An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

The same Author relates, that the Wife of Dr. Bretton of Deptford (being a person of extraordinary Piety) did appear after her Death. A Maid of hers, whose name was Alice (for whom in her life time she had a great kindness) Married a near Neighbour. As this Alice was rocking her Infant in the night, some one knocking at the door, she arose and opened it, and was surprised by the sight of a Gentlewoman, not to be distinguished from her late Mistress. At the first sight she expressed great amazement, and said were not my Mistress dead I should conclude you are she. The Apparition replied, I am she which was your Mistress; and withal added, that she had a business of great importance to employ her in, and that she must immediately go a little way with her. Alice trembled, and entreated her to go to her Master, ⟨p. 222⟩who was sitter to be employed than she, The seeming Mistress replied, that she had been in the Chamber of him who was once her Husband, but he was asleep; nor had she any Commission to awake him. Alice then objected that her Child was apt to cry vehemently, and should she leave it, some hurt might come to him. The Apparition replied, the Child shall sleep until you return. Seeing there was no avoiding it; Alice followed her over the Style into a large Field, who said, observe how much of this Field I measure with my feet, and when she had took a good large leisurely compass, she said, all this belongs to the Poor; it being gotten from them by wrongful means, and charged her to go and tell her Brother, whose it was at that time, that he should give it up to the poor again forthwith as he loved her and his Deceased Mother. This Brother was not the person that did this unjust act, but his Father. She added, that she was the more concerned, because her Name was made use of in some Writing that related to this Land. Alice asked her how she should satisfy her Brother that this was no Cheat or Delusion of her Fancy? She replied, tell him this Secret which he knows that only himself and I am privy to, and he will believe you. Alice promised ⟨p. 223⟩her to go on this Errand. She entertained her the rest of the night with divine Discourse, and Heavenly Exhortations. But when the twilight appeared, the Spectre said, I must be seen by none but your self, and so Disappeared.

The same Author relates, that the Wife of Dr. Bretton of Deptford (being a person of extraordinary Piety) did appear after her Death. A Maid of hers, whose name was Alice (for whom in her life time she had a great kindness) Married a near Neighbour. As this Alice was rocking her Infant in the night, some one knocking at the door, she arose and opened it, and was surprized by the sight of a Gentlewoman, not to be distinguished from her late Mistriss. At the first sight she expressed great amazement, and said were not my Mistriss dead I should conclude you are she. The Apparition replied, I am she which was your Mistriss; and withal added, that she had a business of great importance to imploy her in, and that she must immediately go a little way with her. Alice trembled, and entreated her to go to her Master,