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1 THE
CERTAINTY
OF THE
Worlds of Spirits,
And Confequently,
Of the Immortality of Souls.
Of the Malice and Mifery of the Devils,
and the Damned.
And of the Bleflednefs of the Juftified.
Fully evinced by the upqueftionable Hirtories of Ap-
paritions, Operations, Witchcrafts, Voices, &c.
Written as an Addition to many other Treatifes,
for the Conviction of Sadduces and Infidels.
By RICHARD BAXTER.
fcph 6. 12. We wr title not again{i F U\b aid Stood, but
againft Principalities, again(l Powers, againjl the.
Rulersof the Dar faffs of this World, again ft jpiritual
Wic^edntffes in high Placesfm Celefhals )
Matth 8. 3»»32 Tm Devils be fought him, f tying f If
thou ca(t m out, fujfer m to go away toto the Herd of
Swine. And he faid, Go.
Luk. io. 1 8, 20. I beheld Satan , as Lightning, fall
from Heaven : But in this rtjoyce not, that the Spirits
arefuhjecl to you : But rather rejoyct becaufe your Names
are written in Heaven.
Heb. J 2. 1 4. Are they not all ( the Angels ) miniftring
Spirits, fent forth to minifier for them who jhall be
Heirs of Salvation ?
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T H E
PREFACE
Si
IT feemethhard to unduly Minds ,
; that God (hould keep Jntelie&ual
c ouls ; fo -itrange tovthe unfeen
World; of Spi; its ; that ^e know
fo ]itt e of tftem , and that our Know-
ledge of them, is no more by the way
of : enfe : But there is in ir, mucn of
Gods arbitrary Soveraign Power, and
much of his Wildom , and much of
his Juftice, ancialfoof his Love.
u It pleafed hini to make. Variety of
Creatures : What harmony would there
be without Variety? u ere there nothing
but linity, there would be nothing but
God. And various Creatures , muft
have a various Situation, Reception
and Operations ; The Kfh.es muft aot
A 2 ' dwell
The Preface.
dwell in our Cities, nor be acquainted
with our Affairs.
2. We here dwell in Flefh, in Bodies
organized for the Souls Receptions and
Perceptions, and Operations : And the
Wifdom of God doth fuitably difpofe
of his Communications, and give us
that meafureof Light, which is agree-
able to our State : The Sun muft not
fliine on the Infant in the Womb , nor
muft he there fee our Buildings and
Tradings, and Bufinefs in the World,
3. We have Light here, that is pro-
portionable to our work and intereft ;
So much as is neceffary to our knowing
of ourfelves, and our God and Gover-
Tiour, and our Duty, and all thofe hopes
that are our neceffary Motives thereto.
- Men that will but obterve the Operations
of their Souls, may competently know
what a Soul or Spirit is : And Men that
6 will but open their Eyes, and confide-
rately look about them, may as certain-
ly know that there is a God, as they can
know that there is any Being: And Men
that cannot but difference Moral Good
and Evil, and that know the Duty of
Children
The Preface.
Children to- Parents, Subje&s to Rulers?
and Neighbours to Neighbours , may
know their Duty to God, snd that the
performance of it fhall not be in vain :
And if Men will not know all this
which they may know , it is juft with
God to leave them to their chofen dark-
nefs, and not to know that which further
might be known. It is a difmal cafe to
have a Soul that will not knowitfelf,
to be what it is , till utter Mifery con*
vince him.
4. And the God of Lovemaketh Ad-
vantage of our nofrfeeing the World of
Spirits, for ourExercife of our higher
Intellectual Faculties,by a Life of Faith 5
And 4 Intuition (a Nobler fort than our
prefent Eye-fight ) will be feafonable ,
and foon enough when ripenefs hath
made us ready for it. We (hall not need
all the Organ ical parts of the Eye,which
Galen admiringly defcribeth , for our
Glorious fight And to fee Devils and
other Spirits ordinariy , would not be
enough to bring our Atheifts to the fa-
ving Knowledge of God ? without which
all other Knowledge is vain, They
A 3 that
The Preface.
that doubt of a God ( the moft perfeft,
eternal, infinite Being ) while they fee
the Sun and Moon, and 6tars, the Sea
andLand,wbuldriot KnoWhimby feeing
Created Spir ts.
As to the Originals of this r 'olle<fHoii ,
it had its rife from my own, and other
Mens need. When God fir ft au akened
me, to think with preparing? ferioufnefs
of my Condition after Death, I had not
any obferved Doubts of the Reality of
Spirits , or the Immortality of the Soul 3
erof theTruth of the Gqfpel :But all my
doubts were about my own Renovation
and Title to that BleiFed Life. But when
God had given me peace of Gonfcience,
Satan Aflaulted me with thofe worfe
Temptations : Yet through Gods Grace,
they never prevailed agairift my Faith :
Nor did he ever raife in me the lead
doubt of the Being, and Teyfe&ion of
God 3 nor of my Duty to hove, Honour \
0%,and Trufi him : For I ftill faw that
to be an Atheift was to be mad.
But I found that my Fai h of Surer-
mtjral Revela ion, muft be more than
% Believing Man , and th&t if it ha:! rot
a firm
The Preface.
a firm Foundation,and rooting,eveii y*re
Evidence of Verity, Surely Apprehended 9
it was not like to clo thqfe great works
thatFaith had to do,and to overcome the
World, the Flefh and the Devil,and to
make my Death to be fafeand comforta-
ble. Therefore! found that all confirm-
ing helps were u r eful 7 and among thole
of the lower fort , Apparitions, and o-
ther fenfible Manifeftations of the cer-
tain exiftence oi Spit its .of themfelves
Invifible, was a means that might do
much with fuch as are prone to judge
by Senfe. The ufes hereof I mention
before the Book, that the Reader may
know that I write it for Tra£tice y and not
to pleafe Men with the Strangenefs and
Novelty of ufelefs Stories.
It is nofmall number of Writers on fuch
Subjects that I have reaa,it\$ near three-
fcore years time from the firft occafion :
And finding that almoft all the Athcifts,
Sadduces and Infidels, did feem to pro*
fefs, that wer- 3 they butfure of the Re-
ality of the Apparitions and Operations
of Spirits, it would cure them, I thought
this the moft fuitable help for them ,
A 4 that
The Preface.
that have finned themfelves into an in-
capacity of more Rational and Excel-
lent Arguments. And I have long fear-
ed, leit fecr t uno T ferved defe&ivenefs
in their Belief of the Immortality of
the Soul, nd the truth of the Scripture,
is the great caufe of all Mens other de-
feds : There lieth ufually the unfound-
nefs of Worldly Hypocrites, where it is
prevailing ; and thence is the weakaefs
of Grace in the bed, though it prevail
not againft their Sincerity.
By which Motives I did ( though it
difpleafed fome ) make it the Second
Tart of my Book, called the Saints Reft :
And afterward provoked by clement
Writer, I rid itmu h more fully in a
Book called the Unnafonablenefs of Infi-
delity : And after 'hat, provo^d by the
Copy of a pape- ciifperfed in Oxford \
( faid to i e Dr. Walkers ) queftioning
the certainty of our Religion, and fee-
ing no anfwer to it come from the
Univerfity Men, I wrote yet more Me-
thodically of all, in a Book called the
Heafons qP .he Chriftian Religion : And
after added a fmallDifcourfe called Mare
Reafom
The Preface.
Reafons for it , provoked by one that
called himfelf Herbert, in which alfo
I anfwered the Lord Herbert^ de veri-
tate : And fince then, a namele s Sad-
duce hath draun me to publifh an An*
fwer to him : And in my Life of Faith,
aod other Books,I have handled the fame
Subject ; All which I tell the Reader,
that he may fee why I have taken this
Subject as io neceffary, why I am end-
ing my Life with the publication of
thefe Hiftorical Letters and Collections;
Which I dare fay have fuch Evidence,
as will leave every v adduce that read-
eth them, either convinced, or utterly
without excufe.
Surely the certainty of fo great a
change of our place , State, Company
and Works, as Death will certainly and
quickly make, (liquid poflefs every Man
that hath the ufe of Reafon, with fuch
ferious Thoughts, Affe&ions and Dili-
gence , as is quite contrary to a Diver-
ted, Carelefs, Sloathful, Worldly, Sen-
fualand itupid Mind and Life.
How fpeedily (hall I fee the WorkJ
that I have read of, and Preached, and
talk'd
The Preface
talfct and written of ? O ! What a dif-
ference will there be between my now
hearing of frightfol Apparitions, and
prodigious A&s of Spirits,andthat fight
or knowledge of all their State and Af-
fairs 5 which I fhallhave , and now am
going to. The fight of Devils and Dam-
ned Divefes, and unholy Souls , will
hereafter be no Rarity 5 and if my
Soul muft pafs through the airy infe-
rior Region, where thefeMiferable Spi-
rits now inhabit, it will not be as
dangeroufly AfTaulted by them, but in
Triumph : For I know whom I have
trufted , and into the hands of him do
I commit my Spirit , who hath con-
querred Death and Devils , and is now
the Glorified Lord of all , and can ufe
them at his pleafure. Ad thole An-
gels that rejoice at the Repentance of
of a Lazaru* , and now are Miniflxing
Spirits for his fafety , will be ready in
Obedience to our Lord, to convey
his Soul to Abrahams bofom : Yea,
to be that day with Chrift in Para-
jdife.
He
The Preface.
He that chaineth up thefe Devils ,
that they moleft us no more as their
Malice dothdefire, will make ourpaf-
fage fafe through all their envy and
defiled Regions.
But feeing it is the free will of Man
that giveth the Devils their hurting
power, and they can do us no harm ,
nor make us fin, without our own
confent or yielding : O ! With how
careful and conftantand refolved watch-
fulnefs fhould we live ? And how de-
fervedly may every prayerlefs ungod-
ly Family and perfon , be left for a
prey to this devourer. And indeed
he hath already hurt them more by
blind ng and hardening their Hearts,
than a thoufand haunting Appariti-
ons could of themfelves have done.
And when Excellent Zancby hath
faid fo much to prove, that it is by
h s very contiguous v ubftance , that
the Devil doth work on Sou! and
Body, how dreadful fhould Tempta-
tions and Sin be to us , if we would
not have the very fubftance of Devils
dwell in us ? And why do any think
it
The Preface.
it firange to read fo much of Poffeili-
ons and DifpofTeflions in the Gof-
pel.
Lord Jefus let me Finifli my Courfe
with joy : And then receive my Spi-
rit. Amen.
**&£* Richard Baxter.
The
The CONTENTS.
'Cfaap.I /^\P the great and weighty Vfesof
V>J the Hiftories of Spirit /, and their
umtfual apparitions and Actions.
Ch. II. § i. lnftance i. The Devil of Mafcon. 1
X. Colloml Bowen'j Story, in divers Letters^
5. My Friend and Neighbour CoUonel John
Bridget Story.
4. One iVLondon, yet living.
5. One at BelMt.
6. One at Ilchefteiv
7. Mr. Mompeflbrfr Story.
8. At Lutterworth.
9. MaryEllinso/Evefham.
10. One in Dorfetfhire.
11. Nathan Crab of Exeter.
12. The fir ange Story of the Devil ofGetl-
luce, in Dr. Sindare.
13 . The Witches hanged in Suffolk and Efifex.
14. The Brightling Story.
1 5 . Lord Br eghill' s Story of one at St. JamesV,
16. Simon Jones of Kiderminfter.
17. Richard White of Wilden-Hall. ".
18. Mr. Hopkins o/Bewdley.
1 9. ^f» In fiance now in London.
2.0. Another as ftrange.
2 1 . Mr. White at Lambeth.
22. One from Cambridge.
23. One at Hunniton.
24. Another there.
25. Mr, Ch. HattV Story.
cfa.ni.
I
The Contents.
Oitfll. The firange Story of M r . May Hill,
AHmfier of Beckington in Somerfetfliire.
Mr. Increafe md Mr. Cotton Mather s ln~
fiances.
The Story of Mr. Vzcfs Daughters at LeftO.
Ch.IV* Many Hifiories few me by Dukf
Lauderdale, and one that taught a Minifter
to fpeak true Latin, and his Detection of fome
Poptjh Frauds.
Cb. V. Of Witchcraft. Inft. i.' Alexander
Benedidus,
2. Benevenius.
5. Langius.
4. Cornelius Gemma.^
5. Sidelicus, *'#Skenkuis*
6- Wolphius.
7. Sebaftian Brand-
$. Fabricius Hildanus. \ %
9. Fa?lix Platerus.
jo. Hollerius.
11. Petrus Foreftus-
12. Scribonius, — Many Inft ances of the Con-
cubitus of Damons mth Womtn.
13. Many [truck h Damons: Scribonius.
14. Witches raifing Storms.
15. Erafmus'/ Story; of an Apparvion that
burnt the Town.
16. TheSelling ofMnds ^Lapland and Ifeland .
17. The Bleeding of wurde* d bodies.
18. ScvlhomUSSJtrarje Stpry.
ig m Mr. Farmworch 0/ ^ MiizQ Sacrifice to
the Devil. "'\ ^
20, JLu-
The Contents.
so* Ludovicus Vives Teftimony.
%l. Zanchy's Teftimony.
22. Melancthon'* Teftimony.
%$ 9 A wonder f History of .Dr.Henric.ab Heer&
24. Merik Caufabone of &VTheqdMeyerne.
25. Divers Inftances from Fernelius.
26. Sir Theod. Meyerne's -prudent Judgment*
27. Gerh. Voflms'/ Teftimony.
28. Lavater.
29. Bijhop JoC Hall.
30. Cyprian, and aftrange Story \ n him from
Firmilianus.
3 1. The New England hftances on Mrs. Hut-
chinfon and Mrs. Dyer* published by Mr*
- Thomas, Weld- ■ J
32. Zanchy 5 / Opinion that the Devil's Subftame
is in them that they move,
33. Luther 9 / Teftimony*
34. More e/Melancthon'/.
Ch. VI. Mr. John Lewis and Mr. John Da»
Vis'/ Multitudes of Inftances of Apparitions
in Cardiganshire 5 and near it, of Knockers
and Death- Lights.
Ch. VII. toft. I. Mr.TxKons Narrative &om
Rochefter.
2, ^fr. Woodcock'/ Letter, and four ftrange
Stones: One of Mr.Mutl'y and one of Dr.
Lamb and Mr. Barber ; and one of Mr. Her-
r* imr V*^* 5 *» d °f the Oundte-mn.
Ui. VIIL Of good Angels, and fome doubtful
Spmts. Inft. 1. Mr.Tzt€s Cafe.
I. The JBolton Inftance.
fr The
* The Contents,
3 . The Afric Bijhops.whofe Tongues were cut outl
4» Somewhat from De la Cerda.
% Mr. Ketilby Woodhoufe^ Teftimony of
fame faved from Sir Richard Greenvile.
6. Of the Books of Prodigies, l66z*
7. Of Lightnings tearing Churches.
8. Of Whirlwinds and Hurricanes.
$< Of Mrs. Britton V Apparition.
io- More from De la Cerda.
II. Hildanus^ ftrange Story of Lightning.
Ch. IX. Inft. i . Of melancholy Perfons Cafe.
2 . Of Enthufiafts : Inflames named,of divers forts.
Ch X 5 Other ftrange Providences obfervablepn
wyfetf* on ^f C. on Tho. Giles, on J. D.
Of Death fore-told : Jnftance of Mr* Tiro, Co-
lonel Rich and his Ladys Letters of it.
Of the GMtonbury -Thorn, divers Letters.
Of the Kings of England and France Touching
for the Struma.
Ch.XI. A ftrange Story from Belfaft in Ire-
land, fully attefted in a Letter from M^.Tho.
Emlin, a worthy Preacher, now in Dublin.
Ch. XII- A Dublin- Infiance, attefted by Mr,
Daniel Williams, now in London.
Th£ Conclufion, Concerning Angels, and how
to know bad spirits from Good; by the Mat-
ter, and their Method : And what Inftm-
tnents Christ and Devils ufe in their greatejt
pMick Warfare \ %
am
CHAP. I
Of the great and weighty Vfes of
thefe Hiftories of Sprits, and
their unufual Appearances and
Wor^s.
i
§. I. " " Have written this Colle&ion only
as an /Addition to fuflkient Proofs
of invifible Powers or Spirits,
and their A&ions towards Men,
which many in full Treatifes have already
given the World ; becaufe how convincing
foever thofe Difcouriesbe, Multitudes bred
up in Idlenefs and Senfuality, and thereby
drowned in Sadduceifm and Beitiality, ne-
ver fee thofe Books 5 nor will the Devil
confenc that they i'hall have fo much Wit
and Care of their future State, as to make
that diligent Enquiry after fuch Things as
the Importance of the Matter doth require;
Nor will they read them, if they have them 5
nor believe the fulled Evidence, though
they aad it ; pretending that of Perfons and
Things fo long ago, and far orT, they can
have no AfTurance, not knowing what Fal-
lacies raay intervene.
B There-
i An HiftcYtcdl Difceurfe of
Therefore I have chofen many near to
them, both for Time and Place 5 of which,
if they think their Souls worth fo much
Labour, they may enquire to Satisfaction.
§ 2, Though I have taken many out of
foreign moft credible Fhyficians, and fome
from other Hiftorians, yet, that I may not
tranfcri^e too much, I defire them that need
yet fuller Information, to read efpecially
Bodln and RemigiM, two Judges who con-
demned Multitudes of Witches themfelves,
and Fad. Griliandtts, and Spr anger us, and the
M.alk'% Maleficomni) and Zanchy de Angelis &
Damon, and Datr&tt, Jofeph Glanvile with
Dr. Moreh Notes, efpecially the Story in the
Wed of Scotland, near like that mod con-
vincing one of the Devil of Mafcon $ and
Dr, More of Atheifm } 2nd Mr. Increafe Ma-
ther, and his Son Mr. Cotton Mather of New
England, their two Books of Witches, of
which, the latter hath moil convincing Evi-
dence 3 and Dr. S'wcUre s a Scot.
§3-1 confefs 3 it is "very difficult to ex-
pound the Caufes of all mentioned in thefe
Hiitories: hut provec Matters of fact mud
not be denied, bur improved as well as we
can. And"! cpnfefs, very many Cheats of
pretended Pcflefficns have been difcovered,-
which hath made ton\e weak, injudicious
Men think that all are fuch* Two ions of
Perkins
^Apparitions and Witches. %
Perfons have oft been found Deceivers %
x. Perfons prepared and trained up pur-
pofely by Papifls Priefts, to honour their
Exorcifms. You may find in print the Sto-
ry of the Boy ofBilfon ( Vetrius, who after-
wards I heard turned Quaker at Bri&ol)
dete&ed and fhamed by Bp. Morton himfelfc
Many fuch abroad are recorded, i. Luft-
ful,Rank, Girls and young Widows, that
plot for fome amorous, procacious Defign*
or have Imaginations conquered by Luft :
Though, I think, when they come to a F«-
ror Htenmsy Satan oft fets in.
But he forfeiteth the Benefit of his own
Eye-fight, who thinks that none fee, be-
caufe fome Beggars counterfeit Blindnefi.
§4. Thelnftances tell us, 1. That the
State, Converfe, Policy, Laws of the Ae-
rial World, or Regions, are much though
not wholly) unknown to us here. 2. And
' fo is the Natural State of the departed Souls
of wicked Men, as to their having Bodies, or
no Bodies, their Power, their Wits,their Mo-
tions, and Pafficns. g.Andaifo whether they
be proper Devils when joyned with them, or
of another Species. 4. And 'tis hard to know
by their Words or Signs, when it is a De-
vil, and when it is a Humane Soul that ap-
peared. 5. Yea, it is oft hard to know
whether it be the Soul of a good Perfon,
or a bad. 6. And confequently, what di-
B % ftance
4 'An Hiftorkal Difcourfe of
fiance there is in their Habitations. 7. Yea,
and oft whether it be a good Angel, or a
bad, feeing bad ones may do good deceit-
fully, or by Conftraint. 8. And "'tis un*
fearchable to us, how far God leaveth Invi-
fible, Intelle&ual Powers to Free Will a-
bout inferiour things ; fufpending his pre-
determining Motion, though not his gene-
ral Motion and Concourfe. 9. Yea, we are
not fully certain whether thefe Aerial Re-
gions have not a third fort of Wights, that
are neither Angels, (Good or Fallen, ) nor
Souls of Men, but fuch as have been there
placed as Fifhes in the Sea, and Men on
Earth: And whether thofe called Fairies
and Goblins are not fuch.
But as all thefe, and more fuch, are un-
known to us, fo God feeth it meet for us
that it fjhould be fo, and we ihould not fo
much as deilre or endeavour that it might
be other wife.
§ $ . But we may know, (which mud
fuffice us,) 1. That no Spirits can do any
thing, but by God's Will or Permiffion.
2. And that God will never permit them
eventually to fruftrace his Love and Mercy
to his People, nor to break any one of his
Promifes to them. 3 And that good Spi-
rits are Servants, and evil Ones Slaves to
Jefus thrift, our Redeemer, and (hall not
frustrate his Grace and Undertaking. 4- Is
is
apparitions and Witches, j
is furely a wicked fort of Spirits that de-
light to do Mifchief, and that Jye and de-
ceive Men, and that are ambitious to be
woffhipped, and to have Men's Souls and
Bodies in their power, and make killing
and damning Men their Work : ' Fis evi-
dent that their Knowledge and Mifery hath
not yet changed them by Repentance, and
made them better. 5. TEH evident that
they are Enemies to God, and to Jefus
Chrift ; for their whole Defign is againft
them< and againft fanetifying, faving Work.
6. It is plain that they know that Man hath
another Life to live: Their Works atteft
the Immortality of our Souls, and the ^ruth
of ChriiHanity, in that they malicioufly do
fo much againft them : They urge Men to
renounce God and Ohrift, and his Com-
mandments and Worfhip, their Baprifm,
and all true Service of God ' They urgg
Perfons to fell their Souls to them, and to
foriake all that tends to fave them, Their
Importunity to deftroy us, ihould teach us
the Need of the greateft Care and Dili-
gence for our Salvation. 7. It feemech
plain that they are now of a low and bafe
Condition of Nature, in that th.ey (etk !uch
fordid Employments about Graves and
Corps, and multitudes of fordid, trivial
things. 8. And it fcems that they dwell
near us, in the Air, Earth and Sea, and not
in the higher glorious Regions. 9. And it
Bj is
6 An Hiftorical Difeourfe of
is apparent that they have a natural Strength,
and Ways of working, unknown to us, by the
Wonders that they do- 10 It is very like that
the howls of wicked Men now dwell with
them as they muft do for ever, and are like
them. 1 1. I think it mod likely, that when
Witches, Men and Women, confefs their fil-'
thy Lying with Devils, that it is done more
to exercife the Lutt of the Witch than of the
Devil: And that fometimes he doth it by a
Body of grofs Air, and fometimes may grati-
fie the Lull of one Witch on another, or on a
tempted ignorant Wretch. Me that can bring
a Witch in without opening the Door, can
bring (uch an one (Male or Female) into
another's Bed. 1 2. It is not impoilible that
wicked Souls may carry wiih them hence
their filthy Inclinations, and Defire to ufe
them- 13. It is plain that Devils and wic-
'ked Souls are not yet in the utmoft of their
Mifery, but are referved in Chains to the
Judgment of the great Day of Chrift : Such
joking, and dallying, and whittling, as the
Devil of Mafcon, and many other ufed,
fhew this. 14. It is clear, that whether
you call it [in State, or Place,"] (I think
both,) the bleffed Souls and Angels are far
above thefe, in a higher World or Region,
and no wonder if they appear more rarely
to Men 00 Earth' 15. Yet Angels can be
here, and do their Office for us, without
fueh Defcest as (hall abate their Joy and
Glory 1
Jpparkiom and Witches., 7
Glory; and why not blefled Souls too, if
they (hall be equal with Angels ? The Sun
can enlighten every Eye here, without lo
fingits higher Refidence. 16. When re-
vengeful things are done, (as on Murderers,
Defrauders, &c.) it feems to be from the
revengeful Wrath of fome bad Soul, efpe-
ciallywhen it is. about Money or Lands, it
feemeth to fay.our of the Worldly Mind :
Yet it is uncertain whether it may not be
from the Juftice of God, and governing An-
gels, fending the Evil Spirits on fuch Er-
rands. A Hawk and- a Hound are fitter
Meffengers to deftroy,' than a Dove or a
Lamb. 17. When a Genius flieweth fome
Kindnefs to the Soul, (as his that I men-
tioned, that knocketh at his Bed's Head,
and about him, after every time that he is
drunk ; and one that Bodln mentioneth, that
was ftricken when he faid or did amifs ? J it
is uncertain to us, whether it be a good An-
gel, or the Soul of fome former dear Friend,
that procureth this Leave, to try to turn
and fave the Sinner : Or whether Chrift and
Angels force Satan to doit againft his Will.
18. Though the unquenchable Fire which
Is to follow will fhew the utmoft Severity
of God's Juftiee, there is fome figmfication
of his Mercy to the Wicked, in fufpending
it fo far, as to allow them fuch a Condition
as many of thefe Apparitions fignifie by their.
Words and Deeds. 19 Yet here is no-
B 4 thing
8 An Hifiorical Dtfcourfe of
thing to encourage their Opinion, thatsthink
fuch Souls or Demons are but in via, and
have Another Day of Hope, and Means to
ufe, ij in poftbility of Salvation : And though
many arefaid to have begged of the Living
for MaiTes and Prayers, it is liker to prove
a Diabolical Cheat, to promote Superfti-
tion,-<;than that there is a Purgatory-State of
Hopfe! 20. Thofe that ar6 tempted to think
thar, -Souls are all one, .and that Individua-
tion is only by Corporeal Matter, and that
Individuation ceafetfo* at' Death, are by all
thefe Examples fully confuted : Devils and
wicked Souls have their Numerical Indivi-
duation, and therefore no Godly Perfon
need to fear the Lois of it< Either it is
gOoii or bad for us : If good, {hall the Wic-
ked and Devils have it, and not the Godly ?
If bad, why.fliould it bedefired? Angels
Sre Individuals; and (hall not our Souls ?
§ 6. Thefe great Benefits we may get by
the right Ufe of thefe Hiiiories, and fuch
others.
i. We may learn to admire that Frame
of Divine Government, that hath Crea-
tures fo various to rule and order, and ma-
ke th one beautiful Frame of all. As Toads
and Serpents on Earth are not ufelefs, nor
devouring Fifties., Birds and Beafts 3 fo nei-
ther are Devils, nor damned Souls, no nor
their Sins, which God will ufe 5 though he
will not caufe< ? %> We
apparitions and Witches. g
2I We may gather that in Heaven itfelf,
there will be an orderly ©economy and
difference of degrees of Superiority and of
Glory , when there is fo great difference
through all the World. All (hall not be
equal to them that (hall fit on twelve
Thrones, Judging the twelve Tribes : There
are many Maniions in that Houfe, even to
them that be all with Chrili.
3. We have great Caufe to be very
thankful to God , that doth not let loofe
wicked Spirits againft us, that they are not
here our Terror and Tormentors.
4. How great a Mercy is it, that we
have a Saviour that hath power over them,
and hath Redeemed us from their Power ,
and from everlafting Damnation.
5. We may fee that the Angels of God
are not ufelefs to us 5 but their Miniftry is
one of Gods Means for our Prefervition,
and we owe them, Love and Thanks for
all their Love and Service: And it is not,
through Pride or Infenfibility of this bene-
fit, that we do not worfhip them, whom
we fee not.
6. If the Devils poflefling and torment-
ing Mens Bodies, be (o heavy a Plague ,
how much worfe is it to have him the Ma-
iler of their Souls? OJ How carefully
fhould we refift his Temptations ? Every
Sin that we commit, through Love to it, or
by Wilfulnefs or Sloth, is worfe to us and
more
io An Hijiorkal Difcourfe of
more pleafing to the Devil,than to be Tor-
mented fo long by him. He mift of his
aim at Job , when he could not by all his
Sufferings draw him to Sin : Oi how T much
more miferable isa Worldly, Proud, Glut-
tonous, Dives, Lord, Knight or Gentle-
man, and ienfual Youth diilra&ed with
Vain Mirth and Lufl , than one Bewitcht,
t>r Bodily only pofleft by Devils : And
how much (hould the moft godly be afraid
of Sin , and of Temptations?
7. It isa fenlible help, as to Convince
Brutifts and A thrifts and Infidels, fo to con-
firm the heft Believers againft all Tempta-
tions, to doubt of the Life to come, and
the Immortality of Souls , and the future
lodgment and Retribution : And though it
be our flume to need fuch helps , it is a
Mercy to have them. If a Sadducee will
fay ? if one did come from the Dead, or I
hw fuch things , I would believe, fbould
not our Faith be paft wavering , that have
thefe added to the greater Gofpel proofs.
8. It's matter of Comfort to departing
faithful Souls, that thefe evil Spirits that
are chained up now , and not fuffered to
difturb us, ftiall not hinder our pailage to
Glory : If we muft pafs through the Air
inhabited by Devils and Wicked Souls.,
Angels will Convey us , and Chrift re-
ceive us , and it (ball not be to our hurt or
jbfs.
p. It
JfpaYition and Witches. i x
p. It fhould always keep the Souls of
the Faithful in joyful gratitude , for the
work of Regeneration, Grace, Juftificati-
on and Salvation , which was our great
Deliverance from Devils : And teach us
to live as the faved of the Lord.
10. It Ihould warn all to take heed, that
they be not helpers and Servants to Devils,
in Tempting and Deftroying Souls; O!
how many do his work, that defie his
Name? All that by wicked example and
fcandal, harden Men in Sin, they that Tempt
People to Pride and Luft, and flefihly plea-
fures. They that draw them into the Com-
pany of Vain 5 Lafcivious , Luftful , Ry-
otous and Ungodly perfons : They that
madly contradict Gods Word , and Cavil
and Argue againfi Faith and Holinefs :
They that deride and mock at the Obedi-
ence of Gods Commands , and Reproach
the mod Religious by fcornful Nicknames.
They that feduce them by falfe Dodrine ,
, and that draw them from Gods Woriliip ,
and they that filence neceflary Faithful
Preachers , and they that diffuade Men
from hearing or regarding them. Oi what
an Army hath Satan, for his work of de-
ftroying Souls.
Thefe Men fhould think , that it's great-
er Cruelty to deftroy Souls , than to Rob
or Murder Bodies : h is fighting againil
the Office and Work of Chrift that came
to
i a An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
to fave them , and againft all the Ordinan-
nances and Word of God , and all the
Coqrfe of his faving Mercies , and all the
Defires and Endeavours of the Godly, that
Long and Labour for Mens Salvation: It is
to be like Devils, and do the Devils work,
and by hurting others,they- more him them-
fdvGs. And if Gods Mercy fhould Con-
vert and Save fuch wretches , they cannot
Convert and Save thofethat they have de-
ceived and drawn to Sin.- And God only
knoweth what thoughts they would have,
if they come to Heaven , to fee or know
of Souls in Hell, that they brought thither.
But if they die Unconverted, and go to
them , their Prefence and Torment will be
the increafe of their o^n.
ii. Thefe thoughts fhould ftir up all be-
lievers to labour to fave Souls from the
Snares and lowers of Devils. O J do not
fey as Caw , Am »■ my Brothers Keeper ,
fay not, that it is only the Work of Mini-
fters : They are Guides in Chrifts Army ,
but you are Soldiers: You are Vowed to
fight againft the Devil , the World and
Fleib,and that for others, as well as for your
fclves: Societies are for Mutual Helps. A
Minifter is but one Man , and not an Ar-
my , and can be but in one place at once :
You live among and near your Family,
Neighbours and fuch as you Converfe with,
and may often fpeak to them: All in your
places
"Apparitions and Witches. 1 3
places muft be Lights and Salt , to Enlight-
en a Dark, and lea fori a Corrupt Gene-
ration. O! You that believe the Life to
come , make hafte to help poor Miferable
Souls , before Death put therr pail Reine-
dv , or Sin hath utterly kneered their
Hearts : Do you love your Neighbours as
your felves , and will fee them continue
in Ignorance, World! iriefs and ^rofane-
nefs, and do nothing or little to fave them ?
If you faw but their Bodies in need , and
fliut up the Bowels of Companion againft
them, w hat leve have you to God , to
Chrift or them ? If Chrift in Judgment
will Condemn Men for not relieving Po~
dies Math 25. will it prove ieis (inful to
afford no help to Souls. If you are not
for Chrift, and his Works , you are a-
gainfthim: If you law therm fall dc\\~n In
aSwound, you would heir them up*. And
if their Houies were on Fire, you would
help and hafte to quench it ; yea, if your
Enemies Beaft fall into a Pit , you muft
help him out: And do you believe a Hell,
and not help Sinners ? The Devil, their
Adveriary and yours, as a Roaring Lyon ,
feeketh Night and Day to Devour 3 A*nd
will you do nothing to fave Men.
If you cannot do what you would, do
what you can*. Do but take it for your Du-
ty and Works, for which you mull give
account to God , and keep you an account
how
14 An Hiflorical Difcowfe of
how you perform it : Ask your felves what
have I done for Souls this Week, or this
day . ? Begin at home, and give to all an Ex-
ample of Holinefs, Heavenly meeknefs,
and Self-denial : Then look to your Families:
O I betray not the Souls of your Children and
Servants, with a. few flight good words or
forms ; but with Love and Diligence, La-
bour to make them underftand Gods Word,
and the things of their Salvation , Cate-
chize them , and help them to underftand
and apply it. Keep them from ill Compa-
ny , Labour to render Gods Service %o
them as it is 5 Necefiary, Honourable andPlea-
fint : Time is fliort , Souls are precious ,
Hell is dreadful : Heaven is joyful, Devils
and their wicked Servants are bufie. While
you have opportunity, labour to do good
to all : Your Labour, if fincere, (hall not
be in i 7 ain. If you want Ability, labour
to increafe it, and get the help of fuch as
can do better, get them to able Minifters :.
Put fuitable Books into their Hands : Do not
as thole Sectaries, that to fliew their Gifts
are ready to intrude as publick Preachers 9
but inftead of Patient and Companionate
Diligence with the Ignorant and Ungodly
about them, do but exafperate them by Re-
proaches and Difgrace, Condefcend to the
lea ft and lo.weft : Do all with Humility, and
Winning Love.
Alas,
Apparitions and Witcher. t y
Alas, Satan hath a greater and more dan-
gerous Army, to fight againft Chrift and
Holinefs, and Mens Salvation, among the
Great, and Rich, and Proud, and Carelefe
Voluptuous Sinners, than among Witches
and poflefled Bodies. He wins and undoes
molt by pleafing them : If he can get them
to prefer Earth before Heaven, and Wealth
and Honour before^ Holinefs , and to be
lovers of fleihly Pleafures more than of God #
and keep them from any ferious Minifter,or
Means that would waken' them and bring
them to their Wits, and keep them from fe-
rious Conlideration, and from thinking whi-
ther they are going, and how all their Care-*
lefnefs, Eafe and Sin will end 5 this is k
that anf \ ereth his Soul- murdering defires*
1 ^. But efpecially thefe Inftances of Satans
Diligence and Malice, fhould teach Minifters
how to preach,on what Subje<Ss,in and whac
manner, and how to converfe perfonally with
thofe of their charge : Shall the Captains in
Chrili's Army fee the Devourer go away
with the Prey, and do little for their re*
fcue? Is ignorant, cold, jingling, conten-
tious Preaching , meet for them that are
fo greatly obliged to militate under Chrift
againft the Deftroyer, and for the ever-
lading faving of Mens Souls ? The Lord
heal and pardon our Unbelief, and cruel
want of Fitty , and our Sloth and Luke-
warmnefs? for it is great and ferious
Work
1 6 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
Work which we undertake. But of this
I refer thole that will read it to my Re-
formed Taftor.
O Lord give to the Chriftian World, a
greater number of Wife, Humble, Holy,
experienced Teachers, and fave them from
thofe that hate or believe not the Do-
drine, which for worldly Ends they preach 5
and that ferve the Devil in the name of
Chrift, and calling themfelves the church,
and their Conceits its Canon or Rule, do
Preach and Rule for themfelves, their Ho-
nour, Will and Wealth, on pretence of the
Welfare and Unity of the Church, and
become the Trumpeters of Malignity, Per-
fection and Schifm, and have not known
the way of Mercy,
CHAR
Apparitions and Witches. H,
CHAP. II.
Several Hiflorical Inftdnces of Ap-
paritions^ Witches •> and marvel-
lous convincing Works of God's
Providence.
§. i. /b "jpHere are in this City of Lok-
JL dou> many Ferfons that profefe
their great unbelief, or doubt of the Life
to come, the Immortality of the Soul, and
therefore much more of the truth of the
Gofpel, and Chriftian Faith, and Superna-
tural Revelations. But they fay * that
could they be certain of Spirits, Appariti-
ons, Witchcraft and Miracles, it would do
more to convince them than the Aflernons
of the Scriptures : But they take all fuch
Reports to be but the effe&s of Error, De-
ceit, and eafie Credulity : For the fake of
fuch, I have recited many Credible Inftan-
ces in this Book, and my Saints Heft, and
in my Vnreafonabknefs of Infidelity, and I
fhall here add fome more. I doubt not
but abundance of Reports of fuch matters
have no better caufes than are here men-
tioned, even the mittake of the Ignorant i
but that there are trm as well as falfe Re-
C $at$
1 8 An Hiftoricdl Difcourfe of
ports of fuch things, is paft all reafonable
caufe of doubting.
i. I will begin with that moft convincing
Inftance, which you may read in a Book,
Called, The Devil of Mafcon.
Above twenty Years ago, the now Earl
Orery, then Lord Broghii, a Perfon of well
known Underftanding, and not inclined to
weak Credulity, told me much of what is
written in that Book, and more ; and faid,
That he was familiar with Mr. Perreaud, a
Reverend Worthy Proteftant Minifter, in
whofe Houfe all was done, and had his
Son for his Servant in his Chamber many
years 5 and from Mr. Perreaud had the Nar-
rative. Not long after, Dr. Peter Moulin,
Prebend of Canterbury, and Son to the fa-
mous Peter Moulin Printed the Book, as ha-
ving it from his Father, who had it of
Mr. Perreaud: And Mr. Robert Boyle > Bro-
ther to the Earl of Orery, a \Man famous
for Learning, Honefty and Charity, and
far alfo from weak Credulity, prefixeth an
Epiftle to it, owning it as undoubted Truth,
being acquainted with the Author, Mr. Per-
reaud, as his Brother was. All thefe three
worthy Perfons ( the E. of Orery, Mr. Boyle,
and Dr. Pet. Moulin) through God's Mercy
are yet living.
I hear fome report? that this Hiftory of
Mafcon is denyed by foiiie, that fay, they
have
r Jpparbions ahdWhchesl ip
have fpoken with Come that have been at
Mafcon, and knew nothing of it And
what wonder if fuch things that are talkc
of but a few days, be forgotten after fifty,
or fixty Years : They that will not be-
lieve the Narrative from fuch Men as the
Famous Peter Monltn Senior v and Dr. Pe-
ter Moulin Junior, that Printed it, and from
the Earl of Orery , that told me he was
Familiar with Mr. Perreand , and had his
Son many years his Chamber-Servants
and his Brother Mr. Robert Boyle -yet living,
that hath attefied it by a Preface, may read
all the Hiftory (. with many more of Witch-
craft printed in French, and^ Publifhed by
Mr Perreand himfelf •* And if they cannot
get it, they may go to my Kinfman, Willi-
am Baxter , now Schoolmafter at Newing-
ton , where they may fee it.
Could it be Counterfeit, and never Con-
tradi&ed in fifty or fixty years ( I remem-
ber not juft the year ) that in a City, (o
many of both Religions for fo many Months
together , might croud at a certain hour in-
to the Room , and hear a Voice anfwering
their queftions , and telling them things
far off, and to them unknown 5 and Dis-
puting with a Papift Officer of the City ,
and the Whirling him oft about, and cart-
ing him on the ground , and fending him
home Diftra&ed , I fay, if this , and all
the reft there written, fo atteited, be noc
so An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
Efficient Evidence, I know not what
is.
The faidEarlof Orery, told me of many
effe&s of Witchcraft or Deyils ( Men car-
ried about ) near him in Ireland, which I
ftall not particularly recite , though many
Witaefles were named.
This was written while they lived : Now
only Mr. Boyle Surviveth.
II. My next Hiftory ( (hall be that of
Lieutenant Colonel Bomn, which I will
give only in the words of others, as I re-
ceived it. Only telling you what they are.
i. Mr. Samuel J ones, is a Man of known
Learning , Piety and Honefly , though a
Silenced MinUter , now living rn GUmw-
ganjhire , by whofe Mediation I had the
other.
2. Mr. Bedwell was alfo a Credible Faith-
ful Minifter.
3. Mrs. Bowen her felf , either is , or
lately was living , a Woman very much
p^aifed for True Piety and Courage, Sifter
to Colonel Philip Jones, once one of Crom-
mtts Council.
4. Here is a Letter alfo from Colonel
Wroth Rogers :, late Governour of Hereford,
I think yet living, and a Credible perfon ,
though then not willing the Story fhould
be published? I fuppofe his Reafons are now
met*
5.1
Apparitions and Witches. 2 i
5. I fent into Ireland in his Life-time *
to enquire what effedt it had upon him ,
of which I had the Letter of Mr. Samuel
Foley , and Credible Perfons yet living.
6* And Colonel John Bridges then in
Ireland, purpofely enquired, and could learn
no more , but that he immured himfelf pri-
vately with one Servant in a Caftle, who
reported that he ufed to rife in the Night,
and walk about the Room p talking as to
fome one with him , and more I could not
hear.
7. I defired lately a Worthy Minifter
in Swanfey , to enquire whether ever fince
any thing had abated ,/the Belief of the
Fad: , who tells me (as others do ) thai it
is as fully believed by thofc that were in
the Houle , and others as ever.
C 3 $4
32
r An Hiftcr'tcal Difcourfe of
Several Letters to Mr. Richard
Baxter, in relation to an Ap-
parition in the Houfe of Lieu-
tenant Colonel Bowen, in Gla-
morganjhire, in Waks } in the
Year 1655.
Colonel Rogers, the Governor of
Hereford,/?/* Letter : Together
with an enclosed Relation of an
Apparition, &c
Dear Sir,
Y the Enclofed you will find fome-
tbiog of the Bunnefs you expected
from me : {h is certain and true, I
have received it from very good Hands.)
More there was, hot they did not think it
c vnvenient to put it in Paper. _ My Requeft
i>, that you will not expofe it to publick
View 5 it may rather do harm than good.
I know that God hath given you Wiidomj,
: and
Apparitions and Witches. 2 j
and you will make good ufe of fuch things :
It may harden others. This, with the En-
clofed, is all at prefent from
Tour Cordial FrienU
and Servant
Wf*r* W.Rogers.
The enclofed Relation of the late fir ange Ap~
parition in the County of Glamorgan.
IN the beginning of the late War, a Gen-
•tleman of that County being oppreifed
by the King's Party, took Arms under the
Earl of Effexy and by his Valour obtained a
good Repute in the Army, fo that in a
fhort time he got the Command of Lieute-
nant Colonel. But as foon as the heat of
the War was abated, his Eafe and Prefer-
ment led him to a carelefs and fenfual Life ;
inforriuch that the godly Commanders judg-
ed him unfit to continue in England, and
thereupon fent him to Inland, where he
grew fo vain and notional, that he was ca-
fhiered the Army 5 and being then at liber-
ty to fin without any Reftraint, he became
an abfolute Atheift, denying Heaven or Hell,
C 4 fiod
34 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
God or Devil, (acknowledging only a
Power, as the ancient Heathens did Fate,)
accounting Temporal Pleafures all his ex-
Ee£ied Heaven : So that at laft he became
atefiil, and hating all civil Society, and his
sieareft Relations.
About December laft, he being in Ireland^
and his Wife (a Godly Gentlewoman, of a
good Family, and concluded by all the God-
ly People that knew her, to be one of the
xnoft fincere and upright Chriftians in thofe
Parts, as being for many Years under great
Afflictions, and always bearing them with
Cfariftian-like Patience) living in his Houfe
in Glamorgan, was very much troubled one
Night with a great Noife, much like the
found of Whirl- wind, and a violent bear-
ing of the Doors or Walls, as if the whole
Houfe were falling in pieces : And being
la her Chamber, with moft of her Family,
after praying to the Lord, (accounting it
(Infill Incredulity to yield to Fear,) ftie
went to bed 5 andfuddenly after, there ap-
peared unto her (bmething like her Hu(-
band, and asked her whether he ihouki
come to Bed. She fitting up, and praymg
to the Lord, told him, he was not her Hut
band, and that he ihould not. He urged
more earneftly : What! Not the Husband of
thy Bofom ? What ! Not the Husband of thy
JBofcm 9 ( Yet had no power to hurt her.)
And (he, together with feme Godly People*
fpenc
Apparitions and Witches. 25
fpent that Night in Prayer, being very of
ten interrupted by this Apparition.
The next Night, Mr. MUcs, (a Godly
Minifter,) with four other Godly Men,
came to watch and pray in the Houfe for
that Night > and fo continued in Prayer,
and other Duties of Religion, without any
interruption or noife at all that Night.
But the Night following, the Gentlewo-
man, with feveral other Godly Women,
being in the Houfe, the noife of Whirl-
wind began again, with more violence than
formerly, and the Apparition walked in the
Chamber, having an unfufferable Stench,
like that of a putrified Carcafe, filling the
Room with a thick Smoak, fmelling like
Sulphur, darkening the Light of the Fire
and Candle^ but not quite extinguilhing it ;
fometimes going down the Stairs, and com-
ing up again with a fearful noife, difturbing
them in their Prayers, one while with the
found of Words which they could notdif-
cern, other while ftriking them fo that the
next Morning their Faces were black with
the Smoak, and their Bodies fwollen with
Bruifes.
Thereupon they left the Houfe, left they
fliould tempt the Lord by their over-bold
flaying infuch Danger, and fent this Atheifl;
the fad News of this Apparition ; who com-
ing to England about May laft, exprefled
more Love and&efpe£t to his Wife than
formerly 3
26 An Htftorkal Difeourfe of
formerly - 7 yet telling her, that he could
not believe her Relation of what (he had
feen, as having not a power to believe any
thingbut what himfelf (aw, and yet would
ikk hitherto go cp his Houfe to make trial,
bar probably will e er long, for that he is
naturally of an exceeding rafli and defperate
Spirit.
Jmkft,
Mr.
[Apparitions and Witches. 1 7
Mr. Samuel Jones's Letter in re-
lation to Lieutenant Col. Bowen,
together, with an inclofed Let-
ter from Mr, Maur. Bedwell ,
on the fame Subjeff.
Worthy and much Honoured,
■^ST T*OU may be pleafed to remember,
\f that when I waited upon you ac
JL the Sheriff's Houfe, in Sat/op, in
dugyfl laft > amongft your other Enquiries
touching the State of that poor Country
where the Lord hath caft my Lot for the
prefent: you defired me then to impart
what I had received by Relation, concern-
ing the Apparitions in one Col. Bowens
Houfe, and upon my return to procure you
fome further Intelligence touching that Tre-
mendous Providence. Whether it be by.
Time, or Familiarity with the noife here-
of, or rather, the (no lefs to be admired)
Blockiihnefs of the Spirits of Men , that
the Horror of that terrible Difpenfation be
allay'd, I know not, but furely the thing it
felf was very Stupendous, and the remem-
brance of it carries much Amazement with
it ftill, to them that have any thing of Ten-
darnels or Undemanding left them. By
the
2 8 An Hifloricdl Difcourfe of
the inclofed, from an Honeft and Godly
Hand, not far from the Stage where thefe
things were adled : You may underftand
the Subftance of that matter, the* Party (be-
ing a Minifter of the Gofpel) perfedly
knew Colonel Bswen, and hath often con-
verfed with him, both before and fince his
Houfe was haunted. If you are pleafed .to
command any further Satisfaction herein, I
fliall take a Journey my felf into the place,
and endeavour to gratifie your defire, as to
any further particular that you defire the
knowledge of. If any publick ufe be made
hereof you may conceal my Friends name
and mine own, left any offence fbould be-
taken by fome of the Parties Relations in
Parliament and Council. Of the receipt of
this Paper I defire to hear with all conve-
nient fpeed- At the Throne of Grace
vouchfafe to remember your weak and
wretched Brother, who yet defires to be
found in the number of them that are,
* Sir,
Tours in the furefi Bonds
to Honour and Serve you?
Coedrekm, Samuel Jones.
TheReafons why forbearing Names was
defired, being now over (yet Mr. 5. Jones
(till living) I think my felf difobliged as to
that Reftrainc. R B*
'Apparitions and Witches. 29
Mr. Maur. Bedwell/ inclosd Letter.
Dear Sir,
GLad I am of your fafe return , and
gladder fhould I be to be inftrumen-
tali according to my weak Capacity, of
nayling you to thefe parts. I hope, if my
defires are agreeable to the Lord, you will
meet with feme directing Providences from
him, which will anfwer all Objections.
As to Col. Bowens Houfe, I can give you
fome brief Particulars, which you may cre-
dit, as coming from fuch, who were not fo
foolifli as to be deluded, nor fo difhoneft
as to report an untruth : What I (hall write.,
if neea were, would be made good both
by Eye and Ear Witnefles. The Gentle-
man, Col Bom*j whofe Houfe is called
LaticUin in GowersUnd, formerly was famous
for Profeffion of Religion, but this Day is
the faddeft Man in his Principles I know-
living. To me, iq particular, he hath de-
layed the Being of the Spirit of the Lord :
His Argument thus, Either 'tis fomething
or nothing; if fomething, fliew me, tcil
me what it is, &c and I believe he gives as
little credit to other Spirits as the S adduces.
At his Houfe, aforementioned, he being
then in Inland, making Proviiion for
removing thither, thefe things happened.
About December^ laft 3 his Wife being in Bed,
a Gracious Underflanding Woman, and
one
jo An Hiflorical Difcourfe of
one whom little things will not affright 5
one in the likenefs of her Husband , and
juft in his Pofture, prefented himfelf to her
Bed fide, proffering to come to Bed to her,
which (he refufing, he gave this anfwer,
What refufe the Husband of thy Bofom ;
and after fome time, (he alledging, Chrift
was her Husband, it difappeared : Strange
miferable Howlings and Cries were heard
about the Houfe, his Tread, his Pofture,
Sighing, Humming,were heard frequently in
the Parlour i in the Day time often the Shad-
dowof one walking would appear upon the
Wall. One Night was very remarkable, and
had not the Lord flood by the poor Gentle-
woman and her two Maids , that Night
they had been undone * as (lie was going
to Bed, (lie perceived by the impreffion on
the Bed, as if fome Body had been lying
there, and opening the Bed (lie fmelt the
fmell of a Carcafe fome- while dead ; and
being in Bed ( for the Gentlewoman was
fome what Courageous) upon the Tefter,
which was of Cloth, (lie perceived fame-
thing rolling from fide to fide, and by and
by, being forc'd out of her Bed, (he had
not time to drefs her felf, fuch Cries and
other things almoit amazing her, but (he
(hardly any of her Cloths being on ) with
with her two Maids, got upon their Knees
by the Bedfide to feek the Lord, but ex-
treamly affaulced, oftentimes (he would, by
fome:
'Apparitions and Witches. Jt
fbmewhac which felt like a Dog under
her Knees, be lifted a Foot or more high
from the Ground ; fome were heard to talk
on the other fide of the Bed, which one of
the Maids hearkening to, flie had a blow
upon the Back : Divers affaults would be
made by fits ; it would come with a cold
breath of Wind, the Candles burn Blew
and almoft out * horrible Screekings, Yel-
lings, and Roarings, within and without the
Houfe fad fmellsof Brimftone and Powder,
and this continued from fome nine at Night
to fome three the next Morning, fo that
the poor Gentlewoman and her Servants
were in a fad cafe 5 the next Morning,
fmelling of Brimftone and Powder, and as
I remember, Black with it, but the Lord
was good : Fires have been feen upon the
Houfe, and in the Fields 5 his Voice hath
been heard luring his Haukes, a Game he
delights in, as alfo the Bills of the Hauks.
Thefe are the chief things which I dare re-
commend upon Credit, and I could wiih,
that they, who queftion the Exiftency of
Spirits had been but one Night at Lannd'm
to receive Satisfaction to their Obje&ions;
This continued fo violent, that the Gentle-
woman was fain to withdraw to her Mo-
thers Houfe ; but her Husband coming over
about iome four Months fince. his Confi-
dence did not ferve him to lodge at Lm-
wlin 7 although we have heard nothing of
trouble
'3 z An Riftcrical Difcourfe of
trouble to the Houfe fince his coming overi
Sir, the Difpenfatton, as it was exceeding
terrible, {o very remarkable 5 and what
the Voice of God might be in fuch a thing
'tis not known clearly yet : He is as Athe-
iftical as ever, all his Religion, if I may
call it fo, being comprifed in the acknow-
ledging a Power, which we, as he faith *
may call God, and waiting for fome infal-
lible miraculous Bufinefs toverifie to him
all the reft we own as our Religion. Sure*
Sir, if ever a Blafphemer was unworthy to
live, this is the Man ; and certainly his Sin
will find him out : He is now gone to Ire-
land ; let thefe things be divulged only as
to the matter without names. Affitre the
Gentleman, your Friend, they are very
Truths 5 I have fomewhat more than ordi-
nary for what I fay. At the firft we con-
cluded, the Wretch had been dead , but
'twas otherwife, and therefore the more re-
markable.
Tottr affectionate Brother,
to Love and Serve yot< 9
~J)8tk Maur. Bedwell.
Mtl
Apparitions and Witches. 3 3
Mr. Daniel Higgs his Letter, con-
cerning the Apparition in Lieu-
tenant Colonel Bowen s Houfe.
Dear Sir x , .
AS to the Concern you commit to me
about Collonel Boweh, accept of this
Account.
I have difcourfed with Brother Samel
Jones, who gave you the fir ft Narrative,
which if you have loft, he hopes he may
find the Copy of the Letter, and I ftall
fend it. 'Twas one Mr. Miles, an Anabap-
tift Minifter, that wrote the Letter to one
Mr. Bedwett, Minifter of Swanfey, who fenc
it Mr. Samuel Jones. This Miles (who fpent
a Night in Prayer in Colonel Bowens Houfe,
in the time of the difturbance) is gone for
New England. Two Minifters more, with
my felf, went to fpend another Night in
the Houfe, but Mrs. Bowen was gone with
her Family, and we ftayed not, but went
togive her a Vifit, who related ftrange
thlitfgs, but I cannot remember Cireum-
ftance^s. The two Minifters are alfo gone :
But fince I received lours, I have dilcoqr-
fed Mr. Bowen's Maid, wfio was in the
Houfe, and I judge her throughly Godly,,
who doth ateeft the Truth of thefe Appari-
D ■ mm4
34 An Hijhrkal Difcourfe of
lions, Noifes, &c which I fuppofe you had
fully in your Narrative *, but Time hath
fomewhat obliterated CiraimOances with
hen I know not well (Sir) how to get
greater light - 9 and I muft allure you, I find
not any thing out to invalidate that Report
you have had, but much that confirms it.
I {hall proceed according to your further Di-
redion in this,or any other Concern of yours,
and that with much Chearfulneis and Com-
placency. I commit you, and your huge La-
bours to our mighty and merciful Lord, by
Prayer and all well Wiibes. And if you
can think of any thing farther for me, o?
gather any thing by Difcourfe with learned
Men, vouchfafe to impart it ; and imprint
me (poor Worm) on your Soul before our
Father. I have fomewhat treipafled by
Prolixity, which becomes me not to fuch
a Perfon, in fuch a Sphere : But excufe him
who is
Tour afflifted
poor Brother,
Daniel Higgs.
Captain
'Apparitions and Witches] jj 7
Captain Samuel Foley's Letter
concerning Lieutenant Colonel
Bowen.
Worthy Sir,
TH E bed Account I can get of Colo-
nel Bowen is this, viz* That he is little
fenfible of his fad Condition. He lives in
the County of Corky in a beggarly way,
though he hath a fair Mate. Some Months
fince, he turned his Wife and Children
from him, in that fad unkind manner, that
they were forced to feek Relief from feme
Friends in Tough all, to help them in their
Return to Wales, where they continue.
Not long fince, in Difcourfe with Baronec
Ingolsby, and Mr. Gilbert, Minifter of Urn-
rickj from whom I have the moft part of
this Relation, he faid, he would give Ten
Thoufand Pounds to know the Truth about
God. Tis reported he is haunted with
ghaftly Ghofts and Apparitions, which fre-
quent him. I have written to the neigh-
bouring Minifters. and Gentlemen of my
Acquaintance as effe&ually as I could, en-
doting a Copy of your Letter 5 and from
them 1 hope to have a more full Account
concerning this poor Man. Your Letter
indeed came fafe, but not till August,
D s though
%6 An Hijiorical Difcourfe of
though dated in May* Sir, in any thing
wherein I may ferve you, you may freely
command me : But wherein I may ferve
the Church of God, the beft and utmoft of
my Endeavours , through the Lord's AC
fiftance, fhall not be wanting. What far-
ther fhall come to my Hands, fhall careful-
ly be reported to you, by him who begs
your Prayers, and fubfcribes,
SI*,.
Tour very Affectionate
Servant,
CUmeU,Oftoh6: „ , ^ t
! 6 f g. Samuel Foley,
After this, Collonel John Bridges wrote
tome owt o£ Ireland, that Bowen immured
liimfelf in afinall Caftle, with one Boy 3
who faid, he oft rofe in the Night, and
talked as if feme were talking with him.
R.B.
III. Col-
Apparitions andWitches. 3 7
III. Colonel John Bridges before named,
wasGovernourof^mwfe Caftlefthe Lord
Brooks ) almoft all the time of the Warsj
Afterwards he lived with us near Kedermin~
fter, being Patron of the Church, a Juftice
of Peace , a Parliament Man -, And after
lived in Ireland , where he furprized ( with
others ) DMin Caftle , and Sir Hardrefs
Waller for the King , before he was called
home. He was an llnderftanding Prudent
Man , of Sound Judgment in Religion ,
Juft 3 and Honeft ? and Credible.
He and his Pious Wife have oft told me
as followeth.
They formerly lived in Edfon Hall near
AlceBer , where Warwickjlrire and Worcefter-
Jhire joyns ; a Houfe famed to be haunted :
And being ufed to go into a Parlour alone
for Meditation, Prayer, and to play on his
Lute, once as he went in at the Portal, he
was (topt and held by fomewhat invisible,
till he refolved under Gods Protection, to
rulh through it , and go on.
Another time in a clear Moon-fliineNight,
their Maftiff Dog made fucha howling, as
raifed up the Houfe : He looked out at the
Window , and beyond a pale that compaf
fed the Court , there flood fomething like
a headlels Man , but taller : He long ga-
zed on it , and trufting God , returned to
Bed 3 And prefently the Hall Door ( fail
D 3 lock
38 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
lockt and Barr'd ) ufing to make a great
noife in the opening , having much Iron ,
feemed to them all to open as it ufed, and
foroewhat came in, and gave three great
flams , as with a Staff upon the Hall Ta-
ble, and departed. They went down to
fee , and found the Door lockt, and faft
as they left it. Mr. Sommerfield, who fince
lived in the fame Houfe , laid , that he
favv nothing there.
IV. A Pious Credible Woman, yet liv-
ing in London.^ lately told me oftimes,
being fometime under Temptation by fome
Difcontent of Mind , one day as (he pafled
through 7 a Room at Mid- day, the Devil
flood before her in the fliape of a Big, Black,
Man , and pointed to the top of the Door ,
Tempting her there to hang her felf ; and fo
flood near a quarter of an hour,and then Va-
mihed away : Which was fo far from dis-
maying her , that it much confirmed her
againlt Unbelief, and her Temptations :
Any one that will go to her here in London ,
may hear her Credible and Confident Re-
port of it.
V. The Elder Countefs of Domgal, a
Lady Pious, Difcreet and Credible, told
me,thatone of her Husbands Tenants ( near
Bdfaft or • Carkkfergm, where he was Lord)
agreed with him for to. 'put his Sons Life
with
apparitions and Witches. 59
with his own in a renewed Leafe of a Farm*
and he paid part of the Money , and dyed'
before the Leafe was made and Sealed.*
His Wife Marryed another Man , and paid
the reft of the Money out of her fecond
Husbands Purfe , , and therefore put in his
Sons Life, in (lead of her Son by the for-
mer Husband into the Leafe. The'Earl of
D'onagall going into England^ and being then
in the Weft, a Servant of his in Ireland, his
Porter,a flout lufty Man 5 was haunted with
the Apparition of the Woman's fir ft Hus-
band,tellinghim,that he muft goto his Wife,
and tell her that (he Ihould have no reft
till his Sons Life were put in the altered
Leafe : He askt why he fpake to him, and
what he had to do to meddle in it ? It An-
fwered him, thou art a Man fit for it, and
thou (halt have no reft till thou do it. The
Man delayed, and was ftill Haunted with
this Apparition: He went to the Minifter
of the Town , and told him of it \ who
Counfelled him to tell the Woman. She
iCpld him, that (he took it to be juft, that
her Husband that paid mod of the Money,
ihould have the benefit of the Leafe \ and,
perhaps not believing the Man * delayed.
This Apparition came to the porter again ,
and (aid , that (he may believe thee 3 go
tell _ her of fuch and filch Difcourle and
Actions, that were between her and me in
fecret , which none elfe knoweth of: The
D 4 Man
49 An Miflorkal Difcouvfe of
Man went and told her all that he was bid.
She confeflfed that it was all true , and Se-
cret between them 5 but ftill delayed , till
fome trouble ( I remember not what) mo-
lefted her felf : In fliort, the Porter and
fhe had no reft, till fhe had drawn a new
JLeafe with the Name of the firft Husbands
Son , and fent it into England? to the Earl
of Donagal, who Sealed it; and fo altered
accordingly.
VI An Ancient underftanding Pious and
Credible Man of llchefter in Somerfetjkire ,
is now in London, who the laft week told
me , that he was heretofore in Melancho-
ly Doubts and Trouble of Mind , and in
that Condition, had divers fenfible Mo-
Inflations by the Devil, as he lay awake in
his Bed , his feet have bin lifted higher
than his Head. I told him, that a Melan-
choly fancy might make him think fo : He
added to the confident Aflertion of it, that
he hath in the open day-time, as he hath
gone about his Hoofe , had a blow ftruck
on his face , as hard and plain, as any Mans
hand could (kike, and once fo hard, that
where his Nofe and Cheek joyn, it left
the place black and blew ( as they call it)
to the fight of all , in the fame manner , as
any other would have done ( with much
more J .
VII. The
Apparitions and Witches. 41
VII. The Story of the Haunting of Mr^
Mompeffons Houfe in Wihjhirh, is Famous ,
and printed in part by Mv.-Jofepb GUnvil :
Mr. Mompejfon is yet living, no Melancho-
ly nor Conceited Man : The truth not doubt-
ed of by his Neighbours 5 within this
Month, I fpake with one of them an At-
torney , who faid , that the noifes heard,
the vifible moving about of the Boards be-
fore their faces, and fuch like, were all un-
doubtedly true : And the thing unqueftio-
ned by Mr. Mompejfon (who to his great Coft
and trouble , was long molefted by itj and
his Neighbours , and thofe that purpofely
went thither to fee it: Notvvithftanding,
that when fome unbelievers went from Lon-
don to be fatisfied nothing was done when
they were there. For as God oweth not
fuch Remedies to Unbelievers , fo Satan
hath no defire to cure them : And it* is
iikely , doth more in Apparitions by Di-
vine Conftraint , than he is willing to do ;
becaufe he is moft fuccefsful, when he is
leaft known. Any one that doubts of the
truth of this Story , may yet have full fe-
tisfa&ion, the Witnefs being alive: But
this partly belongeth to the instances of
Witchcrafts, being Credibly fuppofed to be
done by Witchcraft of a Drummer, as you
may fee defcribed in the printed Story. I
knew Jofeph GUnvik to be far enough from
Fa-
4i An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
Fanatick Credulity, who himfelf faw much
of it, and puhlifht it.
VIII. In February, 1646. falling into great
Debility by Bleeding , at the Lady Cook^s
Hoofe at Milboume in Darby (hire $ I re-
moved to Mr. Noels Houfe at Kirtyy Ma-
hry in Lekefter-ftrire , where I lay weak
three weeks in March, in which tin^ the
Neighbours went to fee a Houfe in Latter-
wonb y reported to be haunted : Multitudes
ilockt to fee it , and affirmed , that at a
certain hcur of the day , (tones were
thrown at thofe that were prefent ,
which hit them , but hurt them not : And
that what ever time any one would whittle,
it was anfwered by a whittle in the Room ;
And no fearch could difcover any Fraud :
What became of it after, I heard not ; but
it continued believed commonly by the
hearers , thofe three weeks that I ftaid in
that County. v
N % IX. But the certaineft and fullett Inftance
oF Witchcraft that ever I knew, I fhall
here give you in the words of others : Oi-
ly adding, that about twenty years ago,
the tlmewhemit was doing, my worthy
and dear Friend Mr. George Hopkins , the
then Faithful Minifter of the Gofpel at
JEvejham, told it me himfelf , and told r^e
of their Care and Watchfulnels, to fee that
there
apparitions and Witches. 43
riiere were no Fraud committed in it. And
the Witch was hanged at WorceFker, and the
Woman her felf is yet living in Evejham,
and the thing never there doubted of: But
having occafion lately to inftance the fad
againft fome Unbelievers , I fent to Eve-
Jham, to a Godly, Credible, Friend, to fend
me word , whether any doubt had in thefe
years pad rifen concerning it, and to fend
me fome of the Flint Stones which were
voided by the Girl: Who fent me word,
that there w r ere no doubt of the thing, and
procured the now Minister of the place, to
write me theNarrative which Iherefubjoin.
And he fent me Oneftone, about the breadth
of a fmall Groat , and the thicknefs of a
Half-crown , which he faid, was all that is
there kept of them , taken by the Majors
Wife her felf, and kept by her, and there-
fore I muft fend it back again : Many had
fent for the Stones , and fo many troubled
the Houfe about them, that they threw
away, or buried the reft : And Mr. Boyle
told me , that the Earl of South- Hampton *
Lord Treafurer , for his Satisfaction , had
got a great number of them. I carryed
this about me a quarter of a year , and
then fent it home. But that which I chief-
ly inform the Reader of, is, that the thing
was fo long in doing , and fo Famous, and
fomany Pious,Underftanding Perfons mind-
ed it , that fufpition of Fraud was by their
Diligence avoided. The
44 -An Hiftoyical Difcourfe of
The Narrative as lately fent me
from moft Credible Perfons in
Evefham, is as followeth.
A Bant the Month of -dpril, 1652. Mary
the Daughter of Edward EUins y of the
Burrongh of Evejham , in the County of
Worcefier Gardner , then about nine or ten
years old , went in the fields on a Saturday
with fome other Children to gather Cow-
flips , and finding in a Ditch by the way
fidc,-.at thefaid Towns end, one Catherine
Huxky ', a fingle Woman , aged then about
forty years ( as is fuppofed eafing nature )
the Children called her Witch , and took
up ftones to throw at her , the faid Mary
alfo called her Witch , and took up a ftone,
but was fo affrighted , that ihe could not
throw it at her •-, then they all run away
from her , and the faid Mary being hind-
ttioft > this Huxley faid to her [ E!lws y you
fhall have ftones enough in your — D where-
upon Mary fell that day very ill, and conti-
nued fo weak and Languishing that her
Friends feared (he would not, recovers
but about a Month after, the began to void
ftones by the urinary paflages , and fome
little urine came away from her \ alfo. when
fhe voided any ftone .,' and the ftone fhe
voided.
apparitions and Witches, 45
voided , was heard by thofe that were by
her, to drop into the Pot or Bafon, and
(he had moft grievous pains in her Back and
Reins , like the pricking of Pins, the num-
ber of the ftones (he voided, was about
eighty, fome plain pebbles, fome plain flints,
fomevery fmall , and fome about an ounce
weight ; this ihe did for fome fpace ,
( a month or two, or there abouts ) until
upon fome ftrong fufpitions of Witchcraft,
the forenamed Huxley was Apprehended,
Examined and Searched ( at whofe Beds
Head there was found feveral ftones, fuch
as thefaid Mary voided) and was fent to
Worcefter , where at the Summer Affiz.es in
the faid year 165 2. (then at hand) (he was
upon the Profecution of the Friends of the
faid Mary, Condemned and Executed 5 upon
whofe Apprehenfion and Commitment,
Mary ceafed to void any more ftones 5 but
for a while , voided much blackifh and
muddy Sand,and alfo,in (hort time perfect-
ly recovered, and is yet living in the Town,
in good and honeft Repute, and hath been
many years Marryed , and hath had feven
Children 3 but never voided any ftones
fince , nor been troubled with the pain fore-
mentioned, Abundance of people yet living,
know the Subftance of this to be true, and
herMother inLaw((ince dead)kept the ftones
till (he was tired with the frequent Refort
of people to fee them, and the faid M#y $
and
^6 An Hiftorkal Difcourfe of
and to hear the Relation of the matter, and
beg the (tones ( for though many offered
Money for them , yet (he always refufed it,
nor did they ever take any, but it coft them
much upon the Girl, and the Profecution
of the faid Huxley ) and then fhe buried
them in her Garden , Edward Ellins, the Fa-
ther of the faid Mary , is alfo yet living ,
and a Man of honeft Repute , and utterly
free ( as alfo is the faid Mary , and all the
reft of her Friends) from the leaft Sufpition
of any Fraud or Cheat in the whole bufi-
nefs : This was known to hundreds of Peo-
ple in the faid Town, and parts Adjacent,
and many of them yet living, are ready to
atteft the truth of it.
X. Tn 1645, in Dorfet-fiire y I lodged at a
Village on a Hill, called ( I think) Everjhot,
in the Houfe of the Minifter, a grave
Man , who had with him a Son , alfo a
Learned Minifter, that had been Chaplain
to Sir Tho. Adams in London : They both
told me, that they had a Neighbour that
had long lain Bed-rid, that told all the oc-
caiion * That for a long time, being a poor
Labouring Man, every Morning when he
went out of his Door, he found a Shilling
under his Door, of which he told no one,
fo that in a long time, he buying fome
Sheep or Swine , and feeming Rich, his
Neighbours marvelled how he came by it:
At
"Apparitions and Witches. $f
At laft he told them , and was fuddenly
ftruck Lame and Bed-rid. They would
have had me fpeak with the Man 3 but the
Snow covering the Ground , and I being
ill, and the Witrieffes fully Credible, I for-
bore.
XII. I had the laft Week this following
Letter fent me, from, and by moft Credi-
ble Wife and Pious Perfons of Devon five,
from Exeter.
Nathan the Son of Mr. Zachens Crab y
Dyer, without Weft^ate, had Convulfion
and Falling-Fits about nine Years fince :
He was a Youth well kno**n to the late
Mr. Robert Atkins the Minifter, who thought
him one very hopeful for Religion Going
from one of his Meeting this Youth was
firil taken, having three Fits before he
came to his Mafters Houfe : His Legs fail-
ed him, he feemed to be pufh'd as if fome
body tript up his Heels, and fell forth upon
his Hands, but rofe agaia prefently. Some
weeks after he had Falling-fits, with foam-
ing at Mouth j thus he continued a Year and
half before any means were uied fofpeded
, for Witchcraft. After this, hearing of one
1 Gibs, Mr. Crab, the Father of this Youth,
and his Daughter, the Youth's Sifter, went
together to Mr. Gibs for help for the Youth,
They went once every Week for a Month
with the Youth's Water 5 the laft Week of
the Month the Sifter ask'd, what Mr. oibs
thought
w 8 An Rifiorical Difcdurfe of
thought now of the Cure? (they went td
him in the beginning of the Week ) he
Faid, that weeks Papers of Powder would
make a perfect Cure, but there would be
an alteration, that he would have two or
three panging fits different from the former*
which things fell out as he faid. When
this laft Week of the Month was over, they
had a Debate, whether they fhould go td
Mr. Gibs again, at length they concluded to
go, and went on the beginning of the fifth
Week with his Water. Gibs then told
them, Since you are come to me again, I
will give you that (hall make a perfedt Cure*
that you (hall need come to me no more :
then he gave them a Bag to hang about the
Youth's Neck, and Powder to take in
White* wine for one weeks time: Order
was given by him, when the Youth had
worn the Collar about his Neck for a
while, the Youth fhould take it off himfelf,
and burn it : but Mr. Eifon^ the Boy's Ma-
iler, took off the Collar after it had been
on two Days and a Night, and ihewed it iG
feme, to inquire , Whether it were not a
charm ? there being nothing in the Collar
but a Paper with this writing,
Ca/kn Dan Dane,
Dan Dant Callen^
Dan Calkn Dant.
Mr. Elfon kept the Paper by him after
'cwas taken from the Boy's Neck , about' 4
eigh-
Apparitions and Witches. 4^
eighteen Weeks,not fuffering it to be applied
again, being told that it feemed to be a
meer Charm; and the Boy being ask'd, if
he were content to have his Fits again ra-
ther than have a Cure from the Devil, who
would not cure his Body without greater
prejudice to his Soul, than his Bodily Dif-
temper could be reckoned ? he very readi-
ly anfwered, he would rather choole to
have his Fits again, and would leave him-
felf to the Hands of God, for his Difeafe
Or Cure.
When this Diftemper left him for the
Eighteen Weeks, he returned confiderably
to his Senfes and Memory, beyond what he
had before, particularly to be able to fort
Wooll at his Trade, which he had not been
able to do in a Year and quarter before;
About the Sixth Week of thefe Eighteen*
the Father weat to Mr. Gibs again, android
him how the Note was taken off, and tbac
feveral had the fight of it 3 Gibs then faid*
If the Fits do return again, he will be
worfe than ever, and at their return he
ihould be able to do him no good. His
Fits at the return were indeed far more ter-
rible than before, and much of another
kind than thofe of other Perfons in the Fal-
len-ficknefs : And thefe Fits did return td
him about 18 or x<> VVeeks $£ter they
^eafed, upon a Shrove-TuejAay i Mr, -ElfoM
inquiring into the time when they returned?
5 o r ln Hijlorica! Difcourfe of
(axdyit was when he threw the Paper that had
been about the YouthVNeck, into the Fire
and burnt it, unwilling to keep fuch a thing
any longer This Gibs hath the general re-
Eute of a Wizard, and his Father before
an. The Youth hath a long time been ut-
terly deprived of the ufe of his Reafon, and
is clothed, and otherwife ufed as a meer
Natural j and his Fits fo dreadful, that Per-
sons are afraid to behold him.
After the return of his Fits? he was put
to one Toe's in St. Thomas % , - where he
wrought at his Trade of VVorfted-comb-
ing, and feme means were ufed for his Fits,
which he pretended to have fome Skill in
curing, whofe Means were ufed about a
Month without any fuccefs 3 then and there
being at his Work, and fome figns appear-
ing of an approaching Fit, they fet him on
a Stool, thence he fell in a Fit, and brake
his Leg, the main Bone, in two pieces, a-
Botber Bone in many pieces. Then he was
brought home to his Father's Houfe j and
the Bones being fet, the Chyrurgion laid, if
he ihould have another Fit his Cure would
be impoffible \ he lay about a Month or
five Weeks very free from Fits, till his
Bones were fo well knit, that he could
walk abroad with Crutches, which he did
for a while, and then his Fits returned in
the fame manner as before his Bone was
broken-
After
"Apparitions and Witchesl 5 1
After his Leg was well recovered, he
Was carried to Mr. Pridham of Morchard^
he prefcribed Means, which he hop'd would
do him good, if there were any alteration
by theufe of his Pills which he then gave
him to carry with him, and take when he
came home : but before the Pills, he had
ordered a Vomit to be taken, in the work-
ing of which, they thought he would die.
Then they gave him the Pills, which, after
they had ftay'd above an Hour in his Sto-
mach, he vomited them up as they were
taken $ which were put up again in the Box,
and fbewed to Mr. Pridham , who faid, If
they had been given to a Child of two
Months old, they would have been digeft-
ed in half an Hour. Upon hearing the
whole, he faid, certainly there is fomething
extraordinary in the cafe- Being asked if
he could do him no good, he faid, he did
not queftion but he could, but being a Mi-
nifter he feared he Ihould lofe his Benefice
by Peoples faying he was a VVhite-VVitch.
The Youth's Mother apprehended, that
Mr. Staddon drop'd fome fuch words that
her Son was bewitch'd or poffefs'd,or fome-
what to that purpofe, who went through a
Courfe of Phyfick with the You th*. and
found nothing did anfwer£xpe<5tation.
For fome Years the Youth hath been
much prejudiced in his Speech 5 fometimes
she cannot fpeak at all, but is as one dumb
E z for
/
t J 2. 4s Hiftorie&l Difcourfe of
for a Week or Fortnight together : He
fpeaks plain enough between, but when he
hath the. Dumb Fits he can hardly move his
Tongue in his Mouth; and he is generally
fo deprived of Reafon, that he is clad, and
otherwife ufed as a rneer Idiot.
This Narrative was taken in the beginning
of April 1688.
Memorandum, The Youth continues in
the fame condition till this 27th of Septem-
' far 9 l6&$. £
. XIII. Tho' I colled much written hereto-
fore, I muft not tranfcribe other Mens
Books ; I here deftre the Reader to read in
:'Dr. Smctare's Book, called [Satan's Invifibls
Yforid\ among 36 Hiftories^ the X. called The
Devil of Genluce, where he will find fuch
mother Cafe as that of the Devil of Maf-
■con j where the Spirit, befides other A<St$ of
Moleftadon and Violence, for a long time
continued familiar talking to Men, before
fo many Wimeffe, as leaveth the truth of
the Hiiiory unqueftionable.
XIV. The Hanging of a great number of"
Witches in Suffolk and EJftx, by the diico-
very of one Hopkins, in 1645- and 1646 is
faiBoufly known. Mr. Calamy went along
with the Judges in the Circuit, to hear
their CoafeiTiQiiS, and fee that there were
no
'Apparitions and Witches. 53
no Fraud or Wrong done them- I fpak^
with many Underftanding, Pious and Cre-
dible Perfons that lived in the Countries*
and fome that went to them to the Prifons,
and heard their fad Confeffions- Among
the reft, an old Reading Parfon, named
Lowis, not far from Franlingham, was one
that was Hanged ; who confefied,that hehad
two Imps, and that one of them was always
Eutting him on doing Mifchief ; and ( he
eing near the Sea, as he faw a Ship un-
der Sail, it moved him to fend him to fink
{he Ship, and he confented, and faw the
Ship fink before him. One Penitent Wo-
man confefled, that her Mother lying fick,
and (he looking to her,fomewhat like a Mole
ran in to the Bed to her, which (he being
fiartled at, her Mother bid her not fear ic,
but gave it her, faying. Keep this in a Foe
by the Eire, &c. and thou (halt never want:
She did as (he was bid, fhortly after a poor
Boy (feemingly) came in, and askt leave to
fit and warm him at the Fire, and when he
was gone, (he found Money under the Stool ;
and afterwards oft did fo again, and at laft
laid hold of her, and drew Blood of her,.
and (he made no other Compact with the
Devil, but that her Imps fuck'd her Blood £3
and as I heard, (lie was delivered. Abun-
dance of fad Confeflions were made by
them, by which fome certified, that there
arp certain Puniihments that they were to
E 3 under-
54 An Hiftorkal Bifcourfe of
undergo, if they did not fome hurt as was
appointed them.
And in Lancajhire, long ago, many
^Witches were Gonvift.
That publifhed by Edmond Bower near 5^-
lUbury, is remarkable : I refer the Reader
to the printed Narrative,
XV. I will next infert a late Fa&
not far off, which when a Pious Credible
Perfon related to me , I defired him • to
fend me the true Narrative in Writing
when he came Home, and fully enquired
into the matter : And he fent me this Nar-
rative here following.
At Brightling in Suflex.
As touching the Relation of the Bright-
ling Story, which is in the Subftance un-
doubtedly true, however fome Circum-
flances of it may vary, be pleafed to take
the following Account.
On Munday was three Weeks, at, or
near the Houfe of Jofeph Cruttendm of
jBrightlingfixi old Woman about Noon came
to a Servant Girl of the (aid Cmttendens tells
her, fad Calamities were coming upon her
Mafter and Dame, their Houfe fhould be
Fired, and many other troubles befaithem$
but tells this Girl withal, TKat if fhefpake
of what (lie had told her, the Devil would
tear her to pieces, other wife fhe. need not
fear 3 for no hurt fhould come to her : The
fame
\Apparitions and Witches* 5 5
fame Night, as the Man and Woman lay
in Bed, Dire and Duft? &c was thrown at
them, but they could not tell whence it-
came: They rife and Pray, during which
that Difturbance ceafes^ fome fay they went
to Bed again, but finding the fame trouble
they are forced to rife Tuefday about
Noon, Duft, Dirt, and feveral things are
thrown at them again; before Night, a
part of one end of their Houfe Fired ; they
rake it down, it flafhes fomewhat like
Gunpowder 5 as they ftop'd it there, it be-
gan in another place, and thence to another,
till the whole Houfe was burnt down.
Some fay fome thing like a Black Bull was
feen tumbling about s the certainty of that I
aver not. The Houfe, tho' it burnt down to
the Ground it flamed not : The Night was
fpent in carrying Goods,or one thing or other
from one place to anothe 3 they, I think 5 re-
maining moftly without Doors. Thurfday CoJ.
Bmbndge (whofe Houfe the former was) be-
ing acquainted with the Man's fad Accident,
bid them go into another of his Houfes in
the Parilh, whither, when the Goods were
brought, fuch like Difturbances were there
aifo 3 the Houfe Fireth, endeavours are
made by many to quench it, but in vain,-
till the Goods' are thrown out, when it
ceafed with little or no help. In this con-
dition none durft let them into their Doors 5
they abide under a Huts the Goods are
E 4 thrown
56 An MijtOYtcal IJiJcotirJe of
thrown upfide down, Peuter-difhes, Knives,
Brickbrats ftrike them, but hurt them not;
Mr. Bennet and Mr. Brad/haw , Minifters,
came to Pray with them, when a Knife
glanced by the Breaft of Mr. Bennet , a
Bowl or Difh thrown at his Back, but
while at Prayers quiet 3 they w r ere without
Doors, there being very many prefeot, a
Wooden Tut came flying out of the Air,
by many, and came aod (truck the Man ; as
likewife a Horfe-ftioe,^which was by fom£
laid away, and it was obferv'd of its own
accord to rife again and fly to the Man, and
ilrook him in the midft of a hundred Peo-
ple: Upon ftri<9: Examination the Man
tonfeffeth, that he had been a Thief, an^
did it under the colour of Religion* Sab*
bath-day the Girl toldlier Dame the former
Story of the Womans Difcourfej fhe is
fent for, and Examined before Captain Col-
lins, Mr. BmbrUge^ and (lie is fearched and
watched 24 Hours: the Girl faith, fhe is
like the Woman, but I think will not fwear
it is the fame. This Woman was formerly
fufpe<3ed to be a Witch, had to Maidftone
about it, but got away, and hath lived about
Barwafi fome time fince ; her Name I know
not : Tuefday Four Minifters kept a Faft,
Mr. Bennet^ Welter ', Bradfiaw and & olden $ fince
I hear not of any trouble. Tis faid they
are in a Barn or Ale-houfe s while they lay
without Doors* the Woman fending fome
Meal
"Apparitions and Witches. $7
Meal to a Neighbours to make Bread, they
could not make it up into Loaves, but it
was like Butter, and fo they put it into the
Oven, but it would not bake, but came out
as it wept in. This Relation came from
Mr. Collins? who was an Eye-witnefs of
much of it.
XVI. About twenty Years paft, when I
was in the Lord Broghilh (now Earl of Ore-
r/s) Lodgings in London , one Night he
brought me the Report* that one of Crom-
welfs Soldiers being on his Watch, near the
Chappel of St: James s Houfe, fomething
came towards him in an affrightening fhape,
and he calling out, Stand, ftand, or I will
(hoot you, at laft difcharging, it ran upon
him, and threw him over the way far off;
and that it had been that day Examined,
and affirmed confidently; and what became
of the Report of it afterward, I know not,
fave that it was faid to happen oft. But on
this occafion the Earl of Orery { yet living)
told me, as followeth, That Colonel V&*
nabks (then going for Hifpaniola, with the
Soldiers that were there Repulfed and took
Jamaica) had a Soldier in his Army that
came out of Inland, and was under Colo-
nel Hill, who was then in London, and would
atteft this folio wing, viz* That this Soldier
looked pale and lad, and pined, and the
caufe was unknown: At laft he cam§ to
Colonel
5 8 An Hifiovical Difcourfe of
Colonel Hill with his Confeflion , that he
had bin a Servant in England, ( as I remem-
ber ,to one that carried Stockins and fuch
ware about to felljand for his Money, he
had Murdered his Mafter , and buried him
in fuch a place : And flying into Ireland ,
lifted himfelf his 5ouldier,and that of a long
time, when ever he lay alone, fomewhat
like a headlefs Manhood by his Bed, faying
to him, {Wilt thou yet confefs i 3 And in this
cafe of fear he had continued,till lately it ap-
peared to him when he had a Bed-fellow
( which it never did before ) and {aid as be-
fore {Wilt thou yet confefs"} and now teeing
no hope of longer Concealing it , he Con-
feffed: And as I remember, his going to
Hifpaniola was his punifhment, in ftead of
Death, where vengeance followed him. )
This he offered then to bring Colonel Hill
to me to atteft, ( fince the Writing of this f
the Earl of Orery is dead. )
XVX* Simon Jones, a Strong and healthful
Man of Kederminfler ( no way inclined to
Melancholy or any Fancies ) hath oft told
me , that being a Souldier for the King in
the War agaiott the Parliament , in a clear
Moon-ihine Night, as he flood Sentinel in
the Colledge Green at Worcesler, fomething
like a headlefs Bear, appeared to him 5 and
fo affrighted him , that he laid down his
Arms foon after, and returned home to his
Trade
apparitions and Witches. jp
Trade , and while I was there afterward ,
which was fourteen years, lived Honeftly ,
Religiouflv, and without blame, and I think
is yet living , which mindeth me of that
which followed! , though to me not known.
XVII. When I was young, moft credible
and religious perfons born \nWMm~Hallneiz
Wolver-hampton in Staffordshire^ oft told me
(dwelling with me in the fame Hoafe) that
oneRkhard White a Smith o{Wilden*Hafl y w&$
a prophaneAtheifticalMan, and believing
that there was no Devils , in his Cups
would wifh he could once fee the Devil,
if there were fuchathing; and that fud-
denly he changed his Life , and became a
profeflbrof zeal, and ftri&nefs in Religi-
on , and told them , that in a clear Moon*
fhine Night , the Devil in the fliape of a
great ugly Man , flood by his Bed fide ,
opening the Curtains , and looking him in
the Face , and at laft took up the Blanket,
and fometime fmiled on him, and then was
more ugly , and after a while ( in which he
lay in great Terror) the Apparition Vanish-
ed, and he was affrighted into the aforefaid
change of Life (as Bruno is faid to be the
Founder of the Order of Carthufian Fryers.
XVIIL My dear Friend Mr. Hopkins (Far-
ther to my Faithful BrotherMr.GeorgeHopkins
Minifter ajt Everjham^ till eje&ed, Aug. 24.
1662.
6 ° An Hiftorkal Di&owfe of
1662. and Grandfather to Dr. Hopkins, late-
ly Preacher at Laurences ) a chief Magi-
ftrate of Bewdky, and fince a Member of
the Long Parliament , oft pained as he
thought with the Spleen , but not at all
Meclancholy,cam§ to me at Mr. Hanbnryes y
the laft time before I was driven out of
the County ,and as a great fecrettold me, that
he was pofleiK meaning,I think BewitchtJ :
J chid him,as Fanciful and Melancholy : But
he without any (hew of Melancholy,affirmed,
that it was certainly true:I could not ftay with
him, and never faw him more. But he Jong
continued ijj pain and that Conceit, and be-
fore he dyed , a piece of Wood came
down into the reBttmmeJliwm> which they
were fain to pull out with their Fingers
His good Wife told me,it was of the length
of ones finger ; And that he and they were
ftre that he never fwallowed any fuch thing.
The beft Men It feems may be thus Affii<ft-
ed,as;M by Satan,
XVIIL There is now in London an un-
derftanding, fober, pious Man, oft one of
my Hearers, who hath an elder Brother, a
Gentleman of considerable Rank, who ha-
ving formerly feemed pious, of late Years
doth oft fall into the Sin of Drunkennefs :
He oft lodgeth Jong together here, in this
his Brother's Ho'ufe ; And whenever he is
drunken, and hath flept himfelf fober, fome-
thlng
Jpparitions and Witches. 6 1
thing knocks at his Bed's Head, as if one
knocked on a Wainfcot* when they re-
move his Bed, it followeth him : Befides
lowd Noifes on other Parts where he is*
that all the Houfe heareth. They have oft
watch'd, and kept his Hands, left heftiould
do it himfelf. His Brother hath oft told it
me, and brought his Wife (a difcreet Wo-
man) to atteft it; who averreth moreover,
that as (he watched him, (he hath feen his
Shooes under the Bed taken up, and no-
thing vifible touch them. They brought to
me the Man himfelf, and when we ask him
how he dare fo fin again, after fuch a
Warning, he hath no Excufe. But being
Perfons of Quality, for fome fpedal Rea-
fon of Worldly Intereft, I mult flot name
him.
Two things are remarkable in this In-
ftance. i. What a powerful thing Tempta-
tion and Fleflily Concupifcence is, and what
a hardned Heart Sin brings Men to: If one
rofe from the Dead to warn fuch Sinners,
it would not of it felf perfuade them.
2. It pofeth me to think what kind of
Spirit this is, that hath fuch a Care of this
Man's Soul, ( which maketh me hope he
will recover.) Do good Spirits dwell fo
near us ? Or are they lent on fuch Meflages?
Or is it his Guardian Angel ? Or is it the
Soul of fome dead Friend, that fuffereth,
and yet, retaining Love to him, as Dives to
his
i r An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
his Brethren, would have him faved ? God
yet keepeth fuch things from us, in the
dark.
XIX. There is now in London a Youth, (the
Son of a very Godly Conforming Minifter,)
vyho reading a Book of that called Conjura-
tion, coming to the Words and Anions which
the Book faid would caufe the Devil to ap-
pear, was prefently very defirous to try, and
defirous that the Apparition might be accor-
dingly. He came to me in Terrour, ha-
ving before opened his Cafe to a Parifh-Mi-
nifler, and affirmed to me, that the Devil
hath appeared to him, and follicited him
with a Knife to cut his Throat, and told
him, hemuftdoit fuddenly, for he would
flay no longer. I told him how fafe he
was, if he truly repented, and begged Par-
don through Chrift, and would refolvedly
renew his Baptifmal Covenant, and re-
nounce the Devil, and live as truly devoted
to God and our Redeemer: And I have
heard from him no more, but muft not
name him.
This (hews what Power Satan gets, if
Men do but confent : For I had a very
Godly Friend, that a Week ago told me,
that he read Cornelim Agrip\>d% Occult a
Fhilofophia ,. and read the fame Words
that he faith will raife Devils, but with
oo Defire, but a Detection of Succefs,
and
[Apparitions and Witches 1 . 6 j
and of the Book, and nothing appeared t©
him.
XX. Mr. Samuel dark hath publifhed the
Apparition to Mr. White of Dorchefter, Af-
feflor to the TFefiminft.er-Afkmbly, at Lam-
beth. The Devil, in a light Night, flood
by hisBed-fide: He looked a while whe*
ther he would (ay or do any thing, and then
laid, If thou haft nothing elfe to do, I have %
and fo turned himfelf to deep. Many fay it
from Mr. White, himfelf.
XXL This following I had from one of
unqueftionable Credit.
Amongft other things, I called to Mind
a Story fent me in a Letter from Cambridge,
that Week it was done, in i66i> or 1662.
and I did verily believe, and do ftill, that
Mr. Illingwrth fent it me, but he could not
refled its however, Mr.- Cooper hearing it
told it was a great Truth, he heard Mr.
Franklin, a Minifter of Wood-Rifwg, in this
County, twelve Miles from this City, Fa-
ther to the Child, tell it to Sir Philip Wood-
houfe. Mr. Franklin (his Character, farther
than that of a Minifter of the Church of
England, I cannot give you) was then Mi-
nifter of a Town (whofe Name I know not)
in the Ifle of £/j, and upon this Account
which I fhall tell you, removed to Wood*
Rifmg in this County.
This
64 An Hiftorkal Difcourfe of
This Man had a Child, to which a Spirit
often appeared at his Father's Houfe 5 and
grew fo bold and free, as very ordinarily
to come in whilft Company was in thd
Houfe, and Franklin }n the Room, and fit
down by the Boy. At due Years, about
the Year 1661, or 1662. he Was bound an
Apprentice to a Barber in Cambridge, (or at
leaft with him as a Probationer. ) One
Night the Spirit appeared to him in the
ufuai Habit of a Gentlewoman, and would
have perfuaded him to go home again,asking
him what he did there ? &c The Boy, af-
ter fome Treaty, replied, He would not go.
Upon which, he received a great Blow oil
the Ear, and grew very ill, but rofe. Be-
ing and continuing ill, his Matter prefently
horfeth, and rides to acquaint his Father,
In the Forenoon of that Day, the Boy fit-
ting by the Kitchin-fire, his Miftrefs being
by, fuddenly cries out, O Miftrefs ! Loo^
Then s the Gentlewoman. The Woman turns
to look, fees nothing ; but while her Head
was turned, hears a Noife as of a great Bok
on the Ear; turns, fees the Boy^ bending
down his Neck, and he prefently died. A-
bout the fame Hour, fo near as they could
guefs, the Mafter was fitting at Dinner in
the Ifle of Ely* with the Father: The v Ap-
pearance of a Gentlewoman comes in, look-
ing angrily ? taking a Turn or two, difap-
peared*
Thus
ilpparzttons and Witches. &5
I Thus I remember the Story came, ia
three Days after it was done, to me. \
Mr -Cooper this Afternoon confirms it, as
heard by him from Mr. Franklin himfelf :
Adding, the poor Man was fo affe&ed,
that he feemed almoft ftupid.
XXIII. From a credible Perfon I had
this following Account.
In the Year 1665. Elizabeth Brook§r 9 Ser-
vant to Mrs. Huron olHonyton, in the Coun-
ty of Devon, as fhe was ferving in Dinner
one Lord's Day, fuddenly felt a pricking, as
of a Pin, in her Thigh, but did not think
there could be any fuch thing 5 yet looking,
fhe found indeed that a Pin was there, got
within her Skin, but without drawing any
Blood, or breaking the Skin, or making
any hole or fign at all * and it was got fo
far within her Fle(h, that (he could hardly
feel the Head of it w r ith her Finger, but
yet fhe did plainly enough perceive that it
was a Pin 5 fo it continued the remaining
part of that Day. The next Day (lie felt
but little pain : The Tuefday fhe was much
pained, and the Pin wrought fo far into her
Fle(h,that (lie could no longer feel k with
her Fingers. The WUntfday (he went to
Exeter, that fhe might have the Advice of
Mr. Anthony Smith, a Chirurgeon thete, of
great Reputation. He, upon examining the
place ; would oot believe that 4ny Pin was
F there,
'66 r An Hiftorical Vifcourfe of
there, there being no Skin broken* no Swel-
ling, nor any other thing by which he might
perceive the leaft Token of any fuch mat-
ter. However, upon her confident* and
conftant affirming there was a Pin, he made
an Incifion •, and fearching with an Inftru-
meni, at length found the Pin, and took it
out : It was a little crooked, and of the
larger fort of fmall Pins- He prefently
made Applications for the Cure of the
Wound, which in about three Weeks time
was erTe&ed.
The Day before this happened, the Wq-
man had an unknown Perfon asked a Pin of
her, which the denied her, but did not fuf-
pe&her. And another Woman, Agnes Ri-
chardfon, who was fufpe&ed, was angry with
her, for blaming her about Mifcarriage in
an Errand that (he fent her on.
A true Relation from Honyton,
in the County of Devon, com
cerning Witchcraft*
Hsjngfion upon Tomes, Sept. 6, 16B1I
A Bout nine or ten Years fince, in the
Hcufe of Mrs. Hieron, of BonytM,
Widow, there happened this ftrange In-
iaoce of Witchcraft following-
Thi?
[Apparitions and Wit chef. 6j
This Widow Huron, aPerfon of good
Quality, kept a Mercer's Shop, and (I
think) doth to this day, in Honyton. She
had a Maid-Servant, Elizabeth Brooker by
Name, who fold Small Wares in^a Stall
before her Miftreffes Door. On Saturday^
which was their Market-day* a certain Wo-
man of Honyton Town came to the faid Eli-
zabeth Brooker, (felling Wares at the Stall
aforefaid 5 ) and asked her for a Pin. The
Maid readily gave her a Pin from her
Sleeves but this Pin did not fatisfie, fhe
would have a Pin of a bigger fort, out of a
Paper which hung up to fell. The Maid
told her, thofe Pins were not hers to give,
fhe mult ask her Miftrefs ; and when fhe
had Orders, (he would give her her Defire.
The Woman asked her again, and again j
and Elizabeth did as often deny. The
Woman went away in a great Fume and
Rage, and told die Maid, fhe fhould heat
farther from her* fhe would eer long wiih
fhe had given her the Pin fhe defireds with
many threatning Speeches, which the Maid
took little notice of, (though the Woman
was of an ill Report) Now, the next Day
being the Lord's Day. while her Miftrefs
and the Family were at Dinner, and Eliza-
beth Brooker waiting at the Table, on a fud-
den the Maid gave a very great Cry, and told
them, fhe had a Pin thruft into her Thigh*
which few of the Family did believe, know-
F z ing
6 8 An Hifmkal Difiourfe of
ing there was no Perfon in jhe Room Be-
fide her felf, and the Family, who all fate
at Meat, (lie only (landing to attend them.
Her Miftrefs arofe from Table, and Mr. Sa-
muel Bier on s Wife, (who was then living.)
She was forced to go to Bed ^ they fen t
for a Midwife of the Town, who had skill
in Sores and Wounds : She faw there had
been fome fmall Hurt in the Skin, but the
Pin was out of fight ^ and feeling fo as to*
underhand what it was, or exaftly where,
the Midwife applied her rare Plaifter of Ve-
#/Ve-Turpentine all that Night, and many
other things the next Day, but the Pain
was ftill the fame. On the Tuefday they ad-
vifed with Mr. Salter, a skilful Apotheca-
ry in the Town* who advifed them well,
whofe Couniel they followed, bur all in
vain. On Wedxefday, the fame Week,
they, with great Trouble and Fain, brought
her to Exeter, and lodged her at Mr. John
jfifoppws, a worthy Minifter of the Gofpel,
Who lived in Gaudies- Lane. They called
me to her, to advife what to do to eafe her
Paim Idefigned a Suppurative Cataplafm,
but^nbthing would fatishe the Maid, but
cutting of it out ^ which was (omewhat dif-
ficult? becauie it was hard to find the place
exadtly, where to make the Incifion , but
the Courage of the Patient did greatly pro-
mote the Operarion. i made a large jaci-
fion, according to the leogch of the Mufcks ■;
and
Apparitions andWitches. 69
and though I could find no fign of the Pin
upon the firft Incifion, yet by putting my
Incifion-knife obliquely, I felt the Pin, and
brought it out, near an Inch within the C#-
tk$ and upon that there was great Eafe,
and in fifteen Days the Sore was whole-
This Operation was performed in the pre-
fence of Mrs. Hoppw, Mrs. Gold, Mrs- Ford,
and many worthy Perfons, of good Repu-
tation- And I dare prefume, If this Paper
be fent to Hokypon, to Mr. Samuel Hieron,
Minifter of the Gofpel, he will have it fuf-
ficiently attefted concerning the firft part of
the Story, and none can tell the fecond pare
better than my felf, who performed the
Operation : And the Truth of that I give
under my Hand this 6th Day of September,
Anno Dom, 1 68 1.
Anthony Smith,
Chyrurgus Kingston*
XXIV. One born in the fame Town,
now living in London^ in a Journey, Anm
166^ lodged at an Inn in Culmfiock* in the
fame County. He went to Bed between
Ten and Eleven of the Clock, and foon
F 3 fell
70 An Hiftorkal Difcowfe of
fell afleep, not having any Apprehenfions
concerning the Houfe or Chamber. When
he awaked, he found himfelf laid out in
the Floor, at fome diftance from the Bed,
by the fide of a Table, the Bed-Cloaths,
&nd his own Wearing Cloaths, all upon
him, juft in the fame manner as he laid
them when going to Bed $ having nothing
at all under him, by which he got an ex-
tream Cold 5 and befides, his Leg and Arm
next the Table were forely bruifed. Being
awake, he be^m to think where he was,
but foon recolleded himfelf, and by the
Light of the Moon, which then lhone ve-
ry bright, he difcerned the Bed; and
putting on the Cloaths upon the Bed, laid
him down again, and flept the remaining
part of the Night very quietly. Soon af-
ter his being in Bed this fecond time, the
Town-Clock ftruck Twelve. He never
was out of his Bed in his Sleep before or
fince; and foon after he came to under-
hand that the Chamber was reputed to be
haunted.
Mn
apparitions and Witchesl yi
Mr. Charles Hatt's Letter, con-
cerning an [fouje being haunted
at Kinton, in Wotccfterlhire,
in the Tear \66j.
Worthy Sir,
According to your Defire, and iby Pro-
mife when I was with you about a
Fortnight fince, with Mrs. WUfon, concern-
ing a Man's Houfe in Kimon (fix Miles from
Worcefter ) being forely troubled, about the
latter end of the Year 1667. to the beft of
my Remembrance, viz..
I living at Benington, near -4»fter> itt
Warwickshire ■, Workmen come from Kin*
ton, acquainted me of an Houfe forely
haunted, naming the Perfen to me, (which
I have now forgot.) I being defirous to fee
or hear fuch things , went to the faid
Houfe-, but finding only a Maid there a
fpinning, I asked for her Mafter. She told
me, the Spirit ( to the beft of my remem-
brance (he called it fo ) had boxed him a-
bout the Ears, as he fate by the Fire, over
againfther* upon which, he cried out, and
went away to a Son's of his in the faid
Town, a little before I came. I coming
to the faid Man, defired him ta come home.
F 4 He
J % An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
He feemed unwilling, telling me how he
was abufed by it, and that in the Night ic
Would often pull him out of the Bed, and
did fo torment him, that he was a wea-
ry of his Life. But getting him home*
he fate him down about the fame place,
neat the Fire , and I fate over againft
him , difcourfing how he was troubled.
He told me, feveral had been with him?
as the Minifter of the placd, (to mybeft
remembrance.) They bid him pray, pray :
But he found no Relief I told him , I
knew no other way than by feeking to
the Lord, and not to fpeak (lightly of
Prayer. He told me, I might hear it be-
fore I went. I had not been long , but
there was a great Noife in the faid Room ;5!
of Groaning, or rather Gruntling, like a
Hog, and then gave a lowd Shriek- Here
it is , faith the Man. I was much con-
cerned upon the bearing of it $ fo recall-
ing my felf, I defired to go to Prayer in
the next Room, where the Man ufed to
lie. By this time many of the Towns-
People came in, and were at Duty. A-
bout the middle of Duty * the aforefaid
Noife came, as I thought, lowder, and
juft by me * however , I then was not
concerned. Afterward, having fome Dit
courfe with the Man about a Month af-
ter , I heard from him , that it did no
more trouble 'him,'' nor to his Death.
He
'Apparitions and Witches. 73
He lived, as I remember, two Years af-
ter. This is the beft and trueft Account
I can give. I reft,
SIR,
Tour Qhriftian Friend
to command^
Oinf.m^ Charles HattV.
POSTSCRIPT.
SlR,
I Spake to my Lady Rich, concerning a
Voice that Mr. Tiro heard, acquainting
him of hi$ Death. If you remember, I
told you of him, and you defired an Ac-
count of it. He was a Nonconformist Mr-
nifter, of Vnger, in Effhx: My Lady will
fend you the Account of it. This Mr. Tiro
had an extraordinary Love for you.
rale, GH.
CHAP.
74 An ffiftorkal Difcourfe of
CHAP. III.
MR. John Humphreys, brought Mr. May
Hill to me 5 with a Bag of Irons ,
Nails and Brafs , vomited by the Girl. I
keep fome of them to fhew : Nails about
three or four inches long , doubled crooked
at the end j and pieces of old Brafs doubled,
about an Inch broad, and two or three
Inches long, with crooked edges : I defi-
red him to give me the Cafe in Writing,
which he hath done as followeth : Any one
that is incredulous , may now at Becking-
ton receive Satisfaction from him, and from
the Maid her felf.
In the Town of Bectyngton^ by Froome itl
Somerfet-Shire , liveth Mary Hill , a Maid of
about Eighteen years of Age, who ha-
ving lived very much in the Negled of
her Duty to God , was fome time before
Michaelmas laii paft was Twelve-Month ,
taken very ill , and being feized with vi-
olent Fits , began to Vomit up about two
hundred crooked Pins. This fo Stupendous
an Accident , drew a numerous Concourfe
of People to fee her : To whom when in her
Fits, foe did conftantlyaffirm,that ftefaw a-
gainft the Wall of the Room * Wherein
[Apparitions and Witches. 75
flie lay , an old Woman named Elizabeth
Carrier , who thereupon being Apprehend-
ed by a Warrant from a Juftice of Peace,
and Convi&ed by the Oaths of two Per-
fons , was committed to the County
Goal.
About a Fortnight after , flie began to
Vomit up Nails, Pieces of Nails, Pieces of
Brafs, Handles of Spoons, and fo continu-
ed to do for the fpace of fix Months and
upwards : And in her fits, flie faid there did
appear to her an old Woman, Named Mm?*
gery Coombes , and One Ann More 5 who alfo
by ? Warrant from two Juftices of the
Peace , were Apprehended and brought to
the Seflions held at Brewton for the County,
and by the Bench committed to the Coun-
ty Goal : The former of thefe dyed as foon
as flie came into Prifon , the other two
were Tryed at Taunton Alfizes, by my Lord
Chief Juftice Holt , and for want of Evi-
dence, were acquitted by the Jury. The
Perfons bound over to give Evidence, were
SufannaBelton, and Ann Holland , who Upon
their Oaths Depofited , that they hookt out
of the Navel of the faid Mary Hill, as flie
lay in a dead fit, crooked Pins, fmall Nails,
and fmall pieces of Brafs , which were pro-
duced in Court before the Judge, and from
him handed to the Jury to look upon them.
Whereupon Mr. Francis Jejjk, and Mr. chri-
ftopher Bnwer declared , that 'they had feen
the
j6 An HifloYtcal Difcourfe of
the faid Mary Hill to Vomit up at feveral
times Crooked Pins , Nails, and Pieces of
Brafe, which they alfo produced in open
Court, and to the end, they might be at
certakied it was no Inrpofture, they decla-
red, they had fearched her Mouth with
their Fingers before flie did Vomit.
Upon which the Court thought fit to call
for me, who am the Minifter of the Parifh,
to teftiffe the Knowledge of the matter ,
which I did to this EfFed, that I had ken
her at feveral times , after having given
her alktle fmall Beer, Vomit up Crooked
Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brafs. T nat
to prevent the Suppoiition of a Cheat, I
hadcaufed her to be brought to a Window,
and having lookt into her Mouth, I fearcht
it with my Finger, as I did the Beer before
ihe drank it. This I did, that I might not
be wanting in Circumftantial Anfwers, to
what my Lord and Court might pro-
pofe.
I well remember, a Gentleman on a Sa-
turday came to my Houfe ( Incognito ) to
kaow of me the truth of the Country Re-
port about this Maid, haying feen fomeof
the Nails, &c (he had Vomited up. I told
him it was very true, and if he would ftay
in Town till the Morning, he might
fee it himfelf, for his own Satisfaction.
Which hs did , and early in the Morning,
was called to fee her. But becaufe Beer was
not
'Apparitions and Witches^ 77
not given her when (he wanted it, (he lay
in a very Deplorable Condition, till paft
two in the Afternoon 5 when with much
Difficulty, /he brought up apieceofBrafi,
which the laid Gentleman took away with
him. Though before the faid Piece of Brafs
came up, he told me hewasfatisfied of the
Truth of the thing , becaufe it was impof-
fible for any Mortal to Counterfeit her mife-
rable Condition She fometimes lying in a
dead Fit,with her Tongue fwelled out of her
Head, and then reviving, ihe would fall
to Vomiting , but nothing came up till a-
bout two a Clock in the Afternoon. Nay,
fo curious was he to Anticipate any Cheat,
that he fearcht her Mouth himfelf s give
her the Bear , held her up in his hand, and
likewife the Bafon,into which (he Vomited,
and continued with her all this time, with-
out eating and drinking , which was about
eight hours, that he might be an Eye- Wit-
nefs of the Truth of it. Nay, further, he
found the Maid Hying only with a Brother ,
and three poor Sillers, all young Perfons,
and very honert, and the Maid kept at the
Charge of the Fariih, were fufficient Teffi-
monies they were uncapable of making a
Cheat of it. The Gentleman I now men-
tioned, was, ( as I afterward learnt ) Efquire
Player of Caftle-Cary.
I have often wondred how it was poffible
for all that Trumpery to be conveyed into
her
78 r An Hiftorical Dtfcourfe of
her Body , which at Intervals, fhe caft up*
I therefore made all theObfervationl could
to fatisfie my felf and others. I found that
thole things which fhe brought up in the
Morning J were conveyed into her Body
by fome Diabolical Power, when /fhe was
in Bed at Night. What induced me eafily
to believe this , was, by confidering thefe
following Circumftances.
i. That it was only in the Morning, that
ihe Vomited up Nails, &c. and fcarce did
any thing in the Afternoon.
2. I found by Enquiry, that fhe always
flept with her Mouth open , and could not
help it, and when afleep, fhe could not be
awaken'd either by calling, jogging or
pulling of her, for fome confiderable time i
though at the fame time , fhe fetcht fuch
deep and painful Groans , as if fhe were
awaked, and fenfible of her fad Conditi-
on.
3. For my Farther Satisfa&ion , I got
fome at my own Charge to fit up at Nights
with her , and watch her Mouth, and to fee
it was kept clofe fhut. Whilft this was
3one,the Vomiting of Nails ceafed,and that
for thirteen Nights Succeffively - 7 but when
it was neglected, flie would be fure to bring
up fomething of Nails, or fome fuch ftuft.
I then had her lodged at a Neighbours
Houfe 3 to fee whether her Vomiting of
Nails
'Apparitions and WitcheT. 79
Nails would totally ceafe,but it did not. For
coming one day to my Houfe, to refrefli her
felf , (he had not bin there two Hours, be-
fore (he began to be itl , we immediately
gave her iome Beer , and (he Vomited up
a great board Nail. Some time after this,
flie threw up a great piece of Brafs, which
I faw followed with much Blood, and (he
being extreamly weakened with driving*
and falling into a Fit, I caufed a Wo-
man to open her Mouth , who took out as
much Blood, as (he could hold in the hol-
low of her hand.
After the Affizes afore-mentioned was
ended, and (he was turned home , (he grew
worfe than ever,by Vomiting of Nails,Pi£ces
of GlSfs, &c. And falling one day into a
Violent Fit , (he was fwelled to an extraor-
dinary bignefs, fomeBeer being given her*
fhe throws up feveral Pieces of Bread and
Butter, befmeared with aPoyfonous matter,
which I judged to be white Mercury. This
fo much affrighted the Neighbours, that
they would come no more near her. So that
one day, (he being taken defperate ill, I was
fent for to pray with her , and Compaffio-
nating the Deplorablenefs of her Conditi-
on , I at laft refolved to take her into my
own Houfe , where in fome (hort time, the
Vomiting ceafed 5 though for fome fpace,
her Diftorting Fits followed her. But, blef-
fed
go An Hifiorkal Difcourfe bf
fed be God, is now, and has been for a
confiderable time laft paft in very good
health, and fit for a Service,;
April 4 . May Hill Mmifter of Beckington,
1691. In the County of Somerfet.
II. They that will read Mr. Incruf*
Mathers Book , and efpecially his Sons,
Mr. Cotton Mathers Book of the Witch-
crafts in New-England , may fee enough to
Silence any Incredulity that pretendeth to
be Rational.
Mr. Emlin a Preacher now in DubHnitoli
me the Story of the Bewitching of two
Gentlewoman , Sifters to Mr. Pacy, now
a Pious Juftice in Left oft in Suffolk^. He
and his Sifters now Married, are all yet
living : They were ufed much like thofe in
New- En glandy mentioned by Mr. Cotton Ma*
ther y ~ being Children then about nine and
eleven years old : But Iunderftand that the
Story is in Print , and it is alfo in M. 5.
from Judge Hale himfelf , who Condemn-
ed the Witch , ( which no Man was more
backward to do, without full Evidence. ) A
Lady of my Acquaintance, hath it under
his Hmd* Therefore I forbear the par-
ticulars: Only one odd paffage that Mr.
Emlin told me I (hall recite. A Godly
Minilrer yet living? fitting by to fee one
of
'Apparitions and Witches: 8 1
of the Girls in her fits , fuddenly felt a
force pull one of the Hooks from his
Breeches.* And while he looked, with
wonder what was become of' it > the Tor-
mented Girl, Vomited it up out of her
Mouth: Any that doubteth of this Story,
may be fatisfied of Mr. Facy, and both his
Sifters yet living , and may know all the
Evidences and Orcumftances which I pafs
over.
char
S z r An Wftorkal Difcourfe of
:
C H A P. IV.
Inflames fentme from the tyu^e of
Lauderdale; {More in other
Letters #f his I gave away^ and
fqme Books of Forreign Wonders
he fent me)
SIR,
IT Is Fad that the Saddncean, or rather A-
theiftical denying of Spirits , or their
Apparitions fhould fo far prevail ; and fad-
der, that the clear Teftimonies of fo many
Ancient and Modern Authors fhould not
convince them* But why fbould I wonder,
if thofe who believe not Mofu and the
Prophets, will not believe though one
fbould rife from the Dead ? One great caufe
of the hardening of thofe Infidels, is, the fre-
quent Impoftures which the Romamfls ob-
trude on the World in their Exorcifmsand
pretended Miracles. Another is the too
great Credulity of fome who make every
thing Witchcraft which they do not under-
ftand : And a third may be the Ignorance
of fome Jodges and Juries, who condemn
Silly Melancholy People upon their owo
Cohfeffion, and perhaps, (lender Proofs.
None
'Apparitions dndWitchesl 8j
None of thefe three can be deny'd, but it
is impertinent arguing to conclude, that be-
caufe there have been Cheats in the World,
becaufe there are fome too credulous, and
fome have been put to Death for Witches,
and were not, therefore all Men are de-
ceived. There is fo much written, both
at home and abroad, fo convincingly, and by,
fo unqueftionable Authors, that I have not
the Vanity to add any thing, efpecially to
you : But becaufe you have defired me to
tell you the Story of the Nuns at Loudutt
and fome others, I (hall firft tell you of a
real PofTefflon near the place I was born in 5
next of difquietings by Spirits (both which
I had from unqueftionable Teftimonies) and
then I ihall tell you what I faw at Loudnn 7
concerning that which I do not doubt to
call a Pretended Pofleifion, fure I am a
Cheat. About 30 Years ago, when I was
a Boy at School, there was a poor Woman
generally believed to be really pofleiled.
She lived near the Town of Duns in the
Mers ; and Mr. John Weems then Minifter of
Buns (a Man known by his Works to be a
Learned Man, and I knew him to be a
Godly Honeft Man) was perfwaded fhe was
poffeifcU I have heard him many times
fpeak with my Father about it, and both of
them concluded it a real Poffeffion. Mr.
Weems vifited her often, and being convinced
of the truth of the thing, he, with fome
G % Neigh*
84 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
Neighbour Minifiers, applied themfelves to
the King's Privy Council for a Warrant to
keep Days of Humiliation for her. But the
Biihops being then in Power (would not al-
low any Fafts to be kept. I will not trouble
you with many Circumftances, one I iliall on-
ly tell you, which I think will evince a real
Pofleffion. The Report being fpread in the
Countrey, a Knight of the Name of Forbes,
who lived in the North of Scotland, being
come to Edenborough, meeting there with a
Minifter of the North ^md both of them de-
iirous to fee the Woman,the Northern Mini-
fter invited the Knight to my Father's Houfe
(which was within Ten or Twelve Miles of
the Woman) whither they came, and next
Morning went to fee the Woman. They
Found her a poor Ignorant Creature, and
feeing nothing extraordinary, the Minifler
fays in Latin to the Knight, Nondum audi-
*vimm Spiritum loquentem^ prefently a Voice
comes out of the Womans Mouth, Andis
loquemen?^ aitdis loquentem : This put the Mi-
nifter into fome amazement ( which I think
made him not mind his own Latin) he took
off his Hat, and (aid, b%iferj6*tur Bern pec-
catoris: the Voice prefently out of the
VVomans Mouth (aid, Dk peccatrkis^ die pec-
catrkis ; whereupon both of them came out
of the Houfe fully fatisfied , took Horfe
immediately and returned to my Father s
Houfe at Thrrlefiane Caftle in Lauderdale,
where
Apparitions and Witches. 8 %
where they related this paffige. This I do
exa&ly remember. Many more Particulars
might be got in that Countrey, but this
Latin Criticifm in a moft Illiterate Igno-
rant Woman , where there was no pre-
tence to difpoffeffing, is Evidence enough, I
think-
Within thefe 50 or 40 Years there was
an unqueftionable Poffeffion in the United
Provinces, a Wench that fpoke all Lan-
guages, of which I have heard many Parti-
culars when I lived in the Low-Countries,
but that being Forreign I will not infift on it.
: As to Houfes difquieted with Noifes, I
fliall tell you one that happened fince I was
a Married Man* and hint at more, which
if you pleafe, I can get you authentically at-
tefted.
Within four Miles of Edenborough, there
lived an Aged Godly Minifter, one that
was efteemed a Puritan 5 his Son now
Minifter of the fame place, and then or-
dained his Affiftant. Their Houfe was ex-
traordinarily troubled with noifes, which
they, and their Family , and many Neigh-
bours (who for divers Weeks ufed to go
watch with them) did ordinarily hear. Ie
troubled them moft on the Saturday Night,
and the Night before their weekly Ledure-
day. Sometimes they would hear all the
Locks of the Houfe, on Doors and Chefts
to fly open-, yea, their Cloaths which were
G 3 an
6% r $n Hifiorkal Difirourfe of
at Night lock'd up into Trunks and Chefls,
they found in the Morning all hanging a~
bout the Walls. Once they found their
bed Linnen taken out, the Table covered
with it, Napkins, as if they had been ufed,
yea and Liquor in their Cups,as if Company
had been there at Meat. The rumbling
was extraordinary : The good old Man com-
monly called his Family to Prayer when it
was moft troublefome 5 and immediately it
was converted into gentle knocking, like
the modeft knock of a Finger : But as foon
as Prayer was done, they fhould hear ex*
ceflive knocking, as if a Beam had been
heaved by ftrengthof many Men againft the
Floor. Never was there Voice nor Appa-
rition » but one thing was remarkable ;
(You rnuft know, that it is ordinary in Scot-
land to have a half Cannon Bullet in the
Chimney-corner, on which they break their
great Coals.) A merry Maid in the Houfe,
being accuftoraed to the Rumblings, and fo
her Fear gone, told her fellow Maid- Ser-
vant, That if the Deil troubled them that
Night, (he would brain him ; fo Ihe took
the Half-Cannon Bullet into Bed : The*
Noife did not fail to awake her, nor did
file fail in her defign, but took up the great :
Bullet, and with a rhreatning, threw it as
ihe thought, on the Floor ,but the Bullet was
pever morefeen; the Minifter turned her a<
way for meddling and calking to it. All thefe.
Particulars
'Apparitions and Wfichesl 87
Particulars I have had from the Mouth of
the Minifter now living, he is an Honeft
Man , of good Natural Parts , well bred
both in Learning arid by Travel into For-
reign Parts in his Youth. I was not in the
Countrey my felf daring the time, but I
have it from many other Witness, and my
Father's Steward lived then in a Houfe of
mine within a Mile of rhe place, and feat
his Servants conftantly thither ; his Son now
ferves me, who knows it.
I could tell you an ancienter Story before
my tigie, in the Houfe of one Burnet, in the
North of Scotland > where ftrange things
were feen, which I can get fufficiemiy at-
tefted. Alfo in the Southweft Border of
Scotland, in Annandak there is a Houfe cal-
led Powdim, belonging to a Gentleman cal-
led Johnfton, that Houfe hath been haunted
thefe 50 or 60 Years. At my coming to
Worcefier 165 1 I fpoke with the Gentleman
(being my felf quartered within two Miles
of the Houfe) he told me many extraordina-
ry Relations confifiing in his own Know-
ledge : And I carried him to my Mailer,
to whom he made the fame Relations:
Noifes and Apparitions, Drums and Trum-
pets heard before the laft War; yea, he
(aid, {omeEngliJh Soldiers quartering in his
Houfe, were foundly beaten by that then
irrefiftible Inhabitant : (This laft I wonderM
at, for I rather expe&ed he ihould have
G 4 beeq
SS An Hiftovkal Dtfcourfe of
been a Remonftrator, and oppofed the Re-
finance : ) And within this Fortnight Mr.
James Sharp was with me (him you know*
and he is now at London) he tells me, that
Spirit now (peaks, and appears frequently
in the fhape of a Naked Arm 5 But other
Difcourfe took me off from further inqui-
ry. Thefe things I tell you in obedience to
your defire, but as I faid before, I defire
them not to be Printed. Atheifts are not
to be convinced by Stories: Their own
Sences will no more convert them than
Sence will convert a Papift from Tranfub-
fiantiation; and Scottifh Stories would make
the difaffe&ed jeer Scotland^ which is the
objed of Scorn enough already.
When I was in JDorfetftire Prifoner, one
Mr. Jo. Hodder, Minifter of Hauke-Church
in that County, told me of ftrange Appari-
tions, and unqueftionable Evidences of the
a&ingsof Spirits in a Houfe, yea, a Religi-
ous Houfe of that Country, of which he was
himfelf an Ear and Eye Witnefs.
In Dorchefter alfo, the Son of Reverend
Mr. Jo. White (who was Afleffor to the Af-
fembly at Weftminfiet) told me many Parti-
culars of that Houfe in Lambeth where his
Father lived in the time of the Aflembly,
which then was unquefiionably haunted
with Spirits. I do w r ell remember, I dined
with old Mr. White then one day, and at
Dinner he told us much of it, and that that
i Morning
"Apparitions and Witches. gp
Morning the Spirit called up the Maid to lay
the Beef to the Fire. Of the tvvolaft you may
be fatisfied when you pleafe $ and at this pre-
sent, I am told, there is a Houfe at Folie-
John-Park not' three miles from the place
haunted with Spirits.
But I muft leave room for my Loudun
Nuns, and not write a Book 5 In the Year
1637, being at Paris in the Spring, the City
was fo full of the pofleffion' of a whole
Cloyfter of Nuns, and fome Laick Wenches
at Loudun^ Books Printed, and flrange Sto-
ries told, that few doubted it 5- and /, who
was perfwaded fuel) 2^ thing might be, and
that it was not impoffible the Devil could
poflefs a Nun as well as anorher, doubted
it as little as any body. So coming into that
Country, I went a days Journey out of my
way to fatisfie my Curiofity. Into the
Cbappel I came in the Morning of a Holy
Day* "and with as little prejudice as any
could have, for I believed verily to have
feen fome ftrange fights 3 but when I had
feen Exorcifing enough of three or four of
them in the Chappei, and could hear no-
thing but wanton Wenches finging baudy
Songs in French, I begun to fufpect a Four be,
and in great Gravity went to a Jefuite, and
told him, I had come a great way in hope
to fee fome flrange thing, and was forry to
be difappointed. He commended my Ho-
ly Cpriofity,.and after he had thought a
while,
90 An Hiflorkal Difcourfe of
while, he defired me to go to the CaftJe^
and from thence, at fuch am. Hour, to the
Parifh Church, and I fhould be fatisfied- I
wonder'd at his Correfpondence, yet grave-
ly went where he directed me, In the
Caftle I faw little, but in the Pariili Church
I faw a great many people gazing, and a
Wench pretty well taught to play Tricks,
yet nothing fo much as I have feen twenty
Tumblers and Rope-cancers do. Back I
came to the NunsChappel, where I faw
the J e frits ftill hard at work at feveral Al-
tars, and one poor Capuchin, who was an
Obje<5fc of Pity, for he was pofleffed in-
deed with a Melancholy Fancy, that De-
vils were running about his Plead, and con-
ilantly was applying Relicks. I faw the
Mother Superior exorcifed. and faw that
Hand on which they would have made us
believe, The names L H* S. MARl A,
J OS E PH y were written by Miracles 5
<but it was apparent to me it was done
with Aqua Forth) then my Patience was
quite fpenc, and I went to z'Jefmt and told
him my Mind freely. He dill maintained
a real Poffellion, and I defired for a tryal
10 fpeak a ftrange Language: He asked
what Language ? i told him I would not
■.sell* but neither he nor all thofe Devils
'iliouid underftand me. He asked if I would
be converted upon the Tryal, (for I had
:difcovered I was no PapifU I told him that
was
apparitions and Witches. g i
was riot the Queftion, nor could all the De-
vils in Hell pervert me 5 but the Queftion
was, If that was a real Pofleffion, and if
arty could underftand me I (hall confefs it
under my Hand : His anfwer was, Thefe
Devils have not travelled \ and this I re-
plyed to with a loud Laughter, Nor could
I get any more Satisfa&ion. Only in the
Town I heard enough that it was a Cheat
invented to burn a Curate (his name, as I
take it, was Cupf) and the Man had been
really burnt to Allies, as a Witch, but the
People laid it was for his Converfion from
them. At my coming to Sanmur next day,
my Country-man , Dr. Duncan, Principal
of the Colledge at Saumur, told me how
he had made a clearer Difcovery of the
Cheat in prefence of the Bifhop of Vomers,
and of all the Country, how he had held
faft one of the pretended poflefled Nuns
Arms in fpite of all she Power of their
Exorcifms, and challenged all the Devils in
Hell to take it out of his Hand- This, with
many more Circumftances, he told me, and
he printed them to the World 3 but this is
already too tedious. One^ore Journey I
made to fee Poflefled Women exor-
cifed near Antwerp, ^nno 1649. but faw
only fome great Holland Wenches hear Ex-
orcifm patiently , and belch mod abomi-
nably. So if thofe were Devils, they were
windy Devils 5 but I thought they were
only
£ 2 An Hifiorkal Difcourfe of
only pofleffed with a Mornings Draught of
too new Beer. Some of the Loudun Nuns,
after great Refiftance and Sqaeeking , did
on great importunity adore their Hoft, and
the Jefrites did delire us to fee the power of
Church, where, all I wondered at, was his
Blafphemy,in faying to the pretended Devil,
Troflratum adorabis creator em tunm quern digitis
teneo. But my Paper, as well as my Di-
fcretion calls for an End' Your Defire and
my Obedience is all I can plead for your
receiving fo long a Rabble from,
Sir j
Tour mofi faithful Friend
and Servant,
SStS Lauderdaile.
CHAP.
apparitions and Witches. 93
tip-**'--.
CHAP. V.
More Examples.
I, \ Lexander BenediUm , lib. 7. PraB*
JLJL cap. 25. recited bySkenkjus, Lib.j.
Obf.33. faith, that he faw two Women,
Neighbours and Companions, bewitched,
that were both taken with Vomiting the
fame Day *• One vomited a Head-Bodkin,
crooked like a Hook, and a deal of Wo-
man's Hair, and Parings of Nails, and died
the next Night. The other vomited much
Woman's Hair, and pieces of Nitre, and
three Lumps of Dog's Hair dried, the quan-
tity of a Dog's TaiJ.
II. Benivenim^ cap. 8. faith, he faw and
had in Cure a Woman tormented with a
fwolen Belly, tolled up and down, who he
thought had been hyfierical. But at laft
{he vomited long, crooked Nails, and brafs
Needles, and Wax, and Lumps of Hair,
and bigger Lumps of Meat than any one
can fwallow ; and ihe dored, and prophe-
fied 5 and did other things above natural
Power.
III. Langiui)Lib.i. Epift.38. nameth W~
rictts Neufeffbr 9 a Husbandman, who was
tor-
94 A n HifloYical Difcourfe of
tormented in one of his Sides, and at laft
felt a Nail of Iron under the whole Skin,
which the Chirurgeon cut out, but his Pain
ftill increafed, (o that in Impatience he cut
his Throat ; and died. He nameth the
Perfons who were prefent when he was
opened, and they found in his Stomach j
long, round piece of Wood, and four Knives
of Steel, partly (harp, and partly toothed
like Saws, and two fharp pieces of Iron,
every one above a Span long, and a Ball of
Hair.
IV. Cornelius Gemma \ of Lovain, De Na-
tur. CharaEh. Div. lib. 2. cap. 4. hath a long
and marvellous Story of a Girl of Fifteen
Years old, called Catherine Gkalter, fufpe<3>
ed to be bewitched 5 who fell ill, Jan. 1571,
and after divers Months Pain, and Fevers
and Qmvulfions like the Hyfterical, and
three or four Men could hardly hold her.
He and Bernard a Phyfician were fent for in
-dugnfi : She avoided a living Eel by Stool ;
it lay as dQ^d in the Excrements at firft,
but put into Water, revived : When it was
dead, and kid up to keep, it vaniihed away.
Then the Maid began to vomit watery Hu-
mour, (which he faw,) like Urine: For
fourteen Days fhe vomited the quantity of
four and twenty Pound in a Day 5 which
he faw himfelf, and handled 5 and yet (he
had never die lefs paflage of Urine, and (he
had
■Jpparitiom and Witches 1 . ^
had no Swelling, and drunk fcarce one Cup
of Beer or Wine. Afterward (he vomited
abundance of Hair, fome longer, and fome
fhort, like Dog's Hair, and this with great
difficulty and pain. Strong Jadations, Con-
vulsions, and beating her felf continued dai-
ly many Hours s. fometimes laughing, fome-
times weeping, as^ Hyfierical : Then fhe
vomited great flocks of Hair, with filthy
Matter, fuch as is in Ulcers, and fome-
times like the Dung of Doves and Geefe,
and in them pieces of Wood, and thofe like
new Chips lately cut off an old Tree, and
abundance of Skin* like Parchment-Sha-
vings : And afterwards , two or three
Pounds a D&y, like Ink and Coals toge-
ther, with long, white, hard Hair miVd,
For a Week together : Afterwards fhort
black and red Hair, and a virulent Humour
like Dirt. In September (he vomited Mem-
branes, like pieces of her Stomach, of a
fle(hy thick Coat, with the marks of Veins,
afterwards thin black ones ; and after thar ?
various Membranes of two hands breadth,,
like a Viper's Sloughy (in the defcription of
which, he is too large for me to repeat, as
in various fliapes and figures.^ After this,
foe vomited innumerable Stones, fome like
Walnuts, like pieces broken out of old
Walls, with fome of the Lime on them i
In his prefence fhe vomited one as big as
two Chefnuts , which firfl: fluck in her
Throat
p6 'An liiftorkal Difcourfe of
Throat, and fwelPd a quarter of an Hour,
fo that (he feemed dead, without Breath
andPulfe; and after that, a piece of Wood
of the length and thicknefs of his Finger,
and Hair ; after that (he vomited a triangu-
lar Bone, whole without, and hollow with-
in * arid after that, many Joint- Bones ; and
laft of all, Hair, with pieces of Glafs and
Brafs. Recited by Mar. Don. Hifi. Mir.
Lib. 2. Cap. i. zxidSkenkim^Lih.'j. Obf.48.
That foe was cured by the Priefts' Means,
doth not render the Story incredible, though
there be many Deceits.
More fuch you may read in Skenkins, and
of two Whelps vomited up, ibid, obf 42,
41, 40, 43. And Sideliw by Scholtzjus fent
him the Narrative of a Girl of Eleven Years
old, that vomited Chefnuts, lumps of Hair,
and of raw Flelh, and a Hen's Bone of the
Leg, after long, terrible Fits 5 between
which, fhe played, and was well : And by
publick and private Prayer was cured.
VI. Wolphius wrote to Shenkius, that near
Zurickjht Devil vexed a melancholy Wo-
man, and (ollicited her to drown her felf :
She went and fate long on the Flood-gate
of a Pond; at laft, by his importunity, fhe
yielded, faying, [If itmuft be fo, on God's
Name let it befof\ and caft her felf into the
Water, where (he lay three Hours on her
Back>
dpparithns and Witches. 91
Back, and could not fink 5 and being found,
and brought home, her Body was as light as
Straw, and (he recovered her Health-
VII. Sebaftian Br and 'J. C.wrote to &kenkius r
the Narrative of one, that after horrid Tor-
ments, vomited in one Year four hundred
Earthen Chamber-pots full of Bloody be-
fides vjhn went by Stool, and fifty times
let blood that Year 5 lb that jhe loft a thou-
fand Pounds of Blood, as this Man (a Coun-
cillor of State) profefled he knew by true
Report, and his own Eye-fight. And the
Blood burfl: through the Skin, and with it
fhe vomited a thoufand and two hundred
Worms, fome as long as ones Finger, and
fome longer.
I have elfewhere cited out of Tzmtluis y
the Narrative of fuch as had the like fym-
ptoms as fome of thefe, and fpoke Latin,
Greek and Hebrew , which they never
learnt.
VIII. llon^Fabrnipts Hildanus, 1. 1. Ohfl
43. p. 202. tells us of a young Man that none
of the Phyficiaas could cure, or find out his
Difeafe 5 and his Parents going-co a Conjurer,
he gave him a Vomit, which brought up Pins,
Nails, Points of Knives, and many other pie-
ces of Iron, which H/7^»/whimfelf faw with
Admiratioo 3 and the young Man prefeatly re-
covered : (Jnpagpqttodamprope Urbtm Mecim.)
H 1 1a >
9§ An tliftorkal Difcourfe of
IX. Fcelix Flat ems, an excellent pious
Proteftant- Do&or at Bafil, in bis Obferva-
tJOOS^ lib. * . p. 20. faith, \_A certain Exorcifi
Prieft, 1 56o.got wealth by exorcifmg,by con-
juring the Pojfejfedy in a City of Helvetia ; in-
to whofe Hottfe coming on fome Bufinefs, I was
de fired by a Parent^ that was his Country-man,
to turn him from this ungodly praUice ? And e-
ven then one was brought in, a robufi Man,
with torn Hofe, who they faid was poflefled
of a Devil, and carried on their Shoulders 5
they caft him down on the Pavement of the
Chamber, who profrrate on the Ground,
his Feet drawn together, his Hands con-
torted, and, which is Orangey his Neck
turned abdut, fo that his Face look'd to his
back, he lay dumb and deaf like a Block.
They told me that he had remained in this
pcfiure and form, without Meat, Drink, or
any Excretion many Days* I being ftruck
with this terribly , w r ent my ways. But
this {atlne Exorcifi (Prieft) that fame Year
was brought to me, to Bafil, to be cured,
having a pain in his Hip , that he could not
walk , and he lodged with us- But when
many things were ufed in Vain , at laft he
confeft to me , that this befell him by the
Devil : Whom when he by his Exorcifms,
would have caft out of one poffeft , the
Devil then, as he had done oft before ,
threatned him ia thefe words, in the Ger-
man f
Apparitions and Witches. 9$
man Tongue |[ Pfajf ich will dir noch den thou
geben dafe du mich alfes verit eifl. 2 And at
once , thruft him fo violently up to the
Chimney , that his Hip hurt, hath been in
this Cafe everfince.
It would be tedious to cite Learned Cre-
dible Phyfitians , that have written with
full Evidence, Demoniacal effects on their
Patients.
X. The Cafe elfe where mentioned,
which convinced Hoilerins, an extraordina-
ry Phyfitian, who before, derided it as Me-
lancholy , is undeniable: Of a Girl, that
while People looked on , would by fom-
what invifible, be iuddenly bound to a
Poft or Bed-iiead , or her Hands tyed to-
gether with Cords, Hemp, or Horfe-hair:
Which Holkrm feeing, and that the band
couldnot be untyed , but muft be cut , he
confefled it was by an invifible or fuperna-
tural Power. One can fcarce name a Man un~
likelier to be deceived, than Holkrm.
XI. The Hiftories that Pet. Forefim giv-
eth us , of his own Patients and Know-
ledge , having mentioned elfewhere, I here
forbear to recite, and many others mentio-
ned in the fecond part of my Saints Reft.
XII. ScribomtiSj a Learned Pious Mar-
ptrg Do&or of Phyfick, faith in PhyfioL
H % Sagarttm 9
i oo An Hifiorical Difcotirfe of
Sagarum,p. 53, &c. One of the Witches
burnt at Lemgovia, confefled, that (he made
Lame one of the Citizens , ( whom I will
not name, being well known. ) And ano-
ther, with her own Mouth witnefled, thas
(he killed the Confuls firft Wife, by put-
ting Poyfonous things under the Door, on
which (he fell Sick the next day, and dyed.
I will add ( faith Scribonim ) an Exam-
ple which I faw myfelf, and obferved.
For we muft believefthat which Experi-
ence by Example (heweth us. In this pre-
fent year 15%. in the Summer, a Witch
was apprehended at Wattecia , who is in a
Town of the Illuftrious Princefs Barbara,
Councefs of Waldecia , &c. to a Servant
Maid to one of her Neighbours, for whom
(he was to prepare a Coat ( or Gown ) in
one of the doubles of it , fowed a certain
Root, which caafed as foon as (he put it on,
that in her Loins, which the extremities of
the Coat touched,foe was prefently the (ame
hour greatly troubled, and ftraightway tor-
mented grievoufly in all her Body. And a
few days after, (he Vomited Bones like the
great Teeth of a Horfe, and fmall Cockle-
ihells.1 faw all theBones,! faw aCockle-fhelJ,
and with my Knife I cot them, and I brake
themjfo that I (hall never be made believe,
that this was any Deception of the fight.
Another Teftimony I will add, which by
a Credible Man 3 was feat me. Anno 1575.
Nov*
Apparitions andWitches. 10 1
Afctf.14. from the Town of Hallenftedm the
Dutchy of Brwfwick, Stephen Ralen accufed
of Witchcraft, by two of his Kindred ,
freely, and without Bonds confefled, that
from his firft Wife that was burnt with
other Witches in the City of Ratelburg ,
he learned the Art of killing Men by Poy-
fon 5 And that after being Angry with his
fecond Wife, for the Sufpition of Adulte-
ry in her Child-Bed , he had given her
thofe Poyfons. And that by the help of
his firft Wife , be had given one Rhetobbs
Poyfon, which killed him in eight days,
having fallen out with him in his Drinking
Frolicks. And another he killed with a
Poyfon drawn from three named Aaimals :
And he freely confefled, that to another ,
he^ laid the faid Poyfon under the Door ,
and as he went out over them , he prefent-
ly had a pain in his right Arm , and after
in the reft of his Body, with which, he
was grievoufly Tortured, And he after
told them , that once his Hat falling, and
loft in the Water, being angry with God
Almighty , and Renouncing him ( like our
Bammee Tories ) he gave himfelf to the De-
vil , and called him to him, to come to
him -■> and faid, I'll be thine, and commit
my felf to thee: Come to me Satan, who
prefently came. He was burnt, November
the 20th.
H 3 XIII
102 An Hiflorical Difcourfe of
XIII. The Concubitm of rhe Devils with
Witches ( Males and Females) hath fo full
Teftimonies, as is not to be denied. St. -du~
ftin faith, DeCivit. Dei, lib. 15. cap. 23. &
Sup. Gen. lib. i. q.%. It is a moft common
Report, and many whofe Credit is not to
be doubted of, fay and confirm, that by their
own, or other fuch, they have heard it, that
Sylvani and IE ami have been naught with
Women. And that many Devils which
the French call Duciu do daily attempt this
Uncleannefs, and effe& it, is reported by
fo many, that 'tis Impudence to deny it.
Yea, fome Women, counted honeft, defend
the pra&ice. Near Witeberg, a Merchant's
Wife, that pafs'd for an honeft Woman,
was ufed to admit one peculiar Concubine:
And once, her Husband being from home,
her Lover came^ to her in the Night ; and
having pleafed his Luft, in the Morning he
arofe, and fate on the top of the Door, in
the ihapeof aMagpye, and faid to her this
Farewell 3 Hitherto this hath been thy Sweet-
heart , and vaniilied with the Words.] Sen-
bon.pag-79.
I rather think that this was a Man- Witch,
than a Devil.
The Story of Magdakna Crucia (cited
elfewhere by me, and by Dr. H. More) was,
faith Bodin, famous through the World, ci-
ted by many 3 who being fufpe&ed, tofave
her
apparitions and Witches. i 03
her Life, went to the Pope himfelf (/Will.)
asa Penitent, and confefled her Sin, that at
Twelve Years old the Devil iollicked her,
and lay with her, and that he had layen with
her thirty Years ; yet ihe was made the Ab-
befs of a Monaftery, and counted a Saint*
And fbe confefled that the Devil, among
all the People, brought ChrifFs Body (the
Wafer) to her Mouth, none feeing what
carried it ; whereby (he was taken for a
Saint, as done by fbme good Spirit,
And faith Scribonius; St. Bernards Hiflo-
ry teftifieth, that there was a Witch, with
whom the Devil oft was naught, and her
Husband never perceived it.
And, faith he, many Witches in thefe
Countries have of late Years confefled the
fame.
And, ibid. Bodin faith of Men, [One Be-
net> a Witch at Berne, a Prieft of Eighty
Years old, faid, that for Forty Years he
had been unclean with the Devil in the
fhape of a Woman, and that unfeen fhc
was his Companion, and named her Her-
mione 5 and fo he was burnt.
And another Prieft of Seventy Years old
confefled, that he had ufed Venery with
the Devil in the (hape of a Woman Fifty
Years, and fo he was burnt.
And, Anno 1573- Novemb. 14. in our
Neighbourhood, the Dutchy of Bmnfmc^
Stephen Men (before-mentioned) confefled,
H 4 that
i c4 An Hifiorkal Difcourfe of
that be haci for Seven Years been unclean
with the Devil, whom he took for his Mifc 5
named Rdlfirnchfe. • . -
XIV. Abundance of credible Hiftories
tell us of Men and Women ftruck and hurt
by the Devil, faith Scribonms^ pag t 82, 83.
I will add one Example : At Marpurg^
(where he dwelt,) Anno\6q%. a young Ru-
#ick that had a Devil, was by the Council
of Divines brought into the Temple at the
time of publick Prayers, that they might
try whether they could caft out the Devil
And when Prayers were ended, and he was
brought again into the Hofpital, (their Bed-
lam,) a certain Citizen, well known to me,
{landing alone by his own Chimney-fire*
and feeing the Demoniack Man pafs by in
the Streer, by the noife of the company;
he eanreftly prayed to God for him : In the
very Moment of his praying, by feme invifi-
ble Genius, he had ftddenly fuch a Stroke on
his Neck, as caft him down on his Face, on
the Ground \ I think, becaufe that malignant
Spirit would not that Men fhould pray for
him that he had poffefs'd. He profefs'd that
he did feniibiy perceive fcrnething like the
Hand of a ftrong Man ftrike him, his Face
being toward the Fire. The Man revealed
It to me the fame Day., but fecredy, left it
fhould caft his Wife or Children into a
Bright Q SmbonW) -ibid, pag 83 .
: - - ; . -. xv:
Afflaritions a nd Witches. 1 05
XV. The raifing of Storms by Witches
is attefled by fo many, that I think it need-
lefs to recite them. Varacelfm faith, That
Devils can do it by meer Natural Caufes j
and faith, that if much Aluminom Matter
and Salt Peter (not throughly prepared) be
mixt, they will fend up a Cloud of Smoak,
even to the middle Region of the Air,
which will come down as Rain in Drops.
XVI. Erafmus and others tell us of a
Witch at a Town near them, (or rather,
as Devil, that appeared and threatned to
burn their Houfes, and on the top of a
Chimney, holding a Pot of Afhes, Matte-
red them abroad, and prefencly the Town
was burnt.
XVII. The felling of Winds in the
Northern Seas towards Lapland and Ifeland,
is fo commonly afierted by Mariners and
Hiflorians, that I fhall omit particular In-
fiances; OUus Magtius, and others, will tell
the Reader of that, and more, in thofe cold
parts.
XVIII. What fhall we fay to the many
certain Hiftories of the frefh bleeding of
Murdered Bodies, when the Murderer is
brought to it, or at leaft, when he toucheth
it 5 whether it be by the Soul of the Dead*
or
i 06 r An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
or by a good Spirit that hateth Murther, 0?
by the Devil appointed for Revenge \ it
feems plainly to be by an inviiible Spirit's
Operation. I have heard perfons fo Credi-
ble give Inftances of it, feen by themfelyes,
that (though it he not a conftaat Event) it
is furely Credible.
The aforefaid Scribomm ubi fupra, p. 123.
&c. faith, [This is done fo manifeftly, and
in To many places, that to deny it is but o-
pen Lies.] And he anfwers them that re-
fer it to other Caufes only ; and faith, [ I'll
teftifie what I have feen, when James ab A-
quaria, Patricius of Aries was dead 3 Va-
lerioU , a Phyfician of great Experience ,
citing fome Verfes of Lucretius , of mad
Love faith, In this Verfe Lucretius thinks
that the Blood of a Man affected and wound-
ed by a Beam from the Eyes, doth pafs into
wounded, as the Blood of one (lain by a-
a Man's Sword, falleth into him that falleth.
But faith Scriboniasy I had rather Vdenola
had faid, It is done by the Secret Judgment
of God.
XIX. ScriboMHs,p.u6.. Fortheftrangenefs
of the thing (faith he) I will bring but one
Example : In the County ofLippta 21V f tenia,
a Woman that had killed her Child, caft it
into the next River Secretly ; the Child after
3 weeks was found there by 2 Maids, and
by the Command of the Magiftrates it was
put
apparitions and Witches. i 07
put into the Lap or Bofom of the Mother,
being inPrifon, to try whether the Carkafs
would fweat Blood: Hereupon the dead
Infant prefendy opened the left Eye, and
weeping much, look'd on the Mother ; and
that Eye being (hut, Blood flowed out of it :
This Example is certainly a ftupendous
fign of God's Judgment : It was feen of ve-
ry many mod Grave Men, and is not doubt-
ed of by the Inhabitants of that place.
XX. A Godly Minifter, Mr. Famworth,
that came hither from New England (being
a Nonconformist, and extream poor, dyed,
as all about him faid, of meer Poverty, for
want of warm Cloaths, Fire, and Food,
when the Ad of Uniformity had begger'd
many into extream neceflity) he teftify'd,
that in America, hearing of a Sacrifice to
the Devil that the Savages ufed to keep,
by offering a Man to him, he went to fee
them perform it 5 and he foGnd a great
number about a dry Pit, and they brought
an old Man bound, and by many ugly Cere-
monies devoted him : And he faw the Man
carried up into the Air, and quickly thrown
down again dead among them.
XXL Lfidov. rives de Vtrit. fidei, lib. I,
faith , That in America , it is a common
thing to fee Spirits appear to Men in various
Shapes day and night.
So
i o8 An Hiftorical Difcouvfe of
So OIohs Magnus faith of the Ifelanderi.
XXII. I know none that hath written
better de Angelis & de Potemia D&mo-
num, than Zcmchy^ who, Tom, 3 . e. 4 de Pot.
Bem. iaith, [ He wonders that any fhould
deny, that there are fuch Spirits as are cal-
led Hags or Fairies* as exercife Familiarity
with Men, and without hurting them, come
to them, and trouble them, as playing with
them. I could (faith he) bring many Ex-
amples of perfons yet living, that have had
Experience of them on themfelves ; But
hence it appeared], that there are fii<:h Spi-
rits in the Air, and that when God permits
them, they ufe their Power on us, for fport
or hurt,] Read him there further.
XXIII. I have elfewhere cited the moft
Credible Mtlamkthon^ faying he had feen
fome, and that many perfons of his Ac-
quaintance, had feen and talk'd with them 5;
anci that the Devil appeared to his own
Aunt in the likenefs of her dead Husband,
with a Francifcan Fryar, and told her, (be
muft hire fome Mafles to be faid for him 5
and took her by the Hand, faying, he
would not hurt hers but it fo burnt her
Hand, that it remained black ever after.
See Fermlius de abditis rerum Caufis^ lib. 2.
c* 16. of many things that he faw himfelf,
that are convincing.
XXIV. Dr,
'Apparitions and Witches, ioj?
XXIV. Dr. Henricm ah Heer, Obferv. vliu
A little Girl in the ninth year of her Age,
for Beauty, Education , or Birth inferior
to none where flie lived , having innocent-
ly put into her Mouth a Sorrel Leaf, which
was given her by a Witch that begged as
the Door, to whom flie had firft given a
piece of Bread, and then fome Beer, it was
fcarce fwallowed by her , when fhe began
to be Tortured in her Bowels, to Tremble
all over , and then to be convulft, and in
fine, to fwoon away , and fall as one dead»
The Do&or and Do&xefs being called ( for
at Vnechty where this thing happen'd in
May, 1625. it is Cuftomary for both Sexes
to pra&ife Pbyfick ) though they for many
days Experimented the Remedies ufual in
this cafe, the Child found no Relfef, but
was ftili Affli&ed with very frequent and
moft terrible paroxyfms. Whereupon, as
the Cuftom of the Country is , they Con-
fult the Exorcifts. The Prieft appointed
for that work, a Capuchin had fcarce laid
his hand on the Ritual , when the Child
was Transformed by the Demon into fuch
Shapes , as a Man that hath not beheld it
with his Eyes 3 will hardly be brought to
imagine. It began firft to rowl it felf a-
bout, and next to Vomit Horfe-dung, Nee-
dles Pins , Hairs , Feathers , Bottoms of
Thread, Pieces of glafs Windows, Nails
drawn
II o An Hiflorical Difcourfe of
drawn out of Cart or Coach Wheels , an
Iron Knife above a Span long r Egg and
Fifli Shells. In th£ mean while, her Parents
and thofe of the Neighbourhood , obferve
that whenever the Witch came near the
Houfe , or fo much as turned her Eye to-
wards it , even at the Diftance of two hun-
dred paces , the poor Child was in much
greater Torment than before, infomuch,
that (he could by no means be eafed of her
Fit , or (hew one fign of Life , until (he
was at a very great Diftance from her. This
Witch was foon after apprehended,and con-
feft both this, and infinite other the like
Feats, for which (he was Strangled and
Burnt. Being defired by a Father Jefuit, who
Affifted her in her laft Agony, and at that
Moment, on which depends Eternity, when
the Executioner had now fitted the Rope
to her Neck, that (he would diilblve the
the Spell , and eafe the Child , (he faid ,
it was not in her Power? Becaufe the Em-
ber Weeks were part , fince (he had Be-
withtced her 5 adding , that (hould (he un-
do the Villanies (he had perpetrated , the
Child would not fo quickly recover : For
the two<other Witches, whom (he named,
had alfo given her their Mortal Infections ,
from the EffeSs whereof, (he could not
without Difficulty, and much time, be de-
livered- The Mother then, as in a Defpe-
rate cafe , brought her Daughter to me a-
bout
"Apparitions and Witches. I 1 1
bout the middle of September , and I had
her with roe for fomejveeks. What I then
fiw, heard and handled, becaufe I know
manyPhyfitians, thofe efpecially that are
Averfe to the Roman Perfwafion,will hard-
ly believe it upon my Narrative, fo may
God help me , as I (hall moft truly Relate
what I faw. The day after this Unfortu-
nate Child came into my Houfe , I took
care to fend for Modefim a Capuchin, who
(till lives at Liege : While he was yet fifty
paces from my Chamber, the Girl fell
down, as one deprived of Life; I took her
for Dead : For (he had not fo much as the
leaft Breath. Her Fingers and Toes, which
if I had not feen it my felf, I could not
have believ'd it, were fo Writhen and
Convulft , that the Exterior or third joint
ftuck (o hard ' unto the fecond, a thing
which is fcarce poifible Naturally , that
they might feem to have been fattened to-
gether with the ftiffeft Glue. I endeavour-
ed tothruft a Golden Bodkin betwixt them 7
and after an Iron Nail, a wooden Spindle 3
&c. but all in Vain. The Mother feeing
the Childs fall , for (he would never go one
fiep from her , faid the Capuchines were
coming. She had no fooner faid this; but
they knocked at the Door : When they
were come in , and had lighted the Confe-
crated Taper , and the Exorcift had put en
his Habit , as foon as ever he had read the
firft
i 1 2 An Hiftorkal Difcourfe of
firft words of the Exorcifm taken out of
the Gofpels , the Girl which hitherto had
lain more immoveable than ariy dead Corps,
fell a (haking all over , her Fingers and
Toes continuing as they were, with that
Violence , that (he could not be held ftill
by fix of us, by no means we could Ufe.
Myfelf, who with all my Strength, effayed
to hold her Head, obferved it both by my
fight and feeling, to be Writhen, as by an*
Opifthotonick Convulfion, together with
her Neck towards her Shoulders- In the
mean time, her Belly wasraifed up to a
prodigious bignefs, and was nearer her
Throat, than her Thighs , and that with
fo great a Noife , and grumbling of hep
Bowels, that all prefent could hear it at
above ten paces diftance. The found was
the nearefi to that which is caufed by Terap-
eftuous waves under the prow of a Ship.
All this while, the Child Vomited feve-
ral of the above mentioned things. I beg-
ged the Exorcift, out of Compaffion to her,
to forbear his Reading: Hehadfcarce pro-
nounced the laft Syllable , when in an in-
ftant, (he lay as quiet as poffible. And af-
ter he had quitted the Houfe , and was ac
a confiderable Diftance off , (he undid her
Fingers and Toes , and opened her Eyes >
and ftraighcway flood up. And when (he
had wept a little, and chid her Mother
for fending for the Capuchines, though ,
ihe
Apparitions and Witches. i i 3
flie never faw them, nor as fte hid? heard
them , (he prefently began to eat, drink,
and play with her equals , juft as if no-
thing ail d her, until, upon the Capuchines
returning to do his Office , fhe was as for-
merly. I faw her this while caft up Fea-
thers, Bundles of Straw, above the bignefs
of my Thumb , with Pins ftuck acrote
the Straws, Points wove of Thread of fe-
veral Colours, and a Row of Pins fiuxk
in a blew Paper , as frefh and new, as any
are fold on the Pedlars Stall : In fine, every
thing as the Innocent Child Affirmed*
which fhe had feen in the Witches basket,
when (he beged, which favours plainly of
Devilifm , and which all the Philofophers
in the World, are not able to folve. For
by what Operation, could every thing (he
had feen in the basket , be Conveyed in
the fame kind and tale , into the Bowels
of the Child, except the Devil hirnfelf was
aflifting* But when I faw allftiehad caft
ap, was perfe&ly dry, and without the
leaft wet , I told the Capuchines, and fe-
deral Philofophers prefent ( for I had cal-
led many out of a defire of being the bet-
ter informed ) that furely our Eyes were
inchanted : For that thefe things could nof
pofliblycome out of her Body, For how
could it be , that the pricking of fo many
Pins , flhould bring up no Blood ? How
could a ijbarp knife come up the narrow
I Jkm
>i4 ^ Hijhrical Difcourfe of
Throat of a young Child, Without cutting
the paffage ? I added, that it was my Opi-
nion , that thofe things muft be conveyed
privately feme how, from fome other place,
and then by the Malicious Demon , that
took pleafore to deceive us, dropt from the
Childs Lips 5 into our Hands , and that I
was brought to mind of a Verfe in Ovid,
which I never underftood , but now lefs
than ever : It is this.
jbevovet abfentes fimulacraq^ cerea fingit, .
Et miferumtenues in jectir fir get acus.
Curfes the abfent,then forms waxen fhapes
Runs into th' Liver needles.
The words are fpoken of Medea a Witch.
But the Child her felf being immixt with
us in our Debates, and of a Capacity above
her years, foon refolved this Difficulty for
me. Doubt not, faidflie , but that thefe
things come out of me , and w 7 ith that (he,
caught my Hand, and put it to her Throat.
Feel* Sir, faidflie , a Pin without a Head
a coming up , and which will come out
prefently. I felt, and immediately when *
I thought verily I held it faft betwixt the !
fingers of my left Hand within her Throat,
I perceived it to be fore t Violently from
me, and prefently feeing the Child a bow-
ing to fpit, I received it in my right Hand ;
md 1 have flawed it fince to feyeral iacre-
dus
[Apparitions and Witchesl x 1 $
dulous Perfons , andftill keep it by me, to
ihew to the Curious, with Points, Feathers^
Thread , Straw, and other like Materials.
In like manner, I have frequently at other
s times, felt £ ,the ends of Points, while they
were yet in the very Orifice of her Sto-
mach , and while they were coming up; and
ready to come out of her Mouth, all who
were Curious to make Experiments, ima-
gined they could hold the end of the point
in the middle of her Throat 3 but the craf-
ty Demon,Defeated all their Attempts. Af-
ter flie had been exorcifed at Liege for fome
weeks to no purpofe , her Mother had a
great defire to carry her to Jm % to a Chap-
pel newly Built and Confecrated to the Ho-
nour of the Blefled Virgin , and believed
by the vulgar , to be very Famous for Mi-
racles. While her Mother and Friends
which Accompanied her , employed their
time at the ufual Solemnities there,daily con-
feffing, and receiving the Blefled Sacrament 2
bat with no effe&jthey bring theChild back
to my Houfe , not one jot the better, but
the worfeby a \ Hydrophobia , or as I would
I rather call it , a Stygrophobia, or fearfulnefk
| of moid things, fo called , very fad and
Difconfolate, and Defpairing of her Life,
yea, praying for her Death. She came back
to me, about the midft of Autumn^ refufing
not only Wine, Beer, Mead, and all Wa-
ter \ butalfo boil'd Meat, and Bread fteepi
I % m
i 1 6 An Hifiovical Difccurfe of
in Broth or Wine , and at laft, 411 White
and Wheaten Bread : I believe, becaufethe
one was made with Milk , and the other
with Water, as is ufual with us. For which
Reafon, for forty days time, fhe lived on
nothing but Apples, Raifins, Nuts, Al-
monds , and other Fruits proper to the Sea-
fon , yet for all this, the rofie blu(h in her
Cheeks was not Diminifhed , nor the Mil-
ky fnow of her Forehead. At laft for fif-
teen Days and Nights together , fhe took
neither Meat n6r Drink. How flie could
pafs fo many Days without either Meat or
jDrink : I confefs my felf ignorant ; but
that fo it was , I do avow , and all my Fa-
mily are ready with me , moft Solemnly
to Depofe upon Oath. On the fixteenth
day, when (he had of her own accord, askt
for fome Drink , and taken it , fhe no lon-
ger refufed Food. I thought it then feafo-
nable to have Recourfe to Natural Means,
not Omitting Divine Exorcifms, and I pre-
pared the Deco6tion. Ex fttga Damonum of
Southern Wood, Mugwort y Vtrvene, &c. and
after I had ufed her a while to that Drink,
I fent her Home. In the interim, tumbling
over all the Books, I could find at laft I
light on Bartholomew Carrkhters, Secrets ,
who in the twelfth Chapter of his fecond
Book 5 Defcribes a Certain Medicine, pro-
per to this Malady. Finding this mightily
Recommended in Horftitu his Medicinal
. * Epiftks,
Apparitions and Witches. nj
Epiftles,£j>i#. i. Sett. vij. in He&or Schlmds
Letter to Gregory Horjlws, dated in the year
161%, I Write both to him, and to the
Francfo?d Apothecary , in vvhofe Shops he
faith it is fold, promising any P v ate for the
unguent and prefcription. But receiving no
Advice frbm them,andbeing Day and Night
Sollicitous for the Childs Recovery, I topk
Carricbter again into my Hand, and having
much ado to underftand him, by reafon of
a miftake of the Printers , who had Printed
in one word , Holtz. bktter beer, which fhould
have been in three f I at laft , almoft a
Twelve- Month after, for want of neceflary
Materials, caufed the following Unguent
to be made : Take of Dogs Greafe well
Diflblved and Cleanfed, four Ounces $ of
Bears Greafe, eight Ounces 5 of Capons
Greafe , four and twenty Ounces j three
Trunks of Mifletoe of the Hafle while
Green , cut it into pieces , and pound it
fmall ; till they become moift 5 bruife to-
gether the Wood , Leavesand Berries, mix
all in a Vial , after you have expofed it to
the Sun, for nine Weeks, you fhall extraft
a green Balfam , wherewith, if youanpinc
the Bodies of the Bewitcht , efpecially the
parts moft affe&ed, and the Joints i they
will certainly be Cured, as hath been pro-
ved by this Child , who hath been now
three years perfectly well , only on the
days of the Ember-weeks , do what Ihe
I 3 can*
1 1 8 r Jn Hiftorkal Difcourfe of
can , ihe is feized with a certain Tranfien£
Melancholy. And this is the Reafon why
I have ingenuofly Communicated to the
World in the Latin Tongue, the above-
mentioned prefcription,concealed by others*
! and publifhed in Dutch, by Carfichter faul-
tily.
XXV. Mer. Cafaubon in Credulity and
Incredulity in things Natural,
It cannot be deny'd, becaufe I fee Learn-
ed Phyficians are of that Opinion, and vi-
sible Effects do evince it, but that the De-
vil doth immifcere fe in feveral Difeafes 3
whereof Sir Theod. Mayem (whom I think,
for ftrangeand even miraculous Cures, I
may call the <u&fculapm of his time 3 and
to do nobody wrong, he gave me a notable
Inftance concerning a Maid in his Houfe,
that had been bitten by a Mad Dog, which
alfo dy'd of it 3 to whom, when he came
in a Morning with a Looking-Glafs ( to
make a Tryal of what he had read, but
not yet experienced himfelf ) under his
Gown, before he was in the Room, /he be-
gan to cry out, and told him what it was he
had about him.
XXV I. Ternelius de Abdit. rerum caufii,
lag. 65. faith, I faw one that by certain
words would make Shapes (Spe&res) appear
In a Looking-Glafs, which, whatever he
com-
[Apparitions and Witches] H§
commanded them , would prefently by
Writing or by true Images fo clearly expreis,
that all might be quickly and eafily under-
ftood by thofe that fat by. . They heard a
few Sacred words, but filthily contamina-
ted by obfcure names, fuch as the power of
the Elements, the horrid and unheard of
names of certain Princes of the Eafi 9
Weft, &c.
And P. 124, 12 5. he tells you how many
ways, by Chara&ers,Spells,Ceremonies they
work ( too long to recite ) and tells you
how the Bewitched are Diftorted,Torment-
ed, fpeak unlearnt Languages, tell the by-
ftanders their Secrets, &c: and faith, [A hw
Years ago, a young Man, a Knights Son, la-
bour'd of a Concuffion and a Convulfion of
his Body by Fits,which did ibexagitate fome-
time the Left- Arm, fometime the Right j
fometimes one Finger, fometimes one L^g,
fometimes the other, fometimes both 5
fometimes the whole Trunk of his Body
that four Servant-men could fcarcely hold
him, but his Head remained unthaken, his
Tongue and Speech free, his Mind found*,
and all his Senfes entire, even in the fierce-
nefs of his Convulfions: He was taken at
lead ten times a Day, found in die inter-
vals, but broken with Labour. Had he not
had his Underftanding and Senfes found, it
would have been taken for an EpilepJie.
The molt skilful Phyficians judged it a Con-
I 4 yulfion
i2o An Hiftffiical Difcourfe of
vulfion kin to an Epilepfie, from a maiig:
nant venemousVapor impadi in the Marrow
of the Back, &c. They ufed all Reme-
dies— but we were all miftaken in Igno-
rance of the true Caufe ; for in the third
Month a Demon was found to be the Au-
thor of all, (hewing himfelf by Voice and
unufual Words and Sentences, Latine and
Greek, though he was ignorant of the Greek
Tongue. He detected many of the Secrets
of the by-fitters, and efpecially of thePhy-
ficians, deriding them, that he had by great
Peril cheated them, and that by their vain
Medicines they had almoft killed the Man.
If his Father (a Knight of the Order of St*
Michael, that wore that Image in a Gold
Chain) was coming to fee him, he would
far off, bid them* Let him not in, or take
off his Chain. If Divine and Sacred words
were read, he would tofs him and ihake him
nioft fiercely.] See the reft.
And Pag. 127. £1 faw one that would
#bp Blood flowing from any part of the
Eody, by touching the part, and muttering
a few words] So far the great Femelm:
He next nameth many Difeafes that they
kk Spells to Qure.
XX VI I. The greateft Pbyfidan of
England to divers Kings (and the chief that
I have my felf ufed, and knew him to be
an Honeft Credible Man. ) Sir Theodore
Mayerne }
"Apparitions and Witches. \ % i
Meyerne, confirmeth the thing in queftion,
but goeth the true middle way between Ig-
norant Credulity and Incredulity, in his late
Eubliftied Praxis, Pag. 57. in a Letter to
)r.Caftle, abput one feeming poflefi'd,
feyin& C That Melancholy is the Seat, the
* Bath,and the Kingdom of the Devil,I well
c know 5 and that that Prince of Darfcnefs
c lurking under the thick Cloudinefsof that
* black Humour, immixeth himfelf in di-
c vers Difeafes, and that he exciteth cruel
1 Troubles (or Storms) in divers Subje&s,
< / HAVE BT MANIFOLD EXPERT
' ENCE FOVND 5 but I am not of fo
* facile a Mind, as to be (truck at the meet-
* ing of every Phantafm, though portentous %
c nor is my Reafon like Wax to receive
* every Impreflion. By two
\ fig , nS • °i? kn °r W Dem0 [l i - * m night
acks. * If aperlon untaught, l&vtn&tidmm.
c and without Philofophy ,
c fpeak in divers and ftrange Tongues, and
* nervoufly and folidly difpute of Sciences
c and Arts never ftudied : And if a weighey
■ Body rapt up on high, hang
* long in the Air, * and fall * Wmb k
c not with their weight. Black %*?"* °f m w
' Choler in the Spleen, Brain, Wltches '
\ Womb, may move a thoufand Symptoms,
6 which by the Ignorant, pafs for Miracles.]
There liveth in this City , an Iriflh-man,
who with unmoved Lips maketh a long G-
ration.
s 2 2. jfo Hiftmcal Difcourfe of
ration* and deceiveth thofe near him, as i*
onefpoketo them far of.]
I my felf difcovered a notable Cheat in
a Servant in my own Houfe , and many
fiich are dete&ed, by which the Ignorant,
Undifceraing and Incredulous, are drawn
to disbelieve thofe that are moft fully pro-
ved. Read of Cheats, De Loier, a French-
man
XXVI I I. The Learned and Judicious
Cerh. Fojfius faith, de Samuele in Beverovicii
Epifi. Pdg, 203. [I know there were many
fabulous ftories, and of Fraud, &c but by
Men both Learned, and Quick-fighted, and
Crave, and Honeft, in many Ages paft, there
are reported, and at this Day remembred
and told innumerable Inftances, in which it
is not poflible but that with the endeavour
of man there concurred , the Ulufion or
Force of the Devil, a malignant Spirit Ap-
plying that which was beyond the power
of Man.
XXIX. Lavater deSpeBris^ is a Book fo
common and well known, (by him a Learn-
ed Godly Proteftaor Divines) that I will
fuppofe the Learned Reader to have read it ?
and will not recite what is therein.
XXX. Pious and Peaceable Bifliop J of. Haft
liuth, Soliloq. 15. P. £3, 54. [Sataq's Preva-
lency
Jfpparkions and Witches. "123
iency in this Age is moft clear in the mar-
velous number of Witches abounding in all
places. Now hundreds are dif-
covered in one Shire 5 * and if * £##
Fame. deceive us not, in a Vil- and £//**•
lage of 14 Houfes in the North, are found
fo many of this Damned brood. Hereto-
fore only barbarous deierts had them, but
now the Civileft and Religious Parts are
frequently peftered with them : Heretofore
fome filly ignorant old Women, &c. now
we have known thofe of both Sexes> who
profeffed much Knowledge, Holinefs and
Devotion drawn into this damnable Pra&ice.
XXXI. I have elfewhere cited divers
Paflages to this ufe out of Holy Cyprian ;
but that in the Epiftle of Finmliamu to Cy-
prian, Ep. 75. Pag. 238. feemeth ftrange
(like that of Magdakna Crucia and others a-
ijiong the Papifts.) A Woman pretending
to have the Holy Ghoft, proved a Witch,
and did 5 many Wonders : She had a Gift of
Prayer, and did Baptize, and Adminifter
the Lords Supper in the ordinary way, &c.
XXXII. This is fo like to the well known
Cafe of Mrs. HutMnfon, and Mrs. Dyer in
New England, with Mr. Wheeler, and the reft,
in the time of Sir Henry Vmes Govern-
ment, dete&ed by the Wondrous Mon-
fters, that I intyeat the Reader to get the
Ijiftary,
i 24 An Hi ft meal Difemrfe 6f
Hlftory of all, In Mr. Tho. Weld's Book (one
of their MiniftersJ called, The rife and fail
of Antinomianifm and Fdmilifm in New Eng-
land. ^ Though I find no proof of Witch-
craft in their Cafe, there is much of Satani*
cal Delufion, joined with Humane Self-con-
ceit and Pride.
XXXTIL I have before mentioned Z-»-
ehys Judgment, and his excellent Books,
de Deo, de Angells , & de potentia Damo-
■nmi than whom no Man hath given us a
more full Teftimony in general,of Diabolical
Operations : I (hall here only repeat his Opi-
nion of the Manner of Satan's Working. He
thinketh {Tom, 3. /. 4. c 10. p. 188 J that it
is the very Subftance of the Devil that en-
tereth into Men, and that they have Bodies
qiore Subtile than the Air.
The doubt is, 1. Whether it be only o~
ther Caufes that enter by this moving of
them by Devils: 2. Or whether they Ope-
rate and enter only Vinme, by fome force
fent from their Subftance ; 5. Or Operate
by Contiguity of their Subftance it felf in
Men.
1. The firft way, no doubt they work as
by moving Winds, and Fire, and Water,
and our Blood and Humours , and our
Tempters and Enemies^ &c. but not that
way alone.
2. What
Apparitions and Witches. 125
& What Energy or Forte he can fend*,
that is neither his own Subftance nor any
other Subftance, I cannot conceive.
3. That his very Subltance enteresh into
the PoflHTed, I fee no caufe to doubt -, for
he can penetrate any part of our Bodies, as
he is a Spirit : And if we knew that he O
perate only in fome Body or Vehicle, Air*
or Air and Fire mixt •, yet what part of our
Bodies cannot Air and Fire penetrate:
(And this Suppofition would countenance
Dr. Mores Opinion, that all Spirits are the
the Souls of fome Bodies). And Scripmre
faith fo much of Devils entring into Men>and
being in them, and being caft out of them*
that I fee not how we can deny it to be their
Subftance.
And how elfe ihould they move us ( be-
fides by Inftruments) Is it any more wonder
that Devils (permitted) can enter, than
Air: Or how elfe work they on Mens
Souls. I muft fay it to humble us, that I
fear, that in moft Temptations that follicic
our Thoughts, and our Wills, and Affedi*
ons and Pailions » if not fometimes our
Tongues and Hands, it is the very prefent
Subftance of Evil Spirits, that by Conti-
guity move us, even true Chriftians when
they Sin: And that it is no unfeemly thing
to pray God to call Satan out of our
Thoughts and Hearts* Oh that we better
knew what caufe we have to fear leering
him
1 16 r Jn Hifiorical Difcowfe of
him in, and by yielding and cuftom togivi
him advantages to tempt and rule us.
But yet his Subftantial Prefence, and his
Operations are to be diftinguifhed. He
hurteth not all that he is prefent with j but
thofe that he hath Power to work upon, and
that are prepared to receive his Operations.
God himfelf doth not work Life or Grace
on all that he is prefent with $ and thae
what he doth, he doth it by his Subftantial I
Prefence* orfaisEflence.
XXXIV. I have elfe where cited Luther s
Teftimony, and how the Devil appeared to
himfelf at Cob urge : And Mdantihorii and
Feter Martyr's I have cited here and elfe-
where. See Pet. Martyr Loc. Com. Claf. I
c p. and cap. 8. §. 8. pag* 39, 40.
XXXV. The moft Judicious Credible
' Melanchthon.j in his Epiftle to Hubert Langue-
tm (the Author of Junius Brutes Vlnd. con. \
Tyran.) Epiftolar., I. 2. p. 550, 551. faith,
C Though there be fometimes Natural
c Caufes of Madnefs, yet it is moft certain,
6 that Devils enter into the Bodies of fome,
4 and caufe Madnefi and Torments to them,
€ either with Natural Caufes or without
c them ; for it is manifeft, that fuch perfons
c are oft delivered without Natural Reme-
* dies. And thefe.Diabolical Spe&acles are
I oft Prodigies and Significations of future
! things ;
apparitions and Witches: 117
* things : Twelve Years ago there was a
1 Woman in Saxony , that never learnt Let-
c ters, and yet when (he. was a&ed by the
' Devil, after Torment fhe fpake Greek and
! Latin of the future Saxon War.
c Sixteen Years ago there was in the
\Marke, a Girl, that when fhe pulPd Hairs
c from Cloaths, they were turned into
€ Mark-Money, which the Girl devoured
c with' long and loud gnafhing of Teeth 5
c and thofe Figures (or Shapes) of Money
' fometimes fuddenly fnatcht out of her
5 Hands, were true Money, which are yet:
c kept by fome 5 and after the Girl felt
€ great Torment : But fhe was delivered
« from all that Difeafe after fome Months,
«and yet liveth in Health: But frequent
< Prayers of Godly Perfons were made for
« her, and other Ceremonies were purpofel^
« omitted.] Thus Mdanchthon.
CHAP>
ii8 An HiftoyicalDifcourfe of
C H A P. V L
Mr. Jo. LcwiS) a Learned Jttftice
of { feace in Cardigatri-ftrire ,
with the Teftimony of Dr. Ellis,
and Mr. John Davis, about the
Dead Mens Lights, the Knocks
ers and Apparitions.
MR. J. Lewi* being a Jiiffice of Peace,
and a Man of Learning, at the time,
when under Cronrwell and Harrifon the
Reading and weak Parfons were cafi
out, and Itinerant Preachers fet up, that
turned four or five Parishes into one of
their Circuits, and did little but Preach,
and fhut up the Doors where they came not,
and by ignorant decrying Superftition,
Forms and Ceremonies, fet up Error, Ana-
baptiftry and unjufi: Separations^ He being
greatly grieved for thefe Confufions wrote
largely to me about them, whereupon, and
on more fuch Inftances I wrote my five Dik
putations of Church Government, Liturgy,
and Ceremonies. And Mr. Lewis joined
with me in a defign to have begg'd Money
in Pity to W*kt % to have fee up a Welph
Coliedge
'Apparitions and Witches. i ^9
Colledge at Shrewsbury 5 and his Notices a-
bout Apparitions came in but on the by,
at my requeft : But tho' I difmember his
Letters with regret, by cafting away the
main part that was well worth the read-
ing, ( and all my Anfwers to them) yet k
would be fb unfuitable to infert fuch Me-
ters in aHiftory of Spirits, that if any of
his acquaintance blame me for it, they muft
accept of this Excufe: He is known by
publifhed Books of his own*
Pari of Mr. John Lewis's Firft
Letter > relating to Sprits and
Witches.
Moft Worthy Sir 1
I Have now another Motion to you, as to
that paflage in your VHreafonnblemfs
of Infidelity^ where you fhew the meaning
of the Spirit, as to Humane Learning, && t
and thofe 29 Confiderations ( for the page
I cannot cite, becaufe I have not the Book
at this very inftantj becaufe it is in the
midft of the Book, and not fo difcemable
to all Readers •, I could humbly beg of you*
to get your Printer and Stationer to print
them apart in a few fmall Leaves, for there
is nothing generally that is more miftakea
K among
1 30 An Hlftorical Dlfcourfe of
among us than that, and I fee the publishing
here but fo much of them in this kind would
do infinite good here 3 and I would my felf
be at charge of buying and difperfing many
fcores of them. And becaufe of that Co-
pious Satisfadionyou give of Spirits, than
which there cannot be greater convinee-
nients againft Infidelity and Atheifm,! could
afford you feveral ftrange Inftances from
thefe parts, but I (hall trouble you only
with two. Since the time I received your
Letter, there happened in my Neighbour-
hood this following ; A Man and his Fami-
ly being all in Bed, about after Midnight*
awake in Bed, he could perceive a Light
entring a little Room, where he lay, and
one after another, of fome a Dozen in the
fliape of Men 3 and two or three Women with
fmall Children in their Arms entring in, and
they feemed to Dance, and the Room to
be far lighter and wader than formerly;
they did feem to eat Bread and Cheefe all a-
bout a kind of a Tick upon the Ground y
they offered him Meat, and would fmile
upon him ; he could perceive no Voice,
but he once calling to God to blefs him,
he could perceive the whifper of a Voice in
Welch, bidding him hold his peace, being
about four Hours thus , he did what he
could to awake his Wife, and could not 5
they went out into another Room, and af-
ter fome Dancing departed, and then he a-
rofe,
Apparitions and Witch? i, 131"
rofe$ yet being but a very flnaU Room -he
coald not find the Door< nor tae way to
Bed, until crying out, his Wife and Fami-
ly awaked. Being within about two Miles
of me ? I fent for the Man. who is an ho-
ned poor Husbandman,aad of good Report:
And I made him believe I would put him to
his Oath for the truth of chis Relation^ who
was very ready to take it.
2* The Second ( if you have not for-
merly heard ) the ftrange and ufual ap-
pearance of Lights (called in Welch, Dead
Mens Candles) before Mortality: This is
ordinary in mofi of our Counties, that I
never fcarce heard of any fort, Young or
Old, but this is feen before Death, and of-
ten obferved to part from the very Bodies
of the per Ions all along the way to the
place of Burial, and infallibly Death will
enfue. Now, Sir, it is worth your Refo-
lution, whether this may proceed from
God or no -, it is commonly imputed to the
Igneous Air of the Counties : But that Evil
Spirits can come by fo much Knowledge, as
to be always fo Infallible (though herein
I confefs them very va(t) and be fo favou-
rable and officious unto Man, as to be
fuch feafonable Monitors of his Diflbluti-
on, and to give fo much difcovery of Spiri-
tual Eflences> and the Immortality , I doubt
whether they mind us fo much good as
this : Some Wiles I confefs they may have
1 3 % An Hijiorical Difcourfe of
by fuch Appearances, bat it carries the Be^
nefits mentioned with it , whereas their
Difappeafance makes more for Infidelity
and Atheifm : But this I leave to your Judg-
ment, begging Pardon for this Boldnefs in
diverting you from your far better
Thoughts ; and feeing it is my Happinefs
to have this little Invifible Acquaintance
with you, I fliall omit nd Opportunity of
troubling you with fuch poor Thoughts as
the Lord (hall give unto me of the beft
Things, humbly wifhing (as for the making
up the fad Differences of Religion among
us ) the Lord Would give thofe in Au-
thority to weigh that Pious and Wife
Courfeyou have propofed, as to thofe four
great Parties in the Dedication of your
Saints Rtfl-, with my unfeigned Prayers for
your Health and Happinefs,
Sky
GUs\mgg near
LUubadarnevour or
Jberfjiwith in Car~
diganjbire> Qftob. 20.
■1*1*.
Tour wry thankful Friend
and Servant in Chrifi $
John Lewis.
Mn
Apparitions andWitches. j 3 j
Mr. John Lewis's Second Letter.
AS for Apparitions, lam ftored with
fo many Inftances , that require ra-
ther a Volume ; There is that Evidence for
the Candles , that fcarce I know any of
Age, but hath feen them, and will depofe
it : There is here a talk , whereof yet I
have not certainty, that a Daughter of the
Man mentioned in the laft, fetching Wa-
ter at a Well, had a blow given her, and
a Boy coming towards her, flie charged
him with the blow, who denyedhe was
fo near her 3 but bid her look upon her Fa-
ther , that flood not far off, and with that,
he could fee her Father fling a Stone at her,
which pafled with a mighty Violence by
her Face , and the Stone was found with
prints of Fingers in it 3 but no fuch thing
as the Father there , neither was he at home
fince the Night before 5 but certain it is ,
that Living Men's Ghofts, are Ordinarily
feen in thefe parts , and unawares to the
parties. We have in this County, feveral
Silver and Leaden Mines, and nothing more
ordinary than fome Subterranean Spirits 3
called Knockers ( where a good Vein is )
both heard , and after feen, little Statured,
about half a yard long 3 this very inftant,
there are Miners upon a Difcovery of a
K 3 Vein
1^4 dn Hiflorical Vifeourfe of
Vein upon my own Lands, upon this fcore,
and two offered Oath, they heard them in
the Day-time. Lieutenant CJolohel Boiven
I hear 5 is upon Difcovery , that what you
heard, was Witchcraft 5 but he holds cant-
ing Tenents, all which minds us< the more
to admire the King of Spirits , our Lord
God Almighty , and that our Eyes behold
hnt the leaft part of his Secrets , and Mar-
vels; to whofe Arms and Bleffingf, I com*
mit and leave you*
Sir, / pray far don this Trouble of
,- ; '.,p . ■■
Tour very Thankful Servant ■,
Sfefe John Lewi^
M;.
apparitions and Witches, 135
Mr. John Lewis Third Letter.
AS for the -Candles* all the parts I know
of Wales 1 a$ otir Neighbouring Coun-
ties ( as I hear ) have Experience of them 5
fcat whether fo frequently as here, I will
learn. I fcsrce know any Gentleman or
Mimfter of any ftaftding \ tat hath feea
them, and a Neighbour of mine, will
thortly beat Worcefier abiding f who fiath
feen them often, and I will dire*54 .feme
to acquaint you, and upon Oath , -if need
be) a very Credible Aged perfenr For
my part, I never faw the C&hdles ; but
thofe of my Houfe have, and 6na Time^
fome years part, it was told me by them %
that two Candles was feen , one little, and
a great one pafling the Church way, under
my Houfe , my Wife was then great with
Child, and near her time, and (he feared
Sfk, and it begot fome fear in u^ abdut
her h but juft about a week after, fifcr" felf
firft came to me ( as fomething joyed tliat
the fear might be over) and (aid (as
true it was ) an old Man, and a Child of
the Neighbour-hood paflfed that fame way
tohe Buried.- This fhe and I can depdfe ■>
and truly my felf efpecially , heard fome
uncouth warning, before my firfi: Childs
Deaths new Born , which is too large to
' K 4 relates
1 3 6 r An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
relate : Such warnings and noifes, are alfo
here very common, and I do think there is
fcarce any ( and I know it by my felf ) but
before fome Remarkable Occurrences of
Life , will have fome warnings , at leaft
by Dreams; of which there is a kind that
may be ranked with thefe Apparitions, and
it was not for nought, that the Stpicksof
old held Sleep , familiar e & domefkkunt om-
entum : You fhall learn more of me hereaf-
ter about the certainty of Candles and
the Knockers.
Sir, I put you to your Penance, by thefe
under Lines, they (hew I can hardly part
with you , I pray God continue, aqd grant
you Health and Happinefs anfwerableto
the ufe you are of, for his Glory among
Sir y
Tom- wry Thankful Servant.
W&> John Lewis;
Mr.
[Apparitions and Witches;. 1 37
Mr. Davis's Letter, co?icerning the
Corps-Candles in Wales.
Venerable Sir,
FOr your Worth, hath purchafed you that
Stile. With all due Refpe&s, you (ball
hereby underftand that I am one, who fin-
cerely bleflfeth himfelf, to have been much
Edified by you, as being Confirm'd in fome
points , and informed in others, by a piece
of your Learned and Judicious Works,
Termed by your felf a Supplement, which
proved to me a Complement , and which
was Communicated to be by my Worthy
Friend, and fpccial Encourager, John Lewis
Efq; , at whofe Requeft , I am to give you
the beft Satisfaction I can , touching thofe
fiery Apparitions, which do as it were, mark
out the way for Corpfes to their wpmel* ,
and that fometimes before the parties them-
felves fall fick , and fometimes in their
ficknefs of thefe , I could never hear in
England , they are common in thefe thre^
Counties, Cardigan, Carmarthen and Vem-
brook, and as I hear, in fome other part of
Wales.
Thefe **tTi*u*i* in our Language, we call
Canhxvyllau, Cyrth ( i ) Corps-Candles h and
Candles we call them , not that we do fee
^ny thing elfc befides the. Light : But be*
caufe
i^3 An Htftorical Difcomfe of
canfe that Light doth as much Refemble a
Material Candle-light, as Eggs do Eggs,
laving , that in their Journey, thefe Can-
dles be modo dppdrentes] mb'So difparentes ,
efpecially, when one comes near them 5
and if one come on the way againft them ,
unto him they vanish 5 but prefently appear
behind him , and hold on their Courfe. If
it bea little Candle, pale or blewifh, then,
follows the Corps either of an Abortive, or
fome Infant , if a big one, then the Corps
of fome one come to Age , if there be
feen two or three, or more, fome big, fome
final! together, then fo many, and fuch
Corpfes together. If two Candles come
from Diverfe places, and be feen to meet 3
the Corpfes will the like, if any of thefe
'Candles be feen to turn fometimes a little
oiitof the way \ or Path, that leadeth unto
the Church , the following Corps will be
found'. to turn in that very place , for the
avoiding of fome dirty Lane, or Pla%ehr.
Now let us fall to Evidence , Being about
the Age of fifteen, dwelling at Ltinytdr, late
at 'Nights fcm£ Neighbours few one of thefe
Candles hovering up and down along the Ri-
ver bank, until they were weary in behold-
ing,, at laft they left it fo, and went to Bed,
a few Weeks aftef ' came a proper Damfel
f torn Mem gomsry' SBre'^ to fee her Friends 5
who dwelleth on the other fide of thatRiver
Jjfwyth, and thought to Ford the Hitter at
that
Apparitions and Witches. 1 3 £
that very place, where the Light was feen 5
but being diff#adedJ>y fome lookers on,
Ofbme it's mod like of thofe that faw the
Light ) to adventure on the Water, which
was high , by reafon of a Flood : She
walked up and down along the River Banls,
even where, and even as the fore&id Can-
dle did, waiting for the falling of the Wa-
ter, which at laftfhe took-, but too foon
for her , for fhe was drown d therein.
Of late, my Sextons Wife, an Aged Un-
demanding Woman , faw from her Bed,
a little blewifh Candle upon her Tables
end : Within two or three days after » comes
a fellow in , enquiring for her Husband ,
and taking fomething from under his Cloak,
claps it down directly upon the Tables end,
where flie had feen the Candle, and what
was it, but a Dead-born Child f Another
time , the fame Woman , faw fuch a-
nother Candle upon the other end of the
felf fame Table , within few days after, a
weak Child by my felf, newly Chrifined,
was brought into the Sextons Houfe, where
prefently he died : And when the Sextons
Wife , who was then abroad, came home,
fhe found the Woman fhrouding of the
Child , on that other end of the Table ,
where fhe had feen the Candle. On a
time my felf, and a Kinfman coming from
our School in England , and being three or
four hours benighted* ere we could reach
home,
140 -An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
home , were firft of all Saluted by fuch a
Light, or Candle, which coming from a
Houfe 5 which we well knew, held his
Courfe ( but not diredJy ) the High-way to
Church-, ftiortly after, the Eldeft Son in
that Houfe Deceafed, arid Steered the fame
Courfe- My felf, and my Wife in an Even-
ing , ftw fuch a Light , or Candle coming
to the Church, from her Mid- Wifes Houfe,
and within a Month , flie her felf did fol-
low : At which time, my Wife did tell
me a Story of her own Mother , Mrs. Ca-
tharint Wyat , an Eminent Woman in the
Town of Tenby , that in an Evening, being
In her Bed-Chamber , ihe faw two little
Lights juft upon her Belly, which ihe a£
fayed to ftrike off with her Hand, but
could not 5 within a while they vaniftied of
themfelves. Not long after, (he was Deli-
vered of two Dead-born Children: Long
fithence there happened, the like in mine
own Houfe 5 but to a Neighbours Wife ,
whom my Wife did fometimes call for, to
do fome work or other and ( as I credibly
heard within thefe three days) to fome
good Gentlewoman alfo in this very Pa-
ri(h h where alfo not long fince, a Neigh-
bours Wife of mine , being great with
Child * and coming in at her own Door ,
met two Candles, a little, and a bigg one ,
and within a little after, falling in Labour,
she and her Child both dyed*
Some
'Apparitions and Witches. 14*
Somethirty four, or thirty five years by-
gone , one Jane Wyat my Wifes Sifter *
being Nurfe to Baronet Rudds three Eldeft
Children , and ( the Lady Mifirh being
Deceafed ) the Lady Controuler of that
Hcufe, going late into a Chamber where
the Maid-Servants lay , faw there no lefs
then five of thefe Lights together. It hap-
pened awhile after, the Chamber being
newly Plaiftered, and a great grate of Coal-
fire therein , kindled to haften the drying
up of the Plaiftering : That five of the
Maid-Servants went there to Red, as they
were wont 5 but ( as it fell out ) too foon ,
for in the Morning, they were all dead ,
being Suffocated ( I conceive ) in their
Sleep with the Steem of the New-temper-
ed Lime and Coal. This was at Llangathen
in Carmarthenshire.
Some thirty three, or thirty four years
ago, upon a Tuefday coming towards home
from Cardigan , where I had been injoynd
to Preach the Seffion Sermon: Incipient e
adhnc creptifcdo, and as Light as Noon, and
having as yet, nine long Miles to Ride,
there feemd twice or thrice from behind me,
on my Right fide , and between my Shoul-
der and my Hat, to fly a little whiti/h
thing , about the bignefs of a Walnut, and
that per intervalla , once in feventy or eighty
Paces : At firft I took no notice of it ,
thinking it had been but the glimpfing of my
little
i^i An HiftoricaUDifcowfe of
little Ruff 3 for fuch then I wore, by Degrees
it waxed reddifli, and as the Night drew
on , redder and redder , at laft not ignis
fatuus^ ( for that I partly knew ) but pwus
futus ignis 5 both for Light and Colour.
At length I turned my Horfe twice or
thrice , to fee from whence it came, and
whether it would flafh into my Face, then
nothing I could fee 5 but when I turned
homewards , it flafhed as before , until I
came to a Village called Llwriflid, where
as yet I did not intend to Lodge , though
there were four Lodgings, and one of them
( five one ) the next Houfe in my way ,
which, when I pafled by clofe , being juft
againft the Door , my Fire did flafh again
upon , or very near the Threshold , and
there I think it lodged 3 for I few it no
more. Home ftill I would go, but be-
thinking my felf, that fo I might tempt
God, and meet a worfe Companion than
my former : I turned to the furtheii Lodg-
ing in the Town, and there after a little
Reft, in a brown Study ( becaufe mine Hoft
was an understanding Man , and Literate,
and -fuchas could, and had but lately read
his Neck- Verfe in pure Roman Language )
I could not contain , but needs muft tell
him of the Vifion, he the next day tofome
going to the Selfions , they to others there,
at lad it came to the Judges Ears , info-
much , that the greateft News, and won-
der
'Apparitions and Witches. 14}
der at the then Affifes was the Preachers
Vifion. To come at length unto the Pitch,
or Kernel , ( for I have been too long abo&t
the Husk and Shell ) at that very Seffions,
one John William ^ U^, a Gentleman , who
dwelt, and whofeSon yet dwells within a
Mile of Glaslerig? fell Sick, and in his com-
ing homewards , was taken with fuch a vio-
lent Paroxifm , that he could Ride no fur-
ther than the Houfe , where I left my Fire
to entertain him, and there he lighted and
Lodged, died about four Days after. Ex-
Abundant i ,• you (hail underftand that fome
Candles have been^ feep to come to my
Church, within thefe three weeks* and the
Gorpfes not long after. Rutierms de Csvdez
lis noftm.
Another kind of Apparition we have ,-
which commonly we call T^n-nc? or Tan-
wed> becaufe it feemeth ?;.;;>> This ap--
peareth to our fceming in the lower Re-
gion of the Air,ftraight and long, not much
unlike a Glaive, Mours or Shoots direct-
ly, and level ( as who % *ouId fay I'll hit) but
far more fliowly, than Stella cadentes,or Star
{hot lighteneth all the Air , and Ground
where it pafleth, lafteth three or four Miles*
and more for ought is known $ becaufe no
Man feeth the Rifing or Beginning of it 5
when it falls to Ground, it fparkleth , and
lightneth all about. Thefe before their De-.
ceafe , do fall upon Free-Holders Lands ,
and
f 44 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
and you fliall fcarce bury any fuch with m*
be he but a Lord of a Houfe and Garden,
but you (hall find fome one at his Burial *
at leaft Wife in his Neighbour- hood, that
hath feen this Fire to fall on fome part of
his Lands. Two of thefe at feveral times
I have feen my feif, fince I Studied Me-
teors, and fince I wasaMinifter, andnar*
rowly obferved , even till they were in the
*ty*, and began to fall; butthelnterpofi-
tion of Grounds, marred the Conclufion j
for where , and how they fell, I faw not 5
but where I did guefs, they fell, there
died in the one place an aged Gentle-
man , in the other, a Free-Holder too ,
though of a Meaner Rank- To come near-
er home,
My Mothers firft Husband (for my Fa-
ther Marryed her a Widdow J walking
about hi3 Ground , faw one of thefe Darts,
or Piles aloft , which fell down hard by
him , fhone far , and fparkled round about
his Body , he took it for a Warning-Piece,
made his Will , and having jived in good
Health, fome. four or five Months after ,
dyed.
A little before the Deceafe of mine own
Father, Aged Ninety fix , a Son in Law of
his , who dwelled two Miles off, ( but up-
on higher Ground ) faw fuch another fall
in a Clofe behind the old Mans Houfe,
which gave fuch a Light 3 chat by it, he did
clearly
apparitions andWitcheil 14 j
clearly fee the Houfe , the Hedges , and
the Oaks in the Wood adjoyning*
Sir, So many of thefe Evidences, as I faw
not my felf , I received from Underftand-
ing and Credible Ferfons, and fuch as would
not lye , no, not for a Benefice 5 and your
felf may receive the fame from me, as from
one that was never too Credulous, nothing
Supperftitious, and as little Ceremonious.
Thefe Secrets, I dare not Father upon
Satan , I will not Honour him fo much ,
fo much as to Afcribe to him the Know*
ledge of Contingent Futures. I prefume
that of himfelf , he cannot certainly know,
whether, or when a Healthy Man fliall
Sicken, nor whether, or when he fliall
dye of his Sicknefs , nor whether he fliall
dye by Sicknefs, or by Fire or Water, &c.
nor ( in an open Country efpecially ) which
way of two, three, or more, the Corps
fliall be brought to Church, whether it fliall
meet another Corps in the way, whether it
fliall pafs a River by the Ford , or Bridg ,
how many flops , turnings, and windings
it /hall make, Satan can have no certain
fore- knowledge of all fuch Circumftances ,
and more , but this Candlemaker and Di-
rector of them too forefees, and foreknows
them all 5 and therefore muft needs be the
Creator, who , as according to the good
pleafure of his Will > he hath Determined;
aad allotted to feveral Nations, the^r feve-
L r^
146 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
ral Habitations, Difpofitions and Conditi-
ons, even (o( as I fuppoie ) bath he vouch-
fafed to each of them forne peculiar figns
and tokens , if none to fome , which I
cannot believe, and if to fome more, and
more wonderful than to other fome, for my
part , I can give no other Reafon for it, but
his Will. This with ray hearty Prayers for
your felf, your Pious and Learned Bre-
thren of the Aflbciation.
I Reft,
Tour Friend in aU kind Offices
that lye in my Power.
^ffi 5 ' John Davis.
CHAP^
Apparitions and Witches': x 47
CHAP. VII.
Containing feveral other Letters
and Relations concerning Appa-
ritions and Witchcrafts.
Mr. Thomas Tilfon, Minifter of
Aylefworth in Kent, his Let-
ter concerning an Apparition in
Rochefter, this prefent Tear,
1691.
Reverend S/Vy
BEing informed that you are writing £-
bout Witchcraft and Apparitions, I
take the freedom, though a Stranger, to
fend you this following Relation.
Mary, the Wife of John Gofe of Ro-
chefter, being affli&ed with a long Illnefs,
removed to her Father's Houfe at Weft-
Mulling, which is about nine Miles diftant
from her own :. There ffie died, June the
4th this prefent Year, 1691, ,
L % the
148 'An Hijhrical Difcourfe of
The Day before her departure , fhe]
grew very impatiently defirous to fee her
two Children , whom fhe had left at
home , to the Care of a Nurfe. She
prayed her Husband to hire a Horfe, for
(lie muft go home, and die with the Chil-
dren. When they perfuaded her to the
contrary , telling her fhe was tiot fit to
be taken out of her Bed, nor able to fit
on Horfe back, fhe intreated them how-
ever to try : // / cannot fit, faid fhe, I
will lie all along upon the Horfe, for 1 muft
go to fee my poor Babes.
A Minifier who lives in the Town was i
with her at Ten-a- Clock that Nighr, to
whom fhe exprefsd good Hopes in the
Mercies of God , and a Willingnefs to
die : But, faid fhe, it is my Mfery that 1
cannot fee my Children.
Between One and Two-a Clock in the
Morning (he fell into a Trance. One
Widow Turner, who watched with her
that Night, fays, that her Eyes were o-
pen, and fixed, and her Jaw fallen : She
put her Hand upon her Mouth and No-
flrils, but could perceive no Breath \ fhe
thought her to be in a Fit, and doubted
whether fhe were alive or dead.
The next Day this dying Woman told
her Mother, that fhe had been at home
with her Children. That is impoffible, faid
the Mother, for yon have been here in Bed
■ all
Apparitions and Witches, 149
all' the while. Tes> replied the other, but
I was with them laft Night, when I was a-
fleep.
The Nurfe at Rochefier, Widow Ale-
xander by Name, affirms, and fays, (he
will take her Oath on't before a Magi-
ftrate, and receive. the Sacrament upon
it, that a little before Two a*Clock that
Morning (he faw the Likenefs of thefaid
Mary G of e come out of the next Chamber,
( where the elder Child lay in a Bed by
it felf, the Door being left open, and
flood by her Bed-fide for about a quar-
ter of an Hour 3 the younger Child was
there lying by her •, her Eyes moved, and
her Mouth went, but (he faid nothing.
The Nurfe moreover fays, that (he was
perfectly awake; it was then Day-light,
being one of the longeft Days in the
Year. She fate up in her Bed, and look-
ed ftedfaftly upon the Apparition : In
that time (he heard the Bridge- Clock
ftrike Two, and a while after faid, In
the Name of the Father , Son and Holy
Ghoft, what art thou ? Thereupon the Ap-
pearance removed, and went away 5 (he
ilipp'd on her Cloaths and followed, but
what became on't (he cannot tell. Then,
and not before, (he began to be grievouf-
ly affrighted , and went out of Doors ,
and walked upon the Wharf ( the Houfe
is juft by the River fide) for fome Hours,
L 3 only
ifo An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
only going in now and then to look to
the Children. At Five-a-Clock flie wens
to a Neighbour's Houfe, and knocked at
the Door, but they would not rife : At
Six flie went again, then they arofe and
let h£r in. She related to them all that
had pafs'd : They would perfuade Eer (he
Was miftaken, or dreamt :* But (he 'confi-
dently affirmed, If ever 1 f aw her in all my
'Life, I faw her ~thu Night.
Ont of thofe to whom (he made the
Relation (Mary, the Wife of '■ John Sweet) •
had a'Meflenger came fc am MuRing that
Forenoon , to let her know her ,Neigh*
hour-Gaffe was dying, and' defired to fpeak
with her 5 fite went over the fame day, and
found her juft departing. The Mother, a>
tnongft other Difcourfe,R elated to her how
much -her Daughter had long'd to fe§
the Children 3 and faid flie had feen them.
This brought to Mrs. Sweet's niind, what
the Nurfe had told her that Morning 3
for till then , /lie had not though c to
mention it , but difguifed it , rather as the
Woman's difturbed Imagination.
The Subflance of this , I had Related
to me by John Carpenter , the Father of
the Deceafed, next day after her Burial :
Jtily the Second:! fully Dil'courfed the
Matter with the Nurfe, and two Neigh-
bours , to whole Houfe fhe went that
Morning,
Two
'Apparitions and Witches. i y I
Two days after, I had it from the
Mother, the Minifter that was with her
in the Evening , and the Woman who
fat up with her that laft Night: They
all agree in the fame Story , and every
one helps to flrehgthen the others Tefti-
mbny :
They appear to be Sober Intelligent Per-
fons , far enough off from Defigning to im-
pofe a Cheat upon the World, or to ma-
nage a lye , and what Temptation they
fhould lye under for fo doing, I cannot con-
ceive.
Sir, that God would blefs your pious
Endeavours for the Convi&ion of Atheifjs
arid Sadduces, and the promoting of true
Religion and Godlinefs 3 and that this Nar-
rative may conduce fomewhat towards the
farthering of that great Work, is the hear-
ty Defire and Prayer of
Tour mofi faithful Friend^
and humble Servant^
\
Jylesford y / f Miniftsr of Aylef-
$uly6. Th0. Tilfon,-< ford, iwgfc Haid-
er. L ftoneiuKcnt.
Mr.
I "
1 5 % r An Hijiorical Difcourfe of
Mr. Thomas Woodcocke'j Let-
ter in relation to Witches and
Apparitions 5 together, with
four Stories inclosed therein ,
all relating to the fame Sub-
je8.
SIR,
T Have herein fent you thofe four Stories
JL I had the remembrance off, when I was
ttdthyoulaft, which I have fubfcribed my
Name to. But who can prove any thing
Rationally to them who have not fo much
Reafcn as to know their own Souls ? AH
of this Tribe are of that mind, to believe
siothing but what they fee themfelves. But
as Rsligio Medki fays 5 The Devil hath them
In too faft a Noofe, for to appear to them
would be to convert them from their Error.
He rather delights to be their God than to
prove himfelf a Devil, and fo torment
their Thoughts too foon. They aflert and
admire the Omnipotency of Matter, but in
the mean time are infenfible of the fpring
of Motions they are fo full of Seconds
they will not own a Firft Mover; 'Tis
grange Arithmetick, that two ihould not
iuppofe one, and as bad Geometry to have
Grcum-
jrffparkions and Witches. 1 5 3
.Circumference without a Center. But I
fear you will but fpend Arguments on them
who are refolved not to yield to any Evi-
dence; for it is the Intereft of their Lufls
neither to believe God nor a Devil. Yet
I remember a ftory of one at Cokhefler t
who in a Bravado, and Defiance of the
Devil, would walk in the Night to the
Church- Yard , where it was reported he
appeared and walked, and he met him in
the flbape of a Black Dog with terrible
Eyes, which brought him by Terrors in-
to fuch a mind, that he was never quiet in
his Mind till he got into good Society.
Coming to Mr Shepheard's at Coin, Mr.
Harhkenden ftay'd him, though Mr. Shep-
heard was gone: He lodged there, and
when at Prayer, the Black Dog was feen
by the Manas if he would have torn Mr.
NarUkendens Throat out, but lie was in
his Hoiife and Duty, and neither faw nor
feared s And this Man continued long in this
condition, proved a moft ferious Chriftian,
always had fome appearance of this Dog,
as a Fly or a Flea, and various fiiages ; and
even at his Death, lying long tick, had
freat Peace and Vi&ory over the fear of
)eath, and was fo joyful and defirous to be
diflblved, that this Dog or Flea made no
impreffion upon him j when had it been a
Melancholick Fancy it would have been
worft at fo dark an Hour, when the Hu-
mours
i >4 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
irours are. up and the Spirits down. This
Story I had alfo from Mr. Harlakenden, but
it is not to be caft before fuch Swine as
this Epicurean Age abounds with, who, if
Chrifthimfelf was on Earth, with the.Ga-
darens, would rather get rid of him, than
k)fe their Herd of Hogs. But I tire
you ? the Lord fupport you, and give you
the Joy of Faith, the Blefled profped of
Hope, and that Cordial of Love which is
Granger than Death $
I am
Tour worthkfs Brother
and Servant injhe Lord,
IS?*** T. Woodcocke.
Here
"Apparitions and Witches. \ 5 5
Here follow the four Stories,, men-
tioned in the fore- going Letter.
I. Mr. Mun, Rector of Stockerfon in Ld-
cefterjhire, had a Daughter married to one
^Av*Beecham^ Re&or of Br an ft on in Rutland;
In whofe Houfe it was frequently obferved,
that a Tobacco-pipe would move it fe!f
from off a Shelf at one end of the Room 3
to another Shelf at the other end of the
Room, without any Hand. Mr. Man viiir-
ing his Son-in Law, took a Pipe of Tobacco
in that Room, and looked for feme fuch
Motion 5 but a great Bible, inftead of a
Pipe, movejLit telf off from a Desk at the
lower end of the Roots, and cart it felf in-
to his Lap. Whereuppn he opened the Bi~
ble at Gen, 3. 15. faying, Come, Satan; III
jherv thee thy Doom : The Seed of the Woman
pall breast he Serpent's Head. Avoid Satan.
This Mr. Mud himielf told me, when in
the Sicknefs Year, 1665. I lived in Stocker-
fon- Hall. I have noreafon to'fufped. the
Veracity of a fober Man, a conilant Preach-
er, and a good Scholar.
II. Dr. Lamb > who was killed by the
Mob, for a Conjurer, about 1640. met one
Morning Sir Miles Sands and Mr. Barber in
fihe Street, and invited them to go and drink
their
if 6 An HiftoYical Difcourfe of
their Mornings Draught at his Houfe : Di£
courfing about his Art, he told them, if
they would hold their Tongues, and their
Hands from medling with any thing, he
would fhew them fome Sport. So falling
to his Practice, in the middle of the Room
fprings up a Tree 5 foon after appeared
three little Fellows, with Axes on their
Shoulders, and Baskets in their Hands, who
prefently fell to work, cut down the Tree,
and carried all away. But Mr. B arbor ob-
ferving one Chip to fall on his Velvet Coat,
be flips it into his Pocket. That Night,
when he and his Family were in Bed, and
afleep, all the Doors and Windows in the
Houfe opened and clattered, fo as to awa-
ken and affright them all. His Wife faid,
Husband, you told me you was at Dr, Lamb'*
this Day, and I fear yon medled with fome-
thing. He replied, Iput a Chip into my Poc
\k§t. I pray you, faid (lie, fling it out, or we
fhatl have no Quiet. He did fo, and all the
Windows and Doors were prefently fhuf,
and all quiet, fo they went to fleep.
Dr. Barbor and Major John Barbor, who
married my only Sifter, told me this Rela-
tion, who had it again and again from their
JFather and Mother ; and I know no reafon
to doubt of the truth of it. This Mr. Bar-
fw laid the firft Stone in building of Covent-
tijorden*
III.
'Apparitions and Witchesh 157
III When I was a School-Boy at Gunik
in Northamptonftire-j about the Scots coming
' into England, 1 heard a Well, in one Dohs\
Yard, drum like any Drum bearing a March.
I heard it at a diftance : Then I went and
put my Head into the Mouth of the Well,
and heard it diftincftly, and no Body in the
Well. It lafted federal Days and Nights,
fo as all the Country-People came to hear
it. And fo it drumm'd on feveral Changes
of Times.
When King Charles the Second died, I
went to the W/e-Carrier, at the Ram-lna
in Smithfield ; who told me their Well had
drummed, and many People came to hear k.
And I heard, it drumm'd once fince-
IV. Mr. Harlakenden, who lived at Coht-
Priory in Effkx, (where I often was, his on-
ly Son being my Pupil,) formerly the Houfe
of the Earls of Oxford : Off from the Houfe
was a Tomb Houfe, with a Chamber over
it; his Butler, Robert Crow, and William, his
Coach man, ufed to lie in that Room, Ac
Two of the Clock in the Morning there was
always the found of a great Bell tolling :
*They affirming it fo, Mr- Harlakgnden flepc
in the Evening, fo as to be awaked at One
of the Clock, and lay betwixt his two Ser-
vants to fatisfie himfelf. At Two df the
Clock comes the ufual Sound of a great Bell
tolling,
158 l An Hiftorical Dtfcourfe of
tolling, which put him into a Fright and
Sweat, fo as he jogg'd his Servants ; who
awaking, feid, Hark^ Tom is at his Sport.
It revived him to hear them fpeak. Upon
a particular Occafion, Mr. Thomas Shepheard,
(who after went to New England,) with
fome other Minifters, and good People,
fpent a Night in Prayer, and had fome re-
fpedi to the place* ferving God, to caft out
the Devil ; And from that time, never was
any fuch noife heard in the Chamber.
This I had from Mr. Harlakenden's own
Mouth, and his Servants, Ear-witneflTes*
when I was upon the place.
It a Teftatur
Tho. Woodcocke.
CHAP,
Jpparitions and Witches* 159
CHAP. VIII.
Of good Angels, and fome doubt-
ful Spirit s, and their notable
Anions.
THis fort of Operations is of more plea-
fant Confideration than the Diaboli-
cal, and as convincing of the Agency of Su-
perior Spirits on things below ; but fo m#-
ny have written of it, as maketh my farther
Labour needlefi. Let them that would fee
more, read Mr. Ifaac Ambrofe of our Com-
munion with Angels, the Lord Lawrence^
Mr. Samuel Claris Mirrour, Zanchy de An-
gelt*) &c.
Bodin tells us of one of his Acquaintance.,
that had a good Genius that would always
give him notice when he did ill, by a ftroke 5
and what he fhould do when he omitted it*
I pafs by old Writers.
I will mention now but thefe few.
i That of Mr. Tate in Ireland, mention-
ed by Mr. Clark, and Mr. Ambrofe, and con-
firmed to me by his near Relations that
knew of it. Dr. Tate, with his Wife and
Children, being flripp'd, and forced to flee
for their Lives, by the Irijk, when they were
raur-*
1 66 An Hifiorical DifcQwfe of
murdering Thoufands in their Rebellion iff
1641. They were wandering in unknown
places, upon Commons covered with Snow §
and having no Food, and fhe carrying a
Sucking Child, and having no Milk, foe
went to lay down the Child to die \ and on
the Brow of a Bank (he found a Suck-bottle
with fweet Milk in it, no Foot-fteps ap-
pearing in the Snow of any that fhould bring
it thither, and far from any Habitation 1
which prefer ved the Child's Life, who after
became a Bleffing to the Church.
II. When Prince Rupert march'd with his
Army through Lancashire, to York-Fight,
where he was overthrown, the Town of
Bolton made fome Refiftance in his Paflage,
and he gave them no Quarter, but killed
Men and Women. When he was gone,
thofe that efcaped came out from the places
where they lurked, and an old Woman
found in the Streets a Woman killed, and
a Child by her not dead : The old Woman
took up the Child, and to ftill its crying,
put her own Breaft to the Child, which had
not given Suck* as I remember, of above
twenty Years: The Child being quieted,
flie prefently perceived Milk to come ; and
continued to give the Child fufficient Milk,
till it was provided for. I had the full Af-
furance of this from my worthy Friend,
Mrs. Hmt % Wife to Mr. Rowland Hunt, of
Harrow
T Apparitions and Witches ; 1 6 1
Harrow on the Hill,;, who told me , that
l(he her felf.was one that was appointed
by the Commitfee to make Trial of the
Cafe, ancl foe found k true, and the old
-VVoman's Breafts to give the Child Milk,
as was reported." "And (lie told me in 1665,
that the laid Child was at that time alive, a
Servant- woman in London.
. : III. Though J lay no great:firefs on the
jKeports of thofe Papifts 'who corrupt
Church-Hiftory by Fabulous' fixtures, yet
many Hiftories of the Miniilry of Angels,
cited by them out of the Fathers, are cre-
dible. Thofe. that have purged their Le-
gends, retain a great number, Baronms,
and De UCerdxy and many others, are worth
the reading by the ■ Judicious;, .that can dif-
cern the different Probabilities. But to de-
ny all the Eje&ing of Devils, and the V Ven-
ders mentioned by Tertiiliian,ghgen, Cyprian,
Chryfoftora, Augu[line,Sidpitms, Sever us, thofe
of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Martin, &c, (tho*
Tome may be^ over-aggravated •■> ) befides
thofe in Hiftorians, Eufebws, Socrates, Soz.o-
men, fittor Vtlcenfis, Procopins, Nicephor^
Theodoret, &c. would be unreafonable, and
unchriftian Incredulity. I have formerly
mentioned the African Biihops or Preach-
ers, who all fpake well when their Tongues
were cut out by the Command of the Ar-
rian King : And Kiclor, *Ainaas Gaz^ans and
M Procopim
I
\6z An Hiftorkal Difcourfe of
Trocopius (as I remember, all three) faid, :
they faw them, and heard them fpeak af-
ter. But one of them faith, that one of
the Bifhops was after drawn into the Sin of
Fornication,' and his Speech went away
again.
Tis ftrange if all the Stories in C a farm
ftiould be falfe.
IV- De la Cerda {d.\th>thzt4lbertine a ' Jeftit
told him, that a young Man came haftily to
him toconfefsjandtoldhim'O 5/>,faith he,/
could not ft ay, fo ftrange a thing hath befallen
me I I and my Companion were refolved, in Re-
venge again ft one that had wronged- me, to go
after him, into the Fields, and kill him : And
while I was Jetting my Piftol in order, that I
m'ght not mtfs, a beautiful young Man flood by
rae, and asked me what 1 was about ? Andwhen
1 denied to tell him', he told me, that he knew
my purpofe, and dijfuaded me ; and, in Jhort,
didfo open the Sufferings ofChrift for his Bne-
mies % and what Sins he had forgiven us, and
bound us to forgive one another, that 1 was
melted into Tears 3 and my Mind changed ; and
the young Man vanifhed away. (An Angel,
if true.;
V. HI make no Application of it to the
Omfe Jn our late VVars but I knew of
many ftrange Preservations. One credible
Perfon- had a Bullet (hot through the felt
of
Apparitions and Witches. x 6$
of his Hat, and ftopp'd at the Lining, and
hurt him not. Another had a fmali Bible
in his Pocket, and a Musket-Bullet (hot in-
to his Bible, which faved his Life.
The Story of Sir Richard Grecnviles Exe-
cutions is printed already ^ by Mr. Clark;
and others. To confirm it, Mr. Kettleby
Woodhoufe, (Siller's Son to Juftice Kettleby i
and to Walter Kettleby the Bookfeller's Fa*
ther,) a fober, credible Man, then living
in Bewdeley, oft told me, that he was one of
the Five (or Seven) whofe Lives were fa-
ved : Being Soldiers for the Parliament
and taken Prifoners, Sir Richard Greenvile
commanded them all to be hanged. The
firft Man being turned off the Ladder, $
new Hempen Rope brake : They fent for
another, and hang'd him again* and that:
brake ; and, as I remember, a third. Where-
upon Sir R. G. faved them all. And Mr.
Woodhoufe all the while flood by the Gal-
lows, expecting his Turn, and by this efcap'd,
'Tis like it was by an invifible Power.
VI. In i<5(52. came out divers Books of
new Prodigies, moil of them as Executions
on notorious Sinners, and fome as Delive-
rances of better Men- I read them, and
enquired after the Matter of Fad 3 and I
found by what Policy Satan hath perverted
Hiftory, and obfcured the Honour of God's'
Works., by cauiiog weak-headed> factious
M i Per.fo.os'
i &% 'An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
Ferfons to over do. I found many of the
Strange, things there mentioned, had fuffici-
ent Proof: But the Writers dropp'd in many
Circumftances and Stories, by partial Cre-
dibility, that were not true. And thisfru-
ftrated the Books, and the Prodigies, by
fpoiling the Credit of all the reft.
• VII. I know not what to impute it to,
that Lightnings and Thunderbolts fall more
upon Churches, than upon Caftles and Ci-
ty Stone Walls,or any fuch Buildings. Jerfey-
Caitle indeed was torn with the Gun-pow-
der, kt on fire by "Lightning, (as Heydelberg
had terribly been as' a Prefage of the greater
Evil following : ) And what was it but an
invifible Power , that there caufed the
Lord's Child, that was Governor, to be
blown up, and caftdown again on the Leads,
without Hurt ? Angels have a fpecial Care
of Infants.
The Church that my Grandmother was
born near, had a Ball of Fire, by Light-
ning, came in at the Belfrey-window, and
turn d up the Grave-iiones, and went out at
the Chancel- window .
The Church that I was baptized in (High
ErcsM, clofe to the Lord Newport's Houfe)
had, in fuch a Storm, thfe Leads rolled up,
and caft on the back-lide of the Church ;
C and in the War, was levelled with the
Ground.) -^
The
r Apparitions aniWitches. \ 6%
The Church of Anthony in Comma!!, near
Mmomh, was torn by Lightning at the time
Of Worlllip, on Whit-Sunday, 1640. and
People hurt, and ones Brains (truck up to a
Pillar. (It is in Print) '
So was ufed much like, the Church of Wi-
thkombe in Devonshire* near the fame time.
The Church where the prefent Lord
Chamberlain, Earl of Dorfet and Mddkfex,
his Anceftors Monuments were, was torn
by Lightning that came in at the Steeple,
melted the Bells, and went up to the Chan-
cel, and there tore the Monuments in pie-
ces. I faw pieces of the Monuments, that
had fome of the Golden Letters, which a
truly worthy Lady brought home, that
went from Tunbridge- Waters, to fee the
Church-
Many and many Churches have been thus
torn, proportionably fo much beyond all
other Buildings, efpecially of Stone, that I
cannot but think there is fome knowing
Agent that maketh the Choice, though I
know not who, nor why.
Except a few Hay-Ricks, I remember
not that till this Seventy (ixth Year of my
Age, I have "known Lightening to have
had Hurting Power on any Buildings but
Churches, favevery rarely, and {mall, < as
this laft Year, at Islington, it entred a Houfe,
and kill'd a Woman and Child:) Nor to
M 3 have
1 66 An Hiflmcal Difccurfe of -
have torn any Wood but Oak, (which m
Trees and Buildings 1 have feen torn
where I dwelt.) But divers perfcns have
been killed and fcorch'd by it. An E-
rainent Knight, that I knew, is common-
ly faid to have been ftruck dead by it in his
Garden.
VIII. Though Hurricanes and Whirl-'
winds have Natural Caufes, yet I havq
great caufe to think, that they are managed
by fome Spirits (as I faid before of Storms)
Gunpowder worketh in Guns according
to its nature ? but if fome Rational Agent
did not invent, make, and manage it, all its
Power, would be of little ufe. I have
marvelled to fee my own fmall Linnen
fpred out by Servants to dry, to be fudden-
ly catcht up, and carried over the Town
and Steeple away, and never more heard
of. Near the time when fome Reapers in
the Vale bf'Evefi&m were hurt, writhen,
and one killed with a Whirlwind, I was
walking in a Gravelly Way in a Corn-field,
there being a Lane befides me, between
two Hedges ? fuddenly a Whirlwind came
up the Cart- way/ cafting up the Gravelly
Sand directly to meet* me ; when it came
within Ten or Twelve Yards of me, I was
about ftepplng out of the way into the
Corn 3 to"efcape it, but it fuddenly turned
1 ' ; out
apparitions and Witches. \6j
out of the way to the Right-hand, into the
Lane from me, fo as perfwaded me, that
it was a voluntary Motion, dire&ed by a
friendly Power ? for it went ftraight on up
the Lane, and tore the Hedges and Branch-;
es of the Trees on the fide of the Lane^
But thefe are fmajl eifa&s to what other
fee, efpecially of the great Hurricanes at
Sea in the Weft-Indies. The Spirits that
Rule in the Air have great Power of the
Airy Motions.
IX. Though Porphyry, and Proclusy and
Jamblkw, tell us, that bad Demons wiU oft
(peak for good Anions and againft bad, in
Pride and Subtilty to be thought good 3 yet
it is hard to think that it is not rather a good
Spirit, that fpeaks for fome notable good
Work, where no by-End is difcernable.
As that mentioned by Mr- Glanvil and Dr.
More of Dr. Brit tons Wife, whofe likenefs
appeared after Death to her Servant-Maid,
and fhewed her a parcel of Land that was as
part of her Brothers,and told her,it belonged
to the Poor, and was unjuftly alienated
from them 5 and bid her tell the PofTeflbr,
that he muft reftore it ; and gave her a Se-
cret to tell him if he refuted : And upon
the angry refufal, when he heard the Se-
cret, he yielded arid reftored the Land to
the Poos, who now poflefs it.
M 4 X. The
i58 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
X. The faid Heathen Rhiiofophers &y 9
that they are all bad Spirksjthat ieek to be i
worftiiped , and that to procure it, they
will feem to be Religions, but will tell
many Lies for one Truth, and that lying is
a chief mark to know them by. By this I
fufped that there are bad Spirits that come
to fpeak for the getting fo many Maffes to
be faid for them to deliver them from
Purgatory, and fuch Pilgrimages to be per-
formed : And thofe that tempt the People
to Pray to them and to Honour them 5 for
their Services and Prayers for them , of
which their Legends abound with Instan-
ces : De la Cerda concludeth his Book of
Angels with JBormsof fuch Prayers : And
what Office hath not fuch ? De la Cerda,
lib. 2g. citeth Miraculous Appearances of
the Crofs, and fo do many others, which I
leave to the Readers Judgment. As alfo
the Lady of Laurettas Miracles, and others
inch, which many write of.
XL I think fome Rational Spirit was
probably the Agent of what was written
by our great Pious Credible Surgeon and
Phyfician, Fabricim HildannSyQbfer. Cent. 3,
obf. 26. [A Noble and Virtuous Lord, -Job.
a Rojle, going for his Studies to FHburg^
with two Servants, on the way, rofe a
great
Apparitions and Witches. 1 69
great Storm , with Thunder, Lightening,
and Rain \ His Servant perfwaded him to
let him ride clofe to him, and cover him
with his Cloaks fo joining their Horfes
they rode under one Cloak : A great ftroke
of a Thunderbolt ftruck down the Matter,*
the Servant, and both the Horfes ; the Ser-
vant and two Horfes immediately were
dead : The Nobleman, by God's keeping,
fcaped fafe and found, yet no hurt was feen
on the Horfes, nor on the Servant, fave on
his Hat, which had a great Hole ; and the
Head after fwelled and turned black: But
on the Nobleman himfelf were all thefe
Marvels 5 1. The Thunderbolt ftruck him
about the Left- Arm, and there made a
hole through the Sleeve of his Doublet
and Shirr, and made a black mark on the
Skin which remained, but without hurt-
The hole in the Sleeve was fmall without
and great within. 2. Thence it defcend-
ed, and broke in pieces fome Coral Beads
of a Bracelet which he wore on his Arm,
but broke not the String. 3. Then on his
Left-fide, his Sword Sheath being tyed, it
melted the point of his Sword as if it had
been Leads and by melting the gilded I-
ron, it made a hole in the Band for its paf-
fage out. 4, And on both his Ancles were
black fpots like Pitch 3 and are yet vi-
sible.
Another
1 70 An Hifiorical Difcourfe of
Another riding a Stones caft before
him, his Horfe and he were caft down, but
without hurt, fave the lofs of his Hearing.]
Hildanm faw the Cloaths , Boots , and
Sword, and had all from the Man him-
fclf.
CHAR
Apparitions and Witche*. 1 7 1
CHAP. IX.
IN my Vnreafonabknefs of Infidelity^hzvmg
many other Teftimonies of Satan's War
againft Chrift and his Kingdom, I will here
mention one, which elfewhere alfo I have
mentioned; and that is the Cafe of
melancholy , diftra&ed and Enthufiaftick
Perfons, which clearly prove a Diabolical
War.
I. As to melancholy Perfons : I think,
few Men in England have had more advan-
tage to know their Cafe, than I have had.
I know not how it cometh to pafs, but in
the Country, and in London, multitudes that
are melancholy are fent by their Friends,
or of themfelves come to me, imagining
that I can counfel them for Soul and Body 5
fo that they have taken up a great part of
my time. And in almoft all I perceive,
befides their Difeafe, that a malignant Spi-
rit, by advantage of it, doth agitate them
inceflantly againft God and Jefus Chrift,
and againft themfelves, as he adeth Witch-
es to do mifchief to others. I know that
the Difeafe it felf is, to the Imagination,
as difquieting as a Dislocation or Lamenefs
is to ajoint: But there is fome malignant Spi-
rit that driveth it fo importunately toMif-
chief*
jj% An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
chief. They are conftantly tempted to felf-
tormenting Thoughts, to defpair and cry,
TJndone , undone-? and to think that the
Day of Grace is part, and that they have
committed the unpardonable Sin ; and any
thing that may keep their Minds on a tor-
menting Rack.
And they are flrongly at laft tempted to
deftroy themfelves: If they fee a Knife,
they feel as if one within them laid, Now
cut thy Throaty or ftab thy felf : Do it, do it.
If they go by a Water, they feel as if one
urged them prefently to leap in. And often
a^e they urged vehemently to hang them-
felves, or to caft themfelves headlong from
fome high place. And, alas i many do it.
And it is fo in other Lands, as well as here.
How many doth Tlaterm, in his Obferva-
tions, tell us of, that near him, in Helvetia,
deflroyed themfelves.
And it is to be noted, that unlefs it be
God's Judgment for fome heinous Crime,
it is few of the ungodly Rabble that have
any fuch Trouble and Temptation $ for Sa-
tan holds them fafler by prefumptuous Un-
belief, and Carelefnefs, and worldly Love,
and Pleafure : But thofe that will not be fo
deceived, that he cannot torment hereafter,
he would torment here. Alas I divers Per-
fcnshavel known thus deflroy themfelves,
who I have great reafon to believe were as
really Godly as any that I have known.
. But
'Apparitions and Witches. 173
But Satan's Advantage was in their Di£
eafe and Temper : As he can tempt a
Phlegmatick Man to Sloth, and a i. hole-
rick Man to Anger, and a Sanguine Man to
Luft, or (inful Pleafure* fo can he a Me-
lancholy Man to Defpair and Self-deftru-
dion, and againft God.
2. And they are impetuoufly tempted a-
gainft God and Jefus thrift : They are fo
haunted with blaiphemous Thoughts, to
think ill of God, or to deny Chrilt or the
Scripture, that they have no reft: And
thefe come in at Prayer, at Sermon, at Sa-
crament 3 and they have no more power to
keep them out\ or turn their Thoughts ano-
ther way, almoft, than they have of the
Thoughts of another. Yea, fomewhaturg-
eth them from Day to Day, to fpeak fome
ill, blafphemous word of God, or of
Chrift 5 and if they yield to the Importunk
ty, it prefently, as it were, faith within
him, Now thou art damned : There is now no
Hope. And it is much to be noted, that lee
the Perfon be Religious, or not,they ulualiy
are all thus tempted alike : For worldly
Crofles and Difcontents do make bad Peo-
ple fometimes melancholy ; and they alio
have much of the fame Solicitations. So
that the manner of their Trouble plainly
tellech us, that it is of the Devil-
And yet Phyfick may do much to cure if,
becaufe it taketh from the Devil that In-
ftrumenty
174 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
ftrument, or bodily Difpofition, without
which he cannot do his Work.
Add it is not for nothing, that in the Go-
fpel the Diftradted and Epileptick are faid
to be poflefled of Devils 3 for he may caufe
the Difeafe, and work by it accordingly
when he hath done it.
I have oft marvelled that the Worft are
not as commonly diftrafted by Sadnefs, as
better People : But befides the Reafon be-
fore given, there is a peculiar Sin that bring-
eth this of its Nature, and fo lets the Devil
in; and that is, Overvaluing fome worldly
thing , and then falling into Difcontent and Im-
patience at the lofs or want of it. He that
breaks down his own Hedge or Wall, lets
in the Trefpafler or Thief. He that cannot
take God and Heaven as enough to content
him, is better without his Idol, than to
find Content in it. 'Tis meet that Child
be left to cry, that will cry if he may not
have his Will 3 and that will hurt him
worfe than crying. He that will add to
God's Corre<5iions , the Self Torment of
finful Impatience, (hall find Satan ready to
farther his Work. God is difobliged ,
when he is not trufted : And if we con-
fent not that he do with us what he will,
he will not do what we impofe upon him :
His Wifdom, and not cur Fleih and Fol-
ly, muft determine of all his Way and
Work. •
II. And
apparitions and Witches. i 7 5
II. And there have been many Enthufi-
afticks that Satan hath notorioufly deluded*
by pretended Angelical Revelation, for
fome great increafe of Knowledge : You
may find many fad Inftances in Epiphanius,
and other Hiftortes of the old Hereticks.
And few Ages fince have been without
fome fuch.
The Madnefs of John of Ley dens Munfler
Rebels fhewed it ; what Zeal and feeming
Fortitude did their deceiving Spirit infpire
them with, while by Murders they cryed up
theif ntwSion? Leojnda witneffeth, that
when the Flefh was pull'd orf Clipper dotting
with hot Pincers, he fcarce uttered a Com-
plaint or great regard of the pain.
Satan's Hand was notorious in the delufi-
ons of David George in Holland , and of
Hacket, Coppinger , and Arthington here.
The horrid Wickednefs of the Ranters
here, proclaimed him to be their Teacher*
When the Quakers firft rofe here, their
Societies began like Witehes, with Qua-
king, and Vomiting, and Infe$ing others,
with breathing on them, and tying Ribbons
on their Hands- And their Anions as well as
their Do&rine fhewed their Matter. When
fome, as propefying, walked through the
Streets of Cities naked ; and fome vainly
undertook to raife the Dead (as Sufan Pkr-
[on & Worcefter :) And ufually they difturb*
ed
1 7 6 An Riftorical Difcourfe of
ed and publickly reviled the moft Godly
Minifters worfe than the rngft debauched
of the Rabble did.
He that would know how manifeftly Sa-
tan ruled fuch Enthufiafts in Germany, may
read it at large in Beck*nan\ Exercltations^
and in the Life of Paracelfm, teftify'd by
Opporinm, that lived with him .as his Ser-
vant, and others that were affrighted with
his Drunken Rage and Satanical Con-
verfe.
And how dangerous it is to defire fucfi
Converfe with Angels and Spirits, as God
bath not judged fuitable to our Condition
herein the Flelh , the cafe of Jacob Beh-
mn and Dr. Pordage here, and his Society
may tell us. His chief Profelyte, Compa-
nion and SuccefTor (whofe name I sriention
not for the fake of his Worthy Kindred )
condefcended to open fecretiy to me in
Writing, his Judgment, by which I foon
fawthat their Guide differed much from
the Scripture. One of extraordinary Learn-
ing and Reputation* was a while diftra&ed
by going to them, to try their Way.
Some of my very much efteemed Friends
have been diftra&ed, and overcome with
Melancholy, by ftudying Behmen and that
way. What Dr. Pordage his Do&rine was,
you may fee partly in his PofihnmG^ Myftu
cat Theology, publilhed by his Friend Dr.
Hooker > Mr. Fowler of Reading aCCUfed him
as
r Apparitions and Witches'; ijj
as a Conjurer, and he bath publifhed his
Defence in Folio, (which I may the rather
mention, becaufe in it he hath made ufe of
friy name againft Mr Fowler , as fpeakinga-
gainft me, for our difference in explaining
the Do6trine of Imputed Righteoufn£fs>)
In this Defence the Dr. confefleth, that
the Devil was too familiar in his Houfe
(where a Society lived with him that kept
their Exercifes and Hours of finging Night
and Day.) He (and his Friends) pretended
that he knew when good Spirits and when
bad ones were about him, by Smells and
Gufts, and the temper of their Senfe and
Spirits. And he confefleth, that in. his
great Room, the Devil appeared to him by
Night in the likenefs of a Fiery Dragon
that almoft filled the Room, and long con-
Aided with him. And that once he made
on the Brick- Wall, over his Chimney,
the likenefs of a Coach drawn by Tygers, h
deeply imprefled, that they were fein to
ufe a Pick- Ax to cut it out of the Bricks:
And that the like Impreflion was on the
Glafs of his Windows,, which they could
not wafh out. But all this he imputed p
Everard that intruded into his Society, ta-
king him to be the Conjurer i And he faith,
that when he was gone, he appeared to
him in the Night, walking in his Chamber
in Boots and Spurs,
1 7 S r An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
So that Diabolical Apparitions, and open
Efife&s were confefled by him, as his Book
declareth.
Among others, I think meet to add this
Hiftory of fome Enthufiafticks that I have
known, not as a Condemnation of their O-
pinions, but of the way of receiving
them.
A Country Man of inkburrough Parifli
(as he faid) in Worcefcerjhire, came to me
to A&on near LonJon, to tell me, that God
had revealed to him the truth of that thou-
fand Years Reign of Chrift on Earth 5 and
he was poffeflfed with a ftrong Zeal to propa- j
gate it, and I rnuft needs promote the pub-
lication of his Papers. I examined him
how he came to his knowledge of it, and I
found it was not by any hard Study, nor
Zeal in Religion, nor by Reading any Book
for it, nor by Converfe with any of that
Opinion , for he had been no fuch Man,
nor had come among fuch : But it was by
feeming Revelation, finding him Ignorant
and Enthufiaftical, I difpleaied him, by ad-
vifing him to fupprefs his Papers 3 and I
after heard that he turned diftraded.
: . At Coventry there dwell with me in the
Governours Houfe, Major Wilkje, a Scot-
tifh Soldier, and a Scholar of confiderable
Learning 3 he was Engineer for Fortificati-
on. He would drink too much, and had
t^figns of a heated Brain, bqt no failing
of
Apparitions andWitchesl 1 79
of his Reafon perceivable. He confident-
ly affirmed his conftant notice of Spirits
good and bad about him 5 that he had a
good Genius and in Enemy: That one
Night his Enemy faid, / have torn his Li-
ver y and that he made a Chamber- Pot full
of Blood in the Morning: He was confi-
dent, that Thunder and Lightning was the
Wars of Spirits, foretelling and refpecting
fuch things below : He pretended to know
by the Thunder and Lightning which ficie
in the Wars (liould have the Vi&ory : In
1643 or 1644, about a Year and half after
the Wars begun, he faid, That it was re-
vealed to him, that the War fliouid endure
three Years and an half, and the Parliament
fhould Conquer ; but their own Divifions
fhould after keep them long unfetled. He
faid, that being in Paris, in a clear Moon-
fhine Night ( many Years before ) being
walking in his Chamber, and repeating £/*-
ir^ WsVerfion of the fecond Pfalm^ ^nare
fremuemnt gentes,&c. fudden/y a great noife
made him look out, and he faw a Conftel-
lation in the fliape of a Lion Rampant a-
gainft the Moon, and while he long gazed
on it, one Leg broke off, and turned to the
fimilitude of a Cock, and after the three
other Legs broke off And when he was
in Bed his good Spirit expounded it to him,
and told him , that the Moon was the
Church here, and the Aflaulting Lion was
N Z England^
1 8o An Hiftorical Difcomfe of
England^ Wales, and Ireland, by the KingJ
turned againft the Church: that the Foot
firft broken off, was Scotland, as a Cock,
by crowing awakened the other three, and
that all fliould end in Conqueft of the Af-
failantS.
And his Genius taught him the Millena-
ry Reign of Chrift, and taught him how
to Expound many Texts for it 3 as drink-
ing with them the Fruit of the Vine new,
that is, in its renewed Paradife ftate? and
the time of Reftitution of all things, &e.
And he Expounded to* him many other
Scriptures, as that the Devils Contending a-
bout the Body of Mofes, was, that it might
be drowned in the Basket of Bulrufhes to
prevent what he was to do, &c.
How much of this was true or falfe, I
know not ; but I heard credibly, that after
fome time he was quite diftra<aed, partly
through want, and partly by a hot Brain,
over-heated too oft with drinking.
What but Diabolical Delufion and Infti-
gation 5 could make tenner and his Followers
that were for the Millenary Fifth Monar-
chy, to arife fo madly as two days xo come
into fuch a City, and think by Arms to
conquer all Oppofers, at King Charles II.
his beginning of the new Prelatical way of
Church Government : Men in their Wits
would not have fo hafied to the Gallows.
k
"Apparitions and Witches. 1 8 1
A little &fter the K. Ch. II. Parliament
and Bi/hops began the overthrowing, di-
viding Works, which' Bartholomew day,
Aug. 24. 1662. did bring to open Birth, a
Gentlewoman of London came to me fecret-
ly with her Sifter as Witnefs, ( Perfons as
commonly called of Quality and Moderati-
on) to be refolved how to Expound a
ftrange thing that had befallen her, which
was. That £' asjhe wot praying in Stent , fhe
€ begg d for Deliverance of the Church
c and Religion* and Minifters from the
f- dreaded Sufferings that were determined,
* and the fad effe&s of Perfection, Divifi-
' on and publick dangers 5 and it was fud-
c denly given her, as an Anfwer, that there
* fliould be a fpeedy Deliverance, even in a
* very fhort time. She defired to know
' which w r ay j and k was by fomewhat on
' the King, which I refufed to hear out,
* whether it was Change or Death 5 it be-
' ing fet ftrongly on her as a Revelation,
* fhe earneftly prayed, that if this were a
* true Divine Impulfe and Revelation, God
* would certify her by feme vifible fign ;
* and fhe ventured to choofe the Sign her
' felf, and laid her Hand on the outfide of
1 the upper part of her Leg, and begg'd of
c God,that if it were a true Anfwer,he would
' make on that place fome vifible mark 5
fi and there was prefently the mark of black
' fpots,like as if a Hand had burnt it 5 which
Nj 'her
i 8 i 'Jn Hiftorical Difcourfe of
c her Sifter witneffed,(he faw prefently, and
f after, there being no fuch thing before.
I told her, that fhe had finfully tempt-
ed God, and gone out of his way into a
way of her own, and God might juftly for
it, give Satan power to deceive her: But
■yet, whether it would prove a Truth or a
Falfhood, it was not I, but the Event that
mult tell her,, and therefore that fhe mud
wait in Patience and Innocency, and lay no
ftrefsonfuchafign.
But the Womans ftmnge Impulfe and
Mark proved but a Delufiofr
The Rofie-Crucians, and fuch as addid
themfelves to find the Philofopher's Stone,
have fomeof them feemed to be deluded
by feme Evil Spirit ; by the violence of
their Defires, and the blind confidence of
their Expectations , and the ill Means that
ibme have ufed: Hiftories of fuch are too
many to be recited. Fdix PLterm, in his
vbftrvat. L i. tells us of one of his Famili-
ars, a Perfon of Honour and Wealth , a
Baron, and Religious, and addi&ed to good
Works, that was fo fet upon it, that he
not only fo" fpent his Time and Study, but
his Eftate, reducing himfelf and his Fami-
ly to great Poverty $ and yet would never
abate his Confidence, that he was near at-
taining it : And though (till fruftrate, he
was dill near It : Infomuch that he labour-
ed with the Magistrates for their Grant and
- - Powers
Apparitions and Witches. i 8 j
Power, that with the Gold he made he
might build anew Bridge over the River,and
I might build a Colledge for the Univerfity,
&c and though he died a poor Man, and
i left his Children Poor, he believed to the
I laft, that he was near finding out what he
I fought, had he had longer life.
to fuch deluded by Spirits, I think I
may add the Comforts of many Perfons
that I have known, that # long lived in doubt
of their Salvation, next Defpair: And
when a Deceiver hath but drawn them to
change their Religion from Sound Do&rine
to fome Error, they have prefently beea
delivered from their Troubles, "and lived
in Peace and Confidence- It cannot be from
the Nature cf the New Do&rines received %
for it befals divers that turn to contrary
Doftrines from each other : Some that turn
Papifts, fome that turn Quakers, fome A-
nabaptifts, fome Antinomians, fome Mil-
lenaries, and are againft each other, yes
have fudden Peace upon their change. I
confefs, that the conceit of having found
out a better way may do much $ and the
diverfion of their thoughts to difpute may
do much : As Pet . Foreftm tells us of a Me-
lancholy Papift, that after other means ufed
in vain, was at laft cured by eager difpu-
ting againft the Proteftants : But when the
Perfons before had no doubt of the Do»
brines of Religion, but only of the ftate
N 4 cf
1 84 An Hifiorical Difcourfe of
of their own Souls , and when they had
no fuch Difputes to bring them to it, but
fcdden hearing a Seducer, and when it is
only Falfe Doftrine that comforteth them,
when found Dofirine profefled, could not,
it feemeth to be done by a lying Spirit that
corpforteth Men with Evil, as God's Spirit
doth with Good.
Bodin tells us of a French Baron that con-
feft, that he wor(hiped the Devil, and pray-
ed to him, and had Sacrificed nine Children
to him, and intended to have Sacrificed one
of his own 5 and he ask'd ,him for what he
did this? And he faid, That he promifedto
make him Great, and yet that he never gave,
him any thing, and to make him k&ow what he,
de fired to k&ow, and yet told him more Lies
than Truths: This promife of Knowledge Wd.$
the old Temptation to Eve: And yet Know-
ledge is the great Gift of our great Comfor-
ter, the Holy Ghoft $ fo that there is a
true Comforting Knowledge which God
giveth, and deceitful fhadow of it '5 and a
yfeleft hurtful Knowledge by which Satan
comforteth the deluded : Its true, Needful
Saving Knowledge that is of God : Many
Conjurers have by the defire of knowing
what vain Curiofity is pleafed with, become
the Devil's slaves-
To what fort fliall we rank thofe Men
that tell Men of things flolen and loft, and
that ftew Men the Face of the Thief in a-
Glafsi
"Apparitions and Witches. 1 8 J
Glafs, and caufe the Goods to be brought
back, who are commonly called Whit*
Witches : We have had fo many Credible
Reports of fuch, as alloweth not Reafon to
doubt of it. When I lived at Dudley,
Hodg&s at Sedgky , two Miles off ( even
where famous William Fenner preacht) was
long and commonly accounted fuch a one :
And when I lived at Kedermwfier y one of
my Neighbours affirmed, that having his
Yarn ftolen, he went to Hodges (ten Miles
off) and he told him, that at fuch an Hour
he fliould have it brought home again, and
put in at the Window, andfb it was; and
as I remember, he (hewed him the Per-
fons Face in a Glafs 3 yet I do not think
that Hodges made any known Contra^
with the Devil, but thought it was an effed
of Art.
CHAR
i 86 An HiftoYtcal Difcourfe of
CHAP. X.
Other Strange Providences observ-
able.
IHave, in other Treatifes, named fome
Inftances of fuch Succefs of Prayer, as
hath not been unprofitable tome: I will
bere mention fome of them, and add fome
more.
Only I will premife this Caution to the
Reader, i. That it is no certain fign of
the Innocency or San&ity of the Perfon de-
livered, that it was done by a wonderful
manner upon Prayer. Nay, it is not un-
afiial, for the Guilt of fome great Sin, to
bring the Suffering, from which by Prayer
they are delivered ; and God may hear o-
tfaers, for the deliverance of fuch Sinners.
2* Nor is it any certain fign of the San-
ffity of thofe whofe Prayers are fo heard,
(though it be a very encouraging Mercy to
them,) any more than P/*ophefying 9 and
Cafting out Devils, and doing wonderful
Works in the Name of Chrift, Matrj* was
a Proof that the Agents were not rejected
Workers of Iniquity. It is the Honour of
God, and the Regard which he hath to the
Faith and Prayers of the DiftrefTed, or o-
thers, and of the Souls that he would con-
vince 5
apparitions and Witthes. i 87
vince ; which thefe, and fueh likelnftances
do declare.
3. And I will omit many Inftances of
Perfons recovered from the Jaws of Death,
juft at the Hour while we have been pray-
ing for them 5 for, though this be much to
me 5 it will not be fo to the Unbeliever,
who will fay, that it was not from that
Caufe, but would have been if you had not
prayed. And I muft confefs that I have
prayed for the Life of many a dear Friend,
whom God hath not recovered, but taken
away.
4. Nor will I mention any one Inftance
of theSuccefs of my own Prayers, or any
others, when I joined with them 5 but on-
ly of fome plain, poor, humble, Godly Per-
fons, who ufed that fort of fervent Prayer
which fome deride. For I am a very un-
worthy Perfon my felf, in comparifon of
many of thofe poor, humble, blamelefs Per-
fons, whom I then had the Overfight of.
1 In general, I may fay, that I have di-
vers times, after long disabling Weaknefs
and Pain, been enabled within a Day or
two to come to Church again, and go on in
my Work, when my poor Neighbours have
fpent a Day in Fafting and Prayer for me.
II. When ZtMlbome in Darby [hire I was
given up for dead, by bleeding about an
hundred
i$$ An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
hundred and twenty Ounces at the Nofe,
after other Weaknefles and Bleedings ma-
ny Years, my Father and Mocher-in-Law
dwelling in Shrewsbury, the Report came to
them there that I was dead. My Mother-
In-Law was, by the Governor, and other
Friends, exhorted to bear it patiently; She
prefently retired to fecret Prayer 5 where
flie profeffeth, that a Trembling and Con-
daffionpf her Body furprizing her, 'foe felt
that which conftrained her to fay what foe
did when foe came forth, (to her Friends,)
viz.* Z£f e if not dead , but Jh all live for far-
tb'er Serviced And hereupon they fenc a
MeflTenger from Shrewsbury to fee; who
found me alive J and brought them the Ti-
dings. This Was in February, 1646. My
Mother-in-Law is yet living, about Ninety
two Years of Age ? the Daughter of Sir Tho-
mas Hunkes, Two of her Brothers* Sir Foulk§
Hunkes, and Sir Henry Hunkes, were known
Soldiers for the King 5 the one Governor of
Shrewsbury > and the Other of Banbury-CcL-
ftleawhile. She is one that -hath (pent a
great part of her Life in fecret Rrayer* with
great Negleft of the Flefo and World, and
longing to dk, and be with Chrift, which
flie hath not yet obtained, but will ere
long. (Since the Writing of this, dead, at
Ninety fix, in full Underftanding, and great
Holinefs.)
III. After
dpparittons and Witcfas. xSy
III. After long Pain and Weaknefs, read-
ing a- Latin Book of one Gerhard, a Foreign
Phyfician, I found in him, that his own Fa-
ther had been cured of force of my Diftetxr-
pers (as I then thought) by daily fwallowing
a Ballet of pureft Gold : I got one of the
weight of a Twenty-Shilling-pkce-* and
fwallowed it, but it remained in me 5 and
hearing of a Gentleman within twelve Miles
of me, that lately did the like, and it ne-
ver pafs r d from him, but he quickly died,
made me take Clyfters and Purges , but
none of them ftirred it. My poor praying
Neighbours (not then fearing the Canon,
which ftri&ly forbiddeth it) fet apart a
Day, to faft and pray for my Deliverance 5
and that Morning it came away, after many
Weeks abode, (three or four;) and they
{pent the reft of the Day in Thankfgiving.
^ IV. In my Weakneft, being under Phy-
lick with Dr. Wright, then living in Shrewf
bnry i there fuddenly rofe upon one of the
Tonfils of my Throat a round Tumour,
fceming to me as hard as c a Bone, and about
as big as a great Peafe> or fmali Button, half
out of the Flefh, and half in. I feared left
it would prove a Cancer ; but the Dofior
told me, he did not think fo, but what ic
was he knew not •, but perfuaded {having
iirft tried diflblying and* diflipating Means
in
ipo r An Hiflorical Difcourfe of
in vain) to quiet it only with Gargar ifms of
hot Milk: It increafed but little, but no
Means altered it, till (as I remember) a-
bout a quarter of a Year after, my Con-
fidence reproved me, that having had fo ma-
ny great Mercies upon Prayer, I never gave
God the Honour or Thanks of publick men-
tioning them, for fear of feeming to feek
fome Glory to my felf? being the next
Morning to preach my Le&ure, I obeyed
my Confcience, and mentioned them in the
Words fince printed and published in the
Second Part of my Saints Everlafting Reft,
being then upon tht proof of the Truth of
the Scriptures : I had before conflantly felt
it, (and too oft looked at in the Glafs.)
*As fbon as I had preached and fpoken thofe
Words, I felt no more of it. As I came
out of the Pulpit, I put my Finger in my
Mouth to feel it, but could feel nothing :
I hafted home to the Glafs, and faw that
there was neither VoU, vel Veftigium y vel
Cicatrix r } no Cavity, Tumour, Difcolour-
ing, nor any fign where- ever it was; and I
am fure I neither fpit it out, nor fwallowed
it ; and to the laft Hour it feemed as hard
as a Bone.
V. Richard Cooke, a Mercer in Kniver 9
was long a Man of a pious, unblameable
Life, and one of the chief of good old
Mr. John Crofs (fince Minifter here in Fri-
day-
"Apparitions and Witches: ipi
day-ftreet) his Congregation : When I came
to Kederminfter, he removed thither, and
took a Houfe the next Door to me; which
proved old, dangerous, and fo ill a Bargain,
as caft him into melancholy _Doubts that he
did not well to leave his Habitation- His
Father before him had long lived, and ac
laft died in Diftra&ion. Taking too much
hot Waters, to comfort him in his Sadneis*
Nature, Trouble, and thofe together, pre-
vailed to his utter Diftra&ion. He fo con-
tinued, from 1642. to 1646. The be&
Means, by fuch as were moft noted for cu-
ring that Difeafe, were ufed, and all ia
vain. My Neighbours of Kedermwfter re-
folved not eafily to give over Fafting and
Praying with and for him, till he was re-
covered : Divers Days all feemed in vaiii,
but at laft he amended, and bath been re-
covered (without any other Remedy) now
from 1646, to this prefent time, i6j8 9
though not altogether of fo perfed ftrengtfa
of Brain as before, yet of competent Un-
derftanding. About a Year or two ago I
faw him in London, and I hear he is yet alive
and well, 16 78.
VI. Thomas Giles, the Son of Mr. Giks
of Aftky, one of the then Committee in
Worcefierfoire, was fent to be an Apprentice
mWorcefter. After a Fever, (as they told
me,) he fell into a violent Epilepfie: After
much
1 9 % An Hiftorical Vifcourfe of
much Phyfick in Worcefier, and opening his
Head, and all in vain, his Mother took him
home to her in Kederminfter 5 where, being
a Widow, (he came to fojourn, purpofely
for the Company of Godly People there.
Mr. Jackson, the Phyfician of the Town, (my
dear and faithful Friend, now, 1678. a Phy-
fician in Shrewsbury < y ) and I consulting, we
ufed in vain what Means we cduld. His
Fits were foirietimes twice or thrice a Day :
We were fain to put a Key into his Mouth,
left he (hould bite off his Tongue At laft,
the forefaid praying Perfoiis refolved to try
the old Remedy of Faftifig and Praying, till
he was recovered. The firft Day they found
no Succefs : As I retiiember,it was the fecond
Day, while they were together, praying, he
was fuddenly cured ; and as his Mother and
they that dwelt with him, told me, had ne-
ver one Fit fince. Hereupon his Mother
bound him Apprentice to Mr- John Alkn<>
an honeft Apothecary in Kederminfter^ whom
he ferved feven Years, and is now an Apo-
thecary in St afford^ fince dead ; Mr. Allen -
the Phyfician, and almoft all that prayed for
him,being yet alive. I was prefent at none of
all thefe Days my felf. If you ask me, Why ?
1. My Weaknefs, and my publick Work
much hindred me. 2. 1 was worfe than they,
and had not their Faith, and Fervency, and
Patience •, and becaufe we have no abfoJute
Promife of fuch Deliverances, I was afraid*
left
Apparitions and Witches, 19$
left if we failed and prayed fo long as they
refolved to do, it would have turned to
fome Reproach or Difcouragement if we
did not prevail. 3. But I have joyned with
them more than once, when we have, to
our great Encouragement, prevailed. Bu&
thofe Inftances I prornifed to pretermit.
In fumm, I verily believe that I have
been kept alive thefe forty Years, but no-
tably thefe thirty eight, by the Prayers of
many better than my felf, prevailing with
God, through the Intercemoa of our great
Mediator.
VII. I will add one fad Story , leaving
all to the Readers Judgment, to warn the
befl: to avoid Temptation , and to tell them
that Satan hath his wiles by Mens Sin, to
blalt the Glory and Comfort of Delive-
rances.
In Bewdky, a Sanguine ftrong Maid, fell
into ftrange Hifterical Fits : It began by
Stoppage of the Menftma y I gave her Caftory
and Rad. QBrmii, and Sem* Dauci on Fo-
refim Commendation , and (lie began to be
better : But I being driven out of the
Country by War 3 and Mr. Robert Morton
( Dr. Mortons Father ) their Paftor and Phy- v
fitian driven after me to Coventry , ihe was
left without help, and grew worfe than
ever .- Till at laft I think by a furor uteri*
nm ex corruptions Seminti , me feemed pof-
O fell
1 9% 'An Hiftorkal Vifcoutfe of
(eft by a Devil : In her Fits, many cotild not
hold her, fhe would be caftoffher Bed,
and upon it again , by a force far above
her ftrength , as the Beholders Judged :
They (hewed Needles and Pins, and Cords
brought to her, none knew how , to kill
her felf : A Papift coming to Cure her their
way , fhe told them of his coming far off,
and laught at his Holy Water. In her fits
fhe would Swear, Curfe, and Rage againft
any that were Religious , and Hugg thofe
that were Vicious , and be merry with
them : Thus (he continued from 1542. till ,
1646. or 1647. When I returned home, I
went to fee her, and Prayed once by her,
and came to her no more. At laft my pray-
ing Neighbours encouraged by their Succefs, ,
for others refolved to joyn with fome K oi
Bewdky^ to Faft and Pray by her , till fhe
was recovered : While they were Praying,
fhe was ufually in violent Rage , and af-
ter thankt them $ after many days, in the
mid/1 of the Day , while Mr. The-. Ware of
Kederminfter was Praying , fhe fell on the
Floor like a Block , and having lain fo a
while , cryed out , He is gone , He is gone ;
The Black. Dog is gone: And fhe never had
a Fit after.
But coming to our Lecture, two Miles, --
(he was as uncomfortable as ever ; crying to
me, Oh, Ton know not how bad I ami And I
Ignoraatiy told her, what Comfort her De- k
liverance
apparitions and WMhes . i 9 S
Ilverance might give her: But (he con-
tinued her Self-Accufing. But hear the
worft.
- She being poor, many good People in
Charity look'd to her in her Fits : But, a-
bove all, one young Man, as far from be-
ingYafpefted of any Hypocrifie, Errour, or
Vice, as any in Bewdeky^ was more with
her than the reft : And feeing her, in her
Fits, tofs her naked Body about, (he being
ftrong and comely, his Luft was provoked,
which he exercifed on her 5 but praterjki-
endofemn^ which eafing her for the time,
enticed him the more to do it oft, as an Ad:
of (Wicked) Compaffion 3 which did but
more Enrage her Difeafe : When frequen-
cy had hardened him , at laft after her De-
liverance, it was made known: AndOtha
Advantage that Satan got by it i The fad-
nefs of thofe that Prayed for her : So that
we durft not name it as an Anfwer of Pray-
er , left the mention fliould ferve to &
Reproach. For my part , I think that &
Real pofleflion was added to the furor ute<-
rinus^ in punifhment of their Sin. He Mar-
ryed her , and profefled deep Repentance i
but I advifed them for all that , not to re-
ceive him to Church-Communion.
I have read and heard of feveral Perfbns
that have had notices by Revelation *
When they fliould die: I will give here
O % bm
jtf6 An Mftorkal Difconrfe of
but one Inftance, of an excellent young
Man, Mr. Tyro ; but I mult confefs, that
one of his Acquaintance affirmed to me,
that having been formerly of a jocund
Merry Temper, he became fo very ferious
in Religion, and fo fervent a Preacher in
fUngar, and fo Zealous for his own and other
Mens Salvation, that # he thought Melan-
choly might deceive his Imagination, as to
the Voice he was confident he heard. I
lay no great ftreis on the Inftance % but he
profeffed the contrary himfelf \ and Mr.
Brand extols him, and Colonel Rich and
his lady, (well known by Mr Strongs
Books which fhe publilhed, taking them in
fhort Characters, then called the Lady E#-
z.abeth Carre ) did both believe him ; as
^ou may lee by the two following Letters.
And Mr. Lewis in the foregoing Letters*
and Mr. Davis telling me how common the
forwarnings of Death, are in their Coun-
trey, maketh it the eafier to me to believe
the words of fo good and fober a Man as
Mr. Tyro.
Cot.
'Apparitions and Witches] ipj
Colonel Rich of Stondon~HaII
intffcx his Letter in relation
to Mr. Tyro 5 together, with
his Ladies relating to the fame
perfon.
j
SIR,
OUR Neighbour, Mr. H*tt> informing
your detire to know from my felf
and Wife, the Relation of a Providence
more than ordinary, with which Mr. Tyr®
was exercifed before he came a Sick-Reft-
dent under my Roof, I muft therefore refer
you to the Account, which my Wife here-
with gives you, the Truth whereof I am
folly fatisfied, which was from Mr. Tyros
own Mouth to her only, when I was at
London, the Narrative of which, (lie gave
me at large the fame Night I returned
Home, though I was confirmed in my Be-
lief of it by forne Difcourfe I had with
him afterwards, during his s ickneis ? before
which he and I perufed feveral of your
Tra&ates madepublick, with a joynt-plea-
fing Approbation •, efpecially, that which is
intituled, The dying Thoughts ; alfo another,
viz,. The Crucifying the World by the Crofe
©f chrifti we having a mutual fatisfa&ion
O 3 in
ip 8 An Hiftorical Difcpurfe of
in each others Converfe^ his Natural
Parts, Gifts and Grace together, with his
Holy Life, conftrained my defire and en-
deavours to accommodate him to his iaft
Breath, for r found him a true Difcipleof
Chriftour Lord and Mafter, in whom I
would alfo be found,
$ 1 R,
Tour ajfeBionate Servant?
Jl°uZ?i Nath. Rich.
near Ungar in
Ejfex, May 16*
2tf£ I.
The
apparitions andWitches. igg
The Lady Rich's Letter*
s i r 7
IN Obedience to your defire by Mr. Han,
to have it under my Hand , what he
told you of Mr. Tyro, who was fent by
Mr. Brand at Biflops-Hall near London, XQ
Preach at Vngar in Ejfex 5 and to prevent
miftakes, I think fit, in order to your Sa-
tisfa&ion, to give you this Account of him?
and therein take occaiion to let you know,
how great an Honour and Efteem he had
for you. Sir, I believe, had you known
him, you would have rank'd him among
rhofe Worthies that you have helpM to
Heaven, for he followed you as you follow
Chrift. About feven Weeks before his
Death, when there was hope of recovery,
he told me, he had fomething to tell me,
that he had not imparted to any Body, and
exprefled it thus, When I was one Evening
returning to my Lodging, then at Vngar ^
from this Houfe, being then in a good de-
gree^ of Health, and in a ferious frame,
meditating by the way, I heard a voice
fay, You (hall die, and not pafs your five
and thirtieth Year of Age, which Voice z-
ftoniihed me greatly, and looking round
about me, feeing no body , put me into
great Confteniation and Swmt all oyer me,
O 4 fach
200 An HifioYtcal Difcowfe of
inch as I never |elc ( though I dare not
compare it to drops of BloodJ yet I cannot
exprefs how dreadful it was. You know,
Madam, my Principles, and that I am no
Enthufiaft, and how cautious I am as to Re-
velations But I am fure this was no Melan-
choly Fancy, but an auricular Voice. After
Ihad^a little recovered my felf; I begg'dof
God to difcover to me, if this were from
him, or a Delufion from Satan, but ftill the
Impreffion remained, though I fought God
by Prayer moil part of that Nightj and you
may remember, in my next Viiit, I told
you, I fhould die Shortly, but I did not tell
you of theVoicel heard. And then he added,
This is my five and thirtieth Year of Age 5
in July next I {hall be fo old. And many
other Expreffions he added, which is too
much for a Letter 5 but he died in Janu-
ary 1630. I cannot omit, Sir, to let yoa
know, how much he defired the happinefs
of a perfonal Converle with you 3 though
he did w r rite to you formerly, when he was
under great trouble of Confcience, and
yoa were pleafed to write to him again,
though his Name was unknown to you,
and God made you instrumental to his Re-
lief and Comfort : He told me, whenever
he heard you preach, there was fuch a Pre-
fenceof God accompanied your Miniftry,
that he felt both Fear, and Trembling* and
Joy po&6 him at once. He reading
Com©
r A{* "'" w ' and Witcl :1 20 i
fome Book of yours, daily, whilft he was
in my Houfe,efpecially your DyingThoaghts,
•which on his Death-Bed, he fent, as the
beft token of his Love, to his School matter
at Hackney >, Mr. Odely ? and fhed many
Tears upon it, calling it, The jweet and
dear Companion of his Life, charging the
Meffenger to bid his Mailer read it, and
prepare to follow him fhortly.
I beg your Pardon for this long trouble,
I could do no lefs than exprefs this Kind-
nefs to the Dead, who yet fpeaks out your
great Worth to me, defiring your Prayers,
that his lofs to fo dark a Corner as ours is,
may be San&ified : And that your Life may
be prolong'd in time, and you may have a
fullPveward in Eternity, is thePi^y^rof,
S IB*
Tour obliged and
affettknate Servant]
near Ungar in , ^U&* JUUl*
Ejfex, MtJ I.J..
tffl.
But
%ot An llifiorkal Difcourfe of
But it is not my Bufinefs to mention all
things that are ftrange and unufual, but fuch
as prove the Operations of Spirits. Lycof-
thenes de Frodigw vet Mirabilibm y will tell
you in Folio of Wonders.
The Falling or Raining of a Grain at
Widgenonh, like a dried Rye-Corn, in a
thin, whiriih Husk, about 1639. And of
a Grain at Shrewsbury, almoft like a faiall
Parfnip-Seed, about three or four Years
ago, feem ftrange. But Exhalations might
raife them from Sea or Land, though the
Marvel lieth in the ftrangenefs of the
Grains, neither of them being fuch as are
here known by any that I (hewed them to,
I had the laft from Dr. Jackson, a, Phyfician
in Shrewsbury, ( my dear Friend, now with
Chrift 3 ) who told me tmt it fell there in
many places 1 efpecially about St. Marys
Church. The former (coming to live at
Bndgerjonhy 1 640.) I had of Mr. Madflard
the Minifter, and old Mrs. Grey of Envile,
a Godly Woman 5 who aflured me that
much of it fell in the Church-yard, and on
the Leads of the Steeple. I kepc both
long.
The former I once before mentioned;
whence the Author of the Second Part of
The Ml/chiefs of Separation, feconding Dr.
SHIUngfleet's Firft Part, (famed commonly
to be Mr. Long of Exeter, a Member of the
Con-
apparitions and Witches. 20 j
Convocation,) took occafion to feign me
to lay, that it rained Mama at Bridgmorth
when I came thither.] Men and Books of
fuch Veracity are they, that poor EngUnd
and the Chriftiap World fuffers by 5 and, I
fear, is yet like to fuffer more by, while
Demons are fo powerful.
There are many things that Ignorance
caufeth Multitudes to take for Prodigies.
I have had many difcreet Friends that have
been affrighted with the Noife called a
Death- Watch, whereas I have fince, near .
threefcore Years ago, oft found by trial,
that it is a Noife made upon Paper, by a
little, nimble, running Worm, juft like a
Loufe, but whiter and quicker : And it is
moft ufually behind a Paper pafted to a
Wall, efpecially to Wainfcot ; and is rare-
ly, if ever heard, but in the Heat of Sum-
mer.
But who can deny it to be a Prodigy,
which is recorded by Melch. Adamm^ of a /
great and good Man, who had a Clocks
Watch that had layen in a Cbeft many
Years unufed 5 and when he lay dying, at
Eleven a-Clock, of it felf, in that Cheft^
it ftruck Eleven,, in the hearing of many.
Becaufe many have fpoken and written
of a Thorn at Glaftenbary in Sommerfetfhire^
that flowreth juft on Chrifirnafs-Uay , I
thought
204 An Hiftorical Bifcourfe of
thought it a thing worthy my beft Enqui-
ries : And left Men proceed to think that
there is more in it than there is, I annex
thefe following Letters, firm credible Per-
fons that were well known in that Country;
Mr. William Thomas's Letter con-
cerning the Glafton Thorn ; To-
gether with two other EnclofeJ
Letters to the fame purpofe:
SIR,
UNdcr ftanding by my Son, your Defire
to enquire about Glafton Thorn, I did
immediately { being not able to travel my
felf in fuch a Seafon) fend to fuch as I
thought might beft inform me 5 whofe Infor-
mation you have in the two inclofcd Letters ;
the one from the Minifter of Glafton, the
other from Mr. Chenvwd, Paftor at Wells 5
both of them underftanding and Godly Men.
I was not fatisfied with Mr. Winners Let-
ter, becaafe he wrote not of the Graff ta-
ken from this Thorn 5 now growing, (when
the old Thorn is gone.) Something it feems
there was in the nature of the Plant, for that
Graff (hoots forth much fooner than any o-
ther Thorn, and about that time, though it
do
Apparitions and Witches. soy
do not the Feat in bloflbming juft on the
Day, but after it; which may be becaufe
the Soil is not fo iuitable to it, as that was
to the other. — I ftsould have thought this
had been all the Wonder, vi& the natural,
rare and rath Bloflbming of that Thorn,
got perhaps from Foreign Parts,) made (by
Fame) to cry chrifimafs § but that the In-
formation in the firft Letter (and Teftimo-
ny) is fo pundual, that it feems to evince
more. But (howfoever) that which we call
Chriflmafs-Day is not to gain its Eftimation
from fuch a Providence^ but from Scripture,
from Reafon, at leaft, from a due Demofl-
ftration that that was (indeed) the Day of
Chrift's Birth •, which (perhaps) nothing will
prove, unlefs it be the Thorn. I fpeak not
againft tht Cuftom of the Church, in re-
membring the Birth of Chrift, though I con-
ceive Chrift's own Day is better for it than
any other ; I mean, the Lord's Day -, unto
which, when Men's Days be added, the
Lords Day, and the Lord of that Day, fuf-
fer by their juftling with it. A Subordina-
tion wall not ferve, butitarifeth to a Co-
ordination and Competition 5 yea, a Pre-
lation.
But that I fpeak of is, the Nobilitatingef
an uncertain Day, upon inefficient Evi-
dence. — If I fliould fay, the Thorn mighc
fo bloflom (by Providence) as a juft Harden-
ing of the wilfully fuperftitious, (a great pare
of
to6 - An tliftorical Dlfcouvfe of
of whofe Religion it is, to put a Crown upT
on Chrifiwdfc Day, caring litde for Chrift 3 )
or as a Trial of the truly Confciencious, to
fee whether they will build their Religion
upon a famous Thorn, and be fo tamed by it,
as to clofe with the Superftition and Pro-
fanenefs of that time- — I (ay, if I fhould
fpeak thus, it might be thought a Paradox,
(and jet I remember your Lights in Wales,
which (hew (I think) what God gives the
Devil leave to do) I fhall content my felf
therefore with fending you the Relation, and
leave you and others ( better able than my
felf) to consider of it.— Only this I may fay>
that fuch a Providential Rarity is too low a
•thing to put a Divinity upon that Day : And
yet, to make It a Divine Xeffimony is ( I
think) the meaning of thofe that are willing
,to make the moft of it ; I do not fay,- the
fceftofit.
£ Sir 5 I am' much engaged to you, for your
great Pains with my Son 5 having lately re-
ceived from him your good Anfwers ro his
AfTembly- Queries, with his Replies: For
Reafon is reft left 5 and it is the Mifery of
thofe who fet it up too high, that it can fo
far (I do not fay fo well, for 'tis all naught
as far as Scripture and it jarr) fhift for it felf;
and they are apt to thins they are found, if
they be not filenced > when Errour in Pra-
ctice hath much to fay for it felf, and Er-
rour in Opinion much more.
Having
Apparitions arid Witches. zoj
Having betaken himfelf to Dr. Hammond,,
I drd not command him thence, thinking
(Jbe being a learned Man) he might get feme-
thing from him, efpecially in rhe matter of
Original Sin 3 about which, the Dodtor bath
given him good Animadverfions, (though
jfomething in them hath not fo good an A-
fpe&,) and he anfwers them alfo 5 and fo
there is no End, till God humble the Heart,
'Tis one Symptom of the Hereditary Dif-
eafe of Original Sin, that that Sin is no more
acknowledged, and lamented-
God that raifeth fuch Alterations in Na-
tions, and hath done fo flrange things of late,
can alter our Relations, and make them con-
trary to themfelves, that they may be con-
formable to him : And upon that Ground
alone I can build, that To Cod all things an
poffible.
With all loving' and thankful Refpects-
I Reft,
Tour obliged Friend
and Brother,
Ohley,
Feb. %y, i6$£
Will Thomas,
Mr*
5oS r An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
Mr. John Chctwind^ encloject
Letter.
Reverend and much Honoured Sir,
IN anfwer to your Letter, thefe are to
inform you, That the old Thorn in the
times of the War, was rooted up, and is
utterly gone $ and as for Mr- Gallop's Graff,
I have enquired of a Gentleman 3 that was
his Patient, and lived divers Years in Mr*
Gallop's Houfe, and obferved the Budding
and bioflbming of it, who informed me,
that it doth iiioot forth and Bud and Blof-
fom near about that time, but not upon
the day, but in fome fpace after it, much
rather than other Thorns ufually do. This
is all the Account I can give you of it.
I have no more to add, but mine and my
Wife's kindeft Relpects to your felf ana
good Wife, and that I am
Tour mofi refpeUful Friend,
m Xf" **' J° hn Chetwind.
Mr.
[Apparitions and Witches. 2 09
Mr. Wmncy's Inclose/ Letter
concerning the GlaftonThorn.
Worthy Sir y
REal Love and Thanks prefcribed , &c*
Thefe are to acquaint you, that I
Received a Letter from you, wherein Mr.
XW^'s Requeft to you, is* chat the exaft-
eft and mod pun^iua! Account, of the ufu*
al Story of the Bloflbming of Glafionbury-
Thorn on Chrifima4-day, might be found
out} I have upon your Requeft fearched
more of it,than ever I thought to trouble my
felf to do,and have convened with the moft
Ancient that I knew, and was dire&ed to,
and think thofe that are Credible, they
offer to aver it upon Oath, what they tell
me : Thus one Ancient Man tells me, that
he hath gone on the Eve to it, and he hath
found it like another dead Thorn, without
any Bloflbm, or likelihood to have afud-
den forwardaefs to it, only fome Evidence
of the Appearance of the breaking out
the Buds, and but an Appearance per^
ceivable, and he hath gone on Chrifimas'd^y f
and found the Bloflbms. as though it was
the midft of May, and gathered them, and
fent them many Miles, and had good Re-
wards , this the Man will depofe upon his
Oath. Ac the fame time this Man Was at
P my
a l© An H-iftoriidl Difcowfe of
my Houfe,there came oecafionally,an ancient
Woman, a Neighbour, whofe Teftimony
I believe fit to be received, who earneftly
affirmed this, that in the time of Queen
Ann, the lived with one Sir Tho. Hughes^
in WeRs y a Juftice of Peace, who purpofely
feet his men (two of them) to know the
Truth, that he might fatisfie any that might
make enquiry, and on the Eve, towards
Night, they found it as another Thorn, on-
ly the breaking out of the beginning of
Buds, and flaying in GUftonbwy all Night,
toobferve, as near as might be, the time
when they began to fprout forth into a per-
fect BlofTom, they have gone again toward
the turn of the Night, and have found the
perfed Blcflbm about two or three of the
Clock, fo that at Morning they have re-
turned to their Mafter with them, which
(he told me, ihe faw when they brought it
home : And another Man tells me the fame
Story as the firft, only with this variation,
His Father (and Godfather living at Bath)
Went the Eve's Eve, and found nothing but
Buds, and on Chrifimasday'm the Morning,
found the Bloffbms, and his Father fent
them to Bath to his Godfather, becaufe he
went thither home to keep his Chriftmas :
And a Woman at the fame time told me,
fomething much like the Second, that fhe
hath gone the Eve, late at Night, and with
a Lanthorn and Candle with her Company,
flayed
'Apparitions andWitcheZ lit
flayed four Hours, to fee, if it might be*
the manner of the fprouting out of it ; and
in that fpace faw that it Bloflomed, the
Green-boughs, the length of half the Fore-
finger to the middle Joint $ what Mr. Gallons
Graft of this old Tree doth, I fhall leave
you to him to be certified. Both our
Loves to your felf and good Wife. Mr.
Stnks and his Wife, defiring one Favour
in the Clofe, that you would be pleafed
to take pains, to begin our Le&ure the next
Tiiefday. I have not had but one Affiftant
I think, this feven or eight Weeks : I
/hall be abfent my felf-, I intend, if pleafe
God, to be at Briflol Fair, where I have
fome Bufinefs, andjpray fend me word of
it, that I may be allured,
In ft,
Yours,
In all Bonds of Love,
GUflon, Sam. Winney:
Jan. 2i. 16^.
P * Ihave
IBa^e^ft -wpnfe'd at the coimmoalybe-'
Sieved -Gift of the Kings <tf England aad
Stance, to heal the Struma.? All my doubt
feafh ftilJ been of the Matter of Fa<5^ whe-
ther It be feci? a real Gift of Healing, or
mot : For if it be, I will -not be fo bold as
to ask God .a Reafon of it ; Or why he giv-
cth k to chefe Kings, rather than to others:
Nor will I (Hlfeofiour his Gift, as if it were
not his, becaufe I know not his Reafon 5
bo more than Chrift did the Miracle done
at the Pool in J&rufaleM 9 upon the Angel 's
moving- the Water ; or 9 with Naa/nm, fey,
Are .not Abanah and tharphar as good Waur
as Jordan > I have long enquired of all the
Phyficians, and others 3 that 1 could, of the
Reality of the Succefs 5 whether it be not
die Gold* the Change of Air, or the Con-
ceit: And I never heard fo much, as to put
roe paft ail doubt. Bet many credible Phy-
fidans fay, as Mt.Wifeman'iz Chirurgeoa
chat had. much Opportunity of knowing)
doth in his Book of Chirurgery, £ That
dvQMgh 4& a/je not mred^ yet mort am curbed by
if, than by all the Pkyfaians in England I\
I know, the cite Original of it alfo, and
its Occafion is much in die dark § but I leave
chis toother Merfs Enquiry : Only I fey, if
she Matter of Fad prove certain, there can
be no great doubt, but it proverb the Go-
verning Agency of Invifible, Intellectual
Ifcwers. If
jffparMons m$Wiichek. $££
IfitBemiraculbusy ftfeemetfr to-been*-
tailed on. the Kingdoms of England m£
¥mme 9 rather than to be- any Approbation
rf the Religion or- Piety of the Kings % be*-
caofe if any have this Gift - , Kings- of contra
tf Religions have k r and tbe-worfk, as welE
asthe-bfcft? andUfiirpers, asweiias-R'igte-
foi Kings, And I hear of ®o other ilteeftas^
tend. km*, but' the kings of Engmdt and?'
Francs i: And will the King of !>*#«■ t-afce-'
It for his Glory, to -heal a few Perfons of a
Sore>, and; to kill: many thoa-fend Innocents
die Sword and! barm thdr Cities^
fe.
Fa;' CH&E
% 1 4 M Hiftorical Difcourfe of
CHAP. XL
MR. Emlm > (before mentioned about
Mr. Pacys Sifters,) now a worthy
Preacher in Dublin, having told me this by
Word of Mouth, I defired him to fend it
fufficiently attefted 5 which he doth, as
followeth.
Mr. EmliiYs Letter concerning
an apparition at Bclfaft in Ire-
land.
..Reverend Sir,
I Have been very uneafie to think that I
fhould (0 long delay the Anfwer of your
JDefire about the Affair related underneath :
The diftance of the Place in which it was
tranfafted, with the jlownefs of my Corre-
fpondent in Replies, hath made me unca-
pable of giving you fo full and quick Satit
fa&ion, as might elfe have been. All that
I cm relate at prefent is briefly this, 4jk.
There having been a long Conteft be-
tween Lemud Matthews, Archdeacon in the
County
Apparitions and Witches. 2 1 5
County of Down, and Claudius Gilbert, Mi-
nifter of Belfast , about their Right to
Drumbeg, a (mail Parifti within four Miles
of Belfast, it proved very troublefome to
the Parishioners, who generally paid their
I Dues to Mr. Gilbert the Incumbent in Pot
feflion 7 but the Arch-deacon claimed the
fame to be paid to him alfo, for which he
! procured a Warrant 3 and in the Execution
of it by his Servants, at the Houfe of one
Charles Loftin , one of the Pari(hioners,
they offered, fome Violence to his Wife,
; who refufed Entrance to them, who died
j within a few Weeks after the Injury re-
ceived ; but (be being otherwife an infirm
Woman, little notice was taken of her
Death, till that fome time after, by her
; ftrange Appearance to one Thomas Dwelfon,
\ ( a Spe&ator of the Violence done to her,)
(Tie affrighted him into a Profecution of Ro-
bert Ecclefon, the Criminal. She appeared
divers times, but chiefly upon one Lord's
Day-Evening, when fhefetch'dhim, with
a ftrange Force, out of his Houfe, into the
Yard, and Fields adjacent. Before her laft
Coming, (for (he did fo three times that
Day,) ieveral Neighbours were called in*
to whom he gave notice that (lie was agaia
coming, and becken*d to him to come
out 3 upon which, they went to (hue the
Door, but he forbad it, faying, that (he
looked with a terrible Afpe$ upon him,
P 4 when
2 1 6 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
when they offered it : But his Friends laid
hold on him, and embraced him, that he
might not again 1 go out 5 notwithftanding
which, (a plain Evidence of fome invifible
Power,) he was drawn out of their Hands
in a furprizing manner, and curled abroad
into the Field and Yard, as before, foe
charging him to profecute Juftice-, which
Voice, as alfp Donelfons Reply, the People
heard, though they faw f»o iliape. There
are many Witnefles of all this yet alive,
particularly Sarah , the Wife of Charles
Loftln, Son to the deceafed Woman %■. and
one William Holy day and his Wife,,c^c.
Upon this, the faid Domlfon depofed what /
he knew of the aforefaid Violence, before
Mr. Randal Brice? a Neighbour- juftice, and'
confirmed all at the Afftzes at Down, in the
Year 1685. (as I remember; ) where the
feveral Witnefles were heard and fworn,
and their Examinations, were entred into
the Records of that Aflizes, to the Arpaze-
itient and 'Satisfa&iori of all the Country,
and of the Judges, whom I "have heard
i'peak of it at that time with much Won-
der ; infomuch that the faid Ecckfon hard-
ly efcaped with his Life, but was Burnt in
the Hand.
The faid Donelfon is yet living in the fame
place, with the other Witnefles.
I could learn many more Circumftances,
but that you are in faafies and all this I
heard
Apparitions and Wttches. 217
heard fpoken of my felf, with univerfal
Amazement, at the time when tranfa&ed,
living in Belfaftzt that time > and I iliould
not have been beholden to any to have be-
lieved this Relation, thaf had been there,
and at the Trial at Down,
T, Em.
With Mr. Jew's Refpefts,
I remain,
A Reverencer of you]
Tho. Emlin*
CHAR
2i B An HiftoYtcal Difcourfe of
CHAP. XIL
A Uuhlm-Inftance ; attefteJ hy
Mr. Daniel Williams, now in
London
A Bout the Year 1678. I knew a young
Woman who was Niece to Alder-
IBara Arundel^ in Dublin*
In her faid Uncle's Houfe (he \gras pur-
iifd ' with very terrible Noifes 3 as by vio-
lent Scroaks on the Wainfcots and CheftSj
in what Chambers (he frequented.
The Blows were heard throughout the
Houfe, and were fo troublefome, as to
csccafion the Removal of the young Wo-
man to an Houfe near Smithfield in Dub-
im r not without Hopes that the Diftiir-
basice might thereby ceafe : But the Noife
]purfued her thither, and was no more heard
in h&r former Dwelling.
Here fhe continued as ; long as the Own-
er of that Houfe would bear the Refort of
People, and Terrour of thofe fudden and
frequent Claps-
From this place, Ihe was removed to a
little Houfe in Patrkk-ftreet, near the Gate.
Here flie met with the fame Exercife ,
and
jfppariiions and Witches. 2 j 9
and the Noife was generally about Two-
a-Clock in the Morning greater than at
oth^r Times.
Several Nights were fpent in Prayer
with her, by Minifiers; as, Mr. Cox, Dr.
Roles, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Keys, &c. who
all, with many others, aflured me, they
heard the faid Blows in the Room where
they prayed, fometimes on a great Cheft
there;, fometimes on the Wall, &c.
Mr. Chambers and Mr. Keys were em-
ployed there the Night before I had pro-
mised to be with her.
The next Night, Mr. Cox, having oft
heard the faid Noiies, and ofc prayed with
the Woman , was defirous to accompany
me. There were many People (as ufual)
fat up with us : I preached from Heb. 2. 18.
and contrived to be at Prayer at that Time
when the Noife ufed to be greateft.
When I was at Prayer, the Woman,
kneeling by me, catched violently at my
Arm, and afterwards told us, /he faw a
terrible Sight : But it pleafed God, there
■was no Noife at all. And from that Time,
God gracioufly freed her from all that Di-
fturbance.
I examined this Perfon, and could find
nothing in her Circumftances, fit to in-
duce one to any fatisfactory Judgment of
her Cafe.
Thefe
Ttefe Naifefaffel about tFrree Mbntftfc,
mi- fee was muebcnfeebfed -in' Body> and
almofl cEftra&d thereby ; bat'.-£boa-sec®K.
lerei upon the Removal' thereoE
Xteniel Wilam^
THE
The COHCLUSIOM:
tmmningAngek. . .
*\ 7\ FHifc I confider theft unqneifionch
V V Me Evidences of the cartaint?
of Spiric^and how much they have to do
with Men : I cannot but chink chat we have
aifo much to do with them 5 with the bad,
«o refiftthemasour Enemies, and the Ene-
amies of the GofpeLand the'QiurcfaofGcd,
againft whom we nraft continually Watch
and Pray \ left we fell into the Snares of
their Temptations : And with the good ,
that we may be mt€t for their Prefervinji
and Comforting Minifiry.
But in all our Hiftories it is obfervabfe^
that bad Spirits Apparitions and Adions ,
are far more frequent, and more Seriible
than good ones; which may perhaps to feme
feern ftrange. Concerning which i coofideri
1. That Corporeal Crailk-ode is an abafe- r
ment, -and therefore fitteft for the more
Ignoble fort of Spirits: We chat, dwell
here in Bodies., are of aiowerOrder 5 than
thofeof the more high and invifible Regi-
ons.
2- And the bad Spirits as they have a;
bafer Confidence^ ha?e alfe'a m&fc bafeand
Ter-
22£ An Historical Difcourfe of
Terrene Inclination* And therefore it is
the lefs wonder , that they mind matters of
Money and Lands : And no doubt but the
Souls of \\ icked Men.carry with them much
of the Vicious Habits, in which they lived
here : That is, of Covetoufnefs and Re-
venge ; And they that tell us, that fiich as
Dhes retain no Love to their Brethren OH
Earth , fpeak more than they can prove ;
and are not fo Credible as Chrifl^atfeem-
eth to fay the contrary. Some make a ftate
of departed Souls , Good andBad, out of
their own Inventions, which it's very likely
Death will Confute.
% And it is far greater things than Vifi-
ble Appearances, that we conftantly receive
from Angels , more futable to their Nature
and Dignity, and to our good. Some Mert
have long Laboured to attain a Vifible or
Senfible Communion with them, and think
they have attained it : But while they pre-
fumptuoufly defire to pervert the Order of
Gods Houfliold and Government , it is no
wonder if in ftead of Angels, they Con-
terfewith Devils that are Transformed into
feeming Angels of Light, that by Delufion,
they may Transform fuch Men into Mini-
fies of Righteoufnefs.
It is a doleful Inftance, of the effeft of a
perverfe kind of oppofition to Popery, and
running from one Extream to another, to
note how little Sence moft Protectants ihew
of
Apparitions and Witches. 123
of the great Benefits that we receive by
Angels : How feldom we hear them ia
publickor private, give thanks to God for
their Miniftry and Helps ? And more fel-
dom pray for it ? When hear we any Mini-
fters if each Believers, what Love and what
Thanks they owe to Angels , whereas the
Excellency and Holinefs of their Natures
obligeth us to love them , and their Love
and Care of us, befpeaketh Thankfulness :
Yea , we have Teachers that would per-
fwade Men that this Savoureth of Popery ,
and doth Derogate from Chrift : And yet
if the People Love and Honour and main-
tain them , they take this to be no Deroga-
tion from Chrift. As if they were more
Amiable then Angels , or Chrift may not
life the Miniftry of Angels as well as thtifs*
The Lord pitty the diftra&ed divided Soci-
eties of Chriftians, who in all Countries are
fallen into Uncharitable Sefls, that on pre-
tenceof favingthe Truth, and the Church
from the Errours of each other, do corrupt
both by the Addition of Contrary Errours 5
fo that it's bard to find out many Errours
of Popery or Ancient Herefie* which hath
not been avoided by contrary faults, in the
Corruption of Do&rine, Charity or Con-
cord.
Devils have a greater Game to play invl-
fibly, than by Apparitions. O happy World,
if they did not do a hundred thoufand times
more
224 'Ati Hiflorical Difcourfe of
more hurt , by the Baits of Pleafure, Luft
and Honour, and by Pride, and love of
Money and Senfuality , than they do by
Witches! O! that they did not moredan-
geroufly Hant the Houfes and Souls of
Lords , Knights, Gentlemen, and Luftful
Youths .' Who can Conjure them out of
Univerfities and Pulpits , out of a Malig-
nant Sclanderous CJergy and Laity , out of
Worldly felf-feeking Carnal Men? I have
before told you of the Witch Magdalen
Cruria , who got the Reputation of a Saint,
by having the Sacramental Bread brought
to her Mouth in the fight of all the People*
by an Invilible Carryer - 7 Bodin, and many
others Record the Story , and how to get
Pardon , (lie went to the Pope himfelf, and
confefledhow from twelve years old the
Devil had lain with her thirty years, and
made her the Abbefs of a Monaftery : I
fear left the vifible Hand of fome Priefl:
do play this Devils part , and give the Sa-
crament to fuch as more openly ferve the
Devil all the week , and are forced to re-
ceive it toefcapea jail , or do it as a Sacri-
fice to expiate the guilt of an Ungodly
Life.
If the Devil can get People ( perhaps
Lords and Ladies) tofpendthe Day( their
precious Hours ) in Cards and Dice, and
Feaftings , and Stage-plays, and Masks and
Mufick, and perhaps filthy Luft, he will let
you
"Apparitions and Witches. 22 J
you fay your Prayers at Night, and cry God
.Mercy, and perhaps tell him that you Re-
pent, that you may Sin on tl bdldlV
the next da? : ^nd it's like he will provide
you a Ghoftly Father, as bad as your fefvcs,
that ihall give you the Sacrament as 2 feared
Pardon, and pronounce you abfolved, and
that as in the name of Chriil.
All thefeeffe&s of Devils, the World
abounds with 5 but the effects of Angels
are obferved , but by very few. Becaufe
even as the Sadduces , think that all thefe
Vices and Confuaons are only the effects
of Mens own pravity , and not of Devils ,
not knowing that all fuch Birtus have a Fa-
ther and a Mother (the Devil and Mens
own Hearts ) fo mod good people look fo
much to God and to Minifters, in ail that
is done on them , that they take little no-
tice of Angels that are Gods greater Mini-
flers, as if they had little to do with us.
By this, 1. We give not to God the due
Honour of the Order of his Works : 2. We
are guilty of Unrighteoufnefs, in denying
their Due Love and Gratitude to fuch No-
ble Agents. 3. We lofe the Comfortable
Remembrance of our own Communion
with them. 4. We lofe fome helps to a
Heavenly Mind and Converfation, when as
it would make the thoughts of Heaven
more Familiar and Pleafant to us, to think
of fuch a Holy and Amiable Society, and
CL would
2 a 6 'An Hifiovkal Difcourfe of
would make us the willinger to die.
As to them that fay, that it is enough to
know that Chriit is all to us , and we muft
take heed of afcribing any thing to Crea-
tures 5 I Anfwer , is Chrift the le£s all to
us , for giving us his Mercies ? For giving
us the Minifiry of Angels? Is he the Ms
All to us 5 for giving Gifts to Men , for
giving Comforters and Merciful Relievers
to the poor ? For giving to Children the
Love and Care of Parents ? Or for giving
Men good Princes and Magiftratesto Rule
them? Or for giving iHem Soldiers to
fight for them ? Or for giving you Mini-
fies to Teach you ? Who more praifeth
their Teachers, than fuch Obje&ors? Will
you be unthankful to your Benefactors, for
fear of afcribing to Creatures? Will you
not praife a Godly &fea above a Wicked ?
Will you not praife and admire the Glory
of the Sun and Stars , and the Frame of
Heavefo and Earth, for fear of afcribing to
Creatures ? Is the praifing of a Work , a
wrong to the Workman ?
Indeed this agreeth with their Dodrine •, ,
who becaufe "-'ohI counted all his Mofaical
Legal Ri&hteoufnefs as lofs and Dung,
in Companion of the Righteoufnefs that
God gave him in and by -hrift, do there-
fore fay , Aat we iia) - count all thatRigh-
teoiifneis .as Ding, vhich chriit hxmielf
worketh in us by his SpirU a evcH -Faith it felf
which
Apparitions andWitchesi 227
which is imputed or reckoned to us for
Righteoufneis< This enticeth Men to be
out of Love with Chriftian Righteoufnefs,
when Chrift hath made it ow own , if it be
no better than Dung ? And to fear that fome
fuch Men have no better. But they fay *
they account Faith and Love to Chrift to
be Bmg^ only as to Juftification : As if God
did not make all Men ju^ whom he juftifeth
by Efteem and Sentence : Or, as if that were
■&ghteou/nefs that doth in no part or degree
make a Man Righteom : Or, as if any but
Chriftians, as fuch, are juftified : Or any
Man were a chriftian before he accepteth
Chrift by a Loving and Thankful Confent
or Truft , as his Saviour and his Teacher,
knd his Lord and Ruler : But this is a Di-
greffion, which Mens talk againft afcribing
to Angels led me to.
We are not for afcribing to ^ngels(nor to
Faith and Love and Holinefs ) the leaft part
of the Honour proper to God , or to Jefus
Chrift : They do none of the Work of
oar Redeemer for us ( nor can we do the
leaft of it for our felves) unlefs as the Work
of his Inftruments and Agents, may be
called Chrifts Work : They fave us indeed,
but it is but as Timothy was taught by P^«/,
bow to fave himfelf , and thofe that heard
him; and we are bid to fave our felves.
Chrift teacheth us , andMinifters teach us.
Chrift Eeedeth us , and we Feed pur felves 5
Q, 2 yea,
% 1 8 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
tea, he faith that we feed him .• And that
he will for Jo doing, fay, Come ye Blejfed ,
inherit the Kingdom, Angels and Men do
Chrifts Commanded Work^i But no Creature
doth tbx lealt part of Chrifts own proper
undertaken Work.
■ Objedion. Bat thefe high Thoughts of An-
gels have drawn the Papifls to Idolatry , in
Praying to them, and Worfhipfwg them.
Anfwer, It is your denying them the Ho-
nour that is due to them, which is a Temp-
tation thathardneth Papifts in their Excefs.
Muft we, not Love and Honour Kings ,
Minifters and Saints, though fome herein
run into Extreams. We have many Rea-
fons againft Praying to Angels , or offering
them Vifible Corporeal Worfliip ; Becaufe
we know not }uft when they are prefent :
And becaufe it may Countenance the Hea-
thens Demon Worfliip and Idolatry 5 And
becaufe God hath appointed us no fuch
fort of ■Worfliip. But God having largely
told us of their Love to us , and their con-
ftant eminent Service for us , he thereby/
obligecffus toanfwerahle Regard, Aflfe&K-
onsand Acknowledgment.
I have faid fo muchinafmall Difcourfee
ih Mr. Ifaack. Ambroje his Book of Comma- ^
nion with AngeU ( at his requeft, who is now
with Angels ) that I will not here Recite
very many particular Texts of Scripture a-
bont this Subject : But if you will but look
m
apparitions and Witches'. %zg
in your Concordance, you may feewba £
abundant mention of Angels there is
throughout all the Scripture y while we
hear fo little of them in our Books or Pul-
pits. It's true, that in the Old Teftamenc
time, they ofter Vifibly appeared, than they
do now : But that is no Derogation to our
Gofpel State 5 As it is more Spiritual than
theirs , that needed more Vifible means 9
fo our Spiritual Benefits by them before
named , are greater than theirs were
1. How Familiar were Angels with A-
braham , who entertained them as Meti 3 till
they mace themselves better known to-huns
They were the Mefler.gers of the ^rearpro-
mife to him of the Numerous and the Ho-
ly Seed* They Reproved Sarah for her
Unbeiief; th ifrthey might comfort her by
the proniiied Sr
How Familiar were they with Lot, when-
they came into his Houfe, and took him in,
and blinded his £nemies,and told him their
Milage concerning Sadom^ and when they
carried him while lie delayed to depart?
And when they laved Zmrxo? his take?
How Familiar were they, with Ja^ob^ m
his Travels, and his Return 5 -when he .y
them as by a Ladder,afcendingand defcend-'
ing^ And when one of them wreflled with,
him, and Bieifed him, though he made him
halt?
I know that many excellent Divines do
230 An Hifiorical Difcourfe of
that one of thefe called Angels,was Chrifh
To which I fay, 1. If it were fo, that
doth not deny ,but confirm what lam plead-
ing for : If Chrift appearing , made Angels
his Companions , it was the n: ore for their
Honour.
2. But if this be true ; either Chrift had
a Body, yea , many Bodies before his incar-
nation by Mary, or not. If not, what were
all thefe Similitudes of Men that did eat
and drink, and talk, and act? Were they
mere shadows and Deluiions ? How then
could tbey fpeak , and ad fo Potently ? If
yea, then was the pure Godhead Hypofta-
tically united to thefe many appearing Bo-
dies ; Or not : Who can prove a difference
fave as to the Matter and Duration, between
his union w ith thefe , and with his laft at
fumed Flefh. And yet the Scripture appro-
priated Chrifts Incarnation, and coming in
the Body to xh.QFu.nefs of Tme^nd to thefe
lafi days , I am loth to fay without proof,
that Chrift had many Bodies, left any ihoukT
in r er that there have been many Chrifts :
But if this muft be held , it will introduce
Peter Sterrys Do6trine as mod probable ,
that Chrift as the Eternal Word effentially,
God firft caufed the Nobleft Created Na-
ture above Angels (or as Dr. M^ecalleth
it, an Eternal Flefh,- or as he and 7^ Tuti
ner a prime Created Life in the prime Mat-
ter ) and did unite it {elf to this Superange-
lical
Apparitions and Witches. 231
lical Nature, and by it caufe all the red 1
And that this fecond Nature appeared to the
Fathers by fuch Temporary aflumed Bo-
dies,and at laft affumed the Body of a Man:
bemg, fay forne, it felf a Soul to it 3 but sm-
others , afluming both a Human Soul and
Body : And fo, that Chrift hath three Na-
tures, a Divine, a Super angelic at, and a Hu~
mane : But of this oft elfewhere. This opi-
nion is reconciling as to the^ri *;w,who have
affirmed Chrift to be a Creature above An-
gels : And if God made fuch a Creature,
methinks it fliould be eafie to perfwade
them, that he that is as the Center, and more.
than a Soul, maketh all the World to be
One ( though of unlike parts J doth primari-
ly unite hirnfclf with the firil and Nobleft
of his productions.
Objection But Scripture faith, that Abra-
ham called one of thefe Lord
Anfveer. That Name both Adonai and -
Ehkim, are oft given to Creatures. And if
the Name of Jehovah be fometimesufedas
to Angels , it is only meant to God, fpeak-
fag by thzm,\vhomdbraham knew to be pre-
feat, though Invifible, and to know all that
was faid
Yet further, it was an Angel that appear-
ed to Mfes in the burning Bu(h, and fo
that fent him on his work to deliver the If-
raelites from Egypt, and Fortified him with
power of MkacleSj and made him his great
Q.4 pn>
2 3 2 An Hiftorical Vifcourife of
promifes of SiiceefstAnd yet no doubt it was
God h and the Text is true, that affirmeth
both : Therefore it mult be God fpeaking
and ading by the Miniftry of an Angel ,
Commiffioned ro ufe his Name.
It was Angels that gave Mnfa the Law
in theMount S^z: For io faith the Scripture,
Bur it was God by them, who were his
Voi-'e and Finger that made and wrote
the Tables, and (pake all the words^ thefe
were all Great and Wonderful Mimftra-
tions.
God promlfed Mofes , that his Angels
fhould go before the Israelites, to conquer
their Enemies , and bring them into the
promifed Land : Andhechargeth them not
to provoke him, for Gods Name was upon
him j and lie would not forgive their Iniqui-
ties. What greater things could be faid ,
than that an Angel (hall bear Gods Name ,
and be tLcir € aptain, and Conquer their
Enemies , ;:nd be their Governour, and not
forgive their v^ ilful Slns*
In jofwahs War at Jericho, an Angel
appeareth , arid profefleth himfelf the Cap-
tain of the Lords Hofts , Jofll. 5. 14, i^.and
JolLua fell on bis Face io the Earth, and Wor-
fhippedhtm^ and prayed to him to tell him his
Meilage. If Angek be not the Generals'
or Captains of our ■\>aux.$, we are unlike
to Conquer.
It was by m Angel, that' God brought
the
apparitions and Witches. 233
the Israelites- out of Egypt , Numb. 20. 16.
It was an Angel that chofe a Wife for
Ifaack, Gw* 24. 7. 40. The Angel of Gods
Prefence faved thq Ifraelites , Ifa. 63. 9.
An Angel delivered the three Men, Dan.j,
from the Fire, and Daniel from the Lions :
Dm. 6. Angels Preached Chrift to the Shep-
herds, ad Angel made the pool in Jernfa-
lem healing. Jo. 5. 4. An Angel Preachethto-
Cormlim. An Angel delivereth Peter,AEl.i2.
The Angel of the Lord Encampeth round
about them that fear him , and delivereth
thern, Pf 34. 7- God giveth his Angels
charge over us 5 to keep us in all our ways :
They bear us up in their Hands , left we
dafboijr Foot againft a Stone . Pfal.gi- 11,
12. Rev. r. Tells us, that God firftReveal-
eth his Will to Chrift, and Chrift to Angels,
and Angels to Jvhn, and John to the Church-
es , and the Churches to'Pofterity. Yea ,
Angels Miniftred to Chrift himfelf , when
he was hungry, Mat.%. 11. And appeared
in his Agony, (lengthening him. Luke 22.
43. Legions of Angels are at his Service :
And all theHoly Angels will come with him
at Judgment 5 and they will be the Reapers
at the end of the World.
Above 260 times are Angels mentioned
in Scripture, and yet how little notice do
we take of their help ?
But is it only our Bodies that they
help? Can. they reach or help our Souls?
2. j 4 An Htjimcal Difcourfe of
Arfw. If Devils can touch our Souls with
their Temptations* are Angels farther from
us, or lefs able to move us to our Duty ?
But are they ordinarily prefent, or know
our Cafe ? Anfw. They rejoice in our Con-
verfion, and therefore know it : They are
prefent in our Afiernblies, as Figml inrima-
teth, i Cor. ii. i o. Say not before the An-
gel, that it was an Errour, Eccl. 5. 6. which
intimateth the Angels Prefence. Every Be-
liever hath his Angel beholding the Face of
our Father in Heaven, Matth.13.10. and
they are not Strangers to their Charge. We
Jtd that the Devil is prefent with us, by
his Temptations continually, in ail oor Da-
lies molefiing or hindering us s And are
Angels lefs intent upon their Work ? It is
Michael and his Angels, that fight againft.
the Dragon and his Angels, to fave the
Church,
While fuch Texts make the Paptfts think
that Angels are always, or ordinarily pre-
fent, if they give them not Divine Wor-
ship, but fuch as we would do a Prince,
though I have faid before why I approve
not of their Doings, I dare not, as (one
late Expofitors of the Revzldtm, j.jdge the
Cathoiick Church co have become Anti-
chriftian Idolaters, as foon is they gave too
much Worfhip to Angeis and to Saints.
We are come to the N^w jemffJem, to the
Innumerable Angels, Heb.iz. and mud ho-
now
Apparitions and Witches. 2 j j
now them that fear the Lord, Tfal. 1 5*. And
we k*iow that we are translated from Death to
Life, bee an e we love the Brethren :' And is It
fo damnable Idolatry to love and honour
Angels and Saints a lit le too much, while
they i ive them nothing proper to God ? I
blame their Irregularities, but I dare not
judge fo hardly of them, and the ancient
Church, for this, as fome do; nor think
them much better, that love and honour
Angels and Saints as much too little.
Some now would call a N4an an Idolater,
that fhould fay as Jacob, Gen. 48 16. The
Angel which redeemed me from all Evil blefs
the Lads. They fay/ This Angel was ChriB.
Anfw. Scripture faith, it was an Angel :
Hof. 12 4. faith, He had power over the An-
gel. I dare not call God an Angel, though
Angels may be called Gods, as Princes be.
If Chrift had then no Nature but the Di-
vine, I fhould fufpeel it is Arianifm to call
him an Angel, or Meffenger of God. If
he had a Body, then ' was it Ubiquitary :
Or had he infinite numbers of Bodies ? Or
could he be but with one in the World at
©nee ?
For my part, I have had many Delive-
rances fo marvellous, as convinceth me of
the Miniftry of Angels in them, (not here
to be recited J But I am fatisfied, that
there is no lefs of the Prefence and Efficacy
of the Father, L'on, and Holy Spirit, when
he
i%6 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
he ufeth ami honoureth any Instruments,
Angels, or Men, than i* he ufed no Means
at ail As I will not defire fo to alter the-
Hated Government and Order of God, as
to expect here vifible Communion with
Angels, nor will offer them any unrequired
WbrMfyi fo I would not unthankfully for-
get we receive by them, from
how much we are behoideri to
md to God and our Redeemer for
I hope they will (hortly be a
ivoy to the Soul of this poor Latarw,
to :■£ Bofem; or to the Parage
v\ tee I hope CO fare with Chrift, j£mtk
One rh : ng more I think meet to mind
t£e Reader of; thar he may not h(e the Be-
nefit of thefc-Hi(tories?_Thac is How to
diicern a good. Spirit from a ted. The
Scripture telling us that three things are
the Characters of Devils, lying, Malignity
and Hurtftf&efs, (JobMJ vhich include all
Uncharitablenefs, Revere and Diviiion,
we may certainb 1 gather, that it is a Diabo-
lical Spirit that promoteth thefe, whatever
the Pretences are.
i. The Ant'ichriftian Errour, called -^«-
tlnomim , that would fet Chrift againft
Chrift, and make Men believe that his
Death hath made all our Obedience to his.
Government a thing that (tell never do us
my good, .(being called -Works,) and all
our
1 Apparitions and Witches. 237
our Sins againft his Grace to be fo harmlefs,
that we ought not to think that we [hall be
ever the worie for them 3 and that the fi-
led: that live in Perjury, and Murder, and
Adultery, or any other Sin, are not perju-
red, Murderers, Adulterers, became now
they are Chrift's Sins, and not theirs, (with
many fuch Reproaches of Chrift, called by
the Crifpians, the Exalting of him.) Thefe
certainly are from Devils, and God doth
notably difown them, as the fere mentioned
Inftances of the Ranters, and thole ;a iSfew
England, mentioned by Mr. Wetd-, do {hew.
And the doleful Form of Mr. Davks Con-
gregation, about R':'$d \i\ Nor-, iawptonjkir&
of the Nfadriefs, Bhfphen ies, larki igs ;?nd
Beaftility there, Heave to the Enquiry of
fober Perfom : Though I an no v^V -pels
dfit, thcRtJor sare fuch \ isiare act me£t
to be fiienced..
Mr. Samuel Crifpe hath publifihe
Week a Book, as againft me, in
of his Father ; telling the World, that he
underftands pot what he writeth of, and
ignorantly defending what I affirm, and.
confuting his Father, thinking it a Defence
of him.
I deny not but a CrifpHn may be % Chri-
flian, while, throogh Ignorance, hebeliev-
eth not his own Words. But he that will
but read the Scripture, and particularly, the
Texts cited by me in my Confejfwn of Faith,
Ml
sg8 An Hifiorical Difcourfe of "
fhall fee how fully Chrift hath confuted
Cnfpe, and vindicated his Mediatorial Of-
fice
II. And all thofe Principles, Paffions and
^radices that are againft the Love and
Concord of Chrift ians, whatever pretence
of an Angel of Light, or other Ministers of
Righteoufuefs, may be their Cloak, are un-
doubtedly from the dividing Devil.
III. And more evident is it that it is no
better Spirit that infpireth all the Slander-
ers, Silencers and Perfecuters of the faith-
ful Minifters- of Chrift; and thofe that
make and execute the Laws for the impd-
foning and ruining of the mod confcionable
Chriftians, for their avoiding notorious Sin,
or, at leaft, for doubtful Infirmities, incom-
parably lets than thefe Perfecuters (Clergy
or Laity ) are guilty of. By their Fruits
you may know what Spirit aduateth thefe
Men. Wolves, Thorns and Thirties are
known by Hurtfulnefs- Chrift s Miracles
were, Doing Good, and Healing : But De-
vil's Work is Hurting, and Deflroying.
And let thofe Men and Women think of
it, that cannot forgive, but are fet upon
Revenge. Mark whether Revenge be not
the moii ordinary Bufinefs of Witches, and
of Devilized Sou's \ moft of thele Hiitories
tell it you : Therefore Chrift relleth us,
that if we forgive not, we fhall not be for-
given ? ih contrary is he to the Diabolical
Spirit
Apparitions and Witches. 259
Spirit of Revenge, though yet he hath juft
and punlihing Governours.
Were but the Hiftories of Witches and
Apparitions well considered, it would help
Men to underftand, that Devils make no
fmall number of the Laws and Rulers that
are made in the World and have no fmall
number of honoured Servants, and are the
Authors of moft of the Wars in the World :
So that the Phrafe,£w. £ E The Devil (hall
cajv fame of you into Prifon^] fliould not feem
ftrange. And I would I had no Caufe to
lay, that this Mark of Lying, Malignity and
Hunfulnefs tells us, that many Sermons are
made by Devils, and too many of the Books
written by them, that adorn the Libraries
of many learned Men.
And though Demons do good in order
to do hurt, yet, by this Rule of Judging of
Spirits by their Fruits, I cannot but think
that (though there was a Mixture of Good
and Bad) there was more of the good Spi-
rit, than of the Bad, in moft of the ancient
Monks and Hermites, that lived fo Arid
and mortified Lives. And, as I find, not
only by Erafmus, but by the Complaint of
Proteftant Divines, that it was a Deiire of
Liberty from the Papifts Aufterities, thac
prevailed with moil: of the Vulgar to caft
off Popery 3 fo the Cafe of many Monaste-
ries, their Mortification and Devotion,
(though ignorant,) doth make me hope thac
in
240 An Hiftorical Difcourfe of
in many fuch Monafteries there is more of
the Spirit of God, than among the com-
mon worldly, fenfual fort of Proteftants.
I that muft lay lb of our well-meaning Se-
paratifis here, muft fay fo of fuch Papifts:
For I ( ind by the multitude of Inftances in
Cafyrim and others, that juft as deep Re-
pentance for former Sin, doth now bring
many to think it fafeft to joyn with the
Congregations, which they think are moft (
ftri6t : So before Luther $ time, it was or-
dinary, when God humbled any deeply for
their Sin, to think that they muft prelently
joyn with fuch as renounced the World and
fleihly Pleafures, and minded nothing but
Religion and Salvation. And thence it
came to pats, that among the Papifts, the
Monafticks were called Religious, in diftin-
dion from Secular, and other forts of Men.
And as our feparating^ religious Proteftants
do now demand of fuch as they admit to
their Communion, an Account of fome
fpecial Experiences of God's Work on their
Hearts, in their Converdon: So did the
Monafteries by fuch as they received. The
aforefaid Author Cafarius will tell you of
inuitirudes of Inftances how God converted
Sinners, and brought them into their Reli-
gious Houfes.
What can one think of all this, but that,
as all that we here do is imperfed: and faul-
ty, and yet pardoned through Chrift, to
the
Apparitions and Witchesi 24 1
the Sincere ; fo among "Papiils, and honeft
Sectaries, there is much chat is of God,
and (lull be accepted,, though Satan, by
their Ignorance and his Subtilty , do. obfcure
and maculate the Luftre of it, and turn it
into Scandal. For fuch is his Warfare a-
gainft Chrift and his Kingdom in this
World.
God is good, and doth good 5 and, will
hive Mercy, Jand not Sacrifice : And his Ju-
ftice doth hurt, for a greater Good.
The Devil is a Do- Evil: And if he do
Good it is to greater Hurt.
And Oh that 1 could get my own, and
all Readers Hearts fufficiently affected with
this Qbfervatioa J That is all our Life is
carried on in a Warfare, and Satan's Ma-,
lice is both agaiaft Chrift and us 3 fo his
great Work is, to draw us into fome Sins p
Which fliall cloud the Glory both of th£'
Grace and the Miracles of Chrift, and damp
the Comfort which we might have receiv-
ed by all his Mercies.
If he fee an honeft Chriftian zealoufly
affected, draw him by Temptation of the
fleihinto fome Scandal, or by Ignorance
into fome falfe Opinions, and that Glory
of all his Zeal is prefently turned into Re-
proach. If he do but fall out with fome
of his Neighbours^ and by Paffion, or for
Wprldly Intereft, offend therm all his Pie-
ty goeth not only for Hypocrite* but for 2
R Reproach
iqi Anffifidncal Difcourfe of
Reproach to Piejty it felf. Yea, if they fall
but into Melancholy, and Impatience, and
Difcontent, -the Devil fets them to affright
Men from Religion, as we kt yp Maw-
kios m our Corn and Orchards/ to affright
the Birds.
The fad J?&r/#e>Story, before related,
is an Inftance that .was fad to me. The 4-
frican Story, before- mentioned, is more tre-
jmrendous \ of the Bifliops whofe Tongues
W^re cut OUt by Hunnmchus the Arr'tAtt
King's Command, and they fpake well
when their Tongues were cut oqt: Vi&ar
Vncenfis, G^PLmu and Procopiw,. that all then
lived, witritfs it ;j and fome,, if not all of
them, I remember, fay, that they favv and
heard them:. And yet (fay fome of them)
the Devil after overcame fome of . theft*
fame Bifliops to commit Fornication with
Women, and then the Miracle ceafed^ and
fliey could fpeak no more.
Oh, how amiable would a holy and hea-
venly Life appear, were it not confpurcated
with the Mixture of its Contraries ? How
beautiful would the Wifdom of a Saint ap-
pear, were it not difhonoured by the Mix-
ture of Ignorance and Erfour? How joy-
fuHy and thankfully could I review all the
Wonders of Mercy that have filled up my
Life, to this prefent Hour, had I not mix-
ed tliofe many Tranfgreffions that muft not
be remcmbred without Grief aird Shame,
though
Apparitions and Witches. 2 4 3
though through Chrift they be forgiven ?
Though I can fay that Pride, Ambition, and
Covetonfnefs, and Worldly Preferment s> have
not been ftrong enough to cloud my Com-
forts, yet, alas J what a multitude of Faults,
byCarelefnefs, locogitancy, Rafhnefs, Pa£
fion, and Want of due Watchfulnefs and
Tendernefs of Confidence, have done it i
Oh, with what joyful Praife toGod could
I perufe all the Hiftory of my Pilgrimage,
did not this woful Mixture of my Sins damp
and allay my Comforts ; and by Indignation
againft my (elf, abate my Peace J I believe
Forgivenefs apd Safety from Hell : But if
(befides my near fixty Years Caftigatory
Pains) I did fufped, with jfuguftine x that
there were a Purgatory hereafter, I fliould
fear it 3 not out of any Doubt of the Suffi-
ciency of Chrift's Satisfa&ion, Righteouf-
nefs and Merits to their proper Ends, but
*becaufe I believe that he is my Governour,
though by a Law of Grace and Faith, and
that he is a Judge, and that he is not indif-
ferent whether we obey him, or difobey
him. If I believe not Chrift, I ani no Chru
fiUn : And if I believe Chrift's conftaot Do-
tirine, particularly, Mattk 5. and 6. and
7« and 2 j. I can no eafier be mace a CHRI-
SPIAN^ than I can believe the groffefc
Contradi&ion. And I now think this dif-
tinguifhing Name as ufeful as was the Name
of Nicolaitans. Rev. 2. & $.
R 2 Oii e
244 AnHifioYtcal Difcourfe of
One thing more I defire to be obferved,
about the warfare between Chrift and De-
vils 5 That both fides make great ufe of
Human In ftruments, efpeciallyof Princes and
Paftors or Teachers i and Parents, Thefe
are the three great Orgmes{ under Angels )
appointed by God, for the Moral, Free
Agency in promoting the Kingdom of Chrift
on Earth: And where thefe three are Faith-
ful , O / How great a Blefling are they ?
1 herefore it is the grand defign of Devils,to
Corrupt thefe three, and to make them
Traytorsto Chrift, that is their Rightful
Lord , and Enemies to his Work, and him
whom they fhould Reprefent. No deadlyer
Enemies to Children , then ungodly Parents,
No deadlyer Enemies to the Worfhippers
-of Chrift , than Malignant, Proud, Igno-
rant, Worldly Clergy-men ? No fuch Pow-
erful Enemies to Kingdoms, as Ungodly ,
Ignorant Kings and Magiftrates. Oi How
much Good, or Mifchkf '-may One King, or
Supream Power do , by the great Advantage
that God the Inftitutor of Government hath
given them ? A pa, -Africa , America and!
■Europe, are doleful Monuments of the $uc-
cefs of Devils , by making Princes> Friefts^
and Parents their -Jnftruments, corrupting 7
them by Ignorance , and by worldly flelhly/
Baits! Mr. Cotton Mather in the Life of!
Mr. Eliot the New-England Evangelift , Re-
citeth this Account of his (m>3. } why .the
Apparitions and Witches, a 4 j
Lyn Indians were all naught, fave one , Be~
caufe their Sachim (or King) was naught;
For they and the Powvowes or (wizards) like
Priefts , did with Malice , Threatning and
Perfecution,, drive the People from receiv-
ing the Gofpel, and praying to God. What
a dangerous cafe through Mutual Hoftility,
and cruel Perfecution, hath fometimes one
Law,Political orEcclefiaftical,brought aNa-
tion into , by locking the Church Doors a-
gainfc Unity, Concord, and Mutual Love,
and by Stoning the Diflenters from fuch di-
viding Snares? And what a Blefling hath
one good Prince ; yea , one Reforming or
Healing Law or Proclamation been to a
Land?
^ What a Blefling to the Church, were fucH
Bifhops as Ignatius, Cyprian, Ba(ll y the three
Or four ' Gregories, Chryfoftom, Froclus, Atti-
cus, Auguftine, and fuch as they: And what
Scandals and tearers were the contrary min-
ded : Who by their Ignorance and Pride
on pretence of Uniting , cut the Church
and Empire into the Shreds, that yet con-
tinue , and were a grief u> Conft amine, and
more to Theodofius ; 2. To Anaftafius y and
to many a Worthy Emperour ? And when
they grew ftronger, depofed their true Ru-
lers the Eaftern Emperors , and fuch as
Ludovicus Tius, and kept up bloody Warrs
ag2inft Emperors in the Weft s till they de-
prived moft Kings of half their Govern-
ment. The
% q& An Hiftmcal Difcourfe of
The God that fixeth the Ccurfe of Na-
ture , fo as that he will not for the Prayers
of any make the Sun alter a Minute of its
rifing and fetting time , nor alter the Spring
and Fall, Summer and Winter, &c Hath
fetled alfo a Subordinate order of Free-agents
for Moral Government, and though he
difpofe of the Events of all Mens A<fts,
without caufing their Sin, yet will he not
ufually violate that free order. It's Marvel-
lous the Devils have fo much power over
Children and Men , as I have here proved ,
if but a filly wretched Witch confent ; And
how much more mifchief may he do to
Church and Kingdom, if he can but get
Biftops, Priefts and Princes, and Law-ma-
kers to confent.
Therefore above all other Refiftance of
Devils : OI Tray hard f5r Wife and Godly
Kings and Magiftrates , and for Wife and
Humble and Faithful Teachers, and next
for Family Piety. And if ever the King-
doms, Churches and People be reduced to
Wifdom, Unity and Sobriety, this muft be
the means according to Gods Eftabliilied
way.
FINIS.
Books Trwtedfory and fold by Tho. Parkhurft,
at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower
End o/Cheapfide, near Mercers Chapel.
TH E Englifh Nonconformity, as under K-Cbar its II.
and K. James II. truly fta*ed and argued. In
A Treatife of Knowledge and Love compared : In two
Parts: I. Of fairly .pretended Knowledge, a. Of true
laving Knowledge and Love In Quarto.
The Glorious 'Kingdom of Chriftdefcribed, and clear-
ly vindicated, againftrhe boId'Aflerters of a future Cal-
ling and Reign of the Jews, and a thoufand Years before
the Conflagration, and the Mertors of (Che thoufand
Years Kingdom after the Conflagration. Being an.Au-
fvver to Mr. tho. 'Btvtflq. In Quarto.
A Reply to Mr. Tho. Beverley's Anfwer to my Reafons a-
gainft his Doctrine of a Thoufand Years Middle Kingdom,
and of the Converfion of the Jews. In Quarto,
Of National Churches: Their Defcripcion, Inftitution,
life, Prefervation, Danger, Maladies and Cure : Partly
applied to England. In Quarto,.
Church Concord : Containing, i. A Diflusfive from
unneceflary Divifion and Separation, and the real Con-
cord of the moderate Independents with the Presbyteri-.
ans, inflanced in ten feeming Differences, z. The Terms
neceflary for Concord among all Churches andChrifUa.ES-
In Quarto.
Againft the Revolt to a Foreigp JurifdiftioD, which
would be to England.ks Perjury, Church-Ruin and Sla-
very. In two Parts. In Oftava.
Mr. Richard Baxter's penitent Confeffion, and his ne-
ceflary Vindication. In Anfwer to a Book called, The Se-
cond Part of the Mifchitfs of Separation: Written by m un-
earned Author. With a Preface to Mr. Cantiarm de Mi*
nimu, &c. In Quarto.
The Scripture- Gofpel defended,., and Chrift, Grace
and free Juftification vindicated, againft the Libertines,
&c. In two Books, &c. In Qftavo.
Cain and ^/-Malignity ', that is, Enmity to ferious
Godlinefs - y that is, to an holy and heavenly fhie of Heart
asd Life, &q % All by Mr, ^chard Baxter* '
Books Printed for, and Sold by John Sat J*
bnry> at the Rifing Sun over againft the
* Royal Exchange in CornhilL %
* i
A N End of Dpannal Cbntroverfies, which have,
J^\ lately troubled the Churches, by Reconciling Ex-
plication,, without much Difputing. By Richard Baxter*
In Oftdvo.
A Rational Defence of Nonconformity : Wherein the
Prance of Nonconformifts is vindicated from promo-
ting Popery, and ruining the Church *, imputed to them
by Dr. Sp illing fleet , in ImV nreafonablmefi of Separation,
Alfo his Arguments from the Principles and Way of the
Reformers, and firft Diffenters, are anfwered $ and the
Cafe of the prefent Separation truly fiated, and the
Blame of it laid where it ought to be; And the Way to
Union among Proteftarits is pointed at. By Gilbert Rule,
Minifter of the Gofpel. In Quarto.
The Harmony of the Divine Attributes, in the Contri-
vance and Acccmplifhmem of Mm's Redemption by the
Lord Jefus Chfift, &c. By W. Bates, D.D.
The Duty and Blefling of a Tender Confcience plain-
ly ftated, and earneftly recommended to all that regard
Acceptance with God, and the Profperity of their Souls.
Whereunto is added two Sermons, opening the Nature
of Participation with, and demonflraticg the Nectfficy of
Purification by Chrift. By T. Crufo. In Twelves*
[Apparitions and Witcheil 24^
POSTSCRIPT.
z
§ I. T T Aving fince received from Mr.
I"~~y Gilbert, the reverend Minifter
A JL of the Place, a fuller Narrative
of the ftrange Story near BelfaH, I will in-
fat his Letter.
Mr. Gilbert'.? Letter concerning the
Apparition near Belfaft, in Ire-
land.
Dear Sir j
YOurLaft, of July the 6th, I received;,
and fince that, I have again and again
enquired farther into that Bufinefs of the
Apparition of Magdalen Loftw, which died
about N&uenA.-i. 1685. of the Hurt ihe
had received a Month before. And fhe ap-
peared to Thoma* Domlfon, a Neighbour^
four Weeks after her Death, in the (Houfe
of WiUim Holiday near her own Houfe.
S There
$4-8 An Hifiorical Difcourfe of
There were then prefent in the faid
"Houfe, WiRiam Holiday , and Helen his
Wife $ as alfo Sarah Lofnam, Daughter in
Law to the faid Defund -, and fome Ser-
vants and Children in the Houfe* befides
Charles Loftin and Helen Lofiin, Children
to the faid Defunft; which are now all
alive : And moft of them were fummon-
ed to the following Affixes at Downe Pa-
trick* and there deppfed foleninly before
the Bench, the feveral Circumftantials of
the (aid Apparition. Which Apparition
was thrive repeated, in the fame Evening,
to the faid Thomas Donelfon: And how
he was horrihly„frighted thereby, and vio-
lently drawn out of the faid Houfe, before
their Eyes,, .though they flruggled hard to
detain him ; And that he was carried up
and down, bveir Neighbouring Hedges and
Ditches : And that her laft Words to him
were, "That (he would trouble him no
" more, if he did faithfully profecute the
" Caufe of her Death i which (he ftill
" afcribed to the Blows which (he receiv-
'* ed from the &dX Ecdeftw and K. Hig-
"'gifon.
The faid Thomas Doqelfon did , according-
ly repair to his Landlord, the next juftice,
3Vhv Randal Brke\ who brought their fe
vera! Examinations to Sir William Frank;
lin,'m i?<?//*?#-Caftle, ; where was alfo pre-
fent the Earl of Lmgford: Which faid
Depo-
'Apparitions and Witches. 249
Depofitions were carried to DuGlin, and
there recommended to the fpecial Care
of Judge John Lindon r who was to come \
down the next Affizes of Downe : And
die faid Trial, and Examination of the
Witnefles, were then mannaged at the faid
Affizes, by Mr. James M a cartny y Counfel-
lor, in the behalf of Charles Loflin, the
Plaintiff, to the Admiration or all the
Bench, and of the Company there, in my
Sight and Audience. So that the Matter
was moft notorioufly known, and believ-
ed, through the whole Country. Nor was
there any Caufe of fufpe&ing any Fraud
therein, they being all plain, honeft Neigh-
bours, weE known to me, and my Pa-
rifliioners, in the Parifli of Drmnbeg^ in
the County of Downe, and in the Province
Of Vlfier.
When you fend to Mr. Baxter, pray^
fend my bed Refpe&s, defiring both his
Prayers and yours, as we moft heartily re-
commend his continual Labours, and yours,
to the Bleffing of the Moft High : In whom
I Reft,
Tour Cordially jifeEtionate^
*£&,» Cl. Gilbert
s 2 §n.
i$o An Hiftorkal Difcourfe of
§. II. Whereas many wonder that the
Devil can get down and up Chifdrens
Throats , fuch great things as the Nails and
pieces of Iron and Brafs (as I have to (hew,)
a rude Story of that Pious and Excellent
Rrifition, Fcelix PUtertu, makes me think
it poffible. Two rude fellows had at meat
a Cuftard before them , he that firft tafted
it, found it Scalding hot ,. and diflembled
it, to draw the other to it , who prefently
fo fcalded his Mouth with it , that in
Wrath arid Revenge , the next Spoonful
thar the other did eat , he forced the Spoon
down his Throat : Which being in his Sto-
mach, caft him iato fear: But they both
being (hortly after again together, eating ,
he felt, a great pain in the rettum inteftimm %
and put his Hand to his Fundament ., and
pulled out the Spoon,, and put it into his
Companions Di(h. The paffage of this Spoon
through all the inteftines ,. feems har-
der than mod of the Witchcrafts mend-
tioried.
This confirmeth my Sufpicion, that my
Dear Friend Mr. William Hopkins cafe be-
fore mentioned, was but a Miftake, and
not a Witchcrafts and that he might have
f wallowed in his Meat a piece of a
Fleih- prick, and think it was a Bene, and
forgot it 5 though I could not perfuade
his Wife and Neighbours to believe it-
apparitions and Witches. 251
I rather think the conceit, than Witchcraft,
fhortned the good Mans Life,
§. HI. And I will not fpare my fell ,
while I mention my Friend , though fome
will deride it, it may profit others, to tell
you a fmall Story of the Devils power on
my felf. When I lived in LuMow-CzQkat
16 and 17 years of Age (the Chaplain to
the Council , being my Tutor ) I that had
been enfnared before in the pleafure of old
Romances, was ftrongly tempted to the
Love of Cards and Dice. The firft over-
came me a few Months: Having no skill
at Tables , 1 agreed with thebeft Gamefter
in the HoufeC Mr. Richard Harrifon, Clerk
of the Kitchin , who died old, - 4 not many
years ago in Barbican, at the Earl t>f Bridg-
water s ) to teach me for a price : When I
did but know when the Game was loft by
the lofs of all my Men , after a Game or
two, they told me my Game was loft;
And laught at me for not giving it up (other
Skilful Gamefters looking on ) I told them
I would fee the end firft : They derided me,
and Mr. Harrifon laid , / will lay yott ten
Shillings to Six- Pence ; I laid down mySix-
Pence; and he his ten Shillings : When I
hadcaft the Dice ten times, I hadwone
the Game. They flood amazed, and told
me , that if I had not had the fame caft of
the Dice all the ten times that I had , no
other
»} % An Uifiorical Difcdurfe of
other could have got my Game. An Atheift
will laugh it this as ' Fortuitous: But I per-
ceived that it was the Devils Temptation to
draw me to be a Gamefter : And I gave Mr.
HarHfon his Ten Shillings again , and never
plaid more.
I mention this, to tell fome Ladies and
others of great Note, that are Enfnared in
the Love of that vile Time-wafting Sin of
Cards and Dice ( and Stage- plays* ) that the
Devil hath great power in ruling that which
they call Chance : And that it is a greater Sin
fo to wafte precious Time than tljey are
aware of; Befides the vile corrupting of
their Mentions.
- a
Books
Books Vrintedfor, and fold by Tho. Parkhurff,'
at the Bible and Three Crown' at tk Imer
End of Cheapfide, near Mercers C) \ el
TH E Englifh Nonconformity, as under K. Charles lh
and K. fames II. truly ftated and argued. In
Sbarto,
A'Treatife of Knowledge and Love compared : Ir- mo
Parts: I. Of falfly pretended Knowledge, a. Of (rue
faving Knowledge and Love In Quarto*
The Glorious Kingdom of Chrirl dtferibed. and clear-
ly vindicated, againft the bold Aflerters of a fuure Tai-
ling and Reign of the Jews* and a t ! oufanrf Y a i before
the Conflagration, and the Alienors of t e ti.oofapd
Years Kingdom after the Conflagration. Being an An-
fwer to Mr. tho. Beverly In Quarto,
A Rep'v to Mr.Th/.Btverley\ A f ver to my Re afons a-
gainft his Do&rineofaThoufind Years Middle Kingdom,
and of the Conmfion of the Jews. In Qutrto.
Of National Churches: Their Defcripcion. In^itutiotv
life, Prefervatioa, Danger. Maladies and Cure : partly
applied to England Io Quarto.
Church Concord : Containing, I. A Difluarfive frnm
unnecelTary Divifion and Separation and thereaj Con-
cord of the moderate Independents wirh tnr £^sby <.ri«
ans, inftanced in ten feeming Differences. 2, The Terms
neceflary for Concord among all Churches and Chri^wns.
In Quarto,
Againft the Revolt to a Foreign JurifdicYion, which
would be to England its Perjury, Church-Ruin and Sla-
very. Tn two Parts. laOkam.
Mr. RicharaBaxter's penitent Ccnfeffim. ?nd his ne-
ceflary Vindication. In Anfwe r to a Book csi.U d; The St"
cond Part of the Mj chiefs of Serration: Writte by m u n-
aamed Auchor. With a Preface to Mr. Cantimm de Mi-
nimi*, &c. In Qyarto.
The Scripturc-Gofpel defended, and Chrift Grace
and'free Juftification vindicated, againft the Libertines,
&c» In two Books, &c. In Oftavo.
Cain and ^/-Malignity *, that is, Enmity to fen jus
Godlinefs j that is, to an holy and heavenly ftate of Heart
and Life, &q^ All by Mr. %j>cbard Baxters
Books Printed for, and Sold by John Satuf-
bury, at the Rifittg Sun bveragainft the
Royal Exchange in CornhiM.
AN End of Doftrinal Controverfies, which have
lately troubled the Churches, by Reconciling Ex-
plication, without much Difputing. By Richard Baxter*
In O&avo*
A Rational Defence of Nonconformity : Wherein the
Practice of Nonconformifts is vindicated from promo-
ting Popery, and ruining the Church ; imputed to them
by Dr. StiUingflett , in his Vnuafonablemfs of Separation.
Alfo his Arguments from the Principles and Way of the
Reformers, and firft Diflenters, are anfwered j and the
Cafe of the prefent Separation truly ftated, and the
Blame of it laid where it ought to be: And the Way to
Union among Proteftants is pointed at. By Gilkrt Rule,
ftjmfter of the Gofpel. In Qgarto.
The Harmpgy of the Divine Attribute*, in the Contri-
vance and Accomplifhment of ManYRedemption by the
Lord Jefus Chrift, &c. By TV. Bates, D. D.
The Duty and Blefling of a Tender Confcience plain-
ly dated, and earneftly recommended to all that regard
Acceptance with God, and the Profperity of their Souls,
Whereunto is added two Sermons, opening the Nature
of Participation with, and demonftrating the Neceffity of
Purification by Chrift. By T.Crufi. In Twelves,