A Faithful Narrative of Thomas Spatchet Under Witchcraft, Chapter 6
Chap. VI. Of his Dumb fits, also of Shackling and other fits: especially hindring him in travelling▪
FOR some months he had Dumb Fits; if …e hath been well in the house, yet attempting to go out to visit friends, beforehe …ad gone the length of one Close or Field, he was struck Dumb, and hath remained so all the day, being necessitated to return back again to his house, where he could either sit or walk butwas speechless; these would go off and speech return ordinarily (yet not always) without any violent motion; these were not every day▪
In some part of the time he had a moderate shaking like a Palsie, all the day long, from the time of his rising till a quarter of a… hour after he was laid in his bed, and then it would cease▪ and then he could speak; If he leaned his head against any thing, then immediately his speech was gone, nor could he move his head from the place; nor raise himself on the seat whereon he sate, till it was pulled away, or they did give him Tobacco; and then it would go into outward shaking again,
He had the use of his senses in this time, knew what they about him said and did.
In those years 1665 and 1666 he had Roaring Fits, his mouth being stretched open, and such violent Fits, and those which hindred travel were superadded.
Sometimes he had liberty to walk in the house or yards, but if he attempted to go into the Field, then before coming half way in it, his feet would be as if they were nailed to the ground; that by all means he could use, he could not remove them thence for a considerable time, nor get any further to any Friends house that he intended to go unto; he finding this coming, was necessitated timely to turn himself, and then could sholving remove one foot first about an Inch▪ and must stand there till one might have gone a quarter or half▪ way in …he Close, and then could remove the other foot an Inch, and so each removal at such a distance of time, if it were plain ground it was the better, but it was very tedious to him to ascend▪ or go up when he came at a Hill or Ascent.
And thus he must move home again if none brought a Chair to him to sit down in till he revived; these Fits went off without shaking or other violent motion, and he remained in the former posture, till he attempted to travel again.
In some of those fits resting, sometimes on a suddain one leg would be forced over the other the full reach, and so he must stand cross legged; but by degrees with great trouble it would be gotten back again to the other foot and with much difficulty get over it, which done, presently even the same instant, the other foot was struck cross the full reach also, and must stand till by degrees that also was gathered up and then he stood in the old posture, as if fastned to the ground; on a suddain he should have liberty to go as far as from one side of the house to the other, and then his feet were fixed to the ground again; after that he had a liberty to go a few steps further, then at the same pass again▪ till at last he did get into the house.
After these fits ceased, if he attempted to travel, he should soon be buckled, …is knees bowing as if he were to sit down▪ and if he offered to right up himself, then he was buckled twice as much, so he must return home in that posture, bearing on his toes only; and so he could travel thus bowed down, but if he offered to raise up his Body, then he could not stay himselfbut fell to the ground, and rising up after a little time revived; but if he offered to go again a few rod, he was buckled and bowed down as before.
Sometimes two men have been present when he has been in these Fits, and they fearing he …hould fall, would take hold of his Arms to raise him, and not the strength of both of them could keep him up, but then he must down to the ground; all they could do was not enough to prevent it, else he did never fal… down in these fits, which continued a long time, a year at least as is supposed, but with some intermissions, for nine days or a fourtnight; in which time he had liberty to visi… friends, but then the fits returned again: They continued sometimes twenty two weeks, sometimes thirteen, or nine, more or less.
Afterward complaining to friends that he could not go; then for some time, if he assayed to travel, his heels were lifted u… from the ground and he was forced to stand on his toes, leaning on his staff▪ and if he would stand s…ill▪ then he found no shaking▪ or other violent motion: but if he offered to go▪ then his feet were violently moved forward running upon his toes▪ till by his strong staff or by a Tree he did get a …tay or stop, and a little revived: and then he was car…ied violently again▪ run…ing on his toes as before, till a new stop; these running Fit… …as…ed some weeks.
Afterward being free…d of these▪ if he would travel▪ hi… strength was taken away; he found▪ an utter di…ability in all parts▪ he might stand still, and could not readily get back again; but …ddainly he fell to his knees▪ and and resting on them for a season, then he could rise up and go a little way▪ and …uddainly down again to his knees and no further▪ these Fits did not hold long, a month or thereabouts.
Also in these last years, someti…es his hands have been t…r…ed behind him, the palms upward on his back, and his body being bowed low toward one side, his face turned upward; he hath been hurled round, round, round, in the yard till at the door, and then being helped into the house, was caused to sit in a Chair.
In such a condition he remained untill the death of that Woman which confes…ed her self to be a Witch, with fits of one kind or another above mentioned.
And the two last years before her death, he had no liberty either to Pray or to joyn with others in Prayer, or other Religious exercises more than is before expressed.
Also, when some have said they could believe for his full freedom, he h…d not such a Faith, but in the time of his fits he hath earnestly desired of God (as he was able) that he would raise his Soul into a Faith about deliverance with submission to his Will, and if it were his pleasure, that he would give him a perswasion that he should be delivered.
When he hath thus done he found his heart wonderfully over-powered, and carried out this way; leave it to God, commit all to him, be quiet in the will of God, and let him alone till his time cometh ▪ Neither was there any thing of Faith further this way, near the deliverance than before, but that if the Lord saw it for …is own Glory he would deliver him.