A scary joke from 1630

[robcat2075]

From "A Banquet of Jests" (1630)

Of one that was frighted by an Hobgoblin

A man being frighted with a strange apparition in the night, rose out of his bed in great feare and terrour, and began to exorcise it in these words,

If thou beest a good Angell, I know thou wilt not hurt me, because thou canst doe no evill,

And if thou beest the Devil or his Dam, I hope likewise thou wilt not hurt me neither, because of kindred sake... for I have married thy sister.