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THE State of England, &c.
THE Adventure which happened unto me lately is of so extraordi∣nary a nature, and contains so many important Discoveries in re∣lation to the publick Good in its Progress, that I should prove de∣fective towards my Countrey, if I did not candidly publish all the Passages, both touching the Occasion, and Effects of what follow∣ed from this Accident:
Know then that a Peer of the Realm of England, and one whose Merit, Quality, and the Place which he holds in the Administration of the Affairs of the Kingdom are remarkable; did invite sundry of his Lordship's best Friends to a magnificent Feast, and amongst the rest he had the kindness not to omit me out of the number: where the excellence of the Chear which he made to his Guests, after a most noble manner put the whole Company into such a refined humour of conversing to∣gether, that the Entertainment was but one intire pleasing Debate, how to ex∣press our compleat enjoying of each other. I was not wanting with the uttermost of Vigour and Solace to uphold the Genious of this Conference. But as the freest speakers do commonly come by the worst in Discourse, and are the soonest ex∣posed to enterfiering lashes; I found my self to be attacqued in so many places at once with the swiftness of other Mens Reasons and Wits, who held the op∣posite Arguments, that although I were something heated, yet there remained un∣to me presence of mind enough (and success of Intervalls) to get insensibly out of the Press, whilst the Disorder and Confusion lasted, (which is usual at such Meetings) into another room. I retired then pursuing the Opportunity, in∣to a fair Gallery, which surprised my Eyes with the rich Ornaments where∣with it was furnished; but not without trouble neither, and a Curiosity beyond the Opticks of the Place, which increased there; so as I was diverted from any farther Consideration of the Furniture, because the Place seemed to lie too near the Enemy, to dwell any longer upon those Objects. Wherefore I went into another Chamber hard by, which instantly filled me with new Apprehensions, by the means of several large Looking-Glasses hanging on the Walls; which shewed me my own proper Figure at length on every side, and from thence imprinted in my wounded Imagination as many Adversaries as there were angular Reflections out of each Mirrour; that appeared to pursue me so furiously, that I ran on violently with my head forwards, in order to some Escape, to the door of another Chamber ad∣joyning thereunto, which opened with such Resistance, when I thrust against it, as if it had been forced with a Petard: And thus falling in the Attempt, I was so stunned, that it was a good while after before I could come to my self again. But at last having partly recovered my spirits, I was surprised with a fresh astonish∣ment as much amazed me, as the former had done that I repeated: for when I began to open my eyes half way, finding that till then they had been altogether un∣useful to me, I attributed the Disorder to want of Sight, often feeling, in regard of the Darkness of the Room, to try whether they were still in my head or not. Yet perceiving, betwixt Discerning and Doubting, that all I assayed of this kind was to no purpose; after having deplored the bitterness of an imaginary Loss, I groped on more and more in the dark until I chanced to come to an Alcone, where feeling with my hands I took fast hold upon the Alcone, and grasped the Pillar of a Bed, which had I not light upon, I must have fallen the second time. For, thrusting hard against one of the Posts, the Counter-stroak of the Wood threw me all along into the middle of a Couch, where I remained stretched forth like a Coarse without any motion, in the same posture of a precipitate Swoon. And then it was that the Vapours of my Body, which were disturbed by the first Mistake, confusedly did stir through all the parts in the agitated fluctuancy of a Storm; though by de∣grees growing to be undeceived, Sleep, which appeaseth all the Mutinies in hu∣mane Creatures, did naturally and more agreeably seise upon my Faculties, and com∣pose