A true AND FEAREFVLL VEXATION OF ONE ALEXANDER NYNDGE: BEING MOST HORRIBLY TORMENted with the devill, from the 20. day of january, to the 23. of july. At Lyeringswell in Suffocke: With his Prayer after his deliverance.  
WRITTEN BY HIS own BROTHER EDWARD NYNDGE Master of Arts, with the Names of the Witnesses that were at his Vexation.  
 two figures, one being attacked by disembodied heads  
¶ Imprinted at London for W. B. and are to bee sold by EDWARD WRIGHT at Christ-Church gate. 1616.   

❧ The grievous and lamentable vexation of ALEXANDER NYNDGE, fearfully tormented with an evil Spirit, from the 20 day of january, to the 23. of july.  
THe divell, being the principal agent and chief practiser in all wickedness. It is much to the purpose we haue in hand, to describe and set him forth, that we may the better be instructed to see what he is able to do in what manner, and to what end and purpose. At the beginning( as Gods word doth teach us) he was created an holy angel, full of power & glory. He sinned, he was cast down from heaven, he was utterly deprived of glory, and preserved for iudgement. This therefore, and this change of his, did not destroy nor take away the former faculty of divels, but utterly corrupt, pervert, and deprave the same. The Essence of Spirits remained, and the power and understanding such as is in Angels. The heavenly Angels are very mighty, and strong, far above all earthly creatures in the world. The infernal Angels are for their strength called Principalities and Powers. Those blessed ones apply all their might to set up and advance the glory of God, and to defend and succour his children. The divels bend all their force against God, against his glory, 
Eph. ●… Psal. ●…  and against his truth, and people. And this they do with such fierceness, 
〈◇〉 1.  rage, and cruelty, ther the Holy Ghost painteth them out, under the figure of a great read or fiery Dragon and roaring Lion, and( in very dead) any thing comparable unto them. he hath such power and authority that he is called the God of the World. His kingdom is bound and enclosed within certain limits, for he is the Prince, but of darkness. But yet within his said dominion( which is in ignorance of God) he exerciseth a mighty tyranny. Our saviour compareth him to a strong Man, armed which keepeth his Castle.  
And what shall we say, for the wisdom, and understanding of Angells, which was given them in their Creation, was it not far above that which Men can reach unto? When they became divels( even those reprobate Angels) their understanding was not taken away, but turned into malicious craft, and subtlety. He never doth any thing but of an evil purpose, and yet he can set such a colour, that the Apostle saith, He doth change himself into the likeness of an angel of Light. For the same cause he is called the old Serpent. He was subtle at the beginning, but continual practise, and long experience, hath made him much more subtle. He hath preached out, and knoweth all the ways that may be to deceive. So that if God should not chain him up his power and subtlety( joined together) would overcome, and seduce the whole world.  
There be great multitudes of infernal Spirits as the holy Scriptures do every where show, but yet they do so join together in one, that they be called the divell in the singular number. They do all join together( as our saviour teacheth) to uphold one kingdom For though they cannot love one another, in dead, yet the hatred they bear against God, is as a band, that doth tis them together. The holy Angels are ministering Spirits. sent forth for their sakes that shall inherit the promise. They haue no bodily shape of themselves: But to set forth their speedines, the Scripture applieth it unto our rude capacity, and painteth them out with wings. When they are to rescue, and succour the seruants of God, they can strait way from the highest heauens ( which are thousand of thousands of miles distant from the earth) be present with them.  
Such quickness is also in the divels: for their nature being spiritual, and not laden with any heavenly matter as our bodies are, doth afford unto them such a nimbleness as we cannot conceive. By this they fly through the world, over sea, and land, and spy out all advantages, and occasions to do evil.  
To declare what these malignant Spirits haue effected, and brought to pass or what success they haue attained, would be too long and tedious a piece of work. I will therefore loose that point of my compass, and sail forward in my intended way, to find out and declare the fearful vexation of one Alexander Nyndge, who was grievously tormented with an evil Spirit from the xx. of january, to the 23. of july, and is worthy to be remembered both for example, and warning. For describing the horror and unheard of misery that fell vpon him, we may be thereby drawn to descend into ourselves, and to look into our souls betimes, least heaven power down the viols of wrath vpon vs.  
You shall understand therefore that the first fit, and vexation, wherewith this Alexander Nyndge was so fearfully perplexed began about seven of the clock at night. His Father, mother, and brethren, with the residue of the household being at that time in presence. And it was in this manner. His chest, and body fell a swelling, his eyes a staring, and his back bending inwards to his belly which did strike the beholders into a strange wonder, and admiration at the first, yet one of his brothers then also present, name Edward Nyndge, a Master of Arts, being boulder then others were of the company, certainly persuading himself that it was some evil spirit, that so molested him: gave him comfortable words of mercy from the holy Scriptures, and also charged the Spirit by the death and Passion of Iesus Christ, that it should declared the cause of that torment. At which the countenance of the same Alexander turned more strange, and full of amazement, and fear then it was before, and so returned to his former state again.  
This Alexander Nyndge having his speech thou at liberty said unto the same Edward, Brother, he is marvelous afraid of you, therefore I pray you stand by me.  
With which words the same Edward was the more bold, and said to Alexander, If thou dost earnestly repent thee of thy sins, and pray to God for the forgiveness of the same,( my life for thine) the Diu●ll cannot hurt thee, No, rather then he should, I will go to hell with thee. Then the Spirit( for a small time) racked the said Alexander in a far more cruel manner: for he did use such strange and idle kinds of gestures in laughing, dancing, and such like light behaviours, that he was suspected to be mad: sundry times he refused all kinds of meat for a long space together, insomuch as he seemed to pine away. Sometimes he shaked as if he had had an ague. There was heard also a strange noise or flapping from within his body, he would gather himself on a round heap under his bedcloathes, and being so gathered, he would bounse up a good height from the bed, and beat his head and other parts of his body against the ground, and bed-stead in such earnest manner, that the beholders did fear that he would thereby haue spoiled himself, if they had not by strong hand restrained him, and yet thereby he received no hurt at all.  
In most of his fits he did swell in his body, and in some of them did so greatly exceed therein, as he seemed to be twice so big as his natural body. He was often seen to haue a certain swelling or variable lump to a great bigness swiftly running up and down between the flesh and the skin.  
Then would they carry the same Alexander down the chamber, willing him to call vpon God for grace, and earnestly to repent him, and to put his trust only in Christ Iesus. And setting him in a chair, desired his Father to sand for all his neighbors, to help to pray for him. And on a sudden he would be strangely handled, for( sitting in a chair when the fit came) he would be cast head long vpon the ground, or fall down, drawing then his lips awry, gnashing with his teeth, wallowing and foaming, and the Spirit would vex him monstrously and transform his body, and alter the same by many violences. Then the said Edward his brother with one Thomas Wakefield would lay hands on Alexander and set him in the chair again, and there hold him. All that were in the house praying earnestly.  
And the said Edward charging the Spirit with these words, Thou fowle fiend, I conjure thee, in the name of Iesus our saviour, the son of Almighty God, that thou speak unto vs.  
Whereat the Spirit transformed him very ugly against his Chest, swelling upwards to his throat, plucking his belly just to his back, and so ceased for a time.  
The party tormented being somewhat restored, uttered these words; Sirs, He will speak with me, I pray you let him not speak with me. Whereupon all that were present did pray earnestly, at which the Spirit began to vex him very grievously and swelled sore 〈…〉 he Chest, and in a base sounding and hollow voice, vttere 〈…〉 ords. I will, I will, I will. Then replied the said Edw●… d, a 〈…〉 said; Thou shalt not, and I charge thee in the Name of Ies●… Christ, that thou speak unto us, and not unto him. T●en the Spirit in a hollow voice said, Why didst thou tell th●m? Why didst thou tell them? Then the said Edward, did Charge the Spirit( as aforesaid) to tell them the cause of his coming? And why he did torment his brother. To the which the Spirit answered. I come for his soul. Then the said Edward said unto the Spirit, Wee haue a warrant in the holy Scriptures, that such as do earnestly repeat them of their sins, and turn unto God with the only hope of salvation, through the merits of Iesus Christ, thou mayest not haue them, for Christ is his Redeemer. The Spirit uttered( in a base hollow sounding voice) these words, Christ that was my Redeemer. Then Edward said, Christ that is his Redeemer, not thy Redeemer, but my brother Alexander his Redeemer.  
Then the Spirit said in his hollow voice, I will haue his soul and body too, and so began to torment and rack the same Alexander, and difigure him more horriby then before, forcing him to such strange and fearful skriking as cannot bee uttered by mans power, and was of such strength, as sometimes four or five men, though they had much advantage against him by binding him to a chair, yet could they not rule him. And in showing that strength, he was not perceived to pant or blow, no more then he had not strained his strength, nor struggled at all. Sometimes he would cry extremely, so as tears would come from him in great abundance. Presently after he would laugh aloude, and shrill, his mou●h being shut close. And sometimes he was heaved up from the ground by force invisible, the said Edward Nyndge, Thomas Nyndge, Thomas Wakefield, Thomas Goldsmith, William Miles, and William Nyndge junior, hanging vpon the same Alexander unto the midst of the house, and the said Edward putting his mouth unto the ear of the said disfigured body of his brother Alexander said, Brother, continue in your faith, and if you go to hell, wee will go with you. Then the force did somewhat fall, and the hangers on dr 〈…〉 em to the chair again. Then one of his younger brot●… med William Nyndge said; Wee will keep him from th●● the● foul Spirit, in despite of thy Nose.  
Whereat the transformed body, looked very ●… ibly against the said William, and turned his most ugly looks ●●to his brother Edward standing on the other side, uttering these hollow sounding words, Will you sir, will you sir. To which the said Edward answered; Nor I sir, but the merits of Iesus Christ will, and him we earnestly pray to keep him from thee. Then all that were there present, to the number of 20. persons and more, fell down and said the Lords Prayer, with other Sentences, every one severally, and one of the Company uttered words, joining God and the blessed virgin Mary together, whom the said Edward rebuked, and said, You offend God: whereat there came a voice much like Alexanders voice, saying twice, There bee other good Prayers. Whereunto the said Edward made answer, and said, Thou liest, for there is no other Name under heaven whereby wee may challenge salvation, but the onely Name of Christ Iesus. And then the Spirit toares with a fearful voice, and stretched out his neck long to the fire: and then the said Edward desired Peter Bencham, Curate of the town, to conjure and charge him in the Name of Iesus the son of the almighty, that the Spirit should declare unto them from whence he came? Whether he would? And what was his Name 〈…〉 which the Spirit made answer in this mumbling manner. I would come out, I would come out. Then Edward charged him( as before) that he should declare his name. And the Spirit said, Aubon, Aubon. They charged him then( as is aforesaid) to make known unto them whence he came: and the Spirit made answer in a hollow voice; From Ireland, from Ireland. Then they laid the fourth Chapter of Saint matthew against him, where Christ said, It is; Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him onely shalt thou serve. Which Sentence, as it was pronounced, the hollow voice sounded, My Master, my Master, I am his Disciple, I am his Disciple. Then they answered, Thy Master we grant he is, but thou liest, thou art none of his Disciple. Thou art onely an instrument, and scourge to punish the wicked, so far as pleaseth him. And then they laid unto him the eight Chapter of S. Luke, whereas Christ himself did cast out devils. And the Spirit answered hollowly, Baw-wawe, baw-wawe. And within a little space after, the body of the said Alexander, being as monstrously transformed as it was before, much like the picture of the devill in a play, with an horrible roaring voice, sounding Hell-hound, was most horribly tormented. And they that were present fell to prayer, desiring God earnestly to take away the foul Spirit from him. The said Edward then desired to haue the window opened, for, I trust in God( said he) the fowle Spirit is weary of our company. The windows being opened accordingly, within two minutes after the tormented body returned to true shape again, the said Alexander leaping up, and holding up his hands, and saying, he is gone, he is gone, Lord I thank thee. Whereat all the people that were then present fell down on their knees with the reverence, and yielded unto God exceeding praise and thanksgiving. This fit ended about eleven of the clock the same night, and so they went to Supper with great ioy and gladness.  
After four a clock in the Morning another fit began: and the said Alexander being in his bed, with great trembling said, I will go, I will go. Then said Edward, Brother, call yourself to remembrance, and beleeue in Iesus Christ your Redeemer, and take this Sentence for your defence against him whensoever you see him come, this is the Sentence; speak for me my saviour Iesus Christ. Which Sentence the said Alexander uttered very earnestly many times, with a trembling and fearful look, as though something had invaded him, but we said nothing but his belly swelling a little. This fit continuing half an hour, and somewhat more, they took him the Bible to red, and so fell to godly Prayer against all assaults and temptations in this maner.  

¶ The Prayer.  
OH Lord God of eternal glory, and Father of endless mercy, we thy unworthy Creatures are told in the Name of thy beloved son, to present ourselves before thee, humbly beseeching thee for his sake, that thou wilt vouchsafe to sand down thy holy Spirit into our hearts, to guide & govern us in all godly ways, and to defend us from all manner of temptations of this world, and from the assaults of the devill.  
Lord God, of thine unspeakable goodness, grant that thy grace may always continue with us, and that at no time wee swarne, or fall from thee, nor may the soul fiend haue any power over vs. Let thy truth be evermore with us, and make us constant in the some, that no temptations seduce us, or make us afraid of any thing that hath power ever our bodies, but always confessing that whom order thou pleasest to defend, no Tyrant shall bee able to destroy. Strengthen and increase faith, love, and charity in the hearts of all people. Make us able to resist the vain pleasures of the world. Let not the perilous al●urements thereof haue any power to conquer and overcome us nor the subtleties of the devill be able to deceive vs. Defend us( oh Lord) from the many perils, and temptations, which the devill our adversary, practizeth against us, least wee fall into his snares. Let neither his endeavours, nor the wanton enticements of the flesh prevail against vs. We know( oh Lord) that without thy sufferance, he of himself can take no hold of us, nor be able to diminish the least heir of our head. give therefore unto us such grace from thee, that we may be willing to strive against his assaults, and give us also such strength as we may bee able to break and beat down the force and vehemency of his strong temptations.  
grant us thy heavenly light, whereby we may perfectly see, and perceive, those malicious and cruel ensigns, which he layeth to entrap us, least unawares wee fall into the same. even now( O Lord) in these perelous dayes, the devill and his ministers do most busily seek to sift us by all means and ways possible, and by all evil works, whereunto he doth move us, and doth thrust into our hearts, that( without the assistance of thy grace) he may bring us within the bai●s, and snares laid for our souls. And contrariwise, we of ourselves haue no ability nor means to prevail against him, unless thou of thy Mercy vouchsafe to be gracious unto us, to strengthen us by thy power, and to defend us in all temptations which he worketh against us, that he may not triumph over us to our destruction.  
Wee beseech thee from the bottom of our hearts, to vouchsafe to be our comfort in al our troubles, to defend us against all temptations, and that it would please thee to direct led, and govern us in all our thoughts, words, and deeds. So shall we dwell in safety.  
Oh Lord, thou knowest, that among all Creatures, man is most rebellious against thee and his offences and transgressions against thee most manifeld. And contrariwise, every other Creature in his kind, doth most worthily show thy might, power, and promise, and by them is thine omnipotency declared: But we in our lives do show ourselves most unkind, and unnatural children towards thee, daily offending thy divine majesty, and every Minute transgressing against thy laws and Commandements, nothing regarding thy judgements, which might in a moment destroy vs. But thou( O Lord) in thy mercy dost vouchsafe notwithstanding to spaire us, admonishing us, to repentance and newness of life, that through our faithful conversion we may be saved. Raise us up therefore( good Lord) from our drowsy sluggishness, and careless security.  
Suffer us not any longer to wallow and fumble ourselves in our grievous iniquities. Let not sin haue so much power in us, or increase over vs. Destroy and overthrow Satan, and his policies. And grant( we beseech thee) that even from the bottom of our hearts, we may aclowledge this affliction, which now so grievously pierceth our poor brother, to be thy Fatherly correction to put him mind of his duty towards thee, least with too much quietness he might haue been drawn, through the flatterings of this vain world, from the remembrance and delight of his spiritual ioy in heavenly things. And while it shall be thy good will and pleasure( oh Lord) to exercise him with this thy loving correction, give him grace that he may abide whatsoever it shall please thee to lay vpon him for his amendment. Strengthen him( oh Lord) that he faint not under the burden of this fearful temptation, but being vpholdren by the strength of thy holy Spirit in him, he may never cease calling vpon thy Name, till thou give him full deliverance to his singular comfort, and thy eternal glory. And when it shal please thee( oh Lord) fully to deliver him, we beseech thee so to work in our hearts, that we may all, and every one of us aclowledge the same to come from thee, to bee thy onely work, that we may be thankful for thy so great mercies all the dayes of our lives, and never forget thy loving and fatherly dealings towards us, that thy holy Name may be glorified in our lives, and after death we may bee received to that full ioy, which thou hast prepared for thine Elect children, through our only Lord, and saviour Iesus Christ, Amen.   
After the Prayer ended, he fel into a slumber, but it continued not so, but that he fell into his former vexation: For about eight of the clock the next morning following, the same Alexander was marueliosly misformed and cried out; help me brother Edward, and all you that be my friends, and pray for me, for this foul fiend will come into me, whether I will or no. And therewith the said Alexander made an horrible spitting, his belly being swelled as before hath been expressed. And then he breathed for a time, and they put on his hose, and brought him down into the house, where he was grievously tormented of al his members, and the voice roared exceedingly, but they saw nothing, and Edward speaking in his brothers ear, said unto him; Stand to your true Repentance brother, and your pofessed hope of salvation, which you detained yesternight, and then undoubtedly God will deliver you. And presently the le●t ear, at the which the said Edward spake so vehemently, was suddenly wrinkled like a clung Walnut which falleth from the three before it be ripe.  
At sight whereof the said Edward being amazed, called the Curate of the town, and desired him to take the Bible, and to turn to the place of Scripture, where Christ gave authority to his Ministers, and willing him to red and use that authority, for the losing of the same ear which was so wrinkled together. The same Edward going to the right ear uttered thereat many Sentences of consolation unto his brother bring in a monstrous, and horrible vexation. And then diuers of them, took vpon them to conjure, and charge the foul fiend as in the first manner, namely; Wee conjure thee in the Name of Iesus Christ our saviour, the son of the almighty God, that thou depart and no longer torment the said Alexander. And within a while after the same Alexander stood up and said; he is gone, He is gone.  
Whereupon he joined with his brother Edward in hearty Prayer of acknowledgement, and said after him in this manner.  

His Prayer after deliverance to aclowledge it to come of God onely.  
OH Lord God, I feel in myself how mercifully thou hast dealt with me, I was grievously tormented, and now by thy goodness partly released. I was dangerously assaulted, and now by thy mercy partly delivered. This relief, although I must needs confess by infallible arguments, to be thy onely work in me, yet such is the pride of my rebellious flesh, that I fear it will not suffer me fully to ascribe the same to proceed of thee, and thine onely goodness, but will seek out other feigned causes, according to the vain devises of my mind. Therefore I beseech thee most gracious Father) that thou wilt so frame my heart, that I may with whole heart and mind, and with all the powers of my soul aclowledge this my release, and comfort to be thy onely work wrought in me by thy holy Spirit, and that I may be thankful for the same all the dayes of my life. Oh Lord, thou hast sworn by thy holiness that thou wilt not give thine honour to any other. Seeing then( dear father) that thou hast sent me this strength, let me be fully persuaded in heart that it cometh from thee, that to thee I may render due honour, praise and thanksgiving for the same, and the rest of my life, that I may be assured in heart of thy merciful defence in mine extreme trouble and vexations. As thou hast delivered me, that thou wilt according to thy promise, so continue thy merciful grace and favour, that thy Name may be thereby glorified in me, my soul may be in mercy preserved, and the whole church edefied no wand for ever. Amen.   
After this, they took the said Alexander, and all of them joyfully accompany him to his brother Thomas Nyndge his house, where after his coming thither, he was not known to bee perplexed with the like terrible vexations.  
Deo Trino, & uni Gloria.  
These things were seen and suffered in the presence of the persons hereunder name, and many others both men and women. 

Sir Thomas Nyndge.  
William Nyndge.  
William Nindge junior.  
Henry Clarence.  
William pie.  
George Oldfeild.  
Tomas Wakefeild.  
Thoms Goldsmith.  
William Miles.  
John Baron.  
Thomas Gathercolt.  
Thomas Kent.  
George richard.  
Thomas Edwards.  
John Neaue, alias Bolding.  
ezechiel Clement.  
John Turner, &c.    
FINIS.