The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits and Immortality of the Soul, Treatise · Chapter 11 – Chapter 12
CHAP. XI.
MR. Emlin, (before mentioned about Mr. Pacy's Sisters,) now a worthy Preacher in Dublin, having told me this by Word of Mouth, I desired him to send it sufficiently attested; which he doth, as followeth.
Mr. Emlin's Letter concerning an Apparition at Belfast in Ireland.
Reverend Sir,
I Have been very uneasie to think that I should so long delay the Answer of your Desire about the Affair related underneath: The distance of the Place in which it was transacted, with the slowness of my Correspondent in Replies, hath made me uncapable of giving you so full and quick Satisfaction, as might else have been. All that I can relate at present is briefly this, viz.
There having been a long Contest between Lemuel Matthews, Archdeacon in the County of Down, and Claudius Gilbert, Minister of Belfast, about their Right to Drumbeg, a small Parish within four Miles of Belfast, it proved very troublesome to the Parishioners, who generally paid their Dues to Mr. Gilbert the Incumbent in Possession; but the Arch-deacon claimed the same to be paid to him also, for which he procured a Warrant; and in the Execution of it by his Servants, at the House of one Charles Loftin, one of the Parishioners, they offered some Violence to his Wife, who refused Entrance to them, who died within a few Weeks after the Injury received; but she being otherwise an infirm Woman, little notice was taken of her Death, till that some time after, by her strange Appearance to one Thomas Donelson, (a Spectator of the Violence done to her,) she affrighted him into a Prosecution of Robert Eccleson, the Criminal. She appeared divers times, but chiefly upon one Lord's Day-Evening, when she fetch'd him, with a strange Force, out of his House, into the Yard, and Fields adjacent. Before her last Coming, (for she did so three times that Day,) several Neighbours were called in, to whom he gave notice that she was again coming, and becken'd to him to come out; upon which, they went to shut the Door, but he forbad it, saying, that she looked with a terrible Aspect upon him, when they offered it: But his Friends laid hold on him, and embraced him, that he might not again go out; notwithstanding which, (a plain Evidence of some invisible Power,) he was drawn out of their Hands in a surprizing manner, and carried abroad into the Field and Yard, as before, she charging him to prosecute Justice; which Voice, as also Donelson's Reply, the People heard, though they saw no shape. There are many Witnesses of all this yet alive, particularly Sarah, the Wife of Charles Lof…in, Son to the deceased Woman; and one William Holyday and his Wife, &c.
Upon this, the said Donelson deposed what he knew of the aforesaid Violence, before Mr. Randal Brice, a Neighbour-Justice, and confirmed all at the Assizes at Down, in the Year 1685. (as I remember;) where the several Witnesses were heard and sworn, and their Examinations were entred into the Records of that Assizes, to the Amazement and Satisfaction of all the Country, and of the Judges, whom I have heard speak of it at that time with much Wonder; insomuch that the said Eccleson hardly escaped with his Life, but was Burnt in the Hand.
The said Donelson is yet living in the same place, with the other Witnesses.
I could learn many more Circumstances, but that you are in haste; and all this I heard spoken of my self, with universal Amazement, at the time when transacted, living in Belfast at that time; and I should not have been beholden to any to have believed this Relation, that had been there, and at the Trial at Down.
T. Em. With Mr. Bois's Respects, I remain, A Reverencer of you, Tho. Emlin.
CHAP. XII. A Dublin-Instance, attested by Mr. Daniel Williams, now in London.
ABout the Year 1678. I knew a young Woman who was Niece to Alderman Arundel, in Dublin.
In her said Uncle's House she was pursued with very terrible Noises; as by violent Stroaks on the Wainscots and Chests, in what Chambers she frequented.
The Blows were heard throughout the House, and were so troublesome, as to occasion the Removal of the young Woman to an House near Smithfield in Dublin, not without Hopes that the Disturbance might thereby cease: But the Noise pursued her thither, and was no more heard in her former Dwelling.
Here she continued as long as the Owner of that House would bear the Resort of People, and Terrour of those sudden and frequent Claps.
From this place, she was removed to a little House in Patrick-street, near the Gate. Here she met with the same Exercise, and the Noise was generally about Twoa-Clock in the Morning greater than at other Times.
Several Nights were spent in Prayer with her, by Ministers; as, Mr. Cox, Dr. Roles, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Keys, &c. who all, with many others, assured me, they heard the said Blows in the Room where they prayed, sometimes on a great Chest there, sometimes on the Wall, &c.
Mr. Chambers and Mr. Keys were employed there the Night before I had promised to be with her.
The next Night, Mr. Cox, having oft heard the said Noises, and oft prayed with the Woman, was desirous to accompany me. There were many People (as usual) sat up with us: I preached from Heb. 2. 18. and contrived to be at Prayer at that Time when the Noise used to be greatest.
When I was at Prayer, the Woman, kneeling by me, catched violently at my Arm, and afterwards told us, she saw a terrible Sight: But it pleased God, there was no Noise at all. And from that Time, God graciously freed her from all that Disturbance.
I examined this Person, and could find nothing in her Circumstances, fit to induce one to any satisfactory Judgment of her Case.
These Noises lasted about three Months, and she was much enfeebled in Body, and almost distracted thereby; but soon recovered upon the Removal thereof.
Attested by me, Daniel Williams. Aug. 2…. 169…