THe 16 day of October in the year of our Lord, 1649. The Commissioners for surveying and valuing his Majesties Mannor House, Parks, Woods, Deer, De­mesnes, and all things thereunto belonging, by Name Captain Crook, Capt. Hart, Capt Cockaine, Capt. Carelesse, and Capt. Roe their Messenger, with Mr Brown their Secretary, and two or three servants went from Woodstock town, (where they had lain some nights before) and took up their lodgings in his Majesties House after this manner: The Bedchamber and withdrawing room, they both lodged in, and made their Kitchin; the Presence Chamber their room for dispatch of their business with all commers; of the Coun­cel Hall, their Brewhouse, as of the Dining room their Woodhouse, where they laid in the clefts of that antient Standard in the High-Park, for many ages beyond memory, known by the Name of the Kings Oak, which they had chosen out, and caused to be dug up by the Roots.

Octob. 17. About the middle of the night, these new guests were first awaked, by a knocking at the Presence Chamber door, which they also conceived did open, and something to enter, which came through the room, and also walkt through the withdrawing room into the Bed­chamber, and there walkt about that room with a heavy step during half an hour; then crept under the bed where Captain Hart, and Capt. Carelesse lay, where it did seem (as it were) to bite and gnaw the Mat, and Bedcoards, as if it would tear and rend the featherbeds, which ha­ving done a while, then would heave a while, and rest; then heave them up again in the bed more high then it did before, sometime on the one side, sometime on the other, as if it had tried which Captain was hea­viest; thus having heaved some half an hour, from thence it walkt out, [Page 2] and went under the servants bed, and did the like to them; thence it walkt into a withdrawing room, and there did the same to all who lodged there: Thus having welcomed them for more then two hours space, it walked out as it came in, and shut the outer door again, but with a clap of some mightie force; these guests were in a sweat all this while, but out of it falling into a sleep again, it became morning first before they spake their minds, then would they have it to be a Dog, yet they described it more to the likenesse of a great Bear, so fell to the examining under the Beds, where finding only the Mats scracht, but the Bed-coards whole, and the quarter of Beef which lay on the floor untoucht, they entertained other thoughts.

Octob. 18. They were all awaked, as the night before, and now con­ceived that they heard all the great clefts of the Kings Oak brought into the Presence Chamber, and there thumpt down, and after roul about the room, they could hear their chairs and stools tost from one side of the room unto the other; and then; as it were) altogether josled: Thus ha­ving done an hour together, it walkt into the with-drawing room, where lodged the two Captains, the Secretary, and two servants; here stopt the thing a while, as if it did take breath, but raised a hideous one, then walkt into the Bed-chamber, where lay those as before, and un­der the Bed it went, where it did heave, and heave again, that now they in bed were put to catch hold upon Bed-posts, and sometimes one of the other, to prevent their being tumbled out upon the ground; then coming out as from under the bed, and taking hold upon the bed­posts, it would shake the whole bed, almost as if a cradle rocked: Thus having done here for half an hour, it went into the withdrawing room, where first it came and stood at the beds feet, and heaving up the beds feet flopt down again a while, until at last it heaved the feet so high that those in bed thought to have been set upon their heads; and ha­ving thus for two hours entertained them, went out as in the night before, but with a great noise.

Octob. 19. This night they awaked, not until the midst of the night, they perceived the room to shake, with something that walkt about the bed-chamber, which having done so a while, it walkt into a with­drawing room, where it took up a Brasse warming-pan, and returning with it into the bed-chamber, therein made so loud a noise, in these Captains own words, it was as loud and scurvie, as a ring of five untu­ned [Page 3] Bells rang backward, but the Captains, not to seem afraid, next day made mirth of what had past, and jested at the Devil in the pan.

Octob. 20. These Captains and their company, still lodging as before, were wakened in this night with some things flying about the rooms, and out of one room into the other, as thrown with some great force: Cap­tain Hart being in a slumber, was taken by the shoulder and shaked until he did sit up in his bed, thinking that it had been by one of his fel­lows, when suddenly he was taken on the Pate with a Trencher, that it made him shrink down into the bed-clothes, and all of them in both rooms kept their heads at least within their sheets, so fiercely did three dozen of Trenchers fly about the rooms; yet Captain Hart ven­tured again to peep out to see what was the matter, and what it was that threw, but then the Trenchers came so fast and neer about his ears, that he was fain quickly to couch again: In the morning they found all their Trenchers, Pots and Spits, upon and about their beds, and all such things as were of common use scattered about the rooms; this night there was also in several parts of the room, and outer-rooms, such noises of beat­ing at door [...], and on the Walls, as if that several Smiths had been at work; and yet our Captain shrunk not from their work, but went on in that and lodged as they had done before.

Octob. 21. About midnight they heard great knocking at every door, after a while the doors flew open, and into the withdrawing room en­tred something, as of a m [...]ty proportion, the figure of it they knew not how to describe; this walkt a while about the room shaking the floor at every step, then came it up close to the bed side, where lay Captain Crook and Carelesse; and after a little pause, as it were, The bed-cur­tains both at sides and feet were drawn up and down slowly, then faster again for a quarter of an hour, then from end to end as fast as imagina­tion can fancie the running of the rings, then shaked it the beds, as if the joints thereof had crackt; then, walkt the thing into the bed-chamber, & so plaied with those beds there: Then took up eight Peuter-dishes, and bouled them about the room, and over the servants in the truckle beds; then sometimes were the dishes taken up & thrown crosse the high-beds and against the walls, and somuch batteted; but there were more dishes wherein was meat in the same room, that werenot at all removed: Du­ring this, in the Presence Chamber there was stranger noise of weightie things thrown down, and as they supposed, the clefts of the Kings Oak [Page 4] did roul about the room, yet at the wonted hour went away, and left them to take rest, such as they could.

October 22. Hath mist of being set down, the Officers imployed in their work farther off, came not that day to Woodstock.

October 23. Those that lodged in the withdrawing room, in the midst of the night were awakened with the cracking of fire, as if it had been with thorns and sparks of fire burning, whereupon they supposed that the bed chamber had taken fire, and listning to it farther, they heard their fellows in bed sadly groan, which gave them to suppose they might be suffocated, wherefore they call'd upon their servants to make all possible hast to help them, when the two servants were come in, they found all asleep, and so brought back word, but that there were no bed clothes upon them, wherefore they were sent back to cover them, and to stir up and mend the fire; when the servants had covered them, and were come to the Chimney, in the corners they found their wear­ing apparrel, boots, and stockings, but they had no sooner toucht the Embers, when the firebrands flew about their ears so fast, that away ran they into the other room, for the shelter of their cover-lids, then after them walkt something that stampt about the room, as if it had been exceeding angry, and likewise threw about the Trenchers, Plat­ters, and all such things in the room, after two hours went out, yet stampt again over their heads.

October 24. They lodged all abroad.

October 25. This afternoon was come unto them Mr. Richard Crook the Lawyer, brother to Captain Crook, and now Deputy-Steward of the Mannor, unto Captain Parsons and Major Butler, who had put out Mr Hyans his Majesties Officer: To entertain this new guest, the Commissioners caused a very great fire to be made, of neer the chim­ney full of wood, of the Kings Oak, and he was lodged in the with­drawing room with his brother, and his servant in the same room; about the midst of the night a wonderful knocking was heard and into the room something did rush, which coming to the chimney-side, dasht out the fire, as with the stamp of some prodigious foot, then threw down such weighty stuffe, what ere it was (they took it to be the re­sidue of the clefts and roots of the Kings Oak) close by the bed-side, that the house and bed shook with it: Captain Cockain and his fel­low arose, and took their swords to go unto the Crooks, the noise ceased [Page 5] at their rising, so that they came to the door and called the two bro­thers, though fully awaked, and heard them call, were so amazed, that they made no answer untill Captain Cockaine had recovered the bold­ness to call very loud, and came unto their bed-side; then faintly first, after some more assurance, they came to understand one another, and comforted the Lawyer: whilst this was thus, no noise was heard, which made them think the time was past of that nights troubles, so that after some little conference they applied themselves to take some rest, when Captain Cockaine was come to his own bed, which he had left open, he found it closely covered, which he much wondered at, but turning the clothes down, and opening it to get in, he found the lower sheet strewed over with trenchers, their whole three dozens of trenchers were orderly disposed between his sheets, which he and his fellow en­deavouring to cast out, such noise arose about the room, that they were glad to get into bed with some of the trenchers: the noise lasted a full half hour after this; This entertainment so ill did like the Lawyer, and being not so well studied in the point, as to resolve this the Devils Law-case, that he next day resolved to begone, but having not dispatcht all that he came for, profit and perswasions prevailed with him to stay the other hearing, so that he lodged as he did the night before.

Octob. 26. This night each room was better furnished with fire and candle then before; yet about twelve at night came something in, that dasht all out, then did walk about the room; making a noise, not to be set forth by the comparison with any other thing, some times came it to the bed-sides, and drew the Curtains to and fro, then twerle them, then walk about again, and return to the bed-posts, shake them with all the bed, so that they in bed were put to hold one upon the other, then walk about the room again, and come to the servants bed, and gnaw and the wainscot head; and shake altogether in that room, at the time of this being in doing, they in the bed-chamber heard such strange dropping down from the roof of the room, that they supposed twas like the fall of mony by the sound. Captain Cockaine not frighted with so small a noise, (and lying near the chimney) stept out, and made shift to light a candle, by the light of which he perceived the room strewed over with broken glass, green, and some as it were pieces of broken bottles, he had not long been considering what it was, when [...]uddainly his candle was hit out, and glass flew about the room; that he [Page 6] made haste to the protection of the Coverlets, the noise of thundering rose more hideous then at any time before; yet at a certain time all va­nisht into calmness. The morning after was the glass about the room, which the maid, that was to make clean the rooms swept up into a cor­ner, and many came to see it: But Mr. Richard Crooke would stay no longer, yet as he stopt going through Woodstock Town, he was there heard to say, that he would not lodge amongst them another night for a Fee of 500. l.

Octob. 27. The Commissioners had not yet done their work wherefore they must stay, and being all men of the sword, they must not seem afraid to encounter with any thing though it be the Devill, therefore with pistols charged, and drawn swords laied by their bed sides, they applied themselves to take some rest, when something in the midst of night, so opened and shut the window casements, with such claps, that it awak­ened all that slept; some of them peeping out to look what was the matter with the windows, stones flew about the rooms as if hurled with many hands, some hit the walls, and some the beds heads close above the pillows; the dints of which were then, and yet (it is conceived) are to be seen; thus sometime throwing stones; and sometime making thun­dering noise, for two hours space it ceast, and all was quiet till the morn; after their rising and the maid come in to make the fire they looked about the rooms: they found fourscore stones brought in that night, and going to lay them together, in the corner where the glass (before mentioned) had been swept up, they found that every piece of glass had been carried away that night: many people came next day to see the stones, and all observed, that they were not of such kind of stones as are naturall in the countrey thereabout, with these were noise like claps of thunder, or report of Cannon planted against the rooms; heard by all that lodged in the outer courts, to their astonishment, And at Woodstock Town, taken to be thunder.

Octob. 28. This night, both strange and differing noise from the for­mer, first wakened Captain Hart who lodged in the bed chamber, who hearing Roe and Brown to groan, called out to Cookaine and Cocka to come and help them, for Hart could not now stir himself; Cockaine would faine have answered, but he could not, or look about, something he thought, stopt both his breath and held down his eye lids. Amazed thus he struggles and kickt about, till he had awaked Captain Crook who [Page 7] half asleep grew very angry at his kicks, and multiplied words it grew to an appointment in the field; but this fully recovered Cockaine to remem­ber, that Captain Hart had called for help, wherefore to them he ran in the other room, whom he found sadly groaning: where scraping in the chimney he both found a candle and fire to light it; but had not gone two steps when something blew the candle out, and threw him in the chair by the bed side, when presently cried out Captain Careless, with a most pittiful voice, come hither, O come hither brother Cockaine, the things gone of me, Cockaine scarce yet himself; helpt to set him up in his bed, and after Captain Hart, and having scarce done that to them, and also to the other two they heard Captain Crook crying out, as if some­thing had been killing him; Cockaine snacht up the sword, that lay by their bed and ran into the room to save Crook but was in much more likelyhood to kill him, for at his coming the thing that pressed Crook went of him, at which Crook started out of his bed, whom Cockaine thought a spirit made at him, at which Crook cried out Lord help, Lord save me, Cockaine let fall his hand, and Crook embracing Cockaine desired his reconcilement; giving him many thanks for his deliverance, then rose they all and came together, discoursed sometimes godly and some­times praied, for all this while was there such stamping over the roof of the house, as if 1000. horse had there been trotting, this night all the stones brought in the night before, and laid up in the withdrawing room: were all carried again away by that which brought them in, which at the wonted time left of, and as it were went out, and so a­way.

Octob. 29. Their businesse having now received so much forward­nesse, as to be neer dispatcht they encouraged one the other and resol­ved to try further, therefore they provided more lights and fires, and further for their assistance prevailed with their Ordinary keeper; to lodge amongst them and bring his Mastive Bitch, and it was so this night with them, that they had no disturbance at all.

Octob 30 So well they had past the night before, that this night they went to bed confident, and carelesse untill about 12 of the clock; something knockt at the door as with a smiths great hammer, but with such force as if it had cleft the door: then entred something like a Bear, but seem'd to swell more big and walkt about the room, and out of one room into the other; treading so heavily as the floare had [Page 8] not been strong enough to bear it, when it came into the bed chamber it dasht against the beds heads some kind of glass vessell, that broke in sundry pieces, and sometimes would take up those pieces, and hutle them about the room, and into the other room; and when it did not hurle the glasse at their heads, it did strike upon the tables as if many smiths with their greatest hammers had been laying on as upon an anvill: sometimes it thumpt against the walls, as if it would beat a hole through; then upon their heads such stamping, as if the roof of the house were beating down upon their heads, and having done thus, during the space (as was conjectured) of two hours, it ceased and va­nished, but with a more fierce shutting of the doors then at any time before; in the morning they found the pieces of glass about the room, and observed that it was much differing from that glasse, brought in three nights before, this being of a much thicker substance, which se­verall persons which came in carried away some pieces of; The Com­missioners were in debate of lodging there no more, but all their busi­nesse was not done, and some of them were so conceited as to believe, and to attribute the rest they enjoyed the night before this last unto the Mastive bitch; wherefore they resolved to get more company, and the Mastive bitch, and try another night.

Octob. 31. This night the fires and lights prepared, the Ordinary keeper and his bitch, with another man perswaded by him, they all took their beds and fell asleep; But about 12 at night such rapping was on all sides of them that it wakened all of them, as the doors did seem to open; the Mastive bitch fell fearfully a yelling, and presently ran fiercely into the bed to them in the truckle bed; as the thing came by the table, it struck so fierce a blow on that, as that it made the frame to crack, then took the warming-pan from off the table and stroke it a­gainst the walls with so much force as that it was beat flat together lid and bottom; now were they hit as they lay covered over head and care within the bed clothes; Captain Careless was taken a sound blow on the head with the shoulder-blade bone of a dead Horse, (before they had been but thrown at when they peept up and mist,) Brown had a shrewd blow on the leg, with the backbone, and another on the head, and every one of them felt severall blows of bones and stones through the bed clothes, for now these things were thrown as from an angry hand, that meant further mischief: the stones flew in at window as [Page 9] shot out of a Gun, nor was the bursts lesse (as from without) then of a Cannon, and all the windows broken down; now as the hurling of the things did cease, and the thing walke up and down, Captain Cockaine and Hart cried out, In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, What are you? what would you have? what have we done that you di­sturb us thus? No voice replied (as the Captains said, yet some of their servants have said otherwise) and the noise ceast. Hereupon Cap­tain Hart and Cockain rose, who lay in the Bed-chamber, renewed the fire and lights, and one great candle in a candlestick they placed in the door, that might be seen by them in both the rooms; no sooner were they got to bed, but the noise arose on all sides more loud and hi­deous then at any time before, insomuch (as to use the Captains own words) it returned and brought seven Devils worse then it self, and presently they saw the candle and candlestick in the passage of the door, dasht up to the roof of the room, by a kick of the hinder parts of a Horse, and after with the Hoof trod out the snuffe, and so dasht out the Fire in the Chimnies; as this was done, there fell as from the sieling, upon them in the Trucklebeds such quantities of water, as if it had been poured out of Buckets, which stunk worse then any earth­ly stink could make; And as this was in doing, something crept un­der the High beds, tost them up to the roof of the House, with the Commissioners in them, until the Testers of the beds were beaten down upon them, and the Bedsted-frames broke under them; and here some pause being made, they all as if with one consent, started up, and ran down the stairs until they came into the Councel-Hall, where two sate up a Brewing, but now were fallen asleep, those they scared much with wakening of them, having been much perplext before with the strange noise, which commonly was taken by them abroad for thunder, sometimes for rumbling wind; here the Captains and their company got fire and candle, and every one carrying something of either, they returned into the Presence-Chamber, where some appli­ed themselves to make the fire, whilst others fell to Prayers, and ha­ving got some clothes about them, they spent the residue of the night in singing Psalms and Prayers; During which, no noise was in that room, but most hideously round about, as at some distance.

It should have been told before, how that when Captain Hart first rose this night, (who lay in the Bed-chamber next the fire) he found [Page] their Book of valuations crosse the embers smoaking, which he snacht up and cast upon the Table there, which the night before was left upon the Table in the presence amongst their other Papers: This Book was in the morning found a handful burnt, and had burnt the Table where it lay; Brown the Clerk said, he would not for a 100 and a 100 l. that it had been burnt a handful further.

This night it happened that there were six Cony-stealers, who were come with their Nets and Ferrets to the Cony-burrows by Rosamonds Well; but with the noise this night from the Mannor-house, they were so terrified that like men distracted away they ran, and left their Haies all ready pitched, ready up, and the Ferrets in the Cony-burrows.

Now the Commissioners more sensible of their danger, considered more seriously of their safety; and agreed to go and confer with Mr. Hoffman, the Minister of Wotton, (a man not of the meanest note for life or learning, by some esteemed more high) to desire his advice together with his company and prayers. Mr. Hoffman held it too high a point to re­solve on suddenly and by himself, wherefore desired time to consider up­on it, which being agreed unto, he forthwith rode to Mr. Jenkinson and Mr. Wheat, the two next Justices of Peace to try what Warrant they could give him for it. They both (as 'tis said from themselves) encoura­ged him to be assisting to the Commissioners, according to his calling.

But certain it is, that when they came to fetch him to go with them, By which is to be noted, that a Presbyterian Minister dares not encounter an Indepen­dent Devil. Mr Hoffman answered, That he would not lodge there one night, for 500 l. and being askt to pray with them, he held up his hands and said, That he would not meddle upon any terms.

Mr Hoffman refusing to undertake the quarrel, the Commissioners held it not safe to lodge where they had been thus entertained any lon­ger, but caused all things to be removed into the Chambers over the Gatehouse, where they staid but one night, and what rest they enjoyed there, we have but an uncertain relation of, for they went away early the next morning; but if it may be held fit to set down what hath been delivered by the report of others, they were also the same night much affrighted with dreadful apparitions, but observing that these passa­ges spread much in discourse, to be also in particulars taken notice of, and that the nature of it made not for their cause, they agreed to the concealing of things for the future; yet this is well known and cer­tain, that the Gate-keepers wife was in so strange an agony in her [Page 11] bed, and in her bed-chamber such noise (whilest her husband was a­bove with the Commissioners) that two maids in the next room to her, durst not venture to assist her, but affrighted ran out to call com­pany, and their Master, and found the woman (at their coming in) ga­sping for breath: And the next day said that she saw and suffered that, which for all the world she would not b [...] hired to again.

From Woodstock the Commissioners removed unto Euelme, and some of them returned to Woodstock the Sunday sennight after (the Book of Valvations wanting something that was for haste, left imperfect) but lodged not in any of those rooms where they had lain before, and yet were not unvisited, (as they consess themselves) by the Devill whom they called their nightly guest, Captain Crook came not untill Tuesday night, and how he sped that night the gate keepers wife can tell if she dareth, but what she hath whispered to her gossips, shall not be made a part of this our Narrative, nor many more particulars which have fallen from the Commissioners themselves and their servants to other persons; they are all or most of them alive, and may add to it when they please, and surely have not a better way to be revenged of him who troubled them, then according to the Proverb, tell truth and shame the Devill.

There remains this observation to be added, that on a Wednesday morning all these Officers went away; And that since them diverse persons of severall qualities, have lodged often and sometimes long in the same rooms, both in the presence with drawing room and bed chamber, belonging unto his Sacred Majesty yet none have had the least disturbance, or heard the smallest noise for which the cause was not as Ordinary as apparent; except the Commissioners and their com­pany who came in Order to the alienating and pulling down the house, which is well nigh performd.