CHAP. V. Of M. Darrels cunning instructing of Somers, by speaking to o∣thers in his hearing such thinges, as he meant he should prac∣tise in the detecting of witches: from about the xxi. of Nouem∣ber, vntill about the vii. of December.
AFter that Somers had played his pranks by starting and rayling, and making of motions vnder a Couerlette, for the space of about a fortnight: then M. Darrell brought him on to an other matter concerning the detecting of Witches: affirming in the presence of Somers to diuerse, that it was ordinary with those that were lately dispossessed to detect Witches, and that So∣mers would doe the like. These thinges M. Darrell deny∣eth, saying:* After William Somers beganne to detect some women for Witches, I haue affirmed at some time or other, that Sathan vseth sometimes to discouer by the parties possessed such lewd persons, as he had before stirred vp, and made instrumentes for the possessing of them. But I deny that euer I said that Sathan vseth in seeking to repossesse a man to detect any Wit∣ches.
And here M. Darrell was very much plunged: for being demanded whether Sathan in seeking to repossesse Somers, did not by him detect certaine Witches,* hee aun∣swereth, that for ought he could perceiue, Sathan did not seeke againe to repossesse Somers, during those daies, wherein he de∣tected certain for Witches. This answere seeming strange, he was asked how he knew, that Sathan did not for that time seeke to repossesse him. Whereunto hee said, that Page 138 he did so coniecture, for that VVilliam Somers did affirme no such matter: adding that hee had noe other knowledge at any time, that Sathan did seeke to repossesse eyther him, or any of the other nine before mentioned: but their owne reportes, and some o∣ther outward troubles. If he had been here further pressed, hee would no doubt haue started from this answere: or otherwise he must builde a monethes worke vppon this bare coniecture. But this is too farre prosecuted: con∣sidering that the point here obiected and denyed by him, as is before expressed, is sufficiently proued by diuerse witnesses.*
I heard M. Darrel, affirme, that it was ordinary with those that were lately dispossessed to detect witches.
*I thought that the boy by extraordinarie meanes had know∣ledge, that they whome he named were Witches: and I was therin confirmed by M. Darrels speeches of the detection of wit∣ches, by certaine that he affirmed had beene possessed in Lanca∣shire.
*One Mrs. Wallys and others did talke in the roome where Somers lay, of such persons as were suspected to be Witches, be∣fore he the said Somers did name them.
*I haue heard M. Darrell say in the presence of the boy, that the possessed in Lancashire, Katherine Wright, and the boye of Burton, would often vse these wordes: See, See, where the witch standeth thus, and thus attired: see where he commeth, beholde him. And after that reporte of them concluded, so this boy shall doe.
*When M. Darrell vnderstoode that Somers had named cer∣taine persons to be Witches, he saide vnto me, that he thought he would come to this. And then he told me, that they who had been in other places so trobled, did ordinarily detect witches. So (saith he) it hath commonly hapned in Scotland. And that one M. Throckmortons children, did the like not long since.
Page 139As Somers named any to be witches, M. Darrell pro∣cured them to be sent for, for that they might be tried by Somers, whether they were witches, yea, or nay. Wherein M. Darrel is charged with a very notable cosenage. When he had sent for the first witch to be brought to Somers: hee told in the meane time to those that were in the house, & in Somers presence, that it was an ordinary thing, that whē witches came nigh to those that were in Somers case, then they (in such case) would scritch and cry out, & be great∣ly troubled, and so at the VVitches departure. And that they would lye quietly snoring, as if they were a sleepe, when the witches stoode by them: and so he said it would fall out with Somers: which comming to passe according∣ly, as Somers hath set downe more particularly in the se∣cond Chapter of this booke. M. Darrell was greatly ad∣mired, and the parties so brought vnto him, were there∣upon reputed for witches, and by his perswasion, that So∣mers could not bee quiet, till they were made fast, they were, as Somers detected them, committed to prison. M. Darrell denyeth, that he eyther foretolde any such matter, or that afterwards he euer affirmed the same to be an ordinary thing,* with those that had bin in Somers case. And he yeeldeth this reason for his saide deniall vz. for that (sayeth he) I had neuer seen any so troubled before, (at the comming and going of Witches) but in mine experience: and namely, in Katherine VVright, shee was tormented and troubled onely, during the time, that the Witch was present by her, and remained quiet both at her comming and departure. And the like I haue heard of the seauen in Lancashire. By which his deposition, it seemeth very improbable, that the pointes wherewith he is here charged should bee true. For hee had neuer seene any troubled as Somers was, and his experience is to the contrary. But the Fox was neare driuen when Page 140 he tooke this muce, and hee ferreted out of it by verie pregnant depositions.
*M. Darrell hauing sent for some, who were named by So∣mers to be Witches, he did affirme in the hearing of this exami∣nat & diuerse others then present, that whē the said Witches were comming, the boy would be greatly afflicted till they came before him, and then he would lie quietly till they were gone, and after∣wardes at their going away, would be greatly molested againe. And accordingly all thinges happened, as M. Darrell did foretel. At their comming he was vehemently tormented (as it seemed) when they came to the beds side to him, he would lye as quietly as though he had been asleepe, and would sometimes snore: but when they were going away again, then hee seemed to be tormen∣ted as before.
M. Darrell affirmed in the presence of Somers, and diuerse others,* that it was an ordinary thing, when Witches came nigh vnto one in Somers case: that then such the partie possessed would scritch and cry out: but when they stood close by him, that then he would lye quietly, snoring as if he were a sleepe: and at their departure away, scritch and cry out again: & afterwards he saw Somers so do in all respectes, when diuerse suspected to be Witches were brought vnto them.
*I haue heard M. Darrell vpon occasion of speech say, that when Witches stoode by one possessed, the partie possessed should be qui∣et: but at the comming in and going out of the Witches, the saide possesssed party should be much disquieted.
*I haue heard M. Darrell say, that it was ordinary with those that were in Somers case, when the Witches haue been brought vnto them, to be greatly vexed at their comming, & at their de∣parture, and to lye very quietly whilest the same Witches stoode by them.
*Somers discouered his witches after this manner. Being in a fitte, he would amongst other speeches say, fetch mee such a wo∣man. Page 141 Now or euer she came to him, he would seeme to be strange∣ly vexed, and more strangely when shee approached neere vnto him. But when she was with him, he was in quiet as if hee were a sleep: but if she turned her backe, then was hee troubled as be∣fore. And this was their custome (that were his friendes about him) so soone as they had tried any woman detected, straight way she was sent to prison, and so they serued sixe or seuen. This triall was sufficient: Mother Boote (and so of the rest) is a witch, and therefore with the rest must go to prison.
As Somers did name any for witches,* M. Darrel procured them to be fetched out of their houses.
Somers naming some for witches,* M. Darrel procured them to be sent for, and bringing them to the boy, did afterwardes go himselfe to see them put in prison: saying, that the boy could not bee in quiet till they were laide fast. And this course M. Dar∣rell held vpon the boyes words: so as in two daies he procured to be imprisoned sixe to seuen, vnder this pretence, that they were witches. Afterwardes also vppon the like occasion, hee caused to bee apprehended, and examined, on Millicent Horsley and her sister.
Furthermore M. Darrel was charged, to haue growne to such vanitie at that time, through the admiration had of him, especially by his followers, and some other credu∣lous persons, by reason of the said course which hee and Somers held for the detecting of witches: as that he affir∣med, hee doubted not by Somers meanes to detect all the witches in England.* M. Darrell confesseth part hereof in these words. I finding William Somers to haue discouered thirteene witches at Nottingham, and afterwards: said in pri∣uate to some friendes of mine, that I thought Somers would bee able to discouer any witch, if he came where they were, or they came where he was: But he denieth the rest, which is depo∣sed as followeth.
Page 142*I heard M. Darrell say, that he doubted not by this meanes (vz by Somers detecting of witches) to discouer all the witches in England.
Besides, the folly of that, which M. Darrel himselfe doth here confesse, might easily by himselfe haue beene discer∣ned; but that through the conceite had of him, he grew to be very impudent. For those whome Somers had na∣med for witches, no man could iustly blame.
*M. Darrell (saith Robert Cooper) desired the Maior of Nottingham, to make inquirie through the towne, if any person could charge any of the pretended witches. The Maior did so ac∣cordingly: and nothing being laid to diuers of their charges, they were all set at libertie vppon bonds, sauing two. But this deuise of Darrels concerning the detecting of witches, is almost laide asleepe. Of all the partes of the tragicall Comedie acted betweene him and Somers, there was no one Scene in it, wherein M. Darrell did with more courage & bold∣nes acte his part, then in this of the discouerie of witches. He sendeth for them, procureth thē to be examined, cari∣eth them before Iustices of peace, goeth to see thē impri∣soned, maketh no doubt but that they are witches, and so bestirreth himselfe therein, as many thereby were greatly seduced,* and had him in wonderfull estimation. One of his friends maketh this discouery of witches, to be one of the wor∣thie fruites of that admirable worke of dispossessing of Somers: telling vs, that witches are the Lordes chiefest enemies: that God would not haue them suffred to liue, and that the hiding & sauing of these witches is iustly thought to haue beene one of the first and principall causes of slaundering this worke of Somers dispossessing.
But consider how now the tide is turned. The authour of the briefe Narration, making a catalogue of all the worthy actes, that fell out betwixt M. Darrell and Somers, Page 143 skippeth ouer the detection of witches, being the fruites of a fortnights worke. M. Darrell himselfe in his Apo∣logie in this matter is altogether silent, being otherwise very plentifull in the rest. And this which followeth, is supposed to be the cause of such a change.
M. Ireton, (being a man of very good parts, and yet somewhat ouercarried in this cause, being vnacquainted with the proceedings in it, & suspecting no euill) is one of the men, of whom M. Darrell and his friendes haue great∣ly bragged. And it is true, that his credite wrought some inconuenience, through his facultie in belieuing those things which were told him: albeit his speeches still did relie vppon this supposition, that if those thinges which he heard were true, then thus, and thus. Besides some indiscreet opposition in points of learning, did make him to say something, whereof more hold was taken, then peraduenture he meant.* This M. Ireton hauing beene ex∣amined, and particularly concerning the point in hand of detecting of witches, saith thus: I thinke that Somers did counterfeit those fittes, wherein he tooke vpon him to disclose witches, and am perswaded, that he neuer had any skil by sathans meanes, or otherwise so to do.
By this deposition, that deceit of Darrels is so dasht, as it is supposed we shall haue no more of it: and the rather because it may be thought he was very weary of it, being diuers waies greatly plunged in it.
Somers telleth to this purpose one pretie tale. I cannot omit (saith he) how Maister Darrell and I had like to haue been foyled in this matter. Widdow Boote suspected for a witch,* being to bee brought vnto me, and I hauing notice thereof be∣fore, did shew my selfe to bee greatly troubled, both at her com∣ming in, and at her going away, as my manner was. But vp∣on a cunning tricke vsed by some that were there present, I Page 144 was greatly deceiued. For after the departure of the said widdow, she was brought and carried backe againe into the chamber, and out, twise or thrice secretly vnder one of their cloakes, that had laid that plot as I afterwards perceiued: so that neither Maister Darrell nor I hauing vnderstanding thereof, nor any suspition of such kinde of dealing, I could not put in practise my former trickes, but was quiet at euery such her going in and comming out. Whereupon they that vsed this deuise, did presently publish the same, and thereby affirmed, that out of all question I was but a dissembler.
