_An Infant Prodigy in 1659._--The following wonderful story is thus
related by Archbishop Bramhall (Carte's _Letters_, ii. 208.: Dr.
Bramhall to Dr. Earles, Utrecht, Sept. 6-16, 1659):--
"A child was born in London about three months since, with a
double tongue, or divided tongue, which the third day after it
was born, cried 'a King, a King,' and bid them bring it to the
King. The mother of the child saieth it told her of all that
happened in England since, and much more which she dare not
utter. This my lady of Inchiguin writeth to her aunt, _Me brow
van Melliswarde_[4], living in this city, who shewed me the
letter. My Lady writeth that she herself was as incredulous as
any person, until she both saw and heard it speak herself very
lately, as distinctly as she herself could do, and so loud that
all the room heard it. That which she heard was this. A
gentleman in the company took the child in his arms and gave it
money, and asked what it would do with it, to which it answered
aloud that it would give it to the King. If my Lady were so
foolish to be deceived, or had not been an eye and ear witness
herself, I might have disputed it; but giving credit to her, I
cannot esteem it less than a miracle. If God be pleased to
bestow a blessing upon us, he cannot want means."
It can hardly be doubted that the Archbishop's miracle was a
ventriloquist hoax.