_Thomas Neale_ Esquire,
(the then _High Sheriff_ of the County of _Hampshire_, when this disaster
hapned) to a Friend of his in _London_, as follows;

On the 24 of _January_ 1665/6, one Mr. _Brooks_ of _Hampshire_, going from
_Winchester_ towards his house near _Andover_ in very bad Weather, was
himself slain by Lightning, and the Horse, he rode on, under him. For about
a mile from _Winchester_ he was found with his Face beaten into the ground,
one leg in the stirrup, the other in the Horses mane; his Cloaths all burnt
off his back, not a piece as big as a handkerchief left intire, and his
hair and all his body singed. With the force, that struck him down, his
nose was beaten into his face, and his Chin into his Breast; where was a
wound cut almost as low, as to his Navil; and his cloaths being, as
aforesaid, torn, the pieces were so scatter'd and consum'd, that not enough
to fill the crown of a hat could be found. His gloves were whole, but his
hands in them sing'd to the bone. The hip-bone and shoulder of his Horse
burn't and bruised; and his saddle torn in little pieces. This was what
appear'd to the Coroners inquest, and so is likely to be as near truth, as
any is to be had.

_So far this Letter_: Which, if it had come soon enough to the hands of the
_Publisher_, would have been joyned to a like _Relation_, inserted in the
next foregoing Papers (_Num._ 13.) of an accident hapn'd at a later time.
With both which may be compared the Account, formerly published in Latin by
the Learned Dr. _Charleton_, concerning the Boy, that was {248}
Thunder-struck near _Nantwich in Cheshire;_ the Title of the Book being
_Anatome Pueride Caelo tacti_: such Relations, when truly made, well
deserving to be carefully recorded for farther consideration.

* * * * *

_Of some Books lately publish't._

_RELATIONS OF DIVERS CURIOUS VOYAGES_, by _Mons. Thevenot_, the third
_Tome_, in _French_. This Book contains chiefly, the Ambassie of the
_Dutch_ into _China_, translated out of the Dutch manuscript: A
Geographical description of _China_, translated out of a Chinese Author by
_Martinius_: And the Account, which the Directors of the Dutch East-India
Company made to the States General, touching the state of affairs in the
East-Indies, when their late Fleet parted from thence. To touch some things
of a _Geographical_ and _Philosophical_ nature, contained therein, we shall
take notice;

1. How the Kingdom of