Wonderful and most astonishing account of Alexander Libanus

THE

WONDERFUL

AND

MOST ASTONISHING ACCOUNT

OF

Alexander Libanus;

WHO

Having spent all his Money, sold him-
⁠self to the Devil, on condition that
⁠he should give him as much Money
⁠as he choosed, but withal at the end
⁠of thirteen years, should be at his
⁠disposal; and how he was torn to
⁠pieces by him.

WITH

An extraordinary account of his Burial.

⟨PRINTED⟩ IN THE YEAR,

⟨MDCCLXXXIX.⟩

The Wonderful and most astonishing Account of Alexander Libanus.

IN Libyssa there lately lived one, called Alexander Libanus, who, in his younger years, appeared to have great zeal for truth and piety, he began to show his great regard for truth and piety, when he was about fourteen years of age, and continued very godly till he was arrived at twenty-one years of age, and then he began to be drawn off by worldly pleasures. He was very much drawn off by the female sex, which had a tendency to deprive him of all his money, and, being very much disquieted, he went one day into a very large wood, not far from the place where he used to resort. After having walked there a good while for his pleasure, he sat down, being wearied, under a tree. He was seized with more than ordinary grief at his low condition, and casting his eyes around him, he saw, as he thought, a very fine gentleman, clothed in black, coming forward to him who addressed him in the following words, Sir, you seem disconsolate, ⟨what⟩ is the matter that you are so? Yes, says Alexander. I am much distressed on account of my low condition, my foolish way of living for some time past, hath been so great that it hath deprived me of all the necessaries of life. To this the gentleman replies, with a kind of smiling countenance, if you will be contented to serve me, I shall supply you with a sufficiency of money all the days of your life. Likewise, you shall have a suffcient quantity of all the pleasant things you desire.

Now, this gentleman was the devil, come to tempt him, at which Alexander was so struck with amazement, that he readily thanked the gentleman, and told him that he would comply with his offer. The devil told him (for by this time he knew that it was the devil) that he was to be at his disposal thirteen years after that time. Then the devil, having given him a very large sum of money, did take his leave and depart. This wretch went home, and indulged himself in all kinds of wickedness. However, he would ⟨sometimes⟩ think upon his end that was ⟨fast⟩ approaching, and would sometimes ⟨cry⟩ out in bitterness of soul, oh! if I had ⟨liberty⟩ to address a throne of grace, as ⟨in⟩ former times. His appointed time ⟨drew⟩ very near, being the last year; wherein he was resolved to commit all manner of wickedness with greediness. He as usual, went out, upon a certain day, and saw a very fine gentleman, clothed in gay raiment, coming to meet him, who, as soon as he became up to him, he shot dead upon the spot, without saying one word. Alexander immediately, having shot the gentleman, and taking his money, was going off. And having seen a body of men pursuing him, immediately betook himself to his heels, but he being overtaken, was apprehended, and put into prison; where he was tried for the murder, and condemned to be hanged. All hopes of relief being taken away, he thought upon nothing but that he must assuredly die. But within two days of the time in which he was to sufFer, several of his companions being within the prison, in order to comfort him, seeing his death was so near, and the doors being all shut, notwithstanding, the devil came in the shape of a boar of immense bulk, which put them all into a great surprize, Alexander immediately leapt upon it’s back, when he went out with such extraordinary swiftness, the people thought the whole house shook. Immediately it was noised abroad, that the devil had carried off Alexander Libanus. Search for him was immediately made throughout all the town and country, but he was not at all any where to be found at that time. Still he went on perpetrating wickedness in every place. He went into a house in the country, very far from any other, where he put all the people to death, and took away every thing that was convenient for him to carry off. After which, a second time, he was apprehended and condemned to die. The fatal day being come, he was taken out and accompanied to the place of execution. And when they were come within 100 yards of the place of execution, lo, the devil came flying in the likeness of a strong and terrible eagle, which snatched him upon its claws, as the people thought, and went thro’ the air with a prodigious noise, to the terror and amazement of all the beholders. Next day, he was found at the distance of 150 miles from that place. Now, by this time, his final day was fast approaching, in order to drive away sorrow, he began to drink very heartily with a number of his companions, when he began to address them in the following words; “My dear companions, I am to be seperated from you this day; under the thoughts of which, it is now with difficulty I subsist. Alas, how I am pained at the breast. This day I shall receive a direful reward for mine actons.” One of his companions casting his eyes upon him, and seeing him look so pale and ghostly, addressed him thus: “You poor silly devil, chear up your heart, and let none of these base thoughts disturb your breast.” At this they began to be very merry over their cups, till at last the devil came in, in a most awful manner, which so terrified the company that some of them ran out. The devil addressed Alexander in the following words: Now my brave and valiant servant, you have been the best servant I ever had, I am now come to give you your reward; at which Alexander fell a shrieking and crying. Forthwith the devil laid hold on him, and tore him in pieces before their eyes. A number of his companions were so struck at this fearful catastrophe thinking the same might be their fate, if they pursued such sinful courses as they had done, and were observed ever afterwards very pious, for they greatly amended what they had done. The relations of this miserable man were now employed in gathering up all the pieces of him they could find, and put them into a coffin. His burial-day is not altogether to be passed by in this place, so extraordinary were the events that happened. Most awful was the thunder and lightning which did ensue; so that the people thought they would have been obliged to leave him unburied. And besides the thunder and lightning, the devil appeared in many extraordinary shapes; sometimes in the shape of a large fox; sometimes the weight upon the coffin was so great, that they were obliged to set it down: at other times it was so light, that it was with difficulty they could stop it from flying in the air. At last one of them came down with amazing rapidity upon the coffin, at which the people were so affrighted, that they let the dead corpse fall upon the ground, and ran off with great haste; the corpse falling, the coffin was broken to pieces. Several persons were so affrighted, that they never had the use of their reason afterwards. Others cried that the devil was not content with Alexander Libanus, but that he would take the whole world too. His relations prepared another coffin for him, for the other was so shattered that it could not carry the corpse to the church-yard; after having put the dead person into the coffin again, there was a great number of people gathered from all quarters, hearing of the extraordinary event that formerly happened before. But although there was so vast a number of people at the place, yet there were very few who would venture to assist in carrying off the corpse for fear, least something extraordinary might happen, which indeed came to pass, for no sooner had they lifted the corpse than it began to thunder dreadfully, that the people thought the earth would rend, and swallow them up alive. Prodigious yellings were also heard in the air, and so extraordinary was the lightning, that vast numbers of people had their hair singed with it. However the people, in great confusion and terror, were still going forward to the burying-place. When they were advanced within half a mile of the place, the devil came flying in the likeness of a huge lion, roaring tremendously, and flying with vast rapidity, he snatched up the coffin, and he was never more heard of. Now I shall end Alexander Libanus.

FINIS.

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