[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
THis Story hath as much certainty with it, as any Human Story can have. The Author that writs it is a Famous Minister of the Gospel, and attested by famous Witnesses. This Woman was arraigned and condemned at Newgate for bewitching one Mary Glover a Marchants Daughter in Themes-Street. One Doctor Boncraft did inform Judge Anderson then Lord Chief Justice, that the said Mother Jackson was wronged and that the Maid did counterfeit. Whereupon the Lord Chief Justice gave order to Sir John Crook then Recorder of London to make trial of them in his Chamber at the Temple. The Maid being sent for came with her Mother and diverse of her Neighbours: and about an hour after, the Witch was sent for, and was brought in disguised like a countrey-market-Woman, with a mufflet hiding her face, and an old Hat, and a short Cloack spattered with mire. When she entered the Chamber the Maid suddenly fell down backward upon the floor, with her eyes drawn into her head, her tongue toward her Throat, her Mouth drawn up to her Ear: her Bodie became stiff, and senseless. Her Lips being shut closs, a plain and audible voice came out of her Nostrills, saying Hang her, Hang her. Then did the Recorder call for a Candle, and a sheet of Paper, and held the paper flaming to her hand, till her hand did blister. The blister did break and water came out, which dropt down upon the Floor, the maid lying still and senseless as a dead body, with the voice coming out of her Nostrills saying hang her, hang her. Then the Recorder called for a long Pin, which he held in the Flame of the Candle, till it was very hot, and thrust the head of it into her Nostrills to see if that would make her Neese, Wink, or bend her brows, or stir her head, which she did not, but lay still as one dead, and senseless, Then I told the Recorder (saith my Author) that I had often prayed with the Maid, and that when I did conclude with the LORDS Prayer, the Maid, as soon as I said (but deliver us from all evil) was tost up, and shaken as if a Mastive Dog should take a little Curr into his mouth, and shake him. Then the Recorder bad the Witch say the Lords Prayer, which she did till she came to these words, But deliver us from evil, which she skipt over and would by no means be brought to say them. Then they bad her rehearse the Articles of the Christian Faith, which she did, till she came to these words (our Lord) but would by no means be drawn to confess that Jesus Christ was Our Lord. I told the Recorder also that when the Maid was in her senseless and dead fits, if the Witch did but lay her hand upon her, she was tost and thrown towards her. Thereupon the Recorder caused the Maid to be taken up, and layed upon a Bed, and cloaths to be layed upon her, especially her head, because she should not see, nor hear. Then he made signes to the women to stand round about the Bed, and that the Witch should stand among them and that everie one should lay hands one her softly, which they did, and the Maid did not stirr, till the Witch laid her hand upon her. Then all the Cloaths were thrown off, and the Maid tost towards her. Whereupon the Recorder looking upon the Witch said, Lord have mercy upon thee, Woman, and sent her to New-gate. Then as soon as she was gone, the voice that came out of the Maids Nostrils ceased, and she came to her self, and went home with her Mother.
About 3 Weeks or a Moneth after the Witch was condemned, the Maid continued every second day in most strange and fearful Fits, and Torments. The Recorder hearing of it, did blame me, and all the Ministers of London. And told me, that we might all of us be ashamed to see a Child of God in the Claws of the Devil, without any hopes of deliverance, but by such means as GOD had appointed, Fasting and Prayer.
Within few dayes after, it pleased GOD to make me an instrument to draw five Ministers, and other good Christians together to set a day apart, and to joyn with me, in that holy exercise, wherein we continued from morning till after Candle lighting. Then on a sudden after a fearfull conflict which did much amaze some, and caused them to cry with a confused Noise, Jesus help, Jesus save, the Maid did start up out of a Wand-Chair, where she sat, and with her strength did lift me up with her, I kneeling behind her, and holding her in my Arms, she did throw white Froth out of her throat and mouth round about the Chamber, and on a sudden fell down into the Chair, as one truely dead, with her head hanging down into the Chair, her neck, arms limber and souple, which before were stiff as a frozen thing; Then suddenly life came into her whole Body, and her eyes which were drawn into her head, and her Tongue, which was pulled into her throat came into their right place. Then she looked up with a cheerful countenance round about the Chamber, and with a loud voice spake, 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 grand Fathers words, when he was at the Stake, the fire crakling about him. It seems he died a Martyr in Queen Maries time. Then she kneeled down, and offered a sweet evening sacrifice of Thanks and Praise to GOD for her deliverance, till her voice grew weak. Then did the Minister speak to her to forbear, and let one of them end the day with thanksgiving. And in regard that I (saith the Minister) had begun the day with prayer, the Companie desired me to make an end with Thanksgiving. This being done, care was had of her, to put her to some Minister for a year, least Satan should assault her again. And by common consent she was put to me, and I took her home to my own House, for being my servant for that time, and her Mother and Sister, and Lodged them at my House in great Saint Helens. Which then was my living. This Relation was publisht in the year 1642. by the Minister, whose name is Lewes Hughes and is yet to be seen in Print.
