[13] Certain matters in connection with this case are interesting. George More tells us that Mrs. Starchie was an "inheritrix." Some of her kindred, Papists, prayed for the perishing of her issue. Four of her children pined away. Mrs. Starchie, when told of their prayers, conveyed all her property to her husband. She had two children afterwards, the two that were stricken. It is possible that all this may present some key to the case, but it is hard to see just how. See More, A true Discourse, 11-12.
[14] George More, A true Discourse, 15; Harsnett, Discovery, 22. While Dee took no part in the affair except that he "sharply reproved and straitly examined" Hartley, he lent Mr. Hopwood, the justice of the peace before whom Hartley was brought, his copy of the book of Wierus, then the collections of exorcisms known as the Flagellum Dæmonum and the Fustis Dæmonum, and finally the famous Malleus Maleficarum. See Dee's Private Diary (Camden Soc., London, 1843), entries for March 19, April 15, and August 6, 1597.
[15] George More, A true Discourse, 21; Darrel, A True Narration (Somers Tracts, III), 175.
[16] Harsnett, Discovery, tells us that "certain Seminarie priests" got hold of her and carried her up and down the country and thereby "wonne great credit."
[17] Darrel's account of this affair is in A True Narration (Somers Tracts, III), 179-186. Harsnett takes it up in his Discovery, 78-264.
[18] See deposition of Cooper, in Harsnett, Discovery, 114.
[19] Depositions of Somers and Darrel, ibid., 124-125. It must be recalled that when this was first tried before a commission they were convinced that it was not imposture. A layman cannot refrain from suspecting that Darrel had hypnotic control over Somers.
[20] Ibid., 141-142.
[21] Ibid., 141. Harsnett quotes Darrel for this statement.
[22] Ibid., 5; John Darrel, An Apologie, or defence of the possession of William Sommers ... (1599?), L verso.