X. I will next insert a late fact, not far off, which when a pious, credible person related to me, I desired him to send me the true narrative in writing when he came home, and fully enquired into the matter. And he sent me this narrative here following: –
At Brightling in Sussex.
As touching the relation of the Brightling story, which is in the substance undoubtedly true, however some circumstances of it may vary, be pleased to take the following account: –
On Monday was three weeks, at or near the house of Joseph Cruttenden, of Brightling, an old woman about noon came to a servant girl of the said Cruttenden’s, tells her sad calamities were coming upon her master and dame; their house should be fired, and many other troubles befal them: but tells this girl withal, that if she spake of what she had told her, the devil would tear her to pieces, otherwise she need not fear, for no hurt should come to her.
The same night, as the man and woman lay in bed, dirt and dust, etc. was thrown at them, but they could not tell whence it came. They rise and pray, during which that disturbance ceases; some say they went to bed again, but finding the same trouble they are forced to rise.
Tuesday, about noon, dust, dirt, and several things are thrown at them again; before night, a part of one end of their house fired; they rake it down, it flashes somewhat like gunpowder; as they stopped it there, it began in another place, and thence to another, till the whole house was burnt down.
Some say something like a black bull was seen tumbling about; the certainty of that I aver not. The house, though it burnt down to the ground, it flamed not. The night was spent in carrying goods, or one thing or other, from one place to another, they, I think, remaining mostly without doors.
Thursday, Col. Busbridge (whose house the former was), being acquainted with the man’s sad accident, bid them go into another of his houses in the parish, whither, when the goods were brought, such like disturbances were there also; the house fireth, endeavours are made by many to quench it, but in vain, till the goods are thrown out, when it ceased with little or no help.
In this condition none durst let them into their doors; they abide under a hut; the goods are thrown upside down; peuter dishes, knives, brickbats strike them, but hurt them not.
Mr Bennet and Mr Bradshaw, ministers, came to pray with them, when a knife glanced by the breast of Mr Bennet, a bowl or dish thrown at his back, but while at prayers quiet; they were without doors, there being very many present, a wooden tut came flying out of the air, by many, and came and struck the man; as likewise a horse-shoe, which was by some laid away, and it was observed of its own accord to rise again and fly to the man, and struck him in the midst of a hundred people.
Upon strict examination, the man confessed that he had been a thief, and did it under the colour of religion. Sabbath-day the girl told her dame the former story of the woman’s discourse; she is sent for, and examined before Captain Collins, Mr Busbridge, and she is searched and watched 24 hours; the girl says she is like the woman, but I think will not swear it is the same. This woman was formerly suspected to be a witch, had to Maidstone about it, but got away, and has lived about Burwast some time since: her name I know not.
Tuesday four ministers kept a fast, Mr Bennet, Weller, Bradshaw, and Golden; since, I hear not of any trouble. It is said they are in a barn or ale-house; while they lay without doors, the woman sending some meal to neighbours to make bread, they could not make it up into loaves, but it was like butter, and so they put it into the oven, but it would not bake, but came out as it went in.
This relation came from Mr Collins, who was an eye-witness of much of it.
The Certainty of the World of Spirits Fully Evinced (p23) by Richard Baxter (1691).