Part II: a choice collection of modern relations, part 8 of 12

RELAT. XII. Of the appearing of Mr. Watkinson's Ghost to his Daughter Toppam, contained in a Letter of Mrs. Taylor of the Ford by St. Neots, to Dr. Ezekias Burton.

SIR;

MY Service to you and your Lady. Now according to your desire I shall write what my Cousin told me: Her name was Mary Watkinson, her Father did live in Smithfield, but she was Married to one Francis Toppam, and she did live in York, with her Husband being an ill one, who did steal her away against her Parents consent, so that they could not abide him. But she came often to them, and when she was last with him upon their parting, she expressed that she feared she should never see him more. He answered her, if he should dye, if ever God did permit the dead to see the living, he would see her again. Now after he had been Buried about half a year, on a Night, when she was in bed, but could not sleep, she heard Musick, and the Chamber grew lighter and lighter, and she being broad awake, saw her Father stand at her bedside: Who said, Mal did not I tell thee that I would see thee once again? She called him Father, and talked of many things; and he bad her be Patient and Dutiful to her Mother. And when she told him that she had a Child since he did dye, he said that would not trouble her long. He bad her speak what she would now to him, for he must go, and that he should never see her more till they met in the Kingdom of Heaven. So the Chamber grew darker and darker, and he was gone with Musick. And she said that she did never dream of him nor ever did see any Apparition of him after.

He was a very honest godly Man as far as I can tell.

ADVERTISEMENT.

This story G. Rust, who was after Bishop of Dromore, told me I remember with great assurance some Twenty years ago, who was not at all credulous in these things. And it was so as Mrs. Taylor relates to Dr. Burton. The next Relation shall be of a Daughter appearing to her Father.

RELAT. XIII. The appearing of the Ghost of the Daughter of Dr. Farrar to him after her death, according to a brief Narrative sent from Mr. Edward Fowler to Dr. H. More, Anno 1678. May 11.

THis week Mr. Pearson who is a worthy good Minister of this City of London, told me, That his Wife's Grandfather a Man of great Piety and Physician to this present King, his name Farrar, nearly related (I think Brother) to the famous Mr. Farrar of little Giddon, I say this Gentleman and his Daughter (Mrs. Pearsons Mother a very pious soul) made a compact at his intreaty that the first of them that dyed, if happy, should after death appear to the surviver, if it were possible; the Daughter with some difficulty consenting thereto.

Some time after, the Daughter who lived at Gillingham. Lodge two Miles from Salisbury, fell in labour, and by a mistake being given a noxious potion instead of another prepared for her, suddainly dyed.

Her Father lived in London, and that very Night she dyed she opened his Curtains and looked upon him. He had before heard nothing of her ilness, but upon this Apparition confidently told his Maid, that his Daughter was dead, and two days after received the news. Her Grandmother told Mrs. Pearson this, as also an Uncle of hers, and the abovesaid Maid, and this Mrs. Pearson I know, and she is a very prudent and good Woman.

RELAT. XIV. The appearing of the Ghost of one Mr. Bower of Guilford, to an Highway-man in Prison, as it is set down in a Letter of Dr. Ezekias Burton, to Dr. H. More.

ABout Ten years ago one Mr. Bower an antient Man living at Guilford in Surrey, was upon the Highway not far from that place found newly Murdered very barbarously, having one great Cut cross his Throat, and another down his Breast. Two Men were seized upon suspicion, and put into Gaol at Guilford to another, who had before been committed for Robbing as I suppose. That Night this third Man was awakened about one of the Clock and greatly terrified with an Old Man, who had a great gash cross his Throat almost from Ear to Ear, and a wound down his Breast. He also came in stooping and holding his hand on his back. Thus he appeared but said nothing. The Thief calls to his two new Companions, they grumbled at him but made no answer.

In the Morning he retained so lively an impression of what he had seen, that he spoke to them to the same purpose again, and they told him it was nothing but his Phantasy. But he was so fully perswaded of the r[…]ality of this Apparition, that he told others of it, and it came to the Ears of my Friend Mr. Reading Justice of Peace in Surrey, and Cousin to the Gentleman that was Murdered.

He immediately sent for the Prisoner and asked him in the first place whether he was born or had lived about Guilford? To which he answered, No. Secondly, He enquired if he knew any of the Inhabitants of that Town or of the Neighbourhood? He replied that he was a stranger to all thereabout. Then he enquired, if he had ever heard of one Mr. Bower? He said No. After this he examined him for what cause those other two Men were imprisoned? To which he answered, he knew not, but supposed for some Robbery.

After these preliminary Interrogatories he desired him to tell him what he had seen in the Night? Which he immediately did, exactly according to the Relation he had heard, and I gave before. And withal deseribed the Old Gentleman so by his picked beard, and that he was, as he called it, rough on his Cheeks, and that the Hairs of his Face were Black and White, that Mr. Reading saith he himself could not have given a more exact description of Mr. Bower, than this was. He told the Highway-man that he must give him his Oath (though that would signifie little from such a Rogue) to which the Man readily consented, and took Oath before the Justice of all this.

Mr. Reading being a very discreet Man concealed this story from the Jury at the Assizes, as knowing that this would be no evidence according to our Law. However the Friends of the Murdered Gentleman had been very inquisitive, and discovered several suspicious circumstances. One of which was, that those two Men had washed their Clothes, and that some stains of blood remained. Another, that one of them had denied he ever heard that Mr. Bower was dead, when as he had in another place consest it two hours before. Upon these and such like evidences those two were Condemned and Executed, but denied it to the last. But one of them said, the other could clear him if he would, which the By-standers understood not.

After some time a Tinker was hanged (where, the Gentleman has forgot) who at his death said, that the Murder of Mr. Bower of Guilford was his greatest trouble. For he had a hand in it; he confessed he struck him a blow on the back which fetcht him from his Horse, and when he was down, those other Men that were Arraigned and Executed for it cut his Throat and rifled him. This is the first story which I had from Mr. Reading himself, who is a very honest prudent person and not credulous.

I know you desire to have the Names of all the persons referred to in this Relation, and the exact time and place, but Mr. Reading cannot recollect them now, though he tells me he sent an exact and full Narrative of all to one Mr. Onslow a Justice of Peace in that Neighbourhood, with whom I have some acquaintance, and I will endeavour to retrieve it.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Names of all the Persons and exact time and place of all the actions, I find not amongst Mr. Glanvil's Papers, but the story is so perfect as it is, and so credible, that I thought it worthy of a place amongst the rest. And this appearing of Mr. Bower is just such another thing as the appearing of Anne Walker. We proceed to the second story which Mr. Reading imparted to the Doctor.

RELAT. XV. Another appearing of a Ghost of a Man of Guilford, for the recovery of a Field for his Child unjustly detained by his Brother, out of the abovesaid Letter of Dr. Ezekias Burton to Dr. H. More.

AN Inhabitant of the before-named Town of Guilford, who was possest of some Copy-hold Land, which was to descend to his Children, or in default of such issue to his Brother, dies having no Child born. And his Wife apprehending her self not to be with Child (which her Husbands Brother asked her immediately after his Brothers death) she told him she believed she was not, but afterward proved to be. Which when she knew she went, by the instigation of Neighbours, to her Brother, and told him how it was with her. He rated her, called her Whore, and told her that she had procured some body to get her with Child, knowing that such a Field must be inherited by the posterity of her Husband, but her Whoring should not fool him out of that Estate. The poor Woman went home troubled, that not only her Child should lose the Land, but which was worse, that she should be thought a Whore. However she quieted her self, and resolved to sit down with the loss.

When her time came she was delivered of a Son, he grew up and one Summers Night as she was undressing him in her yard, her Husband appeared, and bid her go to his Brother and demand the Field. Which she did, but was treated very ill by him. He told her that neither she nor her Devil (for she had told him her Husband appeared and bid her speak to him) should make him forgoe his land. Whereupon she went home again. But some time after as her Brother was going out of this Field homeward, the dead Man appears to him at the stile, and bids him give up the Land to the Child, for it was his right. The Brother being greatly frighted at this, runs away, and not long after comes to her and tells her, she had sent the Devil to him, and bids her take the Land, and so gave it up, and her Son is now possest of it. His Name is Mat, he lived in the Service of Mr. Readings Brother for some years, but he has forgot his Sir-name though he knows him very well.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Though the Sir-name of the party be wanting, yet he is determinated so by other circumstances, and the story so fresh, and told by so credible a person, that the Narrative is sufficiently considerable as it is. But of Recovery of Land to the right Owners, the story of Mrs. Brettons Ghost appearing is an eximious example, which is as follows.

RELAT. XVI.

The appearing of the Ghost of Mrs. Bretton, for the recovery of some Lands into the hands of the Poor, taken from them by some mistake in Law or Right, as it is in a Narrative sent to Dr. H. More from Mr. Edward Fowler, Prebendary of Glocester.

DR. Bretton late Rector of Ludgate and Dedford, lived formerly in Herefordshire, and Marryed the Daughter of Dr. S—This Gentlewoman was a person of extraordinary piety, which she expressed as in her life, so at her death. She had a Maid that she had a great kindness for, who was Married to a near Neighbour, whose name, as I remember, was Alice. Not long after her death, as Alice was rocking her Infant in the night, she was called from the Cradle by a knocking at her door, which opening she was surprised at the sight of a Gentlewoman not to be distinguisht from her late Mistress, neither in Person nor habit. She was in a Morning-Gown, the same in appearance with that she had often seen her Mistress wear. At first sight she expressed very great amazement, and said, Were not my Mistress dead, I should not question but that you are she. She replied I am the same that was your Mistress, and took her by the hand. Which Alice affirmed was as cold as a Clod.

She added, That she had business of great importance to imploy her in, and that she must immediately go a little way with her. Alice trembled, and beseecht her to excuse her, and intreated her very importunately to go to her Master, who must needs be more fit to be imployed. She answered, that he who was her Husband was not at all concerned, but yet she had had a desire rather to make use of him, and in order thereunto had several times been in his Chamber, but he was still asleep, nor had she power to do more than once uncover his feet towards the awakening of him. And the Doctor said, that he had heard walking in his Chamber in the night, which till now he could give no account of. Alice next objected that her husband was gone a journey, and she had no one to look to her Child, that it was very apt to cry vehemently, and she feared if it awaked before her return, it would cry it self to death, or do it self mischief. The Spectre replied, The Child shall sleep till you return.

Alice seeing there was no avoiding it, sorely against her will, followed her over a style into a large Field, who then said to her, observe how much of this Field I measure with my Feet. And when she had taken a good large and leisurely compass, she said, all this belongs to the Poor, it being gotten from them by wrongful means, and charged her to go and tell her Brother, whose it was at that time, that he should give it up to the Poor again forthwith as he loved her and his deceased Mother. This Brother was not the Person who did this unjust act, but his Father. She added, that she was the more concerned, because her name was made use of in some writing that related to this Land.

Alice askt her how she should satisfy her Brother that this was no Cheat or delusion of her Phansy. She replied, tell him this secret, which he knows that only himself and I are privy to, and he will believe you. Alice having promised her to go on this Errand, she proceded to give her good advice, and entertained her all the rest of the Night with most Heavenly and Divine discourse. When the Twilight appeared they heard the whistling of Carters and the noise of Horse-Bells. Whereupon the Spectre said, Alice I must be seen by none but your self, and so she disappeared.

Immediately Alice makes all haste home; being thoughtful for her Child, but found it as the Spectre had said, asleep as she left it. When she had dressed it, and committed it to the care of a Neighbour, away she went to her Master the Doctor, who amazed at the account she gave him, sent her to his Brother in Law. He at first hearing Alice's story and message, laughed at it heartily. But she had no sooner told him the secret, but he changed his countenance, told her he would give the Poor their own, and accordingly he did it, and they now enjoy it.

This with more circumstances hath several times been related by Dr. Bretton himself, who was well known to be a person of great goodness and sincerity. He gave a large Narrative of this Apparition of his Wife to two of my Friends. First, to one Mrs. Needham, and afterward a little before his death to Dr. Whichcot.

Some years after I received the foregoing Narrative (viz. near four years since) I light into the company of three sober persons of good rank, who all lived in the City of Hereford, and I travelled in a Stage-Coach three days with them. To them I happened to tell this story, but told it was done at Deptford, for so I presumed it was, because I knew that there Dr. Bretton lived. They told me as soon as I had concluded it, that the story was very true in the main, only I was out as to the place. For 'twas not Deptford, but as I remember they told me Pembridge near Hereford, where the Doctor was Minister before the Return of the King. And they assured me upon their own knowledge, that to that day the Poor enjoyed the piece of ground. They added, That Mrs. Bretton's Father could never endure to hear any thing mentioned of his Daughters appearing after her death, but would still reply in great anger, that it was not his Daughter, but it was the Devil. So that he acknowledged that something appeared in the likeness of his Daughter.

This is attested by me this 16th. of Feb. 1680/1. Edward Fowler.

RELAT. XVII. Of a Dutch Man that could see Ghosts, and of the Ghost he saw in the Town of Woodbridge in Suffolk.

MR. Broom the Minister of Woodbridge in Suffolk, meeting one day, in a Barbers shop in that Town, a Dutch Lieutenant (who was blown up with Obdam, and taken alive out of the Water, and carried to that Town where he was a Prisoner at large) upon the occasion of some discourse was told by him, that he could see Ghosts, and that he had seen divers. Mr. Broom rebuking him for talking so idly, he persisted in it very stiffly. Some days after lighting upon him again, he askt him whether he had seen any Ghost since his coming to that Town. To which he replyed, No.

But not long after this, as they were walking together up the Town, he said to Mr. Broom, Yonder comes a Ghost. He seeing nothing, askt him whereabout it was? The other said, it is over against such a house, and it walks looking upwards towards such a side, flinging one arm with a Glove in its hand. He said moreover, that when it came near them, they must give way to it. That he ever did so, and some that have not done so, have suffered for it. Anon he said, 'tis just upon us, let's out of the way. Mr. Broom believing all to be a fiction, as soon as he said those words, took hold of his Arm, and kept him by force in the way. But as he held him, there came such a force against them, that he was flung into the middle of the street, and one of the palms of his hands, and one knee bruised and broken by the fall, which put him for a while to excessive pain.

But spying the Lieutenant lye like a dead man, he got up as soon as he could, and applied himself to his relief. With the help of others he got him into the next shop, where they poured strong-water down his Throat, but for some time could discern no Life in him. At length, what with the strong-water, and what with well chafing him he began to stirr, and when he was come to himself, his first words were, I will shew you no more Ghosts. Then he desired a Pipe of Tobacco, but Mr. Broom told him, he should take it at his house; for he feared, should he take it so soon there, it would make him sick.

Thereupon they went together to Mr. Broom's house, where they were no sooner entring in, but the Bell rang out. Mr. Broom presently sent his Maid to learn who was dead. She brought word that it was such an One, a Taylor, who dyed suddenly, though he had been in a Consumption a long time. And inquiring after the time of his death, they found it was as punctually as it could be guessed at the very time when the Ghost appeared. The Ghost had exactly this Taylors known Gate, who ordinarily went also with one Arm swinging, and a Glove in that hand, and looking on one side upwards.

ADVERTISEMENT.

This Relation was sent to Dr. H. More from Mr. Edw. Fowler; at the end whereof he writes, that Dr. Burton as well as himself, heard it from Mr. Broom's own mouth. And I can add, that I also afterwards heard it from his own mouth at London.

RELAT. XVIII. An Irish story of one that had like to have been carried away by Spirits, and of the Ghost of a Man who had been seven years dead, that brought a Medicine to the abovesaid parties Bed-side.

A Gentleman in Ireland near to the Earl of Ororie's, sending his Butler one afternoon to buy Cards; as he passed a Field, he, to his wonder, espyed a company of people sitting round a Table, with a deal of good cheer before them in the midst of the Field. And he going up towards them, they all arose and saluted him, and desired him to sit down with them. But one of them whispered these words in his Ear; Do nothing this company invites you to. He thereupon refused to sit down at the Table, and immediately Table and all that belonged to it were gone. And the company are now dancing and playing upon Musical Instruments. And the Butler being desired to joyn himself to them, but he refusing this also, they fall all to work, and he not being to be prevailed with to accompany them in working any more than in feasting or dancing, they all disappeared, and the Butler is now alone. But instead of going forwards, home he returns as fast as he could drive, in a great consternation of mind. And was no sooner entred his Masters door, but down he falls, and lay some time sensless, but coming to himself again, he related to his Master what had happened to him.

The night following, there comes one of this company to his Bed-side, and tells him, that if he offered to stir out of doors the next day, he would be carryed away. Hereupon he kept within, but towards the Evening, having need to make water, he adventured to put one foot over the threshold, several standing by. Which he had no sooner done, but they espied a Rope cast about his middle, and the poor Man was hurried away with great swiftness, they following after him as fast as they could, but could not overtake him. At length they espyed a Horseman coming towards them, and made signs to him to stop the Man, whom he saw coming near him, and both the ends of the Rope but no body drawing. When they met, he laid hold on one end of the Rope, and immediately had a smart blow given him over his Arm with the other end. But by this means the Man was stopt, and the Horseman brought him back with him.

The Earl of Orory hearing of these strange passages, sent to the Master to desire him to send this Man to his House, which he accordingly did. And the morning following, or quickly after, he told the Earl that his Spectre had been with him again, and assured him that that day he should most certainly be carried away, and that no endeavours should avail to the saving of him. Upon this he was kept in a large room, with a considerable number of persons to guard him, among whom was the famous stroker Mr. Greatrix, who was a neighbor. There were besides other Persons of Quality, two Bishops in the house at the same time, who were consulted touching the making use of a Medicine the Spectre or Ghost prescribed, of which, mention will be made anon, but they determined on the Negative. But this by the By.

Till part of the Afternoon was spent all was quiet, but at length he was perceived to rise from the ground, whereupon Mr. Greatrix and another lusty Man clapt their Arms over his shoulders, one of them before him, and the other behind, and weighed him down with all their strength. But he was forcibly taken up from them, and they were too weak to keep their hold, and for a considerable time he was carried in the Air to and fro over their heads, several of the Company still running under him to prevent his receiving hurt if he should fall. At length he fell and was caught before he came to ground, and had by that means no hurt.

All being quiet till bed-time, My Lord ordered two of his Servants to lye with him, and the next Morning he told his Lordship, that his Spectre was again with him, and brought a wooden dish with grey liquor in it, and bad him drink it off. At the first sight of the Spectre he said he endeavoured to awake his bedfellows, but it told him that that endeavour should be in vain, and that he had no cause to fear him, he being his Friend, and he that at first gave him the good advice in the Field, which had he not followed, be had been before now perfectly in the power of the Company he saw there. He added, that he concluded it was impossible but that he should have been carried away the day before, there being so strong a Combination against him. But now he could assure him that there would be no more attempts of that nature, but he being troubled with two sorts of sad fits he had brought that liquor to cure him of them, and bad him drink it. He peremptorily refusing, the Spectre was angry, upbraided him with great disingenuity, but told him that however he had a kindness for him, and that if he would take Plantain juice he should be well of one sort of fits, but he should carry the other to his Grave. The poor Man having by this time somewhat recovered himself, ask't the Spectre whether by the juice of Plantain he meant that of the Leaves or Roots? It replied, the Roots.

Then it askt him whether he did not know him? He answered, No. He replied, I am such a one? The Man answered: He hath been long dead. I have been dead said the Spectre or Ghost seven years, and you know that I lived a loose life. And ever since have I been hurried up and down in a restless Condition with the Company you saw, and shall be to the day of Judgment. Then he proceeded to tell him, that had he acknowledged God in his ways, he had not suffered such severe things by their means. And further said, you never prayed to God that day before you met with this Company in the Field, and also was then going about an unlawful business, and so vanisht.