The second part of the boy of Bilson, or, A true and particular relation of the imposter Susanna Fowles wife of John Fowles, of Hammersmith, in the county of Middlesex, who pretended her self to be posses'd with the Devil : giving an exact account of the beginning, progress, conferences, discovery, commitment, confession, &c. of the said imposter / the whole being writ and attested by Robert Howson, clerk, Captain John Ponsey, 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 clergy, both conformists and nonconformists mentioned in the following narrative.

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:

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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, 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 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: 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.

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.

x v m ſ

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 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 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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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.