1776. 19 O For the LONDON MAGAZIN E. Paffages of a True Story. H Romeo, Romeo, what a creature wert thou! how courteous -how fagacious-how well temper. ed! He was defcended, madam, from a glorious line the fon of a noble tock-venerable from his pedigree -royal in his extraction, and, to crown his character, he was the favou rite companion of a dear friend of mine who is now-no more.. In one of the fharpeft days, and yet one of the faireft that winter could produce, the youthful Flavian prepared, with his gun and his Romeo, to take the diverfions of the field-happieft of men-happieft of dogs-They were particularly lucky, and it was a day of eminent fuccefs-this pointed the game that brought it to the ground-the net was foon crouded with the fpoil-but as Flavian was returning Notwithstanding the elevation of your rank, your ladyfhip must have had frequent occafion to deplore the capricious uncertainty of fublunary enjoyments-must have feen the eye that in the prefent moment fparkled with hope, in the next rolling with defpair -and tears ufurp the features which an hour before were dimpled by joy - this is indeed fo hackneyed and univerfal a fact, that I fhould beg your pardon for digreffing into a parenthefis about it. As Flavian was returning to his houfe, and Romeo was ranging the skirts of a copfe, rather in the way of wantonnefs than induftry-knowing perhaps, that the bufinefs of the day was already done-juft as the winding of the thicket meander'd into an elbow that jutted into the field, Romeo broke fhort his ftep and ftood fixed in an attitude, which put Flavian on his guard. In the next inftant an hare farted from the bushes, and ran trembling to the oppofite hedge-row; on the other fide of which, was a fhaded lane, that led to Flavian's villa. There is an enthufiafm, which feizes the sportsman at the fight of fudden game. With that fort of infpiration was Flavian now feized, who, levelling his gun at the mark (with an aim too fatally erring) depofited the charge into the bofom of -Mighty God !-I want fortitude to go on! Flavian, madam, had-a wife-unhappily for him, he was tempted by the brightness of the morning and the report of his fowling piece at no great diftance, to ftrole from her house, and -as was fometimes her tender cuftom-intended to halten his return, not only to enjoy his fociety, but to put an end to the depredations of the day.— -The found of the gun had fcarcely died upon the air, when a found of a different kind faluted the ear: Flavian dafhed through the hedge, and faw his Maria extended along the path-way, which was over-hung by the bushes, and her bofom was bathed in that blood, which the now found had been fhed by her husband. In purfuing the game, Romeo first discovered his miftrefs, and with his fore-feet upon her lap, was mourning over her wounds: the agony was fo legible in his countenance, that if he had the power of fpeech-it would have been impoffible to defcribe it. The hufband---ah, madam! in thefe cafes, as I have juft remarked the brute and the man are alike; fince both muft deliver over to the dumb fenfations of the heart, a language neither fcience nor inftinct can teach them to articulate-all that can be faid or done is dull painting-he truck his breast-cast an eye of aftonifhment at heaven, and fell fpeechiefs by her fide-the poor woman faw his agony-made an effort to embrace him, but funk exhausted on his breaft. A fervant of Flavian's, who had been on a meffage, now appeared upon the road in the lane-Romeo ran to him, leaped round his horfe, looked up to the man-and led the way to the fcene of death-the fervant rode away on the fpur, to alarm the family at the manfion houfe-in the mean time, the laft endearments were faintly inᎠ ; Melmoth's liberal Opinions, &c. ter 20 Affecting Story of Flavian, Maria, and Romeo. terchanged betwixt Flavian and Maria to the latter, articulation was foon denied - but the, by fome means, got her husband in her arms, and in that fituation expired-the diftrefs of Flavian affected not even yet his tongue the dear body, mangled as it was, could not be torn from him, and both he and the unhappy lady were carried to that apartment, from which they had parted a few hours before, in the highest gaiety of wedded hearts, and in the warmest ardours of youth, ful expectation. And now comes on the bufinefs of poor Romeo-Flavian fell fick-Romeo was the very fentinel of his door, and the nurfe of his chamber-a fever followed, which at length touched Flavian on the brain, and in the violence of the delirium he ftruck his poor attendant Romeo, who fo far from refenting the blow, licked lovingly the hand that gave it madness shifted into melancholyRomeo was still by the fide of the bed, fearful to step even on the carpetAfter this-the fever returned, and burning its way to the heart, in a few days defied phyfic, and united his athes to thofe of his beloved Maria-from Jan. the room in which he died no force or contrivance could feduce Romeo, till the moment in which he was put into the coffin, and the people concerned in his funeral began to deem it neceffary to deftroy the dog, which refisted all their meatures, but especially their carrying him away: at length he fuffered it but followed them close, and was perhaps the most fincere mourner.-As foonas Flavian was committed to the earth, his faithful Romeo took dominion of the fpot, and was the fentry of his grave-grief and hunger had exhaufted every thingbut his attachment-yet he never was heard to whine-but, after lying till nature could do no more, he was at length found dead at the foot of the tomb-thus the mafter expired, and the fervant found it impoffible to furvive him.— -Methinks I fee your ladyfhip fhed a tear to the complicated misfortunes of this family-I congratulate you upon it-Fye upon the heart that is afham'd to feel-and wither'd be the cheek, that (in defiance of the impulses of nature) is kept dry, by the maxims of fashion! Το the EDITOR of the LONDON MAGAZINE. As you profefs, Sir, to open your a Magazine for literary as well as political difcuffions, I have not doubt but you will give admiffion to what may tend either to the information or utility of our fpecies. Moft of the natural productions of the earth are in fome manner or other conducive to the ufe of animals. A variety of animals afford food for others, and unquestionably they were destined for that purpofe by the fovereign Creator. Man, confidered as an animal, has a fhare of the leguminous, as well as of the animal food, allotted him by nature. For all the various kinds of living creatures ample nourishment is provided. This earth may be confidered as creation's ftorehoufe, wherein food is ready prepared for the multitudinous inhabitants of nature. But here Jies the difference; the inferior fpecies of creatures are not furnished with intellectual eyes to fee the boun teous hand which thus provides for their fubfiftence; whilst man, though partaking in common with the brute creation of the alimentary fupplies, is endowed with a mind capable of perceiving, through the medium of reflection, the finger of Deity labouring for his external fupport, and his internal happiness! This effential difference between the brute and human fpecies being admitted, it will hence follow demonstrably, that on the brute creation no obligatory claim of duty is incumbent. It is not from them that gratitude to the fovereign donor is to be expected; they trace not the Godhead in his works, and are therefore ignorant of his providential bounties; whereas to the intellectual eye of man, the hand of divinity is vifible; to a confiderate mind each fpire of grafs proclaims it: man, therefore, who is fo formed as to be confcious of his benefactor, fhould be fo grateful as to love him for his benefits; from the human race it 1776. On the Inftinct which actuates Brutes. it is expected, and thofe of the human fpecies who feel not their obligations to infinite goodness, are loft to every fenfe of gratitude. Perhaps the prin cipal defign in crowding the earth with the various wonders of a vegetable and animal kind was, "That the mind of reflecting man might be loft in admiration; his heart abforbed in gratitude!" It is rath to pronounce, that the bee, confciously, and with defign, makes ufe of any geometric principles in the formation of the hexagonal cells; nor can it be faid, that any phyfical know ledge of the diftinct properties of flowers, directs this wonderful creature to cull fuch fweets as yield honey from fome, neglecting others. It is equally rath to affirm, that the various tribes of fpiders by reflection adopt mechanic rules for framing thofe nets of different forms and fizes, wherein the careless flutterers are entangled. Equally rafh and unphilofophical is it to imagine that fwallows or crows form their nefts, and chufe the fittest fituations, from any principle of antecedent reasoning about what is propereft to be done. The cat lies not in wait fo patiently and attentively for her prey, prompted either by reflection or the calls of hunger. Thefe feveral animals are incited to these feveral actions merely because prompted 21 by the apt formation of their frames, and impelled by that internal feeling to which we give the name of inftinct. It has been faid by fome philofophers, "that we are ftrangers to those inftincts which actuate brutes; that we are not capable of forming any conception about them." I queftion, fir, the truth of this affertion; for, by what paffes within ourselves, we may form an almoft juft idea of the workings of that principle we term instinct in brutes. Are we prompted to eat and drink from a previous reflection that fuch acts are neceflary to fupport our existence? Is the defire we feel for the fofter fex founded folely on an intention to propagate the fpecies ? Thefe, fir, are mere inftincts, which operate mechanically, and irresistibly impel us to eat, to drink, to copulate, independent of reflection. In fuch refpects we are exactly on a par with the brute creation, and, from the internal workings of such natural inftincts within ourfelves, we may form a very juft idea of that unerring principle by which brutes are neceffarily ftimulated to perform the various offices, at the execution of which man ftands amazed, and fometimes finds himself outdone in art by a reptile, whom a blast of his breath could inftantly deprive of existence. CONTEMPLATOR. For the LONDON MAGAZINE. Curious Account of one Dr. Simon Forman *. WHEN my miftrefs died, the had under her arm-hole, a fmall fcarlet bag full of many things, which one that was there delivered unto me. There was in this bag feveral figils, fome of Jupiter in Trine, others of the nature of Venus, fome of iron, and one of gold, of pure angel gold, of the bignefs of a thirty three hilling piece of king James's coin. In the circumference on one fide was engraven, Vicit Leo de tribu Jude Tetragrammaton+; within the middle there was engraven an Holy Lamb. In the other circumference there was Amraphel and three +. In the middle, Sanctus Petrus, Alpha and Omega. The occafion of framing this figil was thus; her former husband travelling into Suffex, happened to lodge in an inn, and to lie in a chamber thereof; wherein, not many months before a country grazier had lain, and in the night cut his throat; after this night's lodging he was perpetually, and for many years, followed by a fpirit, which vocally and articulately provoked him to cut his throat; he was ufed frequently to say, "I defy thee, I defy thee," and to fpit at the fpirit; this fpirit followed him many years, he not making any body acquainted with it; at last, he grew melancholy and difcontented; By Lilly. which 22 Account of Dr. Forman, an Aftrologer. which being carefully obferved by his wife, the many times hearing him pronounce, "I defy thee," &c. the defired him to acquaint her with the caufe of his distemper, which he then did. Away fhe went to Dr. Simon Forman, who lived then in Lambeth, and acquaints him with it; who having framed this figil, and hanged it about his neck, he wearing it continually until he died, was never more molested by the fpirit: I fold the figil for thirty-two thillings, but tranfcribed the words verbatim as I have related. Sir, you shall now have a story of this Simon Forman, as his widow, whom I well knew, related it unto me. But before I relate his death, I fhall acquaint you fomething of the man, as I have gathered them from fome manufcripts of his own writing. He was a chandler's fon in the city of Westminster. He travelled into Holland for a month in 1580, purpofely to be instructed in attrology, and other more occult sciences; as alfo in phyfic, taking his degree of doctor beyond feas: being fufficiently furnished and inftructed with what he defired, he returned into England to wards the latter end of the reign of queen Elizabeth, and flourished until that year of king James, wherein the countess of Eflex, the earl of Somerfet, and Sir Thomas Overbury's matters were questioned. He lived in Lambeth with a very good report of the neighbourhood, efpecially of the poor, unto whom he was charitable. He was a perfon that in horary queftions, especially thefts, was very judicious and fortunate; fo alfo in ficknefies, which indeed was his matterpiece. In refolving questions about marriage he had good fuccefs; in other queftions very moderate. He was a perfon of indefatigable pains. I have feen fometimes half one fheet of paper wrote of his judgment upon one queftion; in writing whereof he ufed much tautology, as you may fee yourself (most excellent efquire) if you read a great book of Dr. Flood's, which you have, who had all that book from the manufcripts of Forman; for I have feen the fame word for word in an English manufcript formerly belonging to Dr. Willough. by of Gloucestershire. Had Forman lived to have methodized his own pa Jan. pers, I doubt not but he would have one Sir "Being in bed one morning," fays he, "I was defirous to know whether I fhould ever be a lord, earl or knight, &c. whereupon I fet a figure; and thereupon my judgment;" by which he concluded, that within two years time he should be a lord or great man. "But," fays he, " before the two years were expired, the doctors put me in Newgate, and nothing came." Not long after, he was defirous to know the fame things concerning his honour or greatfhip. Another figure was fet, and that promifed him to be a great lord within one year. But he fets down, that in that year he had no preferment at all; only "I became acquainted with a got well." merchant's wife, by whom I There is another figure concerning Ayre his going into Turky, whether it would be a good voyage or not: the doctor repeats all his aftrological reasons, and musters fortunate them together, and then gave his judgment it would be a voyage. But under this figure, he concludes, "this proved not fo, for he was taken prifoner by pirates ere he arrived in Turky, and loft all." He fet feveral questions to know if he fhould attain the philofophers ftone, and the figures, according to his ftraining, did feem to fignify as much; and then he tuggs upon the afpects and configurations, and elected a fit time to begin his operation; but by and by, in conclufion, he adds, "fo fetting-glafs the work went very forward; but upon the of 6 the broke, and I loft all my pains." He fets down five or fix fuch judgments, but till complains all came to nothing, upon the malignant afpects of hand. Although fome of his aftrological judgments did fail, more particularly thofe concerning himfelf, he being no way capable of fuch preferment as he ambitioufly defired; yet I fhall repeat fome other of his judg ments, which did not fail, being performed by conference with fpirits. My 1776. Forman's strange, but true Prognoftications. My mistress went once unto him, to know when her husband, then in Cumberland, would return, he having promised to be at home near the time of the quellion. After fome confideration, he told her to this effect Margery," for fo her name was, thy husband will not be at home thefe eighteen days; his kindred have vexed him, and he is come away from them in much anger: he is now in Carlisle, and hath but three pence in his purfe." And when he came home, he confeffed all to be true, and that upon leaving his kindred he had but three pence in his purfe. I fhall relate one ftory more, and then his death. One Coleman, clerk to Sir Thomas Beaumont of Leicestershire, having had fome liberal favours both from his lady and her daughters, bragged of it, &c. The knight brought him into the ftar chamber, had his fervant fentenced to be pilloried, whipped, and afterwards, during life, to be imprifoned. The fentence was executed in London, and was to be in Leicefter thire. Two keepers were to convey Coleman from the Fleet to Leicefter. My mistress taking confidera 1 tion of Coleman, and the miferies he was to fuffer, went prefently to Ferman, and acquainted him therewith; who, after confideration, fwore Coleman had lain both with mother and daughters, &c. &c. and faid, " they intend in Leicester to whip him to death; but I affure thee, Margery, he fhall never come there; yet they fet forward to morrow," fays he; and fo they did, Coleman's legs being locked with an iron chain under the horle's belly. In this nature they travelled the first and fecond day the third day the two keepers, feeing their prifoner's civility the two preceeding days, did not lock his chain under the horse's belly as formerly, but locked it only to one fide. In this pofture they rode fome miles beyond Northampton, when, on a fudden, one of the keepers had a neceflity to untrufs, and fo the other and Coleman ftood still; by and by the other keeper defired Coleman to hold his horfe, for he had occafion alfo Coleman immediately took one of their fwords, and ran it through two of their horfes, killing them ftark dead; gets upon on 23 the other, with one of their fwords; "Farewell, gentlemen," quoth he, tell my matter I have no mind to be whipped in Leicestershire," and fo went his way. The two keepers, in all hafte, went to a gentleman's houfe near at hand, complaining of their misfortune, and defired of him to purfue their prifoner, which he with much civility granted; but ere the horfes could be got ready, the mistress of the house came down, and enquiring what the matter was, went to the ftable, and commanded the horses to be unfaddled, with this fharp fpeech"Let the Lady Beaumont and her daughters live honeftly; none of my horfes fhall go forth upon this occa fion." I could relate many fuch ftories of his performances; as alfo what he wrote in a book left behind him, viz. "This I made the devil write with his own hand in Lambeth fields 1596, in June or July, as I now remember." He profeffed to his wife there would be much trouble about Carr and the Countess of Effex, who frequently reforted unto him, and from whofe company he would fometimes lock himself in his study a whole day. Now we come to his death, which happened as follows. The Sunday night before he died, his wife and be being at fupper in their garden houfe, the being plealant, told him, that the had been informed he could refolve, whether man or wife fhould die firft: "Whether fhall I," quoth the, "bury you or no?" "Oh Trunco," for fo be called her, "thou wilt bury me, but thou wilt much repent it." "Yea, but how long firft?" "I fhall die," faid he, "ere Thurfday night." Monday came, all was well. Tuesday came, he was not fick. Wednesday came, and ftill he was well; with which his impertinent wife did much twit him in the teeth. Thursday came, and dinner was ended, he very well he went down to the water fide, and took a pair of oars to go to fome buildings he was in hand with in Puddle-dock. Being in the middle of the Thames, he prefently fell down, only faying, "An impoft, an impoft," and fo he died; a moft fad ftorm of wind immediately following. He died worth one thousand two hundred pounds, and left only one fon called Clement. All |