A Wonder in Stafford-shire; OR, A STAFFORDSHIRE WONDER.  
Of a strange and horrible apparition of the Devil, appearing to one James Fisher a Phrenatick near Brummingham late in the Night, in the shape of one of his Brethren as he was going to one of their Meeting places.  
Together with their several Discourses and Disputes betwixt this Phrenatick and the Devil, to the shame and terror of all other Sectarians.  
Being published as a Warning-piece to all other People to beware that they are not seduced into such Eronious and damnable Opinions.  
Being testified by Mr. John Hill, and Mr. Francis Collins, and one Mr. Peck living in the Town of Brummingham, besides many hundreds more, which for brevity sake we omit.  
LONDON, Printed for Francis Coles, and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Lamb in the Old-Baily, 1661.   

To the Reader.  

REader peruse this little Book and see  
If in the world a stranger thing might be,  
Then this which happened late in Staffordshire,  
And was by many thousands made appear:  
How that a grand Phrenatick called by name  
James Fisher, living near to Brummingham,  
Which unto Sectaries he leaned so,  
That Night after night would he a meeting go;  
So prone unto ambition he was set,  
That after by the Devil he was met;  
For which Eronious grand Opinions be  
Was lulled asleep by Satan's policy.  
Which in a Mortal shape he did appear,  
And called him out as after you shall hear:  
Though the Phrenatick he imagined than  
It had been of his own brethren,  
And so Discoursed as along they passed,  
But it proved to be the Devil at the last,  
Which did direct him by a Wood to stand,  
And there Disputed with him hand to hand.  
The Devil then his Gospel so displayed,  
The Phrenatick yielded still to what he said.  
But mark before that ever they departed,  
By that same Devil he was quite Converted:  
And so went home though in a world of sadness,  
And from Religion turned into madness;  
This book was writ a purpose for to be  
A Warning-piece unto the Sectary,  
Which if you read it through then you may tell  
It's the strangest Wonder in our times befell.  
It is no Fable nor a fiction bold,  
But real Truth truth as people hath me told:  
And whatsoever is writ within you see,  
Three of that Town repeated it to me.    

NOw all you which are the quoiners of new Religions and the harebrain disturbers of peaceable quietness, you which are the objects of Christianity's and the Town-talke of infidelities, look upon the examples shown upon your Sectaries, and behold throw the looking Glass; One of your grand Brethren and chief seditious Communrca●ts, james-fisher near Bromingham in Stafford-shire, and as you read these Lines, consider what posture he then stood in: For as the Spirit moved him, he then disputed with the Masterpiece of all your factious Number hand to hand, bating neither time nor title to either, but prosecuted the matter in hand to the purpose hereafter mentioned, and as the Spirit did move him they confided each to other, though after I think, the Phrenatick supposed that it proved at the end to be a contrary Spirit, even such a one as transformeth himself to any shape, except his deformed cloven feet: But as for the Method of the story, now we will come to't, where in a smart and brief Discourse I will show you, the whole substance, beginning and ending of this strange, marvellous, and miraculous Wonder.  
THe Twelfth or Thirteenth of this Instant February, this said james Fisher being reputed for an arch and seditious Fellow among the Sectaries and factious people, which for many years had refrained the Churches and denied the Parish public Congregations, which late hath caused him to be the Object of the Country; His mind and inclination was wholly bend to keep their Correspondency and Confederacy in secret house, but chiefly and especially in nightly private Meetings, but the Devil met with him at last, as you will hear by the story: This Fisher as it is creditable reported by several of that Country people which came lately to Town, that on the 12th of February at night he was preparing to go forth, and designed for a Meeting in a loan house under a Wood side Two miles and an half from his own house, where the Sect were usually wont to meet, as the Country termed it like the Witches of Lancashire, he heard a Voice call three times in this manner, Come away, come away, come away; At which he answered are my Brethren there, but hearing no body he replied to his Wife, and said that the Spirit had warned him to be gone, and in that he spoke truth, for a Spirit it proved to be indeed, this grand Phrenatick then to hasten his speedier expedition to repair to the place, lighted up a Candle and opened his door, that if any of his Confederacy had been there to have treated them in; But the Devil at that time used much manners, stayed without and refused to come in, but whether it was out of Policy or fear of Discvery judge you, but Works of darkness cannot endure the Light, for the flame of the Candle (as he was entering in his presence) burned blue a yard above the Candlestick and soon went out, at which the Phrenatick fell into a doubt that all things was not right, and thereupon desired to see his face: The Devil than replied, thou shalt see my face when we come to the place and many more things beside, and as the old Proverb saith, The Devil never was ashamed of his Actions; He very confidently takes him by the hand, and led him such a hard march that made the Phrenatick cry out, He did walk at such a damnable rate that never went Man before; And very moderately required him to stay saying, Brother, I think thou hast the coldest hand that ever I felt before. The Devil replied, trouble not thyself I will make thee hot by and by we will sweat by turns, and though I am cold if thou cleavest to me thou shalt like fire burn; Yet the Capacity of this Phrenatick being so weak could not understand his Devilish Mystery, but still complaineth of his hard march, which indeed he had no small reason for it, for often times he was lifted so up above the ground in an Acres breadth together, which made him conjecture he walked at no ordinary rate; He was carried over the tops of Thorny hedges, and through the bows of thick Mauple trees, but not a whit distrustful but that he had been on the plain Land; Yet still he rebuked the Devil and told him, he had a shroud suspicion that he led him in the wrong way, for quoth he, thou lead'st me through nothing but brambles and briers. Why yes quoth the Devil, the ways of the righteous is to suffer Afflictions, is to pass through strait and craggy places. Why truly I do find it so answered the Phrenatick, for my Vestment is almost torn from my back. Nay if it be said the Devil, it is written thou must part with thy Coat also. Why truly said the Fanatic, thou goest the way to perform it, for if I pass this road but a little longer I shall not have a Coat left to my back, and several other Scripture phrases passed betwixt them until they came unto their designed Harbour; But it was even such as was suitable both for the journey and the Company, the Gates flew open which way they went and mighty Trees were blown down, which reduced the Fanatic into such a fear that the drops of Sweat tr●ckled down his Hair: Then said the Devil, how likest thou the Wether? Truly said the Fanatic, I am no Philosopher but according to an old Proverb we have, When the wind is so high 'tis a sign it will rain; But this is such wind as if the Devil was abroad, and upon this they arrived at the place: The Fanatic like to a weather beaten Spaniel, most dirty and wet and in a tottered condition, which the Devil perceived begun this Argument. Brother said he, thou dost look now like an afflicted Caitiff. How can I choose answered the Fanatic, for I seem like one as had been in the hands of the Devil, yet little did he think it had been him all this while, and therefore he opposed the Devil in this manner. Friend said he, before we dispute demonstrate unto me what is thy name. Why answered the Devil, dost thou question me so high, who am so generally known amongst all your Congregations for the prime instigator and promotor of your Actions? But nevertheless we will not differ in judgement, and therefore my name is Robin Good fellow; At which his Countenance always was changeable, but being but a dusky and glimmering light, the Phanaticke supposed he had but jested, told him the Devil was a Liar from the beginning, and therefore imagined he would be also, yet there's many a true word spoke in jest you'll say. But nevertheless they waved this and so proceeded, quoth the Fanatic, we two shall never agree except thou canst refrain the Church, deny the Congregations, raise up Sectaries and prohibit the Clergy if you can. Ay if I can said the Devil, there thou sayest true, but if I should refrain the Church where should I be to make confusion in't, and if I should deny the Congregations how should I raise new Religions? under which pretended Zeal I do raise up new Sectaries, thereupon my friend I must needs confute thee, and as for the Clergy they are guarded with the thing called the Gospel, we must dispute with them at the staffs point, although I cannot say but my constant labour is to advance your Interests upon the ruins of their Liberties. At which answered the Phrenatick, those are the things we are aiming at, so that if thou canst throw thy subtle devices direct our Actions in the skilfulst probabilities, we'll maintain thy quarrel and continue up our Sectaries. Then answered the Devil you must follow these Directions and constantly keep my advised Admonitions: First, You must be circumspect in your Dealings, and that shall prove a cloak for your pretended Religions. And secondly, You must pray into the hearts of the Vulgar, thereby you shall make your Flock the more numerous. Thirdly, You must express yourselves (though with a counterfeit Explication) and tell them you have the Spirit of Revelation, teach them in secret corners, seduce them to fields and public places, tell them you are Prophets, if they will not believe you, throw off your Garments and run naked, show them how you walk in the paths of humility, and then they will believe you are Saints indeed, seeing you are neither prone to Ambition nor Honour: Then being numerous you may easily disturb mighty Congregations, breed mutinies in great Cities, and if you lay down your lives for the cause I'll receive ye. Hold said the Phrenatick, let me know what's become of those that laid down their lives already. Question you not that then answered the Devil, but teach you this Gospel and follow my Directions. Ay said the Phrenatick, so we may repent it. No, no, said the Devil, 'tis too late to repent, you must go through with your work if it was as high as the Tower of Babel. Nay I think said the Phrenatick, 'tis too high for to accomplish, and as for to repent you say it is too late, the old Proverb saith, It is never too late, and therefore my friend I must needs confute ye now. Let it pass said the Devil, 'tis but one for the tother, but if you will effect the enterprise of your Ambition, you must follow my Counsel and persist in my Doctrine. Nay hold said the Phrenatick, if we preach all thy Doctrine some will aver we take counsel from the Devil: The Devil's countenance all this while was interchangeable, which made the Phrenatick in no suspicion in the least, but a rugged raged tempestuous wind blew continually all the while of their Dispute, which made him complain 'twas such a terrible wind, as if all the Devils of Hell were there: Which when the Devil heard him reply the word so oft, swelled with such jealousy that his eyes appeared as big as Saucers, that they glimered like two counterfeit Moons, at which the Phrenatick most ghastly beheld, with a trembling fear bowed his head towards the ground, and there he espied another dreadful Object, he saw two deformed cloven Feet, which in a terrible sweat replied these words:  

Who is your Shoemaker good Sir,  
if I so bold might be,  
The shape is no good fashion, for  
it doth astonish me;  
For the middle of it it is round,  
the Toe is of the least:  
And when you tread upon the ground,  
the track is like a Beast.   Devil. 

My feet is troubled with the Gouts,  
one Shoemaker I use,  
And he that always make my Boots,  
the same doth make my shoes;  
I travel still both night and day,  
I slumber not nor sleep,  
And Night's forlorn Companions they,  
within my compass keep:  
There's neither Theft nor Murder that,  
within this World hath been,  
But I my very self was at,  
and Author in the thing.   Phrenatick. 

Why then a Devil I think thou art,  
as it seemeth by thy foot;  
I said I would maintain thy Part,  
but now I'll never do it:  
Thy legs deformed every whit,  
thy foot is cloven so,  
And when so e'er I look on it,  
it seems as if 'twas two;  
Besides thy prick and horns I now,  
more fuller do perceive,  
Thy swarthy breast and rusty,  
which no man will believe,  
Except myself which now doth see,  
thy hellish parts descried,  
That needs a Devil thou must be,  
and nothing else beside:  
All Meeting places I'll refrain,  
a Convert I'll be now,  
And ne'er will be seduced again,  
by such a Fiend as thou.   
Thereupon arose a mighty shock of Wind, that the Bark flew from the Trees and left them naked, the Devil aspiered himself aloft and parted in a horrible flame of fire; This wretched and miserable Caitiff in a trembling fear and distracted Condition, continued till break of day, and then with much ado scambled home▪ the Hue of his Phisognomy being so much altered with a pale and dismal Hue, that even he was grown out of knowledge with his own Family: He remained three days speechless, which sense being after restored, he repeated these wonderful and horrid Relations in the presence of many Town's people, who have testified their Evidences since for a truth, which being so strange and remarkable a story, I have here committed the same to the Press, as a warning piece to all Seditious persons, wherein they might view the whole Proportion of their il-shaped Opinions, and what Judgement and Examples have lately been upon them for the same.  
So there's an end of the story.  
FINIS.