The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits and Immortality of the Soul, Treatise · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Containing several other Letters and Relations concerning Apparitions and Witchcrafts.
Mr. Thomas Tilson, Minister of Aylesworth in Kent, his Letter concerning an Apparition in Rochester, this present Year, 1691.
Reverend Sir,
BEing informed that you are writing about Witchcraft and Apparitions, I take the freedom, though a Stranger, to send you this following Relation.
Mary, the Wife of Iohn Goffe of Rochester, being afflicted with a long Illness, removed to her Father's House at WestMulling, which is about nine Miles distan… from her own: There she died; Iune the 4th, this present Year, 1691.
The Day before her departure, she grew very impatiently desirous to see her two Children, whom she had left at home, to the Care of a Nurse. She prayed her Husband to hire a Horse, for she must go home, and die with the Children. When they persuaded her to the contrary, telling her she was not fit to be taken out of her Bed, nor able to sit on Horse back, she intreated them however to try: If I cannot sit, said she, I will lie all along upon the Horse, for I must go to see my poor Babes.
A Minister who lives in the Town was with her at Ten-a-Clock that Night, to whom she express'd good Hopes in the Mercies of God, and a Willingness to die: But, said she, it is my Misery that I cannot see my Children.
Between One and Two-a-Clock in the Morning she fell into a Trance. One Widow Turner, who watched with her that Night, says, that her Eyes were open, and fixed, and her Jaw fallen: She put her Hand upon her Mouth and Nostrils, but could perceive no Breath; she thought her to be in a Fit, and doubted whether she were alive or dead.
The next Day this dying Woman told her Mother, that she had been at home with her Children. That is impossible, said the Mother, for you have been here in Bed all the while. Yes, replied the other, but I was with them last Night, when I was asleep.
The Nurse at Rochester, Widow Alexander by Name, affirms, and says, she will take her Oath on't before a Magistrate, and receive the Sacrament upon it, that a little before Two a Clock that Morning she saw the Likeness of the said Mary Gosse come out of the next Chamber, (where the elder Child lay in a Bed by it self, the Door being left open, and stood by her Bed-side for about a quarter of an Hour; the younger Child was there lying by her; her Eyes moved, and her Mouth went, but she said nothing. The Nurse moreover says, that she was perfectly awake; it was then Day-light, being one of the longest Days in the Year. She sate up in her Bed, and looked stedfastly upon the Apparition: In that time she heard the Bridge-Clock strike Two, and a while after said, In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, what art thou? Thereupon the Appearance removed, and went away; she slipp'd on her Cloaths and followed, but what became on't she cannot tell. Then, and not before, she began to be grievously affrighted, and went out of Doors, and walked upon the Wharf (the House is just by the River side) for some Hours, only going in now and then to look to the Children. At Five a-Clock she went to a Neighbour's House, and knocked at the Door, but they would not rise: At Six she went again, then they arose and let her in. She related to them all that had pass'd: They would persuade her she was mistaken, or dreamt: But she confidently affirmed, If ever I saw her in all my Life, I saw her this Night.
One of those to whom she made the Relation (Mary, the Wife of Iohn Sweet) had a Messenger came from Mulling that Forenoon, to let her know her Neighbour Goffe was dying, and desired to speak with her; she went over the same day, and found her just departing. The Mother, amongst other Discourse, Related to her how much her Daughter had long'd to see the Children, and said she had seen them. This brought to Mrs. Sweet's mind, what the Nurse had told her that Morning, for till then, she had not thought to mention it, but disguised it, rather as the Woman's disturbed Imagination.
The Substance of this, I had Related to me by Iohn Carpenter, the Father of the Deceased, next day after her Burial: Iuly the Second: I fully Discoursed the Matter with the Nurse, and two Neighbours, to whose House she went that Morning.
Two days after, I had it from the Mother, the Minister that was with her in the Evening, and the Woman who sat up with her that last Night: They all agree in the same Story, and every one helps to strengthen the others Testimony:
They appear to be Sober Intelligent Persons, far enough off from Designing to impose a Cheat upon the World, or to manage a lye, and what Temptation they should lye under for so doing, I cannot conceive.
Sir, that God would bless your pious Endeavours for the Conviction of Atheists and Sadduces, and the promoting of true Religion and Godliness; and that this Narrative may conduce somewhat towards the farthering of that great Work, is the hearty Desire and Prayer of
Tour most faithful Friend, and humble Servant, Tho. Tilson, Minister of Aylesford, nigh Maidstone in Kent. Aylesford, Iuly 6. 1691.
Mr. Thomas Woodcocke's Letter in relation to Witches and Apparitions; together, with four Stories inclosed therein, all relating to the same Subject.
SIR,
I Have herein sent you those four Stories I had the remembrance off, when I was with you last, which I have subscribed my Name to. But who can prove any thing Rationally to them who have not so much Reason as to know their own Souls? All of this Tribe are of that mind, to believe nothing but what they see themselves. But as Religio Medici says, The Devil hath them in too fast a Noose, for to appear to them would be to convert them from their Error. He rather delights to be their God than to prove himself a Devil, and so torment their Thoughts too soon. They assert and admire the Omnipotency of Matter, but in the mean time are insensible of the spring of Motion; they are so full of Seconds they will not own a First Mover: 'Tis strange Arithmetick, that two should not suppose one, and as bad Geometry to have Circumference without a Center. But I fear you will but spend Arguments on them who are resolved not to yield to any Evidence; for it is the Interest of their Lusts neither to believe God nor a Devil. Yet I remember a story of one at Colchester, who in a Bravado, and Defiance of the Devil, would walk in the Night to the Church-Yard, where it was reported he appeared and walked, and he met him in the shape of a Black Dog with terrible Eyes, which brought him by Terrors into such a mind, that he was never quiet in his Mind till he got into good Society. Coming to Mr. Shepheard's at Coln, Mr. Harlakenden stay'd him, though Mr. Shepheard was gone: He lodged there, and when at Prayer, the Black Dog was seen by the Man as if he would have torn Mr. Harlakenden's Throat out, but he was in his House and Duty, and neither saw nor feared: And this Man continued long in this condition, proved a most serious Christian, always had some appearance of this Dog, as a Fly or a Flea, and various shapes; and even at his Death, lying long sick, had great Peace and Victory over the fear of Death, and was so joyful and desirous to be diss…ved, that this Dog or Flea made no impression upon him; when had it been a Melancholick Fancy it would have been worst at so dark an Hour, when the Humours are up and the Spirits down. This Story I had also from Mr. Harlakenden, but it is not to be cast before such Swine as this Epicurean Age abounds with, who, if Christ himself was on Earth, with the Gadarens, would rather get rid of him, than lose their Herd of Hogs. But I tire you, the Lord support you, and give you the Joy of Faith, the Blessed prospect of Hope, and that Cordial of Love which is stronger than Death;
I am Your worthless Brother and Servant in the Lord, T. Woodcocke. Iuly 17. 91.
Here follow the four Stories, mentioned in the fore-going Letter.
I. Mr. Mun, Rector of Stockerson in Leicestershire, had a Daughter married to one Mr. Beecham, Rector of Branston in Rutland; in whose House it was frequently observed, that a Tobacco-pipe would move it self from off a Shelf at one end of the Room, to another Shelf at the other end of the Room, without any Hand. Mr. Mun visiting his Son-in Law, took a Pipe of Tobacco in that Room, and looked for some such Motion; but a great Bible, instead of a Pipe, moved it self off from a Desk at the lower end of the Room, and cast it self into his Lap. Whereupon he opened the Bible at Gen. 3. 15. saying, Come, Satan; I'll shew thee thy Doom: The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpent's Head. Avoid Satan.
This Mr. Mun himself told me, when in the Sickness-Year, 1665. I lived in Stockerson-Hall. I have no reason to suspect the Veracity of a sober Man, a constant Preacher, and a good Scholar.
II. Dr. Lamb, who was killed by the Mob, for a Conjurer, about 1640. met one Morning Sir Miles Sands and Mr. Barbor in the Street, and invited them to go and drink their Mornings Draught at his House: Discoursing about his Art, he told them, if they would hold their Tongues, and their Hands from medling with any thing, he would shew them some Sport. So falling to his Practice, in the middle of the Room springs up a Tree; soon after appeared three little Fellows, with Axes on their Shoulders, and Baskets in their Hands, who presently fell to work, cut down the Tree, and carried all away. But Mr. Barbor observing one Chip to fall on his Velvet Coat, he slips it into his Pocket. That Night, when he and his Family were in Bed, and asleep, all the Doors and VVindows in the House opened and clattered, so as to awaken and affright them all. His VVife said, Husband, you told me you was at Dr. Lamb's this Day, and I fear you medled with something. He replied, I put a Chip into my Pocket. I pray you, said …he, fling it out, or we shall have no Quiet. He did so, and all the VVindows and Doors were presently shut, and all quiet, so they went to sleep.
Dr. Barbor and Major Iohn Barbor, who married my only Sister, told me this Relation, who had it again and again from their Father and Mother; and I know no reason to doubt of the truth of it. This Mr. Barbor laid the first Stone in building of Covent-Garden.
III. VVhen I was a School-Boy at Oundle in Northamptonshire; about the Scots coming into England, I heard a Well, in one Dobs's Yard, drum like any Drum beating a March. I heard it at a distance: Then I went and put my Head into the Mouth of the Well, and heard it distinctly, and no Body in the Well. It lasted several Days and Nights, so as all the Country-People came to hear it. And so it drumm'd on several Changes of Times.
When King Charles the Second died, I went to the Oundle-Carrier, at the Ram-Inn in Smithfield; who told me their Well had drumm'd, and many People came to hear it. And I heard, it drumm'd once since.
IV. Mr. Harlakenden, who lived at ColuPriory in Essex, (where I often was, his only Son being my Pupil,) formerly the House of the Earls of Oxford: Off from the House was a Tomb House, with a Chamber over it; his Butler, Robert Crow, and William, his Coach man, used to lie in that Room. At Two of the Clock in the Morning there was always the sound of a great Bell tolling: They affirming it so, Mr. Harlakenden slept in the Evening, so as to be awaked at One of the Clock, and lay betwixt his two Servants to satisfie himself. At Two of the Clock comes the usual Sound of a great Bell tolling, which put him into a Fright and Sweat, so as he jogg'd his Servants; who awaking, said, Hark, Tom is at his Sport, It revived him to hear them speak. Upon a particular Occasion, Mr. Thomas Shepheard, (who after went to New England,) with some other Ministers, and good People, spent a Night in Prayer, and had some respect to the place, serving God, to cast out the Devil: And from that time, never was any such noise heard in the Chamber.
This I had from Mr. Harlakenden's own Mouth, and his Servants, Ear-witnesses, when I was upon the place.
Ita Testatur Tho. Woodcocke.