Now you must know, that Mrs. Veal was a Maiden Gentlewoman of about 30 Years of Age, and for some Years last past, had been troubled with Fits; which were perceived coming on her, by her going off from her Discourse very abruptly, to some impertinence: She was maintain'd by an only Brother, and kept his House in Dover. She was a very Pious Woman, and her Brother a very Sober Man to all appearance: But now he does all he can to Null or Quash the Story. Mrs. Veal was intimately acquainted with Mrs. Bargrave from her Childhood. Mrs Veals Circumstances were then Mean; her Fa∣ther did not take care of his Children as he ought, so that they were exposed to Hardships: And Mrs. Bargrave in those days, had as Unkind a Father, tho' She wanted for neither Food nor Cloathing, whilst Mrs. Veal wanted for both: So that it was in the Power of Mrs. Bargrave to be very much her Friend in several Instances, which mightily endear'd Mrs Veal; insomuch that she would often say, Mrs. Bargrave you are not only the Best, but the only Friend I have in the World; and no Circumstances of Life, shall ever dissolve my Friendship. They would often Condole each others adverse Fortune, and read together, Drelincourt upon Death, and other good Books: And so like two Christian Friends, they comforted each other under their Sorrow.
Sometime after, Mr. Veals Friends got him a Place in the Custom-House at Dover, which occasioned Mrs Veal by little and little, to fall off from her Intimacy with Mrs. Bargrave, tho' there was never any such thing as a Quarrel; but an Indifferency came on by degrees, till at last Mrs. Bargrave had not seen her in two Years and a half; tho' above a Twelve Month of the time, Mrs. Bargrave had been absent from Dover, and this last half Year, has been in Canterbury about two Months of the time, dwelling in a House of her own.
In this House, on the Eighth of September last, viz 1705. She was sitting alone in the Forenoon, thinking over her Unfortunate Life, and arguing her self into a due Resignation to Providence, tho' her condition seem'd hard. And said she, I have been provided for hither∣to, and doubt not but I shall be still, and am well satisfied, that my Af∣flictions shall end, when it is most fit for me: And then took up her Sewing-Work, which she had no sooner done, but she hears a Knock∣ing at the Door; she went to see who it was there, and this prov'd to be Mrs. Veal, her Old Friend, who was in a Riding Habit: At that Moment of Time, the Clock struck Twelve at Noon.