Part 39

_That the ignorance of the power of Art and Nature and such like things, hath much advanced these foolish and impious opinions._

The opinions that we reject as foolish and impious are those we have often named before, to wit, that those that are vulgarly accounted Witches, make a visible and corporeal contract with the Devil, that he sucks upon their bodies, that he hath carnal copulation with them, that they are transubstantiated into Cats, Dogs, Squirrels, and the like, or that they raise tempests, and fly in the air. Other powers we grant unto them, to operate and effect whatsoever the force of natural imagination joyned with envy, malice and vehement desire of revenge, can perform or perpetrate, or whatsoever hurt may be done by secret poysons and such like wayes that work by meer natural means.

And here we are to shew the chief causes that do and have advanced these opinions, and this principally we ascribe to mens ignorance of the power of Nature and Art, as we shall manifest in these following particulars.

1. There is nothing more certain than, that how great soever the knowledge of Men be taken to be, yet the ultimate Sphere of natures activity or ability is not perfectly known, which is made most manifest in this, that every day there are made new discoveries of her secrets, which prove plainly that her store is not yet totally exhausted, nor her utmost efficiency known. And therefore those Men must needs be precipicious, and build upon a sandy foundation, that will ascribe corporeal effects unto Devils, and yet know not the extent of nature, for no Man can rationally assign a beginning for supernatural agents and actions, that does not certainly know where the power and operation of nature ends.

2. And as it is thus in general, so in many particulars, as especially in being ignorant of many natural agents that do work at a great distance, and very occultly, both to help, and to hurt, as in the weapon salve, the Sympathetick powder, the curing of diseases by mumial applications, by Amulets, Appensions and Transplantions, which all have been, and commonly are ascribed unto Satan, when they are truly wrought by natural operations. And so (as we have sufficiently manifested before) by many strange, and secret poysons both natural and artificial, that have no bewitching power in them at all, but work naturally, and only may be hurtful in their use through the devilishness of some persons that use them to diverse evil ends.

3. There is nothing that doth more clearly manifest our scanted knowledge in the secret operations of nature, and the effects that she produceth, than the late discoveries of the workings of nature, both in the vegetable, animal and mineral Kingdoms, brought dayly to light by the pains and labours of industrious persons: As is most evident in those many elucubrations, and continued discoveries of those learned and indefatigable persons that are of the Royal Society, which do plainly evince that hitherto we have been ignorant of almost all the true causes of things, and therefore through blindness have usually attributed those things to the operation of Cacodemons that were truely wrought by nature, and thereby not smally augmented and advanced this gross and absurd opinion of the power of Witches.

[Sidenote: _De occult. Philos._ _l._ 1. _c._ 2.]

4. Another great means in advancing these Tenents hath been Mens supine negligence in not searching into and experimenting the power of natural agents, but resting satisfied in the sleepy notions of general rules, and speculative Philosophy. By which means a prejudice hath been raised against the most occult operations of nature, and natural magick (which is (as _Agrippa_ truly said) “The comprizer of great power, full of most high mysteries, and containeth the most profound contemplation, nature, power, quality, substance and virtue of most secret things, and the knowledge of all nature) to be condemned, as the work of the Devil and hellish fiends, which is the handmaid and instrument of the Almighty.” And from this diabolical pit of the ignorance of the power of nature (especially when assisted by art) have sprung up those black and horrid lies in the mouths of _Erastus_, _Conringius_ and above all of _Kircherus_, denying the possibility of the transmutation of metals, by the power of Art and Nature, and ascribing the performance thereof by _Paracelsus_, _Lullius_, _Sendinogius_ and others to the Devil; so malevolent do men grow when they are led by nescience and ignorance.

[Sidenote: _Vid. Theatr. Chym._ _Vol._ 5. _p._ 943.]

5. The ignorance of the strange and wonderful things that Art can bring to pass hath been no less a cause, why the most admirable things that Art bringeth to pass by it are through blind ignorance ascribed unto Devils, for so have many brave learned Artists, and Mechanicians been accused for Conjurers, as happened to _Roger Bacon_, Dr. _Dee_, _Trithemius_, _Cornelius Agrippa_, and many others, when what they performed was by lawful and laudable art. The strange things that the Mathematicks and Mechanicks can perform are hardly to be enumerated, of which were those most wonderful catoptrical glasses mentioned by _Nicero_, _Aquilonius_, _Baptista Porta_ and many others, those wonderful engines in the shape of Birds, Men, Beasts, and Fishes that do move, sing, hiss and many such like things mentioned by _Heron_ of _Alexandria_, and our Countryman Dr. _Fludd_; and those that would have more ample satisfaction concerning the stupendious things that are produced by art, may receive most large satisfaction in reading that most learned and elaborate Epistle written as a preface before the Book of _Johannes Ernestus Burgravius_ called _Biolychnium vel de lampade vitæ et mortis_, by _Marcellus Vranckheim_ Doctor of both laws, as also in reading that profound and mysterious piece written by _Roger Bacon_, _de admirabili potestate artis et naturæ, et de nullitate magiæ_, with the learned notes of Dr. _Dee_ upon it, of which he saith this: _Ut videatur quod omnis potestas magica sit inferior his operibus et indigna_. And therefore there can be nothing more unworthy, than for any man, that pretendeth to any portion of reason, so far to dote, or suffer himself to be led with ignorance and rashness, as to ascribe those strange things that Nature and Art, or both joined together do produce, unto Devils: And yet there is nothing that is more common not only by the blind vulgar, but even by those that otherwise would be accounted learned, and wise enough; pride and folly attendeth the most of the Sons of Men.

[Sidenote: _Hist._]

6. Another gross mistake there is, in supposing those strange things that are performed by vaulters, tumblers, dancers upon ropes, and such like, not possible to be done but by the assistance of the Devil, when they are altogether brought to pass and effected by use, custome, exercise, nimbleness and agility of body. And yet we have known some not only of the popular rank, but many that thought themselves both wise, learned and religious that have been so blind as to father these things upon Devils and seriously to seem to believe, that the actors of these things had made a league and compact with the Devil, by whose help they performed them. And I do remember that a pretty active young man, within these few years went about in this North Countrey with a neat Bay Mare for money to shew tricks, which were very odd and strange, for if she had been blindfolded, and several pieces of money taken from several persons, and wrapped in a cloath, the Mare would have given every one their own piece of money; and this and many other feats she plaid, were not only by the common people, but by others that should have been more wise, judged to be performed by no other means but by the Devil, and some were so stark mad as to believe and affirm that the Mare was not a natural one, but that it was the Devil that plaid those strange tricks in the shape of a Mare: when more sober judgments knew that they were performed by the masters eye, and rod directing the Mare. _Error & credulitas multum in hominibus possunt._

7. In like manner are often both those that are learned, as well as the vulgar most wofully imposed upon by the odd and strange feats performed by Legierdemain, sleight of hand, and by wonderful things brought to pass by subtile and cunning Impostors that act by confederacy, and the like, of which we have given some instances before in this treatise. And it was no evil piece of service, that Master _Scot_ did in his book of the discovery of Witchcraft, when he laid open all the several tricks of Legierdemain and sleight of hand, thereby to undeceive the ignorant multitude; and that is no less praise-worthy that is performed by the Author of that little treatise called _Hocus Pocus junior_, where all the feats are set forth in their proper colours, so that the most ignorant may see how they are done, and that they are miracles unknown, and but bables being discovered, which treatise I could commend to be read of all Witchmongers and vain credulous persons, that thereby their ignorance may be laid open, and they convinced of their errors.

8. The ignorance or mistaking of these things, joyned with the notions Men have imbibed from their infancy, together with irreligious education, are the true and proper causes, that make so many ascribe that power to Devils and Witches, that they neither have, or ever had, or can ever bring into act. And therefore it behoveth all that would judge aright of these abstruse matters, to labour to understand the secret operations of nature, and the strange works of art, to divest themselves of their false imbibed notions, and truely and rightly to understand the Articles of the Christian Faith, to be daily conversant in reading the Scriptures, they will then be more fit to judge of these things, and not to call light darkness, nor darkness light.

CHAP. XIV.

_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.