‘The Truth of which is sufficiently attested in the Neighbourhood, he lying now at his Mother’s house,’ etc.
Stepney seems to have been a favourite haunt of the Devil, for there is a tract published at Edinburgh, 1721, entitled ‘A timely Warning to Rash and Disobedient Children. Being a strange and wonderful Relation of a young Gentleman in the Parish of Stepheny, in the Suburbs of London, that sold himself to the Devil for 12 Years, to have the Power of being revenged on his Father and Mother, and how, his Time being expired, he lay in a sad and deplorable Condition, to the Amazement of all Spectators.’
Chapter II.
‘Strange and True News from Westmoreland’—‘The Politic Wife’—‘How the Devill, though subtle, was guld by a Scold’—‘The Devil’s Oak’—Raising the Devil—Arguments in Favour of Devils—The Numbers of Devils.
In the foregoing examples we have seen the Devil in human form, and properly apparelled, but occasionally he showed himself in his supposed proper shape—when, of course, his intentions were at once perceived; and on one occasion we find him called upon by an Angel, to execute justice on a bad man. It is in
STRANGE AND TRUE NEWS FROM WESTMORELAND.
Attend good Christian people all,
Mark what I say, both old and young,
Unto the general Judgment day,
I think it is not very long.
A Wonder strange I shall relate,
I think the like was never shown,
In Westmoreland at Tredenton, Of such a thing was never known. One Gabriel Harding liv’d of late, As may to all men just appear, Whose yearly Rent, by just account, Came to five hundred pound a year. This man he had a Virtuous Wife, In Godly ways her mind did give: Yet he, as rude a wicked wretch, As in this sinful Land did live. Much news of him I will relate, The like no Mortal man did hear; ’Tis very new, and also true, Therefore, good Christians, all give ear. One time this man he came home drunk, As he us’d, which made his wife to weep, Who straightway took him by the hand, Saying, Dear Husband, lye down and sleepe. She lovingly took him by the arms, Thinking in safety him to guide, A blow he struck her on the breast, The woman straight sank down and dy’d. The Children with Mournful Cries They ran into the open Street, They wept, they wail’d, they wrung their hands, To all good Christians they did meet. The people then, they all ran forth, Saying, Children, why make you such moan? O, make you haste unto our house, Our dear mother is dead and gone. Our Father hath our Mother kill’d, The Children they cryed then. The people then they all made haste And laid their hands upon the man. He presently denied the same, Said from Guilty Murder I am free, If I did that wicked deed, he said, Some example I wish to be seen by me. Thus he forswore the wicked deed, Of his dear Wife’s untimely end. Quoth the people, Let’s conclude with speed, That for the Coroner we may send. Mark what I say, the door’s fast shut, The People the Children did deplore, But straight they heard a Man to speak, And one stood knocking at the door. One in the house to the door made haste, Hearing a Man to Knock and Call, The door was opened presently, And in he came amongst them all. By your leave, good people, then he said, May a stranger with you have some talk? A dead woman I am come to see; Into the room, I pray, Sir, walk. His eyes like to the Stars did shine, He was clothed in a bright grass green, His cheeks were of a crimson red, For such a man was seldome seen. Unto the people then he spoke, Mark well these words which I shall say, For no Coroner shall you send, I’m Judge and Jury here this day. Bring hither the Man that did the deed, And firmly hath denied the same. They brought him into the room with speed, To answer to this deed with shame. Now come, O wretched Man, quoth he, With shame before thy neighbours all, Thy body thou hast brought to Misery, Thy soul into a deeper thrall. Thy Chiefest delight was drunkeness, And lewd women, O, cursed sin, Blasphemous Oaths and Curses Vile A long time thou hast wallowed in. The Neighbours thou wouldst set at strife, And alwaies griping of the poor, Besides, thou hast murdered thy wife, A fearful death thou dy’st therefore. Fear nothing, good people, then he said, A sight will presently appear, Let all your trust be in the Lord, No harm shall be while I am here. Then in the Room the Devil appear’d, Like a brave Gentleman did stand, Satan (quoth he that was the Judge) Do no more than thou hast command. The Devil then he straight laid hold On him that had murdered his wife, His neck in Sunder then he broke, And thus did end his wretched life. The Devil then he vanished Quite from the People in the Hall, Which made the people much afraid, Yet no one had no hurt at all. Then straight a pleasant Melody Of Musick straight was heard to sound, It ravisht the hearts of those stood by, So sweet the Musick did abound. Now, (quoth this gallant Man in green) With you I can no longer stay, My love I leave, my leave I take, The time is come, I must away. Be sure to love each other well, Keep in your breast what I do say. It is the way to go to Heaven, When you shall rise at Judgment day. The people to their homes did go, Which had this mighty wonder seen, And said, it was an Angel sure That thus was clothed all in green. And thus the News from Westmoreland I have related to you o’er, I think it is as strange a thing, As ever man did hear before.
In the old days the Devil was used as a butt at which people shot their little arrows of wit. In the miracle plays, when introduced, he filled the part of the pantaloon in our pantomimes, and was accompanied by a ‘Vice,’ who played practical jokes with him, slapping him with his wooden sword, jumping on his back, etc.; and in the carvings of our abbeys and cathedrals, especially in the Miserere seats in the choir, he was frequently depicted in comic situations, as also in the illuminations of manuscripts. He was often written about as being sadly deficient in brains, and many are the instances recorded of him being outwitted by a shrewd human being, as we may see by the following ballad.
THE POLITIC WIFE;
or, The Devil outwitted by a Woman.
Of all the plagues upon the earth,
That e’er poor man befal,
It’s hunger and a scolding wife,
These are the worst of all:
There was a poor man in our country
Of a poor and low degree,
And with both these plagues he was troubled,
And the worst of luck had he.
He had seven children by one wife,
And the times were poor and hard,
And his poor toil was grown so bad,
He scarce could get him bread:
Being discontented in his mind,
One day his house he left,
And wandered down by a forest side,
Of his senses quite bereft.
As he was wandering up and down,
Betwixt hope and despair,
The Devil started out of a bush,
And appeared unto him there:
O what is the matter, the Devil he said,
You look so discontent?
Sure you want some money to buy some bread,
Or to pay your landlord’s rent.
Indeed, kind sir, you read me right,
And the grounds of my disease,
Then what is your name, said the poor man,
Pray, tell me, if you please?
My name is Dumkin the Devil, quoth he,
And the truth to you I do tell,
Altho’ you see me wandering here,