An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

His Hat was strangely torn, not just on ⟨p. 122⟩the Crown, but on the side of the Hat, and on the Brim. On the side of it was a great hole, more than to put in ones fist through it: some part of it being quite struck away, and from thence divers gashes every way, as if torn or cut with a dull tool, and some of them of a good length, almost quite to the edges of the brim. And besides these, one or two gashes more, which did not communicate with that hole in the side. This also was judged to be by a stroke inwards; not so much from the view of the edges of those Gashes (from which there was scarce any judgement to be made either way) but because the lining was not torn, only ripped from the edge of the Hat (where it was sown on) on that side where the hole was made. But his Hat not being found upon his head, but at some distance from him, it did not appear against what part of his head that hole was made. Another sad disaster happened January 24. 1665,6. When one Mr. Brooks of Hampshire going from Winchester towards his House near Andover, in very bad weather, was himself slain by Lightning, and the Horse he rode on under him. For about a Mile from Winchester he was found with ⟨p. 123⟩his face beaten into the Ground, one Leg in the Stirrup, the other in the Horses main; his Clothes all burnt off his back, not a piece as big as an Handkerchief left entire, and his Hair and all his body singed. With the force that struck him down, his nose was beaten into his face, and his Chin into his Breast; where was a Wound cut almost as low as to his Navel; and his clothes being as aforesaid torn, the pieces were so scattered and consumed, that not enough to fill the crown of a Hat could be found. His Gloves were whole, but his hands in them singed to the Bone. The Hip-bone and Shoulder of his Horse burnt and bruised, and his Saddle torn in little pieces.

His Hat was strangely torn, not just on ⟨p. 122⟩the Crown, but on the side of the Hat, and on the Brim. On the side of it was a great hole, more than to put in ones fist through it: some part of it being quite struck away, and from thence divers gashes every way, as if torn or cut with a dull tool, and some of them of a good length, almost quite to the edges of the brim. And besides these, one or two gashes more, which did not communicate with that hole in the side. This also was judged to be by a stroke inwards; not so much from the view of the edges of those Gashes (from which there was scarce any judgement to be made either way) but because the lining was not torn, only ript from the edge of the Hat (where it was sown on) on that side where the hole was made. But his Hat not being found upon his head, but at some distance from him, it did not appear against what part of his head that hole was made. Another sad disaster hapned January 24. 1665,6. When one Mr. Brooks of Hampshire going from Winchester towards his House near Andover, in very bad weather, was himself slain by Lightning, and the Horse he rode on under him. For about a Mile from Winchester he was found with