RELAT. XVII.

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 Page  243 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 walk∣ing together up the Town, he said to Mr. Broom, Yonder comes a Ghost. He seeing no∣thing, askt him whereabout it was? The o∣ther 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 ap∣plied Page  244 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 Tay∣lors known Gate, who ordinarily went also with one Arm swinging, and a Glove in that hand, and looking on one side up∣wards.