Saducismus Triumphatus

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BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

The gift of

Anon5nnous

SAMUEL WEISER

GR. 7.8453

'woy(bet.13&14St.l N. Y. C.

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in 2011 with funding from

Boston Public Library

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AndSaid percetucd ihat li was S amuci an slouved ivtik his face iome cjivintd, aiu howeJ h I ntsdf . I'i Sa mu A . i h ap: 2 S : V . i 4

L: cUno inr'^Sc

a.nrux-*a

Saducifmus Trmmphatm:

Or, full and plain

EVIDENCE

•v^ Concerning ^

Witches and Apparitions.

In Two PARTS.

The Firft Treating of their

POSSIBILITY

The Second of their

Real EXISTENCE.

By Jojefh GUnvily late Chaplain in Ordi-nary to his Maj^fty, and Fellow of the

Royal Society.

The Third Edition with Additions,

The Advantages whereof, above the former, the Reader may underftand out of Dr. H. Mores Account prefixed thereunto. WITH

Two Authentick, but wonderful Stories of certain Swedt/h Witches. Done into Englifh by A. HornecJ{y D. D,

LONDON. Printed for A. L. and Sold by Roger TuckjTf at the Golden Leg, the Corner o( Salisbury-(treety in the Strand. MDCC.

£JLlL

m^K^A

i^<^ /fecfO -7/

THE

PUBLISHER

T O T H E

READER.

Reader,

THat thou huH no fooner e^^jo/d this long ex* pe5ied Edition y thou can^fi not jujlly blame either the Author or my felf: Not my felf^ for I could not Puhlijh the Book before I had ity nor the Author J hecaufe many unexpe5ied Occafons drove off his Mind to other Matters, and interrupted him in his prefent Defign^ infomuch that he was f natch"* t a^ rvay by Death before he had quite finished it. But tho^ the learned World may very weB. lament the loji of fo able and ingenious a Writer^ yet as to this pre*-fent Pointy if that may. mitigate thy Sorrow^ in all likelihood this Book hadnotjeen the light fofoon^ if he had lived ; fo many emergent Occafions giving him new Interruptions ^ and offering him new Temp* tat ions to further delay: Indeed it had been deftr* able that it might have had the Polishing of his laft Handy as the Perufer of his Papers fignifesin his lap

A Adver-

To the Reader.

Advertifement ; but to com^enfate this loj?, thefaii Ferufer^ a Friend as well to his Deftgn as to his Per-fon^ has digefled thofe Ma-terids 'he left into that order and difUnBne^^md has [o. tied things together^ and fupf lied them in his Advertifements^ that to the judicious Reader nothing can feem wanting that may ferve the ends of his intended Treat ife ; not to inti--mate what confder able things are added more than it is likely had been if hehadfnifhedit hirnfelf^ for be-fides the Adverti/ements of the careful Perufer ofhii Papers^ and that notable late St or j^ of the Swedifh Witches^ Tranflated out of the German into the Eng-lilh Tongue^ there is alfo added ajhort Treat ife of the true and genuine notion of a Spirit^ taken out of JD/'.More's Enchiridion Metaphyficum, to enter-tain thofe that are more curious Searchers into the nature ofthefe things ; the number Alfo of the Stories are much encreafed above what was deftgn d by Mr, Glanvil, tho^ none admitted but fuch as feemed very . well attefted and highly credible^ to his abovefaid Friend^ and fuch as rightly under foody contain no-thing but what is confonant to right Keafon andjound Philofofhyy as I have heard him earneftly avouch^ th(f it had been too tedious to have e:^pUined all ; and it may be more grateful to the Reader to be left to exercife his ownWit and Ingeny upon the reflXhefe are the advantages this Edition (^/Mr.GlanviiV Demon e?/Tedworth, And his Qonfider&tions about Witch-craft have above any Edition before y tho" the lafi of them was fo bought up that there was notaCopy of them to be had in all London and Cambridge, but the Pe-rufer of his Papers was fain to break his own toferve the Pre f with, Ifthefe Intimations may move thy

Appetite

To the Reader.

fvtite to the readingfo p leaf ant and ufeful a Treatifet And yet 1 can add bne thiWg more touching the Stor^ cf the Damon of Tedworth rvhich is very confider-^ ahky it is not for me indeed to take notice of that meannef of S fir it in the Exploders cf Apparitions a'ndWitches^ which very fir dngelj betray d it j elf in the decrying of that mil attefled Narrative touching the fiirs in Mr. Mompeffon's Hcttfe^ where alt ha^ they thatcam to be Spectators of the Marvelous things there done by fome invifible Agent s^ had all the Lt-I Berty imaginable^ even to the ripping of theBolJters open to fedrch and try if they could difsovsr any na-. turalCaufe and cunning Artifice whereby fuch ft range feats were done \ and hambsrs that had free accefi from Day to Day^ were abundantly fat^ iff A of the realtity of the things That the Houfe was haunted and difiurVdby DamoHs dr Spirits ; yet fome few Tears after the fiirs had ceafed^ the truth of this Story lying (b u,uafein the Minds of the difgufters of fuch things 4 they raised aReport^ivhen hone ofthem^no hot the mof, diligent and curiotis could dete^ any trick or fraud ^hemf elves in the matt^ir^That both iV/r.Glanvil him-^ Vffpho publijhed the Narrative^ and Mr. Mompef' hn^in whofe Houfe thefe wonderful things happefid^ h ad con f if the whole Matter to be a Cheat and ImpoJ-ture^ and they tvere fo diligent injpreading abroad this grofs untruth^ that it went ttirrent in all the three liiingdoms of Englzu&^^zothnA and Ireland, an e^ gregiotis difcovery ofinihdt kind of Spirit this Jort of Men are J which as Ifaid^ though it be not for me id take notice of yet t wiH not ftick to figtiifie it be-ing both for mine own Inter efi and the Interefi of Truth ^ that thafe B epotts raijed touching Mr, Glan-

To the Reader.

vil, by his Preface to the Jecond fart of the Book; that touching Mr. MompelTon, by two Letters of his ovon^ the one to Mr. Glanvil, the other to my jelf which are fub joined to the faid Preface : Which thing alone may jujily be deemed to add a very great weight to the value ^ as of that Story fo of this fre* fent Edition 'f but Iwill not ufon fretence of excite ing thy Affetite keep thee from the f^tisfying it by an overlongPreface^ which yet ^ if it may feem to be defeciive in any things the DoBor'*s Letter (where amongji other things you /hall meet with that famous and well attefled Story of the Apfarition of Anne Walker V Ghofl- to the Miller) will^ I hope ^ make an abundant fupply* Ifhall add nothing more my felfy but that lam

Your humble, d'r.

Vr. H. M.

( I )

Dr, H. M. his Letter with the Pofifcript to Mr, J. G. minding him of the great Kxfedience and ufe^ fulnefs of his new intended Edition of the D^mon c/ Ted worth, and briefly reprefentingtohimthe marvellom weaknefs and gullerie of Mr. Web-^ ilerV dijplay of Witchcraft.

S 1 II

WHen i was at London, I called on yoilf Bookfeller, ta know in what forwardnefs this new intended Impreffion of the Story of the Daemon of Tedx^orth was, which wili tind&* ccive the World touching that fame fpread abroad, as if Mr. Mompejjon and your felf had acknowledged the bufinefs to have been a meer Trick or Impofture. But the Story with your in-genious Confiderations about Witchcraft, being fo often printed already, he faid, it behoved him to take care how he ventured On a new Impreflion, unlefs he had fome new Matter of tha^ kind to add, which might make this new Edition the more cer-* tairily failable ; and therefore he expected the ifTue of that noifed Story of the Spedlre at Exeter^ feen fo oft for the difcovering of a Murther committed fome thirty Years ago. Eut the event of this bufinefs, as to juridical procefs, not anfwering expedlation, he was difcouraged from rhaking ufe of it, many things being reported to him from thence in favour to the party moll concern-ed. But I told him a Story of one Mrs. Britton her appearing to her Maid after her Death, very well attefted, tliough not of fuch a Tragical kind as xk^ioi Exeter y which he thought con-fiderable. But of Difcoveries of Murther I never m.et with any Story more plain and unexceptionable than that in Mn John H^ebftet his difplay of fuppofed Witchcraft : The Book in-deed it felf, I confeis, is but a weak and impertinent piece ^ but that Story weighty and convincing, and fuch as himfelf (though otherwife an alFedted Caviller againft ajmeft allStoriet of Witchcraft, Apparitions) is conftrained to aflent to, as yoij (hall fee from his own Confeifion. I (hall for your better eafe, or beeaufe you haply may not have the Book, tranfcribe k

B :^ ous

^ Dr. U. Motes Letter.

out of the Writer himfelf, though it be fomething, Chap. 16. Page 298 about the Year of Lord 1632. (as near as I can re-tnember, having loft my Notes and the Gopy of the Letters t© ' Serjeant Huttmy but am iure that I do moft perfectly remember the Subftance of the Story J Near unto Chefter in the Street, there lived one pp^aiker a Yeoman of good Eftate, arid a Wid^ ower, who had a young Woman to his Kinfwoman that kept his Houfc, who was by the Neighbours fufpedbed to be with Child, and was towards the dark of the Evening one Night lent avvay with one Marl{^ Shar^ who was a Collier, or one that digged Coals under ground, and one that had been born in^ BUJ{ehurn Hundred in Lancafloire; and fo (he was not heard of a long time, and no noife or little was made abbut it. In the Winter time after, one James Graham, or Grimey for fo in that Country they call them) being a Miller, and living about 2 Miles from the place where Walker Wv&d^ was one Night a-lonc very late in the Mill grinding Corn, and about 12 or i i. Clock at Night, he came down the Stairs from having been put-ting Corn in the Hopper, the Mill doors being ftiut, there ftood a Woman upon the midft of the Floor with her Hair about her Head hanging down and all Bloody, with five large Wounds on her Head. He being much afirighted and amaz'd,Degan to blefs ' himrerf,and at laft asked her who (he was,and what (ne wanted .> To which (he (aid J am the Sprit effuch afVoman.who Ihedwhh Walker, and being got with Child by him, he premifed to fend m^ to a private place ^ where l/hould be well lookt to till I was brought in Bed and well again^ and then I/hould come again and keep his Hoiife. And accordingly, faid the Apparition, 1 was one Night Ute (ent away with one Mark Sharp, who upon a Moor, naming a place that the Miller knew, flew me with a Pickt fuch as Men dig Coals withal, and gave me thefefive TVowids, and after threw ir.y Body into a Coal-pit hard by, and hid the Pick, under a Bank,^ and hisShoes and Stockings being bloody, he endeavoured to wafh ; *em but feeing the Blood would not forth, he hid them there. And the Ap-parition further told the Miller, that he muft be the Man to re-veal it, orelfe that (he muft ftill appear and haunt him. The Miller returned home very fad and heavy, but fpoke not one Word of what he had feen, but efchewed as much as he could to ftny in the Mill within Night without Company, thinking-thereby to efcape the feeing again of that frightful Apparition. But nocv/ithftanding, one Night when it began to be dark, the Apparition met him again, and feemed very fierce and cruel, and' thrcatped him, that if he did not reveal the Murder (he would eoncinually puffiae and haunt him 3 yet for all this, he flill con-

eeakd

Dr. H. MoreV Letter. ^

,cealed it until Sc. Thomas Eve before ChriftmaSf when being foon after Sun fet walking in his Garden, flie appeared again, and then fo threatned him, and affrighted him, that he faithfully promifed to reveal it next Morning. In the Morning he went to a Magiftrate and made the whole Matter known with all the Circumftances ; and diligent fearch being made, the Body was found in a Coal-pit with live Wounds in the Head, and the Pick and Shoes and Stockings yet bloody, in every Circum-ftance as the Apparition had related unto the Miller ; where-upon Walker and Mark^ Sharp were both Apprehended, but would confefs nothing. At the Aflizes following, I think it was at Durham^ they were Arraigned, found Guiky, Gon-(demn'd and Executed ; but I could never hear they cqnfeft the Fadl. There were fome that reported the Apparition did appear to the Judge, or the Fore-man of the Jury, who was a-live in Qhtfier in the Street about ten Years ago, as I have been credibly inform'd, but of that I know no certainty : There are many Perfons yet alive that can remember this ftrange Murder and the difcovery of it ; for it was, and fometimes yet is, as much difcourfed of in the North Country as any thing that almoft hath cyer been heard of, and the relation Printed, tho' now not to be gotten. I relate this with the greater confidence (^though I may fail in forpe of the Circumftances) becaufe I faw and read the Letter that was fent to Serjeant Huttojj, who then lived at Goldshrugh in Torkjhirey from the Judge before 4!whom iValkgr and Marl^ Sharp were tried, and by whotp they were Condemn'd, and had a Copy of it until about the Year 1658, when I had it and many other Books and Papers taken from me ; and this I confefs to be one of the moll convincing Stories, being of undoubted verity, that ever I read, heard ox-knew of, and carrieth with it the ipoft evident force to mr^kc the niolt incredulous Spirit to be fatisfied that there are really fometimes fuch things as Apparitions ; thus hv. he. This Story is fo confiderable that I make mention of it in my Scholia pn my Immortality of the Soul, in my VoUmen Philifophicum, Tom, 2. which I accquainting a Friend of mine with, a Prudent, In-jelligenc Perlon, Dr. J,D. he of his own accord offered mc, \i being a thing of fuch confequence, to fend to a Friend of his in the North for greater aflurance of the truth of the Jslarra^ tive, which motion I willingly embracing he did accord in|?ly„ The Anfwer tp this Letter from his Friend Mr, Sbephsrdjo^, is this, J hav^ done what I can to inform my /elf vf ttc P^yjage-of Sharp and Walker ; there are very fern Men tha$ J could m^t that were then Men^ or at the Tryal^ favipg^ thcfc two in tjje

B 3 . iuslofci^

4 Dr: H. More'j Letter.

inclcfed Paper, both Men nt that time, and hofh at the Trial ^ and for Mr, Lumley, he lived next door to Walker,' and what he hath given under his Handy can depofe if there were occafion* The other Ge7itleman writ his Atteflation with his own Hand; but I being not there got not his name to it. I could have fent you twenty Hands that could have ftid thus much and more by Hearfay^ but I thought thefe mofl proper that could Jpea\from their own Eyes and Ears, Thus far Mr. Shephsrdfon^ the Doctor's difcreet and faithful In-telligencer • nov»7 for Mr. Lumly of Lumley, being an ancient Gentleman, and at the Trial of TVall^er and Sha7-p upon the Murder of Anne iValker, faith. That he doth very well remem-ber that the faid Anne was Servant to fValk,er, and that fhe was fuppofed to be VvTJth Child, but would not difclofe by whom ; but being removed to her Aunts in the fame Town cal-led Dame Caire, told her Aunt that he that got her with Child would take care both for her and it, and bid her not troubl_e her felf. After fome time fhe had been at her Aunts, it was obferved that Sharp came to Lumley one Night, being a (worn Brother of the faid Walker s ; and they two that Night called her forth from her Aunts Houfe, which Night fhe was Murder *d^ about fourteen Days after the Murder, there appeared to one Graime a Fuller, at his Mill, fix Miles from Lumley, the iike-nefs of a Woman with her Hair about her Head, and the appearance of five Wounds in her Head_, as the faid Graime gave it in Evidence, that that Appearance bid him go to a Ju-ftice of Peace, and relate to him, how that Walker and Sharp had Murthered her in fuch a place as fhe v/as Murthercd ; bur he fearing to difclofe a thing of that nature againft a Perfon of Credit as Walker was, would not have done it ; upon which the faid Graime did go to a Juftice of Peace and related the whole Matter. Whereupon the Juftice of Peace granted War-' rants againft Walker a.nd Sharp, and committed them to a Pri-fon ; but they found Bail to appear at the next Afllzes, at which " ,they came to their Tryal, and upon Evidence of the Circum-itances, with that of Graime of the Appearance, they were both found Guilty and Executed.

WilUam Lumley,

Dr, H. MoreV Letter. 5

of a Child ftand upon Walkers Shoulders during the time of the Trial, at which time the Judge was very much troubled, and gave Sentence that Night the Trial was, which was a thing never ufed in Durham before nor after; out of which two Teftimonies feveral things may be corredted or fupplied in Mr. Pfehfters Story, though it be evident enough that in the main they agree ; for that is but a fmali difagreement as to the Years, when Mr. Wehfter fays about the Year of our Lord 1632, and Mr. Smart 1631. But unlefs at Durham they hav.e AfTizes but once in the Y^ar, I underftand not fo well how %ar^ and Wal-ker (hould be apprehended Tome little while after St. T/:?*?;?;^^ day, as Mr. Wehfter has it, and be tried the nest Aflizes at Durham^ and yet that be in AuguH according to M"". Smarts Teftimony. Out of Mr. Lumle/s Teftimcny the Chriilian Name of the young Woman is fupplied, as alfo the name of the Town near Chefler in the Street, namely Lumley ; the Circamftances alfo of Walker s fending away his Kinfwom?n with Marl{^ Sharps are fupplied out of Mr. Lumlefs Narrative, and the time redi-fied, by telling it was about fourteen Days till the Spedtie ap-peared after the Murther, when as Mr. Wehfter makes it a long time.

Two Errours alfo more are correded in Mr, Wchjlers Nar-ration hy hAv. Limleys Teftimony; the diftance of the Miller from Lumley^ where Walker dwelt, which was fix Miles, not two Miles as Mr. Wshfter has it ; and alfo that it was not a Mill to grind Corn in, but a Fullers. Mill, the Apparition Night by Night pulling the Cloths cff Gralmes's Bed, omitted in Mr. Wehfter s Story, may be fupplied out of Mr. Lumk/s, and Mr. Smart's Teftiniony puts it out of Controverlie that the Trial was at Durham^ and before Judge Davenport, which is bmmitted by Mr. Wehfter. And whereas Mr. Wehfter fays, there were fome that reported that the Apparition did appear to tha Judge, or the Fore-man of the Jury; but of that, he knows no certainty. - This ConfeiTion of his, as it is a iign he would not write any thing in this Story of which he was not certain for the main, fo here is a very feafonabie fuppiy for this out oi Mr. Smart, who affirms that he heard one Mr. Falrhalr give Evidence upon Oath, that he faw the likenefs of a Child ftand upoa Walker's Shoulders during the time of the Trial ■ It is likely this Mr. Fair hair might be the Fore-man of the Jury, and in that the Judge was fo very much troubled, that himfelf alio might fee the fameApparicion ^s Wehfter fays report wenr,thcugh rhemiftake in Mv.h'ehfter is, that it was the Apparition of a Woman ; but this of the Child was very fit and appoilte, placed

B.4 '-^ ■

6 Dr. H. Mox^s Letter.

on his Shoulders as one that was juftly loaded or charged witls that crime of getting his KinrwotWan with Child,- as well asbf . complotting with~S/j«r/i to Murder her. ■

TheLettet.alfp which he mentions writ from the Judge, be-
fore whom the Trial Was heard* tp Serjeant Huttotii it is plain
out of Mr. Smm's Teftimony that' it was from Judge Davenport^
which in. ait likelihood was a yery full and pundtual Narrative
of the Avhole bufinels, and enabled 'Mr, PFebfter m fome con-
jiderable things, to be itiore panicular than Mr. Lumley; buc
the agreement is fo exad: for the main, that there is no doubc
to be itiade 'of the truth of the Apparition. But that this fof-
footh, ttiuft not be the Soul of y^?2^^? Wdlker, but her Aftral Spi-
rit, this is but a fantaftick Conceit of Webfler and his Paracel'
fians, which I h^ve fufficiendy (hewn the Folly of in the Scholia
on my Immortality of the Soul, Volum; Philof* Tom, 2. Page
3840. ■ - -■ - -

This Story of Ann^ iValker I think you will do well to put amongft your Additions in the new Inhpreifion of your Dcetnon of Tedmrthyii being fo excellently well atteftcd,and fo unexception^ ably in every refpedt ; and to haften as faft as you can that Im-preiTion, to undeceive the half witted World, who fo much exuk and triumph in the extinguilhing the belief of that Narra-tion, as if the crying doWn the Truth of that of the Damon of Tedmrthy were indeed the very flaying of the Devil, and thac they may now with more gaiety and fccurity than ever ling in a loud Note,- that mad drunken Catch : . ^

flay ho! the Devil is Deady.%cCo^.

■■■■■■ . . • ' / ^ •;■: r' s ^ .

Which wild Song, though it may feem a piece of Levity to mention; yet believe mCitheApplication thereof bears a foberand weigl:iry intimation along witli itj-y/j^.that thefe fort of People ard very horribly afraid there (liould be any Spirit, leaft there fhould be a Devil & an account after this'Life ; 6c therefore they are im-patient Q^ any thing that implies ir,that they may with a more full fwin^,and with all fecurity from an'afrcr reckoning, indulge their own Lulls and Humours in this ; and I know by long experience that nothing rouzes them fo out of that dull Lethargy of Atheifm and Sadducifrti," as Narrations of this kind, for the being ofa thick and grofs Spirit, the moft fubtiie'and folid dedudions of Rcafoh does little execution upon them ; but this lort of fenfible Experinients cuts them and flings them very fore, and fo ftartles ihcmthat by a Ms coniiderabie Story by far than this of the Drummer Gt Tedvponhi or of Anne PFalk^eri a Dodor of Phyfick

cryed

Dr'.U. Morels Letter. 7

cryed out prefenily, If this he true, I have been U» a mong Box aa this time, and mufl begin rnj account aneW,

And I remember an old Gentleman in the Country of my Ac-quaintance an excellent Juftice of Peace, and a piece of a Mathematician, but what kind of aPhilofopher he was you may underftand from a Rhime of his own snaking, which he commended to me at my taking Horfe in his Yard, which Rhime is this,

Ens is nothing till Senfe finds out :

Senfe ends in nothings fo naught goes ah out »

Which Rhime of his was fo rapturous to himfelf, that the re-citing of the fecond Verfe, the old Man turn'd himfelf about up-on his Toe as nimbly as one may obferve a dry Leaf whisk'd found in the corner of an Orchard-walk by fome little Whirl-wind. With this Philolbpher I have had many Difcourfes concerning the Immorcality of tl^e Soul and its diftindion ; when I have run him (iliiite down by;Reafon, he would bue laugh at me and fay, this is Lbgick. H. calling me by my Ghriftian narne, to. which I reply 'd, . this is Reafoh, Father JL. ("for I ufed and'fome others to caljihimj but it feems you are for the new Lights and immediate Ihfpiration, which! confefs he was as little for as for the other; but I faid fo only in way of Drollery to him in thofe times, but truth is, nothing but pal-pable experience wpuld move him, and being a bold Man and fearing nothing, he told me, he had ufed all the Magical Cere-monies of Conjuration he could to raife the Devil or a Spirit, and had a moft eameft Pefire to meet with one, but never could do it. But this he told me, when he did not io much ^s think of it, while his Servant was pulling off his Boots in the Hall, fome inviljble Hand gave him fuch a clap upon the back that it made all ring again; fo, thought he, now I am invited to the converfe of my Spirit; and therefore fo.foon as his Boots were off and his Shoes on, out he goes into the Yard and next Field, to find out the Spirit that had given him this Famihar clap on the Back, but found none neither in the Yard nor Fielq next to it. , . ^

But though he did not feel this ftroke,albeit he thought it af-terwards (finding nothing came of it) a mere delufion; yet noc long before his Death it had morefforce with him than all the Phiiofcphical Arguments I could ufe to him, though I could wind him and non-plus him as I pleafed ^ but yet all my Argu-mentSj how folid foever, made no Jmprcflion upon him ; wheve-

8 Dr. H. MoreV Letter.

fore after feveral Reafonings of this nature, whereby I would prove ro him the Souls diftincftion from the Body and its Im-mortality, when nothing of fuch fubtile Confiderations did any more execution on his Mind, then fome Lightning is faid to do, though it melts the Sword on the fuzzy confiftency of the Scab-ard ; fVellt faid I, Father L, though none of thefe things move yoUy I have lomething ftill hehindy and what your felf has ackjiow [edged to me to he trucy that may do the bufi^iefl ; do you remem-h^r the clap on your Back^ when your Servant was pulling off your Boots in the Hall ? Ajfure your felf , faid I, Father L, that Goh^ Jin will be the fir ft that will hid you welcome into the other World* Upon that his Countenance changed moft fenfibly, and he was more confounded with this rubbing up his Memory- than with all the Rational or Philofophicai Argumentations that I could produce.

Indeed, if there were any Modefty left in Mankind, the Hiftories of the Bible might abundantly affure Men of the Ex-iftence of Angels and Spirits ; but thefe Wits, as they are taken to be, are fo jealous forfooth, and fo fagaciouSjthat whatever is offered to them by way of eftabliflied Religion, is fufpedted for a piece of Politick Circumvention ; which is as filly notwithftand-ing, and childifli, as that Conceit of a Friend of yours when he was a School-Boy in the loweft Form of a Country Gram-mar School, who could not believe fcarce that there were any fuch Men as Cato and Mfo'p, Ovid^ Virgil and lully^ mu'ch lefs that they wrote any fuch Books, but that it was a trick of our Parents to keep us up io many Hours of the Day together, and hinder us from the enjoying our innocent Paftime in the open Air, and the Pleafure of planting little Gardens of Flowers, and of hunting of Butter- flies and Humble-Bees.

Befides, though what is once true never becomes falfe, fo
that it may be truly f?.id it was not once true ; yet thefe ihrew^d
Wits fufpetfi: the truth of things for their Antiquity, and for that
very realon think them the lefs credible : Which is wifely done
as of the old Women the Story goes of, who being at Church
in the Week before llajier^ and hearing the Tragical Defcrip-
- tion of all the Circumifences cf our Saviours Crucifixion, was in
great forrow at the reciting thereof, and fo folicitous about the
bufinefs, that ihe carriC to the Priefl* after Service with Tears
in her Eyes, droppinsThim a Courtfie, and asked him hov>; long
ago this fad accident happen'd ; to whom he anfwering, about
fifteen or fixteen Years ago, fl^>e prefently begun to be cosriforted ,
and faid, The7i in Qrnce cf God it may he true. At this pitch
of Wit in Children and old V/ives is theReafon of our profef-

led

Dr. H. More^ Letter. 9

fed Wit-would-be*s of this prefenc Age, who will catch at any flight occafion or pretence of mif-believing thole things that they cannot endure Ihould be true.

And forafmuch as fuch courfe grain'd Philofophers as thofe Hohbians 2Lnd Spno:^tansj and the reft of the Rable, flight Reli-gion and the Scriptures, becaufe there is fuch exprefs mention of Spirits and Angels in them, things that their dull Souls arc fo inclinable to conceit to be impofabie ; I look upon it as a fpecial piece of Providence, that there are ever and anon fuch frelh Examples of Apparitions and Witchcraft as may rub up and awaken their benum'd and Lethargick Minds into a fuf-picion at leaft, if not alTurance that there are other intelligent Beings befides thofe that are clad in heavy Earth or Clay ; in this I fay, methinks the divine Providence does plainly out-wit the Powers of the dark Kingdom, permitting wicked Men and Women, and Vagrant Spirits of that Kingdom to make Leagues or Covenants one with another, the ConfeiTion of Witches againft their own Lives being fo palpable an Evidence, befides the miraculous Feats they play, that there are bad Spi-rits, which will necelTarily open a door to the belief that there are good ones, and laftly that there is a God.

Wherefore let the fmall PhilofophickSir-Foplings of this pre-fent Age deride them as much as they will, thole that lay out their pains in committing to writing certain well ai^tefted Stories of Witches and Apparitions, do real fervice to true Religion and found Philofophy, and the mod effedtual and accommodate to the confounding of Infidelity and Atheifm, even in the Judg-ment of the Atheifts themfelves, who are as much afraid of the truth of thefe Stories as an Ape is of a Whip, and therefore force themfelves with might and main to disbelieve them, by reafon of the dreadful confequence of them as to themfelves. The Wicked fear where no fear is, but God is in the Ge-neration of the Righteous ; and he that fears God and has his Faith in Jefus Chrift, need not fear how many Devils there be,nor be affraid of himfelf or own his Lnmortality ; and there» fore it is nothing but a foul dark Confcience within, or a very grofs and dull conftitution of Blood that makes Men fo averfe from thefe truths.

But however, be they as averle as. they will, being this j$ the moft accommodate Medicine for this Difeafe, their diligence and care of mankind is much to be commended that make ic their bufinefs to apply it, and«are refolv'd, though the pevifh-pefs and perverfnefs of the Patients makes them pull off their rlaiiler, as they have this excellent one of the Srcry of the

DxmoH

lo Dr. H, Mpre'j Letter.

D^mon oiTedworth by decrying it as an Impofture, fo acknowr Icdged by both your felf and Mr. Mompejfon, are refolv'd I fay with Meeknefs and Charity to bind it on again with the addition of new fiUetting, I mean other Stories fufficiently frelh and very well attefted and certain. This worthy defign therefore of yours, I muft confefs I cannot but highly commend and approve, and therefore wilh you all good fuccefs therein ; Ani ip commit you to God, I take leave and reft

Tour affe6iiomte Friend tofervep^

H. M.

Poftfcript.

dO

THE

Poftfcript.

THis Letter lying by me fome time before I thought It op^ portune to convey it, and in the mean while meeting rhore thaft once with tbofe that feemed to have fome Opini-on of Mr. Pf^ehfiers Criticifms and Interpretations of Scrip-ture^ as if he had quitted himfelf fo well there, that no Proof thence can hereafter be expe(5ted of the Being of a "Witch, which is the fcope that he earneftly aims at ; and I reflediing itpon that Paffage 'in my Letter, which does not ftick to con-demn TVebfters whole Book for a weak and impertinent piece, prefently thought fit, (that you might not think that Cenfurc over-ralh or unjuftj it being an endlefs task to fhew ail the weaknefs and impertinencies of his Difcourfe, briefly by way of Poftfcript, to hint the weaknefs and impercinency of this part which is counted the Mafter-piece of the Work, that thereby you may perceive that my Judgment has nor been at all rafh touching the whole.

And in order to this, we are firft to take notice what is the real fcope of his Book ; which if you perufe, you fhall certainly find to be this.- That the Parties ordinarily deemed Witches ^nd Wi2zards, are only Knaves and Queans» to ufe his Phrafe, and arrant Cheats, or deep Melancholifts ; buc have no more tor do with any Evil Spirit or Devil, or the Devil with them,than' he has with other Sinners or wicked Men, or they with the De-vil, And Secondly, we are impartially to define what is the' true Notion of a Witch or Wizzard, which is neceffary for the detecfting of iVehflers Imperrinencies.

As for the Words l^itch and VVi:{:{ard^ from the Notation of them, they fignifie no more thari a wife Man, or a wife Woman, In the Word VVi^^drd, it is plain at the Very firl^ fight. And I think the moft plain and leaft operofe de-duction of the name fPitch, is from Wit, whofe derived Ad-ie(^ive might be fVitiighov ff>itt:ich, and by contradlion after-Wards H^irch I as the Noun FP^t is from the Verb to n>ecf^

which

12 The Pofifcript.

which is, to know. So - that a Witch, thus far, is no more than a knowing Woman ; which anfwers exad:ly to the La-tine word Sagay according to that of FeftuSy Sagce dlB<e anus quce mult a fciunt. Thus in general : But \Ji^Q queftionlefs had appropriated the Word to fuch a kind of skill and knowledge^ as was out of the common road, or extraordinary. Nor did this peculiarity imply in it any unlawfulnefs. But there was after a further reftridlion and moft proper of all, and in which alone now adays the words J4^itch and PVi:{:{ard 2iVQ. ufed. And that is, for one that has the knowledge or skill of doing or telling things in an extraordinary way, and that in vertue of either an cxprefs or implicite fociation or confederacy with fome Eyii Spirit. This is a true and adequate definition of a Witch or Wi:^:(ardy which to whomfoever it belongs, is fuch, G? vice verfa. But to prove or defend, that there neither are, nor ever were any fuch, is, as I faid, the main fcope oippehflers Book: In order to which, he endeavours in his fixth and eighth Chap-ters to evacuate all the Teftimonies of Scripture; which how weakly and impertinently he has done, I fhali now Ihew with all poflible brevity and perfpicuity.

The Words that he defcants upon, are Deut, i8. lo, ii.
1 here /hall not he found among you afty one that iifeth divinatimt
or an obferver of times y or an Enchanter , or a Witchy or a Charmer ^
or a confulter with familiar Spirit s^ or a Wi^'^ardt or a 'Necro-
mancer. The firft Word or Name in the Hebrew is D^CDp DOIp
\_K9fem K^efamim^ a Diviner, Here becaufe CDp \j\afam'] fome-
times has an indifferent fence, and (ignifies to aivine by natural
Knowledge or humane Prudence or Sagacity ; therefore no-
thing of fuch a Witch as is imagined to make a vifible League
with the Devil, or to have her Body fuck'd by him, or have
carnal copulation with him, or is really turned into a Cat,
* Hare, Wolf or Dog, can be deduced from this Word. A good-
ly inference indeed, and hugely to the purpofe, as is apparent
from the foregoing definition. But though that cannot be de-
duced, yet in that, this Divination that is here forbidden, is
plainly declared abominable and execrable, as it is v. 11, it is
manifeft that fuch a Divination is underftood that really is fo;
which cannot well be conceived to be, unlefs it imply either
an exprels or implicite inveaglement with fome evil invifible
Powers who alXiit any kind of thofe Divinations that may be
comprehended under this general Term. So that this is plain-
ly one Name of Witchcraft according to the genuine definitiorr
thereof. And the very Words of Said to the Witch of Endor^
are, ::i11b^;2 ^7 ^^ ^ClPp that is to fay. Divine to me Ifray thes

h

The Pojlfcrift. 13

hy thy familiar Spirit, Which is more than by natural Know-ledge or humane Sagacir/.

The next Word is U^yD {Msgnoneri] which though our Englifti Tranflation renders (from {Gnori] Tempus) an obfsr-ver of Times; (which fhould rather be a Declarer of the fea-fonaijlenefs of the time, or unfeafonablenefs of the time, or un-feafonablenefs as to fuccefs ; a thing which is enquired of alfo., from Witches) yet the ufual fenfe rendred by the learned in the Language, is Prceftigiator, an impofer on the Sight, Sapient es

frz/c/,fays Buxtorf a Vy \Gnajiny Genius'] dedtixerunt ^ J3^yQ Megnonen\ effe eum dixerunty qui tenet ^ frceftringit oculos, ut falfum pro vera videant* Lo another Word that fignifies a Witch or a Wizzard, which has its name properly from im-pofing on the fight, and making the By-ftander believe he fees Forms or Transformations of things he fees not. As when Anne Bodenham transformed her felf before Anne Styles in the Ihape of a great Cat ; Anne Styles her fight was fo impofed up-on, that the thing to her feem'd to be done, though her Eyes were only deluded. But fuch a delufion certainly cannot be performed without confederacy with evil Spirits. For to think the Word fignifies Pr^ftigiator in that fenfe we tranflate in Eng-lifh, Ju?^gler^ or an Hocus- Poem y is fo fond a conceit, that no Man of any depth of Wit can endure it. As if a merry Juggler that plays tricks of Legerdemain at a Fair or Market, were fuch an abomination to either the God of Ifrael or to his Law-giver Mofes; or as if an Hocus-Poeus were fo wife a weight as to be confulted as an Oracle : For it is faid v, 14. For the Nations which thou fhalt pojfepy they confult D^^r.yQ \Megno' nenirn} What, do they cenfult Jugglers and Hocus-Pocuffes ? No certainly they confult Witches or Wizzards, and Diviners, as Anne Styles did Anne Bodenham. Wherefore here is evident-ly a fecond name of a Witch.

The third Word in the Text, is VJr\yU XMenachefU} which our Englifli Tranflation renders an Enchanter. And with Mr. Wehjiers leave, (who infulteth fo over their fuppofed igno-rance) I think they have tranflated it very learnedly and judi-ciouf] y : For Charming and Enchanting^ as Webfter himfelf acknowledges, and the Words intimate, being ail one, the Word lyn^Q [Menachefh] here, may very well fignifie En-chanters or Charmers j but fuch properly as kill Serpents by their charming, from ^T\l \NachaJh'} which fignifies a Ser-pent, from whence comes IDn^ [Niche/h'} to kill Serpents or make away with them. For a Verb in Pihel, fometimes (ef-pecially when it is formed from a Noun) has a contrary figni-

fication.

14 The Pofijcriff.

fication. Thus from VfW radix is tWlU/ radices evuljit^ from W^ Cinis W^ remevUC meres, from ^lOH peccatfif KDn expiavit a peccato ; and fo laftly from WD} Serpensy is made \Ot\y liber avit a ferpentibusy nempe occidendo vel fugando per in-cantationem. And therefore there feems to hate been a great deal of skill and depth of Judgment in our Engli/h Tranflators ihatrendred tl^RJQ [MfWrfc^<?/Xj] an Enchanter, efpecially when that of Augur or Southfayer, which the Septuagint call '0/«»'i-tofMVQV (there being fo many harmlefs kinds of itj might feem fefs fuitable with this black Lift : For there is no fuch abomi-riation in adventuring to tell, when the v^-ild Geefe fly high in great Companies and cackle much, that hard weather is ac Hand. But to rid Serpents by a Charm is aboVe the power of Nature ; and therefore an indication of one that has the afliftance of fome invifible Spirit to help him in this exploit, as it happens in feveral others ; and therefore this is another name of one that is really a Witch.

The fourth Word is, ^\D3U {Mecajjep^ which our Bnglifh Tranflators render, a ff^^itch ; for which I have no quarrel -with them, unlefs they fhould fo underftind it that it muft ex-clude others from* being fo in that fenfe I have dtiin'd, which is impoflible they fhould. But this, as the foregoing, is biic another teim of the fame thing ; that is, of a Witch in general, but fo called here from the Preftigious impofing on the fight of Beholders. Buxtorfy tells us, that Aben E^^ra. defines thofc to be D^BI^DD {MecaJ]ephim\ qui fnUtant & trafisformant res naturales ad ajpe^tum oculi. Not as Jugglers and Hocus- Pocuffes, as VVebfter Would ridiciiloufly infinuate, but fo as I underftood the thing in the fecohd name : tor thefe are but federal names df a Witch, who may have feveral more Properties than one Name intimates. Whence it is no wonder that Tranflators re^ider not them always alike. But (b many names are reckoned up here in this claufe of theLaw of Mo/^j, that, as in our Com-mon-Law, the fence miay bemOrefufe, and leave no room to'' eVafion, And that here this name is not from any tricks of Legerdemain as in common Jugglers that delude the fight of the" People at a Market or Fair, but that it is the name' of fuch as' faife Magical Speditres to deceive Mens fight, and fo are moft certainly Witches, is plain from Exod. 22- 18. Thou fhalt not fttjfer nStyDQ XMecajJephalT)^ that is, aWitch toiive. Which Vi^ould be a Law of extreme leverity, or rather cruelty, againft a poor Hocus-pocus for his tricks of Legerdemaino

- Am

The Fofijcrift. 15

The Fifth Name is *XlT\ Xl\r\ {Chobher Chehher} which our JEngli/h Tranflators render Charmer, which is the fame with Enchanter. fVehfter upon this name is very tedious and flat, av many Words, and fmall weight in them. I Ihall difpatch the meaning briefly thus : This l^n 'l^^l'^n \jChohher Chehher] that is to fay, Socians Societatem is. another name of a "Wirch, fo called fpecially either from the conlociating together Serpents by a Charm, which has made Men ufualiy turn it (from the example of the Septuagints i^di^v t^AotJiUo) a Chan-ner^ot an Enchanter J or elfe from the fociety or compad: of the Witch with fome evil Spirits ; which Wehfier acknowledges to have been the Opinion of two very learned Men, Martin Luther and P^r-kins I and I will add a third, Ahen E^ra (as Martinius hath noted who gives this Reafon of the Word "XXTX \jChobher'} an Enchanter, which fignifies Socians or Jtingens^ viz. Quod malign nos Spritus fibi affociat. And certainly one may charm long enough, even till his Heart akes, e*re he make one Serpent al-femble near him, unlefs helpt by this confederacy of Spirits thac drive them to the Charm.er. He keeps a pudder with the flxth Verfe of the fifty eight Pfalm to no purpofe ; whehas from ths

Hebrew, DiT£?nSQ ^^pS V'jyo^-^ "Tv^ nDnaD'«nnn xr^.

if you repeat amz utv^ bip!? before *\a'\n you may with eafe and exadtnefs render it thus j That hears net the voice of rriut^ tering Charmers, no not tbe voied of a confederate Wizard or Charmer that is skjlfuL But feeing Charms, unlefs with therri that are very (hallow and fillily credulous, can have ho fuch ef-feds of themfelves, there is all the reafon in the World (accord-ing as the very Word intimates, and as Aben E:(ra has declared) to afcribe the efi^ecfi: to the afliftance, confederacy and cO-o|)era-tion of evil Spirits, and fo D'^'^jH *^3'>n [Chobher Chabharim'} Of nan nam \Chobher Chebher'] will plainly fignifie a Witch or Wizzard according to the true definition of them. But for J, Vl^ebjiers rendring this Verfe p 119. thus, Quis noh au-diet vocem mujfitantium incantationes doBi Incnntantis, ("which he faith is doubtlefs the moft genuine rendring of the place) let any skillful man apply it to the Hebrew Text, and he will prefently find it Grammatical Nonfenfe. If that had been the fenfe, it IhouJd have been DDHQ na"\n '«nan. .The Sixth Word is, ai&i^K^^ {ShoelObhl^ which our £«f-UPo Tranflation renders, a Confulter with familiar Spirits ; but the Septuagint *EyycL^ex^v^^. Which therefore muft needs figq nifie him that h^s this tamiiiar Spirit : And therefore 318 1i^W {Shoe I Obh'} I conceive, (confidering the reft of the Words are ^ to be wnderftood) is to be Underftdod of the Witch of

6 W^iaif

i6 The Pofifcrift,

V/izzard hlmfelf that asks' Counfel of his Familiar, and (!oes by verme of him give Anfwers unto others. The reafon of the name of '2.yi^\pbh'} 'tis likely was taken iirft from that Spirit tban was in the Body of the Party, and fwelled it to a pro-tuberancy like the fide of a Bottle. But after, without any re-lation to that CircumftancejOSiJ lignifies as much as Pytho ; as Pytho alTo, though at firil it took its name from the Pytkii Vates^ fignifies no more than S^viritum Divinationisy in general, a Spi-rit that tells hidden things, or things to come. And OBH and Pytho alfo agree in this, that they both lignifie either the divinarory Spirit it felf, or the Party that has that Spirit. But here inTi^^'^i^^© {Shod Obh'] it being rendred by the Sep-tuagint 'E>;/j*r£i/^u9^, OBH is neceflarily underftood of the Spirit it felf, as Pytho is Acls r6. i6. if you read crygv^ ttv-^}VA, vjVichtfdac Cafauho?z; but if ttvB^jvQ-, it may be un-derftood either way. Of this TvzufM ttv^v, it is recorded in that place, Thar Paul heiiig grieved^ turned and faid to that Spirit, I command thee, in tloe name o/Jefus Chrifr, to corns ou^ of her i and he came cut at the fame hour; which fignifies as plainly as any thing can be fignified,^ that this Pjtho or Spirit of Divinarion, that this OBiJ was in her : For nothing can come out of the Sack that was not in the Sack, as the Spanifb Proverb has it ; nor could this Pytho come out of her unlefs it was a Spirit diftind from her; wherefore I am a-mazed at the profane impudence of J. Wehfler, that makes this Pytho in the Maid there mentioned, nothing but a wicked hu-mour of cheating and couzening Divination : And adds, thac this Spirit was no more caft out of that Maid than the fe-ven Devils out of Mary Magdalen^ which he would have underilood only of her feveral Vices ; which foolifti Familifti-cal conceit he puts upon Be:{a as well as Adie. Wherein as lie isjuoO: unjuft to Be:{a^ fo he is moft grofly impious and biarpbcmous againft the Spirit of Chrift in St. Paid and St. Luk^e, who makes them borh fuch Fools as to believe that there was a Spirit or divining Devil in the Maid, when according to him there is no fuch thing. Can any thing be morefran-tick or ridiculous than this pafTage of St. Paul if there was no Spirit or Devil in the Damfel? But what will this pro* fane ShutHer ftick to do in a dear regard to his beloved Hags, of whom he is fworn Advocate, and refolved Patron right or Vs^rong ?

Bur to proceed, that 31H {Ohh} fignifies the Spirit it felf thac Divines, not only he that has it, is manifeft from Levit. 2.0. 27. Vir autem five mulier cumfmriP [2^8 011}] ^^^^^

Pytb9

The Pofifcript. ij

Pytho, And i Sam. 28. 8. Divina (jucejo rnihi [l^H^l] pet Py^
ihonem. In the Septuaginc it is h 7r3 E7^ctre///ti/06>, cliat is, by*
that Spirit that fometimes goes into the Body of the Pa/cy, and
thence gives anfvvers; but here it only fignifies a Familiar Spirit,
And laftly, T« ITjW {Bagndath Obh'} i Sam.i?,, 7. Quce
habit Pythcncm ; there OBH muft needs iignifie the Spirit it lelf,
of which flie of Endor was the owner or pofTeflbr^ that is to
fay, it was her Familiar Spirit. But fee what brazen and
ftupid Impudence will do here, 3'lt T\'l'^'^{^Bagnalath Obh^
wich VVebfter muft not fignifie one that has a Familiar Spirit
but the Miftrefs of the Bottle. Who but the Mafter of the
Bottle, or rather of whom the Bottle had become Mafter^ and
by guzling had made his Wits exceffively muddy and frothy;
could ev^r ftumble upon fuch afoolilh Interpretation? But be-
caufe H^ID [O/'/?] in one place of the Scripture (ignifies a
Bottle, it muft fignifie fo here, and it muft be the Initrument
forfcoth, out of which this cheating Quean of Endor does
VphiJpeTf feep, or chirp liJ{e a Chicl^n coming out of the Shell, p.
129. /65. And does (he not, I befeech you- put her Nib alio
into it fometimes, as into a Reed, as it is faid of that Bird, and
cries like a Butterhump? certainly he might as well have Inter-
preted Hn n*?!;! {BagnaUth Obh^ of the great Tun of HydeU
^^rg-,that Tow.Coriat takes fuch fpecial notice of, as of the Bottle-
And truly fo far a? I fee, it muft be fome fuch huge Tun ac
length,rather than the Bottletthsit is,fuch a fpacicus Tub as he iri
his deviceful Imagination fancies Manajjfes to have built ; a f^^^
i/HQV forfoothjOr Oracular Edifice for cheating F(egues and Jean's
to play their cou:{ening tricks in, from that place 2 Chrcn, 33. 6i.
^18 nt£?yi Et fecit Pythonem. Now, fays he, how. could
Manajjes make a Familiar Spirit } or make one that had
a Familiar Spirit ? Therefore he made a Bottle a Tun, Ot
a large Tub, a f^p^e^ov, or Oracular Edifice for cheating
Rogues or Queans to play their c6u:(eni?2g tricks in. Very-
wifely argued, and out of the very depth of his ignorance of
the Hebrew Tongue, v/henas if he had looked into Buxtorfs
Didionary he might have underftood that ri2?j; fignifies not
only fecit but aifo paravit, comparavit, acquijroit, magyii feciti
none of which Words imply the making of OBH in his fenfe^
but the only appointing rhem to be got,and countenancing them.
For in fFebfter^s fenfe he did not make ^jyi"' [Jideg?ioni2 nei-
ther, that is fVi:^^ards, and yet Manajfes is laid to make them
both alike, '♦jyi^^ S'lb^iltDy^ Et fecit Pythonem ^ Magos. So
plain is it that ^^H [Obh] fignifies Pytho, and that adequately
in the fame fenfe tiiat Pytho does, either a Familiar Spirit, or

C % hird

1 8 the Pojlfcript,

him that has that Spirit of Divination, But in ^Ifct H'JW \Bagnalatb Ohh'] it necelTarily (ignifies the Familiar Spirit it felf, which aflifted the Witch of Endor ; whereby it is manifeft (he is rightly called a Witch. As for his Stories of counterfeit Ventriloqufftsy (and who knows but fome of his counterfeit Ventriloquifts may prove true ones) that is but the thread-bare Sophiftry of Sadducees and Atheifts to elude the faith of all true Stories by thofe that are of counterfeits or feigned.

The feventh Word is "^ J'\5?T« £jidegnoni] which our Englifh Tranllators render a J4^i:{:{nrd. And Wehjier is fo kind as to allow them to have tranllated this Word arig;ht. Wizards then Wehfter will allow, that is to fay, Ue-Witches^ but not She Witches. How tender the Man is of that Sex! But the Word invites him to it ^T\^'^'^ \3^degnoni\ coming from fclre^ and anfwering exadtly to Wi-^^ard or Wife-man. And does not Witch from Vl^it and voeet fignifie as well a Wife-ypo-man, as I noted above ? And as to the Senfe of thofe Words from whence they are derived, there is no hurt herein ; and therefore if that were all,JJ'iyn^ [Jidegnoni] had not been in this black Lift. Wherefore it is here underftood in that more reftrid: and worfe fenfe : So as we underftand ufually now a days iVitch and PPi:{:(ard, fuch wife Men and Women whofe skill is from the confederacy of evil Spirits, and therefore are real Wizzards and Witches. In what a bad fenfe ^JiyT [Jideg-noni] is underftoodjWe may learn from Levit.zo,zj, A man alfo or woman that hath afamifidr Spirit yor that is a fVi:(:(ard [jidcg-noni] /ha/l be put to death, theyjhallflone them with ft ones, ^c.

The laft Word is DTlDn '^'^X\ [Dore/h Hammethim] which our Tranflators rightly render Necromancers ; that is, thofe that either upon their own account, or defired by others, do raife the Ghofts [of the deceafed to confult with; which is a more particular term than 2^5;^ ^^2 [Bagnal Obh:] But he that is Bagnd Ohhy may be alfo Dorepo Hammethim, a Necromancer^ as appears in the Witch of Endor. Here Wahfter by DTIDH [Hammethim] the Dead, would underftand dead Statues ; but let him, if he can, any where (hew in all the Scripture where the Word DT^DH \Hammethim~\ is ufed of what was not once alive. He thinks he hits the Nail on the head in that place of Ifaias, 8. 19, And when they foall fay unto you, Seel^ unto (X^2'i!i,T\, that is, tt) n''?;^ r.1^5?D,fuch as the Witch oi Endor was) them that have Familiar Spirits.and to fPt:^:(ards thatpeep njtd that mutter ; (the Hebrew has it CDOTQH and CD'^S^D^^LH ', that that is, fpeak with a querulous murmurant or muilitant voice, when they either conjure up theSpirit,or give refponfesjf this be

CO

The VoPfcrift. ig

to peep lik? a Chicksn^ Ifaiah himfelf peept like a Chlcker!, 38, 14.) Jhouldmt a People feek. unto their God? for the livings CainDH ^^] to the dead ? Where Hammethim is lb far from iignifying dead Statues, that it muft needs be undcrftood of the Ghofts of dead Men, as here in Deuteronomy . None but one that had cither ftupidly or wilfully forgot the Story of SamuePs being being raifed by that 515?^ T\^y2 [Bagnaiath Ohh'} the Witch of£«io/-,could ever have the face to affirm that C^^n^H [^Hammethirn] here in IJniah, is to be underftood of dead Sta-tues, when Wizzards or Nicromancers were fo immediately mentioned before, efpecially not VFehfter, who acknowledges 'th2.z^M^ bi^)V [Shoel Ohh^ iignifies a Necromancer in this Deuteronomical Lift of abominable names. And therefore, for/oprh, • would 'have it a Tautology that Dorejh Hammethim iiiould fignifie fo too. But I fay it is no Tautologie, this laft term being more exprefs and reftricft. And befides, this enu-meration is not intended as an accurate Logical divifion of Witches or Witchcraft into fo many diftindt kinds, but a re-citing of feveral names of that ill Trade, though though they ^ill interfere one with another, and have no fignifications fo prccifely diftindb. But as I faid before, this fuller recount-ing of them is made that the prohibition in this form might ■be the furer fence againft the Sin. And now therefore whac will J.Webfler get by this, if DorePo Hammethim will nor fignifie a Witch of Endory when it muft neceffarily fignifie a Necromancer^ which is as much againft his Tooth as the other .> Nay indeed ihi^ Necromancer is ^Ifo a Witch or Wiz-'zard, aiiCording to the definition produced above.

The reft of the Chapter being fo inconfiderable, and I hav-ing been fo long already upon it, I (hall pafs to the next, after I have defircd you to take notice how weak and childilli or wild and impudent Mr. Webfler has been in the Inter-pretation of Scripture hitherto, in the belief of his fage Dames, to fence off the reproach of being termed Witches; whenceas there is fcarce oae Word in this place of Deutero-nomy that does not imply a Witch or Wizzard, according to the real difinition thereof. And truly he feems himfelf to be confcious of the weaknefs of his own performance, when after all this ado, thefum at laft amounts but to this, That there are ho names in all the old Teftament that fignifies fuch a Witch that deftroy Men or Beafts, that make a vidbk compadl with the Devil, or on whofe Body he fucketh, or with whom he hath carnal Copulation, or that is really changed intq a Cat, Hare, Dog, or fuch like. And to Ihew it C 3 amounts

$0 The Fojifcript.

amounts to no more than fo, was the task we undertook in j[his Chapter.

Buc afTure your felf,if you perufe his Book carefully, you (hall plainly find that the main drift thereof is to prove, as I above iioted, that there is no fuch Witch as Vs/'ith whom the Devil has any thing more to do than with any other iinner, which, notwith-ftanding this Conclufi0n of his a little before recited, comes in-finitely fhort of: and therefore this fixth Chapter, confilliag of about 30 Pages in Folio, is a meer piece of im pertinency. And there will beWitches for all this.v/hether thefe particulars be not-ed in them or no; For it was fufHcient for Mofes to Name thofe ill founding terms in general, which imply a Witch according to that general notion I have above delivered 5 which if it be prohibited, namely the having any thing to do with evil Spi-rits, their being fuckt by them, or their having any luftful or ve-Uerous Tranfailions with them is much more prohibited.

But for feme of thefe particularities alfo they may feem to be in fome manner hinted at in fome of the Words, efpeci-ally as they are rendred fometimes by skilful Interpreters: for fjtyjD [MecalJeph'] is Tranllated hy Vatahlus, and the vul-gar Latin MtJeficusfiy the Scptuagtnt (prtp^^;tof ,that is Venefieus ; which Word fignifies mifchievoufly enough both to Men and Beaft. Befides that MecaJJeph carries along with it the fignifi-cation of Transformation alio ; and haply this may be the dif-jfence betwixt ^V3D {Mecajfeph'} and U^VO {^Megnoneri] that the former ufes preftigxous Transformations to fome great mif-chief, as where Olaus M^^nus tells of thofe that have Tranf-formed themfelves into Wolves to Mens thinking, and have prefently fallen upon worrying of Sheep. Others transform-ed in their Aftral Spirit:^ into various Ihapes, get into Houfes and do mifchief to Men and Children, as I remember /^fw/-gius reports. And therefore it is lefs wonder that that fharfJ Law of Mofes is againft the t^WD^U {Mecajfephah'] fuch a Witch as this is, Thou fhnh not filler a Witch to live ^ this may be a more peculiar fignification of that Word. And now for makng a compa(fl with the Devil, how naturally does that name "^!3n TX^T\ [Chobher Chehher'] fignifie that feat alfo ? But for fucking and Copulation, though rightly ftated it may be true, yet I confefs there is nothing hinted towards that fo far as I fee, as indeed it Vv^as neither neceffary that the other fhould be.' But thefe are the very dregs, iht Fcex Magorum & Saga* ram that fink in thofe abominations, againil*which a fuificient Bar is put already by this prohibition in general by fo many mmts. And the other is io iilthy, bafe and nafty, that the

men-

The Vojifcrip. at

mention thereof was neither fie for the facred Style oiMofes Lzv^ nor for the Ears of the People.

' In my pafHng to the eight Chapter I will only take notice by the way of the Ihamelefs impudtnce of J, Vl^cbfter, vjho in favour to his beloved Hags, that they may be never thought to 60 any thing by the alliftance of the Devil, makes the vid-ory of Mcfcs, with whom the mighty hand cf God was, or of Chnft, (^who was the Angel that appeared firft to Mofes in (he Bulh and condudled the Children of Ifiael out oiEgyp to th pro.-nifed Land) to be the vidory only over fo many lioc^' picuffes, \o many Juglers that were as it feems, old and exce lent at the tricks of Legerdemain; which is the bafeft derogation to the glory of that Vidtdry, and the vileft reproach againft the God ol IfraeU and the Perfon oiMofes^ that either the malicious wit of any Devil can invent, or the duinefs of any funk Soul can ftumble upon. Affuredly there was a real confiid- here betwixt the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darknefs and the evil Spirits thereof, which afiifted the D^OUin \Hcirtummiin\ the Magicians of Bgjpy who be-fore thar name is named, that no Man may miftaxe, are cal-led n'9^!20 \JAecnJjaj^hiyn\ fuch kind of Magicians as can exhibit to the fight manifold preiligious transformations through diabolical affiftance, and are rendred Malificia by good Ln-terpreters, as I noted above; that is, they were Vh:{?^_ards or He-witches. The felf fame Word being ufed in that fevere Law of MoJeSf Ihoufloalt: not fuffsr nVl^itchto live. Are not thefe Magicians then examples plain enough that there are Witches ; that is to fay, fuch wretched Wights as do ilrange miraculous things by the afiiftance or confoc^tion of the evil Spirits .^

O no, fays Mr. Wehfier, thefe are only D^DISTI [Cfjacanum} Wife-men and gre^t Naturalifis, who all what they did, they ^id Sn^lOn'?!^. by ^^^'^^' bright glittering Lamina', for fo Q^nb forfooth mult fignifie: But what neceiUcy thereof that VrXl ftiould fignifie Lamina ? there is only the pretence of that one place, Gen. 3 . 24. 'XV\ IDH'?, where it is ^'^H only that fignifies the Lamina^ and that of a long form, fcarce ufual in thofe magical Lamina with Signatures celellial upon them, which J. VVehfier would be at ; bu: ^n^ fignifies meerly VUmmci ; fo that CDHIDn^!! ^Y ^^^is account muil fignifie by their flames, if it be from tSH^ ardere^ flammare: And there-fore B^^/^or/zwj (judicioufly places the Word under ^^^ ahfcondit, obvolvit, reading not C3n''lDn'?!Il but mn^M^^Si. which, is as much as to lay, occultis fuis rationibus Ma^icis, which is

"C 4 briefly

2% The Poftfcript,

briefly rendred in Engli/h, hy their Enchantments ; which agrees tnarvelloufly well with B^STOQ \MecaJfephim\ which is as much a§ Prcoftigiatores Magici, or fuch as do ftrange wonderous things in an hidden way, by rhe help of evil Spirits. But that the Egyptian Magicians Ihould do thofe things that are there :recorded of them in Exodus^ by vertue of any Lamelsor Plates of Metals with certain Sculptures or Figures under fuch or iuch a Conftellation, is a thing fp fottifh and fpolifli, that no Man that is not himfelf bewitched by fome old Hag or Hob-gobling, can ever take Sandluary here to fave himfef or his old Dames from being in a capacity, from this Hiftory in Exodus j of being accounted Witches. For if there may be Hc-vpitches, that is, MagicianSy fuch as thefe of Egypt were, I leave J^ yi^ebfier to fcnatch his Head to find out any reafon why there may not be She-witches alfo.

And indeed that of the Witch of Endor^ to pafs at length to the eighth Chapter, is as plain a Proof thereof as can be defired by any Man whofe Mind is not blinded with Pre-judices. But here J. Wehfler, not impertinently, I confefs, for (he general, ('abating him the many tedious particular im-Jjertinencies that he has clogga his Difcourfe with) betakes himfelf to thefe two ways, to (hew there was nothing of a Witch in all that whole Narration. Firft, by pretending that all the tranfacftion on the Woman of Endors part was nothing but CoUufion and a Cheat, Saulnot being in the fame Room with her, or at leaft feeing nothing if he was. And then in the next place, that Samuel that is faid to appear, coiild neither be Samuel appearing in his Body out of the Grave, nor in his Soul ; nor that it was a Devil that appeared ; and therefore it muft be fome colluding Knave, fuborned by the Witch. For the difcovering the weaknefs of his former Al-legation, v/e need but to appeal to the Text, which is this, I Sam. 28. V. 2, '

And Saul faid J pray thee, divine unto me hy the familiar ^^irit, and bring me up whm I poaU name unto thee, "J^ b^ J"''DlOp ; that is, do the Office of a Divinerefs, or a Wife- woman, I pray thee unto me, IHI^^ J^Beobh] by virtue of the fami-liar Jpirity whofe afliftance thou haft, not by virtue of the Bottle, as Mr. VVehfter would have it. Does he think that Damfil in the jdEis, which is faid to have had 'rviv{M7iv^vQ-f that is, to have had :i''fci [Ohh] carried an A^ua-vita-BottlQ ibout with her, hung at her Girdle, whereby (he might i/-^ine and mutter, chirp, or peep out of itj as a Chicken out of an ^^'fl^^^s ot put her Neb into it to cry like a Bittern, or •^'•■- ■ ^^ •:'■■■■ - < ' tak®

The Fojijcript. ,2 J

take a Dram of the Bottle, to make Iier Wits inorc quick and divinatory. Who bun one who had taken too n.any Drams of the Bottle, could ever fall into fuch a fond Con-ceit ? Wherefore 215?! [Ohh] in this place does not, as in-. deed no where elfe, fignifie an oracular Bottle or /xcivWioVj J into which 5i;//,mipht dedre the Vv^oman of £??^or cq retire , inter, and himfelf ^xpecft anrwcrs in the next Room ; but lignifies that fnmiliifr j-p'irit by virtue of whofc affiftance fje was conceived ro pcrfbrm all. thofe wond'rous. Offices of a Wife- woman. Biji we, prcceed to' Verfe ['i.

Then faid the woman, PJ^hom /loaf/ ,1 brhzg.uj) mito thee? And he faidy Bring me u^ Samuel. Surely as yet Saul and the Woman are in' the lame Room, bemg the Woman askt, ^^''i;^;^ jhcilllhring uf unto thee? and he an.iwering, 'Bring uj) unto \-me Samuel, it implies, that: Samuel w^^ lo brought up that Saul might fee him., and not th^ Witch only. But we go on, Verfe 12.

And when the woman faw Samuel, Jl^c cryed with a loud
'voice 'y and the woman Jpake to Saul, /.t^/;?^, Wljy. haH thou
deceived me^ for thou art Saul } Tho' the Woman might;
have fome fufpitions before that it Was Saul, yet llie now lee-
, ing Samuel did appear, and in another kind "of way than
; her Spirits ufed,to do, and in another hue, as it is nioft like-
ly fo holy a Soul did, (he prefencly cryed out with a loud
Voice, ( not muttered, chirpt, and peept d6 a Chicken coming
out of the (hell) that new fl:ie was fore it wz^Saul, for (he was
- not fuch a Fool, as to think her Art could call up real 5^-
muel, but that the prefence o^ Saul W^as the caufe thereof .-
And "^ofephus writes exprefly, "O77 5«<aaa,<4ooj' 70 ywicfjov av-

i <n)^ (pr^cnVj 0 BctaJhzv? S^taA©-; i.e. The woman Jeeing agrafe . God lil{e Man, is ftartled at tt^ and thus aftonijhed at the Pi-fion, turned herfelf to the KJng, and Jaid^ Art not thou Kjng Saul ? Verfe 1 3.

Ajjd the Kjng faid ttnto her, Be not afraid -, for what fmcTr thou ? And the womayifaid unto Saul, J faw Gods afcending euy of the Earthy The King here affures the Woman, thar tho' he was Saul, yet no hurt fnould-come to her, and there-fore bids her not be afraid. But (he turning herFacero5'W as (he (pake to him, and he to her, and fo her fight being off from the Objed, Saul asked her, Whatfawc^i thou } and (he in like manner aniwer'd, I faw Gods, Sec, For Gods I fuppofe, any free Tranflator in Greelij, Latin, and Englifo, ^^ould fay, S'cuimvos, Genios, Spirits. And DTl^f^ %^^'^^^^^

Angels

24 The Pofifcript.

Angels as well as Gods; and it is likely thefe Wife-women

. take the Spirits they converfe with ro be good Angels, as Ann

Bodenham the Witch told a worthy and learned Friend of

> mine, That thefe Spirits, fuch as flie had, were good Spirits,

and would do a Man all goodOfHces all the days of his Life;

and *tis likely this Woman of Endor had the fame Opinion

of hers, and therefore we need not wonder that (he calls them

.D^*1*7i< [ Elochir77 ] efpecialiy Samuel appearing among them,

to fay nothing of the )^rc^e,acQ of Saul. And that more than

one Spirit appears at a time, there are repeated Examples in

Ann Bodenham s Magical Evocations of them., whole Hiftory

I -muib confefs, I take to be very true.

The Cafe ftands therefore thus : The Woman and Saul being in the fame Room, fhe turning her Face from Saul, mutters to her felf fome Magical Form ^ of Evocation of Spi-rits ; whereupon, they beginning to appear and rife up, feemingiy out of the Earth, upon the fight of Samuefs Coun-tenance, fhe cryed out to Saul, and turning her Face towards him, fpoke to him. Now that Saul hitherto faw nothing, tho' in the fame Room, might be either becaufe the Body of the Woman was interpofed betwixt his Eyes and them, or the Vehicles of thole Spirits were not yet attempered to that confpiiTation that they would ftrike the Eyes of Saul, tho* they did of the Witch. And that fome may fee an Ob-jedl, others not feeing it, you have an Inftance in the Child upon Walkers Shoulders, appearing to Mr, Fairhairt and it may be to the Judge, but invifible to the relt of the Court ; and many fuch Examples there are. But I proceed to Verfe

And he /aid unto her. What form is he of? and poe faidy An old Man cometh tip, and is covered with a 'Mantle, He asks here in the Singular Number, becaufe his Mind was on-ly fixt on Samuel. And the Womans Anfwer is exadbly ac-cording to what the Spirit appeared to her, v^hen her Eye was upon it, vi:{. H^y jpl ®^i< ^n old Man coming up ; for he was but coming up when fhe looked upon him, and accordingly defcribes him : For nYy there, is a Particle of the prefent Tenfe, and the Woman defcribes Samuel from his Age, Habit, and Motion he was in, while her Eye was upon him. So that the Genuine and Grammatical Senfe in this Anfwer to What form is he of? is this, an old Man coming up, and the fame covered with a Mantle, this is his Form and Condition I faw him in. Wherefore Saul being io much concerned herein, either the Woman or he chang-^ ing

The Voftfcri^U 25

ing their Poftures or Standings, or Sanmel by this having fuSicienrly conrpifTated his Vehicle, and fitted it to Saui% fight alfo, it follows in the Text And Saul ferceived it voas Sa-muel, and he ftooped with his Face to the ground and hovoed him-

O the impudent Profanenefs and Sottifhnefs of perverfe Shuf-flers and Whifflers ! that upon the hearing of thisPafTage can have the Face to deny that Saul faw any thing, and meerly becaufe the word [ perceived ] is ufed, and not [ favc> ] when the Word [perceived] plainly implies that he faw Samuel, and fomething more, namely, that by his former familiar Converfe with him, he was afnired it was he. So exqui-fitely did he appear, and ov^er-comingly to his Senfes, that he could not but acknowledge ffor lb tm Hebrew W ox d^i^y fignifies ) that it was he, or elfe why did he floop with his Face to the very Ground to do him Honour ?

No, no, fays J. Wehfter, he faw nothing himfelf, but flood waiting like a drowned Puppet ffee of what a bafe rude Spirit this Squire of Hags is, to ufe fuch Language of a Prince in his diftrefs ) in another Room to hear what would be the ifTue ; for all that he underftood, was from her cun-ning and lying Relations, That this Gallant of Witches Ihould dare to abufe a Prince thus, and feign him as much foohlher and fottiflier in his Intelledtuals^ as he was taller in Stature than the refl of the People, even by Head and Shoulders, and meerly forfooth, to fecure his old Wives from being fo much as in a capacity of ever being fufpecied for Witches, is a thing extremely coarfe and intolerably fordid. And indeed, upon the confideration of SauI\ being faid to Eow himfelf to Samuel, ^ which plainly implies, that there was there a Samuel that was the Objed: of his fight, and of the Reverence . he made j his own Heart mifgives him in this mad Adventure, and he fhifts off from thence to a Con-ceit that it was a confederate Knave, that the Woman of Bndor turned out into the Room where Saul was, to Ad: the part of Samuel, having firft put on him her own fhorc Cloak, which fhe ufed with her Maund under her Arm to ride to Fairs or Markets in. To this County-iicTuch in the Womans Mantle, muft King Saul, flooping v/ith his Face to the very Ground, make his profound Obeyfance. "What was a Market-womans Cloak and Samuel's Mantle, Vv'hich Jofephm calls J^ttKoiM U^tjkujj, a Sacerdotal Habit, fo like one another ? Or if not, how came this Woman, being lb furprizd of a fudden, to provide herfelf of fuch ^Sacerdotal '■ = ' Habiii

26 The Pofifcript'

Habit to cloak her confederate Knave in ? Was Saul as well a blind as a drowned Puppet, that he could not difcern (o grofs and bold an Impoftor as this? Was it poiliblethat he Ihould not perceive that it was not Samuel, when they^ came to confer together, as they did ? How could that con-federate Knave change his own Face, into the fanie Figure ,. Look, and Mien that Samuel hzd, which wa^s exadrly known to Saul ? How could he imitate his Voice thus ofafudden, and they Difcourfed -a^very confiderable titoe together? ~ -"

Befides, ' Knaves do not ufe to Ipeak \^hat- things are true, but what things are pleaiing. And moreover, this Woman of En-dor, though a Pythonefs, yet ihe was of a very good n-ature and benign, which y<7/^^/j/tf. takes notice of,;and extdls her migh-tily for it, and therefore fhe could take no- delight to lay furthet weight on theopprefTed Spirit of diftrersUK'5^-«/; which is ano-ther fign that this Scene was adted 'boh^ fide,' arid that there was no couzening in it. As alfo that it- is another, that "(he ipoke fo. magnificently of what appeared to her, that Ihe faw Gods af-cending. Could (he then poflibly adventure to tlirfi out a Coun--try-flauch with a Maund-womans Cloak to ad: the part of fo God-like and Divine a Perfonage as Samuel, who was 0sc> jiuu f^^lw ofjAiQ-j as the Woman defcribes -him in Jofephus Antiq. Judaic, lib, 7. c: 1 5. unto ail which you may add, That the Scripture it felf, which was written by Infpiration, fays ex-prefl)', V. xo, that it was Samuel. And the Son of Sirach, Chap. 46. that Samuel him felf prophefyed after his Death, re-ferring to this Story of the Woman of £wJ(7r. But for our new Infpired Seers, or Saints, S. Scot;, S. Adie, and if you will S, Webfier fworn Advocate of the Witches, who thus madly and boldly, againft all fenfe and Reafon, againft all Antiquity, all Interpreters, and againft the infpired Scripture it felf, will have no Samuel in this Scene, but a cunning confederate Knave, whe-ther the infpired Scripture, or thefemblovpn Buffoons, puf-fed up with nothing but Ignorance, Vanity and ftupid Infide-lity, are to be believed, let any one judge.

We come now to his other Allegation, wherein we (hall be brief, we having exceeded the meafure of a Poftfcript already. It xviis neither Samuel'^ Soul, fays he, j&ined with his Body, nor his Soul out of his Body, nor the Devil ; and therefore it muft be fome confederate KP'^'ve fuborned by that cunning, cheating Quean of Endor. But I briefly anfwer, it was the Soul of Samuel himfelf; and that it is the fruitfulnefs of the great Ignorance of J, VVebfler in the found Principks of Theophofy and true Divinity, that has enabled him to heap together no Ids than

Ten

The Pofifcript. ij

Ten Arguments to difprove this Aflercion, and all Utile to the purpofe : So little indeed, that I think it little to the purpole par-ticularly to anfwer them, but Ihall hint only fome few Truths which will roue the whole band of them.

I fay therefore, that departed Souls, as other Spirits, have an a.v7i^^<nov in them, fuch as Souls have in this Life ; and have both a faculty and a right to move of themfelves, provid-ed there be no exprefs Law againft fuch or fuch a defign to which their motion tends.

Again, That they have a power of appearing in their own perfonal fhapes to whom there is occafion, as Anne Walker ^ Soul did to the Miller ; and that this being a faculty of theirs either natural or acquirable, the doing fo is no Miracle, And

Thirdly, That it was the ftrong piercing defire, and deep diftrefs and agony of Mind in Saul, in his perplexed Circum-ftances, and the great companion and goodnefs of Spirit in the holy Soul of Samuel, that was the effedual Magick that drew him to condefcend to converfe with Saul in the Wo-mans Houie at Endor -, as a keen fenfe of Juftice and Re* venge made Amie Walkers Soul appear to the Miller with her five Wounds in her Head.

The ridged and harfh feverity that VVehfter fancies Samuel\ Ghoft would have ufed againft the Woman, or (harp reproofs to Saul -y as for the latter, it is fomewhat expreft in the Text, and Saul had his excufe in readinefs, and the good Soul of Sa* miiel was fenfible of his perplexed condition. And as for the former, fith the Soul o^ Samuel might indeed have terrified the poor Woman, and fo unhinging her, that (he had been fit for nothing after it, but not converted her, it is no wonder if he pafled her by ; Goodnefs and Forbearance more befitting an holy Angelical Soul than blufter and fury, fuch as is fancied by that rude Goblin that ad:uates the Body and Pen of Webfier.

As for departed Souls, that they never have any care or re-gard to any of their fellow Souls here upon Earth, is exprefly againft the known example of that great Soul, and univerfal Paftor of all good Souls, who appeared to Stephen at his fton-ing, and to St, Paul before his Converfion, though then in his glorified Body ; which is a greater condefcenfion than this of the Soul of Samuel, which was alfo to a Prince, upon whofe Shoulders lay the great Affairs of the People pf Ifrael: To omit that other notable example of the Angel Raphael fo called (from his Office at that time, or from the Angelical Order he vvas adopted into after his Death^ but was indeed the Soul

of

2S TheFofifcripL

of A:{aridi the Son of Ananm the Great, and of TohiYs Bre^ theren, Tobiir n, i%. Nor does that which occurs, To/'. 1 2. 15. at all clafli with what we have faid, if rightly underitcod * for his faying, I am Raphael one of the [even holy Angels vphicb ^refenf the Prayers of the Saints^ and which go in and out before the glory of the ho^y one^ in the Cabbaliftick fenle fignifies no more than thus, That he was one of the univerfal Society of the

they

moved by God, minifter to their necefTities, unprayed to them-felves, which would be an abomination to them, but exrreme prone to fecond the Petitions of holy fincere Souls, and forward to engage in the accomplilhing of them, as a truly good man would fooner relieve an indigent Creature, over-hearing him making his moan to God in Prayer, than if he begged Alms of himfeif, though he might do that without Sin. This Cabba-liftical account, I think, is infinitely more probable, than thac t^apbael told a downright lye to Tchit, in faying he was the Son of Ananidi when he was not. And be it fo, will J. VVeh-fier fay, what is all this to the purpofe, when the Book of Tohit is Apocryphal, and confequently of no Authority > What: of no Authority .> Certainly of infinitely more Authority than Mr. Wagjlajf, Mr. Scot, and Mr. Adie, that Mr. VVcbfter fo frequently and reverently quoteth.

1 but, will he farther add, thefe Apparitions were made to good and holy Men, or to elecl Vejfels ; but King Sml was a wretched I^eprobate. This is the third liberal badge of Honour that this iil-bred Advocate of the Witches has beftowed on a diftreffed Prince. Firft, a drovpned Puppet, p, 170. then a <// -Jiracled bedlam, in the fame Page, which 1 palfed by before ; and now, a wretched I{eprobate : But alTuredly Saul was a brave Prince and Commander, as Jofephus juftly defcribes him^ and reprobate only in Typ^, as Ifmael and Efau 5 which is a myftery, it feems, that J. Wehjler was not aware of And, therefore no fuch wonder that the Soul of Samuel had fuch a kindnefs for him, as to appear to him in the depth of his di-ftrefs, to fettle his Mind, by telling him plainly the uplhot of the whole bufinefs, that he (hould lofe the Battel, and he and his Sons be llain, that fo he might give afpecimen of the braveft Valour that ever was atchieved by any Commander, in that he' would not fuffer his Country to be ever- run by the Enemy while he v/as alive without reflftance ; but though he knew certainly he fhouid fail of fuceefs, and he and liis Sons dye

m

The VoftfcYtft. 29

in the Fighr, yet in fo juft and honourable a Caufe as the de-fence of "his Crown and his Country, would give the Eneniy batrle in the Field, and facrifice his own Life for the fafety of his People, Out of the knowledge of which noble Spirit in SatiU and his refolved valour in this point, thofe Words haply may come from SamueL To morrow jkah thou and thy Sons bs mth mCi { as an aufpicious iniinuaricn of their favourable reception into the crher World ) in rn"'p*l!5 P.lt^nD in thaUmo juftonim, as Munftc-r has noted out of the Rahhins. < . Laftly, as for that weak Imputation, that this Opinion of its being Samuel's Soul that appeared is Popiih, that is very Plebeianly and Idicticc^lly fpoken, as if every thing that the Popiih parry are for, were Pcpifh, We devide our Zeal a-gainft ib many things that we fancy Popiih, that we fcarce referve a jult (hare of deteftation againft what is truly fo : Such as are that grof^, rank and fcandalous impolUbiiity of Tranfuhflantiaiion, the various Modes of fulfome Idolatry and lying Ixipoftures-, the uncertainty of their Loyalty to their lawful Soveraigns by their fuperftitious adhefion to the fpi-ritual Tyranny of the Pope, and that barbarous and ferine Cruelty againft thofe that are not either fuch Fools as to be perfu?}ded to believe fuch things as they would obtrude up-on Men, or are not fo falfe to God and their own Con-fciences, as knowing better, yet to profefs them.

.As for that other Opinion, that the greater part of the reformed Divines hold. That it was the Devil that appear-ed in Samuel's Shape; and tho' Grotius alfo feems to be en-clined thereto, alleging that PafTage of Por/^^jyrzfl;; de ahftinentia Animaliuny where he defcribes one kind of Spirit to be, I'tv^

^t^^ ^ JkifMVcti jy 4h:^? TgQj'H/JTiyf. (which is, Iconfefs, ve-ry appofice to this Story ; nor do I doubt but that in ma-ny of thefe Necromantick Apparitions, they are ludicrous Spi-rits, not the Souls of the Deceafcd that appear ) yet I am clear for the appearing of the Soul of Samuel in this Story, from the Rcafons above alleged, and as clear that in other Ne-cromancies, it may be the Devil or fuch kind of Spirits, as Porphyrius above defcribes, that change themfshes into cmnifa-rious Forms and Shapes^ and one x^hile aH the parts of Dse-mons, another while of Angels or Gods, and a?20ther while of the Souls of the Deceafed : And I confefs fuch a Spirit as this might Perfonate Samuel here, for any thing Webfier has al-leged to the contrary, for his Arguments indeed are wonder-fully weak and wooden, as may be underftood our of what

30 The Voftfcrift.

I have hinted concerning the former Opinion, but 1 catirlot farcher parcicularize now.

For I have made my Poflcript much longer than my Letter^ before I was aware ; and I need not enlarge to you, wno are lb well verfed in thele things already, and can by the quick-nefs of your Parts prefently collect the whole meafures of Hercules by his Foot, and fufHci^ncly underftand by this time it is no rafh Cenfure of mine in spy Letter, That TVebflers Book is but a weak impertinent pTece of Work, the very Mailer-piece thereof being fo w;eak and impei'tinenr, and fall-ing fo (hort of the Scope he aims at, which was really to prove that there was no fach thing as a Witch or Wizard, that is, not any mention thereof in Scripture, by any Name of one that had mere to do with the Devil, or the Devil with inm, than with other wicked Men ; that is to fay, of one who in virtue of Covenant, either implicit or explicit, did ftrange things by the help of evil Spirits, but that there are many forts of Deceivers and Impofturesy and divers Perfins under A ■pn^vc Dehifion of Melancholy and Fancy j which is part of his very Title-page.

Whereby he does plainly infinuate, that there is nothing bun Couzcnage or Melancholy in the whole Bufinefsof the Feats of Witches, But a little to mitigate or Imother the grolTnefs of this faife AiTertion, he adds, Aiid that there is no cerpo-real Leno^ttt betwixt the Devil and the pf^itch ; and that he does notfuck_ on the VVitches Body, ^nor has carnal Copulation with b-?r. nor the H^ltches turned %7ito Dogs or Cats^ &c. All which things as you m.ay fee in his Book, he underftand s in the grOiTeft imaginable, as- if the Imps of Witches had Mouths of Flefh to flick them, and Bodies of Flefh to lie with them>. nnd at this rare he may underftand a corporeal League, as if ;c were no League or Covenant, unlefs fome Lawyer drew ihQ Inftrument, and Engroffed it in Vellum or thick Parch* rHent, and there were fo many WitnelTes with the Hand and >bal of the Party: Nor any Transformation into Dogs or (.hts, unlefs it were Real and Corporeal, or grofly Carnal ; which none of his Witch mongers, as he rudely and flovenly cmU.s rhit Learned and Serious Perfon, Dr. Cafaubon and the ;;.(l, do believe- Only it is a difputable Cafe of their Bo-d\\y Transformation, betwixt Bodimtf and I^emigim ; of which more in my Scholia. But that without this Carnal tranfmu-r.^iLon, a Woman might not be accounted a Witch, is fo -I oiiil) a Suppoiicioiij that VVebfter himfelf certainly muft be alliiined of lU ., '

Where-

The Foftfcrip. ji

Wherefore if his Book be "Writ only to prove there is no fuch thing as a Witch that Covenants in Parchment with the"Devil by the Advice of a Lawyer, and is Really and Carnally turned in-to a Dog, Cat, or Hare, ^c, and with carnal Lips Tucked by the Devil, and is one with whom the Devil lief Car-nally y the Scope thereof is manifeftly impertinent, when nei-ther Dr. Cnfauhouy nor any one elfe holds any fuch thing. But as for the true and adequate Notion of a Witch or Wizard, fuch as at firft I defcribed, his Arguments all of them are too too weak and impertinent, as to the difproving the Exiftenceof fuch a Witch as this, who betwixt his Deceivers, Impoftors and Melancholifts on one Hand, and thofe grofs Witches he defcribes oti the other Hand, goes away (here as a Hare in a green Balk betwixt two Lands of Corn, none of his Argu-ments reaching her, or getting the fight of her, himfell: in the mean time ftanding on one fide amongft the Deceivers and Impoftors, his Book, as to the main Defign he drives a? being a meer Cheat and Impoftor,

CC. C. May 25,

1678.

D Al^FEMr

AVVEKTIS E MEISIT.

THs Letter of Dr. Moor being left amongft other Papers apperraning to this new intended Edition, by Mr. Gt(ir:v'L and I ps-ceiving in a Letter of his to the Dodor, that he had a Mind this Letter Thould be Publilhed together wirh hs Book, it is done accordingly and prefixed at the beginn ng thereof, as natural Meihod requires, the Letter bsing Hortatory to quicken Mr. Glanvll to difpatch his io-r.ended n:w Edition for the undeceiving of the World, and the Pcftfoript, containing many things of a general Influence upon the whole Book. But that the Dodor may fufFer no prejudice thro' this Publilhing of his Letter and Poflfcripty frotiii the fharpne fs and fatyricalnefs of them in fome places, I fiiaii for the more rightly underfiianding his meaning in the ufing that Mode of "Writing upon this occafion, tranfcribe a PafTage of a Letter of his to his Friend Mv.Glanvily relating thereto. I pray you fend 7ne vpordy whether that PoftfCript mil not meet -with all the elufory Cavils of that profane Buffoon^ upon thofe places of Holy Scripture ; his unworthy ufage of the Holy iFritf and his deriforiom Interpretations of it in the behalf of his beloved Hags, provoked my Indignation to fuch Schemes of deriding and expofing him, as othermfe I floould never have ccndcp:cvJ(;dto,* This is a fufficient Teftimony of theDodtor's averfcnefs from fuch manner of Writing. But as Divines tell us, that Anger and Punilhment are God's 0pm alienum, his (trange Work, as being more abhorrent from his Nature ; but yet for the good of the Univerfe, he fteps out fometimes in-to that Difpenfation ; fo I think it not mis-becoming good Men, fometime to condefcend, (as the Dodlor calls it) to the chilli <^.ng profane Drolls and Abufers of Holy things, by a juil Denfion and Satyrical Repreheniicn for their freakilh and impious Saucinefs, provided it be done lincerely, and for the pubiick good*

Sadu-

Saducifmm Triumphatus:

Or, a full and plain

EVIDENCE

Concerning

Witches and Apparitions.

The firft part thereof containing

Philofophical CONSIDERATIONS,

Which defend their

POSSIBILITY-

Whereunto is added,

The true and genuine NOTION,

and Gonfiftent EXPLICATIO>{ ef the Nature

O F A

SPIRIT,

For the more full confirmation of the Poffibility O F t H E I R

EXISTENCE-

-- - ■ . ■ I ■ nil I I - ri

LONDON: Printed MDCG

To the Illuftrious

CHARLES

Duke of Richmond and Lenox.

My LORD,

YO V R Grace havif^g been f leafed to com-mand the firft, and more imprfe^ Editiom of this Difcourfe^ I have pe fumed that your Can-dour mil accep the Draught that hath had my laft hand upon it. And though I am not fond enough to fancj any Arc or Ornament in the comfojure to recommend it ; yet^ I know^ the ElFay is fealbn-able, and contains things which relate to our big-geft IntereJ}s; the defign being to fecure fome of ^Atf Out-works e?/ Religion, and to regain a par-cel of Ground which bold Infdelity hath invad-ed. And my Lardy I cannot but obJerveS^dilyytha^ while the Sefts are venting their Animofities a-gainJi each other ^ and [cr ambling fm their Conceits, and the paFticular advantages of their way^ they perceive not that Atheifm comes on by large Hrides^ and enters the Breeches they have made. Sober and confiderate Men fee the formidable danger, and feme of them have firenoufj endeavoured to main--tain the Walls^ while the Factions wiihin arefo bufie D 3 and

The Epiftle Dedicatory;

mdfo divided, that they cunnot attend the defpe^ rate hazard^ And will 7tot join in a Common De-fence. 4 Among thofe generom Defendants / defire to pitch. And have undertaken to make good one of the Forts ufon which the Enemy hath made impetuous Affaults^ and I hope with no contemptible fucceji.

For my part ^ my Lord^ I am very little comer 77'-edfor the [mall Pedlaries that fome Mens fondnefs i:^^^ Religion, by which that f acred thing hath been expofed to a great deal of contempt ^;^^ difhonour. But yet I think it my duty to have a zeal for thofe great and certain matters upon which our hopes Iti an other World are grounded : And that our expe^^ atiqns of a future Being are not imaginary and fantaftick, we have reaf enable evidence enough from jr^^ Attributes ^/God, the Phasnomena of Provi-dence, ani the Nature of our Souls, to convince any, hut thofe who will ftupidly believe that they fhall dye like Beafts, that they may live like them. / confef the Philofbphick Arguments that are pro^ ducedfor the defirable Article^ though very cogent, are many of them fpcculative and deep, requiring fo great an attention and fagacity, that theftake no hold upon the whiftling Spirits^ that are not nfed to confider \ nor upon the common fort that cannot reach fuch heights of Argument: But they are both beB convinced by the Proofs that coma nearest the Senfe, which indeed ftrike our Minds fulleft, and leave the mosi Jafting Jmpreffions ^ whereas high Speculations being more thin and fiib-tile, eafily flide off, even from under fandings that are moH capable to receive them, for this reafon^ ^mong^fome others^ I appear thm much concerned " " '• - for

(^

The Epiftle Dedicatory.

for the jujtif cation of the belief of Witches, it fi^S^^fi^^S paJpable and current ei^idence cf o:ir Immoitalicy, which 1 am exceedingly ^^ViicViOM^ to have made good.

Tor really y my Lordj if we make our compute like Men, and do not fujfer our [elves to he ahufed by the flatteries <?/Senfe, and the deceitful gayeties that ftealus away from God, and from our felves, there is nothing can re}ider the thoughts of this odd \'Sq tolerable hut the exf eolation of another. And wife Men have faid that they would not live /^ momeat if they thought they were not /<? live again. This ferhafs forne may take to he the difcontented Paradox ^ .^ melancholick, vext, and of mean Condition^ that is pinched by the ftraitnejs of Fortune, and envies the heights of others Feh-city and Grandures ; hut hy that time thofe that judge fo^ have ffent the heats (^/froHck Youth^and have pafl over the fever al Stages <?/ Vanity ; when^ they come to fit down and make joher Re feci ions ufon their Pleafures and fmihits^andfum up the accompt of all that is with them^ and before them^ I doubt not hut their confidering thoughts will make Solo-mon'/Conclufion, and find that "'tis hut a miiery to li'^Q^ if we were to Uve for nothing elfe. So that if the content of the prefent Life were all I were to have for the hopes (p/Immortahty, IfJjould even upon that account he very unwilling to believe that I was Mortal ; For certainly the Pleafures that refult from the thoughts <?/ another World in thofe that net only fee it painted in their Imagination?, hut feel it begun in their Souls, are as far beyond all the titillations ^/Senfe as a real lafting happinefs

P 4 ^^

The Epiftle Dedicatory.

is beymd the delufive Images of a Dream. And therefore they that think to fecure the injoyment of their Fleafures by the infamy of our natures in the overthrow of our future hopes, endeavouring to dam ^^/^^f Fountain of thei\^t^ ^Wcleaneft delights; andfeek for hmpid Waters in the Sinks and Pud-dles cf the Streets.

Tou fee^ my Lord^ how my zeal for this mighty Inter eft tran^orts me to a greater length in this ad-drefs than fer haps may confisi with ftriO: decorum ; and 1 indulge my Pen the rather in this Licence, becaufe fojfibly your Grace"* s name may draw fome Eyes hither tha,t have need offuch fuggeftions, and thofe that have not need a great deal more. It cannot he propr to add here thofe large accounts which would be requiftte in a defign of full conviction : But for the frcfenty if they fball pleafe to look forward^ they may likely meet fome things not unfit for their feriom thoughts , and I intend to take a feafon to frefent them others, more particularly fuitable to what I know is as much their intereft as I doubt it is their want.

But^ my Lord^ 1 fear^ lam importunate, and^ h,efeech your Grace to pardon the boldnefs of

My L O R p,

Your Grace's Mpft obedient Servant,

fof. Glanvil THE

PREFACE.

THere are a fort oi narrow and confirPd Spirit s^ who account all Difcourfes medlejs^ that are not for their particular purpofes ; and judge all the World to be of the Size and Genim of thofe within the Circle of their Knowledge and Ac-quaintance; fb that with 2ipert Siud pragmatique Infolence^ they cenfure all the braver Defigns and Notices that lie beyond their Ken as mce and im^ pertinent Speculations : An ignorant and proud In-jufiice-^ as if this fort were the only Perfbns whole humour and needs fhould be confuked. And hence it comes tojpafs that the greatefl: and worthieft things that are written or laid, do al-ways meet with the moft general neglect and [corny fince the le^er People^ for whom they were not intended, are quick to {boot their Bolt^ and to condemn what they do not underfland^ and he^ caufe they do not. Whereas on the other fide^^ thofe that are able to judge^ and would inco!4' y^gej are commonly referv*d and modtii in their Sentences \ or if they fhould feel% to do right to things that are worthy, they are fure to be out-voiced by the rout oi ignorant Contemners. Upon which accounts I have often thought that he that courts and values popular eftimation, takes not

the

PREFACE.

the right way if he endea^^our any thing that is really excellent : but he mull; ftudy th^ little flaufibilities^ and accommodate the humour of the MJNT^ who are active Minifiers of Fame^ being zealous and loud in their Applaufes^as they are clamerous and impetuous in their oppoutions. As for thefe, 'tis one of my chief cares to make my felf as much unconcerned at their Cenfures as I am at the cackling of a Flock of Geefe, or at the eager difpleafure of thoft little fnarhng Animals that are angry when I go along the Streets. Nor can any Man be either wife or happy till he hath arrived to that greataefs of Mi^id^ that no more confiders the tailing of the multitude than the whiftling of the Wind. Not that I think the common People are to be con-temned for the weaknefs of their under (landings ; 'tis an infolent meannefs of Spirit that doth that ; but when conceited Ignorance fits down in the Judgment Seat and gives peremptory Verdicts up-on things beyond its Line^ the wife Man frniles and pafTeth by. For fucli (if that may fignifie any thing to keep them from troubling them-fel ves about the following CONSIDER J-TJO NS ) I defire they would take notice from me, that I writ not thofe things for fuch as they ; and they will do well to throw up the Book up-on this Advertifementj except they will ftay to hear, That though Fhilofofhical Difcourfes to juftifie the common belief about Witches^ are no-thing at all to them, or thofe of their meafure; yet they are too ieafonable and neceffary for our Age, in which Atheifm is begun in Sadducifm :

And

PREFACE.

And thofe that dare not bluntly fay. There is A^O GODy content themfelves (for a fair ftep and Introduction) to deny there are SPIRITS or WITCHES. Which fort of hf dels, though they are not ordinary among the meer vulgar^ yet are they numerous in a little higher rank of Vnderfiandings. And thofe tliat know any thing of the World, know that moft of the loofer, Gentry y and the fmall pretenders to Phi^ lofophy and Wit^ are generally deriders of the belief of Witches and Apparitions. And were this a flight and meer Speculative miftake^ I fhould not trouble my felf or them about it. But I fear this error hath a Cere in it that is worle than Here fie : And therefore how little fbever I care what Men believe or teach in matters ofOpi-man, I think I have reafbn to be ccncern'^d in an affair that toucheth fo near upon the greateft Interefts of Religion. And really lam allonini'd Ibmetimes to think into what kind of an Age we are fallen, in which fbme of the greatelr Impieties are accounted but Bugs^ and terrible NsmeSy in-vifible Tittles, Peccadillo's or Chimera's. Tlie fad and greateft inftances are SJCRILEDGE^ REBELLION, znd WITCHCRAFT. For the two former^there are a fort of Men (that are far from being profeft Enemies to Religion) who I do not know whether they own any fuch Vices. We find no mention of them in their moir par-ticular C<?;^/^j(^d?;^/, nor have I obferv'd tliem in thofe Sermons that have contained the iargeft Catalogues of the Sins of our Age and Nation. ^Trvere dangerous to (peak ofthe?n a^s Sins^ for fe^tr

whj

PREFACE.

who Ihoidd he fotrdd guilty. But my bufinefs at prefent is not with thefe but the other, WTTCH--CRJFT, which I am fure was a Sin of elder times ; and how comes it about that our Jgey, which ib much out-does them in all other kinds of wickednefs^ fliould be wholly innocent in this ? That there M^rbe WITCHES and Apfaritions in our Days, notwithftanding the Objections of the modern S adduce^ I believe I have made ap-pear in the CONSIDEPvATiON following; in which I did not primarily intend dired Proofs, but DEFENCE, as the Title ofthe/r//E^/>/^^^, which is reilorM in thefe later mentioned.

And if ic ihould be ohjecied^ That I have for the moft part uled only Suppofals and Conjeffaral'. things in the Vindic^Jion of the com?non belief,, and fpeak v/ith no point-hUnck affurance in my particular Anfwers, as I do in the general Conclu-iion, I need only fay, That the Proportion I de-fend is matter of fact, which the dij-believers impugne by ailedging that it cannot be^ or it is not Likely : In return co which, if I fhew how thofe things may be, and probably, notwithftand-ing their Allegations, though I fay not down right that they are in the particular way I offer, yet; 'tis enougli for the de^gn of Defence, though not: for that of Proof: For when one faith a thing; cannot be, and I tell him how poilibly it may,, though I hit not the juft manner of it, I yet defeat; the Obje5fion againft it, and make way for the evidence of the thing V^ EaBo\ which now I have added from the divine Oracles, and two modern Relations that are clear and unexcepti-onable. . I;

i

PREFACE.

I have no humour nor delight in telling Sto-ries, and do not publifh thefe for the gratification of thofe that have ; but I record them as Argu-ments for thQ confirmation of a Truth which haib indeed been attefted by multitudes of the like Evidences in all places and times. But things re-mote^ or long faB^ are either not believed ov for-gotten: whereas thefe being /r^jZ^ and;^e/2r, and attended with all the circumftancescf credibility^ it may be expefted they fhould have the more fiiccefs upon the objlinacy of Unbelievers,

But after all this, I muft confefs, there is one Argument againfl: me which is not to be dealt with, viz. d, mighty confidence grounded upon no-things that frvaggers and h^^ffs, and fwears there are no (KBftCfieS. For fuch Philofophfrs as thele^ let them enjoy the Opinion of their own Superla-» tive Judgments, and enter me in the firft rank of Fools for crediting my Senfes^ and thofe of all the Worldjbefore their faorn Didates. If they will believe in Scott, Hollies, and Osborne, and think them more infallible than the facred Oracles, the Hijlory of all Ages, and the full experience of our own^ who can help it? They muft not be contra-diHed, and they are refolved not to be perftpaded. For this fort of Men I never go about to con-vince them of any thing. If I can avoid it, I throw nothing before them, left they Chould turn again and rend me. Their Opinions came into their Heads by chance, when their little Reafons had no notice of their entrance ; and they muft be let alone to go out again of them-ielves the fame way they entred. Therefore not

to

PREFACE.

to make much noife to difturb thefe infallible Huffers^ (and they cannot hear a little for their own) I foftly ftep by them, leaving only this whifper behind me ; That though their worlhip-fid ignorance and fottijhnefs can relifh nothing of aDifcourfe that doth not minifter to Senfuali-ty and Unbelief, yet my CONSIDERATIONS have h^d^he gpod fortune of a better reception frorB^^he braver and more generous Spirits^ than my fondeft hopes could have expected ; and Perfbns whofe good thoughts I have reafon to value, have allured me that their kindnels to my Book hath improved upon fecond and more care-ful perufals; which I mention for this purpofe, that thoie that need my Remarks, and cannot j feel them in a running readings may pleaft to turn their Eyes back and deliberately think ovet what I have offered ; from which courfe I dare promjfe theni more fatisfaSiion than from their

hdjie.

Bath, JmQ
8. 1658,

f.G.

SOMB

SOME

CONSIDERATIONS

ABOUT

Witchcraft,

In a Letter to

ROBERT HVNT, Efq;

SECT. I.

s I f(,

^" M '^ H E frequent and late dealings you have had irt B the Examination of TVitches, and the regards of

B one that hath a very particular honour for you,

ML have brought you the trouble of fome CON S I-

"^^ DERATIONS on the Subjed. And tho' what I have to fay be but the unaccurate product of a little leifure; yet I hope it may afford you fome, not unfeafonable. Accounts of the odd Phcenomena of PVitchcraft and Fafcination^ and contribute to the DEFENCE of the Truth, and cer-tainty of Matters, which you know by Experiments that could not deceive, in fpite of the petty exceptions of thofe that are refolv'd to believe nothing in affairs of this Nature.

And if any thing were to be much admired in an Age of

PPondevs, not only of Kature, (which is a conftant Prodigy) but

of Men and Manners 3 it would be to me matter of aftcniflo-

> m;ntf

0. Confiderations

ment, that Men otherwife Witty and Ingenious, are fallen into the Conceit, that there is no fuch thing as a Witch or Apparition^ but that thefe are the Creatures o^ Melancholy ^nd. Superftition, fofter'd by Ignorance and Defign ; which com-paring the Confidence of their dis-belief, with the Evidence of the things denied, and the weaknefs of their Grounds, would almoft fuggeft that themfelves are an Argument of what they deny; and that fo confident an Opinion could not be held upon fuch inducements, but by fome kind of Witch-craft and Fafcinaiion in the Fancy. And perhaps that evil Spirit, whofe Influences they will not allow in Adlions af-cribed to fuch Caufes, hath a greater hand and intereft in their Propoficion than they are aware of. For that fubtle Enemy of Mankind ( fince Providence will not permit him to mil-chief us without our own concurrence) attempts that by Stratagem and Artifice, which he could never effed: by o-pen ways of a(5ting; and the fuccefs of all Wiles depending upon their Secrefie and Concealment, his Influence is never more dangerous than when his Agency is leafl: fiafpedted. In order therefore to the carrying on the dark and hidden Defigns he manageth againft our Happinefs and our Souls, he cannot exped: to advantage himfelf more, than by inlinuac-ing a belief, That there is no fuch thing as himfelf, but that Fear and Fancy make Devils now, as they did Gods of old. Nor can he ever draw the Aflent of Men to fo dangerous an AfTertion, while the {landing fenfible Evidences of his Ex-iftence in his Prad:ices by and upon his Inftruments are not difcredited and removed.

'Tis doubtlefs therefore the Intereft of this Agent oi dark:-nef, to have the World believe, that the Notion they have of him, is but a Phantafmezud Conceit ; and in order there-unto, that the Stories of VFitches, Apparitions, and indeed e-very thing that brings Tidings of another World, are but melancholic^ Dreams, and pious E^pmances. And when Men are arrived thus far, to think there are no Diabolical ContraSis, or Apparitions, their beUef that there are fuch Spirits refts only upon their Faith and Reverence to the Divine Oracles, which we have little reafon to apprehend fo great in fuch Affertors, as to command much from their affent; efpecially in fuch things in which they have corrupt Interefts againft their Evidence. So that he that thinks there is no Witch, believes a Devil gratis, or at leaft upon inducements, which he is like to find himfelf difpofed to deny when he pleafeth. And when Men are arrived to this degree of Diffidence and

Infidelity,^

ahotit Witchcraft. J

infidelity,' we arc beholden to them if they believe either Angel or Spirir> Refurrediion of the Body, or Immortalicy of Souls. Thefe things hang together in a Chain of connexi-on, at leaftin thefe Mens Hypothefis -^ and 'tis but an happy Chance if he that hath loft one Link holds another. So that the Vitals of Religion b^ing fo much intereffed in this fub^ jed, it will not be an unnecclfary Employment particularly to Difcourfe it.

And in order to the proof , that there have been, and are unlawful Confederacies with evil Spirits, by virtue of which x\\c Hellifti accomplices perform things above their natural Powers. I muft premife, that this being matter of Fadt, is orily capable of the Evidence of Authority and Senfe^ and by both thefe the being of Witches and Diabolical Contradls is moft abundantly confirm'd. All Hiftories arc full of the Exploits of those Inftruments of Darknefs^ and the Teftim.o-ny of all Ages, not only of the rude and barbarous, buc of the moft civilized and poliihed^ World, brings Tidings of their ftrange Performances. We have the atteftation of Thoufands of Eye and Ear-witnfTes, and thofe not of the eafily deceivable Vulgar only, but: of wife and grave Dif-cerners ; and that when no ihtereft coiiid oblige them lo z-^ gree together in a common Lie. I fay we have the Light <)f all thefe Circumftarices to confirm us in the belief of things done by Perfons of defpicable Power and Knowledge, be-yond the reach of Art and ordinary Nature. Standing pub^ lick Records have been kept of thefe well attefted Fvelati-ons, and Epoch/is made of thofe unwonted Events. Laws in many Nations have been ehad:ed againft thofe vile Pradli-ces ; thofe among the Jews and our own are notorious ; fuch Cafes have been often determined near us, by Wife and Re-verend Judges, upon clear and convidlive Evidence ; and Thou-fands in our own Nation have fuffer'd Death for their vile Compadis with Apoftate-Spirits. All thefe I might largely prove in their particular Inftances, but that 'tis not needful, lince thofe that deny the being of Witches, do it not oue of Ignorance of thefe Heads of Argument, of which proba-bly they have heard a thoufand times ; but from an Ap-* prehenlion that fuch a belief is abfurd, and the things im-poflible. And upon thefe prefumptions they contemn all De-itionftrations of this Nature, and are hardned againft Con- -vidion. And I think thofe that can believe ail Hiftories are Romances ; that all the wifer World have agreed toge-iher to juggle Mankind into a common belief of unground-

A Confiderations

ed Fables; that tlie found Senfes of Multitudes rogethermay d^ctvje them, and Laws are built upon Chimeras ; that the eravefV and wifeft Judges have been Murderers, and the Sa^eftPerfons Fcols, or defigning Impoftors. I lay, thofe that can believe this heap of Abfurdities, are either more credulous than thofe whofe Credulity they reprehend ; or elfe Jiive ^ome extraordinary Evidence of their Perfuafion, v$^. ihdt 'tis ahfurd and imPoffihle there (hould be a Witch or Ap^ pariticn. And I am confidenr, were thofe little Appearances remov'd, which Men have form'd in their Fancies againftthe Belief of iuch things, thdr own Evidence would make its way to Mens AlTent, without any more Arguments than what thev know already to enforce it. There is nothing then ne-ceifary to be done, in order to the eftablilTiing the Belief! would reconcile to Mens Minds, but to endeavour the re-movnl of thofe Prejudices they have received againft it^ the chief of which I Ihall particularly deal with. And I be-gin with that bold AHertion.

S E C T. 11.

Obj. L CT'HB Notion of a SipimisimpoJJihle and contraMBi-■^ Otis, and conjequcntly fo is that of Witches, tht hcU-^f of which is founded on that DoBrine,

TO which OhjeHion, I Anfwer^ Firft, If the Notion of a Spirit be ablurd, as is pretended, that of a God and a Soul diilind: from Matter, and immortal, are likewifeab-fSrdities ; and then, that the World was jumbled into this elegant and orderly Fabrick by Chance ; and that our Souls are only parts of Matter that came together we know noc whence nor how, and (hall again Ihortly be diflblv'd into thofe , loofe Atoms that compound them; that all our Conceptions ; are but the thrufting of one part of Matter againft another ; ? and the Ideas of our Minds meer blind and cafual Motions. 1 Thefe, and a Thoufand more the groflcft Impoflibilities and Abfurdities ( confequents of this Propofition, That the Notion of a Spirit is abfurd ) will be fad Certainties and Demon-ilrations, And v/ith fuch AlTertors I would ceafe to Dif- \

couffe

',i

dhout Witchcraft. 5

cburfe about "Witches and Apparitions, and addrefs my fel^ to obtain their affent to Truths infinitely more facred.

And yet, idly, Thb' ic fhould be granted them, that a Tub-fiance immaterial, is as much a conrradid:ion as they can fancy ; yet why (liould they not believe that the Air and all the Regions above us, may have their invillbie intelJccStu-al Agents of Nature like unto our Souls, be that what ic will, and fome of them at leaft as much degenerate as the vileft and moft mifchievous among Men ? . This Hypothecs will be enough to fecnre the pofiibiliry of Witches and Ap-paritions. And that all the upper Stories of the Univerfe are furniflied with Inhabitants, 'tis infinitely reafonable to conclude from the analogy of Nature ; iince we fee there is nothing fo coijitemptible and vile in the World we refide in, but hath its giving Creatures that dvveil upon it; the Earth, the Water, the inferiour Air, the Bodies of Animals, the Flelh, the Skin, the Entrails, the Leaves, the Roots, the 'Stalks of Vegetables ; y^a, and all kind of Minerals in the fubcerrat^e-ous Regions. /T fay, all thefe have their prope^Inhabitants 5 yea, 1 fuppQfe this Rule may hold in all diffcincft kinds of Bodies in, .the World, That they have their peculiar Animals^ The ^eftainty of which, I believe the improvement of Mi-crofcopical Obfervations will difcover. From whence I in-fer. That fince this little Spot is fo thickly Peo|)led in e-Very Atome of it, 'tis weaknefs to think, that all the vaii fpaces above, and hollows under Ground, are defert and un-inhabited. And if both the fuperiour and lower Continents of the Univerfe have their Inhabitants aifo, 'tis exceedingly improbable, arguing from the fame Analogy, that they are all of the meer fenfible Nature, but that they are at leaft fome of the Rational and Intelled:ual Orders. Which fup-J)ofed, there is good Foundation for the belief of Witches and Apparitions, tho* the Notion of a Spirit fhould prove as abfurd, and unphilofophical, as I judge the denial of it. And fo this firft Objedtion comes to nothing. I defcehd then to the fecond Prejudice, which may be thus formed in be-half of the Objedors,

t i S B e To

Cofifiderattons

SECT. IIL

Cbj. II. CJ^Here are. AH inns in moB of thofe ^^l at ions afcrihed -^ to iVitches^ which are ridiculous and impojjible in the Nature of things -^ fuch are [i ) their flyitig out of iVindovos^ after they have ariointed themfelves^ to remote Places, (i) their Trar.sforrrjdtion into Cats, Hares, and other Creatures. (3) their feeling all the Hurts in their oxgn Bodies which they have re-cciv'd in thofe. (j[) Their raifing Tempeils by muttering fame nonfenfical fVords, or perfor'tning Ceremonies alike impertinent as ridiculous. And (5) their being fucH_d in a certain private place in their Bodies by a Familiar. Thefe are pre fumed to be Aliens inconjiftentvpith the Nature of Spirits, and above the jfower of thofe poor and miferable Agents. And therefore the ObjeEiion fup' pofeth them performed only by the Fancy, aiid that the whole Mijiery of ivitchcraft is but an Illufion of crafie Imagination^

TO this aggregate Objedifm I return, (i) in the general. The more abfurd and unaccountable thefe Adlions feem, the greater confirmations are they to me of the Truth of thofe Relations, and the Reality of what the Ob jedlors would deiiroy. For thefe Circumftances being exceeding unlikely, judging by the meafures of common belief, 'tis the greater probability they are not Fid:itious : For the contrivers of p-dions ufe to form them as near as they can conformably to the mofl: unluipedred realities, endeavouring to make them look as like Truth as is poflible in the main fuppofals, tho' withal, they bake them ftrange in the circumftance. None but a Fool or a Mad-man would relate, with a pur-pole of having it believed, that he faw in Ircla^id, Men with Hoofs on their Heads, and Eyes in their Breafts ; or if any Ihould be {o ridiculoufly vain, as to be ferious in fuch an incredible Romance, it cannot be fuppofed that all Travel-lers that come into thofe Parrs after him Ihould tell the lame Story. There is a large Field in Fidion ; and if all thofe Relations were arbitrary Compolitions, doubtlefs the firft Ro-mancers would have framed them more agreeable to the com-mon Dodlrine of Spirits ; at leaft after thefe fuppofed abfur-diiies had been athoufand times laugh'd at, People by this rime would have learned to correct thofe obnoxious Extrava-gancies y and tho* they have not yet more veracity than thel

Agcs>

I

ahout Witchcraft, 7

Ages of Ignorance and SuperftitionV yec one would cxped; they (hould have got more cunning. This luppos'd impofil-bilicy then of thefe Performances, feems tojme a probable Argument, that they are not wilful and defigned Forgeries. And if they are Fancies, 'tis fomewhat ftrange, that Imagi-nation which i$ the moft various thing in all the \yorJd, fhould infinkely repeat the fame Conceit in all Times and Places.

But again (i) the ftrange Actions related of VVitch3s, and preiumed hnpofjlblej are not afcribed to their own Powers, but to the Agency of thofe wicked Confederates they imploy. And to affirm that thof^ eml Sprits cannot do th^r which we conceit impojjilpie, is boldly to itint the Powers of. Creatures, whofe Natures and Faculties we know net ; and to meafurc the "World of Spirits by the narrow rules of our own iinpctcut Beings. We fee among our felves the ferformnnces of Icme out-go the conceits and pojjihilities of others ; and we know ma-ny things may be done by the Mathemaiickj 3.nd MechafiidiAr-tificey which common Heads think imfcjjlble to be cfFedled by the honeft ways of ^r^ and Nature. Ani doubdefs, the/?//;-tilties and powers of thofe mifchievous Fie72ds are as much be-yond the reach aud activities of the moft knowing j^jgcras among us, as theirs are beyond the wit and ability ol the moft ruftick, and illiterate. So that the utmoft that any Ivians reaion in the World can amount to in this particular, is only" this, That he cannot conceive how fuch things can be per-formed ; which only argues the weaknefs and imperftd-iai of pur Kjiowledge and Apprchenficns^ not the ijvpcjJihiHty of thofc performances : And we can no more from hence form an Ar-gument againft them, than againft the moft ordinary effc^s in 'Nature. We cannot coaceive how the Fcetus is form'd in the Womhj nor as much as how a Plant fprings from the Earth we tread on ; we know not how our Sotds rnove the Body, nor how thefe diftant and extreme Natures are united -^ as I have abundantly (hewn in my SCEPSIS SCIENTIFIC A. And if we are ignorant of the moft obvious things about us, and the moft conjiderahle within our lelves, 'tis then no wonder that we know not the ccnftitution and powers of the Creatures ^ to whom we are fuch ftrangers. Briefly then, matters ofFa'cl well proved ought pot to be denied, becaufe we cannot conceive how they can be perform'd. Nor is it a reafonable method of inference, firft to prefume the thing impoffihle^ and thence to conclude that the faB cannot be proved. On the contrary, we ihould judge of the A6iion by the evidence, and not the evi-

E 3 dcucs^

P Confiierations

dencd by the rneafures of our Fancies about the ARiort, This is proudly to exalt our own Opinions above the clcareft Te-Jiimonies and moft fenfible Demonftratidns of TaB: ; and fo to give the Lye to aU Mankind, rather than diftruft the conceits -of cur bold Imaginations.. But yet farther,

{3) I think there is nothing in the infiances menticn'd, but what may as well be accounted for by the Rules of B^afon and Philofophy, as the ordinary affairs oi Nature. For in refolv-ing natural Phcenomena, we can only aflign the probable catifes^ Shewing how things may he, not prefuming how they are. And in the particulars under our Examen, we may give an account jiovyf 'tis pcjTible^ and not unlikely^ that fuch things ( though fomewhat varying from the common road Qi Nature) may be adted. And if our narrov/ and contradled Minds can furnifh lis with apprehenjfions of the way and manner of fuch per-formances, though perhaps not the true ones, *tis an argu-ment that fuch things may be effected by Creatures whofe powers and knowledge are fo vaftly exceeding ours. I (hall endeavour therefore briefly to fuggeft fome things that may render the pojjibility of thefe performances conceivable, in order £0 the removal of this QbjeHion, that they are contradiEtions and ir/jpojjible.

For the FJi^S T then, That the confederate SpinV {hould tranlporc the fPitch through the Air, ro the place of general }{pnds:(voui , there is no difficulty in conceiving it; and if that be true which great Philofophers affirm, concerning the real JeparahiUty of the Soul from the Body without Death, there is yet iefs5 for then 'tis ealie ro apprehend, the Scjw/ having left its grofs and fluggifti body behind it, and being cloth'd only with its immediate vehicle 0] Air^ or rOiOVtfubtile Matter, may be quickly conduced to any place it would be at by thole officiom Spirits that attend it. An^ though I adventure to af-firm nothing concerning the truth and certainty of this Stip-^ pfition, yet I muft needs lay, it doth not lecm to me unreafon-able. And our experience of Apoplexies, Epilepfis, EcftafieSy and the ftrange things Men report to have feen during thofeD^-licjuiums, look favourably upon this Conjeclure ; which feems to me to contradidl no principle of B^afon or Philcfophy ; fince Death couC^^x^ not fo much in the aBual feparation of Soul and Body, as in the indi/pojition and unptnefs of the Body for vital union, as an excellent Philofopher hath made good. On which flypothejis, the Witches anointing her felf before fhe takes her flight, may perhaps ferve to keep the Body tenantahle, and in & difpojjtim to receive the Spirit at its return. Thefe things, ' '■ ■ ' llay,

about Witchcraft. 9

I fay, we may conceive, though I affirm nothing about them ; and there is not any thing in fuch conceptions but what hath been own'd by men of worth and name, and may feem fair and ac-countable enough to thofe who judge not. altogether by the meafures of the populace and cuftomary opinion. And there's a laying of the great Apoftle that feems ro countenance this P/tf/ow/H notion j what is the meaning elfe of that ExpciTion, JjVhether in the Body or out of the Body, I cannot telQ except the Soul may be feparated from the Body without Death ? Which if it be granted /^c/J/^/e, 'tis fufficicnt for my purpofe. And [l) The Transformntions of If 'itches into thz floapcs of othcf AnimaJsy upon the fame fuppofal is vei-y conceivable, fince then 'tis eafie enough to imagine, that the Power of Imagination may form thofe pajjive and pliable vehicles into thofe jhapes, with more eafe than the fancy of the Mother can the flub-born Matter of the Fcetw in the Womb, as we fee it frequent-ly doth in the inftances that occur oi Signatures and mcnflrcus Singularities'^ and perhaps fometimes tht confederate Spirit put tricks upon the Senfes of the Speftatorst and ihok froapes are only il/ujions,^

But then (^) when they feel the hurts in their grofs Bodies, that they receive in their ai?y vehicles^ they muft be luppofed to have been really prcfent, at ieaft in thefe latter ; and 'ris no more difficult to apprehend how the hurts of thofe fhouid be tranflated upon their other Bodies, than how DiCeafes faould be inflidted by the Imagination, ,ot how the fa7icy of the Mo-ther Ihould wound the FatuSy as feveral credible relations do atteft.

And (4J for their raifing Storms and Teynpefls, They do it not, be fure, by their ovpn, but by the Power of the Prince of the Air, their JFriend and Allie ; and the Ceremonies that are enjoyn'd them are doubtlefs nothing elfe but entertaimnents for their Imaginations^ and are likely defign'd to perfuade rhem, that they do thefe ftrange things themfehes.

And (laftly) for their being fucked by their Familiar, I fay (i) we know fo little of the nature of Dccmons and Spirits^ that 'tis no wonder we cannot certainly divine the reaion of fo ftrange an adlion. And yet (2) we may conjedure at fome things that may render it lefs improbable. For ibme have thought that the Genii (whom both the Platcnical and Chrijlian Anti^ quity thought embodied) are recreated by the reel^< and vapours of humane Blood, and the Spirits that proceed from them : Which fuppofal (if we grant them Bodies) is not unlikely, every thing being refreftod and nouriOied by it^ like, And that they

E 4 2J«

10 Ci>nfiderdtions

.' •- - _^ n

are not perfcdly ahfiraBed from all Body and Matter] befides the reverence we owe to the wifeft Antiquity, there are feveral confiderable Arguments I could alledge ro render ic probable. Which things fuppofed, the Devil' sfuckjng the Sor-cerefs is no great wonder, nor difficult to be accounted for. Or perhaps (3) this may be only a diabolical Sacrament and Ceremony to confirm the hellijh Covenant. To which I add, {4) That which to me feems moft probable, v/;^. That the Fa-miliar doth not only fuck the fVitch^ but in the a(5lion in-fufeth fome pyfonoiis ferment into her, which gives her Ima-gination and Spirits a Magical TinHure, whereby they become mfchievoufly infuenpial ; and the Word venefica, intimates fome fuch Matter. Now that the Imagination hath a mighty power in Operationy is feen in the juft now mention'd Signa" tures and Difeajes that it caufeth ; and that the Fancy is jnodified by the ^4//^/>j of the Blood znd Spirits, is too evi-dent to need Proof. Which things fuppofed, 'tis plain to conceive that the evil Spirit having breathed fome vile vapour into the Body of the Witch, it may taint her Blood and Spirits with a noxious Qiiality, by which her infeSied Imagination, heightned by MelanchoUy arid this worfe caufe, may do much hurt upon Bodies that are impreflible by fuch Influences. And 'tis very likely that this ferment difpofeth the Imagination of the Sorcerefs to caufe the ment'on'd dpcufiena, o^ feparatien of the Soul from the Body, and may perhaps keep the Body m fit temper for its re-entry , as alfo it may facilitate Transforma-tion, which, it may be, could not be efteded ky ordinary and maffijled Imagination.

Thus wc fee, 'tis not fo defperate to form an Apprehenfion of the manner of thefe odd performances ; and though they are hot done the way I have defcrib'd, yet what I have faid may help us to a conceit of the pofllbility,, which fufSceth for my purpofe. And though the Hypothejis I have gone upon will feem as unlikely to fome, as the things they attempt to explain are to others ; yet I muft defire their leave to fuggeft, that moft things feem improbable (efpecially to the conceited and opinion-ative) at firft :propofal ; and many great Truths ^te ftrange and odd, till cuftome and acquaintance have reconciled them to our Fancies. And 111 prefume to add on this occafion, (tho' J love not to be confident in affirming) that there is none of the Platonical fuppojals I have ufed, but what I could make apj>?ar to be fair and reafinabki to the capable and i^nprcju-dic'd/ ■

3ECT.

about Witchcraft. n

SECT. IV.

Obj.III. nyOT (III) X come to another prejudice agahifi the •^ being of Witches, V!>hich is^ That 'tis very tmproba-hie that the Devil, who is a wife and mighry Spirit, floouU be at the heck, of a poor Hag, and have fo little to do, as to attend the Errands 4nd impotent Lufts of afiHy Old Woman.

TO which I might anfwer, (i) That 'tis much m.ore im-probable that all the* World fhoiild be decelvd in matters of VaHt sJ^d circumftances of the cleareft evidence and con-vidlion, than that the Dsvil^ who is mck^ed, fhould be alfo unvpife ; and that he that per mad es all his Subjeds and Ac-complices out. of their Wits, fhculd himfelf ad: like his own Temptations and Pei iuaficns. In belief, there is nothing more Jtrange in this Objedion, than that mckednefs is bafenefs a^id fervility-y and that the Devil is at leifure to ferve thofe, he is at leifure to tempt ^ and induftrious to ruine. And again, (2) J fee no necejfity to believe that the Devil is always the VFltches Confederate ; but perhaps it may be fitly confidered, whether the Familiar b^ not fome departed humane Spirit ^ forfaken of God and goodnefs, and fwallowed up by the iinfatiable de-iire of njifchief and revenge, which poflibly by the Laws and capacity of iis fiate, it cannot execute immediately » And why we (houid prefume that the Devil fhould have the liberty of wandring up and down the Eanh and Air, when he is faid to bs held in the Chains of Dark^efs ; and yet tha^t the feparated Sculs of the vpicked, of whom no fuch thing is affirm*d in any fa-cred Record, fhould be thought fo imprifcnd, that they can-not poilibly wag from the place of their Confinementy I know no fhadow of Conje<5lure. This conceit I am confident hath prejudic'd many againfl the belief of irT'/Vc/:;^/ and Apparitions -^ they not being able to conceive that the Lcvil fhould, be fo lu-dicrous as appearing Spirits are fometiiiaes reported to be in their Frolickj ; and they prefume, that Souls departed never revift the free and open I^gzc?is ; which confidence, I know nothing to juftifie : For fince good Men in their ftate oifepnration are laid to be \otiiyyiKoi, v/hy the wicked m^^y not be fuppofed to be l^c^^uo^'£? in the vjorft fenfe of the Word, I know nothing to help me to imagine. And. if it be fuppofed that the In:ps of Witches aye fometimes wicked Spirits of our o;vn kjnd and na-

turst

12 Co^fderatims.

ture^ and pofTibly the fame that have been Socerers and Witches in this Life : This fuppofal may give a fairer and more pro-bable account of many of the a&ions o{ Sorcery 2nd. Witchcraft, than the other Hypthejisy that they are always Devils, And to this Conjecture 1*11 adventure to fubjoin another, which alfo hath ks probabi'lity, viz. ('^) That *tis not impoinble but the Familiars of Witches are a vile kind of Sprits, of a very inferiour Conftitution and Nature, and none of thofe that were once of the higheft Hierarbhy, now degenerated into the Spi-rits we call Devils. And ror. my part I muft confefs, that I think the common divifion of Sprits much too general ; con-ceiving it likely there may be as great s. variety of Intef/eciuai Creatures in the invifible World, as there is of Animals in the ^ijiblei and that all the fuperiour, yea, and inferiour Regiqns, have their feveral kinds of 5';>m>^ differing in their natural pr^ . feBions, as well as in the kjyids and degrees of their depravities ; , which being fuppofed, 'tis very probable that thofe of the bafeji and meaneft Orders are they, who fubmit to the mention *d Servilities. And thus tht /a/^cfs 2.nd grandure of the Prince of darkriefs need not be brought into queftion.

S E C T. V.

Obj. IV. CTYUT (W) the opinion of Witches feem to fome to •^ accufe Providence, and to fuggefl that It hath ex-pofed Innocents to the fury and malice of revengefiil Fiends ; yecty and [uppofeth thofe moH obnoxious, for vcfhem we might mofi reafenably expert a more ^fjpccial tutelary care and proteHion ; mo^ of the cruel Praclices of thofe prefumd Inftruments of Hell, being upon Children, who as they leaf deferve to be defer ted by thdt Providence that fuperintends all things, fo they mofi need ?>«-guardian Influence.

TO this fo fpecious an OhjeBion I havethefe things to anfwcf. (i) Providence is an unfathomable Depth , and if we fhould not believe the Phienomena of our.Senfes, before we can reconcile them to our notio?is of Providence, we muft be groffer Sceptickj than ever yet were extent. The miferies of the pre-fent Life, the unequal diflrihutions of good and evil, the igno-rance ^nd barbarity of the greateft part of Mankind, th2fata:l' difadv ant ages we are all under, and the ha:(ard we run of be-ing eternally miferable and undone ; thefe, I fay, are things that can hardly be made confiftent with that ivifdom and

Good-

about Witchcraft, ij

Goodnefs that we are fure hath made and mingled it fsif with all things. And yet we believe there is a ^^^wf^ and harmony^ and goodnefs in that Providence, tho' we cannot unriddle k in ;?4r^;-ca/^r inftancej; nor by reafon of our Ignorance and Imperfedlion, clear it from contradiHing Appearances-^ and confequently, we ought not deny the being oi Pitches zndApparitions,hec3.u(e they will create us fomp difficulties incur notions of Providence. Bni to come more clofe, (2) Thofethat believe that Infants are Heirs of Hellf and Children of the Devil as Toon as they are difdofed to the World,cannot certainly offer fuch an Objcdlion ; for what is a lit-tle trifling pain oi a Moment,to thofe eternal Tortures,io which^if they die ajfoon as they are born, according to the Tenour of this Dodrrine , they are everlaflingly expofed ? But however the cafe ftands as to that^ 'tis certain, (3^ That Providence hath not ifecured them from other violences they are obnoxious to, from Cruelty and Accident ; and yet we accufe It not when a whole Town full of Innocents fall a ViFiim to the rage and ferity of harbarous Executioners in If'ars and Majjacres, To which I add, (4)That 'tis likely the mifchief is not fo often done by the evil Spirit immediately-, but by the malignant influences of the Sorcerefs^ whoft power ot hurting confifts in the foremen-tion'd fermenti which is infufed into her by the Familiar. So that I am apt to think there may be a power of real Fafii^tatlon in the Witches Eyes and Imagination, ^hy which for the moft part Ihe adls upon tender Bodies. Nefcio qtiis teneros occuIgs—". JFor the pefii lent ial Spirits being darted by s.Jpightful and vi-igorom Imagination from the Eye, and meeting with thofe that I are weak and pailive in the Bodies which they enter, will not fail to infedb them with a noxious quality that makes dangerous and ftrange Alterations in the Perfon invaded by this poifonous Influence; which way of adting by fubtilc and invilible Inftruments, is ordinary and familiar in all natur?4

! Efficiencies. And 'tis now paft queftion, that Nature for the I nioft part adls by fubtile Streams and Apparrdcas of ?ninufe I Particles., which pafs from one Body to another. Or how-ever that be, this kind of Agency is as coiceivahle as any one of thofe qualities Ignorance hath call'd Sympathy andAntipathyyZhe, reality of which we doubt not, tho' the manner of AB ion be mz-kfiown. Yea the thing I fpeak of is as eafie to be appre-hended, as how Infe^ion fhould pafs in certain tenuious Jlreanis thro' the Air from one Houfe to another ; or, as how the biting of a mad Dog (hould fill all the Blood, ■a.nd Spirits wIlH 1;a venemous and malignant ferment ; the application of the vrr^ : tiie doing the fame in our cafe, as chat of contact doih iq

tins

J 4 Con/ideratioHS

this. Yea, fomc kinds of Fafcination are performed fn this; groflfer and more fenfible way, as by ftriking, giving Apples, and the like, ty which the contagious ijuality may be tranf-mitted, as we fee Difeafes often are by the touch. Now ia this way of conjedure, a good account may be given why Patches are moft powerful M^on Children and timorous Per-fons, 'oi:{. becaufe their Spirits and Imaginations being voeal^, and fajfive, are not able to refift the fatal Invafion ; where-as Men of bold Minds, who have plenty oi ftrong and vi-gorous Spirits^ are fecure from the contagion ; as in peftilential Airs clean Bodies are nor fo liable to Infedion as other Tem-pers. Thus then we fee 'tis liicely enough, that Very often theSorcereJJ her felf doth iheMifchief^ and we know, de facto, that Providence doth not always fecure us from one anothers Injuries ; And yet I muft confefs, that many times alfo the evil Spirit is the mifchievious Agent ; tho* this Confefllon draw on me another Objedion which I next propofe.

SECT. VI.

Obj. V. CfHen it may he faid, that if wicked Spirits cari hurt us by the direBion^ and at the dejireofa Witch, one would thinks they foould have the fame power to do Us Injury ^pithout Inftigation or Compad: ; and if this be granted^ 'tis a wonder that xpe are "not always annoy d and infected by them,

TO which I return; (i) That the LawSf Liber tiesy and; ^eftraints of the Inhabitants of the other ^or/<^aretoi us utterly unktiovon; and this way we can only argue our felves into Confefficiis of our Ignorance, which every Man muft acknowledge, that is not as Imivodelt as Ignorant. It muft be granted by all that own the Being, Power, and Malice of evil Spirits, that the fecurity we enjoy is wonderful whether they ad by fVitches or not ; and^ by what Laws they are kept from making- -ns a Prey, to {peak like Philofophers, we cannot tell ; yea, vi^hy they fhould be permitted to tempt and ruin us in our Souls, and reftrain'd from touching or hurt-ing us in our Bodies, is a Myftery not eafily acsountable, But yet (i) tho* we acknowlege their Power to vex aud torment us in our Bodies alfo 3 yet a Reafon may be given, why

they

about Witchcraft. 1 5

they are lefs frequent in this kind of Mifchief, vi:{. becaufe their main Defigns are levell'd againft the Intereft and Hap-pinefs of our Souls 3 which they can bell promote, when their Adtions are n^oft fly and fecret • whereas, did they or-dinarily perfecute Men in their Bodies, th^.v agency i^ndvoickr ed Influence would be difpover'd, and make a mighty noile in the World, whereby Men would be awaken'd to afuit-able and vigorous oppofition, by the ufe of fuch Means as would engage Providence to refcue them from their Rage and Cruelties, and at laft defeat them in their great purpofes of undoing us eternally. Thus we may conceive that the fecurity we enjoy may well enough confift with the Power and Ma-lice of thofe evil Spirits ; and upon this account we may fuppofe that Laws of their own may prohibit their unlicens'd Injuries, not from any Goodnefs there is in their Conftitu-tions, but in order to the more fuccefsful carrying on the Proje(5ts of the dark_ Kingdom, as Generals forbid Plunder, not out of love to their Enemies, but in order to their own fuccefs. And hence (^3 j we may fuppofe a Law of permif-fion to hurt us at the inftance of the Sorcerept may well Hand with the Policy of HeUt fince by gratifying the wick-ed Perfon, they encourage her in Malifee and Revenge, and promote thereby the main ends of their hhck Confederacy, which are to propogate Wickednefs, and to rain us in our eternal Interefls, And yet (^) 'tis clear to thofe that believe the Hiftory of the Gojpeh that wicked Sprits have vexed the Bodies of Men, without any Infl;igation that we reid of j and at this Day 'tis very likely, that many of iht ftrange Accidents and Difeafes that befal us, may be the infliBihn of evil Sprits^ prompted to hurt us only by the delight they take in Mifchief, So that we cannot argue the Improbabi-lity of their hurting Children and others by Witches from our own fecurity and Freedom from the efFec5ls of their Ma-lice, which perhaps we feel m more Inftances than we are aware of,

SECT.

1 6 Conjiderathni

SECT. VII.

dbj. VI. cnvr (VI) another tttyidxcc againfl the belief of -*-' Witches, is a prefumption upon the enormous Force of Melancholy and Imagination, which without doubt cm do wonderful things, and beget flrange perfwafions ; and to thcfe Caufes foyns afiribc the prefumd ejfcHs of Sorcery and Witchcraft.

To which I Reply briefly, and yet I hope fufSciently.

( I ) nr^Hat to refolve all the clear Circuniftances of Fail^ X which we find in well-attefted and confirmed Re-lations of this kind, into the power Of deccivable Imaginati^ cw, is to make Fancy the greater Prodigies arid to fuppofe that it can do fir anger Feats than are believed of any other kind of Fnfcination. And to think that Fins and Nails ^ for inftance, can by the power of Imagination be conveyed within cfce Skin ; or that Imagination (hould deceive fo many as have been. WitneiTes in Ohjecis of Senfe, in all the Circumftances of: Dlfcovery ; this I fay is to be infinitely more credulous than the affercors oxScrcery and Dcemoniac-ContraBs. Arid by the 1 fame Reafon it may be believed, that all the Battles and fir ange Events of the World, which our felves havenotfeen^- i are but Dreams and fond Imaginations, and likewife thofe that are fought in the Clouds^ when the Brains of th^ delud-td Speciators ZYQ the only Theatre of thofe fancied Tranja^i- , ens. And (2) to deny. Evidence of Aci^ becaufe their Ima^ gination may deceive the [{el ators, when we have no reafon to; think fo, but a bare prefumption that there is no fuch thing^ iisis related, is quite to deftroy the credit of all humane Tefiimony, and to make a^ Men liars, in a larger fenfe than, the Prophet concluded in his hafte. For hot only the Me-lancholic and the Fanciful, but the Grave and the Sober, whofe' Judgments we have no reafon to fufpedt.to be tainted by^ their Imaginationsy have from their own Knowledge andEx^ perience made reports of this Nature, But to this it will pofTibly be rejoined, and the ^eply will be another Prejudice againfi: the belief for which I contend, vIt^,

' SECTJ

ahouf Witchcraft, 17

SECT. VIIL

Obj. VII. CT'Hat "tis a fujpitious Circumflance, that Witch-•^ craft is but a Fancy, fiiiee the Perfons that are accufid, are commo?iIy poor and miferable old Women, who are overgrovpn with Difcontent and Melancholy, which are ve^ ry Imaginative: And the Perfons faid to he Bewitch'd, are for the mofl fart Children, or people very weakly who are eafily imfofed uvon^ and are apt to receive ftrong Impreflions from nothing; whereas were there any fitch thing really j 'tis 72ot like-ly^ hut that the more cunning and fubtil Defperado*/, who might the more [ucceflfuffy carry on the mifchievous Defigns of the dark Kjngdomy Jhould he of tner engaged in thofe h\zc]fiQon{tdiQtZQizs, and alfo 07ie would expe^ effe'ds oj the Hellilh Combination nfon others than the Innocent and Ignorant.

TO which OhjeBion it might perhaps be enough to re-turn ( as hath been above fuggefted ) that nothing can be concluded by this and fuch like Arguings, but that the Policy and Manages of the Inftruments of Darknejl are to us altogether unknown^ and as much in the dark as their Na-tures ; Mankind being no more acquainted with the ^eafons and Methods of Action in the other World, than poor Cot-tagers and Mechanieks are with the Intrigues of Government and [{eafons of State. Yea, perad venture (2) 'tis one of the great Defigns, as 'tis certainly the IntereH oi thofe wicked Agents and Machinators, induftrioufly to hide from us their "influences and Vf^ays of ad:ing, and to work as near as is pof-fible, incognito ; upon which fuppofal 'tis eafie to conceive a reafon, why they moft commonly work by, and upon the Weak and the Ignorant, who can make no cunning Obferva* tionsy or tell credible Tales to deted their Artifice. Befides, (3^ 'tis likely zflrotig Imaginatiouj that cannot be weaken d or difturb'd by a bulie and fubtile ratiocination, is a necefla-ry requifite to thofe wicked Performances ; and without doubt an hightned and objlinate Fancy hath a great influence upon impre^Me Spirits ; yea, and as I have conjedtur'd before, oa the more fajfwe and fufceptible Bodies, And I am very ape to believe, that there are as real Communications and Inter^ courfes between our Spirits ^ as there are between material A^ gents -^ which fecrer Influences^ cho* they are unknown in

their

1 8 Confiderations

their Namre and v^ap of aBingj yet they are fufiiciently fell in their Effects ; for Experience attefts, that fome by the ve-ry M'ijefty and Gr^atneJI of their Spirits, difcovered by no-thing bun a certain nolle Air that accompanies thetn, will be^r dovpn others /^j? great and generousy and make ih^mfneaki, before them ; and fome, by I know not what ftupifytng Ver^ tuCi will tie up the Tongue ^ and confine the Spirits of thofe who are other wife Brisks and Voluble. Which thing fuppofed, ihe Influences of a Spirit pofTeffed of an active 4nd enornioui Imagination^ may be malign and fatal where they cannot be redfted ; efpecialiy when they are accompanied by thofe poy^ fonousreaks that the evil Spirit breaths into the Sorcerefsi which likely are fhot out, and applied by a Fancy hightned and prepared by Melancholy and Difcontent. And thus we may conceive why the M:lancholick, and Envious are ufed up-on fuch occadons, and for the fame reafon the Ignorant, fince Kjiowtedge checks and controuls Imagination ; and thofe that abound in the Imaginative Faculties, do noc ufually ex-ceed in the rational. And perhaps (4^ the D^mon himfelf ufeth the Imagination of the fVitch fo qualified for his piir-pofe, even in thofe Actions of Mifchief which are more prop-perly his 5 for it is moft probable, that Spirits Adtnot up-on Bodies immediatefyf and by their naked Effence, but oy f means proportionatCy and fuitahle Injlru?nents that they ufe ;; Upon which account likely 'tis iu ftric^ly required, that the ; Sorcerccfs Ihould believe, chat fo her Imagination might be i more at the Devotion of the mifihievous Agent. And for the; fame Reafon alfo Ceremonies are ufed in InchantmentSy viZi. for the begetcing this Diabolical Faithy and heightning thdi Fancy to a degree of firength and vigour fufficient to make: it a fie Inftrument for the defign*d Performance. Thofe I( think are Reafons of likelihood and probability, why the; HeUifo Confederates are moftly the Ignorant and Melancholic^ To pafs then to anocher Prejudice.

SECT,.

iihoHt Witchcraft. i^

S E C T. IX.

Obj. VIII. CTHefre^uenf Impoftures ^/;<«i? are met within tmh-^ hjndy bfjget infonic a belief j that ail fiich Kq-lations are Forgeries ajid Tales ^ Knd if. xve urge the Evidaice of a Story for the hel(ef of Witches £»?■ i\pparicions, theyvpiU produce two as feemirigiy ftrong ^^^plaufibie, which Jhall con-clude in Miftake-. or Defign ^ inferring thence^ that all others are of the fame Qualitj and Credit,

But fuch Arguers may pleafe to confidef.

O) nr* Hat z finale J{elafion^ot ^ti Jfirtnati'vet fufScIently

JL confirmed and attefted, is worth a thoufand Tales

of Forgery and Impfture, from whence an univeyfal 'Negative.

cannot be concluded. So, that iho' all the 0hje8ors Stories

j be true, and an hundred times as many more inch. decept kns ^

I yet one Relation, wherein no fallacy or fraud could be fuf-

Ipedled for our affirmative^ vvould fpoil any Conclujion could

I be eredted on them.

j And, (z) it.feemsto me a belief fufficietitly hold and/?re-\ carious^ that all thefe Relations of Forgej7 and M/if^^^ fhould I Idc certain, and hot one among all thole which atrelt the^f-firmative reality^ with circumftanc^s as good as could be ex-pelled or wilhed, fhould he true ^ hut all fabulous and vain* And they have no reafon to objedl credtdity to the affertors of Sorcery and Witchcraft, that can fwallow £o large a mor-fel. And I defire fuch Objedors.to confider,

(3) Whether it be fair to infer, That becaufe there are
fome Cheats and Impoftors, that therefore there are no I^ali-'
\ties. Indeed frequency of deceit and fallacy will warrant a
jgreater c,are and caution in examining ; and fcrupulofuy and

i^ineP of afftnt to things wherein Fraud hath been praSiifed, 5r may in the leaft degree be fuJp^Hed : But to conclude, Decaufe that an old Wcmans Fancy abuied her, or fome \Kjiavifh fellows put Tricks upon the Ignoront anH timorous^ i^ hat therefore whole Affiles have been a thoufand times de-feived in , Judgments upon matters of Fa^, and numbers of fo-per Perfons have been forfvporn in things wherein Perjury puld not advantage them ; I lay, fuch Inferences are as void \i ^ajon^ as they are of Charity 3nd goed Manners, ^ F SECT,

20 Confiderations

SECT. X.

"Obj. IX. nyor (IX) it may be fuggefled farther. That tt e$n-
■^ not be itnagin'd xvhat defigti the Devil /hould have
m malihig thofe foiemn compadis, fince Perfons offuch debauched
and irreclaimable dijpofuions ai thofe with whom he is fuppofed to
confederate, are petty fecurely his, antecedently fo the bargain^
and cannot be more fo by it, fince they can7iot -put their Souls
ont^ of polTToility of the Divine Grace, but by the Sin that is un-
pardonable ; or if they eould fo difpofe and give away themfelves,
it will to fome feem very unlikely:, that a great and mighty Spi-
rit ffoould oblige bimfelfto fuch ohfervances, and keepfuch ado to
fecure the Soul of a fiHy Body, which 'twere' odds but it would be
His, though he put himfelf to no farther trouble than that of hit
- ordinary Temptations.

TO which fuggeftions *twere enough to fay, that 'tis fuf^ ficient if the thing be well provd, though the deiign be noi: known. And ro argue negatively a fide, is very unconclu-five in fuch matters. The Laws and Affairs of the other World (as hath been intimated) are vaftly differing from thofe of our Regions, and therefore 'tis no wonder we cannot judge of their dcfigns, when we know nothing of their menages, and fo little-of their iV^/W/Ti- The Ignorant looker 07i can't imagine what the Limner means by thofe feemingly rude Lines and fcrawls 'which he intends for the I{udiments of a PiEiure , And the Figures of Mathematick^ operation are nonfence, and dafhes at -a venture, to one uninflruded in Mechanicks.. We are in the dark to one anothers Purpoles and Intendments ; and there are a thoufand Intreagues in our little matters, which will not pre-fently confefs their defign even to fagacious Inquifitors* And, therefore 'tis'FoUy and Incogitancy to argue any thing one wa or other from the defigns of a fort of Beings, with whom wi fb little communicate, and poflibly we can take no mon aim, or guefs at their Projecls and defignments, than the ga:^^ ing Beafts can do at ours, when they fee the Traps and Girt that are laid for them, but underftand nothing what the; mean. Thus in general.

But I attempt fomething more ^ particularly, in order t which I muft premife, that the Devil is a name for a Body P< litick^m which there are very different Orders and Decrees of 5//

t

dbout Witchcraft. 21

\-itSi and perhaps in as nnuch variety of Place and State, as a-mong our felves; To that *cis not one and the fame Perfon thaC makes all the compadls with thofe abiifed and feduced Souls, but they are divers, and thofe 'tis like of the meaneft and bafeft quality in the Kjngdom of darknefs : Which being fuppofed, I offer this account of the frobable dejign of thofe voick/d Agents, viz. That having none to rule and tyrannise over within the circle of their own Nature and Government, they ajBFed: a prcud Empire over us, ('the defire of Dominion and Authority being largely fpread through the whole circumference of degene-rated 'Nature^ efpecially among thofe whofe Pride was their original Tranfgrejfwn) every one of thefe then defires to gee him Vaflals to pay him Homage, and to be employed like Slaves in the Services of his Lufts and Appetites ; to gratifie which defire, 'tis like enough to be provided and ailow'd by the con-ftitution of their State and Government j that every wicked fpi'_ tit fliall have thole Souls as his -property ^ and particular Servants and Attendants^ whom he can catch in fuch compaHs ; as thofe wild Beafls that we can take in Hunting, are by the allowance of the Law our own ^ and thofe Slaves that a Man hath pur-chas'd are his peculiar Goods, and the ValTals of his Will. Or rather thofe deluding Fiends are like the feducing Fellow? wq call Spirits, who inveigle Children by their falfe and liattering I Promifes, and carry them away to the Plantations oi America, to ! be fervilely employ 'd there in the works of their profit and ad-vantage. And as thofe bafe Agents will humour and flatter khe fimple unwary Youth, till they are on Shipboard, and I without the reach of thofe that might refcue them from their ^ Hands : In like rhanner the more mifchievous Temper ftudies to gratifie, pleafe and accommodate thofe he deals with in this dnd, till Death hath launched them into the Deep, and they ^re paft the danger of Prayer* y Repentance, and E^ideavours ; and then he ufeth them as pleafeth him. This account I think is not unreafonable, and 'twill fully anfwer the Objedlion, For though the matter be not as I have conjedur'd, yet 'twill fuggeft how it may be conceivd ; v^^hich mills the pretence,' That the Defign is unconceivable.

#2 SECT,-

22 ConfiderAtions

SECT. XL

Obj. X. n^t^T then (X) w Are ftill liable to he queflioned, ^ how it coyncs about, that thofe proud and inlblent befigners /?/-/rS//^ in this kind upon fo few, when one would eX' feci, that they floould be ft ill Trading this way^ and every where be driving en the Pro/eH, which the vilenefs- of Men makes fo feif-able, and would fo muchferve the inter eft of their Lufts.

TO which, among other things that might be fuggefted, I return, fi) That we are never liable to be fo betrayed and abu fed, till by our vile diJpojjtio?is and tendencies we have forfeited this tutelary care, and overfight of the better Spirits ; who,tho' gene-rally they are our guard and defence againft the malice and vio-lence of evil A77gc's,yeT it may well enough be thought,that fome time they may take their leave of fuch as are fwallowed up by Malice, Envy and defire of F^cverige^ qualities moft contrary to their Life and Nature ; and leave them expofed to the Invaficn and Solicitations of thofe wicked Spirits, to whom fuch hate-ful Attributes makes rhcm very fuitable. And if there be par-ticular Guardian Angels, as 'tis not abfurd to fancy, it may then be well fuppofed, that no Man is obnoxious to thofe pro-jed:s and attempts, but only fuch whofe vile and mifchievouH iV^/wr^j, have driven from them then' proteSling Genius. And| againft this derilidtion to the Power or evil Spirits, 'tis likely'-j enough what fome affirm, that the I{oyal Pfalmift diredts that Prayer, Pftl. LXXI. ix. x. Ca^ me not off in the time of old Age -J forfal'^e me not when my flrength faileth. For — They that keep my Soul \_tpvK(Losov7i? riuj -^v^iuj fjm, as the LXX. and the vulgar Lati72, Qui cuflodiunt anirnam mea^ri\ they take cowifel! together faying, God hath forfalicn him, perfecute him knd takfi him -^ for there is none to deliver him. But I add (i) That^tiS) very probable, that the ftate wherein they are, will not eafily/ permit palpable intercourfes between the bad Genii and Man* J<J?}d, fince 'cis like enough that their own Laws and Govern-ment do not allow their frequent excuriions into this World.-Or, it may with as great probability be fuppofed, that 'tis very hard and painful thing for them, to force their thin ant tenuious Bodies into a vifible conftftence, and fuch Ihapes as are nccelTary for their defigns in their correjpondencies with PVitcheil

Fc

ahut Witchcraft. 2 J

For in this adion their Bodies muft needs be exceedingly co7}i-freffedy which cannot well be without a painful ienfc. And this is perhaps a reafon why there are fo few App^irhions, and why appearing Sprits are commonly in fuch halte to be gone, vi:{, that they may be deliver'd from the unnatural frejjurc of their tender t'^^zc/^j ; which I confefs holds more, in the Ap-■paritions of gaod than evil Spirits ; moft relations of this kind, defcribing their delcoveries of themfelves, as very tra}?Jjent, (though for thofe the holy Scripture Records, there may be peculiar reaions, why they are not fo) whereas the x^id^ed ones are nor altogether fo quick and hafty in their X^ifits : The reafon of which probably is, the gVQzx fubtilty and tenuity of the Bo-dies of the former, which will require far greater degrees of aomprejjion^ and coniequently of P^/??, to make them vifJhle ; whereas the latter are moi-e fceculent and grofs, and fo nearer allied to palpable confjflencies^ and more ealily reduceable to Appearance and Vifihility.

At this turn, Sir, you may perceive "that I have again made ufe of the Platonick^ Hypothefis, that Spirits are embodied, upon which indeed a great part of my Dilcourfe is ground-ed : And therefore I hold my felf oblig'd to a fhort account of that fuppofai. It feems then to me very probable, from the nature of Senfe^ and Analogy oi Nature. For (ij we perceive in our felves, that all Senfe is caufed and excited by Motion made ia Matter ; and when thofe motions which convey fen-fible Iiiprejjions to the Brain, the feat of Senfe, are inrercept-ed, Senfe is loft: So that if we fuppofe S//VzVj perfe(flly to be disjoynd from all Matter^ 'tis not conceivable how they can have the fenfe of any thing ; for how material Objects fhould any way be perceiv'd or feit^ without vital union with Matter^ *tis not pofliblc to imagine. Nor doth it- (2} lecm fuitable to the Analogy of Nature, which ufeth not to make precipitous leaps from one thing to another, but ufuaily proceeds by or-derly fleps and gradations : Whereas were there no order of Beings between Vs, who are fo deeply plung'd into the grolTeft Matter, znd pure unbodied Spirits, 'twere a mlghiy jump in Na-ture. Since then the greateft part of the World confilts of the finer Portions of Matcer, and our own Souls are immediately united unto thefe, 'tis infinitely probable to conje^ure, that the nearer Orders of Spirits are vitally joynd to fuch Bodies ; and fo Nature by degrees z^cendang ftiil by the more refi?i'd and fuhtle Matter, gets at laft to the pure Nkf or immaterial Minds, which the Platonifts made the highefi Order of created Beings, Buc'of this I have difcourfed el fe where, apd have faid thus F 3 much

$

24 Confiderations

much of ic at prefent, becaufe ic will enable me to add a-hother Reafon of the unfreqiiency of Apparitions and Compa^j[^

viz.

(3) Becaufe 'tis very likely, that thefe Regions are very un^
ftiitable^ and diJpropoYtioned to the frame and temper of their
Senfes and Bodies-, {o that perhaps, the courfer Spirits can
no mo^e bear the Air of our World, than Bats and Ovi>ls
can the brighteft Beams of Day/ Nor ca.n the pure 3.nd bet-
ter any more endure the noyfome ileams, and poyfonous reel{s
of this Dunghil Earth, than the Delicate can bear a confine-
ment in w^/^y Dungeons, and the foul fqualid Caverns of un-
fcomforrable Darknefs. So that 'tis no rnore wonder, that
the better Spirits no oftner appear, than that Men are not
more frequently in the dark^ Hollows under ground. Nor is
it any more llrange, that e^il Spirits fo rarely vifit us, than
that Fi/I^es do not ordinarily fly in the Air, as 'tis faid one
ibrt of them doth; or that we fee not the Bat daily flut-
tering in the Beanos of the Sun. And now by the help of
what I have fpoken under this Head, I am provided with
fome things wherewith to difable another Objecflion, which
I thus propofe.

Obj.XI.

SECT. xir.

TF there hefuch an intercourfe between evil Spirits "^ and the Wicked, Hovo comes it about that there is no cdrrefpondence between good Angels and the Vertuous, Jince •without doubt thefe are ai defirous to propagate the Spirit and Defigns of the upper and better iVorld, as thofe are to promote tht Interelf of the Kingdom of Darknefs,

WHich v/ay of Arguing is ftill from our Ignorance of the State and Government of the other World, which muFt be confeft, and may without prejudice to the Propofition I defend. But particularly I fay, (i) That we have ground e-nough to believe, that good Spirits do interpofe in, yea, and govern our Afl^airs. For that, there is a Providence reaching from Heaven to Earth, is generally acknowledged; but that shis fuppofeth all things to be ordered by the immediate Influeyjce ^nA inter pofaloi the Supream Deity, feme think is

not

'*^ about Witchcraft, 25

nor very PhUofophical to fnppofc ^ fince, if we judge by the Analogy of the natural H'orld, all things we fee are carried on by the Miyiiftcry oifccond Caufes, and intermediate Agents, And it doth not feem fo magnificent and becoming an appre-henfion of the Supream Numen, 10 fancy his immediate Hand in every trivial Management. But 'tis exceeding Jikeiy to con j dure, that much of the Government of us, and our Af-fairs, IS committed to the better Spirits, with a due fubcr-nation and fubferviency to the Will of the chief F{ector of the Vniverfe. And 'tis not abfurd to believe, chat there is a Government runs from highelt to lowesf, the betcer and more perfed Orders of Being ftill ruling the inferiour and lefs perfed. So that fome one would fancy, that perhaps the Angels may manage ttSy as we do the Creatures that God and Nature have placed under our Empre and Dominion, But however that is, that Goi rules _the lower World by the Minijhy o{ Angels, is very confonant to the [acred Oracles. Thui, Deut. XXXII. 8. 9. ^hen the mofi high divided the /Nations their Inherit ance^ when he Jeparated the fens of Adp.m, ! he Jet the bounds of the people^ Kstr detS^v dyyi?^<io3 0s«, ac-! cording to the nttmber of the Angels of Gody as the' Seftuagint renders it -, the Authority of wnich Tranflation is abundant-ly credited and aflerted, by its being quoted ir> the New ' Teftament, without notice of the Hebrevp Texc ; even there where it differs from it, as Learned Men have obierved. We know aifo, that Angels were very familiar with the Patriarchs of old ; and Jacob's Ladder is a Myft-ery, which imports their . minijiring in the Affairs of the lower World. Thus Origm and others underftand that to be fpokfn by the prefidential Angels, Jer. LL 9. We xfould have healed Babylon, hit floe is not healed : for fake her and let us go. Like the Voice heard in the Temple before the taking oijenifalem by Titus, ^z-m^ca-VMfj^ «j'T5<S-€{'. And before Nebuchadne:{^ar was fent to learn Wiidom and Religion among the Beafts, he fees a fi^atcher according to the 70. an Angel, and an holy one come down from Heaven. Dan. IV. 13. who pronounceth the fad Decree againft him, and calls it the Decree of the Watchers, who ' very probably were the Guardian Genii of hif-nfelf and his Kjngdom. And that there ^ve particular Angels that have the fpecial I{ule and Government of particular Kingdoms, Provin-ces, Cities, yea and of Perfons, I know nothing that can make improbable : The inftance is notorious in Daniel, of the An-gels oiPerfia and Gr^cia, that hindred the other that was engaged for the concerns of Judea • yea our Saviour himfelf

F 4 tells

2(5 Confiderations,

iells lis, that Children }oave their Angels ; and the Congrega-J tion of Diiciples fuppofed that St. Peter had/^/j. Which things \ if they be granted, the good Spirits have not fo little to do wicH us, and our matters, as is generally believed. And

JDerhapi ic would not be ablurd, if we referr'd many of the Irange Thwarts ^ ■zndi uner/pedled Events^ the Difappointments and IucJq co-incidences that befall us. the unaccountable For-tunes and 5«cc(?//"^i that attend fome Itid^y Men, and the tin' hzpp Fates that dog others that feem born to htMiferahlei iht Fame zndi Favour that ftill waits on fome without any conceiveable Motive to allure it, and the general negleSi of others more deferving, whofe worth is not acknowledgd ; I ; fay, thefe and fuch like odd things, may with the greatefl: \ probability be refolved into the Conduct and Ai^;2/?^^J of thofe ; tnvijjble Sttperviforst that prefide over, and govern our Af-fairs.

But if they fo far concern themf elves in our matters ^ hovo is \ it that they ' appear not to maintain a vilible and confeft Cor-refpondence with jome of the berter Mortals, who are moft fit- ^ ted for their Communications and their Influence ? To which I have faid fome things already, when I accounted for the tinfrequency ■ oi Apparitions-^ and I now add what I intend for another return to the main Objedion, vi:(.

(z) That the Apparition of good Spirits is not needful for the Deligns of the better fVorldy whatever fuch may be for the intereit of the other. For we have had the Appearance \ and Cohabitation oi the Son oi God ; we have Mo/^'j and, the Prophets, and the continued Influence of the Spirit, the greatest Arguments to ftrengthen Faith, iht moft powerful Mo-•fives to excite our Love, and the nob'.eit Encouragements to quicken and raife our De fires and Hopes, any of which are more than the Apparition of an Angel ; which would indeed be a great gratification of the Animal Life, but it would render our Faith lefs Noble and lefs Generous, were it frequent-ly fo aflifted : Blejfed are they that believe, and yet have not feen. Bciides which, the good Angels have no fuch ends to profecute, as the gaining any Vaffals to ferve them, they be-ing minifiring Spirits for our good, and no f elf de/igners for a proud and infoloit Dominion over us. And it may be per-haps; not impertinently added, that they are not always evil Spirits ih2it appear, as is ( I kno^/ not well upon what groandjj) generally imagined ; but that the extraordinary detefiions of Murders^ latetit Freafures, falfified and unfulfilled Bifuefls, which are fomedmes made by Apparitiins, may be the courteous

^■- Difco-

about Witchcraft. zj

Difcoveries of the better and more benign Genii. Yea, 'tis not unlikely, that thofe warnings that che World fometimes hath of approaching Judgments and Calamities by Prodigies^ and fundry odd Phenomena, are the l^nd Informations of fbme of the Inhabitants of the upper World. Thus was Jerufalem forewarned before its Sacking by Antiochusy by thofe Airy Horfemen that were feen through all the City, for almolt 40 Days together, 2 Mac, v. 2, 3. and the other Prodigious Portends thai;^ foreran its Dcftrudion by Titus^ which I men-tion becaufe they are notorious Inflames. And tho' for mine own parr, I fcorn the ordinary Tales of Prodigies^ which pro-ceed trom fuperfiitious Fearsy and unac quaint ance with Nature, and have been ufed to bad purpofes by the 2^ealous and the Ignorant ; yet I think that the Arguments that are brought by a late very Ingenious Author, to conclude againft fuch Warnings and Predidions in the whole kind, are /^or/ and inconfequenty and built upon too narrow Uypthefis. For if it be fuppofed, that there is a fort of Spirits over us, and a-bout us, who can give a probable guefs at the more remark:' able futurities y I know not why it may not be conje<5lur'd, that the kindnefs they have for us, and the appetite of fore-telling ftrange things, and the putting the World upon ex-pe(5i:ation, which we find is very grateful to our own Na-tures, may not incline them alfo to give us fome general notice of thofe uncommon Events v^hich they fore- fee. And I yet perceive no reafon we have to fancy, that whatever is done in this kind, mull needs be either immediately from Heaveny or from the Angels, by extraordinary CommiJJion and Appointment. But it fecms to me not unreafonable to believe, that thofe officious Spirits that overfee our Affrirs, perceiving fome mighty and fad Alterations at hand, in which their Charge is much concerned, cannot chufe by reafon of their AffeSiif on to us, but give us fome feafonahle Hints of thofe approach-ing Calamities; to which alfo their Natural defire to fore-telfirange things to come, may contribute to incline them, and by this Hypothefit, the faireft probabilities, and flrongeil ratiocinations againft Prodigies may be made unferviceable. ?ut this only by the way.

5ECT.

aS ConfderAtions.

SECT. XIII.

IDefire it may be confidered farther, (3J That God himfelf affords his intimacies and convsrfes to the better Souls, that are prepared fd!" it ; which is a fri-viledge infinitely beyond Angelical Correppondence.

I confefs i\\Q froud ^nd phantaftici{^prcte72ces oi many of the I conceited MeUncholiJis in this Age^ to Divine Cemmtiniont have prejudiced divers intelligent Perfons againft the belief of any iuch happy vouchfafement • fo that they conclude the Dodtrine of immediate Commimion with the Deity in this Life to be but an high-flovc^n notion of vQarm Imagination^ and overlufciom Self-flattery ; and I acknowledge I have my felf had thoughts of this nature, fuppofing Ccmmunion with God to be nothing elfe but the exercife of vertue^ and that Veace^ and thsfe Comforts which naturally remit from it.

But I have confidered fince, that Qod!s more near and im-mediate imparting himfelf to the Soul that is prepared for that happinefs by divine Love, Humility and I{efignation, in the way of a. vital touch, ^nd fenfe, is a thing pojfible in it felf, and^ will be a great part of our Heaven. That Glory is begun in Grace, and God is pleaied to give feme excellent Souls the happy Antepaft. That hcly Men in ancient times have fough$-and gloried in this Enjoyment, and never complained (oforely as when it was with-held, and interrupted. That the expreffions of Scripture ran infinitely this way, and the /'^/? of Modern good , Men, do from their own experience atte^ it. That this Jpi-rituali:{(:th Religion, znd renders its enjoyments more comfortable • and delicious. That it keeps the Soul under ^ vivid Jenfe of ' Gody and is a grand fecurity againft Temptation. That it holds ; ir fteady amid the Flatteries of ^ projperous State, and gives" k the moft grounded anchorage and fupport amid the Waves of : •an.adverfe Condition. That 'tis the nobleft encouragement to )i Vertue, and the bigeft affurance of an happy Immortality. II fay, I confidered thefe weighty things, and wondred at the care- • Jefnefs and prejudice of thoughts that occafion'd my fufpttfting' the reality of fo glorious a Priviledge ; I faw how iktle reafon . there is in denying matters of inward Jfenfe, becaufe our felves .' do not feel them, or cannot form an apprehenfion of them im our Minds, I am convinced that things- qigufl and reli/h muft

be

about Witchcraft, 29

be judg'd by the fentient and vital Faculties^ and not by the metical Exercifes of jpeculattve underftandings : And upon the whole, I believe infinitely that the Divine Spirit affords its fen^ jlble pre/ence, and immediate 'beatific^ Touch to fome rare Souls, who are divefted of carnal felf and mundane Pleafures, abjiraEi^ ed from the Body by Prayer and holy Meditation ; Jpiritual in their Defires, and calm in their Affe&ions ; devout Lovers of God and Vertue^ and tenderly affe^onate to all the World'; fineere in their aims^ and circumJpeH in their Atiions ; inlarged in their SoulSf clear in their Minds : Thefe I think are the diJpofitio7is that are requifite to fit us for Divine Communion ; and God tranf^ adls not in this near way, but with prepared Spirits who are thus difpofed for the manifeftation of his prefence and his influence '. And fuch, I believe, he never fails to blefs with thefe happy jeretaftes of Glory,

But for thofe that 2iXQpaJJionate and conceited, turbulent and notional, confident and immodefty imperious and malicious ; thai: </o^/ upon trifles, and n/w fiercely in the T^^^y/ of a S"^*??, that are i^//>f^ up in the apprehenlion of the glorious prerogatives of them-feives and their P/?r/y, and fcorn all the World befides ; For fuch, I fay, be their pretentions vphat theywiS, to divine Con^mu^ nion, Illapfes, and Difcoveries, I believe them not ; their Fan-cies abufe them, or they voould us. For what Communion hath Light with Dark/tefl, or the Spirit of the HOLT ONE with thofe whofe genius and ways are fo uulike him ? But the other excellent Souls I defcribed, will as certainly be vifited by the Divine Prefence, and Converfe, as the Chryftalline Streams are with the beams of Light, or the fitly prepar d Earth whofe Seed is in it felf, will be aduated by the Jpir it of Nature,

So that there is no reafon to objedi here the want of Anger lical Communications, though there were none vouchfafed us-fince good Men enjoy the Divine, which are infinitely more fa-tisfaEiory and indearing.

And now I may have leave to proceed to the next ObjeHicn^ which may be made to fpeak thus :

SECT.

ConfUerAtiom

SECT. XIV.

Obj, XII. CTl^£ ^^//V/ e/ Witches, and the mnkrful things ^ -^ they are' faid to -perform hy the help of the Confe-derate Daemon, weakens our Faith, and expofeth the World to In-fidelity in the great matters of oiir t{eligion. For if they by Dia-bolical affiftance can infiid: and cure Difeafes, and do things fo much beyond the comprehenfion of our Philofophy, and a(5tivity €f common Nature ; what affurance can we have, that the Mira-cles that confirm our Gojpel were ?iot the ejfeEis of a Compact or like Nature^ and that Devils were not caft out by Belzebub ? If evil Spirits can afjume Bodies, and render themfehes vifible in humane likenefs 5 iVhat fecurity can we have of the reality of the Refurredion o/Chrift? And if by their help, Witches can enter Chambers invifibly through Key-holes and little unperceiv-ed Crannies, and transform themfehes at pleafure ; PPloat drgu* mcnts of Divinity are there in our Saviour s [hewing himfelf in the midfl of /j;V,Difciples, when the doors were fhut, and his Transfiguration in the Mount ? Miracles are the great induce-ments of Belief'^ And how foallwe diftinguif^ a Miracle /rom a lying Wonder; a Teftimony from Heaven from a Trick of the Angels of Hell, if they can perform things that afionifh and con-found our R^afonsy and are beyond all the Poffibilities of Human Nature? This Obje&ion is fpightful and mifchievous 5 but I thus endeavour to difpatch it.

(i j nr'HE Wonders done by Confederacy with wicked S_pi' JL rits, cannot derive a fufpicion upon the undoubt-ed Miracles that were wrought by the. Author and Promulgers of our Religion, as if they were perform'd by Diabolical Com' ^aH, fince their Spirit, Endeavours and D^^mj, were notoriouily contrary to all the Tendencies, Aims and Inter efts of the Kjng-doms of Darlinef^. For as to the Life and Temper of the blef-fed and adorable JESVS, we know there was an incompar-able/«'ef?f;2c/? in his Nature, Humility in his Marnier s, Calmnep in his Temper, Compaffion in his Miracles, Modefly in his Ex-freffions, HolijiefJ in all his ABions, Hatred of Vice and Bafeneft, ind Love to all the World ; all which are ejfentially contrary to the Nature and Conftitution of Apoftate Spirits, who abound in Pride and ^aficcur, Infolence and f^deneJJ, Tyranny and Safe-^sjl, univerfal Malice and Hatred of Men. And their Defigns

are

about Witchcrdft. j t

are as oppofite as their Spirit and Genius. And now, Can the Sun borrow its Light from the bottomlejl Abyfi> Can Heat and fVarmth flow in upon World from the Regions of Snor^ and Ice ? Can Fire freeze and J^aier burn ? Can Natures, fo infinitely contrary, communicate, and jump in Proje^s that are dellruSiive to each others 4^oi:i?w Interests ? Is there any Balfom in ihQ Cockatrices Egg? or, Can the Spirit oi Life flow from the Venome of the yljp P Will the Pri?jce of Darknep ftrcngthea the Arm that is ftretcht out to pluck his Vfurpt Scepter, and his 5^o//j from him ? And will he lend his Legions to affift the Armies of his Enemy againft him ? No, thefe are impoflfible Suppofals, no intelligent Being will induftrioufly and know-ingly contribute to the contradidlion of its own Principles^ the Defeature of its Purpofes, and the ruin of its own deareft Interefts. There is no fear then that our Faith (hould receive prejudice from the Ackpovpledgment of the Being of TVitches, and power of evil Spirits, fince 'tis not the doing vpon--derful things that is the only Evidence that the Holy JESVS. was from God, and his Do8rine true; but the conjunElion of other Circumstances, the hoHiiefi of his Life, the reafonahle-nefi of his F{eligion, and the excellency of his Defigns added credit to his Works, and ftrengthend the great Conclujion^ That he could be no other than the Son of God, and Saviour of the World, But befides, I fay,

fi) That fince infinite Wifdom and Goodnefs rules the World,. it cannot be conceiv'd, that they fiiould give up the greatelt part of Men to unavoidable deception. And if evil Angeh by their Confederates are permitted to perform fuch aftoniihing things, as feem fo evidently to carry God's Seal and Po^cr with them, for the confirmation of Fal/hoods, and gaining cre-dit to Impoftures, without any counter-Evidence to difabufe the World ; Mankind is expofed to fad and fatal deluficns. And to fay that Providence will fuffer us to be deceived in things of the greateft concernment, when we ufe the beft of our care and endeavours to prevent it, is to fpeak hard things of God'y and in efi^ed: to affirm, That he hath nothing ta <3o in the Government of the World, or doth not concern himfelf in the Afl'airs of poor forlorn] Men. And if the Pro-vidence and Goodnefs of God be not a fecurity unto us a-gainft fuch Deceptions, we cannot be alTured, but that we are always abuled by thofe mifchievous Agents, in the Ob--jeHs of plain Senfe, and in all the matters of our daily con-verfes. If ONE that pretends he is immediately fent from Godf CO overthrow the ancient Fabrick, of Eftablifted J^Vor-

fhip.

52 ConfideratioHS

/hip, and to ered a new Religion in his Name, fhall be borti of a Virp?7y and honour'd by a miraculous Star ; proclaimed by a Song of feeming Angels of Lights and worfoipped by the wife Sages of the World ; Reverenc'd by thofe of the greateft Aufterity^ and admir'd by all for a miraculous Wifdom, beyond his Education in his Years: If he fhall feed multitudes with almoft nothing, and faft himfelf beyond all the pofTibilities of Nature: if he fhall be transformed into the appearance of extraordinary Glory^ and converfe with departed Prophets in their vifihk Forms : If he (hall Cure all Difeafes without Phy-fick. or Endeavour, and raife the Dead to Life after they have flunk in their Graves : If he fhall be honoured by Voices from Heaveny and attradt the univerfal wonder of Princes and People : If he fhall allay Tempefis with a beck^, and call ouc Devils with a Word : If he fhall foretell his own Death par-ticularly, with its Tragical CircumfianceSy and his B^furreHioti after it : It the Veil of the moft famous Temple in the World (hall be rent, and the Sun darkned at his Funeral : If he fhall within the rime foretold break the bonds of Death, and life up his Head out of the Grave : If Multitudes of other depart-ed Souls fhall arife with him, to attend at the folemnity of his-Refurredlion : If he fhall after Death, vifibly conv?rfey and eat and drink with divers Perfons, who could not be deceived in a matter of clear Senfe, and afcend in Glory in the prefence of an aftonilht and admiring Multitude : I fay, if fuch a one as this fhould prove a diabolical Impoftor, and Providence fhould permit him to he fo credited and acknowledged • What poffibi-lity were there then for us to be affured that we are not al-ways deceived ? yea, that our very Faculties were not given us only to delude and abufe us ? and if fo, the next Conclu-iion is, That there is no God that judgeth on the Earth ; and the beft and moft likely Hypothefis will be, That the PVorld is given up to the Gcvernment of the Devil. But if there be a Providence that fuperviferh us, (as nothing is more certain)' doublefs it will never fufFer poor helplofs Creatures to be inevi-tally deceived by the craft and fubtiky of their mifchievous' Enemy, to their undoing ; but will Without queftion take fuch care, that the works wrought by divine Power for the Confir-mation of Divine Truth, fhall have fuch vifible Markj and Sig-^" natures, if not in their Nature, yet in their Circumftances, Endi and Defigns, as fhall difcover -whence they are, and fulHciently diftingui(h them from all Impoftures and Delufions. And though' wicked Spirits may perform fome ftrange things that may ex-cite wonder for a while, yet hg hatbi and will fo provide thatr

they.

f

about Witchcraft. J|

they fiiall be baffled and difcredited ; as wc know it was in the cafe of Mofes and the Eyjpjian Magicians.

Thefe things I count fufficient to be faid to this la!i and fhrevfideil Oh]Q^ion ', though fome, I underftand, except^ thac I have made it ftronger than the Anfmr I have applied. Thac I have urged the Argument of Vnbelievers home, and reprefent-cd it in its full flreyigthy I fuppofe can be no matter of juft Reproof:- For to triumph over the weaknefs of a Caufe^ and to overlook its ftrength, is the trick of JhaSorv and intereffed Difputers, and the worft way to defend a good Caufe, or con-fute a bad one. I have therefore all along urged the moft co-gent things I couJd thinly of for the Intereft of the OhjeHors^ becaufe I would not impofe upon my I^eader or my felf; and the ftronger I make their Premifes, the more fhall I weaken their Conclufion if I anfwer them ; which whether I have done or not, I refer my felf to the Judgments of the ingenious and confiderate ; from whom I fliould be very glad to be inform'd in what particular Points my difcourfe is defedive. Gene ral Charges are no Proofs, nor are they eafily capable of an ans-wer. Yet, to the mention d exception I fay,

That the ftrength of the Objeclion is not my fault, for the reafons alledg'd 5 and for the luppofed incompetency of my re-turn, I propofe, that if the circumftances of the Ferfons, Ends and Iffues be the 'be!f Notes of Diftindion between true Mi- 1 racles and Forgeries, Divine and Diabolical ones,! have then faid enough to fecure the Miracles of our Saviour,and the hofyMm oil ancient times. But if thefe Objectors think they can give us anyl better, or more infallible Criteria, I deiire them to weigh what if have ofFer'd about Miracles in fome of the following Leaves, be-i fore they enter that thought among their Certainties. And if theiij other marks of difference will hold, notwithftanding thofc Ahgai tionsj fuppofe the inquifitive believing World would be glad td knowthem,and I fhall have particular obligations to the di fcoverj er, for the ftrength with which he will thereby aifift my Anfwet But till I lee that, I can fay nothing ftronger ; or if I fa> it, which I ftiali not in hafte exped, I fhould not be convir ced but that the circumftances of difference, which I have noi( ed, are abundantly fufficient to difarm the Objection ; and lhew,that though Apparitions, Witchcraft and Diabolical f4^onde are admitted, yet none of thefe can faften any flurr, or groui of dangerous doubt upon the miraculous performances of the JESVS and his Apoftles. If the dilfatisfied can fhew it, I fhi yield my felf an humble Profelyte to their E{eafons ; but tii^ know them, the general fuggeftioa will not convince me.

No/

54 Vo^fideratiom ,

Now, befides what I have diredlly faid to the rtiaiti Ohjectidin] I have this to add to the Objectors^ that I could wiHi they would take care of fuch Suggeflions ; which if they overthrow not the Opinion they oppofe, will dangeroufly affront the Religion they would feem to acknowledge. For he that faith,-yhat if there are WITCHES, there is no vpay to frove that Chrift Jefus was not a Magician and diabolical Imfofiory puts a deadly Weapon into the hands of the Infidel^ and is himfelf next door to the SIN AGAINST THE HOLT GHOST: of which, in order to the perfuading greater tendernefs and caution in fuch Matters, I give this fliort account.

SECT. XV.

THE Sin agalnft the Holy GhoU is faid to be VnpardonaUe i[ By which fad Attribute, and the Difcourfe of our Sa* viour, Mat. 12. from the 22 to the 33. verfe^ we may under-iland its Nature. In order to which we confider, that (ince the Mercies of God^ and the Merits of his Son are infinite, there — is nothing can make a Sin unpardonable but what make it incur-able y and there is no Sin but what is curable by a ftrong Faith and rigorous Endeavour : For all things are foffible to him that, believeth. So that that which makes a Sin incurable, muft be fomewhat that makes Faith impofUble, and obftrudls all means of Convidtion. In order to the finding which, we muft con-i fider the ways and methods the Divine Goodnefs hath taken for the begetting Faith, and cure of Infidelity ^ which it attempt-ed firft by the Prophets and holy Men of ancient times, who by the excellency of their Doctrine, the greatnefs of their Mi^ racks, and the holinefs of their Lives, endeavoured the Con-vi(£tion and Reformation of aflubbornand unbelieving World. But though few believed their I{eport, and Men would not be prevail'd on by what they did, or what they faid ; yet their Infidelity was not hitherto incurable, becaufe further means were provided in the Miniftry of John the Baptl§i, whofe Life was more fevere, whofe Dodtrines were moreplain, prelTing and particular ; and therefore 'twas poiTible that he might have fucceeded. Yea, and where he fail'd, and could not open Mens Hearts and their Eyes, the efFedt was ftill in poffibilityy and ic might be expeded from him that came after, to whoni the^

i^ropheti'

about Witchcraft. 5 5

Prophets and John were bur the Twilight and the Daw/i. And tho' his miraculous Birth, the Song of Angels y the Journey of the /^y^ wf« of the EaH:, and the correfpondencc of Prophecies^ with the Circumflances of the /zrif Appearattce of the wonder-^ ful Infant : I fay, tho' thefe had not been taken notice of, yec was there a farther provifion made for the cure of Infidelity, in his aftonifhing l^ifdom, and moHexceSent Oo^rines-Jov, Hefpakfi oi never man did. And when thefe were defpifed and negledled, yec there were other means towards ConviBion and cure ofVnbelief^ in thofe mighty T^^vrkj that bore Teftimony of him, and wore the evident Marks of Divine Power in their Foreheads. But wh.en after all, thefe clear and un^uefiionable Miracles which wera wrought by the Spirit of God, and had eminently his Su-ferfcription on them, ihall be afcribed to the Agency of evil Spirits and Diabolical CompaB, as they were by the malici^ mis and Jpightful Pharifees in the periods above mentioned ; I when thole great and la!t Teftimonies againft Infidelity, (hall i be faid to be but the Tricks of Sorcery, and Complotment^ I with Htlli/h Confederates, this is Blafphemy in the higheft, I againft the Power and Spirit of God, and fuch as cuts offaH j means of ConviBion, and puts the Unbelievers beyond all poff Jibilities of Cure, ^por Miracles are God's Seal, and the greac J and lait Evidence of the Truth of any Dodrine. And thoV 'while thefe are only d is- believed as to the F^c^, there re-i mains a poflibility d perfuajion ; yet when the Fact Ihall bq aeknowledg'd, but the Power hlajphemed, and the Elfeds of the adorable Spirit malicioufly imipnted to the Devils^ fuch a Blajphtmy, fuch zh Infidelity is inctir able, and confeqiiently «w-fardonable. I fay in fome, one Sin againft the Holy Ghoft; feems to be a malicious Imputation of the Miracles wrought by the Spirit of God in pur Saviour, to Satanicai. Confede-racy, and the Power of Apoftate Spirits ; than which nothing is more Blapoemom, and nothing is more iike to provoke the Holy Spirit that is fo abufed, to an eternal Dereliction of io vile znd fo incurable an Unbeliever.

This account, as *tis clear and reafonable in it felf, fo ic is plainly lodg'd in the mention d Difcourfe of oar Saviour, And moft of thofe that fpeak other things about it, feem to me to talk at random, and perfectly without Book. Buc to leave them to the fondnefsof their own Conceits, I think : i? now time to draw up to a Conclufton of the whole,

SECT

j4 Cenjid^ratfons

SECT. XVI.

THereforc briefly, Sir, I have endeavoured in thefe Pa-' pc:rs, which my refpedl and your concernn[ienc in the Subjed: have made yours, ro remove the main Prejudices I could rhink of againft the Exiftence of flitches and Appariti-om. And Im fare I have faggefted much more againft what I defend, than ever I heard or faw in any that oppofed it ; whofe Difcourfes for the moft part, have feemed to me in-fpired by a lofty fcom of common belief and fome trivial No-tions of vulgar Philofophy. And in defpiling the common Faith about matters of Fact;, and fondly adhering to it in things or Speculation^ they very grofly and abfurdly miftake ; for in things of Fact J the People are as much to be believed, as the iRoft fuhtlc Philofophers and Speculators j iince here, Senfe is the Juidge, but in matters of Notions and Theory ^ they are not at all to be heeded, becaufe I{etfon is to be Judge of thefe, and this they know not how to ufe. And yet thus it is with thofe wife Philofophers, that will deny the plain E- ; vidence of the Senfes of Mankind, becaufe they cannot recon- ' cile Appearances with the fond Crochets of a Philofophy, which they lighted on in the High-way by chance, and will adhere to at a venture. So that I profefs for mine own part, I never yet heard any of the confident Deckimers againft fVi tchcr aft ^nd Apparitions, fpeak any thing that might move a Mind, in any degree inftrudled in the generous kinds of Philofophy and Nature of things. And for the Objections I have recited, they are moft of them fuch as rofe out of mine own Thoughts, which I was obliged to confider what was poiUble to be faid upon this occajion.

For tho' I have examined SCOTs DISCOVEBX, fancying that there I fliould find the flrong B^afons of Mens disbgliS^ in rhis matter • yet I profefs I met not with the leaft fag-geftion in all that Farrago, but what had been ridiculous i] for me to have gone about to Anfwer, for the Author dotfa little but tell odd Tales, and filly Legends, which he confutes and laughs at, and pretends this to be a Confutation of the being of fVttches and Apparitions, in all which, his t^afon^ ings are trifling and childifh ; and when he vtntures at Phi' H^phy, he is little better than ah fur d^ fo that ic will be a

won-

About Witchcraft, 57

wonder to me, if any but Boys and Bujfoons imbibe any Prr* judices againft a Belief fo infinitely confirmed, from the loofc and impotent Suggeftions of fo weak a Difcourfer. "

But however, obferving two things in that Difcourfi thai^ would pretend to be more than ordinary ^eafonsy I (hall do them the civility to examine them. U isjaidthen.

(i) That the Gofpel is (iient as to the being 0/ WITCHES; and ^tis not /ikflji tf there were (vLch, but that ow?- Saviour or bis Apoftles had given intimations of their Exiftence, The other is,

(2) Miracles are ceafed^ and therefore the frodl^ious things afcfrih^
ed to Witchcraft, arefuppofed Dreams ani Impftures,

For Anfwer to the Firft in order, I confider (i) That tho"
the Hiflorjf of the NswTefiame^it were granted to beiilentia
the bufineis of ff ^itches and Compacts ^ yet the i^^rcor/// of the
Old have a frequent mention of them. The LaWy Exod. xxii,
18. againft permitting ^/;e;72 i^^j //W, ('which Imention'd in the
beginning ) is famous. And we have another remarkable Prs-
hibition of them ^ Deut. xviii. 10, ii. I her e fk- all not be found
among you any one that mak^th his Son or his Daughter pafi
through the Fire, or that ufcth Divination, or an ebfcrvsr of
Times, or an Enchanter ^ or a Pf^itchf or a Charmer ^ or a ConfuU
ter with familiar Spirits, or a fVi^^ardj or a Necromancer^.
Now this accumulation of Names, ( fome of which are of
■the fame fenle and import ) is a plain indication that the He--
brew Witeh Was one that pra(5liied by compact with evil Spirits
And many of the fame Expreflions are puE together, in the*
Charge againft Mannjfes, 2 Chron. xxxiii. vi^. That he caiifed
his Children to pafl through the Fire, ohferved Times, nfed E?i'
chantments and PVitehcraft, and dealt with Familiar Spirits^
and with Wi:{ards' So that tho' the Original Word which
we render Witch and PVitchcraft, fliould as our Sadducees urge,
fignifie only a Cheat and a Poyfinery ytt thofe others menti-
oned, plainly enough fpeak the thing ; and I have given an
account in the former Confiderations^ how a H 'itch in the
I common Notion is a Poyjoner, but why meer Foxfoning
I fliould have a diftind: Law againft it, and not be concluded
i under the general one againft Murder -^ why meef Leger-de-
main and Cheating (hould be fo feverely animadverted on,
I as to be reckor.'d with EnchmtmsntSi cenverfe With Devils »

and liiUmus f^^^/ff/; I feeUeyc th^ ^tnkr ^/ fVif^k^^ wiU

Q % nni

5 8 Confi derations

find it hard to give a reafon ; to which I may add feme o-rher PafTages of Scripaire that yield fulficient evidence in the cafe. The Nations are forbid to hearken to the Diviners^ Dreamers, Enchanters, and Sorcerers, Jer. xxvii, 9. The Cal-deans are deeply threatned for their Sorceries and Enchant^ rnents, Ifa. xlvii. 9. and we read that Nebuchadne:{{ar called the Mtgiclansj Aftrologersy Sorcerers^ and -Chaldea?is to tell his Dream. My mention of which laft, minds me to fay, that for ought I have to the contrary, there may be a fort of Witches and Magicians that have no Familiars that they k2iovi>, nor atiy exprejl compact with apoftaie Spirits; who yet may per-haps sd: ftrange tilings by Diabolical aids, which they pro-cure by the iife of thofe Forms, and wicked Arts that the Dsvll didi firil imp'art to his Confederates-, and weknownoc bat the Laws of that dark^ Kjngdom may enjoyn t particu-lar attendance upon all thofe that praitife their Myjieries, whether they know them to be theirs or not, for a great In-tereft of their Empire may be ferved by this Project, fince thofe that find fuch fuccefs in the tmknovpti Conjurations, may by-that be toll'd on to more exprep Tranfactions with thofe Fiends^ that have aifiiled them incog-nito ; or if they proceed not fo far, yet they run upon a F(pcJl by a(5ling in the darl{^ and deal-ing in iinknovpn ' and unwarranted Arts, in which the effect is much beyond the proper efficiency of the thing they ule, and affords ground of more than fufpicion, that Ibme evil Spi* rlt is the Ageyit in thofe wondrous performances.

Upon this account I fay, it is not to me unlikely, buc that the Devils may by their own Conftitution be bound to attend upon all that ufe their Ceremonies and Forms, tho' ig-norantly and without defign of evil; and fo Conjuration may have been performed by thofe who are none of the Cevenant-Sorcerers and Witches, Among thofe perhaps we may juftly rec-kon BaUa?n, and the Diviners^ For Balaam, Moncxiis hath undertaken to clear him from the guilt of the greater Sor-cery. And the Diviners are ufually diftin(5lly mentioned from thofe that had Familiar Spirits. The Aftrologers alfo of Elder times, and ttpfe of ours, I take to have been of this fort of Magicians, and feme of them under the colour of that my-flical Science, worfe. And I queftion not, but that things are really done, and foretold by thofe pretended Artifls, that are much beyond the regular poffibilities of their Art ; which in this appears to be exceedingly uncertain and precarious, in that tlreve are no lefs ihan fix ways of meeting a Scheme, in each of which the prcdicthn of Events (hall be different^

ahout Witchcraft. ^g

and yet every one of them bejnftifiable by the I^u/es of ihaz Science. And the Principles xhey go upon, are found to be very arbitrary and unphilofiphicaly not by the ordinary Declai-mers againft it, but by ihe mo^ profound Incjuirersimo^hmo^s, who perfedly underftmd the whole 'Myftery^ and are the only competent Judges*

Now thofe Myfiical Students may intlieir firft addrefles to this Science^ have nooiher delign bat the fatisfadiion of their Ciiriofity to know remote and hidden things ; yet that in the progrefs being not fatisfied within the bounds of their Art-. doth many times tempt the cwz'owj- Inquirer to ufe worfc mG^v\% of Information ; and no doubt thole mlfchievous Spirits that are as vigilant as the 'Beajis of Prey ^ and watch all occafions to gee us within their envious reach^ are more conflant Attendsrs, and careful Spies upon the Actions and Inclinations of fuch, whole Genius and Defjgns prepare them for their Temptations, So that I look on Judicial Aflrdogy^ as a fair Inrrod uClion lo Sorcery and Witchcraft, and who knows but that it was firft iet on foot by the Infernal Hunters,, as a Lure to draw the Ciiriofos into thofe Snares that lie hid beyond it 5 and yet I believe alfo, it may be innoceyitly enough ftudied ^by thofe, that aim only to understand -what it is, and hovp far it voill honefi/y go, and are not willing to condemn any thing which they do not comprehend, but that they muft take care to keep themfelves within the Bounds of fober Enquiry, and not indulge irregu-lar Solicitudes about the knowledge of things which Providence hath thought fit to co«c^^/ from us ; which whoever doth, lays himfelf open to the Defigns and Solicitations of evil Spirits ; and I bel'eve there are very few among thoie who have been addidled to thofe flrange Arts of wonder, and prediciion, but have found themfelves attaqued by {ome unknomi SoUicitors^ and inticed by them to the more dangerous AHions and Cor-rejpondencies ; for as there are a fort of ba/e and. fordid Spirits that attend the Envy and Malice of the ignorant and viler fort of Perfons, and betray them into Conipacls by Promlfcs of Re-venge, fo, no doubt there are a kind of more airy 2x16. Jp ecu! a-five Fiends, of an higher ^nt^ and Order than thole wretched Imps, who apply themfelves to the Curious, and many tinges prevail with them by Offers of the more recojidite IQiowledge^ as we \i^Q\N\ivJ2i%mxhefir^Temptationy yea, and fometimes they are fo cautious and vonry in their Converfations with more refined Perfons, that they never "offer to make any expref Co-venants with them, and to this purpofe I have been inform-ed by a very Learned and Reverend Dodor, that one Mr.

G 3 Edvpards

4® Corjfideratioim

Edwards a Maftcr of Arts of Trinity College in C^mlrlge^ being reclaimed from Conjuration, declared in his Repentances thac the D^mcn always appeared to him like a Man of good Fafhion, and never required any CompaB from him ; and no doubt they fort themfelv^s agreeably to the State^ Port, and G^;/2Z/; of thole with whohi they c<j«'t;i?r/e ; yea 'tis like, as I conjectured", are ^JJlftant fom^times to thofe, to whom they (dare not Ihew themfelves in any cppen7iep of appearance, left they (hould fright them from thofe ways of Sin and Tempta-tion, fo that we fee that Men may aC^by evil Spirits, wiih' out their own knowledge that they do fo,

' And polTibly Nebuchedne:(X^rs Wifemen might be of this fort of Magicians ; whichj fuppofal I mention the rather, becaujfe it may fcrve me againft fome things that may be obJ€<5led : For it may be faid, If they had been in Confederacy with Df-^ils, it is not probable that Daniel would have been their j^dvocate, or in fuch imjfenfive Terr?is have diftinguilht their, skill from Divine Revelation ; nor (hould he, one would think, have accepted the OSice of being Provoit c^vt^ them. Thefe Circumftances may be fuppofed to intimate a probability, that the Mngi of Babylon v/ere in no prof eft Diabolical Com* plrtm:nt, and I grant it. But yet they might, and in all like-lihood did, ufe the Arts and Methods of A^ion, which obtain Demoni^cii, Co-operation and Affiftance, though without their frivlty, and fo they were a lefs Criminal lort of Conjurers ^ for thofe Arts were convey 'd down along to them from one Hand to another, and the Succeffors ftill took them up from thole that Precede without a Phiiofophical Scrutiny or Examen, They faw ftrange things were done, and Events predicted by fuch forms, and fuch Words ; How they could not tell, nor 'tis lilce did not enquire ; but contented themfelves with this general account. That ,twas by the povper of their Arts, and were not foHicitom for any other Reafon. This I iay,; w«s probably the cafe ofmoft of thofe Predictors^ though ic fnay be, others of them advanced further into the more deC^ perate part of the Myjiery, And that fome did immediately tranfaii with appearing evil Spirits in thofe times, is apparent enough from exprels mention in the Scriptures I have ai-' ledg'd.

I And the Story of ihQ WITCH oi ENDOK,, i Sam, XXVIII^ is a vtmzv]!i2ih\t demonjlration of the Main Conclufion ; which! will appear when we have confidered and removed the Fancy^ And gloOes of o\xv Author about it, in bis DISCOVERT where to avoid this evidence he afllrms, This WITCH to he

but

about Witchcraft. 41

8 fcut a Co:{encyy and the whole tranfadlion a C/j<?4/ and Impojlurct

I managed by her felf and a Confederate, And in order to the

perfuading this, he tells a fine T^/e, viz. That fhe departed

from Saul into her Clofet, * where doub '/^fs, fays he, (he had

* a Familiar, fome /^W cr^/^y Priest, and mi.de 5rf«/ ftcnd at
^ the Door like a FW, to hear the cos[ening Anfwers. He fauh,

* (he there ufcd the ordinary' Words of Corijuration ; and after

* them Sa^u^l appears, whom he affirms to be no other than

* cither th^ tf^tch her felf, or her Confederate. By this pret-
ty knacky and contrivance he thinks he hath difabled the %-
iation from (igniiying to our purpofe.

Bur the DlSCOFEF(J£t\ might have conddered, that all this is an Invention^ and without J?^?;?-^. For there is no menrioa of the ^Pitches Clofet, or her retiring into another Room, or het Confederate, or hct form ef Conjuration : I fay, nothing of all -this, is as much as intimated in the_ Hiftory ; and if we may take this Urge liberty in the Interpretation of Scripture, there is fcarcc a Story in the Bible but may be made a Fal-lacy, an Impoflure, or any thing that we pleafe. Kor is this fancy of his only Arbitrary, but indeed contrary to the Circmn-

I fiances of the Text, For it fays, Saul perceived it was Sartiuef, and hovped himfelf, and this Samuel truly foretold his approach-I ing Fate, viz. That Jfrael fliould be delivered with him into ' the Hands of the Philiftians ; and that on the Morrow He and i his Sons fliould be in the ftate of the Dead, which doubts \ lefs is meant by the Expreflion, that {they /hould be mth him^ i Which contingent particulars, how could the Co:{cner and her j Confederate foretel, if there were nothing in it extraordinary I and preternatural.

It hath indeed been a great difpute amongft Interpreters, ! whether the real Samuel was raifed or the Devil in his likenefs? Moft later Writers fuppofe it to have been an evil Spirit, up-on the fuppolition that good and happy Souls can never return hither from their CaleHial abodes ; and they are not certain-ly at the beck and call of an impious Hag. But then thofe of the other fide urge, that the Piety of the Words chat were fpoke, and the feafonable reproof given to dejpairing Saul, are Indications fufficient that they come not from HeU ; and efpe-cially they think the Prophefie of Circumjlances very accidcHtal to be an Argument that it was not utter'd by any of the infer' nat PrediSiors, And for the fuppofal that is the ground of that Interpretation, 'tis judged exceedingly precarious ; for vpho faith that happy departed Souls were never employed in any minifte-ties here below ? And thofe Diflentcrs are ready to ask a rea- .

G 4 fon,

'a2 Confideratiom ,

ion, why they may not be fent in MefTages to Earth, as well ^s ^ thofe of the Angelical Order? They are nearer aUled ^o our Na-tureSf and upon that account more intimately concern d in our kfFairs ; and the Example of returning La:(arm is evidence of the thing defaSio, Befides which, that it was the real Samue! they think made probable by the opinion of Jefm the Son of Syrac. Ecclef.XLVI. I9» 20. who faith of him, Th2.i after Us ^ death he frophefied and /hewed the Kjng his. end : which alfo is likely from the circumftance of the Womans aflonijhment, and ; 'crying out when (he faw him, intimating her furpri^e, in that : the power of God had o\er-ruled her Enchantment Sy and fent anocher than Ihe expecSted. And they conceive there is no more incongruity in fuppoling God fhould Isnd Samuel 10 rebuke Saul for this his laft Folly, and to predid his inftant ruin, than in his inte* poling Elias to the MefTengers of Aha:{iai when he fent to Bcel:{ehuh. Now if it were the real Samuel^ as the Letter cxpreffeth, (and the obvious fence is to be folJowed when ther^ is no cogent reafon to decline it) he was no*: raifed by thq f)oxi>er of the Witches Enchantments^ but came on that occalion on a Divine Errand. But yet attempts and endeavours to raife her Familiar Spirit^ (though at that time over-ruled) are arguments that it hath been her cuftom to do fo, Or if it were as the other fide concludes, the Devil in the ftiape of Samuely her dia-bolical Confederacy is yet more palpable.

SECT. II.

I Have now done with 5C0T and his Prefumptions ; and am 3 apt to fanry, that there is nothing more needful to be faidl to difcover the Difcoverer. But there is an Author infinitely? more valuable, that calls me to confider him, 'Tis the great? BpifcopiuSy who tho* he grants a fort oiVf^itches and Magicians; . yet denies CofnpaFts. His Authority ^ I confefs, is confiderahle, cut let us weigh his %4/o«/,

• His Fir ft is. That there is no example of any of the prophan^
'Nations that were in fuch Compaci ; whence he would infer,
that there are no expref Covenants with evil Spirits in parti^-
eular Inftances. But I think that both Propfition and Conje-
^uence 3.rQ very obnoxious and defeBive, For that there B?^r^

Nations

nhout Witchcraft, 45

'P^ations that did adually voorjhip the Devil is plain enough iri |che Records of ancient Times, and fome fo read that place jn the Pfalms, The Gods of the Heathen are t>evils ; and Sathan we know is called the God of this World. Yea our Author himfelf confeffeth that the Nation of the ^ex9s were fo ftrid^ly prohibited ff^itchcraft^ and all tranfaSiion with evil Spirits ; becaufe of their pronenefs to worfhip thenn. But what need more ? There are at this Day that pay Sacrifice, and all facred Homage to the tDirJfecti £Dnc in a vifible appearance ; and *tis well known to thofe of our own that Traffick^ and refide in thole parts, that the Carihbians worlhip the D{?i;z7 under the name of JMaboyaj who frequently Ihews himfelf, and rranfadls with themj the like Travellers relate concerning divers orher parts of the barbarous Indies : And 'tis confidently reported by Ibber intelligent Men that have vifited tho^e places, that moft of the Laplanders, and forne other Northern PeoDle zre Witches. That 'tis plain that there are National Confederacies with Devi's; or if there were none, I fee not how it could be inferred thence, that there are no perfonal ones, no more, than that there were never any D^moniackj^ becaufe we know of no Nation univer-[ally poffejfed ^ nor any Lunaticks in the World, becaufe there Ss no Country oi Madmen, But our Author reafons again.

(2) To this purpofe ; That the profligate Perfons r^ho are oh^
noxious to thofe grofs Tempfatiotis, are faft enough before -, and
therefore fuch a Covenant were oeedlefs, and of no avail to the
^Tempers FrojeEis,

This ObjeHion I have anfwered already, in my Remarks upon the IX. Prejudice • and mind you again here, that if the defigns of thofe evil Spirits were only in general to fecure wicked Men to the dar\ K^ngdom^ it might better be pretend-ed that we cannot give a reafon for their Temptaticns, and endeavours in this kind ; but it being likely, as I have con-jedtur'd, that each oi iho{Q infernal Tempters hzih a particular property in thofe he harh feduced and lecured by fuch Com-facis, their refpeBive Pride and tyrannical defire of Slaves^ may reafonably be thought to engage them in fuch Attempts^ in which their fo peculiar intereft is concern'd.

But I add what is more diredt, vi:{. That fuch defperate Sinners are made more fafe to the infernal Kjngdom at large, by fuch hellilh Covena7its and Combinations : lince thereby they confirm, and harden their Hearts againft God, and put them-felves at a greater diftance from his Graces and his Spirit ;

g,ve

44 ConfdersLtions^

give the decpeft Wound- to Confcicnce, and refolve to wink againft ail its Light and ConviBions ; throw a Bar in the way ef their own I^epenfance, and lay a Train for defpair of Mercy. Thefe certainly are fure ways of being undone, and the Devil we fee hath great Intereft in a Projefij the fuc-cefs of which is fo attended. And we know he made the aflauk de faHo upon our Saviour, when he tempted him to fall down and xoorjhip. So that this learned Author hath but little rcafon to Qpjtck,

(3) That to endeavour fuch an exprefs Covenant is contrary

to the Interejl^ of Hel! ; which indeed are this way fo mightily

|?romoted. And whereas he fuggefts^ that a thing fo horrid

is like to Jlartle Confcletice, and awaken the Svul to Conjldera-

iim and Repentance : I reply, That indeed conlidering Mun

in the general^ as a rational Creature, adred by Hopes and

Pearsy and fenpihlc of the Joys and Miferies of another tVorld,

fine would exped it fhould he fo: Bur then, if we caft our

Eyes upon Man^ as really be is, funk^ itito ficjh and prefent

fenfs ', darkned in his MW, zn^ governed hy his Imagination^',

blinded by his Pajfimsy and befotted by Sin and Folly ; hard- ■

tied by tv'il Cujloms, and hurried away by the torrent of his;

Inclination and Dejires : I fay, looking on man in this mifer' •

Ahle ftare of Evil^ 'tis not incredible that he (hould be prevailed I

tTpon by the Tempter, and his own Lufts to ad at a wonderful^

race of madnefs, and continue unconcerned and Jlt4pid in it;;

intent upon his prefent fatisfaHions, without fenfe or confidera-'

ticn of the dreadfulnefs and danger of his Condition ; and by

tijis I am furni(h'd alfo to meet z fourth ObjeHion of our Au^-

ehors, viz.

(4) That *tis not probable upon the iVuches parr, that they -
will be fo dejperate to renounce God and eternal happinefs,,
.and fo everlaltingly undo their Bodies and Souls, for a Ihorc
and mvidX Intcrefi ; which way of arguing will only infer,
that Mankind adts fometimes to prodigious degrees ofBrufi(h»r
Sicfs ; and atftually we fee it in the inftances of every Day.,,
There is not a Lult fo bafe and fo contemptible, but there
are thofe continually in our Eyes, tkat feed it with ih^facri-
fic£ oi th6v Eternity, and their ^oz/// ; and daring Sinners rulhi
upon the blacked villanies with fo little remorfe or fenfe, as ifH
it were their defign to prove that they have nothing left them 1'
of that whereby they are Men. So that naugh: can be in^!
ferred from this Argument, but that humane Nature is incre-
dibly degenerate; and the vilenefs and ftupidity of Men is;
really fo great, that things are cuftomary and common,

which

about Witeheraft. 2J.5

which one could not think pojpble, if he did not hourly fee them. And if Men of liberal Education and accute I{eafon, that know their Dutjf and their danger, are driven by their Appetites, with their Eyes open, upon the moft fatal I{dcki, and make all the hafte they can from their God and their Hnppinefs ; if fuch can batter their Souls for trifiesy and fell everlaflingnefs for a Moment ; fport upon the brink of a Pre^

cipicCf and contemn all the terrors of the future dreadful/ Day; U'hy fliould it then be incr edible , that a brutijh, vile Perfon, fottcd with Ignorance, and drunk with IMice, mindlefs of Gci, and unconcern'd about a future Being, Ihould be perfuaded to accept o^ j/refentf delightful Gratifications, without duly weigh-ing tht^d^erai^f^mdition?

j Thus, %^^mQ, I have anfwered alfo the Argument, of

ithis great My^^agdinft the Covenants of Twitches -^ and fince a

iPerlbn of fuch^S^c/o* ^^^^ learning, hath «<? wor^ to fay againfh

I what I defend, and another of the Tame Characflcr, the ingenious

Mr. S. Parker, who direcfled me to him, reckons thefe the ftrong-

cft things that can be Ob/efted in the Cafe, I begin to arrive to

an higher degree of confidence in this Belief; and am almoft

inc lined to fancy that there is little more to be faid to purpofe,

which may not by the improvement of my CONSIDERATIONS

II be eadly anfwered ; and I am yet the more fortified in my

jconceir, becaufe I have fince the former Edition of this Book,

fcnt to feveral accute and ingenious Perfonsof my acquaintance,

to beg their OhjeBions, or thofe they have heard from others,

againft my Dlfcourfe or Illations, that I might confider them in

this : But I can procure none fav€ only thofe /<•«? I have now

difcufs'd, moft of my Friends telling me, that they have not

met with any that needt or defer ve my riQtice.

SECT.

^6 ' ConfiderMtons

SECT. XIX.

T>Y all this ic is evident, that there were PP^ITCHES i •*^ ancient times under the Dijpenfation of the LAlV-^ am that there were fuch in the times of the GOSPEL alfo, wiljl inot be nnuch more difSculc to make good. I had a late 0©^: calion to fay fomeching about this, in a Letter to a perfon of the higheft honour, from which I fhali now borrow fome things to my prefent purppfe.

I SAY then (II) That there were CompaHs with evil Spirits: in thofe times alfo, is methinks intimated ftrongly in tha^ faying of the ^^11?^ concerning our Saviour that he ca(l out Dcf vils hy Beelzebub ; in his return to which, he denies not the ftippojjtioji or fojfihiltty of the thing in general, but clears himr' felf by an appeal to the adions of their own Children, whomi they would not tax fo feverely : And I cannot very well un-i (derftand why thofe times (hould be priviledged from H^iteh^ craftj and Diabolical Compacts^ more than they were from Pofi fejjionsy which we know were then more frequent ( for oughi appears to the coatrary ) than ever rhey were before or lince.' Bur befides this, there are intimations plain enough in the A^ pftles Writings of the beginning oi Sorcery zxidi H^itchtraft.^ St. Taul reckons H^itchcraft next Idolatry, in his Catalogue of thc« wor\s of the flejh, Gal. v. 2©. and the Sorcerers are again joyn'd with Idolaters in that fad Denunciation, Rev. xxi. 8. and a lit-tle after, Rev. xxii. 15. they are reckoned again among Ido* tatersy Murderers, and thofi others that are mthout. And me-thinks the Story of Simon Magus, and his Diabolical Oppojt-tions of the Gojpel in its beginnings, fliould afford clear Con-V'idion, to all which, I add this more general Confideration.ij ( 3. ) That though the NewTeftament had mention'd nothing of this matter, yet its filence in fuch cafes is not argumentative. Our Saviour 7/74/^? as he had occafion, and the thoufandth parCj. of what hQjid, ^ndfaid, is not recorded, as one of his Hifi:ori-h ans intimates. He laid nothing of thofe large unknown TraEis> of America, nor gave he any intimations of as much as the Exi-fience of that numerous people ; much lefsdid he leave. tftftru^i' ons about their converfion. He gives no account oiihe affair f and ft ate of the other world, but only that general one of the hap-finefs of fome, and the mifery of others, He made no difcovery ' of

J

about Witchcraft. 47

]ofi\itM,ignalla o^ Art or Nature-^ no, notof thoTe, whereby the propagation of the Gc//>^/ might have been much .advanced, t viz. the Mifiery of Printing, and the Magnet ; and yet no one ilufeth his filence in thefe inftances, as an argunnent againft the be-'jing of things, which are evident ohjeHs oifenfe. I confefs, the jomiflion ot lome of thefe particulars is pretty ftrange, and unac-jcountable, and concludes our ignorance of the reafons, and w^-\nages of Providence ; but I fuppofe, nothing elfe. I thought, I ;needed here to have faidno more, but I coniQder, in confequencc jof this OhjeBioUy it is pretended ; That as Chri/l Jefus drives the \Devil from his Temples, and his Altars ( as is clear in the CeJ/k"^ \tion of Oracles, which dwindled away, and at laft grew filen^ jlhortly upon his appearance ) fo in like manner, 'tis faid, th^s .htbanifht Him from his lejjer holds in Sorcerers^ and fVitches ^ (which argument is -peccant both in what \t affirms y and in v/hat (it would infer. For

\ ( I. ) The coming of the Holy Je/m did not expel the Devil '[from all the greater places of his refidence and worfhip-, for a con-fjiiderable i^znoi barbarous Mankind do him public^, folemn ho" \mage^ to this Day ; So that the very foundation of the pretence [fails, and the Confe^uence without any more ado comes to no-i^hing. And yet befides,

( 2. ) If there be any credit to be given to Ecclejiaftical Hifiorj, there were perfons pofTefTed with Devils fome Ages after Chrifi, ! whom the Difciples caft out by prayer^ and the invocation of his. I l^ame : So that Sathan was not driven from his leffer habicati-: ons, as foon as he was forced from his more famous abodes. And I fee no reafon

( 3. ) Vf^oy, Though Divine Providence woulinot allow him \\publiekly to abufe the Nations, whom he had defigned a fhort time after, for Subjedis of his Sons Kingdom, and to (land up in the face of Religion in an open affront to the Divinity that plan-ted it, to the great hinder ance of the progrefs of the Gofpel, and difcouragement of Chrifiian hopes ; I fay, Though Providence would not allow this height of infolent oppolition ; yet I feenoc why we may not grant, that God however permitted the Devil to fneak^ into fome private skulking holes, and to trade with the particular more devoted vaffals of his w/c^ei Empire : As we know that when our Saviour chafed him from the Man that was pop feffed, he permitted his retreat into the herd of Sv?ine. And I might add,

; ( 4. ) That 'tis but a bad way of arguing, to fee up fancied I cengruities againft/?/^/« experience, as is evidently done by thofe i *^iiters, who, becaufe they think that Chriji. chafed the DevU ':■:'. from

4? Conjidlcrations

from all his high places of wor/hip when he came ; that *cis there* fore fit he (hould have forced him from all his other kfs notorious Haunts: and upon the imagination of a decency, which they frame,^ conclude afaci, contrary to the greateft evidence of which the thing is capable. And once more, 1

( 5. ) The conleqaence of this imagined Decorum, if itbepurJ fued, would b. this, rhat Satan, Ihould ndw be deprived of alfl the -^ays and tricks of Co^mage, whereby he abuleth us ; andj mankind fitice the coming of Qhrijl^ Ihould have been fecure froafl all his Temptation^ ; for chere is a greater congruity in believing! that, when he wa5 forced from his haunts in Temples and puhlicM places, he Ihould be puc alfo from rhofe nearer ones, about uj and within us in his daily temptations of univerfal Mankind 3 thai:^ that apon relinquilhing thofe, he Ihould be made to leavd all protect communication and corrcfpondencc with thofe profligate^ perlons, whofe vilcnefs had fitted them for fuch ccfmpnny.

So that thsfe t{etfoners are very Fair foTih^ denial of all in-ternal diabolical Temptations. And becaufe I durft not trufl them, ril crave your leave here to add fome things concerning ; thofe.

In order to which, that I may obtain the favour of thofe : wary perfons, who are fo coy, and Poy of their ajfe7it, I grant 5; That men frequently out of a defire to excufe thewf elves, lay ' their omi guilt upon the Devil^ and charge him with things o^l which in earneft he is not guilty : For I doubt not but every vfickcd Man hath Devil enough in his oxvn nature to prompt : him to Evil, and needs not another Tempter to incite him. But: yet, that Sathan endeavours to further our mckfdnefs, and our. ruin by his inti cements, ^.nd goes up and down feekjng whom Its may devour, is too evident in the holy Oracles, to need my endeavours particularly to make it good ; Only thofe diffident men cannot : perhaps apprehend the manner of the operation, and from thence: are tetnpted to believe, that there is really no fuch thing. There- ■ fore I judge it requifite to explain thisy and 'tis not unfuitablei': to my general fubjedt.

In order to it I confider, Th^tfenfe h primarily caufed hymo^ tion in the Organs, which by continuity is conveyed to the braitti, vih&re fenfation is immediately performed ; and it is nothing elfdl but a notice excited in the Soul by the impulfe of an external ob*j ject. Thus it is in fimple outward fenfe, But imagination, thoug)i\ caufed immediately by material motion alfo, yet it differs fron^ the external fenfes in this. That 'tis not ftom an imprefs directly from without, but the prime, and original motion is from vpithin our felves : Thus the S014I it felf fometimes ftrikes upon thof«

firings^

ahout Witchcraft. 4^

firings t whofe morion begets fuch, and fiich ■phnntnftns', other-while, the loofe Sfirits wandring up and down in the l/rairiy ca-\Jucilly hie upon Cuch filaments and iirjngs whofe mction excites a j conception^ which we call a Fancy, or Imagination ; add if the ! evidence of the outward fenfes be Ihut out by fleef or melanch^ijr j in tf/V)f>5r cafe, we /'^//f-yff thofc reprefentations to be re/?/ and e^r*' I /ffrM<j/ tranfaHions^ when they are only tp?V/W our heads ^ Thus I it is in Enthuficifmsy and Dreams^ And befides ;^ff r/?w/^j of the i motions which ^\x imagination, there is little doubt, but thac i Spirits good J or ^4^ can fo move the instruments of Senfe in the ^r/7/«, as to awake fuch imagiyzations, as they have a mind to ex^ cite ; and rhe imagination having a mighty influence upon the affekionst and /.^^^ upon the Tp///and external actions, 'tis very cafie to conceive how ^oo^/ Angels may ftir us up to Religion and VertuCi and the £i'// o;2w tempt us zo Le-^dnefs and ^/>r, viz. by reprefentments that they make upon the y?^;^^ of imagination^ which i«v;Vtf our affections, and /?//«r(?, though they cannoc cc?»3* |/>ff/, our wills.

This I take to be an intelUglhle account of temptations, and alfo of Angelical encouragements ; and perhaps //?/j is the only way of immediate influence that the Spirits of the other world I have upon us. And by it, 'tis eaiie to give an account of Dreams iboth Monitory, and Temperamental, Enthufiafms, Fanatick^Exta--Ifies, and the like, as I fuggefted.

\ Thus, Sir, to the firft. But the other pretence alfo muft be ;i examined.

il S E C T. • XX.

!

j(2.) Miracles are ceaHy therefore the prefumed actkns of Witchcraft I ^Ttf tales, and illufims.

I To make a due return to this, we muft conlider a great and jiifficult Problem, which is, ff^jat is a real Miracle ? And for janfwer to this weighty Queftion, I think,

( I. ) - I *HAT it is not the ftrangenefs or unaccountahlcnefs of X the thing done limply, from whence we are to con-clude a Miracle, For then, we areyo to account of all the Mag" talia of Nature and all the Myfieries of thofe honefi Art?, which 'vedonotunderftand. Kor^

50 Confederations |

Kor, (2) is this the Criterion of a Miracle, that it is aS ^ Adlion or Event beyond all natural Povpers ; for we are ig- J noranc df the Extent and Bounds oi Natures Jphere, and pof-iibilities ; and if this were the Character and effenttal Mark of ^ Miracle, we could not know what was/o; except we could deternnine the Extent of Natural cau'alties, and fix their Bounds, and be able to fay to Nature, Hitherto can ft thou go, and no farther . And he that makes this his Meafure whereby to judge a Miracle, is himfelf the greateft Miracle of Kjiowledge or Immodcfly. Befides, tho* an effedl may tratif-cend really all the Powers of meer Nature*^ yet there is a World of Spirits that muft be taken into our Accdurit, and as to them alfo I fay.

(3) Every thing is not ^ Miracle that is done by Agents 1
fupernaturaL There is no doubt but that evil Spirits can '
make wonderful combinations of natural Caufes, and per-
haps perform many things immediately which are prod igious»
and beyond the lon^efi Line of Nature-^ but yet thefe are noc
therefore to be called Miracles ; for they arefacred wonders^
aed Juppofe the Power to be Divine. But how (hall the Poiaifer
be known to be fo, when we fo little underftand the Capaci"
ties and extent of the Abilities of lower Agents ? The Aa*
fwer to this ^/^y?zo« will difcover the Criterion of Miracles, ,
which muft be fuppofed to have all the former particulars;. ;
(they are unaccountable beyond the Powers of meer Nature, and
done by Agents fupernatural) and to thefe muft be fupperad-
ed.

(a.) That they have peculiar Circumflances that fpeak them of a Divine Original. Their mediate Authors declare theni to be Co, and they are always Perfons of Simplicity, Truth, and Holinefs, void of Ambition, and zWfecular Defigns, Thej feldorh ufe Ceremonies, or natural Applications, and yet fur-mount all the A(5tivities of known Nature, They work thofc wonders, not to raife admiration, or out of the vanity tob^ talkt of ; but to feal and confirm fome Divine Dodtrine, or Commiilion, in which the good and happinej? of the World is concern d. I fay, by fuch Circumftances as thefe, wonderful AcSbions are kjiown to be from a Divine caufe ; and that makes, and diftingui(heth a Miracle.

And thus I am prepared for an Anfwer to the ObjeBion] t6 which I make this brief return, That tho* WITCHES) by their Confederate Spirit ^oiho^Q odd zrid a[ionifhing ihing% we believe of them ; yet are they no Miracles, there being] Evidence enough fron:; the badnef! of their Lives, and the

ridi^^A

dduf Witchcraft, 51

ridiculous Ceremonies of their Performancesi frotXJ their Malice and mlfcbievoiis Dejlgnsy that the Power that works, and the end for which thofe things are done, is not Divine, but Di-\ abolicaL And hy fmguUr Provide7ice they are not crdinari-I ly permitted, as much as to pretend to zny new picred Dif-i coveries in matters of Religion, or to adt any thing for con* \ firmation of Dodfcrinal Impoftures, fo that whether Miracles [ are ceafedj or not, thefe zxQ,none, and that fuch Miracles as I ?ire only flrange ^.nd. unaccountable Performances, above , the common Methods of Art ov Nature , kre npt ceas^dj we have a late, great Evidence in the famous Q t{^E AJ {^ 4 K^i con-cerning whom, it will not be impertinent to add the fcllovv-ing Account, which I had in a Letter from the Reverend Dr. J{. Dean of C. a Perfon of great veracity and a Philcfipher. This learned Gentleman then is pleafed thus to Write.

*^-j-fHE great Difcourfe now at ih^ Coffee4m^Jes, and ev€« ; : Ji^ * ry where, is about Mr. G. the famous Irifh-S.troker, '* concerning whom, 'tis like you expedt an Account from me.

* He undergoes various Cenfures here, fome take him to be

* 2i Conjurer, and fome an Impoftor, but others again ^^^or^ him

* as an Apofile, I confefs, I think the Man is free from all

* Defign, of a very agreeable Cohverfation, not addid:ed to
*^ny Vicey.mt to any SeSl ot Party, but is, I believe, a yj«-

* cere Protefiant, I was three Weeks together with him at
*my Lord Conwayes, and faw him, ( I think ) lay his Hands

* upon a Thoufand Perfons ; and really there is fomething
I* in it more than ordliiary • but I am convinced 'tis not mi^
*raculous. I have feen P^/;2j.ftrangeIy fly before his Hand ^

till he hath chafed them out of the Body, Dir/inefJ cleared, and DeaffzeJ^ cured by his Toiich; twenty Peribn sat feverai times, in Fits of the Falling-Jicl^iejl, were in two or threQ

* Minutes brought to them (elves, fo as to tell where theii:
'Pain was, and then he hath purfued it, till he harh drivea

* it out at fome extreme part : ^^lnnlng Sores of the KJngs

* £w7 drie-d lip, and J\erf2els brought to a. Suppuratiori by his
^ Hand ; grievous Sores of many Months date, Jin fev/ Days

healed? O bfiruB i ons ^nd Stoppings removed, Ca?iceroUs Kj20ts

inthcBiLe2i&:diJfolved,Scc, . . .

* But yet i have many Reafons to perfuade me, that nothing

'of all this is Miraculous : He pretends not to give Tcftimo-

wt.ny to any Do^rine, the rnanner of his Operation fpeaks it

iip.tp be Natural, the Cure feldom fucceeds without reiterate

tiiig Touches, his Patients often relapfe^ he faih frequently ^^

H * h^

52 Confiderations

' he can do nothing where there is any decay in Nature y and

* many Diflempers are not at all obedient to his ToucL So

* that, I confefs, I refer all his Vertue to \{is particular Tem-

* per and Complexion^ and I take his Spirits to be a kind bf

* Elixir, and univerfal Ferment, and that he Cures as ( Dr.

* M. cxprefleth it J by a /anative Contagion, Enthufiafm. Tri'
*umphat, Sed. 58.

This Sir, was the firB Account o^the Healer, I had from that Reverend Perfon, which with me fignifi€S4nore,-t)iatrthe Atteftations of multitudes of ordinary Reporters ; and no doubt but it will do likewife, with all that know that excellent Man's fingular Integrity and Judgment, But befides this, up-on my enquiry into fome other particulars about this matter, I received thefe farther Informations.

i As for Mr. G. what Opinion he hath of his oxvn Gifei ^

* and how he came to know it ? I anfwer, He hath a dif-|

* ferent Apprehenfion of it from yours and mine^ and certain-

* ly believeth it to be an immediate Gift frop Heaven 3 and

* 'tis no wonder, for he is no Philofopher, and you will won-

* der lefs, when you hear how he came to know it, as I have

* often received it from his own Mouth.

* About three or four Years ago, he had a ftrong impulfe
' upon his Spirit, that continually purfued him whatever he

* was about, at his Bujinefl or Devotion, alone or in company,
' that fpake to him by this invpard fuggeflion, ( I have given

* thee the Gift of Curing the Evil ) This Suggeflion was fo
^importunate, that he complained to his Wife, that he thought

* he was haunted. She apprehended it as an extravagancy

* of Fancy, but he told her, he believed there was more in

* it, and was relblved to try. He did not long want oppor-

* tunity. There was a Neighbour of his grievoufly afflidted
. * with the Kjngs Evil, he ftroaked her, and the effedb fuc-

* ceeded, and for about a Twelve-month together, he pretend^

* ed to Cure no other Diftemper. But then the Ague being

* very rife in the Neighbourhood, the fame Impulfe, after

* the fame manner, fpoke within him, (I have given thee th^
' Gift of Curing the Ague ) and meeting with Perfons in theip
*-Fits, and taking them by the Hand, or laying his Hand

* upon their Breafts, the Ague left them. Abouthalf a Year

* after, the accuftomed Impulfe became more general, and fug-;

* gefted to him, ( I have given thee the Gift of Healing ) an4

* then he attempted all Pifeafes indifferent ly^ and tho' he faw

ftrang*

ahout Witchcraft. 5g^.

.ftrange EfFeds, yet he doubted whethe r the Caiifes were a ny Vertue that came from him, or the Peoples Fancy ; to convince him of his incredulity^ as he lay one Night in Bed,

* one of his Hands was ftruck dend^ and the ufual Impulfe

* fuggefted to him, to make trial of his Vertue upon him-.

* felf, which he did, ftroaking it with his other Hand, and
' then it immediately returned to its former livelinefi. This
'was repeated two or three Nights (or Mornings) together.

* This is his l{eIafion, and I believe there is fo much fin-

* cerity in the Perfon, that he tells no more than what he

* believes to be true. To fay that this impulfe too, was buc
' a refuU of his Temper, and that it is but like Dreams that

* are ufually according to Mens Conflitutions, doth not feem

* a probable Account of the Phcenomenon. Perhaps fome may

* think it more likely, that fome Genius who underftood the,

* fanative Vertue of his ComplexioUy and the readinejl of his

* Mindy and ability of his Bedy^ to put it in execution, mighc

* give him notice of that which otherwife might have beea

* for ever unknown to him, and fo the Gift of God had been

* to nb purpofe.

This Sir, is my Learned and Reverend Friend's ^ektion^ and I judge his t{efleciions as Ingenious as his Report- is /in-cere. I ihail fay no more about it but this, that many of thofe matters of Fadt, have been fince critic aSy injpected .and exa-mined by feveral y%^c;<?//i" and J^e/? Searchers of the ROYAL-SOCIETY, whom we may fuppofe as unlikely to be de-ceived by a contrivedllmpofture, as any Perfons extant.

And now Sir, 'tis fit that I relieve your Patience ; and I (hall do fo, when I have faid, that yoa can abun-dantly provcj what I have thus attempted to defend; and thar among the many Obligations your Country hath to yoUj for the Wifdom and Diligence of your Endeavours in its fer-vice ; your ingenions tnduftry for the Detecting of thofe vile PraBifers, is not the leaft conjiderable. To which I will add no more, but the Cmfejfwn who it is that hath given you

. ^1 this trouble ; which I know you are ready to Pardon^

I to the refpedl and good Intentions of

j SIR,

\ Tour AjfeBionats and Obliged

ffonourer and Servant, ,

J. g;

At>VEKriS E ME-NT,

jLJItherto reacheth the Author's ingenious Confiderations a-
* -^ bout Witchcraft, But underftanding by his Letters and
Papers, that he intended fomething farther to enlarge this
firft Part of his Saducifmus TriumphatuSt which concerns the
Pojfihility of the Exiftenee of Spirits, Apparitions zx\d. Hatches,
but that he has done nothing therein, being prevented by
Death, I thought it might prove not an unufeful Supplement,
to Tranflate moft of the two laft Chapters of Dr. H. M his
Encbiridon Metaphyficum into Englijh, and add it to this firft
Part, as a fuitable Appendage thereto. Which is as follows

1 N

APPENDAGE

To this firft PART,

Concernirig the

POSSIBILITY- APPARITIONS

AND

Witchcraft,

Containing

The eafie, true and genuine NOTION,
and Gonfiftent EXPLICATION oip
the NATURE

S P I°R I T

Whereby

The POSSIBILITY of the EXISTENCE of
SPIRITS , APPARITIONS, and WITCH
CRAFT is farther Confirmed.

L.O N D 0 N: Printed MDCC.

■ I

THE

Eafie, True, and Genuine

N O T I O N,

And confident

EXPLICATION

Of the NATURE of a

S P IRIT.

. »■ . .

S E C T. L

The Opniom of the NULLIBISTS /^/^^ HOLEN. MERIANS frofofed.

THAT we may explicate the EJJence or KoHon of Incorporeal Beings or Spirits, with the greater Sa-tisfad:ion and Succefs, we are firft to remove two vaft Mounds of Darknefs, wherewith the Igno-rance of fome hath encumbred and obfcured their Nature.

And the firft is of thofe, who tho* they readily acknow-ledge there are fuch things as Incorporeal Beings or Spirits, yet do very peremptorily contend, that they are novphere'm. the whole World, which Opinion tho* at the very fight it ap-pears very ridiculous, yet ic is ftifHy held by the maintain-

H 4 ers

2 The true Notion of a Spirit.

ers of ir, and that not without fome Faftuofity and Super-dlioufnefs, or at leaft fome more fly and tacite Contempt of fuch Phiioiophers as hold the contrary, as of Men lefs intellecflual, and too too much indulging to their XmAgina' tio7i, Thofe other therefore becaufe they fo boldly affirm that a Spirit is Nullihi, that is to fay, 7io where, have de-servedly purcha fed to themfelves the Name or Title of NuHibJfls. The other ■ Mound of Darkness laid upon the Nature of a Spinr, is by thofe who v/illingly indeed acknowledge that Spirits ZTQ fomewhere I but add farther, That they are not on-ly entirely or totally in their whole Vhi or Place, ( in the tnoft general fenfe of the Word ) but are totally in every part or point thereof, and defcribe the peculiar Nature of a Spirit to be fuch, that it muft be Totus in toto ^ totus in <jiinlihet fui parte. Which therefore the Greekj would fitly and briefly "call isidff oAsi'/t^ft), a?i EJfence that is aU of it in each p.irt^ and this propriety thereof ( ^ a/myiA'mv icrtuv tv^ oKzv^jtA^eitUf) the Boknmerifm of Incorporeal "Beings. Whence jalfo thei'e other Philofophers diametrically oppofite to the former, may moft fignificantly and compendioufly be called Holemnerians,

S E C T. IL

ThatCancrmslsthePri^/ce ^/ M^NuIlibifts, a?7d' wherein chiefly conflfis the force of their Opinion.

THE Opinions of both which kind of Philofophers hav-ing fufSciently Explained, we will now propofe arid: confute the Reaionsof each of them; and firft of the Nw/-Vhifts^ of whom the chief Author and Leader feems to have: been that pleafant Wit ^en^atus des Cartes, who by his jo-cular Metaphyiical Meditations., has fo luxated and diftorted t;he rational Faculties of fome otherwife fober and quick--witted Perfons, but in this point by Veafon of their over-great admiration of Des Cartes not fufficiently cautious, that deceived partly by his counterfeit and preftigious Subtilty, ind partly by his Authority, have perfuaded themfelves thafi fuch things were moft m/ff and clear to them ; which had they not been blinded with thefe Prejudices, they could ne-ver have thougl^t to have been fo much as poflTible, and fo ?hey having been fo induftrioufly taught, and diligently in-

■' - ftruded

The true Notion of a Spirit. j

ftru^led by him, how they might not be impofed upon, no not by the moft powerful and moft ill-minded fallacious De-ity, have heedlefly, by not fufKciently (landing upon their Guard, being deceived and deluded by a meer Man, bur of a pleafant and abundantly cunning and abftrufe Genius ; as fliall clearly appear after we have fearched and examined the rea-fpns of this Opinion of the N?/////'//?^ to the very bottom .

The whole force whereof is comprifed in thefe three Ax-ioms, the firft, That whntfoever thinks is immaterial, and fo on the contrary. Thefecond, That whatever is extended is Ma-terial* The third, That what ever is unext ended is no where. To which Third I (hall add this Fourth, as a neceflary and manifeft confediary thereof, vi:{. That whatjoever is fomewhere is extended. Which the NuUihifts of themfelves will ealily grant me to be moft true, otherwife they could not feri-oufly contend for their Opinion, v^hereby they affirm Spirits to be no where^ but would be found to do it only by way of an obli-que and clofe derifion of their Exiftence, faying indeed they ex-jfty but then again hiddenly and cunningly denying it, by affirm-ing they are no where. Wherefore doubtlefs they affirm them to be nowhere^ if they are in good earneft, for this reafon only j for fear they granting them to be fome where^ it would be pre-fently extorted from them, even according to their own Prin-ciples, that they are extendU^ as whatever is extended is Material, according to their fe^ond Axiom, It is therefore manifeft, that we both agree in this, that whatever real Be-ing there is that is fomewhere^ is alio extended.

SECT. III.

The Sofhijiicd weaknefs of that Yeafoning of the NuUibifts, who becaufe we can conceive Cogitation without conceiving in the mean while Matter,^ con-* dudey Ihat whatsoever thinks is Immaterial.

WITH which Truth notwithftanding we being furniih-ed and fupporred> I doubt not but we fliail ^vitheafe quite overthrow and utterly root out this Opniion of the l^nUihiJis, But that their levity and credulity may more ma-

nifeilly

4 The true-Notion of a. Spirits

nifeilly appear, lets examine the Principles of this Opinion by pait, and confider how well they make good each Mem-ber.

The firft is, VlAutever thinks is immaterial and on the con-trary. The converfion of this- Axiom I will not examine, becaufe it makes little to the prefent purpofe, I will only note by the by, that I doubt not but it may be falfe, altho* I eafily grant the Axiom it felf to be true, but it is this new Method of demonftrating it I call , into queftion, which from hence, that we can conceive Cogitation, in the mean time r\pi conceiving Matter , concludes that iVloatever thinks is Immnterial, Now that we can conceive C<?j2>^?/o» without conceiving Matter, they fay is raanifeft from hence, that altho* one fhould fuppofe there were no Body in the Uni-verfe, and fhould not flinch from that Pofition, yet notwith-ftanding he would hot ceafe to be certain, that there was ^es cogitans, a thinking Being, in the World, he finding him-felfto befuch, but I farther add, tho' he fliould fuppofe there was no Immaterial Being in Nature, (nor indeed Material) and fhould not flinch from that Pofition, yet he would noc ceafe to be certain that there was a thinking Being, ( no not if he fhould fuppofe him felf not to be a thinking Being j be-caufe he can fuppofe nothing without Cogitation. "Which I thought worth the while to note by the by, that the great levity of the Nufftbifts might hence more clearly appear.

But yet I add farther, that fuch is the Nature of the Mind of Man, that is like the Eye, better fitted to Con-template other things than it felf ; and that therefore it is no wonder that thinking nothing of its own Effence, it does fixedly enough and intently confider in the mean time and Contemplate all ather things, yea, thofe very things with which ihe has the neareft affinity, and yet without any refledrion that her felf is of the like Nature. "Whence it may eafily come to pafs, when fhc is fo wholly taken up in Contemplat-ing other things without any reflection upon her felf, that either carelefly fhe may confider her felf in general ^szmeer 'thinking Being, without any other attribute, or elfe by refol-vednefs afterwards, and by a force on purpofe offered to her own Faculties. But that this Reafoning is wonderfully weak and trifling as to the proving of the Mind of Man to be nothing elfe ; that is to fay, to have no other attributes but meer Cogitation, there is none that does not difcern,

sect;

I

The true Notion of a Spirit.

S E C T, IV.

The true Method that ought to he taken for the proving that Matter cannot think.

LAftly, li Cartepm wkh'* his Ku/Hhifls would have dcalc bona fide-t they ought to have omitted all thofe amba-Igious Windings and Meanders of feigned Abftracftion, and wich a dired ftroke to have fallen upon the thing it felf, and fo to have fifted Matter, and fearcbed the Nature of Cogitation^ that they might thence have evidently demonftrat-ed that there was fome infeparable Attribute in Ai^^f^^r, thac ;is repugnant to the Cogitative Faculty, or in Cogitation thcit is repugnant to Matter, But out ot the meer diverfity of Ideas or Notions of any Attributes, to coUedt their fepara-bility or r^tf/ diftindlion, yea, their contrariety and repugnan-icy, is moft foully to violate the indifpenfable Laws of Lo-gicl(f and to confound Diverfa with Oppofitaj and make them [all one. Which Miftake to them that underftand Logick^ muft needs appear very courfe and abfurd.

But that the weaknefs and vacillancy of this Method may yet more clearly appear, let us fuppofe that which yet Phi-lofophers of no mean Name, ferioufly ftand for and aflert, >/j^. Th2X Cogitative fubftance is either Material ot Immate^ rial; does it not [apparently follow thence, that a thinking Subftance may be precifely conceived without the conception of Matter, as Matter without the conception oiCogitation^ when inotwithftanding in one of the Members of rhxs diftribution they are joyned fuj^cientlyclofe together?

How can therefore this new fangled Method of Cartejius convince us that this Suppofition is falfe, and that the diftri-ibutionis illegitimate ? Can it from thence, that Matter may I be conceived without Cogitation, and Cogitation without Mat-ter P The firft all grant, and the other the diftribution it ;felf fuppofes; and yet continues fuificiently firm and fure, therefore it is very evident, that there is a neceflity of our jhaving recourfe to the known and ratified Laws of Logic\y I which many Ages before this new lipftart Method of des Cartes ^peared, were eftabliflied and approved by the com-' mon fufixage of Mankind 5 which teach* us that in every le-gitimate

6 The true Notion of a Spirit.

gitimate diftribution the parts ought confentire cum toio^ ^ dijf entire infer fe, to agree with the whole, but difagree one with another. Now in this diftribution that they do (ufficient-!y difagree, it is very manifeft. It remains only to be proved, chat one of the parts, namely that which fuppofes that a Co^i-tAtive Subftance may be Material^ is repugnant to the Na-ture of the whole. This is that clear, folid, and manifeft way or Method according to the. knownLaws of Logick^*^ but that new way, a kind of Sophiftry and pleafant Mode of trifling and |>revaricating=

S E C T. V.

That all things are in fomefort extended^ dewonjira-ted out of the Corollary of the third Princifle of the Nullibifts.

AS for the fecond Axiom or Principle, vi:{. That vphatfoever> is extended is Material ; for the evincing the falfity there-of, there want no new Arguments, if one have JDUt recourfe to j:hc Sixth, Seventh, and Eigth Chapters of Enchiridium Meta-^yj^ciim, where, by unanfwerable reafonings it is demonftrated, That there is a certain Immaterial and Immoveable Extenfum diftindi from the Moveable Matter. But however, out of the Confedary of their third Principle, we (hall prove at once, that ail Spirits are Extended as being fomewhere> againft the wild and ridiculous Opinion of the Nuiihifts,

Whofe third Principle, and out of Which immediately and precifely they conclude Spirits to be no where, is, f0>atfoever is wiextended, is no where. Which I very willingly grant ; but on this condition, that they on the other fide concede (and I doubt not but they will) That xvhatfoever isfomewhcre is alfo extended ^ from which Confedary I will evince with Mathematical cer-tainty, That^God and our Soul, and all other Immaterial Be-ings, are in fome fort extended : For the NtiUlbifts themfelves acknowledge and affert, that the Operations wherewith the Soul ads on the Body, are in the Body ; and that Power or Divine Vertue wherewith God ads on the matter and moves it, is pre-I^nt in every part of the Matter. Whence it is eafily gathered,

that

The true Notion of a Spirit. , 7

That the operation of the Soul and the moving Power of God is fomewhere, iji^, in the Body, and in the Matter, But the Operation of the Soul wherewith it ads on the Body and thtSoul itfelfy and the Divine Power wherewith Goi moves the Matter and God himfelf, are together, nor can fo much as be imagined Separate one from the other ^ namely, the Operation from the l^oul, and the Power ivom God, Wherefore if the Operation of the Soul is fomewhere, the Soul is fomewhere, vi^i, there where the Operation is. And if the Power of God be fomewhere, God ;:is fomewhere, namely, there where the Divine Power is; He iin every part of the Matter^ the Sotd in the humane Body, Who-jfoever can deny this, by the, fame reafon he may deny that [common Notion in Mathematicks, Quantities that are iingly ' I equal to one third, are equal to one another. \

SECT. VL

The apert confeffion of the NuUibifts that the E S S E NC E of a spirit is rvhere its 0-

V P E R AT I 0 N isy and how the^ contra-dict themfehes, and are forced to acknowledge a Spirit extended.

AN D verily that which we contend for, the ^ulUhlfls feem apertly to aifert, even in their own exprefs words, as it is evident in Lamhertm Velthiifius in his De Initiis PrimiC Phllofo-fhice in the Chapter De Vhi, Who though he does manifeftly affirm that God and the Mind of Man by their Operations are in every part or fome one part of the Matter 3 and that in that fence, namely, in refped: of their Operations^ the Soul may be truly faid to hQ/omewheret God every-where ; as if that were the only mode of their prefence : yet he does exprelly grant that the

!■ "Effence is no where feperate ftom that whereby God or a Crea-ted Spirit is faid to be, the one every-where, the other fonie-vphere ; that no Man may conceit the EJfenee of God to be where the reft of his Attributes are not. That the Ejjence of God is in

• Heaven, but that his Vertue difFufes it felf beyond Heaven.
No, by no means, faith he, Wherefoever God:s Power or

, Operation is, there is the Nature of God ; forafmuch as God

; {is a Subftance devoid of all compofition. Thus far Velthu-fius. Whence I aflume, But the Power or Operation of God

''I

t. Tk true Motion of a Sprit.

is in or prefent to the Matter ; Therefore the EJfence of God is in or prefent to the Matter, and is there where the Matter is, and ihQvdort fomewhere. Can there be any dedudlion or illati-on more clofe and coherent with the Premifes ?

And yet that other moft devoted follower of the CartefianVhi' lofophy, Ludovicus De la ForgCf cannot abftain from the offering us the fame advantage of arguing, or rather from the inferring the fame conclulion with us in his Treatife De mente Humana^ Chap, 12. where occur thefe words: Laftly, when I fay that God is prefent to all things by his Omnipotency^ ( and confe-quently to all the parts of the Matter J I do not deny but that alfo by his EJfence or Subflnnce he is prefent to them : For all thofe things in God are one and the fame.

Doft thou hear, my Nullibiflsy what one of the chiefcft of thy Condifciples and moft religious Symmyfts of that ftupendiouS fecret of NuHlhifm plainly profeffes, namely, that God, is prefent to all the parts of Matter by his EJfence alfo, or Subjiance ? And yet you in the mean while blulh not to aflerr, that neither Godj nor any created Spirit is any where ; than which nothing more contradi(5tious can be fpokeor thought, or more abhorring ftom all reafon. Wherefore when as the Nullibijis come fo near to the truth, it feems impoflible they fliould, fo all of a fudden, ftart from it, unlefs they were blinded with a fuperftitious ad-miration of Des Cartes his Metaphyficks. and were deluded, ef-fafcinated and befooled with his jocular Subtilty aud preftigiouS Abftradiions there : For who in his right wits can acknowledge that a Spirit by its EJfence m^y be prefent to Matter, and yet be( no vohercy unlets the Matter were nowhere alfo? And that a Spi-; lit may penetrate, pofTefs, and adluate fome determinate Body,' and yet not be in that Body ? In which if it be, it is plainly neceflary it be fomewhere.

And yet the fame Ludovicus De la Forge does manifeftly alTert,; that the Body is thus poffeft and aduated by thfe Soul, in his preface to his Treatife de Mente Humana, while he declares the Opinion Of Marfilim Ficimis concerning the manner how the Soul adiuates the Body in MarfiliUf his own words, and does of his own accord affent to his Opinion. What therefore do thefe Forms to the Body when they communicate to it theit Effe ? They throughly penetrate it with their EJfence, they bequeath the Vertue of their EJfence to it. But now whereas the EJfe is deduced from the Effence, and the Operation flows from the t^ertue, by conjoyning the EJfence they impart the EJfe, by be-, i queathing the Vertue they communicate the Operations ; io that ( out of the congrefs of Soul and Body, there is niade one Ani' \

The true Notion of a Sfirit. g

wal l^Jfe, one Operation. Thus he. The Soul with her Effcnce penetrates and pervades the whole Body, and yet is not where the Body is, but no where in the Univerfe !

With what manifeft repugnancy therefore to their other AJJer-tion< the Nullihifis hold this ridiculous Conclufion, we have fuSiciently ieen, and how weak their chiefeft prop is, That 11?/^.-^/-ever is Extended is Material^ which is not only confuted by ir-refragable Arguments, Chap* 6, 7. and 8. Enchyrid. Matapby, but we have here alfo, by fo clearly proving that ail Spirits are Jomevphere, utterly fubverted it, even from that very Conccfllon or Opinion of the Nullihifis themfelves, who concede or aver that whatfoever isfomewhere is extended. Which Spirits are and yet are not Material.

SECT. VIL

The more light reafonings of the Nullibifts n^^^r^-by they would confirm their Ofmion^ The frfl of which isy That the Soul thi/^ks of thofe things which are nowhere.

BU T we Ihall not pafs by their more flight reafonings in fo great a matter, or rather fo monftrous. Of which the firftr is, That the Mind of Man thinks of fuch things as are no where, nor have any relation to place, no not fo much as to Logical place or Vbi, Of which fort are many truths as well Moral as Theological and Logical, which being of fuch a nature that they j are no where ^ the Mind of Man which conceives them is necel-[ farily no where alfo. But how crazily and inconfequentiy they f colled that the humane Soul is nowhere, for that it thinks of [thofe things that are no where, may be apparent to any one from \ hence, and efpecially to the Nullihifis themfelves ; becaufe from the fame reafon it would follow that the Mind of Man is fo-me-\vphere, becaufe fometimes, if not always in a manner, it thinks j of thofe things which are fimewhere, as all Material things are Which yet they dare not grant, becaufe it would plainly follow f from thence, according to their Dodrine, that the Mind or Soul I of Man were extended, and fo would become corporeal and de-j void of all Cogitation, But befides, Thefe things which they I ' fay

to The true Notion of a Spirt.

fay are no wherct namely, certain Moral, Logical, and Theologt' cal Truths, are really fomevoherey viz. in the Soul it felf which conceives them • but the Soiil is in the Body, as we proved a-bove. Whence it is manifeft that the Soul and thofe Truths which (he conceives are as v/eli fomewhere as the Body it felf, I grant that fome Truths as they are [{eprefentations, neither re-fped: Time nor [^Uce in whatever fence. But as they are Ope* ratiotis, and therefore Modes' oi fome Suhjeii or Suhflancey they cannot be otherwife conceived than in fome fubftance. And forafmuch as there is no fubftance which has not fome ampli-tude, they are in a fubftance which is in fome fort extended ; and fo by reafon of their StihjeEi they are neceflarily conceived to be fomewhere, becaufe a Mode is infeparable from a Sub' jsB. - ' '

Nor am I at all moved with that giddy and rafli tergiverfa-cion which fome betake themfelves to here, who fay we do not well in diftlnguilhing betwixt Cogitanon { fuch as are all con-ceived verities ) and thg Suhflance of the Soul cogitating : For cogitation it felf is the very Sub^ance of the Soul, as Extenjion is of Matter-^ and that therefore the Sotil isii well nowhere as any Cogitation, which refpedts neither time nor place, would be, if "^ it were found in no Subject. But here the Nullibifls, who would thus efcape, db not obferve that while they acknowledge the Suhifance of theSoiil to be Cogitation, they therewithal ac-knowledge the Soul to have a Subftance, whence it is necelfary it have fome amplitude. And befides, This Aflertion whereby they affert Cogitation to be the very fubftance of the Soul, is manifeftiy falfe. For many Operations of the Soul, are, as they fpeak, fpecifical iy di^Qtenz ; Which therefore fucceeding one af-ter another, will be fo many Snh^AncQS fpecifically different. And fo the Soul of Socrates will not always be the {ame /pecifical Soul, and much lefs the fame numerical; Than which what can be imagined more deiirant, and more remote from com-mon fenfe ?

To which you may add, That the Soul of Man is a perma-neizt Being, but her Cogitations in a ^ux or: fuccejjion ; How then can the very fubftance of the Soul Be its fucceflive Operations ? And when the Subftance of the Soul does fo perpetually ceafe or perifh, what I befeechyou will become of Memory? From <vhence it is manifeftiy evident, that there is a certain permanent Subftance of the Soul, as much diftindl or different from her fucceeding Cogitations^ as the Matter it felf is from its fucceffive figures^ and motions^

SECT,

The true Notion of a S fir hi it

S E C t. VIII.

The fecond reafcn of the Nullibifts, "uiz. That COGITATION is eajily conceived rvithdnt

EXT ension:

TH E fecond Reafon is fcme what co-incident wich Come of thofe we have already examined ; but it is briefiy pro-{xjfed by them thus ; There can be no conception, no not of a Logical Place f or Vbi^ without Extcyifion. , But Cogitation is ea-Cly conceived without conceiving s^ny . Exte^JJch .- \Vherefbre the Mind cogitating, exempt frbm all Extenjmi, is exempt al-fo from all Locality whether Phyfical or Logical-, and is fo loofened from it, that it has no relation nor ap-{ylicabiUty there-to ; as if thofe things had no relation nor applicability to othec certain things without which they might be conceived. .

The weaknefs of this argumentation is eafily deprehended from hence, That the Inienfnefs of heat or motion is confidered without any refpedt to its extenjion^ and yet it is referred to an extended SubjeA, vi:(. To a Bullet ftiot, or red hot Iron. And though in intent and defixed thoughts upon fome either difficult or pleafing O^bjecSt; we do not at all obferve how the time paf-feth, nor take the flighteft notice of it, nothing hinders notwith-ftanding but thofe Cogitations may be applied to time, and it be rightly faid, that about fix a clock, fuppofe, in the Morning they began, and continued till eleven ; and in like manner the place may be defined where they were conceived, i'/;^. withiri the Walls of fuch an ones Study; although perhaps all that tittie: this fo fixt Contemplator did not take notice whether he was iri his Study, or in the Fields.

And to fpeak out the matter at once^ From the precijion of ©yr thoughts to infer the r^/ precifion ov federation of the things themfelves, is a very putid and piierile Sqphifm ; and fiill the more enormous and wild, to colled: alfo thence, that they have no relation or applicability one to another. For we may have a clear and. didlindl npprel:)^7i/im of a thing which may be coh-ned:ed with another by an cjftntial Tyc, that Tye being not taken notice of, ( and much more when they are canneCled o"' with a circumftantial one ) bur not a full and adequate henfinn^ ind lucli as f^es through and penetrates all the

12 The true Notionof aSpnr.

of its Eflencc with their properties ; Which unlefs a man reach to, he cannot rightly judge of the real feparability of any nature from other natures.

From whence it appears how foully Cartejius has impofed, if not upon himfelf, at leaft upon others, when from this mental percilion of Cogitation from Extenfion, he defined a Spirit ( fuch, as the humane Soul) by Cogitation only, Matter by Bxtenfiouy^ and divided all Suhflnnce into Cogitant and Extended, as intol their firft fpecies or kinds. Which diftribution notwithftandlng i is as abfonousand abfurd, as if he had diftributed Animal into Senfitive ^nd l(ationaL Whenas zll Suhftance is extended zi: well as zW Animals fenfitive. But he fixed, his Animadverfion upon the fpecificli nature of the humane Soul ; the Generical na-^'f ture thereof, either on purpofe or by inadvertency, being noi:-confidered nor taken notice of by him, as hath been noted in En-chiridion Ethicum, lib. 3. cap. 4. fed. 3. '1

SECT. IX.

The third and laji Reafon of the Nallibifts, i^iz. That the Mind is confciom to her felf^ that fhe is no p^here^ unlefs (he is dijlurbed or jogged bj>^ the Body.

%

TH E third and laft %afon, which is the mofl ingenious-of them all, occurs m Lambertus Veltki/Jusy viz. Thatit^ is a truth which God has infufed into the Mind it felf, Th (he is no where, becaufe we know by experience that we cart^ not tell from our fpiritual Operations where the Mind is. And for that we know her to be in our Body, that we only perceivj ' fiOm the Operations of Senfe and Imagination which withe the Body or the motion of the Body the Mind cannot perforaijl The fence whereof, if I guefs right, is this j That the Mind'l by a certain internal fenfe is confcious to her felf that fhe is r0 xf>here, unlefs ftie be now and then difturbed by the motions or"; joggings of the Body ^ which is, as I faid, an ingenious pre-Jkge, but: not true : For it is one thing :o perceive her felf to be < no where, another not to perceive her felf to be fome where.

For

The true Notion of a Spirit. j j

For flie may not perceive herfelf to be fomewhere, though fhe be fomewhere, as flie may not take notice of her own Indhidu' nlity Qv numerical DiftinBion^ from all other minds, although fhe be one Numerical or IncHuidual mind diftind: from the reft r For, as I intimated above, fuch is the nature of the mind of Man, that like the eye, it is better fitted for the contemplating all other things, than for contemplating it felf And that indeed which is made for the clearly and fincerely leeing o-ther things, ought to have nothing of it felf adtually percep-tible in it, which it might mingle with the perception of thofe other things. From whence the Mind of Man is not to have any liable and fixt fenfe of its own EiTence; and fuch as it cannot eafily lay aiide upon occalion : And therefore it is 'no wonder, when as the Mind of Man can put off the fenfe and confcioufnefs to it felf of it own EJJence and Indlvl duality^ that it can put oft alfo therewith the fenfe of its being fomex^hcre^ or , not perceive it ; when as it does not perceive its own U(fence and Individuality i ( of which Hie & Nu?2c' are the known Charadlers:) And the chief Obieds of the Mind are Univer» fals.

But as the mind, although it perceives not its Individuality^ yet can by reafon prove to her felf that Ihe is fome one Nume-' ricaloY Individual Mind, fo Ihe can by the fame means, al-though fhe by inward fenfe perceives not where fhe is, evince notwithftanding that (he is fomewhere, from the general ac-count of things, which have that of their own nature, that they are extended, fwfular, and fomewhere. And belides, P^el-thujius himfelf does plainly grant, that from the Operations of Senfe and Imagination, we know our Mind to be in our Body. How then can we be ignorant that (he is fomewhere, unlefs the Body it kit be no where ?

SECT

14 ' l^he true Notion of 4 SfiHt^

SECT. X.

JnAffedl to the internd fenfe of the Mind^ iffl^^ be not environed with a certain infinite Entenfion ; together with an excitation of the Nullibift out of his Dreamy by the found of Trumpeters fur* rounding him.

TH E Rcafons of the KuHibifls whereby they endeavour to maintain their Opinion, are fufficiencly enervated and fubverted. Nor have we need of any Arguments to cftablifh the contrary Do(5lrine I will only defire by the by, that he that thinks his Mind is no rvherct would make trial of his faculty of Thinking; and when he has abftra<5ted himfelf from all thought or fenfe of his Bodjfy and fixed his A4;Wonly on an Idea of an indefinite or infinite Extenfion^ and alfo perceives himfelf to be fome pdrticuUr cogitanf Eeingy let him make trial, I fay, whe-ther he can any way avoid it, but he muft at the fame time per-ceive that he IS fomewhere, namely, within this smmenfe Exten-fion, and that he is environ'd round about with it. Verily, I muft ingenuoully contefs, I cannot conceive otherwifc, and that I cannot but conceive an Idea of a certain Exnnfion infinite and immoveable, and oinecejjary and aBual Exiftence : Which I moft clearly dcprehend, not to have been drawn in by the out-ward fenfe, but to be innate and eflentially inherent in the Mind it felf ; and Co to be the genuine ohjeB not of Imagindtion^ but of IntelleB ; and that it is but fcrverfly and without all judgment determined by the Nullihifts, or Cartejinns, that whatever is ex-tended, is alio ^A/jctgir 77 or the Obje^ of Imagination ; When DOtwithftanding there is nothing imaginable, or the Objedk of Imagination, which is not fenjible: For allPhantafms are drawn from the Senfes. But this infinite Extenfion has no more to do] with things that are fenfible and fall under Imagination, than that which is moft Incorporeal, But of this haply it will be more opportune to fpeak eifewhere.

In the mean time I will fubjoin only one Argument, whereby t may manifeftly evince that the Mind of Man is fomewhere, and then I will betake my felf to the difcuffing of the Opinion of thci Holtnmerinns, Briefly therefore lee us fuppofcfome one environed

widp

The true Notion of a Spirit .

»5

with Ji Ring cf Trumpeters, and that they all at the fame time found their Trumpets. Let us no\y fee if the circumfonanc clangor of thofc furrounding Trumpets founding from all lidcs will awake thefe Nullihtfls out pf their Lethargick Dream. And let us fuppole, which they will willingly concede, that C»7iar:on or GlanduU Pinealis, A, is theieat pf the common fenfe, to which at length all the motions from external Objects arrive. Nor is it any matter whether it be this Conarion, or fome part of the Brain, or of what is contained in the Brain ; But kt the Cona-rion, at leaft for this bout, fupply the place of that inatter which is the common Scnjorium of the Soul.

And whenaf 1% is fuppofed to be furrounded w^th Eight \ Trumpeters, let there be Eight Lines drawn from them namely, . from B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I ; I fay that the clangour or found , of every Trumpet is carried from the Ring of the Trumpeters to the cxtream part of every one of thofe Lines, and all thofc {iounds are heard as coming from the Ring B,C,P,E,F,Gi I H, 1, and perceived in the Conarion A ; and that the percepti-,on IS m that part to which all the Lines of motion, as to a (Common Centre, do concur; and therefore the extream parts jOt them^ and the percepiom of the Clangours or Sounds, are in

I 3 the

1 6 The true Notion of a Sprit.

the middle of the Ring of Trumpeters, 'vi:{. where the Co-nctrion is : Wherefore the Vrecipent it felf, namely the Soul, is in the midft of this Ring, as well as theCow^mw, and there-fore is fom^ where. Afluredly he that denies that he conceives ihe force of this Demonftration, and acknowledges that the Per-ception indeed is at the extreme parts of the faid Lines, and . in the middle of the Ring of Trumpeters, but contends in the mean time that the Mind her felf is not there, forasmuch as Ihe is 710 where ; this Man certainly is either Delirant and Craved, or qWg. Plays Tricks, and flimly and obliquely in-sinuates that the perception which is made in the Conarion, is to be attributed to the Conario7i it felf - and that the Mindt fo far as it is conceived to be an incorporeal Siihftance, is to be exterminated out of the Univerle, as an ufelefs Figment and Chim^sra. ;.: f

s E c T. xr.

The Explication of the O^inio^s of the Holenmeri-2.nSj together rvith their 'two Reafons thereof fra-^

fofed, ^x

AND thus much of the IDplnion of the 'NuUihifts. Let us now examine the Opinion of the Helenmerians, whofe Explication is thus: Let there be what Body you pleafe, fup-pofe,^ C, D, E, which the Soul ': t

or a Spirit may poflefs and pe-
netrate. The Hole7'imeria7is^f'^.
firm, that the v/hole Soul or
Spirit does occupy and poffefs
the whole Body G, D, E, by
its EfTence; and that it is alfo
wholly or all of it in every
part or point of the faid Body
C, D, E, as in A, for Exam-
ple, and in B, and the reft of
she leaft parts or points of it.
This is a brief and clear Explication of their Opinion. ;
But the Reafons that induce them to embrace it, and {q
ftiiiy to mainrain it, are thefe two only, or at leaft chieflyS

asfl

The true Notion of a Spirit. ly

AS much as refpedts the Holenmerifm of Spirits, The firft is, that whereas they grant that the whole Soul does per-vade and pofTefs the whole Body, they thought it would thence follow, that the Soul would be divifible, unlefs they fhould correcft again this AiTertion of theirs, by faying, that it was yet fo in the whole Body, that it was totally in the mean time in every part thereof- for thus they thought themfelves fure, that the Soul could not thence be argued in any fort diviiible, or corporeal, but ftill remaining purely Spi-ritual.

The other Reafon is, That from hence It might be cafily un-derftood, how the Soul being in the whole Body, C,D,E, what-ever happens to it in C,or B,it prefently perceives it in Ajbecaufe the whole Soul being perfedly and entirely as well in C,or B,as in A,it is necelTary that after what falhion foever C or B is af-fcded, A Ihould be afFeded after the fame manner ; foraf-much as it is entirely and perfedlly one and the fame thing, 'vi:{. the whole Soul, as well in C or B as in A. And from hence is that vulgar Saying in the Schools, That if the Eye were in the Foot, the Soul would fee in the Foot.

SECT. XII.

Tie Examimtion of the Opinion of the Holen-merians.

BUT^ now, according to our cuftom, let us weigh and ex-amine all thefe things in a free and juft Balance. In -this therefore that they alTert, that the v^hole Soul is in the ,whole Body, and is all of it penetrated of the Soul by her Eflence, and therefore feem willing to acknawledge a certain eflential amplitude of the Soul 3 in this I fay, they come near to us, who contend there is a certain Metaphyfical and effentUl extenjion in all Spirits, but fuch as is duAyl^? 3^ «^f wf devoid of bulk, or parts, as Ariftotle defines of his fe-parate fubftances. For there is no magnitude or bulk which may not be Fhypcally divided, nor any parts properly where there IS no fuch division. Whence ihQ Metafhyficd extenfion ot Spirits, IS rightly underftood not to be capable of either

I 4 bulk

i8 The toue Notion of a Spirit.'

bulk or parts, and in that fenfe it has no parts, it cannot juft-ly be fa'd to be a whole. In that therefore we plainly a-■gree with the Holenmerians, that a Soul or Spirit may be fkid by its EfTcnce to penetrate and poflcfs the whole Bo-j3y C, D, E, bur in this again we differ froni them, thit we dare not aiHrin that the whole Spirit or whole Soul docs penetrate and poiTefs ' the fa id Body, becaufe that which has nor parrs cannot properly be called a whole ; tho* I will not over ftifiy contend, but that we may ufe that Word for a more eafie Explicnrion of our Mind, according to that old trite Proverb, A,«^9^5?£pV ttw? ci7n i^ o^^i^c^v A.t>i, Speak^ct little more unle'arnedlyy that thou m€yest jpe:ik^ more intelligibly or plainly. But then we are to rcrjiember that we do not Ipeak properly, tho' more accommodately to the vulgar ap-prchenlion, but improperly, '

But now when the Holenmerians add farther, That the whole Soul is in every part or phylical point of the Body D, C, E, in the point A and B, and See Fig. lalll the reft of the poipts'of which the Body D,C,E, zSccLi i does confift, that feems an harfli Expreflfion to rne, ,'

and fuch as may juftly be deemed next door to an open ^repugnancy and contradidlion ; for when they fay the whole Sour is in the whole Body D, C, E, if they underftand the Eflence of the Soul to be commenfurate. and as it were c-qiial to the Body D, P, E, and yet at the fame time, the whole Soul to be contained within the point A or B, it is manifeft that they rnake one and the fame thing many Thoufand times greater or lefs than it" felf at the fame tirfic ; which- is impofTi-ble. But if they will affirm, that the ejjential Amplitude of the Soul Is no bigger than what is contained within the phyfiral Point A or B, but that the ejjential Prefence of the Sod: is difFufed through the whole Body D, C, E, the thing \yill fuc-ceed not a jot the better, for while they plainly prof^fs that the whole Soul is in the Point A, it is manifeft thatjhere rc-prtains nothing ^f the Soul which m.ay be in the Iroint B, which is dilfiht from 'A, for it is as if one Ihould^ fay, that there is nothing of the Soul which is not included within A; and yet irj the fame motiient of time, that not only fomething oi-tfee^oiil, ( which perhaps might be a more gentle repugnan-cy ) but that the whole Soul is in B, as if the whole Soul-were totally and entirely out of it felf ; which furely is impoflible in iany fingular or individual thing, and as for univerfals, they are iJoc things, but Notions we ufe in contemplating them.

■ ■ .: . . ; -; : ., -. ^ ' Again,

The true Nuion of a Spirit. 1 9

Again, if the ejfential Amplttude of the Soul is no greater ihan what may be contained within the limits of a phylicai Point, :i cannot extend or exhibit its ejfential Prefence through the

I whole Body, unlefs we imagine in it a ftupendious yelopity, iiich as it may be carried within one moment into all the parts of the Body, and fo be prefent to them : Which when it is fo hard to conceive in this icanj: comfnges of an humane Body, and in the Soul occupying in on^^jnoment every part thereof, what

iian outr^gious thing is it, and utterly impoflible to apprehend touching that Spirit which perpetually exhibits his ejfential Prefence to the whole World, and what ever is beyond the World ?

To which, laftly, you may add that this Hypothefisof the Holenmerians, does neceflarily make all Spirits the moft mi^ nute things that can be conceived : For if the whole Spirit be in every phyfical Point, it is plain that the ejfential AmtUtude it felf of the Spirit ( which the two former Objedions luppoi-cd) is not bigger than that phyfical Ppint in which it is, (which you may call, if you will, a J'ty/c^/ Afon^^) than which no-thing is or can be fmaller in univerfal -Nature ; which if you refer to any created Spirit ^ it cannot but feem very ridiculous; but if to the M^jejiy and Amplitude of the Divine Numen, in-tolerable, that I may not fay plainly Reproachful and Blafphe-mous.

§ E C T. XIIL

4 Confutation of the Fir ft Reafon of the Holen^ merians.

BUT now for the Reafons for which the H<?/f«»jfr/rf»i ad-here to fo abfurd an Opinion ; verily they are fuch as can noway compenfate thofe huge Difficulties and Repugnances the Opinion it felf labours under. For, for the firft, which fo folicitoufly provides for the IndivifihSUty of Spirits, it feems* to me to undertake a Charge tiihtt Superfluous or Ineffectual. Su-perfluous, if extenjim can be without divifibility, as it is clearly demoftrated it can, in that infinite immovable Ex renfion di-ftind: from the moveable Matter, Enchirid, Met^phyf. cap. 6,

20 The true Notion of a, Sprit. \

7, 8j. But hieffecltial, if all Extenfion be dhifihle, and the effential prefcncc of a S'/'jV/V which pervades and is extended through the whole Body C D E, may for that very Reaior. be divided y for fo the whole E(fe92ce which occupies the whole Body C D E, will be divided into Parts. No by no means will you fay, forasmuch as it is wholly in every part of the Body.

Therefore it will be divided, if I may fo fpeak, into fo ma-ny Totalities. But what Logical Ear can bear a faying fo abfurd and abhorrent from all Reafon, that a whole (hould not be divided into parts, but into wholes .^ But you will fay atleaft, we Ihall have this granted us, tL^ir an ejfential Pre' fence may be diftributed or divided according to fo many di- | llin(ftly fited Totalities which occupy at once the whole Body C D E; yes verily, this (hall be granted you, after you have , demonftrared that a Spirit not bigger than a Phyjical Monad can occupy in the fame inftant all the Parts of the Body C D E, . but upon this condition, that you acknowledge not fundryTo-talities, but one only total Ejjence^ tho' the leaft that can be imagined; can occupy that whole fpace, and when there is need, occupy in an inftant, an infinite one; which the Holenmerians muft of necefHry hold touching the Divine Eflence, becaufe, according to their Opinion taken in the fecond Senfe, (which pinches the whole Eflence of a Spirit into the fmalleft point ) the Divine Effence it felf is not bigger than any Phyfical Mo-nad. From whence it is apparent the three Objedlions which we brought in the beginning do again recur here, and utterly overwhelm the firft Reafonof the Ho/enmerians : So that the Remedy is far nore intolerable than the Difeafe.

S E C T.

Th$ true Notion- of a Spirit.

SECT. XIV.

A Confutation of the fecond Reafon of the Holen-merians.

AND truly the ^ther Reafon which from this HolenmerJfm
of Spirits pretend more eafie way of conceiving how ii
comes to pafs that the Soul, Iirp-
pofe in A, can perceive what
happens to it in C, or B, and
altogether in the fame circum-
ftances as if it felf were perfect-
ly and entirely in C, or B,
when yet it is in A ; altho' a t
firft (hew this feems very plau-
fible, yet if we look throughly
into it, we (hall find it far e-
nough from performing what it
fo fairly promifes. For befides

that nothing is more difficult or rather impofTible to conceive,, than that an Eifence not bigger than a Phyfical point (hould occupy and polTefs the whole Body of a Man at the fame in-ftant, this Hypothefis is moreover plainly contrary and repug-nant to the very Laws of the Souls perceptions : For Phy-ficians and Anatomifts with one confent profefs, that they have found by very folid Experiments, that the Soul perceives only within the Head, and that without the Head there is no per-ception : Which could by no means be, if the Soul her felf were wholy in the Point A, and the very felf fame Soul again wholly in the Point B, and: C, nor any where as to effentlnl Amplitude bigger than a Phyfical Monad: For hence it would lol-I low, that one and the fame thing would both perceive and nor; I perceive at once ; that it would perceive this or that Cbjed:,and I yet perceive nothing at all ; which is a perfed contradidlion.

,*,And from hence the falfity of that common Saying is de-

\ te(fted, IChnt if the Eye was in the Foot, the Soul would fee in

the Foot ; when as it does not fo much as fee in thofe Eyes

^Y^ich it already hath, but fbmewhere within the Brain, nor

: would the Soul by an Eye in the Foot fee, unlefs by fitting

; Nerves, not unlike the Optick ones, continued from the Foot

' tQ

j^ The true Notion of a Spirit.

to the Head and Brain, where the Soul fo far a? perceptive, inhabiteth. In the other parts of the Body the Fundlions thcrcf i of are ov\y vital, I

Again fuch is the Nature pi fome perceptions of the Soul, that | they are fitted for the mo> ing of the Body ; fo that it is manifeft that the very felf fame thin§^ which perceives, has the power of ■ Moving and Guiding of it; which feems impofllble to be done by this Soul, which accordingto the Opinion of the Holenmerians, ! exceeds not the Amplitude of a fmall Phyfical Point, as it may appear at the firft fight to any whofe Reafon is not blinded with Prejudice.

^ And laftly, If it be Iawf^l for the Mind of Man to give
her conjectures touching the immortal Geniif (whether they be
in Vehicles, or dcftitute of Vehicles ) and touching their Per-
ecftions and ejfential Pmfences whether invifibleor thofe in whicfr
they are faid fometimes to appear to mortal Men, there is none
furely that can admit that any of thefe things are compatible.™
to fuch a Spirit as the Holenmerians defcribe. For how can Xi
Metaphyfical Momd, that is to fay, a Spirin;al fubftance no^
exceeding a Phyfical Monad in Amplitude, fill out an ejfentim
FYefetice bigger than a Phyfical Monad, unlefs it be by a veryi
fwift vibration of it felf towards all Parts ; as Boys by a ve-i
ry fwift moving of a Fire-ftick, make a fiery Circle intheAiui
by that quick Motion. But that Spirits deftitute of Vehicle!
(hould have no greater ejfential Prefence than what is occupie
of a naked and unmoved Metafhyjtcal Monady or exhibiti
thereby, feems fo abfonous and ridiculous a Sped:acle to t
Mind of Man, that unlefs he be deprived of all Sagacity and
Senfibiiity of Spirit, he cannot but abhor fo idle an Opinion. ,
And as for thofe ejjential Prefence:, according to which ii
they fometimes appear to Men, at leaft equalizing human© i
Stature, how can a folitary Metaphyjical Monad form fo great i
a part of Air or ^ther into humane Shape, or govern it be--
ing fo formed ? Or how can it perceive any external Objede \
ih this fwift Motion of it felf, and quick vibration, whereby y
this Metaphyjieal Monad is underftood of the Holenmerians, to ]
be prcfent in all the parts of its Vehicle at once? For there:
can be no perception of the external Objed:, unlefs the Obr-
jedb that is to be perceived, adl with iome ftay upon that:
* which perceiveth. Nor if it could be perceived by this Mefd*^'
fhyjical Monad thus fwiftly moved and vibrated towards all I
pares at once, wou'd it be feen in one Place, but in many '
Places at once, and thofe, a$ it may happen very diftant.

SECT.

The true Notion of a Spirii. a J

SECT. X\r.

The egregioui falpty of the Opinions of the Holen-r merians and NullibiAs, as alfo their ufdeffnefs for any Philofophical ends.

BUT verily, I am aftiamed to wafte fo much time in re-futing fuch meer Trifles and Dotages which indeed arc fuch, { that I mean of the Nullibiftsy as well as this other of the Holenmerians) that we may very well wonder how fuch diftorted and drained Conceits could ever enter into the Minds of Men, or by what artifice they have fo fpread themfelvcs in the World; but that the Prejudices and Enchantments of Su-sperfiiition, and ftupid Admiration of Mens Pcrfons are fo ftrong, ythat they may utterly blind the Minds of Men, and charra Ithem into Dotage. But if any one, all Prejudice and Parts-taking being laid afide, will attentively confider the thing as it is, he ihall clearly perceive and acknowledge, unlcfs all belief is to be denied to the humane Faculties, that the O-pinions of the NuUibifts and Holenmerians^ touching IncorfO" '^eal Beings^ are miferably falfe ; and not that only, bnt as to (any Philofophical purpofe altogether vfelejl. Forasmuch as out of neither Hypothelis there docs appear any greater faci-lity of conceiving how the Mind of Man, or any other Spi-rit, performs thofe Fundtions of Percepion and of Moving of Bodies^ from their being fuppofed no where, than from their being fuppofed fome where ; or from fuppofing them whoffj in every pare of a Body, than from fuppofing them only to oc-cupy the whole Body by an EJfential or 'bAetaphyfical cxten-fion; but on the contrary, that both the Hypothefes do en-, tangle and involve the Do(5i:rine of Incorporeal Beings with greater Difficulties and Repugnancies.

Wherefore there being neither Truth nor Vfefulnefs in the Opinions of the Holenmerians und NuSihifisy I hope it will offend no Man if we fend them quite packing from our Phi-"j lofophacions touching an Incorporeal Being or Spirit^ in our de-livering i^e true Idea or Notion thereof.

SECT,

'i

$4 The true Notion of a Spirits

SECT. XVI.

That thofe tha,t contend that the Notion of aSpmti isfo difficult and imperfcrutable, do not this be-caufe they are of a more /harp and piercing Judg* ment than others^ hut of a Qenius more Rude an(k Plebeian.

NOW I have fo fucce/sfully removed and diifipated thof^ two vaft Mounds of Night and Miftinefs, that lay u^ ' on the Nature of Incorporeal Beings^ and obfcured it with fuc grofs Darknefs; it remains that we open and illuftrate th true and genuine Nature of them in general, and propofe fuel a definition of a Spiript as will exhibit no difficulty to a Min rightly prepared and freed from Prejudice. For the Nature c a Spirit is very eafily underftood, provided one rightly am skillfully Ihew the way to the Learner, and formtohini.i true Notions of the thing, infomuch that I have often won-fi dred at the luperftitious confternation of Mind in thofe Meni, { or the profanenefs of their Tempers and innate averfatiotir from the Contemplation of Divine things ) who if by chanciB( they hear any one profefling that he can with fufficient clears; nefs and diftind:nefs conceive the Nature of a Spirit, and com-municate the Notion toothers, they are prefently ftartled and: amazed at the faying, and ftraitway accufe the Man of in tolera"ble Levity or Arrogancy, as thinking him to aflume fdr much to himfelf and to promife to others, as no humane Wlii furnifhed with never fo much Knowledge can ever perform,! And this I underftand even of fuch Men who yet readily ac-'; knowledge the Exiftence of Spirits. ^

But as for thofe that deny their Exiflenccy whoever profeM' fes this skill to them, verily he cannot but appear a Ma^ above all meafure vain and doating, no Man more unskilful and ignorant, than he that eftecms the clear Notion of a Spirit fo hopelefs and defperate an attempt ; and that I fhall plainly dered, that this high and boaftful Profeffion of their Ignorance in thefe things does not proceed from hence, that they have any more a (harp or difcerning Judgment than other Mortals, but that they have more grofs and weak parts, and

The true Notion of a Spirit, 2 5

a (hallower Wit, and fuch as comes neareft to the fupei-ftition and ftupidity of the rude Vulgar, whoeafilier fall into admira-tion and aftonifliment, than pierce into the Reafons and Notices of any difficult Matter.

SECT. XVIL

The Definition of Body in general, with fo clear an Explication thereof, that even they that

■■ complain of the ohfcurity of a Spirit, cannot hut confefs they perfectly mderjland the Nature of Body,

BUT now for thofe who do thus defpair of any true Know-ledge of the Nature of a Sprit, I would entreat them to try the Abilities of their Wit in recognizing and throughly confidering the Nature of Body in general, and let them ingenuoufly tell me whether they cannot but acknowledge this to be a clear and perfpicuous Definition thereof, 'vi:{. Thai jBody is fuhftance Material of it Jeff y altogether deftittite of ai Percepiorzy Life, and Motions. Or thus, Body is a fubfianc^ Material, coalefcent or accruing together into one, by virtue of fbme other things from whence that one by coalition^ hiis or may have Life alfo, Perception and Motion.

I doubt not but they will readily anfwer, that they under-ftand all this ( as to the Terms ) clearly and perfed:ly ; nor would they doubt of the Truth thereof, but that we de-prive Body of all Motion frofn itfelf, as alfo of Vnion, Life and Perception. But that it is Subfianceythzi is, a Being fubfiftent by it relf,not zmode of fome Being, they cannot but very willingly ad-fnit,and that alfo it is a materialSuh&znce compounded ofphyfcat Mmads, or at leaft of moft minute Particles of Matter, into ^hich it is divifible ; and becaufe of their Impenetrability^ impenetrable by any other Body, fo that the ElTentiai and Po-•fitive difeenceof a Body is, that it be impenetrable, ^nd j^hy-ficaJ/y divijibfe^i^^ Vans : But that it is exteyided, that im-mediately belbngV-to it as it is a Bei?ig. Nor is there any freafon why theyi^llvQilld doubt of the other part of the D//-i ■. y fcrentia^

^6 The true Notion of a Spirit^

ferentld, when as it is folidly and fully proved in Philofophy, That Mutter of its own nature, or in it (elf, is endued with no Perception, Life, nor Motion* And befides, we are to remem-ber that we here do not treat of the Exiftence of things, bnt of iheir intcUible Notion and Effence,

SECT. XVIIL

Tke ferfiit Definition of 4 Sfirit^ with dfuU Ex^ flic 4t ion of its Nature through dll Degrees.

AN D if ihc hlotion or Eflcncc i$ (b cafily underftood in na-ture Corporeal or Bodjy I do not fee but in the Species im-mediately oppofite to B^dy^ vix. Spirit , there may be found tha fame facility of being underftood. Let us try therefore, and from the law of Oppofiies \tt us define a Spirit, an Immateridt I fub fiance intrififecally endued with Life and the faculty of Motion, , This flcnder and brief Definition that thus eafily flows without ; ahynoife, does comprehend in general the whole nature of a.i Spirit ; Which left by reafon of its exility and brevity it mayj prove lefs perceptible to the Undcrftanding, as a Spirit is to the light, I will fubjoin a more full Explication, that it may ap-i pear to all, that this Definition of si. Spirit is nothing inferiourt to the Definition of a Body as to dearnefs and perfpicuity. And that by this method which we now fall upon, a fulandperfcd:! knowledge and undcrftanding of the nature of a Spirit may be: attained to.

Go to therefore, let us take notice through all the degrees oi the Definitum, or Thing, defined, what prccife and immediate pror" pertieseach of them contain,from whence at length a moft diftind: and perfedt knowledge of the whole Definitum will difcover ic felf. Let us begin then from the top of all, and firft let us takei notice that a Spirit is £»/, or a Being, and from this Very famtf' that it is a Being ; that it is alfo One, that it is True, and that it is Good I which arc the three acknowledged Properties of £«/ in Metaphyficks, that it exifts fometime, and fomewhere, and is in fome fort extended, as is (hewn Enchirid. Metaphyf. cap. 2. fcdt I o. which three latter terms are plain of themfelves.: And as for the three former, that One fignifies undiftinguirtlcd or un-divided

The true Notion of a Spirit, 2 j

divided in and from it felf, but divided or diftingnidied from all other, and that True denotes the anfwerabienefs of the thwg to its own proper IdeUy and implies right Matter and Form due<» ly conjoyned, and that laftly GWrefpedts rhefitnefs for the end ' in a large fence, fo that it will take in. th^t faying of Theolo-igers, That God is his own End, are things vulgarly known tip Logicians and Metajfhy/jcians. That thefe Six are the immedi-ate afFedtions of Being as Being, is made apparent in the above-cited Enchiridion Metaphyficum ; nor is it requifire to repeat the fame things here. Now every Being is either Stibflancs or the Mode oiSubflance., which fomecall Accident : But that a Spirit is not an Accident or Mode of Subftance, all in a manner profefs and itisdemonftrable from manifold Arguments, that there are Spirits which ai*e no fuch Accidents or Modes ; Which is made good iri the faid Enchiridion and other Treatifes of Dod:c?r H, M

Wherefore the fecond ElTcntial degree of a Spirit is, that it is

Suhftance, From whence it is underiiood to fubfift by it ielfj

I iior to want any other thing as a Suh/cci ( in which it may in-

I here, or of which it may be the Mode or Accident ) for its Tub-

i iifting or exifting.

The third and laft Effential degree is, that it is immnterinl, 1 according to v^hich it immediately belongs to it, that it be a ' l^eing not only One, but one by it jelj, or of its own intimate 1 nature; and not by another; that is, That, though as it is a "Being it is in fome fort extended, yet it is utterly Indivifihle and . Indijcerfible into real Phyfical parts. And moreover. That it ; can penetrate the Matter^ and ( which the Matter cannot do ) < penetrate things of its own kind ; that is pais through Spiritu-al Subftances. In which twoEifential Attributes (as it ought to be in every perfed: and kgitirhatc Diilribution of any Genius) it is fully and accurately contrary to its oppolice Species, name-ly, to Body. Asalfo in thofe immediate Properties whereby it is underftood to have Life intrinfically in it fiif, and the facul-ty oi moving ; which in fome fenfe is true in all Spirits whatlb-ever, forafmuch as Life is Qizh^rFegetati'Ve, Sefifitivey or Intel-leHuaL One whereof at leaft every Spiritual Subftance hath : ^^^l^oih^ faculty oi moving'^ infomuch that every Spirit either moves it feif byit k\^, or the Matter, or both, or at leaft the : jMatter either mediately or immediately ; or laftly, both ways. [: jFor fo all things moved are moved by God, he being the Foun- . J lain of all Life and Motion.

fe SEG^

:8 The true Notionof aSfirit.

SECT. XIX.

Thdt from hence that the Definition of a Body is perfpicuosM^ the Definition (/^Spirit is aljo ne^^ cejfarilj perfpicuous.

WHerefore I dare here appeal to the Judgment and Con-" -fcience of any one that is not altogether ilJiterate and 1 ofadall and obtrufe Wit, whether this Notion oi: Definition i of a spirit in general, is not asJntelligible and perfpicuous, is( not as clear and every way diftind as the Idea or Notion of a I Bo4y, or of any thing elfe whatfoever which the mirid of Man can contemplate in the whole ccmpafs of Nature. And whe-ther he cannot as eafily or rather with the fame pains apprehend the nature of a Spirit as of Bocfyj forafmuch as they both agree in the immediate Genus to them, to vj'it Subftance. And tb Diffcrenti.xi do iliuftrate one another by their mutual oppofition infomuch that it is impoflible that one (hould underftand wha is Material Subftance, but he muft therewith prefently under-ftand v(vhat Immaterial Subdance is, or what it is not to have Lifs and Amotion of it felf, but he muft ftraitway perceive what it is to have, both in it fclf^ or to be able to communicate them to others.

SECT. XX.

Four OhjeHions which from the prfftcuity of thi\ terms of the Definition of a SPIRIT infer ^ the Repugnancy of them one to another.

NO R can I divine what may be here oppofed, unlefs hapljrl they may ailed ge fuch thicks as thefe, That although th^ cannot deny but that all the terms oim^ Definition and Expliaihi tion of them, are fufnciently intelligible, if they be confidered. lifigle, yet if they be compared one with another they will mu-.j

tuallyl

The true Notion of a Spiri^^ ^g

tually deftroy one another. For this Extenfwn which is ming-led with, orinferted into the nature of a 5;'i>/V, fecons to take ^way the Penetrability and Indivifibility thereof, as alio its fa-culty of ^hinkjngy as its Penetrability likevvife takes away its power of mot ing any Bodies.

I. Firft, E^tenficn takes way Penetrability ; becanfe if one Bxtenfion penetrate another, or necefTicy either one of thctn is deftroyed, or two equal Amplitudes entirely penetrating one another, are no bigger than either one of them taken fingle, be-* caufe they are dofed within the fame limits.

II. Secondly, It takes away Indivi0ility ; becaufe v»'hatfo-ever is extended has partes extra partes, one part out of another, and therefore is Divifible: For neither would it have parr.«", un-iefs it could be divided into them. To which you may futther add, that forafmuch as the parts are /?-//^/?^w^/V, nor depend one of another, it is clearly manifeft that ai leaft by the Divine Power they may be feparare, and fub£lft ieparate one from a-jiothe*'.

in. Thirdly, Bxtenfion deprives a Spirit of the faculty of

thinkings as depreiUng it down into the lame order that Bodies

are. And that there is no reafbn why an extended Spirit

fhould be more capable of Perception than Matter that is ex-

I tended*

\ IV. Laftly, Penetrability renders a Spiirit unable to mczs I Matter ; becaufe, vvhenas by reafon of this Penetrability it ib ! eafily Hides thorough the Matter, it cannot conveniently be uni-ted with the Matter whereby it may move the fam.e: For with-out fome union or inherency ( a Spirit being deftitute of all Im* \fenetr ability ) 'tis impoiTible it fhould protrude the Matter to-i wards any place.

The futn of which Four difficulties tends to this, that we tnay underftand, that though this Idea or Notion of a Spirit iwhich we have exhibited be fulHciently plain and explicate, land may be eafily underftood ; yet from the very perfpicuity of »the thing it felf, it abundantly appears, that it is not the Idea bf any poffible thing, and much iefs of a thing reaiy exifiing; whenas the parts thereof aie fo manifeil/y repugnant one to a-^ nother.

m %% S £ C Tj

JO The true Notion of a Sprit.

SECT. XXI.

An A.^fver to phefirfi of the Four Ohjections.

I. T> U T agalnft as well the NuHihifls as the Hohhians, J3 who both of them contend that Extenfion and Matter is one and the fame thing, we will prove that the Notion or Idea of a Sprit which we have produced, is a Notion of a thing fojjible. And as for the NullibiUs^ who think we fo nnuch in-dulge to corporeal Imagination in this our Opinion of the Ex-^ tenjion of Spirits, I hope on the contrary, that I (hall fliew that it is only from hence, that the Hobbians and Nullibifts have ta-ken all A?77plitude from Spirits, becaufe their Imagination is not fuSiciently defecated and depurated from the filth and un-clean tind:ures of Corpority^ or rather that they have their Mind over- much addid:ed and enflaved to Material things, and fo difordered, that (he knows not how to expedite her felf from grofs Corporeal Phancafms.

From which Fountain have fprung all thofe difficulties where-by they endeavour to overwhelm this our Notion of a Spirit ; as we fhali manifeilly demonftrate by going through them all, and carefully perpending each of them. For it is to be imputed to^^ their grofs Imagination, That from hence that two equal Am-piirudes penetrate one another throughout, they^ conclude that) either one of them muft therewith perilh, or that they being botW conjoyned together, are no bigger than either one of them take»?4 iingie. For this comes from hence, that their mind is fo illa-i' queared or lime-twigged, as it were, with the Idea's and Pro-perties of Corporeal things, that they cannot but infe6t thofe th-'ngs aifo vAiich have nothing corporeal in them with this ma-terial Tindnre ixnd Contagion, and.fo altogether ccnfoufid this Mecaphxllc::' Exrcniicn with ihat Extenfion which is Phyjical, I fay, from riiis difcafi it is that the fight of their mind is become fo dull and obtrufe, that they are not able to divide that com* nvon Arrribiite of a being, I mean EntenfiGn Metaphyfical from i fpi'ci^l Extenfion and Material, and affign to Spirits their pro-f per Extenl^on, and leave to Matter hers. Nor accordingly^ that knov/n method, whether Logical or Metaphyfical, hf\ intcUedual /.bilradion prefcind the Generical nature of Ex' tcnfc-n from the abovefaid Species or kinds thereof. Nor laft- i ly, ( which is another £i^n of their obtufenefs and dulnefs ) I

iSi

The true Notion of a Spirit. '51

is their Mind able to -penetrate with that Spiritual Extenfion into the Extenfion Material; but like a ftupid Beaft (lands low-ing without, as if the Mind it felf were become wholly corpo-real ; and if any thing enter they believe it periihes rather and is annihilated, than that two things can at the fame time co-exift together in the fame Vbi. Which are Symptoms of a Mind defperatelv fick of this Corporeal Malady of Imaginati-en, and not iulHciently accuftomed or exercifed in the free Operations of the Inteilcdtual Powers.

And that alio proceeds from the fame Source, that fup-{sofing two Excenfions penetrating one another, and adequate-ly occupying the fame Vhi^ they thus conjoyned are con-ceived not to be greater than either one of them taken by it feif. For the realon of this Miftake is, that the MW incraf-fated and fwayed down by the hnaginntion^ cannot together with the Spiritual Extenfion penetrate into the Material, and follow it throughoui-, but only places it fclf hard by, and ftands without like a grois ftupid thing, and altogether Cor-poreal, for if (he could but with the Spiritual Extenfion, in-finuate her felf into the Material, and fo conceive them both together as two really diftincft Extenfions, it is impoifible but that Ihe Ihould therewith conceive them fo conjoyned into one XJbi, to be notwithftanding not a jot leis than when they are feparated and occupy an Vbi as big again ; for the Exten-fion in neither of them is diminifhed, but their Situation on-ly changed, as it alfo fometimes comes to pafs in one and the fame Extenfion of fome particular Spirits which can di-' late and contradt their Amplitude into a greater or lefTer ' Vbi without any Augmentation or Diminution of their Ex-I tenfion, but only by the expanfion and conrradlion of it into another y/ftf.

K?

SECT.

1 2 Th true Notion of a Spirit,

SECT, XXII,

That hc^des thofe THREE Dimenfwns which belong to aE extended things^ a, FOV RT IJ aljo is to he admitted^ which belongs properly to SPIRITS.

AND that I may not diflemble or conceal any thing, ^I-tho* all Material things, confider'd in themfelves, have three Diaienfions only ; yet there muft be admitted in Na-ture a Fourth,' which fitly enough, I think, may be called EjTeTitid Spi^uude ; which the' it moft properly appertains to thofe Spirits which can contract their Extenfioninto a lefs Vhi^ yet by a lefs Analogic it may be referred alfo to Spirits pencr trating as well the Af-^/^er as mutually one another, fo that wherever there are ?i)ore Effences than one, or more of the fame EfTencc in the Tame Vhi than is adequate to the Ampli-tude thereof, there this Fourth Dimen (ion is to t>e acknowledg-ed, which we call EJfential Sfijfiiude,

^hich alTuredly involves no greater repugnancy than what may feem at iirft view, to him that confidersthe thing lefs attentively, to be in the other ^/:»re^ Dimenfions/ namely, unlefs one would conceive that a piece of "Wax ftretched out, fuppofe to the length of an Ell_, and afterwards rolled together into the form of a Globe, lofes fomething of its former Extenlion, by this its conglobation, he muft confefs that a Spirit, neither by the c:ontrad:ion of it felf into a lef§ fpace has loft any thing of its Extenfion or Eflence, but as in the above- faid Wax, the di^ munition of its Longitude is compenfated with the augmen-tation of its Latitude and Profundity ; fo in a Spirit contradt-ing it M?^ that in like manner its Longitude, Latitude, and Profundity being lefTened, are compenfated by EJfential SpiJJi^ tndcy which the Spirit acquires by this contraction of it felf.

And in both cafes we: are to remember that the Site is only changed, but that the Bj/ince and Extenfipn are not at all impaired.

Verily thefe things by me are fo perfedlly every way perceiv-ed, fo certain and tried, that Ldare appeal to the Mind of any one which is free from the moral Prejudices of Imagi^

nation..

The true Notion of a Spirits J J

> Katiortt and challenge him to try the ftrcngrh of his Intellcdu-als, whether he does not clearly perceive the thing to be fo as I have defined, and that two equal Extenfions, adequate-ly occupying the very fame Vbij be not trvlce as great: as ei-ther of them alone, and that they are not clofed with the fame Terms as the Imagination falfely fuggefts, but only with equal.

Nor is there any need to heap up more Words for the fblving this firft Difficulty ; whenas what has been briefly faid already abundantly lufficeth for the penetrating their underftanding who are pre- poffcft with no Prejudice; but for the piercing of theirs who are blinded with Prejudices, infinite will not fufSce,

SECT. XXIIL

A^ Anfwer tothefecond Ohje5iionj where the fun^ damemd Error of the Nullibifts, ^iz,. That whatfoever is extended is the Obje^ of ImaginA^

. tion is tAhr^notm of,

II. T E T us now try if we can difpatch the fecond DliScul-JLy ty with the like fuccefs, and fee if it be not wholly to be afcribed to Imagination^ that an Indifcerfible exienjhn leems to involve in it any contradidion, as if there could be ■o Extenfion which has not parts real and properly fo called in-to which it may be adualiy divided, vi:{. for this reafon, that only is extended which has -partes extra partes, which being fubjiantial^ may be feparated one from another, and thus fepa-rate fubfift ; this is the fummary Account of this diiScuky, which nothing but corrupt Imagination fupporterh.

Now the firft Source or Fountain of this Errour of the Nu!-

lihijls is ihist that they make every thing 'that is extended the

Objcd: of the Imagination ^ and every Objedof the Imaginn-

\ tion corporeal. The latter whereof undoubtedly is true, if it be

'taken in a right Sen fe, namely, if they underftand fuch a pci**

eeption as is either limply and adequately drawn from external

: Objedls 5 or by increafing, diminifhing, tranfpoiing, or trans-

I forming of parts (as in Chimjerds and Hippocentaur s ) is com-

: Ipofed of the fame, I acknowledge ailtheie Ideas, as they were

K 4 fome-

^4 *The true Notio7% of a Spirit,

fometime Tome way Objeds of Senfafion, (o ro be the genuine Objed:s of Imnghiation^ and the perception of thefe to be rightly termed the Operation of Fancy, and that all thefe things that are thus reprefented, neceflarily are to be looked upon as Corporeal, and confequently as aciua/Iy divifible.

But that all ferceptlon of Extenfion is fuch Imagination^ that I confidently deny, forafn:iuch as there is an Idea of infinite Ex^ tcnfion drav/n or taken in from no external Senfe, but is na-tural and effential to the very Faculty of perceiving ; which the Mind can by no means pluck out of her felf, nor call it away from her ; but if fhe will roufe her felf up, and by ear-neit and attentive thinking, fix her animadverfion thereon, fhe will be conftrained, whether (he will or no, re acknow-ledge, that altho' the whole matter of the World were exterminated out of the Univerfe, there Would notwith-ilanding remain a certain fubtiie and imptiaterial extenfion which has no agreement with that other R/^aterial one,, in any thing, faying that it is extended, as bein|^ fuch that it neither falls under fenfe, nor is impenetrable, nor can be moved, nop jdifcerped into parts ; and that this Ideg. is not only pollible, but tieceflary, and fuch as we do not at our pleafure feign and in-vent, but do find it to be fo innate and ingrafted in our Mind,-; ^2X ^^c cauiiOJ: by 2.ny force or Artifice remove ii: thence, which is a moft certain demonftratidn that all Perception of Extenfion IS not Imagination properly fo called.

Which in piy Opinion ought to be efteemed one of the chief-eft and rnoff fundamental Errors of the NuIIih'flsy and j:q which ffpecially this DifHcultyis to be referred touching an JwiZ/c^r-pible Extenfion. Tor we fee they confefs their own Guilt, name-ly that their Mind is fo corrupted by their Imagination, and,, io immerfed into it, that they can ufe no other Faculty ia, fhe Contemplation of any extended thing, and therefore whea chey make ufe of their Imagination inftead of their Intellect, in Contemplating of it, they neeeffarily look upon it as an 'Oh]eS: o{ lynaginat ion ; that is, as a corporeal thing, and dif^, ferpible into parts, for asl nored above, the fight of their Mind, by reafon ot this Morbus vho^Mi- this materiom Difeafe, if I inay fo fpeak, is made fo heavy and dull, that it cannot di-i^ ftinguifh any Extenfion from ihat oi Matter, as allowing m\i |:q appertain to ano^.her kind, nor by Logical or Metaphyficaij i^bftradlon prefcind it from cithe^.

SECTi

Th true Notim of a Spirit. j 5

SECT. XXIV.

Ihdt Extenfon as Juch includes in it f^either Di-^ 'vifihilit^ nor ImpenePrabilit'^y neither Indivifi^ hility nor IP enet nihility^ hut is indifferent to either two of thofe Properties.

AN D from hence it is that becaufe a thing is extended^ they prefently imagine that it has partes extra -partes^ and is not Ens unum per fe ^ non fer aliud\ a Being one by it felf , and not by vertue of another, but ib framed from the juxtapofition of parts, when as the Idea oi Extenfion ^vqc\(q' ly conliderd in it felf, includes no fuch thing, but only a tri-nal Diftance, or folid Amplitude, that is to lay, not linear on-ly and fuperficiaryj ( if we may here ufe thofe Terms which properly belong to magnitude Mathematical ) but every way running out and reaching towards every part. This Ampli-tude furely, and nothing befide, does this bare and fimple Extenfion include, not Penetrability nor Impenetr ability ^ nor Di-mfibilityj nor yet Indivifibility^ but to either AfFedliqns or Pro-perties, or if you will elTentiai Differences, namely, to Divifi^ vilify and Impenetr ability ^ or to Penetrability and Indivi/jbility, if confidered in it felf, is it altogether indifferent, and may be determined to either two of them.

Wherefore, whereas we acknowledge that there is a cer-tain ExtenJioHi namely. Material, which is endued with fo ftout ■^nd invincible an ^A.wnj'mA or Impenetrability^ that it necelfa-rily and by an infuperable Renitenfzy expels and excludes all other Matter that occurs and attempts to penetrate it, nor fuffers it at all tp enter, altho' in the fimple Idea of Extenji-on, this marvelous Vertue of it is not contained, but plain-ly omitted, as not at all belonging thereto immediately and of it felf- why rnay we not as eafily conceive that another Extenfion, namely, an Immaterial one, though Extenfion in it felf include no fuch thing, is of fuch a Nature, that it can-not by any other thing whether Material or Immaterial be difcerped into Parts ,- but by an indiffoluble neceflary and cf-fential Tie be fo united and held together with it felf, that although it can penetrate all things and be penetrated by all

things,

56 The true Notion of a Spirit.

things, yet nothing can fo inlinuate it felf into it, as to dis-joyn any thing of its EfTence any where, or perforate it or make any Hole or Pore in it ? That is, that I may fpeak briefly, What hinders but that there may be a Being that is immediately One of its oWn Nature, and held together into one by virtue of fome other, either Qualify or Subftance? Al-tho* every Being as a Being is Exiendedy becaufe Extenfion in its precife Notion does not include any Pbyjjcal Dhtjion, but the Mind infedted with corporeal Imagination, does falfely and unskilfully feign it to be necelTarily there.

SECT- XXV-

That every thing that is extended has not Tarts PhyficaUy dtjcerfible^ though Logically or InteU lectnatly divifihk

le.

FOR it is nothing which the NuHibifls here ^IkgCf while they fay, That all Extenfion inferreth Parts, and all Pares Divifion. For befides that the firft is falfe,forasmuch as Ens unum perfiy a Being, one of it felf, or of its own immediate Na-ture, although extended, yet includes no Parts in its Idea, |3ut is conceived according to its proper Eflence, as a thing as llmple as may be, and therefore compounded of no Parts, We Anfwer moreover, That it is not at all prejudicial to our Caufe, though we (hould grant that this Met aphyfical Exten-fion of Spirits is alfo divifible, but Logically only, not Phy/i^ cally ; that is to fay, is not difcerfible. But that one Ihould ad joy n a Phyfical divifihiliy to fuch an Extenfion, furelythac muft muft neceffarily proceed from the ipipotency of hisJ/w^-ginationy which his Mind cannot curb nor feparate her felf rrom the dregs and corporeal Foulnefs thereof 5 and hence it is that Ihe tindures and infedls this Pure and Spiritual Extenfion with Corporeal Properties. But that an extended thing may be divided LogicaEy or InteHeBualfyy when in the mean time it can by no means be difcerped, it fufficiently ap-pears from hence, That a Phyfical Monadvjhich has fome Am-plitude, though the leaft that poflibly can be, is conceived thus to be divided in aX/wf confifting of any uneven num-ber

The true Notion of a Sprit, jy

\%tt of Monads, wfiTch notwithftanding the InrcIIedl divides into two equal Parts. And verily in a Metaphyfical Monad, fuch as the Holenmerians conceit the Mind of Man to be, and to poffefs in the mean time and occupy the whole Body^ there may be here again made a Logical Diftribucion, fup-pofe, cfubjeHis, as they call it, fo far forth as this Metaphy^ jljcal Monad, or Soul bf the Holenmerians is conceived to pof-fefs the Head, Trunk, or Limbs of the Body, and yet no Man is fo delirant as to think that it follows from thence, (that fuch a Soul may be difcerped into fo many Parts, and jhat the Parts fo difcerped may fublift by themfelves.

%

SECT. XXVL

An Anfwer to the Utter fart of the fecond Ob-jection^ which inferreth the feparability of the Parts of afubftantial Extenfium, from the [aid Parts being Subftantial and Independent one of another.

FROM which a fuiSciently fit and accommodate Anfwer may be fetched to the latter part of this Difficulty, name-ly, to that which becaufe the parts of fubltance are Suhjian^ HaI and Independent one of another, and fiibftfting by them-fehes ( as being Suhflances ) would infer that they can be dif-cerpedi at leaft by the Divine Power, and disjoyned, and being fo disjoyned, fubfift by themfeives. Which I confefs to be the chief Edge or Sting of the whole Difficulty, and yet fuch as I hope I (hall with eafe File oft or Blunt. For ifirft, I deny that in a thing that is ahfclutely One and Sim-ple as a Spirit is, the^e are any Phyjical parts, or parts pro-perly fo called, but that they are only faliely feigned and fan-,cied in it, by the impure Imagination. But that the Mind lit felf being fufficiently defecated and purged from the im-pure Dregs of F^ancy, although from fome extrinfical refpe(5t ,ihe m^ conjider a Spirit as having Parts, yet at the very fame itimc doesffie in her felf, with clofe attention, obferve and note, jthat fuch an E:;tenfion of it felf h^s pone, and therefore when-I-- ^ ■ ' • " ' ' 'as

3 8 The true Notion of a Spirit.

as it has no Parts, it is plain it has no fubftantial parts, novinds^^' /ffWt'w^ one of another, norfubfiftent of themfelves. i

And then as much as concerns thofe Parts which the ftupid'' and Impotent Imagination fancieth in a Spirit, it does noEii follow from thence, becaufe they are Suhflantial, that they may fubjiji feparate by themfelves ; for a thing lofuhfiil hy it felf, only fignifies fo to fubfift, that it wants not the Prop of fbme other SubjeH in which it may inhere as Accidents do, fo tliat the parts of a Spirit may be laid to fubfift by themfelves tho' they cannot fublift feparate, and fo be Subftance ftill.

S EC T. XXVIL

Thaf the mutual Independency of the Farts of a» extended Suhjlance may he underftood in a two-fold Senfe; mth an Anfwer thereto^ taken in the jirFi Senje thereof .

BU T what they mean by that mutual Independency of Parts,^ I do not fully underftand, but I fufficiently conceive that one of thefe two things muft be hinted thereby, w;^. Either that they are not mutuitl and effedtual Caujes to one another ©f their Exifttng^ or that their Exiftence is underftood to be : connedled by no necejfary condition at all.

And as for the former Senfe, I willingly confefs thofe Parts s which they fancy in a Spirit are not mutual Caufes of one^i anothers Exiftence ; but fo, that in the mean time I do moi firmly deny, that it will thence follow that they may be dill cerped, and thus difcerpr, be feparately conferved, no mor®j than the intelligible Parts of a Phyjical Monadvihichisdivi^.' ed into two by our Reafon or IntelJec^ti which furely are no mutual Caufes of one anothers Exiftence, or the Members of the Diftribution ^of a Metaphyseal Monad according to the Docftrine of the Holenmerians { vi^^. The Soul totally being in every part of the Body ) which no Man in his Wits can ever hope that they may be difcerped, although the faid Members of the divifion are not the mutual Caufesof one anothers Ex-iftence, for they are but one and the fame Soul which is not the cavife of it felf, but was wholly and entirely caufed by (Jod.

Bun

The true Notion of a Spirit. J 9

But you will fay that there is here manifcftly a reafon extanc and apparent: why chele Members of the Diftribution cannot be difcerped, and diicerpc icperarejy converfed, becaufe one and the fame indivifible Monad occurs in every Member of the Di-ftribution, which therefore (ince it is a fingle one, it is impoflt-ble it Ihc uld be difcerped from it felf. To which I on the other fide aniwer, That it is as manifeftly extant and apparent how irivolouily therefore ineptly Arguments are drawn from Logical or Inteliedtual Divifions, for the concluding a real feparability of parts. And I add further, That as that fiditious Metaphyfi-cal Monad cannot be difcerped or pluckt in pieces from it felf, 'no more can any real Spirit, becaufe it is a thing moftjimple and mo ft ahfolutely One, and which a pure Mind darken'd and poffef-fed with^Ji<^ prejudices oi Imagination does acknowledge no real parts at all t^ be in, For fo it would ipfo faHo be a compound Thing.

SECT. XXVIII.

An Anfwer to the Independency of parts taken in the fecond jence.

FROM whence an eafie entrance is made to the anfwering this difficulty underftood in the fecond .fence of the mutual Independency ©f the parts of a Spirit_, whereby their coexiftence and union are underftood to be connedred by no neceffary Law or Condition. For that this is falfe, I do molt conftantly aiHrm wihout all demur; For the coexiftences of the parts, as they call them, of a Spirit, are conneded by a Law or Condition ab^' folutely neceffary and plainly effential j Forafmuch as a Spirit is a vwsi fimple Being, or a Being unumper fe & non per aliud; thac is, one of it felf or of its own nature immediately fo, and not by another either Subftance or Sluality. For none of thofe parts, as the NullibHts Q2i\\ them, can exift but upon this condition, thac all jointly and unitedly exift together ; which Condition or Law , is contained in the very Idea, or nature of every Spirit, Whence it cannot be created or any way produced unlefs upon this con-dition, that all its parts be infeperably and indifcerpibly one; as neither a Redangle Triangle, unjefs upon this condition

thac

40 ^his true Notion of a Spirits

that the powers of the Cathetus znd Bafts, be equal to the power of the Hypotcmfa. Whence the Indifcerplbility of a Sprit can-not be removed from it, no not virtute Divinn, as the School-men (peak, no more than the above-faid Property disjoyned from a Redangle Triangle. Out cf all which I hope it is at length abundantly clear, that the Extcnfion of a Spirit does noc at ail hinder the Indifcerphility thereof.

SECT. XXIX.

An Anfrver to the third Oh]e5}ion touching the Imperceptivity of an extended Subjimce, viz.: That whatever is, is extended^ and tha the NUILIBISTS 4WHOLENMERI. A N S themf elves cannot give a Reafon of thi perceptive Faculty in Spirits^ from their Hjfo-thefes.

III. "VT O R is it any let ( which is the third thing ) to the: JJN faculty of Perceiving and Thinking in Sprits : For we do noc thruft down a Spirit by attributing Extenjion to it, in-to the rank of Corpored Beings , forafmuch as there is nothing irt all Nature which is not in fome fenfe extended. For whatever of Eflence there is in any thing, it either is or may be ad:ually prefent to foms part of the matter, and therefore it muft either be extended or be conrradred to the naf rownefs of a point, and; be a meer nothing, For as for the Nulihifts and Holenmerians^ the opinions of them both are above utterly routed by me, and quite fubverted and overturned from the very root, that no maii may feek fubcerfuges and lurking holes there. Wherefore there is a necefiity that fome thing that is extended have Cogitation and Percepion in it, or elfe there will be nothing left that has.

But for that which this Objedion further urges, that there occurs no reafon why an extended Spirit ftiouid be more capable of Perception than extended Matter, it is verily, in my judg-^ ment, a very unlearned and unskilful argutation. For we do not take all this pains demonftrating the Extenjion of a Sprift

chac

The true Not ten of a Spirit. 41

that thence we might fetch out a reafon or account of its faculty of perceiving 5 but that it may be conceived to befome real Be-ing and true Subftance, and no: a vain Figment, fuch as is every thing that has no Amplitude and is in no fort exten^ 4ed.

But thofe that fo ftickle and fweat for the proving their Opinion, that a Spirit is no wherCf or is fotally in every pare of that Vhi it occupies, they are plainly engaged of all right, clear-ly and didindbly to render a reafon out of their Hypothecs of the Perceptive faculty that is acknowledged in Spirits, Namely that they plainly and ptecifely deduce from hence, becaufe a thing is nowhere or totally in every part of the Vbi it occupies, that it is necelTarily endued with a faculty of perceiving and thinking', fo that the reafon of the conjunc^'ion oi properties with the Subject may be clearly thence underftood.

Which not withftanding I am very conj&dent, they can never perform ; And that Perception and Cogitation are the immediate Attributes of lome Subftance ; and that therefore, as that Rule of Prudence, Enchirid. Ethic, lib. 3. cap, 4. fed:. 3. declares, no Phyficai reafon thereof ought to be required, nor can be given, why they are in the Subjed: wherein they are found.

SECT. XXY.

Thdt from the Generical nature of any Species, m reafon is tohe fetcht of the conjun6iion of the Eilential Difference mth it^ it being imme^ 'diate.

BUT fo we are to conclude, that as Suhrvance Is immedi-ately divided into Material and Immaterialf or into Body and Spirity where no reafon can be rendred from the Subftance in Spirit, as it is Subftance, why it Ihould be Spirit rather than Body ; nor from Subftance in a Body, as it is Subftance, why it Ihould be Body rather than Spirit , But thele Ejfential Differen-ces are immediately in the Subjed in which they are found : So the cafe ftands in the fubdivifion of Spirit into meerly Plafiicai and Perceptive, fuppofing there are Spirits that are meerly Pla-ftical ; and then of a Perceptive Spirit into meerly Senfitive and

Intel'

4^ The true Notion of a Spirit.

IntcHcElual. For there can.be no reafon rendr^d touching a Spi. rit as a Spirit in a Spirit meerly PUftlca/, why ir is a Spirit meerly Plaftical rather than Perceptive : Nor m a Perceptive Spi* rtty why it is a Perceptive Spirit rathCr than meo ly PlaflicaL And laftiy, in a Perceptive Spirit Intelleclual^ why it is /w^^/-leHual rather than meerly Senjitive; and in the ^TZf^r/y Senfitive Spirit, why it is fuch rather than IntellecUtal. But ihefe Ejfen-tial Differences are immediately in the SuhjeHs in which they are found, and any Phyficai and intrinfical reafon ought not to be asked, nor can be given why they are in thofeSubjedls, as! no-ted a little above out of the faid Enchiridion Ethicum,

SECT. XXXL

That although the Holenmerians and NuUibifts can give no reafon^ why that which perceives Jhould he TOTALLY in eveey part, or jhould he NO WHERE rather than he in any fort extended or fbme where, jy^/- there are reafons obvious enough why an extended Spirit^ rather jhould perceive than extended Matter.

BU T however, though we cannot render a reafon why this or that Subflance as Subftance, be a Spirit rather rhaYi Body , or why this or that Spirit be Perceptive rather than meerly Plnflicd ; yet as the reafon is fufficiently plain, why Matter or Body is a Subftance rather than Accident, fq it is ma-nifeft enough why that which Perceivesy or is Plaftical^ fhould be a Spirit rather than Matter or Body y which furely is much more than either the Holenmerians or Nidlibifls can vaunt of; For they can offer no reafon why that which perceives fhould rather be nowhere than fomewhere ; or totally in each part of the Vhi it does occupy, than otherwife, as may be underftood from what we have laid above.

But now fince the Matter or Bcdy which is difcerpihle and Jw-pcnetrable isdeftitute of itfelf of all Life and Motion, certainly it is confonant to reafon, that the species oppofire to Body, and which is conceived to be Penetrable and Indijcerpihle, ihould be intrinfically endued with Lift in general and Motion. And whenas Matter is nothing elfe than a cercaiii ftupid and loofe

The true Notion of a Spirit. 4 j

congeries of Phyfical Monads^ that the firft and tnoft immediate oppofite degree in this iniifcerpihle and penetrable Subftance, which is called Spirity (hould be the faculty of Union, Motion^ and Life, in which all the Sympathies and Synenergies which are. found in the world may be conceived to confift. From whence it ought not to feem ftrange, that that which is Plafiical Ihould be a Spirit.

And now as for Perception itfelf, undoubtedly all Mortals have either a certain confufed prefage, or more precife and de-terminate Notion, that as that, whatever it is in which the a-bovefaid Symphathies and Synenergies immediately are, fb more efpecially that to which belongs the faculty ot Perceiving and Thinking is a thing of all things themofty//^^;/^ and molt One that may be.

Wherefore I appeal here to the Mind and Judgment of any one» whether he can truly conceive any thing more Subtile or more On^ than the EJfence or Notion of a Spirit^ as it is immediately diftin-guiihed from Matter, oppofed thereto. For can there be any thing more One than what has no parts, into which it may be, difcerped ? or more Subtile than what does not only penetrate Mattery but itfelf, or at leaft other Subftances of itt own kind ? For a Spirit can penetrate a Spirit, though^Matter cannot pene-trate Matter.

. There is therefore in the very EJfence of a Spirit,, although ic

be MetajfhyJicaUy extended, no obfcure reafon why all the Symrpa"

\ thies and SynenergieSy why all Perceptions and all manner of

! Cogitations fliould be referred rather to it, by reafon of the XJni'

I ty and Subtilty of its nature, than to Matter, which is fo crafs,

I that it is impenetrable ; and is fo far from unity of EJfence, thae

it confifts oi juxt/tpojjted parts. But I hope by this I have abun°

dantly fatisfied this third difficulty.

S E « T.

4 ^ The true Notion of a Sprit.

S E C T, XXXIL

An Answer to the fourth OhjeBi&n as much as re^ ffells the HOLENMERIAN'S anA N U L L I B I ST S, dni all thofe that acknotv^ ledge that the Matter is created of God.

lY T E T us go on therefore to the Fourth and laft, which from i^ the Penetrability of a Spirit concludes its unfitnefs for moving of Matter. For it cannot move Matter, but by impel-ling it"; nor can it impel it, becaufe it does fo eafily, without all refiilcnce, penetrate it. Here therefore again, Imagination plays her tricks, and meafures the nature of a Spirit by the Laws of Matter, fancying a Spirit like fome Body pafling through an over-large or wide hole^ where it cannot ftick by the realbn of the laxnefs of the pafTage.

But in the mean time, it is to be noted, that neidier the Ho-lenmerlans nor Nullibifls can of right objed: this difficulty to us, whenas it is much more incredible that either a Metaphyfical Monndy or any EJfcncc that is no where^ (hould be more fit for the muving Matter, ^han that which has fome Amplitude, and is prefent alfo to the Matter that is to be moved. Wherefore we have now only to do with fuch Philofophers as contend that the whole Univerfe confifts of Bodies only : For as for thofe that acknowledge there is a God and that Matter was created by him i it is not hard for them to conceive, that there may be a certain i faculty in the Soul, which in fome manner, though very (hadow-ilhly, anfwers to that Power in God of creating Matter j Name-ly, that as God, though the moft pure of all Spirits, yet cre-ates Matter the moft grofs of all things 5 fo created Spirits them-felves may emit a certain Material Vertuey either fpontaneoufly or naturally, by which they may intimately inherein the Subjed: Matter, and be fufficiently clofe united therewith. "Which facul« ty of Spirits the Appendix to the Antidote againfl Atheifm^ is; called t/ Ao7ra0««, the Hylopathy of Spirits^ or a Power of affedt-ing or being affcded by the Matter. But I confefs that Anfwer is lels fitly ufed when we have to do with thofe who deny the Creating of Matter, and much more when with thofe that deny'

there is a God,

SEC

T.I

The true Notion of a Spirito

SECT. XXXIIL

^n Anjwer tothofe that think there is nothing in the Vniverfe hut Matter or Body.

WHerefore, whenas we have rddo with fuch infenfe Advei-faries, and fo mucli eftranged from ail knov^^kdge and acknowledgmcnc of lijcorforeal Things, verily we cughr lo be^ have our feives very caunoufly and circunupedly, and loriie-thing more precifely to conllder the Title of the Qtieltion, which is not, Whether we can accurately diicern and declare t e mcde br way that a Spirit moves Matter, hut whetheritsPf>;^.fr,'j/;;7/o' is repugnant with this faculty of 'movt7i[[ M^itter. Eut now ic is manifeft, if a Spirit could be united and as it were cohere with the Matter, that it might eafily move Matter ; fdralmiichi as if there be at aii any fuch thing as a Spirit, it is accprdir.g to the common Opinion of all men to be acknowledged the true Principle and Fountain of all Life and Motion. "Wherefore the hinge of the whole coniroverlie turns upon this one Pin, Whe-ther it be repugnant that any ^^i?/VzV (hould be united aud as ic V^ere cohere with Matter^ or by whatever firmnefs or faftehinga, ( whether permanent or momentaneous ) be joyncd there-with.

Now that it is not repugnant, I hope I fhali clearly demGn-^ ftrate from hence, that the imition of Spirit with Matter ^ is as intelligible as the unit- on of one part of Matter with another. For that ought in reafon to be hela and Axiom firm and (ure. That that is fojjlhle to be, in vihich there is found no greater ( nor to fay lefs ) difficulty cf fo beifig, than in that v^hich we, really find to be. But we fee one part of Matter really and actually united with another, and that in fome Bodies with afirmnels ai« moft invincible, as in fome Stones and Metals, which are held to be the hardeft of all Bodies. But we will for the more fully imderfVandingthe bufinefs, fiippofea Boa/abfolutely and perfect-ly hard, conltituted of no Particles, but the very Thy feat Monads themfelvcs, and without all Pores.

.■,.^. I ask therefore here, By what vertue, or by what manner cf way do the parts of fo perfect a 5(7//Vi cohere .> Undoubtedly they can alledge nothing here befides immediate cofitracl and refi : For if they fly to any other afFed:i6ns which are allied ta

L i Life

46 true Notion of a Spirit. ,

Life and Senfc, they are more rightly and more eaflly underftood to be in a Spirit than in Matter; and we will prefently pronounce chat a Spirh may adhere to Matttr by the faoie vertues.

But that the Parts of Matter cohere by bare, tho* imme-diate contract, feems as difficult, if not more difficult, than that A Spirit penetrating Matter (hould cleave together into one with it : For the contrad of the parts of Matter is every where only fuperiicial, but one and the fame indifcerpible Spirit penetrates and poflelTes the whole Matter at once.

Nor need we fear at all, that it will not inhere becaufe it can (o cafiiy Aide in, and therefore as it may feem, Hide thto* and pais away.

For in a Body perfectly folid, fuppofe Ay in which we will conceive fome particular Superficies, fuppofe E, A, C ; this Superficies E, A, C, is aiTuredly fo glib and fmooth, that there can be nothing imagined more fmooth and glib, where-fore why does not the upper part of this folid Cube C, D, E, by any the ilighteft impulie Aide upon the inferiour pare of the Cube E, F, C, efpecially if the inferiour part E, F, C, be held fail, while the fuperior is impelled or thruft for-ward, furely this eafinefs of the Aiding of Bodies perfed:ly fmooth and glib, which touch immediately one another, their eafinefs I fay, of Aiding one upon another, does feem at leaft as necelTary to our Imagination^ as the proclivity of the pair-ing of a Spirit through the Bodies it penetrates. Wherefore ii tvvo parrs of Matter^ fuppole E, D, C, and E, F, C, which our Imagination doth moft urgently fuggeft to us -that they will always with the leaft impulfe Aide on<^ upon another, do yet notwithftanding adhere to one another with a moft firn3 and almolt invincible Union, why may not theft

a Spirit,

true] Notion of a Spirit. 47

a Spirit, which our Imaghiation fufpeds will fo eafily pafs through any Body, be united to a Body with equal firmnefs ? whenas this is not more difficult than the other, yea rather much more eafie if one would confider the thing as it is, laying afide all Prejudice. But now fmce the Penetrability of a Spirit is not repugnant with its Vnion with Matter, it is manifeft that its Faculty of moving Body is not at all re-pugnant with its Penetrability, Which is the thing that was to be demonftrated. r -n

But it half repents me that I have with io great Prepa-ration and Pomp attacked fo fmall a Difficulty, and have ftriven fo long with meer Elufions and preftigious Juggles of the Imagination, ( which cafts fuch a Mift of fiditious Re-pugnancies on the true Idea of a Spirit ) as with fo many Phantomes and Spedlres of an unquiet Night. But m the mean time I have made it abundantly manifeft, that there are no other -Contradidlions or Repugnancies in this our No-tion ofa Spirit, than what the Minds of our Adverfaries, ,polluted with the impure Dtcgs odmaginaticn , and nnahk to abftrad Metafhyficnl Extenfion from Corporeal Affe^io7u, do foully and flovenly clart upon it, and that this Idea lockt upon in it felf does clearly appear to be a Notion at ieaft of a thing poffib/e -, which is all that we drive at in this Place.

SECT. XXXIV.

Horn far the Notion of a Spirit here defended u countenanced and confirmed by the common fuff rage of all Adverfaries.

AND that it may appear more plaufible, we will not omit in the lafl place to take notice, how far it is countenanced and confirmed by the common fuffrageof our Adverfaries : For the Hohbiansy and whatever other Philolbphers tKo. of the fame Stamp, do plainly afTent to us in this, That whatfoever really is, is of neceflity extended, Butthat they hence infer that there is nothing in Nature but what is Corporeal, that truly they do very unskUIfully and inconfequently colled:, they by fome weaknefs or morbidnefs of Mind tumbling into fo foul an Er-

L 3 fo^-

The true Notion of 4 Spirit.

Fcrk is impofTible that the Mind of Man, unlets it wcr« i . ,:n iind'i^ol luted with the Dregs and Drofs o^ corporeal Ima-^::^'uition, fliould i'uffcr it felfto fink into fuch a grofs and dirty Opinion.

But that every thing that is, is extended, the NuIIibifts alfq themfclves fccm to me to be near the very point of acknowledg-ing ir for true and certain, for they do not difTennble it, but th.'it if a Sprit he: fome where y it neceffarily follows that it is alfo extended. And they nnoreover grant- that by its Opera-tion \i IS prefent to' or in the Matter ^ and that the EJfence of a Spirit is not feparated from its Operations.

Bur that a thing fhould be, and yet not be any where in the wl"K)[e Univerfe, is fo wild and mad aVoie, and fo ablbnous knd abhorrent from all reafon, that it cannot be faid by any Man in his Wits, unleis by v/ay of Sport, or foaie flim Jeft, as I have intimated above; whence their cafe is the more to be plcried, who captivated and blinded with admiration of the chief Author of fo abiurd an Opinion, do fo folemnly and fe-rioudy embrace, and diligently endeavour to poiid:! the fame.

And laftly, as for the Holenfnerians^ thok of them who are more cautious and coLliderate, do fo explain their Opinion* that it icarce feeras to differ an hairs breadth from ours. For they afiirm that the Soul is in every parr, yet they fay they iinderftand it not of the Quantity or Extef^/ion o^ the Soulj where-by it occupies the whole Body, but ot the perfeBion of its EJfence zn&Vertue, which however true it may be of the te/, ir IS moft undoubtedly true of ihe Divine Ntimenf whofeLife ;ind EfTence is moft perfed and moftfull every where, as be-ing iuch as every vfchere contains infinite Goodnefi, VVifdomy2cc\di Povper.

Thus we fee that this Idea or Notion of a Spirit which is here exhibited to the World, is not: only fajjihle in it felf, but very plaiifible and unexceptionable, and fuch as all Parties^ if they be rightly underftood, will be found whether they will I or no to contribute to the difcovery of the Truth and Solidity f ihercof,and therefore is fuch as will not unufefully nor feafonably conclude this firkVanoiSaducifmus Triumphatus, Which treats o'lrhe Hjjibilityoi l/^pparitions ^nd PP^itchcrafij but make the way more eafle to the acknowledgment of the force of the Argu-n-icnts of the Second Part, vi;(. The many I{elaticns that are pro* :'iiced to prove the A&ual Exiftence of Spirits and Apparition^.

A N

T O T H E

READ E R-

Reader.

T "XAvin^ in the foregoing Difcourfe fufficiently, JL j^ dec/aredy imf art tally difcujfed^ and as I hofe^ folidly Confuted the Opinions of the Holenmerians 4nd JWuUibifts, I thought it not ami f to exhibit al-fo to thy vieWy the Opinion of the Pfychopy rifts, (^for Jo I rather call them than Pneumatopy rifts ; becauje the Word is more compendious and lefsfono* rousy and may hear the fame Senfe^ -^y^iv ^ n?^// as ^yisiv, fig^ifyi^g Spirare, whence the Latin rvord Spiritus ^, and our Englifh, Spirit. Motto add that all Created Spirits, and they only are here meant y are -^joyat in all probability^ and actuate fome Matter or other ) I thought fit^ I fay^ to acquaint thee with the Opinion of thefe Pfychopy rifts, Phi-lofophers that make the EJfence or Subftance of all created Spirits >(? be Fire, for Jo the Word Pfy-chopyrift Jignifes,

It is an Opinion which I have had no occafion to

middle with Jince my Juvenile Altercations with

fiugenius Philalethes^ which is now many Tears

'" - ' ago.

To the Reader.

Ago, He being a ChymtH^ m^de the Soul Fire, as\ , Arilloxenus the MuCicisin a^/d Philofbpher, z«^^^ \| it an Harmony ; of ivhomQii^tvo mttily ohfervesy V Ouod non receflit ab arte fua, which u its afpo* fitely [aid of Eugenius the Chymiih / was fo confident in thofe Days that no Matter whatever was capable of Cogitation^ that whenas that Au* thor avouched the Soul to be Fire, and excufed it by adding^ he meant an Intelligent Fire : /, according to the Jportfdneji of my Pen at that Jge, told him That he might as well have faid the Soul was a Pojt, and then excufed it again by adding^ he meant an Intelligent Poft. Something to that furpfe I remember I reflyed, for I have not reviewed thofe Writings this many a Tear,

But in this Anfwer^ thou art not. Reader^ to ex^ felt any fuch Horfe-P/ay ', neither mj Age nor the Quality of the Party who may feem to have ejpoufed this Opinion will bear any fuch thing. And he (ides ^ that Opinion is mt to be thought fo ridiculous and co7Uemptible which the greateft Wits^ and gravejl Authors may feem to have owned, Virgil the Prince of Poets, and a great Platonift /<? exprejfeth himfelf as if he held the Soul to be Fire, in thefe Ferfes ; %vhere Jpeaking of the Souls of Men he fay s^

*

Igneus eft oilis vigor & Cseleftis Origo
Seminibus, quantum non noxia corpora tardant
Terreniq^ hebetant artus moribundaq; membra.

A^d

To the Reader.

A^d in another place ^ (peaking of the 'Purgmon of Humane Souls after D e at h^ he fays they are fo and jo exercifedy

Donee longa dies perfefto temporis orbe
Concretam exemit labem purumq ; reJiquitj
^/Ethereum fenfum atq; aurai fimplicis ignem.

Add unto this that the Chaldee andM^Lglck Ora-cles call the Soul -^^(^ahvov^ Lucid Fire, and ahftain not from pronouncing that all things proceed 1^ \vo^_ ^^'; fyom that one Fire, which is God^ as if that Spirit ^/'SpiritSj or Father of all Spirits rvere Fire. Nay the Greek fathers, as he alleges for himfelf are fo confident of the Notion, that they devide Fire without any more to do into Intellective, Senfi-' tive, and Vegetative, fo that it can he no blemifb to any one'^s Reputation to he found amongfl Juch choice Company,

Befdes that J it is to he confderedy^ that he who is herejiyledfiycho^yviiij hecaufe he feems to he an EJpoufer of this Opinion, is not Jo to he underflood as if he made this or dinar y^ crafi^ andvifihle Fire the EJfence of a Spirit, hut that his meaning ismorefuh^ tile and re fined. But what it is you will heft undn-fiand hy Reading the following Anfwer to his Let-ter. For this Argument is one remarkable part there-' of J and if I he not mijlaken^ there are fever al others will occur not unworthy thy Confideration, which to

far-

To the Reader.

particularize in is needkfsy andwillfweH-the Gates over-froportioaately to the City. Wherefore I wilt detain thee no longer., hut leave thee to a candid Pe- rufal of the enfuing Anfwer, and fo bid thee

Farewel.

H. M.

A N

%:'^

- -* ■

A N

ANSWER

TO A

letter;

jContaining a Defence of the true Notion
of a SPIRIT, delivered in the forego-
ing Difcourfe.

S E C T. I.

That though the Learned Pfychopyrift and the Au^ thor he agreed in the Fundamentalis Conceptus of a Spirit, that it is a Subftance, yet they dis-agree in the Conceptus Formalis thereof

SIX,

IHave abftained from writing to you till now, becaufe I had a mind to get a Book into my hands to perufe fome things in it before I writ, which I got but a day or two ago. But now I fhall anfwer, to avoid all tedioufnefs to you or my felf, with all brevity I can, in the noting where we agree and where we differ in the Notion of a Sflrit in general, or in the adequate definition thereof. For out of the two

inadequate

*Z A farther Defence of the

inadequate Cowc^/?m/, as you call them (and I intend to ufe your i Phrafes all along which are fuch as occur in the Writings of Mr. 2^. B. as the Notions alfo in your Letter are very like the Noti-ons in Judge Hales Writings and his) out of thofe two C one eft us s. I fay, one adequate Conceptus ^oz% refult, which muft reach all Spirits and none but Spirits; or elfe we mifs our mark. Now for the firft inadequate Conceptm, which you call Conceptm Fun-dament alls y and acknowledge to be Subflance, we are both a^ greed that it is Subftance. But the Conceptus Formaizs, where-by it is diftinguiftied from all Subftance that is not Spirit, that we do not feem to hit on alike. For unlefs all whatever is, is Spirtty we are to give fuch a Subftance to Spirit as is fpeeifical-ly oppoiite to all other Subftance in the Univerfe, befides it fejf, or die we do nothing. Now I demand, wether there be not Matter in the World as well as Spirit^ and whether the imme-diate, known, and univerfally acknowledged Notion ot Matter be not real Devifihilhy 2Lnd Impenetrability of its parts one to another. This is body or matter according to the common No-tion of Philofopher?, to re/^ e/>/fiJs«1oi/ tLvTiTuirov. And if this be the im.mediate charad:er of matter^ it naturally and logically follows, that the immediate charadrer of its oppofire Species, Spirit muft be Xndivifibility and Penetrability. And therefore thofe effential charad:ers muft be a part of the Conceptus Forma-lisoi a Spirit, whereby it is diftinguiflied from Body or matter. So that two Subftances Matter and Spirit ftand oppofite one to another fpcciiically diftind: by their immediate, effential and in-, fepa'rable Attributes, the one being really difcerpibk and impe-netrable, the othei^enetr ablet and indifcerpible, iufficiently thus to b; difcriminatea , before we coniider any Principle of ABivi-ty in either. And thus much being conceded, that there, are thefe two kinds of Subftances in the World fo defcribed, I ap-peal to any mans faculties whether of the two, Spirit, be not the more likely to be the Fountain of all Life and Motion, and Matter a meerly pnjjive Principle ; that is to iay, unactive of it felf, nor moved but as the other Principle moves it, and modi-fies ic. And therefore that the true Notion of a Spirit in general is what I have fet down Se^. i8. viz. An Immaterial ( which is, a penetrable and indifcerfible ) fubftancey intrinfic ally endued voith Life and Motion, Whatever is this, is Spirit, and what-ever fubftance is not this, is no Spirit, but Matter. And that Life and Motion, and Simpathy and Synenergy Ihould intrinfi-cally reiult from a fubftance that is fo much one as to be indif-cerpible, and fo fubtile, as to be in fuch fort pneird^le, as is there dcicribed, rather than from Matter that is the contrary,.

true Notion of a, Spirit. j

how rational it is I have intimated in Se^. 31. which Sedion is worth one's ferious confideration and attention.

Thus thcrerefore it is, that though we both agree in the ConcepfUf Fundament alis of a Sprit in general, that it \s fub-ftancCi yet we differ in the Conccpttis Formalism in that you mifs that part which is firft aud moft in:imediate in the fpecificatibn of it, which includes its Penetrability and Indifcerftbility, that which makes it Ens unum-perfe & non fer aliud, which every thing, that is not a Spirit, is, viz. Ens mum per aliud, a thing held together in one by vertue. of fomething elfe, not im-mediately of its own Bffence becoming one, and therefore is dif cerpiblci and one pare feparable from another.

SECT. II.

Athreefold faultinefs in the Pfychopyrifts Con-ceptus Formalis of, a, Spirit ; one of which not only d Miftake^ hut a Mifchief : And of the ne--celjityof a Spirit'*s Penetrability as mil as Indif-cerpibility ^ and how natural it is to conceive that from fuch a fubjlance do iffue the operations of Life. ^

W \^tvdoTe yo\xv Conceptus Formalis o^ ■^l Spirit in general, vi:{» l^irtiis vitaiiter activa^ perceptiva, G> appctitloaf feems to me faulty upon a threefold account. Firft, in that ic leaves out what is contained in the Coiiceptus Formalis of a Sfi-rit in general; namely its Penetrability and Indifcerpibility. And» Secondly, in that it puts into this Concept us Formalis of a Spirit more than we can rationally aiTare our felves to be in every Spi-rit, vi:( Perception: For we have no afTLirance that a PlafticJ^ Spirit has Perception, but may well be aiTured that cjuatenus Plaftick it has none, Ocherwife the Soul would perceive the organization of her own Body. And, thirdly and laftly, I do not eafiiy alTent to that conceit of a Trinity in this Conceptus Formalisy which you make to conlift in Virtute mia-trina^ Vital:, Appetitivai ^ Perceptiva : Which make three no more than

Animal

4 -^ farther Defence of the

Animal, Homo, and jBr«///>» make three, ovCupiditaSf Defideri'^ um & Fiiga.

But this is but an harmlefs miilnke^hMt the omiflion oilmmate^ rial in your Concepna Formalis or which is all one, of Penetrahi/i^ ty and Indifcerpibility, is not only a mi^akp but a mifchiefy it im-plying that the Virtus Appetativa and Perceptiva may be in a fubftance though Material^ which betrays much of the fuccourS that Philofophy affords to Religion in the points of the Exiftence of a God and Immortality of the Soul, if it were true : But that Materia ijualitercumque tnoMficata is uncapable of Percepti-on; both the Cartefians all affirm, and I have I chink abundant-ly demonftrated in my Writings.

In this thing therefore, you and I fundamentally differ, in that you omit, but J include Penetrability and Indifierpibility in the Co)2ceptus Formalis of a Spirit, So that nothing* can be a Spirie that has them not in the fence that I declare. Spirit mult be Penetrative of Spirit and of Matter as well as Indifcerpib/e, elfe would it be more hard than any Flint ; but its Penetrability makes it more pliant and fubtile than the fubtileft Matter ima-ginable. ■ And to a fubftance of fuch an Onenefs and Subtilty is rationally attributed whatever ABivity, Sympathy, Synenergy^ Appetite y arid Perception is found in the World, as I noted above. Here therefore is the moft notorious difference betwixt us, m which I am the more concerned, becaufe it is not only a Mi-ftake, but a Mifcfiief, as I faid before. But I proceed.

SECT. III.

That he that does not admit a difiinction of fubftance tnto Material and Immaterial, antecedent to vital powers and operations^ cannot pretend out of any "vitdFirtues or Powers to be better acquainted with Spirit than Matter.

YOU fay, you are your felf far better ac^ptainted with the na* tare of a Spirit by that ejfential Virtus Formalis ( namely, by that una-trina Virtus abovenamed ) than from the Notion of Subftanciality. But I demand here, you omitting that part the

Conceftus

true Notion of a, Spirit. 5

ConceptUs Formalis which I contend for how decs it appear that you do not entertain maner for the fuftantiality of this Virtus Formalism and To embrace a Cloud inftead of Juno, fome modi-fied hJy indead of a i^uvc/pirit ? No one can pretend to be bet-ter acquainted with a Spir/'f by that una-trina. Virtus Formalis, but he that c-^i prove that thcfe Virtues are Incompetible to Matter, and io withal that there are two diftindl kinds of Sub-ftances in the l Jniverfe^ Sprite and Body or Matter, and thac oppofire Acrnbutes are to be given to thefe oppofjce Species, and coniequenri; that Matter or Body being dljcerpihle, a Spirit ought to be indifcerfihley and Body being ImfenetrahU, accor-ding to the common Tenent of Philofophers, Spirit ihould be Penetrable. And laftly, Matter being dead, and paflive, Spirit ihould be the fource of life and activity. If this be not an eafie, natural, and found method of Philofophifing, I appeal to any one's Judgment.

SECT. IVi

What Confujion and Repugnancy it is to make Self« motion or Intrinfick Vitality, fartoftfjeCon^ ceptus Formalis of a Spirit, and yet to attribute dttofomeM^LttQV. ■ And what a fiippery tujinefs, , to put Natures AdiiWQ and Paffive;» inftead of Immaterial ^^WMateriaL

BU T fay you, And yet I dare not fay that a Self-moving Principle is proper to a Spirit, But Ariflotle did not ftic k, to fay fo, who made the matter a meer paffive Principle. And furely if a Man will follow the common fentiments of humani? Nature, if he acknowledge a Spiritual fubftance diftin6t from thQ material, he will givcy^^m/)' to the one, and Pajfiviiy ot AEluahility to the other. It is a ftrange force and diftortion to the faculties of the Mind to do otherwife. But you hold on, I^or do Icoyifent'to CampanelJa, be fenfu rerum, and Dr, Glijf&n that TfQtdd mal{e all things alive by 4n effentiatingform in the ver^ Elements. Here I defire you to confider if any JViatter have lif« iR4 aiotioa iii itfeif? whether alj hag noc> though varioufly mo-

M ■ . aified.

6 * A farther Defence of the^

dified And whether it be fair Play thus, wfien there is no rea-son for it, tomakcFilhof one, and Flelh of another. Ail the matter of the natural World, the common Confent of mod Phi-lofophcrs hath made of one Species, which it would not be if part were fcif moved, pa^t«^^ r -r r c w u c ir • "'

Befides, when you include Ufe, ( of which Self-monon cer-tainly is an cfted ) in the Conceptus- formalis of a Sfirit ; is not this-an horrible Confufion or Repugnancy to fay, it i? not proper 10 a Spirit, and conicquently may belong to Matter^ That which is included in your Conceptus Formalis^ ^^hich is; the Jpecifick Difference of the thing, is proper to that thing, and thei4fore cannot be communicated to another. Wherefore we arc to deny Self-motion in the Matter it felf every where, a& not belonging thereto, but to Spirit. But it follows,

Idiftinfjii/h Nature into Adive and Paflive, and Paifivity ferveth me as -Bellas M^K^n^'^iiJ. But I deiire to know, why it ihould ferve your turn as well as Materiality, whenas ic is of more laxends and uncertainty, and therefore may ferve yoa a flippery Trick, But Materiality is a Notion more ftridt, di-ftind, and fteady, and belongs only to one kind of things, that ■ is to fay, to things Material, but Pajfivity to things Immaterial^ aswGlUs MateriaL But you hold on.

^ SECT- V.

That the Lexrmi Ply chopy rift need not he in deffair ofknoi-^ing whence the JDefcenfiis gravium iSywhe-ther.fr om an innate Principle in the heavy Bo^ dies themf elves ^ or from fame Spirit, fith the Au-thor of the Difcourfe touching The true Notion of a Spirit, has fo plainly demonflr at edthe latter in his Writings y

BVT whence the Defcenfus gravium //, Idejpair ofh^omng. If you mean whether it be from an innate Principle of the heavy things themfelves, or from fome Immaterial Principle that moves the Matter of the World, I will adventure to tell you, the thing i$ no: fo defperace as you fancy, bu; be pf good cou-rage i

trne Notion of a Spirit. -

rage ; for it is demonftrable that the Defce7ifm gr avium is not from any Principle fpringing from their own Matter, but fr'onl an Immaterial Principal diftindl therefrom, which Principle to be the Mover of the Matter of the Univerfe, I have over and o-ver again'demonftrated in my Enchiridion Mstaphyficum 5 and particularly, which was a main Point betwixt that excellent Perfon Judge Hales and my felf, in the rifing of a wooden Run-die from the bottom of a Bucket of Water.

I will give you that Inftance for many, which I defire you to canvas from the very Jrftrile of it, Bii^hirid. Meta-phyf, Cap. 1 3, Se(5l. 4.7. 8. reading for furenefs all the Scholia upon that Chap-ter, Volum.'Philofofk Tom. I. p. 219. 220.221. ^c where all the Objedlions ot Chrifto-phorus Sturmius are ^nfwered, againft this Principum Hylarchiciim. And if you be not yet fatisfiedj which I think it is impoffible for any one not, to be, that under-ilands what I have writ ; read page 363 my Adnot amentum vi-ce ffimum in Tent amende Qravitatione^ 6cc. and my Scholia upon that Adnotamentum, p. 369, 370, ^c, where you (hall find that excellent Perfon, whofe Philofophy notwithllanding much fyra-bolizes with that which you feem to embrace, very handfomely, but covertly to give up the caufe and acknowledge my Experi-ment of the two Hydroflatical Buckets to perform the Feat they-are brought for, fee/?. 370. /. 13. .and fo on; and if you read ail the Scholia till page ^73 and fet your felf diftincjiy to un-derftand, you will be convincjd whether you will or no.

And that nothing may be vvanting to undeceive you, rej^. that little Treatife whofe Title is, fhilofophematum eruditi Ait^ tor is DlfEcilium Nugarum ^^ Principiis ^^ottiumNattlrali urn Jive de Eflentiis Mediis ^ de modo I^arefadioniis ^ Conde'nfatic7iis Examinatioy where I anfwer aifo to no lefs than Nine or Ten Objedtions of that worthy Author againft my Spirit of Nature i and I doubt not but if he had lived to read what I have Writ, he would have been wholly of my Mind and relinquiflied thac way of Philofophifing, which you as well as he leem to be en-tangled in, being thus gffered more clear Light ^ bar I hold on *^ith your Letter,

M^ SECT,

8 J farther Defence of thi

SECT. VI.

•

That if there be an innate Self moving Principle m the matter of heavy Bodies^ their refting when they are come to the Earth does not excufe them from participating of the Conceptus Formalis of a Spirit. And that there may ie as much Vitality in Fixednefs, as in Flitting, The vaft difference

' Jim remaining tetmxt the Pfychopyrift and the Author of the True Notion of a Spirit, touch-ing the Conceptus Formalis.

AND if it he true, ^ay yoMf of an innate Principle, I calf it not therefore a Spirit, becaufe it is but Paflivorum motusf ;iggregativus ad unionem in quiece, vphen Spirits Motion is Vital and fo effential to them, that they tend not to union in Quie/cence^'^ hut in everlafting AEiivityy. Quiefcence in Ina^ivity being </s 1 snucb ngainil their 'Nature, a Motion againfi a Stone, To wliichi X fay»(i) If the Defcenfus gr avium be from an Innate Princif>ley% that is to fay, that the Matter there moves it felf ( and if you ,; are for Ejfcnti<s medi£, as the above mentioned Author is, li Iiave abundantly confuted them in my Examination ) you ad-| joynthe Property of a Spirit to Matter, as I noted above, whichvi js a plain repugnancy that any part of the Formalis Conceftus oi' cnt Species; fhould be an Attribute in its oppojite Species, this ^ breaks in pieces all the Bands of Logick. (x) Ic is not here mere pajjivorum 7notus^ but heavy Bodies moving themfelves, as is Ikppofed ; they are as much a^ive as pajjive^ and are no otherwife pajfive in this Point but as they act upon themfelves,' and Spitits, properly fo called, are pafftye in that Senfe. So . that an heavy Body is made a Mungril kind of thing upon this account, 3. Chim<er a or Centaur, For look upon its Self-aclivity, and it looks like a Spirit, look upon its Mater ialitj^' ( for ic is mecr Matter, actuating it felf according to this Hy-'k pothcfis) and it is no other than a "Body, ("3) If they be Self4 ciiovcd, it matters not to what they tend, 'Body in the meaa/i time has the property of a Spirit, as I faid before. And Fourth- ! ly and laftly, That Stoqe« >nd gther Bodies r$ft upon the-i

• Earchi

tme Notion of a SftviK 9

Earth, Is not by a torpid Inadtiviry in ihem, for their torpid Inacftivity would not excufe therrr from being flung off by the circular iMocion of the Earth on its Poles, as I have plainly demonft rated in my Enchiridion "Metaphyficum^ but what brings them thither, detains them there, vi:(^, the Hyloftatick^ Spirit of the Univerfe, whofe detaining them is as vifal and tofitive as his bringing them thither. And there is as much Adivity in Fixednefsof Thoughts, as in difcurfive Flitting from one thing to another. Thus miftakenly is that v/V/f/ Operation given to hea-vy Bodies, that belong to the Spirif of the World. And if you conceit this Motion or Fixation in the heavy Bodies themfeives, in that they defend themfelves from being call off from the Earth by the Diurnal Motion thereof, it is as pofitive Vitality in them, as their defcent to the Earth. As there is as much Life and Vigour required in flopping on the Frets of a Lute a-bove, as in ftriking below on the Strings. Thus things arc, and yet you conclude in the next Lines,

So that I thinks we are agreed of the Pormnl notice of a 'Spirit in general, and of an IntcHe^ivCi S en f five, and Vege-tative Specie. That there may be a vegetative Species with-out Senjfe; and that there is a fenjitive Species without In-telleSi^ and that eternal InteUeH is without Vegetation, I eafily grant, and am agreed to with you. But there is a vaft differ-ence yet betwixt us, in that in the Formalis Conceptus oi z Spi-rit, you leave out Immateriality , or which is the fame, Pene-trahility, and Indifcerpihility ; which flip, as I faid abeve, is not a meer Miftake, but a Mifchief, This is all that I have to ROte touching your Conceptus Formalis of a Spirir in general,

M J

SECT.

t o J farther Defence of the

SECT. VII.

That Materia. /^W Subftantia differ /f<f Genus a/jd Species, and what Sub^^Viiiz properly and adequately is. And that the bare and naked Suk fiance of a thing is not knowahle neither in this Life^ nor haply in the Life to come. , But only EJJential Attributes^ Habitudes^ and Operations.

PAfling to the Conceptus 'Fundamentalist you fay thus, Bn^ truly I dm at a Iqfs dhout the Concepius Fundamentalis wherein the true difference lieth between Subftantia and Materia. Mechlnks the difference lies very obvious to any obferving Eye, namely, that SubftantiaandMateria differ tis Genus and Species, fo as Anirnd and Brutum differ, and you may perfe(5b the Di-vifion thus, Subftance is either M^/r<?r or ,S[/>irzV, as Animalit, either Brutum or Homo. I content my felfWith fuch eafie Anct-Jyfis. But you proceed.

Do voe by Subftantia mean a Conceptus Realis, or only Rela-tivus? Ho fay it doth fubftare accidentibus j^^4)(/ ^«^ ^ /^e/4^/-<dn directly, and leaves the Queftion unaitfwered. Quid eft quod fubftat accidentibus ? To fay it is not an Accident^ tells us not tohat it isy but what it is not. To fay it does fubfiftere per fe, either faith no more than that it is Ens reale , or elfs tells us not what it is that doth fubfift. (j) As for that rela-tive Signification, we do not herefo much regard it. It looks more like that Logical Notion of SubjeEium^ which relates to Adjuntlum. (i) And though to fay it is no Accident tells us not what it is, but what it is not ; yet it illuftrates its Nature by op-pofition, { as that Logical Maxim teaceth us, Contraria juxtafe fo/ita magis elucefcunt ) The Nature of an Accident being-fuch that it cannot exift but in another; thatof a Subftance fuch, that it needsnoinhasiion,asan Accident does in another Subjed:; l^ut fubfifts by it felf, and ftands as it were on its own Legs. ' This is the proper Charadter Oi Subftance, quatenus 5;/^-fiance. What can be more plain than this ? • And a Man is to confider whether it be not a piece of 'A'jyitAvcriAy when fd eomplg^jt a Definition is given to enquire farther, what is that — '^ ' which'

true Notion of a Spirit* 1 1

which does fubfift by its felf, as if one after he has heard a-nother define Man to be a rational living Creauirff^ fhould de-mand, I but, what is that which is a rational living Creature ?' What can be anfwered but. That it is a Man ? And fo when we define Subftance to be a Being fubfifting by it . fclf, if one demand, but what is that which fubfifts by it felf? What can be anfwered, but that it is Snbfl/ince ? And I will farther add out of my Enchiridion Ethicum Lib. 3, Cap. 4. That it is one of the Rules of Prudence, to remember in our Conrempla-tions. J^uSius rei intimam nudamve ejjentia^ri cQgvofci fcjfe, fed Attribiita tkntum ejfentialia ejfentialefque HahitvdineSi which I fet dovvn to Steer Men off from Splitting themfelves on this Rock; as if by any Definition or any way elfc they were able to difcover the very bare EfTence or Subftance of any thing. Which I chink is the Privilege of the Jehovah himfelf only, the Orily Wife God, and great EJfentiator oi all things. But to perceive the bare Efience of any thing beyond its Attributes. Operations, and Habitudes, is not given to any Creature, as I conceive, either in this World, or in that which is to come. But we*Jl proceed.

SECT. VIII.

That Words are not to he^refcindedfrom t heir nfud and known Signification ; and th^t the ?ne&m?2g of' Materia in ufe includes Impenetrability, Dilcerpibility, ^/^^'Self-inaclivity, according to Ariftotle, and the heB af proved Philofophers ; mth a Note of thefpecificd dijlin^ Subjiance of \ Spirit and M.2itttr: antecedent Ijy tothe^Qlf-zQii-vity of the one^ and the SeIf-iaaQ:ivity of the' other.

QVO ad Notationem Nomini^, fay you, di^itiSi from ufe, doth not Materia ^w^Subftarttia yi^K//ze the fame Funda-memal Conceptus ? This Queftion is fomething obfcurc. I know no Notatio Nominist but the Imerpreta©|n of it frcm

M 4 ■ '' fcins

t2 '^ farther Defence of the

/bme Logical Topick, which muft be in Words compound or derivative ; but Materia is a Word fimple. And why (hould we not take Words according to their ufe^ rather than prcfcind them from it } You would havethofe two Terms fignifie the one no more than the other," or neither more than to what fome one diftindive Concept us Formnlis might be joyned indiffer-ently. But I fay again, they are not one, but differ as Geniis and Species, and Materia is the Species of Suhflantiaf and in-cludes in it its own Conceptns Formalism which is Impenetra-bility, Difccrpibility, and Self-inadlivity, ^ccovdit^gw Arifiotle and the beft approved Philofophers, an oppofice Conceptus For^ mails to that of Spirit. That is the form or notifying Dif-ference or Matter, as Penetrability, Indifcerpibility, and Self-adivity, ofS'^/m. But you go on.

Tou difference, fay you, Sutftance and Matter antecedent fy'jo the formal Difference l^y Penetrability and Impenetrability ^ Indi" ^ifihihty and Divifibiiity. Here, lay I, you confound 5«^4«cff and Matter, as if they adequately fignified the fame, whenas According to ufe, in ail approveable Philofophy, they differ as Genus 2.nd Species: Nor does Penetrability and Indivilibility, Impenetrability and Divifibility antecede the whole formal Difference of Matter and Spirit, whenas thev themfelves are part of the Conceptus Formalis, the one of JVi^^/f r the other of S/'/V/V; or are the whole Cowcf//-//i K)rw<^/zVofthe fpecifically diftin(5k lubftance of each, antecedent to the AHivity of the one, and ln» x&VO' of the other, '

SECT. IX.

OfthelQwwledgeofthelnAiViixhiYitY and Penetra-bility ^/ Spirits in this Li fe^ hoivfaritmayex-' tend. And that holy Souls in the other World are no Affectors oftifelef Kjiorv ledge,

BV T firli, fay you, I dejpair ofknomng in this Life hovf far Spiritual Subftances are Penetrable dud hidivijible. I grant y'oufucb an cxtenfion as [hall fre£ them from being nothing Subftan-fiat, and from being infinite as God is. If a Man be not in a ?ig|it Method of conceiving cr ordering his Thoughts, he may '■' ' • - V ■ bq

true Noticn of a Sfirit. i j

be in the like puzzle in the other World that he finds himfelf in this. But if he confider that God has created a Spirit, En$ mum -per fe (3 nonper aliud, lb that immediately of its own Nature, ifitbeatpl^, it is Indifcerpible -, as a plain Triangle, if it be at all, hath its Angles equal to two right ones, he may fafely conclude, even in this Life, that a Spirit is utterly I«^ difcerpjble, fo long as it is, but God may annihilate it at his Pleafure.

And now for the Penefrahilhy of Spirits, it is evident even in this Life, that they can whoiy penetrate one another fo far as their Eflence extends, for one may have a greater Amplitude than another. And»that the Parts, as I may fo call them, of the fame Spirit may, in the contraction of it io.l'i, penetrate one another, fo that there may be a Reduplication of Eflence through the whole Spirit. But as you very wellobferve with Scaliger before you, a Spirit can neither extend it felf in infini-tunti nor contradt it felf in punBl iJ^vonr^, into the Jiul/ity of a Point, And though your Modefty make nothing of this, me-thinks this is fulEcient for a rational Creature, whether here or hereafter, for I do not think that in the other World holy Souls affe<5t ufelefs Knowledge. In this therefore, we both I con-ceive, do fully agree, that we are aeither oius Nuliibifis nor Hoknmerims,

S E C T. X.

That Infeparability continued Amplitude ^f/W^i /•<? Spirits /^ jp^//^ difcreet Quantity, with an A^fwer to the moH pUuftble Objecfion againjithe fame. Whether Voxms multiply themf elves or nOy and in what fenfe it is true^ that Generati-on is the work of Spirits ^ot Bodies, and by what means many Substances h§come one.

Secondly y fay you, voe grant Spirits a Quantitas difcreta. they are numerous ^ Individuate ; and Format fe multiplicant, Go^ nerntionis the w or }{_ of Spirits and not of "Bodies, andbovQ can I isttthat that God that can make mmy outofoney cannot tnake ma^

- • " - ' ■ m

14 A farther Defence of the

ny into one, and unite and divide them as tpeff ait Matter, This PafTage is worth our attentive Confideration ; wherefore I fay, (i) If QunntittH difcreta be allowed to Spirits, why may not an Indifcerpible continuance of Amplitu^ be allowed to them alfo, You'l reply, it may not, becaufg (^nd it is one of the moft ingenious Allegations that 1 have met with ) that then 3 Spirit might be meafured by a R'uler of Wood or Brafs, an4 be declared to be fo many Inches or Foot long or wide, which; would argue it not to be a Spirit^ but Matter or Body, Why ^ becaufe it is meafured by Wood or Brafs, What if we (hould number a certain numerous Multitude of Spirits,* calling up their Numbers by Brafs-Counters, would it follow that thele Spirits are Corporeal, becaufe the Brafs-Counters are fo? The Reafon is as firm in the one as* the other, as I have more fullj noted elfe-where. (2) And no^J^ fot: Fornkefemultiplicantt I de-fire to know what is meant by Formce, whether the Accidents or Modes of fome Subftance or fome Suhftances actuating other Subftances. If the former, it reaches not our Cafe, the Argu-ment being of Spirits that are Subftances. And I fay, no Sub-ftance can multiply it felf, for if Subftance remaining ftill the fame entire Subftance, fliould multiply into other Subftances, it were an adt of Creation, which is incompetible to a Creature, But if it ihed, or part with Part of its own Subftance, thae in my Account is not Multiplication but Divijion, . (^) Thac which follows is a found and golden Saying, if rightly under-ftood, That Generation is the work of Spirits and not -of Bo-diesy for Body or Matter of it felf is pamve, and [can do no-thing but as it is either mediately or immediately adtuated by a Spirit, as Fire and Water and Air, and all other Bodies thaii are in motion are adtuated either by the Holoflatick^ Spirit oi the Univerfe, or by their own proper Spirit, as brute Animals, Angels and Men. And thus are all inanimate Creatures, fo vulgarly Styled, Generated by the Spirit of Nature, and all par-ticular Animals, Brutes and Men, are Generated, that is to fay,: formed by their proper Soiils, the Spirit of Nature, fo far as; it is fitting, preparing the Matter, but all in the mean time de* pending upon that univerfal Creator of all things, God, blelfed' for ever.

But in the laft place, hovo a manmay tell that that God thae san '>nsiJ{e many out of one^ cannot make many i?jto one^ See. If the meaning be of Subftantial Spirits, it has been already noted, tjiat God ading in Nature, does not make many Subfta;ices out of one Subftance, the fame Subftance remaining ftill entire, for then Generation would be Creation. And fo fobe? Man be- :

lieves

true Notion of a Spirit. 15

lieves that God aflifts any Crearure fo in Natural Courfe, as .to enable it to Create. And then I fuppofe, that he that believes not this is not bound to puzzle himlelf, why God may not as well make n:iany Subftances into one as many our of one, when as he holds he does not the latter,but that every Subftance that is Created, is Created immediately from God. And whatever two or moi-e Subftances become one,, it is either by Vttaf .(ubordhtate AHuation of the Souls and Bodies of Men that makes one Man, and of the Souls and Eodies of Brutes that makes it fome Spe-cies of Brute Creatures; or t\{t ion Inanimate Creatures fo ufu-ally called, as Plants and all other Inanimate Bodies that feem different Species of things, they in their particular confidences are held together into one by the Spirit of the Vniverfe* And I know no other ways according to the Courfe of Nature of ma-ny Siibftances becoming one, but thefe.

SECT. XL

Of Gods m&king.mmy Spirits or Souls into one^ ani of the m^ny difficulties th^t opinion is encumhred rvith^ ds particularly in that inftance of the Souls, of Men being fappofed to he ex traduce.

BUT upon farther attention to your lafl v/ords, ^W^^ •vide them as well di Matter, you feem not to make ^o ftrange an Onenefs^ or myfterious divifion of thefe Spirits as I conceiv'd from your frame of Speech at firft. But when you &dd, and unite and divide them oi well as Matter ^ it implies I confefs no concradidlion to the power of God, that H? may hold a company of contraBed Spirits together or expanded, as well as the Spirit of Nature a Congeries of Particles, and then dif. funder them again. But to fay any fuch thing is done, I fee neither truth nor ufefulnefs in the AfTertion. But this we will confider further in what follows, which is this.

But if he fhould, ( viz. divide thefe Spirits ) that would he nd. deflruciion of their Species as the Mixrorum diflblutio zV, but as every drop of divided Water is PVater^ and me Candle lighting ma-ny^ and many joyning in one are nil the fame Fire, fo much more

would

\6 A farther Defence ofth

MQould it he xolth Spirits were they united or divided, and their Lo* cdlity and Penetrability are p^ft our conceit. This looks plaufibly and fpccioufly cn't ar the firft light, and it is true that the divi-ding of thefe united Spirits would be nodeftrudlion qf their Spe-cies, as it is in the diflolution of mixr Bodies ; but we look more clofely into the bufinels, this Aflertion is burdened with great difficulties, and many demands are to be fadsfied before it can be allowed. For this multitude of Spirits, or Souls fup-pofe, made into one, are yet fo many individual Souls notwith-(tanding this union 5 As fuppofe a Congeries of Phylical Monads or fmalleft Particles of Matter of which fome Body is com-poundedi are ftill fo many Indiyidual or Numerical Particles or VhyCicAl Monads notwithftanding their Compofition into one Body. Wherefore concerning the Soul of Ada^n^ ( for this contrivance feems chiefly to look toward their opinion that fay the Soul is ex traduce^ which fome, otherwife prudent and intel-ligent Men, do hold. )

Firft, I demand, whether this "multitude of Souls which makes up that one Soul of Adam, as fo many Drops make :up one Bucket of Water, have all of them Perception and Under-ftanding in them or no, which if they all have, . their Nature being co-ordinate, they are fo many Perfonalities^ And Adams Name might have been Legion, at leafl, as well as the PofTelTed Man's in the GofpeL

Secondly, If Adam was not fuch a Legion, or rather innu-merable company of Spirits, which one of this company was A-dam himfelf ; and who were the reft of the Company > Were they all the Souls of Men that were ro come into this World be-fide the Soul of Adam and the Soul oiEvey or was Eve*s Body full fraught with Souls alfo ? And if fo,

Thirdly, I demand, what laws of fhedding of Souls there is betwixt Male and Female in Generation, and whether Soul from the Female is (hed when a Female Child was to be born, and a Soul from a Male when a Male-Child was to born ? In which I know no abfurdity in Nature unlefs it fhould be one, and that Ihould be implied thereby, that Souls are Male and Fe* male j but Theology in the mean time would be at a lofs, to find a Male Soul in the Virgin of whom was born the Meflias, But to let this pafs, we enquire.

Fourthly, Whether that innumerable company of Souls in '^dam and Eve were in an expanded condition or contraEled, If in an expanded condition, they all immediately reaching the Bo-dy well fitted, and inaduating it, the vigour of the Body muft be increafcd according to the nuiiicrofity of thefe adiiating Spi-rits

true Notion of d Spirit. tj

rits in it ; what a Lufty Young Man then muft this Adnyn have been, and Eve what a Frolick Young Virgin, Or elfe how Jhugvdy and tearingly ftrong had they both been, like feme ^Evi^y^lJLiv^ polTefled with many Daemons ;

Fitihly, What an infinite change would there be in Adam and Eve when they h^d parted with fo many of their |a(5luating Spi-rits in Venereal Copulation : Adam to his Male Children, and Eve to tiie Female, which they were fo to diftribute to their im-mediate ofFspring Male and Female, as, only to leave their own fmglo. Souls for the actuating their Bodies while they lived,other-wile if there were any more left behind, what became of them at their Death ? and therefore.

Sixthly, I further enquire, there being a number of Souls im-parred in Generation, to whether Male or Female that are to be borrf, what becomies of thofe many Souls when a Man or Wo-man dies and never is Married ?

Seventhly, I would have you confider what a difference there, muft be betwixt the vigour of unmarried Men and Women of fomethoiifand years ago, and thofe of this prefent age, e\ery one now being reduced to that paucity of Souls to aduate his Body in comparifon of what they had fome thoufand years-ago, and how uncompliable this difference is with Hiftory.

Eighthly, If thefe Souls be not all of them in this expanded condition, but only the proper Souls of Adamzndi Eve ; and the numerous Remainder being in a contraHedcondiitiony I demand,. Iiow all thefe become one Soul in iiich a fort as you (if I miflake you not ) fancy all the Lights of feveral Candles light up to-gether become one Light or Fire ? And whether they v/ili no: lie in the Body of Adam and Evs as the little Eggs that make up rhc Roe of a Fifli 5 as alfo whether this Roe of Souls or Spirits pafs through the whole Body, or in what peculiar VefTels are they lodged ? And .

Ninthly, Thefe mitraEled Spirits in reality having as much ElTence or Subilance in them as the 'expmdedy ( elfe when they inform a Body to^adluate the whole Body, they muft be inlarg-ged by eeking and patching more fubftance to them, which is contrary to the Nature of Spirits ) I demand, what l?ecomes of them alfq when a Man or Woman dies and tranfmits them to no other, by having to do with the Duties of Wedlock ?

Tenchly, As for your illuftrations of what you v^^ill have in this point, That thefe feveral Spirits or Souls may be united in-to one Soul, as the feveral lights of a Candle into one Lighter Fire, or as feveral Drops of Water into one Bucket of Wa-ter, if that be bj:o\igI}tto iiluftrate the uoionof thefe Spirits, as

iS A farther Defence of the

well aj their Identity of Species ftill upon their divifion ; I dcfire you to confider the nature of Light thoroughly, and you riiall find it noching but a certain motion of a Medium, wlKjfc parrs or Particles are fo or fo qualified, fome fuch way as Cartcfimlfme drives at. But here is not Subftafices uniting into one Subftance vvhich is your cafe, but motion communicated from fevcral Movers, becoming one Motioh in one Subjcdij as wlien two Men thruft one and the fame Body on, or whip one and the fame Top, though there be two Thruftcrs or Whippers, there is but one motion from them two in that one Body or Top they thruft or whip. So thac this comes not home to the point. And for the Drops of Water, or feveral Flames of a Candle joyned into one, which viewing your words again, I fufped may be as well your fenfe, though for furenefs you (hould have faid one Flame rather than one Fire^ although this illuftrates well how fomethings united keep the fame fpecifick denomination alfo after they are divided ; ye?; fuch an wimi as that of Water and likewife divifion makes the Soul of Man, or of any Animal elfe look not like Soul or Spirit, but Matter, And there is a Repugnancy in the very fuppofiti-ion, to be one Soul or to be one Spirit^ and yet to be divifible in-to parts which are feperately Souls or Spirits, as if every Soul or Spirit were an Homo^eneal Mufs of Soul or Spirit, as Water is of Water, and Air of Air,

But to make an end of this Paragraph, when as in the iaft place you add concerning thele united Souls or Spirits, And their Locality and Penetrability are pafi' our conceit. I defire you to confider whether is be not a lothnefs and unwillingnefs ftric5tiy and clofely to examine, rather than their Inability to conceive the Penetrability and Locality of thefe Spirits ( how they muft be in the Body of Adam^ or of any Brute Animal either in an expanded or contracied condition^ as has been above noted ) thac makes you fo (hie of rtiedling v^ith their Locality a.nd Penetrability For haply, if you had corifidered the t-hing fo clofely as I have at this time, you might have found your felf fo fenfible of the encumbrances on the opinion, that you would have <5[uite dif- J carded it, and efpoufed fome other, that looks more handfom- 1 ly on c, and is better accorded to the old Mo/^/c/^ Cabbala, thac nia kes the Adive or Spiritual principle Indivifiblefiv Indifcerpible. The Symbol of which Principle is Light, but is laid to be crea-ted in the fi?fl day, a Monad fignifying the Indivifible Nature thereof. But to fay any thing is Spirit 2Lnd yet can be actually di-vided into parts i% a Repugnancy to the Nature of the things

true Notion of a Spirit. i g

and a Contradidion to the .So^f^fc ^O'me^.JhlQ; the pivinely inlpired wifdom of the old Cabbala,

SECT. XII.

Whether Souls' in Generation be -produce i as rvhen one Candlelights another : and how that conceit isfalje^ as alfo incompliahle mth the Pfychopy-ryftV Hypothefis. With other difficulties touch^ ing the Penetrability ^WLocality of fuch a Soul ^ he imagines •

IF I have upon lecond thoughts hit your true meaning in thof© words, One Candle lighting manj/t and many joyning or joy n-edin one (I know not which) ^e ail $hefame FirCy that you mean only this, Tha& they are fuppofed to be put fo near one a-nocher, the Candles being fo axt on purpofe, that the Wicks might touch, and fo all the Flames joyn together, this then is no more than that of therefemblanceofthe union of the parts of Water. But the adtivity of Fire does ftill mtre increale thofe difficultiesjhow Mankind fiiould ftill retain the like vivacity (and fo of Brute Creatures ) that they did fome thoufand years ago> their Adive principle being fo much diminiihed, uniefs-you re-cur to that common plaulible Conceit, That as one Candle lightt another Candle without diminiihing its own Flame, fo Jdams Soul may give a Soul to Cain or ^ibel without diminifliing his owa But this is againft your Hypothefis, which plainly implies, that aaany Souls are made intoone,and then fe^arated or divided upon Generation, Nor is there any Refuge in this fimilitude of lighting one Candle at another,for the admotion of the lighted Candle to theunlighted, does only put the fulpherous parts of the unlighted Candle into motion, and leaves the fpirip of Nature excited by this new occafion topurfue its work, till all the combuftible mat-ter be difperfed. But what's this to the produdion of a Soul or Spirit which is a Suhflancs ? The lighted Candle produces no fiibftance, but by its application excites the Spirit of the World Komove, which caufes the Particles of Tallow to be in fuch a Svan^ey japved as they they exhibite .to our view that Phcenonie-

no«

20 A farther Defence of the

non of Flame. So that according to this, the producStion of a Soul ex Traduce would end in ineer Materialifmy and fignifie only, that in Generation Tome matter only is newly modified, as the Tallow is, or Wax when they pafsout of their ftateof Wax or Tallow into that of a bright Flame, Which way of Philofo-phizng as it is moft falfe, fo it is moft mlfchievous if men (hould be lb fond as to believe it.

And now indeed touching this compounded Soul of yours made up of numerous Souls united into one, they being fo Crafs and Material, I can fay as well as you, their Penetrability and hocallity (fo as to make up One Soul, fuppofe of Adam) are prfl our co7iceit : Not that it is paft our conceit that Locality lb belongs to the Soul that it muft me fomewhere, for you your ielf allow it an extenfion, but where it (hould be pla-ced in the Body .- For itfelf being Matter, it cannot penetrate Body, and therefore if it a<5tuate the whole Body, it muft be difperfed in innumerable Pores as it were thereofj which con-fifts very ill with the union of thefe numerous Souls , and if they lie all together in fome one particular place, the refidue of the Body will be deftitute of Soul, with the ill Confequences thereof. Which Confiderations may very well caufe puzzles touching its Locality, or rather the placing of it ; and there-fore I Hiould think it more advifable to embrace fuch Hypothe-fes as are not paft our, conceit. But we are not to inlift over long upon one Paragraph.

SECT. XIII.

That Penetrability, a/id ladiviGbility are not Acci-dents of a Spirit, 'hut Effential Attributes there* of : And that it is apiece of'k-miS^u/iAy 4S was no--ted before^ to hofe to kmw the bare and naked fub^ siance of any things

THirdly, fay you, hut were xvefure of what you fay therein^ thcfc two. Penetrability and Indivifibility fpeak^ bm Acci^ dents though proper, and therefore are no fatisfying notice of the no^ ticn of Subfta72ce Spiritual^ as difiinfi from Matter. To this I fay, that Penetrability and Indivifibility are hot Accidents at all^ DO more than £^tio7iaU is an Acci4encin the definition of a Man^ k

i»ttS

true Notion of a Spirit. it

but they are Immediate EJfential Attrihiites^ as much as any are in the World, and at lealt part of the full Conceptus Formalis of a Spirit as fuch, or of a Spirit in general.

Youfeem to require fuch a Difinicion or Reprefentation of a thing as (hould exhibit to your Perception, the very naked Sub-ftance of the thing, againft which point of what Ariftotle calls 'Am/JVywrt* nor know I well how to EngUJh it, is that Caution or Adyertifeuient in the third Bgok of my Enchiridion EthicHm^ That the bare and intimate Eflence of a thing is not to be known^ but only certain ElTential Attributes or Habitudes, as I noted before- And this is a Rule, I think, worth the inculcating and obferving. When we fay, Homo eft Animal ^aticnaky which is accounted as ElTential a Definition as any we meet withal, and the moft immediate ; Yet B^tionalcy which is a fpecilick difference accounted, and therefore abundantly ElTential, when we clofely look unto it, it affords us no more than the notice that a Man is fuch an one that has the faculty and operation of Reafoning, but neither the faculty nor operation is the . Eflence, Let this intimation fufSce to mind us of the limits of our owix knowledge, that we do not vainly either defire or attempt to go beyond the lifts that God and Nature hath fet us. Wherefore llhefe Attributes which are Immediate, Adequate, and Infe-I perable from a Spirit, are as Effential to a Spirit as any Attri-jbutes are to any thing, and ought to be acknowledged a fatisfy^, |iing notice of the notion of Subftance Spiritual as diftindt from Matter,

n- siC'K

2z A farther Defence of the

SECT. XIV.

A Synopfts of the PrychopyriftV philojophizings touching a Spirit. The four firjl particulars thereof^ where amongft other things the infuffici-ency of his Reafomngs for Ujing afde the ufe of the words Immaterial and Material, and his holding only to the dijiinition of Natures Aftive and Paffive, is noted.

I May perhaps have been wer tedious already, but yet becaufe you have been pleafed ftill more particularly, though com-pendioully, to impart to me your thoughts touching this prefenc Subjedj I (liail beftow fome ftridtures or touches upon each of ' them in order as they lie. I am hitherto , fay you, conftrained to contain my thoughts in the following comfafs.

Firftf I h^ow Spirits heft by their Virtus Vi talis FormalisUna-Trina. But here I demand how do you know that tUs Virtui ; Vitnlis Formdis Vna-Trina, does belong to Sprit and not to Mat» > ter, unlefs you have an Antecedent Notion oi Spirit diftind from j Matter, and know the nature of Matter alfo fo diftindly, and] the Operations of that Virtus Vitalis Formalis, that you can con-' elude them one Repugnant to another? Ocherwife, though you^ find that Virtus Vitalis Formalis in a Subjedl, you know] not whether the Principle be Material or Spiritual from whence it I is, or in which it refides.

Secondly y 1 hold hyyoMt that of created Spirits Subftantia, <ti notifying a Bafis Realis, muft he the Conceptus Fundamentalis, This is found and unexceptionable fofaras I can difcern. Whence it is evident that the Soul being a Spirit, and a Spirit Subftance, they chat hold the Soul to be ex Traduce, muft hold that a Sub-ftance may be ex Traduce : Which that fimilitude of a Lamp lighted at a Lamp does not reach, as I noted above. And what dilficukies there are in the Parents Soul Ihedding part of it fdf, to the producing the Chiids Soul, I intimated above.

Thirdly, This word Immaterial, fay you, Jignifying nothing hut a Negation, and Materia being by many Ancients ufed in the frniefenfe that we do Subftantia, Ittfuallj lay by the words, Th«

reafoa

i

trne Notion of a Spirk. 2|

reafon of the firft I conceive not fo weighty. For a Negative Particle in compo/Icion with a word that denotes imperfedion^ implies pofitivenefs and perfection, as in Infinitcy Im?nonai, and the like; thefe remove the imperfedions in Finitenefi and A/o)-. i:4//>7,and imply fomething pofitive of abetter Nature. And fodoes Immaterial remove the Imperfedions of Difcerpibility and Im-|)enetrability, and implies the contrary. As for the reafon of the fecond avoidance ; Materia indeed may be iifed in fuch a fence with the Ancients, as Suhjeiium has in Logick, or Suhfian* Ha quateniis fuhflat Accidentibus-y but as it is precifcly defined. Ens fer fe fiihfi!tens, that Jah ot Materia is put in lieu of, Sub-ftantia, in that Adequate fence, I believe it. is not ea/ie to give an Example. But here I mainly inquire, fince phe Definitiori of Subftantia, and the Definition of Materia, is fo well known in the learned World, why you will ufe Subftantia which is but the Genm of the other, in lieu of Materia^ or of the other Species of Subflantiay which is Immaterial or Spritualy wheri this is more certain and diftind:, unlefs it be out of a ihienefs to pronounce to what fubjed,whetherMaterial or Immaterial fuch properties or operations do belong, or whether there be any fuch diftindion realJy and properly, as Body and Spirit in the Crea-ted Univerfe. But you know beft this your {t\t

Fourthly i I hdd to the diflinBiony hy , yoii, . between Hatyres. or StihfianceSi ABive and PaJJlve. But there being no created Subftances whatever but what is both active znd pajJlve in fom.e fenfe or other, thr^ is a diftindion that thus far confounds alls diftinguiflies nothing. But Subftance fpritiial and materia^ are certain indelible Charaders of two orders, of things fpecifi-cally different. Wffcich diftind way of Philofophizing is ro me-more fatisfadory than thus, to blend and confound the clafles of things. This look^ as if there were fome Paradoxical Myfter under it^ which is better let go than over curioufly inquire into.

^% Sitt'

24 A farther Defence of the

SECT. XV.

the Fifth Particular, touching the Purity of Spi^ ritud Subfiances^ and how frone they are^ that underjland not the fubtilefl Mzt^nASuhfiances to confijl of Particles, to think what is really Material, to be Spiritual.

Fifthly, I diflingui/h, fay you, Spiritual Suhftances ai fuch^hy thi purity of their SuSjiances hefides the formal Differences. \ fuppofe you mean by xht purity ^ ihtfubtilty^ and tenuity of their Subftances, as the Interpreter oiTrefmegiJi's Pamander, cap. iz, renders to AgTjo/twpe^jtJoi' *? wAH^. PortionempuriJJimam materia, Vurifflmnque materia portio Aer, Aeris Anima,Anim^ Mens^Men^ tes denique Dem. The Greek, is, '^Ejii' cZv^ fj^'^vKm 70 Ag7?of«-pt5a7<»»'» <*wp^ afcf©- «f\t, 4o;^,4o;Jf /I m> v'i /S0goV. And yet A£7^o^ftp$/o6, Hgnifies properly the I'ubtilty, tenuity, orfmallnefs of Parts or Particles of which a thing confift^ which yec the ^ Tranflator calls purity^ but I am very well aflured that your purity of Spiritual Subftances is not fuch a$?you conceive con-fifts of Particles, becaufe yoa do not adnriirahac Hypothecs no more than Judge Hales,

Which is a (hrewd Invitation to one to deem what is really Material to be Spirittml, when it is not, nheerly becaufe it is conceived to be one continued fubtil Subftance. But a Man would be loth to admit a congeries of Atoms^ be they never fo fmall or fubtil, to be a Spirit, no more than he would admit the Powder of ibme crafs Body to be a Spirit, which was {q palpably a Body before. For magis and minns non vmant/peciem, as that Scholaftick Ai4;^Vwi has it.

SECT.

true Notion of a Sfiritl 25

SECT. XVL

^he Sixth Particular. Thxt all created Spirits are in fame fort Paflive: That that Spiffi-tude which is given to Spirits bj Pfychopy^ riftV Antagoni^j argues a Spirit to he Imma-terial rather z^^^/? Material ; That'^o^j forne-^ times has alefi grof fignificationthan Matter.-And in what Senfe the Plychopyrift feems to allow created Spirits to be incorporeal : And what might be the chief ground of this Miftake.

Sixthly, 2^f, fay you, Idouhntthut alt created Spirits ar^ fomewhat pajjlve^ quia Influxum caufae prima? recipiunr, and you grant them SpiJJitude and Extenjjon, which Jignifics ai much as many mean that call them Material. That is to fay, if I rightly underftand you, all created Spirits, be they never fo pure and refined, yet are not fo much Tranfpiritualized trom the condition of Matter, but that they are ^^j(/?w in refped: of the firft caufe, and his Influence on them, which I (hall ealiiy admit alfo in the highcft degree of created Spirits in my fen fe. which are moft properly and really fuch. To which, vi^. To all created Spirits, though I grant Spijfitude and Exten/ion, yet the former is granted in fuch a Senfe, that it fignifies only more Sutftance within lefs compafs, but no hardnels or craflhefs ac-crewiu^ from the Reduplication of the fame Subftance into a narrower cpmpafs, fo that it is as much Spiritual as before, and does not herein fymbolize with Matter, but approves ic felf contrary thereto, Matter implying Impenetr ability of Parts, but this Penetrability, and as for Extenfion, that in it felf, has nothing of Materiality in it, there being Metaphyjical Exten-fion as well as Metaphyseal Numerality, which belong to Entia ^uatenus Entia, there being no Ens or Being devoid of all Amplitude, or not capable to make a fecond, third, foun:h,c^tf. in Number. Wherefore if thofe Men mean no more by thefe Words of Spijfitude and Extenfion in Spirits than I do, and yec call Spirits Material, I muft take the leave to fay, that in my Judgment they mifs- call them.

N 3 But

^6 [A farther Defence of the

But cuflom'y fay you, having made Materia, hup ejpecialty Corpus, to fignifie only futh grojfer Suhflnnce ai the three pajjive "Elements havcj lyieldfo to jajt that Spirits are not Corforeal or Material. That Corpus does not always fignifie more Crafly than Materia, but nneer Trine-dimenfion Metaphyfical or Ma-thematical, is apparent from that ExprcfiRon of Ibme of the P/4-toni^s who call that fpace in which the Mundane Bodies move, and which Democritits and Epicurus termed to juvor, they call it I fay, ^a^ divKQV an Immaterial Body, but to have called it hnmaterid Matter^ had been a contradicflion. Whence is iniimai:ed that Matter fundamentally and - fpecifically lounds moreciafTy than Bod;^. But we will not contend about Words; that which is moft obfervable here is this, that you feem to con-cede or imply, that no created Spirits are in any other fenfe to ro be cftecmed Incorpreal or Immaterial, but in fuch as /up-pofes them of not fo crafs a confiftency as thofe Three paflRve Elements are, Earth, Water, Air. As if F/>^ and ^f^er which &re far thinner than Air, were Immaterial and Incorporeal Be-ings, nor any other created Beings to befaid to be Immaterial or Incorporeal in any other fenfe than they, namely, for theTe-iiuity or Subtilty of their Subftance.

' Which Opinion, though I have known Pious and Intelligent Perfons to have been of, I look upon as a grand Miftake, arif-ing from 'another faife Suppofition or Surmile, namely, that the Bodies of the World do not confiftof fmall minute Parts of Matter, and that Water, and Air, and ^cher, and Fire, are^ each of them a continued Subftance, not a congeries of contigu- 'J ous Particles that make up fiich fluid Subftances. This I lay \ feems the fundamental Error of fuch as Philofophize acccord-J ingtoyour Mode: Which firft, Error if they had not fwaI-1^ lowed down, they could not fo eafily have imbibed this fecond, ; W:r* That there are no created Subftances Incorporeal in any ) other fenfe-tlian iEther or Fire may be faid to be Incorporeal, iiamely, as being freed from that craShefs or groffnefs that the, Three paSive Elements feem to have.

SECT,

true Notion of a Sprif. 27

SECT. XVII.

fieafons why the Atomick Phylofofhy is to be pre-ferred before that of the Plychopyrift. And whence he may have fufSc tent InflritUionto aj^-fure him of fo concerning a Truth. ,

m

B' U T here we two do very much difagree ; for I conceive that all Bodies confift of Atoms, or little Particles of Mat-ter ; the more hard and confiftent Bodies, as Stones, Iron, and the like, of Particles fomeway, fomething more firmly continu-ed one to another ; but in fluid Bodies, fuch as Water, Air, ^ther, and Fire, of Particles mcerly contiguous, and in fome Motion one by another. And this way of Philofophy I think I have good Reafon to embrace before any other. Firft, be-caufe in thi^; induftrious and fearching Age, it is moft univer-(aliy received by free and confidering Philofophers. And this is xhdXfaculum Philofophicum in which Knowledge Ihould a-bound, according to the Predidlion of Daniel.

Secondly, This Mode of Philofophy is the moft ufeful for the beft ends, and ferves to fupport the main Parts of Natural Religion the beft 5 namely, the Exiftence of God, of Genii or Angels, and the Immortality of the Soul. For it being fo abfutd at the firft fight, that a congeries or heap of Particles or Atoms fliould be capabable of thofe moft Noble Fundi-ons of Imagination, Memory, and Underftanding, nay of Senfe or Perfonality, were it not for this aukward Conceit of Air,{ and ^ther, and Fire being continued fubftances, and no congeries of Particles, Men would immediately be led into a necefTary belief of Spiritual fubftance properly fo called, and then all the main Articles of Natural Religion would go down glib and eafie. But to deny that fuch liquid Bodies confift of Particles, deprives us of fome of the moft con-liderable Aids that Philofophy affords againftAtheifm and Epi-curifm.

Thirdly, This Mode of Philofophy ^feems to be the moft ancient ( 2indi anticjuiffimum quodqtte verijjlmum ) nay to have been the old ^Mofchical or Mofaical Philofophy, as may pppear out of what I have writ in the Appendix to the Defence of ray Cabbala Bhilofipbica Cap. I • Sea,8.

N 4 And

2$ 4 fAfther Defence of the

And Fourthly and laftly, And which is of moft moment to Philolophic Sfiriis, this Dodrine of Bodies confifting of Par-ticles, and that their modification and motion, or fixation, ex-hibits to our perception all the fenfiblc Phaenomena of the Uni-verfe, is demonftrable to any unprejudiced Reafpn, Which would be too long here to make out, but I refer you to my firft Epiftle to V, C, Se^. 6. to my firft Adnotamentum upon fud^G Hales h\s Difficiles Nugcty to the twelfth Sedion of my Examinntio Philofophematum Eruditi Authoris Difficilium Nuga^ runiy 8cc. whfch whole 'Treatife touching the E]fentj^Medi<e which that worthy Perfon would bring up, and the nHhner of J{arefaBion and Condenfationy as alfo his Nine Objec5lions a-^aintt the Spirit of Nature^ with my Anfwers { all which are not pafling (evenPages in Folio) if you have Leifure and Patience attentively to read and confider,! (hould hope that DifcourfejWith the other places of my Writings above-named, may haye the good hap to undeceive you, and bring you into afenfe of things *nore fatisfadlory to your own Mind and Reafon than you have fallen into yet. And it is worth the while for a Man to be undeceived in that Point, and to be rationally aflured thac Earth, Water, and Air, and other Bodies of the Univerfe, do confift of Particles, for the Reafons I above intimated. But yoi^ proceed, ' , ''

m

SECm

true t^otionof aSpirh. 29

SECT. XVIIL

The Seventh Particular, touching the Nature of Fire. The Pfychopyrifts n;//5& that Fire were better Studied, with hii Antagonifts Wifh ad* deJkthereto^ That Water were better Stu-died.? A clear Proof chiefly out ofDQs Cartes, That Water 'Con^fl^s of certain long flexible and tough Particles, which is a fair Inducement to believe y that other Bodies conflfl (/ Particles alfo.

SEventhly, fay you, Tho*I riin not into, the excej^ of Ludov. le Grand, de Igne, ?2<?r o/Telefius or Patricius, I would Ig-nis were better fludied. As {or Le Grand, Telepusj and P^mc/w/, what they hold touching Fire, I have not had the occafion to obf^rve, but it feen:is even according to your own Judgment they Philofophize fomething extravagantly therein, which makes me the lefs concerned to look after them, they being difaliowed by one that feems to think fo over-magnificently of Fire him-

But now whereas you wifli that Fire were letter Studied than it is, I alfo wifti ( and yet not out of any Humour or Spirit of contradiction to oppofe you ) that fVater vpere better Studied than it is^ and that that Hydroftatical Experiment of the Wooden-Rundle arifing from the bottom of a Bucket of Water, the Water in the mean time over itadtually weighing it maybe One or Two hundred Pounds weight, continually perceptible by the unintermitted ftretchof the Rope or Weight upon the Hand one may put under the bottom of the Bucket; I fay, I wi(h this Experiment of Water were well weighed and cdnii-dered 5 of what importance it is, and how firmly it deinon-ftrates an Immaterial Being or Spirit that moves the matter of the World, I have intimated to you above, and how none have been yet able to evade the Evidence of the Demonftrati-on, that there muft be fomethimg Immaterial indued with Pro-perties above any matter, diftindfc from the Water and the Run-i . ^ die*

JO A farther Defence of the

die, and penetrating them both, that caufes that marvellous Phaenomenon.

Moreover, I would not only have fuch Experiments as thefe i confidered, but I would have the very 'Nature of Water well 1 lifted and ftudied ; and to any one that has that impartial Cu-riosity in him, that he will ftudy the Nature of Water as well as of Fire, I would commend to him the reading of des Cartes's Meteors,^ where with incomparable Evidence he makes our, That Water confifts of long flexible Particles, which joyned to-gether in a more moderate creeping Motion contrguoufly. one by another, are the Phaenomenon of Water, but being mofe fwift-ly agitated as they are in an JEoUpla (et over the Fire with fome Water in the bottom of it^ thefe Aqueous Particles raif-ed out of the Water and put upon a v^hirling Motion, Playing as it were at Quarter- Staff one with another in that part of the Belly of the j^oUpyU that has only Air, they contehding thus for more fpace, burit out of the Orifice of the j£o!ipla, and give the Phi^omenon of a very fenfible, if not a violent Wind.

That they are exhaled thus, as from the Water in the ^o-IlpyUj by virtue of the Fire, fo from the Sea and Rivers, and other moift places, by virtue of the heat of the Sun. Thaf according to certain meafures of motion or reft, and near-nels and remorcnefs from the Earth, they caufe Mifts or Clouds. That certain numbers of them cluttering more cloie together in a warm Air, caufe drops of Rain, but in a more cold, Snow or Hail, And that Water by ftrong cold is frozen into Ice is apparent to all, which is therefore a confi-derable firm confiftency of fuch kind of Aqueous Particles that otherwife remaining iliil Aqueous Particles take upon them the Form nor only of Clouds, Snow, and Rain, but alfo of blu-ftering Winds, that whirling Motion being imparted unto them.

Thefe methinks,are Indications fufficient that Water is a Body confiding of oblong flexible Particles, which may be diflevered by heat ; and as the Ice, though a firm Body, is melted there-by into that fluid Body we call Water, fo this Water may have its parts fo relaxated, as to be rarified into Vapours,and thofe Va-pours fo agitated that they get the form of Wind. And amongft other things that hit fo handfomely, it isaifp obfervable that their eafily being drawn out of a wet Cloth, expofed to the Air or Fire, when it is hard to get Oyl or Greafeout fo, argues that they are long, fmooth, flexible Parts, when as thofe of Oyi are more ramofcj and entangled with the Cloth, and among thcaii'elves,

A Man

true Notion of a Spirit, j i

A Man of any Nofe or natural Sagacity in Philofophy can-pot but fmell out the meaning of this, namely, That Water mufk needs confift of fucb Particles as thefe, which des Cartes has defcribedjand that it is not one equally continued Body, but, the* each long Particle beftrongly continued in it felf,yetthey are but contiguous in a manner inWaterjtho' pretty firmly continuous in Ice. But if they were alike continuous all over in Water, that is, no more in one part than another, they might pafs the leaft Pores, and like the Sun-Beams, at leafk with (ome force added, ftrain themfelves thro' Glafs,which (hews plainly, that Water is not one alike continued Body, but confills of long Particles, each being tough,as I may fay,as well as flexible in it Telf,but they are eafily feparable each ft*om the other; and we finding this fo plain-ly difcoverable in Water, if we be not over afFedtedly (hie and timorous, how can we well abfrain from concluding all other things, as well as Water, efpecially if they be reduceabie to a fluidity, to confili of fome kind of Particles or other ? And this I think, is the genuine Refiilt of our diligently ftudyiug the Nature of Water.

SECT. XIX.

The Advantage of Studying and well underfi anding cf^2itQYyforthe better underjlandi^^g of Fivt; and that the Phenomenon of ¥ixQ is from the mo^ tion of certain Particles, as weB. as that of Wa-ter and Vapours out of a Cauldron.

AN D haying Dived (b deep into the Myftery of Waur, l<.-t us now fe^ whether we havenot brought up a Key for tbe cafier opening the Nature of Vire, which I grant is to' be ftui-died alio, and this we may very conveniently do by Candk-li|hr, for the Fire and Flame in a lighted Candle, is much whar of the fame Nature with all other Fire. Here therefore let us obferve, that Ice before, which feems ofafirmconfiftence, was firft refolved into Water, and that Water into Vapours, G^c. That here I fay, alfo the fixed Tallow, which anfwers to the frozen Ice, is refolved firft into a kind of fluid Oyl or Fat, an--fwering to the Water, and after into a fort of vifibie Reek,

^2 A farther Defence of the

if we may fo call that which is fo bright and fplendid ; a ceptan kind of Particles loofened from the Tallow or "Wax, which con-lifts of them, being put into Motion, as it is in Vapours* It is manifeft hence, that Flame is nothing but fuch a kind of Parti-cles, put into luch a kind of Motion different from that of Wa-ter, and in a different manner affccfling or modifying the msdi^ um^ wheiice is that appearance to our Eye we call FUme, which is out a more clofe, but bright Vapour or Reek ; and thus is the whole Candle by degrees diffolved into Particles, nor is it tlie fame individual Flame, any more than the Water that runs through fuch a Pipe continually till all the Water be run out, is the fame individual Water all the time.

So that we fee the ftudying of Water will make us conceive the Nature of Fire the better, and give us to underftand that it is nothing but fuch a kind of Motion and Particles that fo ijiodifies the Medhtm of our Sight, that fuch a Phenomenon appears to us as we call Fire or Flame. Flame when the accend-cd Particles are volatile, but Fire^ when they are more fixr, as in the Wick of a Candle when the Flame is gone, or in red hot Iron, where the parts of the Iron not at all volatile (as in Wax, Wood, and Tallow, and the like ) yet are fmartly vibrated againft the Medium of our fight, and caufe the Phnsnomenon of Fire. I have ftudied the Nature of Fire with diligence and.ferioufnefs, a^id yet I profefs I can make no more cf it than thus. But wc go on.

SECT. XX.

A clofe compacted Account of the N^tuvQ of a Spi^ rltfronFiix, made 6y the t[ychopyviiiy andde^ duced bj^ his Aatagonift into feven Profofitions.

BV T this room, fay you, will net ferve me to fay what Ithinf^^ of it, viz. o^ Fire: Light and Fire are roufing Objecfts to humane fenfe, which caufedthe generality of the Pagan'^otld to Worlhip tlie Sun for the Supremum Numen, and brought them into that grofs Error in Religion, and we muft have a care left Idolizing the Pbasnomcnon otFire too much, it brings us alfo onto Errors in Bhilofophy. But you hold on : But in brief he

thai

true Notion of a Spirit* j >

thaf knov^th that Ignis is a Subftanccy whofe Form is the Poten-tia ad:iva movendi, illuminandi, calefaciendi, the^e as received ingrop pajjive Bodies being but thetr Accidents, all but the Igne^ ous Suhftance in ad: operating upon them, and conceives of Spirits hut Of Ignis eminenter, that is, of a purer Subfiance than Ignis is, which we beft conceive of, next the fdrmal verttie, by itsfi-militudes, I thin\kpows 4^ much a$ I can reach of the. Subfiance of created Spirits.

Though you thought you were ftraightened in room, yetme-thinks you have given a Specimen of a very dexterous faculty in contriving fo much into fo h'ttle a compafs, whereby I think I am enabled to conceive your full meaning deduceable as Ifup-pofe into thefe following Propofitions.

Firft, That Fire is a Subftance whofe Form is an adlive Power of Motion Light and Heat.

Secondly, That the Motion, Light, and Heat, that appear in grofs paflive Bodies, are but Accidents all of them or the faid Bodies, vi:(, fuch as in a Fire-ftick, Candle, and the like.

Thirdly, that there is an Igneous fubliance in acft operating upon the abbve-faid grofs paflive Bodies diftind: from the faid Bodies.

Fourthly, That a Spirit is to be conceived of but as Ignis eminenter.

Fifthly, That this Ignis eminenter is a purer fubftance than Ignis,

Sixthly, That this purer fubftance than Ignis next to its for-mal vertue is beft conceived of, by the iimilitude it bears with the aforefaid Ignis,

Seventhly and laftly, That hethatconceiveth thus of created Spirits, knows as much of their fubftance as you can reach*

SECT.

54 A farther Defence oftk

SECT. XXL

Certain Queries upon the foregoing Propofitions to find what the Pfychopyrifl: would he at^ and how much nearer ws are to the true Kj^owledge of a Spirit by his liuftrations thereof from Fire.

I Shall now crave leave to make fome Queries touching thefe Propofitions ; as whether in the firft Propofition, you mean by an adtive Power, a Power always exerting it feif into adl, fo that this Fire is always moving, enlightning, and hot, and in fuch fort that it is not only thefe ejfeHive but formaliter, elfe why (hould it be called Ignis? And that this Qiiery is to be anfwered in the Affirmative, feems manifeft from the fecond and third Propofitions, they implying an Igneous fubftance ac3:ing up-on thofe fubftances or grofs paflive Bodies, that we call Fire, now if this Igneous fubftance be really fubftance, and not one of the Subflanti<e Media^ according to Judge Hales s way of Phi-lofphizing, which I have fufficiently confuted in my Examina^ tiony I demand here what is this new Igneous fubftance, never heard of before, Is it Material or Immaterial? If it JbQ Im* material it is not Fire ; if it be Material, a Material Fire di-ftind from the Fire of the Flame of a Candle, or from that of ^ a Fire-ftick, or red hot Iron, there is no more ground or rea-fon for, than for a Material TVater diftindt from, but in the Water of a Well, a River or the Sea, but the very Matter it felf of the Water, even that which we call Water, is modifi-ed into this Phaenomenon of Water, and in like realbn the matter of Fire, even of that which we call Fire, is modified into the Phasnomenon of Fire, without any other Material Ig-neous lubftance operating upon it. This to the unprejudiced, X think will appear very plain and rational.

The next Query is upon the fourth Propofition, what is meanc by Ignis eminenter. For if it be to exclude the conceit of a Spi-rits being Ignis formaliter, and that it is only effecSbively Ignist God may thus be faid to be Ignis eminenter, as he may all things elfe, according to the Orphick Theology ; but the fiftH and the fixch Prepofitions feem to favour the other fenfe, Thac

true Notion of a Spirit. 3 5

a Spirit is Formaliter Ignis, but only a more pure XgniSy that is, of more tcnuious fubftance, as was above obferved, thanthac very Igneous fubftance mentioned in the Third Propoficion. But this I profefs to me is a Fire without Lights nor enables me to conceive a jot better of the Nature of a Sprite than if I were without it.

For the grofsvifible Fire is nothing but accenfed Particles or fuch a fort of Particles put into fuch a kind of Motion; and how does it appear that there either is any other Fire but this, or if there were, that it is any other than more iubtil Particles fo and fo moved ? So that in ail this Fire and Heat we wane Light to difcover the real Nature of a Sprite and yet the (ixth Propoiition fays, That a Spirit next to the formal Ver-tue, is beft known by the fimilitude it bears with Ignis in the fenfe of the third Propoiition ; fo that if we knew that Ignis^ it were only a Metaphorical Illuftration therefrom, which is no good mode of defining the Nature of things, but as I in* mated above, the Nature of this Ignis can be no other than a more fubtil confiftency of Particles, if it be any thing at all, and therefore very inept to fet off the Nature ofa Sprif, which is Em unumperfe & nonpr aliudy as allmuft grant, that grant there is any fuch thing as a Sprit properly fo called ; wherefore I much doubt of the Truth of the lafl Propofition, That he that thus conceives of cresLied Spirit s, knows as much of their fubftance as you can reach. Fer I conceive you un-dervalue your own cognitive Faculties in that AfTertion, which I cannot believe but can pierce farther than fo, as haply I may difcover anon J in the meantime we pafs to what follows.

SECT.

^6 J farther Defence of thi

SECT. xxir.

Of the Greek Fathers dividing Fire if2to InteUettivey Senfitive, and Vegetative^ and in what fenfe they are to he under ftoody and how the Mode of the ancient Fhilofofhy was ^Enigmatical and Hebraical.

AIVD the Greek Fathers^ fay you, that called Spirits Fire', and diftinguifhed Ignem per Formas, into InteKehive^ Sen -fitive^ and Vegetative or vifible Fire^ ( as it is in Acre Ignito ) Alkvping anincomfrehenjibie ])urity ofSuhftance in the higher above the lower, ( as in PaJJives, Air hath above Vt^ater ) I think^did jpe ak^toler ably, and ai informingly as the Notions of Penetrability and Indivifibiity, thsugh perhaps thefe alfo may be ufeful. If the Words and Places of thefe Fathers had been cited, I would more diftindlly and particularly tnade anfwer to them, buc now my Anfwer muft be more un^^terminate and general.

And firft, I fay, Though there is a great deference to be gi-ven to the Fathers in things that lay within their fphere, yec that fome of them were none of the beft Philofophers, is ap-parent from their making the Earth flat not fpherical, and their denying Antipodes. But then in the fecond .Place, fuppofing fome of them did Philofophize at the rate above defcribed, di-viding Fire into Intelledive, Scnfitive, and Vegetative, I would. here demand in what fenfe they herefpoke, whether they fpoke not of the immediate Inftrument of Operation in Intelle(Sive, Senlicive, and Vegetative Creatures, which I can eafily agree that it is at leaft, moft what, Igneous ot JEthereal, the Vehicles of Angels being acknowledged to be fiick : Or, whether they did not fpeak Symbolically ex Deftinato, or at leaft, ufingouc of Ignorance the Symbolical Expreflion of the ancient Philo-fophers for the proper, ( who Symbolically called a Spirit Fire, yea, God himfelf, who is the, moft pure Spirit conceivable ) whether it was not from thence that thefe Fathers incautioufly divided Fire, as if it were a real Spirit, into Intelledtive, Sen-litive, ^c. For that the ancient Philofophers fpoke j£nigmati-c filly, Clemens Alexandrinus takes exprels notice, t-riTfb'uQ' 'VOf ^vmi m tpthofvpag 'E^^^j'ah ^ Amyf^QwAfU In which fay-ing

true Notion of a Spmk j j

iniply<

_ tatlcal Fhiia%hy was fucft.

m% of his it is implycd, that not oniy their way of Philofbpliiz-mgwas ^nigrmtkal oi $jmhoUcnii but that ^.l^OihzHthraknt

SECT. XXIII.

Th&t the Symbolical ^r MmgmzticdlModtoftke
dmknt Phikfaphj Cdufsd mM'vdmis fond Mi-
fiakes m them that were not awAfeofit^ as m
Ariftotic and o^ken that took th Con^^ for the
Kernel.

AN D. the Ignorance of that Mode of the old Phllofophers has caufed ridiculous Opinions , As from the ancienc JVfe/iic^ Cabbala's fetting off the Narurt of things by Numhrrs^ thofe unskilled in tlie Myftery have aftrwards niJide Number? the very confiitutwe Principle of things ; and Anftmk^ whenas Parmenides fpeakihg Symbolic ally, and MofalcnBy declared that Fire and Enrth were fhe Principles of ail things^ which undciibt-edly was Ipoken in reference to the beginning of Gmtfis^ where V*1fc^\ 11^ are the two Principles of things, tov(rit, Sfirlt-axA Matter ; I fay, AriflGtle is ib filly as to take Parmcnldes literally, when as yet himfelf acknowleeges that Parmenides reckoned his Earfb in the rank of Non-emia,vjh.ich wq.s impofiblc ibr him to have done, uniefs he had fpoke Symbolically. Thefe two, Fire and Eariif are the fame' with the Pythn^wrexns^ tpac 3^ ffidlQ-^ Light and Darknefi, who alfohad partaken of the Mo/itH Cabbala ; fee my Preface-general to chefecond Tom^ of my Philoibpfeick Writings, Se8. 1 3, as alfo the AppmSx- to the Defence of tpy Phikfophic CShaia, Cap, 7. Se(ft. 5. and I hope you will acknowledge I have r ealbn on my fide. Where-fore the Fathers ufing with the ancient Phiiolbphers jthe Nams finis for Sfiritust is no warrant, .fince it may iignifie Symboli* caily, for us to think that that Ignis belongs to the very Na-tttrs axsd E^eftci erf a Spirit.

3 S A farther Defence of the

SECT. XXIV.

That the Chaldee and Magick Oracles call not only the Soul hut God himfelfVivQ ; but that it is not to he underftood properly^ hut Symbolically pro* njed by the Glojfes of Michael Pfellus and Ple-

tho.

THAT Ignis is put for Spirit by the ancients, Is plain over and over again from the Magick^ and Caldee Oracles ; (to fay nothing hereof £;^^c/:j2V/'s Vifion, where God the Father is reprefenied by Firet which the Cnbbalifts alfo follow ) thefe Oracles I fay, do not ftick to call the higheft Deity, from which all things are, Fire ; which I conceive is very grofs and abfurd to underftand in a proper Senfe of God ; and there-fore, both Pletho and Pfellus u^on that Oracle, E}oi -jnivTv, Tne^s ivOi iKyt-idL^Tu,. All things -proceed out of one Fire : The one fays, If Ivli 7TV£)i wTTJ? cS ivh 02». Out of one Fire that is from ons God ; and the other. This, fays he, is our Do<5trine and true, ITccT* ya^ Tit oVtu a/Tn (40Vis 0e» \sai^(nv ^het^oy. For all things received their Being from one God ; where they render 77Uf by ©5of, Fire by Gody they queftionlefs underftood God in their proper Philofophical Notion as a pure Immaterial and Intcl-ledtual Being, or elfe they would make his Nature inferiourto that of a Created Spirit : For when a Created Spirit is called Fire in thofe Oracles, as the Soul is exprefly termed 77v? ^««yor, Afhining Fire : Pletho interprets, :7Uf (pctHVov, ftripping it out of its Symbolical Cortex, 6«a 7ii iajo, jy yoj^, A certain Di" vine and IntelleBual Subfiance, which is here called Fire Sym-bolically, as God himfeif is, to intimate its affinity with the Divinity it felf j and upOH the fame Oracle, which at large is,

"Oti 4o;^ TTUf too. ^et»VoV (TuwAfAW TntTfou

The fenfe of which is. That the Soul being /himng Fire, hy the power of the Father, rjmms hnmortaly and the Mifirefl of Life ;

chac

true Notion of a Sprit. jo

that is, an undifturbed PofTelTor or Proprietor of Life in her (t\i. LJpon this Oracle, I fay, Michael Pfdlus GlolTes thus, 'h 4.1;;^ tivhov »«7a 1^ d^f^lov -^2 'mv cwj^Tvv oA<yv }y rH uMk^ (mirnlQ-•?«f M/^/eKop, A^vcLToq i^v, that is to fay. The Soul behig an Im-material and Incorporeal Fire ( which indeed is to be no Fire, and therefore again affufes us, that according to the fence of thefe Interpreters, God is called Fire only Symbolically ) ex-empt from all compofition^ and havi??g nothing of Matter or Body in its Effence, is Immortal. For, as he fays afterward, ihe having notour of which (he is compounded, (lie has not into which (he may be diffolved, and therefore, fay I, is IndifToluble snd In-difcerpibie. Which is the true Notion of a Spirit, and not of any Fire, all which is compofed of Particles and Diffoluble. I might initance in more places, bur the thing is To plain, that it is needlefs.

Wherefore it is manifeft, that though the Gr^^/^ Fathers Ihculd run divifionupon that Symbolical term for a Spirit, vi^^. Fire, tf.nd diftribute it into Inteiledrive, Senfitive, and Vegetative, that there is no proof hence that every created Spirit is' Fire, and nor properly a Spirit ^ that is, fuch a Subftance as is Ens unmn per fe &nQnpr aliud^ and confequently Indifcerpihle,

SECT. XXV.

Of the Incomffehenfible PUrity of thofe Fires that are '^retendsd to he Spirits^ and, whe* ther the Greek Fathers Jpoke tolerably in dividing Fire into IntelleUive^ Senfitive^ and Vegetative,

BU T now concerning the Inccmprehenfiible Purity of fub-ftancc in thefe Fires (which rouft be fo many Spirits) one above another^any one of which,! cannot think that you conceive may be fo incomprehenfibly Fure^ as to be the Divine ElTence it felf ; i vvouid inquire here flince Flame in the firft fenfe, and obvious to pur light and fenfes is fo apparently, as t have above proved 2 nothing but fuch a certain kind of Particles iri

O % f«chE

40 A farther Defence of the

fuch a kind of motion ) what tbefe feveral degrees of Purifica-^ lion can amount to more than this, That the Particles will be^ more fubiil and fubtil, but as arrand a Congeries of Particles of Matter as before. Which I muft confefs, to me feems to have no affinity at all with the true Nature of a Spirit. And. yet you ftick not to declare, that the Greek Fathers m dividing Fire into lntelled:ivc, Senfitivc, and Vegctadve fpeak tolerably and informinily. For I will leave out for the prefent the com-parifon with that other Notion wihch to me feems to be more pretife and Natural.

Wherefore I muft here crave pardon that I fiiall take the bold-*nefs, who have otherwife no mind to differ from any one more than needs, exprefly to differ from you in Judgment in this caufe. For I muft pronounce, that as you feem to conceive the Fathers to fpeak, that is, not SymhoHcdly i ( or elfe it is no* thing to your purpofe ) but properly, thefe Fathers fpeak nei-ther tolernbly nor informingly^ but intolerably and mifchievoufly,^ dilutely nnd tnifinformingly* For is it not an intolerable mijp chief, that thofe that (hould be our guides in our grcateft con-cerns, fuch as the aflurance of the immortality of our Souls, Ihonld broach fuch Dodlrine about the nature of the Soul, as Ihould induce Men to believe it Mortal ? For if the Soul be really F/Vf, or if you will,^ a Lights how eafily it is blown out when it is removied into the open Air out of this Lanthorn of the Body ? But if it be Fire not flaming, fuch as is m red-hot Iron, it cannot remove out of the Body, but is cxtind in the cold I Corns, as the Fire in the Iron when it is grov/n cold. So that,! the former is the more plaufible opinion th^.t it is, if it be anyj kind of Vife, a kind of a fubtil Flame, bat how you fecure it Subfiftencc, and defend it from the injury of the blufterinj^ Winds after its Exihj you muft arifwer to Lucretius, for his Objedion it was of old, who thus fpeaks of the Soul de rerui Natura, lib. 3.

Hicc igitur tnntis uhi morbis corpore in ipfi Jacletur^ miferifque modis diftraFtA laboret^ Cur eandem credis fine corpore in Acre aperto. Cum validis ventis ^tatem degere pojje P

Which Objedion is invincibly ftrong againft fuch as hold thc_ Humane Soul Fire^ feign it as pure and fubtil as you will, as^ fubtil as ihtprimum Element umo^ Des-Cartes, which muft ftill be a Congeries of Atomes. It will be prefently overflown with the Globnlit and go out like the laft Flame of the Snuff of a Can-dle

true Notion of a Spirit. 41

die ; and though its mhttar be not loft, it will lofe its perfon^^ lity by m-ngling, as other liquid things do, with the relt of its own Element. And fo as the Song of the wicked is in the Wif-^ dom of Solomon, Chap. 2. We fhxll he hereafter tti if we had ne^ ver been : For our life is as fmoak. und a little f par li i?z the moving of our heart, which being extinfuifheJ, our bsdy floall be turned in-to afoes, and ourfpirit foallvnnijh at the Joft air. Air mingled wirh Air, and as well F/r^ with Fire, which is as utter a Mor-tality of the Soul as the Epicureans can believe, or the wicked liopefqr. And yet the making of the Soul Vire^ induceth the beliefof all this, if it be meant LiV^r/?//)', not Symbolically. And therefore this form of fpeech fo underftood is plainly mifchievous and intolerable, which makes me believe, the Grd?ff/( Fathers did not fo underftand it, but fpake Symbolically, or elfe fpakc they I knew not well and diftindly what.

SECT, xxvr,

Whether the Greek Fathers ffako, informingly in the ahvefaid divijion. That Metaphors are to he excluded Definitions^ and why, Ihat Ventus and Fumus might as well have been di* vided into Intelle^ive^ Senfitive^ and Vegeta-tive^ as Fire. And how utterly uneatable Fire is of the Plaftick pwer^ lefs haply than Froji and Cold.

AN D now that you fay they fpeak fo informingly in calling a Spirit Fire^ what a dilute and llender information, is this, as to the fadsfadrion of our Realbn } Metaphors indeed and Figurative Speeches fill the Sails of our Imaginative faculty the moft, and to refemble God to a Con fuming Fire and a Glo-rious Light may ferve the well-intended ends of Religiop,» and ftrike greater Terrour, Reverence and Devotion into the Minds of the Vulgar, but proper language is the moft becoming found Philofophy and ftrid Reafon. And when we enquire into the diftind Nature of things, we are to bid adieu to AHafionsand

O 3 Meta^

42 J farther Defence of the

Metaphors : for to enquire into the proper Nature of a thing, is tofearch out the adequate Definition thereof, which is to be done in the moft certain and clear terms that are, according to Arifiotle, And therefore Metaphors are excluded from lerving in a Definition, bccaufe, ^r^i/ct^ra^U tb^C^t^V't^^W'^'^s;^^^®/* becaufe, whatever is MetafLoricaliy ffoken, as he ms noted in his Topicks, is obfcurc and uncertain. Wherefore, I lee not how ^V^rw/w^/y the Grc?^y(c Fathers fpeak, in ufmg the term, Fire, m-ftead of Ibme more proper words to have fet out the true Nature of a Spirit; and I muft ingenuouQy declare, that they might have as well divided Ventus or Fumusy or the Reek of a Cauldron, into Incelledive, Senfitive, and Vegetative, as Jgnis, tor any advantage that Ignis has to let out the proper Natui-e ot a Spirit. , ,

The main thing is^that it looks as if there were an Avy>mmAy or Self-moving in Fire, it being in perpetual motion, but this is a plain fallacy, for the parrs of the Flame are not felf-rnoved, but they are moved of another: As when you apply ^ hg"^^^ Candle to light another Candle, the parts of the Wick, and Wax, or Tallow are put into motion by the moved parts or the lighted Candle, and fo all the Particles of the Canciie by oe* grees are put into motion by the Particles of the prefent Flame, the Airalfo affifting, which yet pafs away as a River, as I no-ted above. But if you ailed ge, that Fire and Flame as long as ft is, is in motion, and fo fitly fets out the Self-A^ivity of a Spirit, fo I fay, Fume and t{eek, as long as they are, are in mp-tionj and {o is M^md efpecially, and the more like a Spirit in this regard, it being fo hard to find out what gives it its motion, fo that it looks more like a Self-moving Being. So little infor-mation is there in calling a Spirit, Fire, more than if it were called Fume, or J^eek^ or Wind, and therefore the inliruBion muft needs be \cvyflcnder and dilute. And as no body will fay Fume, ov P^eek, or H'ind is of three kinds, Intelledive, Senfi-tive and Vegetative, but at firft fight it would appear a meej^ Ml jw format ion, fo as certainly, to fay that F/rt is diftinguilhed , into thefe Species, Inreliedive, Senficive, and Vegetative, would look jike tiie diftributicnof a Whole into parts difagreeing with the fame Whole, vv/hich were a foul Mifinformation indeed, and contrary to the known Rules of Logick. And this I may be the more bold to aver, becaufe I have up and down in my Wri; tings demonflrated the incapacity of MaPter, for fuch func^lions, as thefe, ' ".

Is

trne Notion of a SpriK 4 j

Is Fire Intclledive ? Certainly then the Sun as foon as any, and ron:ie Materialifis would have it fo ; but I think I have pro-ved fufficlently in my Preface to the Immortality of the Soul, the madnefs and Repugnancy of that opinion. Is Fire Senfitive ? I have proved in that Treatife that no Matter whatfoever, whe-ther Fire, Water, or Air is capable of fuch Impreflions from fenfible Objeds, as we are confcious to our felves of. And to pretend that Fire is Vegetative^ that is to fay Plajiical, is won-derfully Repugnant to the Nature of it, for whatever Nature is Plafticnl^ Itisth^'EvAhi^cu (Endelechia) of that Body which it does form and organize, and therefore it muft A^«k as well as W^stj', iz muft hold together and bind as well as move the Mat-ter, when as the property of Wire is only to difperfe and con-fume, for it puts all into an hurry and motion, and that is alf that we can rationally conceive that Fire can do, when as Frofi and Cold forms pretty Devices and gay Flourilhes in Snow and Ice, and on Windows and Doors of Cellars. But it maybe you will fay, the Gr^et Fathers did not meanF/reinmy fenfe, which bears along with it fuch abfurdities ; I defire then to know in what fenfe they underftood Fire, and if they had noc been more informing if they had defined precifely what they meant by Fire, before they would divide it into Intelledive, Senfitive and Vegetative; but if they will fay one thing and mean another, they muft needs bring the Reader into Errour and Mifi information. If they meant Sprit they (hould have faid Spirit, and if they meant Spirit properly fo called, they fliould have de-clared its Nature that it was Subftance Immaterini, or to that lenfe, before they diftributed it into i^s kinds,

P 4 SECT.

44 -4/?^^*^^ Defence Gfth

SECT, xxyii.

Tliat the Greek Fathers in dividing Fire ifrfiead ' of Spirit iMo Imelle0ivey Senfnive^ and FSp-getAtive, do not fpeakasmiormin^ylasarg the N6?//V?/?i (/Penetrability, ijWIndivifibility, md that i/Specifick Difference /;? ^Species, im^ flies an oppofite Difference thtretq^ in the opfo-fite Species.

AN D thus I think I have clearly fhewn that the Fathers in , dividing Bir^ into Intelkdive^ Senlitive, and Vegetative, Ao not fpeak ^tcleraU^ znd. infcrtninglj; whence it will be a very eafie task to Ihew tl>at they do nor fpeak as informingiy as are the Notions of PenctrahUity and Jndivifilniity, For certainly un-lefs r\iz Greeks Fathers thought all things that are to be Material, { which there is no likelihood in the Earth they fhowld, ihcGreefi Philofdphy oi Pythagoras, Plato^ and Ariftotle Being at hand to inOrrucSt them better ) if inftead of Pire they had put y/»/rj>, and intimated it to be a Subftance Imrnateria/y they had fpoke more peripicuoufly and more hformingJy than they dt^. This I con^ ceive is undeniably true.

And now I appeal to your felf, Divifllniity and Imfeneh-ahiU' iy temg the known and univerfally acknowledged EJfential Property or pharad:er of Matter or Bodyy how natnrally, or fathers how neceiTarily the oppolate Species to My, viz. Sprit is found to be IndiviftbU and Penep'ahle. As in thofe two oppo-fite Species under Animal^ vi:^. Homo and Brutum, if it be once acknowledged that Brutum is Animal IrraMnaie, and that J/r^-fionale is the Specifick Difference, its oppofe Species HaiwiJiHuft meeds be Animal I^tticnak: This is fo plain and convidrive, that I cannot here but remind you of your undervaluing your cognitive Facilities, and of my prcfage, thati fh'ould difcoverthat yoaare able to underiland more Qt the Nature of a Created %irit, thari you did profefs in the lali of thofe feven Propofidonsl above d^aced C^om that Paragrap.k For yon have gone thus much further, namely, To the Peneirahiiity ^nd the IndivifihiUty be." longing Effentially and Lnfeparabiy to the Namre of a Sprit

true Notion of a Spirit. 45

ip general, (which therefore will take in Created Spirits) which you cannot avoid the admitting of, from fo clear a Method of eemonftration.

S E G T XXVIII.

That God can create, an Indivifibje Being, though of a large Metaphjfcal Amplitude, or elfe he were not God,

AN D for the poiiibilityof thefe proper and eflential Attri-butes of a Spirit, I think I have made it good in my fliorc Difcotirfe of the true Notion of a Spirit, againftall pretended Ob-jedlionS' And the greateft difficulty touching the Indifcerpibility of a Spirit^ acl^nowledged to have MetaphyJjcal^4mflTtt(cie or Exr tenjion, can be none to him that confiders how much more eafie it is to conceive \yhat is immediately and pf its own EfTence one to be Indifccrpible, than how that which is difcerpible into parts can at all hold together, and acknowledges the Immenfe EfTence of the Deity, which yet is abfolutely Indivifible or In-difc«rpibie, and the Omnipotence of the fame Deity, who therefore can eafily create Spirits according to the Image of himfeif^ thp* with a finite Amplitude, but Indifccrpible ; that is to fay, That he can create a Being, ( which in that it is a Be-ing neccfTarily implies Amplitude in it ) which is Ens unum per fe ^ non per aliud, and of fuch an Amplitude as is Indifccrpi-ble, not upon the account of its fmallnefs, becaufe it can be no fmalier, but upon account of the immediate Vnion, 0£ rather Onenefs of its EfTence, be it as large as you pleafe.

Othervyife God vvere only able to create Metaphyseal Monads, Of Spiritual Points y anfweriug to the Bhyiical Points or Monads of Matter; than which to a fagaciousand philofbphical Mind, that is throughly perfuaded of the Divine Omnipotency, no-thing can be more abfurd or ridiculous. And if you will fay, That if hefhould create fuch a Spirit with Metaphyfical Am-plitude, which, though fo large, himfelf cannot divide and fe-ver into parts, he would thereby puzzle his own Omnipotency; the fame may be faid of the Metaphyseal Monads, and ac this fate he fhali be allowed tp create nothing, no ngt fo much as ^-'' '■'-'' ^ ' ' ' Matcer^

^6 A farther Defence of the

Matter, nor himfelf indeed to be ; for that cannot be God, from whom all other things are not produced ^nd created.

SECT. XXIX.

How naturally the above mentioned dijlrihution in the Greek Fathers (?/Firc into Intellect ive^ Sen^ fitive and Vegetative belongs to Spirit, accord^ ing to the Definition in the preceding Difcourfe of the True Notion of a Spirit, And that the EffeBs of the kinds of Spirit comprized in that general Definition^ are all the Phenomena in the World.

WHerefore thefe things being fo plain, 1 conceive it will be no great immodefty in me to hope, that my Definition of a Spirit being this, ( an Immaterial fubftance intrinfically in-dued with Life and the Faculty of Motion ) and vertually con-taining in it. Penetrability and Indifcerpibility, ( for Immaterial include thofe two as you have feen ) will approve it felf more informing than the defining of a Spirit by Fircy which may heat the Fancy, and fill the Sails of Imagination, as I faid before, but inftruds us little or nothing of the true and proper Notion of a Spirit.

And then it being noted in that Definition, that Life and Motion intrinfically ifllie from this Immaterial fubftance, Spi-rit, here you may fee how fitly the Gre^4 Fa.thers divifion of it ( not of Fire ) is made into Intelledlive, Senfitive, and Ve-getative, and what cafie and natural fenfe it will be. Thus I love to Philofophize without Tumour, Pomp, or Metaphors. Fire indeed is more Phantafmatical, and the Obje(5b of fenfe and Fancy, but Immaterial Subftance more rational, and the Objed: of our Intelledtive Faculties.

But if we love to have all our Faculties fufnilhed and filled v/ith Objedls, we may remember that this Definition of a Spi-rit, vi7^. An Immaterial Subftance intrinfically indued with Life, and a Faculty of Motion^ though it make no qoife in it felf, nOr

fwells

true Notion of a Sp />/>. ^j

fwells the Fancy with fuch glaring Notions as Fire and Lights yet this Life and Faculty of Motion in rhis Immaterial iub-ftance diftribuced into its kinds, reprefents all the Pageantry of the World, and the Pomp thereof, Fire and Light, and Clouds and Thunder, and all the Phaenomena of Nature, by its adings on the Matter of the Univerfe ; befides the Intel-ledual Operations it performs in the rational orders of Being, And part of that Life and Motion comprehended in that gene-ral Definition, enables me to Write what I write for a more diftind Information of you, than you have from thofe Gree^ Fathers, which feem to have mi/informed you touching the Nature of a Spirit, if you have not mifs-underftood them, and fo mifinformed your feif.

SECT. XXX.

The great Vfefuhef of the Notion of the Individ-bility, or Indifcerpibility of Spirits,

AND now I have thus cleared up things, I am perfwad-ed. If you were again to Write your Judgment of my De-fcription of a Spirit, you would not fay of Penetrability and Indivijibility, perhap thefe nlfo may he ufefuly but you would come off roundly, and with afTurance declare, that they are not only nfeful but true ; for in my Judgment, unlefs they be true^ they are not tifeful ; for I am no Pice fraudes, but for plain Dealing, and for trantading all things Bona fide, as well in Sp-rituals as Temporals. But that they are true, I think I have fufficieritly made good already, and hinted fomething before of thcit Vfefulnep.

For unlefs this be the Nature of a Spirit to be Indi/cerpib'e, Philofbphy affords no fuccour to Natural Religion, nor contri-butes any thing to tb:^ affurance of our PerfonaJ fubfiftence af-ter the diflolution o^ this Mortal Body. But the Soul being Fire, will mingle v^i^^ the fubtil Element of des Cartes, as fure as if itweremeerjy Breath, it w^ould vanilh into the foft Air, as I noted above. But being acknowledged an Immaterial Being, fuch as. I ji^ve defcribed, and intrinfically indued with Life and Motpn, it is aide by its Conftri^ive Faculty, or Sta-^

ticfi

^8 A farther Defence of the

tick, Ppw«r, tomaintar.n its Vehicle againft the mod blufterlng "Winds, and to keep its felf from being blown into pieces, and 4ifperfed like Fume or Reek, and from being extindl like a Can-dle taken out of the Lantern, and committed to the uncenain Blafts of the moveable Air. This for the Vfffulnefi ohhc />?• SJcerfibility of Spirits,

SECT. XXXI.

The nesejfary Ufefulneis of the Notion oftheY% netrability of Spirits.

AN D now for the Penetrability of Spirits^ k is alfo plain-ly not only uieful> but necelTary, that they penetrate the Matter, elfe how could they be the 'EvAKi^^tcu Endeleehice thereof, and inform it and ad:uatc it ? And it they could nor penetrate their own Parts^ how could they be contrad:ed Co as to be commenfurate to the Body of a fmali F(stus in the Wornb, which, as I have heard from fome skillful Midwives, have fometimes been found as little as a Bee, and yet in humane Ihape and form. But unlefs we will patch up a Soul by pieces to enable it to be commenfurate to the Body when it is come to Man's ftature, that very Soul, nothing added to it that was contracted into fo fmalla compafs before, after expands it felf by degrees to the Amplitude of the grown Body of a Man. "Which therefore plainly implies the Penetrability of Spirit St as well as fers out the Vfefulncfs thereof. But it is fuflScient ta touch only upon thefe things^

SECT.

trut Notion oj 'a Sfirif, 4^

SECT. XXXII.

Thdt Logical Matter an I Form are nothing hutTn--determinata, Ampli' ado, and Differentia, the tfvo Incomplex Prim (p/es of Ens qimtQnnsEns^ and therefore irnplj n( J Phyfical Materiality..

WE are now come near the Conckfion of your Letter, but I will take in your (hovt Poftfcrtpt^ before I confider that, Tou mak? A Sprite fay you, to beUns^ ideoqueunum, vc-rum, (3c, And that True denotes the anfxvemblenefs of the thing to its own proper Ide^, nndimpiits a right Matter and Form due" ly conjoined. Upon this you raife this Queftion, Do not you here make Spirits Material! ? But nodouht, fay you, whether t@ be called .Material or Subfl^antiaL the form is not an adjoyned thin^, hut the form of a Jimple Effence is but an inadequate Concepcus, making no Compofition. To this I anfwer, That I do not make 5pmVj Material in any fenle derogatory to their Nature and Perfedions. And whereas Ifpeakof right AfrfW^randForw,ifyou had obferved that, that Matter andForm you fpeak of, is a Mat^ ter and Fotm that belongs to Ens quatenm Ens^ you could noc imagine that this would infer any Phyfical Materiality in Spirits^ becaufeit is Matter in a moft general Notion prefcinded from all particular kinds of Being whatfoever, and therefore belongs to Beings truly Immaterial as well as Material.

It is only Materia and Forma Logica, that is there meant, nor is the Form adjoyned in a Phyfical fenfe to the Matter, un-lefs where the Form and Matter are fubftances really diftin(ft, as the Soul of Man and his Body. But they are called alfo Matter and Form, tho* they be only mentally diftind: in fome other Beings ; and confequently can be only mentally faid to be adjoyned the one to the other, as if they had been once two, whenas they are really but one thing. As you fay well, the Form of any fimple Elfence is but an Inadequate Conceptus of the Effence, and makes no Phylical compofition. See my Enchi' ridion Metaphyficum^ Cap. 2. Se(5L 7, 8. and you will under-iland there what I mean by Logical Matter and Form, which are the Incomplex Principles of Ens quatenus Ens^ and are no-thing elfe hvLtlndeterminata Amplitudo and Differentia ; io that , I need no longer here infift en this Matter.

SEC T.

■^

^5© true Not Aon of a, Spirit.

s E c i\ xxxrii.

The 0€cafton of the Pfyc hopyrift's Letter^ and this ,Anfmr of the Author of the foregoing Difcourfi of The true Notion of a Spirit, and what hopes he conceived of undeceiving the Pfychopyrift bj engaging him to perufe ithat Treatife.

NOW for the Concluifion it felf, v/hcrein you crave Par Jon for thefe curt Exprejjions of Thoughts, which I dejired con-cerning the Defer iption of a Spirit ^ To this I fay. That your ExprefTions are not fo curt, but th;it you have fufficiently con-veyed your Mind to me : If I be not much miftaken, and , therefore Pardon is not fo properly due to you as Thanks ; and becaufe you had a mind I ftiould perufe fome Notions of yours which you had entertained, to know hovj near mine and they would meet, I defired you attentively and confiderately firft to perufe that brief Dijcourfe of mine touching the true andgenu-^ ine Notion of a Spirit, Whereby I conceived you would eafily difcern what agreement or difference there were in our Concep-tions touching this matter. And I having Writ fo dearly and diftindly, fo digeftedly and coherently, as I thought, touching this Subjed in that Treatife, I thought it alfo hopeful that you would fully difcern Truth to be on my fide, and that there were not, nor needed to be, any other Notion of a Spirit in general, than what I have fo evidently and orderly fee out, and K) carefully defended againft all imaginable Allegatioas or Pre-tenfions.

SECT.

J

A further Defence of the 51

SECT. XXXIV.

The Imfediments to true KjiowkAge ; mA the fuH Agreement cf the Author of the foregoing DiJ^ courfe with the Learned fiycho^yvA in the UJt Chafe of his Letter, w2r. If God make us tru-ly Holy, we fliall quickly know more to our latisfaftioa

BU T I leave every one to think as well as he can in Philo-fophical fpeculations, being aflared that every one would get to the Truth if he could reach it: It being an ImperfecSti-on and Blemilh to him to be found in Error ; though I queftion whether all Men take the beft Courfe to attain to Truth, but they would gladly have it, if they might part with nothing for it. Not with their beloved Lazinefs, nor with their pre-conceived Opinions, which they have a fondnefs for, becaufe they have chanced fo long ago to efpoufe them, and therefore cannot abide to think of a Divorce ; not with their fenfual Pleafures or Worldly-mindednefs, nor with that fweec Conceit or pleafing Prefumption, that what they opine is more like to be true, than the Opinion of any other Man, tho* they bring tio plain demonftration for it.

For to come to the laft Claufe of all in your Letter, which is the beft; and in which I moft firmly and heartily agree with you, which is this, If Godmaks us truly Boly, we /hall quickly \noxQ more to our fatisfaElion. I think, that the purification of the Soul from all uncleannefs of Fle/h and Sprite is abfolurely requifite for him that would fuccefsfully Philofophize, efpecial-ly in Metaphyfical or Theological Speculations. And I com-mend your Judgment in that you fay, If God makes us truly Holy. By vertue of which true Holinefs, I fuppofe we fhall be freed, not only from the dulnefs of Suferflitiony and blufter of Enthtijiafmy from the Prejudices of both our Education and Complexion^ and from the unbridlenefs and impecuofity of our own Self will and Defires in things that look not fo commend ably on it; but alfofrom znyvain Dejire Oi IQiowIedgeitfe!f which bears fuch a fair and commendable (hew v/ith it : We (hall, I fay, condemn our felves as of a great Folly and Mifcarriage,

cfpecially

52 A farther DefeHce of ihe

efpecially in Contemplations Metaphyfical, Theological, and Moral : If we find fuch a falfe Appetite in our felves 'm thofe things as that we would Iqiovp mecrly to ^«o»>, or (which is worfe) to be kriown.

Which is no foundConftitutionof Mind, nor becoming an holy Man, who has no falfe Appaite to Knowledge, but only fuch as an healthful and temperate Man has to his Meat, to eac luch, and fo much as enables Nature rightly and firmly to per-form all the Fundions of the natural Lifie : So all defire of Knowledge in thofe Contemplations I fpoke of Before, that ex-ceeds the only due ends of luch Knowledge, which is to coro-boiate our Faith in GOD, and in his Son JESVS CHl{lST, and to confirm our Belief of a glorious Immortality after this Life, to promote true Devotion, Mortification, and Regene-ration, or the Renovation of our lapfed Natures inro the loft Image of God : All defires of Knowledge that tends not to, this end, is but a Dileafe with a truly holy Man, nor reiilhes better wirh him, than to feed on ChaflPi Feathers, or dry Straw, reiifliech with a natural Man.

And we may be fure, he whofc Appetite is thus found and regular, and defirds no Knowledge but fuch as is the real Food of the New-Birth in him, (hall not fail to draw in all wJiole-fome and uletul Knowledge, from the Fountain of all true Wifdom, even from the Father of Lights, from w*hom is every good and perfed Gift. Whenas a falfe Appetite to Knowledge, which only feeds our Pride, will expofe us, befides all fortui-tous Errors, -to the ludicrous Impoftures of vagrant Spirits, that fport themfelves with the vain curiofities of deluded Man-kind. Not to add that a Man thus trifles away that pretious Time, which is much better fpent in Examination of the Since-rity of our own Hearts, and in earneft Breathings towards God, that he would be pleafed toffee us from that Bondage of Cor-ruption we find our felves held in, and-would perfect the New-Birch, and confummare the Image of his Son in us, than in teaf-ing of unneceflary Notions into ufelcfs and cndlefs Diftindlnefs and Multiplicities, and luch as nothing at all contribute to our great and everlafting Concern. I fay I am perfectly of your Miridin this, That he-rhat is thus truly Holy, will fooneft know more to his fatisfadtion : For he that feeds the young Ravens that call upon him, will never fufFer his own Birth to ftarvc for want of due Food in the Soul of Man ; and he that thus Philofophizes, afFed:ing no Knowledge out of Curio-ficy, but only to feed and ftrengthcn the Divine Binh in him,

Will

trtie Notion of a Spirit kj

will haply know with cafe, more than bimfelf hid the Curio-fity to know, and more than rhe Curioficy of thofe chat are out of this way, are ever likely to be in a <:apacity to reach to of themfelves, or to receive when o^ercd to them from others.

This will not down with all Men, but as many as arepcr-fuadcdofir, iris their Duty to improve it to their prefent Sa-tisfadlion here, and everlafling Comfort hereafter. 1 did nor think to be thus large when I began my Letter^ but one thing has drawn on another, . I know not liow ; but I hope noching has pafled my Pen, but what may be ufrftil to a iericus and intelligent Reader. Wherefore I leave all to your candid Con-iSderation,

E Saducifnmi

Saducifmus Triumphatm ;

Orj a full and plain

EVIDENCE

Concerning

WITCHES and APPARimNS.

The fccond Part.

PROVING

(Partly by Holy Scripture
pardy by a choice Colle(^ion of
modem Relations)

The real

EXISTENCE

OF

APPARITIONS, SPIRITS, ^ and WITCHES.

By Jof, Clahvll, late Chaplain to hisMajefty, and Fellow , ,, . of the Royal Society. , ,. ,.

LONDON: Printed MDCC

-j-^^j — -^js-ui-ut-iii^.jj.i.j^jja^ ^

The Preface

paritions ayb things Ridiculous^ Incredible, Fop^_ pifhy Impoffible^ and therefore all Relations that ^jfert them are Lies^ Cheats and Delujions^ and thofe that afford any Credit to thent^ are credulous Gulls ^ and filly eafie Believers.

Which things if they fljould Ptot he foy it would ^oil many a Jeli^ and thofe t»ho thought themf elves great Wits^ muji have the dtjcomfort of fading they are miftaken. They muft fall back into com" men dnd v^ilg^r Belief and lofe the pretence to ex* traordinary Sagacity^ on which they valued them-f elves fo muchy and be brought ta be afraid of another Worldy and he fubyeHed to the commof^ Terrors which they dejpiftd before j a^ the J higgles, and Contrivances of rrkfts and Politicians, and fo muft fee themf elves under a neceffity of altering their Lives^ or of being undone^ Thefe are very k^rd and grievous things, and therefore the Sto^ ries of Witches and Apparitions n^uji be explo^ and run down^ or all is lojl.

This is the cafe mthmultitudes of brisk confident Men in our Days^ fothdt to meddle on this SubpBj is to affront them greatly, to provoke their Rage and Contempt^ and to raife the Devil of their Wit and Bu-^oonry; Allwhich confidered^ it mufl be confeff id he a very bold and advent urom thing to undertake the Province in which I have engaged* And be^ fides the provocation which it mufi needs give to the .Huffer§ and Witlings^ there k mother fort ^ whofe ' -■■- ; ■ "^--^ ■" ■ . ' good

To the Reader:

good Opinion I greatly value : fomefoher and inge^' nious Spirits J who upon other Grounds doubt of the Exiflence of Witches, who maj be apt to judge me guilty of Credulity for the pains I take in this matter ihis alfo hath hem fome trouble anddifcouragement.

And upon the whole^ I am affured before-hand, thtt no Evidence o/Fa£t pojfihle is fufficient to re-move the obfli/^ate prejudices of divers refolvedMen^ dfid therefore I know I mufi fall under their heavy €e» fires , of which I have confidered the worfi^ and^ am I hope pretty well prepared to hear the fever e^ of them. But no Man would expofe himfelfto all ihis for noihingy nor have L There were reafonsfor this engagement^ and they were briefly thefe that follow.

Having been at Mr. Mompeflbn'i houje in the time of the diflurbance^ feen and heard (omewhat my felfy and received an account from Mr* Mom-pe/Ton, and other credible ferfons of the whole trouble \ Iwas perfuaded to publifhj and to annex the full account of it to the fecond or third Edition of my Cottfiderations concerning Witchcraft, to which the Story had near Relation. This Ididy and they faffed two or three Editions together y without much farther trouble to me. But of late^ I have heard from all parts and am amazed at it, that fo flrongly attelted Relation is run down in moft places as a DeluJIon and hnpofiure^ and that Mr. Mom-peffon and my felf, have confejfed all to be a cheat and contrivance.

Concerning thi/y I have been asked a thoufand timesy till I have been weary of anfwering^ and the Queftionifts would fcarce believe Iwas in earnefi when I denied it. I have received Letters about

?4 ??

■ I

The Prefoce

it from know}* friends ^nd ftr angers out of many farts of the Three l\jngdoms^ fo that I have been haunted aimofi as bad ,ts Mr. MompcffonV houfe^ Mofh of them have declared that it \Vits ^moft confi-. dently reported^ and believed in all the refpe^ive tarts^ that thehfflnefs tvasa Cheat^ that Mr. Mom-pelTon had confrjfed Jo much, and Itheftme : fo that I IV, es quite tired with denying and anfwering Letters ahout it. And to frse my f elf from the tr viable ^ I at Ujl refolvsd to re-frint the Story by it f elf with > my Confutation of the Invention that concerned me^ and a Letter I received from Mr. Mompeiron ( nom printed in this Book) which cleared the matter as, to him, '

This accordingly J commtHedto my Book fe Her'' s' hands form y^ars fines to be printed. But it being not done^ I wds continttally importuned Iry new Salt* citations and Queflions, md at length ^ut comes Mr. Webllef'i confident Book, in which he faithy That ray Story of the Drummer^ and the other q{ Witchcraft^ areas odd and filly, as any can betoJdor read, and as fiditious, incredible, lu-dicrous and ridiciilons as any can be^ p. i\. And sgain^p, 278. Muftnot all Perfons that are of found underftandiiig, fudge and believe that alj thcfe ftrange tricks related by MwGlanviloilm Drummer and Mr. Mompeffon's Houfe, which he calls the Daemon oi Tedworth, were abominable Cheats and Impoflures, as I am informed by Perfons of good Quahty, they were difcovercd " to be. . . 4's^\ii V:'

But neither did this Confidence^norhis Book { I ■ -iOfffrfs-^ much move me ; fori was very loath to ke

troubkA

To the Reader.

troubled any more in thU matter. But at lajl divers Emtner<t Men^ and Learned friends of mine having taken notice of it ^ and teing troubled to fee Jo con-fiderabie an ewidence againft Saducifin, as Mr. MompeiPjfi'j Story is ^ jo impudently run down h^ purfofely contrived lies^ they urg'd rne very much to re-frint the Relation^ with my Confiderations a-bout Witchcraft , andfo give fome check to the In* fdtMion and Confid,ui££ of Mr. Webiter.

To this I flood long dtf inclined^ but being frefl by the confideraSion that fuch a Re-enf or cement might be a very con fider able 'and feafonable fervice to Religion, again f the Jtupd Saducirm and Iijfide-ikyofthejge^ I was ferfuaded: And having fio. nifed my being now inclined to the d^fign, I received great encouragement from feme of the greatefi Sp-rits of our Age and Nation^ who earnesily animnted Tne to it. Having refolved^ I bethought me of ma-king afma/lColhStion of the mofi credible and beft attefled Stories of this kind that were near and mo^ dern^ to accompany the Second I had Printed^ and to confirm and prove the main Subjects

A PV MX I SEME NT.

THIS is the whole of the P/^/^^^, that •was found amongft lAv, GlanviPs Pa-pers, faving five or fix . v/ords, which being •lupcrfluous to the lenie of this laft Claufe,

an4

The Preface

and beginning fome thing elfe not perfected, I thought better left out. But as for Mn Mom^ fejfonh Letter to Mr. GUnvil, which is nienti-oned in this Preface^ and defigned to be Printed in this intended Edition, it is out of the Original Copy as follows.

Mr. Mompejfons Letter to Mr. Glanvil Dated ISlov. S.Jn.i6jz.

Worthy Sir,

MEeting with Dr, Pierce accidentally at Sir Robert Buttons^ be acquainted me of lbme«

thing that paffed between my Lord of R —

and your felf about my troubles, &c. To which (having but little leifure) I do give you this ac-count, that I have been very often of late asked the Queftion, whether I have not confelFed to His Majefty or any other, a cheat difcovered about that affair. To which I gave, and fliall to my Dying-day give the fame Anfwer, That Imuft belye my felf, and perjure my felf alfb, to acknowledge a Cheat in a thing where I am fure there was nor could be any, as I, the Mini-fter of the Place, and two other Honeft Gentle-men depofed at the Affizes, upon my Impleading the Drummer. If tl\e World will not believe

' : ■ -^ . ■ it.

To the Reader.

it, it fliall be indiflPerent to me, praying God to keep me from the fame, or the like affliftion. And although I am fure this moft damnable lye does pafs for current amongft one fort of people in the World, invented only, I think, to fupprefs the Belief of the being either of God or Devil ; yet I queftion not but the Thing obtains credit enough amongft thofe, whom I principally defire fhould retain a more charitable Opinion of me, than to be any way a devifer of it, only to be talk't of in the World, to my own difadvan^ tage and reproach ; of which fort I reckon you one, and reft in haft.

SIR,

^'^•^' Your obliged Servant

^0. Mompejjon.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Concerning the Attejiation of Mr. MompelToo and others upn Oath at the Affizes^ the fame is mentioned alfo^ and their Names exfrejfed in ^ Letter to Mr. James Collins, which Letter from the OriginalCofy is as follows.

The Preface

Mr, Mompejfon's Letter to Mr. CoL lins Dated Aug. Z. Jn. 1 6j^^

s I K.

I Received yours, and had given you an earli-er anfv^er, had I not been prevented by ibme journeys. I now give you riiis ; That as to any additional part of the Story, I ihaU not trouble you with at prefent, not knowing what is either ah'eady puMiflied or omitted, in regard I have not any of Mr. Gla^vifs Books by me. I never . had but one, which was the Jaft year borrowed of me for the ufe of the Lord Mollis^ and is not yet returned. But as to the bufinefs of the Aili-zes (which is Hkely to work moft on the Incre^ dulous, becaufe the Evidence w^as given on Oath) I fball here enlarge it to you.

When the Drummer was efcaped from his Ex-ile, which he was Sentenced to at Gloucejler for a Felony, I took him up, and procured his Com-mitment to Salisbury Godly where I Indided him -as a Felon, for this fuppofed Witchcraft about my Houfe. When the fellow faw me in earneft, he lent to me from the Prifbn, that he was fbrry for my affliction, and if I would procure him leave to come to my Houfe in the nature of an Harveft-man, he did not queftion but he fhould| do me good as to that affair. To which I fent anfwer, I knew he could do me no good in aiiy honeft- way, and therefore rejected it. The Afll-

zes

To the Reader.

zes came on, where I Indicted hira on the Sta* tutQ Primo Jacob i cap. 12. where you may find, that to feed, imploy, or reward any evil fpirit is Felony. And the Indiftment againft him was, that he did ^uendam malum Sprit um negotiare^ the Grand Jury found the Bill upon the Evidence, but the Petty Jury acquitted him, but not with* outfome difficulty.

The Evidence upon Oath were my felf, one Mr. William Maton^ one Mr. Walter Dowfe^ all yet living, and I think of as good Repute, as any this Country has in it, and one Mr. Jo. Craggy then Minifter of the Place, but fince dead. We all depofed feveral things that we conceived im-poilible to be done by any natural Agents, as the motion of Chairs, Stools and Bed-ftaves, no body-being near them, the Beating of Drums in the Air over the Houfe in clear nights, and nothing vifible ; the ftiaking of the Floor and ftrongeft parts of the Houfe in ftill and calm nights, with feveral other things of the like nature : And that by other Evidence it was applied to him.

For feme going out of thele parts to Gloucefiet whilft he was there in Prifon, and vifiting him, he ask't them what News in Wilts, To which they replyed, they knew none. No, fays the Drummer^did you not hear of a Gentleman^s Houfe that was troubled w^ith the Beating of Drums? They told him again, if that were News, they heard enough of that. Ay, fays the Drumtnery it was becaufe he took my Drum from me; if he had not taken away my Drum, that trouble had never befallen him, and he fliall never have

his

The Preface^ &c,'

iiis quiet again, till I have my Drum, or fatis-fadbon from him. ^

1 -.H. w<is d - led by one Thomas Avis Servant to one M . i homds Sadler of North-Wilts^ and thefe vvord« had like to Lave coil the Drummer his Life. For elfe, alcbmigb the things were ne* ver fo true, it could not have been rightly apply-ed to him more than to another. 1 Ijbould only add, that the before mentioned Witneffes were Neighbours, and depofcd, that they heard and fav^ thefc things almoft every day or night for many Months together. As to the Sculpture you intend, you beft underftand the advantage, I think it needlefs. And thofe Words [you fliall have Drumming enough ] is m ore than I heard himfpeak: I reft

Tour loving FrienJ^

Aujt:^' 4^ Jo. Mompcffoa

(I)

Jn IntroduBion to the Troof of th&
ExijUnce of Apparitions, Spi-
rits, 4f^^ Witches.

s E C T. L

The gnat ufefulmfs md feafonablemfs of the prefect Argument^ totiching Witches, i?;^^ Apparitions injuhferviency to Religion,

TH E Queflion, whether there are Witches or not, is not matter of vam Speculation^ or of indifferent Moment j but an Inquiry of very great and weighty Importance. For, on the refblution of it, depends the Authority and juft Execution of Ibme of our Laws ; and which is more, our Religion in its main Doctrines is nearly concerned. There is no one^ that is not very much a ftranger to the World but knows how Atheijtn and Infidelity have advanced in our days, and how openly they now dare to (hew themfelves in Afferting and Disputing their vile Gaufe. Particularly the difiinkien of the Soul [rom the Body, the being of Spirit Sj and a: Future Life are Afferti-ons extremely difpifed and oppofed by the Men of this Ibrtj andifwelofe thofe Articles, all Religion comes^ to nothing. They are clearly and fully Afferted in the Sacred Oracles, but thofe Wits have laid a fide thefe Di-vine

2 The IntroAuBion,

vine Writings. They are proved by the befl: Philofb-phy and highcft Reafon ; but the -Unbelieyers,. divers 6f them are too (hallow to be capable of fuch proofs, and the more fiibtle are ready to &epticize away tiiofe grounds. • _■ v ' . . ..,,t \y,.

. But there is one Head of Argurnents that tfoubfes them much^ and that is, the TopicK oiWitchits and Af-pmlkns. If fuch there are, it is a'fenubt^ proof of 'Spi-rits and another Life, = an Argiimerir of more direcit force than any Speculations^ or Abitrad reafoningsj" and fucb an pne as meets with all the forts of InfiJels, On which iiccount they labour with all their niight to peifuade. themfelves and others, that ^"ifc^e^ and Aftarhions are but Melancboiick Dreams ^ or crafty Impofimes ; and here it is generally^ that they bcgia with the young-men, whole undedianding they defign to Debauch. ' They cxpoleand deride all Relations oi Spirits and Witchcraft, and furnifh them with lo me little Arguments, or rather Colours againft thdr Exigence. And youth is very ready to encertainTuch Opinicns as will help thecn to hni'iQr, they are wifer than the generality of Men.-And when they have once fwallowed this Opinion> and Sitcfure there are no Witches nor Apparitions, \hQ^ are prepared for the denial of Spirits^ a Life to' come, and all the other Principles of Religion. So that I think it will be a confiderable and very leafonable lervice to it, fully to debate and fettle this matter, which I (hall endeavour in the following (heets^ and I hope fo, as not to impofe upon my felf or others, by empty Rhetoric cations, fabulous Relations^ or Sophiilical Realbnings, but treat on the Queftion with that, freedom and plaih"-nels, that becomes one that is neither fond. fancifuUiof credulous.

cK

i

The IntraducHoH,

SECT. IL

The true fiat ing of the Quejiion by dejinwg whdt ^^ Witch a^d Witchcratc fs.

I Know that a great part of ehe Labour in rooft Coii-troveiifies, ufeth to he beftowed on things imperti-nent to the main bujfineisj and by them the Minds of both fides are fb confounded, that they v/ander widely from the point in difference, and at faftlole k q'jire, It Would quickly be thus in the Queftion of Btnhcraft^ and ufaally is fo;, without previous care to avoid ir. hm, I (hall rake the betl ! Can^, that my pains On this Subjccf^ be not {ry niif-beftowed, but cloiely apply ed to the '^'^t-pofe: And in order thereunto fhall briefly define t\\^^ terms of the Queftion, and then iet down \^h^t\ grant to mine Adveriaries, and what I demand from tiiem. And w^hen thefe Trehminaries are well adjuifed, we inaU proceed with more diiiinctnefs^ an j (till lee whereabout we ai'e^, and know how fir what is aOlrmed or -proved^ reaches the main matter in debate. .' The Qiieifion is whedier there are Wit ehe s on not i Mr. ^''^^/^er accufeth the ¥/nter3 on the Subjedl: of de-fed, in not laying down a peri^<fi Defcriptioa of a Witch or Witchcrafts or explaining what they .mean^ p. 20. \¥hac his^perfe.:^ Deicriptloo is, I do not know | mt I think I have deicribed a Witch or IVttehcraft in my Confiderations, fufficiently to be underitood, and the Con-ception which I^ andj i think, moll Men have- i^:^ That a Witch is ope^ who can do or jeems. to do ftrange thmgt h-fond the known Power of Ah and ordinary Islaturej h% 'ver--tue of a Confederacy 'with Evd Spirits, Strmge JhngJ^ not Miracles ; thele are the e^ttraordinary Effe^h pf i>;-^ine Power, known and dlflinguifhed by their circurn-ftitiCQS^ agl Ihall fhew in due oUce," The (i range things

^ The Introduction.

are really perfoi med^ and are not all Impoflures and De* lujions. The Witch occafionsy but is not the Frincipal Ef-ficient, (he feems to do it, but the Sfim performs the wonder, fometimes immediately, as in Jranfportations and Foffefflom^ fometimes by applying other Natural Caufes, asinr2i\fmgStorwsy and inflicting Di/^^yej^lbme-times ufmg the Fl^itcb as an In^rument, and either by ths Eyes or Touch conveying Malign Influences : And thefe things are done by vertue of a ^Covenant ^ or Com-paB brtwixt the VFitcb and an E'vH Spirit. A Spirit, viz. an htteliigent Creature of the Invifible Worlds whether one of the Evil Angels called Devils, or an Inferiour D^mon or Sprnt^^M^^-^^. wicked Soul departed ; but one that is abk^and ready for mifchief, and whether altogether Incorporeal or not, appertains not to this Queflion.

SECT. III.

nat neither the Notation of the Ndme that (tgni" fies indifferently^ nor thefalfe Additions of others to the Notion of a Witch can any way difjettk the Authors definition,

TH I S I take to be a plain Defription of what wei mean by a Witch and Witchcraft : What Mr» Vl/'ehfier and other Advocates for Witchesy talk concern-ing the words whereby thefe are expreft, that they are: improper and Metaphorical, fignifying this, and figni-fyiag that, is altogether idle and impertinent. The word Witch fignifies orginally a Wile Man, or rather a Wife Woman. The fame doth Saga in the Latin, and plainly fo doth Wizzard in Englifli fignifie a Wife Man, and they are vulgarly called cunning Men or Women. An Art, Knowledge, Cunning they havet

that

The JntroduHion. | ^

that is extraordinary ; but it is far from true Wifdom and the word is degenerated into an ill feiife,, as Ma giais.

So then they are called, and we need look no further, it is enough, that by the Word, we mean the Thing and Terfon I have defcribed, which is the common meaning * and Mr. VVehfiet and the reft prevaricate when they make it fignihe an ordinary Cheat , a Couzener, a Poyfo-nety Seducer, and I know not what. Words fignifie as they are ufed, and in common ufe, Witch and Witch-craft, do indeed imply thefe^ but they imply more^, 'viZu Deluding, Cheating and Hurting by the Power of an Evtl Spirit in Covenant with a wicked Man or Wo-man : This is our Notion of a Witch.

Mr. Vf^ebfler I know will not have it to be a perfe(3: Defcripition. He adds' to the Notion of the Witch he oppoleth, carnal Cofulation with the De'vil^ and real Transformation into ^nHare, Caty Dog, Wolf; the fame doth Mr. Wagfiaffe, Which is, as if a Man fliould de-fine an Angel lobe a Creature in the fhape of a Boy with WingSj and then prove there is no fuch Being: Of all Men I would not have Mr. Wehfier to make my Definitions for me ; we our felves are to have the leave to tell what it is that we affirm and defend. Arid I have delcribed the Witch and Witchcraft^ that fober Men believe and alTert. Thubriefly for Defining.

"%^

SECT. IT.

What things the Author concedes in thlsCohtroverpi ahut Witches ^^^ Witchcraft,

I

Shall let the Vsikvanio^ Witches know what I allovt^ arid

rant to themj Firfti I grant,* That there are foriie Witty and Inge-

Q, % iiioui

6 The IfttroduUion.

nious Men of the oppoilte Belief to me in the Queftiort.' Yea, Jt is accounted a piece of Wit to laugh at the ^^-Wd o{ VFitcbes as filly Credulity. And fome Men va-' lue themfeives upon it^ and pride them in their fuppo-fed Sagacity of feeing the Cheat that impofeth on io great a part of Believing Mankind. And the Stories of P fitches and Apparitions afford a great deal of Subje<3: for Wir, which it is pity that a witty Man fhould lofe. . „ \

Secondly, I own that Ibme of thole who deny F^'f-; cbes have no defign againft, nor a difinclination to Re-> ligion^ but believe Spirits, and a Life to come, as other fober Chriftians do, and fo are neither Atheifis^ Saddu-ces a.nd Hahhifis. .

Thirdly, I allow that the great Body of Mankind is very credulous, and in this matter lb, that they do be-i llcve yain impoffible things in relation to it. That car nal Copulation with the Devil, and real Tranfmutation on Men and Women into other Creatures are fuch. That people are apt to impute the eoitraor dinar ies of Art^, or NituvQ to f Witchcraft y and that their Credulity is oheni abufed by fubtle and deigned Knaves through thele.^ That there are Ten thoufand filly lying^Stories of Witch*^ craft and Apparitions among the vulgar. That infinite; fuch have been occafioned by Cheats and Topi^f^fi^QV— ftitions^ and many inrented and contrived by theKna-f very ofPtfpi/Z?Priefts. ^

Fourthly, I grant that Melancholy and Imaginatiott| liave very great force, and can beget ftrange perfuafi-l ons. And that many Stories of Witchcraft and Appariti*' ons have been but Melancholy fancies.

Fifthly, I know and yields that there are many ftrange natural Dileaies that have odd Symptom es, and produce | wonderful and aftonifhingeffeds beyond the ufual courfe of Nature^ and that fuch are Ibmqtimes falfly afcribed to FFit€h(^aft,

Sixth!)?, I own, the Topi^ Inquifitours, and other

Witch- fillers have done much wrong, that they have

^ deuroyed

7 he IntYoduBton. J

deftroyed innoceftt perfons for Wirche:^^ and that wAtch-ing and Torture have extorted extraordinary Confaffi-' ens from fome that were not guilty*

Seventhly and Laftly^ I grant the Tranfadlions of ' Spirits mth fFitcbes, which we affirm to be true and certain, are many of them very fti ange and uncouth, and that we can fcarce give any account of the Rea-fbns of them, or well , reconcile many of thole paffa-ges to the commonly received.Notion oi Sprits^ and chs State of the next World.

If thefe Conceffions will do mine Adverfaries in this Queftion any good, they have them freely. And by them I have already almoft fpoiled ail Mr. Wehj^er s and Mr. VVagfl^ajfs^ and the other Witch- Advocates Books^ which prove little elfe than what I have here granted. And having, been lb free in Conceffions^ I may expe(5l: that fomething (hould be granted me from the other party .

ADVERTISEMENT.

THofethat are mentioned in the fecondConcepon, though they are not Atheifts^ Sadducees nor Hobbifts 5 yet if they deny Witches, it u plainly they are Antilcripturifls^ the Scripture fo plainly attefiing the contrary,

S E C T. V.

TheVoimlditdirvhich the Author demmds of his Ad-ver farm as his ]ufi right,

TH E demands that I make are ; Firft, That whe-ther Witches are or are not, is a queftion of Fad : For it is in effed, vyhether any Men or Women hav@ been^or are in Covenant with Evil Spirit s^ and whether they by the Spints help, or he on their account performs fuch or fuch things.

Q 5 . Secondly,

S The IfitroduSiion,

Secondly, That matter of Faa can only he proved by immediate Senfe, or the Teftimony of others Di-*vine or Humave. To endeavour to demonftrate Fad by abftra^t realbning andfpeculation, is^ as if a Man jhould prove that Julm Cefar founded the Empire of Ecme, by Algebra or Metafhyficks. So that what Mr. Wehfter faith^ p. 4;. That rhe true and proper medimus to prove rhe ad:ions of ^ifc^ei by^are Scripture and found Reafon,^nd not the improper way oiTeftimony (which we life in the oppoficion that Tefiimony ftands to Scripture and found Reafon ) is very Nonienfe.

Thirdly, That the Hi (lory of the Smpture is not all 'Allegory^ but generally hath a plain literal and obvious meaning.

Fourthly 3 Thatfome Hun^aneTefiimoms arc crcdMo and certain^ 'viz,. They may be io circumftantiated as to leave no realon of doubt. For our lenfes fometiujes report truth3 and all Mankind are Liars^ Cheats, and Knaves, at lead they are not all Liars^ when ihey have ho Intereft to be io.

Fifthly, That which is fufficiently and undeniably proved, ought not to be denied^ becaufe we know not how it can be, that is, becaufe there are difficulties in the conceiving of it. Otherwife Senfe and Knev^kdge is gone as well as Faith, For the Modus of moft things is Vnknown, and the moft obvious in Nature have inextri-cable difficulties in the Speculation of them, as I have fhewn in my Scepfn Scimiifea. .

Sixthly and lallly, we are much in the dark, as to the l^atms and Kinds of Sprits^ and the f articular condition of the other World. The Angels, Devils, SLtid Souls happineis and milery we know, bet what kinds are un-der ihefe generals^ and what adions, circumftances and waysot Life under thole States we little underiiand.' Thefe are myTsBulaU or demands, which I iuppofe will bethought reafonable^ and ftch as need no more proo£

Trs4

C93

Proof of

Jpparitions^ Spirits^ and Witches^

From

HOLY-SCRIPTURE

S E C T. I.

The Authors purpp/e of proving Apparitions a?ji Witchcraft, to fuch as believe Scripture, as fir Jl from the Apparition of Angels.

AN D having thus prepared my way, I come ro prove that there are ^zVc/jifjagainft both the forts that deny their Exiftence, vi:^, Thofe that believe ihe Scri-p' tureSi and the Wits or Witlingns that vjilinot admit their Teftimony. To the firit I ihall prove the be-ing o£ Patches by plain Evidence taken from the Divine Oracles, and to the other, and indeed to both, Ilhall evince thefnmeby as full and clear Teftimonies, as matter of fadt is capable of, and then anfwer the oppoliteObjedtions, and thofe particularly of the three late confident Exploders of Witchcraft ; * Mr. PVeb-fiery Mr. WagfiaffCi and ihQ Author oi th6 DoBrine of Devils, The Proof I intend Ihall be of thefe two things, vit;^. Thac Spirits have fenfibly tranfadted with Men, and that fome have been in fuch Leagues with them, as to be enabled thereby to do wonders.

Thefe fenfible Tranfadtions of Spirits with Men, are evident from Apparitions and Pojfejjions. The Apparition of Angels^ their diicourfes and predidlions fenfible converfes with Men and Women are frequently recorded in the Scripture. An Angel ap-

Q 4 peared

10 Troofs of Apparitions &c, •

enrpfl to lingar, Gen, i6. Three Angels in the Aape of Men appeared to Ahrnhain, Gen. i8. Two to Lot \n ihe fame like-ici'i. Gen. 19. An An ^.'^l called loHjgnr, Gm, 21, 17. r.nd fo|

id one to Abrahr.yn, Gm. 22. An Arr.el ipr.keroand converfed"
with Jacob in a Dream, Gen*.^i, One of the fame appearei,
TO M-fis in the B^th, Exc^, 3. An Angel went before the Canjp
/)f //)\.t^/, jEa-ol-/. • 4. An Angel met Balaam in the w?.y, Nw>?-;^. 22.]
An Ansel (pake to all the People oUfrad. 3^-^K^^ 2,. An Angel ap-i
peared to GzVtJ^w, Jud'^es 6. and to the Wife of Ma/iwtb^ ?«^.
13. An Angel deftroyed rhe People, 2 Sam. 24. An. Ar^gel ap-:
peared m Elijah, i .i<;/X?J 19- Ah Aingel fniore in theC?.mp of
the Aijyrians 184000. 2 ^mgJS5- An Angel ftocd by jheThrefb-
ing floor ot On^w, i Chroi. 2i, 15. An Angel talked with ;s^/<-
rij^rzVj the Prophet, ;^r?c', I.

■ An Angel appeared ro the two Marys at onr Lords Sepulchre, 4Vf:^^i/;.~28. An Angel foretold the Birch oi John Baptilf 10 Za^,^ cbariah the Prielt, Luk. i . Gabriel was fent to the Holy Virgin, jAik; 1.26. An Angqr appeared to the Shepherds, Lii\. 2. An Angel opened the Pnion I>oor to Peter and the refi:. Jid:s 5. I might accumulate many more inftances, but thefe are enough. And many c'rcumftances of lepiTble Converfe belong to more of then->, which' may be read at large in the refpediive Chapters.' And fince rhe Inuercourfes of A^ngeis were fo frequent in former days, why (houid we be averie to the belief that Spirits fome-nmes trapfadl with Men now ? ' <

ADVERTISEMENT. |

^ T ¥ind ai7iongfl Mr* Glanvil'j Papers^ the firfl Lineaments or

Strok^es of an Anfwer to Mr. Wagftaf^e, and to the Author of the Dodrine of Devils, but wore fully to Mr, Webfter, at'^ haFt Seventeen Sheets where he* nnfwers folidly and fuhifanti ally \ phere I can read his Hand^ hut it reaches but to the Sixth Chaf^v^ ter. And in truth he has laid about, him fo well in thefe Sheeis'': ^hnt are^ubliffoedi that thofe may vpeU feem the lefs nficejfary^

5 E C T,

from Holy Scripture. 1 1

SECT. IL

The Evafions h^ Adverfaries ufe to efcape the fore e of thefe Proofs of Scripture from the Apparition of Angels^ with the AuthorV Anjwer.

THERE are feveral Evafions, by which fome endeavour to eicape thefe Texts ; as Firft, the Sadducees of old and i^-W///7?/ of later Days, who hold, to wit, thefe, That the An-gels we read of, were but Divine Graces ; the other. That they were Divine Phantafms created to ferye a prefent occalion, which ceafed to be as foon as they difappeared. Qne would think, that none that ever had read the Scriptures, fhould en-tertain fuch a Conceit as this, that is {o contrary to the. account they every where give of thofe Caleftiil Creatures, But there is nothing fo abfurd, but foaie Men will embrace to fupport their Opinions.

Let us confider-aJittle hovv differently from this vain Fancy the Scripture defcribes them. They are called Spirits^ an At-tribute given to God himfelf, the prime Suhfiftence, who is hy way of Eminence called the Father of Sprit Sy notoiphantafms. And Spirits imports as much Subflance as Body, though without grofs Bulk. We read of e/fr?Angels,andtheAngelsthat7?.'?«^Z'£/orc the Throne of God continually, and that always behold the Face of God. Of the/^//fw Angels, that kept not their firft Station, that are held in thcChains of Darknefs- and of everlaflingpire prepared for the Devil and his Angels, againft the Judgment of the great Day. Both had their Order of Superiority and Inferiority, Michael and his Angels, the Dragon and his Angels. "We are made little lower than the Angels. In Heaven we Hiall be as the Angels of Gbd. Of the Day of Judgment knoweth no Man, no not the Angels. Let all the Angels of God Worfhip him.

Which Defcriptions of the Nature, Order, Conditiott, Attri^ hates of Angels, and infinite more fuch, up and down the Scrip-tures, are not applicable to Phantafms, but demonftratively prove, that the Angels of whofe Apparitions we hear fo fre-quently there, were real permanent Suhjljienciesy and not meer Fh am a/ms and Shadom,

SECT.

12 Proof of AppsLYitionSy &i

SECT. III.

That^ the Angels that are faid to have appearedin Scripture^ were not Men-Meffengers, but Inha-bitants of the invifibie World : Aad whether they Eat a?3d Drank or no. /

BU T were not thofe Angels that fo appeared, fpecial Pro' phets^ Divine MeffengerSy fometimes in Scripture confefled-ly called Angels > They did Eat and Drink vyith Abraham and with Lot^ by which it fliould feem that they were real Men. But whoever fhaJl look over the Inftances alleged of the Appa-rition of Angels, and read them in all the Circumftances of the Text, will plainly fee that they could not be Men,

Such could not be the Angd that fpake to Abraham and Ha^ gar out of Heaven, that Converfed with Jacob in a Dreaiii, that appeared to Mofes in the Burning-bulh, that appeared to M^-nonh, and afcended in his and his Wifes prefence, in the Flame of the Sacrifice, that went before the Camp of Ifrael, that flood before Balaam in the way unfeen by him, that fmotethe Army oixhtAJJyrianSf that appeared to ^acharias in the Tem>ple, and to the Maries at the Sepulchre. Thefc muftbea fort of Be-ings fuperiours to Mankind, Angels in the proper Senfe, who are fometimes in Scripture called Men^ becaufe they appear incur likenefs.

But whether the fe do receive refedtion or fuftinence in their own World and State or not, I will not difpute. It is moft probable, that it hath been the Dodfine both of Fathers and Philofophers, that they are vitally united to JEtherial and Hea-venly Bodies, which poflibly may need Recruits fome fuch way, and fo Angels Food may be more than a Metaphor. But certain-ly they cannot Eat after our manner, nor Feed on our grofs Di-et, except in appearance only ; they may make a (hew of do-ing it , as the Angel t{aphael told Tobit that he did", Tab. 1 2. 1 9. All thefe Days I did appear unto you^ but I did neither Eat nor Drinl^j, but you did fee a Vifiop ) but really they do it not : So that when ^/?>'^/:?Ws and L(7/'s Angels are faid to Eat and prink with them, the Scripture fpeaks as to them it feemed. And fo the Jerufalem Targum reads. And they feemed as if they 4id Rat and Drink^. And we may fuppofe that Mens Goncep-

> "" tions

J

f-om Holy Scripture. ij

tions of Angels were not very refined in thofe Days, nor could they have born their fenfible and free Converfes, it they had lookc on them as Creatures of a Nature fo diftant iron:! their own.

And therefore afterward, when chey were better underftood, thofe to whom they appeared were ftruck with great dread and amazement, and thought they (hould prefentiy Die. Nor do we, as I remember, read anymore of the Angels Eating or Drinking, after what feemed to Abraham and Lot, Indeed JVf^wW:' invited the Angel to Eat, Jud^, i^. 15. but it was before he knew he was an Angel, and it is fet down in excufe of the offer, v. 1 6. For Manoah knew not that he was an Angel of the Lordy implying, that the Invitation had been ablurd if he had known it.

I have faid this in Anfwer to the Objecftion, though the main Caufe is not concerned ; for though I Ihould grant that Ahra-/7<jW2*sand Lot% Angels were Men, yet the other Inftances in which that could not be faid or fuppofed, are more than enough to carry my Point, That real Angels, Inhabitants of the invifi-hie fVorldf did fometimes fenfibly appear.

SECT. IV.

j Thap Angels are fiillminifiring Sprits as mil as of old.

BU T it will be faid, when they did appear, it was upon Divine Errands^ and God fent them to ferve the ends of his Government and Providence; which I grant, and God Al-mighty hath the fame ends to ferve ftill, he Governs the World now, and his Providence is as watchful as ever, and the An^ gels are the chief Minifters of that Providence, and miniftring Spirits for our good. The Gofpelwas ufnered in by ihQ Appa-rition of Angels, and many things done by them in the carry-ing of it on- and why we (hould think they may not be fent, and ftiould not appear on occafion now, I do not fee ; but this is more than I need fay yet, being for the firft ftep only to (hew, that Spirits have tranladed with Men.

SECT,

14 Proof (?/Apparkions, &c,

SECT. V.

Troof from the Apparitions oftvW Spirits, recorded tn Scripture.

THofe I have mentioned hitherto, have been good and be-
nign Spirits, but evil Spirits havealib appeared, and fcn-
iibiy had to do with Mankind. My firft Inftance of this, is one
of the firfb Buiinefles that was in the World, the Temptation of
Eve by the DcvH in the Serpent ; an Argument which thofe
that adhere to the Letter of thole three firft Chapters cannot a-
void. Evil Angels were fen t among the Egyptians^ Pfnl.'j%,
49. and thofe palfed through and 1 mote the Land ; but theDe-
fixoy^rs vi:{, the evil Angels were not permitted to come into
the Ifraelites Houfes, Kxod. ii. z^. When God asked Satan
whence became, ^ok 1.7. he aniwcred, from going to and fro
in the Earth. By Divine Peimiffion he raifed the great Wind
that blew down the Htmfe upon Job's Children, v. 19. and
fmotehis Body all ever with Boils, ^o/' 2. 7. He tempted our
Saviour in an external fecfible way, carrying him from place
to place, and urging the Son of God to Worfhip him, Matf 4.
But more of this will appear by cpnfidering the fecond Head
proppfed, -vl^. PoJfeJJlon of evil Spirits.

SEC T. VI.

Troofs from PoiTeflions of evil Spirits, md thai
they were not DifeaJeSj as the Witch- Advocates
- would have them^

THAT fuch Pojfejfions have been, we find frequently and plainly delivered in the Hiftory of the Gofpel, and fo of-ten, that I (hall not need to recite Particulars. The Evafion that the Witch- Advocates have for this, is. That the Devils and nnclem Spirits fpokcn of in thofe places, v/hich our Savi-our is faid to have caft out, were ftrange and uncommon Di-feafes, which the Jews thought to be Devils and Chnft who ■' ■ ' ^ came

fiom Hoty Scripture, 1 5

came not t%teach MenPhilofophy, complyed with their deceiv-ed Apprehenfion, and the Evangelifts fpcak according to their Conceit in this Matter. But if this AnP^er muft pafs, then in the firft place,

Farewel all Scripture, it may be made to fay what we pleafe; and if when the.Scripmre fpeaks in a plain Hiftory ofuncIea?i Sprits and Devilsy we may underftand Difcafes by it, then what 'yN^ vQ2.d oi good Ar.gels m^iy be Graces and Vertues, and what we read of Chrift himfslf^ may all be interpreted of the Christ vQithin, and fo all the Scripmre, and all Religion Hiali Cgnifie what any Man thinks lit.

Secondly, the Cure of Difeales is mentioned in many of the
Texts, djftiniilly from the caftin gout of tiie Devils, zhns Mat.
10. I. He gave the Difcip/es power agamfi unclean Spirits to cafi
them oittf and to heal aU maimer ofSickriejfeSy and all manner of
Difeafes. This was a different Power from the former, and a^
manner of Si.cknefTes and Difeafes, implies the uncommon and
fxtraordinary, -'which our Sadducees would have the Devils to
be, vi:{. Difeafes, as well as the ordinary and ufual ones
are. So Luke 6.1%. He healed them of their Difcafes, and thofe
that voere vexed with unclean Spirits were brought to him, and
he healed them likewife. And moft plainly. Mat. 4.^4. And
they brought untp him all fick. People, that were taken with divers
Difeafes and Torments, and thofe that were pffeffed with Devils^
and thofe that were Lunaticl{j and thofe that had the Palfie, and
he healed them. The Mad-men, and thofe thai had the Falling-
iicknefs, the Diftempers which the Witch-Advocates make De-
vils of, are here mentioned apart, and as diftin(5l from thofe-
Devils our Saivour call our.

Thirdly, Many things are attributed to thofe Devils that were caftout, which are not applicable 10 Difeafes. The D^-vils in ihQV off ejfedzmongih^ Gergaf ens y Mat, i8. i6. befoughe Chrift, faying, Ifthoucaft us out, fuffer mtogoavcay into the Herd of Swine ^ and be gave them leave. Mark 5. 8. Sure tht Difeajes did not befeech him ; but perhaps the Men did. Had they a Mind to go into the Swine ? And did they CEtcr into them ? A fort oi foffeffwn 2is rhis was never heard of, a BeaH poffeif with a Man. But Si. U'\s tells us, they were the De-vils that went out of the Men, and entered into the Swine,l.Vik'^ 8.33. The Men did not go out of themfelves, and therefore^ if what went out was not the Difeafe, it was really the Devil ot unclean Spirit.

So Luke. 4. 35. In the Synagogue there was a Man that had a Spirit of an unclean Devil, and cried out v^ith a loud Voice,

faying,:

i6 Troof of Apparitions, &c.

faying, hct us aloncy Sec. Well, I'lt might noc this t)e the Man /jzw/c//" that cried 4DUC lb ? Therefore read a litde on, -y. 35, And J efttt rebuked hiniy viz. loim thzt Jpaksi laying to they^wff ftill, Hold thy fence, and come out of him. Which mult be ano* ther Perlbn diftindt from the Man himfelf, and who was that ? It follows, And when the Devil had thrown him in the mldft, he came out of him, the fame Devil that Jpakf ; that our Saviour re* hulked, and commanded to come out, which could be no other than a real evil Spirit.

And that tiiofe ejeBed Devils were not Di/eafes appears farrher, Mat. 12. V. zz. There was brought unto him^ om fojfeffed viuth a Devil, blind and Dumb, and he healed him, infomuch f to wi:, uhe confequence of the ejediing the Devil was ) that the bli72d and dumb both Jpake and f aw*, Tht Pharifees v. 24. impate this cafting out Devils to a Confedercy with Beel:(ebub the Pnncecf rhe Devils ; our Saviour there argues, that then Saran (hould be divided againft himfelf; namely, Beel:(ebub the chief, againft tije inferiour Devils that he caft out, who are of his Kingdom, and doing the vvork of it; for there it follows, That his Kjng' dom could not ftand, V. 26. Thele things will be hardly appiyed to Difeafes,

Fourthly and laftly. If the Evangelift Ihould call Difeafes Devils, and unclean Spirits^ and fpeaking of cafting out Devils in an Hiftory with all the plainnefs and expre0nefs of Words, Phrafe, and Circumftance, that fuch an adtion could be de-fcribed by, and yet mean nothing of it, what would this fug* geft, but that they falfly afcribed to Chrift Wonders that he never did, and confequently, that they were Lyars and Decei-vers, and vain Impoftors .^ For clear it is, that whoever Ihall read thofe PalTages in the Gofpel, without a pre-polfeft Opi-nion, will be led into this Belief by them, that our Saviour did really caft Devils out of Perfons poffeft. And if there bd really no fuch thing as Pojfejfton by evil SpiritSi but only Di-feafes by the ignorant and credulous People taken for fuch^ then the Hiftory impofeth on us^ and leads Men into a perfua-lion of things done by the Power of Chrift that never were. And what Execution this will do upon the Truth and GrediB of the whole Hiftory, is very ealie to undetftand.

SEGT.

from Holy Scripture, i j

SECT. VII.

That the Witch- Advocates cannot elude Scripture Teflimony of Poffeflion by evil Spirits, h^ facing it freaks according to the received Opinions of Men.

I But the Scripture doth, we know, fpeak often according to the received Opinion of Men,,though they are Errors, which it is not concerned to redlifie, when they concern no Aior^^Z/V^ or Religion.

But firft:, The Dodlrine o^ Sprits and Devils was noc the received Opinion of all the Jev;>s : The Sadduceesy a confide-rable Sed, were of another Mind. So that the Stories of e-jedting luch, muft look to them as Impoftors ; and the Scrip-tures were not only for the Jevps^ and for that particular time alone, but for all Places, and all Ages. Moft of which have no fuch ufe of calling Difeafes Devils, and among them, the Hiftory muft either convey a falfe Opinion, or lofe the Repu-tation of its Truth.

Secondly, Though the Scripture doth not vary from the common Forms of Speech, where they are grounded upon harm-lefs and lelTer Miftakes, yet when fuch are great and dange-rous, prejudicial to the Glory of God, and Intereft of Religi-on, it is then much concerned to reform and redify fuch Er-rors : And according to the Belief of the Pf^itch- Advocates, the Dodtrine of Pojfejfions is highly fuch, for it leads to the Opini-on of H^ichcrafit which they make fuch a difmal and tragical Error, Blafphemy, an abominably Idolatrous, yea an Atheifti-cal Dodtrine, the grand Apoftafie, the greateft that ever was or can be, that which cuts off Chrift's Head, and Un-Gods him, renounceth Chrift and God, and owns the Devil, and makes hini equal to them, (^c. As the Authr of the Grand Apoftafie raves.

And Mr. Wehflcr faith little lefs of this Opinion in his Pre-face, vi:{. That it tends to advance Superftitipn and Popery, is derogatory to the Wifdom, Juftice, and Providence of the Al-niighty, tending to cry up the Power of the Kingdom of Dark-Befs, to queftion the Verity of the principal Articles of the

Chriftian

iS Proof of Apparitions^ &c.

Chriftlan Faith, concerning the Refurredlion of Chrift, and generally tends to the obftrudring of Godlinefs and Piety.

And Mr. H^agftaffe loads it with as dreadful Imputations in his Preface ; as that it doth neceffkrily infer plurality of Gods, by attributing Omnipotent efi-edls to more than one, and that it fuppofeth many Omnipdtents, and many Omnifcients. If A-ny thing of this be fo, certainly our Saviour's infpired Hifto-rians would not have connived at, much lefs would they have fpbken in the Phrafe, that fuppofeth and encourageth a coiH-mon Error, that leads to fuch an horrid Opinion.

SECT. viir.

An Anfver to an Ohje^ion^ from Chrilfs not men-: tioning his cufiing out Devils to JohnV Difci-flesy amongfi other 'Miracles.

BU T faith the^«^^or of the Grand Apoflajie, p. 34. our Sa-viour himfelf in his Anfwer to the Difciples of '^ohn the Baptilff Luk^e 7. doth not pretend to the calling out Devils^ but only the cure of Difeafes, and railing the Dead. To which I fay, Firft, We may not argue Negatively from Scripture in fuch Matters, and certainly we ought not to argue from iilence in one place, againft plain Affirmations in many.

Secondly, our Saviour Anfwers in reference to the things he
was then doing; when the Difciples of Jf>/;K came to him, 1;.
21. And in that fame hour, he cured many of their Infirmities
And blagues. Evil Spirits, it muft be confelfed, are alfo men-
tioned. Some of thofe Difeafes, 'tis like, were occalioned by
Evil Spirits, 2s Mat. \^. ii. the Blindnefs and Dumbnefs of
the poffeffed Perfon there was. And then the EjeHion of the
Mvil Spirit is imply ed, when the Difeafe is faid to be Cured.

Thirdly, The Bulinefs of John$ Difciples, was to enquire whether he was the Meffiah, and it was fit our Saviour in his Anfwer, Ihould give fuch Proofs of his being fo, as were plain and palpable. Go y9ur xvay^ faith he, and tell John vphat things ye have feen and heard^ Luke 7. 21. They had heard him Preach the Gofpelitis like, and had feen him Cure Difeafes, Thefe things were plain and fenjible, and could admit of no

Pifpttti

from Holy Str/^iarSo i©

Difpute or Doubr. But whether the Diitempers Chrift thea healed, were inflidted by evil Spirits, and whether thofe were caft out in the Cure, did not plainly appear at ii;at time. Our Saviour therefore did not bid them mention that Inftance to their Mafter john, becaufe they could not teftifie it on their own KfjOwi^dfCj as they could the things themfeives faw and heard.

SECT. IX-

^;/ Anfrver to two more OhjeBlons', the one ^ thai St, John mentions no cafiing out Devils in his Gqjpel ; the other y that to have a. Devil^ and to he Mad are Synony ma^s,

BU T thePaHionate Witch- Advocate goes on. St. John the Evangeliit. who efpecialij lets himleif upon the Proof ol" the Godhead of Chrift, hints nothing of his Ejecting Devils. Which one would think Ihouid be no Proof, fince the ether Three do; and Sz. John chief! ■/ fupplyed v»rhat they omit-ted. And fince this Evan geiift fo particularly fershimfeif up-on the Proof of Chrlft's Divinity, he mentions no MiraclcSp' which were the Pooof, but luch as werefenfible and indifpu-table. And our Author himfelf, after p. 41. faith, That the Cure of Dlfeafes was more for Chrift's Honour, and the Proof of his Godhead, than the cafting cut Devils QOxAd have been : For pcfTibly, faith he, in that there might have been fome pro-bable grounds of the Pharifees Biafphemy, that he caft out De-vils by Beel^ehiib.

So that he 4nfviiers and Centralists himfelf at once ; for po
34. he faith. It had been a great over-fight in Sz.John to neg-,
led fuch an Argument* if fucha thing had ever been, this would
Eave proved him to have been God indeed, and his Power
paramount: above all Principalities and Powers, GJ'c./'. 35. A.nd
yet now. Curing Difeafes proves it better, and the cafting out;
Devils will fcarce doit all, fince it might, adds he, be in fome
fort credible, thiat he did it by Favour, Connivance, Compli-
AvicQ^ Complorment, which is upon the borders of the higheft
Blalphemy, . ,

20 Fr<?(/^f Apparitions, &c.

Again It is alledged by this Writer, that to have a Devily and to be mad, feem to be Synonyma's in Scripture />. 35. I anfwer, Pojfejjion begot a certain f^tK^ct /«ror, and madnefs ; and there-fore when any were extravagant, the Jews faid in common Speech, that they had a Devily as we do, The Devil is in you, that is, you ad: unreafonably and madly, But as we do not mean by this Metaphorical Pojfefpon to exclude the belief of a real, fo neither did they. Yea, the very Phrafe, hath a Devily or the Devil is in him, applyed to thofe that ad furioufly and unadvifedly, doth imply that tliere is fuch a real thing as diabo^ lical PoJfeJJiont to which madnefs ^nd extreme folly are refem-bled.

See then how the Patrons of ^i^itches argue. The Jevos fome-times ufed the having a Devil Metaphorically ; therefore there are no other Poffejfions, or therefore all thofe paflages of Scrip-ture, in which they are literally and plainly related, intend no ether. Indeed if we argue from mtQT words and expreffions of having Devils and cafting out Devils, there would be fomewhac of more colour in our Adverfaries reafoning. But fince we in* fer chiefly from plain circumftances of Hiftory and Fadl, there is no force at all in it.

SECT- X.

The ignoYAnce of the Author of The Grand Apo-itafie. in his interpreting the Wori ^w^m?.

BU T what doth this Writer mean, when he tells m^eu^S^ ftov can fcarce fignifie any thing elfe properly, but an un-ufual afili(flion from God, fuch as madnefs 3 when all Men and Boys know thacSubftantively it is the fame with Asu[j(,vv O^-mo}2y taken already in Scripture in an ill fenfe for an impure Spi-rit. Adje(ftively it fignifies fometimes Divinum quid, butfoic is not underftood in the places we difpute about, Luk: 4. 35. tVhen the Devil had thrown him, the pofTefTed Man, inthemidft^ he came out of him, the word is 7^ Aau^ovtov, The fame v. 35, is called ^nv^ JbLi^vUAi{^^^m, By which and the latter crcumftances of the Hiftory, it plainly appears that li JkifMyior, is to be underftood Suhftantively for a Per/on, viz, an Evil Spirit, Sq In the Story of the Devils entring into the Herd of Swine,

from Holy Scripture. 2|

tuk^ 8. 33^ theword wetranflate Devils is i^ Jki^jLivia^ C^^cdi V, 29, ^nvfjui d)(g.r^f7Jiy, and the fame, Ktjtth. 8. 29. Aa?^»'g, Befides the force of which words, I have fiiewn that the Story alfo determines them to a Suhftmtive and Pe^/^w.i/ meaning.

But the Author faith, That Aeu[A.oyieff can hardly with pro-priety fignifie any thing elfe but an extraordinary affliciion from God, becaufe of its derivation from cA«i^,aA)r, p, 37, One would wonder at the confidence of thefe Men, ei'pccialiy in thcl/pre-tended Criticifms, by which they would impofe what lenie up-on words they pleafe. C^cufzavit is notonou/ly known flgnifies D^mon, taken often in the iil fenfe, and lo parricuiarly in the place newly mentioned, deriving {rom Jlcu&fcic, which dege-nerates here, as in 5^^^, mfch, /^V;^;m/ and the like, andwhas then fliould this Author by this mean ?

SECT. XI.

Whether there were }7o feats performed hj the Demo^
niaeks in the Goffels^ hut Mad^men mighp
perform.

IT IS further Obje(fted by this Writer, that there are no Feats
Recorded of thofe fupporsd Demomacksy but what Mad-men
could perform and often do. In which he confidered not the
Spirits in the Pojfefl, in the Country of the Gergafens, M atth'.
8. 29. St, Mar}{^ and Sr. Luke write GadaretiSy the Counrries
lye near together. 'Jofephus reckons Gadara am.ong the Grecian,
Cities which Pompey look from the ^fi;pj, and according to hin:x
tho^ Peeple were moftly Syrians,

In this Country where our SaViour had not beea Ijefbre nor after, that we read, two poffeft with Devils who had lived ?.=» mong the Tombs, out of the Converfarion of Mankind met iiim, and prefently cried out ; J^jat have we to do with thee, 'd^efuSy thou Son of God, art thou come to torment us before the tir>:c^ Was there nothing now beyond the rate of ordinary Mad-meu in this ? How did they, who lived in iuch a difmal folirude a-iiTong the Tombs, in a place where no Man pafTed, come to know this was Jefus, who never had been thereabout before, as far as we cact hear ? Or how caine thofe Mad-mcn to know.

22 Proof of Apparitions, &c.

svnd utt^cr fuch a great truth, which our Saviour did not prefently pablifl)/te he vonsthe Son of God ?Did any come near to whifper this in their Ear ? Or was this a raving fancy only ? St. Marl^^ writes ( who fpeaks but of a fingle Demoniack) that when he fax9 Jejus afar ojfy he came and worfhipped him, He knew him prefently and underftood his true condition before moft of the Jews about him ; and even fome of his own Difciples did. Could a meer Mad- man have done fo ? But further they ex-pected tormenr, and from him, in the time to come, though they looked not for it fo foon. Art thou come to torment us before the time ? How applicable is this to the condition of evil Spirits and their expe<il:ations ?

We have a like acknowledgment of our Saviour from another
unclean Spirit, Mark, i . 24, I know thee who thou art, the Holy
One of God. And our Saviour in what he faith, in anfwer plain-
ly, implies ir was the Evil Spirit, not the Mad-man that fpake,
or St [eail caufed the confefTion. Hold thy -peace and come out of
hhm V. 25. And that the Demoniackj did things beyond the
force of meer Mad-men is further fufiiciently declared in the
Hiftory, Mark'). No Man could bind him, no not with Chains i
heeaiife he had been often hound with Fetters and Chains, and the
Chains had been pluckt in /under by him. I would fain know,
whether this be not beyond the force of meer natural mad-
• nefs ?

ADVERTISEMENT.

TJltherto the Paper was the fame, and the Hand the fnme^ and fi f^^ "/ f^^s Copy tranfcribed. Afterward the Hand alters, and is Mr. Gianvil'j own Hand, but with an Hiatus of above half ii Sheet of unwrit Paper between^ but the Number of the Pages is continued. Something there was to interve?ie, to make a more full Connexion ; but }xt what follows, is of the fame fait, and produced Po prove out of Scripture the Negotiation o/Evii Spirits with their Clients.

SEC T.

fi-om Holy Scripture, 2^

SECT. XII.

Farther proof of the Negotiation of E^il Spirits with their Clients from the Hifiory of the Magi* cians ^/ Egypt; Mr. Wagftaffe, M-. Webfter, and the Author of T\\Q Doctrines of Devils^ their Evajions propofed and anjwered.

IN the Genera], they all fay the fame thing ; vi^. That the Magicians vjqxq Jugglers, who by their Tricks and Leger-demain, impo fed upon P/:)^r(7^6 and the^^/^^^M^j-. Mr. H-^ag-ilajfe is fo modeft, as not to defcribe the manner of the perfor-mance. But Mr. fVehifer thus ; The Magicians holding a I{od hi their handst andfeemijig to throw it dovpn upon the ground^ howfoon might they throw dovpn an Artificial Serfe7it in its fiend and imrne' diately and wiperceivahly make conveyance of the I{od, p. 154. This is his feat : and for the Changing Water into Blood, and the producing of Frogs he faith, they were fo eafie to be done after the fame manner, that they need not any particular expli-cation, p. 155. This is the main anfwer, after a great deal of Impertinence, and Mr. TVehfier hath done his bufi-nefs.

But the Author of The DoHrine of Devils, hath devifed a
more particular way for this Juggle. 'Tis probahle, he faiih
that thefe Men having the Aft or IQiack^ of Making, Graving^ or
Carving the Piftures of Men, Be aft s, Serpents, Reptiles, Z<Q. had
the Feat alfo of Colourings Painting Fticujfmg of them alfo, and fo
might eApty, efpecially in the darl'j. or by the Ju^Jing Teats as the
Text intimates, make a ^od look^ lil{e a Serpent, 8<C- p. 114. But
belides thefe Kns.viili Painters, the Man hath found other Jug-
glers to help, on the Deceit; Subtle and politick. Oratours, who
voith fallacious Arguments^ cunning pre teiiccSy and plaufible ^7eto*
,rick,couldfo difguife Truth, andflourifh upon Knavery and Vxlfmod,
* thnt Falfhoodfldouldfeem Truth, and Truth Fal flood, p. 1 15.

Whatever the Magicians of Pharoah were, any one that con-'■fiders thefe Anfwers, would take the Framers of them for Co-lourers. Changers, Perverters of the Face of thing, as this Au-thor fpeaks, cunning Oratours, Jugglers, Hocus-Focus, Hiccius' Doccius, whip! the Serpents, Blood and Frogs are gone. But let us look a little nearer to the buiinefs, and to thefe fubtle

R g men,

s4 Proof of Ai^d.ritions^ &c.

tnen, Wkcbes of Oratours, and examine what they tell us in the light of the Text and impartial I{eafon.

The Text faith, Aaron caft domi his B^d before Pharaoh, and before his Servants^ and it became a Serpent^ v. i o. and v. 1 1 . 12. The Magicians of TEgypc^ they alfo did in like manner with their Enchantments For they caft down every man his ^pd and they be-came Serpents, hut Aaron 'j Hodfwaliowed up their ^pds. Now^ fay the Witch- Advocates, the Magicians were Jugglers ; they did not in like manner, they did not caft down their Rods, but ivi3de conveyance of them, they were not Serpents but Figures, Which are plain contradidions to the Text, arbitrary Fig-ments, that have no ground. And if Men nnay feign what they will, and put what borrowed fenfe they pleafe upon plain Re-lations of Fad, ail Hillory will h^ a Nofe of Wax, and be ea-£ly fnaped as the Interpreter has a mind to have it.

Secondly, If this were fo, ^nd the Serpents were but Artifi-cial Piclures ; 'tis ftrange, that neither Pharaoh, nor his Ser-vants ihould perceive the difference between the C^rW and ?ain^ ted Serpents and the real ones ; except they fuppofe alfo that Pharaoh contrived the buiinefs in a dark Room on purpofe, as the Author of T/7<? Doctrine of Devils feems to intimate. And tis ftranger yer, that neither Mofes nor Aaron that was concern-ed to dQit^ the Imppfture that was fo grofs and thick, ihould not difcern it, of if they did, 'tis as ftrange, that they (hould keep the Jugglers counfel, and fay nothing of it.

Thirdly, Aarcns Serpents are faid to have fwallowed up thofe of the Magicians. What, did they fwallow the Wiars and Pidures ? It feems they were very artificially done indeed, that the true Serpents mifcook them for real ones, as the Birds once .did the Painted Grapes. But it would be more wonderful yet, if all were but the Oratory of the Magicians^ for zliQn the Ser-pents are their Words and Rhetprick.

Fourthly, Mofes and Aaron turned the fivers into Blood, v. 20. And the Magicians of iEgypt did fo with their Enchantments, V. 22. 1'hey caufed Frogs to come tip, and to cover the Land, Ch. 8, y, 6. and the Magicians didfo, and brought up Frogs on the Land t>f ^^^ypr, v 7. Nov/ how did the Jugglers do this, with Paint-ing and Fucuffing; or how, by Legerdemain and Slight of Hand were the Waters made Blood, and the Frogs brought up out of the Rivers on the Land } To turn a little Water into the appearance of Blood, was not the thing that was like to what Mlfis and Aaron did, and to ihew an Artificial Frog, Two or Three was not bringing up of Frogs on the Land of ^gyp^, which iajplies, multitudes that coyered the ground. So thas

th«

from Holy Scrifeure'. 2 5

the Hocui'?oeusi:nc\i%, and Juggling and Painting will not co-lour this part of the Story. And I (hould wonder at Mr. Ifeb^ fter, if he did not afford fo many ocacdons of wondring at hin^, when he pafled this fo flightly over faying, ;/. 1 5. 5. ^ ^0 the chnn^ ingPVater into Blood^and the producing of Frogs, they werefo eafie to he done after the fame manner, viz. by Wiars and Juggling, that they need not any f articular explication, for by this the manner of their performance may mofl eaply be mderftood. How Ihaii ones deal with thefe Men, and what will not their confidence af-firm ?

Fifthly, Tis very ftrange alfo how xhok Jugglers (hould ktiow what £i^ns Mofes ZTid Aaron would (he w, and accordingly fur-nilhed themfelves with counterfeit Serpents, Blood and Frogs againft the time ; or had they thofe always in their Pockets ? If nor, it was great luck for them that Mofes and Aaron Ihould Ihew thofe very Miracles lirft, that they were provided to imi-tate.

Sixthly and Laftly. If the Magicians did all this by Tricks and Juggling, may not one fear what Opinion thefe Men have of the fame things done by Mofes and Aaron ? Thefe indeed out-did the others in divers following Inftances, but may nor they fay, that that was by their having more Cunning and Dex-terity in the Art of Juggling? If they or their Profelytes have a mind to fay thus, they may by their Principles, which wiilferve them to elude the Hiftory, in reference to Mojes and Aaron, as well as it doth in relation to the Magicians* They may with as much modefty turn all into Allegory and Metaphor.

I think by all this it appears, that this fhift of the Witch- Ad-vocates is very vain, and that what the Magicians did, was not mere Juggling, much lefs only Politick. Oratory and Rhetor icl{. As if thofe Magicians by their Eloquence could perfuade Pharoab and his Servants againft their Senles, as thefe Patrons of Wit* ches endeavour to do by us they being the greateft Witches in their own fenfe that are extant, and fome of them are belyed, if they are not fo in other kn(est

R 4 SECT-

26 Proof of Apip^ritions^ &c.

SECT. XIII.

Thiit what the Magicians 6?/' Egypt dU ferform^ was at leafl hj an Implicit Confederacy with Evil Sprits.

WELL! If there be any truth in the Hiftory the Mdgkl-(insM^^tt not only Coui^enersznd Hocus- Poctis Men ; there-was fomething done that was extraordinary beyond Mans Arc and Conrrivance, or the efFedls of ordinary Nature. And there-fore nnuft have either God or feme Sprif or Daemon, one or more for the Author. The former no one faith ; the Hand of God in this wa^^nlv permiffive. Therefore it is plain the Magicians did this by Spirits, Creatures of the Invifible World. The Text iaith, by their Enchmtments, fer arcana, the vulgar Lati7i reads Which becaufe it is a general 1 word, Mr. fJ/agftaffe takes hold-of it of it, and determines it to fecret and fly Trick, thofe of Legerdemain and Couzenage, when as it is as applicable to any kind 01 fecret (".and fo to the Diabolical Arc and Confederacy ) S.S to his fenfe. And that it is fo to be underftopd here, is plain from the matter of the H ftory. By thofe arcana. ( others read, incamationes, vcneficia ) they did thofe ftrange, things, vi^. by fecret Confederacy with Spirits, they obliged them to perform the wonders.

But what did the Spirits do, were the Serpents Blood and Frogs real or apparent only .> I am not obliged to fay, who is of one Opinion, and who ot another in this, it matters not. The realiry of the performance is moft eafie, and moft fuitable to the facred Story, and there is no difficulty in conceiving that Spirits might fuddcniy convey Serpents, with which ^Egypt abounded into the place of the Rods, which they might unperceiv^bly fnatch away after they were thrown down ; This they could do, though the Magicians of themfeives could not. And they might' be provided for the performances by knowing the Command God had given Mofes and Aaron, concerning the things he would have them do - which the Magicians could not know, at lea^ but by them.

' And for the Blood and the Frogs, they might by Infufion, o^" a Thoufand ways that we cannot tell, make the Water to all appearance Bioodyj or perhaps really tranfjnute fome (^we -. - ' know

from Holy Scripture. 27

know not the extent of their powers.) And to bring up the Frogs from the Lakes and the Rivers, was no hard thing for them to efFcd:, though impolTible for the Magicians to do by Tricks of Juggling. We fee the fence of the Hiftory is plain, and eafie in our way, but forced, harfh, contradidtioas, and moft abfurd in the Interpretation of the Hag-Advocaies.

To make the Inference from thefe Magicians to my point, yet more plain and demonilrative, I fhall further take notice, that if we do not fuppofe a confederacy, and formal compact: betv/een them and the Spirits they adt by, it muft at leait be granted that thofe Magicians had a way to obliege them to adb, cither by Hoards or Ceremonies^ which they have bound them-felves to attend in order to further familiarity with the perfons that fo employ them, and^t laft to explicit Compacts : And even this is fufiicient for what 1 would infer.

I have thus difpatcht a great Argument briefly, and yet I hope fully ; Mr. Webftcr is after his manner very volumnicus about it. But all he hath faid in Five or Six Leaves in Folio to the .purpofe, is in thofe few Lines I have recited. All the reft is fenflefs, rambling impertinence, amufing his Readers with y^H/-T'f J, and PaJ/iveSj Macajfaphims, Hartummims^ Talifmans, won^ derful Cwr^/, and the vertues of P/^«^j, telling Stories, and citing fcraps From this Man, and from that, all which ferve only for Oftentation, and the Deception of the injudicious, but iignifiQ nothing to any purpofe of Reafoning.

SECT. XIV.

The other grand In fiance of Confederacy with Evil SpiritSy in the Witch of Endor, whom Saul con-fitted. A brief and plain Narration of the Story.

I Come to another grand Inftance, m^. that of the Witch of Endor. The Story of her is related, i Sam* 28. and is briefly thus Samuel was dead v. 3. and the Philiftines gathered thcmfelves againft Saul^ and pitcht in Gilhoa, v. 4. Saul on this was much afraid, -z;. 5, and enquired of the Lord, but had no. anfwer from hijn, i-. 6. Upon this he bid his Servants find him

out

28 Proof of Api^SLVitionSj &c.

out a Woman that had a Familiar Spirit, that he might.enquire of her. They told him of one at Endor, v, 7. He difguifed fiimfelf, and with two Men by night went to her, defired her to divine unto him by her Familiar Spirit, and to bring up him whom he (hould name, v. 8. The Woman firft excufed her lelf minding him how dangerous ftich a bufinefs might be to her, lince Saul had cut off thofe that had Familiar Spirits, and the Wi:{7^ards out of the Land. So that (he was afraid that this Propofirion of his wasafnare for her Life,a9.But ^^w/alTured her by fwearing, that no harm Ihould come to her for this thing* V. 10.

She then askt him whom (he (hould bring up, and he faid bring me up Samuel, v. 1 1 , Samuel accordingly begins to ap-pear, and when the Woman faw him, (he cried with a loud voice being much furpri^ed, it fecms, to fee Samuel in good earneft, whom ihe probably expeded not, but fome Familiar in hislike-nefs. By this (he knew Saul, v, 12. He heartens her again, and asks whom (he faw. She anfwers, (he faw Gods Afcending out of the Earth, an ufual Hehraifm, the Plural for the Singular Number, Gods to wit, z Spirit, v. 13, Saul asks what Form he was of, (he anfwered, an Old Man comet h up and he is covered wtih a Mantle. Then Saul perceived it was Samuel, and he bow-ed himfelf to the ground, v. 1 4.

Samuel, ask*t why he had difquieted him to bring him up .> He declares thediftrels he was in, and his defire.to know what ho was to do, -v. 15. Samuel reiprovQs him, and declares his Fate, vi^. That the Lord had rent the Kingdom from him, and given it to David, v. 17. That the Ifraelites (hould be delivered into the hands of the Philiftines, and that Saul and his Sons (hould to morrow be with him, vi:{. in the date of the Dead, as eventu-ally it was, V. 19. This is the Hiftory, and one would think ic fpeaks very plainly, but nothing is plain to prejudice. The Pa- ' trons of Witches labour hard to avoid this evidence, and I (hall propofe and confider their (hifts and (lights of anfwer-

S E C T.

pom Holy Scripture^ 29

SECT. XV.

The Evapon of Mr. Reginald Scot, concermjig the Witches Chfet popofed and confuted.

MR. Reginald Scot y the Father of the modern Witch- Ad*' vocates, orders the matter thus. When Saul^ faith he, had told her that he would have 5'4W2tt^/ brought up to him, fhe departed from his Prefenceinto herClofet, where doubt-lefs fhe had her Familiar, to wit, fome lewd crafty Prieft, and made Saul ftand at the Door like a Fool, ( as it were with his Finger in a hole ) to hear the couzening Anfwers, but not to fee the couzening Handling thereof, and the counterfeiting of the matter. Atid fo goeth fhe to work, ufing ordinary Words of Conjuration, &c. fo belike, after many fuch Words fpoken , (he faith to her felf ; Lo ! now the matter is brought to pafs : fee wonderful things : So as S4«/hearing thefe Words long-ed to know all, and askt her what fhe faw ; whereby you know that 5^«/ faw nothing, but ftood without like a Momc, whil'ft (he plaid her part in her Clofe% as may moft evidently appear by the zi Verfe of this Chapter, where itisfaid, Hhen the WomAYi came out to Sauly &c. Scot^ p. loS.

Now this is nor Interpreting a Story, but making one ; for we read nothing of her Chfet, or her going from 5 W into it, nothing of the crafty, ^ Prie^ Ihe had there, or of Sams ftanding at the Door like a Fool, like a drowned Puppy, as Mr. H^eb-fler has it, fvery refpe(5tfiil Language for a Prince in diftrefs ) nothing of the Words diConjurAtion^ or of the Womans talk to her felf, but all this is Whimfie and Fidlion.

And according to this way of Interpreting, a Man may make what he will of all the Hiftories in the Bible, yea in the World. If one may fupply, and put in what he pleafeth, any thing may be made any thing.

But Mr. Scot faith, it evidently appears, that Saul faw no-thing, but flayed without like a Mome, whilft Ihe played her Part in her Clo fet. \i evidently appears by the 21 Verfcof this Chapter, where *tis faid, Then the H^oman came out unto Saul. ls.it not evident from hence -, that floehada Clofet, ho->v efe foouLi foe come out ? But themifchief of it is, there is nothing cf com-ing out in the Texc> or any Yerfion of it : Oar Tranilation

JO Troof of Apparitions, &c.

is, Ani the Womm came unto Saul. The vulgar Latin, Ingreffd efty ftie came in, which implies that Hie went out of Doors, rather rhan into her Clolet. The Scptua^hit read eio^h.'^v « -^vvvij being the fame fenfe With the vulgar Latin. The Cbaldee Para-phrafe fimplyjhe came, (o the Syriack, and Arabick.-, but we find nothing of coming out any where but in the Difcoverer ; fo that here is a Text made two, as well as many a groundlefs Com-ment.

But whether (he only came to Saul, or in or out to him, it matters not much, for it implies only, that the withdrew, while Saul communed with Samuel, out of refp^iSt, and after the Com-munication (he returned, and found the King in great Dilorder, ; and what is this to a Clofec }

SECT. xvr.

Tivo of Mr, WebfterV Arguments for the Witches Clofet propofed and anfwered.

BU T Mr. V/ehflcr perfues the Bufinefs in the behalf of the Difco'verer; Firft, If they were in the fame Room, and Samuel a vilible Objed:, how comes it to pafs, that Saul iavv him not? M^. G I anvil {^Athh^, niUji pump to find it out ; p. 169. But doth not Mv. fVdhfler know, that it is ufual in Apparitions, ( and he owns there are fuch ) for the Spirit to ap-pear to one, when it is not vifible to "another, * though in the fame Room, and every ways capableof feeing ? In the fa-mous Story o'i J^^alkcr s.nd Sharp, recited by him, ^. 299, 900. which he confefTerh to be of undoubted Verity, he faith, It was reported, that the Ajiptrition did appear in Court to the Judge, or Fore man of the Jury, ( and I have from others Hands very credible Atteftation that it was fo) but the reft faw nothing. Many other vxreii-atteftcd Relations of this kind, fpeak of the like, and there ate innumerable Stories of People that have tlipir Second-fight, as they call it, to wit, a Faculty of feeing Specltres, when others cannot difcern them. In which there is nothing either impoilible or unlikely : And wliy then (hould rh,ere be need of fo much pimping to Anfwer this Objed:ion ?

Samuel

from Holy Scripture, ji

Samuel ic feems, appeared to the Woman a little before Saul faw him, ihewing himlelf fo, it may be, to prepare Saul for the terrible Sight by degrees, left the fiddennefs of it might have affrighted him into an incapacity of hearing whathe had to fay to him : Or it may be, the Body of the Woman, or fome other* thing in the Room might interpofe between Saul and the firlt appearance of ^^w^z/^/, or he might be at an unfit diftancc, or out ofdue light to feeprefently as (he did; fo that there is no need of fnppofing them to be in two Rooms on this account.

Secondly, He argues farther for the Clofet or another Room; The Woman cried cut with a loud Voice when file faw Samuel : What need of that, faith he, if 'they were in one Room, might not an ordinary Tone make him to have heard her ? Tis like ic might, but that was notthecaufe of her crying out, but her jurprize to fee Samuel, ( if it were the real Samuel ) when (he exped:ed only her Familiar^ appearing in fome refemblance of him ; and 'tis like there were circumitances in this Jj^pan-tion, which ihe had never feen before, that might en the hid-den affright and amaze her. And if it were Samuel indeed, which is very probable, the fight of him, alTured her ihat the enquirer was Saul^ for though (he might not conclude it prefent-iy from his requiring her to rsiik Samuel ^ yet when he really and unexpedtedly appeared, it was plain that he was come up-on fome great Errand, and with whom could he probably have fuch Bufinefs as with Saul P So thatfhe feeing him, the im-portance of his Appearance, and the Pvclaricn he had to S.^uiy brought the King prefently to her Mind, and with him her Fears, and that this was one caufe of her crying out, is plain-ly intimated in the next Words ; j^nd the H^omanjpake to Saul, faying, VVijy haft thou decehed me^ for thou art Saul, v. 1 2, And that fne was atfi-ighted at that Knowledge, is implied in Sauk afliiring her again againft her Fears, in his immediate Anfwer. ^uind the Kjngfaid unto her^ he not afraidy v.ii*

Befides this, there is another thing that m.ay be colledVed from the Text, which might occaiion her afloniihtnenr and crying out ; for as foon as Saul had faid, Brmg me up Samuel, i;, ii : it immediately follows, v. 12. And tv hen the PVcman favp Samu-el, /he cryed with a loud Voice, It feems, he appeared before file had performed her ufuai Conjurations ( fo little ground is there for what Mr. Scot talks of her Words of Conjuration, and thofe (he fpake to her felf ) and upon that ihe was fur prized and affrighted,

SECT

J 2 IP roof of Apparitions, &c.

SECT. XVII.

Other Arguments ofMr.WthAQV^forxRoomAi"
ftinEt from that Saul was in^ frofofed and an»
fwered.

MR. fVehfter^s third Argument to prove a Clofet, is that it had been incongruous for Saul to have askt, what faweit thou? if they had been in one Room: But what is the incongruity, or what the wonder, if one in his condition (hould fpeak incongruoufly ? ■

His Fourth and Fifth Arguments are to prove, that S4«/ had yet feen nothing, when he askt the Woman upon her Out-cry, what fhe had feen. They prove that (he faw the Apparition firft, which is granted, but her being in another Room, cannot thence be inferred, as I have flicwn, though that be the thing he Ihould make out, or all is impertinent.

The Sixth Argument is, That after all, Samuel was but com-ing up. An old Man cometb up^ which proves nothing for Mr, fVehfier, but againft him ; for now,^^ (he (hews him to Saul j (he faw the firft beginning of his appearing, which Saul did not. When he was rifen higher out of the Earth, (he (hews \^\m to the King, who \\s^2i\diy perceivedthtn itw2iS Samuel, and bow-ed himlelf, v. 14. which is very eafie and congruous, appli-ed to one and the fame Room. Aad what then makes Mr. VVeh^ fter infult in the Conclufion of this Argument in thefe Words : i^ovQ let Mr. Glanvil conjider^ and anfxver whether it be not only dntimated, but clearly holden forth in the Text, that either they tpere in two l^oms, or that nothing vijible did appear before Saul, jp. 171. His feeing nothing at firft, I grant, but the two Rooms there is no ground for, and he doth not prove it. Whether he did not fee Samuel after, I (hall not now enquire. Hitherto I have nothing to do, but with the conceit of the Clofet, or the Other Room which Mr, Scot made for the Woman, and Mr. Jfi^^/?ffr endeavours to uphold, withmuch good Will, but Httk ^ueeeffc

SECT.

from Holy Scripture. j j

SECT. XVIII.

Convincing Arguments brought^ to prove that Saul [aw Samuel, which jrujtrates the Figment of two Rooms.

AFTER all, if he really faw the Apparition, the Figmenc of the two Rooms is gone, or at leaft iignifie nothing ca their purpofe; this the Text intimates plainly. She faid. Ah M Man cometh up, and he is covered with a Mantle ; and it fol-lows, And Saul perceived that it vpdi Samuel, and he ftoopcd mth his Face to the ground, and hovoedhimfelf, v. 14.

He perceived it was Samuel, he perceived it^, fairh Mv/fVeh^ per, by the Defcription of the Woman. But Ihe had only faid, An old. Man cometh up, covered with a Mantle : This is but a ve-ry general Defcription, why muft that needs notifie 5.i7?ji/^/ • Could the Devil reprefent no other old Man in a Mantle, or could none of the Dead appear fo but Samuel only ? By thefe Words alone, ^4«/ could not certainly perceive that it was her buthe;)^rce/7;^^thisfo, that he could not but know and ac-knowledge it, as the Hebrew Word feems to imply. I fay this Word [^perceived"} implies more than bare feeing, *Tis thaE and fomewhat elfe, vi:(* that he faw him fo, as to be convinced £hat it was he indeed ; the Judgment was added totheSenfe. So that Mr. fVebftcrs Objt&ion, that the Word £faw ] it was Samuel, is of no weight, he [^perceived'} implies, that hey4m it fo as to be afliired. If the faying of the Woman had been all, the affurance had been none at all, and Saul could not have perceived or underftood any certainty of the thing from ic.

But Secondly, It appears yet farther, that his perceiving did imply feeing ^ for, hejiooped with his Face to the nound^ And bowed himfelf : Now what did Saul make this reipedful Reverence to, if he faw nothing ? Was it to Samuel in his Fancy > Mr. VVehfter faith, Surely in rational confequence »> could be nothing elfe, />. 171. Thisis fomething an unufualCour-tefie to bare Ideas and Imaginations. But Mr, fP^ebftsr gives a Reafon : All that the Woman had done and faid, being undeni* able Lyes and Cheats, this alfo in juji right and reafon rmft be judged to befo alfo. Which is aflummg the thing co be proved

SECT.

34 Vroof ^/Apparitions, &c

SECT. XIX.

ThAt it was a real Apparition^ not a, confederate Knave, as Mr. ^Sf^h^^x fancies y that isLul fatp and did Obeyfance to.

BUT did fhe not turn out her confederate Knave to a<ft the Part ©f Samuel? and was not this he to whom Saul bowed ? This Mr. TVehflcr offers as part of his Anfwer. The "Woman, v. 14. defcribes 5^??2«£?/ in the Form of an old Man covered with a Mantle 5 fuch a (hape Ihe mull have puc the con-federate Knave into. It may be it was an old Fellow, or flie made him look like old ; but let chat pafs; but where got fhe ih^ Mantle ? A Sacerdotal Habiliment: it was, according 10 Jo^

_fe;phus. Had the Woman a Wardrobe of all Habits for all purpofes ? Or v^as it fomc fhort Cloak of her own that (he threw on him } We will fuppofe either that will ferve Mr. H^eh^

ftersixx'ia beft. But how did the Fellow himfelf, or the old Qiiean for hirn, change his Vifage into the likenefs of Samuel^ or how alter his Voice, fo as to make Saul^ who well knew Sa-muel, to believe it was even he .> Thefe are hard Queftions.

But if we Ihould fo far gratiiie Mr. Scot, Mr. fVcbfier, and the reft, as not to prefs with fuch untoward Queries ; yei: one cannot chufe but ask how the confederate Knave came to foretel truly fuch contingent things, as that the Ifraelite^ Ihould be van-quiilied by the Philifti^ies, and S^.'// and his Sons fl^in on ths Morrow, as v. 19. How could the C/;^^f, orthe "Woman ina-

' noiher Room tell this ^ Why \ faith Mr. fVaFjiaffe, he fpake it at a venture, and he or the Wirchgave a fhrewd guels to the Sequel, faith Mr. Scot, but what ground was there for con-jedlure ? and fince there was none, the Confederate might as well have chofe to have told Saul, that he and his Sons Ihould Live and be Vidrorioiis ; and this, if he were fo cunning a Fel-low, as thefe cunning Men make him, he would have done, for the Witches Bufinefs and his, was to get by their Pradlice, and the likelier way to a good Reward, had been to have Prophe-cied grateful and pleafanc things to the troubled King ; and 4f the Propheilcr knew nothing of the Event, he might as well have cho fen the good as the, evil fide, which as it had been for iis Interefty it had been aifo for the better faving of the credit

p'om Holy Script are i J^

^fhis Predidionsj for if he h;ad foretold the King's good Snc-cefs and Vidlory, the Womail and he, the Confederate^ in con^ fequence, had been fure of Reputation and Favour, and ta r-ther Rewards, if it happpied fo; but no Evil could have befall len them from the contrary fuccefs : For liSaul was killed, ih-Falflioodof the Predimon would be buried with him, (for w.^ read not that the two Servants were ac this Communication, which in ail likelihood was private ) and no other Evil like to enfue.

So that if it were a confederate K^nave, as the Witch- Advo-cates have contrived, that made the Anfwers, he was not lb cunning as Mt.Scot, Mr, H^ehfter^ and the reft pretend, but in-deed a VQry Jiffy Juggler, He fpeaks very fevere and disoblige ing things, and fuch as were not like to redound to his advan-tage, and indeed fuch things they were, as do not at ail look as if they proceeded from a confederate Couzener. They have that Gravity, Majefty, Religion, and Verti^e in them, that be-came the true Samuel, and are very unlike the Words of a vi-cious cheating Knave.

To which may be added, that this Woman, though other-wife an ill one, ftems to have been of a kind and bengn Na-ture, by the courteous Entertainment Ihe gave the afflidted Prince, ^ndijqfephm extolls her much for her good Nature^ So that it is very improbable, that fhe virould by her felf or her Confederate, lay fuch an heavy load of Trouble and De-f|?eration upon the King, , that was in fuch Diftrefs before. I think, all thefe things put together, are abundindy iufficiehc todifprove, andlhame the ungrounded Fancy of the Witch-, Advocates, that all was done by a Confederate, , And confer q^uently it vvas a real Apparition that Saul faw, and did civil Obeyfance to.

s'Ect;

36 Proof of Ap^mtlons^ &c.

SECT- XX.

27a?/ /> TV as nottheWitch her jelf that ABeAaU^ as Scot and Wehfier for another fhift would fup-pofe, "putting her [elf into a Trance^ and delu* dir'g Saul by Ventriloquy.

BU T was it not the Witch her felf that adled all ? Mr. Scot faith, that if the Expofition of the Confederate like us riotV he can eafily frame hipfelf to the Opinion, That this Py-tlrnie^ being in a Ventriloque, that is, fpeaking as it were from 1 1 • botrom of her Belly, did caft her felf into a Trance, and fo a') I fed Saul^ anfwering to Satil m Sammh Name, in her coun-r f:i: hollow Voice', ^. 1 1 1. To the fame porpofe Mr. tVehfter c. 'c 'rppo'crb, That what Jhe did or pretended to^ do, was- onfj by Vcntdk-r), or caftlng her felf~^into a feigned Jrance^ lay grQ^ njgihgoni-:.. Z: ':':■ vpith her Face dovmvpards. and fo chaitgin^' her Voke, did Mutter And Murmur^ and Feepy and' Chirp like a Bird cominf^forph of the fbeliy or that [he fpake i?t feme hoI/o^vCdve cr V-iuU, through fame Pipe, or in a Bottle,' and fo amtifed and de--Ciiz^eo poor tImorotkanddeJbahtngS3.nl,p.i6^y i66..

What ftviff '3 this, and'how fhail one deal with fiichMen, as

fet their Wits upon the rack to inVent Evafions, and are ready

m alTert any Nonfenfe or Abfurdity, to pervert the Senfeofa

plain and fioriple Hiftory ? What I have already fpoke againft

the Dream of a Confederate^ viz. Said's perceivingil was Samuel^

'r^ upon it; his taking the Voice for the Pro-

_. .abienefs and gravity of the Words, and the con-

J: the Predidlion,. and the Truth of it, are as ftrong

c..-i:i..u u^iis Whim, as againft the other idle Fancy, and in fome

particular cf more force, as will appear to any one that conli-

ders the Matter duly.

For Ventriloquy, or fpeaking from the bottom of the Belly, '"\ k a i; 'ng I think as ftrange and difficult to be conceived, as a-iiing '■:(. Witchcraft, nor can it, I believe, be performed in ;ruy diftindnefs ofarticuLr:e founds, without fuch afliftanceof I he Spirits, that fpoke out of the D^^wc'^x/W^x. I would fain have any of the Witch- Advocates Ihew how it is naturally polj^bie: So that this that they fuppofe, will infer the thing thev would avoid, I: cannot certainly inanyreafon bethought,

that

from lioly Scripture, , j 7

iiiat the Woman could by a natural Knack, fpeak fuch a Di{~ courjfe as is related from Samusl^ iDUch lefs thai Oie could from her Belly imicate his Voice, fo as to deceive one thac knew iiim as Saul did, ,

As for Mr. . fVehfter s Peeping, Chirping, and Muttering, they are nothing, to the purpofe, and hix /j<?Zfi?B? Cave, Pipe, &nd Vault, ^re as arbitrary Figments as the Chfet, and fall under the faaie Conliicadons that difprove the reft of the C hinder as.

SECT. XXL

Thu it was Samuel himfelfthat appeared^ not the Devil, nor a confederate Knave^

BUT- the "Witch -Advocates have another Argument to prov^ an Impofture in this Bufinefs, For fay they, the Perfon denouncing the Fate oi Saul, could not be the true Samuel^ nor the Devil in his likenefs; therefore it muft be either the Woman or fome cheating Confederate, Which conciulion fol-lows not, for it is poflible it might be a good Spirit perfonat-ing Samuel". Thefe the Scripture alTures u?, are often employ-ed in Errands and Minifteries here below, and on thofe oca-iions they cloath themfelves in humane Shape and Appearance, So that it is not abfurd to think it might be thus here ; buc this I affirm not. Who adually it was hath been great matter of Debate among Interpreters, and confiderable Authors have be^n on either lide. My caufedoth not require that I fliould pofitively determine who the appearing Perfon was, it might be one of them, though Icannot tell which. . I confefs it feems to me moft probable, that it was the true Samuel, for the Scripture calls the Apparition fo Five times, thac is, as often as he is mentioned. And when the Woman faw Samuel, v. 12. And Saul perceived that it ^^s Samuel, v. 14. and $amuel faid to Saul, ^?. . i 5 . Then ,faid Samuel, v. 1 6. Then Sanl was fore afraid, becaufeof the Words of S^w«-/, 1^.20, Which Exprefliions are neither from Said, nor the Woman, but from that Spirit that Indited the Holy Scriptures. And if after all l\iis, Samuel VJ2L'^2iKsiave, otih^ Witch, or the Di?w/,'whac affurancecan we have in Interpreting of Scripture } I know^^

% i ' thag

J 8 Proof of Apparitions, &c.

that itfpeaks fometimes' agreeably to the deceived Apprehenfions of Men I but when it is fo, there is fomcthing in the Context or Nature of the thing that leads us to make this Judgment. And if we radily fuppofe whenever we have a Mind to it, that the Scripture fpeaks according to deceived Opinion ; v^e may by this Rule make it fay any thing. The plain Letter, and mod obvious Senfe is always to be followed, where there is no cogent Rca Ion to the contrary, and lihalllhew by ^nd by, that there is none to decline it here.

According to the obvious plain Senfe, the Words are Inter-preted, E72clefinftick, 46, And after his Deaths (Ipeakingof 5tf-muel ) he Prophefied, and floev9ed the Kjng his end. And the r/ircumftances of the Story, which I have already confidered, fecm to me very plainly to determine the Senfe this way. Thus doth the furprize of the Woman, who cried out with aftonilh-ment upon the fight of the Prophet, whom (he was affrighted to fee. Her knowing it was Saul by the Apparitiofi, which fhe cnuld not have done by the Devil's appearing in his likenefs. The ExprelTion that Saul perceived that it was Samuely he did HOC only fancy or think io. The Divine and Majeftick words he fpake, fo becoming the true Samuel ^ and fo unlike the Words of an evil Spirit. And the Predidtion of Events fo contingenc as the lofs of the Battle, and the death of the King and his Sons.

SECT XXII.

The inedkjfnef^ And impertinemy of Mr. WebfterV ConfuUtion of ^^xxi\}£i!s Affearing with his Body oat of the Grave,

O W there are feveral Evafions, whereby fome endea-vour to (hift off chis Evidence. But if we will deal plain-ly and fincerely, we muft, I think, acknowledge the force of; the Arguments, which I have briefly and nakedly propofed.

But all this Mr. Wehfler pretends to confute thus. It v«ras rfoci ^.imucH Body with his Soul joined, nor his Soid that appeared in 1 his wonted Shape and Habit, p. lyi, 173,

Thc!

jrom Holy Scripture. J 9

The firft he proves by thefe Reafons. Firft, His Body had kin too long in the Grave, fo chat it muft have been disfigured. Secondly, Ic muft have ftunk. Thirdly, There was no Taylor in the Grave to make him a Mamie. Fourthly, It muft have been an Omnipotent Power to have done this. Fifthly, A Syl-logifm is brought to prove this contrary to the Scripture, which faith, That thofe tUat die In the Lord, refi from their Labours,

Now the Four firft Arguments he may take again, we have no concern with them. For 'tis fenfelefs to think, that the grofs Body came out of the Grave ; and if he means the reft-ing of the Terr eflrial Body ^ by the Fifth, he may take that back too. And indeed, as applycd to the Body without the Soul, the difturbing of it is Nonfenfe. Its corruption in the Grava is cor.unual motion, and more difturbance than the railing it entirely would be, if it were any at all, but properly it is none, no more than is the taking of a Stone out of a Qiiarry. There-fore it there be any Argument in this, it falls under the next Query.

The Sixth Argument is a Queftion, vi:{. Who joyned the Soul and Body again ? Not the Witch nor the Devil. The Opinion is Erroneous, Impious, and Blafphemous. And for me, let him call it what he pleafeth ; his ftrength is in hard "Words, which here like the Stones thrown fometimes by Witch-craft light like Wool, and here far alio from the Mark.

SECT, xxiir.

That k was the Soul of S^mutUhat appearedwub^ out his TerreftriaUBody, and that it is an in-different Opinion^ in which Are divided 04 well Tapifts as Protejlants.

BU T there is a Second Opinion yet to be Confuted, vi:{.
That ic was Samuel's in his wonted Shape and Habit, p^
173. He muft mean his Soid without the Body, or elfe 'tis the
fame again ; and if he means without any Body, I am none
of thofe that mean with him. It is moft fully and plainly pro-
ved by thofe excellent Men, Dr. C- and Dr. M- that Souls
departed are embodied in iErial or iEcherial Vehicles j and they

S ? have

4Q Vroof of Apparitions &c.

have largely (hewn that this was the" Dodlrine of the greatell Philofophers, and moft Ancient and Learned Fathers. And a-grceable it is to the Holy Scripture and higheft Reafon and Phi-lofophy, as I may have another occafion to fhew. Now SamK-el appeared here to Saul in this his more pure Aerial Qt /Etheriid Body, which he could form into fuch an appearance and hablE fishe had in the Terr eftriaL

Againft the Opinion o^ Samuers Soul appearing, Mr. Wehfier urgech cogent Arguments, as ftill he calleth his; they are all m.mifefty cogera^ irrefragable^ tmavficerahle, even then when they are fcace Xenfe. He prefaceth to them, by an intimation, that the Dod:rine is Popith maintained, he faith, it is by the Popifli party. His hard words ufe to be his ftrongeft Ar-guments, But this is only to raife odium and prejudice to the opinion. For there are Pafifts and Proteflants on both fides of this QiKllion. As alfo Rabbins and Fathers have divided upon ii% Sorne of the laft fort, and ihofe perhaps of the greateit and moH confiderable having been for ir, as R. K-ha:(er^ R. Saadlas^ The Writers ot the Midrafh^ Jofephus alfo, Qrlgen, AuguHine^ Bafil^ Amhofe,8<.c. as fome others have beeo againft it. Sorhat, I fuppofe,, a Man may freely and without oftence declare his Jiidgraenr, though it happen to be di^erent f)om Mr. Wehders,

SECT. XXIV.

Three Argu7mnts of Mr. Webfter dgktnfi the af* fearing of the Soid of Sa^mucl pr&fofed a^d an-fmred,

WHerefore to his Arguments, Firft he could not, iairlj .be, come whether God w^ould or no. Right [ Secondly, He would not run on as Errand without God's confenc. 'No doubt. Thirdly that God did liot commznd him, he faith, is moft certain. Here I mull: Hop. How ciorh that appear to be fo certain ? Why ! they never wereiniployed in Mmiftries here below, becaufe never c: cated for any fuch end or purpofe, jo. 1 7 3. They were never employed in Miniicnes here below I What thinks he of the Souls of Mi^jand Elias, acthcrrans%uration on the Mount t were nor they then employed in a Miniftry here below, or were they only phansafms.^ or glorify cd Bodieswirh*. \ -. ■ ■ ''^ -. _ ^ , '-'■ cur

from Holy Scripture, 4 1

out tiieir Souls ? and how then did they talk and converfe witfj our Lord? But thefe he will fay were fent on an extraordinary occafion. Be it fo, they are ibmetimes then imployed in fach, and fo Mr. fVehfter muft eat his words. And if bleffcd Souls are, or have been employed at any tinne, how is he fo certain the real Samuel was not fent here ;

Thus briefly to his bold Aflcrtion. But he prcrends a reafor.^
They were never created for this fur-pcfe. If that were fo, whac
then ? The Stars were never made to fight againft Siferay nor
any one. Nor the Waters to drown the World. Nor the Ravens
to reed Prophets or other Men. May not they therefore be ufed
in thofe Services ? Again, "Mo fen/iti've Being was made prima-
rily for another, but to enjoy it felf^ and to partake of the good-
nefs of its Maker. May it not therefore minifter to others? and
doth not every Creature fo ? Ail things ferve him. Thirdly
The Angels are Miniftring Spirits, he faith, ordained to be
fuch. Doth he think they were made for that purpofe only to
ferve us? Fourthly, Reafonable humane Creatures are for one
another. Non nobis foium, &:c. Souls are moii proper to ferve
fuch not here only, but in the next World. They are ]auyy^h 01
likp unto Angels, and they are as proper at lead for the fervice,
• of Men. They have the fame namre and affedllons. They feci
our infirmities, and conlider us more than abftrad: Spirits do.
Which is the realbn given why our Saviour took not upon him
the nature of Angels, but of Men, Fifthly, Souls departed
have Life and Senfe and Motion, capacity of being employed,
and no doubt inclination to it ; and whither more properly may
they be fent, than to thofe of their own nature, whom they af-
fed:, are allied to, and fo lately cam.e from i Sixthly, The An-
gels are not confined to their celeftial habitation, ^,bur are fent
ofterr to this nether World, as M. Webfter and the reft confefs,
and why then (hould we think that the Souls of the Juit are fo
limited and reftrained ?

And Laftly it is luppofed both by Jews and Chriftians, that the Soul of the Mejjldi appeared to the Patriarchs, and was the Angel of the Covenant ; and we know he was plcafed to ap-pear to St. Stephen at his Martyrdom, though then in Glory. And in the various Apparitions of Angels recorded in the Scrip, ture, we have reafon to think that fome were humane Souls, called Angels from their Office.

So that on the whole, we fee we have no caufe to rely crs Mr. PVehfters certainty, that SamueCs Soul came not on a Di-vine Command.

S 4 SECT,

4? i'f^tj/t?/ Apparitions, (ire.

SECT- XXV.

Other Arguments of Mr. Webfter againii the df^ fearing of the Soul of Samuel, frofofed and An' (wered.

BU T Mr. Pf^ehfter goes on : Fourthly, faith he, Mr. Glan* vil hath only affirmed, not proved it. Which is not fo, I ailed ge the fame reafons I have mentioned here in my Philofophi-eal Confiderations about TVitcbcrafty Sed. 1 6. And the frequent affirmations of the Sacred Text, were fufficient ground for the Aflertion, though no other reafons were added to them.

He argues. Fifthly, Miracles are wrought to confirm truth, but this would have confirmed Saul and the Witch in their wicked ways, ^. 174. I anfwer, Miracles are not always wrought to confirm truth, but fometimes to declare it. And thefe fort are often for that purpofe. Such was this, to pro-nounce the final Sentence and Doom on SauU as to the concerns of this World. And the Prophet's appearing fo contrary to the Womans expedlation, and before ftie had performed her SpelJis, ttruck her ini:o dread and amazement, and fo (he could draw no encouragement thence, to eoiintenance her trade of Witch-craft.

Sixthly, He faith it is not credible, but that Samuel would have reproved the Sorcerefs. But that was not his bufinefs, and it is like Ihe being one of that vile and Diabolical profeflion was forfaken of pod and good Spirits, and given up to thofe evil ones that were her Agents and Familiars. Such derelirSlions we fometimes read of. And certainly if any courfe of finning occafions and brings fuch a judgment ( as fome no doubt do ) this of Witchcraft and Confederacy with evil Spirits, is one that moft juftlv may.

Seventhly, But God had refufed to anfwer Saul by any li-ning Prophet, and Eighthly would not vouchfafe him his Spirit in the ordinary Way, and therefore it is not probable he would do it by fending a Propl^et from the dead. Which arguings can only difcover bui^ ignorance in the Reafons of the Divine Coun-feis and Ai^ions.' But yet it may be faid, God had indeed with-drawn all comfortable and diredive Communications from him, |5u? this was of another fort, a farther inftancc of the Divine y'' " " ■ ' Diipleafurej

from Holy Scripture. 4^

Difpleafure, and Declarative of the forfaken King's Doom. Which was no favour but indeed a judgment to which the Di-vine Juftice was probably farther provoked by this his fin of deal-ing with the Sorcerefs.

But Ninthly, Abraham would not fend La^arm upon the Rich Mans delire to his furviving Brethren, f. 175. Nor can a-ny one think it follows that, becaufe one came from the dead to an ex-traordinary perfon, and upon an occafion that was fuch ; that therefore Prophets, or other Souls (hall be fent from thence, or-dinarily to warn thofe that have other fufficient means of con-yidlion and amendment. The Tenth is to fill up tale. Where doth Mr. GLrnvil, faith he, find it in Scripture, or Orthodoxal Divines, that ever any BlefTed Soul was fent on a divine Errand to any here below ? Which he objeded, and I anfwered be-fore.

SECT. XXVI.

*J hat the Soul of Samuel might come of it felf as voell d£ he fent hy Divine Commmd^ either Opinio on defenfible.

I Have briefly recited, and I hope cleared yi.v,WehfleYsOh' jedions, which he runs out into great length and numerous impertinencies. And indeed his Argurnents are often fuch con-fident Nothings, that it is really a Ihame to go about to anfwer them. But I fhall never pafs by any thing ot his ftrength.

But though I have defended the Opinion, that Samucts Soul was fent on a Divine Errand to Saul^ againft Mr. Wehfters con-trary pretences ; yet is there another thing fuppofable, wliichis as probable, vi:{.. That Samuel came without any diredt com-mand, being barely permitted, and that the earneil and impor-tunate defire of Saul to have fome Communication with him in his diftrefs, invited and inclined him to it. Thus it might be, and there is no caufe to think, but that blefTed Souls have fome-timesfuch liberty allowed them ; which of thefe it was, I (hall pot prefume to deteraiine, both are defenfible, and either fufiiei-enuor my purpofe,

SECT

44 'Proof (/Apparitions, &c.

SECT. XXVII.

Several other OhjeBions againfi the affeArlng of the Soul ^Samuel anfwered^

BU T there are other Objedions befides Mr. H^cbJIers, a-gainft the Tenent that it was the Soul of Samuel • I ihali not conceal any one that hath any force in it.

Firft it is urged, That Witches and Magicians have no pow-er over the Spirits of the Juft, and therefore this Pythoncfscould not raife Samuel, Nor do we fay (he did. He appear'd ( as 'tis probable from the Text ) before (he had made her Conjurations. Which might be one reafon of her crying out. He came either fent from God, or of his own inclination. The Devil nor PVitch had nothing to do in it.

But Secondly, would God fend Samuel at fuch a time, when lie was feeking fatisfadlion from Enchantment ? And why not as well that, as appoint the Prophet to meet the Meffengers of Aha^iah when he fenc to Beel:{ehuhy X Kings i ? That King fent to the Idol of Ekj-on to inquire his Fate, and God acquain-ted him with it by his Prophet Elijah, Thus alfo when Balal^ had required Balaam to curfe the Ifraelites, God put a Prophe-cy into his Mouth, and made him blefs them, :Numh. 22. 8cc.

Thirdly the Woman laid, (he faw* Gods arifing, a company of evil Spirits ( fo fome interpret ) and what did Samuel among them .^ But I faw Gods is more probably rend red by others a Gody a Divine Perfonage, the plural Number for the lingular ro exprefs honour. And that it is fo to be underltood is fignifi* ed plainly by the lingular Relative that follows ; Ofvohat form is hcy V. 14. Or if more be meant, why might_they not be good Genii that accompanied Samuel^ a great and Divine Perfo-nage, eminent no doubt in the other World as he was in this ?

Fourthly,fome argue from the Qiieftion of the Apparition, v. 1 5, Why hdfl thou dijquieted me ? Samuel^ fay they, whether fent by God, or coming of his own accord, could not be difquieted by appearing. Nor was there any real difturbance in it, but the Spirit of the Prophet fpeaks our Language, who are apt to fancy the dead to reft in their Graves, and to be difturbed of rheir re-

^ofe,

from Holy Scripture. ^ ^

repofe, when upon any occaiion they appear among the If ving.

Fifthly, But he faith, that Saul and his Sons (hould be with him, vi^. in Thalamo juflorum, which feme think, not unlikely believing that Saul was reprobate only in Type. But more probably the meaning is, that he fhould be in the State of the dead in another World, as he the Prophet was.

Sixthly and Laftly, The Spedre faid, that ro monoxp he (hould be with him, which was not true, for feveral days in-tervened before the Battle. But the word to morrovp need not to be taken in ftridnefs, but in a Latitude of interpretation for a Ihort time. He was to dye in or upon the Fight, and the ene-mies were now ready for it, and Jo the event was to be within a very little while. The prediction of which, was a Prophecy of a thing very contingent, and ihews that the Predidlor was the real Samuel

SECT. XXVIII.

J^ Anfwer to that OhjeBion^ That if it rvas Sa-muefi Soul that appear ed^ it makes nothing to Witchcraft.

BUT if it were the vezl Samuel, will they fay, this Story will then make nothing for the Opinion of Witchcraft. For Samuel was not raifed by Enchantment, but came either of his own accord, or on a Divine Errand. To which Obiedion, Hay,

Firft, Here is at leail proof of an Apparition of a Man after Death. *

Secondly, Sau/'^s going to this Pythonefs upon fuch an In-quiry, and Ihe undertaking to bring the perfcn up, whom he Ihould name ( at leaft the appearance of him ) intimated v.ii, are good proof that this had been her pradice, though at this time over ruled, and that fhe adied by an evil Spirit, For certainly when Saul intreats her to Divine to him by her Va^ miliar Sprite he did not mean that iTie (hould deceive, and delude him by a Confederate IQiave, The ienfleiTnefs of which Figment I have already fulKcienily difproyed. That the Wo-man

46 Vroof of Apparitions, &c.

man was ufcd to fuch pradices, will appear fully when I come to prove Witchcraft from * exprefs Texts.

ADVERTISEMENT.

# Cf*HB exprefs Texts that he means, Ifuppofe are fuch as the/e, -^ £xod.i2. 18. 2 Chron. 33. 6. Gal. 5. 22. Micah. 5. 12. Ad:s 13. ^> ^' ^^^ Chap. S, 9. and more efpecially Deut. 18. 10. Where al^^ft ^^ ^^^ Names of Hatches are enumerated^ namely ^ of all thofe that are inveigled by Covenant mth Evil Spirits y ei-ther explicitly t or by fttbmitting to their-CeremonieSy See Dr.H. M. his Poftfcript'

SECT- XXIX.

They that hold it was An Evil Spirit that appeared to Saul, that their opinion may he true for ought Mr. Webfter brings againfi it.

AS to the Opinion of divers Divines, that the appearing Sa^ mud was indeed an Evil Spirit in his likenefs, though I judge it not fo probable as the other of the real Samuel, yet the interpretation is not abfurd nor impoflible. And becaufe I do not abfolutely deternaine either way, I (hall defend it againft Mr. Webjiers, contrary Arguments, which whether it be fo or not fo, prove nothing. He faith,

Firft, That this begs two falfe fuppofitions, /. 175. as Firft, That the Devils are fimply incorporeal Spirits. By which if he means Incorporeal in their Intrinfick Eflential Conftitution, fuch no doubt they are, as every Intelledual Being is. But if he mean by pmply Incorporeal^ difunited from all Matter and Body, fo perhaps ( and moft likely ) they are not. But nei-ther the one, or the other of thefe, is fuppofed by the Opinion Mr. mbjier impugnes. The fecond falfe fuppofition is, ' Thac Devils can affume Bodies. Thac they can appear in divers

Shapes

from Holy Scripture. 4^

Shapes and Figures, like humane and bther Bodies, we affirm, and it is plain from the Scripture, as to Angels, and I fliall make the iame good, in reference to other Spirits in due place. So that We may fuppofe it ftill; till Mr. TVebfter hath evinced the contrary, as he promifeth. How he performs I (hall confider in due place

His Second Argument is. That he is not of their Opinion^ that the Devils move, and rove up and down in this. Elementary World at pleafure. Which no one I know faith. They go to and fro, and compafs the Earth, but ftill within the bounds of the Divine permiflion, the Laws of the Angelical World, and thofe of their own Kingdom ; which prevent the Troubles and Difturbances in the World from them, which he faich would infue.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CJ^B V S far runs the Proof of the Exiftence 0/ Apparitions and Witchcraft, from Holy Scripture, entire. The three or four Lines that follov^ in the M. S. and are left out, hreak^ off dbru-pt^ ly. But what is f aid, fuffciently fuhverts the force of Mr. Web-fter'j Arguments againft their Opinion, that fay it was the Devil that appeared to Saul. I will only here take notice, that this par^ fohich reaches hitherto, though it he not fully fnifh'id, yet it abun^ dantly affords Proof, for the Conclufion namely, for the Exiftence of Spirits, Apparitions, and Witches, from Teilimony of Ho^ ly Scripture, to as many as yield to the Authority thereof* But the following Collection is /^Confirmation of the fame things, as well io the Anti-Scripturifts, as to them that believe Scripture,

And the leading Story of the Dsemon of Tedworth, I hops now will prove, irrefragable, afid unexceptionable, if the ^ader retain in his mindt -^^* Glanvil'j Preface to this fecond Part of his Saducifmus Triumphatus, and Mr. Mompeflbn/ Let' terst the one to Mr. Glanvil, the other to Mr. Collins, whicl> cannot hut abundantly undeceive the PVorld. So that it is needlefs to record how Mr. Glanvil wrote to Mr. William Claget of Bury, and profeffed. He had not the leaft ground to think he was impofed on in what he related, and that he had freac caufe from what he fiw himfelf, to fay, it was impoflible there Ihould be any Impofture in that bufinefs.

4S Pr<?r?/ (?/ Apparitions, &c. \

To the fame purpofe he wrote to Mr, Gilbert Clark m NortH-amptonfhire, as alfo to myfelf^ and undoubtedly to many more^ as he has intimated in his Preface, Befides that, to the Parties ahovff namedt hefent a Copy of that Letter of Mr. Mompeflon whkh vpas wrote to himjelf,

, So that that groundlefs Rumour being thus fully Jilenced^we maynox^ feafonahly relate^ and that vpith confidence t that affured and unex-ceptionahly attefled Story of the Daemon of Ted worth, fl/hich it €(s follows.

Proof

ii^ui^iiiwinl ujjlWiiii»

Mii^ ■ ■ iBi II I —

■ ■JWIHJIIil.U I I MP* ■' ^.11" ■ ■ .li ^ I ■ ■! 1^ II.,

Proof of

Apparitions^ Spirits^ and Witches^

*

From a choice

CO ELECTION

Of

Afo^^rw RELATIONS.

RELATION I.

Which is the enlarged Narrative of the Daemon of Ted worth, or of the DiBurbances at Mr. Mom-peflbnV Houfe, caufed by Witchcraft, and ths •villany of the Drummer.

M

R. John Mompejfon of Tedworth, in the County of PViltSy bdng about the middle of March, in the Year 1 66 1 . at a Neighbouring Town called Lud-gar/hai, and hearing a Drum beat there, heinqui* red of the Bailiff of the Town, at whofe Houfe he then was, what it meant. The Bailiff told him, thatthey had for fome days been troubled with an idle -Drummer, who de-manded Money of the Conftable by vertue of a pretended Pafs, which he thought was counterfeit, Upon this Mr. Mompejfon lent for the Fellow, and asl^t him by what Authority he went up

and

5© The Collection

and down the Country in that manner with his Drum. The Drummer anfwered, he had good Authority, and produc'dhis Pafs, with a Warrant under the Hands of Sir William Cavple/, and Colonel AylijfoiGretenham. Mr. Mompefjon knowing thefe Gcntlemens Hands, difcovered that the Pafs and Warrant were counterfeit, and thereupon commanding the Vagrant to put off his Drum, and charged the Conftable to carry him before the next Juftice of the Peace, to be farther Examined and Punifllt. The Fellow then confefled the Cheat, and begg'd earneftly to have his Drum. Mr. Mompeffon told him, that if he underftood from Colonel Aylijf, whole Drummer he faid he was, that he had been an honeft Man, he (hould have it again, but in the mean time he would fecure it, fo he left the Drum with the Bailiff, and the Drummer in the Conftable'^ HaiidS, vvho it feems was prevailed on by the Fellows intreaties to let hint

go-

About the midft of April following, when Mr. Mompejfon

was preparing for a journey to London, the Bailiff fent the Drum to his Houfe ; when he was . returned from that Journey, his Wife told him, that they had been much affrighted in the Night by Thieves, and that the Houfe had like to have been broken np. And he had not been at home above three Nights, when the farfie Noife was heard that had difturbed his Fanaily in his abfence. It was a very great knocking at his Doors, and the outlides of his Houfe : Hereupon he got up, and went about the Houfe with a Brace of Piftdls in his Hands ; he opened the Door where the great Knocking was, and then he heard the Noife at another Door, he Opened that alfo, and went out round the Houfe, but could . difcover nothing, only he ftill heard a ftrange Noife and hollow Sound. When he was got back to Bed, the Noife was a Thumping and Drumming on the top of his Houfe, which continued a good fpace, and then by degrees went off into the Air.

After this, the Noife of Thumping and Drumming was very frequent, ufually five Nights together, and then it .^rould in-termit three. It was on the outlides of the Horffei^ which is mofb cf it of Board. It conftantly came a§ they were going to fleep, whether early or late. After a Months Difturbance with-out, it came into the Room where the Drum lay,' four or five Nights in feven, within half an Hour after they were in Bed, continuing almofl two. The fign of it juft before it came, was, they ftiU heard an hurling in the Air over the Houfe, and at. its going off, the beating of a Drum like that at the breaking jjp of a Guard. It continued in this Room for the fpace of

<?/ Relations. 51

two MonchSj which time Mr. Monip€jfo72 himfeJf lay there td obferve ic. In the fore-part of the .Nighr, it tiled to be be ve-ry troiiblefome, bur after two Hours all would be quiet.

Mrs. Mompejfon being brought to Bed, there was but little Noife the "Night Hie was in Travail, nor any for three Week^ after, till (he had recovered ftrength. But after this civil Cef-fation, it returned in a ruder manner than before, and follow-ed and vext the youngeft Children, beating their Bed-fteads with that violence, that all prefcnt, expeClcd when they would fall in pieces. In laying Hands on them, one (hould feel ridi Blows, but might perceive them to (hake exceedingly : For art Hour together it would Beat, B^und-heads mid Cuckolds^ the Tat- too, and feveral other Points of Wcir^ as well as any Drummer. Alter this, they Ihould hear a fcratching undeif the Ghildrens Beds, as if by fomething that had Iron-Tal-lons. It would lift the Children up in their Beds, follow rheni from one Room to another, and for a while, haunted none par-ticularly but them.

There was a Cock-loft in the Houfe, which had not been ob-' . fervedtobe troubled, thither they removed the Children, put-ting them to Bed while it was fair Day, where they were no fooner laid, but their Troubler was with them as before.

On the Fifth of November 1661 It kept a mighty Noife, and a Servant obferving two Boards in the Chiidrcns Room feem-ing to move, he bid it give him one of them ; upon vvhich the Board came (nothing moving it that he faw) within a Yard of him ; the Man added, Nay let me have it in my Hand ; upon which it was fliov'd quite home to him again^ and fo up and down, to and fro, at leaft twenty times together, till Mr. Mora-fejfon forbid his Servant fuch Familiarities. This was in the Day-time, and feen by a whole Rooir,-fuil of People. Thac Morning it left a fulphurous Smell behind ir, which was ve<^ ry offenfive. At Night the Miniftefj one Mr. Crag^^ and di-vers of the Neighbours came to the Houfe on a Vifit. The Minifter> went to Prayers with them, kneeling at the Chiidrcns Bed- fide, Vfifereit was then very troublefome and loud. Du-ring Prayer-time it withdrew inco the Cock-loft, but returned as loon as Prayers v/ere done, and then in fight of the Coiii* pany, the Chairs v\ralkt about the Roomof themieives, theChil* drens Shoes were hurled over their Headsj and every ioore thing moved about the Chamber. At the lame time a Bed-ilaff Was thrown at theMinifterr which hit him on the Leg, butfd favourably, that a lock. of Wool could not fall more iohlji and

T If

52 The Collection

it was obferved, that it ftopt juft where it lighted, without rolling or moving from the place.

Mr. Mompeffm perceiving, that it fo much perfecuted the little Children, he lodged thenti out at a Neighbours Houfe, ta-king hiseldeft Daughter, who was about Ten Years of i\ge, into his own Chamber, where it had not been a Month be-fore. As foon as fhe was in Bed, the Difturbance began there again, continuing three Weeks Drumming, and making other Noifes, 'and it was obferved, that it would exactly anfwer in Drumming, any thing that was beaten or called for. After this, the" Houfe where the Children were Lodged our, happening to be full of Strangers, they were taken home, and no Difturbance having been known in the Parlour, they were lodged there, where alfo their Perfecu tor found them, burthen only pluckt them by the Hair and Night-cloaths without any other Difturbance.

It was noted, that when the Noife was loudeft, and came with the moft fudden and furprizing Violence, no Dog about the Houfe would move, though the Knocking was oft {o boifterous and rude, that it hath been heard at a<:onfiderable diftance in the Fields, and awakened the Neighbours in the Village, none of which live very near this Houfe. The Ser-vants fometimes were lift up with their Beds, and let them gently down again without hurt, at other times it would lie like a great Weight upon their Feet.

About the latter end of JD^c. 1661, the Drumming was lels frequent, and then they heard a noife lijce the gingling of Mo-ney, occafioned, as it was thought by fomewhat MuMompef-fon's Mother had ipoken the Day before to a Neighbour, who talkt of Fairies leaving Money, vi:(. That Ihe fhould like it well, if it would leave them fome to make amends for their Trouble. The Night after the fpeakingof which, there was a great chinking of Money over all the Houfe.

After this, in defifted from the ruder Noifes, andewiploy-ed it felf in little Apilh and lefs troublefome Tricks. On Chrift-maS'Eve a little before Day, one of the little Boys arifing out of his Bed, was hit on a fore place upon his Heel, with the Latch of the Door, the Pin that it was fattened with, was fo fmall, that it was a difficult matter to pick it out. The Night after ChriftmaJI-Day. it threw the old Gentlewomans Cloaths about Room, and hid her Bible in the Aflies. In fuch filly Tricks it was frequent.

After this, it was very troublefome to a Servant of Mr. Mom* I^^Jf<f^% who wasa ftout Fellow, and of fober Converfation ;

this

qf Relations. H

this Man lay within during the greateft Difturbance, and for feveral Nights fomething would endeavour to pluck his Cloaths off the Bed, To that he was fain to tug hard to keep them on, and fometimes they would be pluckt from him by main force, and his Shoes thrown at his Head ; and now and then hefhould find himfelf forcibly held, as it were bound Hand and Foots but he found that whenever he could make ufe of his Sword, and ftruck with if, the Spirit quitted its hold.

A little after thefeContefts, a. Son of Mr. Thomas BenneP^ whofe Workman the Drummer had fometimes been,; came to the Houfe, and told Mr. Mompeffon fome Words that.he had fpo-ken, which it feems was not well taken. For as foon as they were in Bed, the Drum was beat up very violently and loudly, the Gentleman arofe and called his Man to him, who lay with Mr. Mompejfons Servant juft now fpoken of, whofe Name was ^ohn. As foon as Mr. Bennetts Man was gone. John heard a tufling Noife in his Chamber, and fomething came to, his Bed-fide, as if it had been one in Silk; the Man prefently reached after his Sword, which he found held from him, and 'twas with difficulty and much tugging that he got it into his power, which as foon as he had done, the Specftre left him, and it was always obferved, that it ftill avoided a Sword. , ..

About the beginning of January^ i66z they were wont to hear a Singing in the Chimney before it came down. , And one Night about this time. Lights were feen in the Houfe. One of them came into Mr. Mompeffon s Chamber, which feemed blue and glimmering, andcaufed great ftiffnefs in the Eyes of thofe that faw it. After the Light, fomething was heard com-^ ing up the Stairs, as if it had been one without Shoes. The Light was feen alfo four or five tim.es in the Childrens Cham*, ber ; and the Maids confidently affirm, that the Doors were ae leaft ten times opened and (hut in their fight, and when they were opened, they heard a noife as if half a dozen had entered, together, after which fome were heard to walk about the Room,: andonerufled as if it had\been Silkj the like Mr, Momjjejjhn himfelf once heard. v. - ;; . , •,

During the time of the Knocking, when mat^y were prefenr^ a Gentleman of the Company faid, Satan if the Drummer fet thee to worl{, give three IQiocks and no more -^ which it did very di--ftindly, and ftopt : Then the Gentleman knockt to fee if ip would anfwer him as it was wont, but it did not :- For farther trial, he bid it for confirmation, if ic were the Drummer, to >ive five Knocks and no more, that Night,; which it did,,an(i «ft thif Houfe quiec all the Night after. This was done in th^>

T ^ pr^fene*

fei

54 The ColleBion

prclencc of Sir Hhomai Chamberlain of Oxford/hire, and divers others.

On Sat mil/)! Morning, an Hour before Day, Jan, loaDrum was heard beat upon theoutfidesof Mr. Mompejjons Chamber^ from whence it went to the other end of the Houfe, where fome Gentlemen ftrangers lay, playing at their Door and with-out, four or five fcvcb-al Tunes, and lo went off into the Air.

The next Night, a Smith in the Village lying with John the Man, they heard a noiie in the Room, as one had been a Shoe-ing of an Horie, and fome what came, as if it were with a Pair of Pincers, fnipping at the Smiths Nofe moft part of the Night.

One Morning Mr. Mompeffoti rifing early to go a Journey, heard a great noife below, where the Children lay, and running down with a Piftol in his Hand, he heard a Voice, crying, A H^itch, a Witchy as they alfo had heard it once before. Upon his entrance all was quiet.

Having one Night played fome little Tricks at Mr. Mo»2/?f/7o«s Beds-feet, it went into another Bed, where one of his Daughcers lay; there it palled from fide to fide, lifting her up as it paffed un-der. Atfthat time there were three kinds of noiies in theBed> they endeavoured to thruftatit with a Sword, but it ftiil Ihified and carefully avoided the Thi-uft, ftill getting under the Child, wr^en they offered at it. The Night after it came panting like a Dog out of Breath; upon which one took aBed-ftaff to knock, which was caught out of her Hand, and thrown away, and Compa- j ny coming up, the Room was prefentiy filled with a bloomy i^oilome Smell, and was very hot, though without Fire,, in a v^ry fiiarp and levere Winter. It continued in the Bed pant-ing and fcratching an Hour and half, and then went into the next Ch.-'mber, where it knockt a little, and feemed to rattle a' Chain ; thus it did for two or three Nights together.

After this, the Gentkwomans Bible was found in the Aftes, the Paper-fides being downards. Mr. Mow/>^j(7^;z took it up, and obferved that it lay open at the third Chapter of St. Marh^ where there is mention of the unclean Spirits falling down be-fore our Saviour, and of his giving power to the Twelve to caft; out Devils, and of the Scribes Opinion, that he cait them ou' through Beel:{ehub.

The next Night they ftrewed Alhes over the Chamber, to' fee what Imprefiions it would leave; in the Morning they found in one place, the refemblance of a great Claw, in pother ol a leifer,^ fome Letters in another, which they could make no^ thing of, befideg many Circles and Scratches in the Afhes.

About;

:o':

of Relations. 55

About this time I went to the Hoiife, on purpofe to enquire the Till h of thofe Paflages, of which there was fo loud a report. Ir had ceafedfrom its Drumming and ruder Noifes be-fore; I came ihither, but moft of the more remarkable Circum-ftanojs bcibre related, were confirmed to me there, by feveral ofrhe Neighbours together, who had been prefent at them. Ar this time it ufed to haunt the Children, and that as foon £s they were laid. They went to Bed that Night I was there, about 8 of the Clock, when a Maid- fervant coming down from them, told us it was come. The Neighbours that were there, and two Minifters who had feen and heard divers times, went away, but Mr. Mompejfon and • I, and a Gentleman that came with me went up. I heard a ftrange fcratching as I went up the Stairs, and w^hen we came into the Room, I perceived it was juft behind the Bolfter of the Childrens Btd, and feemed to beagairift the Tick. It was as loud .a fcratching, as one with long Nails could make upon a Bolder. There were x^o little modeft Girls in the Bed, between 7 and 8 Years old, as I gueft. I faw their Hands out of the Cloaths, and they could not contribute to the Noifethat was behind their Heads ; they had been ufed to it,' and had ftill fome body or other in the Chamber with them, and therefore feemed not to be much a-frighted. I (landing at the Beds-head, thruft my Hand be-hind the Bolfter, direding it to the place whence the Noife feem'd to come, whereupon the Noile ceafed there, and was heard in another part of the Bed ; but when Ihad taken out my Hand it returned, and was heard in the fame place as be-fore. I had been told that it would imitate Noifes, and made trial by fcratching feveral times upon the Sheet, as 5 and 7 and I o, which it followed and ftill ftopt at my Number. I fearcht under and behind the Bed, turned up the Cloaths to the Bed-cords, grafpt the Bolfter, founded the Wall behind,, and made all the learch that poffihly I could to find if there were any Trick, Contrivance, or common Caufeofit; the like did my Friend, but we could difcover nothing. So that 1 was then ve-rily perfuaded, 2nd am fo ftill, that the Noife was made by fome Damon or Sprit, After it had fcratcht about half an Hour or more, it went into the midft of the Bed under the Children, and there feemed to pant like a Dog out of Breath very loudly. I put my Hand upon the place, and fe't the Bed bearing up againft it, as if fomething within had thruft it up. I grafpt the Feathers, to feel if any living thing were in it. I lookt under and every where about, to fee if there were any Dog or Cat, or any fuch Creature in the Room, and fo we all

T B did.

5^

The Collefiion

iid, but found,nothing. The motion it caufed by this part-ing was fo ftrong, that it Ihook the Room and Windows very fenfibly. Ir continued thus more than half an Hour, while my Friend and Iftayed in the Room, and as long after, as vve were told. During the panting, I chanced to fee as it had been fomething ( which I thought was a Rat or Moufe ) moving in a Linnen-Bag, that hungup againft another Bed that was in the Room, I ftep and caught it by the upper-end with one Hand, with which I held ir, and drew it through the other, but found iiothing at all in it. There was no body near tofhake the Bag, or if there had, no one could have made fuch a Motion, which feemed to be JFrom within, as if a living Creature had moved in it. This Paflage I mention'd not in the former Editions, be-caufe it depended upon my lingle Teftimony, and might be fub* ^Qdc to more Evalions than the other I related ; but having told it to divers learned and inquifitive Men, who thought it not altogether inconfiderable, I have now added it here. It will I know be faid by fome, that my Friend and I were under fome afright, and fo fancied Noifes and fights that were not. This is the eternal Evafion. But if it be poflible to know how a Ivlan is aftecSled, when in fear, and when unconcerned, I cer-tainly know for mine own part, that during the whole time of £iiy being in the Room, and in the Houfe, I was under no miore ^frightment, than I am while I Write this Relation. And if I know that I am now awake, and that I fee the Objed:s that are before me, I know that I heard and faw the particulars I have told. There is, lam fenfible, no great matter for Story in them, but there is fo much as conyinceth me, that there was ibraewhat extraordinary, andv^hatwe ufually call preternatu-ral in the bufinefs. There were other Paflages at my being at Tedvporth, which I publilhed not, becaufe they are not mch plain and unexceptionable Proofs. I (hall now brieiiy mention them, Valennt quantum valere poffunf. My Friend and I lay in the Chamber, where the firft and chief Difturbance had been. We flept well all Night, but early before Day in the Morning, Twas awakened, ( and I awakened my Bed-fellow ) by a great Knocking juft y/ithout our Chamber-door. I askt who was there feveral times, but the Knocking ftill continued without Anfwer. At laft I faid, In the Name of God who is i>, and what vfouldyou have ? To which a Voice anfwered, Nothingwiihyou, We thinking it had been fome Servant of the Houfe, went to top again. ^ But fpeaking of it to Mn Mompejfon when vre came ^own, he aSiired us, that no one of the Houfe lay that way, or jkad bufinefs thereabout, and that his Servants were not Dp till ki- \-:'' ;■ - •■ . .; . , - :■ ; .■ : hs

of Relations. 57

he called them, which was after it was Day. Which they con-firmed, and protefted that the Noife was not made by them Mr. Mompejfon had told us before, that it would be gone in the middle of the Night, and come again divers times early in the Morning, about Four a Clock, and this I fuppofe was about that time.

Another PalTage was this, my Man coming up to me in the Morning, told me, that one of m) Horles (that on which I rode ) was all in a fwcat, and iookt as if he had been rid ail Night. My Friend and I went down and found hiui fo. I enquired how he had been ufed, and vyas alT^red that Le had been well fed, and order d as he ufed to bcy and my Servant was one that was wont to be very careful about my Horfes, The Horfe I had had a good time, and nev^gi" la^ew but that he was very found. But after I had rid him a Mile or two, very gently over a plain Down from Mr. Mompejfon s, Houfe, he fell Lame, and having made a hard ftiift to bring me home, died in 2 or 3 Days, no one being able to imagine what he ailed. This I confefs might be accident, or lome unufuai Diftemper, but all things being put together, it feems very probable thatic was fomewhat elfe.

But I go on with Mr. Mompejfon s own particulars. There came one Morning a Light mto the Childrens Chamber, and a Voice crying A ff^hch, a mtchy for at kail an Hundred times together.

Mr. Mompejfbn at another time, ( being in the Day ) feeing fome Wood move that was in the Chimney of of a Room, where he was, as of it felf, difcharged a Piftol into it, after which, they found feveral Drops of Blood on the Hearth, and in divers places of the Stairs.

For two or three Nights after the difcharge of the Piftol, there was a calm in the Houfe, but then it came again, ap-plying it felf to a little Child newly taken from Nurie, which it fo perfecuted, that it would not let the poor Infant reft for two Nights together, nor fuffer a Candle in the Room, but carry d them away lighted up the Chimney, or throw them un-der the Bed. It fo feared this Child by leaping upon it, that for fome Hours it could not;be recover'd out of the Fright^ fo rhat they were forced again to remove the Children out of the Houfe. The next Night after which, fomething about Mid-night came up the Stairs, and knockt at Mr. Mompeffcns. Door, but he lying ftill, it went up another pair of Stairs, to his Man's Chamber, to, whom it appeared, ftanding at hi^ Beds-foot: the exad Shape and Proportion he could not dil,

X 4 ^^^^^

§s

The Collection

cover, but he faith he f^w a great Body, with two red and claring Eyes, which for fome time were fixed fteadiiy upon him, and at length difappeared.

Another Night, Strangers being prefent, it purr'd in the ChildrensBed like a Car, at which time alio, the Cloaths and Children were lift up from the Bed, and fix Men could not keep them down- hereupon they removed the Children, in-tending to have ript up the Bed ; but tjiey were no fooner laid in another, but the fecond Bed was more troubled than the firft. It continued thus four Hours, and fo beat the Chil-drens Legsagainft the Beds-pofts, that they were forced to arile, and fit up all Night. After this it would empty Cham-ber-pots into their Beds, and ftrew them with Arties, though they were never lo carefully watcht. It put a long pike Iron woMt. Mompefforis^Qd^ and into his Mothers, a naked Knife upright. It would fill Porrengers with Aihes, throw every ^hing about, and keep a noife all Day.

About the beginning of ^/r/7, 1663 a Gentleman that lay in the Houfe, had ail his Money turned black in his Pockets; ^ndyix. Mompeffon coming one Morning into his Stable, found |:he Horfe he was wont to ride, on the ground, having one of his hinder Legs in his Mouth, and fo faftened there, that it was diincult for feveral Men to get it out with a Leaver. Af-ter this, there were iome other remarkable things, but my Ac-count goes no farther ; only Mr. l^lompcjfcn Writ me word, that afterwards the Houfe was feveral Nights befet with 7 or 8 in rhe fhape of Men, who, asfoon as a Gun was dilcharg'd, would ftuffle away together into an Arbour.

The Drummer was Tryed at the Ailizes at Salisbury upon this occaiion. He was committed firft to Gloucefter Goal for Stealing, and a IViltpoire Man coming to fee him, he askt what News in fVihfhire ; the Vifitant laid, he knew of none : No, faith the Drummer, Do not you hear of the Druming at a Gentle-mans Houfe ^^ Ted worth .> That I do enough^ faid the other: J, quoth the Drummer, I have plagued him, ( cr to that pur-pofe ) and he fhail never he quiet ^ till he hath made mefatisja^i-on for takjng amay my Dru7n. Upon Information of this, the Fellow was Tried for a Witch at Sarum, and all the main Cir-cumftances I have related, were Sworn at the AfTizes, by the Minifter of the Parifh, and divers others of the moil intelli-gent and fubftantial Inhabitants, who had been Eye and Ear-witnefles of them, time after time, for divers Years together.

The Fellow was Condemn'd to Tranfportation, and accord-ingly fenc away 5 but I know not how ('tis faid by raiding

StormSj

of Relations. 59

Storms, and affrigbting the Seamen ) he made a (hlfc to come back again. And 'tis obfervable, that during all the time of h^s rettraint and abfence, the Houfe was quiet, but as foon as ever he came back at liberty, the difturbance returned.

Hj had been a Soldier under Cromvoel, and ufed to talk much of Gallant Books he had of an old Fellow, who was counted a Wizzard Upon this occaiion I (hall here add a PafTage, which I had nor from Mr.MpmpeJfonjDux yet relates to the main purpole.

The Gentleman who was with me at the Houfe, Mr. Hiff, being in Company with one Compton of Stimmerfetfhire, who pradifed Phyfick, and pretends to ftrange Matters, related to him this Story of Mr. Mompeffon's D.fturbance. The Phyfici-an told him, he was fure it was nothing but a Rendez-vous -of Witches, and that for an Hundred Pounds he would un-dertake to rid the Houfe of all Dilturbance. In periiiic of this Ducourfe, he talkt of many high things, and having drawn my Friend into another Room, apart from the reft of the Compa-ny, (aid, he would make him lenfible he could do iomethmg more than ordinary, and askt him who he defired to fee, Mr. Hi'^had no great confidence in his Talk, but yet being ear-neftly prcfttoname fome one, he laid, he defired to lee no one fo much as his Wife, who was then many Miles diitant irom them at her home. Upon this, Comptcii took up a Lookmg-glafs that was in the Room, and letting it down again, bid my Friend look in it, which he did, and there, as he-moit io-lemnly and ferioufly profefleth, he faw the exadl Image of his Wife, in that Habit which (he then wore, and working at her Needle in fuch a part of the Room ( there repreientea alio ) in which and about, which time (he really was, as he found up-on enquiry' when he came home. The Gentleman himlelf a-verred this to me, and he is a very fober, intelligent, and cre-dible Perfon. Compmi had no knowledge of him before, and was an utter ftranger to the Perfon of his Wife. The lame Man we (hall meet again, in the Story cf the Witchcratts of Elifabeth Style, whom he difcovered to be a Witch, by fore-telling her coming into an Houfe, and going out again without fpcaking, as is {qi down in the third B^lation. He was by all accounted a very odd Perfon

Thus I have written the fum of Mr. Mompeffons Difturbance, which I had partly from his own Mouth related before divers, who had been witnefTes of all, and confirmed his Relation, and partly from his own Letters, from which the order and feries of things is taken. The fame particulars be writ alfo to Dr. O'eed, ihQnDo(^ov ohhQ Chsiiv in Oxford,

Mr.

6o The ColleEtion

Mr. MompeJJon is a Gentleman, of whofe truth in this ac-counc ; I have not the leaft ground of fufpiclon, he being neither vain nor credulous, but a difcreer, fagacious and manly perfon. Now the credit of matters of Fad: depends much upon the Rela-tors, who, if they cannot b6 deceived themfelves, nor fuppofed any ways interefled to impofe upon others, ought to be credi-ted. For upon thefecircumftances, all humane Faith is ground-ed, and matter of Fad: is not capable of any proof befides, buc that of immediate fenfible evidence. Now this Gentlemen can-not be thought ignorant, whether that he relates be rrue or no; the Scene of all being his own^ houfe, himfelf a witnefs, and that not of a circumftance or two, but of an hundred, nor for once or twice o«ly, buc for the (pace of fome years, daring which he was a concerned, and inquilitive Obferver. So that it cannot with any (hew of reafon be fuppofed that any of his Servants abufed him, fince in all that time he muft needs have detected the deceit. And what intereft could any of his Family have had ( if it had been poflible to have managed without dis-covery ) to continue fo long fo troublefome, and fo injurious an Impefture .> Nor can it with any whit of more probability be imagined, that his own melancholy deluded him fince ( be-sides that he is no crazy, nor imaginative perfon J that humour could not have been fo lafting and pertinacious. Or if it were fo in him, can we think he infed:ed his whole Family, and thofe multitudes of Neighbours and others, who had fo often hten witneffes of thofe paffages.^ Such fuppofals are wild, and not like to tempt any, but thofe whofe Wills are their Reafons. So that upon the whole, the principal Relator Mr. MompeJJon himfelf knew, whether what he reports was true or not, whe-ther thofe things adled in hisHoule were contrived Cheats, or extraordinary t^ealities. And if fo, what intereft could he ferve In carrying on, or conniving at a jugling Defign and Impof^ ture .>

He fuffered by it in his Name, in his Eftate, in all his Affairs, and in the general peace of his Family. The Unbelievers in the matter of Spiriti and Witches took him for an Impoftor. Many others judged the permiffion of fuch an extraordinary Evil to be the judgment of God upon him, for fome notorious ^ickedHefs or impiety. Thus his Name was continually ex-pofed to cenfure, and his Eftate fufFered, by the concourfe of people from all parts to his Houfe, by the diverfion it gave him from his affairs, by the difcouragement of Servants, by reafon of which he could hardly get any to live with him. To which if I add the continual hurry that his Family was in, the af-frights

</ Relations. 61

frights, vexations and tolTings up and down of his Children, W the warchings and Difturbance of his whole houfe ( in all which, himfelf muft needs be the nnoft concerned ) I fay, if thefe things are confidered, there will be little rcafon to think he could have any intereft to put a cheat upon the World, in which he would moft have injured and abufed him-felf. Or if he (hould of all have dehgned and managed fo incredible, fo unprofitable a Delufipn, 'tis ftrange that he Ihould have troubled himfelf fo long in fuch a bulinefs, only to de-ceive, and to be talkt of. And it is yet more fo, that none of thofe many inquifitive perfons that came thither purpofely tq criticize and examine the truth of tbofe matters,cpald make any difcoveries of the Jugling, elpecially fince many came prejudi-ced againft the belief of fuch things in general and ethers re-folvcd before-hand againft the belief of this, and all were per-mitted the utmoft freedom of fearcb and enquiry. And after things were weighed and examined, fome that were befcre great-lyprejudicedjWent away fuliy convinced. To all which I add,thar There are divers particulars in the ftory, in which no abufc or deceit could have been pradiifed, as the motion of Boards and Chairs of themfeives, the beating of a Drum in the midfc of a Room, and in the Air, when nothing was to be feen : the gttzt heat in a Chamber that had no Fire in excefllve cold wea-ther, the fcrarching and panting, the violent beating and fhaking of the Bedfteads, of which there was no perceivable caufe or occafion : In thefe and fuch like Inftances, it is not to be con-ceived how tricks could have been put upon fo many, fo jea-lous, and fo inquifitive Perfons as were witnefles of them.

'Tis true, that when the Gentlemen the King fent were there, the Houfe was quiet, and nothing feen nor heard that night, which was confidently and with triumph urged by manyj as a confiitation of the ftory. But 'twas bad Logick to con-clude im matters of Fa^ from a fingle Ne^^ntive and fuch a one iagainfl numerous Affirmativesy and fo affirm that a thing was never done, becaufe not at fuch a particular time, and that no body ever law what this Man or that did not. By the fame way of reafoningj I may infer that there were never any Rob-

Iberies done on Salisbury Plain, Hoimflow Heath, or the noted pla-ces, becaufe I have often Travelled all thofe ways, and yet was never Robbed^ s.nd the Spaniard inferred well that fa id, There was no Sun in England, becaufe he had been fix vpceks here, and never faw if. This is the common argument of thofe that deny the Being of Af^aritionsy they have Travelled all hours of the night, and never faw any thing worfc than themfeives (which "•:' \: - ' - \ ■ • ■ ' maj^

62 The CoHeHlon.

may well be ) and thence they conclude, that all pretended Ap' faritians arc Fancies ox Imp9ftures. By why do not fucharguers conclude, that there was never a Cuc-purfe in London, becaufe they have lived there many years without being met with by any of thofe Pradlifes ? CertainJy-he'tTiat ^enk^ Apparitions up-on the confidence of this Negative againft the vaft heap of Poji-five aflurances, is credulous in believing there was ever any Highvoay-man in the World, if he himfelf was never P^obb'd. And the Trials of Aflizes and ArteiUtions of thofe that Vve ( if he will be juft ) ought to move his Affent no more in this cafe, than in that of ff^itches and Apparitions, which have the very fame evidence.

But as to the quiet of Mr. Mompejfon shouCe when the Cour^ tiers were there, it may be remembred and confidcred, that the difturbance wasnotconftant, but intermitted fometimes Icveral days, fometimes weeks. So that the intermiilion at that time might be accidental, or perhaps the D^mon was not willing to give fo publick a Teftimony of thofe Tranfadlions, which p^-fibly might convince thofe, who he had rather fhould continue in the unbelief of his exiftence. But howevjer it were, this cir-cumftance will afford but a very flender inference againft. the cre-dit of the ftory, except among thofe who are willing to take any thing for an Argument againlt things which they have an inte-reft not to acknowledge.

I have thus related the fum of the ftory, and noted fome cir-cumftances that afliire the truth of it. I confefs the palfages re-cited are not fo dreadful, tragical and amazing, as there are fome in ftory of this kind yet ; are they never the lefs probable or tnie, for being not fo prodigious and aftonilhing, And they are ftrange enough to prove themfelves effeds of fome invifible ex* traordinary Agents, and fo demonftrate that there are Spirits, who fometimes fenfibly intermeddle in our affairs. And I think they do it with clearnefs of evidence. For thefe things were not done long ago, or at far diftance, in an ignorant age, or among a barbarous people, they were not fecn by two or three only of the Melanchoiick and Superftitious, and reported by thofe that made them ferve the advantage and intereft of a party They were not the paffages of a Dayor Night, nor the vanilhing glances of an Apparition-, but thefe Tranfadtions were near and 7ate,puhlick^,fre^uent,and oi divers years continuance, wkneffod by multitudes of competent andunbyafTed Atteftors, and atSedin a fearching incredulous Age : Arguments enough one would think to convince any modeft and capable reafon.

A OVER-

of Relations. 6^

ADVERTISEME NT.

Cr H IS 'Narrative of the Daemon of Ted worth is publiffoed in an Epiftolar Form in the former Impreffions. "But the enlarge-went thereof that is to fay^ the faid Narative enlarged for this intended Edition^ i^ not in thatform^ and therefore is thus puhlifhed according to Mr, GlanvilV M. S, in this < bare Jimple form it was found* fVe proceed now to thefecond I\elation,

RELAX. 11.

Which is concerning Witchcraft fraBifed hy Jane
Brooks ufon Richard Joncs^ Son of Henry
Jones of Shepton Mallet.

ON Sunday 1 5. of Novemh. 1 6 57. about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon. l(ichard Jones then a fprightly youth a-bouc twelve years old, Son of Henry Jones oi Shepton Mallet, in the County of Somerfet, being in his Fathers houfe alone, and perceiving one looking in at the Windows, went to the Door^ vvhere one Jane Brooks of the fame Town ( but then by name unknown to this Boy ) came to him. She defired him to giyc her a piece of clofe Bread, and gave him an Apple. After which (he alfo ftroked him down on the right fide, (hook him by the band, and fo bid him good nighc. The youth returned into t?ie houfe, where he had been left well, when his Father and one Gihfon went from him, but at their return, which was with-in an hour or thereabout, they found him ill, and complaining of his right fide, in which the pain continued in moft part of that night. And on Munday following in the Evening, the Boy roafted the Apple he had of Jane Brookjy and having eat about half of it, was extreamly ill, and fometimes fpeechiefs, but be-ing recovered, he told his Father that a Woman of the Town on Sunday before, had given him that Apple, and that (he ftroked him on the fide. He faid he knew not her name, but (hould her perfon if he faw her. Upon this Jones was advifed to invite the Women oi Shepton to come to his Houfe, upon the occafion

of

^4 TheColleStion

of his Son s illnefs, and the Child told him, that in cafe the Woman (hould come in when he was in his Fit, if he were no! able to fpeak, he would give him an intimation by a Jogg, and defired that his Father would lead him through the Room, for he faid he would put his hand upon her, if Ihe were there! Af-ter this he continuing very ill, many Women came daily to fee iiim, And Jnne Brooks the Sunday after, came in with two of hec^-Sifters, and ieveral other Women of the Neighbourhood Were there.

Upon her coming in, the Boy was taken fo ill, that for fome time he could not fee nor fpeak, but having recovered his fight, he gave his Father the Item, and he led him about the Room. The Boy drew towards Jane Brooks, who was behind her two Sifters among the other Women, and put his hand upon her, which his Father perceiving, immediately fcratcheth her Face and drew Blood from her. The Youth then prefently crying out that he was well, and fo he continued feven or eight days. But then meeting with Alice Cowardy Si&ier to Jane Brookst who -^afiing by faid to him, [ How do you do my Honey] he pre-fently fell ill again. And after that, the faid Coward and Brooks often appeared to him. The Boy would defcribe the Clothes and Habit they were in at the time exadtly, as the Gonftable arid others have found upon repairing to them, though Brool(s Houfe was at a good diftance from Jones's. This they of-ten tried, and always found the Boy right in his Defcripti. ons.

On a certain Sunday about Noon, the Child being in a Room with his Father and one Gibfon. and in his Fit,' he on a fudden called out, that he faw Jane Brooks on the Wall, and pointed to the place, where immediately Gibfon ftruck with a Knife. Upon which the Boy cryed out, [ O Father, couz Gib-fQ?2 hath cut Jane Brookes hand, and 'tis Bloody ] The Father and Gibfon immediately repaired to the Conftable a difcreet Per-fon, and acquainting him with what had pafled, defired him to go with him to Ja72e Brookes Houfe, which (he did. They found her fitting in her Room on a Stool with one hand over the o-ther. The Conftable askt her how (he did ? She anfwered, noc well. He askt again why Ihe fat with one hand oVer the other She replied, fhe was wont to do fo. He enquired if any thing were amifs with her Hand ? Her anfwer was,ic was well enough. The Conftable defired he might fee the hand that was under, which (he being unwilling to (hew him, he drew it oat and found it bloody according to what the Boy had faid. Being askt how it came fo, (he ^id 'twas fcratched with a great Pin,

On

of Relations. 6 %

On the Eighth of December, 1657. The Boy, Jane Brooke and Alice Coward, appeared ar Caflle-Cary before the Juftices,, Mr. Hunt and Mr. Cary. The Boy having began to give his Te-ftimony, upon the coming in of the two Women and their look-ing on him was inftanuly taken Speechlefs ; and fo remained till the Women were removed out of the Room, and then in a IhorC time upon Examination he gave a full relation of the mentioned particulars.

On the Eleventh of January following, the Boy was again Examined by the fame Juftices at Shepton Mallet, and upon the fight of Jane Brooks was again taken Speechlefs, but was not fo afterwards when Alice Covpard came into the Room to him.

On the next appearance at Shefton, which was on the Seven-teenth of February, there were prefent many Gentlemen, Mini-fters and others. The Boy fell into his Fits upon the fight of Jane Brooks, and lay in a Man's Arms like a dead Perfon ; the Woman was then willed to lay her Hand on him, which fhe did and he thereupon ftarted and fprang out in a very ftrange and unufual manner. One of the Juftices to prevent all pol2ibili-ties of Legerdemain, caufed Gibfon and the reft to ftarid off from the Boy, and then that Juftice himfelf held him ; the Youth be-ing blind-folded, the Juftice called as if Brooks (hould touch him, but winked to others, to do it, which two or three fucceflively did, but the Boy appeared not concerned. The Juftice then called on the Father to take him, but had privately before defi-red one Mr Geoffery Strode, to bring Jane Bnokj to touch him at fuch a time as he fhould call for his Father, which was done, and the Boy immediately fprang out after a very odd and vio-lent falhion. He was after touched by feveral Perfons and mo-ved not, buL' Jane Brooks being again caufed to put her Hand upon him, he ftarted and fprang out twice or thrice as before. All this while he remained in his Fit and fome time afrer ; and being then laid on a Bed in the fame Room, the People pre-fent could not for a long time bow either of his Arms or Legs.

Between the mentioned 15. of Nov. and the 11. of Jan. the
two Women appeared often to the Boy, their Hands cold, their
lyesftaring, and their Lips and Cheeks looking pale. In this
• manner on a Thurfday about Noon, the Boy being newly laid
l^into his Bed, Jane Brooks and Alice Coward appeared to him^;
gnd told him that what they had begun they could not perform.
mui if he would fay no more of it, they would give him Money,r
iand fo put a Two-pence into his Pocket. After which they
took him out of his Bed, laid him on the ground and vanifiied,
and the Boy was found by thofe that came next into the Room.

lying

66 The Collection

lying on the Floor as if he had been dead. The Two-penc«; was feen by many, and when it was put into the Fire and hot# the Boy would fall ill ; but as foon as it was taken our and cold, he would be again as well as before. This was fecn and oblerved by a Minifter, a difcreet Perfon, when the Boy was in one Room, and the Two- pence ( without his knowledge ) put into the Fire in another, and this was divers times tried, in the prefence of feveral Pcrfons.

Between the 8 of Dec. and the 17 oiFeh. in the Year menti-oned, divers Perfons at fundry times, heard in the Boy, a noife like the croaking of a Toad, and a Voice within him faying, jane Brookj, Alice Coward^ twelve times in near a quarter of an Hour. At the' fame time lomeheld a Candle before the Boy's Face, and earneftly looked on him, but could not perceive the leaft motion of his Tongue, Teeth, or Lips, while the Voice was heard.

On the 25 ofF^/'. between two and three in the After-noon, the Boy being at the Houfe of Richard Ifles in Shepton Mallet, went out of the Room into the Garden, Ifles his Wife tbllowed him, and was within two Yards when (he faw him rife up from the ground before her, and fo mounted higher and higherj till he paiTed in the Air over the Garden- Wall, and Was carried io above ground more than 30 Yards, falling at iaft at one Jordans Door at Shepton, where he was found as dead for a time ; but coming to himlelf, told Jordan, that Jane, Brooks had taken him up by the Arm out oi Ifles his Garden, and j carried him in the Air, as is related.

The Boy at feveral other times, was gone on the ftidden, and upon fearch after him, found in another Room as dead, and at fometimes ftrangely hanging above the ground ; his Hatids be-ing flat againft a great Beam in tl»e top of the Room, and all his Body 2 or 3 Foot from ground. There he hath hung a quar-rer of an Hour together, and being afterwards come to himfelf, he told thofe that found him, that Jane Brookj had carried him to that place, and held him there. Nine People at a time faw the Boy fo ftrangely hanging by the Beam.

From the i 5 of Not;, to the i o of M-irc^ following, he was by reafonofhis Fits, much wafted in his Body, and unfpirited, bur after that time, being the Day the two Women were fent to Goal, he had no more of thofe Fits.

Jane Brooks was Condemned and Executed at Gbard^ Aflizes^' March 26, 1658.

Thisi

of Kchtionsl $7

: This IS the futH of Mr. Hunts Narrative, which corxludes With both the Juftices Atteftaticn, thus :

The aforefaid Pafjagesy were fime of them fien ly m; and thereby and Jome other remark^able ones, not here fet dpwm^ were upon the Bxamination offeveral credible Witneffes^ taken upon Oath before m* *

Subfcribed,

P^h. Hunt, John Carj,

; This I think is good Evidenc of the being ot Witches; if the Sadducee be not fatisfied with it, I would fain, know whai; kind of Proof he would expedb. Here are Tcftimoniesof Senfej, the Oaths of feveral credible Attefters, the nice and deliberate Scrutiny of quick-flighted and judicious Examiners, and the Judgment of an Aflize upon the whole. And now the fecurit^ of all our Lives and Fortunes depends upon no greater ciicum-ftarices of Evidence than thefc. If fuch Proof may not be cre-dited, no Fad: can be proved, no Wickednefs can be puniflied, no Right can be determined, Law is at an end, and blind Ju-ftice cannot tell how to decide any thing.

ADVERTISEMENT.

XT' HE mo^ (it Advertifement here^ is Mr. Glzvw'A' s Uranfuion ■^ tofrefh Evidence St out of Mr, Hunt'j Examinations ^ which which is this. Thus far^ faith he, the Evidence -of FaSi went in^ the former Editions^ but having refolved upon this Re-iliforcementp I writ a^aih to my Honoured Friend Mr, Hunt, kr'^o-^ing he had more Materials for my piirpofcy and fuch as would afford Proofs fufficient to any modtft Doubter. In Anfwer he, was plecfed tQ> fend me his 'Book, of Examinations of Witches, which he\ept by him, fairly Written. It contains, the Difcovery of fuch anHel///b IQzot of them, and that Difcovery fo clear and plain, ; that per-haps there hath not yet any thing appeared to uswithftrcngcr Evi-^ dence to confirm the belief of Witches. ... A7idhad not his Oi/cpver r% and Endeavours met with great Oppopfion and Difc6uragcme?itt fromfome then in Author ity^ theiphole Clan ofthofe HeliifhCcnfe-

0 derated

68 Tbe Collection

derates in thefe farts had beenjuftly exfofed and piini/hed. Out of that Book, I have coHe^edfome wain InftaficeSf the clearnefi of which I thinii, mil be enough to overcome andfilence any indifferent "Prejudice, But fome are Jo fettled and obdurate, that no Proof in the PVorld is Jufficient to remove them, I begin with, the PVitch-crafts of Elizabeth Style.

R E L A T. III.

Which contnineth the Witchcrafts ^/Elizabeth Style of Bayford, Widow.

THIS Eli:{nheth Style of Stcke Trifter, in the County of So^ merfet, was accufed by divers Perfons of Credit, upon Oath, before Mr. Hunt, and particularly and largely Confefied her Guik her feif, which was found by the Jury at her Trial ziTaunion; but (he prevented Execution, by dying in Goal, a little before the expiring of the term her Confederate Da-mon had fet for her enjoyment of Diabolical Pleafures in this Life. I have fhortned the Examinations, and eaft them into fuch an order, as I think fitteft for the rendring the Matter clear and intelligible. ^

I . Exam. F{ich. Hill, of Stoke Trifter, in the County of So-mrrfet, Yeoman; being Examined upon Oath, Jan. 23, 1664, before P^ch. Hunt, Efq ; one of his Adajefties Juftices for that County, concerning the Bewitching of his Daughter by Blix* Style, declareth, That his Daughter Eli:{ahetb Hill, about the the Age of ? 3 Years, hath been for about two Months laft paft, taken with very ftrange Fits, which have l^Id 2 or 3 Hours and more ; and that inthofe Fits, the Child hath told her Fa-ther lit Examinant and others, that one EUt^. Style, of the fame Parilh, appeared to her, and is the Perfon that Torments her. She aifo in her Fits, ufuaJly tells what Cloaths Eli:{~ Style hath on a: the time, which the Informant and others have feen and found true.

He faith farther, that about a Fortnight before Chrifl was laft, he told Style, that his Daughter fpoke much of her in her Fits, and did believe that (he was bewitched by her. Whereupon Fran-cis H^ljite, and fVaiter^ and Robert T/;/V/; being prefect, willed

her

■

(^/Relations. 6<)

her to complain to the Juftice againft hiin, for accufing of her. But ftie having ufed feveral Put ofFs, faid, (he would do worfe than fetch a Warrant. After which, the Girl grew worfe than before, and at the end of a Fit, (he tells the Examinant when (he (hall have another, which happens accordingly^ and affirms, that Style tells her when the next Fit (hall come. He informs farther, That Monday Night after Clmfimas-day, about 9 of the Clock, and 4 or 5 times (ince, about the fam.e Hour of the Night, his Daughter had been rhore Tormented than formerly^ and that though held in a Chair by four or five People, fome-times fix, by the Arms, Legs, and Shoulders, (he would rife but of her Chair, and raife her Body about three or four Foot high. And that after, in her Fits, (he would hc^ve Holes made in her Hand, Wrift, Face, Neck, and other parts of her Body^ which the Informant, and others that fav/ them, conceived to be with Thorns 5 for, they fav/ Thorns in her Flcfh, and Tome they hooked out. Thk upon the Child's pointing with her Finger from place tcr place, the Thorns and Holes immediate-ly appeared to the Informant and others looking on. And as foon as the Child can fpeak afcer the Fit, (he faith, that Widow Siyle did prick her with Thorns inthofe feveral places, which was horrible Torment, and (he feemed to the Informant and o-thers (landing by, to be in extreme Pain and Torture. The Child hath been fo tormented and pricked with Thorns four feveral <^i|hts, at which time the Inform.ant and many other teople have feen theFle(h rife up in little Bunches, in whicli Holes did appear. The Pricking held about a Quarter of an Hour at a time, during each ot the four Fits, and the Infor-mant hath feen the Child takeout feme of thofe Thorns.

The fame I{ich, Hill, Examined Jan. 26. 1664 informs, that when he rode from, the Juftice's Houfe, with a Warrant to bring Style before him, his Horfe on a ftidden fat down on his .Breech, and he could not after ride him, but as foon as he 'attempted to get up, his Horfe vv'ould (it down and paw with his Fore- Feet. He faith farther, That (ince Style was Exami-ned befote the Juftice, and made her ConfeiTion to him, (he hath acknowledged to the Informant, that (he had hurt hi^ Daughter, and that one Ann Bljhoj), and Alice DuJ^y did join in Bewitching her.

Taki^n uponOath;5 before me,-

^h, Uunt, ^3 %. %i Exam

yo The Colle^io^

1. Exam. PTilliam Parfons, RcAor of Stoke Triflery in the
County of Somerfet, Exanained the 26 di Jan, 1664 before
'Bioh. Hunt, Efq; concerning the Bewitching of /(/c/7.H//7's Daugh-
ter, faith, That on Moyiday Night after Chiftmai'day, then iaft
paft, he came into the Room when Eli:(. Hill was in her Fit,
xnany of his Parifhioners being prefent, and looking on. He
there fawthc Child held in a Chair by main force by the Peo-
ple, plunging far beyond the ftrength of Nature, Foaming and
C ircning at her own Arms and Cloaths with her Teeth, This
F;t he conceives held about half an Hour. After lome time,
(he pointed with her Finger to the Left-fide of her Head, next
to her Left- Arm, and then to her -Left-Hand, ^c. and where
fhe pointed, he perceived a Red-fpotto arife, with a fmall black
in tiiC midft of it, like a fmall Thorn. She pointed alfo to her
Toes one after another, and expreft great fenfe of Torment.
This latter Fit, he guefTes, continued about a quarter of an
Hour, during moft, or allof which.time, her Stomach feem'd
to fwell, and her Head where flie feem'd to be prickt, did fo
very much. She fate Foaming much ,of the time, and the next
Day after her Fit, ftie fhew'd the Examinant the places
where the Thorns were ftuck in, and he faw the Thorns in thofe
places.

Taken upon Oath, before me, |*

J^h. Hunt, Siibfcribed,

miliam Parfcns^ Rcdof of Stoke Tnfler,

9. Exam. Nicholas Lamhtrty of Bayfordy in the County of
Somrrjety Yeoman, Examined upon Oath, before ^pb. Hunt,
Efq; "^an 30 1664, concerning the Bewitching of ^ich. Hill's
Daughter, by Eli:{abeth StyliSy teftifieth. That Munday after
Cbrijimai'd^iy Iaft, being with others in the Houfeofi^c^. Hill^
he faw his Daughter Elizabeth taken very ill, and in Fits that
were fo ftrong, that fix Men could not hold her down in a
Chair in which (he was fate, but that (lie would raife the Chair
up in ipight of their utmoft Force. That in her Fits being not
able to peak, (he would wreft her Body as one in great Tor-
ment, and point with her Finger to her Neck, Head, Hands,
Wrifts, Arms, and Toes. And he, w^ith the reft, looking on
the places to which Ihe pointed, faw on the fudden, little Red-

fpots

ef Relations. 71

foots arife wit;h little black ones in the midft, as if Thorns were ftuck in them, but the Child then only pointed without touch-ing her Flefh with her Finger.

Taken upon Oath, before me,

^oh. Hunt.

4. Exam. Richard Viningt of Sfoke Trifler, Butcher, Exa-
mined y4w. 26, 1664, before Jf^e^. H^/wf, Efq; concerning the
Bewitching of his Wife by Eli:{. Style^ faith, That about 2 or 3
Days before St. James s, Day, 3 Years fince, or thereabout,
his late Wife Agnes fell out with £//;^. Style, and within 2 or 5
Days after, ihe was taken with a grievous pricking in her
Thigh, which pain continued for a long time, till after fome
Phyfick taken from one Haflety ihe was at fome Eafe for 3 or
4 Weeks. About the Chriftmas after the mentioned Si. James s
Day, Style came to the Examinant's Houfe, and gave Ag>2es his
Wife two Apples, one of them was a very Fair Red-apple,
which S/'ye defired her to Ear, which Ihe did, and in a few
Hours was taken ill, and worfe than ever (he had been before.
Upon this, theExan:iinant went to one Mr. Compton, who lived
in rhe Pari Hi of Ditch Eate, (the fame Perfon that fhewed my
Ftiend his Wife in a Glafs, as I have related in the Story of
Mr. Mompejfon) for Phyfick for his Wife. Compton told him he
could do her- no good, for that (he was hurt by a near Neigh-
bour, who would come into his Houfe, and up into the Cham-
ber where his Wife was, but would go out again without
fpeaking. After Vining came home, being in the Chamber with
his Wife, Style came up to them, but went out again without
fpeaking a word. Agnes his Wife continued in great pain till
Eafter-Eve following, and then flie dyed. Before her Death
her Hip rotted, and one of her Eyes fweird out : She decla-
red to him then, and at feveral times before, that flie believed
Eli:(, Style had Bev7itched her, and that flie was the cauie of
her Death.

Taken upon Oath, before me,

I{cb,Hunf.

Whilftthejuftice was Examining 5/^y^ at rf^/«c/i«w^o;?, (^which is not above a Mile and a half from Stc^e Trifler) upon the for-mer Evidence againft her, he obferved that i^^ck Fining iookt

U 5 I very

^2 The CoUeBion

very earneftly upon him ; whereupon he askr Vlning if he had any thing to fay unto him: He anfwered, That Style had Be-witched his Wife, and told the manner how, as is in his Depo-ficion related. The W^oman Style upon this, feemtd appalcd jand concerned, and the Juftice faying to her, Tou have been an old Sinner, Sec. Tou defer-ve little Mercy : She replied, I have ^kt God mercy for it. Mr. Hunt askt her, Why then (he would continue in fijch ill Courfes ? She faid, The Devil tempted her; and then began to make feme ConfcfTion of his adfings wirh her : Upon this, the Juftice fent her to the Conftabie's Houfe at Bayford, which is in the Parifh of Stoke Trifler, ( the Conftable was one Mr. Gapper ) and the next Morning went thither himfeif, accompanied with two Perfons of Quality, Mr. Bully and Mr. Courts now Juftices of the Peace in this County.

Now before I proceed farther in the Story, I (hall take no-tice, that here arc Three credible Wicneffes Swearing to the fame particulars, in that the Child Elii^ahth Hilly was fome-times in ftrange Fits, in which her ftrength was encreafed be-yond the prop(;rtion of Nature, and the force of divers Men : That then (he pointed to the ]?arts of her Body, where they faw Red-fpots arifing, and black fpecks in the midft of them, that (he complained that (he was prickt with 1 horns, and two of them faw Thorns in the place. of which (he complained. Some of which Thorns, one Swears that he and others faw hooked out, and that the Girl her felf pulled out others : That in her Fits he declared Style appears to her ( as jane Brooks did to Bjchard JoneSf in the former Relation J and tells her w^hen ihe 0iall have another Fir, which happens accordingly : That (he defcribes the Cloaths the Woman hath on, exaiffly as they find. But notwithftanding, all this (hall be Melancholy and Fancy ; or Leger-de-main, or natural Diftemper, or any thing but Witchcraft ; or the Fad: (hall be denied, and the 3 Wit-neffes perjur'd, though this confidence againft the Oaths of lober ]VIen, tend to the overthrow of all Teftimony and Hiftory, and the rendering all Law ufelefs. I (hall therefore proceed to far-* ther Proof, and fuch as will abundantly ftrengthen this. It is the ConfeiTion of Style her felf.

I left Mr. Hu72f., and the other two Gentlemen at the Confta-ble*s Houfe, where Style wzs^ upon bufinefs of farther Exami-nation, vvhere (he enlarged upon the ConfeiTion (he had before begun to make, and declared the whole matter at that and two other times after, in the particulars that follow,

of Relations. 7j

5. Exam. Bll:(aheth Styles herConfeflion of her Wirchcrafcs,
9an. 16 and 30, and Fek 7, i 664, before J^ob. Hum Efq ; She
then confelTed, Thau the Devil about 10 Years lince, appeared
to her in the ihapeof a handfome Man, and after of a Black-
Dog ; that he pronnifed her Money, and that fhe fhould Live
gallantly, and have the Fleafure of the World for 12 Years,
if (he would with her Blood fign his taper, which was to give
her Soul to him, and obferve his Laws, and that he might luck
her Blood. This after four Solicitations, the Examinant pro-
mifedtodo; upon which, he pricktthe fourth Finger of her
Right-hand, between the middle and upper Joint, ( where the
fign at the Examination remained J and with a Drop or two
of her Blood, flie figned the Paper with an [ O ] Upon this, the
Devil gave her Sixpence, and vanilht with the Paper.

That fince he hath appeared to her in the fhape of a Man, and did fo on H^ednefday Seven-night paft, but more ufually he appears in the likenelsofa Dog, and Car, and a Fly like a Millar, in which laft he ufually fucks in the Poll about four of the Clock in the Morning, and did fo Jan. 27, and that it ufually is pain to her to be fo fuckt.

That when fhe hath a defire to do harm, fhe calls the Spirit by the Name of i^o^/w, to whom when he appearech, fhe ufeth thefe words, O Satan give me my pirpfe I She then tells him what fhe would have done. And that he fhould fo appear to her, was part of her Contradlwith him.

That about a Month ago he appearing, fhe deflred him to Torment one Elis^abeth HiH^ and to thruft Thorns into her Flefli, which he promifed to do, and the next time he appeared, he told her he had done it.

That a little above a Month fince this Examinant, Alice Uukcj Ann Bifhop, and Mary Penny, met about 9 of the Clock in the Night, in the Common near Trifter Gate, where they met a Man in Black-cloaths, with a little Band, to whom they did Courte-iie and due Obfervance, and the Examinant verily believes that this was the Devil. At that rime Alice Dul^e brought a . Pidture in Wax, which was for Eli:{abeth Hill. The Man in Black took it in his Arms, anointed its Fore-head, and faid,_ J Baptise thee mth this Oyl, and ufed fbme other Words. He was God-Father, and the.Examinant and Ann Bifcop God-mo-thers. They called it Eli:{abeth ot.Bejl. Then the Man in Mzck, this Examinant, Ann Bifmpt and Alice Z)«/<eftuck Thorns into fey era! places of the Neck, Hand-Wrifts, Fingers, and other Parts of the faid Pidure. After which they had Wine, Cakes, and Roait-meat, (" ail brought by the Man in Black j which

U 4 ^ they

74 The Collection

they did eat and drink. They danced and were merry, were bodily there and in their Clothes.

She farther faith, that the fame perfons met again, at or near the fame place about a Month fince, when Anne Bifloop brought a Pidture in Wax, which was baptised Johut in like manner as the other was, the Man in black was Godfather, and Alice I>uke, and this Examinant God- mothers, As foon as it was bap-tized, Anne Bifhop ftuck two Thorns into the Arms of the Pidi-Ure, which was for one J^pbert Numans Child of J4^incaunton. After they had eaten, drank, danced, and made merry, they departed.

That llie with Anne Bifoop^ and Alice Duke met at another time in the Night, in a ground near Marnhuh where alfo met feveral other perfons. The Devil then alfo there in the former ihape, baptized a Pidure by the name of Anne or Rachel Hatcher The Pidure one Dunfords's Wife brought, and ftuck Thorns in it. Then they alfo made merry with Wine and Cakes, and fp . departed. t

' She faith, before they are carried to their meetings, they a-noint their Foreheads, and Hand- Wrifts with an Oyl the Spirit brings them which fmellsr^w) and then they are carried in a very (hort time, uling thele words as they pafs, Thvut, tout^ a toutj tout^ throughout: and about. And when they go off from their Meetings, they fay Centum Tormentum.

: -That at their fjril meeting, the Man in black bids them wej-com^e, and they all make low obeyfance to him, and he delivers fpme Wax Candles like little Torches, which they give back again at parting. When they anoint themfelves, they ufe a long form of words, and when they ftick in Thorns into the Pi(5l-wre of any they would torment, they fay A Pox on thee, Tic Jpijte thee. ! ■

-/That at every meeting before the Spirit vaniflieth away, he appoints the next meeting place and time, and at his departure there is a foul fmell At their meeting they have ufually Wine or good Jeer, Cakes, Meat, or the like. They eat and drink real-ly when they meet in their bodies,- dance alfo and have Mufick. The Man in black fits at the higher end, and Anne Bifhop ufu-ally next him. He ufeth fome Words before meat, and none af-ter ; his voice is audible, but very low.

;-That they are . carried fometimes in their Bodies and their . plothes, fometimes without, and as the Examinant thinks their Bodies are fometimes left behind; When only their Spirit? are |jrefent,,^ yet they know one another. •

' e?/ Relations." 75

When they would bewitch Man, Woman or Child, they do it iometimes by a PiBure made in Wax, which the Devil for-mally Baptizeth. Sometimes they have an A-pfle^ Dijh, Spcon^ or other thing from their evil Spirit, which they give to the party to whom they would do harm. Upon which they have power to hurt the perfon that eats or receives it. Sometimes they have power to do mifchief by a touch or curfe by thefe they can mifchief Cattle and by curfing without touching ^ but neither withgut the Devils leave.

That fhe hath been at feveral general meetings in the night ac High Common, and a Common near Mat comb ^ at a place near Marnhulh and at other places where have met John Combes^ John Viningi Kjchard Dickfs^ Thomas Bofier or Bolflery Thomas Dunning^ James Bufh a lame Man, Rachel Kjng^ Richard Lau" nenj a Woman called Dunford, Alice Duke^ Anne Bijhofy Mary Penny and Chriftopher Effen, all which did obeyfance to the Man in black, who was at every one of their meetings. Ufualiy they have at them fome gidlure Baptized.

The Man in black, fomctimes plays on a Pipe or Cittern, and the Company dance. At laft the Devil vanilheth, and all are carried to theii; feveral homes in a fhort fpace. At their part-ing they fay [A Boy! merry meet y merry fart. "^

That the reafon why (he caufed Elizabeth Hill to be the more tormented was, becaufe her Father had faid, fhe was a Witch. That Ihe has feen Alice Dukes Familiar fuck her, in the Ihape of a Cat, and Anne Bifioops fuck her in the ftiape of a Rat.

That (he never heard the name of God or Jefus Chrift menti-oned at any of their meetings.

That Anne BiJ^oopj about five years and a half fince, did bring a Pidure in Wax to their meeting, which was baptized by the Man in black, and called P^/^r. It was for I{pbert Nerv-man^s Child at Wincatmton*

That fome two years ago, (he gave two Apples to Agnes Viningi late Wife of I^ichard Vining^ and that (he ha;d one of the Apples from the Devil, who then appeared to her and told, TLit Apple would do N'mm^s Pf^ves bufinefs.

Taken in the prefence of feveral Grave and Orthodox Divines before me

Robert Hu7tf»
6. Esam.

^6

The QolleBion

6, Exam. WilliAm Parfons Redor of Stoke Trlfier, Exami-ned Feb. 7. 1664. before I^b. Hunt Efq ; concerning Eli:{abeth Styles confeffion, faith, That he heard Style before the Juftice of Peace, ac the time of her Examination eonfef?, as (he hath donealfo to the Examinant feveral times fince,that Ihe was in Co-venant with the Devil, that (he had figned it with her Blood, that (he had been with the Devil at feveral meetings in thenighr, that at one time of thofe meetings, there was brought a Pidure in blackilh Wax, which the Devil in the (hapevof 1 ManMn blacki(h Clothes, did Baptize by the name of Eli:^. Hill, that ihe did ftick in one Thorn into the Hand-Wrifts of the Pidure, that Alice Duke ftuck Thorns into the fame, and that Anne Bifhop and Mury Penny were prefent at that meeting with the Pevil.

Taken upon Oath before me

l^obert Hunt. Subfcribed,

Willla.m Parfons Redor of Stoke Trifter,

This Confeffion of Styles was free and unforced, with out any torturing or watching drawn from her by a gentle Examination, meeting with the Convidions of a guilty Confcience. Shecon-fefTeth that (he defired the Devil to torment Eli:{. Hill, by thru(t-ing Thorns into he^r Flelh, which he promifed, and faid he had done it, That a Pidture was Baptized for her the faid Eli:{abethy and that (}ie,the Familiar and Alice Duks ftuck Thorns into feve-ral places of the Neck,Hand-Wrifts,Fingers and other parts there-of, which exadly agrees with the ftrange Effeds related, con-cerning the torments the Child fufFer'd, and this mifchief (he confeiTeth (he did, becaufe her Father faid (he was a Witch. She confe(red (he gave two Apples to Finings Wife, one of which fhe had from the Devil, who faid it would do the buflnefs, which futes alfo with the Teftimony of Vinim concerning his Wife.

She confeiTeth farther, That the Devil ufeth to fuck her in the Poll, about four a Clock in the Morning, in the Form of a Fly like a Millar, concerning which, let us hear Teftimony (the other particulars of her Confeifion we (hall confider as occadon offers i V

7, Exam,

of Relations ^y

7. Exam. Nicholas Lambert Examined again Jcin.%6. 1664^
before Roh. Hunt Efq, concerning wh^it happened after Styles
confeifion, teftifyeth, That Eli^. Style having been Examined
before the Jaftice, made her ConfelTion, and committed to ihe
O^cer, ihe Juftice required this Examinant, William Thick,
and iVilham I{ead of Bayford to watch her, which they did •
and this Informant fitting near Style by the Fire, and reading in
the PraBlce of Piety, about Three of the Clock in the Morning
there came from her Head a gliftering bright Fly, about an
Inch in length, which pitched at firft in the Chimney, snJ then
vanifhed. - In lefs than a quarter of an hour afrer, there ap-
peared two Flies more of a lefs fize, and another colour which
feemed to ilrike at the Examinants hand, in which he held his
Book, but mifTed it, the one going over, the other going under
at the lame time. He looking ftedfaftly then on Styhy perceived
her countenance to change, und to become very black and gaftly,
the Fire alfo at the fame time changing its colour ; whereupon the
Examinant, Thick, and %^^ conceiving that her Familiar was then
about her, looked to her Poll, and Teeing her Hair (hake very
ftrangely took it up, and then a Fly like a great Millar flew cut
from the place, and pitched on the Table-board, and then va-
nifhed away. Upon this the Examinant, and the other two
perfons looking again in Styles Poll, found it very red and like
raw Beef. The Examinant askt her what it was that wenc
cut of her Poll, Ihe fald it was a Butterfly, and and askt them
why they had not caught it. Lambert faid, they could nor. I
think fo too, anfwered (he. A little while after, the Informanc
and the others looking again into her Poll,found the place to be
of its former colour. The Examinant demanded again what the
Fly was, (he confelTed it was her Familiar, and that (he felt it
tickle in her Poll, and that was the ufual time when her Fami-
liar came to her.

Taken upon Oath before me

J^obcrt Hunt^

». 8. Exam. Eli^. TormodofBayford, Examined Fekj. 1664.

albefore I^obert Hunt Efq; concerning the Mark found abouE |£//;^. Style after her Confeflion, Depofeth, That (he together with Catherine P0ntey Mary Day, Mary Bol/ier, and Bridget \Prankardy did a little after Ckriflmas laft, fearch Eli:{. Style, £nd that in her Poll they found a little rifing which kit hard

' , like

7? The CoUe^ion

like a Kernel of Beef, whereupon they fufpeding it to be an ill mark, thraft a Pin into it, and having drawn it our, rhruft it in again the fccond time, leaving it flicking in rhe f]cni for fome time, that the other Women might alio fee it. Notwirliiianding which Style did neither at the firft or fecond ume make the Jeaft (hew that (he felt any f hing. But after, when the Conll able told her hewouldthruft ii^a Pin to the place, and made a (hew as if he did, O Lord^ faid (he, do you prick mc .- wbenas no one then touched her.

The Examinant farthet^iaith, that Style harh fince confeffed to her, that her Familiar did ufe to fuck her in the place men-tioned, in the fhape of a great Millar or Butterfly.

Catherine PFrnte, Mary Day^ Mary Bolfter, and Bridget Pran-i(ard do i^, that the abovefaid Examination of Eli:^, Tormod is truth.

Taken upon Oath before me

^berp Hunt*

RELAX. IV.

Which is the Exam'mxHon and Confejjlon of A" lice Duke, alias Manning (^tnother Witch of Styles Kjiot^ <?/ Wincaunton, ifi the Coiwtj of SomQvltt Widow y taken Jan. 2j. and Feb. 2. 7* lo. 21. An. 1664. before Robert Hunt Efq^

TH E Examinant faith, That when (he lived with Anne Bijhop of iVincnuntony about Eleven or Twelve year s ago Anne Bijhop perfuaded her to go with her into the Church-yard in the night-time, and being come thither, to go backward round the Church, which they did three times. In their firft round, they met a Man in black Clothes, vvho went round a fe-cond time with them, and then they met a thing in the (hape of a great black Toad^ which leapt up againft the Examinanrs Apron. In their third round they met fomewhac in the (hape

of Relations. 79

of a Rat, which vaniftied away. After this the Examinant and Anne Bifloop Went home, but before Anns Bifhop went o% the Man in black faid fomewhat to her foftly, which the Infor-mant could not hear.

A few days after, Anne Bifhop fpeaking about their going round rhc Church, told the Examinant, that now fh^e might have her defire, and what fhe would wiih for. And (hoixly af-ter, the D^vil appeared to her in the fhape of a Man, promifing that Ihe fhould want nothing, and that if (he curfed any thing wkh A pox take zV, (he Ihould have her purpofe, in cafe (he would give her Soul to him, fuffer him to fuck her Blood, keep bis Secrets, and be his inftrument to do fuch mi (chief as he would ftft her about. All which, upon his fecond appearingto her, (he yielded to, and the Devil having prickt the fourth fin-ger of her right hand between the middle and upper joynt (^where the mark is yet to be fecnj gave her a Pen, with which (he made a crofs or mark with her Blood on Paper or Parch« ment, that the Devil offered her for the confirmation of the A-greement, which was done in the prefence oi Anns Bi/hcp, And as foon as the Examinant had figned it, the Devii gave her Sixpence, and went away with the Paper or Parch-ment.

Further fhe confefleth. That (he hath been at feveral meetings in Lie Common, and other places in the night, and that her Forehead being firft anointed with a Feather dipt in Gyl, (he hath been fuddenly carried to the place of their meeting. That about five or fix Weeks fince ( or more ) fhe met in the faid Common in the night, where were prefent Anne Bifhop^ Mary Fenny of Wincaunton^ Elizabeth Style of Bayfordy and a Man is black Clothes with a little Band, whom fhe fuppofeth to have been the Devil. At the meeting there was a Picture in Wax, which the Man in black took in his Arms, and having anointed its Forehead with a little greenifh Oyl, and ufing a few words, Baptized it by the name of Eli:{aheth or Befs Hill, for the Daughter of /^/c^<2/'^H///. Then the Devii, this Examinmr, Anne Bi/hopy and Eli:{abeih Style Ituck Thorns in the Neck, Head, Hand-wrifts, Fingers and other parts of the Pidture, faying, A Pox en thee. Tie fpite thee. This done, ail fat down, a white Cloth being fpread on the ground, aad did drink Wine, and eat Cakes and Meat. After all was ended, the Man in black vanifhed, leaving an ugly fmell at parting. The reft were on a fudden conveyed to their homes.

On

So The Colleaion

On Monday Night after Chrifimas Day laft, fhe met the fame Company again, near about the fame Place, and rhen AnnBl-(hop( who was therein a Green-apron, a Fr<?«c/> Waficoat, and a Red- Petticoat ) brought in her Apron a Pidure in black fh Wax, which the Devil Baptized as be! ore, by the Name oijohn Newman J for the Son ofi^o^. Newman o^H^incauntony and then the Devil firft,after AnnBifloop and this Examinant thruft Thorns into the V'k^mvq, A7inBlJhop {picking in twoThorns into the Arras of it. The Pidure Ann Bifhop carried away with her. They were all there prefent in their Cloaths, and the Devil in the Shape of a Man in Black.

About 5 Years and a half fince, the fame Perfons were at the Baptizing of another Image, by the Name of Peter Newman, another Son of I^oherc Newman^ both which are lince dead, and then Ann Bijhop defired the Examinant to joyn with her in Be-witching C)f Peter and John Newman.

At another time (he was carried to a Meeting in the Night, to a green Place near Marnhull as flie was then told, where were prefent Ann Bijhoft Eli:{abeth Style j Mary Penny ^ and fome unknown to her. Then alfo an Im.agefin Wax was Baptized by the Divil, in the fore- related manner, by the Name of Ann or Rachel Hatcher^ one of Marnhull, as Ihe was then inform.ed. After the Ceremony was ended, they had Wine, Cakes, &C6

She likewife confeifeth. That (he was at another fuch ^Meet-ing, where 12 Perfons were prefent, many of whom were un-known to her, but fhe took notice of one lame Man in blackifli Hair among them, and of the Devil as before.

She faith. That after their Meetings, they all make very low Obeyfances to the Devil, who appears in Black-cloaths, and a little Band. He bias them Welcome at their coming, and brings Wine or Beer, Cakes, Meat, or the like. He fits at the higher end, and ufualiy Ann Bl/hop fits next him. They Eat, Drink, Dance, and have Mufick. At their parting they ufe to fay, Merry meet, merry part; and that before they are carri-ed to their Meetings, their Foreheads are anointed with gree-nilb Oyl that they have from the Spirit, which fmells raw. They for the moll part are carried in the Air. As theyjpafs they fay, Thciit, tout a tout, tout^ throughout and about. Pafllng back they fay, t{entum Tormentum, and another Word which fhe doth not remembei'.

She confefleth. That her Familiar doth commonly fuck her Right- bread about 7 at Night, in the Shape of a little Cat of a dunnifh Colour, which is as fmooth as a Want, and when Ihe is fuckr, ihe is in a kind of a Trance*

of Relations. Si

That (he hurt Ihomai Garret's Cows, bceaufe he refiifed to Write a Petition for her.

That (he hurt Thomas Conway, by putting a Di(h into his Hand, which Difli (he had from the Devil, (he gave it him to give his Daughter lor good Hanfcl.

That (he hurt Dorothy the Wife of George Vining^ by giving an Iron-llate to put into her Steeling-box.

That being angry with Edith fVaetSy the Daughter of Ed-mond Watt Si for treading on her Foot, (he Cur fed Edith with a Poxmyo^i^ z.n6. after touched her, which hath done the faid Bdith miich harm, for which (he is forry.

That being provoked by Swantons firft Wife, (he did before her Death Curfe her, with a Pox on yoii^ believes (he did there* by hurt her, but denies (he did Bewitch Mr, Swantons Cattle,

She faith, That when the Devil doth any thing for her, (he calls for him by the Name ofl(pbin, upon which he appears, and when in the Shape of a Man, (he can hear him fpeak, but his Voice is \ery low. He promiled her, when (he made her Contrad with him, that (he (hould want nothing, but ever (ince flie hath wanted all things.

Taken before me,

J^k Hunt.

1 . Exam.. Thomas Conway of TVmcaunton in the County of Somerfetf Examined Pf^. 12, 1664, before ^bert Hunt U^quirc, concerning Alice Duk^^ informeth. That about iz Months (ince Alice Duke, alias Manning, brought a little Pewter- di(h to this Informant, and told him that it was good Handfel for his Daughter. The Examinant willed the faid Alice to carry it to her, (he being within by the Fire, but (lie forc'd the Di(h inro his Hand, and went away ; (hortly after he v/as taken extre-mely ill in all his Limbs, of which Illnefs the Phyficians whom he applied himfelf to, could give no account. When flie went from him, (he was very angry, and mutter'd much, becaufe he would not (ign a Petition on her behalf. She hath confe(red to him (ince, that (he had the Di(h from the Devil, and gave it to him on purpofe to hurt him. He hath been, and is fince, in great torment, and much weakened and wafted in his Body^ which he imputes to the evil Yi^2id:\CQSoi Alice Duke,

Taken upon Oath, before me,

J{oh, Hunt.
2. Exam»

82 The CoUeBion

1, Exam. Mary the Wife of Tho. Conwayt Exzmined March 6, 1664, before i(ob. HunfEfq; concerning Alice Duke^ fzith'. That her Husband Tho, Conway^ about a Year ago, delivered her a little Pewter-difli, telling her he had it from Alice Dukcp for good Hanf^lfor his Daughter, who had lately lain in. In this Diih fhe warmed a little Deer-fuet and Rofe-water, anoint-ing her Daughters Nipples with it, which put her to extreme pain ; upon which, lulpedling harm from the Difli, fhe put ic into the Fire, which then prefently vaniflir, and nothing of it could afterwards be found. After, ^ when (he anointed her Daughters Nipples with the fame Deer-fuet and Rofe-water, warmed in a Spoon, (he complained not of any pain : She far-ther faith, That her Husband after he had received the Dilh from the Hands of Alice Dul(^e, was taken ill in all his Limbs, and held for a long time in a very ftrange manner.

Taketi upon Oath, before me,

3. Exam. Edvpard Watts of iVtncaunton; in the County of
Somerfety Examined Mar. 6. 1664, before iipbert Hunt Efq*
concerning Alice Duke, faith, That he hath a Child called
Edithy about i o Years of Age, who for the fpace of half a Year
hath languilhed and pined away, and that fhe told him, that
treading one Day on the Toe of Alice Duke, fhe in great An-
ger Curfed her wich A Pox on thee, and that from that time
the Child began to be ill aad to pine away, which fhe hatfil
done ever fince.

Taken upon. Oath, before me,

t^b.Hunt.

ADVERTISEMENT.

'^BJides the plain Agreement betwixt the Vf^tnejfes, and the

H^itches own Confe£ion, it may be -worth the taking notice her e^

how well her ConfeJJion of having her Familiar fuck, f^sr in the

f:>ape of a Cat, agrees with Eliz. 5tyle/ Confejfion, that fhe had

fien

^/Relations. 8j

fern Alice Duke / Vnmlliar fuck, her in that SJmpe. As affo h<m the Bewitching of Edward V/atz's Child by -Alice Duke ber fay-ingi A Pox on her, agrees vpith the Promife of the Dc'vil to her, Tohich is expreflyy Thac if Ihe Ciirfed any thing With ' a Pox take it, fte (hould have her purpole. 5"/;^ alfo tefifying of ths Baptising the Image o/Eliz. Hill, and ofthpfe Forms of fVords, Thou t, tout a tout, ^WRenturr* Tormehturn at their gouig td their Meetings Hnd de-parting, plainly /hews thefc arc not trarfkSl-ed in Dreams, hut in reality. The Devil alfo as in other Stories leaving an ill Smell behind him, feems to iynply ihe reality of the htffinepi thofe afcitifiom Particles he held together in his viphls Vehicle^ being loofened at his vani/hing, andfo offending the No* flrih by their floating and diffufing themfelves in the o^en Air,

RELAX. V.

Which is the Examinatior^ and Confe(]ion ofChxU ftian Green, aged about Thirty three Tears, Wife of Robert Green of Brewham, in the County of Sorherlet, taken before Robert Hunt Efq j March 2, 1664.

nr* HIS Examlnarit faith, That about a Year and a half X fince, ( (he being in great Poverty ) one Catherine Careen of Brewham, told her, that if Ihe would, {he might be inabectejr Condition, and then peirfuaded her to make a Covenant with the Devil. Being afterwards together i n one Mr. Huffeyi ground in Brevpham Foreft aboiit Noon, Catherine called for the Devil, who appeared in the (hape of a Man in blackilh Cloaths, and faid fomewhat to Carherine, which Chriflian could not hear. After whith the Devil ( as (he conceiv'd him ) told the Ex-amiriant, that Ihe (hould want neither Cloaths, Vi(5tuals, nor Money, if (he would give her Body and Soul to him^ k6ep his Secrets, and fufFer him to Suck her once in 2^4 Hours; which at laft, upon his and Catherine Greens perfwafion, (he yielded to ; then the Man in Black prickt the fourth Finger of her Right-hand, between the middle and upper Joints, where the (igns y^i remains, and cook two Drops of her Blood on hijs

The CoUeBion

Finger, giving her Four-pence-half-penny, with which (he bought Bread in Brewham, Then he fpake again in private with Catherine and vanifhc, leaving a fmeil of Brimftone be-hind.

Since that time the Devil ( (he faith ) hath and doth ufual-ly Suck her Left-Breaft about five of the Clock in the Morning, in the likenefs of an Hedge- hog, bending, and did fo on IVed-iiefday Morning laft : She faith it is painful to her, and that Ihe is ufually in a Trance when (he is Suckt.

She faith alfo. That Catherine Greeny and Margaret Agar
oiBrevphamy have told her, that they are in Covenant with
the Devil, and confefTeth, that (he hath been at feveral Meet-
ings in the Night at Brewham Common, and in a Ground of
Mr. Hujfe/s ; that ihe hath there met with Catherine Greeti,
and Margaret Agar^ and 3 or 4 times with Mary Warherton of
Brewham'. That in all thofe Meetings, the Devil hath been
prefent, in the fhape of a Man in Black-cloaths : At the firft
coming, he bids them Welcome, but always fpeaks very low.
That at a Meeting about 3 Weeks or a Month fince, at or
near the former Place, Margaret Agar brought thither an Image
in Wax, for Eli:{abeth the Wife of Andrew Cornijh of Brew^
ham, and the Devil, in theJhape of a Man in Black-cloaths,
• did Baptize it, and after ftuck a Thorn into its Head; that
Agar ftuck one into its Stomack, and Catherine Green one in-
to its Side. She farther faith ; That before- this time. Agar
faid to her this Examinant, that (he would hurt £//;{4^^^;& Coy-
nipj, who fince the Baptizing of the Picture, hath heen taken
and continues very ill.

She faith. That 3 or 4 Days before Jof Talhot of Brewham died, Margaret ^^^r told her, That (he woud rid him out of the World, becaule he being Overfeer of the Poor, he made her Children go to Service, and refufed to give them fuchgood Cloaths as (he defired. And fince the Death of Talht, (he con-feifed to the Examinant, that (he had Bewitcht him to Death. He died about a Year fince j was taken ill on Friday, and di-ed about Wedncfday after.

That her Mother in Law, Catherine Green^ about 5 or 6 Years ago, was taken in a ftrange manner : One Day one Eye and Cheek did iweli, another Day another, and fo (he conti-nued in great Pam till (he died : Upon her Death, (he feveral times ia:d, in the hearing of the Examinant, That her Sifter in Law, Catheri?7eGreen, had Bewitched her, and the Examinant believes that (he Bewitcht her to Death.

That

<?/RelatIons, Sj

That a little before Michaelmas laft, the faid Catherine curb-ed the Horfes of B^h, Walter of 'Brcwham^ laying, A Murrain on them Horfes to De4th j upon which the Horles, being 3, all Dkd.

Taken before me,

I{ph, Hunt,

RELAX. VL

Contaming farther Teftimomes of the vilUinotd Feats of that rampant Hag Margaret Agar^ of Brewham in the County of Someriet.

1. Exam. T2 LiT^aheth Talhot oi Brewhani, Examined MdrcH
■ Cj 7, 1664, before t^phert Hunt Efq; faithg
That about 3 Weeks before her Father J of, Talbot died, Mar-
garet Agar fell out with him, becaufe he being Gverfeer for the
Poor, did require Agars Daughter to go to Service, and faid to
him, that he was proud of his Living, bi^t Swore by the ,Blood
of the Lord, that he fhould not long enjoy it. "Within 3 Weeks
of which he was fuddenly taken in his Body, as if he had beert
ftabb*d with Daggers, and fo continued four or five Days i^
great pain, and then Died.

^h Hunt.

% Exam, y^/ Smith of Brev^hdm, Husbandman, Examined Mahh 15, 1 664. before I{pk Hunt Efq ; faith, That fome few Days "before Jof, Talbot died, he heard Margaret Agar rail very mueh at him, becaufe he had caufed her Daughter to go toSer--vice, arid faid, that he Ihould not keep his Living, but be drawri out upon Four Mens Shoulders : That (he fhould tread upon his Jaws, and fee the Grafs grow over his Head, which fli^ Svvore by the Blood of the Lord.

Taken upon Oath, before me, ^ J^h^HunK

S6 The Cohmon

3. Exam.^ JAary the Wife of WillUm Smith of Brewham,
Examined March 8, 1664, before J^bMmt Efq; faith, TJhac
about two Years iince, Margaret Agar came to her, and called
her Whore, adding, A Plague take you for an old VVhorct 1 [hall
live to fee thee rot on the Barth before I die^ and thy Covpsfioallfall
and die at my Feet, A (hort time after which, (he had 3 Cows
that died very ftrangely, and 2 of them at the Door of Margaret
Agar, And ever fince the Examinant hath confumed and pined
away, her Body and her Bowels rotting, and flie verily believes
chat her Cartel and herfelfwereBewitchtby Agar,

Taken upon Oath, before me,

t(oh. Hunt,

4. Exam. Catherine Green, alias Comijht of Brexvhamt Widow,
Examind May 16, 1665, before i{(3^. H«»^ Efq ; faith. That
on Friday in the Evening, in the beginning of March laft, Mar^
garet Agar came to her, and was earned (he (hbuld go with her
to a Ground called Huffeys-kjiap yVfhich^Q did, and being come
thither, they faw a little Man in Black-cloaths, with a little
Band. As foon as they came to him, Margaret Agar took out
of her Lap a little Pidure in blacki(h Wax, which (he delive-
red to the Man in Black, 'who ftuck a Thorn into the Crown
of the Pidture, and then delivered it back to Agar^ upon which
(he ftuck a Thorn towards the Heart of thePi<5lure, Curling,
and faying, A Plague onyou ; which (he told the Examinant,
was done to hurt £//:^. Corni/h, who as (he hath been told,
has been very ill ever fince that time.

That a little above a Year fince Jof, Talbot, htQ of Brewhantt being Overfeer for the Poor, did caufe two of Agars Children to go to Service ; upon which (he was very Angry, and faid in the Examinants hearing, a few Days before he fell fickand di-ed, that (he had trod upon the Jaws of 3 of her Enemies^ and that (he (hould (hortly fee Talbot rot, and tread on his Jaws, And when this Examinant defired her not to hurt Talbot ^ (he Swore by the Blood of the Lord, (he would confound him if (he could. The Day before he died, (he faid to the Examinant, God's wounds til go and fee him, for Ifhallneverfee him more^ and the next Day Talbot died.

That (he heard Margaret Agar Cmk Mary Smith, ^nd (ly. She (hould live to fee her and her Cattle fall and roc before her

Taken ^^^o^ Oath, before tnc^ :

ef Relations. 87

5. Exam. Mary Green of Brexvhamy fingle Woman, Exami-
ned, June 3, 1665, before B^b, Hunt Eiq; faith. That about
a lAonthhsiore ^o/.Talhof, late of Brevpham, died, Marptret
Agar fell out with him about the putting out of her Child to
Service. After that (he faw a Pidlure in Clay or Wax, in the
Hands of Agar^ which Ihe faid v;as for Talbot^ the Pi(5lure fhe
faw her deliver in ^edmore, to the Fiend in the Shape of a Man
in Black, about an Hour in the Night, who ftuck a Thorn in
or near the Heart of it ; Agar ftuck another in the Breaft, and
Catherine Green, Alice Green, Mary fVarherton, Henry Walter,
and Chrijlian Green, all of Brewham, were then and there pre-
fent, and did all ftick Thorns into the Pidlure.

At that time Catherine Green'f^Sike to Agar not to hurt 7al-hot, becaufe (he received fomewhat from him often times, but Agar replied, By the Lord's Blood (he would confound him, or Words to that purpofe.

That a little before T/^/^o^ was taken fick, Agarhdng in the Houfe where the Examinant lived. Swore, That (he (hould ere long tread upon his Jaws ; and that if Talbot made her Daugh-ter to go to Servicefor a Year, yet if (he came home in a quar-ter, it would be t?ime enough to fee him carried out upon four Mens Shoulders, and to tread upon his^aws.

That on the Day T/2/^(7; died, (he heard Agar Swear, That fhe had now plagued Talbot ; and that being in company with her fometitpe before, and feeing a dead Horle of Talbot's drawn along by another of his Horfes, (he Swore, That that Horfe Ihould be alfo drawn out to Morrow, and the next Day (he faw the well Horfe alfo drawn out dead.

That above a Month before Margaret Agar was fent to Goal, fhe faw her, Henry Walter, Catherine Green, Joan Syms, Chriflian Green, Mary TVarberton, and others, meet at a place called Huf-feys'knap in the Foreft, in the Night-time, where met them the Fiend, in the Shape of a little Man in Black- cloaths, with a little Band, to him all made Obeyfances, and at that time a Pid:ure in Wax or Clay, was delivered by Agar to the Man in Black, who ftuck a Thorn into the Crown of it, Margaret -^^^r one towards the Breaft, Catherine Green in the fide ; after which Agar threw dpwn the Pid:ure, and faid. There is Cor-ni(h*j Figure with a Murrain to it, or Plague on it. And that at both the Meetings there was a noifome Smell of Brim-ftone.

That about two Years fince, in the Night, there met in the fame Place, Agar, Henry Walter, Catherine Green, Joan Syms, Alice Green, and Mary Warberton, Then alfo Margaret Agar

X g deliveiti

88 The Cohnion

delivered to the little Man in Black, a Pidlure in Wax, into which he and Agar ftuck Thorns, and Henry Ti^aher thruft his .Thumb into the Side of it ; then they threw it down, and faid, There is Dick Green J Figure xvith a Pox int ; a (hort tin:ie after which, I^ichard Green was taken ill and died.

Farther, (he faith. That on Thtirfday Night before T0)ltftinday laft, about the fame Place, met Catherine Green^ Alige Green, S^oan Sym^^ Mary If^arherton, Dinah and Dorothy Warherton^ and Henry\i^ filter, and being met, they called out ^hin^ upon which i^iltantly appeared a little Man in Black- cloaths, to whom all mad^ Obeyfance, and the little Man put his Hand to his Hat, faying, Hovodoye} fpea,king low but big: Then all made low Obeyjances to him again. That (he hath feen Mat" ^4re^ C/^r^ twice at the Meetings, but fince iVdf^r^^re^ Agar'^Ti^ fent to Prifon, (he never faw her there.

Taken before me,

}^k Hunt^

ADVERTISEMENT.

CTD£/br5 vpe paJJ to other Relations, it mil not he amifs farther •*-^ to Yemar\upon thefc taken out of the Examinations of Mr. Hunt ; From the pifoned Apples that Jane Brooks gave to Rich. Jones, and Eli?. Style to Agnes Vining, and the potfoned Pemer^ dijh that Alice Duke put into the Hands of Tho. Conway, (vchich Difh and Apples they had from the Devil ) we niay ohfervein what a peculiar Senfe, TVitches and fVi:{ards are called ^ctf/uAKQi, Venefici, and Veneficse, Poifpners. Not that they mifihieve PeO' fie ordinarily by natural P'oijoris, as Arfenick^ and the like, but rather hyfome hellijh Malignancy infufed into things by the Art and Malice, of the Devil, or by the fieams of their own Body which the Devil fuckj. For the Hand of Jane Brooks ftroakjng doTpn Rich. Jones his' Side imprejjed a pain thereon, ' We may ohferve alfo what an eximious Example of Mofes his MecafTephah, (the Word which he ufes in that Law^ Thou (halt not fuffer a Witch to live) Margaret Agar is, and how unfitly ^ feme Interpreters render MecafTephim, Malefici, fr^m~-tke great] ' Mijshigf

of Relations. 89

Mifchiefthey do and delight in, andvehat a great credit this Agar

is to J. Webfter and the reji of the Bag-Jdvocates, which vfotild

make them to be meer cou/^ening Queans, or melancholy Fops that

had nothing to do voith the DeviL As if the lAan inBlack^anda

little Band were butfuch another as J. Webfter, or any other Hag»

Advocate that in vpaggery aEied thefart of the Devil in HufTey's-

knap, or any fiich like flace of a Vorefl, andfo after all, qttickly and

fuddenly recoiling behind a Bufh, and letting fly into the iVind,

■ the deluded Hags toolkit for the vanifhing of the very Fiend and his

•perfuming the Air with the fmell of Brimftone. One that can re-

folve all the Feats of the Harcummim of Egypt into Tricks (f

Leger-de-main, cannot he eafily delude the Company with fuch a

Feat as this, the old ff^ives being thick of Hearings and carrying

their SpeEiacles not on their Nofes, hut in their Pockets.

And /afi/y from the Devils covenantingwith the Witches for their Souls, it may be obferved, that the old Hags dealing bona fide, and thinking they have Souls furviving their Bodies, are better Phi^ lofopkerj than the hujfy H'its of our Age, that deny difiinBion of Soul and Body. But if they have not ( as thefe Huffers would have it ) and the Hags think,fo themfelveSy it is a pretty Paradox, that thefe old Fops fhould be able to out-wit the very Devil -y who does not in Bartering for their Bodies and Souls buy a Pig in a Poke, as the Proverb is, hit a Poke without a Pig, But I rather believe ^ that thefe huffivg PVits^ as high as they are, may learn one true Point of Philofophyfrom thefe Hags and their Familiars ; thefe evil Spirits certainly making their Bargains wifely enough in Covenanting for the Witches Soul. H^jich claufe, ifit were not expreft, the Soul were free from the Familiars jurisdiEHon after Death, Wherefore it is no contemptible Argument, thefe evil Spirits Covenanting for the Soul of the Witch, that they k^iow the Soul furvlves the Body^ and therefore make their Bargain fure for the pofjeffion of it, as their Peculium after Death, otherwife if the Soul were mortal they would tell the Witches fo, the more eafily to precipitate them into all wick:-ednefs, and make them more eager by their miniflry to enjoy this pre^ fent Life, But this DoBrine is inconfiftent with the Form of his C<>-venant^ whereby they are aJJ'ured to him after Death,

X 4 R E L A T.

90 The CollelHon

R E L A T, VII.

ToHching Florence Newton, an Irifh Wttch of Youghal, taken out of her Try d at the Ajjizes held for the County of Cork, Sep ember ii. Anno 1661.

THIS Florence Nemon was committed to Toughnl Prifon, by the Maiorof the Town, March 24. 1661, for Be-witching Mary Lon^don^ who gave Evidence againft her at OrJ^ Affizes, as follows.

Mary Longdon being Sworn and Examined what (he could fay againft the faid Florence Nevpton for any l^radtice of Witch-craft upon her klf, and being bidden to look on the Prifoner, her Gcuntenance chang'd pale, and (he was very fearful^o look ^ towards her, but at laft fhe did. And being askt whether. flie knew her, (he faid (he did, and wiflitihe never had. Being askt how long (he had known her, (he faid for 3 or 4 Years 5 and that at Chriftmas laft, the faid Florence came to the Deponent, at the Houie of John Pyne in Toughal^ where the Deponent was a Servant • and askt the Deponent to give her a piece of Beef out of the Powdering-Tub j and the Deponent anfwering her, that (he could not give away her Matter's Beef, (he faid Florence ' feemed to be very angry, and faid, Thou had'H as good have gi-ven it me, and fo went away grumbling.

That about a Week after , the Deponent beipg going to the Water with a Pail of Cloth on her Head, (he met the faid f/o-rence Newfcn, who came full in her Face, and threw the Pail ofiF her Head, and violently kift her, pd faid, Mary^ 1 fray^ theCt let thee and I he Friends ; fori hear thee no ill ff'ill, and''. J pray thee do thou bear me none: Anid that (he the Deponent went afterwards home, and that wijfhin a few Days after, (he faw a Woman with a Vail over her Face, ftand by her Bed' iide, and one ftanding by her like a little old Man inSilk-cloaths, and that this Man which ihe took to be a Spirit, drew the Vail from off the Wom.ans Face, and then (he knew it to be Goody Newton^ and that the Spirit fpake to the Deponent, and would have had her promife him to follow his Advice and(he(hould have all things after her own Heart, to whicl^ flie fays, (he Anfwered, That (he would h^Ve nothing to fay to him, for her Truft was in the Loifd,

of Relations. 91

That within a Month after the faid Florence had Kift her, ihe this Deponent fell very ill of Fits or Trances, which would take heron the fudden, in that violence, that 3 or 4 Men conld not hold her ; and in her Fits Ihe would often be taken with Vomitings, and would vomit up Needles, Pins, Horfe-nails, Stubbs, Wool, and Straw, and that very often. And being askt whether Ihe perceived at thefe times what fhe Vomited? She faid fhe did; for then flie was not-in fo great Diftradri-on as in other pares of her Fits fhe was. And that a little be-fore the firft beginning of her Fits fevcral ( and very many ) (mall Stones would fall upon her as fhe^-went up and down, ^nd would follow her from place to place, and from one Room to another, and v/ould hit her on the Head, Shoulders, and Arms, and fall to the ground and vanifh away. And that fhe and feveral others would fee them both fall upon her, and on the ground, but could never take them, fave onely fome few,_ which (he and hpr Mailer caught in their Hands : An;iongit which, one that had a hole in it fhe tied (as fhe wasadvifed ) with a leather Thong to her Purfe, but it was vanifht imme-diiately, though the Leather continued tied on a faft Knot.

That in her Fits fhe often faw this Florence Ner^ton, and cryed put againfl her for Tormenting of her, for fhe fays, that flie would feveral times ftick Pins into her Arms, and fome of them To faft, that a Man muft pluck 3 or 4 times to get out the Pin, and they were ftuck betwixt the Skin and the Flefh. That fometimes fhe (hould be removed out of hei' Bed into another Room, fometimes fhe fhould be carried to the top of the Houfe laid on a Board betwixt two Sollar- beams, fometimes put into aCheft, fometimes under a parcel of Wool, fometimes betwixt two Feather-beds on which fhe ufed to lie, and fometimes be-twixt the Bed and the Mat in her Mafter s Chamber in the Day-time, And being askt how fhe knew fhe was thus carried about anddifpofed of,feeingin her Fits fhe was in a violentDiftradtion? She anfwered,fhe never knew where Ihe was, till they of the Fa-mily and the Neighbours wj^th them, would be taking her out of the places whither fhe was fo carried and removed. And being askt the reafon wherefore fhe ct yed out (o much againft the faid Florence Newton in her Fits } Sheanfwer'd, becaufefhe faw her, and felt her Torturing.

= And being askt how fhe could think it was Florence Nexvtcn that did her this prejudice ? She faid, firfl, becaufc Ihe threa-tened her, then becaufe after fhe had Kill her, fhe fejl into thefe fits, and that fhe both law and fek her tormenting. And laltly, ' ■' thai

92 The C die £i ion.

that when the People of the Family by advice of the Neigh-bours and confent of the Maior, had lent for Florence Nemon to come to the Deponent, she was always worfe when she was brought unto her, and her Fits more violent than at another time. And that after the faid Florence was committed at Toug' hall, the Deponent was not troubled, but was very well till a little while after the faid Florence was removed to Corl{t and then the Deponent was as ill as ever before. And the Ma-ior of Toughalf one Mr. Mayre^ then fent\to know whetiicr the faid Florence were bolted (as the Deponent was told ) and find-ing she was not, order was given to put her Bolts on her; which being done, the Deponent faith she was well again, and fo hath continued ever fince. And being asked whether she had fuchlike Fits before the faid Florence gave her thekifs, she iaith she never had any, but believes that with that kifs (he bewitch c her, and the rather becaufe she hath heard from Nicholas Pyne, and others, that the faid Florence had confefled as much. *

This Mary^Longdon having ciofed up her Evidence, Florence 'Newton peep'd at her, as it were betwixt the heads of the by ftan-ders that interpofed betwixt her and the faid Mary^, and lifting up both her hands together as they were manacled caft them in an angry violent motion (as was feen and obferved byZ^ Afton) towards the faid Mary, as if ftie intended to ftrike at her if flie could have reacht her, and faid. Now (he is down. Upon which the Maid fell fuddenly doWn to the ground like a ftone, and fell into a moft violent fit, that all the People that could come to lay hands on her could fcarce hold her. flie biting her own Arms and Ihreeking out in a moft hideous manner to the amazement of all the beholders. And continuing fo for about a quarter of an hour ( the faid Florence Nevoton fitting by her felf all that while pinching her own Hands and Arms, as was fworn by fome that obferved her ) the Maid was ordered to be carried out of Court and taken into a Houfe. Whence feveral Perfons after that, brought word that the Maid was in a Vomiting fit, and they brought in feveral crooked Pins, and Straws, and Wooll, in white foam like fpittle in great proportions. Where-upon the Court having taken notice that the Maid had faid fhe had been very well when the faid Florence ^^s in Bolts, and ill again when out of them, till they were again put on her, de-manded of the Gaoler if "Ihe was in Bolts or no, to which he faid fhe was not, but only manacled. Upon which order was given to put on her Bolts, and upon putting them on, (he cryed out, (he was killed, (he was undone, (he was fpoiled, why do you torment m^ thus .> and fo continued complaining grievoufly for half a quarter of an hour. And then came in a Meflenger

fronj

of Relations 95

from the Maid, and informed the Court the Maid was well. At Ayhich Florence innmediately and cholerickly uttered thefe words, She is not well yet; And being demanded how (he knew (he was not well yet ? (he denied Ihe faid fo, though many in Court heard her fay the words, and Ihe faid, if Ihe did, fhe knew not what Ihe faid, being old and difquieted, and di-ftradted with her fufferings. But the Maid being reafonably well come to her felf, was before the Court knew any thing of it, fent out of Town to Yoiighal^ and fo was no farther Examined by the Court.

The Fit of the Maid being urged by the Court with all iho. Circumftances of it upon Florence y to have been a continuance of her Devilifli pradtice.lhe denied it, and likewife the motion of her hands, or the faying,N^r» fhe is down^ihou^h the Court faw the firft and the words were fworn by one ^oger Moor, And Tho-mas Harrifon fwore that he had bbferved the faid Florence peep at lier, and ufe that motion with her hands, and fav/ the Maid fall immediately upon that motion, and heard the words, JVot^ poe is down uttered.

Nicholas Stout was next produced by Mr. Attorney- General, who being fworn and Examined faid. That he had oft tried her, having hea^rd fay that Witches could not fay the Lord's Prayer, whether (he could fay that Prayer or no, and found ihe could not. Whereupon (he faid (he could fay it, and had oft faid it, And the Court being defired by her to hear her fay it; gave her leave. And four times together after thefe words [give us this day our daily bread] (he continually faid as we forgive them^ leaving always out the words [and forgive us our tref' pajfes] upon which the Court appointed one near her to teach her thefe words (he fo lefr our. But (he either could not or would not fay them, u^ng only thefe or the like words when thefe were repeated, Ay, Ay, trefpaffes, that's the words. And being oft prefled to utter the words as they were repeated to her, (he did not. And being asked the reafon, (he faid (he was old and had a bad memory ; and being asked how her memory ferved her fo well for other parts of the Prayer, and only fail her for that, fhe faid (he knew not, neither could (he help it.

John Pyne being likewife fworn and Examined, faid that aboiit January laft the faid Mary Longdon being his Servant, was much troubled with little Stones that were thrown at her wherever (he went, and that he hath feen them come as if they Were thrown at her, others as if they dropped on her, and that he hath feen very ^ great quantities of them, and that they ^ould, after they had hit her, iall on the ground^ and then '- vanifh

94 2^^^^ CoUeSiion

vanifb, To that none of thetti could be found. And farther that the" Maid once caught one of them,and he himfelf another, and one of them with a hole in it, fhe tyed to her Purfe, but it va-nifhed in a little time, but the knot of the Leather that tied it remained unaltered. That after thefe ftones had thus haunted her, Ihe fell into moft grievous fits, wherein (he was fo violent-ly diftradcd, that four Men would have very much ado to hold her, and that in the higheft extremity of her firs, fhe would cry oat againfl: Gammer Newton for hurting and tormenting of her. That fometimes the Maid would be reading in a Bible, and on a fudden he hath feen the Bible flruck out of her Hand into the middle of the Room, and she immediately caft into a violent fit. That in the fits he hath feen two Bibles laid on her Breaft, and in the twinkling of an eye they would be caft betwixt the two Beds the Maid lay upon, fometime thrown into the middle of the Room, and that Nichdas Pyne held the Bible in the Maids band fo faft, that it being fuddenly fnatcht away, two of the Leaves were torn. That in many other fits the Maid was removed ftrangely, in the twinkling of an eye, out of the Bed, Sometimes into the bottom of a Cheft with Linnen, under all the Linnen, and the Linnen not at all difordered fometimes be-twixt the two Beds she lay on, fometimes under a parcel of Wooll, fometimes betwixt his Bed and the Mat of it in another Room; and once she was laid onafmall deal Board, which lay on the top of the Houfe betwixt two Sollar Beams, where he ^as forced to rear up Ladders to have her fetcht down. That in her firs she hath often Vomited up Wool, Pins, Horfe-nails, Straw, Needles, and Mofs, with a kind of white Foam or Spit-tle, and hath had feveral Pins fluck into her Arms and Hands, that fometimes a Man muft pull three or four times before Ae could pull one of them out ; and fome have been ftuck between the flcfh and the skin, where they might be perfedrly feen, -but not taken out, nor any place feen where they were put in. That when the Witch was brought into the Room, where fhe was, (he would be in more violent and longer lafling fits than at other times. That all the time the Witch was at liberty, the Maid was ill, and as foon as (he was committed and bolted, fhe re-covered and was well, and when the Witch was removed to Cork^i\\e. Maid fell ill. And thereupon the Maior of Toughalknt to fee if (he were bolted or no, and to acquaint them the Maid was ill, and defire them if the Witch were not bolted, they would bolt her. That she immediately mended and was as well as ever she was : and when the Meffenger came from Cork,

and

of Relations. gj

lind told them when the Witch was bolted, it fell out to be the very time the Maid amended at ToughaL

Nicholas Pyne being fworn, faith, That the fecond night after that the Witch was in Prifon, being the 24 of March laft, he and Jofeph Thompforiy ^ger HawkjnSi and fome others went to fpeak with her concerning the Maid, and told her that it was the general Opinion of the Town that The had bewitched her, and defired her to deal freely with them, whether she had be-witched her or no, She faid she had not bewitched her, but ii may be she had over-looked her, and that there was a great difference betwixt hexfitching and over-loofiing^^nd that she could ^lot have done her any harm if she had not toucht her, and that therefore she had kift her. And she faid that what mifchief she thought of at that time fhe kift her, that would fall upon her, and that she would not but confefs she had wronged the Maid, and thereupon fell down upon her Knees, and prayed God ro forgive her for wronging the poor Wench. They wisht that she might not be wholly deftroyed by her; to which she faid, it muft be another that muft help her, and not they that did the harm. And then she faid, there were others, as Goody Half-pennyj and Goody Dod in Town, that could do thefe things as well as she, and that it might be one of them that had done th« Maid wrong. . .

That towards Evening the Door of the Prifon shook, and sha arofe up haftily and faid, What makeft thou here this time a night ? and there was a very great noife, as if fome body with Bolts and Chains had been running up and down the Room, and they asked her what it was she fpoke to and what it was made the noife 5 and she faid she faw hothing, neither did she fpeak, and if she did it was she knew not what. But the ne^cc day she confeft it was a Spirt f, and her Btmiliar in the shape of a Grey-hound.

He faith farther, That he and Mr Edrvard Perry^ and other* for Trial of her took a Tyle off the Prifon, next to the place where the Witch lay, and carried it to the Houfe where the Maid lived, and put it into the fire till it was red-hot, and then drop-' ped fome of the Maids Water upon it, and the Witch was then grievoully tormented, and when the Water confumed fhe was fvell again.

And as to the ftones falling on and caft at the Maid, as to ^hc Maids fits, her removal into the Cheft under the Wool, be-twixt the Feather-beds, on the top of the deal Board betwizc two Sollar beams, concerning t|ie Bibles and their remove, his toldins one of them io the Maids hands till two Leaves were

lorn.

9^

The Collection

torn, concerning the Maid Vomiting, and calling, out againft the Witch, he agreeth perfecftiy throughout with John Pjne aS before.

Edward Perry being like wife fworn, depofetb, That he, Mr. Greatrlx, and Mr. BUckypal/, went to the Maid, and Mr. Grea' trix and he had read of a way to difcdver a Witch, which he would put in practice. And fo they lent for the Witch, and fet heron a Scool, and a Shoemaker with a (trong Awl endea-voured to ftick it in the Stool, but could not till the third time. And then ihey bad her come off the Stool, but flie faid flie was very weary and could not ftir. Then two of them pulled her off, and the Men went to pull out his Awl, and it dropt into his hand withhalf an Inch broke off the blade of it, and they ail looked to have found where it had been ftuck, but could find no place where any entry had been made by it. Then they took another Awl, and put it into the Maids hand, and one of them took the Maids hand,andran violently at the Witches hand with It, but could not enter it, though the Awl was fo bent that none of them could put it ftreight again. Then Mr. Blackvpall took a Launce and launc'd one of her hands an Inch and a half long, and a quarter of an Inch deep, but it bled not at all. Then he launc'd the other hand, and then they bled.

He further faith, That after (lie was in Prifon, he went with ^pger Hawkins and others to difcourfe with the Witch abouc the Maid, and they askt what it was Ihe fpake to the day be-fore, and after fome denial, Ihefaid it was a Grey-hound which was her Familiar, and went out at the Window ; and then Ihe faid. If I Jiave done the Maid hurt, I am forry for it. And be-ing then asked whether (he had done her any hurt, flie faid (he never did bewitch her, but confelTed (he had overlooked her that time Ihe kid her, but that flie could not now help her, for none could help that did the mifchief, but others. And further the Deponent faith. That after at the Aflize at Cajhalt he meeting with one William Lap, and difcourfing about thefe paflages with him, the faid Lap told the Deponent, that if he would buc take a Tyle ofi- the Houfe near the place where the Witch lay and heat it red hot in the Fire, and then take fome of the Maids Water and drop upon it, that fo long as this was doing, he ftould find the Witch mofl grievoufly tormented : That after-wards he, Edward Perry, Nicholas Pyne and others put this iii practice, and found that the Witch was extremely tormented and vexed, and the experiment was over, Hie came to her felf, and then they askt her how Ihe came to hurt the Maid ? and lh6 faid, that what evil Ihe thought againft the Maid that time Ihd

kift

bf Relations. 97

kift her, that would fall upon her, and that (be could not have hurt her except (he had toucht hei*, and then (he fell on her knees and confelTed (he had wronged the Maid, and defired Gcd to forgive her. And then they put her upon faying the Lord's Prayer, but (he could not fay the words, and forgive m eur tuf» fdjjes,

Mr. Wood a Minifter being likewife fworn, and Examined, depofeth, That having heard of the Stones dropr and thrown at the Maid, and of her Fits, and meeting with the Maids Bro-ther, he went along with him to the Maid, and found her in her Fit crying out againft Gammer Newton^ that (he prickt her and hurt her. And when (he came to her feJf, he asked her what had troubled her, and {\^ faid Gammer Nevpton And the Deponent iaid, why, (he was not there. Yes, faid (he, I faw her by my bed fide. TheJJeponent then askt her the origi-nal of all, which (he related from the time of her begging the Beef, and after Kifling, and fo to that time. That then they caufed the Maid to be got up and fent for Florence Nemony but Ihe refufed to come, pretending (he was (ick, though indeed it appeared she was well. Then the Maioy of Tougbal came in and fpoke with the Maid, and then fent again and caufed F^-rence Newton to be brought in, and immediately the Maid fell into her Fit far more violent, and three times as long as at any other time, and all the time the Witch was in the Chamber, the Maid cried out continually of being hurt here and there, but never named the Witch ; but as foonas she was removeed, then she cried out againft her by the name of Gammer Newto7i, and this for feveral times. And (till when the Witch was out of the Chamber, the Maid would defire to go to Prayers, and he found good affections in her in time of Prayer, but when the . Witch was brought in again, though never fo privately, although she could not poiTibly, as the Deponent conceives, fee her, she would be immediately fenflefs and like to be (trangled, and fo would continue till the Witch was taken out, and then though never fo privately carried away, she would come again to her fenfes. That afterwards Mr. Greatrix^ Mr. 'Blackball, and fome others, who would need fatisfie themfelves in the influence of the Witches prefence, tried it and found it feveral times. Al-though he did it with all poflible privacy, and fo as none could think it poiTible for the Maid to know either of the Witches co-ming in or going out.

l^chard MayrCi Mzior o^ Toughai, being likewife Sworn^ faith, That about the 24th of JW^rc^ laft, he fent for Florence New-Con, and Examined her about the Maid, and (he at firft denied

98 The QoUtBion

it, and accufed Goodwife Halfpenny and Goodwife Dod^ but at length when he had caufed a Boat to be provided, and had thought to have tryed the Water-Experiment on them all 3, then Florence Newto7i confefTed ihe had over-lookt the Maid, and done lier wrong with a Kifs; for which (he was heartily forry, dnd defir'd God to forgive her. That then he likewife Examined the other two Women, Halfpenny and Dod, but they utterly denied it, and were content to abide any Tryal : Whereupon he caufed both Florence ^ Halfpenny ^ and Dad^ to be carried to the Maid ; and he told her, thefe two Women, or one of them were faid by Gammer Newton to have done her hurt, but Ihe anfwer'd ; No, no, they are honeft Pf^omen, hut it is Gammer Newton that hurts me, and I beliexf^po$ is not far off. That then they aftetwards brought in Nemon privately, and then Ihe fell into a moft violent Fit, ready to be ftrangled, till the Witch was removed, and then (he was well again, and this for 3 feveral times. He farther Depofeth, That there were 3 Aldermen in Toughal, whofe Children fhe had kift, as he had heard them affirm, and all the Children died prefently after. And as to the fend-ing to Cork to have the Bolts put on, Swears as is formerly De. pofed.

Jofeph Thompjon being likewife Sworn, faid, That he went in March laft with J^oger Hawkins, Nicholas Pyne, and others to the Prifon to confer with Florence Newton about the Maid ; but Ihe would confefs nothing that time. But towards Night there was a noife at the Prifon-door,as if fomething had fhak't theDoor, zndFlorence ftarted up and h\di,J4^3at aileth thee to he here at this time oftheNight i And there was much noife. And they askt her what fhe fpoke to,and what made the greatNoife.^ But Ihe denied that (he rpake>or that Ihe knew of any Noife, and faid, Ifljpok^yl' faid I knew not what. And they went their ways at that rime, and went to her again'the next Night, and askt her very feri-oufly about the laft Nights Paffage, and the Noife; and then. Hie confeft to them that it was a Greyhound that came to her, and that Ihe had feen it formerly, and that k went out at th& Window: And then (he confefTed that (he nad done the Maid wrong, for which ihe was forry, and defired God to forgive her. ^ '

Hitherto we have heard the moft considerable Evidence touch-ing Florejjce NewtmsWnchcvah upon Mary Longdon, for which Ihe was committed . to 7b«^/W Prilon, March 24, 1661. But j^pril following (he Bewitchtone David Jones to Death, by kif-Ijng his Hand through the Grate of the Prifon, for which (he

was

t?/ Relatibn^o 99

Wis Indided at Cork, Afllzes, and the Evidence is as fol-lows.

Elenor Jones Relid: of the faid Dnvid Jcnesy teing Sworn and Examined in open Court, what she knew concerning any prac-tice of Witchcraft by the faid Florence. Ncvotcn, upon the laid Da. t'/W her Husband, gave in the Evidence, That in v^^;-// laft, the faid David her late Husband haying been out all the Night, cam^ home early in the Morning, and faid to ; the faid £/e«(?r his Wife, PVuere doft then think. I hav,e been all Night? To vvhich she anfwered, She knew not : Whereupon he re-plied, I rf«(^ Frank Befely have been /landing Centinel ever the Witch all Night : To which she the faid Elenor faid, W,)/^ tfhat hurt is that ? Miirt, quoth he, marr^ 1 doubt it's never a jot tlje better forme ; for [he hath kilf my Handi and t have had a, great paiti in that Arm, and I verily believe j^e hath BemtchcJ me, if e^er fhe Bevoitchedany Man, To which (he anfwered^ The Lord forbid. That all the Night, and continually from that time, he was reftlefsand ill, complaining exceedingly of a great pain in his Aprn for 7 Days together, and at the 7 Days end he complained that the pain was come from his Arm to his Heart, and then kept his Bed Night and Day, grievoufly afilided, and crying out againft Florence Newtont and about 14 Days after he died. , ;

Fancis Befely^ being Sworri and Examined, laid, Thatabour the time afore-mentibned, meeting with the faid David Jpnesi ^nd difcourfing with him of the feveral Reports then ftirring con-cerning the faid F/erewce N^tp^ow, (who was then in Prifort as Toughal, for Bewitching Mary Longdon) V4:(. That she had feveral Familiars refdrting to her in fuhdry Shapes;, the {aid David Jones told him, the faid Francis Befely; that he, had a great mind to Watch her, the faid Florence Neivton, one Night,. to fee whether he couJd obferve any Cats or other Creatures reforc to her through the Grate, as 'twas fufp^ed they did,^ and defired the faid Francis to go with him, which he did. And that when they came thither, David Jon^ came to Florence^ and toldherj that he had heard she could Jlit fay the Lord's-Prayer ; to which she anfwered, She coul!^ He then defir d her to fay it ; but she excufed her felf by the decay of Memory i;hrough old Age : Then David Jones began .to. teach her^. but she could not, or would hoc fay it, though often taugl i it. ... . . . ., ^ _^, ,

Upon which the faid Davi'i Jones and Befely being with-^ ^rawn a little from herj^ and difcOurfing of her, not bemg able z'O learn this Prayer, she called buc to David Juries, ahdJaii'

lOO TheCoMlen

Dif'J:d! D^vid ! come hither t I can fay the Lor cCs- "Prayer nor^ :

Lpon wh ch D/ii^/V went towards Irier, and the fa id Deponent

^y Id haVe pluck; hm bark, and pcriuaded h/m not ro have

f hr :r. K-r, b>K h' wouId HOt bc pcrfuadcd, but went to the

( . i the began to fay the Lord's Prayer, but could

y .'- he us cur Trejpajfes ] fo t h a t D ^t/ ^^ a ga i n ta u g he

' the ieem'd to take very thankfully, and rold him (he

; - mind lo have kift him, but that the Grare hindred,

■ X *he might kifs his Hand ; whereupon he gave her

a rhvough rhe Grate, and she kift it, and towards break

: . rhev wen: away and parted, and loon after, the Depo-

' :(rd rb:ir D^t/J Jowc/ was ill.

iv rcupcm he went to viiir him, and found him about 2 or

_y s r^^rcr, very ill of a pain in rhe Arm; which he exceed-

r,np:a.nc-^ (jf, and -old the Deponent, that ever fince he

a ■■' ^h h m, heh.v^ been feized on with that pain, pnd thac

r{'^ ha J B. Wircht hm when she kift his Hand, and that

.J h in no V by tht Hand, and was pulling off his Arm.

I«e said, Do y.m not fee the old Hag hovo floe fulls me ? IVell^

: .y >/}y Ocith on her, fhe has ^emtchtme. And feveral times

^ i\ would complain that she had tormented him, and had

■'?> V tched him, and that he laid h/s Death on her. And after 14

Da) s Ui^gUishing, he, the laid D^viWy(?«« died. ,

ADVERTISEMENT.

CJ^'Jl S T{^lntlon is taken out of d Copy of an authenti-ck^ Record

: dK I c mce':ve, evsry hnlf Sheet having W. Afton writ in the

}* r ??, m.d then again W. Afton at the end of ally who in all

-^o'l nuft befom Puhl'ck-Notary or Record-keeper, But this

' r 'Of You^b?A rsfo famous, that I have heard Afr. Greatrix

Jp'^k^f he"^ af my Lord Co'iways ^f Ragley, and remember very

'■e toll the Sto y of ti. e A<x>f to me there. There is in this /^tf-

'.n exlmioui Exampe f the Magical Venom of ff^itches ;

■ .■■-fMyf^recliVenfi-.x) in that all the Mlfchief this

■iki: iV-aj h Kjfli"gr 0 fome way touching the party fhe Be-

ind fh-. cnnfe.k un "fs fe 'cncht her, fhc could do her no hurt,

m-y h^ ct el "t '^A'fcii Venr^m or Contagion. But how

. >Kiiig md Bewitching are dijjtinguifoed with thcfe of this

Hellijh

^/Relations. loi

Bellifh Fraternity f I know not. But that Mary Longdon vpas^e^ witchc byherOvQvAooyimgherismanifesi. H^hethcr ^/j/j Over-looking relates to o^ba.hy.U M<^H^vQ-i ntid that the Magical Ve* nom came out at her Eyes when (he kjjfed the Maid, and whether this o^!^X^i ^iaxtLvQ- was thefirft kind of Witchery^ difiin^ from that of Bewitching People by Images made of Wax, and af-. ter ward any bewitching hy meer Looking or Touching, was. called Over- looking, we will leave to the Critickj of that black.Scho:l to decide. As alfo what is that, which in the Witches Shnpe^fo haunts and torments the Bewitched party: For that it is not the meer Fancy of the Bewitched feems re afonable to judge, becaufe their meet Fancy could not create fuch kjnds of extreme Torments to ti.em. And therefore it is either the Witches Familiar in her Shape, or the Aeilrial Spirit of the Witch ^ becaufe the Witch is fome times wounded by Urikjng at her Appearance, as it happened in the Ap-penrance 0/ Jane Brooks, and alfo in that of Julian Cox, as yotk fhallfindin the ^elationfoilowing.

RELAX. VIIL

Tke Narrative of Mr. Pool^ a Servant ana, Officer in the Court to Judge Archer in his Circuity cdn-> cerning the Trial of Jiilhn Cox for Wnchcraft; ivho being himfelf then ^rejent^ an Officer in thi Court^ noted as follows^ viz*

JVlian Cox, aged abouc 70 Years, was Indidired at Taitntoh in Somerfetf!oire,2}oontS\xvnmQ^ k^iz&s, 1663, before Judge Archer, then Judge of Aflize there, for Wiuchcraft, which she jjradi fed upon a young Maid, whereby her Body languished^ and was impaired of Health, by reafon of itrange Fits upon ac-count of the faid Witchcrafc, /

, The Evidence againft her was divided into two Branches; Firft, to prove her a Witch in general : Secondly, ib prov^ her Guilty of the Witchcrafts, conrained iri the Indid:ment. For the proof of the firft Particular : The firft Witnefs was a Huntfman, who Swore that he werit oiit with a Vac% c>f Hoands to Hunt a Hare, and. not far frorn '^uHm Cox hef

102 The Collection

Hoa^e, he at lift: ftarrcd a Harc: The Dogs hunted her very clofe. .ind the third Ring hunted her in view, till at laft the Hun^fmnn perceiving the Harc almoftfpent, and making toward a grenr Baih, he ran on the other fide of the Bush to take her lip, and prcferve her from the DogS; but as foon as he laid Hands on her, it proved to be Julian Coxy who had her Head grcvcl ng on the ground, and her Globes ('as he expreftit) up-ward : He knowing her, was lo affrighted that his Hair on hi<; H.^ad ftood an end; and yetfpaketo her, and askt her wh::t brought her there ; but she was fo far out of Breath, that she could not make him any Anfwer : His Dogs alfo came up With hill Cry to recover the Game, and fmeltat her, andfolefc off Hanting any farther. And the Huntlman with his Dogs went home prcisntly, fadly affrighted.

vSccondly, Another Witnefs Swore, That as he pafTed by Cox her Door, {he was taking a Pipe ofTobacco upon the Thre-(hold of her Door, and invited him to come in and take a Pipe, which he did, and as he was Smoaking, Julian laid to him, Neighbour, look what a pretty thing there is : He lookt down and there was a monftrous great Toad betwixt his Legs, ftaring him in the Face : Heendeavour d to kill it by fpurning it, but could not hit it : Whereupon Julian bade him forbear, and it would do him no hurt ; but be threw down his Pipe and went h(jme. ( which was about two Miles off of Julian Cox her Houfe) arid told his Family what had happen'd, and that he believed it was one of Julian Cox her Devils.

Afer, he was taking a Pipe of Tobacco at home, and the fame Toad appcar'd betwixt his Legs : He took the Toad out to kill it, and to his thinking, cut it in feveral pieces, but rerurning to his P pe, the Toad ftiil appeared : He endeavour'd to burn ir, bat could not : At length he took a Switch and beat 11 ; the Toad ran feveral times about the Room to avoid h m, he ftill perfuing it with Corredlion : At length the Toad cryed, and vanilhr, and he was never after troubled with it.

Thirdly, Another Swore, That Julian pad by his Yard while hs B^alts were in Milking, and (looping down, fcored upon the ground for fome fmall rime ; during which time, his Cattle ran Jvlad, and lome ran their Heads againft the Trees, and moft of them <-iie'.i ipcedily : Whereupon concluding they were Be-w tcht, he wns after advifed to this Experiment, to find out thi Wirch, vi^. to cue off the Ears of the Bewitchc Beafts, and burn thim, and that the Witch fhould be in mifery, and could " not reft till they were pluckt out ^ which he tried, and while

they

e?/ Relations. loj

they were burning, Julian Cox came into the Houfe, raging and fcoldlng, that they had abuled her without caufe, butflie went prefently to the Fire, and took out the Ears that were burning, and then ihe was quiet.

Fourthly, Another Witnels Swore, That (he had ^Qtt\ Julian Cox fiy into her own Chamber-window in her full proportion, and that (he very well knew her, and was fure it was (he.

Fifthly, Another Evidence, was the Confelfion of Julian C<?a: her felf, upon her Examination before a }ufticeof Peace, which was to this purpofe : That (he had been often tempted by the Devil to be a Witch, but never conienred. That one Evening Ihe waikt out about a Mile fiom her own Houfe, and there came riding towards her 3 Perfons upon 3 Broom-liaves, born -Up about a Yard and a half from the ground ; z of them fhe formerly knew, which was a Witch and a Wizard that were Hang d for Witchcraft feveral Years before. The third Per-fon Ihe knew not; he came in the Shape of a black Man, and temp':''^ ^er to give him her Soul, or to that cfRdl, and to ex-prels It by pricking her Finger, and giving her Name in her Blood in token of it, and told her, that (he had Revenge againft feveral Perfons that had wronged her, but could not bring her purpofe to pa fs without his help, and that upon the Terms afore-faid he would aifift her to be revenged againlt them ; but (he laid, (hedid notconfent to it. This was the fum of the gene-ral Evidence to prove her a Witch.

But row for the fecond Particular, to prove her guilty of the Witchcraft upon the Maid, whereof (he was Indided, this Evi-dence was offer'd. ^ ^^

It was proved ih^t Julian Cox came for an Alms to the Houfe where this Maid was a Servant, and that the Mp^d^told, her, (he fhould have none, and gave her acrols Antwerthat difpiea-fed Julian y whereupon Julian was angry, and told the Maid (helhould repent it before Night, and lo (lie did ; for bcifore Night (he was taken with a Convullion Fit, and that after that left her, (he faw Julian Coji; following her, and cry gd out to the People in the Houfe to fave her from Julian.

But none faw y«//4« but the Maid, and ail did impute it to her Imagination only. And in the Night (he cryed our of Julian Cox, and the black Man, that they came upon her Bed and tempted her to Drink fomething they offered her, biitflie,. cryed out, She deiied the Devils Drenches. This aifo they im-|)Uted to her Imagination, and bade her be quiet, becaufc they in the fame Chamber, v/ith her, did not fee or hear any chingjj and they thought it had been her Conceit only,

y 3 The

I04 The Collection

The Maid the next Night expedting the fame Conflict: (h<? had the Night before, brought up with her a Knife, and laid in at her Beds-head. About the fame time of the Night as be-fore, Julian and the black Man came again upon the Maids Bed, and tempted her to Drink that which they brought, but fhe re-fufed, crying in the audience of the reft of the Family, that she defied the Devils Drenches, and took the Knife and ftabb'd y«-Uant and as she faid, (he wounded her in the ht^, and wa? im-J)ortunate with the Witnefs to ride to Julian Coxs Houfc pre* fently to fee if it were not To. The "Witnefs went and took the Knife with him. ^ulianCox would not let him in, but they forc'd the the Door open, and found a frelh Wound in Julians ' Leg, as the Maid had faid, which did fuit with the Knife, and Juliayi had been juft DrelTing it when the Witnefs came, There was Blood alfo found upon the Maids Bed.

The next Morning the Maid continu d her Out-cries, that
Julian Cox appeared to her in the Houfe-waU, and ofFer'd her
great Pins which fhe was forc'd to fwallow : And all the Day
the Maid was obf'rved to convey her Hand to the Houfe-wall,
and from the Wall to her Mouth, and fhe feem'd by the motion
of her Mouth, as if fhe did Eat fomething ; but none faw any
thing but the Maid, and therefore thought ftill it might be her
Fancy, and did not much mind it. But towards Night, this
Maid began to be very ill, and cemplain'd, that the Pins thac
Julian forc'd her to Eat out of the Wall, did torment her in all
parts of her Body that fhe could not endure it, and made lamen-
table Ouc-cries for pain : Whereupon feveral Perfons being
prefent, the Maid wasundreft, and in feveral parts of the Maids
Body feveral great fwellings appeared, and out of the heads of
the^fwellings, feveral great Pins points appear'd; which the
Witnefs took out, and upon the Trial there were about 30 greac
- IPins produced in Court, ( which I my felf handled ) all which
Were Sworn by feveral Witnefifcs^ that they were taken out of the
J4aids Body, in manner as is-aforefaid.

]\xdgt Archer, who Tried the Prifoner, told the Jury, That lie had heard that a Witch could not repeat that Petition in the Lords-Prayer, vi:^. \^And hadusnot intoTempation ] and ha-ving this occafion, he would try the Experiment, and told the Jury, that whether fhe could or could not, they were not in the Jeafl meafure to guide their Verdid according to it, becaufe it wa<7 not Legal Evidence, but that they muft be guided in their VerdicSl by the former Evidences given in upon Oath only.

The Prifoner was call'd for up to the next Bar to the Comt^ i^nd demanded if she could fay the Ldrd's Prayer ? S^e fai4

(/Relations. 105

(he could, and went over the Prayer readily, till (he came to that Petition ; then she faid, [ And lead us into Temptation ] or t And lead us not into no Temptation ] but could not iay [ ^^nd had us not into Temptation 1^ though she was direded ro ia\ it after one that repeated it to her diftindly ; but she could nc.c repeat it otherwile than is expreft already, though tried ro do it near halt a fcore times in open Court. Af er all wh ch the Jury found her Guilty, and Judgment having been given within 3 or 4 Days, (he wa$ Executed without any Conteifion of the Fad.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CT'HIS is a Cop of a Narrative fent hy Mr, Pool, Odob, 24
1672. to Air. Archer <?/ Emanuel College^ Nephew to the
Judge, upon the defire of Dr. Bright. But 1 remember here at
Cambrigc. I heard the main Pajfages of this Narrative when they
firfl were Jpread abroad after^'the ^ffi^es, and particularly by G.
RuH, after Bi(hop 0/ Dromore in Ireland. Nor do_ I doubt but it.
is a true Account of what was attefted before Judge Archer at the
yiffi^es. For it is a thing to me altogether incredible^ that he that
was an Officer or Servant of the Judge, and prefent in the Court
at the Examination and Try a/, and there took. Notes, fhculd write
a Narrative, when there werefo many Ear-witneffes bejides himf^lf
of the fame things ^ that would he obno t ious to the dijproof of thofi
that were prefent as well as himfelf. It may r.ot he amijs here tg
tranfcrihe what Dr. M. did write to Mr. G, touching this Story in
A Letttr Dated Dec. 26. 1678.

This Narrative, fays he, ka^h the mcft autheyitlc^Confirmati' on that humane Affairs are capable of, Senfe and the facrednefs of an Oath. But yet I confefs, 1 heard that Judge Archer has been taxed hyfome of overmuch Credulity , for fentencing Julian Cox to Death upon thofe Evidences, But to deal freely, Ifujpe^ hyfuch as out ef their Ignorance mifinterpreted fever al Paffages in the Evidence, or were offuch a dullfiupidSzddMCQSui Temper^ tha^ they believe there are no Spirits nor I4^itches. And truly I muft ionfefs, that the HuntCman, though he depofed upon Oath, that yfhenhc came in total^eup the Hare at thcBu/h, it preyed to hs

V 4 Julian

lo6 The Colle5tion

Julian Cox xvith her Face tovpards the ground^ &c. Hh exprejjin^ j'of hlmfclf touching her Glohes\ and the Dogs fmelling^ 8cc. looks omethhig humourfomefy and ludicroujly on it. But I muft farther add, that I thinks it was only that his Fancy was tickled with the featnefs of thePhxnomenon^ not that he would hefo wicked ai to tell a Lieiipn Oath.and that for nothing. Sic vita hominum e^fays Tul-iyy ut ad maleficium nemo conetur fine fpe atque emolumcnto ac-^edere. Bnt that thofe Halfwitted People thought he Swore falfe tfuppofe waSy becaufe they imagined that what he told^ implied that Julian Cox was turned into an Hare, which foe was 7ioty nor did, his I{eport imply aryfuch real Met amor phofis of her Body, hut that thcfe ludicrous Daemons exhibited to the fight of this Huntfman and bis Dogs, the fo ape of an Hare, one of them * turning himelf into fuch a Form, and others hurrying on the Body of ]\.\\izn near the fame place, and at the fa-mefmftnefs, hut interpofing betwixt that HarC' like SpeEire and her Body, modifying the Air,fo that the Scene there 'td the'Beholders fight^ was as if nothing but Air were there, and ^ poew of Earth p::rpetuaUy fuited to that where the Hare paffed. As S have heard offome Painters that have drawn the Sky in an huge j^andskip, fi lively, that the Birds have flown againft it, thinking it free Air, andfo have fallen down. And. if Painters and Juglers 6y theTrickjofLeger-de-fnain can do fuch ftrayige Feats to the deceiving of. the Sight, it is no wonder thai the fe airy invifihle Spi-^^ 7 its as far fur p aft hem in all fuch pr^j^giout doings, as the Airjur^ paffes the Earth for fubtilty, w

; And the like Praeftigias may be in the Toad. It might be n real "Toad ( though nciuatcd Ond, guided by a Daemon ) which was cut in pieces, and that aljo which was whipt about, and at laft fnatcht out ^fig^^^ ( as if it had vani/ht) by thefe' Aerial Hocus- Focus V. 'And iffoms Juglers have Tricks to take hot Coals into their Mouth without hu>'t, certainly it is noftrange thing that fome fmall attempt 'i^i d not Cuff ce to burn that Toad. That fuch a Toad, Jent by a tffitch, and crawling up the Body of the Man of the Houfe as he Jate'by the Fire-fide, was over-maftered by him and his Wife toge-ther, and, burnt in the Fire. I have heardfometime ago credibly re-ported by ons'of the Ifle of Ely, Of thefe Dcemoniack. Vermin, I have heard other Stories alfo, as of a I^at that followed a Man fome fcorc of Miles, 'trudgi?}g through thick, and thin along with him. Se little difficulty is there in that of the Toad.

And that <?/ Julian Cox j being feen to fly in at her own Chamber Window^ there it'no difficulty in it, if it be underflood of her Fami-liar, 'the black, Man, ' that had transformed himfelfinth her fhape, for there is ho fuch unufuat thing for Witches to appear either in ■iheir iMtral Spirits, or by their Familiars, as if it were thsir very ■ ■ ' ■ • ^ " • ■ ■ ■ • - ■ kdi//^

of Relations. 107

\odily Perfons. But when foe appeared to the Maid together with the black^Man, and offered her to drinkj> it is likely it was her Aftral Spirit, and Julians being wounded in her body h the wound on her aftral Spirit is juft fuch another cafe^ oi that qf Jane Brooks, which .-you your f elf note in your Book^of IVitchcraft.

The moji incredible thing is her eating of PinSj /he knowing them to be fuch. But they that are bewitched are not themfehes^ And being poffejfed are aSiuated in the parts of their body, and their mind driven by that ugly inmate in them^ to what he will ^ which is notorious in the ftory of Mrs. Frogmorton'j Children. And for the Pins thus fwallovped, their coming out in the exteriour parts of her body. Examples of this fort are infinite ; and far more Ji range jhan thefe are recorded by Baptifta Van Helmonr, de Injecflis.

Thefe are the moJi incredible paffages in this Narrative^ and yet you fee how credible they are^ if rightly under ft ood. But thofe that believe no Spirits^ will believe nothing never fo credible of this kind and others that have J ome natural averfion from thefe things will prefently interpret them in the vulgar fen fe^ and thenfweetly fneer dt their own ignorance, Butlmufl confefs, if this be a true ^U* tion of what paffed in the Courts I do not ^ueftion but the things that were fworn didfo appear to them that Jwore them. Or elfs there is nothing to be credited in humane affairs. But concerning the truth of the ^lation, befdes what i hinted in my laft to you^ you would do well to write to fome or other in Taunton, Qc. Thus far Dr. M. •^

And ij one befo curious as to defire nn account ef Mr. G. his far-ther intjuiry into this bujinefs, lean tell him that he wrote to Mr, Hunt, who was then bufie in fome Court, yet made fhift to readthi 'Narrative ^and wrote two or three lines to him hack.to this effe^.That one principal Evidence was omitted iii the Narrative, but that is nothing againU the truth of the reft. But he adds alfo, that fome things were falfe. H^jich would ftumble one, and make him think, that the credit of this Narrative is ^uite.blafled thereby. But this riddle is eafily unriddled by him that ccnfders, that Mr. Hunt may r^peH thofe things that arefaid to be confeji by her in her examma^ tion before a Juft ice of Peace, For he alfo having fome time Exa* mined her, andfke making no fuch confejfion to him (as Mr. G- him^ felffays in a Letter to Dr. M. that he perufed that Examination in Mr. Hunt's Book} and there was not any thing confidcr able therein) might fpeakjhis in reference to the Examination which floe had taken, Jhe then not confeJftngfdf^$^^4S to fome other Jufiice,whofe Exami» nation therefore was madeufe^fin the Court. But this cannot concern nt all the refi of the Narrative, which was given upon Oath in the ^turt in the hearing of all* This I thought fit not to omit af being defl* -' ' • ' ■ " ~ '^ rout

io8 TheColleBion

rolls to deal mth all faith fuincfs in conceding nothings nrtdn^f to impofe upon the ^adcr, but that he mny mtl{e I is judgrnr'^^ upon the whole matter.

As for the ff ^itches being hurried nhng voith that H*^ • lil^e . SpeEirCj her being out of breath ( a< the Huntfm^v ^eftifiei ) :? -t^e* it moft prob.tble ; or at leafl that fhe wis hurried from-fo^rj^ other f lace on the earthy or in the air ( to meet the ^ e "' '" ''*h wi\'} the Hare- like SpeBre ) but this invifib^y by that KKi\>mdi,. ^r Prcfti-giatory art or facuUy of the fe ludicrous Do^nion<, -pph^r-'oy t-cy crm fo modife the Air imynediately next to th^ pirty thy vuld cmceal., that it loohj there like the free SHe, or what Lnndskjp fh.y pleafe, as Tphen they fhexv in a Shew-ftone or Qlafsy the v y i\io.n in which the party is, the D.emon by the plv?r of his In-'?^ 'nanon^ fo modifying at leaft his own Vehicle, ff^'ch pov.cr fnm? of th-fe of the Atheifiick, Brotherhood cannot voith any face deny^ fipp'-fi'^g there are Demons t they giving a. greater power to the Ima^Jn aion 6f a Man, as if it were able to transform the Air into ye at Bi. 4s or Mice, or fuch like Creatures livingly fuchfor the pr^fent. But any thing mufc be believed, rather than the Exiftence of fi^tches and Dmnons,

It will not be nmifs here to take notice what an eminent example this Julian Cox is ofbAoks his Megnonenah or Mccaffephrih ta-ken, in the fame fenfe, that is, of fuch a Wi^ch as is thought by et «A5-vJ^fifc, or preftigistory power ( thoi^ it is the D:vil th it does thefe feats, not poe ) to transform her f^f into fly ange (h.-ipes, and tife other fuch like deceptions of the fight. As <i'fo it is n notable inflance of the Aftral Spirits of 14 itches, howfirongfy, though at a difiance of place, they are tied together in a fatal Sy^npathy with their Bodies, the Body c/ Julian being wounded by a kab at her Aftrai Spirit, as it fared alfo in Jane Brooks, and an Old H^o-man in Cambrige-fhirc, whofe Altral Spirit coming into a, Mans houfe, (as he was fitting alone at the Fire) in the fhape of an huge Cat, and fetting her f elf before the Fire, 7iot far from him, he ftole a flroke at the back, of it with a Fire-fork,, and feemcd to hrcak,the back, of it, but it fcamhledfrom him, and vanifht he knew not how. But fuch an Old 14^oman, a reputed PVitch, was found dead in her Bed that very Night, with her Back.broken, at X have heard fome years ago credibly reported.

That alfo is a marvellous Magical Sympathy in this Jiory of Julian Cox, that the burning of the Ears of the Beaft bewitched by her, fjould put her into fuch rage and torment. Like the hea* ting of the Tile red hot in the (lory 0/ Florence Newton, and pour-ing fome of the bewitched Maids water upon it, H^nich puts me in miiidof a very remarkable ft ory of this kjnd, told by Mr, Bre'arely, "' ' ones

cf Relations jq^

mce Tellow of Chip Coledge in Cambri'ge, voho hoarded in an houfe in Su^olkyVDherehis Landlady had been ill handled by Witch^ craft. '

For an old Man that Travelled up and down the Country, and badfome acquaintance at that houfe, calling in and asking the Man of the houfe how he did and his Wife ; He told him that himfelfwas vpell, but his Wife had been a long time in a languifhing conditio on, and that fhe was haunted with a thing in the fh ape of a Bird^ that would flurr near to her face, and that fhe could not enjoy her natural reft well. The Old Man bid him and his Wife be of good courage. It was but a dead Spright, he f aid, and he would put him in. a courfe to rid his Wife of this langui(hment and trouble, Hs therefore advifed him to take a Bottle, and put his Wives Vrine in-to it, together with Puis and Needles and Nails, and Cor l^ them up^ andfet the Bottle to the Fire well corkt, which when it had felt ^ Vfihi/e the heat of the Fire began to move and joggle a little, but hi for furenefs tool^the Fire fhovel, and held it hard upon ths Cork, And as he thought , he felt fame thing one while on this fide, another vphile on that, [hove the Fire fhovel off, which he ftill quickly put on Again, but at laft at onefhoving the C or l<^ bounced out, and theV-^ rine. Pins, Nails and Needles all flew up, and gave a report like d Fiftol, and his Vpife continued in the fame trouble and la72gm (la-ment fiiil.

Not long after, the Old Man came to the houfe again, and inqut^ red of the Manof the houfe how his Wife did. M^ho anfwered, as Hi as ever, if not worfe. Be askt him if he had follow::d his di-region. Yes, fays he^ and told him the event as is abovefaid. Ha, quoth he, itfeems it was too nimble for you. But now I will put you in a way that will make the bufinefs fure. Take your Wive s "Urine as before, and Cork, it in a Bottle with Nails, Fins and Needles, and bury it in the Earth ; and that will do the f cat. The Man did accordingly. And his Wife began to mcndfenfibly and in d competent time was finely well recovered'- But there came a Wo^ man from a Townfome miles off to their houje, with a lamentable Cut-cry, that they had killed her Husband. They askt her whan floe -meant ayid thought her dijlraSted, telling her they k^iew rieither her nor her Husband. Tes, faith foe, you have killed my Husband, he told me fo on his Death-bed. But at laft they underwood by her, that her Husband was a Wi:{ard, and had bewitched this Mans Wife^ and that this Counter-praEiice prefer ibed by the OU Man, which faved the Mans Wife from languifhment, was the death of that Wi:{ard that had bewitched her. Thisftory did Mr, Brearly hear from the Mm .<nd Woman s own Mouth who we re c n-' '^ V cernedM-

no The ColkBion

cemedf afwhofe houje hs for n time Boardedt ner is there any doubt of the truth thereof

But it mil be more^eafie for any rational Man to believe fiories of this kjndt than to find out a fatisfaHory account of the operation and ejfeSl^ or to affure the lavofulnefs of fuch coumer-praHic? againiJ fVitchcraftf unlefs they can be refolved into the Sympathy and Synenergy of the Spiritus Mundanus, ( v^hich Plonnus calls ^ fiiyctv pnTA the grand Magician ) fuch as the operation of the Weapon'falve^ arid other Magnetich^ Cures are refohei into. And forafmuch as the power of a truly Divine Magick, fuch as Prophets and Holy Law-givers are endued with, is too great and Augufl to he found in ordinary good Men, that are to bring in nonev Law or Religion into the fVorld, the benignity of Providence is to be ac linowledged In that the Villanies of Witchcraft lie obnoxious to fuch a natural or ratified way of Difcoveries 4«^ 'Counter pradl ces as thefe. But how this ohnoxioufnefs of fVitches is complicated with their Familiars fuckjng their Bodies^ is a point too nice and prolix te enter upm here. But it is mojijafe not to tamper at all with thefe things y and md!i happy to have no cccafionfor it.

Laftly, rtj/or Julian Cox /;^r not being able to fay one of the Petitions in the Lords Prayer, the cafe is like that <?/ Florence New-ton the Iri(h PVltch, but unlike in this^ that it was not the fame Petition Florehcc Newton ftuck, at. And I remember when I had the curiofity with a friend of mincy of examining certain flitches at Caftle-hill in Cambridge, the mo(i notorious of them^ who alfo was hanged for a ff^tchy offered to fay the Creed and Lord*s Prayer, as an Argument (he was no IVitch^ and fo far as I remember, foe faid the Lord's Prayer rights but was out at the Creed', nor do I think this any certain Jign of their guilt or innocency, and therefore Judge Archer did well to lay noft:refson it. But thefe things are of hfs momenty and therefore I pafs to the next J^iation, which looks not fe much lik^ Witchcraft^ as the Apparition of the Ghofl of me deeeafed.

RELAX.

of Relations, 1 1 1

«

R E L A T. Iir,

Which is a Relation o/'Thomas Goddard of Marie-
borough, i?^ the County of Wilts, Weaver^
made the 23 Nov. 1674.

WH O faith, That on Munday the Ninth of this Inftant, as he was going to Ogborn at a Style on the Highway near Mr Goddard\ Ground, about Nine in the Morning, h« met the Apparition of his Fathcr-in-Law, one Edward Avon of this Town, Glover, who died in Mny laft, having on, to his appearance, the fame Clothes, Hat, Stockings, and Shoes he did ulually wear when he was living, ftanding by, and leaning over that Style. Which when he came near, the Apparition ipake to him with an audible voice thefe words. Are you afmid ? To which he anfwered, I am thinking on one who is dead and bu-ried, whom you are like. To which the Apparition rcplyed with the like voice, I am he that you were thinking on, I am Edwnrd Avon your Father- in-Law, come near to me, I will do you no harm. To which Goddard anfwered, I truft in him who hath bought my Soul with his precious Blood, you fliall do mc no harm. Then the Apparition faid, How ftand cafes at home? Goddard askt what cafes } Then it askt him how do PVllUam aad Mary^ meaning, as he conceived, his Son WlllUm Avon a Shoemaker here, and Mary his Daughter the faid Goddard's Wife. Then it faid. What! Taylor is dead, meaning, as he thought, one Taylor o{ London^ who Married his Daughter Sa-rah, which Taylor dyed about Michaelmas laft. Then the Ap^ parition held out its hand, and in it, as Goddard conceived^ twenty or thirty (hillings in (ilver, and then fpake with a loud voice: Tal{e this Money and Jend it to Sarah; for I /hut up my Bowels of compaffon toward her in the time of my life, and now here is fomewhat for her. And then faid, M/zr/ ( meaning his the faid Goddard's Wife as he Conceived ) is troubled for me • hut tell her God hath foowed merey to me contrary to my deferts. But the faid Goddard anfwered. In the Name 0/ J E S U S CHRIST Irefufe all fuch Money, Then the Apparition faid I perceive you are afraid, I will meet you fome other time. And immediately it went up the Lane to his appearance So he went over the fame Style, but fa wit no more that day, ^

T

i 1 2 The Colle^ion

He faith, The next night about feven of the Clock, it came and opened his Shop yindow, and ftood in the like Clothes, looked him in the Face, but faid nothing to him. And the next nighc after, as Goddard went forth into his Backfide with a Candle light in his hand, it appeared to him again in the fame (hape, but he being in fear, ran into his houfe, and faw it no more then.

But he faith, That on Thurfday the twelfth inftant, as he came from Chilton, riding down the Hill between the Mannor-houfe and Axford-Farm Fields he faw fomething like a Hare crofTed his way, at which his Horfe frighted threw him in the dirt, as foon as he could recover on his feet, the fame Appariti-on there met him again in the fame habit, and there {landing a-bout eight foot dirediy before him in the way, fpake again to him with a loud voice, Source ( a word he commonly ufect when living ) you h.tve flayed long ; and then faid to him, Tho^ mas, hid "William Avon take the Sword that he had of me, which is now in his houfe, and carry it to the fVoodas we go to Alton, to the upper end of the fVood by the ways fide ; for with that Svpord I did wrong above Thirty years ago, and he never profperedfince he had that Swordj And bid William Avon give his Sifter Sarah twenty fhiU lings of the Money which he had of me. And doyoutalkjvith Edward Lawrence, for I borrowed twenty /hillings of him fever al years ago and did fay I had paid him, hut I did not pay it him j and 1 would defire you to pay him twenty [hillings out of the Money which you had from James Elliot ^.t two payments. Which Afoney the faid Goddard now faith was five pounds, which Jam Elliot z Baker here owed the faid Avon on Bond,and which he the CaidGoddard had received fiom the faid Elliot fince Michaelmas at two pay-ments, vi^. 35. ^. at one, and 3 /, 5 i-. at another payment. And it farther faid to him, Tell Margaret ( meaning his own Wife as he conceived ) that I would dejire her to deliver up the little which I gave to little Sarah Taylor, to the Child, t)rto any one fhe will trufl for it» But if [he will not,fpeak, to Edward Lawrence to perfuade her. But if (he will not then, tell her that I will fee her very Juddenly. And fee that this he done ■within A Twelve-mo/ith and a day after my deceafe, and peace be VBflthyou, And fo it went away over the Rails into the Wood there in the like manner as any Man would go over a Style to his appreheniion, and fo he faw it no more at that time. And he faith, that he paid the twenty Shillings to Edward Lawrence ot this Town, who being piclent now doth remember he lent the faid Avon twenty Shillings abouE twenty years ago, which! .^. r.Ortis

of Relations. 1 1 j

none knew but himfelf and Wife and Avon and his Wife, and was never paid it a';ain before now by this Goddard.

And rh s W\d Goddard farther faith, That this very day by Mr. Maiors order, he wi»-h his Brorher-in-Law ff^il/iam Avon wen: wiih the vSvvord, and about Nine a Clock this Morning, they laid down the Sword in the Copfenear the place the Ap-farition h^d appointed Gcddard to carry it, and then coming a-way thence Goddard Icoking back, faw the fame Apparition again in the like habit as JSefcre. Whereupon he called to his Brother- in- La jv, and fai^. Here is the Apparition of our Fa-ther-, Who faid, I fee nothing. Then Goddard fell on his Knsts-and faid, Lord open his Eyes that he may fee it. But he replye4. Lord grant I may not fee it^ if it be thy bleffed Will. And then the Apparition to Goddard\ appearance, beckened with his hand to him to come to it. And then Goddard faid, In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft ^ what vpciildyou have me do ? Then the Apparition faid to him, Thomas, t/tk^e up the Sword,and follow me. To which he faid, Should both of us come, or hut one of us? To which it anfwered, Thomas, do you taP^e up the Sword, And fo he took up the Sword and followed the Apparition about ten Lugs ( that is Poles j farther into the Copfe, and thm turning back, he flood ftill about a Lug and a half from it, his Brother in-Law ftaying behind at the place where they iirft laid down the Sword. Then Goddard laying down the Sword upon the ground, faw fcmething ftand by the Apparition like a Ma-ftifF Dog of a brown colour. Then the Apparition coming to-wards Goddard, he ftept back about two fteps^ And the Appa-rition faid to him, I have a permijjion to you, and commifpon no^ to touch you ; and then it took up the Sword, and went back to the place at which before it ftood, with a MaftifF Dog by it as before, and pointed the top of the Sword in the ground, and faid, In this place lies buried the Body of him whith I murdered in the year 16^$. which is now rotten and turned to duft. Where-upon Goddard faid, I do adjure you in the Name of the Father, Son^ and Holy Ghofi, wherefore did you do this Murder P And it faid, l teok^ Money from the Man, and he contended with me, andfo I mur-dered him. Then Go^ii^zr// askt him, who was confederate wirfi him in the faid Murder .> and it faid, None but myfelf Then Goddard faid, What would you have me do in this thing ? And the Apparition faid, This is that the World may h^iow thai I murdered a Man, and buried him in this place in the year 1635.

Then the Apparition kid down the Sword on the bare gi-ound there whereon grew nothing, but feemed to Goddard to be as a Grave funk in, And then the Apparition f ufhing further into

114 ^-^^ CoUeSiidn

the Copfe vaniflicd, he faw it no more. Whereupon Goddar^ and his Brother-in-Law Avon leaving the Sword there, and co* ming away together, Avon told Goddnrd he heard his Voice, and underftood what he faid, and heard other words diftirdl from bis, but could not underftand a word of it, nor faW any Appa-rition at all. Which he now alfo prefent affirmeth, ana all which the faid Goddnrd ih^n attefted under his hand, and afErm-cd he will depofe the fame when he shall be thereto required.

In thel^TcCence of Chrifl. Lypj^atff Maior, Ho(f Bayly ^ Town-Clerk, Jo/hua Sacheverel, Redor of St. Peters in Marl^ borough.

Examined by me^

mil Bayly.

ADVERTISEMENT,

CpUat Tho. Goddardy^TP this Apparition, feems to he fa thing -^ undiibitahle ; but whether it was his Father in laws Ghofi^ that is more queftionahle, , The former is confirmed from an Hand at leafl impartial, if not disfavour ahle to the Story, The party in his

Ldter toMr,G Writes briifiy to this effeEl. i. that he does

verily thinks that this Tho. Goddard does tf^lieve the Story moH ftkngly himfelf 2. That foe cannot imagine what intereji hefhould hnv&4n raijingfuch a^ory, he bringing Infamy on his Wives Kz-ther^ and-ohUglng^mfelf to pay 20 s. Debt^ which his Poverty could very illfpare, 3. That his Father in law Edward Avon, was a refolute flurdy Fellow in his young Tears, and many lears d Bailifto Arrefi People. 4. That Tho. Goddard had the repute of an honefi Man, knew as much iri Religion as moft of his I{anl^ and Bleeding, and was a confi ant frequenter of the Church, till about a Tear before this happened to him, he fell ojf wholly to the Non-^Con-formifls.

All this hitherto, fave this lait of all, tends to the Cohfirmdtion sfthe Story. Therefore this UftfhaU be thefirfi Allegation dgainfi the credibility t hereof 2 It is farther alleged. That pojfibly the de-(ign of the Story may be to make him to be accounted an extraordi" iifiry Somo^hody among the Dijfenting Party, 3 That he is fornix

times

^Relations. - 1 1 $

iims troubled with Epilepttcal Fits, 4 That the Maior fent the 'next Morning to Dig the place where the SpeSirefaid the Murder d Mm was buried, and there was neither Bones found, Hot any dif\ ference of the Earth in that place from the refij

But we anfwer briefly to the fir ft : That his falling off to the Non-ConformiJ^s, though it may argue a vacillanc) of his Judgment^ yet it does not any defect of his external Senfes, as if he were lefs able to difcern when he faw or heard any thing than before : Td the fecond, That it is a perfeB contradi^ion to his prong belief of the Truth of his own Story, which plainly implies that be did no& feign it to makphimfelf an extraordinary Some body : To the third: That an Epileptical Perfon, when he is out of his Fits, hath his External Senfes, as tru^ and entire, as a drunken Man has whsm his drunken Fit is over, or a Man awake after a 'Night of Sleep 4tnd Dreams. So that this Argument has not thehafifhewofforcSL •with it, unlefs you will take avtay tht authority of all Mens SenfsSy hecaufe at fometimes they have not a competent itfe of them, name-ly^ in Sleep, Drunkennefs^ or the like. Bui now laflly^ for the fourth, which is moftcenjider able. It is yet of no greater force than to make it queftionable, whether this Spe^re was the Ghofl of his Father^ orfome ludicrous Goblin^ that would put a Irick^upoyi Tho-mas Goddard, by pe^fonating his Father in law, and by a fdf^ pointing at the pretended Grave of the Murdered make him ridicu-lorn. For what Porphyrius has noted, I doubt not but is trne^ That^ Daemons Jometimes perfonate the Souls of the Deceajed. But if an uncoffined Body being laid in a Ground expofed to wet and dx^y the Earth may in Thirty or Forty Tears Jpace confume the very Bones and afpmilate all to the refi of the Mold, whenjome Earths, will do it in lefs than the] fifteenth or twentieth part of thai Jpace : Or if the Ghofl of Edward Avon might have forgou the certain place ( it being no grateful OhjeH of his Memory ) where he buried the murdered Man, and onlj guejfed that to be it„ hecaufe it was fomethingfunk,^ as if the Earth yielded upon th^ wafting of the buried Body, the refi of the Story will flill natural'^-ly import, that it was the very Ghoft of Edward Avon. Beftdes, himfelf exprefly declares, as that the Body was buried there, Jo thai b) this time it was all turn d into Dufi,

But whether it was a ludicrous D^emoh, or Edward Avon's Ghoji concerns not our Scope. It isfiifficient that it is a certain Inftance of a real Apparition, mtd I thought fit as in the former Story, fo^ here to be Jo faithful as to cdllfeal nothing that any inight pretend t'p lejfen the credibility thereof. Stories of the appearing of Souls departed are not for the Tooth 6ftheNpn-Conformifts,whOy as it /i J aid, if they generally believe this, it tfii^ be from We undeniable

% U'^iiemi

.11 6 The CoReUion

Evidence thereof^ tm could Thomas Goddard gratifie them hy in' venting of it ; and that it was not a Fancy the J^ovoledge of the 20 s. DebtimpartedtoThomzsGodidiZvdi, ignorant thereof he fore ^ and his Brother A\ons hearing a Voice diftinSi from his, in his Difcourfe with the Apparition, does plainly enough imply. Nor ypas it GoddardV own Fancy, hut that real SfeElre that opened his Shof^ window: Nor his Imagination, but fomething in the floape of an Uare that made his Horfe ft art and caB him into the Dirt : The Apparition of Avon being then accompanied with that Hare, as af-ter with a Map: iff Dog. And laftly, the whole frame of the Story ^ provided the B^lator does verily think it truehimfelfy ( as Mr* 3^ teftifies for him in his Letter to Mr* Glanvil, and himfelf profeft he was ready at any time to Swear to it ) is fuch, that it being not a voluntary Invention, cannot he an impofing Fancy*

R E L A T. X.

The Apparition of the GhoB of Major George Sy-denham, to Captain William Dyke, taken out of a Letter of Mr. James Douch of Mongton, to A/r.Jof. Glanvil.

Concerning the Apparition of the Ghoft of Major George Sydenham, ( late of Dulvtrton in the County of Somerfet ) to Captain fVilliam Dyk^e, late of Skilgate in this County alfo, and nowlikewife deceafed : Be plcas'd to take the Relatioa of it as I have it from the Worthy and Learned Dr. Tho, Dyk^^ a near Kinfman of the Captains, thus : Shortly after the Ma-\jors Death, the Do6tor was defired to come to the Houfe, to take care of a Child that was there fick, and in his way thither he called on the Captain, who was very willing to wait on him to the place, becauie he muft, as he faid, have gone thither that Night, though he had not met with fo encouraging an opportu-nity. After their arrival there atjdie Houfe, and the Civility of the People Ihewn them in that ffltertainmcnr, they werefea* fonably conduded to their Lodging, which they defired might be together in the fame Bed : Whereafter they had lain a whik, the Captain kfiockt, and bids the Servant bring him two of the

iarg^

c/Relations. 117

largeft and biggeft Candles lighted that he could gee. Where-upon the Dodlor enquires what he meant by this ? The Cap-tain anfwers. You know Coufin what difputes my Major and I have had touching the Being of a God, and the Immortality of the Soul ; in which points we could never yet be refolved, tho* we fo much fought for and defired it ; and therefore it was ac length fully agreed between us, That he of us that dyed firft, Ihould the third Night after his Funeral, between the Hours of 12 and I, come to the little Houfe that-is here in the Garden, and there give a full account to the Surviver touching thele Matters, who Ihould be fure to be prefent there at the fet time, ^nd fo receive a full fatisfadlion; and this,fays the Captain, is the very Night, and I am come on purpofe to fulfil my Promife. The Doctor dilTuaded him, minding him of the danger of following thofe ftrange Counfels, for which we could have no Warrant, and that the Devil might by fome cunning Device make fuch an advantage of this ra(h attempt, as might work his utter Ru-ine. The Captain replies, That he had lolemnly engag'd ; and that nothing (hould difcourage him ; and adds, That if the Doctor would wake a while with him, he would thank him» if nor, he might compofe himfelftohis reft ; but for his own part, he was refolv'd to watch, that he might be fure to be pre-fent at the Hour appointed : To that purpofe he fets his Watch by him, and as foon as he perceived by it that it was half an Hour paft i r, he rifes, and taking a Candle in each Hand, goes out by a Back-door, of which he had before gotten the Key, and walks to the Garden-houfe, where he continued two Hours and an half, and at his return declared, that he had neither faw nor heard anything more than what was ufual. But I know, faid he, that ray Major would furely have come, had he been able.

About 6 Weeks afc§r, the Captain rides to Eaton to place his Son a Scholar there, when the Dodor went thither with him. They lodged there at an Inn, the Sign was ihQChridophcr, and tarried i org Nights, not lying together now as before at D«/-vsTtoriy but in two feveral Chambers. The Morning before they went thence, the Captain ftaid in his Chamber longer than he was wont to do before he called upon the Dodtor. At length becomes into the Dodor's Chamber, but in a Vifage and Form much differing from himfelf, with his Hair and Eyes ftaring,aa4 his whole Body ihaking and trembling : Whereat the Dodor wondring, prefently demanded j What is the matter Coufin Captain .^ The Captain replies, I have ieen my Major ; At which the Dodor feeming to fmile, the Captain imuaediately

Z 2 confifiiuf

ii8 TheCoUeaion

confirms it, faying, If ever I faw him In my Life, I faw hitti but now : And then he related to the Dodlor what had paf-itdi^ thus : This Morning after it was light, fome one comes to my Beds -fide, and fuddenly drawing back the Curtains, calls Cnf. Cap. ( which was the term of Familiarity that the Major ufed to call the Captain by ) To whom I replied, Pf^hat my Ma-jor ? To which he returns, I could not come at the time appoint-edt hut lam now come to tell you^ That there is a God, and a very just and terrible one, and if you do not turn over a new Leaf, (the very Expreflions as is by the Do6lor punctually remembred ) you will find itfo. The Captain proceeded : On the Table by, there lay a Sword, which the Major had formerly given me. now after the Apparition had walked a turn or two about the Chamber, be took up the Sword, drew it out, and finding it not fo clean and bright as it ought, Cap, Cap, fays he, this Svpord did not ufe to be kfpt after this manner vphen it was mine. After *vhich Words he iuddenly jdifappeared.

The Captain was not only throughly perfuaded of what he had thus feen and heard, but was from that time iQbferved to be very much aflred:ed with it : And the Humour that before in him was brisk and jovial, was then llraHgely alter'd ; l info-much, as very Tittle Meat would pafs down with him at Din-ner, though at the taking leave of their Friends there was a very handfome Treat provided: Yea it was obferved, that what the Captain had thus feen and heard, had a more lafting Influence upon him, and 'tis judged by thofe who were well acquainted with his Converfation, that the remembrance of this Paflage ftuck clofe to him, and that thofe Words of his dead Friend were frequently founding frelh in his Ears, during the remainder of his Life, v^/hich was about two Years.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Z70 ^ a farther Affurance of the Truth of the Story, it will n$t ^ be amifs to taks notice what Mfi Douch writes in his fecond Letter to Mr. Glanvil, touching the Chara8er of the Major and the Captain. They were both, faith he, of my good Acquaintance, ^isn well brqdi and of a bfisk^Hwrwury andjslly C^vcrfation. of

verji

be ColWion of Relations;

at the Do£lor wondring, prefcntly demanded j What is the matter Coufin Captain ? The Captain replies, I have feen my Major : At which the Dodlor feeming to fmile, the Captain immediately confirms it, faying, Ifever I faw him in my Life, 1 faw him but now : And then he related to the Dodlor what had paffed, thus : This Morning after it was light, fomc one comes to my bed-fide, and fuddenly drawing back the Curtains, calls Caf, Cap, ("which was the term ot familiarity that the Major ufedtocall the Captain by) To whom I replied. What iny Major^. To which he returns, / could not come at the time appointed^ but lam W1V come to tellyoii^ I'hat there is a God, attd a very jufi and terrible one, and if you do not turn over a neix Leaf, f the very Expreifions as is by the Doctor punctually remem-bred) you ^ixiU find itfo. The Captain proceeded : On the Table by, there lay a Sword, which the Major had former, ly given me. Kow after the Apparition had walked a turn or two about the Chamber, he took up the Sword, drew it outi and finding it not fo clean and bright as it ought, Cap, Cap, fays he, this S-voord did not ufe to be kept after thii mariner -ixhen it ivas 7nine. After which Words he fudden-ly difappeared. '

The Captain was not only throughly perfuaded of what he had thus feen and heard, but was from that time obfer- I ved to be very much afife£ted with it : And the Humour that before in him wasbriik and jovial, was thenflrange-ly altcr'd ^ infomuch, as very little Meat would pafsdown with him at Dinner, though at the taking leave of their Friends there was a very handfome Treat provided ; Yea it was obferved, that what the Captain haa thus feen and heard, had a more lafting Influence upon him, and 'tis judged by thofe who were well acquainted with his Con-verfation, that the remembrance of this Paffage ftuck clofe to him, and that thofe words of his dead Friend werefre-quentiy founding frefh in his Ears, during the remainder of his Life, which was about two Years.

N. B. ¥or a farther Confirmation of the I'rtith of the Story, it will not. be amifs to take notice ivhat Mr. Douch ^writes in his fecond Letter to Mr. Glanvill, touching the ChatyBer of the Major and the Captain. L'hey were both, fait k he, of my good Jcqua/mtance, Men ivell bred, and of a brisk Humour, and jolly Converfition, of very quick and keen;^'arts, having aljc }e^,u botjj of them Univerfity and

Inns

e c'wui

I The CoIleUion of Relations. 345

J0 ofCmrt Qentlemen. 'The Major I conceive^ ivas about ^5 Tears old 'when he died, and I believe the Captain might pi he 50, or fomewhat more. I cannot tinderfiajzd that ^lie ^o5ior and the Qapain had any 7)ifcourfe concerning ^^i former Engagement to meet, after the difafpointmetzt ^f that Time andTlace j or whether the Captain had after 0 any expectation of the performance of the^romifi 4ich the Major had made him. Thus far Mr. Douch : }iid truly one would naturally think, that he failing the Umn appointed time, the Captain would confequently let ^ All Hopes and Expectation of his appearing afterward^ ^ifhe did, that it would be at fuch a time of the, Night iiijoas firfi determined of, and not at the Morning- light : flichfeafonyet is lefs obnoxious to the Impofiures of Fancy 0^ Melancholy, and therefore adds fome weight to thejjfu-0ce of the Truth of the Jppariiion. I will 07ily add 07ie Clmfe more out of that feco7idLetter that makes to the point, itisflory, faith he, has and doth ftill obtain credit from fi that knew the Captain, who it feems was not at all ps or fcrupzilous to relate it to any one that ask' d him con-tffning it, though it was < obferved he never mentioned it^ lat with great Terror and Trepidation,

' • ■ .

RELATION XL.

<}mg a Poftfcnpt of the firfi Letter cf Mr Douch, con-cerning the appear i72g of the Ghoft of Sir George Villlers, father to the firfi T)iike of Buckingham.

SIR,

Since the Writing of the premifles, a PafTage concerning an Apparition of Sir George FillierSy giving warning of his Son's (the Duke of Suckingham's) Murder, is come into my Mind, which hath been aflured by a Ser-vant of the Duke's to be a great Truth, thus: Some few Days before the Duke's going to T'ortfmourh, ( where he was ftabb'd by Feltoii) the Ghoft of his Father, Sir George r/7/z^r^ appeared to one barker, (foti^erly his own Ser-vant, but then Servant to the Duke) in his Morning Gown 5 charging barker to tell his Son, that he fhould decline that Employment and Defign he was going upon, or elfe

^ , I Hbe ColkUion of Relations.

he would certainly be murdered : fP^rA:er promifed tf Apparition to do it, but ncglefled it* The Duke makiu preparations for his Expedition to jRooi&f/, the AppariA on came again to Tarker^ taxing him very fevercly fo, his bleach of Promife, and required him not to delay th(, acquainting his «Sbn of the Danger he was in : Then y^vj ker the next Day tells the Duke, that his Father's Ghofj had twice appeared to him, and had commanded him tc give him that Warning: The Duke flighted it, and toW him he was an old doating Fool. That Night the ApJ

* however, and tell him from me by fuch a Token, fnamind

• a private Token^ which no body knows, but only he and I

* that if he will not decline this Voyage, fuch a^Knifea

• this is (pulling a long Knife out from under his Gown
, « will be his Death. This Meffage Tarker alfo delivered

the next Day to the Duke, who when he heard the prj vate Token, believed that he had it from his Father' Ghoft j yet faid, that his Honour was now at Stake, am he could not go back from what he had undertaken, com( liife, come Death. Thefe Three feveral appearances o this Apparition to Mr. Tarker^ was always at Midnight when he was reading fome Book. This Fad, 'Parker after the Duke's Murder, communicated to his Fellow fcrvant, Heitry Ceeley^ who told it to a Reverend Divine, a Neighbour of mine, from whofe Mouth I have it. Thii Henry Ceeley^ has not been dead above twenty Years, and his Habitation for feveral Years before his death, was at Nortb-Currey, but three Miles from this place. My Friend, the Divine aforefaid, was an intimate Acquaintance of this Henry Ceeley's, and afifures me he was a Perfon of knowti Truth and Integrity.

N. B. I'/jis §tory islikewife related by the Earl of Q,h. rendon in Ms Hifiory of the Civil Wars, and alfo recorded 'With great Enlargements by Mr. William Lilly in hisw fervatjons on the Life and Death of King Charles ift, iimoj fag, z%. Loud, 1 71 5.

R E L A-

&\>c^

^ Tire CoileUion of Rckaoi». 347 i RELATION XII.

^iie appearing of Mr. WatkinfonV Ghoft to his tDatig^ 0 Toppam, contained in a letter <f Mrs. Taylor / the Ford by St. Neots, to 'Dr. Ezekias Burton.

„ I I

■MS

^'1)'

SIR.

lyT Y Service to vouand your .Lady. Now accord-yl ing to your defire I fhall write what my Goufin ^^ told me : Her name was Mary Watkinfan^ Jier jlier did live in Smithfieldy but /he was married' to 5 Francis I'oppam^ and fhe did live in Tork with , Husband, being an ill one, who did fteal her away linft her Parents confcnt, fb that they could not abide n: But /he came often to them, and when fhe was [with him, upon their parting fhe exprefsM, that fhe jcd fhe fhould never fee him more. He anfwefd fj if he fhou'd die, if ever God did permit the Dead fee the Living, he would fee her again. Now af-be had been buried about half a Year, on a Night en fhe was in Bed, but could not flcep, fhe heard !ck, and the Chamber grew lighter and lighter, and being broad-awake, faw her Father (land at her !-fide 5 who faid. Mall, did I not tell thee that I Id fee thee once again'^ She called him Father, and y of many things 5 and he bid her be Patient, 1 Dutiful to her Mother. And when fhe told him 5 had a Child fince he did die : He faid that would t trouble her long. He bid her fpeak what fhe luld now to him, for he mult go, and that he fhould rer fee her more till they met in the Kingdom of aven. So the Chamber grew darker and darker, and iwas gone with Mufick. And fhe faid fhe did never ^m of him, nor did ever fee any Apparition of him a*.

He was a very honeft godly Man, as far as I can ill.' ■ .

X. B. ^his Story Dr. Ruft, ijoho was after Sijhop Dromore, told me^ I refaeraber^ with great ajfurance

fome

> ^Ibe C'oUc^ion of Relations.

fime fwenty Tears agOy ^ho was not at all creduloi in thefe things. And it ivas fo as Mrs, Taylor relatt to fDr. Burton.

RE L A T I O N XIII.

T'he apf earing of the Ghoft of the daughter of 2)^ Farrar t6 him after her fDeath^ according to a brm Narrative fent from the Revd. Mr. Edward Fo^i^ to Dr. H. MovCy J[7mo. 1^78, May n,

/-'■"•^HIS Week Mr. ^earfon, who is a worthy goo^ I Minifter of this Cjty of London^ told me, Xhat "•- his Wife's Grandfather, a Man of great Piety and Phyficiah to this prefent King, his name Farrar nearly related (I think Brother) to the famous y^] Farrar of Ltttle-Giddon^ I fay this Gentleman and his Daughter ( Mrs. <Pearfo7ts Mother, a very pious Souh made a Compa6l at his intreaty, That tho firjl of them that 2)iedy if hapfy\ fhould after Death appear to the Surviver, if it were poffible : The Daughter with fome difficulty confenting thereto.

Some time after, the Daughter who lived at Gillim-ham-lodge^ two Miles from Salisbtiry^ fell in Labour and, by miflake, being given a noxious Potion, inftead of another prepared for her, fuddenly died.

Her Father lived in London^ r.nd that very Night fhe died /he opened his Curtains, and looked upon him. He had before heard nothing of her illnefs, but upon this Apparition confidently told his Maid, that his Daughter was dead, and two Days after received the News. Her Grandmother told Mrs. ^earfon this, as alfo an Uncie of hers, and the above-faid Maid, and this Mrs. ^earfon I know, and fhe is a very prudent and good Woman.

R E L A-

itlAmEi

[ RELATION XIV.

(flue appearing of the Ghofi cf one M. Bower (jf Guil-ford, to an Highway-man in ^rifon^ as it is fet ^onvn in a Letter cf 2)r. Ezekias Burton, to 2)r» jl. More.

A BOUT ten Years ago, one Mr. So^juer, an an-il cient Man, living at Guilford in Surrey ^ was up-i * on the High-way, not far from that place, foun<l jcwly murdered very barbaroufly, having one great cut crofs his Throat, and another down his Breaft. Twp jilen were feiz'd upon fufpicion, and put into Goal ait (juilford, to another who had before been committed for Robbing as I fuppofe. That Night this third Man was awakened about one of the Clock, and greatly terri-fied with an old Man, who had a great gafh crofs his lliroat almoft from Ear to Ear, and a wound down |jis Breaft. He alfo came in (looping, and holding his Hand on his Back. Thus he appeared, but faid no-thing. The Thief calls to his two new Companions, tbey grumbled at him, but made no anfwcr.

In the Morning he had retained fo lively an impreffi-on of what he had feen, that he fpoke, to them to the ^me purpofe again, and they told him it was nothing but his fancy : But he was fo fully perfuaded of the reality of the Apparition, that he told others of it, and it came to the Ears of my Friend Mr. Readings Jaftice of Peace in Stirrey, and Coufin to the Gentie-flian that was murdered.

He immediately fent for the Prifoner, and aik'd him in the iirft place, whether he was born, or had lived about Guilford ? To which he anfwered, no. Second-ly, he enquired if he knew any of the Inhabitants of that Town, or of the l<[eighbourhood ? He replied, That he was a ftranger to all thereabout. Then he enquired if he had ever heard of one Mr. T^oiver^. He faid, DO. After this, he examined him for what caufe thofe two other Men were imprifoned ? , To which he an-kred, he knew not, but fuppofed for feme Rob-bery.

After

After thefe preliminary Interrogatories, he dcfift him to tell him what he had feen in the Night, whic he immediately did, exadlly accordins to the Relatic he had heard, and I gave before : Andwithal, defcribe lbB;otd Gentleman fo by his picked Beard, and that he wj (as he called it) rough on his Cheeks, ^nd that the Hali of his Face were black and white. Msr. Reading faitl That he himfelf could not have given a more exaft Dc. fcription of Mr, Sonjoer than this was. He told the HioI»i

ij^rould fignify little fromfuch a Rogue) to which thej^ii readily confented, and took Oath before the Juftice f f «i 'this.

Mr. Reading being a very dilcrete ^an, conceals this Story from the Jury at the Affize«, as knowing thai tkis would be no Evidence according to our Law. How €ver, the Friends of the Murdered Gentleman had beci very inquifitive, and difcovered feveral fufpicious Cif cumftances ^ one of which was, that thofe two Men had! walhed their Cloaths, and that feme ftains of Blood remains ed. Another, that one of them had denied he ever hcari that Mr. Sower was dead, whenas he had in another place confefs'd it two Hours before. Upon thefe and fuch likf JEvidences, thofe two were ccmdemn'd and executed, bi| denied it to the laft: But one of them faid, the othci could clear him if he would, which the By-ftanders under flood not. ' •

After fome time a Tinker was hang'd, (where, the Gentleman has forgot) who at his Death fajd^ That the murder of Mr. So'wer of Guilford^ was hi$ , »reateft trouble 5 for he had a hand in it i He confefs'd le ftruck him a blow on the Back, which fetch'd him : rom his Horfe, and when he was down, thofe other Men that was arraigned and executed for it, cut his Throat and rifled him. This is the firft Story, which I had from Mr. Reading himfelf, who is a very ho-neft prudent Perfon, and not credulous.

I know you defire to have the names of all thel Perfons referred to in this Relation, and the exa^ ;time and place, but Mr. Reading cannot recollefl them now, though he tells me, he fent an exa^t and full Karrative of all to one Mr. Onflow, a Juftice of the Peace

.-v.;

at Neighbourhood, with whom I have fbme ac-intance, and I will endeavour to retrieve it. K. B. 2l?e mms of all the ^erfons, and esffoSI

f, GlanviU'f ^afers^ hut the Story is ferfeh as it and fo credible^ that I thought it isoorthy of a ^lac$ ftigfi the reft, jlnd this appearing of Mr. Bower

■M fuch another thing as the appearing ^ Anno

filker.

%^ proceed to the fecond Story, which Vix: Reading

^parted to the Doftor.

I R EL A T I O N XV.

^ther appearing of a Ghofi of a Man of GuiJfbrd jar the recovery of a Field for his Child, unjuftly ietained by his Brother -^ out of the above f aid Zet" ter of Dr. Ezekias Burton, to T>r. H. More.

A N Inhabitant of the before-nam'd Town o^Gutl^ \ ford, who was poflefs'd of fome Copy-hold-Land,

*- which was to defcend to his Children, or in de-alt of fuch Iflue, to his Brother : He dies having

Child born : And his Wife apprehending herfelf t to be with Child, which her Husband's Brother I'd her immediately after his Brother's death: She g him jfie believ'd fhe was not, but afterwards foved to be, which when ihe knew, ftie went, by le^ Inftigation of Neighbours, to her Brother, and lid him how it Was with her : He rated her, called er Whore, and told her fhe had procured fomebo-j to get her with Child, knowing that fuch a Field luft be inherited by the Pofterity of her Husband, ttt her Whoring /hould not fool him out of that Iftate. The poor Woman went home troubled, that ot only her Child ihould lofe the Land, but which as worfe, that fhe fliould be thought a Whore : How-Ter fhe quieted herfelf, and refolved to fit down with j6 Lofs.

When her time came, fhe was delivered of a Son, and tegrew up, and one Summer's Night, as fhe was undref-ng him in her Yard, her Husband appeared, and bid' I her

her go to his Brother, and demand the Field 5 ^hich 1} did, but was treated very ill by him; He told her, th; neither fhe nor her Devil j (for fhe had told him, her Hu band .had appeared^ and bid her fpeak to him) Ihouj make him forego his Land; ' Whereupon ihe went hon «gain. But fome time after, as her Brother was poin out of this Field homewards^ the dead Man appears jfiim at the Style, and bids him give up the Land to th thild, for it was his right. The Brother being greatl frighted at this, runs away, and not long after, comes t fier, and tells her Jfhe had fent the Devil to him, andbic] her take the Land, and fo gave it up, and her Son is not poflefs'd of it : His Name is Mat. he lived in the Servjc of Mr. Reading ^ Brother for fome Years, but he has forgo his Sirname, though he knoWs him very well. , -K. B; "Thmgh the Sirname of, the Tarty he wantim yet be is determifiated fo by other Circumfiances^ andth Story [of rejb^ and told byfo credible a Terfon, that the}^ar rative i% Sufficiently confiderable as it is* Sut of recover cf Land to the right 0-ivnerSi the Story of Mrs. Bretton' Qhoft appear i77g^ is an eximiotisExam^le^ which is asfollm

^ RELATION XVI. >

k I r^e appearing of the Ghofi of Mrs. Bretton, for the recc very of fome Lands into the Hands of the Topr^ take; from fhem by fome mi fake in Law or Right y as it i in a Nar7'ative fe?tt to i)r. H. More, from Mr. Edwan Towlety ^reb^fzdary ^" Gloucefter. Jfterwards Si fhop of that Diecefe.

~^R. 'Bretton, late Reiser o( Lndgate and ^eptfon I lived formerly in Herefordfnre, and married th

. Daughter of Dr. S . Thi.^ Gentlewoman was

Perfon of extraordinary Piety, which fhe exprefs'd as in he Life, fo at her Death. She had a Maid that fhe had ; Treat Kindnefs for, who was married to a near Neigh >our, whofe Name, as I remember, was Alice. Not loni after her death, as Alice was rocking her Infant in thi Kight, file was called from the Cradle by a Knocking a her Door, which opening, /lie was furpriz'd at the figh

.elations. 353

fV0entIcwoman not to be diftinguifhed from her late

iiftrcfs, neither in Perfon, nor Habit. She was in a Mor-jog-Gown, the fame in appearance, with that /he had (ten fecn her Miftrefs wear. At firft iight fhe e5q)refs'd (jy great amazement, and faid; Were not my Miftrefs \idr Iponld not queflmi but that you are fie. She re-jy'd, lam the fame that ^was your Miftrefs, and took her i« the Hands which Jlice affirmed was as cold as a Clod. «Hft added, that (he had bufinefs of great importance ^o ley her in, &nd that fhe muft immediately go a little ly With her. Alice trembled, and befeech'd her to excufe ;r, and intreated her very importunately to go to her Ma-;r, who muil needs be more fit to be employed. She an-gered, that he who was her Husband, was not at all con-jrncd, but yet /he had a defire rather to make ufe of him, 5^ in order thereunto had feveral times been in his Cham-er, but he was ftill afleep, nor had fhe power to do more. jan once' uncover his feet towards the awakening of him. Ind the Do£ior faid, that he had heard walking in his lamber in the Night, which till now he coujd give no Ac-iiint of Jlice next objefted that her Husband was gone a jurney, and ihe had no one to look to her Child, that it fas very apt to cry vehemently, and /he feared if it awaked ^fbre her return, it would cry itfelf to death, or do itfelf mif-iief. The Speare reply'd, the Child Jhall fleep till you {turn. Ali CE feeing there was no avoiding it, forely againft hcj:

dtoher, obferve how much of this Field I meafurewith ay feet. And when /he had taken a good large and leafure-jcompafs, fhe faid all this belongs to the Poor, it being otten fron^ them by wrongful means, and charged her to go lid tell her Brother, whofe it 'was at that time, that he hould give it up to the Poor again forthwith as he loved ler and his deceafed Mother. This Brother was not the 'erfon who did this unjuft aft, but his Father. She added, bt/he was more concerned, becaufe her name was made life of in fome writing that related to this Land.

Alice a/k'd her how /he /liould fatisfy her Brother that this w^s no Cheat, or delufion of her Fancy, fhe re-

. 1 111- 1 ' n . ^^1 • ,1 t . -I j\. ^^ . _!.. U:.-^

ielf and I are privy to and he

Ting promifed her fo go on this Errand, /he proceeded to

of Rektiofis^ 127

ADVERTISEMENT.

CTTHough the Sir-name of the Party he vpantingt yet he is determ-'*' nated fo by other CircumflanceSy and the Story fo frefhy and told hyf» credible a Perfon, that the Narrative isfufficiently confide' rable as it is. But of recovery ofl^and to the right Owners^ the Story of Mrs, Bretcons Gho§t aj^pearingj is an eximious Example, vohich is as follows*

R E L A T. XVI.

The Af fearing of the Ghofi of Mrs, Bretton, for the recovery of^ome hands into the Hands of the Poor^ taken from them bj fome mifiakein Law or Right ^ as it is in a Narrative fent to Dr. H — More,-from Mr, Edward Fowler, Prebendary of Gloxx" cefter.

DR. Brettouy late Redor of hudgate and Deptford, lived formerly in Herefordfhirey and Married the Daughter of Dr. S' ' ' This Gentlewoman was a Perfon of extraordinary Piety, which flie expreft as in her Life, fo at her Death. She had a Maid that Ihe had a great Kindnefs for, who was Mar-ried to a near Neighbour, whofe Name, as I remember, was jilice* Not long after her Death, as Alice was Rocking her In-fant in the Night, Ihe was called from the Cradle by a Knocks ing at her Door, which opening, (he was furpriz'd at the fighc of a Gentlewoman not to be diftinguifhed from her late Miftrefs, neither in Perfon, nor Habit. She was in a Morning-Gown, the fame, in appearance, with that Ihe had often feen her Miftrels wear. At firft fight (he exprel^ very great amazement, and faid, IVere not my Miftrefi dead, I [houldnot tjue^ion but that you are Jhe, She reply 'd, I am the fame that was your MiftreJ!, and took feerbythejiandj vf hiQh 41 fce afirmed was as cold as a Cled,

She

128 The Collection

She added, That fhe had bufinefs of great importance to ihi* ploy her in, and that Ihe muft immediately go a little way with .her. -^//c^ trembled, and befeecht her to excufe her, and in-treated her very importunately to go to her Mafter, who muft needs be more fit to he employed. She-anfwered, that he who was her Husband, was rot an all concerned, but yet Ihe had a defire rather to make ufe of him, and in order thereunto had fe-veral times been in his Chamber, but he was ftill afleep, nor h^ the power to do more than once uncover his feet towards the awakening of him. And the Dodor /aid, that he had heard walking in his Chamber in the night, which till now he could give no account of. Alice next objedted that her Husband was gone Journey, and (he had no one to look to her Child, that it was very apt to cry vehemently, and (he feared if it awaked before her return, it would cry it felf to death, or do it felf mif-cheif. The Spedre replied, The Child (hall fleep till you re-turn.

Alice feeing there was no avoiding it, forely againft her will, followed her over a ftyle into a large Field, who then faid to her, obferve bow much of this Field I meafure with my feet. And when (he had taken a good large and leifurely com-pafs, (he faid all this belongs to the Poor, it being gotten from them by wrongful means, and charged her to go and tell her Brother,- whofe it was at that time, that he (hould give it up to the Poor again forthwith as he loved her and his deceafed Mo-ther. This Brother was not the Perfon who did this unjuft ad:, but his Father. She added, that (he was more concerned, becaufe her name was made ufe of in fome writing that related to this Land,

Alice askt her how (he (hould fatisfie her Brother that this was t\o Cheat, or delufion of her Fancy, She replied, tell him this fecret, which he knows that only himfelf and I are privy to and he will believe you. Alice having promifed her to go on this Errand, (he proceeded to give her good advice, and enter-tained her all the reft of the Night with moft heavenly and di-* vine Difcourfe. When the Twilight appear-ed they heard the whiftling of Carters, and the noife of Horfe-Bells. Whereupon the Spedre faid, Alice I muft be feen by none but your felf, and fo Ihe difappeared. i^.

Immediately Alice makes all hafte home, being thoughtful for her Child, but found it as the Spedre had faid, afleep as (he left it. When (he had drefled it, and committed it to the carai of a Neighbour, away (he went to her Mafter the Dodor, who amazed at the acc^^nt (he^ave him, fen: hef to hjj Brother-ia-

q^ Relations 129

Law. He at firft hearing Alices ftory and mdTagc, laughed ac it heartily. But (he had no fooner told him the lecret, but he changed his countenance, told her he would give the Poor their own, and accordingly he did it, and they now en-joy it.

This with more circumftances hath feveral times been rela-ted by Dr. Bretton himfelf, who was vvell known to be a perfon of great goodnefs and fincerity. He gave a large Narrative of this i^pparition of his ^ife to two of my Friends. Firft. to one MrsMeedham, and afterwards a little before his Death to Dr. H^hkhcot.

Some years after I received the foregoing Narrative (vi:(, near four years fince ) I light into the company of three fober perfons of good Rank, who all lived in the City of Hereford^ and I travelled in a Stage Coach three days with them. To them I happened to tell this ftory, but told it was done at Deft" fordi for fo I prefumed it was, becaufe I knew that there Dr. Bretton lived. They told me as foon as I had concluded it, thar the ftory was very true in the main, only I was out as to the place. For 'twas not Deptfordt but as I remember they told me Pemhridge near Hereford^ where the Dod:or was Minifter be*.. fore the Return of the King, And they afliirei me upon their ^ own knowledge, that to that day the Poor enjoyed the piee© ' of Ground. They added, That Mrs. Bretton s Father could ne**^ ver endure to hear any thing mentioned of his Daughters ap» pearing after her death, but would ftiil reply in great anger, that it was not his Daughter but it was the Devil. So that he acknowledged that fomething appeared in the likenefs of hi$ Paughter,

This is attefted by me this i6sh, S^ Feh. 1681

^ward Fowler*

ILELAT.

1 30 The ColUBioH-

R E L A T. XVII.

Of a Dutch Man that could fee Ghofts^ and of th^ Ghofv he faw in the Town of Woodbridge in Suffolk,

MR. 'Broom the Minifter of Woodhri^e in Suffolk', meeting one day, in a Barber*s-(hop.in that Town, a D«^c6 Lieu-tenant ( who was blown up with Opdam, and taken alive out of the Water, and carried to that Town, where he was a Prifo-nerat large) upon the occafion of fome difcourfe was told by him, that he could fee Ghofts, and that he had feen divers, Mr.-Broom rebuking him for talking fo idly he perfifted in it very ftifly. Some days after lighting upon him again, he askt him whether he had feen any Ghoft iince his coming to that Town. To which he replyed, No.

But not long after this, as they were walking together up the Town, he faid to Mr. Broom, Yonder comes a Ghoft. He feeing nothing, askt him where about it was ? The other faid, ic is over againft fuch a houfe, and it walks looking upwards to-wards fuch a fide, flinging one Arm with a Glove in its hand. He laid moreover, that when it came near them, they niuft give way to it. That he ever did fo, and fome that have not done fo, have fuffcred for it. Anon he faid, 'tis juft upon us, let*s out of the way. Mr. Broom believing all to b^ a fidion, as foon as he faid thofe words, took hold of his Arm, and kept him by force in the way. But as he held him, there came fuch a force againft them, that he was flung into the middle of the ftreet, and one of the Palms of his hands, and one knee bruifed and broken by the fall, which put him for a while to excefllvG pain.

But fpying the Lieutenant lye like a dead Man, he get up as ibon as he could, and applied himfelf to his relief. "With the help of oihers he got him into the next fnop, where they poured ftrong water down 'his Throar, but for fome time could difcern no Life in him. At length, Vv^hat with the ftrong- water, and what with well chafing him he began to flir, and when he was come ro hiQifclf, his flrft words were, I will (liew you no more 6koiis. Thcii he dcfircd a Pipe of Tobacco, but Mr. Broom

sold

^/ReJationSo iji

told him, he fhould take it at his houfe ; for he feared, flionld he take it fo fopn there, it would make him fick.

Thereupon they went together to Mr. Broom's Houfc where they were no fooner entring in, but the Bell rang out. Mr. Broom prefently fenc his Maid to learn who was dead. She brought word that it was fuch an one, a Taylor, who dyed fuddenly, though he had been in a Confumption a long time. And inquiring after the time of his death, they found it was as pun(5lually as it could be gueffed at the very time when the Ghoft appeared. The Ghoil had exadly this Taylor's known I Gate who ordinarily went alfo with one Arm fwingmg, and a Glove in that hand, and looking 6n one fide upwards.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CJ^HIS I{eUiion was fentto Dr, H. Mofe from Mr. Edward '^ Fowler ; at the end whereof he voritesy that Dr, Burton di rvell as himfelf heard it from Mr. BroomV own mouth. And I can addj that I alfo afterwards heard it from his own month a^ London.

/ RELAX. XVIII.

An In^ ft ory of one that hdd like to have he en carried away by Spirit s^ and of the Ghoft of a Man '^ho had been feven ytars dead that brought a Medicine to the abovefiid parties Bed-fide.

AGentlemin in trelandnccit to the Earl of Orrerfs, fending his Butler one aftei:nocn to buy Cards ; as he paffed a Field, he, to-his wonder, efpyed a company of people fitting roun^ a Table, with a deal" bf good chear bsfore them in the itiidft of the Field, And he going up tov^'ds chemj they ali

ij2 The Collet ion

arofe and falutcd him, and defired him to fit down with them. But one of theni whifpering thefc words in his Ear ; Do 7iothi7ig this compatiy invites you to. He therefore refufed to fit down at the Table, and iftimediarely the Table and all that belonged to it were gone ; and the company are now dancing and playing up-on Muficai Inftniments, and the Butler being defired to join himfclf to them; but he refufing this alfo, they fall all to work, and he not beirg to be prevailed with to accompany them in working any mo re than in feafting or dancing, they all difap-peared, and the Butler is now alone. But inftead of going for-wards, home he returns as fail as he could drive, in a great con-fternation of mind. And was no fooner entred his Mafters door, but down he falls, and lay fome time fenflels, but coming to himfelf again, he related to his Mafter what had happened ta him.

The night following, there comes one of this company to his Bed'iide, and tells him, that if he offered to ftir out of doors the next day, he would be carried away. Hereupon he kept within, but towards the Evening, having need to make water, he adventured to put one foot over the threfllold, feveral ftand-ing by. Which he had no fooner done, but.they efpyed a Rope call about his middle, and the poor Man was hurried away with great fwiftnefs, they following after him as faft as they could, but could not overtake him. At length they efpyed a Horfeman coming towards them, and made figns to him to flop the Man, whom he faw coming near him, and both the ends of the Rope, but no body drawing. When they met, he laid hold on one end of the Rope, and immediately had a fmarc blow given him over his Arm with the other end. But by this means the Man was ftopt, and the Horfe-man brought him back with him.

The Earl of Orrery hearing of thefe ftrange pafTages^fent to the Mafter to dcfire him to fend this Man to his Houfe, which he accordingly did. And the morning following, or quickly after, he told the Earl that hisSpedte had been with him again, and affured him that that day he fhould moft certainly be carried away, and that no endeavours fhould avail to the faving of him. Upon this he was kept in a large room, with a confiderable number of perfons to guard him, among whom was the famous Stroker, Mr. Greatrix, who was a Neighbour. There werebe-iides other perfons of Quality, two Bilhops in the Houf® at the kme time, who were confuited touching the making ufe of a Medicine the Spe(Slre or Ghoft prcfcribed, of which, mention

will

(/Relations. 13?

will be made anon, but they determined on the Negative. But this by the By.

Till pare of the Afternoon was fpent all was quiet, but at-length he was perceived to rife from the' ground, whereupon Mr. Greatrix znd another lufty Man clapc their Arms _ over his Shoulders, one of them before him, and the orher behind, and weighed him down with all cheir ftrengih, But he was forcibly taken up^'from them, and they were too weak lo keep their hold, for a confiderable time he was carried in rhe Air to and fro over their heads/everalofcbe Company itillrunning under him lo pre-vent his receiving hurt if he fhould fall At length he fel},and was caught before*he came to ground, and had by that means no hurt. All being quiet till bed- time. My Lord ordered two of his Servants to lie with him, and the nexc Morning he told his Lordlliip, that his Spedlre was again with him, and brought a Wooden Di(h with grey liquor in it, and bad him drink it off. At the firft light of the Spedlre, he faid, he endeavoured to a-' wake his bedfellows, but he told him that that endeavour fhould be in vain, and that he had no cdufe to fear him, he being his Friend, and he diat at firft gave him the good advice in the Field, which had he not followed, he had been before novy perfe(flly in the power of the Company he fav^ there. He added, that he. concluded it was impoffible, but that he fhouI(i have been carried away the day before, there being fo ftrong a Combination againft him. But now he could aiTure him that there would be no more attempts of that nature, i)ut he being troubled with two forts of fad Fits, he had brought that liquor to cure him of them, and bad- him drink it. He peremptorily refufing, the Snedlre w^as angry, upbraided him with great difingenuity, but told him., that however he had a kindneisior him, and that if he would take Plantain jaice hefhoiild be v^eli -of oneiortof Firs, but he faould carry theorher to his Grave, The poor Man having by this rime fdmewhat recovered himfelfi* ask't the Spedlre, whether by rhe juice of Plantain he meant thac of she Leaves or Roots } It replied, the RoGt5.

Then it askt him, whether he did not know him ? He ah» 'fwered, No. He replied^ lamfuchacne? The Man anfwer-ed : He hath been long dead. I have been dead faid the Spe-d:re or Gholt feven years, and you know that I lived a loofe life. And ever fince have I been hurried up and down in a reft-Jefs Condition with the Company you faw^ and fhall be to the day of Judgment, Then he proceeded to tell him, that had he acknowledged God in his ways, he had not fuffered inch fevc 'i things by their means. And farther faid, you never prayed to

Aa ^ ' Csod

1 34 The CoUeUion

God that day before you met with this Company in the Field, and alfo was then going about an uolawful bufinefs, and fa

vaniiht.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CT HIS ftory wasfent alfo from Mr> E. Fowler to Dr. H. More "^ concerning which he farther add* by xo^y of Po^fcrip^ that, Mr. Greatrix told this sfcry to Mrs. Foxcraft at Ragley, and at her requefl he told it nfeco7id time in her hearing at the Table. My Lady Roydon bei?ig then frefent^ inquired afterwards concerning ft of my Lord Orrery i who co-nfirmed the truth cf it. acknowledging all the circumftances of this Narrative to my Lady Roydon to he trtiej except that faffage^ that the SfeBre told the Man that he toas that day going about an unlawful bufmefr. And Mr, Fowler /^r-ther adds, that fincc an eminent DoHor in this City told me, that my Lord told him, that hefaw at bis own houfe a Man taken up into the Air.

Laftly, I find Dr. H. More in a Letter to Mr. Ghas'il, affirm^ ing that he alfo heard Mr. Greatrix tell the fiory at my Lord Con-way'/ at Ragley, and that he farticuiarly inquired of Mr. Grea-trix about the mans being carried up into the Air above mens heads in the F{pom, and that he did exprefly affirm that fat was an Eye-witnefs thereof

RELAX. XIX.

The miraculous Cure ^/ Jefch Claes a Dutch Wo*
man (?/Amfterdam, accomfanhd with an Ap-
parition,

TH E N^frative taken by a Dutch Merchant from her own Momn begins thus. A miraculous Cure upon ?</?A ; C/a^y a Woman about fifty years of Age : For this many years \ vVeirknoWn to my felf and the Neighbours. This Woman for f4itteen ye^rs had been lame of both L^zh one of them being)

deaa

^/Relations. 155

dead and without feeling, ib that (he could not go but creep up* ©n the ground, or was carried in Peoples Arms as a Child, but iK)w tliough the power of God Almighty (he hath walked a-gain. Which came to pafs afcer this manner, as I have taken it from her own Mouth.

Intheyear 1676. about the 13th or 14th of this Month O^^-hery in the Night, between one and two of the Clock, this Jefc^ Claes being in bed with her Husband who was a Boatman, (he was three times pulled by her Arm, with which (he awaked and cryed out, O Lord i What may this be ? Hereupon (he heard an anfwer in plain words: Be not afraid, I come in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghoft. Your malady which hath for many years been upon you ihall ceafe, and ic (hall be gi-ven you from God Almighty to walk again. But keep this to your felf till farther anfwer. Whereupon ftie cried aloud, O Lord 1 That I had a light, that I might know what this is. Then had (he this anfwer, There needs no light, the light (hall be given you from God. Then came light all over the Room, and (lie faw a beautiful Youth about ten years of Age, with Curled Yellow Hair, Clothed in White to the. Feet, who went from the Beds head to the Chim.ney with a light, v^hich a little after vani(hed. Hereupon did there (hoot lomething or gu(H from her Hip or diffjfe it felf through her Leg as a Water into her great Toe, where (he did find life riling up, felt it with her hand, crying out, Lord give me now again my feeling which I have not had in fo many years. And farther (l:ie continued crying and praying to the Lord according to her weak mea-fure. '

Yet (he continued that day fVednefday, and the next day Thurfday, as before till Evening at fix a Clock. At which time (he fate at the Fire drelTmg the Food. Then came as like ruOi-ing npife in both her Ears, v/irh which it was laid to hQrSta?id. Your going is given you again. Then did (lie ii-ninediately Hand up that had fo many years crept, and went to the door. Her Husband meeting^her, being exceedingly afraid, drew back. In the mean tim.e while (he cryed out, My dear Husband I can go again, The Man thinking it ivas a Spirit, drew back, fay-ing, you are not my Wife. His Wife taking hold of him.,, faid, My dear Husband I am the felf fame that hath been Married thefe Thirty years to you. The Almighty God hath given my going again. But her Husband being amazed, drew back to the lide of the Room, till at laft fne clafpt her Hand about his Neck, and yet he doubted, and faid to his Daughter, is this your Mother .^ She anfwered, yes Father, this we plainly fee.

A a 5 I had

I J 6 ThtCoIUciiort

I had feen her go alfo before you came im This Perfon dwells

upon Prince s Jjland in Amjierdam.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Ct^HIS account voasfent from a Dnich Merchant procured by

"^ . a Friend for Dr. R. Cud worth, and contains the main Par-

ttcuUrs ih'it occur in the Dutch Printed Narrative^ which Mcfi-

Jicur Van Helmonu brGtight ever vpith him to my Lady Conway at

Fsagley,' ^ho having inquked upon the Spot vphen he voas there a:t

Amftcrdam, thougld of a Ge7iius not at all credulous of fuch I^ela-

tions, found' the things to be redly true. As alfo Philippus Lim-

bergius in a Letter to Dr. H. More, fent this Teflimony touching

fhe party cured, ihat jfhe was always reputed a very honeU good

: Woman f and that he believed there was no fraud at all in th bu^

Jinefs,

R. E L A T. XX.

Jin hoii^e haunted fome Thirty years Ago or more At or near Bow, not f^r from London, and fi range* ly dijiurbsd by Demons and Witches.

A Certain Gentleman about Thirty years ago or more, being to Travel from London into Effex^ and to pafs through tiOWy at the requeft of a Friend he called at ahoufe there, which began then to be a little difquieted. But not any thing much i-ernarkable yet, unlels of a young Girl who was pluckt by the Thigh by a cold Mand in her Bed^'who died within a few days after, ' ■ = • ■'■ ■.-■-■ ■■■■ ' -' Some

(^/Relations. ijy

Some weeks after this, his occafions calling him back, he paf-kd by the fame houfe again, but had no defign to give them a new vifit, he having done that not long before. But it happen-ing that the Woman of the houfe ftood at the door, he thought: himfelf engaged to ride to her and ask how (he did ? To whon:i (heanfwered with a forrowful Countenance ; That though fhe was in tolerable health, yet things went very ill with them, their houfe being extremely haunted, efpecially above ilalrs, fo that they were forced to keep in the low Room*;, there was fiich flinging of things up and down, of Stones and Bricks thrcugh the Windows, and putting ali in diforder. But he could fcarce forbear laughing at her, giving fo little credit to fuch ftories himfelf, and thought it was the tricks only of fome unhappy Wags to make fport to themfelves, and rrouble to their Neigh-bours.

Well fays (he, if you will but ftay a while you may chance to fee fomething with your own Eyes. And indeed he had not ftayed any conliderable time with her in the Street, but a Win-dow of an upper Room opened of it felf (for they of the Fami-ly took it for granted no body was above ftairs ) and out comes a piece of an old Wheel through it. Whereupon it prefently clapt ro again. A little while after it fuddenly flew open again, and out came a Brick-bat, which inflamed the Gentleman with a more eager defire to fee what the matter was, and to difcover the Knavery. And therefore he boldly refoived if anyone would go up with him,he would go into the Chamber. But none pre-fent durft accompany him. Yet the keen delire of difcovering the Cheat, made him adventure by himfelf alone into that Room. Into which when he was come, he faw the Bedding, Chairs and Stools, and Candlefticks, and Bedftaves, and all the Furniture rudely fcatte'red on the Floor, but upon fearch found no mortal in the Room.

Weil ! he ftays there a while to try conclufions, anon a Bed-ftafFbegins to move, and turn it felf round a good while toge-ther upon its Toe, and at laft fairly to lay it felf down again. The curious Spedtator, when he had obferved it to lie fiiU a while, ftepsouttoic, views it, whether any fmall String or Hair were tied to it, or whether there were any hole or button to faften any fuch String to^ or any hole or String in the Cei-ling above ; but after fearch, he found not the lead fufpicionof any fuch thing.

Be retires to the Window again, and obferves a little longer

what may fallout. Anon, another Bedftaffrifes off from the

grouodof its own accord higher into the air, and feems to make

■ A a 4 towards

ij? The Collection

towards him. He now begins to think there was fomething more than ordinary in the bufinefs, and prefently makes to the door with all fpeed, and for better caution (huts it after him. Which was prefently opened again, and fuch a clatter of Chairs, and Stools, and Candlefticks, and Bedftaves, fent after him down Stairs, as if they intended to have maimed him, but their motion was fo moderat^,that he received no harm ; but by this time he was abundantly aiTured, that it was not meer Woma-nilh fear or fuperftition that fp affrighted the Miftrefs of the houfe. And while in a low Room he was talking with the , Family about thefe things, he faw a Tobacce-pipe rife from a fide Table, no b^dy being nigh, ^nd fly to the other fide of the Room, and break it felf againft the wall, for his farther confir-mation, that it vvas neither the tricks of Waggs. nor the fancy! of a Woman, but the tnads frolicks of Witches and Daemons. Which they of the houfe being fully perfuaded of, roafted a BedftaflF, upon which an Old Woman, a fufpecfted Witch, came to the Houfe, apd vvas apprehended, but efcaped the Law. X But the Houfe after was fo ill haunted in all the Rooms, upper and lower, that the houfe ftood empty for a long time after.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CT'H IS Story is found amongfi Mr. GlanvilV Papers^ vorlttento -*• himfrom^ Dr. H. More, whofays,'Jome three months before Jje had received it from the j)ar ties ami mouthy that voas at the haunt-ed^ houfe in Bow and faw the motion of the Bedfiaves and Tobacco^' pipe, See. Andlveryvpell remetnber, that about Thirty or Forty years ago, there Vf as a ^r eat fame of an heufe haunted at Bovj, and fuch like- feats as this Spectator favo, voas rumoured of it, and the time agrees with that of this Spectator or Eye-v&itnefs of the above recited Feats, And a Bool^ was then faid to he Printed^ though J never faw any hut one of late with any date of the year, the things then being in fieri, when it was Printed. Andthey feemto refen^ to the fame haunted place, though the Pamphlet names Plaifto/or"* Bow. But the hnuntlug of which the fame went fo many years ago, I very well remember was Bow. But whether Bow was talked

(/Relations. , iJ9

of infle ad of yi^i^o, it being a place fiear, and of more yiotCy I krtow not. And Paul Fox a IVcAver^ was the Man^ whofe Houfe mas haunted in Plaifto, according to that Pamphlet

If the Gentlema7i^hatfo well remembers the flrdiige things Ic: faw, had not foi^t the Mans Name whofe Houje was Haunted, ( and the firangenefs of thofe things would fix themfelves in his Me-mory^ even whether he would or no^ when the Name of the Mafler of the Houfe might eafily in ^o or 40 Tears time Jlide out of it) we might be fur e whether it were Plaifto or Bow. But I am ftire the Fame went of Bow ^ though the Pamphlet name Plaifto, and that might make the above-faid Party, who told Dr. More the Story ^ fix the ScenCi without allfcruple in Bow.

But methinkjs I hear the J^ader complain^ that it was a great OmiJJion in Mr, GlanviJ, that he did not enquire of Dr. More, who this Party waSt that told him the Story, itfeeming an Headlefs jfiece without that fart. Wherefore I find in a Paper, ( whofe T/-tle is DoBor Mart's Particulars about the Stories ) thefe f1>ord.s in Anfwer to Mr. Glanvil. That it is Dr, Gibbs, a Prebendary (?fWeftminfter, and a fiber intelligent Perfon. Andfome do-^tn Lines after ^ Dr. Move fay Sy Dr. Gibbs told the Story to myfelf and to Dr. Outram, who brought me to him. And I have toldyou alre^a-^ dyy that he is a Perfon of Vnderft anding and Integrity. He has alfofome Sermons in Print as I take it.

But forafmuch, as it was about 3 Months after Dr. More had recieved this Account of the Story from Dr. Gibbs, that he W-ote 'to Mr. Glanvil, it is not to he expeBed that he related it. in the ve^ ryfame Words ^ and in every punHilio as he heard it. But I dare under tak^e for him, that for tbe Main, and that which makes to the evincing of Witchcraft j and the ludicrous Feats of Demons y that he hath committed no Error therein, nor fit down any thing whofe Subjlance was not related to him by the Reverend Dr. Gibbs.

RELAX.

14© ' The ColleStiott

R E L A T. XXI.

• -

Mr, Jermln'j Story of an Houfe ha^Med^ ^nei what Difturbance himfelf was a Witnefs of there at a. n;ifit of hts Wife's Stjler.

ONE Mr. Jermin, W.n\^.ct oi Bigncr in Suffex, going to fee a Sifter of his Wife's, found her very Melancholy, and asking her the Reafon, Ihe repjy'd, You fhallktiow to Morroxv morning. When he went to Bed, there were two Maids accom-panied him in his Chamber, and the next Day, he underftood that rhey darli not go inro any Room in the Hoafe alone.-

In the Night, while he was in his Bed, he heard the tram-pling of many Feet upon the Leads over his Head, and after that the going offof a Gun,upon which followed a great filence. Then they came fwiftly down Stairs into his Chamber,where they fell a Wreftling, and tumbling each other down, and lo continued a great while. < After they v*^^re quiet, they fell a Whifpering, and made a great Buz, of which he could underftand nothing. Then one called at the Door, and i^&'idy '^bay is brcks, come away, upon which, they ran up Stairs as fafi as they could diive, and fo heard no more of them. *

In the Morning his Brother and Sifter canne in to him, and fhefaid, Notif Brother you hnovo v^hy I am fo . Melancholy : After fhe hadaskt him how he had flept, and he anfwered, J never refied worfe in all riiy Life, having been 'difiurbed a great part of the Night with Tumblings and Noi/es. She complained that her Husband would force her to live there, notwithftanding their being continually feared. Whereto the Husband anfwered, Their Difturbers never did them any other Mifchief.

At Dinner they had a Phyfician with them, who was an Ac-quaintance, Mr. J ermifi difcourfing about this Difturbance 5 die Phyfician alfo anfwered, That never any hurt was done, of which he gave this Inftance : That Dining there one Day, there came a Man on Horfeback into the Yard, in Mourning. His Servant v/ent to know what was his Bufinefs, and found bim fitting very Melancholy, nor could he get any Anfwer from him. The Mafter of the Houfe and the Phyfician went to fee who it' was; upon which, the Man clapt Spurs to his Horfe, and, rode into the Houfe. up Stairs into along Gallery, whither

the

f

; of Relations. 141

5« thePhyficIan followed him, and faw him vanifh in a Fire at the & upper end of the Gallery. But though none of the Family re-fxeived hurt at any time ; yet Mr. Jermin fell into a Fever with e the Diilurbance he experienced, that endangered his Life,

ADVERTISEMENT.

"AAR: Scot and his Wife heard this 'Narrati'vefro'a Mr, JerminV J-^-*- own Mouth : And 1 alfo have heard it from Mr. Scot, who

is a Minifter of London, and the Author of a late excellent good Treatife, which is Entitled^ The Chriftian Life, ^c*

RELAX- XXII.

Contained in a Letter of Mr, G. Clark, to Mr, M, T. touching A Houfe haunted /> Welton near Daventry.

SIR,

I Send you here a Relation of a very memorable Piece of Witchcraft, as I fuppofe, which would fit Mr. More gallant-ly. I firft heard the Story related to Sir Jufiinian Ijham^ by a Reverend Minifter, of his own experience. Sir Juflinian would have had me have gone to the Place, which I could nod then do. But a little after, going to vifit a Friend, and noc thinking of this, my Friend told me the Story, the Place being near him, and the principal Man concerned in the Story being a Relation of his, and one that I my felf had fome acquain-tance with. He had occafion to go to this Man's Houfe for fome I)eedsof Land, and I went with him for fatisfadion touching this Story, which I had to the full, and in which I could noc but acquiefce, though otherwife I am very chary, and har4 enough to believe PafTages of this Nature,

*^ - . The

142 Tht-G^IkBion-

The Srory is this, At WeUon^ within a Mile of Daventryy m }^orfhampto?7poire;VjhertlivQ Together Widow Cavpleyt the Grand-mother, Widow 5^/^, the Mother, and her two Daughters. Ac; the next Houfe but one, live anothers Widow Corvley, Sifter to the former Widow Cowley; JMofes Cowley my Acquaintance her Son, and Mofes his Wife, having a good Eftate in Land of their own, and very civil and orderly People. Thefe 3 told me, That the younger of the two Daughters, 10 Years of age, Vo-mited in iefs than 3 Days, 3 Gallons of Water, to their great Admiration. After this, the elder Wench comes running, and tells them, that now her Sifter begins to Vomit Stones and Coals. They wcn^ and were Eye-witnefles, told them till they came to Five hundr.'d ; fome weighed a quarter of a Pound, and were fo big, as :hc7 had enough to do to get them out ©f her Mouth, and he profeft to me, that he could fcarce get the like into his Mourh, and I do not know how any (hould, if they were fo big, as he fliewed the like to me. I have lent you one, but not 2 quarter lo big as fome of them were. It was one of the big-« geft of them that were left and kept in a Bag. This Vomiting iafted about a Fortnight, and hath WitnefTes good ftore.

In the meantime they threw Hards of Flax upon the Fire, whiclj would not blaze though blown but dwindled away. The Bed-cloaths would be thrown off 'he Bed. Mofes Cowleytoid me, that he laid them on again feveral times, they all coming out of the Room, and go but into the Parlour and they wereoffagain. And a ftrike of Wheat ftanding at the Beds-feet, (et it how they would, it would be thrown down again. Once the Coffers and things were fo tranrpored,as they could Icarce ftir about theRoom. Once he laid theBibieupon the Bed, but theCloaths were thrown off again, and rhf" Bible hid in another Bed. And when they were ail gone inro the Parlour, as they ufed to go together, then things would be tranfpo fed in the Hall, their Wheel ta-ken in pieces, and part of it thrown under the Table. In their Buttery, their Milk would be taken off the Table, and fee on the Ground, and once one Panchionwas broken, andthe Milk fpilt. A 7 Pound Weight with a Ring was hung upon the Spigot, and the Beer mingled with Sand and all fpoiled, their Salt mingled moft perfed:ly with Bran.

Mofi/s Mother faid, That their Flax was thrown our of a Box, fhe put it in again, it was thrown out again ; (he put it in again and lockt the Box, trying by the Halp or Lid, (as they ufe to do ) whether it was faft, it was fo. But as foonas her Back was turned, the Box was unlockt, and the Flax was thmwn out ag^in. Mofes faid, That when he was coming out

of

of Relation^. 143

of the farlour, hefaw a Loaf of Bread rumying off the Form, and that v^as the firft thing he faw. After a Womans Patten rofe up in the Houfe, and was thrown at them. He heard the Comb break in the Window, and prefcntly i^ flew at them in two pieces. A Knife rofe up in the Window, and flew at a Man, hitting him with the Haft. An Ink-glafs was throw^ out of the Window into the Floor, and by and by the Sropple came after it. Then every Day abundance of Stones were thrown about the Houfe, which broke the Windows, and hit the People, but they were the lefs troubled, becaufe all this while no hurt was done to their Perfons, and a great many Peo-ple beiog in the Room, the Wheat was thrown about amongft them. \

I was in the Houfe, where I faw the Windows which were ftill broken, and the People themfelves (hewed me where the feveral particulars were done. The Grandmother told me that (he thought that (he had loft half a ftrike of Wheat, and the like happen'd to fome Vetches in the Barn. One Mr. B^hert Clarke a Gentleman being hit with the Stones, bade the Baker at the Door look to his Bread well, and by and by a Handful of Crums were thrown into his Lap. They could fee the things as they eame, but no more. _^

At laft fome that had beeftong fufpedted for Witches v/ere Examined, and one fent to the Jail, where it is faid (he plays. her Pranks, but that is of doubtful credit. I askt the old Wc man whether th6y were free now ; (he faid, that orie Night fince, they heard great Knockings and cruel Noife, which feared them worfe than all the reft.and once or twice that Week her Cheefe was crumbled into pieces and fpoiled. I was there about MAy-day, 1658. This is all that I remember at prefenr. I have heard leveral other Stories, and 2 or 3 notable ones late-ly fram Mens own Experience, which in leafon I was to be-lieve as I did. But in my Judgment, this out-goes all that I know of, it having fo much of Senfe, and of the Day-time, f© many and ib credible Witneffes, beyond all Cavil and Excep-tion. I will trouble you no farther, but commending you ta the Protedion of God Almighty, I sake my Leave,

And reft

Yours,

Loddington, May^

RELAX.

144 TheColle5iion

RELAX. XXIII.

The Relation of James Sherring, taken concern^ the matter at old Gd.ik'^s Houfe of Lktie-Buiton, June 21j 1677, as follows,

THE firft Night that I was there with Hugh MeHmore, and Edward Smithy they heard as it were the Wafhing irt Water over their H^ads. Then taking a Candle and going up the Stairs, there was a wet Cloth thrown at them, but it fell on the Stairs. They going up farther, there was another thrown as before. And when they were come up into the Chamber, there flood a Bowl of Water, lome of it fprinkied over, and the i Water looked white, as if there had been Soap ufed in it. The Bowl juft before was in the Kltchin, and could not be carri-ed up but through the Room where they w^ere. The next thing that they heard the fame Night was a terrible noife as if it iiad been a clap of Thunder, anAiorly after they heard great fcratching about the Bed ftead, and after that great Knocking with a Hammer againft the Beds-head, fo that the two Maids that were in the Bed cryed our for Help. Then they ran up the Stairs, and there lay the Hammer on the Bed, and ©n, the Beds-head thet;e were near a Thoufand Prints of the Hamrper, which the violent Strokes had made. The Maids faid, that they were fcratcht and pincht with a Hand that was put into the Bed, which had exceeding long Nails. They faid the Ham.-nier was lockt up faft in the Cupboard when they went to Bed. This was that which v^^as done the firft Night, with many o-ther things of the like Nature.

The fecond Night that James Sherringy and Tho, Hillary were there, James Sherring fat down in the Chimney to fill a Pipe of Tobacco; he made ufe of the Fire-tongs to rake up a Coal to light his Pipe, and by and by the Tongs were drawn up the Stairs, and after they were up in the Chamber, they were play'd withal, ( as many times Men do ) and then thrown down upon the Bed. Although the Tongs were fo near him, he never perceived the going of them away. The fame Night one of the Maids left her Shoes by the Fire, and they were carried up into the Chamber, and the old Man's brought down and fet in their places. The fame Nighc there wa» a Knife

carried

of Relations i^^

carried x-r> into the Chamber, and it did fcratch and fcrape the BeH.-? head ail the N^ghr, but when they went up into the Chairs ber, the Knite was thrown into the Loft. As they v/cre going up the S-airs, there were things thrown at them, which were juft before in the low Room, and when they went down the Stairs, the Old Mans Breeches were thrown down after them. Tbefe were the moft r^iarkable things done thatNighr, only '■h^re was continual knocking and f inching the Maids, which WIS uiual'y done every Night.

The third Nighc, when J.tmes Sherrhig and Thomas HilUry were there, as foon 2s the People were gone to bed, their Clothes were taken and thrown at the Candle and put out, and imme-diately after they cried with a very hideous cry and faid, they fhould be all choaked if they were not prefenrly helped. Then they run up the Stairs and there were abundance of Feathers placked out of the Boliler that lay under their heads, and fome .thruft into their Mouths that they were almoft choaked. The Feather. were thrown all about the Bed and Room. They were plucked out at a hole no bigger than the top of ones little Finger. Some time after they were vexed with a very hideous knocking at their heads as they lay on the Bed. Then James S herring Tindi Thomas Hillary took the Candle and went up Stairs and ftood at the Beds-feet, and the knocking con-tinued. Then they faw a Hand with an Arm-wrifb hold the Hammer which kept on knocking agaiafi: the Bedfted. Then James S herring going towards the Beds- head, the Hand and ■ Hammer fell down behind the Bolfler and could not be found. For they turned up the Bed-cloths to fearch for the Hammer. But as foon as they went down the Stairs the Hammer was thrown out into the middle of the Chamber. Thefe were the iRoft remarkable things that were done that Night.

The fourth and fifth Nights, there was but little done more than knocking and fcratching as \vz$ ufually.

Thefixth and feventh Nights, there was nothing at all but as quiet as at other houfes. Thefe were all the Nights that they were there.

The things that do follow are what. James Sherring heard the People of the houfe report.

There was a Saddle in the houfe of their Uncle Pl/arrcns of height ( which it ihould feem they detained wrongfully from, the right owner) that as it did hang upon a Pin in the Entry-would come off and come into the houfe, as they termed it, hop about the houfe from one place ^to another, and upon the Ta-ble, and fo to another, which flood on the other fide of the

houfe

14^ The CoUeBion

hoMk. J aneGafl and her Kinfwoman cook this Saddle and carried it CO Leighi and as they were going along in the broad Common j there would be Sticks and Stones thrown at them, which made them very much afraid, and going near together, their Whit-tles which Were cin their Shoulders were knit together. They carried the Saddle to the houfe which was Old fi^arrenSy and there left and it retiljrhed home very quiet. But being gone to Bed at Night the Saddl^.was brought back from Leigh^ (which is a Mile and a half at kaft from Old Gaft\ Houfe) and thrown upon the Bed where the Maids lay. After that, the Saddle Was very troublefome to them, uiitil they broke it in fmall pie-ces and threw it out into the Highway.

There was a Coat of the fame Parties, who was owner of the Saddle, which did hang on the Door in the Hall, and it came off from the place and flew into the fire and lay fome confide-rable time, before they could get it out. For it was as much as three of them could do to pluck it out of the fire, becaufe of the ponderous weight that lay on it, as they thought. Neverchelefs there was no impreilion on it of the tire.

Old Gafl far, at Dinner with a Hat of this old Warren^s on his Head, and there was fomething came and ftruck it o^ into the Di(h where his Meat was.

There was a Pole which flood in the backfide about 14 or 1 5 Foot in length, which was brought into the Hoiife, and carri-ed itp into the Chamber, and thrown on the bed ; but all the Wit they had could not get it out of the Chamber, becaufe of its length, until they cook down a light of the Window. They re-part that the things in the Houfe were thrown about and broken to their great damage. •

One night there were two of this old GaH his Grand-daugh-ters in Bed together, they were aged, one of them about twelve or thirteen years, and the other about fixteen or feventeen. They faid, that they felt a hand in Bed with them, which they bound up in the Sheer, and took Bed-ftaves and beat it until it were as fofc as Wool, then they took a (lone which lay in the Chamber, about a quarter of an hundred weight, and put on it, and were quiet all the Night. In the morning, they found it as they left it the night before. Then theeldeli of the Maids fwore that (he would burn the Devil, and goes and fetches a Fuz Faggot to burn it, but when (he came again, the Stone was thrown away, and the Cloth was found wet.

There were many other things which are too long and tedious to write, it would take up a great deal of time.

This

^/ReJationSo 147

. This which follows is the Relation of Jone VVinfor of long Burtoriy (he being there three Nights, taken the Third day of July, 1677.

She heard or faw nothing as long as the Candle did burn, bun as foon as it was out, there was fomcthing which did fecm to fall down by the Bed fide, and by and by it began to lay ori , the Bed's-head with a Staff, and did ftrike Jcne H^ifor on the Head. She put forth her Hand and caught it, but was not a-ble to hold it fait. She got out of the Bed to light a Candle, and there was a great Stone thrown after her, but it mified her. When the Candle was lighted, they arofeand went down to the Fire. One of them went iip to fetch the Bed- clothes to rnake a Bed by the Fire, and there lay a heap of Stones on the Bed whereon they lay juft before. As Toon as the Bed was made, and they laid down to take their reft, there was a. fcratching on the Form that ftood by them in an extreme man-ner. Then it came, and did heave up the Bolder whereon they laid their Heads, and did endeavour to throw them out; At laft it got hold on one end of the Pillow, and fet it quite on end, and there it ftood for fome confiderable time ; at laft fal-ling down in its place, they fell faft alleep, and fo continued all that Night.

The Staff that was fpoken of before was y<??7e Wivfors, and (he fays, ihe left it below in the Kitchin. She fays, that whicK troubled, did endeavour to kill the people, if it had pov/er. She put them to it, to know the reafon.why they were fo troubled and they faid they knew nothing, unlels it was about the bufi-nefs of Old Warren, She was there three Nights, and the trouble was much after the fame manner, nothing that was more rem.arkable.

This is the truth of what I heard them fpeak from their oi*/o Mouths and they will atteft it if called thereunto.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jj Very confiderable Story this is, andfuffclently circiim(iantiated ** for time and place, Javin^ that the Ccunty is not named, 1h. reafon whereof I coriceive to be, jhat it voas in the very County in which Mr, Gianvil lived, to whom the Infer 77: at ion was (hit, namsf

B fc ly

The ColleBion

h in Somerfetfhire. And there are Burtons more than one thsrcy nnd /z^/^Lcighs, hut this Burton // determined by the ff ace ofjomd^ thi7:g more than a Mile and an halfs diftance from Leigh. So that the Topogr apical account isjuffciently exact. And the manner of the Narrative is fo fimple, plain, and rural, that it prevents all fufplcion cf Fraud or Impofture in the l{elator.

The tranJporti?7g of thir/gs out of one T{oom into another^ and ftr iking and the Ith^e by invifihle Agent s,\ minds me of Mr. Lloyd'j fiory-i as 'tis called in Mr. Glanvil'j papers, vohom in a Letter he tells he may rely upon it for truth, as being fent from a P erf on of Quality and Integriy in thoje -parts. It is of a Houfe haunted of one Walter hl^yncYofthe P^r//^ o/Blethvaught,z« the County o/Rad-nor, fomsTvQo and twenty years ago. Habere, b e fides fir ange kjnd of Tunable Whifi lings in the ^ooms, where none wasfeen toPVhi-file, there v^ere ftcncs flwdg down out of a loft of great weight, the doors bolted or barred againfi them en theinfide, vohen returned from the Church, no body being v^ithin.. And at Prayer at home when fame of the Women cut cffear held one another by the Arms, fome invifibk Power vpculd plucky afimder their Arms, whether they would cr no. Byfuch an Invifible force, one as he was fitting at Supper, wasftruck^flat to the ground, and a Trencher ftruck^otit of the Maid's Hand that waited, and a fmart Box on the Ear given to another, no Vifihle thing being near that did it. A Purfe lofi with two Gold Icings, and Six and Four-pence in it, the party complaining thereof y the Purfe dropt down from the top cf the I{oo7n, which had no I{pom ever St, and Four pence only in it. That Men were ftruck^ down with Stones, and yet had no great hurt fhews plainly they were not flung but carried. But there was one beate?i with Two Staves black, and blue, butnone to befeen that thus bc'laboured him, though in the Day.

Wepafs by the Frying- Pan, beaten with a little piece of Iron, and tinkling over a Mans Head in the 'Night, to his being flruci{^ down with a Sticky by Day, while he tended the Goofe roafting, which that hwlflble Striker fcsmed to have a Plot upon, as alfb by his li?iccking a Pickax againft the Lidof a Coffer, to have a Defign upon a Bag cf Mony. fbcftand the like Feats, that Narrative rc' iates, which Mr.Ghnvil calls Air. Lloyd' sftory, who ajfures him he f nay rely en the Truth thereof, he procuring it from a Jufiice of Peace, rJ:.o tco^ the parties Teftlmcnies that dwelt in the Houfe ^ cr 'Upon cccafons were prefcnt there, and were Eye-witneffes of the '^firange Pranks that were plaid in the place. And there being that Congeneracy betwixt J^ijxqs Sh^vvln^'sfi ory and this, they I7mtually corrtbcrate one a?iother*

RELAX:

p/Relations. i49

RELAX. XlVo

Mr. Andrew Pafchall, ^;^r^ lellow (/Queens Col-ledge m Cambridge, his NArrative of three Nights diBurhmce at his father s Houfe i??ijdn^ Aon in Soper-Lane, in Auguft 1661.

THE fiift Nights difturbance ; There was in Family my Father and Mother, my eldeft Brother, and one of my Sifters with a young Maiden Gentlewoman her Bedfellow (who feeii>ed to be principally concerned ) befides a Maid that lay in the fame Chamber.

The Gentlewoman beforementioned, being in bed with my Sifter in a Chamber within that where my Father and Mother lay, (the Maid lying in another bed alone by) there feemed to her then lying awake, to be one walking in the Chamber, by a noife made as of a long Gown or iome Trailing Gafmenc brufhing and fweeping up and down the Room.

By and by/ there was a noife of clattering their Shoes nnder
the Bed, with a fcratching and tugging of the Mac under th^
bed likewife. This continued for fome tivrie, my Sifter being
awakened heard ir, fo did the Maid. After this my Mother
being called ©ut of the next Chamber where fhe was up (xo
•'* prepare a Chymical water which required their being up all
Night ) came in, they being in a great fright. My Brother
went up aifo, who not gone to bed fate below. A Candle was
brought, and the noife ceafed while they were in the Chamber.
Prefently after they vl/ere gone out again, and the light remo-
ved, the Chamber door ( which fnuts with di^culty } flew \6
with a great bounce, it being wide open before, it fliook the
Room where my Mother was bufied about the aforcfaid prcpa-
• ration. After this one of the flioes that was by the bed-iide,
' was flung over the bed with a mighty force againft a Prefs that
ftood on the other fide. This put them to fuch a fright again,
that the Gentlewoman arofe. My Brother went into the Room'
again, and fate up with them all Night.

This I received from my Brother, who cdme to bed to me, ( who by reafon of fome illnefs had gone to bed nrft in the Fa-milyj early th'§ next Moriiing. I was confirmed in it afterwr^rd

B b 3^" bj

J.5Q TheCohUkn

by my Mother, npon whofe bare affcrdon I dare confidently be-lieve nny ibipg thp.t (lull be related.

The fccond Nights difturbance- the next Evening, as we fat at Supper, we all heard a great noife above in the Chamber, at the end of the houfe, as it were flinging of Chairs and Stools about the Room, or rem.oving of great Trunks. And going up to fee, all was (till till we came down again : However the Gentlewoman refolvcd to go to bed again that night in the fame Chamber. My Sifter went to bed with her, and the reft to their Lodgings, only my Brother and I refolved to fit up feme time and exredi; the event. Within a while after we heard them knock earncftly above, we went both up, they told us there had been the fame difturbance as the night before and fomerhing more. For bcfides the tugging of the Mat under the Bed, the Bcd'Clothes upon them were often tugged and pulled, infomuch as they were fain to hold them hard with their hands to keep them from being pulled off. All was quiet for a little time while we were in the Chamber with a light, but we were no fccner out of the Chamber with the Candle, but the noife un-der the Bed tugging of the Mat,pulling off the Bed-clothes began again. Moreover fomething came into the bed, which the Gentlewoman faid ran upon het by degrees, and leemcd lit-tle and loft like a Mole. Upon this (he skreekt out, and we came in again with the Candle, then all was ftill a-

->-' , rrrired often wirh the Candle, and prefently the fame '" \i ' :e rcrurre:^, vopcrher wirh a low whifpering noife in many • I ^ces aboui- the Eeci, bur chiefly towards the Bed's head, vViC ■ c ail heavG 'v.rying m the ChaiViber, and removing the Candle Inro the r/'xcRcor!. My F^icher and Mother arofe, and there -verc ;.c,;e cf u-v but heard all or moft part of this, but no-thinr: us The thing was continually moving and

ftirr ■ ... JoTT or other of the bed, and rncft commonly at

r" : , v'b^re i. uiually came up finh At lailit came to that bolcijcit; ihot it would make the fame difturbance while the Candle was in the Chamber, if but a little Ihaded behind the drrr. fo thi*- we could fometimes lee the Clothes puU'd and tugg\-v a'v:: we frequently faw it heave and lift up the Clothes upon the bed towards. rhe feet, in a little hill or rifing, which both my Brother and I often clapt our hands upon, perceiving it to move^and withal to make a little clacking noife, which can-not,anY 1 -ore than'the former whifpering, be expreft in Writing. We could nor perceive any thing more than the Clothes, as of-ten as we law them fo moved and heaved up, The fiioes were O- laid

of Relations. 151

. laid up upon the Bed's-tefter, the fecofnd Night, to prevent the clattering which was made with rbem the night betore, and whilft we were {landing talking in the Chamber, as I was Icme diftance fronn the bed, one of the (hoes flew ofFand hit me light-ly on the head, my Hat being on. And another came prefent-Jy tumbling, down after it, none ftirring the bed. Afcerwa ds the afbrefaid little thing came upon the Gentlewoman fo fre-quently, that if we were but the leaft removed, fhe could not lie quiet in her Bed. Then (he fate up in her bed with a Mantle about her, which when we were retired was pulled at as if it would have been plucked from her. Whereupon fne cryed out again,, and I came into the Chamber again, and was dcfircd to hold faft upon the Mantle about her, which notwithftanding upon removal of the Candle was tugged hard again, which I very fenfibly perceived. Whereupon we perceiving no Ccffatl-on, miy Brother and I continued in the Chamber ail that night, till break of day, with a Candle in the R.oom. The tugging of the Mat under the, bed, the heaving of the Clothes about the feet, and the other whilpering noife contirAiing by fits till light-appeared. There was fcarcely any of us, efpccially (lie her fclf, that did not Conjure that Whifperer, by the molt Sacred Nam.es, to fpeak out and tell us its intent, but nothing v;'as to be ieen, nor any anfwer made.

The third Nights difburbance- the Gentlewoman refolved nov>7 to change her Chamber, to try if the diiturbance would follov7, (he did fo, m.y Sifter ftiil ac^omipanying of her. My Brother fate up as before below, expeding af^ain what v/ould follow. The fame noife was' heard this third night as the night before above in the Chamber. We bad not late long below be-fore we were Summoned up with loud knpckings again, they were ift the fame cafe as before, if not worle. A while after they were in bed in this other Chamber, there was a clattering heard at the door ; prefently after the fame noil^: under ihe bed, the fame heaving of the Clorh-s, and the fame whifpcring as before. But towards m'idniglvr that thing which came into rhe Bed before, camenov^ fo often v/is^h fuch ungrateful skippings up and down upon her, that fee often skreekt ^nd crycd out. It feemedcold and very fmooth as fhe related, and would com-monly come in at her feet, and run all upon her by h.-r fide to her fhoulder. Once fhe defired me to clap my hand, upon hec back near her (houlder blade, as feeling it juft then come up thi-ther. I did fo on a fudden, and there fe^med a cold biaft or ■puff of Wind to blow upon my hand juft as I clapt icon her. And one thing more remarkable was this, when the w|ii(pcrin^

B b 3 was

1 5$ TheCoIlei^ion

vO as lizard at her Bed's-hcad, after wc had mnny times in vain conjured it to fpeak and tell us the intent of its whifperings and difturbancc, I fpake to it very carneftly to fpeak out or whifper louder. Hereupon it hiiTed out much louder than before, but nothing intelligible to be heard. At laft this difturbance with the thing in the bed being no longer tolerable to the Gentlewo-man, my Mother aroie ( lying in the next Chamber, and hear-ing cheir perplexity ) came into her Camber, and prayed fome-time at her bed-fide juft by her. Whereupon it pleafed God, within a very (bort time after, to remove all thofe noifes, and that v^^aich difturbed her. After that night I cannot tell cer-tainly that there hath been any thing of that nature heard in th^ houfe.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CJ^H I S Narrative f though it was not among Mr. Glanvirj P/«-fers^ but I found it hy^ chance in jnine own Study, yet it he^ zng made by an Eye-witnefs whom I l^ew to be one of Judgment nnd Integrity, 1 thought fit to infert it. And the rather, becaufe ef that faff age, that when he clap his hayid upon the Shoulder cf the Gentlewoman where the Ghcfl was, a cool hlafi or fuff of Air fecm' ed to hear or blow againft his Hand. H^hich is lllic Mr* Gianvil'j Experiment of pr effing the Linnen Bag in which feme Spirit was ti20t}ing^ as a living Animal. Which arc notable ififlances of their cafe percrihration through for ens Bodies. This troublefome Spirit 1 fufpeti to have been the Ghoft of fome party deceafed whu. would have uttered fomething, but had not the knacky of ffeakingfo arti-culately as to be underfiood. And when they canfpeak^ intelligibly^ it is ordinarily in a hoarfe and low Voice^ as is obfervable in many fiories, and pnrticul2.rly in a very frefh fiery of the Ghojl of one de-ceafcd thatjfol^e to Jacob Brtrnt, fome two years ago, an Appren-tice then to one A^r. Lawrence in the Little Minories ; of which to give fome brief acccunl, I think^fitfingfor the very fame reafons that I have inferted this jf Mr. Pafchal, nan2ely, that it is from dn Eye-witfiefs, and a difcreet and well-difpofed young Man, as they that l^tow him do tefiifie : and I willfet down 7io more, nor fo much as he himfdf declared or aclitiowledged, not only to Dr. Cud-worth, Mr. Fowler, and Mr. Glanvil, but very lately to my felfalfo, vir.

Ithat

^/Relations. 155

That he had Conference v^ith the Ghoft nffotne deceafed VaY<y for about a quarter of an Hour : That be had a glimpfe of the flottps thereof being called into the ^pofn vphere it rvau by a Voice ^fnyingi Here, here; hut that he prefently cried out, Gocd God ! Jet me fee nothing ; He bei^igfo affrighted mth thefght. But however ^ he entertained Difcomfe with it^ for about the time above menti-oned 'y received fever at things in charge from it to be done, and was commanded Secrefie infomejpecial Matters ; but it gave fuch In-ftriiBionSy and made Juch Difcoveries as right inight be done tQ fome that had been wronged by the Party deceafed, IJpon which performance of Js.coh BvQnt, the Difturbance of the Houfe ceafed: But for about 6 Weeks before, Mr. Lewrence his Houje was 7711 fe-rably difturbed, they being moft Nights affrighted with Thiimpings and loud Kjiockings at the Chamber-doors, fometimes with a f range vphirling Noife up and down the ^oms, and Clapping upon ths Stairs. And that Night ]zQoh Bi'^nt fat up in the .fQtchcn, ex-feciitigfome conference with the Spirit for the quiet of the Houfe ^ he heard the Door of the I{pom above him, that was faB locks, fly open, while he was Reading in Euleblus, arid im.mediately afwift runni72g down the Stairs, and a great Kjiocking at the Kj^chen-docrj vfhich flood a-jar, and a chinking cf Money en the Stairs, as hepaf-fedfrom the Kitchen towards the Dining'E^om over againji it, whofe Door was lockt when they went to Bed, but now opened as the Door of the other [{pom above the Kjtchen.

Into this Dining-P^om he was invited, as is abcve-faid, by a Voice faying, Here, here ; and there he received, and after execute ed, fuch DireHions ai gave quiet afterwards to the Houfe ; and 'he received Thanks from the Ghofi, after he had inade- his Journey a" kroad to fulfil its defire, at his returning home, with a ?rornlfe it would never trouble the Houfe mere* And of the Troubles of the Houfe before, the whole Family were Witneffes, as aljo of the Con-ference of J. B, and the Spirit ^ that they heard tv^o fpeak^in th^ Dining'l^om, tho they were not fo near to undcrfiarid what they faid, only, they heard J. B. pray to God that he might fee nO' thing.

That the Houfe was really Haunted, bcfdes what has heeiifkid already, is farther confirmed by Mr, Bamficld, whowasde-Jredto lie in tloe Houfe fome Days before this ' Conference of [.. 13. with the Spirit ; who though he heard no Noifes, yet felt his Clor.ths tucl{t about him, and his Hand kindjy ftroakcd, he beings aw.zkj all Night. And that this could he no Tricky of ].B, is farther evident, from that great emotion cf Jvlind he was in after this, for fome 2 Hours, even aimoFt to diftrattion, and was fain afterwards to be let Blood, But for his corf i ant Tc/Vper^ he is obfaved to be,

B b 4 and

I5;4 r/;^ Collection

knd Itdh^ehim to hefiich, of a fober, honefl, andfenfihfe Cenm ; tier is he my SeHariariy but an orderly Son of the Church of Eng-land.

• And jfthehijunHionsoftheGhoH he converfedmthy and com*
mon ^iilcs of Prudence, did no f forbid the declarinv offome fnrti"
cularsj this is an Experiment that might convince the moft Incre*
dulous touching fuch things^ But "Mr. Glanvil complainsy in a
Letter of his to Dr. H. More, that this fbienefl. and tender re*
fiefi of Perfomy has hindred him of m^ny a coj?jider able Story ; as
I have aifo- taken notice iongfince, hovp mutilate the Story of the
ShoemakerofBrtdsLW is made, by reafon <?/Marcinus Weinrichius
his co7iceali7ig the Shoemaker s Name. But the msntitmingof lockp
Doors flying^ open of their ovon accord, reminds me of Mr. Alcock V
'Story of a Che§i with 3 Locks, unlocking it felft and flying wide
&_peny and then Lodging it felf again : Which is as follows.

RELAX. XXV-

"The Story of Mr- John Boume, of Durley in Ire-land, about a Mile fomBndgQ\Vd.tcr, Counfellor

4t Lam. ' ■ - '

MR. John Bourne, for his Skill, Care, and Honefty, was made by his Neighbour John Mdllet E(q; of Enmore, ^he chief cf his Truilees, for his Son John Mallet, ( Father to Eii:(abeth, now Countefs Dowager of J^chefier ) and the reft of his Children in Minority. He had the Reputation of a vvor-thy good Man^ and was commonly taken notice of for an habi-tual Saying, by way of Interjection almoft to any thing, vi:{* \foufay true, you fay true, you are in the right. This Mr. Bourne fell Sick at his Houfe at Durley, in the Year 1654, ^"^ ^^» IXaymond of Oak, was fent for to hirn, who after foine time, gave the faid Mr. Bourn over. And he had not now fpoken in 24 Hours, when .the faid Dr. I^aymond^ and Mrs. Carlifle, ( Mr. Bourne's Nephew's Wife, whofe Husband he had made one of liis Heirs ) fitting by his Bed-fide, the Dodor opened the Cur-tains at the Bed's-feet, to give him airj whenon afudden, to ^he Horror and Amazement of Dx. I{aymond^ and IVIrs, Carlifle^.

* the

of Relations. i^ij

the great Iron Cheft by the Window, at his Bed's-fcer, with 5 Locks to it, { in which were all the "Writings and Evidences of the faid Mr. Mallets Eftate ) began to open, firft one Lock, then another, then the third ; afterwards the Lid ot the laid Iron Cheft, lifted up it felf, and ftood wide open. Then the Patient, Mr. Bourne, who had not fpoke in 24 Hours, lifted him-felf up alfo, and looking upon the Cheft, cry'd: 7oufay true, you fay trtiet you are in the rights fll he with you by and by. So the Patient lay down, and fpake no more. Then the Cheft fell a-gain of it felf, and Lockt it felf, one Lock after another, as the 3 Locks opened ; and they tried to knock it open, and could pot, and Mr. Bourne died within an Hour afce?^

ADVERTISEMENT.

CT'HIS Narrative was fent in a Letter to J. C. for Dr. H. More -^ from Mr, Thomas Alcock, 0/ Shear-Hampton • of which in a Letter to the faid Do^ory he gives this Accouiit. lam, faith he, very confident of the Truth of the Story ^ for I had it from a. very good Lady, the eldefi Daughter of the faid John Mallet, ( whofe Trufiee Mr. Bourne was ) and only Aunt to the Couvtef o/Rochefter, vpho knew all the Parties • and I have heard Dr. Ray-mond, and Mr. Carlifle, relate itofteiiwith amazement , being both Perfons of Credit.

The curious may be inquifitive what the meaning of the opening of ithe Cheft may he^ and of Mr. Bourne his faying. You fay true, ^c. I'll be with you by and by. As for the former, it is noted by Paracelfus ejpeciallyi md by others, that there are Signs oftengivcn ef the Dep mure of fick Men lying on their Death-beds , of which this opening of the Iron Coffer or Cheft, and cloflng again, is more, than ordinary Jignificanty ejpecially if we confider the nearnef of Sound and Senfiv betwixt Cofter 4«^ Coffin, and re- call to mind that of Virgil :

OUi dura quies oculos ^ferreus urgec Somntis— — .

Though

I ^6 "Tl^^ Collection

Though this quaintnefs is more than is re^uifite in thefe Prodigies -prefagingthefick^ Mans Death. As jar the latter, itfeemsto be nothing e'fe but the faying Amen to the Pre/age, uttered in his ac cuftomary Form of Speech ; as if he floouldfay. Ton of the invifiUe Kingdom of Spirits, have given the Tol^en cf my fuddeti Departure, and you fay true, I (hall be mth ycuhy and by. Which he voas en* abledfo ajjuredly to ajfent to, upon the advantage of the relaxation of his Soul now departing from the Body .- H^jich Diodorus Sicu-, lus, lib. 1 8, notes to be the Opinion of Vythzgor^s and his Foh lowers, that it is the privilege of the Soul fiear her departure, toeX" ercife a fatidical Faculty, and to pron^W7ce truh touching things future^

Tvv h/m T» ara^^Q- -^eKTi^? ^otZv% That humane Souls prog-noftick things to come, at what time they are feparating frooi-their Body.

R E L A T. XXVI.

The Jfpttrition d?/ James Haddock, to Francis Ta-verner, /?^^r Drum- bridge /V Ireland, comfri-z.ed in a Letter ^Thomas Alcock, to Dr^ H. More.

AT Michaelmas, i66i, Francis Taverner, abut 25 Years old, a lufty proper ftout Fellovv, then Servant at large, ( afterwards Porter ) to the Lord Chichefter Earl pf Donegal, ac BelfaH, in the North of IreLmd, County of Antrim, and Dio-cefs of Connor, riding late in the Night from Hilbrmgh home-ward, near Drum-bridge, his Horfe, though of good Metal, fuddenly made a ftand ; and he fuppodng him to be taken with the Staggers, alighted to blood him in the Mouth, and prefent-ly mounted again. -Ashe was fetting forward, there feemed to pafs by himtwo Horfemen, though he could not hear the ^reading of their Feet, which amazed him. Prefently there ap-peared a third in a white Coat, juft at his Elbow, in the like-nefs of James Haddock^, formerly an Inhabitant in Malone, where, he died near five Years before. Whereupon Taverner askt him in the Name of God who he was } He replied^ i am James

Haddock,

of Relations, i 57

Haddock, and you may call mo to mind by this Tol^en ; That about fiveTears ago, ,1 and two other Friends were at your Father s Hottfe, and you, by your Father's a-ppoi7it7nentf brought us fome Nuts, and therefore be not afraid, fa^ s the Apparition. Whereupon Ta-verner remeinbring the circumftances, thought it might be Had^ deck; and thofe two who pafTed- by before him, he thought to be his two Friends with him, when he gave them Nuts, and couragioufly askt him v»^hy he appeared to him rather than any other. He anfwered, Becjiure he was a Man of more relbluti-on than others ; and if he would ride his way with him, he would acquaint him with a Bufineis he had to deliver him. Which Tavcrner refufed to do, and would go his own way, ( for they were now at a Qiiadrival) and fo rode on homewards. But immediately on their departure, there arofe a great Wmd, and withal he heard very hideous Screeches and Noiies, to his great amazement; but riding forward as fail as he could, he at laft heard the Cocks crow, to his Comfort ; he alighted off from his Horfe, and failing ro Prayer, defir'd God's Aifiltance, and fo got fafe home.

The Night after, there appeared again to him the likenefs of ^ames Haddec/^, and bid him go to Elenor Wclfloy ( now the Wife of Davis, living at Malone, but formerly the Wife of the faid James Haddock? by whom (lie had an only Son, to Vv'hom thefaid James Haddodi had by his Will given a Leafe which he held of the Lord Chichefler, of which the Son was deprived by Davis, who had Married his Mother ) and to ask her if her Maiden-name was not Ele7ior Wclpo ; and if it were, io iqH her, that it v/as the Will of her former Husband, James Had-^ docI{, that their Son fhould be* righted in the Leafe. But Ta-verner, partly loath to gain the ill Will of his Neighbours, and partly thinking he fhould not be credited, butlookt on as de-luded, long negleded tX) do his MefTage, till having been every Night for about a Months fpace haunted with this AppariEion in feveral Forms, every Night more and more terrible, ( v.'hlcn was ufually preceded by an unufual trembling over his whole Body, and great change of Countenance manireil to his Wife, in whofe prefence frequently the Apparition was-, though not vifible to her ) at length he went to Malone, to Davi/s. Wife, and askt whether her Maiden- name was not Elenor PFcIJlo ; if it v/as, he had fomething to fay to her. She replied, there was another Elenor PPelJh behdes her. Hereupon Taverncr returned without delivering his Meffage. The fame Night, being faft afleep in his Bed, ( for the former Apparitions were as he late by the Fire wirh his Wife ) by fomething prefling upon him he

was

The CoUeWton

was awakened, and faw again the Apparition of '^ames Had-dock^ in a white Coat as at other times, who asked him if he had delivered his MefTage? He anfwered, he had been there with Elenor Wcljh. Upon which the Apparition looking more plea-fanrly upon him, bid him not be afraid, and fo vanished ip a fla(h of brightnefs.

But fome nights after ('he having not delivered his MeflageJI he came again, and appearing in many formidable fliapes, threatned to tear him in pieces if he did not do it. This made him leave his houfe where he dwelt in the Mountains, and be-take himfeif to tfee Town of Sr'//;^/?-,where he fate up all night at one pierces houfe a Shoemaker, accompanied with the faid Pierce, and a Servant or two of the Lord Chicheslers, who were defirous to fee or hear the Spirir. About midnight as tl^ey were all by the Firerfide they beheld Tavemers countenance to change, and a trembling to fall on him, who prefently efpyed the Ap-parition in a Room oppofite to him where he fate, and took uj> the Candle and went to it, and refolutely askt himin the Name of God wherefore it haunted him ? It replied, becaufe he had rot delivered the MefTage. and withal threatned to tear him in pieces if he did not do it fpeedily ; and fo, changing it felf into many prodigious Ihapes, it vanifht in white like a Ghoft. Whereupon Francis Taverner became much dejecSled and trou-bled, and next day went to the Lord Chicheftcrs, houfe, and with tears in his Eyes, related to fome of the Family the fadnefs of his condition. They told it to my Lord's Chaplain Mr. James South, who came prefently to Taverner, and being ac-quainted of his whole Story, advifed him to go this prefent time to Mahne to deliver pundrually his MeflTage, and promifed to go along with him. But firll they went to Dr. Lewis Downs, then Miniftcr of Belfafl, \v\io upon hearing the Relation of the whole matter, doubted at firft of the truth of it, attributing it i'athcr co Melancholy than any thing of reality. But being after-wards fully fatisficd of it, the only fcruple remaining -was,. Whether it might be lawful to go on fach a bufinefs, not know-ing whofe errand it was; Since, though it was a real Apparition of fome Spirit, yet it was queftionable whether of a r^ood or a bad Spirir. Yet the juftice of the Caufe, ( it being the com -mon report the Youth was wronged ) and other coiillderations prevailing, he went with them. So they three went to Davis's houfe, where the Woman being defired to come to them, Taver^ ner did efted:ually do his MefTage, by telling her, that he could not beat quiet for the Ghoft of her former Husband "^ames Plad-dock^y Vho "threatned to tear him in pieces if he did not tell her

fhe

of Relations. 159

ihe muft right Jo/j» Haddock, her Son by him, in^ Leafe where-in Ihe and Dcwis her now Husband had wronged him. This done, he prefently found great: quietnefs in his mind , and thanking the Gentleman for their Company, Advice, and Af-jfiftance, he departed thence to his Brother's Houfe ^i Drum-bridge'. Where, about two nights after, the aforefaid' Appariti-on came to him again, and more pleafantly than formerly, askt if he had delivered: his MefTage ? He anfwered, he had done it fully. It replied, that he muft do the MefTage to the Executors alfo, that the bufinefs might be perfected. At this meeting Taverner asked the Spirit if Davis would do him any hurt ; to which it aniwered at firft fomewhat doubtfully ; but at length threatned Davis if he attempted any thing to the inju-ry of Taverner, and fo vaniiht away in white.

The day following, Dr. Jercmte laykr Bifliop of Dovon^ Con-noYi and Dromore, v^ras to go to keep Court at Dromore. and commanded me, who was- then Secretary to him, to write for Taverner to meet him there, which he did. And there in the pre fence of many he examined T^'y^r?2er ftridly in this ftrange Scene of Providence, as my Lord ftil'd it; and by the account given him both by Taverner, and others who knew Taverner^ and much of the former particulars, his Lordiliip was fatisficd that the Apparition was true and teal; butfaid no more there to him, becaufe at Hilbrough, three miles ftcm thence on his way home, my Lord was informed that my Lady Conwaj and other Perfons of Qiiality were comepurpofely to hear his Lord-(hip examine the Matter. So-Taverner went with us to Hit' brought and there to fatisfie the curiofity of the freih company, after asking many things anew, and fome over again, my Lord advifed him the next time the Spirit appeared to ask him thefe Qiieftions. Whence are ycu ? Are you a good or a bad Spirit P Where is jour abode } Wloat Hation do ycu hold ? How are you regi' mentedin ^jc other World ? And what is the reafcn that ycu appear for the relief of your Son info fmall a matter, when fo many Wi-dows and Orphans are opprejfed in the World, being defrauded of greater matters, and none from thence of their I^elaticns appear, as you do, to right them ?

That night Taverner was. fent for to Lisburne, to my Lord Conway s three miles from Hilbrough, on his way home t6 Bei-^ faft, where he was again ftridtly examined in the prefence of many good men and women of the aforefaid matter, who w^as ordered to lie at my Lord Conways all night; and about nine or ten a clock at night, ftanding by the Fire-fide with his Bro-ther and many others^his Countenan;e changed, and he fell into

■ a

i6o TheColle5iion

a trembling, the ufual prognoftick of the Apparition ; and, be-i ing loath to make any difturbancc in his Lordftiip's houfe, hci and his Brother went out into the Court, where he faw the Spi-rit coming over the Wall ) which approaching nearer askt him if he had done his Meffagc to the Executor alfo? He replied, he had, and wondered it flionld [bill haunt him. It replied, he need not fear, for it v/ould do him no hurt, nor troublehim any more, but the Executor, if he did not fee the Boy righted. Here his Brorher put him in mind to ask the Spirit what the Bifhop bid him, which he did prefently. But it gave him no anfwer, but crawled on its Hands and Feet over the Wall again, and fo vaniiht in white, with a moft melodious Har-mony.

Note, ( I. ) That Pierce^ at whofe houfe, and in whofepre-fence the Apparition was, being askt whether he faw the Spi-rit, faid, he did not, but thought at. that time he had a Mift all over his eyes. (2.) What was then fpoke to Taverner was in fo low and hollow a voice, that they could not underftand what-it faid. (3.) At Pierces houfe it ftood juft in the entry of a Door ; and as a Maid paffed by to go in at the Door, Taver7ier faw it go afide and give way to the Maid, though ftie favi^ it tioi, (4.) That the Leafe was hereupon difpofed on to the Boy's ufe. f 5.J The Spirit at the lait appearing at my Lord Convoays houfe, revealed fomewhat to Taverner, which he would not dif-coverto any of us that askt him.

This Tave-mer, with all the Perfons and Places m.entioned in t the Stcry, I knew very well, and all wife and good men did believe it, efpecially the Bilhop, and Dean of Connor Dr. I{uft-Witne fs.

Your iiumble Servacr,

Thomas Alccck.

ADVERTISEMENT.

TT will not be amifs to kt down here what Mr. Alcock adds ■*■ by way of Poflfiript in his Letter, There is an odd fiory, faith he, defending en thisy v^hlch I cnmiot chiife but tellyou. The Boys Friends fut the Trufhes and Executor on this Appnritio7is nccoum

into

^/Relations i^j

into our Courts, where it was f.eafant to hear my Lordtnlk^to them on the whole matter. The Vncle and Trufiee, one John Coftler forfmre the thinly railed on Taxernev, and made strange hnpre -cations i and voijht Judgments might fall on him if he knew of any JuchLeafe ; but the fear of the Apparitions menaces by Taverncr fcard him into a promife of Juftice at leaft. About four or five years after, when my Lord died, ayid the noife of the Apparition was over^ Coftlec began again to threaten the Boy with Law, &c. But being dru nk_ at Hill-hall by Lisburne, coming home he fell from his Horfe, and nev erf pak^ more. This is a fad truth to my knowledge.

RELAX. XXVII.

Th Story of David Hunter Neat-herd to the B/-
jhop of Down andConnov^ ^^Porcmore in Ire-
land, 166'^. from the fame hand,

DAvid Hunter Neat-herd at the Biihops houfe at Ponmore, there appeared to him one night, carrying a Log of Wood into the Dairy, an old Woman, which amazed him, for he knew her not : but the fright made him throw away his Log of Wood, and run into the houfe. The next night fhe appeared again to him, and he could not chufe but follow her all night , and fo almoft every night for near three quarters of a Year. Whenever fhe came, he muft go with her through the Woods at a good round rate: and the poor fellow lookt as if he was bewiccht and travelled off his legs. And when in bed with hig Wife, if (he appeared, he muft rife and go. And^becaufe his Wife could not hold him in his bed, fhe w^ould go too, and walk after him till day though fhe faw nothing : But his little Dog wasfo well acquainted with the Apparition, that he would follow her as well as his Mafter. If a Tree ftood in her walk, he obferved her always to go through it. In all this while fhe fpake not.

But one day the faid David going over a Hedge into the High-way, fhe came juft againft him, and he cryed out, Lord blefs met would I w^s dead 5 foall I never he delivered from this mife^

ry ^

102 .The Co He It ion

ry? At which, And the Lord hlefs me toOy fays (he, It vpoi yerji happy you Jpiil{e firjfl^ for till tfoen I bad no -power to Jpeal^^ though I have followed you fo lo??.^. My Name, fays (he, zV Margaret— — 1 lived here before the fVar, and had one Son by my Husband, when he died, I Married a Soldier, by whom I had fever al Chi/dren^which that former Son maintai?2ed, elfe we muft all have (Carved. He lives beyond the Ban- water ; pray go to him, and bid him dig under fuch a Hearth, and there he fhall find zZ s» Let him pay what I ewe in fuch a place^ and the reft to the charge unpayed at my Fune-ral ; and go to my Son that lives here, which I had by my latter Husband, and tell him, that he lives a wicked and a dijfolute Life, and is very unnatural and ungrateful to his Brother that maintained him, and if he does not mend his Life^ God Almighty will defiroy him,

bavid Hunter told her he never knew her : No, fays (he, 7 di-ed 7 Tears before you came into the Country, but for all that, if he would do her Meflage, (he (hould never hurt Mm. But he deferred doing as the Apparition bid him, and (he appeared the Night after, as he lay in Bed, and ftruck him on the Shoulder very hard ; at which he cried out, and askt her if (he did noc promife (he would noc hurt him ? She faid that was if he did heir Meflage ; if not, fhe would kill him. He told her, he could not go now, by reafon the Waters were our. She faid, (he was content he (liould ftay till they were abated ; but charged him afterwards not to fail her. So he did her Errand, and after-wards (he appeared, and gave him Thanks. For now, faid (lie^ ifioall be at re!i, therefore pray you lift me tip from the Ground, and I will trouble you no more. So David Hunter lifted her up from the Ground, and, as he faid, (he felt jull like a Bag of Feathers in his Arms ; To (he vani(ht, and he heard molt delicate Muiick as (he went off, oyer his Head , and he never was more troubled.

This Account the poor Fellow gave us every Day, as the Ap-parition fpake to him, and my Lady Conway came to Port?nore, whi2^4he askt the Fellow the (ame queftions, ^nd many more. This I know to be true, being all the while with my Lord of Dox97i, and the Fellow but a poor Neat-herd there.

Thomas Akoch

A D V E R-

<?/ Relations. , 163

ADVERTISEMENT.

TT is nofmalt confirmation to my f elf of the Tmth of thefc twoUfl •^ Stories, in both which my Lady Conway is mefitioiied, in that I received two Letters from that incompa^ able Lady cat t?/ Ireland, touching them both-, the former is Dated, Lisburn, March 3, i<$62, wherein fhe TVrites thus : I have fpoken Jately with two iimple Country- people who have been much perplexed Wich two feveral Perfons who have died lately : The Scones are too long to relate; but the Circumftances are I'uch, as I know not how to mis- believe the Stories. The Perfons cannot be fufpedied to have any defign, and were altogether unacquainted in the Fa-mHies of them that appeared, and wholly ignorant ot thole things in them that they now relate, and have charge to lolicite the amendment of fome Mifcarriages by lome Per ions intrufted, which they could never hear of, as is fuppoied, by any other means! There are many other probabilities, but all evaded by feveral Perfons here. And to give you a tajie cf their goodly Eva-Jionsy Iwilltranfcribe aPaJJage out of the other Letter of the f aid excellent Lady,, Dated Lisburn, April 29, 4563. wherein Jhe Writes thus: The Relation I fcnt you of two in this Country, is certainly liable to as little Exception {there was menticn of the Drummer c/Tedworth before ) as any one fhall meet with _; as may appear, by the diligent fearch fome have made for a Flaw and Objection againft the Parties, who after all they confefs, muft needs appear perfediiy uninrereiTed, and impofiible to have had from any concerned what they have delivered. But they believe, that either Drunkennefs, or defperate Melancholy, did by chance enable them to light upon greater Truths than rhem-felves thought of. Thus far that excellent Perfon. And tt was enough for this Koble Lady, only to recite thejolution of the Phamo-menon into Melancholy and Drunkennefs, it being fo trJfiing and filly y that it want gd no farther refutation^ , than ths mcer re" citai.

That Drinks may difcoverthe Secrets of him that is Drunk? as the Poet obferves, is reafonable enough ; but that a Man being Drunk^y is better capacitated to underjia7id the Secrets cf another Mrm, or of his Family i is Co wild a Paradox^ that nofohcr Man can adrqit zt» And what is Melancholy, but a natural Drunkennefs vi'hen it ferments^ And moreover it being but hy chance that Melan^ choly cr Drunkenmfs enables them to light upon fuch things, why

C C ■ ^ 7724"^

164 Thi Colle[iion,

may not Sanguine and Sobriety chance as well to do the fame, and not rather better, if there be any betternefs in things by chance ? But if there be any advantage in fermenting Melancholy, orjirong Drinl{, it is becaitfe the Soul is more excited, and made more ready to dlfcover its own 7nore inward Furnitnre, as Men in Drinl^ reveal their own Secrets, But the Soul has no innate Ideas of far-tictdar things, and therefore the greateji ejfervefcency of Drinl^^ or Melancholy will not a jot better dijpofe her to the Knowledge of par-ticulars, but indi/pnfi her for the reception of them from without. So blsfidly do tbefe Pf^itlings Philofophi:{e' touching things of this Nature.

A7idyct I dare fny, this was the very hefl of their Evafions -. Vl^nch being no better againft thcfe two Stories fo fifted and ex-Amined ( to fay ncphi7ig of others) by a Perfon of Jo ^uick^aPVit, impartial Judgment arid Sagacity, as I l^ow that excellent Lady to have been, 1 muft confefs, that to me it is a Confirmation as Jirong as I can dejire fir the main flrokes of the Stories, of which J retaijifome in my Memory, having heard a more particular Ac* cou72t of than from her Lady/}.np, prefently upon her return from Ireland, fo7ne 1 6 Tears ago. Nor no doubt but Mr, Alcock has approved himfelf a faithful Inciter of thcjn, as to the main ; nor can there airy one rightly be deemed more fit and able, he beifig prefe7it at the Examination of T^y^i'ncr, and dwelling at Port-more, with the Bifhop t^/Down, whofe Servant Hunter «?<?/.

RELAX. XXVIII.

7'he Confefjions of certain Scotch Witches^ taken out of an Authentick Cofy of their Trial at the Jffizes held at Faifley in Scotland, Feb. 1 5, \'6']% ^touching the Bemtching of Sir George

Maxwel.

TH E Tcnour of the Qonfcflions, taken before Juftices : As firft of An7iahil Stuart, of the Age of 14 Years, or theivby ; who declared that fhc was brought in the Prefence of the Juilices for the crime of Witchcraft ; and declared, That onHnrveft laft, the Devil in the (hapeof a black Man, came to her Mothers Houfe, and required the Declarancto give her

felf

^Relations. 165

fcif upto him; and that the Devil promifcd her flic (houldnot want any thing that was good. Declares, That ilic being eri-cic'd by her Mother JnjDiet Mnthie, and Be[fic Wdr, who was Officer to their feveral Meetings, Ihe put her Hand to the crown of her Head, and th(^ other to the ioJe of her Poor, and did give her felf up to the Devil. Declares, That her Mother promifed her a new Coat for doing it. Declares, That her Spirits Name was Enhj^a, and that the Devil took her by the Hand and nipt her Arm, which continued to be fore for half an Hour. Declares, That the Devil in the fhapeof a black Man, lay with her in the Bed under the Cioarhs, and that llie found liim cold. Declares, That thereafter he placed hernearcft him-felf And declares, She wa? prcfent in her Mothers Houfe,^ when the Effigies of Wax was made ; and that it was made to reprefent Sit George Maxwcl. Declares, That the black Ma n^ ^^-Ttet Mathie, the Declarants Mother, ( whofc Spirits Name was Landlady, Befjle Weir^ whofe Spirits Name'is Sopha '^ Mar-garet Crnige^ whofe Spirits Name is I^jgemm; and Margaret ^aclqan^ whole Spirits NameisL^c/?j ) were all prefenr at the making of the faid Effigies; and that they bound it on a Spit, and turned it before the Fire ; and that it was turned by Bef-fieWelr^ faying as they turned it^ Sir G£?or^c Max\veU^\\:GeoYgt Maxwel ; and that this was exprefled by all of thcin, and by the Declarant. Declares. That this Pidure was made in Oao-her lall. And farther declares. That upon the third Day of January in^^nty Befps fVeir c^wc to her Mothers E^ouie, and advertifed her to come to her Brother '^olm Stuarts upon ihe Night following. And that accordingly fhecame to the place, where fhe found Bejjie Vf^eir, Margery Craige,^ Margaret jacl^-fon, atid her Brother John Stunrt, and a Man with black Cloaths, a blue Band, ani white Hand-cufts with Hogers; and that his Feet were cloven. And the Declarant fate down by the ' Fire-fide with them, when they made ft Piclure of Clay, in which they placed Pins in the Breaft and Sides : And de-dares, That they placed one in every Side, and one in the Bread. Declared, That the black Man did put the Pins in the Pidlurc of Wax ; but is not fure who put in the Pins in the ' Pid:ure of Clay. Declares, That the Effigies produced, are the Effigies ihe faw made. Declares, That the bJack Man's Name is Ejoal, This Declaration was emjttcd before Jamss Dunlopy o^Hufil, William Gremlaycr See. '^ah, 27y 1677, Xtg^ilr

Qc% The

\;

l66 The Colle^iion

The fecond Confcfllon, \so{ John Sfuart, who being inter-rogauo arienr this Cr'ime of Witchcrafc, declared, That upon Vrcchicfcky^ho. third Day o1 Janunry \u{!i^niy BeffiefVeir in Poi-loclcn came to the Di:clarant late at Night, who being with-OLU Do&rs near ro hi^ oww Houfe, the faid Bejfie fVeir did in-timate to him, that there was a Meeting to be at his Houle the next Day : And that the Devil under theihape of a black Man, M^.rgqrci Jackjon, Margery Craige, and the faid. Bejfie fVeirf were to be prefcnt. And ihat Be ff^e H^eir^ required the Decla-rant to be there, which hepromifcd. And that the next Night, after the Declarant had gone to Bed, the black Man came in, and called the Declarant quietly by his Name, upon which, he arofe from his Bcd^ and put on his Cloaths, and lighted aCan« dk. Declares, That Mn.rgarct Jackjon, Bejfie PVeirt and Mar" geiy Cra.'gc, did enter in at a Window in the Cavil of theDecla-r-in:'s Houfe. And that thefirft thmg that the black Man re-quired, was, that the Declarant Ihould renounce his Baptifm, and delivtr himfelf wholly to him; which the Declarant did, b) pLKting one Hand on the crown of his Head, and the other en rhc ioie of his Foot. And that he was tempted to it, by the Devil's promi/ing chat hefhould not want any Pleafure, and that he fiioiild get his Heart filled on all that fnail do him wrong. Dtclares, That he gave him the Name of jfonaf for his Spirits Naire. Declares, That thereafter the Devil required every one of their Conlents for the makitig of the Effigies of Clay, for the taking away the Life of Sir George MaxvQel, of Pollock, to re-venge the taking the Declarants Mother Jannet Mathie, De-clares, That every one of the Perfons above-nam'd, gave their Confent to the making of the faid Effigies, and that they wrought the Clay, and that the black Man did make the Figure of the Head and Face, and two Arms to the faid Effigies. Declares, Thar the Devil fee 3 Pins in the fame, one in each Side, and one in the Breaft^ And that the Declarant did hold the Candle to thein, ail the time the Pidure was making. And that he obferved one of the black Man's Fe^t to be cloven ; and that his Apparel was black ; and that he had a blueiili Band and Hand-culFs ; and that he had Hogers on his Legs without Shoes ; and that the black Man's Voice was Hough and Gouftie. And farther declares, That after they had begun the forming of the Effigies, his S'l&t^ Anfiabll Stuart, a Child of 1 3 or 14 Years of Age, came Knocking at the Door, and beffg let in by the Declarant, (he ftaid with them a confide-rable time, but that fhe went away before the reft, he having opened the Door to her. Declares, That the reft went ouc

at

of Relations. i6j

at the Window at which they enter'd. Declares, That the Effigies was placed hy BeJJie If ^elr in his Bcd-(iraw. He far-ther declares, He himfeif did envy^gainft S'w George Ma xvp el for Apprehending Jannet Mathie his Mothei' : And that Sf//z<? Weir had great Malice againft this S?r George Mnxwd-, and chat her Qiiarrel was, as the Declarant conceived, becnufe the faid^ S'w George had not entrcd her Husband to his Harveft-fervxe ; afid alfo declares, That the (aid Effigies was made upon ihe fourth Day of January inftanr, and that the Devil's Name was Ej'oaL Declares, That his. Spirits Name was yo;Mj, ^nd Be [fie IVeirs Spirits Name, who was Officer, Vvas So^ha ; and that Margaref Jaclisons Spintsl<^an:\c \V3.s Locas ; nnd that Annuhil Stuart, the Declarant's Sifters was Enippa • but dees not re-member what Margery Craiges Spirits Name was. DeclareSj That he cannot Write. This ConiefTion was emitted in the pre-fence of the WitnefTs ro the other ConfclHon, and on the (a'tne Day. Ita efl. Rcbertus Park, Kotarius Publicus, 8cc.

The. ConfefIion_ of Margaret Jnckjon^ ReliCl: oi Tho. Stuart mShavpSy who being Examined by the Juiticcs snent her being guilty of Witchcraft, deckres, That fhe Wc';s pre lent at tiiC making of the fitft Efiigies and Pid:ure th?.i: v*'as made in J^?z-vet Mathies Houfein ohoher, and»that the 'Devil in the fnape of a black Man, Jannet Mathie, BeJJieTVeir, Margery Crazge, and Annabil Stuart^ was prcfent at the making of the faid Effigies, and that it was made to reprefentSir George Maxvpel of Pollock:, for the taking away his Life. Declares, T'oat 40 Years ago, or thereabout, fhe was at Pcllcckfrnw-cr^ft^ with fome few fiicKs on her Back, and that the black Ma'n came to her, a;nd that fhe did give up her felf unto the blsck Man, . from the top of her H?ad to the loleof her Foot 3 and that this was after the De-clarants renouncing of her Baptifm ; and that the Spirits Name wbichhedefigned her, was Loc^/. And that about the_third or fourth of January initantj or thereby, in' the Night-.time, when (he avi^aked, fhe found a Man to be in B-'d with her, whom fhe fuppofed to be her Husband ; though her Husband had been dead 20 Years, or thereby, and that rhe Man immediately dii-appeared : And declares, That this Man who dLfcppearcd was the DvVil. Declare?,- That upon Thurjday, the 4rh ot j^^?:«.'?.-7 inftant, fhe was prefenr in i\\c Houfe Oi john Stuart, at Nigh", when the Euigies of Clay, was made, and that fne faw the black Man there, fomctimes feting, feirictimes {landing wirh ?^o/^/2 Stuart ; and that the black Man's Cloaths were black, ana that be had white Hand-cufirs. And that Bejfie H-^eir in Pollccliton, and Anncibil Stuart in Sha^p^s^ and Margery Crargei were at the C c 3 afore-

j6S ' ThsColieci-'ton

aforcfnid time and place of making the faid ElTigies of Clay ; and declares, that flic gave hci* con lent to the making of the fame ; and declares that the Devil's name who compeired in the black Man's Oiapa was EjolU Sic Suhfcribitur, Jta elt, Robercus Va.vk,NofarIusPiil>l2cuSy 5:c,

JS.W fiHox:? the Depofitions of certain perfons agreeing mt/j tM Confejjions cfthe nhovcfdid pf^itcbes,

Andr. Mr.rtin, Servitoiir to the Lord oi Pollcck,, of the age of 5'hirty years, or thereby, Depones That he was- present in the lioufe oijamict Mythic Pannel when the Pidiiire of Wax produ-ced was found in a little hole in the Wall at the back of the Fire. Depones, That Sir Gsor'ie his Sickneis did fall upon him about the eiglitecnth of Oc'/oZ'cr, or thereby. Depones, that the Pi-iflnre of Vv'ax was found on the — - of Dscembcr, and that Sir Gfo^;i^i^, his Sickncfs did abate and relent above the time the.Pi-diure of Wax was found and dilcovcred in "jj^annet Mathie's. Jhoufc. Depones, that the Pins were placed in the right and left fides; and that Sir George Maxivcll of Pollock his pains, as he underiT:ood by Sir Georges ccmplaining of thefe pains, lay moft in his righc and left lijes. And depones, that Sir Georges pains did abarc and relenu after the finding of the faid Picflurc of Wax, iw'id raking our of tlie Pins as is faid. And depones, that the Pnnnei Jannet Mathic has been by fame aDd bruite rer puted a Witch rhefe feveral years by paft. ■ And this is the truth as he fliali anfvvcr to God. Sic Subfcrib. Andr. Martin. . Ldpprence PolhckSQCVQTTxvy to the Lord of P^j/Zoc^j fworn and purged of Parrial Counic-],depones^hat on the—day of Dcceinher he was in the Pannel Jnrmet M-thies houfe when the Pidurc was found ; and that he did not fee it before it vyas brought to. the Pannai's door._ Depones, that Sir George Mnxxvel of Po/-hclCsCicknciS did fei^eup-on him about the fourteenth of GV^o/^^r or thereby, and he did continue in hisSicknefs or Diftempcr for fix Weeks or thereby. Depones, that Sir Gm;;Vs Sicknefs did abate and relent after the finding of the faid Picture of Wax and raking out of the Pins that were in the EiHgies. Depones, that by open b.ruit and common fame, ^.mne.^ IvUtbie, and Be/-fie l^Veir, Ti.uA'Mirgcry Cralge, are brandit to be Witches. De-pones, That the rrut.h is this as he Oiail anfwcr it to God. Sic 5«^foV'. La vvrcr.ce Pollock.

Loaoaie Sturo-t of Auclyunheadhcvn^. fworn and surged of par-tial Cotinf^l, depones. That Sir Gcoyg^s Sickneis ielfupon h\m ^ ' ' the

(^/Relations. i6g

the fourteenth or fifteenth of OFioher or thereby. Depones, that he was not prefent at the finding of the Picture of Wax; but that he hadfeen Sir Geot^e Maxwel oi Pollock, after it was found ; and havingTeen him in his Sicknefs often times before, he did perceive that Sir George had fenfibly recovered after the time that the faid Picfture was faid to be found, which was up-on the i r //^ or 1 2^/j of D^cfw/'^r. Depones, i\\:li J an7iet Ma* tine and Margery Craige two of the Pannais are by report of the Country laid to be Witches. Depones, that he having come to Pollock^hG did fee Sir George Maxrvel, whofe pains did recur, and that his pains and torments were greatly encreafed in refped: of what they were before the finding of the Pidure of Wax. Depones, that upon the 8 of January vjhen they left the faid Sir George Maxwel of Pollock^ the De{)oqent James Dunlop of Houfil, Allati Douglacey and feveral others, did go to the houfe of JoJyn Stuart Warlock on Pollock: [hawy and there he found a Pidlure of Clay in the faid John Stuart's Bed-ftraw. Depones, that there was three Pins in the faid Pid:ure of Clay, and that there was one in each fide, and one in the Breaft : and depones, that being returned to Sir Georges houfcjSir Georg^e told the Deponent that he found great eafe of his pains, and that it was before the Deponent Hounfil and the reft did reveal to him that they had found the faid Pid:ure of Clay , and further depones, that this is truth as he (hall anfwer it to God. Sic Suhfcrib, Lodo-vvick Stuart.

There foHow more Depofitions in the Copy, but thefe are the moft for our purpofe, and enough to difcover that the ConfefTioa of thofe Witches are no Fables nor Dreams.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THefe Confefilons and Depofitions are tranfcribcd out of the Copy in the fame Scottijh Dialed that I found them ; and j feveral words there are which I profefsl undcrftand not, as' thofe for example concerning the black Man s Voice, that it was hough and goufiie : But if the voice of this black man be like that ofhis who appeared to the Witches whom Mr. /f^»i^ exa-mined, they may fignifie a l^ig and hvp voice.

Co 4 tli^^e

ijo The Colleciion

There is another Scot^ijh Tryal of Witches amongft Mr.Glan' vifs Papers, with the lame general fubfcription that this has, 'vi:(. Hubert: Martin Clerk to the Juftice Court. But that is of too old a date, it being in the year, i 590. to comply with the title of our Stories. But it being a true Copy of Record fo Authentick, though not fo freffi, it may haply not be a-mifs briefly to name fome Etf^dts, Kinds, or Circumftanccs of Witchcraft therein mentioned; 'fuch efpecially as have not occurred in the foregoing Stories ; as the giving and ta-king away power from fundry Mens Genital-members, for which Jannct Clark was accufed.

That which is obfervable in John Fiene is, that the De-vil appeared to him nor in l^iack, but in white raiment ; but propofcd as heliifh a Covenant to him as thofc Fiends that appear in black. As alfo lying dead two or thiee hours, and his Spirit tanc, ( as the Phrafe in the Record is) his bi-ing carried or tranfported to many Mountains, and, as he thought, through the World, according to his own, Depofitions. His hearing the Devil preach m a Kirk in the Pulpit in the night by Ciindle-lighr, the Candle burn-ing blew. That in a Conventicle of Witches, whole names are fpecified in the Record, he with the reft at parting killed the Devil's Breech ; the Record fpeaks more broadly. His skimming on the Sea in a Boat with thofe of his Gang, and his foretelling the Leak in the Queens Ship by the help of the Devil. His railing Winds with the .reft at the I^Jing's pailage into Denmark, by cafting a Cat into the Sea, which the Devil delivered to them, and taught them to cry Hoia whcr. rhey firft caft it in. His railing a Mift at the King's return from Denm-f\, by getting Satan to caft a thing like a Foor-ball (it appearing to ^ohn like a Wifp) into the Sea, which made a vapour or reck to arifc, where-by the Kings Majefty mighr be caft upon the Ccaft of Eyiglmid. His hearing the Devil again preach in a Pulpit in black, who after pointed them to^ Graves, to open and difmember the Corps therein; which done, incontinently they were tranfporrcd w^ithout words. His opening Locks by jSorcery, as one by mere blowing into a Womans hand while he fate by the Fire. His railing four Candles on the Luggs of an Horfe, and another on the top of the Staff of his Rider in the night, that he made it as light as day; and how the man fell down dezd at the entring within his return home. His embarquing in a Boar with other Witch-tZf ai>4 failing over Sca> and entring within a Ship, and ^ " ■ •' ■ ^ . ;: J drink-

<?/ Relations. 171

drinking good Wine and Ale there, and finking the Ship when they had done, with the perfons in it. His kifling Satan's Breech after another Conventicle. His being fwiftly car-ried above in the chafing of a Cat to catch her to caft into the Searthereby to raife Winds, according lo the pre-fcription of Satan. His pretending to tell any man how long he (hould live if he told but the day of his birch.

There are alfo feveral things in j^gnes SympfoT^s Witch-craft, fuch as there fcarce occur the like in the foregoing ftories. As her skill in Difeafes. That the ficknefs of Willian Blacl{ was an Elf-lhot. Her heating alfo of therri ' by Sorcery, and foretelliug the .party whether he Ihould live or die, and others how long they fhould live. Her taking the fick parties pains and ficknefTes upon herfelf for a time, and then tranllating it to a third perfon. Her ufe of long fcriptural Prayers and Rhymes, containing the main points of Chriftianity, fo that Ihe may feem to have been not fo much a white Witch as an holy Woman. And yet it is upon Record that Ihe made a Covenant with the Devil in the fhape of a Man, and in fuch like hellifh man-ner as other Witches do. But when (he fought for an-fwers from the Devil upon any occafion, he appeared to her in the (hapc of a Dog, but the formula of her difmifllng of him, was, The charging him to depart on the Law he lives on, as (he did when (he difmift him after her confulting hini about the old Lady Edniondflon\ ficknefs; but her invo-cation was, Elva^ come and Jpeali to we, who came in the likenefs of a Dog. Her failing with her fellow -Witches in a Boat to a Ship, where the E^evil caufed her to drink good Wine, (he neither feeing the Mariners^ nor the Mariners her. But after all, the Devil raifed a Wind whereby the Ship perifhed. Her baptizing, and ufing other Ceremonies upon a Cat ; with other Witches, to hinder the Qiieens co-ming into Scotland. Her railing of a- Spirit to conjure a a Pidure of Wax for the deilroying of Mr. John Mof-crope.

Hitherto I have brought but fmall fhreds our of this ancient Record, but I will conclude with a full Paragraph, it contain-ing the Confefllon of Agnes Sjmpfon to King James then of the Sxots : Which is this.

Item, Fyled and convid for fameckle as (he confeft be-fore his Majefty, that the Devil in Man's likenefs met her going out in the Fields from her own houfe at I^eith betwixt^ five and fix at Even, being alone, and commandic her to be

. -ac

1 7 2 The Collection

at l^oYthhiYvickc^^wV the next night. And flie paft then on Horleback, conveyed by her good-fon called '^john Cooper ^ and lighted at the Kirk-yard, or a little before (he came to it, a-bout eleven hours at Even. They danced along the Kirk-yard, Geilie Duncan plaid to them on a Trump, JoJm Fien mufliled led all the reft - the faid Agnes and her Daughter followed next. Befides, there were Kjte Grey^ George Moi-lis's Wife,^ ^hert: Greirfon, Kjitherhie Duncan Buchanan, Tho-mas Barnhll and his Wife, Gilbert Macgil, Job. Macgil, Kjttha* rine Macgii, with the reft of their Complices above an hun-dred perfons, whereof there were fix Men, and all the reft Women. The Women made firft their homage, and then the Aien. The Men were tm-ned nine times widderlhins a-bout, and the Women lix times. John Fien blew up the Doors and blew in the Lights, which were like mickle black Candles fticking round about the Pulpit. The Devil ftartit up himfelf in the Pulpit like a mickle black Man, and every one anfwered here. Mr. E(pbert Grierfsn being named , they all ran hirdie girdie, and were angry: for it was promifea he fhould be called t{ohert the Comptroller j alias t{pb the I{phar^ for expriming of his name, The iirft thing he demandit was as they kept all promife, and been good ServaiKS, and what they had done lince the*laft time they had convened. At his command they opened up three Graves, two within, and ane without the Kirk, and took off the Joints of their Fingers, Toes, and Neife, and parted them amongft them : and the faid Agnes Sympfon got for her part a Winding Sheet and two Joynts. The Devil commandit them to keep the Joynts upon them while they were dry, and then to make a pow-der of them to do evil withal. Then he commandit them to keep his Commandments, which were to do all the evil they could.. Before they departed they kifs'd his Breech ; the Record fpeaks more broad, as I noted before. He had on him ane Gown and ane Hat, which were both black : and they that were aflembled, part ftood and part fate : John Fien was ever neareft the Devil at his left Elbock; Graymaical keeped the door.

I have retained the Scotch Dialed: here alfo, for the more Authenricknefs of the matter, and have adjoined this large Paragraph, the ConfefTion therein contained being in all pro-bability a more fpecial occafion of King Jamess changing his opinion touching the Exiftence of Witches, which he was, as is reported)^ inclinable to think to be bat a mere

conceit.

<?/ Relations. 17 j

conceit before. For he was then but young, not paffing Five or fix and twenty years of age when this Examina-tion was had before him. And part of the Third Chapter of his Second Book of his T>jcynonologie feen:is to be a Tran-fcript of this very Confeflion. Wherefore this being fo confiderable an occurrence touching a bufinefs of fucb mo-ment, the bringing in here fo old a Story amongft thofe of frelher memory, will, I hope, bring along with it its own cxcufe.

Thus have we contrived all the Relations, in Mr. Glatt" «;//'s. Papers which were thought confiderable, into this fecond Part of his Sadticlfmus Triumphatits. He once intended to fubjoyn thereto an Anfwer to Wehfier, ^^agfl^ff-, and the Author of the DoEirine of Devils, as you may obferve from the firft Section of his Proof of Apparitions, 8cc. from holy Scripture : but partly by bringing in already the chief things in that rude draught begun, into what is here publiflied, aad partly by dating the Queftion truly and with right judg* ment, he has prevented himfelf, and made that labour need-lefs. As indeed in a manner it ever was, their Objed:iGns againft Mr. Glanvil's Opinion on th^fe points, being won-drous weak, forry, and fophiftical, and fuch as it were pity that any Man of Parts, who can beftow his time better, flioutd fquander it away in confuting luch trifles.

There is nothing that makes any leaft Ihew of ftrength, but that teaching the palpability of tiie confiftency of the I bodies of the Familiars of Witches, as if it weakned our ' I Saviour's Argument to his Difciples for his Refurredlion, I where he bids tlfem handle him and fee, for a Spirit has^ not Flelh and Bones as they fee him have. And he bids Thomas thruft his Hand into his Side, that they might be: fure he was no Spedlre or Spirit, but the very Chrift with liis Flefll, Blood, and Bones as he had before his Crucifixi-on ; and they were as well afcertained of this, as fenfe, nay the fureft fenfe, that of a Touch, or Feeling, coul^ make them, that he had really Flelh and Bones, and fuch a 'tem-perament as humane Bodies have. Nor can any cavil avail againft this from the Familiars of Witches, that will not as well weaken the afTurance that we converfe with fuch or fuch a Friend, but with fome Spedre like him ; So that the Allegation is as weak aspeevifhand malicious. And if he fliould doubt whether it was his real Friend, or fome Spe-d:re, if his Friend fhould offer himfelf, as our Saviour did, ^o be touche^l, fearched an^ felt, would no: any body

think

3 74 ^^^ CoSeSfion

think it were fufficient afiiirance ? But for a perverfe Cavi-ler or crazy Sceptick, what is it that will fatisfie them >

But it may be well faid, that there be concomitant con-, iiderations that will aflure the party it is his Friend and hot a Sped:re. And are there, concomitant confiderations iiere alfo ? The ancient Prophecies, and Chrift's own Pre-didion that }ie Ihould rife from dead out of the Grave. And that God is a God of tiruth, and not of unfaithful' nefs and impofture : Which affurance is of a more high and divine Tenour than that of feeling his Body. And there-fore our Saviour faith to Thomas ; 1 H O MA Sy becaufe thou hafl feen me thon hafl believed, Blejjed are they that have not fee?i and yet have believed : For it is a fjgn that a more noble and heavenly principle is awakened in them, that difpels that thick Mift of Sceptical ftupor and dulnefs. Ic| is a lign they are of a more holy, pure, and refined tem-|| per, And befides all this, What Spedre ever challenged any one to make fuch a Trial as this, to feel whether he was not very Flefh and Bone as real Men are, when he would impofe upon any? Qr how is it proved, though Spi-rits can bring their Vehicle to a palpable confiftency, that, they can turn it into fuch as fhall feel of the fame articu-. late palpableneis of Flefh, and Bone, and Temperament that are in living Men ? Till this appear by confeft experience to be in the palpable confiftency of Familiars or Spirits ^that tranfad: with Witches, the Allegation is infinitely weak upon that account alfo, as weak as fpightful and perverfe. But the Hag-Advocates will alledge any fooiilh thing rather than feem to be able to fay nothing. '

In the mean time I think it here feafonable to declare, that though this intended Edition of Saducifmus Triumfhatus had not the happinefs to be perfeded by the ingenious Au-thors own hand before his death, yet fuch Materials he left behind him, and the work in fuch a forwardnefs, that things being put together in that order and diftindncfs vv^hich they are, the Difcourfe tpay prove as ufeful for the reclaiming Men from Saducifm, though perhaps not altogether fo^^//g/j^-fuly as if his own hand had the polilhing of it. And the. publishing of it will alfo do him that right in the eyes of ^ the world, that (whereas he was fufpeded haply for fome com-plaifance towards fome perfons that were over inclinable to Bohbimifmy to have (hrunk from the fenfe pf fuch noble Theo-, ries,' with which his mind wasenlighcnedin the morning of his days) it from hence may appear that thefe things ftuck clofe to

him

of Relations, ly^

him; and that he entertained them with 'a fincere warmth all a-iong,as is evident from thefe Papers then private within his own Study Walls. As the profeflion of them broke out from him moft • exprefly when he lay on hisDeath-bed,as his intimate friend Mr, Thomas Alcock. largely fets down in a Letter written to Dr. H. More, And I think that is the time, if ever that Men will fpeak their thoughts freely, as the Poet hath obferved in the like cafe,

l^am vera voces turn demun pe&ore ah imo Ejiciunturt ^ erifitur ferfona^ manetres,

' To this Senfe,

Then 'tis Men- from their Hearts their Mind declare^ Caft^fFth'^ Vizards, fhew their faces bar6.

'' V

A

CONTINUATION

COLLECTION.

' ' Or, An

ADDITION

Of fome few more

Remarkable and True Stories

O F

AND

WirCHC RAFT.

By HEN RT MORE, D. D,

Whereunto is added Mr. J. G, his Letter to
Dr. H, M, touching the jftirs of Tedworth ;
With his Rejiecfiom on Drollery and j4^h'
ifm^ and the Doftors Advert i foments
thereon.

LONDON: Printed MDCC

»U,».WMlHJi li.l... " I -II I ""»'

(V)

A GONTINUATIO

O F T H E

COLLECTION

^ — ■ ■;'' "** . .1 • ii-i I I ■ ui^. „„„ ...im

R E L A T, I.

A Tranjcription df a Narrative, out of the Na*
tural Hiftory of Oxfordfhire, of the flrmge
P^jfages that hafpned at Wood (lock, Anno
1649. when the Commiffiofiers for ftifveyhg the
Mannor-houfe^ Park, Deer, Woods, and other
Demeajnes belonging to that Mannor, fate and
lodged there,

TH E Commiflioners Oclober 13. 164^6. with their Servants being come to the Mannor-houfe, they took up their Lodging in the King's own Rooms, the Bed-Chamber, and Withdra wing-Room : the former whereof they aifo made their Kitchin, the Council-Hali their Brew-houfe, the Chamber of Prcfence their place of fitting to difpatch Bufinefs, and a Wood-houfe of the Dining- Room, where they laid the Wood of that ancient Stan-dard in the High- Park known of all by the name of the Kings Oa/i, which ( that nothing might remain that had the name of Kinjg affixed to it) they digged up by the Roots, Q^oher

B d xhz

2 j4 Contiriuation

the 14th and 15th, they had little Difturbance ; but on the 1 6th, there came, as they thought, fomewhat into the Bed-chaoiber, where two of the CommifTioners and their Servants Jay, in the fhape of a Dog, which going under theirfeds, did as it were gnaw their Bed-cords, but on the morrow, finding them whole, and a quarter of Beef, which lay on the ground untouch-ed, they began to entertain other Thoughts.

OBoher i^. Something to their thinking, removed all the Wood of the King's Oak out of the Dining-room*, inro the Pre-fence-chamber, and hurled the Chairs and Stools up and down that Pvoom. From whence it oame into the two Chambers where the ComnriifTioners and their Servants lay, and hoitted up their Beds-feer, fomuch higher than the Heads,that they thought they fhould have been turned over and over; and then let them fall down with fuch a force, that their Bodies rebounded from the Bed a good diftance, and then Ihcok the Bed-ftead fo vio-lently, that themfelves confeft, their Bodies were fore with it. QcIoUri^. Something came into the Bed-chamber, and walkt up and down, and fetching the Warming-pan out of the With-drawing Koom, made fo much noife, that they thought 5 Bells could not have made more. And OBober 19, Trenchers were thrown up and down the Diniil^-room, and at them that lodg-ed there, whereof one of them being Ihaken by the Shoulder, and awakened, put forth his Head to fee what was the matter, but had Trenchers thrown at it.

O&oher 20. The Curtains of the Bed in the with-drawing Room, were ofcrawn to and fro, and the Bedftead much fliaken, and 8 great Pewter-difhes, and 3 Doxen of Trenchers thrown about the Bed-chamber again. This Night they alfo thought whole Arm-fuls of the Wood of the King's Oak thrown down in their Chambers, but of that in the Morning they found no-thing had been moved.

Ofioher 2 1 . The Keeper of their Ordinary and hi^ Birch, Jay in one of the Rooms with them, which Night they were not difturbed at all. But OHober 22, though the Bitch ken-nel'd there again, to whom they afcribed their former Nights reft, both they and the Bitch were in a pitiful taking, the Bitch opening but once, and that with a whining fearful Yelp. O^o-her 23. They had all their Cioaths pluckt off them in the With-drawing Room, and the Bricks fell out of the Chimney into .the Room ; and the 24th, they thought in the Dining-Room, thart all the Wood of the King's Oak had been brought thither, and thrown dovvn clofe by their Bed-fide , which noife being heard by thofc of the With-drawing Room, one of them role

CO

^ ofthi ColleB'iOn. ' J

to fee what was done, fearing indeed th.u bis fcIl'^wCoinmifTi-
oncrshsdbeen killed, buc found no (uch matter 3, whereupon
returning to bis Bed again, be found a Dozen of Trenchers
thrown into it, and handfomely covered With theBcd-cloaths.
October, a^. The Curtains of the Bed in the With-drawing
Rooai were drawn to and fro, and the Bed-ftsad fnakcn.as be-
fore, and in the Bed-chamber, Glafs flew about fo thick, ( and
yet not a Pane of the Chamber- windows broken j that they
thought it had rained Money. Whereupon they lighted Candles,
but to their grief they Ibund nothing but Gials. Ouoberig.
.Something walked in the With drawing Room about ah Hour,
and going to the Window, opened and fnut it ; then going in-
to the Bed-chamber, it threw great Stones for ab^'Ut half ati
Hours time, fom^e whereof lighted on the High-bed, . odiers on
the Truckle-bed, to the number in all, of above Fourfcore.
This Night there was alio a very great Noife, as if 40 Pieces
of Ordnance had been (hot off together. At i feveral Knocks
it aftoniih.ed all the neighbouring Dv^ellers, which is thought,'
might have been heard a great way off. Daring rhefeNoifes,
wiiich were heard in both Rooms rogerher, both Comimiffio-
ners and Servants were ftruck with io great Horrcur, that they
• cryedout one to another for help; wjiereof oneorthem_ reco-
vering himfelf out of a ftrange Agony he had been in, fnacchc
up a Sword, and had like to have killed one of his Brethren
coming f ut of his Bed in his Shirt, whom he took for the Spiric
that did the Mifchief. However, at length they got all together^
yet the Nolle continued lo great and fo terrible, and fnook the.
Walls fo much,that they thought the whole Mannor would hava
fallen on their Heads. Ac its depariure it took ail the Glais away
with it. . ,

November i. Something, as they thought, walkr up and down. the With-drawing Room, and then made a Noife in the Din-ing-Room. The Stones that vv^e re left before, and laid up in the With-drawing Room,, were ail fetcht away this Night, and a great deal of Giafs (not like the former ) thrown about again, November 2. Came fomething into the Wiih-drawing Room, treading as they conceiv'd*, miuch like a Bear, which at firit only vvaJked ab©ut a quarter of an Hour ; at length it made a "Nloife about the Table, and threw the- Warming-pan fo. vio-lently, that it qtiite Ipoird it. It threw aifo^ Glals and gi.e^jc Stones at them, again, and the Bones of Horils, and all lb vio-lently, that the Bed-ftead and Wails were bruifed by them. This Night thpy fet Candies ail about the Rooms, and mad^ iFires up 16 iM Mantle-trees of the Chimneys^' but all were put ,» 0 d ^ out

4 A Continuation •

out no body knew how, the Fire and Billets that made it, be-ing thrown up and down the Rooms, the Curtains torn with the Rodsfrom their Beds, and the Beds-pofts pulled away, that theTcfter fell down upon them, and the Feetof theBed-ftead cloven in two. And upon the Servants in the Truckle-bed that lay all this rime fweating for Fear, there was firft a little, which made thembegin to ftir, but before they could get out, there ca'me a whole Bowl as it were of ftinking Ditch-water down upon tbcm, fo green that it made their Shirts and Sheets of that co-lour too.

The fame Night the Windows were all broke by throwing of Stones, and there weremoft terrible Noifes in the three feveral places togeijier, to the extraordinary wonder of all that lodged near them ; nay the very Coney-ftealers that were abroad that Night, werefo affrighted with the difmal Thundering, thatfor hafte they Mi their Ferret in the Coney- burroughs behind them, ' ht-s ox\di [^fnmotids-lVeU. Notwithftanding all this, one of them had the boldnefs to ask, in the Name of God what it was ? What it would have ? and, What they had done, that they ihould be difturbed in this manner ? To which no Anfwer was given, but the noife ceafed for a while. At length it came again, and as all of them faid, brought feven Devils worfe than^ it felf. Whereupon one of them lighted a Candle again, and fet it between the two Chambers in the Door-way, on which another of them fixihg his Eyes, faw the fimilitude of a Hoof, ftriking the Candle and Candleftick into the middle of the Bed-chamber, and afterwards making 9 Scrapes on the SnufFto put it out. Upon this, the fame Perfon was fo bold as to draw his Sword, but he had fcarce got ir. out, but there was another in-vifible Hand had hold of it too, and tugg'd with him for it, and prevailing, ftruck him fo violently with the Pummel, that he was ftunn'd with the Blow.

Then began grievous Noifes again, infomuch, that they call-ing to one another, got together, and went into the Prefence-cbambc-r, where they faid Prayers, arid fung Pfalms, notwith-ftanding all which, the thundering Noife ftill continued in other Rooms. After this, Novem. 3. they removed their Lodgings o-ver the Gate, and next Day, being Simdny^ \venc to Ewelint •where how they elcaped, the Authors of the Relations knevr not ; .but returnmg on Munday, the Devil ( for that was the Nam6 they gave their Nightly-Gueft ) left them not unvifited, nor on xh^Tuefday following, which was the laft Day they ftayed.

ADVERt

of the Collection.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CT* H A T the matter of FaH is true, we have all Affurance de--^ fir ahk,. from what the Writer of the Natural Biltory o/Ox-fordfhire, declares^ before he comes to the Narrative it felf viz. Ihat he had fever al B^latlons put into his Hands, and one of them written by a learned andfaithfid Perfon^ then living upon the place. Which was confirmed to him by fever nl Eye-witneffes of many of the particulars, and all of them by one of the Commifiioners ^hem-felves, who ingeyiuoufly confcfi to him, that he could not de7iy buf that what was Written by that Perfon above-menticned, was all true. So that for matter of FaB there can be no doubt 5 only the Hislo-rian makes afcruple, which is much according to the Mode of this Age, Whether all thefe Pranks might not be plaid by Combi-nation. It being a ge?itile thi72g, and much in the Fa/hion, not tojeem over credulous, that any fuch things are done by ^w^ Daemons or Spirits. Tet the Nature ofjorne of thefe E xploits here ynentionedy extorts a Confeffwn from him^ even whether he will or no, that they are not reconcilable to Juggling.

Suchi fays he, are, ( ifi. ) The extraordinary Noifes beyond the power of Man to make without fuch Inftruments as were not there. ( 2. J Ihe tearing down andfijlitti?tg the Bed-pofts, and putting out fo many Candles, and fo great Fires, no body kriows how. ( 3. ) ^ vifible fhape feen of an Hoy fes Hoof treading out a Candle. And ( i^. ) A tugging with one of them for his Sword, by an invifible Hand, by which Ifuppofe is meant, an imperceptible Hand ; for the Hand mufl needs be invifi.hle, the Ca7id/e being put out in that fca-fon of the Tear ; but it was fuch an Ha7id , as if the Cand'e had been lio^ht, could not have been feen 3 forasmuch, as though he felt in the ddrli that tugging for his Sword, he could not feel nor lay hold en the Hand or Arm, or any part of any falpable Perfon that tugged with him. This may be /aid, if this tugging for the Sword was far in the Night, about or pafi Midnight 5 but if it was earlier in the Night, the Party might have feen theHand thai tugged far tin Sword, if it had not been a Hand of its own nature invifible : For the Moon was at leaft 7 or 8 Days old^ if I compute right, cut of thefccond Ptolematick Tables in N. Muleriua.

Thefe indeed are the nwfl material Arguments to prove that al'l here was not Jugling orCombination. Afid indeed how could it be Combination, when as the Story runs up07i one Per fen all along, cailr-

D d 3 ing

$ A Qontimia.tio}f.

^ng it the Thing w Something ? So that it fecms all to he pev"
formed by one Pcrfon or Power. Bcfhles, thefe Artifts in T^Vaggery,
hoxv couidtbey train up a Dog to kmw B ed- cords ^ and forbear eat^
ing ofBcf, when it lay fo fairly for him on theEoor? An dan ope-
rofe Btifincfy and how little worth the while for any Jingle Petfin
i» remcvc all the M^oodof the Kjn^sOali^out of one B^om into n-
nothcr ? Andrhore an J lively that he could make fuch a noifcj as if
he did ity when he did it not. And the Ringing efTrefichers and
"Stones in fuch numbers nr.ar Men^ and hurting 7ione by them^ feems
to me not probable to he within the skill ofa?i ordinary Man to per^
fort?!; asalfotomakcfuchaKoife as if whole Arnf-fulls of the
Icings Oak, were flung, down by their Beds-fides^ on the Floor of
their X!hambery whereas not one fiicJi^was found to be ca!i there.
• The l^rining alfo, and fearful Telp of the Bitchy was a fhrewd
[ign cfths approach, not of an ordinary Man, but offomeevinimig^
as the vulgar call it. 4ndwhat a skilful H'^ag mufl he be^ that
could imitate fi the Gate cf a Bear^ as if fuch a Bcaft was corAs.
into the Room 'y or have fuch jirength as to cleave the Feet of a
Bedflead into two^ without Ax or Sa^i' ? And did thefe H^agsfo
combine^ asfome tofet Ladders to clitnb to the top of the Chimney,
to fling down Bricks^ while others play dot her Tricl^s in the Cham-
ber ( The whole Texture i?i a ma7,-?ier of the Stdry isfuchy that it
argues the things not done by Coinbinacioii and Waggery, but by
the foil cli_ /^ livityoffoine Spirits or Daemons. And to conclude ^
How exceeding improbable is it, that the Parties in the Hoiife,
after they had been twice or thrice r^olefled^ would not makf their,
Hocrsfofafl-,. that no A^an could c 07710 atthem, and that they were
hot fo well kVcaponedy that 7io Man fingle would venture his Per-
fon only to play many odd Trickj a?id Frolickj to terrific and fcare
them, who, though he efcaped being lulled upon the jpoty might be.
Apprehended, andfe'cerely Punijhtj they having got the Power on
their fide ^ though not the Pjght^ whatever Mr, Hobbs may Judge in
khefe Cafes. j^

■ fVoerefore it is manifcfly that thefe Praiiks were flay a by Das-mons, as that learned Ph)fician, Z);-. Willis, a good many Tears Ago did readily acknowledge to.mc^ and avouched fuch things dh are here related in the Story, to be undoubtedly trucy w>hen I had the op port unity, of conv erf Jig vfith him at jriy Lord Conwd.y' s\4t Ragley /V Wlrwickfhire.

R E L A T.

eftbe Colleclion.

- R E L A T. II.

Amther Tranfcription out of the fore-mentionei 'Hiflory of a fl range Relation tnuching the Fa,-

* Tntly of one Cap din Wood, Ute o/ Bampton,
now Brize-norton, Captain in the Ute Wars for
the KJng\ what fir ange Kj^ockings ujed to be
heard & little before the Death ofthofe of that Fa*
milj, "

TH E firft Knocking that was heard, or at lead obferved; was about the Year after the Reftauration of the King, in the Afterhoon, a litre before Night, as it was apprehended by-Mrs. Elenor H^cod, Mother to Captain Bafil PVood, who only heard if. none being then by, or about the Houfe but her felf ; at which *lhe was very much diiturbed, thinking it boded fome ill to her or hers, and within fourteen Nights after, ihe had News of the Death of her Son in law, Mr. George Smithy who died in London.

About 3 Years after that, there were 3 great Knocks given very audibly to all that were then in the Honfe, w^, to the fore-faid Mrs. Elencr Tf^cod, Mr. 'Bafil H'ood and his Wife Mrs. He-fier, and fome Servants. Which Knocks were fo remarkable, that one of the Maids came from the Weil, which was about 20 Yards from the place, to fee what was the matter. And Mrs. Elenor Weedy and another Maid that was within the Houfe, faw great Pans of Lard fhake and totter foupon a Shelf in the Miik-houfe, that they were like to fall down. Upon^his vi-olent Knocking, Mr. Bafil M^ood znd his Wife, being then in the Hall, came prefently into the Milk- houfe to their Mother ; where finding ter fomewhat difturbed, and enquiring the rea-fon, fhe replied : God Almighty only knew the matter, Jloe could' tell nothi7ig -^ but /he heard the Kjtockjng -, which being within Doors, Mr. Bafil PFood concluded muft be for fome iti the Fami-ly at home, that upon the Door being for a Friend abroad, which accordingly fell cut, 3 of the Family, according to the number of the Knocks, dying v^ithin little more than- half a Year ^kzr,^vi:{.Mn. Hsfterm^ood, Wife to Mx, Bafil PVood, a

D d,4 Child

8 A Continuation

Child of Mr. Wood's Sifter, and Mrs. Elenor Wood his Mother. About ^«^///?, 1674, Mr, B^y?/ /^^oo^ Junior, Son of B/t/// a-fore-faid, living at Exeter in Devon/hire, heard the fame kind of Knocking; at which being difturbed, he Wrote* word of it to his Father here at Bampton in Oxfordjhire^ vi:<[. That on Sun-day, he and his Wife, and her Sifter, and his Brother, did di-ftinclly hear upon a Table in their Chamber, as they ftood by it, two feveral Knocks, ftruck as it were with a Cudgif, one of them before, and the other after Morning-Prayer, a little be-fore Dinner, which Letter was (hewn by Mr,PVood Senior, (as the other Knockings before the Deaths of any that died were before-hand told ) to feveral neighbouring Gentlemen. After which, within about 14 Days, Mrs. HcflerWoGd, the fecond,. "Wife of Mr. B^y?/ H>bo^ Senior, and about a quarter of a Year after, her Father, Mr. ^iclfard LiJJef, died both at Bamj)ton, (ince which time they have heard nothing as yet.

ADVEkTISEMENT.

CjT'Hefe prognoflick^ Signs before the Death of fame Men, is a thing •^ noted hy Biftorians, and Phihjophers ; which are madefome-times hyfome Apparition of feme deceafed Perfon of the fame Fa-wily, or hy fome other Spectre, fometimes hy an audible Voice call* ing the Party hy Name ; vohich I heard to have happened to feme Seamen upon the Sea : Sometime hy Mufick, as I beard credibly reported) of a vphole Family that died one after another in 'a little *ti?ne 'y and ever fome vphile before any of the Hotife fell /icli; there was Mufick heard to go from the Houfe ( tho\ nothing teen ) play-ing all along, which feveral People out -of curiofty wotdd follow, who obferved it to pafs through the Field till it came to a Wood, md there they left it or loft it, - this happen din Suffolk, andwas told for a certain Truth, to a Friend of mine, by Mr. Samfon, net Ipngfmce Fellow of King's-Collcge here in Cambrige. Sometimes the appearance of Lights f refuges the Death of fome of a Family, and the number according to the number of Lights. Which hapned a very few Tears ago to a family, of great Quality in Ireland, three Lights danci72g upon a flacc they call Fairy-Mount. I Jpoke with one that was a SpeBator thereof for half an Hour together, and obferved the Lights, tho. moved fmftly, how their flarues were not

-■ - " caH'

ef the Collection. 9

cdH Horizontally, hut voent ft might up to the Zenith, r^ho noted alfoy that two of the Family, fince that Sign^ were lately dead already^ andfuJpeHed a third would follow, which accordingly fell out the fame Tear, a littU while after, The Story I have jet down more complete ly in my Scholia upon Chap. 8. Book 3. of my Immortality of the Soul. So that this hint is enough here,

Paracelfus that fanciful PhyJJcian, imputes all to the oficioiifnefs of the Stars, that give thefe Signs, hut what Beam of a Star could give/uch a I{ap upon the Table, as is recorded to have hapried in Captain WoodV Family ? Certainly thefe things cannot he done but by the aHivity of lemons or Spirits. And this prefent Ex-r ample is as infiruHive, or more, than any of that fir ange Staticic of^ Syftaltick Fower, that Spirits have to give fuch a momentary firmnejl or hardnef^to their Vehicles, as to mak§ fuch a fmart Noife^ as if it were made with f^ood or Metal. But it is not my fcope tq Philofophi:{e here about thefe thifigs, hut only to tell the Stories. And there is a Faff age in the following Story ifhallfet down, which is an eminent Example of this Syftaltick Power of Spirits, viz. art Arm feen from the Hand to the Elbow, jlrikiyig fuch afhoke upon the Floor, that it made the very Walls of the Houfe to (hake with

it.

RELAX. IIL

*

A remarkahle Story touching the (lirs made hy a. Daemon tn the Family of one Gilbert Campbel, hy Vrofeljion a Weaver^ in the oldParijh 6?/ Glen* luce, in Galloway in Sc(itland.

IT happened i/i O^o^f/-, 1654, ^^^'^^tt^ton^ Alexander A g-new, a bold and fturdy Beggar, who afterwards v^as hang'd at Dumfreis, for Blafphemy, had threatned hurt to Gilbert Camp-befs Family, becaufe he had not gotten fuch an Alms as he re-quired ; the faid Gilbert was oftentimes hindred in the exercife of his Calling, all his working Inftfuments being, (omeofthem broken, fome of them cut, and yet could not know by what means this hurt was done. Which piece of trouble did continue |ifll abouuhe middle of November 5 at which time the Devi! ■ ^ • -^ ' came

^o A Continuation

came .wirh new and extraordinary Af faults, by throwing*of Stones in at Doors and Windows, and down through the Chimney-head, which were of great quantity, and thrown with great force, yet by God's good Providence there was not one Perfon in the Family hurt or fuffer'd damage thereby. This \ piece of new and i ore Trouble, did neccflitate Mr. Qamfoelto \ reveal that to the Minifter of the Pariih, and to fome other Neighbours and Frtends, which hitherto he had endured fecretly. Yet notwithftanding this, his Trouble was enlarged ^ for noc long after, he found oftentimes his Warp and Threads cut as with a pair of Sizzars, and the Reed brc^en • and not only this, bat their Apparel cut after the fame manner, evan while they were wearing them, their Coats, Bonnets, Hofe, Shoes, but could not difcern how, or by what means. Only it pleaied God to preferve their Perfons, that the le^ft harm was nor done. Yet in the Night- ume they wanted liberty to Sleep, fomething coming and pulling their Bed-cloaths and- Linnens c6F them, and leaving their Bodies naked.

Next; their Chefts and Trunks were opened, and all things in fliem itrewed here and there : Likewjfe the parts of the working Inftruments that had efcaped, were carried away, and hid in holes and bores of the Houfe, where hardly they could be. found again : Nay, whatever piece of Cloth or Houf-hoid'ftaff wa-s in any part of the Houfe, it was carried away, and to tcx and abufed, that the Good- man was necefiirated with all hafte and fpeed ro remove, and to tranfport the reft to a Neighbour's Houfe, and he himfelf compell'd to quit the fixercife of hi^tJaiiing, whereby only he maintained his Fami-ly. Yet he relolv'd to remain in the Houfe for a feafon. Du-ring which t;ime fome Perfons thereabout, noc very judicious, counfeird him to fend his Children out of the Family, here and there (to try whom the Trouble did moft follow, afluring him that this Trouble wasftot againfi all the Family, but ngainft fome one Perfon or other in it) whom he too wiUingly obey'd. Yet for the fpace of 4 or 5 Days after, there were no remarkable Afnv.iks as before. . ♦

The Minifter hearing thereof, fhewedhim the evil of fucha Courfe, and affured him, that if he repented nor, and called back his Children, he might not exped: that his Trouble would end in a right way. The Children that v^^ere nigh by, being called home, no Trouble followed, till one of his Sons, called Thomait that was fartheft off, came home. Then did the Pevii begin afrefli; for upon the Lord's Day following, in the After-noon, the Houfe was fee on Fire, bye by his Providence, and the

♦ help .

of the Collection, 1 1

lielpoffome People going home from Sermon, the Fire was ex-
tinguiflir, and the HoiiTe Ikved, not much lofs being done. And
the Munday after being fpent in private Prayer and Falling, the
• Houfe was again fet on Fire upon the Tuefd^y, about 9 of the
Clock in the Moriiing ; yet by Providence, and the help of
Neighbours, it was i?.yed before any harm was done.

Mr. Camphel being thus wearied and vext, both in the Day and in the Night, went to the Minifter, defiring him to let his Son Thomas abide with him for a time, who condefcended, but withal affured him, that he would find himfelf deceived, and fp it came to pafs ; for notwithftanding that the Child was without the Family,' yet were they that remained in it fore trou-bled, both in the Day time, and in the Night- leafon, fo that they were forc'd to wake till Midnight, and fometimes all the Night over. During which time, the Perfons within the Fa-mily fuffered many Lbfles, as the cutting of their Cloaths, the throwing of Peits, the pulling down of Turf and Feal from the Roof and Wails of the Houfe, and the Healing of their Apparel, and the pricking of their Flelh and Skin with Pins. The Pres-bytery having convened at the place for a folemn Humila^on, perfuaded Gilbert Camfbel to call back his Son Thomas^ notwith-ftanding whatfoever hazard might follow. The Boy returning home, affirmed, that he heard a Voice fpeak to him, forbidding him to enter within the Houfe, or into any other place where his Father's Calling was exercifed. Yd he entered, but was fore abufed, till he was forced to return to the Minifter's Houfe again.

Upon Miinday the 12th of February,- the reft of the Family be-gan to hear a Voice fpeak to them, but could not well know from whence it came. Yet from Evening till Midnight, much vain Difcourfe was kept up with the Devil, and many idle and impertinent Queftions propoled without that due Fear of God" that fhould have beeniipon their Spirits under fo rare and extra-ordinary a Trial. The iViinifter hearing of this, went to the Houfe upon the Tuefday, being accompanied with fome Gentle-men, who after Prayer was ended, heard a Voice Ipeaking out of the Ground, from under a Bed, in the proper Country Dia-led:, faying, IVould yen know the PVUches <7/Glenluce, i mil tell you tberji, and fo related four or fiye Perfons Names, that went under an evil report. The faid G///'^r^ informed the Company, that one of them was dead long ago. The Devil anfwercd, It is true, jhe is dead long ago, yet her Spirit is living with us in the World. TheMinifter reply'd, faying : The Lord rebuke thee Satan J and put thee to filence, we are not to receive any Information ' • from

12 A ContinuAiion

from thecy ^y^hatfocver Fame any Perfonsgo under-, thou art hut feek-ing to f educe this Famlfytfor$atans Kjngdom is not divided againfi itfelf,^

After which, all went to Prayer again ; which being ended, ( for during the time of Prayei", no trouble was made ) the De-vil with many Threatnings, boafted, and terrified the Lad Tho-nias, who had come back that Day with the Minifter, that if lie did not depart out of the Houfe, he would let all on Fire. The Minifter anfwercd, and faid, The Lord voill preferve the Houfe and the Boy too, feeing he is 07te of the Family ^ and hath God^s fVarrant to tarry in it. The Devil anfwered : He [hall not get liberty to flay, he vpas once ^put out already ^ and /hall not abide* hcrCf the* ifhionldperfue him to the end of the World. The Minifter reply 'd. The Lord mil flop thy Malice again§l him.

And then they ail Prayed again, which being ended, theDe-yil faid, Give me a Spade and a Shovel ^ and depart from the Houfe fir 7 Days, and I poallmake a Grave andliedovon init^ andfhall trouble you no more. The Good-man anfwered, Notfo much as a Straw /hall be given thee, through Go£s AffiSlance, even tho* thaf would do it. The Minifter ^llo added, God /hall remove thee in due time. The Devil anfwered, I mil not remove for you^ I have rny Commlffion from Chrift, to tarry and vex this Family, The Minifter an iwered, A Fermi fion thou ha§i indeed, but God voill fiop It in due time. The Devil reply a, I have ( Mes John ) a Commiffion that perhaps voill laft longer than your own. After which the Minifter and the Gentlemen arofe, and went to the place where the Voice feemed to com.e from, to try if they could find any thing. And after diligent fearch, nothing being found, the Gentlemen beg^- to fay, We thinly this Voice /peaks out of the Children, for fome of them were in their Beds. The Devil an-fwered, Ton lie, God fh'aUjudge you for your Lying, and I and my Father voill come and fetch you to Hell mth Warlock Thieves, And fo the Devil difcharg'd the Gentlemen to fpeak any more- j faying, Let him fpeak, that hath a Commiffion^ meaning the^Mi-nifter ) for he is the Servant of God. ^

The Gentlemen returning back with the Minifter, they fac down near ro the place whence the Voice feemed to come from, and then he fpake to them after this manner, The Lord voill rebuke this Spirit in his own time, and caff it out. The Devil anlwer-ing, faid, It is voritten in the <)th of Mark, The Difciples could not cast him out. *The Minifter reply'd. What the Difciples could not do, yet the Lord Having heightned the Parents Faith f^r his ovon Glory, did caft him out, andfo fhaUhe thee. The Devij reply 'd, IP is mitten in the^th of Luke, And he departed, and left him ' ^ for

of theCoIUBion. ij

ibr a feafon. The Minifter faid, T/j^ Lord in the Days of his Hti*
milintioriy not only got the VlElory over Sat^an in the AJJault i?i the
pyHdernefs, h ut when he chmc again his fuccefs was not better. Ftir
it is written, John 14. Behold the Prince of this World cometh,
and hath nothing in me. And being now in . Glory, will fulfil
his Promife, 'and God fhall bruife Satan under your Feet fJcortiy,
■Rom. 16. The Deviranfwered, It is written, Mac. 25. There
were ten Virgins, five H^ife and five Foolifh, and the Bridegroom
came, the foolifh Virgins had no Oyl in their Lamps, and they
went unto the Wife to feek. Oyl, and the Wife faid. Go and buy
for your f elves, and while they went, the Bridgrc$m came, and en'
tered in, and the Door was flout ; and the foolifh Virgifis werefent
to Hell fire. The Minifter arffwer'd, The Lord knows the fjncerity
of his Servants, and tho* there be Sin and Folly in us here, yet there
a a Fountain opened to the HoufeofDsiVid, for Sin and for ZJn-
cleannefsi and when he hath wafhed us there, and pardoned all ottr
Sins for his Names fak,e, he will cafl the unclean Sjfln'c out of the
Land. The Devil anfwered, and faid, That ^lace cf Scripture
is written in the 13th of Zechariah. In that' day I will caufe the
Prophets and the unclean Spirit to pafsout of the Land y but after-
wards it is written, I willfmiie the Shepherd, and the Sheep fhall
he fcattered. The Minifter ahfwer'd, Well are we that our bief
fed Shepherd was frnitten, and thereby hath bruifed tky Head ; and ■
albeifin the Hour of his Sufferings, his Difclpks forfook^him. Mat,
26. 7^/ now having afcended on high, he fits in Glory, and is pre
ferving, gathering in, and turning his Hand upon his little ones^
and will five his poor ones in this Family, ' from thy Malice,

The Minifter returning back a little, and ftanding upon the Floor, the Devil faid, l\new 7iot thefe Scriptures till my Father taught me them. I am an evil Spirit, and SataA is my Fathers and lam come to vex this Houfe : And prefentiy there appeared a naked Hand^nd an Arm from the Elbow down, beating upon the Floor, rill the Houfe did (hake again, and alfo the Devil ut-ter*d a moft fearful and loud Cry, faying, Come up Father, come $ip, I will fend yny Father arnoH^ you. See there he is behi7id yowc Backs. The Minifter faid, Ifaw hideed an fland an Arm when the Stroak^was given^and heard. The Devil faid to him, Saw yon that, it was not my Hand, it was my Father Sy my Hand is rhore black. in theLoof. Woiildyoufee me, put out the Candle then, and ifiMil come in the Houfe among youUke Fire-balls. After which, all wen: to Prayer,during which time.it did no harm, neitb^r at any other time when God was Worfhiped. When Prayer was ended, the Devil faid, {Mes John ) Jf the Good-mans Sons Prayers, at th^ College ofGl^CQWt did not pevail more with Qod than yourSf

■ tny

14 -^ Continuation,

my Father and I hud wrought a Mlfchief here ere ?ww- To wluc5s one of the Gentlemen reply'd, tl^ough a Check had been given hiiji before. PFcifj xvell^ I fee you co7ifcfs there is^God^ md that Prayer prevails with hlmy and therefore we muft fray to God^ and mllco7?jmit the Event to him. To which the DeVil reply'd, Totif Sir, you Jpeak, of Prayer with your Brpad-lipt Hat, (" for jthe Gentle-man had lately gotten a new Hat in the Fafhion, with broad Lips ) / will bring a Pair of Sheers from my Father thatjl:all clip the Lips of it a little.

The Night now being far fpcnt, it was thought fit every one fhould withdraw to his own home. Then did the D^vil cry out fearfully, Let not the Minifter go home, I fcall burn the I'loufe if he go. And many other ways did he threaten. And after the Minifter was gone forth, the Good-man bemg inftant with him to tarry ; whereupon he returned, all the reft of the Company going home. Then faid the Devil to the Minifter, Ton have done my bidding. Not thine anfwer'd he, but i?i obedience to God have I returned^ to bear this Man company, whom thou doft affli&. Then did the Minifter call upon the Name of God; and when Prayer was ended, he difcharged Mr. C^.*??/?-bel, and all the Perfons of the Family from opening their Mouths in one Word to the evil Spirit ; and when it fpake, that they fhould only kneel down and fpeak to God. TheDevil then roared mightily, and cryed out, What will ye not fpea!{^ tome, I /hall burn the Houfet I fkallftrike the Bairns^ and do ail manner of Mifchief. But after that time no anfwer was made to it, and fo for a long time no fpeech was heard. After this, the faid Gilbert fufFer'd much lofs, and had many fad Nights, not two Nights in one Week free,and thus it continued till April -^ hom April lo July he had fome refpite and eafe. But after he was moiefted with new AfTaults, and even their Victuals were fo abufed, that the Family was in hazard of ftarving, and that which they did cat, gave them not the ordinary fatisfadtiom they were wont to find.

.In this fore an4 fad Afflidion, Mv.Campbel refolv'd to make his addrefs to the Synod of Presbyters, for Advice and Counid what to do, which was appointed to convene in Ociober, 1655, namely, whether <o forfake the Houfe and Place, or not. The Synod by their Committee, appointed to meet at Gletiluce !n Ftk 1656, thought iit that a folemn Humiliation fhould be kept through all the bounds of the Synod, and arnongft other caufes, to requeft God in behalf of that poor afHid:ed Family ^ which being carefully done, the Event was, through the Prayers of his People, that his Trouble grew lefs till April, and from April to

Aupijf

of the ColkBion. 1 5

^/(^«i? he was altogether free. Abeut which time the Devil be* gan with new Aflaults, and talcing the ready Meat that was in the Houfe, did»rotnetimes hide it in holes by the Door-polts, and at other times did hide it under the Beds, and roaictimes annong the Bed-cloaths, and under the Linnens^ and at laft, did carry it quite away, till nothing was left there, lave Bread and Water to live by. After this he cxercifed his Malice and Cruel-ty againft all the Perlons in the Family, in wearying them in the Night-time, with ftirring and moving through the Houle, fo that they had no reit for noife, which continued ail the Month of AuguH^ after this manner. After which time the Devil grew yet worfe, and began with terrible Roarings and terrifying Voi-ces, {o that no Perfon could fleep in the Houfe in the Night-time, and fomeAnes did vex them with cafting of Stones, (biking them with Staves on their Beds, in the Night-time ; and upon the i Sth of September, about Midnight, he cryed out with a loud Voice, 'I /hall hum the Hoiifi, and about 3 or 4 Nights alter, he fet one of the Beds on Fire, which was foon extinguilhed with-out any prejudice, except the Bed it feif, and fo he continued to vex them.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CT HIS Narratizie I hnve in a w4««^r verbatim, Tranjcrihd . -^ out of the Milcailaneous Obfervadons of Mr. G. Smclare, vehkh are added to bis Treatile of Hydroltaticks ; which nothing but the certainty of the Truth thereof y and ufefulnefs for the refut-ing (7/Saducifm, could have tempted him toinfert, it being an Ol?» fervation fo Heterogeneous to all the reft. And therefore I thought' it worth the while to reduce it into its more proper place, himfelf Acknowledging it to befometbmg an unfuitahle piece to the ConteX" ture of the reii of his Book,, hut that he put it in^ only to convince the incredulous fVor Id of the Exifience of Spirits, whofe being hs sonceives it does more than probably evince^ that i$ to fay , demon* ftratively, fuppoling it true. Winch that it is, the Narrative it felffeems fufficiently to make good, tfxe ftirs there wade heingfo longf andfo publick} andfo repeatedly, and .the things writ by Air. Camp-hkVs own Sony who Iqisy^ them exa^ly, and I have heard the Truth

^ . of

i6 A Continuation.

of the Story avcYvdmth all nffur knee wyfelfhyfome of that Com* try. And the Narration isfofimple and plain, and without defign^ ( it being rather a ColluBation of Mes John and the Preshitery en one fide, and the foul Fiend voith his black i-oofs njfifted by Sa-tan his Father on the other fide, than any clear ViHory ) that that-ought to gain belief thereto. Not to add, that the very abruptnefs of its ending fhews it to be frg/h writ, while the thing was doings and that meer matter of FaB was the meafure of the fVriter'^s Fen.

I will conclude all, with the Information ofDr, G. Burnet, that /ihle and impartial Writer of the Hiftory of the I{eformation in England, who upon my enquiry told me this, That he living in Ghi'gow fame Tears, found all People there and in the Country a-hout, fully perfuaded of the Truth of matter of Fact, and that he never heard any thing objeEied to Mr. Sinclare j Relation, but that it was too fhort, whenas all the Pajfages of that Apparition would make a Volume, and that there was a full Inflation thereof ^ Attefled under the Hands of Eye-witneffes : And to be fhort, I have greater (tffurance of the Truth of this Story, than I thinl^fit to declare. The' moft remarkable P (iff age in the whole Narrative, is the nak^ed Arm from the Elbow downwards, appearing by it felf, without any other farts of any viftble Perfon, as thefhape of an Florfes Hoof in the fir§l Story, without any other parts of an Horfe. Which puts me in mind 9f the Apparition EikQrkm, which Witms makes mention of in his De Prajftigiis Daemonum, that ufi;d to haunt the High-way in an Heathy place not far from Embrica, in the Dutchy of Clevc, in the lower Germany, nothing wasfeen but a meer Handy which would beat Travellers as they pajfed that way, pull them off of their Horfes, and overthrow Carriages.

As for the cutting and /nipping of things, mat is but what has hapned more frequently to thofe that have been infefted by Witch-eraft. A notable Example whereof a Reverend and Learned Friend of mine, told me in a Ma7is Daughter of North- Cadbury in So-merfctftiire, that for fome Months together, foe could put on no clean Linnen, nor Holiday-cloaths^ but they would be fnipt and flafht full of holes, as her Father for certain related of her to him. And of this fnipping, befides the Narrative of Gilbert Campbel, there is et frefh Exafnpleofit iti]a Story within thefe three or fourTsars, touch-ing Witchcraft praclifed on the Family of William Mcdcalfe, of Lefllngham, ( Se^. i%, 13, i8^ which is as follows.

RELAT.

of the ColLeStion

RELAX, IV.

A true Account J /^w Alice, the Daughter. of Wil-liam Medcalfe Teoman^ in the Parifb of Lcf-fingham in Lincolnfhire, %vas diftuYbea by an Apfarition.with other Feats of Witchcraft fracii-_ fed upon that Fami/y^ jent from Mr. WiOiam Wyche, dwelling tn the fame Parijhj to Mr. J. Richardfon, Fellow <5/'Emanuel-College /^ Cambrige.

i. TN the Year 1678, on the 5^/K^^f)' afrer Tv^^olfth-Liy.WiU 1 lUm Medcalfe and his Wife wen: ro Church, leaving their only Daughter Alice at home, and whilft they were there, th* faid Alice \it2xdi 2i Noife in the Yard, and looking out at the-Window, (he faw a Man of a middle Stature, with light flaxen Hair, {landing at the Stable Door, upon which, flie called ouc at the Windov/, and demanded of him what he did there ? He returned. That he came for a Hoi'fe which he borrowed of het? Father. She made him anfwer again, That flie knew nothing of it, and that he (hould have none till her Father came hdme» He received the Anfwer, and went aw^ay for that Day .

2. The next Day, her Father and Mother beil^g . gone to
Sleeford^Azxk&u fhe faw him again at the Stable Door, and
demanded of him as before. He told her, She might go look.
Then he askt her where the Horfes were. She ;^.nrwer'd him
again as fliort, told him, He might go look. Upon this, he
began to footh and flatter her, and gave her many iofcening
Words, going towards the Door as he fpake, as if he intended
to go in to her ; which fhe oblbcving, Ihe hailed and bolted the
Doorfaft. Upon which he threatfied-Jj^r; ( what his Threats
were, (he cannot recall ) but lome body Knocking at the Door
on the other {i4e of the Houfe, and ihe underftanclihg it was a
Neighbour, op<^ned the Door, and told her Neighbour^ all that
had pafr, and upon it, they both ran together into the Tard, ro
fee if he were there, but they could not find him, neirher
knew they wliieh way he went,

; . 3. After this, {he was quiet for fdme time, only about two "^eeks before Skove-tidt, one Foiki a Cobler^ and fafpedcd to

B € be.

1 8 J[ Contimation

be ihc occadonof all thathapned, came to the Hon fe, and they did let him to Work, moved thereto, I fuppofe, by fear, for he had threatned the Daughter, but for what I cannot learn. WhiKl he was Working, he began to difcourfe to the Mother to this cffcd. That her Daughter fliould die that Year, that he had examined fome Books which he had, and that he un-derftcod fo much by them. And when he had done his Work, he bid them Farewel, telling them, He was fure they woiild think of Follet when they did not fee him. Soon after this, Alice fell iick, and her Mother was fomewhat doubtful of her Recovery, i^ut as it pleafed God, fhe was reftored again to her fort?wier Health, and continued undifturbed till May, the Week before l/Vhltftmtide. ,

4. And then as fhe wasdrawing Water at the Well in the
Yard, fhe faw the lame Perion again, which I liril defcribed,
at the Houfe Door, with a great Club, endeavouring as fhe
thought, to break the Door open. Upon this, fhe called to
him, and askt him what he did there. Upon the fpeaking, he
flung down the Club among a great many Earthen Milk- pans,
orPanchins, as they call them, and with fo great violence,
that file could not conceive but that he had broken many of
them, but afterwards upon examination, fhe found them all
whole. As foon as he had done this he went away, and fhe
leaving her Pail at the Weil, followed him, faw him go down"
the Street, but at the turning of the Lane, loft the fight of him,
and could nor recover it. This was on Munday^ and fhe faw him
every Day that Week, but nothing paffcd between them, and
fevtral times Ihe called her Father out that he might fee him,, but
he never could.

5. On Saturday he appeared ro her in a more dreadful manner
at the Hall Window. When (he faw him, fhe askt him what'
iis Bufinefs was there > He told her he would fpeak with her.
She askt him what he had to lay, and dcfired him to fpeak it,
but he laid, He would not yet tell her. Then hefhev/ed her a
Knife, and told her it was for her. She askt him then, whe-"
rher he had a mind to be Hang*d ; and this was all that paft
between them then. On the Sunday Ihe faw him again run by
the Window with a Knife in his Hand as before, and fhe told
her Father and Mother of it, and they both ran cut, but could ,
not fee him. On the Munday, whilftflie was Milking, fhe faw
him with his Knife as before; and thus he often afterwards
appeared to her, efpecially at the Parlour-Window, having
opened it, ( which had not, they think, been opened for many
Years before ) and holding a Knife, only fomecimes it was a

fhorter;

eft hi CoiUHion. 151

(horter, atid fbmctiiries longer, buc always bloody, and fo was the hand that held it.

6. In the wcefc alfo before Whltfantidc, one B^chard Cofins"
a Youth aboiit 18 or 19 years old, and then living with Good"
, man Medcdlfe^ ^nd now nioft commonly working for Sir IVil-
It am Tork^ having heard Alice defcribe this Man which fhe fo
often favv, as he was walking towards F{gckJotmy a little place
belonging to LeJJingbam Parilh, he met a Man which he thought
to be very like the Man which (he defcribed. He went home
and told his Mafter, upon which he and his Daughter walkc
out that way, to fee if they could meet him. They were not
gone far, but the Daughter faw him, and told her Father, and
pointed which way he went, that he might fee him, but ffcijl as
he went one way to fee him, the Daughter prefently faw him
go the contrary way, fo that he never could obtain the fight of
him.

7. Once coming from Milking (he had a good Club in her
hand, and he met her, and asked her what fhe did with thac
Club. She being more than ordinary couragious, told him, fhe
had a good mind to lay it about his Pate. He made her no an-
fwcr but Went away.

8. Another time in July, as near as they can remembet, Alice
made her a Mefs of Frumenty for her Break-faft ; it was made,
as (he tells me, of New Milk, which I take notice of becaufe of
what follows. As foon as fhe had begun to eat iz^ the foremen-
tioned Follet came to the door, and ask'd whether they had any
Shoos to mend ; (he told him fhe thought they had ( though in-
deed (he knew of none, but fpake it out of fear ) but that her
Father and Mother being gone our, (he knew not v^here they
were. So he went away, and (he returned, defigning to fall
again to her Breakfaft, bur found it turned to a hard Curd.
At which (he was much furprized, and refolved to kt it by to
(hew her Father and Mother ; but (he had no fooner turned her
back, but the difh danced about on the Table, till it fell on
the ground, and fpilt ail in the Floor, vvhich a Neighbours Dog
as they thought, coming irr, lickt up. The lame day, as (hs
was raking Hay, (he was taken lame, and continued fo a quar-
ter of a year.

9. After this (he was quiet again for a while,and the next time
fhe law him was,whcn going behind the Barn upon fonrle occalion,
(he efpyed him ftanding at fome diftance from her,and a fudden
bialtot Wind took her Hat from off her head, and carried it to his

E € a ka}

J

20 A Contimdtion

but fhe was not much daunted at it, bnt ran to him and took it up, and then he difappeared.

10. One Sunday in the middle of all her troubles, a,s fhe was {looping ro rake up a Pin, he appeared to her and told her, that Fillet was the caufe of a)l\her troubles, and To left her.

1 1. Hitherto I have given you as exadl an Account as I could get from them as to the time. That which follows, I (q.i down without obferving the circumftance of time or order of adtion, becaufe I can learn no certainty of it from them, but the m-irter of Fad: h truth.

12. Often when they were gone to Bed, the inner doors were
Hung open, as alfo the doors of a Cupboard which flood in the
Hall, and this with a gieatdcal of violence and n©ife. And
one night the Chairs, which when they went to Bed, ftood all
in the Chimney corner, were removed and placed in the middle of
the Room in very good order,and a Meal lieve hung upon one,cut
full of holes, and a Key cfan inner Door upon another. And in
the day time, as they fare in the houte, fpinning, they could fee
the Barn-doors often flung open, but not by whom. Once, as
Aliec fare fpinning, the Rock or Diftaff leapt feveral times out
of the Wheel into the middle of the Room. Upon which
vCiQ faid Ihe thought Follet was in it. She had no fooner faid
the words, but (he faw Folht ride by to Sir William Tork^s
houfe, about fome bufinefs with him relating to him as a
Juftice.

13. Another time Alice had her Petticoat taken away, and .a
good while after brought again, and feveral times other of her
Clothes were taken away, and after fome time brought agaii?^
and laid in fome place where they fliould be fure to fee them.
As two Pinners which had been loft fome time were brought and
pat in a Pancbin, which Goodwife Medcalfh^id but newly pou-
red the Milk out of. An Apron was taken away, cut in pieces
and brought again, as alfo a Spigot which they fearclied care-
fully tor was broiight st laft and placed npon five Eggs which-
Good wife Ai.-^c^//;? had laid in rhe Milk- houfe but the night
before; and the next night this Spigot was changed, put into
th^e^Barrel, and that which was in the Barrel laid where the
other was.

14. About the latter end of the Summer in the night, the
Daughter had her Clothes puli'd off, and her Hair fnarled and
matted together in that manner, that the next day her Mother
could very hardly get a pair of Sizzers into it ro cut it off ; and
fnc does believe (he vvas near two hours about it.

15. Aro

V

oftheCoUeBion. 21

15. Another time llie felt and law fomething like a Cat fit- ting upon her, and till it removed flic was in pain, and could not ftir to help lier felf.

i(i. Another time going into the Parlour fhc law again, as (he thought, a Cat which did fly at her, and ftruck her down feveral times with great violence of which her face, which was much 1 welled and black was no fmall indication.

17. Once fhe found a Note wrapped up in an Handkerchief
with thefe words written in it. I vpou*d have you go from - — —
After (he had read it, fhe lockt it up in her Trunk, deiigning
to (hew it to her Father and Mother v/hen they came home ( for
they were gone to Church ) but when (he v/cnt lo look for it a-
gain,it vvas gone out of herTrunk.and (Tie never faw it anymore-

18. The la(t thing that happened was this, one Saturday
night Alice going to Bed, laid a clean fhift into her h<::C^, in-
tending to put it on the next morning; but in the morning look-
ing for it, Ihe could not find it. The next night fhe borrow-
ed one of her Mother, and laid that alio in her Bed as before.
In the Morning, when (he went ro put it on, it did nor pleafe
her, whereupon (he gave it to her Mother, defiring her to change
it, the Mother took it to change, and opening it, found ft cut
and (laihed in many places, and they areboih very certain rhat
it was whole before. And the fame morning when they came
into the Hall, they found the other, which was firft taken av/ay,
laid upon the Table.

19. Some odd Freaks were plaid alfo with the Father, as
well as with his Daughter. For Good-man Medcalfe having
received Eight pounds at Sleeford for Beafts, and when he came
home put it in a Purfe by it felf, and lockt it up in his GheO:;
and a day or two after, taking fome Money out of anotherj
Purfe to buy more Beafts ; when he returned, having fome
Money left, he went to his Cheft to put in into the Purfe he took
it out of, and afterwards began to rell that Money which he
received at Sleeford, and had put in a Purfe by ir felf, and found
that there was feventeen Shillings wanting ; ?nd fome days sf-
ter he found Sixteen Shillings and Sixpence cf ic m his Pocket.
So that there was only Sixpence loft.

20. And another fuch like feat was ir rcnch'ng his Knife.
One Friday having occailcn to ute his Knile, he fek in his
Pockets for ir, but could net find ir, and ftarched crirefiiUy
every where for it. On Sunday night he drenmed his Knif^
was in his Pocket, and in the morning roid his Wife -of ic, and
they both immediately fearched his Pockers, bu: found none. .
Afterwards he being to go 10 S kef ord that da), he was fechrig

E e 3 - in

52 AContinuAtion

in his Pocket to fee what Money he had, or upon foqne other ac-count, and then he found his Knife in his Pocket.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THIS Story ^ though, it contain nothing in it that makes any extraordinary fioevp or noife, yet it is confiderahle in that it is fo notable an Inpajice, and fofrefioly happened, touching the little filly fpor tings and triflings of feme kind of Damons, and mllferve io co7ifiitc that vulgar mifiake, that whofoever is called Spirit or Devil, isfo Great ^wJ Auguft ^ Being, that nojmall matters can he the Ohjeii of his Aciivity, whenas I mull ccnfefs comparing Sto-ry mth the Syftem 0/ ^/6^ Invifible World, fuch as afagaciom and deliberate \eafon rvould conclude it, I have this long time both thought it, md not a few times fpoke it. That there are ^s arrant Fools out of the Body, as in the Body : and I wijh ther^ were net as arrant Devils in the Body as out of it. And therefore timid ibis Narrative though it he coyicernlng meaner ferfons and things, not at all dcfplcahle'^ efpecially Mr. Wyche, who too^an account of it from the parties upon the very [pot, avouching in his Letters to Mr. Richard ion, that there is nothing contained therein but what is certahily true. And therefore I think, it fiot amifs to hefiow fome few froort Notes on fever al cf the Paragraphs in order as they

Sed. I. This Man in the light flaxen hair feems to have been ta-ken for a red Man. by Alice, to whotn he appeared, for a good while But in procefs of the Story, it will he plain that it was no Man, but an Apparition. This appearing to her in an alluring human fhape ^ itjLendale'j iVife, who was hanged for a Witch here at Cam-bridge on Jefus Qrcen, caufed a Spirit or Daemon to appear to her Maid in the jhape of a proper Teoman-like Man, andfollicitedher to marry him, drivijig on the bufinefs a long time, as the Maid con-feffed to a learned fr) end of mine, and my felf ) this appearing, I fay, in this fhape, feems to be a trick. ^0 familiar ife his con-verfe to her, that he might get her into a farther fnare. H^he-ther fuch as Lendale'j iVlfe intended, 1 leave to others to con-

jeBure,

Sed. 3. VA-'ethevVoW^ls threatning the Daughter was not from his dlfple'nfure ^gainl^ her uncornpliablenefs with the Man in the light flaxen Hain ^^^^ ^^«^^ Se^ion willgive more light to confider,

compare^

of the Collegian. % 3

compared with this frcfent SeHion. But in ths me(tn tims it may not be wifeafonahle here to note^ xvhat danger there may be in lif-tening to Ajtrologers or Fortune-tellers (for fo this Follei: Is called by an able Phyfician in Lincolnfhire, in his Letter to me, ) For a Man may eafilyfuffer hurt if they prediH ill, by the Activity cf evil Spirits xvithwhom they are fome hovp in cojifederacy, and with vphom it is a thoufand times more eafis to do mifchicf than good, and there^ fore they will not Hick^to do ity to gain credit to their Client ^ viz-the Aftrologer or Fortune-teller.

Sedt. 4. The flaxen hair'd Man flinging down his Club with that violence arnongft- the PanchinSt and yet breaking none of thcm^ nor it making any noife when itfeemed to hit amongfl them ( as it was anfwered to my Query made touching this pafage ) is a72 indicati-on, that this was to the fight what that monjlrous thiimpitig ag^ainfl the door in the following Story ^ Sedt 9. was to the hearing. That the Senfes in both were in a gre.it meafure impofed upon by the ope-ration of theje Dazmons. And that therefore here is the pr§t hint ' opthis flaxen bair'd Mms being an Apparition. A7td a^iothsr is alfo contained in this fame SeBion, In that her Father being fev?' ral times called out by her to fee this Man, he never could fee hiyn^ though he appeared fo conveniently placed as that her Father might as well fee himas herfelf asfhe anfwsred to Mr. Wyche upon my that, pafage,

Sed:. 5. Hisfofrerjuently appearing to the Maid, as is manifefl out of this SeBion and the former ^ and with filch an horrid inten-tion fignified by his bloody JQiifeand Hand,though the Maid by her anfwer herefeems not yet to be aware of it that it was an Appariti-on ; yet *tis no contemptible argument that it was. For what Man in his Wits would venture himfelf fo oft in view to act this part. And it is hugely incredible but that he would have been feen by fever at others as well as her^ if it had been a Man^ when he waifeefTi of none befides her, faving one Richard Coiins, who bilor^ged to William Meddalf ^ Family, as is fetdown, Scdt.6. J^T^hichfeems done onpurpofe to put a trick.upon both the Daughter and Father whom he dogd when he came out from home to fee him,as that Sedion declares. Sedl. 7. This paffage alfo intimates that the Daughter tool{_ this Apparition to be be a real Man still. But that, tljcrc was PJ'^tch-craft in the hulinefs, the Story in Sedl. 8. does man -f eft 'y difccvn: For I making a Query upon that pafiage \jbatfJde had no fooncr turned her back ^«^ the Dijh danced about on the Tabled how p:e dbuldfee it her back.being turned^ fioe did anfwer, fne turned abcu: ( hearing, fiippofe, the noife of its motion on the Table ) and there faw it turn about and fall. The turning her Frumenty aJfo Into a;i hard Curdy is another indica.'ion of PVitchery in the bufincfsy . «./ that this Speclrs of a flaxen hair'd Man wasfint to her by that .-Irt.

E e 4 But

24 A Continudtio)^

'But ( Section the <)th ) foefeems to he v^ell convinced it was rf;? ■A-pparltioriy her felf declaring^ it dij appear d (though commonly ^ Jhefaidf in anfwer to a Query ofminey he went behind fame Houje, Barn, fVall^ or Hedge ) and he fe ems (Sedl. loj to have appea-red on afudden when (he Hooped for a Pin. And //* poller was the caufe of alt her trouble^ this Daemon did as other Daemons often have done, that is, betrayed their Clients. But the Law can pro-ceed upon noftich evidence y nor is it fit it [houldt for fear injury be .done to the innocent.

But that William MedcalfeV houfe was haunted or infefled by Witchcraft, the Pranks fet down in the following^ Sections of the Narratl'vedo plainly enough evince. And that pf the Daughters Lockaj'd hair is fuch an argument as no one can poffihly evade it. But tB efitangle things thus is an ujual feai ofthefe ludicrousSifirhs, And this reminds me of a Story told me by W. M. majiy years age^ . of an houfe haunted fome where in Lincolnffiire, 'tp/j^r^ it was ufual with thefe Goblins in a H^om tmfurnifht, unlefs with the Lumber of broksn Chairs and Stools^ and old Bed-fleads ( in which B^om they hung up their Hanks of Yarn againfl the Wall) to wind all this Tarn on thofe old pieces of Lumber, fo perplexedly and entangledly that they could not^ without fpoilivg it, endeavour to difent angle it, but letting it be as they found it, the next night thefe Goblins of themfelves would take it off clear without hurt^ and mak$ it Uf in Hanks and hang it up orderly as before.

This Magical matting of the Daughters hair into a pyitch-hcl^, and the leaping of her Diftaff, Sed:. 2 1. out of her Wheel fever ak times into the Floor, in the fight of her Mother alfo, bejides what happened to her Father, Sed. K^.zo.fhew plainly that it- was no deluded jancy of the Daughter, hut the real effeBs of Witchery^ M/hich will he abundantly more confirmed out of the foUowing Story eftheftirs in Sir William York'j houfe, efpecialiy if that be true which is bruited in the Country, that they came from the fame hand^ that the troubles in William MedcalfeV Family did. But hg that how it will, the enfuing Narrative isfo palpable an evidence of things done by Demons c?r Spirits, that having got into my hands an nuthe'ntick.Copy of fome of the moft remarl^ame paffages of thofe difiurhances, by my worthy friend Mr. Richardfon, though I have heard frgmmore hands than one how unwilling ctir William was to have the thing made publiel<^; yet I will prefume fo much upon his goodnef, and love of truth, andufefulin§lru^ionoftheJ4^orlH, as $0 adventure to difpleafe his natural humour whilst haply 1 may, upon hif better confideration, gr at i fie fome more noble principle in him for I k^ow nothing in the thing that can turn to his difhonour. For shebeii of Msn have heei^ ajfaulted by the Devil in extraordinary

of the Colk5^ion, 25

ioa.ys^ ani it has hsen their glory that by their Faith and courage^ and humble Confidence in the Arm of God they have overcome him. fVherefore without any farther fcruple I (hall take the boldnefs to fet down the above /aid Narrative as follows.

RELAX. V.

Jl true and faithful Narrative of the dtfiurhdncB fvhich was in the Houfe of Sir William York /// the Farifh ^/Leffingham in Lincolnfhire, fcHt by the former hand to the fame -party,

lXI^ May 1679. Sir William Ihrk, being from home, there X was a great noife made by the lifting up of the Latch of the outmoft Door, which continued with great quicknefs and noife for the fpace of two or three hours, till betwixt ten and eleven of Clock in the night. His Lady then being at home with few Servants, apprehended it to be Thieves, and there-upon they went to the door, and fpake to them, and afterwards winded a Horn, and raifed the Town, and upon die coming in of the Town, the noife ceafed, and they heard ao more of it till May following.

a. And then Sir Willi am being at London^ the fame norife was made at the door as before, for two or three nights together, and then they began to believe it to be occaiioned by fome ex-traordinary means. This was heard alike by 20 feveral peribus then in the Family, who looking out at the Windows over the door heard the noife, but faw nothing. About a month aftcr^ when Sir l^illiam had returned from London, he being in Bed, and his Lady ready to go in, he heard the fame noiie again ; which held about half a quarter of an hour and ceafed, and be-gan again feveral times that night, the fame perfons being ther> in the houfe aifo, and taking the fame care to difcover it : at the end of this knocking there was as if it were a thrufting with a Knee, only more violent.

. 3. About the middle of '^idy Sir William and his Lady be-ing both from home, and the Servants fiiring upexped:.!i g their ,|€tj|fn that nightj they heard a noife in the Hall, being the ncxq f-v-\ ' '. ■ . ■ Room

26 A Continuation

Room tO them like the dapping of the Door at the feec of the Stairs, and going in, they found the Chairs all let in the middle of the Hall, which they did fet in their ufual pla-ces again, and returned into the Kitchin, and in a little time hearing the like noife again, they went into the Hall, and found the faid Chairs removed into a pafTage between the faid Kitchen and Hall.

4. In Augufly about nine or ten of the Clock, moft of the
Family being in Bed, and Sir WillUyn near upon it, he heard
a knocking at the door under the flairs, as if it were with the
end of a good thick ftick ; at which being a little furprized,
^nd going down, the faid noife began again, but afterwards he
heard no more of it that night.

5. About a fortnight after that, and about ten of the Clock,'
Sir William being in his Clofec in the Hall over againft the faid
door, heard a very violent knocking at the faid doer, and be-
ing furprized, could not find the Key very quickly, but after
he had, he went into the faid room or hole under the Stairs,
which the noife left, and nothing being there, he (fate down in
the Hall with half a fcoreof the Family with him about half an
hour, and aU continued quiet. And then he went into his
Chamber, but took the Key of the laid Room under the Stairs
in his Pocket, being very hard to believe any fuch extraordina-
ry thing. And immediately the faipe noife began again in the
iame place, and he immediately g^ing down, and into the fame
Room again, found all things as before. And the like noife was
heard four or five times the fame Night in the fame place,
Sir William ftill ufing the fame diligence to difcover it as
before. Note here, that as any one came near to that,
or any other door where the knocking was, it always
ceafed, except the firft time when it knocked at the outmoft
door.". ■ - •'

6. About three or four nights after this, about eight of the
Clock, at 'which time the noife ufually began, and at the fame
place and door likewife where it ufually began, there was a
knocking heard as if i^ were with a flick with the broken end.
Sir i^llliam ufcd his former diligence to difcover it. This noife
was repeated about three or four times, and left off about eleven
of the Clock. After this Sir William and his Family being af-
t^r this manner fo much difturbed, he refolved to do what he
could to find it oat. This noife therefore which was heard fome-
time; every other night, fometimes every night, as foon as it "h^-
g^n'Sir Wi^Jiam ZQQk all the Family into one Room., that he
' ■ might

oftheColkEiion. 27

mighr be fcciired that there was no Cheat in it. Which the Servants gladly yielded lo, being all mightily a^Frighrcd.

7. About September^ the Noile began to be greater, and to
be in a Room unfurnifhed, dcligncd for a great Parlour, f^nd
was like to a Man walking up and down, and fomerimes run-
ning, fometimes like a Man walking on Stiks, and fometimej
knocking at the Ceiling, or top of the Room, but not above half
a fcore ftroaks at a time, yet Ibmetimes fewer, and fometimcs
more, ftill as he went towards it.

8. Afterwards the faid Noife began to be more dreadful and
greater yet, and in more places, v/hich mightily difordered Sir
TVillianh. ancient Father ; and his Lady and Children very much.
Upon which they were thinking upon leaving the Houfe, Sir
William was willing they fliouid, but unwilling to leave ix.
himfelf, and thereupon they all continued. At this time Sir
William had a Plummer putting up Lead about the Houfe, to
convey the Rain that fell into a Ciflern, and this Knocking
was often .againft the Lead, and often againft the Iron that bore
it, in imitation of the Plummers knocking in the Day-time.
He had likewife Carpenters at the fame time, and fometimes
this Noife was like their Chopping ar the Wood in the Yard,
infomuch, that the head Carpenter faid, That if he had not
known his Servants to be in the Houfe, he fhouid have thought
they had been Chopping. Sometimes it was like the Servants
Chopping of Coals in the Coal-yard ; fomerimes Knocking az
the Doors of Out- houfes, at the Walh- houfe, Erew-houfe, and
Stable doors ; and as they followed it from place to place, it
ftill immediately, and in one inftant removed. Tliefe were the
ufual Noifes that were every Night when it came, which w^s
3 or 4 times a Week.

9. But fometimes it was a great deal more terrible, parciciT-
Jarly when Mr. Br own, a Relation of Sir William's Brother
Brown, was here. The Noife began about the uiual time of
the Night, and at the ufual place. Which faid Noife m one
place or another held all Night, fomedmes at the Door under
the Stairs, fometimes running up and down in the Parlour,
fometimes knocking violently at the wood of the Windows,
fpmetimes againft the Spouts, and fometimes againft the fore-
mentioned Ciftern, and fometimes againft the outmoft Doors,
as if it had been fome great piece of Timber thrown againft them,
infomuch that the Carpenters which were in the Houfe, faid
it was JmpofTible for all the Arc and Strength of Man to make
fuch a noife without battering the Doors in pieces^ and yet ex-
j^iining, they found the. Poor f^rm and whole, not the Icsd

" ^ * ' ■ '' ' ' battercft

2 8 A Continuation

battered or ftraincd : Sometimes this noife was like the tum-bling of Tiles from the (ide of an Houfe.

10. This noifc growing worfe and worfe. Sir WdlutmioV
lowed it, demanding in the Name of God what was the occafi-
onof it, but received no anfwer; but it ftill removed to
another place : Particularly one Night it being very extraor-
dinary in the great Parlour, Sir William kept the Family in
another Room, and with a Candle in his Hand, walked in the
fame Parlour, but heard nothing. Afterwards confidering the
fame God could proted him in the Dark as well as in the light,
he put out the Candle, and (hut the Door, and walked there
a quarter of an Hour, hoping fome difcovery might be made
to a fmgle Perfon, which was not made to more. After he had
walked a quarter of an Hour in the dark, the Noife began at
the wood of the Window in the fame Room, only on the out-fide.
At which he demanded as formerly, In the Name of God what
was the meaning of it ? Upon which it immediately ceafed in
that place, and removed to a Dial that flood about lo or 2o
Yards from the Houfe, and knockt violently there, and took the
rounds as formerly again. This Night Sir William likewife
opened a Bible, and laid it in the Room under the Stairs where
it began - but neverchelefs, the Noife was there afterwards, and
the Bible not altered. After which, he went into the Chamber
with the Family, and having been a little time there, there be-
gan a very great Drumming at a pair of Wain fcoat- doors, be-
tween the Hall and the great Parlour, imitating Drummers in
their feveral ways of Beating, and varying it as they ufually
do, but it was, as if it was done with Hands againft the Wain-
fcoat.

11. About 3 or 4 Nights after this, this noife of Knocking
began as at former times, and Sir William lighted a Candle,
and fet it in a high Candleftick, in the middle of the Hall, and
went up into his Chamber with all his Family; and whilft
they were above, this Drumming noife began at the Door again,
in a very dreadful manner. They were at their Devotions,
which when they had finifhed, Sir Willtam went out firft him-
felf, and went down Stairs, and found the Chairs removed, and
the Candle put out, the Snuff hanging bent down, and the
Candleftick removed into the Paflage, between the Kitchen and
the Hall.

1 2. This was about the beginning of OBohery and the fitting of she Parliament drawing nigh, which required Sir WilljJim., attendance, and he being much concerned upon the leaving his Family in fuch Difturbances, an«l intending to fet forward oa'

of the CoUe5iion. 29

Munday before the fitting of the Parliament, which was Oclober 16, His Brother Brown and his Wife, Sir Pf^lliams only Sifter, and feveral other Friends coming to take their leave of him; the noife was heard at the Door under the Stairs that Night, buc very litcle to what ufually. And accordingly Sir fVilliam went to London, intending that if the Noife continued, his Lady and his Children fliould follow him, and that his Father (hould go to Mr. Broxvns at Horblin ; but by God's Bleiring, from that time to this it was never heard any more.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CT^ HIS is a very true and aJfuredDhry of the chief FaJfAges '^ in thofe ftirs made in Sir William YorkV HoHfe^ bat mthal a very brief one. Wloich made me get Mr,'BJichzvdi(or\ tofendcer" tain Queries touching feveral Fajfages rvhich were anfweredfrom d very fur e and authentic^, Hand ; and in virtue cf which AnfwerSg I fhall be able to give a flop to all the tergiverfations of the hicredu-lousj and their evaforious Pretences ^ as if thngs might be refolved into waggifh Combination. As firii en,

Sedb I. Ivodi cenlfied (fo that no Man can pretend that the Party that made that Noife with the Latchy did upon the blowing of the Horn, flink, away before the Town could come in ) that the noife eontinued till the People of the Town came to the Gave ; and that it wdi impofpble but that if any Perfsn had been within the Tardj they mufl have difcovered him^ becaufe there is a V/all about i o Poot high round the Tard^ fo that he could no way efcape. And befideSj that it hapned in that time of the Tear, when it is in a manner all Night long Twilight, fufficient to dif cover any Perfon^ if any were there to be difcovered'^ it is not probable, if there had been need, but that fome of the Company would come with hanterm or other Lights.

Sed:. 2. Thofe Perfons that lookt out of the W-ndow to the place where the noife wai made, could not but fee if there were any Mafd thereto make that noife, it being dons by Moon-fhine, ( as is an-fwered to my Query on this Pajfage ) fuffclent to difcover if any Perfon had been there, if not who it were. And this diligence bting repeated for fome Nights together, and nothing difcerned, it is ma-* nifeft, that the noife woi made hyfoms D^no^i or Spirit^ not by any Mam

JO j4 CbntinuAtion.

Secfl. 5. N<?>t% T:hat the noife at the Door of the B^om under the Stair Sy it could not he difcemed^ whether it was on the injide of the Door, or on the outjide, as was ar?fvered to one ofmyQiicricSy And therefore Sir William feeing no body at the outfidc to caufc that ncifdy which he ynight eafily have done by the light of bis Candle, if there had been any body, he wait into the l^om to fee if he could difcovar any one there. But finding no body^ locl<t the Door^ and and yet the noife began again in the fame f^om^ but upon afecond fearchy no body found therein. And this noife, and this diligence infearching the fame place feveral times repented i?2 one Nighty by one naturally incredulous of any fuch extraordinary things ^ and re^ cciving full fntisfaFtion thcrcfroniy mcthinkj fhouldfbake the mo^ obdurate Saducee, and make him afoamed of his fond Incredulity. But now for the ceaftng of the iQiockjng when any one came near to any Door where the linockiiig was • this was no Impediment to the certain 'Experience of that under the Stairs^ becaufe they by the light of a Candle plainly, though atfome diflance, feeing there was , no body at the outfide of the Door, and finding no body within the : B^om or Hole, which was lockt ; notwithftanding the ceafing of the knocking^ they might be fare that the knocking was not made by the Hand of any Mortal. Nay I will farther add from certaifi Informa-tion, that there were fcarce any of the Houfe but have feen the Door at the fame time the noife was made there, a7id no body at it ; and that Sir William hi7nj'clf particularly has fee n the Door from the top of the Stairs with a light in his Hand fever a I time:, while the noife was there, which fometimes continued till he came down feve-ralfieps, and once till he came over agaitiH the Door, within a yard of it, or thereabout, but faw no body ; fo certain an Experi-ment is this cfDcvmcniacal opgyations.

S^t^. 6. This taking the whole Family into one Boom, was of very good confequc7ice ; for thereby it was plain that 'none of the F-^mily plaid thefe Freaks, nor augmented them by any humourfome Imitation. And it is incredible any ftr anger Jhould venture, as I ttndcrftand by the Anfwer to my fifth Qusry. Which affures me, that on the firHKight the Houfe was fear ched every where, and the Doorf were always lodit, and Sir William had the Kfys given to him. What ftranger therefore i?! his Wits, would adventure Upon fik:hfreaklfj Exploits, wherein he did himfelffo little good, when he was in fuch apparent danger to be taken in fuch a numerous Fa-' mily.

Scd:. 7. My fixth Query was upon this feventh SeEiioh, whictt was this : Was Sir William in the Room where fomeching leemed to walk, to run, to go on Stilts, &c. and whether it was pot fo dark, bur that he might fee if there had been d

Man

\

of the Collection. 5 1

Man there. To xvhich is atifwered. He fomcthnesvpeyjt in vpith ^ Candle^ andfimetimes without, yet could difcover nothing ; nnd iJ any Per Jon had been there, it was impojfihle for him to efca-pe out r/ the B^om undifioiered, the Door heifzg lockt. And I may add farther, the outward Doors being lockt^ that would havefujpcicntly made hitn liable to be take7i, if it had been a Man.

Sedt. 8. This Apiflj imitation of the noife of PVorkmenj fcews
it to be fame trifling D<zmon, as alfo that fudden removal from one
place to another, and its being heard info many places at once,
plainly argues it could be no Man, unlefs there were more than
one, which would make themftill the more obn^xioui to be taken.
Scdt. 9. The continuance oftheflirs alfo aU Night, argues it-
not to be probable it was any Man. For who would difquiet himfelf
a. whole Night, meerly to amtife others for 720thing. But that bat-
tering noife at the Door, demonftrntes it was not the Feat cf any
Mortal. And befides this noifc, as Mr. Edward Brown ^^/?^ f/Jcr,
who was there thit very Night, ff^rites to Mr. Ricbardfcnj i-hs
iron Latch of the great Door cfthe I{com, which wasjiiil under that
in which he lay, feemed to him to 'move withfuch wonderful fw if tnejl
up and down, and withfuch very great noife, as he could not think.
any humane Art or Dexterity coidd effect. But he defer ibes alfo
the battering noife he heard at that Dcor. There feefned, faith he^
fometimes to be fuch extraordinary Thtm.ping a7id K^nocking againlf
- the [aid Door with fuch wonderful loud noije, as iffome had mana-
ged an extraordi?iary great piece of Timber with the greateff Ar$i
' to give it the grcateft advantage to force the Door open, or breaks
it in pieces '-i and in deliberate Thoughts, I could not conceive how
the hrongeft Doors or H'^alls could fland before fuch force as was
threatnedby fuch a very great and loud Noife. Theje two kinds of
noifes, fays be, continued in my hearing till about break, of Day,
with fie pient little intenniffions \ and yet in the Morning boih the
iron Latch and Door were found unalter'd in the very fame fiate
they were left when we went to Bed. And very intelligent Perfo^is,
fays he, in the Family faid. That when thty went to the Door, or
went out in the ti?ne ofjuch difturbances, they could fee 7io body,
mr perceive any motion in any thing on which the invifible Agent
didfeem to operate. H^hicb is the very fame which I heard from
the above-mentioned Doclor cf Phyfckj i^- ^^is Letter to me. Mr.
Brown in his Difcourfe to Mr. Richard Ion in the Country, touch-
ing this thumping Noife at the Door, told him he could not compare
it to any thi?2g better, as to the force thereof than to the Roman
^amt which :he Romans battered down iValls with. But it being
experi&nied of aU Hands, that the Noife feemed to come from a
force against 'ths Dcor^ that wQuld if it had been real^ break, ths

Dcor,

J 2 A Contif^HAtloff,

door nil in piece Sy and yet the door fuffering notJiin^ fr»m it, it is a plain dcmonftration that it was no Feat of any Marty but a pre-Jligious Frolkk. offome Daemon. And lastly, what one Man or ma-ny could mal{e fucb a noifs on the top of the boufe, asifmofi of the Tiles v^cre fallingy and how' could he get down fofuddenly as 7iot t($ he difcovered ?

Sevt. I o. My fcventh Query was upon this SeHioh, viz. Whe-lier v/hen Sir IVllliam went into the great Parlour with a Can-dle in bis hind to walk there, di-d the noife ceafe at his approach or Ixfc re. To which is anfwercd, It ceafed upon his going in^ and asfoon as he was gone outy it would often begin again. iVhence it is p/ai/iy if the noife had been caufed by any vifible perfon, that perfon would have been difcovered by the light. But that which CAufcdit did not fo much as remove out of the B^om in all likelihood^ it beginning again asfoon as Sir VVilliamV back^was turned.

Sed:. 1 1 . My eighth Qiiery belongs to this Seciinny and tofomi fart oftheformery namely y Whether when the Drumming was, and the Candle put out, and the Chairs removed, the out-doors of the houfc were lockt, fo that none might efcape out. To which it is anfwered, They were lockty and Sir William kept the Kjy^- PVhich indeed was every flight dofjey as was noted in the fixth Seel ion. And therefore it is incredible that any man would adventure to make fuch a thundeying noife on the Wainfcoat doors y imitating the various beating of Drums, or do any other difcovera-hie Feats info numerous a Family where there were fo many to find him and apprehend him, and the doors [hut upon him, and that he could make no efcape. To which you may add, that the Dogs were never ohferved to bark^ at any of thefe dljlurbances as mofl of the Family affr?n, all of them that never above once ( which is a thing cbferved alfn in the Story of the Devil of Mafchon ) and yet the noife was external^ all the Family, and other fVatchers hearing it alike.

Thefe were my main Queries upon this Narrativey and t mufl profefs that I am abundantly fatisfied in the Anfvers to them* Nor ppiH I omit what will reach farther than to thefe Queries. For I dm affuYcd from the fame hand, that Sir William being a perfon natural!}' incredulous offuch things, and impatient of being impO' fed upon, ufed allpojfhle care and diligence to detect the Impcfiurey if there had been any, and this will reach to more particulars than I could propofe by wiy of'^cry. H^oich hitherto has been only touching matter of Fad:. But I was alfo fo curious as to ask, v^hat TVitneffes there were befides tho/e of Sir William'^ Famifyy which amolfnt to about Twenty, and I was informed that moft of his Te^-hafhs h turns watching there, c6M witneft to the fame matters.

And

of the Collection 3 J

And there were at leaft forty Perfons that were Eye-witneJJeSi or rather Ear-witneffes, the diflnrhance being by Noifes., not li'^^2i' tit'ions properly fo called^ andmofl of the Servants are ftill in Sir William'j Family, that were there in the time of the difiurbunce. Sd that if any one have the curiGJity to enquire of the truth of the hu{mefsy he may eafily get full fatisfaB ion in the Parifh of Let-fingham.

My lafi ^lery was, Whether any one was fufpedted to be the caufe of thefe difturbances, and upon what occafion. But the avfwer was prudent and Chrifiian, That there might be fame per^ fojifuFpsHed, but the proof being not full, he was unwilling to lay fa heavy a charge on any one. Nor is that much to my purpofe, unlefi the party rufpecied pooidd prove the Cobler, that Alice Medcalfe'f flaxen haird l^ifitant affirmed to her to be the Author of her trou^ bles. For the7i the certainty of thefe dijiu- bances in Sir WilliamV houfei of which there is fo full and ample Tefiimony, would be a far-ther confirmation ofthofe things that are f aid to have happened at Williatri MedcalfeV, they boch being as well from one hand as in onePanfh. "

But in the mean time thefe difturbances at Sir William York x having fuch clear and unexceptionable Evidence, that they were not the Feats of any Man, but the Freaks offome invifible Dcemon, my communicating this Narrative to the World, as it cannot but deferve thanks of the I^ader^ fo I hope it will obtain pardon of Sir William, that I have not concealed his Ndme^ no more thanfup^ frefi the Story it felf which would have beefz maim without it, but have exhibited it in its due fulneJJ for the conviction of this incre-dulous Age, and confounding of Sadncifm and X7ifidelity, without the leafi blemifh to fo worthy a Perfon. Who was fo much under the proteBion of the Almighty that this Demoniacal Power was not-ably limited and curbed^ forafmuch as it was obferved that, unlefl it was in the Hall {and there was only a few Chairs) the diflurbatice was never in any ^pom that was furnlfhed. And it was alfo co7i^ fined as to time 5 for unlefl it bega?i at Eight, Nine or Ten of thi Clock, it came not all that Night, and ufually left off about Ele~ ven or Twelve, tlicre is only that Night excepted, when Mr. Brown was there. And laftly, when Sir Wili^m was in the great eft [traits of all, Sedt. 1 2. a7id intended to have his Wife a7id Children come up to London to him, and to dijpofe of his Father at Mr.BrownV at Horblin, to prevent that trouble, the dlfturbance ^uite ceafed. But Sir Willi amV Chrifiia7i Faith and Courage in the mid ft of thofe difturbances, while they c&}itinu?d, was very eminent and co?i' Jpicuous, and I know no injury done to him or any elfe in my troiy-mitting the ?nemory thereof to future Agei,

' Ff RELAX,

^A AContinuation

RELAX. VL

A ft cry of the marvelous condition of one Robert I Churchman of B^lih^im^ fome fix orfeven Mile^\ off from C^mhnAgQ^ vphen he was inveigled in\ Qiiakerifm, how ftr^ngdj he was poffejfedby a\ Spirit thatffoke within him^ and ufed his Organs \ in de [fight of him ^ while he was in his fits. And how he was recovered from his Error ^ aud regain* • ed to the Church by the devotions and diligence of^ Dr. J, Templar, fiillMinijhr of that place ^ as it is fet dowriin his Letter te a friend^ which is as follows,

s i R,

YOUR defire to be acquainted with fome paffages con-cerning the Quakers in this Town, obligeth me to give ^ you the following Account. At my firft fettlement here, I found ' them very bufie in enticing my people to a compliance with their perfuafions in Religion. This defign they did attempt to ac-complilh by difperiing their Papers among them. Two of my Pariiliioners I had a particular eye upon, namely I^phert Church-man and his Wife. They being Perfons of a very good life, and of a plentiful Ellate, I was under a fear that their departure from the Church might be a means to induce others to the fame pradice. The firft, in many difcourfes I had with him, did manifeft a very ftrung inclination to the Principles of the Qua-ken. 1 he fecond was fo far engaged, that the Quakers did commonly report, that ^principle was wrought in her.

As I was one day in conference with the laid ^pberp Church-man, I delired him that when any of their Books came to his hand, he would do mo. the kindnels to bring them to me, that we might read them over together, afluring him of no unwil-lingnefs in me to harken to whatfoever fhouid appear reafonable. What I defired he performed not long after. When I had recei-ved the Paper into my hand, before I began to read, Ifuggeft-cd to him, that it would be convenient that the perfon who had been ihe caufe of his feducemenc fliould b? fcnt for, and hear

what

iof the CoUeH'ion, 55

what was rallied co the Conrenrs, which be.willinpjiy confenr-ed CO "^'v'nen the Quaker was come, one branch c f v/.u- dif-courfe was, iVhethcr the ScYtptiire is to hs owned as a /^«/^, which the Qua/ier denyed, afFerting,, that the ^iile was within them. M-ter the expence of two or three hours in difcourfe about this and other matters, I defired Robert Churchman to take notice,^ ihat the Hunkers did noc own the Scriptures iot their Rule. 'V/bich before this conference; I had intimated to him, but found him unwilling to believe, It pleafed God fo far to blefs what was fpoken, that the next time he met his Brother Tho??2as Churchman., he told him of what had palled at my houfe, and that now he was afllired that the Quakers did not acknowledge the Scripture for their Rule, and for his part, he would not be of chat Reli-gion which doth diiown the Scripture in rhat particular.

Not long after, the Wife of the forem.entioned Qu^iker coming to his houfe to vifit his Wife, he met her at rbe door, and told her (he fhodld not come in, intimating that her viiit would make divilion betwixt them. After fome Parley the giuakers Wife fpake unto him in thefe words, Thou wilt not believe except thoii fee a Sign, and thou may eft fee fome fuch. Within a few nights after Robert Churchman had a violent ftorm upon the Room where he lay, when it was very calm in all other parts of the Town, and a Voice within him, as he wa§ in bed, fpake to him, and bid him, Sifzgpraifes, fing praifes, telling him, that he fnould fee the glory of the New Jerufalem, about which time a glimmering light appeared all about the Room. Toward the morning the Voice comm.anded him to go out of his Bed naked with his V/ife and ChiJdren. They all Handing upon the Floor the Spirit making ufe of his Tongue, bid them to lye dowh and put their Mouths in the dull, which chey did accordingly, It likewife comrnanded him to go and call his Brother and Siitcr^ that they might lee the Nevp Jerufalem, lo whom he weni naked about half a Mile.

When he had delivered his Meffage, that which fpake wi ch-in him, charged him to denounce wrath againft them, and de-clare that Fire and Brimftone would fall upon them, as it did upon Sodom and Gomorrah, if they did aoi obey, and io he re-turned to his own houfe. Where, upon the Floor of a low Room, he ftood naked about three or four hours /U that while he was adting in a very unufual manner, iometimes the Spirit within forced him to Ung, fomerimes to bark like a Dog. When his Brother and Sifter who followed him were very im-portunate with him to refill it, it bid him to kill them making ufe of thefe words. JUfi my Enemies which would not that I

' Vi % . f^ouid

?6

A ContimAtion

fhouldreigyi over them-y hrin^ them and flay them before my face, Ic made him to utter with great readinefs many places of Scripture, which he had no knowledge of before. The drift of what was fpoken was to perfuade him to comp!y with the Q^al{ers, and ic named feme which live in the neighbouring Towns. About three or four hours being thus fpent, he came to himfelf and was able to give aperfed: account of what hdd befallen him.

Several nights after, the lame trouble returned upon him. His Wife was tortured with extraordinary pains 5 the Children which lay in the Room complained that their Mouths were flop-ped with Wool as they were in Bed. The difturbance was lo great, that he had thoughts of leaving his houfe for a time, and made it his defire to be with meat mine. I prevailed with him not to be fo Tuddcn in his removal, but to make feme farther trial. It pleafed God upon a continuance with him in Prayer every day in the Ijoufe, that he was at laft perfecfily free from ail moleitation. The Quakers hearing of his condition gave ic out, chat the Pov^er of God would come upon him again, and that the Wound was but skinned over by the Prieft. Which made m 2 the more importunate with him to keep clofe to the publick Service of God, and to have nothing to do with them or their Writings.

Which diredlion he followed nil November 1661. and then perufing one of their Books, a little after upon the tenth day of that Month, his troubles returned. A voice within him began to fpeak to him after the former manner. The firft Sentence which it uttered was, Ceafe thou from Man, vphofe Breath is in his Ncjirils.for vpherein he is to be accounted. The defign which he difcerned that it did aim at was, to take him off from coming to the Church ( where he had been that day ) and from hear-ing the Word of God. Ic fuggefted feveral other Scriptures in order to the perfuading of him to a compliance with the Sluaksr^, and told him, that it would ftrive with him as the Angel did with Jacob until the breaking of the day, at which time it left him. The two next nights ic gave him the fame moleftation, faying, Ic muft be with him as it was with David, who gave no fleep to his eyes, nor flumber unto his eye- lids, U72til he found a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God ^j/' Jacob. Upon Wednefday at night he was very peremptory in his refifting of it. When ic began to foUicite him, he reply ed. That hefaw it wasa5;?/nVof deluiion, which he would not obey. Upon which xhc Spirit denounced a Curfe againft him in thefe words, Go ye curfed into everlafting^iret and fo left him with a very great heat in his body.

After

of the Collection, ^ J

After this, he was in his own apprehenfion in a very com-fortable condition, and while he was confidering what had hap-pened, a Voice within him fpake to him faying, That the Spi-rit which was before upon him was a Spirit of deluficn, but now the true Spirit of God was come into him. It acquainted him that the Docflrine of the Trinity was true, and that God had an Eled: People, and that thofe whom the Father Eled:ed, the Son hath redeemed, and whom Chrift Redeemeth, the Ho-ly Ghoft Sand:ifyeth, and told him that the Minifter of the Town would farther inftrud him about the truth of thefe things. Upon Thurfday morning about break of day, it fet him upon his Knees, as he was in Bed, and bid him farewel. The fame day it came upon him in the Field q,s he was going to, and co^ ming from theMarket^and prefled upon him to believe that itwas the good Spirit which he was ad:ed with, which he fiili doubted of. One night that week amongfl: many Arguments which it ufed to that purpofe, it told him if he would not believe with* out a Sign, he might have what Sign he would. Upon that Robert Churchman defired, if it was a good Spirit, that a Wier-Candleftick which flood upon the Cup-board might be turned into Brafs. Which the Spirit faid he would do. rrelcntly there was a very unfavoury (mell in the Room, like that of the SnufF of a Candle newly put out ; but nothing elfe was done to-wards the fulfilling of the Promife.

Upon the Lord's day following, he being at Churcn, it came upon him. When the Chapters were named, he turned to thcrn in his Bible, but was not able to read. When the Pialm was fung, he could not pronounce a fyllable. Upon Monday morn-ing his Speech was wholly taken from him. When I cam.e zq him, and asked him how it was wiiih hiai, he moved his head towards me, but was not able to fpeak; I v/aited an hour or two in the Room, hoping that his Speech might have returned unto him, and that I might have gained from him feme account of his condition. But finding no alteration, I defired thofe who were pre lent to joy n with me in Prayer. A_s we v^ere Praying, his Body Vv^ith much violence was thrown out of Bed, and then with great vehemency he called to me to hold my Tongue. When Prayer was done, his Tongue was bound as before, till at iaft he broke out into thefe words. Thine is the KJ^gdom, Thine is the Kjngdoiny which he repeated, I believe above an hundred times. Sometimes he was forced into extreme laughter, icme-times into fingiug ; his hands were ufually im.ployed in beat-ing his Breall. All of us, who ftood by, could difccrn unuiu-al heavings in his bod v. This diltemper did continue towards

Ff 3 th.^

jS A Contimation

the Morning of the next Day, and then the Voice within him fjgnificd ro him, that it would leave him, bidding him to gee upon his Knees in order to that end, which he did, and then preiently he had a perfe(ft command of himfelf.

When I came to him, he gave mc a fober Account of all the Paffages of the Day before, having a diftind: remembrance of what the Spirit forced him to do, and what was Ipokei^ to him by thofe who ftood by. In particular he told me, he w^s com-pelled ro give me that difturbance in Prayer, vvhich I before mentioned, the Spirit ufing his Limbs and Tongue as it plei^fed, contrary to the Inclination of his own Mind.

Upon the T/^wy^/^jy following, the Spirit began to rage after its former manner, as I was at Prayer with him, it was very dircernable how it wrought upon his Body, forced him. to grate his Teeth, and draw his Mouth awry. . He-told me after I had done, that it bid him to denoance Woe againft me. It pleafed God upon continuance in prayer with him, at laft to releafe him of all his Trouble, and fo far ro make it advantageous to him iind his Wife, and fome others, which were too much byaffed with the Principles of the Quakers, that now they have a perfedt diflike of that way, and do diligently attend upon the publick Service of God in the Parochial Church. Sir^ You may be con-fident of the Truth of what is here related, by

Your afTured Friend^

I. 1^82.

J- T.

ADVERTISEMENT.

CJ" H I S Story I thcught fir to ddd to the former additional Stories^ for tbejc -^ Pyeafons. Fir ft j hecaufe 1 have all deftrahle Affu-ranee of the Truth thereof being perfonally acquainted this long time with the Party rhnt wrote this L etter^ whom I kjicw to be a Learned^ Piom^ and Serious Peifon, andfuch as I am coyifident^ ^PQuld not for all the World clofe his Letter fo as he haSy hut that be delivers nothing but what he knew to be truoy hyfueh means ai ts intimated in the Letter itfef 5 that isy cither by his own Ex-

jjerience,

of the ColleUio7t. - 39

perience^ or the Information of ^oh^nQhwrchmzn, vphom he kliew to be a fingular hone ^ Man ^ and utterly devoid of all Fraud and Guile. Moreover J the Writer of this Letter is fo ModeH; that he was ahays very backward from fuhlijhing it by it felf, tho if makes not a little to his I{epute in the faithful and fuccefsful difcharge of the Miniflry. But this new occajion being offer d^ I my Imprtunity obtained of him^ that it might be fublifhed ift this \, ColleSlion of Stories of this nature, which now accordingly is done. ' Myfecond I^eafhiLis, becaufe it isjuch a notable Example of that I danger they pt^f ihemfelves^in, who leave the true Church ofChriH^ . ( which has ihe Seal and "tsfiimony ofChriii; that it is for the main \ commenfurdte to his Word as the Church Vnivsrfal was before the I Apofiafiey and the Reformed Churches are upon the rifmg of the \ Witneffes ) to follow thefeducing of any private Spirit, efpecially \ fuch as ^^ff Cjuakers were at the fir ft ^ being drunk, and intoxicated with Poy/on (j/Familifm, which out of a Spirit of SzduciCm andln-fidelity, believing mfubpftence of the Soul of Chrifi after Deaths anti^uates all things belonging to his j)articular PerCofi, as the Sa-craments, JFeftivals, his Interceffiony and Perfonal coming again to Judgment^ &c. and makes nothing of any Chrift but what is within us. Which is a perfeB diffolution, or nulling of the True, ApO' ftolick} Chriftian Religion, which yet is to be Everlajling, accord-ing to the PrediBion 0/ Daniel.

And my third and la ft ^eafon is, Becaufe] this Story with others of Toldervey, Gilpin, James Nay lor, and the like, will the bet-ter juftifie that Satyrical Paffage of Jof. Glanvir^ Letter to me, vpherein he calls QuakeriHTi, The Sink of Folly and Madnefs ; vphich I conceive he doth, with an Eye to the former times of the Quakers. But that there is now a more tolerable eflimate to be made of them, ( tho fome fordid Badges of Familifm y?z// to flicks to them ; and indeed, all that remains ugly in them is fuch, tho* they do not confider it ) ifhall note in my Adverdfement on thai Letter, which is as follows.

Ff

WHIP

For the

DROLL,

f IDLER to xhz AT HEIST:

BEING

REFLECTIOiNS

O N

DROLLERY

AND

ATHEISM-

Sent upon the occafion of the Drum-
mer of Tedwonh ; in a Letter to the moll:
Learned Dr. HENRT MORE, D. D.

LONDON: Printed MDCC.

( I )

To the

Reverend and Learned

Dr. HEh^RY MORE. D. D.

SECT, I.

Hu Anfwer to (ertam Qaeftions and- Queries touchy ing the Stirs made bj the Drummer 6?/Ted worth.

'Honour sd Sir,

TH E fcrupulous care you take in examining the Scory of the Difturbance at Tedmrth, is no more than be-comes a Philofopher, and one that is not willing to be deceived, And wichout filch a cautious and particular Inquiry, you could not anfwer the Murmurs and petty Eva-fions of wilful Unbelievers, * Thofe Objedions you pickt up at Cambrige, have the ill Fortune to mifcarry in almoft every Circumftance, and are in no likelihood of being believed but at a great diftance. Some of them I could have anfwered up* on mine own Knowledge- and concerning the reft I have made a ftrid inquiry of Mr. MompeJJon himfelf and others, when I was laft in thofe Pares, and upon certain Information I give you this Account.

To the ( I. ) that faith, The Houfe isHented, dnd that this is a device to beat do^n the value of it. I anfwer from his own Mouth, That the Houfe is his own, and fo the Foundation o| this (hifc is overturned. The fecond, of thofe that fay, If /j 4 Trick, to get Monej frsm thcfe that come tojee the Fredigy^ hath : - - as

2 KejleUions on

3S little Trutli, but much more Malice m the firft Contrivers than the former, For this Gentleman being a Perfon of Eftate, I Km confident, fcorns fo bafe and fo beggerly a Policy, and is {o far from making any advantage, that it hath done him very material prejudice in his Fortunes and Affairs. And thofe ftran-gers that came to fee the Prodigy, ufe to leave nothing behind them, except Thanks for the Civility of their Entertainments. *Tis true, (3.) as others fay, That theHotifeis boarded mthout, at leaft a great part of it. But there are no Cellars, as the Ob-jccflion adds, fave only under the Parlour, and the Difturbance was mod in other Rooms. And whereas ( 4. ) *tis objected, That a Kjiight that ojfered to go dovon could not he permitted. 'Tis anfwered me. That the Gentleman might have gone down had liepleafed, and his Servant did, who made a careful fearch, but could find nothing that might be a caufe of the Noife, which he aSirmed to be above, and that it proceeded not from the Cel-lar. And to difable what other Objedors fay, vi:{t ( 5, ) That there was no Drumming in the mid§i of any B^omt hut only a fir iking en the Boards as it were with a Hammer in a corner of the outfides cf the Houfe. I fay, to mill this pretence, Mr. Momfeffon and others alTured me, that the Noife was oft in the midft of the Koom, and oft over Head ; and, he faith. That there is fcarce a Man or Child in the Village, but hath heard and can witnefs it. And after the firft Month it was almofl always within. Thus, Sir, to the Objections of others, which you have gather-edj and to your own Queries I make this return.

Whereas you inquire, ( j.) What part of the Childrens Bed did the Dcemonbeat, and what noife did itmal{e ? *Tis anfwer'd. That it beat againft the Head and Pofts of the Bed, and that when Hands were laid on each fide of them, at thofe times they would (hake as if they would fall in pieces, but nothing elfe could be perceived or felt. The noife was like to that of ftrik-ing with a Hammer. And then, ( 2. j To that whether the Drummer s Drum was ever looked on while it heaty or was it only in the dark,- I am alTured that it was feen while the noife was made upon ir, both by the light of Fire and Candle. ( 3. j To the Query, 14^hat were the Boards that moved, by what Light was their motion feen, and by whom} hin. Mompe(Jo7i anfwers, They were feen move forv^ards and backwards in the light of clear Day, before the Sun was fet, and by a whole Houfe full of Peo-ple. And whereas ( 4. ) you ask, In what clearnefs of Light were the Chairs feen walk^ahouty and by what fVitneffes ? 'Tis an-fwer'd, That they were feen to do fo by Candle -light, and by divers Perfons.

As

Drollery and Atheifm. j

As to what I was a Witnefs of my lelf, I add thefe circum-ftances for the fatisfadion bi your Queries : The Children wei-e in Bed when the Scratching and Panting was, but I atn fure did not contribute to thole noifes. I faw their Hands above the Cloaths during the Scraping, and fearched the place whence thenoife came. To which I might add, That they were little harmlefs modeft Girls, that could not well have been lu-fpecfled guilty of the confidence of fuch a juggle, had it been pof-lible they could have adled in it. For the Panting lam certain there was no Dog in the Bed, for I grafpt it with my Hand, and felt it in all parts, efpecially there where the original mo-tion was. The Bed alfo was fearcht under, but no Dog, nor any Creature tlk could be found there. The Floor I laid (hook with the Panting fenfibly, and yet it was as ftrong and fubftan-tial an one, as ordinarily is feen. But the Children indeed did not feem to be much concerned, having been uled to thofe and ruder noifes, and there was Com.pany in the Room to aflure them.

SECT II.

The affeBed humour ^/Drollery, one caufe of the misbelief of Witchcvdiitj Apparitions, andS^i-rits. And what {hallow Souls the Drolling Hu« mou rifts are in 'points that require a more fe arch-ing Wity and folid Judgment.

THUS Sir, I have briefly anfwered others Ohjecikns^ and your Queries. And becaufe I have an humour to fay lit-tle more, I'll confider (what you know as well as any Man alive) the Reafons Men are fo apt to cavil at this kindiof Re-lations, and are rather willing to believe any thing, than the Truth of fuch a Narrative. They are cheifly, I think, an af-fedled humour of £)r(?//er; and Scoffin^y and a worfe caufe, Afhe-ifm.

For the firft, The fubjedl of ff^itches and Apparitions is an ape and ample occafion. And the Chesiis o{ Impoftures, the Conceiis of Melancholy^ the Credulity oilgmrmcet the Tricks Q^.yVagger)\

4 Kefledtions on

the more folcmn Vanities of Superftitloriy and the Tales of oU y^omefiy thefe are excellent Topicks for a frolick and wanton Fancy. And the defire the i^/mwrn/f hath to be fome body, and to have a Name above thofe of common Apprehenfion, will be lure to adtuate ihe fcoffing Vein ; in the exercife of which, if behave quibled luckily, and made Folks laugh, he is encourag-ed to take all fuch occalions to prove himlelf a Wit, and to jhew he had a pietcy way to play the Fool. And when he hath wanton'd a while, and frolickly toyed in his afFedled Merri-ments, his [{eafon becomes an obedient Servant to his Fancy, He makes himfelf believe, ( by thofe Arguments that at firft were intended only to make him laugh ) and in the end con-cludes in earnelV, that there is neither Witch nor Apparition^ and 'tis well if he flop there.

Now thefe, Sir, are the Wits, ( if we will believe them ) and their Admirers take every Jeft for an Argument, and a loud Laugh upon an idle Tale of a Devtl or a Witch ^ for a Demon-ftration of the Non-exiflence of fuch Beings. And thus the Humour propagates, and Saducifm is the Falhion. Nor is this all but by the fame method, every thing that is facred or ferious hrth been expo fed, and both Government and Religion made the Objed:s of idle and hm^PiickBtiff'oonrji.

'^ And muft we call this Wit, Sir, I confefs, there are few things that urge me more to Indignation, than to hear than Name, which deferves to fignifie better, to be fo injurioufly ap-ply'd. Certainly Wit is not an odd Metaphor, or a lucky 5/-milet a Wild fetch, or unexpeSed Inference, a mimick^ A^ion, or a pretty Kjiack. in telling of a Tale, but it is a Faculty to dive into the depth of things, to iind out their Caufes and Relatives, Confonancies and Difagreements, and to make fit, ufeful, and unobvious Applications of their refped:ive Relations and De-pendencies. For which great and noble Exercifes of the Mind, the Droll is the moft unfit and incompetent Perfon in the World ; and thofe that on this account affume the Prerogative of being the only Wits, are of all iVfen the moft uncapable of being I'o. for that trivial and pcdling way of Funcy and Humour^ to which they are addided, emafculates their Minds, and makes them Superficial, Flaihy, and Fantaftical, by im.ploying them upon Effeminacies, and little apifli Fooleries. And by thefe darling EntertainmentSjofa too Fondly'indu.lg'dFancy,the Mind is made incapable of ferious and deep Reiiedrions, which give it the hoblefl and moft valuable Improvements. So that I have ob-ferved, that the DrolUjig Humour ijls, are for the moft part re-markably dcfedive in clofe Raticcin^^tionSj and the worft in the

Worid

Drollery dnd Atheifm. 5

World at Inference. Which is no wonder, fince Fancy is a defulrory and roving Facuky, and- when 'tis not under theCon-dudlofa fevere judgnnent, not able to keep it felf to a fteady and refolved Attention, much lefs to make coherent Chains of rational dedudtion. So that *tis next to impoffible for fuchWits as thefe, to arrive to more than a Knack of Scoffing at what they unnderftand not. And they are under almoft an invincible Temptation of doing fo, by every thing that is too great for their Comprehenlion. For the Humour that ads them, is Proud and Afluming, and would not have any thing to be va-lued, of which it lelf is incapable, and therefore it depretiates all the Nobler and more Generous matters, which it hath very great reafon to defpair of, and endeavours by ridiculous and in-lolent Scorn to lift it felf above them.

And yet this prefumed Wit, which raifeth them to fuch an elevation in their own conceit, is but ayoung and boyifii Hu-mour, and the very firft Effays of juvenile Invention, are in thefe Exercifes of Fancy, which the maturcr Spirits out grow. For you know. Sir, our Senfes are the firft Powers we exercifc and indulge in our greeneft Years. From them by degrees our Imaginations grow up, and their actions and gratifications are the Pleafures and Entertainments of Youth, which is eafie to obferve in the little Flirts, Quibbles, and Tricks of Fancy, with which the younger Students in the Univerficics are {o much tickled and tranfported. But when Age and Experience ripens the Judgment, ( which is the Faculty of iloweft growth) we then flight this vi^antonnefs and toying of our Fancies, and apply oar felves to purfuits that are more manly and concerning. And when the j udgment is come to its full exercife and pitch, and hath overcome and (iienced the futilities and prejudices of Ima-gination, we are then, and not till then, grown into Manhood. And thofe that never arrive to this confidence, but fpend their Age in fooling with their Fancies, they are yet Children, tho' they have grey Hairs, and are ftill Boys, though paft their greas Climac^erical.

I confefs, Sir, I am not fo Cynical and fevere, but that I allow even to the more improved Genius's their relaxations and plea-lant Intervals. And Sage Socrates himfelf fometimes rid the Boys Hobby-horfe. Fancy may be permittedjits piaifance and in-of-^ fenfive Raileries, fo long as they are governed by the Rules of Vertue, and a prudent Judgment. And no doubt God himfelf allows all our Powers and Faculties their innocent Gratificati-ons. Yea, and I acknowledge a delightful prcttinefs in the tefuk of a managed and judicious Fancy, while it is employed

6 Reflexions on

3n expofing Vice, and conceited Follies, rodeferved Scorn and Liaughter.

Buc when Imagination is rampant, loofe, and ungoveriied^ when it knows no Bounds, and obferves no Decorums, but (hoots at random, and infolently flies at all things that are Auguft and Venerable, itsfallies are then vitious and deteftable ExceiTes; and thofe that are of this Humour, are but a fort of fleering Buf-foons, that is, a better kind of Apes in the Judgment of the Wife, though Wits in their own.

SECT. III.

His ptB Reprehenfion of the quibling Debauches for their Irreverence toward Government d;^d Pveligioe. J^d what an a.bhorrQncQ 4;?^ anti-pathy they have again Ft all Noble Theories ^/Phi* lofbphy, which are above the pitch of their weak Intellectuals »

BU T, Sir, I intimated a greater Charge againft thefe (jui-blin^ Debauches f viz. That they are the Enemies of Govern-ment and Religion, and fhall prove it with this addition, that they are fo of zli the better forts of Knowledge.

* For Government, you know Sir, its Influence depends up-
on the Reverence its Rulers have from the People, and while
they are Men, there will be mifcarriages in publick Affairs and
Managements of State And if all the Miftakes and Faults
of the fupreme Minifters of Rule be tatled and agg^ravated among
the Herd, the Government will thereby be expofed to the
fcorns of the Rabble, an^ lofe a gr^at part of its force with its
Reverence. And in this it fufFers infinitely from the drolling
Phantafticks, who blow in the Sores till they have rankled
them with th^ir malitious and poyfonous Breath, and Ihoot Li-
bels at the Government, till they have made deep Wounds in
its Reputation and Reverence, and turned every Tongue into
a Weapon of War againft it. Thus do theie Chams difcov^r
their Fathers Nakcdnefs, and rejoice to publilh the Shame of
thofe. whofe Failures and Infirmities, Loyalty, Prudence and
Regard to the publick Qiiiet ftiould oblige them to conceal.

Nor, n

Drollery and Athetfm. 7

Nor, (2.) is Religion more beholden to them. ForaMincI that ufech to whiffie up and down in the levities of Fancy, will find a very great Indilpofition ro the fcrious and iolemn, Extrcifes of Piety. And that will grow into an Averfation which will be Aire to prompr the Humourift to rake all occa" iions to expofe it, fo that he quickly jeRs at Scripture, and makes a mock of Sin, plays wjrh eternal Flames, and feoffs at thofe that fear them. As if the facred Oracles were but a Legend of jdle Tales, and Siil but a Name, coined j^y Fancy and vain Fears; as if Hell were but a painred Fire, and the Religious a fort of timerous Fools that are afraid of Bnggs, and the Imagery of Dreams : And if thefe are net yer the real Articles of their Creed, their extravagant Fancies, ind vije Af-ifedlions are like in a Iliorc time to incline rhefc itrrpure Spirits to make them fo. And this fort of Wits are dther Athcifi:s,or as great Prodigies of Folly, if they are not; fince to believe a (God that made, fees, and will judge them, and to judge them, and to Scoff at that tremendous M a jefty, before whom theii: Brother "Wits below tremble, to think the Scriptures are the Infpirations of the God of ^' en, the Laws of Sculs, and grand. Inftriimentsof i ai Happinefs, and yet to to Droli

upon them, and to jeft v. .h the Records of Eternity, to be-lieve endlefs Torments, and everlafting Joys in the Stare im-mediately fucceeding thefe OHr {hort and uncertain Beings, and yet to fport with the Wrath of God, and to make Tricks ac eternal Terrors, to talk trivially of beatifical Enjoyments, and to make as bold with Heaven, as they, do with an imaginary Elypum, Thefe, I fay, are Follies, thefe are degrees of -Impu-dence, beyond all Aggravation, or pcfllbiliry of Expreilion, and did not fad Experience (liew them, one would icarce believe there were fuch prodigious Monfters in Nattire. And to thefe things I add,

( 3. ) Thefe idleDrollifts have an utter Antipr.tliy to all the braver and miOre generous kinds of Knowledge. For that they ^re perfectly indifpofed for Philofophy, and all deep Refcarches, 1 have faid fome things that may luffice for Proof already. And I add this Obfervation to confirm it, That among the nitnerous ■ Youths I have feen bred in a great School, and in. the Univer-fity,! I have noted, that thofecf them who were mcii remarkable for Waggifhnt^^ and Jeftir<g, feldom arrived to anv great Ma-rarities or Capacity for things of confeqnenre and%cight. Arc! indeed, froli^knefs of Fancy, and folidity of Jud^^rjcnr, require difpofitions or Brain that are very diiterect, and iuch as 'eldotn mctc in great degrees,, but in feme very few exirr^ordiriarj

C3- g . TemDcrs^

8 Reflections on

Tempers. But generally, I believe the Droll is very unfit for matters o£ fublimity and fubftance, and therefore, as I inti-mated, end CAVOurs by his Scoffs and injuries to make them ap-pear as much below his ferious notice, as they are indeed above his reach, and in this Defign he hath many great advantages for his abufes. For the Pedantry of Difputcrs that make a loud claim to Knowledge, the Vanity of the extravagant fort of Chymifts^ the fond Boaftsof feme bold Pretenders to Philofophy and Experiment, the ftrangenefs of things that foberer Inquifi-tors declare pradticable, but have not yet fucceeded, the mean-nefs and feemingcontemptiblenefsof many fubjeds, the Experi-menter is often obliged to deal in, thefe afford plaufible Argu-ments for Drolling Harangues, and thofe advantages are taken to make the molt ufeful Theories and Endeavours appear ridicu-lous and vain.

And for the Encouragement of the Phantaflick in his infolent Humour of injuftice and abufe, there is a certain Envy in Man-kind againft thofe that attempt any thing extraordinary, which makes Men willing to embrace and applaud that which expof-eth what themfelves cannot ad: nor comprehend, by reafon of which ill Nature in the generality, yea even of thofe that pre-tend to fomerhing,. this kind of Wit becomes the moft peflilenc Enemy to Knowledge, and its improvements, efpecially to Phi-loiophick Wiidom. For Philofophy can (hame and difable all the Reaions that can be urged againft it, but Jefts and loud Laughter are not to be confuted, and yet thefe are of more force to degrade a thing in the efteem of fome fore of Spirits, than the molt potent Demonftrations. And the mifchief of it is, that thefe Quiblers and Buffoons that have fome little fcraps of Learning matcht with a great proportion of Confidence, have commonly the Juckto be celebrated among the Vulgar, for Men of great Parts and Knowledge, and that Opinion of them gains credit to their Infolencies and Abufes.

Bat, Sir, I perceive my Zeal againft thofe Pedlers of Wit, hath tranipor:ed me to your Trouble. I therefore make an ab-rupt return to my other Reafon mentioned of Mens disbelief of the Being of Witches and Apparitions, and that is :

SECT

Drollery and Atheifm,

S E C T. IV.

Atheifm, mother Caufe of disheltefof Apparitions and Spirits. Wkh an Account of hn Difcourfe with a frofeH Atheift. And a touch on one fpecial CatifeoftheincreafeofAlh^iim^ viz. The pla^ eing Religion in Opinions.

(ii.) KTHEISMy the Folly of which accarfedMadnefs, jtV you Sir, have fo fully difcovered to the World in your ipcomparable Works, and fo throughly underRand the Myfter^es of that black Confpiracy agaipft Heaven, that it would be fon^ for me to think to fuggelt any Notion on the Subject which you could not teach. But Sir, I have a Relation about this matter to make you, which 1 believe, you v/ili not be un-willing to hear ; and you Hiail have ir, when I have taken notice, that there is a latent Atheifm at the root of ihcSaducean Principle, For too many deny Witches, becaufe they believe there are no Spirits, and they are fo perfuaded, becaufe they own'fio being in the World but Matter, and the refults of Motion, and confe-quently can acknowledge nothing of a God.

It hath indeed been a Queftion, whether 'tis poflible there Ihould be fuch a Prodigy as a Speciila-tive Atheiil in Nature, and I could wilh it were lb lliil. Buc alais ! our Age and Ex-perience hath ended the Difpute, and v^^e need not leaich the dark and barbarous corners of America^ nor feek the Monfter among the wild Men of the Defert, we have found him in times of Light, in a witty and civiliy'd Region, and in an Age of the greateft Knowledge and Improvements : He skulks not among the thickeft of the Woods, nor feeks Caverns for concealment, but braves the Sun, and appears in the cleareft Day. And the Fool is not fo modeft as hs was in the Days^ of the Royal Pro-phet, to fay .only in his Heart, There U 'no God. We know a -bolder fort of Infidels, and lean fay. Sir, from a particular Experience, that there are thofe who deny the Exiiience of a Deity. 1 met with one fuch fome Years lince in Lc?uiof? ^'who confidently and without mincing, denied that there was any fuch Being, and bid me prove ir. Iwondred at the Eoldnels, as well as the Impiety of his faying, and becaufe I had a greac Compaffion for one in fo deplorable a State, I refoiv'd not to

C g % exafperate

10 Reflexions on

exafperate hlin by Paflion,.hard Words, or damning Sentences but calmly and without Teeming Emotion, Difcourfed the Bu-finefs with him. I granted him all I fafely or reafonably could, and all that*might ferve my defign for his ConvicStion, before we began the clofe Engagement ; that fo he might have lefs preju-dice againft what was laid by one whom he might fee not ro beof a| narrow confined Judgment, and that I might not have thedifadvantage of being put upon the impugning of Principles, which are plaulibleby the great Names or Reaionsof any emi-nent Philofophers, and that were not abfolutely neceflary for the Defence of the Propofition for which I undertook.

* Such were the Platonick. Anima Mundiy the Eternity and
Immenliry of the World, which, Sir, though I (hould not af-
firm* yet I would not at that time deny, but quietly granted
them as Hypothefes, being willing to permit his belief of thefe
in order to the convincing and difabufing him in his main and
deadly Conclufion. And % thofe Conceffions I gain'd the ad-
vantages I exped:ed. For hereby he was difappointed of ail
thofe Plaufibilities which I perceived he was wont to urge for
thofe Dodlrines. And Ifaw that when he was p reft with the
necefTity of a Caufe of all things^ and a Firft, his Refuge was
that old Epicurean one, of an eternal infinite Matter, which
when his unwary Oppofites would attempt to difprove by en*
deavouring to demonltrate the Beginning and Finitenefs of the
World, rhey gave him the opportunity of a colourable Defence,
and diverted him from the main Thefis, ivhich might be evin-
ced though the Immienfity and Eternity of the Univerfe were
granted j and fo they let him go from an AfTertion that is moft
impious and abfurd, to another which is tolerably accountable
and fpecious. And the Conclulion would be at laft, that fince
the Undertaker could not prove the World was not Infinite and
Eternal, he could not make it appear that there was a God. By
which procedure the Arguer falls from a Propofition which is
the moft demonllrable one in Nature, to another which cannot
be cleared biit by fuppofing the main thing in Queftion.

But befides this (hift, which my ConcefTion made infignifi-cant : when my Atheift* was urged with the Order, Harmony, Contrivance, and Wifdom that is vifible in the Creatures, he would betake him to his Anima Mundi^ the Exiftence of whicHJ when thofe other Anragonifts he had dealt with would cndea- ^ vour to overthrow, then they took a thing of harder probatioQ than the main Conclufion.

I fay therefore. Sir, I permitted him to afTume thefe Princi* pics, and then proved, That though the World were Immenfe

gnd

i

Drollery and Atheifm, 1 1

and Eternal, yet, That 'tis not poffible mecr blind unguided Matur Ihould fltuffle it felf into Tuch regular and accurate Produdions as we fee are the Refults of every Day, without Manududiion of fome Knomng Agent and Cenfriver^ as you have fully made good in your excellent Antidote, And when he at this turn took fan<fluary in an Anima Mundi, as the Caufe of all the art and exaAnefs in Nature, I granted hinri the Being; but askt him, whether he took it for a Subftance that was Intelligent or devoided of Reafon and Perception, When he feemed to incline to this latter, I ihew'd him that fuch a Principle as had no fenfe or kjiowledge fignified no more to this purpofe, than if he had (luck in t.he Hypochelis of meer Matter and Motion, But when he allowed iiis great Soul to be an IntelleHual Being, as he at laft did, and that it vJzsIm-menfe and Eternal y fas he was forced to dry by his Aflertion; t^ac this Soul was difFufed through the whole Mafs of his Infinite and Eternal Matter) I fliewed him, that in effedt he was brought by his own Principles to the acknowledgiTient of a God, though he gave him another Name.

Thus, Sir, I purfued my Infidel into all his Starting-holes and Retreats, and drive him from one Aflertion to another, its contradicflory ; and then back again upon the Thefis. and fo up and down till at length he began to be alhamed of his Ihuffling, and confeft, that I had faid to him more than he had heard, and fome things that he would confider. He deiired that I would give him the Subftance of my Difcourfe in Writ* ing, which I prepared for him, and (hall perhaps ere long give an account of thefe and other dependant Matters to the Publick.

After the heat of the Engagement was over, I was wil-ling to learn by what means he came into that defperate In-fidelity, and underftood from him, * That he had run through the feveral Stages of Modern Sed:s, not flopping rill he came down that Sin\ of Folly and Madnefs Quakerifmy and thence made a ftep into Atheifm,. which is no great leap; for Eaft and Weft at long run meet and are the fame. And certainly he that places his Religion in Opinions, and judgeth it now to lie in this form of Belief, and then in another, when he comes ^ to confider ^he vaft variety of Sedts, the confidence of each in his own Reafon^gs; the pretences of all to the Scripture deafening and Ami4uity, the Antipathy they have one againft i^nother, and the doubtfulnefs, if net falftiood, of things that each of them hold facred and certain; I fay, he that take? f(eligion to be an adherence to Se^s and Opinions, upon the

G g ^ accouats

12 RefieStions on

accounts mention d, when he reflec5ts, is in mighry danger of being an Athcift, And except he fix at lail upon the few plain acknowledged Effentials of Belief and good Life, (if he be of an Anxious Inquifitive Mind, and not obftinately refolved in the way of his particular Secft) 'tis a Miracle if he ends not there at laft. For he having eftablilht this, That Religion con-fifts in the w^y or form of fome Party or other, and then hav-ing fucceilively deferted thofe Se(fi:s that had moft of his Fa-vour and Affection, and fo paft from one to another through all the fteps of Defcent, when at length he is fain out with the laft, he hath nothing elfe to fiie to but contempt of all ^fyligion as a meer Juggle and Impofture, This I took to be this Gentleman's Cafe, and I believe much of the general A-theifm of our Days is to be afcribed to this Caufe.

Thus, Sir, I have followed the humour of Writing, as ic led me, and expedl your pardon of this Ramble upon the account of that liberty which ufes to be allowed in Inter-courfes of -this Nature, and more from that Friendihip with which you are pleafed to Jhonour,

SIR,

Tour AffeBhnate Humbk Servant.

J. G.

ADVERTISEMENT.

npHIS Letter was left out in the former Edition, the Puh-
•*" //y^er confining it to fewer Sheets, tha# there might be the
more room left for Stories. But the forepart fo particularly
fatisfying OhjeHions snd Queries touching the ftirs in Mr*
Mompeffofis Hcufe, and the reft being fo well levelled againft
Siidducifm and Atheifm (the routing of which is, the icope and
• > defign

Drollery and Atheifm, i j

defign of the whole Book) and it being written with that fmartnefs of. Wit and foundnefs of Judgment for the main, I thought fit to take it in again in this new Edition o( Sadu-clfmus TriumphatuSi as a piece lufficiently congenerous theretp. And it is publiihed unakercdly in every refped:, unlefs in one Word that was rather French than Englt/h^ and fo not fo eafie to pafs with the vulgar. And now it is republilhed I think it not amifs to beftow fome few Advertifements on it, as has been done on feveral other pieces of this Book.

Sedt. I. Thofe Objeclions you pckt up, &c. Though the more perfedt Narrative, in the iaft Edition, of the ftirs of Tedwwth, made this part of this Letter lefs neceffary, yet if any one con-fider the particular fatisfadion here given to every OhjeBion and Query, atid compare it with the aforefaid Narrative, I be-lieve he will confefs it was worth the while to take it a-gain, in this fecond Edition, this Letter omitted in the for-mer.

Stdi. z. And mufl voe call this Wit^ Sir^ ^c. Certainly not H^ifdom, nor VVit in the utter Senfe and meaning of the Word, as it fignifies a found and able Faculty of the Mind, vchether na-tural or improved, to difcern and judge of things. But the Pf^'it that is fo called now a days, is rather the Paralytic^ motions, or Antick, Dances of that Faculty*thac is properly to be cal-led iVit, then the genuine operations thereof, the demictmg of that to meaner Offices, which God has given us for better purpofes. And as J. G. phrafes it, to turn Drolls and Fidlers to the Atheift, to make his Wor(h?f merry. Which is a very mean imployment for fo noble a Being as the Rational Soul of Man.

Sedl. 3. For Government you know, Sir, 8cc. What the Writer of this Letter delivers in this Sedlion, is worth the moil fe-riouS confideration of all Men, that are not fo well affecfled to Government as they ought ro be. Whofe Authority is cer-tainly moft Sacred, and their ^le, if it be tolerable, exceeding commendable, thofe in high Places having fuch ftrong Temp-tations from the flatteries and circumventions of cunning Pa-ralites and forcible attempts of Things, whereby they are at-tacked daily, and too often drawn into miftakes before they be aware. LTpon which, for others to infult, is a moil fal-vage and inhumane thing, and quite contrary to the Law of Charity, which is the indifpenfable Rule of a Chriftian, who cannot but think fuch demeanors as courfe and barbarous, as the fporting at a Man's breaking a Limb by a fall from an Horfe, or his being caft into fome defperate ficknefs. Befide,

Gg 4 that

14 Reflections on

than to _(port at fuch things is to give themfelves the Lye ; and when they would pretend them great and heinous- mifdemeany ors, to acknowledge them moreflii^ht, elfe how could they b6' the due Objed: of PVit and Drollery. I repeat it again, anti indeed I have often and often thought of it, that Princes and grand Miniilers of State, that may feem to acquit themfelves tolerably well, dorep.lly acquit themfelves exceeding well, con-fidering the high Temprations they have, and are worthy of ail Loyal Affedion and Honour. How highly then are thofe Princes to be honouted, and iincerely loved, who rule well, and have a real tender regard to ihe peace and welfare of all their Sub-jedls. The other two parrs of this Sedtion are penned dowrrfo fiiil and home, and vi/ith that brisknels and Judgment, that no-thing can be added that may not feem fuperfluous.

Sedr. 4. Such were the Platonick^ Anima Mundi, the Eternity and lmm.enjity of the World, which ^ Sir, though I fhould not df-firm, yet I would yiot at that time deny^ &c. This pafTage is fet down with caution and difcretion, in that he profefTes thefe Concefiions were only ad hominem, and made fo good ufe of, that he caught his Adverfary in his own Net, who being forced by dint of Argument to acknowledge that the Phoc-nomena of the World could not but be from a knowing Principle, but cafting it upon his Anima Mundi, to avoid the Profeflion of a Deity, by his granting, (becaufe of the Eter-mity and Jmmenfity of the Matter) this Animn to be immenfe and eternaly as well as k/iovojfg, he was forced to acknowledge, in a confiderable fort, a Deity whether he would or no. Bet-ter thus far than to be down right dull Atheiii. But I mufi: confefs I do not hold any one an Orthodox Dei [I, that does not hold the Matter credited of God, as well as contrived by his Wifdom into fach Phconomena as appear in the World.

Befides he might have puzzled and confounded the Atheifl in demonftrating that the World (being an orderly continu-ance of things in fucceilive motion and duration) could not be ah (Sterno. Firfi, becaufe it is plain and undeniable, that infuccejjive duration^ every Moment that is paft was fome time prefent, and therefore, iince they all muft be one after ano-ther, that all, at lead but one, were Ibmetime to come. Which plainly evinces ' the World could not be ah aterno. Again this is moft certainly true, that be the World fuppofed as much &h ^terno as you will, yet accorcjing to the order of Nature and Time, there was Li'fe before there was any Death, and a Standii'ig of Spirits before any Fa!!. He might here sherefore den^.an^ of the Atheiji how long it "was ere any

' Diath

Drollery and Atheifm. 1 5

Death was, or Lapfe of any order of Beings to a worfe State. "Was it an infinity of time before that. And thirdly, and laft-ly, If there has been an eternal and infinite Succejfwn of time till now, how come we to find our felves in Being. For if from usy fuppofe in the time B, backwards, the Succtfjion is infinite, it is likewife infinite ah aterno, or from A to B^ And as he can never come in Succejjlon to A, backward from B, becaufe it is infinite, fo SuccefTion from A to B being alike infinite, it could never come to our turn to be in Be-ing. Nothing but ftable and unfuccejjive duration can be in^ finite where there is nothing faft, nor to come. From this eternal NVNC STANS, wherein there is nothing to come^and which it is impofiible to he^fuscejjive (arid /therefore nothing by fuppofing it fucceffive can be really argued from it) doth fuccejjive dnvation commence y which it is alikeimpoilibie tobe eternal or infinite.

Indeed if the Infinity Was not in Sticcejfion, but once as infinite Space, I grant that we might be in a fet point of it, which would look like the term of fuppofe, its £^y?^r« Infinity but-ting upon us, from Term you might conceive an infinite Line rhence Eaftwdrd, and fuch as we nor any other moveable thing could get to the end of it, it being Infinite. And as certain it is, that no moveable thing which took its motion ab-folutely from the EaUern Infinity, could ever come to us, or to the Point where we are, the length being as infinite for-wards from the Eaftem Infinity, as it is back again thither-ward from us, there being the fame diflance, as Ariftotle fomewhere fpeaks, from Thebes to Athens, and from Athens to Thebes, Which farther may illultrate the impofUbility of finding our felves here in Being, if the fuccejfive duration of ' the World has been ah (£terno. For it being as infinite from A to B. as from B to A. it is maniftfl it' could never fall to ouir fliare to exifi: the tim^ we do, it being an infinite diftance from A and never to be run through. This point of the impof-fibility of fucceffive. Durations being eternal or infinite, it is fufficient that 1 but touch on it here, I having fo fully hand-^-led it in my £?zc/wV/ow Mctaphjficum, and cleared it from all Objedlions and Evafions whatfoever. See cap. 10. and the Scholia thereon. Where alfo you may fee how little Reafon there is to hold the Matter of the World infinite, and that it is part of the Effential 'Sanciitj and fingular Tranfcendency c>§ the exalted nature of God, that He alone be Eternal as to Duration^, and Immenfc in Amplitude^

1.6 Refle^iions on

And the fuffbfing God to be an Anima Mundi, though it fcrved J, G. his turn at that bout, yet this alfo vj hugely againft the EJfentinl SanSiity of the Divine Mnjefly, whofe excellency it is infinitely below, to grow as it were into one Supp'fihm with the vifible World. Which error might be a main foundation or prop of much of the Idolacry of the ancient Pagans. There is no Anima Mundi^ but what is purely a Creature^ and that is the Spirit of Nature^ ^o far • from being a God, that it fcarce has any Perception but only an Omniform Pia^ic power, or Vital Laws of ordering the Matter of the World, imparted to ic effentially from the WiidomofGod. To call this an Anima Mundi, may be fenle good enough. But the Platonick. ©««& 4^';^* or Anima Divina^ which anfwers to the Holy Spirit m our Chnftian Trinity, they are the third Hypofiafes of the pure Deity in both, of an eter-nal^ necejfary, and immutable effence and exiftence, and there-fore in no wife are creaturaly but purely Divine^ and were before ever the World was or could be.

And now the World is, there is no need of any Hypofta-ticai Union betwixt the Platonick^ Divine SouU and it, to be confcious of what things happen here, or to moderate the Mat-ter of the World. For the latter is done by the Spirit of Na-ttire, and the former requires no fuch Union, (ince we our ielves have the perception of what is no part of our own Sttppojitum. But as we fee things refledtedfrom a Looking glafs, our Eye having no Hypoftatical Union therewith, fo are all the Energies of this exterior Creation refledled into the perception of the Deity, without any fuch derogatory Union of the God head therewith. According as is exprefTed in Fj5-€ho:{oia, Cant. I, Stanz. 50,

In this clear [hining Mirrour Pfyche fies All that falls under fenfe, what ere is done Vpon the Earth, the Deferts, (haken Tree/, The mournful Winds, the folitary voonne Of dreaded Beafts, the Libyan Lions moat^ When their hot Entrails f cor ch with hunger kfen. And they to God for Meat do deeply groan, He hears their cry, he fees of them unjeen. Bis Eyes encompap all that in the wide H^orld been.

He

Drollery and Atheifm. i y

He fees the xveary Traveller fit dovpn In the xvafl Tield ejtimts with careful chesr^ His chafed Feet and the lon^ way to Town Mis burning thirft, faintnep and Panick fear Becaufe he fees not Him that Hands fo near. Fetch from his Soul deep fighs with count' nance fad. But He looks on to whom naught doth dijpear. O happy Man that full perfvajion had Of thisy if right at home nought of him were ydrad.

And then again, Stan^. 54. is there more exprefly mention of this Mirrour, even for the reprefenting of Sounds, to itt out the perfedrncfs of thefe exteriour perceptions in the Di-vine Nature, that they are rather aBive than pajfve, as Sea-tiger fays the Sight is, though other Senfes be nor. \VMcarice o&'V fignifying tranfitively, governs an Accujative Cafe, when other Verbs of fenfe govern a Genitive, as he is pleafed to Criticize. But the abovefaid Stanza is this.

Do not I fee ? Iflumber not norfleep.

Do not I hear, each noife by fhady Night

My Mirrour reprefents, when Mortals fleep

Their languid Limbs in Morpheus dull delight,

J hear fuch founds as Adam'j brood would frig^Jt,

The doleful EccJms from the hollow Hill

Mocl^ howling H^olves, the VVoodi-w'ith blacky benight

Anfwer rough Pan his Pipe, and eke his skill

And all the S^Ltyr-routs rude whoops and Jhoutings fhrilL

According to that in the Booli of Wifdom, chap. r. v. 7, For the Spirit of the Lord fills the whole ^^orld, and he that containeth all things, hath knowledge of the Voice,

For as it is the height of the Excellency of the Divine Effence and Energy, not only to be infinite in it felf, but alfo to be a-ble to create another Eflence with its Energy, difiinB from it felf, fuch as this orderly Univerfe is, fo is it likewife the Per-fedlion of the Divine Knowledge, befides that IntelleBual Omni-fciency, which contains all the Natures and Ideas of things, and the whole comprehenfion of Providence, with the Series thereof from everlafting to everlafting all at once, unalterably and immoveably ; which TntelleHual Life, or Energy in God, is the k)«ov of the Platonifts, and the true Notion of Eternity^ , I fay, it is likeWife the Perfedion of the Divine Knowledge co

iS RefleBions on

have the Perception of all the Energies of the Creation as well when they are /w/zm, and that they are now /w^er^j when they . were not before, as in that IntelhRua! comprehenfion which is J at once from everjafting to everlafting. For in an infinite Life^ ■as God is, there can be no diffra^ionthis tinimadverfion neceiTa-rily being infinite. And if we do not give this exterior Percep-tion to him, we cannot be allured that he knows when we pray unto him. Which methinks would be a foul defedl, and a great damp to our Devotion. Whenas the other opinion does not only encourage Devotion, hm naturally ftrikes alfo a due avpe and reverence towards him in our AddfefTes.

I know there are fome dry Contemplators tkat would have God to have no new Perceptions, pro re nata, leaft he might ieem in a Phyfical fenfe alterable or mutable. But thefe are the very Cobwebs and QuisqulU^toiihQ Schools, who thinned and fpreo-d (?very Attribute of God as to infinite excefs as they could, forgetting that onenecefTary Meafureof all his Attributes, Tto they he no further applied to him then they imply perfect ion. Which is a thing worth our moft ferious confideration. And certainly it would be an Imperfedtion in God if he knew not things paft that they are paft, things prefent that they are prefent, and things ?o come that they are yet to come. But he could not know them to /;e pa^ when they were to come to or to be prefent when they are foc(?»j^or;)^y?,ortharthey av^yet to eome when they are prefent. And therefore you muft either make God ignorant of things here below, or make his exterior Perceptions change as the Scene of things change ad extra, or ell'e his Perceptions will ipvovQ falfe, which is intolerable to admit either in Philofophy or Theology. Thus I have run out before I was aware,but I hope it is not an ule-iefs excurfion. For nothing can move a man more to do all things with all Faithfulnefs and Decorum both in private and beforcMen than to remember that the AU-prefent God is TQally a. Hearer of his Words, and Seer of his Adlions.

That he had run through the federal Stages of modern SeFts, noi §iopping till he c^me down to that Jjnl{ of folly and madnefs Quake-rifm, and thence made a ftep into Atheifm, 6cc. This is a re-markable pa^Tage of his Letter, and worth our confidering. I mull confefs that his expreflion here of the condition of Siuake-rifm is very (harp and Satyrical, to call it that fink, of Madnefs and Folly, Which therefore I conceive he fpake with an eye ro their firft appearatice, which was very uncouth and frantick-, and not at all like the appearance of the Apoftles of Jefus Chriff, but as it were of fo many Demoniack^s. Which Scene, though &rue, being fo unpleafant, I will not repeat hare, having fpokc

enough

Drollery and Jtheifm, 1 9

enoiagh of it in my Myftery of Godllnefsj lib. 4. cap. 6 and lib.
10. cap. 13. And the precedent Story of him at Beljham that
^was inveigled in Quaf^erifm is of the fame fuit. Bat to deal im-
partially touching them, if we take our meafures from E{pbsrt
BarkJays.Aipology, which reprefents them as they were when
he wrote, which is not paiTing five or fix years ago, they are
very much changed from what they were firft, for the better,
and a moft juft and impartial eftimate I have made of them,
and of their way, in my Scholia, upon my Divlns Dialogues
Dialog. 5. Sedt. 15. Which he that is curious, may perule in,
the fecond Tome of my Volumen Fhilofofhicum.. But that Apo-
logy of i^. Bar kf lays was many years alter this Lquqt oi^jojepi^
Glanvil to my klf, which may the better excule him for the le-
verity of this pafTage. And how natural and an eaile a ftep
there is out of Enthufiafm into Atheifmy I have noted in my £««
thtifiafmus Triwnphatth'.

But of what danger it is to forfake the Communion of tha
Truly Catholicl{_ Church, fuch as is purged from the grofs dregs
of Antichriftian Superftition and IdoJarry, the example of him
at Baljham and this Athei^^ whom J. G, converied with, are
egregious Inftances. To forfake the fentimairs. of the anci-^nt
Apoftolick Church ( for fuch are rhe Reformed Churches freed
from the filth of the predid:ed Apoftaiie, and fuch in a fpeciai
manner is the Church of England) xo follow any frivnts Sprite
is fuch apiece of folly and giddinefs, that the extravagance
thereof is above expreffion, and the danger fo obvious, that they
muft be very blind and ftifpid that dilcernit.not at firft fight.
All are not born to be Philofophers orTheoiogers, and to have
a faculty to decide Controveriies by the edge of their own Wii
and Reafon. "Wherefore it is both duty and iafcty to adhere ro
the fenfeof the Church Catholick before the Apcitafie, fuch as
it was for about Four hundred years after Chrift. Within which
time the Divinity o^ Chrift, and iheTriunity of the Godhead was
ptofeiTed as publick Articles of the Church, and the difiin^lcn
of Bifhop and Presbyters owned. Whence it is demonftrabis
how innocent the one is, and how Orthodox the other. For if
the Articles of the Divinity ofCbriB and Tritmity of the Godhead
were falfe, they had alto been Idolatrousy and the Apoftafiehad
begun much fooner than it ispredided to begin in that admu
r '.ble Book^oi^ Prophejjes the Apcalypje. Nor were^the late llcfor^
■mation, which yet certainly it is ( and I have undeniably de-
raonftrated it in the Second Part of my Afpndage to my Expfi-
tionof Daniel's Vifions ) iht Bjfi^tg of the Witneffes. For they
- fead been ftrange Witnefles that fiiould if ill profel's the Divinity

a

20 RefleEiions on .

of Chrift. and Triunity of the Godhead, if thofe Articles were falie, fence it neceflariiy follows that they were ipfo faHo, grolly Idolatrous ; or retained Epfcopncy if it had been Anticiiri^iarty Thefe things are fo exceeding plain, that no man can deny them that has parts and leifure, and without prejudice confiders them. And if the Sectaries that pretend fo much to rhe Spirif above others, had the Spirit of interpreting and underftanding Prophecies aright, it would convince them of their Error and Schifm. But if this flowJy goes down with them, they are to examine themfelves, if it be not an humour in them to deny any luch Symmetral times of the Church, for about F(fur hundf/?^ years, that they may ftill fkid matter for eternal Cavils aWd Schijms.

But now the main Articles of our Faith being thus redoub-ledly afTured to us, both by the Symmetricalnefs of the Primi^ the Times for about Four hundred years, and the Hejiimonies of the Bjfen PVitneffes^ of which Political Refurredtion neither Quaker^ Familifi, nor Sccinian partook of, as appears by the Harmony ofConfeffions of the Reformed Churches, no Reformed Church owning their opinions, how juft, how iober and Chri-llian a thing is it for every private Man to adhere to this com-mon Faith touching thefe main Articles, and not to commie himfelf to thefe Igncs Fatui of private Spirits, which may lead him*fo about as at laft to plunge him into the dregs of Atheifm as it happened to this Gentleman ? .

That Spirit which leads from the Communion of the Ancient Apo^oUck Church ( which is as a light fet upon an Hill- and fo certainly to be known by thofe two Characflers abovementio-ned ) and carries Men into the dark holes of Schifmatical Con-venticles, is moft afluredly, let them pretend to what they will, the Spirit of Errour, and a delulion of the Devil, and a certain Symptome that fuch Men are Carnal, as highly as they think of themfelves, having not the Spirit, moft affurediy having nor the Spirit in that meafure whereby they become fuch living Mem-bers o( the true Catholick,Church, which is the Body of Chrifl^ that they plainly feel what huns it,atieaft what palpably ftops its growth, what wounds it, what hazards the very life and being of it. Can they pretend to the Spirit of Chrift in any due mealure that are devoid of this neceiTary Sympathy and Senfe of the common good of his Body, and ihQ Inter eft oi his Kjngdoni which is Chriflendcm. The enemies whereof what do they de-fire ? what do they endeavour more than to divide- and fubdi--vide us ? to hurry u? into opinions and pradlifes as unlike the ancient Apoftoiick Church as may be 3 to make us appear as

whim-

Drollery and Atheifm^ 2 1

Whinnfical and ungovernable as they can, thereby to expofe us to contempt ZYid loathing, and to hardep chc hearts of the Prin-ces and Prelates of Chriftendcm againft a juft Reformacion, and thofp that have Reformed, to make them half fick and weary of the Reformation, by realbn of the unfetlednefs and diftradii-on of the peoples. Does the Spirit of Chrift then lean to the

, defcroying and laying wafte his own Church and Kingdom ? Certainly that Spirit chat hinders the growth, and hazards the Being of the Kingdom oiC^hrift, miift be not the Spirit of God, but the Spirit of Giddinefs^ of Error and Delufion,

Wherefore the ancient Authority of the Church, while it was S}§imefral,is to be acknowledged, and thofe main points touch-ing'F/jiV/j and fVor/hip to be adher'd to, and profelfed; the Ho-ly Ghoft having fet his Seal thereto in thofe Divine Prophecies of .the Apocalypfe, and this deteftable Pride and loath 'om I«-gratitude. (whcn^s things are fo well fettled by Lawful Au-thority in the late Hjfingof the Witneffes ) thus to break from fo Authentic]^, a Conftitution^ and fet up Schijmatical Congregati^ ens, is heartily to be repented of, nor are we any longer to be deluded by that falfe Spirit that under pretence of bringing in a more pure and Spiritual Difpenfation, undermines and hazzards the very Being of the true Kingdom of Chrift, by this odious Spedtacle of Multifarious Schilm,

It is not the breath of any meer Man that can convey the Spi-rit of God to us and it is a faifc pretence of thefe high-flown Spi-

' ritualifisj that think that in their Sbifmatical Worlhip they have nearer communion with God, than thofe that adhere to the way of the Ancient Apoftolick Faith and Prad:ice. For they in their Meeting are but taught by Men, and thofe fpeaking the fenfe of a PrivAte Spirit, they being Straglers from the Fold of Chriil, as having bid adieu to the Ancient Catholick and Apoftolick Church, Ot which yet the Church of England, which they have foriaken, is a genuine parr, and therefore its Mlnijiry moYQjafe and authoritative, they fpeaking the fenfe of the ancient Apofto-lick Church, not any blind conceits or fancies qf their own. And faving operations of the Spirit, nothing is more inculcated than that in our Puplick Service. Nor is the Ministry of Mcin lo much the conveyer of it, as the Sincerity of the Party^ who delires t© partake of it. It is the gift of Chrift to the Sincere, who has told us from his own Mouth here upon Earth ; Tha^ blejjed are they that hunger and t.hirft after Bjghteoiifnefsi for they /hall befatisficd.

It is not the hearing of a gracious Man once or tvv'ice a Week, or being prefent fometime in the Meetings, whether S:'^

ienc

<l

22 Reflections on

lent OY Vocal, of a coiTipany of {i\\\m MeknchoUJi bv Hiflnonu cal MockcProphets, but a firm aod unfliaken Faith in the Po^er of the p-07mjed Spirit of Chrift, for the fubduing our Corrup-tions, a fixt and continued refolution of not offending the God of Heaven in any thing fmall or great, a clofe guard upon our Words and Adions, as having a fenfe of the Prefence of the Divine Majefty all the day long, a perpetual exercife of mortifying the Impetuoficies of our own Will, and of extin-guifliing all the fweet Relilhes of Self-intereil and Vain- glo-ry, and a conllant endeavour of wholly refigning our felves to God and his fervice, who has whplly made us Body and Soul, and ftricktly and confcientioufly walking according to His Will revealed in his written Word, that is the method of attaining to a more near Communion with God, and the only way ^ more fully participating of his Spirit. And this certairjif may as well be done, holding ftill communion with tbeCJhurch of England, as in any new-fangled way that ei-ther the cunninjr o^ Man or fubtilty of Satan can invent. And therefore it is rather a wanton kind of Hypocrifie in Men, or Infincerlty to true Religion indeed^ that makes them break from the Eftablilht Religon of the Church of England reformed ac-cording to the old Symmetral and ApofloUcal Patern, than any c®lour of necefTity driving them thereto.

And thus much briefly to thofe high flown Spiritualifis, iBuc what I now (hall utter is fliil more weighty, forafmuch as it concerns a greater number of Men, that have an ho-neft inclination to Religiofi, but their Education, Parts, and Calling does not capacitate them to make fo ftritk inquiry in-to the Docfrrines thereof, as others may make, but feek fome External Authority to iupport their Faith, and thereby lie ob-noxious to the foiicitations of the Emijfarics of ^me who boaft fo much in the fafe Anchorage of their Church; To thefe Men therefore I appeal, what can be more fafe for them to adhere to the Authority and Profeflion of the An-cient Apoffolick. ii'tid truly Catbolick Church, fuch as it was found before the Apo^iy, and is born witnefs to in the Ora-cles of the Holy Scripi^^re, as I have above declared ; To ad-hear, I lay, and keep clofe to this fteady Rock, aad flop their Ears againft the vain pretences of any idle Fanatical New-lights,^ or bold Entlm/iafis. Now he that adheres to the Church of England, does adhere to this ancient Apoftolick Church, the Church of England being reformed to that Patern, as to the Frame of Goverjirtient and Articles of Faith, and for the Pre-cepts of an holy Life, befides what oecErs in our Liturgy, Li-

tmy

(I )

RELATION

OF THE

Strange Witchcrafc

Dilcovered in the

Village Mohra in SivedeUnd^

Taken out of the publick Regifier of the Lords Com mifftomrs affointed by his Majefh the KJng o^ Sweden to examine the whole bu(inefs^ in thi Tears of our Lord i66g.anM 1670.

1"*^ H E News of this Witchcraft coming to the King's
* Ear, his Majefty was pleafed to appoint CominlTiG-
ners, Tome of thej^lergy, and fome of the Laity,
to make a Journey "^oo the Town afore faid, and to
examine the whole bulmels ; and accordingly the
Examination was ordered to be on the i3chof ^«^w/?; and the
Commiilioners met on the 12th,, inftant, in the faid Village, at
the Parfon*s Houfe, to whom both the Minifter and feverai peo-
ple of falhion complained with tears in their Eyes, of the mife-
rable condition they were in, and therefore begg'd of them to
think of fome way, whereby they might be delivered from
that Calamity. They gave the Commiilioners very ftrange In-
ftances of the Peyil's Tyranny among them • haw by the help
* I i of

•p

2 The Collection

^f Witches, he had drawn fome Hundreds of Children to hint, ^nd made them fubjed to his power ; how he hath been feen ^0 go in a vifible ihape through the Country, and appeared dai-^y to the people ; how he had wrought upon the poorer forr, by prefenting them with Meat and Drink, and this way allu-red them to himfelf, with other circumftances to be mentioned hereafter. The Inhabitants of the Village added, with very-great lamentations, that though their Children had told all, and themfelvcs fought God very earneftly by Prayer, yet they were carried away by him ; and therefore begg'd of the Lords Com-miiTjoners to root out this hellifti Crew, that they might regain the former reft and quietnefs jand the rather.becaufe the Children which ufed to be carried away in the Country or Diftridl of Elf dale, fince fome Witches had been burnt there, remained un-molefted.

That day, /. e. the i-^th oiAugufty being the laft Humiliati-on-day Inftituted by Authority for removing of this Judgment, the Commiflioners went to Church, where there appeared a cort>(iderabie AfiTembly both of young and old : the Children could read moft of them, and fing Pfalms, and fo could the Womet),though not with any great zeal or fervour. There were preached, two Sermons that day, in which the miferable cafe of thofe peo^^le, that fufFered themfelves to be deluded by the De-vil, was Uid open ; and thefe Sermons were at laft concluded with very fervent prayer.

The Pubijck Worlhip being over, all the people of the Town were called together to the Parfon*s Houfe, near Three thoufand of them. Silence being commanded, the King's Commiffioa was read publickly in the hearing of them all, and they were charged under very great Penalties to conceal nothing of what they knew, and to fay nothing but the truth ; thofe efjpecially, who were guilty, that the Children might be delivered from the Clutches of the Devil. They all promifed obedience; the guil^ ty fiignedly, but the guiltlefs weeping and crying bitterly.

Oa the 14th of Auguft xha Commiflioners met again, confult-ing how they might withildtid this dangerous flood; after long deliberation, an Order alfo coming from his Majefty, they did rei'olve to execute fuch as the matter of fa(5t could be proved upon ; Examination being raade, there were difcovered no left than Threefcore and ten in the Village aforefaid. Three and twenty of which freely confeffing their Crimes, were condem-ned to dye ; the reft, one pretending (he was with Child, and the other denying and pleading not guilty, were fenc to Falun^t where moft of them were afcerwardf Executed,

Fifceqi

of Rel/itto'/is. ?

Fifteen Children which likewifeconfeflfed that they were en-gaged in this Witchery died as the reft ; Six and thirty of then! between nine and fixteen years of age, who had been Icfs guil-ty, were forced to run the gantlet ; Twenty rnore, who had no great inclination, yet had been feduced to thofe hellifli Enter-prizes, becaufe they were vety yoiing, were condemned to be lalh'd with Rods upon their hands, for three Sundays together, at the Church-door ; and the aforefaid Sikand thirty were alfd doonfi'd to be la(hed this way, once a week, for a whole year to-gether. The number of the Seduced Children was about three hundred.

On the twenty fifth bf Aiigufl^ Execution was done upon the hotorioufly guilty, the day being bright and glorious, and the Surt Ihining, and fome thoufands of people Being prei'ent at the Sped:acle. The Order and Method obferved in the Examina-tion was thiis .

Firft, the Commiflioners and the Neighbouring Juftices went to prayer ; this done, the Witches, who had moft of them Chil-dren with them, which they either had Seduced, or attempted toSaduce, from four years of age to lixte^n, were fet before them. Some of the Children complained lamentably of the mifery and mifcHief they were forced foinetime to fuffer of the WitcheS'.

The Children being asked whether they were fure, that they were at any time carried away by the Devil ; they all declared they were, begging of the Commiflioners that they rnight be freed from that intolerable flavery.

Hereupon the Witches themfeives were asked, whether the ConfefTions of thefe Children were true, and were admoniihed to confefs the truth,that they might turn away from the Devil untd the living God. At firft, moft of them did very ftif^y, and with-out (bedding the leaft tear deny it, though much againft their will and inclination.

After this, the Children were Examined, every one by them-felves, to fee whether their Confeflions did agree or ho ; and the Commiflioners fbund that all of them, except fome very little ones, who could not tell all the Circtimftances, did pund:ually agree in the eonfefllon of particulars.

In the mean while the Commiflioners that v/ere of rhe Clergy examined the Witches, could not bring them to any Confcliion, all continuing ftedfaft in their denials, till at laft fome of theoi burft out into tears, and their Confefllon agreed with what the Ghddren had faid. And thefe exprelfed their abhorrency of the fkd:, and begg'd pardon i adding, thac the Devil, whom they

I i % caU'd

4 The Collection

caird Loepa, had ftopt ths Mouths of fomc of them, and ftopt the Ears of others ; and being now gone fron:i them, they could no longer conceal it, for they now perceived his Trea-chery.

The ConfefTion which the Witches made in Elfdalcy to the Judges there, agreed with the ConfefTion they made at Mohra and the chief things they confefled, coniifted in thefe three points,

1. Whither they ufcd to go,

2. What kind of place it was, they went to, called by them Blockula, where the Witches and the Devil ufed to meet. ,

. 3. What evil or mifchief they had either done, or defigned there.

I : Of their Journey /o Blockula. The Contents of their Gonfeffwn,

We of the Provence of Elfdale^ do confefs that we ufed to

go to a Gravel-pit which lay hard by a crofs-way, and there we

put on a Veil over our heads, and then danced round, and after

this ran to the crofs way, and called the Devil thrice, iirftwith

a fbiil voice, the fecond time fomewhat londer, and the third

>,, time very loud, with thefe words, Anteceff^r eome and carry tis

^^ to Blockula. Whereupon, immediately he ufed to appear, but

' 'P"*":, in difterent Habits; but for the moft part we faw himi in a gray

' Coat, and red and blew Stocking : he had a red Beard, ahigh-

crown'd Har, with Linnen of divers colours vvrapc about it, and

long Garters upon his Stockings. •

Then he asked us. whether we would ferve him with Soul and Body. If we were content to do fo, he fet us on a Beaft v^hich he had there ready, and carried us over Churches and high Walls- and after all, we came to a green Meadow, where Blockula lies. We mull procure fome fcrapings of Altars, and filings of Church Clocks; and then he gives us a horn with a Salve in it, wherewith we do anoint our felves; and a Saddle, with a Hammer and a wooden Nail, thereby to fix the Saddle j whereupon we call upon the Devil, and away we go.

Thofe that were of the Town of Mohra^ made in a manner the fame Declaration ; Being asked whether Jthey were lure of a real peribnal Tranfportation, and whether they were av/ake When it was done ; they allanfwered in the Affirmative, and that the Devil fometimes laid fomething down in the place that was very like them, But one of them confefled that he did only take away her ftrength, and her body lay ftill upon the ground ^ yet fometimes he took even her body with him.

Being

of Relations, , ' $

Being asked, how they could go with thc;r Bodies throng" Chimneys and broken Panes of Glafs, they laid, that the Devil did firft remove all that might hinder them in their flight, and fo they had room enough to %o.

Others v^ere asked, how they were able to carry fo many Children with them.; and they anfwered, that when the Chil-dren were afleep they came into the Chamber, laid hold of the Children, which ffcraighrway did awake, and asked them whe-ther they would go to a Feaft with them ? To which feme an-fwered. Yes, others. No , yet they were all forced to go. They only gave the Children a Shirt, a Coat and a Doublet, which was either Red or Blew, and fo they did let them, upon a Beaft of the Devils providing, and then they rid away.

The Children confeffrd the fame, thing y and fome added,, that becaufe they had very fine clothes put upon them, rhey were very willing to go.

Some of the Children concealed it from their Parents, biito-thers difcover'd it to them prefcntly.

The Witchas declared moreover, that till of late they never had that power to carry away Children, but only this year and the laft, and the Devil did atJihis tin^e force them ib it ; that heretofore it was fuScient to carry T)ut one of their Children, or a ftrangers Child with them, which yet happened reidom, But now he did plague them and whip them if they did not procure him Children, inlbmuch that they had no peace nor quiet for him ; and whereas formerly one journey a week would ferve turn, from their own Town to the place aforeiaid, now they were forced to run to other Towns and Places for Children, and that they brought with them, fome fifteen, fome fixteen Chil-dren every night.

For their Journey, they faid they maie ufeof all forts of In-ftruments, ofBeafts, of Men, of Spits and Polls, according as they had opportunity ; if they do ride upon Goats, and have many Children with them, that all may have room, they ftick a fpit into the back-fide of the Goat, and then are anointed with the aforeiaid Ointment. What the manner of their Jour-ney is, God alone knows : Thus much was made out, That if the Children did at any time name the Names of thofe that had carried them away, they were again carried by force either to Blocktda^ or ro the Crofs-way, and there miferably beaten, info-much that feme of them died of it : and this fome of the Witch-es confelTed ; and added. That now they were exceeding trou-bled and tortured in their minds for it,

li 3 The

6 The ColleUion

The Children thiisufed, Icokr mighty bleak, wan and beaten. The marks of tbeLafiies, the Judges could not perceive in them, except in one Boy, who had feme Wounds and holes in his Back, that were given him with Thorns j but the Witches faid, they would q uickly vaniil).

After this ufage the Children are exceeding weak ; and if any be carried over Nighr, they cannot recover themfelves the next day; and they often fall into fits,the coming of which they know by an extraordinary palenefs that feizes on the Children , and if a Fit comes upon them, they lean on their Mother*s Arms," who fit up with them fometimes all Ni?ht ; and when they obferve the Palenefs coming, Ihake the Children, but to rio piirpofe.

They obferve farrher,That their Childrens Breafts grow cold 2£ fuc'h times ; and they rake fom.etimes a burning Candle and ftick it in their Hair, which yet is not burnt by ir. They Swoon upon this palenefs, which Swoon lafteth lometime half an Hour, Ibmetimes an Hour," fometim.cs two Hours, and when the Children ccme to themfelves again, they mourn and lament, and groan moil milcrably, and beg exceedingly to be eafed : This two old Men declared upon Oath before the Judges,an(i called all the Inhabitants of the Town to witnefs, as Perlbns that had moft of them experience of this ftrange Symptcme of their Children.

' A little Giiri oi Elf dale confefTed, That naming the t?ame of '3'ESVS as Ihe was carried away, (he fell luddenly upon the Ground, and got a great hole in her Side, which the Devil prelendy healed up again, and away he carried her; and to this Day the Girl confefTed, (he had exceeding great pain in lier Side.

■' Another Boy confcfled too, That one Day he was carried away by his Miftrefs, and to perform the Journey he took his own Father's Horfe cut of the Meadow where it was, and upon his return, Ihc let the Hcrfe go in her own Ground. The next Mcrnrng the Eoys Father fought for his Horfe; and not finding it, gave it over for Icfl ^ but the Boy told him the whole Story, and fo his Father fctcht the' Horfe back again 3 and this one of the ' Witches tonfeHed.

2,. 0/ ths fidcs vphere they ufed to nffemhhy called Blockula, ' mid vfhat they did th^ere.

They unanimoufly confefTed, that Blcckula is fituated in a delicate large Meadow, whereof you can fee no end. The

t •. >-^.. . ' ,. ^ • ^'. -• , V V . . place

of Relations^ j

place or HoHfe they met at, had before it a Gate painted
- with divers colours ; through this Gate they went into a Jittle
Meadow diftind: from the other, where the Beafts went, that
they ufed to ride on : But the Men whom they made ufe cf
in their Journey, flood in the Houfe by the Gate in a Num-
bering Pofture, fleeping againft the Wall.

In a huge large Room of this Houfe, they faid, there flood a very long Table, at which the Witches did fit down : And that hard by this Room was another Chamber, where there were very lovely and delicate Beds.

The firfl thing, they faid, they muft do at Blockjil^t was, That they muft deny all, and devote themfeives Body and Soul to the Devil, and promife to ferve him faithfully, and con* firm all this with an Oath. Hereupon they cut their Fingers^, and with their Blood writ their Name in his Book. They added, that he caufed them to be Baptized too, by fuch Priefls as he had there, and made them confirm their Baptifm with dreadful Oaths and Imprecations.

Hereupon the Devil gave them a Purfe, wherein there were filings of Clocks with a Stone tied to it, which they threw into the Water, and then were forced to fpeak thefe Words ; as thefe filings of the Clocks do never return to the Clocks frd^n which they are tnken^ fo may my Soul never return to Heaven. To which they added Blafphemy and other Oaths and Curfes.

The mark of their cut Fingers is not found in all of then I But a Girl who had been flaftied over her Finger, declared* that becaufe fhe would not ftretch out her Finger, the De-vil in Anger had fo cruelly woutjded it.

After this they fat down to ^able ; and thijfe thit the Devil efleemed moft, were placed nettreit to him j but rh:: Children muft ftand at the Door, where he himlelf r'.vcs rhem Meat and Drink.

The Diet they did ufe to have there, was, they fiid. Broth with Coiworts and Bacon in it, Oacmeal, Bread fpread with Butter, Milk, and Cheefe. And they added, that ipmctimes it tailed very well, and fometimes very ill. After Me.iJs rhey went to Dancing, and in the mean while Swore .md Curled moft dreadfully, and afterward went to fighting one with .1-nother.

Thofe of Blfdale confefTed, That the Devil ufed to play upon an Harp before them, and afterwards co go with rhera •chat he liked belt, into a Chamber, where he committed Ve-nerous Adls with them 5 and this indeed all coiifeired, That

I i 4 he

\

8 The Collection

he had carnal knowledge of them, and that the Devil had Sons and Daughters by them, which he did Marry together, and they did couple together, and brongiit forth Toads and Ser-pen rs. -

One Day the Devil fecmed to be dead, whereupon there were great lamentations at Blockjila ; but he foon awaked a-gain. "if he hath a mind to be merry with them, he lets them all ride upon Spits before him ; takes afterwards the Spits and beats them black and blew, and then laughs at theni. And he bids them believe, that the day of Judg-ment will come ipeedily, and therefore fees them on work to build a great Houle of Stone, promifing, that in that Houle he will preferve them from God's fury, and caufe them to enjoy the greatcft deli*ghts and plealures : But while thev work exceeding hard at ir, there falls a great part of the Wall down again, whei*eby fome of the Witches are com-monly hutt, which' makes him laugh, but prefently he cures them again.

They faid, they had feen fometimes a very great Devil like a Dragon, with Fire found about him, and bound with an Iron Chain i and the Devil that con verfes with them tells them, that if they confefs any thing, he will let that great Devil loole upon them, whereby all Swedeland (hall come In-to great danger.

They added, That the Devil had a Church there, fuch a-nother as in the Town of Mohra, "When the Commiilion-crs were coming, He told the V/itches, they fhould not fear theiti ; for he would certainly kill them all. And they con-feffed, that fome of them had attempted to Murther the Com-miiHoners, but had not been able to efFed: it.

Some of the Children talked much of a white Angel which ufed to forbid them what the Devil had bid them do, and told them that thofe doings fhould not laft long : What had been done, had been permitted becaufe of the wickednefs of the People, and the carrying away of the Children fhould be made manifeft. And they added, that this white Angel would place himfeif fcmetimes at the Door betwixt the Witches and the Children ; and when they came to Biccl{ula, he pulled the Children back, bu: the Witches they went in.

3, Of

of Relations, ^

3. Of the Mlfehiefor Evil which the Tf^itches pomlfedto do ta Men and Beaft's.

They confefTed, That they were to promife the Devil, tfaac they would do all that's III ; and chat the Devil taught thetp to. Milk, which was in this wife : They ufed toftickaKnife in the Wall, and hang a kind of a Lab^l on it, which they drew! and ftroaked, and as long as this lafted, the Perfons that they had power over, were milerably plagued, and the Beafts were milked that way, till fometimes they died of it.

A Woman confefTed, That ihe Devil gave her a wooden Knife, wherewith, going into Houfcs, (he had power to kill any thing fhe touched with it; yet there were very few that would confefs that they had hurt any Man cr Wonnan.

Being asked whether they had murdered any Children ; they confefTed, That they had indeed tormented many, but did not know whether any of them died of thofe Plagues. And added. That the Devil had Ihewed them feveral place's where he had po-wer to do mifchief.

The Minifter of Elfdale declared, That one Night, thefe Witches were to his thinking, upon the crown of his Head, and that from thence he had a long continued pain of the Head.

One of the Witches confefled too, That the Devil had Tent her to torment that Minifter ; and that fhe was ordered to ufe a JsTail, and ftrike it into his Head, but it would not enter very deep, and hence came that Head-ach.

■ The aforefaid Minifter faid alfo, That one Night he felt a pain, as if he were torn with an Ipftrument that they cleanfe Flax with, or a Flax-comb ; and when he waked, he heard fomebpdy fcratching and fcraping at the Window, but could fee nobody.' And one of the Witches confefTed, that fhe was the Perfon that did it, being fent by the Devil.

The Minifter of Ai(?/:)r^ declared alfo, that one Night, one of thefe Witches came into his Houfe, and did fo violently take him by the Throat, that he thought he fhould have been choak-ed; and waking, he faw the Perfon that did it, but could not know her; and that for fome Weeks he was not able to fpcak, or perform Divine Service.

An old Woman of JS/f^.^/^ confefTed, That the Devil had helpt her to make a Nail, which fhe ftruck into a Boy's Knee, of which ftroak the Boy remained lam.e a long time. And 'fhe added, That before fiie was burnt, or Executed by ih^: Hand,, of Juftiee, the Boy would recover.

Tiiey

lo The Colleliion

They confefled alfo, That the Devil gives them a Beafta-bout the bignefs and fliape of a young Cat, which they call a Carrier ; and that he gives them a Bird too, as big as a Raven, but white j and thefe two Creatures they can fend any where, and wherever they come, they take away all forts of Viduals they can get, Butter, Cheefe, Milk, Bacon, and all forts of Seeds, whatever they find, and carry it to the Witch. What the Bird brings they may keep for themfelves, but what the Carrier brings, they muft refer ve for the Devil, and that's brought to Blocktila, where he doth give them of it fo much as he thinks fit.

They added likewife, that thefe Carriers fill themfelves faiiiU fcmerimes, that they are forced to fpue by the way, which fpuing is found in feveral Gardens, where Colworts grow, and not far! from the Houfes of thofe Witches. It is of a yellow Colour like Gold, and is called Buner of HHtches,

The Lords Commiflioners were indeed very earnefi:, and took great pains to perfuade them to (hew fome of their Tricks, but to no purpofe ; for they did all unanimoufly confefs, that iince they had confeffed all, they found that all their Witch-craft was gone, and that the Devil at this time appeared to them very terrible, with Claws on his Hands [and Feet, and with Horns on his Head, and a long tail behind, and (hewed to them a Pit burning, with a Hand put out ; but the Devil did thruft the Pcrfon down again with an Iron-fork ; and fuggefted to the Witches, thatif they concinned in their ConfefTion, he would •leal with them in the fame manner.

The above-faid Relation is taken out of the publick Regifter, where all this is related with more circumftances. And at this time, through all the Country, there are Prayers Weekly in all Churches, to the end, that Almighty God would pull down the Devil's power, and deliver thefe poor Creatures, which have hitherto groaned under it.

Af^

of KelAtions. 1 1

An Account of what hafned to a Boy at Malmoe in Schonen, in the Tear 16'^%^ fuppofed to be done by Witchcraft^ and attefted by the ableB^ and mofi judicious Men of that Town.

HAving in the Preface of the foregoing Narrative, taken no-tice of the Swedijh Envoy extraordinary, it may not be unfuirable to the fubjedl thefe Papers treat of, to give the World an Account of a very ftrange Paflage, which the iaid Envoy has taken very great pains to fatisfie himfelf in ; and of which he hath the publick Teftimony of the Town where it was done by him, no longer ago than in the Year 1678. An Alderman, or Senator's Son of Mahnoe in Schonen^ a City belonging to the King o^ Sweden, the Boy being about 1 3 Years of age, his Name, Abraham Mechelburgy going to School one Morning, as the thecuftom is in that place, about 6 of the Clock, ftayed there till 8, and then went home for his Breakfaft, which when he had eaten, he was going back to School again, when juft before the Door, clofe by the lower moft Step, there lay a little Bundle of Linnen rags, which the Lad out of curiofity took up and cpen'd, but found nothing in it, but partly Pins, fome crooked, fome laid a crofs, fome without points ; partly broken Horfe-nails, and Nails without Heads, partly Horfe hair, and fuch Trafii, which when it anfwered not his expectation, he rent afunder and threw away.

Some few Days after, the Boy fell ill, and continued fo for fome time, no Phyfician being able to gaefs what ailed him. At Jaft he began to void little Stones, at the Orifice of the Pe-nis, which by degrees came forth bigger and bigger, Ibme were perfedl Pebles, of all forts of Colours, and in procefs of time, there came forth great uneven Stones like pieces of Rocks, as if they were broken ofFof a greater Stone, whereof the Envoy hath two by him, one given him by the Father of the Boy, and the other by the King's Chyrurgeon, both which I have thought fit to give the Reader the Dimenfions of.

Before the Stones came forth, there wasa ftrange motion in his Belly, as if fomething were alive in it, the Stones Teemed to crack within, and fomething ihey heard, as if ' a great Stone were violently broken, and at this time he felt the greateft pain. When the Stones were ready to come forth, the Perns

12 The Collection

was dr^wn in fodlcep, that the Standers by could not per-ceive any thing of it, and after that, it dropc thofc prodigious Stones, which feemcd rather to be fetcht from Quarries, than prcducM by zn^ Saline or Nitrous Matter in the Body. The Stone I have given the Figure of, is of a reddifh Colour, with lome grains of white in ir, heavy, and fuch as lie incoinmon. Roads and High-ways. When the Stones came forth, the Boy fch. no pain, the pain being moft upon him, when the Stones withir? feem'd to crack, and a little before ; and the Fit was then fo violent, that 4 or 5 Men were forc'd to hold him. The Boy in the mean while flepc well at Night, Eat and Drank as hearti-ly as eyer, difcompofed at no time, but when the Fit of void-ing rhefe Srones was coming upon him. This lafted two Years. The Parents had the Boy Prayed for at Church, and inffcantly befought God at home, whenever any of thofe Fits came upon liim, to turn the Stream, and to ftop the Devil's power, The Boy is now as well as ever ; rides abroad, and doth all things as lie ufed to do before this Accident befell him. The Envoy fpoke both with the Father and the Boy, and tells me, they are no indigent People, but well to pafs, and Perlons of very good Reputation in the Town of Malmoe. While this Misfortune laited, the King of Sweden being then but a little way off, fenc iome of his Chyrurgeons to the place, to know the Truth there-of, who were by when the Lad voided very ftrange Stones ac ihe Orifice oi ihe Penis, and gave the King an Accountof it; Oneof them, to be throughly fatisfied, iheld bis Hand under the Fenis after it was drawn m, and there dropt a very odd Stone, broad and angular into his Hand. The Envoy being upon the place lail Year, inquired of all People, whom he thought might riot be very credulous, who unanimOufly bore Witnefs of the thing; and upon hisrequeft, gave him the following Account, >vbich I have Tranflated out of the Original.

J. H.

BE

of ReUtions Ij

BH it knovon, that during th'eTearsj 167S riud l6j<^. a 'very wondcrfiil fbi?ig hapj^ened in this City of Malmoe, to one of the Aldermen of the Town, his- name ]ohn'hitc\\t\h\\T%, andhis J4'ife\ Abla Krurhmeyer ; for God having hkffcd them votth three ^^^j, one of them Abraham by name, a Boy at ^his time aged 0^out fix teen Tears^ hath been very ^rangelf affli8ed vpith a pre-fernatural voiding of Stmes, infomuch that ' during the Jb.^ce of thofe tvio Tears y he hath through the y'lvg-^ of the Pen is voided fever al hu7idre is of Stones great and fmail, which being xveighed tO' gether^ vpeighed ne kf than One a7id twenty Pdund, Avef-du-poife, fame weighing 6, fome 7, [ome 8, fomc^ Ounces^ full cf Angles^ and much Hk$ pieces of a B^ck^^mts: hrol</h by furce, or .injiru-ments fit for that purpofe, Thefe hrol^en Stones f mtimes came forth at the Boy s Mcuth^ fomtimcs he voided them by fiege^ and the Parents -of the Child have confidently ajfursid us^ that before this- misfortune, the Boy had been fjcJ{_fevsral weeks together^ and kept his' Bed * during xvhidh ficknejs fomthing vvas feen. moving in his Bod/t afifit had been fome live thing. After ^ihis Sicl^tefs there appeared the Stones nf or ef aid ; thefirft that- came fsrthy ex-ceeded not the hignefs of half a Psa^ but in. a poor t time after ^ they encreafed to a greater bulk^; when they were ready to conie <«-way, the Boy complained much of the Spine- of his Bac\^ where^ as he faid, he found incredible Pain. fV/jile this lafled^. he nei" ther made Water, nor w^nt to Stool fometirnes i?i two Months, fometimes not in a quarter of a Tear ; fometimes the Stones y when they were paFt through the Virga appeared bloody , and upon one of them there appeared a kind^ of Taich. Notwithfandmg all this mifery, the Boy continued to eat his Meat very heartily , nor was he troubled with this Pain at all in the Nighty but ficpt quietly, AS he lifed to do, Ahout the latter end of this unexampled Pafi Jion and Mifery^ a matter of 64 Stones, for the mofi part jfiiall, came forth very f aft one upon the neck, of another, andfmce the loth <?f Seprember 1679. '^^^^^ misfortune hath totally left him, '-and he is as well as ever; nor is there after all thofc Garments any ^defed: t& be found, or perceived either in his Body, or the aforefaid Member of the Boy, but he continues Jnfe and found unto this Day,

And whereas in all probability, abundance of Men hecaufe they have not been Eye-witnejfes ,will deride thefe pajf ages, as fabulous, we whofe names are under written,upci2 the requeft and defire of theLord John Leyonberg, Envoy Extraordinary of Swcdcnjoave once more fpoken and confotred with the Parents of the Boy, who have frjewed us the above/aid Stones, and given us one of the biggefl as a Pre'

fenp

14 2i^^ Cotletfion.

Jenfy and do hereby teflifie that the PaJJageS related in the premlfes are undoubtedly true^ which Teilimony we have aljo figned with cur own Hands y that in cafe the aforefaid Envoy coming into Fo-reign parts, Poall have occajion to J^ak^ of thefe things ^ Men ma^ give credit to this B^lation.

Given at Malmoe this Q,oth of Sept ember f i68oi

Chripfhorus Roflius^ Med. D. &Prcf.

NichoUus Hambramy Paftor & Praepofitus Malmoy.

Wilhelmm LmremhergiuSy V. D. M. Malmoy.

M^rtims Torfiorrms^ Gomminifter, ibid.

Sigifmund AJcenborn^Qoti^xxl Malmoy. Primar.

^ohn Cafpar Heuhlin^ Confil. Malmoy.

Ufhrdm JQoldervej^ Chirurgion to the Garifbiii

\ ADVERT

mcrvfConc2iii% there yajjcrx.

l6 The QolleitioH'

ADVERTISE^MENT.

V^oen the Boys Father , gave the Envoy the higger^ Stone he Added this Tejiimonial or Certificate undsr his oven Hand,

IN the Year of our Lord, 1678.
Noveinber 30. This Stone came a-
way from my Son Abraham Mechelburg
through the Virga of the Penis^ weighs
ing three Ounces, and upwards.

Malmoey April 26, 1680,

ychn Mechelburg.

The lejjer Stone was given to the Envoy, hy one of the Kjng of Suedcn J Chinirgions^ that held his Hand to the Orifice of thif Penis, and felt 'and faw it drop into his Hand,

•^

FINIS.

THE

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