a Straw. Why a Spirit is such a little, little Thing, that I have heard a Man, who was a great Scholar, say, that he'll dance ye a Lancashire Hornpipe upon the Point of a Needle. - As I sat in the Pantry last Night, the Candle methought burnt blue, and the spay'd Bitch look'd as if she saw something.

Gard. Ay, I warrant ye, she hears him many a Time, and often when we don't."

Thus also in another Scene :

"Gard. Pr'ythee, John, what Sort of a Creature is a Conjurer?

But. Why he's made much as other Men are, if it was not for his long grey Beard.-His Beard is at least Half a Yard long, he's dressed in a strange dark Cloke, as black as a Coal: -He has a long white Wand in his Hand.

Coach. I fancy 'tis made out of Witch Elm. Gard. I warrant you if the Ghost appears, he'll whisk ye that Wand before his Eyes, and strike you the Drumstick out of his Hand.

But. No; the Wand, look ye, is to make a Circle, and if he once gets the Ghost in a Circle, then he has him.-A Circle, you must know, is a Conjurer's Trap.

Coach. But what will he do with him, when he has him there?

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But. Why then he'll overpower him with his Learning.

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Gard.

Gard. If he can once compass him and get him in Lobs-pound, he'll make nothing of him, but speak a few hard Words to him, and perhaps bind him over to his good Behaviour for a thousand Years.

Coach. Ay, ay, he'll send him packing to his Grave again with a Flea in his Ear, I warrant him.

But. If the Conjurer be but well paid, he'll take Pains upon the Ghost, and lay him, look ye, in the Red Sea-and then he's laid for ever.

Gard. Why, John, there must be a Power of Spirits in that same Red Sea. I warrant ye they are as plenty as Fish.-I wish the Spirit may not carry a Corner of the House off with him.

But. As for that, Peter, you may be sure that the Steward has made his Bargain with the Cunning Man beforehand, that he shall stand to all Costs and Damages."

The above is a pleasant Comment on the popular Creed concerning Spirits and haunted Houses.

I am pleased with Mr. Bourne's Zeal for the Honour of his Protestant Brethren, at the Conclusion of this Chapter.- The Vulgar (he says) think them no Conjurers, and say none can lay a Spirit but Popish Priests-he wishes to undeceive them however, and to prove at least negatively that our own Clergy know full as much of the black Art as the others do.

Here follows the tedious Process for the Expulsion of Demons, who, it should seem, have not been easily

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easily ferretted out of their Quarters, if one may judge of their Unwillingness to depart, by the Prolixity of the subsequent Removal Warrant, which I suppose the Romish Clerical Bailiffs were not at the Trouble of serving for nothing!

CHAP.

CHAP. XI.

POSTEXERCITATIO SEPTIMA, F. VALERII POLIDORI PATAVINI.

Quæ ordo dicitur Domum a Dæmone perturbatum liberandi.

The FORM of exorcising an haunted House. THE * House which is reported to be vexed with Spirits, shall be visited by the Priest once every Day, for a whole Week together: And Day after Day he shall proceed as follows :

The Office for Munday.

ON Munday, when the Priest comes to the Gate of the House, let him stand near it, whilst it continues shut, and say,

V. O GOD + make speed to save me.
R. O LORD make haste to help me.

* Domus quæ dicitur a dæmonibus vexari, singulis unius

hebdomadæ, &c.

† Psal. lxx.

V. Glory V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the Beginning is now, and ever shall be, World without End. Amen.

Psalm xxiv.

THE * Earth is the LORD's and all that therein is, the Compass of the World and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the Seas. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand up in his holy Place? Even he that hath clean Hands and a pure Heart, who hath not lift up his Mind to Vanity, nor sworn to deceive his Neighbour. He shall receive the Blessing from the LORD, and Righteousness from the GOD of his Salvation. This is the Generation of them that seek him, even of them that seek thy Face, O Jacob. Lift up your Heads O ye Gates, and be lift up ye everlasting Doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? It is the LORD strong and mighty, even the LORD mighty in Battle. Lift up your Heads O ye Gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting Doors, and the King of

* Psal. xxiv.

Glory