A CAVEAT TO Conventiclers: BEING A Letter from an English Gentleman in STOCKHOLME, TO A Person of quality in LONDON: RELATING The Manner of the DEVIL'S appearance in the Duchy of FINLAND.  
LONDON: Printed in the Year MDCLXX.   

A CAVEAT TO CONVENTICLERS: BEING A Letter from an English Gentleman in STOCKHOLME, TO A Person of Quality in LONDON, etc.  
Sir,  
I Am not a little amazed to find it pass without contradiction here, that the whole Duchy of Finland is possessed by the Devil, and that he is now received and acknowledged by the people there, having made his public entry upon the seventh of March last into the Town of Strixbourg (vulgarly called Oulenstadt) in this equipage. The Sky seemed at first to darken in a horrid manner; and after an unheard-of Tempest of Thunder and Lightning, the Van couriers appeared in number about half a score, clad in a duskish Soot-coloure sort of Shamoy; their Shape and Figure was much like those Pictures, which we see here upon Earth of the Devil. For it is supposed that he sat to Michael Angelo when he drew the Landscape of Hell; and all those Pictures that go about of him, are but Copies of that Original that hangs in the Vatican. These were grim visaged, Sawcer-eyed, Broad-eared, Clovenfooted, Long-tailed, Sharp-teethed, and all over Hairy. As for their Stature, we can give no certain standard of it, because that as they approached towards the Town, they seemed to grow higher and higher; nay, there are those that will depose upon oath that some of them shot up to that prodigious height, that their heads appeared above the highest Chimneys; none of them but were above the ordinary pitch of a man. It was observed, that one of them struck the hat off the first man he met, intimating (as 'tis supposed) that they were all to be uncovered.  
This dreadful appearance was followed by another no less terrible, which was ushered in by the winding of Horns, whose sound was so doleful and ominous, as would make any one's heart fail: This music was made by half a dozen close Mourners, in bulk and stature far exceeding the former; Clovenfooted they also were; but the exact shape of their body we could not discern, because it was hid under their long Cloaks: but still as they went along, they nodded their heads at the people, as it were foreboding some evil to them.  
But that which of all was most dismal, a Herald now appears in a particoloured Coat with the Devils own Effigies pictured in it (and therefore we suppose he gives no other Arms.) This Herald, as soon as he came to the Gates of the Town, with a loud and hollow voice denounced Woe to the people, which struck no small terror into them; nevertheless, their curiosity overcoming their fears, they were resolved to abide the issue of this Pomp, which seemed rather a Funeral then a Triumph.  
After this, was heard a confounded discord of winde-Musick, which seemed to result from disagreeing Flajeolets, Flutes and How boys; these were his Guards, a Troop consisting of about two hundred, all very well armed and mounted: some wore Rapiers, but the major part Scimiters; and therefore it may be very well imagined that they were slain Turks which the Devil had raised at the Siege of Candia: and to confirm the suspicion, some thought they wore Turbans: but of this we suspend our belief.  
In the midst of this Troop road the Devil's Grace himself on a milk-white-S●eed; he wore a very fair Periwig (as the mode is) and a plume of white Feathers, a fringed Crevat about his neck, his Sword drawn and brandished in the Air. Those that observed the lines of his Face, say, that his presence was grave and majestic, but seemed something in years: his stature did not much exceed that of ordinary men; his body somewhat full and corpulent; one of his Feet was cloven, and tipped with a horny substance like that of an Ox's hoof, the other was like the huge Claw of a Bird armed with dreadful long Talons. He had great Sawcer-Eyes, and long Ears and Tail: some that had formerly seen him, say, that his visage then was nothing so horrible as it used to be at other times; possibly he put on this pleasing guise, to win the people, and take off those frightful apprehensions which the Pulpits had raised of him.  
The Fields were all covered with the Infantry, which by their Manners, Habit, and Dialect seemed Wild Irish; for they were great drinkers of Usquebaugh, wore long Trousers, and their Speech was much in the Throat: besides, those that conversed with them, say, that for aught they can understand by them, they were very superstitious, and easy of belief; for they do in a manner acknowledge, that they were Spirited out of their Bogs and Woods, and transported hither with vain hopes of preferment: though some of them seem to talk oddly, as if they had dropped out of the Sky.  
This was the manner and order of his approach to the Town; where being arrived, he alighted, and went into an open Chariot that stood ready to receive him. He was no sooner seated, but he gave a loud Hollow through the Air; presently after which, the Heavens turned as black as pitch, as if his breath had over cast them: The people run into their Houses, barred up their Doors and Windows; and there was such a general consternation, that the most daring Bully Rocks amongst them became speechless, few or none being so present to themselves, as to think of their Prays; for they were indeed so stupefied, that they lost the use of their senses. This horror having lasted above two hours, the Heavens began to clear again, the people to recover themselves and look abroad, where nothing appeared but a serene Sky; the Devil and all his Fiends vanished, and left no mark or sign of their being there.  
This Relation we had from Strixbourg in Finland, which truly I gave but light credit to at first; but finding it confirmed by every Post from those parts, and having discoursed with several that were present, who did all agree in every circumstance of the story: I confess my curiosity was seduced so far as to consult a Conjurer in this affair; and it was my good fortune to light on one that held very good intelligence with the Devil. He told me that his last Advices from Hell gave him this Character of the person that invaded those parts. He pretended great sobriety and moderation in his outward carriage, but was in his heart a Murderer, Thief, Lecher, and indeed given over to all manner of vice and debauchery; and (which rendered his wickedness more dangerous) he was undoubtedly a great Scholar, having been adored by the Schoolmen at Athens, when Learning most flourished in Greece; and to all those persons that resorted to him, he made so plausible a plea to justify all that he did, that he removed all scandal from them, and sent them away fully convinced and satisfied in the integrity of his Life and Manners; such is the power of his wit and dissimulation! yet he seems to be contemplatively given, being for the most part in retirement, and not to be seen or spoken with, but at certain hours which he sets apart for business, in which his expedition is admirable; for he is of so quick an apprehension, that when he sits in judgement, all matters brought before him, though never so perplexed, he reduces to a certain point, and dispatches immediately: for though he appeared in warlike equipage, he is rather a Gown-man then a Soldier; yet of few words, for he never opens his mouth, but when 'tis much to the purpose: none ever observed him laugh or smile.  
Then I asked him whether he might not be Antichrist ●he said, No, for there appeared no marks of the Beast about him; but guessed him rather to be one of the Silenced-Ministers of darkness, who judging by the multitude of Souls hourly transported to Hell, that there was a general Toleration of all things here upon Earth, came hither for Liberty of Conscience: but he finds himself as much deluded in his expectation, as those NON-CONFORMISTS' are, who go to Hell for the same reason, it being indeed out of the Frying-pan into the fire; for in the Swedish Dominion they allow but one way of Worship.  
That he is a Fanatic no man questions, for he seldom fails to be present, and to exercise his gifts at Private Meetings. Having understood that there was a Conventicle held in a Barn near Strixbourg, at such time as he made his solemn appearance, he came into the House invisible, where he found indeed some half a score poor wretches, (frighted perhaps with the horrid face of things, and apprehension of the day of Judgement's approach) at an Exercise: one of them, little imagining him to be present, unadvisedly got into a Tub, to hold forth to the rest. Now whether he looked upon this as an usurpation of his Office, or whether the Doctrine held forth was repugnant to his Tenets, is a doubt worthy of the brethren's QVERIES. Certain it is, that he seized the poor mortal, and hurried him away in the Air, to the great affrightment of the whole Congregation; who being too well assured by the guilt of their Consciences, that the Delinquent was fallen into the hands of Justice, immediately dissolved the Meeting.  
Policy is his Religion, and therefore it is believed he would turn Papist, if he might have been chosen Pope; but despairing to be promoted by a Christian or Catholic interest, and finding that the Queen of Sweden (whom he had reason to believe was his enemy) had a great influence over the Squadrone Volante, where he placed his main hopes; he endeavoured to breed as much division in the Conclave, as might be; and therefore is believed to have put it into the Wench of Riminie's head, to pretend a Revelation in favour of Cardinal Barbarin: but though his designs took no effect, yet those that rightly understand things say, it is most certain that had the Squadrone Volante carried the Election, he had been Pope.  
But failing here, be s●ts up for himself, and defies all Religion, Preaches nothing but Liberty and Atheism, which may be a probable reason, that he has a multitude of followers wheresoever he goes.  
Some thought at first that his business here upon earth was, in the Devil's name, to take possession of the Duchy of Finland, as an appurtenance of Hell, because it is a damned Country, and not fit for any Christian, or indeed living soul to dwell in: but upon better reflection, they were convinced that that Duchy could not belong to Hell, because the torments of the damned there proceed from cold, and not fire; though perhaps the Devil may have a just Title to some Mines of Sulphur and Arsenic lately discovered in those parts.  
I confess this discourse of the Conjurer did much amaze me; and therefore to settle a right understanding in me of these things, I desired him to raise this Devil before me; which he courteously did, together with the whole procession of the Cavalcade, which I have caused to be cut in brass, and intent shortly to print, and publish for the satisfaction of the World. Sir, this is all from  
Stockholm, April 10. 1669/ 70. Your humble Servant J. P.  
FINIS.