CHAP. XVI.
Of Apparitions in general, and of some unquestionable stories that seem to prove some such things. Of those apparitions pretended to be made in Beryls and Crystals, and of the Astral or Sydereal Spirit.
In this Treatise we have before sufficiently proved that the denying of the existence of such a Witch as doth make a visible contract with the Devil, or upon whose body he sucketh, or that hath carnal copulation with a Demon, and that is transubstantiated into a Cat or a Dog, or that flyeth in the air; doth not inferr the denial of Spirits either good or bad, nor utterly overthrow the truth of apparitions, or of such things as seem to manifest some supernatural operations. And therefore here we shall fully handle the question of Apparitions, and things that seem to be of that nature, and that in this order.
1. We shall not meddle with Apparitions in the large extent of the word, for so it may comprehend the appearing of new Stars, Comets, Meteors and other Portents, and Prodigies, which (though unusual and wonderous) have yet their production from natural causes. But only here we shall treat of such apparitions as are taken to be performed by supernatural creatures, or in such a way and by such creatures as we commonly account to be different from (if not above) the power of ordinary and visible nature, as of Angels good or bad, the Souls of men departed, or their Astral Spirits, or of some other creatures that are, or may be of a middle nature.
Judg. 13.
Luke 2. 26. to 39.
Math. 1. 20.
Math. 2. 12, 13, 19.
2. As for the apparitions of good Angels sent by God in times past, both in sleep and otherwise, the Scriptures do give us most full and ample assurance, as these few instances may undeniably demonstrate. 1. Thatan Angel of the Lord(that is a good Angel)did appearvisiblyunto Manoah and his wife, and did vocally and audibly talk and discourse with them both, and did after in both their sights openly and visiblyascend in the flame that did arise from the altar. Now a more plain and indubitable apparition visibly seen and audibly heard than this cannot be found nor read of, having the unquestionable authority of sacred writ to avouch it. 2. Another parallel unto it, and of equal authority, verity and perspicuity, is the sending of the AngelGabrielunto the VirginMary, her seeing of him, hearing of his salutation, having discourse with him, and seeing his departure, both which are undoubted testimonies of the true, and real appearance of good Angels even to sight and hearing. 3. That sometimes the good Angels have been sent to the servants of God, and have appeared and spoken unto them in dreams; as thatthe Angel of the Lord appeared unto Josephin a dream, and bade him to take unto him Mary his wife, which was a blessed, and clear apparition, though in a dream in his sleep. And likewise by the appearing of an Angel unto him in a dream,he was warned to take the child, and his mother, and to flee into Ægypt, and also againwas commanded by an Angel, after the death of Herod, that appeared in a dream, and bade him to take the young child and his mother, and to go into the land of Israel.
Luk. 8 .26. to 37.
3. Of the visible apparition of evil Angels we scarce have any evidence at all in the Scriptures, except we should take supposals for proofs, or disputable places to be certain demonstrations, or wrest and hale the word of God to make it serve our preconceived opinions. For I do not find any one place in all the Scriptures, where plainly and positively any apparition of evil spirits is recorded, or that by any rational and necessary consequence such a visible appearance can be deduced or proved: For we have clearly proved that the tempting ofEvahby the Serpent doth not necessarily inferr, that it was by a visible apparition, but by a mental delusion; and that that ofSauland the Woman ofEndor, or the Mistriss of the bottle, was neitherSamuelin Soul and Body, nor his Soul alone, neither the Devil in his shape we suppose we have evinced past answer; and that the tempting of our blessed Saviour by Satan was internal or at least the greatest part of it; so that there doth remain but little of certain proof of the apparition of Devils in that gross manner, and so common and frequent as many do too peremptorily affirm: yet for all this we think it rational to grant, that as God hath in times past often sent messages by good Angels, for the teaching, counselling and comforting of his servants, both audibly and visibly to be perceived; so also that sometimes God might not only send evil Spirits internally and mentally to deceive and seduce the wicked, as in the case of the lying spirit in the mouth ofAhabsProphets, but also visibly to appear to terrifie, punish and destroy the wicked, or to make way for the manifestation of his glory. And the Scriptures that mention Demoniacks, and such as are commonly said to be possessed, (though that were not by an essential inhesion, but by an effective operation both upon the Souls and Bodies of the persons that were so affected and afflicted) do plainly shew that the operative effects of the Devils power was both heard and seen by their words and actions. So the Devils using the organs of the man in whom was the legion of them,they besought Christ not to command them to go out into the deep, but besought him to suffer them to go into the herd of swine: Which “plainly sheweth that their words were audible, and were heard of the multitude that were by, and the acts that they performed were visible enough, for by the power of the Devilhe brake the chainsand fetters, wherewithal he was bound,and was driven of the Devil into the wilderness, and that these Devils went forth of the man,and entered in amongst the herd of swine, by whose effective powerthe swine ran violently down a steep rock into thesea, and were drowned.” And this doth plainly manifest the present operation of the Devils, that was apparent both by the words and actions, that were both to be seen and heard; so that this in that large sense, that it is usually taken in, was a real apparition of Devils, or at least equivalent thereunto. For we do but here inquire after such appearances of Devils, that do necessarily infer their presence in operating so in and upon creatures or corporeal matter, that by sight, hearing, or other of the senses, it may certainly be manifest to work above the ordinary power of nature, and may induce us rationally by the testimony of our senses, to believe that those things are brought to pass by those creatures that we call Demons, as many of these persons, who were said to have been or to be afflicted with Devils, were in the days of our blessed Saviours remaining in the flesh.
Heb. 1. 14.
4. But though it be never so freely and fully granted, that in the ages and times mentioned in the Old and New Testament (nay it may be for a century or more after) there were persons that were possessed and afflicted with Devils, and also that for that time there were many miracles wrought: Yet now it will be said that miracles are totally ceased as not being any way necessary to confirm the Gospel, which is now established and setled. This we confess is so strongly and convincingly proved by the Divines of the reformed Churches, that we account him wilfully blind that will oppose it. Yet notwithstanding all this that miracles are totally ceased, I grant that there are some strange things that have happened in late ages, and some in our own time, that cannot be any way solved by meer ordinary natural causes, and apparitions made by some kind of creatures that must be derived from some such causes as those of good or bad Spirits, or from creatures of the like nature. And that though miracles be ceased, it will not therefore follow that every thing that hath a cause above or differing from the usual and ordinary course of nature, must be also ceased, forquanquam nunc non sint miracula, possint tamen esse miranda: and though that miracles be ceased, yet it will not follow that apparitions are so also, because apparitions are not miracles; for a good Angel to be sent and to appear, cannot be said to be a miracle, because it is the end for which he was created, they (that is the Angels)are all ministring spirits sent forth for the good of those that shall be heirs of Salvation. And it cannot be said otherwise of evil Angels or of any other creatures that may make these apparitions, for as they are and must be creatures, so there is and must be some certain ends, for which they were created and are imployed unto.
5. But to prove the truth of apparitions, or other strange Phenomena’s equivalent unto them, as to have been truly performed as matters of fact is extream difficult and almost impossible, because the Histories and relations of things of this nature are most strangely fabulous, and therefore are by no means to be relied upon, as will mostmanifestly appear by undeniable reasons, if we examine them in divided members in this order.
1. The Histories and relations that are given either by the Poets, or most of the ancient Philosophers, of these things, are so seemingly impossible, and so extreamly fictitious, as he must of necessity have in a manner totally forsaken his own reason, that can give any credit at all unto them. And especially they are so fraught with the horrible fables of the numerousness of their feigned gods, demigods, spirits, hobgoblins,Lares,Lemures, Mens shadows and the like, that they would make a man believe that the world was full of nothing else, and this was chiefly done to uphold their Idolatrous and superstitious Religion. And all these kind of authors that have written from the time ofHomeruntil the end of the ages in which the twoPliniesandPlutarchlived, have but run the same course, all their relations tasting of the leaven of impossibilities, superstition and fabulousness.
2. And if we look into the Pontificial Writers, especially those that have recorded stories of this nature since the sixth century, we shall find such a Rhapsodie, and heap of Bombast lies and invented fables both of apparitions and Witches, that no rational man can well give assent to one of a thousand of them, they seem so incredible, that they would rather make a wise man diffident of all such matters of fact, than to yield credit to any. And a man might as reasonably believe the forged and lying miracles ofMahomet, as those monkish fables. For the extream desire that those Authors had to advance their false and feigned Doctrine of Purgatory, and thereby to uphold the gain and benefit that was gotten by injoining such and such penances and eleemosynary deeds to redeem Souls from thence, did drive them on to invent thousands of false stories of the apparitions of Souls after death, which had not one jot of truth in them at all.
3. Those that are called the Reformed Divines (because they returned to that pure and true Doctrine and Worship, that had been settled and practised in those foregoing ages that were truly Catholick and Apostolick) being altogether intent about the main and principal points of the Faith, and those that concerned the true worship of God, did take little heed to the matters of this nature, as being more circumstantial, and therefore not by them accounted so essential and necessary. From whence it came to pass thatLambertus Danæus,Hemmingius,Erastusand others, did without due examination and circumspection receive the opinions and stories of the Papists hand over head. From whence (I conceive) it came to pass thatLudovicus Lavaterusa learned Divine of the reformed Religion atZurichdid write a book of apparitions and such matters, but brought no other proofs of the truth of these thingsde facto, but the often repeated stories of Heathenish Authors, and some few from Ecclesiastick Authors, that are of dubious credit, but not any one of his own knowledge.
4. But if we come to consider the Histories of late that are reported of apparitions, and such like things that must of necessity have something in them, that resembles a supernatural cause, we may in part receive more ample satisfaction, which will be manifest in these few following particulars.
1.Meric CasaubonDoctor of Divinity, in his treatise of Credulity and Incredulity (sometimes by us quoted before) hath strongly indeavoured to make good all those impossible and absurd things that are ascribed unto Witches: which though he hath pitifully failed to perform, yet hath he said enough that may serve to prove that there are many strange things that seem to prove the being of Demons or Spirits, though he have not brought any one story of his own knowledge or that was done in his time. And we have shewed before that apparitions are no certain ground for Christians to believe the existence of Demons by, but the word of God. But in his Preface to that piece of the relation concerning Dr.Dee, he relateth two stories told by that venerable and learned Prelate BishopAndrewsto his FatherIsaac Casaubon. “The one (he saith) concerning a noted or at least by many suspected Witch or Sorceress, which the Devil in a strange shape did wait upon (or for rather) at her death. The other concerning a Man, who after his death was restored to life to make confession of a horrible murther committed upon his own Wife, for which he had never been suspected. And both these (he saith) that learned Bishop did believe to be true, but for one of them it seems, he did undertake upon his own knowledge, to wit that of the apparition, and the other he had from an eye-witness.” And considering the condition of BishopAndrewsboth for learning and piety, the relations are of much weight, and they may be seen at large in the fore-cited Preface.
Antidot.againstAtheis.c.8, 9.p.209.
2. I cannot but much wonder that Dr.Henry Moore, a grave person, and one that for many years hath resided in a most learned and flourishing Academy, whose name is much taken notice of both at home and abroad, having published so many books, should make such bad choice of the Authors from whom he takes his stories, or that he should pitch upon those that seem so fabulous, impossible and incredible. And that I may not seem to tax him without cause, I desire the Reader to peruse his two relations, the one of the Shoomaker ofBreslawinSilesia,Anno1591. the other ofJohannes Cuntiusa Citizen ofPentshinSilesia, and to tell whether he can rationally believe those things either to have been true or possible. And as for the AuthorMartinus Weinrichiusa Silesian Physician, I cannot find any thing either of his fame or writings, and it is most strange that he should be omitted by that diligent and unpartial AuthorMelchior Adams; And there had been far better Authors and of more credit to have pitcht upon for such like stories, than eitherBodinusorRemigius; neither can there be much credit given to any of the stories that he relates, except it be thatof the Pied-Piper, which some do interpret far otherwise.
3. “There was a Treatise called, the Devil ofMascon, or a true relation of the chief things which an unclean spirit did and said atMasconinBurgundy, in the House of MrFrancis PerreaudMinister of the reformed Church in the same Town, written by the saidPerreaudsoon after the Apparition which was in the year 1612. but was not published until the year 1653. which was 41. years after the thing was said to be acted. It seems it was translated by DrPeter Du Moulin, the Son of the learned and reverendPeter Du Moulin, at the request of the honourable and learned person MrBoyle. The most of the things had been known unto MrDu Moulinthe Father, when he was President of a National Synod in those parts, to whom also the saidPerreaudwas well known, who was a religious, well poised, venerable Divine. And MrBoylesaith, that he had had converse with this pious Author atGeneva, and had inquired after the Writer, and some passages of the Book, which overcame all his setled indisposedness to believe strange things. The Character given of this Author, and the assent of such learned persons to the things related, have gained an ample suffrage to give credit to them also. But notwithstanding all this, there are many passages in the relation that a quick-sighted Critick would find to be either contradictory or inconsistent, and it cannot rationally be thought that he was a Cacodemon, his actions were so harmless, civil, and ludicrous; and if he were to be believed (and in some things he did speak truth, and the Minister himself MrPerreauddid in some things give credit to him) he was no Devil, but hoped to be saved by Jesus Christ. But whether a Devil or not, yet the story for substance doth sufficiently prove the existence of such kind of Demons, that can work strange and odd feats.”
The Saints Everlasting rest.c.7.p.255.
4. MrBaxtera person of great learning and piety, whose judgment bears great sway with me, speaking of Apparitions saith thus: “I know many are very incredulous herein, and will hardly believe that there have been such Apparitions. For my own part (he saith) though I am as suspicious as most in such reports, and do believe that most of them are conceits or delusions, yet having been very diligently inquisitive in such Cases, I have received undoubted testimony of the truth of such Apparitions, some from the mouths of men of undoubted honesty and godliness, and some from the report of multitudes of persons, who heard or saw. Were it fit here to name the persons, I could send you to them yet living, by whom you would be as fully satisfied as I: Houses that have been so frequently haunted with such terrors, that the inhabitants successively have been witnesses of it.”
7. Though some of these last recited testimonies might sufficiently convince the most obstinate and incredulous, that there are Apparitions and some other such strange accidents that cannot be solvedby the supposed principles of matter and motion, but that do necessarily require some other causes, that are above or different from the visible and ordinary course of nature; yet because it is a point dark and mystical, and of great concern and weight, we shall add some unquestionable testimonies, either from our own Annals, or matters of fact that we know to be true of our own certain knowledge, that thereby it may undoubtedly appear, that there are effects that exceed the ordinary power of natural causes, and may for ever convince all Atheistical minds, of which in this order.
Stow.p.605.
Hist. 1.
1. “In the first year ofEdwardthe Sixth.Anno Domini1551. on St.Valentinesday, atFevershaminKent, oneArdena Gentleman was murthered by procurement of his own Wife; for the which fact she was the fourteenth ofMarchburnt atCanterbury:MichaelMrArden’s Man was hang’d in Chains atFeversham, and a Maiden burnt:Mosbieand his Sister were hanged inSmithfieldatLondon:Greenewhich had fled, came again certain years after, and was hanged in Chains in the High-way againstFeversham, and blackWillthe Ruffian, that was hired to do that act, after his first escape was apprehended, and burnt on a Scaffold atFlushinginZealand.”
P.1708.
The same horrid murther is more at large related byHollingshead, who lived at that time, and had information of all the particulars, who saith thus much more. “This one thing (he saith) seemeth very strange and notable touching MrArden, that in the place he was laid, being dead, all the proportion of his body might be seen two years after and more, so plain as could be, for the grass did not grow where his body had touched, but between his legs, between his arms and about the hollowness of his neck, and round about his body: And where his legs, arms, head, or any part of his body had touched, no grass growed at all of all that time. So that many strangers came in that mean time, beside the Townsmen, to see the print of his body there on the ground in that Field, which Field he had (as some have reported) cruelly taken from a Woman, that had been a Widdow to oneCooke, and after Married to oneRichard Reada Marriner, to the great hinderance of her and her Husband the saidRead, for they had long enjoyed it by a Lease which they had of it for many years not then expired. Nevertheless he got it from them, for the which, the saidReadsWife not only exclaimed against him in shedding many a salt tear, but also cursed him most bitterly even to his face, wishing many a vengeance to light upon him, and that all the World might wonder on him, which was thought then to come to pass, when he was thus murthered and lay in that Field, from midnight till the morning, and so all that day, being the Fair-day, till night, all the which day there were many hundreds of people came wondring about him.” From whence we may take this Observation.
Observ.
As it is most certain that this is a true and punctual relation given us byHollingshead, as being a publick thing done in the face of aNation, the print of his body remaining so long after, and viewed and wondered at by so many; so that it hath not left the least starting hole for the most incredulous Atheist to get out at. So likewise it may dare the most deep-sighted Naturalist, or unbelieving Atheist, that would exalt and so far deifie Nature, as to deny and take away the existence of the God of Nature, to shew a reason of the long remaining of the print of his body, or the not growing of the grass in those places where his body had touched for two years and more after? Could it be the steams or Atoms that flowed from his body? then are why not such prints left by other murthered bodies? which we are sure by sight and experience not to be so. And therefore we can attribute it justly to no other cause but only to the power of God and divine vengeance, who is a righter of the oppressed, fatherless and Widdows, and hears their cries and regardeth their tears.
Hist. 2.
Sir Rich. BakersChron.fol.448.
2. “In the second year of the Reign of KingJamesof famous memory, a strange accident happened, to the terror of all bloody murtherers, which was this; OneAnne Watersenticed by a lover of hers, consented to have her Husband strangled, and then buried him secretly under the Dunghil in a Cow-house. Whereupon the man being missing by his Neighbours, and the Wife making shew of a wondering what was become of him, it pleased God that one of the inhabitants of the Town dreamed one night that his NeighbourWaterswas strangled, and buried under the Dunghill in a Cow-house, and upon declaring his dream, search being made by the Constable, the dead body was found as he had dreamed, and thereupon the Wife was apprehended, and upon examination confessing the fact was burned.” But we shall give it more at large as it was taken from the mouths ofThomas HaworthsWife, her Husband being the dreamer and discoverer, and from his Son, who together with many more, who both remember and can affirm every particular thereof, the Narrative was takenAprilthe17th 1663, and is this,
“In the year abovesaid,John WatersofLower Darwenin the County ofLancasterGardiner, by reason of his calling was much absent from his Family: In which his absence, his Wife (not without cause) was suspected of incontinency with oneGyles Haworthof the same Town; thisGyles HaworthandWatersWife conspired and contrived the death ofWatersin this manner. They contracted with oneRibchestera poor man to kill thisWaters. As soon asWaterscame home and went to bed,Gyles HaworthandWatersWife conducted the hired Executioner to the saidWaters. Who seeing him so innocently laid betwixt his two small Children in Bed, repented of his enterprize, and totally refused to kill him.Gyles Haworthdispleased with the faint-heartedness ofRibchester, takes the Axe into his own hand, and dashed out his brains: The Murderers buried him in a Cow-house,Watersbeing long missing the Neighbourhood asked his Wife for him; she denied that sheknew where he was. Thereupon publick search was made for him in all pits round about, lest he should have casually fallen into any of them. OneThomas Haworthof the said Town Yeoman, was for many nights together, much troubled with broken sleeps and dreams of the murder; he revealed his dreams to his Wife, but she laboured the concealment of them a long time: ThisThomas Haworthhad occasion to pass by the House every day where the murder was done, and did call and inquire forWaters, as often as he went near the House. One day he went into the House to ask for him, and there was a Neighbour who said toThomas Haworth, It’s said thatWaterslies under this stone, (pointing to the Hearth-stone) to whichThomas Haworthreplied, And I have dreamed that he is under a stone not far distant. The Constable of the said Town being accidentally in the said House (his nameMyles Aspinall) urgedThomas Haworthto make known more at large what he had dreamed, which he relateth thus. I have (quoth he) many a time within this eight weeks (for so long it was since the murder) dreamed very restlessly, thatWaterswas murdered and buried under a broad stone in the Cow-house; I have told my troubled dreams to my Wife alone, but she refuses to let me make it known: But I am not able to conceal my dreams any longer, my sleep departs from me, I am pressed and troubled with fearful dreams which I cannot bear any longer, and they increase upon me. The Constable hearing this made search immediately upon it, and found as he had dreamed the murdered body eight weeks buried under a flat stone in the Cow-house;RibchesterandGyles Haworthfled and never came again.Anne Waters(for so wasWatersWifes name) being apprehended, confessed the murder, and was burned.” From whence we may observe this.
Observ.
1. That this is the full and punctual relation of this bloody and execrable murder fromHaworthsWife (who then was a very old Woman) and the Son, and differs not a jot from what SirRichard Bakerwrites, but only they say his brains were dashed out with an Axe, and he saith he was strangled, which is only a circumstance of the manner, but in the matter they both agree, that it was a certain truth thatWaterswas murdered, and SirRichard Bakersinformation might fail in that particular of the manner of it. And if it be thought strange that the two little Children did know nothing of it, it is certain that they were much too young, and said that they were twins, not above half a year old. But the only matter that we have brought it for, is the extraordinary way of its discovery byThomas Haworthsdreaming, in which point both the relations closely agree, and was the chief and only reason why SirRichard Bakerput it in his Chronicle. And the same also more at largeStowhath recorded in his Chronicle. Now what should the cause be thatThomas Haworthshould be hindred of his sleep, and have restless dreams, and that his dream should hit so punctually of the place where he was buried, more than any other person in the same Town?certainly it cannot be referred to fortune and chance, for they have no causality at all, and are but only names that we impose upon certain effects and accidents:Te facimus fortuna Deum, cœloq; locamus, as said the Poet. Neither can it rationally be thought to be melancholy, because that though it be a subtil humour, and render those that are affected therewith very imaginative and thoughtful, yet supposingThomas Haworthto be of that temperament and disposition, it might make him more deeply to think and meditate upon the rumour ofWatersbeing awanting or upon suspicion of his murder, but could not in dreams inform him to know precisely the place where he was buried. And if some should imagine it to be the Soul of the murthered personWaters, as doubtless a Papist would be ready to affirm, yet is that opinion directly contrary to the Scriptures, and sufficiently confuted by the reformed Divines. And if it should be referred to the operation of the Astral or Sydereal spirit, that is an opinion but imbraced by few, and is hard to prove to be a certain verity, of which we shall speak largely anon. Neither can it by any sound reason be thought to be the Devil, because it is manifest that God doth not use the ministry of evil Angels for any good end, as for the discovery of murther, and the bringing of the guilty persons to condign punishment; but on the contrary he useth their service for to tempt, seduce, deceive, punish and torment. Therefore we conceive that it was brought to pass by the finger of God, who either immediately by himself, or by the ministry of a good Angel, did represent those dreams toThomas Haworth, and revealed the precise place ofWatersburial.
Hist. 3.
3. “About the year of our Lord 1623 or 24 oneFletcherofRascal, a Town in the North Riding ofYorkshirenear unto the Forest ofGantress, a Yeoman of good Estate, did marry a young lusty Woman fromThornton Brigs, who had been formerly kind with oneRalph Raynard, who kept an Inn within half a mile fromRascallin the high road way betwixtYorkandThuske, his Sister living with him. ThisRaynardcontinued in unlawful lust with the saidFletchersWife, who not content therewith conspired the death ofFletcher, oneMark Dunnbeing made privy and hired to assist in the murther. WhichRaynardandDunnaccomplished upon theMay-dayby drowningFletcher, as they came all three together from a Town calledHuby, and acquainting the wife with the deed she gave them a Sack therein to convey his body, which they did and buried it inRaynardsbackside or Croft where an old Oak-root had been stubbed up, and sowed Mustard seed upon the place thereby to hide it. So they continued their wicked course of lust and drunkenness, and the neighbours did much wonder atFletchersabsence, but his wife did excuse it, and said that he was but gone aside for fear of some Writs being served upon him. And so it continued until about the seventh day ofJuly, whenRaynardgoing toTopcliffeFair, and setting up his Horse in the Stable, the spirit ofFletcherin his usual shape andhabit did appear unto him, and said, OhRaph, repent, repent, for my revenge is at hand; and ever after until he was put in the Gaol, it seemed to stand before him, whereby he became sad and restless: And his own Sister over-hearing his confession and relation of it to another person, did through fear of losing her own life, immediately reveal it to SirWilliam Sheffield, who lived inRascall, and was a Justice of Peace. Whereupon they were all three apprehended and sent to the Gaol atYork, where they were all three condemned, and so executed accordingly near to the place whereRaynardlived, and whereFletcherwas buried, the two men being hung up in irons, and the woman buried under the Gallows.” I have recited this story punctually as a thing that hath been very much fixed in my memory, being then but young, and as a certain truth, I being (with many more) an ear-witness of their confessions and an eye-witness of their Executions, and likewise sawFletcherwhen he was taken up, where they had buried him in his cloaths, which were a green fustian doublet pinkt upon white, gray breeches, and his walking boots and brass spurrs without rowels.
Observ.
Some will say there was no extrinsick apparition toRaynardat all, but that all this did only arise from the guilt of his own conscience, which represented the shape ofFletcherin his fancy. But then why was it precisely done at that time, and not at any others? it being far from the place of the murder, or the place where they had buriedFletcher, and nothing there that might bring it to his remembrance more than at another time, and if it had only arisen from within, and appeared so in his fancy, it had been more likely to have been moved, when he was in, or near his backside where the murthered body ofFletcherlay. But certain it is that he affirmed that it was the shape and voice ofFletcher, as assuredly to his eyes and ears, as ever he had seen or heard him in his life. And if it were granted that it was only intrinsick, yet that will not exclude the Divine Power, which doubtless at that time did labour to make him sensible of the cruel murther, and to mind him of the revenge approaching. And it could not be brought to pass either by the Devil, orFletchersSoul, as we have proved before; and therefore in reason we conclude that either it was wrought by the Divine Power, to shew his detestation of murther, or that it was the Astral or Sydereal Spirit ofFletcher, seeking revenge for the murther, of which more anon.
Hist. 4.
4. About the year of our Lord 1632. (as near as I can remember having lost my notes, and the copy of the Letter to SerjeantHutton, but am sure that I do most perfectly remember the substance of the story) near untoChesterin the street, there lived “oneWalkera Yeoman-man of good Estate, and a Widower, who had a young Woman to his Kinswoman that kept his House, who was by the Neighbours suspected to be with child, and was towards the dark of the evening one night sent away with oneMark Sharpwho was a Collier, or one that digged coals under ground, and one that had been born inBlakeburnHundred inLancashire, and so she was not heard of a long time, and no noise, or little was made about it. In the winter time after oneJames GrahamorGrime(for so in that Country they call them) being a Miller, and living about two miles from the place whereWalkerlived, was one night alone very late in the Mill grinding Corn, and as about twelve or one a clock at night he came down the stairs from having been putting Corn in the Hopper, the Mill doors being shut, there stood a Woman upon the midst of the floor with her hair about her head, hanging down, and all bloody, with five large wounds in her head: He being much affrighted and amazed, begun to bless him, and at last asked her who she was, and what she wanted; to which she said, I am the Spirit of such a Woman, who lived withWalker, and being got with child by him, he promised me to send me to a private place, where I should be well lookt to until I was brought in bed, and well again, and then I should come again, and keep his house. And accordingly (said the apparition) I was one night late sent away with oneMark Sharp, who upon a Moor (naming a place that the Miller knew) slew me with a pick (such as men dig coals withal) and gave me these five wounds, and after threw my body into a coal-pit hard by; and hid the pick under a bank; and his shoos and stockings being bloody he endeavoured to wash, but seeing the blood would not wash forth he hid them there. And the apparition further told the Miller that he must be the Man to reveal it, or else that she must still appear, and haunt him. The Miller returned home very sad and heavy, but spoke not one word of what he had seen, but eschewed as much as he could to stay in the Mill within night without company, thinking thereby to escape the seeing again of that frightful apparition. But notwithstanding one night when it begun to be dark, the apparition met him again, and seemed very fierce and cruel, and threatned him that if he did not reveal the murder she would continually pursue and haunt him. Yet for all this he still concealed it, until S.ThomasEve beforeChristmas, when being soon after Sunset walking in his Garden she appeared again, and then so threatened and affrighted him that he faithfully promised to reveal it next morning. In the morning he went to a Magistrate and made the whole matter known with all the circumstances, and diligent search being made, the body was found in a coal-pit, with five wounds in the head, and the pick and shooes and stockings yet bloody, in every circumstance as the apparition had related unto the Miller. WhereuponWalkerandMark Sharpwere both apprehended, but would confess nothing. At the Assizes following (I think it was atDurham) they were arraigned, found guilty, condemned and executed, but I could never hear that they confessed the fact. There were some that reported that the apparitiondid appear to the Judge or the Foreman of the Jury, (who was alive inChesterin the street about ten years ago, as I have been credibly informed) but of that I know no certainty.” There are many persons yet alive that can remember this strange murder, and the discovery of it, for it was, and sometimes yet is as much discoursed of in the North Countrey as any thing that almost hath ever been heard of, and the relation printed, though now not to be gotten. I relate this with the greater confidence (though I may fail in some of the circumstances) because I saw and read the Letter that was sent to SerjeantHutton, who then lived atGoldsbrughinYorkshire, from the Judge before whomWalkerandMark Sharpwere tried, and by whom they were condemned, and had a Copy of it until about the year 1658. whenIhad it and many other books and papers taken from me.
Observ.
Rom. 11. 33.
And this I confess to be one of the most convincing stories (being of undoubted verity) that ever I read, heard or knew of, and carrieth with it the most evident force to make the most incredulous spirit, to be satisfied that there are really sometimes such things as apparitions. And though it be not easy to assign the true and proper cause of such a strange effect, yet must we not measure all things to be, or not to be, to be true or false, according to the extent of our understandings, for if there be many of themagnalia naturæthat yet lie hidden from the wisest of men, then much more may themagnalia Deibe unknown unto us,whose judgments are unsearchable, and his wayes past finding out. And as in the rest we cannot ascribe this strange apparition, to any diabolical operation, nor to the Soul of the Woman murthered, so we must conclude that either it was meerly wrought by the Divine Power, or by the Astral spirit of the murthered Woman, which last doth seem most rational, as we shall shew hereafter.
Hist. 5.
5. To these (though it be not altogether of the same nature) we shall add one both for the oddness and strangeness of it, as also because it happened in my time, and I was both an eye and ear-witness of the trial of the person accused. And first take a hint of it from the pen ofDurant Hotham, in his learned Epistle to theMysterium magnumofJacob BehemenuponGenesisin these words: “There was (he saith) as I have heard the story credibly reported in this Country a Man apprehended for suspicion of Witchcraft, he was of that sort we call white Witches, which are such as do cures beyond the ordinary reasons and deductions of our usual practitioners, and are supposed (and most part of them truly) to do the same by the ministration of spirits (from whence under their noble favours, most Sciences at first grew) and therefore are by good reason provided against by our Civil Laws, as being ways full of danger and deceit, and scarce ever otherwise obtained than by a devillish compact of the exchange of ones Soul to that assistant spirit, for the honour of its Mountebankery. What this man did was with a white powder which, he said, hereceived from the Fairies, and that going to a Hill he knocked three times, and the Hill opened, and he had access to, and converse with a visible people; and offered, that if any Gentleman present would either go himself in person, or send his servant, he would conduct them thither, and shew them the place and persons from whom he had his skill.”
Vid. 1 Jacob.c.12.
To this I shall only add thus much, that the man was accused for invoking and calling upon evil spirits, and was a very simple and illiterate person to any mans judgment, and had been formerly very poor, but had gotten some pretty little meanes to maintain himself, his Wife and diverse small children, by his cures done with this white powder, of which there were sufficient proofs, and the Judge asking him how he came by the powder, he told a story to this effect. “That one night before day was gone, as he was going home from his labour, being very sad and full of heavy thoughts, not knowing how to get meat and drink for his Wife and Children, he met a fair Woman in fine cloaths, who asked him why he was so sad, and he told her that it was by reason of his poverty, to which she said, that if he would follow her counsel she would help him to that which would serve to get him a good living; to which he said he would consent with all his heart, so it were not by unlawful ways: she told him that it should not be by any such ways, but by doing of good and curing of sick people; and so warning him strictly to meet her there the next night at the same time, she departed from him, and he went home. And the next night at the time appointed he duly waited, and she (according to promise) came and told him that it was well that he came so duly, otherwise he had missed of that benefit, that she intended to do unto him, and so bade him follow her and not be afraid. Thereupon she led him to a little Hill and she knocked three times, and the Hill opened, and they went in, and came to a fair hall, wherein was a Queen sitting in great state, and many people about her, and the Gentlewoman that brought him, presented him to the Queen, and she said he was welcom, and bid the Gentlewoman give him some of the white powder, and teach him how to use it, which she did, and gave him a little wood box full of the white powder, and bad him give 2 or 3 grains of it to any that were sick, and it would heal them, and so she brought him forth of the Hill, and so they parted. And being asked by the Judge whether the place within the Hill, which he called a Hall, were light or dark, he said indifferent, as it is with us in the twilight; and being asked how he got more powder, he said when he wanted he went to that Hill, and knocked three times, and said every time I am coming, I am coming, whereupon it opened, and he going in was conducted by the aforesaid Woman to the Queen, and so had more powder given him. This was the plain and simple story (however it may be judged of) that he told before the Judge, the whole Court,and the Jury, and there being no proof, but what cures he had done to very many, the Jury did acquit him: and I remember the Judge said, when all the evidence was heard, that if he were to assign his punishment, he should be whipped from thence to Fairyhall, and did seem to judge it to be a delusion or an Imposture.” From whence we may take these observations.
Observ. 1.
1. Though Mr.Hothamseem to judge that this person accused had the white powder from some Spirit, and that one also of the evil sort, and upon a contract, by the ingaging of his Soul, we have before sufficiently proved the nullity of a visible and corporeal contract with the Devil; neither was it yet ever proved that the Devil did any good either real or apparent, but is the sworn enemy of all mankind, both in their Souls and in their Bodies, but this powder wrought that which was really good, namely the curing of diseases, and therefore rationally cannot be thought to be given from an evil spirit.
Observ. 2.
2. Some there were that thought that the simple man told a plain and true story, and that he had the powder from those people we call Fairies, and there are many that do believe and affirm that there are such people, of whomParacelsushath a Treatise of purpose, holding that they are not of the seed ofAdam, and therefore he calls themnon-Adamicks, and that they have flesh and bones, and so differ from spirits, and yet that they can glide through walls and rocks (which he calleth their Chaos) as easily as we through the air, and that they get children, and are mortal like those thatHieronynus Cardanusrelateth that appeared to his FatherFacius Cardanus, and these he callethPygmæi,Silvestres,GnomiandUmbratiles; but his proof of their existence to me doth not seem satisfactory, what others may think of it I leave to their demonstrations, if they have any.
Observ. 3.
3. Some there were (and those not of the meer ignorant sort) that did judge, that though the Man was simple, yet that the story that he told was but framed and taught him, the better to conceal the person from whom he received the white powder. For they thought that some notable Chymist, or rather an Adeptist, had in charity bestowed that powder upon him, for the relief of himself and family, as we know it hath often happened to other persons, at other times and places. And this last opinion seems most consonant to reason, and I the rather believe it because not many years after, it was certainly known, that there was an Adeptist in that Countrey, and we ought not to fetch in supernatural causes to solve effects, when natural causes may serve the turn.
6. The last thing of this strange nature, that we shall instance in, is concerning the bleeding or cruentation of the bodies of those that have been murthered, I mean of such as have been murthered by prepense malice, and upon premeditated purpose; for the bodies of others that are killed by chance-medley, and by man-slaughter, we do not read nor find any examples, that ever their bodiesdid bleed. And though we have not been ocular witness of any such bleeding yet are there records of such accidents given us by many learned and credible authors that a man might almost be accounted an Infidel not to give credit to them, and that both of those that have bled when the murtherer hath not been present, and also of those that have bled the murtherer being present. And first of those bodies that have issued blood, when the murtherer was not by.