RELAT. XXIII.
The Relation of James Sherring, taken concerning the matter at old Gast's House of Little-Burton, June 23, 1677, as follows.
THE first Night that I was there with Hugh Mellmore, and Edward Smith, they heard as it were the Washing in Water over their Heads. Then taking a Candle and going up the Stairs, there was a wet Cloth thrown at them, but it fell on the Stairs. They going up farther, there was another thrown as before. And when they were come up into the Chamber, there stood a Bowl of Water, some of it sprinkled over, and the Water looked white, as if there had been Soap used in it. The Bowl just before was in the Kitchin, and could not be carried up but through the Room where they were. The next thing that they heard the same Night was a terrible noise as if it had been a clap of Thunder, and shorly after they heard a great scratching about the Bed-stead, and after that great Knocking with a Hammer against the Beds-head, so that the two Maids that were in the Bed cryed out for Help. Then they ran up the Stairs, and there lay the Hammer on the Bed, and on the Beds-head there were near a Thousand Prints of the Hammer, which the violent Strokes had made. The Maids said, that they were scratcht and pincht with a Hand that was put into the Bed, which had exceeding long Nails. They said the Hammer was lockt up fast in the Cupboard when they went to Bed. This was that which was done the first Night, with many other things of the like Nature.
The second Night that James Sherring, and Tho. Hillary were there, James Sherring sat down in the Chimney to fill a Pipe of Tobacco; he made use of the Fire-tongs to take up a Coal to light his Pipe, and by and by the Tongs were drawn up the Stairs, and after they were up in the Chamber, they were play'd withal, (as many times Men do) and then thrown down upon the Bed. Although the Tongs were so near him, he never perceived the going of them away. The same Night one of the Maids left her Shoes by the Fire, and they were carried up into the Chamber, and the old Man's brought down and set in their places. The same Night there was a Knife
