Wesley Corpus

Once she attempted to cut her own throat; once to throw herself into Rosamond’s Pond; several times to strangle herself, which once or twice was with much difficulty prevented. “Her brother, fearing lest she should at last succeed in her attempt, and finding her fits come more frequently, got a strait waistcoat made for her, such as they use at liedlam. It was made of strong ticking, with two straps on the shoulders, to Oct. 1763.] JOURNAL. 149 fasten her down to the bed; one across her breast, another across her middle, and another across her knees. One likewise was buckled on each leg, and fastened to the side of the bed. The arms of the waistcoat drew over her fingers, and fastened like a purse. In a few minutes after she was - thus secured, her brother, coming to the bed, found she was gone. After some time, he found she was up the chimney, so high that he could scarce touch her feet. When Mary Loftis called her, she came down, having her hands as fast as ever. “The night after, I fastened her arms to her body with new straps, over and above the rest. She looked at me and laughed; then gave her hands a slight turn, and all the fastenings were off. “In the morning Mr. Spark came: On our telling him this, he said, ‘But I will take upon me to fasten her so that she shall not get loose.’ Accordingly, he sent for some girth-web, with which he fastened her arms to her sides; first above her elbows, round her body; them below her elbows; then he put it round each wrist, and braced them down to each side of the bedstead: After this she was quiet a might and a day; then all this was off like the rest. “After this we did not tie her down any more, only watched over her might and day. I asked the Physician that attended her, whether it was a matural disorder. He said, ‘Partly natural, partly diabolical.” We then judged there was no remedy but prayer, which was made for her, or with her, continually; though while any were praying with her, she was tormented more than ever. “The Friday before Michaelmas-Day last, Mr. W. came to see her.