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 RELAT. XXI.

Mr. Jermin's Story of an House haunted, and what Disturbance himself was a Witness of there at a visit of his Wife's Sister.

ONE Mr. Jermin, Minister of Bigner in Sussex, going to see a Sister of his Wife's, found her very Melancholy, and asking her the Reason, she reply'd, You shall know to Morrow morning. When he went to Bed, there were two Maids accompanied him in his Chamber, and the next Day, he understood that they durst not go into any Room in the House alone.

In the Night, while he was in his Bed, he heard the reampling of many Feet upon the Leads over his Head, and after that the going off of a Gun, upon which followed a great silence. Then they came swiftly down Stairs into his Chamber, where they fell a Wrestling, and tumbling each other down, and so continued a great while. After they were quiet, they fell a Whispering, and made a great Buz, of which he could understand nothing. Then one called at the Door, and said, Day is broke, come away, upon which, they ran up Stairs as fast as they could drive, and so heard no more of them.

In the Morning his Brother and Sister came in to him, and she said, Now Brother you know why I am so Melancholy: After she had askt him how he had slept, and he answered, I never rested worse in all my Life, having been disturbed a great part of the Night with Tumblings and Noises. She complained that her Husband would force her to live there, notwithstanding their being continually scared. Whereto the Husband answered, Their Disturbers never did them any other Mischief.

At Dinner they had a Physician with them, who was an Acquaintance, Mr. Jermin discoursing about this Disturbance; the Physician also answered, That never any hurt was done, of which he gave this Instance: That Dining there one Day, there came a Man on Horseback into the Yard, in Mourning. His Servant went to know what was his Business, and found him sitting very Melancholy, nor could he get any Answer from him. The Master of the House and the Physician went to see who it was; upon which, the Man clapt Spurs to his Horse, and rode into the House, up Stairs into a long Gallery, whither