A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three king (2024)

CHAP. I. Concerning the Appearance and Manifestation of God Himself in the World.

DEsigning to Treat in this Book, of that most Noble Exercise of the Divinity, The Government of the World, and of that only so far as it is Remarkably the Operation and Effect of the Infinite Supream Being; it will not be Improper in the first place to enquire, If ever this God hath made any Visible Manifestation of himself in Form or Figure to the World; If ever any Man saw him in any Ma∣terial adequate shape and lived: Or if he hath not; what should be the Reason, that He never strikes our senses with his Essential presence, that he hides from us in the Retirements of an Invi∣sible and Spiritual Majesty; leaving us to search out his Footsteps, and read the marks of his Boundless Properties in the Works of Creation and Providence.

We are told indeed, in sacred Scripture, of his frequent Appearance to Abraham, Gen. 12.7. to Isaac, Gen. 26.2, 24. to Jacob, Gen. 28.10, &c. to Moses, Exod. 3.2, &c. But all these Apparitions come to no more then this, that these persons were struck either with the outward sight, or inward sense of the signs of the presence of something Extraordinary, that they could resolve the cause to be nothing less then the great God. And besides, the Con∣viction was intended no further primarily, then themselves, and so far it was effectual, and there it rested: They were convinced, and believed, and obeyed. And tho their Faith and Obedience was design'd for a strong Argument to draw their Posterity after them, yet when the Freshness of these Stories were worn off, the following Generation called for fresh Evi∣dences, and repeated Miracles, and the Marks of a singular Providence; or else they were in danger of lapsing backward into down-right Infidelity and Disobedience again. And therefore, though it hath pleased Almighty God at sundry times, and in divers manners, to make himself known to the world, yet we may safely conclude upon these Two Points, as certainly True:

• 1. That no meer Man in this world did ever see God as he is, in himself, and live, John 1.18. 1 John 4.12. Not Abraham, not Isaac, nor Jacob, nor Moses; they but saw his back-parts, the Signs of his Presence, the Effects of some particular Attributes, and no more.
• 2. That it is impossible for Man, in a state of Mortality, to see him, Exod. 33.20. Thou canst not see my Face (that is, my Essence) for there shall no Man see me and live. And the Reason is plain and easie, if we consider, The Glory of that Infinite Majesty is enough to crack our weak corruptible Bodies, and astonish our senses, and strike us into a Dissolution or Confusion.

2. The present Weakness and Sinfulness of Humane Nature, 1 Tim. 6.16. God only is said there to have Immortality, which no Man can approach unto, — whom no Man can see. And besides all this, the Intuition or Vision of God is reserved for the Reward of our Faith; and therefore 'tis unseasonable now; we must wait for it, till we have done our work, and are got safe into the other World; and then we shall have purer Intellectuals, and more refined Souls, and more Glorious Bodies, fitted up on purpose, and disposed for such Ravishing Glory, and such a Transcendent Object.

Obj. It is said, Gen. 32.30. Jacob called the Name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my Life is preserved.

Answ. Still I say, Jacob saw not God in his Essence, but in some visible Representation, and that not adequate to the Nature or Glory of God, but far beneath it: For the shape of a Man is no more the excellency of God, than a Rush-candle, or a poor silly Glow-worm to the Noon-Sun; nor so much neither.

All the ways of God's Appearance and Manifestation in the World, that I can think of, may be reduc'd to these following Particulars.

(1.) By a Voice only, as in the Case of Adam and Eve, Gen. 3.8, 9. of Noah, Gen. 6.13, &c. of Abraham, Gen. 12.1, 7, ch. 13, 14.

(2.) By a Vision, as he did to Abraham, Gen. 15.1. to Balaam, Numb. 24.4, 16. to Samu∣el, 1 Sam. 3.15. to Nathan, 2 Sam. 7.17. 1 Chr. 17.15. to the Prophets frequently. These Visions are sometimes called Trances, as in the Case of Balaam, Numb. 24.4. where the man seem'd to fall into a fit of Extasie, with his Eyes open, v. 16. He is said to exercise Two of his Senses, Hearing and Seeing, and both of them with his Eyes open. Peter (Acts 10.10.) is said to fall into One of these Trances, where he both heard a Voice, and saw a Vision. S. Paul (Acts) 22.17.) affirms of himself, That whilst he was praying in the Temple, he was in a Trance. Cornelius, Acts 10.3. is said to have seen a Vision evidently, viz. an Angel of God coming to him, but with such a Glorious appearance, that seeing him, he was afraid, and said, Lord, what is it? &c. S. Paul, quite contrary to Balaam (in the Vision mentioned before) fell to the Earth, and heard a Voice; And though at first he saw a Light shining round a∣bout him, yet afterwards we have Reason to believe that his Eyes were shut; for it is said, Acts 9.8. Saul arose from the Earth, and when his Eyes were opened, he saw no man; and he continued three days without sight.

(3.) By Angels, in the shape or form of men, as One Angel is said to find Hagar by a Fountain of water, Gen. 16.7. &c. Two appear to Lot, Gen. 19.1, 2, &c. Three to A∣braham, Gen. 18. Many to Jacob, Gen. 32.1, 24. An Angel appeared to Moses in a Flame of Fire, out of the midst of a Bush, Exod. 3.1, 2. &c. And yet 'tis said, God called unto Muses out of the midst of the Bush, saying, I am the God of thy Father, &c.

(4.) By Dreams; As to Abimelech, Gen. 20.3. to Laban, Gen. 31.24. to Jacob, Gen. 31.11. But here likewise there was often the Appearance of an Angel, as in the last Instance of Jacob; and Mat. 1; 20. and c. 2.13, 19, &c. an Angel appeared to Joseph in a Dream.

(5.) By Angels in a Pillar of Cloud and Fire; as Exod. 13.21. c. 14.24, &c.

(6.) By such Works either of Creation or Providence, as must necessarily be accounted the Effects of Infinite VVisdom and Power, and can be supposed to proceed from no other Being in the VVorld, but One of Unlimited Attributes; that both Knows, and VVills, and acts in such a way as none can do, but he that hath all the VVorld at his Command, and all the diverse Classes of the Creatures at his back.

I meddle not here with that Universal Character, that Idea of the Divine Nature, which is impressed upon the Mind of all Mankind, by him that made us; Our Creator (it seems) would not suffer us to come out of his Hands, till he had instamp'd his own Mark upon us. But this I insist not here upon, because that Impression was made upon the inward Ta∣bles of the Heart, for the use of the Man himself; And 'tis so soyl'd with the Corruption of our Nature; and Men are often so resolved upon the Trade of sinning, and so exposing them∣selves to the Displeasure and Judgment of him that made them; that they take no delight in Reading and Acknowledging this Divine Inscription; Nay, some are so set against it, that they do all they cam to blot out the Characters, and expunge them clearly out.

VVhen men are once arrived at this Degree of Obstinacy, 'tis a hard matter to deal with them. Our utmost Aim and Design here is, to present the world with such a Scheme of Di∣vine Providences; so strange and so true Relations, put into a method, and marshelled under their proper Heads, that if our Scepticks and Atheists would but read what follows in this book, and come to a fair Examination and Consideration of the matter, they would find them∣selves so over-power'd with Evidence and so pinch'd with the strength of Arguments and At∣testations, that they must either honestly surrender up the Cause, and acknowledge the Foot∣steps of the Divinity very plain and legible in the curious and wonderful Transactions of Pro∣vidence; or else very stoutly and impudently fly in the Face of all History, Sacred and Pro∣fane, Ancient and Modern, Civil and Ecclesiastick, Foreign and Domestick; and very fool∣ishly and dangerously encounter not only the Reason of all the World besides, but their own Consciences too, and even the Common Senses of Many, VVise, and Good Men.

In short, God hath manifested himself to us Inwardly and Outwardly, by imprinting the Notion of Himself upon our Hearts, and discovering his Excellent properties to us in his works; the one legible to our Reasonable Minds and Consciences, the other to our Common Senses: And what more could we wish a God to do? Bur if after all, men will resolve to wink at the Light within and without too, they are worthy (in plain English) neither of the Reason

nor the Sense they are endowed with; and the Curious VVorks of Divine Providence are drawn in vain to such dull Souls that are sunk down so deep into the Brutish Nature, and almost choak'd up with the Thick Fumes of meer Flesh and Blood.

The God of heaven, that Governs the VVorld with so much VVisdom, and Goodness, and Pow∣er, and Constancy, give a blessing to the Contents of this book, and shew himself a little in every Chapter of it to every particular Reader, with the like efficacy, and brightness, and kind∣ness, as he doth in all the various Scenes of Providence, in his Government of the VVorld.

CHAP. II. Concerning the Appearance of Good Angels.

FOR those that will admit the Testimony of Sacred Scripture, it will be easie to satis∣fy such, That Good Angels do exist, and are exercised in the Affairs of this Little World; as in the Case of Hagar, Gen. 16.7, &c. of Abraham, Gen. 18. of Lot, Gen. 19. of Jacob, Gen. 31. of Moses, Exod. 3. of Balaam, Gideon, Manoah, Elijah; &c. in the Old Testament. And in the Case of the Baptist's and our Saviour's Birth, in the New Testament they appear∣ed to the Two Maries, Zechariah, and the Shepherds, Act. 10.3. Cornelius is said to have seen a Vision evidently, viz. An Angel of God coming to him. More may be observed by Men of Leisure and Ingenuity, that will take the pains to examine their Concordance, and turn over a few leaves of the Bible.

The greatest difficulty is with Men of an Infidel Nature, not only of the Sadducean hu∣mour, who Account Angels no more then Divine Praises; or of the Familist's Principle, who say they are meer Phantasms, created for the present occasion, and then presently, when their Business is over, manumitted into Old Vanity and Nothing; but Hobbists, and Scep∣ticks, and Atheists: The first of which Symbolizes much with the Old Sadduces, the Scep∣tick doubts, and the Atheist flatly denies them. To all which I have no more to say (it be∣ing not my business now to engage in the Lists of Disputation, which would swell my Book into a Volume too big for the Purses of the present Age,) but to submit fairly the aforesaid Texts, and the following stories to the Sober and Mature consideration of the Reader. On∣ly be pleased to take this distinction along with you, that Angels may appea•• visibly to the Eye of the mind, as well as to the Eye of sense. And now let us lay aside our Bible a while, to humour the Infirmity of this Unbelieving Club, who could be well enough con∣tent there might be Good Angels concerned for us, so there were no Bad ones against us.

Bodinus, who had it from the Mouth of the Man, whom it concerned, a Holy and Pious Man, and an Acquaintance of Bodinus's, tells us; that he had a certain Spirit, that did per∣petually accompany him, which he was then first aware of, when he was about Thirty Se∣ven years of Age, but conceived that the said Spirit had been with him all his Life time; as he gathered from certain Monitory Dreams and Visions, whereby he was forewarned as well of several Dangers, as Vices. That this Spirit discovered himself to him, after he had for a whole year together earnestly prayed to God, to send a Good Angel to him, to be the Guide and Governour of his Life and Actions; adding also, that before and after Prayer he used to spend two or three hours in Meditation and Reading the Scriptures, diligently en∣quiring with himself, what Religion might be the Best, beseeching God that he would be pleased to direct him to it. And that he did not allow of their way, that at all adventures pray for Confirmation of them in that Opinion they are in, whether right or wrong. That whilst he was thus busy in matters of Religion, he light on a passage in Philo Judeus de Srcrificiis, where he Writes, That a Good and Holy Man can offer no greater, nor more ac∣ceptable Sacrifice to God, then the oblation of himself; And therefore following Philo's Counsel, that he offered his Soul to God: And after that, amongst many other Divine Dreams and Visions, he once in his sleep seemed to hear the Voice of God, saying to him, I will save thy Soul, I am he that appeared unto thee: Afterwards the Spirit would every day knock at the Door about three or four a Clock in the Morning, tho he rising and opening the Door, could see no body. This Trouble and Boysterousness made him begin to conceit, that it was some ill Spirit, that thus haunted him; and therefore he daily Prayed earnestly to the Lord, that he would be pleased to send his Good Angel to him; and often also Sung Psalms, hav∣ing most of them by heart. Wherefore the Spirit afterwards knocked more gently at the Door, and One day discovered himself to him Waking, which was the first time, that he was assured by his senses, that it was He; for he often touched and stirred a Drinking-Glass, that stood in his Chamber, which did not a little amaze him. Two days after, when he en∣tertained a Friend of his, Secretary to the King, his Friend was much abashed, while he heard the Spirit thumping on the Bench hard by him, and was strucken with fear; but he bid him be of good courage, there was no hurt towards him; and the better to assure him of it, told him the truth of the whole matter. From that time; saith Bodinus, he did affirm, that this Spirit was always with him, and by some sensible Sign did ever advertise him of things; as by striking his Right Ear; if he did any thing amiss; if otherwise, his left: If any body

came to Circumvent him, his right Ear was struck; but his left, if a good Man, and to good Ends, accosted him: If he was about to Eat or Drink any thing that would hurt him, or intended to do any ill Action, he was inhibited by a Sign; and if he delayed to fol∣low his Business, he was quickened by a Sign given him. When he began to Praise God in Psalms, and to declare him Marvellous Acts, he was presently raised and strengthened by a Supernatural Power. He daily begg'd of God, that he would teach him his Will, and set one day of the Week a part for meditation, and Reading the Scripture, and Singing of Psalms, and did not stir out of his House all that day: But in his ordinary Conversation, he was sufficiently merry, and of a cheerful mind; for which he cited that saying, Vidi facies sancto∣rum letas. But in his conversing with others, if he had talked Vainly and Indiscreetly, or had some days together neglected his Devotions, he was forthwith Admonished thereof by a Dream. He was also Admonished to rise betime every Morning, about four a Clock, with a Voice coming to him, while he was asleep, saying, Who gets up first to Pray? He was often Admonish'd likewise to give Alms; and observed, the more Charity he bestowed, the more Prosperous he was. On a time, when his Enemies sought after his Life, knowing he was to go by Water, his Father in a Dream brought two Horses to him, the one white, the other Bay; and thereupon he bid his Man hire him two Horses, and tho he said nothing of the Colours, his Man brought him a White Horse and a Bay one. In all Difficulties, Jour∣neyings, &c. He us'd to ask Counsel of God, and one Night when he had begg'd his Bles∣sing, while he slept he saw a Vision, wherein his Father seemed to Bless him. At another time, when in great danger, and was newly gone to Bed, he said the Spirit would not let him alone, till he had raised him again, whereupon he watched and prayed all that Night; the day after he escap'd the hands of his Persecutors in a wonderful manner; which done, in his next sleep, he heard a Voice saying, Now Sing Qui sedet in latibulo altissimi, &c. He once attempting to speak to this Spirit, he struck the Door with a vehemency, as if he had knock'd upon it with a hammer, to signify his dislike of the matter: If he took an ill Book into his hand to Read, the Spirit would strike it, that he might lay it down; and so like∣wise would hinder him from Writing and Reading over-much. Bodinus enquiring whether he ever saw the shape and form of the Spirit; he told him, that whilst awake, he never saw any thing but a certain light very bright and clear, and of a circular Figure; but that once being in Jeopardy of his Life, and having heartily pray'd to God, that he would be pleased to provide for his safety, about break of Day, amidst his slumberings and wakings, he es∣pied on his Bed where he lay, A young Boy, clad in a white Garment tinctured with Purple, and of a Visage admirably Lovely and Beautiful to behold. This he confidently affirmed to Bodinus for a certain Truth. H. More Antid. against Atheism. Edit. 2d. p. 245, &c.

2. Ruffinus in his Ecclesiastical story reports, that one Theodorus a Martyr, told him, that when he was hanging ten hours upon the Rack for Religion, under Julian's Persecution, his Joynts distended and distorted, and his body exquisitely tortured with change of Execution∣ers; so as never Age could remember the like; he felt no pain at all, but continued all the while in the sight of all Men, singing and smiling, for there stood a comely young Man by him on his Gibbet, which with a clean Towel still wip'd off his sweat, and poured cool Wa∣ter upon his Limbs, wherewith he was so refreshed, that it grieved him to be let down. So far Dr. Joseph Hall. Socratis scholasticus, adds, that Ruffinus had Acquaintance with this Theodorus, and discoursed him upon't: to whom he said, he was so comforted and confirm∣ed in the Faith thereby, that the hour of Torment was unto him rather a delectable Plea∣sure, than a doleful Pain. Socrat. Schol. Hist. Eccl. l. 3. c. 16.

3. Edwyn King of Northumberland, then a Pagan, being by himself alone and Solitary, there appeared to him One, who said, I known well the cause of thy heaviness, what wouldst thou give to him that would deliver thee from this fear? I would, said Edwyn, give all that ever I could make. And what, said the other, if I make thee a mightier King than any of thy Progenitors? Edwyn answered as before. Then said the other, What if I shew thee a bet∣ter way, and kind of Life, than was ever known to any of thy Ancestors? Wilt thou obey, and do after may Counsel? Yes, said he, with all my Heart. Then the other laying his Hand on his Head, said, When this Token happens unto thee, then remember this time of thy Tribula∣tion, and the Promise that thou hast made, and the Words I have spoken; and so he vanished out of his sight. But afterwards being over-born by the Counsel of his Nobles, he deferred to perform his Promise. Afterwards, being struck at with the envenom'd Sword of a certain Ruffian, sent by the King of the West-Saxons to assassinate him; but escaping by the interposition of one of his Servants, (who received the Sword through his own Body) being himself wound∣ed only with the Sword's Point; with which Wound he lay long. Upon Recovery, he goes against those West Saxons, promising Jesus Christ, upon Victory, to be Baptized. Which tho' he obtained, yet still he was slow to be Baptized. Only he left off his Idolatrous Ser∣vices, and heard Bishop Paulinus Preach; 'till the Bishop came to the King at a fit Season, and laying his Hand on his Head, ask'd him if he remembred not that Token? upon which, he was presently Baptized, and destroyed his Idols with their Altars. Clark's Exampl. and Martyrol. &c.

4. When Theodosius Jun. sent his Army under Ardubarius against the Persians, and for the Relief of the Persecuted Christians, and the Citizens were sad and heavy, fearing the Event of the War, a Company of Angels appeared to certain Christians in Bythinia, that were travelling to Constantinople, and willed them to be of good Cheer, and to Pray, and put their Trust in God, and then to expect confidently the good Success and Victory of Ardubarius: For God had sent them as Governors and Sovereign Captains of that War. Idem.

5. Cotterus accounted by Comenius as a Prophet of Silesia, and persecuted stoutly by the Emperor's Praefect, was A. C. 1628, entertained by Adam Pohe, a Sadler of Sprattovia for half a Year gratis, till the time of his Imprisonment. The next Year Adam falling Sick and Lame, his Nerves shrank up, and was confined to his Bed for half a Year. A Day before the Emperor's Commissioners came to reform the Town (as they called it) a Young Man appeared by his Bed-side in white Cloathing, saying Adam, this is the Day wherein God hath decreed to take Vengeance on this City: Arise, Go in the name of the Lord, put on thy clothes, and with thy Wife and Young Daughter fly away, make hasie; upon which he recovered and escaped. Hisi. Prophet. p. 22.

6. Cutbert Symson, Deacon of the Congregation in London, in Queen Mary's Reign, being imprison'd in the Stocks the Day before his Condemnation, about Eleven of the Clock to∣ward Midnight, heard one coming in, first opening the outward Door, then the Second, then the Third, and so looking into the said Cutbert, having no Candle or Torch, that he could see, but giving a comfortable Brightness and Light, joyful to the Heart, and saying Ha! unto him, departed again. Fox Martyrol.

7. Samuel Wallace, of Stamford in Lincolnshire, a shoe-maker, having been 13 Years sick of a Consumption; upon Whitsunday after Sermon, 1659, being alone in the House, and reading in a Book called Abraham's Suit for Sodom, he heard somebody wrap at the Door, upon which he rose, and went with his Stick in one Hand, and holding by the Wall with the other, to see who was at the Door; where he found a proper grave Old Man, with Hair as white as Wool curled up, and a white broad Beard, of a fresh Complexion, with a fashionable Hat, little narrow Band, Coat and Hose of a Purple Colour, pure white Stockings, and new black Shoes tied with Ribbons, of the same colour with his Cloaths, without Spot of Wet or Dirt upon him, though it rained when he came in, and had done, all that Day; Hands as white as Snow, without Gloves: Who said to him, Friend, I pray, thee give to an Old Pilgrim a Cup of thy small Beer. Samuel Wallace answering, I pray you Sir, come in. To which he replied, Friend, call me not Sir, for I am no Sir; but yet come in I must; for I cannot pass by thy Door before I come in. Wallace, with the help of his Stick, drew a little Jug-Pot of Small-Beer; which the Pilgrim took, and drank a little; then walked two or three times to and fro, and drank again; and so a Third time, before he drank it all. And when he had so done, he walked Three or Four times as before; and then coming to Wallace, said, Friend, I percieve that thou art not well: Wallace replied, No truly, Sir, I have not been well these many Years. Then he asked what his Disease was •• A Deep Consumption, and our Doctors say 'tis past Cure, answered Wallace. To which the old Pilgrim replied, They say well, but what have they given thee for it? Truly nothing, said he, for I am very poor, and not able to follow the Doctor's Prescriptions, and so I have committed my self into the Hands of Almighty God, to dispose of me as he pleaseth. The Old Man answered, Thou say'st very well: But I will tell thee by the Almighty power of God what thou shalt do; only observe my words, and remember them and do it; but whatsoever thou dost, Fear God, and serve him. To Morrow Morning to into thy Garden, and get there Two Red Sage Leaves, and one Leaf of Bloodwort, put these into a Cup of Small Beer, let them lie there for the space of Three Days together, drink thereof as oft as need re∣quires, but let the Leaves still remain in the Cup; and the Fourth Morning cast them a∣way, and put Three fresh ones in their room; and thus do for 12 Days together, neither more nor less: I pray thee remember what I say, and observe and do it. But above all, Fear God and serve him. And for the space of these Twelve Days, thou must neither drink Ale, nor Strong Beer; yet afterwards thou mayest to strengthen Nature; and thou shalt see that before these Twelve Days are expired, through the great mercy and help of Al∣mighty God, thy Disease will be cured, and the frame of thy Body altered, &c. With much more to this purpose; adding withal, that he must change the Air, and then his Blood would be as god as ever it was, only his Joints would be weak as long as he lived. But above all, said he, Fear God, and serve him. Wallace asked him to eat some Bread and Butter or Cheese; he answered, no Friend, I will not eat any thing, the Lord Christ is suf∣ficient for me; neither but very seldom do I drink any Beer, but that which comes from the Rock: And so Friend, the Lord God in Heaven be with thee. At parting, Samuel Wallace went to shut the Door after him, to whom the Old Man returning half way into the Entry again, said, Friend, I pray remember what I have said, and do it: But above all; Fear God, and serve him. Wallace said, he saw him pass along the Street some half a Score Yards from his Door, and so he went in. But no Body else saw this Old Man, though many People were standing in their Doors near Wallace's House. Within Four Days, upon the use of this Drink, a Sc••rf arose upon his Body, and under that a new fresh Skin, and in Twelve Days he was as strong as ever he had been, and healthful, except only a little weakness in his Joynts. And once in the Twelve Days, by the importunity of some Friends, drinking a little Strong Drink, he was struck speechless for 24 Hours. Many Ministers hear∣ing the report of this wonderful Cure, met together at Stamford, and considering and con∣sulting about, it for many Reasons, concluded the Cure to be done by the Ministry of an Angel.

8. Monsieur Jurieu, a Banished Minister of France, wrote in one of his Pastoral Letters out of Holland. to the Persecuted Protestants in France, a very surprising Relation, of Songs and Voices heard in the Air, A. C. 1685, in these Words,—This Year 1685, hath been as abundant in Prodigies, as any for a long while; wherein we have heard of extraordi∣nary Storms, Fires falling from Heaven, others coming out of the Earth, Signs in the Air, and Insects of unknown Shapes, which have been believed to have fallen from Heaven, and

particularly the Singing of Psalms and Voices in the Air. It is near a Year since we heard any Speech concerning it, and they told us, that these Singings had been heard in Bearn, the first Province whether the Dragoons were sent. Behold our Witnesses, every one will judge of what worth they are: Monsieur Mag••udy, Pastor of the Church of Orthez, ha∣ving been questioned concerning this Affair, hath interrogated divers Persons, according as it appears by his Certificate.

I do declare that Monsieur Bazin, a Younger Brother, and an Inhabitant of Bearn hath told me, that walking with some of his Friends after Mid∣day near the City of Orthez, he heard Voices which sung Psalms, and as he imagined that it might be some Women that washed Linnen, he ran to demand of them, whether it was they that sang; they told him no, and that they themselves had for a long time heard the same singing of Psalms. This happened some Months before the Interdiction of our Church. The said M. Bazin is a very Honest Man, very Judicious, and of Integri∣ty. I add, that Madamoiselle de Casenaue of Orthez, being not able to believe that which was said concerning Singing of Psalms, a Woman said to her, that if she had the Curio∣sity to hear them sing, she would call on her at her own House at a time convenient; which she did: For this Woman being at Eleven at Night, in the uttermost part of the City, with Multitudes of other Persons, to hear those Voices which sung in the Air the Praises of God; having heard this singing of Psalms, she ran to Madamoiselle de Casenaue, who immediately gets out of her Bed, causes one of her Neighbours to rise; and they ran to that Quarter of the City which was far from her House; where they found Multitudes of Persons, who were ravished with that pleasant Melody which they heard in the Air; they themselves returned to their Houses, with this great Consolation, to have heard those Psalms sung in the Air, which they could no more sing in their Church; which had been interdicted for some Months past: They added, that they seemed to hear them sing in the same manner, which they used to sing in their Church; and after the Singing ceased, there was a Voice which spake, but in an articulate and confufed manner, so that they could not distinguish what was said. This Gentlewoman is very well worthy of Credit. M••reover I attest, that an infinite number of Persons of Orthez do say, that they heard the singing of Psalms, which they call the Singing of Angels: And that they exhort∣ed each other in the Day, to be present in the Night, in certain Places of the City, to satisfy this holy curiosity; which was the reason that the Magistrates of Orthez published an Ordinance, whereby they forbad all Persons from going out of their Houses, or assem∣bling themselves by Night to hear these Voices; which filled this poor afflicted People with Joy, and extraordinary Consolation. This is that which hath been told me concern∣ing this singing of Psalms, to which I find no difficulty to give a full assent, because the Persons that reported it, are of great sincerity. Given at Amsterdam, Nov. 23, 1686. Signed Magendie,

heretofore Minister of Orthez in Bearne.

M. Garfin, another Minister of the said Church of Orthez, declares the like, and cites his Brother in Law de Roux, for the witness thereof; as also M. Clarier, a Lawyer of the same City, who inform'd him, that the Curate of the Place, and a certain Priest call'd Dusan, and Monsieur Lichbigarai, another Lawyer, and a Brother of the Curate called M. de la Ro∣que, who sent to search out a certain Popish Damsel, to know of her if it were true, that she had said, that she had heard this Singing of Psalms, and that she told them,—Yea,—&c. Given at Amsterdam, Sept. 23. 1689. Signed Garfin, Minister. One Peter Mauberg, of the City of Orthez, hath signed the same thing; as doth also one M. Bergerit, and John de la Bordotten, and Madamoiselle Deformalagues, (adding withal, that her Ears were entertained with a Melody so ravishing, that she never heard any thing like it; and that she heard many Persons say, they could plainly and distinctly hear the first Verse of the Forty Second Psalm, Like as the Hart doth breath and bray, &c. Others, that they heard the whose Psalm sung. M. de Brassalay, a Person of Honour, and acknowledged such by all that knew him, hath abundantly attested the same thing. Dr. Faur, a Physitian, and Papist, and Magi∣strate of the same City, confessed that he heard it, &c. It were too tedious to give the Reader all the Certificates that have been made of it; these I have cited, are enough to si∣lence the Objections of any Reader, that is not resolved to be incredulous above the com∣mon rate of Mankind. But neither was it heard here only, but the like hath happen'd in Cevenues, together with the bearing of Drums, as hath been certified by the Affidavits of no less than Four several Credible Persons, viz. Barjune, Minister of S. Marselle in Ce∣venues, La Roquette, Minister of Manoblet, Saligne de Marnis in Cevenues, M. Jane de Vig∣noles, &c. Hic consulat lector Athanasium de subtil. Demon.

One of the most Astonishing Passages that I my self have been witness of, of this na∣ture, and which happened in my own House, is that which follows. In the Year 1683, whilst I lived at Shipley, my Wife took a Neighbour's Daughter, Mary Holland by Name, to be her Servant, aged about 16 or 17 Years, jolly and corpulent, honest, humble and innocent, free from all Pride and Guile naturally (so far as I could judge) but of no sharp Intellectuals, nor extraordinary Knowledge, constant to her private Prayers, so far as we could make Observation: Her Parents were Persons of god same, and great hospitality, and lived fashionably and plentifully as any of the Parish. This Damsel having fetcht in Water to brew with the next day; she went to Bed that Night, fell into a deep Sleep (as she was by Nature inclined to do) presently; but which was extraordinary, next Morning she could not be awaked: And so she continued all that Day, and till the middle of the Third Night. The Physician taking the Distemper for a Coma, gave his Advice according∣ly, but without Success: Her Parents gave Order for Two Women to watch with her the Third Night. About Midnight, I and my Wife lying in the next Chamber, and hearing

her talk sensibly to the Women, rose up, and went to her Bed-side, asking her, how she did? She replied, What do you think of me? To which I answered, by way of Question a∣gain, whether she meant concerning her Bodily Health or Salvation? Turning to my Wife, she ask'd, Mistress, what do you think? Shall I be saved or no? To whom my Wife said, how do you think to be saved, by your Faith or Works? She answered, by her Works: But re∣calling the Words again, after a little pause, she said—O no! it must not be by my works, it must be by saith in Jesus Christ. After some more Discourse upon this point, I ask'd her, if I should pray by her? She answered, Yes, if you please. Upon which we all kneeled down, she her self of her own accord putting her self into that posture in bed. In the midst of Prayers she broke out into such passionate and strange Expressions, as seemed to have proceeded from a sense of some Extraordinary Assault from Devils. I was strangely surprized, and thought it advisable to make a stop in my Prayers, and give my self, and the company a little time to make observation upon this strange Oc∣currence. She continued her passionate conflict in words which have slipt my memory: Afterwards I prayed again, and she fell into an Agony, as before. After Prayer she desir∣ed to see her Parents, and was afraid, she should not see them before she died. We promised her to send presently for them, which we did: But she fearing they would not come in due time, ask'd for my little Daughter, Pat; and the key of her Box, which we were not willing to give her, alledging, that we had purposely delivered up the key to her Mother the day before; and tho she had put it into our hands again, yet it would not look well in us to part with it, till she returned, &c. In the mean time, I told her, if she had any thing to say, we would report it truly to her Fa∣ther and Mother when they came, and we doubted not but they would consent to the Execution of her Will. Upon which, she bequeath'd a little box with some Money in it to Pat, her best Cloaths to such, and her old ones to such and such Persons, adding withal, If my Father and Mother please. And after this, she called one of the Women that attended, to whisper something to her in the Ear, which we heard not; the Wo∣men said afterwards, it was about an Egg, that they had purloyned from my Wife. After this was over, and all calm, I prayed with her again, and she was attack'd a∣gain, as before: Upon which I by and by left off, and with my Pen in my hand No∣ted down these following Expressions, which I deliver to the World for an A••igma, desiring a candid solution of it. Men of a licentious wit may banter any thing, The Bible, and Providence, and God himself. Bar give me a sober Judgment upon the fol∣lowing Expressions.—

He comes, the Serpent, he comes in now; there's nothing now but Devils.—Here's another Man is come now, and hath taken the Pen our of my hand: But 'tis no matter, I am He that have Prayed for you all this while.—For Christ's sake, come, take me out here, for Christ's sake: For Christ's sake, for Christ's sake, for Christ's sake, Lord have mercy. Lord, never forsake, Lord never forsake; Lord, never forsake me, &c. For the Lord's sake don't forget me. Lord God, do not forget me. Don't forsake me now. Lord, send thy hand.—That's the Man hath begg'd for you so long. They will not let me come, they will not let me come, they will not let me come to serve my God, my own God. The Lord hath been my God all this time; and wilt thou forsake me now! He hath promised never to forsake me; I'll never forsake you. let me never come into the World more. Lord have mer∣cy, Lord, &c. Christ have Mercy, Christ, &c. For the Lord's sake come fetch one of thy Angels. Lord have Mercy upon me; Lord, sure you will; sure you will; sure you will: Oh! I'll lend thee my hand. I that have been begging upon my Knees, or—upon the Bed all this while, Lord have pity on me. Beat them, Beat them, Beat them; I can Beat them, Lord; I am thy child, I am thy child, I am, &c. —I have been in Heaven among your Angels, 'O 'tis rare. Let me for the Lords sake go thither again. Oh! For Christ his sake, for Christ his sake, for Christ's sake, O let me in, I have fenc'd against the Serpent, and now I cannot get in. The Lord send the back again. I have beat Satan, Oh! 'tis a deluding Serpent! Come un∣to me, all you that have been in. Oh! You must have an Eye to Satan! Oh! You must have an Eye to Satan. I'll never come again into this World. O 'tis a rare being in Heaven! For the Lord's sake restore me, for the Lords sake restore, for the Lord's sake, &c.—Oh! For the Lords sake restore me!—I am none of yours. I am one of the Holy Angels. (I suppose she meant of the Holy Angels company.) O for Christ's sake—the other end, and I'll meet you there.—Oh? What do ye do? Do not disturb me; I am going a journey: I am going to Heaven. Oh! What shall I do to get in there! How shall I get in there! Here I lack to go in!—I have been at Heaven, Oh! 'tis a rare place! And Satan would fain have me; and I have much ado to get in again. Stay for me, for Christ's sake stay, for the Lord's sake stay. Lend me your hands. For Christ's sake do not go away without me. Here they come thick upon me.—Christ came and took me by the Coat, and yet I could not follow! I cannot come for the Crowd!—Here's the side, Lord Jesus help me. I have labour'd hard to keep to thee, I have labour'd hard to keep to thee, I have labour'd hard, &c.—This hand, this hand,—I have labour'd hard to keep to thee, Lord Jesus take me, Lord Jesus take me, O from whence you will, O from whence you will, O from whence you will.—I am one of thy children, and cannon tell which way to get to thee: Oh! which way can I come to thee? I have stood very hard. Unlock the key [I suppose this must go for a slip of the Tongue,] and let thy ANGELS in. For Christ's sake lend's any hand,—'tis not THEE I call, get thee gone, get thee gone, get thee gone,

get thee gone: Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy: Go ye out of my sight; what will you be reveng'd against me for? What do ye holding a curtain there? What do ye stand there for? Get ye in again. Lord have Mercy, Lord have Mercy. O whi∣ther shall I get to Christ?—I Believe we can get up now, cannot we? Cannot we? I believe we can get up now, cannot we? OH! HOW WILL GOD GET HIS AN∣GELS IN! OH! HOW WILL GOD GET HIS ANGELS IN!—Here's one yet! HFRE'S ONE YET! HERE'S ONE YET—Stay, let me alone; will ye? I am going up with these Angels: Ye don't know what I do sure, You don't know what I do sure.—Oh! Ye han't me yet. Cannot ye pull me up a little further? Pull me up a little further. An∣gels, have ye pull'd it there? Angels, have ye, &c? Take hold by my hand, and get me through there somewhere.—I'll go round to the Door, and meet you there. I am coming, I am coming, I am coming. Lord have Mercy upon us, Put a string down, put a string down, put a string down. My Dear Christ, my Dear Christ, pull me up, pull me up, pull me up. Have me in some-how. Oh! The bravest Angels, that Christ hath! Her Mother coming to her and finding her upon her Knees in this conflict, and calling upon her to lye down and sleep; She made Answer, Ah! Christ will forget me then! And when she bid her take her Rest; she replied,—Rest, quoth you, I shall Rest enough when I get to Heaven. And afterward, O to see, how the Ugly one stands! Said she.—I do not know how to get thither, not I. When they would have laid her down instead of kneeling, O, saith she, Mother, what do you do? I wonder, you'll be so obstinate; If you did but know—&c. I must pray heartily. And afterwards—Saith she, Christ hath carried away my Soul already.—We can Dance about, when we are in Heaven. Oh! Heaven is a Rare place! And now Christ is come to the bottom of the Stairs to fetch away my Body.—But how will Christ get my Body thither? Said she. When it was Answer'd her, at the Resurrection he will have it: O, said she, that will be a long while to.

To the Truth of this I my self, my Wife, her Father still living, and one or both of the Women that watch'd with her, are ready to give Testimony. Af∣ter the Afore-mention'd Agony, she died within a few hours, to the best of my Remem∣brance, at most, before the following day was expired.

10. Gervase Disney Esq; among the Remarkable Passages of his Life, Writ with his own Hand, and Published, A. C. 1692. Tells us, that December the 3d, 1685. Being at Family-Prayer at Night (through Extraordinary Drowsiness) he fell asleep two or three times; and awaking again, did not use the best means he could and should, of standing up to prevent the Drowsiness; hoping it might go off without it. Upon which being dropt a∣gain asleep, something gave him a great Blow upon the middle of his Back, which present∣ly awak'd him in a fright, which he did really feel paining him some minutes after he was awaken, p. 111. Upon this the same Author tells another story of a like nature, Viz. That his Eldest Brother being to repeat the Sermon in his Father's Family, he (Gervase) being then very young, and cryed to go to Bed, which was indulged him, and he, with his Brothers being after some repulse, allowed to depart, and got into Bed; Gervase, before he fell asleep, felt the bottom of the Bed-cloaths lift up, where presently some∣thing pull'd him by the Toe, and yet there was nothing to be seen. This, he saith, af∣frighted him when young, and he concluded it to be a rebuke for hindring a pious ex∣ercise. Idem, p. 112. I am not sure, that these stories are set in their proper places; but I am sure that they have the token of Credibility, and are Remarkable either here, or somewhere: If I have mistaken, I desire the Reader's Candor.

11. Even Plato himself in his Theage tells us, that Socrates had his Familiar Spirit, who used to admonish him, if at any time he were going to do that which was not like to succeed well, he himself saw him not, others heard him not.

12. Dr. Tate, with his Wife and Children, being stripped, and forced to flee for their Lives by the Irish, when they were murdering Thousands in their Rebellion in 1641. They were wandering in unknown places, upon Commons covered with Snow, and having no Food, and she carrying a Sucking Child, and having no Milk, she went to lay down the Child to die; and on the Brow of a Bank she found a Suck-bottle with sweet Milk in it, no Footsteps appearing in the Snow of any that should bring it thither, and far from any Habitation; which preserved the Childs Life, who after became a Blessing to the Church. Histor. Discourse of Apparit. &c. p. 159.

13. When Prince Rupert marched with his Army through Lancashire, to York-Fight, where he was overthrown, the Town or Bolton made some Resistance in his Passage, and he gave them no Quarter, but killed Men and Women. When he was gone, those that escaped came out from the Places where they lucked, and an Old Woman found in the streets a Woman killed, and a Child by her not Dead: The old Woman took up the Child, and to still its crying, put her own Breast to the Child, which had not given Suck, as I remember, of above twenty years: The Child being quieted, she presently perceived Milk to come; and continued to give the Child sufficient Milk, till it was provided for. I had the full Assurance of this from my worthy Friend, Mrs. Hunt, Wife to Mr. Rowland Hunt, of Harrow on the Hill; who told me, that she her self was one that was appointed by the Committee to make Trial of the case, and she found it true, and the Old Woman's Breasts to give the Child Milk, as was reported. And she told me in 1665. That the said Child was at that time alive, a Servant-woman in London. Ibid.

14. The African Bishops, or Preachers, all spake well, when their Tongues were cut out by the Command of the Arrian King: And Victor, Aenaeas, Gazaeus and Procopius said, they saw them, and heard them speak after. But one of them saith, that one of the Bi∣shops

was after drawn into the Sin of Fornication, and his Speech went away again. Ibid.

15. It is a very memorable thing, which (from the Mouth of a very credible Person, who saw it) George Buchanan relates concerning James the Fourth, King of Scotland, who in∣tending to make a War with England, a certain Old Man, of a very venerable Aspect, and clad in a long blue Garment, came to him at the Church of St. Michaels at Lin∣lithgow, while he was at his Devotion, and leaning over the Canons Seat, where the King Sate, said, I am sent unto thee, O King, to give thee warning that thou proceed not in the War thou art about, for if thou do it, it will be thy Ruine: And having so said, he withdrew himself back among the Multitude: The King, after service was ended, in∣quired earnestly for him. But he could no where be found, neither could any of the standers by feel, or perceive how, when, or where he passed from them, having as it were Vanished in their hands; but no warning could divert his Destiny, his Queen fancying that she had seen him fall from a great precipice, that she had lost, one of her Eyes, &c. But he Answering, these were but Dreams; Marched on and faught with the English, and was slain in Flodden Field, with a great Number of his Nobility and Soul∣diers upon Sept. 9. 1513. Bakers Chron.

16. When Melancthon, with others, was on a time at Spires, Faber Preached, and spake many shameful things touching Transubstantiation, and the Worshipping of Consecrated Bread. Which when Grineus had heard, he came to him, when his Sermon was done, and said, that for as much as he had heard his Sermon concerning the Sacrament, he was desirous to speak with him privately about that matter, which when Faber heard, he Answered with Courteous Words and Friendly Countenance, that this day was most of him desired, that he should speak with Grineus, especially concerning such a matter, and bid him home to his House. The next day after, Grineus suspecting nothing amiss, went his way; who returning to them, said, that to morrow he should dispute with Faber: But in the mean time he practising to entrap Grineus, went to a Noble Man and opened to him the whole matter, and at length he obtained what this Noble Man com∣manded, that the Burgermasters should cast Grineus in Prison. When they had scarcely be∣gun Dinner, there came an Old Man to the place where they Dined, and sent for Me∣lancthon to come, and speak with him at the Door; asking him for Grineus, whether he were within? To whom he made Answer, that he was; he said moreover, that he was in danger, which if he would avoid, he should fly forthwith; which when he told Grineus, and counselled him to flee, he did as he was willed. Melancthon, Dr. Cruciger, and he, Arose from the Table, went out, their Servants followed, and Grineus went in the middle; they had not passed four or five hours, but by and by the Servants were where they Lodged, seeking for Grineus; and not finding him there, they left off search∣ing: He asked many, if they knew this Man? being desirous to give him thanks for his good Turn. But none could tell who he was, nor could see him afterwards. I think Verily this Man was an Angel. When they had brought Grineus to the Rhine, he took a Boat, and passed over in safety. Maul loc. commun. Fol. 17. Doom. warning to the Judgm. p. 420.

17. Melancthon reported that he knew of a surety by a substantial and credible Per∣son, that in a Village near to the City of Cignea, a certain Woman commanded her Son to fetch home the Cattel that were feeding by a Woods side, and when the Boy had stayed somewhat too long, there fell a great Snow that covered all the Hills there abouts. Night drew on, neither could the Boy pass those Hills: The day following, the Parents be∣ing no more careful for their Cattle, but for the Life of their Son, looking for his com∣ing, neither could they by reason of the depth of the Snow, pass those Hills to seek their Son. The third day they going forth to seek their Boy, they found him sitting in an open place of the Wood, where there was no Show, who smiled upon his Parents as they came: And the Boy being asked why he returned not home? Answered that he looked when it should be Night, not knowing that a day was already past, neither had he felt any An∣noy, or Tempest of the Snow. And when he was further asked, whether he had eaten any thing? He Answered, that there came a Man unto him, who gave him Bread and Cheese. So doubtless, this Man was saved by Angels in the middle of Winter, and with∣out doubt that Man was an Angel that gave the Boy Bread and Cheese. Manlius, Folio. 17. Batman's Doom, p. 421.

18. Mr. Patrick Simpson's Wife (Martha Barson) in her last Sickness was sorely Assaulted by Satan, who suggested to her, that she should be given over into his hands: And it ended in a Visible Distraction, which for a time grew upon her: So that, most unlike to her former practice, she would break forth into dreadful and horrid Expressions, and it was most violent on a Sabbath Morning, when Mr. Simpson was going to Preach; where∣upon, with an heavy Countenance he stood silent for a time, and at last kneeled down and Prayed, which she no whit regarded: After which, he turned to the Company that were present, and said, that he was sure that they who were now Witnesses of that sad hour, should yet see a Gracious change, and that the Devil's Malice against that poor Woman should have a shameful toil.

Her Distraction still continued untill Tuesday, August the Ninth, which Morning, at the very dawning of it, he went into his Garden, and shut the Door, where, for many hours he was alone: But a Godly VVoman, one Mrs. Helen Garner, VVife to one of the Bayliffs of Sterling, who had been with his VVife all Night, apprehending that Mr. Simpson might much wrong himself by much grief and fasting, by some help, she did climb over into the

Garden: But as she came near to the place where Mr. Simpson was, she was terrified with an Extraordinary Noise, which made her fall to the Ground: It seemed to her like a mighty Rushing of Multitudes running together, and withal, she heard such a Melodious sound, as made her Judge, that it was more then humane: VVhereupon she prayed to God to pardon her Rashness, which her Affections to that Good Man of God had carri∣ed her to. Yet afterwards, going forwards, she found him lying upon the ground; she earnestly intreated him to tell her what he had from God? He (whom she had promi∣sed not to reveal it so long as he lived) said, O what am I, being but Dust and Ashes, that the Holy ministring Spirit should be sent by the Lord to deliver a message to me! Adding, that he had seen a Vision of Angels, who did with an audible Voice, give him an Answer from the Lord, concerning his Wife's condition. And returning into his House, he said to all that were present, Be of good cheer, for e're ten hours be past, I am sure, that this Brand shall be plucked out of the Fire. After, praying by his VVife's Bed-side, and making men∣tion of Jacob's wrestling in Prayer, she sate upright in the Bed, and drawing aside the Cur∣tain, said, Thou art this day Jacob, who hast wrestled and also prevailed: And now God hath made good his words, which he spake this Morning to you; for I am plucked out of the hands of Satan, and he shall have no more Power over me. This Interruption made him silent a while (as I remember my self was in the Case of my Maid, Mary Holland, mentioned before.) But afterwards, with great melting of heart, he proceeded in Prayer, and Magnified the Riches of Gods Love towards her. And from that hour she spake most Comfortably, and Christianly, even to her Death, which was Friday following, Aug. 13. A. C. 1601. Her last words were with a loud Voice, Come Lord, Into thy hands I commend my Spirit. Clark's Lives, last Vol. p. 217, 218.

19. In the Year 1539, not far from Sitta in Germany, in the time of a great Dearth and Famine, a certain Godly Matron having two Sons, and destitute of all manner of Sustenance, went with her Children to a certain Fountain hard by, praying unto Almighty God, that he would there relieve their Hunger by his infinite goodness: As she was going, a certain Man met her by the way, and saluted her kindly, and asked her whither she was going? who confessed that she was going to that Fountain there, hoping to be relieved by God, to whom all things are possible; for if he nourished the Children of Israel in the De∣sart 40 years, how is it hard for him to nourish me and my Children with a Draught of Water? And when she had spoken these Words, the Man (which was doubtless an Angel of God) told her, that seeing her Faith was so constant, she should return Home, and there should find Six Bushels of Meal for her and her Children. The Woman returning, found that true which was promised. Beard's Theat. p. 442.

20. Under the Emperor Mauritius, the City of Antioch was shaken with a terrible Earth∣quake, after this manner: There was a certain Citizen so given to bountifulness to the Poor, that he would never Sup nor Dine, unless he had one poor Man to be with him at his Table. Upon a certain Evening, seeking for such a Guest, and finding none, a Grave Old Man met him, in the Market-place, cloathed in white, with Two Companions with him, whom he entreated to sup with him: But the Old Man answered him, That he had more need to pray against the destruction of the City; and presently shook his Handkerchief against One part of the City, and then against another; and being hardly entreated, forbore the rest. Which he had no sooner done, but those Two parts of the City, terribly shaken with an Earthquake, were thrown to the Ground, and Thousands of Men slain. Which this good Citizen seeng, trembled exceedingly. To whom the Old Man in white, answered and said, by reason of Charity to the Poor, his House and Family were preserved. And presently these three Men (which to question were Angels) vanished out of sight. This Story Si∣gisbert in his Chronicle reporteth, Anno 583.

21. Hottinger tells a strange Story out of Nauclerus and Evagr. to this purpose; it was an an∣cient custom at Constantinople, at Communion, to call for the Young Children that went to School and give them the Parcels of Bread and Wine that were left; at doing of which, the child of a certain Nobleman, a Jew, was with the Children, who took of the Bread and Eat with them; his angry Father, who was a Glass-Maker, put him into an Oven burn∣ing hot with Coals, his Mother after Three Days finding him alive in the Furnace, he told her, a Woman in Purple habit came often to him, and brought VVater to quench the Coals, and Meat to allay his Hunger. The Mother and the Child were afterwards Con∣verted and Baptized; and the Father Crucified by command of Justinian the Emperor. Mr. Beard relates the same out of Nicephorus, Lib. 17. Chap. 35.

See more in The Chapters of Miraculous Cures of Diseases, and Earnests of a Future Retri∣bution, and the last Example in the Ch. of Prediction of Prophets, &c.

22. Oh! said Mrs. Katharine Stubs, upon her Death-bed, if you saw such glorious Sight as I see, you would rejoyce with me: for I see a Vision of the Joys of Heaven, and of the Glory that I shall go unto, and I see infinite Millions of Angels attendant upon me, and watching to carry my Soul into the Kingdom of Heaven. See her Life.

23. I Remember (says Mr. Increase Mather, in his Disc. of Angels) that once in Discourse with the Learned Doctor Spencer in Cambridge, concerning his Book of Prodigies, he said to me, that his Judgment was, That the Evil Angels had Prenotions of many Future Things, and did accordingly give strange Premonitions of them. No doubt it is often so, and yet as Lavater, Schottus, and others have noted, there are sometimes Things signified by Angels, which it is not easie to determine of what sort those Genii are. VVhat shall be thought

of the Phantom which appeared to General Vesselini, assuring him that he might take the City of Muran, by the Assistance of a Widow which Lived in that City, which strangely came to pass accordingly, in the Year 1644. There comes to my mind a very Unaccoun∣table Thing, which happened at London above Thirty Years ago. It was this; One Mr. Cut∣ty (an honest Citizen) passing between Milk-street and Wood-street in Cheap-side, on March 2d, 1664, took up a Letter Sealed; The Superscription whereof, was these VVords following, From Geneva, to a Friend. VVithin the Letter these VVords were written. This is to give both timely and speedy Notice, that in the Year 1665, in the latter end of May, shall begin a Plague, and hold very hot, till the latter end of December, and then cease, but not quite; and then go on till the latter end of the Spring the next Year. And in 1665 and 66, putting both together, shall not only happen a Plague, but great Sea Fights, such as the like was scarce ever heard of; and this shall not be all, but in the Year 1666, on the Second of September, shall happen a Fire that shall burn down one of the Eminentest Cities in the World. Mr. Cutty car∣ried the Letter to the then Lord Mayor. A Reverend Divine in London, who was of his Acquaintance, had a Copy of it, before the sad Things here Predicted came to pass; and at my last being at London, was pleased to favour me with it, as 'tis here Related. This Account being certainly true, and very surprizing, I thought it not unworthy the Publi∣cation.

24. There are sometimes very unaccountable Motions and Impressions on the Spirits of good men, which are wrought in them by the ministry of Holy Angels, whose work it is to prevent and disappoint the Designs of Satan and of his evil Angels. I remember one relates a remarkable Passage of a good man, that when he was reading in his House, he could not rest in his Spirit, but he must step out of Doors: which he had no sooner done, but he saw a Child in a Pond of VVater, ready to perish, which would have been gone past recovery, had not he gone out of his Doors, just at that moment. This Impression must needs be from a good Angel. And an other like Passage is related in the Life of that Holy Man, Mr. Dod: One Evening (though he had other work to attend) he could not but he must got to such a Neighbour's House; when he came to him, he told him he knew not what he was come for; but he could not rest in his Spirit, until he had visited him. The poor man was astonished, for he had in the Violence of a Temptation, put a Rope into his Pocket, with an intent to have destroyed himself, had not Mr. Dod's thus coming prevented it. Surely an Angel of the Lord was in this Providence. Bishop Hall speaks of one whom he knew, that having been for Sixteen Years a Cripple, had these monitions in his Sleep, that he should go and wash in St. Matherns Well in Cornwell, which he did, and was suddenly recovered. This he thinks was from Angelical Suggestion. Marcus Au∣relius Antoninus, did in a Dream receive the Prescript of a Remedy for his Disease, which the Physitians could not cure. A Physitian of Ʋratislavium followed the Counsel he had given him in a Dream, concerning the cure of a Disease which was to him incurable, and he recovered the Patient. It added to the wonder, that a few Years after, he met with that Receipt in a Book then newly Printed. Histories report, that the like to this hap∣pened to Philip, and to Galen. If Angels may Suggest things beneficial unto the minds of Men who are Strangers to God, much more unto them that fear him! Thus far Mr. Ma∣ther.

Converse with Angels and Spirits, Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery, Esq;

25 Dr. Richard Nepier was a Person of great Abstinence, Innocence, and Piety: He spent every Day Two Hours in Family Prayer: When a Patient, or Querent came to him, he presently went to his Closet to Pray; and told to admiration the Recovery, or Death of the Patient. It appears by his Papers, that he did converse with the Angel Raphael, who gave him the Responses.

26. Elias Ashmole, Esq; had all his Papers, where is contained all his Practice for about Fifty Years; which he, Mr. Ashmole, carefully bound up, according to the year of our Lord, in— Volumes in Folio, which are now reposited in the Library of the Museum in Oxford. Before the Responses stands this Mark, viz. R ℞is. which Mr. Ashmole said, was Responsum Raphaelis. The Angel told him, if the Patient were curable or incurable. There are also several•• other Queries to the Angel, as to Religion, Transubstantiation, &c. which I have forgot; I remember one is, Whether the Good Spirits, or the Bad be most in Number? R ℞is, The Good.

It is to be found there, that he told John Prideaux D. D. Anno 1621, that Twenty Years hence [1641] he would be a Bishop; and he was so, sc. Bishop of Worcester.

R ℞is, did resolve him, That Mr. Booth of—in Cheshire should have a Son that should inherit; Three Years hence [sc. Sir George Booth, the first Lord Delamere] viz. from 1619. Sir George Booth aforesaid, was born Decemb. 18th. Anno 1622. This I extracted out of Dr. Nepier's Original Diary, then in the possession of Mr. Ashmole. It is impossible, that the Prediction of Sir George Booth's Birth could be found any other way, but by Angelical Revelation. This Dr. Richard Nepier was Rector of Lynford in Bucks, and did practise Physick•• but gave most to the Poor that he got by it. 'Tis certain, he foretold his own Death to a Day and Hour; he died Praying upon his Knees, being of a very great Age, 1634. April the First.

One says, why should one think the Intellectual World less Peopled than the Material?— Pliny in his Natural History tells us, that in Africa do sometimes appear Multitudes of Aerial Shapes, which suddenly Vanish.— Mr. Richard Baxter in his certainty of the World of

CHAP. III. Concerning the Appearance of bad Angels, or Daemons.

HEre I have a great Task, and yet a spacious Field to turn me in; having to deal with a Tribe of Men, that have as much Faith as Goodness, and perhaps little more; and yet being to handle a Point, wherein God himself hath taken care to obviate the Scruples and In∣fidelity of Ill Men more than in the former case, where Self-Interest disposeth them to a Be∣lief. The Devil in the Serpent tempting Eve, the Evil Angels sent among the Egyptians, Psal. 78.49. The Devil in the case of Job's Affliction, Job 1.17, 19. of our Saviour, Mat. 4. of the Demoniacs, up and down in the Gospels, &c. One would think, were enough to startle these Infidel Bravadoes into (at least) a modest fear, and humble silence and suspension of Judgment. But because they are so obstinate, we shall here muster up a Legion of Devils to attack and out∣face their Confidence; and let them look to it, and consider well with themselves in due time, how they will be able to stand to the adventure of such a Conflict. I shall not stay to tell all the Stories at large, that I meet with, but give a short Epitome of them, enough to satisfie any People of an unbiassed Judgment, and clear Intellectuals: And if at last they do not surrender up their Faith, I shall be ready to say, as John 10.20. Themselves have Devils, and are mad.

(1.) Among the Antients we have several Stories of such Apparitions and Spectres.

1. When Cassius and Brutus were to pass out of Asia into Europe, and to transport their Army into the Opposite Continent, and horrible Spectacle is said to appear unto Brutus in the dead of the Night, the Moon not shining very bright, and all the Army being in si∣lence, a black Image of a huge and horrid Body standing by him silently, is said to offer itself to Brutus; his Candle being almost out, and he musing in his Tent about the Issue of the War, Brutus askt, what Man or God he was? The Spirit answered, O Brutus, I am thy Evil Genius, and thou shalt see me again at Philippi. Brutus replied, I will meet thee there then. The Spirit disappeared, but according to his Promise, appeared again in the Fields of Philippi to Brutus, the Night before the last Fight. Plutarch in Vit. Bruit, p. 1000. Came∣rar. Medit. Hist. l. 4. &c.

2. The same Cassius in the very same Battel, in the Field of Philippi, is reported by Hi∣storians to have seen one in the shape of Julius Caesar, of a more than ordinary height, coming towards him on Horse-back, with an angry Countenance, and a forc'd Gallop to strike him; which struck such a Fear into him, that he turned back upon his Enemies, and soon after killed himself. Camerar. ibid. l. 4. p. 289.

3. The like befel Cassius of Parma, a renowned Poet, who followed the side of Brutus and Cassius (say Acron and Porphyrio) being Colonel of a Regiment of Foot. His Masters being dead, he retired to Athens, where Qu. Varus sent for that purpose by Augustus, slew him. But Valerius Maximus adds, That whilst he was at Athens, one Night being overwhelm'd with cares, he thought that he saw a very great Black Man, with long Hair, and his Beard uncombed, stand before him; who being asked what he was, answered, I am the Evil Spirit. Cassius affrighted with that fearful Countenance, and so fearful a Name, called aloud for his Servants, ask'd if they saw such a Person come into his Chamber, or go out? they all swore, they saw none. VVhereupon he laid him down, and began to take some rest; but the same Phantome appeared again, and so awaken'd him, that he called for a Light, and charged his Servants not to leave him. Between this Night and his Death, there passed not many Days. Idem lib. 4. ex val. Max.

4. Dio of Syracuse before he was killed by those that conspired against him, sitting one evening very Pensive and Solitary in his Gallery, a sudden Noise made him lift up his Head, and looking towards the other side of the Gallery, he espied a great Woman of such a Face and Dressing, as one of the Furies is represented with, sweeping the place; upon which in great Amazement, he called his Friends and wish'd them to stay with him all Night, fearing the return of the Spectre. A while after a young Son of his, in a Transport of Passion, threw himself headlong from the Top of the House and was killed. Plutarch. in vit. Dion. et ex eo Camerar. medit. Hist. l. 4.

5. Cornelius Sylla being in the Countrey, saw an ill Spirit that called him, which in the Morning he told his Friends, made his Will, Seal'd it in the Evening, and the Night following died of a Feaver, Aged Sixty Years. Camerar. Ibid. l. 4. Wanley's wonders, &c. Book 6.

6. Xerxes had a Spectre appeared twice to him in his Sleep, stirring him up to make War upon the Grecians, and the last time, with a pair of burning Tongues in his Hands, as if he would have put out his Eyes, because he opposed the Counsels of War. Ibid.

7. Julian the Apostate, the Night before he was declared Emperour, told his Friends, that as he reposed himself, there stood before him as it were a Genius, or Familiar Spirit, saying to him in pretty rough Terms,—Julian, I have a long time, without making any ado, waited at thy Lodging-door, desiring to make thee Great; sometimes I have gone a∣way, as if no reckoning had been made of me; if now thou reject me, tho many are of the same mind to advance thee, I will take my leave and go away very sorrowful: For the rest, mark this well, that I will not tarry much longer with thee. And a little before he was kill'd in the War against the Persians, the same Genius, or Demon appeared to him a∣gain, all ragged and filthy to look upon, with a horn of plenty in his hand covered with a Lin∣nen Cloath, walking very sadly a-long by the Hangings of his Tent. Amm. Marcell. l. 20. Camerar. medit. Hist. l. 4. Lavater de Spectr. c. 12. Wanley's Wonders of the little World. Book. 6. p. 612.

8. Curtius Rufus being come into Africa with the Governour, being yet of little Credit or Reputation, walking one day at Noon in the Portico, or Gallery before his House, a Wo∣man greater and fairer then ordinary appeared to him, whereat he was abash'd; but she said to him, I will foretell thee thy Fortunes; thou shalt return to Rome, shalt be advanced to great Office, shalt be chosen Proconsal and Governour of Africa, and shalt die in that Dignity: Plin. Secundus lib. 3. Epist. Camerar. Ibid. Wanley, &c. Ibid.

9. A Woman pretending to have the Holy Ghost, proved a Witch, and did many VVon∣ders: She had a gift of Prayer, and did Baptize, and Administer the Lords Supper in the ordinary way, &c. Epist. Firmil. ad Cypr. 75. p. 238. This is much like the story of Magdalena Cracia, &c.

10. To come nearer to our own times; as Luther was once walking in his Garden, the Devil appeared to him in the shape of a Black Boar, but he slighted him, and so the De∣mon Vanished away. Another time, as he was sitting in a certain place on his Stool, there was a great stone over his head in the Vault, which being stayed up Miraculously whilst he Sate there, so soon as he was up, immediately it fell upon the place where he Sate, being suf∣ficient to have crushed him in pieces, if it had light upon him. Clark's marrow of Eccl. Hist. p. 145. And again, a young Man about Wittemberg, being kept bare and needy by his Father, was tempted by the Devil to give himself to him, upon condition to have his wish satisfied with mony, and thereupon an Obligation was made by the young Man, VVrit∣ten with his own Blood, and delivered to the Devil. But presently after he began to decay in his Health, so that (the thing being suspected) he was brought before Luther, and Ex∣amined; who at last made confession of the whole matter. upon which Luther calling the whole Congregation together, where he Prayed with so much Earnestness and Af∣fection, that the Devil was at last compelled to throw in his Obligation at the VVin∣dow. Ibid.

11. It is credibly reported, that the Devil in the likeness of a faithful Ministers, (at St. Ives near Bos••on in Lincolnshire) came to one that was in trouble of Mind, telling her the longer she lived, the worse it would be for her; and therefore advising her to Self-murder: An eminent Person still living had the Account of this matter from Mr. Cotton (the Famous Teacher of both Bos••ons.) He was well acquainted with that Minister, who re∣lated to him the whole Story, with all the Circ*mstances of it: For Mr. Cotton was so af∣fected with the Report, as to take a Journey on purpose to the Town where this happened, that so he might obtain a satisfactory Account about it, which he did. Some Authors say, that a Doemon appeared in the form of Sylvanus (Hierom's Friend) attempting a dishonest thing, the Devil thereby designing to blast the Reputation of a Famous Bishop.

12. Melancthon, in his Epistle to Hubert Languetus, saith, Twelve years ago there was a VVoman in Saxony, that never Learnt Letters, and yet when she was Acted by the Devil, after Torment she spake Greek and Latin of the future Saxon VVar.

Sixteen years ago there was in that Market, a Girl, that when she pulled Hairs from Cloaths, they were turn'd into Mark-mony, which the Girl devoured with long and loud Gnashing of Teeth; and those Figures (or Shapes) of Money sometimes suddenly snatcht out of her Hands, were true Money, which are yet kept by some; and after the Girl felt great Torment! But she was delivered from all that Disease after some Months, and yet liveth in Health: But frequent Prayers of Godly Persons were made for her, and other Ceremonies were purposely then omitted.] Thus Melancthon. Epist. l. 2. p. 550, 551.

(2.) In Modern times we have a Multitude of Instances, as,

1. John Winnick of Molseworth in Huntingtonshire, being Examined, April. 11. 1646. Confessed as follows, having lost him Purse with Seven Shillings in it, for which he suspected one in the Family where he Lived, he saith, that on a Friday while he was making Hay-bottles in the Barn, and Swore and Curs'd and Rag'd, and wisht to himself that some wise Body would help him to his Purse and Money again, there appeared unto him a Spirit in the shape of a Bear, but not so big as a Coney, who promised, upon condition that he would fall down and Worship him, he would help him to his Purse. He assented to it, and the Spirit told him to Morrow about this time, he should find his Purse upon the floor where he made Bottles, and that he would then come himself also; which was done accord∣ly: And thus at the time appointed recovering his Purse, he fell down upon his knees to the Spirit, and said, My Lord and my God I thank you. This Spirit brought then with him two others, in the shape the one of a white Cat, the other of a Coney, which at the command of the Bear-Spirit he Worshipped also. The Bear Spirit told him he must have his Soul when he dyed, that he must suck of his Body, that he must have some of his Blood of seal the Covenant. To all which he agreed, and so the Bear Spirit leaping up to his shoulder, pricked him on the head, and thence took Blood. After that, they all three Vanished, but

ever since came to him once every twenty four hours; and sucked on his Body, where the Marks are found. And that they had continually done thus for this twenty nine years to∣gether. That all these things should be a meer Dream, is a conceit more slight and foolish then any Dream possibly can be. For that receiving of his purse was a palpable and sensible pledge of the truth of all the rest. And it is incredible that such a series of Circ*mstances, backed with Twenty Nine years Experience of being sucked and visited daily, sometimes in the day time, most commonly by Night, by the same three Familiars, should be nothing but the hanging together of so many Melancholy Conceits and Fancies. More's Antid. against Atheism. l. 3. c. 6.

2. To that of John Winnick, it will not be amiss to add a more late and more notable Narration concerning one Ann Bodenham, a Witch, who Lived in Fisherton-Anger, adjacent to the City of New Sarum in the County of Wilts, who was Arraigned and Executed at Salis∣bury, 1653. He that has a mind to read the Story more at large, he may consult Edmond Bower. But I shall onely set down here what is most material to our present purpose, part∣ly out of him, and partly from others who were then at the Assizes, and had private Con∣ference with the Witch, and spoke also with the Maid that gave evidence against her.

This Ann Bodenham, it seems, concealed not her skill in foretelling things to come, and helping Men to their stolen Goods, and other such like feats, that the more notable sort of Wizards and Witches, are said to pretend to and to practise.

Amongst others that resorted to her, there was one Ann Styles, Servant to Rich. Goddard, Esq; of the Close in New Sarum, sent by Mr. Mason, this Goddard's Son in Law (he having a design to commence a Law-suit against his Father) to Learn of the Witch what would be the event of the Suit. Who being asked by the Maid, who had three Shillings to give her for her pains, she took her Staff and there drew it about the House, making a kind of a Circle, and then took a Book, and carrying it over the Circle with her hands, and taking a green Glass, did lay it upon the Book, and placed in the Circle an Earthen Pan of Coals, wherein she threw something, which burning, caused a very noisome stink, and told the Maid she should not be afraid of what she should then see, for now they would come (they are the words she used) and so calling Belzebub, Tormentor, Satan, and Lucifer, appear, there suddenly Arose a very high VVind, which made the House shake, and presently the Back door of the House flying open, there came five Spirits, as the Maid supposed, in the likeness of ragged Boys, some bigger then others, and ran about the House, where she had drawn the Staff; and the VVitch threw down upon the ground Crumbs of Bread, which the Spirits picked up, and leapt over the Pan of Coals oftentimes, which she set in the midst of the Circle, and a Dog and a Cat of the VVitches Danced with them; and after sometime the VVitch looked again in her Book, and threw some great white Seeds upon the ground, which the said Spirits picked up, and so in a short time the VVind was laid, and the VVitch going forth at her back Door, the Spirits Vanished. After which they VVitch told the Maid, that Mr. Mason should demand Fifteen Hundred Pound, and one Hundred and Fifty Pound per Annum, of Mr. Goddard, and if he denied it, he should Prosecute the Law against him, and be gone from his Father, and then he should gain it: VVith which message the Maid returned and acquainted Mr. Mason. The same Maid being sent again to her from the same Party, to enquire in what part of the House the Poyson was, that should be given her Mistress: Hereupon she took her Stuff as before, and making therewith a Circle, the VVind rose forthwith; then taking a Beesome, she swept over the Circle, and made another, and looking in her Book and Glass, as formerly, and using some words softly to her self, she stood in the Circle and said, Belzebub, Tormentor, Lucifer and Satan, appear: There appeared first a Spirit in the shape of a little Boy, as she conceived, which then tur∣ned into another shape something like a Snake, and then into the shape of a shagged Dog with great Eyes, which went about in the Circle; and in the Circle she set an earthen Pan of Coals, wherein she threw something which burned and stank, and then the Spirit Vani∣shed. After which the Witch took her Book and Glass again, and shewed the Maid in the Glass, Mrs. Sarah Goddard's Chamber, the colour of the Curtains, and the Bed turned up the wrong way, and under that part of the Bed where the Bolster lay, she shewed the Poyson in a white Paper. The Maid afterwards returned home, and acquainted Mistress Rosewel with what the Witch had shewed her in a Glass; that the Poyson lay under Mistress Sarahs Bed, and also spoke to her that they might go together and take it away. When the Maid was another time sent to procure some exemplary Punishment upon Mr. Goddard's two Daughters, who yet were unjustly, as it seems, aspersed with the suspicion of endeavouring to Poyson their Mother in Law; The Witch receiving the VVenches errand, made a Circle, as formerly, and set her Pan of Coals therein, and burnt somewhat that stunk extreamly, and took her Book and Glass as before is related, and said, Belzebub, Tormentor, Lucifer and Satan appear, and then appeared five Spirits, as she conceived, in the shape of little Ragged Boys, which the VVitch commanded to appear, and go along with the Maid to a Meadow, at Wilton, which the VVitch shewed in a Glass, and there to gather Vermin and Dill; and forthwith the Ragged Boys ran away before the Maid, and she followed them to the said Meadow, and when they came thither, the Ragged Boys looked about for the Herbs, and removed the Snow in two or three places before they could find any, and at last they found some, and brought it away with them; and then the Maid and the Boys returned again to the VVitch, and found her in the Circle pairing her Nails; and then she took the said Herbs, and dried the same, and made Powder of some, and dried the Leaves of other, and threw Bread to the Boys, and they Eat and Danced as formerly, and then the VVitch reading in a Book they Vanished away: And the VVitch gave the

Maid in one Paper the Powder, in another the Leaves, and in the Third the paring of the Nails; and which the Maid was to give her Mistress: The Powder was to put in the young Gentlewomens, Mrs. Sarah, and Mrs. Ann Goddard's Drink or Broth, to rot their Guts in their Bellies; the Leaves to rub about the Brimbs of the Pot, to make their Teeth fall out of their Heads; and the paring of the Nails, to make them drunk and mad. And when the Maid came Home, and delivered it to her Mistress, and told her the Effects of the Powder, and the other things, her Mistress laughed, and said, that it is a very brave thing indeed. But yet she had the discretion not to make use of it.

This Powder was shewn at the Assizes, so that is could be no Fancy or Dream) toge∣ther with a piece of Money that she received of the Spirits, which one of them first bit, and gave it to the VVitch, and then the VVitch gave it to the Maid. The Hole also in her Finger was then shown, out of which, Blood was squeezed to subscribe a Covenant with the Devil; as you may see in the Fourth and Last bout of Conjuring the VVitch per∣formed in the Maids presence. For she being advised by Mr. Goddard's Houshold to go to London, she went to the VVitches first before she quitted the Countrey, who being made ac∣quainted with her Journey, asked her whether she would go to London High or Low? To which she replied, what do you mean by that? She answered, if you will go on High, you shall be carried to London in the Air, and be there in Two Hours; but if you go a low, you shall be taken at Sutton Town's End, and before, unless you have help: But before the Maid departed, the VVitch earnestly desired the Maid to live with her, and told her if she would do so, she would teach her to do as she did, and that she should never be taken. Then the Maid asked her, what she should do? She answered, you shall know pre∣sently, and forthwith she appeared in the shape of a great black Cat, and lay along by the Chimney; at which the Maid being much affrighted, she came into her own Shape again, and told her, I see you are afraid, and I see you are willing to be gone; and told her, if she was, she should say so, and not speak against her Conscience; and the Maid replied, she was willing to go, and not dwell with the VVitch: Then the VVitch said, she must seal unto her Body and Blood not to discover her; which she promising to do, she forth∣with made a Circle, as formerly she had done; and looking in her Book, called Belzebub, Tormentor, Lucifer, and Satan, appear. Then appeared Two Spirits, in the likeness of great Boys, with long shagged Hair, and stood by her, looking over her Shoulder; and the VVitch took the Maio's Fore-finger of her Right Hand in her Hand, and pricked it with a Pin, and squeez'd out the Blood, and put it into a Pen, and put the Pen in the Maids Hand to write in a great Book, and one of the Spirits laid his Hand or Claw upon the Witch whilst the Maid wrote; and when she had done writing, whilst their Hands were together, the Witch said Amen, and made the Maid say Amen, and the Spirits said Amen, Amen. And the Spirits Hand did feel could to the Maid as it touched her Hand, when the Witches Hand and hers were together writing: And then the Spirit gave a piece of Silver (which he first bit) to the Witch, who gave it to the Maid; and also stuck Two Pins in the Maids Head-cloaths, and bid her keep them, and bid her be gone; and said also, I will vex the Gentlewoman well enough, as I did the Man in Clarington Park, which I made walk about with a Bundle of Pales on his Back all Night in a Pond of Water, and could not lay them down till the next Morning.

All these things the Maid deposed upon Oath; and I think it now beyond all Contro∣versy, evident, that unless she did knowingly forswear her self, that they are certainly true: For they cannot be imputed to any dreaming Fancy, nor melancholly. Now that the Maid did not forswear herself, nor invent these Narrations she swore to, many Arguments offer themselves for Eviction.

As first, that it is altogether unlikely, that a sorry Wench that could neither write nor read, should be able to excogitate such Magical Forms and Ceremonies, with all the Cir∣c*mstances of the effects of them, and declare them so punctually, had she not indeed seen them done before her Eyes.

Secondly, if she had been so cunning at inventing Lies, she could not but have had so much wit as to frame them better for her own Advantage, and for theirs by whom she was imployed, or told so much only of the truth, as would have been no Prejudice to her self, nor any else to have it revealed.

For in brief, the case stood thus; her Mistriss either had, or feigned her self to have a Suspicion that her Two Daughters in Law, Mrs. Sarah, and Mrs. Ann Goddard, complot∣ted to poison her. Hereupon this Maid, Anne Styles, was sent to the Witch, upon pretence to know when this Poysoning would be, and how to prevent it; and at the Second time she consulted her, the VVitch sent her to the Apothecaries to buy her some white Arse∣nick, and bring it her, which she taking, told her she would burn it, and so prevent the poysoning of her Mistress. The buying of this Arsenick, was the great occasion of the Maids flying; for it coming to the knowledge of the Two Sisters, how they were suspected to endeavour the poysoning of their Mother, and that they had bought an Ounce and half of Arsenick lately at the Apothecaries; they, to clear themselves from this Suspicion, made diligent Enquiry at all the Apothecaries Shops throughout Sarum, and at last found where the Poison was bought. Hereupon the Maid was desired by her Mistriss to go away, and shift for her self, to avoid that trouble and disgrace that might come upon them, if she should stay and be examined before some Justice. VVhile she was upon her Journey, Mr. Chandler, Son in Law to Mr. Goddard, hearing how his Mother in Law was in danger of being poysoned, and that a Servant of hers that had bought the Poison was fled, he forthwith, with another Man, made after her, overtook her near Sutton, had her there into

an Inn, where she confessed what has been above related. VVhich Confession, I say, can∣not be any feignment or forged Tale, but certain Truth, it making nothing for the Par∣ties Advantage, or their that imployed her, but rather against them, and mainly against her self; when as if she had confessed the buying of the Arsenick, with the purpose of preventing her Mistress being poysoned, by the help and skill of the VVitch or VVise-VVo∣man, it might have gone for a tolerable piece of Folly, and could not seem so criminal and exe∣crable as these other Acts do. Nothing therefore but a guilty Conscience, and the power of truth, did extort from her this impartial Confession, which thus every way touches her Friends, her Self and the VVitch.

Thirdly, that her Compact with the Devil was no Fable, but a sure Truth (and if that be true, there is no reason to doubt of the rest) was abundantly evinced by the real effects of it. For after she had delivered the Piece of mony above-mentioned, and the Two Pins to Mr, Chandler, she said she should be troubled for not keeping these things secret: For the Devil told her, so long as she kept them secret, she should never be troubled; but now she said, having revealed them, she feared she should be troubled. At her Recovery of the first Fit she fell into, both Mr. Chandler, and William Atwood, the man that went with him, saw a black Shade come from her, whereupon presently she came to her∣self.

Again, she was so strong in her Fits, that Six Men or more could not hold her; and once as they were holding her, she was caught up from them so high, that her Feet touched their Breasts. As also at another time about midnight, she being miserably tormented, and crying out, the Devil will carry me away, she was pulled from them that held her, and cast from the low Bed where she lay, to the top of an high Bed, with her Cloaths torn off her Back, and a piece of her Skin torn away. The Candle in the Room standing on the Table, was thrown down, and put out; at which time there being a little Boy that was almost asleep, but with this noise being affrighted, had no power with the rest to go out of the Room, stayed there, and saw a Spirit in the likeness of a great black man, with no Head, in the Room, scuffing with the maid, who took her and set her into a Chair, and told her that she must go with him, he was come for her Soul, she had given it to him. But the maid answered, that her Soul was none of her own to give; and he had already got her Blood, but as for her Soul, he should never have it; and after a while, tumbling and throwing about of the maid, he vanished away.

And that which the Boy heard and saw, was no Fancy of his own, but a real object of his Senses; the Witches condition in another Chamber at the same time, does not obscurely argue; for she was then seen with her Clothes off, in her Fetters, running about like mad, and being asked why she ran about the Room, she replied, she could not keep her Bed, but was pulled out by violence; and being asked the Reason why, she replied, pray you what is the matter in your Chamber? Nothing, said they, but a Child is not well: To which she answered, Do not you lie to me, for I know what is the matter as well as your selves.

But to return to the maid, from whom we may draw further Arguments relating also to the Witch; as that, when the maid had not for many days and nights together, taken any rest, and being then under most grievous hurryings and tortures of the Body, the Witch being brought into the Room where she lay, the Design unknown to her, and the time of her entring, yet so soon as the Witch had set one Foot into the Room, she gave a most hideous glance with her Eyes, and shut them presently after, falling asleep in a moment, and slept about Three Hours, so fast, that when they would have wakened her, they could not by any art or violence whatever; as by stopping her Breath, putting things up her Nostrils, holding her upright, striking of her, and the like. The Witch also de∣clared her unwillingness that she should be wakened, crying out, O pray you by no means awake the maid, for if she should awake, I should be torn in pieces, and the Devil would fetch me away bodily. And a further Evidence, that this sleep of the maid did some way depend upon the Witch, is, that so soon as the Witch had gone from under the Roof where she was, the maid wakened of her self; and so soon as the maid awakened, and was at ease (the Devil, as she said, having gone out of her Stomach, but doing her no violence, only making her body tremble a little) the Witch began to roar and cry out, The Devil will tear me in pieces. These things you may read more fully and particularly in the Nar∣ration of Edmond Bower, who was an Eye-witness of them.

Fourthly and Lastly, her Behaviour at the Assizes, when she gave Evidence against the Witch, was so earnest and serious, with that strength of mind, and free and confident Ap∣peals to the Witch her self, that as I was informed of those that were Spectators of that Transaction, it had been Argument enough to the unprejudiced, that she swore nothing but what she was assured was true. And those Floods of Tears, and her bitter Weepings after Sentence was passed on the Witch, and her bewailing of her own wickedness and mad∣ness, and professing her willingness notwithstanding, if it might be done without sin, that the VVitch might be reprieved, may further wash away all suspicion of either fraud or malice.

Nor can the Witches denying (even to her Dying Day) what the maid swore to en••••∣vate her Testimony: For the maid tells the whole truth, as it was, even to the hazard of her own Life; which the Witch indeed denies, but for the saving of hers. And it is no wonder that one that would bid a Pox on the Hangman, when he desired her to forgive him at her Death, should lye, and impudently deny any thing to save her own Life. I think it might be evidently evinced, that she was a Witch, from what she undoubtedly

both did and spake. As for Example, from her shewing of the Maid in a Glass, the shapes of sundry Persons, and their Actions and Postures in several Rooms in her Master's House, whither when she had returned from the Witch, she told them punctually what they had been doing in her Absence; which made Elizabeth Rosewell, one of the Family, profess, that she thought Mrs. Bodenham was either a Witch, or a woman of God.

Besides what happened to her in reference to the Fits of the Maid, which has been alrea∣dy insisted upon, are shrewd Suspicions of her being a VVitch. As also what she boasted of to Mr. Tucker's Clark, concerning a Purse that hung about her Neck in a green String, that she could do many Feats with it, and that if he would give her half a Dozen of Ale, she would make a Toad spring out of it. Her Confession to Mr. Langely of Sarum, that she lived with Dr. Lamb, and learnt the art of raising Spirits from him, which she confessed also to Edmond Bower, to whom also she acknowledged her skill of curing Di∣seases by Charms and Spells, that she could discover sto••en Goods, and shew any one the Thief in a Glass; and being asked by him for the Red Book half wrote over with Blood, being a Catalogue of those that had sealed to the Devil, she denied not the knowledge of the Book, but said it was with one in Hampshire. She also professed that she used many good Prayers, and said the Creed backwards and forwards, and that she prayed to the Planet Jupiter for the curing of Diseases.

She also acknowledged she had a Book, whereby she raised Spirits, calling it a Book of Charms, and said it was worth Thousands of other Books, and that there was a particu∣lar Charm in it for the finding of a Treasure hid by the old Earl of Pembroke in the North part of Wilton Garden.

To another Party, she being ask'd by him, whether there were any Spirits, she made this Reply, that she was sure there were, and confirmed it to him by several Passages of late, and particularly by that of one forced to walk about all Night, with a bundle of Pales on his Back, in a Pond of Water, which is mentioned at the end of the Fourth Conju∣ration above recited. She did also highly magnifie her own Art to him, venturing at A∣strological Terms and Phrases, and did much scorn and blame the ignorance of the People, averring to him with all earnestness and confidence, that there was no hurt in these Spirits, but that they would do a man all good Offices, attending upon him, and guarding him from evil all his Life long.

But certainly her ragged Boys were no such, who discharged the maid from keeping the Commandments of God, and told her they would teach her a better way, as she also con∣fessed to the same Party.

Add unto all this, that this Ann Bodenham was searched both at the Goal, and before the Judges at the Assizes, and there was found on her Shoulder a certain Mark or Teat about the length and bigness of the Nipple of a VVoman's Breast, and hollow and soft as a Nipple, with an hole on the top of it. Dr. Moor's Antid. against Atheism, l. 3. c. 7.

3. In 1645, there was a notable Discovery of several VVitches in Essex, and among o∣thers one Elizabeth Clark was one; of whom, because we have occasion to speak elsewhere, we shall therefore pass her over here in silence. Anne Leach of Misley in Essex, was another, concerning whom, see the Story in short, in the Chapter of Satan's Permission to hurt the Good in their Estates. Also Hellen the VVife of Thomas Clark was another, and Daughter to Ann Leach. This Hellen was accused at the same time. Richard Glasco*ck's VVife of Man∣nintree, deposed, that there happening some difference between Edward Parsley's VVife, and this Hellen; she heard Hellen say, as she passed by their Door, that Mary their eldest Daugh∣ter should rue for it; whereupon the maid instantly fell sick, and died six VVeeks after: Edward Parsley her Father confirmed the same, and said he did verily believe Hellen Clark was the cause of her Death; who being her self examined, confest, that about Six Weeks before, the Devil appeared to her in her House, in the likeness of a white Dog, and that she called this Imp or Familiar Spirit Elimanzer, and that she often fed it, and that the Spirit spoke to her very audibly, and bid her deny Jesus Christ, which she did then assent to, but denied that she killed the young maid. She was Executed at Mannintree, Apr. 15. 1645.

4. Anne West, and Rebecca her Daughter, were likewise of this black Society, against whom Prudence, the VVife of Thomas Hart, of Lawford in Essex, deposed upon Oath, that about Eight weeks before, going on Sunday to the Parish-Church, about half a mile from her House, being about Twenty weeks gone with Child, and to her thinking, very well and healthy, upon a sudden she was taken with great Pains, and miscarried before she came Home And about Two months after, one Night when she was in Bed, something fell down upon her Right Side, but being dark, she could not discover its shapes, and that she was presently taken lame on that side, with extraordinary Pains and burning, and was certainly perswaded that Anne and Rebecca West, were the cause of her Pains, having ex∣pressed much Malice toward her, and counted her their greatest Enemy.

Mr. John Edes, a Minister, deposed, That Rebecca West confessed to him, that about Seven Years before, she began to have familiarity with the Devil (by the instigation of her Mo∣ther Anne West) and that he appeared in several Shapes: As once like a proper young man, who desired to have familiarity with her, promising that he would then do what she de∣sired, and avenge her on her Enemies, requiring her also to deny God, and put her faith and trust in him; which being agreed to, she order'd him to avenge her on one Thomas Hart of Lawford, by killing his Son; who was soon after taken sick and died: VVhereupon Rebecca told the Minister, she thought the Devil could do like God, in destroying whom he pleased: After which, she gave him Entertainment, and he lay with her as a man: She

likewise confest to him, that when she lived at Riverhall in Essex, her Mother came and told her, The Barley Corn was picked up, meaning that the Son of one George Francis, a chief In∣habitant of that Town was Dead, and his Father very much suspected he was bewitched to Death, and her Mother hearing of it, said; Be it unto him according to his Faith.

Mr. Matthew Hopkins deposed upon Oath, that going to the Prison where Rebecca West and five others were, he asked her how she first came to be a Witch, who told him, that her Mother and she going one Evening after Sunset toward Mannintree, her Mo∣ther charged her to keep secret whatever she saw, which she promising to do, they went both to the House of Elizabeth Clark, where they found her together with Ana Leach, Elizabeth Gooding and Hellen Clark, and that Instantly the devil appeared in the shape of a Dog, then came two Kitlins, and after them two Dogs more, who all seemed to reverence Elizabeth Clark, skipping into her lap and kissing her, and then Kist all in the Room except her self; Whereupon one of the Witches askt her Mo∣ther if her Daughter were Acquainted with the Business, who assuring them of her secrecy, Ann Leach pulled out a Book and Swore her not to reveal any thing she saw or heard, and if she did, she should endure more torments than there could be in Hell; Whereupon she again ingaged to be silent; They told her she must never confess any thing, tho the Rope were about her Neck, and she ready to be Hanged; To which af∣ter she had given her absolute Ingagement, the Devil leapt up into her Lap and Kissed her, promising to perform whatever she would desire. About halt a year after the Devil appeared as she was going to Bed, and said he would marry her, which she could not refuse, whereupon he Kissed her, but was as cold as Clay, and then took her by the Hand, Leading her about the room, and promised to be her Loving Husband till Death, and to avenge her of all her enemies; She likewise obliging her self to be his Obedient Wife till Death, and to deny God and Christ Jesus; She confest that after this she sent him to kill the Son of Thomas Hart, who died within a Fortnight, and thereupon she took the Devil for her God, and thought he could as God.

Rebecca West, being likewise Examined before the Justices at Mannintree, confessed that all was true concerning their Meeting at Elizabeth Clarks, where they spent some time in Praying to their Familiar Spirits, and then every one made their desires known to them; Elizabeth Clark requested her Spirit, that Mr. Edwards might be met withal at a Bridge near her House, and that his Horse might be frighted and he thrown down and never rise again; Mr. Edwards deposed, that at the same place his Horse started and greatly indangered him, and he heard something about the House Cry, Ah, Ah, much like a Polecat, and that with great difficulty he saved himself from being thrown off his Horse; Elizabeth Gooding desired her Imp to kill Robert Jaylors Horse for sus∣pecting her to be a Witch, which was done accordingly; Hellen Clark required to kill some Hogs of a Neighbours; Ann Leach, that a Cow might be Lamed, and Ann West her Mother, desired her Spirit to free her from all her enemies, and to have no trou∣ble; And she her self desired that Thomas Harts Wife might be taken Lame of her right side; after which they departed, appointing the next Meeting at Elizabeth Goodings House; for these and several other Notorious Crimes, Ann West was Sentenced and Executed at Mannintree; Elizabeth Gooding at Chelmsford; and the Bill found against Rebecca West by the Grand Jury, but was acquitted by the Jury of Life and Death. Ibid p. 14.

5. Rose Hallybread was another of this black Regiment, against whom Robert Tur∣ner of St. Osyth in Essex, deposed, that about eight days before his Servant was taken Sick, shaking, shrieking and crying out of Rose Hallybread, that she had bewitched him, and that he sometimes Crowed like a co*ck, sometimes barked like a Dog, and sometimes Groaned violently beyond the ordinary course of Nature, and tho but a youth, struggl'd with so much strength that four or five lusty Men were not able to hold him down in his Bed, and sometimes he would Sing several strange Songs and Tunes, his Mouth not being opened, nor his Lips so much as stirring all the time of his Singing.

She being examined, confest; That about sixteen years before, one Goody Hagtree brought an Imp to her House, which she entertained, and fed it with Oat-Meal, and Suckled it on her Body a Year and a half, and then lost it; She confessed likewise, that about half a year before, one Joyce Boanes brought to her another. Imp in the likeness of a small gray Bird which she received, and carried to the House of one Thomas Toakly of St. Osyths, and put it under his Door, after which Toaklys Son Lan∣guished and Died, calling and crying out upon her, that she was the cause of his Death. She also declared, that about eight days before, Susan co*ck, Margaret Landish, and Joyce Boanes, brought to her House three Imps, which Joyce taking her Imp too, carried them all four to Robert Turners, to Torment his Servant, because her refused to give them some Chips, his Master being a Carpenter, and that he forthwith fell Sick, and oft barkt like a Dog, and she believed those four Imps were the cause of his Death; Rose Hallybread was for this Wickedness Condemned to be Hanged, but Died in Chelmsford Goal, May 9. 1645. Ibid. p. 16.

Susan Lock was another of the Society, concerning whom see more in the Chap. of Satans Permission to hurt the Innocent in their Estates.

6. Much about the same time in Huntingtonshire, Elizabeth Weed of great Catworth, being Examined before Robert Bernard and Nicholas Pedley, Esq; Justices of the Peace, March 31. 1646. Said, that about Twenty one years before, as she was one Night going to Bed, there appeared to her three Spirits; one like a young Man, and the other two in the shape of

Puppies, one white and the other black; He that was in the form of a youth spoke to her, and Demanded, Whether she would deny God and Christ? which she agreed to; The Devil then offered her to do what mischief she would require of him, provided she would Cove∣nant, he should have her Soul after Twenty one years, which she granted; She confest fur∣ther, that about a week after, at Ten a Clock at Night he came to her with a Paper, asking whether she were willing to Seal the Covenant? she said she was; then he told her it must be done with her Blood, and so prickt her under the left Arm till it bled, with which she scri∣bled, and immediately a great lump of Flesh rise on her Arm, in the same place, which in∣creased ever since. After which he came to Bed, and had Carnal Knowledge of her then, and many times afterwards; The other two Spirits came into the Bed likewise, and suckt upon other parts of her Body where she had Teats, and that the Name of one was Lilly, and the other Priscil; One of which was to hurt Man, Woman, or Child, and the other to destroy what Cattel she desired, and the young Man was to lye with her, as he did often; And saith, that Lilly, according to the Covenant, did kill the Child of Mr. Henry Bedel of Catworth, as she required him to do when she was angry, tho she does not now remember for what, and that about two or three days before, she sent him to kill Mr. Bedel himself, who returned and said, he had no Power, and that another time she sent the same Spirit to hurt Edward Musgrove of Catworth, who likewise returned saying, He was not able; And that she sent her Spirit Priscill to kill two Horses and two Cows of Mr. Musgroves, and Thomas Thorps, in that Town, which was done accordingly; And being askt when the one and twenty years would be out? she said, To the best of my Remembrance, about low Sunday next; Being fur∣ther demanded, why she did so constantly resort to Church, and to hear the Sermons of Mr. Pool the Minister? she said, She was well pleased with his Preaching, and had a desire to be rid of that unhappy Burthen which was upon her. VVitches of Huntington, p. 2.

7. About the year of our Lord, 1632. (As near as I can Remember, having lost my Notes, and the Copy of the Letter to Serjeant Hutton, but I am sure that I do most perfect∣ly remember the substance of the Story) near unto Chester, in the street, there lived one VValker, a young Man of Good Estate, and a Widower, who had a young Woman to his Kinswoman, that kept his House, who was by the Neighbours suspected to be with Child, and was towards the Dark of the Evening, one Night, sent away with one Mark Sharp, who was a Collier, or one that digged Coals under Ground, and one that had been born in Blakeburn-Hundred in Lancashire; And so she was not heard of for a long time, and no Noise, or little, was made about it. In the Winter time after, one James Graham, or Grime (for so in that Countrey they call them) being a Miller, and living about two Miles from the place where Walker lived, was one Night alone very late in the Mill, grinding Corn; and as, about twelve or one a Clock at Night, he came down the Stairs from having been putting Corn in the Hopper, the Mill doors being shut, there stood a Woman upon the midst of the Floor, with her hair about her head hanging down and all Bloody, with five large Wounds on her head. He being much affrighted and amazed, began to Bless him, and at last asked her, who she was, and what she wanted? To which she said, I am the Spirit of such a Wo∣man, who lived with Walker; and being got with Child by him, he promised to send me to a private place where I should be well lookt to until I was brought to Bed, and well again, and then I should come again and keep his House.

And accordingly, said the Apparition, I was one Night late sent away with one Mark Sharp, who, upon a Moor (Naming a place that the Miller kn••w) slew me with a Pike (such as Men dig Coals withal) and gave me these five Wounds, and after threw my Body into a Coal-Pit hard by, and hid the Pike under a Bank: And his Shoes and Stockings being Bloody, he en∣deavoured to wash; but seeing the Blood would not wash forth, he hid them there. And the Apparition further told the Miller, that he must be the Man to reveal it, or else that she must still appear and haunt him. The Miller returned home very sad and heavy, but spoke not one word of what he had seen, but eschewed as much as he could to stay in the Mill with∣in Night without Company, thinking thereby to escape the seeing again of that frightful Apparition.

But notwithstanding, one Night when it began to be dark, the Apparition met him again, and seemed very fierce and cruel, and threatned him, that if he did not reveal the Murder, she would continually pursue and haunt him. Yet for all this, he still concealed it until St. Thomas's Eve before Christmas, when being soon after Sun-set walking in his Garden, she ap∣peared again, and then so threatned him and affrighted him, that he faithfully promised to reveal it the next Morning.

In the Morning he went to a Magistrate, and made the whole matter known, with all Circ*mstances; and diligent search being made, the Body was found in a Coal-Pit, with five Wounds in the Head, and the Pike, and Shoes, and Stockings yet Bloody, in every Circ*mstance as the Apparition had related unto the Miller.

Whereupon Walker and Mark Sharp were both apprehended, but would confess nothing. At the Assizes following (I think it was at Durham) they were Arraigned and found guilty, Condemned, and Executed, but I could never hear that they confessed the Fact. There were some that reported, that the Apparition did appear to the Judge, or the foreman of the Jury, (who was alive in Chester in the street about ten years ago, as I have been credibly informed) but of that I know no certainty.

There are many Persons yet alive that can remember this strange Murder, and the disco∣very of it; for it was, and sometimes yet is, as much discoursed of in the North Countrey, as any thing that almost hath ever been heard of, and the Relation Printed, tho now not to be gotten. I relate this with the greater confidence, (tho I may fail in some of the

Circ*mstances) because I saw and read the Letter that was sent to Serjeant Hutton, who then lived at Goldsborugh in Yorkshire, from the Judge before whom Walker and Mark Sharp were tried, and by whom they were condemned, and had a Copy of it, until about the Year 1658, when I had it, and many other Books and Papers taken from me. And this, I confess, to be one of the most convincing Stories (being of undoubted verity) that ever I read, heard, or knew of, and carrieth with it, the most evident Force to make the most incredulous Spirit to be satisfied, that there are really sometimes such things as Apparitions. Thus far he.

This Story is so considerable, that I make mention of it in my Scholia on my Immor∣tality of the Soul, in my Vol••men Philosophicum, Tom. 2. which I acquainted a Friend of mine with, a Prudent, Intelligent Person, Dr. J. D. he of his own accord offered me, it being a thing of such consequence, to send a Friend of his in the North, for greater assu∣rance of the truth of the Narration; which Motion I willingly embracing, he did accor∣dingly. The Answer to his Letter from his Friend Mr. Shepherdson, is this.

I have done what I can to inform my self of the Passages of Sharp and Walker: There are very few Men that I could meet, that were then Men, or at the Tryal, saving these Two in the inclosed Paper, both Men at that time, and both at the Tryal. And for Mr. Lumley, he lived next Door to Walker; and what he hath given under his Hand, can depose, if there were occa∣sion. The other Gentleman writ his Attestation with his own Hand, but I being not there, got not his Name to it. I could have sent you Twenty Hands that could have said thus much and more by hear-say, but I thought these most proper that could speak from their own Eyes and Ears. Thus far Mr. Shepherdson, the Doctor's Discreet and Faithful Intelligencer. Dr. H. Moor's Letter to Mr. Joseph Glanvil, Sadducism. Triumphat. p. 17, 18, &c.

8. This Story Dr. More has transcribed out of Mr. Webster's Display of supposed VVitch∣craft, which he himself (though otherwise an affected Caviller against all Stories of Witch∣craft and Apparition) is constrained to assent to, as we may see from his own Con∣fession.— On Sunday the 15th of November, 1657, about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, Richard Jones, then a Sprightly Youth, about Twelve Years old, Son of Henry Jones of Shepton Mallet, in the County of Somerset, being in his Father's House alone, and perceiving one looking in at the windows, went to the door, where one Jane Brooks of the same Town (but then by Name unknown to this Boy) came to him. She desired him to give her a piece of close Bread, and gave him an Apple. After which, she also stroked him down on the Right Side, shook him by the Hand, and so bid him good night. The Youth returned into the House, where he had been left well, when his Father and one Gibson went from him; but at their Return, which was within an Hour or thereabout, they found him ill, and complaining of his Right Side, in which the Pain continued the most part of that Night. And on Monday following, in the Evening, the Boy roasted the Apple he had of Jane Brooks, and having eaten about half of it, was extreamly ill, and sometimes speechless; but being recovered, he told his Father, that a woman of the Town, on Sunday before, had given him that Apple, and that she stroked him on the Side. He said, he knew not her Name, but should her Person, if he saw her. Upon this Jones was advised to invite the women of Shipton, to come to his House, upon the occasion of his Son's Illness; and the Child told him, that in case the woman should come in when he was in his Fit, if he were not able to speak, he would give him an intimation by a Jogg, and desired that his Father would then lead him through the Room, for he said he would put his Hand upon her, if she were there. After this, he continuing very ill, many women came daily to see him; and Jane Brooks the Sunday after, came in with Two of her Sisters, and several other women of the Neighbourhood were there.

Upon her coming in, the Boy was taken so ill, that for some time he could not see nor speak, but having recovered his sight, he gave his Father the item, and he led him about the Room. The Boy drew towards Jane Brooks, who was behind her Two Sisters, among the other VVomen, and put his Hand upon her, which his Father perceiving, immediately scratched her Face, and drew Blood from her. The Youth then presently cried out, that he was well, and so he continued Seven or Eight Days. But then meeting with Alice Coward, Sister to Jane Brooks, who passing by, said to him, How do you, my Honey? he presently fell ill again: And after that, the said Coward and Brooks often appeared to him. The Boy would describe the Cloths and Habit they were in at the time exactly, as the Constable and others have found upon repairing to them, though Brooks's House was at a good distance from Jones's. This they often tried, and always found the Boy right in his Descrip∣tions.

On a certain Sunday about Noon, the Child being in a Room with his Father and one Gibson, and in his Fit, he on the sudden called out, that he saw Jane Brooks on the Wall, and pointed to the place, where immediately Gibson struck with a Knife. Upon which, the Boy cried out, O Father, Cuz Gibson hath cut Jane Brooks's Hand, and 'tis bloody, The Father and Gibson immediately repaired to the Constable, a discreet Person, and ac∣quainting him with what had passed, desired him to go with them to Jane Brooks's House, which he did. They found her sitting in a Room on a Stool, with one Hand over the other. The Constable askt her how she did? She answered, not well. He ask'd again, why she sat with one Hand over the other? She replied, she was wont to do so. He en∣quired if any thing were amiss with her Hand? Her Answer was, it was well enough. The Constable desired he might see the Hand that was under; which she being unwilling to shew him, he drew it out, and found it bloody, according to what the Boy had said. Be∣ing ask'd how it came so, she said, It was scratched with a Pin.

On the Eighth of December, 1657, the Boy, Jane Brooks, and Alice Coward, appeared at Castle-Cary, before the Justices, Mr. Hunt, and Mr. Cary: The Boy having begun to give his Testimony, upon the coming in of the Two Women, and their looking on him, was instantly taken speechless, and so remained till the Women were removed out of the Room, and then in a short time, upon Examination, he gave a full Relation of the Men∣tioned particulars.

On the Eleventh of January following, the Boy was again examined by the same Ju∣stices at Shepton-mallet, and upon the sight of Jane Brooks, was again taken Speechless, but was not so afterwards, when Alice Coward came into the Room to him.

On the next appearance at Shepton, which was on the Seventeenth of February, there were present many Gentlemen, Ministers and others: The Boy fell into his Fit upon the sight of Jane Brooks, and lay in a Man's Arms like a Dead Person; the Woman was then wil∣led to lay her Hand on him, which she did, and he thereupon started, and sprang out in a very strange and unusual manner. One of the Justices, to prevent all possibilities of Le∣gerdemain, caused Gibson and the rest to stand off from the Boy, and then that Justice himself held him: The Youth being blindfolded, the Justice called as if Brooks should touch him, but winked to others to do it, which Two or Three successively did, but the Boy appeared not concerned. The Justice then called on the Father to take him, but had privately before desired one Mr. Geoffry Strode, to bring Jane Brooks to touch him at such a time as he should call for his Father; which was done, and the Boy immediately sprang out after a very odd and violent ••ashion. He was after touched by several Persons, and moved not; but Jane Brooks being again caused to put her Hand upon him, he started, and sprang out twice or thrice as before. All this while he remained in his Fit, and some time after; and being laid then on a Bed in the same Room, the People present could not for a long time bow either of his Arms or Legs.

Between the mentioned Fifteenth of November, and the Eleventh of January, the Two Women appeared often to the Boy, their Hands cold, their Eyes staring, and their Lips and Cheeks looking pale. In this manner, on a Thursday about Noon, the Boy being newly laid into his Bed, Jane Brooks and Alice Coward appeared to him, and told him, that what they had begun, they could not perform: But if he would say no more of it, they would give him Money, and so put a Two-pence into his Pocket. After which, they took him out of his Bed, laid him on the Ground, and vanished, and the Boy was found by those that came next into the Room, lying on the Floor, as if he had been dead. The Two-pence was seen by many, and when it was put into the Fire, and hot, the Boy would fall ill; but as soon as it was taken out, and cold, he would be again as well as before. This was seen and observed by a Minister, a discreet Person, when the Boy was in one Room, and the Two-pence (without his knowledge) put into the fire in another, and this was divers times tried in the presence of several Persons.

Between the Eighth of December, and the Seventeenth of February, in the Year men∣tioned, divers Persons at sundty times, heard in the Boy a noise like the croaking of a Toad, and a Voice within him, saying, Jane Brooks, Alice Coward, twelve times in near a quarter of an Hour. At the same time, some held a Candle before the Boys Face, and earnestly looked on him; but could not perceive the least motion of his Tongue, Teeth or Lips, while the Voice was heard.

On the Twenty Fifth of February, between Two and Three in the Afternoon, the Boy being at the House of Richard Isles in Shepton-Mallet, went out of the Room into the Gar∣den, Isles's Wife followed him, and was within Two Yards when she saw him rise up from the Ground before her, and so mounted higher and higher, till he passed in the Air, over the Garden Wall, and was carried so above ground more than Thirty Yards, falling at last at one Jordan's Door at Shepton, where he was found as dead for a time: But coming to himself, told Jordan, that Jane Brooks had taken him up by the Arm out of Isles's Garden, and carried him in the Air, as is related.

The Boy at several other times was gone on the sudden, and upon search after him, found in another Room as dead, and at sometimes strangely hanging above the Ground; his Hands being flat against a great Beam in the top of the Room, and all his Body Two or Three Foot from ground. There he hath hung a Quarter of an Hour together, and being af∣terwards come to himself, he told those that found him, that Jane Brooks had carried him to that Place, and held-him there. Nine People at a time saw the Boy so strangely hang∣ing by the Beam.

From the 15 of Nov. to the 10th of March following, he was by reason of his Fits much wasted in his body, and unspirited, but after that time, being the day the two Women were sent to Goal, he had no more of those Fits.

Jane Brooks was Condemned and Executed at Charde Assizes, March 26. 1658.

This is the sum of Mr. Hunt's Narrative, which concludes with both the Justices Attesta∣tion, thus:

The aforesaid Passages were some of them seen by us: And the rest, and some other Re∣markable ones, not here set down, were upon Examination of several credible Witnesses taken upon Oath before us.

Subscribed,

Rob. Hunts, John Cary.

This is taken out of Mr. Glanvil's Saducismus Triumph. Relat. 2.

9. Elizabeth Style of Stoke Trister, in the County of Somerset, was accused by Divers Per∣sons of credit upon Oath before Mr. Hunt, and particularly and largely confessed her guilt her self, which was found by the Jury at the Trial at Taunton. But she prevented Executi∣on by dying in Gaol, a little before the expiring of the Term her confederate Damon had set for her Enjoyment of Diabolical Pleasures in this Life. I have shortned the Examina∣tions, and cast them into such an order, as I think fittest for the rendring the matter clear and intelligible.

Rich. Hill of Stoke Trister, in the County of Somerset, Yeoman, being examined upon Oath, Jan. 23. 1664. Before Robert Hunt, Esq; one of his Majesties Justices for that County, con∣cerning the bewitching of his Daughter by Eliz. Hill, about the Age of Thirteen Years, hath been for about two Months last past, taken with very strange Fits, which have held an hour, two, three, and more; and that in those Fits the Child hath told her Father, the Examinant and others, that one Eliz. Style of the same Parish appeared to her, and is the Person that Torments her. She also in her Fits usually tells what Cloaths Eliz. Style hath on at that time, which the Informant and others have seen and found true.

He saith further, that about a Fortnight before Christmas last, he told Style, that his Daugh∣ter spoke much of her in her Fits, and did believe that she was bewitched by her. Where∣upon Francis White, and Walter, and Rob. Thick being present, willed her to complain to the Justice against him for accusing of her. But she having used several put offs, said, she would do worse than fetch a Warrant. After which the girl grew worse than before, and at the end of a Fit she tells the Examinant when she shall have another, which happens accordingly, and affirms, that Style tells her when the next fit shall come. He informs further, that Monday Night after Christmas-Day, about Nine of the Clock, and four or five times since, about the same hour of the Night, his Daughter hath been more Tor∣mented than formerly, and that tho held in a Chair, by four or five People, some∣times six, by the Arms, Legs, and Shoulders, she would rise out of her Chair, and raise her Body about three or four Foot high. And that after, in her Fits, she would have holes made in her Hand-wrists, Face, Neck, and other parts of her Body, which the Informant and others that saw them, conceived to be with Thorns. For they saw Thorns in her Flesh, and some they hooked out. That upon the childs Pointing with her Finger from place to place, the Thorns and Holes immediately appeared to the Informant and others looking on. And as soon as the Child can speak after the Fit, she saith that Widow Style did prick her with Thorns in those several places, which was horrid Torment, she seemed to the Informant and others standing by, to be in ex∣tream Pain and Torture. The Child hath been so Tormented and pricked with Thorns four several Nights, at which times the Informant and many other People have seen the Flesh rise up in little bunches, in which Holes did appear. The pricking held about a quarter of an hour at a time, during each of the four Fits, and the Informant hath seen the child take out some of those Thorns.

The same Rich. Hil••, examined Jan. 26. 1664. Informs, that when he rode from the Ju∣stices House with a Warrant to bring Style before him, his Horse on a sudden sate down on his Breech, and he could not after ride him, but as soon as he attempted to get up, his Horse would sit down and paw with his Feet before. He saith further, that since Style was examined before the Justice, and made her confession to him, she hath acknow∣ledged to the Informant, that she had hurt his Daughter, and that one Ann Bishop, and Alice Duke, did joyn in bewitching of her.

Taken upon Oath before me,

Rob. Hunt.

10. William Parsons, Rector of Stoke Trister, in the County of Somerset, Nicholas Lambert of Bayford, in the same County; And Richard Oining of Stoke Trister, Butcher, &c.

Ano. 1664. Alice Duke, Alias Manning, (Witch of Style's knot) of Wincaunton, in the County of Somerset, Widow made this confession before Robert Hunt, Esq; as follows.

That when she lived with Ann Bishop of Wincaunton, about eleven or twelve years ago, Ann Bishop perswaded her to go with her into the Church-yard in the Night time, and be∣ing come thither, to go backward round the Church, which they did three times. In their first round, they met a Man in black Cloaths, who went round the second time with them, and then they met a thing in the shape of a great black Toad, which leapt up against the Examinant's Apron. In their third round they met somewhat in the shape of a Rat, which Vanished away. After this the Examinant and Ann Bishop went home, but before Ann Bishop went off, the Man in Black said somewhat to her softly, which the Informant could not hear.

A few Days after, Ann Bishop speaking about their going round the Church, told the Examinant, that now she might have her desire, and what she would wish for; and short∣ly after, the Devil appeared to her in the shape of a Man, promising that she should want nothing. and that if she cursed any thing with a Pox take it, she should have her purpose, in case she would give her Soul to him, suffer him to suck her blood, keep his Secrets, and be his Instrument to do such Mischief as he would set her about. All which, upon his second appearing to her, she yielded to, and the Devil having prickt the fourth Finger of her right hand, between the middle and upper joynt (where the mark is yet to be seen) gave her a Pen, with which she made a Cross or mark with her Blood on Paper or Parchment, that the Devil offered her for the confirmation of the

agreement, which was done in the presence of Ann Bishop. And as soon the Exami∣nant had Signed it, the Devil gave her Six pence, and went away with the Paper or Parchment.

Further she confesseth, that she had been at several Meetings in Lie Common, and o∣ther places, in the Night, and that her forehead being first anointed with a feather dipt in Oyl, she hath been suddenly carried to the place of their Meeting. That about five or six weeks since (or more) she met in the said Common in the Night, where were present Ann Bishop, Mary Penny of Wincaunton, Elizabeth Style of Bayford, and a Man in black Cloaths with a little band, whom she supposed to have been the Devil. At the Meeting there was a Picture in Wax, which the Man in black took in his Arms, and sized it by the Name of Elizabeth or Bess Hill, for the Daughter of Rich. Hill. Then the Devil, this Examinant, Ann Bishop, and Elizabeth Style, Stuck Thorns in the Neck, Head, Hand-wrists, Fingers, and other parts of the Picture, saying, a Pox on thee, I'le spice thee. This done, all sate down, a white Cloath being spread on the ground, and did drink Wi••e, and Eat Cakes and Meat. After all was ended, the Man in black Vanished, leaving an ugly smell at parting. The rest were on a sudden conveyed to their homes.

On Monday Night, after Christmas-Day last, she met the same Company again, near about the same place, and the Ann Bishop (who was there in a green Apron, a French Wastcoat, and a red Petticoat) brought in her Apron a Picture in blackish Wax, which the Devil Baptized as before, by the Name of John Newman, for the Son of Rob. New∣man of Wincaunton, and then the Devil first, after Ann Bishop, and this Examinant, thrust in Thorns into the Arms of it. The Picture Ann Bishop carried away with her. They were all there present in their Cloaths, and the Devil in the Shape of a Man in black.

About five years and a half since, the same Persons were at the Baptizing of another Image, by the Name of Peter Newman, another Son of Robert Newman, both which are since Dead, and then Ann Bishop desired the Examinant, to joyn with her in the be∣witching of Peter and John Newman.

At another time she was carried to a Meeting in the Night, to a green place near Marnhull, as she was then told, where were present Ann Bishop, Eliz. Style, Mary Penny, and some unknown to her. Then also an Image in Wax was Baptized by the Devil, in the fore-related manner, by the Name of Ann, or Rachel Hatcher, one of Marnhull, as she was then informed. After the Ceremony was ended, they had Wine, Cakes, &c.

She likewise confesseth, that she was at another such Meeting, where twelve Persons were present, many of whom were unknown to her, but she took notice of one lame Man in blackish hair among them, and of the Devil, as before.

She saith, that after their Meetings, they all make very low Obeysance to the Devil, who appears in black Cloaths and a little Band. He bids them welcome at their coming, and brings Wine, or Beer, Cakes, Meat, or the like. He sits at the higher end, and usually Ann Bishop sits next him. They Eat, Drink, Dance, and have Musick. At their parting they use to say, Merry meet, Merry part; and that before they are carried to their Meet∣ings, their Foreheads are anointed with greenish Oyl, that they have from the Spirit, which smells raw. They for the most part are carried in the Air. As they pass, they say, Thou, tout a tout, tout, throughout and about. Passing back, they say, Rentum, Tormentum, and another word which she doth not remember.

She confesseth, that her Familiar doth commonly suck her right breast about Seven at Night, in the shape of a little Cat, of a dunnish Colour, which is as smooth as a Want, and when she is suck'd, she is in a kind of a Trance.

That she hurt Thomas Garret's Cows, because he refused to write a Petition for her.

That she hurt Thomas Conway, by putting a Dish into his hand, which Dish she had from the Devil, she gave it him to give his Daughter for good hansel.

That she hurt Dorothy, the Wife of George Wining, by giving an Iron slate to put into her Steeling Box.

That being angry with Edith Wats, the Daughter of Edmond Wats, for treading on her foot, she cursed Edith with a Pox on you, and after touched her, which hath done the said Edith much harm, for which she is sorry.

That being provoked by Swanton's first Wife, she did before her Death curse her with a A Pox on you, believes she did thereby hurt her, but denies she did bewitch Mr. Swanton's Cattle.

She saith, that when the Devil doth any thing for her, she calls for him by the Name of Robin, upon which he appears, and when in the shape of a Man, she can hear him speak, but his Voice is very low. He promised her when she made her contract with him, that she should want nothing, but ever since she hath wanted all things.

Taken before me,

Rob. Hunt.

The Witnesses were Thomas Conway of Wincaunton, in the County of Somerset, Mary his Wife, Edward Wats of Wincaunton, in the aforesaid County.

11. Anno 1664. Christian, the Wife of Robert Green of Brewham, in the County of Somer∣set, Aged about thirty three years, being examined before the aforesaid Robert Hunt, Esq; made this confession as follows.

That about a year and a half since (she being in great Poverty) one Catherine Green of Brewham, told her, that if she would she might be in a better condition, and then per∣swaded her to make a Covenant with the Devil. Being afterwards together in one Mr. Hussey's ground in Brewham Forrest, about Noon, Catherine called for the Devil, who ap∣peared in the shape of a Man in blackish Cloaths, and said somewhat to Catherine, which Christian could not hear. After which the Devil (as she conceived him) told the Exami∣nant, that she should want neither Cloaths, Victuals, nor Money, if she would give her Bo∣dy and Soul to him, keep his Secrets, and suffer him to suck her once in twenty four hours, which at last, upon his and Catherine Green's perswasion, she yielded to; then the Man in black prickt the fourth Finger of her Right hand, between the middle and upper joynts, where the Sign yet remains, and took two drops of her Blood on his Finger, giving her four-pence-half-penny, with which she after bought bread in Brewham. The he spake a∣gain in private with Catherine, and Vanished, leaving a smell of Brimstone behind.

Since that time the Devil (she saith) hath and doth usually suck her left Breast about five of the Clock in the Morning, in the likeness of an Hedg-hog, bending, and did so on Wednesday Morning last. She saith it is painful to her, and that she is usually in a Trance when she is suckt.

She saith also, that Catherine Green, and Margaret Agar of Brewham, have told her, that they are in Covenant with the Devil, and confesseth, that she hath been at several Meetings in the Night, at Brewham Common, and in a Ground of Mr. Hussey's, that she hath there met with Catherine Green and Margaret Agar, and three or four times with Mary War∣berton of Brewham; that in all those Meetings the Devil hath been present in the shape of a Man in black Cloaths, at their first coming he bids them welcome, but always speaks very low.

That at a Meeting about three Weeks or a Month since, at or near the former place, Margaret Agar brought thither an Image in Wax, for Elizabeth, the Wife of Andrew Cor∣nish of Brewham, and the Devil, in the shape of a Man in black Cloaths, did Baptize it, and after stuck a Thorn into its Head; that Agar stuck one into its Stomach, and Catherine Green one into its Side. She further saith, that before this time, Agar said to her, this Ex∣aminant, that she would hurt Eliz. Cornish, who since the Baptizing of the Picture hath been taken and continues very ill.

She saith, that three or four days before Jos. Talbot of Brewham Died, Margaret Agar told her, that she would rid him out of the World, because, he being Overseer of the Poor, he made her Children to go to Service, and refused to give them such good Cloaths as she desired. And since the Death of Talbot, she confessed to the Examinant, that she had bewitcht him to Death. He died about a year since, was taken ill on Friday, and Died about Wednesday after.

That her Mother-in-Law, Catharine Green, about five or six years ago, was taken in a strange manner. One day one Eye and Cheek did swell, another day another, and so she continu∣ed in great pain, till she died. Upon her Death she several times said, in the hearing of the Examinant, that her Sister-in-Law, Catharine Green, had bewitched her, and the Exami∣nant believes, that she bewitcht her to Death.

That a little before Michaelmas last, the said Catharine Cursed the Horses of Rob. Walter of Brewham, saying, a murrain on them Horses to Death. Upon which the Horses being three, all died.

Taken before me,

Robert Hunt.

12. In 1665. Margaret Agar of Brewham, in the aforesaid County of Somerset, had this Testimony given against her by Catharine Green, alias Cornish of Brewham, Widow.

Before the aforesaid,

Robert Hunt.

That on Friday in the Evening, in the beginning of March last, Margaret Agar came to her, and was earnest she should go with her to a Ground called, Husseys-knap, which she did, and being come thither, they saw a little Man in black Cloaths with a little band. As soon as they came to him, Margaret Agar took out of her Lap a little Picture in blackish Wax, which she delivered to the Man in black, who stuck a Thorn into the Crown of the Picture, and then delivered it back to Agar. Upon which she stuck a Thorn towards the heart of the Picture, cursing, and saying, A Plague on you; which she told the Examinant was done to hurt Eliz. Cornish, who, as she hath been told, hath been very ill ever since that time.

That a little above a year since, Jos. Talbot, late of Brewham, being Overseer for the Poor, did cause two of Agars Children to go to Service. Upon which she was very angry, and said in the Examinant's hearing, a few days before he fell Sick and Died, that she had trod upon the Jaws of three of her Enemies, and that she should shortly see Talbot rot, and tread on his Jaws. And when this Examinant desired her not to hurt Talbot, she swore by

the Blood of the Lord, she would confound him if she could. The Day before he died, she said to the Examinant, God's Wounds, I'll go and see him, for I shall never see him more; and the next Day Talbot died.

That she heard Margaret Agar curse Mary Smith, and say, she should live to see her and her Cattle fall and rot before her Face. Joseph Glanvil, Saducismus Triumphatus; p. 368.

Taken upon Oath before

Robert Hunt.

Other Witnesses against this Agar, were Elizabeth Talbot, Jos. Smith, Mary the VVife of William Smith, Mary Green, all of Brewham.

13. Julian Cox, aged about 70 Years, was indicted at Taunton in Somersetshire, about Summer Assiizes, 1663, before Judge Archer, then Judge of the Assizes there, for Witchcraft, which she practised upon a Young Maid, whereby her Body languished, and was im∣paired of Health, by reason of strange Fits upon account of the said Witchcraft.

The Evidence against her was divided into Two Branches; First, to prove her a VVitch in general: Secondly, to prove her guilty of the Witchcraft contained in the Indict∣ment.

For the proof of the first particular, the first Witness was an Huntsman, who swore that he went out with a Pack of Hounds to hunt a Hare, and not far from Julian Cox her House, he at last started a Hare. The Dogs hunted her very close, and the third Ring hunted her in view; till at last the Huntsman perceiving the Hare almost spent, and ma∣king towards a great Bush, he ran on the other side of the Bush to take her up, and pre∣serve her from the Dogs. But as soon as he laid Hands on her, it proved to be Julian Cox, who had her Head groveling on the Ground, and her Globes (as he express'd it) upward. He knowing her, was affrighted, that his Hair on his Head stood on end; and yet spake to her, and ask'd her what brought her there? But she was so far out of breath, that she could not make him any Answer. His Dogs also came up with full cry to recover the Game, and smelt at her, and so left off Hunting any further. And the Huntsman with his Dogs went home presently, sadly affrighted.

Secondly, Another Witness swore, that as he passed by Cox her Door, she was taking a Pipe of Tobacco upon the Threshold of her Door, and invited him to come in, and take a Pipe, which he did. And as he was smoaking, Julian said to him, Neighbour, look what a pret∣ty thing there is; he look'd down, and there was a monstrous great Toad, staring him in the Face. He endeavoured to kill it by spurning it, but could not hit it: Whereupon Julian bad him forbear, and it would do him no hurt. But he threw down his Pipe and went home (which was about Two Miles off of Julian Cox's House) and told his Family what had happened, and that he believed it was one of Julian Cox's Devils. After, he was taking a Pipe of Tobacco at home, and the same Toad appeared betwixt his Legs. He took the Toad out to kill it, and to his thinking cut it in several Pieces; but return∣ing to his Pipe, the Toad still appeared. He endeavoured to burn it, but could not. At length he took a Switch and beat it. The Toad ran several times about the Room to a∣void him, he still pursuing it with Correction. At length the Toad cried, and vanish'd, and he was never after troubled with it.

Thirdly, After, another swore, that Julian past by his Yard while his Beasts were in Milk∣ing, and stooping down, scored upon the Ground for some small time. During which time, his Cattel run mad, and some ran their heads against the Trees, and most of them died speedily. Whereupon concluding they were bewitched, he was after advised to this Expe∣riment to find out the Witch, viz. To cut off the Ears of the bewitched Beasts, and burn them, and that the Witch would be in misery, and could not rest till they were plucked out, Which he tried, and while they were burning Julian Cox came into the house, raging and scolding that they had abused her without cause; but she went presently to the Fire, and took out the Ears that were burning, and then she was quiet.

Fourthly, Another VVitness swore, That she had seen Julian Cox fly into her own Chamber Window in her full proportion, and that she very well knew her, and was sute it was she.

Fifthly, Another Evidence was the Confession of Julian Cox her self, upon her Exami∣nation before a Justice of Peace, which was to this purpose. That she had been often tempted by the Devil to be a Witch, but never consented. That one Evening she walk'd about a Mile from her own house, and there came riding towards her, Three Persons upon Three Broomstaves, born up about a Yard and an half from the Ground. Two of them formerly knew, which was a Witch and a Wizzard, that were hanged for Witchcraft several Years before. The Third Person she knew not. He came in the shape of a black Man, and tempted her to give him her Soul, or to that effect, and to express it by pricking her Finger, and giving her Name in her Blood, in token of it, and told her that she had Revenge against several Persons that had wronged her, but could not bring her purpose to pass without his help; and that upon the Terms aforesaid, he would assist her to be revenged against them. But she said; she did not consent to it. This was the Sum of the general Evidence to prove a Witch.

But now for the Second particular, to prove her guilty of the VVitchcraft upon the Maid, whereof she was indicted, this Evidence was offered:

It was proved, that Julian Cox came for an Alms to the house where this Maid was a Servant, and that the Maid told her she should have none, and gave her a cross Answer that displeased Julian. VVhereupon Julian was angry, and told the Maid she should re∣pent it before Night, and so she did: For before Night she was taken with a Convulsion Fit, and after that left her, she saw Julian Cox following her, and cried out to the People in the house to save her from Julian.

But none saw Julian but the Maid, and all did impute it to her imagination only. And in the Night she cried out of Julian Cox, and the black Man, that they came upon her bed, and tempted her to drink something they offered her. But she cried out, she desired not the Devil's Drenches. This also they imputed to her imagination, and bad her be quiet, because they in the same Chamber with her, did not see or hear any thing, and they thought it had been her Conceit only.

The Maid the next Night expecting the same Conflict she had the Night before, brought up with her a Knife, and laid it at her bed's head. About the same time of the Night as before, Julian and the black Man came again upon the Maid's bed, and tempted her to drink that which they brought, but she refused, crying in the audience of the rest of the Family, that she defied the Devil's Drenches, and took the Knife and stabbed Julian, and as she said, she wounded her in Leg, and was importunate with the Witness to ride to Julian Cox's House presently, to see if it were not so. The Witness went and took the Knife with him. Julian Cox would not let him in; but he forced the Door open, and found a fresh wound in Julian's Leg, as the Maid had said, which did suit with the Knife, and Julian had been just dressing it when the Witness came. There was Blood also found upon the Maid's Bed.

The next Morning the Maid continued her out-cries, that Julian Cox appeared to her in the House wall, and offered her great Pins, which she was forced to swallow: And all the Day the Maid was observed to convey her Hands to the House wall, and from the VVall to her Mouth; and she seemed by the motion of her Mouth, as if she did eat some∣thing. But none saw any thing but the Maid, and therefore thought still it might be her Fancy, and did not much mind it. But towards Night, this Maid began to be very ill, and complained, that the Pins that Julian forced her to eat-out of the VVall, did torment her in all parts of the Maids Body; several great Swellings appeared, and out of the heads of the Swellings, several great Pins points appeared; which the Witnesses took out, and upon the Tryal, there were about Thirty great Pins produced in Court (which I my self handled) all which were sworn by several Witnesses, that they were taken out of the Maid's Body, in manner as is aforesaid.

Judge Archer, who tried the Prisoner, told the Jury, that he had heard, that a Witch could not repeat that Petition in the Lord's Prayer, viz. And lead us not into Temptation: And having this occasion, he would try the Experiment, and told the Jury, that where she could or could not, they were not in the least measure to guide their Verdict accor∣ding to it, because it was not legal Evidence, but that they must be guided in their Ver∣dict by the former Evidence given in upon Oath only.

The Prisoner was called for up to the next Bar to the Court, and demanded if she could say the Lord's Prayer? She said she could, and went over the Prayer readily, till she came to that Petition. Then she said, [And lead us into no Temptation,] but could not say, [And lead us not into Temptation] though she was directed to say it after one that repeated it to her distinctly. But she could not repeat it otherwise than is expressed already, though tried to do it near half a score times in open Court. After all which, the Jury found her guilty, and Judgment having been given, within Three or Four Days she was executed, without any Confession of the Fact.

14. In the Town of Beckington, by Froome in Somersetshire, liveth Mary Hill, a Maid of about Eighteen Years of Age, who having lived very much in the neglect of her Duty to God, was some time before Michaelmas last past, was Twelve Month, taken very ill, and being seized with violent Fits, began to Vomit up Two Hundred crooked Pins. This so stupendous an Accident, drew a numerous Concourse of People to see her: To whom, when in her Fits, she did constantly affirm, that she saw against the VVall of the Room, wherein she lay, an old VVoman named Elizabeth Carrier, who thereupon being appre∣hended by a VVarrant from a Justice of Peace, and Convicted by the Oaths of Two Per∣sons, was committed to the County Goal.

About a Fortnight after, she began to Vomit up Nails, pieces of Nails, pieces of Brass, Handles of Spoons, and so continued to do for the space of Six Months and upwards: And in her Fits, she said there did appear to her an Old Woman, named Margery Coombes, and one Anne Moor, who also by a Warrant from Two Justices of tho Peace, were apprehended, and brought to the Sessions held at Brewton for the County, and by the Bench committed to the County Goal. The former of these died as soon as she came into the Prison; the other Two were tried at Taunton Assizes, by my Lord Chief Justice Holt, and for want of Evidence, were acquitted by the Jury. The Persons bound over to give Evidence, were Susanna Belton, and Ann Holland, who upon their Oaths deposited, that they book'd out of the Navel of the said Mary Hill, as she lay in a dead Fit, crooked Pins, small Nails, and small Pieces of Brass, which were produced in Court before the Judge, and from him handed to the Jury to look upon them. VVhereupon Mr. Francis Jesse, and Mr. Christopher Brewer declared, that they had seen the said Ma••y Hill, to Vomit up at several times, crooked Pins, Nails, and Pieces of Brass; which they also pro∣duced in open Court; and to that end they might be ascertained it was no Imposture,

they declared, they had searched her Mouth with their Fingers before she did Vo∣mit

Upon which the Court thought fit to call for me, who am the Minister of the Parish, to testify the knowledge of the matter, which I did to this Effect; that I had seen her at several times, after having given her a little Small Beer, Vomit up crooked Pins, Nails, and pieces of Brass. That to prevent the supposition of a Cheat, I had cause her to be brought to a Window, and having lookt into her Mouth, I searcht it with my Finger, as I did the Beer before she drank it. This I did, that I might not be wanting in circ*mstan∣tial Answers, to what my Lord and Court might propose.

I well remember a Gentleman on a Saturday came to my House (Incognito,) to know of me the tru••h of the Countrey Report about this Maid, having seen some of the Nails, &c. she had vomited up. I told him it was very true, and if he would stay in Town till the Morning, he might see it himself for his own satisfaction. VVhich he did, and early in the Morning was called to see her. But because Beer was not given her when she wanted it, she lay in a very deplorable Condition, till past Two in the Afternoon; when with much difficulty, she brought up a piece of Brass, which the said Gentleman took away with him; though before the piece of Brass came up, he told me he was satisfied of the Truth of the thing, because it was impossible for any Mortal to counterfeit her mi∣serable condition. She sometimes lying in a dead Fit, with her Tongue swelled out of her Head, and then reviving, she would fall to vomiting; but nothing came out till about two a Clock in the Afternoon. Nay, so curious wa••••he to anticipate any Cheat, that he searcht her Mouth himself, gave her the beer, held her up in his Hand, and likewise the Bason, into which she vomited, and continued with her all this time, without Eating and Drinking, which was about Eight Hours, that he might be an Eye-witness of the Truth of it. Nay, further, he found the Maid living only with a Brother, and Three poor Si∣sters, all young Persons, and very honest, and the Maid kept at the charge of the Parish, which were sufficient Testimonies they were uncapable of making a Cheat of it. The Gentleman I now mentioned, was (as I afterward learn'd) Esquire Player of Castle-Cary.

I have often wondred how it was possible for all that Trumpery to be conveyed into her Body, which at Intervals she cast up; I therefore made all the Observation I could to satisfie my self and others. I found that those things which she brought up in the Morning, were conveyed into her Body by some Diabolical Power, when she was in Bed at Night; what induced me easily to believe this, was by considering these following Cir∣c*mstances.

That it was only in the Morning that she vomitted up Nails, and scarce did any thing in the Afternoon.

I found by Enquiry, that she always slept with her Mouth open, and could not help it; and when asleep, she could not be awakened, either by calling, jogging or pulling of her, for some considerable time; though at the same time she fetch'd such deep and painful Groans, as if she were awaked, and sensible of her sad Condition.

For my farther satisfaction, I got some at my own Charge to sit up at Nights with her, and watch her Mouth, and to see it was kept close shut. Whilst this was done, the Vo∣miting of Nails ceased, and that for Thirteen Nights successively; but when it was neg∣lected, she would be sure to bring up something of Nails, or some such Stuff. I then had her lodged at a Neighbour's House, to see whether her vomitting of Nails would totally cease, but it did not. For coming one Day to my House to refresh her self, she had not been there Two Hours, before she began to be ill, we immediately gave her some Beer, and she vomited up a great Board Nail: Some time after this, she threw up a great piece of Brass, which I saw followed with much Blood; and she being extreamly weakened with striving, and falling into a Fit, I caused a Woman to open her Mouth, who took out as much Blood, as she could hold in the hollow of her Hand.

After the Assizes afore-mentioned was ended, and she was turned Home, she grew worse than ever, by Vomitting of Nails, pieces of Glass, &c. And falling one Day into a violent Fit, she was swelled to an extraordinary bigness; some Beer being given her, she threw up several pieces of Bread and Butter, besmeared with poysonous Matter, which I judged to be Mercury. This so much affrighted the Neighbours, that they would come no more near her. So that one Day she being taken desperate ill, I was sent for to pray with her; and compassionating the Deplorablenels of her Condition, I at last resolved to take her into my own House, where in a short time the Vomiting ceased; though for some space, her Distorting Fits followed her: But, blessed be God, is now, and has been for a considerable time last past, in very good Health, and fit for a Service.

April 4th, 1691.

May-Hill, Minister of Beckington, in the County of Somerset.

15. In the beginning of the late War, Colonel Bowen in Glamorganshire, being oppressed by the King's Party, took Arms under the Earl of Essex, and by his Valour obtained a good Repute in the Army; so that in a short time he got the Command of Lieutenant Colo∣nel. But as soon as the heat of the VVar was abated, his Case and Preferment led him to a careless and sensual Life, and he became an absolute Atheist, denying Heaven or Hell, God or Devil, (acknowledging only a Power, as the Heathens did Fate,) accounting Tem∣poral Pleasures all his expected Heaven: So that at last he became hateful, and hating all Civil Society, and his nearest Relations.

About December last, he being in Ireland, and his Wife, a Pious Gentlewoman, living in his House in Glamorgan, was very much troubled one Night with a great Noise much like the sound of a Whirl-wind, and a violent beating of the Doors or Walls, as if the whole house were falling in Pieces: And being in her Chamber, with most of her Family, after Praying to the Lord, (accounting it Sinful Incredulity to yield to fear, she went to Bed, and suddenly after, there appeared unto her something like her Husband, and asked her whether he should come to Bed? she sitting up, and Praying to the Lord, told him, he was not her Husband, and that he should not. He urged more earnestly: What! Not the Husband of thy Bosom? What! Not the Husband of thy Bosom? (Yet had no Power to hurt her.) And she, together with some Godly People, spent the Night in Prayer, being very often Interrupted by this Apparition.

The next Night, Mr. Miles, (a Godly Minister,) with four other Godly Men, came to watch and pray in the House that Night, and so continued in Prayer, and other Duties of a Religion, without any Interruption or Noise at all that Night. But the Night following, the Gentle woman, with several other Godly Women, being in the House, the noise of a Whirl-wind began again, with more violence than formerly, and the Apparition walked in the Chamber, having an unsufferable stench, like that of a putrified Carcass, filling the Room with a thick smoak, smelling like Sulphur, Darkening the Light of the Fire and Candle, but not quite Extinguishing it; sometimes going down the Stairs, and coming up again with a fearful Noise, disturbing them in their Prayers, one while with the sound of words, which they could not discern, otherwise striking them, so that the next Morning their Faces week black with the smoak, and their Bodys swollen with bruises.

This was attested by Colonel Rogers, the Governour of Hereford, by a Letter to Mr. Baxter, Dated August 23. 1656. As likewise by Mr. Sam. Jones's of Cocdreken, Mr. Maur. Bedwell's of Swansy, Mr. Daniel Higs and Captain Samuel Foley's, both of Clonmell.

16. In the year of our Lord, 1652. Mary, the Daughter of Edward Ellins, of the Bur∣rough of Evesham, in the County of Worcester, Gardiner, then about nine or ten years old, went in the Fields on a Saturday with some other children to gather Cowslips, and finding in a Ditch by the way side, at the said Town's End, one Catherine Huxley, a single Wo∣man, Aged then about Forty years (as is supposed, easing Nature) the children called her Witch, and took up Stones to throw at her, the said Mary also called her Witch, and took up a Stone, but was so affrighted, that she could not throw it at her; then they all run away from her, and the said Mary being hindmost, this Huxley said to her [Ellins, you shall have Stones enough in your—] Whereupon Mary fell that day very ill, and continued so Weak and Languishing that her Friends feared she would not recover; but a Month af∣ter, she began to void Stones by the urinary Passages, and some little Urine came away from her; also when she voided any Stone, the Stone she voided, was heard by those that were by her, to drop into the Pot or Bason, and she had most grievous Pains in her Back and Reins, like the pricking of Pins, the Number of the Stones she voided, was about eighty, some plain Pebbles, some plain Flints, some very small, and some about an Ounce Weight; this she did for some space, (a Month or two, or thereabouts) until upon some strong Suspicions of Witchcraft, the forenamed Huxley was apprehended, examined and searched, (at whose Beds-head there was found several Stones, such as the said Mary voided (and was sent to Worcester, where at the Summer Assizes in the said Year 1652. (then at hand) she was upon the Prosecution of the Friends of the said Mary, Condemned and Executed. Hist. Disc. of Apparitions and Witches, p. 44.

17. Mr. Samuel Clark hath published the Apparition to Mr. White of Dorchester, assessor to the Westminister assembly, at Lambeth, that the Devil in a light Night, stood by his Bed∣side: She looked a while whether he would say or do any thing, and then said, If thou hast nothing else to do, I have; and turned himself to sleep. Many say it from Mr. White him∣self. Hist. Disc. of Apparitions and Witches, p. 63.

18. Conveyances through the Air, &c. by Invisible Powers, Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery, Esq;— In a Letter from the Reverend Mr. Paschal, Rector of Chedzay in Somer∣setshire, to Mr. Aurbery, are these words, Viz. The most Remarkable of all happen'd in that Day that I passed by the Door in my return hither, which was Easter-Eve, when Fry re∣turning from Work (that little he can do) he was caught by the Woman Spectre by the Skirts of his Doublet, and carried into the Air; he was quickly mist by his Master and the Workmen, and great enquiry was made for Fran. Fry, but no hearing of him; but about half an Hour after Fry was heard Whistling and Singing in a kind of a Quagmire. He was now af∣fected as he was wont to be in his Fits; so that none regarded what he said; but coming to Himself an Hour after, he solemnly protested, That the Daemon carried him so high that he saw his Master's House underneath him no bigger than an Hay-co*ck, that he was in perfect Sense, and prayed God not to suffer the Devil to destroy him; That he was suddenly set down in that Quagmire. The Workmen found one Shooe on one side of the House, and the other Shooe on the other side; his Periwig was espied next Morning hanging on the Top of a tall Tree. It was soon observ'd, that Fry's part of his Body that had laid in the Mud, was much benum'd, and therefore the next Saturday, which was the Eve of Low-Sunday, they carried him to Crediton to be let Blood; which being done, and the Company having left him for a little while, returning, they found him in a Fit, with his Fore-head all bruised and swoln to a great bigness, none being able to guess how it came, till he recover'd himself, and then he told them, That a Bird flew in at the Window with a great force, and with a Stone in its Mouth, flew directly against his Fore-head. The People looked for it, and found on the Ground just under where he sate, not a Stone, but a weight of Brass, or Copper, which the

People were breaking, and parting it among themselves. He was so very ill, that he could not ride but one Mile, or little more that Nighr, since which time I have not heard of him, save that he was ill handled the next Day, being Sunday. Indeed Sir, you may wonder that I have not Visited that House, and the poor afflicted People; especially, since I was so near, and passed by the very Door: I am very well assured of the Truth of what I have Written, and (as more appears) you shall hear from me again.

19. A Copy of a Letter from a Learned Friend of mine in Scotland, Dated March 25. 1695.—Honoured Sir, I received yours Dated May 24 1694. In which you desire me to send you some Instances and Examples of Transportation by an Invisible Power. The true cause of my delaying so long to reply to that Letter, was not want of Kindness; but of sit Materials for such a Reply. As soon as I read your Letter of May 24. I called to mind a Story which I heard long ago, concerning one of the Lord Duffus (in the Shire of Murray) his Predeces∣sors, of whom it is reported, That upon a time, when he was walking abroad in the Fields near to his own House, he was suddenly carried away, and ••ound the next day at Paris in the French King's Cellar with a Silver Cup in his Hand; that being brought into the King's Presence and Question'd by him, Who he was? And how he came thither? He told his Name, his Countrey, and the place of his Residence, and that on such a Day of the Month (which proved to be the Day immediately preceeding) being in the Fields, he heard the noise of a Whirl-wind, and of Voices crying Horse and Hattock (this is the World which the Fairies are said to use when they remove from any place); whereupon he cried (Horse and Hattock) also, and was immediately caught up, and Transported through the Air by the Fairies to that place, where after he had Drunk heartily, he fell asleep, and before he awoke, the rest of the Company were gone, and had left him in the posture wherein he was found. It's said, the King gave him the Cup which was found in his Hand, and dismiss'd him.

This Story (if it could be sufficiently attested) would be a Neble Instance for your purpose, for which cause I was at some pains to enquire into the truth of it, and found the means to get the present Lord Duffus's opinion thereof; which shortly, is. That there has been, and is such a Tradition.

20. The following Account I received November last, from Mr. Alexander Mowat, a Person of great Integrity and Judgment, who being Minister at the Church at Lesly, in the Shire of Aberdene, was turned out for refusing the Oath of Test, Anno. 1681. He informs, That he heard the late Earl of Cathnes, who was Married to a Daughter of the late Marquess of Argyle, tell the following Story, Viz. That upon a time, when a Vessel which his Lordship kept for bringing home Wine and other Provisions for his House, was at Sea; a common Fellow, who was reputed to have the Second-sight, being occasionally at his House; the Earl enquired of him, where his Men (meaning those in the Ship) were at that present time? The Fellow replied, at such a place, by Name, within four Hours Sailing of the Harbour, which was not far from the place of his Lordship's Resi∣dence: The Earl asked, what Evidence he could give for that? The other replied, that he had lately been at the place, and had brought away with him one of the Sea-mens Caps, which he delivered to his Lordship. At the four Hours end the Earl went down himself to the Harbour, where he found the Ship newly arrived, and in it one of the Seamen without his Cap; who being questioned, how he came to lose his Cap? Answered, that at such a place (the same the Second-sighted Man had Named before) there arose a Whirl-wind which endangered the Ship, and carried away his Cap: The Earl asked, if he would know his Cap when he saw it? He said he would; whereupon the Earl produced the Cap, and the Seaman owned it for that, which was taken from him. This is all the Information which I can give at present concerning Transportation by an Invisible Power.

21. One Instance I had of one Allen Miller, being in Company with some Gentlemen, having gotten a little more than ordinary of that strong Liquor they were Drinking, began to tell Sto∣ries and strange Passages he had been at: But the said Allen was suddenly removed to the farther end of the House, and was there almost strangled; recovering a little, and coming to the place where he was before, they asked him, What it was that troubled him so? He Answered, he durst not tell; for he had told too much already.

22. The Devil appeared to a Dying Man, and shewed him a Parchment very long, Written on every side with the Sins both of words, thoughts and deeds, of the Sick Man, and said unto him: Behold thy vertues! See what thy Examination shall be. To whom he Answered, True Satan, but thou hast not set all. Thou shouldst have added, The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all Sin: And he that believeth and is Baptized, shall be saved. Chetwinds Hist. Collect.

23. Luther relates of himself, that being at Prayer, contemplating how Christ hung on the Cross and suffered for his Sins, there appeared suddenly on the Wall a bright shining Vision, and therein appeared also a glorious form of our Saviour Christ, with his five wounds, stedfastly looking upon him, as if it had been Christ himself corporally. Now at the first sight, he thought it had been some good Revelation, yet presently recollected himself, and apprehending it some jugling of the Devil; For Christ appeareth unto us in his word, and in a meaner and more humble form; like as he was humbled on the Cross for us: Therefore, said he, I spake to the Vision in this manner; Away thou confounded Devil, I know no other Christ, than he that was Crucified, and who in his word is Pictured and Preached to me: Whereupon the Image Vanished, which was the very Devil himself. And in like manner, said Luther further; A Gentlewoman, a Virgin not far from my House at Wittenburg, lay very sick, to whom also ap∣peared a Vision after this sort following. She beheld, as she thought, a Glorious form of our Saviour, which she was ready to have Worshipped and fall down before; but I being sent for presently, repaired to her, and saw the Vision also, as in the form of Christ. I admoni∣shed her seriously, that she should not suffer her self to be deluded by the Devil; where∣upon

upon she raised up her self, and spit upon the Face of the Image, and instantly the Image was changed into a great ugly Snake, which slid to the Gentlewomans Bed, and bit her by the Ear, so there stood drops of Blood upon the Ear, which trickled down, and thereupon the Snake vanished. This I beheld with mine Eyes, said Luther, with divers others that stood by. Luther's Coll. p. 144.

24. There was in Scotland, one [an Obsessus] carried in the Air several times, in the view of several Persons, his Fellow-Soldiers. Major Henton hath seen him carried away from the Guard in Scotland sometimes a Mile or two. Sundry Persons are living now (1671,) that can attest this Story. I had it from sir Robert Harley (the Son) who Marryed Major Hen∣ton's VVidow; as also from E. T. D. D.

25. A Gentleman of my Acquaintance Mr.— M. was in Portugal, Anno 1655, when one was Burnt by the Inquisition for being brought thither from Goa in East-India, in the Air, in an incredible short time.

CHAP. IV. Concerning the Existence and Appearance of Separate Souls.

THat the Souls of Men do not expire with the Breath and Vital Ʋnion; or fall into a deep Sleep, never to be awaked till the General Resurrection; according to the Opinions of some Drowsy People, whose Reasons at present are asleep in their Bodies, is a Truth (I think) easily evincible out of the Topicks of all Religions, that make any Noise and Figure in the World; out of the clear Text of Sacred Scripture, and from the very nature of our Souls, as they now are and act in the Body, whilst in union with it.

Mr. Stevens in his late Sermons upon the Parable of Dives and Lazarus, tells us, that one of the Fathers calls the Good Angels (Enocatores Animarum) the Callers forth of Souls, and such as shew them (Paraturam Diver∣sonii) the preparation of those Mansions they are going to. Hence (says he) we observe when good Men are dying, they are often in silent Raptures, and express a kind of impatience till they are dissolved. And why? because they spiritually see what they cannot utter; as did St. Paul when he was wrapt up into the Third Heaven. There is a kind of a Draught presented to them by their Guardian Angels, of those Transcendent Joys they are almost ready to enter in pos∣session of, and therefore long and pine till they are conveyed into that place of unspeakable Fe∣licity. These Heavenly Spirits succour and support them under their Pain and Sickness, and when their Souls are stormed out of their Bodies, they encompass and embrace them, soaring through the Regions of Evil Angels into Heaven. 'Tis said, that Lazarus was safely carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bosom; so that 'tis plain, that the Angels are employed to convey the Souls of true Believers into a fixed State of blessedness.

But because Men are very apt to be incredulous in these Cases, my Design is to enquire in their Chapter, what knowledge we can pick up concerning the Existence of particular Souls after their Separation, out of Antient and Mo∣dern Histories; and I believe it will appear by what follows, that the Soul is really alive and a∣ctive, and concerned after Death. I Insist not on the Parable to the Rich Man and Lazarus, mention'd by our Saviour, nor any particular Instances out of Sacred Writ: Read the following Stories, and if all of them are not credibly and rightly interpreted and applied; if Satan may in some be concerned on purpose to put Tricks upon poor Incredulous (shall I say, or Credulous) Souls, yet 'tis strange if they are all untrue.

1. A Narrative of an Apparition which a Gentleman in Boston had of his Brother, just then Murthered in London.—It was on the Second of May, in the Year 1687, that a most ingenious, accomplished and well-disposed Gentleman, Mr. Joseph Beacon by Name, about Five a Clock in the Morning, as he lay, whether Sleeping or Waking he could not say, (but judged the latter of them) had a View of his Brother then at London, altho he was now himself at our Boston, distanced from him a Thousand Leagues. This his Brother ap∣peared to him in the Morning, about five a Clock at Boston, having on him a Bengal Gown, which he usually wore, with a Napkin tied about his Head; his Countenance was very Pale, Gastly, Deadly, and he had a Bloody Wound on one side of his Forehead. Brother! says the affrighted Joseph. Brother, answered the Apparition. Said Joseph, What's the mat∣ter Brother? How came you here? The Apparition replied, Brother, I have been most barba∣rously and injuriously Butcher'd by a Debauch'd, drunken Fellow, to whom I never did any wrong in my Life. Whereupon he gave a particular Description of the Murderer; adding, Brother, This Fellow changing his Name, is attempting to go over unto New England, in Foy or Wild: I would pray you on the first Arrival of either of these, to get an Order from the Governour, to Seize the Person whom I have now described; and then do you Indict him for the Murder of me your Brother: I'll stand by you, and prove the Indictment: And so he vanished. Mr. Bea∣con was extreamly astonished at what he had seen and heard; and the People of the Fa∣mily not only observed an extraordinary Alteration upon him for the Week following, but have also given me under their Hands a full Testimony, that he then gave them an Ac∣count of this Apparition.

All this while Mr. Beacon had no Advice of any thing amiss, attending his Brother then in England; but about the latter end of June following, he understood by the common ways of Communication, that the April before, his Brother going in haste by Night to call a Coach for a Lady, met a Fellow then in Drink, with his Doxy in his Hand: Some way or other the Fellow thought himself affronted with the hasty passage of this Beacon, and immediately ran into the Fire-side of a Neighbouring Tavern, from whence he fetch'd out a Fire-fork, wherewith he grievously wounded Beacon in the Skull, even in that very part where the Apparition show'd his Wound. Of this Wound he Languished until he Died, on the Second of May, about Five of the Clock in the Morning at London. The Murderer it seems was endeavouring to Escape, as the Apparition affirmed, but the Friends of the Deceased Beacon seized him; and prosecuting him at Law, he found the help of such Friends as brought him off, without the loss of his Life; since which, there has no more been heard of the Business.

This History I received of Mr. Joseph Beacon himself, who a little before his own pious and hopeful Death, which follow'd not long after, gave me the Story written and signed with his own Hand, and attested with the Circ*mstances I have already mentioned. See Mr. Cotton Mather's Wonders of the Invisible World.

2. In the City of Athens there was a goodly Lodging, which yet was out of Request, as a Place very dangerous; for in the Night there was a Spirit that walked in it, drawing a Chain, and making a Noise, and seemed as if he came afar off; and then would suddenly be hard by. After that, there would appear a great Old Man, his Flesh all worn away, ha∣ving a Long Beard, his Hair standing an end, and all tangled; Fetters on his Feet, a Chain at his Hands, which he would always be shaking. They that dwelt in the house could ne∣ver rest in the Night, but would grow heavy and pensive, and so fall sick and dye: For in the very day time, though they saw not the Spirit, yet they would think he always was in their sight, and that the ringing of his Chain did always beat in their Ears. Upon this, the Lodging stood empty, though it was by Bills exposed to sale. After some time. Athenodorus the Philosopher came to Athens, lacked a House, and purchasing this at a small Rate, the first Night put his Servants into the back-part of it to lodge; chose for himself the fore∣part, where he had a Bed placed, his VVriting-Tables brought, and a Lamp well lighted: Here he betook to Read, VVrite and Study very earnestly. And late in the Night, the Spirit came with his old Noise, Chain and Fetters; the Philosopher continuing still earnest at his Business: 'Till at last the Spirit shaking his Chain over his Head, made a Sign to him, as if he desired the Philosopher to follow him: Upon which he obeyed, taking a Light in his Hand, and following, till such time as the Ghost vanished away in the Street. Athe∣nodours marked the Place with some Grass and Leaves which he laid upon it; and the next Day went to the Council of the City, desired the Place might be searched; which being done, they found a Dead body all rothen, nothing left but Bones and Chains, which they took up and buried elsewhere. After which, the House was no more Haunted. Camerar. Hist. Med. l. 4. ex Plen. 2d Epist. l. 3.

3. The Elder Countess of Donagal, a Lady, Pious, Discreet and Credible, told me, That one of her Husband's Tennants, (near Belfast, or Carickfergus, where he was Lord) agreed with him for to put his Son's Life, with his own Life, in a renew'd Lease of a Farm; and he paid part of the Money, and dy'd before the Lease was made and seal'd: His Wife marry'd another Man, and paid the rest of the Money out of her second Husband's Purse, and therefore put in his Son's Life, instead of her Son by the former Husband, into the Lease. The Earl of Donagal going into England, and being then in the West, a Servant of his in Ireland, his Porter, a stout lusty Man, was haunted with the Apparition of the Wo∣mans first Husband, telling him, That he must go to his Wife, and tell her, That she should have no rest till his Sons Life were put in the altered Lease. He askt why he spake to him, and what he had to do to meddle in it? It answered him, Thou art a Man fit for it, and thou shalt have no rest till thou do it. The Man delayed, and was still haunted with this Apparition. He went to the Minister of the Town, and told him of it; who counselled him to tell the Woman. She told him, That she took it to be Just, that her Husband that paid most of the Money, should have the benefit of the Lease; and perhaps, not believing the Man, delayed. This Apparition came to the Porter again, and said, That she may believe thee, go tell her of such and such Discourse and Actions, that were between her and me in secret, which none else knoweth of. The Man went, and told her all that he was bid. She confessed that it was all true, and secret between them, but still delayed, till some trouble (I remember not what) molested her self. In short, the Porter and she had no rest, till she had drawn a new Lease, with the Name of the first Husbands Son, and sent it into England, to the Earl of Donagal, who Sealed it. Historical Discourse of Apparitions and Witches, p. 40.

4. St. Augustine relates a memorable Story which fell out at Milan, where a certain Citi∣zen being dead, there came a Creditor, to whom he had been indebted, and unjustly de∣manded the Money of his Son; the Son knew the Debt was satisfied by the Father, but ha∣ving no Acquittance to shew, his Father appear'd to him in his Sleep, and shew'd him where the Acquittance lay, Aug. in lib. de curâ pro mortuis agendâ.

5. It is a thing, both known and frequent, That the Inhabitants of the Scotish Isles, when their Friends are dying, come to them, and request them, that upon such or such a day after their Death, and in such a place, they wou'd meet them, which the Dead according∣ly do at the time and place agreed upon, and have sometimes discourse with them. See Flavel on the Soul.

6. Marsilius Ficinus, having made a solemn Vow with Michael Mercatus (after they had been pretty warmly disputing of the Immortality of the Soul, out of the Principles of their Ma∣ster Plato) that whether of them two died first, should appear to his Friend, and give him certain Information of that Truth; Ficinus Died quickly after: Mercatus being early in the Morning very intent on his Studies, heard a Horse Riding by with all speed, and of served that he stopt at his VVindow; and therewith heard the Voice of his Friend Ficinus, crying out aloud. O Michael, Michael, vera, vera sunt illa, i.e. O Michael, Michael, those things are true. VVhereupon he suddenly opened his VVindow, and espying Marsilius upon a white steed, called after him, but he Vanished out of his sight, he sent therefore presently to Florence, to know how Marsilius did, and understood that he died about that hour he called at his VVindow. Flavel out of Dr. More, who cites it out of Baronius.

7. Much to the same purpose, is that so Famous and well attested Story of the Appariti∣on of Major George Sydenham, to Capt, William Dyke, both of Somersetshire, attested by the worthy and Learned Dr. Thomas Dyke, and by Mr. Douch, to whom both the Major and Captain were intimately known. The summ is this: The Major and Captain had many disputes about the being of a God, and the Immortality of the Soul, in which points they could never be resolved, tho they much sought for and desired it, and therefore it was at last fully agreed betwixt them, that he that died first, should the third Night after his Fu∣neral, come betwixt the hours of twelve and one, to the little House in the Garden, ad∣joyning to Major Sydenham's House at Dulverton in Somersetshire. The Major died first. The Captain awaited at the time, and place appointed for his Major, but no Appearance. About six Weeks after the Captain and Dr. Dyke went to Eaton, and lay again in the same Inn, but not the same Chamber as before, at Dulverton. The morning before they went thence, the Captain staid longer than was usual, in his Chamber, and at length came into the Doctors Chamber, but in a Visage and Form much differing from himself, with his Hair and Eyes staring, and his whole body shaking and trembling; whereat the Doctor wondering, de∣manded the cause. The Captain Answered, I have seen my Major, if ever I saw him in my Life, I saw him but now: This morning (said he) after it was light, some one came to my Bed-side, and suddenly drawing back the Curtains, call'd Cap, Cap, the Term of Familiarity, used by the Major! To which he added, I could not come at the time appointed, but I am now come to tell you, that there is a God, and a very just and terrible one, and if you do not turn over a new leaf you will find it so. The Cap. eat little, and seemed to have these words sounding in his Ears frequently, during the remainder of his Life; and often related it, but with Trepidation and Horror. Flavel ex Sadducismo Triumphato, 2d part. p. 183.

8. Thomas Goddard of Marlborough in the County of Wilts, Weaver, A. 1674. Nov. 23. Saith, that on Monday the Ninth of this Instant, as he was going to Ogborn, at a Style on the High way near Mr. Goddard's Ground, about Nine in the Morning, he met the Appari∣tion of his Father-in-Law, one Edward Avon of this Town, Glover, who Died in May last, having on, to his Appearance, the same Cloaths, Hat, Stockings and Shoes, he did usually wear when he was Living, standing by, and leaning over that Style. Which when he came near, the Apparition spake to him with an audible Voice these Words, Are you afraid? To which he Answered, I am, thinking on one who is Dead and Buried, whom you are like. To which the Apparition replyed with the like Voice, I am he that you were thinking on, I am Edward Avon your Father-in-Law, come near to me, I will do you no harm. To which Goddard Answered, I trust in him who hath bought my Soul with his precious Blood, you shall do me no harm. Then the Apparition said, How stands Cases at home? Goddard askt, What Cases? Then it askt him, How do William and Mary? Meaning, as he conceived, his Son, William Avon, a Shooemaker here, and Mary, his Daughter, the said Goddard's Wife. Then it said, What! Taylor is dead; meaning, as he thought, one Taylor of London, who mar∣ried his Daughter Sarah, which Taylor died about Michaelmas last. Then the Apparition held out its Hand, and in it, as Goddard conceived, Twenty or Thirty Shillings in Silver, and then spake with a loud Voice, Take this Money and send it to Sarah, for I shut up my Bowels of Com∣passion towards her in the time of my Life, and now here is somewhat for her. And then said, Mary, (meaning his, the said Goddard's Wife, as he conceived,) is troubled for me; but tell her, God hath shewed Mercy to me, contrary to my Deserts. But the said Goddard answered, In the Name of Jesus Christ, I refuse, I refuse all such Money. Then the Apparition said, I perceive you are afraid, I will meet you some other time. And immediately it went up the Lane, to his appearance. So he went over the same Stils, but saw it no more that day.

He saith, the next Night, about Seven of the Clock, it came and opened his Shop Window, and stood in the like Cloaths, looked him in the Face, but said nothing to him. And the next Night after, as Goddard went forth into his back side, with a Candle light in his Hand, it appeared to him again, in the same shape; but he being in fear, ran into his House, and saw it no more then.

But he saith, That on Thursday, the Twelfth instant, as he came from Chilton, riding down the Hill, between the Mannor-House and Axford-Farm-Field, he saw somewhat like an Hare cross his way, at which his Horse being frighted, threw him in the dirt, and as soon as he could recover his feet, the same Apparition there met him again, in the same Habit, and there standing about Eight Foot directly before him in the way, spake again to him with a loud Voice, Source, (a word he commonly used when living) you have staid long; and then said to him, Thomas, bid William Avon take the Sword that he had of me, which is now in his House, and carry it to the Wood as we go to Alton, to the Ʋpper End of the Wood, by the way side; for with that Sword I did wrong about Thirty Years ago, and he never prospered since he

had that Sword. And bid VVilliam Avon give his Sister Sarah Twenty Shillings of the Money which he had of me. And do you talk with Edward Lawrence; for I borrowed Twenty Shillings of him several Years ago, and did say I had paid him, but I did not pay it him; and I would desire you to pay him Twenty Shillings out of the Money which you had from James Elliot, at Two Payments. Which Money the said Goddard now saith was Five Pounds, which James Elliot, a Baker here, owed the said Avon on Bond, and which he the said Goddard had recei∣ved from the said Elliot, since Michaelmas, at Two Payments, viz. Thirty Five Shillings at one, and Three Pounds Five Shillings at the other. Tell Margaret (meaning his own Wife, as he conceived) that I would desire her to deliver up the little which I gave to little Sarah Taylor, to the child, or to any one she will trust for it. But if she will not, speak to Edward Lawrence to perswade her. But if she will not then, tell her that I will see her very suddenly. And see that this be done within a Twelve Month and a day after my Decease, and Peace be with you. And so it went away over the Rails into the Wood there, in the like manner, as any Man would go over a Style, to his Apprehension, and so he saw it no more at that time. And he saith, that he paid the twenty Shillings to Edward Lawrence•• of this Town, who being present now, doth remember he lent the said Avon twenty Shillings about twenty years ago, which none knew but himself and VVife, and Avon and his VVife, and was ne∣ver paid it again before now by this Goddard.

And this said Goddard further saith, that this very day, by Mr. Mayor's order, he, with his Brother-in-Law William Avon, went with the Sword, and about Nine a Clock this Morn∣ing, they laid down the Sword in the copse, near the place the Apparition had appointed Goddard to carry it, and then coming away thence, Goddard looking back, saw the same Apparition again in the like habit as before. VVhereupon he called to his Brother-in-Law, and said, Here is the Apparition of our Father; VVho said, I see nothing. Then Goddard fell on his Knees, and said, Lord, open his Eyes that he may see it. But he replyed, Lord, grant I may not see it, if it be thy Blessed Will. And then the Apparition, to Goddard's Appear∣ance, beckned with his hand to him to come to it. And then Goddard said, In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, what would you have me to do? Then the Apparition said to him, Thomas, take up the Sword and follow me. To which he said, should both of us come, or but one of us? To which it Answered, Thomas do you take up the Sword. And so he took up the Sword and followed the Apparition about Ten Lugs (that is Poles) further into the Copse, and then turning back, he stood still about a Lug and an half from it, his Brother-in-Law staying behind at the place where they first laid down the Sword. Then Goddard laying down the Sword upon the ground, saw something stand by the Apparition like a mastiff Dog, of a brown Colour. Then the Apparition coming towards Goddard, he stept back about two steps, and the Apparition said to him, I have a Permission to come, and a Commission not to touch you, And then it took up the Sword, and went back to the place at which before it stood, with a Mastiff Dog by it, as before, and pointed the top of the Sword into the ground, and said; In this place lies Buried the Body of him which I Murdered in the Year 1635. VVhich is now Rotten and turned to Dust. VVhereupon Goddard said, I do abjure you in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, wherefore did you do this Murder? And it said, I took Money from the Man, and he contended with me, and so I Murdered him. Then God∣dard askt him, who was Confederate with him in the said Murder? And it said, None but my self. Then Goddard said, What would you have me do in this thing? And the Apparition said, This is that the World may know that I Murdered a Man, and Buried him in this place in the Year 1635.

Then the Apparition laid down the Sword on the bare ground there whereon grew nothing, but seemed to Goddard to be as a Grave sunk in. And then the Apparition rushing further into the Copse, Vanished, and he saw it no more. VVhereupon Goddard and his Brother-in-Law Avon, leaving the Sword there, and coming away together, Avon told Goddard he heard his Voice, and understood what he said, and heard other words distinct from his, but could not understand a word of it, nor saw any Apparition at all. VVhich he now also at present affirmeth, and all which the said Goddard then attested under his hand, and affirmed, he would depose the same, when he shall be thereto required.

In the Presence of Christ. Lypiat, Mayor, Ralph Bayly, Town Clerk, Joshua Sacheverel, Rector of St. Peters in Marlborough.

Examined by me, William Bayly.

Thus far out of Mr. Glanvil, which I have related more largely, because I my self was at Oxford at the same time, when the Relation came fresh to the Vice-Chancellor; And Lodg∣ing at Chadlington, not far from Oxford, upon the Saturday Night after, with the Minister of the Place, then a Fellow of Merton-Colledge, of thirteen or fourteen years standing: He told me, that having an occasion of Travelling into Wiltshire, near to the very place where this Goddard dwelt, he had the very story fully attested to him by many credible Persons.

7. Mrs. Taylor of the Ford, by S. Neots, in a Letter to Dr. Ezekiel Burton, relates, how one Mary Watkinson, whose Father lived in Smithfield, but she Married to one Francis Top∣ham, and she living in York, with her Husband, being an ill one, who did steal her away against her Parents consent, so that they could not abide him; That she came often to them,

and when she was last with him, upon their parting, she expressed, that she feared she should never see him more. He Answered her, if he should die, if God did permit the Dead to see the Living, he would see her again; now after he had been Buried about half a year, one Night, when she was in Bed, but could not sleep, she heard Musick, and the Chamber grew lighter and lighter, and she being broad awake, saw her Father stand at her Bed-side: who said, Mall, did I not tell thee that I would see thee once again? She call'd him Fa∣ther, and talk'd of many things; and he bad her be Dutiful and Patient to her Mother: And when she told him, that she had a Child since he died, he said, That would not trouble her long. He bad her speak what she would now to him, for he must go, and that he should rever see her more till they met in the Kingdom of Heaven: So the Cham∣ber was darker and darker, and he was gone with Music; and she said, that she did never dream of him, nor ever did see any Apparition of him after.

He was a very honest godly Man, as far as I can tell, saith the same Mrs. Taylor in the Clause of a Letter, Ibid. and it is attested by G. Rust likewise, afterward Bishop of Dromore.

8. Dr. Farrar (a Man of great Piety, and Physician to King Charles the II.) and his Daughter (Mrs. Pearson's Mother, a very pious Soul) made a Compact at his Intreaty, that the first of them that died, if happy, should after Death appear to the Surviver, if it were possible; the Daughter with some Difficulty consenting thereto.

Some time after, the Daughter, who liv'd at Gillingham-Lodge, two Miles from Salisbu∣ry, fell into Labour, and by a Mistake, being given a noxious Potion, instead of another prepared for her, suddenly died

Her Father liv'd in London, and that very Night she died she open'd his Curtains, and looked upon him. He had before heard not••ing of her Illness, but upon this Apparition confidently told his Maid that his Daughter was dead, and after two Days receiv'd the News. Her Grandmother told Mrs. Pearson this; as also an Uncle of hers, and the abovesaid Maid; and Mrs. Pearson I know, and she is a very Prudent and Good Woman; Saith Mr. Edward Fowler, in a Letter to Dr. H. More, An. 1678. Ibid.

9. Mr. Quick, in his Relation of a Family poison'd at Plymouth, relates this Story, which he saith he had from one Mr. B. Cl. a very Holy Man, and a Reverend Minister, formerly of Petrocks, by the Castle of Dartmouth. This Minister was sent for, to visit and pray with a dying Man, under very much Troubles of Conscience. His Case was this; Sir, said he un∣to the Minister, about 7 months since, as I was going to Buscow, I met a Comerade of mine, who had gone to Sea about a Fortnight since; and taking him by the Hand, wondring at his Arrival, I said, What chear Mate? What makes thee return so soon, and look so pale? I am dead, quoth this Spectrum. Dead? man! and yet walk and talk! Yes, saith he, I am dead. I was took sick shortly after my going to Sea, and died this day; and about an Hour since, so many Leagues off, I was thrown overboard.

Now I desire thee to go home, and to tell my Wife of it, and to open my Coffer, and shew my Will, and see my Legacies paid; which having so promised to do for him, at parting he ad∣ded, And as for that business between thee and me, that thou well wotest of, I charge thee that thou never speak of it to any Man living; for if thou dost, I will in that very moment tear thee in a thousand Pieces. Now, Sir, this lies heavy upon my Conscience. Fain would I declare it; it is upon my Tongue, but I cannot: And why can you not, said the Minister? Oh! Sir, do not you see him? Look how terrible he is! there he is just against me! Oh how doth he threaten me! I would tell you, but I dare not.

And whatever Arguments this Reverend Parsonage could use unto the sick man, he could never bring him to a Confession; but he pined away under his Terrors and Horrors; till at last, not being able to subsist any longer by reason of them, he died. See the aforesaid Relation, called Hell open'd; or the Infernal Sin of Murder punished. P. 82, 83.

10. No longer since than the last Winter there was much Discourse in London concerning a Gentlewoman, unto whom her dead Son (and another whom she knew not) had ap∣pear'd: Being then in Lodnon, I was willing to satisfie my self, by enquiring into the Truth of what was reported; and on Febr. 23. 1691. my Brother (who is now a Pastor to a Congregation in that City) and I discoursed the Gentlewoman spoke of; she told us, that a Son of hers, who had been a very civil young Man, but more airy in his Temper than was pleasing to his serious Mother; being dead, she was much concern'd in her Thoughts about his Condition in the other World; but a Fortnight after his Death he appear'd to her saying, Mother, you are solicitous about my Spiritual Welfare; trouble your self no more, for I am happy, and so vanish'd. See Mr. Increase Mather's Cases of Conscience, about Witches, p. 11.

11. Apparitions, extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq;—The Antiquities of Oxford tell us, that St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, did sometimes converse with an Angel, (or Nymph) at a Spring without St. Clements Parish, near Oxford; as Numa Pompili∣us did with the Nymph Egeria. This Well was stopped up since Oxford was a Garrison. See the Life of John Donn, D. D. Dean of St. Pauls, writ by Mr. Isaac Walton, where it is affirmed, that the Dean did see the Apparition of his Wife.

12. Mr. Cashio Burroughs was one of the most Beautiful Men in England, and very Va∣liant, but very proud and Blood-thirsty: There was then in London a very Beautiful Itali∣an Lady, who fell so extreamly in Love with him, that she did let him enjoy her, which she had never let any man do before: Wherefore, said she, I shall request this Favour of you, never to tell any one of it. The Gentlewoman died; and afterwards in a Tavern in London he spake of it; and there going to make Water, the Ghost of the Gentlewoman did appear to him. He was afterwards troubled with the Apparition of her, even some∣times in Company, when he was drinking, but he only perceiv'd it: Before she did appear,

he did find a kind of a Chilness upon his Spirits; she did appear to him in the morning before he was kill'd in a Duel. This Account I have from an intimate Friend of mine, who was an Acquaintance of his.

13. In James-street, in Covent-Garden, 1647. did lodge a Gentlewoman, a handsome Woman, but common, who was Mr. Mohun's (Son to the Lord Mohun) Sweet-heart, Mr. Mohun was murthered about Ten a Clock in the Morning, and at that very time, his Mistress being in Bed, saw Mr. Mohun come to her Bed-side, drew the Curtain, looked up∣on her, and went away: She call'd upon him, but no answer: She knock'd for her maid, ask'd her for Mr. Mohun; she said she did not see him, and had the Key of her Chamber Door in her Pocket. This Account I had from the Gentlewoman's own mouth, and her maid's. A parallel Story to this, is, That Mr. Brown, (Brother-in-law to the Lord Con∣ningsby) discover'd his being murther'd to several. His Phantome appear'd to his Sister and her maid in Fleet-street, about the time he was Killed in Herefordshire, which was about a Year since, 1693.

14. I must not forget an Apparition in my Country, which appear'd several times to Dr. Turbervile's Sister, at Salisbury; which is much talk'd of. One marry'd a second Wife, and, contrary to the Agreement and Settlement at the first VVife's marriage, did wrong the Children by the first Venter. The Settlement was hid behind a VVainscot in the Cham∣ber where the Doctor's Sister did lie: And the Apparition of the first VVife did discover it to her. By which means Right was done to the first Wife's Children.

15. One Mr. Towes, who had been School-fellow with Sir George Villers, the Father of the first Duke of Buckingham, and was his Friend and Neighbour) as he lay in his Bed awake, (and it was Day-light) came into his Chamber the Phantome of his dear Friend Sir George Villers: Said Mr. Towes to him, Why, you are Dead, what make you here? Said the Knight, I am dead, but cannot rest in Peace for the Wickedness and Abomination of my Son George at Court. I do appear to you, to tell him of it, and to advise and dehort him from his Evil ways, Said Mr. Towes, The Du••e will not believe me, but will say, that I am Mad, or D••at. Said Sir George, Go to him from me, and tell him by such a Token (some Mole) that he had in some secret place, which none but himself knew of. Accordingly Mr. Tomes went to the Duke, who laugh'd at his message At his return home, the Phantome appear'd a∣gain, and told him, that the Duke would be stabb'd (he drew out a Dagger) a quarter of a Year after; and you shall outlive him half a Year; and the Warning that you shall have of your Death will be, That your Nose shall fall a-bleeding: All which accordingly fell out so.

16. The Learned Henry Jacob, Fellow of Merton-College in Oxford, died at Dr. Jacob's, M. D. House in Canterbury. About a Week after his Death, the Doctor being in Bed, and awake, and the Moon shining bright, saw his Cousin Henry standing by his Bed, in his Shirt, with a white Cap on his Head, and his Beard mustaches turning up, as when he was alive. The Doctor pinched himself, and was sure he was awaked: He turned to the other side, from him, and after some time took Courage to turn the other way again towards him; and Henry Jacob stood there still, he should have spoken to him, but did not, for which he has been ever since sorry: About half an Hour after he vanished. Not long after this, the Cook-maid going to the Woodpile to fetch VVood to dress Supper, saw him standing in his Shirt upon the VVoodpile. This Account I had in a Letter from Dr. Jacob. 1673. relating to his Life, for Mr. Anthony Word, which is now in his Hands.

17, Mr. T. M. an old Acquaintance of mine, hath assured me, that about a quarter of a Year after his VVives Death, as he lay in Bed awake with his little Grand-child, his Wife open'd the Closet Door, and came into the Chamber to the Bedside, and looked upon him, and stooped down and kissed him; her Lips were warm, he fancied they would have been cold. He was about to have embraced her, but was afraid it might have done him hurt. When she went from him, he asked when he should see her again? she turn'd about and smiled, but said nothing. The Closet Door striked as it uses to do, both at her com∣ing in, and going out.

18. Mr. Jo. Lydall, or Trinity-College, Soc. Oxon. March 11. 1649, 50. Attests the ensuing Relation, in a Letter to Mr. Aubrey, thus; — Mr. Aubrey, Concerning that which hap∣pened at Woodstock, I was told by Mr. W. Haws, (who now lives with Sir William Fleet∣wood in the Park) That the Committee which sat in the Mannor-house, for Selling the King's Lands, were frighted by strange Apparitions; and that the Four Surveyors which were sent to measure the Park, and Lodged themselves with some other Companions in the Mannor, were pelted out of their Chambers by Stones thrown in at the Windows (but from what Hands the Stones came they could not see) that their Candles were continually put out as fast as they lighted them; and that one with his Sword drawn to defend a Candle, was with his own Scab∣bard in the mean time well Cudgell'd; so that for the Blow, or for fear, he fell Sick, and the others forced to remove; some of them to Sir William Fleetwood's House, and the rest to some other places. But concerning the cutting of the Oak, in particular, I have nothing.

Your Friend, To be commanded to my power, John Lydall.

19. A Minister, who liv'd by Sir John Warre, in Somersetshire, about 1665, walking over the Park to give Sir John a Visit, was rencounter'd by a venerable old Man, who said to him, Prepare your self; for such a day (which was about three Days after) you shall die.

The Minister told Sir John Warre and my Lady this Story, who heeded it not: On the Morning fore-warn'd, Sir John calls upon the Parson early to ride a Hunting, and to Laugh at his Prediction: His Maid went up to call him, and found him stark dead. This from my Lady Katherine Henly, who had it from my Lady Warre.

20. Dr. — Twiss, Minister of the New Church at Westminster, told me, That his Fa∣ther [Dr. Twiss, Prolocutor of the Assembly of Divines, and Author of Vindiciae] when he was a School-Boy at Winchester, saw the Phantome of a School-fellow of his deceased (a Rakehell) who said to him, I am damned. This was the occasion of Dr. Twiss [the Fathers] Conversion, who had been before that time (as he told his Son) a very wicked Boy.

21. John Evelyn shewed us at the Royal Society, a Note under Mr. Smyth's Hand (the Curate of Deptford) that in November 1679, as he was in Bed sick of an Ague, came to him the vision of a Master of Arts, with a white Wand in his Hand; and told him, That if he did lie on his back three Hours, viz. from ten to one, that he should be rid of his Ague. He lay a good while on his Back; but at last being weary he turned, and immediately the Ague attacked him, afterwards he strictly followed the Direction, and was perfectly cured. He was awake, and it was in the Day-time.

22. A Dutch Prisoner at Woodbridge in Suffolk, in the Reign of Charles II. could discern Spirits; but others that stood by could not. The Bell tolled for a Man newly deceased. The Prisoner saw his Phantome, and did describe him to the Parson of the Parish, who was with him; exactly agreeing with the Man for whom the Bell tolled. Says the Prisoner, now he is coming near to you, and now he is between you and the Wall; the Parson was resolved to try it, and went to take the Wall of him, and was thrown down; but could see nothing. This Story is credibly told by several Persons of Belief. Dr. Hooke, the Parson of the Parish, has often told this Story; of which I know many more particulars.

23. Vavasor Powell saw several Apparitions. See page 8. of his Life.

As concerning Apparitions of a Man's own self, there are sundry Instances, some whereof I shall here set down.

24. The Beautiful Lady Diana Rich, Daughter of the Earl of Holland, as she was walk∣ing in her Father's Garden at Kensington, to take the fresh Air before Dinner, about Eleven a Clock, being then very well, met with her own Apparition, Habit and every thing, as in a Looking-Glass. About a Month after she died of the Small-pox. And 'tis said, that her Sister, the Lady Isabelta (Thinne) saw the like of her self also before she died. This Account I had from a Person of Honour.

25. Mrs. E. W. Daughter of Sir W. W. affirms, that Mrs. J. (her Father's Sister) saw her self (i. e.) her Phantome, half a Year before she died, or a quarter of an Hour together. She said further, that her Aunt was sickly Fourteen Years before she died, and that she walk∣ed Living (i. e.) her Apparition, and that she was seen by several at the same time. The like is reported of others.

26. Mr. Trehern, B. D. (Chaplain to Sir Orlando Bridgman, Lord Keeper) a Learned and sober Person, was the Son of a Shoe-maker in Hereford: One Night as he lay in Bed, the Moon shining very bright, he saw the Phantome of one of the Apprentices sitting in a Chair, in his red Wastcoat, and Head-band about his head, and Strap upon his Knee; which Ap∣prentice was really a Bed and asleep, with another Fellow-Apprentice in the same Chamber, and saw him.

27. When Sir Richard Nepier, M. D. of London, was upon the Road, coming from Bedford∣shire, the Chamberlain of the Inn shewed him his Chamber; the Doctor saw a dead Man lying upon the Bed: He look'd more wistly, and saw it was himself. He was then well enough in Health. He goes forward in his Journey — to Mr. Steward's in Berkshire, and there died. This Account I have in a Letter from Elias Ashmole, Esquire. They were in∣timate Friends. Thus far Mr. Aubery.

CHAP. V. Revelation of secret, or future Things, by express Voice.

BY this Title I do not mean any Declarations, Discoveries, Confessions, or Predictions, made by any Person living, but only such as are uttered, either with only an audible Voice alone, or with a Voice proceeding from some Phantasm or Apparition, either in the likeness of some de∣ceased Person, Friend, or Relation; or of some Ghost dressed up in the Figure of some Animal, that we are generally acquainted with; as the Serpent to Eve, the Ass to Balaan, &c. Histo∣ries are full of Testimonies and Instances of this kind: to enquire after all, would be a wild Chase, and nauseous to the Reader, as well as laborious to the Writer. We will call a few out of many, for a Specimen; which will give such a lustre to the Theme we are upon, that will certainly run us up in our Meditations and Searches, to Digitus Dei, the Finger of God, as having a signal stroke in all such Voices and Occurrences, as cannot with any shew of Reason be imputed or ascribed to any Inarticulate, Inorganical, Irrational Being, which yet appears to be the only Immediate In∣strument they proceed fro••.

1. In Jerusalem, before the Destruction of it by Titus Vespasian, at the Feast of Pentecost, the High-Priest entering into the Temple to offer the usual Sacrifices, which at that time God regarded no more, there was a sudden Noise heard, and a Voice immediately following it, which said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Let us depart hence. Gaffarella's unheard of Curios. Part 2. Ch. 3. out of Josephus. Besides, we know, that our blessed Saviour had by express Words Pre∣dicted the same dismal Calamity to that place and People, with a particulat notation of the Time when it should happen, viz. before the then present Generation should be passed away.

2. An Inhabitant of the Town of Guilford in Surrey, who was possest of some Copy-hold Land, which was to descend to his Children, or in default of such Issue, to his Brother, dies, having no Child born. And his Wife apprehending her self not to be with Child (which her Husbands Brother asked her immediately after his Brother's death) she told him she be∣lieved she was not, but afterward proved to be. Which when she knew, she went, by the instigation of Neighbours, to her Brother, and told him how it was with her. He railed at her called her whor*, and told her, That she had procured some Body to g et her with Child, knowing that such a Field must be Inherited by the Posterity of her Husband, but her whor∣ing should not fool him out of the Estate. The poor Woman went home troubled, that not only her Child should lose the Land, but, which was worse, that she should be thought a whor*. However, she quieted her self, and resolved to sit down with the loss.

When her times came, she was delivered of a Son, he grew up, and one Summer's Night, as she was undressing him in her Yard, her Husband appeared, and bid her go to his Brother, and demand the Field: which she did, but was treated very ill by him. He told her, That neither she, nor her Devil (for she had told him her Husband appeared, and bid her speak to him) should make him forego his Land. Whereupon she went home again: But some time after, as her Brother was going out of this Field home-ward, the dead Man appears to him at the Stile, and bids him give up the Land to the Child, for it was his Right. The Brother being greatly frighted at this, runs away, and not long after comes to her, and tells her, she had sent the Devil to him, and bids her take the Land, and so gave it up, and her Son is now possest of it. His Name is Mat. he lived in the Service of Mr. Reading's Brother for some Years, but he has forgot his Sir-name, though he knows him very well. Related in a Letter of Dr. Ezekias Burton to Dr. H. More. Mr. Glanvil's Saducism. Triumph. p. 417.

3. Dr. Bretton, late Rector of Ludgate and Deptford, lived-formerly in Herefordshire, and married the Daughter of Dr. S.—. This Gentlewoman was a Person of extraordinary Piety, which she expressed, as in her Life, so at her Death. She had a Maid, that she had a great kindness for, who was Married to a near Neighbour, whose Name, as I remember, was Alice. Not long after her death, as Alice was rocking her Infant in the Night, she was cal∣led from the Cradle by a knocking at the Door, which opening, she was surprised at the sight of a Gentlewoman, not to be distinguished from her late Mistress, neither in Person nor Habit. She was in a Morning Gown, the same in appearance with that she had often seen her Mistress wear. At first sight she expressed very great Amazement, and said, Were not my Mistress dead, I should not question but that you are she. She replied, I am the same that was your Mistress, and sook her by the Hand. Which Alice affirmed was as cold as a Clod.

She added, That she had Business of great Importance to imploy her in, and that she must im∣mediately go a little way with her. Alice trembled, and beseecht her to excuse her, and in∣treated her very importunately to go to her Master, who must needs be more fit to be em∣ployed. ••he answered, That he who was her Husband, was not at all concerned, but yet she had a desire rather to make use of him, and in order thereunto had several times been in his Chamber, but he was still asleep, nor had she power to do more, than once uncover his Feet towards the awak∣ning of him. And the Dr. said, That he had heard a walking in his Chamber in the Night, which, till now, he could give no account of. Alice next objected, That her Husband was gone a Journey, and she had no one to look to her Child, that it was very apt to cry vehe∣mently, and she feared if it awaked before her return, it would cry it self to death, or do it self mischief. The Spectre replyed, The Child shall sleep till you return.

Alice seeing there was no avoiding it, sorely against her will, followed her over a Stile in∣to a large Field, who then said to her, Observe how much of this Field I measure with my Feet. And when she had taken a good large and leasurely compass, she said, All this brlongs to the Poor, it being gotten from them by wrongful means. And charged her to go and tell her Brother, whose it was at that time, that he should give it up to the Poor again forthwith, as he loved her and his deceased Mother. This Brother was not the Person who did this un∣just Act, but his Father. She added, That she was the more concerned, because her Name was made use of in some Writing that related to this Land.

Alice ask'd her, How she should satisfie her Brother that this was no Cheat, or delusion of her Fancy. She replyed, Tell him this Secret, which he knows that only himself and I are privy to, and he will believe you. Alice having promised her to go on this Errand, she proceeded to give her good Advice, and entertained her all the rest of the Night, with most heavenly and divine Discourse. When the Twi-light appeared, they heard the Whistling of Carters, and the noise of House-Bells, whereupon the Spectre said, Alice, I must be seen by none but your self, and so she disappeared.

Immediately Alice makes all haste home, being thoughtful for her Child, but found it as the Spectre had said, asleep as she left it. When she had dressed it, and committed it to the care of a Neighbour, away she went to her Master the Doctor, who amazed at the account she gave him, sent her to his Brother-in-Law. He at first hearing Alice's Story and Message, laughed at it heartily; but she had no sooner told him the secret, but he changed his Coun∣tenance,

told her he would give the Poor their own, and accordingly he did it, and they now enjoy it.

This, with more Circ*mstances, hath several times been related by Dr. Bretton himself, who was well known to be a Person of great Goodness and Sincerity. He gave a large Nar∣rative of this Apparition of his Wife to two of my Friends. First, to one Mrs. Needham, and afterwards, a little before his Death, to Dr. Whichcot.

Some Years after I received the fore-going Narrative (viz. near four Years since) I light into the company of three sober Persons of good Rank, who all lived in the City of Here∣ford, and I travelled in a Stage Coach three days with them. To them I happened to tell this Story, but told it was done at Deptford, for so I presumed it was, because I knew that Dr. Bretton lived there. They told me, as soon as I had concluded it, that the Story was very true in the main, only I was out as to the place; for it was not Deptford, but as I re∣member they told me Pembridge near Hereford, where the Dr. was Minister before the Re∣turn of the King. And they assured me, upon their own knowledge, that to that Day the Poor enjoyed the piece of Ground. They added, That Mrs. Bretton's Father could never en∣dure to hear any thing mentioned of his Daughters appearing after her death, but would still reply in great anger, That it was not his Daughter, but it was the Devil. So that he acknowledged that something appeared in the likeness of his Daughter.

This is Attested by me, this 16th, of Febr. 1681.

Edward Fowler.

This Narrative was sent to Dr. H. More, from Mr. Edward Fowler, Prebendary of Gloucester. Glanv. Sad. Triumph. p. 419.

4. These Relations seem strange indeed, but was it now as strange, that Constantine the Great, praying earnestly to God, should see the sign of the Cross figured in the Air, with an Inscription in it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in hoc vince, by this overcome! And yet Eusebius Re∣ports it in these words: While the Emperour was thus earnestly praying unto God, and be∣sought him, that he would reveal himself to him, and that he would assist him in his pur∣poses and resolutions; while he was thus earnestly at his Prayers, a divine and wonderful Vision appeared unto him, which was scarce credible, if himself had not related it. But seeing this victorious Emperour did with an Oath confirm it to be true, when he related it to me, who intended to write his History long after, when taking notice of me, he admitted me to familiar Conference with him, who can doubt of the Truth of his Relation, which (even then was seen and admired by his whole Army, and) afterward, in process of time, was confirmed in a miraculous manner. He said moreover, that in his sleep Christ appeared unto him, with the former sign of the Cross, And bid him make the like Figure to wear in his Ban∣ner. Euseb. in Vit. Constant. l. 1. c. 22, 23. See the next Chap.

I dare not insist upon the Truth of that Relation, that when this Emperour gave the Tithes to the Church, a Voice was heard in the Air, saying, Nunc venenum infaesum est Ecclesia, now Poison is poured into the Church; though Hermannus Gigas Reports it for true. Mel∣leolus Relates it thus, When Constantine gave to Pope Sylvester, the Palace of the Laterane, the City of Rome, and Provinces of Italy, a Hand was seen writing upon a Wall of the La∣terane, Hodie vacuum Ecclesia infusurus. Centur. Magdeb, cant. 4. c. 13.

5. Voices Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubery, Esq;—In the Life of King Henry IV. of France, writ by the Arch-bishop of Paris, it is recorded, That Charles IX. (who caused the Massacre) was wont to hear Screaches, like those of the Persons Massacred.

6. St. Augustine heard a Voice, saying, Tolle, lege. He took up his Bible, and dipt on Rom. 13.13. Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, &c. and Re∣formed his Manners upon it.

7. One Mr. Smith, a Practitioner of Physiek at Tamworth in Warwick-shire, an under∣standing sober Person, reading — Hollinshead's Chronicle, found a relation of a great Fight between Vortigern and Hengest, about those Parts, at a place call'd Colemore: A little time after, as he lay awake in his Bed, he heard a Voice that said unto him, You shall short∣ly see some of the Bones of those Men and Horses slain, that you read of: He was surprized at the Voice, and ask'd in the Name of God, who it was that spoke to him? The Voice made answer, That he should not trouble himself about that, but what he told him should come to pass. Shortly after, as he went to see Colonel Archer (whose Servants were digging for Marle) he saw a great many Bones of Men and Horses; and also Pot-sherds; and upon a view it ap∣peared to be according to the description in Hollingshead's Chronicle; and it was the place where the Fight was, but it is now called Blackmore. This was about the Year 1685. and I had the account from my worthy Friend and old Acquaintance, Tho. Mariett of Warwick∣shire, Esq; who is very well acquainted with Mr. Smith aforesaid.

8. It was since the Restauration of King Charles II. that Martin Luther's Table Talk was Translated into English, by — but about half a Year before, as he lay in his Bed awake, he heard a Voice, which did bid him Translate that Book: but by reason of some Business, he neglected it. The Voice demanded, Why he had not done it? he replyed he had not leisure: Said the Voice, You shall have leisure enough shortly: And shortly after he was Arrested, and put in the Gate-house at Westminster; where he remained many Months: and there was the Translation finished. See the Preface before the Book. Thus far I'm beholden to Mr. Au∣brey's Collections.

9. Philip Ʋp-John (the Son of a Reverend Divine) being about 11 Years of Age, whilst he lived with Dr. Annesley in Spittle-yard, in the Year 1686. being alone, reading the Bible, he thought he heard a Voice, Bidding him prepare for Death, for he should die in a short time. Upon which this Boy being surprized, he came down Stairs, and acquainted the Family with it: Two or three days after he heard this Voice, he went to one Mr. Mallerye, a Joyner, who work'd to the Family, and seeing him making a Coffin, he told Mr. Mallerye, he should die shortly, and desired he would make for him such a Coffin as that was; which passage Mr. Mallerye acquainted the Family with the same Day, and though then in perfect health, in a few days after fell sick, of which sickness he died. This remarkable Passage I received from a Person who was at Dr. Annesley's House when this hapned.

10. Mrs. Elizabeth Dunton, as she was walking through Moor-Fields (to see her Reve∣rend Father Dr. Annesley, who then lay dangerously ill) she fancied she heard a Voice saying to her, You need not be so much concerned for your Father, for as near as he is to death, you shall go before him. This made a great Impression upon her Mind, and in a few Days after she fell Sick, and her Recovery is much doubted. This happened about the latter end of Octo∣ber, 1696.

CHAP. VI. The Discovery of things Secret or Future, by Signs, common Sounds, and Voices.

THis Title is near a-kin to the fore-going, and differs only in this; that there an Articulate Voice and Express words were heard; here only some Inarticulate sound, of no natural sig∣nification, or particular sence is requisite; or some noise in General, which can be supposed to import nothing move then the Presence and Agency of some Invisible being: Of which, it will not be necessary, to give many Instances, because of the Affinity this hath to several other Heads, or Titles in this Book.

1. A. D. 1630. A very Miraculous thing happened at Geismar in Hassia, two Souldiers lying for safety in that Town, one of them complained to the other who was in Bed with him, that he was very cold, the other Answer'd, he could not believe it, in regard that his own Body was very hot and wet, intreating him to touch and feel his side; which when he had done, finding his hands exceeding wet, and as it were glued and congealed together, he suspected something extraordinary, and looking on his hands by the light of the Moon, he Judged them to be Bloody, and endeavouring to wash off the Blood from his side, pre∣sently more Blood issued out; at length, after the space of an hour, it ceased of it self. About three handfuls of Blond were taken out of the Sheets; this, with the Relation of o∣ther Circ*mstances, they presented in the Morning to the Commander, who enquired of him how he had felt himself that Night; the Souldier Answered, That he had been extream ill for some time, but was afterwards restored to his former Health; The two next years af∣ter this Prodigy, this goodly Countrey of Hassia was miserably harassed by several Armies, and the Inhabitants were Barbarously and Inhumanely treated by the Emperours Army, and if the Prince or his Poor Subjects, did at any time complain and Petition for Justice or Redress, they were only scorned and rejected for their labours, so that they were forced to endure Quarterings, Taxations, Burnings, Robberies and Sacking of their Towns and Villa∣ges, yea, the Slaughter of Innumerable innocent Subjects of all sorts, without being able to obtain any Pity, or Compassion from their Enemies; The same Year 1630, in May, the Noremberg Carrier, and several Passengers in their Journey towards Hamborough, passing by the Town of Coburg, at Night, they observed with great Admiration, a Prodigious fire go∣ing in and out of the Town, and heard a mighty noise like the Discharging of Canons; Two years after which General Wallestein Assaulted this Town with Souldiers, and great Guns, but was so stoutly entertained by those within, that after the loss of a great many of the Imperialists, he was forced (tho he had besieged it above Twenty Months) to break up his siege and depart. Surprizing Mirac. of Nature, p. 108.

2. In King Henry the VIII's. Days, there was one Mr. Gresham, a Merchant of London, setting Sail homewards from Palermo, where dwelt at that time one Antonio, called the Rich, who had at one time, two Kingdoms Mortgaged to him by the King of Spain; and being Crossed by contrary Winds, Mr. Gresham was constrained to Anchor under the Lee of the Island off from Bulo, where was a Burning Mountain. Now about the Midday, when for a certain space the Mountain forbore to send forth Flames, Mr. Gresham, with eight of the Sailors; ascended the Mountain, approaching as near the Vent as they durst, where a∣mengst other Noises they heard a Voice cry aloud, Dispatch, dispatch, the Rich Autonio is a coming. Terrified herewith, they hasted their return, and the Mountain presently broke out in a Flame: But from so dismal a place they made all the haste they could, and desir∣ing to know more of this matter, (the Winds still thwarting their course) they returned to Palermo, and forthwith enquiring for Antonio, they found that he was Dead about the ve∣ry Instant, so near as they could guess, when that Voice was heard by them. Mr. Gresham at his return to London, reported this to the King, and the Mariners (being called before

him) confirmed the same; upon Mr. Gresham this wrought so deep an Impression, that he gave over all his Merchandizing, distributed his Estate, partly to his Kinsfolk, and partly to good uses, retaining only a Competency for himself; and so spent the rest of his days in Solitary Devotion. Sands Relat. 248.

3. Knockings, Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq; Mr. Baxter's Certain∣ty of the Worlds of Spirits. A Gentleman formerly seeming Pious, of late Years hath fallen into the Sin of Drunkenness; and when he has been Drunk, and slept himself Sober, something Knocks at his Beds-head, as if one knock'd on a Wainscot; when they remove the Bed, it follows him; besides loud Noises on other parts where he is, that all the House heareth. It poseth me to think what Kind of Spirit this is, that hath such a care of this Man's Soul, (which makes me hope he will recover.) Do good Spirits dwell so near us? Or, are they sent on such Messages? Or, is it his Guardian Angel? Or, is it the Soul of some Dead Friend, that suffereth, and yet retain∣ing Love to him, as Dives did to his Brethren, would have him Saved? God keepeth yet such things from us in the Dark. Three or four Days before my Father died, as I was in my Bed, about Nine a Clock in the Morning, perfectly awake, I did hear three distinct Knocks on the Beds-head, as if it had been with a Ruler or Ferula. Mr. Hierome Banks. as he lay on his Death Bed in Bell-yard, said Three Days before he died, that Mr. Jennings of the Inner-Temple (his great Acquaintance, Dead a Year or two before) gave Three Knocks, looked in, and said, Come away. He was as far from believing such things as any man.

4. Mr. Brograve, near Puckridge in Hertford-shire, when he was a young man, riding in a Lane in that Contrey, had a Blow given him on his Cheek (or Head): He look'd back, and saw that no body was near, behind him; anon, he had such another Blow; I have forgot if a Third. He turn'd back and fell to the Study of the Law; and was afterwards a Judge. This Account I had from Sir John Penrudock of Compton-Chamberlain (our Neighbour) whose Lady was Judge Brograve's Neice.

5. Newark has Knockings before Death. And there is a House near Covent-Garden that has Warnings.

6.

At Berlin, when one shall Die out of the Electoral House of Brandenburgh, a Wo∣man Drest in white Linnen appears always to several, without speaking, or doing any harm, for several Weeks before.

This from Jasper Belshazer Cranmer, a Saxon Gentleman. Thus far I am beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collect.

CHAP. VII. Discovery of Things Secret or Future; by Prodigies, Comets, Lights, Stars, &c.

HERE I propound only, to shew how God Almighty, when he is doing, or going to do any thing extraordinary in the World, to put Nature out of its usual Course, and make some greater and more remarkable Steps in his Providence; He often hangs out some Flag, makes some Flame of Fire his messenger, or so Ruffles the Elements of the Visible World in such an unusual manner as is enough to startle Men, not out of, but into their Wits, and make them serious and inquisi∣tive into the Counsels of Heaven; and their own Merits and Behaviour towards God; and so to Humble them into Sorrow and Penitence, when they see the Hand of God thus lifted up, or concern'd for them.

1. Before the Destruction of Jerusalem there was often seen in the Air Armies of men in Battle-array, seeming to be ready to charge each other; the Brazen Gate open'd of it self, without being touched by any Body. Joseph. de Bell. Jud. l. 7. Gaffarella, Part 2. c. 3.

2. A little before the time that Xerxes cover'd the Earth with his million of men, there appear'd horrible and dreadful Meteors, as Presages of the Evils that afterwards happened; as there did likewise in the time of Attila, who was call'd Flagellum Dei, God's Scourge. Gaffarrel, unheard of Curios. Part 2. Ch 3.

3. When Ambrose was a Child, a Swarm of Bees settled on his Face in the Cradle, and flew away without hurting of him; whereupon his Father said, Si vixerit infantulus ille, ali∣quid magni erit; viz. If this Child live, he will be some great man. Clark's Mart. of Eccl. Hist.

4. In the time of Gregory the Great, (A. C. 600, &c.) The River Tsber swell'd to such an unmeasurable height, that it ran over the Walls of Rome, and drowned a great part of the City, and brake into many great Houses, overthrew divers antient monuments and Gra∣varies belonging to the Church, carrying away many thousand measures of Wheat: Pre∣sently after which Innundation came down the River an innumerable Company of Serpents, with one monstrous great one, as big as a Beam; which, when they had swam into the Sea, were there choaked; and their Carcasses being all cast upon the Shoar, there rotted; which caused such an Infection of the Air, that presently a great Plague followed at Rome; so that many thousands died of it. Yea, Arrows were visibly seen to be shot from Heaven; and whosoever was stricken with them, presently died; amongst whom Pelagius was one, then Bishop of Rome. Ibid. p. 97. What the consequences of those Prodigies were, I leave to the Consideration

of the ingenious Reader, who may easily find in Church-History somewhat not obscurely pointed at by them.

5. Thales Milesius, by help of the Stars foretold an abundance of Olives, that should be the Year following. Arist. Pol. l. 1. c. 7.

6. In the Reign of Theodosius, there appear'd a Star, shooting forth Beams in the shape of a Sword; and in the time of Sultan Scilim, an infinite Number of Crosses appear'd shi∣ning in the Air; which foreshewed the Loss he afterward receiv'd by the Christians. Gaf∣farel. unheard of Curios. Part 2. Ch. 3. And who knows not that the Emperor Pertinax was forewarn'd of his Death three Days before by a certain Vision, that seem'd to threa∣ten him (in a Pond) with a drawn Sword in his Hand. Idem ibid.

7. Appian hath reckon'd up what miraculous things were seen and heard, before the breaking out of the Civil Wars, as fearful Voices, and strange running up and down of Horses, which no Body could see. Pliny hath likewise set down those that were heard in the same manner, before the Cymbrian War; and among the rest, divers Voices that were heard from Heaven, and dreadful Alarms, sounded by certain terrible Trumpets. Before the Lacedemonians were overthrown at the Battle of Leuctra, the Arms in the Tem∣ple were heard to make a Noise of their own Accord; and about the same time, at Thebes, the Gates of the Temple of Hercules open'd of themselves, without any Man touching thee; and the Arms that hung against the Wall were found cast on the Ground (as Cicero reports the Story, lib. de Div.) not without the great Astonishment of the Beholders. At the time that Milliades went against the Persians, divers strange Sights fore∣shew'd what the Event would be; and that I may trouble my self to reckon up these Won∣ders no longer, you may have recourse to Livy; who for having been so copious in his Stories of this Nature, is thought fit by some Authors, to be stiled a Tragedian, rather than an Historian. Gaffarel. unheard of Curios. par. 2. c. 3. Cicerone de Divin. Val. Max. l. 1. Ces. l. 1. de Bell. Civ. Malleal. de Nob. c. 30. &c.

8. Constantine the Great marching towards Rome, with an Army of 9000 Foot, and 8000 Horse, against the Tyrant Maxentius; and musing with himself unto what God he should address his Prayers for Success (for as yet he was not settled fully in the Christian Faith) and considering withal, that his Predecessors, who had worshipp'd many Gods, and put their Trust in them, had very often miscarry'd; and that on the contrary, his Father, that had only worshipped one, and the true God, had a happy Reign, and was still preserved from many Dangers, he therefore resolved to adore that God only, which his Father had served; and upon that prayed earnestly to God to reveal himself to him, and to prosper him in his Journey; and whilst he was thus praying, lifting up his Eyes to Heaven, about Noon-day, he beheld the Sign of a Cross, lively figured in the Air, with this Inscription, In hoc Vince, [by this Overcome] himself and all his Army wondring at so strange a Pro∣digy; and being much troubled in his Mind, to know the meaning of it, the next Night following Christ appear'd to him in his Sleep, commanding him to make the like Figure and Banner, and to carry it against his Enemies: Whereupon the next day impart∣ing the Vision to his Friends, he sent for the best Goldsmiths and Lapidaries, to make the like Cross with Gold and precious Stones, and resolved to worship that God only who thus appear'd to him.—Afterwards with great courage he went forwards, bear∣ing before him and his Victorious Army, instead of the Imperial Eagle, the form of this Vision upon his Standard. Maxentius, as much depending upon his Sorcerers, was no less confident of Victory, for the furtherance whereof, he framed a deceitful Bridge over Tiber, to intrap Constantine; and sent out divers Armies to oppose him, before he should come near the City. But Constantine trusting only in God, overthrew at the first Encoun∣ter, his first, second and third Armies; and so marching thro' all Italy, he brought his Vic∣torious Ensigns near the Walls of Rome. Hereupon Maxentius led forth his Army above a mile from Rome, and joyned Battle with Constantine; but being overcharged with Con∣stantine's Vantguard, he with the rest of his Army fled; and either thro' Haste or Forget∣fulness, took over the Deceitful Bridge, which he had made to entrap Constantine with; where they had no sooner enter'd, but it fell asunder, and so they were all drown'd. Clark in vit. Constantin. p. 4. & Centuria Magdeburg ex Eusebi••.

9. In the Reign of Justinian there was such a prodigious Sight seen about the Sun, that the like had not been seen or heard of before: The Sun, for the greatest part of the Year, gave so little Light, that it was but equal to the Light of the Moon; and yet at the same time the Sky was clear, without Clouds, or any thing to obscure it; after which there followed a great Famine, and much War and Bloodshed. Idem in vit. Justinian. Tho' the Centurians of Magdeburgh are silent in the Case, and make no mention of it, not∣withstanding they undertake to record all the Prodigies and Wonders that happen'd in the Reigns of the several Emperors; however I offer it only upon the Credit of my Author, who lays it wholly at Evagrius his Door.

10. Gasper Cruciger, ••s he lay in his Bed in the Night, Nov. 6. A. C. 1548. Seeing a Prodigy which then happen'd, viz. A great Chasm in the Heaven, and in some places Fire falling to the Earth, and flying up again into the Air; much bewailed the great Commo∣tions and Dusipations in the Church, which he foresaw by this Prodigy. Fuller Abel. Rediv. p. 145.

11. Mr John Lewis, a Learned Justice of Peace in Cardiganshire, speaking concerning the strange and usual Appearance of Lights, [call'd in Welch, Dead Mens Candles] before Mortality hath these Words: This is ordinary in most of our Counties, that I never searce heard of any, Young or Old, but this is seen before Death, and often observ'd to part from

the Body of the Persons all along the way, to the place of Burial, and infallibly Death will ensue. Now, Sir, It is worth your Resolution, whether this may proceed from God or no; it is commonly imputed to the Igneous Air of the Counties: But that evil Spirits can come by so much Knowledge, as to be always so infallible, (tho' herein I confess them very vast) and be so favourable and officious unto man, as to be such seasonable monitors of his Dis∣solution, and to give so much Discovery of Spiritual Essences, and the Immortality; I doubt whether they mean us so much Good as this: Some Wiles I confess they may have by such Appearance, but it carries the Benefits mention'd with it whereas their Disappear∣ance makes more for Infidelity and Atheism: But this I leave to your Judgment, beg∣ging Pardon for this Boldness, in diverting you from your far better Thoughts; and see∣ing it is my Happiness to have this little Invisible Acquaintance with you, I shall omit no Opportunity of troubling you with such poor Thoughts as the Lord shall give unto me of the best Things, humbly wishing (as for the making up the sad Differences of Religi∣on among us) the Lord would give those in Authority to weigh thatPious and Wise Discourse you have proposed, as to those four great Parties in the Dedication of your Saints Rest, with my unfeigned Prayers for your Health and Happiness. Hist. Discourse of Apparitions. &c.

12. March 2. 1678. At Poins-town, in the County of Tepperary, in Ireland, were seen divers strange and prodigious Apparitions; whereof take the Account as follows. On Sun∣day in the Evening several Gentlemen and others, after named, walked forth in the Fields, and the Sun going down, and appearing somewhat bigger than ordinary, they discoursed about it, directing their Eyes toward the Place where the Sun fat; when one of the Company observed in the Air, near the place where the Sun went down, an Arm of a Blackish Blue Colour, with a ruddy complection'd Hand at one end, and at the other end a Cross Piece, with a Ring fastned to the middle of it, like one end of an Anchor, which stood still a while, and then made Northwards, and so disappeared; next, there appeared at a great Distance in the Air, from the same part of the Sky, somethings like a Ship, com∣ing towards them; and it came so near, that they could distinctly perceive the Masts, Sails, Tacklings, and Men; she then seem'd to tack about, and sail'd with the Stern foremost Northwards, upon a dark smooth Sea, which stretched it self from South-west to North-west; having seem'd thus to sail some few Minutes, she sunk by degrees into the Sea, her Stern first; and as she sunk, they perceived her Men plainly running up the Tack∣lings in the forepart of the Ship, as it were to save themselves from drowning. Then ap∣pear'd a Fort, with somewhat like a Castle on the Top of it; out of the sides of which, by reason of some Clouds of Smoak, and a flash of Fire suddenly issuing out, they con∣cluded some Shot to be made. The Fort then immediately was divided in two Parts, which were in an instant transformed into two exact Ships, like the other they had seen, with their Heads towards each other: That towards the South seem'd to chase the other with its Stem foremost, Northwards, till it sunk with its Stem first, as the first Ship had done; the other Ship sail'd some time after, and then sunk with its Head first. It was observ'd, That Men were running upon the Decks of these two Ships, but they did not see them climb up, as in the last Ship, excepting one Man, whom they saw distinctly to get up with much Haste upon the very top of the Bowsprit of the second Ship, as they were sinking. They supposed the two last Ships were engaged, and sighting, for they saw the likeness of Bullets rowling upon the Sea, while they were both visible.—Then there appear'd a Chariot, drawn with two Horses, which turn'd as the Ships had done North∣ward, and immediately after it, came a strange frightful Creature, which they concluded to be some kind of Serpent, having a Head like a Snake, and a knotted Bunch or Bulk at the other end, something resembling a Snail's House. This Monster came swiftly be∣hind the Chariot, and gave it a sudden violent Blow, then out of the Chariot leaped a Bull and a Dog, which followed him, and seem'd to bait him: These also went Northwards, as the former had done, the Bull first, holding his Head downwards; then the Dog, and then the Chariot, till all sunk down one after another, about the same place, and just in the same manner as the former. These Meteors being vanished, there were several Appearances like Ships, and other things. The whole time of the Vision lasted near an Hour, and it was a very clear and calm Evening, no Cloud seen, no Mist, nor any Wind stiring. All the Phoenomena came out of the West, or South-west, and all moved Northwards; they all sunk out of Sight, much about the same place: Of the whole Company there was not any one but saw all these things, as above-written, whose Names follow.

• Mr. Allye, a Minister, living near the place.
• Lieutenant Dunslervile, and his Son.
• Mr. Grace, his Son-in Law.
• Lieutenant Dwine.
• Mr. Dwine, his Brother.
• Mr. Christopher Hewelson.
• Mr. Richard Foster.
• Mr. Adam Hewelson.
• Mr. Bates, a School-master.
• Mr. Larkin.
• Mrs. Dunslervile.
• Her Daughter-in-Law.
• Her Maiden Daughter.
• Mr. Dwine's Daughter.
• Mrs. Grace her Daughter.

13. Ostenta, or Portents. Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq;—

How it comes to pass, I know not; but by Ancient and modern Example it is evident, that no great ••ccident befalls a City or Province, but it is presaged by Divination, or Prodigy.

14. There was a strange Phenomenon seen at Broad-Chalk, in Wiltshire, on the First Day of May, 1647. It continued from about Eleven a Clock (or before) till Twelve. It was a very clear Day; but few did take notice of it, because it was so near the Sun-Beams. My Mother happened to espy it, going to see what a Clock it was by an Hori∣zontal Dial; and then all the Servants saw it. Upon the like occasion Mr. Jo. Sloper, B.D. Vicar there, saw it, and all his Family; and the Servants of Sir George Vaugham (then Fellow of Falston) who were Hunting on the Downes, saw it. The next remarkable thing that follow'd, was, that on the Third of June following, Cornet Joyce carried King Charles I. Prisoner from Holdenby to the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight lieth directly from Broad-Chalk, at the X a Clock Point.

15. There was seen at Bishops Lamington, in Wiltshire, in Sept. 1688. Two Balls of Light. They were about Eleven Degrees above the Horizon by the Quadrant; observed by Mr. Robert Blea, one of the Earl of Abingdon's Gentlemen.

CHAP. VIII. Discovery of Things Secret or Future; by Dreams and Visions.

I Would not be so Superstitious or Phanatic, as to lay a Stress upon all Dreams, as if they were significative; is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; nor so Prophane, as to range all under the No∣tion of meer Natural, or Fortuitous. The Dreams of Joseph, Pharoah, Nebuchadnezzar; Jo∣seph in the New-Testament, Pilate's Wife, &c. had certainly something of Divinity in them, and may be reasonably supposed to be infused by good Angels. But are those all? Were men to see Visions, and dream Dreams no longer, when life and Immortality were brought to light thro' the Gospel? Let these instances which follow be well weighed; and let the Judicious Reader judge as he please.

1. Polycarp having been at Prayer, three Days before his Apprehension, and afterwards fallen asleep, he saw in a Vision by Night the Pillow under his Head set on fire, and sud∣denly consumed to Ashes; which when he awaked, he interpreted it to be meant of his martyrdom. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist.

2. Ireneus in his 2d. Book against Heresies, saith, That some in his time had the spirit of Prophecy, to foreknow things to come; they saw Divine Dreams and Visions. Ibid.

3. Cyprian, in his 4th. Epistle, sets down this Vision, with a Respect to the Persecution then raised by Aemilianus, President of Egypt, Paternus, &c.

There was [saith he] an aged Father sitting, at whose Right Hand was a young Man, very Pensive and Sorrowful, with his Hand on his Breast; on the other Hand, another Person with a Net in his Hand, as threatning to catch those Men that were about him: Whilst Cyprian was wondring hereat, he seem'd to hear a Voice, saying unto him, The young man is sorrowful because his Pre∣cepts are not observed, he on the Left Hand danceth, and is merry, for that hereby occasion is given him from the Antient Father to afflict Men.

This was long before the Persecuti∣on happened: Ibid.

Cyprian faith, he was by another Vision admonished to use a Spare Diet, and he spar∣ing in his Drink. Ibid.

4. Valens the Emperor fully purposing to drive Basil out of Cesarea, was warn'd by his Wife to desist, for that she had been troubled with dreadful Dreams about him, and their only Son Gallates was desperately ill at that time, in the Judgment of the Physitians, and this she imputed to the ill Design of the Emperor against Basil. Valens hereupon sent for Basil, saying thus to him, If thy Faith be true, pray that my Son die not of this Disease. To whom Basil answer'd, If you will believe as I do, and bring the Church into Ʋnity and Concord, your Child shall doubtless live. The Emperor not agreeing to this, Basil departed, and the Child presently died. Ibid.

5. Antonius, Physitian to Augustus, was admonished in a Dream by a Daemon that ap∣peared to him in the form of the Goddess Pallas; that altho' Augustus was sick, yet he should not fail to be present in the Battle, which was next day to he given by Brutus and Cassius, and that he should there abide in his Tent; which he would have done but by the Physicians deep Perswasions to the contrary: For it came to pass, that the Enemy's Soldiers won the Tents, where questionless they had slain Augustus if he had been present there: So upon this Dream he prevented his Death, won the Day, and remain'd sole Mo∣narch of the Roman Empire; and under his Reign was born the Saviour of the World. Mexico's Treasury of Antient and Modern Times, Book 5. C. 25.

6. Quintus Curtius declares in the Life of Alexander, That when he laid Siege to the City of Tyre, he being intreated for Succour of the Carthaginians, who said they were descend∣ed of the Tyrians, concluded to raise his Siege, as despairing of ever surprizing it: But in a Dream a Satyr appear'd to him, after whom he follow'd, as he fled before him into a Cham∣ber; his Interpreters told him, that it was a sure Sign he should take the City, if he pur∣sued and continued the Siege, which fell out to be true. Idem ex Qu. Curtio.

7. Katherine de Medicis, Queen of France, and Wife to King Henry the II. dream'd the day before the said King was wounded to Death, That she saw him very sickly, hold∣ing down his Head as he walked along the Streets of Paris, being followed by an infinite num∣ber of his People, that lamented for him. Hereupon she most earnestly intreated him,

with wringing Hands and bended Knees, not to adventure in the Rank of Tilters on that Day. But he giving no Credit to her words, the last Day of Feasting (for the Marriage of Madam Margaret his Sister, to Emanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy) entred the Lists of Ho∣nour, and running to break the Lance against a bold and worthy Knight (the Count of Montgomery) happened to be wounded; of which wound the King died soon after, Aged about 40. leaving his Kingdom sadly mourning for him. Ibid. l. 5. c. 25.

8. His Son, King Henry the third, three days before he was murdered at St. Clou, beheld in a Dream all his Royal Ornaments, viz. his Linnen Vesture, Sandals, Dalmatian Robe, Mantle of Azure Sattin, Crowns, Scepter, and Hand of Justice, Sword and gilt Spurs, all bloody, and soil'd with the Feet of Religious Men, and others, and that he was very angry with the Sexton of St. Dennis. And though good Advice was given him to stand upon his Guard, yet so it fell out, that he could not avoid the fatal Chance. Ibid.

9. Calphurnia, Wife to the Adopted Father of Caesar, having dreamed, That she beheld Caesar slain and massacred, gave him notice thereof; but he in despite of the Dream, went jo∣cundly to the Senate next day, where he found the sad Effect and Consequence of this Dream. Ibid. Mr. Chetwind, in his Hist. Collections, gives us the Account more at large thus, viz. Caesar, in the fifty sixth year of his Age was slain in the Senate, Seventy of the chief Senators conspiring his Death; he having the Night before, when a Question was asked What Death was best? answered, The suddain, and not propensed. His Wife dreamt that Night, That he lay dead in her lap; and Spurina warned him to have heed to the Ides of March; and a Note was given to him going to the Senate, discovering the Conspiracy, which he began to read, but was interrupted, and died with it in his hands.

10. Bradwarain, in his Preface to his Learned Book de Causa Dei, tells us of a Dream he had in the Night, when he was about his Book in Confutation of Pelagius; he thought he was caught up into the Air, and Pelagius came and took hold of him, to cast him down head-long upon the Earth, but he prevailed against him after much strugling, and cast down Pelagius, so that he brake his Neck, and he lay dead upon the Earth. Whereby he faith, he was much comforted and strengthened. Mr. Barkers Flores.

11. Thomas Wotton Esq; of Bocton Malherb in Kent, Father to the Famous Sir H. Wotton, a little before his death, dreamed, That the Ʋniversity-Treasury was Robbed by Townsmen and poor Scholars, in number Five: and wrote this Dream the next day by way of Postscript, in a Letter to his Son Henry (then of Queens Colledge.) The Letter dated 3 days before out of Kent, came to his Son's hands the very Morning after the Robbery was committed: The Letter being Communicated by Mr. Wotton, gave such Light to this Work of Darkness, that the Five guilty Persons were presently discovered and apprehended. Dr. Plat's Nat. Hist. of Oxfordsh. c. 8. p. 47.

12. Astyages, last King of the Medes, saw in his Dream, a Vine springing forth from the Womb of his only Daughter, and at last so Flourish and Spread out it self, that it seemed to overspread all Asia. The Sooth-sayers being Consulted about it, answered him, That of his Daughter should be born a Son, that should seize on the Empire of Asia, and divest him of his. Tertified with this Prediction, he bestowed his Daughter on Cambyses, an obscure Per∣son, and a Foreigner. When his Daughter drew near her time, he sent for her to himself, with design to destroy what should be born of her. The Infant was delivered to Harpagus to be slain, a Man of known Fidelity, and with whom he had Communicated his greatest Secrets. But he fearing that, upon Astyages his death, Maudane his Daughter would suc∣ceed in the Empire, the King having no Issue Male, and that then he should be paid home for his Obedience, doth not kill the Royal Babe, but delivers it to the King's chief Herds∣man, to be exposed to the wide World. It fell out that the Wife of this Man was newly brought to Bed, and having heard of the whole Affair, earnestly requests her Husband to bring her the Child, that she might see him. He is overcome, goes to the Wood, where he had left him, finds there a Bitch, that had kept the Birds and Beasts off from the Babe, and suckled it her self. Affected with this Miracle, he takes up the Child, carries it to his Wife, who saw it, loved it, bred it up, till it grew up, first to be a Man, and then a King: He overcomes Astyages his Grandfather, and Translates the Scepter from the Medes to the Per∣sians. Just. Hist. l. 1. p; 16. Val. Max. l. 1. c. 7. Wanley, l. 6. c. 1.

13. When Alexander, after the long and difficult Siege of Tyre, lead his Army with great Indignation against the Jews, devoting all to Slaughter and the Spoil, Jaddas, the then High-Priest, admonished by God in a Dream, in his Priestly Attire, and with his Mitre on his Head, and upon that the Name of God, with a Number of Priefts and People, goes to meet him. Alexander, with great Submission, approaches him, Salutes and Adoves him; telling Parmeno, who was displeased with it, That he worshipped not the Man, but GOD in him, who (as he said) had appeared to him in that Form in Dio, a City of Macedonia, in his Dream, encouraging him to a speedy Expedition against Asia, promising his Divine Power for Assistance in the Conquest of it. Upon this he pardon'd the Jews, honoured and enriched the City and Nation. Jos. l. 1. c. 8. Wanley, l. 6. c. 1, &c.

14. Julius Caesar dreamed that he had carnal Knowledge of his Mother, which the Sooth∣sayers Interpreted, That the Earth, the common Mother of Mankind, should be subjected to him. Sueton. in Jnl. p. 8. Wanley's Wonders of the little World, l. 6. c. 1.

15. The Night before Polycrates King of Samos went thence, to go to Oretes the Lieu∣tenant of Cyru in Sardis, his Daughter dreamed, that she saw her Father lifted up in the Air, where Jupiter washed him, and the Sun anointed him; which came to pa••s: For as soon as he was in his Power, Oretes caused him to be hang'd upon a Gibbet, where his

Body was washed with the Rain, and his Fat melted with the Sun. Camerar. Oper. Subcisiv. Cent. 2. c. 57. ex Herodot. l. 3.

16 Antigonus dreamed that he Sowed a spacious Field with Gold, which sprang up, flou∣rish'd and ripen'd, was reaped presently, and nothing left but Stubble: and then he seemed to hear a Voice — That Mithridates was fled into the Euxine Sea, carrying along with him all the Golden Harvest. This Mithridates was then in the Retinue of Antigonus, (King of Macedonia) his own Countrey of Persia being ruin'd, and therein his own Fortunes. The King awakes, and terrified with this Dream, he resolves to cut off Mithridates, but being informed by Demetrius, Antigonu••'s Son, of the danger he was in, he flies privately into Cap∣padocia, where he Founded the Famous Kingdom of Pontus. Wanley's Wond. l. 6. c. 1. Ex Lips. & Plutarch.

17. Qu. Catalus in his Dream, saw Jupiter delivering into the hand of a Child, the Ro∣man Ensign: The next Night the same Child hugg'd in Jove's Bosom; and when Catalus offered to pluck him thence, Jupiter forbade him, telling him, He was born jor the welfare of the Romans. The next Morning seeing O••tavianus (afterwards Angustus) in the Street, he ran to him, and cryed out, This is He whom the last Night I saw Jupiter h••g in his Bosome. Idem en Xiphil. August. & Fulgos. l. 1.

18. Two Accadians of intimate Acquaintance, lodging at Megara, the one with a Friend, the other at an Inn; he at his Friend's House, saw in his sleep, his Companion begging of him to assist him, for he was circumvented by his Host: The other awakening, leaps out of his Bed, with intention to go to the Inn, but suspecting his Dream to have nothing in it, returned to his Bed and Sleep. The same Person appears to him a second time, all bloody, requesting him earnestly to revenge his Death, affirming, That he was killed by his Ho••, and that at his very time he was carried out in a Cart towards the Gate, all covered with Dung. The Man at last overcome with these Entreaties of his Friend, immediately runs to the Gate, finds the Cart, seizeth and searcheth it; where he found the Body of his Friend, and there∣upon dragg'd the Inn-keeper to his deserved punishment. Idem ex Val. Max. i. 1. c. 7. Dr. More Immort.〈◊〉〈◊〉 Soul, l. 2. c. 16, &c.

19. Alexander the Philosopher, the same Hour that his Mother died, saw in his sleep the Solemnities of his Mother, though she was at that time a Day's Journey distant from him. Wanley's Wonders of the little World, l. 6. c. 1.

20. Sionia, ••. 1523. dreamed, that falling into a River, he was in great danger of drowning, and calling to one for Succour, was neglected: This Dream he told to his Wife and Servants; the next Day going to help a Child that was fallen into the River, near the Castle of P••s••a••••, he leap'd in, and perished in the Mud. Idem ex Heywood Hierarch. l. 4. & Jovio.

21. Galen being troubled with an Inflammation about the Diaphragma, dreamed, that upon opening of a Vein between his Thumb and Fore-ringer, he should recover his Health, which he did, and was restored. Idem ex Schot. Phys. Curios. l. 3. c. 25. Col. Rhod. &c.

22. Celitts Rhodiginses saith, When he was 22 Years of Age, being perplexed with Ectra∣pali (a Greek Word in the Annotations upon Pliny, signifying those who grow beyond the common Proportions of Nature assign'd to their kind) in his perplexity he lay'd him do••n to sleep, and in his Dream recalled to mind the very Book, page, and place of the page of another Author, where he had formerly read it. Col. Rhod. Am. lact. l. 27. c. 9.

23. A Citizen of Millain was demanded a Debt, as owing from his dead Father; and when he was in some trouble about it, the Image of his dead Father appears to him in his sleep, tells him the Debt was paid, and in such a place he should find the Writing, with the Hand of his Creditor to it. Awaking from his Dream and Sleep, he finds the Acquit∣tance. Which Saint Austin saith, himself saw with his own Eyes. Wanley ex Fulgos. l. 1. c. 5. p. 130.

24. When S. Bernard's Mother was with Child of him, she dreamed that she had a little white and barking Dog in her Womb: which a Religious Person Interpreted thus; An ex∣cellent Dog indeed, for he shall be a Keeper of God's House, and shall incessantly bark against the Advers••••ies of it; and as a famous Preacher, shall cure many with his Medicinal Tongue. Idem ex Heidfeld, in Sphing. c. 37.

25. Francis Petrarch had a Friend so desperately ill, that he despaired of his Life, weari∣ed with Grief and Tears he fell into a slumber, and seemed to see his sick Friend stand be∣fore him, and tell him that he could not now stay any longer with him; for there was one at the Door would interrupt their Discourse, to whom he desired, that he would recommend his weak Estate; and that it he should undertake him, he should be restored. Presently a Physician enters Petrarch's Chamber, who came from the sick, as having given him over for a dead Man, to comfort him: Petrarch recounts his Dream to him with Tears, and pre∣vails with him to undertake his Friend, who thereupon in a short time recovered. Idem ex Fulg. l. 1. c. 5.

26. Arlotte, Mother of William the Conqueror, when great with Child of him, dreamed that her Bowels were extended over all Normandy and England. Bakers Chron. p. 28.

27. Whilst I lived at Prague (saith an English Gentleman) and one Night had sate up very late a drinking at a Feast; early in the Morning, the Sun-beams glancing on my Face, as I lay in my Bed, I dreamed that a shadow passing by, told me, That my Father was dead. At which awaking. I rose, and wrote the Day and Hour, and all Circ*mstances thereof, in a Paper-Book, which Book, with many other things, I put into a Barrel, and sent it from Prague to Stode, thence to be carried into England: And now being at Nuremberg, a Mer∣chant of a Noble Family, well Acquainted with me and my Relations, arrived there, who

told me, that my Father was dead about two Months ago. I list not to write any Lies, but that which I write, is as true as strange. When I returned into England, some Four Years after, I would not open the Barrel I sent from Prague, till I had called my Sisters, and some other Friends to be Witnesses; where my self and they were astonished to see my written Dream answer the very day of my Father's Death. Morison's Itin. p. 1. c. 1. A.B. Annot. on Relig. Med. p. 294. Wanley's Wonders of the Little World, l. 6. c. 1.

28. The same Gentleman saith thus also; I may lawfully swear that which my Kinsmen have heard witnessed by my Brother Henry whilst he liv'd, that in my Youth at Cambridge I had the like Dream of my Mother's death, where my Brother Henry lying by me, early in the Morning I dreamed, that my Mother passed by with a sad Countenance, and told me, That she could not come to my Commencement (I being within 5 Months to proceed Master of Arts, and she having promised at that time to come to Cambridge:) when I related this Dream to my Brother, both of us awaking together in a Sweat, he professed to me, That he had dreamed the very same: and when we had not the least knowledge of our Mother's sickness, neither in our youthful Affections were any whit affected with the strangeness of this dream, yet the next Carrier brought us word of our Mother's death. I••id.

29. I cannot omit the Dream and Revelation of Joan d' Arke, a Virgin, who dreamed, that she her self should be the only means to put Charles the 7th. in possession of his Kingdom. Af∣ter she had acquainted her Father and Mother with her Dream, she is brought to the Lord Baudricate, and habited like a Man, is presented to the King. The Matter seemed ridiculous to the King; he takes upon himself the Habit of a Country-man; this Maid being brought into the Chamber, goeth to the King, and salutes him with a modest Countenance, and de∣livered to him the Charge which she had received of the God of Heaven, and told him, That she should be the means to place the Crown upon his head, and relieve Orleance, that was Besieged by the English. The King was persuaded to give her a Troop of 100, and a good Horse. She puts her self into a Man's Habit, and like a valourous Captain goeth towards Orleance, and relieveth the Town with Victuals, without resistance. After she was in Or∣leance, she sends a Letter to the King of England and his Troops, and wisheth them to de∣part, without shedding any more innocent Blood. Joan d' Arke a second time relieveth Or∣leance, and brings in fresh Provision; she makes choice of 1500 Men, and enters the Fort of Saint Loope, the Virgin in the foremost of the Ranks, crying, Saint Denis; the next Day they took two other Forts; on the third Day the English made the French recoil, but the Virgin incouraging her Men, and marching couragiously, was shot in the Arm; Tush, saith she, this is a favour: nothing amazed, she takes the Arrow in one hand, and her Sword in the other, and enters the Fort. In these three Days the English lost 8000 Men, and the French not one hundred; and as a remembrance of their Victories, the Statues of Charles the Seventh, and Joan d' Arke, are placed upon the Bridge of Orleance, kneeling before a Crucifix.

Charles the Seventh is Crowned at Rheins, all Champaigns yield unto him, and the King that was in great danger of losing his Kingdom, is now an absolute King. The Divine Dreamer, p. 15.

30. Cicero, among other Dreams, relates this; A certain Man dreamed that there was an Egg hid under his Bed: The Sooth-sayer, to whom he applied himself for the Interpretation of the Dream, told him, That in the same place where he imagined to see the Egg, there was Trensure hid. Whereupon he caused the place to be digged up, and there accordingly he found Silver, and in the midst of it a good quantity of Gold; and to give the Interpreter some testimony of his acknowledgment, he brought him some pieces of the Silver, which he had found; but the Sooth-sayer hoping also to have some of the Gold, said, And will you not give me some of the Yolk too? Amyrald. Dis. of Div. Dreams, p. 22.

31. Monsieur P••irese, Councellor of the Parliament of Provence, going from Mohrpellier to Nismes, lay all Night in an Inn, which is the mid-way betwixt these two places; he had in his Company one James Rainier, Citizen of Aix, who in that Journey lodged in the same Chamber with him: As that great Man slept, Rainier observ'd that he talk'd and mutter'd something in his Sleep, otherwise than was usual with him, whereupon he wakened him, and ask'd what was the matter? Oh! said he, you have made me lose a most excellent and pleasant Dream; for I was dreaming, That I was at Nismes, and that a Goldsmith shew'd me a Golden Medal of Julius Caesar, which he would sell me for four Crowns, and as I was ready to give him them, both my Goldsmith and my Medal vanished away together, by your awakening of me. Being arrived at Nismes, and having not forgot his Dream, he went to walk in the City, till such time as Dinner was ready, and passing up and down he went into a Gold∣smith's Shop, to ask him whether he had any Rarity to show him? whereupon the Goldsmith answered, That he had a Julius Caesar of Gold: Monsieur de Peirese asked the Price of it, he answered four Crowns; which thing did fill the mind of that great Person, both with Joy and Admiration, as well for that he had found a Rarity, which he had long very much fought for, as also for the surprizing and strange manner whereby it came to his hand. Ibid.

32. I have heard the late Monsieur Cameron, a Person whose memory will be ever Blessed in our Churches, say, that he had from the mouth of Monsieur Calignen, Chancellor of Na∣varre, a Man of singular Virtue, a memorable Passage that befel him in Bearne: He went in∣to a certain Town in the Countrey, either for Diversion, or for some Reason relating to his Health; for he did not acquaint me either with the place, or the occasion of the Journey; one Night as he was asleep, he heard a Voice which call'd him by his Name, Calignon; here∣upon waking and hearing no more of it, he imagin'd that he had Dreamed, and fell asleep

again; a little after, he heard the same Voice, calling him in the same manner, which made a greater Impression upon him, then before; So that being awaken'd, he call'd his Wife, who lay with him, and told her what had happen'd, so that they both lay a wake for some time, expecting whether they might hear the Voice, and whether it would say any thing more to them; At last the Voice awaken'd him the third time, calling him by his Name, and advis'd him to retire presently out of the Town, and to remove his Family, for that the plague would rage horribly in that place within few days; to which he added, that it was very well that he followed this direction, for as much as within few days after the Plague began in the Town, and destroy'd a great Number of People. This was certainly an Angel that spake to him, who by the favourable and benign Providence of God, drew him out of that danger, which otherwise had been unavoidable. For whether the Plague came by the Infection of the Air, or by the Communion of some Infectious Persons, or whether some Sorcerers and Witches (as they say, they sometimes do) had resolv'd to diffuse their Infectious Poisons in that place, it was that which did not exceed the Knowledge of an An∣gel. Now if these Blessed Spirits, which are appointed as a Guard of Pious Men, in obedi∣ence to Gods Command, do sometimes by speaking give them such Advertisem*nts, they also by the same command, may convey the same Notices to them by Dreams. The Hi∣story of the last Age, doth so fully attest the Truth of that, of Lewis of Bourbon, Prince of Conde, that we cannot reasonably doubt thereof. A little before his Journey from Dreux, he Dreamed, that he had fought three B••••els, successively one after another, wherein he had got the Victory, and where his three great Enemies were Slain. But that at last, he also was mortally wounded, and that after they were laid one upon another, he also was laid upon their Dead Bodys, the event was Remarkable: For the Marshal, de St. Andre was killed at Dreux, the Duke of Guise, Francis of Lorrain at Orleans, the Constable of Montmorency at St. Dennis, and this was the Triumvirate, which they say, had Sworn the ruin of those of the Religion, and the Destruction of that Prince, at last, he himself was slain at Bassac, as if there had been a Continuation of Deaths and Funerals. Ibid. p. 120.

33. Zuinglius, A.C. 1525, when the Mass was Abolished at Zurick, being attach'd by a certain Scribe, or Notary, before the Bench of Senators, which then consisted of 200, con∣cerning the Real presence of the Sacrament; debated the point with him, and one Engel∣hard a Popish Doctor, that day: But some of the ruder sort repining, demanded some Ex∣ample out of the Scripture to shew that those words; This is my Body, were not spoken Para∣bolically. Hereupon he began to revolve all things, yet no Example came into his mind; but a few Nights after Zuinglius Dreamed, that he contended again with the Scribe till he was weary, and at last was so dumb that he could not speak; whereupon he was exceed∣ingly troubled: But after a while, a Moniter came to him from above, who said, O thou sluggard, A••ise, Why dost thou not Answer him, with that which is Written in Exod. 12. This is the Lord's Passover? Immediately he awaked, and leaping out of his Bed, examined the Text; and the next day disputed it before the whole Assembly, which was entertained with such Approbation, that all were satisfied: And (saith he) the three next days we had the greatest Sacraments, that ever I saw; and the Number of them that look'd back to the Garlick and Flesh-Pots of Egypt, was for less then Men thought they would have been. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist. p. 150. ex Zuingl.

34. Famous Salmsius, intending to see Rome, was Admonished in his Dream, that if he went, he should not return alive; and had he gone, probably he had not, as being one that had so much provoked the Papists by his Learned labours, especially, in his care of Publishing and Polishing Nilus and Barlaam, two eager Enemies of the Papal Monarchy. Vita Salmas. per Anton. Clem. Salmas. Epist. praefixa.

35. Pope Innocent the fourth Dreamed, that Robert Grosthead, Bishop of Lincoln, came to him, and with his stast struck him on the side, and said, Surge miser, & veni ad Judicium: Rise wretch, and come to Judgment, after which Dream within a few days the Pope ended his Life. Simps. Ch. Hist. cent. 13. p. 449.

36. Mr. Thomas Tilson, Minister of Aylesford in Kent, gives this strange Relation in a Letter to Mr. Baxter. 1691.

Reverend Sir, Being informed that you are Writing about Witchcraft and Apparitions, I take the Freedom, tho a stranger, to send you his following Relation.

Mary, the Wife of John Goffe of Rochester, being afflicted with a long illness, removed to her Fathers house at West-Mulling, which is about Nine Miles distant from her own: There she died, June the 4th, this present Year, 1691.

The day before her departure, she grew very impatiently desirous to see her two Children, whom she had lest at home, to the care of the Nurse. She prayed her Husband to hire a Horse, for she must go home, and dye with her Children. When they perswaded her to the contrary, telling her she was not able to sit on Horseback, she intreated them however to try: If I cannot sit, said she, I will lye all along upon the Horse, for I must go to see my poor Babes.

A Minister who lives in the Town was with her at Ten a Clock that Night, to whom she expressed good hopes in the Mercies of God, and a Willingness to dye: But, said she, It is my misery that I cannot see my Children.

Between one and two a Clock in the Morning, she fell into a Trance. One Widow Tan∣ner, who watched with her that Night, says, that her Eyes were open and fixed, and her law fallen: She put her hand upon her Mouth and Nostrils, but could perceive no Breath; she thought her to be in a Fit, and doubted whether she were alive or dead.

The next day, this dying Woman told her Mother, that she had been at home with her Children: That is impossible, said the Mother, for you have been here in Bed all the while. Yes, replyed the other, but I was with them last Night, when I was asleep.

The Nurse at Rochester, Widow Alexander by Name, affirms, and says, she will take her Oath on't before a Magistrate, and receive the Sacrament upon it, that a little before two a Clock that Morning, she saw the likeness of the said Mary Goffe come out of the next Cham∣ber, (where the elder child lay in a Bed by it self, the Door being left open, and stood by her Bed-side for about a quarter of an hour; the younger child was there lying by her; her Eyes moved, and her Mouth went, but she said nothing, the Nurse moreover says, that she was perfectly awake; it was then day light, being one of the longest Days in the Year. She sate up in her Bed, and looked stedfastly upon the Apparition: In that time, she heard the Bridge Clock strike two, and a while after said, In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, what art thou? Thereupon the Apparition removed, and went away; she slipped on her Cloaths and followed, but what became on't she cannot tell. Then, and not before, she began to be grievously affrighted, and went out of the Doors, and walked upon the Wharf (the house is just by the River side) for some hours, only going in now and then, to look to the Children. At five a Clock she went to a•• Neighbours house, and knocked at the Door, but they would not rise: At six she went again, then they arose and let her in. She related to them all that had passed: They would perswade her she was mistaken, or Dreamt: But she confidently affirmed, If ever I saw her in all my Life, I saw her this Night.

One of those to whom she made the Revelation (Mary, the Wife of John Sweet) had a Messenger came from M••lling that Forenoon, to let her know her Neighbour Goffe was a Dying, and desired to speak with her; she went over the same day, and found her just de∣parting. The Mother, amongst other discourse, related to her, how much her Daughter had longed to see the Children, and said she had seen them. This brought to Mrs. Sweet's mind, what the Nurse had told her that Morning, for till then she had not thought to mention it, but disguised it rather as the Womans disturbed Imagination.

The substance of this, I had related to me by John Corpenter, the Father of the Deceased, next day after her Burial: July 2. I fully discoursed the matter with the Nurse, and two Neighbours, to whose ••e use she went that Morning.

Two days after, I had it from the Mother, the Minister that was with her in the Even∣ing, and the Woman who sat up with her that last Night: They all agree in the same Sto∣ry, and every one helps to strengthen the others Testimony.

They appear to be Sober Intelligent Persons, far enough off from designing to impose a Cheat upon the World, or to manage a lye, and what Temptation they should lye under for so doing, I cannot conceive.

Sir, That God would Bless your Pious Endeavours, for the Conviction of Atheists and Sadduces, and the promoting of true Religion and Goodness; and that this Narrative may conduce somewhat towards the farthering of that great work, is the hearty desire and Prayer of,

Your most faithful Friend, and Humble Servant, Tho. Tilson. Minister of Ayles∣ford, nigh Maid∣stone in Kent.

Aylesford, July 6. 1691.

37. One Mr. Samuel Lawrence, a Minister at Namptwick, in Cheshire, informs me at the Writing hereof, of a Treasure of Gold found by occasion of a Dream; for the further confir∣mation whereof, he refers me to one Mr. Chorlton of Manchester; but supposing I shall get no part of the Treasure of it, I have saved my self the Trouble of sending so far, to enquire any further after it.

38. A Gentleman being disquieted with the Thundering of Pieces, which his Imagination told him was in the Air, and not upon Earth, looking towards the Heavens, he did conceive that he saw a great Army ready to encounter with another, and observing the Leaders, he per∣ceived one to be a tall black Man, ran with his Rapier against the same, and Transported thus with fury, he stumbled and fell, and as he fell Divers Arrows were shot, some out of the North, some out of the South, some out of the West, some out of the East, as if all the four quarters had blown no other Blasts; after this appeared divers like Ghosts, walking with Crosier Staffs, who seemed to harden and Encourage the Souldiers, yet their Arguments could not win them to give Battle, these in the twinkling of an Eye, lost their pure whiteness, and shewed them∣selves in black, with Miters falling from their Heads, next to these followed a Troop of Shave∣lings, some carrying Crosses, others praying with Beads, but on the sudden a Pillar of fire appeared, and they Vanished, and all the Heavens seemed to be disturbed, looking downward he saw a grave Old Man sitting in a Chair of State, upon the Top of a Mountain, having a Scepter in his hand, with a Tripple Crown on his Head, having with him divers habited in long Robes and Red Hats, that seemed to hold the Chair; whilst his Eyes were busied in the view of them, a Thunderbolt fell and cleft the Mountain, which swallowed them up; then he seemed to pass through Pleasant Fields, and the first he met with, was a young Cavalier, and the next he met withal was a poor Souldier; now thought the young Gallant, that he should Learn what was the varience between these Troops, but before the Gentleman could speak to him, the Souldier made towards him, and like a bold Ruffian demanded his Purse, who was a little unwilling, yet having no remedy to prevent the taking thereof, did deliver

it, and in requital, the Souldier said, I come to tell you News: In brief it is thus, our General be∣ing Dead, our Armies were Disbanded; and having uttered the words, Vanished, and in his Room entred a poor Countrey Man, who was very desirous to Learn whether he met with any Souldiers that had driven away his Cattel; he pitied this poor Man, but could give him no comfort, in regard his Money was taken away from him: The Gentleman passing on, came to a great House that was fortified with Bulwarks, Trenches, and well mann'd, and on the side of it was an Arm of the Sea, but in regard he could not give the word, he was not admitted: As he passed by, he perceived one that was looking under a Tree, to take the true heighth of a Star: The Astronomer, to show the full Proportion of the Man, drew forth a small glass out of a Box, took a small Ribbond of a skin Colour; the glass was of an oval form, set round with Diamonds and Rubies, the middle thereof was made of Topaz, and so exactly cut, as it suf∣ficiently expressed the skill of the Lapidary. On one side of the Glass, he could perceive this Tall Man habited like a Prince, on the other side like a Mourner, and by him an Execu∣tioner, with this Inscription over his head in great Letters (worser ruled not, Traytors head must off). Now Sir, said the Astronomer, cast up each Letter of this Inscription, and you shall find out his Name and Title, the which he presently and readily undertook; by Trans∣placing the Letters, and found it to be Sir Thomas Wentworth, Lord Strafford: It was no small wonder to him, to see that his Lordships Name and Title, should so truely Divine his Nature and Fortune; no sooner had this Astronomer shewed this Glass, but he Vanished, and making a horrible noise at his Departue, the Gentleman awaked, and fell again into a sweet slumber, and soon after gave this Revelation to Divers. The Divine Dreamer, p. 18.

36. I may self remember, saith Sir Francis Bacon, that being in Paris, and my Father dying in London, two or three days before my Father's Death, I had a Dream which I told to Di∣vers English Gentlemen, that my Father's House in the Countrey was Plaistered all over with black Mortar. Bacon's Nat. Hist. cent. 10. p. 211.

37. Bradford, the Night before he was going to Newgate, Dreamed, that the Chain for his burning was brought to the Compter Gate, and how the next day he should be had to Newgate, and on the Monday after burnt in Smithfield; which came to pass accordingly. Fox Martyrol.

38. Mr. Rough, Minister of the private Congregation in London (in Queen Mary's Reign) dreamed, that himself was carried forcibly to the Bishop, and that the Bishop pluckt off his Beard: Which accordingly came to pass. Ibid.

39. Mr. Philpot, in Prison, thus reports to a Friend by Letter;—In the midst of my sweet Rest, I seem'd to see a great Beautiful City, all of the Colour of Azure and white, four-square, in a Marvellous composition, in the midst of the Sky; the sight whereof so inwardly com∣forted me, that I am not able to express the inward consolation thereof; yea, the Remem∣brance thereof causeth as yet my heart to leap for Joy, &c. For which reason, I think, it came not from the illusion of the senses. Ibid.

40. Bishop Jewel being in Germany, Dream'd one night that two of his Teeth dropt out of his Mouth; told this Dream next Morning to Peter Martyr, who interpreted it to signify the loss of some Dear Friends: Jewel put the time of it in his Note-Book, and not long after had News by Letter, of the Burning of Bishop Ridley, and Bishop Hooper: This was related to me by a Friend, out of his Life, Writ at large: But having only the short Account of his Life in English by me, and not finding it there; I insist no further upon it.

41. Dreams Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq; He that has a mind to read of Dreams, may peruse Cicero de Divinatione, Hier. Cardani Somniorum Synesiorum. Lib. IV. and Moldinarius de Insomniis, &c. I shall here mention but little out of them, my purpose being chiefly to set down some remarkable, and Divine Dreams of some that I have had the ho∣nour to be intimately acquainted with, Persons worthy of belief.

42. In Queen Mary's time, there was only one Congregation of Protestants in London, to the number of about three Hundred. One —was the Deacon to them, and kept the List of their Names: One — of that Congregation did Dream, that a Messenger [Queens Officer] had feized on this Deacon, and taken his List; the Fright of the Dream awaked him: He fell asleep and dreamt the same perfect Dream again. In the Morning before he went out of his Chamber, the Deacon came to him and told him his Dream, and said, it was a warning from God; the Deacon slighted his advice, and savouring of Superstition; but—was so urgent with him, that he prevail'd with him to deposite the List in some other Hand, which he did that Day. The next day the Queens Officer attacqued him, and search'd (in vain) for the List, which had it been found, would have brought them all to the Flame. Fox's Marty∣rology.

43. When Doctor Harvey (one of the Physicians Colledge in London, being a young Man) went to Travel towards Padua, he went to Dover (with several others) and shewed his Pass, as the rest did, to the Governour there. The Governour told him, That he must not go, but he must keep him Prisoner. The Doctor desired to know for what reason, how he had trans∣grest? Well, it was his Will to have it so. The Pacquet-Boat hoised Sail in the Evening (which was very clear) and the Doctor's Companions in it. There ensued a terrible Storm, and the Pacquet-Boat and all the Passengers were drown'd: The next day the said News was brought to Dover. The Doctor was unknown to the Governour, but by Name and Face; but the Night before, the Governour had a perfect Vision in a Dream of Doctor Harvey, who came to pass over to Calais; and that he had a warning to stop him. This the Governour told to the Doctor the next Day. The Doctor was a pious good Man, and has several times directed this Story to some of my Acquaintance.

44. My Lady Seymer dreamr, That she found a Nest with nine Finches in it. And so many Children she had by the Earl of Winchelsey, whose Name is Finch.

45. The Countess of Cork (now Burlington) being at Dublin, dreamt that her Father (the Earl of Cumberland) who was then at York, was dead. He died at that time.

46. 'Tis certain, that several had monitory Dreams of the Conflagration of London.

47. When Sir Christopher Wren was at Paris, about 1671, he was ill and Feverish, made but little Water, had a pain in his Reins. He sent for a Physician, who advis'd him to be let Blood, thinking he had a Pleurisie: But Bleeding much disagreeing with his Constitu∣tion, he would defer it a Day longer: That Night he dreamt, That he was in a place where Palm-Trees grew (suppose Egypt) and that a Woman in a Romantick Habit, reach'd him Dates. The next Day he sent for Dates, which cured him of the pain in his Reins.

48. Sir Roger L'Estrange was wont to divertise himself with co*cking in his Father's (Sir Hammond L'Estrange's) Park; he dreamt, That there came to him in such a place of the Park a Servant, who brought him News, that his Father (who had been sick a good while) was departed. The next Day going to his usual Recreation, he was resolv'd, for his Dream sake, to avoid that way; but his Game led him to it, and in that very place, the Servant came and brought him the ill News according to his Dream.

49. Mr. Edmund Halley, R. S. S. was carried on with a strong Impulse to take a Voyage to St. Hellens, to make Observations of the Southern Constellations, being then about Twenty Four Years old. Before he undertook this Voyage, he dream'd that he was at Sea, Saili ng towards that place, and saw the Prospect of it from the Ship in his Dream, which he declared in the Royal Society, that it was the perfect Representation of that Island, even as he had it really when he approach'd to it.

50. Anno 1690. One in Ireland dream'd of a Brother, or near Relation of his (who lived at Amesbery in Wiltshire) that he saw him riding on the Downs, and that two Thieves robb'd him and Murther'd him: The Dream awaked him; he fell asleep again, and had the like Dream. He Writ to his Relation an account of it, and describ'd the Thieves Complexion, Stature and Cloaths; and advis'd him to take care of himself. Not long after he had re∣ceiv'd this Monitory Letter, he Rode towards Salisbury, and was Robb'd and Murther'd: And the Murtherers were discovered by this Letter, and were Executed: They hang in Chains on the Road to London.

51. A Gentlewoman of my acquaintance dream'd, That if she slept again, the House would be in danger to be Robb'd: She kept awake, and anon Thieves came to break open the House; but were prevented.

52. In Mr. Walton's Life of Sir Hen. Wotton, there is a Remarkable Story of the Discovery of Stoln Plate in Oxford, by a Dream which his Father had at Borton Mulharb in Kent. See in Ath. & Fasti Oxon. Vol. 1. p. 351. Thus far Mr. Aubrey.

CHAP. IX. Prediction, — By Impulses, &c.

I Am no Favourer, as I said before, of Enthusiasm, or wild Fanatical Raptures (the common di∣stemper of giddy Brains, and distemper'd Minds;) but certainly our Religion doth not aban∣don all inward Motions for meer Fancies, but only such as are rash, groundless, inconsistent with Sobriety, and Order, and Orthodoxy. Let all these Properties meet together, and it will be hard to censure Impulses, or any other zealous Expressions, though out of the common Road, for vain and imprudent.

1: Justin Martyr Predicted of himself, That he should be betrayed by some one of them called Philosophers, or knocked on the Head with a Club, by Cresceus, no Philosopher in∣deed, said he, but a vain Boaster. Which came to pass accordingly, for by the procurement of Cresceus he was Beheaded. A. D. 139. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. History.

2. Athanasius, in the beginning of Julian's Reign, being falsly Accused by his Adversaries, and threatned by the Emperor, said to some of his Friends, My Friends, let us go aside for a Season, — Nubecula est & cito transibit; i. e. This is but a little Cloud, and will soon vanish away. And according taking Ship, he fled into other parts of Egypt. Ibid.

3. Epiphanius Bishop of Salamine, and Chrysostome, upon a difference about the Books of Origen, which Epiphanius would have had him to have Condemned, taking their leave one of the other; saith he to Chrysostom, I hope that thou wilt not die a Bishop; to which Chryso∣stome replied, And I hope thou wilt never return into thine own Country. Both which fell out accordingly: for Chrysostom was cast out of his Bishoprick, and Epiphanius died upon the Sea. Ibid.

4. Hither perhaps may not be improperly referred, that wonderful Presage of the De∣struction of Jerusalem, mentioned by Josephus. There as (saith he) one Jesus, Son of Ana∣nias, a Country Man of mean Birth, four Years before the War against the Jews, at a time when all was in deep Peace and Tranquility, who coming up to the Feast of Tabernacles, according to the custom, began on a sudden to cry out; —A Voice from the East, a Voice from the West, a Voice from the four Winds, a Voice against Jerusalem and the Temple, a Voice against Bridegrooms and Brides, a Voices against all the People. Thus he went about all the

narrow Lanes, crying Night and Day, and being apprehended and Scourged, he still con∣tinued the same Language under the Blows, without any other word; and they upon this, supposing that it was some Divine Motion, brought him to the Roman Praefect; and by his appointment, being by Whips wounded, and Flesh torn to his Bones, he neither intreated nor shed Tear, but to every blow, in a lamentable and mournful Note, cryed, Wo, wo, to Jerusalem. This he continued to do till the time of the Siege, seven Years together; and at last, to his ordinary Note, of Wo to the City, the People, the Temple, adding, Wo also to me; a Stone from the Battlements fell down upon him, and killed him. Joseph. de Bell. Jud. l. 7. c. 12. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 8. Dr. Hammond's Notes on Rev. 8, &c. Wanl. of the little World, l. 6. c. 2.

5. John Frith, of Westram, in Kent, being sent for out of Prison by the Arch-bishop to Croydon, by one of his Gentlemen, and one of his Porters; when these Messengers were upon the way, perswading him, (being a Learned Man) to take pity upon himself, and not be stiff in his Opinion about the Sacrament; after he had signified his great Confidence and Courage, he told them.—This I will say to you, That if you live but twenty Years more, whatsoever shall become of me, you shall see this whole Realm of my Opinion, tho' happily some particular Persons shall not be fully perswaded therein; and if this come not to pass, then count me the vainest Man that ever spoke with a Tongue. Clark's Eccl. Hist. p. 158.

6. Authony Walleus, being a long time unresolv'd what Course of Life to follow; at last, one Night, lying with his Father on the Straw, he had a suddain Instinct, that God had design'd him for the Work of the Ministry; and these Thoughts did so follow him Night and Day, wheresoever, and about whatsoever he was, that he could not blot them out of his Memory; and afterwards he went to Leyden, and studied Divinity, and became very Eminent. Ibid. p. 465.

7. Jerome, of Prague, at his Death, said to his Adversaries, I summon you all 100 Years hence to appear before God, and give an account of my innocent Blood. These Words were variously commented upon; but many Protestants (not content with the Exposition of others), would not have these Words an Arrow shot at Rovers; but aiming at, and hit∣ting a Mark, interpret them of Martin Luther, who in Critical Computation at the end of that Century (as Heir to Jerome's Opinions, and Executor of his Will) gave that deadly Wound to that Man of Sin, which hath brought him to an incurable Consumption, attended with an Hectic Fever, the Infallible Fore-runner of the speedy approaching of his final Destruction. Fuller Abel, Rediv. p. 32.

8. John Knox to the Earl of Morton, who came to visit him in his Sickness, said, my Lord, GOD hath given you many Blessings, Wisdom, Honour, Nobility, Riches, many good and great Friends, and he is now about to prefer you to the Government of the Realm (the Earl of Marr, the late Regent, being newly dead) in His Name I charge you, use these Blessings better than formerly you have done; seeking first the Glory of God, the Furtherance of his Gospel, the Maintenance of his Church and Ministry; and then be care∣ful of the King, to procure his Good, and the Welfare of the Realm; if you do thus, God will be with you, and honour you; if otherwise, he will deprive you of all these Benefits, and your end shall be Shame and Ignominy. These Speeches the Earl call'd to mind about nine Years after, at the time of his Execution; saying, That he had found John Knox to be a Prophet. Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 322.

9. The same Knox, a day or two before his Death, calling Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Lawson to him (the two Preachers of the Church) said, There is one thing that grieveth me exceed∣ingly; you have some time seen the Courage and Constancy of the Laird of Graing, in the cause of God; and now that unhapyy Man is casting himself away; I pray you go to him from me, and tell him, that unless he forsake that wicked Course that he is in, the Rock wherein he confides shall not defend him, nor the Carnal Wisdom of the Man, which he counts half a God, (which was young Leskington) shall yeild him Help; but he shall be shamefully pull'd out of that Nest, and his Carcass hung before the Sun, (meaning the Castle which he kept against the King's Authority) for his Soul is dear to me, and if it were possible, I would fain have him saved. Accordingly they went to him, conferr'd with him, but could by no means divert him from his course: But as Knox had foretold, so the Year after, his Castle was taken, and his Body was there publickly hang'd before the Sun; yet he did at his Death express a serious Repentance. Ibid. p. 323.

10. How Mr. Dod, by a secret Impulse of Spirit, went at an unseasonable time to visit a Neighbour, whom he found with a Halter in his Pocket, going to hang himself; and by such a seasonable Visit prevented his Death. See elsewhere in this Book.

11. Dr. Bernard, in the Life of Arch-bishop Ʋsher, tells us, That the Bishop himself had confessed in his Hearing, that oftentimes in his Sermons he found such warm Motions and Impulses upon his Mind, to utter some things, which he had not before intended to deliver, or not to deliver with so much Briskness and Peremptoriness, that he could not easily put them by, without present Expression and Delivery. I remember not the Doctor's words; but of this nature were those remarkable Predictions of his concerning the Massacre in Ireland, and his own Poverty, &c. which (because I have not Bishop Ʋsher's Life by me, written by Dr. Bernard) take out of Mr. Clark. Upon the Suspension of the Statute in Ireland, against the Toleration of Papists, Preaching before the State at Dublin, making Application of that Text, Ezek. c. 4. v. 6. where the Prophet, by lying on his Side, was to bear the Iniquity of Judah for 40 days; I have appointed thee (saith the Lord) each day for a year. This, saith he, by the Consent of Interpreters, signifies the time of 40 Years, to the Destruction of Jerusalem, and of that Nation, for their Idolatry; and so, said he,

will I teckon from this Year the Sin of Ireland; and at the end of the time, those whom you now embace shall be your Ruin, and you shall bear this Iniquity; wherein he prov'd a Prophet. For this was delivered by him, A. C. 1601. and A. C. 1641. was the Irish Massacre and Rebellion; and what a continued Expectation he had of a grat Judgment upon his Native Country, I, saith Dr. Bernard, can witness from the year 1624. Clark in his Life. Dr. Bernard, I remember, makes this Remark upon that Sermon; that it was the last the Bishop wrote at length, and it was dated with a particular Notion of the Day and Year. He foretold likewise his own future Poverty, when he was in his greatest Pro∣sperity, and spoke before many Witnesses, 1624. repeated it often afterwards, that he was perswaded that the greatest Shake to the Reformed Churches was yet to come. In short, as I said before, he often acknowledged, that sometimes in his Sermons he was resolved to forbear speaking of some things, but it proved like Jeremiah's Fire, shut up in his Bones; that when he came to it, he could not forbear, unless he would have stood mute, and proceeded no further. Ibid.

12. Mr. Hugh Broughton, in one of his Sermons, 1588. when the Spanish Navy was up∣on the Sea, and Men's Hearts were full of Fears of the Event: Now, saith he, the Pa∣pists Knees knock one against another, as the Knees of King Belshazzar did, and News will come, that the Lord hath scatter'd that Invincible Navy: Fear ye not, nor be dis∣may'd at these smoaking Firebrands. In his Life, p. 2.

13. Bishop Jewel crossing the Thames, when on a sudden, at the rising of a Tempest, all were astonished, looking for nothing but to be drowned, assured Bishop Ridley, that the Boat carry'd a Bishop that must be burnt, and not drowned. In Bishop Jewel's Life.

14. Mrs. Katherine Stubs, after she had Conceived with Child of a Daughter, three or four Years after Marriage, said many times to her Husband and others, That that Child would be her Death. She was delivered safely, within a Fortnight, and was able to go abroad, but pre∣sently after fell sick of a Burning Quotidian Ague, of which she died. See her Life.

15. Impulses, Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq;—Oliver Cromwell had certainly this Afflatus. One that I knew, that was at the Battle of Dunbar, told me, that Oliver was carried on with a Divine Impulse; he did Laugh so excessively, as if he had been drunk; his Eyes sparkled with Spirits. He obtain'd a great Victory; but the Action was said to be contrary to Humane Prudence. The same fit of Laughter seiz'd Oliver Cromwell, just before the Battle of Naseby; as a Kinsman, of mine, and a great Fa∣vourite of his, Collonel J. P. then present, testified.

16. King Charles the I. after he was Condemn'd, did tell Collonel Thomlinson, that he believed, That the English Monarchy was at an end: About half an Hour after he told the Collonel, That now he had an Assurance, by a strong Impulse on his Spirit, that his Son should Reign after him. This Information I had from Fabian Philips, Esq; of the Inner-Temple, who had good Authority for the Truth of it: I have forgot who it was.

17. The Lord Roscomon, being a Boy of Ten Years of Age, at Caen in Normandy, one day was (as it were) madly extravagant in Playing, Leaping, getting over the Table-boards, &c. He was wont to be sober enough: They said, God grant this bodes no ill Luck to him: In the heat of his extravagant Fit he cries out, My Father is Dead. A Fortnight after, News came from Ireland, that his Father was dead. This Account I had from Mr. Knolls, who was his Governour, and then with him; since Secretary to the Earl of Straf∣ford, and I have heard his Lordship's Relations confirm the same.

Mr. J. N. a very understanding Gentleman, and not Superstitious, protested to me, That when he hath been over-perswaded by Friends to act contrary to a strong Impulse, that he never succeeded. Thus far I'm beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections.

CHAP. X. Of Divination, Southsaying, Witchcraft.

I Put all these together, because in Appearance there seems to be some Affinity or Agreement amongst them. Nor do I take upon me here to discover how many several ways of Divina∣tion Satan hath invented, or his Agents (Men of a dangerous Curiosity) have used. Among the Antients we read of Augurium, divining by Observation of Birds; Extispicium, by Inspecti∣on into the Entrails of Beasts; Sortilagium, by Lottery; Hydromancy, by Water; Axinoman∣cy, by an Ax or Hatchet; Lecanomancy, by a Bason of Water; Geomancy, by the Earth; Pyromancy, by Fire; Capnomancy, by Smoak; Capyromancy, by Looking-Glasses; Aere∣mancy, by Brass; Physiognomy, by the Features and Parts of the Humane Body; Chiroman∣cy, by the Hands; Batanomancy, by Herbs; Gastromancy, by a great-bellied Vessel; Cas∣chinomancy, by a Sieve or Riddle, which is still used (as are also several of the other kinds) by some superstitious People among us; and I remember to have read a late Author, who declares that he had often made Trial of it, and found it often true, to his Admiration; but he saith, He thought fit to leave it off, lest Satan should take Advantage upon him for his over-bold Curiosity. But in latter Ages, and in Barbarous or Heathen Countrys, we find that Satan hath set up other Methods, and some of them more gross than the old Pagan way of giving Oracles; which I think not worthy to rehearse in this place, otherwise than by giving a few Instances, that may seem strange to the Reader.

1. Apollonius Tyaneus pretended to the fore-sight of Things future, and the knowledge of Things past, to a Skill in all Languages, and an Inspection into Men's Thoughts; and all this, Deo consultore, & dure Daemone, by the Counsel of GOD, and the guidance of the De∣vil. He is reported to have told a Lascivious Man, That he should, within three Days, be killed by a Gnat, and it came to pass accordingly. See his Life, written by Volaterranus.

2. Albigerias, a Man of Carthage, was so Skillful in Divination, that upon the Inspiration of his Daemons, he would undertake to tell what any Man did or thought: which Saint Augustine witnesseth, and writes that himself was often present at his Predictions. Text. Offic. p. 30.

3. Caelius writes of a Woman called Jacoba (in his own Country) who was possessed with some 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, unclean Spirits, that spoke out of her Belly, and amongst the rest one called Cincinnatulus, gave Responses to Admiration, about things past and future; yet was oftner mistaken about things future. Ibid.

4. Mr. Teny, in the Relation of a Voyage into the East-Indies, tells of a Divining Ape, viz. as followeth:—A juggler of Bengala (a Kingdom famous for Witches) brought an Ape before the Mogul; who being willing to please himself with some Tricks, &c. gives the Ring off his Finger to a certain Boy, among many, present to hide, the Ape going presently to the Boy that hid it. This, with many more Feats, being done; at last this came strangely into the King's Mind; There are, saith he, many Disputes about the True Prophet. We are for Mahomet, the Persians for Mortis Hale, the Hindoes for Breman, &c. The Persees for Zortoost, the Jews for Moses, the Christians for Christ; adding more, to the number of twelve, writing the Names on twelve several Scrolls, and putting them to∣gether, the Ape put his Paw amongst them, and pulled out the Name of Christ: This was done a second time,—then Mahomet Chan, a great Noble Man of that Court, calling it an Imposture of the Christians (tho' there was none present) desiring to make a third Try∣al, put eleven of the Names together, reserving the Name of Christ in his Hand: The Ape searching as before, pull'd forth his Paw empty, and so twice or thrice together. The King demanding a reason for this, was answer'd, that happily the thing he lookt for was not there; he was bid to search for it; and then pulling out those eleven Names, the Ape in a seeming Indignation rent them; then running to Mahomet Chan, caught him by the Hand, where the Name of Christ was conceal'd, which deliver'd to him, he open'd the Scroll, and so held it up to the King, not tearing it as the other: The Mogul took the Ape, gave his Keeper a Pension to look to him, calling him the Divining Ape, Nothing else follow'd upon this wonder. The Author believes this Story to be true, hearing it often confirmed to him by divers Persons, who knew not one another, and were of di∣vers Religions.

5. Dr. Burthogge, out of Sir W. Temple's Memoirs, p. 57. tells of a Divining Parrot, in Sir William's own Words. With the Prince of Orange, saith he, return'd most of the General Officers to the Hague, and among the rest, old Prince Maurice of Nassau; who, as the Prince told me, had with the greatest Industry that could be, sought all Occasi∣ons of dying fairly at the Battle of Seneffe, without succeeding, which had given him great Regrets; and I did not wonder at it, considering his Age of about 76, and his long Habits, both of Gout and Stone. When he came to visit me upon his Return, and before he went to his Government of Cleve, it came in my Head to ask him an idle Questi∣on, because I thought it not very likely for me to see him again; and I had a mind to know from his own Mouth the Account of a common, but much credited Story, that I had heard so often from many others, of an old Parrot he had in Brasil, during his Govern∣ment there, that spoke, and ask'd, and answer'd common Questions, like a reasonable Crea∣ture; so that those of his Train there generaly concluded it to be Witchcraft or Possession; and one of the Chaplains, who liv'd long afterwards in Holland, would never from that time endure a Parrot, but said, They all had a Devil in them. I had heard many Particulars of this Story, and assevered by People hard to be discredited, which made me ask Prince Maurice what there was of it? He said, with his usual Plainness and Dryness of Talk, there was something true, but a great deal false, of what had been reported. I desired to know of him what there was of the first; he told me, short and coldly, that he had hearde of such an old Parrot, when he came to Brasil; and tho' he believed nothing of it, and it was a good way off, yet he had so much Curiosity as to send for it; and that it was a very great, and a very old one; and when it came first into the Room, where the Prince was with a great many Dutchmen about him, it said presently, What a Company of white Men are here? They askt•• it, what he thought that Man was? pointing at the Prince: It answer'd, Some Ge∣neral or other. When they brought it close to him, he ask'd it, Dou venez vous? (whence came you?) it answer'd, De Mariuuau (from Mariuuau). The Prince—A qui est es vous? (to whom do you belong?) The Parrot—a una Portuguez, (to a Portugueze). Prince—Que fais tula? (What do you there?) Parrot—Je garde le poulles, [I look after the Chickens.] The Prince laughed, and said,—Vous garde le poulles, [You look after the Chickens?] The Patrot answer'd, Ouy moy & Je scay bieu faire [Yes, I, and I know well enough how to do it;] and then made a Chuck four or five times, that People use to make, when they call the Chickens. I set down the Words of this worthy Dialogue in French, just as Prince Maurice said them to me. I ask'd him in what, Language the Parrot spoke; and he said, in Brasilian. I ask'd whe∣ther he understood Brasilian, he said, No; but he had taken Care to have two Interpreters by him; the one a Dutchman that spoke Brasilian, the other a Brasilian that spoke Dutch; that he asked them separately and privately, and both of them agreed, in telling him just the same thing that the Parrot said. I could not (saith Sir William) but tell this odd Story,

because it is so much out of the way, and from the first Hand, and what may pass for a good one. For I dare say this Prince at least believed himself all that he told me, having ever pas∣ssed for an honest and pious Man. I leave it to Naturalists to Reason, and other Men to be∣lieve as they please upon it. Thus that excellent Person. Dr. Burthogge's Essay upon Rea∣son, &c. p. 19, 20, &c.

It may be this Story is not very properly asserted in this place; but I Quaere, whether or no it may not give some Light to the solving of that Aenigmatical Story of the Devil in the Ser∣pent, and the speaking Ass, mentioned by Moses?

6. Memorable is that famous Story in Wierus, of Magdalena Crucia, first a Nun, and then an Abbatess of a Nunnery, in Corduba in Spain: Those things which were Miraculous in her were these: That she could tell almost at any distance how the Affairs of the World went; what Consultations or Transactions there were in all the Nations of Christendom; from whence she got to her self the Reputation of a very holy Woman, and a great Prophe∣tess. But other things came to pass by her, or for her sake, no less strange and miraculous: As that at the Celebrating of the Holy Eucharist, the Priest should always want one of his round Wafers, which was secretly conveyed to Magdalen, by the Administration of Angels, as was supposed, and she receiving of it into her Mouth, eat it in the view of the People, to their great Astonishment, and high Reverence of the Saint. At the Elevation of the Host, Magdalen being near at hand, but yet a Wall betwixt, that the Wall was conceived to open, and to exhibit Magdalen to the view of them in the Chappel, and that thus she partaked of the Consecrated Bread. When this Abbatess came into the Chappel her self, upon some special Day, she would set off the Solemnity of the Day by some notable and conspi∣cuous Miracle; for she would sometimes be lifted up above the ground three or four Cubits high; other sometimes, bearing the Image of Christ in her Arms, weeping savourly, she would make her Hair to increase to that length and largeness, that it would come to her Heels, and cover her all over, and the Image of Christ in her Arms, which anon, notwith∣standing, would shrink up again to its usual size; with a many such specious, though unpro∣fitable Miracles.

But you will say, That the Narrative of these things is not true, but they are Feigned for the Advantage of the Roman Religion, and so it was profitable for the Church to Forge them, and record them to posterity. A man that is unwilling to admit of any thing supernatural, would please himself with this general shuffle and put off. But when we come to the Ca∣tastrophe of the Story, he will find it quite othewise; For this Saint at last, began to be suspected for a Sorceress, as it is thought, and she being conscious, did of her own accord, to save her self, make confession of her Wickedness to the Visitors of the Order, as they are called, Viz. That for thirty years, she had been Married to the Devil in the shape of an Aethiopian; that another Devil, Servant to this, when his Master was at dalliance with her in her Cell, supplied her place amongst the Nuns, at their publick Devotions: That by vir∣tue of this Contract she made with this Spirit, she had done all those Miracles she did. Upon this Confession she was Committed; and while she was in durance, yet she appeared in her devout Postures, praying in the Chappel, as before, at their set Hours of Prayer, which being told to the Visitors by the Nuns, there was a strict Watch over her, that she should not stir out, never theless she appeared in the Chappel, as before, tho she were really in the Prison.

Now what Credit or Advantage there can be to the Roman Religion by this story, let any Man Judge; wherefore it is no sigment of the Priests, or Religious Persons, nor Melancho∣ly, nor any such Matter, [for how could so many Spectators at once be deluded by melan∣choly?] but it ought to be deemed a real Truth: And this Magdalena Crucia appearing in two several places at once, it is manifest that there is such a thing as Apparitions of Spirits. More's Antid. against Atheism. l. 3. c. 4.

7. It may not be impertinent here to relate a certain Story out of Sozomen, concerning Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria: The Patriarch was upon a time walking in the Streets of the City, and a Raven flying towards him, croaking, a Heathen that stood by, observing it, began to deride and reproach him for it, as if he had been a Praestigator, or Conjurer; and so making towards him, ask'd in derision, What the Raven said to him? He modestly Smiling, answered, in Latine, Cras, To Morrow: For he Dictates unto you, That to Mor∣row will be a bitter Day. For to Morrow you shall receive the Emperor's Edict, That you shall Celebrate no more your Heathenish Solemnities. And accordingly it came to pass; for the next Day the Magistrates received Orders from the Roman Emperor, That the Heathen Gods should be no more worshipped, but destroyed utterly, with all their Idolatry and Superstition, in which they were bred. I have not the Writings of Sozomen by men at present, and therefore put this Relation to my Reader, only upon the Authority of Mr. Clogie, in his Vox Corvi, p. 81.

See the Chapter of Persons strangely Admonished. Sect. 4.

8. Anne Bodenham, a Witch near Salisbury, was famous for making Discovery of Things lost, and Predicting Things to come; of whom we have occasion to speak elsewhere in this Book.

9. Philippus Comineus Reporteth, That the Arch-bishop of Vienna said, after Mass, to King Lewis the Eleventh of France, Sir, Your mortal Enemy is dead. At which time Duke Charles of Burgundy, was Slain at the Battel of Granson against the Switzers. Bacon's Nat. Hist. Cent. 10. p. 211.

10. In Barbary are Wizards who do smear their Hands with some black Ointment, and

then do hold them up to the Sun, and in a short time you shall see delineated in that black Stuff, the likeness of what you desire to have an Answer of. It was desired to know, whe∣ther a Ship was in safety, or no? There appear'd in the Womans hand, the perfect Linea∣ments of a Ship under Sail. This Mr. W. Cl. a Merchant of London, who was Factor there several Years, protested to me, that he did see. He is a Person worthy of belief.

11. The last Summer, on the Day of St. John Baptist, 1694. I accidentally was walking in the Pasture behind Montague-House, it was Twelve a Clock; I saw there about two or three and twenty young Women, most of them well Habited, on their Knees, very busie, as if they had been Weeding. I culd not presently learn what the Matter was; at last a young Man told me, that they were looking for a Coal under the Root of a Plantain, to put under their Heads that Night, and they should Dream who would be their Husbands: It was to be found that Day and Hour.

12. The Women have several Magical Secrets handed down to them by Tradition, for this purpose, as on St. Agnes Night, 21th. Day of January, Take a Row of Pins, and pull out every one, one after another, saying a Pater Noster, or Our Father, sticking a Pin in your Sleeve, and you will Dream of him or her you shall Marry. Ben. Johnson, in one of his Masques, makes some mention of this.

And on sweet Saint Agnes NightPlease you with the promis'd sight,Some of Husbands, some of Lovers,Which an empty Dream discovers.

Another. To know whom one shall Marry.

You must lie in another County, and knit the left Garter about the Right Legg'd Stock∣ing (let the other Garter and Stocking alone) and as you rehearse these following Verses, at every Comma, knit a Knot.

This not I knit,To know the thing I know not yet.That I may seeThe Man that shall my Husband be,How he goes, and what he wears,And what he does all the Days.

Accordingly in your Dream you will see him, if a Musician, with a Lute, or other Instru∣ment; if a Scholar, with a Book, &c.

14. A Gentlewoman that I knew, confessed in my hearing, that she used this method, and dreamt of her Husband whom she had never seen: About two or three Years after, as she was one Sunday at Church, up pops a young Oxonian in the Pulpit: She cries out presently to her Sister, This is the very Face of the Man that I Saw in my Dream. Sir William Somes's Lady did the like; as also did Sir T. Williams's Lady.

15. Another way is, to Charm the Moon thus: At the first appearance of the new Moon, after New-Years-Day, go out in the Evening, and stand over the Sparrs of a Gate or Stile, looking on the Moon, and say,

All hail to the Moon, all Hail to thee.I prithee good Moon reveal to me,This Night who my Husband must be.

You must presently after go to Bed.

16. I knew two Gentlewomen that did thus when they were young Maids, and they had Dreams of those that Married them. I don't think any stress is to be laid upon such Practi∣ces, but finding 'em all Inserted in Mr. Aubrey's Collections, I was willing to take Notice of them.

17. Dr. — Poco*ck of Oxford, in his Commentary on Hosea, hath a Learned Discourse of the Ʋrim and Thummim; as also Dr. — Spenser of Cambridge, That the Priest had his Visions in the Stone of the Breast-plate.

18. The Prophets had their Seers, viz. Young Youths, who were to behold those Visions, of whom Mr. Abraham Cowley writes thus;

With hasty Wings, Time present they out-fly,And tread the doubtful Maze of Destiny;There walk and sport among the Years to come,And with quick Eye pierce every Causes Womb.

19. James Harrington, Author of Oceana, told me, That the Earl of Denbigh, then Am∣bassador at Venice, did tell him, That one did shew him there several times in a Glass, things past, and to come.

20. When Sir Mermaduke Langdale was in Italy, he went to one of those Magi, who did shew him a Glass, where he saw himself kneeling before a Crucifix: He was then a Prote∣stant; afterwards he became a Roman Catholick. He told Mr. Thomas Henshaw, R. S. S. this himself.

21. A Clothier's Widow of Pembridge, in Herefordshire, desired Dr. Shirb••rn (one of the Canons of the Church of Hereford; and Rector of Pembridge) to look over her Husbands Writings after his Decease: among other things, he found a Call for a Crystal. The Clothier

had his Cloaths oftentimes stolen from his Racks; and at last obtain'd this Trick to disco∣ver the Thieves. So when he lost his Cloaths, he went out about Midnight with his Crystal and Call, and a little Boy, or little Maid with his [for they say, it must be a pure Vir∣gin] to look in the Crystal, to see the likeness of the Person that committed the Theft. The Doctor did burn the Call, 1671.

22. About the latter end of the Reign of King James the First, one—a Taylor in Lon∣don, had several Visions, which he did describe to a Painter to paint, and he writ the descrip∣tion himself in an ill, Taylor-like hand, in false English; but legibly: It was (at least) a Quire of Paper. I remember one Vision is of St. James's Park, where is the Picture of an Altar and Crucifix, Mr. Butler of the Toy-shop by Ludgate [one of the Masters of Bride∣wel] had the Book in Anno 1659; The then Earl of Northampton gave Five Pounds for a Copy of it. Thus far Mr. Aubrey.

CHAP. XI. Of Astrology.

THO there be much Vanity and Ʋncertainty in Judicial Astrology, and therefore it hath been decried and run down with much Satyr and Tartness, even by Wise and Good Men, as St. Augustine, Perkins, &c. And very strong Arguments brought against it, S. Scriptures, the Writings of the Fathers, the Reason of Things; yet whether or no there may not be a modest use made of it, I appeal to the Writings of the Learned Melancthon, Alsted, and several others, who wrote in defence of it; and so commit these following Relations, to the sober consideration of an Intelligent Reader.

1. The Magi, or Wise Men of the East, were directed by a Star to the very Countrey and Place where our Blessed Saviour was Born, and this method God seemed to take for their Conduct, rather then another; because they were trained up (according to the custom of the Oriental Countreys) in these studies. See Doct. Gell's Serm. in defence of Astrlogy.

2. Our Saviour at his Crucifixion, to denote the horror of the Act, and the Extinction of Light in the Jewish Church, gives notice to the whole World by a dismal Eclipse of the Sun, what a Bloody Act that People were a doing at that time, and what a Calamitous season was approaching that Nation. There was Darkness upon the Face of the Earth, from the 6th to the 9th hour. This Eclipse Dionisius is said to have seen in Egypt, and in Aston∣ishment to cry out, Either Nature, or the God of Nature suffers. And tho this be accoun∣ted not in the Number of natural, but supernatural Eclipses, because (if there be any cre∣dit to be given to the Writings of Dionysius) it was obsered by him, and the Philosopher Apollophanes to happen, not at the time of the Conjunction of Sun and Moon, but at their opposition, Viz. At full Moon; this doth no hurt to my cause at all: For I plead only for this point, that God is pleased to make significations of his will, in the discovery of things not well known, in the outward Face of the Heavens. Eusebius also tells us, that Phlegon made observation of this Eclipse. Alsted Eucyel. l. 20. c. 10. Hist. Eclips.

3. A little before the Death of Charles the great, A. C. 814. There happened another Famous Eclipse of the Sun; of which Eginardas in his Life (as he is cited in fascical. tempt.) saith thus, Many Signs preceeded the Death of the Glorious and Holy Emperour Charles; for there was an unusual Eclipse of the Sun and Moon, there appeared for seven days a spot of black colour in the Sun. Ibid.

4. June 17th, 1415. When John Husse was tried at Constance, by the Cardinals and Bi∣shops in the Convent of the Franciscans, there fell out so great an Eclipse, that the Sun was almost Darkened: After which John was Condemned, and a dismal Persecution follow∣ed upon all his Disciples that breathed after a Reformation. Clark's marr. of Eccl. Hist. p. 123.

5. A Greek Astrologer, the same that had predicted the Dukedom of Tuscany to Cosmo de me∣dices, foretold also the Death of Alexander, and that with such confidence, that he de∣scribed the Murderer, to be one of this familiar Acquaintance, of a slender Body, small Face, Swarthy Complexion, and of an unsociable reserved temper; by which description he did as good as point out with the Finger Lawrence Medices, who Murdered the same Alexander in his Bed-Chamber. Dinoth. memorab. l. 6. p. 394. Jovii Elog. p. 320.

6. Pope Paul the 3d wrote to Petrus Aloides, Farnesius his Son, that he should take speci∣al care of himself upon the 10th of September; for the Stars did then threaten him with some signal Misfortune: Upon which the Incredulous young Man was slain by thirty Men who had joyned in Conspiracy against him. Sleiden. Comment. l. 19. Zuing. Theat. vol. 5. l. 3.

7. Basilius the Mathematician, predicted to Cosmo Medices, when as yet but a private Man, that a mighty Rich Inheritance would fall to him; before the Ascendant of his Nativity was Illustrated by a happy Conspiracy of Stars in Capricorn, in such manner as had heretofore fallen out to Augustus•• Caesar, and Charles the 5th, Emperor; and accordingly upon

the 5th of the Ides of January, he was advanced to the Dukedom of Florence. Dinoth. memorab. l. 6. p. 390.

8. The Famous Picus Mirandula, for his invective Writings against the Astrologers of his time, called, Flagellum Astrologorum, or Astrologo-Mastix, the Scourge of Astrologers, met at last with one Bellantius of Syena, who upon a Scheme of his Nativity gave this Judgment upon him, that he should dye the thirty fourth year of his Age: Which accordingly came to pass. Gaffarell. Curios. c. 7. p. 252.

9. Guido Bontius, foretold to Guido Count of Monts-ferat, the day wherein he might, if he would, sally out of Forolirium and attack his Enemies, and might defeat them; but withal himself should be wounded in the Hip. Which accordingly he did, and prospered, the Astrologer himself being in Company with him, and providing a medicine for the wound before-hand; which the Count, as was predicted, received at the same time. Wanley's Wonders of the little World, l. 6. c. 4. Fulges Ex. l. 8. c. 11.

10. Within three or four days after King Charles the Second died, I being then Minister of Shipley, and considering with my self, of how great importance the knowledge of such an Accident might be to the Nation, concluded, that if they were any thing of moment in the Science of Astrology, sure some prediction might be expected from our Prognostica∣tors in this case: Upon which I went streight to a Countrey Shop where Almanacks were sold, and enquired what old ones lay upon their hands; they produced all, out of which I singled out so many as pretended to Astrological Observations, and Prognostications, in one of them (which I think was Gadbury's, I found to this purpose, That that year, by the then Configurataions of the Heavens, should be much such another as was that of 1660, which was so happy for the settlement of the late King in his Throne; but now, as then, there would be a Party of Saturnine humours, that would by their murmuring and discon∣tents, be in danger of bringing Punishment upon their own Heads. After I had read over this, I passed on to another, where I found words of the like import: Upon which I re∣turned home, pausing upon the case, not knowing whether to resolve it into the Science of Astrology, or something else: And so I leave it to the censure of my Reader.

For Comets, I declared, that I do not believe the Governour of the World puts out such Flameaus, sets such Beacons on fire in the upper Regions, for no purpose; Nature doth not, saith the Philosopher; and shall the Christian say, the God of Nature doth any thing in vain? Two and Fifty years ago, Decemb. 1638. There was a Blazing Star seen, upon which followed the Irish Massacre, and the late Civil Wars. In December and March 1664. There were two Comets seen, which were followed by that sad and dreadful Plague, where∣of died, that were taken notice of, 98596, besides many others, which escaped the Bills of Mortality; and that lamentable fire which in London destroyed so many Stately Buil∣dings and Parish Churches.

11. In Dec. and Jan. 168••. Another Great Comet appeared to the Amusem*nt, or Ter∣rour of all considering Spectatours, beginning in Sagittarius, or the latter end of Scorpio, about the beginning of November, thence proceeding to Capricorn, &c. Concerning which, said John Hill, a Physician and Astrologyer (in his Alarm to Europe, Printed by H. Brugis, for W. Thackery at the Angel in Duck-Lane). Let part of France, and part of Germany and Spain look to it; for they either offensively, or defensively shall batter themselves, or some other People; and in as much as it is gotten into Capricorn, I pray God keep the Dominions of Great Britain in Peace, because under Capricorn is the North part of Sotland; for it is much to be feared, the Scots may once more Rebel against England, &c. And at last.—I shall now conclude with this Astrological prediction, that within this five years all Europe shall go near to be up in Arms. Multi multa sciunt, sed nemo omnia. Thus far my Author too truely.

12. A Neighbour and Friend of mine in Shropshire, with whom I have had several dis∣courses about the Lawfulness and certainty of Astrology, always asserted the Lawfulness of it, because he saw nothing but what was natural in it, but confessed the uncertainty of it in many cases (as others have done before him) not through default of the Art, but the Weakness and Unskilfulness of the Artist: And he mentioned some particular Instances of his own Experiments, wherein he had hit upon the Truth; as particularly, when one Cap∣tain C. near Salop, had lost a Horse out of his Stable, he was sent for, and desired to cast a Figure, which he accordingly did, and gave such a particular description of the Man that had stole him, and the way he was gone; that by Virtue of his Directions the Horse was presently found: His other Instances I remember not, but he was reputed an honest Farmer, a good Neighbour, and a very facetious Man: I suppose, he is stil lliving.

13. Prophesies Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey Esq; to pass by the Pro∣phesies of Holy-Writ, the Prophesies of Nostraedamus do foretel very strangely; but not ea∣sily understood till they are fulfilled. The Book is now common. In a Book of Mr. Wil∣liam Lilly's are Hieroglyphick Prophesies, Viz. Of the great Plague of London, expressed by Graves and Dead Corps; and a Scheme with II ascending [the Sign of London] and no Planets in the XII Houses. Also there is the Picture of London all on Fire, also Moles creeping, &c. Perhaps Mr. Lilly might be contented to have People believe that this was from himself. But Mr. Thomas Flatman (Poet) did affirm, that he had seen those Hiero∣glyphicks in an old Parchment Manuscript Writ in the time of the Monks.

14. There is a Prophecy of William Tyndal, poor Vicar of Welling in the County of Hertford, made in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign. I have seen it: It is in English Verse, two Pages and an half in Folio. It fore-told our late Wars. I know one that read it Forty Years since.

15. Before the Civil-Wars there was much talk of the Lady Ann Davys's Prophesies;

CHAP. XII. Of ORACLES.

ALL that I propound to my self under this Head, is to shew, not what Illusions and Im∣postures were used by the Priests, to Cheat the poor Votaries with, that Addressed to them; much less to vindicate them from the Frauds of Ambiguity and Vanity; but to evince this, That by them God Almighty permitted sometimes, Things otherwise Secret and Future, to be made known; and this by the mediation of invisible Spirits, as the Agents; that some Responses were given by Oracles, which could not be imputed to the Artifice of a Mechanical Statue, nor yet to the Wit of the Priest that officiated: As for Instance, among the Heathen Oracles, for such only I mean this place.

1. The Oracle of Delphos, the most Famed of all other, being consulted for a Resolution of this Question, Who was the most happy Man? The Answer was made, Phedius, who died but a while before in the Service of his Countrey. The same Question being sent a second time, by Gyges, one of the greatest Kings in those days, of all the Earth, viz. Who was the happiest Man next to Phedius? The Answer was made, Aglaus Sophidius. This Aglaus was a good honest Man, well stricken in Years, dwelling in a very narrow Corner of Arcadia, where he had a little House, and Land of his own, sufficient, with the yearly Profits there∣of, to maintain him plentifully with ease, out of which he never went, but employed him∣self in the Tillage and Husbandry of it, to make the best benefit he could; in such manner that (as it appeared by that course of Life) as he coveted least, so he felt as little Trouble and Adversity while he lived. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 46.

2. Julian the Apostate (Op. p. 181. Ep. 38.) makes frequent mention of Oracles in his time, particularly in an Epistle to Maximus the Cynick, concerning whose Trouble he had by another, though at a great distance, Consulted the Oracle, and received an Apposite Answer. Doctor Tenison against Hobbs. The Doctor adds also, that which is to my pur∣pose, viz. I cannot prevail upon my Mind to think, that the Priests had no Assistance from Daemons.

3. Extracted from the Miscellanies of Mr. Aubrey. Hieronimus Cardanus, Lib. III. Syne∣siorum Somniorum, Cap. XV. treats of this Subject, which see. Johannes Scotus Erigena, when he was in Greece, did go to an Oracle to Enquire for a Treatise of Aristotle, and found it, by the Response of the Oracle. This he mentions in his Works, lately Printed at Oxford; and is quoted by Mr. Anthony à Wood, in his Antiquities of Oxen, in his Life.

4. Concerning the Oracles of the Sybils, there hath been much Controversie, and many Discourses spent; but after all, we have little of their Writings to rely upon, excepting on∣ly those of the Cumaean Prophetess, and those especially which are Recorded by Virgil; yet that very same Year that Jerusalem was taken by Pompey, it was noised abroad in the World, That Nature was with Child for the People of Rome, of a King that should Reign over them. Whereupon, as Suetonius writeth in the Life of Augustus, the Senate being affrighted, made Order, That none Born in that Year should be brought up: They who had Wives great with Child, promising themselves some hopes thereupon, took care, lest this Decree of the Senate should be carried to the Treasury. The same Year P. Cornelius Lentulus was stirred up therewith, conceiving some hopes for himself, as both Appian, Plutarch, Salustius, and Ci∣cero (in his third Oration against Cataline) testifie, &c.

The Verses of the Sybils, which gave occasion to these Thoughts and Counsels, were these;

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,&c. Isaac V••s. de Sybil. Orac. p. 20.

The Sybils Oracles gave such Testimony to the Expectation of a Messiah, that at last the reading of them was forbid to private Persons. Justin Martyr saith, It was a capital Crime for any one to read the Books of Hystaspes, Sybilla, and the Prophets: as the same Vossius tells us (out of his Second Apology.) — And the Christians, whenever they were engaged in

Disputation with the Gentiles, always Appealed to the Sybils, and commended them to their Books, as is clear from Justin M. Clements, Tertullian, Lactantius, and all. Ibid. p. 34.

5. Croesus, King of Lydia, having determined to War upon Cyrus, Consulted the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos, touching the Success, whence he received this Answer:

Croesus Halyn penetrante, magnam disperdet opnmvim.When Croesus has the Halys past,A Sword of Treasure shall he wast.

He Interpreted this of the Riches of his Adversaries, but the Event shewed they were his own; for he lost his army, Kingdom, and Liberty, in that Expedition. Herodot. l. 1. p. 20. Dinoth. memorab. p. 409.

6. There were some ancient Stories of the Sybils, in which was contained, That Africa should again fall under the power of the Romans, Mundum cum prole sua interiturum. This Prophecy of the Sybils affrighted very many, extreamly sollicitous, lest the Heavens and the Earth, together with all Mankind, should then perish. But Africa being Reduced by the fortunate Virtue of Belisarius, it then appeared, That the Death of Mundus, the then Gene∣ral, and of Mauritius his Son, was Predicted by the Sybil, who in Battle against the Goths, were both Slain at Salona, a City in Dalmatia. Dinoth. l. 6. p. 412.

7. Nero Caesar Consulted the Oracle of Apollo at Delphos, touching his future Fortune, and was thereby Advised, To beware of the Sixty and Third Year; he concluded, that he should not only arrive to old Age, but also that all things should be prosperous to him; and was so entirely possessed, that nothing could be Fatal till that Year of his Age, that when he had lost divers things of great value by Ship-wreck, he doubted not to say amongst his At∣tendants, That the Fishes would bring them back to him. But he was deceived in his Expecta∣tion; for Galba, being in the Sixty third Year of his Age, was Saluted Emperor by his Soldiers, and Nero being forced to death, was succeeded by him in the Empire. Sueton. l. 6. c. 40. p. 259. Zuring. Theatr. vol. 1. l. 1. p. 78.

8. Alexander, King of Epirus, Consulted the Oracle of Jupiter at Dodona, a City of E∣pire, about his Life; he was Answered, That he should shun the City of Pandosia, and the River Acherusius, as fatal places: he knew there were such places amongst the Thospoci: Warring therefore upon the Brutii, a warlike People, he was by them overthrown and slain, near unto places amongst them called by the same name. Alex. ab Alexand. dies Genial. l. 5. c. 2. Fitzherb. of Relig. and Policy, Part 1. c. 36. p. 446. Just. l. 12. p. 134.

9. Croesus sent to Delphos, to know of the Oracle, if his Empire and Government should be durable, or not; the Answer he received was,

Regis apud medos mulo jam sede poticoLyde, fugam mollis, scruposum corripe ad HermumNeve mane, ignavus, posito sis Lyde pudore.

When the Verses came to Croesus, he took great pleasure therein, hoping it would never come to pass, that amongst the Medes, a Mule instead of a Man should Reign, and that therefore he and his Posterity should preserve their Empire unabolished. But when, after he was over∣come, he had got leave of Cyrus to send to Delphos, to upbraid the Oracle with the Deceit, Apollo sent him word, That by the Mule he meant Cyrus, because he was Born of Parents of two different Nations, of a more noble Mother than Father; for she was a Mede, the Daughter of Astyapes, King of the Medes; the Father a Persian, and Subject to the Medes; and, though a very mean Person, had yet married Mandane the Daughter of his King. He∣rod. l. 1. p. 21. &. 39.

10. In the last place, I recommend to the Consideration of the Ingenuous Reader, these Verses out of Virgil, ascribed to Cumaea, one of the Sybils, concerning Christ, as I find them Translated out of the Ancient Ecclesiastical Histories of Eusebius, Socrates, and Evagrius, &c. by Dr. Hanmer, in Constantines Oration to the Clergy, c. 20. p. 124.

Now a new Progeny is sent down from Heaven high,Yea, Muses, with a lofty wing,Let us of higher Matters sing:This is the last Age, whereinCumaea shall her Verses sing.The Integrity of Times shall new renew again,And a Virgin shall bring back old Saturn's Reign.The Birth of that most happy Child, in whomThe Iron Age shall end, and the Golden Age back 〈◊〉〈◊〉.Chast Lucina favour!He shall the powers of wickedness destroy,And free the World from Fears and all A••••y.He shall live with the Gods, and see againThe Gods and Heroes, and be seen of them.And with his Fathers Vertues he shall ReignOver the World, which shall Peace obtain.The grateful Earth, sweet Child, shall be most willingTo bring forth Gifts for thee, without all Tilling

The winding Ivy, and the Ladies Gloves,And also Saffron that the Medow loves,And is called Medow-Saffron, and with those,That smiling Flower that's call'd, our Ladies Rose.The Goats shall bring their Ʋdders home,And the gentle Flocks great Lyons shall not shun.Thy Cradle fairest Flowers shall bring forth still,Which shall have power the poysonous Herbs to kill.The Serpent he shall to destruction bring,Assyrian Amomum shall each-where spring.He may at once know Vertue, and may readHis Father's Works, and what the Heroes did.The Fields, when the soft Ears are ripe,Shall, by degrees, even wax white;And the red Grnpe shall not scornTo grow on the undrest Thorn.From the hard Oak there shallSweet Honey sweat forth and fall.Yet some few Prints of wickedness shall remain,So that Ships shall sail on Thetis Waves again;Which shall make them to encompass their Towns roundWith Walls, and to make Trenches on the ground.Another Typhis and Argos there shall beTo convey the chosen Heroes; and besides, weShall have other wars again, us to destroy,And great Achilles shall be sent to Troy.VVhen thou shalt attain at lengthTo Years of Man-hood, and firm strength;The Sea shall then be quiet, no Ships shall rangeAbroad, her Wares with others to exchange;Then every Land, shall every thing produce,And then to Plough the Earth they shall not use;Vines by the Hook shall not be rectify'd,Nor VVooll with divers colours shall be dy'd,Fair Fleeces voluntary shall proceed,And cloath the Lambs while they do gently feed;Jove's Off spring, and the Gods dear Progeny,Come to those Honours which attend on thee.See how the VVorld doth nod, though poised even,Both Earth, the broad Sea, and the highest Heaven.O might my Days be lengthned, so that IMight sing of thy great deeds before I die.See how all things do their Joy and Gladness shew,For that Age which is ready to ensue.The Thracian Orpheus should not me o'recome,Nor Linus, though his Parents heard the Son;If Pan, Arcadia Judging, strive with me,Pan should, Arcadia Judging, Conquered be.

CHAP. XIII. Of Prophets.

WE have frequent mention made of Prophets, and Prophecying in the New, as well as the Old Testament; by which Divines do generally understand Preachers and Preaching; and I believe they are partly in the right. But I Query if or no the common Notion be deep and extensive enough? For, with an humble Deference to my Superiors and Betters, I am of Opi∣nion, that Preachers cannot otherwise with any Propriety of Speech be call'd Prophets, than as they are Authorized and Enabled by God Almighty, to foretel their respective Flocks, and particular Members of the Church they are concerned with, what is like to be their future Doom, in this partly, but especially in the other World: And this from their deep Contempla∣tions of God's revealed Decrees; their Study of Sacred Scriptures, and the Refinedness and Soundness of their Judgments, and withal (if Men of a Sincere Piety and Devotion) from the especial Communications of the Spirit of Grace. And if there be any Probability in this, 'tis no wonder, if we find Prophecying not quite ceased amongst us.

1. Valentine the Emperor being slain in France, and Eugenius nominated Emperor in his room; Theodosius the Elder being very sorry, and considering how dangerous a War lay before him; yet thinking it a great Dishonour to suffer such an Action to go unpunished, he muster'd up his Army, and with all possible Speed marched against the Conspirators; but as a good and holy Christian, he first betook himself to Fasting and Prayer, seeking unto God, the Giver of Victory, for Success in his Enterprize, requesting the Prayers of other Holy Men also; whereof one o•• them sent him Word, that he should have the Victory, but should die in Italy, and never return again to Constantinople. He obtained the Victory, fixed him∣self afterwards at Millain, where he lived for some Years, and there died. Clark in his Life.

2. Anno Christi, 1279. there lived in Scotland one Thomas Lermouth, a Man, very greatly admired for his foretelling of Things to come. He may justly be wondred at for fore∣telling so many Ages before the Union of the Kingdom of England and Scotland, in the Ninth Degree of Bruce's Blood, with the Succession of Bruce himself to the Crown, being yet a Child, and many other things, which the Event hath made good. The day before the Death of King Alexander, he told the Earl of March, that before the next Day at Noon such a Tempest should blow, as Scotland had not felt many Years before. The next morning proving a clear day, the Earl challenged Thomas as an Imposter; he replied, That Noon was not yet past; about which time a Post came to inform the Earl of the King's sudden Death; and then, said Thomas, This is the Tempest I foretold, and so it shall prove to Scotland, as indeed it did. Spotwood's Hist. of Ch. of Scotland, l. 2. p. 47. Clark's Mir. c. 101. p. 467.

3. Duncan, King of Scots, had two principal Men, whom he employ'd in all Matters of Importance, Mackbeth and Banquho; these two travelling together thro' a Forest, were met by three Witches (Weirds, as the Scots call them) whereof the first making Obey∣sance unto Mackbeth, saluted him, Thane (that is Earl) of Glammis; the second, Thane of Cander, and the third, King of Scotland. This is unequal Dealing, said Banquho, to give my Friend all the Honour, and none unto me; to which one of the Weirds made an∣swer, That he indeed should not be King, but out of his Loyns should come a Race of Kings, that should for ever rule the Scots: And having thus said, they all vanished. Upon their Arrival to the Court, Mackbeth was immediately created Thane of Glammis, and not long after, some new Service requiring new Recompence, he was honour'd with the Title of Thane of Cander. Seeing then how happily the Prediction of the three Weirds fell out in the two formea, he resolved not to be wanting to himself, in fulfilling the third. He therefore first killed the King, and after, by reason of his Command a∣mongst the Soldiers, he succeeded in his Throne. Being scarce warm in his Seat, he called to Mind the Prediction given to his Companion Banquho, whom, hereupon suspecting as his Supplanter, he caused to be killed, together with his whole Posterity, only Fleance, one of his Sons, escaping with no small difficulty into Wales; freed, as he thought, of all Feat of Banquho and his Issue, he built Dunsinan Castle, and made it his ordinary Seat; afterwards, on some new Fears, consulting with his Wizzards concerning his future Estate, he was told by one of them, that he should never be overcome, till Bernane-Wood, being some Miles distant, came to Dunsinan-Castle; and by another, that he should never be slain by any Man, which was born of a Woman: Secure then, as he thought, from all future Dangers, he omitted no kind of Libidinous Cruelty for the space of eighteen Years; for so long he tyranniz'd over Scotland. But having then made up the Measure of his Iniquities, Mackduffe, the Governour of Fife, with some other good Patriots, privily met one Evening at Bernane-Wood, and, taking every one a Bough in his Hand, the bet∣ter to keep them from Discovery, marched early in the Morning towards Dunsinan-Castle, which they took by Storm. Mackbeth escaping, was pursued by Mackduffe, who having overtaken him, urged him to the Combat, to whom the Tyrant, half in Scorn, returned, That in vain he attempted to kill him, it being his Destiny never to be slain by any that was born of a Woman. Now then, said Mackduffe, is the fatal end drawn fast upon thee; for I was never born of a Woman, but violently cut out of my Mother's Belly; which so daunted the Tyrant (tho' otherwise a Valiant Man) that he was easily slain. In the mean time Fleance so prosper'd in Wales, that he gain'd the Affection of the Prince's Daugh∣ter of the Country, and by her had a Son, call'd Walter, who flying Wales, return'd into Scotland, where (his Descent known) he was restored to the Honours and Lands of his House, and preferr'd to be Steward of the House of Edgar (the Son of Malcoline the Third, sirnamed Conmer) King of Scotland, the name of Stewart growing hence hereditary unto his Posterity. From this Walter descended that Robert Stewart, who succeeded David Bruce, in the Kingdom of Scotland, the Progenitor of nine Kings of the Name of Stewart, which have reigned successively in the Kingdom. Heylin's Cosmogr. pag. 336.

4. Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex, having wasted his Spirits with Grief, fell into a Dy∣sentery, whereof he died, after he had requested of such as stood by him, that they would admonish his Son, who was then scarce ten Years of age, that he should always propound and set before him the Thirty-sixth year of his Life, as the utmost he should ever attain unto; which neither he nor his Father had gone beyond, and his Son never reach'd unto; for Robert Devereux his Son, and also Earl of Essex, was beheaded in the Thirty-fourth year of his age: So that his dying Father seemed not in vain to have Admonished him as he did, but to speak by Divine Inspiration and Suggestion. Cambd. Annal. rer. Angl. Part 2. p. 277.

5. Philip de Mornay, L. du Plessis, was in Paris upon black St. Bartholomew's-Day; when News was brought him, that the Admiral was slain, he leaped out of his Bed; and whilst he was putting on his Cloaths, he felt an extraordinary Motion in himself, which caused him to say. God will deliver me out of this danger, and I shall live to see it revenged. On the contrary, Monsieur Rameny, (his Tutor) presently answer'd, And I shall die in it; both which came to pass. Clark's Examples. Vol. 2. p. 552.

6. Mr. John Carter, sometimes Minister of Belstead, in Suffolk, having long studied the Book of the Revelations, some of his Friends ask'd him what he thought of the Future Estate of our Church, here in England? You shall not (said he) need to fear Fire and fa*g∣got any more; but such dreadful Divisions will be amongst God's People, and Professors, as will equalize the greatest Persecution. Herein we have found him a true Prophet. Ibid.

7. It may seem happily incredible to some, to relate how many Years agon, Dr. Ʋsher, L. Primate of Ireland, confidently foretold the Changes which since are come to pass, both in Ireland, and in England, both in Church and State, and of the Poverty which himself should fall into, which he oft spoke of in his greatest Prosperity. Some took much notice of the Text, on which he preached in St. Maries in Cambridge, Anno Christi 1625. Upon the late Coronation-Day, out of 1 Sam. 12.25. If you still do wickedly, you shall be con∣sumed, both you and your King. Others, of the last Text he preached on at Court, im∣mediately before his Return into Ireland, on 1 Cor. 14.33. God is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace, as in all the Churches of the Saints. IN his application he spake of the Con∣fusions and Divisions, which, he was confident, were then at the Doors. Ibid.

8. A. C. 1624. He spake before many Witnesses, and oft repeated it afterwards, that he was perswaded, that the greatest stroke to the Reformed Churches was yet to come. And that the time of the utter Ruin of the Roman Antichrist should be when he thought himself most secure; according to that Text, Rev. 18.7. When she shall say, I sit as a Queen, and shall see no Sorrow, &c. Ibid.

9. When in the Reign of Queen Mary, Dr. Sands was forced to fly out of England, he was oonvey'd to the House of one Mower, a Master of a Ship, at Milton-Shoar••; and and when the Wind served, he took his leave of his Landlord and Landlady, who had been married eight Years, and had no Child; and when he took his Leave of the Wo∣man, he thank'd her kindly for his Entertainment, and gave her his Handkercheif, with an old Royal of Gold in it, saying, Be of good Comfort, e're an Year be past, God will give you a Son; and it came to pass according: For, when there lacked but one day of a Twelvemonth, she was brought to Bed of a fair Son. Ibid.

10. A. C. 1601. Popery much increasing in Ireland, and there being too much con∣nivance at them, Dr. Ʋsher, preaching before the State at Christ-Church, in Dublin, gave them his Sence about that Toleration, boldly applying that Passage in the Vision of Ezek. ch. 4.6. Where the Prophet, by lying on his Side, was to bear the Iniquity of Judah Forty Days, each Day being appointed for a Year, signifying the time of Forty Years to the Destruction of Jerusalem: whereupon he added, From this Year will I reckon the Sin of Ireland, that those whom you now embrace shall be your Ruin, and you shall bear this Iniquity: which accordingly came to pass at the end of the Forty Years, viz. A. C. 1641. in the late Rebellion and Massacre in Ireland, affected by those Papists that were then connived at. See his Life in Dr. Bernard.

11. About the Year 1544. There was in Scotland, one Mr. George Wiseheart, a Man of Admirable Graces, and singularly Learned, who first Preached in Ross, then in Dundee, where, to the great Admiration of his hearers, he went over the Epistle to the Romans, till, at the Instigation of the Cardinal, one Robert Misle, a chief Man in that Town, inhi∣bited him from Preaching, and required that he should trouble their Town no more, for he would not suffer it: And this was spoken in the Publick Congregation. Whereupon, Mr. Whiseheart, musing a space, with his Eyes lift up to Heaven; after a while, looking sor∣rowfully upon the Speaker and People, he said, God is my Witness, that I minded never your trouble but your comsort: Yea, your trouble is to me, more dolorous than it is to your selves. But, I am assured, that to refuse Gods word, and to chase from you his Messenger, shall not preserve you from trouble, but shall bring you into it: For God shall send unto you Ministers, that shall neither fear Burning, nor Banishment. I have offered you the Word of Salvation, with the hazard of my Life. And now ye your selves refuse me, and I must leave mine inno∣cency to be declared by my God. If it be long prosperous with you, I am not led by the Spirit of Truth; but if unlooked for troubles come upon you, acknowledge the cause, and turn to God, who is Gracious and Merciful; and if you turn not at the first warning, he will visit you with Fire and Sword: And so he came down from the Pulpit, and went out of the Town. And whilst he was Preaching up and down in the Countreys, News was brought him, that the Plague was broken out in Dundee, which begun in four days after he was prohibited Preaching there, and raged so extreamly, that it's almost beyond credit, how many dyed in twenty four hours space, &c. The Cardinal very eagerly sought Mr. Wisehearts Death, and for that end, caused a Letter to be sent unto him, as if it had been from his familiar Friend, the Laird of Kinnur, desiring him with all possible speed to come unto him, for that he was taken with a sudden Sickness. In the mean time, he had provided Sixty Men Armed, to lye in wait by the way to Murther him. The Letter being brought unto him by a Boy, who also brought him an Horse to ride on, Accompanied with some honest Men, his Friends, he set forwards on his Journey: But as he was riding, stopping on a sudden, and musing a while, he turned back, and said to his Friends, I will not go: I am forbidden of God. I am assured, there is a Treachery. Let some of you go to yonder place, and tell me what

you sind: They went accordingly, and discovering the Ambush, they came back and told Mr. Wiseheart; whereupon he said, I know that I shall end my Life by that Blood thirsty Mans hands; but it will not be on this manner. At another time, as he was Preaching, among others that came to hear him, there were two Grey Fryars, who standing at the Church-Door, whispered to such as came in; which Mr. Wiseheart taking notice of, said to the People; I pray you make room for these two Men, it may be they come to Learn: And turning his Speech to them, he said, Come near, for I assure you, you shall hear the word of Truth, which this day shall Seal unto you either your Salvation, or Damnation: And so he proceeded in his Sermon, supposing that they would be quiet: But when he perceived, that they still continued to disturb the People that were near them, he said unto them, the Se∣cond time, with an angry Countenance; O Ministers of Satan, and Deceivers of the Souls of Men! Will you neither hear Gods Truth your selves, nor suffer others to hear it? Depart, and take this for your Portion: God shall shortly disclose and confound your Hypocrisie within this Kingdom, you shall be Abominable unto Men, and your Habitations shall be desolate. Which accordingly came to pass not long after. Not long after, as he was Preaching at Haddington, seeing what a thing Auditory he had, he said, O Lord, how long shall it be that thy Holy Word shall be despised, and Men shall not regard their own Salvation? I have heard of thee, O Haddington, that in thee, there used to be two or three Thousand Persons at a vain and wicked Play; adn now to hear a Messenger of the Eternal God, of all the Parish can scarce be Numbred one Hundred Persons present. Sore and Fearful shall be the Plagues, which shall ensue upon this thy contempt; with Fire and Sword shalt thou be Plagued: Yea, thou Hadding∣ton in special, strangers shall possess thee, and you the present Inhabitants, shall either in Bondage serve your Enemies, or else ou shall be chased from your own Habitations, and that because you have not known, nor will know the time of your Visitation. This Prophecy was accom∣plished not long after, when the English took Haddington, made it a Garrison, enforced many of the Inhabitants to fly, and oppressed others. And after a while, a great Plague brake forth in the Town, whereof Multitudes died, which forced the English to quit it, who at their departure, burnt, and destroyed a great part of it: and presently after it was Seized upon by the French, who came as Auxiliaries into Scotland, and but few of the Ancient Inhabitants returned to it: So that Haddington, to this day, never recovered its former Beauty and Populousness. Mr. Wiseheart, being Condemned by the Cardinal of St. Andrews, and his Bishop, to be burnt; as he was at the stake, he saw the Cardinal sitting in one of his Castle Windows, to see Execution done upon him, whereupon he said: He who in such State, from that high place, feeds his Eyes with my Torments, within a few days shall be hanged out at the same Window, to be seen with as much Ignominy as he now Learns there with Pride: Which accordingly came to pass. Clark's mirrour.

See more in the next Chapters following but one, Viz. Premonitions of General Chan∣ges, &c.

12. There was a Relation publish'd, A. 1671. at London, by one Tho. Astree, concern∣ing his son, a Schollar at Christs-Hospital, who having a mind to go to Sea, and being put off with delays by his Father, at last was told by one in the habit of a Seaman, with his Cloaths of sad-coloured silk water'd, and over them a sad-coloured cloth Coat with Gold Buttons, a plain Cravat, a Cane with a Silver Head, and a Sword by his Side, that if he went to Sea, he should have a Flux, that would cost him his Life; that all the rest of the Men should go safe; and that he knew this very well; adding, my Son, before the Sun be down, that shall be tyed, that was never tyed before, and before the morrow Sun be down, that shall be loose that was never tyed before: And afterwards (on his way home from the Bridge, where this was spoken) Do you believe what I have said? (The Boy Answering, No.) Do you not remember that Zacharias was struck Dumb, quoting Luk. 1. I do re∣member, saith the Boy, but that was because he did not believe the Angel, &c. Ans. It may be so with you. Boy, are you an Angel? No answer was made; the Man departed, the Boy goes home, leans upon the Table, could not speak, with Tears trickling down his Cheeks, and Smiting on his Breast, made Signs for a Pen and Ink, &c. Writes down, I can∣not speak, speak to me, and I shall understand. And so continued, for twenty four hours. At last his Father reading to him, and citing, Ps. 56.3. He coughed three times, and some∣what gave a jerk, like the breaking of a string, upon which his Tongue was loosed, and he spake, saying, Blessed be God, I can speak, &c.

CHAP. XIV. Of Ʋrim and Thummim, Teraphim, &c.

ƲRim and Thummim mentioned, Exod. 28.30. (According to Mr. Simpson) signify Light and perfection from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and they are put in the plural Number to signify the plenty and excellency of the Divine Graces. This was meant, as some conceive, of the splendor and perfection of the precious Stones of the Breast-Plate, which were of most clear and perfect Beauty. But some conceive, that these words were Writ, or Engraven up∣on some of the precious Materials of the HIgh Priests Garments, or Ornaments; neither made nor placed by the inspired Artificers, but, as some Learned Writers rather think, by

God himself. Exod. 39.10. compared with Lev. 8.8. Seem to make for this Opinion: And so they were put by Moses into the Breast-Plate. It was called, the Breast-Plate of Judgment, v. 15. and the Judgment of Ʋrim, Num. 27.21. Because the High-Priest put it on, when he consulted with God, and received from him clear and determmate Answers in Cases of Doubt: Which Answers were made sometimes by audible Voice, sometimes by secret Inspiration, which when he had told it to the People, the Stones had Letters in the Breast-Plate (as is probably conceived, for there is nothing certain of it in the Scripture) might have an extraordinary brightness on them, for the better assurance of the People; that the Priest had spoken with the Lord, and received an Answer from him: As by the shining of Moses's Face when he came from God, witht he Tables of the Testimony in his hand. Exod. 34.29, 30. It was manifest that he had from God, what he brought unto the People. And whereas, David being to consult with the Lord, called for the Ephod, 1 Sam. 23.9. The reason was, because the Breast-Plate was fastened to the Ephod, v. 28. and the Ephod to the Breast-Plate, so that if he had one, he had both, Exod. 39.21. This Oracu∣lous consultation with the Breast-Plate; i. e. by use of the Breast-Plate, lasted no longer, as is generally thought, then to the Captivity of Babylon. See, Ezra. 2.63. And after that time, We find not that the Jews had any use of that kind of Revelation. Thus far Mr. Simpson in his Christian Dictionary. Who refers us also to Moses and Aaron, l. 4. c. 8. and Al∣sted. Parat. Theol. p. 454, &c.

Mr. Wilson Interprets Ʋrim and Thummim, by the Light of the Knowledge of Christ, by the Word, and perfection of Vertue and Holy Manners. But who made the Ʋrim and Thummim, and what it was, &c. He thinks impossible to find out. Certainly (saith he) it is not reckoned among the things made by Art, but given by God himself to Moses, to be put in the Pectoral, as Lev. 8.8. And Written of Christ, Col. 2.3. Dan. 8.13. Wilson in his Christ. Dict. on the Word Urim, &c.

Dr. Lightfo••t, speaking concerning the Ʋrim and Thummim, hath these words; how did Phineas enquire? By Ʋrim and Thummim. So was Gods diection to them, Num. 28.21. As Joshua the chief Commander in his time, did enquire by Eleazer the Father, so did the chief Commander now by Phineas the Son: And both by the Judgment of Ʋrim and Thummim.

But how was that? There are so many Opinions about what Ʋrim and Thummim was, and so great Obscurity made: How the Oracle was given by it, that it may seem to require another Oracle to tell, how that Oracle was given. I shall not tire you with Diversities of Opinions; I shall briefly lay down some Particulars concerning this thing, upon which I my self am abundantly satisfied about it, and upon which I suppose any that is not over-curious, may receive Satisfaction.

None but know the Dress of the High Priest, Exod. 28. and particularly the Breast-Plate; the twelve Tribes ingraven upon them. And then it is said at Ver. 20. Thou shalt put in the Breast-plate of Judgment, the Ʋrime and Thummim. By the Breast-plate there is meant, as in Verse the 15th and 16th. That piece of imbroidered Work four square, in which the twelve precious Stones were to be set. And by the Ʋrim and Thummim is meant the twelve precious Stone themselves, which are call'd Ʋrim, or Lights, or Bright∣ness, because of their shining Lustre; and Thummim, or Perfections, because with most exact and perfect compacture they were all set and fixt in a Plate and Border of Gold in that embroider'd Piece, or that piece of Cloth of Gold.

The Inquiry by Ʋrim and Thummim was not upon any private Occasion, nor by a pri∣vate Man; but by the Prince or Commander in chief, and that in some Matter which con∣cern'd the whole Nation. This might be largely clear'd, but needeth not; only this I cannot but observe, That till Solomon's time there is Mention and Example of this enquir∣ing by Ʋrim, by Joshua in this place, by Saul, by David; but after Solomon's time, no such mention: Not because the Oracle then fail'd, but because till David had done the Work, the whole Land, in the full extent God had promised, namely to Euphrates, was not conquer'd. And therefore in those times this Oracle was stirring for the direction of the Prince, or chief Commander, in that Expedition or Employment.

There was no enquiring of any Priest by Ʋrim, who was not inspired by the Spirit of Prophecy. And hence it is that the Jews well observ'd, after the first Generation, after the Return out of Captivity, the Oracle by Ʋrim and Thummim was not under the second Temple at all: Because thence forward there was not any High Priest, that had the Spirit of Prophecy, or Divine Inspiration. The Case of Caiphas was singular, and it was but once, Jo. 11.15. being High Priest that Year, he prophesied. The Emphasis and main Reason lies in that year: That year, when Vision and Prophecy should be seal'd; that year, when the Spirit should be pour'd down in so abundant measure as it was, Acts 2. He being High Priest that year, had one drop of that Shower of Divine Inspiration that fell that year, and he prophesied. But before him had there been no High Priest, that was indued with the Spirit of Prophecy, from the time of Nehemiah, chap. 7.65. and accordingly, not the Ora∣cle of Ʋrim and Thummim. That Oracle was not given therefore by any audible Voice from off the Ark, or by rising of the Letters of the Names of the Tribes in the precious Stones, that should spell out the Answer; for two or three Letters of the Alphabet were wanting in those Names. Nor was it by change of Colour in the Letters or Stones, as is conceiv'd by some, but the manner of enquiring and receiving; Answer was thus. The High Priest, with all his Habiliments on, particularly the Breast-plate, with the twelve precious Stones in it upon his Breast; the names of the twelve Tribes ingraven in the Stones, stood be∣fore the Ark, only the Veil between, and so he presented the Names, and represented

CHAP. XV. Premonitions of general Changes, or Revolutions.

THE Governour of the VVorld, though he doth whatever he pleaseth, both in Heaven and Earth, and with great Wisdom too, and in such a manner, that His Judgments are unsearch∣able, and his ways past finding out: yet oftentimes, for the Conviction of Sinners, and the be∣nefit of his Children, when he is upon any great Design of turning back the Course of his common Providence, and changing the present Scene of Affairs, he doth by some unusual Token or other, give notice to the World, that People may not complain of a Surprisal. Thus he did when he had a design to drown the World; and thus he did when he intended to burn Sodom; and thus when he was in motion to bring the Posterity of Abraham into Egypt first, and then to Canaan; and thus before the Captivity, before the Incarnation of our Saviour, before the Destruction of Jerusalem. But this he doth, commonly, by way of an especial and favourable Communication to those that are nearest to his Bosom, and most in his Affections. Shall I hide from Abraham, that which I intend to do? But sometimes likewise to the Generality of People, and the whole So∣ciety concerned in the Change.

1. John Husse Suffering Martyrdom at the Council of Constance, A. C. 1415. told them at his Death, That out of the Ashes of the Goose (for so Husse in the Bohemian Lan∣guage signifies) an Hundred Years after, God would raise up a Swan in Germany, whose Singing would affright all those Vultures. Which was exactly fulfilled in Luther, just an hundred Years after. Clarks Marrow of Ecclesiast. History, p. 119. Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 30.

2. Luther speaks thus of the Covetousness of Germany, and the Dearth there. We fear Famine, and we shall suffer it, and find no Remedy for it. And whereas we are without Necessity, we are sollicitous to prevent Famine, like Wicked and Incredulous Heathens, and neglect the Word of God and his Work; He will permit shortly a dismal Day to come upon us, which will bring with it whole Wain-loads of Cares, which we shall neither have Power or Means to escape. And likewise he foretold the combustion which arose in Germany, saying,

I am very much afraid, that if the Princes give ear to Duke George's ill Counsel, there will arise some Tumult, which will destroy all the Princes and Magistrates in all Germany, and engage in it all the Clergy.

Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 49.

3. In May, 1631. at Hull, in Saxony, the Water was turn'd into Blood, and about the middle of this Month, this Town was taken by Tilly, and afterwards retaken from him by their natural Lord, and presently again repossessed by Tilly's Forces; and he himself, after the Battle of Leipsick, made his Escape thither that Night, and had his Wounds dress'd by the Town-Barber; whilst Tilly's Army lay in the Twon, one of his chief Officers saw Blood prodigiously dropping from the House wherein he lay; whereupon he said, What? Must we bleed? Will the King of Sweden bleat us? That is impossible. But it hap∣pen'd otherwise; for Hull was not above Seven Dutch Miles distant from the place of Battle, wherein the Imperial Army was utterly routed, and miserably destroyed in the Chase; and if the King had had but three Hours more of Daylight, it was judged, that hard∣ly a Thousand of the Enemy had escaped, one of their own Relations affirming, that there were Fifteen Thousand of the Imperialists slain upon the place, in the Pursuit that Night, and the next day following it's said, Tilly's couragious Heart could not re∣frain from Tears, when he perceiv'd such woful Destructions among his brave old Sol∣diers, his Army consisting of Forty-four Thousand stout Men, being usually termed Invinci∣ble. The next day the King besieged Hull, which was yielded to him, and soon after, the Castle: But a while after, Papenheim and the Imperialists again retook this City, ex∣ercising all manner of Barbarism upon the Inhabitants. This Year likewise, in the time of the Siege of Magdeburgs, a City Captain's Wife dying in Child-bed, desired to be ript open; which being done, they found a Boy, almost as big as one of 3 Years old, who had an Head-piece, and an Iron Breast-Plate on his Body, great Boots of the French Fashion, and a Bag on his Side, with two things therein, like Musquet Bullets: This horrible Prodigy, no doubt, portended the deplorable Desruction of the City, which happen'd May 10. 1631. when a general Assault was made upon the Town by the Imperialists, the Walls were mounted in an instant, the Town entred, and the Soldiers fell to killing: At the same instant a Fire, none knew how, broke out; and it being a windy day, on a sud∣den all became one mighty Flame, the whole Town being in Twelve Hours time turn'd to Cinders (except some few Fisher-Houses). Six goodly Churches were burnt; the Cathedral by the Diligence of the Monks and Soldiers being preserved: There were at least Twenty Thousand People killed, besides Six Thousand drowned in the River Elbe.

Two days after Tilly came into the Town; and finding some Hundreds of Women and Children in the great Church, he gives them their Lives, and some Bread to maintain them. Surprizing Mirac. of Nature, p. 109.

4. About the Year 1679, or 1680, there was a noise like the shooting off, or the burst∣ing Crack of a Gun, heard, I believe, all over England: I heard it my self as I lay in Bed, near the Town of Shrewsbury, about Seven or Eight a Clock in the Morning; it was all over that Country, and several other adjacent Counties; at London, in Sussex, and the North of England; and did strangely amuse People where-ever it was heard; but this I wonder at, that in some places it was heard in the Afternoon about One, say some, others about Three a Clock, &c. Surely it was significative, the rather because the great Comet suc∣ceeded it, and the Mutations in England. But I leave it to the Consideration and Judg∣ment of the Ingenious Reader.

5. Octob. 5. 1682. There was born at Exeter a Monster, having two perfect Heads; one standing right as it should, the other being in the Right Shoulder; it liv'd not long, but was buried, and taken up again the tenth Instant; many hundreds resorting to see it. I propound it here for an Aenigma, to exercise my Reader's Judgment.

6, Days Lucky and Ʋnlucky, Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq;—Is this thy Day, Luk. 19.42. That there be Good and Evil Times, not only the Sacred Scrip∣tures, but Prophane Authors mention. See 1 Sam. 25.8. Esth. 8.17. and 2.19, 22. Ecclus 14.14. The Fourteenth day of the First Month was a Memorable and Blessed Day amongst the Children of Israel. See Exod. 12.18, 40, 41, 42, 51. As to Evil Days and Times; see Amos 5.13. and 6.3. Eccles. 9.12. Psal. 37.19. Obad. 12. Jer. 46.21. And Job hints it, in cursing his Birth-day. Cap. 3. v. 1, 10, 11.

7. The Romans counted Feb. 13. an Unlucky Day, and therefore then never attempted any Business of Importance.

8. The Jews accounted August 10. an unfortunate day; for on that day the Temple was destroyed by Titus, the Son of Vespasian.

9. And not only among the Romans and Jews, but also amongst Christians, a like Cu∣stom of observing such Days is used, especially Childermas-day or Innocents-day. Cominus tells us, that Lewis XI. used not to debate any Matter, but accounted it a sign of Misfortune towards him, if any Man communed with him of his Affairs; and would be very an∣gry with those about him, if they troubled him with any Matter whatsoever upon that day. But I will descend to more particular Instances upon Lucky and Unlucky Days.

10. Upon the Sixth of April, Alexander the Great was born. Upon the same Day he conquer'd Darius, won a great Victory at Sea, and died the same day.

11. Upon the Thirtieth of September, Pompey the Great was born: Upon that day he Triumph'd for his Asian Conquest; and on that day he died. If Solomon counts The day of ones Death better than the day of ones Birth, there can be no Objection why that also may not be reckon'd amongst ones Remarkable and Happy Days.

12. Sir Kenelm Digby, that Renowned Knight, great Linguist, and Magazeen of Arts, was Born and Died on the Eleventh of June, and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day. Hear his Epitaph, composed by Mr. Farrar, and recited in the aforesaid Memoirs.

Ʋnder this Stone the Matchless Digby lies,Digby the Great, the Valiant, and the Wise:This Age's Wonder, for his Noble Parts;Skill'd in six Tongues, and Learn'd in all the Arts.Born on the day he died, th' Eleventh of June,On which he bravely fought at Scanderoon.'Tis rare, that one and self-same Day should beHis Day of Birth, of Death, of Victory.

13. I had a Maternal Uncle, that died the Third of March last 1678. which was the Anniversary day of his Birth; and (which is a Truth exceeding strange) many Years ago he foretold the day of his death to be that of his Birth; and he also averr'd the same but about the Week before his departure.

14. Of the Family of the Trevours, six successive principal Branches have been born the Sixth of July. Same Memoirs.

15. Meekren in his Medico Chirurgical Observations, gives an Account of a Man that had a Septenary-Fever; and Pliny, if we may believe him, tells us of one Antipater, a Sido∣nian, that also had a Fever (or as some call it an Ague) every Year upon his Birth-day: As for the Nature of such Fevers or Agues, they are as unaccountable as the Revolution of Sevens, a Year in which it's observ'd, a great part of the World (that get out of Childhood) die in, and we read of one Family that never escapes it. Whether an Anniversary Ague is curable, I dare not pretend, since we want Examples, perhaps from the Fewness of 'em.

16. In the Family of the Hastings, Earls of Pembrooke, it is memorable that for many Generations together no Son ever saw the Father. The Father being always dead before the Son was born. Chetwind's Historical Collections.

I shall take particular Notice here of the Third of November; both because 'tis my own Birth-day, and also for that I have observ'd some remarkable Accidents to have happen'd thereupon. I had an Estate left me in Kent; of which, between thirty and forty Acres was Marsh-Land, very conveniently flanking its Up-land; and in those Days this Marsh Land was usually lot for Four Nobles an Acre. My Father died 1643. Within a Year and half after

his Decease, such Charges and Water-scots came upon this Marsh-land, by the Influence of the Sea, that it was never worth one Farthing to me, but very often eat into the Rents of the Up-land: So that I often think, this Day being my Birth-day, hath the same evil Influence upon me, that it had 580 Years since upon Earl Godwin, and others concern'd in Low Lands.

18. The Parliament, so fatal to Rome's Concerns here, in Henry VIII's time, began the Third of November (26th. of his Reign); in which the Pope, with his Authority, was clean banish'd the Realm. See Stow's Annals, and Weaver, p. 80.

19. The Third of November, 1640. began that Parliament so direfully fatal to England, in its Peace, its Wealth, its Religion, its Gentry, Nobility; nay, its King.

20. The Third of September was a remarkable Day to the English Attila, Oliver. 1650. He obtain'd a memorable Victory at Dunbar; another at Worcester, 1651. And that day he died, 1658.

21. The Third of September was Dismal and Unhappy to the City of London, and consequently to the whole Kingdom. I come now to the Days of the Week.

22. I. Tuesday (Dies Martis) was a most remarkable Day with Thomas Becket, Arch∣bishop of Canterbury, as Weaver, 201, observes from Mat. Paris: Upon a Tuesday he suf∣fer'd; upon a Tuesday he was Translated; upon Tuesday the Peers of the Land sate against him at Northampton; upon Tuesday he was Banished; upon Tuesday the Lord appear'd to him at Pontiniac, saying, Thomas, Thomas, my Church shall be glorified in thy Blood. Upon Tuesday he return'd from Exile; upon Tuesday he got the Palm, or Reward of Mar∣tyrdom; upon Tuesday 1220. his Venerable Body receiv'd the Glory and Renown of Translation, fifty Years after his Passion. Thus my Author.

22. II. Wednesday is said to have been the fortunate day of Sixtus Quintus, that Pope of Renowned Merit, that did so great and excellent Things in the time of his Government. See The just Weight of the Scarlet Robe, (p. 101. his desired Praises.) On a Wednesday he was born; on that Day he was made Monk; on the same he was made General of his Order; on that also, was he successively created Cardinal, elected Pope, and also Inau∣gurated. See Heylin, speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem.

23. III. Thursday was a fatal Day to Henry VIII. (as Stow, 812.) and so also to his Posterity. He died on Thursday, Jan. 28. King Edward VI. on Thursday, July 6. Queen Mary on Thursday, November 17. Queen Elizabeth, on Thursday, March 24.

24. IV. Friday was observ'd to be very fortunate to the Great Renowned Capt. Gonsal∣vo, he having on that day given the French many Memorable Defeats.

25. V. Saturday was a Lucky Day to Henry VII. Upon that Day he atchiev'd the Victory upon Richard III. being August 22. 1485. On that day he entred the City, being Au∣gust 29. (Correct Stow, who mistakes the Day) and he himself always acknowledged he had experienced it fortunate. See Bacon in his Life.

26. At Feltwell, in Norfolk, (which lies East and West) a Fire happen'd to break out at the West end, which the West Wind blew, and burn'd all the Street. On that Day Twenty Years another Fire happened there, which began at the East end; and burn'd it to the Ground again. This I had from a Reverend Divine.

27. Collonel Hugh Grove, of Wiltshire, was beheaded at Exeter (together with Coll▪ John Penrudock) on the Ninth day of May, 1655. On that very day Three Years his Son and Heir died at London of a Malignant Fever, and about the same Hour of the Day.

28. A very good Friend of mine, and old Acquaintance, was born on the 15th of November: his eldest Son was born on the 15th of November, and his Second Son's First Son on the 15th of November. Thus far I'm beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections.

CHAP. XVI. Premonitions of particular Changes, or Accidents of Life.

FOR God to take notice of, and concern himself with Particulars, was an Article of Religion, which Epicurus could not allow of; because it seemed Inconsistent with the Majesty of the Supream Being, to interrupt his own Peace and Quiet, with so many little Punctilioes. But for us Christians to doubt of it, were very unreasonable; since we find in Sacred Scripture, that He was concerned about the Sin of Adam, the Murder of Abel, the Punishment of Cain, the preservation of Noah, the Production of Isaac, the Correction of David, the safety of Daniel, and the Three Children, (and to pass over many more Instances) the Death of his Son, and St. Peter, his Apostle.

1. Sir Henry Wooton, speaking of the Duke of Buckingham's Death, takes notice of these Ominous Presagements before his end; being to take his Leave of my Lord's Grace of Canterbury, the only Bishop of London, whom he knew well planted in the King's un∣changeable Affection, by his own great Abilities, after Courtesies of Courage had passed between them: My Lord, says the Duke, I know your Lordship hath very worthily good Ac∣cesses unto the King our Soveraign, let me pray you to put His Majesty in Mind to be good, as I no way distrust, to my poor Wife and Children; at which Words, or at his Countenance in the Delivery, or at both, my Lord Bishop being somewhat troubled, took the freedom to ask him whether he had never any secret Abodement in his Mind? No, (reply'd the Duke) but I think some Adventure way kill me as well as another Man.

The very day before he was slain, feeling some indisposition of Body, the King was plea∣sed to give him the Honour of a visit, and found him in his Bed; where, and after much serious and private Discourse, the Duke at his Majesty's departing, embraced him in a very unusual and passionate Manner, and in like sort to his Friend, the Earl of Holland, as if his Soul divined he should see them no more; which infusions towards fatal End, had been observed by some Authors of no Light Authority.

On the very day of his Death, the Countess of Denbigh receiv'd a Letter from him; whereupon all the while she was writing her Answer, she bedew'd the Paper with her Tears: And after a most bitter Passion (whereof she could yield no Reason; but, that her dearest Brother was to be gone) she fell down in a Swoon. Her said Letter end∣eth thus: I will pray for your happy Return, which I look at with a great Cloud over my Head, too heavy for my poor Heart to bear without torment; but I hope the great God of Heaven will bless you.

The day following the Bishop of Ely, her devoted Friend, who was thought the fittest Preparer of her Mind, to receive such a doleful Accident, came to visit her; but hearing she was at rest, he attended till she should awake of her self, which she did with the Affrightments of a Dream, her Brother seeming to pass thorough a Field with her in her Coach; where, hearing of a sudden Shout of the People, and asking the reason, it was answer'd to have been for Joy that the Duke of Buckingham was sick. Which natural Im∣pression she source had related unto her Gentlewoman, before the Bishop was entred into her Bed-Chamber for a chosen Messenger of the Duke's Death.

This is all I dare present of that Nature, or any of Judgment, not unwillingly omitting certain Prognostick Anagrams, and such strains of Fancy. Sir Henry Wooton's Short View of the Life and Death of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, p. 25, 26.

2. When Alexander went by Water to Babylon; a sudden Wind arising, blew off the Re∣gal Ornament of his Head, and the Diadem fixt to it: This was lookt upon as a Pre∣sage of Alexander's Death, which happen'd soon after.

3. In the year of Christ, 1185. the last and most fatal end of Andronicus Commenus be∣ing at Hand, the Statute of St. Paul, which the Emperor had caused to be set up in the great Church of Constantinople, abundantly wept: Nor were these Tears in vain, which the Emperor washt off with his own Blood.

4. Barbara, Princess of Bavaria, having shut her self up in a Nunnery, among other things allow'd her for her peculiar Recreation, she had a Marjoram-Tree, of an extraordi∣nary bigness, a small Aviary, and a Gold Chain, which she wore about her Neck: But 14 Days before she died, the Marjoram-Tree dried up; the Birds the next Night were all found dead; and after that, the Chain broke in two in the middle. Then Barbara calling for the Abbess, told her that all those Warnings were for her, and in a few Days after died, in the Seventeenth year of her Age: After her Death above twenty other Virgins died out of the same Nunnery. Several other Presages there are that foretold the death of Princes and great Men: As the unwonted Howlings of Dogs; the unseasonable Noise of Bells; the Roaring of Lions, &c.

Concerning Dead Mens Lights, seen often in Wales, take this following Story.

5. A Man and his Family being all in Bed, about Midnight, and awake, he could perceive a Light entring a little Room, where he lay, and one after another, of some Dozen, in the shape of Men, and two or three Women, with small Children in their Arms, entring in, and they seemed to dance, and the Room to be far wider and lighter than formerly; they did seem to eat Bread and Cheese all about a kind of a Stick, upon the Ground; they offer'd him Meat, and would smile upon him; he could perceive no Voice; but he once calling upon God to bless him, he could perceive the Whisper of a Voice in Welsh, bidding him hold his Peace; being about four Hours thus, he did what he could to awake his Wife, and could not; they went out into another Room, and after some dancing, departed, and then he arose; yet being but a very small Room, he could not find the Door, nor the way to Bed, until crying out, his Wife and Family awaked. Be∣ing within about two Miles of me, I sent for the Man, who is an honest poor Husband∣man, and of good Report: And I made him believe I would put him to his Oath for the Truth of this Relation, who was ready to take it. Attested by Mr. John Lewis, a learned Justice of Peace in Cardigan-shire. Hist. Discourse of Appar. and Witches, p. 130.

6. Mr. Flavel (in his Treatise of the Soul) says,

I have with good Assurance this Account of a Minister, who being alone in a Journey, and willing to make the best Im∣provement he could of the Days Solitude, set himself upon a close Examination of the State of his Soul, and then of the Life to come, and the manner of its being and liv∣ing in Heaven, in the Views of all those things, which are now pure Objects of Faith and Hope; after a while he perceiv'd his Thoughts, begin to fix, and come closer to these great astonishing things, than was usual; and as his Mind settled upon them, his Affections began to rise with answerable Liveliness and Vigour. He therefore (whilst he was yet Master of his own Thoughts) lift up his Heart to God in a short ejacul*tion, that God would so order it in his Providence, that he might meet with no Interruption from Company, or any other Accident in that Journey, which was granted him: For in all the Days Journey he neither met, overtook, or was overtaken by any. Thus go∣ing on his way; his Thoughts began to rise and swell higher and higher, like the Wa∣ters in Ezekiel's vision, till at last, they became an overflowing Flood. Such was the Intention of his Mind; such the ravishing Tastes of Heavenly Joys, and such the full As∣surance of his Interest therein, that he utterly lost the Sight and Sense of this World,

and all the concerns thereof, and for some hours knew no more where he was, than if he had been in a deep sleep upon his Bed. At last, he began to perceive himself very faint, and almost choaked with Blood, which running in abundance from his Nose, had disco∣loured his Cloaths, and his Horse, from the Shoulder to the Hoof. He found himself al∣most spent, and nature to faint under the pressure of Joy unspeakable, and unsupportable, and at last perceiving a Spring of Water in his way, he with some difficulty, alighted to cleanse and cool his Face and Hands, which were drenched in Blood, Tears, and Sweat. By that Spring he sate down, and washed; earnestly desiring, if it were the pleasure of God, that might be his parting place from this World: He said, Death had the most aimable Face in his Eye, that ever he beheld, except the Face of Jesus Christ, which made it so; and that he could not remember (tho he believed he should die there, that he had one thought of his Dear Wife or Children, or any other Earthly concernment. But having drank of that Spring, his Spirits revived, the Blood stenched, and he Mounted his Horse again, and on he went in the same Fame of Spirit, till he had finished a Journey of near Thirty Miles, and came at Night to his Inn. Where being come, he greatly ad∣mired how he came thither, and that he fell not all that day, which past not without se∣veral Trances of considerable continuance. Being alighted, the Inn-Keeper came to him, with some astonishment (being acquainted with him formerly) O Sir, said he, what is the matter with you? You look like a Dead Man. Friend, replied he, I was never better in my Life. Shew me my Chamber, cause my Cloak to be cleansed, burn me a little Wine, and that is all I desire of you for the present. Accordingly it was done, and a Supper sent up, which he could not touch, but requested of the People, they would not trouble or disturb him for that Night. All this Night passed without one wink of sleep, tho he ne∣ver had a sweetr Nights rest in all his Life, still, still, the joy of the Lord over-flowed him, and he seemed to be an Inhabitant of the other World. The next Morning being come, he was early on Horse-back again, fearing the Divertisem*nts in the Inn might bereave him of his joy, for he said it was now with him, as with a Man that carries a Rich Treasure about him, who suspects every Passenger to be a Theif; but within a few hours he was sensible of the ebbing of the Tydes, and before Night, tho there was an Heavenly Serenity, and sweet Peace upon his Spirit, which continued long with him, yet the Transports of Joy were over, and the fine edge of his delight blunted. He many years after called that day, one of the Days of Heaven, and professed he understood more of the Life of Heaven by it, than by all the Books he ever Read, or Discourses he ever entertained about it.

7. Thus Mr. Knox predicted the very place and manner of the Laird of Grange. You have sometimes seen the courage and constancy of the Laird of Grange, in the cause of God, and now that unhappy Man is casting himself away. I pray yopu go to him from me (said Mr. Knox) and tell him, unless he forsake the Wicked course he is in, the Rock wherein he confideth, shall not defend him, nor the Carnal Wisdom of that Man (meaning the young Leshington,) whom he counteth half a God, shall help him: But he shall be shamefully pull'd out of the Nest, and his Carcase hung before the Sun. And even so it fell out the following year, when the Castle was taken, and his Body hang'd out before the Sun. Thus God exactly fulfilled the prediction of his Death. Clark's Lives, p. 277.

8. The same Mr. Knox, in the Year 1566. Being in the Pulpit a Edenburgh, upon the Lords Day, a Paper was given up to him, among many others, wherein these words were scoffingly Written concerning the Earl of Murray, who was slain before, Take up the Man, whom ye accounted another God. At the end of the Sermon, Mr. Knox bewailed the loss that the Church and State had by the Death of the Virtuous Man, and then added, There is one in this company that makes this horrible Muther the subject of his mirth, for which all good Men should be sorry; but I tell him, he shall die where there shall be none to la∣ment him. The Man that wrote the Paper, was one Thomas Metellan, a young Gentle∣man, who shortly after in his Travels, Died in Italy, having none to assist, or lament him.

9. Sir Anthony Wingfield, who was slain at Brest, Anno. 1594. At his undertaking of that ex∣pedition, he was strongly perswaded it would be his Death; and therefore so settled and disposed of his Estate, as one that never reckoned to return again. And the day before he died, he took order for the Payment of his Debts; as one that strongly presaged the time was now at hand, which accordingly fell out the next day. Sir Jophn Norris his Expedition, p. 46.

10. The Learned and Judicious Amiraldus, gives us this well attested Relation of Lewis of Bourbon, That a little before his Journey from Dreux, he Dreamed that he had fought three successful Battels, wherein his three great Enemies were slain, but that at last, he himself was mortally wounded, and that after they were laid one upon another, he also was laid upon the Dead Bodys. The event was Remarkable, for the Mareschal of St. Andree was killed at Dreux, the Duke of Guise at Orleans, the Constable of Montmorency at St. Denis. And this was the Triumvirate which had Sworn the ruin of those of the Protestant Religion, and the Destruction of that Prince. At last, he himself was slain at Basack, as if there had been a continuation of Deaths and Funerals. Amiraldus of Divne Dreams, p. 122, 123.

11. Suetonius in the Life of Julius Caesar, tells us, that the Night before he was slain, he had Divers Premonitions thereof, for that Night all the Doors and Windows of his Cham∣ber flew open, his Wife also Dreamed that Caesar was slain, and that she had him in her Arms. The next day he was slain in Pompey's Court, having received three and twenty wounds in his Body.

12. Pamelius in the Life of Cyprian, tells us, for a most certain and well attested truth, that upon his first entrance into Carubis (the place of his Banishment) it was revealed to him in a Dream, or Vision, that upon that very day Twelve-Month, he should be consum∣mate: Which accordingly fell out; for a little before the time prefixed, there came sud∣dainly two Apparators to bring him before the New Proconsul, Galeius, by whom he was Condemned, as having been a Standard-Bearer of his Sect, and an Enemy of the Gods. Whereupon he was Condemned to be Beheaded, a Multitude of Christians following him, crying, Let us die together with him.

13. And as Remarkable is that recorded by the Learned and Ingenious Doctor Stern, of Mr. Ʋsher of Ireland, a Man saith he, of great Integrity, Dear to others by his Merits, and my Kinsman in Blood: Who upon the Eighth day of July, 1657. went from this to a better World; about four of the Clock, the day before he Died, a Matron, who Died a little before, and whilst living was Dear to Mr. Ʋsher, appeared to him in his sleep; and invited him to Sup with her the next Night He at first denyed her, but she more vehe∣mently pressing her request on him, at last he consented, and that very Night he Died. Dr. Stern's Dissertatio de morte, p. 163.

14. I have also the fullest assurance that can be, of the Truth of this following Narra∣tive. A Person yet living, was greatly concerned about the welfare of his Dear Father and Mother, who were both shut up in London, in the time of the great Contagion in 1665. Many Letters he sent to them, and many hearty Prayers to Heaven for them. But about a fortnight before they were infected, he fell about break of day into this Dream, that he was in a great Inn which was full of company, and being very desirous to find a private Room, where he might seek God for his Parents Life, he went from Room to Room, but found company in them all; at last casting his Eye into a little Chamber which was empty, he went into it, lockt the Door, kneeled down by the outside of the Bed; and whilst he was vehemently begging of God the Life of his Friends, fixing his Eyes upon the Plaister'd Wall within side the Bed, there appeared upon the Plaister of the Wall before him, the Sun and Moon, shining in their full strength. The sight at first amazed and discomposed him so far, that he could not continue his Prayer, but kept his Eye fixed upon the Body of the Sun; at last a small line, or ring of black, no bigger than that of a Text Pen, circled the Sun, which increasing sensibly, eclipsed in a little time the whole body of it, and tur∣ned it into a blackish colour; which done, the Figure of the Sun was immediately changed into a perfect Death's head, and after a little while Vanished quite away. The Moon still continued shining as before, but whilst he intently beheld it, it also darkned in like manner, and turned also into another Death's head, and Vanished. This made so great an Impressi∣on upon the beholder's mind, that he immediately awaked in confusion and perplexity of thoughts about his Dream; and awakning his Wife, related the particulars to her with much emotion and concernment; but how to apply it he could not presently tell, only he was satisfied that the Dream was of an extraordinary Nature. At last, Joseph's Dream came into his thoughts with the like Emblems, and their Interpretation, which fully satisfied him, that God had warned and prepared him thereby for a sudden parting with his Dear Relations, which answerably fell out in the same order, his Father dying that day fortnight following, and his Mother just a Month afterwards. These Eight Relations the Transcribed out of Mr. Flavel's Treatise of the Soul.

15. The Lady Rich gives this Relation of Mr. Tyro, Minister; from his own Mouth. About seven weeks before his Death, when there was hope of recovery, he told me, he had some∣thing to tell me, that he had not imparted to any body, and expressed it thus; When I was one Evening returning to my Lodging, then at Ʋngar, from this House, being then in a good Degree of Health, and in a serious frame, meditating by the way, I heard a Voice say, You shall dye, and not pass your five and thirtieth year of Age. Which Voice Astonished me greatly, and looking round about me, seeing no body, put me into great Consternati∣on and Sweat all over me, such as I never felt (tho I dare not compare it to drops of Blood) yet I cannot express how dreadful it was: You know, Madam, my Principles, and that I am no Enthusiast, and how cautious I am as to Revelations. But I am sure, this was no Melancholy Fancy; But an Articulate Voice. After I had a little recovered my self; I begged of God to discover to me, if this were from him, or a Delusion from Satan; but still the Impression remained, t ho I sought God by Prayer most part of that Night; and you may remember, in my next Visit, I told you, I should dye shortly; but I did not tell you of the Voice I heard. And then he added, This is my Five and Thirtieth year of my Age; in July next I shall be so old. And many other Expressions he added, which is too much for a Letter; but he Died in January 1630. Hist. Disc. Appar. Witches, p. 199.

16. The Lady Ware's Chaplain dreamt, that such a day he should dye; but having for∣got it almost, till the Evening before Supper, there being thirteen at Table, according to a fond conceit, that one of these must soon dye: One of the young Ladies pointed to him, as the person. He remembring the Dream, fell into some disorder; but being reproved for his superstition, he said, he was confident he was to dye before Morning. It was Saturday Night, and he was to Preach next day, he went to his Chamber in perfect health, sate up late, prepared his Notes for his Sermon, and the next Morning was found Dead. See Mr. Parson's Sermon at the Earl of Rochester's Funeral.

17. Sir Matthew Hale, had some secreet presage of his Death, saying, that if he did not dye such a day, he should live a Month longer; and he died that very day Month. Nov. 25. See his Life by Dr. Burnet.

18. It was observed, that several Omens preceeded the Death of Arch-bishop Laud, as the falling down of his Picture in his Parlour, the Arms of his See, the sinking of the Lam∣beth Ferry-Boat, with the Arch-Bishop's Coach-Horses and Coach-Men, to the bottom of the Thames. Dr. Heylin in his Life, and the Author of the Breviate of the Life of Arch-Bishop Laud, p. 35.

19. One James Oxenham of Sale-Monachroum, in the County of Devon, a Gentleman of good worth and quality, who had many Children, one whereof was called John Oxenham, a young Man, in the Vigour, Beauty and Flower of his Age, about twenty two, six Foot and a half high, pious and well qualified; this young Man falling Sick, two days before his departure, there appeared the likeness of a Bird, with a white Breast, hovering over him. Attested by Robert Woodley and Humphrey King, who justified it to the Minister of the Parish, being examined by him, at the appointment of Joseph Laud, Bishop of Exeter, this Person died, Sep. 5. 1635.

He was no sooner Dead in this Manner, but the same Apparition did again shew it self to Thomazine, the Wife of James Oxenham, the younger, a Woman of unspotted Life, about eleven a Clock at Night: And she died to the comfort of all about her, Sep. 7. 1635. Attested by Elizabeth Frost, and Joan Tooker, who were examined by the same Minister.

Not long after, Rebeccah, Sister of the aforesaid Thomazine, Aged about eight years, about eleven a Clock at Night was presented with the Apparition of the same Bird, which hovered over her, and a very docible Girl, and of gentle Behaviour, who died in a peaceable manner, Sep. 9. 1635. Attested by Elizabeth Avery, and Mary Stephens.

She was no sooner Dead, but Thomazine a little child of the aforesaid James Oxenham, and Thomazine his Wife, being in the Cradle, fell Sick, over whom did presently appear the said Bird, in form as aforesaid, and so she Died, Sep. 15. 1635. Witnesses hereunto the afore∣named Eliz. Avery and Mary Stephens.

Add to all these, that the said Bird had appeared formerly to Grace, the Grandmother of the said John, over her Death-Bed, a Virtuous Woman, who Died, A. C. 1618.

And to make it yet more remarkable, There were four more of the same Family and Kin∣dred Sick, and Recovered, who did never see any such Apparition. See the Relation it self, Printed at London by J. O. for Rich. Clutterbuck at the Gun in little Britain, A. 1641.

20. Being lately at Sir John Brisco's Huse, a Baronet, now living at Amley Castle in Sussex; His Sister then a Guest at his House, and Married to an East-India Merchant, a Gen∣tlewoman of good parts, told me, that living at New-Salisbury, and designing to make some Provision for her Husbands Return, and speaking of it in the House, she was often discouraged by a Nurse, that she kept in the House with her; who advised her still, to stay till she saw him return: At last, Tidings came, that he was Dead in the Indies. Upon which the Nurse told her, that she being in Bed one Night with her Mistress, and sitting up to give the child Suck, by Moon-shine, a Person in the form of her Husband (whom she never had seen, but only guessed at, by the representation given of him by others,) appeared to her, standing at the Bed-side, and looking stedfastly upon her, and after some short space departed: And for this reason, she suspected his Death, and consequently gave the advice afore-said. And upon computation and comparing the Story of the Nurse, and the Con∣tents of the Letter together, it was found that the Apparition was made at the very time of his Death. This the Lady assured me with great Confidence, with some other particular Circ*mstances, which have slipt my memory.

21. A Scotch Minister, removed lately upon the Turn of the times out of Scotland into England, and here placed near Oswestree in Shropshire, having lost his Wife by Death, was earnestly desirous to know what was become of her; at last, as he lay in Bed, one Night she appeared to him by his Bed-side, told him, she was well, and where she was, he should be e're long; and so Vanished away. Afterwards, he fell Sick, and about Christmas after Died A. 1694. This was reported to me, by a very Learned and Pious Divine, Mr. Henry, who had it from Mr. James Owne of Oswestree aforesaid, who was with him in his Sickness.

22. Mr. Cartwright, the Lord's day before he Died, which was the last Sermon that he made, Preached upon Eccl. 12.7. Then shall the dust return to the Earth, and the Spirit shall return to God who gave it. Mr. Clark, in his Life.

23. James Faber of Picardy, flying in a time of Persecution, for security, to the Queen of Navarr then residing at Albert in Gascoign. The Queen one day having a design to Dine with him, and for that end having invited some Learned Men, whose conference she took much delight in: At Dinner Mr. Faber became exceeding sad, and brake out into bitter Weeping. The Queen asking why he wept, when she came to be Merry with him? He Answered, Most Serene Queen, how can I be glad, or make others so, who am as Wicked a Man as the Earth bears! What is that Wickedness (said she) you complain of so, who are known from your youth to have lived so Holily? He Answered, I am now a Hundred years Old, free from the touch of any Woman, and Remember not that I have done any thing to Bur∣den my Conscience, &c. Except one Sin, for which yet I am assured there is a Propitation. And as she pressed him to declare what it was; he could scarce speak for abundance of Tears; and said, How can I appear before the Throne of God, who having taught others in pu∣rity and sincerity, the H. Gospel, many of which having followed by Doctrine, have constantly suffered 1000 Torments, and Death it self; whereas I, like an unconstant Doctor, did cowardly fly, &c. The Queen endeavour'd to comfort him with the Examples of other Holy Men, so did

the rest of the Company, with other Considerations. And thereupon he said, There remains now nothing, but that I go to my God; and having made my Will, I have an Impression, that I must delay no longer, knowing that the Lord calls for me. And so fixing his Eyes upon the Queen, he said, Madam, I make you my Heir; and to your Preacher, Monsieur Gerard, I leave my Books; and to the Poor I give my Cloaths, and what else I have. The Queen, smil∣ing, said, What then, Mr. Faber, shall I have? The Care, Madam, said he, to see this di∣stributed to the Poor? It is well, said she, and I solemnly profess, that thie Legacy is more acceptable to me, than if the King, my Brother, had named me his Heir. After this he was more joyful, but at last said, I have need of some Rest; be you merry and joyful, and in the mean time, Adieu. Upon which he laid himself down upon a Bed, that was near; where, to their great Admiration, when they went about to awake him, they found him fallen asleep in the Lord, dead in good earnest, without the least sign of any previous Indis∣position.

The Narrative the Queen of Navar did relate her self to Frederick the 2d. Prince, Elec∣tor Palatine, when he lay sick at Paris; and it was communicated by Mr. Hubertus Thomas, Counsellor to the said Frederick, and present at the Relation, to Dr. Rivet, who hath set it down in his Epistle to his Brother.

24. Bishop Jewel, long before his Sickness, told the Approaching, and in his Sickness, the precise day of his Death, in a Letter to the Bishop of Norwich, A. 1570. he writes—Flux, Flux, i. e. in the German Tongue, Quick, Quick,— If you make any Delay, I shall prevent you; And in another,— You shall yet in this Life sing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In his Life.

25. Mr. Herbert Jones, of Monmouth, when he was a little Boy, was used to eat his Milk in a Garden in the Morning, and was no sooner there, but a large Snake always came, and eat out of the Dish with him, and did so for a considerable time, till one Morning, he striking the Snake on the Head, it hissed at him. Upon which he told his Mother that the Baby (for so he call'd it) cry'd Hiss at him. His Mother had it kill'd, which occa∣sion'd him a great Fit of Sickness, and 'twas thought woul'd have dy'd, but did recover.

26. Extracted from Mr. Aubrey's Miscellanies—I cannot pass by an Instance I have from a very honest Man in the next Parish, who told me it himself. That his Wife be∣ing big with Child, near her Delivery he buys half a Dozen of Boards, to make her a Bed a∣gainst the time she lay in. The Boards lying at the Door of his House, there comes an old Fisher-woman, yet alive, and asked him, whose were those Boards? He told her they were his own. She asked him again, For what use he had them? He replied, For a Bed; She again said, Intend them for what you please, she saw a dead Corps lying on them, and that they would be a Coffin; which struck the honest Man to the Heart, fearing the death of his Wife. But when the old Woman went off, he calls presently for a Carpenter to make the Bed, which was accordingly done; but shortly after the honest Man had a Child died, whose Coffin was made of the ends of those Boards.

27. I shall tell you what I have had from one of the Masters of our College here, (a North-Country-man, both by Birth and Education, in his younger Years) who made a Journey, in the Harvest-time, into the Shire of Ross, and at my Desire made some Enquiry there, concerning the Second-sight. He reports, That there they told him many Instan∣ces of this Knowledge, which he had forgotten, except two. The first, one of his Sisters, a young Gentlewoman, staying with a Friend at some 30 Miles distance from her Father's House, and the ordinary place of her Residence: One, who had the Second-sight in the Family where she was, saw a young Man attending her as she went up and down the House, and this was about Three Months before her Marriage. The second is a Woman in that Country, who is reputed to have the Second-sight, and declared, that eight Days before the Death of a Gentleman there, she saw a Bier, or Coffin, cover'd with a Cloth she knew, carried as it were to the place of Burial, and attended with a great Company; one of which told her it was the Corps of such a Person, naming that Gentleman, who died Eight Days after. Those that have this Faculty of the Second-sight, see only things to come, which are to happen shortly thereafter, and sometimes foretel things which fall out Three or Four Years after. For instance,

28. One told his Master, that he saw an Arrow in such a Man, thorough his Body, and yet no Blood came out: His Master told him, that it was impossible an Arrow should stick in a Man's body, and no blood come out; and if that came to pass, he would be deem'd an Impostor. But about five or six Years after the Man died; and being brought to his Burial-place, there arose a Debate anent his Grave, and it came to such a height, that they drew Arms, and bended their Bows, and one letting off an Arrow, shot thro' the dead Body upon the Bier-trees, and so no Blood could issue out at a dead Man's Wound.

Part of a Letter, written to Mr. Aubrey, by a Gentleman's Son in Straths-pey, being a Stu∣dent in Divinity.—Sir, I am more willing than able to satisfie your Desire: As for In∣stances, I could furnish many. I shall only insert some few, attested by several of good Credit, yet alive.

29. And first, Andrew Mackpherson, of Clunie, in Badenoch, being in sute of the Laird of Gareloch's Daughter, as he was upon a day going to Garloch, the Lady Garloch was going somewhere from her House within kenning to the Road which Clunie was coming; the Lady perceiving him, said to her Attendants, that yonder was Clunie, going to see his Mistress: One in her Company replied, and said, If you be he, unless he marry within six Months, he'll never marry. The Lady asked, how did he know that? He said, very well; for I see him, saith he, all inclosed in his Winding-Sheet, except his Nostrils and his Mouth, which will also close up within Six Months; which happened even as he foretold; within the said

space he died, and his Brother Duncan Mackpherson, this present Clunic, succeeded. I have heard of a Gentleman, whose Son had gone abroad; and being Anxious to know how he was, he went to consult one, who told him, that that same day, 5 a Clock in the After∣noon, his Son had married a Woman in France, with whom he had got so many Thousand Crowns, and within Two Years he should come to see Eather and Friends, leaving his Wife with Child, of a Daughter, and a Son of six Months of Age, behind him; which accordingly was true. About the same time two Years he came home, and verified all that was soretold.

30. One Archibald Mackeanyers, alias Mackdonald, living in Ardinmurch, within 10 or 20 Miles, or thereby, of Glencoe, and I was present my self, where he foretold something, which accordingly fell out. In 1683, this Man being in Strathspey, in John Mackdonald, of Glencoe, his Company, told in Balachastell, before the Laird of Grant, his Lady, and seve∣ral others, and also in my Father's House; that Argyle, (few or none knew then where he was, or at least there was no word of him then here;) should within two Twelvemonths thereafter, come to the West-Highlands, and raie a Rebellious Faction, wh ich would be divided among themselves, and disperse, and he unfortunately be taken, and Beheaded at Edinburgh, and his Head set upon the Talbooth, where his Father's Head was before him: Which proved as true, as he foretold it, in 1685. thereafter.

31. There as a young Lady, of great Birth, whom a Rich Knight fancied, and came in sute of the Lady, but she could not endure to fancy him, being a harsh and unpleasant Man: But her Friends importuning her daily, she turned melancholy and lean, Fasting and Weeping continually. A common Fellow about the House meeting her one Day in the Fields, asked her, saying, Mrs. Kate, What is that that troubles you, and makes you look so ill? She replied, That the Cause is known to many, for my Friends, would have me marry such a Man by Name, but I cannot fancy him. Nay, (says the Fellow) give over these Niceties, for he will be your first Husband, and will not live long, and besure he will leave you a rich Dowry, which will procure you a great Match; for I see a Lord upon each Shoulder of you: All which came to pass in every Circ*mstance, as Eye and Ear can witness,

32. Near 40 Years ago Macklend and his Lady, Sister to my Lord Seaforth, were walk∣ing about their own House, and in their Return, both came into the Nurses Chamber, where their young Child as on the Breast: At their coming in, the Nurse falls a weeping; they asked the cause, dreading the Child was sick, or that she was scarce of Milk: The Nurse replied, the Child was well, and she had abundance of Milk; yet she still wept; and being pressed to tell what ailed her, she at last said, Macklend would die, and the La∣dy would shortly marry another Man. Being enquired how she knew that Event, she told them plainly, that as they came both into the Room, she saw a Man with a Scar∣let Cloak, and a white Hat, betwixt them, giving the Lady a Kiss over the Shoulder; and this was the Cause of her weeping. All which came to pass, after Macklend's Death; the Tutor of Lovat marry'd the Lady in the same Habit the Woman saw him.

33. One Instance I had from a Gentleman here, of a Highland Gentleman, of the Mack∣donalds; who having a Brother, that came to visit him, saw him coming in, wanting a Head, yet told not his Brother he saw any such thing; but within 24 Hours thereafter, his Brother was taken, (being a Murderer) and his Head cut off, and sent to Edinburgh. Many such Instances might be given.

34. Diembrooke, in his Book de Pete, gives us a Story of Dimmerus de Raet; that being at Delft, where the Plague then raged, sent then his Wife Thirty Miles off. And when the Doctor went to see the Gentleman of the House, as soon as he came in, the old Chair∣woman, that washed the Cloaths, fell a weeping: He asked her, Why? said she, My Mi∣stress is now dead; I saw her Apparition but just now, without a Head; and that it was usual with her, when a Friend of hers died, to see their Apparitions in that manner, tho' never so far off. His Wife died at that time.

35. Th. May, in his History, Lib. 8. writes, That an old Man (like an Hermit) Se∣cond-sighted, took his Leave of King James the First when he came into England: He took little notice of Prince Henry, but addressing himself to the Duke of York (since King Charles I.) fell a weeping, to think what Misfortunes he should undergo; and that he should be one of the miserablest unhappy Princes that ever was.

36. A Scotch Noble Man sent for one of these Second-sighted Men out of the Highlands, to give his Judgment of the then great Favourite, George Villers, Duke of Buckingham; as soon as ever he saw him, Pish, (said he) he will come to nothing; I see a dagger in his Breast; and he was stabb'd in the Breast by Capt. Felton. Thus far I am beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections.

37. Before the Battle at Philippi began, two Eagles sought in the Air, between the two Armies: Both the Armies stood still, and beheld them, and the Army was beaten that was under the vanquished Eagle. See Appian's Hist. Part 2. Lib. 4. Sect. 2.

38. 'Tis commonly reported, That before an Heir of the Cliftons of Clifton, in Nottingham∣shire, dies, that a Sturgeon is taken in the River Trent, by that place.

39. Thomas Fludd, of Kent, Esq; told me, That it is an old Observation, which was pressed earnestly to King James I. that he should not remove the Queen of Scots Body from Northamptonshire, where she was Beheaded, and Interred. For that it always bodes ill to the Family, when Bodies are remov'd from their Graves. For some of the Family will die shortly after, as did Prince Henry, and, I think, Queen Anne.

40. A little before the Death of Oliver, Protector, a Whale came into the River Thomas, and was taken at Greenwich—Foot long. Tis said, Oliver was troubled at it.

41. When I was a Freshman at Oxford, 1642. I was wont to go to Christ-Church to see King Charles I. at Supper; where I once heard him say,

That as he was Hawking in Scot∣land, he rode into the Quarry, and found the Covey of Partridges falling upon the Hawk; and I do remember this Expression farther, viz.

And I will swear upon the Book 'tis true. When I came to my Chamber, I told this Story to my Tutor; said he, That Covey was London.

42. The Day that the Long Parliament began, 1641. the Scepter fell out of the Figure of King Charles in Wood, in Sir—Trenchard's Hall, at Wullich, in Dorset, as they were at Dinner in the Parlour: Justice Hunt then dined there.

43. When the High Court of Justice was voted in the Parliament-House, as Berken-head (the Mace-bearer) took up the Mace to carry it before the Speaker, the top of the Mace fell off. This was avowed to me by an Eye-witness then in the House.

44. The Head of King Charles I.'s Staff did fall off at his Tryal; that is commonly known.

45. King Charles II. went by long Sea to Portsmouth, or Plymouth, or both; an extraordi∣nary Storm arose, which carried him almost to France. Sir Jonas Moor (who was then with his Majesty) gave me this Account, and said, that when they came to Portsmouth, to refresh themselves, they had not been there above half an Hour, but the Weather was Calm, and the Sun shone: His Majesty put to Sea agian, and in a little time they had the like Tempestuous Weather as before.

46. The Gloucester-Frigot cast away at the Lemanere, and most of the Men in it, the Duke of York escaping in a co*ckboat, An. 1682. May the fifth, on a Friday.

47. When King James II. was Crown'd (according to the antient Custom, the Peers go to the Throne, and kiss the King) the Crown was almost kiss'd off his Head. An Earl did set it upright: And as he came from the Abbey to Westminster-Hall, the Crown totter'd extreamly.

48. Mr. Hill, at Shellen, in Herefordshire, in 1648. after saying, God bless our Gracious Soveraign, he puts the Cup to his Lady, to drink; at which a Swallow flew in at the Win∣dow, and pitch'd on the Brim of the Earthern Cup (not half a Pint) and sipt, and so flew out again.—This was in the Presence of Parson Still, Major Gwillim, and two or three more that I knew very well: The Cup is preserv'd here still as a Rarity. See Mr. Au∣brey's Mscellanies for a larger Account.

49. When King James II. was at Salisbury, Anno 1688. the Iron Crown upon the Turret of the Councel-House was blown off.

50. I did see Mr. Chr. Love beheaded on Tower-Hill, in a delicate clear day: About half an Hour after his Head was struck off, the Clouds gathered blacker and blacker; and such terrible Claps of Thunder came, that I never heard greater. 'Tis reported that the like happened after the Execution of Alderman Cornish in Cheapside, Octob. 23. 1685.

51. Anno 1643. as Major John Morgan, of Wells, was marching with the King's Army into the West, fell sick of a Malignant Fever at Salisbury, and was brought dangerously ill to my Father's at Broad-Chalk, where he was lodged, secretly, in a Garret, there came a Sparrow to the Chamber-Window, which peck'd the Lead of a certain Pannel only, and only one side of the Lead of the Lozenge, and made one small hole in it. He conti∣nued this pecking and biting of the Lead, during the whole time of his Sickness, (which was not less than a Month) when the Major went away, the Sparrow desisted, and came thither no more.

52. Sir Walter Long's Widow (of Dorset, in Wilts) did make a solemn Promise to him on his Death-bed, that she would not marry after his Decease. But not long after, one Sir — Fox, a very beautiful young Gentleman, did win her Love; so that notwithstand∣ing her Promise aforesaid, she married him: She married at South-wrax-hall, where the Picture of Sir Walter hung over the Parlour-door, as it doth now at Dracot. As Sir —Fox led his Bride by the Hand from the Church (which is near to the House) into the Parlour, the string of the Picture brake, and the Picture fell on her Shoulder, and crack'd in the Fall.

53. The Night before the Fight in Glinsuly, in Ireland, a Woman, of uncommon Sta∣ture, all in white, appearing to the Bishop of Clogher, admonished him not to cross the River first to assault the Enemy, but suffer them to do it, whereby he should obtain the Victory. That if the Irish took the Water first, to move towards the English, they should be put to a total Rout, which came to pass. Ocahan, and Sir Henry O Neal, who were both kill'd there, saw severally the Apparition, and disswaded the Bishop from giv∣ing the first Onset, but could not prevail upon him.

54. Near the same place a Party of the Protestents had been surpriz'd sleeping, by the Popish Irish, were it not for several Wrens that just wakned them, by dancing and peck∣ing on the Drums as the Enemy were approaching. For this reason the wild Irish mor∣tally hate these Birds to this day.

55. When King James II. first entred Dublin, after his Arrival from France, 1689. one of the Gentlemen that bore the Mace before him stumbled without any rub in his way, or o∣ther visible occasion. The Mace fell out of his Hands, and the little Cross upon the Crown thereof stuck fast between two Stones in the Street. Thus far I'm beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections.

56. Of Fatalities of Families and Places, Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq;—The L. Chancellor Bacon says;

As for Nobility in particular Persons, It is a re∣verend thing to see an antient Castle or Building, not in Decay; or to see a fair Tim∣ber

Tree sound and perfect; how much more to behold an ancient Noble Family, which ha••h stood against the VVaves and VVeathers of Time? For new Nobility is but the Act of Power; but ancient Nobility is the Act of Time.

But Omnium rerum est vicissi∣tudo: Families and Places have their Fatalities, according to that of Ovid,

Fors sua cuique loco est.—

57. Sturton (the Seat of the Lord Sturton) was belonging to his Family before the Con∣quest. They say, that after the Victory at Battaile, William the Conqueror came in Per∣son into the West, to receive their Rendition; that the Lord Abbot of Glastenbury, and the rest of the Lords and Grandees of the Western Parts waited upon the Conqueror at Stourton-House, where the Family continues to this Day.

58. Sir William Batton, of Tockenham, Baronet, (the Father) told me, that his Ance∣stors had the Lease of Alton-Farm (400 l. per Annum) in Wilts (which anciently belong∣ed to Hyde-Abby juxta Winton) four Hundred Years. Sir William's Lease expired about 1652. and so fell into the Hands of the Earl of Pembrooke.

59. Clavel of—in the Isle of Purbec, in the County of Dorset, was in that place before the Conquest, as appears by Dooms-day Book. The like is said of Hamden, of Hamden, in Bucks: Their Pedigree says, that one of that Family had the Conduct of that County in two Invasions of the Danes. Also Pen, of Pen, in that County, was before the Con∣quest, as by Dooms-day Book.

60. Contrariwise, there are several places unlucky to their Possessors, e. g. Charter-house, on Mindip, in Somersetshire, never passed, yet, to the Third Generation. The Manner of Butleigh, near Gla••enbury, never went, yet, to the Third Generation.

61. Bletchington, in Oxfordshire, continued in the Family of the Pauures, for about 300 Years.

62. Fatality of proper Names of Princes, e. g. John hath been an unfortunate Name to Kings. All the Second Kings since the Conquest have been unfortunate.

63. London-derry was the first Town in Ireland that declared for the Parliament against King Charles I. and for the Prince of Orange against King James II. It was closely be∣sieged both times without effect. The King's Party were once Masters of all the King∣dom, except London-Derry and Dublin, and King James had all in his Power but London-Derry, and Iniskilling. 'Tis certain, that there are some Houses unlucky to their Inhabi∣tants, which the Reverend and Pious Dr. Nepier could acknowledge.

64. The Fleece-Tavern in Covent-Garden, in York-street, was very unfortunate for Homi∣cides; there have been several kill'd; three in my time. It is now (1696) a private House.

65. A handsome Brick-House on the South side of Clerken-well Church-yard, hath been so unlucky for at least Forty Years, that it was seldom Tenanted; and at last, no body would adventure to take it. Also a handsome House in Holbourn, that looked towards the Fields; the Tenants of it did not prosper, several, about six.

66. Periodical Small-Poxes. The Small-Pox is usually in all great Towns: But it is observed at Taunton, in Somerset-shire, and at Shirbourne, in Dorsetshire, that at one of them at every Seventh Year, and at the other at every Ninth Year comes a Small-Pox, which the Physitians cannot master. This Account I had from Mr. Tho. Ax.

It were to be wish'd that more such Observations were made in o ther great Towns. Pla∣terus makes the like Observations in the second Book of his Practise, P. 323. He practised at Basil 56 Years, and did observe, that every Tenth year they died of the Plague there. See Capt. J. Graunts Observations of the Bills of Mortality at London, (indeed written by sir William Petty, which in a late Transaction he confessed) for the Periodical Plagues at London; which (as I remember) are every Twenty-fifth year. Thus far I am beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collections.

67. Corps Candles in Wales: Part of a Letter to Mr. Baxter.

Sir, I am to give you the best satisfaction I can, touching those Apparitions (Corps Candles) which do, as it were, mark out the way for Corpses to their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and sometimes before the Par∣ties themselves fall sick, and sometimes in their Sickness. I could never hear in England of these; they are common in these three Counties, viz. Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Pembrooke, and, as I hear, in some other Parts of Wales.

These 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in our Language we call Canhwyllan Cyrph, i. e. Corps-Candles; and Candles we call them, not that we see any thing besides the Light; but because that Light doth as much resemble a material Candle-light, as Eggs do Eggs, saying, that in their Journey these Candles be modo apparantes, modo disparantes, especially, when one comes near them; and if one come in the way against them, unto whom they va∣nish; but presently appear behind, and hold on their Course. If it be a little Candle, pale or bluish, then follows the Corps either of an Abortive, or some Infant; if a big one them the Corps of some one come to Age: If there be seen two or three, or more, some big, some small together, then so many, and such Corpses together. If two Candles come from divers places, and be seen to meet, the Corpses will the like; if any of these Candles are seen to turn sometimes a little out of the way, or path, that leadeth to the Church, the following Corps will be forced to turn in that very place, for the avoiding some dir∣ty Lane or plash, &c. Now let us fall to evidence. Being about the Age of Fifteen, dwel∣ling at Lanylar, late at Night, some Neighbours saw one of these Candles hovering up and down along the River-Bank, until they were weary in beholding it, at last they left it so, and went to Bed. A few Weeks after came a proper Damsel from Montgome∣ry-shire, to see her Friends, who dwelt on the other side of that River Istwith, and thought to Ford the River at that very place where the Light was seen; being dissuaded by some

Lookers on (some it is most likely of those that saw the Light) to adventure on the Water, which was high, by reason of a Flood: She walked up and down along the River-Bank, even where, and even as the aforesaid Candle did, waiting for the falling of the Water; which at last she took, but too soon for her, for she was drowned therein. Of late, my Sexton's Wife, an aged understanding Woman, saw from her Bed a little bluish Candle on her Tables end; within two or three Days after came a Fellow, enquir∣ing for her Husband; and taking something from under his Cloak, clap'd it down upon the Tables-end; it was a dead-born Child.

Another time, the same Woman saw such another Candle upon the end of the self∣same Table; within a few Days after a weak Child newly Christend by me, was brought to the Sexton's House, where presently it died: 'And when the Sexton's Wife, who was then abroad, came home, she found the Child, on the other end of the Table, where she had seen the Candle. Some thirty or forty Years since, my Wife's Sister, being Nurse to Baronet Rudd's three eldest Children, and (the Lady Mistress being dead) the Lady Comptroller of the House going late into the Chamber where the Maid-Servants lay, saw no less than Five of those Lights together. It happen'd a while after, that the Chamber being newly Plaister'd, and a Grate of Coal-fire therein kindled, to hasten the drying of the Praister, that five of the Maid-servants went to Bed as they were wont (but as it fell out) too soon; for in the Morning they were all dead, being Soffocated in their Sleep with the steem of the new-temper'd Lime and Coal. This was at Lan∣gathen, in Carmarthenshire.—Jo. Davis. See more—

Generglyn, March 1656.

To this Account of Mr. Davis, I will subjoyn what my worthy Friend and Neighbour Randal Caldicot, D. D. hath affirmed to me many Years since, viz,

When any Christian is drowned in the River Dee, there will appear over the Water where the Corps is, a Light, by which means they do find the Body.

Thus far Mr. Aubrey.

Ominous Presages, taken notice of, as relating to the Troubles and Death of King Charles I. in a Printed Relation, 1655.

68. When he was in Spain, treating, and prosecuting the Match with the Infanta, Jun. 30. 1623. a great Clap of Thunder struck away the Flag and Flag-staff from the Main-top-mast-head of a Ship, then riding at Black-wall, and bound for Spain, with Provision of fresh Victuals, to fetch the Prince home; it also split the Main-top-mast, and threw one part on one side, and the other part on the other side of the Ship, and raized the Main-mast down to the Ship; it killed two Men, and one Woman at Croydon. This was two Days after the Prince wrote to the Pope.

Thursday next there were many great Claps of Thunder, abundance of Rain, and so great a Pillar of Fire from Heaven out of the South, that it reach'd from the Heavens to the Farth, not as a Flash of Lightning, gone in the very sight, but a very firm Pillar of Fire. The Crown and Vane, from the top of the Gate-House of St. James, whereon the Clock stood, was struck down; a piece of the Bell, where the Priuce kept his Court, melted; a Gardiner, near Westminster, kill'd and his Wife hurt; another at Croyden, kill'd, &c.

Old Tho. Earl of Arundel, having sent for the King's Statue out of Italy, viewing it at Greenwich, where it was landed, and commending the Workmanship; whilst they were discoursing of it, there fell three drops of Blood on the top of it, no Man knowing how they should come there.

A. 1623. A Buckinghamshire Taylor came from Alisbury, aged 41, and a sober Man, went along London Streets, pronouncing, Woe to Rome, Woe to the Pope, Woe to all Papists, and all that did adhere to Popery, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, &c. This three or four Days in the Week, praying earnestly at White-Hall-Gate, for the Continuance of the Gospel, in England, till he was sent to the New-Bridewell, near Clerken-well, where he continued three Weeks. After which he proceeded again to the same Execrations.

One of the Crowns and Vanes of the Tower was turned over the Top of the Spindle, with a very small Gale of Wind, and so hung for three quarters of a Year, or more; the Crown and Vane weigh'd 100 weight.

His Hand and Scepter broke off from his Statue at the Exchange, and fell down to the Ground, even at Change-time, to the admiration of all Beholders; and the next day it was set up again.

One Mrs. Cary, of Bristol, a Woollen-Draper's Widow, on the Back of the Town, hav∣ing seen many strange Apparitions of the late King at several times; as his Crown all bloody, himself in Black, and his Head off; by means of the Earl of Dorset, was admitted to the King, who dismissed her, with only this Reflection, Take her away; she is a merry Woman. The VVoman returns home to Bristol, where the like Visions appear'd to her again, she could not contain, but away she makes for London a second time; and the King gone to York, by the help of a Lady at Court she follows in a Coach thither, and with much Importunity of Speech beseecheth him to consider what she had seen, and said, but was not credited.

At Caussam, near Reading, the King playing at Chess with White Men, the Head of the VVhite King fell off.

VVhen the Lord Fairfax was at St. Albans, and the General Council of the Army draw∣ing up the grand Rdmonstrance against the King, the Sign of the Kings-Head, beneath the Hill from the Cross, that part of the Board between the Head and Shoulders was broken out of the Sign, so that the Head and Shoulders seem'd parted.

VVhen the King was at the High Court of Justice (as it was then called) on his Tryal, the Head of his Cane fell off; he stooped to take it up himself, looked upon it as an omi∣nous Presage.

69. William Writtle, condemn'd at Maidston Assizes, for a double Murder (mention'd hereafter) told a Minister that was with him after he was condemn'd, that his Mother told him, that when he was a Child, there crept always to him a Snake, where-ever she laid him: Sometimes she would convey him up Stairs, and leave him never so little, she should besure to find a Snake in the Cradle with him, but never perceived it did him any harm. See the Narrative, published 1675.

70. Hither may be referr'd that Remarkable Accident, which happen'd to the Statue of King James II. in the Exchange, which is to be seen to this day; the Statue (I think) fell to one side, and the Scepter fell out of his Hand: But by reason of the defect of my Memory, I refer my Reader to a sight of the thing it self, being not able to speak po∣sitively on the point at this time. Also it is credibly reported, That in his March to Sa∣lisbury, when he went down to oppose the then Prince of Orange, his Nose fell a bleeding. Oh! the Depth of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out!

CHAP. XVII. Promises fulfilled.

TO insist here upon Promises made by God to all the particular Graces, recommended in the Christian Religion, would be a Task too laborious and voluminous. It shall suffice at present, to take notice of the exact Performance of those general, or more notable Ones, mentioned in Sacred Scripture, and made by the God of Heaven, either to the World, or Church in general, or to some very Remarkable People, or Persons in particular; as,

1. The Promise of a Messiah, which was made with such a particular Notation of Christ's Nature to Adam, that he should be of the Seed of the Woman; to Abraham, of what Nati∣on, viz. to his Posterity; to Jacob, at what time; when the Scepter should depart from Ju∣dah; to David, of what Family in that Tribe, viz. his own; to Isaiah, of what Person in that Family, viz. a Virgin; to Micah, in what place, viz. in Bethlehem: and to Da∣niel, in what time, viz. towards the Expiration of the 70 Weeks: And this Promise so cir∣c*mstantiated, was by the Jews so strongly and earnestly expected, that many of them hit upon the right time, and were big with Hopes and Expectations in that very Season, when our Saviour came; as appears evidently by the concurrent Testimonies of all the Evan∣gelists and Apostles: And this Promise was withal so exactly performed, that the Old and New Testaments kiss one another, and give a mutual Suffrage one to another, insomuch, that for all the Material Passages of our Saviour's Life, the Evangelists refer us to Moses, and the Prophets. Bishop Joseph Hall, and some other Divines, have reckon'd up the several Texts of the Old Testament, we are either by our Saviour, or his Sacred VVri∣ters, recommended to for Confirmation. The Turks and Persians acknowledge this in great part, and the Jews themselves scarce know what to say to it; and who could do this, but God Almighty?

2. The Promise made to Abraham, of the Land of Canaan, is so far of the same Na∣ture, that it was as particularly made, and as perfectly fulfill'd. The Scripture gives a full Account of the Promise, and all the VVorld almost is satisfied in the Performance: It will pose an Atheist to invalidate the Scripture Testimony in one Respect, or run down the Convictive Evidence of History in the other.

3. The Promise of breaking down the Pale of the Jewish Church, to make way for the Reception of the Gentiles, as it was faithfully exhibited in the VVritings of the Old-Te∣stament, so it is fully accomplished in the New.

4. The Promise made to the Apostles by our Saviour, that He would be with them to the end of the World, was considerable in several Respects; as first, that he should Assist a lit∣tle Company of mean Persons, and Obnoxious to Contempt and Injuries, from all the Despite and Malicious Designs of their Adversaries; and secondly, in the Prosecution of a Business, the Preaching of a Doctrine, so contrary to the Humours and Secular Interests of almost all the VVorld; and lastly, that Twelve such mean Apostles, employ'd upon such an Errand, should prevail so far, with so little Learning, so little humane Policy, without any ill Arts or Arms, against both Jews and Gentiles, Princes and Potentates, Rabbies and Philosophers; as to plant a Doctrine, so ungrateful to Flesh and Blood, in several parts of the VVorld, so remote and far distant from one another, that it could not be extin∣guished, either with Arts and Stratagems, or Arms and Bloodshed, and all the Engines of Cruelty and Torture, oppos'd and made use of against it to this Day.

5. The Promise, or rather Threatning or Prediction of our Saviour, mention'd in Mat. 24. Mark 13. Luke 21. Concerning the first Glorious and Typical Advent of the same Jesus (whom the Jews were then treating so despitefully, and going to Crucifie) as Judge

and Avenger, to ruin the Temple, and destroy or disperse the Jewish Nation, was so cir∣c*mstantially deliver'd, and so punctually put in Execution; that the Account which Jose∣phus gives of it is enough to Astonish all the World into Amazement, and put to silence the Tongues of Gainsayers. And the present Dispersion of the Jews, and their frequent Disappointments, when they have endeavour'd to return, and repossess, and rebuild their Ruinated Jerusalem, which they were so fond of; and these Disappointments so remarka∣bly strange sometimes, that they are an astonishing Confirmation of the Truth thereof.

6. I Know of no uninspired Author that has done better, as to a proof of Jesus Christ being the Messias, says a late Writer, this Convert being better read and acquainted than most of our Divines, in the Jewish Talmud, and Objections; himself having been once a Teacher amongst them; and we are inclined to hope, that the Promise of God for the calling home his Antient People the Jews, is now in the Embrio; for it is impossible for any one amongst 'em, that pretends either to Scripture or Reason, after the reading of Theodore John his Book, to expect the coming of another Messias, all the Prophesies being so evidently fulfill'd in Jesus Christ, that relate to the Messias: But as for the Proof of a Trinity, and with such a happy Success, We have never yet met with any Author that pretended to do it, further than in Promise, till this Convert, (who being a Jew, and a Teacher amongst them, and thereby extreamly well acquainted with the Old Testament, and the Opinions of the Rabbies) has done it with that Evidence and Perspicuity, as (We think) the most Sceptical Person, that is not prejudiced to Sacred Writ, can find no Objections against. This Book we seriously recommend to all Christians to confirm 'em in this Truth, That 'tis no Fiction nor Device of Cunning or Politick Men, to believe that all the Prophecies are fulfill'd, concerning the Coming and Office of the Messias, and that Jesus Christ, whom we worship, is the true Messias. As for the Jews, as we said before, we hope this will be such a powerful and full Conviction, that that Promise of an Ʋniver∣sal Call will be speedily fulfill'd; for since the Gospel is now planted in America, the fullness of the Gentiles is almost perfected, perhaps wholly, since it can hardly be show'd where the Gospel has not now been preach'd in the whole Gentile World; We mean by Gentile, one that is not a Jew, the whole World being distinguish'd into Jew and Gentile, by the Apostles, and downward.

7. It will much help you in Prayer at this day (says the Ingenious Mr. Hurst, in his Sermon, in the last Morning Exercise) if you will look into the several Menaces, ptonoun∣ced in the Book of the Revelations, against Babylon, and observe which of them are in part Executed, which are now Executing; which of the Trumpets we are under, and which of the three Woes are now Executing, &c. By this we might conclude the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet near, and the Kingdoms of the World e're long are like to be the King∣doms of Christ.—Look, says this Author, to Promises made to the Church for her Deli∣verance, when you hear of, or enquire after any great News among the States, and Kingdoms of the World, among which the Churches of Christ sojourn, and among which the Saints of God have, and still do suffer. It needs not a particular proof that there are many express Pro∣mises, that the Church shall be deliver'd, that there is a fixed time for the Beginning, Pro∣gress, and full Accomplishment of these Promises, that their Accomplishments shall be gra∣dual, and such as will clear it self; and tho' we cannot say when the full accomplishment to a Day, or a Month, or a Year, yet by comparing Transactions and Occurrences with Pro∣mises, we may without doubt discover somewhat of the Promise made good to the Church, for which we ought to praise the Lord, and all the rest of the Promises shall be fulfill'd, and for this we should earnestly pray to the Lord. He further adds—Compare the great News in the present Revolutions, with the Times God hath been pleased to make known to us in his Word. By this you may discern what Encouragement, and awakening Considerations are given to us to pray and praise our God for what is already done, and for what is doing, and what e're long is to be finish'd. Here is work for learned Men, for Ministers, for Un∣derstanding Saints. There are in the Revelations two distinct Numbers mention'd, which, were they clearly unfolded, would enable us, as very wise Christians, to receive, seek, and improve the great News that is abroad in the World.

The first Period is that, Rev. 9.15. They, i.e. the four Angels bound at Euphrates, i.e. the Turkish power, were prepared for an Hour, and a Day, and a Month, and a Year, i.e. for Three Hundred Ninety Six Years, and a very little more. Now from One Thousand Three Hundred, in which Osman, or Ottoman, was Elected King of the Turks, they have been the Destruction of the Christians, and were to be until Three Hundred Ninety Years were ex∣pired, till One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Six, which will in likelihood end their Em∣pire, and how great Hope of this now? This calls us to pray for their Ruin.

The second great Period is of the Forty Two Months, i.e. One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Years; the time the Beast was to prosecute the Church, and then the Beast was to perish, i.e. the Papal Kingdom shall be destroy'd. Now these One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Years in likelihood began about Four Hundred Seventy five, or some∣what sooner, and by this Account you may suppose the News you still hear of both Turk and Papacy, will encourage you to hope for a speedy Deliverance of the Church from both.

It will be worth your while to read those excellent pieces of Mr. Joseph Mede, who wrote his Key of the Revelation above Threescore years ago, in Latin; I cannot say whether it be Translated into English, having always kept my self to the Latin Copy; but 'tis a thousand pities it should be confin'd to Latin; a Book fit to be publish'd in all Lauguages.

Of Mr. Jurieu's Accomplishment of Prophesies, translated out of French into English.

Of a Nameless Author newly Written in French, and Translated into English, Printed lately under the Title of A New System of the Apocalypse, &c.

I commend to you, who would know the Importance of publick News, how to pray and praise God; on hearing it, How to wait for Deliverances, to read diligently those Books in which are greater and better News than any Pacquets, then all Gazzetts, or Coffee-Houses can yet afford to you, when you have read these Books then Long for One Thou∣sand Six Hundred Ninety Six, or One Thousand Seven Hundred; and hope, if you live to that day, to hear Mahometanism in the Turkish Empire destroy'd, with that Empire. Wish for One Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Five, or One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty; and remember I do not pretend to Prophesie, but I do dismiss with a conjecture that between this time and that, you'll see great Deliverances to the Churches of Christ, and as great Distresses and Judgments executed on the Anti-Christian Kingdom, it may be the total Ruin of that Kingdom, which was to last but One Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty Years, and I think will have out-lasted that Period before One Thousand Seven Hun∣dred and Forty. Thus far Mr. Hurst.

CHAP. XVIII. Strange Convictions, or Conversions.

THE methods which God takes for the Conviction, or Conversion of Sinners, are so various, and sometimes so surprizing; that one would wonder, what it is, that is so poinant upon the Minds and Consciences of Men; that doth so effectually prick the hearts of some, whilst others remain in their old Ordinary Temper, unshaken and obstinate. And 'tis certain, 'tis some∣what like a Flash of Lightning, or some ray of the Divine Power, Darted by the Spirit of God into the Souls of Men, an Arrow of the Almighty, a Beam of special Grace directed to a Par∣ticular object by the Wisdom of Heaven. And 'tis worth our Notice, that Arch-Bishop Tillotson tells us, in his Sermon upon Luk. 15. v. 7.

That they who are reclaimed from a Wicked cause, are many times more Thoroughly and Zealously good afterwards: Their trouble and remorse for their Sins, does quicken and spur them on in the ways of Virtue and Goodness, and a lively sense of their past Errors, is apt to make them more careful and conscientious of their Duty, more tender and fearful of offending God, and desirous, if it were possible, to redeem their for∣mer Miscarriages by their Good Behaviour for the future. Their Love to God is usually more Vehement, and burns with a brighter Flame, for to whomsoever much is forgiven, they will Love much. And they are commonly more Zealous for the Conversion of others, as being more sensible of the danger Sinners are in, and more apt to commiserate their case, remembring that it was once their own condition; and with what difficulty they were rescued from so great a dan∣ger. And for the most part, great Penitents are more free from Pride and Contempt of others, the consideration of what themselves once were, being enough to keep them humble all their days.—So that Penitents are many times more throughly and perfectly good, and after their re∣covery, do in several respects out-strip and excel those who were never engaged in a vicious course of Life: As a broken Bone that is well sett, is sometimes stronger than it was before.

Thus far Arch-Bishop Tillotson.—I now proceed to give Instances of several strange Convicti∣ons and Conversions.

1. Upon St. Paul's Sermon Preached upon occasion of the Altar inscribed, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 at Athens, Dionysius the Areopagite, with Damaris his Wife, was converted.

2. Justin Martyr was converted by beholding the Constancy, Courage and Patience of the Christians in their Torments and Persecutions, and the Instructions of an Old grave Man, that met casually with him afterwards, and advised him to quit the Philosophers, and Study the Prophets: Which he presently did, tho he had been formerly under the Tutorage of Stoic, Peripatetic, Pythagorean and Platonist, successively. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist.

3. Tertullian was converted by Reading the Scriptures and Writings of other Learned and Holy Men; Quicquid agitur (saith he, speaking of Scripture) Prenunciabatur. Ibid.

4. Ambrose was converted by Origen, Cyprian by the Ministry of Cecilius, Presbyter of Carthage (whose Name he afterward bore) upon occasion of a Sermon he Preached on the History of the Prophet Jonas. Ibid.

5. S. Augustine was converted by occasion of a Story related by Pontitian a Lawyer, about the Retirement and Devotion of S. Antony the Hermit, which so moved his Passions, that he presently with-drew into the Garden, broke forth into Tears, and Cried out to his Dear Companion Alipius, who followed him close at the Heels, What is this? What do we hear! Ʋnlearned People rise and take Heaven by Violence, whilst we with all our Learning wal∣low in Flesh and Blood? Is it, because we are ashamed to follow them! Rather should we not be ashamed that they go before us! And with this, throwing himself upon the ground, at a convenient distance from Alipius, he seemed to hear a Voice as of some little child, crying. Tolle, Lege, Take up and Read; concluding it to be a Voice from Heaven, he opens the

Book of St. Paul's Epistles, which he had with him, and hitting immediately upon that Text, Rom. 13.12, 13, 14. Not in Rioting and Drunkenness, not in Chambering and Wanton∣ness, &c. He concluded it to be a very proper Lesson, to spend his thoughts at that time up∣on: Shewed it to Alipius, who reading forward, concluded the subsequent Verse to be as proper for him. Aug. Conf. l. 8. c. 7.9.

S. Augustine, on a time, forgetting the Argument he was upon, made a digression to a point of Difference between the Orthodox and Manichees; at which time one Firmus a Rich Merchant, and a Manichee, being present, was so convinced, that he came to him afterwards with Tears, and on his Knees confessed his Errors, and promised reformation. Also one Felix a Manichee, coming to Hippo to spread his Heresy, in a Disputation with Augustine, after the third time, was so convinced, that he recanted his Errors, and was joyned to the Church. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist. Here it may not be impertinent, to remember that Austine going one time, out of Curiosity, to hear S. Ambrose, was so lectured by an occa∣sional Argument delivered in the Assembly by that Holy Man, which touch'd his copy∣hold, that he thought verily Ambrose design'd it for a particular reproof: Tho himself tells us, in his Book of Confessions, that he did afterwards believe S. Ambrose had no such purpose.

6. Fulgentius, being made the King's Collector, and obliged to a Rigorous Exaction of Taxes, and Impositions, at last was wearied with the Burden and Variety of secular cares, and dissatisfied with the vain felicity of the VVorld; and in his Affections aspired after a more Spiritual Life, and so began to pray and read the Scriptures, and often resorted to the Monasteries; where, tho he perceived they had no VVorldly Solace, yet neither had they any weariness in their present condition; whereupon he brake out in these words with himself, Why Travel I in the World? It can yeild me no future, or durable Reward answer∣able to my Pains. Tho it be better to VVeep well, then Rejoyce ill; yet if to rejoyce be our desire, how much more excellent is their Joy, who have a good Conscience before God, who dread nothing but Sin; Study to do nothing, but to accomplish the Precepts of Christ? Now therefore let me change my Trade, and, as before I endeavour'd amongst my Noble Friends to prove more Noble, so now let my Care and Imployment be amongst the Humble and Poor Servants of the Highest, to become more Poor and Humble then they, and like S. Matthew, let me turn from a Publican to a Disciple. Upon this he broke off his Old Acquaintance and Conversation, and by degrees addicted himself to Fasting and Retire∣ment, Reading and Prayer; and reading S. Augustine upon p. 36. without any further de∣lay, he put himself into a Monastery under Faustus, where he became one of his Disciples. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist. p. 90, 91.

7. Luther, at the Age of One and Twenty, was so affrighted at the violent Death of a Dear and Faithful Companion of his, whom he mightily Loved, that he betook himself into the Augustine Monks College at Erford; and Writ to his Parents the occasion of his thus changing his course of Life; and this was a good step to a serious Disposition and Reli∣gious Temper of Mind. Afterwards, by Sickness, reading of S. Augustin's Works, and ob∣serving how at Rome they said Masse in such a careless detestable manner, that at the Com∣munion-Table he heard the Curtezans laugh and boast of their Wickedness, &c. others say, Bread thou art, and Bread thou shalt remain, &c. And at last, being startled with the profuseness of Indulgences sent from the Pope by John Tecelius into Germany, with so large a Commission, that tho a Man had defloured the Blessed Virgin, yet for Money he could pardon his Sin; Luther's Zeal took fire, and set up for the Reformation. Hear him giving an Account of himself: Speaking of his own Works, he thus Writes, Above all things I now request the Pious Reader, and beseech him for the Lord Jesus Christs fake, that he reads my Books with Judgment, yea, with much pity; and let him remember, that I was sometime a Friaer and a Mad Papist, and when I first undertco*k this cause, so Drunken and Drowned in Popish Doctrines, that I was ready, if I could, to have killed all Men, or to have assisted others in doing of it, who withdrew their obedience from the Pope but in one Syllable: Such a Soul was I, as there are many at this day; neither was I so cold and frigid in defending the Pope as Eccius, and some like him are; who seem to me to defend the Papacy, rather for their bellies sake, then in good earnest: Yea, like Epicures, they seem to me to deride the Pope, whereas I was serious in his cause, as one that trembled at the Thoughts of the day of Judgment, and from my very heart desired to be saved. Ibid. p. 146. vid. Sleid. Comment. &c.

8. Lambertus, disputing with Zuinglius about the Intercession of Saints, and the Sacri∣fice of the Masse, and being non-plus'd, left his Error, and gave Praise to God. Ibid. p. 149.

9. Mr. Rastal (Sir Thomas Moor's Son in Law) was converted likewise by the clear and strenuous Arguments of John Frith, which he used in some Disputations that were managed by way of Letter, between Sir Thomas and Him. Ibid. p. 157.

10. In Mr. Baxters Narrative of his Life, p. 3. He gives this Remarkable Account of his Conversion, Being, says he, under some more Conviction for my Sin; a poor Day-La∣bourer

in the Town had an old torn Book, which he lent my Father, which was called, Bunny's Resolution; I had before heard some Sermons, and read a Book or two, which made me more Love and Honour Godliness in the General.—He further adds, in the read∣ing of this Book (when I was about Fifteen Years of Age) it pleas'd God to awaken my Soul, and shew me the Folly of Sinning, and the misery of the Wicked, and the unexpressi∣ble weight of things Eternal, and the necessity of resolving on a Holy Life, more than I was ever acquainted with before. The same things which I knew before, came now in

another manner, with light and sence, and seriousness to my heart.—About that time, it pleased God that a poor Pedlar came to the Door that had Ballads, and some good Books: And my Father bought of him, Dr. Sibbs bruised Reed. This also I read; and found it suited to my State, and seasonably sent me, which opened more the Love of God to me, and gave me a Livelier apprehension of the Mystery of Redemption; and how much I was beholden to Jesus Christ. After this, we had a Servant that had a little peice of Mr. Perkins's Works (of Repentance, and the right Art of Living and Dying well, and the Government of the Tongue) and the reading of that did further inform me, and confirm me. And thus (without any means but Books) was God pleased to resolve me for himself. Thus far Mr. Baxter.

11. Mr. Thomas Bilney, Martyr, was thus converted; Having heard the Speech of Jesus, saith he, even then when the New Testament was Translated by Erasmus, understanding it to be eloquently done, I bought it, being allured thereto rather by the Elegancy of the La∣tin, then the Word of God (for at that time, I knew not what it meant) and looking into it, by God's special Providence, I met with those words of the Apostle S. Paul, This is a True saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sin∣ners, of whom I am chief. Oh! most sweet and comfortable sentence to my Soul! This one sentence, through Gods instruction and inward working, did so exhilerate my heart, which before was wounded through the guilt of my Sins, and being almost in despair, that imme∣diately I sound Marvellous comfort and quietness in my Soul, so that my bruised Bones did leap for Joy. After this, the Scripture began to be more sweet unto me, then Honey and the Honey-comb, &c. Ibid. p. 162.

12. John Picus Mirandula, being of a ductile Nature, and an aimable Countenance and Disposition, was for some time so inveigled with the Blandishments of an Effeminate So∣ciety; that he gave himself over to unlawful pleasures with them; but it pleased God by the Malice of his Adversaries, and the troubles which he met with by their means, to awa∣ken him from his sensual delights, and to stir him up to shake off and avoid all these Pro∣vocations and Incentives to Wickedness, and to chuse Celestial instead of fleshy Pleasures. And laying aside his hunting after vain Glory, to devote himself wholly to the Glory of God and the good of the Church. Idem in ejus vitâ.

13. George Prince of Anhalt, when the Controversies about Religions waxed hot, and Luther's Books came abroad, fell to reading of them, and suspecting his own Injudicious∣ness, would often pray with Tears to God, to encline his heart to the Truth, saying, Deal with thy Servant according to thy Mercy, and Instruct me in thy Righteousness; He was frequent in reading the Scriptures, Ecclesiastical Histories, Augustine, Hierom and Lombard; studied also Greek and Hebrew; and discoursed with Learned Men about the Controversies: And after all, upon mature deliberation embraced the reformed Religion, and reformed the Churches, with the counsel of his Brethren, within his own Jurisdiction, Fuller Abel Rediv. p. 165.

14. Vergerius having been the Popes Legate in Germany, after his return to Rome, the Pope intended to bestow a Cardinals Cap upon him; but some about him suggested, that he had been so long in Germany, that he smelled of a Lutheran. This made the Pope to alter his purpose; which, when Vergerius heard, was wonderfully Astonished; and that he might purge himself from that Imputation, he retired into his own Countrey, purposing to Write a Book under this Title: Against the Apostate Germans. But it pleased God, that whilst he read over his Adversaries Books, to confute them, himself was converted by them. Here∣upon, casting off all desires of a Cardinalship, he went to his Brother, John Baptista, Bi∣shop of Pola, and Communicated his thoughts unto him, and asked his advice. His Bro∣ther at first was much perplexed, and bewailed his condition; But, after a while, was per∣swaded by Vergerius to read and study the Scriptures, especially in the point of Justification by Faith; whereby it pleased God that he also saw the Popish Doctrines to be false; and so they both became Zealous Preachers of the Truth to the People. Clark's Exampl. Vol. 2. p. 117. Sleidan. Commentar. p. 475.

15. Whilst Francis Junius was a Student in Lions, there came a Man to him, using the words of the Epicure, Nihil curare Deum, nec sui, nec alieni: That God cares for nothing, And he Corroborated this with such subtile Arguments, that Junius sucked in that damna∣ble Principle, and thereupon gave up himself to vile Pleasures for somewhat more than a year. But the Lord suffered him not to continue longer in so dangerous a condition. For first, in a tumult at Lions, the Lord wonderfully delivered him from imminent Death; which Signal Deliverance compelled him to acknowledge a Divine Providence: And his Father hearing of the dangerous courses that he took, sent for him home, requiring him to read over the New Testament; Concerning which himself thus Writes: Novum Testa∣mentum aperis, exhibet se mihi, ad spectu primo, Augustissimum illud Caput; in Principio erat Verbum, &c. When I had opened the New Testament, the first place I cast mine Eyes upon, was that Famous Text, John 1.1. In the Beginning was the Word, &c. I read part of the Chapter, and was suddenly convinced, that the Divinity of the Argument, and Ma∣jesty and Author of the Writing, did exceedingly go beyond the Eloquence of all humane Writings. My Body trembled, my Mind was Astonished, and I was so affected all that day, that I knew not where I was, or what I did. Thou wast mindful of me, O my God, according to the Multitude of thy mercies; and called••st home thy lost sheep into thy Fold. Ibid. p. 117.

16. The Lord was pleased, sweetly to unlock Mr John Januways ••art, by the exemplary Life, and Heavenly and Powerful discourse of a young Man in the Colledge, whose heart God had inflamed with Love to his Soul; he quickly made an attempt upon this hopeful

Young Man, and the Spirit of God did set home his Counsels with such Power, that they proved effectual for his awakening; being accompanied with the Preaching of these two Famous Worthies, Dr. Hill, and Dr. Arrowsmith, together with the reading of several parts of Mr. Baxter's Saints Everlasting Rest. Now a mighty alteration might easily be discerned in him, he quickly looks quite another Man: He is now so much taken up with things above the Moon and Stars, that he had little leisure to think of these things only as they pointed higher. See his Life.

17. Whilst Mr. Robert Bolton was a Student in Oxford, he had familiar Acquaintance with one Mr. Anderton, a good Schollar, but a Papist; yea, a Priest. He taking notice of Mr. Boltons Excellent parts, and outward wants, took the advantage to perswade him to go over with him to the English Seminary in Rome; where he should be furnished with all ne∣cessaries, and have Gold enough. This motion Mr. Bolton accepted of, and a day and place was appointed, where, in Lancashire (their County) they should take Shipping, and be gone. Thither Mr. Bolton repaired at the time appointed; but Anderton came not. Mr. Bol∣ton, having escaped the Snare, returned to Oxford, where he fell into the Acquaintance of Holy Mr. Peaco*ck; by whose means it pleased God to bring him to a sight of his Sins, and to unfeigned Repentance for the same, but by such a way as God seldom uses: For he ran upon him as if a Giant had taken him by the Neck, and shaken him to pieces; laying before him the dreadful Prospect of his Sins, which lay so heavy upon him, that he reared for anguish of heart; and oft rose out of his Bed in the Night, through the disquietness of his Spi∣rit: Was assaulted with great and foul Temptations (horribilia de Deo Terribilia de fide,) the Buffetings of Satan; and thus continued for many Months; till at last, his grievous pangs in his New Birth produced two admirable effects in him; First, an invinceable courage in the cause of God: Secondly, a singular dexterity in comforting the afflicted Con∣sciences. Ibid.

18. Galiacious being a Noble Spaniard, however of Noble Birth, and Living in Naples, was perswaded by his Kinsman John Francis Caeserte, to hear Peter Martyr, then a publick Preacher in the City of Naples, was content for once to do it; more out of Curiosity then a desire to Learn. Peter Martyr at that time, was showing out of 1 Cor. 2.14. The Weak∣ness and Deceitfulness of the Judgment of Mans Reason in Spiritual things; and the Pow∣er and Efficacy of Gods Word in those Persons, in whom the Lord works by his Holy Spirit, which he illustrated by this Comparison.

If a Man (said he) should see Men and Women Dancing together a far off, and hear no Instrument, he would Judge them Mad, or Foolish: But if he come near and hear the Mu∣sick, and marks their measures and motions answerable thereunto; he will then not only delight to see them, but feel a desire in himself to bear them Company: Even so, many Men, when they behold in others, a sudden and great change of their Look, Apparel, Behaviour, and whole course of Life, at first they will impute it to Melancholy, or some Foolish humour: But if they look nearer; and begin to hear, and perceive the sweet harmony and consort of Gods Spirit and Word in them; then they change their Opinions, and begin, first to like them, and that Alte∣ration in them; and afterwards feel in themselves a desire to imitate, and to be of the Number of such Men; who, forsaking the Worlds Vanities; walk according to the Rule of the Gospel, that they may come to true and sound sanctification. This comparison by the Grace of God wrote wonderfully upon Galiacious, insomuch as from that hour he resolved to forsake his former Pleasures and Practices, and wholly set himself to seek out true happiness. Ibid.

19. In the Reign of Queen Mary, whilst Dr. Sands (afterwards Arch-Bishop of York) and Mr. Bradford, were Prisoners in the Tower, there was one Bowler a perverse Papist, that was their Keeper, who used them very Churlishly; but by their loving and astable Carriage and Conversation, he at last began to mislike Popery, and to favour the Gospel; yea, he was so far at last wrought upon, that on a Sabbath-Day, when others went to Mass, he carried up a Service Book, a Manchet, and some Wine; at which time Dr. Sands Administred the Sacrament to Mr. Bradford and him: And so Bowler became their Son, begotten in their Bonds. See the Life of Dr. Sands, at the end of my Martyrol. Ibid.

20. Matthias Vessinbechius, a Lawyer, Student at Lovain, coverted by seeing the suffer∣ings of a Poor Godly Man of that place. Ex. Melch. Ad.

21. The Father of a Prodigal, left as his Death-Bed-Charge to his onely Son, to spend a quarter of an hour every day in retired thinking. His Son did so, and at last began to think of Religion: When this once seized upon his thoughts, his meditations encreased, so he became sleepless, that Night, afterwards restless, and at last Religious. See a larger Ac∣count of this in Dr. Anneslys Sermon of Conscience, Publisht in the Morning exercise at Cripple-gate.

22. About the Year 1556. In the Town of Weissenstein in Germany, a Jew, for Theft that he had committed, was Condemned in this cruel manner to be Executed. He was hanged by the Feet with his Head downwards betwixt two Dogs, which constantly snatcht, and bit at him: The strangeness of the Torment moved Jacobus Andreas (a Grave, and Learned Divine) to go to behold it: Coming thither, he found the poor wretch as he hung, repeating Verses out of the Hebrew Psalms, wherein he cryed out to God for Mercy: Andreas hereupon took occasion to counsel him, to trust in Jesus Christ the true Saviour of Mankind: The Jew embracing the Christian Faith, requested but this one thing, that he might be taken down, and be Baptized, tho presently after he were hanged again (but by the Neck, as Christian Malefactors suffered) which was accordingly granted to him. Mel. Adam. invit. Ja. Andr.

23. Johannes Isaac, a Jew, was converted, by reading Isa. 53.

24. Lyra, Immanuel, Tromelius, Paulus, Riccius, Lud. Curetus, were converted Jews.

25. R. Hakkunas Ben Nehunia was Converted by Occasion of the Miracles which he saw.—I am Hakkunas, one of them that believe, and have washed my self with the Holy Wa∣ters, and walk in those right ways, being induced thereunto by Miracles. Hottinger out of Suidas, &c.

26. Elias Levita, before his death, became a Christian, and with thirty more Jews re∣ceiv'd Baptism, (but upon what Occasions and Inducements I cannot learn.) A. C. 1547. Alsted.

27. Eve Cohan was Converted, by occasion of reading the New Testament, which she found in the Chamber of her Dancing-Master, in Holland; but being threatned, and ill∣treated by her Mother upon it, marry'd her Master, came over into England, and was Baptized at London about half a score Years ago.

28. J. Sul, a Turkish Chaous, was born in Constantinople, and for his Dexterity, in ma∣naging Affairs, was imployed by the Grand Seignior, in the Ambassies; once in Venice, once into Russia, and once to the Emperor of Germany; where he resided at Vienna eighteen Months. He had also Thirty three Gallies under his Command. This great Man was, by one of his Father's Slaves, who attended ordinarily upon him, much and frequently importuned to believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the only true Prophet, great∣er than Mahomet. J. Sul, for a long time, refused to hearken to him, and sharply rebuked him for speaking to him of that Matter; and when yet the Slave would not be silent, but he did oft beat him, kick him, and caused him to be Bastonadied for his Importu∣nity; all which the Slave endured with much Patience, and told him, that tho' he should kill him, he would not be silent concerning the Matter. And it pleased God, that at last some special Providence concurring, he was induced to believe, that indeed Jesus Christ, whom the Jews Crucified, was the Son of God, and now alive in Heaven, having all Power in Heaven and Earth committed to him. And hereupon he took up a secret Resoluti∣on within himself to forsake his natural Country, and his Father's House, and to fly to the Christians, to learn the Law of Christ, and to make an open Profession of his Name, that so his Soul might be saved in the great day of the Lord, being convinced, that all the Pleasures and Enjoyments of this World, (whereof he had a large Portion) could not make any Man happy here, nor deliver him from Death, nor bring him to the Assurance of obtaining Glory in the World to come: But that owning the Name of Jesus Christ by Faith, and Obedience, would procure all this.

After he was convinced hereof, and thereupon fully resolved to go into some Chri∣stian Countrey, he was two whole Years before he could contrive, and find out a way how he might escape with Safety. For had he been discover'd, he, by their Law, was to be burnt alive. This made him the more wary; at last, God's Providence so order'd it, that he got Safe into Smyrna, and from thence to Leghorn.

At Leghorn he was honourably entertain'd by one of the great Duke's Cousins, who would have had him baptiz'd; but because he was recommended to the Arch-Bishop of Paris, and was to be conducted thither by some that came with him from Smyrna, he ex∣cused himself, and rejected that Favour. At Paris he was receiv'd with much Respect, as a Person of Quality, and lodged in St. Lazaro, a place appointed for entertaining, and In∣struction of Proselites, who were bountifully there entertain'd.

The Priest that was to instruct and fit him for Baptism, would have imposed upon his Belief and Practice in these things: That Christ is in the Host. That an Agnus Dei hath a Divine Virtue in it: That the Crucifix is to be worshipped: That the Pope is a Saint, and Christ's Vicar: That Saints and Images are to be respected in the Worship of God. But in these Points he did so argue with them, that they could not convince him, and there∣fore were forced to let him alone. And he was much troubled to find himself yoaked with Men of such a Belief; so that he had thoughts of returning to Constantinople, if the way had been open to him.

Whilst he lay under these Temptations, Providence so order'd it, that he fell into Ac∣quaintance with two Arabians, who were become Protestants. By their means he got no∣tice, that there were (besides the Papists, among whom he was) other Christians in Paris, whose Faith and Worship was free from Superstition, and a way was contriv'd how he should be brought into Acquaintance with them; for under pretence of walking abroad, to take the Air, he shifted himself of the company of those which attended him from St. Lazaro, and went with the Arabians to the House of a Protestant, and was made ac∣quainted with the Protestant Ministers in Paris, who took special Care of him for the space of Forty three Days: In which time they instructed him diligently in the Truth, which also he did heartily embrace. But great Search being made for him, and they not being able to protect him from the Power of those who would have taken him into England; where he arrived, March the last, and was entertain'd kindly; and after 2. while, had Means of Subsistence provided for him, and was committed to the Care of Mr. Durie, and Mr. Calandrine, who took a great deal of pains in instructing him in the Principles of Religion, and in observing his Conversation: And in Process of time, when he had gained a competent measure of Knowledge (which he greedily drank) and had given good Evidence of the Soundness and Sincerity of his Faith, he was put upon making a Consession of his Faith; which was written in French; and being translated into English, was publickly read to the whole Congregation. It was subscribed thus:

J. Sul, Chaous, the Slave of my Lord Jesus Christ.

After which, the Minister that was to Baptize him, asked him, Whether he did not re∣nounce before God, and that Gongregation, the Mahometan Sect? He answer'd, Yea, He did renounce it utterly.

Q. Do you desire to make Profession of the Christian Faith, and to be baptiz'd in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as a Disciple of Christ?

A. Yea, It is my earnest desire.

Q. Are you resolved, in the future Course of your Life, to submit to all the Ordinan∣ces of Christ? &c.

A. Yea, It is my sincere Resolution.

After this he was Baptized by the Name of Richard Christophilus. Jan. 30. 1658. in the Church of St. Paul Covent-Garden. See the Printed Narrative at large; or Mr. Clark's Abridgment of it, in his Examples, Vol. 2. c. 23. p. 120, 121. &c.

29. One Richard White, a Smith, of Wilden-Hall, was a prophane Atheistical Man, and believing that there was no Devils; in his Cups would wish he could once see the Devil, if there were such a Thing; and that suddenly he changed his Life, and became a Prosessor of Zeal, and Strictness in Religion, and told them, that in a clear Moonshine Night, the De∣vil, in the shape of a great uggly Man, stood by his Bed-side, opening the Curtains, and looking him in the Face, and at last took up the Blanket, and sometimes smiled on him, then was more uggly, and after a while (in which he lay in great Terror) the Apparition vanished, and he was affrighted into the aforesaid Change of Life. Attested by most cre∣dible and Religious Persons, near Wolverhampton, in Staffordshire; who dwelling in the same-House with Mr. Baxter, oft told the same to him. Hist. Disc. of Apparitions and Witches. p. 59.

30. Serj. Glanvil's Father had a fair Estate, which he intended to settle on his elder Bro∣ther; but he being a vicious young Man, and there appear'd no Hopes of his Recovery, he settled it on him, that was his second Son. Upon his death, his eldest Son finding that what he had before looked on, as the threatnings of an angry Father, was now but too certain, became Melancholy, and that by Degrees wrought so great a Change on him, that what his Father could not prevail in while he liv'd, was now effected by the Severity of his last Will, so that it was now too late for him to change, in hopes of any Estate that was gone from him. But his Brother observing the reality of the Change, resolv'd within himself what to do; so he call'd him, with many of his Friends together, to a Feast; and after other Dishes had been serv'd up to the Dinner, he order'd one that was cover'd to be set before his Brother, and desired him to uncover it; which he doing, the Company was surpriz'd to find it full of Writings; so he told them that he was now to do what he was sute his Father would have done, if he had liv'd to see that happy Change, which they now all saw in his Brother; and therefore he freely restored to him the whole Estate. Dr. Burnet, in his Life of Sir Matthew Hale, y. 8.

31. Bruno, born in Collogne, and Professor of Philosophy in Paris, about the year of Christ, 1080. being present at the singing of the Office for his Fellow-Professor, now dead, (highly reputed for his Holy Life) the dead Corps sits up in the Bier, and crys out, I am in God's just Judgments condemn'd. These words he utter'd three several Days; at which, Bruno was so affrighted, that a Man, held so Pious, was Damn'd, began to think what would become of himself, and many more. Therefore, concluding there was an Hell, took himself, with six of his Schollars, to a hideous place for dark Woods, high Hills, Rocks, and wild Beasts, in the Province of Dauphin, near Grenoble, and there built a Monastery, having obtain'd the Ground of Hugo, Bishop of Grenoble; the place call'd Carthusia, whence his Monks took their Name. See my Book of all Religions.

32. Luther tells us of two Cardinals, riding in great Pomp to the Council of Constance, and by the way they heard a Man bitterly weeping and wailing: When they came to him, they found him intently viewing an uggly Toad; and ask'd him, why he wept so bit∣terly? he told them, his Heart was melted with this consideration, that God had not made him such a loathsome and deformed Creature; hoc est quod amarè fleo, said he: Whereup∣on one of them crys out, Well said the Father, Surgunt indocti, & rapient Coelum, The Unlearned will arise, and take Heaven, and we, with all our Learning, shall be cast into Hell. Luther in tertium praecept. See more in this Book.

CHAP. XIX. Strange ways of Restraining Persons from Sin.

THE Doctrine of the Irresistibleness of Gods Decrees, was so far ventilated in the last Age, that the Letters of Accord between the Judicious Bishop Sanderson, and the Learned Dr. Hammond, sufficed to confirm me, (and I think they may be sufficient for others) in this Opini∣on, viz. That those whom God hath Elected to everlasting Life, shall be so far taken care of, that such means shall be allowed them, and such methods used towards them, that they shall not fail of Inheriting Everlasting Life. For whom God Loves, he Loves unto the end: And all things shall work together for their Good, and for the promoting of their Salvation. But on the other hand: (as the Learned Mr. Willam's observes in his Sermon to Youth).

Vanity unhealed is of an improving Nature; and there's no bad Child, but grows worse: Sin is not a Stream that grows empty, or a Root that dies by meer time. God knows, we have had experience of that. Alas, how does Villany grow with Years! The Child that began with few Sins, grows up to many Sins; insomuch that we have some Young Men before eighteen, have committed as great Sins as the Man of eighty. Youth enters with lesser Sins, and proceeds to grosser Sins: We have many Young People that seem to abound in Wickedness, as they improve in Age; as if they grew older only that they may grow Viler. One Sin brings on another, by the lesser thou art sitted for a greater. Sinful Habits are strengthned by Sinful Acts: And fear and shame for Sin wear off, yea, are even extinguished by a course of Sin. Lust may be strongly Rooted

before old Age; and I sear 'tis so with abundance of Youths: Is it not so with some of you? Did not some of you blush at a little Sin, and now thou canst mock at great ones! Are there not some amongst you that once dared not to tell a small Lye, and now you can lye all sorts? Are there none here that trembled when they swere a little Oaeth, and now can Swear at the Bliodiest rate, and add Blasphemy and Cursing to their Oaths! Sirs, did not some of you feel a check for a light Act, and now you can commit Fornication and Ʋncleanness, without any in∣ward Rebuke! It was hard to bring thee to pilfer a P••n••y, and now thou canst steal Shillings and Pounds: It was much ado that thou couldst endure to be Drunk in the Night, but now thou canst do it openly, and Glory in it. Thou durst not formerly have neglected a Sermon, and thou must pray by thy self, but now, alas, poor Creature! Thou canst play away a whole Sabbath, and spead Weeks without Prayer, without one serious Prayer. Thus far Mr. Wilkins.

I now proceed to give Instances of Persons restrain'd from Sin.

1. St. Augustine after his conversion, being grievously vexed with inward conflicts against his corrupt and remanent affections to Sin, intentively musing and meditating with himself what to do more then he had done, Viz. By purposes, vows, watchings, fasting, &c. heard a Voice saying, in te stas, et non stas; whereupon addressing him to Jesus Christ in an hum∣ble manner by faithful and fervent Prayer, he found present releif, and was much strength∣en'd with the grace of Gods Spirit in the inner Ma••. Ibid.

2 Mr. Dod, being late at Night in his Study, was strongly moved (tho at an unseasona∣ble hour) to visit a Gentleman of his Acquaintance; and not knowing what might be the design of Providence therein, he obeyed, and went; when he came to the house, after a few knocks at the Door, the Gentleman himself came to him; and askt him, whether he had any business to him: Mr. Dod Answered, no; but that he could not be quiet till he had seen him. O Sir, (replyed the Gentleman,) you are sent of God at this hour, for just now (and with that, takes the halter out of his Pocket,) I was going to destroy my self. And thus was the mischief prevented. Mr. Flavel's Div. Conduct. p. 98.

3. Mr. Bolton, whilst he was in Oxford, had familiar acquaintance with Mr. Anderton, a good Schollar, but a strong Papist, who knowing Mr. Bolton's good parts, and perceiving that he was in some out-ward wants, took this Advantage, and used many Arguments to per∣swade him to be reconciled to the Church of Rome, and to go over with him to the English Seminary, assuring him he should be furnished with all necessaries, and have Gold enough. Mr. Bolton being at that time, poor in mind and purse, accepted the motion, and a day and place was appointed in Lancashire, where they should meet and take Shipping, and be gone: But Mr. Anderton came not, and so he escaped the Snare. See the Life of Mr. Bolton.

4. Thus Basil was along time exercised with a violent Head-Ach, which (as he observed) was used by Providence to prevent lust.

5. Dela Cerda saith, that Albertine a Jesuit told him, that a Young Man came hastily to him to confess; and told him; O Sir, saith he, I could not stay, so strange a thing hath be∣fallen me!

I and my Companion were resolved, in Revenge against one that had wronged me, to go after him, into the Fields, and kill him: And while I was setting my Pastol in order, that I might not miss, a Beautiful Young Man stood by me, and asked me what I was about? And when I denied to tell him, he told me, that he knew my purpose, and disswaded me; and, in short, did so open the suflerings of Christ for his Enemies, and what Sins he had forgiven us, and bound us to forgive one another, That I was melted into Tears, and my mind changed; and the Young Man Vanished away.

(An Angel, if true.) Hist. Disc. of Apparitions and Witches, p. 162.

CHAP. XX. Strange ways of Promoting Salvation.

THE ways of the Almighty, and his Dealings with particular Men, (as well as those of his common Providence and Judgments) are so strange, and filled with variety of Spiritual stra∣tagems; that we may well say of him, His Paths are in the deep waters, and his Footsteps are not known. The Woman of Samaria drawing water, and giving to our Saviour to Drink, re∣ceived the water of Everlasting Life from him, and drank to her Neighbours likewise of the Spiritual Drink. Zacheus climbing a Sycamore, out of Curiosity to see Jesus, Jesus saw him and invited himself to his House. S. Paul was knockt down in the midst of his Sinful Career, and made to do obeysance at the Feet of that Jesus he was going to persecute.

1. Origen, after he had been prevailed upon to offer incense in the Idol Temple, being Ex∣communicated by the Church, going into Judea, being well known there, for his Expositi∣ons was intreated by the Ministers at Jerusalem, with much importunity, to bestow a Ser∣mon; he stood up, took the Bible, open'd it, and at the very first casting his Eye upon that Text, Psal. 50.16. Ʋnto the ungodly said God, why dost thou Preach my Laws? &c. He pre∣sently shut the Book, wept bitterly, the People also weeping with him, and was able to

say no more. After this, he wandred up and down in great greif of Conscience, and wrote his Lamentation. Clark's Mar. of Eccl. Hist.

2. S. Augustine going on a time to hear S. Ambrose, was accidently rebuked by some words of the Sermon, or lecture that he heard, which he applyed to himself, as design'd particularly against him. Ibid. See the Chapter of strange Conversions.

3. It is Noted, by Melchior Adam in the Life of Junius, how very an Atheist he was grown in his younger years; but in order to his Conversion to God, first, a wonderful pre∣servation of his Life in a publick tumult at Lyons in France must make way, which forces from him the Acknowledgement of a Deity. Then his Father sends for him home, and with much gentleness perswades him to read the Scriptures; he lights upon the first of John, and with it he feels a Divine Supernatural Majesty and Power seizing his Soul, which brought him over by a compleat Conversion to Jesus Christ. Thus, as the Woman of Tekoa told David, doth God devise means to bring back his Banished. Flav. Divine Conduct, p. 61.

4. Lavater tells us, that many Spanish Souldiers, going into the Wars of Germany, were there converted to Christ, by falling into the Cities and Towns, where Godly Ministers and Christians were. Ibid.

5. A Minister of Wales, who had two Livings, but took little care of either, being at a Fair, bought something at a Pedlars standing, and rent off a Leaf of Mr. Perkin's Cate∣chism to wrap it in, and reading a line or two in it, God set it home so, as it did the work Ibid.

6. The Marriage of a Godly Man into a Carnal Family, hath been ordered by Provi∣dence, for the Conversion and Salvation of many therein. Thus we read, in the Life of that renowned English worthy, Mr. John Bruen, that in his second Match it was agreed, that he should have one Years Diet in his Mother-in-Laws House: During his abode there that year (saith Mr. Clark) the Lord was pleased by his means, Graciously to work upon her Soul, as also upon his Wifes Sister, and half Sister, their Brothers, Mr. William and Tho∣mas Fox, with one or two of the Servants in that Family. Ibid. p. 62.

7. Augustine once Preaching to his Congregation, forgot the Argument which first he proposed, and fell upon the Error of the Manichees, beside his first intention: By which discourse, he converted one Firmus his Auditor; who fell down at his Feet Weeping, and Confessing he had lived a Manichee many Years. Possidonius in vita Augustini. c. 15. Flavel's Div. Conduct. p. 63.

8. I knew one, saith Mr. Flavel, who going to Preach, took up another Bible, than that he designed, in which, not onely missing the Notes, but the Chapter also in which his Text by, was put to some loss thereby: But after a short pause, he resolved to speak to any o∣ther Scripture that might be presented to him, and accordingly read that Text, 2 Pet. 3.9. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise, &c. And tho he had nothing prepared; yet the Lord helpt him to speak both Methodically and Pertinently from it: By which discourse, a Gracious change was wrought upon one in that Congregration, who hath since given good Evidence of a sound Conversion, and Acknowledged this Sermon to be that first and onely means thereof. Mr. Flavel's Div. Conduct. p. 63.

9. One, who had lived many Years in a Town where Christ had been as clearly, and as long Preached, as in any Town of England, when he was about Seventy Six Years of Age, went to visit a Sick Neighbour.

A Christian Friend of mine (saith mine Author) came to see him also, and finding this Old Man there; whom he Judged to be one that lived upon his own Stock:

Civility, good Works, &c. He purposely fell into that Discourse, to shew how many Persons lived upon their Duties, but never came to Christ. The Old Man sit∣ting by the Bed-side, heard him, and God was pleased to convince him, that he was such a Parson, who had lived upon himself without Christ to that day; and would say after∣wards, had I died before Threescore and Sixteen, I had perisht, for I knew not Christ. Mr. Firmin in his Real Christian, p. 97, 98.

10. In the Year 1673. There came into this Port (saith Mr. Flavel) meaning Dartmouth, a Ship of Poole, in her return from Virginia; in which Ship was one of that place, a lusty Young Man of Twenty Three Years of Age, who was a Chirurgeon in the Ship. This Per∣son in the Voyage fell into a deep Melancholly, which the Devil greatly improved to serve his own design for the ruin of this Poor Man; however, it pleased God to restrain him from any attempts upon his own Life, until he arrived here. But shortly after his ar∣rival, upon the Lords Day early in the morning (being in Bed with his Brother) he took a Knife prepared for that purpose, and cut his own Throat, and withal leapt out of the Bed, and tho the wound was deep and large, yet thinking it might not soon enough dispatch his wretched Life, desperately thrust it into his Stomach; and so lay wallowing in his own Blood, till his Brother awaking, made a cry for help: Hereupon a Physician and a Chirur∣geon coming in, found the wound in his Throat mortal, and all they could do at present, was onely to stitch it and apply a Plaister, with design, rather to enable him to speak for a little while, than with any Expectation of cure; for before that, he breathed through the wound, and his Voice was Inarticulate.

In this condition I found him that morning, and apprehending him to be within a few Minutes of Eternity, I laboured to work upon his Heart the sence of his condition, telling him, I had but little time to do any thing for him, and therefore desired him to let me know, what his own apprehensions of his present condition were: He told me, he hoped in God for Eternal Life; I replyed, that I feared his hopes were ungrounded, for that the Scripture tell us, No Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him, but that was self-mur∣ther, the grossest of all murthers: And insisting upon the Aggravation and Heinousness of

the Fact, I perceived his vain Confidence began to fall; and some Moltings of Heart ap∣pear'd in him. He then began to lament with many Tears, his Sin and Misery, and asked me, if there might yet be hope for one that had destroy'd himself, and shed his own Blood? I reply'd, the Sin indeed is great, but not unpardonable; and if the Lord gave him Repentance unto Life, and Faith, to apply Jesus Christ, it should be certainly pardon'd to him: And finding him unacquainted with these things, I open'd to him the Nature and Necessity of Faith and Repentance, which he greedily suckt in, and with great Vehemen∣cy cried to God, that he would work them upon his Soul, and intreated me also to pray with him, and for him, that it might be so.

I pray'd with him, and the Lord thaw'd his Heart exceedingly. The Duties of the Day necessitating me to leave him, I briefly summ'd up what was most necessary in my parting counsel to him, and took my leave, never expecting to see him any more in this World. But beyond my own and all Men's Expectation, he continued all that day, and panted most ardently after Christ Jesus; no Discourses pleased him, but Christ and Faith; and in this Frame I found him in the Evening. He rejoiced greatly to see me again, and entreat∣ed me to continue my Discourses upon these Subjects; and after all, told me,—Sir, the Lord hath given me Repentance for this Sin; yea, and for every other Sin. I see the evil of Sin now, so as I never saw it before. Oh I loath my self; I am a very vile Crea∣ture in my own Eyes; I do also believe; Lord help my unbelief; I am heartily willing to take Christ upon his own Terms. One thing troubles me; I doubt this bloody Sin will not be pardoned. Will Jesus Christ (said he) apply his Blood to me, that have shed my own? I told him, Christ shed his Blood even for them, that with wicked Hands had shed the Blood of Christ; and that was a Sin of deeper Guilt than this. Well (said he) I will cast my self upon Christ; let him do by me what he pleases. And so I parted with him that Night.

Next Morning the Wounds were to be open'd, and then the Opinion of the Chyrur∣geon were, he would immediately expire.

Accordingly, at his Desire, I came that Morning, and found him in a most serious frame. I prayed with him, and then the Wound in his Stomach was opened, but by this time the Ventricle it self was swoln out of the Orifice of the Wound, and lay like a live discolour'd Tripe upon his Body, and was also cut through; so that all concluded it was impossible for him to live; however they stitch'd the Wound in the Stomach, en∣larged the Orifice, and fomented it, and wrought it again into his Body, and so stitch∣ing the Skin, left him to the Dispose of Providence.

But so it was, that both the deep VVound in his Throat, and this in his Stomach healed; and the more dangerous VVound Sin had made upon his Soul, was, I trust, effectually heal∣ed also. I spent many Hours with him in that Sickness, and after his return home, re∣ceived this Account from Mr. Samuel Hardy, a Minister in that Town: Part whereof I shall Transcribe.

Dear Sir,

I was much troubled at the sad Providence in your Town, but did much rejoyce, that he fell into such Hands for his Body and Soul. You have taken much Pains with him, and I hope to good purpose. I think, if ever a great and thorough VVork were done such a way, it is now; and if never the like, I am perswaded now it is. Ne∣ver grow weary of such good VVorks. One such Instance is (methinks) enough to make you to abound in the work of the Lord all your days.

Flavel's Divine Conduct.

CHAP. XXI. Wants strangely supplied. JOseph was sold into Egypt, by the Envy of his Brethren, to make Provision for them and their Father in a time of Famine: Elijah is fed by an Angel, when he was ready to starve with Hunger under the Juniper-Tree, and found, to his great Surprizal, a Cake, baked on the Coals, and a Cruise of Water at his Head; another time by a Raven, who brought him Bread and Flesh, Morning and Evening; and a third time by the Wisdom of Zarepheth's Barrel of Meal, and Cruise of Oyl, which failed not, so long as there was necessity of it: What should I tell of Daniel, and the three Children's Pulse and Water; our Saviour's Loaves and Fishes; of the Money found in the Belly of a Fish; of the great Draught of Fishes, that astonished St. Peter into Amazement? God feedeth the young Ravens, &c.

1. Origen, with his poor Mother, and six Children, after the Father's Death, and the Con∣fiscation of all his Goods to the Emperor, procured a Sustenance for himself and them, by teaching a Grammar-School; and after being weary of that Profession, he betook himself to the stndy of Sacred Scripture and Divinity; and thus throwing himself upon Divine Providence, it pleased God he was entertain'd by a Religious and Rich Matron, together with his Mother and Brethren. Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist.

2. Mr. Samuel Clark, in the Life of that painful and humble Servant, Mr. John Fox, re∣cords a memorable Instance or Providence, and it is thus: That towards the end of King Henry the Eighth his Reign, he went to London, where he quickly spent that little his Friends

had given him, or he had acquired by his own Diligence, and began to be in great want. As one day he sat in St. Paul's Church, spent with long Fasting, his Countenance thin, and his Eyes hollow, after the ghastful manner of dying Men, every one shunning a Spectacle of so much horror: There came one to him, whom he had never seen before, and thrust an untold Sum of Money into his Hand, bidding him be of good Cheer, and accept that small Gift in good part from his Country-man; and that he should make much of him∣self, for that within a few Days, new Hopes were at Hand, and a more certain Condi∣tion of Livelihood. Three Days after the Dutchess of Richmond sent for him, to live in her House, and be Tutor to the Earl of Surrey's Children, then under her Care.

3. Mr. Isaac Ambrose, a worthy Divine, whose Labours have made him acceptable to his Generation, in his Epistle to the Earl of Bedford, prefixed to his last things, gives a pregnant Instance in his own Case; his Words are these:

For my own part (saith he) however the Lord hath seen cause to give me but a poor pittance of outward things, for which I bless his Name; yet in the Income thereof, I have many times observ'd so much of his peculiar Providence, that thereby they have been very much sweetned, and my Heart hath been raised to admire his Grace. When of late, under an hard Dispensation (which I iudge not mete to mention, wherein I suffer'd conscientiously) all Streams of wonted Supplys being stopt, the VVaters of Relief for my self and Family did run low: I went to Bed with some Staggerings and Doubtings of the Fountains letting out it self for our refresh∣ing; but e're I did awake in the Morning, a Letter was brought to my Bed-side, which was signed by a choice Friend, Mr. Anthony Ash, which reported some unexpected break∣ings out of God's Goodness for my Comfort. These are some of his Lines — Your God who hath given you an Heart, thankful to record your Experiences of his Goodness, doth renew Experiences for your Encouragement. Now shall I report one, which will raise your Spirit towards-the God of your Mercies. VVhereupon he sweetly concludes; One Morsel of God's Provision, especially when it comes in unexpected, and upon Prayer, when wants are most, will be more sweet to a Spiritual Relish, than all former En∣joyments were.

Flavel's Divine Conduct. p. 93.

4. Rochell was strangely relieved by a Shoal of Fish, that came into the Harbour, when they were ready to perish with Famine, such as they never observed before, nor after that time. Ibid. p. 31.

5. Mr. William Garaway, a Gentleman, sufficiently known for his excellent Parts, and Activeness, and Fidelity to both King and Country in several Parliaments, during these three last Reigns, told me lately of another such a Special and Remarkable Providence as this was, which happened to a certain Sea-Port Town in England, (Hastings) about Three Years ago, where, when the People were in great Poverty, and suffer'd much by Scarci∣ty of Money and Provisions, it pleased God, that an unusual and great Showl of Herrings came up the River, by which the Inhabitants were plentifully supplied for the present; and the next week after, a Multitude of Cod succeeded them, which were supposed to have dri∣ven the former into the River before them; by which means the Necessity of the poor Inhabitants was supplied unexpectedly, to Admiration.

6. And this very Year 'tis very observable, when Money is at a low ebb amongst us, and People every where muttering and complaining of the baseness of the old Coyn, and the slowness of Coyning new Money, &c. God hath sent us in his Gracious Providence such a plentiful Harvest, that not only the Farmers, and poor People, but even the Fields them∣selves, (to use the Psalmist's Phrase) seem to laugh and sing.

7. One Mr. Norwood, late of Deptford, a serious Christian, being low in the VVorld; and having several small Children; his VVife then lying in, was extreamly discontented at the Poverty and Straits of the Family; the poor man pinched with this double Distress, VVant of Provision, and Peace too, and belng unwilling to trouble his Master, who was a Meal-Man, and had relieved him formerly in his Troubles, retires to Prayer, opens his Case to God Almighty, begs earnestly for a Supply, returns home to his VVife, and finds her in a pleasant Temper; who ask'd him, If any body had been with him? Telling him, That some body (who would not tell whence he came) had brought her Five Shillings. This extreamly affected and chear'd the good man, that he was free to speak of it in all Compa∣nies, as occasion offered it self; and at last, mentioned it to the very Person (a Minister, Mr. J. J.) that sent it, who professed, that being in his Study at that time, upon a sudden, and warm Impulse of mind, he was put upon it.

8 Another time his VVife was reduced to great Necessities, for want of Shifts, &c. and was disturbed (as before;) the good man goes the next Lord's Day to Church, was Invited to Dine and Sup with a Friend, said nothing of these wants; but at going away, the good VVoman of the House put him up Shifts for his VVife and Children, and I think (saith my Relater) for himself too, and ties up some money in one of them.

These are both Attested by one Mr. John Lane of Horsly down Lane in Southwark, in a Letter dated July 3. 1695. and subscribed by several other hands of St. Olives Parish.

9. Another person, one Atkins, formerly of Oxford, lately of St. Olives in Southwark, being brought to low Circ*mstances, and so straitened with Poverty, that they had neither Bread, nor Drink, nor Candle, nor money to buy with; the Wife grew impatient, and the good man endeavoured to satisfie her, with recounting over their former Experiences of Gods Goodness to them, &c. told her, they would go to Prayer, and beg for a supply: he had not been long at his Devotions, but a person knocking at the Door, ask'd for Mr.Atkins; but not willing to stay for his coming, left Five Shillings with the woman for him, not tell∣ing who sent it; nor did they ever know his Name to this day; which so wrought upon

the unbelieving Wife, that she was mightily affected with it, and laid the consideration of it deeply to Heart.

This is likewise Attested by the aforesaid Author, Mr. John Lane, &c.

10. A. C. 1555. betwixt Oxford and Aldebrough, in the County of Suffolk, when by unseasonable Weather a great Dearth was in the Land, a Crop of Pease, without Tillage or Sowing, grew in the Rocks, insomuch that in August, there were gathered above one hun∣dred Quarters (a Quarter being 8 Bushels) and in Blossoming remained as many more. This is related by Mr. Speed, and by the Author of the World Surveyed, and others, for a very great Truth.

CHAP. XXII. Strange Instances of Consolation, and Protection in Dangers. MAN's Extremity, we use to say, is God's Opportunity; and no doubt, but one great Reason why God chuseth rather such Seasons to appear in, is to give a clearer Demonstration of his Power, and to shut out all others, that may put in for a share of the Glory, as Co-rivals with Him. He will not give His Honour to any of His Creatures, which they would be apt to challenge, if God should put forth himself too early for their Relief and Assistance, when they think they can stand upon their own Legs.