‘Master _John Mompesson_, of _Tedworth_ in _Wiltshire_, being about the middle of _March_, in the year 1661, at a neighbouring Town, called _Ludgarshal_, heard a _Drum_ beat there, and being concerned as a _Commission Officer_ in the _Militia_, he enquired of the _Bayliffe_ of the Town, at whose House he then was, what it meant. The Bayliffe told him that they had for some dayes been troubled by that _Idle Drummer_, who demanded money of the Constable, by virtue of a pretended pass, which he thought was counterfeit. Upon this Information Master _Mompesson_ sent for the fellow, and ask’d him by what _Authority_ he went up and down the Countrey in that manner, demanding money, and keeping a clutter with his _Drum_? The _Drummer_ answered he had good _Authority_, and produced his pass, with a warrant under the hands of Sir _William Cawly_ and Colonel _Ayliffe_ of _Gretenham_. These papers discover’d the knavery, for M. _Mompesson_ knowing those Gentlemen’s hands, found that his pass and warrant were _forgeries_; and upon the discovery, commanded the _vagrant_ to put off his _Drum_, and charged the Constable to carry him to the next _Justice_ of _Peace_, to punish him according to the desert of his _Insolence_ and _Roguery_. The fellow then confest the _cheat_, and begg’d earnestly for his _Drum_. But M. _Mompesson_ told him that if he understood from Colonel _Ayliffe_, whose _Drummer_ he pretended to be, that he had been an honest man, he should have it again; but in the interim he would secure it. So he left the _Drum_ with the Bayliffe, and the Drummer in the Constable’s hands; who, it seems, after, upon intreaty, let him go. ‘About the midst of _April_ following, when M. _M._ was preparing for a Journey to _London_, the Bayliffe sent the _Drum_ to his house; and, being returned, his wife told him that they had been much affrighted in the night by _Thieves_, during his absence; and that the House had like to have been broken up. He had not been at home above three nights, when the same noise returned that had disturbed his Family when he was abroad. It was a very great _knocking_ at his Doors, and the out side of his House. M. _M._ arose, and with a brace of Pistols in his hands, went up and down searching for the cause of the Disturbance. He open’d the door, where the great knocking was, and presently the noise was at another. He opened that also, and went forth, rounding his House, but could discover nothing; only he still heard a strange noise and hollow sound; but could not perceive what was the occasion of it. When he was returned to his Bed, the noise was a _Thumping_ and _Drumming_ on the top of his House, which continued a good space, and then by degrees went off into the Air.