desirous to see friends but it was a great trouble to him that when they went about any Religious exercise he must go away and this hath so affected him as by the working of his aâ—fections he hath been cast into fits But the way which the Lord did ordinarily lead his heart in was to be quiet under his hand and to submit to his will patienâ—ly leaving him to his own time for deliverance if he saw it good for him and this he found when he was under the most violent fits In his greatest extremity there was such a boâ—edness to the Divine Will as he could as willingly sit down in the Chaiâ— to receive a fit from the hand of the Lord as rise out of the Chair when it was off And the thoughts of that did often encourage him in his fits viz. Lord thou knowest when it is enough and thou knowest when to make a cessation I leave it unto thee And sometimes upon the account of Divine â—rerogative his heart hath been quieted he may do wiâ—h his Creatures what he pleaseth and there hath been deserved infinitely more Such hath been the mercy of God towards him that for the most part his body was more tryed out than his Spirit Only twice he found a little working of discontent Once he had some fear lest that quiet which he had should be but a carnal quiet through the carelesness of his own Spirit It pleased the Lord presently to leave him to some discontent of Spirit about it and at that time his Fits were not by many degrees so high as formerly or since this frame continued but a day and a night and the next morning after the Lord convinced him of the evil of it that he had been discontented with his hand when he lay'd it so lightly upon him in comparison of what he experienced formerly he saw wisdom goodness and mercy in God even in leaving him to be discontented the Lord turned this to his good and helped him against it letting him see that contentment cometh from him it is of the Lord to make a man contented in any Affliction Content was the Lords and none of his he could not quiet his own Spirit Another time after he injoyed some respite from fits and God had been often sought concerning it he found a great unwillingness to come under the yoke again he considered the manner of the affliction that God did strike at him in respect of his Ordinances that if he came near where he was worshiped then he did strike with heavier stroaks than at other times upon the return of his fits after some weeks respite he had such workings of heart as these the People of God generally sought the Lord and he denyed Prayer yea God himself excommunicated and shut him out it was a dark dispensation Immediately after these thoughts he had this as a quiet to his Spirit wait on the Lord and wait for God It is better to wait for God in the want of a mercy sometimes than to injoy a mercy we desire for while we are waiting upon God for mercy desired we are honouring of God but while we injoy mercy desired God is honouring of us And this Scripture came to his thought Hab. 2.3 The Vision is for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak wait for it Vision is of dark things these are to be waited for His unwillingness now was removed and his heart brought in some measure to wait upon and for God though it were a dark dispensation God would give deliverance if he did see it good He was wonderfully quieted and made willing to submit to the will of God and unless these two times he hath not found such discontent and thus the Lord did help him over it and his fits returned to their old course again Chap. IV. Of other Fits disabling for eating of his meat and some continuing twelve hours also Kneading Fits AFter the two and twenty weeks of such freedom his Fits returned again to their former course of Stamping Shaking and Skipping but these fewer in number and with intermissions sometimes a fourtnight together For the spâ—ce of about three weeks he had none of those Fits unless he did offer to eat his meat and then he could not get down above four morsels at a time before he should be cast into such a Condition as he could neither stir hand nor foot nor speak a word for thâ— space of near an hour after and whilst that hath been in his mouth his jaws have been closed that his fourth Morsel could neither be brought out or taken down He could get down no other succour or refreshment during that time but a little Beer and thin Broath so that his body was brought low and he ready to famish Then the Lord was sought unto in that case also and that very night he could eat 9 or 10 morsels and the next day he could eat to satisfie his Appetite if he made haste but as soon as he had done he fell into fits again of another kind all parts of his body moved as if one limb would have been plucked from another his hands in such swift motion as his fingers could hardly be discerned therein and so his legs also looking very gashly this lasted a fourtnight longer every time that he did eat Prayer was made to the most high God as to this particular also and that very night and from that time forward he could eat his meat without trouble except as in the next particular In the Winter 1665. it came to shake him like a moderate palsy in the head several weeks together Twelve hours the fit lasted every day the â—haking fit lasted ten hours daily and went off â—ith two hours of roaring fits or howling or barking like a Dog and his mouth wrung in a dreadful manner with grievous faces He hath been so hoarse with these fits as he could not speak to be heard in all that time He could eat no meat till the 12 hours were ended he hath tryed several times but soon hath been able to eat no more and hath been in fear that he should be raging mad and fly upon the people yet never did any hurt The Lord was sought unto for that also and he was present till two Prayed and had four of the Roaring Howling Fits and from that Day for the space of ten days he was free from the Shaking and other Fits Then they came again like a Palsy for about 11 Days then Skipping fits one in a Day after that he had Roaring fits again but with intermissions three or four Days or a fourtnight Also in the aforementioned Roaring fits as he lay on his Back on the Bed his Hands and Legs were drawn right upward one Leg against one Arm and Hand and the other Leg against the other Arm and Hand and so stood right up for some time then they would fall down and be raised up again in the same manner three or
Witch I would answer he had abatements soon after and I have been informed that the Witch said before her death that although â—he dyed yet he would not be free for others had a hand in his trouble as well as she I have been importuned by a Person of Quality and divers others to permit this Tragical Story to be published as being seasonable in this juncture of tâ—me I shall be glad if it may be blessed to the awakening of some to seek a freedom from the Dominion of Satan over their Souls by observing how he exeâ—cieth his Cruelty upon the Bodys of Men and also if it may be rendered useful towards exciting us to admire God in Preservation from suâ—h Bodily Sufferings by his Instruments and for Glorious Victories over his temptations by Iesus Christ which that it may be shall be the Prayer of him Who is Thine to Serve thee in the Gospel SAM PETTO June 29. 1693. A Letter to a Friend SIR YOU are very desirous to obtain a faithful Narrative a Capite ad Calcem of these wonderful and almost unparallel'd Fits wherewith Mr. Thomas Spatchet was afflicted for some years I here present it to your view as a matter that deserveth to be had in remembrance in Ages to come I have lived some Miles distant from the place of his abode but yet coâ—ing often thereabouts I had the advantage to be an Eye-witness of a great part of what you find in this Story and more I had from his own mouth for he was always free to declare how it waâ— with him before many Witnesses The various passages seemed to me so remarkable as from time to time I could not but commit them writing for a memorial of them and I suppose some others have done the like yea many if they have not yet might have done it for this was no private business but commonly known in this Country I submit it to your Iudgment whether all proceeded from a Natural Cause or a Diabolical He still findeth those shatterings in his head within mentioned in Religious Duties at some times especially if he travelleth beyond his strength I shall add no more but this that the wording of it is not all his but partly mine and therefore I must crave excuse for failures therein I have expressed as clearly as I could those wonderful Works of God and I am glad I can tell you that he haâ—h made the latter end letter than the beginning Yours Samuel Pâ—tâ—o A Mysterious Providence Chap. I. Of the Lineage Birth and former place of abode of Mr. Thomas Spatchet together with some remarkâ—ble Providences he met with in Infancy and afterwards THE purpose and design of this Undertaking is to give a faithful Narrative and true Relation of the extraordinary and almost unparallel'd bodily Afflictions which of late years an Eminent Servant of Christ hath been exercised with by a variety of violent and torturing Fits the History whereof may be admirably useful for the striking conviction and astonishment into the hearts of Sinners and especially such who are of an Atheistical Spirit hardly perswaded that there is either a God or a Devil here they may read of both and if this be done to the green Tree what will be done to the dry It may also serve for the Encouragement and Consolation of True Christians who may be exercised in a like condition and may labour under doubtings and despondency of spirit upon that account crying oâ—t No sorrow like our sorrow here they may see that one dear to the Lord hath been in a like case or condition And this also may conduce to the Exaltation to the glorious Name of God by magnifying his work in declaring the remarkable Protections and wonderful Salvations which have been vouchsafed to him But it may not be amiss to look back and touch upon the foregoing part of his Life His Name is Mr. Thomas Spatchet he was born â—â—out the midst of the Month of Ianuary 1614 and hath been Bayliff twice in that antient Maritime Town of Dunwich in the Country of Suffolk his Fathers Name was Mr. Iames Spatchet his Grandfathers Name was Mr. Robert Spatchet of Dunwich who was a very prudent man and conversed much with Sir Edward Coke late Lord Chief Justice The aforesaid Mr. Thomas Spatchet is one whom the special Providence of God hath watched over for good even from his Childhood He had almost a miraculous preservation in his very Infancy for being then carried by a Servant carelesly upon her shoulders in a Yard set with Stone she stumbling he fell over her head and pitched his head upon a Stone whereby his Skull was broken and the wound so deep and dangerous that the mark is still apparent there is a great seam to be seen on the left side of his Head down towards the outside of his Eye and the upper part of it turneth like a square about the midst of the sore-part of his Head it seemeth to be two Inches or more both ways But here the Lord had given his Angels such a charge concerning him that altho' he dashed his head against a stone yet he was preserved and kept from this threatned death and delivered that he might declare the mighty Works of God Afterwardâ— when he was between 21 and 22 years of Age being in a married state going to a Well in the same Yard where he had the aforementioned fall upon occasion to draw Water the Pully and Bucket falling he fell with them headlong into the bottom of the Well which was about 21 yards deep the Water therein was at that time about knee deep but the All-wise God so directed his fall that he missed the bucket the fatt and great sâ—ones at the bottom which were afterward seen there else his brains had been dash'd out the Lord brought him out of this horrible Pit and since hath pitched his Soul upon the Rock of Ages A Man going down found him standing on his legs and fetched him up but when he came to the Air he grew very ill and kept his Bed many days after this his retirement into the Chambers of Death he having been but a little while in the bowels of the Earth that whilst he was alive he might have a foretast of the Grave he hardly knew how to live in the common Air any longer but the Lord had intendments to make his Power known in his restoration he had further work for him to do and more for him to suffer and therefore altho' the dreadful effects of this fall began now to shew themselves in a Vrin red like blood and many other â—istempers of body such as at first he could not turn himself in his bed yet a Vein being opened and other means us'd with a Divine blessing thereupon he so far recovered within the space of a month as he was able to go a little about the house and so by degrees returned to a good measure of health again It is not
to be passed in silence what mercy was mixt with this sad dispensation that in this dangerous fall not one of his bones was broken that hand that held the Rope lost some flesh almost to the bone and he had a hole in his wrest a range on the forehead and the skin beaten off his ankles no other hurt outwardly appearing either in head or elsewhere the skin not so much as broken but as aforesaid It also deserveth observation that a Woman in the same Town falling into a Well was taken up alive but soon died Moses in his Boat of Bulruâ—hes being laid by the Rivers brink was preserved Exod. 2.3 and this is upon Record for after Ages and surely the preservation of this Man in falling into the Waters with many Instruments of â—eath attending him deserveth to be had in everlasting remembrance Chap. II. Of his Fits their beginning and continuance for some time Benumming Shaking Skipping IT pleased the Lord after walking towards him in such a variety of merciful Providences at last by his Spirit to bring him into a saving acquaintance with himself in his Son Jesus Christ through the exceeding great and precious Promises of the Gospel with what brightness the Grace of Christ hath shined forth in his conversation to the refreshing the bowels of other Christians is well known to those who have had the advantage to converse with him For many years such a Gospel-conversation hath been found with him as tho' he hath infirmities common to all men and Christians yet men who have made the strictest observation thereof and have pryed into it with the most curious Eye could not descry any Apostacy or Backsliding his steps have not visibly declined from the ways of God to this day yet the Lord whose ways are in the deep which doth great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number Iob 5.9 hath in those latter years shewed him great and sore troubles led him in unwonted paths which few have known tryed him with a variety of strange if not unpresidented violent Fits the rise progress end whereof so far as can be remembred will be rehearsed in these following lines About the mâ—nth of March 1660. as he was speaking to some he found a mutation or alteration in his head causing such a failure either in the use of his understanding memory or senses call it what you will as put him to a stand he was at a loss knew not how to go on in speaking what he intended to his friends but quickly recover'd again and not long after the same day was at the same loss again finding a grinding pain round about the crown of his head near half way downward as he hath done ever since upon such occasions it was not violent but moderate and easie to be born this to his head hath been answerable to the jarring of the elbow by a blow much differing always from the ordinary pain of the head without belching Here was the riâ—e of all the insuing Tribulations from so small a beginning hath sprung all those subsequent troubles which have been astoâ—ishing to the beholders I might have noted once for all that since the aforesaid pain haâ—h sometimes lasted two or three hours after he hath been well recovered out of those Fits But to proceed the next day after he was first taken since he was subject to the same distemper to be at a loss upon speaking yet went up and down that week and when he did set about Religious duties as Prayer he could go but a little way without faultring and failing therein The same spring he seemed to have inward nippings and smitings in his head which caused a great amazement and astonishment in him and hath continued in some degree long since at times and hath hindred a free and uninterrupted exercise of his understanding or rather the use of speech for it was not so much a failing in perception or apprehension of things as inability for expression he knew what he would say and what others said or did but could not utter it he was disabled for proceeding at present in what he would say so that it seemeth to be rather a failing of speech than of understanding Afterward it brake forth into Fits of two sorts or kinds 1. Benumming him that he could neither stir hand nor foot nor rise from the seat he sate on and by and by did flie up his hands would hang down he not being able to lift them uâ— his eyes shut not able to open them no breath sometimes perceiv'd to be moving a great while together yet then knew what others said his teeth fast set that it was difficult if any thing were put into his mouth to get the spoon either in or out his nether chap sometimes would fall as when a man is in a swound and then immediately it would come outward Sometimes these benumming Fits would continue two or three hours Then 2. A moderate shaking followed when it came outward like a Palsy and then it would proceed to a shaking with violence first his head his Body then standing still then from the Neck to the Middle hiâ— Head that time standing still after this frâ—m the Middle downward shaking in greâ—t Violence and in that â—ime his head and other upper parts would stand still after this one Leg would shake and no other part and then his whole Body Chair and all in Violent Motion Before the shaking fits came his hands would be lifted up and cast down upon his knees beating them for some time Afterwards his leggs and feet would move with much agility and harmony in fits striking upon the ground as if in ringing of Bells 1 2 3 4 5. without Changes a great while together sometimes as if in playing in Musick diverse Musical Tunes and keeping orderly stops aâ—though he never was acquainted with the â—rt of Musick cannot disâ—inguish the Tunes if they be played on Musick Instruments yet such as were with him in his Fitts and knew the Tunes were able by their hearing the beating of his Feet to discerne his acting the part of a Musician therein His Feet would strike 7 or 8 times or oftener one Foot first and than the other answering imediately after except where the Tune required to have it otherwise and in ringing his Feet every stâ—oak had a several place of the ground in its setting down Also he hath by the beating of his Feet in his Fits acted the part of a Drummer Sounding a Call a March a Retreat c. Yet he never did Drum nor doth he know if he heareth a Drum beat how to distinguish those each from other After this his whole Body hath been of ten in impetuous motion his Hands and Feet flying about with great swifâ—â—ess with such a variety of Motion as is unexpressible till he hath sometimes fallen out of his Chair and if he hath so fallen although in the height of the Fit yet it hath presently left
and was inticed to it by a Witch at a Wedding that She had been a Witch above Twenâ—y Years and She had Bewitched Iohn Collet of Cookly and Hâ—nry Winson of Walpool to Death and She must see Iohn Collet before his Death and by a wile did get a sight of him calling at the House said that there was the greatest Snake in the way that ever was seen which was not â—o they all run out to see it and She in the interim went up to see him and he Dyed two days after or thereabouts Also She Confessed to them that the Devil had drawn Blood of her and that he did appear in the form of a Pretty handsom Young Man first and spake to her 〈◊〉 a hollow Solemn Voice but She would not declare what he spake and since Appeareth to heâ— in the form of a blackish Gray Cat or Kitling that it sucketh of a Tett which Searchers sinâ—e saw in the place She mentioned and hath drawn Blood After this Mr. Spatcheâ— spake with her and did seriously and solemnly charge her as in the presence of God that She would speak the Truth that if She were not such a one She should not own it and if She were then not to deny it for God would bring it to light She answered that She must Confess the Devil had beguilded her and that She had been a Witch above 20 years that She 〈◊〉 made an agreement with the Devil and She thought the time was neaâ— out she declared also as before how She became a Witch and in what shape her Imp which She imployedâ— appeared to her and such like He asked her whether She had imployed her Imp to him and why She did it She Confessed that She had sent it to him and said that She did bear him no Ill will but it was against her Will She could not help it the Devil would let her be at no quiet till She had done it adding that he never did her hurt but had been loving and kind to her in giving her Money for She was Poor but She was the worse to him He speaking to her about his biting in the aforementioned Kneading Fits She sâ—id that he had bitten too hard sometimes She said if it were possible She would never send her Imp to him again adding O that I could not it would be happy for you and more Happy for me When She would have Confessed more to him She was stoped in her Throat and could not saying if She could tell all there might be Mercy for her She also said if She were to be Hanged presently She had no Hand in his Roaring Fits Some Women Searched her and found thâ— Tett She spake of and her Body then Whole but searching a second time a few Days after her Body was well nigh all over as if scratched with briers and thorns the like hath not been seen one that searched before â—aw â—his alteration it is probable the Devil did much torment her after her Confession for those that lived in the same House heard a very great rumbling noise also She was gone diverse Nights and was seen Wandring abroad in distant places She was also called before other Gentlemen and some Credible â—ersâ—ns offered to give Testimony of many things aforementioned as of her free and Voluntaâ—â— Confessing that She had a Familiar Spirit and that She had been the Death of some c. Some Depositions were taken but one standing up said ☞ That if she Bewitched â—one but Spaâ—chet and Maâ—â—ing and such as they are She should never be Hanged by him And thus notwithstanding what could be witnessed against her yet â—he was â—â—nt home and nothing in point of Law was done againâ—t Her Neiâ—her can any excuse the matter by saying that in Distemper of body she knew not what she said the contrary was cleaâ— to those that conversed with her and was also evident for being asked a question and the same question being put to her a considerable time after she could answer as before and therefore she well knew what she said Aftâ—r â—his timâ—â—wo Gentlemen questioned with her and she confessed to them the same things the manner of her becoming a Witch and her hurting Mr. Spatchet but was not so ready to confess her being the death of those men aforeâ—mentioned and grew hardned to deny some things before acknowledged It could not one would think but deeply affect this poor man and procure much inward disquietment to see that his case and such a case should be so disregarded by men but still he incouraged â—imself in the Lord his God and soon after if not the next day reading by course for now he had liberty to read that in Eccles. 5. v. 8. If thou seest the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a Province marvel not at the matter for he that is higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they Thâ—s did wonderfully relieve him as to their actings he had nothing to do against them this was enough to him he could say thou â—ord regardest it though these men regard nothing of it and his heart was wonderfully quieted herein Some excited him to sâ—ratch the Witch or such like but he had no disposition to it his heart was so tender that he durst not do it though his fits continued that Scripture helped him Prov. 20.22 Say not thou I will recompense â—vil but waâ—t on the Lord and he shall save thee He was enabled to wait on the Lord for his Salvation and that Deut. 32. v. 35 39 41. It was enough to him that their foot shall slide in due time and their â—â—lamity maketh haste if there be any such means of his affliâ—tion aâ— by Witchâ—â— yet vengeance was Gods and he would recompense any that oppress or abuse his People Chap. VI. Of his Dumb fits also of Shackling and other fits especially hindring him in travelling FOR some months he had Dumb Fits if â—e hath been well in the house yet attempting to go out to visit friends beforehe â—ad gone the length of one Close or Field he was struck Dumb and hath remained so all the day being necessitated to return back again to his house where he could either sit or walk butwas speechless these would go off and speech return ordinarily yet not always without any violent motion these were not every day In some part of the time he had a moderate shaking like a Palsie all the day long from the time of his rising till a quarter of aâ— hour after he was laid in his bed and then it would cease and then he could speak If he leaned his head against any thing then immediately his speech was gone nor could he move his head from the place nor raise himself on the seat whereon he sate till it was pulled away or they did give him Tobacco and then it would go into outward shaking again He had the use of his
senses in this time knew what they about him said and did In those years 1665 and 1666 he had Roaring Fits his mouth being stretched open and such violent Fits and those which hindred travel were superadded Sometimes he had liberty to walk in the house or yards but if he attempted to go into the Field then before coming half way in it his feet would be as if they were nailed to the ground that by all means he could use he could not remove them thence for a considerable time nor get any further to any Friends house that he intended to go unto he finding this coming was necessitated timely to turn himself and then could sholving remove one foot first about an Inch and must stand there till one might have gone a quarter or half way in â—he Close and then could remove the other foot an Inch and so each removal at such a distance of time if it were plain ground it was the better but it was very tedious to him to ascend or go up when he came at a Hill or Ascent And thus he must move home again if none brought a Chair to him to sit down in till he revived these Fits went off without shaking or other violent motion and he remained in the former posture till he attempted to travel again In some of those fits resting sometimes on a suddain one leg would be forced over the other the full reach and so he must stand cross legged but by degrees with great trouble it would be gotten back again to the other foot and with much difficulty get over it which done presently even the same instant the other foot was struck cross the full reach also and must stand till by degrees that also was gathered up and then he stood in the old posture as if fastned to the ground on a suddain he should have liberty to go as far as from one side of the house to the other and then his feet were fixed to the ground again after that he had a liberty to go a few steps further then at the same pass again till at last he did get into the house After these fits ceased if he attempted to travel he should soon be buckled â—is knees bowing as if he were to sit down and if he offered to right up himself then he was buckled twice as much so he must return home in that posture bearing on his toes only and so he could travel thus bowed down but if he offered to raise up his Body then he could not stay himselfbut fell to the ground and rising up after a little time revived but if he offered to go again a few rod he was buckled and bowed down as before Sometimes two men have been present when he has been in these Fits and they fearing he â—hould fall would take hold of his Arms to raise him and not the strength of both of them could keep him up but then he must down to the ground all they could do was not enough to prevent it else he did never falâ— down in these fits which continued a long time a year at least as is supposed but with some intermissions for nine days or a fourtnight in which time he had liberty to visiâ— friends but then the fits returned again They continued sometimes twenty two weeks sometimes thirteen or nine more or less Afterward complaining to friends that he could not go then for some time if he assayed to travel his heels were lifted uâ— from the ground and he was forced to stand on his toes leaning on his staff and if he would stand sâ—ill then he found no shaking or other violent motion but if he offered to go then his feet were violently moved forward running upon his toes till by his strong staff or by a Tree he did get a â—tay or stop and a little revived and then he was carâ—ied violently again runâ—ing on his toes as before till a new stop these running Fitâ— â—asâ—ed some weeks Afterward being freeâ—d of these if he would travel hiâ— strength was taken away he found an utter diâ—ability in all parts he might stand still and could not readily get back again but â—â—ddainly he fell to his knees and and resting on them for a season then he could rise up and go a little way and â—uddainly down again to his knees and no further these Fits did not hold long a month or thereabouts Also in these last years sometiâ—es his hands have been tâ—râ—ed behind him the palms upward on his back and his body being bowed low toward one side his face turned upward he hath been hurled round round round in the yard till at the door and then being helped into the house was caused to sit in a Chair In such a condition he remained untill the death of that Woman which confesâ—ed her self to be a Witch with fits of one kind or another above mentioned And the two last years before her death he had no liberty either to Pray or to joyn with others in Prayer or other Religious exercises more than is before expressed Also when some have said they could believe for his full freedom he hâ—d not such a Faith but in the time of his fits he hath earnestly desired of God as he was able that he would raise his Soul into a Faith about deliverance with submission to his Will and if it were his pleasure that he would give him a perswasion that he should be delivered When he hath thus done he found his heart wonderfully over-powered and carried out this way leave it to God commit all to him be quiet in the will of God and let him alone till his time cometh Neither was there any thing of Faith further this way near the deliverance than before but that if the Lord saw it for â—is own Glory he would deliver him Chap. VII Of things of more general observation in the timâ— of his Fits and not Limitted to any particular one but Common to more THere were some things remarkable in the forepast years which cannot well be confined to any particular â—its which I shall here take â—otice of 1. The working of his distemper upon his acting or joyning with others in Religious Exercises as Prayer or such like hath been in this manner Either he hath found a failure of Spirits which did leave him in a great confusioâ— â—tammer and amazement yet he did not loose his senses hereby he knew any peâ—son present or any thing that was spoken or done to him and how it was with himself he had no loâ—s of apprehension but of expression so that endeavouring to speak would help forward his amazement and affrightment Or he found it contrary viz. an amazement and affrightment caused by a working in the Crown of his Head and a Failing of Spirits following that this working in his Head was above a third part of the way from the Crown downward round about and when ever that came presently a failure of Spirits
followed as if his very Life would have gone away he felt such a quenching of Spirits that he knew not how to subsist Yet felt no Pain till the amazement was over and then found it only in that part of his Head where the Working was and not elsewhere When he hath imployed his mind with much earneâ—tness about any Civil Business as Writing and Inditeing any matter he could continue far longer herein without such shatterings than in hearing a Sermon or such Religious Exercises thus it hath been in latter times but in the former years of his Fits he could not act in either So in making up of accounts or reckonings he hath found some shatterings yet could recover get into his Work again and accomplish it Whereas if he continued Religious Exercise till the beginning of failures of spirit then if he set himself to regard and attend to what was next to be spoken he knew it but should take up the next following sentence and either lose it immediately or else speak that many times over till he lost it and if he stayed to hear an other sentence he would go over and over with that also as before Also under these failing of Spirits and Workings of Head there was a Manifest Change in his Countenance Staring with his Eyes like one affrighted and a Paleness in his Face during this astonishment a great alteration in the fetching of his Wind it was very deep with Haling and Blowing In an Instant his Spirits were quenched and in an Instant revived again and then immediately his former Counteâ—ance and strength did return again not gradually as it is in â—ailing of Spirits by â—ickness but on a suddain 2. When he hath been under Torturing Fits till Nature hath seemed even spent and he hath stretched out all Parts like a Dead-man yet after a quarter of an hour or little more he hath recovered walked in the House and been Chearly again and well only hath found soreness or Weariness after such tossings yeâ— could eat his Meat and go abroad unless when his Fits were such as hindred Eating or Traveling or if he hath been at a Friends Hâ—use he could soon return home again Whereas standers by have thought he could not have recovered or stirred all the Day This was by the upholding hand of God beyond what is ordinarily found where the Body hath been spent by Natural Distempers Also wheâ— he had many weary days spent with Violent Fits yet through the Mercy of the Lord he hath rested very well all the Night and hath been much refreshed by the Morning yet within a quarter of an hour after awaking when that was the ordinary time for the Fits to come as when they kept hours like an Ague he hath found a return of them in Bed before he did arise and there hath had them in such Violence that the very Bed and Chamber hath shaked Here the Lord did vouchsafe great favour to him in affording the Comfortable rest of the Night when yet his Bed was not his freedom it was only the Work of God to give him sleep 3. In any of his Fiâ—s Numb Dumb Pâ—lsy Convâ—lsive at the worst yet he was so far sensible as he knew every Motion of his own Hands or Feet every Noise when Halloâ—ing when Howling when Barking at the time his Mouth was about to be opened he knew what it would come to and sometimes did to his Power oppose it hath gotten his Mouth together to stop it but it would be forced open in a Dreadfull manner he knew what he should have done and could not as when he should step forward and could not he knew what he did and what others did or said to him or one to another In his Roaring Fits he had no Pain to cause him to Roar but it was a forced action the Violence of Fits caused Pain or soreness but no Pain felt caused any such crying out 4. In all these Afflictions and violent Motions of Body he Sustained no Damage or Hurt unless once or twice bâ—ating the skin off his Finger and Ancle he hath been in Fits abroad yet in any of them hâ—th not fallen down but once unless as aforementioned as when any Crossed the Motion and then falling in a yard his Body rowled till it came to the side of the House but neither then nor at other times did he receive any prejudice more than was aforementioned 5. Often in Praying times where he hath been present and Occasion hath been to mention the Devil and it hath been asked that if it were by Satan before it was discovered that God would rebuke him he hath found hereat a grinding of Teeth and such an alteration as if the Devil himself would oppose what was spoken 6 He often made observation that in the Old of the Moon he hath been ordinarily worse than either in the New or Full Moon Also he hath observed that in the former and latter Spring he hath injoyed the greatest freedom from his Fits as in the Months called March and â—pril and also sometimes in February and so about September and October and when â—he Weather did grow cold then his Fits usually returned 7. Ordinarily after taking Physick he was the worse often Physick did greatly increase the Violence of his Fits all the time of his taking it and after ceasing to take they would return to the posture they were in before About two years before the Violent Fits left him he had some respite from Fits for several Days before he began with Physick and the first Day wherein he took it he had a Fit and so one Fit every Day that he was taking till it came tâ— the last Dose which upon some occasion he deferred and that Day of omission he had no Fit the Day followiâ—g he did take it and then had a Fit and so having finished it he had no Fits for some time He desisted taking Physick almost two years before his Violent Fits ceased and yet the last Fits were very Violent One Professing Physick observed him in his Fits and concluded it was no ordinary Contraction of Nerves but a continual Motion sometimes of all parts Arms Hands Legs Feet first stamping his feet beating upon the ground very swiftly and strongly at a great distance each from other his Arms at the same time flying out with a swift and Violent Motion inward and outward all at once as fast as may be for a considerable time together till at last the Fit went off leaving him sometimes stretâ—hed out like a Dead-man Yet in all the time of his Fits when he could Eat his Meat there was not any abatement or Consumption of his flesh perceived no Pining away though there was some Weakness of Body by them Chap. VIII Of his Fits a little before and at the Death of the Witch and his gradual freedom since with his Condition at Present HIS Violent Fits continued until the Thirteenth Day of the Month of Februâ—ry 166â— and
from that Day he hath been freed from them which was about 8 weeks before the Death of that Woman which Confessed her self to be a Witch for she Dyed about April 1667. before this 8 Weeks she was under Tortures from the Devil and whether she had no leisure to send to and Afflict him or whether it were only from God laying a restraint upon that grand Enemy of Mankind Satan that he injoyed this Eight Weeks freedom from those Fits must be left to others to Judge it is good to ascribe all to God but it being thus long before her Death this argueth that it was no Corroboration of his Imagination by her Death that was the Cause of his freedom Indeed he had not a freedom from all Fits so early he was under a Restraint from Travel until the very time of Her Death About a Week before she Dyed Mr. R. a Conformist sent for him to go to her when she was Ill he went about a Close length and theâ— if it had been upon his Life he could not get one step further forward he indeavoured very earnestly to go on but could not he did get back again in â— long time and with much difficulty and was forced to make many Courtesies like Women all the way back again with many other like actions which were unavoidable Mr. R. Went to her without him and came to Mr. Spatchet saying he never saw such a Spectacle for all the Skin of her Hands and Arms was scratched or torn off hardly one place appeared whole as big as his Finger She would not Confess to him any thing of Witchery but only this That She had made an agreement with the Devil and it was now too late for Her to Repent for she was Damned or to this Effect she spake She had two Cudgels lay on her Bed and he asked her what she did with those She answerd she had them there to Fight with the Devil he did so misuse her She was there alone and he dragged her out of the Bed and under the Bed they below hearing such a Noise and knowing there was no Body with her they went up and she was Bloody she Confessed to them it was the Devil that came to her So she Dyed near the time called Easter 1667. Mr. Spatchet was under restraint for travel at the time of her Death and possessed with some fear that he should so continue until his Death because he was so at her Death and nothing done to her to bring her to Justice He had not any Imagination that he should then have freedom but rather limited the Holy One of Israel by thinking the contrary Also she had said to some persons before her Death that if she Dyed yet Mr. Spatchet should not be fully Free for others had him in hand as well as she But yet the same Week that she Dyed and the next time after when he attempted to visit Friends he found a liberty for Travel and hath injoyed that freedom ever since viz. for the space of above two Years Thus Gods thoughts were not as his thoughts Divine Mercies did surpass his Faith And yet the Lord would have it known to be his Work his will was the determining rule how far deliverance should be afforded it was not all at once but gradually for although he had then a freedom from Violent Fits and such as hindred travel Yet immediately after the Death of that Woman he had no Liberty for Religious Exercises either to perform them himself or to joyn with others therein he remained without that freedom until the latter end of the September following which was almost half a Year and then only Mentally he tryed after her Death as well as often before Vocally to Pray and could not either alone or with others but at the end of September 1667. he could Mentally Pray a quarter of an hour together or more daily with Invention as clear and Affection raised as high as ever before he had Fits and he had no disturbance And because he found such a freedom that way after some time he would try to express it and when he did so though he did it with a whispering Voice yet he had not spoken usually Twenty words before he found a shattering in his head so as he was utterly disabled for Invention of Expression and for a time could not rise up from his Knees in case he were Kneeling After this he would Pray Mentally and still before the ending would try to utter words but found it as before lost his speech and Invention and reeled and staggered about the Room yet even when he was worst of all this way he knew how it was with him Thus he continued until the first Day of the Month of Ianuary following when meeting with a rebuke one blaming him for what was his Duty and reflecting that as the cause of his great Affliction though probably there was not any other cause than Divine Soveraignty for Tryals sake And as if the Lord would witness against such undue reflections upon this Holy Man he returning home the Lord was pleased that very Night after he met with that rebuke to give him a Liberty by himself Vocally to Pray he had tryed the Morning before and could not But it was only by himself he could Pray before others but if they desired it and he did adventure then that very night after he had Prayed before others he lost his Liberty of Praying by himself and had no Liberty that way nor with others for the space of a Week And then at the Weeks end he had Liberty again Vocally by himself and so continued till he did Pray again with others and if it were but with one on a sick Bed or with more it was all a Case he lost his Liberty by it for a Week or a fortnight as before Thus he continued until November 5 1668 and that very Night he had a Liberty to hear one Pray although he had tryed the Lords Day before to hear a Sermon repeated and could not yet now he could And the same Person that was the last he had Liberty to Pray with before his Fits disabled him was the First that he had Liberty to Pray with when his Fits leâ—t him and at the same Persons House was his First Liberty to hear one Pray and also to Pray before others and not loâ—e the Liberty his self The next Day he Prayed in the Family and did not lose his Liberty by it then nor at any time since Only if his head faileth by hearing others exercise then sometimes he loseth his liberty of praying by himself or with others exactly for a week and then it returneth again He findeth less liberty to hear others exercise than to pray himself He can â—ear a a Sermon if he doth not hear the Prayer before and sometimes can hear both Sermon and Prayer but that is seldom In case he adventureth usually he findeth a great distemper disturbance
and shattering in his head which unfitteth him for any service till it be over it is sometimes procured not only by Religious but other actings as he hath attempted often to ride on horse-back since his freedom from Fits but caâ—not Even in the month called May 1669. He tryed but he found that he lost all his strength could neither go stand nor speak nor so much as hold a stick in his hand but was in a confusion his head much disturbed by the motion of the horse yet had a knowledge of all things done or said at this time And it is to be noted that since his Fits have left him he findeth no alteration in his body as to working of humours any other ways more than formerly when he was under Fits or before Only findeth some decay of strength by reason of Age yet he hath more strength now than he had in the time of his Fits And this is the true account of his Condition both formerly and at present 1669. Whereby it may be seen that he injoyeth a wonderful Salvation from the Lord which all that have waited upon God in prayer on his behalf are to own him in although it be but partial not total There be some remainders of bodily distempers yet there is great cause to sing forth the high praises of God in all the Assemblies of the Saints and to say What hath God wrought It is a mercy that hath been waited for prayed for and believed for by many Christians and now the Lord expecteth the tribute of praises As for Mr. Spatchet himself he is desirous to glorifie God by offering up praises to him Wheâ— he had been many weeks under great tossings formerly so as it was a rare thing in six or seven weeks to have one days intermission yet when he had that short breathing he was quieted and did not so much make account of liberty as earnestly beg of God a preparation of heart for what was behind and so when he had ten days or a fortnight or a months liberty the Lord did then put him upon begging a submissive frame of heart for what was yet coming Whereas since the death of that Woman and his freedom that did insue he is less begging submission but more praising God for what he hath afforded and begging an improving Spirit of that freedom It is true he had not an absolute and firm perswasion of deliverance before it came but at some times was not without Faith about it yet submitting it to the Divine Will That Scripture was a wonderful stay to his heart and a great incouragâ—ment to believe Rom. 16. v. 20. The God of Peace shall tread Satan under your feet shortly And that also of Aeneas who kept his bed eight years and was sick of the Palsie Act 9 v. 33. Peter said unto him v. 34. Aeneas Jesus Christ maketh thee whole And indeed this man was eight years and a little more under this Tryal and sometimes as if he had been in Palsie Fits but at last Jesus Christ hath in some measure made him whole Indeed it was gradually and not all at once thus of old the Lord said to the Children of Israel concerning the Canaanite and the Hittite Exod. 23. v. 29. I will not drive them out from before theee in one year v. 30. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee until thou be increased So the Lord would not drive out this mans Distempers in one year but by little and little and it is hopeful his design was that Spiritually he might the more fructifie and increase to the advancement of his glorious Grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. FINIS A Postscript I Lately Conversed with a near Relation of M. Spatchet with whom he lived after the time of the foregoing Narrative until he Dyed who informed me that he had Fits to the last Shaking his Head and other Limbs but not frequently sometimes many weeks without yet ordinarily could not Pray or Ioyn with others in Prayer And thus he continued till his Death ERRATA PAge 2. Line 20. read Exaltation of p. 9. l. 14. for stirring r. striving l. 23. for 1693. r. 1663. p. 10. l. 25. for are r. were Advertisement MAthematical Diâ—inity Or A plain Demonstration from the Holy Scriptures that the Times of this World were fore-appointed by the Covenant made with Abraham And determined to be according to the Measure of the Age and Fulness of Christ Kept Secret since the World began but is now made plain upon Twelve Tables in a Solar Calendar as familiar to the Understanding as a common Almanack With a full Proof that this is the last Generation which shall not pass away till all things be Fulfilled and the Gates of Righteousness be opened Being the Result of many Years Study By Elias Palmer Price One shilling Printed for Iohn Harris at the Harrow in the Poultrey