years since, a regular set of the inhabitants met every evening to smoke
their pipes, and pass a convivial hour. The conversation, as is usual at
those places, was generally desultory. One evening, the subject
introduced was concerning ghosts and apparitions; and many were the
dreadful stories then told. A young midshipman, having accidentally
dropped in, sat a silent and an attentive hearer; and, among other
tales, heard a dreadful one of a sprite or hobgoblin dressed in white,
which every night was seen hovering over the graves, in a church-yard at
no great distance from the inn, and through which was a foot-path to one
of the principal streets in the town. Our young gentleman felt himself
stimulated with an ardour of quixotism at this relation; and was
determined in his own mind, whatever might be the consequence, to
encounter this nightly spectre, which so much disturbed the courageous
inhabitants of the place. His pride was, to perform this mighty
achievement alone. Therefore, between eleven and twelve o'clock at
night, out he sallies, without making his intentions known to any one,
and entered the church-yard. But, I should observe, that he had his
hanger by his side. Having reached about the middle of the church-yard,
he observed, sure enough, something in white moving backwards and
forwards; but the haziness of the night prevented his strict discernment
of the figure's shape. As it appeared advancing towards him, a momentary
trepidation seized him. He retreated a few steps; but, soon recovering
himself, he resolutely cried out, "_Who comes here?_" No answer being
made, he again cried out, "_Who comes here?_" Still no reply was made.
He then groped about for a stone or brick-bat, which having found, he
threw with great violence at the figure; upon which it appeared to move
much quicker than before. He again spoke to the figure; and, receiving
no answer, drew his hanger, and made a desperate stroke at this dreadful
spectre, which moving with still greater agility, now alarmed our
adventurer, and caused him to run away greatly terrified, believing he
had encountered some supernatural appearance, which had resisted all his
blows. It was not long ere he reached home, and went to bed; but his
fright was so great, that sleep could not gain any ascendancy over him.
He therefore lay ruminating on this extraordinary affair the whole
night. In the morning, while at breakfast, the bellman, or crier, came
nearly under his window, and began his usual introductory address of
"_O-yez! O-yez!_" These words immediately arrested the ears of our
adventurer; and, to his very great astonishment, he heard him thus
proceed--"This is to give notice, that whereas some evil-disposed
person, or persons, did wantonly cut and maim the parson's white mare,
which was grazing in the church-yard last night, a reward of ten guineas
will be given to any person who will discover the offender, or
offenders, so that they may be brought to justice! _God save the King!_"
Our champion now thought it prudent to decamp without beat of drum. Thus
ended this ghostly adventure; the particulars of which the inhabitants
were informed of by letter, the moment the young gentleman had got safe
on board his ship.
THE
COCK-LANE GHOST.
About the middle of January 1762, a gentleman was sent for to the house
of one Parsons, the officiating parish clerk of St. Sepulchre's, in Cock
Lane, near West Smithfield, to be witness to the noises, and other
extraordinary circumstances, attending the supposed presence of a
spirit, that, for two years preceding, had been heard in the night, to
the great terror of the family. This knocking and scratching was always
heard under the bed where the children lay; the eldest was about twelve
years of age. To find out the cause, Mr. Parsons, the parish-clerk,
ordered the wainscot to be taken down; which was accordingly done: but
the noise, instead of ceasing, as he hoped, became more violent than
ever. The children were afterwards removed into the two-pair of stairs
room, where the same noise followed, and was frequently heard all night.
From these circumstances it was apprehended that the house was haunted;
and the other child declared, that she, some time ago, had seen the
apparition of a woman, surrounded, as it were, with a blazing light.
About two years prior to which, a publican in the neighbourhood,
bringing a pot of beer into the house, about eleven o'clock at night,
was so frightened that he let the beer fall, upon seeing on the stairs,
as he was looking up, a bright shining figure of a woman, by which he
saw through a window into the charity-school, and saw the dial in the
school. The figure passed by him, and beckoned him to follow; but he was
too much terrified to obey its directions: he ran home, and was very
sick. Soon after, Mr. Parsons himself, having occasion to go into
another room, saw the same appearance. Both these happened within the
space of an hour.
To throw some light upon this very mysterious affair, we shall begin
with the narrative of Mr. Brown, of Amen Corner, published January 23d,
1762; the substance of which is as follows--
That in 1759, one Mr. K---- employed an agent to carry a letter to a
young gentlewoman of a reputable family in Norfolk, and to bring her up
to London in a post-chaise, if she would be willing to come. That she
did come; but Mr. K----being at Greenwich, she followed him there
directly, and was received by him, after a journey of one hundred miles
performed in one day, with much tenderness. After some short stay at
Greenwich, where it was thought necessary that she should make a will
in his favour, she was removed to a lodging near the Mansion-House; from
thence to lodgings, behind St. Sepulchre's church; and, lastly, to a
house in Bartlett Court, in the parish of Clerkenwell. Here, in 1760,
she was taken ill of the small-pox; and, on or about the 31st of
January, her sister, who lived reputably in Pall-Mall, was first made
acquainted with her illness, and place of residence. Being greatly
concerned thus to hear of her, she went immediately, and found her in a
fair way of doing well; next day she sent, and received a favourable
account of her; but, on the morning following, word was brought that her
sister was dead. She died February 2d, 1760; and was buried, in two or
three days after, at the church of St. John, Clerkenwell. Her sister,
attending her funeral, was surprised at not seeing a plate upon the
coffin, and expressed that surprise to Mr. Brown after the funeral was
over; lamenting, at the same time, she had not been permitted to see her
sister's corpse, the coffin being screwed down before she came. She
added, that K---- had married one of her sisters, and had ruined the
other, who was buried by the name of ----, as appears by the parish
register. By the will already mentioned, K---- availed himself of her
fortune, to the prejudice of her brother and sisters, who all lived in
perfect harmony until this unhappy affair happened.
Such is the account given by Mr. Brown, of Amen Corner. A worthy
clergyman, however, who attended her several times, and who administered
to her the last comforts of his function, declares, that the small-pox
with which she was seized, was of the confluent sort; and that the
gentleman of the faculty, who attended her, had pronounced her
irrecoverable some days before her death.
It was, however, the ghost of this person, that Parsons declared had
taken possession of his girl, a child about twelve years old, who lay
with the deceased in the absence of her supposed husband, when he was in
the country at a wedding; and then it was, that the knocking was first
heard, to the great terror of this child, she frequently crying out that
she might not be taken away. Soon after, this woman died, whose
apparition was now supposed to appear to this same child; and, in answer
to the question put to her, What was the occasion of the first knocking,
&c. before she died? answered, that it was the spirit of her sister, the
first wife of Mr. K----, who was husband to them both.
Having now sufficiently prepared the reader, we shall proceed in our
narrative. The gentleman already said to have been sent for, attended,
and found the child in bed; and, the spirit being at hand, several
questions were put to it by the father, which, to avoid repetition, we
shall relate hereafter. The gentleman not caring to pronounce too
hastily upon what appeared to him extraordinary, got some friends
together, among whom were two or three clergymen, about twenty other
persons, and two negroes, who sat up another night.
They first thoroughly examined the bed, bed-clothes, &c.; and, being
satisfied that there was no visible appearance of deceit, the child with
its sister was put into bed, which was found to shake extremely by the
gentleman who had placed himself at the foot of it. Among others, the
following questions were asked--
Whether her disturbance was occasioned by any ill-treatment from Mr.
K----?--Yes.
Whether she was brought to an untimely end by poison?--Yes.
In what was the poison administered, beer or purl?--Purl.
How long before her death?--Three hours.
Is the person called Carrots, able to give information about the
poison?--Yes.
Whether she was K----'s wife's sister?--Yes.
Whether she was married to K----?--No.
Whether any other person than K---- was concerned in the poisoning?--No.
Whether she could visibly appear to any one?--Yes.
Whether she would do so?--Yes.
Whether she could go out of that house?--Yes.
Whether she would follow the child everywhere?--Yes.
Whether she was pleased at being asked questions?--Yes.
Whether it eased her mind?--Yes. (Here a mysterious noise, compared to
the fluttering of wings round the room, was heard.)
How long before her death had she told Carrots (her servant) that she
was poisoned?--One hour. (Here Carrots, who was admitted to be one of
the company on Tuesday night, asserted that the deceased had not told
her so, she being at that time speechless.)
How long did Carrots live with her?--Three or four days. (Carrots
attested the truth of this.)
Whether, if the accused should be taken up, he would confess?--Yes.
Whether she should be at ease in her mind, if the man was hanged?--Yes.
How long it would be before he would be executed?--Three years.
How many clergymen were in the room?--Three.
How many negroes?--Two.
Whether she could distinguish the person of any one in the room?--Yes.
Whether the colour of a watch held up by one of the clergymen was white,
yellow, blue, or black?--Black. (The watch was in a black shagreen
case.)
At what time she would depart in the morning?--At four o'clock.
Accordingly, at this hour the noise removed to the Wheat-sheaf, a
public-house at the distance of a few doors, in the bed-chamber of the
landlord and landlady, to the great affright and terror of them both.
Such was the manner of interrogating the spirit: the answer was given by
knocking or scratching. An affirmative was one knock; a negative, two.
Displeasure was expressed by scratching.
Nothing more occurred till the following morning, when the knocking
began about seven o'clock. But, notwithstanding some extraordinary
answers to the several questions proposed, it was still a matter of
doubt whether the whole was not a piece of imposition; and it was
resolved to remove the child elsewhere. Accordingly, instead of its
being carried home, it was conveyed to a house in Crown-and-Cushion
Court, at the upper end of Cow Lane, near Smithfield, where two
clergymen, several gentlemen, and some ladies, assembled in the evening.
About eleven o'clock the knocking began; when a gentleman in the room,
speaking angrily to the girl, and hinting that he suspected it was some
trick of her's, the child was uneasy, and cried: on which the knocking
was heard louder, and much faster than before; but no answer could be
obtained to any question while that gentleman staid in the room.
After he was gone, the noise ceased: and nothing was heard till a little
after twelve o'clock, when the child was seized with a trembling and
shivering; in which manner she had always been affected, on the
departure as well as the approach of the ghost. Upon this, one of the
company asked, whether it would return again, and at what time? Answer
was made in the usual manner by knocks, that it would return again
before seven in the morning; and then a noise, like the fluttering of
wings, was heard; after which all was quiet till between six and seven
on Friday morning, when the knocking began again.
A little before seven, two clergymen came, when the fluttering noise was
repeated, which in this strange affair was considered as a mark of the
spirit's being pleased. Then several questions, particularly one, by a
gentlewoman who was an acquaintance of the deceased, who came out of
mere curiosity, and had been to see her some time before she died: the
question was, How many days it was before her death, that this
gentlewoman came to see her? The answer given was three knocks,
signifying three days; which was exactly right. Another question was,
Whether some of the then company had not a relation that had been buried
in the same vault where she lay? To which it replied by one knock, Yes.
They asked, severally, if it was their relation? To all of which, except
the last, she answered by two knocks, meaning No; but to the last person
she gave one knock, which was right. These two circumstances greatly
alarmed all the company.
Near twenty persons sat up in the room: but it was not till about six
o'clock in the morning that the first alarm was given, which coming
spontaneously, as well as suddenly, a good deal struck the imagination
of the auditors. The scratches were compared to that of a cat upon a
cane chair. The child now appeared to be in a sound sleep, and nothing
further could be obtained. It had been observed, in conversation, by a
person who expressed himself pretty warmly on the subject, that the
whole was an imposture, and more to the same purpose; which gave rise to
some sharp altercation among the company--some believing, and others
disbelieving the reality of the apparition. This dispute was no sooner
begun, than the spirit was gone; and no more knocking and scratching
was to be heard.
About seven o'clock the girl seemed to awake in a violent fit of crying
and tears. Upon being asked the occasion, and assured that nothing of
harm should happen to her, she declared that her tears were the effect
of her imagination at what would become of her daddy, who must needs be
ruined and undone, if this matter should be supposed to be an imposture.
She was told, that the company had looked upon her as in a sound sleep
when the above dispute happened. To which she replied, "Aye, but not so
sound but that I could hear all you said."
On the Sunday night following, the girl lay at a house opposite the
school-house in Cock Lane; at which place a person of distinction, two
clergymen, and several other persons, were present. Between ten and
eleven o'clock the knocking began: the principal questions and answers
were the same as those already mentioned; but among some new ones of
little consequence, was the following?--Will you attend the girl at any
place whither she may be appointed to be carried, by authority? Answered
in the affirmative. At eleven o'clock, eleven distinct knocks were
heard; and at twelve, when being asked if it was going away, and when it
would return again, seven knocks were given. Accordingly, when St.
Sepulchre's clock struck seven, on Monday morning, this invisible agent
knocked the same number of times. Some few questions were asked at this
meeting, much to the same purport as those above inserted, and answered
in the same manner. Every person was put out of the room, who could be
supposed to have the least connexion with the girl: her hands were laid
over the bed-clothes, and the bed narrowly looked under, &c. but no
discovery was made.
On the night of the 1st of February, many gentlemen, eminent for their
rank and character, were, by the invitation of the Reverend Mr. Aldrich,
of Clerkenwell, assembled at his house, for the examination of the
noises supposed to be made by a departed spirit for the detection of
some enormous crime.
About ten at night, the gentlemen met in the chamber, in which the girl
supposed to be disturbed by a spirit had, with proper caution, been put
to bed by several ladies. They sat with her rather more than an hour;
and, hearing nothing, went down stairs, when they interrogated the
father of the girl, who denied, in the strongest terms, any knowledge or
belief of fraud.
The supposed spirit had before publicly promised, by an affirmative
knock, that it would attend one of the gentlemen into the vault under
the church of St. John, Clerkenwell, where the body was deposited; and
give a token of her presence there, by a knock upon her coffin: it was,
therefore, determined to make this trial of the existence or veracity of
the supposed spirit.
While they were inquiring and deliberating, they were summoned into the
girl's chamber by the ladies who remained near her bed, and who heard
knocks and scratches. When the gentlemen entered, the girl declared that
she felt the spirit like a mouse upon her back, and was required to hold
her hands out of bed. From that time, though the spirit was very
solemnly required to manifest its existence, by appearance, by
impression on the hand or body of any person present, by scratches,
knocks, or any other agency, no evidence of any preternatural power was
exhibited.
The spirit was then very seriously advertised, that the person to whom
the promise was made, of striking the coffin, was then about to visit
the vault, and that the performance of the promise was then claimed. The
company, at one o'clock, went into the church; and that gentleman, to
whom the promise was made, went, with one more, into the vault. The
spirit was very solemnly required to perform its promise, but nothing
more than silence ensued: the person supposed to be accused by the
spirit then went down, with several others, but no effect was
perceived. Upon their return, they examined the girl, but could draw no
confession from her. Between two and three, she desired, and was
permitted, to go home with her father.
No doubt now remained of the fallacy of this spirit. It was supposed
that the girl was practised in the art of ventriloquism, an art better
known now than formerly; but it was soon after discovered that there was
not so much ingenuity in the fraud.
A bed was slung like a hammock, in the middle of a room, at a
gentleman's house, where the girl was sent. The servants were ordered to
watch her narrowly; and, about a quarter of an hour before bed-time, she
was observed to conceal something under her clothes. Information of this
being given to the gentlemen attending, they were of opinion, that a
connivance at the beginning of the scene would be the most likely means
of leading them to a full discovery of the fact. In the morning, about
six o'clock, the knockings came, and answered to questions as usual, but
in so different a sound, that it was very apparent this method of
operating was a fresh contrivance. When the knockings, which continued
for near half an hour, were over, she was several times asked, if she
had any wood or other thing in the bed, against which she could strike?
which she obstinately denied. Two maid-servants being then ordered to
take her out of bed, a piece of board was found in it, which, as was
observed, she had conveyed there the night before.
Soon after, a trial came on before Lord Mansfield, in the Court of
King's Bench, Guildhall, by a special jury, on an indictment against
Richard Parsons, and Elizabeth his wife, Mary Fraser, a clergyman, and a
reputable tradesman, for a conspiracy in the Cock-Lane ghost affair, to
injure the character, &c. of Mr. William Kent; when they were all found
guilty. The trial lasted about twelve hours.
THE
HYPOCHONDRIAC GENTLEMAN
AND
_THE JACK-ASS_.
A sober gentleman of very great respectability, who was low-spirited and
hypochondriac to a degree, was at times so fanciful, that almost every
rustling noise he heard was taken for an apparition or hobgoblin.
It happened that he was abroad at a friend's house later than ordinary
one night; but, it being moon-light, and having a servant with him, he
seemed to be easy, and was observed to be cheerful, and even merry, with
a great deal more of good-humour than had been observed in him for some
time before.
He knew his way perfectly well, for it was within three miles of the
town where he lived, and he was very well mounted: but, though the moon
was up, an accident, which a little disordered him, was, that a very
thick black cloud appeared to him to come suddenly over his head, which
made it very dark; and, to add to his discomfort, it began to rain
violently.
Upon this he resolved to ride for it, having not above two miles to the
town; so, clapping spurs to his horse, he galloped away. His man (whose
name was Jervais), not being so well mounted, was a considerable way
behind. The darkness of the night, and the rain together, put him a
little out of humour, and made him ride rather harder than his usual
pace.
In his way home, there was a small river for him to pass; but there was
a good bridge over it, well walled on both sides, so that there was no
more danger than in any other place. The gentleman kept on at a good
pace, and was rather more than half over the bridge, when his horse
stopped all on a sudden, and would not go on. He saw nothing at first,
and was therefore not much discomposed at it, but spurred his horse to
go forward. The horse then went two or three steps; then stopped again,
snorted, and started; then attempted to turn short back. The gentleman,
in endeavouring to see what frightened the horse, saw two broad staring
eyes looking him full in the face.
He was now most heartily frightened; but, by this time, he heard his man
Jervais coming up. When he came near, the first thing he heard his
master say, was, "Bless me, it is the devil!" at which exclamation the
man was almost as much frightened as his master. However, the gentleman,
a little encouraged to hear his man so near him, pressed his horse once
more to go forward, and called aloud to his servant to follow; but
Jervais, being much frightened, made no haste. At length, with great
difficulty, he got over the bridge, and passed by the creature with the
broad staring eyes, which he positively affirmed was the devil.
Though Jervais was near enough, yet fearing his master would order him
to go before, he kept as far off as he possibly could. When his master
called, he answered, but proceeded very slowly, till he observed his
master had gone past; when, being obliged to follow, he went on very
softly till he came to the bridge, where he plainly saw what it was his
master's horse snorted at, which the reader will be made acquainted with
presently.
The gentleman, having now past the difficulty, galloped home as fast as
possible, and got into the house long before Jervais could get up with
him. As soon as he alighted, he swooned away, such an effect the fright
had on him; and with much difficulty they brought him to himself. When
he recovered, he told the family a formal story, that at such a bridge
he met with the devil, who was standing at the left-hand corner of the
wall, and stared him full in the face; and he so fully expatiated on
this subject, that all believed, at least, he had met with an
apparition.
Jervais soon after came home, and went directly to the stable to take
care of the horses; where he told _his story_ in the following manner to
his fellow-servants: "Finding," says he, "that my master was in danger
of being thrown over the bridge, I fearlessly rode near him; when, to my
very great surprise, I found that my master's horse (which was young and
skittish) was frightened at an ass, which stood grazing near the corner
of the wall." "Are you sure it was an ass, Jervais?" asked the servants,
staring one at another, half frightened themselves. "Are you quite sure
of it?" "Yes," replied the man; "for, as soon as my master had got by, I
rode up to it; and, on discovering the cause of our fear, I thrashed it
with my stick, on which it fell a braying; and I rode home after my
master." "Why, Jervais," said the servants, "your master believes it was
the devil." "I am sorry," said the man, "my master should have been so
much deceived; but, really, it was nothing more nor less than an ass."
The story now got vent; and the first part of it flew all over the town,
that Mr. ---- (mentioning his name) had seen the devil, and was almost
frightened to death.