A discouery of the fraudulent practises of Iohn Darrel Bacheler of Artes in his proceedings concerning the pretended possession and dispossession of William Somers at Nottingham: of Thomas Darling, the boy of Burton at Caldwall: and of Katherine Wright at Mansfield, & Whittington: and of his dealings with one Mary Couper at Nottingham, detecting in some sort the deceitfull trade in these latter dayes of casting out deuils.

CHAP. X. How contrarie to M. Darrels and his friends assertions, Willi∣am Somers was accounted by many in Nottingham, for a dissembler, from the time that he beganne his practises there, vntill he confessed the same himselfe.

IT hath beene falsly giuen out by M. Darrell and his friendes, that there was no suspition and reporte that Somers was a counterfeyte, till about a moneth after M. Darrels comming to Nottin∣gham, and that then, hee the saide So∣mers, hauing detected a kinsewoman of M. Freemans for a Witch, he the saide M. Freeman began to reporte that the boy was a counterfeyte. For the truth is, that he was deemed for a dissembler, not onely before M. Darrels comming to Nottingham, but likewise aswell whilest M. Darrell dealt with him about his dispossession: as afterwardes also in the whole course of his pretended fittes, as by the depositions following it will appeare.

First therfore concerning the opinion held of Somers, before M. Darrels comming to Nottingham. It being ob∣iected against M. Darrell before her Maiesties commissi∣oners, that he was aduertised vpon his first comming the∣ther, that he the said Somers was thought by many to bee a dissembler: he denyeth the same: but that is deposed, as also that Somers was so reputed: and that hee the saide M. Darrell vnderstanding thereof, laboured as much as he could to perswade the contrary.

At M. Darrels comming to my house (saith Thomas Por∣ter) on the Saturday at night, the fift of Nouember, I told him,

that it was reported by the townesmen, that the boy did counter∣feyte: and M. Darrell in the presence of the boye, and of manie people there present answered: I doe assure you, they that thinke so, shall see with their eyes the contrary.

After three or foure dayes, that William Somers did begin to haue fittes, I did verily thinke that hee did but dissemble: and when I could not perswade him to desist from that course, I did re∣fuse afterwardes to come to him for the space of a weeke or more, vntill M. Darrell came: by whose wordes I was drawne to be of his opinion, vz. that the boye was possessed: for the which I am now very sory, and that I was so deluded. And againe, it was very generally receyued and thought, a fortnight before M. Dar∣rels comming to Nottingham, that the boy did dissemble.

M. Aldred also departing, vpon the fift of Nouember, from Somers with this perswasion, that hee was but a counterfeyte, as before it is expressed in the former chap∣ter, he further deposeth thus. The next day (sayeth he) I spake with M. Darrell, who tolde me, that the boye was no coun∣terfeyte, but possessed with a Deuill: and that hee knew it by the signes in the boy, which were like to those signes that he had found in Katherine Wright, and in the vii. in Lancashire. And then and there, I did change my mind of the boyes counterfeyting, re∣lying on the report, credite, and experience of M. Darrell onely: and yet I did alwaies doubt in my hart, that he did but dissemble.

Indeede it was thought by many before M. Darrels first com∣ming to Somers, that the Boy did absolutely dissemble.

Vnto these depositions, all those witnesses may be ad∣ded, who haue testifyed that M. Darrel, the first three daies that he came to Somers, endeuoured nothing more, then to perswade the people, that Somers did not counterfeyte, but was indeed possessed, thereby to beate down the opi∣nion of his dissimulation: which argueth directly that he was acquainted (as Porter hath deposed) with the said o∣pinion.

Secondly also, notwithstanding M. Darrels peremp∣tory assertions, and all his perswasions, for the first three dayes, and afterwardes, that hee came vnto Somers, that he the saide Somers did not dissemble, but was possessed, and afterwardes assalted to be repossessed: yet many still retayned their former opinions that hee was but a coun∣terfeyte, as the depositions, following do declare.

M. Darrel, at his first comming to Somers, did signifie to the people, that the boy did not dissemble, and made many speech∣es to assure them thereof: but yet many did still holde the con∣trary opinion. And againe, M. Darrel in many of his sermons, and at sondrie other times, hath related the manner of the boyes fittes, before the dispossession, and at the dispossession: setting forth the manner and strangenes of them, and hath blamed such as would not belieue the same, charging them with weakenes of faith: And yet notwithstanding, sondrie persons still helde & affirmed, that the matter was but dissembled.

M. Darrel, at his first comming to Somers at my house, both on the Saturday, Sonday, and Munday, did signifie that the Boy did not dissemble, and in those times vsed many reasons and speeches to perswade the people there present, to thinke so: but all that notwithstanding, diuerse persons still helde opinion, that the boy did dissemble. And againe, M. Darrell in many of his Sermons and other speeches, after the dispossession, vrging that the Deuill would seeke to enter into the boy again, did blame those that would not belieue that the boy was possessed, and dispossessed, and charged them with vnbeliefe: and vsed many such like speeches: but yet all that notwithstanding, sondrie persons still helde opinion, that the boy did but counterfeyte.

When Somers was at my house, and made shew that hee saw the Deuill, in this forme, and that forme: and that Mai∣ster Darrell tolde the people, that hee saw the Deuill rolling vnder the couerlet, and expounded the knocking and tapping to

be the euill spirit: Maister Hallam, and some others began then to suspect the matter to be more strangely accounted of by Maister Darrell, then in deed it was. And from thenceforth, many be∣gan to obserue the boyes fittes with lesse feare, and more circum∣spection: But at all times sundrie persons still held opinion, that all was but counterfeited: whereat M. Darrell was continually much displeased. And againe, M. Darrell in sundry of his ser∣mons after the supposed dispossession, did blame those, who helde that the boy did dissemble in his fits, both at the time of his dis∣possession, and at other times, charging them with vnbeliefe, and deliuering speeches of scorne and disdaine to satisfie them any fur∣ther therein. But all this notwithstanding, many still held and affirmed, that it was but dissimulation.

Likewise Peter Rhodes, George Noble, Thomas Freeman, and Nicholas Shepheard (as it is before deposed & mentioned) perceiuing by the boies pulling vp of his shirt, in one of his fits vpon the Sonday morning, after M. Darrels com∣ming vnto him, that hee had his sences, they went their waies with this resolution: that for a certainty (as they thought) he was but a counterfeit.

And thirdly, although M. Darrell, when it was com∣monly giuen out in Nottingham, that Somers was a coun∣tererfeit, did (as he confesseth in his sermons) perswade his auditorie (the best he could) to the contrary, affiming confidently that hee was no counterfeie: and notwith∣standing all that hee could say and protest concerning So∣mers fits, when Sathan was seeking to repossesse him, or any thing hee did alleadge for his repossession, eyther before or since: yet the generall opinion in Nottingham and thereabouts, then was & still doth continue amongst the discreter sort, that he the said Somers was in all his said practises a counterfeit dissembler.

The depositions to this purpose doe ensue. Maister Crauen saith, that vpon the wonderfull report of the boyes pos∣session and dispossession, he could not at the first but thinke it to be true: which if hee had seene, hee should not perhaps haue so lightly beleeued. But after his repossession (as they called it) I soone chaunged (saith hee) mine opinion: First, because I ne∣uer sawe him doe any thing, which an other lewdly disposed, might not easily haue performed. Secondly, for that I discouered the sleight of his iugling in many thinges, vz. in playing his trickes vnder a couerlet. Thirdly, because the boy seeming wearie of his seruice, did peraduenture take this course to bee rid of it: which I doe coniecture, because that after hee was relea∣sed, he neuer had any fitte (for ought I know) till vpon an o∣ther discontentment, when he was bound ouer to the assises for a Witch.

Maister Bernard yeeldeth in like sorte certaine reasons, whereby hee was induced to thinke, that Somers dissem∣bled. The summe whereof is. First, because hee had heard that Somers began the like fits foure or fiue yeares before. Se∣condly, that being a prentise, hee might thereby procure his li∣bertie. Thirdly, because his counterfeyting was gainefull. Fourthly, for that he being a proud boy, his pretended wonderfull fittes, did bring him great admiration, which pleased his hu∣mour. Fiftly, in that his latter fittes were more loose, and not so cunningly handled as his first. And lastly, because in discoue∣ring of Witches, he named none but poore and base people, such as hee thought he might bee bolde with. And againe, seeing the boy acte his fittes vainely and ridiculously, I verily thought that all his doinges were but villanies and knaue∣ries.

I obserued many fittes to bee feyned by the boy, during the time that hee was at my house: whereupon I held him, and

accounted him afterwardes for a counterfeite. And Maister Leigh: When I perceyued that the Deuill, that was pretended to bee in Somers, could speake no language but English, I tooke the boy for a counterfeite, and so alwaies after did repute him.

Hauing talked with William Somers, and comparing to∣gether all thinges, which happened in the time of his supposed possession and repossession, and what hath beene brought to light since, and considering the present estate of the boy, and diuers particulars, whereof I haue beene now examined, I doe verily thinke and belieue in my conscience, that they were all in Not∣tingham, who thought the boy to haue beene possessed, and re∣possessed, very much abused diuersly: and that the said Somers was but a dissembler in all the course of his said fits: and so con∣sequently, that he was neither possessed by Sathan, as it was ima∣gined, nor dispossessed, nor repossessed.

And the boyes father in law: I doe verily thinke, and belieue in my conscience, that William Somers did counterfeit all that hee did: that hee was neuer possessed, dispossessed, nor re∣possessed: and that Maister Darrell hath dealt very vngodly in all this cause, and eyther by compact or cunning, did draw on the said boy in his dissimulation, for what cause I know not, ex∣cept it were for his owne estimation: which I doe verily su∣spect.

These generall depositions are further strengthened by sundry particular testimonies, in euery Chapter al∣most of this booke: especially in the fourth and fift Chapters, where it is proued, that the pretence of the boyes want of sence in his fittes, and the knockinges and motions vnder a couerlet, were all meere fooleries and dissembled cosenages. Besides, although this treatise

hath growne to be ouer tedious: yet very many thinges haue beene omitted, which would more fully haue dis∣couered Maister Darrels iuglinges, and vnconscionable practises. It is true, that lesse might haue beene sufficient in such a paltrie matter: sauing that many haue beene caried so headlong with a preiudicate opinion of as it seemed fit for their better satisfaction, to set out the same more at large, then otherwise it had been conuenient.

The end of the Fourth Booke.

Notes

• M. Darrell ad. art. 1. pag. 215.
• T. Porter, fol. 3.
• Ro. Cooper pag. 97.
• R. Cooper. pag. 199
• M. Aldred. pa. 246.
• Edm. Gar∣land. pa, 246,
• Garland, pa. 197 & pa. 198.
• T. Porter pa 198
• Porter 199
• Ro. Cooper pag. 200
• pag. 199.
• M. Darrell ad. art. 3. pag. 34.
• M. Crauen. fol. 14
• M. Bernard. fol. 13.
• M. Barnard. pag. 254.
• Ed. Garland pag. 301,
• M. Leigh. pag. 266,
• M Aldred. pag. 96.
• Rob. Coop. pa. 106.