_Of diverse Impostures framed and invented to prove false and lying
miracles by, and to accuse persons of Witchcraft, from late and
undeniable authorities._
In the treatise preceeding we have often made mention of delusions and
Impostures, which we shall largely handle in this place: and though Mr.
_Glanvil_, and others do object, that though many pretended possessions
or Witchcrafts have been proved to be meer couzenings and impostures,
yet therefore it will not follow that all are so. To which we shall
render these answers.
1. If it do not necessarily conclude, that they are all impostures, yet
it gives a most shrewd cause of dubitation that they may be so. And the
objection depends not upon a necessary connexion betwixt the subject and
predicate, for some being direct and palpable Impostures, it is not of
necessity, but by contingency or accident that the others are not so,
and ought first to have been proved, which never yet was performed.
2. But we affirm that a general conclusion drawn from an inductive
argument is good and sound, where no instance can be clearly made out to
the contrary. But as yet no true instance, really and faithfully
attested, hath ever been brought to prove that any of these things that
we deny, were ever effected by diabolical power. For who were ever by
and present, that were persons of sincerity and sound judgment, that
could truly testifie and averr that the Devil in a visible and corporeal
shape made a contract with the Witch, or that he suckt upon his, or her
body, or that he had carnal copulation with them, or that saw when the
Witch was really changed into a Dog or a Cat, or that they flew or were
carried in the air? Seeing no instance can be given to prove any of
these to be undoubted truths, it must needs follow that they are meer
figments, or at the best all but absolute Impostures. And again it is
but precarious, and _petitio principii_, to imagine that any persons
have vomited up or voided strange things that saw or knew that they were
injected by Devils, for they were either naturally bred there, or else
were meer Impostures and delusive Juglings.
And therefore we shall propose some Histories of strange and prodigious
cheats and Impostures from late and unquestionable authorities, whereby
all the rest may be judged and discerned; of which take this for one.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 1._]
[Sidenote: _Vid. Stat. Pulton, 25. year Henr. 8._ _c._ 12.]
[Sidenote: _Vid Chron._ Hollingshead. Stow _An. Hen. 8._ 25. _p._ 1013.]
[Sidenote: The Pope.]
“1. _Elizabeth Barton_ of _Kent_ (by those that laboured to cry up her
horrible cheats for miracles, otherwise called the holy Maid of _Kent_)
and others were in the twenty fifth year of King _Henry_ the Eighth
attainted of High Treason, for that under colour of hypocrisie,
Revelations and false Miracles practised by the said _Elizabeth_, they
conspired to impugne and slander the divorce between the King and Queen
_Katherine_ his first Wife, and the last Marriage between him and Queen
_Anne_ his second Wife, to destroy the King, and to deprive him of his
Crown.” Her false and feigned miracles, and the subtile and cunning
contrivances that were brought to pass by the help of her confederate
accomplices, and her and the others open confession of them may be found
at large in _Hollingshead_, _Stow_, and the writings of Mr. _Lambert_,
whither for brevities sake I remit my reader, and shall only give it
here in the words of _Speed_, which are these: “The Romanists (he saith)
much fearing that _Babel_ would down, if Queen _Anne_ might be heard
against wicked _Haman_, sought to underprop the foundations thereof with
certain devices of their own: and that the same might pass without note
of suspicion, they laid their forgery even upon Heaven it self; whose
pretended oracle _Elizabeth Barton_ (commonly called the holy Maid of
_Kent_) was made to be; and the pillars of this godless Fabrick were
_Edward Bocking_ a Monk by profession, and Doctor of Divinity, _Richard
Masters_ Parson of _Aldington_, the Town wherein she dwelt; _Richard
Deering_ a Monk, _Hugh Rich_ a Friar, _John Adestone_ and _Thomas Abell_
Priests, put to their helping hands; and _Henry Gould_ Batchelor of
Divinity, with _John Fisher_ the reverend Father of _Rochester_ imployed
their pains to dawb these downfalling walls with their untempered
morter. The Scribes that set their pens for her miracles, were _Edward
Thwaites_ Gentleman, and _Thomas Lawrence_ Register, besides _Haukherst_
a Monk, who writ a letter that was forged to be sent her from Heaven;
And _Richard Risby_ and _Thomas Gould_ were the men that dispersed her
miracles abroad to the world. This holy Maid _Elizabeth_ made a Votaress
in _Canterbury_, was taught by _Bocking_ her Ghostly Father, and
suspected Paramour, to counterfeit many feigned trances, and in the same
to utter many virtuous words for the rebuke of sin, under which more
freely she was heard against _Luthers_ doctrine, and the Scriptures
translation, then desired of many: neither so only, but that she gave
forth from God and his Saints by sundry suggestive Revelations, that if
the King proceeded in his Divorce, and second Marriage, he should not
raign in his Realm one month after, nor rest in Gods favour the space of
an hour. But the truth discovered by Gods true Ministers, this oracle
gave place as all other such did, when Christ by his death stopped their
lying mouths: For her self and seven of her disciples were executed for
Treason at _Tiburn_, and the other six put to their fines and
imprisonment.” To which he subjoineth this story of the like nature.
“With the like counterfeit Revelations and feigned predictions this
generation of hypocrites had brought _Edward_ Lord _Stafford_ Duke of
_Buckingham_, unto his unhappy end, by the working of _John de la Court_
his own Confessor, together with _Nicholas Hopkins_ a Monk of the
Carthusian Order in the Priory of _Henton_ in _Somersetshire_, who by
his visions from Heaven forsooth, heartned him for the Crown; But before
his own Coronet could aspire to that top, he worthily lost both head and
all upon _Tower-hill_ for his Treason, _Anno Domini_ 1521. Unto such
sins the world was then subject, and into such conceits their reputed
holiness had brought them, not only among the simple and unlettered, but
even with them that seemed to be learned indeed: For by certain
predictions foreshewing a great deluge, Prior _Bolton_ of S.
_Bartholomews_ in _London_, was so fearful that he built himself a house
upon the height of _Harrowhill_, storing it with provisions necessary to
keep himself from drowning in _Anno Dom._ 1524.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 2._]
[Sidenote: Stow’s _Chron._ _p._ 678.]
2. And that we may be certified how frequent and common these
counterfeited Impostures have been, and yet are practised, take this
other from undoubted authority. “The 15 of _August_ being Sunday in the
16 of the raign of Queen _Elizabeth_, _Agnes Bridges_ a Maid about the
age of 20 years, and _Rachel Pinder_ a Wench about the age of 11 or 12
years, who both of them had counterfeited to be possessed by the Devil
(whereby they had not only marvellously deluded many people both Men and
Women, but also diverse such persons, as otherwise seemed of good wit
and understanding) stood before the Preacher at _Pauls-cross_; where
they acknowledged their hypocritical counterfeiting with penitent
behaviours, requiring forgiveness of God and the world, and the people
to pray for them. Also their several examinations and Confessions were
there openly read by the Preacher, and afterwards published in print,
for posterity hereafter to beware of the like deceivers.” From whence we
may take these two Observations.
[Sidenote: _Observ. 1._]
1. We may from hence note, how subject the nature of man is both to
deceive and to be deceived, and that not only the common people, but
also the wiser and more learned heads may most easily be imposed upon.
And, that therefore in things of this nature, and the like, we cannot
use too much circumspection, nor use too much diligence to discover
them.
[Sidenote: _Observ. 2._]
2. We may note, that when such strange Impostures or false Miracles are
pretended, there is commonly some sinister and corrupt end aimed at,
under the colour of Religion, and that those that are most ready to
publish such things as true Miracles and Divine Revelations, are
generally those that did complot and devise them. And therefore the
greater number they be that cry them up, and the more esteem the persons
are of that blow abroad such things, the greater suspicion we ought to
have of the falsity and forgery of them. Always remembring that the
greater the fame and number of the persons are that conspire and
confederate together, the greater things they may bring to pass, and be
more able to deceive, as was manifest by the Priests attending the
Oracles; who, though they laboured to father their predictions upon some
Deity, yet it was manifest that it was nothing else, but their own
Confederacy, Impostures and Juglings.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 3._]
[Sidenote: _Vid._ A Book called, _A discovery of fraudulent practices
concerning pretended possessions_.]
[Sidenote: _Vid. ibid. Dialog._ 11. _p._ 352.]
3. But these Diabolical Counterfeitings of possessions, and the
maintaining of the power of dispossession and casting forth of Devils,
was not only upheld and maintained by the Papists to advance their
superstitious courses; but also in the said time of Queen _Elizabeth_,
there were divers Non-Conformists, to gain credit and repute to their
way, that did by publick writing labour to prove the continuation of
real possessions by Devils, and that they had power by fasting and
Prayer to cast them out. Of which number were one M^r _Darrell_ and his
Accomplices, who not only writ divers Pamphlets in the positive defence
of that opinion, but also published certain Narrations of several
persons, that they pretended were really possessed with Devils, which
were cast forth by their means in using Fasting and Prayer. Which
writings were answered by M^r _Harsnet_ and others, and their Theory not
only overthrown, but their practice discovered to be counterfeiting and
Imposture. Whereupon there were divers persons suborned to feign and
counterfeit possessions, as _William Sommers_ of _Nottingham_, who by
the Exorcists was reported to have strange fits, passions and actions;
which are at large described and set forth in that learned Treatise,
_Dialogical Discourses of Spirits and Devils_, written about the same
time by _John Deacon_ and _John Waller_, Ministers, and of divers other
persons who likewise pretended the same counterfeit possessions. And
though the said forged and feigned possessions were strongly maintained
by their Abettors, and the matters of fact audaciously asserted to be
true; yet after the said _Darrell_ and his Accomplices were examined by
the Queens Commissioners, all was made apparent to be notorious
counterfeiting, cheating and imposture, both by the confession of
_Sommers_ himself, and by the Oaths of several Deponents. Neither was
that discourse containing the certain possession of seven persons in one
Family in _Lancashire_, at _Cheworth_ in the Parish of _Leigh_, in the
Year 1594. (though believed by many for a truth, because of the streight
tale told by the said _Darrell_ in that Narrative) of any better grain,
but full of untruths, impossibilities, absurdities and contradictions.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 4._]
[Sidenote: _Vid._ The cunning of the Boy of _Bilson_, _p._ 55.]
4. Our next instance shall be a most strange imposture acted in the time
of King _James_, and in a manner known unto the whole Nation; that is of
the Boy of _Bilson_ in _Staffordshire_, in the year 1620. by name
_William Perry_, whose condition as he had been taught, and so left by
the Popish Priests, take as followeth. “This Boy being about thirteen
years old (but for wit and subtilty far exceeding his age) was thought
by divers to be possessed of the Devil, and bewitched, by reason of many
strange fits and much distemper, wherewith he seemed to have been
extreamly affected. In those fits he appeared both deaf and blind,
writhing his mouth aside, continually groaning and panting, and
(although often pinched with mens fingers, pricked with Needles, tickled
on his sides, and once whipped with a Rod, besides other the like
extremities) yet could he not be discerned by either shrieking or
shrinking to bewray the least passion or feeling. Out of his fits he
took (as might be thought) no sustenance which he could digest, but
together with it, did void and cast out of his mouth, rags, thred,
straw, crooked pins, _&c._ Both in and out of his fits his belly (by
wilful and continual abstinence defrauding his own Guts) was almost as
flat as his back, besides, his throat was swoln and hard, his tongue
stiff and rolled up towards the roof of his mouth, insomuch that he
seemed always dumb, save that he would speak once in a Fortnight or
three Weeks, and that but in very few words.
“Two things there were which gave most just cause of presumption that he
was possessed and bewitched; one was that he could still discern when
that Woman (which was supposed to have bewitched him) to wit _Jone
Cocke_ was brought in to any room where he was, although she were
secretly conveyed thither, as was one time tryed before the Grand Jury
at _Stafford_: The second, that though he would abide other passages of
Scripture, yet he could not indure the repeating of that Text, _viz._
_In the beginning was the word, &c._ _Jo._ 1. _ver._ 1. but instantly
rolling his eyes and shaking his head, as one distracted, he would fall
into his usual fits of groaning, panting, distraction, _&c._ In which
plight he continued many months, to the great wonder and astonishment of
thousands, who from divers parts came to see him.” Thus much of his
cunning.
Yet notwithstanding, this most devillish and cunningly contrived
counterfeiting and dissimulation was discovered and fully detected by
the sagacity of that pious and learned person, D^r _Thomas Morton_ then
Bishop of _Coventry_ and _Lichfield_: To whose memory I cannot but owe
and make manifest all due respect, because he was well known unto me,
and by the imposition of whose hands I was ordained Presbyter when he
was Bishop of _Durham_, and also knew his then Secretary, M^r _Richard
Baddeley_, who was the Notary, and writ the examination of this crafty
Boy. The manner how such a doubtful and intricate piece of Imposture was
found out and discovered, you may read at large in the Treatise called
_a Discourse concerning Popish Exorcising_. And his publick Confession
we shall give in the Authors own words: “He was finally brought again to
the Summer Assizes held at _Stafford_, the 26. of _July_, _Anno_ 1621.
where before Sir _Peter Warburton_ and Sir _Humfrey Winch_ Knights, his
Majesties Justices of Assize, and the face of the County and Country
there assembled, the Boy craved pardon first of Almighty God, then
desired the Woman there also present to forgive him; and lastly,
requested the whole Country whom he had so notoriously and wickedly
scandalized, to admit of that his so hearty Confession for their
satisfaction.
“And thus it pleased God (he saith) to open the eyes of this Boy (that I
may so say) _luto_ with the Clay of the Romish Priests lewd Impostures,
and _sputo_ with the spittle of his own infamy, to see his errors and to
glorifie the God of truth. And though many such Impostures as this have
in several ages been hudled up in darkness and recorded for true
stories, by those that were Partisans to them and Confederates with
them, yet doubtless were but of the same stamp with this, and might all
as well have been discovered, if the like care, skill and industry had
been used.
[Sidenote: _Hist. 5._]
[Sidenote: _Vid._ The arraignment and tryal of Witches at _Lancaster_,
1612.]
5. No less villanous, bloody and Diabolical, was the design of _Thompson
alias Southworth_, Priest or Jesuit, against _Jennet Bierley_, _Jane
Southworth_, and _Ellen Bierly_ of _Samesbury_ in the County of
_Lancaster_, in the year 1612. the sum of which is this. “The said
_Jennet Bierley_, _Ellen Bierley_, and _Jane Southworth_, were Indicted
at the Assizes holden at _Lancaster_ upon _Wednesday_ the nineteenth of
_August_, in the year abovesaid, for that they and every of them had
practised, exercised, and used divers devillish and wicked Arts, called
Witchcrafts, Inchantments, Charms and Sorceries, in and upon one _Grace
Sowerbutts_. And the chief witness to prove this was _Grace Sowerbutts_
her self, who said that they did draw her by the hair of the head, and
take her sense and memory from her, did throw her upon the Hen-roost and
Hay-mow; did appear to her sometimes in their own likeness, sometimes
like a black Dog with two feet, that they carried her where they met
black things like men that danced with them, and did abuse their bodies;
and that they brought her to one _Thomas Walsham_’s House in the night,
and there they killed his Child by putting a nail into the Navil, and
after took it forth of the Grave, and did boil it, and eat some of it,
and made Oyl of the bones, and such like horrid lies.” But there
appearing sufficient grounds of suspicion that it was practised knavery,
the said _Grace Sowerbutts_ was by the wisdom, and care of Sir _Edward
Bromley_ Knight, one of his Majesties Justices of Assize at _Lancaster_,
appointed to be examined by _William Leigh_ and _Edward Chisnal_
Esquires, two of his Majesties Justices of peace in the same County, and
so thereupon made this free confession. Being demanded “whether the
accusation she laid upon her Grandmother, _Jennet Bierley_, _Ellen
Bierley_ and _Jane Southworth_, of Witchcraft, _viz._ of the killing of
the child of _Thomas Walshman_, with a nail in the Navil, the boyling,
eating and oyling, thereby to transform themselves into divers shapes,
was true? She doth utterly deny the same, or that ever she saw any such
practises done by them. She further saith, that one Mr. _Thompson_,
which she taketh to be Mr. _Christopher Southworth_, to whom she was
sent to say her prayers, did perswade, counsel and advise her, to deal
as formerly hath been said against her said Grandmother, Aunt and
_Southworths_ Wife.
“And further she confesseth, and saith, that she never did know, or saw
any Devils, nor any other visions, as formerly hath been alledged and
informed.
“Also she confesseth, and saith, that she was not thrown, or cast upon
the Hen-roust, and Hay-mow in the Barn, but that she went up upon the
Mow by the wall side. Being further demanded whether she ever was at the
Church, she saith, she was not, but promised hereafter to go to Church,
and that very willingly; of which the author of the relation gives this
judgment.
“How well (he saith) this project, to take away the lives of three
innocent poor creatures by practice and villany, to induce a young
Scholar to commit perjury, to accuse her own Grandmother, Aunt, _&c._
agrees either with the title of a Jesuit, or the duty of a religious
Priest who should rather profess sincerity and innocency, than practise
treachery! But this was lawful, for they are Hereticks accursed, to
leave the company of Priests, to frequent Churches, hear the word of God
preached, and profess religion sincerely.”
[Sidenote: _Hist. 6._]
6. But we shall shut up the relating of these prodigious and hellish
stories, of these kind of couzening and cheating delusions and
impostures, with one instance more that is no less notorious than these
that we have rehearsed. About the year 1634 (for having lost our notes
of the same, we cannot be so exact as we should) there was a great
pretended meeting of many supposed Witches at a new house or barn, in
_Pendle_ Forest in _Lancashire_, then not inhabited, where (as the
accusation pretended) some of them by pulling by a rope of Straw or Hay,
did bring Milk, Butter, Cheese, and the like, and were carried away upon
Dogs, Cats or Squirrels. The informer was one _Edmund Robinson_ (yet
living at the writing hereof, and commonly known by the name of _Ned_ of
_Roughs_) whose Father was by trade a Waller, and but a poor Man, and
they finding that they were believed and had incouragement by the
adjoyning Magistrates, and the persons being committed to prison or
bound over to the next Assizes, the boy, his Father and some others
besides did make a practice to go from Church to Church that the Boy
might reveal and discover Witches, pretending that there was a great
number at the pretended meeting, whose faces he could know; and by that
means they got a good living, that in a short space the Father bought a
Cow or two, when he had none before. And it came to pass that this said
Boy was brought into the Church of _Kildwick_ a large parish Church,
where I (being then Curate there) was preaching in the afternoon, and
was set upon a stall (he being but about ten or eleven years old) to
look about him, which moved some little disturbance in the Congregation
for a while. And after prayers I inquiring what the matter was, the
people told me that it was the Boy that discovered Witches, upon which I
went to the house where he was to stay all night, where I found him, and
two very unlikely persons that did conduct him, and manage the business;
I desired to have some discourse with the Boy in private, but that they
utterly refused; then in the presence of a great many people, I took the
Boy near me, and said: Good Boy tell me truly, and in earnest, did thou
see and hear such strange things of the meeting of Witches; as is
reported by many that thou dost relate, or did not some person teach
thee to say such things of thy self? But the two men not giving the Boy
leave to answer, did pluck him from me, and said he had been examined by
two able Justices of the Peace, and they did never ask him such a
question, to whom I replied, the persons accused had therefore the more
wrong. But the Assizes following at _Lancaster_ there were seventeen
found guilty by the Jury, yet by the prudent discretion of the Judge,
who was not satisfied with the evidence, they were reprieved, and his
Majesty and his Council being informed by the Judge of the matter, the
Bishop of _Chester_ was appointed to examine them, and to certifie what
he thought of them, which he did; and thereupon four of them; to wit
_Margaret Johnson_, _Francis Dicconson_, _Mary Spenser_, and
_Hargrieves_ Wife, were sent for up to _London_, and were viewed and
examined by his Majesties Physicians and Chirurgeons, and after by his
Majesty and the Council, and no cause of guilt appearing but great
presumptions of the boys being suborned to accuse them falsely.
Therefore it was resolved to separate the Boy from his Father, they
having both followed the women up to _London_, they were both taken and
put into several prisons asunder. Whereupon shortly after the Boy
confessed that he was taught and suborned to devise, and feign those
things against them, and had persevered in that wickedness by the
counsel of his Father, and some others, whom envy, revenge and hope of
gain had prompted on to that devillish design and villany; and he also
confessed, that upon that day when he said that they met at the
aforesaid house or barn, he was that very day a mile off, getting Plums
in his Neighbours Orchard. And that this is a most certain truth, there
are many persons yet living, of sufficient reputation and integrity,
that can avouch and testifie the same; and besides, what I write is the
most of it true, upon my own knowledge, and the whole I have had from
his own mouth more than once.
Thus having brought these unquestionable Histories to manifest the
horrid cheats and impostures that are practised for base, wicked and
devillish ends, we must conclude in opposing that objection proposed in
the beginning of this Chapter, which is this: That though some be
discovered to be counterfeitings and impostures, yet all are not so, to
which we further answer.
[Sidenote: _Reas. 1._]
1. That all those things that are now adayes supposed to be done by
Demoniacks or those that pretend possessions, as also all those strange
feats pretended to be brought to pass by Witches or Witchcraft, are all
either performed by meer natural causes (for it is granted upon all
sides that Devils in corporeal matter can perform nothing but by
applying fit actives to agreeable passives.) And miracles being long
since ceased, it must needs follow, that Devils do nothing but only draw
the minds of Men and Women unto sin and wickedness, and thereby they
become deceivers, cheats and notorious impostours: so that we may
rationally conclude that all other strange feats and delusions, must of
necessity be no better, or of any other kind, than these we have
recited, except they can shew that they are brought to pass by natural
means. Must not all persons that are of sound understanding judge and
believe that all those strange tricks related by Mr. _Glanvil_ of his
Drummer at Mr. _Mompessons_ house, whom he calls the Demon of
_Tedworth_, were abominable cheats and impostures (as I am informed from
persons of good quality they were discovered to be) for I am sure Mr.
_Glanvil_ can shew no agents in nature, that the Demon applying them to
fit patients, could produce any such effects by, and therefore we must
conclude all such to be impostures.
[Sidenote: _Reas. 2._]
2. It is no sound way of reasoning, from the principles of knowing,
either thereby to prove the existence of things, or the modes of such
existence, because the principle of being is the cause of the principle
of knowing, and not on the contrary, and therefore our not discovering
of all Impostures that are or have been acted, doth not at all conclude
the rest that pass undiscovered, are diabolical or wrought by a
supernatural power; for it ought first to be demonstrated that there are
now in these days some things wrought by the power of Devils, that are
supernatural, in elementary and corporeal matter, which never was nor
can be, as from the testimonies of all the learned we have shewed
before. And therefore a man might as well argue that there are no more
thieves in a Nation, but those that are known, and brought to condign
punishment, when there may be, and doubtless are many more; so likewise
there are many hundreds of impostures, that pass and are never
discovered, but that will not at all rationally conclude that those must
be diabolical that are not made known.