are to manage the sale of the Honors, Mannors, Lands which belong
to the King and Queene. I wonder what instructions these State
Vermine had, who were sent to view and make sale of Woodstock,
sure they carried no Parliament Charmes along with them; for (if
they did) they were not able to encounter the Devill: This is a businesse
I should not have inserted if the States had not endeavoured
to keepe it private, and it coming from so honorable a hand to
me, with a certaintie of truth, I could not forbeare to let the Kingdome
know it, hoping it will bee looked on as a Judgement upon the Rebells
proceedings (in sale of the Crowne lands) and deterre some judicious
men from buying.
The Businesse as I had it in briefe is; That a whole litter of State
Scoundrells being sent to view, and so make sale, they, according to
their Orders, did survey all; which having done, they came to lodge
in the great house, where they were scarcely got into bed, but, it seemes,
God sent his evill Angells amongst them with such a hydeous noyse,
that they were all amazed and did rise out of their beds, thinking it had
beene some plot to cut their throats, but having locked all up and
downe, and saw nothing, but all quiet, they went again to bed; but
could not rest for rattleing and quartering all the house over, not seeing
any thing at all; the businesse passed thus one night, though in much
feare, hoping it would bee better the next, which they found rather
worse; and then these Rogues sent for some of their State Cuffe-Cushions
to allay the spirit which was raised amongst them: but none would
bee so hardy to adventure, till they sent to a Justice to Issue out
warrants whereby to force some Spirituall Levires to come and bind
the Devill to good behaviour (which was accordingly performed)
though their new Lights and Revelations failed; for all was presently
urrned to darkenesse, no candles would burne, nor had the Sweepers
away of Englands Liberties any power; they could not out-doe the
Devill.
For whereas the other nights they were frighted a little;
this night they were all neere set besides their wits, notwithstandings
they all kept together, there being a great noyse and rumbling all
the house through, and great stones seemed to fall off the roofe to
the ground, and all the windows clattered as though they were broken
to peeces; sometimes peeces of stones and tiles being hurl'd through
the Roome where they were (as they conceived;) yet neither window
nor wall broken; and at last the appearance of an ugly man
in a horrid shape came amongst them, and threw water, which did insinitely
stink, in their faces: This did so affright them, that they have