Strange and  News: OR, The Full and True Relation OF THE MIRACULOUS INSPIRATION OF Charles Bennet; BORN AT Manchester in Lancashire: Who being but THREE Years of Age, Speaks without the Least Instruction: English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; so Perfect and Authentically, the like thereof hath not been heard of in any Age.  
Being now to be Seen & Discoursed withal at the Bear-Inn in West-Smithfield.  
The Truth of which many Thousand Credible Spectators can Attest: This Deponent being an Eye and Ear Witness to what is here Inserted.  
As also the Account of his Earnest Desire to Speak with HIS MAJESTY: The which he Effected, and some Words he Spoke, on Monday the 30th. of June 1679. Being brought into the ROYAL PRESENCE.  
With many other Circumstances most Wonderful and Strange to Relate.  
London, Printed for F.F. in the Year, 1679.   

Strange and  News, Or, The Miraculous Inspiration of Charles Bennit, a Child of Three Years of Age, Born at Manchester in Lancashire, etc.  
STrange and Wonderful are the Works of God, in all that his Omnipotency designs, and when he pleases can declare it in the meanest Work his Hand has form, as our Blessed Saviour's Sacred Evangelist explains; and likewise David the Princely Prophet, That out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings, he has perfected Praise; and can extol the mighty power of his Eternal self, as he himself shall think most fit, the which may in this proceeding Narration be produced to all as followeth, and noted to after Ages, as a Wonder of the times, and Prophetically mysterious.  
A Male Child about Three Years of Age, the Son of a Linnen-Weaver of Manchester in Lancashire, namely Philip Bennit, being a Man of mean Education and Fortune; his Son being born on or near the 17th. of June, in the year of Man's Redemption, 1676. and after was Christened about the 28th. of the same month, receiving in his Baptism the name of Charles; the Child growing and continuing in a good state of bodily health, was often observed by his Parents to be more serious and considerate then appertained to one of his age, many times musing, and seeming to deliberate with himself; the which at first they did not so fully regard, but after he could go alone, and began to speak, (the which he exercised sooner than usual) many grave Sentences were observed to proceed from him; But the first Discovery of the profound Knowledge that for a long time had absconded in his Microcosnick structure, was about a month or Six Weeks since: his Father after Divine Service takeing a Bible, and reading a certain Chapter in one of the Evangelists, by accident, or through ignorance omitted, or preposterously read a certain Verse or Sentence: the Child aforesaid being present, reproved him of his error, and told him there was no such sentence in the Scripture, or Word of God: at which his Father being in a consternation, casting his eyes upon the Text where he had read, found himself mistaken, whereupon he examined him how he knew, having never seen nor known the Scriptures as to the Practic part: to whom the aforesaid Charles most discreetly replied; That he could, and in his conceit had often conversed therein, and if occasion required, could Read them in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. This raised the primal Character of the Child's more than ordinary perfection, sent his fame abroad, so that many hundreds from Towns and Villages adjacent to the place of his Nativity, came flocking to take a view of him, and to discourse in all the Tongues premissed, who did as freely Answer, to the great astonishment of all that heard: for many Ministers and Learned Men were likewise curious to satisfy themselves in the certainty hereof, and when they had beheld and found it true, they went away with admiration. After some time his Fame was noised in the great Metropolis of London, to which by the advice and persuasion of some of their Friends, his Parents brought him about Five days since; and coming up by the Warwick-shire-Carryer, they Inned or took up their lodging at the Bear-Inn in West-smith-field: where no sooner was the rumour of their being there spread abroad, but numbers flocked to see a wonder they had heard of some time since: he being accompanied with his Parents in a very spacious Room on the left hand going into the Inn aforesaid, where many Ministers and others discoursed and questioned with him on Saturday the 28th. of which this Deponent was one who did both reason with him in English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; to which he soon answered, and rightly expounded and Interpret each Word a Sentence; the truth of which, this Deponent is ready to Justify upon Oath if need requireth: Some of which Words I shall here (for the more perfect satisfaction of the Reader) Insert, Imprimis, he was asked Latin, Greek, and Hebrew for a Man, to which he as readily Replied, Virro, Inthropos, Addam; For a Woman, Mulier, Genue, Eveve; For Boy, Pueri, A Girl, Puella; his Forehead, Front,, A Hat, Gallerus. As likewise many other words and Propositions, too tedious here to Insert. His Parents take no Money at the Door, but are willing to accept the free Benevolence of Gentlemen: The Child will not accept any Gift, be it Money or any other Present; but if it be forced upon him, he will absolutely refuse and throw it away, showing how little he regards such transitory Trash, the which is no ways permanent. The Child had, as his Parent's report, an earnest desire many weeks before he came to London, to speak with his Majesty, and that he had some business of Importance to declare to his Sacred self: the which they much Noted by his earnest and often repeating the same desire, the which was, as some report, to speak Three Words, and after the deliverance of which, he Prophetically foretells his Dissolution as to this life. In the space of Nine days, but this is not certainly known, but sure I am, that upon Notice of the said Child's being in Smithfield, his Majesty was graciously pleased to send for him to his royal Palace of White-hall, on Monday the 30th. of this instant June, 79; who in a Coach waits His Majesty's good pleasure: and as it is credibly reported, most fluently answered to several Questions, to the great admiration of all that were present; but what was there said two not as yet precisely known. He reads English perfecter tden any Youth far above his Age, although never so well instructed.  
The Truth of what I have here proposed, can be witnessed by many Thousand Worthy Gentleman and Gentlewomen, many whose names I could here insert if occasion required: But for your further satisfaction, if you send to the Bare Inn as aforesaid, you shall be fully informed of all these particulars, and a number more, the which would tyre your patience to peruse. As for the Stature of the said Charles Bennet, he is not above two Foot and 3 Inches, being of a ruddy and aimable Complexion, full eyed, with a sharp and piercing sight: Dark brown Hair, and round Visaged, seeming very vehement in the delivery of his Speeches, with a manly voice, but something thick in the delivery of his words. His Parents were but mean People, getting their Live by their daily labours and Employments. This is no fallacy nor premeditated Instruction, taught by the device nor Art of men, for was it so, the Child could not be perfect in every cross question, the which amongst the learnedest of men requires some deliberation; then what can we imagine less than that those parts and early Docilities, proceeded by Divine Inspiration: and who can tell what Mysteries Omnipotence may veil that tender Form, the which in time may shine more perfect to the World, till when let us admire, and with the Prophet say, It is the Lords doing and is Marvellous in our Eyes, etc.  
FINIS.