ABout some three , or foure yeeres since , there was found in the hands of one Ma. Barnes a Popish Recusant , an English Treatise in a written hand , fronted with this Latine sentence , taken out of the Psalmes , Venite , et narrabo , quanta fecit Dominus animae meae , come and I wil shew you , what great things the Lord hath done for my soule . Which treatise when we had perused vppon this holy inuitation , we found it a holie fardell of holy reliques , holy charmes , and holy consecrated things , applied to the casting out of many thousands of deuils , out of six young persons , 3. young men , and three proper young maides , accomplished by the meanes of Fa: Edmunds , alias Weston , a principall Iesuit of his order in those times , & twelue secular Priests , his reuerend assistants .

The names of the parties supposed to be possessed , were these , Marwood , seruaunt ( as hath beene enformed ) to Ma. Anthony Babington , Will : Trayford , attendant at that time vppon Ma: Edmund Peckham , Robert Maynie Gentleman , lately before come out of Fraunce : Sara Williams , Friswood Williams , two sisters , and Anne Smith , all three meniall seruaunts to Maister Peckham aforesaid . The names of the Actors in this holy Comedie , were these , Edmunds , alias Weston , rector chori , of whom you haue heard afore , Ma: Cornelius , Ma: Dìbdale , Ma: Thomson , Ma: Stemp , Ma: Tyrrell , Ma: Dryland , Ma: Tulice , Ma : Sherwood , Ma: Winkefield , Ma: Mud , Ma: Dakins , Ma: Ballard , and some other besides , that were daily commers , and goers .

This play of sacred miracles , was performed in sundry houses accommodate for the feate , in the house of the L. Vaux at Hackney , of Ma: Barnes at Fulmer , of Ma: Hughes at Vxbridge , of Sir George Peckham at Denham , and of the Earle of Lincolne in Chanon Row in London . The time chosen to act , & publish these wonders , were the yeeres 85 , and 86 , ending with the apprehension , and execution of Ballard , and Babington , and the rest of that impious consort .

And because the gentle Invitator of vs to come , and see his wonders , when wee come to see them , himselfe , and his actors doe play least to be seene , it hath beene thought meet , to send for him , and as many of his play-fellowes , as Tiburne will giue leaue to come , to conferre further with them , touching this mysticall play ; whether the partes haue beene handled handsomlie , and cunningly , or no : what the scope of the Author Edmunds , and his associates was in this wonderful pageant , and whether good decorum haue beene kept in acting the same . Wherein ( I must tell you ) some paines haue beene taken by some in authoritie , for the finding out of such agents , patients , and assistants , as haue furnished the stage , and in bringing them to say their parts so perspicuously on the stage , as that euery young child may see , who hee is , what hee meanes , and whether his part tends .

Marwood , and Trayford , cannot yet be found , it is thought they are conueyed beyond seas , ( as some other of theyr play-fellowes should haue beene ) for telling of tales . The other foure possessed haue come to light , and vppon gentle conference , haue frankly , and freely advowed , and haue sealed it with their voluntary oathes , taken vppon the holy Euangelists , that all in effect , that passed between them , & the Priestes , in this wonderous possession , and dispossession , was naught else saue close packing , cunning iugling , feate falshood , and cloked dissimulation . One of the reuerend Priests , who was himselfe a principall actor in this holy legerdemaine , being examined , hath contested with the confession of the other examinats , touching the vnfolding of this sacred packe . All whose seuerall examinations , confessions , and relations , touching the beginning , proceeding , and finishing of this tragicall comaedie , wee haue thought meete ad verbum to publish in print , that all men may see wee haue dealt truly , and sincerely heerein , and that all may likewise see , quanta fecit Dominus , ( according to the saying of that Latine sentence praefixed to the discourse ) how great things the Lord in his mercie dooth by course of times reueale , of that man of sinne , of the mysterie of iniquitie , and of those reuerend iugling Priests , his disguised comaedians .

Wherein , that euery person may appeare in his owne proper colours , the deuill in his , and the deuils charmers in theyrs , that euery part may be considered , how well it hath been plaied , and what actor hath best deserued the plaudite , or suspendite , for his good action , and wit , venite , et narrabo , come and see it set out , in the sacred robes out of the holy wardrop from Rome , their holy attire , theyr holy reliques , their consecrated creatures , theyr own speech , action , & fashion , & thus it begins .

THe Politikes maxime of vsing , and plying of time , hath beene so well practised , & plyed by his Holines of Rome , and his holy crue , as that little time hath been lost , wherein something hath not beene attempted against her Maiestie , and the kingdome , since her first comming to the crowne , to this present time . I will onely point , at those former times , as I come along to our time of this tragedie of deuils .

Her Highnesse was no sooner come to the Crowne , but Marie then wife to the K. of Fraunce , was declared in Paris to be the lawfull Q. of England , and the armes of both her Maiesties kingdoms , ann. 1558. England , & Ireland , were commaunded to be set , in vasis , et tapetibus regijs , et reliquis vtensilibus . The popish Bishops , lately before depriued in the second yeere of her Maiesties raigne , purposed to lose no time , when presently after their said deposition : 1559. plerique eorum excommunicationis censuram , aduersus reginam aliosque nonullos ad hibendam censuerunt . It was no long time after this , when it should haue been a Canon set down , in the Counsell of Trent , by the instigation of his Holines Agents there present : de Elizabetha haeretica declaranda , 1562. if the Emperor had not interposed to stay that course . It was time well plyed , when the same his Holines contriuing her Maiesties vtter destruction , 1567. ( as appeares in the life of Pius 5. published in Italian ) and drawing the king of Spaine into the same , hee sent ouer one Robert Godolphi a Florentine , vnder the colour of Merchandise , hether into England , to excite a rebellion , & furnished him with 15000. Crownes towards the same : by whose cunning perswasion , the Noble men in the North parts beeing risen in Armes , forth commeth the Popes Bull , blanched with a fayre goodly face of pastorall zeale , and loue to the Catholique religion , excommunicating of pure deuotion ( God wot ) the Queenes Maiestie , and discharging her subiects from their allegeance vnto her : beeing indeede naught els , saue a deuilish Engine , to strengthen the rebellion : 1569. which beeing dissolued , and the heads thereof dispersed , the time was plied on still with consolatorie Letters , written from the Pope , containing matter of new comfort , and encouragement to the Duke of Norfolke , the close designed head of that rebellion , by his intended mariage with the Scottish Queene . Forces were promised to be sent ouer with all speede from beyond seas , to the ayde of the saide Duke , vnder the leading of Vitelli , appointed to that office by name from the king of Spaine , the comming of which forces , 1572. the Duke him selfe did stay , by losing his head . And least the King of Spaine should quaile in his princely designements against this kingdome , in regard of his infortunate successe , Saunders , ( the Popes darling ) eggs him on with a fresh assault , to keepe the Spanish Engines in worke , alledging this , 1577. as his maine battery to cause the King to be dooing , that the whole state of Christendome stoode vpon the hote assayling of England .

Neither was it long time ere this vigilant champion had gained time againe , by obtaining of his Holinesse , men , mony , and munition , with which hee came with open armes into Ireland , like a Furie from Hell : and in his vaine hopes had deuoured that kingdome , for the vse of his holy Father the Pope forsooth , and for his young Maister the Popes Nephew . Where he breathing out his furious Ghost , 1579. as a pledge of his wicked attempt , Parsons the Popes Minion entertaines the time , with a new coyned plot , comming into England vpon no meaner errand , then to continue the deposing of her Maiestie , and the setting vp of another Prince . 1580.

The wise espying , and circumspect implying of the aduantage of these times : you see from what heads and fountaines of holinesse they came , yet none of these is the time , that doth consort with our casting out of deuils , we haue now in hand . Ours is the time , when his Holi : the King of Spaine , and Parsons theyr Entelechie , were plotting beyond the seas , for the deliuery out of prison of the Q. of Scots , by forcible attempt . Which action , after mature deliberation beeing cast vpon the Duke of Guise , he the said Duke , was then busily preparing his forces for England , for the suddaine effecting of the said attempt .

I omit how Charles Paget played his time , in comming secretly into England , to sollicite the Earle of Northumberland to diuers trecherous attempts . How Frauncis Throgmorton plyed his time at the instigation of Mendoza , in busily sounding of Hauens , for the safe arriuall of the Guisian forces . How Doctor Parry plyed his time , in enforming his conscience , for the suddaine , and desperate murthering of the Queene : ( for there was no time spared , no meanes vnassaied , no deuise vnthought vpon , no person vnattempted , euery one of that holy hellish association , striuing to win the garland from other , by hauing his hands soonest , and deepest dyed in her Maiesties blood ) and I come to the time when the Guisian exploit , grewe towards the prime , and was on foote for England .

Which stratageme , beeing inspired by the Pope into Parsons , by Parsons into Edmunds , alias Weston , a Prouinciall of the order of Iesuits for that time , residing heere in England : betweene Parsons , and whom , as betweene two Intelligences , in a superior , and an inferior sphaere , there was a mutuall communication of all matters of import , and by the same Edmunds beeing breathed into the breastes of all theyr subordinates , and dependants heere in the Land , it cannot be conceiued , what a spirit , life , and alacritie , the whole Popish bodie of Traytors ( halfe dead before ) did suddainly conceiue , how euery limb , member , and ioynt of that holy bodie did bestir it selfe , to be seruiceable to this holie designe . But Fa: Weston aboue all , whose head and hart , were so bigge with the Guisian attempt , as hee thought his time come , to aduaunce the banner of Ignatius for euer heere in England , by making himselfe , & his order famous by some notable exploit : and it beeing Gods permissiue prouidence , that this popish body , compiled of so many horrible & detestable treasons , should be wholy inspired from the spirit of his Holi : & of hell , Weston , as a limb of the same body , mooued with the same spirit , chooses to eternize himselfe from the power of hell , by casting out deuils . Wherein hee bestirs himselfe so spritely , and playes such a deuill-prize at the L. Vaux his house in Hackney , with such a wonderfull applause , as Array , Parsons Ape , a runnagate Priest , and a notable Polypragmon heere in our state , meetes with Ma: Tyrrell newly come from beyond seas , and vaunts with a bigge looke , that Fa: Weston had shewed such soueraigne authority ouer hell , as the deuils themselues should confesse theyr kingdom was neere at an end . And the same Array , was so full fraught with hope , and confidence , in the Spanish , and Guisian attempt then in hand , as his first congee was in Maister Tirrels eare at theyr entring into Paules , bidding him to be of good cheere , for that all things now went very well forwards . A loyall generation of Priestes . The King of Spaine ( quoth he ) is now almost in readinesse with his forces for England , it standeth vs now in hand that be Priests , to further the Catholique cause , as much as possibly in vs lyeth .

Paget , and Morgan , two principall limbs of this popish body , being acquainted with the aforesaid plot , & fearing that the Guises attempt , by deliuering the Scottish Queene by open Armes , would sparkle abroad before it were ripe , and so receiue a check by our English forces , before it came to the push , cast about in theyr braines for a shorter way at home : Ballard the bloodie Priest is dealt withall to pricke on Babington , Tilney , As is lately confessed by Fa: P. in his Apolog. and the rest of that aspiring popish band to attempt a desperate truculent act , by laying violent handes vppon her Maiesties sacred person . Which whilst it was in hammering , the Catholique Priests , not caring by what meanes they effected theyr trecherous designes , set themselues on worke on all hands , with working of wonders by dispossessing of deuils : vnto the acting of whose miracles , Babington and his consorts , doe diuers times repaire to Sir George Peckhams house at Denham , with foure or fiue Coaches full at once . And this new tragedie of deuils had his time of rising , and his fatall time of fall , with the true tragedie performed vpon Bab : and his complices , for theyr detestable treason . The pestilent drift , & pernicious course of this deuill-worke you shall heare of heereafter .

IT hath been alwaies the ill fortune of this holy order of Exorcists , that the professors of it haue been reputed errand Iuglers and Impostors , yea sometimes , by the greatest protectors of theyr owne religion . A great man told Mengus , that if there were fiftie Exorcists at once standing before him , hee should deeme nine and fortie of them for no better then Impostors , and Mengus ( as seemes ) was afraid himselfe should haue made vp iust tale . Wherefore the Maisters of the Art , haue so warily deuised theyr rules , and canons , as a man may see they labour to preoccupate mens minds for feare of suspition , which giues the greater occasion to suspect them the more .

Mengus his caueat of declaring places not meete for exorcisme is this : Praecauere debet Exorcista quantum potest , Cap. 15. flag : daemon . ne absque graui necessitate exerceat hoc officium adiurandi daemones in domibus priuatis , ne detur occasio scandali pusillis . His positiue rule for the place appointed is , Sed debet exorcizare in Ecclesia , vel in alio loco Deo dicato vel alicui sancto . His reasons against priuate houses , and for Churches , or at least consecrated places are first , that beeing doone publiquely , the weaker sort may haue no occasion to suspect the action of fraude . 2. Tum quia in domibus priuatis , vt in pluribus , ad sunt mulieres , quarum consortium debet summopere ab exorcistis vitari , ne incidant in laqueum diaboli : that is , because in priuate houses , there are commonly some women , whose company the Exorcists ought to decline , least happilie they fall into the snares of the deuill . 3. Tum quia ibifiunt multa turpia , tacenda potius , quam hîc inserenda : that is , because in such houses , turpitudes be committed , meeter to be silenced , then heere to be named . 4. Tum quia Ecclesia propriè est locus deputatus vbi Euergumeni debent exorcizari : that is , because the Church is properly the place appointed to that action , wherein the possessed ought to be exorcised . And what need these cautious rules , to auoyde suspition of iugling , turpitude , and women , if nothing were amisse ? Auricular confession , is an holie action of more priuacie , solitude , & familiarity with women , yet because no man ( without reason ) may suspect , but that all is wel between a ghostly father , and his ghostly child , there be no rules made of iugling , turpitude , or women in that mysticall function . Sure all is not well in this exorcising craft , that iugling , turpitude , and women , must be so precisely auoided .

Indeed wheras in his 17. chapter fa: Mengus disputes , that though exorcising ought to be done in the church , yet the doores of the Church may be close shut about them : his fatherhood giues vs iust cause to suspect , that though he would seeme to haue it publique , touching the place , for a seeming shew of auoyding iugling , turpitude , and women , yet he can be content by shutting the doores , to haue it priuately done : or such onely let in , as the Exorcist best liketh .

See the practise heereof in the iugling Exorcists at Paris , anno 1599 , who to make a shew of auoyding of that , which they onely intended , iugling deceit , Page . 6. of that booke . they must haue theyr Minion Martha Brossier exorcised in a Chappell forsooth : but yet with such a warie eye cast vpon the spectators , as there comming in amongst the rest one Marescot a Physician , a man they did not affect , Seraphin the holy Exorcist cries out with a loude voice , if there be any heere that is incredulous , & will trouble Martha Brossier , the deuill will carry him away in the ayre . Wherefore yee see it was very wisely prouided of Mengus , to haue an eye to the doore : the like ill-fauoured accident fell out amongst our holy crew , at theyr principall Theatre , Sir George Peckhams house at Denham , where for want of hauing a watch at the doore , there comes in one Ma : Hambden of Hambden , who , being one of the incredulous persons , that F. Seraphin complaines of afore , and espying theyr bungling , and vsing these wordes in detestation of theyr iugling : I see this dealing is abhominable : See Friswoods Confess : & I maruaile that the house sinketh not for such wickednes committed in it : and so departing vtterly discontent : this incredulous spectator so skared our holy actors with feare , that they slunke out of the house euery man his way , as a dogge that had been bitten by the tayle , and leauing theyr patients alone , gaue the deuils an otium , or leaue to play for that night .

Now let vs looke in a little amongst our twelue holy Exorcistes , or rather twelue holy disciples , and Fa: Weston theyr holy head : who though they be not a working , yet by this time they are whetting theyr tooles : and let vs see , how warily they haue put in vre theyr Maister Mengus his canon , of choosing a Chappell , or holy publique place to exorcise in , for feare of suspition of iugling , turpitude , and women . First , it doth not appeare that they acted any of theyr wonderous dispossessions in any Church , Chappell , or consecrated place , as F. Mengus had appointed them : except happily they slipped into some Noble mans voide house in London : which houses , in regard of theyr owners callings , being aboue reach of authority , are commonly now adayes the sanctuaries for Popish treason , consistories for plots of rebellion , and Chappels for all Romish loathsome abhomination : not that the Noble men themselues are priuie to such meetings , but theyr corrupt house-keepers much in fault for entertayning such guests : and yet the owners themselues not altogether free from blame , for making no better choise of those , to whom they commit that charge .

But it appeares not ( as I said ) that they met in any chappel , or holy place at all : but the chief places of their solemne meetings , were the L. Vaux his house at Hackney , neere London , Maister Gardiners house at Fulmer , Ma: Hughes his house at Vxbridge , and Sir George Peckhams house at Denham : places very fitly accommodating theyr holy intentions . First for theyr capacitie , beeing able to receiue the holy troupe , & theyr traine ( for they remoued bagge , and baggage , as your wandring Players vse to doe . ) Next , for theyr security , the owners beeing trustie tried sure cardes , and commaunders of theyr neighbours adioyning , if any suspition should arise : and then for their situation , beeing remote and secluse from ordinary accesse .

At the L. Vaux his house at Hackney , was the prime grand miracle performed , by the grand Maister of the craft , Fa: Weston himselfe , vppon one Marwood , seruant to Babington the traytor : where a wonderful thing fell out . Fa: Weston , at the very first encounter with the deuill , stunted the deuils wits , and the deuill being once put out , could neuer hit in againe , but vntrusses , and cries out , O me stultum , insanum , et infaelicem : O foolish , In his owne tract . vpon record . page 2. mad , and miserable deuill that I am : which put all the whole company of spectators into such astonishment , as there was a confused shout made of weeping , & ioy , for this foyle of the deuill . And the Epilogue was this , O Catholicam fidem , ô insensatos haereticos : O the Catholick faith , ô sencelesse haereticks , that could neuer learne the feate , to skare a deuill from his wits .