ページの画像
PDF
ePub

Gard. If he can once compass him and get him in Lobs-pound, he'll make nothing of him, but speak a few hard Words to him, and perhaps bind him over to his good Behaviour for a thousand Years.

Coach. Ay, ay, he'll send him packing to his Grave again with a Flea in his Ear, I warrant him.

But. If the Conjurer be but well paid, he'll take Pains upon the Ghost, and lay him, look ye, in the Red Sea-and then he's laid for ever.

Gard. Why, John, there must be a Power of Spirits in that same Red Sea.-I warrant ye they are as plenty as Fish.-I wish the Spirit may not carry a Corner of the House off with him.

But. As for that, Peter, you may be sure that the Steward has made his Bargain with the Cunning Man beforehand, that he shall stand to all Costs and Damages."

The above is a pleasant Comment on the popular Creed concerning Spirits and haunted Houses.

I am pleased with Mr. Bourne's Zeal for the Honour of his Protestant Brethren, at the Conclusion of this Chapter. The Vulgar (he says) think them no Conjurers, and say none can lay a Spirit but Popish Priests-he wishes to undeceive them however, and to prove at least negatively that our own Clergy know full as much of the black Art as the others do.

Here follows the tedious Process for the Erpulsion of Dæmons, who, it should seem, have not been

[blocks in formation]

easily ferretted out of their Quarters, if one may judge of their Unwillingness to depart, by the Prolixity of the subsequent Removal Warrant, which I suppose the Romish Clerical Bailiffs were not at the Trouble of serving for nothing!

[ocr errors][merged small]

CHAP. XI.

POSTEXERCITATIO SEPTIMA,

F. VALERII POLIDORI PATAVINI.

Quæ ordo dicitur Domum a Dæmone perturbatum liberandi.

The FORM of exorcising an haunted House.

THE* House which is reported to be vexed with Spirits, shall be visited by the Priest once every Day, for a whole Week together: And Day after Day he shall proceed as follows :

The Office for Munday.

ON Munday, when the Priest comes to the Gate of the House, let him stand near it, whilst it continues shut, and say,

V. O GOD† make speed to save me.
R. O LORD make haste to help me.

* Domus quæ dicitur a dæmonibus vexari, singulis unius hebdomadæ, &c.

↑ Psal. Ixx.

V. Glory

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the Beginning is now, and ever shall be, World without End.

Psalm xxiv.

Amen.

THE* Earth is the LORD's and all that therein is, the Compass of the World and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the Seas. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand up in his holy Place? Even he that hath clean Hands and a pure Heart, who hath not lift up his Mind to Vanity, nor sworn to deceive his Neighbour. He shall receive the Blessing from the LORD, and Righteousness from the GOD of his Salvation. This is the Generation of them that seek him, even of them that seek thy Face, O Jacob. Lift up your Heads O ye Gates, and be lift up ye everlasting Doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? It is the LORD strong and mighty, even the LORD mighty in Battle. Lift up your Heads O ye Gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting Doors, and the King of

* Psal. xxiv.

Glory

Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? Even the LORD of Hosts he is the King of Glory.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

V. I will enter into thy House.

R. And in thy Fear will I worship toward thy holy Temple,

[blocks in formation]

*O Almighty and Everlasting GOD, who hast given unto us thy Servants Grace, by the Confession of a true Faith, to acknowledge the Glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the Power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; we beseech thee, that thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this Faith, and evermore defend us from all Adversities through CHRIST OUR LORD. And humbly we beseech thee, that as thou wast willing thy Gates should be opened, and thy House cleansed, by the Labours of thy holy Priests and Levites, following the Advice of King Hezekiah; so we humbly beseech thee, that by our Ministry, thou wouldst be pleased to deliver this House from the Perturbations of Devils. By the

* The Collect for Trinity Sunday.

same

« 前へ次へ »