Day-Fatality: Or, Some OBSERVATIONS OF Days Lucky and Unlucky.
CHAP. I.

THAT there be Good and Evil Times, not only the Sacred Scrip­tures, but Prophane Authors men­tion: See 1 Sam. 25. 8. Esther 8. 17. and 9. 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. Levit. 23. 5. Numb. 28. 16. Four hundred and thirty Years being expi­red [Page 3] of their dwelling in Egypt, even in the Self-same Day departed they thence.

A thing something parallel to this, we read in the Roman Histories: That that very day four Years, that the Civil Wars were begun by Pompey the Father, Caesar made an end of them with his Sons; Cnaeus Pom­peius being then slain, and it being also the last Battle Caesar was ever in. [Heylyn in the Kingdom of Corduba.] The Calendar to Ovid's Fastorum says, Aprilis erat menfis Graecis auspicatissimus, a most auspicious Month among the Grecians.

As to Evil Days and Times; See Amos 5. 13. and 6. 3. Eccles. 9. 12. Psal. 37. 19. Obad. 12. Ier. 46. 21. And Iob hints it, in cursing his Birth-day. Cap. 3. v. 1, 10, 11, See Weaver, p. 458.

Horace, lib. 2. Ode 13. Cursing the Tree that had like to have fallen upon him, says, Ille nefasto te posuit die; intimating, that it was planted in an Vnlucky day.

The Romans counted Febr. 13. an Un­lucky day, and therefore then never at­tempted any Business of Importance; for on that day they were overthrown at Allia by the Gauls; and the Fabii attacquing the City of the Veii, were all slain save one. [ Heylyn speaking of St. Peter's Patrimony] [Page 4] And see the Calendar annext to Ovid's Fastorum, as to the last Circumstance.

The Iews accounted August 10. an un­fortunate day; for on that Day the Tem­ple was destroyed by Titus the Son of Ves­pasian; on which day also the first Temple was consumed with Fire by Nebuchadnezzar. [Heylyn.] The Treasury of the Times says, the Eighth of Loyon (August) the very same day 679 Years one after another.

And not only among the Romans, and Iews, but also among Christians, a like Custom of observing such days is used, es­pecially- Childermas or Innocents-day. Comi­nus tells us, that Lewis XI. used not to debate any Matter, but accounted it a sign of great Misfortune towards him, if any Man communed with him of his Affairs; and would be very angry with those about him, if they troubled him with any Matter whatsoever upon that day.

But I will descend to more particular In­stances of Lucky and Unlucky Days.

Upon the Sixth of April, Alexander the Great was born. Upon the same day he con­quered Darius, won a great Victory at Sea, and died the same day.

Neither was this day less fortunate to his Father Philip; for on the same day he took Potidea; Parmenio his General gave a great Overthrow to the Illyrians; and his Horse was Victor at the Olympick Games. There­fore [Page 5] his Prophets foretold to him, Filium cujus Natalis, &c. That a Son whose Birth­day was accompanied with three Victories, should prove Invincible. Pezelius in Melli­ficio Historico.

Upon the Thirtieth of September, Pom­pey the Great was born: Upon that day he Triumphed for his Asian Conquest; and on that day he died.

The Nineteenth of August was the day of Augustus his Adoption: On the same day he began his Consulship: He Conquered the Triumviri, and on the same day he died. Hitherto out of the Memoirs of King Charles I. Hero's.

If Solomon count The day of ones death bet­ter than the day of ones birth, there can be no Objection why that also may not be reckon­ed amongst ones Remarkable and Happy days. And therefore I will insert here, that the Eleventh of February was the Noted day of Elizabeth Wife to Henry VII. who was born and died that day. Weaver, p. 476. Brooke in Henry VII. Marriage. Stow in Anno 1466. 1503.

As also that the Twenty third of Novem­ber was the Observable day of Francis Duke of Lunenburgh, who was born on that day, and died upon the same 1549, as says the French Author of the Journal History, who adds, upon particular Remark and observa­ble Curiosity,

Sir Kenelm Digby, that Renowned Knight, great Linguist, and Magazen of Arts, was born and died on the Eleventh of Iune, and also fought fortunately at Scanderoon the same day. Hear his Epi­taph, composed by Mr. Farrar, and recited in the aforesaid Memoirs:

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 averred the same but about the Week before his depar­ture. The Third of March is the day of St. Eutropius; and as to my Uncle it was significative; it turn'd well to him, accord­ing to that of Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the Dead, &c. and that of Ovid Metam. lib. 3.

The Sixth of Ianuary was five times au­spicious to Charles Duke of Anjou. Ibid. in the Life of the Earl of Sunderland.

The Twenty fourth of February was happy to Charles V. four times. [Ibid.] Heylyn speak­ing of the Temple of Ierusalem, hints three of these four; his Birth; his taking of Fran­cis King of France Prisoner; his receiving the Imperial Crown at Bononia. And so doth also the Journal History before men­tioned.

Of the Family of the Trevours, Six suc­cessive principal Branches have been born the Sixth of Iuly. Same Memoirs.

Sir Humphrey Davenport was born the Seventh of Iuly; and on that day Anniver­sary his Father and Mother died, within a quarter of an hour one of another. Same Memoirs.

I have seen an old Romish MSS. Prayer-Book (and shewed the same to that general Scholar, and great Astrologer E: Ashmole Esq) at the beginning whereof was a Calendar, wherein were inserted the Unlucky days of each Month, set out in Verse. I will re­cite them just as they are, sometimes in­fringing the Rule of Grammar, sometimes of Prosodia; a matter, of which the old [Page 8] Monkish Rhymers were no way scrupu­lous. It was as ancient as Henry the Sixth, or Edward the Fourths time.

January.

Prima dies mensis, & septima truncat ut ensis.

February.

Quarta subit mortem, prosternit tertia fortem.

March.

Primus mandentem, disrumpit quarta bibentem.

April.

Denus & undenus est mortis vulnere plenus.

May.

Tertius occidit, & septimus or a

Ex re & laedo.

relidit.

June.

Denus pallescit, quindenus foede­ra nescit.

July.

Ter-decimus mactat, Iulii denus labefactat.

August.

Prima necat fortem, prosternit se­cunda cohortem.

September.

Tertia Septembris, & Denus fert mala membris.

October.

Tertius & denus est sicut mors alienus.

November.

Scorpius est quintus, & tertius è nece cinctus.

December.

Septimus exanguis, virosus denus & anguis.

The Tenth Verse is intolerable, and might be mended thus.

[Page 9] If any object and say, Deni is only the Plural; I excuse my self by that admirable Chronogram upon King Charles the Mar­tyr.

Neither will I have recourse for refuge to that Old Tetrastich,

because I have even now blamed the li­berty of the Ancient Rhymers. He means by Mors aliena, some strange kind of death; though aliena signifies strange in quite ano­ther sense than there used.

I shall take particular notice here of the Third of November, both because 'tis my own Birth-day, and also for that I have observed some remarkable Accidents to have happened thereupon.

Constantius the Emperour, Son of Con­stantine the Great, little inseriour to his Fa­ther, a worthy Warriour, and good Man, died the Third of November: Ex veteri Ca­lendario penes me.

Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury, that great Man, and Famous Commander under Henry IV. V. and VI. died this day, by a Wound of a Cannon-shot he received at Or­leance, E MSS. quodam, & Glovero.

So also Cardinal Borrhomeo, famous for his Sanctity of Life, and therefore Cano­nized [Page 10] ( Heylyn in his Praecognita, says, He made Milan memorable, by his Residence there) died 1584. this day, as Possevinus in his Life.

Sir Iohn Perot (Stow corruptly calls him Parrat) a Man very remarkable in his Time, Lord Deputy of Ireland, Son to Henry VIII. and extreamly like him, died in the Tower, the Third of November 1592. (as Stow says) Grief, and the Fatality of this Day killed him. See Nanton's Frag­menta Regalia, concerning this Man.

Stow in his Annals, says, Anno 1099, November 3. as well in Scotland as England, the Sea broke in over the Banks of many Rivers, drowning divers Towns, and much People, with an innumerable number of Oxen and Sheep, at which time the Lands in Kent, sometimes belonging to Earl God­win, were covered with Sands, and drown­ed, and to this day are called Godwins Sands.

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 let for Four Nobles an A­cre. My Father died 1643. Within a Year and half after his decase, 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 [Page 11] very often eat into the Rents of the Up­land: 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 concerned in Low Lands.

The Parliament so fatal to Rome's con­cerns here, in Henry VIII. time, began the Third of November (26 of his Reign); in which the Pope, with all his Authority, was clean banished the Realm; he no more to be called otherwise than Bishop of Rome; the King to be taken and reputed as Su­preme Head of the Church of England, having full Authority to reform all Errors, Heresies and Abuses of the same: Also the First-fruits and Tenths of all Spiritual Pro­motions and Dignities were granted to the King. See Stow's Annals, and Weaver, page 80.

Not long after which followed the Visi­tation of Abbies, Priories, and Nunneries; and after that, their final Suppression: This Parliament being the Door or Entrance thereto.

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 Kings. So verifying the former Verse of the Calendar.

[Page 12] The Third of September was a remarka­ble day to the English Attila, Oliver. 1650, He obtained a memorable Victory at Dun­bar; another at Worcester, 1651. And that day he died, 1658.

The first two Occurrences wonderfully accord to the preceeding Verses. ‘Tertia Septembris, & denus fert mala membris.’ Being fatal to the two Members of Great Britain, Scotland and England. The third, as happy to them both, as the same day, 1666, was dismal and unhappy to the City of London, and consequently to the whole Kingdom, with its immediate preceeding and two succeeding days, viz. the Second, Fourth, and Fifth of September.

I come now to the Days of the Week.

Tuesday (Dies Martis) was a most re­markable day with Thomas Becket Arch-Bp. of Canterbury, as Weaver 201, observes from Mat. Paris: Mars, Secundum Poetas, Deus Belli nuncupatur. Vita Sancti Thomae (se­cundum illud Iob, Vita hominis militia est super terram) tota fuit contra hostem bellicosa, &c. The Life of St. Thomas (according to that of Iob, The Life of Man is a Warfare upon Earth) was a continual Conflict against the Enemy. Upon a Tuesday he suffered; upon a Tuesday he was translated; upon Tuesday the Peers of the Land sate against him at Northampton; upon Tuesday he was [Page 13] Banished; upon Tuesday the Lord appear­ed to him at Pontiniac, saying, Thomas, Thomas, My Church shall be glorified in thy Blood; upon Tuesday he returned from Exile; upon Tuesday he got the Palm or reward of Martyrdom; upon Tuesday 1220, his Venerable Body received the Glory and Renown of Translation, Fifty Years after his Passion. Thus my Author.

One thing I make bold to gloss upon. His Translation is here mentioned twice. Note, This is no Tautology of the Histo­rian; but the latter Paragraph is a more particular Recitation of the first, viz. reference to the time when he was Transla­ted into the number of Saints and Mar­tyrs: Quando in Divorum numerum relatus, as Camden.

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, [pag. 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 Inaugrated. See Heylyn, speaking of the Temple of Ierusalem.

Friday was observed to be very fortunate to the Great Renowned Captain Gonsalvo, [Page 14] he having on that day given the French ma­ny memorable Defeats.

Saturday was a Lucky Day to Henry VII. Upon that day he atchieved the Victory up­on Richard III. being August 22. 1485. On that day he entred the City, being August 29. [Correct Stow, who mistakes the day.] And he himself always acknowledged, he had ex­perienced it Fortunate. See Bacon in his Life.

Thursday was a fatal day to Henry VIII. [as Stow, 812.] and so also to his Posterity. He died on Thursday Ian. 28. King Ed­ward VI. on Thursday Iuly 6. Queen Mary on Thursday November 17. Queen Elizabeth on Thursday March 24.

Saturday (or the Iewish Sabbath) was fa­tal to Ierusalem Temple; for on that day 'twas taken by Pompey, Herod and Titus, successively. Heylyn.

Hitherto by way of Prologue. And be pleas'd to take notice, as to the Days of the Month, I have taken such care, that all are according to the Iulian or old Account, used by us here in England. [See Partridges Almanack, Preface to the Reader] Pope Gregory XIII. brought in his New Stile (generally used beyond Sea) Anno 1585. in October, as asserts the Journal History be­fore recited.

[Page 15] Easter falls on March 25. when the Sun­day Letter is G, and the Golden Number 5. 13, or 16. As in the late Years 1459, 1638, 1649.

1459, King Henry VI. was Deposed and Murthered.

1638, The Scotish Troubles began, on which insued the great Rebellion.

1648/9, King Charles I. Murthered.

I think it will not happen so again till the Year 1991.

Now for Epilogue and Remarkable Re­flection.

Turning over our Annals, I chanced up­on a two-fold Circumstance: I will not say, that none else hath observed the same; but I protest, ( It a me Deus amet, ut verum loquor) I do not know of any that have; and therefore must justly claim to be acquitted from the least suspicion of Plagiarism, or plowing with others Heifers.

The First is, of William the Conquerour. The Second, of Edward III. (I need not say any thing of the Eminency of these two; every one knows what great things they did.) And making reflection upon the Au­spicious Birth-day of his Royal Highness the Duke of YORK, I adventured upon the following Composure. [I cannot be proud of my Poetry; but I cannot but be glad of my BON HEVR, d'avoir (en lisant) tombe si fortuemènt sur les evenements d'un si BON IOVR.

[Page 16]

Thus far Mr. Iohn Gibbon. The Latin Verses of the Twelve Months quoted by him out of an old Manuscript, I have seen in several Mass-books: And they are printed in the Kalendar to the Works of Venerable Bede. 'Tis to be presumed, that they were grounded upon experience; But we have no Instances left us of the Memorables of those Days.

As for the Third, and Tenth of September, I have here set dow some Extractions from a little Book call'd The Historians Guide, or Britain's Remembrancer; which was care­fully collected by a Club. It begins at the Year 1600, and is continued to 1690. There cannot be found in all the time afore­said, the like Instances.

September 3. 1641. The Parliament Ad­journed to the 20th. of October next, and the [Page 19] Irish Rebellion broke out, where were 20000 Persons barbarously Murthered.

September 3. 1643. Biddiford, Appleford and Barnstable surrendred to the King.

Septemb. 3. 1650. Dunbar Fight.

Septemb. 3. 1651. Worcester Fight.

Septemb. 3. 1651. Earl of Darby defeat­ed at Preston.

Septemb. 3. 1654. A Third Parliament at Westminster.

Septemb. 3. 1658. Oliver Protector died.

Septemb. 3. 1675. The Town of Nor­thampton neer burnt down to the ground by accidental Fire.

Septemb. 3. 1662. William Lenthal Speak­er of the House of Commons died.

Septemb. 3. 4. 1665. Four Dutch Men of War, two East-India Ships, and several Merchantmen taken by the Earl of Sand­wich, with the loss only of the Hector.

Septemb. 2. 1644. The Earl-of Essex fled to Plymouth, and the Army submitted to the King.

Septemb. 2. 1645. The Scots raised the Siege from before Hereford.

Septemb. 2. 1653. The Londoners petiti­on the Parliament to continue Tythes.

Septemb. 2. 1685. The Lady Lisle be­headed at Winchester for harbouring Hicks a Rebel.

Septemb. 4. 1643. Exeter taken by Prince Maurice.

[Page 20] Septemb. 4. 1653. General Blake buried at Westminster.

Septemb. 5. 1652. The French Fleet beat­en by the English.

Memorables on September the Tenth.

Septemb. 10. 1643. The Siege of Glou­cester raised. I remember over that Gate which leads to Nimphs-field was this follow­ing Inscription in Free-stone: The Walls are now pulled down.

Septemb. 10. 1645. Bristol surrendred to the Parliament.

Septemb. 10. 1649. Drogheda taken as appears by Cromwell's Letter to the Speaker Lenthal.

Septemb. 10. 1660. Peace with Spain proclaimed.

Septemb. 10. 1670. Peace concluded be­tween England and Spain in America, was this day ratified at Madrid.

Septemb. 10. 1673. This day his Majesty commanded the Earl of Ossory to take the Command of the Fleet at the Buoy in the Nore, in the absence of Prince Rupert.

Septemb. 12. 1679. The King takes from the Duke of Monmouth his Commission of General.

[Page 21] Septemb. 11. 1680. Mrs. Celier tryed at the Old-Bailey, for Publishing a Book called, Malice Defeated, &c. and found Guilty.

Septemb. 12. 1683. The Siege of Vienna raised (after the Besieged had lost 10000 Men, and the Besiegers 70000) by the King of Poland, and the Duke of Lorrain.

May 29. 1630. King Charles II. born.

May 29. 1660. Restored.

May 29. 1672. The Fleet beaten by the Dutch.

May 29. 1679. A Rebellion broke out in the West of Scotland, where they Pro­claimed the Covenant, and put forth a De­claration.

The Emperor Charles V. was born on February 24. 1500.

He won the Battle of Pavia, February 24. 1525.

Clement. VII. Crowned him. Emperor, February 24. 1530.

Raphael d' Vrbin [the famous Painter] was born on a Good Friday, and died on a Good Friday.

At Feltwell in Norfolk [which lies East and West] a Fire happened to break out at the West end, which the West Wind blew and burned all the Street: On that day Twenty Years, another Fire happened there, which began at the East end; and burned it to the ground again. This I had from a Reverend Divine. Quaere de hoc.

[Page 22] Colonel Hugh Grove of Wiltshire was be­headed at Exeter [together with Colonel Iohn 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.

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.

Dr. Pell told me, that St. Augustin writes somewhere, to this purpose, viz. That it were to be wished, that some skilful Ma­thematitian would take the pains to exa­mine and consider the Mathematical parts of the Holy Scripture.

CHAP. II.
Of Fatalities of Families, and Places.

THE L. Chancellor Bacon says, Essay XIV. of Nobi­lity. ‘As for Nobility in particular Persons, It is a reverend thing to see an Ancient Castle or Building not in decay; or to see a fair Timber Tree sound and perfect; how much more to behold an Ancient Noble Family, which hath stood against the Waves and Weathers of Time: For new Nobility is but the Act of Power; but Ancient Nobility is the Act of Time.’

But Omnium rerum est vicissitudo: Fami­lies, and Places have their Fatalities, accord­ing to that of Ovid ‘Fors sua cuique loco est—’

This piece of a Verse puts me in mind of several Pla [...]es in Wiltshire, Fastorum Lib. IV. and elsewhere that are, or have been fortunate to their Owners; and è contra.

Sturton [the Seat of the Lord Sturton] was belonging to this Family before the Conquest. They say, that after the Victo­ry at Battaile, William the Conquerour came in Person 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 [Page 28] the Conquerour at Stourton-house; where the Family continues to this day.

The Honourable Family of the Hunger­fords is probably of as great Antiquity as any in the County of Wilts. Hungerford [the place of the Barony] was sold but late­ly by Sir Edward Hungerford Knight of the Bath; as also the Noble and Ancient Seat of Farleigh-Castle, about An. 167 ... But that this Estate should so long continue is not very strange; for it being so vast, 'twas a­ble to make several with-standings against the Shock of Fortune.

The Family of Gawen have been long at Norrington in the Parish of Alvideston in Wiltshire. It was sold by— Gawen Esq to Sir Wadham Windham one of the Judges of the Kings Bench about 1665. They continued in this place Four hundred fifty and odd Years. Then also was sold their Estate in Broad-Chalk, which they had as long, or perhaps longer. On the South Down of the Farm of Broad-Chalk is a little Barrow called Gawen's Barrow; [which must be before Ecclesiastical Canons were constituted; for since, Burials are only in Consecrated ground.] King Edgar gave the Mannor and Farm of Broad-Chalk to the Nunns of Wilton-Abby, which is 900 Years ago.

Mr. Thinne in his Explanation of the hard words in Chaucer, writes thus, Gawyn, [Page 29] fol. 23. p. 1. This Gawyn was Sisters Son to Arthur the Great, King of the Britains, a most famous Man in War, and in all man­ner of Civility; as in the Acts of the Bri­tains we may read. In the Year 1082 in a Province of Wales called Rose was his Se­pulchre found. Chaucer in the Squires Tale.

Sir William Batton of Tockenham Baronet [the Father] told me, that his Ancestors had the Lease of Alton-farm [400 l. per Annum] in Wilts (which anciently belong­ed 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 Pembroke.

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 [Page 30] Pen in that County was before the Con­quest, as by Dooms-day Book.

Contrary wise, there are several places un­lucky to their Possessors. e. g. Charter-house on Mindip in Somersetshire never pass'd yet, to the Third Generation. The Man­nor of Butleigh near Glastonbury, never went, yet, to the Third Generation.

Bletchington in Oxfordshire continued in the Family of the Pauures, for about 300 Years: It was alienated by— Pauure to Sir Iohn Lenthall about the Year 1630, who sold it again to Sir Thomas Coghill about 1635. He sold it to William Lewis Esq whose Relict made it over to the Duke of Richmond and Lenox, about the Year 166 ..., His Grace sold it to Arthur Earl of Anglesie about 166 ...

Fatality of Proper Names of Princes. e. g. Augustus the first Roman Emperor and Au­gustulus the last. Constantine the first Greci­an Emperor and Constantine the last. The like is observed of the first and last Mexican Experors: And the Turks have a Prophesie that the last Emperor will be a Mahomet.

Iohn hath been an unfortunate Name to Kings. All the Second Kings since the Conquest have been unfortunate.

London-Derry was the first Town in Ire­land that declared for the Parliament against King Charles the I. and for the Prince of Orange against King Iames the II. It was [Page 31] closely Besieged both times without effect. The Kings Party were once Master of all the Kingdom except London-Derry and Dub­lin, and King Iames had all in his power but London-Derry and Iniskilling. One Taylor a Minister was as famous for his Martial feats in the first Siege, as Walker in the last.

'Tis certain, that there are some Houses unlucky to their Inhabitants, which the Reverend and Pious Dr. Nepier could ac­knowledge. See Tobit chap. 3. v. 8. That she had been married to seven Husbands, whom Asmodeus the evil spirit had killed, before they had lien with her.

The Fleece-Tavern in Covent-garden [in York-street] was very unfortunate for Homi­cides: there have been several killed, three in my time: It is now (1692) a private House.

A handsom 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 toward the Fields; the Tenants of it did not pros­per, several, about six.

At the Sign of—over against Nor­thumberland House near Chearing-Cross died the Lady Baynton [Eldest Daughter of Sir Iohn Danvers of Dantesey.] Some years after in the same House died my Lady Hoby [her [Page 32] Sister] of the Small-Pox, and about twenty years after died their Nephew Henry Dan­vers Esq of the Small-Pox, aged Twenty one, wanting two Weeks. He was Nephew and Heir to the Right Honourable Henry Danvers Earl of Danby.

Edmund Wyld Esq hath had more Deo­dands from his Mannour of Totham in Essex, than from all his Estate besides: Two Mis­chiefs happened in one Ground there.

Disinheriting the Eldest Son is forbid in the Holy Scripture, and Estates disinherited are observed to be unfortunate; of which one might make a large Catalogue. See Dr. Saunderson's Sermon—where he dis­courses of this Subject.

The Small-Pox is usually in all great Towns: This Ac­count I had from Mr. Tho. Ax. But it is observed at Taunton in Somersetstire, and at Shirburne 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, e. g.

Small-pox in Shirburn during the year

1626

Extracted out of the Register-Book.

And during the year

1634

From Michaelmas 1642 to Mich.

1643

From Michaelmas 1649 to Mich.

1650

From Michaelmas 1657 to Mich.

1658

In the Year 1667 from Ian. to Sept. 1667 Mr. Ax promised me to enquire the Years it happened there after 1670, and 1680; but Death prevented him.

[Page 33]

Small-Pox in Taunton all the Year

1658

Out of the Register-Book.

Likewise in the Year

1670

Again in the Year

1677

Again very mortal in the Year

1684

Mr. Ax also promised me to enquire at Taunton the Years it happened there after 1660.

It were to be wished that more such Ob­servations were made in other great Towns.

Platerus makes the like Observations in the second Book of his Practise, pag. 323. He practised at Basil 56 Years, and did ob­serve, that every Tenth Year they died of the Plague there.

See Captain I. 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.

CHAP. III.
Ostenta, or Portents.

I shall here set down a few Instances.

A Rainbow appeared about the Sun before the Battel of Pharsalia. See Appian; and Mr. T. May's V. Book of his Continuation of Lucan,

Our Chronicles tell us, that Anno Se­cundo Reginae Mariae 15 Feb. two Suns ap­peared, and a Rainbow reversed: See the Bow turned downwards, and the two ends standing upwards; before the coming in of King Philip.

This following Phaenomenon was seen at

Broad-Chalk in Wiltshire, on the first day [Page 35] of May, 1647. It continued from about Eleven a Clock [or before] till XII. It was a very clear day; but few did take notice of it, because it was so near the Sun­beams. My Mother happened to espy it, going to see what a Clock it was by an Ho­rizontal Dial; and then all the Servants saw it. Upon the like occasion Mr. Io. Sloper B. D. Vicar there, saw it, and all his Family: and Servants of Sir George Vaug­ham [then of Falston] who were Hunting on the Downs, saw it. The Circles were of Rainbow colour; the two Filots, which cross the greater Circle [I presume they were Segments of a Third Circle] were of a pale Colour. The Sun was within the Intersections of the Circles. See Sir W. Dugdale's Hist. The next re­markable thing that followed was, that on the Third of Iune following, Cornet Ioyce 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.

This following Phaenomenon was seen in the North side of the Church-yard of Bi­shops-Lavington in Wiltshire, about the lat­ter end of September 1688, about Three a Clock in the Afternoon.

[Page 36] This was more than a Semicircle.

B B 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. IV.
Omens.

BEfore the Battel at Philippi began, two Eagles fought in the Air between the two Armies: Both the Armies stood still and beheld them, and the Army was bea­ten, [Page 37] that was under the vanquished Eagle. See Appian's Hist. Part. II. Lib. 4. §. 2.

The Silver Cross that was wont to be carried before Cardinal Wolsey, fell out of its Socket, and was like to have knock'd one of the Bishop's Brains out. A very lit­tle while after, came in a Messenger, and arrested the Cardinal, before he could get out of the House. See Stow's Chronicle.

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

Thomas Fludd of Kent, Esq told me, that it is an old Observation, which was pressed earnestly to King Iames 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 removed from their Graves. For some of the Fami­ly will die shortly after, as did Prince Henry, and, I think Queen, Anne.

A little before the Death of Oliver Pro­tector, a Whale came into the River Thames and was taken at Greenwich ... foot long. 'Tis said, Oliver was troubled at it.

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 Scotland, he rode into the Quarry, and [Page 38] 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.

The Bust of King Charles I. carv'd by Barnini, as it was brought in a Boat upon the Thames, a strange Bird [the like where­of the Bargemen had never seen] drop'd a drop of Blood, or Blood-like upon it; which left a stain not to be wiped off. This Bust was carved from a Picture of Sir Anthony Van Dyke's Drawing; the Sculptor found great fault with the Fore-head, as most un­fortunate. There was a Seam in the middle of his Fore-head (downwards) which is a very ill sign in Metoposcopie.

Colonel Sharington Talbot was at Notting­ham, when King Charles I. did set up his Standard upon the top of the Tower there. He told me, that the first night, the Wind blew it so, that it hung down almost hori­zontal; which some did take to be an ill Omen.

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.

The Picture of Arch-Bishop Lawd in his [Page 39] Closet fell down [the string brake] the day of the sitting of that Parliament. This is men­tioned in Canterbury's Doom by W. Prynn.

The Psalms for the Eleventh Day of the Month are 56, 57, 58, &c. On the 11th. day of one of the Months in the Summer time, the Citizens came tumultuously in great Numbers in Boats and Bardges over a­gainst White-hall, to shew, they would take the Parliaments part. The Psalms afore­said, both for Morning and Evening Service are as Prophecies of the Troubles that did ensue.

When the High-Court of Justice was voted in the Parliament-House, as Berken­head [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.

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

The Second Lesson for the 30th. of Ianu­ary in the Kalendar before the Common-Prayer, is concerning the Tryal of Christ: which when Bishop Duppe read, the King was displeased with him, thinking he had done it of choice: but the Bishop cleared himself by the Kalendar, as is to be seen.

King Charles II. was Crowned at the very conjunction of the Sun and Mercury; Mercury being then in Corde Solis. As the King was at Dinner in Westminster-Hall, it Thundred [Page 40] and Lightned extreamly. The Cannons and the Thunder played together.

King Charles II. went by long Sea to Portsmouth, or Plymouth, or both: an ex­traordinary Storm arose, which carried him almost to France. Sir Ionas 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 again, and in a lit­tle time they had the like Tempestuous Weather as before.

The Gloucester-Frigot cast away at the Lemanore, and most of the Men in it, the Duke of York escaping in a Cock-boat An­no 1682. May the fifth, on a Fryday.

When King Iames II. was Crowned [ac­cording to the Ancient 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 right: And as he came from the Abbey to Westminster-Hall, the Crown totter'd extreamly.

The Canopy [of Cloath of Gold] carried over King Iames IIs. Head by the Wardens of the Cinque Ports, was torn by a puff of Wind as he came to Westminster-hall: It hung down very lamentably: I saw it.

The top of his Scepter [Flower de Lis] did then fall, which the Earl of Peterborough took up.

[Page 41] Upon Saint Mark's day, after the Coro­nation of King Iames II. were prepared stately Fire-works on the Thames: It hap­pened, that they took fire all together, and it was so dreadful, that several Spectators leap'd into the River, choosing rather to be drown'd than burn'd. In a Yard by the Thames was my Lord Powys's Coach and Horses: the Horses were so frighted by the Fire-works, that the Coachman was not able to stop them, but ran away over one who with great difficulty recovered.

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

In February, March, and April, two Ravens built their Nests on the Weather-cock of the high Steeple at Bakwell in Darbyshire.

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 Cheap-side, Octob. 23. 1685.

Anno 1643, as Major Iohn Morgan of Wells was marching with the Kings 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 [Page 42] 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 continued this pecking and biting 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. Two of the Servants that attended the Major, and sober Persons, declared this for a certainty.

Sir Walter Long's [of Dorset in Wilts] Widow 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 notwith­standing 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: [it was painted on wood as the fashion was in those days.] This made her Ladyship reflect on her Promise, and drew some Tears from her Eyes.

[Page 43] See Sir Walter Raleigh's History Book IV. chap. 2. §. 7. p ... The Dogs of the French Army, the night before the Battle of No­vara, ran all to the Swisses Army: the next day the Swisses obtained a glorious Victory of the French. Sir Walter Raleigh affirms it to be certainly true.

The last Battle fought in the North of Ireland between the Protestants and the Pa­pists was in Glinsuly near Letterkenny in the County of Donegall. Veneras was the Po­pish Bishop of Clogher, and that of the Par­liament Army Sir Charles Coot. They pitch'd their Tents on each side the River Suly. And the Papists constantly persist in it to this very day, that the Night before the Action, a Woman of uncommon stature all in white appearing to the said Bishop, 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 same Apparition, and disswaded the Bishop from giving the first onset, but could not prevail upon him. In the mean time I find nothing in this Revelation, that any common Soldier might not conclude without extraordinary means.

[Page 44] Near the same place a party of the Pro­testants had been surpriz'd sleeping by the Popish Irish, were it not for several Wrens that just wakned them by dancing and pecking on the Drums as the Enemy were approaching. For this reason the wild Irish mortally hate these Birds to this day, calling them the Devils Servants, and kill­ing them where ever they catch them; They teach their Children to thrust them full of Thorns: You'll see sometimes on Ho­lidays a whole Parish running like mad­men from Hedg to Hedg a Wren-hunting.

Anno 1679, After the Discovery of the Popish Plot, the Penal Laws were put in execution against the Roman Catholicks: So, that if they did not receive the Sacrament according to the Church of England in their Parish Church, they were to be severely proceeded against according to Law: Mr. Ployden, to avoid the Penalty, went to his Parish Church at Lasham near Alton in Hampshire: when Mr. Laurence [the Minister] had put the Chalice into Mr. Ployden's hand, the Cup of it (wherein the Wine was) fell off. 'Tis true, It was out of order before; and he had a Tremor in his hand. The Communion was stopt by this accident. This was attested to me by two of the Neighbouring Ministers, as also several Gentlemen of the Neighbourhood.

[Page 45] When King Iames 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 other 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. This is very well known all over Ireland, and did much trouble King Iames himself with many of his chief Attendants.

CHAP. V.
Dreams.

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 honour to be intimate­ly acquainted with, persons worthy of Be­lief.

‘ Cardanus Somniorum Synesiorum. Lib. IIII. Cap. 2. Narrat Plinius 25 Lib. Nat. Hist. vir ab omni superstitione alienissimus, Histo­riam hujusmodi.Nuper cujusdam mili­tantis in Paetorio mater vidit in quiete, ut radicem sylvestris Rosae (quam cynor­rhodon vocant) blanditam sibi aspectu pridie in fruteto, mitteret filio bibendam: In Lacetania res gerebatur, Hispaniae proxima parte: casuque accidit, ut mi­lite à morsu canis incipiente aquas ex­pavescere, [Page 48] superveniret epistola orantis ut parêret religioni: servatusque est ex in­sperato, & posteà quisquis auxilium simi­le t [...]ntavit.’

In his fourth Book, chap. 4. De exem­plis propriis, he owns the Solution of some difficult Problems in Algebra to his Dreams.

The Plague raging in the Army of the Emperor Charles Vth, he Dreamt, that the Decoction of the Root of the Dwarfe-Thistle [a Mountain Plant since called the Caro­line Thistle] would Cure that Disease. See Gerards Herbal, who tells us this.

In Queen Mary's time, there was only one Congregation of Protestants in London, to the number of about 300. One— was the Deacon to them, and kept the List of their Names: One—of that Congre­gation [Page 50] did Dream, that a Messenger [Queens Officer] had seized 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 as 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 Martyrology.

When Arch-Bishop Abbot's Mother (a poor Clothworker's Wife in Gilford) was with Child of him, she did long for a Iack, and she dreamt that if she should Eat a Jack, her Son in her Belly should be a great Man. She arose early the next Morning and went with her Pail to the River-side (which runneth by the House, now an Ale-house, the Sign of the 3 Mariners) to take up some Water, and in the Water in the Pail she found a good Jack, which she dressed, and eat it all, or very near. Seve­ral of the best Inhabitants of Gilford were invited (or invited themselves) to the Christning of the Child; it was Bred up a [Page 51] Scholar in the Town, and by degrees, came to be Arch-Bishop of Canterbury.

In the Life of Monsieur Peiresk, Writ by Gassendes, it is said, that Monsieur Peiresk, who had never been at London, did Dream, that he was there, and as he was walking in a great Street there, espied in a Goldsmiths Glass-Desk, an Antique Coin, he could never meet with (I think an Otho.) When he came to London, walking in (I think) Cheapside he saw such a Shop, and remem­bred the Countenance of the Goldsmith in his Dream, and found the Coin desir'd, in his Desk. See his Life.

When Doctor Harvey (one of the Physi­tians College in London) being a Young Man, went to Travel towards Padoa, he went to Dover (with several others) and shewed his Pass, as the rest did, to the Go­vernor there. The Governor told him, that he must not go, but he must keep him Prisoner. The Doctor desired to know for what reason? how he had transgrest. 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 sad News was brought to Dover. The Doctor was unknown to the Governor, but by Name and Face; but the Night before, the Go­vernor [Page 52] 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 Governor 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.

My Lady Seymer dreamt, 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.

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.

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

Sir Christopher Wren, being at his Father's House Anno. 1651. at Knahil in Wilts, (a young Oxford Scholar) dreamt, that he saw a Fight in a great Market-place, which he knew not; where some were flying, and others pursuing; and among those that fled, he saw a Kinsman of his who went in­to Scotland to the King's Army. They heard in the Country, that the King was come into England, but whereabout he was they could not tell. The next Night his Kinsman came to his Father at Knahill, and was the first that brought the News of the Fight at Worcester.

[Page 53] 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 Physitian, who advis'd him to be let Blood, thinking he had a Pleurisy: But Bleeding much disagreeing with his Constitution, 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.

Since, I have learn'd that Dates are an admirable Medicine for the Stone, from old Capt. Took of K. Take 6 or 10 Date­stones, dry them in an Oven, pulverize and searce them; take as much as will lie on a 6 d. in a quarter of a Pint of White-wine Fasting; and at Four in the Afternoon: Walk or Ride an Hour after: In a Weeks time it will give ease, and in a Month Cure. If you are at the Bath, the Bath Water is better than White-wine to take it in.

Sir Iohn Hoskin's Lady, when she lay in of her Eldest Son had a Swelling on one side of her Belly the 3d. day when the Milk came, and Obstructions: She dreamt that Syrup of Elderberries and Distill'd water of Woormwood would do her good; and it did so: she found ease in a quarter of an [Page 54] Hour after she had taken it. I had this Ac­count from her Ladyship's own Mouth.

Captain— Wingate told me, that Mr. Edmund Gunter of Gresham College did cast his Nativity, when he was about 17, or 18 Years old; by which he did Prognosticate that he should be in danger to lose his Life for Treason. Several Years before the Ci­vil Wars broke out, he had dreamt that he was to be put to Death, before a great Ca­stle, which he had never seen; which made a strong impression in his Memory. In Anno 1642, he did oppose the Church Ce­remonies, and was chosen a Member of Par­liament, then was made a Captain, and was taken Prisoner at Edge-hill by Prince Rupert, and carried to Kenelworth Castle, where he was Tryed by a Council of War, and Condemn'd to Die: But they did better consider of it, and spared his Life; for that he being so considerable a Person, might make an exchange for some of the King's Party: And he was exchang'd for the Right Honourable Montague Earl of Lindsey (Heir of the General). Since the Restauration he was made one of the Com­missioners of the Excise-Office in London. Capt.— Wingate was a Pri­soner in Oxford after Edg­hill Flight, 1642. He did Protest that Kenelworth Castle was the very Castle that he saw in his Dream.

Sir Roger L'Estrange was wont to diver­tise himself with Cocking in his Father's (Sir Hammond L'Estrange's) Park; he dreamt [Page 55] 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.

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 24 Years Old. Before he undertook his Voy­age, he dream'd that he was at Sea Sailing towards that place, and saw the Prospect of it from the Ship in his Dream, which he declared in the R. Society that it was the perfect Representation of that Island, even as he had it really when he approach'd to it.

A Gentlewoman dream'd that a Pul [...]ess of Blew-Corans, would Cure her sore Throat; and it did so: She was a pious Woman, and affirm'd it to be true.

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 [Page 56] his Relation an account of it, and describ'd the Thieves Complexion, Stature and Cloths; and advis'd him to take care of himself. Not long after he had receiv'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.

'Twas reveal'd to a King of Scots, that if he drank of the Water of Muswell, he should be Cured—After great enquiry, they heard of such a place, not far from Hornsey in Middlesex. See Weaver's Funeral Monu­ments of the Well: And Io. Norden's De­scription of Middlesex. Here was afterwards founded a Religious-House for Austin Monks: Since it belonged to Sir Tho. Row: and in 1677, was pull'd down, and the Ma­terials sold. Anciently the King's of Scot­land were Feudatory to the King's of Eng­land, and did their Homage every Christ­mas Day. They had several Lodges be­longing to them for their Reception in their Journey; as at Huntingdon &c. See Caxton's Chronicle concerning this.

The Water of this Spring is drank for some Distempers still.

Mrs. Cl. of S. in the County of S. had a beloved Daughter, who had been a long time Ill, and received no benefit from her [Page 57] Physitians. She dream'd that a Friend of hers deceased, told her, that if she gave her Daughter a Drench of Yewgh pounded, that she would recover, she gave her the Drench and it Killed her. Whereupon she grew almost distracted: Her Chamber Maid to Complement her, and mitigate her Grief, said surely that could not Kill her; she would adventure to take the same her self; she did so, and died also. This was about the Year 1670, or 1671. I knew the Fa­mily.

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.

Mr. Winstanly (Surveyor of the King's Works) hath built a handsome House at Littlebury in Cambridgshire near Audely-Inn where are to be seen several Ingenious Ma­chines; one whereof is thus: A Wooden Slipper finely Carved lieth on the Floor of a Chamber about a Yard and an half within the Door, which the Stranger is to take up (it comes up pretty stiff) and up starts a Skeleton. I. H. Esq had been there: And being at West-Lavington with the Earl of Abbington, dream'd December the 9th, that he was at Mr. Winstanly's House, and took up the Slipper, and up rose his Mother in Mourning: And anon the Queen appeared [Page 58] in Mourning. He told his Dream the next Morning to my Lord, and his Lordship im­parted it to me (then there). Tuesday Dec. 11. in the Evening, came a Messenger Post from London to acquaint Mr. H. that his Mother was dangerously Ill: He went to London the next Day: his Mother lived but a­bout 8 Days longer. On Saturday Dec. 15. the Queen was taken Ill, which turned to the Small-Pox, of which she died Decem. 28 about two a Clock in the Morning.

There are Millions of such Dreams too little taken notice of; but they have the truest Dreams, whose IX ^th House is well dignified; which mine is not: But most have some Monitory Dreams. The Germans are great Observers of them. It is said, in the Life of Vavasor Powell, that he was a great Ob­server of Dreams, ( P. 17 and 114 of his Life) that he had many Warnings from them; that God had spoken to himself and others by them; for Warning, Instruction, or Reproof: And it is also there averred, that Angels had appear'd to him. See P. 8. of his Life.

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. et Fasti Oxon. Vol. 1. P. 351.

CHAP. VI.
Apparitions.

CYnthia [Propertius's Mistress] did ap­pear to him after her death with the Beril-Ring on her Finger. See Propertius Eleg.—

St. Augustin [in—] affirms, that he did once see a Satyr or Demon.

The Antiquities of Oxford tell us, that St. Edmund Arch-Bishop of Canterbury did sometimes converse with an Angel, [or Nymph] at a Spring without St. Clements Parish near Oxford: as Numa Pompilius did with the Nymph Egeria. This Well was stopped up since Oxford was a Garrison.

Charles the Simple, King of France, as he was hunting in a Forest, and lost his Com­pany, was frighted to simplicity by an Appa­rition.

Philip Melancthon, writes, that the Ap­parition of a Venerable Person came to him in his Study, and bade him to warn his Friend Grynaeus to depart from him as soon as he could, or else the Inquisitors would seize on him: which monitory Dream saved Grynaeus life.

Mr. Fiennes Morison in his Travels, saith, that when he was at Prague, the Appariti­of [Page 60] his Father came to him; and at that ve­ry time his Father died.

See the Life of Iohn Donn D. D. Dean of St. Paul's writ by Mr. Isaac Walton, where it is affirmed, that the Dean did see the Apparition of his Wife.

Henry IV King of France, not long be­fore he was stabbed by Ravellac, as he was hunting in the Forest (I think of Fon­tain Bleau) met in a Thicket the Gros Ve­neur, who said to him, Demandez vous? [or Entendez vous?] he could not tell whe­ther of the two.

There is a Tradition (which I have heard from Persons of Honour) that as the Protector Seymor and his Duchess were walking in the Gallery at Sheen [in Surrey] both of them did see a Hand with a bloody Sword come out of the Wall. He was af­terwards beheaded.

Mr. Caisho Burroughs was one of the most beautiful Men in England, and very Vali­ant, but very proud and blood-thirsty: There was then in London a very Beautiful Italian 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 [Page 61] the Gentlewoman did appear to him. He was afterwards troubled with the Appari­tion of her, even sometimes in company when he was drinking; but he only per­cieved it: Before she did appear he did find a kind of Chilness upon his Spirits; she did appear to him in the Morning before he was killed in a Duel. This account I have from an intimate Friend of mine, who was an acquaintance of his.

Anno 1647, the Lord Mohun's Son and Heir (a gallant Gentleman, Valiant, and a great Master of Fencing and Horsemanship) had a Quarrel with Prince Griffin; there was a Challenge, and they were to Fight on Horse-back in Chelsey-fields in the Morn­ing: Mr. Mohun went accordingly to meet him; but about Ebery-Farm he was met by some who quarrell'd with him and Pi­stol'd him; it was believed, by the Order of Prince Griffin; for he was sure, that Mr. Mohun being so much the better Horse­man &c. would have Killed him, had they Fought. In Iames-street in Covent-Garden did then Lodge a Gentlewoman a Hand­some Woman but Common, who was Mr. Mohun's 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 upon her and went away: She called after him [Page 62] 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 my Friend aforesaid, had from the Gentlewo­mans own Mouth, and her Maids.

A parallel Story to this, is, that Mr. Brown, (Brother-in-law to the Lord Conningsby) dis­covered his being Murthered 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.

Sir Walter Long of Draycot (Grandfather of Sir Iames Long) had two Wives; the first a Daughter of Sir— Packinton in Worcestershire; by whom he had a Son: His second Wife was a Daugter of Sir Iohn Thinne of Longleat; by whom he had seve­ral Sons and Daughters. The second Wife did use much Artifice to render the Son by the first Wife (who had not much Prome­thean Fire) Odious to his Father; she would get her Acquaintance to make him Drunk; and then expose him in that Con­dition to his Father; in fine she never left off her attempts, till she had got Sir Walter to disinherit him. She laid the Scene for the doing this, at Bath at the Assizes, where was her Brother Sir Egrimond Thinne an E­minent Serjeant at Law, who drew the Writing; and his Clerk was to sit up all [Page 63] Night to Engross it; as he was Writing, he perceived a shadow on the Parchment, from the Candle; he look'd up, and there ap­pear'd a Hand, which immediately va­nish'd; he was startled at it, but thought it might be only his Fancy, being sleepy; so he Writ on; by and by a fine White-hand interposed between the Writing and the Can­dle (he could discern it was a Womans Hand) but vanish'd as before; I have forgot it appeared a Third time. But with that, the Clerk threw down his Pen, and would Engross no more, but goes and tells his Master of it, and absolutely refused to do it. But it was done by some body, and Sir Wal­ter Long was prevailed with to Seal and Sign it. He lived not long after; and his Body did not go quiet to the Grave, it being Arrested at the Church-porch by the Tru­stees of the first Lady. The Heir's Relati­ons took his part, and Commenc'd a Suit against Sir Walter (the second Son) and compell'd him to accept of a Moiety of the Estate; so the Eldest Son kept South-Wran­chester, and Sir Walter the second Son Dracot Cernes, &c. This was about the middle of the Reign of King Iames the First.

I must not forget an Apparition in my Country, which appear'd several times to Doctor Turbervile's Sister, at Salisbury; which is much talk'd of. One Marry'd a second Wife, and contrary to the Agree­ment [Page 64] and Settlement at the first Wife's Marriage, did wrong the Children by the first Venter. The Settlement was hid be­hind a Wainscot in the Chamber where the Doctor's Sister did lie: And the Appari­tion of the first Wife did discover it to her. By which means Right was done to the first Wife's Children. The Apparition told her that she Wandred in the Air, and was now going to God. Dr. Turbervile (Ocu­list) did affirm this to be true. See Mr. Glanvill's Sadducismus Triumphatus.

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. Tows, the Duke will not believe me, but will say, that I am Mad, or Doat. 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. Towes went to the Duke, who Laugh'd at his Mes­sage. [Page 65] At his return home, the Phantome ap­peared again; and told him, that the Duke would be Stab'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 will fall a bleeding: All which accordingly fell out so. This Account I have had (in the main) from two, or three; but Sir William Dugdale affirms what I have here taken from him to be true, and that the Apparition told him of several things to come, which proved true, e. g. of a Pri­soner in the Tower, that should be honoura­bly delivered. This Mr. Towes had so of­ten the Ghost of his old Friend appear to him, that it was not at all terrible to him. He was Surveyor of the Works at Windsor (by the favour of the Duke:) Being then sitting in the Hall, he cried out, The Duke of Buckingham is stabb'd: He was stabb'd that very moment.

This Relation Sir William Dugdale had from Mr. Pine, (Neighbour to Mr. Towes without Bishop-gate) they were both great lovers of Musick, and sworn Brothers. Mr. William Lilly Astrologer, did Print this Sto­ry false, which made Sir Edmund Wyndam (who Married Mr. Pines Daughter) give to Sir George Hollis this true Account contrary to Mr. Lilly.

[Page 66] Mr. Thomas Elyot, Groom of the Bed-Chamber, Married Sir Edmund Wyndham's Daughter, and had the Roll (of near a Quire of Paper) of the Conferences of the Apparition and Mr. Towes. Mr. Elyot was wont to say, that Mr. Towes was (not a Bi­got, or did trouble himself much about a Religion, but was) a Man of great Mo­rals.

Sir William Dugdale did farther inform me that Major General Middleton (since Lord) went into the Highlands of Scotland, to endeavour to make a Party for King Charles the First. An Old Gentleman (that was second-sighted) came and told him that his endeavour was good; but he would be unsuccessful, and moreover, That they would put the King to Death: and that several other Attempts would be made, but all in vain: But that his Son would come in, but not Reign; but at last would be Restored. This Lord Middleton had a great Friendship with the Laird Bocconi, and they had made an Agree­ment, That the first of them that Died, should appear to he other in extremity. The Lord Middleton was taken Prisoner at Worcester Fight, and was Prisoner in the Tower of London under Three Locks. Ly­ing in his Bed pensive, Bocconi appeared to him; my Lord Middleton asked him if he were dead or alive? he said, Dead, and that he was a Ghost; and told him, that [Page 67] within Three Days he should escape, and he did so, in his Wives Cloaths. When he had done his Message, he gave a Frisk, and said,

And then gathered up and vanished. This Account Sir William Dugdale had from the Bishop of Edenborough. And this, and the former Account he hath Writ in a Book of Miscellanies, which I have seen, [and is now reposited (with other Books of his) in the Musaeum at Oxford.]

Anno. 1670, not far from Cyrencester, was an Apparition: Being demanded, whe­ther a good Spirit, or a bad? returned no answer, but disappeared with a curious Perfume and most melodious Twang. Mr. W. Lilly believes it was a Farie.

The Learned Hen. Iacob, Fellow of Merton College in Oxford, died at Dr. Iacob'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, [Page 68] from him; and after some time took courage to turn the other way again towards him; and Henry Iacob stood there still, he should have spoken to him, but he 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 Wood to dress Supper, saw him standing in his shirt upon the Wood­pile. See the whole Sto­ry in Ath. & Fas [...]i Oxon. Part. [...]. p. 91. This very Story Dr. Iacob told me himself being then at my Ld. Teynhams in Kent, where he was then Physitian to my El­dest Son; whom he recovered from a Fever. This Account I had in a Letter from Dr. Iacob 1673, relating to his Life, for Mr. Anthony Word; which is now in his Hands.

When Henry Iacob died, he would fain have spoken to the Doctor but could not, his Tongue faltered. 'Tis imagin'd, he would have told Doctor Iacob, with what Person he had deposited his Manuscripts of his own Writing: (they were all the Ri­ches he had) 'tis suspect'd that one had them and Printed them under his own Name. —See there in the said Athenae Vol. or Part 2. P. 90.

Mr. T. M. an old Acquaintance of mine hath assured me, that about a quarter of a Year after his first Wives death, as he lay in Bed awake with his little Grand-child, his Wife opened the Closet-door, and came in­to the Chamber to the Bed-side, 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 [Page 69] have embraced her, but was afraid it might have done him hurt. When she went from him, he asked her when he should see her again? she turned about and smil'd, but said nothing. The Closet-door striked, as it uses to do, both at her coming in and going out. He had every Night a great Coal-fire in his Chamber, which gave a light as clear almost as a Candle. (He was Hypocondrical.) He Marry'd two Wives since; the later end of his Life was uneasie.

Anno. 165 ... At—in the Moorlands in Staffordshire, lived a poor Old Man, who had been a long time Lame. One Sunday in the Afternoon he being alone, one knock'd at his Door: He bade him open it, and come in. The Stranger desir'd a Cup of Beer: The Lame Man desir'd him to take a Dish and draw some, for he was not able to do it himself. The Stranger ask'd the poor Old Man, how long he had been Ill? The poor Man told him. Said the Stranger I can Cure you. Take two or Three Balm-leaves steep'd in your Beer for a Fortnight, or three Weeks, and you will be restor'd to your Health: But Constantly and Zealously serve God. The poor Man did so, and became perfectly well. This Stranger was in a Purple shag-gown, such as was not seen or known in those parts: And no body in the street (after Even-song) did see any one in such a colour'd Habit. Dr. Gilbert Sheldon, (since [Page 70] Arch-bishop of Canterbury) was then in the Moorlands, and justified the truth of this, to Elias Ashmole Esq from whom I had this Account: And he hath inserted it in some of his Memoirs, which are in the Musaeum at Oxford.

One Lambert a Gun-Smith at Hereford, was at Carmarthen, to mend and put in or­der the Ammunition of that County before the first Expedition to Scotland, which was 1639. He was then a Young Man, and walking on the Sand by the Sea-side, a Man comes to him (he did verily believe it was a Man) and ask'd him, if he knew Hereford? Yes, quoth he, I am a Hereford Man. Do you know it well, quoth the other? Per­fectly well, quoth Lambert. ‘That City shall be begirt [he told me he did not know what the word begirt meant then] by a Foreign Nation, that will come and pitch their Camp in the Hay-wood, and they shall batter such a Gate, which they did, (I have forgot the name of it) and shall go away, and not take it.’ The Scots came in 1645, and Encamp'd before Hereford in the Hay-wood, and Storm'd the—Gate, and raised the Siege. Lambert did well remember this Discourse, but did not heed it till they came to the Hay-wood: Many of the City had heard of this story, but when the— Gate was Storm'd, Lambert went to all the [Page 72] Guards of the Town, and encouraged them with more than ordinary Confidence: And, contrary to all humane expectation, when the Besieg'd had no hope o [...] Relief, the Scots raised the Siege, Sept. 2. 1645, and went back into Scotland, re infecta. I knew this Lambert, and took this Account from his own Mouth; he is a modest poor Man, of a very Innocent Life, lives Poor, and cares not to be Rich.

—A Minister, who lived by Sir Iohn Warre in Somersetshire about 1665, walk­ing over the Park to give Sir Iohn a Visit, was rencountred 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 Iohn Warre and my Lady this Story, who heeded it not: On the Morning fore-warn'd Sir Iohn 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 Katharine Henley, who had it from my Lady Warre. But Dr. Bur­net in the Life of the Earl of Rochester, makes it a Dream.

This put me in mind of a Story in the Legend, &c. of King Edward the Confessor being forewarned of his Death by a Pilgrim, to whom St. Iohn the Evangelist reveal'd it: for which the King gave the Pilgrim a rich [Page 73] Ring from off his Finger: And the event answered. The Story is well Painted in Glass, in a Window of the South Isle of Westmimster-Abbey (the next Window from that over the Door that opens into the West walk of the Cloyster) it is the best Window in the Church: Underneath the Two Fi­gures, viz. of the King and the Pilgrim are these following Verses, Viz.

The Verses under the Pilgrim are not legible. This story is in Caxtons Chroni­cle.

Dr.— Twiss Minister of the New Church at Westminster told me that his Fa­ther [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 Schoolfellow of his deceased [a Rakebell] 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, [He was Hypochondriacal]. There is a story like this, of the Conversion of St. Bruno, by an Apparition: Upon which he became mighty devout, and founded the Order of the Carthusians.

Iohn Evelyn Esq R. S. S. shewed us at [Page 74] 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 attacqued him afterwards, he strictly followed the Direction, and was perfectly cured. He was awake, and it was in the day-time.

This puts me in mind of a Dream of old Farmer Good, a Neighbour of mine at Broad-Chalk, who being ill, dreamt that he met with an old Friend of his (long since deceas­ed) by Knighton-Ashes (in that Parish) who told him that if he rose out of his Bed, that he would die. He awaked and rose to make Water, and was immediateiy seiz­ed with a shivering Fit, and died of an A­gue, aged, 84.

The Lady Viscountess Maidston told me, she saw (as it were) a Fly of Fire, fly round about her in the dark, half an hour before her Lord died: He was killed at Sea: and the like before her Mother in Law [the Countess of Winchelseá died, [She was then with Child.]

A Dutch-Prisoner at Wood-bridge in Suf­folk, [Page 75] 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 Phantôme, and did descibe him to the Parson of the Parish, who was with him; Dr. Hooke the Parson of the Pa­rish, has often told this Story; of which I know many more Par­ticulars. 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.

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

There is a very remarkable story of an Apparition, which Martin Luther did see. Mentioned in his Commensalia, or Table-talk, which see.

Those that are delirous in high Fevers, see [waking] Men and things that are not there. I knew one Mr. M. L. that took Opium, and he did see (being awake) Men and things that were not present (or per­haps) not in being. Those whose Spleens are ill-affected have the like Phantasies. The Power of Imagination is Wonderful.

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

The Countess of Thanet (Earl Iohn's La­dy) saw as she was in Bed with her Lord in London, her Daughter my Lady Hatton, who was then in Northamptonshire at Horton Kirby, the Candle was burning in her Cham­ber. See Mr. Baxters Last Book. Since viz. Anno. 167 ... this Lady Hat­ton was Blown up with Gun-powder set on Fire by Lightning, in the Castle at Garnsey, where her Lord was Governor.

The Beautiful Lady Diana Rich, Daugh­ter of the Earl of Holland, as she was walk­ing 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 Isabella (Thinne) saw the like of her self also be­fore she died. This Account I had from a Person of Honour.

Mrs. E. W. Daughter of Sir W. W. af­firms that Mrs. I. (her Father's Sister) saw [Page 77] her self (i. e.) her Phantome half a Year be­fore she died, for a quater of an Hour toge­ther. She said further that her Aunt was sick­ly Fourteen Years before she died, and that she walked Living, (i. e.) her Apparition, and that she was seen by several at the same time. The like is reported of others.

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: Gne 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 Head­band about his Head, and Strap upon his Knee; which Apprentice was really abed and asleep with another Fellow-apprentice in the same Chamber, and saw him. The Fellow was Living 1671. Another time, as he was in Bed he saw a Basket come Sail­ing in the Air along by the Valence of his Bed; I think he said there was Fruit in the Basket: It was a Phantome. From him­self.

When Sir Richard Nepier M. D. of Lon­don, was upon the Road, coming from Bed­fordshire, 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 [Page 78] in Berkshire, and there died. This Account I have in a Letter from Elias Ash­mole Esquire. They were intimate Friends.

‘In the Deserts of Africk, Pliny's Na­tural Hist. Lib. VII. Chap. II. you shall meet oftentimes with Fairies appearing in the shape of Men and Women: But they vanish quite away like phantastical Delusions.’

I Captain Henry Bell do hereby declare both to the present Age and also to Poste­rity, that being employed beyond the Seas in State-affairs divers Years together, both by King Iames, and also by the late King Charles in Germany. I did hear and under­stand in all places great Bewailing and La­mentation made, by reason of destroying and burning of above Fourscore Thousand of Martin Luther's Books: Entitled, His last Divine Discourses.

Upon which Divine Work or Discourses the Reformation, begun before in Germany, was wonderfully promoted and spred in other Countrys.

But afterward it so fell out, that the Pope then living, viz. Gregory XIII. un­derstanding what great hurt and prejudice he, and his Religion had already received by reason of the said Luther's Discourses, and also fearing that the same might bring further contempt and mischief upon himself and his Church, he therefore to prevent the same, did fiercely stir up and [Page 79] instigate the Emperor then in being, viz. Rodolphus III. to make an Edict through the whole Empire, that all the foresaid Printed Books should be burned, and al­so that it should be Death for any Person to have or keep a Copy thereof, but to burn the same: Which Edict was speedi­ly put in Execution accordingly; insomuch that not one of all the said Printed Books, nor any one Copy of the same, could be found out, or heard of in any place.

Yet it pleased God, that in Anno 1626, a German Gentleman named Casparus Van Sparr, with whom in my stay in Germany about King Iames's business I became fa­miliarly known and acquainted, having oc­casion to build upon an old Foundation of a House, wherein his Grand-father dwelt at that time, when the said Edict was Publish­ed in Germany, for the Burning of the said Books, and digging deep into the ground under the said old Foundation, one of the said Original Printed Books was there hap­pily found, lying in a deep obscure hole, being wrapped in a strong Linnen Cloth, which was waxed all over with Bees-wax within and without: whereby the said Book was perserved fair without any ble­mish.

And at the same time Ferdinandus II. be­ing Emperor of Germany, who was a severe Enemy and Persecutor of the Protestant [Page 80] Religion, the foresaid Gentleman, and Grand-child to him that had hidden the said Book in that obscure hole, fearing that if the said Emperor should get knowledge that one of the said Books were yet forth­coming, and in his custody, whereby not only himself might be brought into trouble, but also the Book be in danger to be destroy'd, as all the rest were long before; and also calling to mind that I had the high Dutch Tongue very perfect, did send the said Ori­ginal Book over hither into England unto me: Related to me the passages of the preser­ving and finding the said Book; and ear­nestly moved me in his Letter, to Translate the said Book into English.

Whereupon I took the said Book before me, and many times began to Translate the same, but always I was hindred therein, being called upon about other Business; in so much that by no possible means I could remain by that work. Then about six Weeks after I had receiv'd the said Book, it fell out, that being in Bed with my Wife, one Night be­tween Twelve and one of the Clock, she be­ing asleep, but my self yet awake, there ap­pear'd unto me an Ancient Man, standing at my Bed-side array'd all in White, having a long and broad white Beard, hanging down to his Girdle steed, who taking me by the right Ear, spake these words following un­to me; Sirrah, Will not you take time to [Page 81] Translate that Book which is sent unto you out of Germany? I will provide for you both place and time to do it: And then he Vanish'd a­way out of my sight.

Whereupon being much affrighted, I fell into an extream Sweat, insomuch that my Wife awaking, and finding me all over wet, she ask'd me what I ailed? I told her what I had seen and heard; but I never did heed or regard Visions nor Dreams. And so the same fell soon out of my mind.

Then about a Fortnight after I had seen the Vision, on a Sunday I went to Whitehall to hear the Sermon, after which ended, I return'd to my Lodging which was then in Kingstreet at Westminster, and sitting down to Dinner with my Wife, two Messengers were sent from the Council-board with a Warrant to carry me to the Keeper of the Gate-house at Westminster, there to be safely kept, until further Order from the Lords of the Council; which was done without shewing any Cause Whatsoever was pretended, yet the true cause of the Cap­tains Commitment was, because he was urgent with the Ld. Treasurer for his Ar­rears: which amount­ing to a great Summ, he was not willing to pay, and to be freed from his clamours clapt him [...] into Prison. at all, where­fore I was Committed; upon which said Warrant I was kept there Ten whole Years close Pri­soner; where I spent Five Years thereof about Translating of the said Book: Insomuch as I found the words very true which the Old [Page 82] Man in the aforesaid Vision said unto me, I will shortly provide you both place and time to Translate it.

Then after I had finish'd the Translation, Dr. Laud Arch-bishop of Canterbury, sent to me in the Prison by Dr. Bray his Chaplain Ten Pounds, and desir'd to peruse the Book; he afterwards sent him by Dr. Bray Forty Pounds. There was a Committee of the House of Commons for the Printing of this Translation, which was in 1652.

CHAP. VII.
Voices.

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.

St. Augustin heard a Voice, saying, Tolle, lege. He took up his Bible, and dipt on Rom. 13. 13. Not in rioting and drukenness, not in chambering and wantonness, &c. and reformed his Manners upon it.

One Mr. Smith a Practitioner of Physick at Tamworth in Warwickshire, an understand­ing 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 shortly see some of the Bones of those Men and Horses slain, that you read of: He was surprized at the Voice, and ask't in the Name of God, who 'twas 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 [Page 84] 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 the view it appear­ed to be according to the description in Hol­linshead'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 War­wickshire Esq who is very well acquainted with Mr. Smith aforesaid.

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.

CHAP. VIII.
Impulses.

Oliver Cromwel 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 obtained a great Victory; but the Action was said to be contrary to Human Prudence. The same fit of Laughter seiz'd Oliver Cromwel, just before the Battle of Naseby; as a Kins­man of mine, and a great Favourite of his, Colonel I. P. then present, testifi'd. Car­dinal Mazerine said, That he was a lucky Fool.

In one of the geat Fields at Warminster in Wiltshire, in the Harvest, at the very [Page 88] time of the Fight at Bosworth Field, between King Richard III, and Henry VII, there was one of the Parish took two Sheaves, cry­ing (with some intervals) Now for Richard, Now for Henry: at last, lets fall the Sheaf that did represent Richard; and cryed, Now for King Henry, Richard is slain: This Action did agree with the very Time, Day and Hour. When I was a School-boy, I have heard this confidently delivered by Tradition, by some Old Men of our Coun­try.

Monsieur de Scudery in his Poem, Entitu­led Rome Vaincus, fancies an Angel to be sent to Alaric to impel him to over-run the Roman Empire with his swarms of Nor­thern People. The like may be fancied upon all Changes of Government; when Providence destines the Ends, it orders the Means.

By way of parallel to this, Pope—by the like instinct, being at Rome in the Con­sistory, did speak of the Engagement in the Famous Battle of Lepanto, and that the Christians were Victors. The Fight at Sea being 200 Miles or more distant from them.

King Charles the First, after he was Con­demned, did tell Colonel Thomlinson, that he believed, That the English Monarchy was now at an end: About half an Hour after, he told the Colonel, That now he had an assu­rance [Page 89] 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.

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 this 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 Governor, and then with him; since Secretary to the Earl of Strafford, and I have heard his Lordships Relations confirm the same.

A very good Friend of mine and old Ac­quaintance, hath had frequent Impulses: When he was a Commoner at Trin. College Oxford, he had several. When he rode to­wards the West one time in the Stage-Coach, he told the Company, We shall certainly be Robbed, and they were so. When a Brother of his a Merchant died, he left him with other Effects, a share of a Ship, which was returning from Spain, and of which News was brought to the Exchange at Lon­don of her good Condition; he had such an [Page 90] Impulse upon his Spirit, that he must needs Sell his share, though to loss; and he did Sell it. The Ship came safe to Cornwal (or Devon) and somewhere afterwards fell up­on the Rocks and sunk: Not a Man Pe­rished; but all the Goods were lost except some Parrets, which were brought for Queen Katherine.

The good Genius of Socrates is much re­membred which gave him Warning. The Ethnick Genii are Painted like our Angels; strong Impulses are to be referr'd to them.

The Learned Dr. Iohn Pell, hath told me, that he did verily believe, that some of his Solutions of difficult Problems were not done Sine Divino auxilio.

Mr. I. 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.

CHAP. IX.
Knockings.

MR. Baxter's Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits. ‘A Gentleman formerly seeming Pious, of late Years hath fallen into the sin of Drunkenness; and when he [Page 91] 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 retaining Love to him, as Dives did to his Brethren, would have him Saved? God keepeth yet such things from us in the Dark.’

Major Iohn Morgan of Wells did aver, That as he lay in Bed with Mr.— Bar­low (Son of the Dean of Wells) they heard Three distinct Knocks on the Bed: Mr. Bar­low shortly after fell sick, and died.

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. Iennings of the Inner-Temple (his great Acquaintance, Dead a Year or [Page 92] two before) gave Three Knocks, looked in, and said, Come away. He was as far from believing such things as any Man.

Mr. George Ent of the Middle-Temple, told me some Days before he died, that he had such a deceptio Visus, as he called it.

CHAP. X.
Blows Invisible.

MR.— Brograve— of—near Puckridge in Hertfordshire when he was a young Man, Riding in a Lane in that [Page 93] Country, 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 Iohn Penrudock of Compton-Chamberlain (our Neighbour) whose Lady was Judge Bro­grave's Niece.

Newark (Sir G. L's.) has Knockings be­fore Death. And there is a House near Co­vent-Garden that has Warnings. The Pa­pists are full of these Observations.

The like Stories are reported of others.

CHAP. XI.
Prophesies.

CIcero de Divinatione Lib. I.—gentem quidem nullam video, neq tam humanam at (que) doctam; ne (que) tam immanem tam (que) barba­ram, quae non significari futura, & à quibusdam intelligi, praedici (que) posse censeat.

To pass by the Prophecies of Holy-writ, the Prophecies of Nostraedamus do foretel ve­ry strangely; but not easily understood till they are fulfilled. The Book is now com­mon.

[Page 94] Peter Martyr in his Decads, tells us, That there was a Prophet among the Salvages in America, that did foretel the coming in of Strangers in Ships, which they had not known.

The Prophecies of St. Malachi, are ex­ceeding strange. He describes the Popes by their Coats of Arms, or their Names, or their Manners: If his Prohecies be true, there will be but 15 Popes more. It is Printed in a Book in Oct. Entituled Bucelini Historiae Nucleus. 1654. in calce Libri, thus, Prophetia Malachiae Monachi Bangorensis, et A. Episcopi Ardinensis, Hiberniae Primatis. 1655. in two Leaves.

Mr. Lancelot Morehouse in the time of the Civil Wars, rescued a sheet of Parchment in Quarto most delicately Writ, from a Tay­lor's Sheers. It was part of a Book, and was a Prophecy concerning England in La­tin Hexameters; I saw it 1649. It pointed at our late Troubles: He gave it to Seth Ward, Bishop of Salisbury, and is lost among other good Papers.

In a Book of Mr. William Lilly's are Hie­roglyphick Prophecies, viz. of the great Plague of London, expressed by Graves and dead Corps; and a Scheme with ♊ 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 [Page 95] to have People believe that this was from himself. But Mr. Thomas Flatman (Poet) did affirm, that he had seen those Hieroglyphicks in an old Parchment Manu­script Writ in the time of the Monks.

In the Nave of the Cathedral Church at Wells, above the Capitals of two Pillars, are the Head of the King, and the Head of a Bishop: It was fore-told, that when a King should be like that King, and a Bishop like that Bishop; that Abbots should be put down, and Nuns should Marry: Above the Arch, is an Abbot or Monk with his Head hanging downwards; and a Nun with Children about her. The inside of the Arch is Painted Blew, and adorned with Stars, to signifie the Power and Influence of the Stars. This Prophecy was Writ in Parch­ment, and hung in a Table on one of those Pillars, before the Civil-Wars. Dr. Duck (who was Chancellor of Wells) said, that he had seen a Copy of it among the Records of the Tower at London. It was Prophecy'd 300 Years before the Reformation. Bi­shop Knight, was Bishop here at the Refor­mation, and the Picture (they say) did re­semble him.

In the Spanish History it is mentioned, that a Vault being open'd in Spain, they found there Moors Heads, and some Writ­ings that did express, When People resem­bling those Heads should come into Spain, [Page 96] they would Conquer that Country: And it was so. See this Story more at large in Iames Howell's Letters.

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.

These Verses were made by George Buchanon; but (perhaps) the Prediction was made by some second-sighted Person. King Iames of Scotland the Sixth was taken with an Ague, at Trinity College in Cam­bridge; he remov'd to Theobalds (where he died); sitting by the Fire, the Carbuncle fell out of his Ring into the Fire, according to the Prediction. This Distick is Printed in the Life of King Iames by—

Before the Civil-Wars there was much talk of the Lady Anne Davys's Prophecies; for which she was kept Prisoner in the To­wer of London. She was Sister to the Earl of Castlehaven, and Wife to Sir Iohn Davys, Lord Chief Justice in Ireland; I have heard his Kinsman (Counsellor Davys of Shaftsbu­ry) [Page 97] say, that she being in London (I think in the Tower,) Fasti Oxon, p. 432. did tell the very time of her Husbands Death in Ireland.

CHAP. XII.
Miranda.

OUR English Chronicles do Record, That in the Reign of King Henry III. a Child was Born in Kent, that at Two Years old Cured all Diseases. Several Persons have been Cured of the Kings-Evil by the touching, or handling of a Seventh Son. (It must be a seventh Son, and no Daughter between, and in pure Wedlock.)

Samuel Scot, seventh Son of Mr. William Scot of Hedington in Wiltshire, did when a Child, wonderful Cures by touching only, viz. as to the Kings-evil, Wenns, &c. but as he grew to be a Man the Vertue did de­crease, and had he Lived longer, perhaps might have been spent. A servant Boy of his Fathers was also a seventh Son; but he could do no Cures at all. I am very well satisfied of the truth of this Relation, for I knew him very well, and his Mother was my Kinswoman.

'Tis certain, the Touch of a dead Hand, hath wrought Wonderful Effects, e.g.— [Page 92] [...] [Page 93] [...] [Page 94] [...] [Page 95] [...] [Page 96] [...] [Page 97] [...] [Page 98] one (a Painter) of Stowel in Somersetshire near Bridgewater, had a Wenn in the inside of his Cheek, as big as a Pullets Egg, which by the advice of one was Cur'd by once or twice Touching or Rubbing with a dead Womans Hand, (è contra, to Cure a Wo­man, a dead Man's Hand) He was directed first to say the Lord's Prayer, and to beg a Blessing. He was perfectly Cured in a few Weeks. I was at the Man's House who at­tested it to me, as also to the Reverend Mr. Andrew Paschal, who went with me.

Mr. Davys Mell (the famous Violinist, and Clock-maker) had a Child Crook-back'd, that was Cured after the manner aforesaid, which Dr. Ridgely M. D. of the College of Physitians, averr'd in my hearing.

The Curing of the Kings-evil by the Touch of the King, does much puzzel our Philosophers: For whether our Kings were of the House of York, or Lancaster, it did the Cure (i. e.) for the most part. ('Tis true indeed at the Touching there are Prayers Read, but perhaps, neither the King attends them nor his Chaplains.)

In Somersetshire, 'tis confidently reported, that some were Cured of the Kings-evil, by the Touch of the Duke of Monmouth: The Lord Chancellor Bacon saith, ‘That Imagi­nation is next Kin to Miracle-working Faith.’

[Page 99]When King Charles I. was Prisoner at Carisbrook Castle, there was a Woman Touched by him, who had the Kings-evil in her Eye, and had not seen in a Fortnight before, her Eye-lids being glued together: As they were at Prayers (after the Touch­ing) the Womans Eyes opened. Mr. Sey­mer Bowman, with many others were Eye­witnesses of this.

At Stretton in Herefordshire in Anno. 1648. when King Charles I. was Prisoner, the Tenant of the Mannor-house there, sold excellent Cider to Gentlemen of the Neigh­bourhood; where they met privately, and could Discourse freely, and be merry, in those Days so troublesome to the Loyal Par­ty. Among others that met, there was old Mr. Hill B. D. Parson of the Parish, Quondam Fellow of Brason-nose College in Oxford: This Venerable good old Man, one Day (after his accustomed fashion) stand­ing up, with his Head uncover'd to Drink his Majesties Health, saying, God bless our gracious Sovereign, as he was going to put the Cup to his Lips, a Swallow flew in at the Window, and pitched on the brim of the little Earthen-cup (not half a Pint) and sipt, and so flew out again. This was in the presence of the aforesaid Parson Hill, Major Gwillim, and two or three more, that I knew very well then, my Neighbours, and whose joint Testimony of it I have had more [Page 100] than once, in that very Room. It was in the Bay-window in the Parlour there; Mr. Hill's Back was next to the Window. I cannot doubt of the veracity of the Witnesses. This is Printed in some Book that I have seen, I think in Dr. Fuller's Worthies. The Cup is preserved there still, as a Rarity.

In Dr. Bolton's Sermons is an Account of the Lady Honywood, who despaired of her Salvation. Dr. Bolton endeavour'd to com­fort her: Said she, (holding a Venice-glass in her Hand) I shall as certainly be Damned, as this Glass will be broken: And at that word, threw it hard on the Ground; and the Glass remained sound; which did give her great comfort. The Glass is yet pre­served among the Cimelia of the Family. This Lady lived to see Descended from her (I think) Ninety, which is mentioned by Dr. Bolton.

William Backhouse of Swallowfield in Berk­shire Esq had an ugly Scab that grew on the middle of his Forehead, which had been there for some Years, and he could not be Cured; it became so nauseous, that he would see none but his intimate Friends: He was a Learned Gentleman, a Chimist and Antiquary: His custom was, once eve­ry Summer to Travel to see Cathedrals, Ab­beys, Castles, &c. In his Journey, being come to Peterborough, he dreamt there, that he was in a Church and saw a Hearse, and [Page 101] that one did bid him wet his Scab, with the drops of the Marble. The next Day he went to Morning-Service, and afterwards going about the Church, saw the very Hearse (which was of Black Say, for Queen Katharine, Wife to King Henry VIII.) and the Marble Grave-Stone by. He found drops on the Marble, and there were some Cavi­ties wherein he dip'd his Finger, and wet­ted the Scab: In Seven Days it was per­fectly Cured. This accurate and certain Information, I had from my worthy Friend Elias Ashmole Esq who called Mr. Backhouse Father, and had this Account from his own Mouth. (May Dew is a great Dis­solvent.)

Arise Evans had a fungous Nose, and said, it was reveal'd to him, that the King's Hand would Cure him: And at the first coming of King Charles II. into St. Iames's Park he Kiss'd the King's Hand, and rubb'd his Nose with it; which disturb'd the King, but Cured him. Mr. Ashmole told me.

CHAP. XIII.
Magick.

IN Barbary are Wizards, who do smear their Hands with some black Ointment, and then do hold them up to the Sun, and [Page 103] 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 desir'd to know, whether a Ship was in safety, or no? There appear'd in the Womans Hand the perfect Lineaments 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 beliefe.

There are wonderful Stories of the Ban­nians in India, viz. of their Predictions, Cures, &c. of their Charming Crocodiles, and Serpents: And that one of them walkt over an Arm of the Sea; he was seen in the middle, and never heard of afterwards.

The last Summer, on the Day of St. Iohn Baptist [1694] I accidentally was walking in the Pasture behind Montague-House, it was XII 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 could 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.

[Page 104]The Women have several Magical Se­crets handed down to them by Tradition, for this purpose, as, on St. Agnes Night, 21 Day of Ianuary, 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. Iohn­son in one of his Masques, makes some men­tion of this.

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

Accordingly in your Dream you will see him; if a Musitian, with a Lute or other Instrument; if a Scholar, with a Book, &c.

A Gentlewoman that I knew, confessed [Page 105] 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 on 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 Lady did the like.

Another way is, Some say any other New Moon is as good. 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,

You must presently after go to Bed.

I knew two Gentlewomen, that did thus when they were young Maids, and they had Dreams of those that Married them.

Alexander Trallienus, Of Curing Diseases by Spells, Charms, &c. is cited by Casaubon, before Iohn Dee's Book of Spiritis: It is now Translated out of the Greek into English.

The Great Historical, Geographical, and Poetical Dictionary. Abracadabra, a Mysterious Word, to which the Supersti­ous in former times attributed a Magical power to expel Diseases, especially the Ter­tian-Ague, worn about their Neck in this manner.

[Page 106]Some think, that Basilides the Inventor, intends the Name of GOD by it. The method of the Cure was prescrib'd in these Verses,

Mr.— Scoot a German hath Writ an excellent Book of Magick: It is Prohibited in that Country. I have here set down Three Spells, which are much approv'd.

Write this following Spell in Parchment, and wear it about your Neck. It must be Writ Triangularly.

With this Spell, one of Wells hath Cur'd above an Hundred of the Ague.

Rebus Rubus Epitepscum, and give it to the Party, or Beast Bit, to Eat in Bread, or &c. A Gentleman of good Quality, and a sober grave Person, did affirm, that this Receipt never fails,

To Cure the Tooth-ach, out of Mr. Ashmole's Manuscript Writ with his own Hand.

Write the words, Three times; and as you say the Words, let the Party burn one Paper, then another, and then the last. ‘He says, he saw it experimented, and the Party immediately Cured.’

Mr. Ashmole told me, that a Woman made use of a Spell to Cure an Ague, by the Advice of—A Minister came to her, and severely repremanded her, for making use of a Diabolical help, and told her, she was in danger of Damnation for it, and commanded her to burn it. She did so, and her Distemper returned severely; inso­much, that she was importunate with the Doctor to use the same again: She used it, and had ease. But the Parson hearing of it, came to her again, and thundred Hell and Damnation, and frighted her so, that she burnt it again. Whereupon she fell extremely Ill, and would have had it a [Page 108] Third time; but the Doctor refused, say­ing, That she had contemned and slighted the power and goodness of the Blessed Spi­rits (or Angels) and so she died, The cause of the Lady Honywoods Desparation, was that she had used a Spell to Cure her.

Jamblicus de Mysteriis de nominibus divinis.

Prophyrius quaerit, cur Sacerdotes utantur no­minibus quibusdam nihil significantibus? Iam­blicus respondet, omnia ejusmodi nomina signi­ficare aliquid apud deos: quamvis in quibus­dam significata nobis sint ignota, esse tamen no­ta quaedam, quorum intepretationem divinitus accepimus, omnino verò modum in eis signifi­candi ineffabilem esse. Neque secundum ima­ginationes humanas, sed secundum intellectum qui in nobis est, divinus, vel potius simpliciore, praestantioreque modo secundum intellectum diis unitum. Auferendum igitur omnes excogitati­ones, & rationales discursus, atque assimulati­ones naturalis vocis ipsius congenitas, ad res po­sitas in natum. Et quemadmodum character symbolicus divinae similitudinis in se intellectu­alis est, atque divinus, ita hunc ipsum in om­nibus supponere, accipereque debemus, &c.

To Cure an Ague, Tertian or Quartan.

Gather Cinquefoil in a good Aspect of ♃ to the ☽, and let the Moon be in the Mid-heaven, if you can: and take—of the Powder of it in White-wine: If it be not thus gathered according to the Rules of A­strology, [Page 109] it hath little or no Vertue in it. With this Receipt— Bradely, a Quaker at Kingston upon Thames, (near the Bridge-end) hath Cured above an Hundred.

To Cure the Thrush.

There a is certain piece in the Beef, called the Mouse-piece, which given to the Child, or Party so affected, to Eat, doth certain­ly Cure the Thrush. From an experienced Midwife.

Another to Cure a Thrush.

Take a living Frog, and hold it in a Cloth, that it does not go down into the Childs Mouth; and put the Head into the Childs Mouth till it is dead; and then take another Frog.

To Cure the Tooth-ach.

Take a new Nail, and make the Gum bleed with it, and then drive it into an Oak. This did Cure William Neal, Sir William Neal's Son, a very stout Gentleman, when he was almost Mad with the Pain, and had a mind to have Pistoll'd himself.

For the Iaundise.

The Iaundise is Cured, by putting the Urine after the first Sleep, to the Ashes of the Ash-tree, Bark of Barberries.

To Cure a Bullock, that hath the Wisp, (that is) Lame between the Clees.

Take the impression of the Bullock's Foot in the Earth, where he hath trod; then dig it up, and stick therein five or seven Thorns [Page 110] on the wrong side, and then hang it on a Bush to dry: And as that dries, so the Bullock heals. This never fails for Wisps. From Mr. Pacy a Yeoman in Surrey.

To Cure a Beast that is Sprung, that is Poysoned. It lights mostly upon Sheep.

Take the little red Spider, called a Tent­bob (not so big as a great Pins-head) the first you light upon in the spring of the Year, and rub it in the palm of your Hand all to pieces; and having so done, piss on it, and rub it in, and let it dry; then come to the Beast and make water in your Hand, and throw it in his Mouth. It Cures in a mat­ter of an Hours time. This rubbing serves for a whole Year, and it is no danger to the Hand. The chiefest Skill is to know whe­ther the Beast be Poisoned, or no. From Mr. Pacy.

To stanch Bleeding.

Cut an Ash of One, two or three Years Growth, at the very Hour and Minute of the Sun's entring into Taurus: a Chip of this applyed will stop it. If it is a Shoot, it must be cut from the Ground. Mr. Nicholas Mer­cator, Astronomer, told me that he had tried it with effect. Mr. G. W. says the Stick must not be bound, or holden; but dipp'd or wetted in the Blood. When King Iames the second was at Salisbury 1688. his Nose Bled near two Days; and after many essays in vain, was stopp'd by this Sympathetick [Page 111] Ash, which Mr. Will. Nash a Chyrurgeon in Salisbury applied.

Against an evil Tongue.

Take Vnguentum populeum and Vervain, and Hypericon, and put a red-hot Iron into it; you must anoint the Back-bone, or wear it on your Breast. This is Printed in Mr. W. Lilly's Astrology. Mr. H. C. hath try'd this Receipt with good success.

A House (or Chamber) somewhere in London was Haunted; the Curtains would be rashed at Night, and awake the Gentle­man that lay there, who was Musical, and a familiar acquaintance of Henry Laws. Hen­ry Laws to be satisfied did lie with him; and the Curtains were rashed so then: The Gen­tleman grew lean and pale with the frights, One Dr.—Cured the House of this distur­bance, and Mr. Laws said, that the princi­pal Ingredient was Hypericon put under his Pillow.

In Herefordshire, and other parts, they do put a cold Iron-bar upon their Barrels, to preserve their Beer from being sowred by Thunder. This is a common practice in Kent.

To hinder the Night-mare, they hang in a string a Flint with a hole in it (naturally) by the Manger; but best of all they say, hung about their Necks, and a Flint will [Page 112] do it that hath not a hole in it. It is to pre­vent the Night-mare (viz.) the Hag from ri­ding their Horses, who will sometimes sweat all Night. The Flint thus hung does hin­der it.

Mr. Sp. told me that his Horse which was Bewitch'd, would break Bridles and strong Halters, like a Sampson. They fill'd a Bot­tle with the Horse's Urine, stop'd it with a Cork and bound it fast in, and then bury'd it under Ground: And the party suspected to be the Witch fell ill, that he could not make Water, of which he died. When they took up the Bottle, the Urine was al­most gone: So, that they did believe, that if the Fellow could have lived a little longer, he had recovered.

It is a thing very common to nail Horse-shoes on the Thresholds of Doors: There are very me­morable Stories of Witches in Gages Sur­vey of the West-Indies of his own knowledg. Which is to hinder the power of Witches that enter into the House. Most Houses of the West-end of London have the Horse-shoe on the Threshold. It should be a Horse-shoe that one finds. In the Bermudas, they use to put an Iron into the Fire when a Witch comes in.

At Paris when it begins to Thunder and Lighten, they do presently Ring out the great Bell at the Abbey of St. German, which they do believe makes it cease. The like was wont to be done heretofore in Wiltshire; when it Thundred and Lightned, they did [Page 113] Ring St. Adelm's Bell at Malmsbury Abbey. The curious do say, that the Ringing of Bells exceedingly disturbs Spirits.

CHAP. XIV.
Transportation by an Invisible Power.

[Page 127]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 carry'd 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 Henton's Window; as also from E. T. D. D.

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. XV.
Visions in a Berill, or Crystall.

A Berill is a kind of Crystal that hath a weak Tincture of Red; it is one of the Twelve Stones mentioned in the Reve­lation. I have heard* Dr. I. Pell., that Spectacles were first made of this Stone, which is the reason that the Germans do call a Specta­cle-Glass [or pair of Spectacles] a Brill.

Dr.— Pocock of Oxford in his Com­mentary on Hosea, hath a Learned Dis­course of the Vrim and Thummim: as also Dr.— Spenser of Cambridge, That the Priest had his Visions in the Stone of the Breast-plate.

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

[Page 129]The Magicians, now, use a Crystal­Sphere, [figure] A Mine­ral-Pearl. or Mi­neral-Pearl for this purpose, which is in­spected by a Boy, or sometimes by the Querent himself.

There are certain Formula's of Prayer to be used before they make the inspecti­on, which they term a Call. In a Ma­nuscript of Dr. Forman of Lambeth (which Mr. Elias Ashmole had) is a Discourse of this, and the Prayer. Also there is the Call which Dr. Nepier did use.

Iames Harrington [Author of Oceana] told me that the Earl of Denbigh then Ambassador at Venice did tell him, that one did shew him there several times in a Glass, things past, and to come.

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 Protestant; afterwards he became a Roman Catholick. He told Mr. Thomas Henshaw R. S. S. this himself.

I have here set down the Figure of a Consecrated Berill, now in the possession of Sir Edward Harley Knight of the Bath, which he keeps in his Closet at Brampton-Bryan [Page 130]

in Herefordshire, amongst his Cime­lia, which I saw there. It came first from Norfolk; a Mini­ster had it there, and a Call was to be used with it. Afterwards a Mil­ler had it, and both did work great Cures with it (if Curable) and in the Berill they did see, either the Receipt in Writing, or else the Herb. To this Minister the Spirits or Angels would appear openly, and because the Miller (who was his fami­liar Friend) one day happened to see them, he gave him the aforesaid Berill and Call: By these Angels the Mini­ster was forewarned of his Death. This Account I had from Mr. Ashmole. After­wards this Berill came into somebodies hand in London, who did tell strange things by it; insomuch that at last he was [Page 131] questioned for it, and it was taken away by [...] Authority [it was about 1645.]

This Berill is a perfect Sphere, the Di­ameter of it I guess to be something more than an Inch: It is set in a Ring, or Cir­cle of Silver resembling the Meridian of a Globe: The stem of it is about Ten Inches high, all gilt. At the Four quarters of it are the Names of Four Angels, viz. Vriel, Raphael, Michael, Gabriel. On the top is a Cross Patee.

Sam. B [...]isardus hath writ a Book de Di­vinatione per Crystallum.

A Cloathier's Widow of Pembridge in Herefordshire, desired Dr. Shirburn [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 Clothes oftentimes stolen from his Racks; and at last obtain'd this Trick to discover the Thieves. So when he lost his Clothes, he went out about Midnight with his Crystal and Call, and a little Boy, or lit­tle Maid with him [for they say it must be a pure Virgin] to look in the Crystal, to see the likeness of the Person that com­mitted the Theft. The Doctor did burn the Call, 1671.

About the later end of the Reign of King Iames the First, one—a Taylor in London had several Visions, which he did describe to a Painter to paint, and he writ the description himself in an ill, Taylor­like hand, in false English; but legibly: It was (at least) a Quire of Paper. I re­member one Vision is of St. Iame's Park, where is the Picture of an Altar and Cru­cifix. Mr. Butler of the Toy-shop by Ludgate [one of the Masters of Bridewel] had the Book in Anno 1659; The then Earl of Northampton gave Five Pounds for a Copy of it.

CHAP. XVI.
Converse with Angels and Spirits.

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.

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 Musaeum in Oxford. Before the Res­ponses stands this Mark, viz. R Ris. which Mr. Ashmole said, was Responsum Raphaelis.

In these Papers are many excellent Me­dicines, or Receipts for several Diseases that his Patients had; and before some of them is the aforesaid Mark. Mr. Ashmole [Page 134] took the pains to Transcribe fairly with his own hand all the Receipts; they are about a Quire and half of Paper in Folio, which since his Death were bought of his Relict by E. W. Esq R. S. S.

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 Ris, The Good

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

R Ris, 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 December 18. Anno 1622.

This I extracted out of Dr. Nepiers Ori­ginal Diary, then in the possession of Mr. Ashmole.

When E. W. Esq was about Eight Years old, he was troubled with the Worms: His Grand-father carried him to Dr. Nepier at Lynford. Mr. E. W. peeped in at the Closet at the end of the Gallery, [Page 135] and saw him upon his Knees at Prayer. The Doctor told Sir Francis, that at Four­teen Years old his Grandson would be freed from that Distemper: and he was so. The Medicine he prescribed was, to drink a little draught of Muscadine in the Morn­ing. 'Twas about 1625.

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 dyed Pray­ing upon his Knees, being of a very great Age, 1634. April the First. He was near­ly related to the Learn'd Lord Nepier Ba­ron of M. ... in Scotland; I have forgot whether his Brother. His Knees were hor­ny with frequent Praying. He left his E­state to Sir Richard Nepier M. D. of the Col­lege of Physitians London, from whom Mr. Ashmole had the Doctor's Picture, now in the Musaeum.

Dr. Richard Nepier Rector of Lynford was a good Astrologer, and so was Mr. Marsh of Dunstable; but Mr. Marsh did seriously confess to a Friend of mine, that Astrolo­gy was but the Countenance; and that he [Page 136] did his business by the help of the blessed Spirits; with whom only Men of great Pi­ety, Humility and Charity, could be ac­quainted: And such a one he was. He was an Hundred Years old when my Friend was with him; and yet, did understand him­self very well.

At Ashridge in Buckinghamshire, near Berkhamsted, was a Monastery, (now in the Possession of the Earl of Bridgwater,) where are excellent good old Paintings still to be seen. In this Monastery was found an old Manuscript Intituled Iohannes de Rupescissâ, since Printed (or part of it) a Chimical Book, wherein are many Receipts; among others, To free a House Haunted with Evil Spirits, by Fumes: Mr. Marsh had it, and did Cure Houses so Haunted by it. Ovid in his Festivals hath something like it. See Thesaurus Exorcismorum writ by— è Societate Iesu. Oct. Wherein are several high Physical and Medicinal things.

Good Spirits are delighted and allured by sweet Perfumes, as rich Gums, Frankin­cense, &c. Salt, &c. which was the reason that the Priests of the Gentiles, and al­so the Christians used them in their Temples, and Sacrifices: And on the contrary, Evil Spirits are pleased and allured and called up by Suffumigations of Henbane, &c. stinking Smells, &c. which the Witches do use in [Page 137] their Conjuration. Toads (Saturnine A­nimals) are kill'd by putting of Salt upon them; I have seen the Experiment. Ma­gical Writers say, that Cedar-wood drives away evil Spirits; it was, and is much used in Magnificent Temples.

One says why should one think the In­tellectual World less Peopled, than the Material? Pliny in his Natural History Lib.—Cap.—tells us, That in Afri­ca do sometimes appear multitudes of Aeri­al Shapes, which suddenly vanish. Mr. Ri­chard Baxter in his Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits, (the last Book he Writ, not long before his Death) hath a Discourse of An­gels: and wonders they are so little taken notice of, he hath counted in Newman's Concordance of the Bible, the word Angel in above 300 places,

Hugo Grotius in his Annotations on Io­nah, speaking of Nineve, says, That Hi­story hath divers Examples, that af­ter a great and hearty Humiliation, God delivered Cities, &c. from their Calami­ties. [Page 138] Some did observe in the late Civil Wars, that the Parliament, after a Humi­liation, did shortly obtain a Victory. And as a three-fold Chord is not easily broken; so when a whole Nation shall conjoin in fervent Prayer and Supplication, it shall produce wonderful Effects. William Lawd (Arch-bishop of Canterbury) in a Sermon Preached before the Parliament, about the beginning of the Reign of King Charles I. affirms the power of Prayer to be so great, That though there be a Conjunction or Op­position of Saturn or Mars (as there was one of them then) it will overcome the malignity of it. In the Life of Vavasor Powel is a memorable Account of the effect of fervent Prayer, after an exceeding Drought: And Mr. Baxter (in his Book afore-menioned) hath several Instances of that Kind, which see.

CHAP. XVII.
Corps-candles in Wales.

To this Account of Mr. Davis, I will subjoin what my worthy Friend and Neighbour Randal Caldicot D. D. hath af­firm'd 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: And it is therefore called the Holy Dee. The Doctor's Father was Mr. Caldicot of Caldicot in Cheshire, which lies on the River.’

CHAP. XVIII.
Oracles.

Hleronimus Cardanus Lib. III. Synesiorum Somniorum, Cap. XV. treats of this Subject, which see. Iohannes 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 Oxon, in his Life. He lived before the Conquest, and taught Greek at the Abby in Malemsbury, where his Scholars stabbed him with their Pen-knives for his Severity to them. Keland mentions that his Statue was in the Choire there.

CHAP. XIX.
Extasie.

Anno 1670. A poor Widow's Daughter in Herefordshire went to Service not far from Harwood [the Seat of Sir Iohn Hoskins Baronet R. S. S] She was aged neer about twenty; fell very ill, even to the point of Death, her Mother was old and Feeble, and her Daughter was the Comfort of her life; if she should die, she knew not what to do: She besought God upon her Knees in Prayer, that he would be pleased to [Page 145] spare her Daughters life, and take her to him: At this very time, the Daughter fell into a Trance, which continued about an Hour; they thought she had been Dead: When she recovered out of it, she declared the Vision she had in this Fit, viz. That one in black Habit came to her, whose Face was so bright and glorious she could not be­hold it; and also he had such brightness up­on his Breast, and (if I forget not) upon his Arms: And told her, that her Mother's Prayers were heard, and that her Mother should shortly dye, and she should sudden­ly recover: And she did so, and her Mo­ther dyed. She hath the character of a modest, humble, vertuous Maid. Had this been in some Catholick Country, it would have made a great noise.

'Tis certain, there was one in the Strand, who lay in a Trance a few Hours before he departed: And in his Trance had a Visi­on of the Death of King Charles the II. It was at the very Day of his Apoplectick Fit.

There is a Sheet of Paper Printed 16 ... concerning Extasies, that Iames Vsher, late Lord Primate of Ireland, once had: But I have been assur'd from my Honour'd Friend Iames Tyrrel Esq (his Lordship's Grand­son) that, this was not an Extasie; but that his Lordship upon Reading the 12, 13, [Page 146] 14, &c. Chapters of the Revelation, and farther reflecting upon the great increase of the Sectaries in England, supposed that they would let in Popery, which Conside­ration put him into a great Transport at the time when his Daughter (the Lady Tyrrel) came into the Room; when he Discoursed to her divers things (tho not all) contained in the said Printed Paper.

CHAP. XX.
Glances of Love, Malic.

AMor ex oculo: But (as the Lord Bacon saith) more by Glances, than by full Gazings; and so for Envy and Malice.

'Tis something Divine and Inexplicable. It is strange, that as one walks the Streets sometimes one shall meet with an Aspect, (of Male or Female) that pleases our Souls; [Page 147] and whose Natural sweetness of Nature, we could boldly rely upon. One never saw the other before, and so could neither oblige, or disoblige each other. Gaze not on a Maid, saith Ecclus. 9. 5.

The Glances of Envy and Malice, do shoot also subtilly; the Eye of the Malici­ous Person does really Infect (and make Sick) the Spirit of the other. The Lord Bacon saith, it hath been observed, That after Triumphs, the Triumphants have been sick in Spirit.

The Chymist can draw subtile Spirits, that will work upon one another at some distance, viz. Spirits of Alkalies and A­cids, e. g. Spirits Coelestial (Sal Armoniac and Spirit C. C. will work on each other at half a Yard distance, and smoke); but the Spirits above mentioned are more sub­tile than they.

But if an Astrologer had their Nativities, he would find a great disagreement in the Schemes. These are Hyperphysical Opticks, and drawn from the Heavens.

Infants are very sensible of these Irradia­tions of the Eyes: In Spain, France, &c. Southern Countries, the Nurses, and Pa­rents, [Page 148] rents are very shy to let People look upon their young Children, for fear of Fascina­tion. In Spain they take it ill if one looks on a Child, and make one say, God Bless it. They talk of mul dé ojos. We usually say, Witches have evil Eyes.