye to doe his tricks, as ſome call them. After he had ſaid the ſecond time that he had counterſeyted, and was as free from being vexed by ſathan, and as farr from all appearance of poſſeſſion as now he is, he, (as is notoriouſly knowne, and the Diſc. himſelfe confeſſeth,) ſhowed his tricks before my … …nderſon, and diuers others, in ſome extraordinary ſort. At one of my examinations before the B. of London M. Barker regiſter to the high comiſſion, and another gentleman being preſent, So. vppon occa…ion of ſome wordes vttered by me, would …aue bene doinge his tricks, and had vndoubtedly but that the Biſhop …ebuked him for it, and pre…ently for feare thereof ſent him away. It ſhould ſeeme that the …ſh…p ad ſeene him doe his tricks before that time, yea percaſe often, other… if he would hauehave bene as glad for the further ſatiffyinge of himſel…e to hauehave ſeene his fevts, as ſome there preſent. At …ombeth vppon …itſon-eue, in open court So. offered to doe his tricks, and had not t…e B. of London ſaid, it was to no purpoſe, becauſe M. Mor… and I … ſav, it was not he, but the diuell that did them he had … tion fallen to his worke Neither can we in … that … were bare offers or wordes, he not beinge a…le to … thing, conſidering (to …myt other times… …e or … ſ…me o… his trickes beefore my … is ready to … them, when … the eye-witnesſſes the c…f con…e…e, … and the cheife of them, that if the boy did not ſay he counterfeyted, and ceaſe to doe the tricks when he is bidden, he ſhould verily think that he did them by the diuell: may not this well after the premſiſes confirme vsus in his poſſeſſion? whether So. was packt beyond the ſeas by ſome that knew he was poſſeſſed, and feared leaſt that woulde one day appeare, or went of his owne accord about ſome great buſynes of his owne, let other men iudge: as alſo why it will not be graunted that the meanes may be vſed which the (u) worde of god directeth vsus vntounto for the diſcouery of Sathan, whome we are boulde to affirme lurketh in him.
And where ſome men can hardly with any patience indure to heareof this repoſſeſſion,Luke 11. 22. becauſe no ſuch thing appeareth: they muſt know that Sathan doth and hath long laboured to obſcure the worke of god wrought vppon So. & to anninilate it, if it were poſſible, that ſo god might goe without the glory and prayſe which would be gyuen him in the acknowledgment thereof, and man loſe the profit he wolde make of ſuch a rare worke of god. To this end and for the better bringing of this to paiſe, the diuell (hauing recouered So. and entred into his houſe, the body of So. agayne) indeuored by himſelfe and his inſtruments threatning and promiſing, to drawe him to deny the work of God, and affirme that he counterfeted, and therewithall couenanted with So to helpe him to doe any thing that he would take in hand, meaning thoſe thinges that he had in the time of his poſſeſſion done. The caſe being thus, and this being the worke that the diuell hath in had, it is not to be ymagined that Sathan beinge in So. ſhoulde torment him, and ſo make it appeare that he is there: for thus he ſhoulde be againſt himſelfe, and ouerturne all he had done and hath in hande. Yf the diuell hauing drawne So. (after that he was againe entred into him) to ſay he counterfeyted ſhoulde vexe him, and ſent forth the ſame e…ects he did before he thus affirmed, cauſing a verye greate ſwelling in his belly, an other and much leſſe to run along his bodye betwene the fleſh and the ſkyn, depryuing him of all ſence, ſo as being prickt deepe with pynnes, he woulde not ſtyrr, nor bloud iſſue, retorting his tongue into his throate, cauſing him to foame exceſſiuly, to be (in appearance) of ſupernaturail ſtrength, and knowledge, caſting him into the fyre without being burnt &c. and that daylie: what would it aduantage the diuell for So. to ſay and ſweare he counterfeyted, when the deede eueryevery houre done by himſelfe ſhewed the contrary? and where had bene my teaching to counterfeyt? and the impriſoning the innocent? how would alſo the children of men hauehave bene generally kept from beeleeuing the worke of god and magnifyinge him for it, and not only ſo, but inſteade there of brought to receaue a falſe and vile report againſt his ſeruant, and that which is far wone againſt the worke it ſelte. Howſoeuer then the diuell is naturally carried to vexe and torment them in whoſe bodyes he is, and to ſen…e forth ſuch effects as we heare, and ordinarilye doth ſo: yet we may be aſſured that when he ſeeth it is more for his aduantage to refrayne, (as it is in this our caſe to draw thouſands to ſynne, then to torment one ſole body) he being in man will not ſhewe himſelfe and make that knowne, but lurke and lye cloaſe (as I may say…) like a ſu… tie ſerpont, and oulde foxe as he is.
We hauehave hearde before in the ſtory, that for the ſpace of a fort night or thereabouts ſathan did withdrawe himſelfe from vexing Iohn Starky, and Anne Starky for certaine dayes, inſomuch as their parents with others did verilye thinke at the firſt when M. More and I came to Cleworth, that they had bene well, and no wicked ſpirites within them: yea we hauehave had experience thereof even in Somers: who after he had giuen it forth that he counterfeyted, and therewith continued as well and free from all appearance of poſſeſſion, as at this preſent he doth, for the ſpace of 4, or 5. weakes, was fearefully tormented by the diuell, before the Commiſſioners, and many other witneſſes, and ſo continued about 12. dayes, (in the vew of all that came vntounto him) vntill the aduerſaries hauing gathered hart to themſelues, did riſe vp againe for counterfeyting, and tooke him the ſecond time into their cuſtody, in whoſe hāds he was no ſooner, but preſētly he was (as they thought) well, and no diuell (forſooth) in him: and ſo hath remayned as they thinke vntill this day, which ſuddayne amendment, if I may ſo call it, with the cauſe or occaſion thereof, might helpe vsus to ſpi out the reaſon of Sathans not vexing of So. albeit he be in him ſtyll if we were wiſe. Now I deſire to know, why the diuell may not aſwell by the ſpace of ſome yeares abſtayne from tormenting the man he poſſeſſeth, as for the ſpace of ſome weekes. Thus we ſee that So. not being vexed by ſathan, doth not let but that he may be poſſeſſed. We ſee alſo the reaſon why the diuell thus withdraweth himſelfe, which well conſidered we may perceaue that it is not poſſible it ſhould hauehave bene or yet be (ſo longe as all things continue as they are) that the vncleane ſpirit entred into So. with ſeauen worſe then himſelfe, ſhold vex him at all, otherwiſe then in corners, before ſuch, and in ſuch maner, as he thinketh good, and ſeeth it to make for the vphoulding & mainteyning of that euill name of counterfevting, which he for the obſcuring of the greate worke of god,ma…h. 12 2…. Luk 11. 21. hath rayſed vp, and ſpread far & neate, for what ſaith the ſcripture? when the ſtronge man armed keepeth the b…uſe, the things that be poſſeſſeth are in pea…c… This is firſt to be vnderſtood of corporall poſſeſſion, as is playne by the occaſion thereof. Now did euer the ſtrong armed man poſſeſſe a houſe more …u…e the, then he doth … or body? when no man reſiſteth t…at vſurper, when So. himſelfe and ſome ſuch as are ru…ers in the …urch & comon wealth, yea and too many …ti…ers, are for this vniuſt poſſeſſor, for … and … no man almoſt in a ze…le of god and his gl…ry riſeth vp againſt him. As then the repoſſeſſion of So. is according to that … his foretoulde vsus by the holy ſcriptures. euen ſo in …is is lurl…ng of ſat… an … being at peace with S…mer, we ſee the ſcripture likewiſe fulfiled Nit…er doe I doubt, but that if any zealous for the l…or…e of hoaſts, ſhall procure ſuch order to be taken, that the meanes may be vſed for the diſpoſſeſſinge of this vſurper, and ſo Chriſt Ieſus the ſtronger …ane vppon this ſtrong man, he ſhalbe ſpoyled of …as hou…e, that armoure wherein he truſted taken from him, and his ſpoyles deuided: and we therein alſo ſee the ſcripture fulfilled beefore our eyes, we deſire that a tr…all heere of may be made, that ſo happely if no other way an end may be put to this controuerſie. To deny this were very hard, and iniurious to the manifeſtation of the worke, and peace of thoſe which contend abut it. If I had only knowne Som. poſſeſſed, and not to hauehave bene beeſides diſpoſſeſſed, I ſhould hauehave bene leſſe confident in this preſent poſſeſſion, for why I ſhould hauehave doubted leaſt Sathan peraduenture had leaue from god, to poſſeſſe him only for a ſeaſon, which time being expired he might remayne there no longer, albeit no meanes was vſed for his expulſion and againſt this I fynde nothing in holy ſcripture. But of the repoſſeſſion of one, I am otherwiſe perſwaded: becauſe it is ſaid & that of both the Tuangeliſts which ſpake of the conditiō of the repoſſeſſed,m…h 12. 45. Lul. 11. 26. that the ſp…rite hauinge entred in with ſeauen worſe then himſelfe, will dwell there, and take vp his habitation, as hauinge ſome right and intereſt in t…e houſe. In which reſpe…t it may be it is ſaid that the laſt ſtat of that man is wo…ſ. th…n the firſt: meaning that the condition of the man repoſeſſed, is worſe then it was when he was firſt poſſeſſed. For firſt Chriſt ſpeaketh in both the …uangeliſts in the pre…ent tenſe, not in the future, the laſt ſtate of that man is worſe, not ſhalbe worſe, 2. The antitheſis or oppoſition betwene firſt and laſt eſtate, confirmeth this expoſitio…, for by firſt eſtat… we are to vnderſtande the condition of the poſſeſſed from the time …athan entreth into man. vntill the time of his eiection, and by laſt eſtat…, I thinke his like conditiō of being poſſeſſed, but after eie…tion wherby it may w…lbe diſtiguiſhed frō the former, & rightly he called … haung reſpe…t to the other and like eſtat going bef…re And this … of one poſſeſſed, which is that we call repofeſſi…n is ſaide to be the … firſt, becauſe into ſuch the ſame ſpirit which …as there be…re is entred with ſ…auen worſe then himſelfe. 2. becauſe they will dwe…l there that is, though they he caſt …ut, … theire poſſeſſion, And truly no n…arua…e though the eſtate of the … …led be ſuch as wel ca…e, and … th…n on the eſtate of th…e perſens poſſeſſed out of whome the vncleane ſpirit was neuer caſt c…nſi…ing theire great vnthankfullnes, for ſo ſingular and ſen…lie, mercy of god beſtowe… vppon them, and that notwithſtanding the Lord …uing corre…ed them for their ſinnes by the diuell. and after deliuered them out of …is handes, yet they returne to theire ſinnes agayne: …hout which one cannot be repoſſeſſed. This I ſay conſidered it is … with god, to deliuer th…m vpp to the full poſſeſſion of the diuell, or diuells, or at leaſt to ſome further poſſeſſion and intereſt in them then beefore
As for the B. of Londons obiection, that So. hauing remayned a yeare in his houſe, hath gone to the Church all that time, and there carryed himſelfe as orderly as any other of …as ſamely, and likewiſe in his prayers at home a… M. Harſu… (quoth he) can witneſſe: it is eaſilye anſwered, for we reade in the 1. of Marke, that at Cap…r…aum there was in t… Synago…ue a man in whome there was an vncleane ſpirit: and how eſt the ſame man had bene there who can tell… and quietly (no doubt) hee carried himſelfe there, otherwiſe that had bene no place for him. Indeede he cryed out when he ſawe Ieſus, but this all that were poſ…eſſed did whereſoeuer they met him, ſo that ſaid ex…lan atien was not becauſe of his being in the Synagogue, but becauſe of Chriſt his being there.
VVhere I ſay that So. what … lo poſſeſſedis now poſſeſſed, I doe not meane that the diuell is for certa…nty at the very inſtant when I ſo ſpeake in the body of Somers for as. he may be there, ſo at that preſent may hee be without him, as I ſuppoſe: but I mean that Sathan hath leaue from god …emer into that body of his, and t…rment it, which he is denyed to doe b… others,…uk 9 39. … …l…p. 8 16 4. math. 12. 29 44. which letteth not but that he may or doth goe forth ſometimes, and come in againe at his pleaſure, And this I c…nceanue g…ne rally of the poſſeſſed, and Sathan his being within them, for it is li…e ly that t…e diuell doth with thoſe he entreth into as the father of the Lu…atick ſaith, concerrings his dealinge with his chylde, (a) And …he (qu…th he) a ſpirit taketh him, and ſud…enly he cryeth and he treareth him t…at he ſ…ameth, and hardly departeth from him, when he hath … Theſe are ſaide in the …criptures to be (b) poſſeſſed with the diuell, meating touching their bodyes, which in this caſe is called his … for concerning their ſ…ules they are no more nor otherwi…e poſſeſſed thē others,mark 123 now a man is poſſeſſed of his houſe, although he rema…ne not a…a…es in it. Euen ſo it is (I thinke) bet…eene ſathan and his houſe, that is the body he poſſ…ſſe…h. Indee…e … to be p…ſſ…ſſe…, in whome there … but it folloveth n…t therevpon that the ſpirit is alwayes in the man, & neuer out of him. Yea except now one ſpirit, now an ot…er ſhoulde goe into the body of the poſſeſſed, after the diuen taketh once poſſeſſion of the body of man, which is vul… it muſt needes be that the ſpirit goeth out ſometimes: for other wiſe it is not poſſible, that the ſpirit ſhoulde vtter theſe thinges he is by experience ſeene oft to doe by the tongue of the party poſſeſſed, as the ſpeaches and actions ſpoken and done elſe where, at or about the ſame inſtant they are ſpoken and done. And thus much concerning Som. repoſſeſſion.
Diſcouerer.
After this So.pag. 134. deuiſed new tricks vnderunder a euierlet, vp in this occaſion. Lying vppon his bed with a cou…rlet caſt ouer him, he moued by chance he knew … how, ſome parte of his body, when he was ſuppoſed to be in a fit, and chereſore ſenceleſſe. where vponupon he the ſaid M D…. gaue it out, that it was the diuell, that made that motion vnderunder the couerlett: which was ſuch an inſtruction to Som a… he ceaſed not to feede that error: Likewiſe (ſayth So.) lying in my bed, I did ſometimes knock and fillip with my fingers & toes, againſt th… had ſides and feete: and this alſo wa… aſcribed to M. Dar. as to hauehave bene louelove by the diuell.
That which St. heere depoſeth is confirmed by the depoſitions of diuers, pag 239The very …nocking at that time I wa… there, (ſaith M. Hallam) was …ne of his …es, ſlipping downe from the other: when the voyce of 4. or 5. knocks were heard togither in manner of a chyme, quoth M. Crauen, I founde one of the to be his ſinger thruſt vnderunder his thigh, as he lay uppon his back, ( …eorge Richardſon thus, Touching the likeneſſes of kitlinges mouing in So. bed, I hauehave hearde much wonder thereof, at one time when I was there, it was th… bowes ſ…nte. Edmun. l. Garland thus. Catching on a time at that which I ſaw moue the …hathes, I gott …ilde of it and offering to caſt vp the cloathe, t…ſe what I had in my hand, it ſlipped from me, & I b…ele…ue was th… h…uae priuym…mb…rs. Againe I hearing a knocking at the b… feete, catched the boy by the toes, which I perceaued to hauehave made the former knocking. M. Aldred thus. the rapping in M. Hallams opinion w… thing elſe, but the rapping of me of his navles vponupon in other. M. Par The rapping was the ſillipoing of his ſyngers or …one motion with his toes.
VVe heare what So. …arrelland his witneſſes ſay, let vsus now hear what was depoſed before the 12. Commiſſioners.
M. Aldridge. This examinas ſaith that he ſtanding in the hall hearde a greate knocking in the parlour where th… b…y lay, and ſudd…ly he ru…ed in where he found the b…y al me in his bed,Nu …on … 2. lying with his face vpward in his ſ…t, with his in … his in eyes, ſtaring, at though they would … h…ad. And kne…ne downe to prayer he h…d the knoke … againe vnderunder he knees as he though… and in the bed vnderunder the c…u…r lett, he ſawe the forme, and ſhape as it were of fyue kitlings in quantity to the uiew of the eye. And againe this examinate ſawe the bedcloathes at the ſeere to ſhake, moue, and leape, as the leaues of an aſpen tree, ſhaken with the wynde.dep. 6.
Loane Pye ſaith that diuers times ſhee had heard a clapping in his bed, as though it had bene the clapping of 3. handes, and that ſhee hath ſeene a maton in the bed, as though it had bene the creeping of 3. kitlings, which ſhee and diuers others hauehave inderuored to take houlde of, but neuer could, for when they attempted the ſame, it hath vaniſhed, his handes and feete neuer ſturring to their ſights and that at other times, ſhee hath heard at his bedds feete a knocking, as though it were vnderunder the bed to their vnderſtanding.
E…izabeth Milward ſaith,dep. 14. that ſhee hearde a thumping, or knocking in his bed, and ſhee putting her hand into his bed, felt the ſaid knockinge (as ſhee: thought) at a hollow place aboue the cheſt of his body: which knowcking ſhee heard as ſhee went downe the ſlayres being ſo fearfull as ſhee durſt not ſtay aboue with him.
M. Pare ſayth,dep. 15. that he he hearde a thumping, or knocking in the boyes bed in three ſeuerall places at once, and he putting his hande into the bed felt it ſenſibly knock vnderunder his hand.
Thomas Gray Eſquire ſaith,dep. 10. that he ſaw a mouing vnderunder the vppermoſt couering the bed (not far diſtant from the ſmall of the ſaid William Somers leg,) which lay in a round lumpe pantinge, which this Examynate perceuing, poynted at, and ſaid to the ſtanders by, what might this be…wh er vponupon one of them ſaid, it is his feet: then it was anſwered by thoſe that ſat vponupon the beds feete, thus: we hauehave his feete heere, and doe holde them. Then this Deponent for the better vnderſtanding thereof layd his hand vppon the ſaid lump, and felt it moue, and claſping his hand togither, he felt that it yealded, as ayre, or wynd, and opening his hand againe it filled the ſame in very full manner, And this Examynat taking away his hand, ſaw the cloathes ſettle very ſoftly downe, like as a bladder being blown ful of winde falleth togither after it is pricked and ymediatly the like mouing was on the other ſyde of the ſaid William Somers, and this deponent ſeeing it ſaid (laying his hand vppon the place, where before it was) heere it was euen now, and at that very inſtant this deponent (without mouing of his hands) ſenſibly felt ſomething vnderunder the cloathes patt very faſt in the palm of his hand like the foote of a kitling, or ſuch like thing.
Darrell.
The Diſc. telleth vsus, what his owne deponents, (of his owne culling, and of his own ſifting and examynation, and ſome of them of his owne ſtampe and affection, whoſe depoſitions alſo are produced by his owne ſelfe, depoſinge more or leſſe as he pleaſth) doe ſaye: but in his whole Diſcouery, we heare not of theſe other depoſitiones, depoſed and examyned by other manner of perſons then himſelfe, and fellowe Commiſſioners. The Diſcouerer belike thinketh thus to blynde the eyes of the worlde, but the muſt knowe that the producing of theſe abſurd and ridiculous depoſitions of I know not whom, taken as it were behinde a cloath by ſuch as are partyes, and no indifferent Commiſſioners, are a ſlender conuiction of the depoſitions of theſe other fyue heere ſpecifyed, ſo grauel…, iuditially and orderlye done, let the Diſc. heereafter then conuince that which they hauehave de poſed: for vntill that be done, and theſe 5. proued periured: It cannot poſſiblie be (as eueryevery childe may ſee) that that or thoſe thinges which moued vnderunder the couerlett, ſeene and looked vppon as they moued or crept vp and downe the bed from place to place, ſtirringe and mouing vnderunder the handes of many, as if they had bene whelpes, kyt lings, ratts, or ſuch like lyuing creatures, ſometimes alſo vaniſhinge vnderunder mens handes, when feeling them they beegan to claſpe theyre handes &c. as before, hearde likewiſe to make a thumping or knocking, ſhould be So. feete, or his toes, or fingers, or pryuie members: or this knocking be cauſed by his ſynger thruſt vnderunder his thigh, or by the filliping of his fyngers, or by one of his toes, ſlyppinge downe from the other, or by the fillipping of one toe with an other vppon the bed, or yet by the tapping of one of his nayles vponupon an other. For (to omyt that which conteyned in theſe fyue laſt depoſitions offereth it ſelfe to the conſideration of eueryevery one,) it is notoriouſly knowne to the inhabitants of Notting ham that his mouing & knocking vnderunder the couerlett, continued tenne dayes and nights, by times or rather more, and that So. was vſuallye helde by ſome, armes & legs, his armes alſo (he being in his cloaths) on the day time aboue the coueringe, and ſeldome or neuer vnderunder it. And this is (in part) confirmed by M. Grayes depoſition. I ſaw (ſaith he) So. lying opon a bed, being helde by ſondry perſons at his feete, and alſo at his heade &c. Agayne as before wee hauehave his feete heere and doe holde them. How could then this motion and knocking be made by his handes or feete? 2. Som. on the day time was alwayes in his cloathes: it came not then (ſurely) from the tapping of one of his two nayles one vponupon an other 3. Neyther in the night when So. was in his naked bed could the knocking or rapping come either from the ſlipping downe of his toes from the other, or his finger thruſt vnderunder his thigh, or the fillippinge of his toes or fingers, or tapping of one of his toe navles upon an other, becauſe of the loudnes thereof: for ſaith Elizabeth Miſwarde, I hearde the knocking as I went down the ſtayrs, being ſo fearefull. as I durſt not ſtay aboue with him. And M. Aldridg, (ſpeaking of an other time, and when he was in an other houſe) ſ…anding in the haule I heard a gr… ate knocking in the parlour wher the boy lay. And this which M. Al…rige depoſeth, there are a great number of witneſſes ready to depoſe.
4. It is to be obſerued that M. Hallams depoſition beginneth thus Hauing hearde of many wonders, of certain knockings in So. bedd, I was very deſirous &c. And George Richardſon after this manner: Touching the likeneſſes of kitlings mouning in So. bedd, I hauehave hearde much wonder thereof, and at one tyme &c. whereby it is playne that either there was ſome very rare accident, or ſeeming ſo to be, which we may be aſſured did drawe many to behould him: And beeſides at this time M. Hallam and M Freeman (becauſe his kinſwoman was now appeached to be a witch, for this accident, and the Diſcouery of certaine perſons for witches, began, continued and ended togither) gaue it out that So. was a counterfeyt. VVhichWhich two things conſidered, and that by reaſon of the latter the moſt that came vntounto him had an eſpeciall eve to counterfeyting, how ſimple, and what ſilly ſoules muſt they needes be, that were thus deluded by the tipping and tapping. ſlipping, & fillipping of a boyes toes and fingers? But as in other things ſo in this particular, the Diſc. will not only put out their eyes who behelde Somers troubles, and depriue them of their ſences I meane their feeling, and hearinge, but alſo of theire reaſon and vnderſtanding, as if they had bene …ooles or naturals, or more like vntounto bruite beaſts then men. And this I deſire the Reader to conſider of.