(From the preface to Sadducismus Triumphatus: Or, A full and plain evidence. Concerning Witches and Apparitions. The Second Part. Proving (Partly by Holy Scripture, partly by a choice collection of modern relations) the real existence of apparitions, spirits, and witches. By Joseph Glanvill, Chaplain to his Majesty King Charles II, and Fellow of the Royal Society. (fourth edition with notes)
… Having been at Mr Mompesson’s house, in the time of the disturbance, seen and heard somewhat myself, and received an account from Mr Mompesson, and other credible persons of the whole trouble, I was persuaded to publish, and annex the full account of it to the second or third edition of my Considerations Concerning Witchcraft, to which the story had near relation. This I did, and they passed two or three editions together, without much farther trouble to me. But, of late, I have heard from all parts, and am amazed at it, that so strongly attested relation is run down in most places as a delusion and imposture; and that Mr Mompesson and myself have confessed all to be a cheat and contrivance.
Concerning this, I have been asked a thousand times, till I have been weary of answering, and the questionists would scarce believe I was in earnest, when I denied it. I have received letters about it from known friends and strangers out of many parts of the three kingdoms, so that I have been haunted almost as bad as Mr Mompesson’s house. Most of them have declared, that it was most confidently reported, and believed in all the respective parts, that the business was a cheat, that Mr Mompesson had confessed so much, and I the same, so that I was quuite tired with denying and answering letters about it. And, to free myself from the trouble, I at last resolved to reprint the story by itself, with my confutation of the invention that concerned me, and a letter I received from Mr Mompesson (now printed in this book) which cleared the matter, as to him.
This accordingly, I committed to my bookseller’s hands, some years since, to be printed. But, it being not done, I was continually importuned by new solicitations and questions, and, at length, out comes Mr Webster’s confident book, in which he saith, that my story of the drummer, and the other of witchcraft, are as odd and silly, as any can be told, or read, and, as fictitious, incredible, ludicrous, and ridiculous, as any can be, p.11. And again, p278. Must not all persons, that are of sound understanding, judge and believe, that all those strange tricks, related by Mr Glanvill of his drummer, and Mr Mompesson’s house, which he calls the Daemon of Tedworth, were abominable cheats and impostures, as I am informed by persons of good quality, they were discovered to be.
But neither this confidence, nor his book (I confess) much move me; for I was very loth to be troubled any more in this matter. But, at last, divers eminent men, and learned friends of mine, having taken notice of it, and being troubled to see so considerable evidence against Sadducism, as Mr Mompesson’s story is, so impudently run down by purposely contrived lies, they urged me very much to reprint the revelation, with my considerations about witchcraft; and so give some check to the insultation and confidence of Mr Webster.
To this, I stood long disinclined, but being pressed by the consideration, that such a reinforcement might be a very considerable and seasonable service to religion, against the stupid Sadducism and infidelity of the Age, I was persuaded: and having signified my being now inclined to the design, I received great encouragement from some of the greatest spirits of our Age and nation, who earnestly animated me to it. Having resolved, I bethought me of making a small collection of the most credible and best attested stories of this kind, that were near and modern, to accompany the second I had printed, and to confirm and prove the main subject.
Mr Mompesson’s Letter to Mr Glanvill.
Worthy Sir,
Meeting with Dr Pierce accidentally at Sir Robert Button’s, he acquainted me of something that passed between my Lord of R— and yourself about my troubles, &c. To which (having but little leisure) I do give you this account, that I have been very often, of late, asked the question, whether I have not confessed to his Majesty, or any other, a cheat discovered about that affair. To which I gave, and shall, to my dying day, give the same answer, That I must bely myself, and perjure myself also, to acknowledge a cheat in a thing, where I am sure there was none, nor could any, as I, the Minister of the place, and two other honest Gentlemen, deposed at the Assizes, upon my impleading the drummer. If the world will not believe it, it shall be indifferent to me, praying God to keep me from the same, or the like affliction.
And, although I am sure this most damnable lie does pass for current amongst one sort of people in the world, invented only, I think, to suppress the belief of the being either of God or Devil; yet I question not, but the thing obtains credit enough amongst those, whom I principally desire should retain a more charitable opinion of me, than to be any way a deviser of it, only to be talked of in the world, to my own disadvantage and reproach; of which sort, I reckon you one, and rest in haste, Sir, Your obliged Servant, Jo. Mompesson. Tedworth, Nov. 8, 1672.
—
N.B. Concerning the attestation of Mr Mompesson, and others upon Oath at the Assizes, the same is mentioned also, and their names expressed in a letter to Mr James Collins, which letter from the original copy is as follows.
Mr Mompesson’s Letter to Mr Collins.
Sir, I received yours, and had given you an earlier answer, had I not been prevented by some journeys. I now give you this, that, as to any additional part of the story, I shall not trouble you with at present, not knowing, what is either already published, or omitted, in regard I have not any of Mr Glanvill’s books by me. I never had but one, which was the last year borrowed of me, for the use of the Lord Hollis, and is not yet returned. But as to the business of the Assizes (which is likely to work most on the incredulous, because the evidence was given on oath) I shall here enlarge to you.
When the Drummer was escaped from his exile, which he was sentenced to at Glocester for a felony, I took him up, and procured his commitment to Salisbury Jail, where I indicted him as a felon, for this supposed witchcraft about my house. When the fellow saw me in earnest, he sent to me from the prison, that he was sorry for my affliction, and if I would procure him leave to come to my house, in the nature of a harvest-man, he did not question, but he should do me good, as to that affair. To which, I sent answer, I knew he could do me no good in any honest way, and therefore rejected it.
The Assizes came on, where I indicted him on the Statute Primo Jacobi cap. 12, where you may find, that to feed, imploy, or reward any evil spirit is felony. And the indictment against him was, that he did quendam malum Spiritum negotiare, the Grand Jury found the Bill upon the evidence, but the Petty Jury acquitted him, but not without some difficulty.
The Evidence – upon oath were myself, one Mr William Maton, one Mr Walter Dowse, all yet living, and I think of as good repute, as any this country has in it, and one Mr Jo. Cragg, then Minister of the place, but since dead. We all deposed several things that we conceived impossible to be done by any natural agents, as the motion of chairs, stools, and bed-staves, no body being near them, the beating of drums in the air over the house in clear nights, and nothing visible; the shaking of the floor and strongest parts of the house in still and calm nights, with several other things of the like nature: And that, by other evidence, it was applied to him.
For some going out of these parts to Glocester, whilst he was there in prison, and visiting him, he asked them, What News in Wilts? To which they replied, they knew none. No, says the Drummer, did you not hear of a Gentleman’s house that was troubled with the beating of drums? They told him again, that if there were news, they heard enough of that. Ay, says the Drummer, it was because he took my drum from me; if he had not taken away my drum, that trouble had never befallen him, and he shall never have his quiet again, till I have my drum, or satisfaction from him.
This was deposed by one Thomas Avis, servant to one Mr Thomas Sadler, of North-Wilts, and these words had like to have cost the Drummer his life. For else, although the things were never so true, it could not have been rightly applied to him, more than to another. I should only add, that the before-mentioned witnesses were neighbours, and deposed, that they heard and saw these things almost every day or night, for many months together. As to the sculpture you intend, you best understand the advantage, I think it needless. And those words, You shall have drumming enough, is more than I heard him speak:
I rest Your loving Friend, J. Mompesson. Tedworth, Aug, 8. 1674.
The Proof of Apparitions, Spirits, and Witches, from A Choice Collection of Modern Relations. Relation 1.
The Compleat Narrative of the Daemon of Tedworth, being the Disturbances at Mr Mompesson’s House, caused by Witchcraft, and the villany of the Drummer.
Mr John Mompesson of Tedworth, in the County of Wilts, being about the middle of March, in the Year 1661, at a neighbouring town called Ludgarshal, and hearing a drum beat there, he inquired of the Bailiff of the Town, at whose house he then was, what it meant. The Bailiff told him, that they had for some days been troubled with an idle Drummer, who demanded money of the Constable by virtue of a pretended pass, which he thought was counterfeit. Upon this Mr Mompesson sent for the fellow, and asked him by what authority he went up and down the country in that manner with his drum. The Drummer answered, he had good authority, and produced his pass, with a warrant under the hands of Sir William Cawley, and Colonel Ayliff of Gretenham. Mr Mompesson knowing these Gentlemen’s hands, discovered that the pass and warrant were counterfeit, and thereupon commanding the vagrant to put off his drum, and charged the Constable to carry him before the next Justice of the Peace, to be farther examined and punished. The fellow then confessed the cheat, and begged earnestly to have his drum. Mr Mompesson told him, that if he understood from Colonel Ayliff, whose drummer he said he was, that he had been an honest man, he should have it again, but in the mean time he would secure it, so he left the drum with the Bailiff, and the Drummer in the Constable’s hands, who it seems was prevailed on by the fellow’s intreaties to let him go.
About the midst of April following, when Mr Mompesson was preparing for a journey to London, the Bailiff sent the drum to his house; when he was returned from that journey, his wife told him that they had been much affrighted in the night by thieves, and that the house had like to have been broken up. And he had not been at home above three nights, when the same noise was heard that had disturbed his family in his absence.
It was a very great knocking at his doors, and the outsides of his house: hereupon he got up, and went about the house with a brace of pistols in his hands; he opened the door where the great knocking was, and then he heard the noise at another door, he opened that also, and went out round the house, but could discover nothing, only he still heard a strange noise and hollow sound. When he was got back to bed, the noise was a thumping and drumming on the top of his house, which continued a good space, and then by degrees went off into the air.
After this, the noise of thumping and drumming was very frequent, usually five nights together, and then it would intermit three. It was on the outsides of the house, which is most of it board. It constantly came as they were going to sleep, whether early or late. After a month’s distubance without, it came into the room where the drum lay, four or five nights in seven, within half an hour after they were in bed, continuing almost two. The sign of it just before it came, was, they still heard an hurling in the air over the house, and at its going off, the beating of a drum like that at the breaking up of a guard. It continued in this room for the space of two months, which time Mr Mompesson himself lay there to observe it. In the fore-part of the night, it used to be very troublesome, but after two hours all would be quiet.
Mrs Mompesson being brought to bed, there was but little noise the night she was in travail, nor any for three weeks after, till she had recovered strength. But after this civil cessation, it returned in a ruder manner than before, and followed and vexed the youngest children beating their bed-steads with that violence, that all present, expected when they would fall in pieces. In laying hands on them, one should feel no blows, but might perceive them to shake exceedingly: For an hour together it would beat, Round-heads and Cuckolds, the Tat-too, and several other Points of War, as well as any drummer. After this, they should hear a scratching under the children’s beds, as if by something that had iron-talons. It would lift the children up in their beds, follow them from one room to another, and for a while, haunted none particularly but them.
There was a cock-loft in the house, which had not been observed to be troubled, thither they removed the children, putting them to bed while it was fair day, where they were no sooner laid, but their troubler was with them as before.
On the fifth of November 1661, it kept a mighty noise, and a servant observing two boards in the children’s room seeming to move, he bid it give him one of them; upon which the board came (nothing moving it that he saw) within a yard of him; the man added, Nay let me have it in my hand; upon which it was shoved quite home to him again, and so up and down, to and fro, at least twenty times together, till Mr Mompesson forbid his servant such familiarities. This was in the day-time, and seen by a whole roomful of people. That morning it left a sulphurous smell behind it, which was very offensive.
At night the Minister, one Mr Cragg, and divers of the neighbours came to the house on a visit. The Minister went to prayers with them, kneeling at the children’s bedside, where it was then very troublesome and loud. During prayer-time it withdrew into the cock-loft, but returned as soon as prayers were done, and then in sight of the company, the chairs walked about the room of themselves, the children’s shoes were hurled over their heads, and every loose thing moved about the chamber. At the same time a bed-staff was thrown at the Minister, which hit him on the leg, but so favourably, that a lock of wool could not fall more softly, and it was observed, that it stopped just where it lighted, without rolling or moving from the place.
Mr Mompesson perceiving that it so much persecuted the little children, he lodged them out at a neighbour’s house, taking his eldest daughter, who was about ten years of age, into his own chamber, where it had not been a month before. As soon as she was in bed, the disturbance began there again; continuing three weeks drumming, and making other noises, and it was observed, that it would exactly answer in drumming, any thing that was beaten, or called for. After this, the house where the children were lodged out, happening to be full of strangers, they were taken home, and no disturbance having been known in the parlour, they were lodged there, where also their persecutor found them, but then only plucked them by the hair and night-clothes without any other disturbance.
It was noted, that when the noise was loudest, and came with the most sudden and surprising violence, no dog about the house would move, though the knocking was oft so boisterous and rude, that it hath been heard at a considerable distance in the fields, and awakened the neighbours in the village, none of which live very near this house. The servants sometimes were lift up with their beds, and let them gently down again without hurt, at other times it would lie like a great weight upon their feet.
About the latter end of Dec. 1661, the drumming was less frequent, and then they heard a noise like the jingling of money, occasioned, as it was thought, by somewhat Mr Mompesson’s mother had spoken the day before to a neighbour, who talked of fairies leaving money, viz. That she should like it well, if it would leave them some to make amends for their trouble. The night after the speaking of which, there was a great chinking of money over all the house.
After this, it desisted from the ruder noises, and employed itself in little apish, and less troublesome tricks. On Christmas-eve, a little before day, one of the boys arising out of his bed, was hit on a sore place upon his heel, with the latch of the door, the pin that it was fastened with was so small, that it was a difficult matter to pick it out. The night after Christmas-day, it threw the old Gentlewoman’s clothes about the room, and hid her Bible in the ashes. In such silly tricks it was frequent.
After this, it was very troublesome to a servant of Mr Mompesson’s, who was a stout fellow, and of sober conversation; this man lay within during the greatest disturbance, and for several nights something would endeavour to pluck his clothes off the bed, so that he was fain to tug hard to keep them on, and sometimes they would be plucked from him by main force, and his shoes thrown at his head; and now and then he should find himself forcibly held, as it were bound hand and foot, but he found that whenever he could make use of his sword, and struck with it, the spirit quitted its hold.
A little after these contests, a son of Mr Thomas Bennet, whose workman the Drummer had sometimes been, came to the house, and told Mr Mompesson some words that he had spoken, which it seems was not well taken. For as soon as they were in bed, the drum was beat up very violently and loudly, the Gentleman arose and called his man to him, who lay with Mr Mompesson’s servant, just now spoken of, whose name was John. As soon as Mr Bennet’s man was gone, John heard a rustling noise in his chamber, and something came to his bedside, as if it had been one in silk; the man presently reached after his sword, which he found held from him, and twas with difficulty and much tugging that he got it into his power, which as soon as he had done, the spectre left him, and it was always observed, that it still avoided a sword.
About the beginning of January, 1662, they were wont to hear a singing in the chimney before it came down. And one night about this time, lights were seen in the house. One of them came into Mr Mompesson’s chamber, which seemed blue and glimmering, and caused great stiffness in the eyes of those that saw it. After the light, something was heard coming up the stairs, as if it had been one without shoes. The light was seen also four or five times in the children’s chamber; and the maids confidently affirm, that the doors were at least ten times opened and shut in their sight, and when they were opened, they heard a noise as if half a dozen had entered together, after which some were heard to walk about the room, and one rustled as if it had been silk; the like Mr Mompesson himself once heard.
During the time of the knocking, when many were present, a Gentleman of the company said, Satan, if the Drummer set thee to work, give three knocks and no more; which it did very distinctly, and stopped. Then the Gentleman knocked to see if it would answer him as it was wont, but it did not: For farther trial, he bid it, for confirmation, if it were the Drummer, to give five knocks and no more that night, which it did, and left the house quiet all the night after. This was done in the presence of Sir Thomas Chamberlain of Oxfordshire, and divers others.
On Saturday morning, an hour before day, Jan. 10, a drum was heard beat upon the outsides of Mr Mompesson’s chamber, from whence it went to the other end of the house, where some Gentlemen strangers lay, playing at their door and without, four or five several times, and so went off into the air.
The next night, a smith in the village lying with John the man, they heard a noise in the room, as one had been a shoeing of a horse, and somewhat came, as if it were with a pair of pincers, snipping at the smith’s nose most part of the night.
One morning Mr Mompesson rising early to go to a journey, heard a great noise below, where the children lay, and running down with a pistol in his hand, he heard a voice, crying, A witch, A witch, as they also had heard it once before. Upon his entrance all was quiet.
Having one night played some little tricks at Mr Mompesson’s bed’s-feet, it went into another bed, where one of his daughters lay; there it passed from side to side, lifting her up as it passed under. At that time there were three kinds of noises in the bed, they endeavoured to thrust at it with a sword, but it still shifted and carefully avoided the thrust, till getting under the child, when they offered at it. The night after, it came panting like a dog out of breath; upon which, one took a bed-staff to knock, which was caught out of her hand, and thrown away, and company coming up, the room was presently filled with a bloomy noisome smell, and was very hot, though without fire, in a very sharp and severe winter. It continued in the bed panting and scratching an hour and half, and then went into the next chamber, where it knocked a little, and seemed to rattle a chain; thus it did for two or three nights together.
After this, the Gentlewoman’s Bible was found in the ashes, the paper-sides being downwards. Mr Mompesson took it up, and observed that it lay open at the third Chapter of St Mark, where there is mention of the unclean spirits falling down before our Saviour, and of his giving power to the Twelve to cast out devils, and of the Scribes Opinion, that he cast them out through Beelzebub.
The next night they strewed ashes over the chamber, to see what impressions it would leave; in the morning they found in one place, the resemblance of a great claw, in another, of a lesser, some letters in another, which they could make nothing of, besides many circles and scratches in the ashes.
About this time I went to the house, on purpose to enquire the truth of those passages, of which there was so loud a report. It had ceased from its drumming and ruder noises before I came thither, but most of the more remarkable circumstances before related, were confirmed to me there, by several of the neighbours together, who had been present at them. At this time it used to haunt the children, and that as soon as they were laid. They went to bed that night I was there, about 8 of the clock, when a maid-servant coming down from them, told us it was come. The neighbours that were there, and two Ministers who had seen and heard divers times, went away, but Mr Mompesson and I, and a Gentleman that came with me, went up. I heard a strange scratching as I went up the stairs, and when we came into the room, I perceived it was just behind the bolster of the children’s bed, and seemed to be against the tick. It was as loud a scratching, as one with long nails could make upon a bolster. There were two little modest girls in the bed, between 7 and 8 years old, as I guessed. I saw their hands out of the clothes, and they could not contribute to the noise that was behind their heads; they had been used to it, and had still some body or other in the chamber with them, and therefore seemed not to be much affrighted.
I standing at the bed’s head, thrust my hand behind the bolster, directing it to the place where the noise seemed to come, whereupon the noise ceased there, and was heard in another part of the bed; but when I had taken out my hand it returned, and was heard in the same place as before. I had been told that it would imitate noises, and made trial by scratching several times upon the sheet, as 5 and 7 and 10, which it followed and still stopped at my number. I searched under and behind the bed, turned up the clothes to the bed-cords, grasped the bolster, founded the wall behind, and made all the search that possibly I could to find if there were any trick, contrivance, or common cause of it; the like did my friend, but we could discover nothing. So that I was then verily persuaded, and am so still, that the noise was made by some daemon or spirit.
After it had scratched about half an hour or more, it went into the midst of the bed under the children, and there seemed to pant like a dog out of breath very loudly. I put my hand upon the place, and felt the bed bearing up against it, as if something within had thrust it up. I grasped the feathers, to feel if any living thing were in it. I looked under and everywhere about, to see if there were any dog or cat, or any such creature in the room, and so we all did, but found nothing. The motion it caused by this panting was so strong, that it shook the room and windows very sensibly. It continued thus more than half an hour, while my friend and I stayed in the room, and as long after, as we were told. During the panting, I chanced to see as it had been something (which I thought was a rat or mouse) moving in a linen-bag, that hung up against another bed that was in the room, I stepped and caught it by the upper-end with one hand, with which I held it, and drew it through the other, but found nothing at all in it. There was no body near to shake the bag, or if there had, no one could have made such a motion, which seemed to be from within, as if a living creature had moved in it. This passage I mentioned not in the former Editions, because it depended upon my single testimony, and might be subject to more evasions than the other I related; but having told it to divers learned and inquisitive men, who thought it not altogether inconsiderable, I have now added it here.
It will I know be said by some, that my friend and I were under some affright, and so fancied noises and sights that were not. This is the eternal evasion. But if it be possible to know how a man is affected, when in fear, and when unconcerned, I certainly know for mine own part, that during the whole time of my being in the room, and in the house, I was under no more affrightment, than I am while I write this relation. And if I know that I am now awake, and that I see the objects that are before me, I know that I heard and saw the particulars I have told. There is, I am sensible, no great matter for story in them, but there is so much as convinceth me, that there was somewhat extraordinary, and what we usually call preternatural in the business.
There were other passages at my being at Tedworth, which I published not, because they are not such plain and unexceptionable proofs. I shall now briefly mention them, Valeant quantum valere possunt. My friend and I lay in the chamber, where the first and chief disturbance had been. We slept well all night, but early before day in the morning, I was awakened (and I awakened my bed-fellow) by a great knocking just without our chamber-door. I asked who was there several times, but the knocking still continued without answer. At last I said, In the Name of God who is it, and what would you have? To which a voice answered, Nothing with you. We thinking it had been some servant of the house, went to sleep again. But speaking of it to Mr Mompesson when we came down, he assured us, that no one of the house lay that way, or had business thereabout, and that his servants were not up till he called them, which was after it was day; which they confirmed, and protested that the noise was not made by them. Mr Mompesson had told us before, that it would be gone in the middle of the night, and come again divers times early in the morning, about four a clock, and this I suppose was about that time.
Another passage was this, my man coming up to me in the morning, told me, that one of my horses (that one which I rode) was all in a sweat, and looked as if he had been rid all night. My friend and I went down and found him so. I enquired how he had been used, and was assured that he had been well fed, and ordered as he used to be, and my servant was one that was wont to be very careful about my horses. The horse I had had a good time, and never knew but that he was very sound. But after I had rid him a mile or two, very gently over a plain Down from Mr Mopesson’s house, he fell lame, and having made a hard shift to bring me home, died in 2 or 3 days, no one being able to imagine what he ailed. This I confess might be accident, or some unusual distemper, but all things being put together, it seems very probable that it was somewhat else.
But I go on with Mr Mompesson’s own particulars. There came one morning a light into the children’s chamber, and a voice crying, A witch, a witch, for at least a hundred times together.
Mr Mompesson at another time, (being in the day) seeing some wood move that was in the chimney of a room, where he was, as of itself, discharged a pistol into it, after which, they found several drops of blood on the hearth, and in divers places of the stairs. For two or three nights after the discharge of the pistol, there was a calm in the house, but then it came again, applying itself to a little child newly taken from nurse, which it so persecuted, that it would not let the poor infant rest for two nights together, nor suffer a candle in the room, but carried them away lighted up the chimney, or throw them under the bed. It so scared this child by leaping upon it, that for some hours it could not be recovered out of the fright; so that they were forced again to remove the children out of the house. The next night after which, something about midnight came up the stairs and knocked at Mr Mompesson’s door, but he lying still, it went up another pair of stairs, to his man’s chamber, to whom it appeared, standing at his bed’s foot; the exact shape and proportion he could not discover, but he saith he saw a great body, with two red and glaring eyes, which for some time were fixed steadily upon him, and at length disappeared.
Another night, strangers being present, it purred in the children’s bed like a cat, at which time also, the clothes and children were lift up from the bed, and six men could not keep them down; hereupon they removed the children, intending to have ripped up the bed; but they were no sooner laid in another, but the second bed was more troubled than the first. It continued thus four hours, and so beat the children’s legs against the bedposts, that they were forced to arise, and sit up all night. After this it would empty chamber-pots into their beds, and strew them with ashes, though they were never so carefully watched. It put a long pike iron into Mr Mompesson’s bed, and into his mother’s a naked knife upright. It would fill porrengers with ashes, throw everything about, and keep a noise all day.
About the beginning of April, 1663, a Gentleman that lay in the house, had all his money turned black in his pockets; and Mr Mompesson coming one morning into his stable, found the horse he was wont to ride, on the ground, having one of his hinder legs in his mouth, and so fastened there, that it was difficult for several men to get it out with a lever. After this, there were some other remarkable things, but my account goes no farther; only Mr Mompesson writ me word, that afterwards the house was several nights beset with 7 or 8 in the shape of men, who, as soon as a gun was discharged, would shuffle away together into an arbour.
The Drummer was tried at the Assizes at Salisbury upon this occasion. He was committed first to Gloucester gaol for stealing, and a Wiltshire man coming to see him, he asked what News in Wiltshire; the visitant said, he knew of none: No, saith the Drummer, Do not you hear of the Drumming at a Gentleman’s house at Tedworth? That I do enough, said the other: I, quoth the Drummer, I have plauged him, (or to that purpose) and he shall never be quiet, till he hath made me satisfaction for taking away my drum. Upon information of this, the fellow was tried for a witch at Sarum, and all the main circumstances I have related, were sworn at the Assizes, by the Minister of the Parish, and divers others of the most intelligent and substantial inhabitants, who had been Eye and Ear witnesses of them, time after time, for divers years together.
The fellow was condemned to transportation, and accordingly sent away; but I know not how (’tis said by raising storms, and affrighting the seamen) he made a shift to come back again. And ’tis observable, that during all the time of his restraint and absence, the house was quiet, but as soon as ever he came back at liberty, the disturbance returned. He had been a soldier under Cromwel, and used to talk much of gallant books he had of an old fellow, who was counted a Wizzard. Upon this occasion I shall here add a passage, which I had not from Mr Mompesson, but yet relates to the main purpose.
The Gentleman who was with me at the house, Mr Hill, being in Company with one Compton of Summersetshire, who practised Physick, and pretends to strange matters, related to him this story of Mr Mompesson’s disturbance. The Physician told him, he was sure it was nothing but a rendezvous of witches, and that for a hundred pounds he would undertake to rid the house of all disturbance. In pursuit of this discourse, he talked of many high things, and having drawn my friend into another room, apart from the rest of the company, said, he would make him sensible he could do something more than ordinary, and asked him who he desired to see. Mr Hill had no great confidence in his talk, but yet being earnestly pressed to name some one, he said, he desired to see no one so much as his wife, who was then many miles distant from them at her home. Upon this, Compton took up a looking-glass that was in the room, and setting it down again, bid my friend look in it, which he did, and there, as he most solemnly and seriously professeth, he saw the exact image of his wife, in that habit which she then wore, and working at her needle in such a part of the room (there represented also) in which and about time she really was, as he found upon enquiry when he came home. The Gentleman himself averred this to me, and he is a very sober, intelligent, and credible person. Compton had no knowledge of him before, and was an utter stranger to the person of his wife. (The same man we shall meet again, in the story of the witchcrafts of Elizabeth Style, whom he discovered to be a witch, by foretelling her coming into a house, and going out again without speaking, as is set down in the third Relation). He was by all accounted a very odd person.
Thus I have written the sum of Mr Mompesson’s Disturbance, which I had partly from his own mouth, related before divers, who had been witnesses of all, and confirmed his relation, and partly from his own letters, from which the order and series of things is taken. The same particulars he writ also to Dr Creed, then Doctor of the Chair in Oxford.
Mr Mompesson is a Gentleman, of whose truth in this account, I have not the least ground of suspicion, he being neither vain nor credulous, but a discreet, sagacious and manly person. Now the credit of matters of fact depends much upon the relators, who, if they cannot be deceived themselves, nor supposed any ways interested to impose upon others, ought to be credited. For upon these circumstances, all human faith is grounded, and matter of fact is not capable of any proof besides, but that of immediate sensible evidence.
Now this Gentleman cannot be thought ignorant, whether that he relates be true or no, the scene of all being his own house, himself a witness, and that not of a circumstance or two, but of a hundred, nor for once or twice only, but for the space of some years, during which he was a concerned, and inquisitive observer. So that it cannot with any show of reason be supposed that any of his servants abused him, since in all that time he must needs have detected the deceit. And what interest could any of his family have had (if it had been possible to have managed without discovery) to continue so long so troublesome, and so injurious and imposture? Nor can it with any whit of more probability be imagined, that his own melancholy deluded him, (since besides that he is no crazy, nor imaginative person) that humour could not have been so lasting and pertinacious. Or if it were so in him, can we think he infected his whole family, and those multitudes of neighbours and others, who had so often been witnesses of those passages? Such supposals are wild, and not like to tempt any, but those whose wills are their reasons. So that upon the whole, the principal relator Mr Mompesson himself knew, whether what he reports was true or not, whether those things acted in his house were contrived cheats, or extraordinary realities. And if so, what interest could he serve in carrying on, or conniving at a juggling design and imposture?
He suffered by it in his name, in his estate, in all his affairs, and in the general peace of his family. The unbelievers in the matter of spirits and witches took him for an imposter. Many others judged the permission of such an extraordinary evil to be the judgment of God upon him, for some notorious wickedness or impiety. Thus his name was continually exposed to censure, and his estate suffered, by the concourse of people from all parts to his house, by the diversion it gave him from his affairs, by the discouragement of his servants, by reason of which he could hardly get any to live with him.
To which if I add the continual hurry that his family was in, the affrights, vexations and tossings up and down of his children, and the watchings and disturbance of his whole house (in all which, himself must needs be the most concerned) I say, if these things are considered, there will be little reason to think he could have any interest to put a cheat upon the world, in which he would most have injured and abused himself. Or if he should of all have designed and managed so incredible, so unprofitable a delusion, tis strange that he should have troubled himself so long in such a business, only to deceive, and to be talked of. And it is yet more so, that none of those many inquisitive persons that came thither purposely to criticise and examine the truth of those matters, could make any discoveries of the juggling, especially since many came prejudiced against the belief of such things in general, and others resolved beforehand against the belief of this, and all were permitted the utmost freedom of search and enquiry. And after things were weighed and examined, some that were before greatly prejudiced, went away fully convinced.
To all which I add: That there are divers particulars in the story, in which no abuse or deceit could have been practised, as the motion of boards and chairs of themselves, the beating of a drum in the midst of a room, and in the air, when nothing was to be seen; the great heat in a chamber that had no fire in excessive cold weather, the scratching and panting, the violent beating and shaking of the bedsteads, of which there was no perceivable cause or occasion: In these and such like instances, it is not to be conceived how tricks could have been put upon so many, so jealous, and so inquisitive persons as were witnesses of them.
‘Tis true, that when the Gentlemen the King sent were there, the house was quiet, and nothing seen nor heard that night, which was confidently and with triumph urged by many, as a confutation of the story. But ’twas bad logic to conclude in matters of fact from a single negative, and such a one against numerous affirmatives, and so affirm that a thing was never done, because not at such a particular time, and that nobody ever saw what this man or that did not. By the same way of reasoning I may infer that there were never any robberies, done on Salisbury Plain, Hounslow Heath, or the noted places, because I have often travelled all those ways, and yet was never robbed; and the Spaniard inferred well that said, There was no sun in England, because he had been six weeks here, and never saw it. This is the common argument of those that deny the being of apparitions, they have travelled all hours of the night, and never saw anything worse than themselves, (which may well be) and thence they conclude, that all pretended apparitions are fancies or impostures. But why do not such arguers conclude, that there was never a cut-purse in London, because they have lived there many years without being met with by any of those practises? Certainly he that denies apparitions upon the confidence of this negative against the vast heap of positive assurances, is credulous in believing there was ever any highway-man in the world, if he himself was never robbed. And the trials of assizes and attestations of those that have (if he will be just) ought to move his assent no more in this case, than in that of witches and apparitions, which have the very same evidence.
But as to the quiet of Mr Mompesson’s house when the courtiers were there, it may be remembered and considered, that the disturbance was not constant, but intermitted sometimes several days, sometimes weeks. So that the intermission at that time might be accidental, or perhaps the daemon was not willing to give so public a testimony of those transactions, which possibly might convince those, who he had rather should continue in the unbelief of his existence. But however it were, this circumstance will afford but a very slender inference against the credit of the story, except among those who are willing to take any thing for an argument against things which they have an interest not to acknowledge.
I have thus related the sum of the story, and noted some circumstances that assure the truth of it. I confess the passages recided are not so dreadful, tragical and amazing, as there are some in story of this kind; yet are they never the less probable or true, for being not so prodigious and astonishing. And they are strange enough to prove themselves effects of some invisible extraordinary agents, and so demonstrate that there are spirits, who sometimes sensibly intermeddle in our affairs. And I think they do it with clearness of evidence. For these things were not done long ago, or at far distnace, in an ignorant age, or among a barbarous people, they were not seen by two or three only of the melancholic and superstitious, and reported by those that made them serve the advantage and interest of a party. They were not the passages of a day or night, nor the vanishing glances of an apparition; but these transactions were near and late, public, frequent and of divers years continuance, witnessed by multitudes of competent and unbiased attestors, and acted in a searching incredulous age: Arguments enough one would think to convince any modest and capable reason.
A Whip for the Droll Fidler to the Atheist: Being reflections on drollery and atheism, occasioned by the Daemon of Tedworth. In a letter to the Learned Dr Henry More.
Honoured Sir,
The scrupulous care you take in examining the story of the disturbance at Tedworth, is no more than becomes a philosopher, and one that is not willing to be deceived. And without such a cautious and particular inquiry, you could not answer the murmurs and petty evasions of wilful unbelievers. Those objections you picked up at Cambridge, (against this disturbance) have the ill fortune to miscarry in almost every circumstance, and are in no likelihood of being believed but at a great distance. Some of them I could have answered upon mine own knowledge; and concerning the rest I have made a strict inquiry of Mr Mompesson himself and others, when I was last in those parts, and upon certain information I give you this account.
To the (1.) that say, The house is rented, and that this is a device to beat down the value of it. I answer from his own mouth, That the house is his own, and so the foundation of this shift is overturned. The second, of those that say, It is a trick to get money from those that come to see the prodigy, has as little truth, but much more malice in the first contrivers than the former, for this Gentleman being a person of Estate, I am confident, scorns so base and so beggarly a policy, and is so far from making any advantage, that it has done him very material prejudice to his fortunes and affairs. And those strangers that came to see the prodigy, use to leave nothing behind them, except thanks for the civility of their entertainments.
‘Tis true, (3.) as others say, That the house is boarded without, at least a great part of it. But there are no cellars, as the objection adds, save only under the parlour, and the disturbance was most in other rooms. And whereas, (4.) ’tis objected, That a knight that offered to go down could not be permitted. ‘Tis answered me, That the Gentleman might have gone down had he pleased, and his servant did, who made a careful search, but could find nothing that might be a cause of the noise, which he affirmed to be above, and that it proceeded not from the cellar.
And to disable what other objectors say, viz. (5.) That there was no drumming in the midst of any room, but only a striking on the boards as it were with a hammer in a corner of the outsides of the house. I say, to null this pretence, Mr Mompesson and others assured me, that the noise was oft in the midst of the room, and oft over head; and, he says, That there is scarce a man or child in the village, but has heard and can witness it. And after the first month it was almost always within. Thus, Sir, to the objections of others, which you have gathered, and to your own queries I make this return.
Whereas you inquire, (1.) What part of the children’s bed did the daemon beat, and what noise did it make? ‘Tis answered, that it beat against the head and posts of the bed, and that when hands were laid on each side of them, at those times they would shake as if they would fall in pieces, but nothing else could be perceived or felt. The noise was like to that of striking with a hammer.
And then, (2.) To that whether the Drummer’s drum was ever looked on while it beat, or was it only in the dark. I am assure dthat it was seen when the noise was made upon it, both by the light of fire and candle.
(3.) To the query, What were the boards that moved, by what light was their motion seen, and by whom? Mr Mompesson answers, They were seen move forwards and backwards in the light of clear day, before the sun was set, and by a whole house full of people.
And whereas (4.) you ask, In what clearness of light were the chairs seen walk about, and by what witnesses? ‘Tis answered, that they were seen to do so by candlelight, and by divers persons.
As to what I was a witness of myself, I add these circumstances for the satisfaction of your queries: The children were in bed when the scratching and panting was, but I am sure did not contribute to those noises. I saw their hands above the clothes during the scraping, and searched the place whence the noise came. To which I might add, That they were little harmless modest girls, that could not well have been suspected guilty of the confidence of such a juggle, had it been possible they could have acted in it. For the panting, I am certain there was no dog in the bed, for I grasped it with my hand, and felt it in all parts, especially there where the original motion was. The bed also was searched under, but no dog, nor any creature else could be found there. The floor I said shook with the panting sensibly, and yet it was as strong and substantial an one, as ordinarily is seen. But the children indeed did not seem to be much concerned, having been used to those and ruder noises, and there was company in the room to assure them.
Thus, Sir, I have briefly answered others’ objections, and your queries. And because I have an humour to say little more, I’ll consider (what you know as well as any man alive) the reasons men are so apt to cavil at this kind of relations, and are rather willing to believe any thing than the truth of such a narrative. They are chiefly, I think, an affected humour of drollery and scoffing, and a worse cause, atheism […]
………..
https://archive.org/details/devilinbritainam00ashtrich/page/47/mode/1up
This page
https://salisburymuseum.wordpress.com/tag/witchcraft/
says the house was “Zouch Manor” which is no longer standing.
SU2344249172 according to https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1538952&resourceID=19191
and on the 1880 map as “Zouch Farm.” If there’s anything now it’s more modern than the 17th century. It’s very close to the church we visited in North Tidworth.