Part II: a choice collection of modern relations, part 10 of 12

RELAT. XXIII. The Relation of James Sherring, taken concerning the matter at Old Gast s house of little Burton, June 23. 1677. as follows.

THe first Night that I was there with Hugh Mellmore and Edward Smith, they heard as it were the washing in water over their heads. Then taking a Candle and going up the stairs there was a wet Cloth thrown at them, but it fell on the stairs. They going up farther then, there was another thrown as before. And when they came up into the Chamber there stood a bowl of water, some of it sprinkled over, and the water looked white as if there had been Sope used in it. The Bowl just before was in the Kitchin, and could not be carried up but through the room where they were. The next thing that they heard the same Night was a terrible noise as if it had been a slat of Thunder, and shortly after they heard great scratching about the Bedsted, and after that a great knocking with a Hammer against the Beds-head, so that the two Maids that were in the Bed cryed out for help. Then they ran up the stairs, and there lay the Hammer on the Bed and on the Beds-head, there were near a Thousand prints of the Hammer which the violent strokes had made. The Maids said that they were scratched and pinched with a hand that was put into the Bed which had exceeding long Nails. They said that the Hammer was locked fast up in the Cupboard when they went to Bed. This was that which was done the first Night, with many other things of the like nature.

The second Night that James Sherring and Tho. Hillary were there, James Sherring sat down in the Chimney to fill a Pipe of Tobacco. He made use of the fire-tongs to take up a Coal to fire his Pipe, and by and by the Tongs were drawn up the stairs, and after they were up in the Chamber, they were played withall as many times Men do, and then thrown down upon the Bed. Although the Tongs were so near him, he never perceived the going of them away. The same Night one of the Maids left her shoos by the fire, and they were carried up into the Chamber, and the Old Mans brought down and set in their places. The same Night there was a Knife carried up into the Chamber, and it did scratch and scrape the Beds-head all the Night, but when they went up into the Chamber the Knife was thrown into the Loft. As they were going up the stairs there were things thrown at them, which were just before in the low room, and when they went down the stairs the Old Mans Breeches were thrown down after them. These were the most remarkable things done that Night, onely there was continual knocking and pinching the Maids, which was usually done every Night.

The third Night, when James Sherring and Thomas Hillery were there, as soon as the People were gone to bed, their Clothes were taken and thrown at the Candle and put it out, and immediately after they cried out with a very hideous cry and said, they should be all choaked if they were not presently helped. Then they ran up the stairs and there was abundance of Feathers plucked out of the Bolster that lay under their Heads, and some thrust into their Mouths that they were almost choaked. The Feathers were thrown all about the Bed and room. They were plucked out at a hole no bigger than the top of ones little finger. Some time after they were vexed with a very hideous knocking at their heads as they lay on the Bed. Then James Sherring and Thomas Hillery took the Candle and went up stairs and stood at the Beds feet, and the knocking continued. Then they saw a Hand with an Arm-wrist hold the Hammer which kept on knocking against the Bedsted. Then James Sherring going towards the Beds-head, the Hand and Hammer fell down behind the Bolster and could not be found. For they turned up the Bed-clothes to search for the Hammer. But as soon as they went down the stairs the Hammer was thrown out into the middle of the Chamber. These were the most remarkable things that were done that Night.

The fourth and fifth Nights, there was but little done more than knocking and scratching as was usually.

The sixth and seventh Nights, there was nothing at all but as quiet as at other houses. These were all the Nights that they were there.

The things that do follow are what James Sherring heard the People of the house report.

There was a Saddle in the house of their Uncle Warrens of Leigh, (which it should seem they detained wrongfully from the right owner) that as it did hang upon a Pin in the entry would come off and come into the house, and as they termed it, hop about the house from one place to another, and upon the Table, and so to another, which stood on the other side of the house. Jane Gast and her Kinswoman took this Saddle and carried it to Leigh, and as they were going along in the broad Common, there would be sticks and stones thrown at them, which made them very much afraid, and going near together their Whittles which were on their shoulders were knit together. They carried the Saddle to the house which was Old Warrens, and there left it and returned home very quiet. But being gone to Bed at Night the Saddle was brought back from Leigh, (which is a Mile and half at the least from Old Gasts House) and thrown upon the Bed where the Maids lay. After that, the Saddle was very troublesome to them, until they broke it in small pieces and threw it out into the Highway.

There was a Coat of the same Parties, who was owner of the Saddle, which did hang on the door in the Hall, and it came off from the place and flew into the fire and lay there some considerable time, before they could get it out. For it was as much as three of them could do to pluck it out of the fire, because of the ponderous weight that lay on it, as they thought. Nevertheless there was no impression on it of the fire.

Old Gast sat at Dinner with a Hat of this Old Warrens on his Head, and there was something came and struck it off into the Dish where his Meat was.

There was a Pole which stood in the back-side about Fourteen or Fifteen Foot in length, which was brought into the House, and carried up into the Chamber, and thrown on the Bed; but all the Wit they had could not get it out of the Chamber, because of its length, until they took down a light of the Window. They report that the things in the House was thrown about and broken, to their great dammage.

One Night there were two of this Old […]st his Grand daughters in Bed together, they were aged, One of them about Twelve or Thirteen years, and the other about Sixteen or Seventeen. They said, that they felt a Hand in Bed with them, which they bound up in the Sheet, and took Bed-staves and beat it until it were as soft as Wool, then they took a Stone which lay in the Chamber, about a quarter of an Hundred weight, and put on it, and were quiet all the Night. In the Morning, they found it as they left it the Night before. Then the eldest of the Maids sware that she would burn the Devil, and goes and fetches a Fuz Faggot to burn it, but when she came again, the Stone was thrown away, and the Cloth was found wet.

There were many other things which is too long and tedious to write, it would take up a great deal of time.

This which follows is the Relation of Jone Winsor of long Burton, she being there Three Nights, taken the Third day of July, 1677.

She heard or saw nothing as long as the Candle did burn, but as soon as it was out, there was something which did seem to sall down by the Bed-side, and by and by it began to lay on the Beds-head vvith a Staffe, and did strike Jone Winsor on the Head. She put forth her Hand and caught it, but was not able to hold it fast. She got out of the Bed to light a Candle, and there was a great Stone thrown after her, but it missed her. When the Candle was lighted, they arose and went down to the Fire. One of them went up to fetch the Bed-clothes to make a Bed by the Fire, and there lay a heap of Stones on the Bed vvhereon they lay just before. As soon as the Bed vvas made, and they laid down to take their rest, there was a scratching on the Form that stood by them in an extream manner. Then it came, and did heave up the Bolster whereon they laid their Heads, and did endeavour to throw them out. At last it got hold on one end of the Pillow, and set it quite on end, and there it stood for some considerable time; at last falling down in its place, they fell fast asleep, and so continued all that Night.

The Staff that was spoken of before was Jone Winsors, and she says, she left it below in the Kitchin. She says, that vvhich troubled, did endeavour to kill the people, if it had power. She put them to it, to know the reason vvhy they vvere so troubled, and they said they knew nothing, unless it was about the business of Old Warren. She vvas there Three Nights, and the trouble was much after the same manner, nothing that was more remarkable.

This is the truth of what I heard them speak from their own Mouths, and they will attest it if called thereunto.

ADVERTISEMENT.

A very considerable Story this is, and sufficiently circumstantiated for time and place, saving that the County is not named. The reason whereof I conceive to be, that it was in the very County in which Mr. Glanvil lived, to whom the Information was sent, namely in Somersetshire. And there are Burtons more than one there, and also Leighs, but this Burton is determined by the space of something more than a Mile and an halfs distance from Leigh. So that the Topographical account is sufficiently exact. And the manner of the Narrative is so simple, plain and rural, that it prevents all suspicion of fraud or Imposture in the Relatour.

The transporting of things out of one Room into another, and striking and the like by invisible Agents, minds me of Mr. Lloyd's story, as 'tis called in Mr. Glanvil's Papers, whom in a Letter he 'tells he may rely upon it for truth, as being sent from a Person of Quality and Integrity in those parts. It is of an House haunted of one Walter Meyrick of the Parish of Blethvaugh, in the County of Radnor, some Two and Twenty Years ago. Where besides strange kind of Tunable Whistlings in the Rooms, where none was seen to Whistle, there were stones flung down out of a loft of great weight, the Doors bolted or barred against them on the inside, when returned from the Church, no body being within. And at Prayers at home when some of the Women out of fear held one another by the Arms, some Invisible Power would pluck asunder their Arms, whether they would or no. By such an Invisible force, one as he was sitting at Supper, was struck flat to the ground, and a Trencher struck out of the Maids Hand that waited, and a smart Box on the Ear given to another, no Visible thing being near that did it. A Purse lost with Two Gold Rings, and Six and Four-pence in it, the party complaining thereof, the Purse dropt down from the top of the Room, which had no Room over it, and Four-pence only in it. That Men were struck down with Stones, and yet had no great hurt, shews plainly they were not flung but carried. But there was one beaten with Two S[…]aves black and blue, but none to be seen that thus belaboured him, though in the Day.

We pass by the Frying-Pan, beaten with a little piece of Iron, and tinkling over a Mans Head in the Night, to his being struck down with a Stick by Day, while he tended the Goose roasting, which that Invisible Striker seemed to have a Plot upon, as also by his knocking a Pick-Axe against the Lid of a Coffer, to have a Design upon a Bag of Money. These and the like Feats, that Narrative relates, which Mr. Glanvil calls Mr. Lloyd's Story, who assures him he may rely on the Truth thereof, he procuring it from a Justice of Peace, who took the parties Testimonies that dwelt in the House, or upon occasions were present there, and were Eye-Witnesses of the strange Pranks that were plaid in the place. And there being that Congeneracy betwixt James Sherrings Story and this, they mutually corroborate one another.

RELAT. XXIV. Mr. Andrew Paschall once fellow of Queens Colledge in Cambridge, his Narrative of three Nights disturbance at his Fathers house in London in Soper-Lane, in August 1661.

THE first Nights disturbance; There was in Family my Father and Mother, my Eldest Brother, and one of my Sisters with a young Maiden Gentlewoman her Bedfellow (who seemed to be principally concerned) besides a Maid that lay in the same Chamber.

The Gentlewoman before mentioned, being in bed with my Sister in a Chamber within that where my Father and Mother lay, (the Maid lying in another bed alone by) there seemed to her then lying awake, to be one walking in the Chamber, by a noise made as of a long Gown or some Trailing Garment brushing and sweeping up and down the Room.

By and by, there vvas a Noise of Clattering their Shoes under the Bed, with a scratching and tugging of the Mat under the bed likewise. This continued for some time, my Sister being awakened heard it, so did the Maid. After this my Mother being called out of the next Chamber where she was up (to prepare a Chymical water which required their being up all Night) came in, they being in a great fright. My Brother went up also, who not gone to bed sate below. A Candle was brought, and the noise ceased while they were in the Chamber. Presently after they were gone out again, and the light removed, the Chamber door (which shuts with difficulty) flew to with a great bounce, it being wide open before, it shook the Room where my Mother was busied about the aforesaid preparation. After this one of the shoos that was by the bed side was flung over the bed with a mighty force against a Press that stood on the other side. This put them to such a fright again that the Gentlewoman rise. My Brother went into the Room again and sate up with them all Night.

This I received from my Brother, who came to Bed to me, (who by reason of some ilness had gone to bed first in the Family) early the next Morning. I was confirmed in it afterward by my Mother, upon whose bare assertion I dare confidently believe any thing that shall be related.

The second Nights disturbance; The next Evening as we sate at Supper, we all heard a great noise above in the Chamber, at the end of the house, as it were slinging of Chairs and Stools about the Room or removing of great Trunks. And going up to see, all was still till we came down again: However the Gentlewoman resolved to go to bed again that Night in the same Chamber. My Sister went to bed with her, and the rest to their Lodgings, onely my Brother and I resolved to sit up some time and expect the event. Within a while after we heard them knock earnestly above, we went both up, they told us there had been the same disturbance as the Night before and something more. For besides the tugging of the Mat under the bed, the Bedclothes upon them were often tugged and pulled, insomuch as they were fain to hold them hard with their hands to keep them from being pulled off. All was quiet for a little time while we were in the Chamber with a light, but we were no sooner out of the Chamber with the Candle, but the noise under the […]ed, tugging of the Mat, pulling of the Bedclothes began again. Moreover something came into the bed, which the Gentlewoman said ran up on her by degrees, and seemed little and soft like a Mole. Upon this she skreekt out, and we came in again with the Candle, then all was still again.

We retired often with the Candle, and presently the same Disturbance returned, together with a low whispering, Noise in many places about the Bed, but chiefly towards the beds head, which we all heard staying in the Chamber, and removing the Candle into the next Room. My Father and Mother rise, and there were none of us but heard all or most part of this, but nothing appeared to us. The thing was continually moving and stirring in some part or other of the bed, and most commonly at the feet, where it usually came up first. At last it came to that boldness that it would make the same disturbance while the Candle was in the Chamber, if but a little shaded behind the door, so that we could sometimes see the Clothes pull'd and tugg'd, and we frequently saw it heave and lift up the Clothes upon the bed towards the feet, in a little hill or rising, which both my Brother and I often clapt our hands upon, perceiving it to move, and withall to make a little clacking noise, which cannot any more than the former whispering be exprest in Writing. We could not perceive any thing more than the Clothes, as often as we saw them so moved and heaved up. The shoos were laid up upon the beds Tester, the second Night, to prevent the clattering which was made with them the Night before, and whilst we were standing talking in the Chamber, as I was some distance from the bed, one of the shoos flew off and hit me lightly on the head, my Hat being on. And another came presently tumbling down after it none stirring the bed. Afterwards the aforesaid little thing came upon the Gentlewoman so frequently, that if we were but the least removed, she could not lie quiet in her bed. Then she fate up in her bed with a Mantle about her, which when we were retired was pulled at as if it would have been plucked from her. Whereupon she cried out again, and I came into the Chamber again, and was desired to hold fast upon the Mantle about her, which notwithstanding upon removal of the Candle was tugged hard again, which I very sensibly perceived. Whereupon we perceiving no Cessation, my Brother and I continued in the Chamber all that Night till break of day, vvith a Candle in the Room. The tugging of the Matt under the Bed, the heaving of the Clothes about the Feet, and the other vvhispering noise continuing by sits, till Light appeared. There vvas scarcely any of us, especially she her self, that did not Conjure that Whisperer by the most Sacred Names to speak out and tell us its intent, but nothing was to be seen, nor any answer made.

The third Nights disturbance; The Gentlewoman resolved now to change her Chamber, to try if the disturbance would follow, she did so, my Sister still accompanying of her. My Brother and I sate up as before below expecting again what would follow. The same noise was heard this third Night as the Night before above in the Chamber. We had not sate long below before we were Summoned up with loud knockings again, they were in the same case as before, if not worse. A while after they were in bed in this other Chamber there was a clattering heard at the door; presently after the same noise under the bed, the same heaving of the Clothes, and the same whispering as before. But towards Midnight that thing which came into the bed before, came now so often with such ungrateful skippings up and down upon her, that she often skreekt and cried out. It seemed cold and very smooth as she related, and would commonly come in at her feet, and run all up on her by her side to her shoulder. Once she desired meto clap my hand upon her back near her shoulder blade, as feeling it just then come up thither. I did so on a suddain, and there seemed a cold blast or puff of Wind to blow upon my hand just as I clapt it on her. And one thing more remarkable was this, when the whispering was heard at her Beds-head, after we had many times in vain conjured it to speak and tell us the intent of its whisperings and disturbance, I spake to it very earnestly to speak out or whisper louder. Hereupon it hissed out much louder than before, but nothing intelligible to be heard. At last this disturbance with the thing in the bed being no longer tolerable to the Gentlewoman, my Mother rise (lying in the next Chamber and hearing their perplexity) came into her Chamber and prayed sometime at her Bedside just by her. Whereupon it pleased God within a very short time after to remove all those noises and that which disturbed her. After that Night I cannot tell certainly that there hath been any thing of that nature heard in the house.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THis Narrative though it was not among Mr. Glanvil's Papers, but I found it by chance in mine own Study, yet it being made by an Eye-witness whom I knew to be one of Judgement and Integrity, I thought fit to insert it. And the rather, because of that passage, that when he clapt his Hand upon the Shoulder of the Gentlewoman where the Ghost was, a cool blast or puff of Air seemed to bear or blow against his Hand. Which is like Mr. Glanvil's Experiment of pressing the Linnen Bag in which some Spirit was moving as a living Animal. Which are notable instances of their easie percribration through porous Bodies. This troublesome Spirit I suspect to have been the Ghost of some party deceased who would have uttered something, but had not the knack of speaking so articulately as to be understood. And when they can speak intelligibly, it is ordinarily in a hoarse and low Voice, as is observable in many stories, and particularly in a very fresh story of the Ghost of one deceased that spoke to Jacob Brent some two years ago, an Apprentice then to one Mr. Lawrence in the Little Minories; of which to give some brief account, I think fitting for the very same reasons that I have inserted this of Mr. Paschal, namely, that it is from an Eye- witness, and a discreet and well-disposed young man, as they that know him do testifie: and I will set down no more, nor so much as he himself declared or acknowledged, not onely to Dr. Cudworth, Mr. Fowler, and Mr. Glanvil, but very lately to my self also, viz.

That he had conference with the Ghost of some deceased party for about a quarter of an hour: That he had a glimpse of the shape thereof, being called into the Room where it was, by a Voice, saying, Here, Here; but that he presently cried out, Good God, let me see nothing, he being so assrighted with the sight. But however, he entertained discourse with it for about the time above-mentioned, received several things in charge from it to be done, and was commanded secrecy in some special Matters; but it gave such instructions, and made such discoveries, as right might be done to some that had been wronged by the party deceased. Upon which performance of Jacob Brent, the disturbance of the house ceased: But for about six Weeks before, Mr. Lawrence his house was miserably disturbed, they being most nights affrighted with Thumpings and loud Knockings at the Chamber-doors, sometimes with a strange whirling noise up and down the Rooms, and clapping upon the Stairs. And that night Jacob Brent sate up in the Kitchin expecting some conference with the Spirit for the quiet of the House, he heard the Door of the Room above him that was fast lockt, fly open, while he was reading in Eusebius, and immediately a swift running down the Stairs, and a great knock at the Kitchin-door which stood a jarr, and a chinking of Money on the Stairs, as he passed from the Kitchin towards the Dining-room over against it, whose Door was lockt when they went to bed, but now opened as the Door of the other Room above the Kitchin.

Into this Dining-room he was invited, as is abovesaid, by a Voice saying, Here, Here; and there he received, and after executed, such directions as gave quiet afterwards to the House; and he received thanks from the Ghost after he had made his Journey abroad to fulfil its desire, at his returning home, with a promise it would never trouble the house more. And of the troubles of the house before, the whole Family were Witnesses, as also of the Conference of J. B. and the Spirit, that they heard two speaking in the Dining-room, though they were not so near as to understand what they said; onely they heard J. B. pray to God that he might see nothing.

That the house was really Haunted, besides what has been said already, is further confirmed by Mr. Bamfield, who was desired to lie in the house some days before this Conference of J. B. with the Spirit: who though he heard no noises, yet felt his Clothes tuckt about him, and his Hand kindly stroaked, he being awake all night. And that this could be no trick of J. B. is further evident from that great emotion of mind he was in after this for some two hours, even almost to distraction, and was fain afterwards to be let Bloud. But for his constant temper, he is observed to be, and I take him to be such, of a sober honest and sensible Genius; nor is he any Sectarian, but an orderly Son of the Church of England.

And if the Injunctions of the Ghost he conversed with, and common rules of Prudence, did not forbid the declaring of some particulars, this is an experiment that might convince the most incredulous touching such things. But Mr. Glanvil complains in a Letter of his to Dr. H. More, that this shyness and tender respect of persons has hindered him of many a considerable story; as I have also taken notice long since how mutilate the story of the Shoemaker of Breslaw is made, by reason of Martinus Weinrichius his concealing the Shoemaker's Name. But the mentioning of lockt Doors flying open of their own accord, reminds me of Mr. Alcock's story of a Chest with three Locks unlocking itself, and slying wide open, and then locking itself again. Which is as follows.