by degrees going off into the
air."

These things continued for several nights, when it came to the
recollection of Mr. Mompesson that some time before he had given orders
for the arrest and imprisonment of a wandering drummer, who went about the
country with a large drum, disturbing quiet people and soliciting alms,
and that he had detained the man's drum, and that probably the drummer was
a wizard, and had sent evil spirits to haunt his house to be revenged of
him. He became strengthened in his opinion every day, especially when the
noises assumed, to his fancy, a resemblance to the beating of a drum,
"like that at the breaking up of a guard." Mrs. Mompesson being brought to
bed, the devil, or the drummer, very kindly and considerately refrained
from making the usual riot; but, as soon as she recovered strength, began
again "in a ruder manner than before, following and vexing the young
children, and beating their bedsteads with so much violence that every one
expected they would fall in pieces." For an hour together, as the worthy
Mr. Mompesson repeated to his wondering neighbours, this infernal drummer
"would beat 'Roundheads and Cuckolds,' the 'Tat-too,' and several other
points of war, as cleverly as any soldier." When this had lasted long
enough, he changed his tactics, and scratched with his iron talons under
the children's bed. "On the 5th of November," says the Rev. Joseph
Glanvil, "it made a mighty noise; and a servant observing two boards in
the children's room seeming to move, he bid it give him one of them. Upon
which the board came (nothing moving it that he saw) within a yard of him.
The man added, 'Nay, let me have it in my hand;' upon which the spirit,
devil, or drummer pushed it towards him so close that he might touch it."
"This," continues Glanvil, "was in the day-time, and was seen by a whole
room full of people. That morning it left a sulphureous smell behind it,
which was very offensive. At night the minister, one Mr. Cragg, and
several of the neighbours came to the house on a visit. Mr. Cragg went to
prayers with them, kneeling at the children's bedside, where it then
became very troublesome and loud. During prayer-time, the spirit withdrew
into the cock-loft, but returned as soon as prayers were done; and then,
in sight of the company, the chairs walked about the room of themselves,
the children's shoes were hurled over their heads, and every loose thing
moved about the chamber. At the same time