"on the breast with my right hand 66 66 (which was next him underneath the bed-clothes) before I could obtain speech of him; then he told me that "he had seen the fair guests I spoke of, "and had heard me speak to them; but "withal said, that he was not able to speak sooner unto me, being extremely 66 66 affrighted at the sight of a dreadful "monster, which assuming a shape, be"twixt that of a lion and a bear, at 66 tempted to come upon the bed's foot. "I told him, I thanked God nothing so 66 'frightful had presented itself to me; "but I hoped (through his assistance) "not to dread the ambages of hell. It 66 was a long time before I could compose him to sleep, and though he had "had many disturbances in his own "room, and understood of others in the "house, yet he acknowledged he had never been so terrified, during many 66 years abode there. The next day at " dinner he shewed to divers persons of principal quality, the mark that had "been occasioned on his breast by the gripe I was forced to give him, to get "him to speak, and related all the pas 66 sages very exactly; after which he "protested, never to lie more in that "room; upon which I set up a resolu"tion to lodge in it again, not knowing "but something of the reason of those "troubles might by that means be im 66 parted to me. The next night, therefore, I ordered a Bible, and another "book to be laid in the room, room, and "resolved to spend my time by the fire "in reading and contemplation, till I "found myself inclined to sleep and accordingly having taken leave of the 86 66 66 family at the usual hour, I addressed myself to what I had proposed, not going into bed till past one in the "morning: a little after I was got into "bed, I heard somewhat walk about the 66 66 66 66 66 room, like a woman in a tabby gown trailing about the room; it made a mighty rushelling noise, but I could "see nothing, though it was near as light as the night before: it passed by "the foot of the bed and a little opened "the curtains, and thence went to a "closet door on that side, through "which it found admittance, although "it was close locked: there it seemed "to groan, and draw a great chair with "its foot, in which it seemed to sit, and "turn over the leaves of a large folio; "which you know make a loud clatter 66 ing noise; so it continued in that pos"ture, sometimes groaning, sometimes dragging the chair, and clattering the "book till it was near day; afterwards "I lodged several times in this room, "but never met with any molestation.' "This I can attest to be a true account "of what passed in that room the two "described nights; and though Mr. C. "be lately dead, who was a very inge"nious man, and affirmed the first part "unto many, with whom he was con"versant; it remains that I appeal to "the knowledge of those who have "been inhabitants or lodgers in the said house, for what remains, to justify the credibility of the rest." 66 |