Not but that wherever I should meet the Cloven-Hoof, I should expect that the _Devil_ was not far off, and should be apt to raise the Posse against him, to apprehend him; yet it may happen otherwise, that's certain; every Coin has its Counterfeit, every Art its Pretender, every Whore her Admirer, every Error its Patron, and every Day has its DEVIL. I have had some thought of making a full and compleat Discovery here of that great Doubt which has so long puzzl'd the World, namely, whether there is any such Thing, as secret making Bargains with the Devil, and the first positive Assurance I can give you in the Case, is, that if there is not, 'tis not his Fault, 'tis not for want of his Endeavour, 'tis plain, if you will pardon me for taking so mean a Step, as that of quoting Scripture; I say, 'tis evident he would fain have made a Contract with our Saviour, and he bid boldly (_give him his due_) namely, _all the Kingdoms of the World for one bend of his Knee_: Impudent Seraph! To think thy Lord should pay thee Homage! How many would agree with him here for a less Price! They say, _Oliver Cromwell_ struck a Bargain with him, and that he gave _Oliver_ the Protectorship, but would not let him call himself King, which stuck so close to that _Furioso_, that the Mortification Spread into his Soul, and 'tis said, he dy'd of a Gangreen in the Spleen. But take Notice and do _Oliver_ Justice; I do not vouch the Story, neither does the Bishop say one Word of it. Fame us'd to say, that the old famous Duke of _Luxemburg_ made a Magic compact of this Kind; nay, I have heard many an (old Woman) Officer of the Troops, who never car'd to see his Face, declare that he carry'd the Devil at his Back. I remember a certain Author of a News Paper in _London_ was once taken up, and they say, it cost him 50_l._ for printing in his News, that _Luxemburg_ was _Humpback'd_. Now if I have resolv'd the Difficulty, namely, that he was not hump'd, only carry'd the _Devil_ at his Back; I think the poor Man should have his 50_l._ again, or I should have it for the Discovery. I confess, I do not well understand this compacting with such a Fellow as can neither write nor read; nor do I know who is the Scrivener between them, or how the Indenture can be executed; but that which is worse than all the rest is, that in _the first Place_, the _Devil_ never keeps Articles; he will contract perhaps, and they say he is mighty forward to make Conditions; but who shall bind him to the Performance, and where is the Penalty if he fails? if we agree with him, he will be apt enough to claim his Bargain and demand Payment; nay, perhaps before it is due; but who shall make him stand to his.