dwelling in a true Believer and Pious Soul 5. Of the Name of this particular Spirit that speaks out of the Possessed Lad his Authority and the cause of his cruel Works As to the First he answered all my Questions affirmatively and confessed that all things even their Infernal Government are executed according to the Will of God But that word he would not name till he was constrained by a Command in the Name of the most High which then he uttered storming Then I proceeded to all the Ordinary Attributes of God which tho against his will he owned saying with a roaring Voice Yes it is true At the Second he grew very impatient Gnashing with his Teeth and would not name the name of Christ till I constrained him as before and alledged the Example of the Devil in the Gospel that had spoke concerning Christ. I Then proceeded to the Third Whereupon he acknowledged an Order amongst them but would not confess of what Order himself was but said Thou askest more than is needful for thee to know I replied But thou knowest well enough that I know full well what pitiful things you Spirits are without God's Permission He. I know it or else thou would'st forbear to vex me thus I. How comest thou to be such a silly Devil that thou canst speak nothing but High Dutch He. Are you Men then all of the same Capacity I passed then to the former things and spake to him of the Blood of Christ c. He. I 'll be gone I. No thou shalt first answer me to this He answered I know Christ has redeemed Men and therefore we can do nothing to you without Permission And repeated divers times I 'll be gone At last I said Go then and be Hanged And immediately he went forth with a great Outcry whereupon the poor Lad being come as out of an Extasie after divers applications returned to himself again I asked the Devils their Names he said his Name was Pretty Betty the other was call'd Longtale and the third Cuckow and these three possessed the Lad whereof two go forth but one of them keeps always possession of the Body The next day being the day of the Circumcision of Christ I went on where I left off the day before and so came To the Fourth Of the Holy Ghost which he resisted hard but at last owned all that I demanded on that head but within half an hour would be gone But I would not let him go according to his will till he had answered me fully and then he went away as the day before If we interrogate the Devil too profoundly or too curiously he answers Thou askest more than is fit for thee to know or permitted to me to say Three German Miles from hence dwells one Mr. Crom whose little Daughter of about Twelve Years Old is in like manner possessed out of whom the Devil speaks all manner of Languages imaginable The END Neither the Country nor the Time is mentioned in the Letter ADVERTISEMENT 1. THe Revelation Unvailed Or an Essay towards the Discovering 1. When many Scripture Prophesies had their Accomplishment and turned into History 2. What are now Fulfilling 3. What rest still to be Fulfilled with a guess at the time of them With an Appendix proving that Pagan Rome was not Babylon Rev. 17. And that the Jews shall be Converted By Mr. Samuel Petto of Sudbury in Suffolk Price 1 s. 6 d. 2. The Life and Death of the late Ancient and Eminent Divine Mr. Hanser'd Knollys who Died in the 93 d. Year of his Age. Written with his own Hand to the Year 1672. and continued in General in an Epistle By Mr. William Kiffien To which is added His last Legacy to the Church Price Stitch'd 6 d. 3. A Compendious History of the first Inventers and Institutors of the most Famous Arts Mysteries Laws Customs and Manners in the whole World Together with many other Rarities and Remarkable things never before made Publick To which are added several Curious Inventions peculiarly attributed to England and Englishmen The whole Work Alphabetically digested Being very helpful to the Readers of History Price 1 s. All Printed for John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultry
A COLLECTION Of Modern Relations of Matter of Fact CONCERNING Witches Witchcraft Upon the Persons of People TO Which is prefixed a Meditation concerning the Mercy of God in preserving us from the Malice and Power of Evil Angels Written by the Late Lord Chief Justice Hale UPON Occasion of a Tryal of several Witches before him PART I. LONDON Printed for John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultrey MDCXCIII Price 1 s. Licensed 18. May 1693. Edward Cooke ADVERTISEMENT MAthematical Divinity 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 Printed for John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultrey 1693. Price 1 s. THE PREFACE IT was not to convince the Atheists and Sadduces of this Age of the Existence of Spirits and by consequence of a Deity that I began this Collection They have the Works of the Creation both of the Great and of the Lesser World and an admirable Scene of Providence exhibited to the rest of Man-kind in the Posterity of Abraham and Recorded in the Sacred Writings which if they were disposed with well defecated Minds gently putting by the Leaves and the Prickles and the mean outside Covering whereby they are Veiled from the Prophane to inspect the internal Form and Composure and deeply Contemplate the admirable Accomodations of all the Parts the Design and Tendency of the Whole and the Secret Powers by which all is Sustained and Ordered they might by the help of a certain Divine Light which doth often illustrate such Souls so employed discern a more Noble Evidence and satisfactory Conviction of those things which the Ignis Fatuus of a vitiated Natural Vnderstanding however improved as is imagined by the accomplishments of what we commonly call Learning but is in truth but a superficial thing in respect of true Knowledge cannot receive and be assured that Christianity is indeed a Noble and Divine Philosophy cast out like a Ball among the Children of Men that they should catch it that catch could and accordingly is very differently and by most very unworthily entertained in the World not only by the sensual Swine and by the Muckworms but by such as would be thought to be of a more generous Strain Cocks of the Game and yet prefer a Corn of Barly and a Feather before an inestimable solid Jewel But not only their Wills which are a great Byas upon the Judgment but the Minds and Consciences of most of these People are so Corrupted that they can not or will not acquiesce in these Matters even in greater Evidence than what they freely act upon in Matters more agreeable to their own Genius and corrupt Affections being as averse to subject their Vnderstanding to the Divine Wisdom as their Wills to the Laws and VVill of God tho the Subjection of the one is no less necessary to the attainment of the great end of Man accordingly designed in the Divine Methods of Providence than that of the other And therefore to have undertaken such a Work as this for the Service of such People I can hardly think would have been to much purpose and besides it would have obliged me to such Proofs and Evidence for the satisfaction of others as I conceive not so absolutely necessary for my purpose in many particulars though I shall lay no farther stress upon any of the Relations when I come to make use of them than I am satisfied they may reasonably bear But my Design is this Being well satisfied that much of the Good and Evil which occurs in the World not only in relation to particular Persons but whole Families Cities and Nations which is commonly attributed to Humane Management or I know not what blind Fortune or Chance is in truth produced by the Secret prevalent Energy and Operations of certain Invisible Intelligent Agents which not only order and dispose divers Occurrences which to us Mortals seem very minute and inconsiderable to be Occasions of great Consequences but do also insensibly and yet effectually bind and impede or excite and promote the Actions of Men to produce Events some much short some beyond and some contrary to their Designs And that our common Notion of Spirits that is of those Invisible Agents which I conceive to be of very different Natures and Powers are greatly and unhappily mistaken And lastly that much of the Evils which afflict Mankind are effected by Spirits of an inferior Nature and Power and but of the next degree in knowledge and Power above us Mortals and such as are usually imployed by Witches and Magitians I suppose that a better Vnderstanding of the Nature Power and Operations of these Spirits of the Means by which they get Advantage against us and of the Means whereby we may either prevent the same or be relieved and extricated out of their Power would be a matter of no little Vse and Benefit to Men. And in order to this I have begun A Collection of Modern Relations of Matters of Fact concerning Spirits but principally of Apparitions and Witches intending in Conclusion to put together my Observations upon them and what others I have met with in print of this or former Ages for this purpose And because this Wicked and even in Things wherein they think themselves Wise Foolish Age have strangely imposed upon themselves or been imposed upon by the Efficacy of the Devil or his Instruments to a Disbelief of the being of Witches or of much of that Power which they exercise through the Instruction and Assistance of those Spirits and by consequence of their Agency in many Mischiefs and Evils which we ignorantly attribute to other Causes And also of some Means which might be useful to detect them and to disappoint their Wicked Operations whereby many innocent and good People are left exposed to their Malice who might otherwise be relieved I thought fit to begin with a Publication of part of my Collection concerning Witches reserving divers others which I have for a more Compleat Information and my Collection of Relations of Apparitions till another time And in the mean time shall be very glad of any good Information or Assistance in any thing relating thereunto Wherein I desire only Certainty as to Matter of Fact and then how Incredible soever it may seem to the Vulgar or such as are skilled in the common Notions of Philosophy I care not For I am well satisfied that divers great Truths cannot but seem so to them To this I thought it very proper to
and assistance take all opportunities to reduce Men to the Obedience of God to their Duty to him confirms them in it detects and discovers and convinceth the Tempter and upholds the Spirits of Men against him He will convince the World of Judgment by judging the Prince of this World that is by detecting his Sophistry his Falsity and the ill consequences thereof 2. Such as concern the inward Man and the outward Man also the Ministration of the Good Angels who are as diligent to counter-work the Evil Angels in their Mischiefs as they can be sedulous to inflict them they are Ministering Spirits When the Devil was using a slight to gain the Body of Moses to make an Idol of him Michael resisted him The Evil Angels are full of Power and full of Malice against the Children of Men and on the other side the good Angels are no whit inferior to them in Power and are Benevolent and Loving to the Children of Men and do many and many times when we know it not prevent us from many mischiefs that these malevolent Regiments of Hell would inflict upon our Bodies and our Souls And doubtless as we see in the visible Administration of the World or of any one Kingdom thereof there is continual Diligence on one side by seditious turbulent minded Men to break the Peace of a Kingdom or City or place which is with much diligence watchfulness and vigilancy attended and prevented by wise and good Men so there is no less care and vigilancy and counterworking by the Pure and Good Angels against the mischievous designs of these evil Spirits against the Children of Men. IV. Natural Impediments to the working of that Evil Spirit 1. In reference to the Soul and inward Man God hath fortified the Will of Man with the priviledge of Liberty tho those Evil Angels may sollicit perswade and tempt yet Almighty God hath placed this Bar in his way viz. The freedom of the Will that all the Devils in Hell cannot take from him It is an impregnable Fort that can only be taken by Dedition but never by Storm or Assault And this is partly the reason of that Text Resist the Devil and he will flie from you He knows that where there is Resistance of the Will there is no entrance for him and gives over the Assault 2. In reference to the Body or outward Man He cannot ordinarily exercise any Violence upon the outward Man but by the Mediation of things Corporeal and most ordinarily by the mediation of Mankind He cannot kill a Man but by the Sword of a Man-slayer nor rob or plunder but by a Caldean or Sabean nor infect the Body but by the means of a Witch And all this God hath most wisely ordered in this manner that tho the Impure Spirit it self be out of the reach or regiment of Human Justice or Government yet the Instrument without which he cannot ordinarily work is within the reach of Human Justice or Government whereby the wise and good God hath consequently as it were reduced him viz. in his Instruments without which he cannot act under the very Power of Human Laws and Government I say ordinarily he cannot act any external mischief upon Man but by such Means and Instruments as are under the cohersion of Human Laws I say Ordinarily for when this Irae Divinae satelles is Commissioned from the God of Heaven he may act immediately from himself according to the tenor or extent of his Commission but Ordinarily and Naturally he cannot Not Finished Doctor Pordage his Relation of the wonderful Apparitions Visions and unusual things which were seen in his Family in the Year 1649. DOctor John Pordage Rector of Bradfield in the County of Berks being the Eighteenth of September 1654 Charged with certain Articles then and afterward exhibited to the Commissioners for ejecting of Scandalous Ministers amongst other things for entertaining at his House one Everard a reputed Conjurer and that he had frequent and familiar Converse with Angels and concerning the Vision of a Dragon and Apparitions of Spirits c. As to the Entertainment of Everard he answered and confessed that about four Years before he was received into his House for about three Weeks and no longer but not as a Conjurer but as a workman at Harvest and that he never heard the least intimation that he was ever suspected to be a Conjurer till after his Departure but afterward was strongly enclined to believe that he was And concerning the Vision of a Dragon and Apparition of Spirits I will not confess saith he any Apparition in particular till they be proved lest I should seem to accuse my self they being brought in as a Crime against me and as Instruments to Condemn me Yet in general I acknowledge that some four Years since there were many strange and wonderful Apparitions in my House But what can these in Justice amount to tho attested by Oath and confessed particularly by my self when brought before those who profess themselves Christians and are acquainted with the History of the Holy Scriptures Pray was not Job a pious sincere and eminently Righteous Man Yet how was he scared with Dreams and terrified with Visions Job 7. 14. Did not Zachariah the Prophet Chap. 3. see Satan standing at the right hand of Josua to resist him Did not John Rev. 12. in a Vision behold a great red Dragon that made War with Michael and the Holy Angels And was not Christ himself tempted of the Devil by Voice and Vision Matt. 4. 6 8. Now the Servant is not greater than his Lord Jo. 15. 20. and therefore not exempted from the like attempts of the Devil I beseech you consider whether this Earth be not the Place where the Devil walks up and down seeking whom he may Devour How then can Bradfield or any other Place be exempted from his Appearing when God permits And may not all this be for the manifesting of his Glory Goodness and Power And who can tell whose Family may be next exposed by God's permission to be tryed and proved by the Representation of Satan And I desire you seriously to consider how any such Apparitions raised by the Devil and permitted by God for his own Glory argue me either Ignorant Scandalous or Insufficient Surely it rather argues that he hath blest me with a strong Faith in that he permitted such great Tryals and made me instrumental to overcome them by Prayer and Fasting If it can be proved I ever so much as looked toward the unlawful Art of Black Magick or that any Evil Spirits were raised up by any compact of mine explicit or implicit or that those Evil Apparitions were subdued and overcome by any other means than by God's Blessing upon our Fasting and Prayer I shall judge my self worthy of Punishment But otherwise it is hard measure to be Prosecuted for the Malice of the Devil toward me inflicting what I was Passive in and could not help especially by those who profess
Objects we saw in this Dark World I must add this that were but the Eyes of Men opened to see the Kingdom of the Dragon in this World with the multitudes of Evil Angels which are every where tempting and ensnaring Men they would be amused and not dare to be by themselves without good Consciences and a great assurance of the love and favour of God in protecting them by the Ministration of the holy Angels 2. As to the Objects of the outward Smell I must let you know that within the three Weeks space in which these Wonders appeared at several times the Evil Spirits and Angels did raise up such noysom poysonous Smells that both the inward and outward part of those that were exercised with them became much disturbed and offended For through the sympathy betwixt the Body and the Soul the sulphurous hellish Smells much exercised both by Magical Tincturation 3. In reference to the Objects of Tast You must know that sometimes both in the day and night we were exercised with the loathsom hellish tasts of Sulphur Brimstone Soot and Salt mingled together Which were so loathsom to our Natures as that they were ready to cause great Distempers and Nauseousness in our Bodies but the Invisible Power of Jehovah supported us beyond our own Strength 4. In relation to our inward and outward Touch we were much exercised both in Body and Soul As to our Souls we sometimes felt such strange Magical Wounds and Prickings by the fiery Darts of the Devil that none can express but those that have been exercised in some measure as Job was who felt the Poyson of those invenomed Arrows which came upon him by the permission of the Almighty which like the Scorpions in the Revelations sting and pierce those they touch As to our Bodies we found material Impressions from the Powers of Darkness very noxious in themselves to our natural Spirits and Life but cheerfully born by Invisible support and quiet submission unto the Will of God But to conclude By these wonderful and strange Exercises we could not but have strong apprehensions and lively resemblances of the Torments and Miseries of Hell where Sulphur Fire Brimstone poysonous Smells Darkness monstrous horrid Shapes and Sights are the entertainment of the imprisoned Spirits But now I come to the other Internal World which we may term Mundus Luminosus or the Light World which with its various Objects was then likewise opened to the inward Senses First then I shall here set forth the Objects of the inward Eye which were then seen by us There appeared then to our inward Sight multitudes almost innumerable of pure Angelical Spirits in figurative Bodies which were clear as the Morning-Star and transparent as Christal These were Mahanaim or the Lord's Host appearing all in manly Forms sending forth a Tincture like the swift Rays of the hot Beams of the Sun which we powerfully felt to the refreshing of our Souls and enlivening of our Bodies Now beholding the multiplicity variety and beauty of these Spirits with the various Objects and Wonders of this World Cloathed in the purest Tincture of Light and Colour we could not but bless the God of Heaven who by the Eyes of Wisdom and Hand of Power brought forth such Glorious Creatures and now shewed them in their several Beauties to us in a time of Tryal and Temptation Secondly In relation to our inward sense of Hearing there were many musical Sounds and Voices like those which John heard upon Mount Zion then heard by us the sweetness harmony and pleasantness of which cannot be expressed nor that Spiritual Joy and Delight which by them was infused into our Souls uttered by the Tongue being ready to ravish our Spirits into the highest Praises of the Eternal Jehovah Thirdly In relation to the Faculty of Smelling the Tongue can hardly express those Odours of Paradise and heavenly Perfumes which then were smelt piercing into the very Spirit with a cherishing Tincture besides that quickning Virtue which by them was communicated and insinuated into the Spirits of our outward Bodies which like a Cordial had been able to have renewed the strength of our languishing Nature Fourthly Our Sense or Faculty of Tasting was very pleasantly entertained with those invisible Dews which were sweeter than Hony or the Hony-comb and therefore deserve to be called the Dews of Heaven with which instead of Food we were many times wonderfully Refreshed Fifthly In relation to the Sense of spiritual Contaction that was also delighted with its heavenly Objects For none can utter that pleasing Impression which the burning Tincture of this Light World afforded us coming like a hot Cordial into the centre of our Spirit being sensibly felt in the inward Parts so as to cause much joy and heavenly Pleasure which penetrated through our Souls giving us occasion to bless praise and magnifie the Lord. Thus for the space of three Weeks or a Month were we exercised inwardly and outwardly through that great Conflict which was betwixt those two Worlds and their Inhabitants The Dark World sometimes afflicting us with dreadful Shapes abominable Smells loathsom Tasts with other Operations of the Evil Angels The Light World at other times opening and relieving us with odoriferous Perfumes most sweet Dews glorious Visions and Angelical Harmony which the Lord favoured us with to shew his extraordinary Love in this Succouring us in extraordinary Exercises and Tryals Thus much for those two internal Worlds spread throughout the visible World in which the Evil and good Angels are more immediately than in this visible Air to which they cannot be commensurate by reason of their spiritual Natures each of them abiding in their distinct Principle the the one sort being in Joy the other being in Torment the one in Light the other in Darkness according to the Scripture Besides these two Worlds we had an opening of the Eternal World called in Scripture the World to come or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2. 5. from the futurity of its full and clear manifestation and a precursory entrance into the most Holy Place by a Divine Transportation into the Glory of the Majesty agreeable to that of St. John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me c. Here were seen heard and felt unutterable Mysteries of that Kingdom which are not yet to be divulged in regard of the Pride Ignorance Prejudice and Envy of many in the World being reserved for those humble gracious Spirits which are waiting in Silence for the second coming of the Son of Man But now it is time to come to the third Particular which was the effects and Impressions left upon our Spirits by these wonderful Exercises and Manifestations After this we began more clearly to see that Strait and Narrow Way which leads to Life Eternal which we call the Virgin Life or the Life of Purity and Righteousness
at Ratle's door about Twi-light or Day-gate and I gave two Shillings of this Mony for two Pecks of Barly Pease and Wheat mix'd to Will. Parkley He told me if I would kill Mrs. Alice Corbet I should never Want He twitches me at the Heart as if it were drawn together with Pincers I have I confess a Witch-pap which is Sucked by the Unclean Spirit This Sucking lasteth from Supper-time till after Cock-crowing The Devil did bid me deny to Mr. Wellfet that he was sent by me I had a purpose to practice Witchcraft when I begg'd a piece of Cloth and Black-hood I confess that I did by this Evil Spirit kill Dick Warren which was done by my wicked Heart and wicked Eyes If I had not employ'd this wicked Spirit I had not hurt him I lent Lancelot Harrison eight Shillings of the ten Shillings the Devil gave me I did forsake God because I promised the Devil to serve him The Devil bid me not to tell of Doll Bilby This is the full Confession of Alice Huson in her own words suited to the Questions I propounded to her being spoken to my self so I testifie Timothy Wellfet Vicar of Burton Agnes A horrible Relation of a Trumpeter his Wife and Daughter Debauched by a Wicked foul Spirit Transcribed from a Letter written by a very Intelligent Person in Holland A Trumpeter who had served the Prince in his Wars upon his return from the War finding many Executed for Witchcraft in that Country absented himself and hid himself He being miss'd and they knowing no reason for his Absconding enquiry was made after him supposing he might hav been guilty of some evil Action or other Theft or Adultery c. But found nothing against him However they continued their Enquiry till at last they found where he was and told him he must go to the Prince Whereupon he cried out I am a Dead Man And being asked what was the matter He said he was a Witch and must Die. To the Prince he was brought before whom to the amazement of him and all Men for none suspected him in the least he confessed that one day walking in the Wood he had met in a By Walk a very handsom Woman with whom entring into Discourse he endeavoured to perswade her to submit to his Will which at last she yielded to and when he had satisfied himself with her she Transformed her self into a hideous Shape and told him Now he was from that time forward his but made him many Promises c. He being thus Engaged said he had a Wife and wished her in the same Condition This Caco-Daemon replied he should take no care for that matter he would effect it and thus He should pretend a necessity of going from Home all of a sudden and tell his Wife that there would come to find him a Gentleman a good Friend of his in the War and that he was sorry he could not stay to receive him as he would desiring her if he came before he returned to make as much of him as she could possible as being his singular Friend He being gone this pretended Gentleman some time after came in very good Equipage attended with a Servant enquired for her Husband seemed sorry for his Absence But she doing her Errand as her Husband had ordered her and shewing him great Kindness he propounded to her the having his Will upon her and she consenting he enjoyed her not only but her Daughter also of about Eleven or twelve Years Old to whom then he appeared as to her Husband And then her Husband returned and found it so From that time forward certain power to hurt Cattle as I remember only was imparted to them And the Man was continually accosted and compelled to continue his Commerce with his Succuba and the Woman and her Daughter with their Incubus with whom the first Commerce was strangely Delightful but ever after cold and painful to them These things having Confess'd and being very penitent they desired to die and were accordingly Executed But because they had not hurt Mankind and were so Penitent instead of being Burn'd they were Beheaded The Prince would fain have saved the Girl because of her Youth and used all Endeavours to deliver her from the Spirit but could not effect it the Girl crying out several times that he now was committing Uncleanness with her crying out and desiring rather to die than to live so and be subject to that foul Spirit any longer and accordingly was Executed as her Father and Mother were A Relation of a Dutch Boy Possessed by a German Spirit Being an Extract of two Letters the first of the 12 of Febbruary 1690. S. V. WE have here a strange Case of a Youth about Fifteen Years old that has been of a quiet and orderly Conversation and was bred up to Reading and Praying who is Possessed and as the Spirit it self says through him is actuated by three of them who were sent to him by three divers Witches which he publickly named I my self have entred the Lists with the Ghost who at last tho very unwillingly Answered and speaks as good High Dutch as is spoken in Austria which the Lad could never speak I was very sharp in my Assault and he as strenuously opposed When he departs it is with a great Noise and the Lad lyes a good while as in a deep Swoon till recovered by application of fit Remedies and then he prays devoutly which while Possessed he cannot do and when the Spirits forsake him in part which sometimes they do for a whole sometimes for half a day he works at his ordinary Labour which is Weaving Linen that being the Trade he is Learning He is of a Meek Spirit but in his Fits three Men have enough to hold him The Spirit says very confidently that he has leave from the Old Man in Heaven Thus he calls God and will not easily be brought to use that word not to leave the Lad till the Witches have received their Punishments and that he was compelled by that Old Man in Heaven to discover the Witches and their wicked Works all which he has done and upon it the Inquest was made which otherwise no body would have thought of In fine it is so strange and incomprehensible a thing that 't is not to be expressed insomuch that if I had not been an eye Witness and throughly examined the Affair I could never have believed it The Second Letter of the 24th of April S. V. 1690. NOw again something of the Possessed Lad Our Discourse went upon these five things 1. Of the great Omnipotency of the true God and his sole Government over all things both Visible and Invisible 2. Of the glorious Merits of Christ his Sufferings and thereby overturning of the Powers of Hell And consequently 3. Of the Limited and in it self powerless Power of the Devils c. Of their Orders and Qualities among themselves 4. Of the great Power of the Holy Ghost