Page:Saducismus Triumphatus.djvu/369

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Some weeks after this, his occasions calling him back, he passed by the same house again, but had no design to give them a new visit, he having done that not long before. But it happening that the Woman of the house stood at the door, he thought himself engaged to ride to her and ask how she did? To whom she answered with a sorrowful Countenance; That though she was in tolerable health, yet things went very ill with them, their house being extremely haunted, especially above stairs, so that they were forced to keep in the low Rooms, there was such flinging of things up and down, of Stones and Bricks through the Windows, and putting all in disorder. But he could scarce forbear laughing at her, giving so little credit to such stories himself, and thought it was the tricks only of some unhappy Wags to make sport to themselves, and trouble to their Neighbours.

Well says she, if you will but stay a while you may chance to see something with your own Eyes. And indeed he had not stayed any considerable time with her in the Street, but a Window of an upper Room opened of it self (for they of the Family took it for granted no body was above stairs) and out comes a piece of an old Wheel through it. Whereupon it presently clapt to again. A little while after it suddenly flew open again, and out came a Brick-bat, which inflamed the Gentleman with a more eager desire to see what the matter was, and to discover the Knavery. And therefore he boldly resolved if any one would go up with him, he would go into the Chamber. But none present durst accompany him. Yet the keen desire of discovering the Cheat, made him adventure by himself alone into that Room. Into which when he was come, he saw the Bedding, Chairs and Stools, and Candlesticks, and Bedstaves, and all the Furniture rudely scattered on the Floor, but upon search found no mortal in the Room.

Well! he stays there a while to try conclusions, anon a Bedstaff begins to move, and turn it self round a good while together upon its Toe, and at last fairly to lay it self down again. The curious Spectator, when he had observed it to lie still a while, steps out to it, views it, whether any small String or Hair were tied to it, or whether there were any hole or button to fasten any such String to, or any hole or String in the Ceiling above; but after search, he found not the least suspicion of any such thing.

He retires to the Window again, and observes a little longer what may fall out. Anon, another Bedstaff rises off from the ground of its own accord higher into the air, and seems to make