A26888:90
The certainty of the worlds of spirits and, consequently, of the immortality of souls of the malice and misery of the devils and the damned : and of the blessedness of the justified, fully evinced by the unquestionable histories of apparitions, operations, witchcrafts, voices &c. / written, as an addition to many other treatises for the conviction of Sadducees and infidels, by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for T. Parkhurst, 1691
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Dear Sir,
AS to the Concern you commit to me about Colonel Bowen, accept of this Account.
AS to the Concern you commit to me about Collonel Bowen, accept of this Account.
I have discoursed with Brother Samuel Jones, who gave you the first Narrative, which if you have lost, he hopes he may find the Copy of the Letter, and I shall send it. 'Twas one Mr. Miles, an Anabaptist Minister, that wrote the Letter to one Mr. Bedwell, Minister of Swansey, who sent •t Mr. Samuel Jones. This Miles (who spent a Night in Prayer in Colonel Bowen's House, •n the time of the disturbance) is gone for New England. Two Ministers more, with my self, went to spend another Night in the House, but Mrs. Bowen was gone with her Family, and we stayed not, but went •o give her a Visit, who related strange things, but I cannot remember Circumstances. The two Ministers are also gone: But since I received yours, I have discoursed Mr. Bowen's Maid, who was in the House, and I judge her throughly Godly, who doth attest the Truth of these Apparitions, ⟨p. 34⟩Noises, &c. which I suppose you had fully in your Narrative; but Time hath somewhat obliterated Circumstances wit• her. I know not well (Sir) how to get greater light; and I must assure you, I fin• not any thing out to invalidate that Report you have had, but much that confirms it I shall proceed according to your further Direction in this, or any other Concern of your▪ and that with much Cheerfulness and Complacency. I commit you, and your huge Labours to our mighty and merciful Lord, b• Prayer and all well Wishes. And if yo• can think of any thing farther for me, o• gather any thing by Discourse with learne• Men, vouchsafe to impart it; and impri• me (poor Worm) on your Soul before o• Father. I have somewhat trespassed b• Prolixity, which becomes me not to s•d a Person, in such a Sphere: But excuse hi• who is
I have discoursed with Brother Samuel Iones, who gave you the first Narrative, which if you have lost, he hopes he may find the Copy of the Letter, and I shall send it. 'Twas one Mr. Miles, an Anabaptist Minister, that wrote the Letter to one Mr. Bedwell, Minister of Swansey, who sent •t Mr. Samuel Iones. This Miles (who spent a Night in Prayer in Colonel Bowen's House, •n the time of the disturbance) is gone for New England. Two Ministers more, with my self, went to spend another Night in the House, but Mrs. Bowen was gone with her Family, and we stayed not, but went •o give her a Visit, who related strange •hings, but I cannot remember Circumstances. The two Ministers are also gone: But since I received yours, I have discoursed Mr. Bowen's Maid, who was in the House, and I judge her throughly Godly, who doth attest the Truth of these Apparitions, ⟨p. 34⟩Noises, &c. which I suppose you had fully in your Narrative; but Time hath somewhat obliterated Circumstances wit• her. I know not well (Sir) how to get greater light; and I must assure you, I fin• not any thing out to invalidate that Report you have had, but much that confirms it I shall proceed according to your further Direction in this, or any other Concern of your▪ and that with much Chearfulness and Complacency. I commit you, and your huge Labours to our mighty and merciful Lord, b• Prayer and all well Wishes. And if yo• can think of any thing farther for me, o• gather any thing by Discourse with learne• Men, vouchsafe to impart it; and impri• me (poor Worm) on your Soul before o• Father. I have somewhat trespassed b• Prolixity, which becomes me not to s•d a Person, in such a Sphere: But excuse hi• who is
Your afflicted poor Brother, Daniel Higgs.
Worthy Sir,
THE best Account I can get of Colonel Bowen is this, viz. That he is little sensible of his sad Condition. He lives in the County of Cork, in a beggarly way, though he hath a fair Estate. Some Months since, he turned his Wife and Children from him, in that sad unkind manner, that they were forced to seek Relief from some Friends in Younghall, to help them in their Return to Wales, where they continue. Not long since, in Discourse with Baronet Ingolsby, and Mr. Gilbert, Minister of Limerick ▪ from whom I have the most part of this Relation, he said, he would give Ten Thousand Pounds to know the Truth about God. 'Tis reported he is haunted with ghastly Ghosts and Apparitions, which frequent him. I have written to the neighbouring Ministers and Gentlemen of my Acquaintance as effectually as I could, enclosing a Copy of your Letter; and from •hem I hope to have a more full Account concerning this poor Man. Your Letter indeed came safe, but not till August, ⟨p. 36⟩though dated in May. Sir, in any thing wherein I may serve you, you may freely command me: But wherein I may serve the Church of God, the best and utmost of my Endeavours, through the Lord's Assistance, shall not be wanting. What farther shall come to my Hands, shall carefully be reported to you, by him who begs your Prayers, and subscribes,
THE best Account I can get of Colonel Bowen is this, viz. That he is little sensible of his sad Condition. He lives in the County of Cork, in a beggarly way, though he hath a fair Estate. Some Months since, he turned his Wife and Children from him, in that sad unkind manner, that they were forced to seek Relief from some Friends in Younghall, to help them in their Return to Wales, where they continue. Not long since, in Discourse with Baronet Ingolsby, and Mr. Gilbert, Minister of Limrick ▪ from whom I have the most part of this Relation, he said, he would give Ten Thousand Pounds to know the Truth about God. 'Tis reported he is haunted with ghastly Ghosts and Apparitions, which frequent him. I have written to the neighbouring Ministers and Gentlemen of my Acquaintance as effectually as I could, enclosing a Copy of your Letter; and from •hem I hope to have a more full Account concerning this poor Man. Your Letter •ndeed came safe, but not till August,
SIR, Your very Affectionate Servant, Samuel Foley. Clonmell, Octob. 6. 1658.
After this, Colonel John Bridges wrote to me out of Ireland, that Bowen immured himself in a small Castle, with one Boy; who said, he oft rose in the Night, and talked as if some were talking with him.
After this, Collonel Iohn Bridges wrote to me out of Ireland, that Bowen immured himself in a small Castle, with one Boy; who said, he oft rose in the Night, and talked as if some were talking with him.
R. B.
III. Colonel John Bridges before named, was Governor of Warwick Castle (the Lord Brooks) almost all the time of the Wars; Afterwards he lived with us near Kidderminster, being Patron of the Church, a Justice of Peace, a Parliament Man; And after lived in Ireland, where he surprised (with others) Dublin Castle, and Sir Hardress Waller for the King, before he was called home. He was an Understanding Prudent Man, of Sound Judgment in Religion, Just, and Honest, and Credible.
III. Colonel Iohn Bridges before named, was Governour of Warwick Castle (the Lord Brooks) almost all the time of the Wars; Afterwards he lived with us near Kederminster, being Patron of the Church, a Justice of Peace, a Parliament Man; And after lived in Ireland, where he surprized (with others) Dublin Castle, and Sir Hardress Waller for the King, before he was called home. He was an Understanding Prudent Man, of Sound Judgment in Religion, Just, and Honest, and Credible.
He and his Pious Wife have oft told me as followeth.
They formerly lived in Edson Hall near Alcester, where Warwickshire and Worcestershire joins; a House famed to be haunted: And being used to go into a Parlour alone for Meditation, Prayer, and to play on his Lute, once as he went in at the Portal, he was stopped and held by somewhat invisible, till he resolved under Gods Protection, to rush through it, and go on.
They formerly lived in Edson Hall near Alcester, where Warwickshire and Worcestershire joyns; a House famed to be haunted: And being used to go into a Parlour alone for Meditation, Prayer, and to play on his Lute, once as he went in at the Portal, he was stopt and held by somewhat invisible, till he resolved under Gods Protection, to rush through it, and go on.
Another time in a clear Moon-shine Night, their Mastiff Dog made such a howling, as raised up the House: He looked out at the Window, and beyond a pale that compassed the Court, there stood something like a headless Man, but taller: He long gazed on it, and trusting God, returned to Bed; And presently the Hall Door (fast ⟨p. 38⟩locked and Barred) using to make a great noise in the opening, having much Iron, seemed to them all to open as it used, and somewhat came in, and gave three great slams, as with a Staff upon the Hall Table, and departed. They went down to see, and found the Door locked, and fast as they left it. Mr. Sommerfield, who since lived in the same House, said, that he saw nothing there.
Another time in a clear Moon-shine Night, their Mastiff Dog made such a howling, as raised up the House: He looked out at the Window, and beyond a pale that compassed the Court, there stood something like a headless Man, but taller: He long gazed on it, and trusting God, returned to Bed; And presently the Hall Door (fast ⟨p. 38⟩lockt and Barr'd) using to make a great noise in the opening, having much Iron, seemed to them all to open as it used, and somewhat came in, and gave three great slams, as with a Staff upon the Hall Table, and departed. They went down to see, and found the Door lockt, and fast as they left it. Mr. Sommerfield, who since lived in the same House, said, that he saw nothing there.
IV. A Pious Credible Woman, yet living in London, lately told me ofttimes, being sometime under Temptation by some Discontent of Mind, one day as she passed through a Room at Mid-day, the Devil stood before her in the shape of a Big, Black, Man, and pointed to the top of the Door, Tempting her there to hang her self; and so stood near a quarter of an hour, and then Vanished away: Which was so far from dismaying her, that it much confirmed her against Unbelief, and her Temptations: Any one that will go to her here in London, may hear her Credible and Confident Report of it.
IV. A Pious Credible Woman, yet living in London, lately told me oftimes, being sometime under Temptation by some Discontent of Mind, one day as she passed through a Room at Mid-day, the Devil stood before her in the shape of a Big, Black, Man, and pointed to the top of the Door, Tempting her there to hang her self; and so stood near a quarter of an hour, and then Vanished away: Which was so far from dismaying her, that it much confirmed her against Unbelief, and her Temptations: Any one that will go to her here in London, may hear her Credible and Confident Report of it.
