A further account of the trials of the New-England witches with the observations of…A further account of the tryals of the New-England witches with the observations of…

In some parts in Wales Death-lights or Corps Candles (as they call them) are seen in the night time going from the House where somebody will shortly die, and passing in to the Church-yard. Of this, my Honoured and never to be forgotten Friend Mr. Richard Baxter, ^khas given an Account in his Book about Witchcrafts lately Published: what to make of such things, except they be the effects of some old Enchantment, I know not; nor what Natural Reason to assign for that which I find amongst the Observations of the Imperial Academy for the Year 1687, viz. That in an Orchard where are choice Damascene Plumbs, the Master of the Family being sick of a Quartan Ague, whilst he continued very ill, four of his Plumb-trees instead of Damascens brought forth a vile sort of yellow Plumbs: but recovering Health, the next Year the Tree did (as formerly) bear Damascens again; but when after that he fell into a fatal Dropsy, on those Trees were seen not Damascens, but another sort of Fruit. The same Author ^lgives Instances of which he had the certain knowledge, concerning Apple-trees and Pear-trees, that the Fruit of them would on a sudden wither as if they had been baked in an Oven, when the owners of them were mortally sick. It is no less strange that in the Illustrious Electoral ^mHouse of Brandenburg before the Death of some one of the Family Feminine Spectres appeared: ⁿand often in the Houses of Great men, Voices and Visions from the Invisible World have been the Harbingers of Death. When any Heir in the Worshipful Family of ⟨p. 14⟩the Breertons in Cheshire is near his Death, there are seen in a Pool adjoining, Bodies of Trees swimming for certain days together, on which Learned Camden ^ohas this Note, These and such like things are done either by the Holy Tutelar Angels of Men, or else by the Devils, who by Gods Permission mightily show their Power in this Inferior World. As for Mr. Sinclare's Notion that some Persons may have a second Sight, (as 'tis termed) and yet be themselves Innocent, I am satisfied that he judgeth right; for this is common amongst the Laplanders, who are horribly addicted to Magical Incantations: They bequeath their Daemons to their Children as a Legacy, by whom they are often assisted (like Bewitched Persons as they are) to see and do things beyond the Power of Nature.