Chapter XIII: Part II (4)

I might indeed go back to Originals, and derive this _Cloven-Foot_ from Satan's primitive State as a Cherubim or a celestial Being, which Cherubims, as _Moses_ is said to have seen them about the Throne of God in Mount _Sinai_, and as the same _Moses_, from the Original represented them afterwards covering the Ark, had the Head and Face of a Man, Wings of an Eagle, Body of a Lion, and Legs and Feet of a Calf; but this is not so much to our present Purpose, for as we are to allow that whatever _Satan_ had of heavenly Beauty before the Fall, he lost it all when he commenc'd _Devil_, so to fetch his Original so far up would be only to say, that he retain'd nothing but the _Cloven-Foot_, and that all the rest of him was alter'd and deform'd, become frightful and horrible as the DEVIL; but his Cloven-Foot, as we now understand it, is rather mystical and emblematick, and describes him only as the Fountain of Mischief and Treason, and the Prince of Hypocrites, and as such we are now to speak of him.

'Tis from this Original all the hypocritic World copy, he wears the Foot on their Account, and from this Model they act: This made our blessed Lord tell them, _the Works of your Father ye will do_, meaning the _Devil_, as he had express'd it just before.

Nor does he deny the Use of the _Foot_ to the meaner Class of his Disciples in the World, but decently equips them all upon every Occasion with a needful Proportion of Hypocrisy and Deceit; that they may hand on the Power of promiscuous Fraud thro' all his temporal Dominions, and wear _the Foot_ always about them as a Badge of their profess'd Share in whatever is done by that Means.

Thus every Dissembler, every false Friend, every secret Cheat, every Bearskin-Jobber has a _Cloven-Foot_, and so far hands on the Devil's Interest by the same powerful Agency of Art, as the _Devil_ himself uses to act when he appears in Person, or would act if he was just now upon the Spot; for this _Foot_ is a Machine which is to be wound up and wound down, as the Cause it appears for requires; and there are Agents and Engineers to act in it by Directions of _Satan_ (the grand Engineer) who lies still in his Retirement, only issuing out his Orders as he sees convenient.

Again, every Class, every Trade, every Shopkeeper, every Pedlar, nay, that meanest of Tradesmen, that Church Pedlar the Pope, has a Cloven-Foot, with which he _Paw wa's_ upon the World, wishes them all well, and at the same time cheats them; wishes them all fed, and at the same time starves them; wishes them all in Heaven, and at the same time marches before them directly to the Devil, _alamode de Cloven-Foot_.

Nay, the very Bench, the everliving Foundation of Justice in the World; how often has it been made the Tool of Violence, the Refuge of Oppression, the Seat of Bribery and Corruption, by this Monster in Masquerade, and that every where (our own Country always excepted)? They had much better wipe out the Picture of justice blinded, and having the Sword and Scales in her Hand, which in foreign Countries is generally painted over the Seat of those who sit to do Justice, and place instead thereof a naked unarm'd Cloven-Hoof, a proper Emblem of that Spirit that Influences the World, and of the Justice we often see administred among them; human Imagination cannot form an Idea more suitable, nor the _Devil_ propose an Engine more or better qualified for an Operation of Justice, by the Influence of Bribery and Corruption; it is this magnipotent Instrument in the Hands of the Devil, which under the closest Disguise agitates every Passion, bribes every Affection, blackens every Virtue, gives a double Face to Words and Actions, and to all Persons who have any Concern in them, and in a Word, makes us all Devils to one another.

Indeed the Devil has taken but a dark Emblem to be distinguish'd by, for this of a Goat was said to be a Creature hated by Mankind from the beginning, and that there is a natural Antipathy in Mankind against them: Hence the Scape Goat was to bear the Sins of the People, and to go into the Wilderness with all that Burthen upon him.

But we have a Saying among us, in Defence of which we must enquire into the proper Sphere of Action which may be assigned to this Cloven-Foot, as hitherto described: The Proverb is this; _Every_ Devil _has not a Cloven-Foot_. This Proverb, instead of giving us some more favourable Thoughts of the _Devil_, confirms what I have said already, that the _Devil_ rais'd this Scandal upon himself; I mean, the Report that he cannot conceal or disguise his Devil's Foot, or Hoof, but that it must appear, under whatever Habit he shews himself; and the Reason I gave holds good still, _namely_, that he may be more effectually conceal'd when he goes abroad without it: For if the People were fully persuaded that the _Devil_ could not appear without this Badge of his Honour, or Mark of his Infamy, _take it as you will_; and that he was bound also to shew it upon all Occasions, it would be natural to conclude, that whatever frightful Appearances might be seen in the World, if the Cloven-Foot did not also appear, we had no Occasion to look for the _Devil_, or so much as to think of him, much less to apprehend he was near us; and as this might be a Mistake, and that the _Devil_ might be there while we thought our selves so secure, it might on many Occasions be a Mistake of very ill Consequence, and in particular, as it would give the _Devil_ room to act in the Dark, and not be discover'd, where it might be most needful to know him.

From this short Hint, thus repeated, I draw a new Thesis, namely, That _Devil_ is most dangerous that has no Cloven-Foot; or, if you will have it in Words more to the common Understanding, the _Devil_ seems to be most dangerous when he goes without his Cloven-Foot.

And here a learned Speculation offers it self to our Debate, and which indeed I ought to call a Council of Casuists, and Men learned in the _Devil_'s Politicks, to determine:

Whether is most hurtful to the World, the _Devil_ walking about without his Cloven-Foot, or the Cloven-Foot walking about without the _Devil_?

It is indeed a nice and difficult Question, and merits to be well enquir'd into; for which Reason, and diverse others, I have referr'd it to be treated with some Decency, and as a Dispute of Dignity sufficient to take up a Chapter by itself.

CHAP. VII.

_Whether is most hurtful to the World, the_ Devil _walking about without
his Cloven-Foot, or the Cloven-Foot walking about without the_ Devil?

In discussing this most critical Distinction of Satan's private Motions, I must, as the Pulpit Gentlemen direct us, explain the Text, and let you know what I mean by several dark Expressions in it, that I may not be understood to talk (as the _Devil_ walks) in the dark.

1. As to the Devil's walking about.

2. His walking without his Cloven-Foot.

3. The Cloven-Foot walking about without the _Devil_.

Now as I study Brevity, and yet would be understood too, you may please to understand me as I understand my self, thus.

1. That I must be allow'd to suppose the _Devil_ really has a full
Intercourse in, and through, and about this Globe, with Egress and
Regress, for the carrying on his special Affairs, when, how, and
where, to his Majesty, in his great Wisdom, it shall seem meet;
that sometimes he appears and becomes visible, and that, like a
Mastiff without his Clog, he does not always carry his Cloven-Foot
with him. This will necessarily bring me to some Debate upon the
most important Question of Apparitions, Hauntings, Walkings, _&c._
whether of _Satan_ in human Shape, or of human Creatures in the
_Devil_'s Shape, or in any other manner whatsoever.

2. I must also be allow'd to tell you that Satan has a great deal
of Wrong done him by the general embracing vulgar Errors, and that
there is a Cloven-Foot oftentimes without a _Devil_; or, in short,
that Satan is not guilty of all the simple Things, no, or of all
the wicked Things we charge him with.

These two Heads well settled will fully explain the Title of this Chapter, answer the Query mentioned in it, and at the same time correspond very well with, and give us a farther Prospect into the main and original Design of this Work, _namely, The History of the Devil_. We are so fond of, and pleased with the general Notion of seeing the _Devil_, that I am loth to disoblige my Readers so much as calling in question his Visibility would do. Nor is it my Business, any more than it is his, to undeceive them, where the Belief is so agreeable to them; especially since upon the whole 'tis not one Farthing matter, either on one Side or on the other, whether it be so or no, or whether the Truth of Fact be ever discovered or not.

Certain it is, whether we see him or no, here he is, and I make no doubt but he is looking on while I am writing this Part of his Story, whether behind me, or at my Elbow, or over my Shoulder, is not material to me, nor have I once turned my Head about to see whether he is there or no; for if he be not in the Inside, I have so mean an Opinion of all his extravasated Powers, that it seems of very little Consequence to me what Shape he takes up, or in what Posture he appears; nor indeed can I find in all my Enquiry that ever the _Devil_ appear'd (_Qua Devil_) in any of the most dangerous or important of his Designs in the World; the most of his Projects, especially of the significant Part of them, having been carried on another way.

However, as I am satisfied no Body will be pleas'd if I should dispute the Reality of his Appearance, and the World runs away with it as a receiv'd Point, and that admits no Dispute, I shall most readily grant the General, and give you some Account of the Particulars.

History is fruitful of Particulars, whether Invention has supply'd them or not, I will not say, where the _Devil_ is brought upon the Stage in plain and undeniable Apparition: The Story of _Samuel_ being rais'd by the Witch of _Endor_, I shall leave quite out of my List, because there are so many Scruples and Objections against that Story; and as I shall not dispute with the Scripture, so on the other hand, I have so much Deference for the Dignity of the _Devil_, as not to determine rashly how far it may be in the Power of every old (_Witch_) Woman, to call him up whenever she pleases, and that he must come, whatever the Pretence is, or whatever Business of Consequence he may be engaged in, as often as 'tis needful for her to _Pa wa_ for half a Crown, or perhaps less than half the Money.

Nor will I undertake to tell you, till I have talk'd farther with him about it, how far the _Devil_ is concern'd to discover Frauds, detect Murthers, reveal Secrets, and especially to tell where any Money is hid, and shew Folks where to find it; 'tis an odd thing that Satan should think it of Consequence to come and tell us where such a Miser hid a Strong Box, or where such an old Woman buried her _Chamber Pot_ full of Money, the Value of all which is perhaps but a Trifle, when at the same time he lets so many Veins of Gold, so many unexhausted Mines, nay, Mountains of Silver, as, we may depend upon it, are hid in the Bowels of the Earth, and which it would be so much to the Good of whole Nations to discover, lie still there, and never say one Word of them to any Body. Besides, how does the _Devil_'s doing Things so foreign to himself, and so out of his way, agree with the rest of his Character; namely, shewing a kind of a friendly Disposition to Mankind, or doing beneficent Things? This is so beneath _Satan_'s Quality, and looks so little, that I scarce know what to say to it; but that which is still more pungent in the Case is, these Things are so out of his Road, and so foreign to his Calling, that it shocks our Faith in them, and seems to clash with all the just Notions we have of him, and of his Business in the World. The like is to be said of those little merry Turns we bring him in acting with us, and upon us, upon trifling and simple Occasions, such as tumbling Chairs and Stools about House, setting Pots and Vessels Bottom upward, tossing the Glass and Crokery Ware about without breaking; and such like mean foolish Things, beneath the Dignity of the _Devil_, who, in my Opinion, is rather employ'd in setting the World with the Bottom upward, tumbling Kings and Crowns about, and dashing the Nations one against another; raising Tempests and Storms, whether at Sea, or on Shore; and, in a word, doing capital Mischiefs suitable to his Nature, and agreeable to his Name, _Devil_; and suited to that Circumstance of his Condition, which I have fully represented in the primitive Part of his exil'd State.

But to bring in the _Devil_ playing at Push-pin with the World, or like _Domitian_ catching Flies, that is to say, doing nothing to the purpose; this is not only deluding our selves, but putting a Slur upon the _Devil_ himself; and, I say, I shall not dishonour Satan so much as to suppose any thing in it: However, as I must have a care too how I take away the proper Materials of Winter Evening Frippery, and leave the good Wives nothing of the Devil to fright the Children with, I shall carry the weighty Point no farther. No doubt the _Devil_ and Dr. _Faustus_ were very intimate; I should rob you of a very significant [6] Proverb, if I should so much as doubt it; no doubt the _Devil_ shew'd himself in the Glass to that fair Lady who look'd in it to see where to place her Patches; but then it should follow too that the _Devil_ is an Enemy to the Ladies wearing Patches, and that has some Difficulties in it which we cannot so easily reconcile; but we must tell the Story, and leave out the Consequences.

But to come to more remarkable Things, and in which the _Devil_ has thought fit to act in a Figure more suitable to his Dignity, and on Occasions consistent with himself; take the Story of the Appearance of _Julius Caesar_, or the _Devil_ assuming that murthered _Emperor_, to the great _Marcus Brutus_, who notwithstanding all the good Things said to justify it, was no less than a King-killer and an Assassinator, which we in our Language call by a very good Name, and peculiar to the _English_ Tongue, a _Ruffian_.

The Spectre had certainly the Appearance of _Caesar_, with his Wounds bleeding fresh, as if he had just receiv'd the fatal Blow; he had reproach'd him with his Ingratitude, with a _Tu Brute! tu quoque, mi fili_: "What Thou _Brutus_! Thou, my adopted Son!" Now History seems to agree universally, not only in the Story itself, but in the Circumstances of it; we have only to observe that the _Devil_ had certainly Power to assume, not a human Shape only, but the Shape of _Julius Caesar_ in particular.

Had _Brutus_ been a timorous _Conscience-harry'd_, weak-headed Wretch, had he been under the Horror of the Guilt, and terrify'd with the Dangers that were before him at that time, we might suggest that he was over-run with the Vapours, that the Terrors which were upon his Mind disorder'd him, that his Head was delirious and prepossess'd, and that his Fancy only plac'd _Caesar_ so continually in his Eye, that it realiz'd him to his Imagination, and he believ'd he saw him; with many other suggested Difficulties to invalidate the Story, and render the Reality of it doubtful.

But the contrary, to an Extreme, was the Case of _Brutus_; his known Character plac'd him above the Power of all Hypocondriacks, or fanciful Delusions; _Brutus_ was of a true _Roman_ Spirit, a bold Hero, of an intrepid Courage; one that scorn'd to fear even the _Devil_, as the Story allows: Besides, he glory'd in the Action; there cou'd be no Terror of Mind upon him; he valued himself upon it, as done in the Service of Liberty, and the Cause of his Country; and was so far from being frighted at the _Devil_ in the worst Shape, that he spoke first to him, and ask'd him, _What art thou?_ and when he was cited to see him again at _Philippi_, answer'd, with a Gallantry that knew no Fear, _well I will see thee there_. Whatever the _Devil_'s Business was with _Brutus_, this is certain, according to all the Historians who give us the Account of it, that _Brutus_ discover'd no Fear; he did not, _like Saul at Endor_, fall to the Ground in a Swoon, 1 _Sam._ xxviii. 20. _Then Saul fell all along upon the Earth, and there was no Strength in him, and was sore afraid._ In a word, I see no room to charge _Brutus_ with being over-run with the _Hyppo_, or with Vapours, or with Fright and Terror of Mind; but he saw the _Devil_, that's certain, and with Eyes open, his Courage not at all daunted, his Mind resolute, and with the utmost Composure spoke to him, reply'd to his Answer, and defy'd his Summons to Death, which indeed he fear'd not, as appear'd afterward.

I come next to an Instance as eminent in History as the other; this was in _Char._ VI. of _France_, sirnamed, _The Beloved_; who riding over the Forest near _Mans_, a ghastly frightful Fellow (that is to say, the _Devil_ so clothed in human Vizor) came up to his Horse, and taking hold of his Bridle, stop'd him, with the Addition of these Words, _Stop King, whither go you? You are betray'd!_ and immediately disappear'd. It is true, the King had been distemper'd in his Head before, and so he might have been deceived, and we might have charg'd it to the Account of a whimsical Brain, or the Power of his Imagination; but this was in the Face of his Attendants, several of his great Officers, Courtiers, and Princes of the Blood being with him, who all saw the Man, heard the Words, and immediately, to their Astonishment, lost Sight of the Spectre, who vanish'd from them all.

Two Witnesses will convict a Murtherer, why not a Traitor? This must be the _Old Gentleman_, emblematically so called, or who must it be? nay, who else could it be? His Ugliness is not the Case, tho' _ugly as the Devil_, is a Proverb in his Favour; but vanishing out of sight is an Essential to a Spirit, and to an evil Spirit in our Times especially.

These are some of the _Devil_'s Extraordinaries, and it must be confess'd they are not the most agreeable to Mankind, for sometimes he takes upon him to disorder his Friends very much on these Occasions, as in the above Case of _Cha._ VI. of _France_; the King, they say, was really demented ever after; that is, as we vulgarly, but not always improperly, express it, he was really _frighted out of his Wits_. Whether the malicious _Devil_ intended it so, or not, is not certain, tho' it was not so foreign to his particular Disposition if he did.

But where he is more intimate, we are told he appears in a manner less disagreeable, and there he is more properly _a familiar Spirit_; that is, in short, a _Devil_ of their Acquaintance: It is true, the Antients understand the Word, _a familiar Spirit_, to be one of the kinds of Possession; but if it serves our turn as well under the Denomination of an intimate _Devil_, or a _Devil_ visitant, it must be acknowledg'd to be as near in the literal Sense and Acceptation of the Word, as the other; nay, it must be allow'd 'tis a very great Piece of Familiarity in the _Devil_ to make Visits, and shew none of his Disagreeables, not appear formidable, or in the Shape of what he is, respectfully withholding his dismal Part, in Compassion to the Infirmities of his Friends.

It is true, _Satan_ may be oblig'd to make different Appearances, as the several Circumstances of Things call for it; in some Cases he makes his publick Entry, and then he must shew himself in his Habit of Ceremony; in other Cases he comes upon private Business, and then he appears in Disguise; in some publick Cases he may thing fit to be _incog._ and then he appears dress'd _a la Masque_; so they say he appear'd at the famous St. _Bartholomew_ Wedding at _Paris_, where, he came in dress'd up like a Trumpeter, danc'd in his Habit, sounded a _Levet_, and then went out and rung the Alarm-Bell (which was the Signal to begin the Massacre) half an Hour before the Time appointed, lest the King's Mind should alter, and his Heart fail him.

If the Story be not made upon him, (for we should not slander the _Devil_) it should seem, he was not thoroughly satisfied in King _Charles_ IX.'s Steadiness in his Cause; for the King, it seems, had relax'd a little once before, and Satan might be afraid he would fall off again, and so prevent the Execution: Others say, the King did relent immediately after the ringing the _Alarm-Bell_, but that then it was too late, the Work was begun, and the Rage of Blood having been let loose among the People, there was no recalling the Order. If the _Devil_ was thus brought to the Necessity of a secret Management, it must be owned he did it dexterously; but I have not Authority enough for the Story, to charge him with the Particulars, so I leave it _au croc._

I have much better Vouchers for the Story following, which I had so solemnly confirm'd by one that liv'd in the Family, that I never doubted the Truth of it. There liv'd, in the Parish of St. _Bennet Fynk_, near the _Royal Exchange_, an honest poor Widow Woman, who, _her Husband being lately dead_, took Lodgers into her House; that is, she let out some of her Rooms in order to lessen her own Charge of Rent; among the rest, she let her Garrets to a working Watchwheel-maker, or one some way concern'd in making the Movements of Watches, and who work'd to those Shop-keepers who sell Watches; as is usual.

It happened that a Man and Woman went up, to speak with this Movement-maker upon some Business which related to his Trade, and when they were near the Top of the Stairs, the Garret-Door where he usually worked being wide open, they saw the poor Man (the Watch-maker, or Wheel-maker) had hang'd himself upon a Beam which was left open in the Room a little lower than the Plaister, or Ceiling: Surpriz'd at the Sight, the Woman stop'd, and cried out to the Man who was behind her on the Stairs that he should run up, and cut the poor Creature down.

At that very Moment comes a Man hastily from another Part of the Room which they upon the Stairs could not see, bringing a Joint-Stool in his Hand, as if in great Haste, and sets it down just by the Wretch that was hang'd, and getting up as hastily upon it pulls a Knife out of his Pocket, and taking hold of the Rope with one of his Hands, beckon'd to the Woman and the Man behind her with his Head, as if to stop and not come up, shewing them the Knife in his other Hand, as if he was just going to cut the poor Man down.

Upon this, the Woman stopp'd a while, but the Man who stood on the Joint-Stool continued with his Hand and Knife as if fumbling at the Knot, but did not yet cut the Man down; at which the Woman cried out again, and the Man behind her call'd to her. Go up, _says he_, and help the Man upon the Stool! supposing something hindred. But the Man upon the Stool made Signs to them again to be quiet, and not come on, as if saying, I shall do it immediately; then he made two Strokes with his Knife, as if cutting the Rope, and then stopp'd again; and still the poor Man was hanging, and consequently dying: Upon this, the Woman on the Stairs cried out to him. What ails you? Why don't you cut the poor Man down? And the Man behind her, having no more Patience, thrusts her by, and said to her. Let me come, I'll warrant you I'll do it; and with that runs up and forward into the Room to the Man; but when he came there, behold, the poor Man was there hanging; but no Man with a Knife, or Joint-Stool, or any such thing to be seen, all that was Spectre and Delusion, in order, no doubt, to let the poor Creature that had hang'd himself perish and expire.

The Man was so frighted and surpriz'd, that with all the Courage he had before, he drop'd on the Floor as one dead, and the Woman at last was fain to cut the poor Man down with a Pair of Scissars, and had much to do to effect it.

As I have no room to doubt the Truth of this Story, which I had from Persons on whose Honesty I could depend. So I think it needs very little Trouble to convince us who the Man upon the Stool must be, and that it was the _Devil_ who plac'd himself there in order to finish the Murther of the Man who he had, _Devil_-like, tempted before, and prevail'd with to be his own Executioner. Besides, it corresponds so well with the _Devil_'s Nature, and with his Business, _viz._ that of a _Murtherer_, that I never question'd it; nor can I think we wrong the _Devil_ at all to charge him with it.

_N. B._ I cannot be positive in the remaining Part of this Story,
_viz._ whether the Man was cut down soon enough to be recover'd,
or whether the _Devil_ carry'd his Point, and kept off the Man and
Woman till it was too late; but be it which it will, 'tis plain he
did his Devilish Endeavour, and stay'd till he was forc'd to
abscond again.

We have many solid Tales well attested, as well in History as in the Reports of honest People, who could not be deceived, intimating the _Devil_'s personal Appearance, some in one Place, some in another; as also sometimes in one Habit or Dress, and sometimes in another; and it is to be observed, that in none of those which are most like to be real, and in which there is least of Fancy and Vapour, you have any Mention of the _Cloven Foot_, which rather seems to be a mere Invention of Men (and perhaps chiefly of those who had a Cloven Understanding) I mean a shallow kind of Craft, the Effect of an empty and simple Head, thinking by such a well-meant, tho' weak Fraud, to represent the _Devil_ to the old Women and Children of the Age, with some Addition suitable to the Weakness of their Intellects, and suited to making them afraid of him.

I have another Account of a Person who travell'd upwards of four Years with the _Devil_ in his Company, and convers'd most intimately with him all the while; nay, if I may believe the Story, he knew most part of the Time that he was the _Devil_, and yet convers'd with him, and that very profitably, for he perform'd many very useful Services for him, and constantly preserv'd him from the Danger of Wolves and wild Beasts, which the Country he travell'd thro' was intolerably full of. Where, by the way, you are to understand, that the Wolves and Bears in those Countries knew the _Devil_, whatever Disguise he went in; or that the _Devil_ has some Way to fright Bears and such Creatures, more than we know of. Nor could this _Devil_ ever be prevail'd upon to hurt him or any of his Company. This Account has an innumerable Number of diverting Incidents attending it; but they are equal to all the rest in Bulk, and therefore too long for this Book.

I find too upon some more ordinary Occasions the _Devil_ has appear'd to several People at their Call: This indeed shews abundance of good Humour in him, considering him as a _Devil_, and that he was mighty complaisant: Nay some, they tell us, have a Power to raise the _Devil_ whenever they think fit; this I cannot bring the _Devil_ to a Level with, unless I should allow him to be _Servus Servorum_, as another _Devil_ in Disguise calls himself; subjected to ever old Wizard's Call; or that he is under a Necessity of appearing on such or such particular Occasions, whoever it is that calls him; which would bring the _Devil_'s Circumstances to a pitch of Slavery which I see no Reason to believe of them.

Here also I must take Notice again, that tho' I say the _Devil_, when I speak of all these Apparitions, whether of a greater or lesser Kind, yet I am not oblig'd to suppose Satan himself in Person is concern'd to shew himself, but that some of his _Agents_, Deputies and Servants, are sent to that Purpose, and directed what Disguise of Flesh and Blood to put on, as may be suitable to the Occasion.

This seems to be the only Way to reconcile all those simple and ridiculous Appearances which not _Satan_, but his Emissaries, (which we old Women call Imps) sometimes make, and the mean and sorry Employment they are put to: Thus Fame tells us of a certain Witch of Quality, who call'd the _Devil_ once to carry her over a Brook where the Water was swell'd with a hasty Rain, and lash'd him soundly with her Whip for letting her Ladyship fall into the Water before she was quite over. Thus also, as Fame tells us, she set the _Devil_ to work, and made him build _Crowland_ Abbey, where there was no Foundation to be found, only for disturbing the Workmen a little who were first set about it. So it seems another laborious _Devil_ was oblig'd to dig the great Ditch cross the Country from the Fenn Country to the Edge of _Suffolk_ and _Essex_; which who ever he has preserv'd the Reputation of, and where it crosses _New-Market_ Heath, 'tis call'd _Devil_'s _Ditch_ to this Day.

Another Piece of Punishment no doubt it was, when the _Devil_ was oblig'd to bring the Stones out of _Wales_ into _Wiltshire_, to build _Stone-heng_: How this was ordered in those Days, when it seems they kept _Satan_ to hard Labour, I know not; I believe it must be registred among the antient Pieces of Art which are lost in the World, such as melting of Stone, painting of Glass, _&c._ Certainly they had the _Devil_ under Correction in those Days; that is to say, those lesser Sorts of _Devils_; but I cannot think that the _muckle Thief Devil_, as they call him in the _North_, the Grand Seignior _Devil_ of all, was ever reduced to Discipline. What _Devil_ it was that _Dunstan_ took by the Nose with his red hot Tongs, I have not yet examin'd Antiquity enough to be certain of, any more than I can what Devil it was that St. _Francis_ play'd so many warm Tricks with, and made him run away from him so often: However, this I take upon me to say, in the _Devil_'s Behalf, that it cou'd not be our _Satan_, the Arch _Devil_ of all _Devils_, of whom I have been talking so long.

Now is it unworthy the Occasion, to take notice that we really wrong the _Devil_, and speak of him very much to his Disadvantage, when we say of such a Great Lord, or of such a Lady of Quality, _I think the_ Devil _is in your Grace_: No, no, Satan has other Business, he very rarely possesses F--ls: Besides, some are so far from having the _Devil_ in them, that they are really transmigrated into the very Essence of the _Devil_ themselves; and others again not transmigrated, or assimilated, but Indeed and in Truth shew us that they are to have mere native _Devils_ in every Part and Parcel of them, and that the rest is only Masque and Disguise. Thus if _Rage_, _Envy_, _Pride_ and _Revenge_ can constitute the Parts of a _Devil_, why should not a Lady of such Quality, in whom all those Extraordinaries abound, have a Right to the Title of being a _Devil_ really and substantially, and to all Intents and Purposes, in the most perfect and absolute Sense, according to the most exquisite Descriptions of Devils already given by me or any Body else; and even just as _Joan_ of _Arc_, or _Joan_ Queen of _Naples_ were, who were both sent home to their native Country, as soon as it was discovered that they were real _Devils_, and that _Satan_ acknowledg'd them in that Quality.

Nor does my Lady D----ss's wearing sometimes a Case of Humanity about her, call'd _Flesh and Blood_, at all alter the Case; for so 'tis Evident, according to our present Hypothesis, _Satan_ has been always allow'd to do, upon urgent Occasions; ay, and to make his Personal Appearance as such, among even the Sons and Daughters of God too, as well as among the Children of Men; and therefore _her Grace_ may have appeared in the Shape of a fine Lady, as long as she has been suppos'd to do, without any Impeachment of her just Claim to the Title of _Devil_; which being her true and natural Original, she ought not, nor indeed shall not, by me, be denied her Shapes of Honour, whenever she pleases to declare for a Re-assumption.

And farther, to give every Truth its due Illustration, this need not be thought so strange; and is far from being unjust; _her Grace_ (as she, it may be, is now stiled) has not acted, at least that I never heard of, so unworthy her great and illustrious Original, that we should think she has lost any thing by walking about the World so many Years in Apparition: But to give her the due Homage of her Quality, she has acted as consonant to the Essence and Nature of _Devil_, which she has such a Claim to, as was consistent with the needful Reserve of her present Disguise.

Nor shall we lead the Reader into any Mistake concerning this part of our Work, as if this was or is meant to be a particular Satyr upon the D-----ss of -----------, and upon her only, as if we had no DEVILS among us in the Phenomena of fair Ladies, but this one: If Satan would be so honest to us as he might be (and 'twou'd be very ingenuous in him, that must be acknowledg'd, to give us a little of his Illumination in this Case) we should soon be able to unmasque a great many notable Figures among us, to our real Surprize.

Indeed 'tis a Point worth our further Enquiry, and would be a Discovery many ways to our Advantage, were we bless'd with it, to see how many real _Devils_ we have walking up and down the World in Masque, and how many Hoop-Petticoats compleat the entire Masque that disguises the Devil in the Shape of that Thing call'd Woman.

As for the Men, Nature has satisfied her self in letting them be their own Disguise, and in suffering them to act the _old Women_, as old Women are vulgarly understood, in Matters of Council and Politicks; but if at any time they have Occasion for the _Devil_ in Person, they are oblig'd to call him to their Aid in such Shape as he pleases to make use of _pro hac vice_; and of all those Shapes, the most agreeable to him seems to be that of a Female of Quality, in which he has infinite Opportunity to act to Perfection, what Part soever he is call'd in for.

How happy are those People who they say have the particular Quality, or acquir'd Habit, call'd the _Second Sight_; one Sort of whom they tell us are able to distinguish the _Devil_, in whatever Case or Outside of Flesh and Blood he is pleas'd to put on, and consequently could know the _Devil_ wherever they met him? Were I blest with this excellent and useful Accomplishment, how pleasant would it be, and how would it particularly gratify my Spleen, and all that which I, in common with my fellow Creatures carry about me, call'd Ill-Nature, to stand in the _Mall_, or at the Entrance to any of our _Assemblies of Beauties_, and point them out as they pass by, with this particular Mark, That's a _Devil_; that fine young Toast is a _Devil_; There's a _Devil_ drest in a new Habit for the Ball; There's a _Devil_ in a Coach and Six, _cum aliis_. In short, it would make a merry World among us if we cou'd but enter upon some proper Method of such Discriminations: but, _Lawr'd_, what a Hurricane would it raise, if, like -------, who they say scourg'd the _Devil_ so often that he durst not come near him in any Shape whatever, we cou'd find some new Method out to make the _Devil_ unmask, like the Angel _Uriel_, who, Mr. _Milton_ says, had an enchanted Spear, with which if he did but touch the _Devil_, in whatever Disguise he had put on, it oblig'd him immediately to start up, and shew himself in his true original Shape, mere _Devil_ as he was.

This would do nicely, and as I who am originally a Projector, have spent some Time upon this Study, and doubt not in a little Time to finish my Engine, which I am contriving, to screw the _Devil_ out of every Body, or any Body; I question not when I have brought it to Perfection, but I shall make most excellent Discoveries by it; and besides the many extraordinary Advantages of it to human Society, I doubt not but it will make good Sport in the World too; wherefore, when I publish my Proposals, and divide it into Shares, as other less useful Projects have been done, I question not, for all the severe Act lately pass'd against Bubbles, but I shall get Subscribers enough, _&c._

In a Word, a secret Power of discovering what Devils we have among us, and where and what Business they are doing, would be a vast Advantage to us all; that we might know among the Crowd of _Devils_ that walk about Streets, who are _Apparitions_, and who are not.

Now I, you must know, at certain Intervals when the Old Gentleman's Illuminations are upon me, and when I have something of an _Eclaricissement_ with him, have some Degrees of this discriminating _Second Sight_, and therefore 'tis no strange thing for me to tell a great many of my Acquaintance that they are really _Devils_, when they themselves know nothing of the Matter: Sometimes indeed I find it pretty hard to convince them of it, or at least they are very unwilling to own it, but it is not the less so for that.

I had a long Discourse upon this Subject one day, with a young beautiful Lady of my Acquaintance, who the World very much admired; and as the World judges no farther than they can see, (and how should they, you would say) they took her to be, as she really was, a most charming Creature.

To me indeed she discover'd her self many Ways, besides the Advantage I had of my extraordinary Penetration by the magic Powers which I am vested with: To me, _I say_, she appear'd a Fury, a Satyr, a fiery little Fiend as could possibly be dress'd up in Flesh; in short, she appear'd to me what really she was, a very DEVIL: It is natural to human Creatures to desire to discover any extraordinary Powers they are possess'd of superior to others, and this Itch prevailing in me, among the rest, I was impatient to let this Lady know that I understood her Composition perfectly well, nay, as well as she did her self.

In order to this, happening to be in the Family once for some Days, and having the Honour to be very intimate with her and her Husband too, I took an Opportunity on an extraordinary Occasion, when she was in the Height of good Humour, to talk with her; You must note, that as I said, the Lady was in an extraordinary good Humour, and there had been a great deal of Mirth in the Family for some Days; but one Evening, Sir _E----_ her Husband, upon some very sharp Turn she gave to another Gentleman, which made all the Company pleasant, run to her, and with a Passion of good Humour takes her in his Arms, and turning to me, says he, Jack, This Wife of mine is full of Wit and good Humour, but when she has a Mind to be smart, she is the keenest little _Devil_ in the World: This was alluding to the quick Turn she had given the other Gentleman.

Is that the best Language you can give your Wife, says my Lady? O Madam, says I, such _Devils_ as you, are all _Angels_; ay, ay, says my Lady, I know that, he has only let a Truth fly out that he does not understand: Look ye there now, _says Sir_ Edward, could any thing but such a dear _Devil_ as this have said a thing so pointed? Well, well, adds he, _Devil_ to a Lady in a Man's Arms, is a Word of divers Interpretations. Thus they rallied for a good while, he holding her fast all the while in his Arms, and frequently kissing her, and at last it went off, all in Sunshine and Mirth.

But the next Day, for I had the Honour to lodge in the Lady's Father's House, where it all happen'd; I say, the next Day my Lady begins with me upon the Subject, and that very smartly, so that first I did not know whether she was in jest or earnest: Ay, ay, _says she_, you Men make nothing of your Wives after you have them, _alluding to the Discourse with_ Sir Edward _the Night before_.

Why Madam, says I, _we Men_, as you are pleas'd to term it, if we meet with good Wives worship them, and make Idols of them, what would you have more of us?

No, no, says she, before you have them they are Angels, but when you have been in Heaven, _adds she and smil'd_, then they are Devils.

Why Madam, _says I_, Devils are Angels, you know, and were the highest Sort of Angels once.

Yes, _says she_, very smartly, all _Devils_ are Angels, but all Angels are not _Devils_.

But Madam, _says I_, you should never take it ill to be call'd _Devil_, you know.

I know, _says she_, hastily, what d'ye mean by that?

Why Madam, _says I_, and look'd very gravely and serious, I thought you had known that I knew it, or else I would not have said so, for I would not offend you; but you may depend I shall never discover it, unless you order me to do so for your particular Service.

Upon this she look'd hard and wild, and bid me explain my self.

I told her, I was ready to explain my self, if she would give me her Word, she would not resent it, and would take nothing ill.

She gave me her word solemnly she would not, tho' like a true _Devil_ she broke her Promise with me all at once.

Well however, being unconcern'd whether she kept her Word or no, I began, by telling her that I had not long since obtain'd the second sight, and had some years studied Magic, by which I could penetrate into many things, which to ordinary Perception were invisible, and had some Glasses, by the Help of which I could see into all visionary or imaginary Appearances in a different Manner than other People did.

Very well, _says she_, suppose you can, what's that to me?

I told her it was nothing to her any further than that as she knew her self to be originally not the same Creature she seem'd to be, but was of a sublime angelic Original; so by the Help of my recited Art I knew it too, and so far it might relate to her.

Very fine, says she, so you would make a _Devil_ of me indeed.

I took that Occasion to tell her, I would make nothing of her but what she was; that I suppos'd she knew well enough God Almighty never thought fit to make any human Creature so perfect and compleatly beautiful as she was, but that such were also reserved for Figures to be assum'd by Angels of one Kind or other.

She rallied me upon that, and told me that would not bring me off, for I had not determined her for any thing Angelic, but a meer _Devil_; and how could I flatter her with being handsome and a _Devil_ both at the same time?

I told her, as Satan, whom we abusively call'd _Devil_, was an immortal Seraph, and of an original angelic Nature, so abstracted from any thing wicked, he was a most glorious Being; that when he thought fit to encase himself with Flesh, and walk about in Disguise, it was in his Power equally with the other Angels to make the Form he took upon himself be as he thought fit, beautiful or deform'd.

Here she disputed the Possibility of that, and after charging me faintly with flattering her Face, told me the Devil could not be represented by any thing handsome, alledging our constant picturing the _Devil_ in all the frightful Appearances imaginable.

I told her we wrong'd him very much in that, and quoted St. _Francis_, to whom the _Devil_ frequently appeared in the Form of the most incomparably beautiful naked Woman, to allure him, and what Means he used to turn the Appearance into a _Devil_ again, and how he effected it.

She put by the Discourse, and returned to that of Angels, and insisted that Angels did not always assume beautiful Appearances; that sometimes they appear'd in terrible Shapes, but that when they did not, it was at best only amiable Faces, not exquisite; and that therefore it would not hold, that to be handsome, should always render them suspected.

I told her the _Devil_ had more Occasion to form Beauties than other Angels had, his Business being principally to deceive and ensnare Mankind. And then I gave her some Examples upon the whole.

I found by her Discourse she was willing enough to pass for an _Angel_, but 'twas the hardest thing in the World to convince her that she was a DEVIL, and she would not come into that by any means; she argued that I knew her Father, and that her Mother was a very good Woman, and was delivered of her in the ordinary Way, and that there was such and such Ladies who were present in the Room when she was born, and that had often told her so.

I told her that was nothing in such a Case as hers; that when the Old Gentleman had occasion to transform himself into a fine Lady, he could easily dispose of a Child, and place himself in the Cradle instead of it, when the Nurse or Mother were asleep; nay, or when they were broad awake either, it was the same thing to him; and I quoted _Luther_ to her upon that Occasion, who affirms that it had been so. However I said, to convince her that I knew it, (for I would have it that she knew it already) if she pleas'd I would go to my Chamber and fetch her my Magick Looking-glass, where she should see her own Picture, not only as it was an angelick Picture for the World to admire, but a _Devil_ also frightful enough to any Body but herself and me that understood it.

No, no, _said she_, I'll look in none of your conjuring Glasses; I know my self well enough, and I desire to look no otherwise than I am.

No, Madam, _says I_, I know that very well; nor do you need any better Shape than that you appear in, 'tis most exquisitely fine; all the World knows you are a compleat Beauty, and that is a clear Evidence what you would be if your present appearing Form was reduced to its proper Personality.

_Appearing Form!_ says she, why, what would you make an _Apparition_ of me?

An _Apparition!_ Madam, said I, yes, to be sure; why you know, you are nothing else but an _Apparition_; and what else would you be, when it is so infinitely to your Advantage?

With that, she turn'd pale and angry, and then rose up hastily, and look'd into the Glass, (_a large Peer-glass being in the Room_) where she stood, surveying her self from Head to Foot, with Vanity not a little.

I took that Time to slip away, and running up into my Apartment, I
fetch'd my _Magic Glass_ as I call'd it, in which I had a hollow
Case so framed behind a Looking-glass, that in the first; she would
see her own Face only; in the second, she would see the _Devil_'s
Face, ugly and frightful enough, but dress'd up with a Lady's
Head-Clothes in a Circle, the _Devil_'s Face in the Center, and as
it were at a little Distance behind.

I came down again so soon that she did not think the Time long, especially having spent it in surveying her fair self; when I return'd, I said, Come, Madam, do not trouble your self to look there, that is not a Glass capable of shewing you any thing; come, take this Glass.

It will shew me as much of my self, _says she, a little scornfully_, as I desire to see; so she continued looking in the Peer-glass; after some time more (for seeing her a little out of Humour, I waited to see what Observations she would make) I ask'd her if she had view'd her self to her Satisfaction? She said she had, and she had seen nothing of _Devil_ about her. Come, Madam, said I, look here; and with that I open'd the Looking-glass, and she look'd in it, but saw nothing but her own Face; Well, _says she_, the Glasses agree well enough, I see no Difference; what can you make of it? With that I took it a little away; Don't you? _says I_, then I shou'd be mistaken very much; so I look'd in it my self, and giving it a Turn imperceptible to her, I shew'd it her again, where she saw the _Devil_ indeed, dress'd up like a fine Lady, but ugly, and _Devil_ like as could be desired for a _Devil_ to be.

She started, and cry'd out most horribly, and told me, she thought I was more of a _Devil_ than she, for that she knew nothing of all those Tricks, and I did it to fright her, she believ'd I had rais'd the _Devil_.

I told her it was nothing but her own natural Picture, and that she knew well enough, and that I did not shew it her to inform her of it, but to let her know that I knew it too; that so she might make no Pretences of being offended when I talk'd familiarly to her of a Thing of this Nature.

Very well; so, _says she_, I am a real frightful _Devil_, am I?

O, Madam, says I, don't say, _Am I?_ why you know what you are, don't you? A _Devil_! ay, certainly; as sure as the rest of the World believes you a Lady.

I had a great deal of farther Discourse with her upon that Subject, tho' she would fain have beat me off of it, and two or three times she put the Talk off, and brought something else on; but I always found Means to revive it, and to attack her upon the Reality of her being a Devil, till at last I made her downright angry, and then she shew'd it.