The Surrey Demoniac, Preface

The Surrey Demoniac · Preface

THE PREFACE.

AMong Satans various methods for the ruining of the Goſpel, he hath kept up among us, abundance of his Inſtitutions, Cuſtoms and Exerciſes, which he brought in among our Barbarian unchriſtened Anceſtors, 2 King. 17. from ver. 17. to the end. Neh. 13.24. and has manifeſted himſelf in ſuch practices, or appearances, as he did, or doth act, in and among Pagans or Jewes, ſuch as in Apparitions, Poſſeſſions, Witch-crafts, &c. A particular Inſtance whereof is hereafter related; as alſo, how Satan was herein defeated thro' the Lords ſetting in with our Endeavours againſt him; and oh! that by this Alarm this Evil Generation may be rouzed out of their Security, Prejudices, Formality and Senſuality, if God peradventure will give even to thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, Repentance, that they may acknowledge the Truth, and recover themſelves out of the ſnare of the Devil, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. which would more rejoyce them and us, had we thus our Name written in Heaven, than if we had the Devils ſubject to us, Luke 10.20. Mat. 7.22, 23. And oh! that none may either with the Phariſees, Luke 11.15, 16. contract the dreadful Guilt and Danger of imputing the Lord's extraordinary Workings to wrong Cauſes, or may be diſregarders of the Works of the Lord, and of the Operations of his Hands, whom he will deſtroy, and not build up, Pſal. 28.5. or may be deſpiſers, which behold wonders and periſh, thro' the Lords working a Work in their days; a work, that they will in no wiſe believe, tho' a Man declare it unto them, Act. 13.41.

On the following Occaſion, the Reverend Mr. Baxter, deſirous to add this Narrative to his late Book; called, The World of Spirits evinced by Apparitions, Witch-craft, &c. order'd about half a dozen Letters for our ſending it up to him: hence aroſe our intentions of Printing it, which ſeem'd to die, upon his dying before this was ſent to him. But afterwards another Reverend London Divine deſired that it ſhould be Printed, as an Appendix to Mr. Increaſe Mathers Book; called, A further Account of the Trials of New England Witches, A. D. 1693. Upon which much of it was then at London, for the ſame purpoſe, as is declared in an Advertiſement on the back of the ſaid Book's Title Page: But it not being then throughly compleated and certified, it was again as dead, or at leaſt delay'd, which delay proceeded partly from our backwardneſs to ſhew our ſelves to the World, being far from ſeeking to be known openly, John 7.4. inſomuch that were it conſiſtent with this Work, we would be unnamed herein, being eſpecially deſirous, that none might be eyed, but only the fearful in praiſes working Wonders, nor any in the leaſt ſhare in the firſt Title, that cannot reach the laſt, Exo…. 15.11. Pſal. 136.4 altho' it might have come abroad long ere now, had not Satan likewiſe ſenſibly hindred once and again, 1 Theſ. 2.18. as to give one inſtance. On Sept. the 16th—95, about Seven in the Evening, one of us walking by the Bell and Dragon an Apothecaries Shop, at Kings-ſtreet end in Cheapſide, with the fair Copy of this Narrative, and the only Copy of a Poſtſcript deſigned for it, wrapt together in his Pocket, to be offer'd for the Preſs; about half a dozen Men ſudenly claſpt about him, and notwithſtanding his ſtrugling and calling for help, got the ſaid Copies from him; ſo as all his endeavours could not yet regain them. However this delay is not ſo long, but that were there any falſhoods, as we are ſatisfied there are none herein, they might be as well detected now as at firſt. Nay this delay ſeems rather to advantage than diſparage this Narrative, ſince had it been Printed ſoon after it happen'd; Satans removal from, or return to Richard's Body, had been more queſtionable than now, Deut. 18.22. and then the proofs of it might have been reputed the effects of miſtaken ſurprize, and of the ferment and wonder which the Country was then in about it; whereas the within mention'd proofs of it, preſerved theſe Five Years, and given in on a far leſs plauſible Juncture, and that after the hearing of what can be ſaid againſt it, muſt needs be more weighty, deliberate, digeſted and ſatisfactory, tho' far leſs numerous then might have been at firſt from the Crouds of Spectators that are now ſcattered we know not where. But he in whom are all our Springs, to whom belong the Iſſues from Death ſeems at laſt to reſcue it from the death it thus long lay under, and to over-rule the Obſtructions of it, Rev. 12.4. for the furthering of its production, Act. 5.38, 39. and to ſay, let it live by the Mouths of two ſorts which indeed are the all ſorts of Chriſtians.

Firſt, Of the Believers of Satan's actuating Mens Bodies by Poſſeſſions, Witch-crafts, &c. Many ſuch eminent Divines, Phyſicians, and others urged the publication hereof as a very likely expedient for rooting out Atheiſm, Debauchery, Sadduciſm and Deviliſhneſs, and for planting the practice and power of Christs precious Truths and Ways in the room thereof. Yea ſeveral have at different times preſſed this by inculcating Captain Bell's Caſe, as in the Preface of Luther's Table talk, viz. Luther's Menſalia, which did ſo promote the Proteſtant Religion in Germany, that each Church had one of them chain'd in it; on which the Pope and the Emperor cauſed them all to be burnt, only one of them was long afterwards found wrapt up in an old Wall by a German Gentleman that pull'd down his old Houſe, who not daring to keep it for fear of the Law againſt it, ſent it to his Friend Captain Henry Bell in London, deſiring him to turn it out of the German into the Engliſh Tongue. The ſaid Captain thro' buſineſs or otherwiſe deferring to tranſlate it, one Night between Twelve and One a Clock appear'd to him, then awake, an Ancient Man ſtanding at his Bed ſide all in white, with a broad White Beard down to his Girdle, taking him by the right Ear, ſaying, Sirrah! Wilt thou not take time to tranſlate that Book which is ſent thee out of Germany, I will ſhortly provide for thee both time and place to do it in, then vaniſht; his fright and ſweating, aſtoniſh'd his Wife, yet not heeding Viſions; the Book again ſlip'd out of his mind, till Warrants from Charles the Firſt's Council-board laid him in the Gate-houſe in Weſtminſter for Ten Years, without ſhewing him any cauſe, Five of which he ſpent in compoſing the ſaid Tranſlation, which was publiſht by the Aſſembly of Divines. Thus the ſilencing of this Narrative was reckon'd dangerous, even as the ſaid Captains neglect proved. Beſides ſomething like his ſaid Night-Warning befell one of the Miniſters undernamed, who as the ſaid Captain, thro' buſineſs not finding, or taking time to prepare for Printing the ſaid Narrative, was after the Mid-night of November the 18th 1693, as fully awaken'd in his Bed as ever in his Life, where he heard a moſt melodious ſound, that did moſt diſtinctly pronounce unto him theſe three pieces of Sentences, the other pieces of which three Sentences were concealed from him, viz.—This cannot be indured. Therefore prepare for—or death. Thou ſhalt ere long die,—or; which melody or words ſtruck the ſaid Miniſter into a ſweating horror, untill in the Morning of November the 19th 1693, he declared this unto a faithful Witneſs, who was likewiſe amazed thereat.

Secondly, By the Mouths of the Queſtioners or Scoffers of ſuch workings of Satan, who are of two ſorts, either firſt Queſtioning or denying ſuch in the general, which denial or disbelief ſeems occaſioned Two ways; either firſt, thro' the difficulty of diſtinguiſhing true Reports of ſuch workings from the falſe ones which are broached, either firſt, by Popiſh Fablers, whoſe Legends however, among Proteſtants at leaſt, ſhould not affect the credit, or impair the Authority of Proteſtant Writings. Secondly, By Proteſtant Impoſtors, who, as the Cyclopſes at the forges in deviliſh Volcanoes, do perhaps write ſuch Narratives as this, affixing the feigned Names of Juſtices and Witneſſes thereunto, yea dreſſing them up ſo like the true ones, as creates a ſuſpicion, yea oft a rejection of the true Ones, as if they likewiſe were but Counterfeits, in this caſe what's to be done, ſhould all true Narratives be forborn, through fear of their being reputed falſe, or rather ſhould not ſuch Falſifiers be ſuppreſt as common Nuſances offering to bring the Cretian name, Tit. 1.12. on Britain, and embezilling the precious ſtock of the Nations Credibility and Veracity, Prov. 22.1. ſince others are puniſht by Miniſters of Juſtice for Forgery of Bills, Coin, Deeds, &c. Why ſhould not the Cheats above-ſaid fall under Legal Proſecutions unto which the Atteſtants before-mentioned offer themſelves, if any known falſhood be found herein. Or, Secondly, For that the true Reports of ſuch workings are not duly minded by them, through their extinguiſhing their intellectual ſight, ſo as they cannot, or turning it aſide, ſo as they will not view or believe them. Whereas, if they have a mind to any thing, tho' never ſo abſurd, what ſhallow giddy Reaſons will ſerve their turn, to patronize their belief thereof, and when any thing, tho' never ſo excellent and evident ſeemed not to their intereſt, and is not to their mind or liking, how will they arm and harden themſelves againſt all methods for convincing them thereof, juſt like the Jews when driven to the neceſſitous dilemma of ſeeing Chriſt to be the Meſſiah or putting out their own Eyes, John 9.16, 39, 40. rather reſolved upon this, then that, and ſo could not ſee the two groſs abſurdities in their opinion of Chriſt's being not only a Demoniack, becauſe of his matchleſs preaching, John 10.19, 20. and 7.46. but alſo a Wizard, becauſe of his ejecting Devils, Mat. 9.33, 34. As 1. They could not ſee it, to be irrational, for that no unblinded Man could argue from ſuch premiſes, that Chriſt was either the one or the other, for can it poſſibly follow, that he was poſſeſt with a Devil, becauſe he preacht ſo, as never any Man did, or that he had a familiar Spirit, becauſe he caſt out ſuch Spirits. Nor 2. Could they ſee it to be ſelf contradictory, for that if it did from thence follow that Chriſt was either the one or the other, yet how could one Man poſſibly be both at once, ſince ſurely the Man, that Acts a Wizard could caſt out Devils, would never ſuffer himſelf to be a Demoniack, for how could he caſt Devils out of others, if he could not out of himſelf, Luke 4.23. at the ſame rate did they perſwade themſelves to think an incarnate Devil to be more eligible than an incarnate God, Mat. 27.16, 26. John 6.70. juſt as if a Man ſhould fix it in his conceit, that the Sun is nothing but Soot and Ink kneaded into a Ball, and that ſo unalterably as that no Senſe or Reaſon could perſwade him of the contrary; a more modern Inſtance whereof is the Papiſts denying Conſecrated Bread and Wine to be Bread and Wine, and were it not for ſuch Inſtances, one would ſcarce think it practicable, that any againſt Senſe, Reaſon, Scripture, (1 John 1.1, 3.) and all Topicks of Arguments ſhould in earneſt deny ſuch workings of Satan in the general.

The Second ſort of thoſe whoſe queſtioning of ſuch workings occaſions this Publication, are the Queſtioners of the within mentioned inſtances in particular, on which perhaps ſeveral paſs various Cenſures, now it is paſt, and tho' ſome of them knew not the moſt material things thereof, and others of them whilſt it was in hand, ſeem'd under deep Convictions and Apprehenſions of Satan's working therein, yet now ſuch Impreſſions being decay'd or vaniſht in them [as in thoſe that in one juncture admired and cried up Sejanus] they on another turn of affairs can jointly ſay, Sojanum nunjanum nunquam ſi quid mihi credis amavi, For my part I never believed there was any ſuch Poſſeſſion or Witch-craft in this matter, which I ſtill thought proceeded meerly; either, Firſt, From a Diſeaſe, which might have been cured by meer Phyſick: Or, Secondly, From Impoſture which might have been cured meerly by the Houſe of Correction: Or, Thirdly, From I know not what. One while I think it came from this Cauſe; another while from another Cauſe; and tho' I cannot poſſibly aſcribe, or reſolve what paſt at the Surey into one or other of the ſaid Cauſes, or into them all together, and ſo I know not where to fix it, or unto what Natural Cauſe or Cauſes excluſive of Satan, it can rationally or properly be referred, yet for all this, I am reſolved, it ſhall not paſs with me, or with any that I can influence for Poſſeſſion, or any ſuch thing, tho' all the ſignes and marks of Poſſeſſion that ever I read, or heard of in Scripture, or other Authors be to be met with herein, and tho' I have no inforcing Arguments to the contrary, yet I am loath to yield this to be ſuch, and like not that ſuch uſe of Scripture means ſhould gain the reputation of removing Satan thus thro' the Lord's concurrence, rather then this I'de have it reputed Diſeaſe, Impoſture, or any thing to this purpoſe, as we hear, ſome ſcraps or parcels of what paſt at the Surey are talked of amongſt ſome, as the all that happened there; and hereupon it is run down, and repreſented as very inconſiderable, and they that ingaged therein, are impeached for charging God fooliſhly. In this caſe is it our duty on the one hand, by our ſilence, to let Gods Ways and Servants be vilified, and ſuch a tremendous aſtoniſhing Providence to be bury'd in Miſreports or Oblivion, in the Burning and Shining Light whereof ſuch multitudes were awaken'd (John 5.35.) at leaſt for a ſeaſon, for it was not done in a Corner? Act. 26.26. or on the other hand, what other preventive or remedy can we have, beſides publiſhing this Narrative, wherein the Actings and Diſcourſes from and to the Demoniack are oft word for word, and every where in ſenſe and ſubſtance, the very ſame that paſt at the Surey, tho' vaſtly ſhort of being all, and particularly not all the Diſcourſes to Satan, much of which was premeditated, and ſo not ſtrange, tho' ſometimes long, yet many other things more appoſite and advantageous did flow in the …eat of Conference, but we little then thinking of Printing what paſt there, did not put down near all in any Notes or Minutes, or in our Diaries which ſome of us there kept, as we do ſtill for other daily occurrences; however to the Truth of what is herein reported, ſome thouſands hinted at in the Narrative, can in part teſtifie: And we the Miniſters principally concerned therein, do poſitively affirm, that it was all really and certainly matter of Fact, ſo far as we could learn from our being perſonally preſent, all of us at moſt, or many paſſages, and ſome of us, at all the material Paſſages contained herein: As, Witneſs our Hands.

Thomas Jolly

Charles Sagar

Nicholas Kerſhaw

Robert Waddington

Thomas Whally

John Carrington

Miniſters occaſionally aſſiſting at the Meetings within mentioned were

Mr. Frankland

Mr. Pendlebury

Mr. Oliver Heywood.

p. 1Some Account of Satans acting in and about the Body of Richard Dugdale of Surey, near Whally in Lancaſhire, and of Satan's removal thence thro' the Lord's Bleſſing on the Faſting and Prayer of the within mentioned Miniſters and People.

THE ſaid Richard Dugdale, was not very big nor ſmall, but of a middle ſize and ſtature, about 19 years old, and had been Gardiner or Servant at Weſt-Byhal, till he was ſeized with the Affliction hereafter mentioned; before, and after which he was not apparently troubled with any Melancholy or Diſeaſe, or Diſtemperature of Body, and upon his ſaid Affliction, he lived at the ſaid Surey, with his Parents and his Siſters, who got a competent Livelihood through his Father Thomas Dugdales Gardoning, and their other Labours, and were all profeſſed Proteſtants, tho' they had been Popiſhly brought up, and lead prophane lives in a place, where Iniquity did ſo abound, as ſome Judgment might juſtly be expected upon, or among them.

Upon April the 29th 1689, in the Morning, the ſaid Richard came to the Houſe of Mr. Jolly at the New Chappel or Waymond Houſes near Pendle Hill; for tho' Richard had ſignified his deſires of coming thither a Quarter of a Year before, yet the Meſſenger fail'd to give notice thereof until a day or two before he came; whilſt he was in the ſaid Houſe, there were great grounds of ſuſpecting that he was poſſeſt by the Devil, partly from the account he gave of his Caſe, and principally from the ſtrange Fits which violently ſeiz'd him, whilſt Mr. Jolly was at Family Duty, reading and opening the Word, and Praying, wherein he had many Praeternatural Motions, far above the reach of his perſonal Ability and Agility, and had ſhewn great deſpite againſt the ſaid Ordinances of God, yea eſpecially when Chriſt was more ſolemnly named, and his Condition more earneſtly recommended to the Lord; then he raged as if he had been nothing p. 2but a Devil in Richard's bodily ſhape, tho' when he was not in his fit, he manifeſted great inclination to the Word and Prayer, for the Exerciſe of which on his behalf, he deſir'd we would ſet apart a Day of Faſting as the only means from which he could expect help, being he had in vain tried other means both lawful and unlawful.

Accordingly ſome of us Miniſters with ſeveral of the People met at the Sparth, May the 8th 1689. Before the Exerciſe was begun, we examined Richard and his Parents about the occaſion of this ſad Affliction; On this day and at ſome following Meetings, they confeſt to us as followeth; That at Whally Ruſhburying on the Jamestide before, or on July the 25th 1688, there was great Dancing and Drinking; what happen'd to the ſaid Richard at that great Dancing-bout, or how therein Richard had offer'd himſelf to the Devil, on condition the Devil would make him a good Dancer, is more fully declar'd in Sept. the 26th's Diſcourſe. Upon which inordinate wiſh, and other extravagant Courſes, very probably Satan did thorough the juſt Judgment of God get advantage over Richard; but at the ſaid Drinking-bout, they acknowledged both the ſaid Thomas and Richard, Father and Son were much in drink, and then had a ſcoffle with a Young Man; and him, or his Partakers they ſuſpected as inſtrumental in this harming Richard one way or other, tho' not in the ſaid ſcuffle, for Richard apparently went well and ſound home without any hurt, where after he had been for ſome time ſitting with ſome Company, his Side was ſuddenly ſeiz'd as with a burning pain, as if it had been whipt and ſtung with Nettles, or ſtab'd with Needles; afterwards he being in the Evening in a Room by himſelf, ſeveral Apparitions preſented themſelves, and after Vaniſh'd before him; for he ſaw the Table ſpread over with Dainties or Delicate Fare, and heard a Voice as from under the Table, ſaying, Eat, and take thy fill of Pleaſures; then he ſaw the Table covered with Ribbons and fine Ornaments, and heard a Voice, ſaying, Take and injoy what Honours thou deſireſt; then he ſaw Gold and Precious things lying on the Table, and heard a Voice, ſaying, Take, and thou ſhalt have all the Riches thou wilt; but he ſaid, he took none of the ſaid Offers, but that ever after the ſaid Ruſhburying Riot, he had a great fancy and vehement inclination for Dancing, ſo that he could not refrain from it, and that in the Week afte…, the ſaid James-tides Dancing and Drunken Fit, or after the ſaid Dancing Humor did thereupon poſſeſs him, he had the Apparition of a Mans Head all along in the way as he went to Weſtby-Hall, where as he was working hard at the Hay, he was taken with an unuſual Merrineſs, and in the Evening p. 3of the ſame day he made himſelf Drunken, and then he was tranſported into ſuch an height of Prophaneneſs as did aſtoniſh the By-ſtanders, ſo that they concluded that the Devil had ſome extraordinary power over him; yea, he himſelf ſaid, that in the ſaid Evening, he had an Apparition of the Devil pointing at ſomething which the ſaid Richard had lately done, which we concluded was Richards offering himſelf to Satan as a Bond, or ſome other Compact, or Conſent to Satan, for the ſatisfying his deſires, either of Dancing or of ſome other matter; after this Night his Fits grew very frequent and violent, whence they made uſe of a Doctor, who finding that Phyſick would nothing avail, gave him over, not undertaking him any further; then they ſought unto a reputed Wiſe Man for help, viz. Dr. Crabtres, who ſaid, he was amazed at ſeveral things which befell him whilſt under his charge, as particularly at his preciſe fore-telling various ſorts of Weather, he at laſt confeſſing, as ſome told us, that there was no help for him, except from the Miniſters; after which Richard and his Father applied to us, which things Richard's Parents and he could not confeſs all at once, for when he had thought to confeſs ſome things to this purpoſe, his Mouth, as he ſaid, was ſtopt, that he could not ſpeak them, and when he had told us of ſome of them, then he was ſhrewdly check'd for confeſſing too much, and when ſometimes he refuſed to do what Satan would have him do, he was toſſed miſerably as after appear'd, nay he was oft viſibly ſhaken, and as not at his own diſpoſal, and ſadly diſorder'd, even whilſt out of his Fits; ſometimes as ſtupified and reſtrain'd from ſaying or doing what he offer'd at, and at other times as puſh'd to ſuch words and deeds, as he neither meant before-hand, nor knew of when paſt; after the ſaid Examination, the ſaid Miniſters ſhewed to Richard and his Parents, the Evil of ſome unlawful means before made uſe of, and that the means now applyed to, were appointed by Chriſt to be uſed in their caſe, wherein a Bleſſing might be hoped for, upon their repenting and expecting Mercy in God's way; hence they proceeded to the Word and Prayer; Mr. Jolly inſiſting on Acts 26. v. 18. During which Exerciſes Richard had two terrible Fits, after which Richard commonly attended the Ordinances at Mr. Jolly's Meeting-place, under which he was one Sabbath very quiet, another Sabbath extreamly rude all the while.

On May the 28th 89. At Richard's earneſt requeſt, another Faſt-day was kept on his behalf; and hitherto Richard after his Application to the Miniſters for help, had been all along as poſſeſt with a dumb Devil, and had not ſpoken at all in his Fits until this ſaid Faſt-day, then he had two aſtoniſhing Fits, and when either of them p. 4began, he was as blown or ſnach'd, or born up ſuddenly from his Chair, as if he would have flown away, but that the holders of him hung at his Arms or Legs, and clung about him, one of whom came on purpoſe ſo as he might paſs unobſerved among the other holders of him, and more diſtinctly obſerved all tranſactions about him.

In his ſaid Fits, Richard's Body was hurled about very deſperately, and beſides his abundance of confuſed hurry and din, he oft ſtretch'd out his Neck to a prodigious length towards the Miniſters that prayed, eſpecially Mr. Waddington, as if he would have ruſhed upon them, or thrown his Head at them, and at leaſt Six times he with much difficulty, fury, and gaping, skreamed out againſt them, have done! have done! whilſt the holders of him obſerv'd his Lips unmoved, his Tongue rolled inwardly all on a Lump, and his Sight or Eye-balls turned backwards, ſo as made him ſtark blind, nothing but the White of them being to be ſeen, as was indeed in moſt, if not in all his Fits afterwards; whilſt the other words and things, hereafter related of him, did come out of him or from him, excepting that throughout many Fits, his Eye-lids would be cloſe ſhut. Then ſeeing he could not get at the then Praying Miniſters, he flung all about him down, and lay as dead upon the Floer, till in a Moment, his whole Body was raiſed as from Death, and as all at once, without the natural help of Arms or Legs, bearing up with it thoſe that lean'd on him to hold him, and then broke out into ſuch wild curvets or bounces as cannot here be deſcribed. Which ſort of Trances and Rages, or Fallings and Riſings again, were frequent this day as they did uſually and interchangeably ſeize him in moſt or all his other Fits that he had afterwards; at laſt the Daemoniack threw his head ſo among the People that were betwixt him and one of the Miniſters, as that a Ball of Flegm ſtrangely glanted among them without weting any, till it ſlap'd on his Shoulder, and thence flaſh'd o're his Face, and all down his Cloaths, Richard's Tongue and Eyes being inactive herein, as aboveſaid; whilſt this flowed from his Breaſt, What amazing hideous ſounds were heard in or from him all along! Sometimes as of Swine, or Water-mills, or as if a Bear and other Wild Beaſts had joyned their ſeveral Notes to mix up a dreadful peal of Noiſes.

Towards the beginning of June was a Meeting at the Surey on his behalf, which place being ſo near Whalley, the Publick Miniſter there Mr. Jea, was acquainted with the Occaſion of the ſaid Meeting that he might take no offence, all the time wherein Eph. 6. v. 12. was ſpoke to, and Prayers put up for him, the Evil Spirit work'd in p. 5Richard, yet it break not out into a Fit, till afterwards it hurried him in a moſt violent manner, and manifeſted more than ordinary Venom againſt Mr. Jolly and Mr. Waddington, as it did at other times againſt Mr. Sagar, Mr. Whalley, and Mr. Kerſhaw; and on the following Sabbath was a very great concourſe of People, many of them coming to ſee Richard, from whom however there were no Diſtractions or Diſturbances all the while, tho' through all the Exerciſes of another Sabbath, his Fits were exceſſively ill, he ſpurning, and ſpitting, and grining at Mr. Jolly with great fury, but hurt him not.

On July the Fifth was the next Faſt day for him at the Surey, but being nothing is put down here but plain and certain matter of Fact, ſuch as ſome or all of the afore-mentioned Atteſtants are ſure of, therefore very many of the Demoniack's Expreſſions, Predictions, and Tranſactions ſingularly remarkable, that the ſaid Atteſtants made no due and full Obſervation about, nor took any certain Cognizance of, are not here recorded as abſolutely certain, or of unqueſtionable Verity, being none of them would ſpeak wickedly or deceitfully for God, Job 13. v. 7. Although even theſe Paſſages are reported and affirmed by ſome other Spectators of what paſt at the Surey; as to inſtance, whilſt the Demoniack in a Fit lay on his back with his Arms and Leggs ſpread open, he was twirled about like a pair of Yarwangles. Sometimes the Demoniack in a Fit ſeemed to hang in the Barn with his Head downwards, and his Heels towards the top thereof: A Spectator at the Surey being thought to be the occaſioner of ſome ſtrict enquiries there, was ſadly blamed and threatned, on which going homewards with company in a Moonſhiny Night, they ſaw in the Fields as a Boy coming with his Face towards them which ſuddenly vaniſh'd, and then a Boy going with his Back towards them which ſuddenly vaniſh'd, and then a Foal going with Langotts all which likewiſe ſuddenly vaniſh'd.

On July the 16th, at a Faſt day for him at the Surey was a great confluence of People, as there was oft before, and almoſt always at ſuch Meetings afterwards until prevented by the Miniſters, tho' when conferences with Satan were look'd for, far vaſter Multitudes met than at other times. And on the Lord's day next after, viz. July 20th no Moleſtations happened from Richard, till the cloſe of that days Publick Work. But on the Lord's day next before, viz July 13th 1689. The Demoniack at Mr. Jolly's Meeting-place in a Fit cryes out, Ye talk of having Six Miniſters againſt me next Wedneſday at the Surey, but there will only five be there then, and I'll make Fools of you, for I'll be quiet at that time. Which Words ſeemed ſtrange to Mr. Jolly, who p. 6on Friday before, with one or two more, many Miles from the Surey, had very privately named Six Miniſters as fit and deſireable for attending the Surey Meeting, which they concluded to keep on the aforementioned Wedneſday, July the 16th 1689, but they only knew of Three Miniſters, whoſe preſence they then expected on the ſaid Wedneſday. Which Meeting, beſides, they had kept private, and had not ſpoken of, ſo as it could be known to any of the Surey by any Humane means, before the ſaid Lord's day Cry of the Demoniack; in whoſe Wedneſday Morning Fit he cried out, One …arrington will this day terribly ſhake me; which amazed the by-ſtanders, who had never before heard of a Miniſter ſo called, for it was but about half a Year ſince he firſt began to Preach, and that only in a Private Family far from the Surey, where he had never been before, and coming from another County was a Stranger thereabout; that however heard of the ſaid Meeting, whither he on the ſaid Wedneſday Morning had leave to go, and whither ſome Miniſters unlooked for came, which made up juſt the number foretold of in the Sabbath Cry; according to which the Demoniack was quiet throughout all the Exerciſe, until at the end thereof, Mr. Jolly, and Mr. Sagar called the ſaid Mr. Carrington to Prayer as he ſtood in the throng unacquainted with any others there that he knew of. Upon which the Demoniack moſt furiouſly raged, threatned to tear him in pieces, ſtruggled moſt vehemently to get at him, being Six or Seven Yards diſtant from him, hurled Rolls of Foam ſtill on his Face; and tho' Hats and Aprons were held up betwixt them, to hinder his annoying of him, yet he was hurled ſo high, or ſo low, or ſideways, that the Balls of Foam which came from him ſtill hit him on or about the Face; notwithſtanding the uſeleſneſs of Richard's ſeeing or ſpeaking Organs herein, which was ſo far from daunting him that was before all covered with Foam, that it did rather embolden him to pray more vehemently againſt the Devils troubling Richard, who hereupon for about an Hour poured forth the bittereſt Execrations and Blaſphemies, amongſt which he often cried out, Oh! Carrington, I hate thee mortally. Oh! I'll be revenged on thee.

July the 25th, was the next Faſt day on this occaſion at Altham, for a great part whereof Richard was detained thence through ſeveral dead Fits or Trances that ſeized him, where the Multitude was ſo very great, as cauſed much diſtraction and danger, a Poſt in the Barn being broken down through the weight of the People, yet was there through Gods good Providence no farther harm done.

On Auguſt the Firſt, was a Faſt day for him at the Surey, he was quiet. Though he never Learned above the Engliſh Tongue and his p. 7natural and acquired Abilities were very ordinary, yet when his Fits ſeized him he oft ſpake Latin, Greek, and other Languages very well; as alſo Satan like an Angel of Light, did tell unto or pronounce from him, ſeveral Practical Speeches, as to inſtance, ſeveral times he declaim'd much againſt the Sins of the place and time, as alſo againſt worldly People, ſaying, That as Maids do ſweep away Spiders webs, ſo would their Wealth be ſwept away: More ſuch ſayings being elſewhere herein mentioned.

On Auguſt the 13th, was a Faſt day for him at the Surey, John 16.8, 9, 10, 11. was inſiſted on, and the ſaid Mr. Carrington had been about a Fortnight or Three Weeks Journey in ſeveral Counties out of Lancaſhire, whilſt in Yorkſhire ſome diſcourſe paſt about haſtening his Ordination. Returning home, he on the Road caſually heard, that the Miniſters met about the Surey Demoniack upon that very day, being the afore-mentioned Auguſt the 13th, 89. altho Surey was then out of his Road, and far off, yet finding that he might reach it before the uſual time of the Miniſters ending there. He got to a Smiths Houſe, about or within a Mile of it, about Two a Clock, and fearing that he ſhould come too late if he ſtaid till the Shooe which his Horſe had loſt was ſet on, he went faſt over the Fields on Foot, upon which the Demoniack oft cried; Yonder comes Carrington running, and footing it apace, who when he was about Two Fields off the Barn, wherein Richard and crowds of Spectators were; did look at his Watch behind an Hedge, to ſee if he were not too late, when he heard an hideous noiſe from the Barn, wherein the Demoniack cried, Carrington, What a Clock is it? Which with the aforeſaid Cry, made them in the Barn wonder, none there knowing what County he was in. The Miniſters there being near ending, knowing nothing of his coming; who, when he was near the Barn, before he ſaw any body, or any body that was known of ſaw him, did hear the Demoniack cry, Make way for Carrington. Carrington, What brings thee here at this time of day? Thou comeſt too late, &c. I defie thee, thou art but of a weak Faith, thou canſt not prevail againſt me, thy Faith is but Hypocritical, &c. Which ſet him a trembling, who notwithſtanding being called to Prayer was ſo encouraged, and the Demoniack ſo ſtrangely acted and handled, that when the Meeting was broke up, and he out of his Fit, he and his Relations, and Neighbours earneſtly begged of him to ſtay all night, ſince then Richard was to have other Fits, and they had ſtrong hopes that Satan would leave him, if he were cloſely dealt with for a few Fits together. The Miniſters being conſulted herein were then pleaſed to accept him as one of their Number in this enterprize, and thought his ſtaying then there might p. 8not be amiſs; upon which he ſtaying, deliberated to divide the Evening and Nights Exerciſe into Three parts. 1. He Preached, Expounded, read in the Bible, or Sung Pſalms, whilſt Richard was out of his Fits, that the many Hundreds or Thouſands that on ſuch Nights were there, might thereby be kept in a ſuitable frame for attending his Fits when they came on him. 2. He diſcourſt or queſtioned the Demoniack in his raging Fit. 3. He prayed in Richard's ſtill or dead Fits. In which Night he had three Fits beſides that in the Afternoon, each of which was about Three Hours long. At the ending of one Fit, the Demoniack ſtill told what Hour of the Night or Day his next would begin very preciſely and punctually, as was conſtantly obſerved, tho' there was no equal or ſet diſtance of time between his Fits, betwixt which ſometimes would be but few hours, ſometimes many, ſometimes one day, ſometimes many days, all the various Tranſactions of that Night are unaccountable, a few of which however were theſe in his Firſt Fit. As in the general, he, whilſt raging did ſtill labour to miſchieve the Miniſter, till being oft fruſtrated, he fell into Ludicrous or Outragious Actions, ſo in the general the Miniſter diſcourſt to him on what he thought moſt dreadful to, or expulſive of fallen Angels. Three Young Men on one ſide three on the other, uſually croſt the way betwixt them with their joined hands, various attempts he made to wheel about to the Miniſter, but ſtill the ſaid Youths interpoſed, only once he got paſt them, when the Miniſter retired and oppoſed the Chair which he ſtill held in his hand betwixt him and Richard, till at laſt the Youths got betwixt them again, then the Demoniack leapt for Six or Ten times together ſo very high, that one might ſee his Leggs above their Heads, but then they likewiſe lifted up their joyned hands to hinder his leaping over them, and letting them fall again when Richard defended, leſt he ſhould ruſh under them, till once tho' he was about a Rod diſtant from the Miniſter, he inſtead of leaping high as they expected, ſhot himſelf under their hands, and daſht the Chair out of the Miniſters hands with his feet, the Waft whereof made his hand very ſenſible that it had eſcaped a great danger, who recovering his Chair, and they interpoſing, the Demoniack pelted him at the old rate with Foam Bullets, fiercely bluſtering againſt him, and railing hoarſly as from his Breaſt, till the Miniſter ſaid to him, If thou beeſt a Devil that troubleſt this Youth's Body, as I ſuppoſe thou art, then I tell thee thou art in Chains; in Chains to reſtrain thee, ſo that if thou do thy worſt againſt me, through God's Bleſſing thou canſt do me no hurt, and in Chains to torment thee, ſo that thou art now full of helliſh pain and anguiſh; And does it p. 9not vex, and fret, and mad thee, to ſee me through God's unſearchable Goodneſs out of thy reach, whilſt thou feeleſt thy burning Chains ſcorching and tormenting, and devouring thee? How did the Demoniack gnaſh, and ſhake, and rage at this, ſometimes in an inarticulate clatter, ſometimes in unintelligible accents, ſometimes in words cluſtered thick together, very often in a diſtinct Lingua, that was either Forreign or unknown to us all then there, or elſe forged Gibberiſh; upon which the Miniſter continued, art thou freer from Torments whileſt in his Body then thou wert before, and if thy being there cannot now reſpite or abate thy Woes, then thy annoying him ſeems to be meerly through thy Malice to make him miſerable as thou thy ſelf art, and ſhalt thou go unpuniſht for this thy Malice, nay rather will not the juſt Judgments of God load thee with freſh vengeance for this thy troubling him, beſides the other Torments due to thee, thou that haſt been glutted theſe many Thouſand Years with God's avenging Fury; Doſt thou like it ſo well as to ſeek larger and fuller Vials thereof by this reaking thy ſpite upon his Creature? Oh the Infinite Wrath of God, doth this delight thee? And is it ſport to thee to wallow in eternal Burnings? 'Twas ſtrange, 'twas pitious to behold what Horrors, what Convulſions the Demoniack was under during this Diſcourſe, until with great Struglings, Shrieks, and Leaps, he fell into his dead Fit, and after came out of that Fit, till in his ſecond Fit his rages returning, he ſpoke much to the Miniſter in the aboveſaid Foreign or Forged Lingua, at the end of which he cried, Carliſle, Carliſle, Doſt thou underſtand me, conſtrue me this, and tell me in Engliſh what it was I now ſpoke? Now Carliſle where's thy Learning? Upon which by a chucking grunting noiſe inwardly, and the horrid fleering grin of his Countenance, he ſeemed to Laugh Vehemently at the Miniſter, adding Carliſle, Now I have puzled all thy Scholarſhip, who anſwered, I am never the worſe Scholar for being ignorant of the Devils Rhetorick, and unlearned in the Language of Hell. But oh! how ſad is thine heart in the midſt of that ugly Laughter which thou counterfeiteſt but poorly, having been long unpractiſed in true Mirth, Joy and Laughter; and am I in a condition to be laught at by thee, who art irrecoverably fallen into a worſe caſe than the moſt poiſonous ſtinging Serpent is in? Ah! poor Fiend, for all thy Grimneſs and Rhodomantadoes, I▪de not be in thy plight for a Thouſand Worlds: But what ridiculous Pranks, and antick Gambols art thou now acting, as if thou deſigned to ſet us all a Laughing at thy Fooleries? For whilſt the Miniſter was thus a ſpeaking, he as in great deriſion of him hectored and braved it, and play'd p. 10with unimitable dexterity ſeveral wild tricks and ſportive frolicks, ſuch as are too commonly too too wickedly uſed at merry Nights, and at Saturnalian, Bacchanalian, or Floralian Carnavals, as to inſtance, there were Ruſhes ſtrewed on the Barn floor to keep the Demoniack's Bones from being broken, for his Body was conſtantly ſore daſht and battered againſt the Ground, eſpecially when falling into a dead Fit, or coming out of his Fits, he being uſually born up before he was hurled to the Earth, he taking up Ruſhes, handled them ſo as if they had been a pack of Cards, every way acting the Carding Gameſter to the life, then ordering the Ruſhes otherwiſe as if they had been Dice, who ſo expert in throwing the Die as he, then he manag'd the Ruſhes as if he had been playing at Bowls, with the various poſtures and eagerneſs of a Bowler, performing theſe and the like feats, either with Words and Oaths, or by dumb Shews and Signs, ſo artificially, intelligibly, and nimbly, as amazed the Spectators, eſpecially becauſe Richard was wholly ignorant of theſe Games, both before and ſince this trouble, he at preſent declaring, that he never uſed or knew how to play at Cards, Dice, Bowls, Tables, &c. All this while the Miniſter thus talkt to him, now Angel, where is all thy dazling grandeur; And what's become of thy Pompous Magnificence? how didſt thou brandiſh in ample ſtate among the Potentates and Powers, among the Crowned Grandees of Mighty Lucifer, how didſt thou ruffle in Illuſtrious Robes, and ſtrut loftily in thy glittering Pride, and ſcatter abroad thy appaling glories? What is thy towering Creſt now fallen, and that ſo low as to ſuch froth, noiſe, flaſh and pedantry; And is thy Peacocks gawdy Train deplumed, ſo that thou art as the featherleſs Peacok, the very fowleſt Fowl of the Air, Luke 8. v. 5, 12. And can thy ſtout Stomach ſtoop to perſonate a Merry Andrew? Wert thou the inventor, or only an old Practitioner of theſe ſilly trifles, that makes thee ſo ſurpaſſing skilful at them? What little pedling knacks wilt thou next entertain us with? Art thou not a notable dealer in May-pole rounds, 2 Kings 18. v. 26. Maſquerades, Deut. 22, v. 5. Ruſh-buryings, Morrice-dances, Whiſton-ales, Fortune telling, Legerdemain, Lotteries, Midnight-revels, and in lewd Ballads, Pictures, Comedies and Romances? Oh how well it becomes thy haughty ſtatelineſs, thus wilely to ſneak to ſuch mimical apiſhneſs and baſeſt mummeries. Never was the touchieſt pretender to the niceſt punctilio's of imaginary humours, ſo ſenſible of the groſſeſt affronts as the Demoniack ſeem'd at this Diſcourſe, one while boiling as with Indignation and diſdain; another time hanging down the head as if covered with ſhame, oft abruptly ſtartling and breaking off from p. 11one Trick, then again ſhuffling to another, till he fell into his dead Fit, and at laſt recovered. But in this Nights laſt or third Fit, he was handled more extraordinarily than ever before, both as to the variety of his Colloquies, and the multitude of his dead, and the fierceneſs of his raging Fits; at the beginning of which the Miniſter ſaid, The Lord rebuke thee Satan, that thou may'ſt be gon out of him, and ceaſe from troubling him; What! Can no meaner a ſhrine than an Human body ſerve thy turn? And is it not good enough for thee, to abſcond with thy Fellow Locuſts in their Abys, Rev. 9.3. or to flutter in the Air, Eph. 2. v. 2. to wallow in the Waves or flames, Mark 9. v. 22. Mat. 8. v. 31, 32. to skip or skulk in Woods or Thickets, or old Mountains, or Ruins, or Rocky Caverns, or Subterraneous Vaults of Darkneſs, Rev. 18. v. 2. Iſa. 13. v. 19, 21, 22. and 65. v. 4. Wiſd. 19. v. 4, 6, 9, 14. or to haunt or ramble o're Deſarts, Fields, o're Bogs or Mountains, Mat. 4. v. 1. and 12. v. 43. 2 Chron. 11. v. 15. Wiſd. 11. v. 15. among the loathſome crew of Seirim, Ziimim and Ochim, Iſa. 34. v. 11. add 16. Jer. 50. v. 39. Deut. 32. v. 17. And was it not enough that ye dwelt in Stocks, and Stones, and Guilded Statues, when ye gave falſe Oracles to our Pagan Anceſtors? And doth it not grieve thee that ye are driven out of your Stately Temples by the coming of Chriſt? Or, why doſt thou not fly to Aſia, Africa, or America, where as yet thou may'ſt have too too many Pagan Idolaters? Would'ſt thou not rather be adored there, than abhorred here? And haſt thou ſo many Sons of Belial even in Europe, whoſe wicked Souls are at thy Devotion? And cannot this ſuffice thee, unleſs thou haſt Mens Bodies alſo enſlaved to thy Tyranny? And haſt not thou liberty enough over Mens Bodies in places of Blaſphemy, Cruelty, Sorcery, Beaſtiality, Superſtition and Death, but muſt thou alſo inflict this Land where thy grand Enemies Goſpel-Truths and Worſhip flouriſheth? Oh how is it that ſuch Night-Owls fly abroad in the brighteſt Sunſhine of Chriſtianity, and muſt we at this time of the day be troubled with driving you, not only out of Mens Hearts, but out of their Bodies alſo! During this Diſcourſe, the Demoniack often cry'd out, Carliſle, Carliſle, hold, hold, ſtay, ſtay, Carliſle, hear me Carliſle, let me ſpeak to thee Carliſle, and ſeemed extraordinary enraged, for that upon his commands, the Miniſter did not immediately ſtop, who at laſt forbearing, ſaid he, Carliſle, Thou haſt been talking about Ordination deſigning to be ſet a part to the Miniſtry, and thinking that thereby thou wilt be more enabled to oppoſe and diſpoſſeſs me. Here he ſware ſuch Oaths as are not to be repeated, upon which, ſaid he, I'll work and manage thee p. 12to purpoſe, whilſt by thine own acknowledgment thou art no Miniſter; and beſides, I value not thine Ordination but defie it, and all thy other Stratagems againſt me. This Diſcourſe ſurprized the Miniſter, who was then but a Miniſter probationary or expectant, who confeſt, that it had for ſome Weeks before been over and over in his mind to offer himſelf to tryal for Ordination, being ſtrongly perſwaded, that if he could but come againſt the Devil inveſted with a Miniſterial Commiſſion, Dignity, and Office, that then through the Divine Aſſiſtance he ſhould prevail againſt him; which perſwaſion however he had never ſpoken of except in private Prayer, before this very Conference with the Demoniack. And beſides, the day before his coming to the Surey, he had ſome Diſcourſe with Mr. O. H. near Halifax in Yorkſhire about his Ordination, which neither was nor could be related at the Surey, by any Mortal, before the Demoniack thus rehearſt it. Which diſcoveries of ſuch ſecret tranſactions, made ſome more circumſpect againſt ill Words, Thoughts, Actions, leſt Satan ſhould publiſh them at theſe Conferences in vaſt Aſſemblies or at Dooms-day, eſpecially for that he often told openly the faults of others Perſons that were Strangers coming from far. Whence the Miniſters often bleſt the Lord, partly for that he kept Satan from reporting their paſt Frailties, but mainly for that they were kept from ſuch groſs Sins, as might have made them fear the Devils tell-tale blabbing, ſo as they durſt never have encountred him with ſuch unfailing boldneſs, unſhaken conſtancy, and ſweet repoſe of Mind. However the Miniſter thus anſwered Satans laſt Diſcourſe; How now Satan, haſt thou been at thine old Trade of going to and fro in the Earth, and of walking up and down in it, and that upon ſo mean an errand as huxtering for Stories, and flying with Tales from own Country to another: What art thou the grand Intelligencer, News-monger, or Obſervator of the Nation, that inviſibly and incognito crowdeſt among all Companies, ſhrowdeſt thy ſelf in Cloſets, and all to take Cognizance, and make reports of Men's Minds and Manners, or are ſome Devils, as Poſts, or Lackeys, from whom thou hadſt the Tidings of the aboveſaid Perſwaſion, and talk about Ordination, or how otherwiſe couldſt thou know them, or how knoweſt thou that mine Ordination, if I be found fit for it, will be of no force againſt thee. Was the Ordination of the Apoſtles, and the Seventy Diſciples, and Paul, of no force againſt thee, through which ye fell as Lightening from Heaven, and all the Powers of your worſt Scorpions were ſubject to, and trampled on them, Luke 9. v. 1, 6, 10. v. 1, 17, 18, 19. Acts 16. v. 18. And is the Lord's Arm ſhortned, that he cannot as powerfully p. 13ſet in with his Ordinances to diſpel thee now as he did formerly? Iſa. 5.9. v. 1. And what is it which thou threatneſt to do at me whilſt I am no Miniſter? Why may not I rather whilſt unordain'd prevail againſt thee? for whilſt Philip and Stephen were no Miniſters, were they not too hard for the proudeſt Devil among you, Acts. 6. v. 8, 10. and 8. v. 6, 7. Bleſſed be my rock, I fear thee not, and exalted be the God of the rock of my Salvation; thy triumphing before the Victory methinks, is a ſure ſign, that I ſhall Triumph after it. Upon which the Demoniack launch'd forth into a great deal of jargo, nintermixt with Greek and Latin, and particularly, a page Carliſle, I may not abide thee. Abi in malam rem quid mihi tecum rerum tuarum ſatagas foreign, the Miniſter anſwered, Why call'ſt thou me a Buſie body, and ſayeſt, that I am imployed in buſineſs that nothing concerns me? What have I no buſineſs here where I am called by the Miniſters and People of theſe parts? Nay as a Man ought not, I to do my beſt to help a Beaſt out of a Ditch, much more to help this youth out of his Miſery, and eſpecially as a Chriſtian; Doth it not belong to me to oppoſe the Devil ſeeing this I was bound to by a Vow at Baptiſm, and oft ſince, engaging that through the Lords help, I would to mine utmoſt through all my time practiſe every known duty, tho' never ſo much againſt my will, or name, my livelihood, or life, which I bleſs the Lord that I was ſo bound to, which through Gods grace I will ever keep; and mine heart exalts whilſt I do now ſolemnly renew it, and do denounce an irreconcileable War againſt thee, and will do all that I can to drive thee out of the Country, and ſo cordially do I abominate, and ſo effectually would I ruinate thine intereſt in the World, that I cannot acquieſs meerly in this general Vow againſt thee, but do further profeſs my ſelf an offerer at a ſpecial Vow for proſecuting thy Kingdoms overthrow, as the only Vocation, Calling and Buſineſs, which I have to mind and follow in this World, and even as every orderly Perſon, beſides his Chriſtian trade does fix on ſome particular Act or Science, Miſtery or Craft, to ſpend his Life in 2 Theſ. 3. v. 11. Juſt ſo would I enter on the moſt tremendous Miniſterial Vow againſt thee, that I may do the greater miſchief to thy cauſe and ways. The Demoniack reply'd, Carliſle, Carliſle, Colloquamur Latine vel Graece vel quâlibet aliâ linguâ auditoribus ignotâ: adeon' indoctus es ut alio Idiomate uſi non poſſis quam quod cum materno lacte imbiſti: Reſpondeas ergò nec anglicè in foreign illiteratus palam dici malles. To which the Miniſter ſaid, What Satan wer't thou intimate with all the Babel-builders, ſo as to learn of them all their Languages, or being ſome p. 14of thoſe Languages died with our Anceſtors, and ſome new Dialects were ſince invented, and ſprung up in their ſtead; didſt thou learn all theſe Tongues and Idioms by thy long Travels through the Earth in all thoſe times wherein they flouriſhed, or by converſing with all in Hell, that great Emporium, whether Men reſort of all Ages, Speeches, Countries? But is it not better to ſpeak that one Language of thine old Heavenly Country, which I hope to learn, and thou haſt irrecoverably forgot, than to be ſo univerſal a Linguiſt as thou pretendeſt to be; however I am not careful to anſwer thee in this matter, for ſhould I talk to thee in a Language unknown to the hearers as thou deſireſt, then I ſhould follow the Devils Counſel, and do his pleaſure, and ſtill ſtand at thy Courteſie, whether upon my gratifying thee in ſpeaking ſuch a Language thou wouldſt not ſtill challenge me to ſome other Lingua, which if I underſtood no…, thou wouldſt ſtill ſtile me as thou threatneſt me even now illiterate, for not knowing ſo many Languages as thou; and beſides ſuch Languages would be no ſatisfaction or advantage, but much prejudice to the Hearers, who might then think that I uſed Charms and Spells, and Enchanting Words, and Magical Expreſſions to Conjure thee out of this Youth. And I de rather the Hearers ſhould repute me unlearned for refuſing, than an Exorciſt for abuſing ſtrange Languages in our Dialogues. But tho' I'll not yield to thy laſt requeſt, yet thy Diſcourſe laſt before it, I continue to Anſwer; thou little thinkeſt how thou pleaſedſt me, by threatning me with thy hatred, which I value infinitely more than thy Friendſhip. But I fear thou flatteredſt me, and wouldſt make me overjoyed and cajole me to think too well of my ſelf, by telling me thou canſt not abide me, and I fear thou doſt not really hate me, but only ſay'ſt ſo, to tempt me into preſumption; but if thou doſt really hate me, as thou ſay'ſt, then I comfortably conclude, that I am none of thy Children or Party, whom thou couldſt not hate, For the God of this World ſtill loveth his own, Mark 3. v. 24, 26. John 7. v. 7, 15, 19. And thence may I infer, that I belong to Chriſt, and am of the ſame ſide with the Saints and Angels, whom thou hateſt alſo as ill as me, Rev. 12. v. 7, 10, 17. John 8. v. 42, 44. and ſo thy hatred is an Evidence that I ſhall dwell for ever in that all Glorious Heaven, whence thou irretrievably fell into an all curſed Hell, which I ſhall eſcape for ever. But as Paul after his Soul raviſhing ſenſe of unutterable Glories, was ſorely buffeted by Satan, 2 Cor. 12. v. 7. ſo the Miniſter after his ſaid joyous hopes was as ſwallowed up in the hour and power of Darkneſs, Luke 22. v. 53. Whilſt the Demoniack ſhaken as with an Hurricane, after moſt Execrable Curſes, cried p. 15out, Carliſle, Thou art mine own, and ſhalt never get to Heaven; mine thou wert at firſt, and wert ſince given finally up to me, and whilſt thou liveſt Ill employ thee in my Work, and then Ill carry thee to Hell, where I and other Tormentors will rack thee into Lamentations, and Mournings, and Woes, into Weeping and Wailing, and gnaſhing of Teeth, Wines of Wrath having long been on the Lees for thee a ripening, and a gathering rageous ſtrength and quick Spirit of Fury, and when drawn off thrice refined from all Tinctures of Mercy for thee to drink up, the very firſt ſight of them will ſhoot thee through, as with ravenous flakes of fiery ſtinging Poyſon, and when the Sword bathed in Heaven has for ten thouſand Millions of Ages been fatted with thy Kidneys, and drunk with thy Souls Life Blood, thou ſhalt then be as far from the end of thy Torments as thou art now, and even then thou wilt think thy infinite Woes already paſt were nothing in compariſon of thoſe horrible Tempeſts of vengeful Plagues which thou wilt then ſee a ruſhing ſucceſſively on thee, without mitigation or intermiſſion for evermore. And here Satan deſcribed much of the nature and ſorts of Hell Torments, at a more lively and terrible rate than ever the By-ſtanders knew done by Mens Books or Sermons, inſomuch that many things then ſpoken by the Devil about Hell, being afterwards collected, and ſo far as clear Scripture proof for them was found, formed into a Diſcourſe at T. one that heard it broke his way through the Company, and ran out crying as in a Fright, Away, away, elſe the Houſe will be ſet on fire about our Ears: Yea, ſo uncommonly did Satan penetrate as into the experienced Miſteries of Damnation, as if he were guſhing out all Einae's roaring Floods of blazing Sulfur Rocks, or ſtirring up the very dregs and bottoms of the fired Brimſtone Lake, ſo as ſurely might have flaſht Lightning into the moſt cloſed Eyes of divers Conſciences that could poſſibly be lift up before tormented in this Flame, Luke 16. v. 23, 24. And thus he long went on, reckoning up various moſt barbarous Tortures, that he ſaid, he'd make the Miniſter ſuffer when he got him to Hell, and particularly ſaid he, When I get thee in Hell, I'll make thee my Porter to carry damned Wretches from one bed of Flames to another, and there thou ſhalt meet with thy old Friend ſuch an one thy Countryman, ſuch an one thy Neighbour, ſuch an one, &c. All whom I have already got into Hell, and how will it pleaſe me then to ſee you then flying into mutual Revenges for your paſt helping one another Helwards. Whilſt Satan talked thus endways, breathing dreadful threats againſt the Miniſter, he was for a time quite driven off his way of arguing and preſence of mind, as Job's Friends amazed, he anſwered no more, and ſtood ſtill and left off ſpeaking, and the People waited for his words, and gave ear for his Reaſons, p. 16but there was no Anſwer found in his Mouth, Job 32. v. 5, 11, 15, 16. eſpecially when the names of his old dear dead acquaintance were reckoned up, he was extreamly ſurprized thereat, for that not any Mortal then there except himſelf, did then ſo much as know what Countryman he was, much leſs could they know the ſaid Names; whom when the Devil ſaid, he had in Hell the Miniſter remembred how ſome of them had lived, and ſeemingly died in lamentable Omiſſions and Commiſſions; upon which his very ſoul was brim full of Tribulation, and Horrour, and Anguiſh, his trembling Legs were a failing him, and he near fainting, and the People were greatly troubled and afraid for him, ſeeing his Carriage and Countenance ſo altered, and the roaring Lyon as about to prey upon him; till at laſt, he leaning on the Chair to keep him from falling, and conſidering how vilely he was giving ground and yielding up all to Satan, he forcibly gathered in his thoughts from attending Satans Diſcourſe, and firmly reſolved not then to mind one word he ſaid, but ſix his thoughts unmoveably on Chriſt, in Heart, Prayer and Meditation, which through amazing rich Mercy proved as Sampſon's Enhakkore—to him who taſting thereof, his Soul came again and he revived, Judg. 15. v. 18, 19. tho' not ſo ſuddenly, but that Satan again ſtaggered his reſolutions, by calling him (not Carliſle, as before, but) by his own Name, ſaying, Carrington, I ſee thou droopeſt ſadly, and art miſerably dejected: Alas poor Carrington, wilt thou have a Poſſet and ſome Barley Pye-cruſt to cheriſh and to hearten thee, and to keep thee from ſwooning? All the Miniſters efforts hindred not his relapſing into aſtoniſhment at this pitiful flout, for that no Mortal then there except he himſelf did then know of his being a Cheſhire Man, where Barley eſpecially ſhull'd is much uſed for Bread, &c. much leſs did they know of his old Cuſtom and Inclinations, ordinarily uſing the ſaid Food and preferring it before any other ſort whatſoever, againſt whom thus amuſed, Satan followed his Blow with Invectives, Inſultings, and Comminations, and particularly cry'd out, Carliſle, Ill now chaſtiſe thee for thy raſhneſs in medling with me; yea Ill deal with thee as the Sons of Sceva were treated, Ill leap on thee, overcome thee, and make thee flee hence wounded, Acts 19. v. 14, 16. how durſt thy ſaucy Impudence provoke my puiſſance who can hurle Fire from Heaven, and ſcatter abroad Whirlwinds and Deſtructions, and much more fruſtrate thy beſt endeavours, Job 1. v. 12, 16, 19. 1 Theſ. 2. v. 18. And now Carliſle, thou haſt none of thy Black Regiment here to back thee, no Miniſter here to bring thee off, or to reſcue thee out of my hands, and now a have thee under; I will never let thee alone till I have miſchiev'd thee, p. 17and unleſs thou run away quickly from my preſence, I will pour forth my continued rages againſt thee, and laſh thee with inſatiable Furies for Three Hours longer, far worſe than I have done hitherto; nor will I intermit them, or give thee the leaſt breathing fit, until I have utterly confounded thee, or driven thee away with ſuch a vengeance, as will fright thee from ever facing me again, or conteſting with me about Dicky.

Tho' the Miniſter had been continually exerciſed from about Two a Clock in the Afternoon, till about Seven a Clock next Morning, and ſo was unlikely to ſuſtain ſo formidable a Tempeſt, as by the Devils reckoning was a coming upon him, yet with an humble confidence that he ſhould be helped, through the utmoſt date and danger thereof bore him up againſt Satan, and they who thought he would faint, or retire upon theſe ſtormy vollies that battered againſt him as Cracks of Thunder, wondred to hear him, after ſo long ſilence and diſcompoſure, thus to renew the conflict, ſaying, Satan I'll not believe meerly on thy report, that they are in Hell whom thou namedſt, but ſurely thou canſt not ſay ſuch an One is in Hell too, nor will I take it on thy word, that the Lord hath finally given me up to thee; How proveſt thou that I am thus given up? Nay, ſurely Chriſt on whom I dwell, who is my very precious Life, has not yet left me, and ſurely he will never, never leave, he will never, never, never leave me, Heb. 13. v. 5. ſaid he, Carliſle, I will never, never leave thee, I will never, never, never part with thee; and though Hell has not whom thou mentioneſt, yet it ſhall have thee, and that thou art mine, I'll e're long prove to purpoſe by ſenſible demonſtrations, by ſtabs and ſtings, and an infinite ſort of Torture, Stratagems. The Miniſter anſwered, I queſtion not Inſtruments of cruelty are in thy Habitation, Oh my ſoul, come not thou into its Secrets, Gen. 49. v. 5, 6. And fierce, cruel Lord is thy name, Eſ. 19. v. 3, 4. I ſee ſo much of thy Monſtrous Savageneſs towards this poor Youth, and ſome other of thy Vaſſals upon Earth, as I hope will warn me and others from trying Experiments how thou wouldſt treat us in Hell; But how proveſt thou that ever thou ſhall have a power of giving me ſuch proofs as you tell of? This point thou canſt never prove, and though thou be loath to part with me, yet thou muſt for ever, unleſs thou canſt pluck me out of Chriſt's and his Fathers hands, John 10. v. 27, 28, 29. or unleſs thou canſt perſecute and turn me off from following Chriſt, which through Gods grace thou ſhalt never do; and as to thy driving me away as thou doeſt threaten, why may not I inſtead thereof drive thee away through the Lord's Bleſſing, by whoſe ſtrengthing me, I can do all things? Phil. 4. v. 13. Nay it ſeems my company is a trouble to thee, and that thou art p. 18weary of me, ſince thou ſo often biddeſt me to be gone, and art ſo eager to have me run away from thee, but I am not yet fled hence Satan as the Sons of Scevan; and though thou threateneſt that thou wouldſt never intermit this angry fit till I were routed, yet through Gods good Providence and Spiritual Aſſiſtance, I am reſolved, not only to confront thee now, till this bruſh be over, but alſo to come hither again and again to trouble thee, and never let thee alone till thou be gone from him.

'Twas ſtrange to ſee how the caſe was altered upon the Miniſter's thus re-encountering him, for whilſt he thus diſcourſed, the Demoniack very furiouſly flung to and fro, mantling his face ſometime on one ſide, then on another, and as if he were ſpeaking to ſomething unſeen by the By-ſtanders, he ſaid in a lower, yet audable Voice, What ſhall I do, I will miſchieve him, I can bear him no longer? Upon which ruſhing up towards the Miniſter, he gave the Young Man a moſt ſurly thump, who mainly hindred his reaching the Miniſter; upon which the other Youths joyn'd Forces hindring his further miſchievouſneſs he ſprung up into a dead Fit. Then the Miniſter fell to Publick Prayer and Praiſing God for his ſingular Goodneſs on this occaſion, upon which he ſoon ſtarts up again, tho' not ſo formidable as before, till upon Conference he fell again into his dead fit, and upon Prayer ſoon roſe again, and did thus often; inſomuch that they then there, had very great hopes of his being caſt out that very Night, for that he ſtill yielded more and more before the Miniſter, and it ſeemed as at the Miniſters pleaſure, to make him anſwer to him, or to make him fall into or riſe from his dead Fits.

As to inſtance, the Miniſter much encouraged, bid the Young Men to let the Demoniack come near him, and do or ſay his pleaſure without their interpoſal, who accordingly came up and ſtood about a yard off him, never in the leaſt during the remainder of this fit motioning to harm him, but drooping moſt deſpicably as a Malefactor at the Bar, having gradually ſhrunk into a ſeemingly abject and ſlaviſh Faſhion: Said the Miniſter, Is it not a maxim among you Devils, that none ſhould be tormented before his time, Mat. 8. v. 29. Now if thou be ſure of this poſſeſt Youth as thou ſay'ſt thou art, and that thou ſhalt torment him in Hell, then why ſhouldſt thou torment him now, which is before the time, being the ordinary time of thy thus tormenting thy Slaves, is not till thou getteſt them into Hell. Said he, My time is ſhort, and I muſt take all advantages of carrying on my work, for which purpoſe this is a fit occaſion. Said the Miniſter, I hope Satan this occaſion ſhall not carry on thy p. 19work, but the Lord ſhall out-ſhoot thee in thine own Bow, ſo that thou ſhalt hereby drive and fright him and others from thee, rather than win them to Hell as thou purpoſeſt.

Juſt as the Father of the poſſeſt Man and Spectators were driven from you to Chriſt, who would not have ſought Chriſt hadſt thou not troubled them. And doſt thou confeſs that thy time of poſſeſſing this Youth is but ſhort, and will be ſoon over? Said he, If this work hold, I ſhall not ſtay long here. On theſe words he ſeemed enraged againſt himſelf, as if they had over-ſlipt him, that he fell into a dead fit, whence he ſoon roſe up in time of Prayer much abaſhed, as if he would recal his laſt words, ſaying, Carliſle, Carliſle, I'll not go out of him, but my meaning was, that my time of liberty and ſtay among Mortals is ſhort.

Prayer ended, the Miniſter ſaid, Satan, What is the reaſon why thou ſtill calleſt me Carliſle? Said he, Becauſe thou art a going Carliſle-wards, and art erelong to remove from where thou now dwelleſt, and to reſide at a place in the Rode to Carliſle; at which the Miniſter much wondred, for though ſome places then had moved for his fixing among them, of which one was towards Carliſle, yet he had not determined, much leſs anſwered about his removing either to the one or other of them; till Two Weeks after this Nights Surey Conflict, ſome Miniſters were got to a day of Prayer and Conference about his ſaid Anſwer; the reſult whereof was, that he was to go Carliſle-wards which neither he nor any Mortal knew of before this Prayer day; ſo that it was ſtrange that his going towards Carliſle ſhould be told of by the Demoniack on that Night ſo long before it was reſolved on. Notwithſtanding the Miniſter ſaid, What Satan! Doſt thou ſay thy time of ſtaying in this World is but ſhort? Hark, hark, Doſt not thou hear the laſt Trump ſounding a dreadful Call, Summoning all Devils to the laſt day of Judgment, at which he as in a ſhivering fright fell into his dead Fit, but afterwards roſe up whilſt the Miniſter prayed, who then ſolemnly cloſing his Prayer did ſay; Satan thou telleſt how thou wilt not leave that poſſeſt Youth, but that ſhall be tryed through the Lords help. I come in the Name of my great Maſter the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to demand this Young Man from thee, to take Livery, and Seizing of him for my Maſters uſe and ſervice, and do expreſly charge and command thee to depart from him, as thou ſhalt anſwer me at the great day of Judgment, where thou ſhalt have Judgment without Mercy, if thou wilt not be gone from him, Jam. 2. v. 13. It is written, That the Devil ſhall flee from thoſe that reſiſt him, Jam. 4. v. 7. on which Divine Promiſe I depend p. 20ſtedfaſt in the Faith that thou ſhalt flee upon our reſiſting thee, 1 Pet. 5. v. 8, 9. and do entirely rely upon that precious promiſe, that Faith may drive thee hence, ſince there is nothing impoſſible to it, Mat. 17. v. 20. and do believe that Prayers which are ſtill wreſtling againſt thee may open Heaven, Jam. 5. v. 18. and thence command thy removal from Gods Sons and Daughters, Iſa. 45. v. 11. yea from this Youth, John 5. v. 14. add 19. and do humbly wait for, and expect that Bleſſing promiſed and annext to the great Ordinance of Prayer and Faſting, by which thou may'ſt be caſt out, Mat. 6. v. 16, 18. and 17. v. 21. And I am ſure if the Holy Spirit and our Hearts, do once tell their mind to the Father for thy going hence, and pour out unutterable Groans and Interceſſions for this Youth, that then thou canſt ſtay no longer there, no tho' thou be one of the Principalities, or Powers, or Wickedneſſes in high places, Rom. 8. v. 26, 27. and I am firmly perſwaded, that the Weapons of our Warfare are Mighty through God to pull down Devils, or any thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt him, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. and that there is ſo much of the Armour, Word and Power of God abiding in us confederate againſt thee, as the Wicked One will never be able to withſtand, 1 John 2. v. 14. Eph. 2. v. 10, 14. and tho' no ſingle one here be as Jacob, the Prince of Praying Men, a Prevailer with God, Gen. 32. v. 28. or as the Syrophenician Princeſs of Praying Women, a Prevailer againſt the Devil, Mark 7. v. 25, unto the 31ſt. Yet ſurely as Gad this troop of ſuppliant Wreſtlers ſhall overcome thee at laſt, Gen. 49. v. 19. and ſurely the minds of them that believe, ſhall defeat the God of this World, 2 Cor. 4. v. 4. and greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the World, therefore I truſt that we ſhall overcome Evil Spirits, 1 John 4. v. 4. yea we ſhall caſt thee out by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of his Teſtimony, Rev. 12. v. 9, 11. As the Miniſter was thus going on, the Demoniack cried out, At Ten a Clock my next Fit returns, and ſo unexpectedly came out of his Fit about Eight of the Clock, or about an hour after his threatening that his raging Fit ſhould continue Three Hours longer.

On Auguſt the 14th 1689. As ſoon as the laſt mentioned Nights Conflict ended, Richard, and the reſt then at the Surey, deſired the ſaid Miniſter to ſtay till his next Fit was over, which the Demoniack foretold, would be at Ten a Clock that Morning, as is above ſaid; they ſtrongly conſided that Satan would certainly be diſpoſſeſt if he were but again purſued thus, as in the laſt Fit; the Devil did partly confeſs, and did beſides ſo manifeſtly ſubmit more and more, as if ſometimes he was a going, or could not ſtay long, and p. 21could not very probably reſiſt another cloſe Application of the Word and Prayer, Faſting and Conference againſt him; upon which the Miniſter denied not to ſtay, till he walking hot out of the Barn, the Air ſuddenly made him ſo very hoarſe that he could only whiſper, and not ſpeak out all that day; then going home, other Miniſters were ſent for, and deſired to carry on the Work of the approaching Fit, taking the matter up where it was left, each ſucceſſively taking his day work in his turn, and that inceſſantly, aſſaulting the Devil in each of his Fits without intermiſſion, by which courſe it was not doubted, but that the Devil would certainly be ſoon diſpoſſeſt, but the Miniſters oppoſed not Satan in every Fit uninterruptedly, nor ſpoke to him in any Fit for a long time after, which ſome thought one Reaſon why, they were ſo long before they diſpoſſeſt him, through which delay, other wicked Spirits either Humane, or Diabolical, or both, very probably took occaſion to caſt more work on the Miniſters hands, and rubbs in their way then they had at firſt; the Romaniſts ſeeming at leaſt deſirous, that Richard ſhould reject the above-ſaid Miniſters further labours on his behalf, and ſhould reſign himſelf to the charge of their Prieſts for relief, which indeed they of the Surey ſeem'd ſometimes willing to yeild to, one while one, another while others of them hinting, let the Proteſtant Miniſters go to their purpoſe, and we will go to ours; their way of helping Demoniacks, ſeems not ſo ſure and ſpeedy as that which the Romaniſts uſe, which occaſion'd a Diſcourſe from Luke 11.14, to 27. on this Propoſition, that Satan's poſſeſſion of, and diſpoſſeſſion from a Man's Body or Soul, does very much concern us, which was ſo ſpoken to at the Surey, as did then prevent thoſe Applications to the Romaniſts for help, that were then talkt of, inſomuch that it was deſign'd as a Poſtſcript to this Narrative, had it not been hinder'd, as is declared in the Preface; ſo that this with other ſuch means at other times ſeem'd to fix them in a firm dependance only upon the above-ſaid Miniſters Aſſiſtances in the Lord; however Seven Romaniſts, whereof Two at leaſt ſeem'd Prieſts, did one Mid-night undertake Richard in his Fit, wherein Satan, and ſome of the Seven did long talk to one another in a Language unknown to the other Byſtanders, beſides a Paper was once ſent to Richard with full aſſurance, that if the ſaid Miniſters would once read it over him whilſt in his Fit, it would throughly cure him, which the ſaid Miniſters declin'd, knowing it was a Prayer preſcribed in ſome Conjuring Book, or in Popiſh Exorciſms, beſides other methods which they were thought to uſe to the foreſaid purpoſe. Three others did likewiſe p. 22offer at relieving Richard at three ſeveral times, and in three different ways; Two of which very haſtily going away, when his rageing Fit began, at which indeed the Third did ſtay, being ſtrong and old, but was thrown down, and in great danger of being kill'd by the Demoniack, whom the By-ſtanders pulled off him with great difficulty, Luke 10. v. 31, 32, 33. However the Demoniak's Fit returning at the aboveſaid Ten a Clock, he mightily exulted at the ſilencing and going away of Carliſle, whoſe abſence after this from the Surey was neceſſitated for a conſiderable time, wherein he had both frequent intimations of Satan's being grown fiercer than ever, and particularly in his domineering againſt Carliſle, as alſo ſeveral inſtigations to haſten his coming again to the Surey, and particularly this following Letter from one of the Miniſters ingaged in the ſaid Affair.