Among other instances of Suffusio, Sauvages also mentions an aged physician of Narbonne, who, during several days, saw every object crooked. I shall select, as a remarkable instance of spectral impressions, a story published by Richard Bovet, in his Pandamonum, or the Devil's Cloyster, printed in 1684. The first appearances were probably seen in a dream. The noises, on the second night, were perhaps recollected impressions.* "About the year 1667, being with "some persons of honour in the house of "a nobleman in the west country, which "had formerly been a nunnery: I must "confess I had often heard the servants, "and others that inhabited or lodged there, speak much of the noises, stirs, and apparitions that frequently disturbed the 66 * Eighth Relation, p. 202. 66 house, but had at that time no appre"hensions of it; for the house being full of stranger's, the nobleman's steward, "Mr. C. lay with me in a fine wainscoat66 room, called my ladies' chamber; we "went to our lodging pretty early, and having a good fire in the room, we 661 spent some time in reading, in which "he much delighted: then having got into bed, and put out the candles, we "observed the room to be very light, by the brightness of the moon, so that "a wager was laid between us, that it 66 was possible to read written hand by "that light upon the bed where we lay; 66 accordingly I drew out of my pocket "a manuscript, which he read distinctly "in the place where he lay we had "scarce made an end of discoursing "about that affair, when I saw (my face being towards the door which was locked) entering into the room, five appearances of very fine and lovely 66 66 "women, they were of excellent stature, " and their dresses seemed very fine, but "covered all but their faces, with their light veils, whose skirts trailed largely "on the floor. They entered in a file one after the other, and in that posture "walked round the room, till the fore"most came, and stood by that side of "the bed where I lay (with my left "hand over the side of the bed; for my "head rested on that arm, and I deter"mined not to alter the posture in which "I was) she struck me upon that hand "with a blow that felt very soft, but I "did never remember whether it were "cold or hot: I demanded in the name "of the blessed Trinity, what business they had there, but received no answer; "then I spoke to Mr. C. Sir, do you "see what fair guests we have come to visit us before which they all disus? 66 appeared I found him in some kind "of agony, and was forced to grasp him "on the breast with my right hand (which was next him underneath the "bed-clothes) before I could obtain "speech of him; then he told me that "he had seen the fair guests I spoke of, "and had heard me speak to them; but "withal said, that he was not able to speak sooner unto me, being extremely 66 affrighted at the sight of a dreadful "monster, which assuming a shape, be"twixt that of a lion and a bear, at 66 tempted to come upon the bed's foot. "I told him, I thanked God nothing so 66 frightful had presented itself to me; "but I hoped (through his assistance) "not to dread the ambages of hell. It "was a long time before I could com 66 pose him to sleep, and though he had "had many disturbances in his own room, and understood of others in the house, yet he acknowledged he had never been so terrified, during many abode there. The next day at years " " dinner he shewed to divers persons of principal quality, the mark that had "been occasioned on his breast by the 66 gripe I was forced to give him, to get "him to speak, and related all the pas sages very exactly; after which he protested never to lie more in that "room; upon which I set up a resolu"tion to lodge in it again, not knowing "but something of the reason of those "troubles might by that means be imparted to me. The next night, there 66 66 fore, I ordered a Bible, and another "book to be laid in the room, and "resolved to spend my time by the fire "in reading and contemplation, till I "found myself inclined to sleep and accordingly having taken leave of the 66 family at the usual hour, I addressed myself to what I had proposed, not going into bed till past one in the "morning: a little after I was got into "bed, I heard somewhat walk about the |