THat the Divell is a strong temptor hath beene clearely manifest from the beginning , for being himselfe throwne downe from the glorious estate of an Angell of light , the over-throw of Mankind is the continuall aime of his malignant ambition . But to effect this he doth not by a violent power assault the frailety of man , but endeavours to allure him by many false perswasions , promising like a false wooer that which he never intendeth to performe . Every day doth bring in many sad demonstrations to prove this truth ; women growne envious with age , are by him in hope of revenge perswaded to become witches , he thrusts on others to commit Rapes and murthers , some to be wholly given to the pleasure of women , putting such a wildfire in their bloud , that with an insatiable desire they delight to embrace their owne damnation ; and others to maintaine their glittering pride in this world , have drawers on to proceed in unlawfull courses , as stealing , cheating and couzening , together with robbing by the High-way and breaking of Houses , whereby at last they are compelled to make the World their Priest by confessing their wicked Lives as the Gallowes , where they commonly lay the blame on evill company , and the Divells temptation . That which I shall now deliver is a Story full of terrible amazement , wherein the Divells cunning temptation is set downe in the blackest collours , and in the Relation thereof I shall be carefull to satisfie the Reader with the truth as report hath given most certaine information .

It is well knowne that this Cavallier who hath some acquaintance with Learning , and is a scholler the more is the pity , being pinched with some want fell into a strange humour of disliking his present estate , because he could not be revenged according to his will upon the Parliaments forces at Redding ; and whereas he should have borne the afflicting hand of God with patience , he desired to communicate his griefe unto the Divell , being willing to ease himselfe of his present necessity upon any tearmes , and casting with himselfe divers waies wherby he might change his fortunes , none pleased his fancy , for his desire was ease and idlenesse , without want or hunger , which how it could be obtained without labour and taking of paines hee could not contrive : And to give you his Character , he is a man wholly devoted to his pleasure , which in despight of Aristotle and all morrall Philosophers he accounted to be the chiefe good and happinesse of this life ; he studied how to give satisfaction to his sensuall desires , and in them to drowne himselfe even to satiety , hee thought that the swallowing delights of eating and drinking were that which man should seeke to enjoy ; soft Musicke was the object of his hearing , and the often enjoying of women active in trust he esteemed to be the top branch of this tree of pleasure , so that he was amorous wanton , luxious , gluttonous , and in all things a meere Epicure in pursuing sensuall delights , soft and effeminate in all his waies , and a man wholly sold unto sin , unto which he had given up his heart , and sought onely to compasle his voluptuous satisfaction , thinking all the women in the Turkes Seraylio were not enough to satisfie his greedy appetite , and was indeed a slave unto the Divell and his owne lusts .

But now hee being thus affected there arose a doubt in his minde how hee might be able to enjoy his lustfull speculations , and covert them into act and deed , since hee knew that money was that which would fetch unto him all the objects of his desires , and make him happy in the change of pleasures which hee so earnestly fancied ; having therefore collected his thoughts together , hee propounded unto himselfe that money must bee had , as the commanding Queene of Love , Lust and all sensuall pleasures ; a long time he lingred doubtfull what to doe , making many wicked disputations with himselfe untill he grew little better than franticke , and at last began to thinke that the Divell could helpe him in accomplishing his wicked purposes .

This Thomas Browne finding his hopes frustrate in raising his estate by plundering the Parliaments forces wch intent be fully had , & seeing all hopes lost , knowing that he could doe nothing without gold and silver , and having no estate in respect of that whereby hee might bring about his intentions , for he understanding nothing but money would compasse his desires ; whereupon hee began to call into his mind the Divells readinesse and power to doe what he most desired . The Divell being subtill would not at the first suggest any way or meanes unto him : to make him more troubled and more greedy of his assistance , but yet often he led him by his fancy into the fields , knowing that solitude and oportunity make bashfulnesse forsake m●n and women , and open their thoughts in a more free and wicked manner , and so this voluptuous Malecontent would walke out into solitary places , as if it had been for his recreation , but indeed it was to enjoy the contemplation of his owne wicked purposes , he would pull downe his hat in his eyes , looke directly on the ground , and walke so softly at if he would not bruise the tender stalke of a Couslip , but all this while his amazed lookes , and his uneven stamping-paces , shewed that he bore a trouble at his heart , and that hee had no peace within ; in this manner he frequented solitary places free from any company , in which places the Divell met him , and answered him by sound of a voyce to his desires , but as he saith , never saw him perfectly in what shape he came ; sometimes he would walke up to Redriffe marshes where very few frequent , unlesse Butchers that fetch home their Cattell from the fields to kill for the Shambles , East-cheape , or the like markets ; and in these melancholy obscure paths he would often wander alone , when he bethought himselfe that the onely soule of mans felicity was pleasure , and riches , and to be esteem'd , serv'd , obey'd and honour'd ; to live and be belov'd of women , to fare deliciously , weare brave cloathes , have Gold at his command , servants of sundry kinds of Arts and qualities , that so he might change and vary his delights which hee accounted the true felicity of Nature , which doth still open her pregnant bosome to shew the variety of flowers and fruits wherwith she is adorned , losing himselfe in the labourinth of conceited felicity ; he resolved speedily to make an agreement , and contract with the Divell who should furnish him with the delights of this world , and to article with him , that he would bee assured of his life for forty yeares , he being now betwixt one and two and twenty yeares of age ; and further , that he would covenant during this time of forty yeares to have yearely paid him downe the full summe of two thousand pounds starling , and every Holy-day throughout the yeare forty pounds starling ; and if at any time hee desired to marry a Wife she should bring a portion proportionable to the aforesaid two thousand pounds a yeare .

Moreover , what woman-kind whether widow , maid or wife he should cast his affection upon , she should forthwith be ready to meete his embraces , and to answer his desires in carnall copulation ; likewise during the time of forty yeares hee would fare of the most daintiest provision that those climates afforded where he remained ; weare the richest cloaths , heare the choysest Musicke , with all the additions that the Divell could devise to give him content withall , and that still he should remaine as youthfull as at the first : those commands he selected to himselfe , and walked afterward home in a very melancholy manner , and so going to b●d he did there summe up the heads of his desires , intending the next day to bring his plot to ripenesse , and draw these Articles forth , and write them very fairely in parchment , which hee did in the very same manner as is before mentioned , and to make the contract with the Divell more firme and sure , he promised the Divell that if those Articles formerly mentioned were by him duely performed , he would on that condition give him at the expiration of forty yeares his soule and body , and in confirmation thereof he with his owne bloud subscribed his Name , which was a very fearefull thing as ever was knowne , that a man for the fruition of a little worldly pleasure should thus purchase himselfe a state of Damnation , and give up his Soule and Body for ever to the Divell .

But so it was that the next day he got up early and made ready his aforesaid Obligation and Contract , and so intending to meete with the Divell in the fieldes in those solitary walkes wherein he had formerly used to frequent , he went out with this wicked intention to meete with the Divell , and to give his soule to the Divell for the pleasures of this world . and for ever to damne himselfe : such was his horrible Resolution , for he had not bin long in contriving the plot , and intended now to bring it to an unhappy confusion . But such was the mercy of God towards him that hee was disapointed of his purpose , and his designe carried on thus farre was by Gods providence utterly disappointed , for he thinking to walk into the fields as formerly hee had done , and to passe by the Watch undiscerned ; early in the morning being about one or two a clocke the Watch seeing him goe in a suspitious manner began to question him and aske him whither hee went , but his answers giving them no satisfaction , and his lookes being full of feare and horrour , his face and brow disturbed through his guilty Conscience , and all his gestures declaring that hee was troubled in minde , and had something that sate heavy at his heart ; their suspition began to encrease , so that the Watch not knowing what his wicked intent might bee began to search his pockets , where to the great admiration of all that were present they discovered the most horrid peece of wickednesse that could bee imagined , for they found that this Thomas Browne had beene a wilfull wicked Traytor against his owne Soule , and had upon the condition aforesaid betrayed and given it to the Divell , as by a contract signed with his bloud , which they tooke out of his pocket it ardently appeared . Whereupon the Watch being strucke into a great amazement carried him before Justice Louder , who upon examination found out his horrid plot and purpose , and thereupon committed him to New-gate , where he remaines untill he shall be convicted by Law toreceive condigne punishment at the next Sessions , where he lyes in a most desperate state , and condition fearefull to behold and see ; divers Divines comming to him , perswading and comforting him upon his true repentance that his Soule shall be saved : and so I conclude , desiring the Lord to shew mercy upon his afflicted soule and conscience .