THE COUNTREY-MISER OR THE Unhappy Farmer's DEAR MARKET.  
Giving the true Account of the Rich Farmet near Emsted in Essex: Who with several others of his Neighbour Farmers, coming to Emsted Market, where they endeavoured to hold up the Price of their Corn to an Extortionable Rate, to the great Oppression, especially of the Poorer sort:  
Missing of their Expectations, the Rich Farmer, in a great Passion, swore the Devil should have all his Corn before he would take the honest price they offered him.  
Upon which, soon after the Devil came to him in the shape of a Country Chap, and after some Discourse, agreed to give him his Extortionable Price, for Thirty Load, paying Five Pounds in hand, the Corn to be delivered on a certain day.  
Of the Corn in one of the Farmer's Barns being Eaten up and Spoilt by a strange sort of Vermine.  
In the mean time, the Farmer calling to Remembrance has Rash Wish, was strangely troubled in mind; fearing he had Sold his Corn to the Devil; upon which, by the Advice of his Neighbours, Mr. R. K. a Minister was sent for. Also, of his safe Delivery from the hands of Satan by the special Advice and Directions of the said Reverend Divine.  
Licenced according to Order.  
London, Printed for N. Jackson in the Strand, 1693.   

A Full and True Account of a Farmar at Emsted, who Sold the Devil Thirty Load of Wheat: Also of his safe Delivery from the Hands of Satan, by the Advice of a Reverend Divine.  
AMongst the many Remarkable Instances we have had of the Almighty's Displeasure, towards those who through there rash Expressions and Protestations, have made themselves liable to God's Vengeance, who tolerates Satan to become the powerful Instrument of making those persons the wicked Examples oftentimes of their passionate and hasty Imprecations, as a warning to others; How they become guilty of so dangerous a folly. And for a further Demonstration of God's peculiar notice of this particular Crime. I shall give you a following Relation which is justified for an Inevitable Truth, by many Creditable Persons whose Reputable assertion of this matter, is sufficient to establish a belief amongst all such who are not Obstinately Incredulous.  
A Farmer living a small distance from the Town of Emsted (whose Name for his Reputations sake we are desired to forbear mentioning) came about three weeks ago with a Load of Wheat, to Emsted Market with full hopes of disposing of it, to a more than Ordinary advantage, Corn being risen that week to an Extraordinary Price; which other Farmers as well as himself having a knowledge off, who being all equally greedy of their gain brought a more than usual quantity to Market, which the Buyers observing prudently resolved to undermine their purposed Ends, which the unreasonable Farmers to themselves had made by biding an Indifferent Rate, hoping by that means they should lower their Extravagant Price, and hinder them of that unreasonable Exaction which they could not vindicate by pleading any manner of Necessity (God be thanked) that and all other places in England, being Stored with a sufficient plenty.  
A person with an Intention to buy, coming to one Farmer above the rest whose Name we shall omit for the Reasons above mentioned, and ask him the Price of this Corn he required an Extravagant Rate for it, at which the Buyer seemed to be much surprised, and bid him a Reasonable Price, at which he expected it might be afforded with an answerable profit. The Farmer in answer to this broke out into great Indignation, saying, the Devil should have all the Corn he had, before any of his Grain should he bought at so Ordinary a Rate, at which the Chapman went away to try if he could mend himself in some other part of the Market.  
He had not been gone long, but another person came dressed up in a Rusty black Garb, having the appearance of an old Miser, did ask him likewise the Price of his Corn, the Farmer Immediately shows him a Sample of it, ask him the the same Rate as he had done the other; the old Gentleman seemed to have great liking towards the Corn and bid him within a very small matter of what he had required of him, and further requested of him what quantity he had in all of the same Corn by him, which he could Warrant to be full as good as that. The Farmer answered about thirty Load, which he would engage upon his Word should fall no ways short of that in goodness which he had already showed him. The old Gentleman replying he had an occasion for such a Parcel declairing if they could agree he would take it all off his hands, and give him five Prond carnest for the whole Quantity before they parted.  
The Farmer finding his Chapman had so great a liking to his Corn, still persisted in his Avaricious Inclinations and protested he would not bate any thing of the Price he had already asked him; to which the Buyer replied he was a very hard and unreasonable Dealer, but however since he saw his Grain was good and fit for his purpose, rather than go without he would give him his Price, and agree with him for the whole Quantity. Whereupon the Farmer was much pleased at his meeting with so generous a Chapman, and desired to drink his morning's draught with him, (to which they both agreed) and went to the Red-Lyon where they drank two Tankards of Ale very amicably together, after which the Chapman according to his Proposals gave him five Pound Earnest, and appointed a day when the Corn should be got ready, and he would then pay him the rest of his Money, and bring his Teems in Order to Clear the Barn, this being fully agreed on by both Parties, they parted wishing one another much happiness till their next meeting.  
The Farmar for the present being well pleased with the thoughts of the advantage, he proposed by so good a bargain quitted the Market, and returned home with his Corn well satisfied till the next day taking the matter into his more serious Consideration, began to wonder who this Person should be who had given so generous a Price for his whole stock, wondering 〈◊〉 before he had never seen him in the Market; from these Considerations sprang a great many doubts and jealousies which increased every moment till it brought him under great dissatisfaction of mind, renewing in his memory the rash Inconsiderate Expressions he had used in the Market, (viz.) that the Devil should have his Corn before he would abate any thing of his Price. From whence he concluded it was the Devil who had made this agreement with him, which dreadful apprehensions brought him under great trouble and discontent. Insomuch that his Neighbours took great notice of the Alteration it had caused in him, and began strictly to examine into the Occasion of that great sorrow with which he seemed to be afflicted, till at last their importunate inquiries prevailed with him to declare the Reasons of his discomposure who was immediately advised to send for a Parson from Emsted, a Gentleman Eminent for his Learning and Piety, and consult with him what was most proper to be done in this matter, accordingly a Messenger was dispatched, who returned with all expedition with the Parson, who hearing the dangerous circumstances the Farmer by his unwary words had brought himself under, advised him to be very careful in the punctual performance of his Bargan; for that if he deviated one Title from his agreement, it would certainly give the Devil power over him, whereupon great care was taken that the Corn should be finely dressed and ordered, with the greatest nicety Imaginable, and got in a Complete Readiness Exactly against the time, which the Devil had appointed.  
A person taking upon him (who was reported to be a Conjurer) to be ready in the Barn to deliver the Corn to the Devil when he should come for it. During which Intermin the Farmer was advised to keep his Bed, the Parson and some of the most Pious of his Neighbours, offering up their Prayers with him to Almighty God, to preserve and protect him from the power of Satan, with whom he had contracted so dangerous a Bargain.  
A little before the Devil's appearance the Wind began to rise and Agitate itself into a violent motion: the Sky became darkened on a sudden, and a lowering Cloud began to make its progress towards the Farmer's House, showing all the dismal signs of Horror and Confusion; one part of it descending amongst some Trees a little distance from the Barn, from whence was heard an amazing clap of Thunder, and immediately was seen two Black Teems of Monstruous Cattle, drawing two large Wagons towards the Barn; Hurrying on with great Expedition, attended by Four ill shaped Drivers of a Gygantick Magnitude, and in the foremost Wagon sat he that made the Bargain, who when he came to the Barn, demanded where was the Farmer? the Conjuror replying, he was not to be spoke with, but that the Corn was ready, upon which the Devil taking strict notice could not make any manner of Objection; but with an angry Countenance laid down the Remainder of his Money, took up his Corn, and hurried on his Wagons, as if the Devil drove them.  
Since this we hear, most of the Corn in another Barn (belonging to same Farmar) has been eaten up or spoiled by a strange sort of Vermine.  
Whoever doubts the Truth of what is here inserted, if they will trouble themselves to inquire of any of the Emsted Carriers, they may receive from them a Confirmation of this matter for their further satisfaction.   
FINIS.  

 a man held in a chair by four other men while the devil watches from behind a curtain