CHAP. III. How M. Darrell indeuoured to excuse Somers when hee was ta∣ken short, and did such toyes, as did argue him sufficiently to be but a counterfeit.

WHen M. Darrell could not alwaies so preuaile, but that many vppon diuers occasions would bee dea∣ling with the boy in his fittes: and thereuppon perceiued by their words, that they did collect by di∣uers circumstances, that he had his sences, and so did dissemble: he the said Maister Darrell was charged by her Maiesties said Commissioners,* to haue laboured by all the meanes hee could with this excuse, and that excuse, how hee might withstand and preuent that conceit and opinion. Some∣what to this purpose he himselfe confesseth: but more is Page  231 deposed. I haue at sundry times said, that Sathan in his sub∣tiltie hath done in the boy some sleight and trifling things, at di∣uers times, of purpose to deceiue the beholders, and to beare them in hand, that he did neuer greater thinges in him: there∣by to induce them to thinke, that he was a counterfeite.

Whilest I was in these practises (saith Somers) diuers would snatch at the spirite,* which they supposed to haue beene vnder the couerlet or clothes with me, and did thereby sometimes catch mee by the hand, sometimes by my foote, and sometimes by my knee: which M. Darrell perceiuing, and that some did thereby ima∣gine that it was but my knauery, hee told them that out of doubt it was the Deuill that made those motions, and that he did some∣times put my hands or feet into their hands that catched at them, of purpose thereby to hinder the glorie of God, which in this work he said, did manifestly appeare. But when he was present, he would not suffer (as neere as he could) any to catch at the said supposed spirits, nor to cast vp the couerlet or cloathes, as otherwise vsu∣ally they did, to haue seene the Deuill, as they pretended.

When Somers and M. Darrell had beene deceiued by the secret bringing of widdow Boote the pretended witch into the chamber, where Somers lay in one of his fittes: whereby they not knowing thereof, Somers lay quiet, both at her comming in, and at her going out: M. Dar∣rell greatly misliking that practise when he knew of it, and perceiued that some thereby supposed the boy to dis∣semble, did labour to perswade those that were present (saith Somers) that they should not so thinke or suspect: affirming it to be the Deuils practise,* and that Sathan woulde not of purpose vexe me at those times as he had done before, that so he might (as much as lay in him) rob God of his glory, and blemish the great works which he did shew in me.

When Somers fell to his fittes againe after Christmas,* I see∣ing Page  232 him doe and acte certaine foolish toyes, was therewith dis∣contented: and tolde Maister Darrell before diuers, that I verily thought the boy did dissemble. And Maister Darrell gaue me this answere: that such things as hee did, were but the illusions of the Deuill, assuring me, that hee did not dissem∣ble, but was againe repossessed. And againe: Maister Dar∣rel would alwaies excuse the boy,* if he did any thing that might be thought to be counterfeit: saying, that it was the Deuill that did the same, thereby to blemish the glorie of God.

*Being many times and often with the boy, I obserued in him many foolish and friuolous gestures: which gaue me some sparke of suspition of his dissimulation. For in all those fittes, Maister Darrell would say: let him alone, it is not hee in deed, but the Deuill that doth it: and vpon the like occasions would fur∣ther affirme, that the Deuill indeuoured to darken the worke of God.

*Againe, I heard Maister Aldred charge the boy, to take heed that hee did not dissemble: whereunto the boy aunswered, that he did not dissemble: for (saith he) I do not know of any strange thinges that you say I haue done: and thereupon Maister Dar∣rell said: let him alone, it is not hee in deed, but the Deuill that doth it.* And againe, Maister Darrell did labour to perswade the people, and that in his Sermons, that when the boy had done something that might argue him to be a dissembler, it was but a practise of the Deuill, thereby to blemish the glory of God.

*Maister Darrell hath said before the boy, to such as haue beene medling with him in his fits: let him alone, for it is not hee, but the Deuill, and that the Deuill would hinder the glory of God, by all the meanes he could.

*I telling Maister Darrell diuers times (saith M. Lowe) that if the Deuill were in Somers, I wondred that Somers could speake no language but English: Maister Darrell answered me Page  233 (as hee did generally to my argument that was alleadged of the boyes counterfeyting) that the Deuill did it to hinder the glory of God in his dispossession.

Being intreated by M. Euington to come to Garlands house,* to see the boy in his fits, and to confirme mee that hee was not a counterfeite, because I had alwayes doubted him so to bee: I went thither, where I found Maister Darrell, M. Dodde, M. Hildersham, M. Aldridge, M. Euington, and others. At my first comming into the house, I found the boy in no fitte: but vpon some few speeches vsed to him by the Ministers, he presently fell into one. In the which fitte he continued a while, and then foamed excedingly: whereat (quoth M. Darrell, and the rest of the ministers) marke I pray you, for this is the especiallest signe of his repossession. Hereupon suspecting something, I laid my head close to the boyes head, where I heard a kind of grating of some∣what betwixt his teeth, & then I told Garland the boyes keeper, that I thought something was in his mouth. Whereupon Gar∣land, taking him by the haire of the head, and I by his mouth, we shooke out of his mouth a peece of blacke leade, & thereupon he a∣waked out of his fit. Then quoth Maister Aldridge, Will. hadst thou not a peece of blacke leade about thee, or in thy mouth: no quoth the boy. And vpon this the foresaid ministers generally con∣cluded, that it was a practise of the Deuil, to throw the said black leade into the boyes mouth, thereby to choke him.

In one fit I saw William Somers froath at the mouth very much, so as the foame roaped downe into his necke:* and at one time I found a peece of blacke leade in his mouth.

At one time I foaming (saith Somers) very much in my fit,* Edm. Garland vpon some mans motion (as I suppose) would needes search if I had any thing in my mouth: and I confesse, that he found there a peece of blacke leade, which I had put into my mouth, that therby I might foame in more aboundant maner.

Some other examples might be brought of M. Darrels Page  234 shifting deuises, to preserue the boyes credite, or rather his owne. For this course was vsuall with him, insomuch as when he was absent, & that the boy did any thing that went a wry, his schollers were so cunning, that they were able to coyne him some excuses.

Edward Freeman,* going one morning with two or three Shoemakers to Garlands house, and perceiuing that whi∣lest he was there, Somers would not fall into any of his fits, he departed, being desirous that the Shoemakers (who had neuer seene him) should then see a fitte: and at his de∣parture he told them, that as soone as he was gone, they should see him in one.

This Freeman was one, to whome Somers before had confessed his counterfeiting, and therefore hee forbare his fittes whilest he was present. But he was no sooner out of the dores almost, when he fell to his prankes. Now at the said Freemans departure, Mistres Aldridge affirmed, that the Deuill woulde not shew any thing to them that did not belieue.

*Likewise when M. Crauen twitching Somers by the fin∣ger in one of his fits: he the said Somers cried: Oh who is that that nips me? One Wilkinson to excuse the matter said, that it might be the Deuill was then leauing him, when Maister Crauen began to nip him.