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Assertions for a specific person.

Name Description Original Text
Dr. John SkinnerA man from Westram in the county of Kent, who is a "Student of Physick and Astrology." He writes about his "marvelous cures" accomplished in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. Dr. Skinner attends to Margaret Gurr who is "afflicted with Devils," which "entred into her, and spake in her, and tempted her to Kill her self;" as well as flown through the air by these devils and a witch. Dr. Skinner allegedly "cast out the Devils and Witch," essentially exorcising the demons from Margaret Gurr and curing her "of the scurvy and gout," she suffered from, within "the compass of twelve days, in which time with a Physical, Natural, and other means used, [she] was perfectly restored to [her] former health." The devils and witch never "attempted to meddle with [her] since." As well, as a result of Dr. Skinner's administrations, Margaret Gurr was granted the miracle of being able to read the Bible, "which before [she] could not." Dr. Skinner is also responsible for curing a young male servant of Henry Chowning, in Kent. The boy was allegedly visited by a spirit in the form of a greyhound, and came home "in a great fright" and "amazed." When the boy turns ill, he "grew worse and worse," and his speech began to fail, causing people around him to "resolve to look out for help, for the fear'd the Boy would make away with himself," as he suffered from an "extream melancholy." It was believed that the boy was "under an evil Tongue or bewitcht." It was upon this decision to seek help that Henry Chowning called upon Dr. Skinner, "hearing of the many Cures I have done," and Dr. Skinner "examined the business and well consider'd of it." He decides the boy is "possest with the Devil," as his eyes were fixed, and the boy confesses to Dr. Skinner "that he was tempted in his mind, and was led on and tempted to strange things, as to go to Sea." The boy also "seemed to ammend while he was in the room with" Dr. Skinner, and Dr. Skinner fells he "understood what the means must be that must relieve him, and gave order for the putting up of Medicines." These are administered quickly, and the doctor tells the boy's mother to visit him in a week. When she does, she tells him that the boy was "much ammended, to the admiration of many that heard how it was." Dr. Skinner provides more medicine for the boy when the boy complains of "a pain in his belly," and the boy is made well in "18 days time," so that "neither hath any thing attempted to trouble him since in the least." This is the second dispossession Dr. Skinner successfully treated with medicine. Dr. Skinner also treats Susan Woldredge in Sussex, who suffered from "the Evil in her Eyes, and a great Rheum and inflammation." Her father, Mr. Woldredge seeks out Dr. Skinner after several other doctors failed to help her, and upon finding Dr. Skinner, he is advised "she would be well and [to] go home." Mr. Woldredge did so, and at first, his daughter was "in extream misery with swelling and raging pain in her Eyes," but miraculously "on a sudden it began to mend." Her father visits the doctor again, and the doctor "send her a purge with some other matter," and she was made "perfectly well and continued every since." Her friends reward Dr. Skinner. Dr. Skinner is also responsible for the miraculous cure of a woman in West Groustead in Sussex, who suffered from an "Evil in her Throat." She encounters Dr. Skinner at a fair, and although he had "nought to give her," he bids her to come over. She promises to, and fails to show. Dr. Skinner sends inquiry as to why she never visited him, and finds that from the moment she met Dr. Skinner "she found her self begin to mend," and was cured. Dr. Skinner is also responsible for the miraculous cure of Goody Halle in Sevenoaks, Kent, who suffered from "the most lamentable pain in her head," which was so severe, she could not sleep. Several doctors fail to treat her, yet when she visited Dr. Skinner, "she was at ease immediately, and [...] Cured from that time," by the use of medicines Dr. Skinner provided. She remained afterward "in vivide and perfect health."(Cover)Iohn Skinner, of Westram, in Kent, Student of Physick and Astrology.()