The Surrey Demoniac, Floating text 5 – Floating text 15
The Information of divers Perſons taken before the ſaid Juſtices of Peace, at the time and place aforeſaid declaring themſelves ready to do it upon Oath when required.
JAmes Abbot of Whitbeck in the County of Lancaſter, Dyar, declares, that he went on purpoſe to ſee the ſaid Richard Dugdale at Surey, the place of his abode, having no acquaintance with him; nor had he any knowledge of this Informant, as this Informant verily believeth. When this Informant came, the ſaid Richard Dugdale being in one of his Fits ſaid, Abbot, thou thinkeſt no body knoweth thee, but I know thee well enough thou muſt go into Cheſhire and Staffordſhire; when as this Informant ſaith, he had not ſo much as ſuch a deſign of ſuch a Journey to his rememberance; but accordingly it happened, that this Informant went that Journey ſoon afterwards.
John Fielding of Harwood in the County of Lancaſter, Joyner; declares, that being with the ſaid Richard Dugdale in one of his Fits, this Informant to his thinking heard ſomething within him like Piggs ſucking of a Sow, alſo like the barking of a Dog.
John Whalley of Harwood, in the County of Lancaſter, Hair-cloth-Weaver; Informs the ſame which John Fielding doth; and further informs the ſame with John Walmsbey, as to the ſaid Richard Dugdale's Carding, Dicing, and Bowling. And moreover informs, that he this ſaid Informant being with Richard Dugdale in one of his Fits, he ſaid, There were Lapideers (as he called them) a coming, and preſently after came a Stone which this Informant took up, and felt it to be very warm. And further informs, that the ſaid Richard Dugdale in his Fits did ordinarily tell when the next Fit ſhould come.
William Liveſay of Whalley in the County of Lancaſter, Shoomaker; Informs, that he being in Whalley, deſired ſeveral young Men to go along with him to Surey (above half a Mile diſtant) but they refuſed, when the Informant came to the Barn, where the ſaid Richard Dugdale was, the ſaid Richard Dugdale told this Informant he had deſired ſeveral Perſons to come along with him, but they had denied him, naming Ned Dean in particular. And further informeth that the ſaid Richard Dugdale Dancing on his Feet three Yards from the Wall of the Barn, was as ſoon as one could turn himſelf, ſet ſtraight upon his head, and was as ſtiff as a Tree.
John Grimſhaw of Clayton in the County of Lancaſter Woolen-Weaver; Informs that the ſaid Richard Dugdale being in a Fit, he ſaid, Nicholas, Art thou there! What peepeſt thou for? Come up. Then ſaid, Seeſt thou where thy Mother ſits? Then ſomething came to his Shoulder, and ſeveral parts of his Body; the ſaid Richard Dugdale ſeemed to be much affrighted with it. And further informs, that he coming to the Surey one Night, he the ſaid Richard Dugdale told Mr. John Grimſhaw, that he the ſaid Informant Grimſhaw was coming before he came. And this Informant leaving his Horſe at a conſiderable diſtance from the place where the ſaid Richard Dugdale was, and going into the place, where the ſaid Richard Dugdale meets him with a great noiſe, and ſaith, How now? Calling him Grimſhaw, adding, Art thou there with all thy Knives? (this Informant having at that time Three or Four Knives about him) telling this Informant that he could not go on Foot. And this Informant further ſaith, that when the ſaid Richard Dugdale was in his Trances (as they called them) and lying upon the Ground, he was ſometimes as light to this Informants thinking as his Shooes and Stockings, and ſometines as heavy as a Man could lift.
The Information aforeſaid were taken at the the time and place aforementioned before us,
Willoughby.
And Laſtly, We the ſaid Juſtices of the Peace do Certifie, that the ſaid Thomas Dugdale Father of the ſaid Richard Dugdale, did make Oath before us, that he knew not of any Deſign or Combination betwixt his ſaid Son and any other Perſon, which might occaſion the aforeſaid ſtrange Fits and Diſturbances. Nor that he the Deponant was any way privy thereunto; nor knoweth he of any Cheating or Deceiving Practices for gain, or any ſuch End, Purpoſe, or Deſign whatſoever.
Willoughby.
Ralph Egerton.
The Informations of ſeveral Perſons, who voluntarily offered themſelves concerning Richard Dugdale of Whalley, in the County of Lancaſter, Gardiner; before Thomas Braddill Eſq and Ralph Egerton Eſq Two of His Majeſties Juſtices of Peace for the ſaid County, at Darwen in the ſaid County, on the Twentieth day of July, 1695.
JOhn Fletcher of Harwood in the County of Lancaſter, Husbandman; declares, that he hath ſeen the ſaid Richard Dugdale in many of his Fits, wherein he hath barked-like a Maſtiff-Dog, being then as ſtrong as Ten Men. For this Informant hath been one of the Ten, that hath undertaken to hold him. Alſo that this Informant one time found him in the River of Calder, up to the Neck in Water, crying out, and ſaying, Wil'ſt thou drown me, Wil'ſt thou drown me; ſtriking at the ſame time upon the Water with two ſticks. Whereupon this Informant, with the help of others by a Rope drew him out of the Water. The ſaid Dugdale being then in a dumb Fit, which began in the Water, and continued near four Hours afterwards. And farther this Informant ſaith, he found in the Barn where the ſaid Dugdale lay, a round hole in the Hay like a Hens Neſt, wherein were Seven Stones laid together. And this Informant hath taken up ſeveral Stones caſt by the ſaid Dugdale, which were warm, and hath ſeen the ſaid Dugdale running upon his Hands and Feet barking and howling. And the ſaid Dugdale being ſate down, he hath ſeen him ſeveral times thrown Five or Six Yards from the place. And being to help this Informant to cleave a piece of Wood, the ſaid Dugdale upon his firſt ſtroke, had his Ax flew one way, and himſelf caſt about Twelve Yards from the place.
John Whitehead of Bank-hey in the County of Lancaſter, Labourer; Declareth, that being with the ſaid Dugdale at the Surey, in one of his Fits, he found him lying upon the Barn floor like a dead Man, at which time Mr. Ainſworth the Apothecary, and another Apothecary from Mancheſter, coming in both of them, felt the ſaid Dugdale's Pulſes, which did not beat, and then they laid their Faces to his Mouth, to try if he breathed, but could not perceive it. And further this Informant ſaith, that at Mr. Jolly's Houſe the Informant endeavouring to hold the ſaid Dugdale in his Fit by the Wriſt of his Arm, could by no means do it, for this Informants Fingers were no ſooner cloſed but they opened again.
John Smalley of Harwood, in the County of Lancaſter, Cooper; Declareth, that he hath ſeen the ſaid Richard Dugdale, in Twenty or Thirty of his Fits, ſometimes lying on the Floor, for the ſpace of Four Hours very ſtiff and heavy; inſomuch that this Informant with Three more have carried him out of the Barn, but on his coming out of his Fit, his Head and part of his Body hath been lifted up by this Informants Daughter, a Child then of Seven Years old.
The Informations aforeſaid were taken at the the time and place aforementioned, before the ſaid Mr. Braddill, and me the ſaid
Ralph Egerton.
The Informations of divers credible Perſons which were, and are ready to give in upon Oath, before the ſaid Juſtices of the Peace, or others at the places aforeſaid, or elſewhere if deſired thereunto, as they voluntarily offer'd and delar'd unto Tho. Jolly, and others of ſufficient Credit and Cautiouſneſs.
JOhn Fletcher further ſaith, I was one Night in Bed with Richard Dugdale, and I felt ſomething come up toward my Knees, then I felt it creep up till it came towards my Heart, then I got hold of it, and it was about the bigneſs of a little Dog or Cat, and it ſlipt thro' my hands as if it had been a Snig, and when we were in Bed, very often there have been ſomething in Bed knattering, as though there had been Mice or Rats, and we ſearcht the Bed, it was not harmed, and things to our thinking have fallen in the Houſe, as if all had been broken, yet in the Morning nothing ſtirr'd; and one Sabbath-day in his Fit, there was a Knife length-way in his Mouth, none knowing how it came there, where it was held ſo very faſt, that I with much ado pulled it out, and askt the Company, whether any one of them wanted a Knife, they all ſaid no, till one Jeremy Webſter, that was newly come in, ſaid, I had one, when I came in, and I think he cannot have got it out of my Pocket; but he finding nothing but a Sheath in his Pocket, claim'd the Knife, and it was certainly his. John Fletcher further ſaith, that when the ſaid Richard Dugdale was in a Fit, about Five a Clock in the Night, John Hindle prickt a large Pin in his Feet, and he neither ſtirred nor complained at all: Beſides, in one of his Fits, I heard him tell, that he muſt Vomit an Hair Button, and a certain Ring, which I ſaw him do within an Hour. I have ſeen (as John Darwin before teſtified) Richard Dugdale for a quarter of an Hour together Dance upon his Knees, with as much Activity, as any one on their Feet.
John Fletcher.
John Hindle ſaith, Theſe ſtrange things, I have heard Richard Dugdale do and ſay; I was by when he told, that he ſhould Vomit an Hair Button and Curtain Ring, which I ſaw him do within an Hour: Likewiſe I have lifted at him, when I could not lift as much as his Head for my life; at other times I have lifted at him, and could have lifted him, as if he had been but a Child. I was preſent when Richard Dugdale was in a Fit, about Eight a Clock in the Night, and I prickt a Pin into his Foot, and he neither ſtirred nor complained at all. I was preſent at all which William Loond ſwears to, in the firſt part of his Oath.
John Hindle.
Thomas Core ſaith, I have ſeen ſeveral times the Lump on his Breaſt or Belly, as big as a Mans Fiſt, and have heard ſtrange Voices coming out of it.
Thomas Core.
James Fielding ſaith, That the ſaid Swelling of the ſaid Richard Dugdale, which roſe from the thick of his Leg, was about the bigneſs of a Mole (or a Mole-warp, as we call it) and did work up like ſuch a Creature towards the Cheſt of his Body, that it got up into his Shoulder, and then he was at the worſt of his Fit. He alſo ſaith, that the ſaid Richard Dugdale did in ſeveral of his Fits, take ſeveral things out of the Hands of ſeveral Perſons, and would by no means part with the ſaid things, but to the Party to whom they did belong, having his Eyes cloſe ſhut all the while; alſo he ſaith, that they which attempted to force the things out of his Hands, could not force them out of his Hands, how ſtrong ſoever the Perſons were, that they might ſooner pull the things in pieces, than get them from him. The ſaid Fielding alſo ſaith, that the ſaid Creature did ariſe under the ſaid Richard Dugdale's Skin, as he doth verily think. Alſo, he ſaith, that the ſaid Richard Dugdale did in his Fit lift up ſeveral luſty Men, and the Chair wherein they held him, though the ſaid Richard Dugdale is but of an ordinary ſtrength of Body, when out of his Fit.
James Fielding Jun.
John Smalley further ſaith (ſo doth John Fletcher witneſs with him herein, as he doth with ſeveral other Witneſſes in ſeveral other things) that he ſaw Richard Dugdale lay Four Hours in one Fit, as if he were ſtark dead, and as ſtiff as a Board; alſo when his Shooes were faſt buckled to his Feet, they did fly Six Yards, and hit the Skel-boos in the Barn with great force; alſo he ſaith, that Richard Dugdale was in the ſame Fit, as light as his Clothes, and as heavy as a Sack of Corn.
John Smalley, alſo further ſaith, that upon occaſion, he went to the Abby in VVhalley, and whilſt he was there, the ſaid Richard Dugdale ſaid, that Smalley was taking Liquor at the Abby, and he takes it freely, it coſts him nothing. This he ſaid to Thomas Dugdale, as he alſo teſtifieth.
John Smalley.
Edmund Haworth at Ruſhton, Carrier; Teſtifies to the paſſage about Jeremy VVebſter's Knife as aboveſaid; alſo to thoſe paſſages about Richard Dugdale his Vomiting ſeveral Stones, Hair-Buttons, Curtain-Rings. He moreover Teſtifies, that the ſaid Richard Dugdale, in one of his Fits told him, with his Company that came along, what they had been eating at home; what Diſcourſe they had by the way; what Stiles they went over; how they ſtumbled; and that the ſaid Richard Dugdale did threaten Robert Turder, to ſend his Siſter (as he called his Spirit) to give him a fall at ſuch a Fields end, which fell out accordingly; ſo that it ſet all the Company a trembling, and that he and Three or Four more were coming towards Surey, and that Richard Dugdale in a Fit ſaid, that ſuch were coming, but he would ſend them back again, which happen'd accordingly, for they did turn back near Harwood Church. He alſo Teſtifies, that a Voice ſpake in the ſaid Richard Dugdale, beſides his own Voice, he not moving his Lips; and that another Voice, as they apprehended, ſpake out of the Earth in anſwer to him, and that he hath been one of the Seven or Nine, to carry him, and they have all been hard ſet to carry him; yet at another time, he hath himſelf alone eaſily carry'd him, and that he, and ſome others were coming, and ſuch a fear came on him, that he durſt only go betwixt his Company, and that when he came to the Surey, he found Richard Dugdale in a Fit, who askt him of his fear in ſuch a place, and told him, that his Siſter (as he called his Spirit) did croſs them in the way, but had no further power then to put him into that fright.
Henry Page of Harwood Magna, Feltmaker; Certifieth, that he ſaw Richard Dugdale Dance on his knees a good while together, not touching the Earth with any thing but his knees. Further, that he ſaw the ſame Perſon bowle with a Bowle he had made with Ruſhes, that he heard him bark like a Maſtiff-Dog.
Henry Page.
Grace VVhalley of the ſame place Teſtifieth, that ſhe heard Richard Dugdale ſnarle and bark like a Dog; that ſhe alſo heard (as ſhe and others thought) a noiſe out of his Belly, like as if a litter of young Dogs had been ſucking there: And ſhe further Teſtifieth, that ſhe helped to hold his Head, the time he Vomited a Stone, weighing near Three Ounces, as ſhe thinks. Further, that ſhe hath ſeen Richard Dugdale gallop round the Barn on his Hands and Feet for half an Hour together, as cleverly as any Horſe; ſhe has heard him whining like an Horſe, and as eating Provender. She further declares, ſhe hath ſeen the ſaid Richard Dugdale dance on his Knees, not touching the Earth with his Toes; alſo that ſhe heard Richard Dugdale tell, that in one of his Fits, there would come Three Lapideers at a certain time; accordingly at the time he foretold, there was thrown Three Stones, ſome diſtance of time betwixt each, which were as warm as new Milk. Theſe foreſaid paſſages, ſhe ſaw, heard, and obſerved, when Richard Dugdale was in his Fits; alſo ſhe askt Richard Dugdale, when out of his Fits, whether he knew of any thing ſpoken or done by him, whilſt in the Fit, which he utterly deny'd. Alſo ſhe teſtifies, that coming with her Brother and others to the Surey, to ſee Richard Dugdale, ſhe being the hindermoſt and coming over the Hippings, ſhe unaccountably ſlipt off one of the Stones into the Water, and could not get out until her Brother came to her help, at that time many Perſons came running out of the Barn upon ſome words Richard Dugdale ſpoke at the ſame time in a Fit, viz. Siſter Ekel, put the hindermost into the water.
Grace Whalley.
Surey July the 31st. 1695.
Thomas and Ann Dugdale, Parents to Richard Dugdale, with Mary and Alice Dugdale, Siſters to Richard Dugdale, teſtifie, that Richard Dugdale's Fits began ſoon after St. James's day, when they went firſt unto a Neighbouring Doctor for help, who preſcribed ſeveral things, which were obſerved without effect; whereupon the Doctor was deſired to take Richard Dugdale to his own Houſe, but refuſed, acknowledging he had done what he could, yet promiſed to ride his Horſe a Hundred Miles, if he thereby could help him. After this Richard Dugdale's Fits were more violent, ſoon after we conſulted Doctor Crabtree, who undertook to Cure Richard Dugdale, Thomas Dugdale went along with his Son Richard Dugdale to Doctor Crabtree, where they ſtaid about a Fortnight, and upon Richard Dugdale's Fits abating, they came home within a few days after his return, his Fits were more violent than ever, after a Fortnight ſtay at home. Thomas Dugdale and Richard Dugdale went to Doctor Crabtree the ſecond time, where they ſtaid not ſo long as before. The Reaſons were Two; Firſt▪ Richard Dugdale was tired with the methods Doctor Crabtree took, the Doctor confeſt that he gave the Patient Phyſick at once enough for Six Men, which weakned Richard Dugdale ſo much, that he had ſtrength little enough left to carry him croſs the Houſe, yet in his Fits Seven ſtrong Men could not hold him. The Second Reaſon was, the great Charges we were at, for it coſt us more than Three Pound Ten Shillings, in little time more than Three Weeks, which was inſupportable, conſidering our indigency, and no incouraging ſignes of help; but the Doctors words to his Neighbours, were at firſt, that if the Father would bring Money enough he would Cure Richard Dugdale, yet ſaid another time, if the Spirit in Richard Dugdale was a Water Spirit, there was no Cure for it. Some time after we conſulted Mr. Jolly, who with others in the Miniſtry upon our requeſt were much concerned for Richard Dugdale, praying for him near Twelve Months; In which time he had many ſtrange Fits, ſometimes Vomited Stones, a Curtain Ring, a large Hair-Button; in Fits would be lighter than ſo many Feathers. In the beginning of ſeveral Fits, would gape and catch with his Mouth (as a Dog at Flies) Ten or Eleven times together, in the end open'd his Mouth ſo oft, when we thought Spirits might come into him, and in the end leave him. In many of his laſt Fits he told People, he might be killed or cured before the 25th of March, which prov'd true; for on the 24th coming from his work on Hinfield ſide, his laſt Fit ſeiz'd him, when he came home he was in the Fit, his Face black as a Coal; upon this he ſell down, lay a while, then recover'd out of his laſt Fit; after this Richard Dugdale had no Fit, tho' once, when he had got too much Drink, he was after another manner than drunken Perſons uſually are.
Thomas Dugdale
Anne Dugdale
Mary Dugdale
Alice Dugdale.