| John Barrow | A man from the London Borough of Southwark, described as the father of James Barrow, a boy who suffers from violent and tormenting fits. John Barrow is the author of the text, "The Lord's arm stretched out in an answer of prayer, or, A true relation of the wonderful deliverance of James Barrow," in which he chronicles his son's episodes, and attempts to determine their cause. James Barrow's father, John Barrow, seeks help from outside. He first employs the help of physician and astrologer John Hubbard, who believes Barrow has been bewitches. They use "fopperies and charms" including hanging papers around James Barrow's neck, and putting quills and quicksilver under the door. These prove unsuccessful at healing James Barrow. John Hubbard's second attempt to cure James Barrow of bewitchment is through cutting the boy's hair in a round circle, and trimming his fingers and toe nails. These are trimmings are wrapped in paper and deposited in an oak tree. This also proves useless at curing James Barrow's fits as well. However, after taking some medicine from doctors, astrologers, and apothecaries, James Barrow vomits, and seems well for a time, taking up an apprenticeship. However, after three months, James Barrow claims a rat entered his body, and he acts like a changeling, being unable to eat any food unless in his own household. Following this, John Barrow takes his son to a number of wise men, including: an Irish Roman Catholic (Anonymous 144), Lord Abony, a gentleman (Anonymous 146), a group of friars, and a doctor (Anonymous 487). No one seems able to cure James Barrow. However, shortly after this, John Barrow desires to engage in fasting and prayer for his son, resulting in three days of fasting and prayer, at the end of which he is restored and dispossessed. (6-7) | At another time as he was sitting at a Table, he had gotten paper, a pen, and ink, and a pin; I seeing him have a pin, ask him, what he would do with that pin? he answered not, but hung down his head as though he had been ashamed; I then spake hastily to him, and took the pin from him, at which he fell a crying; with that I asked him again, what he would do with that pin? then he asked me, whether God were not above the Devil? I said, Yea, God is above the Devil, he told me then, he must write down that: I would not be so put off, but would know what he would do with the pin, but no answer could I get for a while, at length he told me there was a young man, that prayed with him, and told him, that if he would go with him to such a place in the Country, that then he should be well. This was all I could get from him, supposing these put offs were of the Devil, who would not suffer him to tell me what he would do with it.() |