depiction of the death of Prince Rupert of the Rhine's (1619-82) dog 'Boy' at the battle of Marston Moor (1644) Sometimes white, and sometimes black, this Devil doth appear: And oftentimes did her affright, but she her God doth fear. depiction of a woman with a peacock, holding a mirror depiction of a man A Strange and Wonderful RELATION OF MARGARET GURR of Tunbridge, in Kent; SHOWING, How she was Afflicted WITH DEVILS AS ALSO, How they entered into her, and spoke in her and tempted her to Kill herself; and how she was taken up by Devils and Witches and was flying in the Ayr. Also, the marvellous Cures done by Dr. Skinne● in these three Counties, Viz. Sussex, Surrey, and Ken● the like strange Cures hath scarce been done or hea●● of. If any doubt the truth of these things, most, or a●● the people in the aforesaid Counties will testify the v●rity of these things, which was done by john Skinner, of Westram, in Kent, Student i● Physic and Astrology. Printed for I. W. I. C. W. T. and T. P. Here followeth a most True and Certain Relation of the fearful and lamentable Condition of Margaret Gurr of Tunbridge, the Words that she spoke, o● were taken from her mouth, Verbatim as she spoke them. I Margaret Gurr, Servant to Mr. Christopher Elderidge in the Parish of Tunbridge in Kent, had two Devils appeared to me about Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, one Sunday the 17th day of july, 1681. One of these two Devils seemed to be in Grey Clothing, and the other in Black: The black Devil was of little Stature and short, the grey Devi● was of stout thick squat Stature; they both can behind the Table that was in the Room. The grey Devil would have me Hang myself with Clock-Lines that was in the Room; then the Devil told me, That if I would not Hang myself with the Clock-Lines, I should put or thrust Knitting-Needles in my Ears, and so destroy or kill myself that way. On the Wednesday following, being july the 20th, 1681. This day I lay down on my Bed to take my rest, and there came the Grey Devil to me and lay down on the Bed by me, and he took me by the Wrists and Hands and held them so very fast, that I could not wag nor stir them; and he gripped and scrouged them so hard, that they swollen and ached all the day afterwards. This grey Devil Snored as if he had been asleep by me all the while, and I would have risen but he would not let me; and as soon as it pleased God that I had power to wag or stir myself, this horrible Imp or Devil vanished out of my sight, and then I was in good ease: Then I went down the Stairs to go about my work as well as I could, then was I soon taken with a most grievous pain in my Neck, and all the hinder side of my head being terribly pulled, and fearfully torn; these pains held me all the Afternoon: then there came and appeared to me the black Devil, in a most horrible and frightful shape, while I was in this extreme pulling and tareing pains; he said not one word to me then, but stared in my face, and to he Vanished, and as soon as he was gone away, my pains were abated. Then the 4th day of August, 1681. This day I was taken very sick; then came the black Devil to me in a most ugly shape, and he entered my body and spoke in me, wishing sad Wishes, with most ugly Shreiking noises, and Roaring out Curses in me, and said to me, Curse and Sweat as I do, and Wis● such Wishes as I do, and you shall be well▪ Then again the 5th day of August 1681. This day there came unto me a Witch▪ and she entered into me also, and spoke in m● with most hideous and strange Noises, saying unto me, Be as I am, and you shall be a● well as ever you were in your Life, and g● about your business as well as ever you di● and I would not have you go to Doctor Ski●ner that Devil for help, nor take none of h●● Physic. This 5th day of August she continu●● speaking in me continually, saying; Do 〈◊〉 I say, and do as I would have you, and 〈◊〉 as I am, for I am a Witch, a Witch, 〈◊〉 I am a Witch, do as I say and be as 〈◊〉 am, and you shall be well. Thus she continued speaking in me all day, and all t●●● day I was in a most lamentable pain in 〈◊〉 Limbs, with shake and tremble, 〈◊〉 always when I went to Prayers, I 〈◊〉 tempted not to Pray, but Curse and Sw●●● and my Mouth was strangely drawn a … aside, that I could not speak to Pray, 〈◊〉 open my mouth, nor could I shut my mouth when it was open; but my mouth sometimes was shut up, and at other times held wide open. 〈◊〉 August the 6th day, 1681. This day as I went to fetch some Pails of Water, I was ●●●tcht up with the Devils, and was carried rout with them, flying in the Air. Doctor Skinner told me I should Pray when 〈◊〉 was tempted, but I was overpowered ●●d over-persuaded by them, and yielded to ●●em, and then was I the second time flying in the air; but when I could Pray and 〈◊〉 not yield to these Temptations, than I 〈◊〉 pretty well, and in good ease, when I remembered Doctor Skinners words. Aggain the Witch spoke in me with so loud, sudden, and fearful a voice, that I was ●●●●eamly affrighted, and in a most lamentable manner I trembled and shaken: She ●●●d out in me with a most doleful voice, ●●●ing; Go you not to that Devil Doctor ●●●●ner for help, for if you do, I am utter●●… … e. While I was in the Chamber with the 〈◊〉 Devil, there was most strange voices 〈◊〉 down the Stairs by my Master and … 'tis, viz. Great Lumberings and Clatter●●●… as if the Chairs and Stools had been thrown about the Chamber, as if the whole House had been falling down, so that it frighted them, and all the whole Family, Insomuch that had not I been speedily Cured, my Master and Mistress and all the whole Family must have been forced to have left the House. My Master and Mistress often went to Prayers with me, and Prayed for me often, yet all did no good, so that at the last I was got to such a pass, and so carried up and down with the Devils and the Witch, that there was continual Noises and Voices speaking in me, and I was always movable, viz. never in peace nor quietness, either standing, sitting, or lying, nor could my Master and Mistr●●● ever be at quiet, but in fear; so with my strange actions and amazing frightful looks, they were always Terrified; But with the Blessing and help of God, Doctor Skinner cast out the Devils and Witch out of my body; and also Cured me of the Scurvy and Gout, and all within the compass of twelve days, in which time with a Physical, Natural, and other means used, I was perfectly restored to my former Health; neither hath those Devils ever attempted to meddle with me since, but I now continue in Health both of Soul, Body, and Mind, and I have a very fresh, lively, and cheerful Countenance, and am very well. Moreover, Here is to be Noted, the wonderful Blessing and love of God to me, his poor Handmaid, That before this great affliction was laid upon me, I knew not any Letters in the Bible or Testament, but since my enduring this heavy punishment, (or Hell upon Earth) I can now learn my Book, and am wonderfully delighted in Reading and spending all my spare time in Prayers, and meditating on the word of God. For I was for the most part of my life much given to Prayers, and would often pray when I was alone and had leisure, so that it was not for any vicious and wicked life that I have led (as it is well known to all that know me) that the Lord laid these fore Afflictions upon me, but, I hope for my good; knowing that Those whom the Lord loveth he Chastizeth; So that my trust may be always in the Lord my God, and my loss may henceforth become my gain; for to my great comfort, I can now read the Divine word of God, which before I could not. All the while I was in this desolate condition, my Brothers nor any of my Friends came not near me, but all forsook me, they hearing how I was tempted and tortured with Witches and Devils above a hundred times to Curse and swear in my Prayers, before the Devil appeared to me: so that now I am well, my own Brother will as soon as he sees the at a distance, be gone out of my sight, and not speak a word to me, being still afraid of me, so that I have no comfort from them, Hebrews 12.6, 7, 8. But having undergone the Rod of God's Correction here now in m● Youth, I take courage, hoping that as I gro● in years, to grow in Grace, as David did wh●● he said, (Psalms 119.71.) It is good that have been afflicted, that I might learn th● Statutes. Psal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the Righteous, but the Lord deliver● them out of all. Therefore let none think 〈◊〉 hard to be Tempted, seeing that our Lord an● Maker (Mat. 4.5.) was Tempted and carr●●● about of Devils as well as I; The Servant 〈◊〉 not greater than his Lord. To Conclude, I desire all good People 〈◊〉 consider their latter end, and be fervent in Pra●●● lest they enter into Temptation; Therefore 〈◊〉 ought to be armed with Patience, 1 Pet. 1. ● Ephe. 6.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Ia●… 1.8. for the manifestation of the truth of the things I have hereunto set my hand, Tunbridge in Kent. Margaret Gurr. In the presence of these four Witnesses Namely▪ Christopher Elderidge and his Wife, and A●●ry Marlot, and William Tully. Here followeth a Relation of a Male Servant, about 17 Years of Age, who was possessed with a Devil in the shape of a Greyhound. HEnry Chouning, living in the Parish of Hadlaw in Kent, had a servant-Boy about the age of seventeen years; he was much inclined to read the Scriptures, and lively enough, and a ●ood-Servant, and healthy: his Master sent ●●m out in his ground, where he had not been … ing, but there appeared unto him a Spirit in depiction of a bucolic scene the form of a Grey hound, which made towards him, and spoke, saying, You must go into Virginia; it said no more, but vanished; the B●t, immediately went home and told his Master of what he had seen, but he came home in a great fright, and as it were amazed, and looked very strangely, after that he grew worse and worse, and after a strange manner he would six his eyes, and was extreme melancholy, and his Speech began to fail, all People supposing him to be under an evil Tongue or bewitched, the Boy growing worse and worse, they were resolved to look out for help, for they feared the Boy would make away with himself, and they were much trouble● thereat. His Master hearing of the many Cures I h●● done, brought him over to me, and after I h●● examined the business and well considered of it▪ I found he was possessed with the Devil, for h● was as it were in amaze, and his eyes were always fixed in his head, and I had much ado to get him to speak a word, but by my urging o● him, he did confess that he was tempted in hi● mind, and was led on and tempted to strange things, as to go to Sea, and matters that he was not able to mention; so that when I rightly understood his condition, and how and after what manner he was taken, and his temptation did increase upon him, I understood what the means must be that must relieve him, and gave order for the putting up of Medicines, for the means must be speedy, or else it cannot be performed: he was very willing to take or make use of any means, and I ordered his Mother to come to me the next week, or when he had made use of those things; so she did, and brought me news he was much amended, to the admiration of many that heard how it was with him, with those that came to me at Tunbridge, marched to inquire how he did? He said then he was not at all troubled, but only with a pain in his belly, so that he had something more sent him, and by God's help was made perfectly well in 18 days time, neither hath any thing attempted to trouble him since in the least: when I got the Boy to spoke, (which was with much ado) his Speech was not according to a natural speech of his body, but as if something did make a noise within him, or as if he spoke through the Nose (as we call it) for it was not his own speech, but the Spirit or Devil within him, that tempted him also, and told him many strange things: The Boy seemed to amend while he was in the room with me, for when he went away with his Master, he could talk and speak much better, and was abundantly more lively. I undertook the Cure at a price, as by bargaining with his Master for what I should have, taking one half of the money in hand, and the rest I was to have when I had done the Cure and cast out the evil Spirit or Devil out of him, and at the fourth night's end, or Master came and paid me for the Cure, for the Boy was as well as ever he was. Here followeth Two Wonderful and Miraculous CURES which was (by the help of God) performed by me in a short time. MR. Woldredge, living at West-Chittington in Sussex, his Daughter Susan h●● the Evil in her Eyes, and a great Rheum an● inflammation followed it: she had been with other● before she came to me; her father came over an● asked my advice, I told him she would be wel● and bid him go home; so he did, but soon after h●● Daughter was in extreme misery with swelling and raging pain in her Eye, insomuch that th●● thought certainly she would have lost her Eye▪ but on a sudden it began to mend, and was 〈◊〉 better and better; her father came again, and sent her a Purge with some other matter, a●● she was in a short time made perfectly well, a●● 〈…〉 ●●er since, being six ●ears or hereabouts; her friends much rejoiced ●nd well rewarded me. A Woman in West-Grunstee, in Sussex, this Woman had the Evil in her Throat, and hearing of my Cures, did desire one Goody Archpoll to pray me to meet her at Ashington-Fair, so I did, and talked with her, to at that time I had naught to give her, but did order her to come over, and she did promise she would; but I did ●ear no more of her; so I did order Goody Archpoll to inquire why she did not come, so she did, and the Woman said she had no need, for she sound herself begin to mend from that same time, and was now perfectly well: and the truth of this same Relation, the aforementioned G●o●● Archpoll in Sussex can testify. One Goody Halle at Seavenock in Kent, had 〈◊〉 most lamentable pain in her head, near her Eye, ●ike to make her distracted, for she was in lamentable pain night and day, and could never be at rest; she had been with many Doctors, and took ●uch Physic of them, but did no good: she ●ame to me, and was at ease immediately, and 〈◊〉 Cured from that time: I sent her home with some Medicines, and now she remains in ●ound and perfect health. FINIS.