ANN Jefferies, (for that was her Maiden Named) of whom the fol­lowing strange things are related, was born in the Parish of St. Teath in the County of Cornwall, in December, 1626. and she is still living, 1696. being now in the 70th Year of her Age; she is married to one William Warden, formerly Hind (a Hind is one that looks after the rest of the Servants, the Grounds, Cattel, Corn, &c. of his Ma­ster) to the late eminent Physician Dr. Richard Lower deceased; and now lives as Hind to Sir Andrew Slanning of Devon, Bar.

[Page 8]I must acquaint you, Sir, that I have made it my Business, but could not prevail, to get a Relation from her of what she her self re­members of those several strange Passages of her Life that I here relate, or of any other that I have either forgot, or that never came to my Cognizance: but she being prevail'd with by some of her poor ignorant Neigh­bours not to do it, and she fancying that if she should do it, she might again fall into Trou­ble about it; I here give your Lordship the best and faithfullest Account I can.

In the Year 1691. I wrote into Cornwall to my Sister Mary Martyn's Son, an Attorney, to go to the said Ann, and discourse her as from me, about the most material strange Pas­sages of her Life: He answers my Letter, Sept. 13, 1691. and saith, I have been with Ann Jefferies, and she can give me no particular Ac­count of her Condition, it being so long since: my Grandfather and Mother say, that she was in Bodmyn Goal three Months, and lived six Months without Meat; and during her Continu­ance in that Condition, several eminent Cures were performed by her, the Particulars no one can now relate. My Mother saw the Fairies once, and heard one say, that they should give some Meat to the Child, that she might return to her Pa­rents: Which is the fullest Relation can now be given.

But I not being satisfied with this Answer, did, in the Year 1693. write into Cornwall to [Page 9] my Sister's Husband, (Mr. Humph. Martyn) and desired him to go to Ann Jefferies, to see if he could perswade her to give me what Ac­count she could remember of the many and strange Passages of her Life. He answers my Letter, Jan. 31, 1693. and saith, As for Ann Jefferies, I have been with her the greatest part of one day, and did read to her all that you wrote to me; but she would not own any thing of it as concerning the Fairies, neither of any of the Cures she then did. I endeavoured to perswade her she might receive some Benefit by it: She answered; That if her own Father were now alive, she would not discover to him those things that did then hap­pen to her. I ask'd her the Reason why she would not do it: She reply'd, That if she should discover it to you, that you would make either Books or Bal­lads of it: And she said, That she would not have her Name spread about the Country in Books or Bal­lads of such things, if she might have five hun­dred Pounds for the doing of it: for she said, she had been questioned before Justices, and at the Sessi­ons, and in Prison, and also before the Judges at the Assizes; and she doth believe, that if she should discover such things now, she should be que­stioned again for it. As for the antient Inhabi­tants of St. Teath Church Town, there are none of them now alive but Thomas Christopher a blind Man, (Note, this Tho. Christopher was then a Servant in my Father's House when these things happened) and he remembers many of the Passages you wrote of her. And as for my Wife, [Page 10] she then being so little, did not mind it; but has heard her Father and Mother relate most of the Passages you wrote of her.

This is all the Account I can at present pos­sibly get from her, and therefore I now go on with my own Relation of the wonderful Cures, and other strange things she did, or hapned to her, which is the Substance of what I wrote to my Brother, and that he read to her.

It's the Custom in our County of Cornwall, for the most substantial People of each Parish to take Apprentices the Poor's Children, and to breed them up till they attain to 21 Years of Age, and for their Service to give them Meat, Drink, and Clothes. This Ann Jef­feries being a poor Man's Child of the Parish, by Providence fell into our Family, where she lived several Years, being a Girl of a bold daring Spirit: She would venture at those Dif­ficulties and Dangers that no Boy would at­tempt.

In the Year 1645, (she then being 19 Years old) she being one day knitting in an Arbour in our Garden, there came over the Garden­hedg to her six Persons of a small Stature, all clothed in green, which she call'd Fairies: up­on which she was so frighted, that she fell into a kind of a Convulsion-fit: But when we found her in this Condition, we brought her into the House, and put her to bed, and took [Page 11] great Care of her. As soon as she recovered out of her Fit, she cries out, They are just gone out of the Window; they are just gone out of the Window; do you not see them? And thus in the height of her Sickness she would often cry out, and that with Eagerness; which Ex­pressions we attributed to her Distemper, sup­posing her light-headed. During the Extre­mity of her Sickness my Father's Mother died, which was in April, 1646. but we durst not acquaint our Maid Ann with it, for fear it might have increas'd her Distemper, she being at that time so very sick that she could not go, nor so much as stand on her Feet; and also the Extremity of her Sickness, and the long Continuance of her Distemper, had almost perfectly moped her, so that she became even as a Changeling: and as soon as she began to recover, and to get a little Strength, she in her going would spread her Legs as wide as she could, and so lay hold with her Hands on Tables, Forms, Chairs, Stools, &c. till she had learn'd to go again: and if any thing vex'd her, she would fall into her Fits, and continue in them a long time; so that we were afraid she would have died in one of them. As soon as she had got out of her Fit, she would heartily call upon God: and then the first Person she would ask for was her Child, meaning my self, (because she before her Sick­ness tended me) and would not be satisfied till I came to her. Upon which she would ask [Page 12] me, if any one had vex'd or abus'd me since she fell into her Fit. Upon my telling her, no one had, she would stroke me, and kiss me, calling me her dear Chi [...]d; and then all her Vexation was over.

As soon as she recovered a little Strength, she constantly went to Church to pay her De­votions to our great and good God, and to hear his Word read and preached. Her Me­mory was so well restored to her, that she would repeat more of the Sermons she heard than any other of our Family. She took mighty Delight in Devotion, and in hearing the Word of God read and preach'd, altho she her self could not read.

The first manual Operation or Cure she perform'd, was on my own Mother; the Oc­casion was as follows: One Afternoon, in the Harvest-time, all our Family being in the Fields at work, (and my self a Child at School) there was none in the House but my Mother and this Ann: my Mother considering that Bread might be wanting for the La­bourers, if Care were not taken; and she having before caus'd two Bushels of Wheat to be sent to the Mill to be ground, (note, our Bushel is twenty Gallons) my Mother was resolved that she her self would take a Walk to the Mill, (which was but a quarter of a Mile from our House) to hasten the Miller to bring home the Meal, that so her Maids, as [Page 13] soon as they came from the Fields, might make and bake the Bread; but in the mean time how to dispose of her Maid Ann, was her great Care, for she did not dare trust her in the House alone, for fear she might do her self some Mischief by Fire, or set the House on fire (for at that time she was so weak that she could hardly help her self, and every silly withal): At last by much Perswasions my Mother prevail'd with her to walk in the Gardens and Orchards till she came from the Mill; to which she unwillingly consented. Then my Mother lock'd the Doors of the House, and walk'd to the Mill; but as she was coming home in a very plain way, she slipt and hurt her Leg, so as that she could not rise, there she lay a considerable time in great Pain, till a Neighbour coming by on Horseback, seeing my Mother in this Con­dition, lifted her up on his Horse, and car­ried her home. As soon as she was brought within the Doors of the House, word of it was sent into the Fields to the Reapers, who thereupon immediately left their Harvest-work, and came home; the House being pre­sently full of People: a Man-servant was or­dered to take a Horse and ride for Mr. Lob an eminent Chyrurgeon, that then liv'd at a Market-Town call'd Bodmyn, which was eight Miles from my Father's House: but whilst the Man was getting the Horse ready, in comes our Maid Ann, and tells my Mother [Page 14] she was heartily sorry for the Mischance she had got in hurting of her Leg, and that she did it at such a Place (naming the Place); and further, she desir'd she might see her Leg: My Mother at first refused to shew her her Leg, saying to her, what should she shew her Leg to so poor and silly a Creature as she was? for she could do her no good: but Ann being very importunate with my Mother to see her Leg, and my Mother being unwilling to vex her by denying her, for fear of her falling into her Fits, (for at all times we dealt gently, lovingly, and kindly, with her, ta­king great Care by no means to cross or fret her) did yield to her Request, and did shew her, her Leg: Upon which Ann took my Mo­ther's Leg on her Lap, and strok'd it with her Hand, and then ask'd my Mother if she did not find Ease by her stroking of it. My Mother confess'd to her she did. Upon this she desired my Mother to forbear sending for the Chyrurgeon, for she would, by the Bles­sing of God, cure her Leg: and to satisfy my Mother of the Truth of it, she again ap­peal'd to my Mother, whether she did not find farther Ease upon her continued stroking of the Part affected; which my Mother again acknowledged she did. Upon this my Mo­ther countermanded the Messenger for the Chyrurgeon.

On this my Mother demanded of her how she came to the Knowledg of her Fall. She [Page 15] made answer, that half a dozen Persons told her of it. That, reply'd my Mother, could not be, for there was none came by at that time, but my Neighbour . . . . that brought me home. Ann answers again, that that was Truth, and it was also true, that half a dozen Persons told her so; for said she, you know I went out of the House into the Gardens and Orchards very unwillingly. And now I will tell you the Truth of all Matters and Things that have befallen me.

You know that this my Sickness and Fits came very suddenly upon me, which brought me very low and weak, and have made me very simple. Now the Cause of my Sickness was this.

I was one day knitting of Stockings in the Arbour in the Garden, and there came over the Garden-hedg of a sudden six small People, all in green Clothes, which put me into such a Fright and Consternation that was the Cause of this my great Sickness; and they continue their Appearance to me, never less than 2 at a time, nor never more than 8: they always appear in even Numbers, 2, 4, 6, 8. When I said often in my Sickness, They were just gone out of the Window, it was really so; altho you thought me light-headed. At this time when I came out into the Garden, they came to me, and ask'd me, if you had put me out of the House against my Will: I told them I was unwilling to come out of the House: Upon this they said, you should not fare the [Page 16] better for it; and thereupon in that Place, and at that time, in a fair Path-way you fell, and hurt your Leg. I would not have you send for a Chyrurgeon, nor trouble your self, for I will cure your Leg: The which she did in a little time.

This cure of my Mother's Leg and the Stories she told of these Fairies, made such a Noise over all the County of Cornwall, as that it had the same Effect St. Paul's healing of Publius's Father of a Fever and a bloody Flux, at Malta, after his Shipwrack there, as related Acts 28.8, 9, And it came to pass that the Father of Publius lay sick of a Favor, and of a bloody Flux: to whom Paul entred in, and prayed, and laid his Hands on him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also which had Diseases in the Island, came, and were healed. That People of all Distempers, Sick­nesses, Sores, and Ages, came not only so far off as the Lands-end, but also from Lon­don, and were cured by her. She took no Monies of them, nor any Reward that ever I knew or heard of; yet had she Monies at all times sufficient to supply her Wants. She neither made nor bought any Medicines or Salves that ever I saw or heard of, yet wanted them not as she had Occasion. She forsook eating our Victuals, and was fed by these Fairies from that Harvest-time to the next Christmas-day; upon which Day she came to our Table, and said, because it [Page 17] was that Day she would eat some Roast Beef with us, the which she did, I my self being then at table.

One time (I remember it perfectly well) I had a mind to speak with her, and not knowing better where to find her than in her Chamber, I went thither, and fell a knocking very earnestly at her Chamber-door with my Foot, and calling to her ear­nestly, Ann, Ann, open the Door, and let me in: She answered me, My Child, have a little Patience, and I will let you in immediately. Upon which I look'd through the Key-hole of the Door, and I saw her eating; and when she had done eating, she stood still by her Bed-side as long as Thanks to God might be given, and then she made a Coursey, (or Bow) and opened the Chamber-door, and gave me a Piece of her Bread, which I did eat, but I think it was the most delicious Bread that ever I did eat either before or since.

Another odd Passage which I must relate, was this; One Lord's day my Father with his Family being at Dinner in our Hall, comes in one of our Neighbours, whose Name was Francis Heathman, and ask'd where Ann was; we told him she was in her Chamber: Upon this he goes into her Chamber to see for her; and not seeing her; he calls her: She not an­swering, he feels up and down in the Cham­ber for her; but not finding her, comes and tells us she was not in her Chamber. As soon [Page 18] as he had said this, she comes out of her Chamber to us, as we were sitting at Table, and tells him, she was in her Chamber, and saw him, and heard him call her▪ and see him feel up and down the Chamber for her▪ and had almost felt her, but he could not see her altho she saw him, notwithstanding she was at the same time at the Table in her Chamber eating her Dinner.

One Day these Fairies gave my Sister Ma­ry, (the now Wife of Mr. Humph. Martyn) then about four Years of Age, a Silver Cup that held about a Quart, bidding her give it my Mother, and she did bring it my Mo­ther; but my Mother would not accept of it, but bid her carry it to them again, which she did. I presume this was the time my Sister owns she saw the Fairies. I confess to your Lordship, I never did see them. I had almost forgot to tell your Lordship, that Ann would tell what People would come to her several Days before they came, and from whence, and at what time they would come.

I have seen Ann in the Orchard dancing among the Trees; and she told me, she was then dancing with the Fairies.

The great Noise of the many strange Cures Ann did, and also her living without eating our Victuals, (she being fed by these Fairies) caus'd both the Neighbour-Magi­strates and Ministers to resort to my Father's [Page 19] House, and talk with her, and strictly exa­mined her about the Matters here related; and she gave them very rational Answers to all those Questions they then ask'd her, (for by this time she was well recovered out of her Sickness and Fits, and her natural Parts and Understanding much improv'd) my Father and all his Family affirming the Truth of all we saw. The Ministers endeavoured to per­swade her they were evil Spirits that resorted to her, and that it was the Delusion of the Devil, (but how could that be, when she did no Hurt, but Good to all that came to her for Cure of their Distempers?) and advised her not to go to them when they call'd her. Upon these Admonitions of the Ministers and Magistrates, our Ann was not a little trou­bled and concerned, not well knowing what to do in this case. However, that Night af­ter the Magistrates and Ministers were gone, my Father with his Family sitting at a great Fire in his Hall, Ann being also present, she spake to my Father, and saith, Now they call (meaning the Fairies:) We all of us urg'd her not to go. In less than a half quarter of an Hour she saith, Now they call a second time. We incouraged her again not to go to them. By and by she saith, Now they call a third time; Upon which away to her Chamber she went to them (of all these three Calls of the Fai­ries, none heard them but Ann). After she had been in her Chamber some time, she [Page 20] came to us again with a Bible in her hand, and tells us, that whe [...] she came to the Fai­ries, they said to her, Wha [...], has th [...]e been some Magistrates and Ministers with you, and disswaded you from coming any more to us, saying we are evil Spirits, and that it was all the Delusion of the Devil? Pray desire them to read that Place of Scripture in the 1st Epi­stle of St. John, chap. 4. ver. 1. Dearly Be­loved, believe not every Spirit, but try the Spi­rits, whether they are of God, &c. This Place of Scripture was turn'd down to in the said Bible. (I told your Lordship before, Ann could not read.)

After this one John Tregeagle Esq (who was Steward to the late John Earl of Radnor) be­ing then a Justice of Peace in Cornwall, sent his Warrant for Ann, and sent her to Bod­min Goal, and there kept her a long time. That Day the Constable came to execute his Warrant, Ann milking the Cows, the Fai­ries appeared to her, and told her, that a Constable would come that day with a War­rant for to carry her before a Justice of Peace, and she would be sent to Goal. She ask'd them if she should abscond and hide her self: they answered her, No, she should fear nothing, but go with the Constable. So she went with the Constable to the Justice, and he sent her to Bodmin-Goal, and ordered the Prison Keeper that she should be kept without Victu­als; and she was so kept; and yet she liv'd, [Page 21] and that without complaining. When the Sessions came, the Justices of the Peace sent their Warrant to one Giles Bawden, a Neigh­bour of ours, who was then Constable, for my Mother and my self to appear before them at that Sessions, to answer such Questions as should be demanded of us about our poor Maid Ann (Bodmin was eight Miles from my Father's, and it was the first time that I re­member I ever rode on Horseback). When we came to the Sessions, the first that was call'd in before the Justices was my Mother, (what Questions they ask'd her, I do not re­member:) When they had done examining her, they desired her to withdraw. As soon as she came forth, I was brought in, and call'd to the upper end of the Table to be exa­mined; and there was (I suppose him to be) the Clerk of the Peace with his Pen ready in his Hand to take my Examination (I do not remember that they did put me to my Oath). The first Question they ask'd me was, My pritty little Child, what have you got in your Pockets? I very innocently and pertinently answered, Nothing, Sir, but my Cuffs, (Cuffs are worsted knit Gloves, which Children in our Country wear on their Hands to keep them warm) which I immediately pluck'd out of my Pocket, and shewed them. Their second Question to me was, If I had any Victu­als in my Pocket for my Maid Ann? I answer­ed, I had not. Upon this they laugh'd at my [Page 22] childish Answers, (to such Questions such Answers) and so dismiss'd me as well as my Mother. But poor Ann lay in Goal for a con­siderable time after; and also Justice Tregeagle, who was her great Persecutor, kept her in his House some time as a Prisoner, and that without Victuals. And at last when Ann was discharged out of Prison, the Justices made an Order that Ann should not live any more with my Father. Whereupon my Father's only Sister, Mrs. Francis Tom, a Widow, near Padstow, took Ann into her Family, and there she liv'd a considerable time, and did many great Cures: but what they were, my Kins­man Mr. Will. Tom, who then liv'd in the House with his Mother, can give your Lord­ship the best Account of any that I know li­ving, except Ann her self. And from thence she went to live with her own Brother, and in process of time married as aforesaid.

And now, my Lord, if your Lordship ex­pects that I should give you an Account when and upon what occasion these Fairies forsook our Ann, I must tell your Lordship, I am ig­norant in that; she her self can best tell if she could be prevailed with so to do: and the History of it, and the rest of the Passages of her Life, would be very acceptable and useful to the most curious and inquisitive Part of Mankind.

[Page 23]And now, my Lord, I think good here to put an end to my plain Relation of these very strange Passages of this Ann Jefferies's Life: It's only Matter of Fact which I have here faithfully related; I have not made any Ob­servations nor Reflections upon any one Pas­sage. I leave your Lordship to your own free Thoughts and Judgment. I my self cannot give one natural Reason for any one of these Passages that happened to this poor Woman, but must conclude with that great Apostle and Scholar St. Paul, Rom. 11.33, 34, 35, 36. O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his Judg­ments, and his Ways past finding out! For who hath known the Mind of the Lord, or who hath been his Counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be Glory for ever. Amen.