Page:Saducismus Triumphatus.djvu/283

 this Man lay within during the greatest Disturbance, and for several Nights something would endeavour to pluck his Cloaths off the Bed, so that he was fain to tug hard to keep them on, and sometimes they would be pluckt from him by main force, and his Shoes thrown at his Head; and now and then he should find himself forcibly held, as it were bound Hand and Foot, but he found that whenever he could make use of his Sword, and struck with it, the Spirit quitted its hold.

A little after these Contests, a Son of Mr. Thomas Bennet, whose Workman the Drummer had sometimes been, came to the House, and told Mr. Mompesson some Words that he had spoken, which it seems was not well taken. For as soon as they were in Bed, the Drum was beat up very violently and loudly, the Gentleman arose and called his Man to him, who lay with Mr. Mompesson's Servant just now spoken of, whose Name was John. As soon as Mr. Bennet's Man was gone. John heard a rusling Noise in his Chamber, and something came to his Bed-side, as if it had been one in Silk; the Man presently reached after his Sword, which he found held from him, and 'twas with difficulty and much tugging that he got it into his power, which as soon as he had done, the Spectre left him, and it was always observed, that it still avoided a Sword.

About the beginning of January, 1662 they were wont to hear a Singing in the Chimney before it came down. And one Night about this time, Lights were seen in the House. One of them came into Mr. Mompesson's Chamber, which seemed blue and glimmering, and caused great stiffness in the Eyes of those that saw it. After the Light, something was heard coming up the Stairs, as if it had been one without Shoes. The Light was seen also four or five times in the Childrens Chamber; and the Maids confidently affirm, that the Doors were at least ten times opened and shut in their sight, and when they were opened, they heard a noise as if half a dozen had entered together, after which some were heard to walk about the Room, and one rusled as if it had been Silk; the like Mr. Mompesson himself once heard.

During the time of the Knocking, when many were present, a Gentleman of the Company said, Satan if the Drummer set thee to work, give three Knocks and no more; which it did very distinctly, and stopt: Then the Gentleman knockt to see if it would answer him as it was wont, but it did not: For farther trial, he bid it for confirmation, if it were the Drummer, to give five Knocks and no more all that Night, which it did, and left the House quiet all the Night after. This was done in the