IT is the property of humane nature to deſire newes, and therefore having ſeene the laſt Diurnall (out of which I could pick but ſmal crums of comfort) I afterward ſaw a Letter imparting good Newes, which ſhould come by the Poſt to Birmingham, that the two Kingdomes were reconciled, and a peace concluded. I pray you ſend me what newes you have, which I ſhall endeavour to requite by this enſuing Relation, which although I received it but at the ſecond or third hand, yet by ſuch perſons, as I nothing doubt the truth hereof: Sir 'tis thus:

At Bewdley, ſeven miles from us, there is a young Woman (by name Joyce Dovey) one who formerly was little taken notice of for Religion, untill about 4. years ſince, who after the hearing of a Sermon, ſeemed to be much wrought upon and dejected, who afterward fell into ſome paſſions, and (as was conceived by her friends) Convulſion fits, which in time grew ſtronger upon her, and obſerved eſpecially to take her in the time of private prayer, or performance of other pious duties; whereupon they procured a devour religious young man, to b • in the houſe, and to be as a Keeper unto her; the bruit whereof increaſing, there came to viſit her a Chaplaine of a Regiment, and a Captaine, who by ſome diſcourſe, and other informations, ſtrongly imagined, that ſhee was poſſeſſed; whereupon about three weeks or a month ſince, her Keeper lift up his heart to the Lord in prayer, without uttering of words, that if ſhe were poſſeſſed, the Lord would be pleaſed to make it manifeſt, which no ſooner conceived, but the Devill anſwers with ſwearing, Wounds, Blood, &c. that thou ſhalt know; and this obſerve generally, that he makes the womans tongue and organs inſtruments of ſpeech, but it is in a bigger and groſſer tone then her ordinary ſpeech, and when he ſpeaketh, ſhe looketh fiercely with ſomething ariſing big in her throat, and commonly with ſwearing, and eſpecially by the life of Pharoah: When any diſcourſeth with her about wordly buſineſſe, ſhe will familiarly talk with them, but when any uſe ſpeech of Divine matters, ſhee is moſt troubled.

It is further reported, that M. Burrowſon Miniſter there with others came to ſee her, to whom M Bur. ſaid, thou foule ſpirit, thy power is limited; to whom was replyed, Thou lyeſt, my power is over all the world, and my Kingdome is the greateſt: To another that ſaid, Thou foule uncleane ſpirit, what haſt thou to doe to vex a poore creature, was anſwered, I have Commiſſion and power to tempt you all. Three Souldiers, (they ſay,) came to ſee her, who talking of Papiſts, Crucifixes, and Croſſes, preſently appeared in her breaſt or throat two Croſſes, whereupon the Souldiers being agaſt, began to get away; haw, haw, haw, ſayes the Devill: now (ſayes her Keeper) they are afraid, and the Devill laughs at them. Shee uſually goeth abroad, and comming to the Houſe of an honeſt religious man, where many came in after her to ſ • e her, ſhe began to be ſo diſtempered, that ſhe could not goe home that night; and as they were at prayer in an upper Chamber, ſhe was on a ſudden caught up into the window, and the greateſt part of her body thruſt thorow a great caſement, but her Keeper having an eye unto her, ſtept unto her, and caught her by the coats, and took her in again: She is oft thrown againſt the walls, and into the fire, but all without any hurt: One time being caſt into a great fire, ſome would have taken her out, but her Keeper ſaid, let her alone, and obſerve the providence of God, and ſtrait-way ſhe was ſnatched out without humane help, not having any hurt, or ſo much as the ſmell of fire on her clothes: She hath ſnatched a paire of Cizzers from a womans girdle, and applyed them to her throat; and another time a knife from another, in an admirable quick way, and ſtrook her breaſt, yet both without ſo much as a ſcarre in either place: She hath throwne a Bible into the fire, which was not burned. On a time one comming into the houſe, to diſcourſe with her Keeper, and to take ſome obſervations in writing concerning her, they went into an inner chamber, and as he came forth with the paper in his hand, ſhee fell upon him very violently, and would have taken the paper from him, but he contended with her very toughly, and after a long conflict, gave her the repulſe, who having kept the paper without tearing, onely a little corner, but not a word torne off, he voluntarily threw it downe on the ground, ſaying, Devill thou haſt not power to take it up, and ſo took it up himſelfe and departed.

It is very like I have not heard of all the paſſages concerning her, which if any of note come unto my knowledge (as I beleeve I ſhall ſhortly ſee a Catalogue of the particulars) if they come not to publike view (which I ſuppoſe will be ere long) I ſhall further acquaint you therewith (God willing.)

No more at preſent, but with mine and my wives kind remembrance unto you, my Siſter, and Couſens Henry and Mary, I reſt,