Part II: a choice collection of modern relations, part 11 of 12

RELAT. XXV. The Story of Mr. John Bourne of Durley in Ireland, about a mile from Bridgwater, Counsellor at Law.

MR. John Bourne, for his skill, care, and honesty, was made by his Neighbour John Mallet Esq of Enmore, the chief of his Trustees for his Son John Mallet, (Father to Elizabeth now Countess Dowager of Rochester) and the rest of his Children in minority. He had the reputation of a worthy good man, and was commonly taken notice of for an habitual saying by way of Interjection almost to any thing, viz. You say true, You say true, You are in the right. This Mr. Bourne sell sick at his house at Durley in the year 1654, and Dr. Raymond of Oake was sent for to him, who after some time gave the said Mr. Bourne over. And he had not now spake in Twenty sour hours, when the said Dr. Raymond and Mrs. Carlisle (Mr. Bourne's Nephews Wise, whose Husband he made one of his Heirs) sitting by his Bedside, the Doctor opened the Curtains at the Beds feet, to give him air; when on a suddain, to the horrour and amazement of Dr. Raymond and Mrs. Carlisle, the great Iron Chest by the Window at his Beds seet with three Locks to it (in which were all the Writings and Evidences of the said Mr. Mallet's Estate) began to open, first one Lock, then another, then the third. Afterwards the Lid of the said iron Chest lifted up itself, and stood wide open. Then the Patient Mr. Bourne, who had not spoke in Twenty four hours, lifted himself up also, and looking upon the Chest, cryed, You say true, You say true, You are in the right, I'le be with you by and by. So the Patient lay down and spake no more. Then the Chest fell again of itself, and lockt itself one Lock after another, as the three Locks opened; and they tried to knock it open and could not, and Mr. Bourne died within an hour after.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THis Narrative was sent in a Letter to J. C. for Dr. H. More, from Mr. Thomas Alcock of Shear Hampton; of which in a Letter to the said Doctor he gives this account. I am, saith he, very confident of the truth of the story: For I had it from a very good Lady, the eldest Daughter of the said John Mallet, (whose Trustee Mr. Bourne was) and onely Aunt to the Countess of Rochester, who knew all the parties; and have heard Dr. Raymond and Mr. Carlisle relate it often with amazement, being both persons of credit.

The curious may be inquisitive what the meaning of the opening of the Chest may be, and of Mr. Bourne his say, You say true, &c. I'le be with you by and by. As for the former, it is noted by Paracelsus especially, and by others, that there are signs often given of the departure of sick men lying on their Deathbeds, of which this opening of the Iron Coffer or Chest and closing again, is more than ordinary significant, especially if we consider the nearness of sound and sence betwixt Coffer and Coffin, and recal to mind that of Virgil;

Olli dura quies oculos & serreus urget
Somnus—

though this quaintness is more than is requisite in these Prodigies presaging the Sick man's death. As for the latter, it seems to be nothing else but the saying Amen to the presage, uttered in his accustomary form of speech: As if he should say, You of the invisible Kingdom of Spirits have given the token of my suddain departure: And you say true, I shall be with you by and by. Which he was enabled so assuredly to assent to, upon the advantage of the relaxation of his Soul now departing from the Body. Which Diodorus Siculus, lib. 18. notes to be the opinion of Pythagoras and his followers, That it is the priviledge of the Soul near her departure to exercise a fatidical faculty, and to pronounce truely touching things future, [non-Latin script], That humane Souls prognostick things to come at what time they are separating from their Body.

RELAT. XXVI. The Apparition of James Haddock to Francis Taverner near Drum-bridge in Ireland, comprized in a Letter of Thomas Alcock to Dr. H. More.

AT Michaelmas 1662. Francis Taverner, about Twenty five years old, a lusty, proper, stout fellow, then servant at large (afterwards Porter) to the Lord Chichester Earl of Donegal, at Belfast in the North of Ireland, County of Antrim, and Diccess of Connor, riding late in the Night from Hilbrough homeward, near Drum bridge, his Horse, though of good metal, suddainly made a stand; and he supposing him to be taken with the Staggers, alighted to bloud him in the mouth, and presently mounted again. As he was setting forward, there seemed to pass by him two Horsemen, though he could not hear the treading of their seet, which amazed him. Presently there appeared a third in a white Coat, just at his Elbow in the likeness of James Haddock formerly an Inhabitant in Malone, where he died near five years before. Whereupon Taverner askt him in the Name of God who he was? He replied, I am James Haddock, and you may call to mind by this token; That about five years ago I and two other Friends were at your Fathers House, and you by your Fathers appointment brought us some Nuts, and therefore be not afraid, says the Apparition. Whereupon Taverner, remembring the circumstances, thought it might be Haddock; and those two who passed by before him, he thought to be his two Friends with him when he gave them Nuts, and courageously askt him why he appeared to him rather than any other. He answered, Because he was a man of more resolution than others; and if he would ride his way with him, he would acquaint him with a business he had to deliver him. Which Taverner refused to do, and would go his own way, (for they were now at a Quadrivial) and so rode on homewards. But immediately on the departure there arose a great wind, and withal he heard very hideous screeches and noises, to his great amazement; but riding forward as fast as he could, he at last heard the Cocks crow, to his comsort; he alighted off from his Horse, and salling to prayer, desired God's assistance, and so got safe home.

The night a[…]ter there appeared again to him the likeness of James Haddock and bid him go to Elenor Welsh, (now the Wife of Davis living at Malone, but formerly the Wife of the said James Haddock, by whom she had an onely Son, to whom the said James Haddock had by his Will given a Lease which he held of the Lord Chichester, of which the Son was deprived by Davis who had married his Mother) and to ask her if her Maiden-name was not Elenor Welsh; and if it were, to tell her, that it was the Will of her former Husband James Haddock that their Son should be righted in the Lease. But Taverner, partly loath to gain the ill will of his Neighbours, and partly thinking he should not be credited but lookt on as deluded, long neglected to do his Message, till having been every night for about a Months space haunted with this Apparition in several forms every night more and more terrible, (which was usually preceded by an unusual trembling over his whole Body, and great change of countenance manifest to his Wife, in whose presence frequently the Apparition was, though not visible to her) at length he went to Malone to Davis's Wife, and askt whether her Maiden-name was not Elenor Welsh; if it was, he had something to say to her. She replied, There was another Elenor Welsh besides her. Hereupon Taverner returned without delivering his Message. The same night being fast asleep in his Bed, (for the former Apparitions were as he sate by the Fire with his Wife) by something pressing upon him, he was awakened, and saw again the Apparition of James Haddock in a white Coat as at other times, who asked him if he had delivered his Message? He answered, he had been there with Elenor Welsh. Upon which the Apparition looking more pleasantly upon him, bid him not be afraid, and so vanished in a flash of brightness.

But some nights after (he having not delivered his Message) he came again, and appearing in many formidable shapes, threatned to tear him in pieces if he did not do it. This made him leave his house where he dwelt in the Mountains, and betake himself to the Town of Belfast, where he sate up all night at one Pierce's house a Shoemaker, accompanied with the said Pierce and a Servant or two of the Lord Chichester, who were desirous to see or hear the Spirit. About midnight as they were all by the Fire-side they beheld Taverner's Countenance to change, and a trembling to fall on him, who presently espied the Apparition in a Room opposite to him where he sate, and took up the Candle and went to it, and resolutely askt it in the Name of God wherefore it haunted him? It replied, because he had not delivered the Message, and withal threatned to tear him in pi[…]ces if he did not do it speedily; and so, changing itself into many prodigious shapes, it vanisht in white like a Ghost. Whereupon Francis Taverner became much dejected and troubled, and next day went to the Lord Chichester's house, and with tears in his Eyes, related to some of the Family the sadness of his condition. They told it to my Lord's Chaplain Mr. James South, who came presently to Taverner, and being acquainted of his whole Story, advised him to go this present time to Malone to deliver punctually his Message, and promised to go along with him. But first they went to Dr. Lewis Downs then Minister of Belfast, who upon hearing the Relation of the whole matter, doubted at first of the truth of it, attributing it rather to Melancholy than any thing of reality. But being afterwards fully satisfied of it, the onely scruple remaining was, Whether it might be lawful to go on such a business, not knowing whose errand it was; Since, though it was a real Apparition of some Spirit, yet it was questionable whether of a good or a bad Spirit. Yet the justice of the Cause, (it being the common report the Youth was wronged) and other considerations prevailing, he went with them. So they three went to Davis's house, where the Woman being desired to come to them, Taverner did effectually do his Message, by telling her, that he could not be at quiet for the Ghost of her former Husband James Haddock, who threatned to tear him in pieces if he did not tell her she must right John Haddock her Son by him, in a Lease wherein she and Davis her now Husband had wronged him. This done, he presently found great quietness in his mind; and, thanking the Gentlemen for their Company, Advice, and Assistance, he departed thence to his Brother's House at Drum-bridge: Where, about two nights after, the aforesaid Apparition came to him again, and more pleasantly than formerly, askt if he had delivered his Message? He answered, he had done it fully. It replied, that he must do the same Message to the Executors also, that the business might be perfected. At this meeting Taverner asked the Spirit if Davis would do him any hurt; to which it answered at first somewhat doubtfully; but at length threatned Davis if he attempted any thing to the injury of Taverner, and so vanisht away in white.

The day following, Dr. Jeremie Taylor Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore, was to go to keep Court at Dromore, and commanded me, who was then Secretary to him, to write for Taverner to meet him there, which he did. And there in the presence of many people he examined Taverner strictly of this strange Scene of Providence, as my Lord styl'd it; and by the account given him both by Taverner, and others who knew Taverner and much of the former particulars, his Lordship was satisfied that the Apparition was true and real; but said no more there to him, because at Hilbrough, three miles from thence on his way home, my Lord was informed that my Lady Conway and other persons of Quality were come purposely to hear his Lordship examine the Matter. So Tarverner went with us to Hilbrough, and there, to satisfie the curiosity of the fresh company, after asking many things anew, and some over again, my Lord advised him the next time the Spirit appeared to ask him these Questions. Whence are you? Are you a good or a bad Spirit? Where is your abode? What station do you hold? How are you regimented in the other World? And what is the reason that you appear for the relief of your Son in so small a matter, when so many Widows and Orphans are oppressed in the World, being defrauded of greater matters, and none from thence of their Relations appear, as you do, to right them?

That night Taverner was sent for to Lisburne to my Lord Conway's three miles from Hilbrough on his way home to Belfast, where he was again strictly examined in the presence of many good men and women of the aforesaid matter, was ordered to lie at my Lord Conway's all night; and about Nine or Ten a clock at night, standing by the Fire-side with his Brother and many others, his Countenance changed, and he sell into a trembling, the usual prognostick of the Apparition; and, being loath to make any disturbance in his Lordships house, he and his Brother went out into the Court, where he saw the Spirit coming over the Wall; which, approaching nearer, askt him if he had done his Message to the Executor also? He replied, he had, and wondered it should still haunt him. It replied, he need not fear, for it would do him no hurt, nor trouble him any more, but the Executor if he did not see the Boy righted. Here his Brother put him in mind to ask the Spirit what the Bishop bid him, which he did presently. But it gave him no answer, but crawled on its Hands and Feet over the Wall again, and so vanisht in white, with a most melodious Harmony.

Note, (1) That Pierce, at whose house, and in whose presence the Apparition was, being askt whether he saw the Spirit, said, he did not, but thought at that time he had a Mist all over his eyes. (2) What was then spoke to Taverner was in so low and hollow a voice, that they could not understand what it said. (3) At Pierce's house it s[…]ood just in the entry of a Door; and as a Maid passed by to go in at the Door, Taverner saw it go aside and give way to the Maid, though she saw it not. (4) That the Lease was hereupon disposed on to the Boys use. (5) The Spirit at the last apparition at my Lord Conway's house, revealed somewhat to Taverner, which he would not discover to any of us that askt him.

This Taverner, with all the Persons and Places mentioned in the Story, I knew very well, and all wise and good men did believe it, especially the Bishop, and Dean of Connor Dr. Rust: Witness

Your humble Servant

Thomas Alcock.

ADVERTISEMENT.

IT will not be amiss to set down here what Mr. Alcock addes by way of Postscript in his Letter. There is an odd story, saith he, depending on this, which I cannot chuse but tell you. The Boys Friends put the Trustees and Executor on this Apparitions account into our Courts, where it was pleasant to hear my Lord talk to them on the whole matter. The Uncle and Trustee, one John Costlet, forswore the thing, railed on Taverner, and made strange imprecations, and wisht Judgments might fall on him if he knew of any such Lease; but the fear of the Apparitions menaces by Taverner scar'd him into a promise of justice at least. About four or five years after, when my Lord died, and the noise of the Apparition was over, Costlet began again to threaten the Boy with Law, &c. But being drunk at Hillhall by Lisburne, coming home he fell from his Horse, and never spake more. This is a sad truth to my knowledge.

RELAT. XXVII. The Story of David Hunter Neat-herd to the Bishop of Down and Connor, at Portmore in Ireland, 1663. from the same hand.

DAvid Hunter Neat-herd at the Bishop's house at Portmore, there appeared to him one night, carrying a Log of Wood into the Dairie, an Old Woman, which amazed him, for he knew her not: but the fright made him throw away his Log of Wood and run into the house. The next night she appeared again to him, and he could not chuse but follow her all night; and so almost every night for near three quarters of a Year. Whenever she came, he must go with her through the Woods at a good round rate; and the poor fellow lookt as if he was bewitcht and travelled off his legs. And when in bed with his Wife, if she appeared, he must rise and go. And because his Wife could not hold him in his bed, she would go too, and walk after him fill day, though she see nothing: But his little Dog was so well acquainted with the Apparition, that he would follow her as well as his Master. If a Tree stood in her walk, he observed her always to go through it. In all this while she spake not.

But one day the said David going over a Hedge into the High-way, she came just against him, and he cried out, Lord bless me, would I was dead; shall I never be delivered from this misery? At which, And the Lord bless me too, says she: It was very happy you spake first, for till then I had no power to speak, though I have followed you so long. My Name, says she, is Margaret—I lived here before the War, and had one Son by my Husband. When he died I married a Souldier, by whom I had several Children, which that former Son maintained, else we must have all starved. He lives beyond the Baun-water; pray go to him and bid him dig under such a Harth, and there he shall find 28 S. Let him pay what I owe in such a place, and the rest to the charge unpayed at my Funeral; and go to my Son that lives here, which I had by my latter Husband, and tell him that he lives a wicked and a dissolute life, and is very unnatural and ungrateful to his Brother that maintained him; and if he does not mend his life, God Almighty will destroy him.

David Hunter told her he never knew her. No, says she, I died Seven years before you came into the Countrey: But for all that, if he would do her Message, she would never hurt him. But he deferred doing as the Apparition bid him, and she appeared the night after as he lay in bed, and struck him on the shoulder very hard; at which he cried out, and askt her if she did not promise she would not hurt him? She said, that was if he did her Message; if not, she would kill him. He told her he could not go now by reason the Waters were out. She said she was content he should stay till they were abated; but charged him afterwards not to fail her. So he did her errand, and afterwards she appeared and gave him thanks. For now, said she, I shall be at rest, therefore pray you lift me up from the ground, and I will trouble you no more. So David Hunter lifted her up from the ground, and, as he said, she felt just like a bag of Feathers in his arms. So she vanisht, and he heard most delicate Musick as she went off, over his head; and he never was more troubled.

This account the poor fellow gave us every day as the Apparition spake to him, and my Lady Conway came to Portmore, where she askt the fellow the same questions and many more. This I know to be true, being all the while with my Lord of Down, and the fellow a poor Neatherd there.

Thomas Alcock.

ADVERTISEMENT.

IT is no small confirmation to my self of the truth of these two last Stories, in both which my Lady Conway is mentioned, in that I received two Letters from that incomparable Lady out of Ireland touching them both. The former is dated, Lisburne, March 3. 1662. wherein she writes thus: I have spoken lately with two simple Country-people who have been much perplexed with two several persons who have died lately. The stories are too long to relate; but the circumstances are such, as I know not how to misbelieve the stories. The persons cannot be suspected to have any design, and were altogether unacquainted in the Families of them that appeared, and wholly ignorant of those things in them that they now relate, and have charge to sollicite the amendment of some miscarriages by some persons intrusted, which they could never hear of, as is supposed, by any other means. There are many other probabilities, but all evaded by several persons here. And to give you a taste of their goodly E[…]asions, I will transcribe a passage out of the other Letter of the said excellent Lady, dated, Lisburne, April 29. 1663. wherein she writes thus: The Relation I sent you of two in this Country is certainly liable to as little exception (there was mention of the Drummer of Tedworth before) as any one shall meet with; As may appear by the diligent search some have made for a flaw and Objection against the parties, who, after all, they confess, must needs appear perfectly uninteressed, and impossible to have had from any concerned what they have delivered. But they believe that either Drunkenness or desperate Melancholy did by chance enable them to light upon greater truths than themselves thought of. Thus far that excellent person. And it was enough for this noble Lady onely to recite their solution of the Phaenomenon into Melancholy and Drunkenness, it being so trisling and silly, that it wanted to further refutation than the mere recital.

That Drink may discover the secrets of him that is drunk, as the Poet observes, is reasonable enough: but that a man by being drunk is better capacitated to understand the secrets of another man, or of his Family, is so wilde a Paradox, that no sober man can admit it. And what is Melancholy but a natural Drunkenness when it serments? And moreover, it being but by chance that Melancholy or Drunkenness enables them to light upon such things, why may not Sanguine and Sobriety chance as well to do the same, and not rather better, if there be any betterness in things by chance: But if there be any advantage in fermenting Melancholy or strong Drink, it is because the Soul is more excited, and made more ready to discover its own more inward furniture, as men in drink reveal their own Secrets. But the Soul has no innate Idea's of particular things, and therefore the greatest estervescency of Drink or Melancholy will not a jot better dispose her to the knowledge of Particulars, but indispose her for the reception of them from without. So blindly do these Witlings Philosophize touching things of this nature.

And yet, I dare say, this was the very best of their Evasions: Which being no better against these two Stories, and the Stories so sifted and examined (to say nothing of others) by a person of so quick a Wit, impartial Judgment and Sagacity, as I know that excellent Lady to have been, I must confess, that to me it is a confirmation as strong as I can desire for the main strokes of the Stories, of which I retain some memory, having heard a more particular account of them from her Ladyship presently upon her return from Ireland some sixteen years ago. Nor do doubt but Mr. Alcock has approved himself a faithful Reciter of them as to the main; nor can there any one rightly be deemed more fit and able, he being present at the Examination of Taverner, and dwelling at Portmore with the Bishop of Down, whose Servant Hunter was.