Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	believe_v	holy_a	scripture_n	6,955	5	5.9774	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81077	The kingdom of darkness: or the history of dæmons, specters, witches, apparitions, possessions, disturbances, and other wonderful and supernatural delusions, mischievous feats, and malicious impostures of the Devil Containing near fourscore memorable relations, forreign and domestick, both antient and modern. Collected from authentick records, real attestations, credible evidences, and asserted by authors of undoubted verity. Together with a preface obviating the common objections and allegations of the sadduces and atheists of the age, who deny the being of spirits, witches, &c. With pictures of several memorable accidents. By R. B. Licensed and entred according to order.	R. B., 1632?-1725?; Drapentier, Jan, fl. 1674-1713.	1688 (1688)	Wing C7342; ESTC R224752	121,198	192

the KINGDOM of Darknes THE KINGDOM OF Darkness OR The History of Daemons Specters Witches Apparitions Possessions Disturbances and other wonderful and supernatural Delusions Mischievous Feats and Malicious Impostures of the Devil Containing near Fourscore memorable Relations Forreign and Domestick both Antient and Modern Collected from Authentick Records Real Attestations Credible Evidences and asserted by Authors of Undoubted Verity Together with a Preface obviating the common Objections and Allegations of the Sadduces and Atheists of the Age who deny the Being of Spirits Witches c. With Pictures of several memorable Accidents By R. B. Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1688. THE PREFACE Obviating the Common Objections and Arguments against the Being of Spirits Witches c. THE Atheists and Sadduces of this Age like some of the Antient Heathens have thought it a great piece of wit to deny the Being of Spirits and that all stories concerning them are either fabulous or to be ascribed to Natural Causes which fond opinion many Learned men have sufficiently confuted and as the examples of former ages and places so the prodigious accidents that have happened in our times in several parts of the World make it manifest beyond contradiction that there are Devils infesting the lower World besides the evidence of Script which is fully convictive to all sober Christians Though yet it must be granted the power of God dot● so limit and restrain their malice that they c●● hurt no man nor any other creature much les● any that worship him in truth without permission from him who is God over all the Earth An● as there are many dreadful instances to evinc● the truth hereof so Satans possessing the bodies 〈◊〉 men and acting wonderfully in them is a grea● confirmation thereof Though it must be grante● that it is sometimes very hard to distinguish between natural diseases and Diabolical possessions there having been found a very near resemblance And therefore some Authors have mentioned certain signs whereby this Infernal Possession is to be distinguished from any other Malady As the revealing secret things past or t● come which without some supernatural assistanc● could not be discovered To speak with strang● Languages or discover Skill in Arts or Science never learned by them To carry burdens o● perform other matters far beyond human strength To utter words or be heard speaking and ye● their lips and tongues not to have any motion To have their bodies become inflexible neithe● to be bended backward nor forward with th● greatest force The Belly to be suddenly puft up to fall instantly flat again These among other are thought to be Arguments of a Person possesse● with an evil Spirit though very worthy Divines suppose upon Scripture grounds that men may be demoniacal when none of the aforementioned particulars happen to them and that those of whom we so of tread in the New Testament were of this kind and the Jews were of that opinion as is evident by that expression of 〈…〉 10.20 He hath a Devil and is mad and in St. Matt. 17. We read of one that was Lunatick and did oft fall into the Fire and oft into the Water Now that he was a person possessed is clear from verse 18. where it is said Jesus rebuked the Devil and he departed out of him And of the same person it is said St. Luke 9.39 A Spirit taketh him and teareth him It has been commonly thought that in our Savionrs time more persons were possessed with evil Spirits than ever before or since which if it had been true it is very probable some Jewish Historians would have recorded it as a thing strange and extraordinary but since no such observation was made we have no reason to believe it But though some will acknowledge the being of Spirits and that the bodies of men and women are actually possessed by them yet they will not believe there are any such desperate creatures as Witches or persons really confederate with the Devil and several Authors have to fidently affirmed that never any did maintain that familiarity with Evil Spirits which is usually discourst of It must be granted that many things have been judged to proceed from Witchercraft when it has not been so The Antipathies and Sympathies of nature the Sympathetick powder made without any Magical Ceremonies have been suspected of Witchcraft and by natural ma●●●● 〈…〉 the Secrets of Nature ignorant men may be made to believe the assistance of a Supernatural Power It is likewise as true that a multitude of Lyes and Fables are reported of these Familiarities with Devils and matters done by his help which are beyond the power of creatures to accomplish What Stories are related of Incubi and Succubae and of men begotten by Devils not but that the Devil may so delude the fancy of the Witch of which we shall give instances that she may really think she has carnal and cursed commerce with them nor is it impossible for him to assume a deadbody or to form a lifeless one out of the elements and therewith to debauch his forlorn Votaries though to imagine Spirits can really generate bodies is irrational There have indeed been some men in the World reported to have been thus born as the inhabitants of the Isle of Cyprus Arcturus and our British Merlin also Homer Aeneas Hercules and Alexander the great but it is altogether inconsistent with reason since it is acknowledged by all he cannot bring forth a perfect animal much less man the most noble creature of the whole creation It is altogether as false and vain which yet some grave Authors have related that Witches can transform themselves or others into other sort of Creatures as Horses Wolves Cats Mice and the like it being beyond the power of all the Devils in Hell to cause such a Transformation who are no more able to effect it than they can be the Authors of any true miracle not but that in this case likewise the Devil may so impose upon the imagination of Witches as to make them believe they are transformed into Beasts of which the following relations will give some account from whence some Persons of worth have been inclined to question whether there were any Person ever really confederate with Infernal Spirits or no. Though there are many evincing Arguments to prove the truth thereof Especially those taken from the holy Scriptures where Witchcrafts are oft forbidden and particular mention is made of many who used those cursed Arts and familiaritis with the Devil as Jannes and Jambres Baalam Manasseh Simon Elymas c. Nor are the reasons deduced from the history of the Witch of Endor sufficiently confuted by these Advocates for Witches by pretending that the Witches and familiar Spirits spoken of in holy writ were only Juglers or those who by Legerdemain could do strange seats of activity since the divine Law requires such should be cut off by

a loud voice spoke saying O he is come he is come the Comforter is come the Comforter is come I am delivered I am delivered Her Father hearing these words wept for joy and with a faultring voice said O these were her Grandfathers words who suffered in Queen Marys days She then kneeled down and gave humble and hearty thanks and praise to God for he deliverance which she continued to do till her voice grew weak and the Minister desired her to forbear and so they ended the day with Thanksgiving After which she was committed to the care of the Minister who writ this Relation lest Satan should again assault her His name was Mr. Lewis Hughs then Minister of St. Helens London from whence this Narrative was taken and who doth not mention what became of the Witch nor that the Maid was any more afflicted in this kind IV. AT Colchester in Essex there lived one Mr. Earl about 1630. A young man in those days to whom the Devil did frequently appear in the Shape of some of his acquaintance and would perswade him to three things 1. That he should abstain from Prayer 2. That he should never frequent the Church nor hear Sermons 3. That he should never marry But he would not hearken to these suggestions The night wherein he was married soon after he and his Wife were in bed the Devil came into the chamber and pulled two of his Teeth out of his head which put him to great pain whereupon he cryed out and when his Friends came in they found his mouth bloudy and used means to ease his pain This Mr. Earl was afterward for the space of ten years ever and anon assaulted by the Devil who under many appearances of his Friends did endeavour to seduce him and therefore he often applied himself to Mr. John Rogers then Minister of Dedham and Mr. Liddal of Colchester for comfort and instruction but chiefly to Mr. Liddal a very eminent Divine It once happened that the Devil came to Mr. Earl in Mr. Liddals Shape and as his custom was Mr. Earl proposed to him several cases of conscience but found that Mr. Liddal did not discourse after his ordinary rate which made him doubt whether he was not imposed upon by a deceitful Daemon Next day going to Mr. Liddals house he inquired whether he was with him the day before Mr. Liddal told him that he was not Then said Mr. Earl it was my Enemy in your Shape what a miserable man am I that know not when I speak with my adversary or my Friend Mr. Liddal replyed If you would know when you speak with a Spirit or with a man remember our Saviours advice who when he appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and they thought he had been a Spirit and were therefore troubled he said to them Handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have Luke 24.39 This counsel Mr. Earl followed for not long after the Devil coming to him in Mr. Liddals Shape he went to take hold on his arms but could feel no substance only a vanishing Shaddow it seems this Mr. Earl was once an Athiest who did not believe there was either God or Devil and would often walk in solitary and dismal places wishing for the sight of a Spirit and he was first assaulted by the Devil in a Church-yard and though God mercifully gave him repentance yet he was miserably haunted with an evil Spirit all his days Clarks Examples 1 vol. p. 510. V. A Remarkable Passage somewhat like this happened to a Turkish Chiaus or Gentleman who was baptized a Christian at London January 30. 1658. He being in his Chamber about three afternoon a Person in the likeness of Mr. Dury the Minister with whom he did most ordinarily converse came and sat by him This seeming Mr. Dury told him That he had waited with a great deal of patience as to the matter of his Baptism and that himself had endeavoured by all means possible to procure it to be performed with publick countenance And to that effect had dealt with Richard and several of his Council but that now he perceived it was in vain to strive or wait longer and therefore advised him not to be much troubled at it but setting his mind at rest to leave these thoughts and take up his resolution another way When the Chiaus heard this discourse being much perplexed in his Spirit he lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven uttering words to this effect O my Lord Jesus Christ what a miserable thing is this that a true Christian cannot be owned by other Christians and that one who believeth on thee cannot be baptized in thy name When he had thus spoken looking down he saw no body the appearance of Mr. Dury being vanished which was at first an amazement to him but recollecting himself he began to rejoice as hoping that Satan would be disappointed of his Plot. About eight in the evening the true Mr. Dury met with him who acquainted him with what had happened and thereby fully confirmed him how he had been imposed upon by Satan And he was soon after baptized according to his desire These Instances demonstrate that the Devil may possibly appear in the Shape of good men not only when dead but while alive Remark Provid p. 217. VI. ABout fifteen years since a woman at Edenburgh in Scotland was married to one John Ritchy in that City and lived five years with him bearing him five Children and then dyed In a few days after her burial her husband went to court another young woman in marriage He had a Comrade whom he acquainted with his intention and appointed him to meet at such a house near the Court of Guard that he might see his new Mistress They met accordingly and the two Lovers sat together on the bed-side and the Comerade sat opposite to them there being a Table between them and a Window at the front of the room which gave them light And while they two were dallying together the other smilling and looking about the room perceived plainly the body face of the dead wife in her burying cloths looking toward them in at the window Whereat he rose up affrighted saying to the other John What 's that Whereupon all three stood up looking and saw perfectly the buried woman lifting up her hands as they imagined to pull off the dead dress from her head but could not reach it The man threw his new Mistress out of his arms resolving presently to be gone but the other vowed he would not stir till he had got something to comfort his heart whereupon they procured a little brandy and then went away not without fear and astonishment After this the man fell sick and his Companion coming to him perswaded him to delay or wholly desist from his purpose of marrying But affection would not permit him to forbear and though not fully recovered from his frenzy he resolved to make

mind being imployed he might make the less account of what he should hear About midnight the Spirit begins to shake his fetters and his chain but Athenodorm without once moving his head sate still writing though the noise increased very much at length the Spirit comes on and stands at the Chamber door and then the Philosopher lifting up his head he perceived the Spectre to appear in the shape of an old man as is before related The Spirit made a sign to him with its finger as if it called him to come to it The Philosopher answered it with his hand intimating it should stay a little and so fell to writing again upon which the Ghost shaking its chain over his head Athenodorus looking up perceived that it made a sign to him as before whereupon he took the light and followed him The Spirit went very pitifully as if it carried its irons with great pain and going before him out into the street suddenly vanished away Athenodorus took some grass and leaves and laid them as a mark upon the place and next morning went to the Council of the City desiring them to dig and search in that place which being done they found a dead body all rotten whereof nothing remained but the bones that were chained The bones were taken up and buried though they knew not whose body it was or how it came there and after that there was never any Spirit seen in the House of Athenodorus Camer Hist Med. p. 290. XXVI IN the Annals of Bavaria we find two notable instances of the fury of these wicked Daemons In the year 1533. at Schiltac a little City in the Dutchy of Wirtemburg in Germany a malicious Spirit having for several days horribly affrighted and tormented the Inhabitants with dreadful howlings and cryes and especially the Inn-keeper at the Golden Star and his Family it was at length discovered that a woman-servant in that house kept intelligence with the Devil and that he had carnal knowledge of her Those who were of this opinion grounded upon very probable conjectures ordered the servant to depart thence into some other place And some days after that Inn together with the whole City was miserably burnt to ashes by a Fury altogether Diabolical in the space of two hours so that the people of the neighbouring Towns could not come thither soon enough to give them any assistance nor could any remedy be found to quench the raging violence of the fire It was especially observed that several circles of fire flying from all parts took one house after another so that those who went to help quench their neighbours were forced to leave them and run with all speed to their own where all was on fire This Satanical fire was so extream furious that they had much ado to prevent a Castle built with Free-stone and standing a great way o●● of the City from being consumed as the rest were it is not many years since saith my Author that I heard the particulars of this fearful visitation from the mouth of the Curate or Minister of that place who was very old and shewed him in writing an account of some marvellous illusions of the Devil a while before this sad accident and how this subtil Spirit counterfeited the singing and tunes of many birds and wondring that the Curate had as it were a Crown of long hair on the top of his head of divers colours he told him that the wicked Spirit had trimmed him so by throwing a hoop at his head He added that one day the same Spirit asked him and some other persons if they had ever heard a Raven croak and that thereupon he made such a croaking as amazed them all and if that hellish musick had lasted long they thought it would have distracted them with fear The old man further affirmed not without blushing that this enemy of our Salvation had oft times discovered to him and others all the secret sins they had committed so exactly and punctually that they were all forced to leave the place and get away with much shame and confusion Ibidem p. 293. XXVII THE second Relation is of a mischievous Daemon at Caumont a Village near the River of Rhine in Germany who first began to throw stones at people and knock at their doors but could never be perceived Soon after this malicious raging Devil appeared in the shape of a man and began to answer such questions as were demanded of him and to discover things stoln accusing slandering and defaming whom he pleased and raising great enmities and quarrels among the people He first burnt certain barns and after set fire to all the Houses but used one of the Inhabitants more cruelly than all the rest for he always haunted him whithersoever he went and having burnt his house to the ground he stirred up all the neighbours to fall upon this innocent man and murther him this forger of lies affirming that the Village was cursed and destined to destruction for the wickedness of that person who thereupon was driven away and forced to live abroad in the Fields having no other covert but Heaven for no man would receive him into his house holding him to be an execrable and damned wretch Yet to satisfy the desire of his neighbours and countreymen he to make proof of his innocence took a red hot iron into his bare hands without hurt according to the custom of those times notwithstanding which this raging desperate Fury burnt all the Corn in the Fields thereabout and committed so many horrible outrages that they complained to the Archbishop who sent some of the Clergy to exorcise him at first the Spirit increased his fury and threw stones at them hurting some but at length he pretended to be gone out of the Countrey yet as soon as the Priests were departed he shews himself again as before saying he had laid hid all this while under one of their Garments After this making a great howling the Ghost departed out of these quarters and vanished into the Air. Ibidem p. 293. XXVIII A Certain German in our time travelled toward Italy in the company of a Souldier much given to Conjuring by whom he suffered himself to be so much governed that one time this Conjurer made him stand within a Circle fortified with so many Characters that this ignorant man believed himself safe enough from the power of all the Devils in Hell Hereupon the Wizard used so many horrible imprecations and conjurations that a wicked Spirit being called and invocated by his terrible charms at length appeared as it were much against his will like a man exceedingly affrighted wearing a hat all torn with a great feather hanging on it having about him a sheet tattered and torn all to rags almost looking like a dead Corps that had been dried against the Fire or in the Sun and after eaten with worms with a ghastly countenance and his feet not like those of a man As he thus stood the Conjurer would

that at the end of Mr. John T●●masons Psalter and hath been continually used in the houses in the same Town where that young man lived and no doubt this Spirit found it there or was present when it was read and could therefore repeat it it being no new thing for him to speak the word of God for he made use of Davids Psalms against Gods own Son St. Matth. 4.6 Afterward he told the young man that he should say this Prayer the first time he came to Church first on the threshold of the Church door with his face turned from the Church commanding him to bid the people say this Prayer also and admonish them to amend their lives and leave off their cursing and swearing and desist from all other sins whereby God would appease his anger Having said thus to the Lad as he was going he added Rise be thou whole and sin no more and so departed from him through the roof hole of the house Five days after he appeared the second time before it was clear day as the Lad was sitting in his bed and sung the twenty third Psalm My Shepherd is the living Lord The young man had a strong inclination to go abroad though he saw nothing and putting on his cloths he went out of the house where he saw in the South-west the Heavens open and one coming down from thence who at length came and stood by him in the yard with a Priests habit on which reached down to his feet the habit being red and white with a red cross on the back and told him He should not at all doubt but he came from G●● and therewith left him hastily ascending to the place from whence he came Next Sunday night Jan. 27. ●e appeared to him the third time as he lay awake in the same form as at first and asked him if he had declared what he had commanded The young man answered yes He replyed Not so earnestly as it ●●ght to have been done inquiring withal whether he ●ad not seen some Signs in the Heavens The Lad answered That he had seen no Signs but other people ●ad seen two Suns in the Heavens Samuel Powelson Eclender Anderson Sineve Jonas Daughter and others of Eldivig witnessed in Court they had seen these Suns He then said They did look indeed like Suns though they were not but a Sign that they should begin to keep Holiday or Sunday from the time they saw the true Sun arise which was on Saturday half an hour past twelve in the afternoon and that the Sermon which was ●●eached on Sunday should be preached on Saturday in the afternoon and that when they rowed out to Church they should sing My Shepherd is the living Lord And 〈◊〉 the Lad was going to wake his Father-in-Law who then lay in the bed with him he departed as before through the hole of the Chimney Next night Jan. 28. he appeared to him the fourth time being awake as before The young man asked him who he was He answered That he was St. John 〈◊〉 lay in the bosom of Jesus at the Lords Supper and 〈◊〉 no more but vanished away as formerly He 〈◊〉 to him the fifth time in the night presently after Mr. Hellison the Minister was gone to visit his Congregation and asked the Lad if he had declared to the Minister what he had commanded him The young man replyed yes adding That the Mi●●●ter thought it very strange that he should appear to him who was so great a sinner Whereto the pretended St. John answered That the Lord had given many 〈◊〉 and giveth yet many that are not so plain and ●●●fest as to be understood of all The news of these Apparitions became publick all over the Countrey and many ignorant people put 〈◊〉 faith therein whereupon I sent for this young man and examined him earnestly admonishing him that he should renounce all such delusio●● but he still persisted in affirming that all was rea● which he had related So that his fame was spread all over the Islands and in all Congregations the Vulgar gave great credit to his Visions especially Servants for the sake of this New Holyday which many diligently observed but yet could not refra●● from swearing and cursing to which they were as much exhorted as to the other and added many more Visions and Stories than were true and used divers Arguments to justifie the truth of them whereby many simple Persons were seduced from the truth of the Holy Scriptures and the commands of Christ and rise up against their Teachers as it happened to me among the rest I therefore sent to every Pastor in the Countrey a true Copy of the young mans confession adding my censure of the falsity of them thereto that they might read the● in the Pulpit and admonish their Hearers to 〈◊〉 in believing the Infallible Word of God and 〈◊〉 seek another way of worshipping him than what is contained therein At length it happened that this Spiritual Person this Inlightned Soul who had su●● wonderful Revelations fell the next year by the inducement of that unclean Spirit into the sin of Fornication This struck a great damp into his adm●rers who then began to believe that it was only a white Devil that had communicated these things to this young Prophet Therefore I referr'd the great scandal and disturbance he had given to the Congregations to the Reverend Dr. J. Swaning Archbishop of Zealand in writing from whom I rece●ed Orders by the Kings Command that I should publickly reprove and admonish the said Jacob Oluffson out of the word of God and likewise upon his declaring himself sincerely penitent should absolve him for the same and represent to the people their great error Which was done accordingly 〈◊〉 St. John Baptists day 1668. whereby God be ●●ased this design of the evil Spirit was defeated and all this emotion supprest so that nothing of it ●●th been since observed Ibidem p. 385. LVII IOHN of Hemback in Germany was carried by his 〈◊〉 Mother who was a Witch to one of those Night ●eetings where Witches Assemble and Meet the De●● and because he had learned to play on the Pipe he was commanded by her to strike up and to get into 2 Tree that they might the better hear the Mu●●● Which he doing and looking upon the Dancers ●ow odd and rediculous they were in their motion and gestures being struck with admiration at the Novelty of the matter suddenly burst out into these words Good God what a Mad Company have we ●ere Which was no sooner uttered but down 〈◊〉 John pipe and all and hurt his shoulder with the tumbling cast who when he called to the Company to help him found himself alone for they were all vanished John of Hemback told what had happened but the people knew not what to make of it till some of that wicked Crew who danced to his pipe were apprehended upon other suspitions as Cathar●●● Praevotia Kelvers Orilla and others who made

her no hurt And about three nights after there came a white thing to her and the night after a gray one who spoke and told her they would not harm her but help her to a husband who should maintain her ever after and that afterward they came into her bed every other night and suckt the lower parts of her body Upon these Informations and Confessions Elizabeth Clark was Arraigned Convicted and Executed at Chelmsford March 27. 1645. Inform. Witches p. 6. LXXV ANN Leach of Misley in Essex was likewise apprehended for the same horrid Crime of Witchcraft at that time against whom Richard Edwards of Mannintree deposed That one Sunday afternoon driving his Cows home by her house a black Cow of his which he judged to be very well fell down and died two days after and the next day passing by her house again a white Cow fell down and died in the very same place and being both opened there could be no disease discovered which might occasion their death He likewise declared that some months before he had a Child nursed by one Goody Wiles who dwelt near Elizabeth Clark and Elizabeth Gooding another Witch which Child was taken with strange Fits extending the limbs and rowling the eyes and in two days died and he verily believes Ann Leach and Elizabeth Gooding were the death of his Child and so it appear'd by Ann Leaches own Confession which follows Ann Leach being examined said That she had a grey Imp sent her and that she with Elizabeth Clark and Gooding sent their Imps about a year before to kill a black and white Cow of Mr. Edwards which was done accordingly there were three Imps sent a black a grey and a white She likewise confest that thirty years before she sent a gray Imp to kill two Horses of Mr. Braggs of Misley out of malice to his Wife who told her she was suspected to be a naughty woman And that she and Gooding sent each of them an Imp to murder Mr. Edwards Child hers being white and the others black and that she had her white Imp and two others of Robert Peirces Wife of Stoak in Suffolk he being her brother and that these Imps went from one to the other doing mischief wherever they went and that if she did not imploy them she was never well but when she sent them to act her revenge she was very healthy that they usually suckt these Teats which were discovered on her body and often spoke to her in an hollow voice which she plainly understood assuring her she should never feel hell torments she confessed further that upon a small quarrel with Elizabeth the daughter of Robert Kirk of Mannintree about a Quoif which the Maid refused to give her she sent her Imp to destroy her who accordingly lay languishing a whole year and then died And that she sent her grey Imp to kill the daughter of the Widdow Rawlins of Misley because she was put out of her farm and Mrs. Rawlins put in She also confest that she knew of Elizabeth Goodings sending an Imp to vex and torment John Taylors Wife of Mannintree and would have discovered it but the Devil would not suffer her and lastly that about eight weeks before Elizabeth Gooding Ann West and her self met at the house of Eliz. Clark where there was a book read wherein there was no goodness She was likewise tryed and executed at Chelmsford the same year 1645. Ibidem p. 8. LXX HEllen the Wife of Thomas Clark and daughter to Ann Leach was also accused for Witchcraft at the same time Richard Glascocks Wife of Mannintree deposed That there happening some difference between Edward Parsleys Wife and this Hellen she heard Hellen say as she passed by their door that Mary their eldest daughter should rue for it whereupon the Maid instantly fell sick and died six weeks after Edward Parsley her Father confirmed the same and said he did verily believe Hellen Clark was the cause of her death who being her self examined confest That about six weeks before the Devil appeared to her in in her house in the likeness of a white Dog and that she called this Imp or Familiar Spirit Elimanzer and that she often fed it and that the Spirit spoke to her very audible and bid her deny Jesus Christ which she did then assent to but denied that she killed the young Maid She was executed at Mannintree April 15. 1645. Ibidem p. 10. LXXI ANN West and Rebecca her daughter were likewise of this black Society against whom Prudence the Wife of Thomas Hart of Lawford in Essex deposed upon Oath that about eight weeks before going one Sunday to the Parish Church about half a mile from her house being about twenty weeks gone with Child and to her thinking very well and healthy upon a sudden she was taken with great pains and miscarried before she came home And about two months after one night when she was in bed something fell down upon her right side but being dark she could not discover its shape and that she was presently taken lame on that side with extraordinary pains and burning and was certainly perswaded that Ann and Rebecca West were the cause of her pains having expressed much malice toward het and counted her their greatest enemy Mr. John Edes a Minister deposed That Rebec●● West confessed to him that about seven years before she began to have familiarity with the Devil by the instigation of her mother Ann West and that he appeared in several shapes As once like a proper young man who desired to have familiarity with her promising that he would then do what she desired and avenge her on her enemies requiring her also to deny God and put her faith and trust in him which being agreed to she ordered him to avenge her on one Thomas Hart of Lawford by killing his Son who was soon after taken sick and died whereupon Rebecca told the Minister she thought the Devil could do like God in destroying whom he pleased after which she gave him entertainment and he lay with her as a man She likewise confest to him that when she lived at Rivenhall in Essex her Mother came and told her The barley corn was picked up meaning that the Son of one George Francis a chief Inhabitant of that Town was dead and his father very much fuspected he was bewitched to death and her mother hearing of it said Be it unto him according to his Faith. Mr. Matthew Hopkins deposed upon Oath that going to the Prison where Rebecca West and five others were he asked her how she first came to be a Witch who told him that her mother and she going one evening after Sunset toward Mannintree her Mother sharged her to keep secret whatever she saw which she promising to do they went both to the house of Elizabeth Clark where they found her together with Ann Leach Elizabeth Gooding and Hellen Clark and that instantly the Devil appeared in the

assistant in his affairs and fortunes But extream Poverty irksom Old Age want of Friends the contempt injury and hard-heartedness of ill Neighbours working upon a Soul low sunk into the body and wholly void of the Divine Life does sometimes kindle so sharp so eager and so piercing a desire of satisfaction and revenge that the shrieks of men when they are a murthering the howling of a Wolf in the Fields in the night or the squeeking and roaring of tortured Beasts do not so certainly bring those of their own kind to their aid as this powerful Magick of a pensive and complaining Soul in the bitterness of its affliction attracts the help of those evil over-officious Spirits of which there are several pregnant instances in the foregoing Relations So that it is probable that they are oft the forwardest to hang Witches who first made them so by their cruelty and uncharitableness and it may be have no more goodness nor true piety than these they so willingly prosecute but are as wicked as they though with better luck or more discretion offending no further than the Law will permit them and therefore they securely let the poor man or woman starve for want of relief though with a great deal of clamour of Justice they will revenge the death of their Hog or Cow. We may further inquire why Spirits so seldom now-a-days appear especially those that are good Whether it be not the wickedness of the present age as we have said or the general prejudice men have against all Spirits that appear which they straightway declare to be Devils Or whether it arise from the frailty of humane Nature that is not usually able to bear the appearance of a Spirit no more than other Animals are for into what Agonies Horses and Dogs are cast upon their approach we have already heard and is in every ones mouth and may be a good circumstance to distinguish a real Apparition from our own fancies and imaginations which these Creatures are not capable of Or lastly whether it be the condition of Spirits themselves who it may be without some violence done to their own natures cannot become visible it happily being as troublesome to them to continue visible for some time as it is for men that dive to hold their breath in the water yet it does not follow from hence that there are no such Appearances though some it may be will not believe it because they themselves never saw any for that can be no evidence that they are not extant in nature since every man hath a reasonable Soul in himself which is an immortal living Spirit and yet none ever saw it forsaking its Habitation and leaving the Body for as long as we are in this mortal Body we can naturally see nothing but what is corporeal nay our eyes are so weak that we cannot discern many real substances without the help of an Instrument invented for that purpose To confirm this truth of Apparitions if we will but admit the free confessions of Witches concerning their Imps which we find they so frequently see and converse withal know them by their names and do obeysance to them the point would be quite put out of all doubt and their proofs would be so many that no vollume would be hardly able to contain them But these our Adversaries say are all metancholly old Women who dote and bring themselves into danger by their own Fancies and Conceits But that they do not dote I am better assured of saith my Author a very learned Person than of their not doting that say they do for to satisfy my own Curiosity I have examined several of them and they have discourst as cunningly as any of their quality and education● But by what I have read and observed I discern they serve a very perfidious Master who plays wreaks many times on purpose to betray and destroy them I demand concerning these Witches who confess their contract and frequent converse with the Devil some with him in one shape others in another whether meer melancholly and imagination can put Powders Ointments and such like things into their hands Can impress Marks and Teats upon their Bodies so deep as to take away all sence in that place Can put Silver and Gold into their hands which afterwards proves but either Counters Leaves Shells or some such like useless matter These real effects cannot be meer melancholly for if a man receive any thing into his hand be it what it will there was some body that gave it him and therefore the Witch receiving some real thing from this or that other shape which appeared unto her it is an evident sign it was an external thing that she saw and not a figure only of her melancholly imagination There are innumerable examples of this kind besides those I have set down which are undeniable to all men of sense so that we need not farther insist upon them And from the whole saith my Author I am not ashamed to profess that I am as well assured in my own Judgment of the Existence of Spirits and the Appearance and Communication of Evil Ones too and with Witches as that I have met with men in Westminster Hall or seen Beasts in Smithfield FINIS There are Newly Published one and Twenty other very useful pleasant and necessary Books all sold by Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside I. FEmale Excellency or the Ladies Glory Illustrated in the Worthy Lives and Memorable Actions of Nine Famous Women who have been renowned either for Virtue or Valour in several Ages of the World As I. Deborah the Prophetess II. The Valiant Judith III. Queen Esther IV. The Virtuous Susanna V. The Chast Lucretia VI. Voadicia Queen of Brittain in the Reign of Nero Emperor of Rome Containing an Account of the Original Inhabitants of Brittain The History of Danaus and his Fifty Daughters who murdered their Husbands in one night Of the Arrival of Brute Of the Two Giants Corineus and Gogmagog Of King Lear and his Three Daughters Of Belin and Brennus who took the City of Rome Of the manner of Julius Caesars invading Brittain and of the Valour of Voadicia under whose conduct the Brittains slew seventy thousand Romans with many other remarkable particulars VII Marianne Wife to King Herod VIII Clotilda Queen of France IX Andegona Princess of Spain The whole adorned with Poems and Pictures to each History By R. B. Price One Shilling II. A View of the English Acquisitions in Guinea and the East-Indies With an Account of the Religion Government Wars strange Customs Beasts Serpents Monsters and other Observables in those Countreys And among others the Life and Death of Mahomet the Grand Impostor with the Principal Doctrines of the Turkish Religion as they are display'd in the Alcoran Two Letters one written by the Great Mogol and the other by the King of Sumatra in the East-Indies to our King James the First of an unusual and extravagant stile The