The Second Part of the Boy of BILSON: OR, A True and Particular RELATION OF THE IMPOSTOR, Susanna Fowles, Wife of John Fowles, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, who pretended her self to be Possess'd with the DEVIL.

Giving an Exact Account of the Beginning, Progress, Conferences, Discovery, Commitment, Confession, &c. of the said IMPOSTOR.

The Whole being Writ, and Attested by Robert Howson, Clerk; Captain John Bonsey, and Mr. Nicholas Wade, who were frequently with her, during the Time of her Pretended Possession, and before whom she made the Confession herein contained; as also, by a great number of the Clergy, both Conformists, and Nonconformists, mentioned in the fol­lowing Narrative.

LONDON Printed; and are to be sold by E. Whitlock, near Stationers Hall, MDCXCVIII.

TO THE READER.

Courteous Reader,

THE following Relation sets before thee a living Instance of the Policy of that Grand Deceiver of Mankind, the De­vil; and I doubt, of those Master-workers for his Kingdom, the Jesuits: For if all Circumstances occurring in the subsequent Narrative, be well weighed and considered, there will, I believe, be found some probable grounds for such a Conjecture. And therefore I was of Opinion, that I could not do the World better Service, than by setting before their Eyes, A True and Faithful Account of this parlous Impostor, thereby to give a light into the Tricks and Contrivances of such-like Damnable Designs for the future; as also by laying open the heinousness of the Sin, to restrain the wicked In­clinations of such as may be in danger to be mis­led [Page] by the Delusions of Satan, and for the encou­raging of all to a hearty Reliance upon the Provi­dence of Almighty God, who best knows what Condition is fittest for us.

'Tis observable, That one chief End of all this kind of Impostors, is to get Money, as it was in the Case before us, as does appear by her Con­fession; and therefore I do most earnestly exhort all those whose Hearts are set too much upon the Goods of this World, not to venture upon the least indi­rect Means to procure the same, least the Devil, who, no doubt, will be apt to prompt them on still further, do not at last bring them to that State of Insensibility, as to dare to attempt the most unac­countable Villainies to compass their unjust Ends, which will at last (without sincere and hearty Repentance) bring them to their own most misera­ble Ends, even Eternal Damnation.

The Second Part OF THE Boy of Bilson: Or, A True and Particular Relation OF THE IMPOSTOR, Susannah Fowles.

AMong the many strange and unaccountable Impostures that have been Acted upon this great Stage of the World, I cannot meet with any one that will parallel the Case before us, unless it be the Story of the Boy of Bilson, which, because it was long since transacted, and is but come to the Knowledge of a few, I will here set down by way of Introduction to, and Illu­stration of the following Narrative. The Story was this:

[Page 2]In Stafford-Shire, at a Town call'd Bilson, was a Boy, whose Father, Mother, Neighbours, and many other People, with admiration did absolutely think Possest with a Devil; for he had strange, sudden, violent, distorting Fits, that appeared to all the Be­holders contrary to Nature, and being not full Fifteen Years Old, it could not be imagined that he could be guilty of any Imposture, and therefore his Case was the more Remakable.

The Jesuits (the best Physicians in such Distem­pers) hearing of it, visited the Boy, Prayed by him, and used such other Charms and Exorcisms, as make them admired by silly People; giving his Parents good hope of Dispossessing him of the foul Spirit, by which might palpably be discern'd, how much God's Power was exprest in their Weakness; and what Difference there was between the Truth, and Holiness of the Catholick Religion, and the Heresie pro­fessed among Protestants. So that they that heard them (and there were abundance that Resorted to the Place) took them for very Holy Men.

These Caterpillars visited him often, sometimes in Private, sometimes in Company; but this kind of Spirit would not be commanded by them, so that they grew almost desperate of the Cure.

The Boy in his Fits would rave against an Old Woman dwelling near to his Father, intimating, by Signs, and ghastly Behaviour, that she had sent a Spirit to torment him, and (when he was out of his Fits) positively accused her of being a Witch, and the Author of all his Misery. This old Woman [Page 3] was sent to the Chancellor of Litchfield to be Ex­amined, and the Boy was brought thither to con­front her: And having his Back towards her, at her coming into the Room, where the Chancellor was, before she yet entred or appeared, he fell into a most bitter Agony, crying out, Now she comes, now my Tormentor comes! wreathing and tear­ing himself in so horrid a manner, that it did not only breed Amazement, but Pity in the Spectators, there being many with Expectation attending the Issue: Which, with some other Probabilities, were an Inducement to the Chancellor to send the Woman to Stafford Gaol.

At the next Assizes for the County, the Boy and his Parents appear as Witnesses against the Witch: The Boy was placed in a conspicuous part of the Court, with his Face to the Bench, Eying the Judge continually, in a very peaceable and quiet Posture; and as the Woman was coming in (when the Court thought it impossible the Boy should be sensible of her Appearance) he fell into a more raging Fit than ever he was Possest with before; so stupendiously unnatural, that it was deem'd by all that saw it, that nothing but a Diabolical Spirit could work such horrid Effects. This, thus openly acted, and the Relation of what was done at Litchfield, and other like Circumstances, so possess'd both the Court and Spectators, that the Old Woman (that had no good Reputation among her Neighbours, being of a testy froward Temper, a Temper incident to Old Age) found few Friends to plead her Cause; so that [Page 4] being Indicted for Witchcraft, she was found Guilty by the Jury, and Condemned to Die.

Dr. Morton, Bishop of Litchfield, (happily then on the Bench upon Secular Affairs) hearing that some Romish Priests had been tampering with the Boy with their Exorcisms, to the Undevilling of him, and finding little Reason produced, why the Witch should use the Boy so ill, was perswaded, this might be some Trick of the Jesuits, for enhancing the Credit of Miracles; he therefore pray'd the Judge to Re­prieve the Woman till the next Assizes, and he would take the Boy home with him, have him carefully and strictly looked to, not doubting but before that time he should find out the bottom of some secret and hidden Contrivance. The Judge assented to the Bishop's Request, and so the Boy was carried to Eccleshall Castle, the Bishop's House, whither his Fits followed him with a great deal of Violence: for being put out of his Road, (having formerly all sorts of People come to admire him, and now being more carefully looked to) he grew sullen, and would not eat somerimes in two or three days, so that his Belly was almost clung, and grown to his Back, and he had a new Swelling about his Throat, which never ap­peared before; Lay in his Bed sometimes as it were Senseless; sometimes staring with his Eyes, and foaming at the Mouth; sometimes striking those that stood near him (his own careful Mother being one, whom he had made all black and blue about the Arms and Breasts;) never spoke but in his Fits, and then a strange Gibberish; at other times he only muttered, and made signs.

[Page 5]The Bishop visited him often, striving sometimes to soften him with Gentleness, at other times he handled him roughly; but his Evil Spirit was not so easily laid.

The Bishop spoke to him one time some of the Greek Testament, to see how that would work, and it brought him into his Fits: At another time he uttered some Verses out of the Greek Poets, which his Devil was not so Learned as to distinguish; for that put him into a Fit again: so that the Bishop was confirmed that he was an Impostor of a most pernicious and pertinacious Spirit; but how to con­jure it out of him was the Difficulty. And finding Words and Menaces made no Impression in him, he fell to Blows; for taking him out of his Bed, and having one to hold him, the Bishop gave him six very smart Lashes with a Rod, which moved the Boy no more than if he had been an insensible Stock. They also thrust Needles into his Toes and Fingers, betwixt the Nails, clapt burning Candles to his Eye­lids, till they singed the Hair off, to divert him when he was in his Fits; yet he neither winch'd nor stirred; so that the Actors were more troubled to execute, than he to suffer.

In this Condition growing almost desperate, he would make signs for Knives, or any other Instrument, to do himself a Mischief with, therefore strict Care was taken, and many watchful Eyes set over him, to prevent any such Danger. Thus he continued almost a quarter of a Year; at last his Urine grew so black, that the Physicians thought Nature had left her usual Operation, having never found in any Humane Body [Page 6] so much adust Matter, to give so deep and deadly a Tincture.

This struck the good Bishop very near; for he was certain the Priests had been tammering with him, and now, if he should miscarry under his Hands, those Mint-Masters of Mischief would Coin such Scandals against him, as might pass current in the World's Opinion; Therefore he used all the means he could possible, as well to preserve him, as to discover him: but finding the Boy indure so many Tryals with Patience, so much Hardship and Severity in tender Years, he resolv'd, if his Water continu'd black, to shift the matter no further. To find out which, he set a trusty Servant to watch him through a hole that looked into the Chamber, upon the Bed, which the Boy knew not of.

The Bishop going that Morning with his Family to a Lecture, all things were very still in the House, and the Boy finding all quiet, no Noise about him, he lifts himself up, stares, and listens, and at length gets out of his Bed, and in the Straw or Mat under it, takes out an Ink-horn, and makes Water in the Chamber-pot through a piece of the Cotton, in his Hand; another little piece of the Cotton he puts between the Glans and the Prepuce, drawing the Skin over it, and that was for a Reserve, if he should be forced to make Water when Company was by. Thus having cunningly put himself in order, he hides the Ink-horn again, and returns to his Bed.

The Man that was appointed to watch him seeing all this, discovered it to the Bishop at his coming home, who came to him presently, and askt him [Page 7] How he did? he, according to his usual manner, pointed to his Water, looked ghastly on it, and mutter'd out his old howling Tone.

The Bishop that now meant to deal roundly with him, said, Sirrah, you have Ink in your Bed-straw, which you make use of to black your Water, and your Knavery is found out; and calling in his Man, he took out the Ink-horn where the Boy had hid it; and the Man justified, that he saw him make Water through the Cotton. Which (with the Bishop's Threatning to send him to the House of Correction) struck the Boy with such a sudden Terror, that he rose from his Bed, fell upon his Knees, and humbly besought the Bishop to pardon him, and he would discover to him the whole Truth. And as he put on his Cloaths, the Bishop laid open the Grievousness of his Sin, which wrought so upon his Spirit, that he melted into Tears, crying to God for Mercy. A very great Alteration! that what he did but coun­terfeit, the Devil so hardned him in, that all the Tor­ments and Pains inflicted by Man could not produce a Tear, till God that melted the Rock had first touched the Heart.

Then he Confess'd as follows; Namely, That a Pedlar met him when he was going to School, and with many inticing Words perswaded him to go to Mr. Gifford's House, assuring him of good Entertain­ment; and with his Allurements he went thither with him. There he found four Romish Priests, who gave him Money and many fair Words, promising him great matters if he would be conformable to their Instructions.

[Page 8]They were three days in teaching him how to demean himself; and after he was well tutored, and had practised his Tricks there privately, then they sent him home to his Father (who thought he had been lost, and was much troubled for him) to ex­ercise them in a more publick way. He came home in a very distracted manner, to the Amazement of his Parents, and in a short time drew much Com­pany to visit him; and his Parents being Poor got Money from many Charitable People, which did incourage him to persist in that way. But when the Rumour of his being Possessed with an Evil Spirit was sufficiently bruited abroad, the Priests came to dispossess him; but he found so much Sweetness in the Ease, and Profit of that Life, that he would not be dis-inchanted by them, though they charm'd never so cruelly; for they beat him, and pincht him, and used him very hardly to make him desist. Thus were the Deceivers deceived!

The Bishop askt him, Why he accused the poor Old Woman of Witchcraft? He answered, The Priests told him he must lay the Cause of his being Possest upon some Old Woman, and she being known to him, and of a scold­ing Humour, he fixt it on her. Then the Bishop askt him, How he came to fall into his Fits a little before the Woman appear'd in the Room, both at her Ex­amination and Arraignment? For the first at Litch­field, he said, he heard some about him Mutter, She is here, which made him cry out, She comes, She comes: And for the second, at Stafford, he heard the People remove, and her Chains gingle as she came, [Page 9] which gave him the sign. Lastly, he was asked how he made his Throat swell? and he shewed, it was by thrusting his Tongue (being very long) down his Throat; which trick he found out himself, the rest were taught him by the Priests. Thus did the Bishop preserve an innocent old Woman, condemned by the Law to die; discover the abominable Forgeries of the Priests, and convert a wicked Boy, whom after­wards he bound Apprentice, and proved a good Man.

I shall make no Remarks upon the foregoing Story, but leave the Reader himself to compare it with the following Imposture; which was thus.

THE HISTORY OF OUR Present Impostor.

OF all the prodigious Products, either of the Inanimate, Animate, or Rational World, that this monstrous Age hath produced, the ensuing Instance may justly challenge the precedency: Wherein the Prince of the Air hath imposed, not only upon a great Number of Learned and Charitable Christians, both Ministers and others, of all Persuasions, but upon himself too, pretending to be where he was not, and to do what he did not in that sense that was pretended, that he might rivet himself the faster in his moral Possession, and expose the heavenly Religion of the Holy Jesus to the Ridicule and Contempt of a blasphemous and prophane Age.

But in all such Cases, I humbly conceive, 'tis most safe to fall forward in being charitably mistaken, till Observation, Pains, and Prayers, with the Bles­sing of Heaven upon all, shall undeceive the mista­ken; as it hath done (blessed be God's Name) in the ensuing Case of Susannah Fowles, Wife of John [Page 11] Fowles of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Labourer, who, about the Age of Twenty years, was in or about August 97, married to the said John Fowles; who finding her Fortune to be less than she did pretend to, and he did depend upon, it caused such Discontent between them, as threw her into such unreasonable and extravagant Passions, that she did frequently Imprecate the Devil to fetch her from him and his Family:

Upon which the Devil soon found such Instru­ments, as did not only foment, but heighten the matter to that degree, that she was perswaded she was possess'd with the Devil: Which indeed was true, though not in that, yet in a far worse sense.

The Person she tells you in her Confession that did first perswade her to feign her self to be pos­sessed, was a Relation of hers that did live in Blooms­bury, and, as she believes, a Roman Catholick.

So that now the World may expect the Second Part of the Boy of Bilson, detected by that Learned and Pious Prelate Dr. Morton, then Lord Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield; and not without some pro­bable Reasons for the same:

For in some short time after, a very officious Gentleman, who is call'd by the Name of Dr. Jour­dan of Brentford, made her a friendly Visit, giving her a Spell to hang about her Neck, which he told her would certainly keep out the Devil; which was afterward examin'd, and found to be an Exorcism, with several Crosses, and these words Alpha and Ome­ga, Immanuel and Jehovah above and below, and on each side, it being drawn in the manner of a Scheme: [Page 12] Who likewise strictly charged her to cross her self upon the Forehead and Breast, not doubting but thereby to effect the Cure: And since that, a Doctor of Divinity of this Church, and in this City, hath declared, that the Papists did report, that the Work would never be done till their Priests came: And sometime after, a very ingenious young Gentlewo­man came to my Lodgings, and told me, That if We of the Church of England did not, and the Popish Priests did cast the Devil out of this Woman, she did believe that she should be a Proselyte to their Church: To whom I answer'd, That before she left so good a Church, grounded upon so good a Faith, by making our Ministers a foil to their Priests, I did hope she would first be satisfied whether it was not an Imposture: And moreover, How far one evil Spirit may cast out ano­ther, to carry on the common Cause of the dark and damned World, would be very well worth her enquiry; or to that purpose: And it was observed by a very honest Gentleman that stood by, that one day, when she was in Rotten-Row in Old-street, a Gen­tlewoman gave her a Wafer in a small piece of Cake, bidding her to eat that in the Name of Jesus, that was crucified upon the Cross. To which, if you add the Story of the Portugueses with their hairy Jackets and bare Feet, mention'd in her Confession, we may without breach of Charity conclude, That if these Gentlemen were not the Contrivers, they would (if they could) have been the Conjurers.

[Page 13]And now follows the Imposture it self, which was managed as follows:

First by a pretended Apparition, which she saith she frequently had; and at last was so familiar with her, that she call'd him her Friend Mr. Thomas; de­scribing him by his ghastly Face, and by all the Parts of an humane Body, saying (to use her own Words) That his Fingers did hang like the Fingers of a Bartholomew-Baby.

This Mr. Thomas at several times brought several Papers, to which he did perswade her to subscribe her Name.

Monday, the 17th of January, as her Husband says, she had a Paper brought with these words (so legi­bly writ that he could read them) I am thy servant: Which she refusing to subscribe, Mr. Thomas made his Exit for that time.

Thursday following he came after the same man­ner, as they tell you, with a second Paper, with these Characters, x. v. m. s and of this form and bigness,

x v m s

writ, as 'tis supposed, with Red Okre, though gi­ven out to be writ in Blood; the Original of which is in my hand: to which her Hand was again re­quired; but she being ordered by that worthy Gen­tleman, Chaplain to the Lord Falconbridge, to the contrary, would not comply with his Desires, in­somuch [Page 14] that Mr. Thomas went away, as you must needs imagine, very angry: but not so angry as to cease his Sute; for that day seven-night he appears the third time, with a Candle in one hand, and Wax in the other; bidding her only drop the Wax; but she being very unwilling as she had reason to be) to squeeze Wax to the Devil, Mr. Thomas was very angry, and told her, She should be damn'd for all her design at London: And would by all means (since she would go) have perswaded her to go by Water, threatning her if she did not, he would overturn the Cart; which, as the Countryman says, is to kill the Devil; and so one Devil would kill another; which both her Husband and his Sister, who came with her, do with great Confidence report was very like to be done.

By the Advice of the worthy and ingenious Gen­tleman Captain Bonsey, my own, and others, in or­der either to have her discovered or recovered, she was brought to London about the 17th of February, and lodged in an Apartment taken for her in Rotten-Row in Oldstreet, having for her Attendance, her Husband, and his Sister.

Friday the 18th, I made my first Visit to her in Old-street, where I found several, both Men and Wo­men; some admiring, others pitying, and all seem­ingly praying for her; to whom, after some short time, I address'd my self, as I and other Ministers had often done in the Name of the Blessed Jesus: At which she pretended to be thrown into such Con­vulsions and Agonies both of Body and Mind, as did obtain upon the belief of the Beholders, that she [Page 15] was really possess'd, or under some strange diabolical Influence: out of which (after she had continued in it about a quarter of an hour, without any seeming sense either of Body or Mind) she return'd with that composedness and sedateness of Mind, as if she had been rather with God than the Devil.

Monday, the 21st of February, after having desi­red the Learned and Reverend Lecturer of the Parish to accompany me, I went the second time, when I found her in the same condition as before, with one Mr. Powel and Mr. Burnet, Dissenting Ministers, who had bestowed some time and pains in Prayer with her, and for her, for which she seem'd to be very thankful: When to strengthen the Imposture, she did pretend to discover what had been privately discours'd by some in the Room in reference to her Condition; which she has since declared she did by Conjecture only.

Wednesday the 23d, was the third time I saw her, being desired by her Husband to meet one Dr. Tomp­son, Minister of St. Matthew's Friday-shreet, about Four of the Clock in the Afternoon; when the Re­verend Doctor told me, what a fatigue he and one Mr. Peirce, Lecturer of Hammersmith, had with her at Hammersmith soon after Christmas last, watching one whole Night with her to rescue her from Mr. Tho­mas, who (as she with some extraordinary Passion told them) was to fetch her away that Night about twelve of the Clock: During which time, the Doctor saw the bottom of an Earthen-plate (which she held then in her hand) fall out all at once, to his no small Admiration; but since he believes it [Page 16] was cracked before: And likewise he then received a Needle from her, which he could not any way discover, but that it was given to her by an invisi­ble Hand.

Saturday the 26th, was the fourth and last time time I saw her in that disguise; when after some more than ordinary sharp discourse with her, mixed with Reproof to her Devil, and Objurgations to her self, she fell into such a furious and raving Convul­sion, that her Teeth were so fast set, that no En­deavours could open them: During all which time, she personated the Devil speaking in her by a shrill, hollow, counterfeit Voice; saying, She is mine, she is mine, and hath been so twelve Weeks to day about three of the Clock; and you did not see me come in, and you shall not see me go out, for all your design on Monday or Tuesday next: To whom it was answered, She is a Servant of Christ Jesus, and was baptized into him, and therein that she had renounced the World, the Flesh, and the Devil; and that she had likewise subscribed a Paper to that purpose. To which her Devil replyed, That was your doing: And I was in her Heart: And you are Drunk with Sack. Satan, or what­ever thou art, thou art a Lyar, said I, and the Fa­ther of Lyes; I have not drank to day: And as the Apostle saith, This cannot be, since 'tis but the third Hour of the Day. To which her Devil replyed, A Man might be drunk the first Hour. She now confesseth, That all this was from her own wicked Heart, and to get Money, by moving People's Pity. For she had arrived to that de­gree [Page 17] of Delusion, that it may be said of her, as it was of the Boy of Bilson, That she was unwilling to be undevil'd. But during this last Scene of her Imposture, it was Judiciously observed by some, that when she came to pronounce her Lip-Letters, she did it with that care and tenderness, as if she foresaw the danger of being discovered thereby, as indeed in some measure she was; for,

On Monday following, many of the Spectators then present, by Appointment met at Hamlyn's Coffee-House, near the Exchange, about Six in the Evening: Where was a very ingenious Conference: And by comparing Observations, the Cheat came to be more than suspected. In which Conference there happened to be a very Judicious, Learned, and Sagacious Gentleman, of an excellent Temper, whom, by Enquiry, I found to be a Dissenting Mi­nister, Heu talis cum sit, utinam noster erat! to whom the Discovery of this Impostor, doth in no small measure owe it self.

About this time, the Reverend and Worthy Di­vine, Mr. Wade, Minister of Hammersmith, did with great Prudence, advise us to remove her Hus­band and Sister from her. By doing of which, he did, and as it happened, truly conceive that we should the better discover the Matter.

Which was accordingly done, Tuesday the 28th. of February, by removing her to the House of Lieu­tenant Nathanael Barlow, near Smithfield-Bars, where the Cheat was fully found out and discover'd by Captain John Bonsey, and the above named Lieu­tenant Barlow, in the following manner.

[Page 18]When she was in one of her pretended Fits, they so contriv'd the matter as to have an Iron ready, red hot, which they put upon her Hand; at which she, in the middle of her Fit, cry'd out, O Lord! and thereby disco­ver'd her self to be both an Impostor and a Notorious Lyar; for she had always said, That she durst not name the Name of God or Christ, for fear of her Friend Mr. Thomas; as also, that when she was in her Fits, she was altogether in­sensible of what was done or said; or as she express'd it, during her Fits, she could neither hear, see, nor feel. Here­upon Lieutenant Barlow threaten'd her, that if she had any more Fits while she stay'd in his House, which was 24 Hours, he would burn her again with the hot Iron, and inflict more grievous Punishments upon her; which she took into consideration, and has not been troubled with any since that.

And here though her Devil left her, yet her Policy was not quite exhausted; for finding the Cheat disco­ver'd, she procured her self to be remov'd to Dr. New­ton's, who keeps a Mad-house in Wood's Close, who told her she was troubled with Hysterick Fits; which she laid hold of as a good Cloak, as she thought, for her prece­ding Imposture, thinking thereby to colour over the Mat­ter, and blind the World.

But this did not avail her, for she was shortly after committed to Bridewell, near Clerkenwell-green, by the Worshipful John Perry, Esq one of His Majesty's Justi­ces of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, as the fol­lowing Warrant imports; where she continues in perfect Health, and hath a very good hand at the Hammer.

I must not here forget to relate, That a Gentleman ha­ving committed his Black, a lusty Fellow, to Bridewell, for some Misdemeanour, he is appointed to knock Hemp at the next Block to hers; which has occasion'd a ridiculous Story about Town, That though the Devil was cast out of her, yet he lov'd her Company so well as to come and knock Hemp with her.

Mid. ss.

To the Governour of the House of Correction, or his Deputy.

REceive into your Custody the Body of Susanna Fowles, whom I send you herewith, for being a notorious Impostor and Cheat, falsly and wickedly pretending her self to be possess'd with a Diaboli­cal Spirit, and accused, upon Oath, of Blasphemously speaking, (when the Name of our Blessed Saviour was mentioned by a Divine in Prayer with her) Curse him! Curse him! Set her to Labour, give her due Correction, and keep her until next Sessions, to be other­wise dealt withal, as the Court shall then direct; and this shall be your Warrant.

Given under my Hand and Seal, the 8th. Day of March, 1697/8.
John Perry.

[Page 20] After her Commitment, she was often attended by me, and a great Number of other People, and frequently importun'd to discover who put her upon this wicked Undertaking; which she at first did by way of Evasion, but at last, on the 18th. Instant, in the presence of many, made and sign'd this following.

March the 18th. 1697/8.

The Confession of Susanna Fowles, Wife of John Fowles, of Ham­mersmith, near Chiswick.

SUsanna Fowles, the Wife of John Fowles, declares and confesses, That she the said Susanna, to the great Dishonour of God Almighty, and the Scandal of the Protestant Religion, about the beginning of December last past, upon some Discontent arising be­tween her self and Husband, and his Rela­tions, some time after her Marriage to him, upon pretended Fits of Melancholy, did most wickedly personate the Devil speaking in her, and from her, by shutting her Teeth, and speaking through them by a shrill hol­low Voice, saying, She is mine, She is mine, and blaspheming and cursing at the Name of Jesus in Prayers, and at other times; telling [Page 21] the Minister, It is more than you can do, to cast me out; for she is mine, and has been so these Twelve Weeks; and you did not see me go in, nor shall not see me go out. And sometimes, as in the time of Prayer, when the Name of Jesus, or our Blessed Saviour was men­tioned, she, the said Susanna Fowles, imme­diately reply'd, Curse him! Curse him! And being ask'd how she came to pronounce those hor­rid Curses; she said, the Evil thing, or he within her, bid her do so. Being also ask'd for what Reason she feigned or dissembled this Voice, to per­sonate the Devil; she answer'd, she did so for no other design but to get Money. For which, she owns her self to be an Impostor.

Susanna Fowles further acknowledgeth and confesseth, That all she did, by personating the Devil speaking from within her, was by ill Advice from others; and the first that perswaded her to say or feign that she was possess'd by an Evil Spirit, she says, was a Relation, one Mary Freeman, who lived in Bloomsbury, and whom she believed to be a Roman Catholick. And also, she says, she was further encouraged hereunto by one Jor­dan, a Gardener, a pretended Doctor, of [Page 22] Brentford, who gave her divers Spells, and had her in hand about a Month: That he also gave her a Spell or Charm in writing, which, by his order, she wore about her Neck, which when Mr. Howson the Minister open'd, he found to be a Prayer used by the Romish Priests, in their Exorcising Service, with divers Crosses about it; and the afore­said pretended Doctor bade both her and her Husband cross themselves on the Forehead and Breast, which she says she did, upon his saying that then the Devil would have no power of them. For all which, she says, she is heartily sorry, and begs Pardon of God, and Forgiveness of his Ministers, and other Christians that assisted in Prayers for her.

She also further saith, That a Man came to her Husband, and told him, that there was a Portuguese in Lincolns-Inn Fields that could cure her: And the also adds, That on Monday, February the 21st. an Ancient Gentlewoman came to her in Rotten Row, and told her, that if she would admit some of those People that wear hair Jackets, and go bare-foot, they would put her in the [Page 23] middle, and pray round her, and restore her to her right Mind.

She also further acknowledgeth, That a Shooemaker, an Acquaintance of her Hus­band's, in Hammersmith. advised her to go to the Priests belonging to the Portuguese Em­bassador, for they were good Men, and they would cure her. In Acknowledgment of the Truth of all which, the said Susanna Fowles hath hereto set her Hand.

Susanna Fowles. In the Presence of
  • Robert Howson, Cl.
  • Capt. Jo. Bonsey.
  • Nicholas Wade.
  • John Cave.
  • Samuel Carter Ro­chester.
  • John Blood.
  • Ezekiel Fuller,
  • Joseph Evans.
  • Thomas Wood.
  • William Pearson.
  • Lieut. Nathanael Barlow.

Observe, That on the 12th. of March she did confess much to the same purpose before the Wor­shipful Mr. Justice Smith, and several Divines there present: As likewise that on Monday, the 21st. she writ and signed with her own Hand a Paper, where­in is repeated what she had confessed before con­cerning Jordan, with this further Addition, That he gave her something in a Bottle, as also some [Page 24] Pills, and told her, that they would make her Vo­mit Pins and Needles: And afterwards gave her more things, which he told her would kill the Live Thing within her, for he perswaded her she had a live Puppy within her. In the same Paper she likewise says, That a certain hopping Fellow (as she express'd it) whose Name she does not know, a pretended Doctor likewise, living at the Golden Ball in Fetter-lane, told her, that she was possess'd with an Evil Spirit, and Cast a Figure for her, as she says, and told her, if she would come to Lon­don, he would cast the Devil out of her, but that it could not be done except she came to London, and then she would be well presently. This Paper is now in the hands of John Pero, the Bookseller hereof, where any one that desires it, may see it.

Thus have you heard the Relation of an Impo­sture, carried on with that cunning Contrivance for some Months, that it imposed upon the Saga­city of a great many very Learned and Judicious Men; and I leave the World to Judge, whether (all Circumstances considered) it could be manag'd by one Person alone, without the Assistance and Knowledge of her Husband and Sister, who were constantly with her.

She is now in Bridewell, near Clerkenwell-Green, beating Hemp, where she must continue till the next Session, and take her Tryal for Blas­phemy and Imposture, pursuant to the War­rant of her Commitment.

FINIS.

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