A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. VI. The Discovery of things Secret or Future, by Signs, common Sounds, and Voices.

THis Title is near a-kin to the fore-going, and differs only in this; that there an Articulate Voice and Express words were heard; here only some Inarticulate sound, of no natural sig∣nification, or particular sence is requisite; or some noise in General, which can be supposed to import nothing move then the Presence and Agency of some Invisible being: Of which, it will not be necessary, to give many Instances, because of the Affinity this hath to several other Heads, or Titles in this Book.

1. A. D. 1630. A very Miraculous thing happened at Geismar in Hassia, two Souldiers lying for safety in that Town, one of them complained to the other who was in Bed with him, that he was very cold, the other Answer'd, he could not believe it, in regard that his own Body was very hot and wet, intreating him to touch and feel his side; which when he had done, finding his hands exceeding wet, and as it were glued and congealed together, he suspected something extraordinary, and looking on his hands by the light of the Moon, he Judged them to be Bloody, and endeavouring to wash off the Blood from his side, pre∣sently more Blood issued out; at length, after the space of an hour, it ceased of it self. About three handfuls of Blond were taken out of the Sheets; this, with the Relation of o∣ther Circumstances, they presented in the Morning to the Commander, who enquired of him how he had felt himself that Night; the Souldier Answered, That he had been extream ill for some time, but was afterwards restored to his former Health; The two next years af∣ter this Prodigy, this goodly Countrey of Hassia was miserably harassed by several Armies, and the Inhabitants were Barbarously and Inhumanely treated by the Emperours Army, and if the Prince or his Poor Subjects, did at any time complain and Petition for Justice or Redress, they were only scorned and rejected for their labours, so that they were forced to endure Quarterings, Taxations, Burnings, Robberies and Sacking of their Towns and Villa∣ges, yea, the Slaughter of Innumerable innocent Subjects of all sorts, without being able to obtain any Pity, or Compassion from their Enemies; The same Year 1630, in May, the Noremberg Carrier, and several Passengers in their Journey towards Hamborough, passing by the Town of Coburg, at Night, they observed with great Admiration, a Prodigious fire go∣ing in and out of the Town, and heard a mighty noise like the Discharging of Canons; Two years after which General Wallestein Assaulted this Town with Souldiers, and great Guns, but was so stoutly entertained by those within, that after the loss of a great many of the Imperialists, he was forced (tho he had besieged it above Twenty Months) to break up his siege and depart. Surprizing Mirac. of Nature, p. 108.

2. In King Henry the VIII's. Days, there was one Mr. Gresham, a Merchant of London, setting Sail homewards from Palermo, where dwelt at that time one Antonio, called the Rich, who had at one time, two Kingdoms Mortgaged to him by the King of Spain; and being Crossed by contrary Winds, Mr. Gresham was constrained to Anchor under the Lee of the Island off from Bulo, where was a Burning Mountain. Now about the Midday, when for a certain space the Mountain forbore to send forth Flames, Mr. Gresham, with eight of the Sailors; ascended the Mountain, approaching as near the Vent as they durst, where a∣mengst other Noises they heard a Voice cry aloud, Dispatch, dispatch, the Rich Autonio is a coming. Terrified herewith, they hasted their return, and the Mountain presently broke out in a Flame: But from so dismal a place they made all the haste they could, and desir∣ing to know more of this matter, (the Winds still thwarting their course) they returned to Palermo, and forthwith enquiring for Antonio, they found that he was Dead about the ve∣ry Instant, so near as they could guess, when that Voice was heard by them. Mr. Gresham at his return to London, reported this to the King, and the Mariners (being called before

him) confirmed the same; upon Mr. Gresham this wrought so deep an Impression, that he gave over all his Merchandizing, distributed his Estate, partly to his Kinsfolk, and partly to good uses, retaining only a Competency for himself; and so spent the rest of his days in Solitary Devotion. Sands Relat. 248.

3. Knockings, Extracted from the Miscellanies of John Aubrey, Esq; Mr. Baxter's Certain∣ty of the Worlds of Spirits. A Gentleman formerly seeming Pious, of late Years hath fallen into the Sin of Drunkenness; and when he has been Drunk, and slept himself Sober, something Knocks at his Beds-head, as if one knock'd on a Wainscot; when they remove the Bed, it follows him; besides loud Noises on other parts where he is, that all the House heareth. It poseth me to think what Kind of Spirit this is, that hath such a care of this Man's Soul, (which makes me hope he will recover.) Do good Spirits dwell so near us? Or, are they sent on such Messages? Or, is it his Guardian Angel? Or, is it the Soul of some Dead Friend, that suffereth, and yet retain∣ing Love to him, as Dives did to his Brethren, would have him Saved? God keepeth yet such things from us in the Dark. Three or four Days before my Father died, as I was in my Bed, about Nine a Clock in the Morning, perfectly awake, I did hear three distinct Knocks on the Beds-head, as if it had been with a Ruler or Ferula. Mr. Hierome Banks. as he lay on his Death Bed in Bell-yard, said Three Days before he died, that Mr. Jennings of the Inner-Temple (his great Acquaintance, Dead a Year or two before) gave Three Knocks, looked in, and said, Come away. He was as far from believing such things as any man.

4. Mr. Brograve, near Puckridge in Hertford-shire, when he was a young man, riding in a Lane in that Contrey, had a Blow given him on his Cheek (or Head): He look'd back, and saw that no body was near, behind him; anon, he had such another Blow; I have forgot if a Third. He turn'd back and fell to the Study of the Law; and was afterwards a Judge. This Account I had from Sir John Penrudock of Compton-Chamberlain (our Neighbour) whose Lady was Judge Brograve's Neice.

5. Newark has Knockings before Death. And there is a House near Covent-Garden that has Warnings.

6.

At Berlin, when one shall Die out of the Electoral House of Brandenburgh, a Wo∣man Drest in white Linnen appears always to several, without speaking, or doing any harm, for several Weeks before.

This from Jasper Belshazer Cranmer, a Saxon Gentleman. Thus far I am beholding to Mr. Aubrey's Collect.