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 Mr 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 Mr 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.
Hist. 4.
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, Dr 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, Mr 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.
Hist. 5.
Vid. The arraignment and tryal of Witches at Lancaster, 1612.