Darrell.

As before the Disc. hath tould vs that I instructed So. in his prac¦tises from the 5. of Nouember vntill the 7. 2. to dissemble a reposses¦sion. 3. certayne tricks vnder a couerlett, by speaking to others in Som. hearing: so heere he saith the same concerning the detecting of witches: that I instructed him therein, by speaking to others in his hearing. Hence it commeth that both in these seuerall instructiors a•…nages mē∣tioned by the Discouerer, and the depositions prouing the same and namely this touching witches, we haue ordinarily some of these clau¦ses, in the presence of Somers.* in the boyes presence, the boy being present, Somers being present, in the presence of the boy, M. Dar•… affirmes t• these that were with the boy, in the hearing of Somers, before Somer &c. And those with such like clauses are most materyall, and such as might not Page  108 be omitted, for then my cunning instructing, and depositions concer∣ning the same doe fall to the grounde. Did euer any since the worlde was made publish to the world for truth and in good earnest, so absurd and ridiculous stuff, as this is of my instructing So. by speaking to others in h•• hearing, what I would haue him to doe? The Disc. speaketh of∣ten o• wonders, he may well let this go among one o• them, for I am sure it is a matter to be wondred at were it true, viz. that Darrell and Somers should agree togither about counterfeyting a possession, dupo¦fession &c. which are not very easy to be counterfeyted, meere toge¦ther thereabout for the space or 4. or 5. yeares, haue instuctions in writing paise betwene them, after comming to d•eii at the same to∣wne meete often in Dar. chamber alone, and euen then when t••ele counterfeyt tricks were doing, and yet notwithstanding •efer an•ther instructing and learning vntill the very time cameth the•. So. ••id do his feytes before others. One woulde thinke t•••men woulde ra••r hi•se at these things then beleeue them. but by 〈◊〉 ne••cable experience we see it is otherwise: wherein the folly of ma•, a•d now easily hee is missed and seducep, doth euidently appeare.

George Richardson deposeth thus,* One Mistrisse Wallis and others did talke in the roun• where So. lay, of such persons as were suspected to he witche•, before be the said Somers did name them.

By this deposition of the Disc.* owne witnesse as I may say, (& therefore not by him not to be denye• for sure testimony) this last sup∣posed instruction of myne is very much weakened, for it is verye vn∣likely that I did instr•t him to dete•t witches, seeing I did not dy∣rect him what persons he shoulde name for witches, as appeareth by this deposition, which ymplyeth that he had such direction only from this speach of Mistresse Wallys and others, But what if Mistresse Wallys and the rest had not come in the nick, as I may say? or comminge had 〈◊〉 named these persons suspected to be witches? or if they had named them, yet had not so done in the roome where Somers lay, that is not in his hearing? I fall these things had not fallen out thus hand patt as the say, where had then bene this detecting of witches? For it must needs be that evther this cosenage had neuer bene, or Som. had at •east na∣med other persons. But it may be that Mistresse Wallys at least if not the others had confederated with me about my teachinge So. to coun∣terfeyt, and there are these circumstances to strengthen it. 1. S•ee is my wifes sister. 2. when it was she was not t•ngur-ty•• what a man her brother was. 3. Shee writ a letter vnto me to come ouer an• see, •om. 4. we heare what wordes shee vttered (if we may be•leue George Ri∣chardson swearing) and that in So. h•aring. Considering these circum∣stances surely the Disc. did greatly forgett himselfe, for el•e vndoubt∣edly Page  109 when it was, he woulde haue deposed and examyned Mistrisse Wallys about this matter.