A true narration of the strange and greuous vexation by the Devil, of 7. persons in Lancashire, and VVilliam Somers of Nottingham Wherein the doctrine of possession and dispossession of demoniakes out of the word of God is particularly applyed vnto Somers, and the rest of the persons controuerted: togeather with the vse we are to make of these workes of God. By Iohn Darrell, minister of the word of God.

THE HISTORY OF THE 7. IN LANCASHIRE.

At Cleworth in Lancashire within the parish of Leigh, ther dweleth one Nicholas Starchie gentleman who having only two children it went thus with them in the beginning of februari 1594 first Anne his daugh∣ter being 9 Yeares olde, was taken with a dumpish and heauie counte∣naunce and with a certaine fearefull starting and pulling together of her body▪ about a weeke after Iohn Starchie his sonne of the age of 10 yeares, as he was going to the schoole was compelled to shout, neither was able to staie himselfe. after the waxed worse and worse, falling into often and extreame fits, M Starchie seeking for remidy, after 9 or 10 weekes, heard of one Edmund Hartlay a coniurer to whom he repaired, made knowne his greife, & with large profers craued his helpe. Hartlay comes, and after he had vsed certaine popish charmes and hearbs by degrees, the children were at quiet, and so continued, seeming to be well almost a yeare and halfe. all which time Hart. came often to visit them. at length he fained as thought he would haue gone into another country, but wether M Star. might not know: when he begane to goe his way, Iohn fell of bleedinge, then presently he was sent for again, who affirmed that if he had bene 40 rodes of, no man could hau stanched him. & thus it fell out at other tims

M Starchie herevpon feareing lest his children would be troubled in his absence, & he vncertaine where to find him, offered to giue him his table to tarie with them, and so he did for a certaine spac•• but after coue∣naunted with him to giue him an annuel pension of 40s for his assistance in time of neede: which pension was assured him in writing, and began at Michaels day 1598. wherwith Hartlaye not beinge satisfed, desiered more, an house and ground: whervnto because M Starchi would not ac∣cord, he threatened in a fume (M Starchie being absent but in the heare∣ing of diuers) that if he would not fulfil his minde, he would make such a shout as neuer was at Cleworth and so therwas indeed, not only vpon the day and at the instant of there dispossession, but also the day before: when 7. of them both the afternoone and in the euening, sentforth such a strange supernaturall, and fearfull noyse or loud whupping, as the like vndoubtedly was neuer hard at Cleworth, nor it I think in England. this he said in September 1596. & one the 17 day of Nouember folowing they both began to be troubled againe after so long rest.

On a certaine time Hartlay went with M Starchy to his fathers house in Whally parishe, where he was tormented sore all night. The next day, beinge recouered, he went into a little wood, not farr from the house where he maide a circle about a yarde and halfe wyde, deuidingit into 4 partes, making a crosse at every Diuision: and when he had finished his worke, he came to M Starchie and desiered him to go and tread out the circle, saying, I may not treade it out my selfe, and further, I will meete with them that went about my death. when M starchie saw this wreched

The 1. or. 2. weeke of Lent Mistres Starchie required them all. 5. to tell her how they were handled, that certaine knowledge might be had thereof to the preachers:* 1.1 they all; answered, that an angell like a doue was come from god, & that they must follow him to heauen, which way soeuer he would lead them, though it were through neuer so li∣tle a hole, for he toulde them he coulde drawe them through, and soe they ran vnder the beds, And Elizabeth Hardman was vnder a bedde making a hole, and beinge asked what she did? she said that she must goe through the wall for she on the one side, and her lad on the other would soone make a hole. she would (on a time) haue leaped out of the casement through the glasse windowe.

About a fortnight or. 3. weekes before their deliuery, Elinor Hollande and Elizabeth Hardman foretould how many fits they shoulde haue before they slept. and to morrowe quoth El. Hol. in the forenoone I must haue a fit of 3 howers long. when the tyme came shee bad them set the hower glasse. they set it behind her out of her sight, her eys also was closed. she was senclesse, & speachlesse, saue the noting of the time, which she truly noted: saying, ther is a quareter, the halfe hower, and as the glasse was runne out, she sayd turne the glasse, & thus did she 3. tymes or 3. howers. after comming to herselfe she said Iesus blesse mee. which all of them vsually said at the end of ther fites. In like manner did El. Hard. for 2. howers, who beinge demaunded how the knewe this, answered that a white Doue told them so.

About the 19 of march the 4 youngest went on ther knees all morn¦ing vntil afternoone, •• the fleed from all the familye & neighbours into other chambers, calling them deuils with hornes creeping vn∣der the bed. when they had the vse of theire feete, their tongues were taken from them.

when Maister Hopvvood a Iustice of peace came of purpose to take their testimony against Edmond Hartley to Lancaster Assises and had them before him to that end, they were speachlesse, and that daye he gott no answer of them, being called out of one chamber into an o∣ther, they sank down by the way speachlesse. when they spake they complayned that Edmonde would not suffer them to speake against hym.

At the same time Iane Ashton a maid seruant in the house (the. 7. pos∣sessed person of the age of. 30. yeares) began to bark and houle when she shold haue gon to bear witnes against Edmund Hartley. whervpon one of them in her fit said ah Edmond dost thou trouble her nowe when she shold testify against thee? This was the second time that she was troubled. Almost a yeare before, it first tooke her in her throat, as if she had a pyn sticking there, whervpon she strayned her selfe so sore

that she got vp bloud, & for two dayes was very sicke, Mistirs starchie iest gly said, Iane is sicke of the hooke, nay quoth Hartlay I assure you it is no hooke for if your owne daughter or any other had bene in the same place the had bene so serued. As I remember I hard them say that Iane Ashton had gone into Hartlays chamber & looked into his chest.

About the 21. of March El. Hol. & El. Hard. for 3 daye & 3 nights to gether could nether eate nor drinke, nor speake to any except it were on to another, & to ther lads. saue that their lads gaue them leaue (as the said) the one to eate a toast & drink, the other a sower milk posset. And it. notwiihstanding that permissiō thei said he was angry that thei had eaten. & told them that thie should not be quiet, vntil the had cast it vp a gaine so the vomited saying, take it to thee, here it is againe, for thou gauest vs lisence to eate it, & nowe thou art angry. & if the went about to swallow a litle drink the were so taken by the throat, that the pict 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vp againe. The 3 night about 8 a cloke El H••l: being asked when she would or could slepe, answred, that ther were 4 houers it to come. before she could slepe. about an houre & halfe of that time she tooke a distafe, & spane both faster & finer then at any tym before. when she had done spinnīg she said vnto them, now shall I worke you all. and thencforth was so extreamly handled, that tvo could scarcely rule & hold her. at lengh reuerting she said I haue bene sleeping 3 daies & 3 nights, and now I faint with hunger.

About a weeke before there deliuerance some of the youngest vsed these kind of speaches: thou naughtie lad, thou makest vs sicke. for thou knowest the preachers will come shortly.

This generally was obserued in the 5 youngest, that when the gaue themselues to any sporte, the had rest & were pleasaunt though the time was longe. their parents report beyng at a playe in a neighbour gentlemans house many houres together, the were quyet all the tyme (Hartlay boested that he had kept them so longe quyet) but one the contrary as soone as the went about any godly exercise the were trob∣led. And thus much brifly touching those 6 at Cleworth, & the strange accedents which fell out there, as also how in all probabilitie it came to be so with them. now let vs returne to Marg Byrom of Salford, who came to be vexed in like sort, by the appoyntment of God, & by the same mediat hand, the devil, and Hartlay the coniurer.

The 10 of Ianuary (beyng the 4 day after her trouble begane) as shee sate by the kitchyne fyre, shee was throwne towardes the fire, lyinge alonge hard by the chimneye barres as though shee should haue bene rosted. Thence the drwe her and hauinge continued a longe tyme in the fitte and recouerynge, about halfe an houer after, as s••ee satte in a Chaire, shee was throwne headlonge vnder the boarde

but had no harme, and thus was she suddenly and violently cast sun∣drie times after.

She being desired to tel how her fits held her, said that she thought, somthing rouled in her belly like a calfe and laye euer on her left side & when it rose vp from her belly towardes her hart, she thought the head and nose therof had bene full of nailes, wherwith being pricked she was compelled to scrike aloud with veri paine and feare. when her belly was swollē, it lift her vp, & so bounsed that it would picke of the hand of him that held her downe, & somtyme the parti himselfe that held her farr of. when her belly slaked there went out of hir mouth a coulde breath, (that made her mouth very coulde) which caused her to barke and houle, then plumpte it downe into her body like a colde longe whetstone on her left side when her belly was smale, then was the rest of her body be numed with colde, wherwith shee so quaked, that her teeth chattered in her head, and if she went to warme her, she was presenly pickt backward.

About the end of Ianuary from M Starchies, hom she wēt to Salford, a towne adioyning to Manchester, accompanyed with Hartlay and on other. the next morninge as Hartlay prayed ouer her in afite, came one M Palmer a preacher of Manchester, who asked him what he was doinge: he answeared prayinge thou pray, thou canst not pray, quoth he. what prayer canst thou say, none saide he, but the Lordes prayer. say it, quoth he the which as I remember he coulde not say. he then as a priuat man examined him, and after had him before two Iustices of peace: from whom he brought him by ther appointment to Marg. Byr: to heare what she could say against him: but as soone as she saw him shee straightwaye became speachlesse, and was cast downe back∣wardes, and so did the 2 tyme. and 5. tymes was dumbe when Hart∣lay came in her sight, this morning as she came to the fier, she sawe a great blacke dogge, with a monstrous taile, a long chaine open mouth comming apace tawardes her, and running by her left side cast her on her face hard by the fier, houlding her tounge for halfe an hower, but leavinge at libertie her eyes and handes. a litle after a bygg blacke catt staringe fearfully at her came runinge by her left side and threwe her backward taking from her the vse both of her eyes and handes, which with yes king were euer losed. about halfe hower after that fit: it came like a bige mouse and lept vpon her left knee, cast her backward, took a waye her tongue, eyes, and sences, that she lay as dead, and when she came to any feeling, it puft vp her bellye as a fore. these visions and fites ordinarely troubled her for 6 weeks every day on the day time as is said. & commōly everi night it sat (as she though) on her head very heavi laying (as it semed to her) 4. great figers on her browes, that she

was not able to opē her eies. otfē times she cried to her mother, that the should sit from of her Head, asking who it was that held her ••oe straight. & though she could not ster her head, it hir kerchefe was pulled of her head thrice commōly, she notwithstandīg lying still as a stocke from 9 to 3 in the morning, about which time it departed in departing somtimes gaue her a great thumpe, on the hinder parte of her head, that it was verye sore for 2 Dayes after.

Sixe times within those 6. weekes the sperit would not suffer her to eate or drincke, it tooke awaye also her stomake. if shee offered to drincke (at the earnest motion of others) it cast her and the drincke downe to gether. At other tymes shee did eate greedily, slossinge vp her meate like a greedy dogge, or hogge, that her mother and her freindes, weare ashamed of her. styll shee was hungrye and cryed for more, saying shee had nothing, though she spared no kinde of meate: allwas fish that cam to nett. After abundance of meate her belly sem∣ed neuer the fuller, that she marueiled which waye it went.

The 10 of febuari it pulled her as she thought in an hundred peeces. ther came out of her mouth such a stincking smoke, and breath that shee could not endure it her selfe. her voyce and crying were quite altered, and so continued till night. But her breath stank soe yll a day and a nyght after, that her neighboures could not enduer to come neare her.

Often her sences were taken a way, and she maid as styfe as iron, and oft as dead even breathlesse. it made her speake sharplye, hastely, and by snatches: somtimes it made a loud noyse in her bellye, like that in the bellye of a great troting horse.

The two next nights before the day of her examination concerning Hartlay, appeared the deuill in the liknesse of Hartlay requesting her to take heed what she sayd, and to speake the truth, for the time was come promissing her siiluer and gould. she answered (thinking it to be Hartlay) that the truth she had spoken already, & that she would not favour him neither for siluer nor gold: the 2 night he departed say¦ing doe as thou wilt. the day before Hartlay his execution was a sore day vnto her, after which euery day she went to morning prayer, & was neuer troubled in the Church save the 1 day, wheron it took her about the middest of the sermon, in heaving vp her shoulders, de∣priuing her of her sences after the recouery of her sences, it tooke a∣way the vse of her leggs: and thus it molested her in the Church, to the admvration of the people, about an hower and halfe.

At the a••••ices at Lancaster was Hartlay condemned and hanged the making of his circle was chefly his ouerthrowe which he denyed, but breaking the rope he after confessed it.

After this time she had more ease in the day then she was wont, but in the night she lay stif and stark quaking and trembling, till the day she came to Cleworth.

It going thus with the. 6. at Cleworth and the. 7 at. Salford, M. Starchye according to the counsel before giuen him, procured first one preac∣her then an other to see them: but they knew not well what to say to their affliction. After hauing intelligence by D. Dee his butler of the like greuous affliction of Thomas Darling his vncles son, an re∣couery vpon the aduice giuen by my self, he requested D. Dee his let∣ter vnto me (though vnacquainted) and obteyned it, wherwith he sent his owne also, which preuayled not with me.

Thervppon he procured other letters wherof one was from a Iustice of peace therby, and sent the second time vnto me. Then I crauinge first the aduice of many of my brethren in the ministery, met togither at an exercise: yealded to M. Starchyes request, & about 3. wekes after went thither.

On the 16. of March. 96. M. George More pastor of Cawlke in Dar by∣shire, and my self, came to Cleworth. VVhither when we were come M Starchy tould vs, that his sonn had bene well, about a fortnight, and his daughter 4. dayes: and surely to se to they were at that instant as well and free from any possession by Sathan, as any other: which we suspected to procede, from the subtilty of the diuel, & so it proued. Shortly after our comming, as we sat at dinner, came in Margaret Hardman and hir sister, & El: Holland on after another like players to bid vs welcom: forasmuch as no body sent for me said one of them, I am come of my owne accord. And hauing thus spoken shee was throwen backward on a forme, and so all 3. were frangely & greuos∣ly tormented. Their faces (as I remember) were dis••igured, their bo∣dyes (I am sure) greatly swelled, & such a sensible stiring & rumbling within their bodyes, as to ones sight and feling they had some quick thing within each of them: and not only so, but such a violent mouing there was also in their inward parts: (especially in M. Hard∣man) as was easily harde of vs that were present. I remember also among the manifold pleasant speaches they vsed, one or moe of spake iocondly conscerning Edmond Hartlayes hanging, who was thē newly executed, and it was to this effect. Do they thinke they coulde hang the diuel? I wis no: they might hang Ed: but they conlde not hang the diuel: no maruel though the rope brake: for they were two Ed: and the diuel. By that which I hard of his fits (wherof wee haue partly hard before) I for my part then thought, & doe so still that in the end he who had so sweetly (by kisses forsooth) sent the diuel into so many, had by the iust iudgment of god, the diuell sent into him.

Then harde we Iane Ashton howling, and perceiueing it was super∣naturall, and hearing also other strang things concerning her, especi∣all ye that which was new fallen out of the swellīg of her belly wher∣of you shall heare: we affirmed that we thought that she also was pos∣sessed, which neither the family, nor the mayd her selfe mistrusted or feared. and it ther was cause. for besides her first taking with the hoke and the wordes Hartly vsed thervpon, and kisses before with promis of mariag (which all were perhaps forgottē) she was takē with barkīg as the rest were, when M Hopwoode cam to examine them. againe the children said no lesse in their fits, for when she cam in their sight they would say, come and helpe vs for thou art one of our company. And though they neither knew nor speake to any other, yet Iane they knewe, and speake to her onlye in these wordes, thou wilt shortlye come in amongst vs. And she her selfe acknowledged that som times as shecarien vp hot Ianoks, she thought that she could ihaue eatē vp a Ianoke, & often did eat much by stealth, being passyng hungry like M Byrom, and the children, who likwise were sometymes exceed∣inglye greedye of meate. This day also an hower or two before we came, her belly began to swell greatly, so that she compared her bel∣lye to a womans great with child. when it abated a little, a breath came vp her throat, which caused yelling, after it fell downe into hir body like a cold stone, as it did with M By. and as sone as tydings came that we were come, presently her belly was fallne, and as litle as in former time and so continued.

Not long after our comming all 7. being had into a chamber, the one of vs applyed his speach according to the present occasion: and then behold all of them even Iane Ashton, and M Starchies children were presently most greuiously tormented▪ Yea, Satan in Iohn Starchie ex∣ceeded for crueltye.

And thus they contynued all that afternoone. 3. or 4. of them gaue themselues to Scoffing and Blasphemy, calling the holy Bible being brought vp bible bable, bible bable. and thus they did a loud and of∣ten All or most of them ioyned together in a strang and supernatural loud whupping that the house and ground did sound therwith againe by reason wherof we were dryven (as I maye say) out of the cham∣ber and keept out for that daye.

This evening we did vse some words of exhortation, for the sancte∣fiyng of our selues and the family, against the next dayes seruice: im∣mediately before which they all sent forth as they had before) a su¦pernaturall loud whupping and yellyng, such as would haue amased one to haue gone into the roome wher they were, but as one of vs opened his mouth they were presentlye silent and so continued.

The next morning all 7. being had into a faire larg parlor, & laid ther¦on couches, M. More. M. Dickens (a preacher and their pastor) and my self with about. 30. more assembled togither, spent that day in prayer with fasting & hearing the word, all the parties afflicted remayninge in their fits the said whole day. Towards the end wherof, they all of the sudden began to be most extreamly tormēted, beting vp & downe with their bodies being held by others, crying also (6 of them) aloud in strang and supernaturall manner, & after they lay as dead. where∣with they which were present were so affected: that leuing that good order which all the day had ben kept, confusedly euery on with voice and hands lifted vp, cryed vnto god for mercy in their behalf, and the lord was pleased to heare vs, so as. 6. of them were shortly delyuered, wherin we with them reioyced, & praised god for the same.

The first that was dispossesed was M. Byrom, then all the residu (saue Iane Ashton) one shortly after an other, betwen. 5. and. 6. at night. she began to be vexed by sathan about. 4, or. 5, in the morning and neuer had rest vntill her deliuerance. All that day she hard only a humming and a sound but knewe nothing what was said: she could thus heare but not see. Somtime she sawe & then marueyled what the company did ther, and how she got thither: howbeit she heard euery idle word that the children possessed had, she was more extreamly handled that daye then any before, though she had had many sore daies. She was euer full of payne, and it semed to her as though her hart would haue burst▪ she strayned vpmuch fleamy and bloudy matter Lastly she lay as dead for the space of half an houre, taking no breath. Then start she vp most ioyfully, magnifying god, with such. a chere∣full countenance and voyce, that we all reioyced with her, but were somwhat amazed at hir suddayn lauding of god, with such freedome & earnestnes in speach and gesture.

Iohn Starchy the next was so miserably rent that aboundance of blod gushed out both at his nose and mouth. As the day before, so that day he gnashed fearfully with his teeth, he also lay as dead about the like time, soe that some said to vs, he seemeth to be dead. Then start he vp likwise on the suddain, & praysed god in most cherful & comforta∣ble manner. And so did the rest, who also made sundry tymes greate shewe of vomyting and nowe and then vomyted indeede, somthing like fleam thick spettle. Theis. 4. especially. 3. of them vsed much light behauinur and vayn gestures, sundry also filthy scurrilous speaches, but whispering then for the most part among themselues, so as they were no let to that holy exercise we then had in hand. Somtimes also they spake blasphemy calling the word preached, bible bable he will neuer haue done prating, prittle prattle

M, Hardman why lest M. More was praching vsed these wordes, I must goe I must away: I cannot tarrie, whither shall I goe? I am hot, I am too hot. I will not dye, iterating them all. which wordes did greatly incou∣rage vs.

VVhen these 6 were deliuered, some desired to know how they ass∣uered themselues therof, and they answered as followeth. M Byr: said that she felt it come vp from her bellye towardes her brest, thence to her throat:* 1.2 when it left her throate it gaue her a sore lug, and all this whyle a darke mist dazeled her eyes. Then she felt it to go out of her mouth, but it left behind it asore throat & afilthy smel, that aweke af∣ter her meate was vusauary. It went out in the liknes of a crowes head rounde, (as to her semed) and sate in the corner of the parlor, with darknes about it a whyle. Then went it with such a flash of fyer out of the windowe, that all the Parlor semed on fyre, to her onlye.

Iohn Starchie: said it went from hym lyke a man with a bulch on his blacke very yll fauored. and presently he returned to haue reentered, but he withstood hym strong in faith. the same in effect said M Hard. Anne Starchy said, he went like a foule vgly man, with a white beard and a great bulch on his brest as big as a mans head. and straitway re∣turned to haue reentered, but she faithfully resisted, Euen so said El. Hol. the whit beard excepted.

El. Hard said, it was like an vrchin, and went through a very litle hole (as she thought) out of the parler, but out of hand returned a gaine in a very foule shape promising her golde, and whatsoeuer shee would desier, if she would giue him leaue to enter againe, but she yealded not. then he threatened to cast her into a pit, saying somtime thou wilt go a lone. he said also, he would cast her into the fyre, and breake her neck, but she resisting he departed like an vrchine.

And thus the first dayes worke was happily ended. But behold the slight of the wyly serpent, for when we were all at rest, the sperits sett vpon the 5 little children, like so many wulues the seely Lambes. the poore children being newly recouered, and suddenly inuaded, wereso frighted that they clasped fast about their middles that lay with them and hid their faces with ther bed clothes. M. Dickons was called down who comming saw them resisting, and encouraged them to standfast neuer to yeald, but to pray and resist with faith. & shortly they were well and fell a slepe.

The next day we inquired how the were assalted. M. By. said it cam to her like an vgly black man with shoulders higher then his head, promysing her enought if she wold consent, and that he would lye still when she vtterly denyed him and prayed against him, he threat∣ned to cast her into apitt as she went home. But when she resisted he

cast her to the ground, and departed twise as byg, and foule as hee came, with two flashes of fyer, one before & another after him, ma∣king a noyse like a great wynd among trees. She was not assaulted at midnight with the 5 but after supper before she went to bed.

Iohn Starchy sayd he came in the former likenes, making many large proffers, baggs of gould &c. But when he sawe he nothing preuayled with sugred wordes, he vsed terrible menaces, saying he wold breake his neck &c. Anne Starchy said he came in the former likenes.

M. Hard. said he came in the same forme he went out proffring golde but she refusing, he threatned to breake her necke, cast her into a pyt, and drowne her and so departed.

El. Hard. said he came like a beare with fyer in his mouth wherwith she was so terrifyed that she lept quite out of her bed, and rann from him, she wist not whither: but one of the company stayed her. Then he desyred her to open her mouth, as he opened his, shewing her two bagges, one of siluer an other of gold, promising her 9 times as much but not preuayling he ran away as a beare that breakes loose from the stake when she was layd downe and prayed, he came agayn like an ape, promising her golde &c, at her pleasure. Then he menaced to cast her out of the windowe, and into the fyer if euer she stood neare it, and so departed: very foule & with an horrible scryke.

El: Hol. said he came like a great beare with open mouth vpon her, & presently turned it selfe into the similytude of a white doue: but shee resisted, and it departed.

Thus we haue hard of the dispossession of 6. & what thinges fell out therein, as also presently after the same: it resteth that we conuert our speach to Iane Ashton the 7. Sathan vpon the aforesaid day towardes euening put her to extreame payne, and continued the same longe very neare 2. houres after their deliuerance, intising her to say he was gon and to make shew of welfare, promising that he would not mo∣lest her at all. She to be at ease consented, and pretended in wordes to be as well as the rest, but we thought otherwise, because the signes of dispossession were wanting. After she had herein yelded to the diuell (which she concealed vntill after her deliuerance) she was as free frō any vexation by him as the rest: notwithstanding we prayed or shee prayed: wheras before for 3. houres togither, her fyt beinge ended the shortest prayer that might bee being vsed, she wold be in an other most greuous to beholde.

All night shee was very well, the next morning also, vntill we 3. (who were to be leaders that day also, in that holy action we had in hand▪ hauing shut our dore) had cast doune our selues before the throne of grace, to craue the direction & assistance of gods spirit in the worke

we were to enter vpon this) I say) we had no soner don, but behold the chamber wher we were, yea the whol house did ring of her a gaine, wherby we were not a litle comforted & incouraged, to enter the second tym into the feild. for therby we were assured, that we were not deceiued, and that satan was certainly in her. after we can downe into the parlor, whether many more resorted that day then the other to the number of about 50. we all being exercised as the day aforesaid. This morning she was sore tormented. she often sem∣ed, to vomyt vp all, and it got vp only alitle, fleame. and when shee hanged downe her head to vomyt, often the sperit would all to shake her as an angrie mastife a litle cur dogg, so that after her de∣liuery she was very hoarce & weake. About on of the clocke she be∣ing very extreamly tormēted, fel a wepīg that teares, trickled downe, & after lay as dead alitle space reuerting she said, he is gon, and gaue thanks for her deliuerance. it went out like a great breath, vgly like a toad, roūd like a ball & within an houer after it returned like a foule big blacke man, but she resisted, & it departed. when we saw clearly that she was dispossessed, we asked her why she dissemled the other night. she told vs that the said euening it was com vp from her belly to her brest, thence to her throat, wher it held her as at her first takīg, thence to her head. then she said, it desired her to tell vs that he was gon, & promised her not to moue or hurt her, & that she should lack nothing, why said we, would you harken to the deuill? because (said she) I was very sore, and he promysed me ease, but he hath deceau∣ed me. quoth M Dickons beleue the deuil againe. beware of lying, he teacheth to lye, and you are taught for lying.

This day & 2 or 3. following, the vncleane spirits returned euer & anone in visible formes vpon all 7. throwing some of them violently downe before vs all, depriuing others for a little space of the vse of sō member of thir bodies, as arme or legg: sekīg also both by godly pro∣mises, of siluer, gold, silks, veluit, which they thought verily they saw) & such like, & fearful threats their consents to reēter, without which it should seeme satan cannot reenter, though he cane first enter. But from giuing such consēt and yealding vnto satan therin god in mer∣cy keept 6. of them: who since that tyme (praysed be God therfore) were neuer more nor lesse, they nor any of them molested by satan vntil this day, neyther it the 7 Iane Ashton vntill a good space after, when she leauing M Starchies house, went and dwelt in a place of ig∣norance & among papists,* 1.3 & became popish herselfe, as I haue hard. for which opertunitie & aduātag the deuill watching, & noe doubt compasing, he then recouered her, & now dwelleth their whose last estat with Kat: wrights & Will. Somers, shall be worse then their first.

Here followeth, the story of William Somers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  this sheweth that the deuill transformed himselfe, and appeared vnto them like an an¦gell of ••ight
• * 1.2

  in like sort William So∣mers had asore throat after the departur of the spirit:
• * 1.3

  Luke 11. 26.