The Surrey Demoniac, Floating text 16 – Part
Altham, Auguſt the 4th 1695.
Nathaniel VVaddington further teſtifieth; Firſt, That he had ſeen Richard Dugdale gallop round the Barn ſeveral times together, and heard him whining very like a Horſe, and make a noiſe, as if an Horſe had been eating Provender. Secondly, That he told things in his Fit, that neither he, nor any could by lawful art: As one time he, the ſaid Nathaniel VVaddington and his Neighbour Joſeph Hargreaves going to Surey to ſee Richard Dugdale, they called at the Houſe of a Neighbour of theirs, to deſire the Maſter to go with them, but a Relations averſeneſs prevented him, Richard Dugdale, was in a Fit at the ſame time, and ſpoke it before a great number of People, that Nathaniel VVaddington, and Joſeph Hargreaves were coming, that they called on ſuch a one whom he named, and told further how that good Man's Wiſe hinder'd him the latter part, viz. the diſcovery they met with from ſeveral which were with Richard Dugdale in the Barn, being ſure that things were ſo circumſtanced, that Richard Dugdale could have no intelligence. And further, Richard Dugdale's Relation was ſo particular, that it could not be an uncertain gueſs.
Further, That a certain Perſon going to ſee Richard Dugdale, took ſome Bisket, and a piece or pieces of Gold, on purpoſe, as the Perſon ſaid, to try whether Richard Dugdale could diſcover it. Soon after the Party came to the Surey, the Relator ſaw the Perſon ſtanding upon a Seat to take a fuller view of Richard Dugdale in his fit. Richard Dugdale immediately treated her ſo very rudely, diſcover'd the Bisket, and ſaid, I will play at Cards with thee for thoſe Guineaus in thy Pocket, &c. Theſe words the Relator heard Richard Dugdale ſpeak in his fit; further, that John Fielding Joyner, related in the hearing of the ſaid Nicholas VVaddington and others, that he the ſaid John Fielding was working at his Calling above Thirty Miles diſtant from the Surey, and that Richard Dugdale, in one of his fits ſaid, John Feilding is this day at ſuch a place working, and further named the piece of work which he had in hand at that time. The ſaid John Fielding▪ coming over to ſee his Relations, ſeveral Perſons who had heard Richard Dugdale ſpeak thoſe words, and relate ſuch ſtrange Circumſtances, came to the ſaid John Fielding, to know whether it were true; this he acknowledged, being much ſurpriz'd at their Relation. Thirdly, That he asked this Richard Dugdale, when he came out of his fits, whether he could give account of any thing that paſt in the fit; this Richard Dugdale denied, only once related a ſtrange paſſage, that in his Fit he thought he had diſtinct ſight of a Perſon, and told the poſture he thought he ſaw him in, and the place where, many Miles from the place where Richard Dugdale had his Fit, which things concerning that Perſon were found true upon enquiry.
Nathaniel Waddington further Teſtifies; That Richard Dugdale in his Fits would ſometimes pretend that a good Spirit was in him, and that Richard Dugdale then would in a long Diſcourſe ſpeak againſt ſeveral Sins, viz. Drinking, Gaming, &c. Bringing ſeveral pat Scriptures, naming Book, Chapter, Verſe, either whole or part, ſo much as was pertinent. Mr. John Grimſhaw examin'd the places and found them true, and that Richard Dugdale in his Diſcourſe would uſe many pretty Similitudes.
Joſeph Hargreaves Neighbour to Nathanial Waddington, Teſtifies; That coming to the Surey, and finding the Boy laid on the Barn floor, he the ſaid John Hargreaves lifted Richard Dugdale from the Ground more than once, and thinks (ſpeaking to the full) that Richard Dugdale did not weigh above a Stone and a half, further that ſix ſtrong Men could not hold him in a Fit, but that he hath drawn them all a great way and been forced from amongſt them, hanging upon him at a Table a Yard high; that he ſaw the Lump upon his Leg about the bigneſs of a Turkey Egg riſe towards his Body, and that he, and others have endeavoured to ſtop it, by girding a Boot garter above it under the Knee, and by graſping that part with their Hands, yet could not prevent its riſing into the Cheſt of his Body, that this to his thinking, crept up his Leg like a Rat, ſometimes in motion, at times would be at a ſtand. Joſeph Hargreaves Teſtifies the Firſt, and Third of Nathaniel Waddington, Richard Crichly under his hand Teſtifies, concerning Richard Dugdale's ſtrength.
Several Teſtimonials about the ſaid Richard Dugdale's Caſe do follow.
WE whoſe Names are Subſcribed, being Miniſters of the Goſpel, having read or heard the Affidavits, and Declarations taken before the Right Honourable Hugh Lord Willoughby, and Ralph Eagerton Eſq Two of His Majeſties Juſtices of the Peace, for the County Palatine of Lancaster, concerning one Richard Dugdale of Surey, in the Pariſh of Whalley, do verily believe the Truth of the ſame; and that the ſtrange Fits of the ſaid Dugdale were by a Diabolical Power.
Given when we met at Blackburn in Lancaſhire, on Auguſt the 6th 1695.
Thomas Crompton
Peter Aſpinwall
John Crompton
John Parr
Samuel Angler
Nicholas Haywood
Samuel Eaton
Nathanial Scholes.
I Do hereby Teſtifie (as many more will, if there be occaſion) from my own obſervation, as an Eye and Ear Witneſs at the Meetings, concerning Richard Dugdale; That I do verily believe, he was then under a Diablolical Poſſeſſion or Obſceſſion. I do alſo Teſtifie, that he is now fully deliver'd from that Supernatural Malady, and that no other probable means of his ſaid Deliverance may be aſſigned, but the Word of God and Prayer with Faſting, which Spiritual means were made uſe of by ſeveral Miniſters with great Faithfulnes and Diligence, for a conſiderable time together: Witneſs my Hand this 10th of June 1695.
At Holy in Yorkſhire. Robert Whitaker Medicus.
July the 10th 1695.
I Richard Dugdale, Son of Thomas Dugdale, of Surey near Whalley in Lancaſhire Gardiner, do Certifie all to whom this may come; That my former ſtrange Fits were not any Cheat, or Art of Man, that I do know of, but as I do verily believe, were cauſed by the Devil, from whom and from my terrible Fits, my Body was cleared through the Miniſters Faſting and Prayer, at or about Lady-day 1690. After which I never had any more ſuch Fits; for the which I never can return ſufficient thanks to the Lord or them: Witneſs my Hand, the Day and Year aboveſaid.
In preſence of us,
James Gregſon
Thomas Jolly.
Richard Dugdale.
WE whoſe Names are Subſcribed, were preſent at many of the within mentioned Meetings concerning Richard Dugdale, ſo were Eye and Ear-Witneſſes to many of the things within mentioned, and do verily believe the reſt; not doubting, but that the ſaid Dugdale's Affliction, was through Poſſeſſion or Obſceſſion, by Combination, or by ſome ſecret Judgment of God, for which he was delivered, as we are fully perſwaded by the Goſpel means within mentioned.
William Croſs
John Duerden
Lau. Walmiſley
John Baxon
John Bayley
Chriſtopher Duckworth
Leonard Bayley
John Marſh
James Whitaker
William Waddington
George Cockſhout
Samuel Hey
Charles Riley
James Hindle
Nehemiah Hindle
Richard Jackſon
William Barton
Christ. Tatterſill
Richard Sudon
Nich. Grimſhaw.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Jollie, The Surrey Demoniac (1697)