by Richard Bovet

Pandaemonium, or the Devil's Cloister (1684) is a collection of supernatural encounters and a theological argument for the reality of witchcraft, spirits, and demonic activity. Richard Bovet, a Somerset gentleman, wrote it as "a further blow to modern Sadduceism" — an answer to those who denied the existence of spiritual beings.
The book is divided into two parts. The first is a doctrinal argument tracing Satan's influence from the Fall of the Angels through ancient idolatry to contemporary witchcraft, with chapters on the Druids, the Sibyls, and several Popes alleged to have practised sorcery. The second — and far more remarkable — part is a collection of fifteen "Relations," first-person accounts of supernatural encounters across England and Scotland in the 1670s and 1680s: the Fairy-Boy of Leith who visited the fairies every Thursday night, the Demon of Spraiton that haunted a Devon household, spectral lights in a shoemaker's house in Bristol, fairies keeping a fair, and a Scottish gentleman murdered by a wax image stuck with pins.
These Relations are the book's true treasure — eyewitness accounts, attested by named individuals, of the supernatural beliefs and experiences of ordinary people in Restoration England and Scotland. Many were "never before published" at the time of printing and survive nowhere else. The Fairy-Boy of Leith, in particular, is one of the most detailed accounts of fairy contact in the Scottish tradition.
Presented here from the first edition (London: Thomas Malthus, 1684), digitised at archive.org from the Early English Books Online microfilm collection. The OCR is from a scan of 17th-century blackletter through microfilm — extensive cleanup has been performed but damage remains, particularly in Part I. Part II (the Relations) has received closer attention.

Part I

A discourse deduced from the Fall of the Angels, the Propagation of Satan's Kingdom before the Flood, the Idolatry of the ages after, the nature of witchcraft, and examples of confederacies with the Devil among Druids, Sibyls, Vestal Virgins, Heathen Priests, and several Popes.

To the Reverend OY ana Move, an D.. ee,

"0 Hat DN ORG should aflume the Prelumpi, tion to inkeribe your

Mikine! to: so: unpolisht, Dif:

courle, may very well affect:

the Sa, Considerate of Man-- kind with some fort of Admiration; and 'pull-on-me a just reprehenfion : But it {4 ich please only to recolle& with ck Ir- efragable Realon'you have op-- yn, and 'vanquish't the Te» A 3 gions

gions of Atheistical, and disbelieving pretenders R "who seem to be Incredulous of discourses of the Existence of - Spirits,.and their Attempts upon lapsed and degenerate Man; I say, it they but duly regard the mighty Triumphs of your Learned Pen upon this Subject, they will at least admit it to be some. degree of common Prudence to List myself under the Ban-

ner of so Victorious a Chief tain. : I have often, with oreat attention perused that passage in your Letter prefixed to Saddu- Cismus Triumphatus, P.I 4+. Viz. y Those that lay out their pains in cone \ wpttmg to writing certain well-attested

tested stories of Witches, and Appa-.. ' ritions, do real service to true Re» 'S ligion, and found Philosophy,,, and d the most effeftual, and acconntiodate d to the confounding of Infidelity, and y Atheism, even m the Judgment of y, the Atheists themselves, who are as d much afraid of the truth of these Pories, as an Ape is of a Whip, and 0 therefore force themselves with might e and main to dizbel = them, by rea- ' son of the dreadjul consequence of J themas ta themselves. I thought myself bl by anindispen- - fable necessity to contribute all I } Ix couldto the asserting the reali- - ty of Spiritual Existencies, and, . by consequence, the 2dvantages - such subtle Agents have to {urprize the unwary, and entrap the

A'3 neg-

. nepligent-Dicbellever in inextricable Snares : whil'ft they who * shut cheir Eyes against the belief of Dæmons, are imperceptibly buyried by them upon the unayoi- \ dable precipices of: Senfuality, and Impenitenee. We if Some, perhaps, may be Offended at the Method I have ufed in attributing- to Priestcraft, so much,of the' Original, and Contagion of + Diabolical '/ Confederacy; but let them reflect on the stratagems of the Lapsed Angel, and it will without much difficulty appear; that the Worshipping that Abomination, either under the Figure I - of a Pagan Oracle or Deity, and the Adorations paid him-under =Þ neo the

/, I have chosen upon this Ar-

the notion of an Antichristian Di- Vs; in Temples, and pompous

Ceremonies; together with

thole Homages, Offices, and Obla-

' tions made him by his miscreant

Hag gs, and Confederates in their

Nocturna] Cabals, and Night-

Revels have one and the same tendency,and center in the same

• miserable,and irreyocable point

gument, to make ufe of the Al-

legations of the Learned D.

: Brevent, who tho he had the advantagesof being bothan Eye,

and Ear-witness of the detesta-

• ble Zdolatriesof theRomanChurch,

by being so long instaly amongst them, and having the opportu-

nity,

The Epi! nity, and satisfaction of free and frequent Conyerles: with-then 7 yet "enexdelblys cites most of what he charges them withal, out of the Writings of their. own acknowledg'd' Awthots:; whichil have Also quoted, thit the Cur; rious may refer-to, themi.:i. 17 As for the Fictions:of the: Ancient: Poets, I kavye-as:licele anclix nation as any. man to aflix aay extraordinary: Credit:to them; but for what the most Authentick: Writers of :all- Apes: agree in, and determine vA.amapr'ts. belicve: a more het common deference. "ought tobe ipaid*toithari The Collenic of Relations may Gy '(qme' be:blamed for ws. x00:shor) manydes light

Dedratory.

lighting themselves more wich

7 Catagg! of ' Story, then: to 'en-

• quire, and pins the drift.of

the design; to these I can only

fay, that being confined to such a Volume; there was not room . for more, tho-many mighthave

been added, which perhaps may be the subject of another Yo-

lume; besides,I could not withs outdetriment'tothe whole have

omitted-any' ag: + contained in

• the first part, wherein I fear I have rather been too Concile : Butfor the veracity of the parti-

cularsin:the Collection, 5 ub in point of Respect, I have omitted the Names of some; yet

they will be Attested by many R worthy, and unprejudiced per-

sons,

The Epistle, &c. fons, whose Testimonies are

' sufficient to rescue them from

the Attemprs of the most virulent detractors. However, if I must be Carp t at, I have this farther incouragement, that Thave not only inga-' ged in a good design, but have. put my self under the umbrage of so great a Patron, that there. can be no apprehensions of! danger from the Attacks of che! Modern Sadduces upon,

Sir, Your Assured Humble aha Z

Par!

Pandemonium, &C.

gez a! C H A P. ].

ga- 'Fierting ff the Fallot the AngeUS, the ave: Seauttion of the Humane Race, and age ! the general iranieties before the flood.

of NJ]nce the defection of the Fallen

I Angzeis from the fit re&titude,or D state of sublime Happiness and &# Glory wherein they were placed by the Eternal Omnipotence z the indefatigable Enemy ot Souis hath been rest- less in his Attempts ro advance his own Infernal Dominion,and for the withdrawi11z Humane Souls from that glorious Fe- Ecity, from whence himself, and his Contederate Angels are for ever excluded. And to carry on this Diabolical design,

po Fraud, nor Artifice hath been omitted, no Deluftons, nor Suggestions neg- D decked, no TRLUnIns, or Allutements MY iPa-

spared, that might entrap, and enslave the ever-existing Souls of men; and bring} ' them intoan estate of Vassalage and Sub! jection to his Infernal Power. So great was the Rancour and Rage thai sl! inflamed, and sole this ambitious PPtrit - upon his being secluded frorn a Stare os Unexpressible Glory, in enjoying che blessed Presence of the Eternal Lis ght anc Life of all things, and possessing one ol! the first Orders, and highest Ranks at monelst the Blessed 7 por those Gloris ous Waiters in the Prefence-Chamber of the Heavenly Palace,and Ministers to the All-Soveraign Throne of God : that ( though utterly defeated of his Ambirioned Empire amongst the Seraphims ) he till retains his Thirst for Dominion, and 18 endeavours to seduce and draw off the SF Subjects of the Almighty from their Al3 legiance to their Soveraign Creator. 7 For though he changed the highes! Heaven, for the lowest Hell, a Pallace o/ Eternal Rappinels,for a Dungeon of Eter. nal Horrour, yet he changed not his Dire! and Diabohical Resolutions 5 but {til: fights against the Thunder of the Al! mighty, and though vanquithed, still rerains his Trayterous Principle and incli- nation to Rebel, And ( though the Angels which je E-- if tne1!

png Bd

TT The fall of our first Parents. » e thetheir station in Heaven, were ont of the bringteach of his Seductions, and there was no Subhope of a revolt amongst those Princirage Powers, and Thrones; ) yet had ethaithe lapsed Arch-Angel a Design (which pirithe ers himfelf with all hisHellishPolities Are oito manage) on the Lord of the.new Created World. Him had the Almighty Wis- dom formed after the Divine Image, and Þlaced in the most pleasant Garden of E- Hen, which God himself planted for the 3loriSolace and Comfort of his new made ber oSubject, under his Feet were all-the sub- 0 thiahinary Creatures put, and his Dominion thathad been Eternal; had he adhered tothe nbitisLaws of his Soveraign Creator. s$) h& To the Conquest therefore, and sub- ; andduttion of the Humane Race, doth the F the Treacherous Angel set.himself,and makes r Al3that very Bait of Pride and Ambition, ? which had cost himself the loss of all his ghes Glory and preheminence in the Eternal ce 0!) Mansftons of Happiness; I say he makes Eter.] that very Temptation the snare to In- Dires trap our credulous first Parents, and to - {313 cast fallen Man into the disfavour of his All Maker, and plunge him and his Posterity 7 into a state of Misery and Impotence 5 4 and a possibility of sharing with the revol- 7 ted Cherabims in all the Horrours of an I Eternal Banithment from the happiness 4 of Heavcn. B 2 + Bhi

ted, and put into a Condition little low-

If we but consider the twinging an-} guish, and trormenting reflections the api ring Prince of Darkness must needs fuffer, to {ee himself divested of all that5 Majesty, Beauty, and Lustre, which fate on the Brow of one of the chietest of the? mighty Angels of Heaven; and condem-3 ns to an Eternal Banishment from all Happiness, to the dreadful Tortures of ? the Bottomlets Pit : and on the other side ? reflecting on the excellent, noble, and ! happy stare of the firit Adzmnewly crea- %

er than the Heavenly Angels,ve may well ” uppose him to iook with envy on the fe- 7 licity of our first Parents; and being mo- J ved withall the Transports of a Diaboli- ! cal Rage, and implacable reyengse he sets * himself, with all his Satanical Power, Craft, and Malice to spoil and blast the 7: envied Greatnets of Humane Race; and * bring the Master-piece of the New-Cretion into a state of equal misery with timer. The Crafty Tempter soon found the weak side of our hrit Parents, and cannot be {iuppoled to be ignorant of the Divine (_OMMand touching the Tree of Knowledge; what more plauiible Suggestion could there be, than the attainment of a retemblance to the Deity > Ye shall 7 REED wait?

• an-; The fall of our first Parents. 5 api fwvise as Gods; but this he breaks not to ut-gthe Man, (whole roar resolution that might perhaps have refisted the Arguate ment, and have discovered the Snare ) f the but urgeth it to the Woman, whose deem-Yires and passions were more {trong, and I all he apter to be prevailed upon, here 5 of*herefore he makes his Aflault, and ob- 11de tained that fatal Victory from whence and we may justly calculate all the Miseries, rea-;and Calamities for that fin inflicted on ow- allen and depraved Man. This was the yell 'F ons & Origo Malorum. The only Floodfe- gate that let in upon the Sons of Adam, no- Fall the Impieties, with their fatal Conseoli- Jquences, under which, the world hath e- ets fver since groaned. "er, } Thus was the Apostate Angel, the the cause of Adams Apoltacy, who was deand *ceived, as the learned Dr. Browne curi- re- ously notes upon this occasion. ith } They were deceived by one another, and that in the greatest disadvantage of the /Deluston, the stronger by the weaker. not 'Thus his superstructure was his Ruine,and ,the fertility of his sleep became the issue ;of Death unto him. Yulg. Errours,Cap.2. 100 } The Tyrant of Heil having obtained F a this shameful Victory over our first Pabe Jrents; resolves to prosecute it with all 112 the restless attempts of a malicious Fiend 2 Now

Now were the trembling Pair banishe

the fragrant walks of Paradice, which « itself produced all the sweet comforts ani reflections of life; and turned into a uncultivated World, to work for thei Bread with the sweat of their Brows) their days were filled with Labour and Toyl, their nights were tedious and trous blesome with anxious and perplexe( thoughts. The Earth was cursed witly Briars and Barrenness, not to be repaire8 without continual Labor, and the dirs effects of hearkning to the first Tempta tion, hath entailed all the Curses on th wretched of-spring of Man,under whicty ever since they labour; and opened {0 large a Breach in the Fort of the þ+ mane Soul, that the blackLegions of Lus and Hell have ever since had easy en trance into the yielding City of the bat: terd Heart. That Fortress which wa Originally ere&ed by the Divine power:

and wherein the Image of the Eterna!

Wisdom was enthroned; betrayed by the subtilty of an Enemy without, and tht negligenceandTreachery of Guards with in, hath now the black Standard of : Proud Insulting Conqueror, advanced or her Towers, whilst she is barbaroul]y fackt, and rifled of all her Wealth and Ornaments by the Tyrants Infulting Troops. 4 mal

fs. The fall of our first Parents, 7

anished That Poison which (with the Temptahich &ion of the first Serpent ) entered into the rts anithoughts of deluded Eve, hath since {© to afiftused its venemous tincture in the ir theifnaginations of her fascinated Oft-spring, rows that they dayly become more fleet ur an&of base and sordid impressions; andare I troumow ready to receive as much of the inferplexes al drug, as the Emperick of Hell pre- witkscribes theam.; paired How soon this contagion shew'd itself, e dirgis apparent by the sacred story. their mptaiminds once stagger'd, fell from good to Mn th&bad, from bad to worst of all 3 the Pavhichy rents wrangle, and accuse one another ed (@ the serenity of a Peaceful Innocence had e Hus forsakenthem; Passion broke loose, and FLusd shew'd its dire effe&s: the tainted. issue y en! have the malignity encreased on their pubats trid Bodies. 'The Son of Adam imbrues - was himself in the blood of his more rightewer. ous Brother, and that too at the Altar of erna!! God. Here visthly appeared the enmity y the of the infernal Spirit; for having now the! precipitated our wretchedSire from a state v1th-: of pure innocence, he had instild into the of :; heart of perverted Man an opposition to d ors that Good from whence he. was fallen, ufly which shewed ittelf in its black and fouanc! lest Colour in that first barbarous Mur- ting] ther. Hence the pale Homicide-(sentenc't hat! = by

C:-: -J'7e fas of our Fri} Parex?.

by tte fupream Justice, and baniihe us Native Country, wanders 2 V __ none £o the tavage Mountzins of an Accursed Land 3 there entailing the guise: and Seq rence of tvs unpious taQ, on his loan d Potterity.

Nor vic tne malice of ene UNPLICED.S

Enemy of Humane Race GEteETmine witli Ne Tragick Burchery of the Rignts ous Ave!, Out fit. in the teee ot Cam hath through ail Ages FroPagared this Dioogy Enmiy agaznit alt that bezr the ftamp ang Image: of the Primitive Righceodinets; Gtcorerng 2 hateful avert tenets 7 the very :tterdlance of the rift Innocence viich Invereracy rath frll increzied w th the depravity of Humane Nanze, prone to —_ whatidever rei.

COrrce, or aroOwsS 15S VOUS, ane

; 2. —_— «2? » "xg 2, II. 4 - — CCOMMcNed Practices: Tre EO Q OF the

. ». {> tee! I FRE a2; 517 T7 Z=E Te SErPEN EELLL KIg £4 — Fg: Ka WH —- {wy , » Rightee s Seee, by woich ther bore 5 IUS F _ Se PTEY "014 bd S hw Y.

ettblit2 fred T & T2NQU! IT,, WES OM Qe Checks of & TC ONO Jos Dj kf $4.4 ENCE. 2G withoue the An =_ Tem Ws CE

be Dune Law. Norneattinging Oe conwertZes gf aL Hives 2 Glorious Egare. & F003 the Farther ot Vianiking FI iEOU> oy, which could 80t.mfroppiiry but 5 remembres > =e ot Ages < CON

of I—R—— — w

fidering how many Centuries their lives were stretched out, to: inform their Posterity of the {4dConsequences of their lapsed state; and notwithstanding the Cautions and Admonitions' which ( we have reason to believe) were left them by their exiled Fore-father: (the sense of which ( one 1vould have thought ) would have made an impression on hearts of Adamant) notwithitanding the Prophesying, and Preaching of Ezoch; and 0- ther just men (whereof the Almighty: Goodnefs hath preserved some in all Ayes, to warn the Apostate world of the: danger of their Impieties,and to be-Gods- Witnefles against an impenitent, and dis-' belreving Generation) yet {til} we find not but Satan got- ground on hisnev Conquests, and still extended his Dominions. For we read that the wickedneis of Ma1 Trew great upon -the face of the Earth, Gen. 6.5, 6. Andit repeated the 7,ord that he had made Man upon the Earth, and it gricved him to his Heart,

What the particulars of those high Provocations against the Divine Majeiry were, the Scripture is {tient in, aad tht being all the Trace: we have leit of tle:

TranlaRions before the:Flood, { the for t--

teps of which are only to be- found n' thei firlt Chapters of- the fwit Book c#- B J } H {ole

10. The fall of our first Fares.

Moses ) it would be audacious to particularize, but we may with lamentation con- clude, that it proceeded from the fertility of that accursed Seed sown by the Devil in Paradice, who had now acquired fuch 4 power over the minds, and actions of men,that they were become hisV aslals;8: had forsaken the Fountain of Life, and given themselves up to the Commitiion of those foul enormuries, that go not ony to the borders, but into the Conkfnes ot Ecernal Death.

We have little reason to doubt, but -

that the Prince of Darknels ( taking the advantage of the profound ignorance of the times before the Flood, wihich-were at so vast a distance from the rising of the Son of Righteousness) instill'd and propagated at least all those Hellith Rudi-

ments-and Doctrines which tend to the

denying the Power, if not, the-being of meEternal and True God; thereby intnarins them in those gross Impieties that dre:y 0n them the Univertal Deluge, and :21d the whole world at once under the overflowing Torrent of the Divine Wrath and Justice. We-thall come in 2e next Chapter to treat of the more xaown Violations. of the Divine Law; with which, by the Craft and Malice of: We Evil one, the itatful Race of Mankind were

Tdelatry after the Flood, 11

were infested and pollmre, after that” severe and unparallel'd destruction of the old World; and {till held Captive in the Chains of his Diabolical Enchant-

ments and Fascinations, notwithstandihg

the Dreadful and Terrible Judgments of the Almighty, poured on their Fore-Fathers. for their dereliction of. the True God, and falling into those dreadful Provyocations against their most Gracious Creator.

th. _— a *

The Idolatry of the first Ages after the Fleod, the defeftion to Devil- Worship, a great step to: Infernal Con-

federacies.

Orvithstanding this amazing Judg-

'N ment of the Flood in the days ot Noab, whereby the whole World was laid wast, and mace a difmal Trophy ot the Divine Vengeance z yet had -not the many waters extinguished the fire of lust, and fin, which lay as it weze raked up #1 Embers. ready. to-kindle with _ tirit- Ginn

Temptation which presented. For- the -

next thing we meet _ with in the facred* Story, 15 this very Noah (who was-the o0n- Iy person amongst all mankind, with his Family) whom the Almighty miraculoufly saved from that Universal Deluge, aud from whose Loins the succeeding Generations of Men were to be derived;

we see thisvery Noah exposing his shame through - intemperance with Wine : and- -

his wicked Son Ham, the Father of Canaan (contrary to all the obligations of Hu-

manity and. Duty) uncovering. the skirts.

of the Patriark; for which, he and his posterity after - him were laid under a Curse to this day.

Here we may with. just lamentation-

take notice how loon the old Advertary makes his attempts, to try his power 0ver the Souls of men, whgayhe quick- ly found that the dreadful Judgment of the Universal Inundation, had not wash-

ed away that pollution which he had in-.

tilled into the hearts of our first Parents;

but still they: were as fusceptible of his:

wicked Impressions, and as open to his

Temptations as ever: And if we but take-

a view of the History,from the 9th Chap.

of Genesis, it is very observable by what: Wiles, and gradual inares he entraps the-

Race of Falten Man; until he had broughe them

ood We WOT YES ee A; eat

= 9 NW OT 8-7" oo

Ilolatry after the Flood: I7 them (art lea(t) to equal, if not exceed the' horrid provocations of the old World. The Father fell into shamefal Intemperance, the: Son degenerated into-a favage Mockage, and impious deriding of his Fathers frailty, This Son was the Father of Canaan, from whom descended'Sidoz, the' Father of the Sidonians, who were some of the first Idolaters we find upon record; these with other perverted Generations, forsook their great Creator,-and changed his Invistble Glory for the Images of brute: Beasts, whose Altars they adorned with gay and golden Pomps, with a vast numberoof Ceremonies, and Idolatrous Su- perstitions, worthipping the Devils themselves for Deities. For now the Arro- gance of the Proud” Infernat Angel had: hxed his Seat by, and instead of the Seat of the Supreme Majesty, his Altars wereadvanced instead of the Altars-of- God; being worshipped bythe Nations roun about;- and often placed their Idolatrous shrines within his Sanctuary, with their cursed things, and abominations, prophaning his: holy Rites, and solemn- Feasts; affronting the pure Light of* the-Holy Ordinances, with their dark: aid pestiferous Oracles: And it cannot be-{upposed difficult, that the Destroyer (having brought the Nations to bow to his Altars,

and

14 1d latry after the Flood.

and worship him for their God) should - work them into those diabolical practices, and instruct them in those Hellish

Arts, that might in some measure confirm them in an opinion of his Deity; such as were Divinations, Charms, Inchantments, converse with Spirits,wvith the dependant Arts, and black mysteries concomitant thereto. But this we shall refer more particularly to the next Chapter,- whilst the con(1deration of the deplorable Idolatry,. and gross ignorance of the first Ages atter the Flod, shall take up our discourse in this.

In the Holy Scripture we find Idols inthe House of Laban, the Father-in-Law of Facob, Gen. 31. 19. by which it is evident it was the practice of the Nations in that early time to*+ devote themselves to false Gods;-and how largely this abominable defection to Idolatry had fpread 0- ver the most Ancient:and Populous Eastern Kingdoms, appears by the best records of those times :. many of which we find amongst the elder Poets,and Philosophers, which have been diligently searched by the learned of our times, and the sacred Scriptures give a large Account of the. propagation of this Hellish Religion, noc only amoagit the Hebrews, but the Nations round. about, from whose Devi

Iolatry after tle Flood. 15

Temples the Israelites, took the Models of their Groves, forlaking the God of their Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Facob :- (who had with a strong hand brought: them out of egypr, and saved them with

2 great salvation) for the Image of an Ox

that eateth grass;nay,therewas not anyDe-- testable Idolamong the Heathens, though

never {o bloody and* Diabolical, which did not at:some time or other obtain for

a Deity amongst the hardned, and back-- fliding Jews. A list of which is excel-

lently drawn up by the Pen of the Lear-

ned and:Profound Mr. Fohn Milton in his. Paradice lost. For during the time of their

Bondage in e/#gypr, they were so besotted witha frantick.zeal to those bestial Dei-- ties, Osiris, Isis, and Orws (whose Fanatick Priefts with their Sorceries incited themisguided Inhabitants on the bank of Nile to seek their wandring Gods in those

Brutish Forms) that with their borrow'd : Gold they:composed the figure of a Calf. in Ore, and paid an impious adoration to that molten God: The taint of this Pagan Superstition seized upon Aaron himself, ( though afterward consecrated to the Sa-- cred Priesthood ) and the Divine Justice overtook their wandring Tribes, whose - laughtered Carkafles in the Wilderness, recerved the.punishment of their Blasphemous Acclamation... Nor:

r6 Tdolatry after the Flood.

Nor was the Holy Law given them ori Mount Sinai, with such demonstrations of a Divine and Omnipotent power, of force sufficient to restrain the obdurate Israelites from their libidinous quest after strange Gods! but notwithstanding the sacred Oracles, and the visible and extra-

ordinary appearance of the Eternal Holy

One amongst them; they bowed down to: Monstrons atd:detestable Abominartions, such as Aftarre the Goddels of the Phenicians, by them: also named the Queen of- Heaven,and figured with Crescent Horns, implying the Moon; by: whofe light, the Daughters of Sidon paid their nocturnal Adorations to- their Silvan Deity. The: Israelitts in- Caraan named her Astoreth, and built her Temple on Mount Zt0-, our that Hallow'd Mountain, rearing: her Al-- tar in emulation to the Sanctuary : where the 1sraclitish Virgins performed Heathenith Rites,andchanted their wanton Songs. at her offensive Shrine. To which alludes that passage inthe Book of Fob, in chap. 31.26, to the 29th verle. If I beheld the Sun when it shined, or the Moon walking in brightness: And my heart hath been secre:-- ly inticed, or my mouth. hath kissed my hand, this also were an iniquity to be punished by tl e Fudge, for I should have denyed the God th. t: * above.. The Book of Job, ( whether it.

ON EMTIETI 2 SE ae Os IL fs AS þ

dolatiy Tatroduflive to Witchcraft. 17

be aParable, or a History) is acknowledged by all Learned Men to be of very great Antiquity; and it appears by this fore-cited Text,.that'in thole times there was an Adoration paid to the Moon'; and that this was so long since esteemed Idolair, and a provocation to the supream eltY..

The monstrous and bloody 2oloch, the tremendous Idol of the Ammonires;; worshipt alsoin Rabba, Argob, and® Basan, as tar as the stream of Arno, whose horrid Temples were besmeared with the blood of Humane Sacrifice,whilst his loathfome Court was washed with the Tears of be-- sotted Parents, who caused their own Children to pass the fire on his cruel Al-

rars; whilst the loudnoise of Drums and

Timbrels,stifled the hideous Cries of their

• burning Infants. This Savage Monster

' too had his grim.Image high erected on the opprobrious Hill of $79, when that

' effeminate Solomon, beguiled with the

Charms of his lewd Ido atresses, brought

him into an audacious Neighbourhood with the Holy Seat. After which, we find the wicked Son of good Hezckiah et up his impious Groves, and caused. his Son to pass through the fire to that Pa- gan Idol, 2 Kings, ch. 21. from whence the pleasant valley of Hinnom had its: Name

Tadolatry Introduftive to Witchcraft. 18

name changed to Topher, and G ehenna, Types of Hell. What lamentation here may we takeup for the Biggotted Kings of Israel, who thus subjugated their Su jets toa {spiritual vaslalage; and ( after the manner of the blind and barbarous Gentiles) prostituted themselves to those impious and daring abominations : upon the. account of which, the God of /rae! had driven out and destroyed the mighty Nations before them; and for which, themselves were so often visited with Captivigies, Pestilence, and other dread-

ful Judgments, of which the sacred Chronicle "fall

Besides these, they had Chemos the obscene Idol of the Moabires, who awed the Countries from Aroer to Nebo, and Hesh-

bon, the Kingdom of Seon, with divers 0+

ther large Tracts and Realms; this Image was likewise named Peor, to whose wanton Rites the Idolatrous /-aelites were en- riced in Sittims, as they marched from the River Nile out of eAaypr; they did eat, and bowed down to the Gods of Moat; and they joyned themselves unto Baal Peor : and the anger of the Lord was kind- led against J{rae!, Numb. 25. From hence he enlarged his lustful Sacrifices to the hill of Scandal, by the Grove of Moluch. So lust and Hate obtained amongst them for

Deimies;

Idolatry Tntroduftive to Witchcraft. 19

Deities 3 whilst they forsook the Altars of the Righteous and Holy God, to do Homage, and Divine Adoration to the filthiest of the infernal Spirits; bowing low before their impious shrines; for which their Heads were bowed as low in Battel, and sunk before the spear of despicable Foes.

Not the frequent desolatiohns which their Idolatries brought on them; yea, on their very Idols, and Priests, could pre-

vail with the obdufate Jews to reclaim,

and adhere to the God of their Salvation, but they still ran wantoning after strange Gods, which the Prophets of the Lord, called Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery, &c. and every strange Idol was to thema fresh Temptation; so they took for Deities the Gods of those Nations whom they had subdued, stooping to those very Idols which they had conquered: They worshipped Baalim, and 4sh- taroth, the abominations of the S Wrians. Thammuz, another of their Idols, annually lamented by the Daughters of S107. See the Prophesie of Ezekzel, ch. 8. To these may be added the Monster Dagon, half Man, half Fish, whose Image fell before the facred Ark,and his head and hands dropt off, I Sam. 5. The Idol of Damas- £115, Conquered by A4haz, who IRWIN et

Zo Ivolatry Introdutive toWitchcraft.

-set up his Altars in disgrace to the Altar of God. p Besides these and many other Idols, which infested the Coast Of Palestine, & the PromisedLand,they devoted themselves to the bestial Debauches of Belial; whose Sons the Holy Scripture stiles fuch, whose Luxurious Riots make thenight blacker with their impious Re- : vels. He had no Temple erected to his Infernal Worship, but still he reign amongst Atheistical Priests, debauched - Courts, and wanton Cities; as of Old in the streets of Sodom, whose lofty Piles a * fire from Heaven consumed, as the fire of cheir burning Lust had raged within her 1Mpous Walk. Nor ( with lamentation be it spoken ) are the streets of Christian Cities free, but rather too shameful! infeted with the filthy Riots of these lewd night Ramblers; whose detestable Abominations ( if not soon suppressed ) will doubtless bring us under an amazing, and tremendous Desolation. ' Weshall not need to mention theldolatries of the Ancient Greciansand Romans, which theHistories of those Empires have plentifully Recorded : every Nation strove ro exceed one another in multiplying trange and false Gods. But I have rather made mention of the Idolatry as the C\WSs 1

ww CU WO wm” 5 _Khb-

An RWOWRU May 1

PSS aire og rye

7 Cp pee 7; 2p

Tolatry Tatreduftive to Witchcraft. 21

Jews, that the consideration of their Revolts, and Apoitacies from the Covenant of the Almighty, who had wrought (© many wonders for them, and such Judgments in the midst of them; who had gi- ven them tis Righteous Law 5 and proclaimed his Name before them, seat his Prophets among them, and by peculiar favours distinguished them from all the Na- tions upon Earth:might the more eff2Ctually move us to contider what foundat1- on we are upon, That he that thinketh he

standeth, may take heed lest he fall, and as the Blefled Apostle said, JF these things

have been done in the green Tree, we may pre-

sage what the ary :s to expett, If the back-

lidings of the Jews cost them {o dear,

what may we think will become of Apo-

tate Christians 2 What our blefled Saviour faith of Chorasin, and Bethsaida, may be very applicable in this case, in the Ioth of the Gospel of St. Luke 12, 13.

verses. It shall be more tollerable in that L diy for Sodom, then for that City, &Cc. Such stupendious phials may be poured up- J on us, as may cause the Ears of all that hear of thein to tingle.

By this we fee the sad effets of our first Parents hearkning to the first Temp-

tation, by which the indefatigable Tempter hath to valtly enlarged his Empire over

the

ts = <A REI ner ”

— e : a - nt ee ee Cr OCs —— 2 as n —— VARIBCE. II Gas? ee ee i Ee ee Ee ne oe —— ET Wt Were

22 Priests given to Divination. the Race of deluded Adam, that it seemed as if the Kingdoms of the world were become his Kingdoms; the whole world lying in Wickedness, and Heathenith 1I-

olatry; and the first National Church of the Jews perverted to the Abominations of the Gentiles.

We shall proceed to thew some farther steps the great Deceiver hath made, by bringing persons into a Confederacy with himself; in some observations on 1{uch as give themselves up to Divinations, Sorceries, and Witchcraft : and with this put an end to this second Chapter.

TTeathen, and Idol Priests given {0 Magick, and Divinations, General Examples of Diabolical Confedera- C{CS,

LH 15 induvitable thatSpirits have knowleage of many things above the reach of Humane Capacities; especially as to futureevents, and that through their Science of those occult Causes which cannot appear to men. Their eflences being soft, ubtil,

Priests given to Divination. 22

1btil, and uncompounded, not manacled with textures of flesh, nor encumbered with sol1d Bones and Joints; they can dilate or condense themselves into what forms they please, and appear in femblances bright, or obscure, to execute their Airy purposes; they are in capacity to collect distant Intelligences, and to make Observations from causes forreign, and remote from Mortal apprehenstons.Some-- times withan officious kind of Friendship, diicovering {uch things as mayseem to the advantage of those thatconsult them;when all the while such beguiled Enquirers are cravwn into palpable and destructive delu- 1100S : At other times they are Ministers of Terrour unto such as their Confederates direct them to, and sometimes to the Sorcerers themselves. 'There is a manifest grant that Spirits have things known, and revealed to them, that are hidden from, and above the ken of Man; or why should men use means to ask and enquire of Spirits concerning contingencies and events; as hath been usual and customary in all Ages? Neither can we suppose that the Almighty would have forbidden uch Enquiry as he doth, expresly in the eighth Chapter of the Prophely of 1saiah, v 19. And whea they shail {ay unto you, enquire of those that have a Spirit of Di-

Vination,

24 Priests given to Divinati.n, vination, and at the Southsayers which murmure, and whisper; should not a People feek unto their God?

A desire and inclination to be informed of things whereof men were 1gnorant, was that which at first drew them to feek to the Devil for Information. This feems evident by the words of King Saz/ to the Spirit, I Sam. 28. 15.06 0d 15 aepartes from me, and answereth me mo more, neither by Prophets, neither by Dreams : therefore have T calted thec, that thou mayest tell me what I

' should do. Saul had departed from God,

and the favour of God was departed from him; the Lord an{wered not his enquiries in the usual and accuttomed methoas, by his Prophets, or by Dreams; as many times he was pleased to discover his mind to the Fathers of Old, {o that Saul was at 2a loss how to have his Curiolity satisfied; he had been told that the woman atEzdor had a Python, or Spirit of Prophesy( tho it was not from Heaven, but by a Satanical Confederacy, yet ) Sal contrary -to the Divine Command applies himself to the Diabolical Sorceress; and what the fatal consequence of that his Action was, will appear by the sequel of the story, which you may find in the Chapter above Cited, and ws shall have occasion to mention in another place. The Angels of Hea-

ven,

Priests given to Divination. 25

ven, nor holy Spirits never appeared to converse with men upon any Applications made to them; but when they were exprelly sent to deliver the mind of the Almighty and that as Meslengers, and not upon the Account of Hu- mane Invocation 3 as may be seen in those places of Scripture where menti- ; on is made of their appearing at divers . times. And God having forbidden (eek- - þ ing to any Spirit, by way of inquiry, 7 or otherwise; the holy Spirits durst not but obey his Righteous Commands, I and therefore it may with good reason - + be concluded that those Spirits who suf- ;, 4 fer themselves to be fought unto are evil, and disobedient Spirits, and Devils : And such as seek unto them to en- quire after thingshidden from the knowledg of man are Sorcerers, and Witches, And for this reason they enter into Confederacy, and Contratt with the evil Spirits, or Dzmons aforesaid.

• "oo Met » RTE TT "ay

with abundance of Charmers, South(ayers,Sorcerers, Magicians, Witches, and other Schollars of this Black andHellitk Art, who by entering into Covenant with the implacable enemy of mankina, exercisedtheirSorceries,& executedthewr wicked and mischievous purpoles not

The old times of Ignorance {warmed -

Ony

tors wond-wr

26 Priefts given to Divination.

only on particular Men, Women, and Children; but even on whote Towns, and Countries; many of which have been miterably AffMlicted,and some even totally destroyed by Tempests, Fires, Pestilences,and other strange Accidents, whereof no caute in Nature could apar. And this hath been Arrested nor

y one or no private,or Ignorant Men, but Transmitted from one Generation toanother as the Opinion of the most Authentick Historians, Phyticians, and Divines,grounded on the best.and ftrictest Enquiries of {uch who have taken Indefatigable pains to ittt and fearch Ou: the truth of what they have Related : Nor have we alone the Authority of tuch, but the content of whole Courts of Jucicature, 2nd the most Learned Affembiies of Stztes-Men., and Divines; who in a!! Ages by their Publick & SolkemnSncions have Cecizred their belief, & Detestation of tuch Curied Practices. Betices the uncenizdie Testimony of the {cred Scriptures, { defore mentioned) to whole Unerring Suffrage we ought ro submic our be.i7 < 2nc not] our cet iry Contracidt t@ of the Almichty + zna tk be the Patro'S 2nc Coemp: Heliih Pragites we teemto

k Z Tx? n 2NC-NMOTD)Y

Priests given to Divination, 27

By Charmers, in a strict sense, may be understood such as by some spell, or form of Words employ their Familiar. Spirits to bring at their call such Creatures as they shall demand, rendering Venomous Creatures disarmed of their Noxious Quality during their pleasure; and the most Ferose and Wild Brutes.,to become Tractable, and Couchant. Such were they who could {uscitate, or call together great numbers of Snakes or Serpents, and cause them to go of their own accord into the Fire, which was inclosed within a Mag ical Circle of which Dr. Casaubon, of Credulity and Incredulity, gives an account at large, page. 103. some have Charmed Flyes, and Grathoppers, when the Fields have been Infested with them, and the fruits of the Earth in danger. And of this fort of Operators the Psalmiit seems to speak, P/. 58. v. 4. Which will not hearken to the voice of the Charmer, Charming never so wisely. So Ecclesiastes ch. To. 11. v. surely the Serpent will bite without Enchantmeut, and the 8. of the Prophet Ferezm. 17. v. I will send Serpents, Cockatrices amongst you,which will not be Charmed, and they shall bite you, &c.

Southsayers, were such, as by Inspe- Rion into the Entrails of Beasts, or the

Shy flying

Priefls given to Divination,

flying of Birds, were wont to prognosti-

cate of Weather, what Tempests, or 0-

ther seasons, were like to ensue, they

gave their Opinions too with relation to other Contingencies, as Events of Battle, the fatality of Seasons, or Attempts 3 This they foretold by some certain

\ Omens, for which the Heathen Priests

were wont to Inspe&t the Bowels of their Sacritices, according to that in the Poet.

Consulit Exta

Angur, & absolvens, superis effata recantat,

These Weather-Gagers,were antient-

ly applyed to, to secure Corn, Ground,

Vineyards,and Cattle, as well as Towns, and Houses fromStorms and Tempests;

mentioned by Seneca in his Fourth Book of Natural Questions. They were deputed to acertainOffice, to observe,& give

notice to the People when a Storm wa s

coming; who upon such warning hasten- .ed to kill a Lamb, or a Chick, or some .. young thing or other 3 or it they had

none of these to offer, they were to prick their Finger, and that blood was accep-

-ted and the Storm ceased or was prevented. This was indeed a strange kind of -Oblation, and one might well conclude with Sencca, that the Clouds have lite Affinity with blood, or a Prickt Finger :

but

% i re Rat 6 ——_— 7m hs wg

Priests gizen to Divination. 29 but what will not the great Enemy of Souls do, if he can but abuse and delude poor Men into a belief that by some outward means Tempelsts may be diverted,that they may have the leis {uspicion of themselyes,and be less suspected by others; whilst in the mean time they are Mey ensnared into a Diabolicai Idoatry.

By Sorcerers, such may be understood, who ( having Contracted a Familiarity, and entred into a Confederacy with the Devil, or some of his Infernal Spirits ) consult, and advite with their Hellish Confederates about the affairs in which they are employed, and make their determinations according to the advice of their Familiars, Nay many Extraordinary things which seem to be done by the Sorcerer, are really done by the Spirit, o, that they seem to Exchange forms one with the other; the Dzmon {ometimes appears in the shape and resem- blance of the Sorcerer,& at another time the Sorcerer shall haunt ye in semblance of the Dæmons. Of this more will appear, when we come to particular Instances in the subsequent discourle.

Magician is a name which imports the esteem the Ancients had for such as could perform feats above the reach Co and

20 Preests eiven to Divination. and Conception of Ordinary men, whether by that which is called Natural Maegick,or some stricterFamiliarity with the Inhabitants of the lower world : they were by them efteemed Wise-Men, for so the word Magi Signifes; and that 15 the name which the Turks give to their Conjurers, and such as deal in those forbidden Arts at this day. Such were those whom the hardened Pharaoh called for, by their Magical Operations to perform things semblable, in some fort, and like those wrought by Holy 49/es, by a Divine Command and power, for the wicked King {tw them turn Water into Blood, Rods into Serpents, and with Multitudes of Frogs to cover the face of the Earth. Nor is it Improbable that the

evil Angels were permitted by an Extra-

ordinary providence thus to exert and theiy their power, by the hand of their evil Ministers, in a Judicial way, for the hardening of that feared King : so that seeing the seeming miracles wrought by his Magicians, he might be the more confirmed in his obstinacy against the Counsel of God by his Servant Moses. For the sacred Text aflures us that he was raised up in an Extraordinary manner, to be to future Ages, an Example of the Righteous Judgment of God upon hardened,

55 3H a 3 Ad Bax Lo. A» AY.o# + & condi. AS A on ER nnd AE. onanePrah

Priests given to Divination. I hardened, self-deluded, and deluding Infidels. And some we read of are given up to strong delusions, that they might believe a Lie.

By a Witch, is Commonly understood 2 Femal Agent, or Patient, who is become in Covenant with the Devil; ha- ving in a literal sense {old her {elf rowork Wickedness, fuch whose chief Negotiation tends to the spoiling their Neigh- bours persons, or goods. They have Commonly certain Excrescencies like Teats,or Nipples in private parts of their Bodies, which their Familiars often suck. Sometimes personally, and sometimes in a Dream, or Trance they Re- vel with the evil Spirit in nightly Cabals and Consults. Thole particularly intended here, are suchas are Commonly cal- led Black Witches; there is besides another sort termed White Witches;Thelse by a Diabolical Complaisance, or goodnature, are to uncharm and give case to those the other have afflicted : but ometimes it so happens that one or other of the Witches, / on by force of the Counter-charm. ” Both these are condemned to: death by the Divine Law Exod. 22, 18, The Suaston of such hath been sometimes sought unto, and used to entice young Maids to unclean folly

22 Priests given to Divination. But Witches are themselves Imposed

. Upon as well as they Impose on others;

The Grand Impostor the Devil deceiveth,them,as they deceive those that seek unto them :: and the Cures which by these Imps are performed on the Bodies of their deluded Patients tend to the Tainting and Infection of the Soul. There are divers other General names for the Students of this Infernal Art, as En-

chanters, Wizzards,Dreamers, Observers of times, of divers of which there will be Inftances in the following Colle&ion of

Relations; Bur these being mostly Included under the definitions herein s{>e- cified, being much of the same Import and Signification, it will be Superfluous to mention in this place; but the further Notion of those Black Scholars will be better discerned, as we come to give Relation of their several ways, and Methods of their Operations, as they ap- pear in the subsequent Chapters.

Having thus displayed the various degrees and kinds of those Confederates with the Lower World-, we shall now enter upon the proofs that the Heathen

Priests of Old and the Idolatrous Papists

of later date, have been, and are the Great promoters of this Infernal and accursed defection from the Eternal Foun-

tain

Prielts given to Divination.” 33 tain of happiness; and the great encourapers of Dxmonolatry,as well as Idolatry

that is to say of Devil-Worship ) which is the highest Homage he expects from his Infatuated Vaslals, and on the Account of which he (principally ) instructs them in the dark and devilith Mysteries of Hell-Craft and Fascination.

It was alwaies the Custom of the Nations to seek unto their Gods for Counsel, in the case of War, and other Extremities: and as the holy one Commanded his People to seek his face, and call upon his name, and exprefly in the first 'Table forbids the-making any slemblance or likeness of any Image, in Hez- ven,in Earth,or in theWaters under the Earth 3 thereby strictly forbidding all manner of Idolatry : so the wicked An- gel hath at all times been seducing and -

• alienating the hearts of Men from their

Obedience to the Righteous Cormnig, by setting up false Gods. And as the

Prophets and Holy Men of God spake as they were Inspired by the Holy Ghost; So the Idol Priests and Pytho- nifts delivered the Devils Oracles to the -.

People: They were enquired of, and.

sought unto, in relation to iucure events

and Contingencies. Nay {o far had these

Infernal. Priests Imposed upon the Big-. 5 WS "2 gotted -

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34 Priests given to Divination. gotted World, that their Dzmons, or Familiars'for theirDeities wereno better) obtained Divine Adoration, and wanted not their High-places, Groves, and Altars.3: so this Devil- Worship was Promoted under the Notion of Religi-- on, and their Services abounded with theOstentations Pomps of Devilish Rites, and Ceremonies.

And. as the offering of Bullocks, Lambs, Doves, and {uch like were ordained: by the Divine Command to be offered in the time. of the Ceremonial Law,when the Priest entered into the Holy of. Holies, and that not without Blood, as.the Apostle of the Gentiles notes :- So were the Altars of the Ethnic Idols steeped in Blood, and thatnot only. of Beasts; But they Reek't with Humane. Gore : So we read that they. caused their Children to. pass through the fire to that. CGanibal Moloch and often.in the History of these deluded Oriental Nations, we read they Sacrificed {sometimes a Youth, sometimes a young Damlel, ta pacity theirincensed Deittes. In the 18. Chapter of the 1. Book of Kings, in that mie defeat of the Priests of Baa, when they contended with the Prophet af the Lord, in the. 28. verse they cut themselves with Knives, and LAs (Cx.

F rests given to Divination. 35 after their manner, 'till the BloodGushed out upon them.By which it appears that it was Customary for those Biggotted Wretches to Implore the aid of their detestable Mock-Deities. Nor can any one that reads the Modern. Histories of Witch-Craft and Sorceries, be Ignorant, that the Compacts and Confederacies of those deluded ones are confirmed with their Blood, either by making their mark with it on certain Cov'nants drawn between them 3 or by permitting their Familiar to draw their Blood at those Bestial Teats ( which for that purpole ) the Succubus draws.in the Parts of their Bodies.

What were the Pythones, or Pythonict o much resorted to of Old 2 But because by the predictions they uttered by the Asfistance of the Black Angel, they had got the estimation of Prophets, and Prophetesses. This made King Sa! in the I San, 28, Chap. 7. vers, enquire for one that had a Familiar Spirit, or a Pythonem as the Latain translation hath it : And this was it which caused the King of Moab thrice to send his princes and Servants to the. Son of Bebor; for they had in their hand the reward of Divination, Numb. 22, ver. T. So that if they had noc' belicyed lum to have had fuch aFamiliar-

36 Preests given to Divination. or Spirit,for what reason should they carry that reward with them? Besides they apprehended that he had the power of - Blessing and Cursing, ver. 6..As the Biggotted Papists at this day Impute to their Pythonic Priest the Pope; tho it be the Command of our great High Priest to his Disciples, - that they bless, and Curse not.. It is farther Observable that Balak took Balaam to the High places of the Idol Baal, from one place to another, where they used to offer Sacrifices, and. Expect the answer of their Diabolical Gods, by the mouth of the Priest, who used to Divine unto the People. They Imputed a great virtue and power to thoseplaces where their lying Spirits used to Confer with them 3 therefore when the Prophet could not Curse 1frae! from one of the High Places, the King takes him to another, and to a third, with a peradventure thou mayst have a power to curse them from thence : But the Prophet- being Commanded by God, was: compelied to :declare to him,. in. chap. 23. ver. 23. Surely there is no Inchantment against Facob, neither 15-there any Divination against 1/rael, It is evident to any. one who hath read theHisto- ries and Classhick Authors of formerAges chat the great Apollyon, and Jbaddon hath uttered

Priests given to Divination.

uttered his Oracles, Riddles and sayings not only out of the Bodies,8: part of the - Bodies of Humane kind, (as he spake out of the Demoniac in the Gospel; and Mornens de veritate Religions, «chap, 23. quotes it out of Diodorws, that Oracles were Editaper Pudenda Puellx; and there were too your *y2571wto (5, 6.) wventrilogui, or such as were heard to have di: course or words uttered and pronounced in their Bellies:) But this Spirit hath spo-. ken sometimes out of Trees, as in Dodo- 0s Oak, out of Statues, as that of Mem oe, and many others,.of which more - will be said hereafter; The Caves of the Earth, and Sometimes the open Air have resounded with voices, sentences,. and noises of this Infernal Dzmon,some- times assuming the Vehicle of one Shape, sometimes of another; and at other times not at all exposing himself in any visible form. It is almost incredible how Antient Au:hors abound with Re- lations of this kind, how frequently the mention the- feigned Gods, and God: desles of the Field,of Woods,of Houses, of Mountains, Rivers,Desarts,8 Springs, -. and such like; offering themselves to Men and People, at some times in one Shape, ar other times in other forms 3 requuing Worship, Ceremonies ro ItES

a3 Priests given to Divination. Rites after divers manners-and fathions 3 now and then- accosting People. with pleasant and diverting Encounters and ometimes affrighting them with furious Shapes, Gestures, and Menaces. Of these Plato in his-Epominede {peaks very large-_ ly, treating of the force and Powers of the defunctHeroes whichtheLatinsnamed Lemures & Houthold Gods,allo ares Ghosts, and Genij, and Demons diversly sorting themselves in the Air, Earth and divers Regions of the World,distinguished by. several offices, and affairs to which they sometimes apropriated them: selves. They: had multitudes of other names conferred on them, as Fauns, Satyrs, Nymphs, Hamadriades, and a great Number of others. The Learned Antiquary Mr. Cambiden in his Britannia, a: mong the. Antiquities of the Romans which he records to have been found in this 1Nand, makes mention of Divers Altars to the Diis Manibus and other Loci Genij, &c. And the Apostle Paul mentioneta many Altars Erected by the Athenians to these. kind of Deities, amongst which he. found one Infcribed to the unknown God. But those ro whom the Gospel of truch hath been Preached have been

taught.

ABS 19s GRE ett, cog att,

Snakes 4

Priests given to'Divimation. 39 taught to: believe that there is but one only true God, and therefore may be well aflured that these were evilSpirits, andDiabolical delufions; and that paying Adoration to their Impious Shrines, or teaching others {o to-do,is aDoGrine of Devils. And that such have been and are still by many Barbarous Nations acknowledged is evidently confirmed by the universal agreement of all Histories, Records, and times; and that they were manifestly seen, known, and familiarly discerned by the outward {enles; cannot by any Rational and Candid Reader be denyed, haveing been {o fully proved by Testimonies both Divine and Moral.

In the next place we shall Compare the Idolatries of the Roman Church with those of the Ancients,. and prove by Natural Consequence, that Idol Worship is a Confederacy with Devils, and a practice neceflarily promoting that de-

• restablesin of Witch-craft.

*Tis very true that the Catholick Do- Qors ( as they call themselves) affirm that they do not teach Images to be Worshipped; but certainly when we have enquired into the Dodctrines, as well as practices of their Church we

(hall find that such like Evasions are bat Jesuitical.

go Priests given to Divination:

Tesuitical Shams, and pious frauds with

which they would wipe off the Odium

of their gross Superstitions amongst the -

Ignorant and Credulous. For their Jesuites, and Fathers generally maintain that Imagesare to be honoured with the same Worship that is due to the Original, or Prototype : So that the Images of God, and of the Trinity (for such they are not ashamed to make, as will be een by and by ) and of our Lord Jesus Christ must be adored with the highest Divine Worship that any Creature' is

Capable to: pay : and if ary have come.

short herein, and have not preached up this excess of Devotion, the Constant practice of the Popith Church runs counter to their Dofrine. They ser up Images every where in their Churches,

and enjoin their People to Worship

them,. and the more they Cringe and

Creep, the more devout Catholicks they- -

are accounted. And as their Predecesflors.the Priests

of Baal, and the Gentile Idolaters pro-

strated themselves, and cryed, and Macerated their Bodies before their Idols; so the Popelings bow before their Idols, Pray unto them, {smoke their Nostrils with perfumes, and ere& abundance of

Wax-Lights about them, and in Loud

Qures.

”— FW " " ww ww kh... Aid oy E

Priests gruen to Divination. 41

Quires Chant the Praises of their Ido! Saint, And when this Rotten God happens to fall into repair, and to be patcht and mended, happy is he that can get one of the Consecrated Chips,& present it to some Biggotted Lady, or Nobleman to sanity their closets. And to con- vince the world that it is certainly the Image that they Worship & Adore, and

not the Virtues,or Remembrance of the

Original, they pay a great deal more Superstitious homage to a Graven Image than to a painted one, though they repre-

sent the same Person: besides the same

Image, hath much more Reverence in one place than in another, as their Lady of Loretto, and St. Fames of Compostella, &c. To which you shall have them tror a hundred Leagues, or more, in Pilgri-

mage,when perhaps they have the Image

of the same Saint altogether as decent, and as like at home in their own Parish Church. But all this can be supposed for no other but that they might keep close to the Copy of the Heathen Idolaters, who though they had manyGroves to Holoch, and Affforeth &c, Yet they had their Capital high places; where

( incase the Petit Country Deities could.

not give them redress ) they appealed as to a higher Court, and with vast pre-

a. ame emer rr ” —C : ——

42 Priests given to Divination.

sents,and Chargeable Pilgrimages sought to obtain an ansiver to their Petitions. So the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos had more veneration than any other of his Shrines, though many others were ere- Red to him; But however it happend, other Climates did not so well fuit with the Temper, or Constitution of that Deity; perhaps they might be too cold, or hot,the catering of the ScullionPrielts, not so agreeable to hisPallateas the Delphick Ragousts and entertainments : cer- tain it was, the God was more {ullen, and {eemed to be tongue-tyed in other places, or {poke in some Language which the Priest did not understand; whereas those at Delpbos soon resolved the doubts, and an{wered the Petitions of

their Suppliants. At Nants and Tours, and some other places they erected a Monstrous Image to our Lord which they call St. Saviours about 1o. or- 12. foot high, now this Saint, distinguithable from their Petty Saints by his large bulk and stature, is Worthipped by them for the preservation of Corn, and of their Vines, from Cold, Frost, and Tempest, tor curing their Horses of the Staggers, keeping Sheep from the Rot, Bees from dying, and for defending their Lambs from Ss Wolves.

—_ _— DET TIIgy — PR? es

Priests given to Divination. 43

Wolves. Therefore on his Festival where

these great Images are erected, you may see an Infinite Number of Pilgrims of all Ages, and Conditions, bringing their Gifts to those Srarres. Some bring one thing, some another, according to their Qualities, or Capacities; for the Idol or rather the Priest, are not {so {queamish but any thing will go doin with them for Advantage, and their Temples (like Parsonage Barns ) will entertain any fort of Grain. There you might see valt Quantities of Wool, Corn, Thred, Butter, Bacon, Hony, Sucking Piggs, Grapes; all brought Mony, or soine other good thing as valuable, and none came without wax Tapers, to burn. all the while that Masses were faying at the Altar : So that besides Chests full of the fore-recited materials, Tables Loaden with great pieces of meat, and 2 Number of all forts of Provisions : there have been gathered up,in five hours time, of short ends of Canales,full threecore and ten pounds of wax, by the Light of which you may certainly see the dreadful Tdolatry of the Romish Church. Dela Mor,Sermon at the Savoy, 1675. page. 68. It vias, and is the Doctrine, and ought to be the belief of every true Son of the Church

44 Priests given to Divination

Church of England, that the Church of Rome is an Idolatrous Church; see 35. Article of the Church of England; and then see the 2d part of the Homily for Whitsuntide, pa. 213. where you have these words.

• That the Church of Rome as it is presently, and hath been for the space of * nine hundred years and odd, is so far * wide from the nature of the trueChurch, that nothing can be more, and in Peril * of Idolatry, pa. 69. That it is an Idola- *trous Church, not only an Harlot ( as * the Scripture calls her) but also a foul, * filthy, old wither'd Harlot, and the

• mother of Whoredom, guilty of the :

• {ame Idolatry, and worse, then was * amongst Erthnicks and Heathen, pa. 71; * pa:*54. with abundance more to the same purpole. My Lord Chief Justice Pemberton affirms in theTryal of Plunket, pa. 200. That Popery ts a Religion ten times

— rr TOI On; ROI ILY phy ads We __

worse than all the Heathenish Super itlons.
But further to prove that Popish Idola-

try is but Ethnick Idolatry new dipt, see again what the Church of England

faith of it in Tom. 2.. of her Homilies,

And for that Idolatry standeth chief-

©ly in the mind, it shall in this part first ©beproved that our Image-maintainers

• haye

Priests given to Divination. 45 have had, and have the same Opinions and Judgments of Saints, whose Images *they have made and Worshipped, as the Gentiles Idolaters had of their * Gods, and afterwards shall be declared, *that our Image maintainers and Wor- shippers, have used, and use the same ; outward Rites of honouring and wor- * shipping their Images, as the Gentiles * did use before their Idols; and there- * fore that they Commit Idolatry as well "Inwardly and Outwardly as did the *wicked Gentiles Idolaters.

• And concerning the first part of the *Tdolatrous Opinions of our Image-main- *tainers. What I pray you be such Saints * with us. to whom we attribute the de- * fence of certain Countries, spoiling God *of his due honour herein, but Dis Ture- lares of the Gentiles Idolaters, such as

*were Belus to the Babylonians and Assy-

• rians, Osiris and 1/is to the Egyptians, *Yulcane to the Lemmians, and to such other > What be such Saints to whom * the safe guard of certain Cities are ap- pointed, but Dj Prefides with the Gentiles Idolaters : such as were at Delphos,

. Appollo; at Athens, Minerva; at Car-

*thage, Funo; at Rome Quirinus, GC.

• *What be such Saints to whom,contrary * to the use of the primitive Church, "Temples, and Churches be builded, and

• Altar

2D —__— eros eee

eee ere

a6 Priests given to Divination.

Altars erected but Dij Patroni, of the Gentiles Idolaters: {uch as were in the Capitol,Jupiter; in Paphos Temple, Vec nu; in Ephesus Temple Diana; and such * like. Alass we seem in our thus think- } c ing and doing to have learn'd our Reli- - gion not out of Gods Word, but out of the Pagan Poets, who lay, Excessere ones adytis, Arisque relittis, Dij quibus Imperium hoc Steterat, GC. That is to f lay, all the Gods, by whose defence * this Empire stood, are gone out of the * Temples,8 have forsaken their Altars. * And where one Saint hath Images in divers places, the same Saint hath divers * names thereof,most like to the Gentiles, *When you hear of or Lady of Walsing- * ham, our Lady of Ipswich, our Lady of * Wilsdon and such other :What is it but * an Imitation of the Gentiles Idola- : * ters, Diana Agrotera, Diana Coriphea, * Diana Ephesia, &&c. Venus Cypria, * Venus Paphia, Venus Gnidia, Wherein *is evidently meant, that the Saint for * the Image {ake, should in thole places, * yea, in the Images themselves have a } * dwelling; which is the ground of their * Idolatry; for where no linages be,they [ * have no {uch means. {ereniins Varro, * sheweth that there were three hundred * Typiters in his time, there,were no feiy- *er YVeneres, and Diane, we had no fewer * Chriftophers

Priests given to Divination. 47 Christophers, Ladies, Mary Magdalens, . and other Sa1nts. Ocnomans, and Hefiods shew, that in their time there were

• thirty thousand Gods. I think we had *no fewer Saints, to whom we gave the honour due to God. And they have not t + onlyspoiled the true living God of his 2 *due honour in Temples,Countries, Ci- *ties, and Lands, by such devices, and

• Inventions, as the Gentiles Idolaters * have done before them : But the Sea & * waters, have as well {pecial Saints with * them as they had Gods with the Gen- * tiles, Neptune, Triton, Nerens, Castor and * Pollux, Venus, and \uch other. In whose *places be come St. Christopher, Saint Cle- * ment, and divers others; especially. or * Lady, to whom Ship-Men ing, Ave * Mars Stella. Neither hath the fire scap- ed their Idolatrous Inventions; for in- stead of/ulcane&YVesta,theGentilesGods of the Fire, our Men have placed Saint * Agatha, and make letters on her day * to quench Fire with. Every Artificer, 2nd Profession hath his special Saint, * as a peciiliar God: As for Example, ir *©Scholars have Saint Nicholas, and Saint yh *6 regory 3 Painters St. Zzube; nerther 0, lack Souldiers their 24ars, nor Lovers d *their Yenws, amongst Christians. All

Gods,

• diseales have their special Saints, AS

a EEE IE ry oo Eo IS TUB Adv SL rs er Re 1h

II ng, - =

43 Priests given to Divination.

• Gods the Curers of them. The Pox, St. Roche; The falling evil St. Cornels; The Toothake, St. Apollin, 8c. Neither do Beasts and Cattle lack their

• Gods with us;for Saint Loy is the Horlse- leech, and St. Anthony the Swine-herd, *&c. Where is Gods Providence, and * due Honour in the mean season? who

saith the Heavens be mine, and the Earth

©;s mine, &C. But we have left him nei- * ther Heaven, nor Earth, nor Water, * nor Country, nor City, nor Peace, nor

Kale and Govern, neither * Mennor Beasts, for their diseases to * cure : That a godly man might justly * for zealous Indignation cry out,O Hea- * yen !O Earth ! and Seas ! what madness * and wickedness against God are Men

• War, to

fallen into > What dishonour do the

• Creatures to their Creator and maker? * Andif we remember God sometimes, *yet because we doubt of his Ability, * or Will to help, we join to him another *helper, as if he were a Noun Adjective,

using these sayings; such as learn, God *and St. Nicholas be my speed, such as * neese, God help and St. Fohz : to the * Horse God and St. Loy fave thee; thus *are we become like Horses and Mules, *which have no understanding. For is *there not one God only, who by his

• Power

: oo Ly Py Ly Lan, Py EY PAY A a

Priests gi: en to Divinatior. 49

'Powerand Wisdom made 21! things, and by his Providence governeth the lame, and by his Goodness maintaineth and laveth them? Be not all things of him, by him, and through him > Why dost thou turn irom the Creator to the * Creature ? This is the manner of the ' Gentiles Idolaters : But thou art a Chri- *stian; and therefore by Christ alone *hast access to God the Father 8 help of him only. These things are not written *toany reproach of theSaints themselves, * who were the true Servants of God, & * ©did give all Honour to him,taking none unto themselves, and are Blessed Souls *with God : But against our fooli{liness * and wickedness, waking of tlie true * Servants of God, false Gods, by attribu- *ting to them the Power, and Honour

'Þ ©which is due to God only. And, pa. 48. It is further added, Tf answer be made, that they make Saints ©*but Interceflors to God, and means for *{uch things as they would obtain of 'God : Thar is even after the Gentiles Tdolatrous usage, to make tl;em of Saints, Gods, called Dii Medioxinii, to *be mean Interceslours, and helpers to *God, &c. The homily calls it a Lewd * distinEtion of 555 and =-5 Fort *is evident that the Saints of God cannot D * abid

o- PF riests gruen to Divination. abide that as much as any outward Worshipping be done, or exhibited to them; and to attribute such desire of Divine Honour to Saints,1is to blor them with a most Odious and Dewvilish Ignominy and Vaillany; and indeed, of Saints, to make them Satans, and very Devils, whole property is,to challenge to them-

selves the Honour which is due to God : only, see pa. 50.

• And, pa. 54 he proceeds, but in many points they have. far exceeded in all wickedness, foolishness, and madness particularly in this, they pass the folly, *and wickedness of the Gentiles; that * they Honour and Worship the Re- * liques & Bones of Saints; which proves * that they be Mortal Men, and Dead, *and therefore no Gods to be Worthip- *ed: which the Gentiles would never confefs of their Gods for very Shame. And after a great many ridiculous pra- Etices of theirs, in reference to the Reliques are reckon'd up, the Homily con- cludes * that they are, not only more

om. A mea

• wicked than the Gentiles I:lolarers, but

allo no wiser than Horses, Affes, and

• Mules, which have no understand-

Ing.

Great pitty it is that so useful, and pi- 285 a detection of the Idolatries of the Roman

Triefts given to Divinations. &c1

Roman Church, should be negle&ed to be read in {uch a time, when they have the Impudence to face us down with their bold and false denyals of their Ethnick Doctrines, and practises. Hereby we see what Opinion the Reformed Church of England: hath of their detestable Polytheism, or making a plura- lity of Gods; In this they act exactly as theHolyScriptures speak of the workings of Antichritt, with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness : and teach up the Very DoTrines Oi Devils.

That the Original of this Saint and

Angel Worship was from the Heathen, is plain from Nicephorws, a very Credible Anchor, in his Church History, book

the 15. cap. 28, Where he informs us that one Peter Gnaphers, an Heretical Bishop of Arriocch, in the fifth Century ( which was before the year 500) was

the first that Instituted the Worthip of

the Virgin ary, and that her name thould be called upon in the publick Prayers of the Church; which is like-

wise testifyed by the Historians of 1Zag-

deburg, cent. 5. chap. 10. and this may

I fairly be reclkoned as the first publick

entrance and establishment of Saint- Worthip in General; {ince 'tis proba-

ble the Blefled Mary obtained the Ho-

FF-4 Bour

OO eel ———

52 Priests given to Divination. C

AOur ( or rather Dishonour ) of their

Misdirected Devotions. as soon as any

other meaner. Saint : yet true it is that

ome private men, Transported with blind zeal,and a littleTin&tured withPlatoes Notions, did before begin to hanker after some {ach thing, and some of the Fathers, now & then,seemed to give too much encouragement thereto, by unwary Panegyricks; and flashes of Rheto- rick on departed Martyrs; among(\t the 'xest St. Ferom was much addicted thereunto, and for the same justly oppoled by Fi-uaitins, I a Treatite wrote on that very occation. The Worthiping of Angels had no better £round, for chat praciife was anciently Introduced by certain Hereticks, thence called -1ncetici, as St, Augustin witnesleth, Ad Quod vult Denm, cap. 39. and indeed thele {eem to have infested the Church in the Apostles days, occasioning that Caution of St. Pal, Coloss. } 2. 19.Let no Man beguile you ina voluntary humility, andWorshiping of Angels, not holding the head, &c. Which the } Greek Scholiast, pa. 697. thus interprets. There were ({fays he) divers, that under pretence of modeity, torbad them : 10 £0 to Christ by themselves, but that the favour of Angels mult be Intreated ", [0

t riests given to Divination, 5? to Introduce us to God, So Theodoret on the same text, p. 766. Uleing pretence of Humility, they gave Countel to pray to Angels; saying, we could neither see, nor comprenead, nor come to God; and therefore must Conciliate his favour by Mediation of Angels.

It is evident this Saint and Angel VWorship is a piece of revived Pazanisline. Fer the Gentiles besides their Di Smpers, which they owned to be Gods by Nature, had their Demons, and their Hero's the Spirits of brave Men departed, whom they Worshipt C just as our Papists do, ) not simply and absolutely, but as Interceslours for them to the Supericur Dei- - ties, Hence Tully ith his book de Legibrzes, Deos, &C.* Let the Gods be Worlhiped, 4s well thole of the upper houle, who were always counted Celeitial, as those whom their own Merits have called into Heav'n. And again he says, Deorum manitm jura santa suato, hos lethy datos, Divos havento; Let the rights of the Ghost-Gods be kept inviolable, and let them after geath be Worthiped as: second-rate Deities, by which is evident how exactly our Catholick Romans have renewed the Idolatrous Laws of their Heathen Ancestonrs. The Gentiles Attributed the {ame offices to their. D3 Dæmons.

54 Priests given to Divinations,

Demons, which our Papists expect from their Saints; to be Mediators, Factors, or Agents for them,so Plato in Synop/r. All intercourse between Gods, and Men is performed by Demons; they are the Carriers of Mens Prayers to the Gods, and they bring back rewards of Devoti- CN 00 inortals, lo Apuleins inhis Demon 50n. Cruntta Colestium voluntate, Nunnc, & Authoritate fiunt,sed Demonum Ovsequio, oper: & Ministerio. All things. ( says he) are done by the Will, Power.,and Antiority of the Celestial Gods, but by the means, dispatch, and Ministration of Demons. By which they did not ascribe an absolute, but only an Interceslive Pover to thein.

It is certain that the Papist can no farther prove their setting up, and Wor- thiping of Images to- be Lawtul, and not of Heathenith Original; then the

iraelitez could the setting up theirCalves at Du and Bethel, or Solomon and the iucceeding Kings Juitify their setting up the Altars of Baal, and 2vloch, and the reit of their Abominations, W hich are reckoned amongit the highest provocatios against the Almighty, who aiways by his Prophets warned them again{t enat deteitavieand crying {in, & denoun ced the Wrath of God against them; which

be” o.- iis he Ss "a th OBE $2

Priests given to Divinations. 5x which ever follow'd them with severe Judgments for those horrid Impieties, in Psal. 106. 35, to 43, There the Idols of the Heathen are called Devils, to which they Sacrificed Innocent Blood, o that 'tis {aid in, ver/. 40. The wrath of the Lord was kindled against his People, infomuch that he abhorred his own Inheritance.

One of the first Images that ever we read of,that was jet up purpofly to be Worthiped, was that consecrated to Bc- Is the Succeflor of Ninns amongit the Assyrians who were Paynimas; and Ezsebius testifieth in his, Eccl, Hist. 1.7. cap. I7. Or in the Greek 18. The Men of old out ofa eathenish C ustom WErFe WOone after that manner to honour those they called Hero's or Saviours. And in the year of our Redemption 606, Bontface the fourth Pope of Rowe caused a Heathen Temple called Pazrhcon, because built to the honour of all the Goas, to be dedicated to the Virgin ary, and all Saints : and likewile Instiruted thar Festival called allSaints day,wRnerein the Pope himtelf must read 1ervice.

Diverse also of the Images which the Pagans had Worthipped, were dipt into the name of Saints,and uncer that notior arestillWorshipped. Uponthe wholechen.

D 4 nere

• ge g5 Priests given to Divination,

here isa bare Exchange of Pagan Gods, tor Popish Idols, and exthenish Heroes, for modern Saints. So that it may be said

of them, they have Changed their Gods,

but not their Religion, But they are still stocks, and stones, 2nd the work of mens hands, by what names or Titles soever they

Dignify and Distinguish them,& are gmilty;

of as much, yea much more Jdolatry

1nd Blasphemy than their Predeceffors

Rea PP Vs ig ed I 3s xs? I ERS: - "0

the Heathen Romans, for they kneiy not the Evangelical Rule, and could not be

reckoned fuch willful, obstinate,& incorr1zible opposers of the Divine Com-

mand. $95 that what Lamech said to his

rY0 Wives, may with some Alteration b2 applyed in this case. If the Pagan be

avenged seven fold surely the Papist seventy and seven fuld.

They pay the {same Adoration to their Images, as they do to God the Father, for him they represent by ( sometimes ) the Image of an old man with a Globe inhis hand, anda reverend beard. Sometimes they figure theTrinity as the Hea- then Poets did Cerberus, by an Image with three heads,and faces, &c. With a Solemn pace they pals before thein, and fall down to the ground on their marrow bones, they go Pilgrimage to them, present

ly er, S ) be 1Eed- 19e

nd ar- IM, ent-

Priests grzuen to Jiutaation, 5 "=

present them Lamps, and Candles, and offer up Incense, and Gold : whilst some. pretending {trange Miracles and lying

Wonders,hang up Crutches,Chains,Legs,.

Arms, and whole men of VYVar at their Shrines 3 as if by them they had been.

qelivered from Lamenels, Sicknels. Captivity, or Ship-wrack, some of thele.

they pretend have more vertue, and holiness in them, than others: such a one ( lay they ) was sent from Heaven, like the Palladium,or Diana of the Ephesians; another was brought by Ancels,a Third. came it {self from East ro West, as

Dame fortune fled to Rome, Witha-- bundance of {uch Fopperies, wherein they not only a&t over ail the Fictions,

and Fables of the Hearhenith Poets,

but vastly transcend them. They Invo-

cate their Images as Gees, bestowing Divine Attributes upon tlicem; taking them to ve at the tame time in all parts. - of the world, givins Audience both in this and the Loyer Hemisphere, at. millions of distant places, at once, zs well as their privy Chainbers, as Lorcrro,Comm postella, Cantervury, &c., They Solicit - them for pardon of 11n, and Conferring the £races of the Spirit, and to bring. them into a State of Glory after tius Life. For ail which they apply them: - J {elvyes;.

558 Trielts grummto Divination.

selves to Saints; and Angels, as well as to God the Father; which is plain by the words of their Prayers,.in their seyeral Offices,

By:all. which it evidently appears,

thar these Bigotted wretches seek unto.

Devils, instead of God, tor the Saints, cannot; dare not hear them; And they Worthip they know not what :nor can it be doubted that they. who seek to the Devil in forbidden Images and Idols, will be ready to entertain him ina strieter Confederacy, and that Religion that

reaches them to {sense and {moak his. Statues, and Altars, will Embolden, if. not lead them into nearer familiarities.

and Acquaintance. Therefore. I hope the Reader will Pardon me. that have been thus long exposing their Damnable Idolatry; it being from thence,as the

tountain that all other their Deluftons; & ' wicked practises naturally flow. And those whom the Devil can draw away -

to the Worthip. of false Gods, he may ealtily Impose upon to {set up a Shrine his Infernal Deity, and enter into all che Mysteries of those Black and Diabolical Arts and Confederacies, which are the {subject of the entuing Narrations. Some of which vill give an account of

• the Proficiency of Divers Popes, and

Fathers.

1 Fiests gieen ito Ditornation. F0.- Fathers in thatHellish Science of Sorcery - Necromancy, and: Witchcraft..

CHA P. Ex):

Confiderations, and Arguments Proving the being of Witchcraft, and Witches, with 'a Refutation of the Tucredulity of some- who deny the being of such.

Hob an Age Productive of Prodigies and Wonders, it doth not seem to be the least to. men of sound Judg- - ment, and accurate Scrutiny; That a sort of Witty and ( otherwise ) Ingenious, Persons should openly, and with great zeal profess a disbeleif of the Ext stence of Dæmons, and Witches : As if thereby they- intended to declare, that the best and most Authentick H1- *. ftorians of former times, the most Learned and strict Divines; yea, the unerring Wisdom of God himielf, hac all conspired to impose upon them a belief of things purely fabulous, and mere Chimerical Fantoms. Thus WHALE L E >. ?

60. Arguments proving

they- assume to themselves an arrogant Confidence to deny the Divine Ve- rity, and the Power of the Omnipotent; Arraigning the Equity of the Preceding Ages, the Justice of the most Solemn Judicatories, and that of all Times, and Nations; and deride the wisdom of the most learned Councils, which hath still run counter to their fancies. Themselves seem to be a proof of what they deny; and are perfect demonstrations of the power of Fascina- tion, and a prevailing Damon.

For 'tis hardly to be supposed, that any thing less should render men Impenerrable to the molt convincing rea- tons, and repeated proofs of that which they contend against : Notwithstanding all which, they oppose their simple: Tpse dixit, against the most unquestionable Testimonies, of persons of the: greatest, Integrity and Generolity, amongst whom they converse, perions of that caution and candour, that any disinterested: and ingenuous man could not possibly imagin to have any defign to impose upon others, what themselves had not with the greatest investigation of circumstances, been convinced ro: be beyond a poshbility of DouÞt-

Lef-:

the being of Witchcraft. 641

Yet such was the bold confidence of some of these Witch Advocates that they durst Effront that Relation of the Dæmons of Tedworth, publithed by the Ingenious Mr. Glanvil, and Attested by Mr. Mompesson, a Gentleman, and a Divine, who-(to all that knew them) were never over fond of crediting stories of that kind; Yet (I fay) had some of this fort of men the impudence to declare to the World that that whole Relation was but a Figment, or Forgery, and that Mr. Mompesson, and Mr. Glarnvill had retracted, whatever they had published touching that Transaction. This notorious falfity they had the misfortune to disperse, when Mr. Glanvils sheets were scarce dry from the Press, and the noise of the drum hardly out of the Ears of the Neigbourhood at 1edworth,

So that we fee in the fecond Edition of Saducer[mus triumphatus 3 both Mr. Glanvil, and Mr. Mompesson, again renew, and connrm the Truth of their former Testimony, thereby oiving the world a just Occasion to, detest the base Artifices of tach bold, Impostors,

Besides a peremptory and staring confidence, which must Huft and siag-. ger

ger down all the most undeniable proofs; I have not met with any Argument of theirs which hathnot been -- tufticiently refated and baffled, by thole Learned and Ingenious Pens who have still made it their business to Vindicate and - Rescue substantial Truth, from the Attacgues of Arheifts, and Scepticks..

All that seems to remain.unconquered of these Incredulous 5 iS a fleering {ort of tham-stories, and Mock-Relations; in the recital of which, it is pleasant to observe with what Elevation they make their foolish Triumphs over those Truths, one of which is enough to vanquith a thousand of their little Figments. These {mall Pickierers deserve. commuleration; haveing deluded themelves & endeavouring to delude others into an opinion, that because there is such 2 thing in the World as a Lye; therefore it is impossible there should be any. Truth. They might with as. much reason atfirm , that because there is a Night, therefore there can be no Day;. or because there is {uch a Quality as heat, therefore there can be no cold.

Another fort there are, who having had their Educacion in a Christian Kingdom, are loth to seem ey

t'e being of Witchcraft. 6 I lous of the Hbly Scriptures, which

the Church in which they have been -

bapt zed Commands them Religious-

ly to submit unto, and not to dispute -

the Truth therein delivered; These will acknowledy that ey Og to believe

whatsoever is therein contained, and

rherefore will not question that there-

has been {such a thing in the world-as a

Witch, because in the facred pages mention is made of the Witch of Enaor -

whom they are bold to affirm to be the only Pythone(s that ever was -in being, 6: presuming to declare, that she was raised up; or permitted, fer that very end, to delude the credulity of Saul; and that besides her there hath been no other.

Which opigion (1f they will not allow it to proceed from incredulity ) appears to be the effect of rank ignorance ;--For who that hath read the Holy Bible discerns not, that Saul before this time, had cut off those that had Familiar Spirits, and the Wizzards out of the Land, I Sam. 28. ch. ver. the 9. So that it appears there were many, before the Witch of Endor, even in the days of Saul, besides what hath

been ment oned before of the King of

Meab, who {ent his servants to Balaam

i = - wk = 45 —_— $e® ee hy - FR OV ws X oc - _ — — —— ky << ” => Dip DG - - x a > quran —— pr AIC? a 2 =o oe. —

neither can any one that considereth the story of Saul at Endvr, imagine that the woman there, was permitted but in the Case of Saul only. For the servants of Sau! knew her to have a Fami- liar Spirit, before the Kings intention of Enquiring of her was tupposed, verse 7th. Besides, it seems evident that the Samuel there raifed up, was not by the power of the Witch? for the was affrighted when the saw Sam!, and cryed out, like one in a surprise, and under a Disappointment of what sheEx-. ected : This. was none of her Fami-. zars that appeared, for then we may conclude she had not been transported with such a fear; Her Confederates. were tyed up, and could not ansiver her : but it is most probable to be the Prophet Samuel raifed by the power of God to pronounce the Sentence of death upon Saul and his Sons, for his. Disobedience, which the Holy man 14d told num was 45 the [in of Witchcraft; and for Violatinz the Righteous Command , in applyin7 hunfelfto the Witch. of End contrary 9 the declared witl of Gold. Not amiike to this was that gretdfal Judzniznt of Fire from Hea-.

n, Which ( at tne. prayer of _ )

tn; being of LPitchcra t. G65

fell upon the two Captains and their Fifty's $I hen Ahazian King of SAamaria had sent his servants to Enquire of Baalzebub, the Idol, or Dæmons of Zkror. in 1. ch ap. 2 Book of Kings.

But how many more of this kind arc mentioned in Scripture, be{tdes the Witch of Exdor, will appear, if we read what is recorged of Manafseh, Tesco: FY Simon Aacms, and Elimas the SOFCerer, with many other Instances of the iame kind, whereof the Nev [1 eitane2nt, 4s well as the Old, hata civers extraordinary Relations, but of that the passage in the Prophesie of is at 4h cha P. 2.ver.6.rh, ey ar e southsayers, lke the Philiftines, And it is evident by the T9. verse of the 18. Chap. of the {ame Prophesie; that the Jewith N: ation were ina great measure giv en up to the Satanica!l delusion of enquiring atter Wit- ches, and Sorcerers, and such as divined to them by Pythons; so that they forook the holy Oracles of the Divine Law; and in their difficu! tes they COunselled one another to apply themselves to those forbidden 2bominations. Therefore it mult Proceed from a Nezlec, or careless Perual of the S2cred Books,

that any one shouid be ignorant of other instances of W IXCNES, be{1des ne

a most considerable proof of the Dæmons an{wering the Heathens by Ora- cles; where {peaking of Augustus Cesar's enquiring at an Oracle who should be his Succeslor, the Oracle returned him this answer,

ALF Ng err Tlzis

EfpaiO- ugatrral wi, Veols wandpeoory daydoror Toy Se Sou mroumuy # didy ineofas

Aotoy & T1091 O01 3 Boium) NUrTERTR Ns

Which may thus be Englithed.

A Boy

Of Hebrew Offspring, whom the Gods Adore, Commands me hence,to Hell,my proper shore; Henceforth forbear Our Altars to 1mplore.

724094 Ke IF

The Emperour at his return, commanded an Altar to be Erected in the Capital, having this Inscription : Hec eft Ara Primogeniti Dei. This us the Alrar of the first-born of God. Now it is plain that our Saviour was born dureing the Reign of this Azgustiz, for in_ the tecond chap. of 'St. Luke we find, that Josephand Aary, wentup to Jrudea co be taxed, at that time when Augustus had imposed a General Tax upon the World and that during their abode at Bethlehem,

67 the being of Witchcraf?. Bethlehem, the blessed Nativity happened : of which the Eastern Sages had no- tice by he Star; and that the Roman Cesar had some such apprehen{ion(or Impression at least) the words upon the Altar do plainly manitest. And if this relation of S»idas obtain credit, it may easily be Evinced that they were D&-

' mons, or Crafty Spirits which an{weredat the Oracles of the Heathens : for of we admit that many an{wers were

given by the Cunning, and Jugling of

their Priests; Yet it could not make for their interest to discredit their Ora-

cle, nor for the Credit of their Deity. But the almighty power of the Son of God forced those Infatuating Spirits to acknowledge his Soveraign Divinity as. the unclean Spirit in the 8. chap.of Luke,

verse 28. What have I to do with theeF eses , thou Son of the mo High God. Thus

at the arising of the Son of Righteous(-

nels, did the Dark Oracles vanith, as

the thadows of the night are chated away, by the Appearing of the Sun beames. To which may be added what Plutarch relates in his TE TOY MEAOTOITOY ,pacypizy. He tells yee, that a certain company failing from Greece towards 1raly, happened of a sudden to be be-

calmed, and one Thamw, an Egyptian,

who

.- 15" ui." OA” = Ih. 5 PC PERL co Ag os one

an ao each X dy Alas wt eo wo Ln _ - an" _ I — —— -_ _ — P. - - A_ -- 7-4 G. glen Satan. a ——— _ egy n- * £ - _ ——— Pal LED ener = - — OE on. as a—__——. 4 C Fed” _ - n— _ ws ys gigs" w- qu —qew 5s et 2 war. os ma - —_ _ _ 24 DA — —— IE __ ny ws es IS yo -

• Ce eee ee re gs — ——— wh. Fs EDA 4 wo - — w*" ——

08 Arcuments proving

who was of the Ships Crew, was called three times, at the third call he made answer H:-e a1: I; wherenpon the voice bad him, when he came to the Palodes (certain Shelves in the 1o7ian Sea) that then he thouid publish that the great Pan was dead. And then the Ship was dilcharged of her rejtraint and went for- ward, 10 that when they came to the place appointed, Thams from the Poop of the Ship,publithed what he nad been commanded; whereupon followed a great noise of shrieking and lamenting together, {so that the Sea refounded with the lamentation. "The Emperour* Tiberius having been made acquainted with this passage, demanded ofhis wise men; who this great God Pan might be > But the best an{wer they could

give him, was, that he was the Son of Mercury and Penelope. —-

But this circumstance happening just at the time when our Saviour was crucified , it was concluded by more in- celligent and constderate men, that by the Great God Pan was meant the Ble(ed Redeemer of Mankind '; who by his Death on the cross, Overthreiy the Kingdom, and power of Satan; so that the Devils were now to Quit those Oracles by which they had so long de-- ceived.

6 (DD fÞ ma

—aeOAaATqtRgRgDo LI OM1

the being of Witchcraft, 6g ceived the World : and on this account those Spirits mizht be thought to make that great and dismall lamentation. For from that time they soon ran into decay, and the Delphi Oracula cessant, which Fuvenal recorus, makes it plain that they were but of short continuance, after the fatal blow given them on the Crols, when our blefled Saviour gave up the Ghost with an Jr zs Finished,

Now had these Oracles been managed only by the fsubtilty and artifice of the. Priest, it is very improbable but they might have been of longer continuance, for the Priests continue to be as Crafty and Covetous as ever, and as dexterous at all the feats of Juggling and Le- gerdemain, Bur it is plain the time of their delustons was expired, and it is no {mall Argument of the power of the Gospel of Truth, that those vanquished Spirits fiye before it; they re- tire, with the molten, and Carved Images to the Owls and to the Eatts, not being able to endure the splendour of the T idings of Salvation.

Hence it is that in those Countries where there is least Idolatry, and where the {incere preaching of theWord of Power is countenanced, there it is very rare, comparatively to meet with

instances

power; his /trong holds are beaten down; tho some {ma[l forts he {till retains amongst the ignorant, and {uperititious: but in countries where Idofatry, and Paganism prevail, he Governs, as among the Children of disobedience; Here he hath his Groves, his Cells, and Hermitages, and Altars; He pasles for a God, receiveth publick adoration; whilst every Priest hath his Familiar, and the Doctrine of Devils pasles for saving Truth. In Countries more Barbarous, he is Worthiped for Fear, (as amongst the Indians) and there he often shews himself to them in mons{trous thapes, Dreadful to behold, to affright them into their damnable facrifices, and idolatries. In Countries where Humane Learning hath obtained, a preteaded Antiquity, and Doctrine of the Ancients is that by which they Justify their superstitions; whilst a blind Obedience, and misguided Zeal, tumbles whole Nations down the dreadful precipices of Blasphemy and Devilworthip. And to these the Grand Im- postor appears in shapes, and figures Divine and Angelical ( for the most part) {weetning them in their Heathenith Apostacy and Idolatry, by glorious Pparitions

71 the being of Witchcraft.

Apparitions andRevelations, sometimes to one Saint {ometimes to another; and this in order to the promulgation of ome Doctrine that may advance his dark Empire, and Designs; which mult

be confirmed by seeming Miracles and Lying Wonders, the more to Infatuate

the minds of their deluded Bigots, and confirm in them a belief of their diabolical Impostures.

And tho some perhaps may Imagin that what hath been said, signifies little to the proof of the existenceof Witches; they may by weighing, and comparing the Argument, find an evident aemonstration thereof : For what less than the Sorceries of their Priests, and the prevailing influence ot evil Angels, could possibly thut up so rany Nations, and that from the first Ages, under such gross, and stupendious Blasphemy,Idolatry, and Atheism? So that if the

Question were put, witch the Apostle

Paul demands of the Galztians, chap. }vers, 1. O Fookith Galatiaus, who

' hath Bewitched you, that you thould

not obey the Truth? TItmight truly be answered, that the Devil with the astistance and confederacy of their Idol

Priests hath done it. This Indeed, is the most deplorable kind of Fascination, whereby

whereby mens Souls and Faculties are Captivated to their spiritual Enemy, and their minds and conlciences are defiled. Tr is impossible almost to relieve men in this kind of delu{1on, because the whole Current of their misguided Devotion , runs Diametrically opposite to the means of their Cure. But of this more will be {aid in a following Chapter, where the Wizchcraft of Idolatrous, and Popith Priests, will be particularly Treated of.

Others there are amongst the Devils Advocates, that would fain ins{tnuate; that because some particular Men have Endeavoured to attain this Hellisth Art, and could not arrive to it; others have gone -a little way in Magical performances, but could never do ary great Exploits, or shew any Extraordinary feats in that protoundScience,that therefore snch acquirements are not at all Attainavle, but above the reach of the Black Mysteries; such was Nero, who because his puriuit of that Infernal study was not attended with any Fatal proficiency, he is aid to have contemned the Magicall Art, as pretending to {such performances, as it could never attain to and therefore he fate down 2 Delpiser of such as boasted their

knovy-

COGNAC and iunatioged "Ms fag Mo, om, Fg: rag.

the being of Witchcraft. 73 knowledg in those Mysteries : But it is no wonder that the Devil complyed not with his studies in that School, Since Nero of his own Nature was 10 much a Devil, that had he been furthered with any of those more subtil Aflt- stances, it is probable: he might have Attempted such things as should have Exceeded all that went before him, and have pul his arudging Spirits upon {uch performances as ( tho they might not Exceed the fiercenels of their dispoli-

tions, yet) might surmount their Power, But., from hence to argue that there

are no Witches, {eems as INCONgruous, as it I should say there us 7:0 [1c thing as 4

Lyon, or a Wolf, which kill and devour

the Herds, aud Flocks, because I bave

a little Dog at home that cannot db it,

Nor ought it to be attributed to a Mi-

raculous power, that Dzxmons and Wit-

ches present themselves.in various shapes, lomtimes Humane, {omtimes Bestial, at other times Monstrous, and now and then in their proper forms : for as we cannot understand the pi 0found knowledge that {ubtil and iyiri- tual beings have of Natural #©auses above the strerch of our Enquiry; 1to can we much iets Limit their free and uncontined agencies, to Qualities and : realon;

• Arguments proving reasons within our comprenensions: for as they have the aavantage ofa Larger Intelligence, they can from time to time Impart things strange and foreign tous : And their Airy substances are capable of putting on diverfities of fhgures, and they can assume {such a Vehicle as may represent any resemblance they pleale; that it is much easter for us to conceive they may borrow the reemblance of Lower shapes, than the Garb and Mien of the Angels of Light. And if at any time they Cloath their Demoniac Confederates in representa-

tions difterent from their proper Exi-

stencies, it is to be attributed to that knowledge they have of Occult Qualities , which 15 above the Investigation

of ourScrutinies. By the following Relations,it will appear that at the same time aCat or other Creature hath bee: cut,or wounded; the Hurt hath manifestly appeared upon the body of theWitch,in that very part where the other Aslumed Resemblance hath to apearance re-

ceived the bloiv given, Nor woula we

have tine reader Imagin that the Authority of the bare following Relations is ail that we infiit upon as a proof of what is here Aflerted; but thee are publithed as a farther Confirmation of Mat-

: ter

vi vt A vi z

the being of Witchcraft ter of Fat which ro the Judgment of ali Ingenious ans Unprejudiced Persons, are alre1cy infliciently proved, not only by the Histories of ail former Ages, and tit not barely of the Rude ard Barbar ous, but even of the mott Civilized aid Police Times; bc:ides the Exquitite pens of the mnvit Learned and sober Writers of our Age, which have given ample and uncleniavle Atcestation of the Extjtence of Witches, and Diabolical Contra ts.

To tiiose that Obje&t the Improbabi-

stories of

licy or such Transactions, and that the Vitches Tranimuting of :.ayss, Flying in the Air, and fuch like, are impothble to Natural reason : So n:uch nach already been said in their Refatation, that it would ve preposterous to ad dany thing more. Onely this ray be added, that the mor e unaccountable these thinzs seem to be in themtelves ( The real matter of Fact being proved) it ought the more to prevail towards a belief of those extraordinzry Agencies z for {uci as endeavour to impole strange Fictions upon the Credu:ous, ute to adapt them as near as they can to a fsuppoial of Truth in the management 3 tho attended with very strange, and seemingly Prodigious Le __

be Imaginary Fictions; yet it is {trange.

that People of all forts, in ail Ages, should agree to publish to the World the same Exploded conceits.

And for those that say they cannot conceive how such things can be done; That is no {mall Argument of the weakness of the Concept ions WP pprehcastons and Knowledg of such, who are apt to dispute the certainty of any thing that is above

their Sphere; and it will not be found at all available against the Possibility of uch performances, no more than' a Mans doubting how it is possible that the Sea doth Ebb and Flow, thould be

an Argument that there were no such thing in Nature. We cannot conceive how from such small, and various Seeds, uch different {pecies of Plants and

Trees receive their Formation; or how }

the Extream distant Natures and Com-

positions of Soul and Body. are United: but Yetnotwithstanding our Ignorance,

these things are very Obvious to our

sense; tho beyond the Comprehension

of our Reasons : and therefore it is no wonder if weare strangers to the Constitutions, and Powers of Creatures that do not appear to us.

Therefore the best Judgment we can

make

the being of Witchcraft, 577

make of such extraordinary things is by the Evidence, andnot the Measure of our Fancies, For by this we are certainly convinced that such things are really so, tho by reason of our confined Circumstances we are not able to

penetrate into the Rationality of their Contingencies,

SER es tn.

——_—__ LC ECT ry

CHAP, V.

dt rg or Assertions concerning itches aud Witchcraft, The Charatter of a Witch, Same Confidera- tions of the Original of their power.

T HE last Chapter having designed that Idol Worship ( as the Devil is therein proposed Objectively to be Adored ) Is not only a great Countenancer , but Tends vastly to the pro- motion of Diabolical Confederacies, Before we proceed to a particular and Historical Account of Ancient and Modern Witches, it may be neceslary a little farther to explain what we mean by a Witch; and how far the power of such a one may be understogd And this being a nice and difhcult de-

E 3 termination;

;8 Propositions

termination 3 The Candid Reader shall

find very little new Aflerted Notions either in Relation to their persons or practices; but we shall chuse to lay down what the most Unprejudiced, Learned, and Sober Writers of things relating to Matters of this Nature have upon their best search and Enquiry determined. And first it is agreed that i is very difticult to prove fuch, or such a one to be a Witch, and it ought to be done with the greatest Cuntion and I enaerness Imaginable : The loss being greater on the part of a false Testimony, than on that of a Sappo ed C riminal. Infernal Contratts are not {upposed to be made in the preence of Witnefles; being as hath been aid, against the Law of God and an; So that the Devil out ofa seeming regard to the safety and Immunit Y of hisProftitute may omit the Ceremony of Testes; the black pupil acting with greater fecurity when she apprehends none knows of, or is privy to the Confederation. Yet is there no doubt but the Devil is as secure of his prey as if the whole world had subscribed a Te#e to the Indenture; for by the consent of the party, he hath Sezsi2 of her as his Property ; which he will be sure never to

• part with, unless Ejeffed by a stronger

than

—_* 9 a, wo to

1C s n c 's

concerning Witches. 79

than He. Those Hellish C ompbatts therefore, are Managed like the filthy Intri- guUES betwixt a Fornicator and his Strumpet , Where it may be no Eye sees them that may Exvole them to the penalties of Humane Laws : and it is difficult to prove matter of fait between them: but at last a Spurious off-spring, or a more Nauteous Rotteness unveils them to the world, and they linger out to a more Infamous Death, than if the Law had Chastised them; The Rotteness of their bones giving them more {evere pains and Twinges than the Rod of Justice could have done : Not unlike this do ome of these Infernal ProstitutesEscape the hand of the publick Justice until at last their loath'd and miserable Lives are seized as forfeitures to the Devil; and they are found ( like Fa»sts) with broken Necks, or with {ome other wrack upon their Nauseous Bodies, that Evidently discovers their fouls to have been Ex:orted from them, and that they have been forcibly Ejected upon forfeiture of their Lease.

Some too, may have been unjustly accused for Witches; either by an Ignorance of Causes meerly Natural, or milapplying Causes that in themselves are supernatural; So that the very same-

E 4 operations

• = OO VEG III EGO IE 4 OOO og —

8©. Projositions

operations which to Intelligent, and

Enquiring Philosophers, are meerly the product of Natural $ ympathies,or Antipathies of Hear, or Cold, or the like, to

tne unckilful shall appear, as done by Y

Art Magical,or Diabolical.So theFreezing 2 Cup of snow-water to a Stool by the

fireside, looks to soine weak persons, with an Aspe very ftrange and anaccountable, whil{t totholethat consider and know the * rest ingent Quality of the Salt, the'others 4 Admiration becomes: almostRidiculous, ?

It is acknowledged by all Naturalists '

that the power of Imagination hath had,

and may: have strange Effects þSipecially;

upon tender and Irrational Bodies, suc as Children, Chickens, Lambs &c.

according to that of Virgil,

Nescio quis Tencros Oculu mihi fascinat Aenos. : And very strange performances maybe

eftected by an Exalted and Fixed Imagi-

pation,the Intention of which vastly contributes towards the Effecting things

seemingly Ir possible. The formation of

the Child in the Mothers Womb which if good Authority may be Credited ) hath been Imputed to the force of anImaination strongly possessed with such, or such a belief. And to this purpose, it is very remarkable what is by a learned

pen.

con:erning Witches, 8x pen related of a Lady, who being used to wear patches, and that during the time

e was with child, a Gentleman told her that her child would have such a patch in its

forehead; and accordingly at the birth of

the Child, such a spot was discernedin the place deseribed, and still remained in that fame part of the Ladies Face, as a Testimony of the Impression a powerful Imagination may have on tender Bodies. Infinite more are the Experiments that might be mentioned of this kind,” but if I thould Enumerate never so many, it would nevertheless appear that the Feats, and performances of Infernal Confederacies vastly surpass whatsoever can be thought attainable in this kind; and this will be so Evident , by matters of Fact related in the following Collection that it would be needless to speak any thing more to it in this place.

Belides, if it be {upposed that some have been suspected for Witches, barely for having deformed Bocies, Ill Aspects, or Melancholy Con{litutions doth it any ways appear from hence, that there is really no {uch thing as a Witch > Or may it not with as much reason be alledged, that because some for. having Arms found avout them, E:5 nave

82 NE” have been wrongfully accused for being Robbers; that therefore there 18 no uch thing as a High-way man. Suct1 allegations as these, do not at all ditprove the Existence of {such Haggs. Tho I must contels that there is no reason that any person ( by reaton of those deformities which may be only the Effe 3s of o!d Aze, or the product of some aise-se ) thould be presently Indicted and trust wp for a Witch;, nor can I Imagine that ever fach a thing hath been in a Civilized Nation, without the concomitant circumstances of some other proofs : That would be a hard case indeed ! But I think it will not be difficult to prove that there have been some whose Insides have been blackyed with as foul and damnable Confederacies ' & others, who have notwithstanding appeared with Faces very Charming, and Angelical, For we have no account of any very Nauseous deformity that fate on the forehead of Fesabe!, Joan of Arc, or Joan Queen of Naples. And perhaps the Attempts of these Heilith Agents may pass with less Suspicion, when under the plausible disguise of a hazdsom Face : For irom Objects Nasty and deformed, men Naturally turn away, with a kind of Inmate Aver sion and Ccia- Fernpts

+4? WO Oo©

as hed Iu & T2 whe ol DU FT tho —_ 6. ee” <<,

concerning Witches: 82 tempt; whilst under the Charming Attrafon Of a fair Face, the Magical Enchant- ment Insensibly Steals upon men. Nor 2s the Devil at any time more dangerom,than when he appears as an Angel of Light.

Sporswood in his History of the Church of Scotlard, book the 6th. page 383. Reports that there was one Agnes Sampson amongst the Witches and Sorcerers of that Kingdom, who was ce- monly called the Wise Wife of Keith, who was very remarkable; being ( as he says) a Woman not of the {crc1id and base sort of Witches, in outward appearance:, but of a Matron like, and grave Mein, settled, and {eemingly Judicious in her answers; who upon her Examination declared, That the had a Familiar Spirit, which upon her Invocation usually appeared to her in a Vist- ble form, & resolved her of doubtful Matters, especially concerning Matters relating to the Life or Death of perons lying sick, and that he had taught her, when she called him, to use the word Holla Master. Upon which he usually appeared to her. See Wzaly's Wonders of the little World. \ib. 5. chap.20- So that Deformity alyne is mo more an Argument of a Witch, than Beauty may be said to be an Evidence of a Whore.

C4 P ropofitions

Somtimes, it is Objected, that some: have come in and given Evidence against themselves; and being brought before

Magistrates, have ( it may be thought) caultesly accused themselves; by Con-

fesling themselves to be Witches, and.

relating divers things by them done ( as they have supposed”) by the help of the Devil. And all this may be the Effte& ofa Deep Melancholy, or some Terrour' that they may have been under : or perhaps an Argument that themselves have at the same time been under the Power of Witchcratt;or at least in some: kind of Delirium of Phancy. So some Lunaticks have - fancied themselves to be Kings, or Queens, and it hath beenbeyond the Power of the most- Ratio- nal Arguments, and Demonstrations to convince them of the contrary : Bur the Self-accufations of {uch is as little ro be: credited, as the Seli-Compurgations , and - Applauses of - others; without fone -more. {ubstantial Testimony.

It is Observable that- Witches are

commonly of the Female Sex, and some -

there are that confine that - Term wholly ta them : And ever since the prevalence of the Fir{t Temptation upon . the firft-. YVoman z it 18 no Wonder

GW no Ml MO aP CY GS Oy 0: 0 AP 097- ed Ye Rn es

concerning Witches. $ 5

if the subtil Adversary still offer his Baits to such palats as are most desirous to taste Fruits forbidden; and more negligent in Enquiring into the Nature of what they Swallow. It-was an Observation of Fulgentins,- Nescio guid havet 7Auljebre Nomen semper cum $4eris. And it has been a long time ob- served of them, - that if they incline to Virtue and Piety, few go beyond them; but if they take up with Sperstitious and evil courtes, none {urpals them in Heights of Wickedness and milchief,

Tho these wretched Artists are commonly distingutthed into those of the Black, and White orders; they are certainly the same, and cannot be said to differ in -deeds of darkness, which admit of no difference of Colour, They are certainly both alike guilry in Compounding with the Devil. The black are those which are looked upon to do the most Mischief, because they commonly Torment mens bodies, or Injure them in their Estates 5 and the White, are reckoned to be {uch as restore people to health, and to goods lost : So that accordingly they have acquired the Names of Good and Evil Women. But what Fellowship hath - Light

with

mith Darkness, or what Communion hath Chrift with Belial. Both these deal in the same forbidden Arts, and Equally - bring Clients to their Hellith Master. They may be said to be like the Glafiers boys about the Town, who Employ themselves to break the Neighbours windows, that their Masters may have the profit of mending them again. Some Ancient Arts and Myiteries are {aid to be lost, but we have reason to believe that the Father of Mi{cheif will not let fall any of those Trades by which he brings Souls to perdition as long as he can have Scholars, an Servants to carry on his purposes.

So that we need not doubt the Contiauance of that Ancient Devil-Craft, and Infernal Combination, as long as a Sordid Ignorance, Revengeful Malice, or Blind Superstition remain in the World. The Ignorant resort to it as to a School of Instruction, where they proceed and graduate themselves in the Cursed Mathematicks, and Mysteries of the Lower World. The Malicious apply themselves for Revenge,to wreak their spleens upon those they have Animolity again{t; and they are all the berter part of Mankjnd:For it once they become in League with the Devil, they must

concerning Witches, 87

be supposed to have espoused his Interest so far, AS to stretch out their Malice ansmerable to his Enmity, which is again all Mankind in general, but particularly against those of the greatest 7zegriry : as is evident in the case of our First Parents, Fob, our Blessed Saviour and his Holy Apostles. And in the Revelation of St. Fohn, the Angel tells the Church of Smyrna, that the Devil should cast some of them into prison that they might be Tryed. And Luke 22. chap. 31. verl. He tells Peter that Satan had desired to winnow him, as they do wheat, but our Lord had prayed for him, &c. And this must be Imputed to that Enmity which was put be:ween the seed of the Woman, and that of the Serpent; So that ever fince the Apostate Angel hath by himself, and his wicked Agents, conti- nually been Attempting to wreak his Revenge upon them.

The Super stitious are with as much ease, as any, drawn into the Fatal snare, for they often become Witches, by endeauouring to defend themselves against Witchcraft. These doubting that some Witch might have power to hurt them, arm themselves with the Devil's Shield against the Devil's Sword: Putting on the Armour of Charms, and Spefs piecemeal

3 P roposit ious

by degrees; until at length they come to be Devil-fenc'd cap-a-pie : and so at first they are drawn into a League Defersove; til at last it comes to be declared Offensrve too. That Art is quickly learnt; which wants nothing but Creduliry and practice to attain it:and where the Devil once finds an Invitation, he ever after Haunts.

Of these Proficients in the Black Mysteries , there are {ome who at first begin with Feats rather diverting, than Hurrful; for they are sometimes entertained by Ludicrous and gamefom Spi- rits, who ( to appearance.) do things eemingly- pleasant : but this pastime costs them dear in *the End; for they play so long on the-brink of Hell, until at length they tumble in, and {port with the devouring Lyon, until they are seized by his griping Paw; from whence They never after have power ro Extricate themselves.

Others there are that are prevail'd with by none of thele confiderations;but take up the use of Magical Forms, and Simples by Tr adition: Those that were theirPredecellors deriving down to them the use of {ome Mystical words, or Ceremonies upan the recital of which, they acquire the knowledge of many strange, and

remote

concerning Witches, $89

remote secrets; and are Assisted in the performance of things much above the reach ofa power meerly Humane. We have no reason to think it Improbable that the Apostate Spirit may have Obliged himself, upon the bare naming,,- or repeating {uch or such set forms of words (by himself, perhaps Appointed) to attend upon those that make use of them. And upon this account it-is that Balaam and the Wisemen of Nebuchadnezar ( mentioned in the book of Da- niel?) are acquitted by Learned men, from having a- particular Covenant with the Devil, or acting by the Rules

of the greater Sorcery, And here I cannot omit relating a paslage which was told me when I was a Shool-boy in the house of a Learned and Religious Divine in the Country, That there formerly Lived in the same house a Parson, who likewise taught the Latin tongue, and having several Lads under his care they ( one day when he was at Dinner at a Gentlemans house about a mile from the place ) happened to go into his Study., and ( whether out of Curiofity, or by accident,. is uncertain ) were reading in a 'book of his, relating to that forbidden Art 3 ho

__ ny ee — _ —_ T2 = - Pe > > SPS ABS ey nr 7 err - —_ ———— -

Lads continued reading, 'till divers Spirits came into the Room to them ( as I remember) I was told in the Shape of boys, which seemed with a nimble motion to caper and play about them : Their Master, who was * then at such a distance from them, and at dinner, had some Notice of what was doing at home, and immediatly rose from table, and repaired to them, where he found them very perplexed at their new company, but knew not how to berid of them but upon the coming in of their Master, they were

soon discharged.

Not unlike to this way be the case of fome, who having by them books of Conjuration, may perhaps 1ignorantly, ad undesignedly peruse them, without any previous Compact 3 until at length their Inquifitive Inclinations are so wrought upon,asto make use of the more Tnterdifted means for their Information. Nor is it Improbable,but that some Students in Astrology, may ( in their first Addresles to that Science ) aimno farther than the satisfaction of their Cy- riofity, in the Knowledge of Hidden and remote Questions; and Future Events 3 Whiltt those Mischievous

Spirits ( who like Beasts of prey) watch-

ing

Concerning Witches O1

ing all Occasions to entrap and get them into their Envious reach : may work upon their overcurious and inquisitive Genius's to search after the more prohibited means of fatisfying their f1n- ful Curiosity. So that Judicial Astrology may well be lookt upon, asa fair Introduction to the Diabolical Art. And it seems not Improbable, but it might at first be set on foot as a Lure to draw the Over-cxrious into those snares that lye beyond it.

And whosoever but seriously Considers the Nature of those Questions, which the pretenacrs t0 that Art undertake to resolve, will find reason to think that they step somwhat beyond those bounds which are iet to their Enquiries.

And it is too much to be doubted, that those who take upon them to Predif and Calculate of {uch Occult Con- tingencies, and Futurities:are not always free from Inticements and solicitations to the more dangerousCorrespondencies.

Tho all this while it is not denyed but that there may be an Observation of Sydereal and Planetical Motions, which falls not under the black Charater of those Interdicted Arts; but it kept within the modest directions of Natural Speculation, may not oy

92 of Divine Predifions. be Lawful, but of Good use, to Excite in us an Admiration and Adoration of him that stretched out the Heavens likes 4 Conrtain, and bindeth up the smeet Influences of the Pleiades, Causing the Stars in their gown ro fight against Fg as «eb pugn his Righteous purposes, we read in the Sacred pages. -- Nor would we be thought to include all manner of Intimation- of Future Events under the Notion of- unlawful Divination 5 since it is very a - wo . that as the ana of the For-

• bidden Stud y- the Indication Egny en oe en®og els, arrive to a Dear-bough bought Knowle epic of

Gor to come: So oftentimes it p! easeth ( by the ood Guardians of bis

Saints, and) by the- Miniftry of Holy - Spit Irics, to Impart to such as truly - fear him, and- call upon his Name, - some certain Intimations of his Divine .. pleasure in relation. to Mundane affairs, -{ andthe Changes that may happen either -: to his Church in general, or to parts- - cular Countries, Familt ies, or Persons, - Many Instances of this kind might produced, of which, for proof some ; few shall be mentioned. Such was the ' Dream of Nebuchadrezar, Interpreted by the Prophet Daricl, and mentioned in

hd, waged

of Divine Predifions. 92 in the 4. chap. of that -Prophesie and such _may that Voice which was heard in the Temple before the destru- E&tion of Jerusalem, be well thought to be : When by a Migremus Hinc, an Alarm was given to the Jews to remove before the Storm of thar. dreadful War came upon them, which Occasioned the destruction of their City and Temple.

The late Reverend and Learned Bithop Usher, as is written in his Life, predicted the Maslacre in Ireland, many Years betore the bloody Execution of it. And King Fam:s, strangely dilcovered the horrid Powder Treason, by that letter to the Lord 1ont-Eagle; which can hardly be imputed to any thing less than the Courteous Intimation , or Impulse of some good Genius. Nor is it at all unlikely that we are beholden to those Watchful Admonithers of us, for the seasonable Hints of approaching Calamities, which often thew themselves to us Either in Aerial, or other Prodigies. For these by the most Con{1derate men of all Ages have been acknowledged to. be

the Prodroms of great Calamities, or -

Catastrophics. So ourBlefled Saviour tells us that ere "all

94 of Divine Prediftions.

shall be Signs in the Heavens, and ' Signs in the Earth, before that great and terrible day of the Lord. And who

knows, but these Indexes may be

. through the Care of thoie good and ' tender Guardians; who our of tender- - 'ne{s of our Welfare may give us those Cautious, and Admonitions to provide

our selves against a day of Tryal. The dreadful delolations that happened in Germany, and England, in the Late unnatural Warrs ( which whether or no

they were presaged by them, yet cer-

taialy had niany Tremendous Apparttions inthe Air, and on the Earth &c. before those Calamities broke forth amongit them; ) I say these are dismal Testimonies of the consequence of such Presages. But thele -Kind of Predictions, as they are the effects of the Benevolence of Heaven, to us sinful Mortals, {o they generally startle and awaken a ecire and {inful World to meet God in the way of his Judgments : or if they have not that good effect on the senstal and Disobedient; they are

at least Messengers of Joy, and Harbingers of Grace to those who apply themselves to Study the Voice of God in his Providences.

whilst

of Divine Frediftions. 95

Whilst we are foretold in the Holy Scripture thac Wicked men and seducers shall wax worse & worse,deceiving,and being deceived, For the Spiritof Delusion to which they adhere, thall- betray them into gross mistakes, and palpable deviations; {uch are Generally Imvetetrable by the Warning of Heaven, they are Judicially Blinded, and Infatuated, that they should not come to the knowledge of the Truth. Thus the Prophet ZEzcizel tells us of a Spirit of Lying, which en-

was COnung upon them. And this will be the dreadful case of those miserable Wretches who have given themselves up to the Conduct of the Father of Lyes, Who either ozr of a belief that they have 10 souls, have given themlelves over to work Wickednels z Or else despising the Glories of a Blefled Eternity, have Listed themseives under the Banner of Satan, to Fight azgainit the Poiver of

bave a Natura! Tendence to promote

racy, hath been hinted in the forgoing Pages. Which being {so Regulary,

tered into the False Prophets, and hey. cryed Peace, Peace; when a {udden de-. solation, and deftruttion from the Lord :

the Omnipotent. And that Atheism, Jaolatry, Scusuality, and Debanchery,

this Imvious and Dtiaboiical Confede-:

Learnedly,

90 of Divine Prediftions. Learnedly, and Largely Treated of by the Excellent pens of Dr. H. M. and Mr. ]. G. before mentioned, in the second part of Saducismns Trinmphatws ;, I shall presume to Wade no further in the Argumentative, and Philosophical part; but proceed now, to give an Account of the most Atested Relations of Ancient Witches; and thence descend to some very remarkable, and Credible Modern Relations; mo!t of which have happened in these Few ye:rs, and will be attested by persons of - Ulnquestionable Worth and Reputation now alive amonest us.

CHAP.

Examples of Witchcraft, QC. 97

Examples of Witchcraft, and Famil: -

arity with Devils among (t the An> - tent Draids, Sybils, Vestal Vir- , gins, and Heathen Priests.

T is one of the Black Marks which the Apostle of the Gentiles gives us

of Antichrist, That he shall sir in the Temple of Goa, and snew himself to be worshipped as God. And if we consider the Tempies, Groves, Altars, Sacrifices and Priests that the Antients in the days of their Blindness, and stupid TIdolatry Ereced, and Confecrated to their Inferna] Deities, we. shall find that this Exaction of Worship and Adoration which Antichrist lays claim to, was in the former Ages paid unto the Deyil himself; and that the Apostate Church of Rome usurped to her Revolted Head those Sacred Rites in conformity to thote Sacrifices which their Idolatrous Ancestors paid unto the Revoiied and Avpoitate Angels. IN This Chapter therefore thall/ be

F _..- filled

*68 Examples of Witchcrafr, &c. Flled with an Enumeration of some of

the first Proficients in the Black Infernal Mysteries, that we may make way

to parallel them with an Account of the

Proficience of divers Popes and Orders among the Idolatrous Romanists in the ame dark and Diavolical Arts, in some

of the following Pages.

But vi hat Aftonitkment may it well raise in us, if we but gemark, that not

only those Barbarous Nations that ne-

ver knew the true God, nor had the Advantages of his Law, and his Pro-

phets, amongst thew, {ould follow the

foul Abomination : But even the choen Israclites, to whom (as the Plalmist elegantly expresies) the Almighty arose Exrly, and {ent his Prophets, wi ho faw

his wonders in Egypt, in the Red Sex,

and in the Wilderaess, who fsaiy the Lightnings, heard the Thunders,and the olemn noite ot Trumpets, when their

Captain Aofes receiv'd the Law from

the month of the 429 Figh on Mount Sia, and had there that First, Positive and ' Repeated Command against Idolworship, which (by the dreadful and

amazing Judgments inflicted on them

for that provoking {tn) can be thought to be understood no otherwise than Devil-worthip. See Exod. 20. 22. Yet

not-

Examples of Witchcraft; QC. 99

notwithstanding, that this 1/-ae! should forsake the God that bought them, and

' marked them by special favours from

all the Nations of the Earth! This you'l say is stupendious Ingratitude, and tremendous Apostacy.

What can be thought of that Biggotted Ahab, who is said to: have Tancht Israel to f1n? He had beennurstup under a Whorith, Idolatrous Mother, the Patronelss of the Prieits of Baal: And be makes little lets than a challenge to the Almighty to contend with kis Adored Baalim. See I Kings 18. They were

then so belotted, that they thought Þaal

to be a greater God, than he who laid the Foundations of the Earth,and whole Thunders their Rebetlous Fathers had heard on the Sacred Mountain.

Was it possible that those Infernal Priests thould expect an ansv er by Fire from their deteitable Icol, ualeis they had at some time or ctker by somerotce,

ororion,or by {oirefuccess of their Im-

pious Adorations been deluded into an Opinion that there was fomerhing Sacred 1a that which they reared their Shrines unto ? It is (I think ) indubitable, that the Devil, the Father of Lyes and Biasphemies, had some way cr other guild them into that oppro-

F-2 * briou

199 Fxamples of WWitchcraft, &c.

brious Worship. They skipt-up and

down upon his Altars,and lanced themelves until the blood guihed out; with their Devils Littany, O Baal,hear #, Or,

We beseech thee to hear us, O Baal. What

can rhis be but an [vocatioz of the Devil ? and bears so near a Resemblance un- to Witchcraft, as if it were the Original of it. - Do the False Prophets call upon the Devil in their 1do! 2 So do the Witches call upon their Familiar : Do they offer Sacrifice to their Gods ? So ao these to their Goblins: They allure them with Incense and Perfumes; they eat and drink by way of Oblation to them, as the Priests used to do in their Idoi-

Tewples : And as the Hellith Priests ot-;

fered their own Blood to Bazl; 1o do these Infernal Zaggs in their Contratts With Beelzebub,

So that having now cleared the way by explaining the foul Conformity and Analogy betwixt Idolatry and Wi:chcraft, it may well be expected that I snould aslume the premised Method, and give some Instances of Antient Examples to make good the T hesis.

Therefore not ro look back upon thote dreadful Examples, which the Sacred Writings afford us of the hardened 1/-clires, I thall proceed with

oine

ak ky. xs 4 NF Je OE" ww. —"Y ee” it. kk] as by

c-'i tion the Ignorant Antients gave to their

: Famil;ars, Spirits, or Genti, to call them al 7 Gods, none need doubt who have read "N ! what is related of the Pythoness of Er- 1e or in the Book of Samuel, where she o replies to King Savl,T see Gods coming up

our of the Earth, So in I Kings 20. 21, m 7} The Syrizns speak of the Gods of the at 4 Hills, add of the Yalleys, by which it is n, 7 evident they reckon'd thole Daxmons 1- which used to shew themselves unto i them in those places to be Gods; nay,

the Idolatrous Gentiles paid an Adots þ ration to them.

! No wonder then if the Sybils obtained their name from an apprehension ! that they had Communion and Con- 1- verse with the Gods; for soit is thought I the words Sios and Bee! do import. It 1, always hath been, and {till is, the Cu-

; som of all Nations to afix something * of a facred and venerable Title or Chan racter on persons they have esteemed to e be Inspired, or in favour with their -- Þ Gods, and that even amongst the most I uncultivated Scy:hians and Indians.

Ee That the Sybils did generally by their ; Raptures and Enthustalms promore and R--- = 2 Encourage

Examples of Witchcraft, &e. 10r-

some Remarks upon the Antient, and r, much Celebrated Sybils. uf $:52% ar ® And that it was the usual Compella-

oo YEN S875.

o a ro I AE Ie, IE I e—,

get 261 AID _ . —_ ”

encourage an Affffance in, and Dependance upon the Heathen Oracles and Idols, none need doubt who have seen 8

the Account Zovzimus gives of them;

who particularly relates many of their # Verses full of Superstitions and "Tradi- 7 tion, having no afhinity at all with the 3 holy Religion, but tending to advance Þ the Credit of their Pagan Shrines.; The Learned Wierizs in his Book de ? Prestigits Demonum, lib.1, cap.7. reckons * inost of the Sybils to be no better than Enthusiaste, and Pythoniste, and among(t.Þ the number of such against whom the ! mighty Prophet Moses mage a Law,that those who resorted to them, should be # stoned;and he ts farther of Opinion,that through their Writings the Frantick Romans were drawn into many of their Extatick and Superititious pursuits of. tneir multiplied Deities. And although some extraordinary Prophecies relating to the Birth of the Glorious Meshah, * are to be found in some of their Wri- Þ tings, yet will not those excuse the grols Demonolatry of the rest, any more } than that Prxdicion. of the DPelphick_ Oracle before cited can be supposed to Arone for the wretched Derelictions * of t12 True and Holy God, occalioned by the Libidinous quest of the Nations aicer

0 "TU be: : 9's 2 * þ 6 v * re OR NY

after that Idol. Besides,: we have no

mention. made so. much -as of one of

Z chem in the-Holy Register, tho their

.* Writings had a Date long before the

F Records of the Blefled Evangelists and

• Apostles.. Nor need it be though * strange.that an Elooy in praise of our Saviour, should come from the Pen of a \ * Pagan Prophetess,more than that an Ac-;

• knowledoment that he was the Son of God, \

should be proclaimed by the mouth of the Father of Lies, and the promoter of

fi Gods himself; who hath been

compelled by the irresistible power of Divine Truth to pay that Acknowledgment to the Soveraign of all. Or,whe- ther those Divine Predictions attributed to them, were properly their own, or the Works of others of later Date, and pretended to be theirs, shall not be my task here to determine. They were generally Priests Consecrated to

Apollo, or the Deiphick,, or some other - Oracle; and in furious Raptures pro-

Examples of Witchc 'afr Se. 103.

Thins 4, was

nounced their Prophecies. Plato was:

of opinion that they were Inspired by the Gods, or some Spirit. And Jamiii- ' ci:s tells us, that the Sybil of De!phos two” several ways received her Inspirations,

either by a soft breath which came up-

on her whilst she was, or sceme- to be F 4 IN: 4

—_ wo TW -

phecies. See Heywoods Hist. of VWomen, þ

fsica, called Antiquissima Vaticinantium

in a Trance or Extaste or else by fitting on a Tripod of Brass, before the mouth } of a Cave, from whence proceeded Fire, or a whispering Voice, upon which she either resolved the questions demanded of her, or uttered her Pro.

F To these resorted the great Captains, to know the Fate of their Wars; the Country-man to enquire of the Fertility of the ensuing Season; and others sought their direRion in Emergent cases. They appointed where Temples and Altars thould be reared, and when their Sacrifices were to be observed: And altho according to the Language of those times, all Females (as there were then many) that were rapt with this Prophetick Fury were called Syb:l5; yet our Modern Authors have reduc'd the number to ten, or twelve, because to them peculiarly. are attributed those predictions concerning the Evangelical times. They are thus named Sybilla Per-

She is said to have divided the term of years until the coming of Christ: into feyen Ages, reckoning the first from Adam to Noah 1556 years, and from the Flood to Abraham 292; from the t1me

Examples of Witchcraf' &e 105 time of Abraham to the Children of Ifraels coming from Egypt 503.trom that. time to the building the Temple by-- King Solomon 481; and from thence to :

: the Babylozish Captivity 1800 years; and

from thence to the Birth of our Saviour” thenumber of 614 years; which being added together, with the number of

; years, since the Redemption by the sutferings of the Immaculace High Priest, ; makes. the number :of Six thousand

nine hundred 'and 'thirty years, Whicy comes- within 48 years of -the [Rom Account; - whereas by the: Scripture reckoning it will amount to but Five thousand fix hundred thirty and three years. S that upon the whole we s{ee the Komai Priest keeps a nearer:.touch with the Priest of Apolto, thart.the:.Sacred Chronicle.

2. Was called Sybillz-Lybica; and a great dispute there is whether the or the forenamed were the more Antient:

3.: Was Sybilla' Delphica, she is (aid to

nave prophesied of the Trojan War. This by some is aftirmed to be* that Daphne who - Ovid feigns- in” his Metamorphosis, to be-changed* into- 4 Laurel, to-avoid the: embraces oi A-

pollo; andvif-we cats credit their Wri-

tings,.We = shall-"find the-Delvohick

Bis 'Deary..

vY D - PR cath. wa i

105 Ecramples of Witchcraft,%e,

Deity, mightily. enamoured on his Fe-

male Prielts. EE fog A. Is {aid ro be Sybilla Cumeaa; of

whom it is reported, that being one of

the Branchide, or Priests of Apollo, that

attended an Old Altar in the Milesiar. Fields, near the City of C1ma, when

Pastias the Perfian had fled for refuge to the Inhabitants thereof, and was by Aazares their great General commanded to be delivered into his hand; tne Cumenns thereupon consulted their Od Oracle, and were commanded by the Sybil to :dehver him up; but one Ariftodicns, who was a perton of note

among them, loth to deliver one who.

had committed the proteftion of his Life into their hands, delayed going out of. the Temple, and espying about tae piace fome Nets of young Sparrows, Was about to carry them. away; when s{udddenly he heard a voice from the Altar, speaking thus v0 him;

Othou most wicked of Men, what arro-« -

gant boldness bath so far possest thee, that thou presumest to take hence my. Suppliants

and such as I have taken to my protecHon ?. Upon which, Aristodicus returned this

bold and free answer; Dos# rhou O King,

succour and -prote&. thy Suppliants, and _

commanaest us to betray.the.life of PaCtias

ro the:Persians ? E1&--

WI. po TW: HS: p--""S <0 - $+-

YT Way

Examples of Witchcraft,Qc. 107 *

5. Is reckoned to be Sybilla Samia, because born in the Ifland of Szmos, a place notoriously famous. for Idolatry; 2nd where the MNeiades, a fort of old fashioned Goblins are first reported to have shewed: themselves, and entie] - : into a converse with Mortals.

• 6. Sybila Cumana, Called likewise '

Amalthea; of her are devised abut- dance of Fabulous Stories,. she hath likewise ascribed to her a Prophecy of! - Christs Incarnation.; 7. Sybilla Hellespcntica;the is {21d to be descended from the Trojans, and to have written of the Wars. between - the. Greeks, and that City. -.

4.8. Sybilla Phrygia, called besides ares

Ancyre, Tt is {aid of her, that she was -: to. have prostituted her. self.-to- Apollo,. to obtain the Spirit of Divination,. which she refused, -after he had inspired her, so that afterward, in Revenge, he 0 ordered it, that no one gave. Credit to her Predictions. - She is likewise \ - aid to have Prophelied of the deistru- !. ion of Troy, and of the coming of !.. Christ. -.

9. They say was Syvilla Enropeaz Ut- : -

tle is said of her, only a Prophecy: af- :signed to her concerning the.coming of _- :

the blesled day of our Redemption....

x05.IS ---

• coo » ” aw _ 4 ee eames. o 4 00-> <. Ines He. -

a6; Vee 0 gy I mon 4 a *

are + 4

10. Is accounted Sybilla Tyburtina, or Jtalica, being born near the River Tyber. She is reckoned to have lived in F the time of Augiistus G esar 7 and* that f upon account of her Devotion, Hea- Þ ven opened, and thewed the B. V. with Þ her glorious Infant to the Emperour;. at such time as the Romans were asking Þ the Oracle about Deifying of August :. And that at the same time a. voice was * heard in the Air, Hec est Ara Primogent- 14 Dei, which - they say is. simce dedicated to the Blessed Virgin; who in time perhaps may give. his Holiness thanks for It. II, 12. Are- named Sybilla Egypria, and Sybilla Erithrea, to both which areassigned certain Prophetick verses rela- ting. to our. Saviour, and to the last a clause in commendation of St. Peter, which makes it-seem to me as if inserted. by some of those who pretended: to have been his Succesldrs. Resides these, there have been recko-'. ned/abundance. more Sybi/ts, who never pretended” to. exceed the Order of the Kaccbide, who still attended the Groves, and Altars of the Heathen Oracles, and thence returned fich answers as their Demon 1nspired'them withal, by which it. is demonstrable ro whom they

did belong, by the Office affigned them. Tibullus 19 his second Book makes men-- tion of some of them.

Luicquid Amalthea, quicquid Marpesia alxit, Heriphile Phabo grataque quod monuit,

:. Politianns likewise reckons up diversof ; the Phebatedes, or 5 ybills, with others : skilful in Divination, in his Poem on

that occasion, whereof this is a part, -.Quod & vereres -prompfere Sy-

(bille. Carmen Amalthea, Ge:

See Heywood as before. Besides thele; there were another fortof Votaries to the Goddess Yesta, who were tied by their order to the - ftrictest Virginity for thirty years; and upon conviction of any lapse in that kind, they were immured, whil' alive. : ? Their Office was to keep the fire always burning on theAltar of Yesta, they were ” under the Discipline- of the Flamer, * or High Priest, who instructed themin the Ceremonies, and had the charge of 7 punishing their Delinquencies. This. Order {cems to have been of* great _

wuhout spilling a drop.

110 £xam;lcs of Witchcraft Fc.

great Antiquity and Veneration a-

mongst the Trojans, by whom it was brought into Jraly in those early days, -

betore the building of the City Lavi-

num. AS Virgil records in his Mneids,

t—— FVestamque potentem,

e/Eternumgue aditis effert penetralibus-

Dr. Cotta in his discovery of Witch-.

craft, makes a quotation out of Livy, of one of this Ancient- Order, named

Claudia, who (unafhisted by any humane help) did (only with a {mall string - fastened thereunto) draw a mighty Ship

along the River of + Tyber; which by reason of its vast weight and greatnels,

could not be. moved by the force of

many strong Men, aflifted by Cattle that were used to draw heavy burthens,

which with good reason he concludes.

she could not have performed without

the co-operation of {ome evil Spirit. - .-.. He likewise mentions Txccia, another

of that Sister-hood, who by mutterin tome Invocation, or Jachcatment cents take up water ina Steve, and carry it at a good distance from the River Tyber,

ESO. GI 9.” EO

Examples of Witchcraft &c. ix

Besides, he takes notice out of Ca-.: rion, Guoted by Melantthon, of a Druid amongit the.Nation of the Twngri, who-- did foretel to Dioclesian," That after he ” had killed a Boar, he should be Emperonr of - - Rome. Which came to pals after he..

had killed one Aper, who was -at.that-

7 time: an Usurper, and whose name in the Latin Tongue,.ligniftes -.a Boar.

;, Heywood reports in page 100, That A------

lexander the great went to the Oracle - of Delphos to demand the {uccels of. his. /, Expedition against Darizs z after many d Importunities,, was answered by the - #Prophetess with an Inviftms eris O Ag kexander,.By which his great Vidto- p ries, and Triumphs were foretold, al-. y [though had he:met with contrary mis- 3, fortune, the subtle Devil could have zf I falved the reputation of the Oracle, by e [construing the words with relation to S, himself :* So that if Alexander had 5 been vanquithed by Darizs, yet had he It {remained /zvizs, because by his Imt. - portunities, he overcame the Oracle. Jy It would be endless, should I go ag [bout to enumerate the many Instances, d Iwith which Histories do abound in this it {kind; nor do I defire to tire the Rear, Ider with a tedious transcript of: Relati- ons so common amongst Authors : That e- £1 which

Pxample of Witchcraf, #, CC: II2

which is here represented, will be suf. ficient to evince, that Idol Priest-Craft,” and Devil-Worship, are inseparable dependants one upon the other: That the Devils ETpire hath been /7pported, and

promoted by the Collusfon of his Priests, and the Reputation of the Priest hath been acquired by his converse, and in-' tercourse with the Devil and his Ora- Þ

cles.

Oracles sought unto, his /ds!s Adored,

his Priests had in Admiration among *

the Great and Pompous Eastern, and /- Western Monarchies : But he hath ny F: ned the remote ndians with his foul and'® contagious Worship; and with the help 3 of his more Pagan Priests, and Brach- F mans, enslaved those Barbarous Nati- # ons to a Diabolical Adoration of his horrid Shrines. Sometimes they Sacrifice, and supplicate unto his Inmage in the most foul and monstrous - Figure: sometimes he personally appears unto them, and frights them into a Panick : Adoration of his Tremendous Deity :- Oftentimes he scares. them with-dreadfal Apparitions in the Air, which heE rends with violent Tempests, and de-

The Apostate Angel was not contented to-have his Altars advanced, his

by Ly» yt * 134.0 A” (Eh h £ % Y URI” x4 FRO

youring fire, and frequently mischiefs WP them,

Examples of Witchc-aft,&c. 117

them, not only in their Fields, but in their persons too, which occasions their supplicating him to avert his Terrours from them. The Histories of America give a large account of the many slaveries they are drawn into by this their Infernal Deity, who seems to have obtained a Personal Empire, and Domini- on amonest them:

The History: of Persia gives a large Relation of the many monstrous Idols, and Pagods, to which that People pay Divine Worship, and Adoration, to ome of which they offer their Children by way of Immolation, as the Idola-

trous 1sraelites of old did unto their

Monster Moloch. To some of their Idols they prostitute their Daughters,

whom they reckon not fit for the Nuptial Rites, until they have permitted a penetration of their Bodies, by the * wanton Member of their Beastly Idol : * Or rather some sordid and laseivious Spirit, that sometimes attuates it from within.

• See Herberts Travels, which I take it, - givesa particular, and distinct account

of these, and divers other Abomina-

tions among them.

Nor have the Inhabitants of Chiza,

and the Eastern 1-4ia,escaped the polluy tion of this Devil-IVorship, For Ferdi--

nand.

nand Mendez Pinto, a Portuguize, Who

Travelled many years amongst them, hath very largely set forth the many

Idolatries and Superstitions of that þ people : They have amongst them a valt number of Priests, which they have in high veneration; and a prodtgi08s accumulation of Rites and Cere- mones. And though tne Turks in their extended Empire do forbid the use of

Idols, yet we find in Knowles his History of them, that they have amongst

their Priests abundance.of Conjarers,; which they call Wise, or Cunning Men,.* by which they maintain a Correspon-: 3 dence with the black Inhabitants of the Infernal World : So that, tho they do ! not permit the use of the more lawful 'f and liberal Studies, they yet-give themselves up to be Scholars, and Disciples

to the most interdicted Mysteries.

In Lapplaxd they. maintain such an ordinary Correspondence with the expulsed Spirits, that a Zapplard Witch is almost grown to a Proverb with us: 3 And though it be common amongit the Inhabitants to Converse, and Revel with þ their Demons, and Familiars; yet the

Priests among them generally acquire 4

dexterity in the Ar: above what the F rest can pretend to: So that they do as ordi- #

Nady LARS 6 ” eee?

fe IE 2 o&:\

Fxamples of Witchcraft,&c. 115

ordinarily train up their people in those Black. Arts, as we do ours. in Trades, or1 liberal Sciences, There was in the year 1677. or 1678. 2 Book printed, Intituled; The History f Lappland, which gives a full relation of their many Methods of raising their Spirits; and of divers forms and shapes, in which they ordinarily shewed themselves to their 1nvo- cators, and conversed with ther, sometimes like a Satyr, sometimes in the 7 likeness of a Man : and there is amongst 7 them such a kind of Familiariry maintained, as if they were of the same Country, and Descent. Amongst the many ways they have to call the Spirits to gr Attendance, none is more in use then that of a Magical Drum they have, and in great esteem amongst themz they are very well described in the Book above mentioned, and I have lately seen one of those Drums in Gresham Colledge 3 it is all over marked upon the vellam with a sort of YNVecromantich Chara&ers, somewhat like the Arabick letters; but doubtleis a fort of Orthography, taught by the Black. Master of the Infernal Science. When' one of these Drums is beaten ( with the addition of some Diabolical Ceremonies,

nies, and Incantations,) the Spirit presently. attends, and either answers to

what is demanded, out of the Drum, or

else appears in fome form in a place aligned him,and there resolves the matter for which he was invocated.It is no- torious, amongst all Historians, that the people of Lappland fell Winds to Merchants for certain Voyages 3 by which they much enrich themselves. But I fear I have stretched this Chapter beyond its due length, though I

have used all possible brevity to con-- } tract it. I shall therefore here put a period to this, and hasten to the seventh.

Chapter,

Con

DV. A YH;

Confederacy of several Popes, an4 Koman Triefts with the Devil. Such the principal Tnconragers and prometers of Idolatry in the Church.

F*vi as fuccin&tly as I could, g1ven an account of the Gentiles, and Jewish Idolatry, with the mifchievous Conteauences thereof, in the for- mer Chapters: My Method novy leads me to relate in this Chapter how fatal Ido- Adoration hath been, and must 141 be to those that continue it, tho under a diflerent denomination : f0 that Kome Antichristian, W1I appear not 0 come thort of, if not to exceed, the Demonolatry of Rome Pagan. I thall therefore first begin with a list of some of their Popes, as I find them Registred by the Learned and Ingenious Mr. Waz- Ely, in his Wordcrs of the little World, page '473. where, {out of their own Authors, and particwulariy their. - Cele- Wh:.cred Platine, ) he gives a CAILIOgLE

J 4 8 (« oxf ederacy of fe veral

of divers of them, who stand Recorded for Conjurers, and {uch as have had Familiarity with the Devil. And here it 0ugat not to pass without good Observation, that in the first Centu-

ries, before their Pishops had made a

defection from the hamulity, and puri- F

w of the Evangelical Doctrine, we n

d none of them branded with tha blackest ot--C haraters I but after the Apoltacy from the Primitive Simplictty had gradually obtained among them,

then came they to fall of from the Worship of God himself, to a downright contracting with, if not Wor- 3

shipping of the Devil.

We will firit ooferve by what degrees this detection obtained vpen

them : For,

I. Alexander the first introduced that which they cail Holy Water, mixed

with Salt, and ordered it to be used.

2. Sixtus the first ordered, rhath Priests should Minister in linnen Sur-Ff

PlICES.

3. Felix the firit appointed yearly Zacrinces in memory of the Martyrs.

a. Izrcas tne firit brought in the 1nginZ of the Niceze Creed, and theÞ giving te Pal to the Bishop of 0/1;

Roy iden.

Popes with the Devil, &c. 119

5.. Zosimus brought the use of Tapers into the Church.

6. Boniface the third obtained of Phocas, a Murtherer of his Lord, that Popish Supremacy, which to this day is o much itood upon, and was the first that Usurped the proud Title of Univerfal Bilj;op.

7. Boniface the fourth instituted 47hatow day, and dedicated the Temple of Pantheon, (an Idol Temple) to the Virgin ary,

8, Martin the first, ordered Priests to shave their Polis, and to keep themelves {ingle.

o. Vitalianus the first, first brought Orcans in ufe in the Church of Rome, He sent Tkeodorrs, and Hatrian into Encl2nd, to introdi'ce the Latin service.

10. Leo the {econd, Ratifyed the fixth Synod, to confirm the Mats, and brought in the kisling of the Pax.

L1: John the seventh, noted for building Churches, and ere&ting Images.

12, Gregory the second Excommunitcates the Emyerour Teo 1sarrus, for

standing 2g; 2065,

12. Gre 4-1? Excommuntcate* *' the quarrel ab.

) CNUNIcates : the

ang ” $54 uit WS

Re en RE EIS _

12.0 "I oufederacy &f several

the Emperour Constantine C aprommn upon the same Quarrel, upon which, it

avas well worth noting that the Empe-

rours, who were descended from Idolaters, and Persecutors, withstood 1ma- ges, being convinced of the dangerous. confequences of them; when those who pretended to be the Succefslors of the Apostles, were” the Introducers of Heathenish Idolatry into the Church of God.

5. Stephen the third brought in Wor-

foipping, and Cersing of Images. So the

point was gained.

16. Martin the second, his Father

Palumbus was acknowledged to be a Conjurer: by which Arts it is said he ought the Papacy.

17. Christopher the first is Recorded to have got into the Chair by the a-

foresaid evil Arts: and was therefore

ceposed, and thrust into a Monastery.

18. Sergius the third ordained the bearing of Candles in the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.

19. John the thirteenth, a man from is Youth polluted with all kind of villany and aishonesty, deposed in Council by the Emperour O:ho, slain mn the Act of Adultery.

20. John

Popes with the Devil, &c. I21

20. John the fourteenth began to Baptize Bells, and give them Names.

21. Silvester the second was a Magician, and contracted with the Devil for the Papacy. 1

22. John the nineteenth given to

Magick.; he took off the Election of

the Pope from the People; and appointed the Feast of Al-Souls.

23. Benedift the ninth, a Conjurer,

wont with Laurence and Gratian ( two d Conjurers) whom he made Cardinals,to i wander in theWoods.to invocateDevils,

and bewitch Women to follow them.

24. Nicholaus the second, a great contender for Transubstantiation.

25. Innocent the third brought in the Doctrine of Transubstantiation.

26. Sixtus the fourth brought in

Beads into the Divine Worship.

27. Alexander the fixth, Incestuous

with his own Daughter, and gave him-

self to the Dewil. BD By this short, yet dreadful List,it may

appear by what degrees, first Superstition, then Idolatry, and after that Demo- zolatry, or a Correspondence, if not. a Confederacy with the Prince of Darkyess,

crept into the world; nay, that part of

it that claims the name of an Aposftolick ; Church: Thonothing more cornrr F G

Ary, Or rather

rather Diametrically opposite to the Doftrine and Faith. established by the Holy Jesus, and his blessed Apostles, The Heathen Oracles had been struck dumb by the coming of the Eternal Redeemer, and the Divine Miracles wrought by him in Confirmation of the everlasting Gospel, the Magicians, and Snreerers confounded by the Sacred

Authority derived to the constituted

Apostles, as we fina recorded in their Atts, inthe cases of Simon ages, and

Elimas the Sorcerer, with divers others of that kind : But after the Christian

Doarine had been confirmed by fo

many, and unquestionable Divine Mira-

cles, so that there wanted nothing that might aflure the World of the mighty hand of God that accompanied his Ministers in their first planting the Gospel of Salvation : Then again do we find the Arch-Exemy of our Souls wachained, and we may well calculate :is lo{ing from the time of Srepher the third, which was that fatal period that 2gain spread the for! Contagion over the

ApoState Church : For now the mystery of Tniquity hewed itfelf inthe Tem-F ple of God, and the old Serpeat began agun to be Worshipped as God, and]

re-:fsume his Altars in the obnoxious Tem:

þ:es. And

Popes with the Devil &c. 122

And here I cannot omit that which is irrefragably urged upon this Argument by the learned Doctor Brevizt, in his Book, intituled, Sal and Sanmelat Endor 5 a Treatise, that perhaps gives some of the clearest demonstrations-of thedefe&tion of the Roman Church, of any thing yet extant: though many of our Reverend and Learned. Divines

• have acquitted themselves with fingular Honour upon that occalion,to whose. Memories Posterity will be obliged to pay. the most grateful acknowledgments: But this Gentleman had the opportunity of a long co-habitation amongst their hes beyond the Seas, and the advantage of making such discoveries, and observations, as cannot fall under the cognizance of others. I that therefore make bold to cite some passages out-of. the fore-named book of that excellent Authors, in refutation of the pretended Koman Miracles.

' I shall begin with þ. 45. where he makes a quotation out of St. August. de Civit. 1, 10. c. 16. * There are some of the * Devils Miracles, {aith St. Austin, that as to the work, itself, seem to be nolesser * then Gods are, but their end must diitin- * onish. them. And therefore he will have the an of the latter tines

to be tryed by the true Church, as we find it in the Scriptures: and not the * Church by these Miracles.

• Bring Roman Miracles to this Rule, * you may divide them into threeRanks; * for some of them are but meer Tales; * some are counterfeit Impostures, and * Artificial tricks of Juglers : others *haye a real Being, but the Question is, * whence they nave lt.

. * As for the first sort of Miracles :

' The Papists have by little and little,

• heaped them to such an extravagancy, * that divers of their Communion, *zvho have some Modesty left. them, * can -{carce forbear blushing at.the Re- * lation. Gregory of Tours, and Gregory

• the first Bishop of Rome, (if the four

• Books of Dialogues be truly his) did * begin pretry. well to tell stories : but * these are nothing tothe advances made *by other Prelates, and great Romar

Dodtors, in the following Ages : And

©T may say confidently that these Ro- * manists are not much thort of the most

• extravagant Romancers. There you

• {hall read of Constantine the Great be-

"10g a Leper, aud transferring his Ro- * z:a9 Fmpice upon that Pope that made *f1m clean, of Wolves, and Lyons

• bringing back Lambs, and restoring * them

s - Ws 3 LR. a — _ Free CO NRIINT. CY ger Eg TW Rs : 47D L's Ot, 2 abr. wh ASE. 7 rt ts « - Da Fer Y,4v

A Pagy * R. « 2 4 's I iy ok - ws tx; Spot Fs) Se Os a vike, : wa - RNS OT s Bate” BY. o.

Popes with the Devil, &. 125 * thetn-out of their Entrails; after they

had torn them to pieces of Birds *flocking- abont tor hear - Sermons; * and of Afes becoming Roman. Catho- * licks, at least ' kneeling to adore the * Mass-Sacrament, &c. They cannot * conceive any great man to be a Saint, * unless he hathan extraordinary gift for *the working of such Miracles. How * true they be; yau may best learn of *the very Saints, who deny them : As * for Example, S. Bernard, S. Chrysostom, *and St. Gregory, and yet they are for-

*ced upon them: And you can hardly

*pass for a: true Catholick, unless you believe. that St. Bernard - was saluted, *and sucked feveral times by our Lady

in her Image that St. Chry/ostom did

Raise the dead, did cure all forts of incurable diseases; and had every night ” St. Pax! himself whispering in his Þ Ear, what he did write on his Epistles. * And as to St. Gregory the Great, he had

1 *no meaner whisperer then the Holy ! *Ghostin Person, under the shape of a

Pigeon fitting quietly upon his head, *and sometimes stretching down her Bill

• into his Mouth, when he was Prea- * ching. And we know that the Grand

Impostor, Mahomet, pretended some-

• *what the like about the same. time.

G3 * Now

• Now you may be sure all these things ©2re Fabulous, since disowned by the

very men who are pretended to have * had them, and who therefore knew

best the truth of all these works, and

• afsistances. kl”

• Much like to these are the Mixacles of Ignftius Loyola, when he cures Wo- * en I their Travail, if you but set his * Seal, or Signet on their Belly; when *hemakes the house where he happens

to. be, horribly shake; and when # himself grows as hor, and as terrible ® *as Mount erna, by the fierce motion * of that Spirit, which from a debauch'd Soldier, made him a holy Fesuit : or *when he sees the Soul of his dearest

• Friend Hosizs mounting up into the

*Sky, far more gorgeous then the ; { of any other : or when he works

greater Miracles with his own name in *4 little piece of paper, C#m nomine suo

Sou

• Charte inscripto, then Moses and the

• Apolrles did in Gods name, Wetcannot Y ; dery ( {ays the Bishop of Canaries)

Ont sometimes very grave men write, and leave to posterity such reports about Saints ; Mzracles, humouring hereby both themselves and the people, whom they perceive

both prone to believe, and importunate to

• have them do so.

• For

Popes with the Devil, &c. 117

For the Authority of the above-citec Fables, that worthy Divine quotes their own various Authors, citing the several Books, and Pages, where they are related; for confirmation of which, T must refer you to the 45th p.of hisBook before mentioned. And is it not hereby evident to all that will not wilfully blind themselves to their own delusion. that these Stories, if true, are no other than Diavolical Cheats; being such, as in no wile can be imagined to confrn;

2 the Evangelical Doctrine, but rather the

Z Superstitions and Orders by the Romaniits, imposed upon the world : Or @ if they are not true, then may we conclude them to fall within the number of those lyizg Wonders foretold of in the Scripture, by which Antichrist shall endeavour to establish his Blasphemies a- = mongst a Credulous, and Binotted Generation. And what can their Fathers, that report those sottish Legends, be thought to be, but such a sort of people as are marked out by the Prophet Ezekiel, when he says, The Prophets Prophesy Lies, and the Priests vear Rule by their means, and my people love to have it so, and what will you ao in the end thereof 2 O Depraved, and Adulterous Church, that 1mposeth on her Prose-

G 4 lvtes

jm y . _ - RD < w——. - jos i AT CE; Pong = - n m JI LCLIRCS.. - - pre - - tm ar. - —— ——— — — o . " - Cn ned Coder eras nr = na ys yay ——— nt — pm more Ae ny hu I - w———— : ” _ — £ — _ Mon > er - q gy —_ ee ES i c——s hore rs nets nes i - —_— \

is BOY W

lytes the Credit of such Fiions, that «y thereby she may procure a 7everence,and y.

belief of those Superstirions, and 1dola- Cx ;ries, Which her tainted Doctors teach. «4 Let us now go on to the second fortY « 4 of Miracles mentioned by Dr. Brewvin, which are such as are made up all of Artifice, and Imposture. * Pope Bori-B « * face in this matter once behaved himself like a man, when through a Pipe # «cx * or 'Sarbutane, he conveyed {o dexterously this Oracle, Celeftin, get thee 2 away, if thou hast a mind to be saved, that Pope Celestin took: it, it seems, notwithstanding his Infallibitty, for « an Angelical Warning, and so left the } - * Popedom to the Cheat. Pope Hilde- brand had once another as good inten- tention. of Cheating, but as it was much moreCruel,it had not so happy a \uccess, when he had ready a huge stone, which should have fallen from a high Vault, Ike a Fudgment out of * Heaven, upon the head of the Empe- * rour Herry the third, when at his De- F votions; but the poor Wretch, who * was employed in that good affair, made too much hast, for he fell, down with his great Stone, wherewith he was crusht all to pieces, before the Emperour came under that place, where

Popes with the Devil, &c. 129 :

where be used to kneel at prayer. It was a pretty trick of the Country Cu- ©rate,. ( mentioned by Card. Bern, ) ©who getting: Crabs; with little Can-' Hles fastened to-their backs, set them Þ a crawling up and doivn his Churchyard atnight; and persuaded his peo- plein the morning, after he had taken -# *<themin again,chat they were poor distres- sed Souls, which wanted Masses. Images, and Crucifixes have been found. very commodious for working this. kind of Miracles, especially when they are set up closeto thick walls, as * <« the greatSerapof Alexandria was once; for then tis an ealy matter to get up ! '« behind by secret ways, to anoint the «face of the Saint, and to-put ina Cha- fing dith, that thall make him both [meat and weep, by heating, and melting that 11quor. Springs,.. and Wheels, and {ach like Engines, are of great use to make them move, and bow, and {peak; by such a Miracle the Married Priests unhappily lost their good ca'1ic , once at Winchester; for when they. c were upon the point of winning It, 7 cCracifix started at it, and: deciared a gainit the Priests. This voice in £35 Synod being well seconded by ts ' Monks, went presently for an Oraci- : 3-3 > ®

Tops

• So either simple were the Men, or * ftrong the Impostors of those days; nor * are they now much less in many places, * Although Syranus tells all the World, * That great delusions are of ten put upon * the - People by AMass-priets, and their couniterfeited Wonders and Signs.

But the third and last sort of Roman Miracles reckoned up by the foremen-

tioned Learned Author, are thole that

indeed come nearest to our purpole,and do unquestionably proye, that as the

Heathens of old under the : Images of Serapis, Molech, Baalim, and Apollo, &c, worshipped base and infernal Spirits; so ®

the Romanists now adays, (though they

have new dresled and inscribed their

Idols) do no less than pay an Adoration to the Apostate Angels, and delu- five Spirits, which A# in, and Attuare

those Interdicted Images.

*For my part ( says he) when I do *read in grave and famous Roman Writers, that a Consecrated Host will F * flie and flutter in the Air sometimes, # *tilla Mass-Priest holds up his Pix to ® *receive it; that shapes of Flesh and a>; oung Children have appeared upon ' their Altars, at the Elevation of the

aid Holtz that by many good Expe- * riences', Horses, and Mules, and * Cows,

Popes with the Devil. 138.

• Cows, have been cured of their Di- * seases, when some Masses were sung * for them to the honour of S. Barbara 4 * that S. Dominick, did write Books, * which upon several Tryals no Fire *could ever burn; that once he was * seen perfectly in the shape of a Cru- cifix, with the five wounds in his Bo- *dy, and a Crown of Thorns on his

• Head, That at the Confecration ar

• Mass, something like Christ was seen * hard by him, with the fame signs of * his cruel Paftion, dropping out of his own wounds {ome of his own dear * Blood on this dear Saint z that the B. Virgin beheld all this, and of her own *accord plaid the Mass-priest, and ad- * ministred the very Body of her Son,. *in one moity of a Conlecrated Wafer *to this same Saint in roken of special * friend{hip; and all this averred, and "(worn as true, by a formal Oath in * the name of the Blessed Trinity, and * under pain of all kinds of Gods Curses, *in case of a he or a mistake, with five hundred {uch and greater Maryels : '! * think it a kinder, and {ater part in me *to take them for {oinething, then for * meer Tales,

©Bur for my pains 0: believing * >, let me, who by Gcds Grace am z * Protest,

Protestant, have the liberty which * the Papists allow. themselves, when * they controul what is done by Pagans; * to say, as perhaps it is true, that when the Emperour Yespasian once cured a Blind and Lame man, was the Devil, *mho hindring the sight of the one, and the motion of the other, seemed really to * heal both, when really he did but cease * from hurting and anoying them. Some- * times Papilts will come {o far, as to *s{uspe&t their own: Vhracles, and to "take them but for sportings of un- *happy and wicked Spirits; and for this he quotes Biel in Canon, It&. 51. *Those ordinary shews of a young * Child, or of a Man of compleart sta- * ture, that appear sometimes, as they say, among their holiest Mysteries, 1nd upon the Fists of their best Priests. They mighr as well, if their Interest * would {uffer it, find the like flaws in *all the rest, and you may easily do ir, *if you compare their -own Roman, * with all averred ChristianMitacles.

I fear there may be some will think I have been too long in this transcript; but if they confider the confistence ofthe Argument, and upon what great Authority it is deduced, will find no reaton to complain: And I could heartHy with that every

brad Wy

To;cs with the Devil, &c. I 33 every English Papist had before him thoseBooksto perule of the RomanWriters, out of which our Author makes his Citations 3 I thould think it impossible but the Opinion,and Authority of those of their. own Keligion, must certainly prevail with some of chem, that are In- 2enuous, at least not to pin their Faith - upon theTradirions of some of their oversuperstitious Fathers, but I must again return, and go on with our Excellent Auchor, to observe how the Roman Miracles distingutth themselves from those of our Blessed Saviour and his Apostles : And here he admirably distinguishes, x. The Works in themselves. 2. The tendency and deltgn of them. 3. The Time, or period of their Ope- ' ration. Whenas the so much-boasted Popith Miracles have in them; x. An Intrinsfical Impertinence, and frivolousnels. 2. A general Aptitude and Tendency to confirm any trifling- piece of Su- perstition; rather than any fundamental; solid point of Religion.

3. An appearing, and exerting them-

selves in the latter times; and even those marked out by our Saviour for times of a general defection, and- del-

soon,

tits meet od _——— —

frov, and are branded for false Miracles, such as Antichrist at his coming thould enchant men with, 2 Thess. 2. Rev.

13:23. * As to the first black Character (be

• says) whereas the Ancient Miracles of

God are grave and serious Works, and - £ do carry along with them both some *Image of Gods Wisdom, and some holy Impression of the Divine Hand that causes them : The Modern and * Roman Miracles are commonly such * Sports and Praxks, as can become but Fairies, and Hobgoblins. What *is there in the whole World more Impertinent then to make the most Blesled and Holy Virgin 47ary come purposely out of Heaven, whence it was not heard (he came before, to * drudge here and there about Monks, about sick Wives, about Images and * (uch like things? Whocould take for a holy Soul or a good Angel (much less for that ever blessed Saint) that which appears under her name like a Wo- * man shewing her Breast, embracing * men, giving them Sack, enticing them with her Favorurs, Hoods, Vests, and * sometimes fine Rings which she makes for them of her own Hairs, To fuch purpole she is said to have brought down

ba a. ry =>

—. A. Dc... AS Af

Popes with the Devil. I25

down her Heavenly train, and to have fat in S. age prom Throne, whilst thousands of her Virgins stood fingin

about her, and about the reading Put: pit; and all this great appearance to Compliment the Bishop, and present him with a White Robe, which she said she had taken' our of her Sons Ward-

robe;and it was to be worn only upon her

days; and all this because the Eye of his Faith was continually bent to her Service; (for this is the best Eye of Roman Faith) he was to wear it in that Church, and after to have joy in

her Closet or Apartment, in Promptua-

ris mes. This Gown 15 shewn at Toledo. At another time (they say) she came to Church (having it seems often be-

fore chid Udo the then Bishop for lying with her Nuns, Thou haFt had, ((ays she) sport enough, do so no more; ) not-

withstanding afterwards she found him

\ 2 Bed with no meaner Miss than the

Mother Abbess her self: At which she calls her Son (it is not to be supposed to be the second Person in the Trinity)

= and caused their Angels to pluck him ' off the Bed, where they beat him till at every blow he vomited up one of - those Hosts which he had Consecrated

whilst in that sin: And because of her

pa —— addon a———s —_ EE BE bs Le ES

WI ann —en., nn ne an —_— —

MT Wer 5 > AIC meme eee, F Cece ns

Sons dirty lying (if there be such 4 thing as Transubstantiation, it must be 1o) she: held' the Chalice to take both the Wafers and her Son- in it. Then the Queen of Heaven, fays the Historian, takes up these vomited W afers, and washes them clean with great care; and lays them-up reverently on the Alear.

Abundance more: of- Feats he: reckons up reported in the Roman Histo- rians, and Authors of the {ame Spirit, which they would per{wade their blinded-Bigots to-be the: Virgin ary; as her going to Orleance with a Box: of Ointment;to dress the back of a. Dean; £1VING : my" Pills to a Monk to purge his Choler 3 feeding S. 4lbert,witha sort

of Bread, after. which: he resolv'd to feed : on nought. but Herbs and Roots : Coming (they say) down from Hea-

ven, but more likely from the-power of the Air, to uncover her breasts, and put her Paps into the Mouth of $. Hubbert,and S. Bernard: then tney make her

to.woo Sweet-hearts, and 'give: them Rings of her own Hair, as to S: Altar,

and. S.. Harman, to both which they

say she was married, and that in the

presence of all her Saints, (Spirits like ner {elf relating a thousand. other.ridiculous,

jad + Rad & 7 had > py— gs jon
PERS”, Co 4 VE”" Ol had Ws + "all...

Pepes with the Devil, &c. 137

culous, if not blasphemonus stories of

her, too tedigus here to mention. _

Then they bring down (whom they-

would impose upon us to be the Eternal Son of the Father) lying as if dead under the hand of a Malss-prieft, or shewing tricks of Activity, like a young Child among: the Novices, in their Churches and Covents :

One says, he hath seen this little Child”

creeping out at the mouth of a Crucifix (tis alla *parrow could do,but theDevil can-do much more) and' thence jump into the Lap of an Image, thence flying up again the way: that he came. Another says S. 1da ttad him, and ki{sed, and embraced him, »t sponsa spor-

sum; then he must hang about her

Neck whilst she sings an Anthem 3 S.

Agnes had him too, whilst she stole a little C ross out of his bosom : They say he was brought by his own Mother, to

be kifled by S. Catharine, of the order of Clara upon a Christmas Eve and that the same Dame brought him to

Bed to S. Boniface, in swadling Cloths.

They will have it, that S.. Lscia of the

order of 5. Donanick had him three

Days and three Nights, during which time the Image of the Virgin bad no Baby on its left Arm; after that, they marry

4 R gy —— ern nora M0 —

marry him to her, when he looked as if he had: been but seven years old._S. Hoftradns and others took this i]lu{ion for a real Lankan of the Holy In-

fant, and thereupon offered him as we do Children, something to eat; some would dandle him on their Knees, and others play with him, and S. Jok», who was his companion at it.

Thus, with grief, may pious Souls

see according to the Prophesies, Jeru-

falem trodden and danced upon by ngly Owls and wild Satyrs.. [(a. 13. 21. S0 the Roman Church is become a Stage for vile Spirits to a& upon z for where are the good Saints or Angels that will reee ent, much less a# Christ and the

lefled Virgin, under such shameful personages?

Then as. for S. Francis, you have Sheep and Afsles running to hear his Sermons; Swine falling dead under his curse, for having hurt a poor Lamb; all forts of Cattel recover with the Water he washt his Feet in; Women eased of their Travel by applying to them some of the Hay his Mule used to eat of.

Again, you may find S. Dominick at Mass, hanging in the Air like a Bird; or at the Bed-side of a sick Woman

Transub-

my =», 4 woo 4 OI

eb wal

Popes with the Devil. 139

Tang Worms into Pearls; or by the Water side, railing the River into. a Flood; or at his Devotions, forcing the Devil to hold Candle to him, II the poor prgg burn his own Fingers in the Service : Or, sometimes you may find him changing the sex of a young Girl unto a Boy. i-/

Nor did the Women come behind hand for. extraordinary. feasts; for if you read but the Life of 5. Chriftine, you will find that she rofe from- the dead twice, before she died for good and all, and so died thrice. She had a mighty knack at Miracles all-her life long; for to fave Souls from the pains of Purgatory, she loved to throw her (elf into all the hottest Ovens, and burning Fires she could find, that she might endure here what they suffered there y and to atone for Gluttons, she resolv'd to starve her self, till finding the pains of a sharp hunger, she had Milk came into her Paps, so allayed the cravings of her Stomach, by sucking her self; she expiated for proud Souls, by applying her:self to the worst way of com- mon begging 3 the could distinguish too between the honesty and dishonesty of those which gave her alms, for the Bread that came from - good hands _ = ea

from wicked hands tasted like Toadsflesh. 'To satisfy for. all Sorts of fins contracted by those. which used much company. keeping, she relolv'd to forfake mankind, and to come near none but Beasts; at last: that she' might” be fafe from all contagion. of Flelh and Blood, she parchedher self on the tops of -Trees; there her thin body being made thinner, both by centinual fasting , and great fervency of - Spirit, she did at her prayer contract her self into a round form, much like” that of a Hedg-hog. She could climb up the highest Trees like a Squirrel, and swim-in Rivers like a Fish; till her Friends, barbarous, it seems, and not believing all these Miracles, put her in Chains as a Mad Woman; and thereshe miserably lacerated her poor body with struggling hard to free her self; and this violence in Prison gave occasion to more Miracles, for the Milk in her Breasts turned into Oyl, wherewith the did anoint her sores, and some- times too, the used it as Butter to weeten -her Bread. Cardinals and whole Towns can aver these extravagancies, and therewith we shall con- clude the firlt kind of Roman wi racles

Popes with the Devil, &e. 141

racles 3 omitting what might be said of S. Brigit, S. Fulta, S. Clara, 'S, Ursula, with hundreds more known and famons in that Church, with whose stories their Voluminous Legends do crawl all over. In the mean time it will not be amils for satisfaction of the curious, to insert the names of those Authors our Reverend Door hath made use of in this Section.

Alan. Reaiv. part 2. C. 4.

Ful. Pomer in vita lldeph, ap Ser. 23. Fan.

Chromck Deipar. an. 985.

Leander 1m vita Reginald.;

Robert. Archid. in. vita S. Albert. ap. Sur.7. Apr.
Chronic. Deip. an. 598.

Histor. Eccl, Carnor. an, 1020.

Chronic. Deip. an. 1152.

Ibid. an, 1476.

Ivid. an. 1235.

Matth. Paris in vita S. Goaric.

Menol. Cifters. 29. Ottob.

Bov. 14. anal. an, T317. 7. 2.

FFlamin. in vita $ Catharin.

Henriques' Fascical. S,S.

Chronc, ord. predict.

Tenriques 3. Fam

, Chronic. Deip. an 1285.

bid. an. 1235. eh

WV. Bonavent invit. S. Fran. Job.

". 142 Confederacy of several +

ji Fab. Garg. in vita $. Dominic. ” II if Tho, C antapr. in vita S. Christine ap. Sur, l lj Fun. 41, 1160.

TM Facob de Vitriaco, in vita $, Maria Ocig-

ly a1ar. EINE TTIIONOEF IIA LIE J

l CHAP. VIII

A further evidence of the Contedera- UN cy of Roman Priests with evil ih SPIFLLS,

THE Argument that we ate now if upon, having already taken np too ql much -aper for one Section, I have " thought it proper to conrinne it in_the ' following Chapter, lest, those. who areig- ; i norant of Satans devices, andof. the Artil fires of his Prieits, fnould want {0 con- ; bt vincing a Demonstration of the danger 'S, 4 Communion with 1hem, AS 1$ laid. beiF. ore them in. the subsequent. lines, I 'y! mult therefore refure the Discourse} ! I as it is continued inthe forecited. Baok þ of the Reverend Dr. Brevint;, and ha F. ving already transcribed the sum of what he speaks upon, the first Head,

namely, That the Miracles of the Koman - Church,

Hunt» => ko

Popes with the Devil, 143 Church, are ordinary, such 4 and

Ludicrou prunks,as cannot possibly seem to hold" any proportion with those solid and Divine Operations, which attested the Truth and. Excellency of the Dofrine of the Holy Gospel: The Second Evidence that he mentions. is, the Tendexcy and Design of the Popish Miracles; which look quite another ol from those wrought by our Blefled Saviour, and his Apostles: For whereas. those last confirmed the Faith, and Doctrine of the first Preachers of the Doctrine of Salvation; and those which anciently

• were wrought at the Sepulchres of the

Primitive Martyrs, cannot be thought to justify or assert any other Faith, or Doctrine than what was Taught, Believed, and Prattised by those Holy. Mex; Ang. de Civit. 1. 22. C. 9. says, What 15 it that these Miracles wil. attet but the Resarre&1on and Ascension of Chrit? St, Paul tells us, that they taughtnothing, but what was concluded within the Law and the Prophets; and- it cannot be supposed that the extraordinary, things done by them should confirm any other Doctrine than what they Taught; So at this day, tho all forts of Operations were to be seen at the Sepul- chre of St. Paul; they could not be

presumed

Re ee en TIES ee

en nn Ee SRI = : ———_—

——— PER

= rn Wert I rn Ir nee rn.

hen i en ELIT Re We A re ret

LID nem

presumed to confirm the Popes Bulls, or the 1nnovations of the Roman Church, but those truths which were contained in his Preachings, and his Epistles. But as for Roman Miracles, they follow their Novel DoGcrines, which sometimesare contrary to, and always quite different from the true Christian Gospel. How many Volumes would be required to contain all the revelations, and the strange wonders, that encourage, and excite men in general to the Worship of the Virgin Mary. As many more are bestowed upon the doing -.oy special ways, and at her particu- Feasts; for upon that score great Indulgences are promised to her Adorers; orelfe what mean those swarms of Monks that lie hid under her Coats, or the Ladders whited with her Milk, from which no body ( that takes that way to Heaven ) can ever «tumble down ? Or those Quires of supposed Angels heard in the bottom of a- deep Well to fing her praises > What can be thought of those Images that bleed, or speak, or fly as light as Feathers, unless it be to bring mankind to the Worihipping of Wood, or Stone, or some- thing more sordid and abominable, which seems to give motion to those inani-

Popes with the Devil, &c. I 45

inanimate Stocks ? What ail those thousands of sad Souls to ramble up and down the World, since the time of Pope Gregory, but to reveal Purgatory, and recommend Masses fox the dead > What abundance of strange Feats have been done by St. Francis, and St. Dominic, on purpose to confirm their new orders, and ways 2 What can fignify those heaps of excommunicated Flies; and a poor Raven pining to death under the same Curse, for having fled away with a Bishops Ring, but

to shew the Terrour of the Roman
Keys? And those multitude of small and great Toads crawling in and out of mens mouths, when they do observe well or 11! the rules of Auricular Confeshon, but to justify that jugling piece of Priest-Craft > Or the many little Children standing upon conlecrated Wafers, but to maintain the Doctrine of Transubstantiation 2 What can the many pretended Miracles wrought by the five wounds in the body of St. Francs, or the Rope about his Loyns signify, but to keep upan Opinion of the Sandti-

ty of that Order > Then the Door asks your Opinion of the following Miracle, which he thus relates.

H A Bishop

A, Bishop moved with passion against .4 Covent of Franciscans, was relolved to turn them out of his City, and to do it the next day : The night before, behold their Sacrist sees in a vision the Image of St. Paul, and the Image of St. Francis, both painted in the Church -window, talking earnestly one with the other. He hears St. Paul extreamly blaming St. Francis for no better defending his own Order; and St. Fran- . cis answering to him, What shall I do? Aays he, I have but a Cross, and that is ng

defensrve Weapon; but had I 4 sword, as you have ( for commonly they represent

them {so )-perhaps I might do somewhat

more. The man being awak'd, starts

. out of his bed, and his imagination being full of this, runs to the Church, finds the two Pictures had excnanged

their Arms; Paul in the window had

the Cross, and St. Francs had the

Sword. This amaz'd the whole Covent; but 'that which is more then all the rest, St. Francis had not St. Pauls.Sword in vain, for that same night the Bishop had -his throat cut. What Evangelical Doctrine can be confirmed by thele three Wonders ? Pictures that can speak and move; St. Pax/, that exhorts

Popes with the Devil, &tc. 147

to revenge; and a Saint, who during his life, made Conscience, as they say, to -_— kill a Loufe, now can cut his Bishops throat : Vhat can be infer'd from this, unless it be this wholsome Doctrine, that Bishops are not Fure Divino, but Friers are ? All these, and whole Miltons of other such Roman Miracles, are not fit for Christs Calendar, because they never were accommodated for j persuading men of the truth of Chrifts Gospel, and upon that account must i needs proceed from any other than his Spirit. Authors quoted for proof of this second mark are.

S. Anth. 3. part Hist.1.23. c. 2. Ser. t. Chron, Diep. an. 1231, kl \ Hift. Carnat. an, TI16. ! I Archiev. Buburg. infraud. an, 1383. lj I Memol. Cifterc. 28. April. Il ell Leand, in vita Hyacinthi ap. Sur. 16.

Angust. th Gregor. 12 Dialog. passim. tl Specul. Exemp, Tit, Excommunicat is nj Exemp. 5, * d} Jbid. Exemp. 4. al Tbid. Tit. Confessio Exemp, 22. le} Jbid. Tit, Eucharistia. nj S. Bonav. in vita Franc. tl Hieron, Platus de bono statu Relig. 1, 5. 0} 8, 33) H 2 T

I I et er eons ——XZE_z-

tyre Gar eo——_— ee ee nie nag" CCL I nan IEEE ELITES IP

ny Ms con ——

CT ere ers Inte mm =

pong I

1.48 ( onfederacy of several j

The third foul mark he mentions of het Roman Miracles, and which will,put it We beyond all doubt, that they are the]'! effet of Diabolical Contederacies, a and Impostures, is, that besides the" evil tendency of them, they appearl* and shew themselves unto the world in such suspicions rimes, as may justly discre. For dit, and call in question even true, andf*, real Miracles. The gift of Miraclef XN being. unto. Teachers, what credential.;: Letters, and Royal Colours are unto pp» publick Officers, which {ignify much unÞ*"? to good Subjects, whilst they knoy "" them granted to none but such as thef** King doth really send;- but very little

ent

after they see those in the hands, thesef,>"* 'on the backs of every dirty Carrier, FC who hath a mind for his own ends to”. b Counterfeit them, and rant with them* No'man takes for good payment what- NG soever hath Cesars Image, after he hearf."© of false Cofners, who have' dispersed I vast sums abroad, and marked then I with the same stamp. Weare not now in rh the priviledged days either of Moses, orÞ"* Elias, or of Jesus Christ, or his Apostles z when neither all the Magicians could make one Louse; nor all the Fo Baalims light fire on one Altar; nor al! ho: the workers of false wonders open -

theirs*®

dert lf e JOrCc

Popes with the Devil, &c. 149

their mouth against the Son of God. Ve live in such times, when the De- Ivils in all mens account, are let loose from such a restraint, and the Church "Jef unguarded of such a proteCtion : When false Prophets may arise with such Prophestes, and false Christs with such Miracles, as, if it were poflible, mght dec:tve the very Eleft. Now the Mirabilarians, as St. Auvftine calls them, are abroad, again(t hom, faies he, Cautum me fecit *Domio's- The Lord himself, and his Apo- stles after him, have given us all sufti- . cient warningz so that it would be (Þ great folly in us to take notice, or run piter such, as have a permitted power ot Counterfeiting true Miracles, thereith to amuse the simple. The glori- pus work of our Blefled Saviour, his rPisciples, and other Apostolical FadPErS, Were done in such clear days, as "Iisfsipated, and scattered all {uspicions, info imaginable Clouds of Imposture; *: he Devils had not so much as the 1:erty to preach the Truth, Markt. 25. If either Simon Magnus, or Elimas, tho Corcerers of the highest rank, did but offer to play their old Game, and shew heir devilish Feats, you read in the Aits, how they were kept in. Thus H 3 this

Ir m rn cen—n—_ th

than the intrinsecal greatness of the work, was an infallible Evidence, which in those days shined about all true Miracles; whereas the Revelations, and Feats of the Romanijts must needs be full of suspicion, and noted for {ach by all good Christians, fince they came forth, when all false Chritts, and false Prophets have the liberty to work them. Then come up the Apparitions of {ad Souls, by thousands, to acquaint their Friends with their copdition underneath : and what neither A6ses, nor the Prophets,nor Jesus Christ himself, nor his Apostles ever thought to mind us of; distrefled groanin Spirits make it their principa bulines to throng about, craving for help, for Pilgrimages, and Masses. Then come Images to bleed,or {ing or mourn, as occasion requires : and the Conse crated Elements, the better to justify what they are not, appear with blood, with flesh, and even {sometimes with whole Children. Ir pasles all understanding, how the Virgin ary, who kept her {self so long above, would not come down among us Mortals, either sooner, or in leis {u{pected times, or on more {serious Errands, Five hun-

dred

me mg >» BD F*FkoJuRMRd Pp TO OY MAMmMOoT F—-" OO m7

Popes with the Devil, &e. 151

dred years may be accounted, when all good Authors will justify that she continued as quiet above; and that she, after so long rest and abode in the blessed Manstons, should take such an- unlucky, and obnoxious time to come down, and sheiy her self ro men, when the Devil, and his foul Spirits are permitted to play their pranks; this in- - deed is very admirable ! Ir can hardly be imagined, that she who never did appear to any of the Primitive Holy Fathers, in a less suspected juncture, should in these last and Branded times, shew her {elF to 2 dirty Monk. Did: not St. Austin, before he died. being belteged by Barbarians, deferveas well her protection, and a guard of her armed Angels, as St. Dominick did, whi- lest he held a poor pitiful Heretick about the neck with his Rosary 2 where- fore had none of these holy men, St. Athanasins, St. Hillary, St. Cyprian as well the comfort of a kiss, or an embrace, as Loyola, Stephen the Minime, and 2 thousand more less deserving 1t2 Or how comes she, who never was known to take notice of any trouble, disease, or imprisonment of true Saints, as the - Head-ach of St. Chry/oftom, the fickliness of: St. Basil, the infirm body of St.

H & Gre= -

Gregory Nazianzen, the, Prisons, and Tortures of all the Martyrs 3 now to be running up and down to relieve all sorts of persons: to cure a Jesuit with her Child, whom she laid by him in his bed : to cure whole Countries of purple Feavers; and to free several Rogues, that had well deferved hanging, from the Gallows, from Dunge- ons, and from all imaginable sorts of dangers > How comes this fancy to take her so late of bringing down ouy of

Heaven, Crofles, Hoods, Books, Robes, Holy Water, and such other Utensils, which the Fathers in former times never had, nor expected from her ? The}

truth is, these kind of Apparitions and Miracles were most advisedly reserved until such times, as these latter are, dark, and confused, and more propitious to Imposture; and thele strange new transactions have another reason befides, which I with Roman-Catholicks would seriously consider, and it is this.

As long as the Blessed Virgin had no more honour in the Church, then what became a Creature, and was allowed to her by the Fathers, ro be Honoured, not Adored; no Antient Author will tell you that she ever appeared among men.

But as soon as the latter times brought in

punt, py —q._ RF m4 RY R400 ” opmig I QA Y Fa ey ww we co A yo ae pol. ooo Was «

wm FA a £A ov»

F Opes with the Devil, CC. 'S5 b

in publick Services to pray with unto her, and Images to pray to her by; then she ( or rather some other Spirit under her name ) began first to bestir her self : then she, and a multitude of other Saints with her, seem to come down, and appear at the voice of these new Prayers, just as the Soul of Samuel did, C or rather seemed co ) come up at the Mysteries of Endor. Ever after the pretended Queen was seen in the Roman Church,as in her Heavenly Palace:

and she had more Angels to wait on:

her in the least of her ordinary

Progresses, then our Blessed Saviour himselF had in any of his most folemn appearings : But as when the Devils

will look like Angels, you may till, they say, either perceive a Cloven Foot, or {mell a stinking vapour, that betrays

the pretended glorious appearance, sa

Roman Miracles, and Visions,have commonly -fome- black, mark, which may convince any sober man, that they are not really what they. seem. to be. Consider in the Holy Scriptures what the true Saints and Angels of God have done, whenever they met with more Honour then was their due : or ask St. Austin what those-Spirits are, who take it when.it is given, or call for it -

H $. when: 6.

says the good Father, will take of other, what they know to be due only to Cod : as it appeared by Paul and Barnabas, who tore their cloaths, when the people offered to worship them, to shew they were meer men : And by that Angel who rejected Adoration. They are unclean Spirits that are for Worship, and tho they care little for flesh; yet they pride themselves in Sacrifices, because God, under. the Law, appointed them for his own service. And in another place he says, Good Angels are for this one thing, that with them we may serve God, in whose contemplation they are happy : but

they who invite us to serve themselves, are-

like proud men, GC. only the serving of

proud ' Devils is more hurtful. And in

another. place he says,. Czlestial, and happy Spirits will-have us Sacrifice ( nt unto themselves, but ) unto God, whose Ob-

lation they are, as well as we; and there-

fore, all Revclations, and Miracles that tnvite us to serve more than one God, are such seduitions of Devils, as any pjous, and prudent men must needs throw. off 2 for this # their proud Malice, who by that Token are noted, neither to be-good Angels themselves, nor the Angels of a good God, Eor the good. Angels loue us so well, that they

wr A so oo M9 =

CÞ-- Cow Od: ASE Ei FEEL Boats

SS, _-- Þ 3 ww

Zopes with the Devil. ' 3%. ©, BY they will not have us to serve them, but the true God only. Sn

This was the Opinion-of St, Austin + in his time, by which it appears what: -

his thoughts were of Saint, and. Idol -

Adoration. Let usnow bring to these - Christian Rules, most of the Roman Miracles, and Apparitions. Let us see when ever this h»mble Spirit did ( with

the good Angel ) reject one Worship- -

ping, or aevout Adoration 5 shew, wherever {he once tore her cloaths at - the hearing of Te Deum, and the whole Plalter of David {ung, and applied most -

Blasphemously from God to her..Cer- tain it is, that for several Centuries of

years, the steps ot another Spirit -are to: be found in her ways, seeking con- tiaually for more honour. We may- - behold one who strokes, and: kisses pious men, because they both begin and : end their belt devotions with her prat- -

ses: who teaches in what godly: form -

they must pray to her for all Blessings : who calls them into brakes of 'Thorns,. and Nettles, and sometimes. into holes under ground, to find, and Adore her -- Images : one who can put on the thape of a Stag, or a Pigeon,or a great Queen, purposely to shew the place, and itone where the must nceds have an Altar, or -

a Chaps. :

WAI Bon wn wer non -_ A I I rn co pe Hens OG, 0 —_

• • 9 SI GIS, ——— I ———— — — — —— —— ——— —— = ponents mo—— — - ——————I _ nee pm—_" <a. mo — — bt mann _ niet cmpagmpnd -. - i l SA i _— nee cave ee ern 4 - em Roca ry ea. ah hs =, a : Conners mn

a Chappel, or a great Church.that there she may be served and dojo Tie to the worlds end; and there walk, and delight her (elf; one who in all these Churches, brags among Men, as if she were the Mother of Compassions, the Lady of the House of Prayer, and the Fountain of all Blessings : Lastly, one who spreads forth about her a great Mantle, therewith to beroken the Jargeness of her Mercies and Favours; which she says, she denies to none that will come to her with faith. And now let St. Austin, or any good Christi an judge what -kind of Creatures these x akon are; and what great difference there is between those which among

the Pagans did perpetually labour for

Sacrifices, and these, which now among the Papists, are all for Masles, and the greatest oblations that can be set on Romes Altars. Mean while we mmay be confident, that none but God alone can own Sacrifices, Altars, and Churches to be served with 3 none but Devils ever owned Images to speak, move, or an wise towork in; such Spirits as thele may be the Atithors of all the boasted Miracles, Apparitions, and Revelations among the Romanists 5 and.such appearances, and delutive Operations are

DT VEryY

Tofes with the Devil, QCc. 157”;

very fit for such Spirits : and both foretold, and reserved for the last times? And so it may be guess'd what that Church is that hath her proper establiihment both from fuch Worders, and nch Saints.

For proof of what is spoken upon

this third head, relating to the timing

of Popith Miracles, see the following Authors.

Ang. in Joh. Trac, 13. sub fin. ibid. Specul. Exemp. Tit, Ros. Exemp. 1. Attich, Cron. Ord. Minim, an 1612. Chron. Diep. an.1561.

Oliver L. Mirac. Mar. Montis. Albert. de virts Illust. Ord.Preaic. Epiphan, Contr, Haref, l. 3. adv. Colly-

August. contr. Faust. I. 20.c. 21, 22. Idem de vera Relig. c. 25.

Idem de Civit. I. 10. c. 7. Ibid. c. 16. Tbid, c. 7. tteml.g.c. 23,

Cesarins I. 7. Hist. c. 25.

Leander, de viris 1llust, Chron, Diep. an. 1372. Chron, Diep. an. 1178.

Franc. Hierasc. iv vita Henr. Silice. Odo Gifseus Hist. virg. Anctensis. In vita Manaveriap. sur. 5. Fun.

Arch.

Arch. Gian, cent. 3. Annal, 1. 4. c. gs;

Od. Gifseus supra.

Wiceph. Eccl. Hist. l. t5.c, 25. Blostus in Montls.

Menol. Cisterc. 22. Dec.. Chron. Diep. an. 1467..

Tho. Maluvenda Tom, 1.

Annal. Ord. Pred. an. 1321.

Mauch more doth the learned Door urge, to prove that what the Papists.

offer to the Shrine of that which they call the Blessed Virgin, can be nothing less than giving Divine Honour and

Adoration to an unclean Spirit; butI

fear I have been tedious in transcribing

this; tho it were to be withed that all

professed Christians were truly convinced of the. danger, and damnableness of this Roman Doctrine. For, it

That which was never commanded by God in his Word, ought not to be introduced into-his Worthip : If,

Whatsoever pretended Saint or Angel claims a Religious Adoration, be to: be reputed Diabolical, and wnclean; Then whac can be concluded of those

" Worshippers, and thele Saints in the.

Roman hurch,unlels it be this, that they have not introduced only the Dottrine,

but.

A BE A OO (wy 2D mh HY ro, ky = -»

Popes with the Dewil. I5g

• [but the down-right Worshipping of Devils. «

It is not for nothing that the Holy Spirir of God doth in the Sacred Wri-

tings, by his inspired Pen-men so often warn, and call off his People from 1-

dolatry 3 it is not for nothing that the--

Eternal Fountain of Blesledness ex-

prefles such an inflamed Jealousy against the /raelires for departing after strange Gods; and that the Divine Vengeance aways followed that [mpions Abomina-

102 with such tremendous, and smoak-

ing Judgments : For when once. the

profligated Spirits can obtain for Deities in their Temples and Altars; it is

not-to be expected that the true, and

Eternal God thould have any place in

the heart of such a People. Therefore the Scripture calls Idolatry- a departing -

irom the.. Holy One, a geing a Whoring from him. The: Samaritans had thar

Opinion of the works which 37-7 the. Sorcerer performed by Witchcraft, and 2 Diabolical Confederacy, that ' they. called him the mighty power of God,in the 8:þ Chap. of the 4&#-. But by the Þ verse prece4ing, it appears that he had _ ffcinated their minds, and laid his

Charms on their underitandings, that > tney

ns, wen ee en Ae ED non

i160 Confederacy of several

they were in such a condition as: Paul terms the Galatians, they were bewitched, that they should not Obey the Truth. And it cannot be appored that any thing short of some forcible Enchantment could prevail. with those of the Roman Communion, to give faith to those [ying Wonders, and Divine Worship to those eluding Spirits, which upon that account, have the Shrines erected amongst them.

By what hath been said, it is evident, that those Ghosts, or Spirits which require Temples, and Worlhip, are no other then some of the Tainted, Expul-. sed Legions; and that the strange Miracles performed by the Images, or at the Shrines. of these Deiries, are the old delusions continued 3 whereby they drew the Antient Pagans after their Oracles, Groves, and Pythons, &c. and the Papists now a days into an Adoration of Images, Altars, and Relicks. Still the old Confederacy is kept up, tho under new Forms, and Notions. And perhaps it isnone;;of the smallest Policies of the Agents of. that Communi- on, to og I upon. their Credulous Ones the belief that. there is no such thing as a Witch; that so their perfor- Mmances

Popes with the Devil, &c. 161

mances of that kind may the betcer -pass under the notion of a Miracle. But by the following discourse,any one that will not wilfully blind himself, may discern the strange, and vast power that the Deceiver of the Nations still maintains amongst the degenerate race of

men. And foI have puran end to the first Part.

Part II

A Collection of several Authentick Relations of Strange Apparitions of Daemons and Spectres, and Fascinations of Witches, never before Printed.

By what hath been said in the foregoing pages, it is evident, that the Prince of Darkness hath a very large Dominion among the Sons of Men; That he hath his Honour, Homage, and Adoration, which is only due to the most High. There are besides these, another sort of the Infernal Disciples, who give themselves up immediately to the Conduct and disposal of the Apostate Angel, by entring into League, and Covenant with him, and giving themselves up to those Black, and Interdicted Mysteries, which justly are punished with death, both by the Divine, and Human Law. These have their Familiars of the dark Region, that assist them in the Execution of their Hellish purposes; by this means they attain to performances vastly transcending the capacity of Human Agents, as much as can be supposed that Spiritual, and Angelical Beings exceed in Subtilty, Agility, and Power, whatsoever can be pretended to by meer Mortals. It would swell this Volume to too large a bulk, should I speak of the divers ways and manners, by which they enter themselves Scholars to the School of Darkness; besides, divers learned and famous Authors have taken great pains herein. I shall therefore no longer detain the Reader from an account of divers very Remarkable Relations, never yet Printed; the Truth of which will be averred from Persons of unquestionable Reputation now alive; the things themselves having been done within the compass of these very few years: And if some sober, and ingenious Persons would undertake but to commend to the publick the Occurrences of this nature in every County; It would doubtless be a work very acceptable to all good men; and of great use for the conviction of others.

The First Relation

An Account of the Troubles that happened in the house of Peter Pain, a Shoemaker, living in Mary Pool Street, in the City of Bristol, extracted out of a Letter sent me from Mr. J.R., a Gentleman of good Ingenuity and Reputation, an Inhabitant of the City aforesaid. Dated June 25, 1683.

Sir, According to your desire in a Letter I received from you on Saturday last, I have here sent you the true real Account of the passages you desired. That which was related by our late Dean, was thus; That about 45 years since, the house of Peter Pain, then a Shoe-maker in St. Mary Pool Street in this City, was extreamly disturbed with most surprizing, and unaccountable noises for some time; and one night above the rest, about 12 of the Clock, the usual noise was accompanied with so great a light through the whole House, as if every Room had been full of burning Tapers, or Torches; These repeated scenes of Horrour so amused the whole Family, that they applied themselves to Mr. Toogood, the then Minister of St. Nicholas, who was easily prevailed withal to visit the House; which he had no sooner entred, but he became an Ear-witness of the most dreadful, and accustomed noises; so, together with the whole Family, he repaired into a Chamber at one end of a Gallery, at the other end of which, was a large bulky Trunk, full of old amber, and so heavy, that four or five men were not able to lift it: Having shut the door to them, the Minister went to Prayers, during part of which time, the noise continued, and on a sudden something was flung against the Chamber door, with extraordinary violence, upon which the noise immediately ceased. When Prayer was ended, they went to go forth of the Chamber door, but could by no means force it open, until they had called for the assistance of some of the Neighbours, who running in to their relief, found the door barred close with the great Trunk aforesaid; upon which they all concluded that it was cast there in that violent manner, when they heard that mighty shock against the door, just before the ceasing of the noise. This is a true account of that passage, which the Gentleman aforesaid had from the Son of the late Dean above mentioned, who was then an Apprentice in the house; and the whole Transaction is still recent in the memories of the Neighbours, who were Witnesses of the amazing Troubles, which at that time disturbed that house. Divers other stupendious circumstances accompanied these noises, which by reason of the great distance of time, and place, we can have no particular account of.

The Second Relation

An Account of another passage in the same Letter, relating the strange manner of Fits which seized the Children of Mr. Merideth of Bristol.

From Mr. Merideth I was informed that January last was eight years, he had a Son, and three Daughters, all between the age of fourteen, and eight years, taken with violent Convulsive Fits, within a weeks time of each other, to the great amazement of many Physicians, and Divines, and multitudes of others that beheld them. The first symptoms they observed of their coming, was the Childrens complaining of intolerable pains in their heads, and sides, suddenly upon which their Limbs, Mouth, and Eyes would be distorted into unimaginable alterations, and their Arms and Legs, though of those tender years, extended for some time beyond the strength of the stoutest man to reduce them; during these Fits, they would sometimes laugh, at other times cry for an hour together, then on a sudden creep about the floor, up against the Bed-posts, and the Tester of the Beds, like so many Cats, as the Gentleman phrases it. (A Lady of the Neighbourhood told me they would hang about the walls, and Ceiling of the Room, like Flies, or Spiders.) Sometimes they would foam at the mouth, then fall down as dead, and in a short time repeat their Actions, appearing in the room in the same strange, and stupendious postures. Towards night their fits always left them, and they slept undisturbed most part of the night, but instantly upon their awaking, their Fits returned, and tormented them more or less, with very little Intervals all the day. One of the Daughters three days following, in the height of her Fit repeated in a solemn majestick sort of manner the same form of speech; which was a predicting her own death to be in some few days, and the happy state she was entring into, as also several things which should speedily befal her Father, and Family; but nothing of it ever came to pass. Another of them vomited pins; during their whole indisposition, they were daily attended by Ministers praying with them, and continued in a course of Physick prepared by the advice of the Ablest Doctors in the City. In the May following they recovered, and are well ever since to this day; and (which is very admirable) when their Fits had wholly left them, they did not appear the least weakened by them.

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Though in the Relation now recited, there be no mention made of any suspected Witch, by whose power the aforesaid Children were reduced to that deplorable state, and some of the Physicians that administred to them, are of opinion that there was nothing of fascination in the case, but what was purely the effect of a natural distemper, I must crave their pardon if I dissent from them, for these following Reasons.

1. Though the account Mr. R. gives of it do not make mention of any Witch, or resemblance of such a one that appeared to the Children, during the time of their Fits: It is very probable he might have no account of that particular, and as likely that the Confederate Agent might purposely avoid shewing any personal figure to them, lest the Relations, upon such notice, should discover and prosecute the Peccant party. 2. Here are Symptoms vastly transcending the effects of any natural distemper; not to insist on the distorting of the Limbs and parts of their Bodies, which are frequently the Concomitants of Convulsions, but that the Extension of their Legs and Arms should so vastly transcend the power of a strong man to reduce them, looks somewhat above what nature alone could pretend to, especially in Children of their Age. 3. Who can look upon their crawling and clinging about upon the Bed-post and the Walls, without plainly discerning the character of fascination? Could a natural Infirmity furnish them with Tallons, or Claws to fasten themselves to those places after such a manner? This hath been observed by others that have been under the power of Witchcraft, that the Witch, or her Agent, hath lifted the patient by all four against the Floor, or held them against the side of a Wall, where they have seemed to hang in the air; (an example which Mr. Glanvil mentions in his third Relation, containing the Witchcraft of Elizabeth Style) that I think it needless to repeat. 4. But what can possibly be thought of the vomiting of pins? If there could be imagined any natural distemper that could breed brass wire in the body, it would be hard to imagine how they should come to be pointed, and headed, without an Artificer. This sort of torture is so familiarly practised upon the bodies of persons, under those sad circumstances, that if there were no other mark of the black Art, this it self were enough to remove all scruple. 5. Whatever others may think of their being so soon restored to a state of health, upon the removing of their fits, after all the violences they underwent: This alone were enough to evince the distemper to be preternatural; For if those Torturing pains and Convulsions had been the effect of any natural Infirmity, it could not be supposed but that bodies so battered would have required some proportionable time, gradually to arrive to a state of Health.

The Third Relation

A Remarkable passage of one named the Fairy-Boy of Leith in Scotland, given me by my worthy friend Captain George Burton, and attested under his own hand.

About Fifteen years since, having business that detained me for some time at Leith, which is near Edinburgh in the Kingdom of Scotland, I often met some of my acquaintance at a certain house there, where we used to drink a glass of Wine for our refreshment; the woman which kept the house, was of honest Reputation among the neighbours, which made me give the more attention to what she told me one day about a Fairy-Boy (as they called him) who lived about that Town; she having given me so strange an account of him, that I desired her I might see him the first opportunity, which she promised: and not long after passing that way she told me there was the Fairy-Boy but a little before I came by, and casting her eye into the street, said, look you Sir, yonder he is at play with those other Boys; and designing him to me, I went, and by smooth words and a piece of money got him to come into the house with me; where in the presence of divers people, I demanded of him several Astrological Questions, which he answered with great Subtility; and through all his discourse carryed it with a cunning much above his years, which seemed not to exceed ten, or

eleven.

He seemed to make a motion like drumming upon the Table with his Fingers, Upon which I ask'd him, whether he could beat a drum? To which he replied, yes Sir, as well as any man in

Scotland; for every Thursday Night, I beat all points to a sort of people that use to meet under yonder Hill (pointing to the great Hill between Edinburgh and Leith ' how Boy quoth I? What company have you there? There are, Sir, (said he) a great company both of men and women, and they

are entertained with many sorts of Musick besides my drum; they have be- sides plenty of variety of Meats and Wine, and many times we are carried into France, or Holland in a night, and

return again, and whilst we are there, we enjoy all the pleasures the Country doth afford. I demanded of him, how they got under that Hill? To which he replied, that there were a great pair of Gates that opened to them, though they were invisible to others, and that within there were brave large rooms, as well accommodated as most in Scotland. I then asked him, how I should know what he said to be true? Upon which he told me he would read my fortune, saying, I should have two wives, and that he saw the forms of them sitting on my shoulders, that both would be very handsome Women; as he was thus speaking, a woman of the neighbourhood coming into the room demanded of him what her fortune should be? He told her that she had two Bastards before she was married; which put her in such a rage that she desired not to hear the rest.

The woman of the House told me that all the People in Scotland could not keep him from the Rendesvous on Thursday night; upon which by promising him some more money, I got a promise of him to meet me at the same place, in the afternoon the Thursday following, and so dismissed him at that for the Integrity of the relation, I say thus much, that I have heard him very solemnly affirm the truth of what is here related. time. The Boy came again at the place and time appointed, and I had prevailed with some friends to continue with me

(if possible) to prevent his moving that night; he was placed between us, and answered many questions, without offering to go from us, until about eleven of the clock he was got away, unperceived of the Company; but I suddenly missing him, hasted to the door, and took hold of him, and so returned him into the same room; we all watched him, and on a sudden he was again got out of the doors, I followed him close, and he made a noise in the street as if he had been set upon; but from that time I could never see him.
George Burton.

This Gentleman is so well known to many worthy Persons, Merchants and others upon the Exchange in London, that there can be no need of my justifying I will only related: Neither do I find any thing in it, more then hath been reported (by very unquestionable Pens) to the same purpose. What this manner of Transaction was, which the boy spoke of, whether it were corporeal, or in a dream only, I shall not dispute, but I think there be some relations of this kind that prove it may be either way, and therefore that I leave to the reader to determine. But the Captain hath told me that at that time he had a virtuous and a handsome wife, who being dead, he thinks himself in election of another such. That too of the Woman having had two Children, happened to be very true, though hardly any of the neighbours knew it in that place. His getting away in that manner was somewhat strange, considering how they had planted him, and that besides he had the Temptation of wine and money, to have detained him; Argu-

ments very powerful with lads of his Age, and fortune,

The Fourth Relation

Giving an account of the Demon of Spraiton in the County of Devon, Anno 1682.

A Relation which was published in the year 1683, concerning the Daemon, or Daemons of Spraiton, was the extract of a letter from T. C. Esquire, a near neighbour to the place; and though it needed little confirmation further then the credit that the Learning and Quality of that Gentleman had stampt upon it, yet was much of it likewise known to, and related by, the Reverend Minister of Barnstable, of the vicinity to Spraiton. Having likewise since had fresh Testimonials of the veracity of that Relation; and it being at first designed to fill this place; I have thought it not amiss (for the strangeness of it) to print it here a Second time, exactly as I had transcribed it then. About the month of November in the year 1682, in the Parish of Spraiton, in the County of Devon, one Francis Fey (Servant to Mr. Philip Furze) being in a Field near the dwelling house of his said Master, there appeared unto him the resemblance of an Aged Gentleman, like his masters Father, with a Pole or Staff in his hand, resembling that he was wont to carry when living, to kill the moles withal. The spectrum approached near the young man, whom you may imagine not a little surprized at the appearance of one that he knew to be dead; but the spectrum bid him not be afraid of him, but tell his Master (who was his Son) that several Legacies which by his Testament he had bequeathed were unpaid, naming Ten Shillings to one and Ten Shillings to another, both which persons he named to the young man, who replyed, that the party he last named was dead, and so it could not be paid to him; The Ghost answered, He knew that, but it must be paid to the next Relation, whom he also named. The spectrum likewise ordered him to carry Twenty Shillings to a Gentlewoman, Sister to the deceased, living near Totness in the said County, and promised if these things were performed to trouble him no further; but at the same time the spectrum speaking of his second wife, (who was also dead) called her a wicked woman; though the Gentleman who writ the letter knew her, and esteemed her a very good woman: And (having thus related him his mind) the spectrum left the young man; who according to the direction of the Spirit took care to see the small Legacies furnished, and carryed the Twenty Shillings that was appointed to be paid the Gentlewoman near Totness, but she ut- terly refused to receive it; being

sent her (as she said) from the Devil.
The same night the young man, lodg- ing at her house, the aforesaid spectrum appeared to him again; whereupon the young man challenged his promise, not to trouble him any more, saying, he had performed all according to his appointment, but that the Gentlewoman, his Sister, would not receive the Money. To which the spectrum replied, that was true indeed; but withal directed the young man to ride to Totness, and buy for her a Ring of that value, which the Spirit said she would accept of; which being provided accordingly, she received. Since the performance of which, the Ghost or Apparition of the old Gentleman hath seemed to be at rest, having never given the young man any further trouble.

But the next day after having delivered the ring, the young man was riding home to his Masters house, accompanyed by a Servant of the Gentlewoman near Totness, and near about the time of their entrance (or a little before they came) into the Parish of Spraiton aforesaid, there appeared to be upon the Horse behind the young man, the resemblance of the second wife of the old Gentleman, spoken of before. This Daemon often threw the young man off his horse, and cast him with such violence to the ground, as was great astonishment, not only to the Gentlewomans Servant (with him) but to divers others, who were spectators of the frightful action, the ground resounding with great noise, by reason of the incredible force, with which he was cast upon it. At his coming into his Masters yard, the Horse which he rid, though very poor, and out of case, leaped at one spring 25 foot, to the amazement of all that saw it. Soon after the She-spectre shewed her self to divers in the house (viz.) The aforesaid young man, Mistress Thomasin Gidley, Ann Langdon born in that Parish, and a little Child, which by reason of the troublesomeness of the Spirit, they were fain to remove from that house. She appeared sometimes in her own shape, sometimes in forms very horrid, now and then like a monstrous Dog belching out fire, at another time it flew out at the window, in the shape of a Horse; carrying with it only one pane of glass, and a small piece of Iron.

One time the young mans head was thrust into a very strait place, betwixt a Beds head, and a Wall, and forced by the strength of divers men to be removed thence, and that not without being much hurt, and bruised, so that much

blood appeared about it: upon this, it was advised he should be bleeded, to prevent any accident that might come of the bruise; after bleeding, the ligature, or binder of his Arm was removed from thence, and conveyed about his middle, where it was strained with such violence, that the girding had almost stopp'd his breath, and killed him, and being cut asunder, it made a strange and dismal noise, so that the standers by were affrighted at ir. At divers other times he hath been in danger to be strangled with Cravats, and Handkerchiefs, that he hath worn about his Neck, which have been drawn so close, that with the sudden violence he hath near been choaked, and hardly escaped death, the

The Spectre hath shewed great offence at the Perriwigs which the young man used to wear, for they are often torn from his head after a very strange manner, one, that he esteemed above the rest, he put in a small box, and that box he placed in another, which he set against the wall of his Chamber, placing a Joint-stool, with other weight, a top of it; but in short time the boxes were broken in sunder, and the Perriwig rended into many small parts and catters: Another time, lying in his Masters Chamber, with his Perriwig - on his Head, to secure it from danger, within a little time it was torn from him, and reduced into very small fragments. At another time one of his Shoe-strings was observed (without the assistance of any hand) to come of its own accord out of his Shoe, and fling itself to the other side of the Room; the other was crawling after it,. but a Maid espying that, with her hand drew

it out, and it strangely clasped, and curled about her hand like a living Eel, or Serpent; this is testified by a Lady of considerable Quality, too great tor exception, who was an Eye-witness, The same Lady shewed Mr. C. one of the young mans. Gloves, which was torn It is so dexterously tatter'd, and so artificially torn, that it is conceived a Cut- ler could not have contrived an Instrument to have laid it abroad so accurately, and all this done in the pocket in the compass of one minute.

It is farther observable, that if the aforesaid young man, or another person, who is a Servant Maid in the house, do wear their own Clothes; they are certainly torn in pieces on their backs, but if the Clothes belong to any other, they are not injured after that manner.

Many other strange and fantastical freaks have been done by the said Daemon or Spirit, in the view of divers persons: a Barrel of Salt of considerable quantity, hath been observed to march from room to room without any human assistance.

An hand-iron hath seemed to lay it self cross overthwart a pan of Milk that hath been scalding over the fire; and two flitches of Bacon have of their own accord descended from the Chimney, where they were hung, and pla- ced themselves upon the hand-iron.

When the Spectre appears in resemblance of her own person, she seems to be habited in the same cloaths, and dress, which the Gentlewoman of the house (her Daughter-in-Lay) hath on at the same time. Divers times the feet and legs of the young man aforesaid have been to intangled about his Neck, that he hath been locked with great difficulty: sometimes they have been so twisted about the frames of Chairs, and Stools, that they have hardly been set at liberty. But one of the most considerable instances of the malice of the Spirit against the young man, happened on Easter Eve, when Mr. C. the Relator, was passing by the door of the house, and it was

thus.

When the young man was returning from his Labour, he was taken up by the skirt of his doublet, by this Female Demon, and carried a heighth into the Air: He was soon missed by his Master, and some other Servants that had been at labour with him; and after diligent enquiry, no news could be heard of him, until at: length (near half an hour after) he: was heard /inging, and whistling in a bog, or Quagmire, where they found him in a kind of Trance, or extatick, fit, to which he hath sometimes been accustomed, (but whether before the Affiction he met with To Tits this Spirir, T am not certain) he was affected much after such sort, as at the time of those Firs; so that the people did not give that attention, and regard to what he said, as at other times; but when he returned again to himself (which was about an hour after) he solemnly protested ro them, that the Dae- mon had carried him so high, that his Masters house seemed to him to be but as a Hay-cock.; and that during all that time, he was in perfect sense, and prayed to Almighty God not to suffer the Devil to destroy him: and that he was suddenly set down in that Quagmire.

The Workmen found one Shoe on one side of his Masters house, and the other on the other side, and in the morning espied his Perriwig hanging on the top of a Tree: by which it appears he had been carried a considerable heighth, and that what he told them was not a Fiction.

After this, it was observed, that part of the young mans Body, which had been on the mud in the Quagmire, was somewhat benummed, and. teemingly deader than the other; whereupon the following Saturday, which was the day before Low-sunday, he was car- ried to Creditor, alias Kirton, to be views Ca,

ded, which being done accordingly, and the Company having left him tor some little space; at their return they found him in one of his Fits, with his fore-head much bruised, and swoln to I great bigness, none being able to guels how it happened, until his recovery from that Fir; When, upon enquiry, he gave thein this account of it; That a Bird had with great swiftness, and force flown in at the Window, with a stone inits beak, which it had dashed against his forehead, which had occasioned the swelling which they saw, The people much wondering at the strangeness of the Accident, diligently sought the stone, and under the place where he sat, they found not such a stone as they expect ed,.but a weizht of Brass or Copper, . which it seems the Demon had made use of on thar occasion, to give the poor young man that hurt in his fore-head. The persons present were at the trouble to break it in pieces, every one taking a part, and preserving it in memory of 9 strange an Accident. After this, the *pirit continued to molelt the youns man in 2 very severe 'and rugged manner, often handling him with great ex- tremity; and whether it hath yet left its violences to him, or whether the young man be yet alive, I can have no certain account. I leave the Reader to & consider of the extraordinary strangeness of the Relation.

Advertisement, first of these Apparitions seems to be like that of Mistress Bretton, mentioned in Ar. Glanvills sixteenth t elation, it came not in a tempestuous boisterous way, nor upon an Errand of Uncharitableness, but to see the will of the Defunct performed, only it left a black Character of the second Wife, by which, it seems as if there had not been the best accord between them.

The Female Ghost comes with a great deal of violence, and an impetuous Temper, as if disgusted for the performance of what the other Spectre enjoined, and this seems the more probable, if we consider how quickly (he gets behind the young man, after he had answered the desires of the ot her G host; she permits him not to go home in quiet, but seizes him as soon as he cones within the verge of the Farish: by which it looks as if these Spirits were tyca to

some limits, or bounds, that they cannot pass. This Spettrum hath assumed all the shapes, a&ions, and ways of operation that we shall find among many, and that. snatching the young man up in the Air, such an AFtion as is rarely to be met withal (after such a manzer) unle([s where In- fernal Spirits have immediately atted, The whole Narrative of that She-Damon abound: with a great deal of Mabe, and a great muny ludicrous passages; but deubtless (were it not for the restrain power of the Almighty) the Comical part would soon end in dreadful Tragedy.

The Fifth Relation

Being an account of a strange piece of Witchcraft on the body of the Wife of J.H. of Seavington, in the County of Somerset, and upon her Son, about 18 years of Age.

The Woman had been the Wife of a Vicar belonging to the Quire of Winchester, and had been very honestly and well educated,and lived in good reputation with her first husband, and during.the time of her Widow-hood, when she taught a School of Girles in Winchester, which practice the continud in the Country when the Wife of 7.H.And lived with him in modest and virtuous manner: She was then about '7,Years of Age,and had with her a Son her former husband aged about 17. Years or upward. There livedin the vilze at a house over against this School- \istrels, a woman that had been o X

evil fame among the neighbours, and uspeted of divers ill practices. -The firlt apprehension that the had of any danger from the suspected party, was upoa this occasion; the suspected agent came to the house of the School-Mis- tres, and asked her to lend her a piece of small changing money, whici® the refused to do; whereupon the other told her that she kneiy ihe had such a piece about her, and it should be better if she had lent it to her, so the de- parted from the house mntteting: In the evening the patient stanaing ar the door of her house, saw a monstrous creat Toad walking upon all four like a Car, and coming from the hou of the supposed, dire&ly towards her; upon which she retired into the house, and desired her husband to ger some

Instrament, wherewichal to dispatch that monstrous verminz as he was coming towards the door, he met with It in the entry, and before he had the power to strike at it, it rutht sudden: ly into another room, and was neve: een afterwards. That very night ths School-Mistriss was taken in a mot: Tormenting Fit (though before she with violent prickings and pains, as if had still been a brisk healthy woman; her inside had been stuck with pins, needles or thorns, insomuch that witch the great Tortures of her body, abundance of blood ufed to come from her in her Urine, which was very observable the first night. These Fits scized on her very frequently, sometimes twice or thrice in one day, somerimes whole days together: And i: was very observable, that just before the coming of her fit, there would come into the Room a vast large Car, after that another, and so till the number were seven, or nine; these would crawl about, and stick againit the walls, making a dreadful yelling, hideous noise, and after they had continued about a quarter of an hour, they would

suddenly disappear, when they were gone 4 mighty great light, like a flash of lightning, would strike in at the wincoi, and hang about the walls in heaps of light like fire, and pass from one room into another, for an hour or more ata time, and sometimes continued - all the night long, shining through the Windows into the Streer, and vilible to the Neighbours; all the while this light continued, she was in the highest extremity of Misery, and would often cry out, naming the. su{pected peed party, this continued upon her for the space of about 17 years, for-it came first, when the was about the age of 40 years; and it had reduced a trait well proportioned body to a very crooked deformity. The Physicians were all of opinion that the inxer parts of her body were wounded by some Diabolical Art, and ordered her to remove her Habitation, which she Wid into a House thereby; but it proved to no purpose, for the evil Instrument followed her there also, and of many young Broeds of Chickens, which the attempted to nurse up for many years, she could not raise one; but they would uddenly turn round, twisting their Necks several times about, until they dropt down dead.

She hept two Cats of her own, for which se had a great fancy; but it is very observavle, that as soon as the other sort of Cats entered the room, they would fly as if hey were Devil-arove, sometimes into the Fire, sometimes the Oven, sometimes up the Chimny, or any way t0 avoid theroom, whilst the rest were there, nor could they ever be brought to enjoy themselves after, but starved, and pind away after 4 piteons manner. A little time after her removing to the second Thoase, her Son came from Winchester, about the Age above specified, he was a strong, and healthful youth for his years; but ha#® not been there above two or' three months, before he was taken after a most dreadful manner, in ravipg, and frantick Fits, so that five or six men could not hold him, he would spring out of their hands, and: leap up with his head against the Ceiling, sometimes he would catch up a Knife, Pen-knife, or Razor, and therewith endeavour to cut his own Throat, or do himself some other mischief, roaring out in most frightful manner, That the suspetted was by him, and commanded him to do it, or else she would sirangle him, or choke him with pins, or such like - So that they very diligently sought up, and laid aside Knives, Scizers, Razors, or whatsoever else might prove Uangerous to him on such Occasions: Notwithstanding which, C and though they had cleared his Pocket of such Weapons, at the coming of his Fit) they thould see and find in his Hands, and his Pockets, divers of those mischievous Instruments they had just before laid attde. After these Fits, he would cast out of his mouth Pins, and Needles, in great abundance, and with extream weakness be forced to keep his Bed {several w_

One day as the youhg man was in the Weight of one of his Fits, his Mother saw the sulpeted Party scrambling against the wal! of the room, and immediately called out to her Husband, Fohn, John ! There is the Witch (naming of the Party) run her through with your Sword, por nhich Le darted hes Sword at the place she airecied bim, and his Wite cryed our, you have cut the Witch, John, you have cut her hand, (naming the hand which . the observed to be hurt) and it was oberyed that Party had a lame hand for a considerable time after. This afflicted Woman would. often repair to the Church, but if the Malevolent were there, she had not the power to enter, but could continue 1in the Porch, or at the Window. The Son continued in those amazing Fits for about five years; and then ran away in oneof them, and hath neither been seen, nor heard of since. The Mother continued in that Jlanguishing state for aboue seventeen years, and tnen died of pain and grief but died very sensible, having the use of

a good reason, and vigorous Faculties to the lalt. She was of Opinion that others, beside the suspected Party, con- tributed to her misery; as for the supposed Malevolent, she lived abuut five years after the Attticted. AdIVPWp__:@ Aw e iam ww nk. OA ta aca. ci

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Withcraft, the Neighbours tov were both Ear, and Eye-witnesses of what is here related; which I had both from the mouth of the Hucband himself, and from divers of g00d reputation, who were often with the Mother and Son in the House, when all that ts here related, hath occurred.

"C3 "p O —— head

The Sixth Relation

Giving an Account of the Raising the Devil by the Falconer, at Sir J.F.'s near Sherborne, in Dorsetshire.

I had an Account of this Passage from my worthy Friend, Dr. B. who had made good enquiry into the certainty of it; and though it carry along with it an Air, perhaps, of too. much levity for this discourse; yet those who rightly consider it, will find cause to believe there 15somewhit in it that deserves a more lerious, and considerate reflection. There was in this Gentlemans House 2 Huntiman, and a Falconer, as is usual with Persons of such Quality; but it is pretty difficult to determine, whether the Elements, which nurst up racir refpettive Game, or the complex1o N, and humour of the Persons,was most cifterent: One of them, viz. the Huntsman, was a Fellow much devoted to a glass of Liquour, as is usual with men of his Function; and therefore when he once laid down his Head upon his

Pillow, found himself very unfit for any other Contemplations, then what his fleep presented him withal. The Falconer, on the contrary, was of a

Temper more Considerate, and very fond of a Book by night, because he seldom found the other, who: was his Bedfellow,. in a humour to discourse: and therefore would often mind him of the tendency of his drunken Courses, and to bethink himself sometimes of lying down soberly, lest it might hap, pen he should never' awake more in this world: The Morals wrought little on the stupidity of the Huntsman; who answered himonly *with reflecti-

'on, assuring him that Falconers nfed to look upwards, and blaspheme, when the Huntsman looked downwards, and therefore minded him to regard his own state. In some such sort of discourse they had passed the night, till the Huntiman composed himielf to sleep; the Falconer betook himself to a certain Book he had got out of the Chaplains Chamber, who used to lend

' him one at times, to incourage him in reading: It happened to be of. the wrong sort for the poor Falconer; for he had not read much in it, before he faw something come to the side of the Bed, which he could have wisht farther off. The frightful Goblin brought to his remembrance what the Huntsman had charged him withal, viz. looking upwards, and Blaspheming, so that he in- deavoured to get some speech of the Huntsman in this extremity, and by much jogging, and importunity, at last revvailed with him to understand what troublesome company he- had in the Room with him; but all he could get ] of his drousy Companion, was ' only this: "Good Devil, do not mistake, for that is the Falconer;" and so turned him about to sleep again; which put the poor

Falconer into a deeper Consternation; ell at, length he had the Courage to call to some of the Neighbour Lodgers, among(t whom, the Chaplain, be- ing awake, came to his relief; and it is thought in very good season, for the Company he had unadvisedly raised, began to be very Troublesome. In fine, he so discharged the unwelcome Guest, and advised the Falco- ner hereafter to peruse la Books, but what he did in part understand before.

Divers People, by perusing unlawful Studies, have put themselves: in the power of Evil Spirits. And. though some may look. on this Relation but as a jest, upon inquiry +zt will be found a real Truth.

The Seventh Relation

An Account of a strange and horrid Spectre seen by Mr. Edmund Ansty, of South Petherton, in the County of Somerset.

About four years since, being in the House of Mr. Josias Ansty, at the place aforesaid, Mr. Edmond Ansty,who was a very Reverend Old Man, upward of fourscore,. I take it, neax a hundred years of Age, and had always been a temperate and sober Liver, gave me this Relation, That when he was a Shopkeeper in that place, about. sixty K 4: years from the time of his relating it to me, he used to frequent several Fairs for the furnishing his Shop with such goods as he had occasion for; he had at that time been at a Fair, very well known in the West Country by the name of Woodvery-Hill Fair; and having bestowed such moneys as he thought convenient for his occasions, he resolved to return home that night, though the Journey was so long; that another person would hardly have undertook it; but having a good Horse,

and no worse resolution, he ser forward on his return, but was overtaken by a dark.night, when he was about a dozen miles from home; however, being pretty secure of the way, he resolved to pursue it; till at length com- ing toa place not far from Yeovil, noted by th name of Cur-hedge, his Horse rushed very violently with him against one side of the Bank, snorting and trembling very much,so that he could by

.no means pur him onhis way,but he still pressed nearer tothe Bushes: Ar length Mr. Ansty heard the Hedges crack with a dismal noise, and perteived coming towards him in the Road, which is there pretty wide, a large of a very large Wheel, and in it he perfectly saw the proportion of a huge Bear, as if it had been by day-light; "It passed near b Y him, and as it,.came just over against the place whef E he was, the horrid Monster looked very ghastfully at him, shewing a pair of very large flaming Eyes. As-soon as ever it was gone by, his Horse sprung into the Road, and made homeward with so much hast, that he could not possibly rein him in, and had much ado to: keep the Saddle.

The old Gentleman is lately dead, but there are many of the Neighbours of good reputation, that have often heard: him relate this passage, and upon en+ quiry-cart witness the Truth of it.

The Eighth Relation

Of divers strange Appearances of Spirits in a Nobleman's House in the West.

About the year 1667, being with some Persons of Honour at the House of a Nobleman in the West Country, which had formerly been a Nunnery: I must confess I had often heard the Servants, and others that inhabited, or lodged there, speak much of the noises, stirs, and Apparitions that frequently disturbed the House, but had at that time no apprehensions of it; for the House being full of Strangers, the Noblemans Steward, Mr. C. lay with me in a fine Wainscot Room, called my Ladies Chamber we went to our Lodging pretty early and having a good fire in the Room, we spent some time in reading, in which he much delighted: then having pt into Bed, and put out the Candles, we observed the Room to ”y 07 a Aut — PR —- — CY — EY ——_— LIL Bron a. + ds AA. rn Nt Sdoox®. anrdewed. owl. Leandro

so that a Wager was laid between us, that it was possible to read written hand by that. light upon the Bed where we lay 3 accordingly I drew out of my Pocket a Manuscript, which he read distindtly in the place where he lay: We had scarce made an end of discoursing about that affair, when 1/aw (my face being towards the door, which was lockt) entring into the Room, through the door, five Appearances of very fine and lovely Women, they were of excellent st a-

ture, and their dresses seemed very fine, but cqverea all but their faces, with thin, white Vails: whose skirts trailed largely on the floor. They entered in a file one after the other, and in that posture walked round the Room, till the foremost came, and stood by that side of the Bed where I lay, (with my left hand aver the side of the Bed for my head rested on that arm, and I determined not, to alter the posture I

was in) she struck me upon that hand with a blow that felt wery soft, but I did ne- et remember whether it were cold or hot. I demanded in the name of the

Blessed. Trinity what business they had there, but received no answer; then TL poke to Mr. C. Sir, do you see what fair Guests we have come to visit us?;: Upon:.

light, by the brightness of the Moon, Upon which they all disappeared: ] found him in some kind of Agony, and was forced to grasp him on the breast with my right hand (which was next:im underneath the Beg-cloaths) before I could obtain speech of him; then he told me that he had seen the fair Guests I spoke of, and had heard me speak to thera; but withal said, that he was not able to speak fooner unto me, being extreamly affrighted at the sight of a dreadful Monster, which assuming a shape betwixt that of a Lyon, and a Bear, attempted; to come upon the Beds foot. I told him, I thanked God nothing so frightful had presented: itself ro: me 3 but] hoped (through his affistance) not to dread the Ambages of Hell. It wa a 1ong time before I could compose him to sleep, and though he had many disturbances in his own: Room, and understood of others in the House, yet he acknowledged he had'never been so terrify'd, during many years abode there. 4 The next day at Dinner he shewed to divers Persons of Principal Quality, the mark that had been. occasioned on] his Breast by the gripe I was forced to] give bim, to get him to speak, me rel te

The next, night therefore I ordered a Bible, and another Book to be laid in the Room, and refolved to spend my time by the fire in reading, and contemplation, till-I found myself inclin'd to sleep;and' accordingly having taken leave of the Family at the usyal hour, I address'd my felf ro what-1 had proposed, not” going into- Bed till past one in the morning: a little after I was got into Bed, F heard something walk about the Room,” like a Wqan with a Tabby Gown trailing about the Room; it made a mighty rushelling-

noise, but I could see nothing, though it wasmear as light as the night before it passed by the foot of the Bed, and 2 little opened the Curtains, and thence: went to a Closet door on that side, through which it found admittance, although it was close lockt; there it seemed to groan, and draw a great Chair- with its foot, in which it seemed to: fig, and turn over the leayes of a large Folio 3

Mr. C. be lately dea Folio; which you know make a loud clattering noise; so it continued in that posture, sometimes groaning, sometimes dragging the Chaix, and clattering the Book, till it was near day. After-

wards I lodged several times in the same Room, but never met with any Molestation.

This I can attest to be a true Account of what ow in that Room the two describe man: and though , who was a ver Ingenious Man, and affirmed the firs part unto many, with whom he was conversant: It remains that I appeal to the knowledge, of those who have been Inhabitants, or Lodgers in the said House, for what remains, to justify the Credibility os-Mmerett

The Ninth Relation

A Relation of the Apparition of Fairies, their seeming to keep a Fair, and what happened to a certain man that endeavoured to put himself in amongst them.

R Eng once the Eighteenth of Mr. Glanvils* Relations, p. 203. concerning an Irishman that had like to have been carried away by Spirits, and of the Banquet they had spread before them in the Fields, &c. it called to mind a passage I had often heard of Fairies, or Spirits, so called by the Country People, which shewed themselves in great Companies at divers times; at sometimes they would seem to dance, at other times to keep a eat Fair or Market: I made it my business to inquire amongst the Neighbours what Credit might be given to

that which was reported of them; and by many of the Neighbouring Inhabitants I had this Account confirmed. i + and \M between the Parishes of Pittminster,

Pedlars, * with all kind of Trinkets, - it might be some Fair for Che/tonford,

208 Ac Collettion of Relations. The place near which they most or- dinarily shewed themselves, was on the side of a Hill, named Black-down, and Chestonford, nor many miles from Tanton: Those that have had. occasion to Travel that way, have frequently seen them there, appearing like Men and Women of a stature; generally, near the smaller {size of Men.; their habits used to be of red, blew, or green, according to the old way of Country Garb, with high crown'd hats. One time about 50 years since, a person (living at Comb St. Nicholas; a-Parih lying on one side: of - that hill, near Chard) was riding towards his home that way; and saw just before him, on the side” of the- hill a: great company of People, that seemed to him like Country Folks, Aflembled, as at a Fair; there was-all sorts of Commodities to-his appearance, as at our ord nary Fairs; Pewterers, Shoe-makers,

Fruit, and drinking Booths; he could not remember any thing which he had usually seen at Fairs, but what he saw] there: It was once in his thought tha there: being-a considerable onear some time -of the year; but then again he considered that was Uot the season for it 3 he was under- very great suprize, and admired what the meaning of what he faw should be; at length it came into his mind what he had heard concerning

the Fairtes on the side of that hill: and it being near the Road he was to take, he resolved to ride in' amongst them, and see what they were; accordingly he put. on his Horse that ways and though he saw them perfectly all along as he came, yet when he was upon the place where all this had appeared to im, he could discern nothing at all,

only seemed to be crouded; and thrust, 25when one pasles throagh a throng of cgge=ry the rest became invisible to im, until he came at a little distance, and then it appeared to him again as at first. He found himself in pain, and so hasted home; where being arrived, a Lameness seized him all on one side, which continued on him as longas he lived, which was many years; for he was living.in Comb, and gave an Account-to any that inquired of this Acci- cident for more than twenty years af-

terward: and this Relation I had from 2 Person of kfiown Honour, who had it from the Man himself. There fl at a Gentlemans House named Comb (ik Farm, near the place before specified; tt both the Man, his Wife, and divers of i the Neighbours assured me that they had at many times seen this Fair-keeping Ly in the Summer time, asthey came from th - Tanton Market; but that they durst \ not adventure in amongst them, for yt that every one that had done fo, had received great damage by 1

Any Person that is of the Neighbour Inhabitants, receive ample arifigion, not only as to what is here related, but abundantly more which I have heard folemnly confirme b f th T y many of them.

if have now forgot, but they then lived Facredulows what is here related, may, upon inquiry

The Tenth Relation

An Account of two Spirits which appeared to two Servant Maids, in the House of Mrs. Aysh of South Petherton, Anno 1680.

A T South Pethertor, in the County of Somerset, lives a Gentlewoman (very well known to all the Neighbouring Gentry, not only for her Ancient Descent, but for her extraordinary Piety, and Gharity more Illustrious,) whom I cannot mention without an Honourable Respect, having often had the happiness to have been entertained with most obliging hospitality, both by the virtuous Mother, and her congenerous Issue.

It was on Midsummer day, in the year 1680. I happened to pay a visit to that worthy Family; and finding the Lady nd her Daughters at home, after passing common Civilities, the eldest of the Daughters, (whois a very Ingenious, and Accomplisht Lady) informed me that there had been the strangest * thing done in their Family the preceeding night, that ever was heard on, for their Servant Maids had raised the De- 0 vil, &c. and so went on to give ah thorowrelation of what you will hearsc;. by and by: only I think it best to let i the Maids themselves tell the Story, Wwhich after the-old Lady had called]... them into the Room, they did after this manner. One of them, I take ut, the if tallest, speaking inthe name of both. We had been told divers times, that nt if we fasted on Midsummer Eve, and ro then at 12 a Clock at night laid a cloath: onthe Table; with Bread, and Cheese, reg and a cup of the best Beer, setting ow þ;.selves down, as if we were going tot, I. - & leaving the doonof the Room open; we should see the Persons whom wes should afterwards Marry, come into the Room, and drink to us: Accordingly we kept a true Fast all the day yesterday, unknown to any of the Famty; and at night having disposed of my Mistresses to Bed, we fastened the stair, door of their Rooms, which came down: . Into the Hall, and locked all the doors} of: the Yard, and. whatever way befides led into the House, - except} the door. of the Kitchen, which was ' eft open to the- Yard- for the Sweethearts atling at the great Gate of the Yard, if it would have shook the House town, there was a jingling of Chains, I nd something seemed to prance about, he Yard like a Horse, which pur us in- "Iogreat terrour, and affrightment, fo 9 that we wisht we had never gone 40 p ar in it; but now we knew not how !Þ go back, and therefore kept the w ace where we were: my Masters go paniel (for the young Captain was p: hen alive) got against the door of the -y [ar foot, and there made so 'great a ! toife wich houling, and ratling the Poor, that we feared they might have iken notice of the disturbance but relently came a young man into the * Kitchen," (here one of the young Ladies fs terrupted her, saying, Housewife, it was

Je-; d TS ne [' Devil) to which the Maid replied, % Madam I do not believe that, but perhaps jr might be the Spirit of a Man,) and: - ma- making a bow to me, he took up the Glass, which was full of Don on the Table, and drank to. me, filling the Glass again, and setting it on the T+ble as before, then making another bow, went out of the Room. Immediately after which, anocher came in the same manner, and did the same to the other Maid { whom {he named, but ] have forgot) and then all was quiet, and after we had eaten some Bread and Cheese, we went to-Bed. So the Maid ended what she had to fay, and left the Room; but I must not forget that all this while the other Maid stood by her, and acknowledged all the had said to be true., Thenl T delired to know of the old Lady, how they came to understand this of the Maids, for I thought they did not care to have it divulged; upon which she replied, we saw in their fices the next morning something of an alteration, as if they had beer frighted, and my eldest Daughter going into a Room, where we use to aside cold Meat, saw part of an Apple-Pye, which was appointed for their Dinners the day before, to be there un roucht, and marking some other little Circumiances, began to be gs: ut until she had sifted out the business. The Ladies were very much troubled at what the Maids had done, and threatned to put them away upon it: but upon the intercession of Neigh-

bours, and their being penitent for what they had done, it was pasled by. It was not long after, before the tallest of the Maids was Married to him, which she said had appeared unto her, and as I remember, he was a Drummer in Sir Edward Philips's Regiment: but I fear that Weddings sought into by such unwarrantable means, can hardly expect a Blesling; I wish it may prove ottterwise for both their sakes.

The young Ladies after that, would (to mind the Maids of their indifcretion) call them the Spirits of Men.

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i] Have often been told of some that have fasted on Midsummer Eve, and then gone into the Church Porch, to see who should die in that Parish the subsequent year, and that the Spirits of such would (in the same order they were to die in) come one after another, and knock, at the Church door, I remember I was once told of one of these Watchers that fell fast asleep, so that none of the company could awaken her, during the time of which profound fleep, the likeness of that party appeared, and knocked at the Church door: and that afterwards, when foe awaked, she could give 20 atcount of any thing that had happened, ggply that she had been aflcep; until the u; the company acquainted her

2. Whether the Appearances here were the Spirits of the two young Men, who taking them Napping at that time of night, might make avisit to their Sweet-hearts; or whether they were not some Spirits of another nature, that assumed their ings, I must leave to the Learned to judge; I mist confess T am apt to believe the latter. Ir seems to me by the ratling of the Gere, the noise of the Chains, the prancing of the Horse, and the affrighting of the Spaniel, (which I knew, and he was a stout Dog,) I say upon all these Circumstances I should imagine that these Spirits were not of so gentiel, and smooth a Temper as they shewed themselves untothe Maids,

3. What Charm there can be ascribed I faf ins on Midsummer Eve, and the after-Ceremonies, more thew to the like abstinence at another time, is that which many doubt of: But why may there not be Magical Days and Seasons, as well as Planetary Hours ? The Devil ts called the Prince of Darkness, because he most familiarly shews himself in the depth of the moht, Conjurers, and Hagicians call upon him most in that Season; he hath an aversion to the light, as all evil Workers have.

Much discourse hath been about gathering of Fern-seed (which is looked upon a Magical Herb) on the night of Midsummer Eve, and I remember I was told of one that went to gather it, and the Spirits whisht by his Ears like Bullets, and sometimes s Fruck his Hat, arid other parts of his Boay: in fine, though he apprehen- L

ded that he had gotten a quantity of it, and secured it in Papers, and a Box besides, when he came home, he found all empty. But most probable this appointing of times, and hours, is of the Devils own institution, as well as the Fast, that haw1ng once ensnared people to an Obeatence ro his Rules, he may with more facility oblige them to a strifter V assallage,

The Eleventh Relation

An Account of the death of the most Eminent of a certain Family presaged by Rats eating the Hangings of a Room.

At Kitsford in Devonshire, which is now the Seat of Thomas Wood Esq; I very well remember, dining in the Parlour there, with the Lady, the Mother of the above-named Gentleman 3 she shewed me in the hangings of the Room, near one of the Windows, a great hole eaten, as supposed, by Rats; it was almost at the top of the Room; and this, she said, happened e but a few weeks before the death of her Husband. Some time after dining again in the same Room, there was another hole eaten just under the former 3 - which the Gentlewoman was . pleased to say, aid foreshew her death; and truly, in a very little time after, she died On a Sy:day morning, with- 2 OUC

out any previous sickness; being at that time drejling her self to go to Church, with intent to receive the Communion; and was to all appearance well in health, and dead, in halt an hours time.. About a year, or more after that, another ho'e was eaten in the same Hang- Ing, {ocnafter which died Roger Wood Esq; the Heir, and elder Brother to him that now 1njoys the Estate. He likewise died very suadenly, for having been out conrling a Hare in the morning, he came in about noonat his Bro- ther George Powell, Esquires, (where he then lodged) and leaning his hand to his head, complained that his Head aked, and died in a few hours.

I had a Relation of my own, who was a Silk-man, and had laid by a parcel of Ribbons, which he had {sold to a Merchant, for the Sea; after a day or tio, when they were to be sent away, there was above 3o yards of them torn out, eaten, and spoiled by Rats: Within a very short time after the Silk-man died as he was. returning from a Journey to London.

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Rats and Toads are both lookt upon as noxious Creatures, and therefore generally loathed by all feople, who generally have a Natural Antipathy against that sort of Vermin, unless it be Witches, and such, who are said to Cherish them - And why way there not be Magical Ani- mals, as well as Magical Plants ? But by

what kind of Instintt these Creatures should foreknow. of such events, or if they do not fore-know, npon what score they sbould after this manner fore-bode, and prognosticate such Catastrophies; ts a very hard matter ro determine, 1hey are gcnerally lookd, upon to be Ominous, so are Crows, Ravens, and Screech Owls, which generally resort to the Windows, or tops 'of.- Houses, where people are 4 d\ing; _and most usually the resort of them to Houses, and places, is attended with an answerable Fatality. Nor uit unusna! for people to haue presages of t.:eir approach into the other World, which per- haps may be the care and vigilance of some g00d Genius, by these notices to prepare us

for it,

The Twelfth Relation

An Account of one stripped of all his clothes after he was in Bed, and almost worried to death by Spirits.

I had occasion to make mention of a Noblemans House in the West of England, and to give two Relations of what passed there of my own knowledge: I shall now add another, known to the Lady, and all the Family; which is thus.

One night, as we were at Supper, one of the Ladies Footmen complained he was pained in his Head, where- upon he had orders to go to Bed, which he did some hours before the rest of the Family. His Lodging was A Collection of Relations. 223 was by the side of a fair Gallery, where there were several Alcoze., with Beds, for the Servants, and they were planted near Sir F's Lodging. When the Lady was disposed to go to her Chamber, the other Company waited on her up the Stairs (most of us lodging the same way) we passed into the foresaid Gallery, and when we came over against the Al-

• cove, where the Page was, we found

the door of it open, and out of it issued a steam, which by the light of the Candles appeared like a thicjs Fog: which occastoned some of us to look into the Room, where we aw the poor young Man lying speechless on the Bed, his Eyes were itaring very wide, and fixed on one side of. the Room, his Hands were clutched, his Hair erected, and his whole body in so violent a sweat, as if he had been in the Bagrio; all the Clothes of the Bed were flung, some in one part of the Room, and some in another, his very shirt was drawn off his Body, and cast into one {side of the Room; and it was near half an hour before he could recolle& himself, and gather breath, so as to Ss BY speak to us: At lenzth, having taken Conbwhat to recall his Spirits, he gave us this surprising account of what had past from the time he went to Bed, which we guessed to be about three hours. He told us that he lay about half an hour, endeavouring to compose himself to fleep, but could nor, hecause of the pain in his Head, that 2bout that time there came into the Room to him* two in the appearance of very beautiful young Women, whose presence enlightned the place, 25 if it had been day, though there was no Candle near it. That they endexvoured to come into the Bed to him, being one on the one side, the otizer on the other side thereof, which ie reitited with all the power he could, riking at them several times with his F:!ts, but could feel nothing but empty inadows; yet were they so strong, that they drew all the Bed-clothes off him, tough he endeavoured with all his iorce to hold them, that after that they had ripped him of his shirts and he had contested so long with them, that he concluded within himself. he thould die under their violencies, during all that time he had no power to ipeak, or call for aid; but was at _

teal reduced to that condition wherein we found him. Some were ordered to continue that night; and the next day he was bleeded. having been much bruised in the Conflict; however he had no sickness after it, nor do I hear that ever after he had any disturbance.. from them.

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Hts is perhaps one of the most stupendious accounts of this nature that have been heard of 5 I could say much more, only for the regard and Honour I oxuoht to bear to the Family, I dare not name them, unless I had their leave,but the thing is so well known to all that were in the hause at that time, which were more than thirty, and by them imparted to so many others, that it is beyond the skill of the greatest Caviller to contest it.

The Thirteenth Relation

A Relation of a Gentleman that was cruelly Murdered by Witches, who made his Image of Wax, and stuck pins therein, April 1678, whereby he was miserably tormented, and died the Summer following.

In the West of Scotland, an Honourable Gentleman, Sir George Maxwell of Pollock, was taken with a grievous distemper, which by the vehemency of the Pain, hindred him from taking any rest, attended with continual sweating, through the vehemency of the Agony. His Pain resembled that which is caused by Punction, as if he had so many Pins stuck in his side, but more vehement than a Pain excited by that can be conceived to be. Several Physicians were imployed to search into the Cause thereof, but none could find it out; nor could procure him ease by any Remedies: so that he lay in a comfortless Condition, expecting nothing, but to be racked with insupportable Tortures, till that long'd for Remedy, Death, should come. While he lay in this miserable Torment, it happened that a Woman (then pretending to be dumb) entred his House and pointing to the Chamber where he was lying, made signs to those that were at that time in his House, to follow her out of doors; they at first took no notice of her; but she persisting therein, they went out with her, to see if they could understand her meaning. She led them into a House adjacent (a Tenant of this distressed Gentleman's) and having entred the House, she gave signs to them to open a Chest there; whereupon they desired the Woman of the House to open the Chest, that they might satisfie their Curiosity in so far humouring her. The Woman conscious of her own Guilt, refused; whereupon they beginning to suspect there was more then ordinary in it, that made her so averse from it, broke it open, which when they had done, they found therein an Image of Wax, which they took out, and found a great many Pins stuck in the same side of it, the Gentlemans Pain held him in his. They took out the Pins, and afterwards returning to the House, they asked the Gentleman how he found himself; who answered that he was altogether eased of his pain, and in a very good condition. Then they took the Pins, and stuck in the other side of the Image, when immediately. the Gentleman cryed out of a pain that: had seized him on his other side, as vehement. as. the former was. They. took them out again, and he was eased as formerly. The Witch was had before a Justice, but I never heard that she was further troubled, whether for that was nat

sufficient proof in Law to take away her life,or for some other reason] know nor. The pretended dumb Woman was afterwards seized,. and imprisoned at: Glasgow, where {he pretended to recgver the use of -her Tongue, and spoke, whereas before she seemed to be dumb. Several strange things were reported of her there; which being variously reported, I would not troublethe Reader with a Relation thereof; mentio- ning nothing herein but what I know to be of undoubted truth, and what was acknowtedged by all. After she had been kept there tor two or three weeks, she was transported to Edinburgh, and put in the Cannon-gate Pri- son, where she remained above half a year. She was several times had before the Council, and examined. A great many Persons out of Curiosity visited her, some of whom had better kept away; for if they were guilty of Love Intrigues, she used sufficiently to expose them, sparing neither Quality nor Sex. When any questioned how she came by that Knowledge, and charged her with having correspondence with the Devil, she made answer in the words of our Saviour 3 If Satan caff eut Satan, how can his Kingdom stand? Denying that she had any Compat with the Devil, but affirming that it was a gift she had from her Birth. She was set at liberty, after having been a considerable time in Prison. But the-

Gentleman after her seizure, was taken with the same distemper, and died thereof. ©,

The Fourteenth Relation

An Account of a Person that by carrying of a Girdle from one Witch to another, was reduced to Madness.

Ear the River of Tweed in Scot- land, a Woman suspected to be af a Witch, had a Child very fick, and a2 seeing she could not help it by lawful act means, she had her address to her Dia- C It bolical Art; this way she could not Me free her Child, unless she laid either hn] the same Disease, or a worse-upon anothe ther Person, otherwise she must have ell thwarted the interest of her Infernal ied Master, which was not in her Power, if ' it had been her inclination, as undoubtedly it was not, to effect: She, hearing that a Scrivener was going two or three miles to a place where she had an Acquaintance, who served the same Ma- ster with her self, to wit, the Prince of Darkness, went to him,. and desired him to carry a Girdle to her. Her delien sign in Fencing it by him was, that her Child might be cured of its Distemper, and the same or a worse laid on this innocent Person. Whether she had any Malice against him, I could not be informed; but I rather incline to think that it was only in Obedience -to her Masters Command. He took the Girdle from her, and when he came to the place, went, and delivered it to the Party. The Woman at the delivery of it,

having never had any prejudice against the Bearer, was really troubled that he should have been imployed therein, knowing how much it would tend to his hurt, and asked him if her Friend could find no other Person to impose this trouble upon, but him,to carry it, not daring to tell him the danger he had thereby involved himself in, lest she should bring her self into a greater, by being discovered, only pretending that her Friend was very uncivil in troubling a Person of his Quality with any such thing. He answered her, that there was no indiscretion in it, adding withal, that it was his utmost desire to be serviceable to any Person, without respect to their Quality, to the utmost of his Power. The Woman entertained him with several Discourses, and ” WY a _ iv. _ Aw&7 _ F OT HT EI” YI Y -— a_R_ tl. ci frown fro ft seemed very Courteous to him; and at parting she desired him to have a special care that he did not sleep till he got home, telling him that he would be strongly inclined te sleep, and withal

certifying him that if he slept any where by the way, he would have cause to repent it while he lived. He promised to take care to prevent it, beginning then to be somewhat afraid, recalling to mind that the Person he had the Girdle from, was under the Bruit of a Witch. As he was going homewards, he found himself mightily aflailed by fleep, andhe strove as much against it as was possible; but when he was come within lefs then a quarter of a Mile of his own House. it so prevailed upon him, that he could go no further, but laid himself down upon the Grass to sleep. When he awaked again, he was raging Mad, and continued so for a long time after without respite, and during his life he was Mad in the three hot Months in Summer, and at the Full of the Moon. His Son also, who was born a considerable time after this, was Heir to the same Distemper, and for ought I know is still alive, and hath the same Fitsat the usual times 3 as allo a Daughter of the Sons. BY

This Story I have from sure hands, who have heard the Father relate it when he was in his right Wits, as he used to be for the most part, save at the times above mentioned. The Son I have spoke with several times, and / have (een him run up and dowa in his, mad Fits.

The Fifteenth Relation

A strange Apparition, which was seen by a Man, as he was going home two Miles in a Winter night, near Kinneil by the River of Forth in Scotland.

A Certain Man whom I know, a little before Christmas, several years ago, went in the morning from his dwelling House, to a Sea-Port Town about two Miles distant: And having several urgent businesses there, he took up the whole day in dispatching them, and was necessitated to stay still near eight of the Clock at night. At which time he set forth, being no wise in drink; nor was he at all of a Timorous Nature. He had no Company with him, and walkt on in his Journey without seeing any thing frightful, or so much as thinking on any such. When he was come to the top of a Hill, which was half way home, he of a sudden saw the Appearance of four Men carrying a Dead Corps on their Shoulders, unattended by any; which made him easily conjecture what it was; besides, that it isnot usual in that place to bury any inthe night time, except it be Persons of the greatest Quality. This

Apparition ye must needs think,. did startle him a little, there being no.

Houses near him it being a wild place. He thought to thun it by going out of the High-way- into some by-road; which when he did, he found himself nothing advantaged thereby; for in the very time that he was tarning himself about,. it was transported from the High-way, and walkt dire G&ly before him, keeping the same distance as before; which- when he observed, he returned into the High-road again, This he attempted.to:do:several times but was served after the same manner

as formerly; whereupon he: resolved. to keep straight on in his way, without. turning either to the right hand or the. left, praying to God tg. preserve himtrom the Devil, or any of his Emissa- ries. The Spectre kept a little before

him, observing always the same distance; so that if he walkt slow, it likewise flackned its pace, and if he hastened his steps, it likewise moved quicker. He followed it on this wh till at last it came to a little Stone- Bridge that was over a Brook, about a quarter of a'Mile from his House the Brook was narrow, but not so narrow, less that a Man could jump over it; the water in the Winter time would strike

a Man above the riddle. The four Ghosts that carried, this dead Corps, when they were come to this place, laid the Coffin across the Bridge; so that the Man could not go over upon the Bridge, unless he stept over the Coffin. The Man when he came up was at a stand, not knowing what to do in this case 3 to wade through the Brook he had no great mind, inregard the season was then cold. To go

over the Bridge, and so step over it, he .. durst not, not knowing, if he should have hazarded foto do, what power it

might have over him to do him mis- chief. While he was thus musing, he ' bethought himself of one Expedient, which if he could effect, he thought he

might safely go over the Bridge without receiving any hurt: It was this; he designed to try if he could prize it off the Bridge into- the water with his Cane, for he durst not adventure to touch it with his hands: But when he went about it, and prized it with all his strength, he found it remained unmoveable asa Rock; yet he continued o doing a considerable time, till at last he broke his Cane. Afterwards, seeing no possibility of getting over the Bridge, he was necessitated to go through the water, notwithstanding the coldness of the Season. When he was got on the other side, he saw the four Ghosts takeup the Cofhn again on] their Shoulders, and carry it off thes High-way, he viewed them till they], carried it over a little Eminence (af, piece of ground higher then the rest, resembling a Hill, but not so high) but after that saw it no more. Afterward he went home to his House, and as soon as he saw the light of the Candle that j was burning in the House, he imme, diately fell down - upon the ground], (Which they fay is usual to Persons that are frightened with Apparitions.) Hi, Wite and Servants seeing what befe him, instantly took him up, brought him to life again, and asked him what might be the Cause thereof; he told them that he knew of no Cause, sing he found himself very well in his Health all the day before, unless i were an Apparition he saw by the wa as he came home, rehearsing the storys is above related. Ad

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His Story I have heard related by several Persons of good Repute, that lived in the same Town with him, who had it from his own mouth. The Man I have several times seen, but never had occasion, that I remember of, to be in his tl Company, at least at that time when he related the above-mentioned Story,

Let no man therefore doubt of Intelligencies in the world, besides what are hud- led up in garments of Clay: We see Agen- cies above the reach of our comprehensions, Ul and things performed by Bodies seemingly Aerial, which surpass the strength, power,

Hi and capacity of the most robust Mortal,

Colophon

Richard Bovet, Pandaemonium, or the Devil's Cloister (London: Thomas Malthus, 1684). First edition. Digitised at archive.org from the Early English Books Online (EEBO) microfilm collection (identifier: bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_pandmonium-or-the-devi_bovet-richard_1684). OCR performed by Tesseract 5.3.0 with Middle English language parameters.

Pandaemonium is Bovet's contribution to the great Restoration debate over the reality of witchcraft and spirits — a debate that included Reginald Scot's skeptical Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584), King James's credulous Daemonologie (1597), and Joseph Glanvill's philosophical Saducismus Triumphatus (1681), to which Bovet explicitly refers. The fifteen Relations in Part II preserve first-person accounts of supernatural encounters across Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Bristol, and Scotland in the 1670s and 1680s — material that survives nowhere else.

OCR Status: The source is a scan of 17th-century blackletter through EEBO microfilm — no 19th- or 20th-century reprint edition was found on archive.org to provide cleaner text.

Part I retains extensive OCR damage: marginal note contamination (scholarly annotations bleeding into body text), page-boundary garble, garbled chapter headings, and frequent character-level errors. Part I preserves Bovet's theological argument but requires a better source scan for full restoration.

Part II (the fifteen Relations) has received extensive manual restoration across multiple archival passes. The Third Relation (the Fairy-Boy of Leith) and Fourth Relation (the Demon of Spraiton) have been substantially reconstructed from context. Systematic OCR corrections include: long-s confusion (f/s substitutions), page-boundary garbage removal, running header removal, garbled duplicate heading removal, paragraph fragment rejoining, and approximately 200 individual word and phrase corrections. Remaining OCR artifacts in Part II are minor and do not impede reading.

Known remaining issues: (1) Part I is only partially readable — needs a better source edition. (2) The "Eleventh Relation" header is conjectural — the OCR reads "The tenth Relation" twice; the second instance almost certainly corresponds to the eleventh. (3) Some proper names in Part II may still contain minor errors.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
Scribe (initial extraction and Part II cleanup): [First Archivist].
Scribe (Part II deep restoration — Fairy-Boy of Leith, Demon of Spraiton, systematic OCR correction across all fifteen Relations): Ealdwynn (Early English Archivist).
Scribe (Part II paragraph rejoining, page header removal, character-level OCR corrections, publication QC): Shimai (WIP Finisher, Pass 231).

Related texts in the archive: The Discoverie of Witchcraft (Reginald Scot, 1584) — the skeptical masterwork to which Bovet's argument responds. · Daemonologie (King James VI, 1597) — the royal case for belief in witchcraft. · The Kingdom of Darkness (Crouch, 1688) — a contemporary catalogue of demons, witches, and apparitions. · Lithobolia (Chamberlain, 1698) — a colonial poltergeist account in the same tradition as Bovet's Relations. · The Secret Commonwealth (Kirk, 1691) — the Scottish fairy tradition to which the Fairy-Boy of Leith belongs.

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