The Surrey Demoniac, Letter – Floating text 1

The Surrey Demoniac · Letter – Floating text 1

p. 22Windemarly, Sept. the 16th 1689. SIR,

THis is to Certifie you, That the Miniſters have concluded to obſerve Sept. the 26th at the Surey, for the Young Man, who has been ſeized on by a Dumb and Deaf Devil, ſince I ſaw you, that is, whilſt the Miniſters were imployed in Praying and Preaching. When we were a going out of the Houſe [on Sept. the 3d] towards the Oratory, he delivered a written Paper to Mr. Jolly; wherein was ſignified, that the Spirit, had told him, that he ſhould continue Deaf and Dumb a Month together, if the Miniſters Prayed ſo long, and that time it was verified, for Deafneſs and Dumbneſs ſeized upon him, when we went forth to the place of Prayer, and continued till the concluſion of the Exerciſe, upon the backſide of the Paper was ſignified what his Diſtemper was, viz. Obſeſſion in and with Combination, theſe words were ſuggeſted unto him in a Fit, and theſe with much difficulty he wrote the Morning after the Fit. Upon another day of Prayer, he ſignify'd in the Morning, that he ſhould be Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, whilſt Two did Exerciſe, which I ſuppoſe was fulfilled but the laſt day of Prayer, which was the laſt Tueſday appointed with ſpecial reſpect to you, he was capable to Hear, See, Speak all the time of Exerciſe, he conceits there are two Spirits which converſe with him, a good one, and a bad one, he expreſt, that he is as Lot's Wife, a Monument for the Admonition of all others. One day of Prayer when he came out of his Fit, he fell upon his knees and prayed with Tears in his Eyes, Mr. Heywood is ſent to for his Aſſiſtance the p. 23next opportunity, and your paines would be very acceptable, and you ſhould ſtudy a Compenſation for your laſt Abſence. The Country is very deſirous of your Aſſiſtance, and vox Populi, vox Dei. Mr. H. and his Conſort, who have a very Commodious Houſe, are very free to be ſerviceable to you with any accomodations for Lodging there. I pray you good Sir forecaſt, if poſſible, for the next Opportunity, and pay long intereſt for your laſt diſappointing ſo many expectations by a longer continuance when you come. The Devil threatens, That He will greaſe your Boots and your Spurrs too, when you come, Praemonitus, premunitus; I have heard him ſpeak Latin, and he declares he knows nothing of Latin. He utter'd, Promiſſum non factum principiis obſtaſero Immedicable vulnus quum mala per Longas invaluere moras enſe Recidendum, ne pars ſincera trathatur. Multum tempeſtatis ſub noctem. Gutta cavat Lapidem non vi ſed ſaepe cadendo. I have heard him Prognoſticate the alteration of the Weather into immoderate Showers and brisk Winds; he hath vomited ſome Stones, one near two Fingers broad, and foretold of the prodigious Foal in Glouceſterſhire; he ſpoke of a murdered Child in Bolland, which I hear is ſince diſcovered; his Fits do now come uſually in the night about Eight a Clock, and continue about Six Hours; his Dancing is very admirable, he ſurpaſſeth, I ſuppoſe, any Artiſt; he taketh better reſt; he thinks he muſt be delivered, but not yet. My reſpects, &c.

Robert Waddington.

The next Faſt-day on this account was kept at Read, and ſome Profeſſors queſtioned the lawfulneſs of talking to Satan, but ſound Reaſons, and eſpecially the Bible, that Epitome of all paſt, preſent, and future Libraries, that ſure Rule for all Actions, 2 Pet. 1.19. that oraculous Reſolver of all Caſes, Rom. 3.2. gave ſufficient ſatisfaction about it; and on the one hand, it was found unlawful, if it were by way of Eve's curioſity, Gen. 3.1, to 6. or Baal-Prieſt's Worſhip, 1 King 18.26, to 30. or Ahaziah's conſultation, 2 Kings 1.2. or Manaſſe's familiarity, 2 Chron. 33.6. or Sceva's Son's exorciſms, Acts 19.13, 14. or the Dreamer's railing accuſations, Judg. 8, 9. or the Mutterer's aiding and miſchieving purpoſes, Iſa. 8.19.19.3.29.4. or Saul's deſpair, 1 Sam. 28.15. But yet on the other hand, it ſeem'd lawful and uſeful when manag'd in a right manner for removing Satan, or imparing his Intereſt; for that, it was practiſed by the Lord, Job 1.7, to 13.2.2, to 7. and Chriſt, Luk. 8.28, to 33. and Angels, Judg. 9. and Apoſtles, Mark. 16.17. Acts 16.18. and in the Ages ſince, as Authentick Hiſtory declares; and may Men talk to Satan at the day of Judgment, 1 Cor. p. 246.3. then why not now? And may they now talk to good Angels by way of Communion? Gen. 19.2. Why not then with bad ones in a way of War? And ſince Satan can underſtand Men's talk, it muſt needs make ſome impreſſions on him; and if any impreſſions, Then why not ſuch as may diſadvantage or remove him? And being on Men's bad talk to Satan, he may get advantage and prevail againſt them. Why may not good talk to him prevail againſt him, ſince things that are contrary produce contrary effects or conſequences? And can it be Satan's intereſt, to uſe ſuch talk againſt us, as is praeternatural to him? Why then is it not ours to talk againſt him, as is our natural Talent and Province, or to oppoſe him with our own Weapons, when he Challenges us at them? Or ſhould Satan meet a Man in a Humane Apparition, would it not be natural? Or in ſome other reſemblances, would it not be lawful for a Man to ſpeak to him? If ſo, Why not in a Demoniack, as well as in ſuch other appearances? And ſome talk to Satan may be a reſiſting him; and if ſo, then ſuch talk is not only lawful, but a Duty; all ſorts of reſiſting Satan being commanded, and having no Prohibition, have further a promiſe of removing Satan annext to the uſe of every ſuch ſort, Jam. 4.7. and Man's word being one of Chriſt's great Ordinances, and Weapons of our Warfare, mighty through God againſt Satan, Why may it not as our Saviour's—It is written—remove Satan from man's body, Mat. 4.5, add 12. and the Miniſters conſulted hereon gave no judgment againſt it, but experience was for it.

On Sept. the 3d, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, Satan had ſaid that he would ſpare Dicky Fifty days longer, but then he would carry him to Hell. Of which ſee Octob, the 22ds Diſcourſe; as in other Fits he ſpoke very horrible and Blaſphemous words, ſaying, That he was God, and requiring that ſuch Worſhip ſhould be paid to him, as was due unto God.

Sept. the 5th, Was another Faſt day for him at the Surey, the Meeting even in very bad Weather, being very full, and without much trouble from him, tho' in's Fits, the words that came from him, always ſounded far different from the ordinary voice of Richard, or of any Man that ever ſpoke in the hearing of the By-ſtanders; yea, ſometimes made ſuch a diſmal noiſe, as might be heard at a Miles diſtance, yea often there were two different Voices ſpoke in him, one moſt hollow and very hideous, the other more ſhrill and skreaming, yea ſometimes both of them were in him at once, as if talking one to the other, which ſeemed to be pronounced ordinarily as from his Breaſt, and oft as from a great hard round lump within his Fit ſwell'd upon his Belly or Breaſt.

p. 25Sept. the 10th Was another Faſt-day for him at the Surey. Being many who in Scripture had Satan caſt from their Bodies, had him at the ſame time caſt out of their Souls: Some may hence think, that if Richard had not this Laſt, he could not have the Firſt; But

1. What is within mention'd ſhews the hopes there was of Richard's Converſion; Tho'

2. Some things, as to his viſible Chriſtianity, ſeem not ſo well as could be deſir'd, he therein much falling ſhort of Magdalen, and others, whoſe Bodies were freed from Satan, as his in ſome ſort was; but tho' Richard upon Satan's leaving his Body, was, and is, and ever ſhould be in an unconverted State, this nevertheleſs is very conſiſtent with Satan's removal from his Body; for that Satan was removed from Saul's and the Pythones's Bodies, yet not from their Souls, 1 Sam. 16.23. Acts 16.18. and the Bodies of many mention'd in Scripture were diſpoſſeſt, whoſe Converſion was unlikely, at leaſt uncertain, Mar. 9.38, to 41. Mat. 12.27. and ſince many caſt out Devils who were never Converted; Why maight not ſome diſpoſſeſt by them continue ſtill Unconverted as well as they, Mat. 7.22, 23. and 10.4, 8. and ſince many had various Miracles wrought on or about them, yet were never Converted; Why might not ſome have diſpoſſeſſion wrought on them without Converſion, ſuch Miracles having as great a tendency towards Converſion, as diſpoſſeſſion has, Luke 17.17, 18. Exod. c. 8. c 9. c. 10. 1 King. 13.4, 6.18.24, to 41. and God's Word and Appointments only are converting, and Miracles but as proofs of them; Converſion therefore can't be expected mainly from diſpoſſeſſion or any of God's Works, which have no inſtitution or promiſe annext to them as to Converting Ordinances, yet were they ſuch Ordinances; God's Spirit ſets not in with any Ordinance whatſoever for the Converſion of all under it; How then can't be imagin'd, that it ſhould be ty'd to the Converſion of all under poſſeſſion? Luke 16.31. Acts 13.11, 12. John 3.8. & 5.36, to 39. & 10.25, 26, 27, 37, 38. And what neceſſary connexion is there 'twixt Souls and Bodily Cures? Are bodily Diſtempers always removed, upon the removal of an errour or a graceleſs ſtate, from the Soul? Or, Why may'nt Satan ſometimes be, even as Diſtempers often are, remov'd from the Body, without the removal of Soul Maladies thereupon, Pſal. 106.15, 43. 2 King. 6.20. and ſome have been Converted before their Bodies were troubled with Satan, where ſurely Converſion could be no attendant of, or conſequent to Satan's leaving their Bodies, Luke 13.16. Job 2.3, 7. Altho' if a Converſion work have not yet been wrought on Richard, 'tis hoped he may yet attain thereunto, being ſome who continu'd Unconverted, whilſt p. 26under Miracles, were notwithſtanding Converted afterwards, John 5.9, to 16. Acts 2.36, 37. and being it is his greateſt concernment to make ſure that his Converſion be ſound, which if it prove not, it may be more tolerable for Tyre or Sidon at the day of Judgment, than for him, For if the mighty works which was done on him, had been done on them, they might have repented long ago in ſackcloth and aſhes, Mat. 11.21.

On Sept. the 19th, Whilſt the Miniſters were at the Surey, Richard was in a Fit, and Satan had in his Fit told of a Parchment Contract which Dicky entred into with him: Of which ſee Octob. the 18ths Diſcourſe. And Richard had dealt unworthily with the Miniſters, in ſignifying behind their back, either by Letter, or otherwiſe, that he got no good by them, but grew weary of their pains, as he had all along manifeſted his forwardneſs, and deſires for their proceeding thus far, ſo he then confeſt his fault, and with his Father beſought them to go on as they had begun.

On Sept. the 26th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, Mr. Jolly's Diſcourſe, was ſo clear their Call and Conduct in this Work, and the Reverend Mr. O. Heywood's on 1 John 3. v. 8. as upon other days, the Reverend Mr. Frankland, Mr. Pendlebury, and others aſſiſted upon the deſires of Richard and of the reſt, the ſaid Carrington ſtaid all night as formerly; but meddled not with ſo weighty a province as ſpeaking to Satan, while the other Miniſters were preſent, without their order or example, they then and at moſt other times forbearing any Speeches to, or Conferences with Satan; but being what happen'd on ſuch Conference Nights, may be perceiv'd by the more large deſcription of the paſt Nights Conflicts; therefore what paſſed in this or other ſuch Nights ſhall be more briefly declared, ſo as very many conſiderable things yet unmention'd ſhall be paſt by, and if already mentioned ſhall be no more ſo, though they were done frequently by Richard. This Nights raging Fits of the Demoniack ſeem'd different from the former, a voice in, or from him, and ſomething about him, and a pertinacious inſolency and defiance of all methods for removing Satan, ſeeming otherwiſe then formerly, when the ſaid Miniſters laſt left him, who in his firſt raging Fit did ſay, Tell me Satan, how thou troubleſt Richard; And doſt thou do this meerly by thine own immediate acting, in or about him, or by ill humors diſorder'd in him, or infuſed into him, or by outward Agents or Aſſiſtances about him? Satan as with an inſulting ſcornfulneſs and haughty fierceneſs anſwered, Thou may'ſt as well ſpare thy pains about him, and remove a Mountain from its roots as me from him; ſaid the Miniſter, I am ſure that Faith can p. 27drive thee hence, though thou be more unremoveable than a Mountain, Mat. 17. v. 20. The Son of Peace ſhall I truſt bruiſe thee under our Feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20. I truſt that God will ſtand with us and ſtrengthen us, ſo that he ſhall be delivered out of the mouth of the roaring Lyon, 2 Tim. 4, 17. And I wait, till the Lord Jeſus ſhall ſay unto thee, the Lord rebuke thee O Satan! The Lord that hath choſen Jeruſalem rebuke thee; Is not this a Brand pluckt out of the Fire, Zach. 3. v. 2. Satan anſwer'd, It were better for thee to forbear, for I am ſure, that he is certainly mine own, and in ſpite of thee, and all thy partakers; I will do what I will with him, and carry him to Hell at my pleaſure. The Miniſter anſwered, Poor Satan! Nothing is thine own but Sin and Hell, and thy Slaves already doom'd thereunto. How does it appear that he is ſo doom'd? What! Becauſe thou art permitted to trouble him? Art thou hence ſure, that thou ſhalt get him to Hell? No! no! for ſo the Devil would have been ſure of Job and of the Syrophenicians Daughter, whom they were allowed to trouble; but thou thy ſelf knoweſt how perfectly Deſpotical, Arbitrary and Imperial Chriſt's Government is, and how by the leaſt beck of his Will, he works the greateſt Changes and Revolutions throughout the Worlds, in a Moment, turning all Creature-wheels hither and thither, with as much freedom and eaſe, as if they were but one ſingle Wheel in his hand, Ezek. 10.13. thy title to and tenure of him is but diſputable uſurped and precarious, and may e're long be loſt to the Abſolute Power and Soveraign Pleaſure of the Head over all Principalities and Powers, Mightineſſes and Dominions, Epheſians 1.21, 22. and thou or the ſtouteſt, ſo that Legions among ye, cannot ſtay in Humane Bodies or Souls one Moment longer than his effectual Call, by which haſt not thou been caſt out of many a Soul, that thou haſt been as ſure of, as thou art of him; Why then mayſt thou not ſoon be turned out hence, yea perhaps the very Sword is juſt now iſſuing out from him to pack thee hence ſuddenly; mark, is it not now a hurling thee out, ſo that inſtead of thy being ſure of him, he ere long may ſit on the Bench at Chriſt's right hand to demand the Judgments againſt thee, for now troubling him, where we likewiſe may joyn our Teſtimonies as Eve did, Gen. 3.13, to 16. againſt thy Oaths, Lies, Blaſphemies, and Curſes, and attempts to beguile us, which may further bruiſe thy head, and aggravate thy deſtruction. Satan anſwer'd; Let me alone, Carliſle, art thou come again to torment me? have done, or I will tear thee in pieces and be thy death: Said the Miniſter, let him come; I will not through the Lord's help give place to the Devil, Eph. 4.27. Let the Lord do with me what ſeemeth p. 28him good, tho' he ſlay me, yet I will truſt in him; but if the Gates of Hell were all opened, and all therein might be ſaved thro' their killing of me, ſo that they with all their fellows on Earth ſhould conſpire to deſtroy me, they could do nothing againſt me, if the Lord be for me, as I truſt he is, Rom. 8.31. during which words he fell into a dead Fit, but ſoon raging again. He gradually was reduced to yield much to what was requir'd and to anſwer what was demanded of him, tho' ſeemingly very much againſt his will, as to inſtance; the Miniſter ſaid, What right is it that thou tells of, Satan, or what Commiſſion haſt thou to trouble Richard thus? Satan anſwred, My right to and troubling of him ſhall laſt for ever, and I will e're long produce to thee my Commiſſion againſt him. The Miniſter anſwered, Tho' for a ſmall moment the Lord has forſaken him in a little wrath, yet with Everlaſting kindneſs may he have great mercy on him, Iſa. 54.7, 8. So that inſtead of thy troubling him for ever, e're long he may he the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, the Habitation of God, and fill'd with all the fulneſs of God; And when the Lord grant any ſuch Commiſſions as thou telleſt of, that are without any Limitation to laſt for ever? Job 1.12. and 2.6. and yet if thou doſt not ſtand to thy word, and produce to me ſuch a Comiſſion, art not thou a Lyer. Satan anſwered, His ſins have given me ſuch ſure hold of him, that ſay, what thou wilt, and do what thou canſt againſt me, I will trouble him for ever. Said the Miniſter, What ſins canſt thou charge him with that are unpardonable? What knoweſt thou, but the Lord will ſave, and not make a full end of him; and tho' his wounds be incurable, and his bruiſe grievous, yet is there none to plead his cauſe, that they may be bound up? And are there no healing Medicines? What tho' the Lord hath wounded him with the wound of an Enemy, with the Chaſtiſement of a cruel one? What tho' his ſorrow is incurable, and the Lord hath done theſe things unto him for the multitude of his iniquities, and becauſe his, and the Country ſins were increaſed, yet the Lord may reſtore him health, whom thou calleſt caſt away, and may heal him of his Wounds, and forgive his Sins, and ſpoil thee, for thy ſpoiling him, Jer. 30.10. to 18. therefore tell me no more of thy holding him for ever, but tell me for how long wert thou empowred to trouble him by the Commiſſion which thou telleſt of: Satan anſwered, For Eighteen Months. Said the Miniſter, Thou then recedeſt from thy Boaſts of being ſure of him for ever, and being thou haſt given ground thus far, why maiſt thou not be forc'd to give up all thy ground in him e're long, and being thou acknowledgeſt thou muſt part with him, tell me likewiſe how thou gotteſt firſt hold of him. Satan anſwered, Wilt thou ſtill be my Tormentor, ever p. 29preſſing me to tell more. The Miniſter anſwered, Thou art like to be preſt further unleſs thou get hence; had Richard ſome bodily Diſtemper that occaſioned thy ſeizing him, or diſt thou come into him through ſome plot among the Devils; or had ſome malicious Witch a ſpite againſt him, ſo as to ſend thee for executing her revenge on him; or did ſome pretendedly Religious Wizards ſend thee on him, that by caſting thee from him again, they might gain honour to themſelves, and him and others to their ſide; or did Richard give himſelf to thee, or enter into any Promiſe or Covenant with thee through which thou thus puniſheſt him. Satan oft anſwered, I will not tell thee. The Miniſter ſtill purſued that ſaid Queſtion, Was it through Diſeaſe or Combination, that thou didſt get this power over him? I mean not to leave thee, till thou tell me this, therefore without further delay or evaſion, declare what it was that occaſioned thy firſt troubling of him thus. Satan with a ſeeming Reluctancy and great Conſternation cried out; A wiſh, and a Vow. Said the Miniſter, What Wiſh and Vow was that? Satan anſwered, Dicky wiſht he might be a good Dancer, ſaying, He'de give himſelf to the Devil, might he but excel others in Dancing; upon which many of the By-ſtanders ſtruck with wonder, declared how they heard Richard ſpeak thoſe words, when he having a mind to dance with a Young Woman, becauſe he could not dance well, another that could dance better, was prefer'd before him; Dancing then being much labour'd after, and prided in their way as a rare Accompliſhment. Upon which the Demoniack ſeem'd as in a dejected and forlorn condition: And the Miniſter ſaid, If this be all Satan which gives thee Claim to Richard, there ſeems a door of hope in his achor vale of trouble, for if he could, and did give himſelf away to thee by Vow or otherwiſe, ſuch gift however may be redeem'd or reſcued from thee, as the Womans Vow diſallowed by her Husband was void; Her Husband bore its iniquity, and the Lord forgave it, Numb. 30.5, 8, 15. So he may be betrothed to Chriſt, Hoſ. 2.16, 19. Who nulling ſuch a Vow, and bearing its Iniquity it ſhall be pardon'd, ſuch Vows being better broken than kept, and when broken, pardonable among other horrid Sins, 1 Sam. 25.22, 34, 39. And why maiſt not thou trouble others, who revoke other Vows as well as him for breaking this, for I doubt not he's for reverſing this Vow if ever he made it, now willinger to want ſuch Dancing skill than to pay ſo dear for it. And being thou ſtill breakeſt thy Bargains with all thy Slaves, promiſing them eaſe in thy ways, Luke 12.18. which they never met with; How canſt thou tie him to his Vow on his rejecting it? Satan anſwered, I will call p. 30up my Siſter Iſhcol againſt thee; upon which the By-ſtanders cried out, ſee where the Mouſe that is uſed to haunt him, runs circling about his feet, and now it dropt as into the Ground, ſo as it can be no more ſeen. Upon which the Demoniack was as thrown down with his Mouth to that very ſpot of Ground where the ſaid Mouſe, or Imp ſeem'd to diſappear, he was whiſpering there unintelligibly to ſomething that was neither ſeen nor heard. Then the Miniſter ſaid, What art thou mumbling or muttering about Satan? Or what does thy Siſter Iſhcol ſay to thee? The Demoniack at laſt raiſed up again, ſaid, She tells me, that at one time or other, when ſhe gets thee by her ſelf, ſhe will deſtroy thee: Said the Miniſter, Why tell'ſt thou me of he and ſhe; now of thy Siſter, and at other times of thy Brother, ſince there are no different Sexes among Devils? Luke 20.35, 36. And why call'ſt thou her Iſhcol, and him Lampas, and another Nicholas, as if every Devil had a peculiar Name decyphering his Nature, if ſo, then what is thy Name? Satan anſwered, Apollyon. Said the Miniſter, your Names ſeem rightly to ſuit your Natures, you being all for Conquering, Deſtroying and Burning all Men; But why tells Iſhcol of her getting or leading me by my ſelf, and then deſtroying me? I truſt the Lord ſhall guide me on every ſide, 2 Chron. 32.22. and he will guide me even until death, Pſal. 48.14. ſo as I ſhan't be left to her conduct. And has not every good Chriſtian as ſtrong an hedge of protection about him, when he is got alone, as when he is in company? Job 1.5, 10. Had ſhe power to deſtroy me? Why cannot ſhe do it now? What could this Company do to hinder her? Were ſhe the weakeſt Devil among you? And were all Men on Earth here to defend me from her, tho' all their Bones were as pieces of Braſs, or barrs of Iron, yet had I no ſtronger guard than theſe? Oh! How ſhould I tremble for fear of her, but in this day ſhall this Song be ſung; Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks, I'll truſt in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlaſting ſtrength, Iſa. 26.14. and whether I be alone or in company, Oh! how ſecure, am I, and out of the reach of the fierceſt Devils, whilſt the Lord hath a matchleſs Power, and Faithfulneſs, and a mighty Arm, and ſtrong is his Hand, and high is his right hand about me, Pſal. 89.8.13. The Miniſter thus proceeding, the Demoniack fell down, and coming out of his Fit, did cry out, Haſte, give me ſome drink, quickly any thing to drink, there is as a fiery furnace in me, that almoſt ſmothers me.

On Octob. the 10th 89, Mr. Carrington came to the Surey, being the day before the other Miniſters had appointed to be there; for that on Conference Night laſt before Satan ſeem'd to yield before him, whence he ſtrongly hoped that Satan could not withſtand ſuch p. 31Conflicts two Nights and Days together, when in the Demoniack's raging Fits, Satan burſt out into affrighting Blaſphemies, and the Miniſter anſwered, One may know, Satan! what Country thou art of by thy Hell-language. One would wonder, that thou ſhouldſt be ſo obſequious to Chriſt on Earth, and then ſo believe in, and tremble at, a Juſt Omnipreſent dreadful God, and yet now ſhouldſt talk ſuch things againſt him as make us tremble far more at them, then at thy menaces againſt us; And doſt thou think ſuch Sins to be ſtill deſireable and worth thy committing, who haſt ſo infinitely loſt and ſuffer'd by them? Satan anſwered, Sin is my trade and diverſion, and ſhall be thine, and I will make thy life moſt wretched, if thou refuſe it. The Miniſter anſwered, wretched indeed ſhould I be, were I Maſter of that Trade; and woful is thy caſe, if Sin can be any, or is the only diverſion therein, that thy Diverſion being infinitely more wretched than thou canſt make me on my leaving Sin, and cleaving to Chriſt, the prevailing of whoſe Intereſt and ſo the ruine of thine is at leaſt as dear to me as my future, and dearer than my temporal intereſt; ſo that the wretchedneſſes thou threatens me with on this ſcore, are a grace, I am infinitely unworthy of, Acts 5.41. Phil. 1.7, 29. Oh! how infinitely more light and eaſie are the heavieſt loads in Chriſts Burden, and ſharpeſt Thorns in his Yoke, than the gentleſt weights and ſtings in the leaſt ſin, Mat. 11.28, 30. the leaſt taſt of the ſweeteſt Sin, being more intolerable to Chriſt then all Hell beſides; and as he rejected all the Sins thou didſt, or couldſt offer him, ſo would I more gladly then I would eat, when hungry, Luk. 4.2, 6. being more afraid of ſin than I am of thee, dreading leſt it ſhould be too hard for me, as it was for thee and fellow Angels, who excel'd in ſtrength, yet could not hinder its rapacious talons from faſtening on ye, and dragging ye out of Heaven; yea ſo hateful have I found iniquity to be, Pſal. 36.2. that were it in Heaven, I would not be there, but rather in Hell, if Sin were not there, Job 36.23. Nay if there were no way nor ſtate, wherein I might be without ſin, I would not be any where, ſaying with Job chap. 7.15, 16. My ſoul choſeth death rather than life, I hate it, I would not live always; Let me alone, for my days are vanity. Said Satan, My Tormentor, I told thee, I would ſhew thee my Commiſſion as thou oft requiredſt, ſee, here it is; upon which the Demoniack vomited to the Miniſter a piece of Paper, all very much wet, cloſe wrapt up in a round lump; ſaid the Miniſter, Where hadſt thou this, which thou calleſt thy Commiſſion? Or what is in ſhort the Contents of it? Satan anſwered, Read it, if thou wouldſt know, for thou art like to know no more of me but what thou findeſt there; What canſt thou not underſtand p. 32it? I think I have given thee ſomething to ſtudy on; upon which he very ſcornfully vapor'd by inſulting Words, Geſtures, and wild Pranks, eſpecially by Dancing, wherein he excelled all that the Spectatours had ſeen, or heard of, and probably all that mere Mortals could perform, and though the Demoniack before and after, and out of ſuch Fits, could ſcarce Dance at all, or but very ſorrily, yet in them he oft for ſix or ſeven times together leapt up ſo, as that part of his Legs might be ſeen ſhaking and quavering above the heads of the People, from which heights he oft fell down on his knees, which he long ſhivered and traverſt on the ground, at leaſt as nimbly as other Men can twinckle or ſparkle their Fingers, thence ſpringing up in to's high leaps again, and then falling on his Feet, which ſeem'd to reach the Earth, but with the gentleſt and ſcarce perceivable touches, when he made his higheſt leaps. How wondrous then were the movements of his Feet and deportment of his Body, whilſt he did not leap, and every ſort and part of his Dances ſeemed chained to ſome Tunes or Meaſures, and regulated in conformity to ſome Muſick which none there heard, and all ſeem'd to be done with ſo much freedom and eaſe, that tho' continued one or more hours, his Body ſeem'd no more ſpent, or tired, or out of breath, then at the beginning of them; and ſo obſtinate was he in perſuing his Dances, that many offering to hinder them were not able, till the Miniſters diſcourſe ſeem'd at laſt to break them off more than all their forces; the Miniſter ſaying, What Satan, is this the Dancing that Richard gave himſelf to thee for? And did his Wiſh thou telleſt of, bind thee to do no more than this for ſo great a purchaſe as thy ſeizing him. No, no, this anſwers not his Vow for his being a good Dancer; for ſurely his Wiſh was that he might Dance well meerly of himſelf, without thy painting or actuating his Limbs, or Dancing in and for him. Surely he wiſht to Dance when he pleaſed alone, or with others, and not when thou pleaſeſt, ſo that no others dare Dance with him. Surely he wiſht to Dance for his diverſion, and not that Dancing ſhould be his Puniſhment, and why could not he Dance out of his ſits as well as in them, were he a good Dancer as he wiſht, and is not therefore thy ſeizing him without giving him his ſaid wiſh, a wronging of him juſt like thy cheats in other caſes, as when thou offereſt the World and its Kingdoms, Powers, and Glories to ſuch as will Worſhip thee, Luke 4.5, 6, 7. How doſt thou delude ſuch Worſhippers, ſome of them, whom thou giveſt moſt to, finding all empty, fading, cloying, vexing, and ſo far ſhort of what thou promiſedſt, and they look'd for; and others of them, are put off with ſcanty parcels of what thou flatter'dſt p. 33them with, ſcarce getting Hutts for their Heads, Scraps for their Bellies, Raggs for their Backs, and Graves for their Corpſes, but think not thus to impoſe on him, ſince thy part in the Vow or Bargain thou telleſt of is not kept by thee, as aboveſaid; it muſt needs be void, and he now free from it: ſo as you having thence no part nor lot in him, ceaſe Dancing Satan and be gone from him; upon which the Demoniack forbore Dancing for a while, walking very haſtily and angerly too and fro, till at laſt he fell to Dancing again, the Miniſter ſaid, Canſt thou Dance no better? Ranſack the old Records of all paſt times and places in thy memory; Canſt thou not there find out ſome other way of finer trampling, pump thine invention dry? Cannot that univerſal Seed-plot of ſubtle Wiles and Stratagems ſpring up one new method of cutting Capers? Is this the top of skill and pride to ſhuffle feet, and brandiſh knees thus, and to trip like a Doe, and skip like a Squirrel, and wherein differs thy leapings from the hoppings of a Frogg, or bounces of a Goat, or friskings of a Dog, or geſticulations of a Monkey? And cannot a Palſey ſhake ſuch a looſe Leg as that? Doſt not thou twirle like a Calf that has the turn, and twitch up thy Houghs juſt like a ſpring hault fit, or does the thoughts of thy treading of the Wine-preſs of the fierceneſs of the Almighties Wrath, Rev. 19.15. ſtrike thee into ſuch Convulſions as toſs and diſtort, and jert thee thus? Or does thy walking on the burning Coals of his Fury make thee ſtartle, and fling, and ſprent ſo wretchedly? During this Diſcourſe, the Demoniack ſeem'd ſometimes as put out of his Dances, till he fell into his dead Fit, whence ariſing, he fell to Dancing again; the Miniſter ſaying, Is this a time for thee to Dance in, when the other Devils are a trembling, haſt not thou heard the News, ſo ſad and fatal to them and thee, that the great day of the Lord is near? It is near, and haſteth greatly, even the Voice of the day of the Lord, the day of Wrath, and fiery jealouſie, of trouble and diſtreſs, of waſtneſs and deſolation, of thick clouds and gloomineſs, Zeph. 1.14, 15. Mark! mark! Satan, doſt not thou ſee the Angel coming down from Heaven, Having the key of the bottomleſs pit, and a great chain in his hand, laying hold on the Dragon the old Serpent the Devil and Satan, and binding and caſting them into the bottomleſs pit, where he will ſhut, and ſeal, and keep you up from deceiving or troubling men on Earth, Rev. 20.1, 2, 3. So that thou ſhalt no longer tell, that the World and its Kingdom, Power and Glory is deliver'd to thee, and to whomſoever thou wilt thou giveſt it, Luke 9.6, 7. and that thou wilt give it Chriſt upon his Worſhipping thee? No, no, it ſhall be his, whether thou wilt or no, for behold he cometh with Fire, and with his Chariots like a Whirle wind to p. 34render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of Fire, to take unto him his great power, and to reign for ever and ever, and to extend his Churches peace as a River, and her glory, as a ſtream flowing over the Earth, as the Waters cover the Sea, ſatisfying his People with joy and gladneſs, delights and ſatisfying conſolations for the abundance of her glory, Rev. 11.15, 17. and 10.7. Iſa. 66.10, to 16. and notwithſtanding your Plots againſt the Firſt and Second Adam, and all your devices to hinder his coming: Behold he comes quickly, and his reward is with him, Rev. 22.12. And ſhould ye pray to him, as when he was on Earth, Mat. 8.29. Luke 8.28. to ſtay the Wheels of his Chariots? And ſhould ye beg more earneſtly, than ever any dying Man did for a few moments longer out of Hell? yet ſurely he will not tarry, Hab. 2.3. And art thou like the Malefactor on the Gallows ready to be turned off the Ladder, and yet deſperately danceſt and frolickeſt about the Mouth of the Fiery Lake, that thou art a ſinking into? Upon this the Demoniack was hurled into a long dead Fit, whence as he recover'd, he cry'd out, My Fit returneth next Morning at Seven a Clock. And juſt before the Miniſter entred on this Nights Work, he was told of ſeveral Gentlemens coming on purpoſe to ridicule and diſcompoſe him, inſtead of which they at the end thereof, openly thank him for the ſatisfaction and aſſurance they had thence received of Richard's being actuated by Satan, which before they queſtioned. After which the Paper vomited by the Demoniack was unfolded and dryed by the Fire, whereon was written much Greek, and other Letters or Charracters which none then there underſtood; one ſentence whereof was this. foreign 600 foreign; which was put in a Diary for that 600, the Figures therein, ſeem'd to refer to the whole number of days that were to paſs betwixt Richard's firſt trouble, and the time when the Lord would plunge him in the Lake of burning as the ſaid paper threatned. On the remainder of which Night the Miniſter lay near a Mile off the Surey with an ingenious Gentleman, to whom ſeveral Arguments were long urged, for proving that Richard's Affliction was thro' Satans poſſeſſing him; he frequently anſwering, I cannot believe that it is thro' poſſeſſion. Early next Morning, whilſt the ſaid Gentlemen ſeem'd to be aſleep, the Miniſter little thinking of ſuch Devil Spectators, as he afterwards heard of, put his Mouth to the Water in a Baſon that was on a ſeat behind a Curtain cloſe by the Beds-head, and waſht it, ſo as the ſaid Gentleman could ſcarce have ſeen thro' the Curtain had he then been awake; after which he went privately thence to the Surey to wraſtle againſt Satan in the ſaid Fit, before the other ſaid Miniſters were to come thither. In which Fit, Satan burſt out into his p. 35uſual bravadoes; ſaying, Doſt thou again trouble me, after thou haſt ſeen my Commiſſion, which thou doſt either underſtand, and ſo thou know'ſt it is in vain to oppoſe me, or elſe thou art ignorant, and ſo unfit to deal with me? Said the Miniſter, The Commiſſion thou telleſt of, threatens that the Lord will put him in the burning Lake, How couldſt thou know this Satan? Haſt thou lookt into the Book of Life, and found Richard's Name, even as thine own awanting there? Or does the Lord reveal ſuch Secrets to thee. Nay ſurely the Lord never gave thee this Commiſſion which I ſhall reckon among thy uſual vain gloryings, unleſs thou ſhew how it empowers thee to trouble him here, or to get him to Hell; And what good would it do thee to get him, or others to Hell, ſo as ſhould make thee thus inſatiably deſire them thither? Would not they rather be to thee, as Dives's Brethren to him, enraging rather then aſſwaging thy Hell Flames? What wouldſt thou do with them, if thou hadſt them there? Satan anſwered, I would treat them with Puddings and Browes, and as for B. O' th' B. there's a Chair of State prepared in Hell for him, and thy unbelieving Bed-fellow B. ſhall follow him; on which the Miniſter was doubly ſurpriz'd, partly thro' Satan's thus naming his Bed-fellow, tho' they at the Surey then knew not that he had any Bed-fellow; much leſs, that he lay with Mr. B. that piece of a Night, eſpecially for that Satan ſtiled him unbelieving, tho' no Mortal except the two ſaid Bed fellows did know of their ſaid arguing about Richard's poſſeſſion; nor did then know of the ſaid Mr. B's anſwering of it; I cannot believe it, which was the more conſiderable for that the main Argument preſt that Night for proving the ſaid poſſeſſion, was the Demoniack's diſcovering things utterly unknowable to meer Mortals, of which the Miniſter gave Mr. B. ſeveral Inſtances, and as if Satan would leave no room for disbelief, and inforce the ſaid Arguments into a Demonſtration. He adds freſh Inſtances, diſcovering even above Humane capacity what happened ſo very ſecretly but a few hours before at ſuch a diſtance, and that about Mr. B's own Arguings againſt ſuch Diſcoveries. The Miniſter however anſwered Satan, Doſt thou ſtill entertain me with ſuch unproved Narrations about thy having this Perſon, and the other in Hell, as thou didſt about having Richard and me thither; but praiſed be the Lord for ever, for ſome Golden Moments, which we have yet out of Hell, wherein we may wait and ſtrive, That the Lord may deliver us from all our Tranſgreſſions, Pſal. 39.7, 8 and from the Wrath to come, and pardon and take away our ſin, and preſerve us from all evil, from this time forth, and for ever, Job 7.2. 2 Theſ. 1.10. Pſal. 12.1, 7, 8. And ſurely thy threatning us as Jonah did Nineveh, will ſet us a repenting, So iniquity ſhall not be our ruine, p. 36Ezek. 18.30. But the Lord ſhall deliver us from every evil work, and preſerve us unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory for ever and ever, 2 Tim. 4.18. Satan anſwered, Have not I oft told thee, that all thy endeavours cannot prevail againſt me, eſpecially not to day, for that thou com'ſt not hither faſting. The Miniſter affirmed, he was then faſting, Satan denied it; and thus they interchangeably affirmed and denied, and contradicted each other about ſix times, till the Miniſter ſaid, Thou art the father of lies, and a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, becauſe there is no truth in thee: When thou ſpeakeſt a lie, thou ſpeakeſt of thine own, for thou art a lier, and the father of lies, John 8.44. and therefore what I ſay, is truth, and what thou ſay'ſt, is falſhood, and muſt needs appear ſo, unleſs thou proveſt the contrary: On which the Demoniack ſtood a while trembling as in a muſe, till he was ſuddenly turned with his face towards the wall, ſo intenſely and greedily poring thereon, and beckning thereunto, as if he converſt with ſomething therein. The Miniſter ſaid, Why doſt thou apply thy ſelf as to ſomething unſeen to us when thou art at a loſs? And what doſt thou then mean by thy mumbling, ſometimes with thy face to the Earth; and ſometimes whiſpering in a Corner; and ſometimes muttering, or making ſigns towards the Wall; Doſt thou then ſee ſome other Devil that thou then talkſt too? And what parly haſt thou now with the Devil in the Wall there? And what news doth he bring thee? Satan anſwered, He tells me that my words are true, and thine falſe, for that thou art not faſting; for he ſays, thou didſt ſup ſome water behind the Curtain of the Bed before thou cameſt out of thy Chamber this Morning. The Miniſter was again ſurpriſed to find ſomething in the Wall, tell of that which Satan in Richard ſeemed before not to know of, and which no Mortal did then know of, except the Miniſter himſelf as is aboveſaid; who anſwer'd, I perceive, thou telleſt nothing of what paſſed in my Chamber to Night, from thy own knowledge; elſe what need was there of thy telling, what he in the Wall ſays, and beſides the Intelligence he gave thee, at firſt about my not faſting was but by halves, elſe what need hadſt thou to ask him now, what it was that broke my Faſt; and beſides he in the Wall there either obſerved me negligently in the Chamber, not minding how I put the Water out of my Mouth there as well as into it, or elſe he ſlanders me maliciouſly now in reporting that I broke my Faſt with the ſaid Water, which I did not, and ſo he is not only an Accuſer of the Brethren, Rev. 12.10. but a falſe Accuſer, Job 1.11.2.5. for I tell thee, one drop of that Water did not go down my throat, and ſo I did not thereby break my Faſt, let him in the Wall, or any Devil among ye all deny this if he can. Beſides, p. 37Why do ye Devils publiſh what paſſes ſecretly in my Chamber, being ye report not what paſſages ye ſee in other Mens Chambers? And what Devil is that there that was ſo buſie to Night, in remarking what was ſaid and done in my Chamber? Satan anſwered, He is my Couſin Melampus. The Miniſter anſwered, I will labour, that good Angels may be incharged with and incamped about me, Pſal. 91.11. and that I may be hid in the ſecret of Gods preſence, having the Lord for my Habitation, ver. 9. and dwelling in the ſecret place of the moſt High, ver. 1. who ſurely ſhall deliver me from the ſnare of the Fowler, ver. 3. So that neither Melampus nor any of you ſhall haunt my Chamber, or come nigh my dwelling, ver. 10. But why doſt thou tell me ſometimes of thy Brother Lampas and Siſter Iſhcol, and now of thy Couſin Melampus, as if there were ſome Kindred among ye? Surely it is but ſome baſe rank of Devils that thou art related to, and who is it that thou boaſteſt to be the very top of thy kindred; Satan anſwered, The chief I belong to, is Beelzebub; the Miniſter ſaid, thou owneſt then thou art but an underling Slave, and a poor diminutive one indeed, if thou be under no greater a Devil than Beelzebub, the Lord of Flyes, which rebellious Flyes contemn'd his Lordſhip, ſo as he could not keep them from ſucking the reekings of his Pagan Sacrifices; or becauſe he is likewiſe ſtil'd Beelzebub; is he alſo the Lord of dung, which indeed is too good for him to reign over, yea the very ruins of Old Baals Temple turn'd into a Draught-houſe, 2 King. 10.27. is far too noble a Palace for his Lordſhip, yea the very Swine or Flyes are too precious for him to lodge in. How then preſumeſt thou on an Humane Body? The Miniſter thus arguing about Flyes, ſome of the Spectators as in a commotion ſaid, See, ſee, ſome things like Flyes, are flying up into the Demoniack's Noſe; but the Miniſter proceeded. How meanly employ'd is thy Prince Beelzebub and your ſort of Devils in dealing thus about Bodies? Mat. 12.24. Are ye ſo dull and blockiſh and ſunk into Earthlings, that ye are unfit to trade with cunninger Devils about Mens Souls? And how vilely ſneaking and ſervile are ye grown, one of you taking up with the reſemblance of a Mouſe; another of you ſniveling into the appearance of a Weazil, whence horridly ugly muſt ye needs be in preferring ſuch ſoul looks before your own, and filthily unclean Spirits are ye indeed, Luke 4.33. that can thus wallow in the moſt loathſom Creepers, and in the moſt defiling forms that were commanded to be had in abomination above all other, Lev. 11.29, 41, 42, 43. What can ye put on no better ſhapes than thoſe? Upon which he fell into a dead Fit, whence he ſoon aroſe. Then the Miniſter ſaid, Satan, as to thy p. 38attempting this Youth's Body, againſt which I truſt thou ſhalt never prevail; What account wilt thou give thereof to thy Superiour Devils? look, look, Satan, Doſt not thou ſee how they glow with fiery rage againſt thee, and ſhake their threatning looks, and Sparkle out flames of Vengeance, and bend their murdering frowns like Bows to ſhoot Wrathful Arrows thro' thee, for thy being ſo long a diſpatching this their buſineſs; then, ah! how will they vex all thy powers of ſenſation, and blaſt all the Spirits, and cruſh all the ſtrengths, and rack every Article of thine Eſſence, upon thy not ſucceeding herein at laſt; and if on the one hand thou wilt be thus afflicted by them, for not ruining Richard throughly; How wilt thou on the other hand be tortur'd by the Lord for thy troubling him at all? Ah! then how wilt thou bear his ſhowers of ſnares of Fire and Brimſtone, and horrible Tempeſts, Pſal. 11.6. when his terrours ſhall take hold of thee as Waters, and as ſtormy Eaſt winds ſhall hurl thee away, and God ſhall caſt on thee and not ſpare, ſo as thou would fain flee out of his hand, Job. 27.20, to 23. yet if to eſcape his Wrath thou ſhouldſt flee to the utmoſt parts of the Sea, or ſhouldſt hide thy ſelf in Rocks from the Face of him that ſits on the Throne; or ſhouldſt thou ſoar among the Stars, or make thy Bed in Hell, and ſhroud thy ſelf in the Abyſſe of Impenetrable obſcurity, yet his Spirit and preſence would find thee out for Deſtructions in the great Day of his Wrath, then who among ye, will be able to ſtand, Rev. 6.16, 17. Pſal 139.7, to the 12. Who among ye, can dwell with the everlaſting burnings of devouring fire, Iſa. 33.14. When the whirlwind of the Lord ſhall go out with fury, and that continuing whirlwind ſhall fall with pain on thy wicked head, Jer. 30.23. So as may make thee cry out bitterly. Let not the Lord regard this eternal day, but let the blackneſs of the thickneſs of darkneſs dwell upon it, and the ſhadows of death ſtain it, ſo as may terrifie it out of the number of dayes, Job 3.4, 5, 6. On which he was hurled down as dead, and afterwards recovered.

Octob. the 11th 89, Was prefixt to be a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, as is before-mentioned; whither the other Miniſters did alſo come on that very Morning, when the laſt mentioned Conference with and Fit of the Demoniack was newly over; on which day multitudes ſtockt thither as formerly, many of them coming from far, and many all along ſeemed wrought on by that Providence and the Ordinances together, as appear'd from the ſeveral Lectures that thro' this occaſion, were deſired to be ſet up by the ſaid Miniſters, where there had been none before: Moreover on this day, as alſo at ſome other times, Richard whilſt out of his Fits, ſeemed very ſerious and attentive at the Preaching of the Word by Mr. Jolly, ſtill looking in p. 39his Bible for the proofs refer'd to, and alſo ſeem'd very devout at the Miniſters Prayers; yea, he oft borrow'd Godly Books of them, reading them in private, and praying by himſelf, yea ſometimes in company with bitter tears, confeſſing and renouncing his Sins, and Mourning, for that the Lord had made him ſuch a publick Spectacle of his juſt Judgments, and importunately craving mercy vehemently; crying out, Ye Miniſters if ye can do any thing, help me, I truſt to be delivered by your Labours under God, or no way at all. Inſomuch that ſometimes the Miniſters had great hopes that he was becoming a new Creature, and that the Lord was a giving him Faith to be healed, Act. 14.9. But whilſt he was in ſuch hopeful Expreſſions of his Piety, he was ſeiz'd with his ſaid Fits, in the cloſure of which he cry'd out, My next Fit returnes at Eight a Clock; upon which Mr. Jolly and Mr. Carrington, at the continued deſires of thoſe at the Surey, did ſtay till the ſaid Fit was over, much of the time before the ſaid Eight a Clock was employ'd by Mr. Jolly in Diſcourſing, Expounding, Singing and Praying; during which work, Mr. Carrington was meditating in a retired Walk by the River Shelder near the Surey, and preparing himſelf for the ſaid Eight a Clock Conflict, having before given expreſs charge to young Mr. G. to call him from thence when his ſaid Fit began, but there being that Night about or above a Thouſand People, labouring to throng into the Barn, the ſaid Mr. G. was ſo hurry'd down the ſtream, and wedg'd in the crouds of them, that he could not thence diſingage himſelf to tell Mr. Carrington when Richard's Fit ſeiz'd him, whence Mr. Jolly alone carry'd on all that Nights Work both before and thro' the ſaid Fit, which laſted near an Hour, being far ſhorter than uſual, and was all the while a raging Fit, without any dead Fits interrupting it, wherein Mr. Jolly ſpoke to Satan; he declined any direct diſcourſe with Mr. Jolly, and did either talk of other matters, then thoſe that were propoſed to him, or elſe his talk was not underſtood, for ſometimes he inſulted at Mr. Carrington's not appearing, and triumphed over him, for that he encountred him not that Night as he did the Night before; and ſometimes he affirmed that Dicky was his own, and ſometimes he ſeem'd to ſpeak a ſort of Gibberiſh, or to ſpeak his words ſo thick, that nothing could be made of them, whilſt Mr. Carrington wondered that he was not call'd, and finding by his Watch, that it was paſt Eight a Clock, and hearing a horrible noiſe from the Barn, he went thitherwards, being met by ſome that came to ſeek and fetch him thither, where he came too late; for that Satan cried out as he was a coming, Now Carrington, I think I have couzen'd thee, I will put a fine trick on thee, for I p. 40will have done before thou get hither. Then he became exceeding furious, and hurled them that were near him on the Ground, whence ſome of the People were likewiſe rude, ſo that ſome ſmall harm was then done to the Barn, and to ſome Perſons therein, until he came out of his Fit.

On Octob. the 18th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, notwithſtanding the Weather was extreamly bad, the uſual crouds did diſturb the Miniſters; one of them did pray earneſtly, that the Lord would remove Satan by his All-powerful word, ſaying, Satan come out of him thou Evil Spirit, get thee hence and trouble him no more; and that the Lord would effectually bid Satan be gone, and ſay, Satan, I command thee to leave this Youth, and ceaſe from afflicting him; by which words ſome Perſons there did think the Miniſter turn'd his Speech unto Satan in the midſt of Prayer. Upon which they did hint ſome diſſatisfaction very privately among themſelves, yet the Devil did publickly take notice of thoſe hints and did reflect upon ſome for them; at the cloſe of which days work, Mr. Carrington was deſired to ſearch a Box in Richard's Chamber, for in one of Richard's Fits, Satan cried out, that there was a Contract made between him and Dicky, for a certain time, written in Parchment, to which Dicky ſubſcribed a jade [as Satan ſtiled her] taking his hand out of Bed, and putting one or two of his Fingers to the Writing, tho' Richard, when out of his Fits confeſt not any thing of ſuch a Contract that he knew of, yet many ſuſpected there was ſuch a Paper or Parchment, and particularly John Hancock a running Horſe-keeper lying in Standing-hay Stable remote from the Surey, who once obſerved ſome there, loath to have a Box ſet before the Preaching Miniſter, which however they brought, after having haſtily empty'd it of Papers in a corner, all which when come home, he told to Mary Sharply, who thinking the Paper Contract ſhould be ſought for in the Box at the Surey, did privately deſire Mr. John Grimſhaw, to put Mr. Carrington upon the ſaid ſearch, which the ſaid Mr. G. did very ſecretly; upon which the ſaid Miniſter did that very Evening ſearch the ſaid Box, finding in it nothing like the ſaid Contract, but very many Papers, having very odd ſhapes and Figures prickt into them, as with Pins, and drawn upon them with Pens very ill favouredly, and uncommonly as would have appeared by one of the Papers, which the ſaid Miniſter took with him, if it had not been taken from his cuſtody as is above ſaid. But tho' this ſearch was undertaken by the ſaid Families leave, yet whilſt it was made, there was a ſtrange Commotion, one boxing Richard, ſaid, Thou Rogue, wilt thou ſuffer this? Yonder Jade has put him upon it. Upon p. 41which going out, did chide the aboveſaid M. S. telling her, how the Knave at her Houſe had firſt occaſion'd this ſearch, ſadly threatning him and her as ſhe was going to get a Horſe-back behind her Neighbour homewards. During which brawl, Richard, tho' not in his uſual ſit was puſht, as is above-ſaid, or hurry'd on to ſay, it ſhould go ill with ſome that Night, and he would ſend his Siſter Iſhcol among them, which ſo frighten'd the People then at the Surey, that they durſt not go home that Night, but the ſaid M. S. being to go over a Field, after her quitting her ſaid Neighbour's company, did in the ſaid Field hear a great ratling or claſhing noiſe, as of armed Souldiers; then ſhe ſaw great Multitudes as of Cattel run paſt her two by two, as if yoakt each other, till ſhe recovering her Spirit, prayed and ſaid, Go vaniſh; upon which ſhe heard or ſaw no more of them. But next Morning the ſaid running Horſe-keeper came as in a great fright to her, ſaying, Did ſhe meet with no miſchief, as ſhe came home laſt Night? He was ſure ſhe brought ſomething that was haught with her from the Surey, as he had felt to purpoſe; for that ſoon after his coming home, he being in bed in the Stable, a great weight as of Lead rowled to and fro on him, till after much ſtrugling he got his Arms out of Bed, after which ſomething elſe as an heavy Man tumbled on him, till with much ado he got his hands towards it; upon which thinking to get out of Bed to avoid ſuch further trouble, he was kept from riſing by ſomething that ſeem'd like a Sack full of Wheat to be pour'd on him out of the Sack, as from the Stable range near his Bed, till at laſt getting at liberty he could feel nothing at all that had been pour'd on his Bed.

On Octob. the 22th, The Faſt day for him was kept at Altham that by changing, and not divulging the place, that Meeting might have eſcaped the great confluence of People, which however did then ſlow in thither, and many other Conferences and Conflicts with Satan, ſuch as are aboveſaid, ſhall be paſt over for brevity ſake, tho' therein likewiſe did happen ſeveral remarkable things, as to inſtance; Satan had long before this Octob. the 22d, threaten'd, that upon this very day he would carry Richard away to Hell, as is before mention'd; and Mr. Carrington was ſo deſirous, that Satans ſaid threatning might be prevented, that on the Wedneſday before, viz. Octob. the 20th, he ſecretly by himſelf Faſted and prayed for that very purpoſe, wherein he as Joſhua, Joſ. 7.6. fell to the Earth on his Face, with his Soul, as David's bowed down to the duſt, and his Belly cleaving unto the ground, Pſal. 44.25. and Richard as he came from the Surey to the ſaid Meeting, was hoiſted up in the Air, and when p. 42the time came, for Mr. Carrington's praying at this Altham Meeting, he was deſir'd to ſtand at prayer ſo very remote from the Demoniack, that neither of them could hear any thing that each of them ſaid, yet tho' the Demoniack had long lain in a dead fit, Satan then cry'd out very much againſt his Tormentor, ſaying, Dicky, Thou haſt this day narrowly eſcap'd me, and thou may'ſt thank my Tormentor as long as thou liveſt, and do for him all that lies in thy power, by way of acknowledgment, ſince but for him thou hadſt this day been carry'd to Hell, but my Tormentor was laſt Wedneſday upon all four, and therefore I could not now carry thee to Hell. Beſides other things mentioned in the laſt part of W. Sellar's Oath hereafter mention'd. When the ſaid days work was over, ſome of the Spectators askt Mr. Carrington, whether on the ſaid Wedneſday he had not fallen off his Horſe, or how he then came to be on all four, as the Devil had told, to whom he was loath to ſpeak of ſuch a Secret, Mat. 6.6, 18. But conſidering the wonderfulneſs of Satan's diſcovering ſuch a Deſign, and Time and Poſture of a Prayer, put up at ſo many Miles diſtance, and then utterly unknown to any Mortal beſides the ſaid Miniſter himſelf, he hop'd it might be uſeful to acknowledge it as is above-ſaid. Beſides his dead Fits continuing ſometimes about an hour or more after the Miniſters Faſt-day work was over, many hundreds who could not come near him, during the ſaid Exerciſes; did after them ſtill flock about him to feel or obſerve how his Body was ſometimes as light or lighter than a Feather, and in the ſame hour as heavy or heavier than Lead, and how he ſeem'd ſo very lifeleſs that on diligent tryal▪ no beating of his Pulſe, nor breathing at his Mouth or Noſtrils could be perceived, nor any Senſe or Motion in him upon their lugging, thumping, or pinching of him, whilſt he ſtill retained his natural warmth and freſhneſs, and how his Joints were ſtiff, and his Arms and other parts of him inflexible, and how a round hard lump of fleſh, as ſome thought near the bigneſs of a Mans Head, and as others ſay about the bigneſs of a Mans Fiſt, ſuddenly did roul or was puft up on his Belly or Breaſt, out of which Satan ſpoke ſeveral Noiſes and Voices; as to inſtance, A Stranger wholly unknown at the Surey, laying his hand on the ſaid lump, theſe words came out of it, Tho' thou be a Doctor of Phyſick, thou canſt not help Dicky, for none but Doctors of Divinity, can do him any good; Upon which the ſaid Stranger being askt, who he was, confeſt, that he was a Phyſician new come from Holland, the ſaid lump being inſtantly flat again, as ſoon as the ſaid Fit was over. Beſides the Miniſters hoping that Satan could not long withſtand them more cloſely oppoſed, reſolved to obſerve three days in one Week to the ſaid purpoſe, viz. Wedneſday, Thurſday, p. 43and Friday, allotting two of them to obſerve it of the ſaid days, and particularly Mr. Carrington to be one of the two that was to carry on the ſaid Friday work, but Mr. Carrington afterwards finding that he could not obſerve the ſaid Friday, came within four Miles of the Surey, late on the Tueſday Evening before it, that he might aſſiſt at the ſaid Wedneſday work, and get ſome other in his ſtead for the ſaid Friday work; and tho' the ſaid Miniſter did thus take up his ſaid Lodgings, then utterly unknown to any Mortal at the Surey, and quite contrary to all their expectations, who never lookt for him, till the ſaid Friday, yet the Demoniack being in a Fit on the ſaid Tueſday Evening, ſeemed to have two Devils, or at leaſt two contrary Voices talking to, and oppoſing of each other in him; one Voice in him, crying out to the other, Hold, hold, do not vomit up that ſcroule of paper yet, for my Tormentor is coming, and is got within four Miles of this place. The other anſwered, I value him not, I will caſt it out now. The other reply'd, Thou ſhalt not, for Carrington will be here early next Morning, and it ſhall be kept to be caſt at him. Thus they long wrangled, and the ſaid Miniſter coming to the Surey on the ſaid Wedneſday Morning, was askt by very many there, where he lay that Night, which falling out as Satan had before told them, they were amazed, and he confronting Satan in that Morning Fit, Satan vomited up the ſaid Paper at him, as was threatned; and in a Pit which the Demoniak had in the Night, Mr. Waddinton joyn'd with the ſaid Miniſter in the encountring of Satan, who did rage and ſtorm more furiouſly than ordinarily, whilſt Mr. Waddington was very awfully mentioning the Tremendous and Dreadful Titles of the Lord; To whom be the Kingdom, Power and Glory, now and evermore. Amen.

On Octob. the 31th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, The Miniſters found that Satan had ſo tormented him the Night before, that the uſe of his Limbs was taken from him, and whilſt out of his Fit, he continued in great pain and anguiſh; ſo that before they began the uſual work of the day, he burſt out into impatience, ſaying, He reſolved that this ſhould be the laſt prayer day on his behalf, and that he would take another courſe for his help: But the Father intreated us with tears to proceed, and Richard having been all the time of the Exerciſe very quiet, and ſomewhat eaſed, and much alarm'd, eſpecially by one of the ſaid Miniſters, who was then more than ordinarily aſſiſted in Prayer, he in the cloſe changed his former Language into thanking of the Miniſters, and wiſhing them to go on in their uſual courſe for him.

On Novemb. the 7th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, he p. 44was in much better frame than formerly and carry'd it extream kindly to the ſaid Miniſters, and in his Fit, Satan ſaid, I think I have given all the Miniſters enough, and I have quite tired them all out except Carrington, and as for him he ſhall torment me no more, nor ſhall any of you ever ſee him again. And at the end of his Fit, Mr. Carrington offer'd to return home that Night as he uſually did, when no Fit was foretold to be in the Night after ſuch Surey Meetings; and when he return'd ſo, ſometimes not eating at the Surey, he uſed to break his Faſt with an Apple on the Road to his home, which was about 24 Miles from the Surey; and as he was getting on Horſe-back homewards, Richard being out of his Fit, full of reſpect and kindneſs, ſaid, He knew not how to expreſs his thankfulneſs anſwerable to the ſaid Miniſters pains for him, deſiring him however to accept as a token of his Love an Apple from him, which was about the bigneſs of two ordinary Fiſts, ſo that he could ſcarcely get it out of his Pocket. Then ſeveral very earneſtly intreated the ſaid Miniſter not to go home that Night, becauſe Satan had ſo often threatned to miſchieve him, and particularly in the laſt Fit, that they ſhould never ſee him more; but he not fearing any of the Devils threatnings, was ſtill for going home then, till being got about half a Mile from the Surey, he was for eating the ſaid Apple, but he found on one ſide of it a hole, as if ſomething a little thicker than a Gooſe-quill, had been ſtuck near an Inch deep into it, and at the bottom of it ſomething bubbled and flaſht upwards, and round about it was a Circle of about a Straws bredth and brown colour, and harder to the touch of his Nail than other parts of the Apple, and on the other ſide of the Apple was juſt ſuch another hole, all the other ſeeming fair and ſound, excepting the ſaid holes, which were almoſt oppoſite one to the other, and he not conceiving how or why the ſaid holes were made, and ſo not knowing but the Apple might be miſchievous if eaten, did neither eat it nor throw it away, leaſt ſome other ſhould eat it; whence not knowing but that Satan might aim at ſome harm to him, as before was caution'd, he ſtaid at a Friends houſe that N…ght, and got about Ten a Clock next Morning into that part of a Common or Foreſt, which was within Ten Miles of his home, into which he was misdirected by an Old Woman that he met with on the Road, in which Level or Plain place, his Mare that was of high mettle and excellent for a Journey, did ſtop and curcled about ſuch a compaſs of the ſaid place, as was about Twelve Roods long and Four broad, whence ſhe could not be got either forwards, or backwards, or ſide-ways, by his utmoſt endeavours, from the ſaid Ten a Clock till Four a Clock, when he obſerving Night to be near, left her, and not p. 45knowing that any Houſe was near, reſolv'd on the directeſt way homewards that he could, walking over Hills and ſhallow Rivers, about Six or Seven Miles before he found a Houſe, where his coming occaſion'd frequent Meetings in thoſe parts afterwards, as they earneſtly deſir'd, but his ſaid violent and continued endeavours to get his Mare away, made him ſo ſweat and weary, that he had ſcarce got over one River, or one Mile from her, before he lay down, when all his Limbs were ſo benum'd with the ſaid Water and cold froſty Night, or ſome other way, that for a conſiderable time, he could not ſtir one of them, when he did not doubt in the leaſt, but he was to die, before any could find him there, at the thought whereof, he was at firſt ſeiz'd with unutterable ſearchings of heart about the Eternal State, that then lay near in his full view, wide open to ſwallow him up in infinitely bliſsful or wretched agonies, till dying there did not trouble him on any account, but only thro' his fears of Religion being diſparaged thereby, which fears likewiſe wore away, tho' his conſidering how eaſily his ador'd Son of Righteouſneſs could ſhine away any ſuch Cloud, as that ſort of death might raiſe; upon which all the enlargments and capacities of his mind, at the ſight of his being a entring on immenſe Felicities, were entertain'd with ſuch foretaſts thereof, as he cannot yet hope for on a real Death-bed; yea ſuch, as he would for ever forego all Creature delights for a repetition of them; yea for ever forego delights far vaſter, even thoſe of God's Ordinance for a continuance of them, thro' which Joys he could not forbear moving ſome Limbs that before he could not move; which he obſerving, did with eaſe leap up, unexpectedly walking the reſt of the way without trouble or wearineſs, with great ſatisfaction, at having lookt grim Death in the face before its laſt arreſts, with any faint glimmerings or poſſibilities of its being a welcome or a tolerable Viſitant to him from the ſaid Houſe. He hired ſome who well knew the ſaid Heath or Foreſt to fetch the ſaid Mare; they not finding her, he hired ſome again who ſtill failing, and all their way diſcouraged, he ſupplyant as Jacob, Gen. 28.18. and 20.21. was ſatisfied he ſhould find her; and though there was no Hedge, Tree, or Way-mark thither, yet he with Company went directly to her, ſhe then coming readily away with him, who coming home buried the ſaid Apple, taking a faithful Witneſs thereof, and afterwards leſt it ſhould be rooted up, he laid a great ſtone upon it.

On Novemb. the 14th, Was another Faſt-day for Richard at the Surey, they wondred at Mr. Carrington's above ſaid narrow eſcape, of what Satan had laſt threatned, but he much more wonder'd within p. 46himſelf, to find there what ſtrange Fits had ſeized Richard, ſince he had laſt left him, ſuch as Richard never had before, nor ſince the Apple buſineſs; for Richard in his Fits was extreamly hurry'd and ridden about, and chafed, and beſmear'd on his head, as with the foam of an Horſe hard riden, and of a very rank ſmell, beſides his dead Fits were very long and almoſt conſtantly continuing, and when they were intermitted, he was always ſo full, that he faſted and could not eat nor drink any thing for Three or Four days together: Beſides, in one ſuch Fit, a great Stone of about 14 Pounds weight was laid on him ſo gently, as not to harm him, and yet ſo ſecretly, as that none of the Spectators did know whence, or how it came thither, which things ſeem'd the more conſiderable, for that on enquiry it was found, that Richard's ſaid foaming, chafe, and hurry was at the very ſame time when the ſaid Miniſter was ſtill runing after, or labouring about his Mare, and his ſaid Fits began near the time, when the ſaid Apple was bury'd, and the ſaid Stone was laid on him near the time when the ſaid Stone was laid on the ſaid Apple about 24 Miles off Richard, and ſuch Stones as that on Richard were not to be found or got near the Surey, tho' they were near the Apple; and Richard affirm'd, that when he received the ſaid Apple it was perfectly ſound, and he knew not how the two holes above-ſaid came to be in it; And Satan ſaid in the ſaid Fits, that there was good news for Dicky, who was to have ſome reſpite from his Fits for ſome conſiderable time, and that there was bad news for himſelf, who was ere long to forbear his troubling of Dicky, which accordingly happen'd, for the ſaid Miniſter not knowing whether or no the ſaid Apples burial had any influence on Richard's illneſs, tho' not ſuperſtitiouſly credulous thereof; yet leaving Richard in the ſaid dead Fits as he found him, he haſten'd home that Night, and took up the ſaid Apple, and afterwards Richard's Fits were long ſuſpended, and when they return'd on him, they were never again ſo frequent or violent as formerly, till they were removed, as is above-ſaid.

On Novemb. the 21th, Was another Faſt-day for him at the Surey, the concourſe of People thither was leſs than uſual, as the Miniſters had endeavor'd to have it. It was great matter of wonder, that the Miniſters Spirits, Strength and Bodies were not in the leaſt impair'd or weaken'd by their continual labours about him on each Week, or Fortnight, or Three Weeks throughout the whole Year, and by Faſting oft about 24 hours for him, and ſometimes much longer when awaking with him, and by journying many Miles unto him in all ſorts of Weather, and all this without any abatement of their other p. 47Miniſterial work at home or abroad; as alſo that Richard being toſſed ſo by Satan, and daſht againſt the ground, had not his Head ſplit in pieces, his Bones broken, his Spirits ſpent, or Body more diſorder'd, but ſeem'd rather bigger and more plump, and in far better liking, when out of his Fits, then ever he was before, as alſo that Richard when out of his Fits, neither did or could practiſe, or remember ſuch things as paſt in them.

On Novemb. the 28th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Weiming-Houſes; he was and had been attentive and quiet, as Satan had foretold, but on Sabbath-day next after he had Fits again, the return of which after ſuch a diſcontinuance, as was hoped to be a decaying or ceſſation of them, did make the ſaid Miniſters troubled indeed, but not diſtreſſed, perplexed, but not in deſpair, 2 Cor. 4.8. being ſupported by Pſal. 37.3. unto the 8th.

On Decemb. the 5th, A Faſt-day was kept for him at the Surey. In his Fit, Satan told one there the very private diſcourſe, and other paſſages that had newly happen'd between Sir E. A. and him, as in other Fits he told what was ſecretly ſaid and done elſewhere, as to inſtance; Rebecca Wilkinſon, Widow Chew's Maid, when come from home to the Surey, was told by Satan the very words ſhe ſpoke as ſhe came out of her Dames door, viz. My Dame is gone to the Holy Houſe of God, and I will creep to the Surey. Satan ſaid to a Mancheſter Man, Come to the Surey, thou Mancheſter Whelp; thou lookedſt at a Dial in Morton, and it was paſt Nine a Clock; which the ſaid Man confeſt was true, tho' Morton was remote from, and he unknown at the Surey. At one Meeting, Satan cried, Thou Woman at the further end of the Barn, give me that Bread and Cheeſe which thou haſt in thy pocket; ſoon after a Dog came with Bread and Cheeſe in his Mouth to eat it in a place of the Barn, that was freeſt from the Crowds feet, which ſome obſerving ſaid, Here's the Bread and Cheeſe which Satan lately called for, which the ſaid Woman hearing, in great fear confeſt, that ſhe coming from far, had brought Bread and Cheeſe to feed on in her walk too and fro; which when ſhe heard the Devil call for, ſhe durſt not keep it, but labour'd to thruſt it out of the Barn; which however was not thruſt ſo far, but that the Dog got it back again thither.

On Decemb. the 12th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Sparth; he was hindred from coming thither by a Fit, that then ſeiz'd him at the Surey, wherein Satan told him, that he would find him ſomething elſe to do, than to go eat Bread and Cheeſe with Cottom Laſſe at Sparth, as he had done 25 Weeks before: He alſo then told what diſtreſs Ireland was then in, and that England muſt pay the Piper (as he phraſed it) notwithſtanding its preſent ſecurity.

p. 48On Decemb. the 13th, The Demoniack in a Fit foretold, that ſome Money was a coming to him before any Mortal could bring him the News thereof, for the ſaid Family being taken off their Callings, and impoveriſht on this occaſion, and the Miniſters eating thereat ſometimes after their Faſt-day work was over; ſome Money was therefore given unto it in or about the laſt Quarter of that Year, wherein the Miniſters had to do with Richard, and becauſe in or about the ſaid Quarter ſome did apprehend, that Richard's Affliction from Satan was furthered or attended by Witch craft or bodily diſtemper; therefore offers were made to procure or beſtow more Moneys, either for the legal proſecution of ſuch as might juſtly be ſuſpected, as Wizards, or Witches concerned in this Affair, or elſe for engaging Doctors of Phyſick to joyn their aſſiſtances herein, as knowing that tho' Spiritual means only were to be uſed againſt poſſeſſion, Mar. 9.29. Luke 9.39, 40, 41. Mat. 17.21. Yet if Richard's Malady were complicated, and that either partly Diſeaſe, and partly Poſſeſſion, then Phyſical and more eſpecially Spiritual means might be uſeful together, Iſa. 38.2.5.21. Job 33.22, to the 31ſt. Jam. 5.14, 15. or if it were partly Witch-craft, partly Poſſeſſion, yet ſecular and eſpecially Spiritual means might be uſeful together, Mal. 17.20, 21. Exod. 22.18. 1 Sam. 28.3. 2 King. 23 29. none of theſe being excluſive of each other. Upon which ſome methods were uſed on Jan. the 9th, towards the ſaid legal Proſecution; as alſo ſome Doctors of Phyſick were deſired to undertake his Cure ſo far as he was diſeaſed, which undertaking they declined upon their beholding that his Affliction was not mainly any bodily Diſtemper, but Richard being ſoon after cleared of his Fits, the ſaid offers of getting more Moneys for the ſaid purpoſes ceaſed.

Decemb. the 20th, Was another Faſt day for him at the Surey, and on other ſuch days Mr. Jolly inſiſted on Mat. 17.21. and 11.28, 29, 30. 1 Tim. 4 19. and 1.13, 14, 15, 16. But he not being willing that ſuch a Book ſhould be balkey or tedious, declines ſo much as hinting at the heads of his Diſcourſes thereon, which elſe might profit the Readers as well as the Hearers; and the Demoniack in his Fits vomited up ſeveral Papers on which Greek and other ſtrange Languages were written: Some of which Papers were lent, but Three of them were laid up among one of the Miniſters choiceſt things together with the Box paper before mention'd, which were ſeveral times deſired out of his hands again by them about the Surey, which he refuſing to part with, they tho' 24 Miles off the Surey, were unaccountably taken away together, with one of the Diaries that contained ſome Surey paſſages, which laſt however were tolerably made up by other Diaries and Memoires among the ſaid Miniſters.

p. 49On Jan. the Firſt 1689/90, Mr. Jolly inſiſted on Heb. 5.7. and whenſoever the ſaid Demoniack in his Fits ſeem'd to whiſper as unto ſomething that ſeemed to be ſometimes as in the Ground, ſometimes as in a Corner, and ſometimes as on the Wall, ſo inviſibly as the By-ſtanders could not diſcern it, then he conſtantly made diſcoveries of many ſuch things, as could not have been known, but by Satan's help.

On Jan. the 9th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, the Miniſters dealt plainly, and particularly with Richard, and them, where he lived, ſuſpecting that the ſucceſs of their endeavours was hinder'd by their little ſenſe or improvemt of this ſad Judgment, and by their ſlowneſs in confeſſing all they knew of a more full Contract with Satan, than what had been diſcover'd, or of any thing elſe, that might occaſion the ſaid Judgments beginning, and continuance, or by ſome hand that Romaniſts or Witches might have herein, for there were reports of their Correſponding with P. and H. Popiſh Prieſts, which however they denied; yea, and ſome reports of Witches concerned herein, which they however declar'd their ignorance of; but the Miniſters having in vain labour'd to bring them unto a more ingenious temper, ſome of them very much fear'd Richard's being finally and totally given up to Satan. But ſome of them thought it requiſite to deal yet more roughly with ſome there-a-way, which others of them very much queſtion'd the expediency of; yet at laſt the Miniſters all agreed to put them upon ſome Duties, and particularly upon Prayer; and one of them attempting ſeveral times to ſay over the Lord's Prayer ſtill miſt all the laſt Petition, excepting and from Evil, the excuſe for which omiſſion ſtill was, that the Bible out of which the ſaid Petition was learnt, being of Queen Elizabeth's Edition, had not the ſaid Petition in it worded, as it is in other Bibles; after which the ſaid Miniſters threatned further Tryals, yea Law ſeverities againſt all in thoſe parts, who on good grounds were ſuſpected of Witch-craft.

On Jan. the 23d, Was another Faſt-day for him at the Surey, Richard's Fits were very impetuous and extravagant again, and in his Fits, he did things which were undoubtedly above Richard's own natural skill and power, as to inſtance. As he returned from a Lord's day Meeting in a Fit, he repeated the heads of that days Sermon, and alſo ſuch proofs, as were quoted therein. One going by the Surey towards the ſaid Meeting, was told by the Demoniack in a Fit, What need'ſt thou go to the ſaid Meeting, thou may'ſt as well ſtay here, for I can tell thee the Sermon that will be preached there; upon which he told the Text, and much of the Sermon that was that day Preach'd p. 50at the ſaid Meeting, and ſometimes he ſaid off Book, ſome Chapters of the Bible, which he had never learnt to ſay off Book.

On Feb. the 6th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, No conſiderable Fit fell on him, nor had done, for many days before, tho' in his laſt and other Fits, he often told of things done at a diſtance, at the very ſame time, whilſt thoſe things were a doing, as for inſtance: A Woman being afraid to go to the Barn, tho' ſhe was come within a Bows ſhoot of it, was immediately ſent for by the Demoniack, that ſaid, Unleſs that weak fa…thed Jade come, my Fit will laſt longer; ſome ſaid, Let us ſend for Mr. J. G. to the Surey, the Demoniack anſwer'd, He is now upon the Hay-cart, as after was found true, tho' he was not us'd to the Hay, and remote from the Sury.

On Feb. the 20th, Was a Faſt-day for him at the Surey, the Miniſters met with many great Diſcouragements, Richard's Father bewraying much diſingenuity, and his Land-lord S. E. A. diſapproving the continuance of ſuch Meetings at the Surey, becauſe of the harm done to his Headges by ſuch a confluence of People, but Richard's Deportment was more incouraging, his Acknowledgment and Confeſſions being very plain open and free as formerly, when 2 Cor. 11.3. was inſiſted on.

On March the 24th 1689/90, Was another Faſt-day for him, which was turned unto them from ſorrow unto joy, and from mourning into a good day: Eſth. 9.22. into the long lookt for, much ſought for day which ſome had deridedly ſaid, was not to be hoped for; whereon was appointed and given unto them, comfort for dark Tryals, Beauty for Aſhes, the Oyl of Joy for Mourning, and Garments of Praiſe, for the Spirit of heavineſs, Iſa. 6.2, 3. whereon Richard had a moſt terrible Fit, wherein Satan cry'd out, Now Dicky, I muſt leave thee, and muſt afflict thee no more as I have done, I have troubled thee thus long by Obſceſſions, and alſo by a Combination, that never ſhall be diſcover'd as long as the World indures: Upon which Richard's Body was toſt and tortur'd, as if ſomething was a tearing it a pieces, and it was ſtrain'd and ſtretcht as if it were a vomiting, wherein nothing viſibly appear'd to come out of him, and yet Satan or whatſoever had troubled him before, did therein evidently come from or out of him. Richard after that time having no more ſuch troubles and workings as heretofore, as he ſome days after did tell Mr. Jolly, declaring, that he hoped he was then delivered, and owning that he got this deliverance by Spiritual Means, the uſe whereof however he deſir'd might be continu'd for him, which accordingly was for ſome time after, being the Miniſters did not know, but that Richard might relapſe into his old condition, eſpecially for that Richard ſome p. 51Weeks after was again in Drink, wherein he had ſome threatnings of his old Fits returning upon him, for which Richard was extreamly grieved, eſpecially upon Mr. Jolly's putting him in remembrance of the advantage Satan got over him by a Drunken-bout at firſt, and of his laſt ſtates being worſe than the firſt, ſhould his Sins give admiſſion to Satan's entring him again, Mat. 12.45. Beſides he was adviſed to purge away the evil humors, which his Body might have contracted, which have often prov'd, and ſo are ſtyl'd Vehiculum Diaboli, the Receptacle of Satan; accordingly he took Phyſick from the ſaid Doctor, whom he had in vain made uſe of at the firſt, and ever ſince his aboveſaid deliverance, he has been Perfectly free from all the aboveſaid Fits; and being healthful and ſound as ever, he ſoon after Married, and follow'd his Calling of Gardening, Mowing, &c. as well as formerly, and has on ſeveral occaſions ſince his ſaid deliverance expreſt the tendreſt reſpects and thanfulneſs to the ſaid Miniſters, as the Inſtruments which the Lord made uſe of for his above-ſaid help. As to inſtance, Mr. Carrington about half a Year after, riding on the Road, had his Leg ſuddenly laid hold on by one leaping over a Thorn-hedg, whom he found to be Richard overjoy'd, and as ſurpriz'd with an unſpeakable gladneſs, at the ſight of him, who hereupon could not forbear crying out. To th' Son, we'll give praiſe, whilſt we live; To th' Spirit, when we die; To th' Father, when we riſe agen; To God eternally.

The Teſtimony and Information upon Oath of ſeveral Perſons who voluntarily offered themſelves concerning Richard Dugdale of Whalley, in the County of Lancaſter, Gardener; taken before Hugh Lord Willoughby, and Ralph Egarton, Eſq Two of His Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace for the County of Lancaſter, at Holcomb in the ſaid County, the Nine and Twentieth day of July, 1695.

THomas Dugdale, Father of the ſaid Richard Dugdale maketh Oath, that he conſulted one Crabtree, in behalf of his ſaid Son, then under a ſtrange Diſtemper, and had this Anſwer; that if there was Money enough he could effect the Cure: whereupon this Deponant ſeeing his Sons Body much weakned with the ſaid Crabtree's Phyſick, and his Fits more violent, did apply himſelf to Mr. Jolly a Neighbouring Miniſter, and others of his Brethren in the Miniſtry. And this Deponant ſaith, he hath ſeen his Son vomit up Stones ſeveral times and other things. Once he declared he muſt either vomit Gold, Silver, or Braſs Rings, and an Hair Button, and accordingly he did p. 52ſo. At other times he vomited great Stones, alſo blew Stones like Flints. One time he vomited a Stone as was an Inch and an half long, and an Inch and an half broad, having Blood upon the edges, which this Deponant and others ſtanding by him, apprehended it very was painful to him. And further this Deponant maketh Oath, that one day a little before Night, walking by his ſaid Son then in a Fit, it growing dark, a Candle being brought in, the Deponant looking upon him, there was a great Stone laid upon his Belly weighing about Twelve or Thirteen Pounds, this Deponant not knowing how it came there, nor was there any ſuch like Stones about the Houſe. Beſides Stones have been thrown at the Barn ſide, falling very thick upon the Door, yet this Deponant could never diſcover the hand which threw them, nor any Perſon imploy'd therein, altho' this Deponents Wife was hit with one of them, but without any hurt. At other times the ſaid Richard Dugdale would caſt Gooſe-dung at this Deponant and others ſtanding by, which he ſeem'd to fetch out of the Barn ſide; altho' neither this Deponant nor thoſe that were with him could find any there, nor diſcover any one that brought it, nor were there any Geeſe kept at the Houſe, nor other Geeſe came near it. And Laſtly, This Deponant ſaith, that his ſaid Son would run upon his hands and his feet together as faſt as moſt Men could run upon their feet alone, and his Body would ſometimes be ſo heavy, that two or three ſtrong Men could hardly lift it up, at other times as light as a bag of Feathers.

John Walinſley of Herwood in the ſaid County of Lancaſter, Sadler; Depoſeth, That he hath ſeen the ſaid Richard Dugdale in a Fit held in a Chair by Six Men. And whilſt his Feet were off the ground he hath leaped up in the Chair for two or three Hours together, as faſt as a Man can ordinarily count any thing; and hath ſo ſweated thro' his Cloathes, that it hath ſtood like a Dew upon them. Moreover this Deponant hath taken the ſaid Richard Dugdale by his Shooe betwixt this Deponant formoſt Finger and his Thumb, another taking him at his Head, and ſo lifting him up, this Deponant could not think he weighed Six Pounds. And farther, this Deponant ſaith, that Mr. Jolly the Miniſter ſending word by him to the ſaid Richard's Father, that the Miniſters would be at his Houſe called Surey on ſuch a day; this Deponant going the ſame day he was ſpoken to with his Errand, the ſaid Richard declared it before this Deponant mentioned it, as likewiſe what Miniſters would be there. And furthermore, this Deponant upon his Oath ſaith, that the ſaid Richard Dugdale in ſome of his Fits, opening his Hand hath received written Papers into it, none of the By-ſtanders knowing how they came p. 53thither, which the ſaid Richard Dugdale had given People that were about him, alſo the ſaid Deponant hath ſeen him ſhufle Ruſhes like Cards, and play Games on them, as tho' he had been playing with ſome other Perſon, with whom he hath chid about the Caſts, Curſing and Swearing in his Play, and then ſaid, Do not Gameſters thus. He likewiſe play'd with Ruſhes as tho' they had been Dice, uſing exactly ſeveral expreſſions belonging to that Play; ſaying, People think this is laid on me for my Sins, but I never was a Gameſter in my life, neither know I how to play at ſuch Games when out of my Fits. And the ſaid Richard Dugdale did likewiſe play at Bowls making Bowls of Ruſhes, and when he had thrown the Jack, he ſaid, I muſt now throw my Gill; then running a good way, as tho' he had been running after a Bowl ſwearing, Run, run, Flee, flee, hold a Byaſs; and ſometimes he catcht up Ruſhes as tho' they had been Bowls, ſwearing, Sirrah, ſtand out of the way or I'll knock out your brains; adding, I never was a Bowler, but don't Gentlemen do thus. And this Deponant ſaith, that the ſaid Richard Dugdale had ſeveral Fits after his being threatned with being brought before a Juſtice of Peace. And once being in his laſt fit, when this Deponant was preſent, he declared his Affliction was thro' Obſeſſion, and in a Combination which ſhould never be diſcovered whilſt the World endured. And this Deponant hath ſeen him in a Fit, as in a great Agony with ſomething he could not ſee, and then hath been taken up, and thrown backwards, ſet upon his Head, and ſo ſtood till he was pulled down by one John Fletcher. Alſo this Deponant hath heard him Curſe and Swear, his Geſture being ſo Terrible it would have frighted a Man to come near him, and yet in a Moments time after in ſuch a fear that he hath ſought to creep into any hole or behind any Body to have hid himſelf, and ſo lamented himſelf as moved the Standers by with great compaſſion. He would at other times have told when his Fits would begin, when they were two or three in one day, or three or four Days a ſunder, wherein he was never diſproved that he knows off; which Fits commonly began with the Calf of his Leg, and wrought upward into the Cheſt of his Body, and then he was thrown down, where he would lye for a good while as dead, or breathleſs, and then would have a ſtrange noiſe in his Mouth and Noſe, and there would be in his Boſom like Whelps before he had riſen, after which ſometime he would be very furious, ſometimes more quiet.

William Loond of Harwood Carrier in the County of Lancaſter, maketh Oath, that he hath heard the ſaid Richard Dugdale Curſe and Swear, his Geſture being ſo terrible, it would have frighted a Man p. 54to come near him, and yet in a Moment of time after in ſuch a fear, that he hath ſought to creep into any hole, or behind any Body, to have hid himſelf, and ſo lamented himſelf, as moved the Standers-by with great compaſſion. He would at other time have told when his Fits would begin, when they were two or three in one Day, or three or four Days aſunder, wherein he never was diſappointed that he knoweth off; which Fits commonly begun in the Calf of his Leg, and wrought upwards into the Cheſt of his Body, and then he was thrown down, where he would lye for a good while as dead or Breathleſs, and then would have a ſtrange noiſe in his Mouth and Noſe, and there would be in his Boſom like Whelps before he had riſen; after which, ſometimes he would be very furious, ſometimes more quiet.

Willoughby.

Ralph Eagerton.