like M Byrom and the children who likwise were sometymes exceedinglye greedye of meate This day also an hower or two before we came her belly began to swell greatly so that she compared her bellye 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 exceeded 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 often 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 chamber and keept out for that daye This evening we did vse some words of exhortation for the sanctefiyng of our selues and the family against the next dayes seruice immediately before which they all sent forth as they had before a supernaturall 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 theron 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 wherewith 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 cherefull 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 comfortable 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 incourage vs. VVhen these 6 were deliuered some desired to know how they assuered 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 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 after 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 returned 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
case and when such occasion is offered That is wheÌ„ any great worke of god is wrought in our eyes that some shall goe about to mocke at it and bring vp an euill name of it that then and in such a case we must not be silent and content our selues with this that we our selues conceiue well of the worke and profite by it but we must open our mouthes wide in the defence of it labouriÌ„g to our vttermost to stope the mouth of the gainsayer to wipe away the slaunder least others also receiue hurt thereby and that God may haue the glorie of his work of allmeÌ„ if it be possible And as all the beholders of such a work are vpoÌ„ all occasions to beare witnes therevnto to iustifie the same when it is denyed or slaundered as they are able as shall hereeafter further appeare so those specially vpon whom the worke hath bene wrought or haue bene principall witnesses theirof If then I desire to walke in the steeps of S. Peter yea of Christ Iesus himselfe and to practise that which the holy ghost in theire examples and practise in the like case with ours doth commend vnto vs how could I doe otherwise then make this Apologie And if I should haue abstayned from the publishing theirof I see not but that theirin I should haue failed in the performance of a necessarie dewtie and so sinned against god preferred my owne quiet before the glorie of god and good of his people Neither let any maÌ„ thinke that it would have suffised to haue done this inspeach for to speake all that might be said in a corner to some few would not availe seeing this vile slaunder and evill reporte of the workes of god my selfe whom god vsed theirin hath spread it selfe farr and neare even throughout the whole land to the obscuring and drakening yea annihilating of them if it were possible it was necessarie therfore that that which should be said for the convincing thereof and in iustificatiâ—n of these workes should goe as far wide which could not be without printinge This I say considered it were not sufficient for me or a sufficient discharge of my dutye to wysper that which followeth in the eare or speake of it in a corner but rather to speake of that in the light which I haue seene in darknes and what I haue heard in the eare and beheld in secret places to preach on the houses Moreover if it be so that the doctrine of possession and of dispossession and of the meanes thereof etc doe lye in a manner hid not knowne nor acknowledged almost by any Is it not high time it were reuealed and brought to light Is it not parte of the counsell of god to the reuelation of all which wee are debtors And when can any thinge be done more seasonably then now to treat both of the generall doctrine and particular workes we speake of what can come in better season then even now a treatise concerninge William Somers his possession when the eares of all men are opened to heare what can be saide as touching the said Somers how many are their not onlye of the common sorte but of those which are noble wise and learned which are verie desierous to be informed in the truth of this matter and could this possiblie haue bene done but by this course I haue taken And by whom should this latter be performed but by my selfe considering I onely haue bene a cheife witnes of the possession and dispossession of all these persons controverted and called by god therevnto I ran not to any of my selfe wherin and in callinge me to suffer for the same the Lord seemeth to me to haue singled me out though most vnworthy and more vnfite then many others to this speciall worke It stoode me then vpon to performe this service whervnto god hath called appoynted me otherwise I should haue my reward with the vnprofitable servant If either for feare or slouthfulnes I had fayled theirin Heerevnto I might add that I see many erring exceedinglye herein and greatlie mistakinge this matter both in the generall and particular and heereof I am most sure and able also to make that evident vnto them should I then haue done well to let them alone And for asmuch as many not onely of the irreligious but of such as professe the feare of god as in experience I haue obserued regard not these workes of god either receiuing the false report that is giveÌ„ out against them or not earnestly considering of them to the stirring vp of their owne hartes to prayse god for the same make their vse of them wherevpon it cometh that the best of these are vnable to de fend and cleare these workes from that evill name of counterfeitinge which is cast vpon them and stope the mouth of the aduersarie and that non of them contendeth according to his place for them the convincinge of the aduersarie that these I say may see their sinne be prouoked with others to heare and consider of that which followeth they must remember that all the workes of the Lord are great and ought to be sâ—ught out of all them that loue them and theirfore this that it is the propertie of a wise man to obserue the workes of God and therefore of fooâ—es to neglect or not regard them VVhen the prophet had throughout the 107. Psalme made mention of the manifould workes or the Lord and often moued men to confesse before the Lord his louing kindnes and his wonderfull works before the sonnes of men he concludeth thus who is wise that he may obserue these thinges In the 77. Psalme the prophet in the name of the Church saith I remembred the workes of the Lord I did also meditate in all thy workes and did deuise of thine actes And Dauid thus I meditate in all thy workes I doe meditate the workes of thine handes This is the end of the Lordes great workes He hath made his wonderfull workes to be had in remembrance VVhen the Lord then doth any great worke we must remember and obserue it yea meditate theirin that so we may the better behold the power the wisdome the Iustice and mercy of God and prayse and magnifie him for the same Thou Lord saith the prophet hast made me glad by thy works I will reioyce in the workes of thine hands O Lord how glorious are thy workes And againe declare his workes amonge the people singe vnto him sing prayse vnto him and talke of all his wonderfull workes And as thus we are to obserue meditate and remember the workes of God and prayse him for them and not onely so but to others also talkâ— of his workes declare or publish them to his people so it is the duetie of all the Lords people to iustifie and defend them when there shall be a slaunder raysed vpon them as partly is touched before VVhen Christ had cast
sonne vnto thee which hath a dumbe spirit yea not only the men but the simple weomen also were acquainted with this disease haue mercy on mee Lord said a poore Canaanitish woman vnto Christ my daughter is miserably vexed by the diuell And least we should ymagine either that this child was not possest or that the mother knew not somuch Mark saith plainly this child had an vncleane spirit and that this woman besought Christ that he would cast the diuel out of her daughter whereby it appeareth that she knew or at least tooke it and that rightly that the diuel was in her child Seing then I say that the common people were so well acquainted with this disease and could so truly discerne the same it must needes be that both many were possest and had soe bene of long time for otherwise the vulgar sort as we all in reason experience know could not possibly haue attayned to that knowledg Hence it followeth that many were possessed vnder the lawe befor Christ was manifested in the flesh into whome it cannot be that god sent vncleane spirits to the end that the diuinity of Christ might appeare in their myracalous eiection but for some other cause or causes best knowne vnto his maiesty and namely to chastice them for their sinnes as is manifest by that wee haue alleadged before out of Deut 28. and 29. which is the cause of all iudgments though god alwayes respect not that principally but sometimes besides his owne glory Iohn 9. 3. some other thing best knowne to himself as we see in the example of Abraham Iob with others and by sundry testimonyes of holy scripture To returne therefore againe to speake of those parties we intreate of Yf any obiect against this possession that in all these thinges we were deluded by sathan by whom our sences were deceyued so that wee semed to see that which we did not see indeede To such I answer that if any such thing were then not our sight alone but all our sences were deceiued our tasting only excepted for we did not only see looke vpon with our eyes strange and impossible accidents but heard also with our eares and handled with our handes yea sundry smells there were some times moste swéete and delectable at other tymes most noysome stinking no man knowiÌ„g from whence they came as is to be deposed by many Now it is hard that so many sences shold be deceaued But what is more against sence then to ymagine and obiect that here He fomed as white as the snowe as thike as that which commeth from the horse or boare About 150. of vs beheld this offt and many times and somtime for an hower together ropinge downe along on his breast It was to be felt It was wiped awaye the cloth wett therwith in the sight of vs all shall we now saye he seemed to fome but did not fome he was of that strength that diuers times 4. or 5. though they had great advantag of him could not rule him what is there more against common sence then to affirme that he seemed onlye to be of such strength but was not so which of their sences I praye you how manye of theire sences were deceaued which tried their strenght with his whither was there not somthing els deceiued besids ther outward sences If herein my sences were deceiued I will trust them the worsse whylst I haue them yea I assure you yf the case were so I could not tell when or wherin to trust them lest they shold deceiue me as they did then all the witneses herof yf they will speake according to their knowledge and consiene and I doubt not but are of the same Iudgment with me Againe thus one might haue obiected against the possession of those which had euill spirits in them wheÌ„ Christ and his Apostles were vpon earth as well with as good colour apparance of truth as against the possession of such as we speake off But if one should haue done so had he not spurned against the truth and by consequence bene in great fault yes verilye so suerlye doe they and are no lesse faultie which obiect this against vs and the possession we striue for Take heed therfore good christian reader I beseech thee lest whilest thou stand for the delusion of sathan he delude and deceaue thee And thus much for proofe of the possession of they persones aboue named The end of the First Parte HERE FOLLOVVETH THE SECOND PARTE The 2. part That they were verily dispossessed and of the meanes wherby the same was wrought Hauinge sufficiently proued euen by the testimony of holy scriptures those persons we treate of were verily possessed with the diuell with such vnanswerable reasons as may suffice any indifferent man that is not ouercarried with preiudice or partiallity againste the cause so as it is altogither needelesse to speake any thinge further for proofe therof now it followeth that we proue likewise with such inuincible arguments the dispossession of them in handlinge of which point we must remember that whatsoeuer shall make for proofe of their dispossession the same also confirmeth further their possession for how can a man be dispossessed of the dyuell if he was neuer possessed thereof That this may the better appeare let vs looke into the dispossession of those mentioned in the gospell and therewithall see what thence may be gathered for confirmation of their dispossession we speake of In the aforenamed place of Marke it is said that Iesus hauing charged the vncleane spirit to come out of the childe then the spirit cryed c. that is ymediatly after the charge or commaundement giuen to the spirit and therevpon the spirit cryed rent him sore came out and he was as one dead insomuch that many said he is dead Nowe after this very manner it went with the aforesayde Doemonyakes at the instant of their deliuerance or amendment First it is said the spirit rent him sore and came out whereby is insinuated the greatnes and extremity of the childes torments ymediatly before the egresse of the spirit aboue that which is ordinary for before it is said he tare him here that he tare or rent him sore notinge by this addition an increase of paine The like we reade Luke 4. where Christ commaunding the diuell to come out of a man it followeth imediatly then the diuell throwing him in the midst of them came out of him and hurâ— him nothing at all whereby it appeareth that the possessed some little time before the egresse or going out of the spirit are excedingly tormented As Danaeus noteth vpon this place of Marke when Christ commeth and approcheth neere vs saith he then doth the diuell teare and torment vs more eagerly as he did that child at that time Fâ—r as Isodorus writeth then the diuell doth more cruelly rage agaynst him whâ—me he possesseth when
them with out making any further vse of the same and doe not withall behold consider the invisible things of God as his power wisdom Iustice mercye our beholding of them is in vaine to vs and not onlye so but wee theirby also take the Lordes name in vaine even so shall it goe with vs yf in this extraordinarie worke of God we looke onlye vpon it as some new and strange thing without any further proceeding to profite theirby Yea if we be bound by the lawe of God to profite and receiue good by euery ordinarie worke of the Lord much more by that which is extraordinarie for an extraordinarie worke calleth for an extraordinarie vse and it is adouble sinne to faile therein The vse we are to make of this extraordinarie worke either concernâ—th the glorie of God and the stirring of vs vp to magnifie his great name or the benefit of man and good he may receiue thereby First herein as in a glasse wee may beholde the iustice of god in pu nnishing or correctinge sinne wherby the Lorde teacheth vs to take heed of sinninge against him least either the same or a worse thinge come vnto vs. Secondly we see the omnipotencie and power of God 1 in the powere and strength of the deuil which God permitteth him to exercise a ga inst sinners 2 in subduing those principalities and powers Satan I mea ne treading him vnder his feet yea vnder the feet of his seruants who then that is wise will serue the Lord in feare and trembling Thirdly the mercye of God is to be seene in this worke in deliuering them and that at the humble intreatie of others in there behalfe they being disabled by satan to supplicate for themselues This being well considred magnisieth greatly the mercie and compassion of the Lorde vvho can chuse but loue him because of his mercies and why should any dispaire of his mercie seinge he is so ready to shew mercie euen at the intreatie of others How much more when man shall sup plycatt for himselfe This vse Christ Iesus him selfe maketh in saying to the man whom he had dispossessed goe shew how the Lorde hath had compassion on thee Fourthly wee maye here beholde the wisdom immutabilite of God as being the same who neuer changeth In that as he hath bene allwa yes accustomed to doe he brought this rare great worke to passe by smalle and weake meanes base and contemptible men yea such as be vile and odious in the eyes of the world That thereby the power of God might be the better seene man in his wisdom be confounded and the name of God the better praysed In a word that he which re ioyceth in the behalfe of this worke might not reiovce in man but in the Lord. To him therfore to whom of right it belongeth be the prayse and glory of this worke ascribed Fiftly The saitthfulness of God in the performance of his promyse offereth it selfe here to our consideration These wordes this kind goeth not out but by praier fasting secretly containe in them this promise that if any be possâ—ssed we in the humiliti of our souls by fast ing will intreate the Lord to cast the sperit out he will doe it for vs and deliuer the partie from beinge any further vexed by Satan This the Lord hath promised the accomplishmente wherof we haue seene with our eies let vs herby learne to trust to the least and most close secret promise God â—ath made vs in his worde and save in our harts and with our toungs God is not as man that he should lye be vnfaithfull neither as the sonne of man that he should repent and not performe that he hath promised Hath he said and shall he not doe it and hath he spâ—ken and shall he not accomplish it Hath he promised and will he not performe it And thus much breifly concerning the glory of God de cleared in this worke now followe the seuerall vses concerning man and the profite he otherwise is to make hereof First this great and wonderfull worke of the lord serueth to conuince and stope the mouthes of the papistes who as they are alwayes boastinge of their miracles and vpbraiding vs with the same so espetially with this miracle of theirs as they terme it of casting out of diuils whervpon it hath come to passe that some of this bragging generation in Staffordshire in the time of Th. Darlinge his possession as also in Lanca shire in the time of the possession of those 7. there haue broken forth into these and such like wordes of challenge Let vs see one of your ministers cast out these diuils If we might bring a preist wee are sure he could doe it And in a booke latelye written by one of their side wherin some of there exorcists and preists pretend to haue dispossessed 3. here in England I read these wordes Now saith the authour let me see wether they protestants can avouch any such thing to be done in their congregations And in another place thus they protestants haue smale meanes to make triall whether ther be any possessed among them or no lesse iudgment to discerne ther case and much lesse remidie yf any such be found other then to bind beate send them to Bedlem if the be poore or to begg their liuings if they haue any And in theire annotationes of the Rhomes testament vpon these words of they disciples to Christ why could not wee cast him out they gyue this note Noe mareuill yf they exorcistes of the Catholicke Church which haue power to cast out Deuiles yet doe it not allwayes when they will and many times with much adoe wheras they Apostles hauing receiu ed this power before ouer vncleane spirites yet here could not cast them out But as for heritickes they can neuer doe it nor any true myracle to confirme their false faith Thus wee see they doe not only deny that Deuilles are so vsuallye cast out by vs as it is with them but which is more most peremptorilye they affirme that wee whom they terme heritickes can neuer doe it spetiallye to confirme our false faith To passe by the dispossessiones of others even of late veares which might fitly be here obiected against them what say they to the 〈◊〉 ssession of Kath. Wright of Tho Darling finally of they other 〈◊〉 persons wee haue so largly intreated off That they were all 〈…〉 vncleane spirits and that the same were cast out of them I 〈…〉 die bene so evedentlye sheewed and confirmed by reason out of the scriptures that neither papist nor athist can without blushing gaynsay the same And that those whom they call heritickes were the instruments the Lord vsed therin it is also most manifest How then say they Rhemists that heretickes can neuer cast out diuils But to examine the truth of this their annotation a liâ—tle further be that granted which they papistes