Sola, Novum, Dictuq, Nefas, Harpyia Celano
Prodigium canit, & tristes denuntiat Iras. Virg.
LONDON:
Printed in the Year 1712.
THE STORY OF THE ST. ALB-NS GHOST.
I can scarcely say whether we ought to attribute the Multitude of Ghosts and Apparitions, which were so common in the Days of our Forefathers, to the Ignorance of the People, or the Impositions of the Priest. The Romish Clergy found it undoubtedly for their Interest to deceive them, and the Superstition of the People laid themselves open to receive whatsoever They thought proper to inculcate. Hence it is, that their Traditions are little else, than the Miracles and Atchievements of unbody'd Heroes, a Sort of spiritual Romance, so artfully carry'd on, and delivered in so probable a Manner, as may easily pass for Truth on those of an uncultivated Capacity, or a credulous Disposition. Our Sectarists indeed still retain the Credulity, as well as some of the Tenets of that Church; and Apparitions, and such like, are still the Bug-bears made use of by some of the most Celebrated of their Holders-forth to terrify the old Women of their Congregation, (who are their surest Customers) and enlarge their Quarterly Subscriptions. I know one of these Ambidexters, who never fails of Ten or Twenty Pounds more than Ordinary, by nicking something Wonderful in due Time; he often cloaths his whole Family by the Apparition of a Person lately executed at Tyburn; or, a Whale seen at Greenwich, or thereabouts; and I am credibly inform'd, that his Wife has made a Visit with a Brand new Sable Tippet on, since the Death of the Tower Lions.
But as these Things will pass upon none but the Ignorant or Superstitious, so there are others that will believe nothing of this Nature, even upon the clearest Evidence. There are, it must be own'd, but very few of these Accounts to be depended on; some however are so palpable, and testify'd by so good Authority, by those of such undoubted Credit, and so discerning a Curiosity, that there is no Room to doubt of their Veracity, and which none but a Sceptic can disbelieve. Such is the following Story of Mother Haggy of St. Alb——ns, in the Reign of King James the First, the mighty Pranks she plaid in her Life-time, and her Apparition afterwards, made such a Noise, both at Home and Abroad, and were so terrible to the Neighbourhood, that the Country People, to this Day, cannot hear the Mention of her Name, without the most dismal Apprehensions. The Injuries they receiv'd from the Sorceries and Incantations of the Mother, and the Injustice and Oppression of the Son and Daughter, have made so deep an Impression upon their Minds, and begot such an Hereditary Aversion to their Memory, that they never speak of them, without the bitterest Curses and Imprecations.
I have made it my Business, being at St. Alb——ns lately, to enquire more particularly into this Matter, and the Helps I have receiv'd from the most noted Men of Erudition in this City, have been Considerable, and to whom I make my publick Acknowledgment. The Charges I have been at in getting Manuscripts, and Labour in collating them, the Reconciling the Disputes about the most material Circumstances, and adjusting the various Readings, as they have took me up a considerable Time, so I hope they may be done to the Satisfaction of my Reader. I wish I could have had Time to have distinguish'd by an Asterism the Circumstances deliver'd by Tradition only, from those of the Manuscripts, which I was advis'd to do by my worthy Friend the Reverend Mr. Wh——n, who, had he not been Employ'd otherways, might have been a very proper Person to have undertaken such a Performance.
The best Manuscripts are now in the Hands of the Ingenious Dr. G——th, where they are left for the Curious to peruse, and where any Clergyman may be welcome; for however he may have been abus'd by those who deny him to be the Author of the D——y, and tax'd by others with Principles and Practices unbecoming a Man of his Sense and Probity, yet I will be bold to say in his Defence, that I believe he is as good a Christian, as he is a Poet, and if he publishes any Thing on the late D——d M——y, I don't question but it will be interspers'd with as many Precepts of Reveal'd Religion, as the Subject is capable of bearing: And it is very probable, those Refin'd Pieces that the Doctor has been pleas'd to own, since the Writing of the D——y, have been look'd upon, by the lewd debauch'd Criticks of the Town, to be dull and insipid, for no other Reason, but because they are grave and sober; but this I leave for others to determine, and can say for his Sincerity, that I am assur'd he believes the following Relation as much as any of us all.
Mother Haggy was marry'd to a plain home-spun Yeoman of St. Alb——ns, and liv'd in good Repute for some Years: The Place of her Birth is disputed by some of the most celebrated Moderns, tho' they have a Tradition in the Country, that she was never Born at all, and which is most probable. At the Birth of her Daughter Haggite, something happen'd very remarkable, and which gave Occasion to the Neighbourhood to mistrust she had a Correspondence with Old Nick, as was confirm'd afterwards, beyond the Possibility of Disproof. The Neighbours were got together a Merry-making, as they term it, in the Country, when the old Woman's High-crown'd Hat, that had been thrown upon the Bed's Tester during the Heat of the Engagement, leap'd with a wonderful Agility into the Cradle, and being catch'd at by the Nurse, was metamorphos'd into a Coronet, which according to her Description, was not much unlike that of a German Prince; but it soon broke into a thousand Pieces. Such, cries old Mother Haggy, will be the Fortune of my Daughter, and such her Fall. The Company took but little Notice what she said, being surpris'd at the Circumstance of the Hat. But this is Fact, says the Reverend and Honourable L——y L——d, and my Grandmother, who was a Person of Condition, told me, says He, she knew the Man, who knew the Woman, who was, said she, in the Room at that Instant. The very same Night, I saw a Comet, neither have I any Occasion to tell a Lye as to this Particular, says my Author, brandishing its Tail in a very surprising Manner in the Air, but upon the Breaking of a Cloud, I could discern, continues he, a Clergyman at the Head of a Body of his own Cloth, and follow'd by an innumerable Train of Laity, who coming towards the Comet, it disappear'd.