THE Just Devil OF WOODSTOCK.  
Or, A True Narrative OF THE Several Apparitions, the Frights and Punishments, inflicted upon the RUMPISH Commissioners Sent thither, to Survey the MANORS and HOUSES belonging to His MAJESTY.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1660.   

The Names of the Persons in the ensuing NARRATIVE mentioned, with others.  

Capt. Cockaine  
Capt. Hart.  
Capt. Crook.  
Capt. Careless.  
Capt. Roe.  
Mr. Crook the Lawyer  
Mr. Browne the Surveyor.   

Their three Servants.  
Their Ordinary Keeper, and others.  
The Gate-Keeper, with the Wife and Servants.   
Besides, many more, who each night heard the noise; as Sir Gerrard Fleetwood and his Lady, with his Family, Mr. Hyans' with his Family; And several others, who lodged in the outer Courts, and during the three last nights, the Inhabitants of Woodstock town, and other Neighbor-villages.  
And there were many more, both Divines and others, who came out of the Country, and from Oxford, to see the Glass and Stones, and other stuff, the Devil had brought, wherewith to beat out the Commissioners; the marks upon some walls remain, And many, this to testify.   

The Preface to the ensuing Narrative.  
SInce it hath pleased the Almighty God, out of his infinite mercy, so to make us happy, by restoring of our native King to us; and us unto our native liberty through him, that now the good may say, magna temporum felicitas ubi sentire quae velis, & dicere licet quae sentias, We cannot but esteem ourselves engaged in the highest of degrees, to render unto him the highest thanks we can express. Although, surprised with joy we become as lost in the performance: when gladness and admiration strikes us silent, as we look back; upon the precipice of our late condition, and those miraculous deliverances beyond expression. Freed from the slavery, and those desperate perils, we daily lived in fear of, during the tyrannical times of that detestable usurper Oliver Cromwell: he who had raked up such Judges, as would wrest the most innocent language into high Treason, when he had the cruel conscience, to take away our lives, upon no other ground of Justice or Reason (the stones of London streets would rise to witness it, if all their Citizens were silent.) And with these Judges had such Councillors, as could advise him unto worse, which will less want of witness, For should the many Auditors be silent. The press, (as God would have it) hath given it us in print; where 
Mr. Nathanie● Fines his speech before Oliver Cromwe●… and his two Houses of Parliament, the 20. of Januar● 1657. He being Cromwel's Sea Keeper.  one of them (and his conscience keeper too) speaks out, What shall we do with these men? saith he: Aeger intemperans crudelem facit medicum, & immedicabile vulnus ense recidendum, Who these men are that should be brought to such Sicilian vespers, the former page sets forth: Those which conceitVtopia's, And have their day dreams, of the return of I know not what golden age with the old line. What usage when such a privy Councillor had power, could he expect, who then had published this Narrative, This which so plainly shows, the Devil himself disliked their do, (so much more bad were they then he would have them be) severer sure than was the Devil to their Commissioners at Woodstock; for he warned them with dreadful noises, to drive them from their work: This Councillor without more ado, would have all who retained conceits of Allegiance to their Sovereign, to be absolutely cut off, by the usurpers sword. A sad sentence for a Loyal party, to a lawful King; But Heaven is always just, the party is reprieved, and do acknowledge the hand of God in it, as is rightly applied, and as justly sensible of their deliverance: in that, the foundation which this Councillor saith was already so well laid, is now turned up, and what he calls day-dreams, are come to pass. That old line which (as with him) there 
11. line 17. Mr. Nathaniel ●ines p. 12 line ●4. and 25.  seemed, aliquid divini, to the contrary is now restored. And that rock which as he saith the Prelates and all their Adherents, Nay, and their Master and Supporter too, with all his posterity, have split themselves upon, is not where to be heard of. And that posterity are safely arrived in their Ports, and Masters of that mighty Navy, their enemies so much increased to keep them out with. The Eldest sits upon the Throne, his place by birthright and descent.  Facatumque regit Patriis virtutibus orbem. 
Upon which Throne long may he sit, and reign in peace: That by his just government, the enemies of ours, the true Protestant Church, of that glorious Martyr, our late Sovereign, and of his Royal posterity, may be either absolutely converted or utterly confounded.  
If any shall now ask, the Why, this Narrative was not sooner published as nearer to the times wherein the things were acted, he hath the reason for it, in the former lines; which will the more clearly appear unto his apprehension, if he shall perpend, how much cruelty is requisite to the maintenance of Rebellion; And how great care is necessary in the supporters, to obviate and divert the smallest things that tend to the unblinding of the people. So that it needs will follow, that they must have accounted this, amongst the great obstructions, to their sales of his Majesty's Lands, the Devil not joining with them in the security. And greater to the pulling down the Royal Palaces, when their chapmen should conceit the Devil would haunt them in their houses, for building with so ill got materials; As no doubt but that he hath, so numerous and confident are the relations made of the same, though scarce any so totally remarkable as this, (if it be not, that others have been more concealed) in regard of the strange circumstances, as long continuances, but especially the number of the persons together, to whom all things were so visibly both seen and done, so that surely it exceeds any other; for the Devils thus manifesting themselves it appears evidently, that there are such things as Devils, to persecute the wicked in this world as in the next.  
Now if to these were added the divers real Phantasms seen at White-Hall in Cromwell's time, which caused him to keep such nightly guards in and about his bedchamber, and yet so oft to change his Lodgings. If those things done at Saint James, where the Devil so joaled the Sentinels against the sides of the Queen's Chapel doors: that some of them fell sick upon it, and others not taking warning by it, killed one outright, whom they buried in the place; And all other such dreadful things, those that inhabited the Royal houses have been affrighted with.  
And if to these were likewise added, a relation of all those Regicides and their Abettors, the Devil hath entered into, as he did the Gadarenes swine 
S. Math c. 8. 28, S. Luke c. 8. 26.  with so many more of them, who have fallen mad, and died in hideous forms of such distractions. That which hath been of this within these 12 last years in England (should all of this nature our Chronicles do tell, with all the superstitious Monks have writ, be put together,) would make the greater volume, and of more strange occur ents.  
And now as to the Penman of this Narrative, know, that he was a Divine and at the time of those things acted, which are here related, the Minister and Schoolmaster of Woodstock, a person learned and discreet, not biased with factious humours, his name Widows, who each day put in writing what he heard from their mouths (and such things as they told to have befallen them the night before) therein keeping to their own words; And never thinking that what he had writ, should happen to be made public, gave it no better dress to set it forth. And because to do it now, shall not be construed to change the story, The reader hath it here accordingly exposed.   

The Just Devil of WOODSTOCK.  
THe 16 day of October in the year of our Lord, 1649. The Commissioners for surveying and valuing his Majesty's Manor House, Parks, Woods, Deer, Demesnes, and all things thereunto belonging, by Name Captain Crook, Capt. Hart, Capt Cockaine, Capt. Careless, and Capt. Roe their Messenger, with Mr Brown their Secretary, and two or three servants went from Woodstock town, (where they had lain some nights before) and took up their lodgings in his Majesty's House after this manner: The Bedchamber and withdrawing room, they both lodged in, and made their Kitchen; the Presence Chamber their room for dispatch of their business with all comers; of the Council Hall, their Brewhouse, as of the Dining room their Woodhouse, where they laid in the clefts of that ancient Standard in the High-Park, for many ages beyond memory, known by the Name of the King's Oak, which they had chosen out, and caused to be dug up by the Roots.  
Octob. 17. About the middle of the night, these new guests were first awaked, by a knocking at the Presence Chamber door, which they also conceived did open, and something to enter, which came through the room, and also walked through the withdrawing room into the Bedchamber, and there walked about that room with a heavy step during half an hour; then crept under the bed where Captain Hart, and Capt. Careless lay, where it did seem (as it were) to by't and gnaw the Mat, and Bedcoards, as if it would tear and rend the featherbeds, which having done a while, then would heave a while, and rest; then heave them up again in the bed more high than it did before, sometime on the one side, sometime on the other, as if it had tried which Captain was heaviest; thus having heaved some half an hour, from thence it walked out, and went under the servants bed, and did the like to them; thence it walked into a withdrawing room, and there did the same to all who lodged there: Thus having welcomed them for more than two hours' space, it walked out as it came in, and shut the outer door again, but with a clap of some mighty force; these guests were in a sweat all this while, but out of it falling into a sleep again, it became morning first before they spoke their minds, than would they have it to be a Dog, yet they described it more to the likeness of a great Bear, so fell to the examining under the Beds, where finding only the Mats scratched, but the Bedcoards whole, and the quarter of Beef which lay on the floor untouched, they entertained other thoughts.  
Octob. 18. They were all awaked, as the night before, and now conceived that they heard all the great clefts of the King's Oak brought into the Presence Chamber, and there thumped down, and after roll about the room, they could hear their chairs and stools tossed from one side of the room unto the other; and then; as it were) altogether josled: Thus having done an hour together, it walked into the withdrawing room, where lodged the two Captains, the Secretary, and two servants; here stopped the thing a while, as if it did take breath, but raised a hideous one, than walked into the Bedchamber, where lay those as before, and under the Bed it went, where it did heave, and heave again, that now they in bed were put to catch hold upon Bedposts, and sometimes one of the other, to prevent their being tumbled out upon the ground; then coming out as from under the bed, and taking hold upon the bedposts, it would shake the whole bed, almost as if a cradle rocked: Thus having done here for half an hour, it went into the withdrawing room, where first it came and stood at the bed's feet, and heaving up the bed's feet flopt down again a while, until at last it heaved the feet so high that those in bed thought to have been set upon their heads; and having thus for two hours entertained them, went out as in the night before, but with a great noise.  
Octob. 19 This night they awaked, not until the midst of the night, they perceived the room to shake, with something that walked about the bedchamber, which having done so a while, it walked into a withdrawing room, where it took up a Brass warming-pan, and returning with it into the bedchamber, therein made so loud a noise, in these Captains own words, it was as loud and scurvy, as a ring of five untuned Bells rang backward, but the Captains, not to seem afraid, next day made mirth of what had passed, and jested at the Devil in the pan.  
Octob. 20. These Captains and their company, still lodging as before, were wakened in this night with some things flying about the rooms, and out of one room into the other, as thrown with some great force: Captain Hart being in a slumber, was taken by the shoulder and shaked until he did sit up in his bed, thinking that it had been by one of his fellows, when suddenly he was taken on the Pate with a Trencher, that it made him shrink down into the bed-clothes, and all of them in both rooms kept their heads at least within their sheets, so fiercely did three dozen of Trenchers fly about the rooms; yet Captain Hart ventured again to peep out to see what was the matter, and what it was that threw, but then the Trenchers came so fast and near about his ears, that he was fain quickly to couch again: In the morning they found all their Trenchers, Pots and Spits, upon and about their beds, and all such things as were of common use scattered about the rooms; this night there was also in several parts of the room, and outer-rooms, such noises of beating at door●, and on the Walls, as if that several Smiths had been at work; and yet our Captain shrunk not from their work, but went on in that and lodged as they had done before.  
Octob. 21. About midnight they heard great knocking at every door, after a while the doors flew open, and into the withdrawing room entered something, as of a m●●●ty proportion, the figure of it they knew not how to describe; this walked a while about the room shaking the floor at every step, than came it up close to the bed side, where lay Captain Crook and Careless; and after a little pause, as it were, The bed-cur-tains both at sides and feet were drawn up and down slowly, then faster again for a quarter of an hour, then from end to end as fast as imagination can fancy the running of the rings, than shaked it the beds, as if the joints thereof had cracked; then, walked the thing into the bedchamber, & so played with those beds there: Then took up eight Peuter-dishes, and bouled them about the room, and over the servants in the truckle beds; then sometimes were the dishes taken up & thrown cross the high-beds and against the walls, and somuch batteted; but there were more dishes wherein was meat in the same room, that werenot at all removed: During this, in the Presence Chamber there was stranger noise of weighty things thrown down, and as they supposed, the clefts of the King's Oak did roll about the room, yet at the wont hour went away, and left them to take rest, such as they could.  
October 22. Hath mist of being set down, the Officers employed in their work farther off, came not that day to Woodstock.  
October 23. Those that lodged in the withdrawing room, in the midst of the night were awakened with the cracking of fire, as if it had been with thorns and sparks of fire burning, whereupon they supposed that the bed chamber had taken fire, and listening to it farther, they heard their fellows in bed sadly groan, which gave them to suppose they might be suffocated, wherefore they called upon their servants to make all possible haste to help them, when the two servants were come in, they found all asleep, and so brought back word, but that there were no bed clothes upon them, wherefore they were sent back to cover them, and to stir up and mend the fire; when the servants had covered them, and were come to the Chimney, in the corners they found their wearing apparel, boots, and stockings, but they had no sooner touched the Embers, when the firebrands flew about their ears so fast, that away ran they into the other room, for the shelter of their cover-lids, then after them walked something that stamped about the room, as if it had been exceeding angry, and likewise threw about the Trenchers, Platters, and all such things in the room, after two hours went out, yet stamped again over their heads.  
October 24. They lodged all abroad.  
October 25. This afternoon was come unto them Mr. Richard Crook the Lawyer, brother to Captain Crook, and now Deputy-Steward of the Manor, unto Captain Parsons and Major Butler, who had put out Mr Hyans' his Majesty's Officer: To entertain this new guest, the Commissioners caused a very great fire to be made, of near the chimney full of wood, of the King's Oak, and he was lodged in the withdrawing room with his brother, and his servant in the same room; about the midst of the night a wonderful knocking was heard and into the room something did rush, which coming to the chimney-side, dashed out the fire, as with the stamp of some prodigious foot, than threw down such weighty stuff, what ere it was (they took it to be the residue of the clefts and roots of the King's Oak) close by the bedside, that the house and bed shook with it: Captain Cockain and his fellow arose, and took their swords to go unto the Crooks, the noise ceased at their rising, so that they came to the door and called the two brothers, though fully awaked, and heard them call, were so amazed, that they made no answer until Captain Cockaine had recovered the boldness to call very loud, and came unto their bedside; then faintly first, after some more assurance, they came to understand one another, and comforted the Lawyer: whilst this was thus, no noise was heard, which made them think the time was passed of that night's troubles, so that after some little conference they applied themselves to take some rest, when Captain Cockaine was come to his own bed, which he had left open, he found it closely covered, which he much wondered at, but turning the clothes down, and opening it to get in, he found the lower sheet strewed over with trenchers, their whole three dozen of trenchers were orderly disposed between his sheets, which he and his fellow endeavouring to cast out, such noise arose about the room, that they were glad to get into bed with some of the trenchers: the noise lasted a full half hour after this; This entertainment so ill did like the Lawyer, and being not so well studied in the point, as to resolve this the Devils Law-case, that he next day resolved to begun, but having not dispatched all that he came for, profit and persuasions prevailed with him to stay the other hearing, so that he lodged as he did the night before.  
Octob. 26. This night each room was better furnished with fire and candle then before; yet about twelve at night came something in, that dashed all out, then did walk about the room; making a noise, not to be set forth by the comparison with any other thing, some times came it to the bedsides, and drew the Curtains to and fro, then twerle them, then walk about again, and return to the bedposts, shake them with all the bed, so that they in bed were put to hold one upon the other, then walk about the room again, and come to the servants bed, and gnaw and the wainscot head; and shake altogether in that room, at the time of this being in doing, they in the bedchamber heard such strange dropping down from the roof of the room, that they supposed 'twas like the fall of money by the sound. Captain Cockaine not frighted with so small a noise, (and lying near the chimney) stepped out, and made shift to light a candle, by the light of which he perceived the room strewed over with broken glass, green, and some as it were pieces of broken bottles, he had not long been considering what it was, when suddenly his candle was hit out, and glass flew about the room; that he made haste to the protection of the Coverlets, the noise of thundering rose more hideous then at any time before; yet at a certain time all vanished into calmness. The morning after was the glass about the room, which the maid, that was to make clean the rooms swept up into a corner, and many came to see it: But Mr. Richard Crook would stay no longer, yet as he stopped going through Woodstock Town, he was there heard to say, that he would not lodge amongst them another night for a Fee of 500 l.  
Octob. 27. The Commissioners had not yet done their work wherefore they must stay, and being all men of the sword, they must not seem afraid to encounter with any thing though it be the Devil, therefore with pistols charged, and drawn swords laid by their bed sides, they applied themselves to take some rest, when something in the midst of night, so opened and shut the window casements, with such claps, that it awakened all that slept; some of them peeping out to look what was the matter with the windows, stones flew about the rooms as if hurled with many hands, some hit the walls, and some the beds heads close above the pillows; the dints of which were then, and yet (it is conceived) are to be seen; thus sometime throwing stones; and sometime making thundering noise, for two hours' space it ceased, and all was quiet till the morn; after their rising and the maid come in to make the fire they looked about the rooms: they found fourscore stones brought in that night, and going to lay them together, in the corner where the glass (before mentioned) had been swept up, they found that every piece of glass had been carried away that night: many people came next day to see the stones, and all observed, that they were not of such kind of stones as are natural in the country thereabout, with these were noise like claps of thunder, or report of Cannon planted against the rooms; heard by all that lodged in the outer courts, to their astonishment, And at Woodstock Town, taken to be thunder.  
Octob. 28. This night, both strange and differing noise from the former, first wakened Captain Hart who lodged in the bed chamber, who hearing Roe and Brown to groan, called out to Cookaine and Cocka to come and help them, for Hart could not now stir himself; Cockaine would feign have answered, but he could not, or look about, something he thought, stopped both his breath and held down his eye lids. Amazed thus he struggles and kicked about, till he had awaked Captain Crook who half asleep grew very angry at his kicks, and multiplied words it grew to an appointment in the field; but this fully recovered Cockaine to remember, that Captain Hart had called for help, wherefore to them he ran in the other room, whom he found sadly groaning: where scraping in the chimney he both found a candle and fire to light it; but had not gone two steps when something blew the candle out, and threw him in the chair by the bed side, when presently cried out Captain Careless, with a most pitiful voice, come hither, O come hither brother Cockaine, the things gone of me, Cockaine scarce yet himself; helped to set him up in his bed, and after Captain Hart, and having scarce done that to them, and also to the other two they heard Captain Crook crying out, as if something had been killing him; Cockaine snatched up the sword, that lay by their bed and ran into the room to save Crook but was in much more likelihood to kill him, for at his coming the thing that pressed Crook went of him, at which Crook started out of his bed, whom Cockaine thought a spirit made at him, at which Crook cried out Lord help, Lord save me, Cockaine let fall his hand, and Crook embracing Cockaine desired his reconcilement; giving him many thanks for his deliverance, than risen they all and came together, discoursed sometimes godly and sometimes prayed, for all this while was there such stamping over the roof of the house, as if 1000 horse had there been trotting, this night all the stones brought in the night before, and laid up in the withdrawing room: were all carried again away by that which brought them in, which at the wont time left of, and as it were went out, and so away.  
Octob. 29. Their business having now received so much forwardness, as to be near dispatched they encouraged one the other and resolved to try further, therefore they provided more lights and fires, and further for their assistance prevailed with their Ordinary keeper; to lodge amongst them and bring his Mastive Bitch, and it was so this night with them, that they had no disturbance at all.  
Octob 30 So well they had past the night before, that this night they went to bed confident, and careless until about 12 of the clock; something knocked at the door as with a smith's great hammer, but with such force as if it had cleft the door: then entered something like a Bear, but seemed to swell more big and walked about the room, and out of one room into the other; treading so heavily as the floor had not been strong enough to bear it, when it came into the bed chamber it dashed against the bed's heads some kind of glass vessel, that broke in sundry pieces, and sometimes would take up those pieces, and hutle them about the room, and into the other room; and when it did not hurl the glass at their heads, it did strike upon the tables as if many smiths with their greatest hammers had been laying on as upon an anvil: sometimes it thumped against the walls, as if it would beat a hole through; then upon their heads such stamping, as if the roof of the house were beating down upon their heads, and having done thus, during the space (as was conjectured) of two hours, it ceased and vanished, but with a more fierce shutting of the doors then at any time before; in the morning they found the pieces of glass about the room, and observed that it was much differing from that glass, brought in three nights before, this being of a much thicker substance, which several persons which came in carried away some pieces of; The Commissioners were in debate of lodging there no more, but all their business was not done, and some of them were so conceited as to believe, and to attribute the rest they enjoyed the night before this last unto the Mastive bitch; wherefore they resolved to get more company, and the Mastive bitch, and try another night.  
Octob. 31. This night the fires and lights prepared, the Ordinary keeper and his bitch, with another man persuaded by him, they all took their beds and fell asleep; But about 12 at night such rapping was on all sides of them that it wakened all of them, as the doors did seem to open; the Mastive bitch fell fearfully a yelling, and presently ran fiercely into the bed to them in the truckle bed; as the thing came by the table, it struck so fierce a blow on that, as that it made the frame to crack, than took the warming-pan from off the table and stroke it against the walls with so much force as that it was beat flat together lid and bottom; now were they hit as they lay covered over head and care within the bed clothes; Captain Careless was taken a sound blow on the head with the shoulderblade bone of a dead Horse, (before they had been but thrown at when they peeped up and missed,) Brown had a shrewd blow on the leg, with the backbone, and another on the head, and every one of them felt several blows of bones and stones through the bed clothes, for now these things were thrown as from an angry hand, that meant further mischief: the stones flew in at window as shot out of a Gun, nor was the bursts less (as from without) then of a Cannon, and all the windows broken down; now as the hurling of the things did cease, and the thing walk up and down, Captain Cockaine and Hart cried out, In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, What are you? what would you have? what have we done that you disturb us thus? No voice replied (as the Captains said, yet some of their servants have said otherwise) and the noise ceased. Hereupon Captain Hart and Cockain risen, who lay in the Bedchamber, renewed the fire and lights, and one great candle in a candlestick they placed in the door, that might be seen by them in both the rooms; no sooner were they got to bed, but the noise arose on all sides more loud and hideous then at any time before, insomuch (as to use the Captains own words) it returned and brought seven Devils worse than itself, and presently they saw the candle and candlestick in the passage of the door, dashed up to the roof of the room, by a kick of the hinder parts of a Horse, and after with the Hoof trod out the snuff, and so dashed out the Fire in the Chimneys; as this was done, there fell as from the sieling, upon them in the Trucklebeds such quantities of water, as if it had been poured out of Buckets, which stunk worse than any earthly stink could make; And as this was in doing, something crept under the High beds, tossed them up to the roof of the House, with the Commissioners in them, until the Testers of the beds were beaten down upon them, and the Bedsted-frames broke under them; and here some pause being made, they all as if with one consent, started up, and ran down the stairs until they came into the Councel-Hall, where two sat up a Brewing, but now were fallen asleep, those they scared much with wakening of them, having been much perplexed before with the strange noise, which commonly was taken by them abroad for thunder, sometimes for rumbling wind; here the Captains and their company got fire and candle, and every one carrying something of either, they returned into the Presence-Chamber, where some applied themselves to make the fire, whilst others fell to Prayers, and having got some clothes about them, they spent the residue of the night in singing Psalms and Prayers; During which, no noise was in that room, but most hideously round about, as at some distance.  
It should have been told before, how that when Captain Hart first risen this night, (who lay in the Bedchamber next the fire) he found their Book of valuations cross the embers smoking, which he snatched up and cast upon the Table there, which the night before was left upon the Table in the presence amongst their other Papers: This Book was in the morning found a handful burnt, and had burnt the Table where it lay; Brown the Clerk said, he would not for a 100 and a 100 l. that it had been burnt a handful further.  
This night it happened that there were six Coney-stealers, who were come with their Nets and Ferrets to the Cony-burrows by Rosamonds Well; but with the noise this night from the Manor-house, they were so terrified that like men distracted away they ran, and left their Haies all ready pitched, ready up, and the Ferrets in the Cony-burrows.  
Now the Commissioners more sensible of their danger, considered more seriously of their safety; and agreed to go and confer with Mr. Hoffman, the Minister of Wotton, (a man not of the meanest note for life or learning, by some esteemed more high) to desire his advice together with his company and prayers. Mr. Hoffman held it too high a point to resolve on suddenly and by himself, wherefore desired time to consider upon it, which being agreed unto, he forthwith road to Mr. Jenkinson and Mr. Wheat, the two next Justices of Peace to try what Warrant they could give him for it. They both (as 'tis said from themselves) encouraged him to be assisting to the Commissioners, according to his calling.  
But certain it is, that when they came to fetch him to go with them, 
By which is to be noted, that a Presbyterian Minister dares not encounter an Independent Devil.  Mr Hoffman answered, That he would not lodge there one night, for 500 l. and being asked to pray with them, he held up his hands and said, That he would not meddle upon any terms.  
Mr Hoffman refusing to undertake the quarrel, the Commissioners held it not safe to lodge where they had been thus entertained any longer, but caused all things to be removed into the Chambers over the Gatehouse, where they stayed but one night, and what rest they enjoyed there, we have but an uncertain relation of, for they went away early the next morning; but if it may be held fit to set down what hath been delivered by the report of others, they were also the same night much affrighted with dreadful apparitions, but observing that these passages spread much in discourse, to be also in particulars taken notice of, and that the nature of it made not for their cause, they agreed to the concealing of things for the future; yet this is well known and certain, that the Gate-keepers wife was in so strange an agony in her bed, and in her bedchamber such noise (whilst her husband was above with the Commissioners) that two maids in the next room to her, durst not venture to assist her, but affrighted ran out to call company, and their Master, and found the woman (at their coming in) gasping for breath: And the next day said that she saw and suffered that, which for all the world she would not b● hired to again.  
From Woodstock the Commissioners removed unto Euelme, and some of them returned to Woodstock the Sunday seven-night after (the Book of Valvations wanting something that was for haste, left imperfect) but lodged not in any of those rooms where they had lain before, and yet were not unvisited, (as they confess themselves) by the Devil whom they called their nightly guest, Captain Crook came not until Tuesday night, and how he sped that night the gate keeper's wife can tell if she dareth, but what she hath whispered to her gossips, shall not be made a part of this our Narrative, nor many more particulars which have fallen from the Commissioners themselves and their servants to other persons; they are all or most of them alive, and may add to it when they please, and surely have not a better way to be revenged of him who troubled them, then according to the Proverb, tell truth and shame the Devil.  
There remains this observation to be added, that on a Wednesday morning all these Officers went away; And that since them divers persons of several qualities, have lodged often and sometimes long in the same rooms, both in the presence with drawing room and bed chamber, belonging unto his Sacred Majesty yet none have had the least disturbance, or heard the smallest noise for which the cause was not as Ordinary as apparent; except the Commissioners and their company who came in Order to the alienating and pulling down the house, which is well nigh performed.   

A short Survey of Woodstock, not taken by any of the before mentioned Commissioners.  
THis Noble seat called W●odstock is one of the ancient honours belonging to the Crown. Several Manors own suit and service to the place; But the custom of the Country giving it, but the title of a Manor we shall err with them to be the better understood.  
The Manor House, hath been a large Fabric, and accounted amongst his Majesty's standing houses, because there was always kept a standing furniture; This great house was built by King Henry the first, but amplified with the gate house and out sides of the outer-court, by King Henry the seventh, the stables by King James.  
About a bow shoot from the gate Southwest, remain foundation signs of that structure erected by King Henry the second, for the security of Lady Rosamond, daughter of Walter Lord Clifford, which some Poets have compared to the Dedalian Labyrinth, but the form and circuit both of the place & ruins, show it to have been a house & of one pile; perhaps of strength according to the fashion of those times, and probably was fitted with secret places of recess and avenews to hid or convey away such persons as weet not willing to be found if narrowly sought after. About the midst of the place ariseth a spring called at present Rosamonds Well; It is but shallow and shows to have been paved and walled about likely contrived for the use of them within the house, when it should be of danger to go out.  
A quarter of a mile distant from the King house, is seated Woodstock Town new and old: This new Woodstock did arise by some buildings which Henry the second gave leave to be erected, (as received by tradition) at the suit of the Lady Rosamond, for the use of out servants upon the wastes of the Manor of Bladon where is the Mother Church, this is a Hamlet belonging to it, though increased to a market Town by the advantage of the Court residing sometime near, which of late years they have been sensible of the want of; this Town was made a Corporation in the 11. year of Henry the sixth, by Charter with power to send two Burgesses to Parliament or not, as they will themselves.  
Old Woodstock is seated on the Westside of the brook named Glyme which also runneth through the Park, the Town consists not of above four or five houses, but it is to be conceived, that it hath been much larger, (but very anciently so) for in some old Law Historians there is mention of the Assize at Woodstock, for a Law made in a Micelgemote (the name of Parliaments before the coming of the Norman) in the days of King Etheldred. And in like manner that thereabout was a King's House, if not in the same place where Hen. the first built the late standing pile before his; for in such days those great Counsels were commonly held in the King's Palaces. Some of those Lands have belonged to the Orders of the Knight's Templars there being Records which call them, Terras quas Rex excambiavit cum Templariis.  
But now this late large Manor House is in a manner almost turned into heaps of Rubbish: Some seven or eight rooms left for the accommodation of a Tenant that should rend the King's meadows, (of those who had no power to let them) with several high uncovered Walls standing, the prodigious Spectacles of malice unto Monarchy, which ruins still bear semblance of their State, and yet aspire in spite of envy, or of weather, to show, What Kings do build, Subjects may sometime shake, but utterly can never overthrow.  
That part of the Park called the High-Park hath been lately subdivided by Sir Arthur Haselrig to make pastures for his breed of Colts, and other parts ploughed up. Of the whole saith Roffus Warwicensis in Ms. Hen. 1. pag. 122. Fecit iste Rex Parcum de Woodstock, cum Palatio infra praedictum Parcum qui Parcus erat primus Parcus Angliae & continet in circuitu septem Miliaria, constructus erat Anno 14. bujus Regis, aut parum post. Without the Park the King's Demesn Woods were, it cannot well be said now are, The Timber being all sold off, and underwoods' so cropped and spoiled by that Beast the Lord Munson and other greedy , that they are hardly recoverable: Beyond which lieth Stone-field and other Manors that hold of Woodstock, with other Woods, that have been aliened by former Kings, but with reservation of Liberty for his Majesty's Deer, and other beasts of Forest to harbour in at pleasure, as in due place is to be showed.  
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