An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

July 15. 1665. There were terrible cracks of Thunder. An House in Boston was struck by it, and the Dishes therein melted as they stood on the Shelves, but no other hurt done in the Town. Only Captain Davenport (a Worthy Man, and one that had in the Pequot War, ventured his life, and did great service for the Country) then residing in the Castle where he commanded: having that day wrought himself weary, and thinking to refresh himself with sleep, was killed with Lightning, as he lay upon his Bed asleep. Several of the Soldiers in the Castle were struck at the same time; but God spared their lives. It has been an old Opinion mentioned by Plutarch (sympos. lib. 4. q.2.) that Men asleep are never smitten with Lightning; to confirm which it has been alleged, that one lying asleep, the Lightning melted the Money in his Purse without doing him any further harm: And that a Cradle, wherein a Child lay sleeping, was broken with the Lightning, and the Child not hurt; And that the Arrows of King Mithridates being near his Bed, were burnt with Lightning, and yet himself being ⟨p. 77⟩asleep received no hurt; but as much of all this, may be affirmed of persons awake. And this sad Example (Triste jaces lucis evitandumque B•dental) of Captain Davenport, whom the Lightning found and left asleep, does confute the vulgar error mentioned. And no doubt but that many the like Instances to this have been known in the World, the Records whereof we have not. But I proceed:

July 15. 1665. There were terrible cracks of Thunder. An House in Boston was struck by it, and the Dishes therein melted as they stood on the Shelves, but no other hurt done in the Town. Only Captain Davenport (a Worthy Man, and one that had in the Pequot War, ventured his life, and did great service for the Countrey) then residing in the Castle where he commanded: having that day wrought himself weary, and thinking to refresh himself with sleep, was killed with Lightning, as he lay upon his Bed asleep. Several of the Souldiers in the Castle were struck at the same time; but God spared their lives. It has been an old Opinion mentioned by Plutarch (sympos. lib. 4. q.2.) that Men asleep are never smitten with Lightning; to confirm which it has been alledged, that one lying asleep, the Lightning melted the Money in his Purse without doing him any further harm: And that a Cradle, wherein a Child lay sleeping, was broken with the Lightning, and the Child not hurt; And that the Arrows of King Mithridates being near his Bed, were burnt with Lightning, and yet himself being