Page:Saducismus Triumphatus.djvu/295

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

On the Eighth of December, 1657. The Boy, Jane Brooks and Alice Coward, appeared at Castle-Cary before the Justices, Mr. Hunt and Mr. Cary. The Boy having began to give his Testimony, upon the coming in of the two Women and their looking on him was instantly taken Speechless; and so remained till the Women were removed out of the Room, and then in a short time upon Examination he gave a full relation of the mentioned particulars.

On the Eleventh of January following, the Boy was again Examined by the same Justices at Shepton Mallet, and upon the sight of Jane Brooks was again taken Speechless, but was not so afterwards when Alice Coward came into the Room to him.

On the next appearance at Shepton, which was on the Seventeenth of February, there were present many Gentlemen, Ministers and others. The Boy fell into his Fits upon the sight of Jane Brooks, and lay in a Man's Arms like a dead Person; the Woman was then willed to lay her Hand on him, which she did and he thereupon started and sprang out in a very strange and unusual manner. One of the Justices to prevent all possibilities of Legerdemain, caused Gibson and the rest to stand off from the Boy, and then that Justice himself held him; the Youth being blind-folded, the Justice called as if Brooks should touch him, but winked to others to do it, which two or three successively did, but the Boy appeared not concerned. The Justice then called on the Father to take him, but had privately before desired one Mr Geoffery Strode, to bring Jane Brooks to touch him at such a time as he should call for his Father, which was done, and the Boy immediately sprang out after a very odd and violent fashion. He was after touched by several Persons and moved not, but Jane Brooks being again caused to put her Hand upon him, he started and sprang out twice or thrice as before. All this while he remained in his Fit and some time after; and being then laid on a Bed in the same Room, the People present could not for a long time bow either of his Arms or Legs.

Between the mentioned 15. of Nov. and the 11. of Jan. the two Women appeared often to the Boy, their Hands cold, their Eyes staring, and their Lips and Cheeks looking pale. In this manner on a Thursday about Noon, the Boy being newly laid into his Bed, Jane Brooks and Alice Coward appeared to him, and told him that what they had begun they could not perform. But if he would say no more of it, they would give him Money, and so put a Two-pence into his Pocket. After which they took him out of his Bed, laid him on the ground and vanished, and the Boy was found by those that came next into the Room