[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
SOme few days before the Duke of Buckingham went to Portsmouth where he was Stabbet by Felton, the Ghost of his Father Sir George Williers appeared to one Parker, a religious and sober man, who had been a servant to the said sir George, but now servant to the Duke his Son, he appeared to him (I say) in his Morning-Chamber-Gown, and charged him to tell his Son that he should decline that Employment and Design, he was going upon, or els he would certainly be murdered. Parker promised to the Apparition to do it. The Duke making preparations for his Expedition, the Apparition came again to Parker, taxing him very severely for his breach of Promise, and required him not to delay the acquainting his Son of the danger he was in. Then Parker the next day tells the Duke that his Fathers Ghost had twice appeared to him, and had commanded him, without any further delay, to give him that warning. The Duke slighted it, and told him, he was an old Doting Fool. That night the Apparition came to Parker a third time, saying, Parker thou hast done well in warning my Son of his danger, but though he will not yet believe thee, Go to him once more however, and tell from me by such a Token (naming a private token) which no body knows but only He and I, that if he will not decline this Voyage; such a Knife as this is (pulling a long Knife out from under his Gown) will be his Death. This Message Parker also delivered the next day to the Duke, who when he heard the private Token, believed he had it from his Fathers Ghost. Yet said he, that his honour was now at the Stake, and he could not go back from what he had undertaken, come Life come Death. This passage, Parker after the Dukes Murder communicated to his fellow Servant Henry Celey, who told it to a Reverend Divine a Neighbour of mine (saith my Author) from whose Mouth I have it. This Henry Celey has not been dead above twentie years, and his habitation for several years before his death was at North-Currie, but three miles from this place. My friend the Divine aforesaid was an intimate Acquaintance of this Henry Celey’s, and assures me he was a Person of known Truth and Integritie.
