the like Nature she told me CHAP. XVI Great Sleepers THE Essence of Sleep according to Dr. Willis consists in this That the Corporeal Soul withdrawing it self a little and contracting its Irradiation into a narrower Sphere leaveâ— the Cortex of the Brain for some time destitute and in the mean while the Nervous Liquor distilled from the Blood rushes in for new Supplies In Natural Sleep he saith these two Causes conspire together by some mutual Compact of Nature viz. at the same time the Spirits recede and the Nervous Humour enters In Non-natural or Extraordinary Sleep sometimes this Cause sometimes that is first But in Praeternatural or Insatiable Sleep there is a greater Energy of the same Causes so that the Brain is flooded with the Influx of Nervous Serous and other Vicious Humours 1. Timon's Nurse used Yearly after the manner of some wild Beasts to lie hid for two Months together without any other evidence of Life all that while save only that she breathed Plut. Symp. l. 8. qu. 9. p. 780. 2. Epimenides of Creet when he was a Boy being wearied with Heat and Travel laid him down in a certain Cave and there slept 57 Years being awaked he returned home wondring at the Changes he found in the World and was at last difficultly known by his younger Brother growing old It is said that he lived in all 175 Years And from him it was that the Sleep of Epimenides became a Proverb Plin. Nat. Hist l. 7. c. 52. p. 184. But this Story I offer rather for the sake of its Antiquity than Credibility 3. Platerus tells of one that slept three Days and three Nights together upon foregoing weariness without the occasion of precedent Drunkenness or the taking of any Soporiferous Medicine Plat. Obs l. 1. p. 6. 4. William Foxly Potmaker for the Mint in the Tower of London fell asleep on Tuesday in Easter Week and could not be waked with pinching or burning till the First Day of the next Term which was full 14 Days and when he was then awaked he was found in all points as if he had slept but one Night He lived 40 Years after This Matter fell out in the 37th Year of King Henry the Eighth's Reign Baker's Chron. 5. Crantzius tells of a young Scholar of Lubeck who that he might sleep without Disturbance betook himself to a Chest There passed 7 Years from the time of his lying down there till that one determined to see what was in the Chest where he found this young Man asleep there whom he shook with such Violence that he awaked him His Face was without change he was easily known to his Acquaintance who were amazed at what had passed he supposing that he had slept but one Night and some part of a Day Cran. Vâ—ndal l. 8. c. 39. Donat. Hist. Mir. l. 4. c. 12. p. 214. 6. M. Damascen speaks of one that slept a whole Autumn and Winter under a Rick of Hay and then arose as a Man half dead and distracted Zuing. Theat Vol. 2. l. 5. p. 415. 7. The Lucomorians in the further part of Samaria are reported to die as it were in the manner of Swallows and Frogs from the 27th of November to the 24th of April following and then again awake and arise This was witnessed to Henry the Third when in Poland by several Princes worthy of Credit divers Nobles of France many Physicians of the Court particularly the famous Pidâ—xius being present 'T is related also by Alex. Guagninas of Verona Colonel of Foot in the Castle of Vitelaska in the Frontiers of Muscovy in his Description of Muscovy Mers Qu. Com. in Gen Qu. 30. p. 1222. Joh. Licat l. 1. c. 6. Hen. Kornman de Mirac Mort. par 2. c. 41. Delr Disq Mag. c. Zacch Qu. Mad. Leg. l. 4. tit 1. qu 11. p. 241. Treas l. 6. c. 10. p. 565. Schot Phys Curios l. 1. c. 36. p. 176. 8. The Story of the Seven Sleepers who to avoid Martyrdom fled into a Cave and slept from the Reign of Decius till the 30th Year of Theodosius the Younger i. e. 196 Years will seem incredible and yet 't is mentioned by Nicephorus Eccl. Hist. l. 14. c. 45. By Lonicer Theatr. p. 230. Schot Phys Curros l. 3. c. As also by Mahomet in his worshipful Alcoran tho with some Addition and Variation for he saith they slept 300 Years CHAP. XVII Instances of such as have used to walk and perform strange things in their Sleep 'T Was the Opinion of some of the Ancient Philosophers that our Natural Life was but a Sleep and all our Actions are perform'd in a Dream and that we did not awake till Death came and pluck'd our Souls out of the Cradle and sent us rubbing up our Intellectuals and shaking our Spirits into the other World And surely such instances as follow here seem to make a fit Emblem for such an Hypothesis where Men Sleep by halves and employ at the same time some of the Animal Spirits as Cursitors of the Brain to move and act and discharge their Functions whilst â—hers of them sleep and rest and refresh themselves 1. A young Man arose from his sleep took a Sword opened the Doors and muttering to himself went into the Street where he quarreled alone and fancying that he was in Fight with his Enemy he made divers passes till he fell down and through an unhappy slip of his Sword gave himself such a Wound on his Breast that was like to be his Death Hereupon being awaked and affrighted and dreading greater dangers he sent for me to be his Physician and was cured saith Zacutus Lusitan in his Prax. admirand l. 1. Obs. 43. p. 33 c. 2. John Poultney would in his sleep usually rise out of his Bed dress him open the Doors walk about the Fields and return to his Bed not awaked he would rise in his sleep take a Staff Fork or other Weapon and therewith lay about him now striking now defending himself as if charged with an Enemy ot knowing when awaked what had passed He was of Leicestershire Fullers Work p. 133. Leicestershire 3. Henricus ab Heere 's saith he knew a young Student who having certain Verses to finish while awake rising in the Night hath opened his Desk he hath writ and often read over what he hath written which done he hath applauded himself with Laughter called to his Chamber-fellow to praise him also then putting off his Shooes and Cloaths shutting his Desk and laying up his Papers he returned to his Bed and slept till called up utterly Ignorant what he had done in the Night In the Morning returning to his Studies not having yet seen his Papers and being careful how to fill up the Gap in his Verses taking his Papers when he found them supplied to his desire and that with his own hand he hath been strangely amazed and would not believe his Companions who waking had seen what he did The Night after his Companions
and at last sacrificed his Right Hand for but tampering a little this way 'T is ill jesting with God and our own Consciences who will neither of them be mocked 17. Berengarius tried this and therefore though he retracted his Doctrine against Transubstantiation he relapsed again and retracted and relapsed again or rather returned and repented finding no Peace for his Conscience whilst he had not Truth in his Possesston CHAP. CXLI Great Effects wrought by weak means IT is pleasant to observe how God delights to shew his Power by using weak and contemptible Instruments and to werk â—â—eat Effects by little secondary Causes to make a World by speaking a Word or two to punish and subdue a slout-hearted Pharaoh with Frogs and Lice and Locusts and Darkness to baffle a Giant-like People in Canaan with a handful of Men to make the Walls of Jericho fall down and the Peoples Hearts quail with only a Shout and the Noise of Rams Horns to overthrow the two great Religions of the World Judaisin and Pagan Idolatry with the Foolishness of Preaching and the Piety and Patience of Confessors and Martyrs to turn Sinners Thoughts into a Case of Knives or a Nest of Wasps or Serpents to sting and torment them with 1. The Duke of Arcos Viceroy of Naples under the King of Spain having imposed many Gabels or Taxes both vendible and eatable at last imposed a Gabel upon Fruit also which more irritated and offended that Multitude than all the former Whereupon by the publick Cries and Lamentations of Men and Women they daily solicited the Viceroy as he passed through the Market-place to ease them of the said Burthen they used also the Mediation of others and not prevailing they were ready to raise a Mutiny Which so affrighted the Viceroy that he promised quite to take off the said Gabel but delaying to do it some of the enraged People one Night but fire to some Powder in the Market-place where the said Gabel was exacted and blew it up There were also from Day to Day bitter Invectives and fiery Protests against the publick Officers fixed up in sundry Places of the City The Viceroy being alarmed thereby often assembled the six Precincts of the City to consult about this Business But they were divided some perswading him to ease and please the People others advising him to Repair the Toll-house that was burnt down and continue the Gabel saying That they were but a few Tatterdemallions that had made that Noise Besides divers of the great Men and Merchants of the City had advanced upon the said Gabel above 600000 Crowns and were to pay 85000 Crowns of annual Rent This was noised abroad and the Report went That if this Tax was taken off there would be a new one set upon â—orn and Wine Whereupon the enraged People protested That they would never endure the same and whilst these Discontents were hot July 17. 1647. this Occasion suddenly presented it self A young Man of about 24 Years old being spritely pleasant and of a middle stature in Linen-Slops Blew Wastcoat and bare-foot with a Mariner's Cap on his Head happened to be in the Market-place His Profession was to angle for little Fishes as also to buy Fish and carry them about to sell He was vulgarly called Massianello and being naturally Crafty he observed the general Murmurings of the People and so went up and down to the Fruiterers Shops and advised them That meeting together the next Day in the Market-place they should tell the Country Fruiterers That they would buy no more gabelled Fruit. Upon this he listed many Boys under him to the number of Two Thousand giving every one of them a little Cane in their Hand Against a great Festival that was approaching a Feast that used to be made by the Boys and meaner fort of People in the Market-place he gathered to the number of Fifty Thousand Upon this Success the number of People encreased exclaiming aloud against their Oppressions protesting to pay no more Gabel crying out Let the King of Spain live and let the ill Government die Massianello being thus attended with his Boys and an infinite Company of loose People who were now armed with Pikes and Partizans he leaped up on a Table and with a loud Voice cried Be merry my dear Companions and give God Thanks that the Hour of your Redemption draws near This poor bare-footed Fellow as another Moses who freed the Israelites from Pharaoh's Rod shall redeem you from all Gabâ—ls Peter a Fisherman redeemed with his Voice Rome and with it all the World from Satan's Slavery to the Liberty of Christ Now another Fisher-man which is Massianello shall release Naples and with it a whole Kingdom from the Tyranny of Gabels c. Nor to effect this do I care a Rush to be torn in pieces and to be dragged up and down the Gutters of Naples let all the Blood in my Body spin out of these Veins let my Head skip from my Shoulders by a fatal Steel and be pearched in this Market-place on a Pole yet I shall die contentedly and gloriously It will be Honour enough to me to think that my Blood and Life perish in so glorious a Cause In short he afterwards brought the Viceroy to an Agreement but after some time falling into a Frensie by either Excess of Wine or Watching and Cares died See more in the printed Narrative or Clark 's Examples 2. The Inhabitants of Myons a City of Jonia were so pester'd with Gnats which were bred in a muddy Pond near them that they were constrain'd thereupon to leave the City and fly to Milerum This I read many Years ago when a Student in the University but took no care then to Record my Author 3. Luther by his Preaching and Disputing baffled the Arguments Arts and Power of two very potent Enemies the Pope and Emperor and procured a happy Reformation in the Church 4. Francis Spira was punished in this World for his Apostacy with the keen Reflections of a guilty Conscience and many others besides Our own Thoughts may be sufficient to make a Hell of 5. Some have been convicted of Murder by the Barking of a Dog the Flight of Birds the Shaking of Leaves Anacreon was choaked with a Grape-stone Adrian with a Gnat others with the Excrements of Birds flying over their Heads An Acquaintance of mine dislocated her Thigh-bone with only turning a Custard at the Fire and died upon it 7. This very Year a Woman near Hanmer going over a Hedge was hung to Death with her Head-string catching accidentally in the Sticks as was related to me by Mr. Henry of Broad-oak in Flintshire CHAP. CXLII Remarkable Passages relating to Sickness Death and Funerals WHat was long since decreed in Heaven God hath sent Warrants to execute on Earth Semel mori For us once to die Then be acquainted with Death betimes for through acquaintance Death will lose his Horror like unto an ill Face though it be as formidable as a
ready to make a short-sighted Man exclaim with Hercules in the Tragoedian That Vertue is but an empty Name or at least could only serve to make its Owners more sensibly unhappy But altho' such Examples might a little work on a weaker Vertue that which is more confirmed and solid can more easily resist it 'T is not impatient nor uneasie but still believes that Heaven is awake that the Iron Hands of Justice will at length overtake the Offenders and by their Destruction vindicate the Honour and Innocence of those whom they have ruin'd It considers any Riddles in Providence as a curious piece of Opticks which if judged of either before 't is finished or by piece meal here an Eye and there another distorted Feature appears not only unpleasing but really dreadful which yet if viewed when 't is compleat and taking all the Features together makes a Figure sufficiently regular and lovely Who almost could have imagined without some such Reflections as these that those brave Men we have seen for some Years past pick'd out and out off one after another with as much Scandal and Obloquy as cou'd be thrown upon 'em by the ungenerous Malice of thier Enemies when the very Attempt to clear their Reputation has been made almost Capital and involved those who had Courage enough to attempt it in little less Mischief than what they themselves endured That ever these Phoenixes should rise again and flourish in their Ashes That so many great Pens should already have done some of 'em Justice and the World as much to all the rest And with how much more Joy if 't were possible would those Heroes have received their Crowns could they have foreseen their Deaths wou'd have tended so far to work up the Nation to such a just Resentment as wou'd at last have so great an Influence as we find it had on our late glorious deliverance We shall therefore here under this Chapter add the Last Words and what 's Remarkable in the Deaths of those Eminent Persons who fell in Defence of the Protestant Religion and the English Liberties both in London and the West of England from the Year 1678. to this Time 1. Sir Edmundbury Godfrey declared some Days before his Death That he believed in his Conscience he should be the first Martyr Two Anagrams there were made on this brave Gentleman which for the peculiar luckiness of 'em it may not be ungrateful to the Reader to have 'em inserted Sir EDMVNDBVRY GODFREY Anagram I FIND MURDER'D BY ROGUES Another BY ROME'S RUDE FINGER DIE He was the first Martyr for our holy Protestant Religion We shall address what has been written on this Subject not only to Posterity but to all the sober unprejudic'd Men of the present Age and so dismiss it and go on to the rest for whom he only made way after we have presented you with one of the best pieces of Wit tht the Age has yielded on Sir Edmund's Death 'T is a part of that ingenious Poem call'd Bacchanalia Well Primrose my our Godfrey's Name on thee Like Hyacinth inscribed be On thee his Memory flourish still Sweet as thy Flower and lasting as thy Hill Whilst blushing Somerset to her Eternal Shame shall this Inscription wear The Devil's an Ass for Jesuits on this spot Broke both the Neck of Godfrey and the Plot. 2. Mr. COLLEDGE NO body can doubt but that 't was now very much the Interest of the Papists to get off if possible that foul Imputation of a Plot which stuck so deep upon 'em which had been confirm'd by Sir Edmund's Murther Coleman's never-to-be-forgotten Letters Arnold's Assassination and a great deal of Collateral Evidence which fell in unexpectedly many of those who gave it being utterly unacquainted with the first Discoverers After several unfortunate Attempts they had made to this purpose after the Living had perjur'd themselves and the Dying done worse to support their desperate Cause after Attempts to blast and ruine some of the Evidence and buy off others of 'em in both which publick Justice took notice of and punish'd 'em being of a Religion that sticks no Villany to serve an Interest and certainly the most indefatigable and firm People in the World when they set about any Design especially where Diana is concern'd not being yet discouraged they resolv'd to venture upon one Project more which prov'd but too successful to the Loss of the bravest and best Blood in the Kingdom and that was to Brand all those who were the steddiest Patriots and so their greatest Enemies of what Rank soever they were with the odious Character of Persons disaffected to the Government or in the old Language Enemies to Caesar They pretended to perswade the World that after all this great noise of a Popish Plot 't was only a Presbyterian one lay at the bottom Things being thus what can any Man of Modesty say to Mr. Colledge's Protestations over and over both in Prison and at his Death that he was perfectly innocent of what he dy'd for I did deny in them say he that is before the Council and do deny it upon my Death I never was in any manner of Plot in my days nor ever had any such Design as these Men have sworn against me I take God to witness as I am a dying Man and on the Terms of my Salvation I know not one Man upon the face of the Earth which would have stood by me And lower I knew not of any part of what they swore against me till I heard it sworn at the Bar. Again All the Arms we had was for our Defence in case the Papists should have made any Attempt by way of Massacre c. God is my Witness this is all I know And in his solemn Prayer and some of his almost very last Words 'T is thee O God I trust in I disown all Dispensations and will not go out of the World with a Lye in my Mouth And just after to the People From the sincerity of my Heart I declare again That these are the very Sentiments of my Soul as God shall have Mercy upon me Thus dy'd Mr. Colledge whose Blood as he himself desir'd it might sufficiently spoke the Justice of his Cause who seem'd in his Speech to have some Prophetick Intimations that his Blood would not be the last as indeed it was not but rather a Praelude to that which follow'd the Edge of the Law being now turn'd against all those who dar'd defend it He has one Daughter yet living whose Gratitude and Generosity to those who were kind to her under the Misfortunes of her Family is at present the Wonder and Entertainment of the Court of England and whose brave Soul speaks her the true Child of such a Father His CHARACTER How great and undaunted his Courage was both his Tryal and Death testifie He was very vigorous and earnest almost to a Fault in his Undertakings But certainly there are so few who err on that hand that
then requested they might sing a Psalm the Sheriff told him It must be with the Ropes about their Necks which they chearfully accepted and sung with such Heavenly Joy and Sweetness that many present saiâ—â— It both broke and rejoyc'd their hearts Thus in the experience of the delightfulness of Praising God on Earth he willingly closed his Eyes on a vain World to pass to that Eternal Employment Sept. 30. 1685. All present of all sorts were exceedingly affected and amazed Some Officers that had before insultingly said Surely these Persons have no thoughts of Death but will find themselves surprized by it after said That they now saw he and they had something extraordinary within that carried them through with such Joy Others of them said That they were so convinced of their Happiness that they would be glad to change Conditions with them All the Soldiers in general and all others lamenting exceedingly saying That it was so sad a thing to see them cut off they scarce knew how to bear it Some of the most malicious in the Place from whom nothing but Railing was expected said as they were carried to their Grave in Taunton Church voluntarily accompanied by most of the Town That these Persons had left a sufficient Evidence that they were now glorified Saints in Heaven A great Officer in the King's Army has been often heard to say That if you would learn to die go to the Young Men of Taunton Much more was uttered by them which shewed the Blessed and Glorious frames of their hearts to the Glory of Divine Grace but this is what occurs to Memory Mr. Benjamin Hewling about two hours before his Death writ this following Letter which shewed the great composure of his Mind Mr. Hewling's last Letter a little before his Execution Taunton Sept. 30. 1685. Honoured Mother THat News which I know you have a great while feared and we expected I must now acquaint you with That notwithstanding the Hopes you gave in your two last Letters Warrants are come down for my Execution and within these few hours I expect it to be performed Blessed be the Almighty God that gives comfort and support in such a day how ought we to magnifie his holy Name for all his Mercies that when we were running on in a course of sin he should stop us in our full Career and shew us that Christ whom we had pierced and out of his Free Grace enable us to look upon him with an Eye of Faith believing him able to save to the utmost all such as come to him Oh admirable long-suffering and Patience of God! that when we were dishonouring his Name he did not take that time to bring honour to himself by our destruction But he delighteth not in the death of a sinner but had rather he should turn to him and live And he has many ways of bringing his own to himself Blessed be his Holy Name that through Affliction he has taught my heart in some measure to be conformable to his Will which worketh Patience and Patience worketh Experience and Experience Hope which maketh not ashamed I bless God I am not ashamed of the Cause for which I lay down my Life and as I have engaged in it and fought for it so now I am going to Seal it with my Blood The Lord still carry on the same Cause which hath been long on foot and tho' we die in it and for it I question not but in his own good time he will raise up other Instruments more worthy to carry it on to the Glory of his Name and the Advancement of his Church and People Honoured Mother I know there has been nothing left undone by you or my Friends for the saving of my Life for which I return my hearty Acknowledgments to your self and them all and it 's my dying Request to you and them to Pardon all undutifulness 〈◊〉 unkindness in every Relation Pray give my Duty to my Grandfather and Grandmother Service to my Uncles and Aunts and my dear Love to all my Sisters to every Relation and Friend a particular Recommendation Pray tell 'em all how Precious an Interest in Christ is when we come to die and advise them never to rest in a Christless Estate For if we are his 't is no matter what the World do to us they can but kill the Body and blessed be God the Soul is out of their reach for I question not but their Malice wishes the Damnation of that as well as the Destruction of the Body which has too evidently appeared by their deceitful and â—â—tering Promises I commit you all to the Care and Protection of God who has promised to be a Father to the Fatherless and a Husband to the Widow and to supply the want of every Relation The Lord God of Heaven be your Comfort under these Sorrows and your Refuge from those Miseries we may easily fore-see coming upon poor England and the poor distâ—eâ—â—ed People of God in it The Lord carry you through this Vale of Tears with a resigning submissive Spirit and at last bring you to himself in Glory where I question not but you will meet your dying Son Ben. Hewling Their CHARACTERS THey were both of very sweet and obliging Tempers as has appeared in their History it being a very hard matter for their worst Enemies when they once knew 'em well not to Honour and Love ' em Mr. Benjamin the Elder reconciled the Lamb and the Lion exactly In the Field he seem'd made only for War and any where else for nothing but Love He without Flattery deserv'd to be call'd a very fine Man of a lovely Proportion extreamly well made as handsome a Meen and good an Air as perhaps few in England exceeded him His Picture is pretty like him The Younger Mr. William somewhat taller and more slender his Face fresh and lively as his Spirit being Master of an extraordinary vivacity and briskness of Temper Both of 'em Vertuous Pious and Courageous far above their Years and indeed seem'd to be Men too soon one of 'em not being Twenty the Eldest but Two and twenty when they dy'd verifying that common Observation That whatever is perfect sooner than ordinary has generally a shorter Period prefix'd it than what 's more base and ignoble 2. Mr. CHRISTOPHER BATTISCOMB HE was another young Gentleman of a good Family and very great Hopes and of a fair Estate which lay in Dorsetshire somewhere between Dorchester and Lyme He had studied some time at the Temple and having Occasions in the Country about the Time of my Lord Russel's Business he was there seiz'd on Suspicion of being concern'd in 't and clapt into the County Gaol at Dorchester where he behaved himself with that Prudence and winning Sweetness and shew'd so much Wit and innocent pleasantry of Temper as extreamly obliged both all his Keepers and Fellow-Prisoners and even Persons of the best Quality in that Town They knew how to value such a Gentleman
she Go learn of her Humility An odd Epitaph upon Thomas Saffin Here Thomas Saffin lies Interr'd ah why Born in New-England did in London die Was the third Son of eight begot upon His Mother Martha by his Father John Much favour'd by his Prince he 'gan to be But nipt by Death at the Age of 23. Fatal to him was that we Small-Pox name By which his Mother and two Brethren came Also to breathe their last nine Years before And now have left their Father to deplore The loss of all his Children with that Wife Who was the Joy and Comfort of his Life June 18. 1687. Here lie Interr'd the Bodies of Captain Thomas Chevers who departed this Life the 18th of Nov. 1675. Aged 44 Years And of Anne Chevers his Wife who departed this Life the 14th of Nov. 1675. Aged 34 Years And of John Chevers their Son who departed this Life the 13th of Nov. 1675. Aged 5 Days Reader consider well how poor a Span And how uncertain is the Life of Man Here lie the Husband Wife and Child by Death All three in five days space depriv'd of Breath The Child dies first the Mother next the Morrow Follows and then the Father dies with Sorrow A Caesar falls by many Wounds well may Two stabs at Heart the stoutest Captain slay On Another Tomb-stone is writ Here lies two loving Brothers side by side In one day buried and in one day died Here lies the Body of Mrs. Bridget Radley the most deservedly beloved Wife of Charles Radley Esq Gentleman-Usher Daily-Waiter to His Majesty which Place he parted withal not being able to do the Duty of it by reason of his great Indisposition both of Body and Mind occasioned by his just Sorrow for the loss of her She changed this Life for a better the 20th of November 1679. Sacred to the Immortal Memory of Sir Palmes Fairbone Kt. Governour of Tangier in Execution of which Command he was Mortally wounded by a Shot from the Moors then Besieging the Town in the 46th Year of his Age Octob. 24. 1680. Ye Sacred Reliques which that Marble keep Here undisturb'd by Wars in quiet sleep Discharge the Trust which when it was below Fairbone's undaunted Soul did undergo And be the Town 's Pallà dium from the Foe Alive and dead these Walls he will defend Great Actions great Examples must attend The Candian Siege his early Valour knew Where Turkish Blood did his young Hands imbrew From thence returning with deserv'd applause Against the Moors his well-flesh'd Sword he draws The same the courage and the same the cause His Youth and Age his Life and Death combine As in some great and regular Design All of a piece throughout and all Divine Still nearer Heaven his Vertue shoâ—e more bright Like rising Flames expanding in their height The Martyr's Glory crown'd the Soldier 's fight More bravely British General never fell Nor General 's Death was e'er reveng'd so well Which his pleas'd Eyes beheld before their close Follow'd by thousand Victims of his Foe * To this lamented Loss for Times to come His Pious Widow Consecrates this Tomb. Here lies expecting the Second Coming of our Saviour the Body of Edmund Spencer the Prince of Poets in his Time whose Divine Spirit needs no other Witness than the Works which he left behind him He was Born in London in the Year 1510. and died in the Year 1596. Abrahamus Couleius Anglorum Pindarus Flaccus Maro Delicìae Decus Desiderium Aevi sui Hic juxta situs est Aurea dum volitant latè tua scripta per orbem Et fama aeternùm vivis Divina Poeta Hîc placidâ jaceas requie custodiat urnam Cana fides vigilentque perenni lampade musae Sit sacer iste locus Nec quis temperarius ausit Sacrilegà turbare manu venerabile bustum Intacti maneant maneant per saecula dulcis Coulei cineres servetque immobile saxum Six vovet Votumque suum apud posteros sacratum esse voluit Qui vivo Incomparabili posuit sepulchrale marmor Georgius Dux Buckinghamiae Excessit è vita Anno Aetatis suae 49. honorifica pompa elatus ex Aedibus Buckinghamianis vitis Illustribus omnium ordinum exsequias celebrantibus sepultus est Die 3. M. Augusti Anno Domini 1667. On the Royal Tombs adjoyning to Cowley 's a Modern Poet writes thus Whole Troops of mighty Nothings lie beside Of whom 't is only said they liv'd and dy'd Here lies Henry Purcel Esq who left this Life and is gone to that Blessed Place where only his Harmony can be exceeded Obiit 21. die Novembris Anno Aetatis suae 37. Annoque Domini 1695. CHAP. CXLVIII Miracles giving Testimony to Christianity Orthodoxy Innocency c. I Can never believe that Miracles ascended up to Heaven with our Saviour so as never to be seen upon Earth more after the first Age of the Church 'T is true they have run in a narrower Stream And when the Gospel was sufficiently established and confirmed by the Testimony of them they were not quite so necessary But some Necessity still occurs and some Miracles have been in all Ages wrought Take these amongst many others and compare them with some other Chapters of this Book 1. Irenaeus in his Second Book against Heresies saith Some of the Brethren and sometimes the whole Church of some certain Place by reason of some urgent Cause by Fasting and Prayer had procured that the Spirits of the Dead had been raised again to Life and had lived with them many Years Some by the like means had expelled Devils so that they which had been delivered from Evil Spirits had embraced the Faith and were received into the Church Others had the Spirit of Prophecy to foretel things to come they see Divine Dreams and Prophetical Visions Others Cure the Sick and Diseased and by laying on of Hands restore them to Health Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 2. S. Augustine tells us that when the Bodies of Gervasius and Protasius the Martyrs were taken up and brought to S. Ambrose's Church at Milan several Persons that were vexed with unclean Spirits were healed and one a noted Citizen that had been blind many Years upon touching the Bier with his Handkerchief was restored to his sight Aug. Confess l. 9. c. 7. 3. In the Reign of Constantine the Great the Gospel was propagated into Iberia in the uttermost part of the Euxine Sea by the means of a Captive Christian Woman by whose Prayers a Child that was Mortally Sick recovered health and the Lady of Iberia her self was delivered from a Mortal Disease Whereupon the King her Husband sent Embassadors to Constantine entreating him to send him some Preachers into Iberia to Instruct them in the True Faith of Christ which Constantine performed with a glad heart Clark in Vit. Constantin p. 11. 4. That Luther a poor Friar saith one should be able to stand against the Pope was a great Miracle that he should prevail against the Pope was a greater
little Conversant in and therefore cannot be supposed to say much of it This is certain that they have found out several ways of dissolving Natural Bodies and separating their various Substances by Menstruum Amalgamation Liquation Calcination c. Of Extracting Juices Oils and Spirits out of them of Fermenting Fixing Subliming and Transforming one Metal or Mineral into another as Transforming Tin into Silver or Lead changing Lead again into Tin Antimony into Lead making Lead heavier extracting Quicksilver out of it and again converting Lead into Quicksilver Transforming Brass or Iron into a more worthy Metal drawing Water out of Quicksilver making Quicksilver grow to be a Tree giving a golden Tincture to Silver and Extracting Gold out of it Counterfeiting and Colouring precious Stones polishing of Metals Extracting Salts Tinctures Essences Gums c. Tempering Hardening and Softening Iron c. 4. Sir Christopher Wren contrived how to make Diaries of Wind and Weather and of the various Qualifications of the Air as to Heats Colds Droughts Moisture and Weight through the whole Year and this in order to the History of Seasons with observations which are the most Healthful or Contagious to Men or Beasts which the Harbingers of Blights Mildews Smut c. To this end he contrived a Thermometer to be its own Register and a Clock to be annexed to a Weather-Cock which moves a Rundle covered with white Paper upon which the Clock moving a black Lead Pensil the Observer by the Traces of the Pensil on the Paper may know what Winds have blown during his Sleep or Absence for 12 Hours together he hath discovered also many subtle ways for easier finding the degrees of Drought and Moisture and the Gravity of the Atmosphere and amongst other Instruments hath Ballances that shew the Pressure of the Air by their very easie Inclinations He hath made Instruments also to shew the Mechanical Reason of Sailing to all Winds and others of Resiration for straining the Breath from thick Vapours to try whether the same Breath thus purified will serve again Dr. Plot 's Nat. Hist of Oxfordshire c. 9. par 30. c. 5. The Honourable Mr. Boyle invented a Pneumatic Engine with the help of Mr. Hook called the Air Pump far above that of Magdeburgh by the Assistance whereof he hath accurately Examined the Elastical Power Pressure Weight Expansion and weakness of this Element and has found out so many new things relating to the height and gravity of the Atmosphere nature of a Vacuum Flame and excandefcence of Coals Match Firing of Gun-Powder propagation of Sounds Fluidity Light Freezing Respiration c. that to give an Account of all according to their Merits would be to Transcribe the Author himself Ibid. 6. The same Noble Person invented the Barometer or Weather-Glass whereby the gravity of the Atmosphere hath been daily observed by Dr. Wallis for many Years together and the Quicksilver in the Tube found never to ascend much above 30 Inches and never to descend much below 28 which is supposed to be the whole Latitude of its Variation Ibid. 7. The same Ingenious Dr. Wallis hath observed many Years together the Temper of the Air by a the Air by a Thermometer whereof he kept the Notes still by him very particular for every Day Ibid. Which latter Instrument though graphically delineated by Robert de Fluctibus in a M. S. of 500 Years standing at least yet hath still received other useful Advancements from Sir Chr. Wren who finding the usual Thermometers not to give so exact a measure of the Airs extension by reason the Gravity of the Liquor as it stands higher or lower in the Glass weighs unequally on the Air and gives it a Contraction and Extension besides what is produced by Heat and Cold he thereofre invented a circular Thermometer in which the Liquor can occasion no such fallacy it remains continually of one height and moving the whole Instrument like a Wheel on its Axel Ibid. 8. Mr. J. Jones of Jesus Coll. Oxon contrived a Clock which moved by the Air equally expressed out of Bellows of a Cylindrical Form falling into Folds in its descent much after the manner of Paper Lanthorns these instead of drawing up the weights of other Clocks are only fill'd with Air admitted into them at a large Orifice at the top which is stopt up again as soon as they are full with a hollow Skrew in the head whereof there is set a small brass Plate about the bigness of a silver Half-penny with a Hole perforated scarce so big as the smallest Pins head through this Hole the Air is equally expressed by Weights laid on the top of the Bellows which descending very slowly draw a Clock-line having a counterpoise at the other end that turns a Pully-wheel fastened to the Arbor or Axis of the Hand that points to the Hour which devise though not brought to the intended Perfection of the Inventor that perhaps it may be by the help of a Tumbrel or Fusee yet highly deserves mentioning Ibid. 9. Mr. John Young M. A. of Magdalene Hall hath improved the Hygroscope 'T is made of two Deal or rather Poplar Boards who rationally concluding that the Teeth of the thin pieces of Brass placed across the Juncture of the two Boards must needs in its passage from bearing on one side of the Teeth of the Pinion to the other upon change of Weather make a stand as it were in respect of the motion of the Axel of the Hand thinking a pretty stiff Spring cut on the under side after the manner of a File placed flat and not edg-ways and bearing pretty hard upon an Axel of Copper may turn the Hand upon Change of Weather in the punctum of Reversion without any more than a negative Rest which being an Opinion so very rational and unlikely to fail when brought to the Test I thought fit to propound to the Ingenious Ibid. 10. Dr. Willis hath given us the Anatomy of Blood in his Book de Febribus and declared the true Causes and Nature of Fermentations in the Juices and upon them built his most Rational Doctrine of Fevers Intermitent Putrid and Malignant with particular Observations concerning them much different from the ways of the Ancients 11. To these he hath superadded the Spagyrical Anatomy of Vrin 12. His Method of Diffecting the Brain is new and very Natural And although he was not the first that mentioned two Souls in a Man the Sensitive and Rational yet perhaps no Body hath proved it so well 13. Sir Christopher Wren first found out the way of Injecting Liquors into the Veins of Animals and did exhibit it to the Meetings at Oxford about the Year 1656. by which Operation divers Animals immediately purged vomited intoxicated kill'd or revived according to the quality of the Liquor injected 14. Hence arose the Transfussng of Blood out of one Animal into another by Dr. Lower 1665. 15. The same Author was the first that Published the rrue Method of dividing the
Heart into several Muscles and assigning to it a Muscular Motion and thereby showing several ways whereby it may be impeded or disturbed he hath done good Service to the Pathalogical Part of Physick 16. Whether Walaeus Bartholin or any other were the first that found out the Circulation of the Blood I cannot say but Dr. Lower's Computation of the Frequency of the Bloods Circulation through the Heart is very ingenious and the Cause he assigns of the florid Colour of it when emitted seems new and probable 17. Dr. Majo hath lately taught us That the Air is impregnated with a Nitro-acrial Spirit and that it difused almost throughout the whole System of Nature and that Fire it self as to its Form and Effence is nothing else but the same Spirit put into Motion and that all Fermentations whether tending to Generation Perfection or Corruption depend on this Spirit 18. Mr. Tyson hath lately observed that many other strong Scented Animals besides the Hycena Odorifera the Civet-Cat the Castor or Beaver the Gazella Indica or Capra Mosci from whence our Musk and the Fishes Sepia Loligo Purpura have sollicular Repositories or Bags near the Exit of the Intestinum Rectum wherein they keep those Humours or Liquors that are the Vehicles of their Scents This he hath observed in Pole-Cats Foxes Weasels Cats c. Which Vessicles or little Bags are found by pairs one on each side of the Gut proportional to the bigness of the Animals To Instance in all the particular Discoveries and Improvements made in Anatomy Physick c. would be a Task sufficient to make up a large Volume by it self CHAP. IV. Improvements in Musick IN Musick it would be too tedious to determine Whether the Improvement or Alteration hath been greater Certain it is That several old English Instruments are laid aside as the Orpharian the Polyphone an Instrument surely not to be despised considering its rare Structue and the esteem had of it by Learned and therefore most Judiciously Musical Persons of this Age viz. Sir F. Pruscan and Dr. Rugely The Bandore the Ghittern Cittern c. The Treble Viol also is much out of Doors since the Violin came so much in request The Base and Lira Viol in the making whereof Wroth was without dispute the best Workman that ever wrought keep pretty well in repute especially the first because it cannot be wanted well in Consert c. 1. The Lute is not wholly laid aside but within this 20 or 30 Years much neglected to what it was formerly notwithstanding the great Improvement of this Instrument among us within a hundred Years by reason of the diversity of Tunings received from France some of whose best Lute-Masters brought over not only these Harp-Tunings but themselves also and by their active Hands and airy Fancies obliged the Musick-Lovers of our Nation with Transcendant Harmony 2. The Fine easie Ghittar whose Performance is soon gained at least after the brushing way hath at this present over-topt the noble Lute Nor is it to be denied but that after the pinching way the Ghittar makes some good work 3. The Theorbo which is no other than an Arch-Lute keeping to the old Tuning is still generally made use of in Consorts And there are yet some among the Judicious who think it the most agreeable and becoming Associate to Vocal Musick The Organ hath been wonderfully advanced of late Years by the addition of several Melodious Stops 5. The Harpsicon is of late mightily Improved by the Invention of the Pedal which brings it so near to the Organ that it only seems to come short of it in Lungs 6. Here may not be unfitly mentioned that Musical Automaton a kind of Harpsicon which by a Clockwork-motion discharges a certain set number of Tunes according as it is would up to this or that Tune Of this sort of Automata there is to be seen a very neat Piece of Art of Reed-work at a House at St. Mary-Overs-Dock the Artificer thereof Mr. Tho. Hill of Westminster His Pitch-Pipe for the Tuning of Musical Instruments to Consort which is particularly worthy note for exactness variety and curious Work above any thing that is to be seen elsewhere of this Nature 7. The Harp is increased in repute and though the Welsh Gut-string formerly gave place to the Irish Wire-string now the Spanish Gut-string comes up with it 8. The Violin is now arrived to a great Perfection of Performance 9. The Flagiolet within this 20 or 30 Years and since that the Flute have been highly in vogue and frequented in use Present State Eng. Part 3. p. 90. c. 10. In Musick to pass by a Harpsecord that I met with at Sir Tho. Penystons with Cat 's Gut-string it hath been lately observed here at Oxford that though Viol or Lute-strings rightly Tuned do affect one another yet most of them do it not in all places alike as has till now been supposed For if the lesser of two Octaves be touched with the Hand or Bow each half of the Greater will answer it but will stand still in the middle and if the greater of the two Octaves be touched on either of its halves all the lesser will answer it but if touched on the middle the lesser will not stir c. Dr. Plot 's Nat. Hist Oxfordsh c. 9. p. 288. Dr. Marsh hath offered a Solution of this Phaenomenon in all its cases Concerning which vide Ibid. One Hooper of Oxford could so close his Lips as to fing an Octave at the same time And I know saith Dr. Plot two other Persons now living here that can do it though their Lips be set in that posture yet they shut them so close that they can by no means pronounce any thing articulate But he that excells them all and indeed to a miracle is one Mr. Jos Dring a young Gentleman of Har-Hall who sings a Song articulately ore Patulo and all in Octaves so very strongly and yet without much straining that he equals if not excells the loudest Organ He performs it in the lower part of his Throat and it came casually on him at first upon over-straining of his Voice Ibid. CHAP. V. Improvements in Astronomy ONE would think the Heavenly Bodies were out of Man's reach or that the Ancient Inhabitants of Phoenicia Egypt Chaldea Greece c. had in so many Thousand Years made so many Observations upon them that nothing more could be added and yet we have made fresh remarks here and useful Discoveries and Improvements not to speak of the World in the Moon which some have asserted and undertaken to make out for very probable or the Foramina and Cavities in others or the new Star in Cassiopea The Fleet Astronomer can bore And thread the Spheres with his quick-piercing Mind he views their Stations walks from Door to Door Surveys as if he had design'd To make a Purchase there he sees their Dances And knoweth long before Both their full-eyed Aspects and secret glances Herbert 1. The
intelligo non opâ—â— esr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6. Mrs. Walker of Geneva was a very extraordinary Person her Father is of Shaff-house she lost her Sight when she was but a Year old by being too near a Stove that was very hot There rests in the upper part of the Eye so much Sight that she distinguishes Day from Night and when any Person stands between her and the Light she will distinguish by the Head and its Dress a Man from a Woman but when she turns down her Eyes she sees nothing She hath a vast Memory besides the French that is her natural Language she speaks both High-Dutch Italian and Latin She hath all the Psalms by Heart in French and many of them in Dutch and Italian She understands the Old Philosophy well and is now studying the New She hath studied the Body of Divinity well and hath the Text of the Scriptures very ready on all which matters I had long Conversation with her She not only Sings well but she plays rarely on the Organ and I was told she played on the Violin but her Violin was out of order But that which is most of all is she writes legibly In order to her Learning to write her Father who is a worthy Man and hath such tenderness for her that he furnisheth her with Masters of all sorts Ordered Letters to be Carved in Wood and she by feeling the Letters formed such an Idea of them that she writes with a Crayon so distinctly that her Writing can be well Read of which I have several Essays I saw her write she doth it more nimbly than can be imagined She hath a Machine that holds the Paper and keeps her always in Line But that which is above all the rest she is a Person of extraordinary Devotion great Resignation to the Will of God and a profound Humility Dr. Burnet's Letters p. 121. 7. The Lady Donna Olivia Sabuco being abundantly furnished with more of the Masculine Wit and Understanding couragiously imployed both her Brains and Mind in the Investigation of the Natural things and advancing in her Studies she set her Wits upon things of great use and to the end Spain and the whole World might receive some benefit thereby she wonderfully gave beginning to a new and most ingenious way of Curing And Writing a Letter to Philip II. she thus displays her Wit It is as plain as the Light of the Sun That the Antient Physick was in an Errour according as it is Read and Practised in its principal Fundamentals for that the Antient Philosophers and Physicians neither understood nor reach'd the true Nature upon which Physick is founded and from whence it draws its Original of which not only the understanding Christian Physicians may be Judges but also those that have any prospect into other Faculties being Persons of Wit and Judgment And a little after He that cannot comprehend or understand it let him leave it to others that are to come or let him believe Experience and not the Antient Physick Therefore my Petition is just that these my Followers may be approved for one year since they have tried the Rules of Galen and Hippoorates for these 2000 Years and have found the effect so inconsiderable and the ends so uncertain as it is to be seen every day and was lately observed in the past Epidemic Catarrhs Spotted Fevers Small-Pox and Pestilences c. in the Cure of which that sort of Physick is so ineffectual c. Leonardo di Capoa's Vncertainy of the Art of Physick p. 97. 8. A Woman of Kenly in Shropshire known generally by the Name of Nurse Corfield was so famed about twenty years ago for her Skill in Chirurgery and Physick that it gave occasion for a great Confluence of Persons and Patients to the Town where she lived Many People not only of the meaner sort but of the Gentry likewise for thirty or forty miles distance made their application to her insomuch that the Inns were filled with Guests and the Town turned into a Hospital and her Fame exceeded that of any other Physicians in those parts that I know of yet there were many eminently skillful and learned in that Profession I know not whether she may not be yet living in those parts 9. I say nothing of those famous Prophetesses Mary the Sister of Moses Deborah Anna Elizabeth the four Daughters of Philip St. Bridget Hildegardis Cassandra the Sybils c. Nor of those famous She-Philosophers Theano the Wife of Pythagoras and his Daughter Dama skillful in the Exposition of her Fathers dark Sentences Aspasia and Diotima the Scholars of Socrates Mantinca and Philesia-Axiochia both Scholars of Plato Nor of Gemina and Amphiclea extoll'd by Plotinus Themistis by Lactantius The Church of Rome rejoices in her Catherine which Maid alone did far excel all the Learning of Wife Men in that Age. Zenobia the Queen and Scholar of Longinus the Philosopher for her abundant and excellent skill in Literature obtained the Name of Ephinissa whose Holy Works Nicomachus hath turned into the Greek Tongue In Oratory and Poetry Armesia sirnamed Androgenia was famed so were Sappho Hortensio Lucria Valeria Capiola Corinna Cornificia Romana and Erimna Telia which were accounted Epigrammatists And in Salust Sempronia and Calphurnia among the Lawyers c. Nor do I stay to insist upon that late learned Countess of our own Nation who hath left a Specimen of her Learning and Ingenuity behind her in a whole Volume of Poems and Comedies Nor of that other famous Countess of Warwick whose Ingenious Meditations upon sundry subjects composed in Solitude for the the help of her own Devotion have been since Printed Nor the Lady Morton's Devotions published in a Volume by themselves Nor Mrs. Josceline's Mother's Blessing Nor Mrs. Vrsula Quarles who hath in short but handsomely pen'd her Husband's Life Nor would it be proper to say much of one Dorothy Lillingstone who hath left behind her a short account of her own wicked Life and Penitential Death being Executed April 7 1679. at Kennington for Murdering her Bastard Child and published at earnest Request CHAP. XXXVI Wonderful Distempers THat wild computation of the Poet Mille modi mortis c. doth not reach the number of Diseases tho' it seems to be a great Hyperbole Common Diseases are many and some of them strange enough but there are others which admit at their first appearance of no Diagnosis the Symptoms are so new or strange or complicated that they put all the Art of Physick to a stand and the Physicians to ashonishment and the Patients to surprising fears and apprehensions of Danger If Men had once got the knowledge of all Distempers they would be in hopes of baffling in time all the menaces of Mortality 1. Anno. 1577. July the 5th and 6th an Assizes was held at Oxford where was Condemned one Rowland Jenkins Bookbinder of Oxford for Seditious Words who being there Arraigned many came to bear his Cause tried and as soon
as Judgment proceeded against him there arose among the People such a Damp or Mist that so filled their Heads that the greatest part of them seemed to be smother'd The Jurors died and presently the Lord Baron Sir Roger Bell Mr. Wrinemen Sir William Babington a Justice of the County Mr. Serjeant Barbam Justice of the Assize Mr. Dolley High-Shcriff Mr. Hart Under-Sheriff with divers others sickned there Three of the Persons died at Oxford and in several other places about 200 many of them Bleeding to death Batman's Doom p. 405. 2. Schenckius tells us of several Persons who thorow sudden fear have turned perfectly Grey doth Vives Hildanus and many other Physicians 3. One Jacob Heitzman contracted a Hoariness of his Beard from his Mothers Womb she being affrighted by occasion of a Neighbours House being on Fire Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 3. 4. We have known two Brothers bald by Nature the one a Toll-gatherer the other a Husbandman dwelling in Vngnrscheim Johan Stadlerus de Obs 5. We have already spoken of a Distemper that began in Poland and afterwards spread it self in Germany and other parts wherein the Hairs of the Head were turn'd into a kind of Snakes and living Vermin 6. Haly Rhodâ—han saw one that was Born with a Beard and Hair Com. ad Tex 177. Tech. Galeni Wolfius observed an Infant with as much Hair on his Breast as one of 30 years of Age. Wolf Lect. Memorab Tom. 2. p. 540. And another Bristled like a Swine 7. Many Women have been seen with great Beards Albertus Duke of Bavaria kept one in his House and I my self when a young man saw one at Oxford that was carried about for a show 8. Tincelius tells us of an Infant afflicted with a Hydrocephalon or a Watrish Tumour of the Head insomuch that when 14 days old the circumsluous Flesh had quite covered his Eyes Fincel l. de Miraculis 9. Albucacis tells of another whose Head was grown so big that the Boy neither standing nor sitting could bear it upon his Shoulders so that in few days he died Albuc l. 2. c. 1. Chirurg 10. Vesalius tells of a Girl of two years of Age at Ausburg our of whose Head was taken almost nine pounds of Water Vesal l. 1. c. 5. de hum corp fabrica 11. Many have been Born with Horns upon their Head which I pass over as not very pertinent in this place 12. Johan Baptista Modoctiensix used to be seized with a Pain of his Head every morning at Sun-rising which continued increasing till mid-day and then abated by degrees Carl. l. 8. c. 44. de Varietat Gesner and Wolfius report a Story of another of the like Nature With some the like Pain hath increased so that by Noon the Persons have been Mad. 13. A certain Hungarian Merchant who had been troubled many years with a heavy Pain in the forepart of his Head and at length with a strong blowing of his Nose drew out a Stone as big as a Bean. and so hard that no Knife could cut it Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 49. 14. In the Hungarian Fever call'd Theriodes it hath been observed often that Worms have crept out of the Brains of those Persons who have died Corad c. 10. Febr. Miscellan Hungar. Thercod 15. A certain rich Nobleman aged 22 who died of an Epidemical Distemper Anno 1571. in the Town of Albourg St. Sepulchre in the Marches of Ancona being opened by the Physicians whereof the famous Nicholas St. Michael was one and Schenckius himself another there was found in his Brain a red Worm as long as ones Finger with a sharp mouth a long black and hairy Neck rolling it self divers ways touching the very Basis of his Head Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 50. 16. One of Galen's School-fellows was taken at his Study with a Catochus or Catalepsis lying like a Log of Wood stiff and unflexible looking upon those that came near him with open Eyes not so much as winking being neither able to speak or move any part yet hearing and remembring some things that were spoken Galen Comment 2. in 1. pro Rhet. Hipp. c. 56. 17. Fernclius tells us of one who was suddenly struck with this Distemper at his Studies so stiff that keeping his Seat and holding his Pen in his Hand with his Eyes cast down upon his Book he seemed still intent upon his Study till being called and pull'd he was found to want all Sense and Motion Fernel l. 5. c. 2. Patholog 18. Jacotius speaks of another that he saw an old man very thin and juiceless sitting at Table with open Eyes and erect Body and his Hand reaching to the Dish as if you had seen a dead man feeding but so stiff that I could scarce move his Neck saith he Jacotius Comment ad Aplor 7. l. 2. Coaz Hipp. 19. I saw saith my Author a certain Epileptical Man who first of all was whitled about several times as it were in a Circle and then fell into his Fits Oâ—thaeus l. Obs preper 20. A certain man aged 30. from his Childhood was wont when he had gone 2 or 3 paces to turn himself about as it were in a Circle and he could not forbear doing so continually from the time that he heard the Bell ring first in the morning till he heard the Bell ring the second time at night in that time wholly alâ—â—aining from all Meat and Drink At last he was seized with Epileptical Fits in a most violent manner from which Vertiginous Motion and the other direct Fit of the Falling Sickness he was after some time delivered Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 103. ex Moccio 21. A Schoolmaster 's son of Drogheda not very far from Dublin as often as Epileptical Fits assailed him was so hurried with a direct motion that he went strait forward till he met with some insuperable Obstacle that stopt him otherwise neither Fire nor Water nor the steepest Precipice would hinder his course Arnoldi Boot c. 6. 22. A certain Nun of St. Vincents of Mantua by Name Monica Grignana for several years was afflicted with these Convulsive Motions She was forced to lie in Bed sitting day and night with her Head Neck and Arms tossed about forward and backward and to move them continually as she was Eating and Drinking and if any stander by endeavoured to hold them still she fell into a Swoon Schenck Obs Med. l. 1. p. 120. 23. Platerus speaks of some particularly an Abbor who without any hurt of his Mind was forced involuntarily to Laugh and toss himself about even to the utter spending of his strength Plater de Observ propr Which puts me in mind of a Story related by Henry Stephens in his World of Wonders of a Man who being at church and seeing a Woman fall down off her Seat while she was sleeping before him fell into so great a Fit of Laughter that he continued 3 days and 3 nights without giving over 24. The Dance of St. Vitas is