ll of a dead
Corpse offends them to such a degree, as that they cannot stay in that
House. It is reported that near unto the Abby of St. _Maurice_ in
_Burgundy_[30] there is a Fishpond in which are Fishes put according to
the number of the Monks of that place; if any one of them happened to be
sick, there is a Fish seen to Float and Swim above Water half dead, and
if the Monk shall die, the Fish a few days before dieth. In some parts
in _Wales_ Death-lights or Corps Candles (as they call them) are seen in
the night time going from the House where some body will shortly die,
and passing in to the Church-yard. Of this, my Honoured and never to be
forgotten Friend Mr. _Richard Baxter_,[31] has given an Account in his
Book about Witchcrafts lately Published: what to make of such things,
except they be the effects of some old Inchantment, I know not; nor what
Natural Reason to assign for that which I find amongst the Observations
of the _Imperial Academy_ for the Year 1687, _viz._ That in an Orchard
where are choice _Damascen_ Plumbs, the Master of the Family being sick
of a _Quartan Ague_, whilst he continued very ill, four of his
Plumb-trees instead of Damascens brought forth a vile sort of yellow
Plumbs: but recovering Health, the next Year the Tree did (as formerly)
bear Damascens again; but when after that he fell into a fatal Dropsie,
on those Trees were seen not Damascens, but another sort of Fruit. The
same Author[32] gives Instances of which he had the certain knowledge,
concerning Apple-trees and Pear-trees, that the Fruit of them would on a
sudden wither as if they had been baked in an Oven, when the owners of
them were mortally sick. It is no less strange that in the Illustrious
Electoral[33] House of _Brandenburg_ before the Death of some one of the
Family Feminine Spectres appeared: [34]and often in the Houses of Great
men, Voices and Visions from the Invisible World have been the
Harbingers of Death. When any Heir in the Worshipful Family of the
_Breertons_ in _Cheshire_ is near his Death, there are seen in a Pool
adjoyning, Bodies of Trees swimming for certain days together, on which
Learned _Cambden_[35] has this note, _These and such like things are
done either by the Holy Tutelar Angels of Men, or else by the Devils,
who by Gods Permission mightily shew their Power in this Inferiour
World._ As for Mr. _Sinclare's_ Notion that some Persons may have a
_second Sight_, (as 'tis termed) and yet be themselves Inno