THE beginning of the history taken with Barnes beeing read vnto this examinate,The booke of miracles extant vpon record. how ſhe began firſt to be poſſeſſed, beeing about the age of 15 or 16 yeeres, viz: how ſhee had beene diuers times ſcared with vgly viſions: how ſitting one night late by the fire, three terrible Cats ſprauled about this examinate: how one leapt ouer her head, another crept betweene her legs: how a ſtrange huge Cat as big as a Mastiffe, ſtared vppon her with eyes as big as a ſaucer: and how afterward the ſame wicked ſpirit met her in the likenes of a Cat, comming out of a hollow tree, as ſhe was ſeeking for eggs. She ſaith, that all theſe things thus written of her, are moſt falſe: and that ſhee greatly wondreth, that any man would ſo write: onely ſhe ſayth, that from a child ſhe could neuer endure the ſight of a Cat. And that when ſhee dwelt with Maiſter Maynie at Denham, (which was about a yere before ſhe went to Miſtris Peckham) ſhee walking one day in a wood by the houſe, and looking for ſome Hennes (as ſhee remembreth) ſhee eſpyed a Cat comming out of a hedge, which did feare her greatly, and made her to tremble, and ſhake, (as ſhee often doth when ſhee is afraid) but ſhe ſayeth, that ſhe was the more ſcared then, becauſe ſhe was alone. This tale, ſhe thinketh, ſhee told firſt to her Miſtris, & afterwards to certaine Prieſts, and further ſaith, that if any Prieſt, or other Catholick hath beene the author of thoſe words, before read vnto her, they haue falſly contriued them, as ſhe thinketh, vppon the occaſion of the ſaid Cat. For ſhe denieth, that euer ſhe had been vſed, before ſhe fell into the prieſts hands, to be affrighted with any vgly viſions, or that euer any Cat (to her knowledge) did either leape ouer her head, or runne betwixt her legges, or that ſhe heard any ſuch terrible noyſe, or that ſhee euer ſaw any Cat as bigge as a maſtiffe, with eyes as broad as a ſaucer.

Shee ſaith, that when ſhee came to Fulmer, to dwell with Miſtris Peckham, which was about Michaelmas (as ſhe remembreth) ſhee had not beene there long before ſhe heard, that the houſe was troubled with ſpirits, ſo as euery noyſe, and thing that ſhee heard or ſaw, did feare her.

Shee further ſaith, that the tale read vnto her out of the ſaid booke, concerning her leauing of her ſupper, beeing greatly afraid, the 12 of October, Anno 1585, is moſt falſe:Page 20. as that ſhe perceiued beeing at ſupper a puffe of wind comming in at the doore, that ſhee ſaw a dog of two cullours, blacke and greene: that therewith a ſpaniell of the houſe bayed once: that ſhee this examinate, was then pulled by the eyes, that the thing that pulled her by the eyes, went into her mouth, and resting at her hart, burnt her intolerably: and that therevppon ſhe cast away her knife, and would eat no more meate for that time. At the hearing of theſe things read vnto her, ſhe vſed theſe words; O Ieſus that any body ſhould report ſo of me. That which happened at that time, was as followeth.

She ſaith, that beeing at ſupper, here was great thunder and lightning, & that there hapning one great flaſh of lightning, and a great clap of thunder, the dogges therewith ran out of the hall barking. And herewith ſhe confeſſeth that ſhe was greatly afraid, left of her ſupper, and grew to be ſickly after it. And more then this ſhee denyeth to be true, and maruaileth that any ſhould be ſo wicked, as to write in that ſort of her.

She further ſaith, that after her comming to Miſtris Peckham, (GOD hauing done his part for her) diuerſe men did attempt, to offer her ſome iniury; and that amongſt the reſt, ſhe was very loth to goe into any place, where Ma: Dibdale the prieſt was, not knowing him thē to be a prieſt. Inſomuch as when her Miſtris would ſend her with water to his chamber, or vppon any other buſines, and ſhe ſhewing herſelfe vnwilling there-vnto, they told her afterward, that out of doubt it did proceed from a wicked ſpirit, that was then in her, that ſhe could not at ſuch former times well indure to be in Ma: Dibdales company, or to goe into his chamber, he beeing a prieſt, as afterwards ſhe perceiued.

Concerning her Miſtris mouing of her,Page. 21. to bleſſe herſelfe with the ſigne of the croſſe, shee ſaith, that when she came to dwell with her, she taught her to bleſſe her ſelfe in Latine, and at ſome words to make a croſſe on her forhead, at others on her belly, at others, firſt on one ſhoulder, and then on the other ſhoulder, and with the laſt words vpon her breaſt. This prayer, and manner of bleſſing herſelfe she ſaith, that beeing dull to learne, it was a good time before ſhee could doe it rightly. So as when her Miſtris, and Ma: Dibdale willed her to bleſſe herſelfe, and to vſe the ſignes of the croſſe, shee beeing very euil at eaſe that night after the lightning, she could not eaſily hit vpō the words. Alſo ſhe wel remembreth, that in ſaying the Creede, ſhe ſtumbled at the word Catholicke Church. Otherwiſe she ſaith, that all theſe particulers are moſt falſe, as that ſhe could not abide M. Dibdales preſence for burning, eſpecially when he laid his hand vpon her diſeaſed place: that she should ſay, her Master had commaunded her, that ſhe ſhould not bleſſe herſelfe with the ſigne of the croſſe, or that ſhe could not indure a casket of reliques, or that shee euer ſo much as dreamed at that time that ſhe was poſſeſſed, or that the deuill was her Maister, or that shee euer ſaid, our Lady did not loue her, or that our Lady was with her, and chid her, and ſaid ſhee loued her not. Theſe things she ſaith she verily belieueth to be falſe, & that it was very euil done of them, whoſoeuer they vvere that writ them.

Page, 22.She alſo ſaith, that thoſe things are moſt falſe, vvhich are written to haue beene vttered by her vpon the 17. of October, as that ſhe ſhould ſay that her father, mother, & friends, were in a damnable caſe by going to the Church. For at that time she this exam: was not a recuſant, nor diſliked going to the Church: or that shee affirmed that it was dangerous for little children to goe to the Church. Shee further ſaith, that about this time they began to giue her things to drinke, which she could not endure, for that she perceiued they made her ſicke, as holy water offended her becauſe it was ſalt: and at ſuch times she ſayth, that they (Ma: Dibdale, and ſuch others as were preſent) would ſay, it was not ſhe that diſliked thē, but the deuil in her.

Further ſhe ſaith, that within about a fortnight (as she remēbreth) they preuailed with her to make her a Romiſh Catholick, and then notwithſtanding the deuil was in her, as they ſaid, yet they cauſed her to receiue the bleſſed ſacrament, as farre as ſhee remembreth.

Page. 23.Shee further ſaith, that in the booke concerning the ſights, which are pretended that she should ſee at maſſe, all that therein is ſet downe, is moſt falſe, as that ſhe ſhould ſee a blacke man ſtanding at the doore, and beckning at her to come away: that ſhe could hardly looke vp in the eleuation time: or that ſhee ſaw nothing then but the prieſts fingers. But she ſaith, that she doth not certainly know, whether she told them any ſuch thing, or no: confeſſing, that she did very often tell them thoſe things, which were vntrue, after she perceiued, how she could pleaſe them.

Alſo she ſaith, that it is likewiſe very falſe that is written of her, as that she should vppon the 30 of October ſee the likenes of a Wrenne vpon the top of the prieſts fingers. Page 24. This examinat further hearing the report out of the booke how it is ſaid, that ſhe was troubled vpō All Saints day, ſhe ſaith, she doth not remēber the particuler times when they bound her in the chayre, and applyed theyr reliques vnto her. But addeth that they troubled her very often, praying God to forgiue them, and ſaying, that when she came to the chayre, she was ſo vſed, as that euery time (if she might haue had her choice) she would rather haue choſen to haue ended her life, then to haue gone into it.

And concerning her dumbnes, and coldnes,Page 23. that ſhee could not ſpeake till they had ſigned her throat with the ſigne of the croſſe, & applyed holy reliques vnto it. She ſaith that she doth not remember any ſuch thing, but thinketh it is altogether vntrue. At the leaſt, if at any time she were paſt the vſe of her ſences, it was by reaſon of ſuch waters and drinks, as they compelled her to take: and that if she were at any time ſilent, and did afterwards ſpeake, it was not becauſe they had ſigned her throat with the ſigne of the croſſe, or applyed holy reliques vnto it, albeit she confeſſeth, that whatſoeuer shee did or ſpake, they would euer expound it, as they liſt themſelues, & ſay it was done or ſpoken by vertue of holy water, and other conſecrated things.

Further,Page 23, touching the report of that which is pretended to haue beene ſeene, and ſpoken of by this examinate vpon All Soules day after dinner: she ſaith, shee is aſhamed to heare ſuch things to be written, God almighty knowing that they are very falſe. And this shee affirmeth (she ſaith) as in the ſight of Almighty God, & would ſo ſay, if all the prieſts, that were there, were here preſent. And she further affirmeth, that shee is well aduiſed, that shee neuer ſaw any deuill in the forme of a man that ſhould depart from her, when shee vſed theſe words as is pretended, Credo ſanctum eccleſiam Catholicam, Almighty God forgiue them.

Page 24.She further ſaith, as concerning the byrd mentioned in the booke: she confeſſeth that a bird came ſuddainly flying in, whereby she was ſcared, and ſtrooke it vvith her beades, and that the bird did afterwards (beeing a Robin red-breaſt) eſcaped out, beeing on the floore at a hole in the boords, there beeing light to be ſeene, and wide lathes vnderneath vnmorterd, ſo as the bird might eaſily eſcape. But for the reſt, shee ſaith that it is moſt falſe, as that a blacke man ſhould perſwade her to breake her necke downe a paire of ſtaires, and another time to cut her owne throat with a knife, and that ſhe ſaw the forme of a rough dog vppon the communion table, or that there was any grunting in her like ſwyne, or croaking like a toade, or that ſhe euer receiued her ſight by the priests fingers, or by theyr breathing vpon her. It pittieth (she ſaith) her hart, that any, that pretend to haue any conſcience, ſhould ſo write of her.

Page 25.Touching the report, that ſhe ſhould affirme, that one of the ſeruaunts in the houſe was ſore haunted by the enemie, (meaning as shee thinketh, Ma: Trayford) and that ſhee could neuer abide the ſight of him, becauſe of a thing that followed him, ſhe ſaith, it is vtterly vntrue, adding that shee was ſo farre from diſliking the ſight of him, as that ſhee rather thinketh, she loued him too well.

Page, 25.Concerning the ceremonies of baptiſme mentioned, ſhe ſaith, that the prieſts did perſwade her, that her baptiſme could not auaile her, except she alſo were partaker of their ceremonies, which were holy oyle, holy ſalt, and holy ſpittle, as she remembreth. The ſalt they put into her mouth, and with their fingers, wet eyther with ſpittle or oyle, did touch her lips, her noſe, her eyes, and her eares, as she thinketh, and in the meane time she had a Chriſome caſt ouer her head, being of halfe an ell of holland, with a croſſe in the midſt of it. At that time they changed her name from Sara to Mary, where-vnto she was the more willing, becauſe they told her, there was neuer any Saint was called Sara, & the name of Marie pleaſed her better.

She alſo ſaith, that neyther by the feeling or ſmelling of a Priest, ſhe eyther receaued at any time her hearing, or ſight, Page, 25. Ibidem. neuer hauing beene hetherto blinde or deafe, (she thanketh God) onely she ſaith, that through their euil vſage of her, she grew to be troubled with the paſſion of the hart, becauſe she conceaued very great griefe, by theyr bad vſing of her, and that through the ſaid paſſion, she hath diuers times ſwounded. At which times vpon her recouerie, they would vſually ſay, that she receaued her ſight, and hearing, and other ſences againe, by the vertue of their reliques, and touching of her. And at that time she partly beleeued them: but ſince hauing beene diuers times troubled in that ſort, ſince she was married (as her husband knoweth) for the which she may thank the ſaid prieſts; she hath by Gods goodnes recouered her health againe, without any of the prieſts helps, wherby she now perſwadeth her ſelfe in her hart, that she was then greatly deluded by them. She further ſaith, that she wel remembreth, that Ma: Trayford one night did ſeeme ſo be greatly troubled, and afterwards did pretend to be ſodainly wel, Ma: Dibdale the prieſt hauing catched him in his armes: but she vtterly denieth, that she euer ſaw any Mouſe offering to come out of his mouth, Page. 28. or after going out at his care, or that the Priests mouth did hinder the deuill from comming out at Ma: Trayfords mouth. Theſe things, she ſaith, are all fained, and falſe, and farther addeth, that she wel remembreth, when she was with them, they would tel many things of her, which she knew to be falſe, but durſt not ſay any thing againſt them, for offending of them.

Page, 29.Where it is ſaid, that one deuill perſwaded Ma: Trayford, to haue hanged himſelfe, and that another moued this exam: to goe out at Maſſe time, and that ſhe thereby hindered Ma: Trayfords vngracious purpoſe. Ieſus haue mercy vpon me (quoth this exam:) what wickednes is this? God is my Iudge, that it is moſt falſe.

Alſo, she ſaith, that it is a shameful vntruth, where it is reported of her, that ſhe by crying vpon God, and her bleſſed Lady, and by casting holy water vpon Ma: Trayford, made the deuill to leaue his hold, hauing (as the book ſaith) in the likenes of a Toad, catched him by the leg.

Page. 32.Touching the child George Peckham, ſhe confeſſeth, that one time, the prieſts holding of her hands, he did beate this Examinate with one of their Stoles, pittifully about the face, in ſuch ſort, as ſhe did not loue him euer ſince. For though the Stole could giue no great blow, yet it made her face to ſmart exceedingly. But this, ſhe ſaith, was at Denham, and denieth, that for ought ſhee knoweth, or remembreth, he euer kept the deuill from her at Vxbridge, eyther with holy water, or holy candell.

Page, 32, Ibidem.Thus much alſo of Hobberdidaunce (as it is in the booke) ſhe wel remembreth, and ſaith, that her Miſtres, as they were at worke, had told them a merry tale of Hobberdidaunce, that vſed his cunning to make a Lady laugh: which tale ſhe this examinate, doth very wel yet remember, & therfore is fully perſwaded, that when the prieſts did pretend, that the ſpirit was gone out of her, and vrged her to tel, what name it had, ſhe affirmed it to be called Hobberdidaunce.

There being reade to this examinate, out of the ſame booke, the pretended names of diuers ſpirits, which the prieſts gaue out, that they caſt out of her, and that the ſaid prieſts deliuered, whilſt they were in her, as Lustie Dick, Killico, Hob, Cornercap, Puffe, Purre, Frateretto, Page. 33, Fliberdigibet, Haberdicut, Cocobatto, Maho, Kellicocam, Wilkin, Smolkin, Nur, Lustie iolly Ienkin, Portericho, Pudding of Thame, Pour-dieu, Boniour, Motubizanto, Bernon, Delicate, this exam: ſayth, that there were very ſtrange names written vpon the wals at Sir George Peckhams houſe, vnder the hangings, which they ſaid were names of ſpirits. And addeth, that ſhe perceauing ſtil, that when they ſaid it was the deuil, that ſpake in her, & that they would needes haue her from time to time, to giue it ſome name, ſhe to content them, did alwayes deuiſe one name or other, and verily thinketh, that ſhee came neere ſome-times to ſome of the names, which were written vpon the wall, becauſe ſhe had often heard them, and ſaith, that they runne then in her head. And ſhe further thinketh, that the prieſts themſelues did ſet them downe in better order, then ſhe did vtter them. But amongſt the reſt, ſhe ſaith, that the name of Maho came into her minde; for that ſhe had heard before her vncle reade the ſame out of a booke, there being a tale therein of Maho.

The tale of Lusty Dick, mentioned in the ſaid book, ſhee ſaith, is ſet downe falſly, euen as he that made the book liſt. The Amice therin mentioned, was a cloath,Page, 33. Ibidem. that the prieſt had put ouer his head, when he went to Maſſe, which did ſignifie the cloath, where-with the Iewes did blindfold Chriſt, and ſaith, it is likely, that if they did lay it ouer her mouth, ſhe might blow it vp, leaſt it ſhould ſtop her wind. And for the other ſpeeches, ſhe ſaith, it may be, that when they vrged her to aunſwer thoſe queſtions, ſhe aunſwered, as it came in her minde accordingly. And for the ſtinke of brimſtone, ſhe verily thinketh, it may be true, for that the chamber did ſtil ſtinke of it, they vſed it ſo much. That which is reported of her in the ſaid booke of three Captaine deuils, Page, 34. that ſhould goe out of her eares, hauing euery one of them 300 with them, which this exam: ſhould haue felt, in diuers parts of her body. She ſaith, it is an abhominable vntruth, and that ſhe meruaileth, what they that ſo haue reported of her, ſhould meane, in that manner to abuſe her a poore wretch, that neuer meant them any harme. Touching that which is written of the pretended ſpirit named Puffe, as that he ſhould ſay vpon S. Hughs day, Page, 34. Ibidem. he would goe ring for the Queene: She verily beleeueth, that eyther thoſe words haue beene deuiſed by the writer of the booke, or elſe that if ſhe this exam: vttered them, it was becauſe ſhe heard them ſpeaking of ringing that day, in honour of the Queene, and knew that thereby ſhe ſhould pleaſe them. For (as partly before hath beene touched) ſhe alwayes framed her ſelfe to vſe ſuch words, as ſhe thought would content the Prieſts. And where there is mention made, that ſhe ſhould ſay, that ſpirits haue been rayſed vp by a Coniurer to keepe money: She confeſſeth, it may be ſhe might vſe ſuch ſpeeches, becauſe ſhe had heard talke, that there had beene coniuring about the houſe for money. As touching that tale of the xviij. of Nouember, how Purre was cast out of her, how ſhe was bound fast in a chayre, and how the Croſſe being layd vpon her head, Page, 35. did ſo burne the deuill, as that ſhee thought it would haue burnt out that part of her head, which it touched: She aunſwereth, that all of it almoſt, is eyther falſly deuiſed (as ſhe perceaueth a number of things are in the ſaid booke) or elſe that it may be that ſhe her ſelfe did then pretend ſomething of it to be true. But ſhee doth not now remember it. For ſhe ſaith, there were ſo many things done, and ſo long ſince, as ſhe thinketh, ſhe cannot remember a great part of them: onely ſhe addeth, that ſhe cannot forget her binding in a chayre manie times. The manner whereof, was as followeth.

When the prieſts were purpoſed to make the wicked ſpirit to ſhew himſelfe in this exam: and to expel him (as they ſaid) they would cauſe her to be bound faſt in a chayre, and then giue vnto her a certaine drinke, which as ſhe remembreth, was a hallowed drinke, conſiſting of Oyle, Sack, Rue, and ſome other things, which are now out of her minde. But this ſhe wel remembreth, that looke what ſhe moſt diſliked, and hated, they would ſtil compel her to take, pretending that it was not ſhe, but the deuil, that diſliked it. And although ſhe knew that therein they did abuſe her, and that few women there are, that would not indeede abhorre ſuch a drinke, yet ſhe durſt not but ſeemed to yeeld vnto them, but indeed they did compel her ſtil, alledging that whatſoeuer ſhe ſaid, or did againſt it, it was the deuil that did it, and not ſhe, whereas in very deede, ſhe tooke ſuch a diſlike at that time of thoſe thing, as yet to this day she cannot endure them. In ſo much, as about three yeeres ſince, this exam: hauing a pangue of ſicknes in the Market at Oxford, ſome of her neighbours gaue her Sack at vnawares vnto her, which as ſoone as she perceaued, she fel to be very ſore ſicke vpon it, and was conſtrayned to lye there all night: the offence of the Sacke being the onelie griefe she had, after shee was recouered of her ſayd pangue.

At ſome times alſo they would burne brimſtone vnder her noſe, at another time feathers, and diuers ſuch loathſome ſmels, which they ſaid were hallowed, & then they would with very maine ſtrength, though she ſtrugled very much, bend her face iuſt ouer the ſmoke, which was by the burning of the ſaid brimſtone, and other things in a chafing-dish, which they would hold ſo neer her noſe, as ſometimes beſides the ſmell, the very heate would trouble her. When she was thus holden, she ſaith, that the very paine she felt, cauſed her to cry, and ſcrich very loude, & to ſtruggle as much as poſſibly she could till her ſtrength failed her. At one time shee was ſo extreamely afflicted with the ſaid drinks and ſmoke, as that her ſences went from her, and she remained in a ſwoune as afterward it was told her: vpon her recouery, she remembreth that the prieſt ſaid, that the deuil did thē goe downe into the lower part of her body, and that commonly when her ſtrength failed her ſo, that shee could ſtruggle no longer, they would ſay, that then the deuill grew quiet. At ſuch times when she cried, they vvould ſay, it was the deuill, and not ſhee, that ſo cryed. When she was in this taking, and ſo bound in the chayre, her head beeing giddy with the ſaid drinke, and her ſences troubled with the ſmoake, she doubteth not, but she ſpake many idle and fooliſh words, which the prieſts vvould expound as they thought good, which shee doth now perceiue eſpecially by hearing thoſe things, which are written of her in the ſame booke.

Page, 34.As touching the fit, that it is ſaid shee had vpon the 15. Nouember, she ſaith that it may well be, that shee vſed hard ſpeeches againſt the prieſts in the heate of her griefe. And she wel remēbreth that diuers times, though she was loath to diſpleaſe them, yet when they handled her ſo extreamely, shee did ſometimes vſe ſome hard words toward them, and threatned to complaine of them. And then their common ſaying was, that it was the deuill, and not ſhe that ſpake, becauſe he could not indure any Catholick prieſt. Her ſiſter Frauncis beeing then in the houſe, and ſeeing how badly shee was vſed, did diuers times perſwade this exam: to ſteale away, and goe home, and complaine hbw she had beene handled by the ſaid prieſts.

At one time shee was ſo vexed, as indeede shee ranne away towards a little brooke, that was not paſt halfe a yard deepe, meaning to haue runne through it, and ſo to haue eſcaped from them, thinking that they would not haue followed her through the water. But they catched her before shee came to the brooke, for they watched her ſo diligently at all times, as they would not ſuffer her to goe out of their ſights. And their pretence was for ſo dooing, leaſt she ſhould haue made away her ſelfe: which she ſaith (she thanketh God) shee neuer intended, but onely to haue beene deliuered out of theyr hands: vvhereas she ſaith, it is very likely, that they had ſuch a watchful eye ouer her, leaſt she should eſcape, as fearing she would complaine of them. At the ſame time she ranne away as before is expreſſed, one of them that ranne after her, which was her Maiſter Ma: Peckham, (as she remembreth) gaue it out, that she was carried aboue ground, and the prieſts affirmed, that the deuil did meane at that time to haue drowned her. And it is not vnlikely this exam: ſaith, but that shee herſelfe to pleaſe them, did confeſſe aſmuch. Her pretended carying in the ayre, was made amongſt them a kinde of miracle, whereas this exam: doth know it to be a lye, and dooth perfectly remember, that she ranne indeede, as faſt as she could, but for any flying, it is a meer fable: although at that time she was content to ſooth them in it.

Concerning the caſting out of her of Captaine Frateretto, Page 35. with all his company of euil ſpirits (as is pretended in the booke) vpon the 21 of Nouember, ſhe ſaith, that it was the ordinary cuſtome of the prieſts to be talking of ſuch, as had beene poſſeſſed beyond the ſeas, & to tell the manner of theyr fits, and what they ſpake in them: alſo what vgly ſights they ſaw ſomtimes, and at other times what ioyfull ſights, and how when reliques were applied vnto them, the parties would roare: how they could not abide holy water, nor the ſight of the ſacrament, nor the annointed prieſts of the Catholique Church, nor any good thing. But how they would greatly commend ſuch as were hereticks, & many ſuch things beſides ſhe hath heard them report, as how the deuils would complaine that when the prieſts touched the parties, that they burnt them, and put them into an extreame heate, and how ſomtimes they could ſmel the prieſt. Theſe things (she ſaith) she now remembreth by hearing thoſe things which are written in the booke of her ſelfe, and confeſſeth that by the ſaid tales ſhee well perceiued how shee might pleaſe them, and did frame herſelfe accordingly at ſuch times, as ſhe well perceiued it was their intent, she should ſo doe.

Alſo shee well remembreth, that at one time they thruſt into her mouth a relique, being a peece of one of Campions bones, which they did by force, ſhee herſelfe loathing the ſame, it beeing as she thinketh againſt nature to haue a bone of a man put into ones mouth.

As touching the pretended trouble, that shee ſhould haue vpon the 25 of Nouember,Page 36. shee ſaith, that there were ſo many ſuch ſpeeches amongſt them, as she doth not herſelfe remember, whether any ſuch things were at that time, otherwiſe then as before shee hath confeſſed. Alſo she ſaith that it was no meruaile though they made her talke, after they had giuen her the bleſſed potion they ſpeake of. And touching her ſmiling, shee confeſſeth that when she was well, if shee did either ſmile to herſelfe, or vpon occaſion of ſome ſpeech that shee had heard, or at other times if for griefe to conſider how she was dealt withall, she ſometimes wept, as oft she did, they would ordinarily (when they thought good) ſay, it was the deuil that did ſo ſmile, or weepe: which put this examinate almoſt to her wits end, deſiring nothing more then to be rid from them. Shee alſo further ſaith, that ſhe well remembreth how one time walking in the garden with one of the prieſts, who led her by the arme, becauſe ſhe was weake, ſhe beganne to complaine vnto him of her hard vſage, and told him, that ſhee verilie thought they did her iniury, and that ſhe was not troubled with any wicked ſpirits in her more thē they were. Whereupon he caſt his head aſide, and looking fullie vpon her face vnder her hat, What (quoth he) is this Sara, or the deuill that ſpeaketh theſe words? No, no, it is not Sara, but the deuil. And thē this examinate perceiuing ſhe could haue no other reliefe at his hands, fell a weeping, which weeping alſo he ſaid was the weeping of the euill ſpirit. By hearing of that which is written of her, ſhee ſaith ſhe remembreth theſe ſtories, which ſhee thinketh she ſhould not otherwiſe haue thought of.

As touching the report,Page 37. that Maho ſhould bid her pray vnto him as to a Saint, and tell her that it was but madnes to become religious, or to vſe penance towards her body: alſo that the priest ſaid nought in Maſſe: and that ſhee this examinate must pray as the Parſon taught her at her mothers, Deerely beloued brethren, the ſcripture mooueth vs in ſundry places, God ſaue the Queene & her Miniſters, that ſhee must not pray in Latine, becauſe God had not commaunded her ſo to pray. She this examinate ſaith, that shee doth not remember, that euer she vſed thoſe words, but rather thinketh they are deuiſed by him, that writ the booke. Howbeit she confeſſeth it may well be, that she did vſe them vppon ſuch occaſions as they gaue her by theyr owne ſpeeches, shee beeing alwaies ready (as shee hath ſaid before) to ſpeake & doe, as she thought might pleaſe them.

Furthermore, cōcerning the pretended viſion of things like puppets at the end of a gallery, she ſaith, that she verily belieueth it is all fained by the writer of the booke, or by ſome that gaue him directions ſo to write. For she ſaith, she dooth not remember any one part of it, but yet dare not vppon her oath affirme, that shee told the prieſt no ſuch thing: for it might be that shee dreamed of ſuch a matter, and that she told the prieſts of the ſaid dreame, who haue made ſuch a matter of it.

Againe, that which is written to haue been ſpoken by her vpon the Thurſday, Page 38, as though she vnderſtood ſome Latine words: shee well remembreth, that at one time the prieſts were talking of ſome ſuch things to thoſe, that were preſent, as though this examinate vnderſtood Latine, which they ſaid was the euill ſpirit in her: but she then knew, that therein they ſaid vntruly, and ſaith that shee perceiued, they made what they liſt of any thing. For the word Saffron-bag, it may be (she confeſſeth) that shee vſed it, but she doth not remember it.

Page. 38. ibid:Likewiſe, where it is ſaid, that ſhe oft threatned to raiſe the towne, and country against the priests, and to cauſe theyr heads to be ſet on London bridge, and threatned the Exorciſt to cōplaine on him to the Queene: ſhee ſaith, that they who haue ſo written of her, may ſay what they liſt. She doth not thinke, although she was oft angry with the prieſts, that she durſt vſe ſo hard words of them, as to threaten them with hanging. And touching her roaring, it may be, if they meane, that ſhe cryed, when they had her in a chayre, or gaue her the holy potion, and burnt brimſtone vnder her noſe, that they ſay truly: but for roaring like a Bull, she ſaith it is falſe.

Page, 39.As concerning that which is pretended to haue hapned vnto her vpon S. Barbaraes day, she verily belieueth, that the Prieſts might wiſh, that all the Proteſtants in England did know the power of the Catholicke Church: but she doth not remember that she ſaid ſo herſelfe.

Page 45.And touching her coate that was pulled off, ſhe well remembreth, that it was a new gowne, which her mother had giuen her, being laced vpon the ſleeues: which being a good prety faire gowne, the Prieſts did pretend that ſhe was proud of it, and therefore took it from her; and putting vpon her an old gowne (ſhe knoweth not where they had it) beſtowed hers ſhee knoweth not where, but ſhe could neuer ſee it after. But that ſhe ſhould ſay her gowne was naught, and full of ſpirits: ſhe beleeueth it is vntrue, or that, if they put any of their conſecrated attire vpon her, that ſhe ſhould crie, I burne, I burne: ſhee beleeueth that ſhe did it onely to pleaſe them, knowing that she felt no more burning, by any of their conſecrated things, then she did by the reſt of her owne apparell.

Likewiſe, as touching thoſe things,Page, 33. which are reported to haue beene vttered, and done by this exam: vpon the xviij. of Nouember: she ſaith, that she doth not remember any one part of the pretended viſion of a Ladie, accompanied with Gentlemen all booted, that ſhould offer her to be a Lady, if ſhe would goe with them, nor of the dogge of two colours, that ſhould terrifie this exam: from yeelding to her motion: but ſhe remembreth, that they would oftentimes bring the Pix with the ſacrament in it, for her to kiſſe, which she did alwayes very willingly, and confeſſeth, that she beleeued the Hoſt in the Pix, to be the bodie of Chriſt, and that it is therefore very likely, if any of the prieſts did aske her, what ſhe did kiſſe; that ſhe aunſwered, it was the body of Christ. But she meruaileth why they write, that the deuill ſhould ſay, it was the body of Christ: and thinketh, that the prieſts would neuer haue cauſed her to kiſſe it, if they had thought, that it had been the deuil, that then had kiſſed it, and not this examinate.

She remembreth,Page, 43. that she did feare the corne-chamber, (that the booke ſpeaketh of) in Sir George Peckhams houſe; becauſe the report amongſt them was, that there had beene coniuring there for money. And as touching the reſt of that long diſcourſe, which was read vnto her, how ſhe ſhould ſay, that all the Court were her friends, that the Earle of Bedfords ſoule was in hell, that the Engliſh Ministers had power to cast out deuils: she ſaith, ſhe doth not remember any part of it. But acknowledgeth, that for as much as it is ſaid in the ſaid booke, that she was conſtrained to take the holy potion, which shee ſo much deteſted, and other their ſlibber-ſawces, and that they burnt brimſtone vnder her noſe, ſhe verily thinketh, she might vtter much tittle-tattle, that now ſhe cannot call to minde. And amongſt the reſt meruaileth, that any prieſt would write or ſay, that euer he cauſed the deuill to take an oath vpon the bleſſed Sacrament. And whereas it is reported, that now this ſpirit, and now that ſpirit went out of her; she ſaith, it might be, that they then ſaid ſo, and that she this exam: was contented they ſhould ſay, what they liſt, as now she perceaueth (as she ſaith) that they haue written.

She further ſaith, that whilſt she was at Denham, one Richard Maynie being there alſo, pretended himſelfe to be poſſeſſed, and the Prieſts had dealings with him. This Maynie did behaue himſelfe in the preſence of the prieſts, as though he had beene a Saint. It was meruailous to conſider, what deuotion he did pretend. One time being at Maſſe, this exam: doth wel remember, that at the eleuation time, he fel downe ſecretly backwards, and lay a while, as though he had beene in a traunce. And when he came vnto himſelfe againe, he ſaid, that the glory, which he ſaw about the Altar, did ſtrike him into that traunce. But for all his pretences, this exam: ſaith, that he was but a diſſembler, and a man but of a lewd diſpoſition. He would needes haue perſwaded this examinates ſiſter, to haue gone thence with him, in the apparel of a youth, to haue beene his boy, and to haue wayted vppon him. Hee dealt with this exam: to haue confeſſed her ſelfe vnto him, ſaying, that he had as good authority, to heare confeſſions, as any of the prieſts had. Alſo he vrged her this exam: diuers times, to haue yeelded to his carnal deſires, vſing very vnfit tricks with her. There was alſo a very proper woman, one Miſtres Plater, with whom this exam: perceaued, he had many allurements, ſhewing great tokens of extraordinarie affection towards her. By which his courſes she perceaued, that he was very wickedly bent. Of all theſe things concerning the ſaid Maynie, this exam: enformed Ma: Dibdale, & told him, that out of doubt he did but counterfet all his holines, and that except he, and the reſt of the prieſts tooke heede to themſelues, he would in the end bring them to ſome trouble: where-vpon Ma: Dibdale was very ſorrie, that euer he had had any dealing with him.

She further ſaith, that at ſuch times, as they pretended, that she had fits, which was eyther, when she had any fit of the mother (where-with she was then troubled) or when she had beene conſtrained, to drinke their holy potion: or when she was otherwiſe euil at eaſe, by reaſon of their bad vſage of her, they would in the end (when they were weary with dealing with her) ſay, that the wicked ſpirits were gone downe into her legge, and ſometimes into her foote, and that they ſhould reſt there for that time. And againe, when they tooke her in hand the next time, they would begin ſo hunt the deuil from the foote, to bring him vpwards of purpoſe, as they ſaid, to cauſe him, when they had him in her head, to goe out of her mouth, eares, eyes, or noſe. And the manner of their hunting of him, was to folow him with their hands (as they did pretend) along all the parts of her body. At one time, when it began to be with this exam: according to the manner of women, (as ſince she hath perceaued) whereby she was much troubled, the prieſts did pretend, that the deuil did reſt in the moſt ſecret part of her hody. Where-vpon they deuiſed to apply the reliques vnto it, and gaue her ſuch ſliber-ſawces, as made her (as she was perſwaded) much worſe then otherwiſe she thinketh, she should haue beene. At ſome times they would cauſe a maid, that ſerued the Lord Vaux, to apply the reliques vnto the place: the which their dealing with her (she ſaith) she doth now loath the memory of it.

Furthermore, this exam: ſaith, that after she was deliuered out of the prieſts hands, and that they had no further dealing with her, vpon pretence, that she was poſſeſſed, she hath diuers times, being in ſpeech with Ma: Yaxly a prieſt, but her eſpecial friend, ſaid vnto him to this effect: Ieſus Ma: Yaxly I meruaile, what Ma: Dibdale, & the other prieſts meant to deale with me, as they did: I am fully perſwaded, that I was neuer at any time more poſſeſſed, then they themſelues were, and yet you haue heard, how they haue vſed me. And he ſhaking his head, would wil me to be contented, ſeeing the matter was paſt, and that I ſhould trouble my head no more about it, and ſaying, that he was very ſorrie for it, and that he hoped, they had repented themſelues for dealing ſo with her. Why but would this exam: ſay, tel me I pray you Sir, what you thinke of if, whether was I poſſeſſed, or no, in your opinion. And ſtil he would giue her no other aunſwer, but ſhaking his head, wil her to be contented, ſeeing all was now paſt.

She further ſaith, that the firſt time that the prieſts began to haue dealing with her, one day they had giuen her certaine things to drinke, that had made her verie ſick, and being in that reſpect troubled, Ma: Stamp comming frō London, viewed with a flearing countenance this exam: in the face, and ſaid vnto her, as though he had ſpoken vnto a ſpirit within her: Ah Sirra, I haue brought a thing for you: I haue a whip in my pocket that will bridle thee. At that preſent she vnderſtoode him not, what he meant, but within a while after, hee pulled a book out of his pocket, which was of Exorciſmes, which was the whip he meant. She alſo wel remembreth, that the reſt in the houſe told Ma: Stamp, how greatly shee had beene vexed all that day, and that they ſaid, it was becauſe the ſpirit was afraid of that booke, which hee brought with him, and the deuil knew that it was comming.

Whilſt ſhe was in the prieſts hands at Denham, one Haines was a ſuter vnto her, and although Ma: Dibdale commaunded her in no ſort to entertaine him, yet her ſiſter bringing vnto her a blacke Iet ring from him, as a token, she put the ſame vpon her little finger, which being ſome-what too little, cauſed her finger to ſwel, as now ſhe beleeeueth: And there-vpon this exam: in her confeſſion acknowledging that shee had receiued that ring from Haines contrary to Ma: Dibdales commaundement, they ſaid it was the deuill vnder the ring, that cauſed her finger to ſwell: and wetting her finger, and making croſſes vpon it, they pulled of the ring by little and little, and ſaid, that it came of by vertue of thoſe croſſes, the deuill hauing no longer power to keepe it on.

This examinate alſo further remembreth, that comming towards London from Hackney in a Coach with Ma: Dibdale, shee eſpied in the way a ragged Colt, and beeing the firſt, that shee had euer ſeene ſo ragged, shee asked Ma: Dibdale, what it was? And he ſaid it was the deuill: which put this exam: into a great feare, whereas ſince she hath ſeene twenty ſuch ragged Colts, and is therefore fully perſwaded, that Ma: Dibdale did abuſe her, in ſaying the Colt she then ſaw was the deuill.

She alſo ſaith, that one Sherwood a prieſt, while ſhee was at Denham, and tyed in her chaire, would vſuallie pinch her by the armes, and necke, and hands, and the places thereupon remaining blew, he and the reſt would ſay, that it was the deuil that had ſo pinched her. At ſuch times as this exam: when he ſo pinched her did cōplaine of it, and reproued him for it, they would ſay it was the deuill, and not this examinate, that ſo reprooued him. Of this iniury she hath complayned to Ma: Dibdale being well, and hee would ſay vnto her, that hee was ſure Ma: Sherwood would not vſe her ſo, and that ſhe was deceiued, in that ſhe thought ſo of him.

She alſo further ſaith, that shee well remembreth that ſhe could neither doe nor ſay any thing, but when they liſt, they would ſay, it was the deuill. At ſome times when ſhe was well, if companie came in, to whom they meant to ſhew any thing, they would take occaſion, to peepe in her face, & vſe ſuch fooliſh words vnto her, as might make her to laugh. And if ſhe did but ſo much as laugh vppon that occaſion, or looke away, turning her head from them, they had then enough, it was the deuil (they would ſay) that laughed in her, and then ſometimes shee muſt to the chayre, and at ſome other times, they would coniure the ſpirit, as they did pretend, commaunding him to goe downe into her body, and be quiet. And when this exam: held her peace, which was when they ſpake no more to her, then they would ſay, the ſpirit was gone downe. At theſe, and ſuch like times, when they gaue her nothing to make her ſicke, ſhe found her ſelfe no worſe, then ſhee was before, but was content to ſooth all what they ſaid.

Shee further ſayth, that a maide, that came from the Lord Ʋaux, was appointed at Denham to keepe this exanimate, who did alwaies tell the prieſts, what ſhee this exam: either did or ſpake, and of herſelfe would alwaies tell this exam: that it was the deuill that ſo did, or ſpake: when this exam: did very well know, that shee did, and ſpake at ſuch times, according as she was wont to doe, before she came to the prieſts hands. By reaſon of ſuch her bad dealing with this exam: ſhee this exam: did not loue her, and talking of her hard dealing with her, shee this exam: ſaid, she had thought one day to haue thruſt her downe the ſtayres. And heereof the prieſts made a great matter, but did not blame this exam: for it, becauſe (as they ſaid) it was not ſhe, but the deuil, that meant to haue thruſt her downe the ſtayres.

Alſo ſhe ſaith, that if at any time she did belch, as oftentimes she did by reaſon that shee was troubled with a wind in her ſtomacke, the prieſts would ſay at ſuch times, that then the ſpirit began to riſe in her. Whereas diuers times ſince ſhe hath beene likewiſe troubled with ſuch wind in her ſtomack and rifting, and thereby perceiueth that they ſaid vntruly, when they ſaid that that wind was the deuil. But as ſhee ſaith, if they heard any croaking in her belly, (a thing whereunto many women are ſubiect, eſpecially when they are faſting) then they would make a wonderful matter of that. One time shee remembreth, that ſhee hauing the ſaid croaking in her belly, or making of herſelfe ſome ſuch noyſe in her bed, they ſaid it was the deuill that was about the bedde, that ſpake with the voyce of a Toade, and there-with they ſeemed, as though they were greatly afraid. But this examinate, though shee knew, there was no ſuch cauſe of theyr feare, if they were indeed at all afraid, as they did pretend, yet did ſhee let them alone, and ſaid nothing vnto them.

She further ſaith, that one night whilſt this examinate was in bedde, there was a ſcraping in the corner of the chamber about the feeling, as if it had been the ſcraping of a rat, whereupon ſome that were in the chamber ran forth, ſaying, it was an euill ſpirit, that made that noyſe. And Ma: Cornelius a prieſt beeing in the next chamber, came preſently foorth in his gowne, with his booke of Exorciſmes in his hand, & went into the corner, where the noiſe was. There he began to charge the deuil vpon paine of many torments, that he ſhould depart. Hee flung holy water vpon the walls, and vſed ſuch earneſt ſpeeches, as this exam: was very much afraid. Howbeit ſhe ſaith, ſhe well obſerued, that for all his ſpeakings, and ſprinckling of holy water, the noiſe did not ceaſe, till he had knockt with ſome thing vppon the feeling, whereby ſhe ſince hath verily thought, and ſtill dooth, that it was either a rat, or ſome ſuch thing that made the noiſe, and not the deuil.

She further ſaith, that ſhe neuer dreamed in the night, but ſhe did tel the prieſts of it in the morning, for it was their commandement, that ſhe ſhould ſo doe. And ſuch her dreames ſhe hath learned by their ſpeeches, to call them viſions. Of theſe viſions they would make of thē, what they thought good. Whereas this exam: confeſſeth, that diuers of them were ſuch toyes, as came into her head being woken, and that ſhe meruailed, how they could make ſuch matters of them.

This exam: further ſaith, that oftentimes when ſhe was wel, & that the prieſts vpon her laughing or words, would ſay: It was not ſhe, but the deuill, ſhe did verily ſuſpect, that they did not ſay truly therein, & that ſhe was not at all poſſeſſed: marrie ſhe confeſſeth, that being young, and vnexperienced, when they came vnto her in ſo deuoute a manner, with their holy veſtures vppon them, with holy water, holy candels, and with the Pix, hauing the ſacrament in it, and prayed, as it ſeemed ſo earneſtly; ſhe did then alwayes ſuſpect, that there was ſomething amiſſe in her, as ſuppoſing, that otherwiſe they would neuer haue dealt in that ſort. But afterwards when ſhe was wel againe, ſhe had euer a great deſire to be gone from them, being verily perſwaded, that then ſhe ſhould be wel.

She further ſaith, that except it were at ſuch times, as by giuing her the holy potion, and burning brimſtone vnder her noſe, ſhe knew not oftentimes what either ſhe did, or ſpake. The greateſt feare, which ſhe had at other times, when they vſed their Exorciſme, was leaſt they meant thereby to coniure vp ſome ſpirit, they kept ſuch a ſtirre, and made mention of ſo many names, which they ſaid, were names of ſo many ſpirits.

Whereas in the afore-ſaid booke, there are a number of things reported of this exam: what ſhe ſhould doe, ſee, and ſpeake in her fits, ſhe verily thinketh, that (ſome fooliſh things of her owne deuiſe excepted) ſhe neither did ſpeake, nor pretended to ſee any thing, but in ſuch ſort, as ſhe had heard the prieſts report, that other women beyond the Seas had done, ſeene, and ſpoken: According to which reports, ſhe this exam: being in the prieſts hands, did frame her ſelfe to doe, and ſpeake, and report ſhe ſaw this, and that, as ſhe had heard of them, that thoſe parties did, that thereby ſhee might pleaſe them.

Concerning the reports in the ſaid booke, that this exam: ſhould ſee vpon Christmas euen at night, Page 1. after twelue of the clocke, when Maſſes doe begin, viz: great beames of lightning, to proceede from the Sacrament, as it had beene ſome beames ſhining out of a cloude: that vpon Newyeares day, ſhe ſhould ſee fire to flaſh in at the window, and a browne dogge, as big as a Bullock: that the Sonday after the Sacrament being reſerued, and lying vpon the patten, ſhe could not ſee it, for a great brightnes: and that at the ſame time, the Priest ſeemed to be cloathed in ſiluer, that ſtoode by the patten: She this exam: aunſwereth, that ſhe is perſwaded in her conſcience, they be all vntrue reports of her. For ſhe ſaith, ſhe doubteth not, but that otherwiſe ſhe ſhould haue remembred ſome of them, as wel as ſhe hath done other things in the ſaid booke. Onely she confeſſeth, that she hath heard ſuch things reported of Richard Maynie, that he should haue ſuch ſights: but ſure she is, ſhe neuer ſaw them.

Concerning the report of her, that ſhe ſhould ſay, Page. 2. that the bleſſed Sacrament was but bread: that there was no Purgatorie: that the ſeruice in England, being in Engliſh, was as good as the other in Latine: and that ſhe ſhould commend ſome Ministers: She ſaith, that it may wel be, that ſhe hath asked ſome queſtions touching the Sacrament, Purgatorie, and the Engliſh ſeruice, and that she hath ſpoken wel of ſome Miniſters: but she is fully perſwaded, that when she demaunded ſuch queſtions, she did it of her ſelfe, to be inſtructed, and that it was not the deuil, that ſpake ſo in her. Alſo she ſaith, that when she commended ſome Miniſters, she ſaid therein truly, and that she thinketh there are of them, as there are of the prieſts, ſome good, and ſome bad.

Page. 3.Where it is reported of this exam: that vpon the third day of Ianuarie, ſhe ſhould ſee Christ in proper forme, when ſhe receaued the Sacrament: that ſhe found eaſe of the paine in her ſtomack, by the application of a holy relique: and that ſhe flung away her beades, ſaying to the Priests, fie on you: She ſaith, that she wel remembreth, that one offending her, she threw her beades at the party, but she denieth, that euer she receaued any eaſe, by applying of any holy reliques vnto her, for ought that she perceaued, how ſo euer the prieſts haue reported, or that she euer ſaw any ſuch thing, when she receaued the Sacrament: but thinketh that the Author of the booke hath deuiſed it of himſelfe, marrie she ſaith, it is not vnlike, that she might wel enough ſay, Fie vpon ſome of the prieſts, both becauſe there were of them, that vſed her hardly, and for that she knew wel, that they diſliked not ſuch words; becauſe they would take occaſion therby, to shew to thoſe that were preſent, that the deuil could not endure a Catholique prieſt.

Page, 3. Ibidem,That which is reported of her, of the fourth of Ianuarie, as touching the booke of Exorciſme, she ſaith, that she knew that booke very wel, from any other, both by the Letter it ſelfe, becauſe she can reade, and by the great number of croſſes, which are in many places, a great number of them together. And no other knowledge ſhe had of any ſuch booke, although it be giuen out, that she knew the booke of Exorciſme, being lapt vp in a paper, before otherwiſe she ſaw it.

Where it is ſaid, that this exam: ſhould affirme there were foure ſcourges of deuils, viz: the booke of Exorciſmes, holy water, the holy candell, and hallowed Frankinſence, ſhe doth not remember, that she termed them ſcourges, but ſaith, it is like enough that she ſaid, that the deuil could abide none of them, becauſe the prieſts had told her ſo.

As touching that, which is written of this exam:Page, 4. of the fifth of Ianuary, that being exorciſed, ſhee vſed many idle words: that ſhe prated, and ſcoffed, curſed, and ſung, called for a piper: when the Priest bad the deuill, tell him his name, he ſhould make aunſwer in her, Pudding of Thame: all which is ſaid, to haue beene ſpoken by the ſpirit in her; she ſaith, that she might ſpeake ſuch words, when her head was ſo troubled, but she doth not remember them. And for the Pudding of Thame, she ſaith, she hath oft heard it ſpoken of ieſtingly, when she was a child. And where it is ſaid, that she should affirme, that the deuil could not tarry in her legge, or foote, as he was cō maunded, becauſe of her hoſe which had beene worne by a vertuous, and godly prieſt: she confeſſeth, that indeede she ware a payre of Ma: Dibdales netherſtocks, and thinketh it not to be vnlikely, that when vpon occaſion, she ſaid, that the hoſe she ware, had beene Ma: Dibdales; but that further hearing ſome of the prieſts ſay, that was the cauſe, that the deuil would not remaine in her legge, or foote; ſhe did ſay as much her ſelfe.

Concerning that which is written of this examinate of the 6. of Ianuary, that after conſecration, Page 5. ſhee ſaw in the Challice a little head, as it were of a child: that ſhee ſhould call for dyce to play with: that ſhee ſhould ſee two at either corner of the Altar, glistering like ſiluer: that ſhee ſhould tell a tale of a Mummery, that came into the chamber, where ſhee lay: that ſhee ſcoffed at the Sacrament: that a propper man in a ſhort blacke garment, girt about him, hauing the rest of his apparrell alſo blacke, and long haire turned vp, alſo great ruffes ſtarched with blew ſtarch: that ſhee complained, that the priests hand burned her, & that his breath tormented her: ſhee ſaith ſhee remembreth no part of all theſe. What ſhe might ſpeake, when her head was troubled with their drinks, ſhe knoweth not, but ſhe dooth not remember, that euer ſhe ſaid, that ſhe ſaw ſuch a little head in a chalice, or that if ſhe had ſeene it, ſhe ſhould euer haue forgot it.

Page, 5. Ibidem.Whereas alſo it is ſaid of her, that there appeared vnto her in a fit the ſaid 6. of Ianuary a Mummery cōming in at the doore with a bright eye before them: a drumme ſounding, and ſixe in number with motly vizards, which daunced once about her, and ſo departed. She aunſwereth, that ſhe belieueth, that it is but a made tale by ſome of the prieſts, or that if ſhe told any ſuch her ſelfe, it was but a dreame, or ſome ſuch thing, as ſhee had before heard of amongſt them, it beeing Chriſtmas.

Alſo as touching the report of her, that ſhee knew a peece of the holy Croſſe by the ſmell: Page 5. that a priest put his finger into her mouth, and bad the deuill bite it if hee durst, and that the deuill in this examinate ſhould aunſwer, hee durst not bite it, becauſe it had touched the Lord: ſhee ſaith ſhee well remembreth, that ſhe heard them talke, that they had a peece of the holy Croſſe, but ſhee dooth not belieue, that ſhee knew it by the ſmell, vnleſſe it had beene ſweetly kept, and that ſhe might ſmell the ſauour thereof, when it came neere her. And further ſaith, that it is not vnlike, but that ſhe refuſed to bite the prieſts finger, for if it had beene Maiſter Dibdales finger, ſhe knew he was very likely to haue giuen her a box on the eare, if ſhee had bitten it. And it might be alſo, that ſhee ſaid ſhe would not bite it, becauſe it had touched the Lord, ſhee being then wel acquainted with thoſe things: but whether she did ſo or no, she doth not now remember.

Page 5.Whereas it is ſaid, that in one of her fits ſhe was ſenceleſſe the ſame day, vntill the bleſſed Sacrament was applyed vnto one of her eares, and that then ſhe felt a cold wind to come in at one, and a hote ayre to goe out at the other: shee anſwereth, that she remembreth no ſuch thing: as neither another report of a viſion, she should haue that night, of a whole bench of deuils. Although she confeſſeth, that as her manner was, the moſt mornings shee would tell thē one tale, or other, or els (as she ſaith) how ſhould they haue had writing worke, but she remembreth not, whether she told them this tale or no.

That which is reported to haue been done by her the ſeauenth of Ianuary,Page 6. as that ſhe ſhould (as ſhe thought) let her beades fall downe to the ground, becauſe they ſeemed to burne her hand, whereas the deuill threw them directly vpon the Altar, and ſtrooke downe the corner of the Chalice: this exam: remembreth no ſuch thing, but meruaileth that the deuil durſt meddle with her beades, becauſe they were hallowed.

Where it is ſaid, that the ſame day, this examinate or (as they pretended) the deuill in her, was vnwilling to adore the bleſſed ſacrament, becauſe of the brightnes of it: that at the ſecond eleuation ſhe ſhould ſay, I will not be bleſſed: At Pax domini ſit ſemper vobiſcum, I will none of that: At Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccati mundi, miſerere nobis, vpon thee, and not vppon mee: At the offering of the Pax to kiſſe: it ſtinketh: when the priest ſaid, Domine non ſum dignus, and betweene the receiuing of both kinds: I will not receiue. This exam: ſaith, that the prieſts had taught her the Engliſh of the Latine words before mentioned, ſo as she verily thinketh, that shee was not vnlike to ſay as it is reported of her, when she heard thoſe Latine words. But she thinketh thoſe things falſe, that are reported of her to haue beene done by her, the 8 of Ianuary, as that ſhee ſhould talke to the Exorcist in French, whereas shee knoweth very few words in French, but ſuch as shee heard amongſt them, as Boniour, or two or three more.

As touching the long reports of this exam: how ſhe was handled the ninth, and tenth dayes of Ianuary, viz: amongſt many other things,Page, 10. how the deuill was remooued out of her hands by the putting on of the Exorcists gloues: how Maho the chiefe deuill (that was pretended to be in her) who had two thouſand deuils at his commaundement, had beene in England euer ſince king Henry the eyghts time: how the ſaid Maho ſhould tell Exorcist, that if he would cut the ſacrament with his knife hee ſhould ſee it bleed: and that he the ſayd Maho, could not chooſe but be tormented at the offering of it: how Maho did first ſweare vpon the bleſſed ſacrament, and kiſſed it, and then vppon the booke of exorciſmes, and then kist that likewiſe: how this examinate was vexed, when the prieſts laboured with theyr holy hands, and by touching of her with ſacred relique, till they had brought Maho into her belly: ſhe aunſwereth with many teares, God forgiue them, that thus did abuſe me, there was neuer I thinke poore ſoule ſo dealt with. And afterwards for further aunſwer ſhe ſaith, that it appeareth by the booke, that the ſaid tenth day of Ianuary, they gaue her the holy potion, and burnt brimſtone, and Frankinſence vnder her noſe, which did ſo trouble her, as ſhee thinketh, that ſhe might ſpeake ſhe knew not what, and they likewiſe write, and report of her, as they thought good, and as ſhee perceiued they had done, by the reſt ſhe had heard read vnto her out of that booke.

She further ſaith, that beeing at the L. Ʋaux his houſe at Hackney, the prieſts a little before (as ſhe remembreth) that shee was exorciſed in the chayre, cauſe a woman to ſquirt ſomthing by her priuie parts into her body, which made her very ſick. She was ſo vſed once or twice more at Hackney, and once at Denham, whereby she knoweth as she ſaith, that she ſuſtained very great hurt.

Furthermore she ſaith, that the laſt time that shee was exorciſed at Hackney, the prieſts gaue it out, that the deuill departed out of her by her priuieſt part. And vpon her marriage ſome of them told her husband, that shee would neuer bring him any children, becauſe as they affirmed, the deuill had torne thoſe parts in ſuch ſort, as that she could not conceiue, which shee thanketh God proueth to be falſe, for shee hath had (as shee ſaith) fiue children. But shee ſaith by hearing the booke read, that is written of her, shee hath called many things to mind, and doth perceiue that shee hath beene very badly dealt with. And further shee ſaith, that after shee once came to be vnder their hands, they vſed the matter ſo with her, as that she neuer durſt doe any thing, but what ſhe thought did pleaſe them: ſo as the longer she continued with them, the more they wrought vpon her, becauſe she had learned, what words did beſt like them, as her rayling againſt prieſts, and commending of Proteſtants, and ſpeaking of many vaine, and fooliſh words, whereof they would make what they liſt. Likewiſe she could tel how to feed them with viſions, ſaying, she had ſeene this, and that, when she had ſeene no ſuch matter, but onely ſpake to content them.

Beſides, in Chriſtmas time there was gaming, and mumming at the L. Ʋaux his houſe, and as she ſaith, she ſaw the mummers dreſſed with their vizards: whereby she learned to talke of ſuch things, when they ſaid, the ſpirit began to aſcend out of her foote: that is, when he began from time to time (as they ſay) to trouble her.

Againe, as before she ſaith, that whilſt she was at Denham, she told Ma: Dibdale, that she verily thought, she was no more poſſeſſed, then any of them were (meaning the reſt of the prieſts.) And likewiſe as she perceaued three or foure yeeres after, by Ma: Yaxleyes words, and ſhaking of his head, when she complained vnto him, how she had been dealt with, that he himſelfe did think no otherwiſe of her: ſo she this exam: as wel at other times, whilſt she was at Denham, as afterwards manie times ſtil thought, but now (as she ſaith) by hearing of the booke, they haue written of her, read, she is not onlie fully perſwaded, that she was neuer at all poſſeſſed, but ſeeth, that they haue written of her moſt abhominablie, and villanouſly, and she prayeth God to forgiue them, ſaying, that she needeth not to wiſh them worſe hurt, then hath, or wil come to them, for their falſe, and diſſembling dealing with her.

Whilſt this exam: was in the prieſts hands at Denham, she wel remembreth (as she ſaith) that one Ma: Babington, and diuers other Gentlemen were there. Alſo Ma: Edmunds the Ieſuit was there, or at the leaſt, ſuch a man as they called fa: Edmunds, who was a chiefe man amongſt them, and ouer the reſt (as she hath heard.) Likewiſe, she ſaith, that there were many, both men, and women, that came thither to ſee miracles (as it was giuen out,) who were daily reconciled. She alſo remembreth, that the prieſts would ſay, that thoſe who came thither, and would not be reconciled, were in great danger, whereas if they would ſubmit themſelues, and reconcile themſelues, then the deuil ſhould haue no power of them. The number, she ſaith, that vpon theſe occaſions were reconciled, was very great. It was an vſual ſaying with the prieſts, that many Proteſtants were poſſeſſed, and that if they were once reconciled, the deuil would shew himſelfe in them, and they brought her this exam: for an inſtance, ſaying, that til she was reconciled, the deuil was quiet in her. Whereas, she ſaith, she wel knoweth, that she was (she thanketh God) as free from the deuil poſſeſſing of her, til she fel into their hands, as any of the prieſts were.

After the prieſts gaue ouer the exorciſing of this exam: she was at their direction conuayed from place to place, for almoſt foure yeeres, and maintained for the moſt part at their charges, ſauing ſo much as she had for her paines in thoſe places, where she remained.

When this exam: should be married, Ma: Yaxly the prieſt told her a ſtory of Tobias ſonne, and wiſhed her, that in any wiſe, she should refraine from the company of her husband, for the firſt three nights, which counſel (she ſaith) she followed, being wholy at that time ruled by him.

She further ſaith, that if Ma: Dibdale had liued but a moneth longer, she this exam: had not beene heere, to haue beene now examined of this matter. For he was purpoſed (as he ſaid) to haue ſent her beyond the Seas, that she might haue beene a Nun. And to that end he had prouided fourty pound, part whereof was in Ma: Yaxlyes hands, and part in her owne. But after Ma: Dibdales death, that which this exam: had, Ma: Yaxley tooke from her, and promiſed her husband, when she was to be married fourty pound, whereof notwithſtanding he neuer receaued aboue fiue pounds, as she thinketh.

Againe, she ſaith, that whilſt she was in their hands, she had ſiluer, and gold giuen her of thoſe, that came to ſee her, which she ſtil gaue to Ma: Dibdale, becauſe he perſwaded her, that she might not haue it her ſelfe, for that the deuil thereby would tempt her, & doe her hurt. When he the ſaid Dibdale was afterwards executed, this exam: had of his a purſe full of gold, which he left with her, where with Ma: Alexander a prieſt being acquainted, she this exam: by his commaundement, deliuered it vnto him.

She alſo ſaith, that by one Hodgskins meanes, a Purſuiuant, she was a little after Ma: Dibdales death, committed to priſon at Oxford for recuſancie, where she remained about xiiij. weekes. At what time Ma: Yaxley cauſed diuers to make earneſt ſute for her: much veniſon (as she hath heard) was beſtowed vpon the Schollers, and at the laſt ſhe was called before a Doctor, and after ſome fewe ſpeeches deliuered.

About nine or tenne yeares ſince, this exam: was ſent for, by two Iuſtices of the peace, Sir Anthony Cope, and Ma: Doily to be examined, partly about theſe matters of poſſeſſion. But ſhe neuer did confeſſe a word vnto them of it. At other times alſo ſhe hath beene examined, but diſcloſed nothing. When vpon theſe occaſions she was at any time in trouble, she was ſtil maintayned, and her coſts borne by the prieſts meanes. She alſo ſaith, that becauſe she would confeſſe nothing, she was very much made of. It was ordinarie with the prieſts, to charge her in any wiſe, that if she happened at any time to be examined, she should neuer take any oath, for that was verie dangerous, and told her, that then she might ſay any thing, though it were vntrue, to excuſe her ſelfe. They alſo warned her, to be very careful, what she ſaid, and in no wiſe to confeſſe any thing, that might touch any prieſt, and doe them any harme, ſaying, that if she did, the deuil would ſurely poſſeſſe her againe: becauſe thereby she should diſhonour God, and his Prieſts, and be a ſlander to the Catholique Church. And they told her an example of a woman, that after a prieſt had diſpoſſeſſed her, she dealt amiſſe, and there-vpon the deuil came into her againe, and continued in her ſo long, as she liued. And ſo they ſaid, he would deale with her this exam: if she did, or confeſſed any thing againſt thē. But notwithſtanding she now ſaith, that shee is very glad she hath diſcharged her conſcience, and vnburdened her minde of theſe things, by telling the truth. Nothing doubting, but that Almighty God wil pardon her, in that she yeelded ſo farre, to be in ſuch ſort abuſed by them, and that heereafter the deuil shal neuer haue power, by the perſwaſion of any prieſts, or other perſons what ſo euer, to draw her to ſuch wicked courſes heereafter.

SHee ſaith, that about 17 yeeres ſince, ſhee beeing then about 17 yeeres of age, ſerued on Miſtriſſe Peckham, the wife of Ma: Edmund Peckham, dwelling then at Denham in Buckingham-ſhire. This Miſtris Peckham, was the daughter of Sir Thomas Iarret in Lancaſhire.

The cauſe of this examinats ſeruing the ſaid Miſtriſſe Peckham was, for that this exam: ſiſter Sara Williams, (that likewiſe ſerued her) was then in the hands of certaine Prieſts, who ſaid ſhe was poſſeſſed. At that time alſo one Trayford maiſter Peckhams man was there likewiſe in the ſame cafe, with this exam: ſiſter. By meanes of theſe troubles there, this examinats father, being Sir George Peckhams man, father to the ſaid Ma. Edmund, ſhee this examinate, as now ſhee verilie belieueth, was thought a meet perſon, to be entertained in the houſe, as one, who they thought, would keepe all theyr counſels, howſoeuer they ſhould deale, and practiſe with her, or any other in that place.

This exam. further ſaith, that as ſhe remembreth, the diſtinct time of her comming to ſerue Miſtris Peckham, was about 3 of 4 daies after, that ſhee the ſaid Miſtriſſe Peckham came frō Fulmer to Denham, withall her houſhold, 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 bringing with her the ſaid two poſſeſſed parties, as it was then pretended. Vpon this examinats firſt entertainement, many prieſts reſorted to Denham, vnder pretence to caſt the deuils out of thoſe perſons. Amongſt them all one Ma. Edmunds a Ieſuit was the chiefe, that bare the ſway, and gaue directions in thoſe matters, and Ma. Dibdale was the next, who tooke eſpeciall paines in their exorciſings. The names of other prieſt, that reſorted thether, as farre as ſhee remembreth, were theſe: Ma. Driland Ma. Midleton, Ma. Yaxley, Ma. Sherwood, Ma. Stampe, Ma. Tirréll, Ma. Thomſon, Ma. Thulice, Ma. Cornelius, Ma. Browne, Ma. Ballard, Ma. Blackman, Ma. Greene, Ma. Bruerton. There vvere beſides theſe a great number, whoſe names ſhe hath forgotten, that reſorted thether. And many, eſpecially of the younger prieſts that were lately come ouer, did not tell theyr names, at the leaſt this exam: did not know them.

Vppon her firſt comming to Denham, and ſo for fiue or ſixe weekes, this exam: heard much in the houſe of her ſiſter, and Ma. Trayfords fits: and it was not long after her Miſtris cōming from Fulmer, before one Marwood was brought to Denham, and then ſhortly one Ma: Richard Mainy, who both of them did pretend themſelues to be likewiſe poſſeſſed. Ma. Ballard the Prieſt brought the ſaid Marwood thether, and in his companie, there came twelue or thirteene as ſhee remembreth, viz. Ma. Babington, Ma. Tichburne, Ma. Dun, Ma. Gage, Ma. Tilny, and the moſt of the reſt that were executed with Ma. Babington, they came thether in foure or fiue Coaches.

When this exam: firſt came to Miſtris Peckham, ſhee had before euer vſed to goe to the Church, but then the prieſts laboured to perſwade her to the contrary. The parties that dealt with her, to that purpoſe, in the beginning, were Ma. Edmund Peckham, and one Alexander an Apothecarie, but ſince a prieſt.

About the end of the ſaid 5 or 6 weekes, the prieſts begannne to practiſe with this exam: to make her belieue alſo that ſhe was poſſeſſed. The manner whereof was in this ſort. Shee beeing waſhing of clothes in the Kitchen at Denham, maiſter Dibdale the prieſt came in, & clapping her vpon the ſhoulder, told her that her miſtriſſe looked for her. To whom this examinate anſwered, that ſhe had almoſt done, & then ſhe would come vnto her. Preſently after this exanimate, and one of her fellowes hauing filled a tub of water, to rince theyr clothes, this exam: lifting vp the tub, her feete ſlipped from vnder her, the kitchen beeing paued, and hauing a ſhrewd fall, did hurt her hip, with the griefe whereof she was compelled to keepe her bed, for two or three dayes.

Heereupon maiſters Dibdale comming to this exam: told her, that it was a wicked ſpirit, that gaue her that fal, and ſaid, that the cauſe that moued the ſpirit ſo to doe, was for that shee had washed his the ſaid maiſter Dibdales ſhirt, which the wicked ſpirit tooke in euill part, becauſe he was a Catholique prieſt, to whom the deuill could not endure, that any kindnes should be ſhewed. And for that alſo the ſame his ſhirt was fouled with the ſweat, which came from him, in taking paines to exorciſe the parties, ſuppoſed to be poſſeſſed. He did alſo at the ſame time, and afterwards, likewiſe deale earneſtlie with this examinate, to perſwade her to be a Catholick, and from the time of her ſaid fall, ceaſed not to tell her, that she was poſſeſſed; and ſo did the reſt of the prieſts, that then were there. The ſaid maiſter Dibdale did vrge her to be aduiſed by him, promiſing that if ſo she would, she ſhould receiue great eaſe, and comfort therein.

She alſo ſaith, that vpon occaſion of ſpeech with maiſter Dibdale, of the ache of her hip, he entred into a further examination of her, if she had not before that time, felt ſome paine in her body. And shee confeſſing, that ſomtimes, she had a paine in one of her ſides; Ah quoth he, I thought euen ſo; out of queſtion, you are poſſeſſed, and ſo haue beene for a good while, the paine you ſpeake of, proceeding from the ſaid ſpirit.

Thus labouring with this exam: to make her to belieue, that shee was poſſeſſed, they told her, that before they could doe her any good, she muſt needs become a Catholique; and at the length, by telling her that shee was in ſtate of damnation, and out of the Church; and that ſhe muſt belieue the articles of the Creede, whereof one was, that shee ought to belieue the Catholique Church, which was (as they ſaid) the Church of Rome, ſhee did yeeld vnto them to be reconciled, as she thinketh they terme it.

At the time that this exam: was thus become a Catholique, the prieſts told her, that her baptiſme receiued in the proteſtants Church muſt be amended, becauſe it wanted many ceremonies of the Catholique Church. And thereuppon they vſed ſuch things as they thought good, to make her baptiſme perfect. They caſt a white cloth ouer her head, with a croſſe vpon it, & vſing certaine words, they put ſalt into her mouth, and did annoint her lippes, her noſe, her eyes, and her eares. At that time alſo, they cauſed her to change her name, ſo as she being, when she was chriſtned, called Friſwood, from that time forward, shee hath been called Frauncis. They told her diuers tales of S. Frauncis, that he was ſo holy a man, that he might commaund the birds of the ayre to come vnto him, and that therefore his name was made common both for men, and women.

Shee further ſaith, that after shee had kept her bedde two or three daies, (as before is mentioned) ſhe did (notwithſtanding her ſaid hurt) follow her buſines, as wel as shee could, though she halted. This her ſo halting, the prieſts ſtill ſaid, that the deuil cauſed it, and after omitted no occaſion, to tell her of the paine in her ſide, and annointing her hip, did alwaies ſay, that it was the deuill that lay there; till at laſt this exam: began (eſpecially after she was a Catholique) to thinke they ſaid truly, and that she was indeed poſſeſſed. Although (as now shee ſaith) shee afterwards perceiued, that shee had neuer any other trouble, after her hip was well, but now & then a paine, as she was wont to haue in her ſide, which paine doth ſtill continue, beeng a griefe of the ſpleene, as the Phyſicians tell her; for eaſe whereof, ſhee is commonlie let blood once a yeere. And for any other vexation, or griefe whilſt she was vnder the prieſts hands, shee ſayth shee had none, but ſuch as they procured, by theyr drinks, and perfumes, and other bad vſage of her.

Furthermore shee ſaith, that within a while after that she was a Catholique, the prieſts told her, that according to their promiſe, they would now try, to make her well, and to rid her from the wicked ſpirit. The manner whereof was as followeth. At the end of the firſt Maſſe that euer she ſaw, which was ſaid by maiſter Dibdale, he told her, that now they would make triall what was in her; and thereupon shee beeing perfectly well, and telling maiſter Dibdale, & the reſt as much, yet they would needs haue her to ſit downe in a chayre, which shee did. Then they began to binde her with towels, whereat she greatly meruailed, and was there-with caſt into a great feare, as not knowing what they meant to doe with her. Beeing in this caſe, maiſter Dibdale began to read vpon his booke of Exorciſmes, and after a good while, ſeeing no other alteration in her, then the tokens of feare, (for she cōfeſſeth the ſame increaſed by reaſon of his words, and other his dealings with her) then they vrged her to drinke aboue a pint of Sack, and Sallet-oyle, being hallowed, and mingled with ſome kind of ſpices. When she taſted this drinke, which they termed a holy potion, it did ſo much diſlike her, that shee could drinke but a little of it at once, (her ſtomacke greatly loathing of it.) And then the preſts ſaid, all that came from the deuill, who hated nothing worſe, then that holy drinke. So as ſhe was held, and by very force, cauſed to drinke it vp, at diuers draughts. Heere-vpon (as ſhe ſaith) ſhe grew to be very ſicke, and giddie, in her head, and began to fal into a cold ſweate, verily then beleeuing, that as the prieſts ſaid, it was a wicked ſpirit, that cauſed her to be in ſuch caſe: Whereas afterwards, when ſhee better had conſidered of their dealings with her, ſhe eaſily perceaued, that the drinke they gaue her, was ſuch, as might haue made a horſe ſicke.

Againe, ſhe ſaith, that being thus in the prieſts hands, from a little before Chriſtmas, til two or three dayes before Whitſonday following, ſhe was often abuſed in this manner: and at ſome times when ſhe was bound, (as is before ſaid) and had drunk the holy potion ful ſore againſt her wil, they would burne brimſtone in a chafing-diſh, and hold her noſe by force ouer it: by which meanes, ſhe nothing doubteth, but that ſhe did commonly grow into ſome great outrages, & ſpake the can not tel now what.

There was, (as ſhe thinketh) a diſcourſe made of her fits, by ſome of the prieſts, the which, if she could heare, she ſuppoſeth, she should remember many more things then now she doth: But shee cannot forget (she ſaith) that many times, she did complaine of hard dealing, vſed towards her in her pretended fits, and how iniuriouſly they dealt with her, by giuing her that loathſome drink, and burning brimſtone vnder her noſe. Where-vnto the prieſts would commonly giue this aunſwer, eyther it was not ſhe, that ſpake, but the deuill; or otherwiſe when she was ſo wel, that they could haue no pretence, ſo to ſay, then they would bid her be contented, and tel her, that she should, by that meanes, merit heauen, & gaine a crowne of glory. And they would ſtand much vpon this laſt reaſon, in ſhewing how much this exam: had merited at Gods hands, when any by ſeeing of her in her fits, and the Prieſts dealings with her, were reconciled.

She further ſaith, that the prieſts would be often talking in this exam: hearing, of certaine women, that were poſſeſſed beyond the Seas: how the deuils in them could not abide the holy potion, nor the burning of hallowed brimſtone, nor the applying vnto them of holy reliques, nor the preſence, or touching of Catholique prieſts, nor holy water, nor the holy candel, nor the bleſſed ſacrament, but would ſtart, ſay they burned, rage, & raile againſt the prieſts, & commend vpon euery occaſion thoſe, that were the ſoundeſt Proteſtants.

By this meanes, this exam: ſaith, for her ſelfe, (and she thinketh, she may ſafely ſo ſay for her ſiſter, and the reſt,) that she learned what to ſay, and doe, when the prieſts had her in hand: that is, to ſtart ſome times, when they brought reliques vnto her: to pretend that shee could not endure the preſence of the Sacrament, and many things beſides: as if the treatiſe of her may be gotten, wil appeare. Howbeit, she ſaith, that after ſome ſixe or ſeauen weekes, although at the firſt, she did not marke the prieſts doings, nor greatly obſerue her own, yet then she began to finde their iuglings, and how she her ſelfe, in ſaying this, or that, ſpake nothing, but what she had learned of the prieſts.

The chiefe reaſon that (she thinketh) moued her, not to mark them at the firſt, was the good opinion she had conceaued of them, being newly reconciled: and yet as shee ſaith, when shee ſaw before that time, into what caſe they had brought her ſiſter, she thought that they vſed her not wel, & perſwaded her to runne away from them.

This exam: further ſaith, that shee wel remembreth, how one time Ma: Sherwood told her, that one Ma: Bridges had gotten one of his mothers mayds with child, and bad her tel him of it, when he should come next thither, and, that this exam: was troubled. Where-vpon she ſaith, that accordingly, as ſoone as she ſaw the ſaid Ma: Bridges, being her ſelfe in health, and no way troubled, & in the preſence of Ma: Sherwood, Goe to, quoth she, Ma: Bridges, you haue gotten your Mothers chamber-mayde with child, and make no conſcience of it. Which words were no ſooner vttered by her, but Ma: Sherwood, tooke hold of them, ſaying; Yea ſirra, canſt thou tel that, thou shalt be conſtrained to tel more anone? And thus he ſaid, pretending, it was not this exam: but the deuil, that vttered thoſe words. Heere-with Ma. Bridges was greatly amazed, and afraid, and much ſpeech was of it, as if it had been ſome great miracle.

The ſaid Ma. Sherwood, as this exam: ſaith, at one time, as she was tyed in the chayre, did thruſt a pinne into her ſhoulder, and ſhe there-with crying, and ſaying, what doe you? O ſaith he, heare you not the deuil, what hee ſaith? No, quoth this exam: it is not the deuil, but my ſelfe, that ſpake vnto you. But he ſtil affirming, that it was the deuil, this exam: could not be beleeued, and ſo it was reckoned amongſt them.

Againe shee ſaith, that in one of the fits, where-into they caſt her, by their holy potion, and brimſtone, there were two needles thruſt into her legge, by ſome of the prieſts, (as she is now perſwaded in her conſcience,) and vppon her comming to her ſences, finding a paine in the place, where the needles were, ſhe complained of it, and would haue put down her hoſe, to haue ſeene, what her legge ayled; but the prieſts would in no wiſe ſuffer that, but preſently they got holy reliques, and tyed them about her legge, affirming that the paine was procured, by the wicked ſpirit, and could not be eaſed, but by thoſe reliques. When they had ſo tyed them about her legge, they charged her in any wiſe, not to touch them; but yet notwitſtanding this exam: ſaith, that being greatly troubled with paine, & deſirous to caſe her ſelfe, ſhe did now and then attempt to ſlacken the reliques, being tyed too hard, (as ſhe thought.) At what time the prieſts ſtil watching of her, as that ſhe could do nothing, but they would ſee her, they did blame her for touching of the reliques, bad her let them alone, and ſaid, it was the deuil that tempted her, to touch them.

The cuſtome of the prieſts was, as this exam: ſaith, to appoint a ſet time, when they meant to haue any ſolemne Exorciſmes, and then this exam: was one, when ſhe was in their hands, that for the moſt part, muſt goe to the chayre. After that the ſaid needles had beene in this exam: legge, from the fore-noone the one day, vntil eleuen of the clocke the next day, ſhe was brought vp into a gallerie, the Sermon being finiſhed, and a great number there preſent. At her comming in, and complaining of the ſorenes of her legge, the prieſts bad her be of good cheere, and ſaid, they would ſee if they could helpe her: Where-vpon Ma. Dibdale, (as ſhe remembreth) ſaid vnto her, Goe Frauncis, ſit downe, and put downe thy hoſe: which ſhe did, and then Ma. Stamp, another prieſt, when her hoſe was put downe, came vnto her very reuerently, and with diuers ceremonies vntyed the reliques, which were about her legge, which being taken away, he looked vpon the ſore place, and handled it gently, and in the end thruſting downe with his fingers the skin, and fleſh, where one needle ſtuck ſo, as the ſame appeared, he called vnto him thoſe that were preſent, and ſaid vnto them: See what the deuil had done, and ſo pulled it out. Then feeling her legge a little while longer, and vſing his fingers, as is before mentioned, he alſo diſcloſed the ſecond needle; which the people that were preſent beholding, were in a great maze, eſpecially to heare what Ma. Dibdale, and Ma. Stamp made of the matter: how they ſaid, it was the deuils doing, and much other ſpeech to that effect. As ſoone as the needles were taken forth, this exam: was caried downe againe out of the gallerie, and feeling her leg very wel eaſed, it began to amend euery day more, and more, which they ſaid, was by reaſon of the holy water, where-with they waſhed her legge, when they pulled out the needles.

She further ſaith, that the prieſts had a cuſtome, to thruſt certaine things into the mouthes of ſuch, as they ſaid were poſſeſſed, vnder pretence of reliques. And ſhe wel remembreth, that at one time, when ſhe began to be troubled with her drink, and brimſtone, they thruſt into her mouth, ſome of the ſaid reliques: Whereof this exam: complained, and ſaid, why doe you put theſe filthie things in my mouth? Ah, quoth they: hark how the deuil cannot endure theſe holy things. Afterwards when this exam: put them out of her mouth, then they asked her what reliques they were? and ſhe told them, This is a peece of ſuch a man, and this of another. And at one time, they put into her mouth, a peece of Campions thumbe, or his finger, ſhe remembreth not whether. When this exam: at this time, and ſo likewiſe, both ſhe, and others, at other times, did name theſe reliques, and ſhewed their diſlike, to haue thē put into their mouthes, the prieſts would bidde the people that were preſent marke, how the deuil knew all holy reliques, of vvhat Martyrs they were, and how hee could not abide them: whereas this deponent ſaith, that both ſhe, and the reſt that were dealt with as ſhee was, did know all theſe reliques, that the prieſts had there, hauing the ſight of thē almoſt euerie day, and hearing the prieſts tell of whom they were. So that as ſoone as this exanimate ſaw any of them, ſhe could name them very readily, and ſay; This is ſuch a peece of Father Campian; this of Ma. Sherwin; this of maiſter Brian; this of maiſter Cottam; this of miſtris Clithero; and ſo of a great number more, which ſhe hath now forgotten.

At another time alſo, this examinate wel remembreth, that the prieſts filling her mouth with reliques, they cō ueyed in with them a big ruſtie naile, as ſhe is verily perſwaded in her conſcience, ſo as when they pulled out the reliques, ſhe was almoſt choked with the nayle, and much ado they had to get it out. They made her mouth there-with to bleed, and affirmed to the people, that it came out of her ſtomacke, by vertue of the ſaid reliques.

Againe ſhe ſaith, that beeing in ſpeech once with maiſter Dibdale concerning maiſter Richard Mainy, he told her diuers things of him, what wonderful ſights he ſaw about the Altar, and the ſacrament at Maſſe time. And further ſaid vnto her, that if ſhee would ſay, when ſhee was to be exorciſed in the chaire, at the bringing of the Pix vnto her, (as the manner was) that ſhee ſaw the bodie of Chriſt there in a great brightneſſe, ſhee ſhould by that meanes greatly glorifie God. And therevppon, as ſhe confeſſeth, ſhe ſaid as he aduiſed her, at her next exorciſing, and a great wonder was made of it.

Shee further ſaith, that beeing brought vp with her mother, ſhee had learned to ſing by hart certaine Geneua Pſalmes, & that being vnder the prieſts hands, when now and then forgetting her ſelfe, ſhe ſung any of them, as ſhe ſate at work, the prieſts, & ſo others in the houſe, when they heard her, would earneſtly blame her for it, and ſay one to another, Doe you not heare, how ſweetly the deuil ſingeth theſe Geneua pſalmes.

Alſo ſhe ſaith, that when the prieſts had drawne her to be of their Church, as is before mentioned, and that ſhee ſhould come to receaue the Sacrament, they told her, ſhe muſt firſt vow, and promiſe, by the vertue of that holy Sacrament, that ſhee would euer afterwards hold the Religion of the Church of Rome, and neuer goe againe to any of the Proteſtants Churches, nor euer reade the Engliſh Seruice, or the Engliſh Byble, or any other Engliſh books, written by the Proteſtants in matters of Religion. And this vow, ſhe ſaith, is ordinarily made, by all that are reconciled.

She alſo ſaith, that ſhe hath often times heard ſome of the prieſts affirme, that it was an ordinary thing with the deuil, which was in Ma: Maynie, that when they the ſaid prieſts, haue demaunded of the deuil, (pretended to be in him) why he troubled the Catholiques with impriſonment, and many daungers, whileſt the Proteſtants liued in pleaſure: his aunſwer was, that the Proteſtants were his already, and that he troubled the Catholiques, becauſe he would draw them to himſelfe, and make thē Proteſtants if he could: adding that he would neuer haue troubled Iob as he did, if he had thought he could not haue made him to curſe God. This exam: alſo ſaith, that ſhe her ſelfe hath heard ſom of the prieſts, and (as ſhe thinketh Ma: Edmunds) aske Mainy that queſtion, and he the ſaid Mainy ſo to haue aunſwered them. Alſo ſhe ſaith, that the prieſts in talking of Proteſtants, haue affirmed of them in her hearing, that the greateſt ſhare of them were poſſeſſed, and that when England ſhould be againe, as it had beene, the deuils would then ſhew themſelues in them, and they ſhould haue theyr hands ful of chaire-worke, meaning their exorciſings, to caſt them out.

At one time, ſhe ſaith ſhe wel remembreth, that Ma: Greene comming from beyond the Seas, brought with him certaine graines, medals, and Agnus dei; and that ſeeing the prieſts, and others make ſo great account of them, ſhee ſaid to Ma: Greene, Good Lord, what meane you to make ſo great a-doe about theſe things? What is that waxe better then other waxe? or that bugle better then another, whereof you may buy a great number for a penny? Where-vpon Ma: Greene ſaid, it was the deuill, and not ſhe, that ſpake thoſe words. But this exam: told him againe, that ſhee ſpake thoſe words her ſelfe, and that ſhe meruailed, why they laboured ſo earneſtly, to make both her, and all others beleeue, that whatſoeuer ſhe or they did, or ſpake, it was not ſhe, nor they, but the deuil: but he perſiſted, and ſaid, it was the deuil indeede, and not ſhe, whatſoeuer ſhee thought to the contrarie.

This exam: further ſaith, that one Alexander an Apothecarie, hauing brought with him from London to Denham on a time a new halter, and two blades of kniues, did leaue the ſame, vpon the gallerie floare in her Maiſters houſe. That next morning he tooke occaſion to goe with this exam: into the ſaid gallerie, where ſhe eſpying the ſaid halter, and blades, asked Ma: Alexander what they did there: Hee making the matter ſtrange, aunſwered, that he ſaw them not, though hee looked fully vpon them; ſhe her ſelfe pointing to them with her finger, where they lay within a yard of them, where they ſtoode both together. No (quoth this exam:) doe you not ſee them? and ſo taking them vp, ſaid, looke you heere: Ah (quoth he) now I ſee them indeed, but before I could not ſee them: And therefore ſaith he, I perceaue that the deuil hath layd them heere, to worke ſome miſchiefe vpon you, that are poſſeſſed.

Heereuppon maiſter Alexander told the prieſts what a ſtrange thing had happened, and a great ſearch vvas made in the houſe, to know how the ſaid halter & knife blades came thether: but it could not in any wiſe be found out, as it was pretended, till Ma. Mainy in his next fit ſaid, as it was reported, that the deuil layd them in the Gallery, that ſome of thoſe that were poſſeſſed, might either hang thēſelues which the halter, or kil themſelues with the blades.

Now this exam: further ſaith, that ſhee herſelfe did eſpy the end of the halter, in maiſter Alexanders pocket, the night before ſhee ſaw it, and the blades in the Gallery, at ſuch time as he drew out of his pocket a certaine boxe of Wafer-cakes for Maſſes. Whereby ſhee is fully perſwaded, as ſhe ſaith, that he the ſaid Alexander, was himſelfe the deuil, that layde the halter, and knife-blades in the ſaid Gallerie, and as ſhe ſaith, ſhe told maiſter Dibdale as much, when the ſearch was, how they ſhould come thether. Whereat maiſter Dibdale beeing much mooued, ſaid, it was not ſhe but the deuill, that ſpake ſo vnto him, of maiſter Alexander. And for this her report, and ſpeeches, ſhe felt, as ſhee ſaith, ſome ſmart afterwards. For within a day or two after they had her againe to the chayre, and did vſe theyr exorciſmes vvith her, the manner whereof was ſomething ſtrange vnto her.

They had in a readines the picture of an Aſſe, and of the deuil, and of Ma. Fox, as if hee were writing the booke of Martyrs. The Aſſe (they ſaid) reſembled this examinate; and the deuill within her (being a malicious lying ſpirit, that ſought to ſlaunder the dooings of the Catholique prieſts) betokened Ma. Fox, who (as they ſaid) had beene a malicious lyer. They had there alſo a long girdle, made of whipcord (as ſhee remembreth) it was full of knots, & termed S. Peters girdle: this girdle was hallowed, and being lapped into foure doubles, was like a whip.

Theſe things beeing thus readily prepared, this examinate was bound full ſore againſt her will in a chayre: They compelled her to drinke the holy potion, whereof ſhee made fiue or ſixe draughts; they burnt brimſtone vnder her noſe, and withall the ſaid three pictures one after another. They pulled off her gowne, and whipped her vppon the armes with the holy girdle, pretending that they meant thereby to hunt the deuill out of her. They gaue her fiue blowes, in remembrance of the fiue wounds of Chriſt: and ſeauen in honour of the ſeauen Sacraments, and three in memory of the bleſſed Trinitie, and ſhe knoweth not now how many more. With theſe blowes ſhee beeing conſtrained to cry out, they ſaid, it was not ſhee but the deuill within her that ſo cryed, becauſe he was not able to endure the vertue of that holy girdle. But this examinate ſaith, that howſoeuer the deuill fared, ſhe well knoweth, that ſhee bare away the ſmart, and that her armes were blacke almoſt a moneth after with the blowes.

The prieſts alſo (ſhee ſaith) had another cuſtome: At the end of euery exorciſme, they would ſay that the ſpirit was gone downe, ſometimes into the foote, & ſometimes into the great toe of the partie exorciſed. And when ſtrangers came, before whom they intended to worke ſome great matters, they would bring the partie againe to the chayre, and beeing bound therein, they would begin (as they ſaid) to make the deuil ſhew himſelfe, which they did with this exam: in this ſort. The Exorciſt hauing a relique in his hand, as a bone, or ſome ſuch hard thing, would graſpe her by the legge, & aske her if ſhe felt any paine that ſeemed to prick her, & this exam: confeſſing (as the truth was) that ſhe felt a paine, (the ſaid bone, or hard thing in his hand hurting her ſhrewdly:) Ah (would the Exorciſt ſay) now he beginneth to ſtirre. Thus would the Exorciſt goe pinching of her legge twice, or thrice, before they came to her knee, and then they would wring her indeed ſo hard, as that ſhe ſhould ſometimes ſcreech, and ſometimes ſtart. And then the Exorciſt, and the reſt of the prieſts that were preſent would ſay, now the ſpirit will vp into her body, you ſhal heare more of him anon. And haſt was commonly made at ſuch times to giue vs the holy potion, which beeing ſo lothſome a drinke, diuers Gentlewomen ſeeing it giuen vnto vs, haue wept for pitty to ſee vs compelled to take it. But the prieſts would tell them that there was no remedy; for otherwiſe, except the ſtrength, and force of the wicked ſpirit were thereby abated, there was great danger, that hee would teare theyr guts, and inward parts in peeces, as hee was aſcending vpwards to goe out of them.

This exam: ſaith, that when ſhee had wel conſidered of the prieſts-dealing with her, and how all the troubles ſhe had, was by reaſon of their intollerable drinks, perfumings, and practiſes with her, where-with her body was brought to great weakenes; ſhe grew to ſome more boldnes, and did now and then ſpeake her minde ſomwhat plainly, though it booted not: for they would ſay, it was the deuil that vttered it, whatſoeuer it was, that this exam: ſpake, if they diſliked it. She wel remembreth, that ſitting at her worke one time, and Ma: Sherwood ſitting alſo by her looking on a booke, she this exam: being very angry in her minde, to conſider how ſhe was vſed, and with him in particuler, for thruſting a pin into her shoulder, and for diuers other his hard vſages towards her, ſaid vnto him; that shee very greatly meruailed, how he, and the reſt durſt deale with her, & the reſt, as they did: adding, that if she this exam: or any other should complaine of them, they would certainly all of them be hanged. For (quoth she) how many of the Queenes ſubiects, haue you drawne from her, by theſe your practiſes heere? Heere-with Ma: Sherwood was much moued, and went to the prieſts, to acquaint them with her words. Some of them (as she hath heard) were of opinion, that it were beſt to put her away from her Miſtres: but Ma: Dibdale liked not that counſel, fearing (as she beleeueth) that shee should haue diſcloſed theyr dealings. For theſe her ſaid ſpeeches, shee was within three or foure houres very hardly entreated; Ma: Sherwood, and the other prieſts, returning vnto her, put her in minde, what she had ſaid, and told her, That it was not ſhe, but the deuill, that vttered thoſe words, and therevpon had her to the chayre, and with their holy potion, and brimſtone ſo plagued her, as being there-with wonderful ſick, ſhee fel (as she thinketh) into a ſwound.

Shee further ſaith, that whileſt theſe matters were in hand at Denham, there came very many thither, from time to time. The Catholiques would bring with them ſuch of their friends, as they durſt truſt, being Proteſtants, of purpoſe, to draw them to the Romiſh Religion. And she certainly knoweth, that there was a very great number vpon thoſe occaſions reconciled; ſometimes an hundred a weeke, at the leaſt. Marrie at one time, she remembreth, that one Ma: Hampden of Hampden (as she thinketh) being brought thither, by Ma: Edward Aſhefield, now in priſon, as shee hath heard, did greatly deceaue the prieſts expectations, and put them into a great feare. The manner was, she ſaith, of thoſe who were pretended to be poſſeſſed, when any Proteſtants came in, to commend them greatly, and to raile vpon the prieſts: in ſo much as Ma: Mainy, when he ſaw Ma: Hampden, did preſently ſalute him, by the name of his fellow Iuſtice, and vſe ſuch other words vnto him, as when he heard, how they were expounded, hee was greatly diſcontented with them: and there-vpon ſpeaking aloude, ſaid thus in effect vnto him, that brought him thither (as farre as she remembreth) being her ſelfe then preſent. Cooſen Ned, I had thought you would haue brought me, where I ſhould haue ſeene ſome godlines, and not to haue heard the deuill; but this dealing I ſee is abhominable, and I meruaile, that the houſe ſinketh not, for ſuch wickednes committed in it: and ſo he departed. With theſe his ſpeeches, the prieſts were greatly amazed, & fearing the worſt, got them away for that night.

Furthermore, she ſaith, that perceauing many things were falſe, that the prieſts told to thoſe, that came vnto them, for the better confirming of her iudgement therein, she deuiſed (of her ſelfe) this tale. She told them, that being in bed, there came a morrice-daunce into her chamber, hauing theſe perſons in it, a man with Taber, and a Pipe, the Earle of Bedford that was dead before, (but one that the prieſts did greatly hate) and ſome other noble men alſo she named, who are now out of her memory: all theſe she told them, after they had daunced about the table in the chamber, went out againe as they came in. When the prieſts had this by the end, they made great matters of it, termed it a viſion, and told it the Catholiques for a very truth; whereat this exam: laughed in her minde, but durſt not gaine-ſay it, and ſo it went amongſt them for a currant viſion. And ſhee thinketh in her conſcience, it was euen as true, as the reſt of their reports, both of this exam: & of the others there, that were pretended to be poſſeſſed.

Alſo ſhe ſaith, that there was a notable deuiſe amongſt the Prieſts, to haue it thought, that the wicked ſpirits came into this exam: and her ſiſter, by witcherie. Ma: Richard Mainy before mentioned, being the notableſt counterfeit (as she thinketh) that euer the prieſts had in their fingers, ſaid in one of his fits, or rather the deuil in him (as it was pretended) that one good-wife White of Buſhie, had bewitched this exam: and her ſaide ſiſter: This good-wife White, was commonly talked of in the Country to be a Witch: the ſaid Mainy alſo told the occaſion, how they were bewitched. There were (as it was pretended, that the deuil ſaid in Mainy) certaine cattel bewitched in Denham, ſome two or three yeeres before, which could not be eaſed, except the two ſpirits which troubled them, were ſent into two Chriſtian bodies; and there-vpon, quoth hee, to deliuer the cattel, ſhe ſent thoſe two ſpirits into this exam: ſiſter, and her ſelfe. When the prieſts heard theſe words, they ſeemed to coniure the deuil in Ma: Mainy, to bring the witches ſpirit (whereby she wrought) thither to Denham. And the night folowing this prank was played by the prieſts. They had gotten in the night a Cat amongſt them in the Parlor, which they ſaid was the witches ſpirit. About the whipping of this Cat they pretended great paines, and that they whipped her ſo long, til at the laſt ſhe vaniſhed away out of their ſight. Afterwards they gaue it out, that out of all queſtion, the Witch, whileſt they were whipping of the Cat, was greatly vexed, and there-vppon they ſent a meſſenger to Buſhie, to ſee in what eſtate the Witch was, who at his returne reported, that when hee came to Buſhie, hee found the Witch in child-bed, and that her child was dead. When the prieſts heard this report, ſee (quoth the prieſts) to thoſe that were preſent, how it falleth out to be true that we told you, the whipping of her ſpirit in the likenes of a Cat, was the cauſe that her child died: yea (quoth this exam:) is that true? Why then you are murderers: whereat the prieſts were moued, but they knew how to aunſwer that, as they did, in ſaying, that it was not ſhe, but the deuill in her, that vttered thoſe words. Of this whipping of the Cat there was great ſpeeches, and many that beleeued them, wondred at it. The meſſenger that was ſent to Buſhie, hearing what a meruaile they made heereof, became a recuſant, being at that time a Proteſtant.

There was alſo another ſtrange thing, that happened at Denham, about a bird. Miſtris Peckham had a Nightingale which she kept in a Cage, wherein Ma: Dibdale tooke great delight, and would often be playing with it. This Nightingale was one night conuayed out of the Cage, & being the next morning diligently ſought for, could not be heard of, til Ma: Mainies deuil in one of his fits (as it was pretended) affirmed, that the wicked ſpirit, which was in this exam: ſiſter, had taken the bird out of the Cage, and killed it in deſpite of Ma: Dibdale. And further he told them, that the birds necke was broken, and did lie vnder a Roſemarie buſh in the Garden: where-vpon three or foure going downe, and finding the bird there, they made a great wonderment of it, whereat this exam: doth verily beleeue, that eyther Mainy had killed the bird, and laid it there himſelfe, or elſe that this exam: ſiſter did it, and had told Mainy of it; for she ſaith, that her ſiſter, & Mainy were very great.

Alſo this exam: ſaith, that if the ſtory, she had heard hath beene written of Mainyes fits, could be got, there would appeare very many notable practiſes. Ma: Edmunds the Ieſuit was the chiefe man, that dealt with Mainy, & hath written (as she hath heard) a great booke of them. This Edmunds, as hath beene ſaid before, was a chiefe man, and therfore whereas the reſt had but their Albes on when they exorciſed any, he commonly had vpon him either a veſtment, or a cope. She wel remembreth, that the ſaid Mainy, ſitting vpon a time by one of the prieſts, affirmed, that vnto his ſight the prieſts finger, and thumbe did ſhine with brightnes, eſpecially on the inner ſides: where-vnto the Prieſt aunſwered, that it might wel ſo be, becauſe (quoth he) they were anointed with holy oyle, when I was made Prieſt. At which words, this exam: laughing, & calling Ma. Mainy a diſſembling hypocrite, the prieſt ſaid, that it was not ſhe, but the deuill, that did ſo laugh, and raile.

Furthermore, this examinate well remembreth, that Ma. Richard Mainy being exorciſed in the preſence of a hundred people at the leaſt, on S. Georges day in the morning, the prieſts affirmed, that ſeauen deuils did thē ſhew themſelues in him, by ſuch geſtures, and ſignes, as declared them to be the Authors of the ſeauen deadlie ſinnes. This examinate ſaith, that ſhe hath almoſt forgotten the geſtures, but ſhe will ſet them down as neere as her memory will ſerue her. The ſaid maiſter Mainy beeing bound in the chayre, did lift vp his head, looking highly, and made geſtures with his hand, as though hee were tricking vp himſelfe; whereupon the prieſts ſaid, that the ſpirit that was comming vp then, was Pride, as it appeared by the ſaid geſtures. Afterwards the ſaid Mainy beginning to gape, and ſnort, the prieſts ſaid, that the ſpirit that then roſe vp in him, was Sloth. Then hee fell to vomiting, and the prieſts ſaid, that the ſpirit that then roſe was Gluttony, and drunkennes. Againe, he the ſaid Mainy talking df purſes, and thus much in the hundred, and of the forfeyting of this, or that leaſe, the deuil that then was riſen, the prieſts called Couetouſneſſe. And thus the prieſts and hee went through all the deadly ſinnes. The ſaid Mainy, or the deuill in him, (as was pretended) cōmending the Proteſtants for his good friends, becauſe they had all the ſaid ſeuen deadly ſinnes in them, but railing at Catholiques, for that they could not endure them, but did euer and anon cut them of by confeſſion.

The ſame day alſo ſhee well remembreth two things, that Ma. Mainy ſpake of, betwixt his deſcriptions of the ſaid ſeauen deadly ſinnes. Oh (quoth hee) this is a great day of pompe at the Court, I will ſtay no longer amongst you raskall prieſts, but will go thether amongst my fellowes: they all loue me there, I am theirs, and they are all mine, or to this effect. Alſo one Robert Bedell of Denham, beeing a very zealous Proteſtant, was buried the ſame day: in that forenoone there happened a ſtorme, whereuppon Mainy pretended that the deuil ſpake to this purpoſe in him, viz. Now they are about to bury Bedell, and becauſe he ſerued mee all his life time, I am ſending of him into hell. At which words many that were preſent wept, and prayed, that if it were poſſible, he might be ſaued. This matter was ſo vrged, and talked of, as afterwards they drew his wife to become a Romiſh Catholique, and ſo she died.

This examinate further ſaith, that one Anne Smith, about the Chriſtmas the ſame yeere, came to Denham, where ſhee had remained but a little while before the prieſts had got her into their hands, and ſaid ſhee vvas poſſeſſed. Touching this woman, a number of things hath beene written of her, as this examinate hath heard, all which this exam: ſaith, ſhe verily belieueth in her cō ſcience, (as alſo of all the practiſes, & tales of the prieſts, touching both this examinate, and all the reſt with whō they dealt) that they were altogether knaueries, & meer inuentions, to deceiue the people, by procuring an admiration of theyr prieſthood, and thereby to withdraw her Maieſties ſubiects to their religion.

Shee well remembreth (as she ſaith) that at one time, Ma. Dibdale charged the deuill in Anne Smith (as it was pretended) to ſpeake vnto him, and aunſwer him to that which he demaunded: but notwithſtanding she held her peace. Then he commaunded her to ſpeak, in the name of the Father, the ſonne, and the holy Ghoſt, & by the vertue of the holy Sacrament; but yet ſhe was ſilent. Heerewith Ma: Dibdale growing to be more earneſt, charged her, (or the deuil that was pretended to be in her) to ſpeake to him, by the power, and vertue of his holy prieſthood, and then ſhe aunſwered him. Wherevpon this exam: being preſent ſaid to maiſter Dibdale, Why Ma. Dibdale, is there more vertue in your priesthood, then in the bleſſed Trinity, and the holy Sacrament? And hee aunſwered, that though hee were but a ſimple man, yet it pleaſed God, for the honour of his Church, to ſhew by this meanes the power of the prieſthood.

Againe this exam: ſaith, that after ſhe perceiued the deceit which the prieſts vſed, ſhe would rather then her life, haue gotten from them: but ſhe was ſo watched, & ſo were the reſt, (ſhe meaneth the other women) as they could by no meanes eſcape out of their fingers. Theyr pretence was, leaſt the deuil ſhould cauſe thē to drowne or kill themſelues. But this exam: is perſwaded in her conſcience, that the truth was why they kept them ſo ſtraightly, leaſt going home to their friends, they ſhould haue diſcloſed theyr diſſimulation, and falſe pretenſes, of caſting deuils out of thoſe, who were as free from them, as themſelues. This exam: and her ſiſter, did not ſee either Father, or mother, beeing in the ſame towne, all the while that they were in theyr hands; neither would they ſuffer either their father or mother to ſpeake with them, though they deſired it many times.

At one time this examinate remembreth, that beeing in the Kitchen garden at Denham, ſhee heard a noyſe in her vnckles garden on the other ſide of the wall, & ſuppoſing that her vnckle might be there, ſhe cryed out as loude as ſhee could, vnckle, vnckle, who beeing there by chaunce, and hearing of her, knew her voyce, & asked her what ſhee would haue, oh (quoth ſhee) good vnckle helpe me from hence, for I am almoſt killed already amongst them heere, and ſhall not liue if I continue heere long. Vpon this occaſion, this examinats mother came to haue ſpoken with her, but ſhe could not be ſuffered. The prieſts told her that her daughters were bewitched, and poſſeſſed with wicked ſpirits, and that they were thereby caſt away, if they did not helpe them by their authority, ſaying, that therfore ſhe theyr mother might by no meanes ſpeake with them, vntill they had deliuered them from the ſaid wicked ſpirits. With this, & ſuch like aunſwers, they ſent away theyr mother diuers times weeping: howbeit ſhe ſaith, that at ſometimes her mother, not cō tented with thoſe aunſwers, would grow to ſome earneſtneſſe, and hard ſpeech, becauſe ſhee could not be permitted to ſee her daughters. And then the Prieſts would ſhake her of with angry words, and tell her, that ſhee herſelfe had aſmuch neede to be exorciſed as her daughters. And at one time Miſtris Katherine that ſerued Miſtris Peckham beeing preſent, when the prieſts and her mother had ſuch ſpeeches, told her, that if the prieſts did well, they ſhould deale with her, as they did with her daughters.

After this exam: had beene in the prieſts hands for a fortnight or three weekes before Chriſtmas(as shee remembreth) vntill after the Aſcenſion day next enſuing, and had long perceiued their cooſening practiſes with her, and thereupon being growne to great weakeneſſe, and almoſt deſperate, shee told the prieſts plainly at the end of one of her fits, whereinto they had caſt her by their drinks, ſlibber-ſawces, and brimſtone, that if shee had a deuill in her, they were beſt caſt him out, for ( que ſhee) if euer you torment mee ſo againe (diſpatch mee if you list) otherwiſe I will certainly by one meanes or other, get away frō you, & tell my friends of all your proceedings, & dealings here both with me, & others. Heere-vpon Ma. Dibdale willed her to be content, and ſaid, that the next time they hoped to diſpoſſeſſe her altogether: and accordingly within three or foure dayes after, they had her to the chaire, and there vſing her, as they had done many times before, when ſhee came to her ſelfe againe, they told her, that now the deuil was gone, and ſhe was deliuered.

This exam: further ſaith, that the maner of the prieſts, was to ſay often-times, that they had caſt out this, or that deuil out of the parties: but ſtil when they liſt, they would take a ſmal occaſion to ſay, that yet there were ſome other deuils remaining within them. And this examinate ſaith, that ſhe doubteth, they would haue dealt ſo with her at that time too, but that there began to be great ſpeeches in the Country, about the prieſts doings at Denham: in ſo much, as diuers auncient Catholiques themſelues did vtterly diſlike them, and the prieſts them ſelues grew to be afraid. Howbeit, when this exam: was thus at ſome quiet, yet they would not ſuffer her to goe home to her father, and mother, but carried her vp to London, & placed her there with a ſure friend of theirs, one Miſtres White: and ſo they dealt with this exam: ſiſter, not ſuffering her to ſee her parents, almoſt for foure yeeres after, as this exam: remembreth.

Alſo ſhe ſaith, that when the prieſts thought good to meddle no more with her, they caried her to London, and placed her with one Miſtres Dorothie White, as hath beene ſaid, a recuſant, who then, and ſince hath beene ſo beneficiall vnto them, as that ſhee hath cleane ouerthrowne her ſtate, and vndone her children. The cauſe why they placed her there was, (as ſhe verily thinketh) leaſt beeing amongſt her owne friends, ſhee might diſcloſe theyr bad dealings with her.

It was not long after this examinate came to miſtriſſe White, but that one Harrington growing into acquaintance with her, did afterwards marry her, as ſhee belieueth. The marriage was in the Marſhalſea, where after a Maſſe, one Lister a prieſt (as ſhee remembreth) then priſoner there, vſed certaine Latine words, whereby they ſaid she, and the ſame Harrington were married together. There were preſent there fiue or ſixe. After which time the ſaid Harrington liued with this examinate at times for the ſpace of about 4 or 5 yeeres, ſhee notwithſtanding continuing her ſeruice with Miſtriſſe White.

After this examinate had kept company with the ſaid Harrington for about 4 yeres, she grew to be with child, and therevppon went firſt to her ſiſters in Oxfordſhire, and then to her parents at Denham. Beeing at Denham, she was preſented for a recuſant, and thereuppon committed to the gayle at Aleſbury. At her beeing there in priſon, Ma. Harrington wrote a Letter vnto her within three or foure daies (as she remembreth) after her commitment, the effect whereof was, that if shee were examined who was the father of her child, she should lay it vpon ſome that was gone beyond the ſeas for a ſouldier, but in no wiſe to ſay it was his: and the rather to perſwade her, he ſignified vnto her, that it was not onelie his aduiſe, but likewiſe the counſaile of Miſtris White her Miſtris, and Maiſter Blackman a prieſt.

With this Letter this examinate was greatly mooued, and then calling to mind how shee had beene vſed at Denham, and afterwards kept at Miſtris Whites from her friends: and remembring alſo, how the prieſts were euer wont to perſwade her, that she should neuer ſpeake any thing as touching her poſſeſſing, or diſpoſſeſſing, that might turne to theyr diſcredite, and to the diſhonor of the Church of Rome, ſhe this examinate beganne to ſuſpect, that the religion that the prieſts profeſſed, was like vnto themſelues. But the moſt principall thing with the reſt that made her ſo to thinke, was another poynt in Ma. Harringtons Letter, wherein hee perſwaded her, that if ſhee were examined vpon her oath, it forced not, the Church did diſpence with her, ſo as ſhee might aunſwer what ſhee thought good notwithſtanding: becauſe an oath did not bind her to confeſſe any thing that might tend to the diſhonor of theyr prieſthood, or of the Catholique Church.

When this exam: was firſt brought before the Iuſtices at Aleſbury, ſhe confeſſed that ſhe was reconciled; and ſhee is verily perſwaded, that if the ſaid Letter had not come vnto her afterwards, and mooued her, as is aforeſaid, notwithſtanding all the abuſes offred her at Denham, ſhe had cōtinued ſtill a wilfull recuſant, though it had coſt her her life. Marry vpon the occaſions before mentioned, this examinate hauing bethought herſelfe better, deſired to ſpeake with old Ma. Pigot of Doderſall, a Iuſtice of peace in Buckinghamſhire, vnto whom ſhe ſignified who was the father of her child, and that ſhe could be contented to alter her courſe of life, & goe to the Church againe, as before ſhe had done. Hereuppon Ma. Pigot tooke this exam: in his Coach with him to Sir Iohn Goodwins, where ſhe found the L. Grey, and diuers others, before whom, after ſhee had ſubmitted herſelfe, as ſhe had done to Ma. Pigot, ſhee was ſent to the Court by the L. Grey, with two of his ſeruaunts to the Lord Treaſurer. At her comming to the Court ſhe ſaith ſhee was examined of diuers matters before the Lords of the Counſell, concerning her knowledge of ſundry prieſts, and Ieſuits, and as touching one Stoughton, who was a notable ſpy, that carried ouer young maids and boyes, to be Nunnes, and prieſts, & brought ouer Letters as occaſion ſerued, and continueth (as ſhee thinketh) the ſame trade ſtill.

After that this exam. had beene at the Court aboue a weeke, and examined in that ſpace three or foure times, the ſeruaunts of the ſaid L. Grey remaining there ſtill, it pleaſed the Lords of her Maieſties Counſell, to ſend her backe with them to the Lord Anderſon, & to writ theyr letter to his Lordſhip, that he ſhould ſend for this exam: father, and not onely to deale with him, to ſee that this exam: went to the Church, according as ſhe had promiſed, but alſo, that there might be no further proceeding in law againſt her, in reſpect that ſhe had beene reconciled: the which direction the Lord Anderſon did accompliſh, ſo as this exam. continued at her fathers vntill the yeere 1594.

After this examinate had remained thus with her father, about three or foure moneths, the ſaid Ma. Harrington came vnto her, and told her, he had beene all that while beyond the ſeas; and keeping company with her againe, as a man ought to doe with his wife, ſometimes at Denham, and ſometimes this exam: comming to him to London, hee allowed her after the rate of about 20 marks by the yeere. She likewiſe ſaith, that when maiſter Harrington ſuſpected this exam: to be with child, he put an hundred pounds into one Ma. Fits his hand to the vſe of her, and her child if ſhe had any.

This exam: further ſaith, that within about a yeere after that the ſaid maiſter Harrington had come from beyond the ſeas (as hee pretended) and kept companie with her as his lawfull wife, hee was apprehended for a prieſt, and firſt committed to the Towre, and then to the Marſhalſea. Beeing in priſon, this examinate had a warrant from Ma. Young to goe vnto him; and at her comming vnto him he wept, and ſaid, that if hee might for ſhame, hee would take another courſe then hee did. He cryed her mercy for the abuſe offred vnto her, and promiſed, that if ſhe would be content, ſhe ſhould neuer want. Howbeit (as she was enformed) he told ſuch Catholiques as came vnto him, (who had vnderſtanding that this examinate did challenge him for her husband) that shee this examinate did greatly ſlaunder him, & vtterly denied that euer hee was married vnto her, or euer kept company with her as men doe with theyr wiues. Whereupon all ſuch Catholiques as heard thereof, did greatly rate this examinate for challenging of him to be her husband, and ſaid shee did belie him, and that it was the deuill that cauſed her to raiſe that ſlaunder of him, being a Catholique prieſt.

She further ſaith, that the ſaid Harrington being condemned, and executed the 18 of February 1593 (as ſhe remembreth) she married againe with Ralfe Dallidowne a Smith in Holborne, the 20 of Ianuary 1594 as shee thinketh. And hauing receiued herſelfe the ſaid hundred pound from Ma. Fits, her husband Dallidowne had it all, except it were ſome 6 or 7 pound, which she had ſpent before.

This exam: further ſaith, that many times ſince shee hath conformed her ſelfe, many prieſts haue greatly blamed her, vſing words to this effect vnto her, viz. They haue tolde her, that they wondred how shee could be brought to goe to the Engliſh church, conſidering the great power of the prieſthood, and of the holy reliques of the Church of Rome. To whom this exam: hath ſometimes aunſwered, that she was well before she came into theyr hands, and ſtill ſo continueth shee thanked God, and thereupon hath deſired them, that they would deale no more with her, but let her alone.

When shee hath thus aunſwered them, they haue often ſaid to her, that it was the deuill for a certaintie, that ſtill hunting of her, did perſwade her to goe to the Heretiques Church; & that if they had thought she would haue taken this courſe, they would neuer haue diſpoſſeſſed her. To whom this examinate by way of aunſwer hath replied; A murren take you, I was well enough before you dealt with mee, and ſo haue beene euer ſince you left me.

Shee further ſaith, that ſince shee was firſt examined before the Lord Biſhop of London in March 1598, diuers prieſts haue vrged her greatly that shee should ſay nothing againſt the poſſeſſing, or diſpoſſeſſing vſed at Denham, either concerning her ſelfe, or any other, bidding her aunſwer, that beeing then young, ſhe had forgotten all thoſe things: and threatning of her, that if she confeſſed any thing againſt the holy prieſthood, or power of the Church in caſting out deuils, she should be burnt for an Heretique, if euer the world changed. The names of the prieſts that haue thus dealt with her, both before ſhee was called for to be examined before the Lord Biſhop of London, and ſince (at the leaſt ſome of them) are Ma. Sherwood, Ma. Gerrard, Ma. Blackman, Ma. Iohn Greene, and Ma. William Bruerton.

This exam: alſo ſaith, that about foure yeeres ſince, it happened that her husband in a fray killed a man, whereupon ſhe was compelled to borrow ten pound of miſtris White, to be vſed in her husbands buſineſſe, certaine prieſts thought then, that they might peraduenture haue drawne this examinate vnto them againe, and ſo reſorting vnto her, namely (as she remembreth) maiſter Blackman, maiſter Greene, maiſter Wells, with two or three other prieſts, whom she knew not, they told her, that her falling from the Catholique Church was the cauſe, that the deuill had made her husband to kill the ſaid man.

Of late alſo ſhe ſaith, that one Perry ſeruaunt to maiſter Roper that lieth in Southampton-houſe, challenging her for that she had reuealed where her ſiſter Sara dwelt, ſaid that she played the Ferret, and ſought many mens liues, that it was pittie she liued, and that it were a good deede to ſhoote her through with a piſtoll as ſhe goeth in the ſtreets. Howbeit this exam: ſaith, that ſhee neuer meant any Catholique in England hurt, (ſome prieſts excepted) who haue dealt hardly with her. But beeing now vpon her oath to ſpeake the truth, ſhee hopeth that no honeſt man or woman will be angry with her for diſcharging her conſcience: adding, that if it had not been ſo long ago ſince she was in the prieſts hands, ſhe could haue deliuered many moe things as touching their bad proceedings.

Shee further ſaith, that the prieſts at theyr departure from Denham, tooke euery one thence his woman with him; Ma: Edmunds the Ieſuit had for his darling miſtris Creſſy then a widdow, who was a daily gueſt there, and one that did contribute very much both to him, and the reſt of the prieſts: Anne Smith was at the diſpoſition of Ma. Driland: Sara Williams of maiſter Dibdale: miſtris Altham of Cornelius, and this examinate of Ma. Leigh a prieſt likewiſe.

SHe ſaith, that dwelling with one Ma: Bold at Boldhall in Lancaſhire, the yeere that the Earle of Leiceſter went into the Low-Countries, ſhe was ſicke of a diſeaſe called the Mother, that ſhe then hauing a ſiſter, one Alice Plater, that boorded at the La: Staffords, was ſent by her Miſtres to her ſaid ſiſter at London, the ſaid La. Stafford then lying at Iuie bridge, where ſhe remained (as ſhe ſaith) about a yeere, vſing the help of Phiſicke for the ſaid diſeaſe. She ſaith that Ma: Edmund Peckham did boord at the ſaid La. Staffords, from about the Chriſtmas that this exam: came to London, till about Eaſter following.

Shee ſaith further, that about three weekes before Chriſtmas next enſuing, her ſiſter being aduertiſed by the ſaid Ma: Peckham, that Sara, & Will: Trayford were poſſeſſed at his houſe, ſhe (her ſaid ſiſter) went thither, where finding the manner of their troubles, ſhe conceaued, that this examinate was likewiſe poſſeſſed, as they were.

There-vpon ſhe faith, that vpon the Chriſtmas euen, ſhe went to Denham vnto her ſiſter, where ſhee found Trayford, but he did not make any ſhew, as though hee were poſſeſſed, but did waite orderly vpon Ma: Peckham his Maiſter, and Sara was then gone to the L. Vaux his houſe, being caried thither by one Dibdale a prieſt.

After ſhe had beene at Denham about a moneth, ſhe attended vpon Miſtres Peckham, to a churching in Denham Towne; where ſhe ſaith her fore-ſaid diſeaſe did trouble her, and likewiſe being then recouered, it tooke her againe, as ſhe was going homewards, where-vpon one White a prieſt that vſed much that houſe, was ſent to London for Cornelius another prieſt, (who kept at Sir Iohn Arundells in Clarkenwell) by the meanes of her ſaid ſiſter, who told this exam: that ſhe was ſurely poſſeſſed.

When her ſiſter ſaid ſhe was poſſeſſed, ſhe this exam: denied it, and ſo ſhe did, when the ſaid Cornelius came vnto her. She ſaith that the ſaid Cornelius comming to Denham the ſame day at night, that hee was ſent for, brought in his company one Stamp a prieſt, Thomſon a prieſt (as she thinketh) & one Christopher Tulice a prieſt, with Miſtres Creſſey, Ma: Gardner, and his wife.

The day after the prieſts came vnto her, they tooke vpon them to exorciſe her from morning, till towards night, and then left her.

She ſaith, that beſides the diſeaſe of the Mother, ſhee grew to be ſicke, and receaued Phyſick by Doctor Griffithes preſcription at Alexander the Apothecaries hands; but not recouering her health thereby, after about two moneths, her ſaid ſiſter procured her to be ſent to Miſtris Mainy in Channon Row, with whom ſhee was to dwell about the beginning of Lent.

She continued with Ma: Mainy in the Earle of Lincolnes houſe in Channon Row, til after Eaſter weeke. In which time she ſaith, onely Eliza: Calthrope (as this exam: remembreth) dwelling likewiſe with Miſtres Mainy, was ſuppoſed by the prieſts to be poſſeſſed, and being there-vpon remoued to Ma: Mainyes owne houſe in Greenes Alley, there she was exorciſed, vntil she died there.

She further ſaith, she was preſent, when Mainy did counterfeit himſelfe, that he should die vpon the Good Friday; he the ſaid Mainy thē lying at the Earle of Lincolnes houſe, againſt which time a great number came thither, to ſee him depart.

The ſaid Mainy came to her Miſtres houſe (ſhe being his ſiſter) about a moneth, or fiue weekes before Eaſter; and euery Friday the ſaid Mainy did pretend himſelfe to be wonderfully tormented, and when he was recouered out of his traunce, he would vſe to ſay, he had beene in Purgatorie: and there-vpon gaue it out, that he should die on Good Friday, and goe immediatly to heauen, hauing beene already in Purgatorie.

Shee ſaith, that all the ſaid Lent she continued with Miſt: Mainy, she was ſtil euill at eaſe, & that the prieſts that came thither, did ſtil endeuour to perſwade her that she was poſſeſſed: ſaying, that she muſt beleeue thē therein, that she was poſſeſſed, and that they could help her, and not otherwiſe.

The prieſts names, as she remembreth, were Ma: Cornelius, Ma: Dryland, Ma: Tirrell, Ma: Stamp, Ma: Tulice, Ma: Ballard.

She further ſaith, that about three weekes after Eaſter, the ſaid prieſts ſtil continuing to perſwade her, that she was poſſeſſed, and that if shee beleeued ſo, then they would helpe her: she this exam: continuing to be euill at eaſe, and hoping by their meanes to be helped, yeelded to ſay, that she thought she was poſſeſſed, therby to ſee, if ſhe might be helped; although all the while ſhe had a conceite in her ſelfe, that she was not poſſeſſed.

She further ſaith, that whileſt she did withſtand the prieſts ſaid perſwaſions, affirming that ſhee knew shee was not poſſeſſed, they told her, it was the deuill within her, that cauſed her ſo to ſay.

When shee had thus yeelded vnto them, Ma. Stamp caried her to Denham, accompanied with one Harris Ma. Mainyes man.

She ſaith, that about ſixteene dayes after the ſaid Eaſter, this exam: and Eliza: Calthrope, being both ſicke, and ſuppoſed by the prieſts to be poſſeſſed, her Ma: left them both in the Earle of Lincolnes houſe, and went to Babingtons houſe the traytor in Barbican: and the third or fourth day after this exam: was caried to Denham (as afore-ſaid) where ſhee, and all the houſe were maintayned, at the common charge of the prieſts, that reſorted thither.

At her comming to Denham, they tooke in hand to exorciſe her, & continued that courſe with her til Whitſontide: about a fortnight after Whitſontide (as she remembreth) certaine Purſuiuants came, and ſearched the houſe, & finding there Ma: Dryland the prieſt, and other men, viz: Alexander the Apothecarie, Swythen Wells (after executed in Holborne) and Iames Stanborow, Ma: Peckhams man, they caried them to priſon, leauing this exam: and two other women in the houſe.

She ſaith, that the reſt of the prieſts when the Purſuiuants came, were gone with Fid, and Sara Owen, alias Frauncis, and Sara Williams, as this exam: hath been enformed.

It was Sonday when the Purſuiuants caried the ſaid parties to priſon; and vpon the Monday after the ſaid Drylands man caried this exam: to London, where ſhee was placed that night by Ma: Maryne, at one Alexanders houſe in a little Lane, going out of Thames ſtreete, and is (as now she is enformed) betwixt Lyons key, and Billingſgate?

Shee continued at the ſaid Alexanders houſe about ſeauen weekes, her charges being firſt defrayed by the ſaid Ma: Maryne, and afterwards by Ma. Pownd, late priſoner at Wiſbitch, her acquaintance with Ma. Maryne grew at Denham, and with Ma. Pownd, at the ſaid Alexanders houſe.

Ma: Pownd, in reſpect of the charge hee was at with her at Alexanders, paying ten ſhillings a weeke for her boord, remoued her thence to miſtris Lowes to Newington in Surrey: where remayning not paſt three or foure dayes, the ſaid Pownd carried her to his Mothers houſe, one miſtris Pownd, dwelling in the ſame Towne, where ſhe remained til Ma: Pownd was taken, which was vpon the day when bon fires were made for Babingtons apprehenſion, viz: the 15 of Iuly.

The ſaid miſtris Pownd was of her ſonnes Religion, where-vpon after he was apprehended, ſhe had no ioy to ſtay there, but was caried thence by one Ma: Goodmans direction vnto miſtris Leicester, dwelling in Fleetſtreete, at the figne of the dogges head in the pot: where ſhee had not remained aboue two dayes, but vppon a ſearch was taken, & committed to priſon for reeuſancie, where ſhe remained about a moneth, and then eſcaped thence.

In this meane while, viz: from Whitſontide before ſpecified, Dibdale, Lowe, and Adams, were apprehended, and being arraigned, this exam: was brought by maiſter Youngs meanes, whileſt ſhe was priſoner, to giue in euidence againſt them at their arraignment. The cauſe why she was brought to giue in euidence againſt them was, for that maiſter Young hearing her name, did examine her, whether she was not one that did pretend her ſelfe to be poſſeſſed at Denham, with whom Dibdale, and the reſt of the prieſts had dealt, and there-vpon examined her touching her poſſeſſion, and the deuils dealing with her: and particulerly of a peece of a knife, which the prieſts ſaid came out of her body.

This exam: was priſoner in Bridewell, where the ſaid Fid was likewiſe priſoner with her: where this exam: found ſuch fauour, as hauing the liberty of the priſon by maiſter Youngs appointment, and thereby being truſted with ſome keyes, ſhe, and Fid by her meanes eſcaped thence, taking with them the Matrones girle, which girle by the ſaid maiſter Pownds direction, was ſent into Hampſhire, and placed with his Mother, who had a houſe in the ſaid County, and did then lie there.

After ſhe was eſcaped, ſhee was placed by Ma. Pownds direction firſt in Cow-lane, then by her mothers meanes with the French Embaſſadors wife, where diſliking, ſhe was by maiſters Pownds meanes placed in a poore vvomans houſe by the Marſhalſea, and then againe with his mother, and then going to the White-Lyon to ſee maiſter Pownd, with her miſtris, ſhe this exam: (whilſt they two were talking together) going to maiſter Simpſons chamber a prieſt, was againe there apprehended, and committed by maiſter Young againe to Bridewell, where ſhee remained about 21 weekes, in which time the Queene of Scots was beheaded.

Shee was diſcharged out of Bridewell by maiſter Secretary Walſinghams meanes, at the ſute of maiſter Dale a Merchant in Gracious-ſtreet, and then remaining with her mother a while, was placed with the ſaid La. Stafford, with whom ſhee dwelt about two yeeres, viz. till ſhe was married.

She ſaith, that whē firſt she fell into the prieſts hands, ſhee was about 18 yeeres of age, and that shee is verily perſwaded ſhe neuer was poſſeſſed with a wieked ſpirit, (for the which ſhee thanketh Almighty God from the bottom of her hart) but verily thinketh, that she was verie much abuſed by the ſaid prieſts, in that they did perſwade her, (as is before expreſſed) that ſhee was poſſeſſed.

Beſides, ſhee ſaith, that where it was giuen out by the prieſts, that a peece of a knife came out of her mouth when she was in one of her fits, she then was fully perſwaded, that they ſaid vntruly therein, although at that time, being wholely addicted to Poperie, she did reuerence them very much, & durſt not contradict them.

She further ſaith, that when Cornelius did firſt begin to exorciſe her, the manner thereof was this: She being wel, and in perfect memory, and at that time not troubled with her former diſeaſe called the mother, Cornelius, and the reſt ſet her in a chayre, and bound her faſt with towells: then Colnelius hauing ended a short ſpeech, or Sermon (the effect whereof she doth not now remember) which was made before ſhee was bound in the chayre, and being in his Albe, and hauing a ſtole about his neck, began to reade his Exorciſmes, whereat this exam: doth now remember, that ſhee began greatlie to ſhiuer and quake, being then ſtrooke with a great feare, as though the deuill would greatlie torment, and teare her, becauſe they had ſo bound her.

Beſides ſhee ſaith (which did encreaſe her feare) ſhe had beene told by diuers, how others had beene troubled, viz: how in their fits they were greatly tormented, how they could not endure the Prieſts to come neere them: how when a prieſt did lay his hand vppon any part of them, the ſaid part would be ſo hote, as though it would burne them to the bone, how the deuil in them would raile vpon the Catholiques, & greatly commend the Proteſtants, and many other ſuch things they reported, which this exam: hath forgotten.

She further ſaith, that ſhe was then ſo zealous in Poperie, and had ſuch an opinion of the ſaid prieſts, that if ſhee could haue gotten vnder the Altar-cloath, with a croſſe in her mouth, & a candel in her hand, ſhe thought her ſelfe ſafe from the deuil. When ſhee was exorciſed the firſt time, and ſo afterwards being bound in the chayre, where ſhee ſeemed ſtill to be wel, notwithſtanding their Exorciſmes, then they would pretend to giue her ſomewhat, either to comfort her ſtomacke, (ſhe ſeeming to faint through feare) or to diſcloſe the deuil, which was hallowed, and was very loathſome to her to take. This hallowed medicine, as ſhe remembreth, had Rue, and oyle in it, and was vgly to behold, ſuch as ſhe thinketh they could not haue taken themſelues. Alſo ſhe ſaith, they would burne brimſtone vnder her noſe, which shee ſaith, would greatly trouble her, and as shee ſuppoſeth, did take away her ſences from her. Thus she ſaith, they dealt with her, as ſhe ſuppoſeth, ſome fiue or ſixe times.

She further ſaith, that they did bind her ſo faſt at thoſe times in a chayre, as they almoſt lamed her armes, and ſo bruſed all the parts of her body, with holding, tying, and turmoyling of her, that ſhe was ſo ſore, ſhe was compelled afterwards, by the ſpace of three yeeres to ſwathe her body.

She further ſaith, that now ſhe prayeth God for the prieſts that be aliue, that God would forgiue them for dealing ſo with her, and is very hartily ſorie, that euer ſhe came into their company.

She further ſaith, that vpon Wedneſday in Whitſon-weeke, whilſt ſhee was at Denham, there came thether maiſter Saliſbury that was executed, Ma: Iohn Gerrard, and Ma: George Peckham.

She alſo ſaith, that ſhe thanketh God ſhee neuer ſaw any thing that might terrifie her, but onely the prieſts when they were exorciſing, that ſhe neuer ſaw any viſions: and whatſoeuer they write or affirme of her touching any ſuch matter, shee affirmeth that they are all fained, and vntrue. And she addeth, that ſhe meruaileth that they should ſet downe any thing of her, that shee ſhould ſpeake in her fits, conſidering that it was giuen out, the ſpirit that was in her was a ſullen, and dumbe ſpirit, and would not therefore be brought to aunſwer the prieſts: and that the ſaid ſpirit, that was ſuppoſed to be in her, was ſuch a one, the deuil that was in Mainy (who was named Modion) did affirme, as many reported.

This exam: further ſaith, that ſhee being preſent by Mainy, when he was in exorciſing, after that shee the firſt time had been exorciſed by Cornelius, Ma: Edmunds the Ieſuit did aske the deuil in Mainy, whether she this exam: was poſſeſſed or not; and the deuil aunſwered that she was. Then quoth Ma: Edmunds, how chaunce he could not be brought to ſpeake this other day, when she was exorciſed? He the ſaid deuil, as she then ſuppoſed, aunſwered, that the reaſon was, becauſe the ſpirit that was in her was ſullen, and dumbe. Then they demaunding of his deuil, what was the name of the ſpirit that was in this exam: he aunſwered Soforce. And this was betwixt Chriſtmas, and Shrouetide.

She further ſaith, that it was a common thing amongſt them, to giue out words, as though Proteſtants were all poſſeſſed; and there-vpon the prieſts would aske ſome that were pretended to be poſſeſſed, or the deuil in them (as it was ſuppoſed) whileſt they were exorciſing them, why they did not trouble them before, whilſt they were Proteſtants. And the deuil would aunſwer, that there was no reaſon for them ſo to doe, becauſe the Proteſtants were theirs already.

She further ſaith, that after the time she was out of the prieſts hands, her former diſeaſe of the Mother did diuers times take her, and continued with her as before it had done, vntill being married ſhe had children. Since which time, she hath beene rid of that diſeaſe, she thanketh God.

She further ſaith, that shee wel remembreth the morning when Alexander the Apothecarie was to goe to London to fetch more prieſts, the day before this exam: was firſt exorciſed, his horſe prauncing, and flinging of him downe, he returned backe againe, and conſtantly affirmed, that the wicked ſpirit that was in this exam: had cauſed his horſe to fling him: whereat when this exam: laughed, he the ſaid Alexander affirmed, that it was the deuill, that laughed at him.

DIuers interrogatories beeing propounded to this examinate, cōcerning the pretended caſting out of deuils, by maiſter Edmunds, alias Weston a Ieſuit, and certaine other Seminary prieſts, in the yeeres 1585, and 1586, at Hackney, Denham, and other places, and as touching likewiſe the occaſions, or inducements that mooued them at that time, to take ſuch matters vpon them, hee hath ſet downe his aunſwer as followeth.

I will firſt anſwer to the circumſtance of time, which is heere propounded vnto me. In the yeere 1584 I, & Iohn Ballard prieſt, (ſince executed with Ma. Babington, and the reſt) comming together from Rome through Burgundy, found there a great preſſe of ſouldiours, and were aduertiſed, that they were to ſerue vnder the Duke of Guiſe. When wee came to Roane, wee heard then directly, that the ſaid preparations were againſt England. The ſame yeere (as I remember) Ma. Crighton a Scottiſh Ieſuit was taken at the ſea, and after brought into England, who by occaſion of certaine writings which he had, was driuen to confeſſe at large (as I haue beene informed) what the whole plot was: and how far both the Pope, and the King of Spaine had ingaged themſelues in it. Hereof I doubt not, but that ſundry Catholiques in England had ſufficient notice from beyond the ſeas, and eſpecially Ma. Edmunds, alias Weston the Ieſuit, who was then the chiefe, as maiſter Garnet (as I take it) is at this preſent, and therefore could not be ignorant of ſuch important matters, wherein principall men of his owne ſocietie were engaged.

Not long after my cōming into England in the yeere 1585, maiſter Martin Aray a prieſt, meeting with me at the end of Cheapſide, as I was turning to enter into Paules Churchyard, tooke mee by the hand, and whiſpering me in the eare, bad me be of good cheere, for that all things went now very well forward. The king of Spayne (quoth he) is now almost ready with his forces, to come into England, and we ſhall be ſure to heare ſome good newes therof very ſhortly: wherefore it ſtandeth vs now in hand that be priests, to further the Catholique cauſe, as much as poſſibly in vs lyeth, or to this effect. And this was the ſtate of that time, nouriſhed (I well perceiued) with great hope of ſome great alteration, by the meanes before expreſſed.

About the time of maiſter Arayes aforeſaid communication with me, maiſter Edmunds, alias Weston, had lately (as it was reported) caſt a deuill out of one Marwood: whereupon he the ſaid maiſter Aray, at the time before mentioned, did highly commend vnto mee the exorciſmes of Fa. Edmunds, ſaying that hee (the ſaid Edmunds) would make the deuils themſelues now confeſſe, that theyr kingdome was neere at an end. Vpon the pretended diſpoſſeſſion of the ſaid Marwood, ſundry other prieſts mooued thereunto (I am perſwaded) by the inſtigation of maiſter Edmunds, or for that they meant to ſhew theyr zeale in imitating of him, did take vpon them to exorciſe, and caſt deuils out of diuers perſons. viz. Sara and Friſwood Williams, William Trayford, Anne Smith, Richard Mainy, and Elizabeth Calthrop, whoſe necke was found broken at the bottome of a payre of ſtayres (as the brute went then amongſt vs.) VVhen I ſaw this courſe, I liked it well, and was my ſelfe an Actor in it, and did well perceiue, that it was the matter whereat Ma. Aray had aymed, when he told me, that it ſtoode vs Priests in hand to further the Catholique cauſe, as much as poſſibly wee could. And indeed our proceedings therein, had for a time wonderfull ſucceſſe. I cannot in my conſcience eſteeme the number fewer, that in the compaſſe of halfe a yeere were by that meanes reconciled to the Church of Rome, then 5 hundred perſons: ſome haue ſaid three, or foure thouſand. As touching the ſeuerall manners of diſpoſſeſſing the ſaid parties, and of theyr fits, traunces, and viſions, diuers diſcourſes were penned, amongſt the which I my ſelfe did penne one. Ma. Edmunds likewiſe writ (I am perſwaded) a quire of paper of Ma. Mainyes pretended viſions. For he thought, as it ſeemed, to haue wrought ſome great matter by him, but was diſappointed very ridiculouſly, ſo as I thinke the ſaid viſion will hardly come to light. There was alſo a Treatiſe framed to proue firſt, that in former times diuers had been poſſeſſed. Secondly, that Christ hath left to his Church certaine remedies for the diſpoſſeſſing of ſuch parties. Thirdly, that in the casting out of deuils, there hath beene great vſe of application to the Daemoniacks of holy reliques. In proſecution of the firſt part, amongſt other points the Author ſheweth, that GOD permitteth ſome to be poſſeſſed, that thereby the faithleſſe Atheists may learne, that there is both a God and a deuill: and that the faith of the Catholique Church, may alſo be confirmed by the power left vnto her in casting out of deuils. In the handling of the ſecond point, hee tryumpheth against the Proteſtants, ſaying that for all theyr reformation which they talke of, to be ſo neere the order of the Primitiue Church, yet they are not able either to diſcerne, who are poſſeſſed amongst them, nor how to giue thē remedy. The third part is handled more largely, to the great aduauncement & power of Reliques. As for holy water: that S. Macarius thereby cured a woman, who by Magicall enchauntment ſeemed to be turned into a Mare. Likewiſe, how S. Peter hallowed bread, against the aſſault of certaine deuils which were ſent by Simon Magus in the likenes of dogges, to deuoure him. For the power of prieſthood, there is an example alledged of S. Martin, how he putting his fingers into the mouth of a Daemoniacke, the deuill durst not bite him, though he bad him to bite him, if he had any power ſo to doe. There is alſo mention made of the vertue of the bleſſed ſacrament, of holy oyle, and of the bones of Saints. The vſe of all thoſe things, was very frequent in the exorciſing of the parties poſſeſſed. Inſomuch as wee omitted not the reliques and bones of Ma. Campian, Ma. Sherwin, Ma. Brian, and Ma. Cottam, to haue ſome little teſtimonie by implication from the deuill, to prooue them holy Matyrs.

If I be not deceiued, Ma. Edmunds alias Weston, was the Author of this booke, and the examples by him alledged, were brought of purpoſe, to giue the more credit to his, and our proceedings with the ſaid parties before mentioned. And indeed he was not therein deceiued, for wee that were prieſts, were thereby greatlie magnified by Catholiques, ſchiſmaticks, and weak proteſtants; the two former beeing confirmed in the Romane Catholicke faith, and the third ſort therevnto reconciled, as hath beene before mentioned. And that cannot be denied, but that in the courſe which wee held with the ſaid pretended Daemoniacks, many occaſions were giuen, and aptly taken, to ſcorne and deride the orders, & ſeruice now eſtabliſhed by her Maieſties lawes in the Church of England.

Likewiſe I muſt confeſſe, that the courſe we held, was ſo pleaſing to ſuch as ſaw it, or were informed of it by thoſe that they truſted, as it prooued very gainfull vnto vs all that were prieſts: wee had out of queſtion procured vnto our ſelues very great fauour, credit, and reputation, ſo as it was no meruaile, if ſome young Gentlemen, as Ma. Babington, & the reſt, were allured to thoſe ſtrange attempts which they tooke in hand, by maiſter Ballard, who was an Agent amongſt vs. They ſaw, as they ſuppoſed, (for both maiſter Babington, and diuers of his company were oftentimes at the exorciſings) that we had a great commandement ouer deuils, which preuailed greatly with them, as I think. It would haue been a very ſtrange thing (I am perſwaded) that wee could not haue wrought men at that time to attempt: which was prudently foreſeene by Fa. Edmunds of purpoſe (as I am reſolued in my conſcience) to prepare the harts, & minds of Catholiques by thoſe practiſes, that when ſuch forces as were intended, ſhould haue come into England, they might haue been more readily drawn by him, and vs, to haue ioyned theyr forces with them. And this is that I can ſay concerning the occaſions, or inducements, that ſuch matters were taken in hand at the time articulated.

Now as touching the ſubſtance of the generall interrogatory it ſelfe, I haue peruſed the ſeuerall examinations, and confeſſions of Sara Williams, and Friſwood her ſiſter, of Anne Smith, and of Richard Mainy gentleman, and am fully perſwaded, that they haue depoſed the truth in ſuch poynts whereof they were examined, belonging to theyr pretended poſſeſſion, & diſpoſſeſſiō. The effect wherof is, that they were drawn by our cunning carriage of matters, to ſeeme as though they had beene poſſeſſed, when as in truth they were not, neither were there any of the prieſts ignorant in my cō ſcience of their diſſimulation, nor the parties themſelues (as now it appeareth) of our diſſembled proceeding with them.

After I had beene my ſelfe firſt at one of theyr exorciſings, it was my chaunce to he that night with maiſter Thomſon a prieſt, and a great Actor in thoſe matters, at his chamber by the Spittle: and falling into ſome conference about it, I vſed ſome ſuch words, as though I doubted, whether the party were actually, and really poſſeſſed. For I my ſelfe being not acquainted with anie plot deuiſed by Fa: Edmunds, or any other, ſpake my minde ſome-what more plainely, then I perceaued Ma: Thomſon wel liked of. His aunſwer vnto me was in effect, that he being my friend, did earnestly wiſh me to cast forth no ſuch ſpeeches, whatſoeuer I did thinke. For (quoth he) the matter is iudged to be ſo by Fa: Edmunds, and ſome others that are Priests. Beſides ſuch Catholiques, as haue beene preſent at ſuch fits, haue receaued it for a truth, that the parties are poſſeſſed. And although I for my part will not make it an article of my Creede, yet I thinke that godlie credulitie doth much good, for the furthering of the Catholique, cauſe, and for the defacing of our common enemies, and their proceedings: or to this effect. Not long after, alſo talking with Ma: Stamp, at the Lo. Ʋaux his houſe in Hackney, concerning theſe matters, and demaunding of him ſeriouſly his opinion, what he thought of them: his aunſwer was, that they were things of ſuch importance, as would further the Catholique cauſe, more then all the bookes that had beene written of late yeeres, about the controuerſies in Religion with the Protestants: with which aunſwer, I ſeemed to reſt contented, becauſe I ſaw thereby he was not willing to enter into any playner courſe with me.

I would not haue this my confeſſion further extended then my meaning is, I doe not take vpon me either directly or indirecty, to oppoſe my ſelfe to the three poynts of the Treatiſe before mentioned, which are ſtrengthened with ſome authorities, both of the Scriptures, and of the auncient Fathers, and Writers. How be it, as I account it preſumption to denie all thoſe Hiſtories, as touching the caſting out of deuils in the Primitiue Church ſince the Apoſtles times; ſo to beleeue all that is written thereof, I hold it a point of great madnes, and I doubt not but the ſoundeſt Catholiques in Europe are of my opinion. For be it true that is alledged in the ſaid treatiſe of S. Ambroſe, that he neuer heard of any, that could counterfeit himſelfe to be a Daemoniack, yet later experience hath taught vs the contrary. And indeede, the artificiall skil conſidered where-vnto prieſts haue attained, it is a very eaſie matter to bring a young girle, or a youth, to doe, and ſpeake thoſe things, which the Exorciſts can readily colour, and interpret; as if it were both done, and ſpoken by deuils, that did poſſeſſe them. But yet this I wil ſay, and giue it for a rule to all Catholiques heereafter, that wil not purpoſely ſuffer themſelues to be deluded: let them but mark diligently when they are preſent at any ſuch actions, what the parties, pretended to be poſſeſſed, doe eyther act, or ſpeak, and then they shal perceaue nothing, but may very well be diſſembled, or otherwiſe vttered in great diſtemper, procured by loathſome potions, and violent fumigations. And they shal be very wel armed againſt all ſuch deceites, if euer it be their haps to heare, or read the confeſſions, and examinations of the parties before mentioned. Marrie they muſt keepe their owne counſel: For I am perſwaded, that if any shall ſeeme to be a curious beholder at ſuch times, and a mouer of queſtions, he shal not be any welcome gueſt vnto them. Heereof any may be further aduertiſed, that wil take the paines to reade a little French Treatiſe, of a Martha Broſlier. counterfeit Daemoniack at Paris, and how the Exorciſts could in no ſort endure the queſtions, & doubts, that were propounded vnto them, when they were at their work, but pretended that ſuch curioſity, and want of faith did greatly hinder them in their proceedings.

There will be many exceptions taken to that, which heere I haue deliuered vpon my conſcience, to proue that the ſaid parties pretended to be poſſeſſed, were not counterfeits, as that ſome things fell out, which were not poſſible to be diſſembled. The chiefe obiection wil be as touching a peece of a knife, in length about two inches, and a halfe, which was ſaid to come out of the bodie of Anne Smith, hauing beene conuaied into her before, as it was pretended by the deuil. And to cleare the matter, the deuil was made (forſooth) to ſhew by Philoſophie, that he was able to doe ſuch a thing: for to this effect it was giuen out, that the deuil should reade vs (as I may terme it) a Lecture: I am as you know by creation a ſpirit, and haue lost no part of my knowledge, and cunning in the ſecrets of nature, and that I can diſſolue any Iron or hard matter at my pleaſure into a liquid ſubstance, and ſo I did, and poured it into her porredge, which ſhe eating, ſwallowed vp the knife in that liquid ſubstance, and the ſame being ſo in her body, I reduced it into the artificiall forme which before it had. And thus much you may beleeue (quoth the deuil) if you be but Philoſophers, or to this effect. Whervnto for aunſwer as the truth is, ſo farre forth, as I know or beleeue. Firſt as the peece of the knife came out of her mouth, without hurting of her (if it came out of her mouth at all, and that there were not a ſhift of legerdemaine vſed to make it ſeeme indeede to thoſe that were preſent, that it came out of her mouth) ſo might it be taken forth againe, hauing beene put into her mouth by the Exorciſt himſelfe, for ought I know, as ſome of the ſaid parties haue acknowledged, that the Exorciſts ſomtimes would thruſt bigge •• ones, and peeces of reliques into their mouthes. Amongſt the which Friſwood Williams depoſeth, that as ſhe verily beleeueth, they thruſt a ruſtie, naile into her mouth, and afterwards pretended, that it came out of her body. 2. Anne Smith hath depoſed, that she is fully perſwaded, that they haue reported vntruly of the taking of a peece of a knife out of her mouth. Howbeit, ſhee ſaith, ſhee durſt not at that time contradict them: but it is needeleſſe for mee to aunſwer this, or any ſuch like obiection. For the things are in themſelues ſo ridiculous, as I thinke no man will be ſo mad, as to take vppon him to defend them. And when wee our ſelues that were actors in thoſe matters, thought wee had wonne our ſpurres, yet diuers auncient prieſts, as Maiſter Heywood, Maiſter Dolman, Maiſter Redman, and ſome others hearing of the courſe we held, did ſhake their heads at it, and ſhewed their great diſlike of it. Likewiſe the grauer ſort, that were then impriſoned at Wiſbich, were greatly offended there-with (as I haue beene credibly informed) and ſaid, that howſoeuer for a time wee might be admired, yet in the end wee would thereby marre all, and vtterly diſcredit both our ſelues, and our calling. Where-vpon wee the younger ſort of the Seminarie prieſts, that were then dealers herein, thought our ſelues hardly dealt with by them, and that they did but enuie at the cōmendation, which they ſaw wee daily gayned, themſelues being no actors amongſt vs. But now I ſee, that the ſaid auncient Fathers had beene acquainted of likelihood with ſuch deuiſes beyond the Seas, and were greatly greeued to haue them brought into England: notwithſtanding Ma: Edmunds, and the reſt, would needes proceede (as is before in part expreſſed,) and haue thereby to their perpetual ſhame, made them true Prophets.

I haue my ſelfe before confeſſed, that my pen is in the booke, that was taken with Ma: Barnes, wherein I layd together thoſe things, that Sara Williams was pretended to haue done, and ſaid in one of her fits at Hackney, the 10 of Ianuarie, ſome things whereof I ſaw, and heard my ſelfe, others I receaued by peece-meale of Maiſter Thomſon, Ma: Thulice, and others, and layd them altogether, with the beſt skill I had, to make them ſeeme ſtrange, and wonderfull. For although both my ſelfe (as I ſaid before) and ſo I thinke of the reſt, did know that all was but counterfeite, yet for as much as we perceaued, that thereby great credit did grow to the Catholique cauſe, and great diſcredit to the Proteſtants, wee held it lawfull to doe, as we did.

Shortly after I had firſt conformed my ſelfe to the ſtate of the Church, eſtabliſhed heere in England, and there-vpon diſcloſed many things to the late Lo. Treaſurer, concerning ſundry very pernicious deſignments againſt her Maiſtie, and this ſtate; I fell againe to my old courſe, by the perſwaſion of ſome of my auncient acquaintance that were prieſts, hauing had ſmall time to ground my ſelfe by ſtudy, thereby to defend my ſaid conformitie. I was no ſooner come to my old byace, but they ſoone drew mee, for the good of the Catholique cauſe, to ſay that all in effect was falſe that I had before confeſſed. Although not long after, the treaſons did ſo breake forth, and were ſo fully confeſſed by Babington himſelfe, that not onely that, which I had reported was iuſtified by them to be true, but a great deale more then euer I knew, or dreamed of. Likewiſe I hauing detected in ſome part the folly of the ſaid exorciſings, it is ſcarce credible how earneſt the ſaid prieſts were with me, to avow them againe for matters of veritie. Wherevnto for the reaſon before mentioned, I did vvillingly yeeld, nothing doubting but that, if God ſhould once againe ſo draw his grace from mee, as that I ſhould become to be as then I was (that is, wholy addicted to popery, as I truſt in his mercy hee will neuer doe) I ſhould be as ready againe to deny all that now I haue affirmed vpon my oath, as I was before. For the generall conceit amongſt all the prieſts of that order is, that they may deny any thing, which beeing confeſſed doth turne to the diſhonour of the Catholique Church of Rome. Beſides, they haue other obiections that ſerue theyr turnes, as that the Magiſtrates in England are no competent Iudges, the Queene herſelfe ſtanding excommunicate, and that therefore the examinations taken before them, are of no validitie to bind the examinats, but that all that they doe confeſſe, is tanquam coram non Iudice. A number of other ſhifts they haue, which I doe not now remember.

The Apoſtolicall rule is, that euill ſhall not be doone that good may come of it, but they doe not account it euill (as I verily thinke) to calumniate the Proteſtants by any deuiſe whatſoeuer, that may carry any probabilitie with it, nor make any conſcience to tell, and publiſh any vntruthes, which they thinke, beeing belieued, may aduaunce and promote ſuch poynts and matters, as they take vpon them to defend, for the honour of the church of Rome, and dignitie of their prieſthood.

THe ſaid Richard Mainy had read vnto him ſome parts of a diſcourſe, or two, written by certaine Seminary prieſts of a pretended poſſeſſion, and diſpoſſeſſion both of himſelfe, and of certaine others, viz. one Marwood, Trayford, Sara, & Francis Williams two ſiſters, and Anne Smith. Theſe parties were ſaid to be poſſeſſed, and diſpoſſeſſed of many wicked ſpirits. The prieſts that dealt with them, were diuers, but the eſpeciall men that had Richard Mainy in hand, were Ma. Edmunds the Ieſuit, alias Weston, Cornelius, and one Dibdale, men wholy at the deuotion and direction of the ſaid Edmunds. It was in the yeeres 1585 and 1586, when theſe ſtratagems were executed. Such dealings as they had with the ſaid Mainy, were at Denham, at one Ma. Fittons, two miles from Windſore, and at the Earle of Loncolnes houſe in Channon-row, where Iohn Mainy his brother did then remaine.

Of theſe matters the ſaid Mainy beeing demaunded diuers queſtions, deſired that hee might haue leaue to aunſwer them after his owne faſhion, and not to be tied to the order of the ſaid demaunds, for that hee thought he could ſet downe thoſe things which hee remembred, more plainly to his owne vnderſtanding, then otherwiſe he ſhould be able, if he were bound to follow the order propounded vnto him by the ſaid demaunds. And that which he hath ſet downe is the diſcourſe following, not much diſagreeing from the order of the interrogatories miniſtred vnto him.

And hath Ma. Edmunds & the reſt of the prieſts thus dealt with mee? I am very ſorry for it. It might haue beene ſufficient for them, to haue practiſed theyr purpoſes vpon me and the reſt, youthes and almoſt girles, although they had not publiſhed the ſame to the world. But of likelihood theyr glory, and our diſcredit were ſo ioyned together, as the one could not ſtand without the other. This courſe whereunto they haue therby drawne me, wil procure me great diſpleaſure (I know) amongſt my friends, and worke me much hinderance in my priuate eſtate: but what remedie? Beeing called by publique authoritie, and enforced by vertue of mine oath to deliuer the truth, I cannot ſee how with any conſcience I can deny thoſe things, which I find to be truly layd to my charge, and could neuer haue beene thought of, if their writings had neuer come to the Magiſtrats hands. The particulers which now of neceſſity I muſt deliuer, I was purpoſed to haue concealed from all men liuing, although heeretofore in generall termes I haue beene driuen to ſay ſomewhat of theſe matters.

About 14 yeeres ſince, the Lords of her Maieſties moſt honourable priuie Counſell, (Henry Earle of Darby being one) hauing gotten ſome notice of the pretended poſſeſſions, and diſpoſſeſſions at the places before mentioned, and that I was one of the parties that had beene dealt with, did write their letter vnto Ferdinando then Lord Strange to examine me. It ſeemeth they had beene informed that I ſhould publiſh, how I was poſſeſſed with certaine wicked ſpirits, and of them diſpoſſeſſed by ſome prieſts of the Catholique Romane Church, and that I ſhould take vpon mee in companie where I came, to iuſtifie the ſame. So as being called before the ſaid Lord Strange, he demaunded of me, whether I had giuen out ſuch ſpeeches. Hee examined mee vpon my oath, and my aunſwer was according to the truth, as I was perſwaded in mine owne conſcience, and as farre as my memory did ſerue me: viz. that I was neuer poſſeſſed with any wicked ſpirit, nor had reported any ſuch thing; and that I was ſo farre from iuſtifying of it, that I was fully perſwaded, that in all the courſes which the prieſts tooke with me, when they pretended that I was poſſeſſed, there was nothing but deceit, falfhood, illuſions, and iuglings. This was the effect of my aunſwer at that time, if my memory doe not much faile me, and thereupon I was by his Lordſhip diſmiſſed.

VVith this aunſwer (I ſuppoſe) the Ieſuits were long ſince acquainted, which hath greatly already hindered me, & alienated the harts of ſome of my deereſt friends from mee. And the ſame aunſwer that I made then before his Lordſhip, I muſt now make againe to the ſubſtance of all thoſe queſtions which haue been demaunded of mee, viz. that I was neuer poſſeſſed with any wicked ſpirit, otherwiſe then all other ſinners are, but euer as free (I thanke GOD) from hauing any deuils in me, as either Ma. Edmunds himſelfe, or any other of the Prieſts that had to deale with me, for ought I know.

This aunſwer I thought would haue beene ſufficient to haue ſatisfied all thoſe things which are obiected againſt me, but I am vrged with ſundry particulers, and therefore I muſt of neceſſity yeeld to the cleering of my ſelfe in them, and yet no otherwiſe then the truth requireth. When I was about 13 yeeres old, I was ſent by my mothers direction to Rhemes in Fraunce, where there was then an Engliſh Seminary: the intent of my mother, and other of my friends was (as I thinke) to haue had mee to haue been a prieſt. I remained in Rhemes about two yeres, and was there maintained with my mothers exhibition & allowance. Towards the end of the ſaid two yeeres, of a childiſh curioſitie I entred into the obſeruances of certaine religious men, termed in that country Bonhommes, or fratres minimi, and became a young probationer amongſt them. This order was deuiſed by Fraunces de Paula, who is canonized for a ſaint, of whom there is mention made in the Romane breuiary, as hauing his place appointed in the Kalender on the ſecond of Aprill. There his office & courſe of life is ſet downe, and briefly deſcribed.

After I had remained about a quarter of a yeere, or ſomewhat more in this probation, I was ſent by the Rector of the houſe with ſome other of my fellowes, to the houſe of the Bonhommes at Paris, where I had ſcarcely remained a quarter of a yeere but I grew weary of that profeſſion. Their rules ſeemed vnto me to be too ſtrict for me, and their diet beeing nothing but fiſh, I began to diſlike it. Beſides, I had a diſeaſe, wherewith I had been troubled before I went out of England, that tooke me there againe; and thereupon I gaue ouer that order altogether.

About that time, there was a proclamation publiſhed heere in England (as I was told) that all Engliſh gentlemen, and others, ſhould repaire home into theyr Country within a certaine time, vpon danger of her Maiesties diſpleaſure, and loſſe of theyr goods and lands, or to that effect. Whereuppon I was perſwaded by ſome of my friends, that ſaw my courſe of life there, hauing giuen ouer my ſtudie, to returne home againe; and the rather, for that I had ſome land left vnto mee by my father. Leauing therefore Paris, I tooke my iourny homeward by Roane towards Diepe where I tooke ſhipping, and landed at Rie. At my arriuall, the Maior offering vnto mee the oath of her Maieſties ſupremacy, I willinglie tooke it, and afterwards repayred of mine owne accord diligently to the Church, and ſeruice of God eſtabliſhed in England by her Maieſties lawes. I continued in Suſſex, Kent, and other places, from Good friday (the time of my arriuall) vntill it was towards Alhallontide following, which time I ſpent as other young Gentlemen did, with whom I fell acquainted, vntill through meere neceſſity, hauing then no part of my liuing in my hands, I was conſtrained through want to repaire to my brother Iohn Mainy at London, vpon whom I did for a while eſpecially relye.

I had not beene long in London, before it was my hap to dine at the L. Ʋaux his houſe with my ſaid brother, eyther at Hackney, or Hogſdon, (I doe not wel remember whether) his Lordſhip was not then at home, but the table was kept, and entertainment giuen by his ſonne, and daughter. In that dinner while there was much communication of the late poſſeſſion, and diſpoſſeſſion of one Marwood, by certaine prieſts, and chiefely (if I doe not forget my ſelfe) by Ma: Edmunds. The tales which were told of that matter, ſeemed ſtrange vnto me, as what extraordinarie ſtrength he had in his fits: how he roared like a Bull, and many other things were then mentioned, which now I haue forgotten? While my chiefe continuance was in London, I rode ſometimes with my brother to Denham, the houſe of Sir George Peckham, and in the pariſh of Denham, (he hauing married Sir George Peckhams daughters, and the whole furniture of the houſe appertayning vnto him, as part of his dowrie with his wife.) At that time alſo he kept ſeruants there, I went likewiſe ſometimes to Denham of mine owne accord, and remained there ſome two or three dayes at a time. It fell out hardly with me (as now I perceaue) that I came to London about Alhallontide before mentioned: for then there was nothing in effect in the mouthes of Catholiques, but of the caſting out of deuils. A little before there was much to doe with the ſaid Marwood, as I finde by the ſtory that is written of him, By Edmunds in Latine, extant vpon record. beginning Erat quidā inuenis, &c. Immediatly after (as alſo it is plaine by an other ſtory, which I am enformed, was taken with one Ma: Barnes) there was at Hollantide great buſines at Fulmer with Trayford, and Sara Williams. And ſuch were then thoſe times, as now I vnderſtand, and did then partly finde by experience, that a ſmall occaſion was matter ſufficient for the prieſts to worke vppon, to charge any one that they liked to deale with, that he was poſſeſſed.

It ſeemeth alſo by that which is written in the ſayd booke taken with Ma: Barnes, and by ſome other tales which I haue heard, that the prieſts, or ſome for them, vnderſtanding that I tooke no courſe to be a prieſt, and how I had left the Bonhommes, & how I had been troubled with my former diſeaſe at Paris, and how after my returne, I had behaued my ſelfe youthfully amongſt other Gentlemen; gaue it out that I was ſurely poſſeſſed, and afterwards to make the ſame good, haue publiſhed in the ſame booke, the teſtimonie of the deuil himſelfe, as it is pretended; whereof anon.

Vpon this report I could doe nothing (as I am enformed) but it was ſaid, that the deuil did direct me in it. In ſo much as when I rode to Denham my ſelfe (as is before expreſſed) it was giuen forth, as I perceaue, that the horſe I rid vpon was a deuil, and that I had deuils attending vpon me in liuerie coates, by that which I find written, and reported of me: there was neuer young Gentleman (I think) more abuſed then I haue been.

After ſome time ſpent at Fulmer by the prieſts with the ſaid Trayford, and Sara Williams, they came all of them with Ma: Edmond Peckham, and his wife to Denham (as it is mentioned in the ſaid booke) & I not knowing at that time, what reports were bruted abroad of me, reſorting thither (as I was wont) fell into their ſnares, which I would ſurely haue auoyded, if poſſibly I could haue ſuſpected, that they would euer haue dealt with me, as afterwards they did.

At my comming thither amongſt them, I was kindly vſed, and lodged in the furtheſt part of the houſe: the other chambers were then ſupplied with other gueſts that I knew not of, vntill a mayde in the houſe, who had beene my brothers Cooke, did tell me of them. Vpon the comming of Ma: Edmond Peckham to Denham, my brothers ſeruants departed, and left the houſe to him (as I thinke) except it were this mayd, to whom I was much beholding for her kindnes towards me. Within a day or two after this my cōming to Denham, the ſaid maid-Cooke ſignified vnto me, that there was great walking of ſpirits about the houſe, & that diuers had been greatlie affrighted by them. The firſt night that I came thither (as I remember) I was ſome-what euill at eaſe, and whether this report, that did ſome-thing aſtoniſh me, did make me worſe or no, I cannot tell: but I grew worſe, and worſe, in ſo much as my old diſeaſe at a very wicked time, did there take hold of me.

The diſeaſe I ſpake of, was a ſpice of the Mother, where-with I had beene troubled (as is before mentioned) before my going into Fraunce: whether I doe rightly terme it the Mother or no, I know not: but it is wel knowne to the Phyſicians in London, that be aliue, and were then of any name, that my eldeſt brother Thomas Mainy had the ſame diſeaſe, and that he died of it: and Ma: Edmond Peckham (as I haue beene credibly enformed) was likewiſe troubled with it. When I was ſick of this diſeaſe in Fraunce, a Scottiſh Doctor of Phyſick then in Paris, called it, as I remember, Vertiginem capitis. It riſeth (as he ſaid, and I haue often felt) of a wind in the bottome of the belly, and proceeding with a great ſwelling, cauſeth a very painfull collicke in the ſtomack, and an extraordinary giddines in the head. With this diſeaſe I am ſtill once in foure or fiue yeeres troubled, and I doe greatly ſuſpect that it wil end me, as it did my brother.

I began no ſooner to be troubled at Denham (as is before ſaid) but as now I perceaue the prieſts had that, which they looked for. The women of the houſe (whoſe names I doe not now remember) that came to help, and attend me, told me firſt, as my brothers maid had done before, how greatly the houſe was troubled with ſpirits, and afterwards that there were two poſſeſſed in the houſe with deuils: the manner of whoſe fits they deſcribed vnto me in ſuch ſort, as I was much amazed therewith. Whether theſe women vvere required by the Prieſts to tell me theſe things or no, I know not: but ſhortly after Ma: Dibdale, and Ma: Cornelius two prieſts comming vnto me, after ſundry queſtions, and ſpeeches vſed with me, they fell to be of opinion (as it ſeemed, and ſo told me) that I was poſſeſſed with a wicked ſpirit. I ſay, (as it ſeemed) for I am fully perſwaded in my conſcience, that they knew wel enough, that neither I, nor any of the reſt before mentioned were indeede poſſeſſed: but that they did pretend ſo, to worke thereby ſuch matters, as they had propounded vnto themſelues, whereof for my part I wil no further iudge. Of this my perſwaſion I haue ſome reaſons, by that which I finde written, & depoſed by others to that purpoſe.

When I firſt heard them ſay, that I was poſſeſſed, I told them that I doubted not, but that they were deceaued therein. I acquainted them with the nature of my diſeaſe, and how long I had beene troubled with it: but they perſiſted in their opinion. For that time leauing me, they came ſhortly vnto me againe, and began where before they had left: then they told me what extraordinarie ſtrength I ſhewed in one of my pangues, which moued me litle. For the nature of that diſeaſe, is to cauſe ones belly to ſwel in ſuch ſort, as two or three are not able (vſing any good diſcretion) to keepe downe the wind, that ſeeketh to aſcend, as it is very wel knowne to thoſe, that haue ſeene eyther a man or woman in that fit, and as it is likely, the prieſts themſelues knew by their experience in Ma: Edmond Peckham, who was verie oft troubled with it (as is before expreſſed.)

Diuers other reaſons they vſed vnto me, to cauſe me to ſuſpect the worſt of my ſelfe, and theſe as I think were ſome of them: they put me in minde of giuing ouer my ſtudy beyond the Seas, of leauing the courſe I had begun with the Bonhommes, & of my more youthfull conuerſation ſince my returne: theſe and ſuch like poynts they vſed, as arguments to conuince me, that I was poſſeſſed. But I replying for my ſelfe as I could, and telling them what a diſcredit it would be vnto me, to haue it reported of me, that I was poſſeſſed with a deuil, and how it would be a blemiſh, and a diſgrace vnto me, whileſt I liued: they made little account thereof, ſaying, that it was a leſſe diſcredit, and not ſo hurtfull for a man to haue 10000 deuils in him, then to haue committed one deadly ſinne: and to this purpoſe they alledged a place out of Saint Augustine (as farre as I remember.) Beſides they reaſoned with me, to proue it the ſafeſt way for me, to ſubmit my ſelfe to their triall, whether I were poſſeſſed or no: for that (as they ſaid) if the deuill were not in mee, I could take no hurt by theyr triall, whereas if I were poſſeſſed, it could not but be very dangerous vnto mee, that the deuill ſhould ſtill continue in me. By theſe, and ſuch like meanes they perſwaded mee, to yeeld my ſelfe to be directed by them for the triall of my eſtate. When they had me at this point, then they permitted mee to haue acceſſe vnto Sara Williams when ſhe was in her fits, and informed me likewiſe of the manner, how ſhee, and others had beene troubled.

This courſe held with me, they drew me to confeſſion, and to promiſe that I would goe no more to the Proteſtants Churches: affirming that they could doe me no good, vntill I was become againe a member of the Catholique Romaine Church. After I had beene at one or two of Saras fits, and ſubmitted my ſelfe (as is before expreſſed) a pangue of my olde diſeaſe taking hold on me, Ma: Dibdale affirmed publiquely to the company, that then it was apparant, that I was poſſeſſed. Vpon my recouerie he told me, that by applying of holy reliques vnto my belly, hee had compelled the wicked ſpirit to giue me eaſe: whereas I neuer found benefit by any ſuch things, but was eaſed (as I had been at other times before, when the fit of the Mother left me) by bending of my body forward, which is a cauſe of breaking of wind, and conſequently of apparant eaſe. And heereby (as I am perſwaded) I was at that time eaſed, & not by any reliques. Within a day or two after (as I remember) they told me, that it was neceſſary for me to be exorciſed: where vnto although I was loath to yeeld, becauſe I had ſeene their manner of dealing therein eyther with Sara, or Frauncis Williams, who by this time was ſaid to be all ſo poſſeſſed, yet I had ſubmitted my ſelfe ſo farre, that now it was too late for me to draw backe. All things therefore being in a readines, and I in good health, and no wayes troubled with my diſeaſe, they bound me faſt in a chayre, and fell to their Exorciſmes with much ſolemnity, and ſhew of great deuotion. Then they vrged me to drink a very vnpleaſant potion, which troubled me greatly; in ſo much as I deſired them to vntye me, and giue me leaue to lye downe vppon my bed: but they regarded not my words, or earneſt entreaty, ſaying: It was the deuill, and not my ſelfe that deſired ſuch reſt, that ſo he might not be diſturbed in me. At other times when they had me bound in ſuch like manner, beſides the ſaid drinke, they vſed to burne brimſtone vnder my noſe, and ſome other things elſe, which vexed me exceedingly. What I did, and ſpake at thoſe times, I doe not now remember: by that which I ſee they haue written of Marwood, Trayford, of Sara, & Frauncis Williams, I doubt not but many things haue beene reported of me, which are vntrue. It is not vnlike but that when I found my ſelfe ſo entangled with them, as that I could not rid my ſelfe from them, I did, and ſpake many things which were inconuenient, & whereof I think I ſhould be aſhamed, if I did remember them. For after I had learned their humour, and perceaued as wel by the reſt, as by mine own experience, what would content them, I framed my ſelfe accordingly.

Whileſt I was thus at Denham with them, I was neuer almoſt ſuffered to be quiet: but eyther I was to be exorciſed my ſelfe, or vrged to be with Sara, or her ſiſter Frauncis, or kept priuately in my chamber, and one way or other toſſed, and turmoyled by them, till at the laſt after ſundry Exorciſmes, and much further trouble procured by their drinkes, & violent fumigations, they gaue it forth, that they had caſt one deuil out of me: but with ſuch intimation, as might breede a ſuſpition that there were ſome other left in me. By this time Chriſtmas drew neere, and whether it was for that they meant to deale with Sara at Hackney, or for what other cauſe they knew beſt, they gaue me ouer for a while, and ſent me to Ma: Fittons by Windſor, where I ſuppoſe they thought I ſhould be wel looked vnto, & ready afterwards when they ſhould ſend for me.

I remayned at Ma: Fittons till after the end of the holy dayes (as I remember,) and being free from their vexations, did ſolace my ſelfe with merrie company, as the time, and occaſion ſerued. In ſo much as ſome gaue it out, peraduenture by the prieſts procurement, that I was ſtill poſſeſſed with a merry deuil: and others ſaid, that if I were poſſeſſed indeede, it could not otherwiſe chooſe, but that he was a deuil, that was not much troubled with melancholly, or to that effect. Of theſe reports I heard nothing my ſelfe, whileſt I was at Ma: Fittons, for if I had, they would much haue abated the edge of my mirth, which they ſpake of. But now it is meete to be conſidered, how notably they ioyned their matters together. It greeueth me much that I am conſtrained to deale in theſe matters thus farre, but yet I ſee that if this occaſion had not fallen out, I ſhould neuer haue ſo well diſcerned their dealing with me.

Although they gaue it out, that they had caſt a deuil out of me (as is before mentioned) and amongſt many other reaſons had alledged, that the deuill entred into me, becauſe I gaue ouer the order of the Bonhommes, & further, becauſe ſome might peraduenture ſuſpect, that notwithſtanding all that they had either done or ſaid of me, yet all the diſeaſe that I had was but onely the Mother, now they haue a deuiſe to cleere all theſe poynts, as it is apparant in the ſaid booke ſo often before mentioned. On Monday the tenth of Ianuary, Sara Williams is pretended to haue a meruailous great fit at Hackney, and amongſt many other ſpeeches which the prieſt that exorciſed her then vſed, hee commeth at laſt to theſe: There is one (ſaith hee to the deuill as it was pretended) that hath the Mother, what ſayest thou to him? The deuill aunſwereth, that is a Mother indeed. So heereby they would makes it plaine, that it was not the Mother that I was troubled with. But the prieſt goeth forward ſaying, was there any ſpirit cast out of him? and the deuill aunſwered,) yea a little one, but to no purpoſe. So as now they haue a ſufficient teſtimonie, that I was diſpoſſeſſed of one deuill whilſt I was at Denham.

Furthermore, it is pretended by Saras deuill, that there remaineth ſtill in mee the Prince of all other deuils, whoſe name ſhould be Modu, which gaue them matter enough to worke vpon againe with me. But yet all doubts were not cleered, and therefore the ſaid prieſt demanded this queſtion of Saras deuill: Came the prince Modu (ſaith he) into him to bring him from the houſe of S. Frauncis de Paula his order? Yea in troth (quoth the deuill.) And thus they thought they had ſufficiently iuſtified all that they had reported of him, as appeareth by the ſaid booke. But all this notwithſtanding, I am more and more confirmed heereby, in my former opinion of their bad proceeding with mee, and the rather, becauſe (as I am informed) Sara Williams vppon her oath hath denied, that euer ſhee vſed any ſuch ſpeeches of mee, as farre as ſhe remembreth.

When the ſaid prieſts had diſpatched their buſines at Hackney, they then returned towards mee, vppon pretence to caſt the great Prince Modu (as I ſuppoſe) out of mee. I beeing at Ma. Fittons (as is before ſaid) it fell out that by reaſon of good company, I daunced that night ſo long, that I caſt my ſelfe into a very great ſweat, and was weary. Afterward, whether before I went to bed, or when I was in bed, I doe not well remember, I had a fit of the Mother, as I haue had before, and often times ſince vppon ſuch violent exerciſes. It happened that this night ſom of the ſaid prieſts that were at Hackney, (as I thinke) came to Ma. Fittons, who hearing of my fit, ſaid it was no meruaile, for it was confeſſed by the deuill in Sara, that I had the Prince of many deuils in me, or words to that effect. Heereuppon in the morning one Miſtris Anne More a gentlewoman, waiting vpon Miſtris Fitton came vnto me, and told mee vvith weeping eyes, which of the prieſts were come that night to the houſe, and what they had reported of mee, and how much I was deceiued, in that I thought my ſelfe to be troubled with nothing but the Mother. I aunſwered her (as if ſhe be aliue ſhe can well beare me witnes) that I knew very well, whatſoeuer they ſaid, that the Mother was the onely diſeaſe wherewith I was vexed, and that I was free (I thanked GOD) from the poſſeſſion of anie wicked ſpirit.

All the while they wrought vpon me before, I found no other trouble in mee, but of mine old griefe when I had it, ſauing ſuch paine as they caſt mee into by theyr drinkes and perfumes. And when they ſaid that the deuill was caſt out of mee, yet I found my ſelfe neither better, nor worſe, which cauſed me to thinke, that thoſe things were moſt vntrue which they reported of me.

I was ſo confident heerein, that the better to colour (as I thinke) their future proceedings with me, they ſent to a Phyſician, one Doctor Griffith, who gaue me, as it is ſaid ſome Phyſicke. But through their information (as I am perſwaded) the concluſion amongſt them was, that there was no naturall cauſe of my diſeaſe: and ſo there was no remedy, but I muſt needes be poſſeſſed. Then it was thought meete that I ſhould be caried backe againe, whether to Denham, or to Channon-row, I doe not wel remember, but rather (as I coniecture) it was to Denham. And for as much as the report was, that the ſpirit ſuppoſed to be in me, was the Prince of all the deuils, which were in the parties poſſeſſed; Ma: Edmunds the Ieſuit, and chiefe of all the prieſts, that had to deale then in theſe actions, was thought the meeteſt man (as I ſuppoſe) to encounter with him. After that time, ſo far as I remember, none of the prieſts had to deale with me, but himſelfe, he was my ghoſtly Father, and to him (as it is giuen out) I reuealed many things.

When he had the managing of theſe matters with me, there was very great reſort to the place where we were, and a very extraordinarie expectation, (as I haue heard) of ſome ſtrange euent to fall out.

The courſe which he held with me was much more rigorous, then at any time before. When hee had me bound, if I did not frame my ſelfe in euery thing to his contentment (as ſometimes being angry with his vſage of me I thinke I did not) then he would ſay, the deuil was obſtinate in me. In which caſe ſometimes I was conſtrained by him to drinke moſt loathſome draughts of ſuch confections as he had ready for me: and ſometimes they burnt ſuch abhominable ſtinking, and violent things, holding my noſe by force ouer the ſmoake; as (I think) would make a horſe mad. No man (I ſuppoſe) is able to endure ſuch a perfume without extreame torment. He dealt thus hardly with me, as I thinke vppon pretence that the great Prince of deuils that was in me, would not otherwiſe be tamed. I haue ſeene them ſometimes ſo perfume Sara Williams with ſuch lyke ſmoakes, as her face hath looked blacker, then euer I ſaw a chimney ſweepers. Which heates, and ſmels together with their potions, did make her to talke, & rage as if ſhe had beene mad. And the prieſts would make ſome vſe of euery thing ſhe ſaid: and ſo I thinke I may by her eſteeme of mine owne caſe, when they had made me in effect mad, no meruaile though I ſpake, & fared like a mad man.

Being thus dealt with, I became very weake, and ſicklie. Little meate that I tooke would endured with me aboue an houre or two, and I was at my wits end, what I ſhould doe. The beſt meanes that I could thinke of for mine owne eaſe, was to frame my ſelfe in ſuch ſort, as might be moſt agreeable to Ma: Edmunds liking: which then I began to doe with ſome extraordinarie care. I omitted no occaſion to goe to confeſſion, none ſhewed more zeale at Maſſe time, then my ſelfe: at the eleuation I pretended to ſee extraordinarie lights, as if they had beene the Sunne beames, and that the ſame did ſo aſtoniſh me, as ſometimes I would fall backwards, when I was kneeling, as though I could not endure the glittering of ſo glorious a ſight: whereas I proteſt before God, I neuer ſaw indeede any ſuch light, or was aſtoniſhed, but therein I did as I had heard the prieſts report, that both Frauncis, and Sara Williams had done before me. And I doe verily thinke, they told me the ſame to no other end, but that I my ſelfe ſhould put the ſame in practiſe. For I found my ſelfe very apt to follow ſuch examples: and doe ſuppoſe, that any being in that caſe, that I, and the reſt were, would aſſay to ſpeak, and doe as they ſhould be enformed, that others in their eſtate had done or ſpoken.

Of my ſaid pretended aſtoniſhments, Ma: Edmunds would make large diſcourſes concerning the preſence of Chriſt in the Sacrament. And where it is reported of me in writing, as theſe things laſt mentioned are likewiſe, that I did pretend to ſee a gliſtering light come frō the thumbs, and fore-fingers of the prieſts at ſundry times: I confeſſe, it may be that I haue ſo affirmed, eyther for that they themſelues haue asked me, if I did ſee no ſuch thing, or elſe haue told me, that the reſt in my caſe had ſeene ſuch lights, whereby I was induced to ſay as much of my ſelfe: whereas indeede whatſoeuer I ſaid thereof, was altogether vntrue. For I neuer ſaw other lights about their thumbs or fingers, then ſuch as is ordinarie to all other mens hands, and fingers. The colour of the pretence of ſuch lights (as I remember) was, for that the prieſts thumbs, and fore-fingers are anointed with holy oyle (as I haue heard) when they are made prieſts, and becauſe they doe with them at Maſſe time handle the body of Chriſt.

Furthermore, I found it did well content Ma. Edmunds and the reſt of the prieſts, that I ſhould ſometimes rayle very earneſtly both againſt him, and the reſt of his fellowes then preſent, & generally againſt all prieſts. And that I ſhould on the contrary commend as earneſtly the ſeruice of the proteſtants, the Magiſtrates, the Miniſters, and the chiefeſt in authoritie. So I knew that Sara Williams, and the reſt had done, and ſo I did my ſelfe, no doubt as artificially as any of them, if not in better ſort. For wee all knew how they would expound them for theyr owne glory, in that the deuils (as they pretended) could not endure them: and to the great diſcredite of the other ſide, becauſe the deuils extolled them as theyr louing friends. And certaine it is that the Catholiques that were preſent to my vnderſtanding, did take great contentment by ſuch our ſpeeches, and their expoſitions of them. By this my readines to doe, and ſpeake whatſoeuer I found that Ma. Edmunds liked, I eſcaped ſometimes (as I thinke) theyr lothſome drinks, and intolerable fumigations.

After ſome time thus ſpent with mee at Denham, (as I ſuppoſe) I was carried to the Earle of Lincolnes houſe in Channon-row, where my brother, and his wife were as I remember: I was then not paſt 16 or 17 yeeres old as farre as I can geſſe, and therefore (to ſpeake a little in mine owne excuſe) no meruaile, all circumſtances dulie conſidered, that I was drawne by the cunning practiſes of the ſaid prieſts, into theſe diſſembling courſes which now I vtterly diſlike, and deteſt. I am fully perſwaded, that there is neuer a youth in England, were he of neuer ſo ripe and pregnant a wit, but if he ſhould fall into the hands of ſuch prieſts, he would in a ſhort time be ſo bewitched by them, as that hee would be ſoone drawne to ſtoope to their lure, and doe as I did.

When I was going, and come to Channon-row, I was very much grieued, and in feare (as far as I remember) of theyr further proceedings with mee. For I was then brought to ſuch weakenes, as I was ſcarce able to goe alone, vnleſſe I were vpheld. We were no ſooner come thether, but that there was great concourſe of many Catho: to ſee (as I thinke) the euent of things: eſpecially becauſe Ma. Edmunds, a man of great account amongſt them, was the onely dealer in effect with me. By thoſe things which I find written, and reported of mee, and which I had otherwiſe forgotten of my ſelfe, at my comming to Channon-row, I did pretend ſome traunces, and in them to haue ſundry viſions, into which courſe I was led (as I am fully perſwaded) by ſome ſpeeches of the prieſts, whom I had oft heard talke how Sara Williams, and diuers others, had many times certaine traunces: wherein they lay as if they had beene ſenceleſſe, and in them had ſundry viſions, which vppon theyr recouerie they did vſually tell vnto the prieſts, and diuers others, whereupon I verily thinke, that the firſt Sunday after I came to Channon-row, (as aforeſaid) I fained my ſelfe to be in a traunce, and afterwards told Ma. Edmunds many tales of my beeing all that time in Purgatory, and what I had ſeene, and indured there. I alſo told him at that time (as farre as I remember) that I perceiued by one of the viſions which I then had, how I was euery Sunday to haue the like traunces, and viſions about the ſame houres, vntill Good-friday next enſuing, and that the I ſhould depart in a traunce out of this life, and goe immediatly into heauen.

There are diuers things further reported of mee as touching theſe my pretended traunces, and viſions, (as that after I ſhewed my ſelfe to be recouered, I did foretell of great afflictions, and perſecutions, which ſhould happen to the Catholiques in England, and of ſundry ſuch matters) but whether they be true or no, I doe not remember. If I vſed any ſuch words, either Ma. Edmunds, or ſome of the reſt induced mee thereunto, by ſome of their leading questions, or I had heard them before ſpeake themſelues to that effect: or elſe the report is altogether falſe, and deuiſed by themſelues to ſerue theyr owne turnes: for of my ſelfe I doe not belieue that I had any apprehenſion of any ſuch matters.

It is written alſo of mee, how after ſome other of my pretended traunces and viſions, I vſed diuers times to fall into ſtrange exclamations, making the company to belieue, that I ſaw Chriſt himſelfe accompanied with a number of Angels in ſuch a corner of the chamber, and at other times the virgin Mary, attended with a trayne of bleſſed virgins, and that thereupon my manners was to vrge them that were preſent, to fall downe vpon their knees to worſhip them, and to pray vnto them. Theſe things I doe in ſome ſort remember, and doe partly belieue them to be true, becauſe I well remember, that vppon my ſaid motions, and vrging of them, both Ma. Edmunds, and the reſt, did vſually lift vp their hands, now in this corner, now in that corner, and prayed vppon theyr knees, with theyr hands holden vp, as though Chriſt, and the virgine Mary had beene there indeed. Whereas I doe faithfully avow it, that I neuer ſaw any ſuch ſights, but did therein frame my ſelfe to doe as I had heard by the prieſts and others, that Sara Williams, and the reſt had done before mee. And I doe belieue that Ma. Edmunds himſelfe knew as much, and that hee did but ſeeme to worſhip, (as is before expreſſed) thereby to induce the reſt of the company ſo to doe.

It ſeemeth that Ma. Edmunds hath written a long diſcourſe of about a quire of paper, of all my ſaid pretended traunces and viſions, and it may be likewiſe of all the reſt of the proceedings held with me, eyther by him ſelfe, or the reſt of the prieſts: if euer that booke come to further light, ſo as any in authority doe take notice of it, I will be ready (if I be called thereunto) to giue my aunſwere truly to all the particulers, ſo farre foorth as I ſhall remember In the meane time, as touching all my pretended viſions in generall, (of my ſufferings in Purgatory, and the reſt) they were all feigned by mee, to pleaſe Fa: Edmunds, and it may be to gaine to my ſelfe a little fooliſh commendation, or admiration, becauſe I ſaw how the Catholiques that heard of them, and were preſent at many of my fond ſpeeches, did ſeeme to wonder at me.

VVhen Good-friday came, there was great reſort to the ſaid houſe where I was: and of my bahauiour that day, a prieſt (I perceiue) hath written at large. Of my ſelfe I ſhould haue remembred little that did happen at that time, but beeing vrged to aunſwer ſomething to that which is written of me, I will firſt ſet downe the authors owne words.

Lying (ſaith he) that day vpō his bed, he made (as it were) a ſolemne exhortation, and telling the Catholiques preſent, that his houre was now come, hee willed them to continue constant in their profeſſion, ſaying that they were yet to indure the brunt of many perſecutions, howbeit, they that perſeuered vnto the end, ſhould be ſaued: and ſo falling from his exhortations vnto prayer, he deſired all the company to pray with him: whereupon hee began to recite the Letanie, and they that were preſent, followed in aunſwering of him, euery perſon preſent beeing mooued to great deuotion. Thus continuing for a while, he then ſeemed to fall into a ſlumber, and after that into a traunce, which indured aboue two houres: ſo as many that were preſent, did verily belieue he would neuer haue awaked againe, but in the ſame haue giuen vp the ghost. At the last, of himſelfe hee did awake, fetching a great ſigh, and a groane, and then vſed theſe words: My time is not yet come: our bleſſed Lady hath appeared vnto me, and told mee that I muſt liue longer yet: for that God hath reſerued me for a further purpoſe to doe more good, and to tell of ſtrange wonders. With that there began to be a great muttering among the company, many greatly meruailing what this ſhould meane. Whereuppon Fa: Edmunds made an exhortation to thoſe that were preſent, and told them, that he thought it conuenient to prolong the time no longer, but to fall to exorciſing of him, whereby they ſhould perceiue, whether all were true that hee had reported vnto them, or whether it had beene the enemy that ſought to delude them.

Thus farre the prieſt, whoſe report (I thinke) is true in ſubſtance, though peraduenture he may erre in ſome circumſtance: but my memory is not ſo good, as that I am able to controll him in any particuler, and therefore I wil let it paſſe as it goeth. The fault is not mine, that theſe things are thus publiſhed. What moued me to pretend that I ſhould die vpon Good Friday, I cannot ſet downe directly: but ſure I am the deuiſe was boyiſh, and fooliſh, and very ſutable (as I thinke) to the reſt of my proceedings, being greatly beſotted by them, as may appeare by my whole courſe, and by their dealings with me. As farre as I can geſſe my ſimple drift therein was, that when it ſhould be apparant, that I had lyed vnto them, they would for ſhame haue then diſmiſſed me from them: for there was nothing in the world that I deſired more. But I found I was deceaued in my ſimple plot, & doe now perceaue by the ſaid prieſts words, that Ma: Edmunds was prouided, how to ſalue the matter, if the worſt fell out. God knoweth whether he ſuppoſed, that I would haue taken ſome courſe, to haue ſhortned mine owne time againſt that day, as conſtrained in ſome ſort there-vnto by the great weakenes, and indeede wearines of my life, where-vnto he, and the reſt had brought me: but I wil iudge the beſt. This onely I perceaue, that when he found my ſimple plot, he was ready to inſinuate to the Catholiques preſent, that out of doubt the report that I made of my death, was but an illuſion of Sathan; and this muſt be made manifeſt out of hand by an Exorciſme: for as the ſaid prieſt hath in writing reported (although I my ſelfe had forgotten it) being againe exorciſed in the preſence of all the company, before they departed I ſhewed no ſignes of any diſtemper, but rather of great deuotion, and piety: wherby Ma: Edmunds collected, that out of all queſtion it was Sathan in me that ſaid I ſhould die vpon Good Friday, and ſo the company departed very well ſatisfied. If he had giuen me at that time his holy potion, and perfumed my noſe with brimſtone, Aſſa faetida, and I know not what other vile ſmell (as before he had done) I ſhould not ſurely haue beene ſo quiet: but he had another drift, as wel it appeareth.

From the ſaid Good-friday, for ought I remember, vntill the three, and twentith of April (which was then S. Georges day) Ma: Edmunds ſuffered me to be quiet, I thinke now to gather ſome ſtrength, and imagined then that he would neuer haue troubled me further. But it fell out that a day or two before Saint Georges day (as it ſhould ſeeme) that I had againe a fit of the Mother, where-vpon they tooke occaſion to haue me in handling againe, for as they ſaid Modu the Prince of deuils was yet in me: and now they pretended (as I remember) to do the beſt they could to caſt him out of me, that ſo I might be rid for altogether.

Ma: Edmunds, and the reſt dealt with me at this time very extreamely, and I muſt confeſſe that in hope to be now diſpatched, I bent my ſelfe (as farre as poſſibly I could) to faine, and affirme euery thing that I perceaued they expected at my hands. But what I then did or ſaid, if I ſhould haue beene tortured vpon the rack (had I not ſeene what was publiſhed in writing of me at that time) I could not now haue remembred ſo many particulers. After that Ma: Edmunds had exorciſed, and perfumed me (as often-times he had done before) the deuil that had lyen ſecret long in me (as the writing ſaith) began to appeare. But I wil ſet downe the effect of the ſaid prieſts reports as touching this matter.

By commaundement of the Exorcist (which was Ma: Edmunds) the deuill in Ma: Mainy confeſſed his name to be Modu, and that he had beſides himſelfe ſeauen other ſpirits, all of them Captaines, and of the great fame. There-vpon Ma: Edmunds commaunded that euery one of the ſeauen ſhould come vp in their degrees one after another, and to declare his name by his principall quality. Then Ma: Mainy by the inſtigation of the first of the ſeauen, began to ſet his hands vnto his ſide, curled his haire, and vſed ſuch gestures, as Ma: Edmunds preſently affirmed, that that ſpirit was Pride. Heere-with he began to curſe, and banne, ſaying: What a poxe doe I heere? I wil ſtay no longer amongſt a company of raſcall Prieſts, but goe to the Court, and braue it amongſt my fellowes, the noble men there aſſembled. And then after Ma: Edmunds had ſaid, that hee ſhewed himſelfe thereby to be the ſpirit of Pride: he went downe againe, and Ma: Mainy became very quiet, and fell to his prayers. But Ma: Mainy could not tell one word (as he reported) of any thing that had beene then ſaid, onely he affirmed, that he had all the while felt a great paine in his body. Then Ma: Edmunds did proceede againe with his Exorciſmes, and ſuddainly the ſences of Mainy were taken from him, his belly began to ſwell, and his eyes to ſtare, and ſuddainly cryed out, ten pounds in the hundred, he called for a Scriuener to make a bond, ſwearing that hee would not lend his money without a pawne. Ma: Edmunds demaunding of that deuill, whether he were the ſame that had ſpoken before, he ſaid no. But yet affirmed, that hee was a good fellow, and a companion of his, and one that bare as great rule in England as any other deuill. There could be no other talke had of this ſpirit, but of mony, bargaining, and vſury: ſo as all the company deemed this deuill to be the author of Couetouſneſſe, not expecting any instruction therein from Fa: Edmunds. After a while this deuill goeth downe as the other did. Ma. Mainy recouereth his ſences, falleth to his prayers, and ere long Ma. Edmunds beginneth againe his Exorciſmes, wherein hee had not proceeded farre, but vp commeth another ſpirit, ſinging most filthy and baudy ſongs: euery word almost that hee ſpake, was nothing but ribaldry. They that were preſent, with one voyce affirmed that deuill to be the author of Luxury. And Ma. Edmunds beeing not able to endure ſuch lewd ſpeeches, commaunded him to be ſilent, and to get him downe forthwith againe. The deuill obeyed: Ma. Mainy recouereth, falleth to his prayers, and afterwards Ma. Edmunds goeth forward with the rest. And thus he did proceed, till he had raiſed vp all the ſeauen Captaines, and compelled them to ſhew themſelues as the other had doone. Enuy was deſcribed by diſdainfull lookes, and contemptuous ſpeeches. Wrath by furious gestures, and talke as though hee would haue fought. Gluttony by vomiting: and Sloth by gaping and ſnorting, as if hee had beene a ſleepe. Ma. Mainy at euery time recouering his ſences, and falling to prayer as he had done before. After theſe ſeauen deuils had thus ſhewed themſelues, and were againe at rest in Ma. Mainy, it ſeemed good to Ma. Edmunds to try what he could doe with Modu their prince and Captaine. He beginneth againe his exorciſmes, and continued the ſame, till after a while the ſaid Modu roſe vp againe, and asked Ma. Edmunds how hee liked his 7. Brethren before mētioned, who had appeared one after another? And furthermore hee fell a curſing, and ſaid: A pox on you all for popiſh prieſts. My fellowes the proteſtants can make very much of my ſaid Brethren, & giue them good entertainment, bidding them welcome whenſoe-they come: but you ſcuruy prieſts can neither abide them your ſelues, nor ſuffer them to be quiet whenſoeuer you are conuerſant. Heereunto Ma. Edmunds aunſwered, that they would be enemies both to him, and them all during their liues. And commaunded both him, and the rest of his companions for to depart out of Ma. Mainy, vrging them with ſuch ſeuerall adiurations, as are ſee downe to that purpoſe in the booke of Exorciſmes. Whilst he was thus proceeding with him, he required Modu by the authority of his Prieſthood, and power left by Christ in the Catholique Romane Church, to tell him truly concerning theſe viſions that appeared vnto Mainy: with that the deuill in Mainy fell out into a great laughter, ſaying that it had doone him very much good, that he had cooſened ſo many prieſts, and made all the company for to worſhip him: For (ſaith hee) all that time that you and the reſt ſeemed to pray vnto Chriſt, and vnto Saffronbag, it was I, and all my cōpany that you worſhipped. Heerewith Ma. Edmunds beeing greatly mooued, defied him, & ſaid that they had no intention of worſhipping him: and that if any wee ſo deceiued, it was of ignorance, and that his torments ſhould be the greater for ſo intolerable an illuſion. Then Ma. Edmunds began againe his exorciſmes with great earnestnes, and all the company cried out vpon God, the bleſſed virgin, S. George, and all the company of heauen to helpe, and ſuccour them in that holy action, ſo as both that wicked Prince Modu, and all his company might be cast out of Ma: Mainy. And accordingly God heard their prayers, for ſhortly after they were all cast forth, and that in ſuch ſort as Ma: Edmunds directed them: which was, that euery deuill ſhould depart in ſome certaine forme, repreſenting either a beast, or ſome other creature, that had reſemblance of that ſinne, whereof he was the chiefe Author. Where-vpon the ſpirit of Pride departed in the forme of a Peacock. The ſpirit of Sloth in the likenes of an Aſſe: the ſpirit of Enuie in the ſimilitude of a Dog: the ſpirit of Gluttony in the forme of a Wolfe: and the other deuils had alſo in their departure their particuler likeneſſes agreeable to their natures.

Hetherto the Author of the ſaid Treatiſe, though in ſome more words, yet to this effect. Concerning the which report, the world muſt needes beare me witnes, if euer it come to their publique view, that I haue great cauſe to blame them, for making of theſe things common, which were wrought by themſelues in priuate, ſo much to my diſcredite. My charity ſhall deſerue very great commendations as I thinke, if I doe not hereafter ſeeke to be reuenged, both vpon Ma: Edmunds, and the reſt, that haue thus dealt with me. But to the matter it ſelfe as I am required. It is very likely that vpon Saint Georges day here mentioned, I railed againſt the prieſts, and ſpake of the Court, as that time gaue occaſion. But I doe verily thinke that I vſed the ſaid ſpeeches, as being led vnto them by ſome words vttered eyther by the prieſts, or by ſome in the company, and that they had ſome farther drift then I doe know of, in appoynting that day for their dealings with me.

And touching my deſcribing of the ſaid ſeauen deuils by ſignes, and geſtures, ſignifying the ſeauen deadly ſinnes. I doe wel remember that I vſed ſome ſuch like geſtures to that end, but I am perſwaded that they are heere ſet downe in farre better ſort then I did act them, as their vſuall manner was in reporting of any thing that was done eyther by me, or any of the reſt. They would make a faire tale of any thing, though it were neuer ſo ſimple, that any of vs did or ſaid. But for mine owne part, how I ſhould be able to deſcribe the ſaid ſinnes, though it were neuer ſo ſimple, I cannot directly aunſwer. This onely I think, and am perſwaded in my conſcience, that what I did therein, I was eyther led vnto it by ſome of the Prieſts instructing questions, or elſe I had beene told before, that others in my caſe had deſcribed ſuch deuils by ſuch geſtures, that did ſignifie ſuch, and ſuch ſinnes. For being not then fully xvij. yeeres of age, as I take it, I doe not thinke that any ſuch things would euer haue come into my head, if I had not beene cunningly inſtructed.

It ſeemeth ſtrange vnto me, when I remember diuers things concerning theſe matters, as I may ſay of my ſelf, ſo I haue beene informed concerning the reſt, that eyther had beene, or were then in my caſe. Wee were neuer ſuffered to be quiet: few nights eſcaped, but either Miſtris Peckham when ſhe was preſent, or Miſtris Plater, or ſome other of the women, where we remained, would be with vs, eyther to bring vs newes ſeuerally, what each of vs had done or ſaid apart, when we were exorciſed the day before: or elſe to tell vs ſtrange tales, which they ſaid they had heard of ſome of the prieſts, concerning diuers things which had beene done, and ſpoken by ſuch, as had beene poſſeſſed in other Countries: whether they did thus by the direction of the prieſts or no, I cannot tell, but I verily beleeue, that wee all of vs learned thereby to doe many things, which otherwiſe we ſhould neuer haue thought of. And whether I learned from them the skill I had to doe the geſtures before mentioned, I know not, it may be I did.

And as I aunſwer to this point, ſo doe I vnto that other, as touching the deuils ſuppoſed ſimilitudes in their pretended departing out of me. Eyther it is altogether falſe, and deuiſed by themſelues, or elſe they led me to ſay ſo by their queſtions. As if they asked me, whether Pride did not depart from me in the likeneſſe of a Peacock, it is very probable that I ſaid he did. And ſo of all the reſt, or otherwiſe they told ſome in my hearing, that ſuch deuils did vſe to depart from ſuch, as they poſſeſſed in ſuch kinde of formes: I pray God forgiue them for all their bad dealings with me. My chiefe comfort is, that as I ſaid in the beginning, I am fully perſwaded that I was neuer poſſeſſed, and that all I did or ſpake, I did it, and ſpake it my ſelfe, being ſometimes enforced, and ſometimes induced ſo to doe, as before I haue mentioned. And alſo that the moſt of thoſe things which are written of me, are eyther vtterly falſe, or greatly altered in the telling. And that the prieſts themſelues that dealt with me, are of right to beare the blame for that which eyther I or any of the reſt ſaid or did, that might giue any iuſt cauſe of offence, eyther to her Maieſtie, or the ſtate heere in England.

Vpon my ſpeeches before mentioned to the Lord Strange, the prieſts, and others, eſpecially thoſe that fauour Ma: Edmunds as I thinke, did giue it out that I was ſtill poſſeſſed. And I doubt not but if at any time they vnderſtand of this my confeſſion, it wil be ſaid that now I haue many deuils in me. I had forgotten to ſet downe how I haue had a long time an ache in one of my knees, which I thinke I got whē I was a child by a cold, & how when I told the prieſts of it firſt, they vſed that for one argument to proue that I was poſſeſſed: ſaying, that it was very likely that the deuil kept about that place. Alſo I feare I ſhall be troubled with my old diſeaſe as I haue before ſaid. So as if they ſhall determine to hold on ſo wicked a courſe, they are like to haue the ſame cauſes to ſay that I am ſtill poſſeſſed, that they had before. But I hope they wil not dare to preſume to haue any further dealing with me, and that God will deliuer me from them. And this is all I can ſay to all ſuch points, and matters as haue beene propounded vnto me.